As the day passed, Archimedes and Princess Arwen came upon their honeymoon. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do? My research is important to Fort Wilderness....."
"Yes, it is Archimedes, but you need to take this next step in your marriage. You have duties to both Wilderness and your wife, which happens to be a princess."
"If you insist Polaris."
Princess Arwen joins them by the carriage and holds Archimedes' hands. "Ready to go?"
"Yes! Let's get after it it!"
As the two enter the carriage, Polaris waves them goodbye. Once they were out of sight, Polaris called an emergency meeting for the whole territory. "Thank you all for coming. For far too long, the Wilderness Territory Domain has been divided into sections and hasn't had a clear leader. I am recommending Fog as Regional Leader of the Territory."
"Wait... why me?"
"Fog, you have been an exemplary member of the Wilderness Initiative. When we were gone, you made certain the Fort was taken care of, as well as maintaining our relations with Berban. You would make an excellent leader."
"Well, I'll accept it one one condition."
"Name it."
"You must be the Leader of the entire region. The Symbol of the Wilderness Initiative, the leader we all know you are."
"Fog...."
"That is my condition."
"... Alright Fog, I accept your terms."
"Excellent, then I accept your offer. I shall be the Regional Leader of the Wilderness Territorial Dominion." Said Fog, bowing his head to Polaris.
Polaris smiled and looked to the others. "With that settled, I want to turn the Wilderness and Berban into a single central city. Walls will stretch from here to the ports of Berban. I want a city safer, stronger and central to everything Wilderness stands for."
"It is of the upmost importance that we get this done before Archimedes returns home. We need this to work. Set an example for the other other nations. Thanks to our run in with the Church of Humanity, I'd suggest we make it a shining beacon of progress, equality and hope." Said Bel
The crowd nodded and murmured amongst themselves. The Church of Humanity had clearly ruffled feathers. The massive influx of refugees who'd lost their villages and homes hadn't put strain on Wilderness's ability to get and produce resources. However, it has put a strain on their ability to lead. With only 8-9 heroes within the Initiative, they were extremely spread thin.
"We here of the Wilderness Initiative will be opening up active recruitment into our ranks. It is time we rebuild them." Said Polaris addressing the audience.
The murmured cheerfully amongst before Veldspar spoke up. The look of distain was prevalent upon his face.
"On that note, what of Atrocity and Captain Winters?"
"What about them?
"Take no offense to this, I can trust the Captain, but I can't trust Atrocity. He is walking force of pure devastation, murder, blood and pain. Polaris..... Speaking from my soul, I'd rather have you kill him than work with him...."
Atrocity stood up and marched down to the center of the room. He looked over everyone before speaking, his voice was dark and commanded attention. "Of everyone within this room, I'd have thought the fearsome Wilderness Heroes could understand what it's like to be mind controlled, forced to do unspeakable things, all because of a Curse of Insanity. I am great at killing, exceptional at it. I attack with my brute strength, for I was the Polar Bear of Wintersbane, the undisputed, world champion of mauled carnage, and gruesome deaths. I simply wish to use my skills for good, for Wilderness."
"YOU KILLED MILLIONS! ARE WE EXPECTED...."
"SIT DOWN VELDSPAR. The Skeletal Pigman race was out of control. Raid villages, plundering riches and wealth, so yes, I was dispatched to be a decimating force of hell. Your people were strong, but I had orders to eliminate everyone who dared step out of Nether-Realm. I am not here to spare your feelings. I absolutely butchered them. I slaughtered them all, every last pirate that emerged. I spent two centuries making sure your race learned proper etiquette when interacting with other races."
"Y-You're a psycho...."
"Nevertheless, my skill would prove useful to Wilderness."
Polaris tried to calm everyone down, while Veldspar and Atrocity nearly came to blows. Captain Winters knocked both of them of their feet. "Haven't we all fought each other ENOUGH!? For fuck's sake Veldspar. Your people enslaved millions more than Atrocity has ever killed. If anyone here is to judge him, it is me... I am his SON! Knock it off. Both of you."
The two stand up and Captain Winters turns things back over to Polaris. "Veld, like it or not both Captain Winters and Atrocity are being confirmed into the Wilderness Initiative. Atrocity, you must come to terms with the fact everyone see you as a psychopathic genocidal maniac who inspired my father to massacre several million of not only citizens of the world, but also to massacre our own people once he knew he was losing to me. Both of you need to accept these things and move on. We must focus on the future, Veldspar, I'm sorry, you can't even come close to Atrocity in terms of raw strength. I don't plan on taking prisoners when the Church retaliates. Now, Guild Master of Berban, Mayor of Berban, are you both okay with what I've laid out?"
"Yes, we both agree this is the best course of action."
"Good. Upon dismissal, I want all hands on deck, Walls will be done by me, everyone else clear land, build roads, houses, shops, a marketplace, and a public meeting house."
"Yes Sir!" the audience shouted as Polaris dismissed them.
Polaris, Atrocity and Bel all made their to the basement level of the Fort. In the mountain cutout, there was an enchanted turn-key table. It has a great sword interlocked with the key-matrix. "Bel, tell me when all those light align."
Bel nods as Polaris grips the hilt of the Great Sword and begins to channel his energy and strength into it, making the table move. Outside, the ground shook violently as massive troughs opened up from with the ground. Bel indicated the lights we all aligned, which prompted Polaris to pull the sword out of the main key-matrix and insert it into another. As he channeled energy into it and turned the sword, walls made of Obsidian and Volcanic-Treated Granite, rose from the troughs. Atrocity watched as the walls rose into position, but got stuck a single turn away from locking into place.
"Allow me to try Polaris." Said Atrocity. Polaris stepped back as Atrocity took a deep breath Black static energy shot through the system launching Atrocity backwards. "What... What the hell?
At that moment, Captain Winters made his way into the room. "Woah what happened?"
"Damn thing.... didn't accept my power."
"It rejected mine. I got the walls up, but I can't get them to lock in place."
Captain Winters laughs. "That's because the key-matrices recognized a shift in the world. What you both need, is balance." Captain Winters grabs the swords hilt, then looks at the Atrocity and Polaris.
"Channel your energy through me at the same time. Trust me."
Atrocity and Polaris place their hands on Captain Winters allowing him to channel their combined energy into the key-matrix allowing the walls for lock into place with ease.
"How did you know that would work?"
"In my many years of hiding from your father and you Atrocity, I achieved spiritual harmony. Hence why nobody was able to find me. I had hidden myself in the spirit realm. I gained an ability.....dad. I have the ability and title known as "Harmonic Energy Balancer"."
"You mean..."
"I have achieved total neutrality. Something thought to be the stuff of legends."