Year 45

"…and even with your natural gifts and after your training is over in six years, your true service to the Empire will have only just begun. You will all be expected to perform to your fullest capabilities because as Eternals you are to be the very best that the Empire has to offer. And out there you will need to show that to our many enemies so that they never forget it. Duty, loyalty, valor and the will to survive, these are traits I expect to see in all of you for I am always watching. Remember this." You say as your parting words to the new Eternals.

"YES EMPEROR! LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" they all say in unison.

Brenda tells them to take a brief break while she follows you out of the training center.

"You've done a very good job with them Brenda." You say.
"Thank you." Brenda remarks.
"No, really. I know I sort of dropped this in your lap, but you've really taken the reins on this. I mean I couldn't have done it better. From what I've seen they're well on their way of becoming an effective fighting force AND you've managed to keep most of them alive in the process. Had it been me two thirds of that class probably would've been dead by now under my harsh training."
"Ah, but those left alive would probably be more lethal than the ones I've trained." Brenda points out.
"Perhaps, but they don't need to be put through similar rigors that I faced, I just need them to be better than our enemies and loyal to the Empire. From what I've seen, I have no doubt that will be the case when they finally come of age."
"Well despite my less unforgiving and more cooperative training methods, I can't take all the credit for keeping most of them alive, their increased regeneration rates help in that regard. There was many times where I even thought a few of them had suffered fatal injuries only for them to get better given enough time. I believe whatever magic you infused during their tank time increased their regenerative abilities greater than our own."
"Their reflexes are definitely better too. Even at this age, I could see that during the training demonstration. At the very least, they should be on par with Decena in that aspect when they grow up."
"How is your one time pupil doing anyway?" Brenda asks.

You hesitate a moment, since you've sort of wondered that yourself. You no longer get the letters you once did from Decena which were more expressive. Now she only sends you official battle reports. Obviously she's dealing with the termination of your intimate relationship in a professional manner and is keeping your current relationship that way.

That being the case, you give Brenda the safe answer because that's genuinely all you know.

"Oh, she's still mostly combating the Torites. While the Battle of the Beasts three years ago pretty much broke their strength in the area, they still aren't out of it yet. I'd push forward to eradicate them, but with the need for consolidation of our winnings as well as last years purges, we've had to halt expansion for the time being. That's not even counting that the next place I want to turn my attention to are the city states south of the Broki province. I've had Eyes infiltrate most of them and they're infested with svelk." You say.
"Really? Like entire cities of them? I thought they were nomadic." Brenda says.
"Not anymore apparently, but it isn't actually entire cities, more like key positions of importance in the cities, but even one svelk is an infestation as far as I'm concerned." You answer.
"Surprised you're not just sending airships to bombard them."
"I'm fairly sure I wouldn't get them all if I did that. Airships while powerful are slow enough that any svelk would probably get the hell out of there before they even arrived. Besides, I'm not really looking to level the cities. Bombing one perhaps as an example, to get the rest to fall in line, but not all of them."
"Assassination?"
"Assassinations would probably work better since the svelk direct such actions against each other on a semi-regular basis, would take a bit of time though since if a lot of them start dying suddenly, they're going to know something is up and they'll relocate from the cities. Still, I suppose if we timed it right…hmmm, maybe I'll talk to Warrick about setting something up; in any case we still need to track down Eldolith. We know she is making her home in the cities, but she is proving to be completely elusive as far as pinning her down. Probably using a system of secret tunnels. Might be time to send in the kobold commandos to start digging around."

You and Brenda finish up your conversation with a couple of off topic subjects, but before you leave she says one last thing.

"I know you already thanked me for my work with the new Eternals, but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you. Thank you for giving me a new sense of purpose. I know these Eternals' purpose is to loyally serve the Empire, but I feel like…I dunno…it's silly."
"No, what?"
"I sometimes feel like I'm their mother. I mean I'm not developing attachments to them or anything, but I feel like I'm doing all I can to make sure they survive in this world, because I really DO want most of them to survive. They represent the future of the Empire, and it will fall to them eventually to defend it."

You nod at Brenda's remark and touch her arm.

"And that, is why you were the best one for this job." You say.
"I suppose another reason I've been feeling a little more positive lately is the fact that there are now more of us. Eternals, I mean. Our numbers were always so few, but now with these new ones, I don't feel so alone I guess."

Brenda's feelings on this are probably related to the loss of her husband as usual, but you can't fault her for it. If this is something that helps her through the pain, then more power to her. Really you never gave it too much thought that there would be more of "you" around because as far as you're concerned, "you" were always unique to begin with. You weren't even supposed to be an Eternal, but here you are.

The next bit surprises you though.

"Oh and one more thing, the next time you see Warrick tell him, I'm sorry for being angry at him." Brenda says.

You smile.

"I'm sure he'll be glad to hear it." You answer and leave.

The next few days are actually spent working alongside Warrick to see if some sort of mass assassination attempt of the svelk would actually work. (You also relay Brenda's message and just as you figured, he's glad to hear it)

"Wait, so some of the inhabitants in these cities are actually former Felkan citizens?" you ask Warrick.
"Yes and it looks like some of them have been willingly working with the svelk out of revenge. In fact I now believe that the saboteur that tried to destroy the old Storm was from one of these cities. A couple of the other tight-lipped dissidents we've had killed during the last purge I believe were from there too originally."

You shake your head.

"Maybe I should just have the cities bombed out of existence after all." You say with a sigh.
"What I don't understand, is why we're bumping into them only now. I mean these cities are so far away and the refugee Felkans would've not only had to travel through gnoll AND Torite territory at the time, but also the Broki Kingdom. Surely it would've been easier to put down roots there." Warrick says.
"Well, who is to say some of them didn't? You're only coming across the more radical ones obviously. There may have very well been Felkans that just wanted to get away from the Empire and live a normal life. Granted if those individuals had just accepted Empire rule in the first, they could've done so anyway with little change, but that's a different topic."

You continue.

"Also the Broki Kingdom was fairly backwards and having strife of its own, I get the impression that the Felkans just wanted to get as far a way as possible from such things. This journey probably wasn't without its hazards. Combine that with losing your homeland and anything else that might've been personal, it's not hard to see where their hate would've festered to the point where the svelk took advantage of it. The ex Felkans are the tool that the svelk are manipulating. Maybe they don't have a nation proper anymore, but it's obvious that the svelk are definitely building the skeleton of one out of these cities states and they see us as the biggest threat to their new endeavors."
"It isn't just the svelk and these militant ex-Felkans we've discovered though, we recently came across something new. Something I know you're going to want to hear before proceeding with any plan." Warrick says.

Warrick tell you that there is another community but far enough away to be fairly isolated from the rest of the city-states in the area, in fact the community makes its home in a lone mountain.

"So…what they live in a cave?"
"Well not exactly. The Eyes have not been there, but apparently there is a whole city built into the mountain. Basically similar to what the derro do underground I guess, but they aren't derro. They're gnomes."
"Gnomes?"
"Yes, and from what information we have gathered, they're also from the former Felkan Kingdom. The funny thing is, they don't seem to have much contact with the rest of the city states. We know that the gnomes trade with the various cities from time to time and we know that there must be humans living in this mountain since those are the ones that do the trading. The place is called New Dessle."
"Hrm. Name of the former Felkan capital. So do you think they're working with the svelk in this conspiracy?" you ask.
"We don't know. Like I said, all we know is that they trade sometimes, it seems to be mostly minerals and it's fairly infrequent. If they are in league, they're keeping it fairly secret from anyone."

Gnomes. That puts a slightly different spin on everything. Between the svelk and the gnomes, you've got two of the most manipulative and smartest races working together to possibly destroy you.

Regardless of whether or not the gnomes are actually involved, it still would be best to gather more information, perhaps even more so.

"Until we've got more information, we're going to assume the gnomes are just the occasional trading partners. While MAYBE they're indirectly helping by trading material to these svelk influenced cities, I'd rather we deal with the immediate suspects first. Besides attacking a damn mountain isn't exactly in the budget right now." You say.

So you proceed with your plan. You keep the Eyes spying and gathering information and keep your own internal security tight. You also start having kobolds digging tunnels under the cities.

A few weeks pass and you receive a message. A human rider dropped off a box in a village in the Broki province. Before riding off he stated to the nearby peasants that they needed to deliver that to their Emperor. The box was obviously leaking blood and when one of the braver soldiers opened it, there were several eyes inside. A bloody note attached stated a warning from "Domina" Eldolith that all spies from the Empire will be killed and any further unwanted aggression on the "Confederacy of Free Cities" would be an act of war.

Never mind the fact that Eldolith started this by trying to assassinate you in the first place.

"She can't possibly be serious in taking us on. She may have discovered some of our spies, but we already know full well what her strength is and even with our reduced manpower right now we could take on the entire force of this so called Confederacy of Free Cities." Warrick remarks.
"Oh I'm sure she know that. She's backed into a corner and is doing typical svelk grand standing hoping it will work. To be quite honest I figured she'd eventually discover some of our spies eventually. The svelk aren't stupid, but they served their purpose in information gathering and they probably distracted the svelk from possibly discovering our kobolds running around underground. You can start pulling out the rest of your Eyes, we'll be attacking the cities soon. With any luck we won't let a single svelk escape and we can wipe out the remainder of the ex-Felkans as well." You say.

Kivan is nearby probably waiting to get your attention for some domestic issue. Normally he just waits patiently, but this time he speaks.

"Forgive my presumption my Emperor as I know war is your area of expertise, but what about the gnomes?" he asks.
"What about them? Our spies still have not uncovered anything that would suggest that they're helping. Even the material that they're trading couldn't be considered dangerous for the most part." Warrick answers.
"The gnomes will be dealt with later, Kivan. No need to worry." You say.

Kivan puts aside his scrolls and addresses you directly.

"I have no doubt that will be the case my Emperor, however it is my concern that the Empire not take any more potential unnecessary losses. The Felkan War took a heavy toll on the Empire. A toll that was not necessary had our former Emperor acted more quickly on the matter. The same could be said for the Shadow uprising."
"Watch your tone! YOUR current Emperor AND I both served to quell those incidents! Where were you? Counting beans? I suggest you stick to what you know advisor!" Warrick says raising his voice.
"You are correct Sightmaster, I AM an advisor. And as I said it is true, I am more of an expert in the mundane domestic affairs that keep the Empire running, I also have to deal with the effects these wars have on such things. If you attack now there will be hardship on the people, BUT our people are used to such things. What is a little more troubling is when unexpected problems pop up or long drawn out affairs."
"So what are you exactly saying Kivan?" you ask.
"I'm saying that the gnomes can't be trusted to live. When they rebelled against the Empire and ran away they managed to manipulate a collection of simple villages and towns and turn it into the Felkan Kingdom. Not only that, but they managed to build it up to the point where it actually surpassed the Empire technology wise and all of this was done in a fairly short period of time."

You continue to listen while Kivan expresses his point of view on this matter.

"Perhaps the gnomes aren't working with the svelk, but that's not to say they aren't still working against us. I can't believe that they wouldn't harbor some sort of revenge. I mean the ex-Felkans obviously do and all they lost were their homeland. The gnomes were systematically exterminated. I just believe that leaving the gnomes for later is going to give them more time to build up their defenses and just make it harder for the Empire to wipe them out in the future. Why take the chance?"

Kivan does actually make a pragmatic point. While taking the city-states isn't going to be too much of a problem, it's still going to take time and manpower. Your main concern with them is making sure you get all the svelk (especially Eldolith) inside. Consolidating, settling, and rooting out problem people will all take time as well. And while you're doing all that, the gnomes could be sitting in their mountain building some weapon (or weapons) of imaginable power.

They already built an entire city in a mountain, who knows what the escaped gnomes have been working on since their exodus?

You just focus on the city-states

Kivan may mean well, but you've got more experience in this matter. In fact you're going to just find out what's going on right now.

"Warrick, we know where New Dessle is correct?" you ask.
"Yes, it's the only large mountain south of the city states. I imagine the entrance is probably hidden, but I'm sure the kobolds could tunnel through with enough time."
"That won't be necessary. I'm sure the gnomes have several lookout points and will open up when they see me. I'm going to New Dessle."

At this point Kivan and Warrick are apprehensive about that idea.

"Emperor, you can't seriously mean going there by yourself!" Kivan exclaims.
"I agree, I mean if this is some sort of diplomatic mission you should at least take a retinue with you and even then I'd be against such a thing." Warrick adds.
"I never said I was going alone, you're coming with me, Warrick. I figure the two of us should be more than adequate to take on a mountain of gnomes if need be."

This remark is met with silence.

"What? You've always said you wanted more work outside that office and get back in the middle of things, well here's a big thing to get right in the middle of Warrick." You say which causes Warrick to bow his head and put his fist to his chest.
"Apologies my Emperor. This offer was just very sudden and I was taken by surprise. Of course I shall accompany you and whatever we face shall be together. It will be an honor as always."
"It is your choice my Emperor, but I still cannot encourage this idea." Kivan remarks.
"Well your concern for my well being is noted. Come on Warrick we need to get underway as soon as possible." You say.

While you and Warrick prepare for your journey you also take the opportunity to start setting the stage for the attack on the Confederacy of the Free Cities. (Which you didn't even know that's what this little group of city-states was even called until Eldolith's message).

The only potential danger of the journey is the fact you're going to have to ride through the Confederacy "territory" and while you're fairly certain you'd be able to handle whatever they send at you, you don't want to give them anymore reason to run off before you're ready to attack, because you know that's going to be the first thing the svelk do. They did with the Broki Kingdom after all.

You and Warrick have a more or less uneventful journey however since you stick to the off beaten track and away from the cities patrol areas. The pair of you mostly pass the time speaking about matters of the Empire and this situation with the svelk and what to possibly expect with the gnomes. You do get the idea that Warrick is pretty happy about going on this trip.

Eventually you get closer to the mountain, which no longer looms in the distance, but instead stands towering above you. It's not the size of the ones in Rask, but it's big enough that if the gnomes have built a city inside the thing, it would have to be quite large indeed.

"Well, we're here, any idea how to get inside?" Warrick asks.
"I figure I'd start shouting at the gnomes until they let me in." you say.
"And if they don't?"
"I guess I'll start smashing holes into the side of the mountain with magic and let myself in."

"And maybe you better not, Eternal Emperor. Powerful you may be, I guarantee that even you would not take this mountain all by yourself, but I get the impression you're not here for that." A voice says coming from above you.

You look up and see that several holes in the mountain have opened up with the barrels of rifles all pointing at you. And that's just the ones you're seeing, you imagine they probably got more.

"Right you are gnome. I'm here to discuss the possible future of our relationship. So how about you open this mountain up and let us talk." You shout.
"I have a better idea, how about you get the hell out of here before we blow your fucking head off!" a different voice shouts.
"We should just do it now! Why didn't you let me shoot him as he approached!?" another voice says.
"Glenmore! Valen! Shut the hell up! Apologies Emperor, but as you might expect we're not exactly trusting of the Empire given our history with it. In fact we're not very trusting of anyone nowadays."
"Well I can certainly understand that." You remark.
"I thought you might. Hold on let me come to you." The voice says which is followed by a lot of mumbling and whispering.

"This isn't exactly a good position we're in." Warrick says.
"Nonsense, we already got one to come out and talk. Probably a leader. We're already making progress." You say.

You wait for about ten minutes still noticing that the rifles are still fixed on you.

"Okay here I am, now we can talk." A voice says and you turn around to see a gnome with a full face of gray facial hair. Typical of older examples of his race. He is dressed in fine (if dirty) clothing.

"Hmmm, it would appear you must also have a system of tunnels and secret doors in the ground surrounding this mountain too." You say.
"Indeed. Hate living like a derro at times, but with all the kobolds running around north lately…well best to be safe right?"
"Looks like you've thought of everything…" you say not knowing the gnome's name.
"Oh, the name's Klemto. Klemto Zookwinkle. But let's get to it, I assume you're here to see if we're willing to surrender without a fight?"
"Not exactly, though that is a good subject to discuss later. What I was really here to ask is if you were in league with the svelk."
"Oh goodness no! We trade with them at times, but only rarely and never anything they could use as a weapon! I believe we'd all sooner trust the Empire before we'd trust the dark elves. At least the Empire is up front about wanting to exterminate us."

You stop Klemto right there.

"Okay, first of all there is no plan to exterminate the gnomes."
"Could've fooled me given the information we've heard. Waging a genocidal war on the Torites. Even bombing other human nations into submission. Now you're planning on annihilating the svelk, though I can't say they're the most sympathetic of beings. I know who you are Eternal. You were a general in the Felkan War. The old emperor's right hand. In fact you even led captured gnomes and them to that infamous death camp called Gnome's Home."
"I did that once."
"Oh, he did it once! And that makes everything better? Was that a bad attempt at an apology?"
"Of course not since I have nothing to apologize for. I was merely following orders. You want to know what I really think of your people? Nothing. You're clever and you invent useful things. That's it. I think your manipulation of the Felkans to protect yourselves was a useful survival strategy and one to be admired in some ways. Just like your mountain city here. I don't have some burning great hatred for any of your kind. Personally I thought it was a waste of resources to ship you all off to Gnome's Home just to go through the unnecessary process of banishing your souls to oblivion. But that's what the Emperor wanted so that's what happened."

Klemto lights up some sort of pipe as you talk and takes a puff before speaking.

"So just following orders eh? Sounds about right. From what we know of you, you were and apparently still are an emotionless individual. That's probably what makes you scarier than your former Emperor. At least he had an emotion. An irrational one, but it was something."
"Oh he had a reason. And it wasn't just the gnomes rebelling. Your last name, Zookwinkle isn't unknown to me gnome." You say.

You stare at Klemto and he stares back. He instinctively knows that you know something concerning a female member of his family being involved with the Emperor in some way. Warrick just stands by looking a bit confused, but mostly more concerned about the guns overhead.

"Heh, well grandma always did do what she thought was best for survival." Klemto remarks.
"Well I suggest you follow in her footsteps then and do the same."
"Don't think you're my type." Klemto jokes nervously.
"Amusing, but you know what I mean." You say seriously.

Klemto wipes his forehead and begins puffing away again.

"Look, we just want to be left alone. I mean do you really need us under your thumb too even with the countless slaves and subjects you already have?"
"Well since you bring it up, yes. If you're under my rule, I can keep a closer eye on you. Not to mention your skills would be of great use to the Empire once again." You answer.
"We were once under the old emperor's rule too. You see how well that worked out." Klemto remarks.
"He also was blinded by love at the time and as you pointed out, I am the emotionless one. His hatred of your people also caused him to make many mistakes. If you betray me in some way, rest assured I won't bother going through some elaborate process of torturing you and destroying your souls. I'll just have you run down and slaughtered wherever you may run to. Where you go in the afterlife is your own affair, but here in the land of the living, that's my domain." You say with a cold tone.

Klemto is now contemplating the consequences of what may happen if he and his people try to resist when you eventually do come to stake claim on New Dessel. He's pondering if they can kill you now before it even comes to that. It's obviously that he doesn't think they can or else they would've done it long before now. Klemto and the gnomes aren't stupid, they know that the stories of what abilities you really possess are probably exaggerated, however that old fear that still lingers from their treatment by Casimir mixed with what they DO know what you're capable of is still enough to stay their hand.

And it is this fear that is making this all work in your favor. Just like you knew it would. Had the roles been reversed, you wouldn't have hesitated. You would've killed yourself with a volley of rifle blasts and more as soon as you were in range.

After pacing a bit, Klemto finally speaks again.

"I'm going to have to talk this over with the rest of the council and while that's more of a formality, most of them aren't going to be happy... (Sigh) Okay, here it goes. We will capitulate to Empire rule and we'll pay tribute. But we must remain in this mountain. Whatever it is that you need from us to serve the Empire, it will have to be here or at least within the area. Now if some individual wants to leave and help elsewhere in the Empire, then that's his decision. But at no point will our people be forced to leave if they don't want to. Also no other Empire citizens may enter this mountain either unless we allow it. This includes the army." Klemto says.
"Hah! You must be joking." You interrupt.
"I'm serious. Now I know you'll need to keep an eye on us as you say, well your Eyes will be allowed in. As many as you want, but I assure you that it won't be necessary since there will not be any attempts at betrayal."

While it would appear that Klemto is willing to capitulate, there are a lot of stipulations he's making. Stipulations that imply he thinks he's in the position to make.

You walk away now

Without another word you cast a protective barrier around you and Warrick, which startles Klemto and definitely causes shouting from the other gnomes until Klemto waves them down.

"Don't worry gnome. My intention is not to attack you now as you are indeed correct that it would be stupid to attack a mountain all by myself. However your stipulations are presumptuous and foolish. I made this trip for YOUR benefit, not mine and you have squandered it with unreasonable demands."

Klemto stands silent.

"I shall return to finish off the Confederacy of the Free Cities and then at some point we'll pick this up again except I will not be so reasonable next time. Let us leave Warrick."

As Warrick and you leave, Warrick asks you a question.

"I thought they'd be shooting at us by now."
"They know it's futile. Besides, even if they did, my barrier is more than enough to deflect bullets. Used it quite a bit during the Felkan War as you…"

Before you can finish your sentence suddenly a huge blast of lightning from above hits the ground right near you. You're protected of course by the barrier, but it's so unexpected and startling that it actually causes you and Warrick to lose balance and unfortunately you to lose your concentration for a brief moment and your barrier goes down.

"NOW!" you hear Klemto shout, while you're still clearing the cobwebs. Several gnomes armed with repeating rifles pop up out of the ground and fire upon you. Warrick is struck in the head and killed instantly.

You are hit in the body enough times to feel the pain of each bit of hot lead going in ripping up your insides and coming out the other end. Then much like your now dead brother in arms, you are hit in the head and killed leaving nothing behind but a bloody bullet ridden body with brains leaking out uselessly into the soil.