The Battle of Brikstrat 2 - An easy victory.

Mumbling curses Ulal walks down the stairs. Each step a heavy clank on the old stone steps, the runes on his outfit glow in the darkness of the dungeon. Whoever is in charge of this place now clearly has no idea how to change torches. And if he can’t do such a simple thing chances are they are not particularly bright.

Ulal feels the familiar dank air of the dungeon whiffing up from below as he walks down further. One more step and the entrance comes into view. Whipping sounds and pained screams echo through the room. Ulal doesn’t need long to notice the source, a male whipping one of the captured girls feverishly, not aware at all of the Demonmagus’ presence. Similarly oblivious are the other captured women, bound to the ceiling with iron chains, their eyes covered with cloth.

Ulal walks over to the torturer and taps him on the shoulder. “I don’t have much time for you.” Ulal apologizes and smacks him head first into the floor. He tries to wave of the blood and brain matter on his gauntlet as he fishes the key’s from the man’s belt. “I am here to free you.” The Demonmagus says.

“There is…” The tortured women says as he is working on undoing the binding. Here voice is hoarse from dehydration and screaming, her chipped lips quiver as she pushes the next words out. “…another…one.”

The warning comes a bit too late as a blunt metal objects crashes down on the back of Ulal’s head. The man behind him smiles in both terror and relief, sure that the person that just shattered his colleagues’ skull is going to fall over any second now. “You know I had much worse headaches this week.” Ulal says and kicks backwards. He finishes undoing the noble ladies bindings. “One second please.” He says with a smile after undoing pulling the cloth of her eyes.

Ulal walks over to the man, who is holding his stomach barely able to keep in the last meal he has eaten. He picks up the blunt piece of metal that the guy had used on him and swings it into his palm a few times. “Pick your targets wiser in the next life.” Ulal says before slowly pushing it through the guys chest. The sounds of breaking bones and tearing flesh are only outdone by his screams until he finally stops moving, the metal having crushed his heart.

Ulal rolls his shoulders and walks towards the next cell. A few minutes later he has freed all of the women. Barely able to stand, with teared, ripped open dresses, whip marks all over their bodies as well as bruises and other signs of torture they make for a saddening display of former pride. However, Ulal can’t be asked to care about their well being, most of them are going to end up as sacrificial pawns in his game anyway. That does mean that he needs to get them out of here though.

With a mental sigh, he helps up two of the weakest ones, carrying one of them on his army. “Are you the Demonmagus?” She asks, “Indeed. Lord Ulal, who do I owe the honour too?” “Lady Zerine Terziere.” The name doesn’t ring a bell, probably some heiress of a minor trading house that was at the wrong place at the wrong time. “What are you going to do with us now?” She asks. “As per the contract one of you signed I will bring you into my city to provide, your survival under my law is guaranteed.” Ulal giggles on the inside as the procession slowly gets up the stairs.

Once outside he is greeted by Tang and the army. “Perfect. I am impressed that you got them here this quickly Catherine.” Ulal muses towards his apprentice. “Actually, Tang took command.” Catherine admits. Ulal whistles and looks at the leader of his elite. “Did he now. Interesting. Good job then, Tang.” The giant in his dark blue armour simply nods. “I want you to help these women get out of the city. Evacuate everyone else as well. Parties of five. No heroism, if you find pockets of resistance call the elite or mages. We meet again north of the city.”

The women are lot more reluctant to get help from the men in his army then the soldiers are giving it, much to Ulal’s delight. It means that they don’t just act like they share Ulal’s ideals when he forces them too. No, they genuinely help the women get out of the city with only a few dark, angry gazes towards their former employers.

The city is quickly swept clean and at the end of the day, all the resistance is broken, every rebel dead or captured. All in all it was a laughably easy operation. Ulal looks at the city, surrounded by most of the population of Brikstrat, which streets now are running with blood, filled with corpses and the aftermaths of mass orgies. Anyone sane of mind is happy to be out of that murder-drenched hell.

There is a small problem though. “Thank you for your help, Lord Ulal.” One of the former ladies of the city says to him. “Although I cannot speak in the name of the Queen I hope that you will be allowed to keep your life despite practicing magic.” “Mhm, I am sorry but I am not part of your Queens realm. I am my own Lord, I do not care for her forgiveness.” The lady looks shocked. Ulal gestures and smiles in a calming way. “Do not worry, I will still help your people to rebuild the city…” He looks at the city and his smile dies. “Although that may take a while.”

Pillars of smoke rise from the empty trade city. “In the name of the Queen.” The lady whispers. “It seems like we missed a few rats. They have set fire to the city.” Ulal says in a sorry voice. On the inside however he is barely able of containing his laughter. The orbs he had Alratha spread all over Brikstrat worked perfectly, activating all at once and exploding into small balls of fire everywhere. By now, the whole city must be starting to catch fire.

“Let’s get back to Ultopja first, we can talk about this in the morning. I believe all of you will need a good nights rest to get over the shock.” The lady slowly nods as she watches the smoke become thicker. Ulal has to take her by the shoulder and guide her away from the spectacle.

Everything went, as he wanted it to. His soldiers got some fighting experience, although it was a one sided slaughter they now saw the terrors of the battlefield, he was able to kill most of the radical elements, the rest he would pick out of these people in the coming days, and rescue the females. All that is left to do now is go over the spoils of his victories.

Once they arrive in the city Ulal first gets all of the new arrivals unto the main plaza around the fountain. That is for two reasons, one he can show of the glory of the city and two he can be sure all of them are in the city when he raises his hand to his throat to activate the enchantment that transfers his voice.

“I know that all of you are tired so I will not keep you here for long. You can take any free house in this city, except for the north-eastern and north-western district. I want you to come here again tomorrow so we may speak about the future. I wish all of you a good night. Welcome in my city.”

Ulal ends his speech by making his wings disappear and walking off with his army. The crowd quickly dissipates, many would love to sleep right here on the plaza but the cold weather urges them to seek shelter.

Ulal sees Aclysia up in his quarters, standing behind the window, barely more than a silhouette. He orders his army to clean up and go to sleep. The men sighing in relief, finally allowed to break formation, and walk away to the bathhouses. Ulal himself hastily walks up to his quarters to speak to the fellow immortal.

“What do you estimate?” He asks once he has made his to the quarter. He walks from the entrance slowly towards Aclysia. “Above six-thousand.” She says, her voice a soothing presence after the constant screaming in the city and the lamenting of the now homeless Estarans. “So we are soon hitting seven-thousand. Not as good as I had hoped but we are getting there.” His hand glides over the Focus Throne. A spark of arcane energy hits him and the buzzing of power vibrates against his palm.

“Everything is coming along nicely.” Aclysia nods in agreement. “You should rest. Tomorrow will be exhausting.” Ulal raises an eyebrow, “Have you already guessed what I want to do?” Aclysia smiles faintly. “You I can calculate.” That does not answer his question but he doesn’t mind. He takes his hand of the Throne and puts it on Aclysia’s soft hips instead. “I could use a bit of unwinding before I sleep.” He says.