Valkyrie's Shadow-Chapter 11Before the Storm: Act ,

Chapter 11

Where to begin…

Ludmila surveyed the disposition of the Sorcerous Kingdom’s forces, trying to make sense out of why what should have been resolved with a minor battle had become a campaign that embroiled the northern third of Re-Estize in unbridled warfare. Try as she might, however, she could not make any sense out of the war plan…unless it was intended to be senseless in the first place. Eventually, she gave up and decided to hear what was happening with the various territories, pointing to the southeastern portion of the Kingdom bordering the Duchy of E-Rantel.

“The Royal Army does not appear to have any forces stationed on the western border of E-Rantel aside from the regular security patrols,” she said. “Is there nothing planned for this area of Re-Estize at any point during the war?”

“We have not yet reached that point in our strategic planning,” the Goblin Strategist said. “Our involvement there will only be necessary during the closing phases of the campaign.”

“I see. In that case, what about these markers in the Raevenmarch? Which ministry do they belong to?”

“Those represent the territorial army of Marquis Raeven. He will not be participating in the war, but we are still mindful of potential duplicity on his part.”

She knew that the Marquis had been colluding: perhaps ‘colluding’ was too strong a term: with the Sorcerous Kingdom for some time now, so the fact that he wouldn’t join the war on the side of Re-Estize didn’t come as a surprise. What did surprise her was that there didn’t seem to be any plan to use his territory as a staging point to strike deep into the Kingdom at the war’s outset.

Not that it matters, I suppose. Our forces can move faster than any courier dispatched by Re-Estize bearing word of an invasion.

Her gaze shifted further north, where an assortment of markers were concentrated around a town west of Re-Blumrushur.

“What is going on in the Azerlisian Marches?” She asked, “Has the invasion there already begun?”

“No,” the Goblin Strategist said. “A rebellion has been incited by local collaborators at the behest of the Prime Minister. The resulting chaos has paralysed the territory. The sole Royal Army unit you see there is Commander Raul, who has been tasked to covertly coordinate the rebel forces, which primarily consist of tenant farmers.”

It’s a good thing that command training starts with Level One units.

While an element of chaos came with directing Humans, the average civilian was still comparable in combat potential to a low-level summon. Unlike summons, however, Humans had the desires and, more importantly, the needs of the living.

“How are these rebels being sustained?”

“They are currently utilising supplies pooled from their respective farming villages,” the Goblin Strategist said. “Armsmen from one of the collaborator houses are acting as security for their encampments. As for long-term concerns about provision, they currently aspire to attack the town of Laval for its stores.”

“Are they likely to succeed? Taking a town might be easy pickings for a professional army, but it would be a daunting task for a spontaneous uprising of rural tenant Farmers. At best, they would be drilled for the stationary pike formations employed as anti-cavalry barriers by Re-Estize’s levy. Those are not particularly useful for assaulting walls…the town does have walls, yes?”

“It has a somewhat substantial wooden palisade,” the Goblin Strategist replied. “That being said, events that culminated in the present situation have stripped the town of nearly all of House Laval’s forces. Reports from Commander Raul indicate that the town’s internal order is rapidly deteriorating due to the resulting deficits in enforcement. At the current rate, we predict a rebel victory by this evening.”

“House Blumrush will undoubtedly retaliate,” Ludmila said. “Will we be aiding these rebels when that happens?”

“Once the war begins, I doubt these rebels will have anything to worry about from Blumrush’s forces.”

“Now that you mention it, I have no idea when that is.”

“The Prime Minister is currently in Re-Estize to receive the Kingdom’s response,” the Goblin Strategist said. “We will begin operations the moment Her Excellency returns to E-Rantel.”

Ludmila looked up from the table to frown at the assembled officers, whose expressions remained unchanging as they reviewed their war plans. Did no one realise that a certain possibility during that process had been overlooked?

“What if a settlement is successfully negotiated?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“A settlement,” Ludmila repeated herself as confusion stirred the figures assembled at the table. “As in an agreement to waive hostilities by satisfying a conflict through alternative means. In the case of an incident similar to that which this current war revolves around, it would involve the recognition of responsibility, reparations to offset the losses incurred by the offender, and various additional concessions hinging on the objectives of the parties involved.”

The Goblin Strategist looked questioningly around the table. Several members of the assembly shook their heads with unknowing looks. No other answer appeared to be forthcoming.

“I don’t believe we’ve received any instructions regarding what to do should war be taken off the table,” the Goblin Strategist said. “But it should stand to reason that if there is no war, then none of this will happen.”

Ludmila pointed at the besieged town of Laval.

“This rebellion incited by the Prime Minister is already happening,” she said flatly. “What are we to do with that?”

“As our hand in the matter has been hidden,” the Goblin Strategist replied, “we do not necessarily have to do anything.”

“I cannot tell if you are in favour of this war,” Lord Sigurd rumbled, “or against it.”

“It is not a matter of being for or against the war, Lord Sigurd,” Ludmila said. “We are affecting changes upon the world around us. Should we not consider the consequences of our actions?”

“I don’t see what there is to consider,” the Frost Giant Lord said. “The rule of this Human Lord…Blumrush, is it? His seat is being challenged, and so he must defend it against his challengers. If he falls, then that is his fate.”

“Human governments do not function in that manner,” Ludmila said. “At least not the Human governments of this region. Moreover, I am primarily concerned with the population of the Azerlisian Marches. Irrespective of the outcome, a rebellion: and its aftermath: is a messy affair. There will be an unnecessary waste of life if we do not follow through with what we have started.”

“The Royal Army holds no purview over the political,” the Goblin Strategist said. “It is understandable that, as a Noble, this particular matter has drawn your attention, but we must consult with the Royal Court if any moves are to be made about this on our part. More specifically, the Prime Minister would have to be consulted, as this is her initiative in the first place.”

And the Prime Minister is currently away conducting diplomacy in Re-Estize. The moment she returns, it is assumed that we will be at war.

Was she the only person at the table having difficulty accepting the sheer degree of inflexibility being imposed? At a stage where they were supposed to be planning for the future, no less. It was as if everyone else was privy to crucial information that she wasn’t aware of and carried on while keeping her ignorant of it.

“So the reason why our offensive initially focuses on the northern portions of Re-Estize is because the other parts of the border effectively present no threat.”

“No, we are focusing on the north because the majority of Re-Estize’s martial strength lies there. The port of Re-Uroval is home to Re-Estize’s main naval base, while Re-Boulloror is the Kingdom’s principal military centre. They have been ceaselessly drilling new professional forces since the Battle of Katze plains to replace the losses they suffered there.”

“The Kingdom’s south is laughably weak by comparison,” Commander Gunnar said. “By storming the north, Re-Estize will lose the bulk of its strength.”

“What of the reported famine that has befallen those territories?” Ludmila asked.

“It is unfortunate that we cannot meet the enemy at their best,” the Frost Giant Commander said with a regretful sigh, “but war is rarely waged in ideal conditions.”

“I would have preferred that it plunged the area into far greater chaos than it has,” the Goblin Strategist said, “but I believe we should still be able to secure victory without much difficulty.”

“There should be little doubt of our being able to achieve victory,” Ludmila said as she tapped a fingernail on the frozen table. “What I was concerned about is that our forces will be entering territories where public order has greatly deteriorated. There will be millions of desperate people suffering from starvation and banditry, many of whom will be displaced or roaming over the land, scavenging what they can. Organised resistance to our invasion should be rare, with the local lords withdrawing their limited military assets to strategically critical points to weather the worst of the chaos.”

“That is reassuring to hear,” the Goblin Strategist said. “Our progress should be swift if that is the case.”

“But what of the aforementioned civilians?” Ludmila asked.

“They are of no interest to us,” Commander Gunnar answered. “Our warriors seek worthy foes, not slaves or food.”

“Indeed,” the Goblin Strategist said. “And beyond any sense of honour or glory, we shouldn’t waste our time on the inconsequential. Once the Kingdom’s military assets in each respective territory are neutralised, our forces will move on to the next objective. Does this appease your Human sensibilities, Captain Zahradnik?”

“No,” Ludmila shook her head. “You still misunderstand my meaning. The ‘military assets’ you speak of also happen to be the administrative and judicial branches of the local government. Once they are ‘neutralised’, the situation in the territories will go from bad to worse. They will enter a state of complete lawlessness. What is left of the regional logistics will fall apart entirely. The vast majority of the civilian population will perish as a result. Most of those who survive will have done unspeakable things to do so.”

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The scale at which death would occur was staggering. Given how those deaths would occur, enough negative energy might be generated to twist the most populated areas into negative energy zones capable of manifesting the Undead. It was far from the ideal outcome, and permanently denying the productivity that the Sorcerous Kingdom had been planning to eventually integrate into its hegemony went in the exact opposite direction of the Royal Court’s long-term economic objectives.

“This is merely the way of things, is it not?” Commander Gunnar said, “If anything, it only proves how flawed their ‘civilisation’ is. Better to leave such a weak and fragile thing to crumble so superior ways may arise to replace it.”

“If a tribe is found wanting when tested,” Lord Sigurd told her, “then it must perish and make way for the new. It is no different for this ‘kingdom’.”

“If the people of Re-Estize will perish either way, then we should make use of them.”

Heads turned to regard Lord Cocytus’ brain-like insectoid lieutenant.

“Captain Zahradnik is correct,” the insectoid lieutenant bobbed its brown body. “In our fury over the slight suffered by Lord Ainz, it is understandable for our wrath to be so great that not even dust remains of these fools. But has Lord Ainz not also cautioned us against being wasteful? While it may slow our advance somewhat, this is an opportunity to bolster the ranks of Zombies in the Royal Army. Why squander millions of corpses if they can be turned for Lord Ainz’s use?”

Ludmila resisted the urge to boggle at Lord Cocytus’ subordinate. Could they only think of things in extremes? Was this how the Royal Army’s general staff acted when planning for every war?

“In that case,” the Goblin Strategist said, “we can employ the tactics we refined throughout the Draconic Kingdom Campaign. With a few adjustments, they should work just as well on these Humans as they did on those Beastmen.”

“Agreed,” the brain insectoid lieutenant said.

“An excellent idea,” the mantis-like insectoid lieutenant nodded.

“Which tactics are you referring to?” Ludmila asked.

“The various methods which were employed to drive and corral the Beastmen occupying the Draconic Kingdom,” the Goblin Strategist answered. “An added benefit would be that we will be able to justify the deployment of far more Death Knights than initially planned, and they will be able to gain some much-needed practical experience.”

“This is beginning to look less like a war,” Ludmila said, “and more like mass atrocity.”

“By Human reckoning, perhaps,” Lord Sigurd said. “But Gunnar is right. This country and its people should rightly not exist. It is an aberration that should have fallen prey to the rigours of the world long before growing to this point.”

Ludmila found that this was a perspective shared by many societies directly contending with the ‘rigours of the world’, whether they were from the various groups dwelling within her territory or those that she encountered beyond. As much as any population wished to thrive, land was limited. There was no such thing as ‘unclaimed territory’. What was necessary for survival was always in contention, and so competition was the order of the day.

To outsiders unaware of the Slane Theocracy’s efforts to nurture humanity throughout the region, Re-Estize stood in nonsensical defiance of this reality. To the people of Re-Estize, it resulted in a situation where the norms reflected that false reality and Human exceptionalism was often considered central as to why it was the case. The people of the Empire shared similar views, but its new bid for territorial expansion was beginning to challenge those standing on the forefront of that effort to reconsider what they thought they knew.

As for herself, she agreed that Lord Sigurd’s worldview more accurately reflected reality, but how to answer the challenges presented by such a world was another story. The ubiquitous presence of raiding, ceremonial warfare, and migration represented the most straightforward approach, in which one population asserted its dominance over another through intimidation, violence, and displacement. In such a system, the victors were justice, so to speak, and whatever happened to the losers was their own fault. Unfortunately, this created a situation where the strong had little incentive to see things change, while the weak, who might benefit from social, technological, or economic progress, didn’t have the influence, time, or resources to try.

Indeed, a society needed a combination of uncharacteristic strength, shrewd leadership, and sheer luck to pull itself out of the endless cycles of territorial conflict. The Slane Theocracy had enjoyed the results of such an occurrence and influenced the region’s power dynamics for centuries. Now, the advent of the Sorcerous Kingdom represented a new opportunity to effect dramatic change.

As expected of the benevolent being who was the Sorcerer King, the Sorcerous Kingdom had been directed to fashion a society wherein all races could dwell in prosperous harmony. This was easier said than done, and they were far from achieving that vision of the future, but they were in about as close to the ideal circumstances to make progress towards it.

…at least up until now. The way that the Sorcerous Kingdom intended to wage war on Re-Estize seemed like a complete reversal of everything they had worked towards thus far.

“I do not understand what dissatisfies you so,” Commander Gunnar said. “The campaign in the Draconic Kingdom was not much different from this.”

Ludmila frowned at the Frost Giants standing across the icy table.

“There is a vast difference between that war and this one,” she said. “In the Draconic Kingdom, we were dealing with a full occupation by migrating Beastmen. Here, we are prosecuting what should be a minor grievance. This…campaign being planned is grossly out of scale with the severity of the incident.”

“No mere incident,” Lord Cocytus told her. “Our flag, soiled. Our Master, slighted. The criminal: and his master: must pay.”

“That much is understood, Your Excellency,” Ludmila said, “and this is also the way of things in Re-Estize. If recompense for a proven charge is not offered in court, then the resolution lies in battle. As a liege is sworn to defend their vassals, the ‘master’ of the offender is obliged to fight for them on the battlefield. That battlefield is a location specifically set aside for the purpose of warfare, and it is where the offender and his master can be made to pay for the transgression.”

Her eyes roamed over the huge map unfurled over the granite table, reviewing the countless markers representing the forces of the Sorcerous Kingdom. As the Grand Marshal had previously mentioned, not only was Army Group North present, but also units from the various ministries of the government. Broadly speaking, they were poised to sweep west over the northern coast of Re-Estize, with the apparent aim of cutting off access to the Rhynd Sea and positioning forces to intercept potential intervention from the Argland Confederation.

While she appreciated the effort that went into figuring out all the things that went into making such a war plan work smoothly, it was, as she had mentioned, grossly out of scale with what was supposed to be concluded with a single battle that would last an hour at most.

No, if they saw everything here arrayed against them, Re-Estize would likely give up without a fight.

“This campaign,” Lord Cocytus said. “Part of Lord Ainz’s plan.”

“…may I know what that specifically means, Your Excellency?”

A blast of frozen air threw up a cloud of frost from the floor as Lord Cocytus shifted his massive frame to regard her.

“You…question our Master?”

“I only desire to do my utmost in service to His Majesty,” Ludmila replied. “I am not so heedless as to presume the intent of one so high above my meagre self.”

The Grand Marshal turned his multifaceted gaze back to the map on the table.

“It is…an example.”

“An example, Your Excellency?”

Lord Cocytus held out one of his claws.

“The Empire.” He said, and then held out another. “The Kingdom. The wise. The foolish.”

“Does Your Excellency mean to say that His Majesty intends to warn other countries against maintaining an uncooperative stance towards the Sorcerous Kingdom through this war with the Kingdom of Re-Estize?”

“Kill one, warn one hundred,” the Goblin Strategist said from behind his ornate fan. “It is certainly an approach that the Sorcerous Kingdom can afford to utilise.”

“Militarily, perhaps,” Ludmila said, “but the proposed war plan will produce results that go directly against the policy goals set forth by the Crown. Both in the eyes of our people and those abroad, the Sorcerous Kingdom is supposed to be seen as a strong, yet benevolent power. For the past two years, we have toiled to fight the plethora of preconceptions pinned to our country, painstakingly building up our nation’s reputation through friendly diplomacy and economic goodwill.”

“Demonstrating strength earns respect,” Commander Gunnar noted. “Respect that is essential for maintaining order.”

“I agree with you on a conceptual level, Commander,” Ludmila said, “but, generally speaking, respect for our martial strength is currently not in question. It has been proven time and again through the various conflicts that the Sorcerous Kingdom has participated in since its advent. Indeed, I would say that the issue now is that fear of our strength contends with respect for it. As with any preeminent power, how strength is wielded will inform observers as to our nature as a country. Prosecuting this grievance in the extreme manner outlined in our current war plans will only serve to fuel the narrative that the Sorcerous Kingdom is an existential threat disguised as a legitimate government. In my humble estimation, our mishandling of this conflict will damage the reputation of the Sorcerous Kingdom and tarnish the honour of His Majesty the Sorcerer King incalculably more than the actions of this rogue scion ever could.”

Ludmila’s gaze went over the members of the assembly as she spoke. Of those present, she could only read the expressions of the Human-like individuals somewhat reliably. The Goblin Strategist seemed to be thoughtfully digesting her words, but those same words faced a cold reception from the Frost Giants.

“I fail to see why the Sorcerous Kingdom should concern itself with the opinions of its lessers,” Commander Gunnar said. “The strong rule. The weak submit or die. This is the way of the world.”

Did he respond that way because Frost Giants, as a race, were inherently strong? The outlook was similar to that of other strong races, such as Dragons. Might made right, and the results of that thinking were simply accepted as reality.

Conversely, weak races: Humans included among them: needed numbers to survive, and thus developed societies that allowed the weak to thrive. This was generally achieved through a mix of laws, customs, and institutions that either offered protection against predatory exercises of strength or promoted healthy communities that could weather the often cruel realities of the world.

Having been raised in Human society, she couldn’t deny that she was inclined towards the logic that drove it. The question was where the Sorcerous Kingdom stood between these two societal stances.

“I will, once again, draw attention to the fact that His Majesty has set a policy direction which goes contrary to this mode of thinking,” Ludmila said. “Our laws and approach to both domestic and foreign affairs have thus far adhered to the Sorcerer King’s desire for our country to be looked upon favourably by the rest of the world.”

“Since this is a part of His Majesty’s plan,” the Goblin Strategist said, “it would be more productive to discern how it serves to support the policy direction that you describe. Lord Cocytus stated that this war is to serve as an example where the Empire’s swift decision to cooperate makes it a beneficiary of the Sorcerous Kingdom’s benevolence, while the Kingdom’s obstinacy in the same regard has crossed the limits of our patience. Perhaps His Majesty has deemed that an early lesson would be the lesser of two evils.”

“And what lesson would that be?” Ludmila asked, “Saying that we will not suffer the antics of fools may seem self-explanatory, but countries have far more to worry about than that. Some may have the required resources and systems in place to curtail undesirable activity to a degree that satisfies their standards, but their standards are not necessarily ours. Beyond that, the strategic implications of setting this precedent should not be understated: such an extreme retaliation to one of our caravans being attacked can and will inevitably be exploited by the enemies of any country where our caravans operate. We will be at war with the entire world before long if we attempt to maintain any kind of consistency with this ‘lesson’, and we will be seen as weak-willed and frivolous if we do not.”

Lord Cocytus unleashed another blast of wintry air.

“Lord Ainz’s dominion,” he said. “Preferable.”

“We may favour His Majesty’s rule, Your Excellency,” Ludmila replied, “but outsiders are not so easily persuaded. Furthermore, it is far better for people to come to accept the Sorcerous Kingdom’s dominion on their own terms. I for one would always question the loyalty of any person or society that has been inducted into the Sorcerous Kingdom’s hegemony by force.”

“Were you not subjected to a similar experience?” The Goblin Strategist asked.

“I was not,” Ludmila answered. “Re-Estize conceded the Duchy of E-Rantel to the Sorcerer King after His Majesty successfully pressed his claim on the territory through a formal contest. The contracts held by House Vaiself within this territory, which included House Zahradnik’s, were transferred to His Majesty as a result. To put it simply, it was a territorial transaction: one which every Noble accepts as a possibility that comes with taking up a contract with their liege.

“This, on the other hand,” she said as she gestured to the war plan presented on the table, “is a one-sided campaign that would be considered uniquely horrific by any decent measure. I would be hard-pressed to even call it a war at this juncture. Foreign interests with agents observing the outcomes of this…exercise will have no choice but to conclude that the Sorcerous Kingdom is everything that they feared it would be.”

“Acceptable,” Lord Cocytus told her. “All will go according to Lord Ainz’s plan.”

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