A week passed and Arlene's Training under Aileen I, her Granny, resumed.
"Today, we'll be delving into Cartography and the role it plays on the battlefield" Aileen I said.
"I'm listening" Arlene said.
"Cartography is basically the ability to map one's surroundings. To understand it, one needs to know how to measure distance and how to scale it down as well as possess the ability to identify landmarks including prominent features of one's terrain" Aileen I explained.
"That's true. The ability to scale down distance is the reason our Sigils aren't as large as the actual terrain" Arlene noted.
"That's true. Terrain plays an important role in deciding the outcome of a battle. Depending on one's affinities, the terrain could either be a dependable ally or a worthy adversary" Aileen I explained.
"That's true" Arlene realized.
"Do you know what makes for terrain that acts as a dependable ally Arlene?" Aileen I asked.
"Its ability to sustain life is the first factor. The second factor is its ability to complement the affinities of the Dream Knight and the third and final factor is its ability to ward off Pathogens or eliminate them" Arlene replied.
"Exactly, the first factor is the reason the ancestors of most modern nations initially prioritized the discovery of fertile lands. The ability of the terrain to sustain life is definitely the most important. As a Dream Knight there are terrains that are naturally advantageous to some while detrimental to the rest. This factor is a determinant as to how Dream Knight Forces are allocated to terrain in battle. When Dream Knights are allocated to terrain that complements their affinities, the likelihood for Victory increases. The reverse is just as true. When Dream Knights are allocated to terrain that are detrimental to their affinities, the likelihood for a loss increase as well. In battle numbers may not necessarily play as much of a role in determining the outcome of a battle as terrain does. When the terrain favours the smaller force, they also stand a chance of victory. This brings me to the third point you stated. The ability of the terrain to ward off Pathogens or eliminate them. It was for this reason that most ancient civilizations built their castles and fortresses on high ground surrounded by Waterbodies. The Mountainous Regions provided a vast view of one's surroundings allowing the armies of ancient kingdoms to spot adversaries miles away and thus begin to prepare towards countering invasions. It was also practically inaccessible from the ground due to the army's archers and the mountainous terrain. The range of the Army's Archers was also extended since they shot their arrows from the fortress atop the mountain allowing them to shatter the offensive formation of adversaries attacking from the ground while ensuring that that the fortress was safely out of reach of the adversary's archers. The Waterbodies surrounding the castle also prevented the enemy from mounting ramparts to breach the walls of the fortress or scale them and when the bridge leading to the fortress was drawn, the enemy couldn't ram the Gates. It was for this reason that Black Water Bridge stood strong for so many years during the time Zanfar's influence was prominent. From this scenario, you can clearly see that in matters of Warfare, the higher ground is strategically a more defensible position than the lower ground under normal circumstances. Under normal circumstances the Army in the fortress on the hill has advantage over the army on the ground" Aileen I said.
"However the Nightmare King's forces breached Black Water Bridge's Defensive Formation" Arlene realized.
"Exactly, the Fortress on the Hill is a formidable formation however it's not impregnable. Its first flaw is that it's too obvious from above. If it were concealed by trees, then it would be almost impregnable but because it can be seen from above it can be attacked by flying adversaries. If it had the cover of the trees, it would possess a Stealth Advantage though I doubt even this would be enough to have stopped the Nightmare King's Offensive" Aileen I explained.
"I see, in a case such as this, a proverbial food chain has been established where the one who holds the higher ground in battle possesses the advantage. The Army on the Ground is vulnerable to the attacks of the Fortress on the Hill. The Fortress on the Hill in turn is vulnerable to the forces that fly" Arlene realized.
"In reverse, the terrain that makes for a worthy adversary is the one that is hostile to life, acts as a nullifier to the Dream Knight's Affinities and grants the adversary multiple points of entry" Aileen I said.
"Explain" Arlene asked.
"When the terrain is hostile to life, it becomes the enemy even of the ones that depend on it for survival. As such their Physical Health is depleted and their Mental Health might be harmed as well making the inhabitants of that land prone to starvation and natural disasters. In such lands, there might not be enough of a population to mount a Formidable Defense. Then there is the issue of the terrain nullifying the strengths of its inhabitants. It's related to the aforementioned fact but has to do more with the terrain acting in conflict with the affinity of the Dream Knight. This puts a lot of strain on the Dream Knight and little progress is made even after much effort has been placed into honing their affinity" Aileen I explained.
"I see where you're coming from" Arlene realized the point her Granny was trying to make.
"The final factor has to do with the land granting multiple entry points to adversaries. In such a case, the land is doomed to fall. It's quite similar in situation to a person who doesn't pay much attention to hygiene. They basically become the breeding ground of Pathogens and are most likely to often fall ill" Aileen I explained.
"I see, the terrain that grants multiple entry points to adversaries becomes its own enemy" Arlene realized.