Calm Before the Storm
Clair POV:
I left the palace and flew to the great wall near the border to Kirk, where I cleared a patch of the forest from any obstacles and build a fortress. A small one only 1x1km and just 40m high.
Afterwards, I began to create my army for the coming war. I don't want to use my civilians as I've promised them peace and safety from the harms of war and discrimination.
I also hadn't the time to convoke, train and equip a few hundred thousand soldiers.
So I'm going to build a batch of stone soldiers. They will not be as strong as the guards of Aeron, only as strong as a common soldier of the enemy forces.
I mean I want to play general and that can only work with forces who are equal in strength with their enemy.
I'll make a few different kinds. Cavalry, infantry, heavy infantry, bowman, mages, scouts and some siege weapons.
The cavalry will further be split into three categories, normal, heavy and bowman.
Normal Cavalry:
The normal cavalry will have a longsword and a one-time use spear. Their build is that of an average man, around 1,75 metres tall. They don't need extra armour, but I let their body look like they were clad in chain mail and some leather armour. They'll ride on stone horses who have a slightly higher strength than normal horses.
Name: Normal Cavalry Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
Level: /
Health: 20.000 [HP: Regeneration: 23/sec]
Mana: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 600
Intelligence: 150
Race: /
Agility: 450
Wisdom: 125
Gender: /
Heavy Cavalry:
The heavy cavalry will use lances and will look like 2,5m tall, bulky man. They will be fully clothed in plate armour and will ride on equally giant horses whom will also wear plate armour.
Name: Heavy Cavalry Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 30.000 [HP: Regeneration: 30/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 1200
Intelligence: 120
Race: /
Agility: 400
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
Bowman Cavalry:
These soldiers look like the normal cavalry. The only difference is their weaponry, they use a recurve bow and two small crossbows.
Name: Bowman Cavalry Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 10.000 [HP: Regeneration: 17/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 400
Intelligence: 120
Race: /
Agility: 800
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
The infantry is not really different from the cavalry infantry if it comes to their appearance.
However, they use different weapons. There are those who have long spears against horses,
some have maces against heavy infantry, but most of them use a shield and a longsword.
Name: Infantry Spear Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 18.000 [HP: Regeneration: 20/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 600
Intelligence: 120
Race: /
Agility: 600
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
Name: Infantry Longsword Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 18.000 [HP: Regeneration: 20/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 500
Intelligence: 120
Race: /
Agility: 700
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
Name: Infantry Mace Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 18.000 [HP: Regeneration: 20/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 700
Intelligence: 120
Race: /
Agility: 500
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
Then there are the scouts. They will be used as units for ambushes and in cases, we have to retreat. I don't think the last point will ever happen, but you never know.
The main weapon is a bow of middle length and all their arrows are poisoned. The secondary weapon are daggers.
They are clad in dark green clothes. The pants and undercoat are out of normal fabrics. While the torso has a mix between a chain mail and plate armour over it. The face is hidden behind a hood and mask and a green cloak will further help them to hide in the bushes.
Name: Infantry Scout Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 8.000 [HP: Regeneration: 10/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 200
Intelligence: 320
Race: /
Agility: 1000
Wisdom: 100
Gender: /
The heavy infantry is different from the other infantry units. The others look mostly like humans, the scouts like elfs without their hoods. However, the heavy infantry is looks like the perfect heavy infantry. You know, the heavy infantry which will induce fear into your enemies just from the looks. The perfect fantasy heavy infantry. Completely clad in heavy plate armour, only the eyes are visible. With a shield that is as tall as their torso and an axe for splitting skulls and amputating arms.
Yes, the perfect appearance for a heavy infantry unit. Dwarfs in plate armour. Just think about it, an army of 100.000 dwarfs is rushing at you. Axes raised and screaming with bloodlust and the desire to maim you. Won't you also cover in fear? Well, I... I won't at least not now, I mean I'm too strong in this world. But without my strength? Well, I would run as fast as I do when I see a plate of finely cooked chicken, ready to get eaten by me.... Okay, maybe not as fast but still pretty fast.
Anyway, these are their stats, they are a little bit stronger than the other units. But it's alright, they are dwarfs, they have to be strong.
Name: Heavy Dwarfen Infantry Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 35.000 [HP: Regeneration: 25/sec]
MP: / [MP: Regeneration: /]
Strength: 1500
Intelligence: 350
Race: /
Agility: 1000
Wisdom: 200
Gender: /
And then there are the mages. It was pretty hard to give my golems something that resembles a spell. You see, I wasn't able to let them cast their magic, so I simply gave them a staff with a few spells on default. Like a barrier, fireballs and so on. They aren't able to cast them infinitely, but should still be pretty good.
They wear black robes with a feathered mantle and a hood is pulled over the eyes. Their staff is as tall as them and also black.
Name: Infantry Mage Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 7.000 [HP: Regeneration: 15/sec]
MP: 35.000 [MP: Regeneration: 10/sec]
Strength: 150
Intelligence: 1200
Race: /
Agility: 100
Wisdom: 1000
Gender: /
Oh and there is one more type of golem between the ranks. The leader type. Every army has some people, who are stronger than the normal soldiers. These leader golems have the task to fight against them in case such an enemy shows itself.
I think they look the coolest. A mix between Asia clothes with fantasy styled armour parts. A helmet with two feathers at the back and mage like shoes and gloves let them look a little bit mysterious.
The armour is coloured in black and red with a lot of ornaments. Their weapon is not fixed and orientates on the unit they are put into. So they use every kind of weapon. Oh, and the heavy infantry unit has a different kind of leader unit. It wouldn't look cool if a human sized soldier runs between dwarven sized troops.
I like their design so much, that I think I'll use them as palace guards. Those will, of course, be stronger than these for the army.
Name: Leader Golem
Profession: /
Age: 0
Class: /
Title: /
LV: 0
Health: 145.000 [HP: Regeneration: 150/sec]
MP: 200.000 [MP: Regeneration: 100/sec]
Strength: 21.000
Intelligence: 12.000
Race: /
Agility: 18.000
Wisdom: 1.0000
Gender: /
These golems will be my army and the amount of units deployed will depend on the size of the enemy army. As I said, equal forces.
But it takes time to build them, the used runes are as difficult as the runes for the guards on the wall and I also have to forge their weapons. And the appearance of each golem has also be made for each individual golem. Otherwise, they would look like simply stone dolls without any features. Luckily I have clones. They will forge the weapons and create the special look of each golem.
All in all, I think I'll make around ten million golems. Each of them will have the regeneration rune, but it won't be used until the end of the battle. That would be too unfair.
I think it will take me maybe a month to finish the creation of all the golems. My clones will need one more month to forge all the weapons.
Well then let's start.
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A month later, inside a tavern of Nahar. POV: Random Visitor
Puh, finally the end of the day, work was hard like always. But also good. My family and I are able to live a good life since we came to Aeron. There are no nobles, who make it hard for you, the houses are well above the standard and the things done by the government are too good to be true.
I clearly remember the face of my wife as she heard that our son has to go to school and that we are also allowed to learn how to read and write. For free! We, a housewife and a blacksmith apprentice! We couldn't believe it at first, but had to accept the truth as more and more told us about the thinks that are common inside Aeron.
The first months we lived in Nahar, we had to go to the free food distribution. It wasn't as good as the food you can get on the street or in restaurants. Still it was free and enough to get full and more than anything you could get for free from Kirk's government.
But with work, which I also got from the government, came money and with money came better food and other things we couldn't have bought if we still were in Kirk.
I must concede, we had to get used to the beastkin, elfs and dwarfs who were also living in Aeron. And I must also admit that they aren't as bad as I thought. My boss is a dwarf and he might be a little grumpy but he's still a fine guy and the same applies to most of the other non-humans.
My son even befriended a cute cat beastkin girl. Many people are biassed against non-humans when they come here, but they have to change quickly. Those who don't will have a hard time in Aeron. The common folk belief in "The Church of Carring" a religion that preaches the goodwill in each of us and the none discrimination of humans and non-humans. Those who discriminate won't be able to buy anything they won't even be able to use the transportations. The driver simply won't let them in. Still, it's a good church, they don't force us to give them taxes and aren't aggressive against non-believers. I and my family are also believers of Her Goddess.
Her Goddess, a wonderful woman named Clair, she looks like a beautiful elfen maiden and has strength and power beyond any known being. She is the reason for our current good live and also the bringer of freedom and hope for many of Aeron's citizen. She also built the giant wall that protects our border and those guards on it are powerful enough to decimate a whole horde of monster, alone.
Well, enough of this and on to other pleasant things, like alcohol. Also, a thing that you can only get in Aeron, good cold and strong alcohol.
I walked inside my favourite tavern, it serves good food and better drinks. It's really good visited and the service is also good. There is a really pretty elfen waitress who has a godly smile.
My friend Greg is already waiting at the bar, so I'm walking over to him and sat down next to him.
"Hi Derril, did you read the newspaper?" My friend asked me as I sat down.
"Hi Greg, not yet. Is something interesting inside?" I asked and greeted the barkeeper with a nod.
"Yes, you know about the possible war that will come over the world?" He asked and I nodded. It was all over the news last month and the merchants confirmed it shortly after. Raska's "Church of Light" rebelled against their empress and they want to wage a holy war against all non-humans. They already declared war against Aeron, Solo, Kirk and Tragon.
Naturally we were worried, but Her Highness Queen Kyli assured us about the safety granted by the great wall and their guards.
"You also remember the merchant who tried to spread rumours about our goddess. He said that our goddess is a monster in disguise. That just wants to fatten us for harvest. And that she's a monster more sinister than a demon?" He further said.
"Ah yes. An angry mob threw things at him before the guards were able to stop them. He couldn't sell anything after that and had to leave Aeron shortly after. I remember there were some more. But that was something we already knew might happen. Queen Kyli told us during a speech about the possible plot against our unity. That it's just a strategy to weaken us before the war hits us." I said.
I don't think that our Goddess is a monster. Which monster would create such a heaven-like-place just to deceive us? That isn't logical. Her Goddess is strong enough to do whatever she wants, a country might not be able to defend against her if she wants to harm it. I think these rumours are baseless and just as Queen Kyli said, only there to harm our faith.
"I agreed and today's news spoke about the rising willingness of war on our side. It's written that the government feels honoured to have such faithful citizen and thanks us for our concern. But they don't want to endanger us through enlistments and the battlefield. It also said that our Goddess is already preparing an army to smite these bringers of war. You think we will be affected?" He asked and worry was evident in his eyes. Greg came from the border of Kirk and Raska. There wasn't an official war between both countries, however, small skirmishes still happened and the people had to suffer from them.
He must remember these times and he knows how war feels.
"I don't think that it will affect us strongly. There might be lesser merchants from out of Aeron. But the guards are strong and our Goddess will protect us from harm. She brought us all together and will not let harm befall us. Those Raska barbarians who won't acknowledge the rights of non-humans will be swept away by the mighty army of our Goddess!" I said and didn't notice my raising voice.
And suddenly claps were audible from all around me. I looked around and saw many people who clapped and shouted in agreement to my statement.
"Thanks, you know what I went through. Thanks." Greg said and sipped again on his beer.
Yes, we are united and won't fall victim to their ploys and war warmongering.
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Around the same time, inside the palace of Nahar. POV: Kyli
"Sigh," the coming war is just a giant headache. Spies informed me about the man strength of Raska's forces. They have 2.5 million soldiers in total, 0.5 million of them are soldiers from the border to Duren and as such highly trained veterans.
Intel told us that Solo only has a standing army of around 0.5 million, Tragon even less. Kirk has around a million. But a report about alliance agreements came yesterday. Kirk and Raska will be allied in this war and Aeron, Solo and Tragon will face an army of over 3 million trained soldiers.
Solo and Tragon sent envoys, they will most likely arrive in a few days. I need a break, I hope won't get reelected. Someone else can take my job. It was so much easier as the village head. Still it's better than the torture.
I have to prepare for their arrival, a dinner might be good. Our country is in the middle between them and has the fastest method of travel. So I think they want to ask me to hold a conference here. They just don't know yet that the other country thought the same and now they come almost at the same time.
They surely also know about the strength of Kirk and Raska. And the possible destruction that can come.
I don't think that they will do much about our wall. Clair told me the specs of the wall and its guards. The wall itself is strong enough to withstand a siege. A hundred metres high, several metres thick and surrounding the whole country. The material is also enchanted and almost indestructible.
And then the guards, strength in the hundred thousand. Enchanted armour, regeneration runes and magic swords that are Tier 4. I think only a troop of a thousand will be enough to win against the allied forces. And we have over 35 million of those over the top guards.
Clair went overboard, even for herself.
And now she's building an army that will fight against these 3.5 million soldiers.
Our reports were correct and the envoys of Tragon and Solo came at the same day, with a time difference of only a few hours. They were impressed by our means of travel and also with Nahar.
The fist thing they did, after the greeting and introduction ceremony, was asking us about the technology we used for the carriages. Naturally we evaded any true answer and led them to a different topic.
"So Queen Kyli. What are your thoughts about the coming war?" The envoy of Solo asked me as we started to dine.
The dinner looks really good and I really want to eat before we start with the talk. I mean there is splendidly fried chicken from Clair's new cook. He's really good if it comes to chicken. But there are also different pastries, vegetables, fruits and other meat dishes. This dinner is a dream for everyone. And here he comes, ruining it with talk about the war.
I stopped my fork and said," Well, the alliance between Raska and Kirk raises the strength of their army up to 3.5 million soldiers."
Their eyes went wide. Didn't they know? Oh yeah, their news doesn't travel as fast as ours.
"They what?" 3.5 million?!" Asked or shouted the first.
"Alliance?!" Cried the other.
I nodded and ate the now slightly colder piece of vegetable mix on my fork.
"What can we do? I mean over 3 million?" Asked the envoy from Solo. But it doesn't seem like he asked someone specifically.
"We can't win against such superior strength. Our army only amounts up to 300.000 and that is if we combine every enlisted soldier," said the envoy from Tragon. He's a lot paler than before and I think he doesn't want to continue to eat. Which is sad, he filled his plate with chocolate pastries that look like art.
I watched them as they sunk into despair and continued to eat. I don't want to eat cold food.
However, I was again interrupted. This time not by the envoys. Nope, this time by an opened door. And through it came Clair. Great, now she can handle these halfway broken guys.
"I'm back. Oh chicken," she said, sat down and began to eat. Not the least minding the hysterically arguing envoys.
"This is good, Maltur must've made these. Could you give me the potatoes?" She asked me and I handed the bowl of cooked potatoes over to her.
It took the envoys five whole minutes to settle down and notice Clair.
"We're sorry for such a display of bad behaviour. May I ask who that person is?" The envoy from Solo said and made a friendly gesture to Clair.
"Sure, this is Clair, also called Goddess of Carring," I said and smiled wickedly as Clair shot an evil glare at me. Now it's her problem. Everyone knows that she has a higher position than me.
"How may I call you?" He then asked Clair in a polite tone.
"Clair is fine," Clair simply replied and sipped some coke.
"Then, Miss Clair, may I ask how you want to reply to the declaration of war from Raska and the news of an alliance between Kirk and Raska?" He asked and his voice quivered a little as he mentioned the alliance.
"I just finished building my forces. How many do the enemy force amounts up to?" She said and looked at me.
"3 million normal soldiers and half a million strengthened veterans for the border to Duren. And their special forces of 24 with the strength of an SS-Rank adventurer," I said and the envoy from Tragon winced as I mentioned the special forces.
"Oh and I forgot to mention it, but it seems like they also summoned a few heroes. Yukina said that they are able to make two kinds of summons. One that summons a single strong hero. Raska already has one, he's currently the general of the Duren forces. And the other summon technique allows them to summon a whole bunch of heroes. Mostly up to 30 at once, these, however, won't be as strong as the single hero. They just get a boost in training and enhanced stats. Their strength will probably not be higher than 30.000. The current single hero is estimated to have stats in the 60.000," I said and a °Thomp° was audible from the left side.
I looked to the left and saw the envoy from Solo inside his mashed potatoes. Poor guy, the shock must've been to great and his head simply shut down. Good thing he doesn't know too much about Clair and her antics.
I winked to a maid and she pulled him out of the now sullied food. I hate it if food gets wasted.
"Is that so, might be fun. Do we have information about them?" Clair asked, only smiling at the poor envoy.
"Not yet, but we soon will have some," I said.
"Ähm, may I know why you, Miss Clair, are so calm?" The envoy from Tragon asked and glanced to the envoy of Solo.
"Oh, I already knew most of the news and am simply not so easily shaken as our friend there," she said and gestured to the envoy from Solo. The maid now started to clean his face.
"Ah...okay. Then may I know, is it possible to get some support from you? I'm sorry to say it, but our nation is not able to resist such a force and we will be forced to surrender to them," He said with a sad look.
"Sure...," Clair said, then stopped and closed her eyes. A few moments later she opened them again and looked at me.
"Sorry Kyli, I have to go. Turonis declared its independence and want to ally itself with Aeron. An army of 300.000 is marching to them and they won't stand a chance without my support. And I don't want to use my mansion guards. So I'll fly over and help them a little. Tell Maltur the chicken was splendid," She then said and stood up and left.
"Ugh, what happened?" Came from the now again awake envoy from Solo.
"You blacked out and Miss Clair has urgent businesses, so she left. Should we continue to eat, before we speak about official matters?" I asked with a smile and the envoy from Solo looked at his face, that was pressed into the mashed potatoes.
"I think that would be the best," he then said and began to eat. The envoy from Tragon was still looking at the now closed door. I think it's not often that he gets ignored like it happened now.
He will get used to it. Then now, this fruit biscuit looks delicious.