Eostia: Harem Quest

by EostianScribe

The Gods have given mortals the power of The Gamer as a pass time. A hobby. A means to compete and relax. One goddess, however, sees it as a means of salvation; starting with one world. As such, she rolls the dice... (Harem, Citrus and Eventual Dark Content Warning)

81. Act III-Ch VIII: The Siege of Garan

[ - Author's Note - ]

Well... Here we go now... The Dread Field has a counter and it's the Eostians time to go on the offensive. And it's going to be a big surprise to the Garanians when it happens! Let's go!

Nothing too much here, let's just go!

[ - Act III - Chapter VIII: The Siege of Garan - ]

To many on the outside the class mobility within Eostia seems unusual if not counter-productive; why allow a base peasant to rise up to the level of a knight, a noble or even a leader of the great, seven kingdoms of the alliance? Why not reaffirm some required Right to Rule via a bloodline or such. There are, in fact, a number of reasons. The first of these is the simplest; it encourages a man to work harder for his lord, take risks to better himself and improve his lot. As the peasantry improves their lot and gains wealth they have more to spend improving the classes over them who have more to spend and so on; the stronger nation's base the stronger the nation is as a whole and a nation's base is it's people.

Secondly those of remarkable ability and talent doesn't always appear from the nobility. Indeed as the commoner class is, well, common the chances for an exceptional person to be among them is greater. As an example very few Dragonborne come from the nobility; the vast majority came from the commoner class. Allowing these people to rise above their peers to higher classes bring benefits as well by letting them acquire more on their merits and abilities.

Third is the most important; it keeps the nobility from becoming too complacent. A good lord will not be replaced, a competent lord has a low risk of replacement but an incompetent lord runs a higher risk of such. Indeed, the idea they might lose their status ensures mostly competent leadership from the nobility. In a perverse way it also ensures few nobles will push for limiting this option; someone who would risks looking unstable and some lords will try and undermine their rivals and see them deposed.

Another, unintended, side effect is that new blood and new ideas will rise up as well and while there is never a promise that the new is better then the old that it can happen ensures the old is always tested.

~Dominic James Pencraft, The Eostia Historia

[-]

After the Council things got busy. Myself, Mokira and Miria left back for Mungale; they came back to spend time with Miika before shit and fan met but I had work to do. It wasn't just the stones I was there to handle; I wanted to train like hell while the time allowed. Not just sparring and what not to get more XP or stats, although I did both, but I was more focused on raising my Combat Arts and spells levels; including Dragon's Breath to level five to get the Deep Lungs upgrade to reduce it's cool down.

To my surprise I ended up getting Shadowblaze Weapon and Dark Flare to level four. That meant both could be upgraded and both bore the same upgrade; Darkened Flames and Consuming Shadow which increased the damage of lingering flames and increased the damage against shields respectively. I chose Darkened Flames for Dark Flare and Consuming Shadows for Shadowblaze as I felt that would be more useful right now.

In case you're wondering both Holy Flare and Holyblaze Weapon were up to level four as well but only shared one upgrade; Purging Flames with increased the damage of lingering flames. Holy Flare had the choice of Burning Fervor which allowed any ally in the blast zone to both replenish their mana from the attack but also gain a short damage buff while Holyblaze gained Blessed Fervor granting the user a damage buff when near an ally; I chose both Fervor upgrades as I felt it would be good to be a team player.

Another that would become upgradable was Physical Burst; I got it to level three and had the choice of upgrading with I Can Take It (Reduce the strain of the spell by fifteen percent per the spell's level) or I Am Unstoppable (Increase the spell's boosts by an additional five percent per the spell's level, plus an additional five if maxed out). I chose I Am Unstoppable and adjusted the spell set to my stone's armor to reflect it; after all thanks to that the strain was less important now.

Also on the upgrades list was Tailwind with Keep Going and Fly High; reducing the mana cost and increasing speed while also bolstering flight speed. I worked hard to get it to level five for both; intending to upgrade the flying wagons with it once the chance came up.

Aside from a few spells, like Holy Flare Spread, the bulk of my spell list was at level three now which maxed them out. I had intended to do so earlier but between general life, travel, work, crafting flying wagons, the Shining Gemini and such I didn't have the time to just knuckle down and grind. More over all current rulership responsibilities was taken over by Sora for the time being so that was another burden off my shoulders. It occurred to me I could spend time expanding my spell list but dismissed it; I had a plenty flexible set of abilities as it stood and mastering them was better then wasting time searching for something new and practicing it. More over I had to get ready for the chance that I might end up fighting Olga Discordia in combat.

While she had been... cordial in our meeting she did leave a hell of a threat last time. More over I was bracing for the fact this could well be the toughest battle I've had yet; tougher then Blood Caller or Halbert. At level fifty five she was, as I can recall, the fourth most powerful person I've met; behind Celestine, Vult and a god damned dragon. I was not looking forwards to that; I had punched above my weight before but this was a different kettle of fish. That said I had two things going for me.

First was her Dread Field Connection trait which reduced her Magical Power by thirty percent. If she kept the field up when we met that means she would be deliberately gimping herself and as a sorceress Mag was one of her most important stats. The other was she was suffering... some sort of condition. What I didn't know beyond that it reduced her level and, ergo, stats. The question was by how much? If it was just by five or ten I'd be in trouble still, if it was closer to fifteen then I might have a fighting chance. Still if and how we'd see each other wasn't fully under anyone's control. For now I'd worry about what I could control.

In regards to the filter stones the maids were handling that. I ordered the maids take four hour shifts to get eight hours of enchanting in a day... they ignored that and went in six hour shifts for a total of twelve hours a day. Even they wanted to do their part it seemed; the only bottleneck was stones to enchant That led to the flying wagons arriving with crates full from across Eostia meaning there were only brief lulls. I also took the chance to upgrade the enchantments of each Cloud Rider that landed before sending them off; by all reports it gave a nice speed boost. Soon we had stockpiles of thousands of stones and started to ship them out as needed. By the end of the fourth day of enchanting we had just short of one hundred and thirty thousand stones and we would make an additional ten thousand as spares; every solider, mercenary and support personnel would have a stone.

Speaking of; everyone else was busy as well. I learned that while I was cracking the Dread Field issue a batch of women escaped from a Garanian city; it seemed two dark elves had a spot of conscience and freed some four odd dozen women used as cattle. The slaves were mostly human but also a high elf who told the story of what happened. The women would be cared for, fed mana potions and taken to Ferra for treatment where they would recover... although some more fully then others, I was sure. Spells to induce abortions were placed to rid them of potential Aberrant cargo and those too far along had early labors induced instead to rid them of the same.

That led us to learning that the city in question had a sewer that led inside via the outside. According to Claudia the idea of using it to infiltrate the city was tossed about but dismissed; the thought was beating Garan on the battlefield would send a bigger message. That said troops would be placed at the mouth of the old sewer to catch anyone trying to run and they'd be searched for any enemies trying to hide or using them to move around the city once we entered the city proper; assuming everything went according to plan.

Of course to get to that point we had to get to the city.

To that end scrying devices and elves in the flying wagons were used to scout ahead, find good roads and paths to the opposing capitals for the upcoming march and the troops were drilled hard. There was a large moment of doubt in the common solider once they learned where they were going but one smart commander had the idea of requesting the recording of my test at the Dark Citadel and played it all day, everyday during training. Once his men caught on morale soared and other commanders followed the example. Soon men were getting their filter stones, a cord and glue to make necklaces (Although if they had other means of securing them they were allowed to do so) and were chomping at the bit to get going.

They weren't the only things arriving; Channer's shielding orbs arrived as well. Normally these were made to protect troops against arrows and weaker spells and maybe had an effective range of some hundred feet depending on the power of the spell orb (Or, rarely, spell stone) set to it; they would also weaken other, more powerful spells or set them off early. As it turns out Channer's filter orbs had a range measured in miles due to how little power was needed for the base spell; that meant one could cover an entire city by itself. A handful could cover the whole damned battlefield. Honestly he made a genius call with that one and I told him as such.

I would eventually, by the end of the week, ride out to the camp on Cloud Rider number eight with Mokira, Miria, a few more troops... and White Peach... Yeah...

As it turns out Celestine wanted me near the front of the march and on horseback to be better seen due to my efforts in defeating the Dread Field. I didn't need to fight from horseback, just travel on horseback. Naturally I opted to ride White Peach and Serra pulled out something I didn't know we had; horse armor. More surprisingly mythril horse armor. There was plating on the head, over and under the neck, over the chest, shoulders and flanks, plus plates to go over the shins. A skirt of chain mail covered the sides and hung low enough to cover the upper legs. It was all painted a bright white with a blue, gold trimmed saddle and, at the top of the head armor, bore a long, horn made of golden mythril. Supposedly it was commissioned by Victor Noxdecus, one of my ancestors who was a crusader for his own steed and he spent a lot on it; it was made of pure mythril and not a steel/mythril mix making it somewhat light.

I asked my father about how he paid for it given mythril armor is expensive, mythril horse armor is more expensive and slapping a golden mythril horn on it to make it look like the unicorn on our house emblem would make it more expensive still and we were, traditionally, a middling house. The answer? He couldn't really and nearly bankrupted the house. It was his deeds in the first Garanian incursion and some choice spoils of war that kept the house solvent and bounced back a bit. It was rarely used after him (Because house of mages...) but it was used by some members and choice knights. Yeah.

Currently the aim was to take the five main territories in Garan that was ruled over by their High Houses. All of Feoh would march on Blackshard as Ur and elements of Geofu went to Onyxcloak, the rest of Geofu and Ken to Bladeguard, Rad and elements of Ansur to Widowtrail and rest of Ansur and Thorn to Scalefire Highpeak. Celestine and Claudia, however, was staying with the Ur/Geofu forces to march on Onyxcloak; the capital was in the west of the territory and was the closest to a southwestern city in Blazecrown that we thought Olga was staying at as a base of operations. It was worried Olga could be visiting the city and even if she wasn't she might be part of the counter-attack.

The plan was simple; march straight to the opposing capitals while any towns and villages were to be ignored unless they A) offered significant opposition or B) housed significant military forces. Instead we'd reach the cities, lay siege, defeat whatever forces were about, claim the cities and annex them, at least temporarily. Once held we could use the captured cities as leverage to both bring Olga to the negotiating table and give us something to hold for good peace terms. Of course that was the plan; didn't mean it would happen.

I had a day to rest and another to train with White Peach (Valora Onglave was kind enough to train me for a day to fight from horseback; just in case) and then we marched to the northeast through Blackshard's southeastern most part and towards Onyxcloak's west. I had also adjusted my armor's center spell stone to have a filter spell in it and, thanks to a helpful smith, I had Peach's armor fitted with a blue, golf ball and a half sized spell stone set to her chest in the shape of a half dome; I added a Physical Boost spell to it as well as a few other little things. She couldn't use it (At least I didn't think she could; animals being able to manipulate mana and use enchantments isn't unheard of) but I could use it for her. Either way she seemed proud as we marched. Moreover I was a bit proud too; for the first time this war I'd be fighting under the House Noxdecus Banner proper.

The call was made to transfer command of the First Lyran Guard to House Noxdecus and it was a good call; the Lyrans were very melee heavy and could offer protection to the archer heavy Mungale forces. I had spoken well of the Lyrans to my folks and so while the two forces didn't mesh perfectly right off the bat respect and professionalism made them comrades quick enough. They weren't the only unit attached to us; some five hundred Black Dogs were also mixed in to... a less cohesive level. That said the plan was to use them as flankers and side guards so that was fine. As for their boss; Vult was leading in the Bladeguard theater and had his two aides in Foeh and Thorn.

Vult was an... odd man. We spoke a bit before he left camp for Caul and while we got along there was a sense I had that I couldn't trust him; not fully anyway. I couldn't put my finger on it beyond the rather... lousy reputation his Black Dogs had; they were good at fighting and getting the job done but as far as things like 'honorable conduct' went they weren't well regarded and they treated the Myghter Accords like suggestions. Needless to say that he ran the lot of scoundrels it reflected poorly on him.

Anyway; for the march I was in the lead with the Mungale forces (With the Lyrans folded in, as mentioned) with Houses Blitzhaus and Onglave flanking us as we followed directly behind Celestine, Claudia and Prim who were escorted by the Dawn Templars (Shield and Sword Divisions) and the Blossoming Knights who were at the point. Directly behind us and ensuring that we'd only sneak up on the dead and deaf was House Galeraven who was playing bagpipes and drumming as we marched. No, I am not kidding. The best way I could put it was it sounded like a remix of Scotland the Brave which is a hell of thing to march too.

No, seriously, don't fuck with a nation who's idea of a sport is tossing utility poles.

Behind them would be Houses Terrasa, Caesarea, Rexvenandi, Rongan, Victor, Sunfield, Pineforge, Rongera with Erotique and Highreign in the rear... A fine rear, I'm sure...

We ended up in a dark elf town come the third day and they were... surprised to see us, to say the least. The town wasn't overly remarkable beyond a lot of the buildings were painted dark blues, reds, purples and plain old black. Some wooden buildings, some stone, some stone on the first floor and wood above it. Rather then roofs with center peaks they were raised on the front and lower on the back. What seemed like gutters let a spout one one end with some having barrels under them. Honestly it was... a normal town, for the most part.

Anyway, the people of the town mostly came out to look, wonder what in the hell was going on as we passed while some people who looked like they were upper crust came out, saw a massive army of Eostians heading by and decided it was a good time to leave northwards and nope out. Come the end of the day we made camp near another, larger town and the same thing happened; their nobility opted to leave and everyone else was wondering what was going on... although a few of their number would approach the camp, specifically the merchant caravans that were coming along.

As it turned out Garanian coin was about the same weight as Eostian (Just more oval in shape then round) and some people were curious on what humans ate and did. My friend Edmund had one of his wagons here (Although he himself wasn't) selling Battle Fleet games, cigars, drinks, decks of cards and all other sorts of little distractions and comforts soldiers wanted. The man at the wagon looked to their coin, said 'good enough' and sold his wares to them. There was also a few men who seemed like town militia who stood before the town looking like they were ready to shit themselves but kept their distance until one man who seemed to be their leader approached. He was told, in simple terms, 'don't fuck with us and we don't fuck with you' and he seemed to accept that; enough so that when men visited the town they were unharassed.

That's not to say there wasn't any glaring, rude comments and the like but no one picked a fight; our commanders were strict on no one starting trouble and the dark elves... didn't want to be on the wrong end of 'bigger army diplomacy', we'll say. I myself went to the town (Riding White Peach and with Makoto and Akanji in escort) to see what was about with much of the townsfolk giving me a wide berth unless I walked up to them. I did find a general store and, after some shopping I found a map and cloth lined box of beef jerky that smelled of a strong spice and when I asked the nervous shopkeeper he did say it was very spicy indeed. I bought both (And left a tip) and looked around some more before heading back. I took the map to Celestine and while it didn't show any landmarks or details we didn't know already we did learn the name of our destination; Mooncast City.

The march would pick up the next day as the Galeraven's forces kept their marching song up (I'd learn the name for it here was 'Oh Ye of the Brave Highlands' which was... fitting) as we kept moving northeast. After a few more days we were out of Blackshard and into Onyxcloak and not long after that the walls of Mooncast City was visible.

We would soon arrive and the real battle would start... one I don't think Garan was ready for.

[-]

Nightsong Palace, Mooncast City
Territory of Onyxcloak, Kingdom of Garan

Czarina blinked once.

She blinked twice.

She blinked a third time before speaking her conclusion. "These humans must be utterly and completely insane." She let off. The Command Post of Mooncast City bore a tower in one if's corners that allowed someone to climb up some seventy feet to look out well beyond the city walls on the off chance something approached. In truth she expected only harpies at most but she had been receiving reports over the last few days telling her that not only had the Eostian entered Garan but they were marching on her city. Indeed; they marched playing some obnoxious sounds that might have been called music by... someone, as they approached. Lowborne fled their towns to avoid being razed with their holdings to the cities as reports flooded to her desk. "What are these fools thinking? What is driving them to suffer the Dread Field in a mad assault?"

"I do not know, my Matron... but I suppose it doesn't matter." Turning to look behind her she saw the two she brought with her; her niece Bronka and her city's commander, Vera Scoursong who was speaking. "But the enemy is here now and has come in force. The numbers are unsure but by my reports our forces are even; or nearly so anyway."

"If they are here we crush them." Bronka snorted out as she crossed her arms. "Is that not simple enough? They must be suffering the field's effects so even numbers simply means we have the advantage."

"Mmmm... We should, shouldn't we..?" Czarina let off as she frowned. Indeed; they by all right should have the advantage here. Something the humans must have known; they weren't that stupid so something was clearly amiss. Caution was very much warranted... and yet...

And yet as the new Matron of her house she could not afford to show weakness and she had to showcase her power by crushing her foe. Whatever they were up to it didn't matter; Czarina would need to challenge them, there was no choice in the matter.

"They should arrive in the morning. We'll meet them outside of the wall; that will make them soak in the Dread Field a little longer." The Matron said before looking to Vera. "Call all available forces and reserves. I want everyone we've got ready to fight at sunup; we're going to destroy them here, once and for all." She said as she clutched her hand.

"One of the Matron Killers are in that force as well." Vera said as Bronka's head snapped to look at her, eyes wide. "It'll be an ideal chance to slay him as well."

"Agreed." Czarina let off with a smile. "Let any dirtborne know I'll bring anyone who can slay him up to the lowborne. Any lowborne or highborne will be rewarded amply as well. No matter what happens we'll get rid of the Blue Terror and make an example of him." She let off a smirk. If anything the ability to claim the head of one of the Matron Killers would be more then enough to ensure her position as Matron.

Vera smirked and clenched her own hand. The embarrassment she suffered at the hands of the queen's pet halfborne had caused a loss of faith in her by her underlings. The wounds she was given had healed and her armor was repaired but it didn't change what she suffered. She was eager to reestablish her position of dominance in the ranks and if she could be the one to drive a blade to the Blue Terror's heart that would lift her to a true hero of the realm and none would question her authority again; even the queen's bloody pissborne wouldn't think of crossing her once more.

Bronka glared as she looked to the army on the horizon before lifting her hand and clenching it. This time... this time her revenge would come... She would take his head and end his life... the hate in her heart would see her through, she was sure of it...

[-]

We stopped a few hours march from Mooncast City for the evening and set up camp. Oddly enough we had an... odd procession with us; a collection of dark elf civilians that were curious about what was going on. They kept a distance but the bulk seemed to be merchants and the like; my guess was they wanted to trade with us until the battle and pick up whatever was left when, ya know, people died.

So some of them were vultures... Not so different from some people, then.

"How goes you, Lord of Seven?" I heard as I turned my head. I was seated on a log outside of my tent before a campfire as I was reading one of my books as Akanji moved over; sitting across from me on another log. I sighed at the new nickname I had; I don't who started it but apparently someone said 'seven thousand scholars worked for seven hundred years failing to do what he did in seven days' and somehow because of that I was dubbed 'the Lord of Seven' or 'the Seventh Lord'... never mind it wasn't seven days...

"Well enough, I suppose. Still nervous with what's coming." I didn't feel jittery in the least despite how deep we were into the field. "I'm not overly fond of the idea that we might need to cause significant damage to a city to beat an enemy into submission but we have to end this war sooner or later."

"War is... a messy thing." Akanji said with a nod as she pulled her cloak around her. "I do not like it... but when it declared upon you what choices are then but fight, die or suffer? I agree this war must end... but the people who have not declared war should not suffer for it."

"I agree... but in some ways war is worse then hell; it doesn't care who goes to it." I said as she nodded once.

"Am I interrupting?" I heard, looking off as Aeris wandered over. She moved to sit down to my left as her staff hovered with her and stood behind her.

"No, it wasn't an private talk or the like." I replied as Akanji nodded. "We were just mentioning that war sucks."

"Hear, hear." Before I knew it Tiffany had moved to sit on my other side and she wasn't alone; Cress and Miria was following along as well sitting by Akanji, Makoto on their heels and carrying a crate. She would set it down and pull out a series of bottles; each holding some ale. She started to move about and handed one out to each of us (With two bottles left over) before sitting down next to Aeris. "I wanted to get everyone all together, well as many as I could... I mean Riri isn't here." I nodded and opened my bottle as I sighed.

"It is what it is. Everyone..." I began, holding the bottle up. "Whatever happens we're all going back to Mungale together, alright?"

"That's the plan." Miria said with a grin. "I've got a new sister to hang with and teach crap to; I'm not dying out in this place."

"I have no intention of meeting my end either." Makoto added as she smiled back. "Let us see the end of this war and see peace come!" Soon everyone reached out and clanked bottles together before sipping their drinks.

"Peace... be good to have, eh?" I let off with a grin as I looked to the distance; the city of Mooncast at the horizon... We'd be going there soon... and one way or another this war would change.

[-]

Come the morning we marched to the outskirts of the opposing city; stopping for a brief rest and an early, cold lunch before arriving. The city walls were... weird. It looked like someone pulled the city walls off, turned them inside out and put them back where they were. Really they were not set up for a defensive siege... to the annoyance of someone...

"Ahhhh, come on! I come 'ere ready to set me machines up and to work and we see that shite!?" The man in question was five foot even in height and a dwarf with short red hair under a skull cap but a beard in three, thick braids that fell to his groin. He wore leather armor that was colored red and bore the emblem of House Galeraven over his shoulder as he crossed his arms. A heavy warhammer was set to his back and a heavy looking belt with pouches loaded with tools was around his waist. "What a waste!"

"Look at it this way, Thurston." I replied as I sat on White Peach and looked down to him from the saddle. "You can save your energies into making it a proper defensive wall once we capture it."

"...but I like breakin' things..."

(-)

Name:Thurston Bjorneved
Title:Siege Master
Class:Warrior
Level:22
Alignment:Friendly
Reputation:56
Status:Healthy, Annoyed, Battle Ready

Known Traits
[?]
[Drop the Hammer] You are adept at hammers and maces. +2 Damage to all one handed hammers or maces. +4 Damage to all two handed hammers or maces

[Can We Build It?] You can reinforce structures with whatever is available to you and make repairs quicker. +20% resistance to damage to all structures you work on
[Saw Dust to Saw Dust] You can see the structural faults of buildings with greater ease. +10% Damage to Structures

Originally a carpenter tasked with building forts and fortifications he found more joy in building and testing siege weapons and bringing buildings down. Transferring to the military as a siege engineer he's practiced how to smash even the strongest of structures to rubble.

(-)

I rolled my eyes a bit as I looked out to the enemy force as I moved to where I needed to be on the line. They were set up with their Aberrant in the front flanked by conscripts. More elite forces seemed to be either to their sides or behind the lines. To their credit they did put their men on the walls with bows... and there were no crenelations to help protect them. Channer's filter orbs would be in range of their Aberrant so any poisoned mana in them was already filtering out of them.

Interestingly enough off to the sides of the city at a considerable distance was... a series of what seemed like dark elf nobility having picnics. Yes, people came out to set up blankets, tables, chairs and more with drinks and food to watch the coming battle. I heard that people did something like that in the American Civil War, at least until everyone realized that maybe being around cannon and rifle fire when you didn't need to was a dumb idea. They had some guards with them and General DuLouvenoir approached them briefly with an escort, confirmed they had no intention of joining the battle and left them be; they would be ignored unless they did something.

Celestine was at the front of the lines this time, as were Prim and Claudia and their escorts. All of the forces we brought had troops in the main battle group and reserves. We had some twelve thousand ready to fight, some eight thousand in reserve ready to react and the opposing force was some twelve to thirteen thousand strong so without the reserves the fight was even. A Sky Eye showed us more were inside the city proper but getting any accurate numbers was hard; five thousand to ten thousand was the guess.

The archers were setting up and ready to fire and I too a moment to look over to the opposing lines as they had some... interesting looks to them; the Aberrant were clearly chuckling and smirking as they banged weapons together, to their shields or any armor they had and it was obvious that they clearly were eager to fight. What seemed to be the opposing conscripts looked nervous and like they'd rather be anywhere else but here... I can't blame them. The opposing regulars, knights and what seemed to be elite forces looked cockier and were clearly joking with one another.

I also saw two stand out characters in the rear; one was Bronka so I could guess who I'd be fighting sooner or later while the other was a rose eyed, blonde elf in what might have been Armor Weave or Mana Armor. She was a little too far off for me to use Observe well so I stopped worrying about it; I just assumed she'd likely be trouble sooner or later. For now I had to deal with what was ahead of me as I arrived at my point of the line then drew the Shining Gemini out as someone came up to my left side; Sulon Lyran. "Well lad? What do you think?"

"Well I'm not calling it a good day for a battle... but, hell, not like there's a good day for it." I said with a shrug. "Still; it's as good a day as it'll ever get."

"Agreed... Anyway... good luck to ya, friend." He said, lifting a hand up and pumping his arm once with a grin. "Let's all come out the other side." I nodded; I didn't want to ride White Peach into battle but when I tried dismounting she would turn about to stop me. I guess she had an idea shit was about to go down and wanted to be there to back me up; damned sweet girl. She rocked about under me mere seconds before arrows were loosed. The enemy, like us, had shielding up to protect the troops but the effect wasn't to cause damage; instead it triggered the Aberrant into charging before anyone else was ready.

The opposing regulars charged next and the conscripts after.

The battle started as the archers fired once more; some of the Aberrant were out of the opposing shield's radius and took shafts as they charged in; mostly ogres and goblins but a mix of orcs were there as well. There were four trolls charging as well; one with makeshift, steel armor. I opted to start casting; lifting the Gemini up and opting to start strong. I looked back to Aeris who was hovering behind me; standing on her staff as usual. "Mind giving me some wind?"

"I'd be delighted..." She said, drawing in her own mana as she grinned. I pulled together a fully powered Cluster Flare to aim at the troll; judging where the shield of the enemy ended before casting it; nine, basketball sized spheres of flame rushing off as Aeris followed with a heavy wind spell. Result?

The armored troll and everything around it go boom.

Big boom. No more armored troll.

"Let's go!" I let off, turning Peach and driving her to ride to the side as Aeris followed. I was, being mounted, meant as more of a reaction force but I also knew I had a reputation with the enemy; as such I'd let myself be a target and draw some ire. With luck that would pull the enemy out of position and make it easier to pick them off.

Indeed; a sizable chunk of Aberrant and opposing knights broke off to my direction as I readied a Dual Cast. Once set I tossed two Dark Flares out and let Aeris bolster them with wind as well; something to note was that while it was a Fire/Darkness hybrid it acted like fire in how it responded to things like wind and water, it's just that the darkness element (Aside from making it chew through shields like a frog chews through bugs) caused it to do more damage without increasing the heat. That meant that when Aeris' wind spell hit it A) made it go faster and B) caused the fire part of it to do more damage and increase in heat.

The Dark Flares slammed into the shielding they had over the opposing troops; burning holes into the barriers before making them collapse as arrows rained in. It would be a minute or two before the shields were up once more but as it did the opposing cavalry would be the first to reach me; although I could see our own moving to flank them. Yet they didn't move to block them or prepare to engage.

Guess I was more (un)popular then I thought.

I clicked my tongue and armed myself; a knight's shield from my glove, a long blade from the Shining Gemini and Physical Boost from my armor. As the Aberrant started to slam into the lines our cavalry would flank theirs while Aeris moved over the opposing forces to cast wind spells into them and I moved to focus on what was coming at me; the first being a Garanian knight with a spear. I casted Shadowblaze Weapon on my Gemini blade for extra punch and as he came into range I blocked with my shield and deflected his weapon aside and looked back over my shoulder as I pointed back with the other end of the Gemini and fired off a Scatter Bolt in a tight cluster from it; chosen because I could turn the bolts at his back and watched the spell slam home and a few punching into the armor.

As he dropped to the ground I turned ahead and spurred Peach into a charge and used the Physical Boost enchantment in her armor as the next one came at me; also a spear in hand. He was caught off guard just as we clashed; I had no jousting experience but with Physical Burst (On myself and peach) I was able to just flat out overpower him with brute strength, my weapon slamming through his shield and into his chest. I had to turn the blade off and reengage it to drop him off of it.

I was unused to fighting on horseback but one benefit I had was White Peach was a smart girl and moved with me which helped a lot. The next comer held a saber and shield but rather then charge at me he deflected my thrust and moved to my side to attack. I blocked with the Gemini's shaft before splitting it to turn the half to a sword and slashed back as our steeds started to circle own another. I deflected the next two strikes before moving my feet up along Peach's sides and she instantly knew what I wanted and ducked letting me drop under his next strike as I aimed the other Gemini half to him and fired off a close range Holy Arrow at his face; I impacted him in the eye and he fell off the horse as I looked about.

Two more were charging at me, screaming like banshees. I just threw a Fireball at the ground between them and the force of the explosion sent them, steeds and all, flying to the sides.

It looked like things were about to devolve into a chaotic mess and I braced for it...

[-]

Channer spun his stave around and deflected a spear swing before slashing down with a bladed fire spell that slammed into the knight's armor. The dark elf within screamed as the spell heated the armor enough to burn and it allowed him to follow up with a Magic Missile into the face through the gaps of the helm which came off with bits of gore as he fell back. He took aim and fired off a Cluster Flare followed closely by a second towards the opposing lines; he modified the spell slightly and rather then explode upon impact it exploded over the opposing forces, slamming the enemy downwards with the intense force from above. He was sure it wasn't as deadly as a direct impact but it would wound if not knock out several foes.

He was assigned to help protect the flank on one side and much of opposing regulars were trying to make for them as their cavalry blocked the foes. In a way this battle was a straight up, honorable fight; no attempts to attack supply lines, no hidden forces, just a big, angry brawl and it was time to claim victory over the opposing forces once and for all... even if he was annoyed that Celestine demanded no slaves be taken for the battle...

Sadly as they weren't in Elddale they had to respect the order so there would be no new product today...

Of course he had other things to focus on as he threw out a Flamethrower spell into a mass of goblins; he hit only one but the rest skittered back as he readied another spell-

-then jumped back as instincts screamed at him before two impacts hit the ground where he was. "Verdammt! We missed!"

"Ja, that happens." Channer was left blinking at... umm... two cyclopses... ... Cyclopsi? What was the plural for that?

A Cyclops was a rare form of Aberrant like hobgoblins or hell pigs; this one being derived from ogres; they were some seven feet tall and bore only one eye each and a short horn on the top of their heads. Oddly enough one was red and the other blue and they wore sleeveless, leather gambeson and matching pants... that was white and bore the chicken scratch dark elves called a written language in black that read as... ummm...

The Home For Aberrant Losers?

What!?

"Who the hell are you?" Channer let off as the two Aberrant, each without any weapon, grinned as the blue one spoke first.

"I'm Goz!"

"And I'm Mez!" The red one let off as they flexed their arms together before speaking as one.

"And we are here to pump-" They grinned and smacked their asses before clapping each other's hand with their own. "-you up!"

Channer blinked once more before sighed and drew mana. "Riiiight... I'm just going to kill you now, okay?" He let off starting a spell-

-before yelping as he ducked a sudden, double punch as he rolled forwards between them, turning and unleashing a heavy Shatter Blow spell to their feet; a spherical ball of wind that would explode with pure, blunt force. They responded by jumping to the sides, dodging it... and to either side of him before rushing back in and forcing him to dodge once more; their fists slamming into one another as he readied another spell-

-only for both to thrust their fists at him together as one with the pair using what looked like Combat Arts at him; one a wave of flame and the other a wave of water which combined together to send a cascade of scalding steam at him that was backed up with concussive force. He was knocked off his feet and backwards but he was still able to fire off a wide Scatter Bolt at them.

"Achtung!" They let off as they jumped over and back flipped over the attack as he hit the ground and rolled over his shoulder to his feet. As he recovered the pair of cyclopsi(es?) charged and started to spin towards the space between them like small tops. "Spinnschlag!" They cried out as they lashed out with dual spinning lariats as Channer casted an Earth Wall before him; the orange mana rising up before him but formed in the shape of a wedge. The effect was as he hoped with the pair hitting and deflected to the sides as he aimed a strong Blaze Drill to the red one; the spell was a drill shaped lance of flame that shot out a few feet before it grew brighter and hotter before a burst of flame came out from behind it, propelling the spell forwards and into the blue cyclops and slammed through it's chest, leaving a scorched hole in him.

"Goz!" The red Mez let off as Channer predicted an attack and raised a shield up around him as Goz fell to the ground on his face. The move proved to be prudent as the red monster came in, hands coated in flames as he started to slam into his shield with rapid, hard strikes as the one eye glared at him as Channer grit his teeth and waited; he really needed to perfect Dual Casting. Once the cyclops rose both hands up he fired one Ice Arrow out into it's eye as it screamed out and backed away before following up with a more powerful one to it's heart.

Finally it dropped down to the ground; dead with two spikes of mana formed ice in it's body. "...Well... two cycolpses is more then James is going to do today. ... Cyclopsi?"

[-]

"Raghhhh!" Mokria let off as he slammed the point of the halberd he used into a goblin's chest, turning and lifting it before throwing the newly made corpse into the face of an orc; catching it off guard before a horizontal swing disemboweled it, the Aberrant falling forwards, arms over it's guts as it tried to hold them in. Mokria decided he liked this weapon; they had nothing like it on the Savannah. It was a little heavier and more difficult to use but the greater striking power and utility the weapon had with the attached axe head made up for it.

He would see something from his side as he frowned to looked to see something approaching him that he had only heard of; a wolfman... and a large one at six and a half feet tall. Light gray fur with darker gray over the eyes like a mask as he sneered to him and held a heavy, double headed axe in his hands. His body was nude save a loincloth but with steel gauntlets and shin guards, more armor over his left arm with a pauldron and over his left thigh. He let off a howl and swung his axe over her head twice before moving to a combat stance.

For his part Mokira banged his weapon's butt to the ground twice and took his own stance. The wolfman snarled before rushing him and swinging his axe down hard; there was enough speed he couldn't merely dodge but he was able to use the halberd's shaft to deflect the weapon to the side as he swung down in a follow up as he slid back to bring himself to the ideal distance. The wolfman moved his axe behind him to block, spun with the motion and swung for Mokria's neck. He ducked and lunged with a heavy punch with a lift fist to ram it into his foe's face... and he caught the fist by biting on it. Mokria cried out but focused as the axe came up... just before the fist turned dark red as the wolfman flinched back from the influx of poisoned mana and coughed before Mokria pulled his halberd back before thrusting it forwards into his chest.

The spike of his weapon rammed all the way through him but the wolfman hopped back before the weapon could be twisted for more damage. He flicked his hand out; it was slightly bloodied but wasn't damaged beyond some bruising and cuts. Despite taking a worse wound the wolfman was clearly still ready to fight, even with a bleeding wound as Mokria took a combat stance as his opponent hopped back, snarled and leapt at him, weapon pulled back...

Only for an arrow made of mana that was burning slam into the wolfman's head from it's side; slaying it as the wolfman slammed face first into the ground. A glance showed him a blue clad figure waving and he gave one back.

He made a note to ensure Miika took more after her sister then him...

[-]

I finally dismounted off White Peach and was using both Gemini halves in melee combat; sword blade in my left coated in Holyblaze Weapon, axe head in the right coated in Shadowblaze Weapon. I was facing a combination of Aberrant and opposing regulars and cutting them down; casting when and where I could. I could hear White Peach behind me, giving a whinny or a neigh as a means of calling out that someone was trying to flank me. Good girl, watching my back like that.

I blocked a mace swing with my left hand, pushing it to the side and slamming the axe head down with my armor's Physical Burst bolstered me further as I struck the regular in his back hard enough to smash past the armor he wore. I would turn to the next guy, blocking with my axe and punched him with my off hand in the face; his helm took the blow but he was forced back enough that I could stab him through said helm's gaps.

I wasn't alone, of course, Aeris was flying about and using wind spells to disrupt foes and Makoto had rushed her way over to join me, although she was bogged down in her own fighting. I was in the zone, you could say, cutting one foe down then the next and the next. And then...

There was no one directly before me... in fact I noted they were moving to surround me. I started to use Observe; levels... fourteen to seventeen. Enough to be mindful of them but not enough to be a real threat. "So, you're the Blue Terror, eh?" I heard as I turned my head to see someone walk over; the surrounding regulars parting to let her through. You could see flecks of red hair under her helm and she wore what seemed like mythril armor over a black under suit as green eyes glared to me. She held a halberd in her right hand before planting it's butt to the ground. "Matron Czarina of the High House Nightsong has demanded your head. I am here to deliver."

"You and-" I began as I looked around for a moment. "-two dozen of your close friends, huh?" I said as I scanned her.

(-)

Name:Vera Scoursong
Title: Commander of Mooncast City
Class: Knight
Level: 22
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 35
Status: Healthy, Excited, Angered

Romance Rating: 75
Corruption Rating: 87

Known Traits
[?]

[Spearpoint] Your spear thrusts have a better chance to punch through armor. -3 Piercing Resistance to all targets when thrusting a polearm at them
[All Right Chumps, Let's Do This] You prefer to charge headlong into battle, and you're good at it. +3 Defense when charging a foe and 30 seconds after it

Lowborne commander of Mooncast City she runs her forces with an iron fist through the title of her birth. She cares little for those under her, less for the civilians under her care and nothing for her foes taking great glee in their suffering.

(-)

"What's wrong?" She let off with a sneer. "Don't like the odds?"

"Not really. It doesn't really seem fair." I let off casually with a shrug as I combined by weapon together; leaving one end with Holyblaze and the other with Shadowblaze, spinning them once and holding it in a ready stance. "Tell you what; I'll wait here while you get more guys." She blinked at me in surprise and I swear I could hear an old school dial up connection sound as her brain tried to put together what I just said. It's worth noting that while I was confident I wasn't saying it to be smug; I was doing it to piss her off... and it seemed to work.

"You... You arrogant bastard!"She turned her head for a moment to address her troops. "Everyone, bring me his he-huuurk!" She let off as her eyes widened and looked down... because I used Heroic Leap to clear the distance between us and slam the spiked top of my halberd head into her chest, coupled with Adrenaline Rush, Piercing Thrust and my Physical Burst atop of my armor's. "Gahhh... how..?"

"Oh, was I supposed to wait for you to attack first?" I asked, twisting the weapon before pulling it out as I ended the Physical Burst I used on myself. Honestly if I didn't boost myself so much I might not have gotten past her armor given it looked like mythril. "So sorry." She stepped back for a one step with a shocked look on her face before collapsing dead while I looked around for whoever was going to strike next as the foes stepped back.

"How is he doing this!?"

"T-the Dread Field should be effecting him but... it's not?"

"What's going on here!? Why isn't he trembling!?"

"What's wrong guys?" I let off as I spun my weapon once before holding it in one hand, pointing the end down as I tucked it under my arm. "Scared of the humans who found a way to beat your Dread Field?" I let off as I spelled things out for them as they started to go wide eyed. "Now, let's see..." I let off, looking around... and at the one foe who was shaking the most as he pointed his spear at me. "You're next." The man seemed to whimper as I walked closer to him with a firm look.

Oddly enough it was his buddies who broke first, backing away from me before turning and fleeing. The shaking knight just pointed his spearhead to my head as I stepped closer; his allies abandoning him as they fled. Finally as I came to range I separated my weapon and started to swing the ends at his spear, taking pieces off of it; the spearhead hitting the floor then a few inches of shaft, then a few more. Five swings in and what was left over his hands was a stump and he was till shaking, eyes widening bit by bit until I stepped in until our chests nearly bumped. "...boo..."

"Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!"

He screamed like a girl, jumped back, threw what was left of his weapon at me where it bounced off my chest and clattered to the ground as I recombined my weapon and turned it off as I looked over the field. Was that a bit much? Maybe... but hell, it was a little funny... A little mean, but funny. It was clear they were starting to work out the Dread Field was kind of failing them right now and more and more were breaking and fleeing. That wasn't to say the fight was over, but a breaking point was close.

[-]

"Impossible... Impossible!" Czarina gritted her teeth as she clutched her fists together. "How is this happening!? Why aren't they falling!? The Dread Field should have them in a rout by now!" She all but growled out as she resisted the urge to stomp a foot like a toddler as she glared at the on going battle... they were losing. Badly.

"Auntie..." Bronka let off as she grit her own teeth. "What do we do?" She let off as she clenched her own hands. "Do we charge or do we retreat?" In truth Bronka knew what she'd prefer to do; charge in and fight... but she wasn't stupid enough to ignore that they were losing and the largest advantage they thought they had was, by all appearances, negated.

"Tsk..." She let off as she sneered before turning to an aide. "You! Call the reserves out and have them charge the enemy! I don't care what happens, I want them stopped!" The aide saluted as she moved to look about with a Telescopic Vision spell... then grinned darkly. "We might have to retreat, Bronka... but we'll scar them first. Come on." She said as she moved to the field.

There was no telling what would happen to her if she lost this battle, let alone her city... but as long as she could have one success to hold over her peer's heads she would survive what happened... and claiming the head of the Blue Terror would be enough to ensure she survived.

[-]

I was still fighting but it wasn't as much now. Everyone seemed to prefer to circle around me and try to attack from the flank or rear. Even if I didn't have Ring of Alarm up I had White Peach calling out to warn me as she watched on. Eventually someone would attack, I'd drop them and the rest got more nervous. Finally they reached the part where they started to flee as well and-

"Cowards!"

-and I found my personal pest arriving with another woman; the blonde haired elf that was with her from before. She bore a two handed claymore in her hand but what was interesting was how she held it; the mythril blade was three and a half feet long and with the handle added it had that was another foot in length but she held it upside down by the ricasso; an unsharpened section of a sword just over the guard. This one however was etched to allow for a grip and was a foot and change long letting her hold the blade like a magical staff. The pommel bore a red spell stone that was double the size of a golf ball and bore a golden mythril D-Guard. The blade itself was single edged with a fuller and a clip point. "So... the Blue Terror himself."

"Not my choice of nicknames." I replied as I looked to her as I took stock of the field; Makoto was bogged in a fight and Aeris was now being harassed by opposing mages. I could be on my own. "I am James Noxdecus, Heir of the Barony of Mungale. And you are?" I asked as she tapped the point of her blade to the ground twice.

"I am Matron Czarina Nightsong, Ruler of Onyxcloak, Servant of the Dark Queen..." She listed off before smirking to me. "And soon, your end."

(-)

Name:Czarina Nightsong
Title:Matron of Onyxcloak
Class:Sorceress
Level:30
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 28
Status: Healthy, Frustrated, Haughty

Romance Rating: 75
Corruption Rating: 108

Known Traits
[?]
[All Must Bleed] Most sorceresses use staves and wands to bolster their damage but you enjoy the feel of a good, bladed weapon in your hands. Swords of all types can be used as Primary and Secondary weapons.

[Mana Draw] Draw mana from the world around you to refill your stores
[Mana Manager] You can manage your mana better then most. +10% to Mnc. -5% Mana Cost for all spells with a cost larger then 'Moderate'.

The new matron of Onyxcloak after taking advantage of a situation to pull a coup on her sister, she is a magical adept and able swordswoman. Seeing herself as an savvy politician she takes every action based on power politics and to further her own power and influence. A highly dangerous opponent in any arena she demands respect and outputs an aura of control.

(-)

"I'd say pleasure... but I'd be lying." I said as I deactivated my left Gemini half and set it behind me before moving the other to that hand, freeing my right to draw the Dragon's Claw as I used Shadowblaze Weapon on it as well. I had three levels on her so I was confident I could win in single combat as long as I didn't cocky... except Bronka was there too.

She was still level twenty four but that was more then enough to cause issues in a one on two fight... and it was looking like that was what I had on my hands. "You slayed one of my nieces and one of my peers. I'll give you due credit, human, you are a thorn in our side..." She began as she walked forwards... the boss music spinning up as my view flashed as she spun her weapon around into a proper grip and shouldered it as she looked to me, leaning in and setting her off hand on her thigh. "One I'll enjoy plucking out and crushing..." The view panned back; an otherwise sultry pose changed to something more menacing by a wicked grin.

_Matron of Onyxcloak_
Czarina Nightsong

My view swapped to normal as, unsurprisingly, Bronka charged me first; shield on her arm and blade in her hand as I blocked her opening strike with my off hand weapon and turned to deflect. I could have struck at her with my blade but I was sure she learned from our previous fights and instead leaped away and snapped off a Magic Missile. Indeed; she moved to face me in a manner to catch a blade with her goat skull shield's horns... and just barely leaned away from the attack in time, cutting her cheek and little else.

A neigh, the Ring of Alarm in my glove and instincts all told me Czarina would follow up with an attack as I brought up a tower shield and braced; I was impacted by a strong, explosive spell, one strong enough that knocked me off my feet and to the ground. I rolled over my shoulder to me feet and spun back with a wide spread Scatter Bolt as Czarina blocked with an Arcane Shield while Bronka charged; her physical shield slammed into my mana shield as she pushed into me and tried to bull me over then tried to lock shields and maneuver me. I opted to not let her; dropping the shield and setting my Gemini holding off hand to her shield while casting Earth Shaker as the impact stunned her for a moment as I tried to stab at her with the Claw but she raised an Arcane Shield very quickly. I side stepped and where I was at saw a dark bolt of mana sail past where my head was.

I clicked my tongue; it seems Czarina would use Bronka to hold my attention and snipe at me from afar. I knew I needed to change the situation lest she be allowed to get a hit in. I waited until Bronka charged once more and used another Heroic Leap to distance myself from her, arcing over towards and above Czarina as I activated Tailwind and Levitation as she used a powerful wind spell at me. I spun and dove to the side only caught by the wake a hint before landing and launching myself at her. She grit her teeth and blocked the Claw with her blade as I swung the Gemini half forcing her back and making her block that as well. Of course Bronka was rushing over and screaming a war cry with her weapon in the air. I waited and as she closed in I sidestepped and fired a Gale Burst at her to knock her to the side and slash at Czarina as she casted a Blazing Weapon on her own blade.

I circled around to put her between me and Bronka, sure she'd be a bit pissed at that. I blocked a slash from Czarina who had her left hand up to cast as I replied with my own, off hand cast; her darkness spell hitting my Holy Flare. The effect was a small backlash from the two spell that pushed us back slightly. She was able to recover enough to slash at me and hit me in the chest with it; that set a shallow scar into my armor but she followed up with some form of fire spell with the blade's tip as a focal point that all but exploded in my face and sent me sailing back onto my back. I groaned and brought my glove's shield in a tower form as the blazing sword impacted it in a harsh stab. I could hear Bronka rushing over and knew I needed to get up quickly and so I cast Frozen Wall... from my feet which covered the matron in a few seconds and held her fast as I rolled to my side and got to my feet.

Czarina flexed and covered herself in fire mana to break out of the spell but I had the time to fire off a close range Hammer of Smite; even though she just broke free of the ice she was still fast enough to block with her blade but still slid back as Bronka moved around her, chucking a Fireball spell at me. I opted to do something different then usual; casting Flame Guard on myself and using Adrenaline Rush and Steel Skin as I formed a round shield from my glove as I used Piercing Strike, hoping the defensive buffs plus my armor plus my shield would let me tank the Fireball and catch her off guard.

The spell splashed into me with a bang as I leaned into it and barely bulled through with my thrust as Bronka balked but her reflexes still let her lean to the side as I turned with a Power Punch and clocked her in the face with my D-Guard, knocking her to the ground. I followed up as I tossed my Gemini half at Czarina who had inverted her weapon to hold it by the ricasso and use it as a staff. It impacted a Fireball spell midway and set it off as I used Heroic Leap to charge, catching the half as I rushed her. She was forced to put her palm to the flat of the blade to block my swing; turning to deflect my blade to the side. I swung my mana-formed axe as she got her weapon back to a normal grip, deflected my swing and slashed down as I stepped back... and was knocked back two steps as she stabbed hard at me; I turned to take it on the pauldron. (I'd later learn the blade punched through the pauldron but the rest of the armor under it stopped it) and slashed back with the claw, deflecting off her armor's barrier due to the angle but the hissing of mana showed I damaged the layer thanks to the effects of Shadowblaze Weapon.

"Bastard!" Bronka let off as I moved to keep them both ahead of me as she leapt as me with a battle cry. Her enraged look was more then enough to say how out of control her anger was getting as I stepped back as she ended up between me and Czarina as the matron hissed as she pulled back a swing before inverting her weapon and starting to cast. I was about to use a wind spell to blast Bronka back into her but, to her credit, she saw it coming and swung her flamberge at my off hand and knocking it aside as I knocked myself off balance with Gale Burst as I wasn't braced for that angle. I recovered quickly but it was clear I'd have trouble dodging the next attack as Czarina grinned, ready to cast her spell-

-only for her to be knocked off balance as a golden colored horn attached to White Peach's armor slammed into her, making her stumble back and drive the point of her blade to the ground to keep from toppling over and off her feet. No one expected a horse to wade into the melee like this and as Czarina turned to my loyal steed Peach had spun around to bring both hind legs to bear as I felt something odd with my magical senses as she-

-activated the Physical Boost spell enchantment in her armor!? I didn't know she could do that!

Needless to say the enhanced, double legged, bucking hind kick that she slammed the Matron with was enough to send her off her feet and flying almost sixty feet back through the air and slammed her hard into the ground, rolling at least twice with the impact and not willingly. Even with her armor she'd feel that just from the force of the acceleration of the kick and deceleration of the impact with the ground.

White Peach, you magnificent beast you!

"You dumb animal!" Bronka let off as she aimed the spell stones in her weapon's, goat skull D-Guard's eyes at White Peach, casting a major spell. "You're going to-"

Oooooh, you dumb bitch... That's crossing a line. "I don't think so!" I was at her side before she knew it, Shadowblaze still on my weapon as she looked to me over a shoulder, arm pulled back as I used Adrenaline Rush and Breaking Blow at once and slashed down at her arm; her Armor Weave put up a fight but the spell on my weapon ate it like a light snack as my orichalcum blade went through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter.

Understandably she screamed in pain as her limb hit the ground still gripping the weapon with the palm of her other hand clutching the stump with smoke rising up from it as I looked to Czarina who was getting up to her feet, using her blade to push herself up. "Peach!" I called out, not needing to ask twice as the steed rushed over as I broke out into a run. Once she was by me I used a light jump with Heroic Leap to get onto her back; sheathing the Claw and drawing the other Gemini half to my free hand, combining them and forming a halberd. Czarina shot off a powerful fire spell as I inverted the Gemini and casted an Arcane Shield, blocking it and reverting the weapon to a normal grip as I readied a new cast. She held her weapon in a double grip and charged back as she readied to attack me-

"Get her."

-and failed to see me cast Shadowblaze Weapon until it was too late... as White Peach's armored horn came alight with purple flames. The matron's eyes widened as I blocked her blade with my weapon as my steed slammed into her at full force; the horn and it's weapon enhancement pushing through the mana barrier of her armor and through her abs as she dropped her weapon in shock as I split the Gemini once more, inverting the now axe head in my right hand.

"W-wait! This isn't how it's-"

The spike of my weapon slammed to her neck before I twisted it, silencing her once and for all. I turned Peach around and clicked my tongue as she leaned her head down, letting the newly made corpse slide off. Soon I would dismount, recombine my weapon and set it away before I moved to pick up Czarina's blade, sighing as I patted Peach's neck softly. "Good girl." She bobbed her head as I moved to secure the weapon to her saddle and remounted her as I looked off to the field.

I saw Bronka clutching her arm and hunched over on her knees; she was out of the fight and unless that arm could be reattached she'd need a prosthetic arm. Adjusting to that would keep her out of the war for weeks or more. I could see more and more of the enemy start to break but I could see Makoto was still fighting with several foes. I opted to go to her aid first, getting White Peach to rush over there; Bronka was a non-threat at the moment and there were others to be dealt with.

It was time to mop up.

[-]

[Defeated List]

Garanian Forces=18000XP
Bronka Nightsong=1700XP
Czarina Nightsong=3200XP x 1.25 Kill Bonus=4000XP
+20% Rising Star of Eostia Bonus
Gain 28440XP Total

Level Up!

You are now Level 34!

+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc
+1 to End
+1 to Rap
+2 RSP & SSP
+5 UTP

Achievement Unlocked: Horse Armor DLC
Aren't you glad you've got it?

[-]

Bronka whimpered as she looked to the stump of her right arm, seared, blackened and still lightly smoking as she looked up seeing the man who did that, who killed her twin sister ride away on that damned horse; it was another thing to take revenge for. "Damn you... ... what..?" She saw it... there, at the saddle of his horse... her aunt's blade... but that meant...

She turned her head; the corpse of her aunt, her much more powerful aunt there. "I... Oh, giant..." She let off, standing and stumbling off to her for a moment before the sound of a howl cried out. She knew what was happening; their armies were breaking...

"The Matron has fallen! The Matron has fallen!" Someone called out. She shut her eyes and snarled before moving to her still smoking, dropped limb, grabbing it by the fist to lift the blade up as well and, with some trouble, sheathed it before holding just her limb before moving to the city gate were much of the forces were retreating to; hoping she might be able to reattach it.

She had lost...

Again...

She grit her teeth in a hate filled fury and while she wanted to kill him defeat and the loss of a limb gave her a level of clarity through that anger; she couldn't carry on the fight in her condition and her only option was to retreat... If she died she couldn't avenge Branka... she couldn't avenge Czarina... She had to survive and find a way to get her revenge...

If it was still possible...

[-]

Once I rejoined Makoto the battle was all but over; my fight had been noticed and the enemy seemed no longer interested in carrying on the battle. The Aberrant fought for much too long and were devastated before they finally fled. The conscripts and regulars retreated into the city while fleeing Aberrant fled in... any direction not us. Yeah.

Despite Thurston's earlier whining he did have a battering ram readied as we expected them to try and barricade the gate to the city. They did and the siege engineers started to batter the door open as we took the time to rest after the battle. I was claiming Czarina's sword as spoils of war (Turns out it was called the Nightweaver. Cool name) but I didn't know what I'd do with it yet; I had no real use for it but I didn't know who did. Gregory had his axe already and likely wouldn't want a sword, Miria would probably prefer a smaller blade, Makoto had the Kouzenken, Riri and Terra were more dual wielders... Maybe Sora would like it..? Or maybe Campbell? That made sense to me; she was of an allied house so she might like the upgrade.

That was for later, however.

I took the time to clean of Peach's horn of blood, feed her a couple of carrots and a peach I had on hand and got us both water as I snacked on some jerky (Not the spicy stuff I bought in Garan... that stuff had some kick) as we waited. The plan was to push into the local palace, claim it and capture the city in full. The wounded were being tended to and surviving opponents were being taken as prisoners of war; it seemed a few hundred opposing conscripts got surrounded and opted to drop their weapons and surrender then fight on saving a lot of fighting and lives.

While on that note; the mood of the opposing side had changed harshly. The nobility that had come out to watch, once they realized who was going to win, retreated into the city in a near, blind panic and much of the elite forces skirmished for a time but also retreated as they got an idea of what was going on. Sky Eyes over the city showed chaos as the soldiers retreated to the city's rear and the palace with the regulars and conscripts seemingly going about the city doing... something.

Honestly it looked like they has no idea about what they were supposed to do as civilians seemed to either be out of sight or scrambling to take cover in some building or another. This was the first time they came under direct attack, their army was defeated and it was clear they had no plan, training or practice in defending the city. On top of that with White Peach's help I kinda killed their boss; that doesn't help with command and control of a situation.

Reports were coming in across the other armies as well; aside from Scalefire Highpeaks we had all the initial battles done and the siege proper was ongoing across Garan, although by all accounts that fight was going well. Once I had my rest, water and had fed and watered White Peach I moved off to speak with the Mungale/Lyran forces; we'd be leaving the archers behind under my father's command and mother's support to watch the gate and handle any stragglers alongside some others left behind by other houses as we entered the city proper. As the battering ram started to crack the sturdy doors we moved to a position to ready and charge in.

(I would later hear a rumor that Celestine had asked them to remain outside and have me lead the forces in. Why I didn't know and I was reluctant to ask; if I had to guess she wanted me to have a higher profile given what I had made for the realm in the form of the voxlux and Cloud Riders plus defeating the Dread Field. I think she was investing in me and rising my fame and status was a part of that. I also had a minor thought she could be manipulating me somewhat; not to my detriment but she was the High Queen of Eostia and at times needed to play political chess. I had the feeling she did not enjoy it.)

With one, last slam of a swinging log the door broke open and I moved White Peach ahead. Claudia and the Dawn Templars were in the lead with Prim and the Blossoming Knights behind them. Soon myself and the Mungale force followed along with Ferra's and Ur's proper. We saw some opposing soldiers as we entered who... quickly ran away.

And not bravely ran away.

"Don't give chase!" Claudia called out, using mana to make her voice boom. "Spread out across the streets so they can't flank us and flood to the palace!" I nodded and once we were in the city a bit I led my own forces down a side street then back towards the palace. We didn't rush down and moved at a controlled but brisk march; civilians that were still about were quick to rush into a building or press themselves to one. The buildings weren't all that remarkable; painted darker colors and with single piece, slopped roofs. Honestly aside from the odd writing on signs you could see this place as a normal city that normal human beings lived in.

"Remember, leave the peasantry be unless they do something hostile!" I called back as we marched on. Some of the usual suspects were mixed in with me; Tiffany, Aeris, Makoto, Miria, and Akanji while Cress would be helping my parents with the archers outside. A soft turn brought us up to a series of men with spears aimed to us; they were armed in gambeson and looked rather spooked; a couple dozen at most. I had maybe four to five hundred following me in. I moved a little closer and looked to the guy who seemed he was in charge. "Drop your weapons and you can walk away." I told them calmly. "Fight and it'll be a short clash."

There was a moment of consideration as you can see them step back as I drew out the Shining Gemini and turned on the front end; a halberd blade coming alight. That caused a reaction as one man tossed his spear down followed by another and another until the men were unarmed. I turned the Gemini off and set it back to my back and nodded. "Thank you. Step aside please." I didn't need to ask twice as they moved to the sides of the street before I guided Peach forwards as my men moved to follow.

Things were finally going smoothly... Let's hope it keeps up.

[-]

For the Eostian forces morale was high; they had not just fought the enemy on their turf for a change but they were finally capturing one of their cities. For them hopes were soaring and the fact they had the enemy on the run invigorated them.

As for the Garanian forces...

"Czarina's dead!?"

"What's going on!? What the fuck is going on!?"

"Ohhh, what do we do, what do we do, what do we dooooo!?"

There was only panic.

Within the courtyard of Nightsong Palace the bulk of the lowborne and nearly all of the highborne of Nightsong had gathered together. They had never been in this position before, never had Garan come under assault, never had their city come under assault and no one was aware of what to do; they had no lessons on defending in a siege, city warfare or even how to manage their losses when compared to their Eostian foes as they had never thought it would be required until that moment.

"Enough!" One voice barked out louder then the rest as a woman moved to stand up on a fountain to be easier to see. Most of those present, recognized her; Inna Nightsong. She stood at five foot four and bore short, chin length, black hair in a bob cut and flat bangs and a silver flower on the right side of her hair. Her torso and F-Cup breasts were clad in a light leg, strapless and sleeveless, black leotard with a cut out from under the breasts to just over the groin. Elbow length gloves and knee high boots in black covered her limbs as a white fur lined cape was attached to a detached, lace collar that fell to her collarbone; black on the outside and white on the inside. Green eyes looked over everyone before holding her hand up and speaking. "Listen to me, lowborne and highborne alike! The city is lost! We cannot change that!" Muttering followed as she looked over to them as they looked about. "As such we must act! We shall retreat northwards to Napreryvnyy City with as much of our regular forces and knight orders as we can! The High House Nightsong has kept a hidden exit that leads well outside of the city and ends at the northern forest! We can use that to flee!"

"They'll be here too fast!" Someone in the crowd called out as muttering followed, other voices of discontent following.

"I am aware, and thus we will charge the conscripts with delaying them!" She barked out as the crowd calmed. "Further more we'll set the housing districts alight; the fire will further bar their path! That will buy us all the time we need to fall back!" Muttering followed for a long moment but it was clear they all agreed with her.

"But... as Matron you must remain behind and fight to the last!"

Inna's first response was a wide smirk. "Ohh, I haven't taken the title... In fact, on that note..."

[-]

The march carried forwards at a pace; we would encounter scattered conscripts here and there but it took little effort to have them stand down and either drop their weapons or just flee. We seemed to reach the end of a market district as I saw something worrying and frowned a bit. Only a a dozen conscripts but they were busy tending to what seemed to be peasantry on the ground, sitting or laying down; three or four dozen people with wounds and notably broken bones and at least a few might have been dead.. That was... different. As we came closer those conscripts grabbed their spears and moved to form a loose line, pointing the weapons out at us as the wounded civilians shivered in fear at our approach.

Once we were close enough I lifted a hand and barked out. "Halt!" I let off, our march coming to a stop. "Akanji." I let off as I moved Peach closer, the Sunkissed woman moving to flank me. Finally I stopped some ten feet short of their spear tips as I looked at the guy who seemed to be in charge; they were all level ten or lower. Even without an army they were no threat to me. "You there. Why are so many injured in the road?" I asked as I tried to project authority while trying to stay cordial. The troops were told, firmly, to behave themselves and punishments would be handed out if anyone acted out of line. That said the... room temperature reception we got in the towns likely helped ease tensions with them a bit but it was best to give an example to follow.

"S-stay back!" The leader let off as he and four of his buddies move to surround me in a semi-circle before me. I could hear my men start to move to act but I held a hand up and looked back. After a second they relaxed but were alert as I moved to get off of White Peach. I didn't draw weapons as I stepped in and, as calmly as I could, set a hand on the leader's spear and pushed it aside softly. He glared to me but was clearly scared as I slowly moved past him. I made my motions slow and deliberate as the five men turned and followed. I could feel their spears pointed to me as I stopped to the first person on the ground and knelt down; some blue haired dark elf in a black tunic and black pants who was looking to me with a face full or worry.

He bore several injuries but the worst was a deep wound to the leg; you could see bone. The thought worried me; no Eostian should have been this deep into the city before us. "Hold still." I said gently as I started to cast Blessed Recover; I didn't bring my hands to his legs as I casted, rather I casted then moved my hands closer to make a show of what I was doing. He gawked and flinched away; other injuries clearly making any motion hard for him.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" I felt a poke to my left shoulder at the back with a spear but it was clear it wasn't an attack. Soon my hands were at the wound and starting to heal it as everyone seemed to pause as the wound closed a bit as the man blinked to me in confusion.

"Akanji! I'm not going to be able to heal them all fully and not by myself, do you mind?" I called out as the soldiers seemed confused as the dark skinned human passed them. Soon she was casting a more powerful healing spell on the leg as I focused on his other wounds. Once done I gently helped him up. "Take it easy on that leg for awhile... Akanji, keep going." I said as I turned to the leader of the armed men. He still held his spear but it was lowered. "Please... what happened to these people?"

He glared to me for a moment but seemed to think better of starting anything as he lifted his spear up and held it straight up, shaft set to his shoulder. "Bloody lowborne is what happened... Ran through here and trampled people out of the way; even cut down some... but... why are you...?"

"I'm not here to fight the people, I'm here to end a war and those running it." I told him simply and bluntly. "If you want to fight us we'll put you down. If you stand aside we'll leave you be. Tiffany!" I let off, waving her over next. She would move to help healing as well. "If you want to help sort out those who can wait for healing and those who need it now, that would speed it all up for us all."

"... Come on..." The lead spearman let off looking to his men. "Let's help out; the lowborne can look out for themselves." He let off bitterly as they moved to help the wounded. A few others of ours moved to assist as well, although you could see grumbling among most of the men; clearly disliking that we were helping 'drow' but they behaved. It took some twenty minutes but the civilians were healed enough to walk away under their own power and the dead were moved aside; the locals would handle that from here. I remounted White Peach and we resumed the march onward.

"Sire." I heard as one of the men moved up next to me; a Mungale man and sergeant of the regulars although I didn't know him well. "Why stop and just help random... drow like that?"

I sighed but tried not to sound condescending. "Because it's right. Because like a commoner of Dominious or Balanar they don't choose what war is fought or even if they can opt out." The man frowned deeper as I kept going. "I'm not going to say you have to go skipping down the flower fields and picnic with them; just to behave and treat them no different then if we were invading, say, a Dominious town with other humans. That's all."

"...Very well, Sire..." He said as he moved to fall back to his old position as Makoto jogged up to my side.

"Old hatreds die hard, it seems." She mused as I nodded.

"It does... more so when the face of the hated is so much different." I said with a sigh. "Things can work out, but it'll be a bumpy road until then. We'll just have to-"

"M'Lord!" Some one barked out and pointed up. I looked back then followed his hand to see, of all thinks, smoke rising up. First a little but soon it billowed upwards.

"Fire!" Someone called out as I grit my teeth.

"Move out! We have to get that fire under control!" I let off as I got everyone moving at a brisk pace. After all we were here to capture the city not see it razed.

[-]

Once we arrived on scene we were in what seemed to be a residential district; mostly wooden buildings and while not ramshackle they were clearly built more for economics then luxury... More over the idea of 'apartments' were more popular here then most places as a lot of the buildings were five stories tall with some having stairs leading to balconies and doors on the outside... and several were on fire. The sounds of screaming and begs for help could be heard and it was disturbing; even the guy who questioned me earlier looked taken aback. Civilians were running away from the blaze while what seemed to be conscripts were trying to fight the blaze; some water and ice spells were being used, others were trying to pull people away but it was clear the fire was getting out of control.

I could see one man outside of a building that was ablaze, looking like he was about to go in but unable due to the blaze and backing up before he got very far. I just moved Peach closer and once in range used a Frost Thrower to blast the flames back. The man, a dark elf of course, did a double take at me before looking back at the building and this time charging in by tackling the door open. I kept pouring the ice spell into the building as everyone else caught up to me. "Start helping out civilians! Get these fires put out, quickly!" As I spoke the man came out of the building, covered in soot and scorches but with a woman over one shoulder, a girl over the other and a child under one arm. Once he was out I changed tactics and moved closer before holding a hand out and creating an Arcane Shield large enough to cover it; it was weak but I adjusted it to be airtight. The result was instant; the flames ate through the air within quickly and started to die. Once the flames went out I waited a few more seconds before dropping the shield.

"Akanji, Aeris, Tiffany, use airtight shields to smother the flames; they don't need to be that strong." I let off as I turned the horse to look at Miria. "Miria, get the men to help civilians out; find survivors and provide what aide you can."

"Right." I knew Miria wasn't a fan of actually leading the men but given the curt reply I knew she wasn't about to argue as she directed some men to follow her towards a building. I was moving to the next blaze and using a shield on it as well as Tiffany joined me. Such large shields weren't all that easy to make but they put the fires out pretty fast. Needless to say the locals were surprised when a bunch of Eostians showed up and rather then start a massacre opted to help with the current issue of the city becoming a burning hell. To their credit they didn't move to fight us or block us, they just got to work in fighting the fire.

Soon more Eostians arrived; Prim and Celestine being among them and once they saw what was going on and how I was fighting the fires they pitched in as did other mages like Channer and the Highreigns. Soon we worked out a system where we split down the middle of the blaze and then worked to the sides as other mages moved to mitigate the flame's spread. The men and and the Garanian soldiery would move into the houses, pull out anyone within and offer what aid was needed and smother any leftover embers. It took over two hours but soon the blaze was out and the danger averted.

I'd ride back to what seemed to be the main street, seeing a dark elf in full, black leather armor with purple panels and gold trim (Complete with masked skull cap) speaking with Claudia. She saw me and gave a wave as I rode over, hopping off of White Peach as I opted to report to her. "The fire's out. There's a lot of damage and... it seems not everyone made it out. Who caused this? I didn't think any of ours got that deep into the city."

"None of ours... we were just speaking about it." She said nodding to the man in the leather armor; spear leaning into his shoulder. I looked to him (Observe called him Prostoy Earthtone) and tilted my head.

"It was the bloody assborne, that's who!" He let off with a snarl. "Told us to hold you all off and then set the district on fire the second our backs was turned!"

"I'm sorry... assborne?" I let off confused.

"It seems to be an... unflattering name for their lowborne caste; minor nobility, roughly." Claudia explained for me as I nodded.

"Aye, that." Prostoy huffed. "Same with the toddlerborne; or highborne."

"Their upper nobility then." I said with a nod. "Per chance; what became of them?"

"No idea... Honestly they all gathered at the palace." He said with a huff. "I don't know what they are doing, for the life of me..."

"I see..." I said as I looked to Claudia. She nodded to me and looked to the man.

"Thank you for your cooperation." She began. "You and yours should disarm and tend to your people. We'll be marching on the palace and so long as you offer no resistance we've no need to cause you harm."

"Disarm my ass!" He let off, banging the butt of his weapon to the ground. "I've half a mind to march with you!" He let off as I blinked and looked to Claudia who matched my look and confusion.

"I beg your pardon but given the... histories between the peoples involved with here such an action might not mesh we-"

"With all due respect." He let off as he gave me a firm look. "I'll be siding with the people who ended the fire in my city then those who started it."

"Well okay then..." I let off as I looked to Claudia. "What do you think?"

"We could use the guides." She said with a nod. "If you're in command then organize quickly; I want to march in twenty minutes." The man nodded and banged his spear to the ground twice before moving off.

"Think this is a wise idea?" I asked her as she shrugged.

"Not fully. But it might give the troops the idea not every dark elf is someone who needs to be fought. In addition having their own troops mutiny might dishearten the enemy... For now we'll wait and see how it shakes out."

[-]

Most of the troops were surprised when they saw that dark elf conscripts had joined our number and were all but chomping at the bit to get to the enemy palace. That surprised dulled as realization of why they might want to address their leaders at spearpoint set in given the amount of charred buildings and ashes we passed. A massive force marched on led directly by Celestine, Claudia and Prim with other nobility such as myself along with Prostoy at the front as well. Finally we arrived at our destination; a black or nearly black palace that... had no guards. No waiting army. Nothing. No one. A few bodies could be seen on the palace grounds; once human slaves... and what looked like dark elf servants.

Prim used a spell to blast the gate open as men marched into the yard as I moved White Peach ahead to the bodies on the ground and dismounted once near them, hopping off and looking over a dark elf maid. No signs of a collar or other signs of being enslaved; she might have been a loyal servant. "They did this to their own servants?" I let off as Prostoy jogged up to me.

"They call people like us dirtborne. They care about as much for us as the dirt." He said as he looked around.

"Where are they then? In hiding?" Prim asked as Miria pushed her way through the crowd to join us.

"No idea..." I said looking to Miria. "Anything?" I asked as Celestine and Claudia joined us next.

"I smell that a lot of people came in here recently but... All the noise I hear is outside the palace." She said as I frowned as I patted White Peach's neck as a means to tell her to stay here as I drew the Dragon's Claw.

"Let's go inside... We'll see who's home if anyone..." I said as I moved to the door and set a hand to it, pausing to use my magical senses to try and detect a trap. Nothing. I opened the door and took point, Claudia moving to join me as I moved towards where I thought the throne room would be. Miria, Celestine, Prim and a half dozen of the Dawn Templars followed us in; nothing short of Olga herself would be able to stand up to such a level of amassed power and skill. Prostoy, of course, joined us along with two of his men as more people filtered in and moved to sweep other rooms.

Two doors later we reached two, large double doors with the emblem of House Nightsong on it. I gave a nod to Prim and moved to one side of the door, Claudia to the other. Prim nodded back and fired a powerful Arcane Burst (A wide, short ranged arcane spell) and blew the doors open as the locks gave out and we rushed half way into the room, looked about and saw...

No one.

I blinked. The room was what I expected; dark colors, banners of the Nightsong emblem hanging off the walls, a rich, purple carpet leading up to a raised section of the room and a large, golden throne with purple cushions; a three foot tall Nightsong emblem at the top of the throne some six feet over the head. "Okay. This is odd..."

"Someone's here..." Miria let off as she drew her bow with an arcane arrow, aimed right to the throne. "Behind the throne."

"No one's here!" A feminine voice came out... from ahead of us and likely behind the throne. "Go look somewhere else! Absolutely no one is here!" My eye twitched and I sighed; weapon drawn as I marched up; Claudia moving with me as we moved to opposite sides of the throne. Once there I saw...

A short, cowering, dark elf woman, head down and hands on the throne's back. I reached out and grabbed her by the upper arm as I pulled her to her feet as she screamed out as I dragged her over to Celestine as Claudia followed "Come on you..." I sighed.

"No! No! Mercy! I'm only forty years old! I'm too young to die! Or be eaten! Or raped!" She let off as I shoved her before Celestine. "Or die, be eaten then raped!" I had enough of that nonsense and rapped her skull with my knuckles. "Oww!"

"No one here shall kill you." Celestine said calmly. "Nor eat or rape you." She let off as I got a good look at her. She looked like a teenager with a petite frame and small, A-cup breasts. She wore a strapless, deep blue dress with a cut out moving from under her small bust to just over the groin with some gold designs near the cutout's bottom. A detached, blue collar (Shirt type, not dog type) was around her neck with gold trim and a small locket at it's center. Black gloves reached her biceps and small, black shoes were on her feet. Green eyes looked to us with fear as her reddish hair was tied back in a ponytail that fell to her waist couple with long bangs on the side of her head and flat ones over her eyes. "Now... who are you?" She asked kindly as the woman looked about; still quivering in fear as she pressed her index fingers together and circled them about.

"Ummm... h-hi... I'm... Pasha Nightsong... I'm... matron now..." She let off as I blinked. This scared teenager was saying she was the new Matron?

(-)

Name: Pasha Nightsong
Title: Nervous Matron of Onyxcloak
Class: Cleric
Level: 5
Alignment: Neutral
Reputation: 33
Status: Healthy, Scared, Horrified

Romance Rating: 88
Corruption Rating: 24

Known Traits
[?]
[Best Seen and Not Heard] Your sneaking skill is boosted by your Agi Stat as well
[?]

The youngest adult in House Nightsong she is a student of magic and is eager to learn. Unlike most of her peers she wants to learn how to heal, seeing it as an under appreciated section of magic in Garan. As her fellow members of Nighsong retreated with the lowborne she was named the Matron.

(-)

"Wait, this is the Matron!?" Prim let off as she blinked, Pasha nodding.

"W-well, Czarina was... then she died to the Blue Terror..." She said as Prim blinked.

"She means me." I let her know as I got an 'ooooh' from Prim... as Pasha paled. "Relax. If you're not going to fight I won't kill you... but it begs the question; why were you named Matron?"

"Well... ummm... ... It's the tradition of a Matron to remain and defend their holdings to the last... and everyone else decided they were going to flee and, ummm... ... ...left me behind..."

"What do you mean 'flee'? We have the city surrounded!" Claudia let off as Pasha winced.

"T-there's a hidden pathway out; it opens to the forest in the north." She let off as I clicked my tongue and pulled out a scry device. I turned it on and looked to the forest in the north in a wide view before slowly zooming in to both Pasha's and Prostoy's surprise. Finally...

"There..." I let off; you could see them marching northwards through the trees.

"Do we pursue them?" Prim asked as I considered the idea but Celestine shook her head.

"No. Only our cavalry can reach them in good time right now." She began. "Moreover we must manage the holdings we've claimed; it does us no good to take the city and allow it to collapse. Let us instead direct repair efforts and ensure good, fair rule."

"Besides; the point was to force Olga Discordia to the negotiating table." I pointed out looking to Prim. "I'd say we'll have her undivided attention soon enough."

"Indeed... Which will beg the question..?" Celestine let off as I looked to her. "What will her response be?"

[-]

After another two hours the city was formally claimed by Eostia with the Eostian Banner raised over it. By the end of the day the same could be said of every capital of the south of the Garan. Units were sent out to make sure no opposing patrols or ambush forces were about. Some forces were set about to clear the burnt buildings out, salvage what could be salvaged and prepare for repairs. Thurston started to do what he could do to make the walls defensible by drawing up plans which would work as well as doing what he could to block the hidden tunnel under the palace; after all if the Garanians left via that tunnel then they could get back in that way as well. Meanwhile we opted to take the abandoned lowborne district and use them to start housing the troops; Prostoy didn't much care when I told the men they couldn't loot the city but if they wanted to loot these 'assborne'... no one would cry over it.

Booze stashes were, of course, found.

By the reports the same story was played out across the other cities that we conquered; the local nobility tucking their tails between their legs and fleeing, telling their conscripts to hold off the Eostians and setting fire to the city to slow the oncoming army down. It was shocking at just how little care for the common people they had; sure we had some nobles like that but they were the exception and not the rule. Even someone as cruel as Alundra van Bludhorn knew you at least needed the commoners to do work... although I imagine she would set fire to her own city for similar reasons, mind you...

Regardless there was a large victory party in the various manors we set up camp in; nobles and officers taking bedrooms, other soldiers camping in sitting rooms or in courtyards and setting up tents and more or less settling in for the time being. Pasha, after very little coaxing, formally surrendered the city and was glad to do so. We kept her in our custody but more for her sake and safety then anything else; we worried what the commoners might do to her if they found her.

Speaking of; there was an expectation of heavy resistance from the populace and a lot of troops were being readied to put down revolts and insurrection but... nothing really happened. Over the next two days there was no organized resistance; even the local conscripts, who either didn't surrender their weapons or simply reclaimed them, weren't moving to oppose us. Prostoy established himself as the local commander, declared his men would protect the people and came to a tentative agreement with Celestine; we were in charge and they would handle policing duties of the commoners. Honestly there were more issues of Eostians picking fights or harassing the locals then the other way around with commanders punishing the rabble rousers. The same story played out in the other cities with similar tones.

The populace largely just... accepted were we here and ruling them. I toured the city (With escort, of course) and stopped to talk to people (Offering some food at times to loosen lips) and I started to piece together a picture. For a minority Mooncast's occupation was unacceptable and they tried to rally people to the cause if overthrowing the Eostians to very limited success, while another minority was shades of acceptance up to 'we welcome our new human overlords' while another minority was thankful we helped put out the fires and became very cordial. The majority seemed to be closer to... well...

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

In other news Czarina wasn't the only Matron to fall in combat; Chaoxis and Drakepyre both had new Matrons rise up from those houses and both died in combat as did the Matron of Goldtomb. By all accounts only the leader of House Reclusia survived and retreated; by those same accounts with the largest force behind her. My guess is she saw the writing on the wall and opted to break with the tradition of going down with the ship, so to speak, and saved what she could for the next fight.

Likely by now Olga had the reports of what happened and the first of those in retreat would arrive at her doorstep; if not now then soon. That left a question of her response...

As for now we had another problem; who was going to rule the Garan Occupied Regions (Yes, we called it the GOR for short) until negotiations were to begin with Olga, assuming she got the idea that talking might be a good thing? There was a meeting of the on hand lords where Celestine suggested... me.

I flatly refused. My argument was I was more valuable as an enchanter and I'd need to fall back sooner or later to enchant another Cloud Rider. I also had another reason that I brought up more quietly; namely that I already had enough attention on me and didn't need more. Arnold von Blizhaus was quick to suggest his youngest son Channer but Jamaica Galeraven shot it down by pointing out that if that happened sooner or later someone would spill the beans on House Blitzhaus' industry of breeding dark elf slaves which would go over like a lead weight.

A few other names came up ranging from those on hand (Both Cress and Valora were brought up) and those not (Such as Klaus) but an agreement was hard to reach. Celestine was giving me a side eye and I worried she'd drop it back to my lap and I tried to come up with a name and then it hit me; Iryna Syniy, Bishop of the Faith, Minor Noble from Alcanth... and a dark elf. My argument was she as was a dark elf herself the locals would hopefully be more welcoming of her then most other picks, she was calm and level headed and might bring the Word of Larentia to Garan.

While the idea of Eostia's only dark elf noble ruling over the GOR wasn't ideal to many of the gathered nobles or their prejudices they were forced to admit the locals would likely be more open to following her lead and the idea of bringing the good word of Larentia to the north was largely appealing to them, more so the more religious ones... and as spoken by one of their own might make it stick a little more.

Celestine agreed and while there were some dissenters most still agreed to the plan and Iryna would be called up and, after a short talk, was appointed the Marquisess of the GOR and the first to hold the rank in four hundred years in Eostian history... and I still didn't know the story of the last person to hold the rank as the Marquess/Marquisess as that was a rank given to those ruling over foreign territory that wasn't offically annexed... and as Eostia isn't known to be conquest happy most of the time the rank isn't used a lot.

(I did look it up; some nine hundred years ago a city state on the southern end of the Great Sererus Lake was 'taken over' by Eostia. By 'taken over' I mean we were invited to come in, set up shop and rule over them by the locals because the two kingdoms on either side looked ready to throw down and they were worried they'd either be forced to pick a side or be conquered by one side or the other. The war in question was... surprisingly mild and three hundred years later the two sides merged, peacefully, through marriage. Thomas Ardell would be the last Marquess as his daughter married into the united kingdom and the city state was, peacefully, absorbed in which officially ended Eostia's rule over that state.)

A Cloud Rider was dispatched to bring her to Mooncast and that had things covered for the time being. For now there was little to do but ensure the taken territories ran smoothly, repair infrastructure, make the walls defensible, block the hidden passageway and ensure peace. We would also need to see to the logistical needs of the captured cities as any trade with anything further north was cut off. At the moment we needed to consolidate our hold and ensure things are stable.

That meant at the moment the ball was firmly in Olga's court now... and I had to wonder what she'll do next...

[-]

Napreryvnyy City, Magical Laboratory
Southwest Blazecrown
Near the Borders of Blackshard and Onyxcloak
Kingdom of Garan

Stasia panted a bit as she rolled the cart of spell stones towards her creation. She grinned a bit; thanks to the Matrons she still had enough patronage to continue her work under the Dark Queen's nose... even if all of her personnel had to be moved to other projects. Even so, she could work on her own and with luck she had something left over from her old boss; a massive spell stone, black as onyx that was larger then the size of Belyy Klyk itself of a surprisingly above average quality that was used in the making of the spawnborne beast. By splitting it apart to make a series of smaller, golf ball sized spell stones in a harmonic tone meant they could all be used at once, no matter where they were placed in her creation.

Bit by bit her creation would be readied and even the dark queen would be forced to accept her genius, even if the work was slower.

"Soon... Soon... Soon I'll show off what my creation can do!" She let off as she gave off a wicked grin

[ - Author's Note - ]

Welp... another matron bites the dust! And three more! And Garan is... finding itself under real threat for the first time and losing the capitals of five of seven territories. Naturally the Eostians have a lot to work out as they manage their captured holdings.

We get to see Mokria in action but also Channer for change. Honestly; I want to add more snapshots to show off what characters can do but it always feels like these chapters are getting too long as it sits. Honestly; I have a lot of characters that could use more focus; Aeris, Akanji and Makoto among them. I'll have to do more with them where I can.

As for the reactions from the Garanians to Eostians marching through I wanted to portray the locals as being confused as to what was happening and just... coping with the situation... except for the guys who are supposed to be leading them who responded by going 'fuck this, we out' and running off. And then they set fire to the cities on the out... which could bite them in the long run.

As for the next chapter we see's Olga's reaction to the loss of territory... and she isn't gonna be happy.

As always leave a comment and tell me what you liked, didn't like and over all thought. Until next time then!

~~Eostian Scribe