Honestly experimenting everyday without rest was never actually a relaxing task for me. It would take utter insanity or fanaticism to do so considering how much waiting time is actually involved in research. The short answer is that it takes a very, very long time to create elite units. My latest project itself having now entered the prototype stage especially is draining much of my resources and time. Now however all I can do is wait as everything cultivates. So many small parts and spirits need to be crafted carefully. The motive forces have to be just right or this would be a crude piece of work. At the least the proof of concept has to be good, no expenses spared. But past that I have the time to indulge in my little hobby.

Heading back to my quarters I enter the small workshop. Here I make everything for my personal effects whether tailoring or maintenance of arms. But this little beauty was the more peaceful exception. Crafted meticulously by hand it was finally ready to be used. The varnish has finally finished and it gleams well by the crystal light.

The design was based on that of the then latest design, even when I had left it was still the most popular variant. Lovely hardwood frame and softwood belly. High quality horses hair and wolf sinew along with some careful silver strings. It was hard work getting the correct tension and diameter on the strings but certainly worth it as a few practice as I draw the bow across it. I have a certain bit of satisfaction in using this design considering where I first received one of it. Well received is a nice way of putting it, more like taken from the study of a traitor after stepping over his cold body.

The fool had attempted to betray me by having me killed in the chaos of a battle. The Cori’gal tribes had been acting up and had led a coalition of our enemies against the empire's northern borders. The short sighted fool felt that it would be worth usurping the old general's position. Hmph I had been fighting wars for as far back as when his grandfather was just born. After making an example of the tribals and striking a good blood treaty it was time to clean the household. It was simple really, few opposed me especially after having obtained the Judicator’s writ. The authority they possess is enough for me to condone him to death. The least I can say is that he certainly did not fail expectations. Taking as long as possible to drag his valuables along I found him in the study of his mansion. Hand on the frame of his secret escape tunnel as well.

I simply grabbed him by the throat read his sentence as decided by the Judicators and killed him. Storing his soul for a later snack I felt a bit of interest in his valuables. Obviously a rather quick and dirty soul interrogation shows that there were no traps along with any and all assets he had. Removing traces of any illegal means and ensuring that there were no loose ends I left the estate. I do not understand how he managed to survive the ceremony of succession with such little intelligence but we all get lucky sometimes.

I would have expected greater will power from one who took the oaths and blood pledges but ohh well. Still for cleanup his lands were handed over to the imperial family for a bit of favor while I distributed a fourth of the money to my soldiers. The rest was funneled to the Judicators, other nobles, and my own research fund of course. Same with the valuables except for a few interesting baubles. The first iteration of this violin was among the spoils there. I had felt a bit of interest seeing it spread amongst the orchestras of the capital and liked the sound of its music. This little high quality version became my practice piece.

It was another hobby that was non violent and even if I was mocked by friends I still learned how to play. I suspect my music teacher is still annoyed at me, at least the pompous elf grudgingly acknowledged that I was not wrong with my way of creating music. Learning from scores was never my strong suit, playing by ear felt more satisfying. Still a few written pieces was good for the ones I particularly favored. Certainly felt good to mess with those old sods by planning a performance to surprise them. Admittedly there was a decent amount of gossip afterwards but well worth their faces at the reveal when it was over.

I actually got a few legitimate requests to perform but no that was not for me. This was still mostly a personal hobby, not something I would show off all the time. Like how some of the others took up painting or poetry this was what I dabbled in to pass the peaceful times. Admittedly we are not quite there yet but the calm before the storm is always a tense time. Perhaps something to stir up the group would be in order. This would certainly make them confused, especially that lot who overthinks everything. When one is well into their second century for a short lived race as humans are one learns many traits. Even now I still have a good bit of time ahead of me, only a gray hair or two here and there.

Placing my fingers upon the pegs I ensure that the instrument is tuned as I begin a simple warm up. Going from open to double stop on the four strings and from the bridge to the finger box I go over a wide spectrum of possible notes. After this I decide to start in earnest, an older piece I made before. This one focused more on the harsher and lower tones available and could be considered somewhat forceful and dramatic. I was feeling somewhat in the mood for such a piece and let it go to fulfilment and on. It would be interesting to have more instruments but then again I am more used to solo parts with a few background additions. Food for thought in the future.

Now, I feel like I should check on young David later on today. It is not good to have him completely isolated or he will have a few development problems. If my somewhat chaotic days at the academy taught me something, it is that there should always be some interaction. I had my fair share of issues when I was less experienced with life but that simply means I should try to help him.I do not want a psychotic teenager running around my castle much less allowing him on a battlefield. If he dies in battle on his own terms then he lived his life hopefully with minimal regrets. If I send him untested into a killing field then that would be my own fault barring required tactical concerns. Still that reminds of what this war means.

I am not a despot sending untrained youths to their deaths, I at least ask once. The dictates of the nation and our concerns of the region would rule whatever my war goals would be. However here, here we have a much different type of war. This land is not considered its own sovereign nation or even force. The niceties that man creates to curb its worst excess is free to be used. Of course moral depravity for its own sake or gratification is banned by blade of the axe. I had to enforce discipline early on with the rescued slaves. Some were actual criminals and had rather terrible crimes, the disgust I faced when a few offered their services to my surrogate.... A quick execution was the only mercy I gave them, I prefer saving slaves for manpower in the future but any such troublemakers will be dealt with.

Still if I am to break the will of the armies they send I can afford to unleash a few more unscrupulous tactics. Some more unrestrained... attacks on military targets is of course free for the taking. If they send any army too large then it would be a pain to kill every single one of them, I want victory not a pointless field of bodies.

Whatever politics caused this will be tiring to disassemble. I miss my old home for times like these, brute force and authority figures reduced politicking. Total assassination of all targets is not a good method, ascension through such bloodthirsty ways encourages others to follow my example. Whatever ways I can find to end this war favorably needs to be looked at. Killing both the adventurers and this army will be needed simply for the bodies if nothing else. The weapons and arms is also a primary concern, freed slaves are simply a bonus. I will not make excuses, I could have tried to parley but chose not to, I did not expect results regardless. Now simply have to punt back their forces and ensure that the borders are secure. Somewhere into the wildlands between our two regions.

But also of vast concern to ensure this little plan is a display of power, if I do not show my strength then why bother with coming to the table. Any complaints about the deaths is more than covered by saying that they invaded without attempt at negotiation. There are none capable of speaking against this after all. So many things to juggle, both with personal affairs and then caring for the people. So much work, well my life is now once again filled with action I have not had since I was only a century old. Odd to think that those with only a little magic potential would be long buried by that point, well back to work then.