text: You pull out your dagger and begin repeatedly stabbing the troll in the arm to the point where you nearly sever it. Its grip loosens as it hisses in pain. You nearly get your head punched in by the troll's other fist, but you fall backwards on the walkway in time for it to miss. The troll fails to follow up with another attack since it attempts to remove the sword from its neck presumably to regenerate properly.
  
  Taking advantage of this breather you cast a lightning blast right at the sword, which acts as a great conductor to fry the troll inside and out. You have to back up just so the troll's flailing body doesn't hit you. Eventually when the troll's body is burned to a crisp and you're fairly certain you've fried its vital organs enough that it can't possibly regenerate you stop and the troll crashes to the floor still smoking and twitching. Then you retrieve your sword and finish decapitating the troll just to be sure.
  
  You take a small rest after your battle, though you keep alert for another troll. Thankfully no more show up, but there's still the question about Marik and where the hell the trolls came from in the first place. Both potential answers are going to lie in the basement you imagine so that's where you continue your exploration.
  
  The factory basement is in just about as much disarray as the ground floor and there are a few dead bodies, but no trolls or derro for that matter. You search until you come across a large metal door which has been partially ripped off its hinges, a long set of stairs go down. It would appear there is an even deeper part of the factory.
  
  You go down the stairway, which seems almost like forever and when you finally get to the bottom, you hear a lot of shouting in an unfamiliar language. You walk down a corridor and find a large open area with presumably more factory equipment, but some of it looks very strange. You see machines, which are emanating a lightning arc similar to the spell you can cast or what nature does during a storm. Other things look like giant tubes with something inside, though from this distance you can't tell what.
  
  Among the machinery you also see short heavily armored figures busily trying to clean up the area. You can't even see their faces, but you're guessing these are the infamous derro.
  
  "You there! Who are you surfacer? Are you one of the factory workers?" a deep voice suddenly calls to you from the right. You look and see a very pale figure wearing white coat covered in blood and a bunch of other things you can't identify. This bald wild-eyed fellow is about the same size as the armored figure so you come to one conclusion.
  
  "The Emperor sent me. Are you Marik?"
  "I am Marik... you must be the one he refers to as his son. But why would the Emperor send you here?"
  "I was only given orders to come here, but within such time I faced two trolls that apparently slaughtered not only many factory workers, but its supervisor AND several of the Emperor's Eyes! I had thought they might've killed you as well, but since that is not the case, I am hoping that you can shed some light on the situation."
  "Shit, I had a feeling one of them escaped up there, but not two. And I assumed that the fucking poncy wizard would at least be able to handle it. Figures that fop wouldn't have the stones when faced with such a beast, let alone two of them."
  "Escaped? Excuse me, but what the hell were trolls doing here in the first place? And why did you not send men to help kill the beasts?"
  "If you have not noticed by the mess already, but my men and I have been dealing with trolls down here as well."
  "It looks as if you were not fighting them when I arrived and you still have not answered why there were trolls down here in the first place?"
  "I know you're held in high regard by the Emperor and obviously your skills are impressive if a scrawny thing like you can handle two adult trolls, but you will cease questioning me in such a manner now surfacer!"
  "I will question your competence if you are the reason for this disaster! These trolls have just caused a stop in production which is vital to the Emperor's war on the Felkan Kingdom!"
  
  Marik's expression begins to show more aggression though he's smiling at the same time. He almost looks as if he's going to break into laughter.
  
  "Surfacer, I have known the Emperor much longer than YOU have even been alive! Maybe you're unfamiliar with the complexities of our relationship, so I will let your words pass as ones of a concerned child for his parent's wishes. But NEVER question my competence ever again! I am the very reason the Emperor is able to pursue a successful war on the Felkans in the first place! My work here is to find even better ways to crush his enemies! The trolls? Part of my experiments as new weapons for the war! Sometimes experiments fail! Science is not always exact! Do you think YOU were the first Eternal?"
  "Yes, I'm well aware I was among the first successful ones, but that still doesn't excuse why you sent no men to at least scout the factory if you believed trolls had escaped."
  "The Emperor should've told you more about our people then. We derro do not step foot on the surface if we can help it. My people may have an alliance with the Emperor, but that alliance does not extend to such madness."
  "I was lead to believe madness was a common derro trait."
  "It is, but even then there are limits! Indeed I may very well be among the most mad and even I will not soil myself by setting foot on your surface world."
  "But the factory is enclosed, you'd still be shielded from the sun if that is death to your kind."
  
  Marik begins laughing in a tone that is much different from his deep voice. It's an annoying ear piercing laugh.
  
  "Your ignorance of the derro is embarrassing as is usual for a surfacer. I suggest you learn more in your pitifully short lifespan. Ask your Emperor for guidance, perhaps he will have the patience to tell you more about us, I do not. I have work to do for the Emperor." Marik says and turns away from you. His fellow derro have been standing by watching the pair of you the entire time as if ready to act if violence should break out.
  
  Violence may still occur if Marik continues to act dismissively towards you.
  
  "Do not walk away from me derro! You still have much to answer for! What exactly is it that you are doing here? What is so important that you so carelessly endanger the war effort? You will give me answers of substance that I can give to the Emperor!"
  
  Your words cause Marik to stop.
  
  "Your loyalty to the Emperor is admirable. Tell me though, what gives you cause to believe that you'd make it out of here to able to report to him?"
  "Trust me derro, I may indeed not be able to take all of you, but YOU I would make an example of."
  
  Marik once again makes that annoying laugh again.
  
  "Your knowledge of the derro continues to lack. If you truly knew anything, you'd know that death is not something the derro fear."
  "And now it is you who do not listen. I said nothing of killing you, I said make an example of. After I beat you within an inch of your life, I'd drag your bloody body to the surface which you obviously loathe so much. I thank you for exposing your flaws within our short meeting."
  
  Marik turns to face you once again. He studies you as if to assess if you're being serious. He realizes you are.
  
  "Well, I'll be. A surfacer nearly as mad as a derro, for it is the only explanation for your threats that you speak out of your ass and ignorance. Heh. Very well then perhaps we do have something in common. Come with me then Eternal, I will satisfy your questions and then you can go tell the Emperor that we're not just playing with our dicks down here."
  
  Marik waves away the other derro and tells them to get back to work while he goes on to explain what's going on down here.
  
  He tells you that while he has provided the Emperor with the gift of gunpowder weapons to combat the Felkans he states that he is bored with creating such things. He wants to move on to other, more interesting things. You don't exactly understand everything he's saying, but apparently this includes altering trolls in such a way to use them as living weapons.
  
  Obviously success has eluded him, but Marik claims it will work eventually he just needs more time. He then goes on to say that the schematics of the weapons he's already made should be somewhat known to surfacers now and that perhaps those weapons could be built in another factory run purely by surfacers. Allowing him of course to work more unencumbered by the possibility of his experiments causing problems in the future.
  
  "I will report this to the Emperor and allow him to decide, but personally I can't say as this is a good use of time and resources. Better to perfect the weapons you've already created than to play around with uncertain ones."
  "Funny you should say that Eternal, because one could say the same of your kind."
  "There is a difference. Obviously when I was born I was still not a mindless untrainable animal like a troll."
  "No, but obviously an effort was made to make you better than the average human and then some. No effort was spared in perfecting you and your kind until some of you actually survived the entire process."
  
  Marik's words about the creation of the Eternals peaks your interest.
  
  "Tell me Marik, how much were you involved in the creation of the Eternals?"
  "Sadly very little. Most of my ideas for the... project were considered a bit too extreme, then that fool Jacob somehow managed to gain complete control of the project. The advantage of being a surfacer I suppose. If I had control, you and your fellow classmates would've been even better. In fact you wouldn't have had to endure much training at all, you would've instantly been BORN with natural skill and talent. (Sigh) If only the Emperor saw the wisdom in continuing the project with me at the helm... I could truly create some living weapons."
  "What are you talking about exactly?"
  "For someone so close to the Emperor, I see he keeps you out of the loop on things and if he is then there must be a reason for it. I have probably said too much... I suggest if you want more answers then speak with him. Go now, I have work to do. Much work to do."
  
  When Marik says this he begins making nervous twitches and see him eye a nearby metal door, which makes you suspicious.
  > report to the Emperor
  While part of you wants to confront Marik on your suspicions that he's not telling you everything you get the impression that you've pushed your luck enough with taking an aggressive stance. There are some unknown factors going on here and you'd probably be better off just reporting back to the Emperor about all this, he knows Marik and the derro better than you do.
  
  "I'll leave you to it then and I shall tell the Emperor that the situation here has been dealt with along with your suggestions for a second factory."
  
  Marik seemingly ignores your statement and goes back to ordering his fellow derro. You make your way to the exit and Marik suddenly calls out to you.
  
  "Yes on your way Eternal, back to your accursed surface. Its days are numbered you know and that will be the day that... hehehehehe... what was I... talking about? Back to work you lot!"
  
  On your way out you tell the Eyes to continue guarding the factory until further notice and make your journey back to the capital.
  
  When you get to the Emperor's room, he's hunched over a large map and placing small metal figures in certain locations.
  
  "There you are m'boy. Did you hear? We just took Fort Soot. A great victory this day, though we'll need to shore up our own defenses there. I trust by your presence you've taken care of whatever problem happened at the factory and it is now up and running again."
  "I regret to tell you that the problem has only been partially solved."
  "Oh? I trust you have a good reason for this oversight."
  
  You explain everything to the Emperor hoping that he isn't mad, fortunately he isn't or at least he isn't mad at you.
  
  "Bah, damn that crazy derro and his experiments! I told him I just need the practical, not fancy super weapons! Trolls, what the hell is he thinking? You know his race was once on the losing end of a war with those beasts? Marik himself would've been eaten by one had I not stepped in and saved his ass. (Sigh) Okay I'll have a levy of peasants build another factory then, I probably should have several anyway, I just didn't want to waste time and resources on building them right now."
  "So... you're just going to give Marik what he wants?"
  "Why not? We gave Gruz what he wanted didn't we and he's certainly less deserving. Besides Marik's right, he's already provided the schematics for most of the cannons, muskets, pistols and other types of weapons. I'm fairly certain that we can have purely run human factory now. The common folk aren't entirely dim. Marik can have his little so called secret workshop, maybe he'll even come up with something useful."
  "I'm still concerned about Marik. He seemed like he was hiding something more than just experimenting on trolls though."
  "Of course he was. He probably has something really twisted going on behind closed doors, but for all his madness, secrets and genuine derro isolationist xenophobia, he's loyal. He'll do nothing that will harm the Empire especially since he has no desire to rule it. Derro pacts are for life and to break one would be as offensive to them as walking on the surface."
  
  The Emperor says this with a lot of certainty though you're still a little apprehensive, however the Emperor has had more dealings with the derro and known Marik much longer than you have so he's more knowledgeable on this than you.
  
  "Very well, if you are not concerned, I shall cease my own."
  "Good, but I'm glad you're suspicious. Being paranoid keeps your wits sharp and alert. Besides you might be partially right. While I know Marik doesn't have any intentional desires to harm the Empire his work may unintentionally harm it as shown with this incident with his troll experiment. I will have a personal talk with him just to keep him on a tighter leash so to speak."
  "I'm still confused one thing though, why send me?"
  "Because you get things done of course. What was I going to do, have Jacob send in more Eyes? You see how well that worked and given that the problem was trolls it's a good thing I sent you in rather than lose even more of them. I knew what ever it was that was the problem, you'd be able to handle it."
  "I see, its just I thought my role in the Felkan war was more important."
  "It is, it is my son and this was still related to said war and trust me it was far more important than winning some small battle somewhere."
  
  The Emperor steps forward towards you and gives you that familiar hand on your shoulder bit when he's about to tell you something he feels you should take to heart.
  
  "Listen, I know you probably would like to be fighting in the thick of the war, slaying Felkans left and right and I know you'd be successful and good at it. However you are MORE than just some glorified soldier to be sent in to fight and die. Hell, I may have even told you to take a back up of Eyes had I known about the trolls with this recent incident."
  "Wait, are you trying to protect me?"
  "Of course I am. Yes, I'm well aware that your life is built on danger and that you've never been a stranger to life and death situations, but I'd like to keep your chances of staying alive at least out of the impossible zone. You have been indispensible to me and I am not going to risk sending you into a meat grinder just because you fight well. You are much more important. I need you as not only a commander of troops, but also as my personal agent. Now is there anything else?"
  
  You take the opportunity to tell the Emperor about what exactly is going on your side of the warfront. He seems pleased with the information and tells you that you can go back to assist Krozer's battalion now that your assignment is over. The Emperor goes on to say how he continues to be proud of your accomplishments and that he means it when he says just how important you are to him. You leave the palace with a great feeling of pride and accomplishment. Not just that though, you feel like you're genuinely appreciated and coming from the Emperor...  well there can be nothing better.
  
  Since you haven't been gone long, you make your way back to the ex-Felkan town you just conquered and find that Krozer's army hasn't moved yet.
  
  "You're back already? That was quick, we hardly had time to miss you." Major Krozer says.
  "Well I knew you'd all be lost without me, so I figured I'd better hurry back as soon as possible."
  "Another joke? Before you left you were attempting some of those."
  "So what's been going on here?"
  "Nothing really, after we executed the twenty you suggested, the inhabitants here are truly submissive. I was just about to pick some troops to stay here and head out with the rest. I believe the next target is a small village called Gelim. Not much of one, but then this is further away from the Felkan heartland of course."
  
  You think for a moment and say something that shocks the major.
  
  "The troops could probably due with a small rest. Let's stay here another three days, it's not going to make that much of a difference. I doubt that little village is going to provide much of a resistance, let alone be able to shore up any sort of strong defense within that time. We've got the Felkans pinned in from here and last reports say they're focusing most of their troops on the frontlines or against those gnolls to the east. "
  "Alright, the attempts at humor are one thing, but NOW I'm starting to worry a shape shifter has taken your place."
  "No worries, let's just say I'm in a less grim mood."
  "You are? Then the gods must truly do exist because I never thought I'd see the day. I guess whatever it is that the Emperor had you doing went well then."
  "It did, but this has nothing to do with that. I just want to make sure the soldiers are well rested and not run ragged. Make sure you have them gather here in the town square in a few moments, I'd like to give them a speech about how their efforts have been appreciated."
  "By the Emperor?"
  "I'm sure he does too, but I figured the troops might wants to know that someone a little closer to them appreciates their hard work even if he doesn't always say it."
  "I'll get them together, but I imagine they'll enjoy the fact that you're allowing them three days rest more. Still, some encouraging words do help the morale for some."
  "I hope you know that this appreciation includes everyone here and that especially means you. This battalion is under your command and you've done a fine job running it."
  "I think officially out outrank me, given that you report directly to the Emperor."
  "Perhaps, but while I have given my own input with strategies and battle, I have always allowed you to make the final decisions because this is still your command and I respect that and you. The Empire is stronger with you leading some of its armies."
  "Wow, I'm nearly speechless right now. Keep complimenting me like that and I'll start to think you've developed intimate feelings for me."
  "What?"
  "Oh you know. Saying to me I'd look prettier out of my uniform and how we should talk in private. Then the next thing I know you're telling me to drop down and give you head."
  "I... I wouldn't! I mean, I wouldn't abuse my position of authority like that!" you exclaim.
  
  The major laughs a bit.
  
  "Relax, I know you wouldn't. The whole time on this assignment I haven't seen you take an interest in anyone."
  "Why would I? I'm supposed to be focusing on the task of destroying the Felkans, not indulging in baser pleasures."
  "Mm, perhaps, but not everyone is so single minded in their duties or get their fun from the battlefield like you seem to do. Why do you think we have a group of whores follow our army around? Do you not think some of the soldiers sneak off with each other sometimes? I won't even get into some of the stuff we probably aren't seeing after we crush one of the Felkan population zones. And as for the abuse of power from a superior, you're probably one of the first that I know that hasn't even tried to use it as some sort of threat to have sex with someone of a lower rank."
  "Yes well I suppose that's the ugly side of war." You reply.
  
  Now the major starts laughing out loud even more.
  
  "You're hilarious! Brutality and carnage on a grand scale, death and destruction everywhere, and you think whores, a few random rapes and some sexual harassment is the ugly bit. That's why I like you, because you don't know any better. Anyway thanks for the compliments and know that I have also found that despite your usual overly serious demeanor it's been a pleasure serving with you as well and I look forward to our continued positive relationship."
  "As do I."
  
  With you and Major Krozer at a friendlier understanding of one another as well as the Emperor's earlier words to you, you feel a lot happier about your current assignment.
  > Continue
  Year 25
  
  While the war with the Felkans seemed to be going smoothly, the situation has changed somewhat. The Empire still has the upper hand, but unfortunately this has become a three-way entanglement.
  
  The gnolls tribes harassing the Felkans on the western borders apparently weren't just separate chaotic bands of raiders, but rather a full-fledged conquering horde. After smashing most of the Felkan defenses they have proceeded further into the heartland and that's where they finally came to blows with the Empire.
  
  So far the gnolls been more of an annoyance to the Empire, but its been distracting enough that it's given the Felkans enough time to retreat and regroup further north. The Felkans are much reduced in strength now, but they are still definitely not a defeated nation yet. If anything their resolve has gotten stronger and their defenses have too.
  
  Last reports tell of how the orcs attempted to break through the defenses of the city of Yaquan only to be nearly wiped out by large weapons mounted to the city's towers that apparently harness the power of lightning. One blast ripped through the ranks of the heavily armored orcs and spread like a chain of death killing most of them instantly. These new "lightning guns" are no doubt the inventions of the gnomes.
  
  You heard Captain Gruz was amongst the casualties which would put orc leadership in jeopardy, but since there are so few of them left, the remainder of their now decimated number have regrouped under Roldan's command who is busily trying to figure out a way to proceed without losing half of his troops in the process. So far though the gnolls have been making that task difficult with their own ongoing attacks.
  
  The only upside to all this is the Felkans seem to be playing up to their typical siege mentality and not making any sort of counter attacks probably hoping that the Empire and the gnolls will continue to kill each other to the point where nobody is in any position to attack them anymore. Of course that just means they're getting further entrenched. If enough time passes it may very well make most assaults on what's left of them extremely costly.
  
  Meanwhile you and Alison have been mostly fighting off the gnoll hordes on a regular basis. You'd like to press further west to take the fight to them, but you know you need to stay in occupied Felkan territory to either help defend the main army or to support it when the time finally comes to make the final push on the Felkans. Lately most of your days are dull waiting or slightly less dull combat since the gnolls themselves rely mostly on numbers and terror rather than skill. The terror factor isn't much of one when going against the hardened troops of the Empire and numbers account for nothing when faced with Empire discipline.
  
  Still, its frustrating not being allowed to do more and tensions are starting to run hot by everyone in the high command... 
  
  "But if we continue to attack as we have, we will risk losing it all! I urge you my Emperor for the good of the Empire we should withdraw now! What can it hurt? We have proven our point and even acquired some territory in the process. Why not just let those barbaric gnolls fight over the scraps what's left of the ruins." Jacob says to the Emperor.
  "Jacob, I said it before I don't give a damn what the costs are, I won't let those fucking gnomes continue to mock from behind their smug little walled cities! And I didn't come this far to be turned back by the incursions of some mongrel dog men or guns that shoot a little light! I don't care what it takes we aren't going to rest until the Felkan Kingdom ceases to exist along with those fucking gnomes!" the Emperor shouts and flips a nearby table.
  
  "Why are you yelling at me? I'm just giving my honest opinion on the situation, I'm not even in charge of the military matters!" Jacob whimpers.
  "But you ARE in charge of the other Eternals, and guess who is leading the majority of our forces in Felkan territory? That's right, Roldan. Now I'll grant you that he's been fairly successful up until this point, but the fact that he hasn't made any progress for the past few months is severely starting to decrease my faith that he can get the job done."
  "He's doing the best he can under the circumstances and he's the best qualified general we have, I don't think he should be replaced."
  "I'm beginning to think I should start replacing SOMEONE." The Emperor unsubtly threatens.
  
  You've seen the Emperor mad before and it's never a good thing. Poor Jacob is trying to stand his ground on this matter, but its obvious the man is incredibly scared for his life. To be fair you actually can see his concerns on the situation, but this thing with the gnomes... well it's an ongoing source of irritation for the Emperor. Jacob is also taking a verbal lashing for something that really isn't his fault. True, he monitors the progress of the other Eternals, but in reality it's not anything meaningful. Not to mention it actually was you who originally convinced the Emperor that Roldan should lead on the main assault force, yet the Emperor has either forgotten this fact, or perhaps still insists on seeing it all as Jacob's fault.
  
  Since you still feel partly responsible you decide to interject to try to calm things down.
  
  "Emperor, I could take over Roldan's command if you prefer, though I would still like to keep him on as part of the command staff."
  "While I'm sure you would no doubt do a much better job, I'd rather have you're where you currently are." The Emperor says which somewhat disappoints you.
  "Of course, of course. Wouldn't want to risk your precious loyal dog." Mistress suddenly remarks, this draws an angry glance of both you and the Emperor.
  
  "What? I'm just saying what Jacob's thinking, personally I don't really give a shit what drone you decide to sacrifice in your futile war." Mistress says causing Jacob's eyes to widen, shake his head and raise his hands assuring that he thought no such thing.
  "Ever with the clever remarks. Too bad the rest of your race isn't half as clever, or you might not be a bunch of mercenaries."
  "I'm not sure why we're even relying on svelk scum anyway. Alison and I have been doing just fine fighting off the gnolls by ourselves for example." You remark.
  "Alison? Oh, is that the name of the dirty blonde shield maiden that I've heard you've been getting close to? Tell me, when you're sticking it to her do you try to visualize that its me?"
  
  A vulgar comment as usual from Mistress. Not unexpected either. While you'd be lying if it weren't a little annoying, you certainly aren't going to give her the satisfaction of a retort.
  
  "No answer? Are you not even going to stand up for the honor of your female plaything? Then again I suppose she isn't worthy of it. I mean given that you experienced the best, why would you bother defending something so inferior?" Mistress continues to taunt.
  
  "Emperor, we are here to discuss the important business of crushing the Felkans, do we really have to listen to the boring and predictable slurs of this... dubious ally?" you ask.
  "No, of course we don't. Hold your vile svelk tongue unless you've actually got something more worthwhile to contribute."
  "I have contributed more than my fair share to your foolish crusade. I have come to the conclusion that this war is a losing proposition for my people. I won't even go into the meat grinder you've got our mercenary bands dealing with on the Felkan front. And while I'm sure that may cause you much joy, we svelk are not mindless orc slaves and will NOT fall into your clumsy manipulative plans of convenient genocide through attrition. Yeah, we're pulling out and moving on to greener pastures."
  "Since when are you or any other svelk so concerned about the future of your people? You're also acting like you're in harms way and unless you've been sneaking off to fight alongside your kin, you've personally risked nothing. You're also still being paid well so what the hell do you care?" the Emperor remarks.
  "You humans think you always have everything figured out about everything when you really don't know shit. As I said, the price is too high, and we will be moving on to better opportunities."
  "(Sigh) Stop being so damn dramatic, and what the hell do you really want?" the Emperor asks in an exasperated tone.
  
  Mistress proceeds to tell the Emperor that she's quite serious about pulling out svelk aid unless she gets more support in return.
  
  "If you want our continued help, we do not believe that this General Roldan is able to accomplish his assault on the city of Yaquan in an efficient manner. So I would request that you either change the leadership or transfer us to the gnoll front at Major Krozer's war camp." Mistress says and glances at you.
  "No! We've been doing just fine without you! We don't need morale falling low because svelk are infesting the camp." You protest.
  "And here I thought you were a professional first and foremost. Open your eyes. Even you can see the benefit of our superior troops being directly added to your fighting force. Besides, I heard how you handled the first time you worked with svelk warriors before, surely if one of them gets out of line, you'll just go on a bloodthirsty rampage to make a point of who is really in charge."
  
  You look to the Emperor expecting him to say something about this matter, but he waves you over to speak with you privately. Mistress rolls her eyes and wanders over to one of the bookshelves while Jacob fumbles about with some papers.
  
  "Son, I'm going to include you in this decision, because this is something I think you feel strongly about and I'd rather have you in a positive state of mind. I don't want to lose svelk support as they have been helpful despite their... well you know. I also have doubts about Roldan getting the job done as well, so the suggestion to replace him isn't out of the question as far as I'm concerned. In any case I'm either going to have to replace him or send all the svelk to the gnoll front, but I know that won't exactly make you happy."
  > suggest that Roldan be replaced
  While you don't agree with the idea that Roldan won't be able to get the job done, you'd rather have him replaced than get an influx of svelk troops. You'd try to suggest yourself again, but you know the Emperor has made his mind up on the matter.
  
  "If you believe General Roldan cannot get the job done, then I suppose it might be better if he's replaced." You remark which gets Jacob's disapproval.
  "But he can do it! Replacing Roldan at this point would be folly!"
  "Enough Jacob! The decision has been made! General Roldan will be replaced and demoted!" the Emperor remarks.
  "Demoted?"
  "Yes demoted! Be happy he isn't being executed for incompetence on the battlefield!"
  "But I thought he was just going to be replaced! My Emperor I beg you not to do this! Roldan has worked so hard for his position!"
  "Jacob, is there some sort of reason why you keep arguing this point with me? Delusions? Stupidity? A death wish perhaps?" the Emperor asks and Jacob shuts up immediately.
  
  Mistress stretches and yawns before commenting on the situation.
  
  "If you all are done in this pointless exercise male ineptitude, is there anything else I need to waste my time with here?"
  "Yes, we're done. Get the hell out of my chambers and take Jacob with you. And while I wish I could chat with you my son, I still have to speak with Marik. I sometimes wonder if he just uses his madness as an excuse to be absent minded and claim he didn't know there was a meeting. I just hope he's actually made progress on his project he convinced me to proceed with." The Emperor remarks and the rest of you leave his chambers.
  
  You expect Mistress to make some sort of remark as you're all walking out of the palace, but she ends up quickly walking ahead of you instead. Jacob doesn't speak with you either, he glances at you a couple times, but he's obviously a little upset that you supported the Emperor's decision to have Roldan replaced.
  
  Really though, you can't worry about it. As far as you're concerned hanging on to your sanity is a lot more vital. You can only imagine how the svelk would've grated on your nerves if they had been transferred, especially since you're not actively advancing any more, but rather just defending against gnoll attack. Idle svelk mercs in between the down time isn't something you want to deal with.
  
  Alison is certainly happy to hear about the close call of playing host to a bunch of svelk.
  
  "Well I'm certainly glad you supported the Emperor's first decision, I don't think morale would've been great around here with dark elves in the camp." She says.
  "No, but I can't say they're that great now." You reply.
  "What do you mean? There hasn't been any major complaining that I know of, and I tend to keep apprised of the situation with my troops."
  "Well, maybe it's just me then. I'd like to be actively DOING something other than sitting around waiting to be attacked."
  "Welcome to the army. You do know that boring waiting around in between battles is what we do right?"
  "I'm well aware that's part of it, but its not like we need to sit here. We could at least be attacking the gnolls so as to make them no longer a threat. I mean we should be doing that anyway. After all, we're going to have to deal with them eventually, better to do it now when we have the strength rather than later. I've heard other soldiers commenting about feeling something similar. And I would think that you probably would like to take the fight to the gnolls as well."
  
  Alison nods.
  
  "Well, I can't argue with you on that point. The troops are a little restless in that respect I suppose. I admit it would be good to get some of this pent up violence out of everyone's system, but as you've said, the Emperor's orders are to stay here."
  "I don't know, but I'm starting to think that maybe we should just NOT stay here."
  "Seriously? You'd go against a direct order from the Emperor?"
  
  At this point you don't know. You want to be loyal and follow orders, but your desire for battle is still there. Not to mention you know you could win if it came down to it. Surely the Emperor would approve if you were victorious.
  
  You decide you're going to do it, you're going to make a full attack on the gnolls.
  
  "It's about time we took the fight to those mongrel dogs." Alison says with a little enthusiasm, but then her cautious side comes out. "But what about the Emperor?"
  "You don't need to worry about that. I will take full responsibility if he gets angry about it. I'll just say I took command of your battalion."
  "Hah, I always knew you were going to do that some day, anyway."
  "Sorry, but I can't think of any other way."
  "Don't apologize to me, I won't have to face the Emperor's wrath, well I hope I won't at least."
  "Like I said, don't worry about that. And don't worry about me either. I don't want to sound prideful, but I'm fairly confident the Emperor won't even get too angry with me, especially since I intend on wiping out the immediate gnoll threat."
  
  A month goes by and you're initially successful on your promise. The gnolls are no match for you in straight up combat. You even manage to save a few of the occupied Felkan communities from complete destruction and are welcomed as liberators.
  
  Just when you think you can drive the gnolls out entirely you're dealt two big blows.
  
  One, the siege of Yaquan has not gone well since Roldan was replaced. It seems that General Ackerson has not only managed to fail in taking the city, but he's also managed to lose so many soldiers that there has been a call for your battalion to support his losses.
  
  This couldn't have come at a worse time mainly because now the gnolls who you thought you had on the run were craftier than it seemed.
  
  The gnolls have been breeding and training a large group of wyverns within a small mountain in the area. They've also been bringing reinforcements from beyond the Felkan borders. You're taken off guard enough that you actually have to fall back before you're completely overrun.
  
  If you leave to go to help General Ackerson, the gnolls are going to not only take back everything you gained, but will take your territory as well. However, if you stay to fight back the gnolls, you'd really be defying orders, not to mention possibly costing the Empire a needed victory against the Felkans.
  
  There isn't much for it, you'll have to split the battalion with Alison and decide which front you want to fight on.
  > stay on the gnoll front
  As much as you wanted to be on the front lines of this war before, now you feel like you've got a score to settle with the gnolls. Not to mention you feel like you need to finish up what you started.
  
  "Are you going to be okay here?" Alison asks.
  "I'll be fine, you just be concerned with your assignment because it sounds like General Ackerson isn't exactly the best replacement and I'm now cursing myself for having Roldan removed at all."
  "You couldn't have known. Besides, do you really think having the svelk transferred here would've made things better for us?"
  "I dunno. Maybe we could've used the extra troops to combat the gnolls and at the same time Roldan would've still been in charge of the siege. Doesn't matter now I suppose, let's just make the best of it."
  
  Within the next few days Alison and you say your final goodbyes before she leaves. Afterwards, you try to make the best of your defenses, but you're stretched thin. You send a messenger to request reinforcements, but naturally most soldiers are being sent to the Felkan front. The gnoll hordes aren't even being considered a credible threat, which couldn't be further from the truth considering that you've been losing more territory to them and the fact is you just can't protect it all due to lack of manpower.
  
  A couple more months go by and news on the Felkan front gets worse. The siege of Yaquan has been completely abandoned and General Ackerson's forces are now in retreat. Word is he's lost more than half of those under his command, and whatever remaining svelk mercs that were helping have left. You have no idea if Alison is one of those, but you have more pressing concerns of your own. You haven't had much rest.You've had to use your magic with such regularity to combat the gnolls that its exhausting just to cast the simplest of destructive spells. Little by little your remaining soldiers have been getting whittled down. The ones still alive are drained and suffering from low morale.
  
  Within the week, there is another gnoll attack, a massive push to finally finish off the only viable defenders in the area. You make the gnolls earn every inch they take. The first two wyverns that appear in the distance, you strike down with a powerful lightning spell. Several of the initial attackers have their heads blown to gooey pieces by your troops' muskets, and then you resort to tried and true methods of slaughter.
  
  You hack down several of their number before suffering any major wounds. Even then, you continue to fight with the determination of ten men. The bodies of gnolls pile up, the blood is everywhere and you've just suffered an injury that should've rightfully killed you, but you continue to fight. All the anger you feel at this situation is being directed utterly towards the gnolls until it finally burns itself out and your body pushes itself past its limitations of physical exertion.
  
  An axe cleaves into your skull, followed by another into your arm, severing it just enough to hang from a bit of tendon. You fall to your knees, then to the floor and that's when you feel another axe to your back destroying your spine. A finally kick by a hefty boot to the face and the gibbering laughing howls of the gnolls is the last thing you hear.