Linus was having a bad day. As the fourth son of the most powerful Duke in the country he wasn't used to having bad days. If he was being honest he was spoiled rotten and generally loved his life. Responsibility was not something he ever had to worry about and certainly never he never aspired to. Roland as the firstborn was the heir, constantly accompanying their father around learning everything he needed to be the next Duke. Chase as the second had been pawned off to the King's army to support their military duty as a Knight. Meanwhile Timothy as the third went to the church and their cloisters to provide pious servitude to the masses.

That left Linus as the overlooked spare, a dilettante with no expected duties or responsibilities to fulfill except for the occasional social obligation. A role he filled perfectly. While he wintered in the capital to attend court and socialize with the other noble houses he spent the majority of his time at their country estate, tending to their vineyard and his own private garden. In fact he was supposed to be leaving that very day to head back to their country home now that the winter snows were starting to melt and the roads were clearing up. He had been directing his ever dependable manservant Archie in packing up the last of his belongings when a summons arrived via Manfred.

"Sir Linus, the Duke has requested your presence at your earliest convenience in his office." Manfred said, as he swept into Linus' room without even a pause for response after his perfunctory knock.

"Duly noted Manfred, I'll make my way their with all haste" responded Linus before turning back to the packing. Manfred gave out an exasperated sigh and settled against the doorframe while Archie diligently continued in his duties. "Was there something else Manfred?" Linus asked after Manfred refused to depart despite both himself and Archie studiously ignoring him.

"Not at all sir, I'll just wait here until you are ready to see the Duke." This elicited it's own sigh from Linus.

"Thankfully we've just reached a great stopping point Manfred, so let's go get this over with."

"Of course sir" responded Manfred, with just a hint of a smirk flashing across his face.

A few short minutes later they had made their way up several flights and over a hallway or two to the Duke's office. This time Manfred knocked slowly and politely before announcing them and waiting for a response before entering.

Once inside the office he quickly returned to his usual post behind the Duke who was seated at a large oak desk that dominated the space.

"You rang father?" Linus said, making his way towards one of the chairs that faced his father's desk before lounging upon it, one arm drapped over an armrest while a leg counterbalanced him on the other side, patting the seat next to him for Archie who gave a silent headshake before assuming his own position behind Linus' seat.

"I don't have time for your childish antics right now Linus. I called you here because I need you to act like my son for once and uphold the family's honor." As the Duke spoke Linus' could feel his father's passive skill [Noble Presence] pressing down on him. For the umpteenth time he wished he could raise his [Mental Resistance] skill above 5 without slotting it into a class. He purposefully gave out a yawn to annoy his father, even as he found him body adjusting to a more proper seated position. Willful disobedience could only do so much.

"Seriously Linus" the Duke continued with a growing frown on his face. "The war efforts are going poorly and manpower is in short supply." The comment had Linus snapping to attention, the time for fun and games over.

"What do you mean father? Surely you can't intend me to join the army. I don't even have a combat class. Please tell me this is a bad joke."

"It's not quite that bad. It took some negotiations but my Plant Mage son won't be dying on the front lines or fumbling towards becoming a Knight. No Roland and Timothy already got pulled in so I had some leeway. Instead you'll be taking over an outpost on the outskirts of the kingdom, right at the border of the Wastelands." Linus was rendered silent by his father's words. Him? At the border of the Wastelands? It was an absurd thought.

"Is this a joke? I'm set to leave for the country estate later today. Those wine grapes won't grow themselves." His joke fell flat and a tense silence filled the room before the Duke finally broke it.

"Maybe I wasn't clear. This is not a joke or a request. By royal decree all able bodied adults from 18 to 35 must join the war efforts. Since neither myself nor anyone in the army trusts you to wield a weapon or lead men into battle your contribution will be to maintain a non-strategic, unimportant outpost at the edge of the kingdom with a skeleton staff. You and Archie will be leaving at dawn with a Ranger who will also be posted there. Pack light because there will be no carriage, you'll only be able to bring what you can fit on your horse." With that final cutting comment the Duke gestured to Manfred who quietly and efficiently escorted a stunned Linus and Archie out of the office before waving in the next appointment.

Linus stood silently in the hallway, paralyzed by this cruel twist of fate until Archie hooked his arm through Linus' and started steering him back to his suite.

"Come sir, we have a lot of unpacking and repacking to do."