Before Micky was a table with a magic map that produced figures as they were, in real time. He could maneuver these figures to counter other figures, giving real time orders to people. The legate used this as well, however, the people rarely actually listened to the man. It was most often used in the battles that he and his were participating in.

But that is not why Micky was using the map right now. The reason was because it was the most accurate map of the entire skirmish area. This included the areas that Aene were laying claim to as recompense for the unwarranted attacks. It also included areas that had been attacked by the roving bands of raiding immigrants. Aene kept good records but they were hardly used, and the most common were stored in the village council, or village head’s lodging. Otherwise they weren’t really used much. This is the main reason for attacking the villages, and especially attacking, and then letting the villagers escape.

But Micky was looking at the map for a completely different reason. He wanted to figure out a good area to build a fort. The enemy kingdom was weakening. But that didn’t mean they were weak yet. In their prime they were about as strong as the Aene. This was also the reason why they weren’t sending out any rankers to this area, even after the princess consort had come through like a storm. Usually there would have been a response long planned out. She obviously had bodyguards, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t still a prime target, especially for ransom. Being who she was, they would probably even be able to open up the diplomatic table again with her alone.

But they didn’t, because they couldn’t. Not yet, Aene just wasn’t that big of a threat. Or to be specific, Aene was as big of a threat as the enemy kingdom itself was. And there was a much bigger fish at the gates. So they stalled, they stalled with everything that they had. They were stalling for a change in the pace. Eventually their line would break completely, at that point they would do something, probably to Aene, and try to escape, again to Aene. So Micky had to think of a way to forestall that.

To this, Micky had a simple solution, build a big ass fort with maybe a few small forts around it and an early warning system. Sure, his superiors wouldn’t be happy, but for the first time, his superiors can suck it. Micky was in charge, he could do what he wants. He now knew why all those valiant heroes and reincarnators liked to run around and cause havoc, ‘in the name of justice’. Well, Micky wasn’t about to go that far.

He was going to build up a platform for the eventual land grab that would come years later though. The enemy kingdom was dying. The empire was taking land like a prize stallion. There was nothing that they could do to stop them. So when they panicked, attacked Aene, and ran for the hills with all their jewels and prize posetions, Micky(‘s fort) would be there to stop them. Then launch a counter offensive and take land like a bargain sale from a store that’s going out of business. Because that’s basically what they are.

But Micky needed a place he could do that. It had to be a place that had a lot of land, easily defensible, and central to the current engagement. So here he was, looking for his last stand, or the first stand to the real war. Because then, Micky had no doubt, it would be a real war. A quick war, but one that would see Aene face the full might of what was left of their former neighbor kingdom.

He saw the perfect spot. But he doubted that he could set up in time. He may actually need to give land to the enemy to complete his plan. Just as well, if he did better than the legate they might get mad at him. He was supposed to lose and take the blame for the legate’s failure. If he was going to do that, he would need to lose gracefully. In that case he had to make a fop mess but not a major one. Losing some land to the enemy but not much, while building his fort was the right way to do it, or so Micky hoped.

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So Micky played with the table. He started making forts and things, it was all very entertaining. He was aware he would need to bring in the builders first though. This didn’t stop him from playing around. He built forts in star patterns, He built one with lopsided walls, he even made one of a nearby cliff. This tabletop was fun! But he needed to get back to work.

He sent for the builders and they quickly arrived. Most specialised in siege equipment while others in defensive structures like moats and spikes. There were others of course, but few actually specialized in forts themselves. Micky figured that with the group of master builders put together he might have enough to get the thing constructed eventually though.

So he showed them the map. “I’m going to need you to build me a fort. It’s going to have to house a large army for an extended period and will have a rapid response time. It also needs to be able to take a siege against numbers of immense size with varied amounts of soldiers staffing it at the time.”

“So this is the fort you want us to build my lord?” Asked one of the builders pointing at the cliff. They asked in a tired knowing tone that said that they would do it, but it would be impossible, they just didn’t want to argue.

Micky looked at the fort he had made and forget to remove. It was a sand construct that was towering over the cliff. It had large pointed structures that pierced the sky and the front, and only, gates looked like a vicious maw with its drawbridge tongue sticking out. Micky blushed in embarrassment and quickly erased the construct. “No, no, of course not. I was just play… *cough* strategically planning out a few viable options before I knew what I really wanted. No, I leave the specifics in your capable hands.” Micky stated imperiously.

“You're going to let us design the structure, lord?” Stated another of the builders incredulously. He seemed to be well versed in ‘make my bullshit work’ and couldn’t believe that someone would actually allow the expert to do their job.

“Yes, you are all my head builders are you not? I would expect you to know more about design then me, especially defensive constructs. I am not well versed in the subject aside from some historical designs that have functioned well… and some that have not.” Micky stated. The cliff design was a chief example of didn’t work very well. Oh, it worked against assassins, but when a mage can just take down the very cliff that you’re on, it doesn’t work as well as one might think. Mostly bandits that aren’t expecting to be chased by an army would build on a cliff. This isn’t to mention that it makes it almost impossible to install defensive spell work that would help against flying incursions.

“You are sure that we are allowed to design your esteemed self’s fortress? We wouldn’t want to impinge on your glorious self’s magnanimous and genius image.” Asked another builder that seemed to have been suddenly voted as the diplomat to tell this grand figure that they wouldn’t be including whatever inane thing he was going to ask them. Though it seemed to be this glorious figure was doing the asking of something inane from them…

“I am lord of nothing. I am a noble of the courts, not of land. So you may address me as chief, senior centurion, or sir. And I am definitely sure that I want my experts to do the designing when this fort will be saving the lives of my soldiers under my command. Am I understood?” Stated Micky.

“Sir, Yes sir!” Stated all the builders, military to the last. But they were excited. Building a fort was something that would last in their careers to their deaths, in fame or infamy. This was something that even the grandest builder may not be able to do in their lifetime. So they were like giddy little kids as they played with the tabletop map. Each building a fort and then others would scream about how that didn’t work. Then they would ask to prove it. Finally, they would set up scenarios and grab some dice and one of them was yelling “My dragon rolls a nat 20 dealing 6 d 20 damage and overwhelming your defenses. Your turn.” another was yelling “That’s not fair! You cheated! Who was it that gave a dragon 6 nat stats to start with. I don’t see how this could work anyway. So I’m not going to keep going. We need another scenario!”

Micky himself didn’t expect the fort to really face a dragon anyway. I mean, what could the fort do if a dragon really did attack? He shivered at the thought.