Eternal
You don’t like disagreeing with the Emperor’s strategic decisions and you certainly don’t want to deal with svelk in your camp, but from what you know of Roldan replacing him now wouldn’t be a good move as he is the best-qualified general. The only person you can think of that would be better is yourself, but the Emperor has made it quite clear he wants you to stay put, so you aren’t going to argue the issue.
“If you believe the svelk can be useful as support on the gnoll front, then I shall figure out a way to make it work.” You remark, which seems to surprise the Emperor.
“Mm, very well. You sure it won’t be a problem?”
“No, no problem. However at the slightest sign of some sort of treachery or them not pulling their weight then I’ll suggest the next decree you pass be one that executes all svelk in Empire territory.”
Hah, trust me, I’ve nearly had that one on the list for centuries. I know you’ll be able to handle this though. Just wish everyone was as competent as you.” The Emperor says and gives a glare at Jacob who is still briskly going through some papers.
“I really do think Jacob is trying his best. He only wants what’s good for the Empire.”
“Then he better start doing a better job. Anyway let’s get on with it.”
The Emperor proceeds to tell Mistress that the svelk mercenary bands will be assigned to the gnoll front, but that they will ultimately answer to you and that any problems from them will result in mass executions. Mistress doesn’t seem at all bothered by this; in fact she simply chuckles and says that’s fine.
The Emperor then goes on to tell Jacob that General Roldan better start making more progress soon or he will have another general take his place. Then he says he has to meet with Marik.
“I sometimes wonder if he just uses his madness as an excuse to be absent minded and claim he didn’t know there was a meeting. I just hope he’s actually made progress on his project he convinced me to proceed with. Okay all of you are dismissed.” The Emperor remarks and the rest of you leave his chambers.
You expect Mistress to make some sort of remark as you’re all walking out of the palace, but she ends up quickly walking ahead of you instead. Jacob on the other hand takes the opportunity.
“I just wanted to thank you for once again trying to shield me from the Emperor’s wrath, though I fear that it won’t be long before my services are no longer needed. That day is coming soon. I know it.”
“You’re worrying too much as usual. The Emperor knows you’re indispensible.”
“No YOU’RE indispensible. That crazy derro Marik is indispensible. Even that svelk bitch is considered indispensible, though I really don’t know why. Me? I’m just another bureaucratic bean counting pencil-pushing advisor that’s getting old. There are several just waiting to take my place. You know I had twelve attempts to poison me in the last year?”
“By who?”
“By other bean counting pencil-pushing bureaucrats obviously. I’m sure you know that’s how I got my job. Eliminated the previous advisor. Of course with the way things are going, the Emperor himself is likely to do it personally. I just wish I could get him to see that this war is a drain on the Empire. Even if we win, the victory still won’t outweigh the amount of cost in resources, gold, population we spent to pursue it. I mean sure we have the land, but a lot of it has been rendered unusable due to the slash and burn policy that’s been favored. We haven’t even left a lot of people alive to tax! Now this thing with Roldan, I really don’t know what he expects me to do.”
“How is internal security lately?” you ask.
“Its fine. Good all things considered. The Eyes have successfully replaced the shadows it seems as far as that is concerned. Reputation is everything.”
“Do you think you could re-assign some of them and it not affect domestic safety?”
“What do you mean?”
You explain that perhaps using some Eyes as assassins and spies might work better than the usual military scouts. Perhaps their expertise of blending in, stealth and other such tactics can get them to sneak in the city and bring it down from within.
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. In fact, why didn’t the Emperor think of that? It’s certainly an idea worthy of consideration and Warrick would be an excellent candidate to lead such an operation. If the Emperor believes I have more input in this matter than I actually do, I might as well make such accusations true and hopefully successful for my sake.” Jacob remarks.
“I’m sure this plan will hasten the fall of the Felkan Kingdom. You’ll have not one but two Eternals in vital positions on the front lines now.”
“Don’t you mean three? You didn’t include yourself.”
“Oh, well I’m doing my part sure, but…nevermind.”
“But you want to be where Roldan is.”
“I don’t even necessarily want to lead the main attack force at this point, I just feel like I should at least be part of it. I know the Emperor explained to me he doesn’t want to throw me into the meat grinder of war because he sees greater potential in me, but I feel like sometimes I’m not being able to live up to that potential.”
Jacob pats you on the side of your arm.
“Now you’re the one worrying too much. You are more vital to this war than you believe. This advice you just gave me proves that. The Emperor is just well…a little protective of you because he’s so proud of you. Can you blame him? Don’t worry; your day to really shine will come some day. Maybe even sooner than you think.”
After Jacob’s minor pep talk you feel a little better about your own position, of course then you remember you now have a bunch of svelk assigned to your camp.
Alison is probably slightly less happy about it than you are.
“Was there nothing that could be done?” Alison asks.
“I told you, it was either this or replace General Roldan and that would’ve been a major strategic mistake.”
“Well are you going to be okay with this?”
“Me? Sure. Guidelines have already been established, I’m ultimately in charge of them and believe me I’ve every intention to not letting them get away with shit. I’ll tell them as soon as they start arriving. In the meantime, let’s make arrangements for our new allied support. Better that we do it now before they think they can just make themselves at home here.”
No sooner do the svelk mercenaries start arriving, you begin laying down the rules of how things are going to be to all the respective captains in private. They are of course unenthused about such things, but given that you didn’t dress them down in front of everyone most grudgingly comply with your decrees.
There is one captain by the name of Eldolith, however who just manages to rub you the wrong way…
“Yes, yes, I’ve already been briefed on the situation. We all have, so you can stop wasting your time by asserting your pitiable need for dominance.” Eldolith remarks.
You look at the haughty svelk captain and you already know who you see before you. You’re feeling a mixture of things right now, but you told the Emperor that you were going to make this work, so you’re going to at least get a certain amount of enjoyment out of it.
“But if I don’t keep reinforcing it, then you’ll never truly grasp the idea that you are subservient to me. And as we all know it’s important to keep the lesser born in their place. That is the svelk way is it not?” you say.
Eldolith nearly makes a retort, but stops. You aren’t letting her off that easy.
“Oh? You wish to say something else? Maybe that I am not a svelk and that I am the lesser born? Perhaps something about how humans are nothing more than hairless Sul Monkeys? Come on, say what you want. I’ve heard it all before by your kind and it’s the same old shit. Come on, just give me an excuse.” you say and then grab her by the throat and begin to squeeze while your hot breath invades her nostrils.
Eldolith says nothing, she doesn’t even try to resist she just continues to stare at you defiantly, accepting of death if necessary or whatever else you have in mind.
“You don’t fool me svelk bitch, deep down you’re scared…or maybe…maybe you’re getting excited? Yeah, I bet that’s it…I know what YOU like…” you say and your other hand begins to wander touching Eldolith’s body. Then you realize what you’re doing and you immediately stop and make haste back to the Empire side of the camp.
Alison asks you if everything went all right, and you sharply dismiss her by exclaiming that of course everything is fine. Alison doesn’t take too much offense since she figures having the svelk in camp is probably going to put you in a bad mood.
You wonder now if you didn’t want the svelk transferred here so you could have the opportunity to unleash some of your lingering desires. To get a gleeful sadistic pleasure of verbally abusing them or sending them on dangerous missions, or even killing one of them yourself if they step out of line. You don’t even want to dwell on what you felt like doing to Eldolith.
Did Mistress plan this somehow? She couldn’t have. It was your choice.
“By the Emperor, get a hold of yourself! This is all on you. You need to fight this. This temptation will be great, but you WILL overcome it. You will act like a professional. You need to act like a disciplined agent of the Empire. You will not lower yourself. The Emperor will give me strength of mind and body.” You mutter to yourself.
While you’re struggling with your inner demons you also need to focus on the real problem at hand which are the gnolls. Alison, like you, would prefer to do something more proactive to them rather than constantly waiting around for their attacks. Given that you’re now stuck with them, here’s where the svelk will come in handy.
You could send them in to regularly launch guerilla raids against the gnolls in their own territory, of course this might be seen as using them as “disposable warriors” which is something that they were complaining about while on the Felkan front.
About the only other purpose would be to use them as scouts in order to prepare for a large counter attack against the gnolls. Of course you really aren’t supposed to be doing that, as the orders are clear that you are to remain in occupied Felkans lands just in case your support is needed elsewhere.
“If you believe the svelk can be useful as support on the gnoll front, then I shall figure out a way to make it work.” You remark, which seems to surprise the Emperor.
“Mm, very well. You sure it won’t be a problem?”
“No, no problem. However at the slightest sign of some sort of treachery or them not pulling their weight then I’ll suggest the next decree you pass be one that executes all svelk in Empire territory.”
Hah, trust me, I’ve nearly had that one on the list for centuries. I know you’ll be able to handle this though. Just wish everyone was as competent as you.” The Emperor says and gives a glare at Jacob who is still briskly going through some papers.
“I really do think Jacob is trying his best. He only wants what’s good for the Empire.”
“Then he better start doing a better job. Anyway let’s get on with it.”
The Emperor proceeds to tell Mistress that the svelk mercenary bands will be assigned to the gnoll front, but that they will ultimately answer to you and that any problems from them will result in mass executions. Mistress doesn’t seem at all bothered by this; in fact she simply chuckles and says that’s fine.
The Emperor then goes on to tell Jacob that General Roldan better start making more progress soon or he will have another general take his place. Then he says he has to meet with Marik.
“I sometimes wonder if he just uses his madness as an excuse to be absent minded and claim he didn’t know there was a meeting. I just hope he’s actually made progress on his project he convinced me to proceed with. Okay all of you are dismissed.” The Emperor remarks and the rest of you leave his chambers.
You expect Mistress to make some sort of remark as you’re all walking out of the palace, but she ends up quickly walking ahead of you instead. Jacob on the other hand takes the opportunity.
“I just wanted to thank you for once again trying to shield me from the Emperor’s wrath, though I fear that it won’t be long before my services are no longer needed. That day is coming soon. I know it.”
“You’re worrying too much as usual. The Emperor knows you’re indispensible.”
“No YOU’RE indispensible. That crazy derro Marik is indispensible. Even that svelk bitch is considered indispensible, though I really don’t know why. Me? I’m just another bureaucratic bean counting pencil-pushing advisor that’s getting old. There are several just waiting to take my place. You know I had twelve attempts to poison me in the last year?”
“By who?”
“By other bean counting pencil-pushing bureaucrats obviously. I’m sure you know that’s how I got my job. Eliminated the previous advisor. Of course with the way things are going, the Emperor himself is likely to do it personally. I just wish I could get him to see that this war is a drain on the Empire. Even if we win, the victory still won’t outweigh the amount of cost in resources, gold, population we spent to pursue it. I mean sure we have the land, but a lot of it has been rendered unusable due to the slash and burn policy that’s been favored. We haven’t even left a lot of people alive to tax! Now this thing with Roldan, I really don’t know what he expects me to do.”
“How is internal security lately?” you ask.
“Its fine. Good all things considered. The Eyes have successfully replaced the shadows it seems as far as that is concerned. Reputation is everything.”
“Do you think you could re-assign some of them and it not affect domestic safety?”
“What do you mean?”
You explain that perhaps using some Eyes as assassins and spies might work better than the usual military scouts. Perhaps their expertise of blending in, stealth and other such tactics can get them to sneak in the city and bring it down from within.
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. In fact, why didn’t the Emperor think of that? It’s certainly an idea worthy of consideration and Warrick would be an excellent candidate to lead such an operation. If the Emperor believes I have more input in this matter than I actually do, I might as well make such accusations true and hopefully successful for my sake.” Jacob remarks.
“I’m sure this plan will hasten the fall of the Felkan Kingdom. You’ll have not one but two Eternals in vital positions on the front lines now.”
“Don’t you mean three? You didn’t include yourself.”
“Oh, well I’m doing my part sure, but…nevermind.”
“But you want to be where Roldan is.”
“I don’t even necessarily want to lead the main attack force at this point, I just feel like I should at least be part of it. I know the Emperor explained to me he doesn’t want to throw me into the meat grinder of war because he sees greater potential in me, but I feel like sometimes I’m not being able to live up to that potential.”
Jacob pats you on the side of your arm.
“Now you’re the one worrying too much. You are more vital to this war than you believe. This advice you just gave me proves that. The Emperor is just well…a little protective of you because he’s so proud of you. Can you blame him? Don’t worry; your day to really shine will come some day. Maybe even sooner than you think.”
After Jacob’s minor pep talk you feel a little better about your own position, of course then you remember you now have a bunch of svelk assigned to your camp.
Alison is probably slightly less happy about it than you are.
“Was there nothing that could be done?” Alison asks.
“I told you, it was either this or replace General Roldan and that would’ve been a major strategic mistake.”
“Well are you going to be okay with this?”
“Me? Sure. Guidelines have already been established, I’m ultimately in charge of them and believe me I’ve every intention to not letting them get away with shit. I’ll tell them as soon as they start arriving. In the meantime, let’s make arrangements for our new allied support. Better that we do it now before they think they can just make themselves at home here.”
No sooner do the svelk mercenaries start arriving, you begin laying down the rules of how things are going to be to all the respective captains in private. They are of course unenthused about such things, but given that you didn’t dress them down in front of everyone most grudgingly comply with your decrees.
There is one captain by the name of Eldolith, however who just manages to rub you the wrong way…
“Yes, yes, I’ve already been briefed on the situation. We all have, so you can stop wasting your time by asserting your pitiable need for dominance.” Eldolith remarks.
You look at the haughty svelk captain and you already know who you see before you. You’re feeling a mixture of things right now, but you told the Emperor that you were going to make this work, so you’re going to at least get a certain amount of enjoyment out of it.
“But if I don’t keep reinforcing it, then you’ll never truly grasp the idea that you are subservient to me. And as we all know it’s important to keep the lesser born in their place. That is the svelk way is it not?” you say.
Eldolith nearly makes a retort, but stops. You aren’t letting her off that easy.
“Oh? You wish to say something else? Maybe that I am not a svelk and that I am the lesser born? Perhaps something about how humans are nothing more than hairless Sul Monkeys? Come on, say what you want. I’ve heard it all before by your kind and it’s the same old shit. Come on, just give me an excuse.” you say and then grab her by the throat and begin to squeeze while your hot breath invades her nostrils.
Eldolith says nothing, she doesn’t even try to resist she just continues to stare at you defiantly, accepting of death if necessary or whatever else you have in mind.
“You don’t fool me svelk bitch, deep down you’re scared…or maybe…maybe you’re getting excited? Yeah, I bet that’s it…I know what YOU like…” you say and your other hand begins to wander touching Eldolith’s body. Then you realize what you’re doing and you immediately stop and make haste back to the Empire side of the camp.
Alison asks you if everything went all right, and you sharply dismiss her by exclaiming that of course everything is fine. Alison doesn’t take too much offense since she figures having the svelk in camp is probably going to put you in a bad mood.
You wonder now if you didn’t want the svelk transferred here so you could have the opportunity to unleash some of your lingering desires. To get a gleeful sadistic pleasure of verbally abusing them or sending them on dangerous missions, or even killing one of them yourself if they step out of line. You don’t even want to dwell on what you felt like doing to Eldolith.
Did Mistress plan this somehow? She couldn’t have. It was your choice.
“By the Emperor, get a hold of yourself! This is all on you. You need to fight this. This temptation will be great, but you WILL overcome it. You will act like a professional. You need to act like a disciplined agent of the Empire. You will not lower yourself. The Emperor will give me strength of mind and body.” You mutter to yourself.
While you’re struggling with your inner demons you also need to focus on the real problem at hand which are the gnolls. Alison, like you, would prefer to do something more proactive to them rather than constantly waiting around for their attacks. Given that you’re now stuck with them, here’s where the svelk will come in handy.
You could send them in to regularly launch guerilla raids against the gnolls in their own territory, of course this might be seen as using them as “disposable warriors” which is something that they were complaining about while on the Felkan front.
About the only other purpose would be to use them as scouts in order to prepare for a large counter attack against the gnolls. Of course you really aren’t supposed to be doing that, as the orders are clear that you are to remain in occupied Felkans lands just in case your support is needed elsewhere.