Eternal
Having extra resources to fund a potential war in the future isn’t a bad idea so Rask is probably the better choice in that you don’t have to worry about building a bunch of ships to take it. Not to mention you’ve already got a presence of sorts there with Trog’s Flogger tribe that makes up most of the population in Quala and spilling over into Rask.
The only main concern you have is that you’re going to have to transfer more Eyes to that front due to the wendigo danger there which will take away from internal security as well as magic training, but there’s nothing else for it.
As for Daniel and Eldolith you’ll indulge both of their requests for now. You tell Daniel that he can consider his city now under the protection of the Empire and that any foreign invasion attempts in any form with be met with force.
“Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Eldolith asks.
“Because I know your kind and Daniel’s already mentioned you have your influence in two other cities. Now you can have your little territory for now, but make no mistake, you’re going to be watched from here on in and if I sense ANYTHING that could be a potential danger to the Empire you’re going to wish that you never managed to unite the svelk to begin with.”
“We’ll do as we please and nobody is going to stop us!”
“Okay then, as you said just send an invasion force in my direction and see if I’m not being serious.”
At this point Eldolith just rolls her eyes, but shuts up. Obviously she knows anymore antagonism might result in war which its apparent now that she doesn’t truly want if she can help it.
Daniel profusely thanks you for heeding his request and will make sure to accommodate your people in anyway he can. You almost shake your head at the man’s naivety if he actually believes his city is going to remain autonomous in the way he believes it will. He’s going to allow your military there, it won’t be long before you’ve got complete control and any “independence” the city thinks it has is only because you’re allowing it. Of course maybe he knows what is probably going to happen and he’s just trying to convince himself otherwise.
In any event you’re glad when the svelk leave (everyone is no doubt), it was a reminder of less happy times in your life.
You tell Crowley that you are planning to retake Rask and steps will have to be made to steadily start transferring Eyes up there to combat the wendigo threat. Since there isn’t any real centralized government to conquer in Rask, the bigger concern is getting folks to settle up there though you’re sure more than a few enterprising sort or people desperate for work will eventually pour into the area when establishing the first towns. If nothing else you’ve always got orcs who are probably going to be doing most of the fighting anyway since with less Eyes around in Nalin, you’re going to have to rely on normal military to keep the plebs in line. (Or rather keep them from getting ideas about getting out of line)
Within the first few months you have the basics of a town up and running along with a fort. As you predicted orcs are making up most of your fighting force up here and are being lead by Eyes. As for the regular work force surprisingly most of it consists of elves who have been finding Nalin less friendly to their kind in recent years and prefer the “less human/more wilderness” much more to their liking. You take part in the “retaming” of Rask.
For the most part the campaign is successful though not without its struggles. With less Eyes around in Rask, it seems the wendigo took advantage of the situation and made a concentrated attack on Fort Everwatch and they managed to massacre the remaining Eyes or in some unfortunate cases possess them. The fort itself is found in a destroyed state.
Crowley naturally is furious by this, as even though he disagreed with his fellow Eyes that stayed, he didn’t wish this on them. He becomes so zealous in his vow to wipe out every single wendigo in Rask, you actually have to rein him in a bit so he doesn’t go get himself killed by going off by alone on some revenge mission.
Within six months you’ve got the wendigos on the run again more and other dangerous denizens of Rask are becoming even less of a problem or at least retreating away from the slow encroachment of civilization. Fort Sentinel is finally finished along with the new town Tiblik.
During this “taming” of Rask you get a message from David telling you in a letter that so far things are going smoothly in Arat, at least on your end of things. The governor is reportedly having some problems with protestors taking umbrage with your troops being in the city. The commanding officer of your soldiers has offered to deal with the problem, but Daniel has said that will only confirm their fears and insists on having his own people deal with the protests.
David also tells you that things are also going well in Nalin though there has been a slight increase in crime due to there being less Eyes around. Nothing major, but he felt he should let you know.
You throw away the letter and grumble a bit at the realization that you’ll have to return to Nalin soon. Even though these concerns aren’t big ones, you can’t help but believe that if you stay away too long, more problems will crop up and existing ones will get worse.
You look at the snowy scenery from the battlements of Fort Sentinel and take a moment to bask in your accomplishment before making that trudge back to Nalin. The cold air actually feels good to you right now.
You hear Crowley coming up to find you.
“There you are, I was wondering if you knew about the messenger that was looking for you.”
“Yeah, I got the message. You know people probably thought Rask would never be tamed again, but the first steps are being taken and eventually it’ll be part of the Empire again proper, just like Quala.” You remark.
“I’m certainly glad to see it my Emperor. Just wish all of my brothers had joined me when I first left Everwatch.”
“A tragic loss for you I’m sure, but do not dwell on them too much, for you are here and they are not. You saw a chance for the Eyes to live forever and took it. And because you did, the Eyes are destined to live as long as the Empire exists. Those that fell in Everwatch will live on in a way.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’m a little surprised to hear you say so though. I might’ve thought you considered them traitors.”
“At the time I asked you to join me, the Empire was not even yet reborn. They couldn’t be traitors to something that didn’t exist. I thought them shortsighted fools perhaps, but not traitors and certainly not cowards. To be honest I was sort of hoping when we did come back here that maybe some of them might’ve changed their minds.”
“As did I. I swear I’m going to make sure the wendigo are exterminated from Rask.”
“Hm, well that would be a blessing, but as I said before don’t get too caught up in revenge. Especially since you’re going to have to be in charge of this place.”
Crowley gives you a quizzical look.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean as much fun as I’ve had slaughtering the wendigo, ogres, uncivilized orcs and those...(sigh) shit I forgot the name of those little vicious furry things with big teeth…”
“Auravraxes, my Emperor.”
“Yeah those things. Anyway as much fun as I’ve had doing that and overseeing the first flags being replanted here, I know I have to get back to Nalin. The boring duty of being in charge calls. So I need someone competent to look after stuff here in Rask and since you already know the landscape, probably better than I do, you might as well do the job.”
Crowley gives a faint smile and a nod.
“I won’t fail you in this task, my Emperor.”
“I should hope not, but I’m sure you’ll have a handle on things. Really it’s not going to get really tough until more citizens start settling up here. I imagine you probably won’t have too much problem with the orcs since strength of arms is always respected. The elves on the other hand, well they tend to bitch about anything. You’d think the pointy ears would be grateful that I didn’t bring back slavery. Anyway, just don’t kill too many unruly citizens if it comes to it, we’re trying to keep people up here.”
“Don’t worry, remember I’m a sightmaster, part of my job is keeping the citizenry in line.”
“Okay, well then I’ll leave you to it. You’ll find all the latest reports and such in your office.”
With this final command, you take your leave of Rask and return to Nalin.
The only main concern you have is that you’re going to have to transfer more Eyes to that front due to the wendigo danger there which will take away from internal security as well as magic training, but there’s nothing else for it.
As for Daniel and Eldolith you’ll indulge both of their requests for now. You tell Daniel that he can consider his city now under the protection of the Empire and that any foreign invasion attempts in any form with be met with force.
“Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Eldolith asks.
“Because I know your kind and Daniel’s already mentioned you have your influence in two other cities. Now you can have your little territory for now, but make no mistake, you’re going to be watched from here on in and if I sense ANYTHING that could be a potential danger to the Empire you’re going to wish that you never managed to unite the svelk to begin with.”
“We’ll do as we please and nobody is going to stop us!”
“Okay then, as you said just send an invasion force in my direction and see if I’m not being serious.”
At this point Eldolith just rolls her eyes, but shuts up. Obviously she knows anymore antagonism might result in war which its apparent now that she doesn’t truly want if she can help it.
Daniel profusely thanks you for heeding his request and will make sure to accommodate your people in anyway he can. You almost shake your head at the man’s naivety if he actually believes his city is going to remain autonomous in the way he believes it will. He’s going to allow your military there, it won’t be long before you’ve got complete control and any “independence” the city thinks it has is only because you’re allowing it. Of course maybe he knows what is probably going to happen and he’s just trying to convince himself otherwise.
In any event you’re glad when the svelk leave (everyone is no doubt), it was a reminder of less happy times in your life.
You tell Crowley that you are planning to retake Rask and steps will have to be made to steadily start transferring Eyes up there to combat the wendigo threat. Since there isn’t any real centralized government to conquer in Rask, the bigger concern is getting folks to settle up there though you’re sure more than a few enterprising sort or people desperate for work will eventually pour into the area when establishing the first towns. If nothing else you’ve always got orcs who are probably going to be doing most of the fighting anyway since with less Eyes around in Nalin, you’re going to have to rely on normal military to keep the plebs in line. (Or rather keep them from getting ideas about getting out of line)
Within the first few months you have the basics of a town up and running along with a fort. As you predicted orcs are making up most of your fighting force up here and are being lead by Eyes. As for the regular work force surprisingly most of it consists of elves who have been finding Nalin less friendly to their kind in recent years and prefer the “less human/more wilderness” much more to their liking. You take part in the “retaming” of Rask.
For the most part the campaign is successful though not without its struggles. With less Eyes around in Rask, it seems the wendigo took advantage of the situation and made a concentrated attack on Fort Everwatch and they managed to massacre the remaining Eyes or in some unfortunate cases possess them. The fort itself is found in a destroyed state.
Crowley naturally is furious by this, as even though he disagreed with his fellow Eyes that stayed, he didn’t wish this on them. He becomes so zealous in his vow to wipe out every single wendigo in Rask, you actually have to rein him in a bit so he doesn’t go get himself killed by going off by alone on some revenge mission.
Within six months you’ve got the wendigos on the run again more and other dangerous denizens of Rask are becoming even less of a problem or at least retreating away from the slow encroachment of civilization. Fort Sentinel is finally finished along with the new town Tiblik.
During this “taming” of Rask you get a message from David telling you in a letter that so far things are going smoothly in Arat, at least on your end of things. The governor is reportedly having some problems with protestors taking umbrage with your troops being in the city. The commanding officer of your soldiers has offered to deal with the problem, but Daniel has said that will only confirm their fears and insists on having his own people deal with the protests.
David also tells you that things are also going well in Nalin though there has been a slight increase in crime due to there being less Eyes around. Nothing major, but he felt he should let you know.
You throw away the letter and grumble a bit at the realization that you’ll have to return to Nalin soon. Even though these concerns aren’t big ones, you can’t help but believe that if you stay away too long, more problems will crop up and existing ones will get worse.
You look at the snowy scenery from the battlements of Fort Sentinel and take a moment to bask in your accomplishment before making that trudge back to Nalin. The cold air actually feels good to you right now.
You hear Crowley coming up to find you.
“There you are, I was wondering if you knew about the messenger that was looking for you.”
“Yeah, I got the message. You know people probably thought Rask would never be tamed again, but the first steps are being taken and eventually it’ll be part of the Empire again proper, just like Quala.” You remark.
“I’m certainly glad to see it my Emperor. Just wish all of my brothers had joined me when I first left Everwatch.”
“A tragic loss for you I’m sure, but do not dwell on them too much, for you are here and they are not. You saw a chance for the Eyes to live forever and took it. And because you did, the Eyes are destined to live as long as the Empire exists. Those that fell in Everwatch will live on in a way.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’m a little surprised to hear you say so though. I might’ve thought you considered them traitors.”
“At the time I asked you to join me, the Empire was not even yet reborn. They couldn’t be traitors to something that didn’t exist. I thought them shortsighted fools perhaps, but not traitors and certainly not cowards. To be honest I was sort of hoping when we did come back here that maybe some of them might’ve changed their minds.”
“As did I. I swear I’m going to make sure the wendigo are exterminated from Rask.”
“Hm, well that would be a blessing, but as I said before don’t get too caught up in revenge. Especially since you’re going to have to be in charge of this place.”
Crowley gives you a quizzical look.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean as much fun as I’ve had slaughtering the wendigo, ogres, uncivilized orcs and those...(sigh) shit I forgot the name of those little vicious furry things with big teeth…”
“Auravraxes, my Emperor.”
“Yeah those things. Anyway as much fun as I’ve had doing that and overseeing the first flags being replanted here, I know I have to get back to Nalin. The boring duty of being in charge calls. So I need someone competent to look after stuff here in Rask and since you already know the landscape, probably better than I do, you might as well do the job.”
Crowley gives a faint smile and a nod.
“I won’t fail you in this task, my Emperor.”
“I should hope not, but I’m sure you’ll have a handle on things. Really it’s not going to get really tough until more citizens start settling up here. I imagine you probably won’t have too much problem with the orcs since strength of arms is always respected. The elves on the other hand, well they tend to bitch about anything. You’d think the pointy ears would be grateful that I didn’t bring back slavery. Anyway, just don’t kill too many unruly citizens if it comes to it, we’re trying to keep people up here.”
“Don’t worry, remember I’m a sightmaster, part of my job is keeping the citizenry in line.”
“Okay, well then I’ll leave you to it. You’ll find all the latest reports and such in your office.”
With this final command, you take your leave of Rask and return to Nalin.