The Fall of Brikstrat 4 - Gearing Up

Ulal musters the bloody fingerprint on the document. It has been handled a bit roughly, folded up and crumpled, but is still recognizable as the letter he wanted to send. “Here you have it.” Ulal says and reaches the contract around. It is more of a symbolic sighting of the contents than a necessity for the other council members.

“Three days…you are sure we can do that?” Glenn asks. His eyes are rapidly darting around the room while he waits for an answer and under the table, his leg is bumping up and down quickly. Small drops of sweat form on his forehead as he waits for the words he doesn’t want to hear.

“Of course we can.” Ulal muses, almost tempted to sing the next words in amusement but instead settling for an unsettling smile. “As of now we are at war. Let us get the troops ready. Catherine, how many battle ready mages do you have?” “Counting the people also under Tarzana’s jurisdiction, around thirty battle mages and three schooled primarily in Transmutation and Enchantment.” Her answer comes swiftly.

Ulal leans back in his seat, the soft fabric of his robe pressed against his skin he sinks a bit into the cushions. “Send those three to me. We will have two days to equip the army. For the rest organize them into two equal groups and give the commando over one of them to Tarzana.” Catherine looks at the rival to her left and sighs resigned, “If you wish so, Ulal.”

‘This is going to be an excellent chance to throw them into the cold water.’ The Demonmagus folds his hands and rests his chin on them. “Anything else?” He asks. Shaking heads. “Great. Glenn you inform the rest of the population of our decision. Catherine you and Tarzana organize the mages. Aclysia you come with me, we will design the equipment for our soldiers. This meeting is over.” He underlines that by slamming his hand on the cracked marble table.

Couple of hours later Ulal sits on the plaza in front of the tower, together with Aclysia and the three other mages. In front of him a line of people are waiting eagerly. Ulal waves the next person towards the little camp. He steps in and, after another gesture from the Lord-Regent, sits down on a stool.

Ulal gives him a quick up and down. “Size three armour.” He says and they get to work. First Ulal takes one of the prepared steel plates and transmutes it into a breastplate. The other mages create smaller parts of the armour and hand them to Aclysia who then covers them in a small amount of runes before Ulal gives the whole armour a light enchantment. There is no time for any extensive or grandiose enchantments; all he gives them is a protective spell that triggers when they could potentially be wounded. If a weapon is about to penetrate their skin a protective layer of ice will attempt to stop the attack. There is not enough energy in the metal to save them more than a couple of times but this alone should give his soldiers a sizeable advantage.

“You will be on the frontline, second row.” Ulal says and takes another steel plate. It changes into a long spear and he gives it to the man. In the end, he is left with a person in light platting over their black uniform, spear in hand. “Good. Next.”

By the time they are done with the common foot soldier night has fallen over the city. The three normal mages are about to fall out of their shoes, completely exhausted from the constant transmuting. Ulal sees that and clicks his tongue. “Okay, you can leave. We will take care of the rest.” “Thank you, Lord Ulal.” One of them says and they scuffle away.

Aclysia and Ulal then look at the remaining people. Around fourty more, from the Hundred and the standing army, are waiting for equipment. Of course, they are going to get better equipment than the foot soldiers.

Ulal waves in one of the standing army and looks him up and down. He gets to work on a size four armour. In contrast to the foot soldiers he equips them in full plate, enchanted with an actual protection against magic on top of being sturdier then normal steel. They also get a sword and a high shield instead of a spear. The armour is painted a dark red and on the shield Ulal’s emblem in black stares at the enemy. It is quite the intimidating sight for normal people.

The soldiers barely recognize themselves anymore. A month ago, they had been mere farmers or sheepherders and now they are wearing war gear normally reserved for knights. ‘Sadly, they don’t have the skill of knights yet.’ Ulal thinks as he finishes the last armour, ‘But we will get there.’ It is one and a half days after Alratha brought the message and Ulal now only has five more armours to make.

These ones however will take a long time. His steady eyes look at this elite. They had slept here on the stones, waiting for their turn and now finally it was time. “Tang, you are the first one.” Ulal decides and starts working. It takes over an hour to create the armour. Plates of indestructible dark blue glass, lighter and harder than steel and adorned with gold ornaments, cover the giant’s body. The gold ornaments hold many enchantments against enemy magic and even a few offensive ones if it should come to hand-to-hand combat. Tang puts up the helmet. It completely hides his face and gives him a terrifying look.

The abrasive surface of the armour glimmers in the afternoon sun as takes up the weapon provided to him. A two handed Battle-axe, made of the same dark blue glass and also adorned with hold ornaments. A long shaft and two blades, one enormous, the other one more of a pike to penetrate armour. It is a replication of Ulal’s own weapon.

Tang easily swings the giant but light weapon around in his hands, following the movements Ulal has taught him with absolute precision. Once he is done with the display he hooks the axe into a designated bit at the back, the enchanted clasps snapping around the weapon once it is in place.

The other four stare at their leader in admiration as he clenches his gauntleted fist. Three spikes shot out, ready to mutilate whomever Tang chooses to punch. “Don’t just stare.” Ulal says with a sinister smile. “This is our deal. You obey.” He points at Tang, “And I give you power. You, next.”

By the end of the second day he has equipped all of his army. The five of them in their blue armour will make a very good spearhead for his army. Unlike the previous two entities in his army, their armours are made exactly for them so they fit perfectly and prove no hindrance to movements.

“Keep in mind if you give up now I will want that armour back.” Ulal warns them. None of them say anything. Ulal hums happily.

Tomorrow they will fight.