Knowledge is Power

A little later Doom and the women were assembled in the stronghold's war room. It luckily already had a full map of the world as well as smaller maps of Alms Amour and a few neighbouring areas. Doom learned a few things just from seeing the map. Alms Amour, otherwise known as the Nation of Charitable Love, is a light nation in the far north of the continent of Ilum which also contains the nations of; Mnemaria, the nation of beautiful memories; Borea, the nation of Shining Winter and the single Darkness hold out, Grimaire. The whole of Alms Amour is a desert nation. Belleza explained that The darkness used to have control of this area until the Light's victory wiped out the darkness and then established their own nation here. Before it was controlled by the Light it was called Drakmir. The remnants of the darkness exist in the uncontrolled desert lands around the nation's borders. This stronghold is on the western most edge of the light controlled areas of the desert and the capital city of Saluma, also known as The City of Luminous Sands is in the direct center of the controlled areas. All in all Alms Amour is a fairly weak light nation, fairly recent and mostly ignored by the rest of the world.

As Doom listens, it occurs to him, this is why he is here. Alms Amour is the weakest hold the light has, taking this whole area isn't so much an achievement as the absolute lowest bar to clear in his desired path to conquer this world. Even so, it will be difficult. He hardly has the forces to **** the capital directly and if they learn about his presence they will easily destroy him and his forces. This will take a very careful hand. He momentarily wonders whether retreating back into the desert and trying again in the future when he's better prepared might be a better idea, but he shakes the thought from his head. If he retreats now and they retake the stronghold, they'll undoubtedly reinforce it and it will be a lot harder to retake. Right now he has the element of surprise and he needs to make use of it.

He stares at the map of Alms Amour. There are two other strongholds, the south and eastern edges of the nation, the northern edge is just ocean. He doesn't know anything about them, but he imagines they have a similar configuration to this one. His mind races with ideas and a couple stick. He turns away from the map and then turns to the women.

"I think I have a plan. I need two days to prepare and then the plan is two fold. We're going to convince the capital that this is a full scale invasion. With any luck we can get them to spread their forces thin and then take the capitol. Cara and Kasi, if I let you choose your own soldiers do you think you could each take a stronghold? I'll be sending a full squad of my creations with you both as well," he asks.

Kasi nods without hesitation and Cara hesitates seemingly calculating it in her head and then nods as well.

"Good, once both strongholds are taken, Espia, do you think you could go to the capital and run a disinformation campaign? Try and convince them that the strongholds were all taken at once by a sudden army of monsters. We want them to send their forces to try and take back the strongholds and for them to expect heavy resistance," he asks and Espia nods.

"I am sure I could do so. It might be dangerous for me. I'll need a way out once my lies have worked. I don't want to be there when they learn that the information was incorrect," she adds and he shakes his head.

"No. You'll still be there, but you won't be alone. By the time they learn the truth, we'll have taken the capital," he explains and her eyes widen.

"Excuse me?" she asks and the rest of the group seem similarly confused.

"While Cara and Kasi are taking out the east and south stronghold, Gitta, Vox, Belleza and I will be taking this," he continues as a way of explanation as he points at a spot on the map. It's a city, Kia Marun. The second largest city in Alms Amour, positioned just slightly to the north west of the capital.

"How are you going to take a city with just the four of you?" Espia asks.

"Simple, we'll have some help," he responds enigmatically and then waves a hand dismissively, "that doesn't matter. I'll handle that. What's important is that once the strongholds are taken, the creations will remain there, but Cara, Kasi and all their chosen troops will meet us in Kia Marun and that's when Espia will head to the capital. From Kia we should be able to see when and if the Capital's armies go on the move and as soon as they do. We'll take the capital," he finishes.

Everyone is watching him with a mixture of awe, confusion and horror. They don't believe in him, not yet at least. Of course this plan seems crazy, but he's sure it will work. He just needs a few things...

"The most important thing is I need those two days. I can finish some preparations today, but those two days to forge an army are absolutely necessary. I leave it up to you to ensure those two days are made available," he informs them and then leaves the room.

If this plan is going to work he needs to go visit some new friends first.