Been a while since this story got updates so I decided to post something real quick. Hope you like it, also decided that I will be doing some omakes at the end of these chapters. I will often deviate between them and lore points for the story. Just something I am doing on the side to make the story more interesting and also show ideas for what Kuroinu would be like if I had put in a different OC instead of Reginald.
Also I will be posting the next Are We Alone chapter on New Years Eve.
Hand of Suffering
Chapter 16: Conquering the Conquerers
East District
Patrols had picked up.
Orcs and Black Dog mercenaries roamed in packs down the streets, looking for anyone still alive. She could see them occasionally drag people from building into the street, it irked her to stay here and do nothing. But there was little she could do, not without exposing her troops to the enemy and having the rest of Black Dogs fall upon them.
They had lost a lot of soldiers at the Church, and even more when they had retreated to the Barracks. She had thought that they had secured the Church when it turned out that they had been betrayed, the priest had allied himself with the orcs and allowed them in through a back entrance thought the church.
The Nuns they had saved were taken once more, but with them went over a dozen of their knights, there was nothing that could have been done to save them. They could only retreat, but that had been costly as well, for when they came to the barracks it was still firmly in the hands of the enemy. A battle ensued and they were nearly killed. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Doretha they would have been captured or killed.
The news she had brought them was terrible.
She didn't know what was worse, the fact Alicia had surrendered herself and the city to Vault. Or the fact that they were just as much prisoners as the Princess. Looking around she could see the dark garbed warriors, the ones that had plucked them from the barracks and brought them here. They did not speak, at least their soldiers didn't, she had no idea who they were or their intentions.
"How many of us are left?" Ursula asked.
"Just over a hundred, we lost a lot of people when we had to retreat from the palace." Doretha said.
Ursula cursed, they had lost hundreds. The city was being occupied by traitors and demons, the enemy was in complete control and they had no way of fighting them off. At least not with her own forced that is, turning she looked to the back of the chamber.
Cramped into this large room was what remained of their forces, a dozen or so Knights and the rest made up of guardsmen. But there were at least two hundred others with them, their would-be rescuers. Having come to their rescue when the Barracks came under attack, had it not been for them they would likely all be dead or captured. But even if they had come to save her forces she did not trust them.
They stood at attention around the entire room, encircling her entire force and remaining at attention like statues.
But her eyes looked to the one sitting at a small table, the only pieces of furniture in this room, who had her legs crossed and appeared bored. Next to her was a hooded individual, she had not seen his face or received a name, but she knew at least he was human. Although why a human would be serving that monster of a woman she had no idea.
"Can we trust her?" Doretha said, before she shook her head. "What am I saying?"
"I know you have your doubts, we all have them, but we have no choice. It is either let them go ahead with their plan or we leave this city to the Black Dogs." Ursula replied, that had been the ultimatum, they would help so long as they obeyed.
Not like she had any choice in the matter.
She had no idea if letting them take over Feoh would be any better than having Vault in charge. Hopefully when they got word to Ken reinforcements could come to help liberate them after the city was taken.
"It's time."
The hooded man finally spoke, turning towards the woman and giving her a nod. Immediately she stood up, a smirk blossoming on her beautiful tanned face, the man but her side then raised a clenched fist and the rest of the warriors around the room began to file out. Their heavy armour made little noise, but she could still hear the boards of the floor creak and flex with each step.
"You know what to do." He said, looking to the woman once more.
"But of course, it will be my pleasure." She replied, it was a surprise to Ursula that this woman would listen to the man, let alone a human.
"Lieutenant, gather your warriors, we are moving." He said, turning to face her.
"Where are we going?" Ursula asked, as much as she liked to resist she had to think about the safety of her warriors. But it still made her want to vomit, to think she was taking orders from a heretic.
These people were those cultist from the Valley, she was certain of it. That werewolf had rescued Olga from Ken and likely ferried her off to the Valley and then escaped. The fact that they were surrounded by dark garbed warriors only made that abundantly clear, these people were part of that wolf cult.
Here she was, a former Dawn Templar and devoted follower of Celestine, working alongside those that had turned to a beast and worshipped it as a god. It sickened her, made her feel ill, but she had no choice but to follow. Because they had made her a promise, one that they had reaffirmed right now.
"To rescue your Princess." He responded.
Royal Palace, Prime Ministers Office
The crowd had been gathered, forcefully he might add, although he was surprised that so many had survived. This city had been pillaged and torn apart, demons never really left anyone alive, those that did survive often wished for death. But it seems that Vault had been keen of keeping at least some of the city alive, surprising that he could control them. When he had first heard of this Alliance with the orcs Beasley had thought perhaps he should kill the man and find a replacement, he quite nearly did in fact.
He was certain Vault had some scars on the back of his head from the bar he had used to nearly bash in his skull five years ago when Vault revealed his plans for the Valley. The man was lucky he was too important to kill, otherwise Beasley would have finished him off then and there.
"Surprised you are letting me go ahead with this, usually you don't like it when I get creative." Vault said, taking a swig from his wine skin.
"So long as it doesn't interfere with the plan I do not care what you do. Besides the royal family's only strategic value at the moment is giving us control over Geoff." Beasley stated.
Even that was not true, he could go walk right into Geoff and then order for the city to surrender. Sadly that was never the plan to begin with, they should have already had the city under their control by now. But they had not gotten word from Cruz, he was the commander of the assault on the city.
"We will have it in no time, remember most of the army is there. If we don't have it by the end of the day I will be surprised." Vault said, as if sensing his unease in lack of communication from the north. "But once we have the city, Feoh is all but ours."
"There is little of this nation left to be taken." Beasley replied, he had a certain logic when it came to Vault, never agree with the man and often take and think the opposite of him. The man was a fool and Beasley would never take anything he said at face value. "We have other matters to deal with, and the only way to do that is to take Geoff."
He should have gotten word, any kind of word, be it that the city was taken or the fighting was still underway. Cruz wasn't a Black Dog, he was a former Knight of Ur, and had a great dislike to the current regime ruling over Eostia. But unlike his change in loyalty his professionalism was still the same, so he should have reported in any issues.
Cruz knew the importance of taking Geoff, even the capture of the Royal Family and this city were secondary. This had been nothing more than getting rid of a few irritating fools he had wanted to take down for the last few decades. But he was wondering if he should have made this detour, he could have carried out this plan without having to take over Feoh.
"You worry too much." Vault said, dismissive as usual.
Beasley always had an issue with Vault's lack of foresight, the man often acted and lashed out without thought or consideration. Made him hard to control at times, which often left Beasley and his fellow conspirators to have to clean up for him.
Not unlike how he had to make up for the stupidity of Undercroft and his fellow Nobles, made even worse by Vault's actions of letting orcs loose on the valley. The man often didn't look at the bigger picture and tended to not think of the consequences of everything he did. For example: the Valley where he disregarded the fact he was destroying his own food supply was ignored, along with the fact that this entire nation was completely depleted of all available resources.
Every village, every farm, every holding, had been decimated and turned to ash. Most of the farmers had either been conscripted, and subsequently killed at Geoff, those that didn't go had been pillage, enslaved or murdered by orcs. Although when he spoke with the sergeants and captains in the mercenary company he had learned that every single village was deserted and that all the food had been taken as well.
That had concerned him, someone knew they were coming and had taken their food stores. The only thing to be discovered was the magistrates of these regions, strung up and disemboweled. That was all that could be found, and it was certainly concerning. But even so he pushed aside his concerns and worried about their next course of action.
This nation had no further use, no food and certainly no way to produce it anymore, they had no choice but to go south. Which is why they needed Geoff, it was the only way to get into the breadbasket from this nation, as it was build between the break in the mountains that led there.
"You don't look too pleased." Vault said.
"Call it a feeling, recent events do not seem to be going as we expected them. A healthy case of paranoia is something any politician should have, and I feel something is wrong." Beasley said, although it seems Vault and him were not talking about the same thing.
"Huh? I am talking about the city, I thought you wanted this place to be torn down and all of its people killed?" Vault replied.
Ah, that. Yes, he supposed that was true as well.
"Contrary to what you say, I am pleased, I got what I wanted. After all these years, and all that planning, I got to live my dream." Beasley stated.
He had been waiting for this day for the last thirty five years, three and a half decades to be exact, wasting his time trying to take this region for himself. But now he had brought about this nations ruin, it brought a sense of nostalgia to do this all over again. Although it did feel a lot more satisfying, the Royal Family has been much more irritating than those bastards in Ansur.
"Doesn't seem like it." Vault replied.
Beasley didn't bother to respond, this had already been made personal and he had gotten his fill of indulging himself in petty revenge. Now, he had to think on Geoff, something was not right. If there was a problem there he had to make sure it was dealt with, they couldn't afford any complications. One misstep and they could be looking at the complete collapse of their forces. They were on thin ice as it was, they had committed the majority of their manpower to this assault.
They still had thousands of men roaming across Ansur and along the border but it would be better if they didn't lose many of their veterans at the Godafry Plains.
"Once we have Geoff we can move south and then start taking over the villages. The food from those villages will be able to feed our armies indefinitely, so long we do not destroy them like the rest. We cannot risk drawing too much unwanted attention, let alone losing the breadbasket." Beasley stated, he turned and gave Vault a pointed look, making sure he understood that there would be tolerating any unwanted destruction.
"Drawing attention? We have nothing to worry about, there ain't a force in Eostia that can take us on." Vault replied, he sounded confident, but the man often got overconfident, it was a double edged sword when it came to controlling him.
"Don't be too sure, the south is guarded exclusively by the Iron Legions of Thorn, more than that we cannot dismiss the Rose Company. Both are legitimate threats to our plans, so do not underestimate them." Beasley stated.
"You didn't mention the Dawn Templar or the Samurai? I thought that you were worried about the Alliance as a whole?" Vault said.
Vault was observant. But only so much.
Yes, they had feared that the Alliance being unified would be a threat to their plans. During the Untouched Crusade the Alliance had been unified like never before, so much so that it could actually withstand their army. But now that was no the case.
After they had ousted the Nobles in Zelindo the entire Alliance had torn itself apart with doubt and suspicion. That Lycanthrope had both united and torn this entire Alliance apart at the seems, the Shields were divided and against one another. Even more so than before. They were more vulnerable than ever, taking them out one by one was going to be a lot easier than facing the entire Alliance.
But the Iron Legions and the Halflings as a whole were not to be underestimated, they were stronger than humans and much more resourceful. Of the Alliance forces they were the major obstacle in taking over the south. As for the Rose Company, they were a smaller copy of the Black Dogs, just as skilled and resourceful, but a lot less unified.
Word from their allies in Ansur said that the Rose Company was in the midst of a schism, it seems some of the old guard before it fell under the Mercenary Queen's control were not happy with current leadership. If these disgruntled officers were able to oust Maia, or at least split from the main army they could be looking at some hefty resistance. If even half of the Rose Company turned they could be dealing with a legitimate threat to their plans.
The other forces however were not that much of a danger.
"The Samurai of Rad are small in number and are too tied up in the siege of Zelindo to be a threat to us. Besides they are too far north and won't be able to march into the South, not while Ansur is under Maia's control." Beasley replied, apparently there was little to no love lost between the Shrine Maiden and the Mercenary Queen. "As for the Dawn Templar, we know that they won't act, we have someone that has more control over them then the Goddess. We have nothing to worry about from Ken."
"We also have nothing to worry about from the Rose Company or Ansur, you wouldn't believe how devoted that girl is to me. With how much she lets slip right under her nose, Ansur is already ours, I just need to walk through the gates and it is mine." Vault stated.
True, Maia has proven to be the most inept of leaders, despite her attempts to turn that Company of hers into a mirror image of the Black Dogs, she had caused more disunity than not. But if she remained in control long enough, or the coup turned bloody, than they likely could wipe out the Rose Company without having to challenge them.
He would need to think on the matter and confer with the families in Ansur, they would know what to do. As much as he cared little for those crime lords they were valuable informants and allies within the city walls. Along with being valued customers. Perhaps he can see if they can start tearing the Rose Company apart and possibly kill Maia.
Vault for all his bluster about her loving him, she was someone that had a hold over him as well. Or at least she once did. Beasley had to make sure that affection he once held remained buried and dead, when he first had met her and she proved herself a great ally the man had begun to change. The steps Beasley and his conspirators had to take to thwart her influence over him had been difficult, in fact it had led to her becoming the Mercenary Queen and a Shield Knight. A few more words in Vaults ear and they had effectively made it appear she had used and discarded Vault for her own ambitions, along with copying him in an attempt to upstage rather out of respect.
They made sure they sold it as such, after all you could trick someone unless there was evidence being shouted in their faces. Obviously, how was it that the Shield Knights actually believed they deserve these laurels when in truth they didn't really do anything?
"Then Luu-Luu will the final stepping stone to victory, conquer Rad and we can win this war with ease." Beasley stated.
"Easily done, me and Guzz'mag…"
"No." Beasley interrupted the mercenary, making sure he was clear. "I don't want you leading orcs down south, they pillage and loot and leave nothing behind. We need something to remain in order to keep this nation alive. We need the breadbasket in order to keep this nation from starving, and us in turn."
It won't do if they burn all their fields, tear down every village, and enslave every single person they come across. Occupying a village would work, but so long as they were not orcs, they needed to keep the Iron Tooth orcs in the north and fighting the remaining loyalists. If the orcs kept the Alliance forces busy they could secure the South without having to worry about reinforcements from the north.
It was the height of stupidity that Vault allied himself with the demons, they were impossible to reason with and even harder to keep in check. To ensure that they remained loyal you needed to be more powerful than them and also continually feed their ravenous hunger. It would have been better had Vault just finished them off when he had the chance.
"He isn't going to like that, and I don't like it that you think you can order me around. I am the general of this army, what I say goes." Vault said.
Beasley knew the man was throwing his weight around, a pointless gesture. One made by someone who thought his ego was in danger, honestly he was so simple to manipulate that it didn't take much to keep him in line. He was just as stupid and gullible as his own troops, Vault fed them lavish meals, gave them good wine, and slaves to play with. So Beasley did the same, and like a trained dog he took to it.
Had his father still been alive than Beasley might be worried, that man was a lot harder to control. It was good that the fool died while Vault was young, made raising the boy into an easily controllable tool all the more easier.
"A General yes, but a politician you are not, subjugation by force leads to rebellion. We turn the people against the Alliance, that is how we will gain allies, then we gain more soldiers. No matter how depraved our tactics are we will gain support simply because we are against the Goddess and the Alliance as a whole." Beasley stated, he knew that the only way to gain support was to be more popular than the opposition.
Honestly, the Black Dogs had a reputation that was far from stellar but they were certainly more well liked than the Knights of Iris. He had made sure that not only did the people hated the nobility but also the Shields, despite all he had done and the actions they carried out he was certain they could gain these peoples allegiance.
"Hearts and minds are what keep a nation from crumbling to dust, Feoh is all but spent, but the rest can be salvaged."
Looking to the horizon he stood up, he had waste enough time here, he would go to Geoff himself and see what the issue was. After that he would either negotiate the cities surrender or he would be watching it burn. Either case the plan would move forward from there.
"I'll be heading to Geoff, settle matters here and then do as you wish. The city is yours." Beasley said, taking his hat and coat.
"You seem to be keen on leaving this city, I thought you had wanted to take this place over? What changed?" Vault asked.
Beasley had to admit a lot has changed, he fought tooth and nail to get to this point to take over the city and this nation. Instead he simply allowed it to burn, again he let a nation he was part of turn to ash. But honestly, after Eos had been crowned king and he had been force to create the Parliament to take power away from that man it took all the drive from him.
He spent three decades ruling this country from the shadows, wasting most of his life with politics and shadow games and manipulating everyone around him. Why? Because he was desperate to hold onto something he lost, the throne. He should have started this decades ago instead of playing second fiddle to a fool monarch that didn't realise he had no real power.
"Because this city means nothing in the end, it is in ruins and the monarchy and parliament are all but gone. I burnt it all because I did not wish to keep it. When I first came to this city I had a grand vision of a new order, a new government, a new king, ruling here." Beasley said. "You can't do that when the status quo was the same, it needed to be crushed utterly and then rebuilt. That needs to happen Vault."
He wasn't giving the man a choice here, Vault would finish off this nation and reduce it to nothing and from the rubble Beasley would rebuild it. He had learned a lot in the last thirty years, and now he had the wisdom to see his true vision complete. A perfect empire, one that could endure a thousand years without strife, war or corruption.
"We all have a role, there are three major forces that control a nation. The Nobility, the Church, and the Monarchy." Beasley stated. "Me and the Archbishop know our role, and you Vault. You will be the third man in this glorious trinity that will rule over a true empire of Eostia. King Vault."
The smirk on the man's face was blinding, but he had been obviously excited by the proposal. Vault always went with whatever gave him the ego boost he desired, but the man was a fool in the end. For all his military prowess he was nothing but a glory hound, with a penchant for raping and pillaging. So long as he had an inflated ego and didn't think anyone was above him he would not cause a fuss.
In a way it reminded Beasley of Eos, that stupid man had fallen for the same trick as Vault. The crown would mean nothing in the end, besides Vault would be too busy drinking and fucking to care about anything like running a country. That was his domain after all.
"Enjoy yourself until you hear word from me, we will be marching into the South soon." Beasley said, exiting his office and leaving Vault to stew in his own excitement.
They had been bound to posts, right outside the Palace.
Alicia looked out over the crowd, thousands had been gathered to watch the spectacle of the royal family bound in chains. Her father and cousin were next to her, the former gagged. Her mother and aunt were nowhere in sight, but she knew that they were nearby. Large tarps covered two large posts on either side of the three, likely beneath them were her mother and aunt. She prayed they were alright.
Looking around the plaza, the people were still being herded into the area and forced to watch them. She was thankful there were survivors, but she had no idea how many had died. If this was all that remained than the majority of the city had been purged.
"My good people! I thank you for coming to todays performance!" Vault called out, arms spread wide as he stepped from the palace.
The orcs and mercenaries around the crowd waved their swords and forced them to their knees.
"I present before you, the royal family! Your King and Princess! Along with her cousin Prim Fiore of Geoff!" Vault bellowed. "In chains! Bound and unable to resist! As they should be!"
He walked down the steps and stood upon the stage that held them aloft, giving her a single smirk before turning back to the crowd.
"This city now belongs to me, the Arcturus family ends here! Nothing more than a mockery of rulers! I will lead this nation now! Along with the others and forge a new empire! One built on strength and power!" Vault called out. "I will conquer all the Great Fortresses of Eostia, take them one by one, and see to the downfall of the fake Goddess and her Shield Knights."
A cheer erupted from the mercenaries and orcs. The people remained silent, on their knees and unable to do anything but cover before the tyrant that now was their ruler.
"This nation has become weak and feeble, relying on the words and orders of woman unfit to lead you! No longer will that be the case! For their sins all woman will be bound to the service of men!" Vault chanted. "I will create an empire where all men are Kings! Where they live only to experience the pleasures of life and feel the gratification of lording over those that are beneath them! These bitches! Princesses they may be! But they will lick your boots regardless if you are a noble! A peasant. Or a King!"
It was worse than she thought, he was going to turn all woman into slaves. No different than all those woman that had been subjugated in Zelindo and Diohart, he was going to do that here. Do it everywhere. How could she have allowed this to happen? She should have kept fighting. Her city and her nation were in the hands of a madman, and she gave it to him.
"Some of you might not understand! Then I shall give you a proper demonstration of what this new empire will look like!" Vault called, gesturing towards his men they pulled down the tarps.
They were pulled down, and Alicia felt her heart sink as she saw her mother and aunt. Bound like they were, naked and their bodies marred with bruises and fluids. Even now they were being violated by orcs and mercenaries, taken to by the beasts one at a time. A gasp went up around the crowd, watching in horror as the two woman were violently raped.
"This is the reward that awaits all that join us! Any woman is yours to take! No matter her station! No matter her status! All are free for you to take and use as you please! There will be no limit! No restrictions!" Vault called out.
"Stop this… please stop this…" Alicia begged, unable to watch her mother be tormented any further.
"You gave me this city! To the conqueror goes the spoils!" Vault laughed. "Any who join me will be welcomed with open arms! This is your chance to step up and above your stations, to experience the revelry of those who shunned you!"
The people were scarred, terrified, this was going to be their world now. Defying it would likely mean death, accepting it would make you into just as vile a monster as those that had conquered them.
"Boss! This ones dead!"
Alicia turned, Delphine hung limp from her chains, eyes classy and wide in terror. Prim let out a wail, her mother was gone, the torment she had suffered could no longer be endured. Alicia lowered her head, fighting back tears, why has this happened?
"Don't worry, her little girl can cover for her!" Vault said.
"No! Stop please!" Alicia cried out.
"Any man who joins me can step forward now, you can prove yourself to me! Drop your pants and take turns on the girl! Who here wants to have a go?" Vault called out, inviting people from the crowd to step forward to rape her cousin.
"Well I didn't get to finish in the last one, might as well make up for it." One of the Black Dogs bellowed, laughing as he made for Prim.
He only took a few steps before his head parted his shoulders, his body falling to the ground with a thud. The silence that followed was deafening, the one that had done so stood there with blade in hand and uncaring he had just made himself a target. Cloaked in dark armour and robes, a clawed gauntlet with a bloody circle around it emblazoned upon his tabard. He raised his blade and shouldered it.
"Apologies, I seem to have interrupted you, but I needed your collective attention." He said.
"Who the hell are you?" Vault demanded, his smug demeanour evaporating as he glared at the unknown knight.
"Abraham Whiteford, Captain of the Adjudicators." The man said, removing his hood and showing a man with short dark hair and a neutral expression. "Surrender yourself and the city immediately."
Vault laughed. Along with the rest of his soldiers.
"Surrender? Now why would I do that? Especially to a dead man?" Vault laughed.
"Then how about to a Queen?"
Alicia turned to the speaker, and to her shock she saw someone she never thought she would see again. She strolled forward through the crowd, the people parting before her in shock. She was smiling seductively, her beauty likely enrapturing some of those around her, others shrank back in fear. Armed with nothing but an ornate staff, protected by two guards, a white haired Dark Elf and her lieutenant Ursula.
"Olga Discordia." Vault hissed, glaring at the woman as she strolled through the crowd.
People backed away, now putting a name to the mysterious woman they knew exactly who she was, and Alicia couldn't believe what was happening. Was she here to exact revenge against Vault for taking the Dark Fortress, while in turn wiping her city off the face of the continent along with these treasonous dogs?
"What's the matter? Still mad I took your fortress and your people? Most of them are on their knees sucking my men's dicks right now! I assume you have come to join them?" Vault taunted, his infuriating smirk returning as he placed a hand on his crotch to give it a good rub.
"Hardly. I am all but amused that it took you so long to get back to Eostia, two whole months? Were you wallowing that you had no woman to warm your beds? No food to fill your bellies? It must have been so dreadful and shameful that you had to take this long just to drag yourselves back here." Olga replied, her smile light as she rebuked Vault. "Honestly how pitiful of you, I can see you are obviously so ashamed of your failure that you had to come and conquer this city just to make sure that small ego of yours didn't disappear."
The taunt forced Vault's mirth to disappear, his scowl was fierce and his teeth were bared.
"Why are you here bitch?" Vault bellowed.
"I came here to see you of course, to laugh in your face and deliver a proper punishment onto you for what you did to my beloved Fortress." Olga replied.
She was going to destroy Feoh, Alicia knew that, as soon as she had dealt with the Black Dogs she would annihilate this city. There was no way any of her people could stop her, it was impossible, they were in chains now or in caskets. But those that were not seemed to be behind the Queen of Thorns. Why was Ursula following Olga Discordia? What had happened? Has she been enscrolled?
"So you are going to take this fortress from me? Do you think you can do it? Defeat me?" Vault taunted, boasting to preserve his dignity, like that would do him any good against Olga Discordia.
"Then do step forward and face me, I am sure that the man that conquered my fortress can challenge me? After all, you boast so much about having defeated me once before, why not try proving it now?" Olga taunted in return, her smile turning into a smirk that was seeped in gratification.
She was calling Vault out, and he had nowhere else to go, the man's own pride was caught between two hard choices. He had literally slandered himself, if he stepped forward he would be going to his death, if not he would be seen as a coward.
"Not too brave are we? Oh well, I will just have to come to you then." Olga said, strolling forward confidently.
"Don't you fucking dare mock me!" Vault hissed. "Take her!"
Several men moved to apprehend the Dark Elf, who did nothing but continue to walk forward, confident and unafraid. Then as the Black Dogs drew close they were cut down, two warriors appeared from behind Olga and killed those that tried to halt her. Garbed in the same dark robes and armour, they carved through a dozen soldiers with ease.
"Where the hell did they come from?" One of the Black Dogs yelled, before he was beheaded.
"So afraid of facing me you push your men between me and you? As I recall that is how you fight isn't it? You let others do the fighting for you and stay nice and safe and away from the battle!" Olga laughed. "Is that how heroes fight? Or is it how cowards live so long?"
"Where was that bravado when I stormed your castle and took your people as my slaves? Where was that fighting spirit of your when I had you at my feet unable to stand! I sat on your throne and fucked your people into submission and you sat in a tiny cell waiting your turn!" Vaulted yelled. "I beat you! I won! And now you think you can come here and destroy what I have taken! Not on your life bitch!"
Olga stopped, her two guards following suit, her face lost all expression.
"Destroy? You think I have come to destroy this city?" Olga asked, before she smirked widely. "No, I have come to liberate it! Just as you took Garan from me I will take Feoh from you and I will rule it as my own!"
"Really! And how the hell are you going to do that?" Vault yelled.
"The same way you defeated me, I am going to use him." Olga replied, her smirk twisting into a vindictive smile.
A loud thump alerted them of a new arrival, Alicia craned her neck to see what it was and her heart stopped. The werewolf, had landed before the doors of the palace and glared balefully towards Vault.
"How are you feeling about your chances now, Vault?" The werewolf said.
"Kill them!" Vault yelled, drawing his sword and taking a defensive stance.
"Purge the city!"
Alicia turned back to the people, immediately dozens of black garbed soldiers rushed out of the crowds and attacked the Black Dogs and their demonic allies. Dozens appeared, then hundreds and now thousands. They came from everywhere, from every streets, every alleyway, every unnoticed corner. Charging in and taking to the Black Dogs, it was a slaughter, but this time those treasonous monsters were getting the retribution they deserved.
Facing forward she saw the man there, Abraham, with a quick swing of his large sword he shattered her steel cuffs and allowed her to fall to the ground. He pulled her back to her feet and dragged her from the palace.
"No! My family! Prim!" Alicia cried, trying to free herself from the vice grip of this dark knight.
"They will be rescued, now let us be off, I cannot protect you in this chaos." Abraham said, dragging her behind the lines of several spearman.
As she moved for the streets she could see dozens more dark armoured and robed soldiers charge towards the plaza. They had cleared out the orcs and Black Dogs quickly, could they have actually cleared the entire city? She looked to the one who had rescued her, his family name, Whiteford, she knew that name.
Where have I heard that name?
A flick of his scythe and the mercenary's head came off.
"How many more will you put between me and you?" Reginald asked, charging towards the mercenary commander. "You should realise by now that it will amount to nothing in the end, this paltry few won't protect you."
Vault had drawn his sword some time ago, but he had not risked to charge him. Fear or common sense, didn't matter which the problem remained the same, he had to cut through a few dozen more enemies before he could wrap his claws around the man's throat.
"Get in there!" Vault yelled, forcing some more of his men forward, sending them to their deaths so he wouldn't have to face his. "Surround him!"
"But boss, that won't…" He was dead before he could finish, Vault saw to that.
"Do as I say!" He roared, giving them no choice.
Fight and die or run and die. Reginald was not going to give him a chance to attempt the latter while his men did the former. With a few swings he had slaughtered those between him and his target, Vault was defenceless.
He raised his sword and tried to fight back, but he held out only a few moments. Vault parried several blows, was even able to evade one, but in the end he was knocked back by a strike and forced down to a knee. Had three more mercenaries not interfered Reginald could have taken his head then and there.
Reginald turned and cut all three down in a single swing, as they fell to the ground he heard the sound of hurried steps. Three steps specifically, and with a quick overhead swing he dropped his weapon right down on top of the mercenary commander. He let out a curse as the scythe arced towards him, had he not hastily raised his blade over his head to stop it he would have died.
"I won't die here! I will not die here!" Vault yelled.
"How certain are you of that?" Reginald replied, tugging the scythe back and pulling Vault back towards him.
As the mercenary stumbled back he was taken by the neck and forced to face him, he had a scowl on his face but there was fear in his eyes. Good, he wanted him to feel that, to know what it was like to be beneath his better and afraid of what would happen. He had done it to so many others, it was time he felt what it was like.
Reginald felt something tug on his scythe, looking down he saw his entire arm was ensnared, magical chains wrapping around it. A force slammed into his back, nearly making him stagger, turning he looked to see another familiar face. Kin, the bespectacled mage was there, his face scarred with horrible burns. It seems that he did not escape the fortress unscathed in Olga's exodus, she did mention she had trapped the mages in her library and left them to burn.
"Kin! Get this fucking thing off me!" Vault yelled.
"Do it now!" Kin yelled.
Reginald heard a roar, to his right, he glanced up and saw an orc roaring as it swung its axe towards him. Not even bothering to move he mentally created a dancing rune scythe at his side, halting the attack before it could connect. Releasing Vault he slashed out with his free claw and tore out the orc's throat, as it fell Vault attempted to retaliate. Reginald reached out and grasped the man's sword as he swung, immobilising it.
With a quick flash of emerald light the chains binding his arms were dissolved. He swung his scythe around, forcing Vault to let go of his sword and grab the scythe as it came towards him. Vault barely held onto it, actually nearly being toppled over, but there was no way the humans strength could overpower his own.
A few footsteps reached his ears, and with a growl he redirected his dancing rune scythe and Vault's sword behind him. He turned and glared at the attacker, two more orcs had gotten the jump on him, he was not focusing on the battle. Pushing the orcs axe off the sword he shifted his grip on the weapon and buried it in the demon's chest. As it fell more charged in, it was time he stopped playing with Vault.
With a flick of his scythe he threw Vault aside and then cut down two orcs and a mercenary before they could get the drop on him. He tried to rip the sword free from the orcs chest, but magical chains bound his arm and the blade to the orcs dead body. Dragging him to the ground and keeping him immobilised, and vulnerable to the army swarming around him.
He swung back, knocking aside an orc and then up and down onto the shoulder of a mercenary, he was cut in half from shoulder to groin. His ethereal scythe blocked one blow, but another connected before he could stop it. The axe slammed down onto his shoulder, turning to glare at the attacker he was almost surprised to see it was Vault.
The man seemed keen on taking him out.
"I'll fucking cut you…"
Reginald swung the hook on the end of his scythe and buried it into the mercenaries side, he grunted, then howled when he was lifted up and thrown forward. Twisting Nightrend in hand he cut down a few more orcs, but magical chains shot up and bound his scythe arm. Glaring at the interfering mage he channeled his power and shattered the chains restricting his arms.
Vault had staggered to his feet, holding his side, and then he was knocked off them again with the shaft of his scythe connected with his gut. He was thrown aside, landing heavily against the stone floor. Two mercenaries rushed towards their commander and dragged him away, through the advancing enemies that were now fighting to defend their injured master.
"My lord."
Reginald glanced back to see three of his warriors charge in, Derrick Thatch was leading them. The Captain of his honour guard, his personally routine of soldiers.
"We will clear the way." One said, charing into the fray and cutting down the enemies in her path.
He followed with the others, cutting through them to reach Vault. The enemy fell, quickly and efficiently, these were his best troops, personally trained and very good at killing. Vault was back on his feet once more, nursing a wounded side, but he was not going to stick around. The man knew he stood no chance, his forces were dying by the dozen and he had no way of facing them head on.
He would do the sensible thing. And that was run.
"Advance, kill everything." Reginald ordered, leading the charge after the treasonous mercenary.
They cut through the last of the orcs and mercenaries in front of the palace doors, entering they found Vault retreating with several of his soldiers. Orcs and a few misguided mercenaries remained behind, likely to sell their lives so their leader can escape. They moved, carving through the next batch of enemies, the more they killed the more his allies began to gather.
Already Abraham and his Adjudicators had arrived, the former noble was quick to get into the fighting. He did his work well, if he was here than the last of the royal family had been rescued. The rest of his forces would likely already be scouring the city for any resistance and survivors.
"Secure the palace." Reginald ordered, pulling his scythe from the corpse of an orc.
Abraham nodded his head, taking off with his forces to take out any survivors in the palace. They could secure this place, the only remaining bastion of the enemy in short order.
"You five, with me." Reginald said, turning to five of his honour guard.
They descended into the depths of the fortress, moving level by level and down into the depths of the dungeons, and then below even that. Vault was attempting to escape, and this was the only way he could do it. Beneath Feoh was a network of tunnels and chambers that acted as shelters if the city was attacked, they were old, so old they had been forgotten by almost everyone.
But not by the Black Dogs, who had used these same sanctuaries as ways to ferry their slaves and illegal goods into the city. Just as the Black Dogs had used this to sneak into the Palace so too had Reginald snuck in behind their defences. But unlike Vault he had made sure to keep this place secured, first he had killed all of the Black Dogs down here and then replaced them with his own men.
Reginald heard the grunts and fearful whimpering of his prey. He could smell the blood in the air, he followed it and soon enough came to find Vault. He was surrounded on all sides, his soldiers of the Hand of Suffering barred his way, he was trapped between fifty men. At their head was Captain Kibral Mesk, the former Knight of Ur glowered at Vault and held his sword at his side.
"Dammit, what the hell happened? How did you get into the city? Into the damn tunnels?" Vault hissed, holding his side as he glared at the Knight ahead of him.
"We came through the gates, through the secret passages, it was simple when your defences were not sealed. We walked right in." Reginald said, stepping out from the shadows, his guards following close behind him. "You were never one to think you could be beaten, you never defended your holdings, never prepared for anyone to face you. That has always been your greatest weakness."
"When my army gets here…"
"You mean the army that was wiped out at Geoff? Along with those traitors you sent to sabotage the bulwark? The one you send from Markward? They will not be coming." Reginald interrupted.
"You think this is over? I have thousands more, I got orcs, demons, fucking soldiers in every fortress in this nation!" Vault hissed.
"Of that I have no doubt, but I likely just wiped out the majority, if not the entirety, of the army you sent up to Garan. Meaning all you have left are your allies in those fortresses and maybe the border as well. Compared to how many we have killed here, they will be easy pickings." Reginald replied.
"I will make you pay for this, all of you!" Vault yelled, stealing a sword from one of his men.
"I am sure you will."
Olga looked around the Throne room, littering the ground were the bodies of dozens of mercenaries and orcs. Not a single one of Reginald's soldiers lay amongst the dead, they were skilled and dangerous. She had seen some fall, they died silently and without a gasp or cry, it was strange to see them pass on like that.
She had seen battle before, the screaming and clashing of steel rang through the air. None were silent or composed on a battlefield, at least not until she met the Hand of Suffering. Her people were calm and strong willed, but even they were not as quiet and undaunted in a battle when compared to these humans.
"Impressive, you took the entire city in less than an hour." Olga said aloud, turning and regarding the commanders of this assault.
Six stood before her, all of them were unique but at the same time similar, if you referred to their expressions and demeanour. Almost every man in this army had little to no expression, at least nothing that could be considered an emotion.
"The Black Dogs did not create any major defences after they captured the city, they did not think an attack would come a day after the city was taken." August Ballantine replied absentmindedly.
He was old, seventy she suspected, but he had power in his physique, power she did not think someone his age could hold. Especially humans. But in truth many of the people in the Hand of Suffering were different, so different from normal humans. It must be why she tolerated and even respected them so much, because they weren't like those arrogant human.
"Impressive none the less." Olga commented. "I am sure Reginald would be pleased."
"Yes, I am sure." August replied, appearing and sounding as if he didn't care if his superior was pleased or not.
Had she not known these men for some time she would have thought he was not so loyal to the werewolf. But the surprising thing was that he was loyal, without a shadow of a doubt, it was that they didn't get bogged down with laurels and praise and reward. They did their jobs, succeed or failed they kept doing their duty regardless, it didn't matter in the end. They fulfil their purpose and it didn't matter what else happened.
Ludo had been envious of such martial discipline, calling them exemplary soldiers. When it came time for Geoff to be assaulted Ludo had actually requested to join the siege. August had spoken with him for a few minutes and actually entrusted with him three companies worth of soldiers. The act alone surprised her, even more so that an entire company had been given to her as a protection detail.
His name was Glan, she didn't mind him, he was well spoken and too the point. Oddly enough he didn't ogle her like others did, but Chloe simply could not stand the young Knight. Even as he made attempts to broker a truce between himself and her it didn't seem that there would be peace between them. None the less, having a protection detail like that, it was a nice touch on Reginald's part.
"General." Markus Holmes stepped into the chamber, the young blonde haired man with a scar on his brow stepped up, expressionless as the rest of the Captains. "We have everyone. Shall we begin?"
"Yes, we shall." August said, looking to back toward Olga. "You're up your Majesty."
Olga smirked, she was going to enjoy this.
Olga stood on the steps of the palace, the same spot less than half an hour ago Vault had stood and proclaimed his superiority over all. Now she took his place, as the new ruler of this city and this entire nation, the people before her were now to be her subjects.
"Hear me people of Feoh!" Olga called out, amplifying her voice.
The people went silent, their frightened murmuring stopping as they looked towards her.
"You are free from the yoke of the Black Dogs, no longer will they trouble you. Them and their demonic spawn have been driven from Feoh, the city and the nation as a whole. You are safe, under the protection of the Hand of Suffering and I, Olga Discordia. The Queen of Garan and the Dark Elves." She said.
The name inspired some dread, people looking at her in fear, the idea of being in the presence of a woman who had been demonised by the very people that once ruled them. That would certainly paint her control of this city negatively, at least until she proved them wrong.
"I know you fear me, have heard stories and tales of my cruelty, that I will slaughter you all without a care. But you have nothing to fear, I despise not all man, I despise those who trample on the innocent and the good. Who put people like yourselves under their heel and expect them to obey." Olga said, spreading her arms as if to embrace them all. "No more. I will rule you alone, and you will never have to fear again."
As she finished carts were brought forward, from it food, provisions and supplies were given to the people. Families were given blankets and fresh fruit, the injured were tended to on the spot and given care, lost children and wives were brought back to their families.
"You will have all that you need, food, medicine, warmth, and your families. Your torment is over, I will see to it not another soul here suffers again. You have my word, as a Queen, and as your new protector." Olga said, giving a small bow to the people, a humbling gesture, one to charm the people.
Soon enough the entire plaza was turned into food distribution and triage centre, people were fed and treated for any injuries. Families that were missing loved ones were being consoled and aided in searching for those that were lost. The dead were brought in as well, cleaned and respectfully lain in the streets so they can be identified.
Olga turned around and moved for the palace. Stepping inside she moved for the throne room, finding the dead had already been removed, and surprisingly all the blood was gone as well. Standing beside the throne was Reginald, while the rest of his acolytes stood behind him.
"Well done." Reginald said, giving her a nod.
"Thank you, I must admit however I am surprised you are not taking any credit for this, or any of you." Olga said, laying a hand on the arm rest of the throne. "You could take this throne easily, you have an army, you have defeated the Black Dogs. Even I would not challenge it if you made such a demand of me. There is literally nothing stopping you."
"All except the will of the people." Reginald replied. "I cannot rule, for I am not what the people want. What they need."
Reginald had always affirmed his desire to fix this nation, to change it, to make reforms to its broken and corrupt structure. Making her take the role as a icon didn't seem to register for her, because the entire nation hated her for starting a war. But he seemed to have an idea that her being seen in a different light was important for his plans.
"These people are ruled through force of arms, do you think I can do it with only promises and kind words?" Olga asked.
"Hearts and minds are what influence nations, if they feel you are a better alternative than anyone else, they will not question you. If you show you are better than all other rulers, that you have their best interests at heart. They will not only let you rule them, they will respect your rule." Reginald replied, before gesturing to the throne beside himself.
Olga looked to it, before turning around and taking a seat. She reclined upon the throne, liking the way it felt and the sensation it gave. Power was something she always respected and craved, and Reginald certainly was delivering both in equal measure.
Whatever plan he had in mind she did not care, she trusted him, as strange as it sounded. She trusted that he would do more for this country than anyone else could, and while she had once wanted to see it burn. Perhaps sitting back and watching him cut away the cancer within it was a more logical choice.
She could not wait.
Reginald never failed to surprise her, and she certainly was in for a few surprises.
There you have it, sorry for not posting earlier and such but I have been busy catching up on Transcendence and Are We Alone so I was busy. Also as a little thing I decided to make small omakes at the end of some chapters just to have fun with it. Like what if someone other than Reginald came to Eostia. Here is one, a Battlelord of the Valajar. Enjoy.
A Good Orc?
Merrick poked the fire, pushing aside some of the embers and logs so that it could keep burning. He looked over to the other side of the fire and saw his little sister sleeping soundly, calm, he was happy about that.
They had fled from their village after it had been attacked by demons, mother and father had stayed behind to give them a chance to escape. Their village was gone, and everyone they knew was as well, that had been a week ago. They had been living out here avoiding the orcs and trying to keep themselves alive as they made their way down south and towards the villages that were protected by the Alliance.
But they were trapped behind the demon armies advance, from what they had heard before the village was overrun was that the surrounding villages had all been taken. In fact it was even rumoured that some of the villages to the south had been lost, meaning that their village had been cut off from the rest of the Alliance.
Guess they were right, considering there was nothing but orcs roaming these forests.
"I hope we get somewhere safe soon."
But really he had no idea if he wanted to be taken to an orphanage, to be put into one of those homes in the big Fortresses that took in war orphans. He had no idea how bad it was there, considering how overpopulated the Fortresses were, his own father had said it was better to live out here than in those cities.
Another part of him believed that it would have been better if they were near the city, at least then his mother and father would still be alive. Protect may come at a cost, but it was better than being out here and at the mercy of these orcs and demons. But he didn't know if it was true or not, didn't matter he supposed, they were going that way no matter what. They couldn't stay here.
Then something broke through the clearing, a large armoured warrior, on its shoulder was a deer carcass. Underneath its hood he could see the jagged teeth jutting from its bottom jaw, along with the pale grey skin of its flesh. It was an orc, but not like the ones he had been told about by his father or see when they attacked his village.
It wasn't a big bellied beast that slobbered like a dog, neither did it have glowing red eyes or horns on its head. Also it wore armour instead of rags like the rest of their kind, and from what he had seen when he first saw the creature it could fight.
"Are there anymore orcs?" Merrick asked, poking the fire some more.
The armoured orc grunted, that all but affirmed his question, that means that there would be another night of worrying if they would be attacked.
When he first met this orc he was running with his sister, fleeing from their village, and then they ran right into him and his large warg mount. At first he thought he was going to die, along with his sister, but instead of attacking them he had killed the orc pursuers and then rescued them. Returning back to the village and wiping out the orcs there.
No one was left alive, everyone was dead or had disappeared. Leaving the two of them alone with the pale grey orc that didn't talk much or give them much reassurance. Although after a while it became clear that they were safe with him, still didn't make them feel any better being surrounded on all sides by demons and orcs.
Although Joyce seemed to be trying to talk with him he was quiet most of the time, but he seemed to at least treat her better than him. Letting him ride on that massive warg of his and making small little items and trinkets for her as they were together. He didn't mind, in fact it was probably for that reason she seemed so calm despite the horror she had been through.
The first few days she had nightmares and even when awake would start crying without any warning, Merrick had tried to console her like any good brother, but it didn't do any good. But the moment that orc took over she started to improve, giving her toys and small little things to improve her mood, it certainly had helped.
Now he was preparing their meals for the next few days, he had brought back a deer and was skinning and butchering it. He knew what he was doing, a few minutes and its fur was gone, another after that organs were out, then finally he started cutting off bits of meat, hanging some over the fire to cook.
"Won't the orcs come if they see that?" Merrick asked.
"Killed them all." The orc said, gruff and no nonsense.
"You did?"
"Where do you think I got most of our supplies from?"
He didn't look up from his work or speak further, just continuing to butcher the deer and then salting the meet before placing them in jars filled with what he could on guess was rum. He didn't understand what he was doing, but he couldn't help but be interested. This orc kept doing some strange things, from how it stored their food to also how it prepared their shelter. Some sort of magic box that when pressed created a large underground dwelling for them to reside within.
Called it a Bunker-in-a-Box, apparently it was made by Goblins.
They ate and slept. Not a word was broken between them as they prepared to leave the next morning. The dwelling they slept in was retrieved and then both of them were put into the large wargs back. Joyce scratching the large wolf's head as she hopped on, she looked happier. Their protector took the reins and began walking them out of the clearing.
"Hey… what is your name?" Merrick asked, he had not bothered to ask before but maybe it was time he asked. He was going out of his way to keep them safe, so maybe he could at least call him by his name.
"Aklosh, Battlelord of the Valarjar."
There you have it, this is a possibility of instead of a Worgen Death Knight, but an Orc Battlelord of the Valarjar, who ends up stranded on this world.