Pulling a game of thrones on you guys,... Find out what I mean if you can, Explanation is abound in a few chapters JUST GIVE IT SOME TIME T.T so tired, gotta go now and eat, maybe another one today if I have time, if not then tomorrow -ish?
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As the king sat in his chair in his war room, his newest noble was sitting next to him on the important right side. This mysterious world traveler knew only bits and pieces of their language, but that was acceptable as the man had only been there for half a year.
Despite the short amount of time, the important changes he had proposed were drastic and plain for all to see. At first the hierarchy had opposed this summoned man at every turn. He did not posses great prowess with the sword nor could he ride a horse, he didn’t know how to cast spells, and all he possessed was knowledge and wisdom. What use was that to them in these trying times?
That was then however, and this was now. By now, they knew better to oppose this man as what he proposed would benefit them all. His ideas and wit were very contrary to his appearance. He looked like a man’s man, massive in stature, with broad shoulders and strong hands, his face burned by years of sun and slightly ugly to behold. He had thick muscles on his broad shoulders; He looked the part of a perfect soldier. He was not however a soldier but instead a thinker. His trained muscles seemed out of place and his characteristic scowl, ever present on his face, did not seem to belong either.
Even now he was scowling as the nobles clamored around him, arguing about stratagems in order to deal with their aggressor. The noise suddenly halted, quelled by their awe, as the man stood. He didn’t normally participate, making his voice known only when there was a better option available or they had agreed upon the ‘wrong’ outcome.
Within the silence of the room he walked over to the large hanging map, which showed the border between them and their aggressors. The border was shaped like a capital L and their conversation was about a conflict involving one of the border forts. It was under attack by several thousand enemy troops, human in origin, The man walked up under the complete silence of the room with all eyes following his movements, grabbed one of the pointer sticks from the side and indicated one of the cities on the far right of the map just above the border, this city was labeled “Mindras”. Directly above it, half of the map away was a fort. This fort, labeled “Furden”, was the source of the conversation.
Man : “Here troops; There”
Instantly the noise started up again, conflict between the assembled nobles and the man’s statement. They knew that they were wrong to oppose him, that ultimately, he would be proven right, but they tried anyway, but it could not be said whether it was because they wished to know his reasoning or if they simply wished to prove him wrong for once.
In opposition this time was a high general, he stood up and held up his clenched fist. When the noise was quelled he spoke
General : “But if we move that legion then our flank would be exposed, leaving Mindras open to attack from their position.” He pointed to another city, labeled “Purta”. Then he continued “We should pull the fourth, fifth and ninth battalions from Purta to bolster Lord Baltan at for Furden…” He then pointed to a fort half a map away to the top of the map. This other one, labeled “Purta” was also a frontline fort, but it was substantially further away from enemy positions then Mindras.
The nobles in the room nodded at the sound strategy, it was one many of them had also thought of themselves.
Man : “No...” The man shook his head, drawing a questioning look from everyone in the room. He pointed to Purta, stating while shaking his head, “Bad…” He moved back to Mindras, nodding his head “Good.”
General : “I understand your statement but -- ”
Man : “ Safe ” He pointed to Mindras again, then moved to Purta stating boldly “NOT safe!
Once again faced with the questioning looks of everyone in the room he grew frustrated, and, while grumbling in his native language he looked at a servant sitting idly on the side
Man : “Ink…”
Moments later he was handed a pot of ink and a piece of parchment with a quill. He cleared off a spot on the table and crudely drew a representation of the war map. All of the nobles and the King gathered around wondering what he was doing.
On the map three cities and two forts were drawn. They were labeled and their numbers of troops were marked as well. The man drew some arrows to further explain what he had proposed but still seeing the baffled faces of the nobles he handed to paper to the general.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Man : “Why plan bad?”
General : “If we were to pull troops from Mindras the enemy would most certainly not let this opportunity go! We would lose the city in a matter of days. It would take at most eight days for our troops to go from Mindras to Aide Lord Baltan and if we assume the battle lasts two days that makes it an eighteen day trip. The march from the nearest enemy city is only three days and a half. That would leave them in control of our city before Mindras’ troops even arrive at Furden! Such a plan is just stupid !”
Man : “No!” The man shook his head again with a flat denial. He pointed out the window. The gazes of the room followed his finger, they saw nothing outside except the brightness of summer and the golden crop fields. They then turned back to him in confusion. He started growling and cursing in his native language angrily. He took a piece of bread from a servant and held it before them.
Random Noble A : “Bread?”
They were all dumbfounded, and they sat staring for a moment. The man’s foreign gestures and words meant nothing to them as they continued to stare in confusion at the bread.
Random Noble B : “THAT’S IT!!! Its summer!” The other nobles all turned to look at this person with wide eyes, as if wondering if he had only just noticed that it was summer.
Random Noble B : “To the east of Heyno, South of Mindras is the swamp of Galor, it’s summer! The solstice is almost upon us!”
General : “The hydras are roaming…”
The entire room knew, hydras normally stayed within their steamy swamp for most of the year, but for a short period of time at the peak of summer they wandered in an attempt to find a mate. This roaming period lasted for about a week in both directions of the summer solstice. (a week before and a week after, meaning two weeks)
Every person, skilled in the art of warfare or even if they do not know what warfare is, knows that if an army meets a roaming hydra they would face obliteration.
Random Noble A : “Mindras is almost completely surrounded by swamps, for a period of two weeks it is safe from all attacks”
Random Noble D : “If we pulled the army out using the Ando pass we would be able to reinforce Lord Baltan and return the troops at the very end of that period.”
General : “The troops at our disposal drastically increase while leaving no risks on the table to deal with! We would be able to utilize a far larger force then we would if we were to pull troops from Purta!”
Random Noble C : “We would hit lord Baltan’s aggressors in the flank with a force two times their own!!”
King : “We would roll over them like a raging river! Servant, get me parchment and my seal”
The various high nobles rejoiced at this. The king quickly drafted an order for one of those very nobles that would allow that person to take command of the Mindras Garrison and use it as their own army. After his decree was made he signed it, sealed it and passed it to Random noble B, the one who had realized the man’s plan.
King : “Thank you for your service today Sun Tzu”
After thanking the king Sun Tzu received a note from a servant,
Note : “I have received some interesting news about our enemies and their successful summoning. Perhaps they have some interesting heroes that you might want to look into. Either way, there is an anomaly among them which I have learned of. We must speak; meet me in my room as soon as possible.”
There was no signature at the bottom, but he knew who it was from. Only one person inside of the kingdom had the ability to order him, her name was Zelpha and she was a descended Stratovian. He shoved the note in his pocket and set off for the descended Stratovians room…
Comments are wonderful, if not rage at the plot twist would be cool, or any criticism or even a thanks maybe? I did notice a lurker commenting last time, its good to know that little red boxes telling lurkers to comment have an effect. Perhaps I should share this among other Authors?
Either way...
Lurkers Beware! I am hungry for comments!!!