AN: "Cookies" Speech / spoken air quotes
"Cookies" Thoughts
"Cookies" Spells / Martial Arts
"Cookies" Message spell speech
"Cookies" Language unknown to character POV / known only to reader
I don't own Overlord
Have fun, enjoy and please review
Chapter 63
Under-E-Rantel / Squeal
After Squeal had his fun yesterday, he listened to the reports of his heroic deeds. If only to stroke his ego, though he would never admit that. He was greater than that.
"So I managed to take out seven rat-ogres and butchered more clanrats, yes-yes?" he grimaced maliciously.
A hissing sound then escaped his lips as one of the few healers of his own clan pressed a tissue with alcohol onto one of his many scratches, though history would make sure those would be grievous wounds.
"Yes-yes, mighty chief-chief." answered the poor fang leader in front of him, as a snarl formed on Squeals face.
He felt emotions rush back to him as he mustered all his will not to fall back into his bloodrage.
"Master-Creator told-ordered to use bloodrage with plan-scheme." he remembered and only those memories managed to calm him down.
"I am-am displeased-angry. When I-me charge, clanrats follow-come with me-me." he grunted, another tissue now wrapped around the glorious cut above his tail weapon. Though he never-ever hissed in any form of pain or discomfort, if historians would be believed, as he was a big tough rat.
The clanrats near him, including his elite, shivered underneath their armor as Squeals' eyes wandered around the burrow. Hate glared at them and Squeal enjoyed the hate he exuded.
"That is might-power. Cower-crawl before me-me." he thought as one of his whiskers twitched. A deep sniff betrayed something he despised.
"So one-one of my guards-shields dares to no-not use fear musk?!" he shouted in his mind and he sniffed a few more times before he made the culprit out.
The other clanrats meanwhile, including the healer, stepped back.
"Get here-here healer." he squeaked and glared at the healer, who immediately got back to his duties, healing the "mortal" wounds on Squeal.
RHK / Neija
After the demi-humans scattered and fled the field the cleanup began. As far as Neija understood, the army of the Sorcerer King took over that part while the convoy itself continued on its track towards Hoburns. She herself began to stay close to the Sorcerer King, just in case something happens.
They easily found the camp of this Jaldaboath and the demi-humans. It was completely destroyed by the demon, the demi-humans rampage and the clean up by the undead army. Just to be sure the Death Knights methodically searched for any danger and when nothing showed up the convoy continued their advance, slowly and steadily.
As Queen Calca closed in towards the gates of the capital Neija could see scenes that she would never forget. Like in a dream she slowly but steadily stumbled forwards. The outer walls were breached, blood and corpses were flung over the walls and it was hard to discern which was from humans or demi-humans. Neija continued, her heart growing ever harder and heavier as she observed and stared at each proof of cruelty she stumbled across.
"The Queen is back."
"We are safe."
"Finally respite."
The shouts filled Neijas ears, but she didn't register them as the convoy slowly continued. Soldiers, paladins and militias, showing hope with their faces, also showed the hopelessness they felt.
"But they did survive this threat… but how many more would they be able to withstand?" she commented in her mind as empathy assaulted the last bastion of decorum within her heart.
While the inner wall, and thus the palace, slowly came closer and closer and a few remnants of lost demi-humans were dispatched, Neija observed everything. The place got muddier, dirtier and more disgusting with each step. She saw how far humans can fall if in need to defend themselves. She cursed the demi-humans for what they did.
And she observed the Sorcerer King, who remained stoically. The Sorcerer King observed the situation and how his forces dispatched any lingering taint of demi-humans from the city. Cold were the orders, cold were the actions taken and cold was the clearing and advance. Neija then remembered how Remedios had acted with demi-humans in the past and kept her observations to herself, bent on finding answers, if even from the Sorcerer King himself.
Arwintar Imperial-palace / Arachne
As the sun rays slowly crept through the windows Arachne shrugged and turned around multiple times. Suddenly she felt hands go hungrily over her body and she felt kisses along her neck and shoulders. Slowly she opened her eyes and turned around a final time, looking into the hungry eyes of her emperor.
"No, my husband." she mused in her head as she corrected herself and kissed him back.
"So you're finally awake my empress?" he whispered into her ear after they finished their kiss.
"Of course, my emperor. But if you're that hungry…" she snickered and he smirked.
"I would like that idea too, but sadly we have to deal with the empire…" he remarked with a playful sadness.
"I know. Do you need my help or would it be a faux pas?" Arachne inquired, unsure of that.
"You can help me. If we are lucky we might even get some free time this afternoon." he answered and kissed her forehead.
"I just happen to know where we could invest that freetime~" She purred and he snickered.
They relaxed a bit more before he stepped out and got himself cleaned and clothed. Afterwards Tuare was called and helped Arachne to get ready as well, though she had to smirk at Jircnivs attempts to take over some of Tuare's duties after the wedding.
Once the new empress was ready she was rolled towards the room Jircniv and she started to use it as a new throne room. It was a part of the terrace, encapsulated by foliage. That part was easy to reach for her and kept a more relaxed environment. Initially the concern was for the documents, as such things shouldn't stay outside. But that was nothing the old room couldn't be used for.
Sadly the idyllic nature of the new throne "room" couldn't keep Jircniv from sighing as he got news from one of his Generals, Plumbus if she remembered correctly.
"So the Re-Estize kingdom is at it again? Shouldn't they have learned by now?" he asked heavily. The rest of the four imperial knights, the one man unit, Nimble just shook his head and shrugged.
"We are talking about the kingdom that declared a war upon the dwarfs…" Plumbus shuddered.
"I searched some of the history books on them, General Plumbus. There were quite some interesting tidbits and surprises for me in those well polished books…" Arachne said and a meaningful look was leveled at Plumbus.
"It most certainly was an interesting read, albeit a lot of propaganda. But that was to be expected at the founding moments of our empire…" Jircniv chimed in.
Nimble looked confused, though it seemed only Arachne's trained eyes caught onto that. Plumbus meanwhile began to sweat profusely.
"I also recognised a recurring name in the texts. It is about a name that you could recognise. Aurelius Pugnus Plumbus…" Arachne cut, in one of the few cuts, towards the main point.
"Of course the name of my most famous ancestors is known to me." Plumbus agreed, leveling a surrendering stare.
"He first served as a commander in a mixed legion of dwarves and humans. Later he got recognised by one of the dwarven leaders. His memoires identify a Gongrimm Ironspine. Said Ironspine taught him everything my ancestor later used as one of the greatest Generals and Politicians of our Empire." Plumbus sheepishly admitted.
"Did he leave something we could use to get more insights into dwarfs? How do they think and how do they do war?" Jircniv asked.
"Of course he did. I will send the diaries and books we got later on. But may I ask why?" the General wanted to know.
"With the current flow in politics, it is likely that the Sorcerer Kingdom will emerge as the main power. Ney, it already is. Said kingdom has a great interest in having a good relationship with the dwarfs. It would be prudent to follow suit and support the dwarfs. Thus I want to know how we can support them." Jircniv explained, gaining a kiss by Arachne.
"Then so be it, my emperor. I will retrieve them as soon as possible." Plumbus promised as he practically sprinted from the throne garden.
"My dear. We need to refill the ranks of your four imperial knights." Arachne continued.
"Already thought about that. But I will leave that to Nimble. How is the progress there, Nimble?" Jircniv said.
"I have a few promising candidates. If you permit, I would test them before committing them to the four imperial knights." Nimble reported.
"That works for me." Jircniv approved as breakfast was marched in.
Under-E-Rantel / Squeal
As his wounds were slowly stopping to sting from the healing, Squeal was relaxing in his tent and cleaning his weapons. He paid special attention to his tail weapon. Suddenly a clanrat rushed in and immediately Squeal smelled the musk of fear on that rat. A snarl formed on Squeals face.
"More clanrats, most perfect-prestigious warlord." the clanrat reported. Before that Squeal was already annoyed and thinking about the situation. Now he was furious. A short and swift stroke was done and the rat would feed the others soon enough.
"But what about the reinforcements-competition?" he thought and the entire situation ran through his mind, almost dancing around his head.
"So many possibilities. I could use them, I could sabotage them for more glory or I could use them as more fodder for the distraction. But Bubonica will be pissed if I sabotage them. She is scary. But it would be funny, if not for her…" Shot through Squeals mind as he evaluated the options. The musk of fear disappeared from his nostrils, meaning that the clanrat had stopped using it. Anger filled his mind as he snatched his tail weapon and struck out.
With a critical hit the clanrat fell as Squeal angrily snorted.
"No one is better-stronger than me-me." Squeal snarls as two of his guards come inside to bring the dying rat out.
"Bring-scurry the list of friends-foes to me-me." he ordered as his guards scampered away.
As he was hissing again, due to pulling cloth of his "grievous" wounds, one of his guards came back. Squeal immediately shut up and ripped the list out of his tools claws.
"What's this-this?" he snarled and pointed at the bottom.
"Clan-master Pestin has a new scheme-plan ánd weapon-toys." the guards smirked and it peaked Squeals interests.
"I want-ned to see these Ratling-guns and Poison-wind-mortars…" he mused, now bringing himself into a combination of rage, interest and happiness at the anticipation of the coming destruction.
RHK / Neija
After Neija, the forces of the Sorcerer Kingdom and the citizens had taken care of the corpses. Neija had retreated back into her chambers within the royal barracks. She felt disgusted at the approach the paladins, under her mentor, had taken towards the demi-humans in the past. Usually the demi-humans had taken hostages and demanded the paladins retreat, only for the hostages to be killed shortly after the paladins were gone. Now she saw the inside of a place that was, at least partially, taken by demi-humans. The gore, the dirt and the disgust practically had flooded the streets and she barely kept her last meal inside.
She stared at her bow, arrow and sword resting at her table as the pictures ebbed through her mind. Daughters, wives and mothers crying at the corpses that once were their loved ones. The streams of orphans, coffins and graves tore her consciousness apart.
"Is that how we left those cities?" she asked herself as her gaze fell again towards a standart of the kingdom she swore to protect when she entered the paladins as a squire.
The thought made her even more sick and thus she decided that she had to do something, anything.
Neija left the royal barracks and went to the palace to serve as aid of the Sorcerer King. She knocked and shortly afterwards she heard a cough and "come in" from the inside.
"I thought you needed rest, so why are you here?" the king asked as Neija shifted uncomfortably.
"I need to do something for now, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown…" she sheepishly confessed.
"Is that the case or do you need to talk about the situation?" The king inquired.
Neija remained silent and began to help the Sorcerer king with the paperwork, ordering the documents that were finished and bringing the stacks that were yet to be finished. It went on like that for hours until Neija needed a break.
"Now, do you want to talk about what is pressing on your mind?" The Sorcerer King asked, and Neija was sure one of his eyebrows rose up.
A silent bit of time passed and then Neija took a long breath.
"It was just horror when we entered the capital… I never saw something like that. The gore, the corpses, the sorrow." Neija confessed and felt slightly lighter.
"That is understandable… You never faced the aftermath of any combat before, did you? You only heard the tales of the brave knights and assumed it was clean?" The Sorcerer King inquired seemingly uneasy.
"Yes. I heard from my father how they dealt with demi-humans and how he felt about it. I witnessed some skirmishes. Patrols on scouting parties. But never the aftermath of a siege, and what the demi-humans do during sieges." she shuddered.
The king remained silent for a few seconds.
"How did those sieges go roughly?" he inquired.
"Usually we would prepare for a siege. The demi-humans then showed hostages and told us to retreat elsewhere or they would kill the hostages. Once we were gone the hostages were killed and eaten." Neija felt the bile attempting to go out of her stomach.
The king remained silent again for a while, seemingly thinking about the situation. Afterwards he placed his finger on the side of his head before nodding along.
"I would say that those hostages were lost long before they were shown to you as hostages. But why didn't your kingdom change the procedure after one or two of those instances? It doesn't sound tactically clever. If someone has an advantage over another in a battle they will press the advantage. Why didn't your kingdom press yours?" he inquired.
"To ensure the hostages safety…" Neija confessed, looking sideways as the thought process of the king echoed in her own head.
"But how would have you proceeded? What would you have done?" She asked.
"Hmm. I would have used my magic. Mostly to ensure that my friends, then my subjects and then the civilians are in safety. Then I would have attacked. I would have crushed them like the vermin, which they are for daring to attack my friends and subjects. My friends are strong compared to the rest of the world, but you never know everything thus I am to make sure of their safety. I am strong as well and as their leader it is my duty to see them through. You could say that weakness is kind of a sin for me, as it endangers my friends and further down the line my subjects. Though some of the friends' children are thinking of a very different kind of logic in regards to that." The kind answered and Neija mulled over it.
The duo continued to finish the paperwork, after which Neija left the chambers and mulled over the words. Now the words were rummaging freely in her mind, as the distraction was finished and there was no further distraction ahead.
She sat in her room, staring at the flag and her weapons, as the words continued to bore in her mind.
"You could say that weakness is kind of a sin for me"
"You could say that weakness is kind of a sin for me"
"You could say that weakness is a sin for me"
"Weakness is a sin for me"
"Weakness is a sin!" she finally stated, took her sword and left to train.
Under-E-Rantel / Squeal
As Squeal, at the top of a small hill, glared at the few last teams that were rushing to positions, he snarled. This quick snarl, thrown at the last wall of this undercity, quickly formed into a smirk of anticipation, greed and sadistic glee.
"Are they -ready-already?!" he asked like a proper warlord, at least it would be reported as such later on and most certainly not that he asked like a human child anticipating a toy.
"Yes-yes, most perfect of masters-warlords." responded his right claw and a small sign, a flaming arrow, was shot from a bow.
It flew in an high arch and landed just between the walls of the undercity and the battle ready army.
Immediately the sound of smaller explosions, the screeching of larger projectiles cutting through the air and the smell of fumes filled the air. Globes practically shot through the air like arrows, but with an even higher arch.
Scattering laughter echoed from the inside of the walls, taunting clan Mortes. The rage from Squeal was ready to take over. But then the moment came. The globes mostly flew inside, crashing in the clink of fragile glass. Green smoke filled the air around the fortification as chokes filled the foes' space.
"Next-next. Smoke-drive them out!" Squeal shouted in sadistic glee.
Immediately the assigned weapon teams prepared the next salve.
*plopp* *plopp* *plopp* *plopp*
The shots were fired in almost unison and the screeching filled the air again. But this time the laughter didn't sound through the fog. Instead the miserable rats, that were choking, coughing and cursing rushed outside with anger in their face. Blood dripped from the corner of their foaming mouths.
"Hahaha. Flesh-meat is back on the table-menu, pawn-rats." Squeal laughed and it was all the signal that was needed as another weapon was finally opening its firepower.
The sound of fast occurring small explosions filled the tunnel, as a large amount of data-crystals, fired by these ratling guns flew through the air.
Squeal was anticipating a bit of damage to the enemies number, but now he was cackling in glee as the lines of clan Critz practically fell into itself. The few that could scurried away from the deathtrap. The rest were felled in the mixture of smoke and the fire of the ratling guns.
As the massacre was going on, despite everything that was alive already being little more than food, Squeal already liked this new invention and thought about future uses of it.
"But need-musst make sure that bone-thing is not-never involved." he thought to himself, having heard of Great-Master-Chief Bubonica's time within the clean halls of those Nazarick-warrens.
Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Arachama
Arachama had done her paperwork for the week, and thus decided to do more paperwork by filing her claims to the spa for the weekend. Her daughters had deserved it by now…
"Though there is now the coming war between the dwarfs and the Re-Estize kingdom… But ramposa is also something to keep in mind. He seems malleable. And the younger son is also a potential subject to convince our side. Especially if he has a chance to usurp his brother. At least he might be more peaceful." she mused as her feet carefully advanced over the floor of her mansion.
She knocked at the room from Leinas, who immediately came out. During the last few days the former imperial knight decided to switch more to chainmail, a spear and a helmet with wings on the sides. Something about freedom and "feeling like it". Arachama let her and even arranged for the armor to be brought.
"Are you ready Leinas? I know it is a hard step…" Arachama began, a slight sorrow in her voice.
"I am ready, Lady Arachama. I need to learn to control my capabilities to make sure I can serve better…" Leinas responded, though a small part seemed to be left unsaid.
"You could stay here for a few more days, especially as Monga is still occupied elsewhere, you know?" Arachama proposed.
"I know, but I got confirmation that I will already be in training soon. Lady Albedo made sure I also received access to Nazaricks library, especially a prepared collection of books, and a training partner when I am inside." Leinas responded and bowed slightly.
"Then I will not stand in your way. If something comes up, please contact me." Arachama ordered while casting a "Gate" to Mongas office, where Albedo should be occupied with sorting documents in alphabetical order.
Leinas, with shaky steps and determination stepped through and the portal closed.
"Now the second part of my to-do-list. At least the ones pertaining to myself." Arachama signed and used a separate "Gate" to get to E-Rantel.
Once in E-rantel, in the inn where Ramposa was placed, she entered the room and found the exiled king sitting at a table with two cups of tea. Stronoff was standing beside the door and dumbfounded.
"What if I was just changing my clothes?" the king asked, kind of obviously hiding his shock behind his cup.
"Then I would have teleported out of the room and waited until you sent Stronoff down to collect me." Arachama answered instantly.
"Especially as I accidentally thought of this room and not the foyer, as I should have." shot through her own head.
"But that is a what if. Thus we should better talk about business." She tried to sound cheerful, and thought she managed to light the mood slightly.
"Indeed. But please take a seat, Lady Arachama." the king proposed.
"Of course. You had an idea and wanted to propose it yesterday…" Arachama began.
"Indeed. I can't, for obvious reasons, just return. It would bring upheaval. My oldest son has effectively taken over, to my kingdom's own detriment. Sadly my daughter Renner can't take over, due to the culture and unwritten laws of the kingdom. But my younger son could. Though that would still keep one problem in the yard." Ramposa laid out.
"The problem is that you would still be seen as king, even if abdicating the throne?" She continued Ramposas train of thought.
"Yes. The populus might see it differently, but the power, in the end, is with the nobles. Thus the question is rather, how are we going to bring my son to the throne…" Ramposa left the end in the air.
"... And how you want to live in secrecy, comfortably and enjoying your last years." she fished the thought out of the air and looked thoughtfully.
"Though the problem is with guarantees." Stronoff threw in.
"That is nothing but mist in the room. If I or my friend wanted him dead, you would be standing beside a casket or a grave right now. Or more likely you would see Ramposa patrolling the walls. Monga is quite resourceful and somewhat of a messi. I am sure he still has the potion Punitto Moe gave him back then…" Arachama drifted of course, not seeing the shocked face of Stronoff and the resigned face of Ramposa.
"Anyhow. How would we be able to do that?" Ramposa asked, trying to get the discussion back to topic.
"That would be less of a problem than you might think. We place you in the landside within a mansion and servants. The bigger puzzle is how we can replace Barbo with Zannac, If the dwarfs let the Re-Estize Kingdom stand after the war at all. War is chaos and chaos is a ladder. The only question aside from that would be if you would have contact with your relatives, as each person knowing our little secret is a potential leak…" She droned and already thought about furniture.
"Then we better collect ideas." Ramposa smiled, seemingly agreeing. Stronoff was observing her, never even blinking. Arachama was smiling and enjoying the cookies Ninya had baked just that morning.
Karaz-A-Karak / Gongrimm
After another group of engineers, warriors, the last artillery crews and longbeards had left the karak, Gongrimm was sure that the preparations for the planned battle site would go smoothly. The gear for Mare arrived just that morning. Heavy plate with heating, protection and teleportation runes, a proper steed in the form of a horse and even an honor guard of hammerers on boars for her. Mare also had the scrolls given to her by Lady Arachama. Over all the dark elf wasnt of great concern in terms of need, but of great concern for the coming war. A sadistic smile crossed Gongrimms face as he came from the task of instructing Mare for her mission in the war.
The next step was to inform the council of the coming plan and making sure that the younger amongst them knew that plans can change on the fly. Thus the back pain ridden dwarf stomped up the steps to the proper chamber and entered. The session was still in preparation and only a few of the older dwarfs were present. All of them already looked at Gongrimm and nodded.
"So we are all in agreement?" Gongrimm smiled in relief.
"Of course." and other boasts of agreement echoed as Gongrimm took his seat.
"Good." Gongrimm sighed as the back pain got smaller.
The chamber remained comparably quieter than usual, the heavy weight of the agreement hanging within the room. Though that would change once the youngsters came into the room. The only one who didn't annoy gongrimm immediately was Powdernose, who got to Gongrimm and nodded as a greeting, which Gongrimm appreciated with a nodd of his own.
At last the high king entered the room and took seat on his throne.
"How are the preparations going?" Immediately Bonebart asked, the eye to eye lessons of Granitetooth seemed to settle in.
"The ditches are prepared, the land is evacuated and artillery is on the way. The fortifications are finished and ready for battle. Any forest in the way is currently transported here for processing. Housing is already built in for the warriors. We also currently have 10 000 proper warriors there, though we expect the number to rise drastically within the next few days, especially with the new use of magic, thanks to Mare Bello Fiore. We also prepared an advanced position in accordance with Fargrimm. Though runesmiths, runepriests and runelords are currently improving the position in their own way. " Powdernose reported on the finished mission of the engineers.
"I already gathered and prepared the force under my command. The strategy is already instructed within my force and we are ready for war. Belegar Klinkabearer also joined the force as a second in command, we number 3000 warriors." Fargrimm continued.
"The mobile force is also prepared and ready. Meanwhile Granitetooth will continue to oversee the prepared position until either Fargrimm or me are present. We number 120 clan and family heads." Gongrimm finished.
Whistling filled the room as the youngsters looked at Gongrimm, Fargrimm and Powdernose.
"That went faster than I thought…" Bonebart muttered.
"We had magic to transport us to the destination, thanks to Mare. Further, most of the dwarven males ran down the barracks once they found out that Gongrimm was searching for warriors. We have roughly 60 000 dwarfs that are ready to bear down onto the nasty grudgemongers…" Fargrimm responded, displaying the confusion that had plagued him much earlier when he had heard the numbers.
"Especially the other karaks remember Gongrimm as a hero and are eager to help, and news travels fast sometimes." Powdernose threw in.
"Though I would like to change an aspect. I wish to take command of the position, it is time to show that the high king doesnt leave his kin to fight his war alone. It is time to show that the high king acts." Bonebart declared.
"Then I will take Granitetooth as second in command." Gongrimm agreed.
"But I have a final question, how are we going to lure the grudge mongers into our nice little position?"the high king inquired.
"That will be the fun part, my high king…" Fargrimm smirked, a devious smile showing the teeth and filling the room in the smell of ale.
"Time to let Mare and the honor guard loose…" thought Gongrimm, as the sleepless night and exhaustion took over and he fell into a light slumber.
Skavenhaven / Bubonica
Bubonica was in an ecstatic state. She has curried favor with the great-most perfect spider-human-thing and received permission to barter-deal with clan Critz. While she was sure she could deal with them in terms of war, it would be a drawn out conflict. Nothing against that per se. But the deadline of the most prestigious bone-thing was coming closer and closer, and she feared being on bad terms with beings that could rival the great tailed one. Thus a messenger had been sent to Sneak. She had received a message back in due haste and now prepared for a sneak attack.
But those preparations were for nothing when a cloud of black and green smoke suddenly filled the room and a ninja-rat stood inside her dorm-warren. She immediately recognised the skaven and smirked, albeit she knew it looked more like puffing her cheeks to everyone else due to her rotten cheeks.
"I knew you would come-sneak here…" Bubonica grinned.
"What is the barter-deal?" Sneak inquired, leveling a glare at Bubonica.
"New masters-overlords are here-here in the world. The prophecy is coming-getting true. We both will-need to serve them, or else the skaven-rats will die-perish." Bubonica began.
"So-so?" Sneak whispered, though it sounded like a chill threat in itself.
"You surrender now-now. I order Squeal back-back from his slaughter-massacre of your undercities. You will serve-serve me directly, no other masters-overlords than mine-mine. Understood? If not I will-can use new devices- weapons with no problem-issue." Bubonica smirked, proud of herself for her minions' work.
Sneak stood there, looking at her. It felt like hours and Bubonica, if she still had her glands, would have produced sweat and fear-musk. But luckily for her those were ripped out not long ago by that metal-tail-thing in the aftermath of her plot. The fear of the deadline and potential consequences crept closer and closer as the hope of an easy resolution was slowly decaying each second.
"Only if I get all lost undercities back-back." Sneak snarled.
"Deal. Now come and sniff-enjoy a new portion-pack of bluestone." Bubonica invited and both felt the rush of power that came from sniffing so called data-crystals.
Re-Estize / Barbo
A great king should order his forces with precision and control. A great king always expands the borders of his nation. A great king doesn't need to tell who is in charge of his realm, as deeds speak much louder than words.
Barbo knew of these truths and was ready to show the world his presence, again. He had done everything in his power to amass an army. The call to arms was answered in an euphoria, which even surprised him after the disaster at Katze Plains, and now the soldiers were moving out.
Due to the devastating losses in the last two campaigns the forces were older in comparison. Elderly were dragged into the barracks to show their loyalty to the kingdom. The prisons were emptied to fill the ranks, and to keep the ones paying off the nobles happy. He also ordered that the age of recruitment be lowered to 14 instead of 16, thus also gathering the young. All needed to be in his service so the world can see his greatness.
The equipment has not changed, though he listened to the advice he once got from a source, he can't remember which one, and increased the amount of infantry. Only the royal knights, the knights already knighted and the warband that was under command of former chief warrior, now traitor and kingslayer, Gazef Stronoff were on horse. The rest was on foot, equipped with leather armor or armor they bought, spears and maybe bought shields. The nobles meanwhile traveled with their usual splendor and armor, as was proper for honest battle.
His brother be damned, the foul rat has fled and would be marked a traitor soon, together with the Marquise he hangs around with. The father was declared dead and buried in a haste and empty casket. Damned be his sister, who dared to embarrass him by fleeing in the direction of Re-Estizes enemies. Barbo knew where the loyalties of his families were, and knew that the way for power was open, in fact more open than ever.
But there was also fear in Barbos' heart. These ratment, that kept a careful watch on him, demanded victory and a swift attack on the dwarfs. They snuck around his palace, despite the increase in guards, as if they owned it. That made Barbo quite angry, as he knew that he can't last out without leaving his poor kingdom without his proper rule.
But the hope of his rule, the might of his power, the peak of his wisdom was marching out the gates of Re-estize to test its metal against the dwarfs. He also got a tip from those ratmen that a raiding party of 120 dwarfs was near E-Pespel.
AN: I hope you enjoyed it, if yes feel free to comment/ review.
I myself am finally back. Though it took some time, my private life has been overcome finally and I have more time now, and I feel in a deep drive to write too…
Until next time.