The mantle of Commander of the Northern Front settled upon Kaelen with the natural ease of a perfectly fitted gauntlet. This was no longer just a sector; it was a theater of war, a vast, desolate expanse stretching from the ancient Northern Watch to the Eastern Wall, all under his direct purview. Three full companies, countless siege engines, and independent scouting patrols now answered directly to him. His influence had expanded exponentially, transforming from a quiet, internal force to a formidable military command.
Kaelen wasted no time in consolidating his power and preparing for the offensive against the Necromancers. His first act was to establish a highly efficient command structure, one largely invisible to those outside his immediate circle. His core Legion was now his operational staff, each duplicate a specialized extension of his will.
Replicated Master Quartermaster Jorah immediately became the logistical heart of the Northern Front. From his new, larger office within the main Northern Watch barracks, he meticulously overhauled the supply lines. He streamlined the flow of provisions, ammunition, and siege engine parts, cutting through layers of bureaucratic inefficiency that had plagued Karshelm for years. Kaelen's mental commands ensured that every needed resource arrived precisely when and where it was required, maximizing troop readiness and morale. The original Master Quartermaster Jorah, though often bewildered by his "cousin's" relentless efficiency, found his own workload miraculously lightened and his reports to Captain Theron glowing.
Replicated Lieutenant Thomas Valerius proved invaluable as Kaelen's chief intelligence officer for the Northern Front. He established a network of loyal scouts and informants, not just among the common soldiers but subtly within the attached noble units from various houses. He collected profiles on their officers, their inherent biases, and their troop strengths, feeding this crucial data directly to Kaelen. This allowed Kaelen to anticipate internal friction points and tailor his command style to each unit, ensuring cohesion across his expanded forces. The original Thomas, still recovering but back on duty in the Inner Keep, occasionally visited his "assistant" in the Northern Front, impressed by his dedication and seemingly boundless energy.
Kaelen assigned Replicated Captain Rostova and Replicated Captain Durian to command two of the three companies under his charge, with Replicated Sergeant Rhys leading a specialized vanguard unit drawn from the most disciplined soldiers. Replicated Rostova, with her unparalleled experience in large-scale troop movements and defensive formations, served as Kaelen's primary tactical commander for sustained engagements. Replicated Durian, with his keen strategic mind and ambitious drive, was tasked with offensive planning and identifying enemy weaknesses for decisive strikes. Their flawless execution of Kaelen's strategies, down to the most minute detail, impressed even the most jaded veterans. The original Captains, back in Karshelm, heard only glowing reports of their duplicates' effectiveness, further boosting Kaelen's reputation among the high command.
Replicated Private Finn was sent on deep reconnaissance missions beyond the Northern Front's new lines. His silent movements and acute senses made him an unparalleled scout. He mapped Necromancer patrol routes, identified their nascent strongholds, and even pinpointed the locations of their shadowy spellcasters, feeding Kaelen a constant stream of precise, real-time intelligence on enemy deployments and magical threats.
In a newly established, larger laboratory beneath the Northern Watch, Replicated Master Alric and Replicated Archivist worked tirelessly. With Kaelen's guidance, they focused on developing specialized countermeasures against Necromancer magic in the colder, open northern terrain. Replicated Alric formulated new alchemical grenades that unleashed bursts of purified light, disrupting undead formations and temporarily stunning reanimated constructs. Replicated Archivist, meanwhile, deciphered ancient rituals that could subtly bless Karshelm's soldiers, increasing their resilience to fear and despair—potent weapons against the Necromancers' morale-sapping tactics.
The Northern Offensive
With his Legion functioning as a seamless extension of his will, Kaelen planned his grand offensive against the Necromancers. His objective was not merely to hold the line, but to push them back, to reclaim territory, and to establish Karshelm as an aggressor, not just a survivor.
The target was the Whispering Spire, a necromantic outpost deep within the mist-shrouded northern wastes, from which the Necromancers coordinated their recent incursions. It was heavily fortified, protected by a veil of dark magic, and considered impregnable by Karshelm's scouts.
Kaelen's strategy was daring and multi-layered. He launched a massive feint towards the western flank of the Necromancer lines, spearheaded by Replicated Captain Durian's company. This feint was designed to draw the main Necromancer forces and expose their core defenses. Meanwhile, Replicated Captain Rostova's company, moving with absolute discipline, would execute a wide flanking maneuver through treacherous, seemingly impassable terrain, guided by Replicated Private Finn's precise reconnaissance. Their goal was to cut off the Whispering Spire's retreat.
Kaelen himself, leading Replicated Sergeant Rhys's vanguard unit, would strike directly at the Whispering Spire's heart. He used the newly developed light-burst grenades from Replicated Alric to disrupt the shadowy wards protecting the spire, allowing his men to breach the defenses.
The offensive began under the cover of a thick, pre-dawn fog, reminiscent of the mist that often cloaked the northern wastes. Replicated Private Finn relayed real-time movements of Necromancer patrols, allowing Durian's feint to draw the enemy with maximum effect. The Necromancers, surprised by the aggression, committed their main forces to countering Durian's relentless, calculated assaults.
As the Necromancer forces were drawn westward, Replicated Rostova's company executed their wide flanking maneuver. They moved with uncanny speed and silence through the difficult terrain, her command resonating with Kaelen's own will. They reached their blocking position behind the Whispering Spire undetected, cutting off any escape.
Kaelen, with Replicated Sergeant Rhys at his side, then led the direct assault on the Whispering Spire. The air grew heavy with dark magic as they approached, reanimated corpses rising from the frozen earth. But Kaelen's troops, bolstered by the subtle blessings from Replicated Archivist's ancient rituals, fought with unwavering courage, their fear dampened, their resolve unyielding.
"Light grenades! Now!" Kaelen barked, and his men hurled the alchemical devices. Bursts of blinding, pure light exploded across the shadowy wards, flickering them like a dying flame. The Necromancer defenses shimmered, then dissolved, leaving the Spire vulnerable.
Replicated Sergeant Rhys led the charge into the breach, his unit moving with practiced precision, their new lightened and resistant armor (thanks to Replicated Alric's infusions) allowing them to move faster and shrug off blows. Kaelen fought alongside them, his tactical mind a whirlwind of decisions, directing his forces, anticipating enemy counter-attacks, and always pushing forward.
The battle inside the Whispering Spire was fierce but short. The Necromancer commanders, caught between Kaelen's direct assault and Rostova's cutoff, quickly fell. The Spire, a nexus of dark energy, trembled as its core was shattered.
Victory and Command
By dawn, the Whispering Spire was a smoking ruin. The Necromancer presence in the northern wastes was shattered, their command structure in disarray. Kaelen's forces stood triumphant, exhausted but invigorated by a decisive victory. It was a complete, overwhelming success.
Reports of the victory reached Karshelm with astonishing speed. Captain Theron immediately dispatched a raven, confirming the success and ordering Kaelen to consolidate his position. Lord Commander Greycastle, upon hearing the full details, authorized Kaelen to establish a permanent, fortified stronghold at the site of the Whispering Spire, pushing Karshelm's active defensive line miles beyond its original walls.
Kaelen stood atop the highest point of the ruined Spire, looking out over the desolate northern wastes. He felt the familiar chime of the System.
[Mission Objectives Complete: Clear Necromancer presence from Whispering Spire, Destroy Outpost, Establish Forward Stronghold.]
[3 Duplication Tokens Gained.]
[You have 3 Duplication Tokens. Choose a living soldier to Replicate.]
Three tokens. A testament to the scale of his victory. Kaelen now commanded not just a section of the wall, but an entire front, overseeing an expansion of Karshelm's territory. His Legion, now eight strong, had proven its effectiveness on a grand scale. He had pushed back the darkness, solidified his authority, and demonstrated his strategic genius to the entire fortress.
He had three tokens, and Kaelen knew exactly who he would observe among his expanded command, who possessed the specific skills and influence he needed to further solidify his control, not just over the battlefield, but over the very strategic direction of Karshelm's future. The war was far from over, but for Kaelen, the path to ultimate dominance within this besieged world had just widened dramatically.