Year 25

While the war with the Felkans seemed to be going smoothly, the situation has changed somewhat. The Empire still has the upper hand, but unfortunately this has become a three-way entanglement.

The gnolls tribes harassing the Felkans on the western borders apparently weren't just separate chaotic bands of raiders, but rather a full-fledged conquering horde. After smashing most of the Felkan defenses they have proceeded further into the heartland and that's where they finally came to blows with the Empire.

So far the gnolls been more of an annoyance to the Empire, but its been distracting enough that it's given the Felkans enough time to retreat and regroup further north. The Felkans are much reduced in strength now, but they are still definitely not a defeated nation yet. If anything their resolve has gotten stronger and their defenses have too.

Last reports tell of how the orcs attempted to break through the defenses of the city of Yaquan only to be nearly wiped out by large weapons mounted to the city's towers that apparently harness the power of lightning. One blast ripped through the ranks of the heavily armored orcs and spread like a chain of death killing most of them instantly. These new "lightning guns" are no doubt the inventions of the gnomes.

You heard Captain Gruz was amongst the casualties which would put orc leadership in jeopardy, but since there are so few of them left, the remainder of their now decimated number have regrouped under Roldan's command who is busily trying to figure out a way to proceed without losing half of his troops in the process. So far though the gnolls have been making that task difficult with their own ongoing attacks.

The only upside to all this is the Felkans seem to be playing up to their typical siege mentality and not making any sort of counter attacks probably hoping that the Empire and the gnolls will continue to kill each other to the point where nobody is in any position to attack them anymore. Of course that just means they're getting further entrenched. If enough time passes it may very well make most assaults on what's left of them extremely costly.

Meanwhile you and Alison have been mostly fighting off the gnoll hordes on a regular basis. You'd like to press further west to take the fight to them, but you know you need to stay in occupied Felkan territory to either help defend the main army or to support it when the time finally comes to make the final push on the Felkans. Lately most of your days are dull waiting or slightly less dull combat since the gnolls themselves rely mostly on numbers and terror rather than skill. The terror factor isn't much of one when going against the hardened troops of the Empire and numbers account for nothing when faced with Empire discipline.

Still, its frustrating not being allowed to do more and tensions are starting to run hot by everyone in the high command…

"But if we continue to attack as we have, we will risk losing it all! I urge you my Emperor for the good of the Empire we should withdraw now! What can it hurt? We have proven our point and even acquired some territory in the process. Why not just let those barbaric gnolls fight over the scraps what's left of the ruins." Jacob says to the Emperor.
"Jacob, I said it before I don't give a damn what the costs are, I won't let those fucking gnomes continue to mock from behind their smug little walled cities! And I didn't come this far to be turned back by the incursions of some mongrel dog men or guns that shoot a little light! I don't care what it takes we aren't going to rest until the Felkan Kingdom ceases to exist along with those fucking gnomes!" the Emperor shouts and flips a nearby table.

"Why are you yelling at me? I'm just giving my honest opinion on the situation, I'm not even in charge of the military matters!" Jacob whimpers.
"But you ARE in charge of the other Eternals, and guess who is leading the majority of our forces in Felkan territory? That's right, Roldan. Now I'll grant you that he's been fairly successful up until this point, but the fact that he hasn't made any progress for the past few months is severely starting to decrease my faith that he can get the job done."
"He's doing the best he can under the circumstances and he's the best qualified general we have, I don't think he should be replaced."
"I'm beginning to think I should start replacing SOMEONE." The Emperor unsubtly threatens.

You've seen the Emperor mad before and it's never a good thing. Poor Jacob is trying to stand his ground on this matter, but its obvious the man is incredibly scared for his life. To be fair you actually can see his concerns on the situation, but this thing with the gnomes…well it's an ongoing source of irritation for the Emperor. Jacob is also taking a verbal lashing for something that really isn't his fault. True, he monitors the progress of the other Eternals, but in reality it's not anything meaningful. Not to mention it actually was you who originally convinced the Emperor that Roldan should lead on the main assault force, yet the Emperor has either forgotten this fact, or perhaps still insists on seeing it all as Jacob's fault.

Since you still feel partly responsible you decide to interject to try to calm things down.

"Emperor, I could take over Roldan's command if you prefer, though I would still like to keep him on as part of the command staff."
"While I'm sure you would no doubt do a much better job, I'd rather have you're where you currently are." The Emperor says which somewhat disappoints you.
"Of course, of course. Wouldn't want to risk your precious loyal dog." Mistress suddenly remarks, this draws an angry glance of both you and the Emperor.

"What? I'm just saying what Jacob's thinking, personally I don't really give a shit what drone you decide to sacrifice in your futile war." Mistress says causing Jacob's eyes to widen, shake his head and raise his hands assuring that he thought no such thing.
"Ever with the clever remarks. Too bad the rest of your race isn't half as clever, or you might not be a bunch of mercenaries."
"I'm not sure why we're even relying on svelk scum anyway. Alison and I have been doing just fine fighting off the gnolls by ourselves for example." You remark.
"Alison? Oh, is that the name of the dirty blonde shield maiden that I've heard you've been getting close to? Tell me, when you're sticking it to her do you try to visualize that its me?"

A vulgar comment as usual from Mistress. Not unexpected either. While you'd be lying if it weren't a little annoying, you certainly aren't going to give her the satisfaction of a retort.

"No answer? Are you not even going to stand up for the honor of your female plaything? Then again I suppose she isn't worthy of it. I mean given that you experienced the best, why would you bother defending something so inferior?" Mistress continues to taunt.

"Emperor, we are here to discuss the important business of crushing the Felkans, do we really have to listen to the boring and predictable slurs of this…dubious ally?" you ask.
"No, of course we don't. Hold your vile svelk tongue unless you've actually got something more worthwhile to contribute."
"I have contributed more than my fair share to your foolish crusade. I have come to the conclusion that this war is a losing proposition for my people. I won't even go into the meat grinder you've got our mercenary bands dealing with on the Felkan front. And while I'm sure that may cause you much joy, we svelk are not mindless orc slaves and will NOT fall into your clumsy manipulative plans of convenient genocide through attrition. Yeah, we're pulling out and moving on to greener pastures."
"Since when are you or any other svelk so concerned about the future of your people? You're also acting like you're in harms way and unless you've been sneaking off to fight alongside your kin, you've personally risked nothing. You're also still being paid well so what the hell do you care?" the Emperor remarks.
"You humans think you always have everything figured out about everything when you really don't know shit. As I said, the price is too high, and we will be moving on to better opportunities."
"(Sigh) Stop being so damn dramatic, and what the hell do you really want?" the Emperor asks in an exasperated tone.

Mistress proceeds to tell the Emperor that she's quite serious about pulling out svelk aid unless she gets more support in return.

"If you want our continued help, we do not believe that this General Roldan is able to accomplish his assault on the city of Yaquan in an efficient manner. So I would request that you either change the leadership or transfer us to the gnoll front at Major Krozer's war camp." Mistress says and glances at you.
"No! We've been doing just fine without you! We don't need morale falling low because svelk are infesting the camp." You protest.
"And here I thought you were a professional first and foremost. Open your eyes. Even you can see the benefit of our superior troops being directly added to your fighting force. Besides, I heard how you handled the first time you worked with svelk warriors before, surely if one of them gets out of line, you'll just go on a bloodthirsty rampage to make a point of who is really in charge."

You look to the Emperor expecting him to say something about this matter, but he waves you over to speak with you privately. Mistress rolls her eyes and wanders over to one of the bookshelves while Jacob fumbles about with some papers.

"Son, I'm going to include you in this decision, because this is something I think you feel strongly about and I'd rather have you in a positive state of mind. I don't want to lose svelk support as they have been helpful despite their…well you know. I also have doubts about Roldan getting the job done as well, so the suggestion to replace him isn't out of the question as far as I'm concerned. In any case I'm either going to have to replace him or send all the svelk to the gnoll front, but I know that won't exactly make you happy."

You accept svelk transfer

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 skirmishers

While you aren't going to defy direct orders you figure you can at least lessen the gnoll attacks and keep the svelk out of your hair at the same time. Alison is certainly supportive of the idea.

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 relatively calm ones. The svelk are doing a good job of keeping the gnolls so off balanced that they haven't been attacking. The troops have enjoyed the respite from battle, though you're a bit bored by the continued lack of it. Still, you're getting a bit of enjoyment out the svelk having to do all the grunt work and follow your orders.

Eventually the svelk start losing some of their number and that's when the complaints begin to start. Naturally they choose the one captain that is most likely to get under your skin…

"What?" you ask when Eldolith enters your tent.
"My comrades and I wish to discuss the terms of our current assignment." Eldolith says.
"Terms? There are no terms. You are to continue harassing the gnolls. What don't you understand? It's a simple enough task even for you."

Eldolith pauses. She wants to say something insulting. Something derogatory, but she can't and she knows it.

"Are we really so loathsome to you?" she asks.
"Hah! Is this a trick question? I mean you are joking right?" you reply.
"No, I'm being quite serious. I mean I know what you're doing, we all do. You're sending us out to fight the gnolls day after day with barely any rest. You're hoping that we'll either all get killed off, or we'll all just end up leaving."
"You don't miss a thing do you, guess that's why you're part of the higher born eh? Hey, you're mercs, if you don't like the job you can always quit right?"
"Right, and we already protested about our less than stellar position on the Felkan Front. If we leave this job under the same circumstances, well it isn't very good for our mercenary reputation now is it? Even if there is it the truth that the Empire is just using us as cannon fodder because they ran out of orcs!"
"You're breaking my heart and the hearts of everyone else that has great love for your kind, oh wait nobody likes your kind. Get out of my tent, I've got nothing more to say on this matter…" you say and wave your hand dismissively.

Eldolith is beginning to get angry. She can't even form a sentence. Instead she looks behind her and goes back to the entryway of your tent and makes sure it's closed. Then she turns around with a hostile stare.

"Seriously? You really think you have a chance? Alright then, make your move." You remark expecting Eldolith to attack you.

Instead she takes off her sword sheath and begins unstrapping some of her armor.

"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'll be doing you in a few moments. That is what you want isn't it?" she says.

It takes you a moment to collect your thoughts before you can answer.

"While I won't deny your beauty, if you think you can fuck your way out of this situation, you're sorely mistaken."
"No, I don't. But we have to come to some sort of compromise." Eldolith says and finishes removing most of her clothing. She gets on all fours and begins crawling towards you in a seductive motion. You might not want it to, but this situation is definitely arousing you. Its not really Eldolith physical attractiveness though, it's the opportunity to see this svelk so humbled that she has no choice but to debase herself before you like a common whore.

"Okay…so what did you have in mind?" you ask as you look down on Eldolith who is now kneeling before you and starting to unbuckle your own belt.
"Oh perhaps maybe you could rotate the attacks on the gnolls? Like every few days perhaps your troops could launch raids on the gnolls instead? It isn't like…(mmmm) you can't spare a few. It would break up their monotony of not doing anything and we can get a chance to… (mmmm) rest."
"Ahhh, alright alright, just shut up and keep doing what you're doing." You say and just let yourself enjoy being serviced and imagining that it's really Mistress.

The next day you approach Alison about the new plan. While she isn't opposed to the idea, since she thinks the troops shouldn't get complacent anyway, she's a little puzzled by your sudden change.

"I thought your plan was to force the svelk to leave or have them all slowly get killed off by the gnolls."
"Eh, like you said. We probably shouldn't let the troops get too complacent. Besides, the occasional foray into the gnoll occupied land isn't really breaking orders."
"Uh huh." Alison says with a minor smirk.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, you've got something to say, so say it." You say with accusation.
"Sheesh, kind of defensive aren't you? I don't care if you're sticking it to that svelk captain. I told you long ago when we started having our own intimate encounters that we didn't have any hold on each other. So enjoy your little svelk piece of ass, I know you have…a preference for that."

Alison's remark makes you angry.

"It's not even like that Alison! Its not about sex, its about her utter humiliation and…"
"Hold on there, I don't need details! Look, I'm just going to tell you this. Whatever arrangement you have with her, just make sure you keep on top of it. Because I know you think you have everything under control, but in my eyes she's just doing what women have been doing since the beginning of time."
"And what's that?"
"Manipulating a man with her pussy. And she's a svelk on top of everything else, so that makes her fives times as tricky. I'd watch it if I were you."
"Alison, I think I have more experience with svelk females than you do, unless you aren't telling me something."
"Ha ha, you wish. And keeping within that subject, do NOT even think about trying to orchestrate some sort of bizarre three way with us. I'm not into women and I'm definitely not into svelk." Alison remarks.
"Wasn't planning to."
"Good, now I guess we better decide which platoon is going to go out there to raid the gnolls."

The plan is set into motion and there are no major complaints from Empire soldiers, it would appear that some of them indeed were getting itchy for combat. The svelk mercs are also satisfied or at least not complaining as much.

As for you, you've been able to sate your desire for battle, by taking it out on Eldolith. You enjoy bedding her whenever you can and you are in no way gentle about it. You're fairly abusive verbally and physically, but Eldolith just takes it in silence, or when you want her to, you make her beg or even thank you for the things you do to her.

And the whole time you're still fantasizing that it's Mistress. You even call Eldolith that sometimes. It gets to a point where you don't even let Eldolith go out on missions, you basically make her your personal "pleasure girl."

A month goes by and 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, your own orders remain the same. You're so busy enjoying degrading Eldolith that you've lost a little sight of what you were born to do. You don't notice it, but Alison certainly does.

"Is this a good time to speak with you?" Alison asks looking cautiously into your tent.
"Sure. What's up?" you say as you sharpen your sword.
"I just wanted to tell you that apparently we've been making so many successful raids on the gnolls that they've been pulling back. We could advance and take their territory if we wanted to. I wouldn't be surprised if the surviving Felkans even welcomed us as liberators."
"That would certainly be a change from how they usually welcome us, which is not at all."
"Indeed. So…?" Alison asks as if you have something more to say.
"So what?"
"Well, I just thought that maybe you had heard something from the Emperor. A messenger from him perhaps. I mean the Yaquan siege was successful and there are no signs that we are needed to support General Roldan's army anytime soon. I mean it's starting to get a bit frustrating just sitting here not really advancing especially when we're beginning to beat back the enemy."
"Haven't heard anything, so our orders to hold this position still stand. Sorry." You say continuing to sharpen your sword.

Alison stares at you with dismay.

"Yeah." Alison says and starts to leave, but you stop her.
"Is there a problem?"
"Just getting restless because I don't feel like I've been actively doing anything lately. You know something YOU used to feel before you became so enamored with your svelk slave girl."
"So…what? You want me to visit your tent sometime? Because I can do that, but you told me …"

Alison interrupts you with more exasperation.

"No, contrary to your belief, my world does not revolve around your dick. What I AM getting concerned about is my battalion. I had hoped this command would involve a lot more active combat and less waiting around. If I wanted to do that, I could've stayed in Rask. You used to feel the same way as I remember."
"Alison, orders are orders, you should know that better than anyone. What do you want me to do? We're supposed to stay put and that's that. All I can tell you is make the best of the situation."
"Like you have? Look I'm just saying, we've already bent orders by launching raids gnoll occupied land anyway. Surely we can do something similar now."

Alison has a bit of a point.

You take the land

Orders or not, it would be foolish to not take advantage of the situation. You're going to support Alison's decision to advance and if there are repercussions then you'll take the responsibility. Alison seems relieved that you've listened to her and goes to make preparations.

"Alison, before you leave, you were also right about me getting distracted. I'm sorry I haven't been keeping my mind on what's really important lately." You say.
"Well, I'm just glad you're starting to come to your senses. However, I suppose in the scheme of things, there was no major harm done. You're not the first guy to think with his dick and abuse his power. Congratulations, you're true Empire officer after all!" Alison laughs and leaves.

You don't laugh because you were supposed to be better than that. When you think about it, you weren't even the aggressor when you started your involvement. Hell, Alison was probably right about that too. Eldolith was manipulating you from the start. For all you know she was planted here by Mistress for that reason. For what exact purpose you're not sure, but the best thing you can do is to put a stop to it right now.

When Eldolith arrives in your tent, you're packing up some supplies.

"Good, right on time. We're going to move out soon. You can go join your merc band and stay there, its over."
"What?"
"You heard me. Figured you'd be happy about it."

Eldolith isn't.

"Are you fucking kidding me? After all the nasty vile degrading shit I did, you're just tossing me aside like a common whore?!"
"Well you did behave like one. And please don't act like there wasn't some sort of motive of your own. I rotated the raids. You got what you wanted as well, hope it was worth it."

Eldolith doesn't answer she's too mad to speak. Instead she just storms out of the tent, which gives you a little chuckle.

"Sheesh, if I'd known that would piss her off so severely I would've done that a week ago." You remark to yourself

The battalion soon moves into the previously occupied gnoll territory and indeed it is as the scouts have been saying. The gnolls have completely pulled out or at least that have from the immediate area. There are probably still some attempting to hold the border territory and they are definitely still going to be beyond the border so defense is still a top priority.

As for the Felkan communities, there isn't too much left. The gnolls didn't leave too many people alive. Your army makes the best of what settlements you do find in adequate condition. The Felkans offer no resistance; in fact they don't show much emotion at all. Its like most are numb from whatever terror the gnolls caused.

After a couple weeks go by scouts begin sighting gnolls lurking about on the outskirts of your perimeters. Not wishing to linger about like you have before, you and Alison agree to just move in and eliminate the rest of them.

The initial assault is fairly successful, but then you are caught off guard and you curse yourself for not being more careful. The gnolls have been luring you into a false sense of superiority.

The gnolls have been breeding and training a large group of wyverns within a small mountain in the area. They've also been bringing reinforcements from beyond the Felkan borders. You're taken off guard enough that you actually have to fall back before you're completely overrun.

It is during the chaos of one of these retreats that revenge is finally enacted.

After doing battle with a small band of gnolls, you get separated from the main Empire battalion. You never do get a chance to meet up with them again, you do however bump into a group of svelk. You don't even have time to react before you're riddled with svelk crossbow bolts. You collapse to the ground, bloodied and dying.

In typical svelk fashion Eldolith shows up now that you're in no condition to do anything to her.

"My mother isn't going to like this, but I don't give a shit. Besides, you were starting to get cozy with that blonde monkey again, which made this whole stupid idea of hers pointless."

Mother? Could Eldolith's mother be Mistress?

Eldolith crouches near your body and whispers in your ear.

"My only regret is that you're not going to experience the pain you fucking deserve. Don't worry though, you will be quite a sight when they find your body though."

With this final threat in your mind, you die of your wounds.

The svelk carry your body all the way back to Empire occupied territory where Eldolith does work to it personally. Then she orders it left so that Empire soldiers can find it before leaving the area with her group completely.

Members of Alison's battalion find it and assume that perhaps the gnolls got a hold of you, but when Alison sees that your body has been practically flayed, your genitals have been cut off and stuffed in your mouth along with your own dagger shoved up your rectum, she knows it was most likely Eldolith.

Alison decides the blame the gnolls anyway. Mainly because it rallies the troops to fight harder and partly because while she had no love for Eldolith, she understands why she did it.