Laelith turns her head up to you "A demonologist makes his focus from wood carried by a dead mortal at the time of their death. Was probably a spear one of the skeletons wielded at the crossing." before dropping back into your arms, silently requesting silence so that she can sleep through to dawn.

Camilus grins sheepishly "The blade... is more powerful than I am comfortable with. It bears two major demons of violence, three of pain, and one of entropy. I am the only one in the maniple I would trust with it, and even I am hesitant to tap its full potential. And, I would not willingly engage in close combat with my body as it is now. the blade is a last resort."

You simply nod in acknowledgment, and look ahead to the approaching village. It lay at the intersection of the Kings Highway, and the local road you are currently following. Its palisades will be quick to fall, and the barracks in which its militia and town guards reside is clearly visible, and attached to the local lordlings manor. All of it is wooden, and you dont expect the battle to last through the morning. "So, can I eat today, Commander?" Teirana asks from her perch in Camilus lap, her eyes alight with hunger

>You are approaching the town above the "n" in Drans Ferry on the map

>>17877300
I don't see why not and we can gauge how strong she would be in a fight.

>>17877280
This would be a nice test for him and Teirana. WE should also make sure they understand not to bite off more than they can chew.

>>17877300
thread fooding from the IRC
- Teirana wishes to consume enemy life essence
- can target leadership specifically, but takes a while to drain (until death?)
- can/will avoid draining Degnarian men, even if in/near their formation while draining enemies

Will draining a specific mortal (leadership) age them mid battle or just exhaust them?

Will draining a group (unit) of mortals have any noticeable effects mid battle?

If possible, I'd like to have her target any leadership (any enemies attempting to shout orders) that she gets near enough to drain. If no leadership is near enough, drain a unit if it has any effect. Otherwise, seek and drain leadership from the safest possible position she can (within nearby friendly unit)

>>17877300
Sure but make sure Camilus doesn't let her go crazy. If the militia breaks, we're not going to go out of our way to hunt them all down.

Also, any sign on the knight order following us?

You nod "Yes, both of you can be a part of this battle, though once the militia breaks, you are to let them flee Teirana, and try to start with their leadership."

The little demon looks to Camilus, who nods "remember, little one, you are to obey my Commander as if his word was mine. That _was_ in the revised contract, wasnt it?"

She nods "I, I just wanted to make sure that he was still your master."

The former centurion chuckles "I would tell you if I was turning traitor, and I thought you knew me well enough to know that I never would." The little demon simply blushes as a response.

Before you can interject, Sansa and Wulf ride up next to you "Commander, do you know what forces you will be deploying for this battle?" your wife and aide asks.

"The lord here will be a landed knight or merchant. So I would not expect more than three battalions worth of soldiers, at least one of them assembled town guard. The rest being conscripts with no more than a months training." Wulf adds, clearly trying to fill the role Janos did during your last campaign in Uurlanth.

Sansa looks up to the sky "It will likely be just before dawn by the time we reach the palisades." she adds helpfully.

>>17877744

regardless of what units we deploy, we should have our flyers loop around to the East (or whatever direction the sun rises from in CQverse!) before dawn. They can then use the sun to hide them on an attack run (straife with repeaters!) on the enemy formations once they muster (or when we signal for it)

>>17877744
Thinking we let the majority of the mercs lead this assault and give our maniple units a break after the last battle. Except the ranged ones at least.

I'm wondering if we should open up on the palisade with our siege equipment from a distance/elementalism and then auto-wagon rush our troops into the breach before the enemy has a chance to organize and get their soldiers out of the barracks and in position.

>>17877843
>>17877827
Good idea just combine them and we are set to go

>>17877744
How about we take

Damians chosen
Dyrol Mymidons
Kestrin raiders
The Unshakeables
Zentas snipers
50th dwarven scouts

The Unshakeables and Kestrin raiders should be on the front line flanks with the Dyrol Mymidons and Damians chosen in the middle with the ranged units behind the middle of the line.

>>17877970

sounds good.

battle plan should be to flank and encircle the militia if possible, crushing them completely unless they surrender?

>>17878058
If we can get our men inside the palisade quick enough, that sounds good.

You nod "Lets let the mercenaries see to this battle. The Legion troops should be allowed more time to rest after the crossing."

"And for ranged support, should that become an issue?" Sansa asks, more curious than anything, judging by her body language.

You shrug "The 50th Scouts should do just fine, when you factor in the Zentras Snipers."

Sansa nods "More specifically, which melee mercenaries should I have report to you?"

"The Dyrol Mymidons, Damians chosen, the Kestrin raiders and The Unshakeables should suffice. The rest of our force can be on standby for any fleeing foes." you reply.

"Who should I deploy with then, Commander?" Camilus asks, clearly eager to prove himself, judging by his posture.

Sansa looks at the demonologist, an amused smirk on her face "Easy now, friend. Its only a small town. Will you be deploying the siege weapons to take down the walls, or will they be dealt with by arcane means?"

>>17878248
"Arcane means. Setting up the siege equipment will take time and I rather strike quicker."

I say Camilus joins the Unshakeables and we'll tag along with the raiders.

>>17878313
This sounds fine to me. The remaining earth elementalists should also join the ranged units.

>>17878313
>>17878388
Sounds good

"I will tear the walls down myself." you reply "I would rather these fights stay fast and brutal until we reach our targets.

Sansa nods "I will notify the necessary battalions then, Justinian." before turning back to ride into the column and do as she promised.

"Camilus, you and Teirana will deploy in the Unshakeables, I would suggest you prepare for battle." you order, as Wulf salutes, and rides off behind Sansa, still looking somewhat groggy.

"Prepare? Armor is hard on my ruined body, Commander, these cloths suit me just fine now. I will see you at dawn." before he too turns his horse about and heads for the column.

You sigh, and announce to no one in particular (I suppose I should put my armor on as well then." Before turning Spite around to track down the wagon that your belongings, and those of your retinue are stored.

-----CQ-----

Just before dawn, as your forces are assembling, you look up to the sky. The Skywings are long gone, preparing for their dawn strike. You do however spot a lone pegasus. It looks young, and poorly trained, and, despite its elevation, you can tell that whoever is on the thing is just as young. Probably the local lord, if you can call an upjumped knight a lords son, or perhaps a stable-boy.

Either way, by the way he dives, it is clear that he spotted the force, and is intent on warning the town, and your formations wont be ready until they can rush out to fight. "And I had hoped to catch them unawares. Damn." you sigh, not truly worried, but most certainly frustrated.

Less than half an hour later, the battle lines are set, your men finally close enough for arcane and ranged attacks, and the sunrise still half a few minutes off. You glance at the line of mercenaries ready to strike, and raise your blade, signalling for the assault to start.

rolled 59 = 59

>>17878680
Elemental roll Lets rend earth those walls

rolled 72 = 72

>>17878680
Lets have the siege weaponry and arcanists focus on the gate. When they are open the flanks can charge into the town.

Command roll

rolled 18 = 18

>>17878784
Bleh. Could have been better. Ah well. March forth I guess and get near dem walls while raining arrows upon them. Command roll.

>you didnt deploy siege weps, heh

You signal for an advance, and for all elementalists to focus on bringing down the gate. then, you focus yourself, and open a fissure in the earth directly below the section of palisade in front of the merceanries you are with. It is not your best effort, but with the weakness of the wall, it is enough to clear an opening. Off to your right, you spot Teirana gesturing at the section of wall in front of the unit she and her master are in. The wall swiftly ruts to dust as the Unshakeables continue to advance.

As the dust clears, and the arcanists with your current force begin to focus, you can finally see the forces that will try to stop your advance. Two units of militia, in steel breastplates, wielding halberds, and a group of men who must be the town guard, shaking in their leather armor as they draw back the strings to their shortbows, shortswords hanging from their belts. The guards release their arrows, and a squall wind quickly sweeps the arrows aside. Not what you ordered the arcanists to do, but it works, you suppose.

rolled 25 = 25

>>17878954
Archers focus on the guards then. They look like they're low on morale already so let's try to get them to break. Have the infantry march towards the breaches. Rolling command.

Whoever rolls ele, try to take down the center part of the walls/gate.

rolled 69 = 69

>>17878954
Rolling elementalism

Lets take down the center part of the walls/gate

rolled 20 = 20

Ele roll Earth rend the gate

rolled 98 = 98

>>17878954
Combat roll.

Hey guys, Newcomer to the quest. I've been looking at the archive for the past threads, but it can only display 100 at a time. Is there a better way for me to read the threads, or will I have to man up and follow the past thread links ITT for the threads 101+?

>>17879125
Pretty sure this should have all the threads listed: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Commander%20Quest

Otherwise hit up the wiki listed in the first post to get a summary of some things. We still need to work on it in detail. Or join us in the IRC channel and we can answer any questions.

>>17879114

You chuckle as the militia begins to split apart to cover the two gaps in the wall. Normally that would be a sound strategy. Normally.

You wait until the men of the Kestrin Raiders hurl their throwing axes at the battle line of militia, and your own soldiers are approaching the gate until you make your move. Still groggy, you again fail to do anything terribly impressive, but the remainder of the town wall preventing your soldiers from entering tumbles down in another spectacular cloud of dust. As you turn back to the militia before you, your ranged units fire through the cloud of dust, deadly accurate shots lancing through the dust to embed themselves in the skulls of the town guards leaders. Seconds behind the high velocity shots come the sheets of quarrels issued forth by your rangers, finishing the process of making pincushions of the front rank of town guard.

it is pitifully easy to dodge the sloppy halberd thrusts of the militia as you watch your plan unfold. The last ditch salvo at the onrushing formation of the Damians Chosen mercenary band is a minor wrinkle, barely worth noting really, as the terrified town guard move to draw their shortswords, and pull their circle shields from their backs.

Further down the line, the last band of militia wait for their doom to reach them, when Teirana gets impatient, and flies ahead to begin eating. Crys of shock and offense become those of horror as the little demon ages the men between her and the battalions captain by decades every second. As six of the oldest men in that units dehydrated corpses turn to dust, the clamor of combat axes batting aside halberds, and digging into flesh reminds you that you are in combat yourself, and generally, one kills his foes in battle.

rolled 10 = 10

>>17879269
Combat roll Lets do some damage here

rolled 72 = 72

Eh not much to say at this point. Engage and roll out. Command.

rolled 47 = 47

>>17879269
Rolling for elementalism.

Spike the town guard.

>CLX
Squirrel you serious?

>>17879335
It is a LONG quest

Killing, right. As the town guard begin wailing their death throes as Damians Chosen show the town guard no mercy, you begin to reap your own bloody toll. Arms, legs, heads, you dont really care what you sever, its just so easy to rend these fools flesh. The mercenaries around you slow in awed shock at first, some even recoil as they see a few militiamen fall to the poison on your blade, instead of the massive blood-loss brought on by your hewing limbs, or piercing through lungs and hearts. Then, with a mighty roar, the mercenaries push themselves to new heights of blood-lust and slaughter.

As you flourish your blade in-between kills, you glance to your right as you plant your shield deep into an Uurlanthi soldiers chest. With a flick of that hand, a line of stone spikes shreds through the rear of the town guard, preventing their escape.

Beyond them, you see the remaining militia battalion caught in a deadly sandwich, quickly being cut down by a larger fore of more skilled soldiers. You back up your shield, and use it to decapitate another enemy, as Camilus uttered demonic names begins cutting through the insane cacophony of battle, entire groups of men cut in a thousand different places, or feeling their bones pulped by insane beasts bound to a mortals will, beasts that none save the demonologist can see as anything more than a wrongness in the air. As even more Uurlanthi soldiers fade to dust, their corpses finally aged to the point where the wind can take them apart.

Glancing east, you realize that the reddening horizon is about to herald what will likely be the death knell to this towns defenders. A few more quick flicks of your wrist, and four men are missing their hands, and writhing in pain as deadly toxins begin coursing through their veins. So easy, so disappointing.

rolled 66 = 66

>>17879519
Hmm. When someone beats their unit, have them move to secure the head of the town. In the event they're a coward and try to escape. We haven't even had out air unit come in yet, heh. Command to keep the pressure on and finish this.

rolled 70 = 70

>>17879519
Combat roll I want to finish them off fast

>>17879519

voting for no elementalism. We're clearly too groggy.

>>17879598
Yup we just used all that energy we had to show off to the mercs

You feel your bloody frenzy begin to slow, and you return to simply killing the militia near you, instead of the mad rush that left you surrounded by them. Of course, you are still far enough ahead that it is all you can do to defend yourself by killing every Uurlanthi dog that approaches you, but it is clear that you will have allies at your sides again soon enough, judging by the inexorable advance of the Raiders you went into battle with.

Glancing to your right, you see the town guards slaughter continue, and Teiranas feast continued. the low mumbling that overcomes the roar of battle, the keening wail of steel against steel. You do love a good battle to start your day, and looting to follow is always a plus, even if you do not plan on ransacking this traders town.

The shriek of terrified valkeries forced to dive too low, and too fast draws your attention east, as the suns first rays break over the horizon. The great hawks talons scrape the palisade wall, and knock shingles from roofs as they streak over the town, their heads held low, and off to the side of their riders repeaters. Like an avenging wind the flyers streak overhead, precise sprays of repeater crossbow fire striking Uurlanthi soldiers, and only Uurlanthi soldiers, not a single bolt wasted on allies or into the dirt before or behind the militia you are engaged with.

The town guard are all but wiped out by the strike. They try to turn to run, but precise fire from the Zentas Snipers fell every last one of them. Damians Chosen, while warned of this strike, find themselves suddenly unengaged, and at a loss as to what they should do next as the deadly wind blows through the militia that are already being handily slaughtered by the two remaining mercenary battalions on the field. You grin, as you bury your blade in one mans chest, heedless of his breastplate, and use your shield to pulp anothers face. The day is all but won now.

rolled 88 = 88

>>17879751
Tell the Damians Chosen to advance into the town and secure the leader. Let's finish up here with a command roll.

>>17879751
Combat Roll fuck this string of bad rolls

rolled 47 = 47

>>17879779
forgot the dice.....

>>17879751

again voting to save our energy. I imagine we'll have to bust down a few doors in the lord's manor or deal with an honor guard there.

no elementalism vote

>>17879818
Yes, lets save our energy for now.

Right. Have the other two merc inf units converge on the last unit of militia, after theirs is dealt with.

You order for the Chosen to begin securing the town, however, they misconstrue the order, as not too long after you fired the signal flare, precisely timed to fire when your arm is at its highest before decapitating another soldier, the rightmost battalion of militia was slaughtered. The Unshakeables and Dyrol Myrmidons waste no time in setting out into the town, however. So, you take your time breaking the will of the last able members of the towns meager defenses, and by mid-morning, the battle is done. the town had already woken up, but their breakfast is one of looted shops and stolen supplies. the mercenaries show restraint, an no rapes happen, no smoke rising from houses to adorn the morning sky, only circling valkeries ensuring no Uurlanthi peasants flee, as the slaves chains and shackles are broken.

-----CQ-----

So, after a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and fruit, you make your way to the meager manor and barracks from which the town is ruled. Members of the Unshakeables are posted all around the building, while Wulf, Collin and Camilus are waiting behind the door, Teirana sitting on the ground next to Camilus, looking quite content, as she works her hands through strange motions, eyes all but closed and mumbling.

"I'm hope ye dont mind my taggin along for lootin this bastards manor, Command'r. I jus was hoping to start th'dae off right." Collin quips, sword resting across his shoulders, grinning lightly to himself as the morning breeze tugs at his kilt.

Wulf nods "I felt guilty about not helping in the battle, and since the rest of the command staff and the family is keeping the looting from becoming something we would be ashamed of..."

Wow. I almost feel bad about killing these guys.

Almost.

>>17879968
"Don't feel too bad, we'll have many more battles coming up. Just be content to know I didn't let you sit out on the more dangerous battles. Now let's go explore this manor. I believe I spotted a poorly cared for pegasus before the battle started."

>>17880011
going with this

>>17879968
We should also remind Teirana not to be so reckless in battle. If the enemy was skilled she might have been in real trouble.

>>17879968
So what's the plan here? Do we create refugees out of these villagers?

The last time we invaded Uurlanth and raided villages, we gave the peasantry time to gather up spare clothes and supplies, and told them to hit the road. Anything not nailed down were looted if they were useful. The rest were burned down after the peasants fled.

This way, we deny the enemy of his assets, create refugees that burden his economy, and our own hands are clean.

You chuckle "Dont feel too bad, there will be plenty of battles yet this campaign. Now, let us see what sort of valuables we can squeeze from this manor."

Before anyone can reply, Teiranas mumbled chants become more frenzied, and louder, and her arcane gesturing more defined. Reality begins to bend and buckle about her hands, then, she reaches into the tear, her hands disappearing into thin air. She pulls them back, revealing a finely crafted, crimson bow, black demonic runes running its length. For her, it would be a longbow, though most would call it a shortbow. In the other hand, a quarrel, fifteen arrows, their fetching the same crimson, save for the off fletch, which is black. She hugs the bow and quiver to her chest, grinning lovingly, before she announces "Now I'm hungry again... but I dont have to be so careful in battles now! I have a weapon of my very own!" her voice almost worshipful in its possessiveness to the end of her exclamation.

"Ack, Ah'll never get used'ta her." Collin grouses amiably, before striding forward to kick the manors front door down.

Wulf glances about "I think the stables are to the right, Justinian. and, if I recall correctly from the night I spent here, the library is in the same direction. there were at least a few books on demonology in there."

"And th'lords chambers?" Collin asks, glancing about in search of the guards.

"Directly ahead through the great hall. I only spent the night here earlier on in my travels, but I do remember that this landed knight has a pair of particularly skilled twins in his employ as bodyguards. They have long black hair, and wear full plate armor." Wulf answers, scratching at his head, as if trying to remember some minute detail that he had thought unimportant until now "Or was that some other lord in the area?" he trails off, clearly not sure.

>>17880205
I think we should do the opposite this time. Mostly because we don't want the knight orders to take refugees and turn em into soldiers. We leave enough so the people can stay here and tell them not to cross our paths again.

>>17880220
Sounds good we don't want the knight orders turning the refugees into a half decent militia

>>17880211
"Have some guards secure the stables and we'll go deal with the lord. If he does have those bodyguards, I rather we deal with them first before we start looting."

>>17880211

Voting to secure the stables first. If the lord still has flying mounts, we'd best have them led away from the manor (preferably by soldiers that know what they're doing!) to prevent escape. Then we'll work our way toward the Lord's quarters.

As for the lord having bodyguards, I think "resist and everyone dies. Surrender and you can all live to be ransomed." should be our policy.

>>17880220
Agreed. Lets not give the orders any more peasants they could train.

Otherwise lets have the stables secured, put Laelith and Finian to identifying arcana and literature, and prepare to take the lords manor.

>>17880272
I say we just kill any who resist and ransom the rest

>>17880220
Can the Knightly Orders feed this many people? And remember that at least half are women and children.

Look, we have orders to destroy military infrastructure. That includes smithies, stables, mill, etc. I think the men are going to be leaving anyway. I'm saying make the women and children refugees.

>>17880270
Voting for securing stables first.

>>17880336
No clue but I rather not assume. The orders might get desperate enough to make units of women as well. I rather not risk it.

>>17880336
>>17880381

if Degnar's women can join in the legion and merc units, why would Uurlanth's not?

>>17880404
Well we know they can at least be bodyguards and assassins but I don't think we've seen female military units in Uurlanth. Maybe I'm remembering wrong though.

You nod "Have some soldiers sexure the stables and library. Call in Laelith and Lena to go through the library for anything of value. Lets take the lord, boys."

Teirana pouts "I'm not a boy!" she exclaims as the five of you begin advancing towards the main hall. before long, you find yourself in the room you had set out for, the lord, who looks to be, at most, a decade older than Gaius, wearing full armor, a finely crafted bastard sword drawn and ready. Standing before him, are the twins Wulf mentioned, along with two other guards, all four in full plate armor, wielding imitations of their lords blade. "Huh, seems I was right." Wulf deadpans, as he moves off towards the rightmost guard.

"Th'twins are mine." Collin announces, striding forwards.

The lord sighs "I take it this means you aim to kill me for not surrendering, and take my family hostage to be ransomed at some later date then?"

You sigh "Would you accept mercy if I offered it?" as you draw your own blade, and move to intercept the lord of this town, as he moves to give his best guards and Collin room to fight.

"I would never accept a Degnarians 'mercy' regardless of the bastards reputation." The man spits out, generations of taught hatred thick on his voice.

Wulf chuckles, as he draws his own blade, lightning arcing out to caress his foe, and dropping the armored man to his knees "Speaking a bit above our station, arent we?"

The man readies his sword, not moving his gaze from you "I will die with my blade in my hands, honor in tact. My wife and child understand this, and are prepared for whatever indignities you have set aside for them."

Camilus laughs, flourishing his twisted wooden focus, the thing bubbling impossibly as he prepares to use it "I doubt their ransom will be equal to that of a single skilled knight. As poor as this town is." the Lesser Lord roars in anger, and begins to rush at you, silently signalling the battles start.

rolled 5 = 5

>>17880488
Combat roll. A pity he won't see reason.

rolled 95 = 95

Elementalism roll

stoneshape/small fissures to bind the legs of the two non-twin bodyguards.

we'll let that little deamon feed some more once they're immobile.

>>17880510
With any luck, he didn't feel a thing.

>>17880510
You guys think we should go for a disarm and keep him alive or just off him with our sheer dominance?

>>17880626
Disarm! A shield bash does wonders for enemy disposition and dental work!

>>17880626
give him death, a slow, agonizing death from Vi's toxin

Can we please have a crucifixion? It's been so long.

*puppy eyes*

>>17880669
We're not going to crucify someone just because we haven't done it in forever...

>>17880488
It's idiots like this that keep stirring Uurlanth to war with Degnar. Lets humble this pompous jackass by taking him prisoner. He is in dire need of some humility.

>>17880684
Actually this is more cruel than crucifixion. Voting for this.

You sigh "A pity you wont see reason." before easily sidestepping his mad rush, and crashing you shield into the back of the mans head. The rotation that your quick counter required puts Wulf into your line of sight, where his match is haltingly trying to charge, despite the lightning still dancing over his armor, Wulf standing squarely as the man tries to reach him. Your proteges blade still resting at his side, he flicks his hand again, and another bolt of lightning dances out from the blade, causing the guard to skid to his knees. As the guard slides towards the young man, Wulf raises his blade, its tip leveled at the guard.

You feel no need to finish watching that fight, and spin about, knocking the lords next strike high as the telltale crack and flash of a powerful lightning bolt emits from Wulfs direction, and the crash of a corpse slamming into a wall punctuates you removing the lords left hand from his body. You silently commend the lord for not succumbing to the toxin immediately, as you turn your attention to Collins fight.

The dwarven blade-master is grinning like a madman as he dances about between his foes, each step a dodge, each swing of his blade a perfect parry. You can see it in the fools eyes, they thing they have the arrogant Degnarian dwarf on the defensive. He is merely sizing them up. You suppress a laugh as you spot the glint of recognition in Collins eye, and you spin about a third time, this strike all but severing your foes head, a thin strip of head all that remains to hold it to his body as you finish the rotation, body falling as blood sprays from the stump that was once a neck.
>cont'd

That blink of an eye, however, was more than enough time for Collin, who is now crouched atop one of the twins, the dwarfs blade through his chest, blood gurgling out of the wound. Wasting no time, Collin leaps forward, and removes the surviving guards left arm, before planting his boot in the mans chest, and spilling him to the ground. Before the man can even scream at the loss of his arm, Collins blade is at his throat.

Past Collin, you see Camilus and Teirana circling the last guard, arrows pinning him to the floor through his armor, the little demon circling him, taking years from his life in tiny arcane bites. Camilus isghs "Dont play with your food, Teir." before flicking his wrist, and twisting the focus, the long tail of wrongness, of frozen fire and solid thunder, that bears the sound of perfectly still water. "Return Zethrgthyn of Insanity" he commands, retracting the whip of focused demonic power to his focus, grinning to himself.

Still pouting, Teirana lands, and walks up to the sobbing guard "You did well, to still be sane enough to sob still." she giggles out, caressing the clearly broken mans chin. as she pulls her hand away, the man finally ages the last forty or so years of his life, wailing in terror and pain before his throat dries out, and his corpse falls to the side, already cold.

>>17880811
Well. That was quick. Time to secure anyone else living in the manor and get to looting then. No more killing unless necessary.

>>17880811
Make sure the other areas of the mansion and town are secured and then see what interesting things we have found.

>>17880872
>>17880830
Second.

>>17880830
>>17880872
Third

You sigh "Lets make sure the rest of this place is secure before we depart."

"An'the survivor?" Collin asks, sword still held at the mans throat as he continues to slowly bleed out through the stump that was once his left arm.

"Can I eat him?" Teirana asks, licking her lips as she pulls her arrows from the floor, lovingly carresing each of them before returning them to her quiver.

Grinning impishly, Camilus admonishes "You'll get fat if you keep eating this much."

The little demon huffs in indignation "I will _NOT_!" she exclaims, as the lone Uurlanthi man in the room begins to whimper in fear, and wets the inside of his armor.

Before you can reply though, a side door cracks open. Seconds later, a wrathful, pained voice cries out "FATHER!!!" as a young man, perhaps three or four years Wulfs junior, and most likely the one who you spotted riding the pegasus this morning, sprints into the room, pulling a kitchen knife from his belt, hatred in his eyes.

Clearly, the boys target is you, but he doesnt make it. His headlong charge takes him past Wulf, who easily sidesteps the youth, and catches him in his left arm, blade held to the young mans neck before he has time to realize that his foolish charge got him captured "Commander?" Wulf asks, breath even, eyes uncaring.

>>17881018
No sense in killing the boy. He may know something of value.

Take him prisoner and have Autronius see what he can find.

>>17881018
"Your father died honourably in combat rather than surrender. Don't throw your life away and let your line end here."

Keep him and the other guard alive. He's a broken man who will just ruin the morale of any men he's kept with. Let's go find the wife and get to looting I guess.

>>17881018
Have Autronius mind-rape the surviving bodyguard. Then the demonette can eat the bodyguard.

The boy will be gently mind-probed and then held for ransom.

If we want to demoralize the prisoners, we can just show them their liege's body.

>>17881079
>>17881051
Second

You shake your head disapprovingly "Child, your father, misguided as he was, died with his honor, in fair combat. If I were you, I would be careful to not make his sacrifice in vain. Throwing your life away will simply end your line... which is already looking troubled with the fall of your town." you look up from the still struggling boy to Wulf "Take him to the noble holding cells. I dont doubt that more worthy folk will soon fill them, but for now he can stay separate from the rest of the prisoners."

Wulf nods, and replies "You really should listen to the Commander, and probably thank him. Normally, I kill rabid dogs."

"And my dessert?" Teirana asks, looking back and forth between her master and his commander.

"After he has been taken to Autronius, you can have him. But no more until the next battle." You reply, chuckling, as you set out through the manor.

Most of the valuables have already been stripped from the place when you pass through rooms, but from the look of it, that isnt all that much. Dissapointed, you eventually reach the library, where Laelith is concluding her business "Lena went off to talk with Wulf, but we did find three good books on Demonology, and two more on Summoning. Interesting arcane fields, I must admit."

As your elven wife slides under your arm, abandoning the rest of the library, you ask "And the stables?"

She shrugs, replying "A few pegasus foals, two good mares, and three stallions. None are particularly well cared for or trained, but they are good enough specimens, all things considered." Out in the town, it is clear that the maniple is nearly ready to depart, wagons laden, prisoners bound, and the towns people hiding in their houses, utter terror and disbelief on their faces.
>cont'd

Across the town square, you can see the foolish young lordling and his mother both being loaded into cages by Wulf and Lena, who appear to be quietly conversing, and laughing amongst themselves. On the general prisoner wagon, the last surviving guard from the lords personal guard is thrashing about, blabbering incoherently, the other prisoners doing their best to stay as far from the broken man as they can. From the look of it, the more diverse outdoor environment is too much for his broken mind. "You dont truly expect me to enter that broken things mind, do you, Commander?" Autronius asks as he strides up to you, worry evident in his voice and on his face.

You sigh "No, I would not ask you to so gravely endanger yourself for the pittance of knowledge he may have. He was much... saner, in the manor."

Autronius shrugs "Madness is a difficult thing to gauge, Commander. Would you like me to see what the boy knows then, his father may have shared some things with him."

"No harm can come from it, my friend. Let me know if you find anything useful." you reply, sighing in contentment. It has been a good morning.

>well, gonna call it here for tonight
>I wont be back until tuesday at 9pm server time, as I have work shit all sunday night
>someone archive please

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