King Christian Lemillious

The time for war has come. The last time I rode off to battle was roughly thirty five years ago, a small neighboring 'Kingdom', a hardly accurate title, believed they could challenge us. I rode off with my armies, leading them on the front lines and crushed the Kingdom of Lavensburg. I added their territory to mine, made them an official duchy after I disposed of their nobility and raised my sworn friend from baron to Duke of those lands. The Kingdom of Lavensburg was renamed to the Duchy of Avantine in honor of my dear friend. Of course, the consequences of that war are what made me decide to pursue a strategic alliance strategy for the remaining days of my rulership; now however, I can't help but reflect on those times.

My friend died nary a year later, allowing his younger brother to take control of the territory. With this necromancer ending their bloodline I wonder if I killed my friend and doomed him with his ascension. That the honor I bestowed was really a hanging sword above his head.

I have few regrets in my life. Lavensburg will always be one of them. Still, this time I won't be able to lead from the front. My leadership will be confined to secure encampments, as I create the strategies that we'll use in the upcoming conflict.

The first order of business is to take proper stock of the army.

Twenty four knightly orders, some numbering no more than a dozen men others in the thousands. A combined force of roughly seven thousand magic knights. Among those knights, approximately four thousand are grades one to three, roughly two thousand are grades four or five, about six hundred grade 6 or 7, nearly two hundred grade eight magic knights and as many as fifty grade 9 Magic knights that serve as grandmasters, vice grandmasters or champions of their order.

Thirty mages guilds, each containing at least one hundred members and many are at the maximum five hundred member limit. This law was passed long ago to prevent the consolidation of mage strengths. Competition between guilds has always been fierce. Still, a combined force of roughly ten thousand mages is more than I could have hoped for all those years ago subjugating Lavensburg. Approximately five thousand grades one to three, three thousand grades four to five, one thousand grade six to seven, nearly eight hundred grade eight and almost a hundred grade nine mages. Mages who are more utility in their focus have been spread among my forces to support the militia and magic knights in any way that they can, strength enhancement, barriers, healing. A versatile and powerful complement to the army.

The final component of the force, five hundred thousand militia raised from all fifteen loyal duchies as well my own lands. Well organized, trained and prepared for combat. Broken up into battalions of spears, swords, cavalry and archers, no battlefield role is left uncovered. Additionally, multiple engineering corps in charge of constructing, maintaining and utilizing war machines allows for sieges to be conducted should the enemy take a defensive strategy. It is interesting, that the militia are what will win this war. Few realize that mages can't just blast spell after spell; their mana is not infinite. If the five hundred thousand militia were to face the seventeen thousand mages and magic knights, assuming a strong enough morale was maintained and the militia were able to endure anywhere between 25%-50% casualties, the victor would be the peasantry. Its wonderful, the power of the common man when they work with one another.

Fifty thousand militia, one thousand magic knights and two thousand mages were left behind to keep the border secure. While its true that through shrewd, calculating intrigue I've managed to create peace with out neighbors; the long term consequences of demonstrating weakness, would pose an existential threat to the kingdom.

Taking stock of the army and making sure each Duke has done their duty was a tedious affair, but after my final analysis, it seems all understand the gravity of our civil war with this Necromantic Duke.

All that's left is the dividing of forces among capable commanders.

It feels wrong to not assign Clovis a battalion. It hasn't really sunk in, despite the fact that Clovis's death was one of the instigators of this war. Truthfully, he was a useless son, were he alive i'd likely assign him to 'command' an engineer corp where his decisions would be largely ceremonial and straight forward. Still, I love him and while i'm glad the rest of my commanders are capable, it pains me to out live my son.

Stop getting distracted you senile mourning fool. Your people need you to be focused.

Mecidius will be in charge of all the magic knights ranked higher than grade three. He has a warrior spirit, greater than mine ever was and unlike me his has not been dulled by age. While I believe his lack of wisdom would ruin him as a King, as a commander there is nobody I would sooner trust.

Duke Veilos will be given the grade one to three magic knights. He's a clever man and i'm sure will use them effectively.

Chris and Christoph will regrettably be given command of the mages. For once, this is not an insult to their intelligence. I've become painfully aware that they're much smarter than they've let on. However, I wish that Arnold would have taken command. My heartless son, he doesn't even care if we were to lose this battle. Endlessly tinkering with magic; so long as he's headmaster of the academy, nothing can bother him. Threatening him would do no good, he'd still stubbornly refuse and somehow continue to explore the secrets of magic while in captivity. Still, not having the most powerful of my children on my side burdens me greatly.

The remainder of the Fifteen Dukes were given their own battalions of militia infantry, cavalry, archers and engineering corps depending on their competency.

Lastly, Christos and Annette have both been given battalions of infantry. Their magic is both support type and while I believe them to be competent commanders who could utilize mages and magic knights effectively, their talents would be better put to use if leading a mundane battalion. I hope neither interprets it as insult.

With force organization complete, the logistics of feeding and moving the army solved all that's left is the march to war.

As I turn to my royal guard to give the order to march a premonition comes over me. It warns me that things won't go the way I want them to. Interesting, an implication that neither victory nor defeat are to transpire. Perhaps a pyrrhic win. I sigh, what will I have to sacrifice to slay this necromancer. Why, was I cursed with his existence to blight my Kingdom.

Then again, perhaps its for the best, I'm skeptical on whether the other Kingdoms would be able to slay this man.

Whatever the cost, I will obtain victory and I will guarantee, that the Kingdom of Milos will not fall under my watch.

"Men, lets move out!" I order in my most commanding voice.

The four royal guard spread out to enact my will, I went to the stable to grab my horse and rode out.

Annette Lemillious

As I ride to war, contrastingly theirs a peculiar sensation that i'm experiencing.

Butterflies in my stomach, excitement, passion. My thoughts go wild at imagining the necromancer that we ride off against. Oh grandfather, its like you weren't paying attention when that filthy mongrel was telling us her tale. The necromancer hasn't killed any of his subjects, in fact the only man he's killed was one that may as well have been a favor to the kingdom! I think if Raderius hadn't I would have killed my uncle. I wonder what expression he would have made as his lovely niece obliterated him in a blinding array of light!

Ah, but of course that would involve revealing that my magic can do offensive spells. I've convinced everyone that my light magic is only able to rejuvenate, enhance the speed of and support my allies. After all, you should only play your hand at the most optimal opportunity.

Mmmm an opportunity.

Raderius, you're the man i've been waiting for. Please, please wait for me Raderius. I know its going to frustrate you when you can't beat grandfather, but together we'll rule this country. Oh, I hope the children inherit my blonde hair with your skin complexion, from the way the mongrel described it, that will certainly be the cutest combination.

My love, I hope you aren't to lonely, but then again if you are fret not, with what I've prepared you'll never be lonely again.

A knock on my tent entrance.

"Come in." I say in my sweetest voice, perhaps i'm a little to giddy at meeting my newfound love.

"Princess, we've been given the order to march."

My heart skips a beat.

The time has come.