[Year 27-28]

Foreline Village, Council Hall

“Today is the day that the Council of Foreline and Elders of Archwood, will now proceed and tell you all about The Great Campaign, for our Patron God’s task for us. To become One and undivided”

Murmurs ran rampant to the hall, the discussion being the greatest task given by their Patron God. Armin, one of the few elders of the Elven village learned that fanaticism would lead to destruction, one example would be his ancestors who through their written history, felt ashamed of what they did.

But the records of their actions serve not as a path to repeated but as a lesson to be learned. Armin waited for the others to stop chattering and once the hall went silent he raised his voice.

“Our Patron God did not ask of us to be violent, in fact, in all the time he had reached us with his divine presence, he only did it to connect us. In my humble opinion, this task is to do the same. To reach out to others in the land we are fortunate to walk to and have us shake hands together in harmony.”

“Well said, Elder. One of our Chosen people, Mari. advised us about the specifics. The Land we reside in is vast. It will surely take long for us to reach its end so we need every help we can get.”

Everyone in the hall is well educated, they can read and write, be it Foreline or Archwood alphabets which are learned by all known scholars. However, one argument popped up during the hearing.

“The monster that Arkum fought is still on the loose, how can we avoid deadly expeditions?”

This garnered agreeing voices which the council and elders allowed to simmer, waiting for them to conclude. It was a reasonable thought, Armin was even sure that Hadro would see it stupid not to make a plan.

Soon they stopped and waited for the two administrative bodies to answer.

“We were ruminating, trying to find an answer to that. Our warriors and hunters once spread thin could not protect everyone. Especially without a body like Arkum to protect us will only spell certain doom. However!”

Armin propped a book on a table. Showing it to everyone present.

“Our patron god has given us guidance!”

Once Armin did so, everyone was more pronounced in their surprise, they didn't know what the book entailed, after all, only speculations were spreading around by rumours. Kasha and Kavo became unfocused for a while when reading the book. So people also have some doubts about the book.

Fortunately, Armin as an elder knew how to proceed with his words and approach the people, to further ease them and give way to agreement.

“Whilst the word surrounding this scripture of our Patron god sounds unapproachable, we have our reader Counsel Kavo to describe it for you.”

Kavo nodded. Kavo described the book once called, he described it as a scripture filled with stories filled with lessons. However, he struggled trying to finish Odigosgraphy which met some suspicion from the elites.

“...The last stories… however,” Kavo sighed, “Shows more than a story, it opened my eyes reading it. But unlike the other stories, it is best if you read it for yourself.”

“Thank you Kavo.”

Kavo sat down and Armin continued to present his idea, all of the council members and the elites of Foreline and Archwood must come to an agreement, so they could reach out far despite the lingering danger of the Valovasoar, they had to slowly take the risk.

“I’ve read Odigosgraphy,” Armin started “There’s something I would like to practice among us, a way to give birth to protectors for our villages.”

The crowd were listening, and invested in the topic.

“The Spartan regime!”

After that, profound changes happened within the three settlements, the first one would be their unification under a single banner. A banner they called Eldoria, derived from the archaic elvish word eldori meaning tight, cramped, or united, commonly used expression when someone is close.

Foreline, Marshland and Archwood all went under change under the guidance of Elder Armin, one of them is having the Temple of Hadro. A monumental tablet with all six tenets behind his Altar and elvish architecture.

After Hadro’s temple was built, Elder Armin had a discussion with the fellow elders of Archwood and Foreline, Marshland being left out because they didn't have a proper administrative body, and reconstructed the Council.

Consul of the Administration, Arms of defence, Medic of Medicines, Managers of logistics, Grazier of Agriculture. Creating five departments with their respective heads. All working together under the banner of Eldoria.

Though that is not the biggest change, the biggest change was around Hadro’s newest Status System update. Around this, [Class] became the focus, old skills were gone, replaced by newer skills that old skills or multiple fell into.

Thanks to this, the Head of Arms by Elder Armin’s guidance, created the organisation of Alpine, inspired by Spartan Traditions. Whilst it is initially safe in Foreline, Archwood or Marshland, the world is still a hazardous place for anything that lives.

Naturally, the head of Arms must be led by someone who knows how to fight and use group tactics. Since Spartan traditions inspire Alpine, they can't just have groups fought by brute force. No, even Spartans use tactics that are meticulous and straightforward.

But for that to happen, a chain of command had to form, an organisation cannot work if its limbs work separately without a purpose. Alpine created its rankings, Alvon, a word derived from archaic elvish, is the general of the organisation, it's one of many that will lead Alpine. The next in rank is the Acsien or officer in archaic elvish, they are responsible for delegating tasks the one making sure of paperwork within the organisation, The Captain, only higher ranking than the initiates, are leader chosen by an Acsien. Lastly, the lowest rank is Initiates.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Multiple people became Alvons at the inception of Alpine, the two were Arkum and Shavik with a majority vote the last one was Garuk, the Orc who's best suited for group coordination despite the only Tier 2 of both Alvons.

But their enemies are not humans nor any other sapients, their enemy is the wild and the monsters that emerge, and to gain proper experience they experimented, their structure true to their reference material. And in the end…

3 years later.

[Year 30]

Alpine Headquarters, Foreline Village.

Arkum started writing on paper, he was still rough around the edges when it came to his handwriting but it is legible, a much-needed skill of an Alvon. He reminisced about his first time writing he had to go and get a [contract] to get some attribute points to use in his cunning to at least learn faster.

Though, now it seems more stupid than it was then. Arkum sensed someone near his office door and waited till they knocked.

“Come in.”

“Greetings, Alvon Arkum.” the officer Saluted.

“Greetings, Acsien Lofin, anything that brought you here today?”

“Yes, mages from Archwood have reported a rising quantity of mana primarily near the dungeons.” Lofin handed papers to Arkum.

Arkum’s brows creased as he read the documents, the overload had passed eight years ago, the last time the peak of an overload happened within dungeons. Arkum took a peek at his spear just displayed on an open stand.

He sometimes fiddles with his spear unknowingly, the monster that placed him in such a ragged state was still on the loose and had not been sighted since its last attack.

“Keep the information at bay, we’re still in the process of an important mission.”

“As you will.” The officer saluted

Arkum dismissed him with a nod and the officer left his office. Arkum is now filing for support to the Managers since he needed resources for his men. The Great Campaign was moved forward as the next mission assigned to Alpine.

From Archwood to Marshland, they are starting to conjure much-needed resources, food, water storage, maintenance materials, papers, ink, etc. Cartographers, physicians and Artisans are innovating new things just for this Campaign to start.

The moment Arkum had the paper request and all the materials demanded. Arkum folded the paper and placed it in an envelope. Calling to an Initiate standing by outside.

“Yes, Alvon?”

“Get this to the mailing service.”

Arkum handed the envelope to the initiate and did as asked without a word, saluted and moved out of Arkum’s office. Arkum didn't stay in the room either, he took his spear out of its display and left the room, he felt it was a bit suffocating to always stay there.

Arkum moved to the hall, the initiate standing by his door office saluted once he saw Arkum. Arkum nodded. Arkum didn't dismiss the initiate as it was engraved in the initiate to follow his orders to the T, their whole regime moulding the initiates to be obedient. Only the captains with the capability to rule could replace the Officers and soon the Alvons.

But not today, the Organization is young and so are its members. Maybe soon, a new Alvon could rise the ranks and make Alpine better. Arkum walked down the halls, passing by multiple facilities, including the large road that Alpine uses to train its Initiates.

Arkum glanced at the Officer jogging along the Initiates who were matching with rhythm and nodded to himself. The structure of Alpine is similar to Spartan customs, though theres some additions.

Right now, the officer that trains the initiates is Arkum’s officer, the Initiates can choose who Alvon they choose to follow, after all, every Alvon are different, Shavik is responsible for reconnaissance, Garuk is a good coordinator and Arkum himself is a heavy fighter.

Each of their characteristics somehow leaked into the very structure of Alpine, they're Alpine warriors all right, but the Alvons used to train the officers and somehow that system of training was passed down from the officers to the initiates.

The Alpine at least have some basic form of training, mostly physical training in the morning and academic in the night, to whatever the Initiates choose.

Arkum reached the training area, in there, two Officers under Arkum’s command stood in attention as he entered. They stood with spears on their side and with attention.

“Are you two ready?” Arkum asked the two.

“Always!”

Arkum nodded at their answer, he took pride from his officers. On the left was Officer Khalid and the other was Officer Jhin. both looked tough and ready only awaiting Arkum’s words.

“Raise your spears, today I’m going to make your [Fancy Feet] at rank B.”

The two officers gripped their spears tightly, their faces set in determination. There would be no ceremonial gestures here; Arkum’s sole intention was to test and elevate their skills.

Without warning, Arkum materialized in front of Jhin, his presence as silent as a whisper. Jhin, however, was ready. As Arkum swung the blunt shaft of his spear toward him, Jhin sprang backwards, his feet moving with precision, though he kept his gaze fixed on Arkum.

Arkum advanced swiftly, his attack relentless. Khalid, not content to be a passive observer, lunged at Arkum with lethal intent. His spear shot forward with deadly accuracy. But Arkum’s reaction was swift and fluid. He evaded Khalid’s thrust, pulling back and letting the spear sail harmlessly in front of him.

Khalid realized his mistake too late. Arkum seized Khalid’s spear with ease, pulling it with a sudden jerk. Despite Khalid’s desperate grip and his efforts to wrench it back, he was yanked off balance. As Khalid was pulled, Arkum’s knee collided with his stomach, sending him reeling.

Jhin attempted to intervene, swiping his spear at Arkum, but his efforts were in vain. Arkum leaned back, his body angled flat as he raised his knee to strike Khalid at the same moment earlier, leaving Jhin’s strike ineffective.

With Khalid incapacitated, Arkum turned his full attention to Jhin. Jhin fought to keep Arkum at bay, thrusting his spear with calculated precision whenever Arkum drew near. He stepped backwards cautiously, maintaining his footing and aiming his strikes.

In a brief glance, In careful observation, Arkum’s eyes quickly looked at Jhin’s feet where he suddenly showed a moment of aggression, Arkum pushed forward, Jhin showed momentary hesitation thinking twice about where he stood which caused him to thrust his spear in panic response, Arkum deftly sidestepped, allowing Jhin’s spear to overshoot. With a swift, precise strike, Arkum landed a blow to Jhin’s liver.

Jhin crumpled to the ground, snarling in pain. Arkum looked over the two defeated officers, a smirk playing on his lips.

“We’re not done yet, boys.”

The training of the Officers along with the initiates must continue, they shall not be caught in moments of hesitation, they shall always be ready no matter the occasion, and they shall not be caught unaware. Arkum would drill it to these officers even if he had to break their bones.

In a few more months, The Great Campaign will begin. They cannot have an officer hesitate let alone the initiates, monsters don't hesitate, disasters don't hesitate, nothing will stop for their convenience. Alpine must be tough for the people it serves.

A few months pass. Arkum, Shavik and Garuk are sitting at a round table, Shavik points at a map over the edge of it, the land is called the Through Plains, a place that is yet to be charted by the cartographers.

“We’ve seen this place, the problem here is the hawks. They're so fast the only thing we could do was always hide in trees.” Shavik pointed out.

“Multiple places they're spotted right?” Garuk asked.

“Yes,” Shavik said with a nod. “According to our observation, they’ve been preying on anything in the plains and anything they spot on a mountain.”

“Are they going to be trouble for us?”

“Slightly, they always pick the weakest of the litter.”

Garuk snorted, he seemed slightly disgusted by the Hawks, probably because of the work that would fall in their hands if someone died, he didn't want someone to die on him.

“Should we ask the Managers to find us supply us barriers?”

“Well, we could, but it was paused for the time being,” Shavik said exasperated.

“Why?”

“They’re making a new department.”

Garuk then remembered the news, that a new department was going to be made so the Managers of logistics could stop being overburdened with queues of materials. The new Department is the Artisans, the one who is now going to be burdened with the creation of materials.

“Right…. “ Garuk looked at Arkum who has stayed silent all this time.

“We’ve thinned out the monsters from here to here.” Arkum pointed at the map. “Thanks to some Physicians trying to use monster body parts. We’ve at least determined a few monsters that could be kept.”

Arkum pointed to another place on the map. “Though, my initiates have reported me of a giant lizard.”

This caught Garuk and Shavik’s attention, Arkum’s spear was made from the tooth of the monster, it was incredibly perceptive and sensitive to magic that it was the most legendary weapon ever conceived in existence by the blacksmiths.

Garuk and Shavik tried reading Arkum’s emotions only to find nothing, though a hint of excitement could be discerned.

“We can establish supply routes here and here.”

Arkum continued reading his report and added suggestions to future activities, opinions and papers were shared, and the moon soon passed over their heads the room only illuminated by a candle.

“Theres a lot going on isn't it?” Shavik offhandedly said.

“True, I've even heard about the magic tower Archwood is planning to make,” Arkum replied.

“Wait, a magic tower?” Garuk asked in surprise.

“a magic tower.” Shavik parroted whilst nodding, “Kasha has been overworking as I've heard.”

“What for?”

“She’s been diving deep into the elvish history.”

“Well, that's good news. Anyways. Let's wake up early tomorrow,” Arkum reminded them.

The two groaned at the reminder. Nonetheless, they followed and stood up from their seats, as friends who were familiar with each other they did not need to salute, although they nodded and left.