Eternal
You need to stay here and oversee the purging of this fort, and the surrounding area. You can’t start running off half assed because you’re a little worried about one soldier even if she is one of the best ones you’ve had under your command. (Not including your fellow Eternals of course)
After slaying all the gnolls still in the fort, you regroup your soldiers and tell one of the sergeants to head over the Blossumdale with a couple platoons and help in whatever way they can. You tell the rest of your soldiers to start rebuilding the walls, clear out the dead bodies and to help you do a sweep of the area.
Your sweep of the area is a tedious, but vital one. A lot of the gnolls retreated to various areas just enough to be out of sight, but were obviously still attempting to regroup again. Good thing you stayed behind to mop up all these little clusters so they didn’t form a big one again. By the time you’re satisfied with your results, the sun is coming up and you return to the fort more than a little tired.
When you get back, you’re happy to see Dawn there.
“Sir, Blossumdale still stands sir, the rest of the soldiers are securing it and the area.”
“Glad to hear it, and glad to see you made it out in one peace. Was the fighting heavy?”
“It was, but from the looks of it, the fighting was worse here. The only problem we had is with a wyvern.”
“Lucky you only had one. We had four of them and I had to kill two of them myself.”
“That’s one more than me then, sir.”
You smile at her remark and after a brief discussion on what the next course of action will be, you get some rest.
Over the next few months the gnoll attacks die down, but they don’t stop completely. Most of your activities involve going further into the wilderness and taking out whatever villages or camps they have. In the meantime your superiors are telling you to stop your actions as the war has been won and now you’re just using up valuable manpower and resources. You really aren’t though; you’ve been doing just fine with the limited supplies that they see fit to give you. Somehow this situation seems very familiar…
While your superiors do a lot of complaining, nothing actually happens to you. It would seem they’re bitching at you just for the sake of bitching. The gnolls might not actually be able to invade properly anymore, but if you let them regroup again, they’ll try it. Your goal is to purge them all, or at the very least drive them away so they don’t try it ever again.
Year 50
“This is bullshit sir, executing those protestors was the right thing to do!”
“Calm down lieutenant.” You say to Dawn.
“No sir, this isn’t right! They can’t punish you just for doing your fucking job!”
“Okay lieutenant I said calm down! Now listen, I need you on your best behavior, because they’re going to question all of us. I saw this happen to my predecessor. (sigh) Who knows maybe I did go too far, I mean I haven’t exactly been following Felkan policies, I’ve been sort of doing my own thing out here for the past ten years.”
“Yeah, but your actions are protecting the kingdom! How can that be wrong?”
You look at Dawn and see that she’s changed quite a bit since she stood here in this office several years ago hesitant to kill baby gnolls. She’s practically like an Empire soldier now. Everyone in this fort is and that’s what is no doubt getting you into trouble. Still, they shouldn’t be blamed for what you just ordered them to do.
“Well, maybe I was protecting the kingdom, but I still wasn’t following the laws. And I certainly broke enough of them. Just don’t worry; I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nobody here gets blamed. I mean you were all just following orders.”
“Thank you sir, but I knew exactly what I was doing and if they put you against the wall in front of a firing squad for treason, then I want to be standing right next to you.”
“…that’s a very…enthusiastic sentiment, but I don’t think that will be necessary. I mean maybe this won’t even be all that bad, they did at least warn me that they were coming. They didn’t even do that with Eckers. Look lieutenant…Dawn, whatever happens don’t go doing something foolish like trying to save me or sacrificing yourself or something. Just continue to serve the kingdom and try to follow the laws the best you can, okay?”
Dawn is visible upset by all this. She turns her head for a moment while sniffling, then turns back to you and agrees. She then excuses herself to get ready for this investigation. Wasn’t really until this moment that you see that you’ve have a very deep effect on her. You didn’t expect to, as you treated her like any one else under your command, well maybe you did compliment her a little bit more, but that’s only because she did more.
Eventually the investigation group gets arrives. To your surprise it consists of only two people, General Benson, and that gnome you saw before during Captain Ecker’s investigation, you certainly hope this turns out a lot better.
All your troops stand at attention and you greet the general. After a brief exchange the well dress gnome parts company with the general who approaches you and just shakes his head.
“I knew we made a bad decision.” He says and motions you to your office.
You sit down and the general sits down and he begins his questions right away.
“Let’s get right to it shall we? You are aware that you’re serving the Felkan Kingdom aren’t you?”
“Yes sir.”
“Oh? You do? Well then, is there any particular reason why you’re treating this area as if you still serving your long dead Empire?”
“I’m not sure I follow you sir.”
“Don’t play stupid with me, I’ve read the reports and followed all your actions for the past ten years! You’ve trained these soldiers to the point that they’re fanatically loyal and dedicated, you started a war with the gnolls and didn’t stop hostilities until you completely eliminated their species, during which time you executed several Felkan citizens in Blossumdale and now you’ve done it again! Tell me, is war, murder and genocide all they taught you in the Empire?”
“Basically.”
“You might not want to be so flip with me, Eternal, your ass is just a step away from the gallows yourself.”
“Sir, with all due respect if I was such a problem for the past ten years, why not get rid of me before now?”
“Ohhh, believe me, if I’d had any say in the matter you would’ve been.”
“Sir, everything I’ve done has been for the good of the Felkan Kingdom. I mean loyal and dedicated soldiers, since when is that a bad thing? Soldiers are supposed to follow orders of their superiors and government. That’s sort of their whole purpose.”
“That’s rather ironic coming from you who seems to blatantly ignores orders like not starting wars.”
“Sir, the gnolls were an ongoing problem even if they weren’t planning an invasion. Isn’t it better that they’re all dead so that Felkan citizens don’t have to worry about getting robbed and killed on the roads? Blossomdale probably wouldn’t be standing if we hadn’t stopped them.”
“Do you really want to bring up Blossumdale captain?”
“Why the hell not? You’re bringing everything else up.” You say starting to get angry.
“Watch your tone, and if you insist…I already know your half assed excuse for executing citizens during the war with the gnolls, but please explain to me why you did it again this time, just so I can try to understand your fucked Eternal logic.”
“Well it’s rather simple, some of the citizens were protesting the new tax that the king imposed. They were in front of the town hall screaming at their mayor as if he was directly to blame. We stepped in to calm them down, they started getting more violent and began throwing rocks. We told them to stop, they didn’t, so we opened fire on them. After rounding up the main rabble rousers who didn’t get shot the first time, we executed them properly.”
“And that’s it? That’s your excuse for gunning down several citizens?”
“If they hadn’t done , what we told them not to do, they’d still be alive right now, sir.”
“And there it is again, they didn’t do what you told them to do, so they got killed, but when it comes to you, you apparently do whatever the hell you want.”
“That’s not true sir I was trying to stop a potential rebellion, you can ask the mayor and any of my soldiers about the situation and…”
“I’m not asking them, I’m asking you! You wantonly executing protestors like that is more likely to cause a damn rebellion not stop one! Or… maybe that’s what you really want Eternal? I mean that’s what you’re doing isn’t it? You train the troops to be utterly loyal, not to the Kingdom but to YOU. You’re starting wars, you’re executing Felkans which is going to cause more harm than good. Maybe this is your way of getting revenge on us? Perhaps you’re trying to start your own little Empire with you as the emperor this time?”
You can’t believe these accusations. Here you’ve been doing what you can for the Felkan Kingdom by fighting off hostiles and putting down dissidents and you’re the one getting accused of treason. You just rub your hands over your face trying hard not to chuckle too much at the dark humor in all this. General Benson just stares at you disapprovingly as he usually does, but remains silent. It is at this point the well-dressed gnome walks in and nods at the general, he lights up some pipeweed and stands in the corner observing.
It’s at that moment you think back to Captain Ecker’s accusations on the gnomes. Maybe he was right after all. Hardly matters at this point, because as far you’re concerned everyone in charge here has been an asshole.
“Sir, I chopped up a shitload of gnolls and executed dissidents in the service of this fucking kingdom and the whole time I’ve done it all I’ve gotten is bitching and general ungratefulness, yet I haven’t complained. I didn’t even complain when you fuckers never sent me supplies on time to help fight the gnoll invasion. I execute some worthless fucking peasants stirring up shit, and I’m the fucking bad guy some how. Sir, I don’t need to re-create the Empire, because as fucked up as the government policies are here, I THOUGHT I WAS STILL SERVING THE FUCKING THING!” you shout.
You slump back in your chair still fuming after your outburst, and that’s when the gnome speaks up in between puffs of his pipe.
“So, Eternal did you want to leave?” he asks.
“What?”
“I’m asking you, did you want to leave? If you can’t find a place here, then perhaps it would be better if you left. In gratitude of all your service to the kingdom, this is a one time offer for you to leave free and clear. There will be no repercussions except that you can never return here.”
After slaying all the gnolls still in the fort, you regroup your soldiers and tell one of the sergeants to head over the Blossumdale with a couple platoons and help in whatever way they can. You tell the rest of your soldiers to start rebuilding the walls, clear out the dead bodies and to help you do a sweep of the area.
Your sweep of the area is a tedious, but vital one. A lot of the gnolls retreated to various areas just enough to be out of sight, but were obviously still attempting to regroup again. Good thing you stayed behind to mop up all these little clusters so they didn’t form a big one again. By the time you’re satisfied with your results, the sun is coming up and you return to the fort more than a little tired.
When you get back, you’re happy to see Dawn there.
“Sir, Blossumdale still stands sir, the rest of the soldiers are securing it and the area.”
“Glad to hear it, and glad to see you made it out in one peace. Was the fighting heavy?”
“It was, but from the looks of it, the fighting was worse here. The only problem we had is with a wyvern.”
“Lucky you only had one. We had four of them and I had to kill two of them myself.”
“That’s one more than me then, sir.”
You smile at her remark and after a brief discussion on what the next course of action will be, you get some rest.
Over the next few months the gnoll attacks die down, but they don’t stop completely. Most of your activities involve going further into the wilderness and taking out whatever villages or camps they have. In the meantime your superiors are telling you to stop your actions as the war has been won and now you’re just using up valuable manpower and resources. You really aren’t though; you’ve been doing just fine with the limited supplies that they see fit to give you. Somehow this situation seems very familiar…
While your superiors do a lot of complaining, nothing actually happens to you. It would seem they’re bitching at you just for the sake of bitching. The gnolls might not actually be able to invade properly anymore, but if you let them regroup again, they’ll try it. Your goal is to purge them all, or at the very least drive them away so they don’t try it ever again.
Year 50
“This is bullshit sir, executing those protestors was the right thing to do!”
“Calm down lieutenant.” You say to Dawn.
“No sir, this isn’t right! They can’t punish you just for doing your fucking job!”
“Okay lieutenant I said calm down! Now listen, I need you on your best behavior, because they’re going to question all of us. I saw this happen to my predecessor. (sigh) Who knows maybe I did go too far, I mean I haven’t exactly been following Felkan policies, I’ve been sort of doing my own thing out here for the past ten years.”
“Yeah, but your actions are protecting the kingdom! How can that be wrong?”
You look at Dawn and see that she’s changed quite a bit since she stood here in this office several years ago hesitant to kill baby gnolls. She’s practically like an Empire soldier now. Everyone in this fort is and that’s what is no doubt getting you into trouble. Still, they shouldn’t be blamed for what you just ordered them to do.
“Well, maybe I was protecting the kingdom, but I still wasn’t following the laws. And I certainly broke enough of them. Just don’t worry; I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nobody here gets blamed. I mean you were all just following orders.”
“Thank you sir, but I knew exactly what I was doing and if they put you against the wall in front of a firing squad for treason, then I want to be standing right next to you.”
“…that’s a very…enthusiastic sentiment, but I don’t think that will be necessary. I mean maybe this won’t even be all that bad, they did at least warn me that they were coming. They didn’t even do that with Eckers. Look lieutenant…Dawn, whatever happens don’t go doing something foolish like trying to save me or sacrificing yourself or something. Just continue to serve the kingdom and try to follow the laws the best you can, okay?”
Dawn is visible upset by all this. She turns her head for a moment while sniffling, then turns back to you and agrees. She then excuses herself to get ready for this investigation. Wasn’t really until this moment that you see that you’ve have a very deep effect on her. You didn’t expect to, as you treated her like any one else under your command, well maybe you did compliment her a little bit more, but that’s only because she did more.
Eventually the investigation group gets arrives. To your surprise it consists of only two people, General Benson, and that gnome you saw before during Captain Ecker’s investigation, you certainly hope this turns out a lot better.
All your troops stand at attention and you greet the general. After a brief exchange the well dress gnome parts company with the general who approaches you and just shakes his head.
“I knew we made a bad decision.” He says and motions you to your office.
You sit down and the general sits down and he begins his questions right away.
“Let’s get right to it shall we? You are aware that you’re serving the Felkan Kingdom aren’t you?”
“Yes sir.”
“Oh? You do? Well then, is there any particular reason why you’re treating this area as if you still serving your long dead Empire?”
“I’m not sure I follow you sir.”
“Don’t play stupid with me, I’ve read the reports and followed all your actions for the past ten years! You’ve trained these soldiers to the point that they’re fanatically loyal and dedicated, you started a war with the gnolls and didn’t stop hostilities until you completely eliminated their species, during which time you executed several Felkan citizens in Blossumdale and now you’ve done it again! Tell me, is war, murder and genocide all they taught you in the Empire?”
“Basically.”
“You might not want to be so flip with me, Eternal, your ass is just a step away from the gallows yourself.”
“Sir, with all due respect if I was such a problem for the past ten years, why not get rid of me before now?”
“Ohhh, believe me, if I’d had any say in the matter you would’ve been.”
“Sir, everything I’ve done has been for the good of the Felkan Kingdom. I mean loyal and dedicated soldiers, since when is that a bad thing? Soldiers are supposed to follow orders of their superiors and government. That’s sort of their whole purpose.”
“That’s rather ironic coming from you who seems to blatantly ignores orders like not starting wars.”
“Sir, the gnolls were an ongoing problem even if they weren’t planning an invasion. Isn’t it better that they’re all dead so that Felkan citizens don’t have to worry about getting robbed and killed on the roads? Blossomdale probably wouldn’t be standing if we hadn’t stopped them.”
“Do you really want to bring up Blossumdale captain?”
“Why the hell not? You’re bringing everything else up.” You say starting to get angry.
“Watch your tone, and if you insist…I already know your half assed excuse for executing citizens during the war with the gnolls, but please explain to me why you did it again this time, just so I can try to understand your fucked Eternal logic.”
“Well it’s rather simple, some of the citizens were protesting the new tax that the king imposed. They were in front of the town hall screaming at their mayor as if he was directly to blame. We stepped in to calm them down, they started getting more violent and began throwing rocks. We told them to stop, they didn’t, so we opened fire on them. After rounding up the main rabble rousers who didn’t get shot the first time, we executed them properly.”
“And that’s it? That’s your excuse for gunning down several citizens?”
“If they hadn’t done , what we told them not to do, they’d still be alive right now, sir.”
“And there it is again, they didn’t do what you told them to do, so they got killed, but when it comes to you, you apparently do whatever the hell you want.”
“That’s not true sir I was trying to stop a potential rebellion, you can ask the mayor and any of my soldiers about the situation and…”
“I’m not asking them, I’m asking you! You wantonly executing protestors like that is more likely to cause a damn rebellion not stop one! Or… maybe that’s what you really want Eternal? I mean that’s what you’re doing isn’t it? You train the troops to be utterly loyal, not to the Kingdom but to YOU. You’re starting wars, you’re executing Felkans which is going to cause more harm than good. Maybe this is your way of getting revenge on us? Perhaps you’re trying to start your own little Empire with you as the emperor this time?”
You can’t believe these accusations. Here you’ve been doing what you can for the Felkan Kingdom by fighting off hostiles and putting down dissidents and you’re the one getting accused of treason. You just rub your hands over your face trying hard not to chuckle too much at the dark humor in all this. General Benson just stares at you disapprovingly as he usually does, but remains silent. It is at this point the well-dressed gnome walks in and nods at the general, he lights up some pipeweed and stands in the corner observing.
It’s at that moment you think back to Captain Ecker’s accusations on the gnomes. Maybe he was right after all. Hardly matters at this point, because as far you’re concerned everyone in charge here has been an asshole.
“Sir, I chopped up a shitload of gnolls and executed dissidents in the service of this fucking kingdom and the whole time I’ve done it all I’ve gotten is bitching and general ungratefulness, yet I haven’t complained. I didn’t even complain when you fuckers never sent me supplies on time to help fight the gnoll invasion. I execute some worthless fucking peasants stirring up shit, and I’m the fucking bad guy some how. Sir, I don’t need to re-create the Empire, because as fucked up as the government policies are here, I THOUGHT I WAS STILL SERVING THE FUCKING THING!” you shout.
You slump back in your chair still fuming after your outburst, and that’s when the gnome speaks up in between puffs of his pipe.
“So, Eternal did you want to leave?” he asks.
“What?”
“I’m asking you, did you want to leave? If you can’t find a place here, then perhaps it would be better if you left. In gratitude of all your service to the kingdom, this is a one time offer for you to leave free and clear. There will be no repercussions except that you can never return here.”