**Loki PoV**
Waking up with a groan Loki after practically having some light food shoveled into his stomach was given a report on the rather unique individual that had appeared along with the proposal that was made. It made the prince recall the time he asked Scyren about the differences between the Undead and Undeath.
"The Undead and the Undeath is it? Well, at the most fundamental level it would come down to if the specimen posseses a will of its own. A common way that is interpreted follows along the line of being able to take action on its own without orders. It is certainly true though it is not the entire story, Your Highness would you like to take a guess at what other explanations there could be?" As usual Scyren had decided to turn the question around to Loki who appeared to have either fell asleep with his eyes open or deep into thought.
"Normal Undead like zombies and skeletons can only act when they are given commands they can carry out or understand. It usually results in commands like attack, block or restrain. Isn't that because the Undeath can think like us? Or they at least they can think more compared to the Undead?" There was a tinge of uncertainty and confusion in his voice and the reason for that was shown in his question he shot back. "Why is Undead magic allowed on strict conditions, but Undeath magic practically forbidden?" Scyren who hadn't expected such a question went from having wide eyes to eyes that were practically gleaming in excitement.
"Strictly speaking Undeath magic itself isn't any more of a risk compared to Undead magic. It is more a concern for the events that happen should the Undeath creature manage to break the chains of servitude. As a matter of fact there is a number of villages which employ skeletons as guards against goblins even in our own Empire. The Undead who don't have a will can have their senses borrowed under specific conditions set by the Necromancer, an example would be if a goblin was spotted in a certain area. Once it would be confirmed an order is usually given out to work towards eliminating or pacifying the threat." Loki knitted his eyebrows trying to figure out what all this information would mean.
"The Undead cannot rebel if they were created, but the Undeath can and will rebel if they are both strong enough and desire to do so? Is that because of their will as a being that isn't truly alive?" The prince wasn't confident as he spoke wondering if that even was the case himself after all it would be dumb to bring forth something that would become an even greater threat. "Indeed that is one reason the Undeath would seek to rebel, without control involved the dead and living cannot coexist. Granted, that idea itself causes an issue when wrangling the Undeath as they are not puppets. Many Necromancers fail to account for that will and thus lose control leading to the current state of Undeath magic being seen as generally forbidden."
(Is it a question of where they draw the line? How much they balance trust and control? How much they balance the fear and respect the undeath carries for their creator?)
"Is Undead magic allowed in battles? Wouldn't the Undead fighting other Undead save some lives if nothing else?" That answer prompted a wry smile from Scyren who awkwardly cleared his throat. "It would save lives then, but in pursuit of more power eventually Undeath would be called upon in a race between the participants in the war. That would be ignoring the possibility of the nation or ruling family being overthrown by the displaced soldiers who are now without a job. Soldiers without jobs generally tend to have one of three main fates, what might those fates be?"
(The Undeath would likely then turn on the summoners and try to rule themselves. Only the living can provide for more Undeath and Undead specimens after all. Us living might become livestock is it at that point?)
"Soldiers without a job might first be absorbed by a bandit group or create their own groups, they often have the training to fight other people after all. I'd imagine other families, nations, or groups in the shadows might absorb them? Would the final option be rebellion?" Scyren had actually given Loki a short round of applause at the answer that was provided.
"Indeed, if we do not provide what our people need or the means to acquire what they need, they will often do whatever it takes in order to acquire it. There is also the mental aspect of having a comrade possibly being forced to fight after death or even made to fight against their old comrades, being seen as disrespecting the fallen who fought to death. The Dukedom of Goir, which has been destroyed and its land incorporated into our very own Zoval Empire, had once been taken over by the Undeath they nurtured and relied on only to have the Undeath overthrown by the living a few years later. It was then integrated into the Empire with the past nation serving as a reason to not use the Undeath as a sole military resource."
There hadn't even been enough time to digest what he had just been told before Scyren continued oddly enough. "The true reason why Undeath magic is forbidden comes in the mix of life and undeath. There are a few cases of Undeath, that should they retain their necessary organs have proven capable of reproducing with those who have the breath of life. This goes for both the Undeath being male or female, one species is rather famous for tracing its heritage back to such an ancestry. That species would be the Vampires."
(Vampires ... they are hard to classify in this world especially with Dhampirs being a mix of a Vampire and any non-Vampire. They are practically a gray area of monster or human and the way they act at times doesn't help. Just looking through some of the records shows a small number of family heads who have apparently changed yet act in almost eerily similar way to the predecessor.)
"Faith and morality have little sway when a person is fearful of being killed like mere livestock to fatten up another. Isn't it just like taxation that the people cannot handle?" Scyren normally would have smiled at such forward and critical thought, yet all he could do was gravely nod at the Prince. "Your Highness, you may treat these words as the prattling of an old man. As a person who might be responsible for the lives of others, please understand that your subjects will not always be able to see the bigger picture, they might even refuse to see it. Something that might be forbidden may be the only option at times and it may not even be forbidden in a year. Please consider the implications of such decisions and the consequences that follow, for better or for worse." That was how that lesson in particular had ended and the present Loki let out a sigh once he was alone in his tent.
(The information that Josef Vymark has will likely be necessary in figuring out just how deep this case of hobgoblins being able to enter a berserk state goes. Is it just a branch of the Gyrants? Is it the will of the family? Is it just the head going rogue for a promise of eternal life he had seemingly taken?)
Ringing a bell Loki had one of the guards summon Jirai, Mekkla and even Simon for a council of sorts. Once they arrived Loki tried to muster up an air of authority. "While learning Undeath magic could result in my later classes changing, I do not want to leave the reason for a new goblin king as a mystery. I feel it would be a stain on my first hunt if I leave it be simply because I can't be expected to deal with it ... What kind of leader can I hope to be if I'm not willing to carry some risk for my people?" The tent had fallen silent after that proclamation and Mekkla especially was torn on how he thought about the matter.
He was proud of Loki for being willing to potentially stain his hands, but as a man of honor he couldn't stomach the idea of the seemingly perfect prince committing such a dishonorable act even if it might save countless lives of the innocent. "Your Highness, I ask that you please reconsider. It is the job of us in the army to protect the citizens, it does not fall upon your shoulders to bear the burden. Furthermore, would it not spark even more troubles in the dark should you be accused of using Undeath magic?"
**Jirai POV**
(Mekkla isn't a surprise being against it considering some of the atrocities committed by the undead let alone the undeath in wars. I suppose Simon has no choice other than staying silent if he can't be certain of what will aid his patron. It might even benefit me if his Highness takes a scandal causing him to drop out of the battle for succession. I could even take him in if he marries my daughter with giving up less. I want his revolutionary ideas and possibly strength before his station after all.)
"Your Highness, I believe it would make for a worthwhile deal. You can bring information that might resolve a potential crisis for nearby cities earning yourself much needed supporters. I have little doubt that once your stats are seen many nobles who had been hesitating will swarm you, having a grand achievement should help to keep those with ill intentions held back for some time." Seeing Loki nod and then look over to Simon, Jirai fought back the urge to gloat especially with the feeling of Mekkla practically glaring holes through him.
"Y-your Highness, I wish to abstain on this matter. My patron being who he is, I am not fit to advise your course of action." Simon was sweating feeling a completely different type of tension from battle, one with a political might opposed to the normal might brought by strength or skill.
"I appreciate your counsel and I have come to a decision. I will learn Undeath magic, but Josef will be giving his full cooperation for the relevant investigations. If he does not comply with this, by my limited authority I will have him labeled a criminal of the highest degree I can afford."
(Hoh? How interesting, he really does have quite the spirit on him. Seems like that has also appeased the Vice-Captain as well.)
"We shall follow the will of His Highness!" The three said those words as a messenger relayed the proclamation to Josef who was brought into the tent after he agreed, though he had weapons aimed at all his joints and likely escape routes.
"It will be my pleasure to teach you how to use Undeath magic, Prince Loki. If you will have your men retrieve the document in the pocket of my left breast you will see the information I have gathered on the plans of my Father. As a bonus I also identified where he is storing his secret documents." One rather rough check later and a few set off for the Palace to deliver the intelligence to the Emperor.
"We can begin our lessons after you kill your next monster, in fact it would be best if I begin the lesson then. Personally we could start now, but when the corpse is fresh it would work best and people tend to hesitate if their first Undead is of their own species."
"Undead? Would it not be an Undeath?" Josef had a wry smile on his face as he took a moment to think. "Your Highness would you attempt to cast an A rank spell before you can cast a C rank spell of the same element?"
"That makes sense now that I think of it, we can see it in practice later. It is still bright out and father won't be able to come to a decision on what to do that quickly. Let's focus the hunt on orcs and not invade the territory of hobgoblins."
The four people gave a salute along with an 'As His Highness Wishes' going their separate ways to continue the hunt until they would likely be given the order to end it prematurely.