General Augustus led his men to retreat from Ember Ridge after they failed to besiege the city. "Lucius, bring me a report on the casualties," he ordered.
Captain Lucius quickly gathered the necessary reports and approached General Augustus, who was deep in thought about the failed siege.
"Sir, here is the report on our casualties," Lucius said, handing over a scroll. "We suffered a heavy blow. Approximately 50,000 men were either killed or wounded in the failed assault. The trebuchet and supply losses are also enormous."
General Augustus scanned the report, his face darkening with each line.
"What technology do they use? It feels like magic, but do they have mages on the same level as demigod spells?" he wondered.
General Augustus recalled the performance of the magical cannon that had defended the city.
The magical cannon had the ability to wipe out his soldiers, trebuchets, and camps in an instant.
Realizing the magnitude of the magical threat posed by Ember Ridge, General Augustus contemplated his next move.
The devastating power of the magical cannon had left an indelible mark on his military strategy.
Turning to Captain Lucius, General Augustus spoke with a sense of urgency, "We cannot underestimate their capabilities."
"Lucius, how many days left with our supply now?" he inquired, his eyes fixed on the urgency of the situation.
Captain Lucius consulted his reports and replied, "General, our supplies are dwindling faster than anticipated. At the current rate, we have provisions for no more than a week."
General Augustus furrowed his brow, acknowledging the critical nature of the dwindling supplies. The success of the upcoming assault hinged not only on defeating magical defenses but also on the timeliness of their actions.
He clenched his fist and made a decisive gesture. "We must act swiftly. The longer we wait, the more we risk succumbing to attrition. We will dig a tunnel into the city and catch them off guard. Prepare the sappers and the infiltrators. This is our last chance to take Ember Ridge."
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Duchy of Athea.
In the Duchy of Athea, news of General Augustus' failed siege of Ember Ridge reached Duke Graham.
"Hahaha, I knew it, joining the Pinnacle Republic is not a mistake, now I should tell the other lord to start the rebellion and join the Pinnacle Republic." Duke Graham feels joy upon hearing the news that his cousin defeated General Augustus' soldier.
Duke Graham picked up a quill and wrote a letter to his fellow lords, urging them to rebel against the Empire and join the Pinnacle Republic.
"My dear friends, the time has come to rise up against the Kingdom. General Augustus has failed to take Ember Ridge, His army is weakened and demoralized by the magical cannon that guards the city. The Kingdom is on the verge of collapse, and we must seize this opportunity to secure our freedom and prosperity.
The Pinnacle Republic has offered us generous terms. They will respect our autonomy and sovereignty and provide us with trade and protection. They will also share their secrets of magic and technology, which have given them the edge over the Kingdom. They are the future, and we must join them.
Do not hesitate, my friends. The Kingdom is doomed, and we must act swiftly. Gather your forces and declare your allegiance to the Pinnacle Republic. Together, we will overthrow the Kingdom and usher in a new era of peace and progress.
Your loyal friend, Duke Graham."
Duke Graham sealed the letter and handed it to his messenger. "Take this to Baron Jasper, Baron Elijah, Count Andrea, Count Vargus, Duke Bjorn, and every lord in the eastern realm of the Verdant Glades Kingdom. Tell them to read it carefully and respond as soon as possible.
"Yes, your grace." the messenger said, taking the letter and mounting his horse. He rode away, hoping to deliver the letter before the Kingdom spies intercepted it.
Duke Graham watched him go, feeling a surge of excitement. He had been plotting this rebellion for a long time, and now he saw his chance to make it happen. He was confident that his fellow lords would join him, and that they would have enough strength to challenge the Kingdom.
He smiled, imagining the look on King Richard II face when he learned that his own vassals had betrayed him.
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Ember Ridge City.
Meanwhile, in Ember Ridge, Commander Alex and Mayor Eldric was overseeing the defense of the city.
Now they heard the news from the spy they send recently to follow General Augustus.
General Augustus gives the order to dig a tunnel into the city and sabotage the magic cannon.
Upon hearing the news of General Augustus' plan to dig a tunnel into the city and sabotage the magic cannon, Commander Alex and Mayor Eldric convened an emergency war council.
Commander Alex paced in the war room, his mind racing with strategies to counter the impending threat. Mayor Eldric, his face etched with concern, addressed the gathered leaders, "We cannot afford to underestimate General Augustus. If he succeeds in sabotaging the magic cannon, our defenses will crumble."
Hakon spoke up. "We should let the earth mage do his work, once they succeed in infiltrating the city by digging a tunnel into the city, the mage will use his skill to bury them alive.
Upon hearing Hakon's suggestion to utilize the earth mage for a countermeasure, Commander Alex and Mayor Eldric exchanged glances, considering the feasibility of such a plan.
"That's an intriguing proposal," Mayor Eldric said. "If our earth mage can manipulate the terrain to trap the enemy within the tunnel, it might give us a significant advantage."
"It's even better if we can bury General Augustus so we don't have to face him." Commander Alex said.
Mayor Eldric nodded in agreement. "Indeed, if we can eliminate General Augustus along with the infiltrators, it would severely cripple their leadership. Thoren, our earth mage, has proven his skills before. We should entrust him with this crucial task."
Commander Alex turned to a messenger. "Summon Thoren immediately. We need to act swiftly. The success of Ember Ridge depends on it."