It had been barely a week since Adder's return to Kalynn, and the chaos around the capital had continued to improve with the serpents' very existence. The young men and women who had lost all hope in the welfare of their homeland swelled with confidence thanks to the destruction and capture of the Army of Vermus. New blood flowed into the many imperial positions that suffered from stagnation and being unmanned swelled with new hands and new perspectives.
And this wave of hope did not stop there, businesses reopened, once again commerce started to move, construction finally continued. Along with all that came something that the capital has not had for a long time, visitors.
Some were people who returned due to the news of a real imperial victory, others were people of Nalice who had hoped that the whispers of Westport being avenged, and most shockingly of all were travelers just interested in a good story.
For the first time in a long while life returned to the streets of Kalynn, though it would be a lie to say that everything had gone smoothly. Demmas' death and the truth about his true loyalty of course had to be hidden, especially during this fragile time of hope.
So his job and title was given to the distinguished Emily Vash, the vice captain of the capital guard, who acted as head of the slowly shrinking Imperial loyalist faction within the capital guard. And with Demmas' removal, the remaining members who failed to notice their great leader's disappearance were easily dealt with.
With the others disappearing into the wind with their tails between their legs, and soon in one fell swoop the capital guard started to regain their previous glory. Though this came with the cost of the halving of their numbers, along with the loss of many of their most experienced members.
Though even with the loss of numbers and experience, all who truly knew how dire their situation had previously been. Happily took the losses if it meant that they regained their full autonomy, with the reborn capital guard already showing itself through their reinvigorated effort.
The Capital Guard reclaimed their old colors of blue and red, while they once again started to patrol the streets. Crimes were finally stopped, criminals were judged and properly punished. Information started to be shared once more, updates and reports made public for the first time in years. These actions revived the faith the people had in their protectors.
With this renewed faith in the capital guard, came the strengthening of the almost forgotten imperial guard and the disgraced civil protection. With all three receiving new recruits for the first time in two years.
Of course with the swelling of numbers for the reforged triumvirate, brought up a greater question. Who would the empire's greatest spear join? When would he once again appear before the people with another impossible victory in hand? Where would the Serpent King best be used?
This was the topic that had to occur, the place as well as the position of the venomous calamity himself Adder Serpens. With there only being three that could help the mighty Serpent King, those being the diminished imperial guard, the reformed capital guard, and the almost ruined civil protection.
…
The three figures sat in the ornate imperial chamber, waiting for the appearance of Emperor Douglas so they could officially start their meeting. Publicly this meeting was about what would be their focus with their newly reinvigorated forces, the allocation of imperial provisions, along with the future of the fractured Army.
The once well respected and second to none Army of Nalice, thanks to the actions of the Children of Vermus who long before the first blood was spilled wormed their way into every corner of the empire. Made it so when the council revealed themselves and their goals, more than half of the unrivaled Army of Malice ventured to their new home of New Pagal.
But for anyone even slightly involved within the Empire knew that this would be where the decisions pertaining to their warden would happen. And for all three factions that was something that they desperately needed.
The three captains were the aging dragoon Tyrin, the current leader of the imperial guards. The old, meek, and unassuming Arkann, the previous leader of Civil Protection who had to retake the reigns after the fraud Kerish. And of course newly promoted captain of the Capital Guard, Emily Vash.
Silence could not help but fill the imperial chamber, the three having not met since the start of the Council of Vermus. The floundering and disheveled Arkann tried his best to talk with his colleagues, taking a long drink before speaking.
"So, who do you think Adder will join?"
Tyrin scoffed at that, his black and silver armor creaking against itself as he tried not to take too much seriousness in the civil protection's bait. Emily only straightened in her chair, not wanting anything to do with her 'peers'.
"You think you have a chance? You and your fifteen members? I can't even see the reason for you and your branch's continued existence, let alone gaining a weapon like a True Warden."
Tyrin spoke incredulously, his disgust visible along with his outrage by the very thought that their respective factions had the same amount of chance of acquiring such a resourceful asset. Especially for such an ill liked and traitorous group like civil protection.
The once small and weak old man suddenly gained great strength, and he answered the short tempered captain. His demeanor completely shifted as he did, as he placed his hands on the table, no longer cowering as he seemingly towered over Tyrin and Emily.
"Oh but I know for a fact that Adder would rather join us than you? Like that poor boy could ever look at the crest of the Imperial Kni…"
Tyrin smashed his fist into the table, refusing for the old man to continue speaking. Unlike the two branches of the Imperial Guard, or the Capital Guard. Civil Protection was the one that worked mainly with information and handled problems that couldn't be solved with strength and an inflated sense of nobility.
And due to their area of expertise, the many means that they used to solve their cases, and their ruthless nature. Gave Civil Protection a level of infamy that would follow them, even before the moral failings of Kerish.
Their members grew to be known for their dogma, their willingness to do anything for their cases, sinking to any level so that they could achieve final judgement. By the turn of the last century their image had permanently taken on that image. They were the silver tongue liars, manipulators, and cowards of the Empire. Who would stop at nothing, not even human decency would stall them.
A fact that both guard captains knew of in one way or another, but Tyrin still fell in the old spiders trap head first. With Emily only able to stay and watch the battle between the aged dragoon and the wicked spider.
Yet their argument that would soon turn to battle was stopped by the entrance of the Serpent King himself. Whose hasty and abrupt entrance forced the three captains to shift their attention, Adder entered the Imperial Chamber in a panicked fashion. Adder was disheveledly dressed, holding his spear between his teeth with his glasses barely sitting on his face.
Far from the immaculate figure the three had heard about, but Adder fervently looked around the chamber and its occupants. As if he somehow knew that things had come to a boil, especially when things were soon to become physical.
Adder's eyes scanned the Imperial Chamber, he had been trying his hardest to keep things calm within the palace. Only for these three to almost cause a schism within the imperial faction, leading to the fall of the Empire.
Not so long ago Adder was training, just for his judgement to show him the slow silent death of his homeland. Which of course forced him to change his plans, barely getting here before the lines were proverbially drawn. Adder sighed as he fixed his glasses, his annoyance showed itself as he mumbled his only complaint of the evening.
" Undisciplined… All this chaos… During this fragile time… A rowdy dragon and an instigating old spider, just my luck."
Adder coughed as he finished fixing his ensemble, his glasses correctly placed, his ring on his middle finger and his pendant around his neck. As the now composed Adder Serpens, who now better matched his reputation.
Adder bowed to the three captains, before taking a seat among them. Sitting right next to the stalwart Emily and the exasperated Tyrin, Emily was the first to greet the Serpent King. Her tone was respectful and shockingly warm, which caught both Tyrus and Arkann off guard.
"You're as remarkable as I have heard, Adder. Tell me, was it your mother who taught you how to handle your responsibilities and duties. I believe you're over an hour early, if I'm not wrong."
Tyrin and even the conniving Arkann stared at Emily in sheer horror, for anyone who knew of the Serpent King knew that family should be a subject avoided at all costs. And yet here she was, the youngest captain in the history of the empire, eldest daughter of the incredibly influential Vash family, a shining star of her generation of knights, and yet here she was happily entering the serpents' den without a care in the world.
But Adder just laughed as he slowly nodded, as he ran his thumb over his pendant.
"She prepared me to handle my responsibility well, though it seems that the realm loves to fall apart into chaos when I don't have my eyes on it."
Adder said in a cold tone as he turned to Tyrin and Arkann. Before returning to conversing with Emily. Arkann was the first person to try and speak to the Serpent King, wishing to ensure that they had achieved what their desired result.
"Do any of you have the time?"
Adder mischievously smiled as he dramatically shook his head no. With Emily having to give the old spider the time. Arkann thanked her, though anyone who paid any attention to the old man would see the hollow look in his eyes.
'Seems that the pocket watch was a complete waste of time.'
Arkann grumbled to himself, he and his agents had gone on a fervent search for that pawned off relic. Only for it to be instantly forgotten by the last serpens, and now he and his benefactor would have to make new plans around the Serpent King.
It was during this chat that the Emperor himself entered the chamber, the four bowed as he made his way to the head chair. Only after sitting down and motioning the four to rise did they do so, quietly returning to their chairs waiting for the Emperor's command.
…
Emperor Douglas rested his eyes on the last real hope for his empire, and for once he could see a path towards full victory. His voice was heavy and unmoving, as he spoke of what would happen next.
"It has been decided that two of the guard factions will stay here and help prepare the people for conflict and Kallyn to better endure if our enemies once more reach our gates. The one left will be given the lion's share of the resources, take the reins of the remaining army and journey with the Warden to New Palgal, and end this pathetic rebellion in the same cradle that sired it."
Of course all three of the captains simultaneously agreed to the strategy, though they all wished to be the spearhead and gain the glory of finishing this civil war. And seemingly seconds after the Emperor finished the baseline plan, that every captain had their pitch for being the one to valiantly lead the charge to New Pagal.
Once the mountainous fortress city known as Kalsadar, the once illustrious second city of the Empire. Had become the birthplace of the council and its own homeland, and thanks to the chaos of war and the mountainous region that the city was placed in. made it impossible to quickly flush out the master minds of the revolution.
Making New Pagal the best and fastest way to cut off the support of the many, rouge cells of Vermus that infested the Empire's lands. And with the head severed, the armies and the other armed threats would lose their one uniting force.
With that deed done the Empire would be able to quickly return to its prosperous age, with the remaining forces would quickly fall from imperial forces or from their own infighting. With Tyrin, Emily, and Arkann, all of them wanting to be responsible for this nationwide upheaval and return to a kinder age.
Tyrin was the first to speak, he used every favor and honor sworn oath that he and the Imperial Guard had accrued over its centuries long history. Tyrrin and his two grandsons would lead the charge and with the support of the recently revived Imperial Dragoons would carve out new strong holds and choke points giving them the edge when it came with territory control.
But Arkann happily poked holes into the dragoon's plan, his tone saccharine and jovial as he laid the Imperial Guard and their captain low.
"With what forces? Oh I know that you've been trying your hardest to revive those horse obsessed fools for a little bit over two decades now, but even after all that hard work. They barely reach a thousand in number, let alone the doubling of the needed supplies and resources thanks to the horses."
The Spider shook his head as he chuckled before continuing.
"And what else do you have to sublimate you, your snot nosed grandchildren, the three hundred and twelve new recruits and the nine hundred and four Dragoons? Thirty wandering knights and two mercenary companies, which combined gives your 'army' or should I say band of seventeen hundred and seventy three."
The Spider sneered before saying his final thoughts.
"Pityful really, barely a twentieth of the army itself. Those numbers are pathetic especially compared to the forces of Vermus. They would be beating us two to one, we would be slaughtered thanks to numbers alone."
Tyrin's body and face twisted in barely contained fury, before he restrained himself and gestured to Emily Vash for her to make her proposal which she took after the Emperor motioned to her as well. She pulled out records and charts as she started to tell her proposition.
Thanks to the many connections that the Vash family had, Emily was able to recruit hundreds of knights who belonged to noble families themselves. And thanks to the Vash family being a military family, she was able to obtain famous relics and have access to better forged weapons along with restored siege weapons.
Unlike with Tyrin, Arkann smiled as he nodded in satisfaction. Hand resting on his beard, as he spoke to his only true rival.
"If my math is correct, your numbers would surpass two hundred thousand with the army easily matching the traitors forces if the latest reports are correct. And I see that you have gotten your hands on fifty two arcane cannons."
The spider whistled, as he took a closer look at her records.
"Now that's an accomplishment, with the right planning I can see you achieving victory in a little less than two years? Maybe with the weather on your side you could finish it in a little less then eighteen months?"
Emily refused to play herself into that spider's web, instead finished her proposal and motioned to Arkann to show what he had prepared. Which the old man happily obliged when the Emperor motioned for him to go.
Arkann pulled out mountain documents and scrolls as he laid out his wide web of a plan. Fifty mercenary groups hired from near and far, the use of plague warfare, expendables armed with cursed weapons fighting on the front line.
The size of his potential force combined with the remaining army, far exceeded the count of four hundred thousand. Easily eclipsing the traitorous army, through sheer numbers alone, Let alone with the use of these dark and even forbidden ways of war. And of course came the timeframe of this final battle, just one year. A full on assault with no brakes or stops, a relentless assault to New Palgal.
The spider proudly showed the ruinous army that it had weaved. Its horrifying splendour forced all who heard it to silence. Emperor Douglas met the old spider eye to eye, but even then Arkann didn't budge or buckle under the eyes of Nalice.
For he would not change or lessen this plan, for every ugly piece was necessary for the Empire's perfect victory against the traitors. And the Spider would not change it, because it went against the morals of weaklings who could not stomach it.
But to the shock of every one there, The Serpent King rose for the first time in the last seven hours that had passed. Adder stood up and leaned against the table before the first time took off his glasses and met Arkann eye, the snake and spider were unmoving as they stared at each other seemingly having a confrontation though they both stayed unmoving.
"One year…"
Adder said slowly, his crimson eyes locked on the stalwart Arkann. The spider smiled as he nodded, seeing the boys comment as sign of amazement. Seeing this as a once in a lifetime chance to properly bring the Serpent King to his faction's side, he seized on it.
"At the latest, I am in full belief that if you are by our side. We could easily get this done in less than nine months!"
Adder flashed a heavy grin as he nodded in a less than excited way. His sickened tone grew with every word he spoke.
"I bet it would… But I have no plans for this travesty of a war plan to ever happen."
The Adder spat to the surprise of Tyrin and Arkann, who both thought that this horrid scheme would be something that a figure such as the Serpent King would both enjoy and wish to take part in. Something Adder happily would and will prove them wrong, as he began to circle to the table. The spider rose to object to the serpent, but the Emperor motioned Arkann to sit and be silent.
"You see spider, I know with complete certainty that you have no clue why I want your horrid and pathetic plan to be smothered here and now. I could go in depth about the ghastly use of such cruel objects you have gotten your hands on, hiring mercenaries outside of our empire, or the sickening idea of using plague based warfare."
The Serpent King stopped right at the spider, grabbing the map Arkann used in his demonstration, before he slithered his way towards the end of the table. When he got to the opposite side of the Emperor he bowed before opening the map so all could see.
"But that would be a waste because I know you will not listen, so instead I will now happily tell everyone why this horrid plan would fail and the many spectacular ways it would."