Eternal
While Flevas has provided some useful intel, he’s still working off of stories. These dryads if they even are behind this, probably aren’t as powerful as the tales claim. And if they are, then it would be best to attack them as soon as possible without too much waiting around.
“We’re going back to camp. We need to start constructing more catapults and I also need to send a message for more mage reinforcements, shouldn’t take more than a few days and then we can start burning out the Torites no matter what magic they hide behind. Still, you were very helpful Flevas, Ackerson shall be hearing of his idiocy of not seeing your full potential on this matter.” You say.
“Um, thank you Emperor.” Flevas says unsure of how to react.
When you return, you give Ackerson an earful of his failure to use his resources wisely and not even informing you of the potential of certain soldiers who could come in useful. You also explain that the only reason why he isn’t being demoted is that he had the intelligence to at least see Flevas’ combat abilities and send him with you in the first place.
You have the army start chopping down trees and constructing catapults while you await the arrival of the mage reinforcements. You attempt to shield the minds of the army as you did when you arrived, but it would seem you’ve definitely caught the attention of the dryads or satyr mages because it’s a little more taxing than it was last time.
In a couple days the mages arrive and the bombarding of the forest with flaming rocks begins. You along with the help of the newly arrived mages begin casting a firestorm of the largest size. It takes a lot of energy and you can definitely feel resistance, but you break through it and soon a majority of the forest is in flames.
You also order the army to wait around the outskirts of the forest as much as possible since there will no doubt be enemies running out of it in an effort to escape. So far the plan is going well, you just wish you weren’t so tired.
As predicted forest creatures, but more importantly Torites eventually come running out of the forests, some manage to get away, others attempt to fight your army in an attempt to kill you and the other mages, but they naturally fail. However what isn’t predicted is the fact that the forest hasn’t completely burned down yet and it’s been more than a few days, in fact the flames have been extinguished completely in areas and somehow a few trees have completely regrown.
Eventually some of the weaker mages collapse from exhaustion and even die completely drained of life. You attempt to redouble your efforts, but at this point the army is starting to feel the effects of unrest again and you are as well despite the mind shield.
“Emperor, I don’t think the men can’t take much more of this. I think maybe we should…” Ackerson remarks.
“Don’t even make that suggestion Ackerson. We are NOT going to be beaten by some fairy magic. (Sigh) Just need to rethink this a moment…damn it my head…” you say to yourself while rubbing your temples. It’s getting harder to concentrate with all the energy you’ve expended and the short naps you’ve taken don’t seem to do any good at all.
You see Flevas nearby, though he’s wise enough not to say anything. He’d probably like to say, “I told you so.” but values his life more. To be honest you might not blame him if he had the courage to do so since you basically ignored him just like Ackerson did. A mistake on your part and one you’re going to correct.
“Alright fine. I didn’t want to use it so soon after the sabotage attempt, but I’m guessing Elam’s probably got the Storm straightened out by now. Have a message sent to his factory to have it sent with as many firebombs as it can carry. Fix these fucking forest fairies for good.”
You know its going to take some time for the Storm to arrive so in the meantime you tell your people to just keep up the bombarding. You know everyone’s tired, but its necessary that this attack keeps going, you can’t afford to let up.
Can’t afford to let up…
“Shit…I’m going to my tent. I need to try to get some rest before attempting another firestorm again.” You say and stagger to your tent and lie down.
It’s odd, but you actually feel sleepy. Before you felt tired but not actually sleepy (much like most of the troops here) maybe your attack is weakening the dryad’s magic. In any case you’re taking advantage of the situation and getting some much needed sleep.
You drift off…
“My love, wake up it’s time.” You hear a voice say.
You wake up and find yourself in a lush green field. Nearby you see Alison though she’s dressed in civilian clothing. In fact so are you.
“What the hell’s going on? I feel weird.” You say.
“You fell asleep shortly after our picnic, you looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you up, but it’s time, we have to go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“We have to attend the Emperor’s celebration silly! Everyone’s going remember?”
“Oh right. Yeah, I suppose he’d certainly want us to be there to provide security.”
“Security? Oh you must be having one of those dreams again! You certainly have a vivid imagination! While I’m sure the Emperor would be honored to have you as a bodyguard, I’m sure he’s just as glad to have you tilling the fields, now come on we have to go before the festivities begin!”
Alison at this point takes your hand and you get up. You still don’t understand exactly what is going on, but something about Alison’s smile and the warmth of her hand makes you feel so at ease.
“I…I thought you were dead…” you say and suddenly hug her. She hugs you back.
“That was a dream and it’s okay now I assure you. I’m here and you’re here and we’re both very much alive and living safely in the glory of the Empire. Could anything be better?” Alison says.
“No, of course not….I still feel weird though.”
“Well sounds like you had a nightmare. I’m not surprised you’re still disoriented. Come on, you can tell me all about it on our way to the celebration.”
Something about this entire situation seems off to you, but it feels right somehow. You don’t question what’s going on any further and happily kiss Alison before walking off to the Emperor’s celebration with her hand in hand.
Then the vision fades and everything goes dark…
You never wake up from your slumber.
Finding you dead with a faint smile on your face, Ackerson comes to the correct conclusion that the dryads must’ve somehow killed you in your sleep. Considering you aren’t the only one in the army to die in such a manner within the last twenty-four hours he orders a full retreat from the area.
“We’re going back to camp. We need to start constructing more catapults and I also need to send a message for more mage reinforcements, shouldn’t take more than a few days and then we can start burning out the Torites no matter what magic they hide behind. Still, you were very helpful Flevas, Ackerson shall be hearing of his idiocy of not seeing your full potential on this matter.” You say.
“Um, thank you Emperor.” Flevas says unsure of how to react.
When you return, you give Ackerson an earful of his failure to use his resources wisely and not even informing you of the potential of certain soldiers who could come in useful. You also explain that the only reason why he isn’t being demoted is that he had the intelligence to at least see Flevas’ combat abilities and send him with you in the first place.
You have the army start chopping down trees and constructing catapults while you await the arrival of the mage reinforcements. You attempt to shield the minds of the army as you did when you arrived, but it would seem you’ve definitely caught the attention of the dryads or satyr mages because it’s a little more taxing than it was last time.
In a couple days the mages arrive and the bombarding of the forest with flaming rocks begins. You along with the help of the newly arrived mages begin casting a firestorm of the largest size. It takes a lot of energy and you can definitely feel resistance, but you break through it and soon a majority of the forest is in flames.
You also order the army to wait around the outskirts of the forest as much as possible since there will no doubt be enemies running out of it in an effort to escape. So far the plan is going well, you just wish you weren’t so tired.
As predicted forest creatures, but more importantly Torites eventually come running out of the forests, some manage to get away, others attempt to fight your army in an attempt to kill you and the other mages, but they naturally fail. However what isn’t predicted is the fact that the forest hasn’t completely burned down yet and it’s been more than a few days, in fact the flames have been extinguished completely in areas and somehow a few trees have completely regrown.
Eventually some of the weaker mages collapse from exhaustion and even die completely drained of life. You attempt to redouble your efforts, but at this point the army is starting to feel the effects of unrest again and you are as well despite the mind shield.
“Emperor, I don’t think the men can’t take much more of this. I think maybe we should…” Ackerson remarks.
“Don’t even make that suggestion Ackerson. We are NOT going to be beaten by some fairy magic. (Sigh) Just need to rethink this a moment…damn it my head…” you say to yourself while rubbing your temples. It’s getting harder to concentrate with all the energy you’ve expended and the short naps you’ve taken don’t seem to do any good at all.
You see Flevas nearby, though he’s wise enough not to say anything. He’d probably like to say, “I told you so.” but values his life more. To be honest you might not blame him if he had the courage to do so since you basically ignored him just like Ackerson did. A mistake on your part and one you’re going to correct.
“Alright fine. I didn’t want to use it so soon after the sabotage attempt, but I’m guessing Elam’s probably got the Storm straightened out by now. Have a message sent to his factory to have it sent with as many firebombs as it can carry. Fix these fucking forest fairies for good.”
You know its going to take some time for the Storm to arrive so in the meantime you tell your people to just keep up the bombarding. You know everyone’s tired, but its necessary that this attack keeps going, you can’t afford to let up.
Can’t afford to let up…
“Shit…I’m going to my tent. I need to try to get some rest before attempting another firestorm again.” You say and stagger to your tent and lie down.
It’s odd, but you actually feel sleepy. Before you felt tired but not actually sleepy (much like most of the troops here) maybe your attack is weakening the dryad’s magic. In any case you’re taking advantage of the situation and getting some much needed sleep.
You drift off…
“My love, wake up it’s time.” You hear a voice say.
You wake up and find yourself in a lush green field. Nearby you see Alison though she’s dressed in civilian clothing. In fact so are you.
“What the hell’s going on? I feel weird.” You say.
“You fell asleep shortly after our picnic, you looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you up, but it’s time, we have to go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“We have to attend the Emperor’s celebration silly! Everyone’s going remember?”
“Oh right. Yeah, I suppose he’d certainly want us to be there to provide security.”
“Security? Oh you must be having one of those dreams again! You certainly have a vivid imagination! While I’m sure the Emperor would be honored to have you as a bodyguard, I’m sure he’s just as glad to have you tilling the fields, now come on we have to go before the festivities begin!”
Alison at this point takes your hand and you get up. You still don’t understand exactly what is going on, but something about Alison’s smile and the warmth of her hand makes you feel so at ease.
“I…I thought you were dead…” you say and suddenly hug her. She hugs you back.
“That was a dream and it’s okay now I assure you. I’m here and you’re here and we’re both very much alive and living safely in the glory of the Empire. Could anything be better?” Alison says.
“No, of course not….I still feel weird though.”
“Well sounds like you had a nightmare. I’m not surprised you’re still disoriented. Come on, you can tell me all about it on our way to the celebration.”
Something about this entire situation seems off to you, but it feels right somehow. You don’t question what’s going on any further and happily kiss Alison before walking off to the Emperor’s celebration with her hand in hand.
Then the vision fades and everything goes dark…
You never wake up from your slumber.
Finding you dead with a faint smile on your face, Ackerson comes to the correct conclusion that the dryads must’ve somehow killed you in your sleep. Considering you aren’t the only one in the army to die in such a manner within the last twenty-four hours he orders a full retreat from the area.
