Private - Speaking of War

Lady Cessia was true to her word from earlier when he had requested her to put together a meeting in the war room, he would have liked it to have been much earlier but it seemed he had to bide his time. When he returned to the war room, it looked as If Lady Cessia or perhaps one of the maids at the castle had cleared the war table of his books and documents and stacked them into a corner. He shrugged it off, it didn't matter right now. He took his seat where he usually sat at when he worked in here than before he could even get comfortable, a mage summoned by Lady Cessia appeared and seemed to perform some sort AOE magic to secure the room. Seto was a paranoid person but he didn't believe such magic was necessary, with the size of the invasion force, they could lose all the troops in the world and still come out on top, well at least most likely to the King but he didn't say a word, he did understand why it was done.

Lady Cessia was thinking the same thing he had been thinking for while for now but he didn't think she would actually question Esther's allegiance, of course she was alinged to the Guild, it was obious but he was more concerned about the Princess herself, she was far too native with the mindset of a warrior to ever take the throne through cunning means unless someone else did the dirty work, he was surprised Lady Cessia didn't bring that up either. Esther in response told him, Lucia and Lady Cessia what she stood for in her usual disrespectful tone, he had the constant nerve to shove her out the window for such behavious for no reason other than she could but he would control his emotions for now. Despite her words, Esther didn't provide anything, why was she even here If she wasn't going to contribute? He waved her from his mind, he needed maps, troop numbers, number of players volunteers and their trades to be able to make any sort of effective batle plan.

When the two women were done talking, Seto joined his hands together and rested his chin on the top of his hands, keeping a cold a professional demeanor and tone as he spook to Lady Cessia(@Raid Master) , Esther (@Raid Master) and @Lucia Mierz

Seto

"I'll get straight to the point here since we are on borrowed time here, to make an efficent battle plan, I and the Duchess here will need detailed maps of Southern and Eastern Astorea, we'll need accurate reports of our entire military left here in Astorea, their type, the number of player volunteers and their trades. Unfortunately I havn't had enough time yet in my office to understand the logistic's of Astorea so I can't cannot aid in that area.

As for who will protect which area I cannot say for now, While I would prefer to protect my own lands first honestly since I've already scouted the area, the valley can be death trap for either side however the area for the most part isn't suited for mounted combat and an army will have trouble getting through the forests in the south since there isn't much down there. For the south, guerrilla warfare would clearly be better than facing them directly in the valley, a quick and nimble guerrila force could easily use the mountains and forests to their advantage than a regular force.

The farmlands are a different story altogether, that area will be difficult to protect either way. As much as I would hate to say it, If that land can't be protected, it is better raze it so they can't feed their own troops once captured, people may starve for the year or two but it will be better than a war torn country with nothing left when conquered. I would imangine everyone here would oppose that idea but I do need to remind you that war cannot be won when you cling to your morals, especially in a war such as this."

 

Lucia couldn't help shaking her head slowly in response to everyone's combined suspicions and worries. Seeing Esther on the wrong side of the pair's thoughts, Lucia could only gesture with a hand feeling mildly concerned. "If you think about it there's no real reason for Esther to be here if she doesn't support us. The opposition is the superior force, with greater numbers, the element of surprise and the freedom to chose their targets. If there were a side one would join hands with for advantages, it wouldn't be us." Lucia explained simply. It would also be a lot cheaper and more relaxed to join the king on the other side. Though being asked to guard the open eastern path, Lucia couldn't help cracking a small smile nodding along.

"I'm fine with defending the Eastern side, I've always been greatly limited by the battlefields in the past. My skill set benefits the most from battles of attrition against large numbers, provided the terrain is favorable and I can have safety I feel confident at least." Lucia commented with a heavy sigh, theoretically she had the potential to create an endless loop of summoning, draining and summoning again. Using dark magic to arrange the formations she practiced in her early stages, then loosing undead to meet the enemy swarm for swarm. Even if the undead kill 20 for every soldier they lose, Lucia could drain mana from them with the formation to summon another 20, while those soldiers would have no replacement.

Though Seto's comment about burning the farms only made her smile curl further. "Don't be silly though, burning our own farms? Why? Astorea's never been a very prosperous place when it comes to farming towns so our losses would be too great, you'd be handing him our heads on a silver platter." She said with a soft sigh, as she shook her head, Seto didn't seem all that familiar with Astorea despite being a duke. "Instead, that's the very reason they're trying to target them, and we can use that against them, since we know where their forces are headed, isn't that right Esther?" She asked with a mellow expression. The Guild would no doubt know the most efficient routes to and from those farms. The routes the King takes would definitely be one among those easy relaxed passages. "There's no reason to waste our advantage, let him try-- We'll arrange our defenses knowing his objectives if we leave the farms as they are." She tried to explain her thoughts as she glanced down at the map laid down, her hands brushing against the route Cessia suggested she protect. She wouldn't oppose an adviser's two cents, if it was felt Lucia would be best guarding the open path she would make every bit of use of the open space and infrastructure as possible.

"Esther, considering Falderan's resources, can we guess at how vulnerable their backs will be as they advance? I want their supply lines-- to force them to keep our farms around for their own survival as well." Lucia asked, wanting to know if that straight and open path would make it easy to strike at wagons or caravans that might not be filing along with the soldiers. "Cessia, the infrastructure that allows for rapid movement we can use as well but I want it to be a perilous road. Building traps, herding rabid beast packs towards it, tipping off local highwaymen to a fat fish. They will take it to get to us faster-- I want them to suffer for it." She spoke with a coy grin, wanting to know if this pair would be able to give her satisfactory answers. She wanted to ware this army down as much as possible using outside sources before even considering how much of their own they should invest in the defense.

 

OOC: Sorry for making it long, I couldn't really shorten it lol

He did understand where Lucia was coming from and it did make sense however he couldn't agree with the actions she wanted to take. He firmly believed she would be far more effective in the south in his territory due to her ability to summon the dead, she wouldn't be able to summon a large force per say but she would easily be able to set ambushes and with the aid of those who could sneak and attack from range as well as lay traps, she could be deadly in the mountain passes and the forests than him. He sighed and shook his head in disappointment when Lucia and Lady Cessia made an outburst about razing the farmlands, clearly these two didn't quite understand the true nature of war and what needed to be done, frankly it irritated him and this time he couldn't bite his lip, slamming his hand on the war table, he yelled at Lady Cessia(@Raid Master)

Seto

"ENOUGH YOU TWO! Cessia you are literally one of the most important people in this nation, you are the advisor of the King, start acting like it. This is war, don't let your emotions and morals cloud your judgment on what must be done. You clearly don't understand war and it's true nature. I will repeat myself so let it sip into you girl, I said If we can't hold the East, as a last resort, We must raze the farmlands so that the enemy cannot use them to their advantage. This is war, you must be able to make the difficult choices. If thousands must die to save the hundreds of thousands and Astorea itself as a whole, so be It."

Seto removed his hands from the war table as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath in and slowly released in an effort to calm himself, he didn't want to make another outburst like that again but that time it felt necessary. He then remembered Esther's words and they made sense, they would most likely only target the Keep itself, he smirked as he rubbed his chin, he could use that to their advantage since they could never win a defensive war, their only chance was to stall the enemy out in a long war that would take place from now into the winter, If the food doesn't kill them than the winter would. Taking another gulp of air in, he exhaled slowly again before gesturing @Lucia Mierz , Cessia and Esther(@Raid Master) the three the three with his hand to listen in.

Seto

"Alright listen up, I believe I may have came up with an overall plan, I know Lady Cessia will not approve and the Duchess may not either but Esther seems to know war as much as I do so here's the plan. We can't under any circumstances win a defensive war, the only choice we have is to stall the enemy out from here and drag it into the winter.

First things first, we must secure a food source from an outside source, possibly from an organization or another Kingdom If possible through negotiation or even adventuring since we have so many of those. Astorea obviously will not be able to pay this debt off at the beginning however If the King is intelligent as I believe him to be, We shall be able to pay off Astorea's debts back down the road.

Secondly, I suggest sending the Duchess to the south of my domain for a number of reasons, first, it is my land, I will care little If she uses dark arts to kill the enemy however Lady Amane is far different than me, the opposite in fact. If she finds out what transpires on her lands, she may try to hang the Duchess or cause some civil unrest event down the road, I don't need to explain that do I? Secondly, even though she most likely can't have undead perform Guriella warfare on their own, she can perform ambush tactics and with the aid of roguelike characters, ranged units and trappers as well as scouts, Lucia could prove deadly in the south in the forest and mountain passes.

She will literally have an unbeatable force that can't be taken down easily compared to the east. On the east, her undead hordes will be slaughtered right on the charge than the enemy will simply use archers or swordsmen to clean up, It won't matter If she can resurrect the dead, it will only stall them for a limited time, therefore, I believe she be more effective in my lands.

While the Duchess does battle in the south, I will take to the east, Whether or not we are able to secure an outside food source, My forces WILL raze the farmlands so that the enemy can't use them so they won't have any easy access to feed their troops. While the bulk of our main front line force is on the east to engage their early force, I will have a large team plant enough explosives in this very castle so when it comes apparent the enemy arrives in forces and we can't hold them back, I, along with a token force will fall back to the castle to make it look like it will be our last stand. When the enemy is about to break through, our forces will use the ancient underground tunnels underneath the castle to escape or teleport out If they can. When the enemy is in within my grasp, I will ignite the explosives, teleport myself out right before the castle is destroyed. If this can't be done somehow than I will revert to blowing myself up If necessary using my magic, I won't give them a true victory no matter the cost. If this works out, Majority of their main force as well as their leadership could be taken out in the process in one fell swoop.

If we use this plan and they try to use our comrades to take the castle, including the King, I will still destroy the Castle, Let that be known now. Now onto the main force, I didn't mention before. As I fall back with a token force, the majority of my forces will break off into many independent cells that will do the same as Lucia is doing in the south and perform ambush tactics in many tactical locations within Astorea. They will lure the enemy force in using fake intel, With no base of operations and no clear target, they will be forced to chase after the ones who gave them the fake intel and eventually this will eventually lead in a long war of attrition. With no easy supply of food or no clear target that can promote easy victory, they will withdraw when the harsh winter arrives and kills off many of their troops and that's If even their leadership still stands before them. Many will die before this is over so after the flames of war have settled, I will take responsibility alone since this was my plan from the very beginning."

 

At Seto's outburst, Lucia only snorted, practically rolling her eyes at the thought of her being the one who was being clouded by emotions. She was a person who fought for rights of the undead and idealized a nation of them, in all of the raids she'd participated in she either sacrificed herself or her army for the victory, were her emotions really the ones that needed to be called into question? "Naive-- The thinking of a neanderthal who can't see past what's right in front of them. The enemy is targeting those farms to starve us out and you would help him achieve his aim in some misguided effort to try and drag him down with us? Do you think they wouldn't have a supply chain? That they wouldn't have resources from their own country with them? Once we're dead, they can just clean up even if it takes decades but we don't have that same luxury." Lucia couldn't help shaking her head. It wasn't a hot headed desire to save people that urged her to want to keep the farms. They were simply more useful being kept whole.

"This plan is destined for tragedy-- I even suspect this is a push to acquire more power while Astor is away to make your own kingdom by downing the current regime. Any plan with determination to pull out our own roots is useless, this is a battle to reclaim this territory, if we blow it up, things just go back to how they were, Falderan claims Astorea, and we no longer have a place to call our own, wandering and struggling with a vandetta against an army who wouldn't care about a few wandering rebels." Lucia tried to properly illustrate her frustration. If this wasn't a battle to preserve what they've worked for, then why were they fighting in the first place? If this was about survival or violence, they'd be better off charging into Falderan right now while they king and all of his forces were away.

Shaking her head, Lucia didn't mind where she fought, she was a Necromancer certainly, but her 'Class' was a Priestess, not much different from Amane in her own eyes. If the woman was distressed by Undead passing through, Lucia would take the time to erase whatever taint she felt was left behind. Unwilling to argue on something so silly though, Lucia only shook a hand not too worried about where she would be positioned. "The Tal'darim and Winters' Claw will be fine to buy time in any terrain, they can use crossbows and hidden weapons themselves, so South or East, I won't fight anyone for a place. Instead, I want the farms left as they are. Let them be booby trapped harshly, maybe a poison a barrel of secondary ingredients commonly found in Falderan's stews. Stage ambushes and night raids, lure in local wild beasts and savage monsters with the smell of blood. Let the farm be a death trap rather then a pile of rubble." Lucia spoke hopeful that that would help thin the herd of soldiers more thoroughly.

"I'd like to take turns-- Sending ambushes against the kingdom's troop and organizing groups to lure waves of local monsters against them. This way the scouts will have time to catch their breath between ambushes and buy as much time as possible." Tapping a finger against her cheek she could only sigh with discomfort. "As for the castle... I don't want it destroyed, if there's life there's hope and this fortress, those farms are the life of this country. Instead I'd like to set up layers of defense in the event the walls are ever breached. Places to fall back to one after another to ware them down. If defeat seems inevitable, I'd like to find a magical solution, the castle was flooded back when we first seized it, perhaps we can use that strategy again." Lucia mused rubbing her chin. She didn't want to lose sight of the objective. In the event they did lose, then no amount of 'vengeance' would reclaim what they'd lost in her mind. "As for those supplies" Lucia added glancing to Esther with a hopeful expression. "I'll see what I can do to communicate with the other adventurers. I'd like to know the details as soon as possible."

 

OOC Key Points:

• No burning farms
• Rig the farms with traps; a barrel of poisoned support ingredients commonly found in falderan staple foods, Explosives, any kind of blade or pit fall.
• Organize Ambushes; specially if they settle down at the farm for rest
• Organize a small group to rally and lure local monsters/beasts to the approaching army
• Magical Formations, Long Ranged harassment and Undead human shields where possible.

 

Seto rested his head on the palm of his hand, sighing, this meeting was clearly a waste of time, Lucia had no interest in her plans and she showed little for his and seemed to think he only wanted more power for himself, why would he want control over a weak kingdom? His plot of land that would later be a Duchy he obtained was by far good enough for him, he had no intentions for the throne unless Astor proved a weak king but he didn't believe that was the case. Esther's comments didn't help like usual, never providing any help, just to complain and disrespect them, If she wasn't part of the gulid he might have killed her already.​

Seto

"While I do agree with Lucia using Magical formations and Guerrilla warfare, It makes no difference since I've already mentioned It before, Clearly this meeting was a waste of time I suppose. At this rate, Astorea will be smoking Ruins however I will not abandon my post to go play hero like Esther mentioned and despite what you might think @Lucia Mierz , I have no intentions of running this country myself as long as Astor remains fit for his duties, you can even tell him that If you want, it matters little to me.

We clearly can't come to a conclusion about the farmlands and the castle but I suppose we can at least start to form regular and specialized units. Lady Cessia(@Raid Master) bring me and Lucia here detailed maps of the eastern and southern Astorea and get us the proper number of remaining troops we have as well as the players present. If we can't even do this, then there's no point in even trying.

 

Lucia sighed deeply, glancing to @Seto Kurama once Esther left. There wasn't a shred of any kind of grievance of negativity in her expression, only, as if feeling misunderstood by her peers she felt a measure of pity at Esther's reaction. "Survival has never been the issue for us-- As much as it might seem imperative, as much as we might struggle to live, death has never been the end for Adventurers. Even while I benefit from that line of thinking as a Necromancer, even common Adventurers know that death isn't the end." The reason she spoke up was because she felt like her words, her desire to keep the kingdom in tact might be read differently from how she intended. "If our only goal was to strike our attackers down, then I'll agree to your plans without hesitation, it is definitely the best way to annihilate them all." She voiced as if it were a non-issue, it was something she couldn't exactly explain with NPCs around, after all, people treating their lives so flippantly were never viewed in a positive light. If they weren't to think of the future of a player kingdom, then Seto's goal and plan was definitely better then her own.

"But if we want to preserve a player nation, to be able to hold our ground it is not a good idea to destroy the tools we need to preserve it. If an Adventurer's kingdom falls, then it will reflect badly upon our ability to perform on a world stage as a whole, to lose our first home would make us appear easy to bully and press-- Politically we would always remain the underdogs." Lucia tried to explain, her plan from the start was an undead society and kingdom. If her leadership were to be seen as weak because of the events happening here it would lead to her having difficulties on that road in the future. "Our enemy thinks themselves to be oppressive, but we come from another world, no matter what they do to us, they won't be able to stop us all if we really wanted this feud to be irreconcilable." Lucia explained with a mellow tone. She wasn't certain what Seto's goal was, or even what Astor would do in her shoes, but if the players collectively came together wanting a kingdom to fall, they could do so simply by charging into the royal palace to stab the king unafraid of suicide. Even if they failed, they could just keep doing it after reviving until they succeeded; these kinds of wars were easy for players who were as numerous as they were determined.

There seemed to be concerns, or even disapproval for the player's lack of a united front. Lucia didn't think this was a disadvantage though, it was natural for the players, and a part of their strength in her mind. No matter what players would gather for a quest, right or wrong method didn't matter, having an army of immortals as your opponent was a bad idea. "No matter what happens, the player base as a whole will not weaken. Instead only our status will change, which means in this war our objective isn't necessarily to 'survive'. Our goal should be focused on how we want to fight them; With intentions of keeping this place? Or with the intentions of causing as much damage to them as possible." Lucia tried to explain her view point to Seto as best as she could. She argued for a place to return to, but in truth, the options weren't very different from another. That was why she was willing to follow Seto's plan if the end game they were hoping for was merely damaging the enemy king rather then keeping a place for their population to swell. "If we blow up the castle like you want, it would be better for us to simply charge into Falderan immediately after and seize their castle while their forces are trying to clean us up here rather then leaving a bulk of our force behind for protecting the castle and paying for food to be imported to cities we won't be able to defend in the future." Lucia offered with a lazy hand gesture as if thinking Seto's plan was written half way. "If we don't intend to charge into Falderan though, taking the defense seriously without the intention of blowing what we've built up I think is the best choice-- Otherwise we'll merely end up blowing up our villages every time someone tries to invade from now on." Lucia finalized with a sigh.

 

His head lowered, Seto crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he had begun to reflect on Lucia words, choosing to go silent for a few minutes before he would speak again. Survival? Yes, Lucia was right on the money when it became apparent their kind could never trurly died, not that he had personally gone through it himelf, he had came close to death a few times but he had never actually died and he no plans for dying even If it was a game. Lucia had also brought up attacking falderen If that was their goal, he couldn't say he could agree with something like that even If the King was here with all of Astorea's strength. Fighting falderen would take manpower they simply didn't have but it wasn't their goal and it most likely never will depends on what he thinks will happen.

He couldn't disgree with Lucia either about wanting to preserve this nation or what it stood for, for it would mark himself and their entire kind as a whole, weak or incapable whuch was something he was not willing to surrender easily while he still drew breath. He may have not been here for the battle months ago but he had still been here since the beginning when this world was open to his kind so he knew as well as anyone here what this meant. There wasn't any space to deny it, It seemed Lucia had won him over somewhat, he didn't approve of all her idea's but he could respect her for her intelligence and seriousness to their issue at hand, two rare qualities found in a person in this world whom only consider this place a playground for their gaming needs, at least he and Lucia saw things slightly differently from the masses in this world or he believed anyway. Opening his eyes finally, Seto chuckled with a rare smile on his face.

Seto

"You have my respect @Lucia Mierz , It's clear to me now you are certainly different from the masses of our kind here, thankfully we share some similar traits not found in the many who inhabit these lands. I will acknowledge the plan you have on the condition you figure a way to make the castle unusable to the enemy so they cannot use it as a base of operations, I would suggest toxic fumes or something that be spread out around the keep that can kill, what this could be, I am not certain.

As for the blitzkrieg attack you have suggested, I do not personally agree since we don't have much in the way of quick transportations, lighting quick cavalry or vehicles like the Germans had done in the second great war but I will allow it into the plan If it's prepared properly. Since you don't trust me which is fair I suppose, I could leave you to lead our defenses in Astorea while I act as the Vanguard to this blitzkrieg attack If it's put in the plan."

exits thread

(OOC:Being Forced too Even though Seto wouldn't lol)


​

 

Lucia could only let out a melodious chuckle when Seto voiced his condition, a sly grin coming to her face. Naturally charging into Falderan was suicide, but if they didn't have the goal of seizing a new home immediately, then blowing up the one they had was a tragic idea in her mind. The talk about making the base unusable wasn't too hard in her thoughts though, nodding along she brought a hand to her chin as she spoke. "Toxic fumes are one method I was considering, though usin0 gonly a single method might be difficult. We still have the corpses of the giant vampiric wyrms under the castle, I could raise a few of those and leave them behind to target the falderan military as well. Plague perhaps would be the easiest, but the hardest to clean up-- We should think on that one togeher, there's no reason for one person to muse on it alone, the more we use the better the effect after all." Lucia proposed, not wanting to hog that limelight on her own. After all, the more people lobbing ideas into it made it more likely to preserve the keep in the event they couldn't defend it.

Though when Seto commented on blitzing Falderan, Lucia shook her head feeling the same way as him. Crossing her arms behind her back, she stepped around the map glancing down to it as she spoke. "No, like you said, charging into that kingdom is not a good idea-- That's why I've tried to be firm in changing your mind from blowing up the Keep and farms. We just don't have the resources to make it prosperous. If we did blow up the keep though, that sort of strategy would be our only option of returning to the world stage-- Our only hope. Waiting for Falderan to recover while we lick our wounds would only make it more impossible." Lucia offered, she was trying to direct Seto away from a kamakazi attack because such a thing was so difficult. There was a bigger picture that needed to be taken into account naturally, it was for these reasons she had been snarky earlier, the plots and plans of the naive and short sighted-- They hadn't been said purely for the sake of being rude or insulting. "For that reason I felt that keeping everything in tact is the only way for us to preserve our future." She nodded back. Though with everyone beginning to leave, Lucia could only reach down to her Grimoire for a moment, patting the cover.

"Mortimer, get Sylvanas and the others who are outside of town. We're going to start moving in case things go south. Find us an inconspicuous area." Lucia spoke thinking the wraith would be able to hear her before she got her things together to leave as well. There would need to be a lot of planning done, and she would at least put in a few sleepless nights for it.

<Exits Thread>