Dark Crow Rising

"I... I don't get it. This doesn't make any sense in the slightest...?" I ponder openly from within the comfort of my office. Well, comfort may not be the best description for this place. It's a prison. Though I can rest in here, I cannot escape the sprawling network of information designed to reach me.

The Seven-Peaks Union of Jherikra has invaded.

An abrupt end has put a stop to the Theocracy-Union War and now there are warships all over the country. We've been so focused on the giant that reports regarding troop build-ups have been completely ignored. But, I don't get it. Why would they invade before we've even clawed our way to victory against the giant?

My spies are reporting that Thurn's Forge still stands, the Valkinvar are still around. Every bit of ground that has been lost in their war will now be retaken. Whatever allowed the Union their advantage is now impotent. They won't be able to end this war in a quick, fashionable time.

Their rear is completely exposed and it will only take the Valkinvar a few nights to lick their wounds and fly. So many airships have flooded into Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst's borders. The emergency communication lines won't shut up. It's much the same in our vassals and allied mountain-states.

We don't have the men to respond to such an attack in any of our cities. For some reason as well, we're getting barely anything from the front. The airships are just passing by with no resistance in the slightest. Never mind the garrison of Union troops in Suhurlodst directly.

Yet, also, not a peep has come from them, that garrison and their airship have not moved. Are they not aware of what is going on? Do I gather what men I can and take the young prince as hostage? Will Suhurlodst resist my efforts in a motion to preserve their sovereignty?

I don't know...

I squeeze my head tight and sigh, my eyes closing up as heat builds. Hissing my next breath, I blink my water-edged view back to some normality. Get things under control. I need to... How am I...?

"DAMMIT!" I roar, clearing my desk of all its crap and smashing it across the walls. Bringing a fist up, I control myself just in time to stop a flaming fist snapping it in half. I opt for simply attempting to flip it instead. But, I can't find the strength in me, it just lifts up and slams back down onto its front legs.

Returning my eyes to my map as it erratically updates with the positions of the Union fleets, I shiver. I cannot form a battleline of any sort out of this, there's nowhere but the West that I can do something. Problem with the West is that if we huddle up there, we'd lose most of the country and they only need to break through in one spot. I would be in charge of a last stand with flying batteries closing in like a claustrophobic nightmare.

I blink and frown at the reports of the heaviest Union activity. It's all in the south of the country, near where the giant's reported to be. Maybe I can pull troops back from there and let the giant catch the unsuspecting invaders by surprise. May- no, no... I already had to write off cities because we couldn't evacuate them in time.

Do we just roll over and accept the occupation, squeeze it of what manpower we can? Letting the Union suddenly have their hands full with the giant would allow me to rebuild my forces. I could muster them into an army strong enough to finish off the giant and cripple the Union. It's never been my goal to seek territory yet gutting the Union of some of their land to make up for what we have lost is an option.

But, there's no way I will be convincing anyone to go through with such a plan. It doesn't matter if I have all the authority needed to get what I need done, it doesn't matter. Especially if I use it to allow this country to fall when the position exists to ensure it will not! I need to figure out what can be sacrificed and what I can do.

The Gnomon is always available as a last resort, however, I am not sure I can make much use of it now. We've been utterly blindsided and such a powerful weapon would just gut this country more. It needs to be used as a First Strike, not as a backfooted swing. There's too much magic to have it be used like a scalpel.

Gods and goddesses above, is this it?

This is how the Dual-Republic of Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst falls, the end of one of Jherikra's great powers. I guess it's fitting we fall like this, in a time so tumultuous it will only be compared to the Time of Liquid Mountains or the Dietic Betrayal. Though history will remember me as the one at the helm of this country's death, it will not be foul to me. I mean, how can it be?

How can anyone be expected to salvage a situation as dire as this?

In order to save lives, it may be necessary for us to roll over and expose our tender bellies. Lower the flags and open the gates. Disarmament will come before death. With wounded pride, we all shall live to see a future for our home.

I frown and look away from any sign of Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst's presence. This isn't my homeland, it is not my country, I just work here. Even now I will not flee but still, all this effort to preserve something I can throw away. I can't help but doubt the point in my work when there's so little worth fighting for.

My reputation? It's a joke these days, I was brought in to handle something and I failed. We only got anywhere with the handling of Smiling Jhurack because he took an interest in the Dark Crow. That osibindah annoyance is why this city even found itself free of such nightly terror.

If only my solution was as easy as it was back then. Throw a single, powerful body at it and watch the problems melt away. Unfortunately, I am not insane and I cannot believe the fantasy of it no matter how hard I try. The end is coming and I have to make a choice between two foul options.

Fight the giant with the help of the Union or rally every child, woman and man to fight both?

"I will be murdered in my sleep and the world will cheer as the bloody knife is presented. My death-soaked sheets will be postered on every street and in every newstablet." I let out with a dreary sigh. Whatever my future has in stock for me, I suppose it's now time I go and present myself to the officers.

Reaching the door, I grow hesitant and the weak grip I have slips off. My expression goes blank and I look down to the floor, shoulders coming up to shield my unseen face. I turn away and return to my sofa to clutch it. The first sniffle marks only the beginning.

Whimpers turn to sobs, tremours into full quakes and everything comes out. I can't do this. I'm trying everything I can with all the tools at my disposal and it's only getting worse. If I can't handle the situation at its simplest, how am I supposed to handle it now?

Just the giant alone when it was known to only limp across the land was too much. Then, it leapt onto my army and wiped them out. It reduced cities to dust by simple, mere proximity. Now, right after I sign the death warrant of so many to avoid one war, I am dragged into one with another lot.

I should've just told the Ibenoroccon Embassy to flee across the All-Coast and back to their masters. At least in such a war, I could've found us easy allies and the Gnomon would actually accomplish something. The Grand-Kingdom could sail the mightiest fleet to our shores and I would have the world become glass before the first boot hit the beach.

If I did that, I wouldn't be hearing rumours of mutiny. I wouldn't be dealing with backlash day in and day out from everyone. I've allowed so many to die because of worries regarding a country half a world away. The newstablets are all reporting it and the riots are amplifying the information.

Families shoved aside for foreigners, gold and treasure focused over children and babies. Children and babies. The riots might've spiked around Ipannicano but they're fine. It's all so clear to the people now, the special privileges a bunch of foreigners have.

Even with it not being all my fault, the crowds are calling for my head. Orders aren't reaching the men as clearly and the city is locking down harder than ever. Why would anyone honour their oaths when they're guarding someone like me? Who knows how many families I have destroyed because I let the Ambassador have what he wanted?

Too many, that's what.

Slipping my soaked expression back into view, I sniffle and begin to wipe my features down with whatever. Ruining my make-up is simply a path to a more thorough cleaning of the face. Clenching the wipes tightly I throw them into a nearby bin and snap to my feet with a shaking core. So many bad emotions in need of getting out that I am just bottling.

Sneering at the closest mirror, I straighten myself out as much as I can and finally open the door.

"Grandguard!" my secretary goes, her back almost giving out from the amassed crowd at her desk. Freezing up a little, I meet the eyes of everyone present and my brow starts to set.

"Conference room, now." I order and thankfully, they all listen. The group vanishes and I take a few steps forward that suddenly fail. By the grace of the gods and goddesses, only my secretary sees me fall and she rushes over.

"Are you alright, Grandguard Inerish?" she asks me and I shiver out a slow nod.

"No... No, I am not. But, I need to..." I answer incompletely, a hand clutching my wobbling head as my eyes fade between light and dark. My magic is certainly not responsible and I don't recall ever feeling light-headed because of it. I find myself on a nearby waiting sofa and a glass of water appears.

Taking the drink, I put most of it down my throat quickly and cough a bit. I don't think I can do this anymore. I need a way out of this whole situation. Something to take the stress of it all away so I can go home or leave the country.

"By the way, Grandguard Inerish, before you head off to your meeting... This came to us from the Union Embassy." my secretary explains and a hefty tablet is handed over. Noting the untouched seal, I pop it open and slip the magic-rich stone out. Reading through it, I note the royal seal and decor that punctuates much of the material.

At the very end of the skimmed message, a signature, one belonging to... His Royal Highness, the Prince to Ascend Jhrartur. The Royal Admiral.

A message from the one most likely in charge of this abrupt invasion of Thrurstradtur's land?

I pack the tablet back into the packaging and heft it into my secure grip. Getting back up onto my wobbly feet, I decide to bring it into the meeting with me. I will read it and pretend it's just an urgent report as those in the conference room elucidate their fears and other concerns. Something from the eldest prince of the Seven-Peaks Union at a time like this is not something I can look over.

"Unless it is me, keep this place locked up." I order my secretary and I close the door behind me. Sighing out what stress I can, I mind the glares many are giving me in their so blatant manner. Few observe the usual protocol and the guards act like someone is out of line to get out of saluting. Emergency power only matters for as long as the men under my command are willing.

A mood change is all that is needed for a rebellion or mutiny.