image [https://i.imgur.com/IznX1Pe.jpg]
I closed the interface for promotion descriptions, and the barracks drill yard lurched back to life. Fabulosa stood with her arms crossed, waiting for an answer, but I’d forgotten the question. I made a general statement to jump-start the conversation again. “Okay. I checked out the command system. It’s pretty cool.”
“So, what do you want to take?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. The military upgrades are all over the place, making it hard to absorb the firehose of information.”
“And politicians get no bonus. As far as command is concerned, there’s nothing special about being a governor or an L.T.”
“Hmm. I see what you mean. Anyone can be a commander, and it doesn’t limit the number of commanders.”
Our immediate need involved raising our morale. If I slotted Ally as a commander, she could give us a 20 percent morale boost for the upcoming fight with Winterbyte.
When our health, culture, and defense ratings improved, I could switch everyone under Greenie’s command, who could take the Planner tier 1 promotion that allowed a second work crew to build a castle.
If someone attacked later, and morale wasn’t an issue, I could take the Protector bonus, and the settlement under my command would enjoy a big fat health bonus. It seemed too fluid, too easy. I must be missing something.
“What’s stopping me from slotting six people as commanders at once?”
Fabulosa cocked her head as if she didn’t follow my question.
“I’d only got the command skill and power point after slotting myself into the command role. If I did that to everyone, we’d all get command skills and power points. It seems like an easy way to get everything.”
“Except only commanders get glory points.”
Realization dawned on me. I wouldn’t earn glory if I put Ally in charge during Winterbyte’s attack. She’d rank up in her command skill, leaving me with nothing. Fabulosa’s explanation made sense. Promoting everyone to commander status split the glory points, making it hard for anyone to achieve another rank and tier 2 promotion.
I crossed my arms. “I see what you mean.”
Fabulosa nodded. “The only way to getting glory involves risking everyone’s neck. It’s not a skill you can grind up unless you’re like those kill-crazy generals in World War I.”
“Who do you think ought to be in charge?”
Fabulosa shifted her hand to her hips and smiled, which made me nervous. As the only players in Hawkhurst, who would be the commander and earn all the glory?
I spoke to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Do you want to split it? I’m fine with that.”
Fabulosa thought for a second. “Gaming is all about min-maxing. Splitting glory doesn’t sit right with me—especially since we haven’t seen tier 3 promotions. I relinquish my command.” She bowed to me with a flourish.
“Really?” She gave in so quickly that I grew suspicious. This wasn’t the Fabulosa I knew.
“I reckon you could use a smidge of glory.”
“Really?” I couldn’t hide my skepticism. What schemes lay behind those pretty eyes?
“Let’s say I have an eye for talent. And you, sir, are so well-suited to command.”
“Really?” I studied her expression, waiting for the backhanded compliment or punchline that never came. I couldn’t explain her enigmatic smile.
“It might-could make you a better governor. Or, at least, make the job easier. And…” She rolled her eyes to pantomime innocence. “I couldn’t help but notice commanders enhanced their subordinates. I wouldn’t object to you making me more powerful.”
That was the Fabulosa I knew.
She knew herself as a power junky and that I wanted control. Making me her commander suited both purposes. Fabulosa’s observations about promotions explained why my character sheet had no command references. A commander’s promotions enhanced their subordinates, not the commander—and perhaps this dynamic reflected the core value of leadership.
“I see. You’re not yielding authority. You’re tricking me into making you more powerful.”
She batted her eyelashes. “It can be both. But the question remains, what sort of general do you want to be?”
I opened my interface and looked at my promotion descriptions before answering.
We needed higher morale, but Leader’s tier 2 promotions—Mustering, Diplomacy, and Logistics lead to nothing of value.
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By choosing Ally as a backup commander with Leader, I could have my cake and eat it, too. If people balked at mongrel attackers, I could assign them to her command. It freed me to pursue promotions that furthered my long-term goals.
Unlike Charitybelle or Greenie, architecture wasn’t in my blood. But down the road, our resident goblin fuss budget made an excellent candidate for Planner. The Field Engineer upgrade would allow us to build fortifications while another crew erected civilian structures. And if Greenie picked up enough glory points, I would love to see what Exotic Inventions he could design.
I liked Instructor’s speed buff, and its tier 2 upgrade, Discipline, would be fantastic for training. But giving a speed buff to everyone except the commander made me want to give the promotion to someone else.
Raider brimmed with combat buffs, but none empowered the commander.
Informer’s tier 2 power, Military Intelligence, intrigued me as a source for finding dungeons or places to adventure. It espoused the philosophy that knowledge led to power and granted access to rare skills, such as spying and subterfuge. If these unlocked unique powers, I wanted them.
Protector best suited Hawkhurst’s citizens. It wasn’t exciting, but our low morale couldn’t sustain the loss of lives. Not only did the 50 percent extra health feel overpowered, but Protector’s tier 2 upgrades, Aid Ally and Battle Regeneration could turn battles.
I closed my interface. “I’ll be the town’s Protector.”
Fabulosa raised her eyebrows. “Really? I’m impressed. I would have put you on Informer or Planner.”
“You said you didn’t mind if I made you more powerful. With Aid Ally, you’ll have a new heal for me, Merciful Touch. As long as you know, it’s unrequited. As a commander, I won’t be able to return the favor. But that’s how I am—I am happiest to give power to others.”
Fabulosa wrinkled her nose. “Hah. That’s a fair swap. I get 50 percent more health during campaigns—you get an extra heal.”
“You can’t heal yet. I need to earn 50 glory for Aid Ally. Have you picked out a promotion yet?”
Fabulosa considered the question. “One day, I’ll have troops to command, and when that time comes, I’ll probably pick Informer.”
“Really? Why?”
“I liked everything about it. Reconnaissance stops people from blinding you. Military Intelligence might put a bead on other players.”
“Ah. I thought the spy and subterfuge skills might unlock rare abilities.”
Fabulosa grunted. “Maybe. Tracking players might be too valuable to pass up.”
“Spies might uncover dungeons too.”
“That might come in handy too.” Fabulosa grinned without looking at me while we left the barracks. She split off to spend time with Dino, leaving me to dine alone.
I ate a late dinner of leftovers by myself in the town hall. Technically, Beaker sat with me, but his eyes stayed riveted to the doorway, anxious to know Fabulosa’s whereabouts. I told him she retired to the battle college with Dino a dozen times, but my answer brought no peace to my Familiar’s worried little mind.
Even though Beaker’s preoccupation distracted me, it felt like my first chance to breathe and think since arriving from Arlington. Pondering command promotions got me thinking about the town’s second mandate—Amphibious. Since I could now breathe and see underwater, it might be fun to explore Otter Lake. The ward worm must have kept the lake free of alpha predators, so scuba diving with my trident promised an adventure for another day.
Winterbyte returned the night after we finished the barracks. She appeared beneath a moonless sky—her troops moved silently across the meadow like a thunderhead’s shadow in high winds. Nights on Miros usually enjoyed heavenly illumination, but the night the dogs appeared made an exception. Without the radar information on our map interface, we wouldn’t have seen them.
As everyone settled for bed, a single green dot on my interface map appeared at the edge of our town’s boundaries. Process of elimination told me it represented Yula, and she moved toward the motte and bailey. I put on my gear to meet her, but panic only registered when a wide arc of red blips appeared on the edge of the map—some biped, others quadruped. I counted around fifty, far larger than the dozen I thought we’d face. Winterbyte’s first trump card involved canine tribalism—she’d recruited the vargs to her cause.
Flocks of green blips from the barracks and roundhouses funneled toward our circular fort. It made no sense to split our forces, so the Sternway mercs already guarded it. While their guild house numbered among our most secure buildings, Forren’s altar served as our last stand.
Behind the motte and bailey, the guards would be safe, providing security to a patchwork structure of canvas and spare lumber. The refugees called it the pavilion. The temporary shelter stood little chance of repelling the night’s dew, let alone physical attackers, but our refugees felt comfortable inside.
I opened my economics interface and created two red slots for command. I assigned Iris and myself to them. When I moved my name, a game prompt similar to a quest window appeared.
New campaign
Canine Invasion
Description
Commander Winterbyte leads 14 Gang of Three Gnolls and 30 Pinewood Vargs. Mayhem will ensue until the force is repelled or if Winterbyte retrieves the Cursed Band of Arcane Ascendence.
Morale
14% (panicked)
Objectives
Defend Hawkhurst citizens from attack
Reward
0 to 40 glory points
Of course, our morale took another hit. Our town’s event history listed Winterbyte’s return as its most recent event. With morale like this, I needed Ally as a backup commander. If she took Leader, the +20 percent morale bonus would bring her followers back to 34 percent.
I ran to Ally. “I need another commander tonight. You have the Leader promotion already, correct? Can you assign anyone panicking beneath you?”
“Aye. I can at that. I’ll go herd the flock.” The old dwarf didn’t wait for my reply before hurrying away.
People dashed about grabbing belongings. Thankfully, the map’s radar showed all the green blips near the motte and bailey. We had no strays.
Opening my interface, I noticed Ally had already taken a command slot. I put everyone under my command and gave Iris permission to assign slots. She quickly filled up her command with 18 militia, including Fletcher and Lloyd Sternway. It hadn’t occurred to me that Iris had already gained three promotions while in command at Fort Krek—Instructor, Formation, and something called Persuasion. I would have to remember to ask her about tier 3 promotions when I had the chance.
With the mercenaries under Iris’s authority and Ally taking the most panicked under her wing, I commanded Hawkhurst’s remaining 100 citizens. Each filled a militia slot for all the good it would do. Choosing the Protector promotion with my only command power point proved prudent. Its health bonus immediately improved morale by 5 percent.