Chapter Eleven - General Grievances

“Hypothetically,” I said to the leader of the sect. Saka raised an eyebrow, but didn’t move from his seat at the head of his sect. It wasn’t so much a throne as a rather comfortable looking lounging chair. “If I were to start a small war in the Flaming Steppes, where would the Lava Fist fall?”

Saka flexed in thought. “That depends,” he said. “What’re we starting the war over?”

“Someone took something that belongs to me, I want it back. And while I could merely take it back, I think it would be a good learning moment for my warlock to lead an army. Logistics are best experienced instead of merely read about.”

What I didn’t say was that I would find it a lot more entertaining to see an army running around than skipping ahead and just taking my font. Not only that, it would be a valid way of seeing how the locals fought and how they treated grand strategy.

Saka twisted and grunted as he flexed his biceps. “I don’t know, bro. We’re meant to protect folks, you know?” He raised his hand, three fingers lifted. “We have three pillars here. The first is ‘hit things hard’ the second is ‘always get gains’ and the third is ‘keep folk safe.’ Wars and stuff, they’re pretty good for the first two, but awful for the third.”

“I see. And what if this hypothetical army only fought against other sects? That is, avoiding civilian casualties when it can.”

“Well, that’s a bit different. It’s not a war, it’s more like a fight between sects you know? That happens all the time.”

“I’m not part of any sect, so it would be somewhat different, I think.”

“Nah, new sects happen. You get a couple of tough people together, and they decide to make their own little group, then they go around beating everyone up until the Empire tells them to settle down somewhere.”

“You seem surprisingly knowledgeable on the subject.”

“It’s how I started the Lava Fist sect,” he said with obvious pride. “You planning on beating people up to start your own sect?”

“Not quite, no,” I said. “This is meant to be more of a lesson. There’s a lot to learn from war. It tends to drive innovation.”

“Where’re you going to get an army?” Saka asked.

“I thought I’d have the limpet raid the local graveyard, see what comes up... Oh hohoho!”

“Necromancy’s pretty illegal,” Saka said. He leaned back, then grunted as he made his abdominal muscles harden.

“I don’t particularly care. Do you?”

“Nah. Just don’t go killing folk for more, yeah?”

I agreed. The Lava Fist sect had been courteous and polite. It was only fair that we respect their wishes in this matter. “I’ll make sure not to hurt any of the locals.”

“This means you’re heading out?”

I nodded. “It does. The day is still young, and I think it would be as good a time as any to go exploring. We’ll be heading south-east first. Towards that rumoured army of the undead.”

“Ah, yeah, the undead bros are due soon. Some of them put up a good fight.”

“I’m rather curious about them myself.”

Saka gave me a thumbs up, then he closed his fist even harder until I could hear it creaking under the strain. “You do your best, bro.”

I extended my hand to shake. “It was a pleasure meeting with you, Saka.”

Sake extended a closed fist. “Yeah bro, you were pretty cool.”

I hesitated, then bowed to the local custom and bumped his fist with my own. It was immensely awkward.

Our goodbyes completed, I headed out towards the infirmary where I found the limpet frowning at a page while taking a break next to the front door of the clinic. She looked up on my approach, and while she looked tired, she still lit up on seeing me. “Master!”

“Hello limpet,” I said. “How goes the practice?”

“Well! I can cast Cure Wounds five times in a row now, without too much stress. I still need to rest after that. We’re out of patients that have physical injuries. A few have magical diseases, and the matron told me not to cure the one with genital warts because he had to learn a lesson, but other than that, it’s clear for now.”

“Impressive,” I said.

“Not really. There will be a lot more injured idiots here soon. I think they’re treating this as an opportunity to do dumber things because they’re getting healed faster.”

“That sounds very much like the locals,” I agreed. “I’m somewhat impressed by your growth so far. You took to Evocation quite well so far.”

“Thank you!”

“I think it’s time to challenge you a little more.”

The limpet looked up to me, curious and just a little apprehensive. “How’s that, master?”

“You will be learning a new spell soon. I think... Inflict Wound. It’s a first tier Necromantic spell. Similar, but opposite to, Cure Wounds. It should give you a bit of versatility when using offensive magic.”

The limpet nodded. She seemed excited by the prospect.

“You will also be given a quest.”

“A quest?”

“Indeed. There is something that I want, and I want you to retrieve it. I will be somewhat preoccupied. Not to say that I won’t be equipping you properly. But that will be for later. Today we’re heading out to meet some undead.”

“Ah, okay?” the limpet agreed.

I reached into a pocket and pulled out a well-worn book which I gave to her. “This is a book on small to mid-scale tactics, with some margin-notes I took some time ago. You should study it.”

“What am I meant to learn from it?” she asked. “Other than, you know, small to mid-scale tactics.”

“Focus on the parts where a smaller, weaker force can defeat a larger one by out maneuvering it. That will come in handy for you.”

“Okay,” she said. “Can I get more hints about that quest?”

“That book is a great hint already,” I said. “You will need a few necromantic spells in the third tier to be able to accomplish the quest. Those are still beyond your capabilities. I’ll give you a week or so to catch up.”

“That doesn’t feel like long enough.”

“It truly isn’t,” I agreed. “You will be given the tools to succeed, no worries. Whether or not you manage will be entirely up to you.” I patted her head to alleviate some of her worries. “Now come on, we’re going to be heading out, you can’t expect Alex to pack away all of your things for you.”

The limpet nodded and I watched her run off. Then she seemed to remember something and ran back into the infirmary.

I hummed a content little tune and started towards our rooms in the guest quarters. I found Alex and the mantis there. They seemed to be working on some clothes. At least, the mantis was trying.

“Ah, hello daddy,” Alex said.

“Hello,” I replied. “We will be leaving in a few hours. Could you prepare the carriage and whatever things you don’t wish to leave behind?”

Alex jumped to his feet. “Of course. Rem, do you want to come help or do you want to continue practicing?”

The mantis threw... whatever it was she was making to the ground and stomped out of the room. “I’m going to go get the stupid horses!”

Alex smiled as he watched her go. “So diligent.”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I said. “How’s her training coming along?”

“A few more decades and she’ll be an adequate butler,” Alex said. He hummed for a moment before asking a question. “Daddy, could you teach Rem how to cast a spell?”

“A spell?” I asked. That request was unexpected.

“Yes. She doesn’t have hands, and her scythes are very bad at doing things other than cutting and stabbing things. While those are useful, there are other things that a butler needs to be able to do that doesn’t involve either.”

“I see,” I said. “So a spell like Mage Hand, perhaps?”

Alex nodded. “That would be wonderful, yes.”

“I have some guides on the subject. Perhaps you could use them to help her learn how to read? Giving magic to someone illiterate feels like a rather poor idea.”

Alex smiled, seeming quite pleased. “I’m sure that will encourage her to learn even faster. By the way, Bone Father, where are we going? I need to make sure we have the right things packed for the trip.”

“Ah, yes. We will be visiting some local undead. Afterwards, I will be giving the limpet a quest to raise an army of the undead to essentially take over parts of the Flaming Steppes.”

“Oh,” Alex said. “We’ll need to buy some cloth then. Maybe I can make the limpet a poncho? That would keep her warm while she pillages and burns. We will also need a shovel to unbury the dead.”

“Ah yes, I hadn’t considered that. Perhaps you can buy one off of the Lava Fist sect? Or find one in town before we head out.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

I gave my maid a firm pat on the shoulder, then went and found myself a place to sit down and enjoy a good book while I waited. I’d long ago learned how to be patient as things unfolded. So many experiments took years to come to fruition, that it was quite foolish to not make the most of the downtime between results.

Seeing as I had no labs, and no ongoing projects that needed my immediate attention, I decided to read some more about the local politics and the formation of the local sects.

The Lava Fist were quite young as far as sects went. Most were nearing or past the century mark, and some of the older ones were nearly a millennia old, with generations of traditions keeping them afloat.

The Flaming Steppes was perhaps unique in the local Empire. The region had been a dangerous place for a long time, and it’s colonization was still an ongoing effort.

There was little of value here to be sent to the rest of the Empire. And yet the region spawned dangerous beasts and the occasional tide of undead. Not settling it wasn’t an option, not if the rest of the Empire wanted to avoid having to combat tides of undead and rampaging beats.

So the sects here, with one exception, were all quite young.

The Ashen Forest sect was actually quite old, but seemed to have kept their numbers relatively low for some time. Perhaps their particular training was dangerous, or they could only teach so many new disciples at a time?

I was somewhat, but not terribly, curious.

The Hungering Inferno and Flame’s Heart sects were younger, and far more prosperous.

Now, the question remained, if one of these held my font, which one was it, and what would be the best way to face them?

I could think of a few ways to approach the situation, but I had the advantage of years of experience behind me. The limpet did not.

Perhaps she would go for a flood technique? Or try to use more infectious sorts of undead. Perhaps she would try for a defeat in detail, using subterfuge and assassinations to take out bigger foes?

There were also the creatures like the mantis to watch out for. If Rem was any indication, then there might well be creatures stronger than the local cultivators, at least on average.

I continued skimming through his book, taking it in, but not digesting it entirely. Instead, I wondered, allowing my mind to wander a little.

The limpet was a warlock, and I was her patron.

What did that mean about her capabilities?

She seemed too soft to have taken on anything of his, and too immature besides.

But perhaps she would surprise me when pressed?

I was certainly looking forward to it.