The Fall of Brikstrat 1 - Getting the news.

Ulal looks down the window of his chambers. On the table behind him are countless documents. Paperwork ranging from personal data over training regiments and exchange rates for his new currency. He has been working non-stop for three days, only stopping for council meetings or to eat. At this point he feels the first signs of sleepiness, but nothing a little movement couldn’t hush away.

So he stood up to look over his city and stretch a bit. Below him he sees his recruits training marching formations. He held a second invitation after the second wave arrived, then a third one to deal with people that weren’t sure the first two times around. Currently he has five people in the Hundred, about thirty in the standing army and roughly eighty that he will let go after the basic training is done, demoting them to simple foot soldiers. Many people originally started higher but broke in under the harsher training regiments of higher ranks. By now everything stabilized and Ulal has officers that follow the plans set up, highest of all Tang who follows his orders to the letter.

It might not be the most impressive army, from where he stands they look like ants in their black uniforms, but it is training nicely. ‘I will need to accelerate this still.’ Ulal ponders and looks down with an unsatisfied expression at a single man that falls out of line. As if feeling the immortals gaze the man quickly gets back into formation. ‘They might be coming around quickly but they are no match for an Estaran Legion…They need praxis. Maybe I should hold mock battles?’

He looks over the plaza, the stone plastered plain isn’t exactly emulating battle conditions. Doing mock battles here would be little more than chaotic duel exercises, and he is already making those. No, he would need a real battle of some description. He should also work at some better equipment, like mass producible enchantments. If they couldn’t beat Estara with experience maybe superior weapons would do the trick.

“Lord Ulal?” A voice behind him. The Demonmagus turns to see Zal standing in the entrance. “Yes?” “Alratha has called for a council meeting.” “Did she now?” Ulal turns around, the wide grey sleeves of his robe fluttering as he does do. “I will go there, thanks Zal.” The Servant bows and continues his work elsewhere. “Disappears for two weeks and then suddenly calls for a council meeting. Girl has no manners.” Ulal mutters as he walks down the stairs.

He arrives in the Roundtable second, besides Alratha, Aclysia has already took her place. “Where have you been?” “Just playing around with somebody.” Alratha says nonchalantly and looks at the nails of her left hand, the glove that nobody covers it lays across her head. “I will tell you all about it later, don’t worry. I have other news today however.”

“Good ones I hope.” “Wait for the rest.” Aclysia chimes in as she draws a plan for a small contraption on a piece of paper. “Look at this.” She says and hands the paper to Ulal. He checks the information on the paper, it shows an enchanted contraption that exists solely for the purpose of being charged by a station. “A bat-ter-ry.” Ulal reads the unfamiliar word as he continues reading the runes. “You want me to create this?” Aclysia nods, “It would allow me to charge my instruments using the magic circuit of the city.”

Ulal looks at her for a moment. Her expression is as empty as always. He looks at the paper again. It would make sense to create something like this. The battery itself needed a good amount of time to create but the charging station was easy enough to manufacture. If he could find an application for his army…

“Could you use this battery for other things as well?” He asks and redraws it on another piece of paper. The model Aclysia gave him is meant only to recharge already enchanted objects while the one he just made lends power to inactive enchantments. Aclysia takes the paper from him after he reaches it towards her and scans it. “That would work as well. Not for my purpose though. It could use the same charger however.”

Ulal nods “You remember the tale about the magnetic plate I told you?” Without a doubt she remembers, “Yes. Interesting use of electricity.” Ulal thinks for a bit, “I had this other idea on the bases of that. See if you could build a ra-“ He is interrupted by the other council members entering the room. “We will talk more about this later.” Ulal promises and puts away the papers. “I am very interested about the potential use.” Aclysia nods.

Everyone gets on their seats. “So what is this about?” Tarzana asks with an impatient tone. “I have things to do you know?” “So, have I. I finally found some mages and they won’t train themselves.” Catherine agrees. “We all have much to do.” Ulal tries to pacify them. “Most of all me and Aclysia. So tell us what all of this is about Alratha.” The assassin makes a small bow, careful that the glove on her head won’t fall down.

“To make a long story short: Brikstrat has fallen.” Ulal grins, “Great. Details?” “As I predicted the inner conflicts tore the city apart and the squabble over the remaining food only made things worse. Although many agreed that death was more honourable then defeat a majority of guardswomen would rather take the shamed living and opened the north-gate. Hours later the city was taken over.” “I imagine it got pretty rapey.” Alratha chuckles, “Yeah you could say that. Also pretty violent, many died. Women are now forced to run around naked. However less than half of the men are uncomfortable with the sudden change. I guess they only wanted revenge for the mistreatment, not inflict the same mistreatment.”

“Less than half you say…so about 1.500?” “I haven’t counted, Ulal.” Alratha shrugs with a wide gesture. The glove on her head falls down as she does so and she catches it with her foot. She kicks it back up and catches it before putting it back on her hand. “Well, then let’s just estimate the number for now. Brikstrat has around 9.000 people. If we assume a half and half of genders that means 4.500 men. Of these 700 are here already, leaving 3.800. Half would be 1.900 so let’s suppose there are 2.300 enemies.” “Not an educated guess.” Aclysia says, “But should prove close enough. What is our strategy from here on out?”

Ulal needs to think about the question for a moment. Haggling with the overtaken city is no option. Neither is declaring friendship with them. All in all waiting is not an option either.

“We can’t wait until more of the men become radicalized or until the women manage to counter-revolt somehow. Aclysia, I want you to sneak in and find Halja as well as other influential characters.” Ulal crosses his arms. “First, kill Halja, she has outlived her use and I can’t have anyone guess the obvious, push it on the revolt leader or something. Second bring a message to the women. Tell them I am willing to free them.” His expression becomes sinister, the red in his right eye lighting up, “For a price of course.”