Saint Gerald Castle
Prewell's Study
Two weeks had passed since Prewell received a missive from the Empire. The chaos in the Order still rages as more and more troubling matters began to appear.
One of those troubles came from the letter that Prewell is holding.
His face was solemn as a letter from Zalbaag arrived in Saint Gerald Castle.
After passing by the village of Lotra, Delita and his entourage were ambushed. The third son of House Zalbaag is missing while his entourage was routed.
Barbaneth, the eldest son of House Zalbaag, took control of Lotr Castle as his third brother was away from the Barony.
Beginning with the killing of his two step-brothers loyalist, and followed by a purge of all their supporters. This includes the members of House Dupont, the maternal side of Delita and his elder brother Larg. A noble household from the central region of the order.
As the battle raged within Lotr Castle. Larg, the second son of Orlando, was able to escape through a hidden path in the Castle. From there his traced vanished, only to reappear North in the mining village of Gascon. With him an army of 1,000 men, composed of the remaining loyalist of house Dupont, Mercenaries from Delberg, and the private soldiers of his wealthy friend.
After reappearing in Gascon, he began sending letters to the various wealthy and powerful people in Zalbaag. Rallying their support as he issued a forced conscription of the residents of Gascon. The garrison of Gascon together with the conscripted militia bolstered Larg's army to 1,500 men. Gathering supplies and armaments in Gascon as his army's momentum is rising.
Barbaneth's army, on the other hand, numbered around 1,100, composed of his loyalist, mercenaries from various parts of the Order, and the surrendered guards and followers of Delita.
The bronze knight Alex, who once vouched for Delita remained neutral. Staying by baron Orlando's side, refusing to take part in the squable of the two.
Just like this, two armies are now facing off in Zalbaag.
It is clear that a full-blown succession war has begun.
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Prewell's brows scrunched, perturbed by the news in the letter. A month has passed since Delita's visit, in the short time since then. A lot has happened.
First, a week after Delita left Zalsac, Prewell received a missive from his cousin Olivia. Basically inviting him to ditch the Order and join her in the Empire.
Prewell is still rather hesitant on how to respond to his cousin's invitation. Without the counsel of all his think tanks, he placed the matter on hold for the moment.
Second, the goblins number in Zalsac increased exponentially. Though luckily, they seemed to be heading towards the Andal Mountains to the North.
Still occasional attack on the vicinity of the settlements happens from time to time.
Third, Wiegraf has returned from his trip to the Merchant City of Delberg. Upon his return, he brought with him a mix of 500 mercenaries and adventurers.
Spending quite a fortune to hire said people and bring them back to Waldr. Along with the manpower, he brought along. The prices of wheat, barley, and other necessities rose.
Using every coin he had at his disposal, he purchased as much supply as possible before returning to Waldr.
Fourth, except for Hatr. All the settlements had sent word that the volunteers are ready. All that's needed is for Lancel to return and command the men to deal with the goblin incursion.
Fifth, what cousin Olivia said was true. The dominion of the Order is in chaos. Skirmishes between the Order and the Nobility are taking place in various parts of the nation.
Prewell, placed the letter aside. Tapping the table with his finger, he began to recall his previous discussion with Wiegraf, regarding the army's mobilization.
Grabbing a quill pen and he began jotting off the distribution of the available manpower across his barony.
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Waldr - 500 volunteer militia, 500 men mix of adventurers and mercenaries, 74 Black Halberds and 200 garrison reserves.
Reztel - 150 volunteers and 50 garrison reserves.
Lawnberg - 100 volunteers and 20 garrison reserves
Saint Gerald Castle - 200 standard Zalsac Man at arms, 163 Black Halberds, and 100 castle guards
A total of 750 volunteer militia, 500 mix of adventurers and mercenaries, 270 men from the garrisons reserve, 300 professional soldiers and 237 Black Halberds.
A total of 2,057 men to deal with the goblins lurking in Zalsac with the addition of a Bronze Knight and if necessary a Silver Knight.
The total number of locals to be mobilized is exactly 1,320, around 15 to 16 percent of the total population of Zalsac.
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'15 to 16 percent of the total population going to war. A single defeat, even if not a total defeat, will result in casualties which Zalsac will not be able to recover from for generations. It will also result in Zalsac being unable to mobilize a force to defend its land when the future invasion of the Lyzanese Empire came.'
A tapping of hard wood echoed, frustration rising at the current situation. Racking his brain for anything that he may have missed, anything that can help him with his current predicament.
Waving his arms in front of him. The usual thin film of the System Panel appeared before him.
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Name: Prewell Ih Leviathan
Number of Manifested Lifeform:
Tier 1= 237 Black Halberds
Tier 2= 3 (Wiegraf Felberg "The Captain", Lucius Marius "The Scout", Lancel Od "The Knight")
Points: 0 -> 65 (Gained through ********, received every month)
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'65 points can summon 65 Black Halberds, although such a small number of men is not enough to affect the overall situation of the battlefield. Having a group like the Black Halberds standing in front of the militia will help keep the morale of the men high.' Waving his hands once again, the system panel vanished. Leaning back and looking up in a daze.
The number of goblins is beyond his initial estimates. At first, he thought that it was only a small band of goblins which wandered out of the Great Forest of Pluma. At most in the hundreds, not in the thousands of goblins, this time he truly felt that he was ignorant of the working of the world.
The entirety of his previous life did not prepare him for such a dilemma. As if a cold bucket of water was poured over his head. His delusion of a peace and silence was broken by the sudden events which happened lately.
'Arrogant, I have become arrogant… before the ambushed in the crossroads, I had never taken an active role in increasing the number of soldiers in Zalsac. At most, summoning Black Halberds occasionally, but never truly using the resources of the Barony to increase its military strength.
Perhaps if I took an active role in increasing the population of Zalsac, like purchasing slaves and bringing in refugees, like my father did. Zalsac will not have such a deficit of soldiers, and it will not be forced to deploy a large portion of its total population to quell such an unrest.
This goblin incursion only involves the creatures of the Great Forest of Pluma. If I were to face another noble lineage or a detachment of the Empire, Zalsac will fall. Thousands will die by my arrogance'
Soft hands touch the side of his temple pressing a soft and dainty finger moving in a circular motion.
Madeline's soft and gentle voice sounded behind him. "Take a deep breath and relax."
Letting himself go as Madeline massages his temple.
Opening his raised head as a face with symmetrical features, soft, defined jawline, red lip, brilliant blue eyes, and a tender smile came into his sight.
Raising his hand he gently touches the dainty hands that are massaging his temple. Clenching said hands as he was in a daze, unknown emotions buried in his crimson eyes.
"The situation in Zalsac is getting worse by the moment. I messed up, didn't I?"
"You're doing fine. No one expected such a huge number of goblins to come out of the forest. Even Saint Gerald did not face such a predicament when he was still in power and compared to the rest of the Lords and Ladies of nobility, you're already an exceptional one. Thinking about your people, caring for them, and now stressing over how to protect them." Eyes locked with him, letting him do as he pleases with her hand. Madeline comforted him with words, assuring him that he was doing great. Most lords and ladies would have sealed themselves in their castles and left their people to their fate.
"If you'd like, we do not have to fight the goblins, we can begin evacuating the villagers, bringing them to either Waldr or Saint Gerald Castle. As for the havoc brought upon by the goblins in Zalsac. We can rebuild what has been destroyed. So don't tire yourself." Closing his eyes once more as he pulled the hand he was holding. His lips touched the back of the soft hands, then, after a moment, finally letting it go.
"Thank you, Madeline." His face softened as words of whisper came out of him mouth. Words uttered in a low voice that only the two of them hear.
Humming in agreement as Madeline placed her hand on his temple once more.
This time the room fell in silence. As Madeline's soft hands once more massages the temple of his head. As he forgets all of his troubles, he completely lets go and relaxes himself.