I guess the Dragonborn won't die then; or if he does he'll encounter a certain someone with one of the greatest assets I have ever seen.
Since I made Siesta from Mundus; the earth tech that appears in Halkengenia will be replaced by something else. I'm sure that people would be able to guess whose technology replaces the earth technology. There aren't that many things that mysteriously disappeared in Tamriel anyway.
Are there detailed figures for the militaries of Halkengenia? I remember Albion having around 70,000 after they were invaded and the Germanian-Tristainian invasion force was over 100,000 but I can't seem to find much else in the Light Novels. Maybe I should watch the anime.
Also doesn't Louise seem a bit too okay after she just blows up the Lexington and the Albion fleet at Tarbes? There were probably thousands of sailors and sailors on board that died in the spell. I would have thought that she would be a bit more concerned by how she just killed thousands of people with families; thousands of families that won't see their husbands and sons again. Unless the trauma with killing people is a lot less than what I've heard of in Zero no Tsukaima. That doesn't excuse how Saito kills people and isn't disturbed by it.
Thonjolf strode confidently through the palace doors. Two regular Winterhold Soldiers flanking him on both sides.
They travelled undisturbed by the eyes of the curious servants and Nobles. At the heart of Tristain; there were given a wide berth by everyone; with the exception of the Imperial Guards.
It was a strange name for the division of the best mage knights of Tristain. The title: 'Imperial' suggested that Tristain was an empire when it was anything but. Realistically; they were actually a 'Royal Guard' instead of an 'Imperial Guard'.
He and his party came to a stop just outside of the throne room. Like the rulers in Tamriel; Tristain used its throne room as the place to deal with the daily business of ruling their demesne.
The parallels between their worlds were intriguing. Yet it disturbed him on how theirs was more advanced than the Empires. While our metallurgy was still superior due to the more variety of tougher and stronger material and our mastery and understanding of magic was like comparing a sun to a dim light; the technology here overall was far more advanced than what they had.
They had nothing to even compare with these 'banks' of theirs. Even without actual experience with them; he could already see the possible benefits of having such a facility. Winterhold's economy could expand greatly with their introduction into Tristain's economy.
But the most dangerous was their vessels and firearms. He had been introduced to the flying ships when it was first proposed.
Winterhold had a large cliff face near the College; the sheer drop lead to the Sea of Ghosts so if by some miraculous chance the fall didn't kill you; then the sea would.
Yet during the transition; it changed. The cliff was still there; but where a freezing cold sea with white ice sheets once lay there was now a green pasture land with a town in the distance.
While Winterhold couldn't use this at all; Tristain could. The sheer cliff face had a huge potential to be a major port for the magically powered ships. It goes without saying; that using flying ships to was better than using sleds and carts over snow.
But while they were of huge economic benefit; Thonjolf couldn't help but wonder what would happen if they turned their flying warships against them.
They would be too far up for the average archers; leaving only heavier equipment like trebuchets or ballista to hit them. And even those couldn't hold a candle to those 'cannons' they used.
The more powerful destruction spells could hit them; meaning that the more skilled mages could deal damage to them. But the majority of the College were scholars not warriors. While Winterhold did maintain a division of Battlemages; it was doubtful there were enough of them with sufficient magicka and skill to beat them.
The best deterrent against their fleet would be the dragons. While most now followed the 'Way of the Voice' he knew that they would support Winterhold if the Dragonborn calls for the.
Even if they were now pacifists; he doubted that they have so quickly forgotten the ways of battle and blood. One's very nature doesn't change that quickly; especially since Dragons are immortal.
"The Steward of Winterhold: Lord Thonjolf!"
And there was another strange thing about Tristain culture. It was quite uncompromising and titles in Winterhold were switched to something they were more familiar with. While it didn't really matter at all; it was just a bit… disconcerting hearing his new title.
He entered the throne room calmly and at an even pace. Numerous courtiers eyed him as he made a small bow to the Princess and the Cardinal. While he was aware the real queen of Tristain still drew breath; it had slightly surprised him to learn that she had all but relinquished her powers to her daughter and the Cardinal.
"Lord Thonjolf. We wish to inquire as to the nature of these complications the Lord of Winterhold has spoken of." started the Cardinal, straight to point.
Thonjolf hid a smile. Tristain was preparing for war. With Reconquesta rising in Albion and the rebel's goals apparently set on Tristain; it was a prudent move to mobilize the levies and armies of Tristain.
The Nord Jarl was more than disgruntled by the call for soldiers. The Princess and the Cardinal had suspiciously left out the fact that they might be at war in a few months during the negotiation of Winterhold's position.
But it was too late to change that now and the Jarl was too honourable to abandon Tristain. Instead it was best to make the best of the situation.
"My apologies; but with the ban on all our Elven citizens from leaving the boundaries of Winterhold; we are having logistic issues as a portion of our military is manned by Elves. Also since the majority of our battlemages are of Elven descent; it leaves them severely weakened as most are now unable to come to Tristain's aid." He said apologetically.
The issue of Elves was a sticking point; one that he was hoping to rectify. While it was unrealistic for the xenophobic society of Tristain to accept Elves so soon; if their common soldiers fought and died together with Elves they could hopefully be seen in a better light.
And the first step to that was to mobilize Elven soldiers. He had been telling the truth when he said there were logistic issue and the trouble with the battlemages. While it was possible that Tristain wouldn't let Elves help them; he highly doubted it.
Elves were, according to Tristainians, far above the power of humans where a single elf could defeats hundreds of humans. With a reputation like that and war looming on the horizon; the Princess would have to be an idiot to not enlist their aid.
Even if the Mer of Winterhold could not hold to such a reputation; they would be a welcome addition to Tristain's small military regardless. Tristain's standing army was disciplined and well equipped but they lacked the numbers to deter the Reconquesta threat. While the quality of troops played a huge role in determining a victor; the numbers that one can bring to fore mattered more. And it was this that Tristain was lacking in.
Levies would have to be mustered to fill the number difference. But as they would mostly be green peasants armed with scant armour and a rusty weapon; they could not be relied on to stand against the battle-hardened troops of Reconquesta, who are soon likely to come out of a bloody civil war as the winners.
While Winterhold's troops couldn't pull up Tristain's army to match Albions; they could offer the professional troops and war-mages that Tristain desperately needed.
"And how long will this problem take to resolve?" asked the Princess in concern.
"I estimate that it would take months for the men to become battle-ready with these new changes." That was a huge over estimation of the time it would take. But he needed them to either rescind or alter their policy on Elves. He was nearly completely certain that Tristain's need for a suitable defence against an aggressive Albion would overtake their natural loathing of Elves. By nature; people were pragmatic when circumstances forced to them be.
The crown princess of Tristain pursed her lips. She knew that she needed the army of Winterhold. With the exception of the Royal Army, the Knight Orders and the routines of a few prominent nobles; there was no real significant military presence in Tristain.
Often in the past; it was the political alliances that Tristain made with its more powerful neighbours which deterred wars. But now with their traditional ally of Albion being the threat and Gallia maintaining a neutral position with world events; they were forced to turn to Germania for assistance.
But their supposed alliance was taking far too long to be of use when Albion invades; as it has long proclaimed it would do when stated that they wanted to unite Halkengenia and start a crusade to the Holy Land. In fact if she suspected that Germania was intentionally stalling her marriage with their Emperor to test Albion.
She supposed it made sense. With Albion's naval superiority; it was near impossible to beat them in their own territory. It made military sense to crush them in a more favourable environment. And Tristain would be that battleground.
It would be killing two birds with one stone. Reconquesta invades Tristain. They would fight and it's likely that Albion would conquer Tristain; while weakening their own forces. With this; Germania could invade Tristain to 'free' its people. With Reconquesta already weakened; it wouldn't be hard to crush their military in Tristain.
No matter what happened; Germania would come out the most the winner. Germania would acquire Tristain from Albion since she and the Royal family would likely be dead. Reconquesta would be cowed back to recover in Albion and would likely self-implode before they could get another 'crusade' up. Even in Tristain somehow managed to defeat Albion and survive; Germania loses nothing at all but gains two weakened neighbours. In fact they could even send in their 'promised' aid when it becomes clear that Tristain would win to share in on the prestige and fame.
That was if Tristian was to win. And they they needed to build up its armies and fleets to even contemplate that.
"And this couldn't be sped up." She inquired of the steward of Winterhold.
The unassuming man shook his head. "Not without compromising the organization and discipline of our troops; especially since some of our officers are Elves."
Ah yes; their officers and leaders. It was alien in how their society could function without their leaders possessing magic.
Shaking the unnecessary thoughts out of head; she focused on the matter at hand. The man was indirectly giving her an ultimatum. Either she could allow their changes to occur which, according to the Nord, would take months which Tristain did not have or she could simply let their Elves leave Winterhold.
It was a matter of whether the populace would accept the Elves over their need to defend their country. She didn't know how much use their soldiers would be; but already trained divisions of soldiers and battlemages would likely be a great benefit to the defence of Tristain. But the question was whether Tristain's army would work with them.
The disciplined troops of the Royal Army and the Knights could be trusted to not start fights; but with the amount of levies that were being called up…
Infighting between them would be disastrous. She had received reports on those Tristainians that had attacked Elves in Winterhold. Bystanders had not hesitated to draw weapons and rush to the Elf's side to defend them.
She knew that trained soldiers would have more restraint than that; but if tensions did reach over boiling points; then the after effects would be far more lethal and widespread.
"You're Highness. I believe you are thinking the same thing as me. If so then know that you have my support. We need their soldiers and mages." whispered Mazarin.
She was slightly surprised by the admission from the architect of the original decision to confine the Elves to Winterhold. The Cardinal was a man of the Church and like all the devoted; they shared a common hatred of the Elves in the Holy Land. But it appears he was Tristainian before a man of the Church.
Yes. Hastily trained and poorly equipped peasant levies couldn't match professional soldiers. And it helped that Tristain's treasure wouldn't have to pay for the upkeep of Winterhold's troops. That was one benefit of having Winterhold as a 'protectorate' instead of assimiliating them into Tristain; though she admitted that Tristain was doing a poor job of being the 'protector'.
She resolved to make up for that in the future. It would forever be a stain on Tristain's name if they failed to help their new protectorate.
"So your forces are unable to marshal due to the Elves within their ranks. Is that correct?" she asked.
Thonjolf nodded; the smirk he held hidden away behind a face of impassiveness. "Yes your highness."
She nodded solemnly. She could already envision the disputes she would have with what she was going to do. But they could be put aside until Tristain's security could be assured.
"Then you may consider the law confining Elves to Winterhold void for the time being. This is exclusively for the Elves within direct service to Winterhold." she declared. Some of the higher ranking nobles nodded to her decision; they had already seen it coming a mile away. Those younger nobles of lesser rank took this less gracefully. But she knew they wouldn't challenge her over this, at least not publically.
"Thank you; your highness; but I must ask for how long this period would last. It would be inconvenient if Elves were caught outside Winterhold's borders when you reinstate the law." said the Nord.
It was obvious that he was pushing for a complete removal of the law. But she couldn't let that happen just yet. This would be yet another goal of hers in the future: the peaceful integration of Elves within Tristain.
She already knew what the Church's response to this would be. No doubt that they would call for the destruction of the Elves and all those that associated with them. And when the time comes; she knew which side she would stand on. Tristain would not abandon its allies.
Worst case scenario would be the Church of the Founder and by extension Romalia would call upon a Holy Crusade to eradicate Winterhold and Tristain if need be. In this case it wouldn't be military action that threatened Tristain but internal dangers from the most devoted followers of the Church.
Henrietta knew that, despite the Church's insistence otherwise, the commoners weren't too religious. It stemmed from the fact that the religion centred on the Founder wanted them to constantly use their lives serving the nobles.
No; the threat came from the nobles themselves. Already dissidents were voicing their discontent at her tolerance of the Elves in Winterhold. And while the Reconquesta threat still united all of Tristain's aristocrats under her; she couldn't help but wonder what came next.
"You need not worry; Lord Thonjolf. We will give ample time for them to return if we were to reinstate the law." she replied.
More than a few sharp nobles caught onto the implications of her words. Their less experienced peers were surprised by the sudden shift in their colleagues but couldn't identify the message she gave.
"Many thanks Princess Henrietta. That is all Winterhold can ask." The Nord finished. His goal achieved; he quickly made his retreat from the room.
As soon as he had left the room; the royal steward stepped forward to announce the next petitioner.
"Count La Ramee, Commander in Chief of Tristain!"
There was mixed reception to that. For someone of high military rank to personally come meant that something of great importance had occurred.
The Admiral of Tristain's fleet entered the room. He was dressed in a standard officer's uniform; numerous medals of leadership, bravery and skill decorated it. A extravagant Admiral's cape was thrown over his shoulder; it being the only sign, alongside his medals, of his high rank.
In contrast to the Steward of Winterhold; La Ramee took a deep bow to the Princess. "Your Highness; I bring important news of Albion."
Henreitta's demeanour turned grim. Recently; any news of Albion was never good. A quick memory of Wales flashed through her mind. She fretted as she remembered that Newcastle was the last Royalist stronghold and… that was where Wales was.
"Has Newcastle fallen then?" she grimly asked of the Admiral. That was likely the only important news that Tristain's Commander in Chief would bring; that or news of Albion invading.
Surprisingly; he shook his head in negative. With a glint in his eyes; he told of what happened in Newcastle and the failure of Reconquesta.
I know that many people would think that the thousands of mages in Winterhold would be a huge factor in a battle. But you have to remember that most of them are not soldiers. The College of Winterhold is a facility dedicated to furthering the arts of magic; not teaching people how to fight with magic. While I'm not saying they don't know how to fight; it's unreasonable to expect all of them to be capable of fighting in a large scale battle.
That being said; warriors and mages aren't the only thing that Winterhold can bring to war. Healers, potions, enchanted weapons, and if Gah-Ei gets involved; then powerful dragons. I'm debating as to whether staffs need someone to have magic to use but if anyone else has any ideas as to what else Winterhold can bring to help Tristain do tell.
Am I spelling Reconquesta wrong because Microsoft Word always wants to fix it to Reconquista