Dom awoke in his room at Riverside, the window had been left open so a cool breeze entered the hot room. Dom could see that the morning light was coming through the window and it seemed that there was no cloud in the sky. He got out of his bed and headed towards where his armour had been placed, freshly polished.
"Need a hand?" He heard from behind him as Sun Shangxiang appeared, she was wearing a tight fitting red robe and Dom was caught off-guard by how stunning she looked. She smiled at his response, "I'll take the silence as a yes then."
She helped him place his breastplate on, before then moving to his grieves. His Zhan Lu Blade was also strapped to his waist, its handle clearly having also been cleaned and smoothed to fit his hand better. She had soon finished tying his armour straps together when another voice could be heard from behind him.
"I know that the aim of this quest is different to others, but make sure you don't put yourself at risk for minor gains." Meritamen stated as she watched them both with a smile, her hand touching her belly that had only just began to look slightly different than usual.
"I won't, we have our goals aligned." Dom replied honestly as Sun Shangxiang slapped him on the rear and laughed as he gave her a stare. "Whilst we aim to win, we have other objectives that are more important for us."
"Whilst I know that you want more ships and Heroes, if you can bring back the wives of our Hoplite, our Kingdom will feel more complete." She stated seriously, before pausing in thought for a second. "When you return from Mycale, the San should have made their decision."
"And then it will be time to officially form our Kingdom." Sun Shangxiang finished, the two women aligned in their thoughts on what was to come. "A victory and a reward for our Warriors would be a good omen."
"Cicero and Umako have been quite clear that a good omen is key if we are to found the Kingdom." Meritamen agreed, "They have created the rites, finalised Shang Yang's Laws and have set the Temples in to motion. Now we need a Victory to cement that."
"We will win, we will bring back our Hoplite's wives and we will bring back enough rewards that the Omens are good." Dom agreed with them externally. Internally however, he didn't have much belief in these things, especially in a game of World Conquest Onlines size. So far they had battled Warriors and other Human Species, but it had all been very much in the realms of normal for Dom, he hadn't seen a level of mysticism in the game yet to believe that an Omen was important. However, he knew that it was important to keep his men onboard.
"Then we best get you downstairs, your Warriors are waiting." Sun Shangxiang teased as she pushed him towards the stairway where Meritamen was waiting. Meritamen grabbed him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, before smiling at him as he walked down the stairs. His two wives followed him as he left the Palace where Actumerus was waiting for him with three other lightly armoured Batavi Guards.
"We didn't want to drown." Actumerus commented as they walked as Dom looked at their light armour. "The heavier stuff would drag us down, Ou Yezi has made sure that everyone going has had a lighter version equipped, they should be as good at protecting against angled arrows and blades, but as usual they won't save you from a frontal attack."
"Don't worry Lord Lazarus, your armour is light enough, plus if you fall in, we'll dive in after you." Another guard stated as Dom looked at his own armour, his black armour and helmet different from those around him.
"I'll try not to fall in then." Dom replied with a light laugh as they passed through the market where the Civilians travelling to their jobs or getting some fresh supplies all stepped aside to let them pass.
"It's amazing how much this place has changed." Dom heard Meritamen say to Sun Shangxiang beside her as she pointed to some of the new stores that were now here. "There was part of a forest there once."
They soon arrived at the Docks, where the Sibylla and Bellona were both docked, full of the supplies they had been assigned to take with them. In front of the docks were the forces that were going with them. Dom could see Centurions Cato and Elon stood at the planks of both ships shouting orders to the dock workers that were still passing up some last minute supplies, most likely changes that Xun You or Xun Yu had thought about.
There were four hundred and seventy Hoplite and Legionaries that would work as rowers and then Warriors when the ships eventually hit land or boarding action took place. Some of these crew would potentially leave as they progressed to claim prize ships, but there was enough to still maintain their strength. These were under Centurions Octavian, Septimius and Alexander.
There was also one hundred and seventy who were assigned as Warriors, these were a combination of around fifty Wudang and lightly armoured Forbidden Guard Archers that were under Centurion Meng Ai, twenty Balearic Slingers under Centurion Balius, fifty Batavi Warriors under Centurion Chariovalda and a mix of Spartans and Band of Thebians under Centurion Phillip.
In front of them stood the Heroes and Mercenaries that would be joining them. Sun Ce, Gan Ning and Ling Tong, his three Generals on this quest. There was also Artemisia, Crassus and Zhou Yu, the knowledge, trade and strategic planners. Beside them was Andrew and Kai who had just arrived, with around twenty of their own people, including Sebastian and Virgil the brothers, Hugo and Sabine the Sword wielders, Jane the Archer and Fritz the sailor.
Neary stood his Government and Riverside Heroes, either Military or Civilian, as they waited for everyone to depart and leave. Everyone turned to Dom as he arrived, flanked by his four guards with his two wives and their small selection of Guards behind him. Meritamen had two Batavi of her own, whilst Sun Shangxiang had two of her own Batavi. Sun Shangxiang's female guard would soon return to her side as her personal unit in future battles.
"I think they want a speech." Meritamen whispered to him as he saw the eyes of Prime Minister Shang Yang looking towards him. He nodded in agreement before stepping forwards, silence awaited him, whilst Andrew and Kai looked on in surprise at Dom's warrior like appearance.
"Citizens of the soon to be Lazarus Kingdom, we are going to depart once again on to battle at a far away land. When we return, we will not only be victorious, but we will bring back hope for our future!" Dom declared in his parade ground voice, before shouting loudly, "For Riverside, for the Lazarus Kingdom!"
"For Riverside, for the Lazarus Kingdom!" His Warriors, Heroes and nearby Civilians who stood to watch in awe echoed proudly in response.
[System Notification, World Conquest Online Battle Map will begin in thirty minutes, please confirm if you wish to join.]
"Confirm." Dom replied, as he saw that around Andrew some of his people seemed to have a similar reaction. Dom expected that they would have different questions to him based on their Player types, but he was interested to find out.
[Due to your location in the South East, you have been given two spawn options - The Battle of Plataea or Battle of Mycale]
[During the end of the Second Persian Invasion of Greece, two Battles happened Simultaneously. The Land Battle of Plataea, between the Greek Alliance led by Pausanias and the Achaemenid Empire led by Mardonius. As well as the Sea and Land Battle of Mycale, between the Greek Alliance led by Leotychides and the Achaemenid Empire led by Artayntes.]
[All Players in the South East will be joining the side of Greek Alliance at one of the Battlefields. Non-Warrior Players will join the related camps or cities, whilst Warriors will join the related camps.]
All Lord Players and Guild Leaders in the South East will be allowed to take two hundred Warriors or Civilians with them, either Players or Not, if they join Pausanias at Plataea. They will be able to take one full Ships worth of Warriors and related Crew if they join Leotychides at Mycale.]
[Please select your Battle]
"The Battle of Mycale." Dom replied as those around him watching him talking to himself as usual.
[The Guild - Lazarus Kingdom Mercenaries - has asked to join your forces, do you accept.]
"Accept!" Dom replied again as he looked across to see Andrew and Kai also talking to themselves.
[Congratulations, Riverside for acquiring the Mercenary Guild, Lazarus Kingdom Mercenaries.
You may take two Ships and related Crew and Warriors to the Battle of Mycale. Please select the ships.]
"The Bellona and the Sibylla." Dom stated, as he looked towards his two ships, the tall and powerful Bellona and the fast and experienced Sibylla.
[Please designate the Riverside Ship and the Lazarus Kingdom Mercenaries Ship]
"The Bellona for Riverside, the Sibylla for the Lazarus Kingdom Mercenaries." Dom explained, partially frustrated that Andrew had formally used his name before he had.
[Thank you for registering. You have twenty seven minutes remaining, please have your ships ready to depart.]
"We have twenty five minutes, let's get everyone onboard and the ships in to the River!" Dom ordered loudly, with his Centurions quickly barking orders to the Warriors, whilst Helena did the same thing to the dock workers.
"See you when you get back!" Meritamen said to him, before giving him another kiss on the cheek, whilst Sun Shangxiang did the same on the other cheek and laughed to herself. It wasn't normal to show public affection were either of them were from and Dom could tell that they took extra pleasure in doing it to frustrate some of the Elder Officials in the Kingdom such as Shang Yang and Cicero.
....
Dom was soon stood on the Bellona as it slowly pulled itself away from the dock, the Sibylla on the other side doing the same thing. Beside him was Zhou Yu, Gan Ning and Sun Ce, where as Artemisia, Crassus and Ling Tong were on the Sibylla.
"It's always quite exciting when we do this." Gan Ning commented, having travelled with Dom on many of the quests.
"It feels strange being on the other side of it." Zhou Yu smiled, a slightly curved sword strapped to his waist. He wore red leather armour and his looks rivalled that of Hugo who was stood with Andrew and Kai on the Sibylla.
"You will get used to it." Sun Ce grinned, also excited to get back to battling and away from the structure of being in Dom's forces. He loved being reunited with his family, and he appreciated Huang Zhong and Subutai's knowledge, but he wanted to fight.
[One Minute left until departure]
"It's almost time." Dom commented towards Centurion Cato, who had arrived in a similar way but was slightly nervous, unlike Centurion Elon on the Sibylla.
"Prepare for departure!" Centurion Cato shouted loudly, the Warriors and Rowers below reacting by lifting their oars from the water, ready to push forwards.
"It's here." Gan Ning commented, as two large golden rings appeared before the Bellona and the Sibylla.
"Let's go sink some ships!" Sun Ce shouted loudly in excitement as they rowed in to the ring and in to the Aegean Sea beyond.