{"id":8583,"date":"2020-07-15T02:16:12","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T02:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wandering-inn\/?p=8583"},"modified":"2025-12-24T01:01:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T01:01:29","slug":"7-35-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/","title":{"rendered":"7.35 C"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>(<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/TheWanderingInn_Vol2\">Volume 2 is now out on Audible<\/a> along with a 10-page preview of <em>The Last Tide<\/em> included! Check it out, and this trailer!)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"v-RMx8Da0y-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='400' height='400' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/RMx8Da0y?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lord Hayvon, 5<sup>th<\/sup> most powerful [Lord] in the world\u2026allegedly\u2026rode for the walls of Rhir. For the border. He only stopped when the speaking stone lit up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLord Hayvon. By order of Bastion-General Quiteil. Hold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Lord] drew rein. He turned back and bellowed into the stone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall is under siege!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is known. But the monster is <em>new.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The precise tone of the master of logistics was infuriating. Lord Hayvon tightened his grip and his warhorse snorted. The air was charged. He rode with his elite soldiers, three thousand strong.<\/p>\n<p>[Lancers]. Veteran [Riders], [Knights].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe <em>must<\/em> ride on 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall now, Bastion-General. Even at top speed, I cannot activate my skill until we are at least sixty miles from the wall. <em>I can be there in forty-five minutes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall had been built over a hundred miles from 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall\u2014it would expand the Blighted Kingdom massively if done. It was under siege. These were the facts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold your ground, Lord Hayvon. That is an order from his Majesty. If necessary\u2014we will evacuate the entire 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall and make a stand here. Nereshal is prepared to teleport to the front. Her Majesty is marching from 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Wall with her personal guard at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Lord] gritted his teeth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir Richard, Sir Tom and the other Champions are at the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. If we lost them\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis Majesty is ready to use a Skill to cover their retreat. This is not a debate. <em>Hold your ground.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The speaking stone went dead. The [Lord] snarled, but Quiteil was Bastion-General. Even the most powerful [Lord] of Rhir had to bow to his will. Hayvon turned his horse. He roared an order to the cavalry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Back to 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. <\/em>Prepare to sortie at once!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Something new. Bastion-General Quiteil sat at his desk. He did not write. This time\u2026he was checking his notes. Calculating.<\/p>\n<p>The second speaking stone was active. Communication across Rhir was paramount. It was Quiteil\u2019s specialty. He was no Hayvon, a combat-born expert. He was a [Logistics General]\u2014in fact, a [Peerless Logistics General]. And that was only by virtue of promotion. His nature was calculation. He would never lead a battle, even from the rear. He would win it on paper, with numbers.<\/p>\n<p>He was Bastion-General of 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall for the same reason. Now, he spoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Majesty. The Deathslayer Arrows are ready to loose. I have portal-spells ready to cover the retreat. Your status?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Your status.<\/em> He asked the [King] calmly as he ordered Hayvon around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI stand in the war room. The treasury is opened. A hundred thousand gold pieces are ready to be spent. <em>What is the status of the battle?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The answering voice was less calm. The Blighted King stood with Nereshal, his commanders in the citadel. Quiteil checked the map.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBastion-General Zavarial reports ongoing magical battery of the enemy titan. Demon forces are advancing behind the new monster. I am designating it as Serpent-Titan. Each instance is a \u2018clone\u2019 or \u2018copy\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He adjusted the map. On all five walls, the name flickered into life as the Bastion-General wrote it into the air. The other commanders could see the flickers of magic coming off 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall\u2014a projection of the battle.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will use my Skill when Zavarial orders the retreat. I want a scrying spell to <em>show me the battle, Nereshal!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [King] was snapping. Quiteil didn\u2019t demand the same; he\u2019d already had a [Diviner] on the task. But the Demons were casting anti-scrying spells.<\/p>\n<p>He was calm. The Bastion-General waited. He saw one projection of the Serpent-Titan flicker, disappear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would appear the titans are <em>not <\/em>as defensible as Demon Giants, your Majesty. Confirming\u202689 spells cast to bring down one instance. Estimating Tier 3-5.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He hadn\u2019t waited for the report to come in on the separate [Message] scroll he was reading from, by the way. When the confirmation flashed up in hastily-scrawled letters from 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, it only reinforced his count. He\u2019d made the analysis by watching the projection on the battle-map and counting the individual flashes of light.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThere are nearly a hundred of them! And they continue to multiply!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The voice snapped back. Bastion-General Quiteil nodded. His eyes flicked to incoming speaking stones glowing. <em>Nine of them.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Majesty. I will disconnect your speaking spell until reinforcement is needed from the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Bastion-General\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Silence.<\/em> Quiteil tapped the stone. He opened another channel, spoke briefly, switched to another.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cConfirm code\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Bastion-General!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Majesty, I am busy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Logistics General] muted the stone again. And then he had a thought. He tapped the stone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Majesty\u2014a question. Exactly how many ballistae are mounted on 1<sup>st<\/sup> Wall at this moment?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>What?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease confirm the number.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The thin man leaned away from the speaking stone as the invectives began spewing forth. He muted it again. And turned his attention back to the battle.<\/p>\n<p><em>Calm.<\/em> This was not his battle to fight. He waited to do something. Anything. Evacuate the entire 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, send Lord Hayvon forwards, activate the wall\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n<p>Anything. Nothing. The Bastion-General\u2019s finger tapped on the desk until he made it stop.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>4<sup>th<\/sup> Infantry, hold those gates! [Archers]\u2014hold your fire!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille bellowed as the first serpent-titan fell. She saw something\u2014cartilage?\u2014burning, practically vaporizing as the [Long Range Fireballs] brought it down. They were firing from the walls and the [Mages], and they could have annihilated a normal army.<\/p>\n<p>But as one titan fell, the others walked.<\/p>\n<p><em>Thump.<\/em> <em>Thump.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Cirille saw the progenitor being screened by dozens of the now-larger copies. Each time the serpent-monster \u2018molted\u2019, another copy-shell of it appeared. The original grew smaller as a result. But over a hundred of the things were walking on 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. And behind it\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Demons are flanking! Counting six\u2014seven thousand behind the titans!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI report flying groups, each at least eighty in count, four at coordinates\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMonsters. Giant insects\u2014unknown type. Cilewalkers. Some\u2026some variant of slimes? Why aren\u2019t they <em>attacking<\/em> each other?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A babble of voices. Cirille saw the monsters, flooding around the huge footsteps. They were different types. Flying hornet-beetles, Cilewalkers, the huge, spiked half-cactus, half-wolf creatures that could scale a wall and tear you to pieces with their incredibly tough hides and thorn-appendages, yellow slimes, running with red in their cores and\u2026bubbling?<\/p>\n<p>Each one a threat. And somehow\u2014none of them attacking each other. The monsters ignored the serpent-titans, save to move out of the way of the steps. The Demons\u2014ranks of them at the back\u2014were ignored by the monsters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDamn. Damn, damn\u2014<em>Chief Warrior Merish!<\/em> <em>I said, [Archers], hold your fire!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake glanced up. Gnolls with massive longbows were loosing arrows despite the Titans being far out of range. The Chief Warrior ignored her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have Skills, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille saw that, but the Gnolls were loosing at any target they thought they could hit. Nothing like the volley of Drake [Archers] nocked and waiting.<\/p>\n<p><em>Thwap.<\/em> The sound tore the air even among the shouts. The <em>thump<\/em> of a ballista going off made Cirille jump. She saw them firing enchanted munitions. One hit a serpent-titan\u2014tore a chunk off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re fragile!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lieutenant Ossky exclaimed. Captain Shellc, in charge of 4<sup>th<\/sup> Infantry was below. His sword was drawn, and he was ready to sortie from the gates. The Drake Commander looked about.<\/p>\n<p>She was holding her position on the walls. Her Drakes and Merish\u2019s Gnolls were deployed together. The Bastion-General was throwing everything at the distant monsters, trying to bring them down before they reached the walls.<\/p>\n<p>But he wouldn\u2019t bring them <em>all<\/em> down. There were too many. And 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, despite being sturdy and high, wasn\u2019t <em>finished.<\/em> The wall-spells were firing, but they couldn\u2019t last forever. Cirille looked about.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re going to break the walls. If they do, we hold the breach. Ancestors. How do we bring them down? <em>Trip<\/em> them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She mumbled to herself, and as quickly, dismissed it. Her division wasn\u2019t equipped for\u2014giant-slaying. There was enough siege weapons and [Mages] to bring down the colossi. The real danger was the monsters and Demons. If they got a foothold, the defenders would be in danger.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>[Archers]. <\/em>Prepare to loose. Target the Cilewalkers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Drakes drew back on their bows. Cirille raised a claw, as the monsters streamed forwards. The first titan <em>accelerated.<\/em> A mass of calcified serpent-forms, somehow <em>moving<\/em>. It swung a vast arm up, aiming at the walls.<\/p>\n<p><em>Someone was laughing.<\/em> Cirille looked around, distracted. She saw a [Clown], laughing with his insane posse. Cirille turned back\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>A Bone Behemoth crashed into the serpent-titan. <\/em>It was heavier and the sound of the two colliding drowned out everything. The hollow entity fell back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSweep the leg.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[Mage-Captain] Hetarria pointed. The [Necromancer] corps raised their staves, concentrating as one. The giant Bone-Drake swung the hammer of bone low.<\/p>\n<p>The serpent-titan\u2019s leg crumbled. It went down, striking at the bone-behemoth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCracking damage. [Mend Bone].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A dozen [Necromancers] cast the spell and the cracks on the Bone Behemoth healed. It turned, protecting the wall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Mage-Captain, strike the illuminated target!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The order came down the walls. One of the oncoming titans lit up in Hetarria\u2019s vision as the Bastion-General marked it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Bone Behemoth\u2014charge. Frenzy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Necromancer] <em>pulled<\/em> and the combined magics made the giant\u2019s orange eyes flicker. It <em>charged<\/em>, smashing into a second titan. One against many.<\/p>\n<p>For a moment. Across the walls, more serpent-titans were approaching. A section evacuated as a [Strategist] realized they couldn\u2019t bring down a titan before the serpent-titan approaching hit it. Commander Cirille was moving her Drakes to intercept along with Commander Uxel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>On the left!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Another<\/em> titan had closed, despite the explosions bringing down more, slowing the advance. Hetarria could barely take her eyes off the one attacking her Bone Behemoth. Who would slow it? Who would\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Summoning complete.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ser Vorn heard the shout from the walls. The [Knight] of the Order of the Thirsting Veil saw something rise. He opened his visor just a second to stare.<\/p>\n<p><em>A roar. Shifting gravel and sand, sounding like thunder in itself.<\/em> The figure was less sculpted, more primitive than the undead Bone Behemoth.<\/p>\n<p>It rose. The sand-constructs were \u2018only\u2019 thirty feet tall. But six of them lumbered forwards, swinging into the serpent-titan. Filling the hollow structure, dragging it down by their sheer weight.<\/p>\n<p>[Summoners] from Nerrhavia\u2019s Fallen. They walked down off the walls in full retreat. Their creations fought for them as the [Mages] left the battle, their job done. Ser Vorn saluted them. Then he heard the first impact shake the walls. He looked left.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSer Vorn!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of his junior [Knights] had seen the impact. Mortar stone <em>bulged<\/em> but the wall held. The titan hammered the gap again and the infantry waited. It was coming.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold your ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] didn\u2019t turn his head. He was waiting. He lifted his lance, waiting until their section was breached or they were called forth. He heard a roar as the first titan broke through.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Clear the ground! Let it pass! Then hold that breach!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Captain Shellc was a [Swordsman]. His sword was light in his hand as the Drake saw the titan stumble through the walls. Ungainly. He narrowed his eyes. Then\u2014he saw something move in the dust-cloud.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Forwards! [Unit: Extended Spears]!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Drake formations. The lines of Drakes carrying long, <em>long <\/em>twenty-foot pikes was meant for fighting anything and everything in this world. And when they charged to cover the gap, the first rank of Cilewalkers ran <em>onto<\/em> the pikes. For a second, the pikes were improbably longer by four feet.<\/p>\n<p>Which wasn\u2019t much given how long they already were. But it mattered. The Drake [Captain] in the 2<sup>nd<\/sup>-rank saw Drakes being thrown back by the impact. The Cilewalkers were <em>huge<\/em>, ten feet monstrosities of packed muscle under those damn hides! But the spears went deep, slowing them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Swords, forwards!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drakes charged between the spears, cutting at the slowed monsters. Captain Shellc slashed into the monster\u2019s hide with his enchanted sword and was rewarded with dark orange-brown blood. He counted as he slashed, hearing Drakes shouting and slashing as more monsters tried to push forwards. The spears made a wall and the Drakes with smaller weapons fought between the jabbing tips.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c\u2026ninety nine\u2026three hundred. <\/em>Fall back! <em>Fall back! 3<sup>rd<\/sup> rank, forwards!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The [Captain] counted to five minutes and ordered the retreat. Drakes disengaged, allowing another rank to move forwards. They began applying potions, resting.<\/p>\n<p>It was a microcosm of a larger battle. Shellc heard bows snapping, explosions from beyond the wall. The <em>thump<\/em> of the titan\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t care. Part of Shellc was listening for orders, keeping an eye on the battles to his right and left, but most was focused on his section. He saw a group of Gnolls, fighting in the breach next to him. They had nothing like the Drake\u2019s organization; they fought, snarling, falling back as need be.<\/p>\n<p><em>Plains Gnolls.<\/em> The [Captain]\u2019s internal count called to him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c3<sup>rd<\/sup> Rank, <em>fall back! 4<sup>th<\/sup>\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake heard a complicated horn signal. He turned his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Spears, fall back in order!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drakes began moving backwards, keeping the monsters at bay. Captain Shellc turned his head. Commander Cirille had ordered a <em>second<\/em> unit to charge once the monsters advanced far enough. It was a classic tactic\u2014fall back and draw the enemy forwards for a flanking maneuver.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Fall back, Chief Warrior!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone was bellowing at the Gnolls. They growled, looking up, confused by the sudden retreat. They fell back more sloppily, without keeping the monsters from advancing.<\/p>\n<p><em>What a mess.<\/em> But the [Shamanic Warriors] had somehow downed <em>three<\/em> Cilewalkers already. What kind of enchanted gear\u2026?<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Hold! I said, hold, damn it\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille\u2019s voice. Captain Shellc turned his head, but the words weren\u2019t meant for him. He saw a group of Drakes preparing to charge in. But someone was in their way. A wild group of\u2014<em>Humans?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Let\u2019s go!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone screamed. Captain Shellc saw a rush of bodies leaping, cavorting, even twirling past him. Painted faces. The Drake\u2019s mouth opened as the Gloomless Troupe ran straight into the monsters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Spears\u2014halt! Push forwards!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He shouted desperately, but it was too late. The [Clown] and his followers ran straight into the monsters unsupported. A Cilewalker slashed one huge arm and half a dozen bodies went flying into the air. Captain Shellc cursed. He saw the Humans swarm forwards. And they\u2026<\/p>\n<p><em>Didn\u2019t stop.<\/em> The Drake saw a huge insect-creature tear one of the Humans apart. Another, a young Garuda with a beak painted white to match the paint on her face leapt into the air. She tangled with it, stabbing. It had six cutting appendages it turned on her and was three <em>times<\/em> her size.<\/p>\n<p>The [Jester]-Garuda giggled. She had a knife. She <em>stabbed and stabbed<\/em> as her blood and feathers fell out of the sky. The insect-thing tore her apart\u2014but only when it separated her arm from her body did she stop stabbing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAncestors. What\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A [Clown] was climbing onto one of the tall walker\u2019s heads. He stabbed a dagger repeatedly through the brain as it tried to throw him off. Then he vanished.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Storm of Stabs]. <em>Hah! This is so much fun.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He landed. The Cilewalker collapsed, bleeding from dozens upon dozens of cuts. Captain Shellc just stared. The laughing Humans were <em>still advancing.<\/em> They moved up until they were fighting with the monsters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Fall back! [Archers]\u2014stop shooting!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille was bellowing. The Humans were so far in the other forces were in danger of hitting them with arrows. Still\u2014they kept moving. And they bled. Dozens of colorful bodies were already on the ground. But they laughed and laughed. Even the monsters seemed unnerved by it.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cMadness.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Captain Shellc whispered. He heard a strange tune in the air. Some kind of\u2026cheerful song? His scales crawled. The monsters at the breach hesitated. They began moving back.<\/p>\n<p>Even the outside sounds of the rest of the battle dimmed. The [Clowns] were laughing. They advanced, grinning despite mortal wounds. The laughter was everything in the world. They threw themselves forwards, following their leader.<\/p>\n<p>And the monsters fled. They just turned around, or crashed into other groups of [Soldiers] rather than fight the mad things. Captain Shellc shook his head. The song was <em>in his head<\/em> and so was the laughter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cF\u2014fall back. Take position at\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake caught himself. <em>He hadn\u2019t received orders to retreat.<\/em> But even his [Soldiers] were slowly moving back. The [Swordsman] caught his breath. He dimly heard a horn. Looked away from the insane troupe\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Another wall <em>exploded<\/em> as a titan fell on it. More monsters surged over the body. And then\u2014came the Demons.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The walls collapsed in another breach. Cirille pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaptain Shellc!<em> Redeploy and cover that breach!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She shouted rather than use command signals because the Drake <em>wasn\u2019t listening.<\/em> He\u2019d ignored her last three orders. Something about the [Clowns]? They\u2019d ruined her formations but they were holding the breach by sheer slaughter and the terror they seemed to be inflicting on the enemy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c1<sup>st<\/sup> Fliers\u2014prepare to support 4<sup>th<\/sup> Infantry!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lieutenant Ossky saluted. Her single wing of Oldblood fliers took to the air, preparing to swoop down and attack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Commander Cirille\u2014pull your Drakes back.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The counter order came just as Captain Shellc finally pulled back. The Drake turned. She saw armored figures, wearing strange leather, armed lightly.<\/p>\n<p><em>Demon [Skirmishers]. <\/em>They fought amid the monsters as they climbed through the second breach at her position. She looked around. If Captain Shellc wasn\u2019t going to stop them, then who\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Giant\u2019s Sword]! <em>With me! <\/em>Emily, clear the way!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Champion of Rhir. Sir Richard rode at the gap as the [Hydromancer] peeled off from the Humans and their escort of elite [Soldiers]. She raised a staff and pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>[Tidal Wave]!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A wall of water appeared out of the air. It crashed into the first wave of enemy soldiers and monsters, knocking them back. The water mage wasn\u2019t done, though. Before Richard and the other Earthers thundered into the gap, Emily twisted her staff.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Summon Water Elemental]!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The water swirled up, forming a huge figure that began lashing around at her command. Then Richard hit the first demons on the ground. He swung a massive sword like it weighed nothing. Eddy blasted left with his wand as he slashed wildly. Vincent was on foot\u2014he <em>leapt<\/em> up, slashing through a Cilewalker\u2019s hide with his enchanted blade.<\/p>\n<p><em>They were as good as Gold-ranks.<\/em> Cirille turned away from the fighting as the elite [Soldiers] tore through the Demons and monsters. She longed to be in the fray, next to Sir Richard. His presence was inspiring the [Soldiers] as he cut down a Demon commander unable to stop his forward rush.<\/p>\n<p>But the larger battle was more important. 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall held\u2014but for every titan they dropped, <em>another<\/em> was there to take the place. What was slowing them from breaking through the stone was the fact that they weren\u2019t<em> that <\/em>strong or tough given their size.<\/p>\n<p>Strong and tough enough, though. Another breach shook the walls as one finally punched through. An arrow blew an arm off as it <em>exploded<\/em>\u2014a half-Elf lowered his bow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial. He looked around. He spoke crisply into the speaking stone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>The enemy titans are creating more breaches. We are unable to stop them with wall-spells and standing forces alone.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan you bring down the originator serpent-titan, Bastion-General?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The question was clipped. The Blighted King and his [Strategists] and [General] in the capital were watching the battle. The half-Elf looked around.<\/p>\n<p><em>There it was.<\/em> He\u2019d had his siege weapons targeting the thing, and the [Mages] as well. But it was staying back.<\/p>\n<p>The serpent-giant was about half as high as it had been. But it <em>continued<\/em> to subdivide. The largest of its moltings were downed. But the Demons were flooding the breaches the copies had created. Bastion-General saw them flooding behind 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall.<\/p>\n<p><em>Missions to raid and destroy.<\/em> They were taking advantage of the confusion, not intending to win this battle. He gritted his teeth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Your Majesty\u20145<sup>th<\/sup> Wall will hold.<\/em> However, I request Lord Hayvon to advance and hunt down the raiding parties. At least <em>four<\/em> groups of fliers have also violated our skies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be done. What of the lead titan?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Quiteil\u2019s voice. <\/em>Zavarial looked at it, behind a wall of other titans. It <em>could<\/em> think. He had the impression each writhing \u2018snake\u2019 made up the command-mind. It was smart enough to keep dividing. He\u2026frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold. It\u2019s doing something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A few slithering shapes were returning to the figure. And suddenly\u2014it was several feet <em>taller.<\/em> Bastion-General Zavarial had been a champion of [Archers]; he didn\u2019t doubt his eyes, even though the titan was thousands of feet away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s feeding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Feeding?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The smaller snakes were breaking off the body and devouring the dead. Monsters\u2014[Soldiers]\u2014it didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo that\u2019s how it does it. Your Majesty, the serpents are <em>eating<\/em> to regain their mass. If it survives, it will grow to its original size. Or <em>larger.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat must not be allowed to happen. Bring it <em>down,<\/em> Bastion-General. Lord Hayvon has offered to do personal combat with his forces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo need, your Majesty. I request access to long-range magic. The Arrow of Winter scroll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Silence. And then\u2014a terse voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGranted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The half-Elf smiled. Despite the battle, he felt a surge of\u2026exhilaration. Slowly, he recited a series of commands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBastion-General Zavarial of 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall requesting access to Arrow of Winter Scroll. Password\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Confirmed. In transit. One minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quiteil rose from his desk. Calmly, he walked over to a cabinet and inserted a pendant from his neck. The lock-spell faded. Then he pulled out the key.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Mage-General]. The box.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The other commander in charge of 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall\u2019s magic was already waiting. The box appeared in a flash of light as it was teleported from the capital. The two counted down, inserted both keys they carried.<\/p>\n<p>The instant Quiteil opened the box, every hair on his body stood up. The magical vibration in the air made the [Mage-General]\u2019s nose begin to bleed.<\/p>\n<p><em>And the cold.<\/em> Quiteil took the gloves that had come with the box. Despite the anti-freeze enchantments, it still burned his hands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSecond teleportation in progress. Bastion-General, teleporting to your exact coordinates in three, two, one\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Pop.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It was such an innocuous sound. The scroll appeared with a flash of light and the Bastion-General grabbed it. His hands turned white with frost at once. But he opened it in a moment.<\/p>\n<p>Huntress Delezza and half the [Mages] not fighting for their lives turned to look. The half-Elf walked up the walls. Calmly, he stared at the serpent-Titan and amplified his voice across the walls.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is Bastion-General Zavarial. Opening a Tier 7 Scroll. Clear the area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Horns began blaring. Ser Vorn galloped back with his [Knights], behind the walls. The half-Elf smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Tier 7?<\/em> He has to be joking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille\u2019s head turned. She saw the half-Elf holding something. The scroll\u2026hurt her eyes. She was no [Mage], but there was something about it that seemed too <em>real.<\/em> As if the magic contained were unable to rest solely within the ancient vellum.<\/p>\n<p>The serpents were moving. Walking\u2014moving <em>back.<\/em> Perhaps even it sensed the danger. If so\u2014too late.<\/p>\n<p>The scroll opened. Cirille saw a flash. She felt cold\u2014<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8212;-<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Snow began to fall from the air. <\/em>Tom sneezed. For a second, his laughing stopped. Richard, panting and retreating for another charge, looked up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He felt like a kid, remembering the first winter\u2019s frost and snow. He looked up and saw a pale blue light flicker across the walls. It ran from the scroll. Emily\u2019s eyes were round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s a <em>spell?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c[Arrow of Winter: Glacius Pillar].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The half-Elf pointed. The light swept across 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. It flowed upwards. Magic itself, cold and deliberate. <em>Creating<\/em>, in the sky, something.<\/p>\n<p>An arrow? Yes and no. Was a pillar of ice, as tall as some of the titans on the battlefield, an arrow? It formed in the air, cold enough to feel like burning to those close enough to it. Hundreds of feet up\u2014it began to rotate. The serpents began to scatter, leaving their titan-form.<\/p>\n<p>Too late. Too late. They had nearly half a minute to run. But when the [Arrow of Winter] fired the entire world <em>shook.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille fell to one knee. Tom laughed as he fell over.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, Bastion-General Quiteil felt a tremor that ran through his room. He sat back down, removing the gloves. He looked around, found a cup, and took a drink of tea.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cCold.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>He grimaced.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When he reached the walls, after the silence, Richard saw a field of ice. It covered nearly a mile from the place the spell had struck.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Fuck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vincent stared over his shoulder. The pillar of ice stood out of the ground where it had <em>cracked<\/em> and frozen the earth. Around it stood\u2014corpses.<\/p>\n<p>The frozen copies of the serpent-thing. Richard hadn\u2019t known if they were alive or just enchanted somehow. Either way\u2014they were dead. They had been turned to ice.<\/p>\n<p>So had the main body. The\u2026collective was dead. A few forms were oozing away; the ones that had managed to flee to the edges of the blast-zone.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing remained. Not monsters, not Demons. Everything where the Tier 7 spell had hit was <em>gone. <\/em>Turned to ice by the magic.<\/p>\n<p>The fighting at the wall had ceased. Attackers and defenders alike had stopped to stare. Until Bastion-General Zavarial reminded them of their purpose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Geomancers], <em>seal the breaches! <\/em>Send forwards all riders\u2014<em>I want that monster dead!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He aimed an arrow and shot a Demon through the chest, armor and all. 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall\u2019s forces advanced. Commander Uxel, grinning, ran through a lumbering Demon nearly as big as he was, with horns and tough skin\u2014but not tough enough. Richard looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026I think we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emily announced from her point on the wall. The [Knight] looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s fighting to do. Vincent, Eddy, on me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m done. We won. My god. Why do they need <em>us?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Hydromancer] just kept staring. Richard went down the walls. Tom was laughing and pursuing monsters past 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, ignoring orders for him to <em>come back.<\/em> But Emily just stood there.<\/p>\n<p>She was over Level 30. Level 34\u2014which was insane for a [Mage] to level so fast. In a way, she had eclipsed Richard and even Tom, who hadn\u2019t even used his latest and most horrifying Skill.<\/p>\n<p>But this? This was beyond anything she could imagine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy do they need <em>us?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Hydromancer] looked around, repeating the question. It was Bastion-General Zavarial who eventually responded. His keen ears had picked up the question.<\/p>\n<p>He shook his hand out; he had gloves since he was an [Archer], but frost still clung to them. Still\u2014whoever had <em>made<\/em> that scroll was no idiot. It wasn\u2019t permanent frostbite.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLady Emily. That spell might be beyond your abilities today. But it is just a scroll. Even for dire need, we hesitate to use them and the Blighted Kingdom has saved and commandeered every such artifact we can. In times of need, we will spend a thousand times that in a single battle. That is the power of planning\u2014such as Bastion-General Quiteil excels in. Which is why he is the most trusted, glorified commander of the kingdom\u2019s army, serving on 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emily looked at him, face pale. The half-Elf went on, still shaking his hand out and looking around, seeing what had to be done to rebuild and chase after the Demons who\u2019d gone rampaging in the now further-unsafe zone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026However. In time, you will have that power if you live. That is why you are here. And if you cast that spell once a battle\u2014we will drive the Demons out of hell itself. I promise you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll do that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emily looked past him. The pillar of ice, the arrow stayed in the ground, freezing everything. Her eyes locked on it. An act of god, if god still existed. Since it wasn\u2019t\u2014it was just a spell. Cast by mortal hands.<\/p>\n<p>It lasted for six hours before disappearing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAncestors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even much later, when her division was mostly rotated off-duty and she was having a drink and cards with the other commanders, Cirille was still shaken. She took another sip of Firebreath Whiskey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAncestors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook, would you <em>stop<\/em> saying that? We all saw it, Commander Cirille. Everyone\u2019s shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A female Centaur, Wehna, snapped. The Drake blushed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry. It\u2019s just\u2014that was a <em>Tier 7<\/em> spell? Even Manus can\u2019t just throw them around!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah. But in context, it\u2019s not <em>that<\/em> big. I\u2019ve seen scrolls like that used before. The Blighted Kingdom has a number of scrolls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Delezza was at the cards table. Cirille was too rattled to play cards, but more officers than just the commanders had joined the cards-night. Captain Shellc glared at his hand; Lieutenant Ossky was also there to play, but she was actually <em>worse<\/em> than Ser Vorn at her tells. Every time she got excited, you could see light coming from her nasal cavities or earholes.<\/p>\n<p>Actually\u2014she and the [Knight] seemed equally matched. Commander Uxel was coiled up as Viri\u2014who was an officer for some reason\u2014sipped goat\u2019s milk. Just\u2026goat\u2019s milk. Nothing alcoholic for the Lizardfolk.<\/p>\n<p>Merish had a drink too, but it wasn\u2019t as stiff as Cirille\u2019s\u2014an ale. The Gnoll sniffed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou say that. But Tier 7 is a magic even Archmages of Wistram cannot cast easily, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot at all. At least, Archmage Nailihuaile can\u2019t unaided. I think she can do Tier 6? Maybe. But that\u2019s with her staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Viri looked up. Cirille nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd there\u2019s a scroll? And they <em>used <\/em>it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That horrified her almost as much. Sir Vorn looked up from his imitation of a poker face. Ossky narrowed her eyes as if trying to figure him out. Shellc peeked at her cards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey do have more, Commander Cirille. Moreover, the spell saved us the danger of losing more portions of the walls. You may look at it like this: Bastion-General Zavarial did not use the spell until he was certain it was needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, but\u2026<em>Manus<\/em> can\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Snorts from around the room. Delezza picked another card.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs I understand it, Manus can throw similar enchantments from its walls pretty easily. All the Walled Cities can. Maybe not Tier 7\u2014but I\u2019d take a rechargeable Tier 6 spell. Anyways\u2014we used the scroll, and it\u2019s over. Big battle for your introduction to 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It had been. There were still hundreds dead. Not thousands, which you might have expected against so many titans, but the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall had drained a lot of its magic. There were huge gaps caused by the fighting, but repair work was underway\u2014astonishingly quick.<\/p>\n<p>Some [Geomancers] had literally repaired parts of the wall by raising permanent walls of stone. It wasn\u2019t as polished, but by nightfall, no gaps would exist in the temporary 5<sup>th<\/sup> wall.<\/p>\n<p>The real danger was the Demons. They\u2019d used the battle as a distraction to break through across 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Unlike 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall\u2019s sturdy enchantments and overwhelming force, 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall wasn\u2019t done so they did this often. Now, every village and settlement past the 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall was in danger. Lord Hayvon and many units were hunting for them and Cirille had been informed her division would be helping with that or patrolling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I do not understand is <em>why<\/em> the Blighted Kingdom has such spells. Even a Great Company lacks for the ability to use such scrolls. I have no doubt every nation has some in their vaults. But to use one so readily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon, Uxel, got nods from around the room. Cirille had no doubt Manus had similar artifacts in the deepest vaults. But they\u2019d been reluctant to use them even in the Antinium Wars except as last-ditch spells.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProbably because Rhir needs to have them, Uxel. They get resources from around the world. Say an Archmage makes\u2026fifteen Tier 5 spells in a year? Hey, how many scrolls can your average [Mage] make?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Delezza looked around as she slapped a silver coin on the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cArchmage Naili could probably make a Tier 6 scroll. Depends on her class. [Spellscribes] can make <em>hundreds<\/em>, easy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHmf. Well, let\u2019s say fifty, then. If your Archmage makes fifty\u2014the Blighted Kingdom probably gets <em>at least five<\/em>. And that\u2019s scrolls we can still produce. They have had thousands of years to build up an arsenal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay, then what are we doing here? I got my flight wing torn up dancing with those damn Demons. Walk up to the Demons and cast all the scrolls you have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Garuda scowled. He looked around. Cirille knew the answer to this one. Delezza sighed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlight Commander\u2014sorry, I forget your name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPaxhal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPaxhal, right. Think of it like this. The Blighted Kingdom probably has at least <em>ten<\/em> of those scrolls if they used one here. Probably lots more, but even so. The armies of the world stand with the Blighted Kingdom. And they still think that if they march on the Demon King\u2019s capital or whatever lies at the center of hell\u2014we\u2019ll lose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another silence. Cirille broke in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBesides, artifacts can be lost. Imagine losing even a single relic-class artifact to the Demons? It\u2019s better to commit only to a battle you know you\u2019ll win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Manus military doctrine.<\/em> Shellc and Ossky nodded. But some of the other officers looked intrigued at this basic idea.<\/p>\n<p>It really was astonishing. A quarter of the \u2018commanders\u2019 in the room were self-taught, or had never had a formal education to get to their rank. The Drakes at least had a lot of military theory.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand\u2026it didn\u2019t exactly endear them to the other races. A Selphid [Berserker] rubbed at his head. But her voice was female when it came out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeaking of battles you\u2019ll win\u2014it was something to see other factions fighting. I\u2019ve seen Rhir\u2019s tactics, but those ranks of Drakes lined up were funny to look at. Your lot didn\u2019t press in <em>at all.<\/em> Gnolls did. And so did those insane Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drakes went still in their seats. Cirille glanced over and made her voice friendly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were fighting in formation. The phalanx? It was hard to coordinate with\u2026other groups. We would have preferred to let the enemy advance and keep flanking. Our tactics are designed to minimize losses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah. It must work really well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Silence. Delezza raised her brows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDifferent tactics. Drakes do well at line-holding. You\u2019d have wanted them if you had to retreat, Captain Grexi.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe. But <em>my<\/em> tactic is slicing the enemy up until they run around. Did you see those Humans? They\u2019re not even Selphids and they went as hard as my squad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Selphid [Berserker] conceded. She grinned and the others shifted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMad as loons, all of them. Did you see them laughing? They didn\u2019t care even when their friends got slaughtered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the Gloomless Troupe for you. [Clowns]. Which are like [Berserkers], only they dress funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of the class. Someone told me they were like [Fools].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re definitely foolish. But effective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I mean, <em>[Fool],<\/em> the class.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh\u2026what\u2019s a [Fool]?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille broke away from the main conversation, which was a mix of admiration and\u2026fascination with Tom the [Clown]. The Champions of Rhir also got their own nods; they hadn\u2019t done badly. Especially for such young people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur formations would have held those monsters with few casualties at all. And we\u2019d have had a chance to do it if we didn\u2019t get fouled by those damn Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Captain Shellc was grousing at the cards table. Merish took a seat and was dealt in. Captain Shellc glanced at him and then coughed into a scaled fist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSame with the Gnolls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chief Warrior looked at him. The [Captain] glared as Cirille got up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou heard the order to retreat. You should have obeyed it. I saw nearly ten Gnolls go down because you didn\u2019t move with us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPerhaps we fight differently. \u2018My\u2019 Gnolls are better at skirmishing. <em>Your<\/em> commander wants us fighting in prolonged engagements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Shamanic Warrior] growled. He took up his cards, peeked at one. Captain Shellc grumbled, but Cirille went over and leaned on his shoulder. Hard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sure Captain Shellc is just venting, Chief Warrior. We saw your forces take down a lot of monsters with commendable speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was all the Gnoll said. Cirille glowered at Shellc and he dipped his head. Lieutenant Ossky took a drink and nearly blinded the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were all needed. Even with a Tier 7 spell, you need grunts. [Soldiers]. Wish I had six more flights, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others looked at her. Cirille nodded. She turned to Paxhal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry we left the Garuda in the skies, Flight Leader Paxhal. But Ossky\u2019s my only flight group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd no one <em>else<\/em> can fly. Except the damned Demons and that Human [Knight] with the boots. Say\u2014what were those Demons. I\u2019ve never seen the like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel glared about, gesturing at the sky. Cirille hadn\u2019t been focused on the air battle; the Demons had mostly passed beyond the wall, for their raiding missions.<\/p>\n<p>The heads turned to Delezza. The [Huntress] calmly took a drink.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh. Them? You\u2019re going to have to learn to watch the skies. No one on patrol goes without heavy archer or [Mage] compliments. Even a group of [Riders] gets torn out without aid. The Demon\u2019s flying forces love ambushing unprotected groups.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut what were they? They <em>looked<\/em> like Bagrhavens, but they were smaller. Less foul\u2014they used armor and Skills, I saw it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel looked at Delezza. The [Demon Huntress] nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course they did. They\u2019re Harpies. I\u2019m surprised you haven\u2019t fought them before, Uxel. But then\u2014you Gorgons scare the wings off them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Harpies?<\/em> Cirille paused with a drink to her lips. Some of the other commanders had never met them. Paxhal had fought them, but never before coming to Rhir.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought Harpies were extinct.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost are. They joined the Demons, though. And as far as I know\u2014there aren\u2019t any left. They used to be on Izril. Harpies and Nagas. Any left?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The question went to the Humans, Drakes, and Gnoll officers. Slowly, all the Izrilians looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarpies haven\u2019t lived on Izril for\u2026a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce, they did. My tribe remembers trading with them. They used to rule a large portion. Once. No longer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merish mumbled. He folded his cards. Cirille glanced at him. But the Gnoll said nothing more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey joined the Demons. Gave themselves to hell. Watch the skies. They\u2019re not like us. They don\u2019t have hands, like Garudas, and they\u2019re only good in the air. Even so. They were a people once.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The question came from Viri. The [Longstick Jumper] sat on the edge of his chair, perching there. He looked at the Drakes, the Gnolls\u2014no one had an answer for them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess they just died out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone muttered. The cards moved across the table. Cirille shuddered.<\/p>\n<p><em>And the rest became Demons.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>What a fate. She had a bit more than she should have to drink. The next day, she and Chief Warrior Merish went on patrol and began joint-command drills.<\/p>\n<p>It did not go well.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Stay in formation! I said\u2014<\/em>blow the horn, [Trumpeter].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sound for retreat ran out, a single fixed blast. But the furry figures still stuck into the fighting against the smaller Lizardfolk energetically beating on them with sticks and the annoyed Gorgons for a good minute before disengaging. Commander Cirille glowered.<\/p>\n<p>She saw 4<sup>th<\/sup> Infantry moving with precision at her commands, but the disengage and flank maneuver was hindered when the other wing of Commander Uxel\u2019s Lizardfolk [Skirmishers], led by Viri, caught Merish\u2019s group and wiped them out.<\/p>\n<p>Well, \u2018wiped them out\u2019 just meant more Gnolls had to go off and sit down and the skirmish exercise was ruined. The Drakes retreated as Ser Vorn neatly dodged all of their spear formations and \u2018carved up\u2019 their archers. That was Cirille\u2019s fault for underestimating how fast his eighteen-odd [Knights] could move. Her own [Riders] couldn\u2019t catch the Skill-boosted [Knights].<\/p>\n<p>Afterwards, she stomped over to Merish and had it out with him again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChief Warrior, this is the <em>sixth time\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was not our fault, no! We disengaged when we heard the horns!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA minute late!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA minute? We were <em>fighting.<\/em> We cannot just run off when someone calls the retreat!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was <em>disengaging.<\/em> Tactical maneuvering! Drakes don\u2019t <em>retreat\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have seen them <em>disengage<\/em> many battles where my warriors won because we did <em>not<\/em> keep running around to hold meaningless lines! Either let us skirmish or do not give us so many orders!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to know where you\u2019re going!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll growled loud enough for his other officers\u2014who were more of leaders from each tribe\u2014to hear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>No one knows where the battle takes them!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8212;-<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cDead gods. And I thought Cat and Dog-Beastkin fought. Are they always like this?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Uxel stared at the two arguing commanders as he and his officers relaxed after the practice battle. Three days had passed since the battle for the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. In that time, all the irregulars had participated in patrols, but they were mainly there to hold the line.<\/p>\n<p>And practice how to work together. Bastion-General Zavarial was understandably reluctant to send out units who hadn\u2019t drilled together. And because Bastion-General Quiteil had ordered it, the Gnoll and Drake forces were fighting together.<\/p>\n<p>Poorly. Ser Vorn looked discouraged, and he was normally a font of patience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have never been to Izril. But I cannot understand why the two species fight. They both occupy southern Izril, do they not?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. Because you Humans drove them south. Sorry, I mean, Humans in general.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ser Vorn didn\u2019t take offense as the Gorgon corrected himself. He was only a bit taller than Uxel, even mounted up. The [Knight] nodded at Cirille and Merish.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut they ally to fight Humans. And the Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Naga and Harpies. The enemy of my enemy is more of an enemy. But they do not get along. It isn\u2019t Gnolls\u2014it\u2019s <em>Plains Gnolls<\/em> and Drakes of the cities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was like water and fire. Or ice and fire. Drakes maneuvered, but they <em>loved<\/em> those tactical formations. Their phalanxes were hard to break and even Uxel had learned to respect the fact that if you attacked the Drakes from the front, you\u2019d end up losing.<\/p>\n<p>His Lizardfolk were better at skirmishing anyways; the Gorgons and Nagas were the fist that added punch to the lighter-weight Lizardfolk, and Lamias and other spellcasters\u2014the main Lizardfolk evolutions\u2014could batter the enemy with spells.<\/p>\n<p>Mobile, adaptable. Lizardfolk came at you full of surprises, which was how they liked it. By contrast, Drakes had organized archers, mages, and of course, their spears and other infantry. They were hard to break up, and they loved forming lines from which to slowly wear you down with ranged fire. But break up their tidy formations and they struggled.<\/p>\n<p>Gnolls were different from both races. They were mobile, but not as fast as Ser Vorn\u2019s [Knights]. They were individually strong, and tough. Not as much as Gorgons or Nagas, but possibly better than your average Drake; Merish\u2019s two thousand were certainly better than the average [Soldier].<\/p>\n<p>They were also excellent archers, and very quick to react. But they didn\u2019t like huge engagements. They preferred to hit and away.<\/p>\n<p>All of that was great on paper. But in practice\u2014the Gnolls just had a different sense of timing than Cirille\u2019s soldiers. They hadn\u2019t <em>drilled<\/em> to obey an order no matter what was going on and it showed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we don\u2019t make our forces work together, we\u2019ll never leave 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Why does Bastion-General Zavarial force those two to join commands? I would switch with Merish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel grumbled. Ironically, even the Lizardfolk and Drakes worked together better in their practice battles. They were both scale-folk, and the Drakes, worn down by the Lizardfolk constantly waving and being cheerful, had adopted a grudging respect for them.<\/p>\n<p>But Plains Gnolls and City Drakes. Ser Vorn adjusted his helmet, flipping up the visor. He replied cautiously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs I understand it\u2014it isn\u2019t <em>General Zavarial<\/em> who insists on the match. Bastion-General Quiteil was the one who instituted the change for the march and he has refused to rescind the order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon swung his head sideways, tongue flicking out. As always, he admired Ser Vorn\u2019s stallion\u2014mainly because he was hungry and he could see the heat emanating off the nervous horse through his infrared vision. The [Knight] effected not to notice the drool.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBastion-General Quiteil has his reasons, I\u2019m sure. And before you ask, Uxel\u2014he is Bastion-General of 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Which apparently means he is the highest-ranking member of their number. 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall being most important. Rhir politics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both sighed. Cirille was stalking away from Merish, and the Gnoll was talking with his people, clearly just as mad. Uxel checked the sun in the sky.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Very well.<\/em> Another day wa<em>s<\/em>ted. Let\u2019s retire. A game of chess? Go? Cards?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] nodded and they headed back towards the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Ser Vorn checked his lighter money pouch and shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI refuse to play Delezza. I can\u2019t help but think that she cheats. Uses her skills or magic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon Commander\u2019s mouth opened and stayed there. Ser Vorn glanced at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat? I know it\u2019s a dishonorable accusation to throw around lightly, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo\u2026no. You\u2019re right. But you just noticed that? <em>Now?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what to do. Why are their tactics so incompatible with ours? Sergeant Rhikel. You first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, Cirille was frustrated, standing in the temporary war room for her division. Drakes stood around the table. And two Gnolls.<\/p>\n<p>Both were lower in rank and were not normally added to this discussion. But something had to be done. It had been three days and other groups, like Paxhal\u2019s flight, had been chasing down Demons. They were raiding, but until the Gnolls and Drakes could work together, the four-unit army of Ser Vorn\u2019s heavy cavalry, Lizardfolk under Uxel, and Cirille and Merish\u2019s forces weren\u2019t allowed to patrol.<\/p>\n<p>It was earning them derision from the other nations. A Minotaurian [Axe Captain] had pointedly asked Cirille only yesterday over the nightly gambling and socialization\u2014dice that night\u2014if she wanted to trade commands. He\u2019d offered to switch with Merish. Two thousand Gnolls for four hundred warriors from Minos. The [Captain] had implied it was a good trade.<\/p>\n<p>But Quiteil\u2014damn him\u2014had refused the request even after Cirille had made it, despite the embarrassment it caused her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, Sergeant Rhikel?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drakes stared pointedly at the Gnoll. He was a City Gnoll and looked <em>very<\/em> unhappy. Rhikel saluted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPermission to speak, Commander?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His accent, way of standing, even method of speech were more in line with the Drakes. Cirille nodded. The [Sergeant] struggled for words.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a City Gnoll. I understand it is\u2026not something Drakes think of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe understand the difference, Sergeant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll nodded cautiously, and so did a [Lieutenant]. The Gnolls studied the ground or air and Rhikel went on after a long pause.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Commander. But I believe\u2014you think of the difference as just location. Plains Gnolls are completely different. Life in the tribes is completely different. When you command a joint force of Gnolls from the tribes, you are not in charge of a number of army units. It is a collection of warriors, each with their own style and tactics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd? I am working with Chief Warrior Merish and Commander Uxel and Ser Vorn. Why is his group the most difficult?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Sergeant] hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Perhaps because his job is the hardest, Commander. Harder than yours?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>What was that, [Sergeant]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Captain Shellc narrowed his eyes. The Gnoll snapped to attention and stared straight ahead. Cirille knew that expression.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2018I said the truth even though I knew it wasn\u2019t going to make you happy and here I am.\u2019<\/em> It was amazing how much you could read into a look if you\u2019d made it yourself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaptain Shellc, desist. Explain, Sergeant Rhikel. Chief Warrior Merish has two thousand Gnolls under his command. We have <em>five times<\/em> that number. Commander Uxel has any number of Nagas, Gorgons, Lamias\u2014and Lizardfolk. And you know what a nightmare they are for military discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others chuckled, even the two Gnolls. They had seen Nagas angrily berating Lizardfolk who wandered around, left their duty, or just caused trouble. What a nightmare. Rhikel\u2019s smile lasted a second.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Commander. But of the two thousand Gnolls\u2014there are probably over <em>a hundred tribes<\/em> represented there. Some sent only one or two warriors, but most sent <em>someone<\/em>. And each is different and\u2026prideful. I imagine Chief Warrior Merish has trouble even\u2026er\u2026getting them to maneuver. Let alone executing precise commands. I\u2019m impressed he has managed to keep them from infighting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Infighting? <\/em>But they\u2019re all Plains Gnolls!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dismayed, Cirille looked at Ossky. The [Lieutenant] looked just as puzzled. Rhikel cleared his throat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. Some of whom have blood feuds or quarrels. It cannot be <em>easy<\/em>, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake officers looked at each other. After a second, Ossky opened her mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Sergeant. Dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnolls saluted and marched out of the room, clearly relieved. Cirille blinked the spots out of her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGreat. So the Gnoll forces are even more splintered than we thought.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHah. Just goes to show, Commander. They need discipline. <em>We<\/em> work together and I\u2019m not from the Walled Cities. But I can follow orders, even if I think Zeres is shit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Hey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry, [Bannerman]. I hate seafood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does <em>that<\/em> have to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShut up, Captain Shellc. We had three years to drill together. Chief Warrior Merish came what, one year back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Yes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others shrugged. No one knew. But even if he had less time, Drakes were still [Soldiers]. Cirille began to understand the problem. The question was how to solve it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When the officer\u2019s meeting broke up without much resolved, Cirille decided to visit Merish.<\/p>\n<p>It was the first time she\u2019d done so outside of when they\u2019d joined forces. Oh, she had seen him at cards and the mess and other places since their schedules were lined up, but she had the distinct impression he didn\u2019t care for her. The feeling\u2026wasn\u2019t mutual. Oh, she didn\u2019t appreciate working with him and wished her life was easier, but she didn\u2019t hate the Gnoll.<\/p>\n<p>They were stuck on Rhir. In hell itself. She didn\u2019t hate anyone here. Well, except maybe Quiteil. And whoever had swiped her tea rations from home. She suspected Viri. And Delezza winning <em>every damn hand of cards\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But not really hate. When Cirille inquired at the barracks though, she didn\u2019t find Merish.<\/p>\n<p>She <em>did<\/em> find a brawl. The Gnolls stopped fighting when she opened the door. The Drake stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is going on here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two groups of Gnolls had been, apparently, kicking the snot out of each other. The others were watching or pulling them apart, but Cirille saw half a dozen tribes on one side and a few of the largest tribes on the other. They stared at the Drake.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Nothing? We were just engaging in a\u2026ritual of the tribes. Very magical.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the [Shamans] waved his staff vaguely. It was about as good an excuse as she got under her command. The Drake looked around. The Gnolls did not look very hospitable towards her. But she was a [Commander]. The Drake handled it the only way she knew how.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Officers\u2014<\/em>to me. Someone get a [Healer] and everyone else\u2014<em>I want this barracks cleaned up in five minutes!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnolls looked at each other. For a second Cirille was afraid they\u2019d ignore her. But then some of the head warriors drifted over. Some of the other Gnolls headed for a [Shaman]. The rest watched Cirille step back. One [Warrior] nudged another.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCleaned up? Does she want us to sweep?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The other shrugged and picked up some sheets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s make beds. Drakes love making beds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The fight had been about The King of Destruction. To be more precise\u2014him accepting Gnoll tribes as his sovereign citizens. Cirille looked around at the other Gnolls.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy did that cause a fight?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe let <em>Doombringers\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another Gnoll punched the back of the Gnoll\u2019s head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho cares?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She snapped. The Gnoll rounded on her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re not called \u2018happy-bringers\u2019, you idiot, you! And besides, he took in poorer tribes. Troublemakers!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Dustfur tribe does not cause <em>trouble.<\/em> You just quarrel with them because your tribe lost a trade agreement eight years back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another Gnoll poked the [Far Hunter] in the side. He whirled, growing louder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not it at all! But those Gnolls are sellouts. <em>Pets\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone kicked him in the back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay that again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille watched the Gnolls hitting each other for a second, open-mouthed. And she thought her Drakes brawled over Walled City politics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlright, <em>enough!<\/em> Where\u2019s Chief Warrior Merish?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She shouted and the Gnolls looked at her. Sergeant Rhikel had been right. Each tribe had their own opinion, even if only one warrior had come from it. They conferred and one of Merish\u2019s [Shamanic Warriors] offered the answer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn break. He asked [Far Hunter] Deirr to take over, <em>despite him choosing sides\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere did he <em>go?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe unfunny Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille stared. She wasn\u2019t given an answer to what that meant. But she was given directions. The [Commander] hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m going after him. Far Hunter Deirr\u2014take your people and all the Gnolls under your command and uh\u2014<em>trade<\/em> with Viri\u2019s group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrade?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnolls blinked. It was the only thing Cirille could think of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s right. Ask Commander Uxel for permission. You\u2019ll stay in the Lizardfolk barracks. It beats a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>And if you make trouble, the Gorgons will be only too happy to smack you around. <\/em>The Gnolls looked at each other. After a second, Deirr frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut my tribe is not the only one who fought with the others. Why are <em>we<\/em> singled out?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid I say your tribe? I meant <em>all<\/em> of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnolls looked at each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is a quarter of the command, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake closed her eyes. It was <em>never<\/em> easy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFine then. Divide up into the groups that actually <em>like<\/em> each other. I\u2019ll transfer\u2026Uxel\u2019s Lizardfolk into your barracks. And Commander Ossky\u2019s squad and Sergeant Rhikle\u2019s groups\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She began dividing up the Gnolls into non-argumentative groups and splitting them up. She expected them to fight or object; Drake officers would, but the Gnolls were adaptable. If anything, they seemed eager to get away from each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven Drakes are better. But please\u2014not the [Knights]? They <em>sing.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille soon found the barracks a humdrum of different species. She looked into it and closed her eyes.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAncestors.<\/em> Merish is going to <em>kill<\/em> me. At least it\u2019ll hold for a day.<em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Then she went off to find Merish. What did \u2018unfunny Humans\u2019 mean, anyways? The only ones she could think of were\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. Why would he go <em>there?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A [Clown] stood on the illuminated stage. Well, it wasn\u2019t a stage so much as a converted bar. [Soldiers] needed to relax. And 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall had been set up with facilities for any number of things. Of course, the buildings weren\u2019t built <em>into<\/em> the wall itself, like 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, but just outside.<\/p>\n<p>It was dangerous, but the wall was under construction. The real one, with the huge moat, would be a much vaster place. Cirille had seen the plans. It was going to be something even the Walled Cities would envy.<\/p>\n<p>For now, though, this was one of the inns\u2014or bars. But the [Clown]?<\/p>\n<p>Tom sipped from a drink of rum on the stage. The audience was quiet. The room dark. Someone had hung a magic lantern and shaded it so it created a beam. It swung to follow him as he walked back and forth in front of the single stool.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo\u2014<em>heehee<\/em>\u2014who remembers killing their first monster?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He giggled into the little speaking stone he carried. Some people raised hands or claws or other appendages. The [Clown] pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou. What did you kill? First thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoblin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoblin! Ha! Hahahahaha\u2014that\u2019s not a monster, that\u2019s a person! If it levels, it\u2019s alive! Heh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He began laughing hysterically.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:AR HERMANN\"><em>\u201cHahahaha\u2014\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The [Clown] caught himself as the audience stared. It wasn\u2019t just his troupe, although they filled the seats, their painted faces always grinning\u2014some thoughtful. The [Clown] paced back and forth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoblins are fine. What about you? Carn Wolves? Okay, okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Another sip.<\/em> Cirille watched, uncomprehending. Merish was sitting at a table, chewing on some food while he listened. Tom went on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSee, my first monster was right after we arrived here. There I was, fresh out of training, with a knife in hand. I\u2019d never killed. I was Level 6. I\u2019d seen people dying, though. We just came from the capital after we got slaughtered. Demon ambush.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The audience stirred again. Some nodded. But this wasn\u2019t the angry recollections. This was\u2026a story? Cirille saw another Human. Sir Richard. He was watching, leaning against the bar.<\/p>\n<p>The story went on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I\u2019m in the capital. But we were told Demon attacks could happen any time. So I hear this screaming as I\u2019m just outside the gates. Not Human. Not a person. I turn to look\u2014and there\u2019s this <em>huge<\/em> armored thing coming at me. Giant jaws, teeth like sawblades. It\u2019s not big, by the way. Yay high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He indicated something around knee-level. Someone laughed. <em>Huge?<\/em> The [Clown] looked about.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt looked big, alright? It could still chew off a leg. And it\u2019s coming at me. So\u2014I panic. I look around to run. <em>I\u2019m<\/em> not fighting it. I was hoping I could get Richard to kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pointed into the audience. Heads turned. Tom grinned, huge, maniac. But not as insane as he had been on the battlefield.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut no one\u2019s there. So\u2014I draw my knife. And I jump at the thing. Well, it jumps me and I stab it. Trouble is\u2014it has armor on its stomach. And at first it\u2019s not biting me\u2014I think I surprised it. So I start stabbing and it starts to trying to eat me at last. That\u2019s about when I shit myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The audience giggled. The Gloomless Troupe laughed, falling out of their chairs. The others just stared. The [Clown] giggled too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think that\u2019s a joke? I think that\u2019s why I survived. The thing was so repulsed by the stench it stopped biting. So I flip it onto its back. And there we are, wrestling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He made a knife appear and stabbed with it, pretend-fighting. Cirille edged around the room, trying to get to Merish while she figured out what was happening. The [Clown] continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m stabbing it and it\u2019s biting me, and I think I\u2019m winning, but you never know. And there\u2019s blood all over and the damned thing won\u2019t <em>die.<\/em> But at last\u2014I finally get it. It falls over. Dead. And I\u2019m alive. And I\u2019m a <em>hero. <\/em>I just killed a knee-high monster!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grinned around. The audience murmured. That was in debate. Tom went on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI actually <em>drag<\/em> the thing to the gates. I\u2019m going to show everyone. I\u2019m still bleeding, by the way, but I don\u2019t heal myself. I want people to <em>know<\/em> how much I fought. Like a tiger! That\u2019s a big cat, by the way. I hear they have them in Baleros. So I find my friends. Richard was there. He remembers this. Everyone says \u2018<em>Tom! What happened?<\/em>\u2019 And I say \u2018<em>Demon attack, no big deal.<\/em> <em>Killed it. Want to see the body?<\/em>\u2019 And of course, I\u2019m showing it around.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He brushed at his clown costume, feigning indifference. The [Clown] paused and the audience leaned forwards, feeling the narrative coming to a close.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo there I am. The [Guards] are sounding the alarm, they\u2019re all asking how it attacked me and I\u2019m ready to accept a medal or trophy. I\u2019m <em>definitely<\/em> leveling up tonight. Then, at that moment, Lady Emirelle asks if anyone\u2019s seen her pet Skeljaw.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He paused. The audience went silent. And then those who figured it out started laughing. Some in horror. Others found it genuinely hilarious, like Uxel. Some were appalled, like the [Druid] who looked ready to jump Tom.<\/p>\n<p>The [Clown] grinned around, sweating in the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe worst part is that she\u2019s still mad about it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Laughter, conversation as he sipped from his drink. Cirille slid into the table next to Merish. The Gnoll jumped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander Cirille?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat in the name of the Walls am I looking at?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome kind of humor. They do it every night. I thought it was wise to see. It is a ritual of this troupe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll nodded towards the stage. The [Clown] went on. He pulled out a knife as the audience looked at him again. He had a kind of crazy charisma, Cirille had to admit.<\/p>\n<p>If Sir Richard looked like a young commander, Tom was the opposite of everything Cirille had been taught to respect. It was like watching a tragedy or a disaster\u2014you couldn\u2019t walk away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay, next bit. I can do magic tricks. See this knife? I\u2019m going to make it disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The audience stirred. Richard unfolded his arms. He looked concerned. But Tom didn\u2019t ask for volunteer. He held his hand out, palm facing the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWatch, the blade, watch it <em>vanish\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stabbed himself through the hand until the hilt was all that was visible. Cirille made a sound. The audience groaned or shouted. Tom held out his hand. Then he turned it sideways, looked at the blood running down the blade of the knife. He wiggled his fingers weakly, looked at the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Ow. I didn\u2019t think that through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That time the audience was even more split. But Commander Uxel was nearly on the floor laughing. Cirille began to catch on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh. He\u2019s trying to be <em>funny.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes he is. I\u2019m still not sure why he does it, though. Something to do with his class? Why did you want me, Commander Cirille? We will try your formations tomorrow. But we need not quarrel now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll looked warily at the Drake. She grimaced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2026wanted to talk to you, Chief Warrior. I, er, wasn\u2019t aware of how difficult it was managing your command.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked wary and surprised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is my duty. I was appointed Chief Warrior by the others. They will follow my order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEr, yes. But it can\u2019t be easy. I stopped by the barracks, actually, looking for you. There was an incident\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll groaned. He half-stood as Tom launched into another story. It had a punch line; that was the trick.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat problem? How many were hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. I sorted it, somehow. Uh\u2014you might not be happy with how. That happens often?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll sat down, sighing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou would not know. But the Tribes love to quarrel. Drakes are peaceful compared to some blood feuds. And Gnolls are not as restrained as Drakes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Restrained as\u2026?<\/em> Merish clearly didn\u2019t know about inter-city wars. But apparently, Gnolls from feuding tribes would gut each other if left alone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI split them up. Just for sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chief Warrior blinked, but he didn\u2019t object. He actually nodded, looking thoughtful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat may be&#8230;best. I did not think it wise to ask, but I had considered it. But what about my command? Our working together?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think\u2026it\u2019s time to revisit how we work. Maybe we can try to work around your slower responses, Merish. Or assign some Gnolls used to military command?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrr\u2014maybe\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A knife <em>struck<\/em> the table and vibrated. Merish and Cirille fell out of their seats, grabbing for their weapons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Hey! Shut up in the audience or I\u2019ll kill you!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tom shouted. Cirille got up, hearing laughter from his posse and the audience .The [Clown] glared, then turned it into a grin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere was I? Oh, right. The fire. Bastion-General Quiteil is <em>so<\/em> mad he\u2019s already threatened to have me jailed or executed. And there I am, with about a thousand magical arrows <em>on fire.<\/em> So I thought the best thing to do was put them out. Someone should have <em>really<\/em> labeled those barrels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More laughter. Cirille didn\u2019t laugh, but she sat, warily eying the knife as she and Merish had a drink. She had no frame of reference for this. It wasn\u2019t like a [Bard], or even a [Fool]\u2019s act. But it was new. And it spoke to some.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For Richard, seeing Tom on stage was a revelation of kinds. It wasn\u2019t great standup. The [Clown]\u2019s skills in no way translated into actually being <em>funny<\/em>. And the kind of engagement a [Mad Clown] did was different from the kind most comedians wanted from their audience.<\/p>\n<p>But he looked happy. <em>This <\/em>was what Richard thought Tom should be. On stage, trying to make people laugh.<\/p>\n<p>Richard wondered if it would have all been different if Tom were less\u2026responsible. Able to run away and not fight and put his life on the line.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe put on the makeup after we were slaughtered in the ambush at 5<sup>th<\/sup> wall. I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHm? What was that, Richard?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vincent was sitting at the bar, only half-listening as he flirted with a Minotaur [Archer]. The Minotauress looked like she\u2019d kill Vincent and that was if he was lucky.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTom. He only tried to become a [Clown] after most of us died. Remember? There were a hundred and then sixty after that. And after that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t remind me. I\u2019m trying to get lucky. Do you think she\u2019d be impressed if I beat her at arm-wrestling?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard eyed the Minotauress. She was an [Archer], but he doubted he\u2019d have an easy time, let alone the [Swashbuckler]. He patted Vincent on the arm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He saw the Drake, Cirille, and the Gnoll warrior leaving after a while. But Richard kept watching, even as the audience changed. Watching the [Clown] flounder, get laughs, laugh uncontrollably. But when he smiled\u2014Richard thought he meant it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille had a deeper appreciation for Chief Warrior Merish\u2019s struggles after that night. Let alone dealing with the uncooperative warriors.<\/p>\n<p>But that night after watching the unfunny [Clown] hadn\u2019t resulted in any epiphany about how to resolve their issue of commands.<\/p>\n<p>It was then somewhat ironic that the problem turned out to have solved itself the next day. Quite by accident. Merish informed Cirille she\u2019d discovered the secret.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMixed commands?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGive me more of your Drakes. I will give you my Gnoll [Hunters], yes? Then I will command <em>just<\/em> the heaviest warriors with my [Shamanic Warriors]. Mix in the Gnolls and if they see others running, they will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut that\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille closed her mouth on \u2018not allowed\u2019. This wasn\u2019t the Walled Cities and this wasn\u2019t her taking command of another army. Thoughtfully, she looked at Commander Uxel, who was waiting to trounce her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Fine. Let\u2019s try it. Give me five minutes\u2014where are your best lineholders?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat would be the Jadehammers Tribe. Them, over there. Stubborn as goats\u2026damn. I think they heard me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This time, they won. And handily. It wasn\u2019t that they worked better together\u2014it was just that the jarring gap in their styles had closed. And the Lizardfolk, for all they were adaptive, didn\u2019t do well with a battlefield where they couldn\u2019t continually hide or outmaneuver the enemy.<\/p>\n<p>Also\u2014the individual skill sets of the Gnolls and Drakes became apparent in one clash between Ser Vorn and Drake [Riders], the [Knight] himself rode to complain. He had paint all over his armor from arrow strikes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander Cirille. I must protest! Your [Archers] <em>cannot<\/em> fire into a skirmish between cavalry. You\u2019ll hit your own side!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was military doctrine among Drakes as well. But Cirille had employed the tactic. The [Commander] folded her arms and tried not to smirk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand that, Ser Vorn. But the Gnoll [Far Hunter] under my command assures me his elite [Hunters] can do so without ever hitting a friendly combatant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] huffed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat may be so for a practice engagement, but would you trust that to an actual battle, as we are simulating, Commander?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She raised one brow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you see any paint on the other [Riders], Ser Vorn?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] checked his besmirched armor. Then frowned at the Drakes celebrating.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Huh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Uxel had lost, but the Gorgon was in such a good mood after discovering Tom\u2019s comedy that he barely cared. In fact, the Gorgon slithered over after the second loss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander Cirille. I\u2019m interested by these tactics. Give me your Drake spears.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will give you Viri and a [Mage] division. I want to see what Drake spears do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She blinked at him. And then\u2026the pieces fell into place. The Drake glanced at their lines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think, Commander Uxel, we need to practice against some Rhirian forces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon grinned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnly if we can hit them<em> harder.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That did make Cirille smile. Merish too.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the day, the formations between the joint army had changed. Instead of Drakes taking to the front, they\u2019d adjusted their lineup. It looked more like this:<\/p>\n<p>Drakes still formed the heavy front line. There was nothing like their tight formations for stopping a charge or giving one. But now Gorgons and Lizardfolk formed key wedges, ready to smash into weak points. They had the offensive power and speed that Drakes lacked.<\/p>\n<p>Merish\u2019s Gnolls joined the archers and heavy infantry, mainly. Where they had to <em>stay<\/em> in the fighting, the Gnolls with enchanted weapons were best.<\/p>\n<p>And meanwhile, all three species\u2019 spellcasters hung back with the [Archers], sheltered by Drake formations. Ossky\u2019s wing, as the only fliers, kept up aerial pressure and more mobility along with Ser Vorn\u2019s [Knights], who were the heavy cavalry that every other species lacked.<\/p>\n<p>But the kicker that made their formation the best was\u2026well, the Gorgons. Cirille had to admit it; Uxel\u2019s abilities didn\u2019t extend to just venom fangs, the enhanced scales, or his height or brawn.<\/p>\n<p>Gorgons and Medusae shared sight-attacks. Gorgons were weaker; they just made the enemy\u2019s muscles lock for a second or two. But when you were maneuvering, a second or two made all the difference. He\u2019d used it to break Drake formations for the last three days. Now, the mixed army took apart six different groups of Rhir\u2019s forces in skirmishes.<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial pronounced them fit for patrol duty. Cirille shared a celebratory drink where even Delezza\u2019s usual sharp tongue was absent. All the [Demon Huntress] did was smile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTook you long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The significance of the words didn\u2019t sink in until that night. Cirille lay down, inebriated after long drinking with Uxel and Merish; Ser Vorn had declined, citing an aging body. She closed her eyes\u2026and heard it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[Foreign Commander Level 33!]<\/p>\n<p>[Conditions Met: Foreign Commander \u2192 Combined-Arms Commander Class!]<\/p>\n<p>[Skill: Copy Weapon Art obtained!]<\/p>\n<p>[Synergy: Gnoll-Drake Command obtained!]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes snapped open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>What?<\/em> What\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She would find out the next day. The next day\u2014reinforcements came from 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Cirille found out about her Skill.<\/p>\n<p>And a [Message] came from home.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That day, Commander Cirille woke up to chaos in three different barracks. Commander Uxel, her forces, and Merish\u2019s division were all filled with confused soldiers, asking questions and receiving little answers.<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial was not pleased. The half-Elf came striding over himself to find out what was wrong <em>this time.<\/em> And just when the irregular companies had finally begun working together!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReport. What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know, Bastion-General. It may have to do with my new\u2026Skill. But it\u2019s not a Skill\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille\u2019s blush was impossible to see under her off-black scales, but her look of mortification at having the supreme commander for the area dealing with <em>her<\/em> forces at dawn was visible for all to see.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSkill? What Skill?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI consolidated my classes, Bastion-General! I am now a [Combined-Arms Commander]. I have obtained two new Skills\u2014of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake threw a salute. The mix of pride and confusion was also evident. The half-Elf stopped. He flexed his hands and the scales running up his forearm and ending at his elbow <em>flexed<\/em>. Heritage of his mixed ancestry\u2014Lizardfolk and half-Elf. The blood of half-Elves always threw true, but sometimes they carried influence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongratulations, Commander Cirille. What is this new Skill?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The door to the Drake\u2019s barracks was open. Cirille heard shouts\u2014one Drake was swearing and clutching at his nostrils. Captain Shellc looked around. And Bastion-General Zavarial saw the Drake was coughing, eyes watering.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEr\u2014a synergy, Bastion-General? [Synergy: Gnoll-Drake Command]. But I don\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Ah.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The half-Elf suddenly smiled. And he relaxed so suddenly that it caught his junior officers off-guard. The Bastion-General chuckled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see. In that case, I will inform Bastion-General Quiteil of the situation. Your division is excused from patrolling today. Reorganize and assess the effects of your new ability, Commander. And congratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, sir. But what\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He was gone before she could ask what had <em>happened.<\/em> Bewildered, Cirille stepped into the barracks. And she heard Captain Shellc roaring at the others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>You all stink! Who\u2019s not been bathing for the last week?<\/em> You\u2014[Soldier]! I can smell the horse crap on your tail! Wash!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pointed at a Drake, who checked his tail, which was indeed less than clean after being dragged through something untoward. The others looked at the Drake.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaptain Shellc, what is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander! We have a serious hygiene issue here! The rank is getting <em>sloppy.<\/em> Even some of the officers! I\u2019ve chewed out eleven idiots who can\u2019t even clean themselves properly! And there\u2019s mold in two of the bunks!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake complained as he turned to Cirille. She looked around. He wasn\u2019t\u2026wrong. But the other [Soldiers] were sniffing themselves and finding nothing wrong.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaptain, it\u2019s just a little funk. I\u2019ve smelled worse. Hells, I\u2019ve <em>slept<\/em> in worse and never noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the [Sergeants] complained. Captain Shellc pointed a clawed finger at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStow it, [Sergeant]! I haven\u2019t smelled anything so foul since I was in the sewers back home! You\u2019ll get your group cleaned up or I\u2019ll\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille sniffed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026I don\u2019t smell anything, Captain. I think it might just be your nose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Captain] turned to his commander, looking appalled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Commander\u2014I\u2019m not the only one! Hey! You all, come forwards!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He waved, and about a hundred out of the thousand stationed in this section came forwards with complaints about the smell. Cirille blinked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne hundred\u2026? What other issues have there been, Captain Shellc?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, Commander. It\u2019s not as bad as the smell\u2026but there were a few incidents at the mess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, some idiots bit through their spoons. Damndest thing. And some others decided to copy them. They \u2018claimed\u2019 it was just weak metal, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t know. But the [Swordsman]-[Captain] wasn\u2019t an idiot. He narrowed his eyes as Commander Cirille looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat about the Gnolls?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Chief Warrior Merish and Ossky were investigating that. That\u2019s\u2026different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was indeed. About a third of the Drakes under Cirille\u2019s command had been affected by certain\u2014traits. A stronger bite, complaints of enhanced smell, or hearing. But the Gnolls? That was when the coin dropped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t <em>stop. <\/em>Every time I open\u2014<em>gah.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chief Warrior Merish himself had a symptom. He opened his mouth and Lieutenant Ossky jerked her head back before the plume of frost froze her scales off. She turned as Cirille strode into the room, followed by her officers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander! It\u2019s incredible. Either I\u2019m a Lizard\u2014sorry, Uxel\u2014or some of the Gnolls have developed <em>Oldblood breath attacks.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImpossible!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shellc exclaimed. Merish opened his mouth and <em>exhaled.<\/em> The Drake leapt back as a cloud of freezing ice swept towards him. It wasn\u2019t as bad as Ossky or some of the other Oldbloods\u2019 abilities; she could be visible for miles upon miles away if you looked at her when she went hard\u2014but it was still powerful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo that\u2019s what it does.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille just stared. A Skill worthy of a class change indeed. She had no idea it even <em>existed.<\/em> Everyone looked at her. Commander Uxel bared his fangs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCare to explain?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Synergies are similar to Combination Skills. They require multiple components to work, Commander Cirille. I have adjusted your file to note the advantageous matchup.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quiteil\u2019s voice was precise and still annoyed Cirille. Mainly because he wasn\u2019t surprised or even noticeably pleased by the development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou knew it would happen, Bastion-General?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Not at all. However, a Drake Commander unwilling to work with another species is not useful. The possibility existed. Synergies are known to Rhir\u2019s forces. Other nations have very little experience in this area due to a lack of mixed-species forces.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The clipped voice came through the speaking stone. Cirille hated that he was right. She chewed on her lip as Merish burped and froze Viri\u2019s face as the Lizardman tried to peer into his open mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Bastion-General\u2014Gnolls exist in Drake command.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Correct. However, they are a minority and function as Drake [Soldiers] do without distinction. I do not have the time to debate the differences, Commander. Congratulations. I look forwards to your second tour. Bastion-General Quiteil out.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He closed the speaking stone. Cirille glared at it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just his way. He\u2019s actually pleased. He said \u2018congratulations\u2019. You\u2019ll get a bottle of something or some present, no doubt. The brass loves new classes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Scrier] on-duty assured Cirille as the [Commander] returned the stone. The Drake smiled at the Human.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you. I\u2026what did he mean by \u2018second tour\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Human woman blinked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt means they\u2019ll offer you a chance to stay another four years, Commander. That means they think you\u2019re valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Valuable? No one had ever applied that word in context with Cirille\u2019s service in Rhir. The Walled Cities had selected her because she was a decent commander who wouldn\u2019t embarrass them\u2014and also because she wasn\u2019t good <em>enough<\/em> that she would be needed.<\/p>\n<p>Cirille had leveled on Rhir. She would be an asset to Manus when she returned. But now Rhir wanted her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause you can work with other species. Lots of commanders aren\u2019t so flexible. They get sent back. It is a compliment. I heard some of the Walled Cities send Drakes who can\u2019t work with anyone at all. That was why I thought you would be so annoying. I was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel informed Cirille. The Gorgon slithered down the wall as they walked together. Cirille looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly, I wasn\u2019t\u2026at home with Merish. Or you, Uxel. But aside from the \u2018Lizards are enemies\u2019 idiocy, it wasn\u2019t hard to adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grinned at her and spat some venom over the wall after making sure no one was below.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou say that. But some Drakes are as stupid as rocks. And as stubborn as Dullahans. Take the compliment. But will you <em>stay?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hadn\u2019t thought about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThink. I will be going back, even if I learn the [Combined-Arms Commander] class. Which I wish to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That surprised her. Cirille glanced at Uxel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if they ask you to stay?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI came here to fight Demons, to level\u2014I have done both. But Baleros calls. It may be foolish\u2014but when I return, I want to challenge my superiors. My company can be stronger. Maybe even a Great Company of Baleros someday. Or maybe we can go abroad and conquer parts of Izril?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grinned. That was Gorgon humor for you. Cirille smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnly the northern parts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was a lot to think about. Synergies were powerful\u2014why did the Walled Cities not know or try to gather such useful abilities in their commanders? Then again, it did require multiple species with their own autonomy.<\/p>\n<p>In the interim, however, making the new abilities in her forces work proved a challenge. Captain Shellc ended up in command of more Gnolls than Drakes\u2014because the Gnolls shared his keen sense of smell.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t believe how much they <em>stink.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake complained. All the Gnolls chuckled or grinned. Merish laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou will get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure how useful a good sense of smell is on the battlefield. Among our [Scouts] maybe. And the hearing becomes a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille confessed to Merish. The Gnoll [Shamanic Warrior] nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is not always useful. If the enemy uses poison\u2014you will know. And good hearing helps sometimes when the enemy is hidden or maneuvering in the darkness. But what of <em>our<\/em>\u2026breaths?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He had managed to avoid freezing everything in sight. Cirille frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShellc swears he\u2019s gained some muscle as well. As for Gnolls breathing fire, acid, or what have you\u2014I suppose it\u2019s just another weapon. We\u2019ll show you how Oldblood formations work. Ossky\u2019s an expert; it\u2019s breathe and fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI lose air when I do it too much and end up gasping like a fish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The winged lieutenant grinned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou need to practice. It\u2019s like a quarter-Oldblood strength at best, Commander. Maybe if you were double your level they\u2019d all have abilities as strong as mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Captain Shellc would be walking around with a coat of fur. Let\u2019s just work with what we have, Ossky.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A few observations after a day of drilling: the Synergy was powerful. Not <em>all-<\/em>powerful. It had limitations.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, it only affected those under her direct command. So while Drakes and Gnolls stationed with Uxel had new abilities, the Lizardfolk did not, much to their disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the abilities \u2018faded\u2019 the further her command got from Cirille. And if you left her command in any capacity\u2014she had \u2018traded\u2019 a group of Gnolls with Uxel\u2014they disappeared entirely.<\/p>\n<p>In combat, it made Merish and the Gnolls even more problematic to fight against. The Gnolls would happily turn your face to ice before smacking you around. On the other side, along with enhanced smell, Captain Shellc happily did press-ups until the \u2018regular\u2019 Drakes collapsed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s powerful, but more in that your [Soldiers] keep your abilities. I\u2019ve seen better [Commander] Skills. Have you heard of [Sight\u2019s Bane Formation]?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel stood on the walls afterwards, with Ser Vorn, Merish, and Cirille. They were all tired\u2014and some nursing slight injuries by accidental Gnoll-breath attacks. One of them had accidentally breathed a dust cloud onto Ser Vorn and the [Knight] had hours of buffing for his armor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Sight\u2019s Bane Formation]? Never heard of it. What does it do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The commanders were all too eager to share knowledge. It was after all, a kind of power, knowing about rare Skills. The Gorgon grinned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTurns your soldiers invisible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat, <em>all<\/em> of them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even Ser Vorn looked incredulous, and he was decades older than the rest. The Gorgon nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSaw a Medusa-General use it once. Her capstone Skill of Level 40. Turned her entire army invisible for <em>three minutes.<\/em> They took the enemy apart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want that Skill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merish muttered. Cirille nodded. That was the difference. A three-minute Skill that turned an entire battle around\u2014or a longer-term Skill? She\u2019d take it, either way.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay, you have the Titan of Baleros, right? What kind of Skills does a [Strategist] of that level have?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never seen the Titan fight. Good thing too; but I\u2019ve heard he can move across the world from battlefield to battlefield in moments. He can apparently multiply a unit\u2019s power so it smashes through right when you\u2019re not looking at it. Things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGah. [Strategists]. You know, it might be untested, but I\u2019d put our combined formation against one of Manus\u2019 forces. We don\u2019t have as many elites and specialized units, but there\u2019s a lot we could steal from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Knights] especially. Gnolls don\u2019t have [Knights] because armor and fur get <em>hot.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNagas can\u2019t ride horses and Lizardfolk are too light.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDrakes\u2014have trouble with tail armor. And riding horses is harder. Tails, again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All three looked at Ser Vorn. He scratched at his head and smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd we Humans lack your interesting abilities. It would appear we complement each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The commanders shared a moment\u2019s congenial pause. No one wanted to say \u2018I\u2019m so glad we\u2019re working together\u2019 or something sappy like that. They\u2019d probably get tossed off the walls. But the sentiment existed without words.<\/p>\n<p>A trumpet blaring a welcome interrupted the moment. The commanders on 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall turned and saw an approaching procession.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s <em>that? <\/em>Minotaurs? I thought we already had all of their forces stationed here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille spotted a large group moving up towards the walls. They were big, armored figures. Ser Vorn peered with an enchanted spyglass.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Ah. Those aren\u2019t Minotaurs. Those are Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake peered at the distant figures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStop joking, Ser Vorn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a joke.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re <em>massive.<\/em> As tall as Gnolls! Taller! They\u2019re half-Giants, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the Humans was <em>eight feet tall<\/em> if she was any judge, and looked like a half-Giant. But Ser Vorn assured her he was Human.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s only one group they can be. See the insignia on their armor and the welcome?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial himself was welcoming the group. As Cirille descended to talk to some more of the irregular commanders, someone finally explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re a <em>Unit.<\/em> You know? One of the special ones? Those are the Queen\u2019s personal unit. Shel\u2019s Cleansenborne. She\u2019s not with them, by the looks of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey can\u2019t risk the Queen on 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. Not that she hasn\u2019t been here before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Queen?<\/em> Cirille remembered seeing her. The Blighted Queen was far younger than King Othius IV, and she was a veteran warrior who carried a mace fit for a Minotaur. A giant of a Human. By the looks of it\u2014she\u2019d passed her traits off onto her entire unit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow do they get so <em>big,<\/em> though? That cannot be a Skill, yes? What, do they grow overnight if she inducts them? Like mushrooms?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Laughter in response to Merish. Springwaters, the half-Elf [Marksman], shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot at all. They\u2019re trained from youth and go through a growth spurt. They can\u2019t quit the unit, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, they\u2019re going to be a terror to whoever fights them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille remembered the [Flesh Reapers] for a moment. She wondered if being half again as tall as other Humans did something to their physiology. Certainly\u2014the armored warriors marched with unnatural silence, even compared to Drake armies. They didn\u2019t show any skin; they wore helmets and armor, standing still like Golems.<\/p>\n<p>Perfect warriors for a war against Demons. Someone frowned. Paxhal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they\u2019re so special, why are they here now? They missed the fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A snort. The Minotaur [Axe Captain] looked down at the Humans, glaring as if trying to figure out if they were a match for his troops.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNormally they\u2019re on 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Wall. They must be here to deal with that serpent-titan. Did you hear? Some [Naturalist]\u2019s named it. They\u2019re called Zavaral-swarms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cZavaral? You mean, like Bastion-General\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Snorts from up and down the wall. That was a dubious honor. Or the [Naturalist] had a sick sense of humor. The Minotaur grunted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApparently. It\u2019s not a laughing matter. The Kingdom is afraid a few got away. And if they <em>did<\/em>\u2014or if the Demons kept a few, they could breed them. Send titans like that against the Blighted Kingdom every month. Not just one, either. Dozens, all multiplying. Imagine that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others fell silent. That gave Cirille chills. She imagined how quickly that would wear down even the Blighted Kingdom\u2019s supplies and soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, to conquer that fear, the Cleansenborne marched. 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall would be launching seek-and-destroy teams. The Hunter\u2019s Guild\u2019s specialists and Paxhal\u2019s fliers had been scouting for the Zavaral-swarms. And tomorrow\u2014Cirille\u2019s forces would join the hunt.<\/p>\n<p>She looked forward to it. Rhir\u2019s Champions stood with Bastion-General Zavarial, meeting the leader of the Cleansenborne and the other, smaller regiments sent forwards to join 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall. All except Sir Tom and his crazies, of course.<\/p>\n<p>The air blew warm from the north, bearing a strange odor with it. The scent of corruption, the odd tang that was Rhir. Cirille wondered if she wanted to do a second tour. Four more years\u2026but why not? She had already gained a new class. In four more years\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander Cirille. Ser Vorn. First Warrior Merish. Commander Uxel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A voice spoke on the walls. The others turned. It was Viri. The Lizardman had leapt up onto the walls in a single motion with his pole.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cViri, get off the walls! Who\u2019s causing trouble this time?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel <em>hissed<\/em>, vexed at the Lizardman\u2019s disruption of the ceremony below. Viri just looked at him. The colorful little Lizardfolk didn\u2019t laugh or grin like usual. He pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFollow me. Hurry. Delezza\u2019s dying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They had brought her in via stretcher. Horses would have torn the wounds open further. Cirille joined the crowd milling around the [Healer]\u2019s stations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Keep back. What happened?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial strode forwards, ordering the [Soldiers] and officers back. It was one of the other [Hunters], Sisth, who answered. He had a huge wound running down his cheek to his arm.<\/p>\n<p><em>It wasn\u2019t healed.<\/em> Cirille stared at it, confused. They had healing potions. But the [Healers] were applying needles and thread to the wounds, fussing around with liquids\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Trying to stop the bleeding. As the crowd moved back, Cirille saw Huntress Delezza.<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes were open. And she was wounded. Dozens of cuts, arrow wounds had pierced her enchanted clothing and armor. She was breathing. But she bled\u2014and each second the color drained a bit more from her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUse a potion! What\u2019s <em>wrong?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone demanded. Paxhal fluttered forwards, but the [Soldiers] keeping order thrust him back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPoison. It\u2019s not even a strong dose. But it\u2019s <em>new.<\/em> They ambushed us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sisth was one of two [Hunters] besides Delezza alive. His patrol had been cut down. The [Healer] looked up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe do not know what poison it is, Bastion-General. The Demons must have created a new toxin. It doesn\u2019t\u2014do much more than cause paralysis in the joints. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>It stopped them from healing with potions.<\/em> Cirille knew poisons. The bane of soldiers everywhere. It was why [Healers] were still needed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSave her. Huntress Delezza must not die.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Healer] bowed. He was high-level. But Cirille saw from the Dullahan\u2019s face he had little hope. They bent to their tasks, trying to stem the bleeding, close wounds with gels that stopped the blood loss. But they couldn\u2019t replace it and that was what Delezza needed. Until they worked up an antidote\u2026Delezza had minutes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet us through. Hey\u2014<em>I said, move!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A voice. High and crazed. Someone shouted. Cirille whirled. She saw a flash of blades. The crowd broke up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTom, <em>stop this\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sir Richard followed the [Clown] as he advanced with his Gloomless Troupe. The [Clown] wasn\u2019t laughing or smiling like he always was.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir Tom. This is not the time\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bastion-General stopped as the knife aimed at his chest. Tom looked around, breathing hard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet\u2014get\u2014<em>get Chole.<\/em> Where is she? We don\u2019t need [Healers]. Do a blood transfusion!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille didn\u2019t know the word. But Sir Richard and the other Champions did. They turned to each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is this transfusion?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt adds blood to the body. Chole\u2019s been working on one\u2014<em>damn.<\/em> All of her equipment\u2019s back at Hayvon\u2019s mansion! We don\u2019t have time to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImprovise, then! Someone send a spell to Chole! Ask her\u2014it\u2019s about blood types.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Step back! You idiots! Someone find a tube. And a jar!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tom shouted. The [Clown]\u2019s posse kept the others back, slashing with daggers, heedless of being on the same side. Cirille saw Richard trying to explain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need blood. In a container. Then we funnel it into Delezza\u2019s veins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Blood?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Everyone in the crowd offered theirs at once. Tom looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot <em>Drakes.<\/em> What\u2019s her blood type? <em>Humans! Non-Humans, piss off!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Humans pushed forwards. Richard looked around. Vincent pushed forwards as Tom grabbed some empty glass jars the [Alchemists] had been using.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt won\u2019t take if it\u2019s not the same blood type, Tom\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t lecture <em>me,<\/em> Vincent. Chole told me there\u2019s a way to figure it out. How does it go?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emily spoke up. She had a finger to her temple.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChole says\u2014mix the blood. If\u2014if platelets develop, it\u2019s incompatible. If not, it would work!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo that. Get Delezza\u2019s blood. And mix it with\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Blood splashed into containers and some of Delezza\u2019s blood was added in. The others were trying to figure out how to do the transfusion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need a needle. No\u2014a drip. Maybe there\u2019s a spell we can use?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bastion-General motioned and a [Mage] ran forwards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you need any spell, we have [Mages] of many varieties. [Blood Mages]\u2014none, though. But what about [Necromancers]? They\u2019re experts at setting bone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir, there\u2019s a single [Blood Mage] stationed on 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Wall\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille saw the people milling about. Tom was checking the bloody containers, demanding to know from the [Hydromancer] <em>how long<\/em> until they were certain the blood types were compatible.<\/p>\n<p>Bastion-General Zavarial and Richard were trying to get two [Mages] from Wistram to create an artificial funnel. The [Alchemist] had completed something he was applying to Sisth\u2019s face before attempting another healing potion\u2014<\/p>\n<p>The lead [Healer] looked up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHuntress Delezza is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The babble ceased. The Earthers, [Soldiers], Cirille\u2014turned. The [Huntress] lay there. Her eyes were still open. But she\u2019d stopped breathing. Tom looked up from the desperate collection of blood in jars. He looked at the body.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t laugh.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHuntress Delezza fought against the Demons for years. She earned the title of Hell\u2019s Warden. I have come to Rhir before and I knew that the [Demon Hunters] under her tutelage were the finest in the world because they learned from her. Her entire family fought in hell and died there. Of Humans\u2014of any species\u2014I think there is little braver that can be said of her. I wish I had more words. But when I return to Terandria, I will speak her name in Noelictus and lay her among the honored dead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ser Vorn spoke, lifting a cup of wine. It was dark, but not as red as Delezza\u2019s blood. Cirille had no desire to drink wine. The Firebreath Whiskey burned as she joined his toast.<\/p>\n<p>The commander\u2019s mess was silent that night. Delezza was dead. Sisth, her apprentice, had filled her spot. But he was still being tended to. He hadn\u2019t taken mortal wounds, but the antidote was being researched with no hope of an immediate cure.<\/p>\n<p>One would have to be found. In the meantime, Bastion-General Zavarial had asked for volunteers to try this blood transfusion tactic, to combat the poison and save lives. Perhaps it would save hundreds of thousands in years to come.<\/p>\n<p>It had been too late today. The Champions had said little after Delezza had been pronounced dead. They wore expressions of guilt. If they had been a few days earlier in pushing it forwards\u2026if Chole, their [Nurse], had been there\u2026<\/p>\n<p>If. It was a familiar word to Cirille. She had lost friends before. This was a familiar scene.<\/p>\n<p>She hated it. Someone else got up to speak. The Drake listened. She drank.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHuntress Delezza died a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Huntress Delezza had died in an ambush behind 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall.<\/em> Not against the titans. Not against some great enemy. The Demons had attacked and fled. She\u2019d killed <em>eight<\/em> with her crossbow and then her sword. But they\u2019d been low-level. Expendable.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019d taken a great [Hunter] down today. That was true. It was a reminder that for every big battle the Blighted Kingdom won\u2014this happened. Cirille had seen other officers die in routine patrols, skirmishes, accidents. Delezza had been the first she knew personally since coming to 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCirille. Do you want to say anything?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merish sat back down. Cirille started. She looked around and shook her head. No one said anything else. Someone had started up a card game. Not because it was fun\u2014but it was where Delezza sat. They left her seat open.<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, Cirille was sick of being in Rhir. Her joy over her class, her excitement, was gone. She wanted to march on the Demons and end this war.<\/p>\n<p>It was a sentiment echoed across the others. Uxel just sat there, coiled up, refusing to talk. Merish stood with Ser Vorn, talking in a low voice. Cirille got up. She could at least\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander Cirille. A [Message] for you. From High Command.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was then that Cirille got the communication scroll, handed to her by a [Messenger]. She opened it, read. The Drake stared at the neat writing, the little numbers, the\u2014<\/p>\n<p>She crumpled it up and tossed it in the fireplace. Merish and Ser Vorn looked up; Uxel uncoiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA damn message from High Command. No\u2014<em>Salazsar.<\/em> One of the Walled Cities. Guess what? They want me back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille shouldered her way to the bar. She slammed down her cup and money and watched the liquid refill. She drank again, sipping. The fiery liquid hurt and that was fine. It was a feeling, at least.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey want you back? Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her friends sat with her. Cirille bowed her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. It\u2019s\u2026a separate offer. You get them, sometimes. Some Wall Lord of Salazsar\u2014Ilvriss? He\u2019s one of their most famous ones, I think. He\u2019s offering me a job. A promotion, even. [General]. Of some private army. Good pay, no fighting in hell\u2026probably some political maneuver. He might want me to fight against Fissival. Or the <em>tribes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She lifted her glass and nearly threw it across the bar. The [Bartender] watched her and the Drake slowly lowered the glass. Her grip tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCushy job. Will you take it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel looked at her. Cirille laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I got it a week ago, I\u2019d have leapt at the offer. But <em>today? Now? <\/em>Ancestors damn it. We shouldn\u2019t be fighting <em>each other!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her raised voice and pounding fist made heads turn. Merish nodded, looking at her. Ser Vorn glanced at the fireplace.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a good time, Cirille. But don\u2019t reply today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSer Vorn\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cListen to me. You are distraught. So am I. Delezza was a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] reached out. Cirille saw he had unshed tears in his eyes. Some of her fury\u2014subsided. She hadn\u2019t known Delezza long. She felt selfish, and sagged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sorry. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others nodded. She didn\u2019t need to go on. Uxel spat venom into his drink, took a gulp.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is why I will leave. I will fight the Demons. But I cannot die here. If I thought we would end the war, I would fight until I end. But not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is why I come back. But that is why I leave. Don\u2019t act rashly, Commander Cirille. Delezza would say\u2014well, something hurtful. Just wait.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ser Vorn saw the Drake nod. Or jerk her head at least. After a while, Cirille stood up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t\u2026I\u2019m going for a walk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She stood up. The others watched her leave. After a moment, Merish followed her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She didn\u2019t know what drove her there. Some instinct, perhaps. Intuition. Cirille stumbled through the corridors, the drink burning in her veins. And she found the inn.<\/p>\n<p>The Gloomless Troupe was there. No one else. It wasn\u2019t a night for comedy. But this\u2014wasn\u2019t comedy on the stage either.<\/p>\n<p>The room was filled with laughter. The audience, smiles wide on their faces, laughed and giggled. <em>Insanity. <\/em>Cirille paused at the doorway, her scales prickling.<\/p>\n<p>A [Clown] stood on stage. No\u2014<em>two [Clowns].<\/em> Both identical. They wore patched, blood-stained costumes. And they held huge\u2026sticks?<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Ha! HAHAHA! That hurt!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One Tom smacked the other on the head. The second Tom fell over, comically prat-falling. The audience howled with laughter. He got back up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou bastard! Take this!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pulled out a knife and stabbed the second Tom in the stomach. Hilarity. But the blood was real. The second Tom blinked. Then he kicked the other Tom between the legs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre they real\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille watched the slapstick routine. Only\u2014the blood and wounds the two Toms caused were <em>real.<\/em> She saw one smash a potion bottle into the other\u2019s face. He ground the glass shards into the second\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Why are you healing yourself? Why are you healing yourself?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two [Clowns]. It was\u2026a Skill. The [Clown]\u2019s new, deadly Skill. Used in a performance. Two Toms, alike in their insanity.<\/p>\n<p><em>Laughing like madmen.<\/em> They laughed, and laughed, as they wounded each other. One hit the other so hard with the stick the other fell down. And then the first Tom was on top of him. He began swinging.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Tell Delezza I said \u2018hi\u2019!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He bashed the other one in the head. The other Tom tried to get up. But the bloody stick swung down again. And again.<\/p>\n<p>The other Tom started twitching. The audience laughed. But Cirille didn\u2019t know if that was the real Tom or\u2026she stared transfixed. The other Tom kept swinging even when his clone stopped moving. Again and again, painting the stage with red. He laughed louder as he took a bow for the audience.<\/p>\n<p>It should have offended her. Appalled her. It certainly did, to part of her. But as the Drake stumbled away, leaving the madness to fester, she thought the laughter was just his way of crying. Of expressing his grief.<\/p>\n<p>She hoped that was the case.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The day after, the [Clown] was alive. So he hadn\u2019t killed himself. Perhaps it had been an act. Or just chance that one Tom died. It was a microcosm, really.<\/p>\n<p>5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall did not stop for Huntress Delezza. Oh, Bastion-General Zavarial said a few words as she was put into a casket for honored burial at Terandria\u2014and it was an honor compared to cremating the dead. Noelictus had a practice of entombing the bodies of their fallen.<\/p>\n<p>But the wall did not stop for the [Demon Hunter]. Only one section truly mourned. And 4<sup>th<\/sup> Wall? 1<sup>st<\/sup>? The capital? If it was mentioned at all, say to the Blighted King, it was just marked as \u2018<em>a high-level foreign asset dying. New poison; worrisome.<\/em>\u2019<\/p>\n<p>It made her so tired. Cirille patrolled the next day, marching with Viri and other [Scouts] hunting for Demons. She didn\u2019t get to kill anyone. She wanted to.<\/p>\n<p>But that was how war worked. It was never battle when you wanted it. It was boredom. And then suddenly\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m leaving. I\u2019m going to take the offer. Salazsar isn\u2019t my first choice. But I\u2019d have to wait for another decade to hit [General], I bet. And it\u2019s a <em>promotion.<\/em> A guaranteed class.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commander Cirille gathered her officers and friends. Ser Vorn smiled; Captain Shellc looked at Ossky. Uxel bared his teeth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood! I was going to hit you if you declined.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo you\u2019re going to leave? Now? Is that how it works? Can they replace you so easily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merish blinked at Cirille. She nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not war. The Walled Cities or Rhir can replace me whenever they want. That means I have to appoint a successor or one gets sent. I\u2014I\u2019m not sure how fast this Wall Lord wants me. But I intend to accept.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho will replace you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chief Warrior glanced at Shellc and Ossky, who were Cirille\u2019s two most trusted subordinates. Cirille nodded at Shellc.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaptain Shellc is the logical replacement. I\u2019d recommend him for [Commander], and I\u2019m sure Rhir and the Walled Cities would authorize him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommander!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake blushed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll very good. If you leave soon, we\u2019ll have cause to celebrate. Perhaps\u2014no. We\u2019ll have to make it special. Back in Terandria, my kingdom is preparing to go to war. We might not see each other again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ser Vorn\u2019s graying smile made the Drake look at him. She nodded slowly as the others realized\u2014that was right. When they left Rhir, they wouldn\u2019t see each other. So Cirille took a breath.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s\u2014well. I know you\u2019re all here for another year. At least. Most of us head home by next winter. But you can always be recalled.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAilendamus might insist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] murmured. Uxel nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy company could send reinforcements. But I will stay. Someone needs to fight. I imagine Merish\u2019s tribe is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cActually\u2026we\u2019re going to leave soon too. Some of the officers. The kingdom has allowed it. They must return for the Meeting of Tribes. Perhaps our groups may travel together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll growled. The [Commander] nodded. She looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA Gorgon, a [Knight], a Gnoll from the tribes, and a Drake [Commander].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt sounds funny when you say it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her friends looked at her. Cirille nodded. She had\u2026an idea. It had come to her as she\u2019d thought about going home, and what her class meant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a suggestion. When I leave\u2026I\u2019m going to be a [Combined-Arms Commander] leading a mostly-Drake army. Even if I can recruit Gnolls, it won\u2019t be the same. But my specialty, what I\u2019ve learned since coming here, is the power of multiple species working together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She met their eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was thinking. Well, I asked for a copy of the offer. And it\u2019s a <em>lot<\/em> of gold. Huge salary increase. [General] class. This Wall Lord says he wants a real commander with experience in battle. Honestly, I think he might be overvaluing my experience. I haven\u2019t seen <em>that<\/em> much fighting. But if he\u2019s willing to pay for me\u2014I was thinking he might pay for more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others looked at her. Ossky\u2019s teeth shone as she bared her lips for a second.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSalazsar\u2019s rich. Not sure you know how much, Uxel. But their export is literally <em>gemstones<\/em> and precious ore. They could\u2026hire mercenaries. Well, they do all the time. Liscor\u2019s army, they buy other cities to fight for them. I don\u2019t know how much a Balerosian company charges. But if a Wall Lord made your company an offer\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gorgon looked at Cirille sharply. Merish\u2019s head turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want to bring <em>Lizardfolk<\/em> to Izril?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Walled Cities aren\u2019t used to Gorgons. Drakes, Humans, Gnolls\u2014I want to see a Medusa fighting Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake\u2019s heart was beating faster. She looked around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Gnoll tribes have peerless archers. The Plain\u2019s Eye tribe has [Shamans], which the Walled Cities essentially lack. If I made a request conditional on my accepting the offer\u2014would you be interested in another sort of campaign?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The others looked at her. Ser Vorn was purely astonished. He closed his mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014Ailendamus would never send me. However. Other [Knights] from my Order might be interested if I talked to them. The Order of the Thirsting Veil isn\u2019t a stranger to crusades abroad. And we don\u2019t induct non-Humans. But I don\u2019t know <em>why. <\/em>Perhaps it\u2019s an old issue. Or just that an opportunity hasn\u2019t arisen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour order uses poison, Ser Vorn. Gorgons are a natural counterpart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The [Knight] eyed Uxel. The Gorgon grinned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t give us horses. We\u2019ll just eat them. But are you sure, Cirille?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbsolutely. If I\u2019m going home, I want anything I\u2019m part of to be\u2026new. It might be political, but I don\u2019t have to serve Salazsar forever. And when I\u2019m done, I keep my class. So I\u2019m a [General]. And if I prove the efficacy of a mixed-species army\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cirille looked around. Someday, she might come back. But Rhir was an eternal war. And if she wanted to change things\u2014well, you started at home. And when they called, you brought a proper army back. She looked at Merish, Uxel, Ser Vorn, Ossky, Shellc\u2014each one looked thoughtful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to decide right away. I\u2019m going to lay it on this Wall Lord and see if he jumps at any of it. But I\u2019ll make the same offer to you and\u2014Paxhal, Springwaters, anyone who\u2019s interested. I doubt many more will be. But there it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Gnoll was the first person to respond. Chief Warrior Merish smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll think about it. Certainly, we\u2019re going the same way. My tribe will be interested.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI as well. I\u2019ve always wanted to see these dreadful Antinium. And see what they taste like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uxel grinned. Ser Vorn saluted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy Order will hear your request, Cirille. And if war threatens\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They stood there for a while. War back home. Old grudges between species. Night fell on 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall, and for a moment Cirille stood there. With a company of people who looked nothing like her. Comrades in arms, nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>Home felt so far away. The Drake took a breath.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s just one last thing to do then. I\u2019ll let you know what the Wall Lord says.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then she went to send a [Message]. And after that\u2026Commander Cirille went to speak to Mage-Captain Hetarria. After all\u2014a [Necromancer] was a hated enemy. Just like Lizardfolk. Or Gnolls. She\u2019d been thinking about that too.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That night, in Salazsar. Wall Lord Ilvriss was waiting on a reply. Not waiting as in \u2018waiting for it right that second\u2019, but anticipating one, even if it was a rejection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWall Lord. [Message] from Rhir. Commander Cirille.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The little reply came back for him. The Wall Lord accepted the scroll, which had come via Salazsar\u2019s [Strategist] on duty rather than the Mage\u2019s Guild. Security for the Blighted Kingdom and all that. He unfurled the [Message], which had auto-copied onto magical scrolls rather than risk transcription.<\/p>\n<p>What had she said? He did not know this Commander Cirille outside of her record and reports on her. She had been in Rhir three years. Mostly on guard-duty around the capital, which didn\u2019t make her as ideal as he wanted. But she was still solid, with a different perspective. He was taking a risk on her talent.<\/p>\n<p>The Wall Lord read the [Message]. He blinked at it. Then he frowned. He stared at the words, trying to make them make sense in his mind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs this a joke?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It had to be. But why\u2026? The Wall Lord, completely flummoxed, stared down at the words on the enchanted parchment. It read:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2018Salaszar is naught but cowards and thieves. Bring back the Harpies, who used to rule. The Antinium will bring down your walls like cheese. You know nothing, Wall Lord of fools.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ilvriss stared at the [Message] scroll. He turned to the Drake who\u2019d delivered the scroll.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh\u2014please have the Night-Strategist send a confirmation [Message]. I don\u2019t believe this is what was supposed to be sent. It\u2019s almost certainly not from Commander Cirille. I think someone\u2019s playing a joke on me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Drake bowed and hurried off, embarrassed. Ilvriss sat down, rubbing his head. Who\u2026rhymed \u2018thieves\u2019 and \u2018cheese\u2019?<\/p>\n<p>That was just stupid.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rhir. Hell. Day by day, you could say not a lot happened.<\/p>\n<p>People died. People lived. The war continued. The blight was contained by both sides. Demons, the Blighted Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>But the war was a stalemate. 5<sup>th<\/sup> Wall was being built. But the Blighted Kingdom was not threatening the Demons. It was a war to be won by attrition, time.<\/p>\n<p>On <em>other<\/em> parts of the world, people did very exciting things. Tried to cure the Yellow Rivers disease. Conquered other nations. Wrote newspapers, etc.<\/p>\n<p>The world changed quickly some years. Some months or days, even. When you left Rhir, with fresh ideas, with friends forged, and visions of the true dangers, the heights of power, the potential for change existed. But hell itself didn\u2019t change.<\/p>\n<p>Until it did.<\/p>\n<p>The single shot rang out loud, despite the improvised headphones she\u2019d put on. Loud\u2014a louder sound than almost anything in the world.<\/p>\n<p>That was one bullet. The revolver she held carried .357 Magnum rounds. Five of them, to be exact. It was a compact model, meant to be a concealed carry as opposed to a larger gun. Sacrificing firepower for size. But she hadn\u2019t been meaning to go to <em>war.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When her father had given it to her as a birthday present, he had meant it for self-defense. If he\u2019d ever <em>dreamed<\/em> she would be in a situation like this, he probably would have bought her a much more powerful gun.<\/p>\n<p>As it was, the revolver clicked as she swung out the cylinder to show the spent cartridge to her audience. They had a hard time seeing, but she explained.<\/p>\n<p>To someone who understood guns, the evolution in firearms technology had changed massively, such that even small things could&#8230;revolutionize combat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a fast-loader.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The girl with the gun informed the closest watcher. She showed him the bullets ready to be inserted into the cylinder. She could reload in a heartbeat. Again\u2014in antiquity, earliest firearms had been reloaded manually, with powder and bullets stuffed down the muzzle of the rifle. Giant, ungainly weapons with the accuracy of a toaster.<\/p>\n<p>Now, a young woman from Texas could walk around with a weapon that could kill someone who thought she was easy prey. Very efficiently, incidentally. Even a small firearm from her era had surpassed the crossbow in reloading, accuracy, range, firepower\u2014and it was all in one hand.<\/p>\n<p>Her audience watched. Listening to the explanation. It was not the first time the girl had made it. And she had gotten far, <em>far<\/em> more questions from every other person who\u2019d ever seen the deadly weapon.<\/p>\n<p>But the ones who listened now\u2026mattered. Well, not in the same way as the others. But she respected them. They awed her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026and that\u2019s a <em>revolver.<\/em> There are bigger guns. Ships. Airplanes that fly faster than anything in the world. We\u2019ve made all kinds of weapons and this is one of the smallest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She held the weapon up, unloaded of course\u2014and the <em>sky<\/em> leaned down to stare at her. Well, not the sky.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is small. But weapons your folk make always are. If they are larger, they are larger. Why does it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the last Giants spoke. At last, ponderously. He had taken minutes to reply. It was not that he was slow. It was just that their sense of time differed.<\/p>\n<p>The girl looked <em>up. <\/em>Flora gestured to the gun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt matters because it will change everything. Your world has <em>steel<\/em>. I mean, swords and spells. This weapon is different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHm. I see, I see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Giant didn\u2019t move. He just sat there. That one movement had been more than she\u2019d seen him make in all their other conversations. His eyes and mouth were the only things that moved.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see it not. It is a small thing. The noise it made was loud. For a small weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another voice complained. Female. The other Giants murmured agreement. Flora had to jog around to show it to them. She was panting when she circled back to him.<\/p>\n<p>He was oldest. Tallest. His name was so long that she had given up pronouncing it. It didn\u2019t have the same kind of consonants and vowels\u2014or if they did, it was like the earth speaking. She had taken the first part of the name and called him Callidaz.<\/p>\n<p>The Last of Giants spoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo this weapon is unique.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn this world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She hadn\u2019t met anyone else with a gun. And she had been assured by people who knew all about war that it was novel. Not all-consuming. If there was just one.<\/p>\n<p>But she was a [Gunslinger]. A class\u2014the first of its kind. She didn\u2019t <em>feel<\/em> like a daring hero of an action flick, though. She had seen the heights of magic and Skills and they had impressed on her: she could die. Even with a weapon from earth. Hell\u2014even with an RPG.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps that was why she was here. To remind herself. She had, instinctively, pointed the gun down; shooting into the air <em>killed people<\/em> since the bullets still had to land. But even if she\u2019d shot at the Giant\u2019s face, she doubted Callidaz would have even blinked. Even if she hit him in the eye.<\/p>\n<p>The last Giants sat in Rhir. Listening.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo the gun is not the most dangerous weapon. And yet your\u2026world\u2026has many guns.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd these guns are deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. And we have weapons that can destroy cities. Even you, Callidaz. In a single moment. With a single weapon. Before you could even blink.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t a threat, although some might have taken it that way. The Giant\u2026did not. He just nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see. Your world has weapons that can destroy cities. Can destroy mountains. Can destroy me. They have weapons that will win wars from afar, with superior distance. Despite armor and spell, they will kill. You have a world of such weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She gaped up at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Giant looked down at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour people have made a weapon that is better at killing than the last weapon. Well done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The uncomprehending sincerity of it made her blush. It was not a statement with any sarcasm or irony. That was what hurt. He did not know why it was an achievement, but he also believed her when she said the revolver was special.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAren\u2019t you\u2026angry? Doesn\u2019t it worry you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The question came out of her, almost shyly. The others worried. Mighty as they were, they pressed her, making plans if Earth ever came to their world. They wondered about war. But the Giant had understood the gravity of the gun. And he\u2026cared and did not care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHmm. An odd question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The voice came from another Giant. She looked down at Flora. She did not move. Giants\u2014true Giants, not their children\u2014could sit there forever. Or at least, since they had first come here.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the female Giant looked at Flora, puzzled. She looked at the others before addressing the little Human.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has ever puzzled me why the little people care about how they can kill us. How well they can do it matters, doesn\u2019t it? To you, it matters. To us, it does not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2026didn\u2019t make sense. Flora stared up at the female Giant\u2019s features. So like a Human\u2019s and yet\u2014she was the mountains itself. That was how she seemed to have been born.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t worry you? The danger?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flora wanted them to be worried. She wanted them to\u2026say something. Everyone listened to the Giants. Consulted with them. But the Giants seldom demanded or suggested anything. They just waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh. I see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A chuckle made the ground vibrate. Callidaz was <em>laughing.<\/em> No\u2014just a chuckle of amusement. He smiled, and it was a gentle thing. He looked at Flora, amused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou worry, Flora of Humans, that we will fear your weapons. That we should, for you will kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. Never me, Callidaz. But we could.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another rumble. They all chuckled. Callidaz shook his head and earth and stones fell. Flora backed up; she had borrowed a speaking stone to speak to them anyways. They would not hear her even if she shouted normally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut you have always been able to kill us. We know that. Even when we walked in numbers far greater than now. With magic. With metal. With will. We have always died to you. So you kill us better now. We cannot fear that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They looked past her. The last of Giants. The last in this world. No one talked about reviving their kind. They had laughed when she asked if they ever thought about it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026Then. Is it right? The side I\u2019m on? Do you ever wonder if you\u2019re doing good? Or evil?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She was afraid. Afraid to shoot the gun. In self-defense? Oh yes. But they wanted it for war. The kind of war she had seen only the edges of. Wounded coming back. She had shot an Adult Creler with it and watched the bullets ricochet off the armor.<\/p>\n<p><em>Am I on the right side?<\/em> Her\u2026the people who had found her were so like her, but unlike her in appearance at the same time. And they were called\u2026Demons.<\/p>\n<p>This was hell. But perhaps those were only words? Flora had judged them, as they judged her. She had reservations. So had they. She did not think they were evil, or the Demons you heard about mentioned with wrath and hellfire.<\/p>\n<p><em>Yet they had wrath. And some could conjure hellfire.<\/em> And they were called\u2026Demons. All these things were also true.<\/p>\n<p>The Giants thought about this. Callidaz was the one who shook his head again. And once more\u2014he sounded mystified. Her concern he tried to understand. That <em>she<\/em> mattered to him was even humbling. But he had to <em>try<\/em> to understand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou say that. You small people. You come, now and then. Asking if this is right. If this is good. If this is evil. And you worry that they call us <em>Demons.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. It\u2014means something from home. My world. Something evil.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen do not call us that. We are Giants. They call us Demons. Demon Giants. But those are words. Demon is a word. Giant is a word. They are convenient words. But like good and evil\u2014just words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another voice. Another Giant spoke. He stared straight ahead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood and evil. They sound like words Dragons made up. They are tricky, Dragons. Tricksome. They think things should <em>be <\/em>so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDragons. So tricksome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings must be to them. Like [Mages]. Always words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The other Giants murmured. Flora looked at them, desperately.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know the Demons <em>did not start this war.<\/em> But\u2014but is it right, Callidaz? Maybe good and evil are just words. But is it right? Did the Elves die because of the Blighted Kingdom? Who killed them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Callidaz calmly shrugged. More earth fell. He went on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not remember. I am young. By some ways of counting. Elves were before me. I know my people have died. Humans have killed them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Drakes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDragons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLizardfolk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJinn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDjinn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGnolls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They whispered the words, of every race, living and gone. Callidaz looked at Flora after the echoes stopped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll things kill us. We kill all things. Some of us made great war. Some of us fought for peace or other things. If you ask if Giants are on one\u2026side\u2026we are not. Here we sit. We fight alongside those you call Demons. That is all I know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was beyond her comprehension, how they lived. They should rage. <em>Rage<\/em>, against the kingdoms who had slaughtered them, breaking ancient pacts. She had listened to Silvenia\u2019s lessons, read the books only Demons wrote or kept.<\/p>\n<p>She had hated the Kingdoms of Terandria, who had made war with the giants who built their palaces. The people of Chandrar, who had ended an entire people of Jinn and taken captive the Djinni.<\/p>\n<p>And yet\u2026no one was blameless. So the Giants were right. Here they were. She had to make a choice. The [King] had offered her a choice. Silvenia had offered her many choices.<\/p>\n<p>Flora closed her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wish it didn\u2019t have to be like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh, wishes. But even Djinn cannot grant ours. I made a wish of one once. And she wept.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Giant\u2019s voice was kindly. Flora nearly wept herself. She shouted up at him and her voice bounced upwards, echoing, echoing\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAren\u2019t you afraid? Of<em> anything?<\/em> Don\u2019t you feel sad? Your children die. <em>Your people die!<\/em> Aren\u2019t you <em>angry?<\/em> Don\u2019t you fear dying?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Giants stirred. They looked down at her. And then Callidaz\u2019s body shook. The female Giant to his left shook.<\/p>\n<p><em>The world trembled. <\/em>Flora fell to her knees. First she feared it was their wrath. Then she realized.<\/p>\n<p><em>They were laughing.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>They laughed and the mountains shook with their laughter. In the distance\u2014the Blighted Kingdom wondered what moved the earth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we feared death, we would not be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Callidaz told her once the rumbles ceased. He shook his head a final time and sat back. Greenery moved around him. Earth. He sat there, still as stone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnger. Hatred. Sadness. Fear. Of course we feel such things. Smallfolk wonder. But we are alike, you and I.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Giant\u2019s lips moved.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. We wonder. Yes. We question. Yes. We grieve. Our little half-children die. Of course we mourn. But we also listen. They say our children wage war well. They say we are better used here than elsewhere. So we wait.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if you have to fight? And you all might\u2026die?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe took a side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another Giant\u2019s voice. Flora waited. But that was all.<\/p>\n<p><em>They took a side. <\/em>Slow to rage. Almost ponderous to decide, to act. But mighty. The last of the tall. When the Giants made war\u2014even Dragons feared their wrath.<\/p>\n<p>Callidaz finished their conversation. He looked down at Flora, as she held the gun. He could have snuffed her out like a candle. Without even trying. By accident. Perhaps that was why he sat so still.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlora of Humans. You ask if this is right. I do not know. You must choose. We are only Giants. We do not know wisdom. We trust our friends. We listen. We decide. That is how we live. Nothing more. We chose a side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The giants nodded. The mountains rumbled. Callidaz looked down at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeday it may not be our side. That is how these things go. But we saw. We decided. Now\u2014we wait. In time, we will fight and die or live. We wait.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sun set at their backs. The darkness filled the skies. And the Giants smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlora of Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Callidaz?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou worry so over what you bring. Weapons. New things. But that is what your kind <em>always<\/em> does. You make new weapons. Well done. You change. Well done. Keep changing. It is what Humans are good at. That is why we fade. So take pride.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He sat back and sighed. The Giant whispered, as the others sat back with him. Slowing. Waiting. Callidaz said one last thing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTake heart, Flora of Humanity. Of Earth. When you came here, you brought a weapon that <em>could<\/em> change the world. But when you came, you already changed the world. By saving a life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2026didn\u2019t do much. It was luck, me being able to help\u2026it wasn\u2019t much\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The earth rumbled. Callidaz stared ahead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. You did. Rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He closed his eyes. And Flora turned and began to walk away. For better or worse. It was a funny thing. She did not feel better, but she knew he was right. It had already happened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>You changed the world.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Author\u2019s Note: <\/strong>I think that\u2019s a good way to end it. There are a lot of words I could write that give away everything. Or nothing. It\u2019s not something I\u2019m going to write now, though.<\/p>\n<p>A shorter chapter! I had a very rough time with\u2026life\u2026interrupting me. But despite it being short, I think that you might uh, find it consequential.<\/p>\n<p>Hope you enjoy. Volume 2\u2019s Audiobook is out today, along with the 10-page preview of the comic! If you\u2019re so inclined, check it out and leave a review! I\u2019ve attached the .mp4 trailer to the top of the page and I hope it does well.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m most grateful for your continued enthusiasm. As always, I\u2019ll leave you with some beautiful art! This time, amazing pixel-art by Zelanter! And Hamriepuff drawing a lesson between Cognita and Pisces with absolutely <em>no consequences whatsoever.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Awesome Pixel Animations by Zelanter!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/wanderinginn.com\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/15\\\/7-35-c\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:233997562}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 237px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"237\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 173px; height: 237px;\" data-original-width=\"173\" data-original-height=\"237\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/toren-by-zelanter\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"169\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"233\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"8588\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/toren-by-zelanter.gif\" data-orig-size=\"106,146\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Toren by Zelanter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/toren-by-zelanter.gif\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/toren-by-zelanter.gif\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/toren-by-zelanter.gif?w=169&#038;h=233&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"169\" height=\"233\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"169\" data-original-height=\"233\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Toren by Zelanter\" alt=\"Toren by Zelanter\" style=\"width: 169px; height: 233px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 327px; height: 237px;\" data-original-width=\"327\" data-original-height=\"237\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/erinskinner-by-zelanter\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"323\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"233\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"8589\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1865,1343\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1594553650&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ErinSkinner by Zelanter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-300x216.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-1024x737.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter.jpg?w=323&#038;h=233&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter.jpg 1865w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-1024x737.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-768x553.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/erinskinner-by-zelanter-1536x1106.jpg 1536w\" width=\"323\" height=\"233\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"323\" data-original-height=\"233\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"ErinSkinner by Zelanter\" alt=\"ErinSkinner by Zelanter\" style=\"width: 323px; height: 233px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 433px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"433\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 198px; height: 433px;\" data-original-width=\"198\" data-original-height=\"433\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/belavierr-by-zelanter\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"194\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"429\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"8590\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/belavierr-by-zelanter.gif\" data-orig-size=\"68,150\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Belavierr by Zelanter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/belavierr-by-zelanter.gif\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/belavierr-by-zelanter.gif\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/belavierr-by-zelanter.gif?w=194&#038;h=429&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"194\" height=\"429\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"194\" data-original-height=\"429\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Belavierr by Zelanter\" alt=\"Belavierr by Zelanter\" style=\"width: 194px; height: 429px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 302px; height: 433px;\" data-original-width=\"302\" data-original-height=\"433\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/ten-by-zelanter\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"298\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"203\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"8591\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter.png\" data-orig-size=\"1478,1009\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ten by Zelanter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter-300x205.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter-1024x699.png\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter.png?w=298&#038;h=203&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter.png 1478w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter-1024x699.png 1024w, https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ten-by-zelanter-768x524.png 768w\" width=\"298\" height=\"203\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"298\" data-original-height=\"203\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Ten by Zelanter\" alt=\"Ten by Zelanter\" style=\"width: 298px; height: 203px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/azkerash-by-zelanters\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"298\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"222\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"8592\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/azkerash-by-zelanters.gif\" data-orig-size=\"345,257\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Azkerash by Zelanters\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/azkerash-by-zelanters-300x223.gif\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/azkerash-by-zelanters.gif\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/azkerash-by-zelanters.gif?w=298&#038;h=222&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"298\" height=\"222\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"298\" data-original-height=\"222\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Azkerash by Zelanters\" alt=\"Azkerash by Zelanters\" style=\"width: 298px; height: 222px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pisces&#8217; Cognita Lessons by Hamriepuff!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8593\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/lessons-by-hamriepuff\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/lessons-by-hamriepuff-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1624,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lessons by Hamriepuff\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/lessons-by-hamriepuff-190x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/lessons-by-hamriepuff-649x1024.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8593\" src=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/lessons-by-hamriepuff.jpg\" alt=\"Lessons by Hamriepuff\" width=\"1925\" height=\"3035\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/12\/7-34-c\/\">Previous Chapter<\/a> <span style=\"float:right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/19\/7-36-c\">Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Volume 2 is now out on Audible along with a 10-page preview of The Last Tide included! Check it out, and this trailer!) &nbsp; &nbsp; Lord Hayvon, 5th most powerful [Lord] in the world\u2026allegedly\u2026rode for the walls of Rhir. For the border. He only stopped when the speaking stone lit up. \u201cLord Hayvon. By order [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693087,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693136],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-8583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-7","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>7.35 C - The Wandering Inn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/07\/15\/7-35-c\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7.35 C\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Volume 2 is now out on Audible along with a 10-page preview of The Last Tide included! 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