Currently giving his report was Count Faringheim. The King of course, held great interest in this report in particulair for it was quite the oddity. A single noble of his Kingdom being able to use magic was out of the ordinary but being able to kill 35 men and route the imperial forces that came to meet his own men was quite the accomplishment.
"Following the battle, Baron Montserrat used the spell [Fireball] to route the enemies he came into contact with. During the last annual war with the Empire, he had given the suggestion that the spears of the Kingdom be dipped in... substances that would make them infectious, as to cause sickness in the enemy camp following each battle. I did so with my own spears at his advise. As per the reports from our sources in the Empire, disease now eats at the hearts of the legions.
If we all did so then the Empire would be pressed to end the wars as a single scratch on their soldiers would prove costly. Being that the legions are both the Empire's army and main peace keeping force against monsters, the damage cannot be understated if they were hampered in their duties to such a degree." the Count reported.
From the royal faction murmurs of agreement and compliments could be heard. Although the nobility typically looked down on the likes of magic casters, if this one was powerful enough then he could do enough damage. A one off sort of deal,
there was no need to change their general opinion that magic was weak to sword and arrow. The fact that the Baron was one of the vassals of Count Faringheim was the sole reason for this though, because Count Faringheim belonged to the royal faction and as such made his victories their own. The noble faction called out about how it was nothing special and that using such a unsightly tactic was sure to bring negative connotation on the armies of the Kingdom.
To Gazef Stronoff however, the man was surely quite intelligent. To come up with such a tactic would mean Baron Montserrat was a scholar. If he could cast magic to kill so many men then he was powerful to boot. What the Count reported next though, made both his and the King's opinion of Philip sky rocket. "In addition to this, before going to the Katze Plains he was healing over 100 commoners in the city. Following the battle he visited the various camps of wounded and began to heal them to the best of his ability until he ran out of mana and has been doing so for the last week."
The King nodded in approval as both the nobles on both the factions began to give their own criticisms of such a thing. Those of the noble faction argued that such a thing was most improper for a Lord of the Kingdom and he should have come to heal the few wounded nobles who were objectively worth more to the Kingdom than the commoners. The royal faction argued that healing the commoners was robbing the temple of coin. The King and Gazef both thought that what Philip had done was truly a good act of charity.
"We shall reward the Baron for his good efforts, and make a note to keep an eye on his future endevors. Next year we will attempt this, trick of his to increase Imperial casualties and convince them of the benefits of peace.
Let us continue with the reports on the other actions of lords." The King declared to the agreement of a few individuals. The reports continued, yet none were as note worthy as this one.
xxx
Philip was on top the of world as he rode with Count Faringheim in his carriage. The count told him about how the King himself approved of Philip's valorant actions on the field of battle. They arrived at the Golden Pavilion, and entered one of the fanciest rooms Philip had ever found himself in. The room itself was decorated with such things that made Philip feel a pauper even in his finest clothing handed down from his father. They continued into a back room where the Count and he exchanged pleasentries. When the wine was brought out, Philip made a daring manuver. He swirled it and sipped just as he had seen some of the more well off noble do in his youth. "Hmmm. Grape and... aged yes?" Philip asked. The Count burst out laughing at Philip's "joke". "Yes, yes you're right." the Count declared.
"Ah. If only men became better with age. Instead they become old and decrepit no?" Faringheim continued. "We all must die some day is what the Slane Theocracy says." Philip frowned at the Count's words. Die? He couldn't do that. The wizard Fluder Paradyne had lived for over 200 years. That he did know. When Philip was in a proper position, he would simply bargain with the Empire for the secret of youth. Yes indeed, Philip would never die. Such a thing was proposterous. He wouldn't suffer the thought. "Yes, that's right, though perhaps there is a way past such a thing by means of magic."
Philip said as he contemplated the price he could offer the Emperor. Faringheim looked startled. As though Philip had jumped ahead and predicted his next choice of words. "Y-yes that is the case! Infact, I have a book here from some friends of mine who have an interest in that very same thing." With that Faringheim produced a book with a black cover and pages more on the older side. "I've never been one for magic myself, but perhaps you could get some use out of it? I've never read it myself." The count chose to make those last words clear incase Philip decided to turn the book in. That way he would have an out. "A gift from you Count Faringheim? I would be honored to accept." Philip said eyeing the sinister looking book.
The rest of the evening was evening was spent eating their fill of food Philip could never have afforded before and drinking wines more expensive than he had ever had before.
xxx