Eternal
As grim as it might be and as tired as you are, you can’t just let the spirits infect your men. For one thing it isn’t any way for a soldier to go down. For another they’ll just become the “new tribe” you just cleared out. Maybe this land is cursed, but you’ll not let it be infested with hosts for the spirits that dwell here.
You draw your sword and several of your men who haven’t been affected do likewise. Those that have been infected finally stop their gruesome feast and look at you.
“So hungry, must have more flesh, must be fresh, must be YOU!” your second in command screams ghoulishly and attacks you.
Another battle takes place, though not as long or nearly as hard as the first, but you and what’s left of your company make a full retreat as fast as possible when it’s over. It isn’t a smooth retreat though. The thoughts of hunger are filling your minds constantly and being tired just makes it easier for the spirits to infect your men. Several more times you have to put down members of your own company who have turned.
It isn’t until you leave those accursed wooded hills that you start to feel more like yourself, but even then the journey back isn’t easy. The cold, the hunger, and the overall mental and physical exhaustion takes its toll on your last remaining men. By the time you reach the nearest friendly settlement you have six left.
“Heh, just like the old days, you silently chuckle to yourself, briefly thinking of your six Eternal fellows.
You don’t think you’ve ever been pushed to the limit like this before. Truly it is only by the Emperor’s strength that you managed to make it through. You only hope you have not shamed him too much with your failure.
Eventually you arrive at Fort Destiny and report to Captain Krozer, who is celebrating with several others in the fort. You don’t know what’s causing this unorthodox behavior, but you’re certainly surprised by it.
“Captain, I have my mission report.”
“Hey! You’re back Bane of Rask! Isn’t that what they call you around here? Ha ha! I’m glad you’re back, I figured your mission would be as successful as mine! Have a drink!”
“Uh maybe later captain, but I…did you say there was a victory?”
“Well we wouldn’t be sitting here getting drunk if there wasn’t now would we? The campaign against the forest elves was completely successful. I have to give those svelk credit, they can sniff out their kin better than anyone. Was hardly even a fight, when we eventually did find their major home as it was filled mostly with non-combatant women and children. We’d killed most of the warriors trying to get there. Still, always grim business dealing with the enemy civvies. We managed to enslave most of the children at least without killing them, though if the svelk had it their way they would’ve raped and killed everyone. Uncivilized vicious bastards.” The general says taking another drink.
“You enslaved them?” you ask being slightly confused by the idea.
“Well sure…what you think I’d just kill them? I know that’s the way you do things lieutenant, and probably with those shape shifting barbarians its for the best, but let’s just say I’m a little more merciful than you. Hope it doesn’t ruin your perception of me.”
“Uh… not at all. I’m sure you are right captain. The elven children can be indoctrinated to become productive citizens of the Empire. They will learn that our way of life is superior and the correct way.”
“Ha ha, that’s why I like you lieutenant. You don’t know any better. Hey let’s take this conversation back to my office, it’s a little loud here.”
You say okay and begin to follow her, but she grabs your hand in an effort to lead you. You aren’t sure of how to react, so you just let her. When you get there she sits on her desk and smiles at you.
“Relax, lieutenant. I know you’re an Eternal, but you’re always so serious.”
“It’s just I really need to report my mission to you captain.”
“Oh very well, I know it’s important to you.” She says taking another drink.
You tell her exactly what happened and she listens intently to your story.
“Well lieutenant, looks like you managed to pull out a victory against all odds once again. I figured you would.” She says.
“Victory? I don’t feel like it was a victory, captain. I lost most of the company.” You reply.
“Normally I might agree, but from what you told me, it’s amazing you survived at all, let alone bring anyone back alive. Evil spirits, cursed lands, having to kill your own men turning into insane beasts…not something I’d want to face and I’ve seen my fair share of battles. Besides it sounds like the spirits can’t leave that area and you eliminated a majority of their hosts, as well as depriving them of more by doing what was necessary with our transformed soldiers. We’ll probably always have the odd wendigo running around due to idiotic adventurers exploring places where they shouldn’t, but the danger has been curtailed greatly thanks to you.”
“The Emperor’s will guided me and his vigor gave me the endurance to succeed.”
“Perhaps, but you really should’ve had a battle mage with you. I have no idea why central command has not sent us any despite my requests, things can’t be that bad with the Felkans! Sometimes I wonder what the hell they’re doing down there. Oh well at least I had you right?” she says and gets off her desk.
“Of course, I’ll be here for as long I am needed here general.”
“Good.” She says and puts her arms around you and kisses you on the lips. You’re taken completely off guard and are completely out of your element. You’re reminded of Captain Pollo’s advances on Gerald, but this is different since you feel a little something for Krozer even though you’ve tried to not think about it. As the time you’ve spent here has gone by, your thoughts of Captain Krozer have sometimes been more than a little “friendly”, but you’ve tried to suppress them.
You don’t know how to react except you sort of back away.
“Is something wrong lieutenant?” the general asks
“I…uh…I don’t….should we be doing this?”
“Oh the ranks? Forget about it. I just want sex, it’s not like I’m planning on falling in love. Unless you really feel uncomfortable about protocol, I’d respect it of course, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”
“Well, no, I mean… I’ve been having these feelings of lust for you too captain.” You say untactfully.
“Ha ha! Well that’s good to know I guess.” The captain laughs. “So what’s the problem then?”
“…I just…I’ve never…”
“Never…ohhhhh! Really? Though I guess it makes sense. You were trained to kill from birth; going from battlefield to battlefield quoting Empire doctrine (sigh)” the captain touches your face. “Sometimes I wonder if we go too far. Well don’t worry about it; we’ll have time to catch you up. And like I keep telling you, just relax… and call me Alison.”
You and the cap…Alison have an interesting time. It certainly isn’t anything you’ve experienced before, but its possibly the most pleasurable thing you’ve ever experienced. You understand a little more to as why other soldiers hold it in such high regard.
You know not to let it affect your duty and after a few days of down time, you are ready to serve the Emperor again. Everyone is, Captain Krozer is going to do it elsewhere though, namely the Arat province on the Felkan border.
She calls you in to tell you that someone by the name of Mr. Mol has been impressed with your abilities and thinks you are able to handle the Rask frontier without any supervision. As of now you are in charge of Fort Destiny and been promoted to captain. You don’t know what to say.
“Congratulations on your new command, though I will say I don’t envy it! After being here for six years myself, I’ll be glad to be sent to the Arat province. Those Felkans can’t possibly be any worse than the shit we’ve faced here.”
“It was an honor to serve with you captain.” You say respectfully.
“Oh come on, you don’t need to put up a tough front with me, I know you’ll miss me and cry in your pillows at night.” She says with a smirk.
“I…won’t! I mean I’ll miss you, but…”
“Keep working on developing that sense of humor, but it’s nice to know I’ll be missed.” She says and kisses you on the cheek
“Good bye and remember to take a rest from all the killing sometimes and enjoy what you can okay?”
With those last words, Alison walks out of her office…or rather your office.
And so begins your command of Fort Destiny…
You draw your sword and several of your men who haven’t been affected do likewise. Those that have been infected finally stop their gruesome feast and look at you.
“So hungry, must have more flesh, must be fresh, must be YOU!” your second in command screams ghoulishly and attacks you.
Another battle takes place, though not as long or nearly as hard as the first, but you and what’s left of your company make a full retreat as fast as possible when it’s over. It isn’t a smooth retreat though. The thoughts of hunger are filling your minds constantly and being tired just makes it easier for the spirits to infect your men. Several more times you have to put down members of your own company who have turned.
It isn’t until you leave those accursed wooded hills that you start to feel more like yourself, but even then the journey back isn’t easy. The cold, the hunger, and the overall mental and physical exhaustion takes its toll on your last remaining men. By the time you reach the nearest friendly settlement you have six left.
“Heh, just like the old days, you silently chuckle to yourself, briefly thinking of your six Eternal fellows.
You don’t think you’ve ever been pushed to the limit like this before. Truly it is only by the Emperor’s strength that you managed to make it through. You only hope you have not shamed him too much with your failure.
Eventually you arrive at Fort Destiny and report to Captain Krozer, who is celebrating with several others in the fort. You don’t know what’s causing this unorthodox behavior, but you’re certainly surprised by it.
“Captain, I have my mission report.”
“Hey! You’re back Bane of Rask! Isn’t that what they call you around here? Ha ha! I’m glad you’re back, I figured your mission would be as successful as mine! Have a drink!”
“Uh maybe later captain, but I…did you say there was a victory?”
“Well we wouldn’t be sitting here getting drunk if there wasn’t now would we? The campaign against the forest elves was completely successful. I have to give those svelk credit, they can sniff out their kin better than anyone. Was hardly even a fight, when we eventually did find their major home as it was filled mostly with non-combatant women and children. We’d killed most of the warriors trying to get there. Still, always grim business dealing with the enemy civvies. We managed to enslave most of the children at least without killing them, though if the svelk had it their way they would’ve raped and killed everyone. Uncivilized vicious bastards.” The general says taking another drink.
“You enslaved them?” you ask being slightly confused by the idea.
“Well sure…what you think I’d just kill them? I know that’s the way you do things lieutenant, and probably with those shape shifting barbarians its for the best, but let’s just say I’m a little more merciful than you. Hope it doesn’t ruin your perception of me.”
“Uh… not at all. I’m sure you are right captain. The elven children can be indoctrinated to become productive citizens of the Empire. They will learn that our way of life is superior and the correct way.”
“Ha ha, that’s why I like you lieutenant. You don’t know any better. Hey let’s take this conversation back to my office, it’s a little loud here.”
You say okay and begin to follow her, but she grabs your hand in an effort to lead you. You aren’t sure of how to react, so you just let her. When you get there she sits on her desk and smiles at you.
“Relax, lieutenant. I know you’re an Eternal, but you’re always so serious.”
“It’s just I really need to report my mission to you captain.”
“Oh very well, I know it’s important to you.” She says taking another drink.
You tell her exactly what happened and she listens intently to your story.
“Well lieutenant, looks like you managed to pull out a victory against all odds once again. I figured you would.” She says.
“Victory? I don’t feel like it was a victory, captain. I lost most of the company.” You reply.
“Normally I might agree, but from what you told me, it’s amazing you survived at all, let alone bring anyone back alive. Evil spirits, cursed lands, having to kill your own men turning into insane beasts…not something I’d want to face and I’ve seen my fair share of battles. Besides it sounds like the spirits can’t leave that area and you eliminated a majority of their hosts, as well as depriving them of more by doing what was necessary with our transformed soldiers. We’ll probably always have the odd wendigo running around due to idiotic adventurers exploring places where they shouldn’t, but the danger has been curtailed greatly thanks to you.”
“The Emperor’s will guided me and his vigor gave me the endurance to succeed.”
“Perhaps, but you really should’ve had a battle mage with you. I have no idea why central command has not sent us any despite my requests, things can’t be that bad with the Felkans! Sometimes I wonder what the hell they’re doing down there. Oh well at least I had you right?” she says and gets off her desk.
“Of course, I’ll be here for as long I am needed here general.”
“Good.” She says and puts her arms around you and kisses you on the lips. You’re taken completely off guard and are completely out of your element. You’re reminded of Captain Pollo’s advances on Gerald, but this is different since you feel a little something for Krozer even though you’ve tried to not think about it. As the time you’ve spent here has gone by, your thoughts of Captain Krozer have sometimes been more than a little “friendly”, but you’ve tried to suppress them.
You don’t know how to react except you sort of back away.
“Is something wrong lieutenant?” the general asks
“I…uh…I don’t….should we be doing this?”
“Oh the ranks? Forget about it. I just want sex, it’s not like I’m planning on falling in love. Unless you really feel uncomfortable about protocol, I’d respect it of course, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”
“Well, no, I mean… I’ve been having these feelings of lust for you too captain.” You say untactfully.
“Ha ha! Well that’s good to know I guess.” The captain laughs. “So what’s the problem then?”
“…I just…I’ve never…”
“Never…ohhhhh! Really? Though I guess it makes sense. You were trained to kill from birth; going from battlefield to battlefield quoting Empire doctrine (sigh)” the captain touches your face. “Sometimes I wonder if we go too far. Well don’t worry about it; we’ll have time to catch you up. And like I keep telling you, just relax… and call me Alison.”
You and the cap…Alison have an interesting time. It certainly isn’t anything you’ve experienced before, but its possibly the most pleasurable thing you’ve ever experienced. You understand a little more to as why other soldiers hold it in such high regard.
You know not to let it affect your duty and after a few days of down time, you are ready to serve the Emperor again. Everyone is, Captain Krozer is going to do it elsewhere though, namely the Arat province on the Felkan border.
She calls you in to tell you that someone by the name of Mr. Mol has been impressed with your abilities and thinks you are able to handle the Rask frontier without any supervision. As of now you are in charge of Fort Destiny and been promoted to captain. You don’t know what to say.
“Congratulations on your new command, though I will say I don’t envy it! After being here for six years myself, I’ll be glad to be sent to the Arat province. Those Felkans can’t possibly be any worse than the shit we’ve faced here.”
“It was an honor to serve with you captain.” You say respectfully.
“Oh come on, you don’t need to put up a tough front with me, I know you’ll miss me and cry in your pillows at night.” She says with a smirk.
“I…won’t! I mean I’ll miss you, but…”
“Keep working on developing that sense of humor, but it’s nice to know I’ll be missed.” She says and kisses you on the cheek
“Good bye and remember to take a rest from all the killing sometimes and enjoy what you can okay?”
With those last words, Alison walks out of her office…or rather your office.
And so begins your command of Fort Destiny…