act33side

Your Highness Theresis, Regent of Kazdel, Commanding General of the Military Commission,

Wandering scholars have brought back tales of a new nomadic city on the rise in the distant desert.

The fires of the ancient furnace continue to burn, and the once-scattered mercenaries have flocked to one banner, to the city walls that grow taller by the day.

Your strength and reputation have caught the attention of the Duke of Cavendish.

You have changed the way we view the Sarkaz tribes. Perhaps now is the time to set prejudices aside, and engage in sincere sharing and cooperation that would be beneficial to us both.

I, the Duke of Cavendish, hereby invite you to visit my demesne, where we may sit and parley.

Our venerable empire has use for you and your brave warriors.

Winter 1091

One more time... I have to do this...

No point talking about curing Oripathy, if I can't do something so simple...

Argh—

Still no good... *pant* *pant*

Excuse me, why don't you put that medkit down? Leave this stuff to us.

A-Alright...

Some time in the gym would do you good, once you've recovered.

At present, there is no way for you to match the physical prowess of a Terran through training.

Your talents are better employed outside of manual labor.

I know. It's just that, you know, I have my pride too...

You've looked on edge since that day.

I'm thinking about... Theresa.

Traveling alone to a city under enemy control isn't the most logical course of action for a leader.

The warriors with her may be outstanding, but they're not enough to protect her in the face of an entire army.

The King of Sarkaz enjoys unimaginable status in Sarkaz tradition, and Theresa's own achievements are well-recognized. The Military Commission would not act rashly.

But Victoria's invitation to Kazdel cannot be taken as a sign of goodwill. It means that Terra's powers have once again set their sights on Kazdel.

Theresa needs to go to Kazdel and make it clear that she will not permit Kazdel to become embroiled in another war.

Even if I know how the Military Commission and Babel came into being...

In my understanding, the Sarkaz can hardly afford an internal conflict that could drain them of what little resources they have left. They have enough to deal with as it is.

They have a complicated history, and that brings different attitudes towards outsiders.

The Sarkaz people have a right to choose the path they believe is correct: Theresis's, or Theresa's.

Looks like we've got a lot to deal with besides Oripathy.

There's a big difference between knowing and understanding, I guess. Looks like there's much I still need to learn about the history of Terra.

This time, you'll be the one to guide me, Kal'tsit.

...Of course.

All we can do right now is make sure that the Oripathy patients at Rhodes Island have access to proper treatment—

What's going on—

An attack? Now?

Word is Her Highness has set out.

Listen up! We exalt only Her Highness. Destroy Babel, and she will return to the embrace of Kazdel.

If we're branded traitors, so be it. But the Regent must not be hindered at this crucial juncture. Kazdel will take back all that we have lost.

May the Sarkaz be united as Her Highness wills.

Scar Market, Kazdel

Her Highness is coming...

<i>Her</i> Highness? The one who's still on the run?

His or Her, it's not your place to talk shit.

Hah. Say, did you take that job?

Wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this if it's the last thing I did. Londinium, that den of scum.

They say the columns in the Feline palace are covered in gold, and the nobles walk on floors paved with glowing stones.

*Sarkaz expletive*, capital of a great empire! A commission from a grand duke! There's gonna be so much money!

It's been a while, Ascalon.

It's been so long since you last visited. Why not sit down and catch up for a bit?

You're sending mercenaries to Londinium.

Now, now, I must object to that accusation.

People just follow the money, and it leads to what the Regent has provided in Londinium.

You're dragging Kazdel into another war.

'Dragging Kazdel into another war.' Have you been fooling around with those dreamers at Babel for so long that you've forgotten what it means to be a Sarkaz?

Since when have the Sarkaz been apart from war?!

The giant's hand lunges forward. Ascalon is surprised to find that she cannot avoid his fist.

...Grr.

Seeing the future is hard. Seeing through what you will do next, less so.

Did you think you were the child of destiny, so special that you could bridge the rift between the siblings?

Think back to the day when you saw them for the first time...

When you skinned that young mangler and followed the trail of blood through the wilderness, until you walked into a storm and met the King of Sarkaz...

How did you...?

'How did I know?' Are you surprised, Ascalon?

I saw the prophecy and led the tribe on the wastes into the storm that day with game. You happened to be the one who lived.

No one truly understands prophecy. No one can interfere with the future. But I wanted to catch the tail of fate... I wanted to make prophecy.

Theresis didn't kill you. Instead, he kept you and raised you. Maybe he wanted to tempt fate.

But you never changed, in all these years. You're still that poor, lost child on the wastes.

Have patience, Ascalon.

You're not a threat to me yet. And I have higher hopes for you than this.

Master said—

'Your blade points at all the enemies of the Sarkaz.'

Theresis raised you to be a deathmonger, yet you understand less about him than a warmonger like me.

Did you think Theresis would be content to be some puppet for those dukes? Spare your breath, if you don't know the full extent of his plan.

I'm curious, how would you stand before Theresis, if he was sitting in the room behind me right now?

You're simply repeating the words of others, on behalf of the one behind you.

You seem to have put a lot of thought into this war.

How many hostiles?

Exact numbers unclear. We've detected hostiles both in front of and behind us. A lot of them...

Whether it was Theresis's intention or not, the other generals of the Military Commission seem intent to crush Babel while Theresa is absent.

That way, the Sarkaz won't have a choice.

How many combat personnel do we have?

The best soldiers went into negotiations with Her Highness. A good part of the remaining ones have been assigned to the supply convoys. We only have less than one third of our normal force.

At the very least, we need to break through the roadblock ahead...

...Kal'tsit.

I'll take command.

Doctor?

If, as you said, this attack was launched by only a few members of the Military Commission, then they're undoubtedly planning to get this done in one go.

We can't let them set the pace.

Find out where their lines are thin. Disrupt their rhythm, and we'll be safe.

Have you fought a war before, Dr. {@nickname}?

Not the flesh and blood kind... but I've been trained.

I'm able to reconstruct a battlefield as a computable data model.

Take the front line, Kal'tsit. I know you'll be able to protect us.

Of course.

Welcome to the Scar Market, Your Highness.

Things must be busy here lately.

No need going against the will of the many. Am I right, Your Highness?

The voices of the few are worth respecting too.

Many know nothing of what's happening in the lands beyond. Their lives will be turned upside-down. They'll be without a home once again.