UXOL - 51052 Early Rain (Next)
The gate of the arcane waste storage room underneath Uxol
Half a day later, there is another knock on the door.
Barban, who is somewhat exhausted from all the tension, looks at Kalla.
“Should we open? It appears to have become very quiet.”
Krux looks at Kalla and Barban decidedly.
“We have been tasked to observe. I believe we must.”
Kalla nods to Krux, and motions Barban to open.
Gwyn stumbles into the doorway, with a short sword in his hand and a half-shattered shield in the other. His face and scale armor is covered in blood as he steps in.
Gul walks up to Gwyn and hugs him. Gwyn is startled by the gesture and looks to the others.
“It is over.”
The Viceroy looks at Gwyn.
“Are they here to come for us?”
Gwyn shakes his head.
“No mylady. They have departed. All of them. Along with the wretched weapons.”
Krux frowns deeply, then buries his face in his hands. Kalla motions Gwyn to continue.
“They killed almost all our soldiers, most of our civilians and plundered our stocks and armories. And then they simply left.”
Kalla’s gaze flashes towards Gul, then to Krux.
“Compiler, what are we dealing with here?”
Krux frown persists.
“Mylady, I believe that Drennon has just used his army to do an armed robbery. I did not conceive of that happening. The weapons from the Ancient Armory are not directly cursed with demonic spirits, but they are extremely unstable and turn anyone wielding it completely insane. I possess original records from multiple Belovian Dynasties confirming this.”
Gwyn looks at Krux: “They turned insane indeed… insanely powerful!”
“It’s only a matter of time before they turn insane, Gwyn. We simply need to be patient.”, Krux retorts.
“Nonsense!”, the Trade Advisor Barbar interjects with annoyance, “Belovian Weapons are widely written about across Dyjalom. Drennon must have found a way to….tame them.”
Krux’ eyes widen in despair as Kalla’s head begins to boil with rage..
“Gentleman. This is a disgrace! How can a Feudal Lord twenty walkdays away from us know more about the arms stockpile underneath our city than ourselves! And how can our scouts not have found out about their mining activities until the very invasion itself!”
The Viceroy is fuming with anger.
“Look around you abject fools! Our city is destroyed and our people massacred because of your complacency! I should have you all shot by ballistas!”
“I’m sorry to say my lady..”, Krux retorts.
“Silent!”
She turns to face Gul. Gul stares to the groun, reluctant to meet her gaze.
“Now Gul of Taleshorne, tell me. Your late boss Reelox has been a disaster in terms of scouting intelligence. Tell me: what went wrong and what are YOU going to do to make it better?”
Gul looks up surprised.
“Me? Euhm…”
Carmena, the advisor of Food and Wine in Uxol
Carmena, the advisor of Food and Wine, stands up, and walks to the wall of the storage in her long flowing dress, which seems particularly ill-fitted for the occasion.
“If I may mylady? I have an idea.”
The Viceroy calms down, and motions Carmena to proceed.
“I do not know why this happened mylady. Perhaps it was incompetence, perhaps malicious intent at the time. But we have lost many brothers and sisters, and there are no victors standing in this room. We know less than Kazamer does, and perhaps we should have ventured out earlier despite the Pestilence.”
Krux and Barban nod at Carmena.
“But we chose not to, and here we are today. Help will come from the Imperial Army, and one day we will strike back. But before we do so, we need to know how the Kazamer army tames these cursed weapons, and how many weapons they have taken. And I think I know someone who might be of help.”
“And who might that be?”
“The Lady of the Valley. She is the only person I know who has experience with sorcery, materialism and growing. And she has survived right on the doorstep of Kazamer for decades.”
“Then by all means pay her a visit.”, Kalla responds, “Now for the others:”
She turns to Krux.
“You have a lot to atone for, allowing us to be so dramatically blind-sided. Compiler Krux, I am putting you in charge of the Cleansing and Sanitation of Uxol. Risk your health to protect that of your brothers and sisters. In the meantime we shall train a new Compiler”
Krux bows.
“Barban, you too have disappointed me. Your networks channel many goods and coins, but carry little intelligence. Nevertheless our stocks need to be restored and the city prepared for the arrival of the Imperial reinforcements. You are in charge of that.”
Barban nods and bows.
“As for you Gul and Gwyn, you have impressed me by your survival and resilience. I am putting you in charge of the New City Guard, as Captain and vice-Captain. May you find talented recruits among those who survive, and I encourage you to find a way to refortify our city against attacks from above, as well as below.”
They both bow deeply.
“Thank you mylady. It is an honour to carry out your wish.”, Gul responds
THE TOME: THE GREAT DEVASTATION OF THE SIX JACKALS – 897 Y6JD (51051)
The Jackals is an anarchist society that lives in a mountain range called the Jackal’s Heads.
The First Jackal was strong and daring. He ruled the Jackals for forty years, and gained many vassals and allies abroad. But he did not share his reputation or wealth with the other Jackals, and left them deprived. Three stabs of the knife ended his life.
The Second Jackal was greedy and scheming. He ruled the Jackals for five years together with the Third Jackal and razed the towns of Seo and Mort, so that the other Jackals could also enjoy the luxury they deserved. But his aggressive actions left him exposed for the enemy at home. A squad of Kazamer soldiers abducted him, and returned merely his head a few weeks later.
The Third Jackal was proud and knowledgeable. He ruled the Jackals for another thirty years, and led his army to rampage across the heartlands, bringing exotic jewels and artefacts. But his esoteric knowledge was of little use on the battlefield, as his ladder-equipped axemen failed to scale the walls of Taros and he and his troops were struck in the back by the riders of Kazamer.
The Fourth Jackal was charming and friendly. He ruled the Jackals for seventeen years, re-established peace with his neighbours, and helped the people prepare for the harsh winter to come. But his naivety led him to be infected with the Pestilence when he visited an almshouse on Rictor Rock. After a sickbed of two months, he died alone.
The Fifth Jackal was aggressive and dominant. He ruled the Jackals for thirty years, and used his army to capture the town of Seo, and bring its population back as slaves to his principality, bringing luxury to his people and those of the other Jackals. But his iron rule was little liked by his people and the Sixth Jackal, who instigated a peasant uprising, brought him to justice.
The Sixth Jackal was opportunistic and selfish. He ruled the Jackals for five years, and received an offer he couldn't refuse to visit and parlay at Rictor Rock. His replacement Captain was quickly replaced with a puppet loyal to Kazamer, while the Sixth Jackal himself disappeared without a trace.
The Seventh Jackal is still alive, and has been for the last 770 years . He rules through his people, and it appears that nobody really knows who he or she is.