Meeting your general

You manage to catch up with the army the next evening, just as they’re setting up camp. Grinning soldiers wave and cheer as you and the girls make your way towards the large tent bearing the general’s banner. When you arrive, you find Ochiba having a conversation with a centaur woman in full armor.

The general seems to have relaxed for the day, however, having already removed his armor. A giant of a man, he turns as you approach. Though in his mid forties, he has the vigor of a man half his age, and shows no sight of the marching and fighting wearing him down. He looks like someone carved an image of martial perfection from an ebony block, though that is belied by the smile he gives you as you approach. You don’t know him well, but word is that Ochiba is a consummate general, a peerless warrior, and a good person to boot.

He takes your hand in an iron grip, shaking it in a friendly manner. “It’s good to see you, my lord! You made good time catching up.”

You nod. “We travel fast when we don’t have an army with us.”

Ochiba nods. “Speaking of which, let me introduce my commander of cavalry, and my wife, Genna.”

The armored centaur woman smiles and shakes your hand. With her long blonde hair braided and her gleaming armor, she cuts an imposing figure, but there’s a kindness in her blue eyes, and you can see the fondness in the glances she shared with her husband. You smile, and turn to introduce the girls. Upon meeting Uzume, Ochiba laughs. “Bringing an Oni for this is a bit like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer, isn’t it?”

You chuckle. “Well, we want to be sure it gets done. Plus Uzume would never let us leave her out of this.”

Genna laughs. “Good girl. We gotta keep an eye on our men sometimes, don’t we, girls?”

The girls laugh and Maya interjects, “You have no idea!”

You and Ochiba look at each other and smile. You shrug. “I make a couple bad decisions and they never let me hear the end of it.”

Maya rolls her eyes. “A coma is more than a bad decision!”

The general laughs, nodding. “I think I agree with Maya on this one, sire. Regardless, I have some important intel to share with you.”

Everyone quiets as he continues. “We now know how this Darius has been able to raise so many fanatics so quickly. He’s a mesmer. Mind control, basically turning people into his devotees. It only works on relatively weak minds, but he’s strong enough that most of the nation are his thralls. It only works on humans, as well. I guess that explains why he’s the leader.”

You nod. “Can we break his control? What happens if I kill him?”

Ochiba shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m no mage. I’d guess either they all revert to normal, or their minds collapse. Maybe a little of both. Either way, he needs to go. I can’t attack him, half the army is potentially his if I do. Your plan is the only way.”

Genna adds, “We will need to encircle the city, but you’re going to have to break in on your own. His closest advisors are likely mages as well, so be careful, my liege.”

You nod. “We should arrive tomorrow. I’ll have a plan by then. Hopefully by this time tomorrow, this is resolved.”

Ochiba smiles. “I have faith in your ability, sire. I’ll let you all settle in for the evening. I need to…go help my wife out of her armor.”

Genna laughs and playfully swats him. Smiling at each other, they walk back to the general’s tent. Maya grins at you.