Eternal
“Captain Gruz shall lead the initial attack. Basically he’ll be making the frontline assault with the full intent on breaking through and marching onward into the Felkan heartland pillaging, burning, raping, you know the usual thing orcs are best at. While his rank doesn’t denote it, he’ll be in charge of three battalions of orcs, which is nearly all of them in the Empire.” The Emperor explains.
“Three battalions? Sheesh, I hate the very idea of that many orcs being together. They tend to get unruly in large groups. Isn’t that why we usually keep them in small groups away from each other?” Jacob replies.
“We won’t have that problem thanks to my son over here. Thanks to him, the orcs haven’t been giving us much discipline trouble at all. Besides, I fully expect that most of them won’t survive this war, which will eliminate their drain on the economy due to their pay increase. Now coming in to support the orcs will be our golems. We’ve got the battle mages ready on that front.”
“How come he doesn’t have a higher rank?” you ask.
“I was told he didn’t want it. Said that captain sounds more hands on than major or anything higher. I don’t think he cares what his title is really.” The Emperor replies.
“What about Fort Soot? Who’ll be leading the attack on that place, because from my understanding its one of the Felkan’s best defended forts.” Jacob asks.
“We’ll be sending regular troops armed with Marik’s new gunpower weapons. They’ve been tested and they work quite well. As for who’ll primarily be in charge of the attack, you’ll be pleased to know Jacob that I’ve taken your advice and placed one of your Eternals in charge. A Captain Roldan I believe.”
“Thank you my Emperor.”
“Don’t thank me, thank my son over here again. He was the one who looked over the military records of his former classmates.” The Emperor says.
“Why did you pick Roldan over the rest?” Jacob asks.
“Obviously because he seemed the most suited for the job. I know you initially said you were going to consider him for a fort commander position, but his talents would’ve been wasted in Nalin. Brenda would probably work better as a fort commander while Roldan I believe will thrive on the field of battle. Plus I do remember him normally leading the attacks against me in Mistress’ class. He is a natural leader. Besides with him married to Brenda, it would probably be best if they did not serve in the same area anymore.” You reply.
“True, and the other two?”
“Warrick seems to be doing just fine as an Eye and that is where he should remain and as for Kane…well…while his service record is very impressive I believe he is serving the Empire best at his position as a fort commander in Rask. He has obviously made a reputation for himself as The Butcher of Rask and its been keeping the peace there. No point in changing what is working. Besides, he seems a bit unstable and while that sort of personality might work up there, I’d rather a clearer mind like Roldan’s to be at work in the assault on Fort Soot.”
“Okay so the third prong of this attack will be coming more from the southern front. Since the Felkans have weaker defenses there, we will be primarily using traditional troops though some of Marik’s weapons will be used there as well.” The Emperor continues.
“Is that one being lead by that female captain?” you ask.
“Major now actually. Major Alison Krozer. Her previous assignment was Fort Destiny in Rask until Kane replaced her.” Jacob replies. “From what I know she was efficient at her job and due for a promotion.”
“Well this position is a good opportunity for her to prove if she was worthy of it. Though just in case she isn’t, I have plans to have you assist personally on that front.” The Emperor says to you.
“Wherever you feel I would serve best.” You reply.
“Oh I have a few ideas of where you’d serve best.” A familiar voice suddenly says and you wince when you hear it.
“Easy. Easy there son.” The Emperor whispers when he notices your discomfort of Mistress suddenly entering the room.
“I’m fine.” You whisper back, nodding at the Emperor.
“How good of you to be on time as usual.” Jacob remarks.
“How cute of you to attempt sarcasm. I’ll arrive when I please Jacob. Besides I don’t see Marik here. I swear that rock eater could at least crawl out of his hole for one moment just to attend these big meetings.”
“Marik’s duty is being served in other ways, he doesn’t need to be here. He’s designing our new weapons. Now did you do as I asked?” the Emperor asks Mistress.
“What? Rile up the gnoll tribes on the western borders of the Felkan Kingdom? Yes of course though I don’t know how effective they’ll be given that they’re a bunch of idiotic gnolls.”
“As long as they cause enough trouble for the Felkans’ western front it’ll be worth it. The more the Felkans have to stretch their resources the better.”
“So is that it? Was that all you needed from me?” Mistress asks.
“I’ll also be needing all the current svelk mercs in the area.”
“And I’ll be needing a large sum of gold to convince them all to actually get involved in this little war of yours too and even then that might not be enough.”
“Since when do svelk turn down gold? Profit and pain are all your race cares about.” you say.
Mistress stares at you with those cold eyes of hers, still not accepting you as an equal.
“You humans truly know nothing about our race. Of course I hardly expect a mewling baby like you to know anything anyway.”
“Mewling baby? I would’ve expected a better insult coming from you.” You respond in a half bored tone.
“Oh? Have you missed my verbal humiliation then? Well perhaps we can meet after this little gathering and I can once again subject to you REAL humiliation for old time’s sake. Would you like that? Is that what gets you going?”
“Sorry, but I’m afraid I’m fully aware of most of your best material now and it would be lost on me. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself in thinking up new ways to futilely try to make me mad.”
“Ah yes I imagine you would be beyond such things now. I suppose I’ll just have to take joy in your continual torment that you know that you experienced my flesh intimately yet will never experience it again.”
“Considering you offered your body so freely in exchange for your life last time, I’d say my chances are still good that I could experience it again if I really wanted to.”
“Do you fancy your chances then? Do you wish to continue our engagement from last time? Because as I remember it was ultimately I who had the advantage and it’s only due to Jacob stopping the fight that you still live…”
“Enough! The pair of you!” the Emperor orders. “You’ll get your damn gold in abundance. Just make sure you gather all the svelk in the area, I’ll tell you where I want them later.”
“I’ll relay the message to the main captains, but I can’t promise you that they will stick around. Well at least not until they’ve been paid. Now is that all?”
“Yes, yes, that’s all.” The Emperor says and waves his hand dismissively at Mistress which visibly irritates her and amuses you.
As Mistress starts to leave she can’t help but get in the last word.
“I hope you realize that ultimately this war against the Felkans is pointless. Even if you win, the Empire will still fall eventually. Its time is coming to an end and the sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.”
“Watch your acid tongue svelk bitch. I tolerate you because you’re useful, but I won’t be spoken to in such a manner.” the Emperor remarks in an annoyed tone.
Mistress stops and turns her head slightly to answer.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, I was speaking to the one who is currently watching my ass as I walk out the door. The one having lustful thoughts about the ways he’d like to violate my supple body and then slit my throat with the very dagger I gave him. I’ll let you figure out who that is.” She remarks and leaves.
“I…I…wasn’t!” you protest when the Emperor and Jacob both look at you.
“Don’t worry about it son, she’s just messing with you again. Let’s get back to business.” The Emperor remarks.
As the Emperor and Jacob both continue talking about battle plans, it takes you a little longer to get your head back into it. You can’t believe you managed to let her get to you again with such a crude remark.
Of course maybe it wouldn’t have gotten to you if it hadn’t been true.
“Three battalions? Sheesh, I hate the very idea of that many orcs being together. They tend to get unruly in large groups. Isn’t that why we usually keep them in small groups away from each other?” Jacob replies.
“We won’t have that problem thanks to my son over here. Thanks to him, the orcs haven’t been giving us much discipline trouble at all. Besides, I fully expect that most of them won’t survive this war, which will eliminate their drain on the economy due to their pay increase. Now coming in to support the orcs will be our golems. We’ve got the battle mages ready on that front.”
“How come he doesn’t have a higher rank?” you ask.
“I was told he didn’t want it. Said that captain sounds more hands on than major or anything higher. I don’t think he cares what his title is really.” The Emperor replies.
“What about Fort Soot? Who’ll be leading the attack on that place, because from my understanding its one of the Felkan’s best defended forts.” Jacob asks.
“We’ll be sending regular troops armed with Marik’s new gunpower weapons. They’ve been tested and they work quite well. As for who’ll primarily be in charge of the attack, you’ll be pleased to know Jacob that I’ve taken your advice and placed one of your Eternals in charge. A Captain Roldan I believe.”
“Thank you my Emperor.”
“Don’t thank me, thank my son over here again. He was the one who looked over the military records of his former classmates.” The Emperor says.
“Why did you pick Roldan over the rest?” Jacob asks.
“Obviously because he seemed the most suited for the job. I know you initially said you were going to consider him for a fort commander position, but his talents would’ve been wasted in Nalin. Brenda would probably work better as a fort commander while Roldan I believe will thrive on the field of battle. Plus I do remember him normally leading the attacks against me in Mistress’ class. He is a natural leader. Besides with him married to Brenda, it would probably be best if they did not serve in the same area anymore.” You reply.
“True, and the other two?”
“Warrick seems to be doing just fine as an Eye and that is where he should remain and as for Kane…well…while his service record is very impressive I believe he is serving the Empire best at his position as a fort commander in Rask. He has obviously made a reputation for himself as The Butcher of Rask and its been keeping the peace there. No point in changing what is working. Besides, he seems a bit unstable and while that sort of personality might work up there, I’d rather a clearer mind like Roldan’s to be at work in the assault on Fort Soot.”
“Okay so the third prong of this attack will be coming more from the southern front. Since the Felkans have weaker defenses there, we will be primarily using traditional troops though some of Marik’s weapons will be used there as well.” The Emperor continues.
“Is that one being lead by that female captain?” you ask.
“Major now actually. Major Alison Krozer. Her previous assignment was Fort Destiny in Rask until Kane replaced her.” Jacob replies. “From what I know she was efficient at her job and due for a promotion.”
“Well this position is a good opportunity for her to prove if she was worthy of it. Though just in case she isn’t, I have plans to have you assist personally on that front.” The Emperor says to you.
“Wherever you feel I would serve best.” You reply.
“Oh I have a few ideas of where you’d serve best.” A familiar voice suddenly says and you wince when you hear it.
“Easy. Easy there son.” The Emperor whispers when he notices your discomfort of Mistress suddenly entering the room.
“I’m fine.” You whisper back, nodding at the Emperor.
“How good of you to be on time as usual.” Jacob remarks.
“How cute of you to attempt sarcasm. I’ll arrive when I please Jacob. Besides I don’t see Marik here. I swear that rock eater could at least crawl out of his hole for one moment just to attend these big meetings.”
“Marik’s duty is being served in other ways, he doesn’t need to be here. He’s designing our new weapons. Now did you do as I asked?” the Emperor asks Mistress.
“What? Rile up the gnoll tribes on the western borders of the Felkan Kingdom? Yes of course though I don’t know how effective they’ll be given that they’re a bunch of idiotic gnolls.”
“As long as they cause enough trouble for the Felkans’ western front it’ll be worth it. The more the Felkans have to stretch their resources the better.”
“So is that it? Was that all you needed from me?” Mistress asks.
“I’ll also be needing all the current svelk mercs in the area.”
“And I’ll be needing a large sum of gold to convince them all to actually get involved in this little war of yours too and even then that might not be enough.”
“Since when do svelk turn down gold? Profit and pain are all your race cares about.” you say.
Mistress stares at you with those cold eyes of hers, still not accepting you as an equal.
“You humans truly know nothing about our race. Of course I hardly expect a mewling baby like you to know anything anyway.”
“Mewling baby? I would’ve expected a better insult coming from you.” You respond in a half bored tone.
“Oh? Have you missed my verbal humiliation then? Well perhaps we can meet after this little gathering and I can once again subject to you REAL humiliation for old time’s sake. Would you like that? Is that what gets you going?”
“Sorry, but I’m afraid I’m fully aware of most of your best material now and it would be lost on me. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself in thinking up new ways to futilely try to make me mad.”
“Ah yes I imagine you would be beyond such things now. I suppose I’ll just have to take joy in your continual torment that you know that you experienced my flesh intimately yet will never experience it again.”
“Considering you offered your body so freely in exchange for your life last time, I’d say my chances are still good that I could experience it again if I really wanted to.”
“Do you fancy your chances then? Do you wish to continue our engagement from last time? Because as I remember it was ultimately I who had the advantage and it’s only due to Jacob stopping the fight that you still live…”
“Enough! The pair of you!” the Emperor orders. “You’ll get your damn gold in abundance. Just make sure you gather all the svelk in the area, I’ll tell you where I want them later.”
“I’ll relay the message to the main captains, but I can’t promise you that they will stick around. Well at least not until they’ve been paid. Now is that all?”
“Yes, yes, that’s all.” The Emperor says and waves his hand dismissively at Mistress which visibly irritates her and amuses you.
As Mistress starts to leave she can’t help but get in the last word.
“I hope you realize that ultimately this war against the Felkans is pointless. Even if you win, the Empire will still fall eventually. Its time is coming to an end and the sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.”
“Watch your acid tongue svelk bitch. I tolerate you because you’re useful, but I won’t be spoken to in such a manner.” the Emperor remarks in an annoyed tone.
Mistress stops and turns her head slightly to answer.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, I was speaking to the one who is currently watching my ass as I walk out the door. The one having lustful thoughts about the ways he’d like to violate my supple body and then slit my throat with the very dagger I gave him. I’ll let you figure out who that is.” She remarks and leaves.
“I…I…wasn’t!” you protest when the Emperor and Jacob both look at you.
“Don’t worry about it son, she’s just messing with you again. Let’s get back to business.” The Emperor remarks.
As the Emperor and Jacob both continue talking about battle plans, it takes you a little longer to get your head back into it. You can’t believe you managed to let her get to you again with such a crude remark.
Of course maybe it wouldn’t have gotten to you if it hadn’t been true.