You don't like disagreeing with the Emperor's strategic decisions and you certainly don't want to deal with svelk in your camp, but from what you know of Roldan replacing him now wouldn't be a good move as he is the best-qualified general. The only person you can think of that would be better is yourself, but the Emperor has made it quite clear he wants you to stay put, so you aren't going to argue the issue.

"If you believe the svelk can be useful as support on the gnoll front, then I shall figure out a way to make it work." You remark, which seems to surprise the Emperor.
"Mm, very well. You sure it won't be a problem?"
"No, no problem. However at the slightest sign of some sort of treachery or them not pulling their weight then I'll suggest the next decree you pass be one that executes all svelk in Empire territory."

Hah, trust me, I've nearly had that one on the list for centuries. I know you'll be able to handle this though. Just wish everyone was as competent as you." The Emperor says and gives a glare at Jacob who is still briskly going through some papers.
"I really do think Jacob is trying his best. He only wants what's good for the Empire."
"Then he better start doing a better job. Anyway let's get on with it."

The Emperor proceeds to tell Mistress that the svelk mercenary bands will be assigned to the gnoll front, but that they will ultimately answer to you and that any problems from them will result in mass executions. Mistress doesn't seem at all bothered by this; in fact she simply chuckles and says that's fine.

The Emperor then goes on to tell Jacob that General Roldan better start making more progress soon or he will have another general take his place. Then he says he has to meet with Marik.

"I sometimes wonder if he just uses his madness as an excuse to be absent minded and claim he didn't know there was a meeting. I just hope he's actually made progress on his project he convinced me to proceed with. Okay all of you are dismissed." The Emperor remarks and the rest of you leave his chambers.

You expect Mistress to make some sort of remark as you're all walking out of the palace, but she ends up quickly walking ahead of you instead. Jacob on the other hand takes the opportunity.

"I just wanted to thank you for once again trying to shield me from the Emperor's wrath, though I fear that it won't be long before my services are no longer needed. That day is coming soon. I know it."
"You're worrying too much as usual. The Emperor knows you're indispensible."
"No YOU'RE indispensible. That crazy derro Marik is indispensible. Even that svelk bitch is considered indispensible, though I really don't know why. Me? I'm just another bureaucratic bean counting pencil-pushing advisor that's getting old. There are several just waiting to take my place. You know I had twelve attempts to poison me in the last year?"
"By who?"
"By other bean counting pencil-pushing bureaucrats obviously. I'm sure you know that's how I got my job. Eliminated the previous advisor. Of course with the way things are going, the Emperor himself is likely to do it personally. I just wish I could get him to see that this war is a drain on the Empire. Even if we win, the victory still won't outweigh the amount of cost in resources, gold, population we spent to pursue it. I mean sure we have the land, but a lot of it has been rendered unusable due to the slash and burn policy that's been favored. We haven't even left a lot of people alive to tax! Now this thing with Roldan, I really don't know what he expects me to do."
"How is internal security lately?" you ask.
"Its fine. Good all things considered. The Eyes have successfully replaced the shadows it seems as far as that is concerned. Reputation is everything."
"Do you think you could re-assign some of them and it not affect domestic safety?"
"What do you mean?"

You explain that perhaps using some Eyes as assassins and spies might work better than the usual military scouts. Perhaps their expertise of blending in, stealth and other such tactics can get them to sneak in the city and bring it down from within.

"I can't believe I didn't think of that. In fact, why didn't the Emperor think of that? It's certainly an idea worthy of consideration and Warrick would be an excellent candidate to lead such an operation. If the Emperor believes I have more input in this matter than I actually do, I might as well make such accusations true and hopefully successful for my sake." Jacob remarks.
"I'm sure this plan will hasten the fall of the Felkan Kingdom. You'll have not one but two Eternals in vital positions on the front lines now."
"Don't you mean three? You didn't include yourself."
"Oh, well I'm doing my part sure, but…nevermind."
"But you want to be where Roldan is."
"I don't even necessarily want to lead the main attack force at this point, I just feel like I should at least be part of it. I know the Emperor explained to me he doesn't want to throw me into the meat grinder of war because he sees greater potential in me, but I feel like sometimes I'm not being able to live up to that potential."

Jacob pats you on the side of your arm.

"Now you're the one worrying too much. You are more vital to this war than you believe. This advice you just gave me proves that. The Emperor is just well…a little protective of you because he's so proud of you. Can you blame him? Don't worry; your day to really shine will come some day. Maybe even sooner than you think."

After Jacob's minor pep talk you feel a little better about your own position, of course then you remember you now have a bunch of svelk assigned to your camp.

Alison is probably slightly less happy about it than you are.

"Was there nothing that could be done?" Alison asks.
"I told you, it was either this or replace General Roldan and that would've been a major strategic mistake."
"Well are you going to be okay with this?"
"Me? Sure. Guidelines have already been established, I'm ultimately in charge of them and believe me I've every intention to not letting them get away with shit. I'll tell them as soon as they start arriving. In the meantime, let's make arrangements for our new allied support. Better that we do it now before they think they can just make themselves at home here."

No sooner do the svelk mercenaries start arriving, you begin laying down the rules of how things are going to be to all the respective captains in private. They are of course unenthused about such things, but given that you didn't dress them down in front of everyone most grudgingly comply with your decrees.

There is one captain by the name of Eldolith, however who just manages to rub you the wrong way…

"Yes, yes, I've already been briefed on the situation. We all have, so you can stop wasting your time by asserting your pitiable need for dominance." Eldolith remarks.

You look at the haughty svelk captain and you already know who you see before you. You're feeling a mixture of things right now, but you told the Emperor that you were going to make this work, so you're going to at least get a certain amount of enjoyment out of it.

"But if I don't keep reinforcing it, then you'll never truly grasp the idea that you are subservient to me. And as we all know it's important to keep the lesser born in their place. That is the svelk way is it not?" you say.

Eldolith nearly makes a retort, but stops. You aren't letting her off that easy.

"Oh? You wish to say something else? Maybe that I am not a svelk and that I am the lesser born? Perhaps something about how humans are nothing more than hairless Sul Monkeys? Come on, say what you want. I've heard it all before by your kind and it's the same old shit. Come on, just give me an excuse." you say and then grab her by the throat and begin to squeeze while your hot breath invades her nostrils.

Eldolith says nothing, she doesn't even try to resist she just continues to stare at you defiantly, accepting of death if necessary or whatever else you have in mind.

"You don't fool me svelk bitch, deep down you're scared…or maybe…maybe you're getting excited? Yeah, I bet that's it…I know what YOU like…" you say and your other hand begins to wander touching Eldolith's body. Then you realize what you're doing and you immediately stop and make haste back to the Empire side of the camp.

Alison asks you if everything went all right, and you sharply dismiss her by exclaiming that of course everything is fine. Alison doesn't take too much offense since she figures having the svelk in camp is probably going to put you in a bad mood.

You wonder now if you didn't want the svelk transferred here so you could have the opportunity to unleash some of your lingering desires. To get a gleeful sadistic pleasure of verbally abusing them or sending them on dangerous missions, or even killing one of them yourself if they step out of line. You don't even want to dwell on what you felt like doing to Eldolith.

Did Mistress plan this somehow? She couldn't have. It was your choice.

"By the Emperor, get a hold of yourself! This is all on you. You need to fight this. This temptation will be great, but you WILL overcome it. You will act like a professional. You need to act like a disciplined agent of the Empire. You will not lower yourself. The Emperor will give me strength of mind and body." You mutter to yourself.

While you're struggling with your inner demons you also need to focus on the real problem at hand which are the gnolls. Alison, like you, would prefer to do something more proactive to them rather than constantly waiting around for their attacks. Given that you're now stuck with them, here's where the svelk will come in handy.

You could send them in to regularly launch guerilla raids against the gnolls in their own territory, of course this might be seen as using them as "disposable warriors" which is something that they were complaining about while on the Felkan front.

About the only other purpose would be to use them as scouts in order to prepare for a large counter attack against the gnolls. Of course you really aren't supposed to be doing that, as the orders are clear that you are to remain in occupied Felkans lands just in case your support is needed elsewhere.

You use the svelk as scouts

This may be the most "rebellious" idea you've had, but you can't just sit here like a Felkan waiting to get attacked. You need the battle, you were born for it. Not to mention if you're actively fighting someone it should keep your mind off of other things.

Now all you have to do is to convince Alison. True she is technically in charge of the battalion and you have always respected that, but if push came to shove you could easily pull rank on her and you'd rather not do such a thing.

Fortunately, it doesn't come to that.

"It's about time we took the fight to those mongrel dogs." she says with a little enthusiasm, but then her cautious side comes out. "But this plan, is this approved by the Emperor?"
"No, but you don't need to worry about that. I will take full responsibility if he gets angry about it. I'll just say I took command of your battalion."
"Hah, I always knew you were going to do that some day, anyway."
"Sorry, but I can't think of any other way."
"Don't apologize to me, I won't have to face the Emperor's wrath, well I hope I won't at least."
"Like I said, don't worry about that. And don't worry about me either. I don't want to sound prideful, but I'm fairly confident the Emperor won't even get too angry with me, especially since I intend on wiping out the immediate gnoll threat."
"What happens if we get called to aid Roldan?"
"If it's before we launch our major attack on gnoll lands then we'll comply. If it's during, well we'll give what aid we can. The main thing is to get this finished as quickly as possible hence why I'm sending svelk scouts first to give us info on key locations of where to strike."
"You think we can trust them to do their job properly?"
"Who knows, but they're still getting paid well and this is a much easier assignment than where they previously were, so they will most likely do their jobs. Besides I'll make sure to send some of our stealthier troops with them and make a point of how their safety is also a priority if they don't want me to think that they're up to some sort of treachery. They won't like it, but who gives a shit, they're svelk."

Alison laughs at your comment and then says she'll start getting her end of things prepared.

You tell the svelk leaders what you want done and how you want it done. You get no dissension or even any grumbles. They either realize you mean business or they're all silently conspiring against you to strike at a later time. Probably both, but for right now its enough that they just obey your orders.

The next few weeks are semi-anxious ones while you're still waiting for svelk intelligence reports. You really hope you can take down the gnoll horde or at least cripple it before anything on Felkan front pops up. You experience a few gnoll raids during this time, but they aren't anything out of the ordinary. If the gnolls are on to any spying going on they haven't changed their usual attacks.

Eventually the svelk bands start trickling back in and while most of the information is just standard intelligence that will come in useful during the main attack, one of the reports is more alarming.

"The gnolls have a large group of wyverns in that small mountain in the distance. From what I can tell they've been keeping them fed just enough that they're still strong, but not enough that they're fat and happy. They're quite vicious. It's a wonder the flying beasts don't just eat the gnolls, but it would appear the mongrel dog men have a way with the creatures. Probably been training them since they hatched." Eldolith remarks.
"How many wyverns exactly?" you ask.
"Not exactly sure, we couldn't get that far into the caves without being detected since the place is extremely heavily guarded, but a good number of them. Enough to make things problematic if they attacked. I might hazard a guess that maybe they've been trying to lull you all into a false sense of complacency, but that almost seems a bit too cunning for gnolls. Still, its amazing what the…lesser born can accomplish when they aren't taken seriously." Eldolith says and gives you a look as if that comment was directed towards you specifically. Other svelk in the tent move a bit nervously since they know she's possibly endangering them as well.

Why is she testing you like this?

Ignoring her comment you get back to the business at hand.

"Okay, well this changes things a bit, but we'll make arrangements. Glad you all found this out. Your actions have helped the Empire immensely. I'll make sure you all get a little extra gold for this service, dismissed."

As everyone leaves your tent, Eldolith stays behind.

"Is their something else you needed captain?" you ask as you mentally prepare yourself.
"Funny I was going to ask the same of you. I thought that perhaps you'd like to discipline me for my earlier words."
"That won't be necessary in light of your latest report on the gnolls. I'm willing to let it pass."
"Oh? Well perhaps maybe I'd like my reward then for my work." Eldolith remarks and then moves over to you which causes you to move back.
"What the hell do you think your doing?"
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to kill you. I know I'd be no match for a great warrior like you. I just thought that maybe you'd like to take this opportunity to get to know me better. I see you still staring at me sometimes, probably wishing that you'd done what you wanted to do when we first met. Your hand clenched around my throat, your loins pulsating and wanting to violate me. Well here I am."

At this point Eldolith takes your hand and wraps her lips around your index finger making "mmm" noises. While you can't deny the desires, you also can't help but find humor in this since you now know the clumsy intentions for certain.

You pull your finger out of her mouth and laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Eldolith asks in annoyed tone.
"You! This! This is a joke. I had my doubts at first when the svelk all got transferred here, but now I know for certain. Mistress put you up specifically to this to fuck with me. Well it won't work."
"Are you sure? You seem pretty distracted." Eldolith says attempting to be seductive again.
"Ha ha, I won't deny your beauty and my own fucked up cravings, but sorry your techniques in mindfuckery are sorely lacking and I've had the master, or Mistress if you prefer. You're not even worth me worrying about anymore now that I know your game, which is that you're just a pawn in Mistress' own twisted game, whatever that is."

Your condescension and dismissal is bad enough, but what seems to set off Eldolith the most is…
"Stop calling my mother by that ridiculous name! I don't know why she insists on adopting your lesser born titles and nicknames!"
"Mother?" you ask genuinely surprised.
"Yes, and I told her this was a stupid idea in the first place! She should be taking steps to return our people back to their rightful place, not playing mind games with some monkey grunt. Ugh! I can't believe I sucked on your finger."
"I'm sure it was everything you dreamed about. So you're her daughter. I have to admit I thought there was a resemblance and it wasn't just that haughty strut or those cold eyes that are so common to your race… wait so what is her real name?"
"Ask her yourself! I'm done here. From now on I'm just doing my duty as a merc until I'm transferred out of this human hellhole." Eldolith shouts and storms off.

Well this little incident has been bizarre to say the least. Mistress basically sent her own daughter to have sex with you. You don't pretend to understand the mind of the svelk, but what kind of fucked up family dynamic do they have and for what purpose? Is this some sort of ploy to keep you unfocused so you'll make a critical mistake somewhere? Eldolith did mention about taking steps to return her people to their rightful place and how she's obviously pissed that Mistress isn't doing it.

Of course knowing Mistress, maybe messing with you is part of the greater plan? But how? In any case you can't worry about it now since you do have to get back to accomplishing your immediate task. You meet back up with Alison to tell her of the new plan due to the wyverns.

"So, I saw your svelk girlfriend stomp out of your tent pretty mad. Trouble in paradise?" Alison asks.
"Hardly. Just more svelk bullshit. And she isn't my girlfriend."
"Hey, I said we weren't betrothed to each other when we started our own little intimate encounters so you don't need to hide anything. I hear enough things around the camp about you two."

NOW it hits you.

"Oh shit, THAT'S what this is all about! I can't believe it!" you start laughing again.
"What?" Alison asks.
"She's jealous of you!"
"Eldolith?"
"No! Her mother, Mistress!"
"Mistress is Eldolith's mother?
"Yeah, and she sent her daughter to have sex with me hoping it would fuck up OUR relationship!"

You tell Alison everything that happened between you and Eldolith, you even confess everything that happened the first time you met her which is probably why the rumors were going around about the two of you. Alison believes you since you've never been one to lie let alone to her.

"So wait… your former instructor is jealous of me so she sent her daughter to have sex with you?" Alison says.
"It's the only explanation."
"I dunno, I mean…wow…that seems pretty hard to believe."
"Believe it. The svelk mind is capable of some truly twisted petty shit."
"Well I can believe that, but I'm just having a hard time believing that a svelk female would be jealous of the appearance of…as they would say a monkey."
"Don't say that, you're beautiful." You say.
"Okay I know I'm not ugly, but beautiful is pushing it."
"Not at all. You're a soldier, a warrior of the Empire, a maiden of battle striking fear and terror into the hearts of our enemies. I've seen you slay many in battle with a skill that many could only hope to achieve. I've seen your sword and armor drenched in the blood of our enemies and the dirt of the battlefield. With each battle you win, with each enemy you kill you carry out the will of the Empire and the Emperor. Your cause is so pure and righteous… how could I not find that beautiful?

Alison smiles at your unique attempt at compliments.

"Well when you make it sound like that, how can I disagree?"

You and Alison spend some intimate time that night and in the next few days you begin your risky attack on gnoll territory. It goes well at first, and you aren't suddenly taken by surprise when flocks of wyvern riders try to swoop in on the battlefield.

Some of the peasants from the Felkan towns that were occupied by the gnolls actually welcome you as saviors and immediately pledge themselves to the Empire, mostly because the Felkan Kingdom failed to defend them in the first place and that any ruler is better than the gnolls. This comes somewhat as an unexpected benefit to your decision.

After a month of slaughtering gnolls, two things major things happen, one of them good and one of them possibly bad.

The siege on Yaquan is finally successful. A few Eyes managed to infiltrate and bring the walls down from within and from there, Roldan's army did the rest. While you're pleased to hear about a victory for the Empire, you've also just received a message telling you to return to the capital immediately. It would appear that your proactive approach to the gnolls has finally caught the Emperor's attention. You don't know if he'll be angry or pleased, or what.

The second part of this dilemma is that you are still trying to make that one big push to wipe out the majority of the gnoll forces. Alison naturally says that if you have to leave she can handle it without you and you have no doubt about that, but that's not the issue. It's more that you'd like to finish what you started and that if you are going to return to the Emperor to answer for your disobedience, you'd like to at least have a complete victory under your belt.

Surely when the Emperor sees that you've crushed another enemy in his name and even added more subjects and territory he couldn't be too mad could he?

You return immediately

As much as it would be in your favor to return with a massive victory, you're going to have to settle on what you believe to be an assured one instead. Putting off a direct order from the Emperor would only make matters worse for you and you believe you're in enough trouble as it is.

"You shouldn't worry so much, didn't you say that the Emperor probably wouldn't get mad at you?" Alison asks.
"Yeah I said that to convince myself that what I wanted to do was a good idea at the time. Doesn't matter, what's done is done and I will face whatever the Emperor has in store for me and as I said before, I'll take full responsibility."
"You don't need to do that. You know full well I was itching to get into it with the gnolls as too."
"Well, I want to anyway because I…um…uh"

Alison raises an eyebrow when you start to stumble over your words; you quickly recover and change the subject.

"Look, just proceed with the plan as normal. I think we've wiped out most of their wyvern forces and even their dire wolf cavalry. We need to at least push them off of all the territory they took from the Felkans. If I return…"
"WHEN you return." Alison interrupts.
"Heh, okay. When I return we can figure it out from there. Oh and this goes without saying but keep an eye on the svelk. They've all been fairly professional since we started this aggressive campaign on the gnolls, but well you know, they're svelk and who knows what they might be up to."
"Of course."
"Okay I guess that's about it."

You linger a moment longer just sort of staring at Alison wondering if this will be the last time you ever see her again. It seems silly given how the pair of you have risked your lives in battle so many times that death could've just been a sword cleave or stray arrow away. This is different though and its not because you're afraid of any execution that Emperor might inflict on you, its more because you'd hate to not have the chance to spend any more time with Alison.

Is this what is known as "romantic" love? You're familiar with the concept, it just has always seemed bizarre to you or at least not a priority. Love of the Emperor, love of the Empire, love of duty and battle are concepts you understand, but your feelings towards Alison are a little different even when you attempt to make the comparisons in your head.

Sensing you're more overcome with emotions than you'd admit, Alison once again takes your relationship that extra step further.

"You don't need to say it. I know." She says and kisses you.

With that pleasant feeling still persisting, you take your leave and make your long trip back to the capital. It's a miserable trip since it practically rains the entire way, almost like the storm is following you. You cast your shield spell to give yourself some relief from the elements though it still doesn't help when your horse has to trudge through some of the muddier back roads. Eventually you arrive at your destination.

You enter the Emperor's chambers and while lately when you've met with him he's either hovering over his war table with maps and small figures on them or he's speaking with Jacob and the others, but this time he's alone and sitting in his chair. He isn't reading either, he's staring down at the floor as if deep in thought.

"Why?" He asks without looking up. His voice doesn't sound angry so much as it sounds distant.

This simple question could only be asking you why you disobeyed his orders. You have several elaborate answers you could give. You've practiced them all, but now that you're actually in front of the Emperor you know that no answer is going to help so you cut to chase.

"I have no suitable excuse because there is none. There is no reason good enough to explain why I disobeyed your orders. I have returned merely to accept whatever punishment you have deemed suitable for my betrayal."

There is a pause of silence after your words. The Emperor slowly looks up at you and you feel his eyes staring right through you. The room even starts to feel more oppressive. Its as if you aren't even alone with the Emperor, its like there are a thousand eyes upon you. Judging you.

"I see. But you will not evade my question so easily. Now tell me why, I just need to know. Tell me. I will believe you my son." The Emperor says in an almost soothing voice.

So you tell him your reasons; that you were merely tired of sitting on the sidelines waiting around for the gnolls to continue attacking you. That you wanted to do something of more substance for the Empire. The Emperor listens to your explanation, but you get the impression he's also studying you.

"So…your reasons for disobeying my orders were entirely your idea? You were not influenced in any way?"
"Of course."
"There wasn't perhaps another person of the female persuasion who whispered in your ear late in the night about glory and power?"
"No my Emperor. I mean unless you're speaking of a petty a svelk ploy that I recently experienced. Mistress sent her daughter to…"
"No, not her and not her spawn, though I'm well aware of that weirdness going on as well. Don't worry I fully intend on having a chat with her as well since that sort of thing needs to stop. But that is somewhat related to what I'm getting at and who I KNOW you're attempting to protect. That young major you've been having a relationship with."
"Alison? While our relationship is sometimes a physical one, it is always professional. It was my idea to launch the attack on the gnolls and I already gave the reasons. She had no choice but to follow my orders when I took command of her battalion. She is a good solider and was only following orders."
"And I suppose right now she's still following your orders. Attacking the gnolls despite the fact that I wanted that battalion purely for defense of our current holdings or for reinforcements to our main attack force…" the Emperor at this point trails off and shakes his head with a sigh. He then gets up off his chair and walks over to you.

The Emperor soon stands before you and he doesn't look angry, but he does seem disappointed. In some ways that's almost as bad and you hang your head down a little in shame. The Emperor then suddenly grabs your head with both hands and stares intently into your eyes for a few seconds, which feels like eternity as you stand completely still staring back.

"Very well. I believe we are done here." He says with a smile and lets you go.
"That…that's it?"
"For now. Yes. You may go back to your battalion and finish your little campaign against the gnolls since I hear you are winning against them, however just kick them out of former Felkan lands and secure the borders. Do not push further into their original territory. We still can't spread ourselves too thin, remember we still have the Felkan Kingdom to destroy."
"Understood."
"It better be, because I'm very serious about that order. Our recent victory at Yaquan is getting the ball rolling again and I don't want to have to be worrying about you going rogue. Especially since I'm going to have need of you for the final push again the Felkans. It is obvious to me now that you do need to be on the frontlines of this war as a general even if your real position is technically higher than that."
"I…I don't know what to say."
"Well, don't thank me. This is probably something I should've done a long time ago. The fault is mine for wanting to protect you. I don't know why, since I know you're more than capable of handling yourself. I guess we'll just chalk it up to parental protectiveness. In any case, finish up with those mongrel half dogs quickly because you'll be called upon soon. That is all."

You leave the Emperor's chambers unsure of how to feel exactly. You were expecting the worst, even death, but instead you've practically been rewarded for your actions.

When you explain things to Alison she's very happy for you.

"See? Nothing but good news and I told you that you'd be coming back."
"Yeah…" you acknowledge.
"Now what? I would think you'd be happy not only to be alive, but also be promoted to the Felkan frontlines where you always wanted to be."
"I…don't know. I mean I am and it is a great honor and everything I wanted…but now…well I'm used to having you by my side."
"Well that's sweet, but I'm sure you knew we'd eventually be separated at some point. I mean we are military and military gets moved around."
"I know. Still, I'm going to miss all our time together."
"You're not going yet are you? I thought you were here until the gnolls were booted out."
"I am."
"Well let's not get gloomy about things just yet, we've still got quite a few of those bastards running about. Let us spend our remaining quality time together kicking their asses and celebrating our victory afterwards."

You smile and agree. Perhaps it is best that you enjoy the time you do have together now rather than mope about such things.

You do wonder if you'll be able to stay in much contact with Alison when you're reassigned. You're skeptical that you'll have much time to write letters to her and have no doubt that you'll have to focus more on the Felkans. However, you can't help but think she'll still be in the back of your mind. And if it is only a memory then it's a much better replacement for who was usually in the back of your mind.

Maybe you and Alison aren't exactly in love as most would see it, but as far as you're concerned you'll always love her for at least displacing the twisted memories of Mistress out of your head.
Year 28

You hate these baby-sitting missions, but when the Emperor wants something done right he always requests you personally to do it, so here you are marching hundreds of gnomes to their new home.

As the army has been getting closer to the Felkan capital and conquering its other important cities, the gnome population has been larger. While The Emperor has relented slightly on a complete slash and burn policy of Felkan cities, he's still made it quite clear that ALL gnomes are to be taken as prisoners to a special place he's had built in the recently conquered Felkan territory.

Its called Gnome's Home and you believe Marik had a hand in designing some of it, but it isn't something you've really kept up on since you've been focused the business of proper warfare. However you're on your way there now so you'll guess you'll see it soon.

The whole reason you're overseeing this prisoner train in the first place is because too many gnomes have been escaping their chains though it's hardly surprising. Gnomes are very adept at picking locks, combine that with their fear of what's to come and one gets a lot of escapes. Of course most of them get killed shortly after their escapes, but the Emperor has made it quite clear that he wants no more of that and that he really wants them to be taken to Gnome's Home.

You don't really understand why since you assume they're just going to be killed there anyway, but you're just here to follow orders. He is the Emperor and this is what he wants. Still, sometimes you have to admit that you agree with Jacob on this; The Emperor's hatred of gnomes is a bit…irrational at times.

As you get closer to the location of Gnome's Home, you hear a lot of cries and whispered prayers to gods from the prisoners. Some of the guards attempt to quiet them all down, but it's a losing proposition, you just tell your troops to keep a close eye for escape attempts as usual.

From a distance it looks like one of Marik's factories, as you get closer though there's something slightly more sinister about it. Granted it's a place of execution, but you get the impression something more is going on here and its not just torture. The feeling here is oppressive the closer you get to it, even for you.

Eventually you get to the black iron gates and make an announcement of your arrival and you're let in almost immediately. Now you couldn't smell it before, but when those gates up, you're nearly overwhelmed by a strong smell of death and that's saying something given the battlefields you've been on and the carnage you've engaged in.

"Sorry about the smell General, but we've been having some problems with our furnaces lately, among other things, so the dead bodies have been piling up. Good thing they're so small eh?" one of the guards that lets you in remarks with a laugh.

As the gnomes are herded in you take a look around the "yard" and indeed you do see the largest pile of rotting gnome bodies you've ever seen. Nearby you see other guards busily attempting to load the bodies into carts to take them somewhere for proper disposal. Meanwhile you also see what you assume to be small dwellings for the prisoner gnomes since you see pitiful versions of them peeking out at times.

All in all, it's not a pretty sight, but the smell is still the worst of it. Shit, piss, vomit, blood, rot, and putrification are all in full force, but none of this horror is bothering you. There is something else going on here that feels severely unnatural that's causing you to feel off. Maybe its magic, you don't know, but something about the place tells you it's more than just an oversized execution center.

Just as you're about to leave, you're approached by dirty, unkept looking man with wild facial hair and even wilder hair on his head. He's dressed in medium chainmail armor and large battle axe is on his back. With him are a couple of larger ugly brutish looking creatures. They aren't green, so you know they aren't orcs. Ogres perhaps, but you weren't aware there were any that lived in this region let alone "tamed".

Then it suddenly occurs to you who this is…

"Its you! The Harbinger of Death! The Emperor's right hand and weapon of righteous justice! It's been a long time! Oh we heard stories about you even all the way up in Rask! What brings you here? Are you assigned here now?" he asks excitedly.

This is Kane, the Butcher of Rask. He's nearly unrecognizable from when you last remember him. You've heard the stories about him as well and from his unhinged looking appearance they might be true. Though he seems to be quite friendly with you, which you wouldn't expect given the tales you've heard.

"Hello Kane, it has been a long time. I have not been assigned here; I'm just dropping off these prisoners because the Emperor considers it of vital importance that I do it. But I thought you were assigned in Rask."
"Oh no need for me there any longer, we pretty much tamed everything there, well as much could be, but rest assured the Empire isn't suffering from routine ogre and giant attacks there anymore. These two big lugs here are proof of that. And the barbarian tribes have been completely wiped out along with those pitiful attempts at secessionist movements! Not that those were ever a serious threat."
"Well that's good. I'm glad to hear you were so instrumental in making positive changes for the Empire." You say.
"Me? I was just doing what I was supposed to right? I mean killing the enemies of the Empire and slaughtering those that oppose it is what we're here for! But I don't need to tell you that, you know duty to the Emperor better than anyone! Anyway with Rask tamed they said my talents would be better spent elsewhere so I assumed I would be sent to the Felkan front to fight or even lead, but I didn't expect to be sent here. Still I'm just happy to be doing my part!"
"That's a good attitude to have Kane. So…what exactly do you do here?"
"Nothing much, just make sure the gnomes don't escape. None of them have either. We've got lots of things in place to make sure of that. Other than that I oversee the day to day operations. Not quite as exciting as my days in Rask, but I dunno…"

At this point Kane looks at the large pile of dead gnome bodies on the other side of the yard and sort of zones out for a moment. He then begins to smile a bit before continuing.

"It has its benefits."
"I see."
"Would you like a small tour? You know, just so you can maybe let the Emperor know or whoever that everything is running smoothly here?"
"I don't think that will be necessary. It looks like you're doing a fine job here, besides I…"

Before you can finish that old familiar voice that you've come to dread speaks.

"Hey lover, it's about time you got here. Your services are needed for something most important." Mistress says. Normally you're on your guard, but somehow she snuck up behind you and startles you even though you attempt not to show it. Naturally this amuses her.

"Aww did I scare you? Glad to see some things never change." Mistress says as she attempts to stroke your face.
"What do you want and why are you here?" you ask slapping her hand away.
"Sent here by the Emperor for something oh so important to him. You didn't think you were just brought here to escort these pathetic gnomes to their deaths did you? You're needed here for something else."
"I was simply told to escort the prisoners, nothing more nothing less. I don't have time for whatever fucked up games you want to play with me."
"I assure you this is no game this…" Mistress stops speaking and looks at Kane as if wondering why he's still around.
"Don't you have something better to do like counting up the new prisoners or something? Why don't you and your two equally dimwitted friends go eat some gnomes or whatever it is you do, the superior beings are speaking now."

While you're a little surprised that Mistress referred to you as a "superior being" you're more surprised by Kane's reaction. Given what you know about Kane's reputation you'd expect him to at least show a little anger towards Mistress even if he didn't display any disobedience. Kane shows nothing but subservience though.

"Apologies Mistress, I will leave you two alone." Kane remarks and gives a nod to you and quickly turns away motioning to his ogre guards to follow while bellowing an order to another nearby guard. Mistress shakes her head at all this.

"I don't know how Jacob convinced the Emperor to let that miserable creature oversee this place rather than putting him down like a mad dog like he deserves."
"Why would he be put to death? From what I've heard and seen he's a completely loyal soldier who has done much for the Empire. His deeds in Rask alone prove that."
"Not feeling sympathetic towards your old classmate are you? Yes he was useful, but he's a loose cannon and such factors shouldn't be allowed to thrive. Given your own suggestions on using the orcs as sword fodder to keep them from being a problem in the future I would think you'd see the wisdom in such things."
"The orcs were numerous and a genuine threat because of their chaotic nature. Kane is a loyal Eternal even if he does have a reputation for being overly bloodthirsty and even cruelty. And I would think that last one would be a mark in his favor given that you have that in common."

Mistress chuckles at your remark.

"You comment asides, Kane is still not like either of us. He's…well perhaps we can discuss such things at another time and in any case its not my concern, what is my concern is this ritual I need your help with."
"You? You need MY help? You're actually saying that?"
"(Sigh) Yes, is it so hard to believe? The Emperor needs us to perform a soul banishment ritual. I've practically been doing all the prep work myself for a while now, since all of the mages sent to help have been unsurprisingly not up to the task. When you start using magic involving souls it can get taxing even for the most skilled. It's also been ages since I've performed one of these and its obvious that you were the best candidate to help me."

You can't believe what you're hearing and at this point you're wondering if the Emperor really does want you here for what Mistress claims. He never gave such an order to you and it seems like that would be something he'd tell you. Then again you were never given the full report on the troll factory either and he did say he was going to speak with Mistress about her on going attempts at making your life miserable. This might also be another test by the Emperor. Maybe to see if you can put aside personal differences to work together?

"Very well, if it is the Emperor's wish that we work together then so be it. However, do not mistake my compliance for submissiveness. I am only willing to engage in this task because it is of importance to the Emperor and I am trusting that even you would not lie about something like that for you know that any sort of underhanded trick to kill or harm me in anyway would stir his wrath that I believe even YOU do not want to stir up. Now I suggest we get on with it so we can keep our time together at a minimum."
"As you wish, but there is no need for hostility or suspicion. As you've said the Emperor would be quite angry indeed if I caused you harm in anyway, not that it's ever been my intension contrary to popular belief."
"Is this some sort of new tactic of yours? Acting civil in some vain attempt to get on my good side? Don't bother, you'll never be on it."
"I'm getting that impression, but perhaps we can still talk about this later, for now let's get on with this as you suggested. Follow me, I'll take you to where we need to be."

You follow Mistress to one of the larger buildings where a lot of smoke is coming from and guards are periodically wheeling gnome bodies into. Large furnaces burn the countless bodies. As you walk through the crematorium, you notice that there are a few gnomes that aren't quite dead yet, but are being thrown into the furnaces anyway. Eventually you come to a set of stairs going down.

"Down here unfortunately." Mistress remarks and you follow her down a long flight of stairs to a great open room lit by several candles Along two of the wall you see hundreds of jars with what looks to be wisps inside. They all give off a faint blue glow making the need for candles somewhat unnecessary.

"I hate these designs by Marik, he can't think past his derro mindset and create something that doesn't have an underground portion to it." Mistress remarks. "Personally I would've rather had something like this right in the center of the yard so that all those little gnomes could see just exactly what is going to happen to them every day. I mean its one thing to know they're going to die, but it's truly a thing of beauty when you completely obliterate something wouldn't you agree?"
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"Why those souls that you see on the walls of course! Can't very well perform a soul banishment ritual without souls obviously."
"Those wispy things are souls?"
"Yes, hundreds of little souls. Souls that I've had to drag out of hundreds of little gnomes. No little feat though, as I said magic involving souls gets draining very fast. Ranks up there with healing magic and other branches of necromancy…I need you to stand over there on the line of that circle across from that wall." Mistress says pointing over to a large circle on the floor.

You slowly step over to where Mistress has told you to be. Given how much you've been following her orders you half feel like you're back in her class. Though her attitude is much different and that's been bothering you since this encounter. Surely she's up to something and there has to be angle in it for her. If she isn't up to something you can only believe that the Emperor's talk really put the fear into her.

Mistress stands to the left of you on the line of the circle across from the other wall of souls and tells you that she's going to begin the ritual all she says she needs from you is to provide support and make sure none of the souls get away.

"Get away?"
"You don't think they're going to just let themselves get banished to oblivion do you? They're probably already pissed about being trapped in magic jars. Now concentrate!"

Mistress begins to chant something in a language you're not familiar with and you've heard the svelk language before. The wisps in the jars begin to get even more agitated and the faint glow they give off begins to get brighter. You begin to get images of torment invading your head all at once.

You see exactly everything that's been happening to the gnomes here, the torture, the humiliation, the executions and now ultimate annihilation. Even from what little you've seen from being in this place, your years on the battlefield and even your own brutal childhood training, its still pretty gruesome and sadistic, but it isn't the images that are currently affecting you. It's the voices…

"Help us! Free us! It's her, she did this! Stole our souls to destroy! Hate her! Kill her! You could kill her. You hate her too. Do it! If not for us or any sort of moral conscience then for yourself. We can see what she did to you. She will always torment you and you will never know rest from her until she is dead. She could die right now. Nobody would know and no one would care." you hear several voices saying to you all at once and right now you don't have much reason to not follow their suggestions.

If Mistress was to die, it could easily be explained away after all accidents happen all the time when performing dangerous magic. And it is true she's not likely to be missed by anyone save perhaps the Emperor, and you doubt he would for very long.

You sabotage the ritual

You're doing it. You're getting her out of your life forever. No longer will you have to put up with whatever mind games she has planned whenever you're forced to meet with her.

You step from the circle and break your magic link with Mistress. She's immediately taken off guard.

"Agh! You fool! What are you doing?! Step back to the circle before you doom the both of us!" she exclaims as she is presumably psychically assaulted by the gnome souls.

You know Mistress is strong and can probably fend off the attack if really pushed, but you intend on giving her another distraction by drawing your sword. She's either going to have to stop you which will expose her mind to the vengeful souls or not stop you and get stabbed which will have the same effect.

Suddenly your own mind is completely shattered and multiple souls assault your mind. The pain is excruciating and you collapse on the floor and begin convulsing. You aren't innocent in all this as far as they're concerned. Your involvement in the Felkan campaign has probably resulted in most of the gnomes being rounded up and sent to Gnome's Home in the first place.

For the first time you not only see the horror that has been this place, but you also experience all of it. Your mind can't take it and neither can your body, which begins to lose all control of its functions. You're leaking all manner of bodily fluids out every possible place you could be leaking from.

Eventually you're nothing more than an empty shell, but not quite dead. The souls have stopped attacking and Mistress is lying on the floor not too far from you own, her own mind destroyed as well. The pair of you continue to stare upward and slack jaw in a comatose state for quite some time, until Kane eventually wanders down to investigate.

Kane isn't quite sure of what to make of all of it, but sensing that he can't leave the pair of you like this he comes up with his own solution.

Unknown to you, Kane was possessed by a wendigo during his tour in Rask, though his hunger is well sated here. Kane never liked Mistress' threats of exposure or taunts and proceeds to eat her alive. Of course being a vegetable she is unable to scream as his teeth sink into her flesh.

You on the other hand, Kane ends your life with a blade to your throat out of respect for you before feasting on your corpse.