the attack on gehena
Silva was a unforgiving lord. He held grudges. He struck down those that opposed him, he crushed any who would openly decent against him, and those that hid in the shadows knew not to come out, let they invite his draconic ire. Silva was a lord, he required obedience from those beneath him, and in return he offered great prosperity, corruption was a thing that he did not enjoy, blackmail, bribery, greedy self-motivated deals, kidnappings, he preferred . . . the direct approach. But when he set his sights upon something he got it, Silva's will was as immutable as the storm. Of course, one might wonder how such a thing is achieved, a combination of terror, brute force, and the correct amount of charisma and theatrical performance can sway the minds of most, and where coercion did not work, the sword picked up the slack.
Silva stood at the fore front of his army, flanked by a platoon of his elite, and backed by the full might of the Ruathan army, thousands strong stood behind him, and before him stood his target, Gehena. With there western front almost entirely collapsed, the nobles of the city had ordered there army back, retreating to the safety behind there capitals walls, relying on it and the sheer concentration of warriors they had to dissuade Silva, indeed it was a massive goal to siege, but Silva could do it, he has broken many fortresses in his time. Behind him his army hooped and hollered, clattering of shields, the blowing of horns. The smack of armor, the shriek of sharpening steel, the burn of torches, the smell of oil on catapults. They had been there for a day now, just sitting there watching waiting, letting them squirm in their chairs. Now was the time to announce his intention
Silva took a step forward, with a mile between the city and him the step was insignificant, but the gesture was what was important, his breathed in deeply, and let out a deafening roar, usually such a thing would never go through towards the vast distance, but with the right application of magic, it carried through with all the force and authority Silva could muster, he would be heard
"I am arch lord Silva, ruler of Ruatha. I come here not to rape, not to burn, not to pillage and slaughter, not to kill, and murder. What I am here for is conquest. I am here to conquer you. To that end I give you, the people of Gehena, 2 choices. 1 you can open your gates. Throw down your arms, kneel before me, I will march to your nobles and I will announce my conquest of your city to them. You will not be harmed, of that you have my word. 2 you do not, you lift up your arms and your shields, you raise your voices in a scream of greatness. You hold to your patriotism, you decide that you can fight me or that its worth dying to not let me conquer you. Whatever the reasons you decide to resist. And I will break your gates, I will shatter your walls, I will kill ALL who stand in my way. I will march to your nobles, I will announce my conquest of your city to them. The choice of how bloody this is I leave in your hands, you have 24 hours to decide, this time tomorrow if your gates do not open I will shatter them on the anvil of war
Silva took a step back and turned around. Moving from his front lines to the back where the tents where. Moving into his personal make shift quarters. Sitting down in a massive chair meant for him. His eyes gazing upon a battle map. His throat hurt, magic was a bother. People called it the easy way out but sometimes it took as much as it gave. Magic was powerful, dangerous, seductive. He didn't like its existence. But while it existed he had to tolerate it. and even use it. was there a magical solution to their current problem? In all likely hood yes. But Silva was a lord. Not some dead-beat tyrant who took everything he could however he could. Utilizing magic to conquer the city would be admitting the city was mightier then his. And that just would not do.
The 2 outcomes he had laid out where simple. Either it was going to be relatively bloodless, or VERY bloody, it entirely depended on which choice the populace made, in all likelihood at the moment they swung to the bloodier option. Believing themselves strong enough to stand against him. He needed a way to dissuade them of that notion. Something . . . underhanded. His eyes traveling over to a red stone, his spies where probably in the city now. Implanted while the armies and refugees streamed into the city his spymaster was in there, up to whatever actions he deemed appropriate to achieve victory, Silva promised his army wouldn't hurt them, and Lequiste wouldn't do anything too terribly permanent to them. Not for a bit at least, not unless this fight lasted longer than Silva thought it would. A week tops to force his way to the castle keep. But there was an infinitely more important thing he needed to do, then simply conquering another city. He needed to find someone, someone in that city who was very VERY important to him. Hopefully in that task, Lequiste is quite successful. nothing really for him to do. Everything was set, the pieces merely needed to fall into place in just the right way.
night time came, and with it the city was a buzz of commotion. Terrified civilians. Afraid wives. Scared children. Soldiers who did everything they could to be ready. Arrows being mass produced. Swords sharpened. Armor refined. The nobles trying to stir their people into action while hiding behind there armies. And hiding within them. Moving about as normal as they could be. Spies went into action. Spreading dissent, speaking out. Reaping the seeds of panic that Silva had sewn so long ago. The already scared populace was easy to manipulate. Slowly pushing them further and further. Eventually it would hit a breaking point. But there needed to be a good straw for it. one of the nobles had to make a mistake, and Lequiste was VERY happy to push one there. it was easy to find which one of them was the most . . . unstable. A noble who spent most of his time arming the military, because of his close association with it, even though he was just the money man so to speak. The people naturally blamed him for the state of there war. Which is to say, losing badly. So, he was a excellent target to manipulate, and unfortunately for him. He was going to be manipulated in the most direct and horrible way someone can be
Gregory was tired, but he couldn't sleep, he had to bend to the whims of the people. They tried to blame him for there troubles, there current state, but all he could do was fund the war effort, he was no general, he didn't know tactics, and he wouldn't dare to try to tell a general how to run the army. But he did expect his money to at least be put to good use. And judging by the loud reptilian bastard shouting from outside their walls, it hadn't been. He rubbed his face, one hand on each side. Pulling down as if trying to stretch the tired out of it, no nothing he could do. He needed some coffee, go home, get a nice pot of his favorite brew, might be his last chance to enjoy it. he walked off headed from the crowded walls to his home. Funding the military had its up sides. Like his villa being the site of a garrison of armed guards for example. Things rarely went bad for him. Though as he walked up the guards where giving him an odd look or 2. He ignored it. heading inside the richly decorated place, more odd looks, from the servants as well. Why where they doing that? He looked into a mirror, besides looking like he hadn't slept in days he looked fine. His eyes narrowed before heading over to his personal quarters, the best place to be to enjoy a pot of coffee, alone. A guard outside his room even gave him a look. He finally had to ask "soldier, I'm getting odd looks. Is there something wrong with my appearance? Or am I the target of some practical joke" the soldier, a more experienced veteran then the bulk of the army at the moment he shook his head "no my lord, you look fine, its just . . . well . . . I could have sworn you were already here, I was VERY sure you where in your room that's all . . . forgive me" Gregory waved his hand in dismissal, everyone was tired like him, he had to remember that. He opened his door and walked in, closing it behind him. Sighing heavily. Taking off the heavy noble cloak, and setting it down on a drawer. He never noticed his undoing. A hand placed upon his shoulder, and he was forced to turn around, before he could shout for the guard a scaly hand was on his face. He was looking at a mirror image of himself . . . so why did it look scaly, why did he had slitted eyes. Eyes that glowed with a power. A power that forced itself deep into his mind. The seeds of sedition where planted.
in the morning the clone had left, without even so much as a trace, and Gregory awoke, his head pounding, he didn't remember what happened, because he didn't need to. He stopped for a moment as he got out of bed, to think. What could be done. It was morning, and by afternoon Silva would probably make good on his word. They would all be ruined, and he had heard what Silva did to nobles he didn't like . . . and he wasn't kind enough to use a guillotine. No . . . he had to escape. But he had to be quiet about it, and he knew just how to do it. every military had its dark side, didn't matter the kind, and he knew just where to go to find it . . . and enlist some mutually beneficial help
Overall poor Gregory wasn't in control of himself . . . and for the rest of his life he wouldn't be, because he didn't live very long, everything fell in place like the snake wanted, lounging in the highest tower of the castle keep. A good spot to watch the mayhem unfold from, nice and safe, with a hypnotize guard in the back, and a lovely little woman to take care of his needs, food and water, and a tender hand to take care of his teeth, down there he spotted it, the cart that would start it all
The people usually put stock in someone that they elect, the king they might not like much, but the town sheriff? He is usually one of the most trusted people . . . so low and behold when the sheriff shows up to stop a otherwise normal military convoy. The guards in it tried to protest, but the sheriff's word was law . . . especially in the middle of the crowded town square it didn't take long. The cart was searched, and within was the straw. Well . . .the man. Gregory, hidden away inside it with a pile of valuable. Another city wouldn't care about the coin of a fallen nation. But gold was coveted everywhere, jewels, jewelry, gold, silver, heaps of it, bags of it, and there he was . . . leaving. The reaction was near instant, rage, anger, hate, all built up over the night and day. And unleashed at once. The guards and the sheriff couldn't stop it even if they wanted to. Of course, the sheriff was just another unwilling pawn, had Lequiste not poked and prodded he would have never been here. Poor Gregory was dragged out by the unwashed masses. And was killed in a rather slow and brutal way. Death by stoning took a while. The effect rippled through the city. Riots broke out, desertion was rampant. And above all. The offer was reminded. A brawl erupted around the gate. The army in a civil war against the towns militia that seemed to have sprung up overnight. They couldn't . . . or rather wouldn't fight as they should have against there own people. Within hours, so close to the deadline the gates where flung open. The war raging inside came to a slow stand still. A lord walked there streets now. One that commanded more respect then any lord they knew of
The giant monster was something to behold. clad in a kilt, with horns capped with gold. The respect he commanded by merely walking in put the nearby scuffles to a end.
"MY WORD IS ABSOLUTE. As I promised your city will survive, but while the city may live, YOU must choose if you live. All who kneel to me and my soldiers will be spared. Any who stand shall be killed. There will be no mercy, and unlike last time, you will not be given a day to think about it. kneel NOW"
The dragon lord shouted to them all. His word ringing with magic as it traveled through the city, most of the people knew to kneel. Some where too afraid to stand, some knew that it was in their best interests, and some chose to stand, to fight against Silva. They didn't stand for long. Some went onto there knees when they saw their comrades slaughtered. Others tried to run, but their fate would be the same, running enemies where just a threat for another day after all. Better to stop it now. Silva walked through the streets, a man walking up. A human, but one he knew. He bowed his head and presented a map "we found her, just as you commanded lord." Silva nodded his head and followed the spy, letting him go towards . . . her
He had never met this woman, but he would know her, he had been given a portrait that was supposed to be accurate, the house was rather calm and serene, it looked like a nice house, a house he had ruined. He walked forward. Knocking on the door. A hand pulled some curtains aside, he saw a woman face, wide eyes and afraid, she knew who he was. Silva lifted up a hand, doing a come-hither gesture, she left and soon returned slowly opening the door. With two guards behind him, one might think he was here to kill. But no, he was not. He was here for Roberts, he had ruined a great man, and he was going to do what he could to at least make up for his act . . . at least in some way
"hello mary" the archlord said, the woman small, with gentle curves to her body that to his understanding meant she was desirable to a human. He was unable to see it though. Species difference and all. He liked her eyes though, they where wide with fear but a determination was within them. To live. That was good, that was Ruatha in her eyes, just like Roberts had it in his blood. He had a good woman, it broke his heart alittle to separate them. Silva put a hand to his chest, and gave her a bow. She seemed afraid. Not much he could do about that "a-are you sil. . . I mean, lord Silva?" he nodded his head "yes, I am, but I don't like being called lord much. May I come in?" the woman meekly backed up. Gesturing for him to enter, Silva was big. And he had to fit himself through a door. Sliding in too enter, the guards waiting outside as he entered, luckily most building where bigger on the inside, tall. To let heat, get trapped at the top. Worked to his benefit here. He closed the door behind and he walked inside. It broke his heart abit more when he did, portraits, a family one. A child . . . he had stolen a father from this child. A flash back. Centuries ago, him and his sister, alone. It sent a pain through his heart, but the child still had its mother. He turned to look at her a sigh escaping his mouth "w-why are you here?" she asked him. A nervous wreck she was, who wouldn't be in her position "I bring you news, though bad, a week ago your husband engaged my personal soldiery in combat . . . he did not survive the encounter" he said rather bluntly, the woman seemed shocked for a moment, stopping, wondering if it was true, but in Silva there was no such thing as a lie. He didn't lie. Most dragons couldn't, something hard coded into them. It wasn't so much they couldn't lie, more so that it caused . . . mental trauma to lie. Some did, they weren't exactly right in the head anymore. Her knees buckled, and she fell. Silva's tail went out to support her, but she tried to crawl away from him. Fear over took her. Silva sighed again. Kneeling and eventually sitting down on the wood floor
Nearly an hour went by, the woman cried a lot. Silva couldn't comfort her, he was the monster that took away her husband after all. But it didn't take long for such commotion to bring out the child, who came out as innocent as snow. The child walked in. somewhat afraid of Silva but . . .as in curious child fashion, was more curious then afraid. The child walked up slowly. Perhaps 6 years old? He walked up. The woman too wracked by grief now to notice the approach. And by the time she did, the child was already touching Silva. Silva's eyes watching the child. Its small hands touching his shiny scales. Polished to a mirror shine. He said a small word. "dragon?" Silva nodded his head "indeed I am. Did your father tell you about us?" "yes, he said you were strong, noble, wise, and guard vasts amounts of wealth." The child leaned in to whisper where Silva's ear would be where he human "and that you steal princesses" Silva let out a laugh at that. He loved hearing those stories, they where funny to him. Soo . . . innocent meek, such a small amount of what he was capable of. The woman was drawn from her panic and saw her child. She let out a scream, and Silva smiled to her "don't worry, he will be fine, I shall not hurt this child" he said to her, the child oblivious to the going's on was climbing up the dragon's body. Reaching up to his curled ram horns. "I have taken a lot from you, but I will make it up. Robert's was a good man, worthy of me and my city, so I shall take you, if you wish it I will take you to Ruatha . . . there I know a old drake, who sadly cannot bear a brood . . . "SMACK. If Silva's face was skin, he probably would have a burning red hand print across his face right now. She was a fast one, she would make a good soldier if she put her mind to it. "YOU DARE. YOU TAKE HIM FROM ME, YOU MARCH INTO THIS CITY. YOU CLAIM IT AS YOURS, AND YOU DARE TO ACT LIKE YOU CAN JUST REPLACE WHAT YOU TOOK?" The child was oblivious to the meaning of course but he was abet scared still. He knew something was wrong. The woman had fire and fury, vim and vigor. he bowed his head to her again "I am arrogant, I am prideful. But that fact that I came here at all is proof of my sincerity, I may not be able to fix it. but I can make amends as best I can, the fact of the matter is that this city is going to fall apart. And get a lot worse, before I make it better, people will die. Houses will burn. Society will crumble. I would like to spare you from that, you and your child. And offer you a life time of contentment . . . it is not a offer I make lightly. Varan is an old drake, I'm certain he will pass within the century, your child offers him a unique chance to experience something he never got to. Parenthood. And you can be there with your child. I will make sure of it. a child should have parents afterall" the woman had pure fury on her face, Silva had no doubt that such a thing would happen. But he had to at least try, it was the least he could do. "the choice is yours, ill give you a day or two. I implore you to go with it." he said gently pushing the child off of him, he probably had question but silva had no answers, silva stood up gesturing to the guards outside "let them know your answer, they will contact me in the meantime they will protect you from the . . events to come" he told her, turning around to leave. " are you telling me the truth? Are things going to be that bad, is your honor honest and in good faith?" she asked him. Silva looked at the door, he turned around to look at her. "you humans . . . so many of you are terrible beings, capable of any act I could perform. Great kindness, and . . . great evil. Greed is powerful I need to draw it out so I can stomp it out . . . I will make things worse. So much worse, but things will get back. Shock therapy as they say, my offer is genuine and the truth, I shall make it happen. So says the lord of Ruatha" he said turning around he left, and made his way towards the castle keep. If things where going according to plan the most staunch and loyal where there, to put up a resistance, silva would have to break there backs.