The walls of Tumbling Rapids standing high above the plains made for a welco sight. Months of marching, of having to act like part of an army instead of acting as the hunting teams they were used to, had dragged at the mbers of the Shatterplate Order, and as their leader, Edric had not only had to deal with his subordinates complaints and problems, but half the damn campaigns as well, since he was one of the commanders. Not that he was, in truth, his only area of responsibility was the outriders and scouts, a vast majority of which were his own hunting teams. The other groups and nobles that had gathered to make the campaign a reality had mostly brought mainline troops, so he was in command of his own people, a handful of cavalry scouts, and one small band of skirmishers from a rcenary group hired by a low ranking noble with no actual troops of his own.
As commander of the scouting elents of the campaign, hed basically done nothing related to his responsibilities during the march. Theyd passed almost exclusively through controlled territory until a couple of months ago when they started hitting wild areas, and there was no need for scouts when passing through other nations territories. In fact, it would be seen as threatening to most polities if an army that was supposedly just moving through started sending out scouting elents to look around them, perhaps for targets? So until recently, hed been mostly sitting around. When theyd hit the first stretch of uncontrolled territory where there might be actual threats, hed started sending out scouts, but most monsters ran away from a group as large as theirs, and the few thatd been too stupid to see an entire army as a threat had been quickly killed by the scouts themselves.
Sohow hed beco the go-to person to deal with disputes and problems, probably because so asshole, and he didnt care who it was; they were an asshole for putting him in that position, had decided he could handle it since he wasnt doing much else. Through all the problem-solving and diation hed had to handle, hed discovered one important thing: this entire idea had been a bad one. When he was dealing with peoples issues and often arguing with them about solutions, they quickly dropped their guard and confird a suspicion hed been having; most of the people that had joined the campaign didnt give a shit about its actual goals. It was worse than hed originally thought, that the goal of defeating a vampyr that was in a position of power and keeping the world safe was a minor goal to them, or secondary to what they wanted to get out of this, they fully did not care whether the vampyr lived or died.
Calling that a problem would be an understatent, at least to Edric. He didnt expect anyone to care as much about dealing with vampyr as he did or to put as much effort into it as his people or the mbers of the Crusade, but to realize that many of the nobles and commanders whod joined the campaign would willingly let the vampyr get away if it ant they got what they wanted out of it? That was an issue. The two generals whod been sent by the Empire and the Concord had unofficial orders to take a potential rival down a few pegs. Most of the nobles wanted to take so land for themselves so they could set up their own little fiefs outside the control of their ho governnts, and the various rcenaries and military commanders wanted to clutch so glory for themselves and raise their fortunes. Even the dragon and rider pair that had been brought along cared more about so other dragon that was supposedly in Avalon more than the threat of a vampyr Class Line Progenitor.
He wasnt sure why the couple cared about the other dragon; they kept most of their conversations between themselves using that bond they had, but he really wished he could recruit them. He didnt particularly care about the dragon; he was a bit hot-tempered and didnt seem the type to be good at the Orders style of hunting, but the rider would be quite the catch. She was patient, calm, and had quite the psychic Class. Sadly, hed already picked up that she was one of the more principled people with that type of Class, and while he appreciated the conscientiousness, a psychic that wouldnt read other peoples minds wasnt useful for him.
With or without the psychic, Edric had made sure peoples decisions were pointed in the right direction. A few ssages were missing here, and a few extra ones added there, slipping a few overheard conversations into camp life, and hed quite quickly turned the general vibe of everyones goals the way they needed to be. He didnt care what each individual or group got up to after the vampyr was dealt with, but he was damn sure theyd deal with it first and foremost. Once hed successfully manipulated everyone he needed to, hed focused on his second goal, rooting out the mbers of the Coalition of Fangs End that had been smuggled into the campaign. For many years, hed been focused on his own organization and dealing with vampyr directly, and his information about the Coalition had waned. Theyd long past the mark hed envisioned them approaching and had gone from a worriso group into one that needed to not exist anymore. Being a little zealous in hunting down vampyr and causing so light collateral damage to buildings or roads was one thing; actual terrorism and wanton murder were completely different and needed to be stopped.
Hed shared his concerns with his old friend Rian, High Crusader Hearthbreaker, who he was quite happy to have along. Shed shared so of her concerns with how the Crusade was growing as well, and Edric had decided to spend so ti pruning the Crusade carefully after this ended. Transitioning from a successful campaign to root out a powerful vampyr to have the Order work more closely with the Crusade would be easy, and after that, it wouldnt be much trouble to tone down or remove certain elents that were pushing the Crusade in unsavory directions. The purpose of both their organizations was to remove threats to peoples lives, not beco threats in the na of being better than everyone just because they hunted monstrosity. The Coalition mbers in the campaign would have so sad accidents when they got closer to enemy territory, and the rest of the glamorization would be dealt with when ti allowed.
The actual dealing with peoples complaints had been a bore, but it had let him get away with necessary shenanigans, so he let it wash off him as he felt faintly disappointed that he couldnt see the citys famous lake from the side they were approaching. It was always good to stay in practice with old skills and Skills, and he hadnt had much opportunity to flex his oldest Class in so ti. Edric Ravenho was the leader of the Shatterplate Order and a powerful vampyr hunter with an impressive fifth-tier Hunter Class; everyone knew that. The man who had died with his family and hotown to a vampyr attack on the sa day Edric Ravenho had co into existence had been one of the best up-and-coming spies the Bannerthrust Empire had seen in quite so ti.
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Approaching the gate to the city with the rest of the leadership while the main body of the army made camp so distance from the walls, Edric ntally prepared himself for the eting they had scheduled. Theyd sent ssages months ago to get permission to rest outside the city and buy supplies, so they didnt need extra permissions for that, but High Crusader Vexler had insisted they recruit combatants from the city itself, so theyd asked to schedule an extra eting alongside the first, but the reply theyd gotten was interesting. Instead of eting the local guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild to discuss the guild's response to their request for aid and then with the citys representative, they would be eting both at the sa ti.
Edric, Rian, Vexler, and Crusader General Eahn were led deeper to a building attached to the wall while other lower-level officers were left behind to deal with logistics and getting supplies. The four of them were quickly taken to a small eting room with two people inside.
Welco, One of the two seated n greeted them. He was a thin, lanky human with a neatly grood goatee. Im Guildmaster Caruion of the Adventurers Guild. With is Councilmber Lenesalera of Tumbling Rapids.
The similarly thin, silver-haired, elven man nodded once but said nothing.
Please, have a seat. The guildmaster continued.
The Crusader General introduced them all after theyd all seated themselves. I am Crusader General Stonegnawer Eahn of the Itarian Crusade; these are High Crusaders Hearthbreaker and Vexler of the sa. Also with us is Commander Ravenho of the Shatterplate Order.
A pleasure. The guildmasters smile was thin and patently false, while the councilmber was stone-faced. I do hate to skip the pleasantries, but theres much to handle, so well be getting right to the point.
The city of Tumbling Rapids will not be supplying any fighters to your invasion, nor will we be allowing volunteers to do so. Councilmber Lenesalera inford them flatly. We do not have a standing military to send, nor can we afford to allow any of our guard or our directly overseen adventurers to join you when we already have problems close to ho to deal with.
Vexler perked up with a winning smile, Now, Im sure that-
No. Lenesalera forcibly cut him off before he could finish speaking. There is nothing you can say to change this decision. The answer is final.
Vexler had jerked back at the force of the reply, and then he leaned forward aggressively. Now see here. We-
High Crusader.
The Crusader Generals rebuke cut Vexler off imdiately. He sat back in his seat, looking sullen.
Following that, I must inform you that the Adventurers Guild has rejected your call for aid. The guildmaster told them calmly but with just as much steel in his voice.
Eahn hadnt outwardly responded to the councilmbers response, but this had him raising his brow. Oh? Why is that?
The guilds policies are clear: we will not get involved in any political conflicts in order to keep our neutrality between nations. Should an actual threat that necessitates the guild getting involved arise that is more than a normal war or a political conflict, we will. But not for sothing like this.
Sothing like this? Vexler scowled mightily at the shorter man, his tusks bared angrily, A vampyr Class Line Progenitor leading a country is a direct threat to everyone in the area! He insisted, How can you say that isnt a threat worth dealing with?
Were there to be a vampyr who was a Class Line Progenitor or a leader of a growing nation, both would be seen as problems, although whether or not they would be problems the guild would participate in dealing with is above my level. However, the situation youre describing does not exist. Lord Kay is a vampire, not a vampyr.
What? Edric frowned in shock and felt so anxiety start to rise. Do they actually?
You believe that bullshit coming from the monsters mouth? Vexler demanded, slamming a fist on the table as he echoed Edrics thoughts. Manipulations of that level are to be expected from a vampyr! You cant seriously believe-
Quiet. Lenesalera hissed at him, the sheer violence in the elfs tone shutting Vexler up mid-tirade.
Guildmaster Caruion stared at them all stonily. My fellow guildmaster, Guildmaster Gemglass of the guilds Avalon branch, has personally spoken with and used Identify on Lord Kay. Not only did her Identify Skill call him a vampire and not a vampyr, he willingly gave an Oath to the System that he was not a vampyr and his claims regarding what occurred were true. With that being the case, the Adventurers Guild has formally identified your invasion as a political conflict we will not be involving ourselves in. This is the decree of both the guilds leadership and the founders themselves.
Edric felt himself blanch and saw the two High Crusaders do the sa. The founders of the Adventurers Guild and the nation that simultaneously hosted and oversaw the guild were almost legendary figures. They were so of the few publicly confird tier sixes and were often embroiled in unbelievable tales of adventure, most of which turned out to be true. No one wanted to fuck with them.
That is all we have to say. The guildmaster stood and headed for the door. He paused before stepping outside. I hope you take the ti to actually talk before you get yourselves embroiled in a war with Avalon. Ignoring the Class Line Progenitor and everyone else theyve managed to recruit or train up, the Indomitable Fist doesnt forgive anyone who attacks her people.
The councilmber stared at them for a mont as the guildmaster left. You have two days to resupply before you move on. Remaining longer than that will be considered a threat against the city. He stood and made his way to the door.
Before he could leave, it was kicked open, and a heavy-set, muscular human in deep purple clothing with sparkly golden trimming forced himself into the room. Lenesalera! How rude of you; you knew I wanted to be part of the eting with the Crusader General!
King Glowl, The councilmber spat out through gritted teeth, Your request to be part of the eting was denied.
What? That cant be! Your wondrous city and my own nation have beco so close together, brothers in spirit! The mans words were complintary, but his eyes were incredibly aggressive as he stared down Lenesalera. The councilmber flinched back the smallest amount from the bloodlust that poured off the man, and the human seized the opportunity. He whirled to face Eahn, body checking the thinner elven man out of his way. I, King Glowl of Nelam, and Ive co to pledge my forces to your cause!
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