It was a strange feeling existing here in front of Flaur and Stergos while also being in that cage within the tent. It felt like a daydream, floaty in nature as I could faintly feel the sunlight on my skin while also feeling the grasp of the iron on my wrists.
[Will of the Strategist]:
Manifest an avatar within range of your leader. Cannot execute combat or cast any spells. Cannot be harmed or destroyed. Manifestation will fail if Caster is interrupted.
//Range: Unlimited//
//Duration: 1 Hour//
//Cooldown Period: 24 Hours//
This was the [Ability] that I had access to, the sole one left uncorrupted by use of the Tunguska Event. It allowed me to manifest a version of myself near Flaur, as she was the only leader that I knew; the Demon Queen.
Having overheard Stergos and Flaur talk about what was going on, I had been reminded by a certain event that occurred when playing as Ars Goetia in CoE.
"Strategist? You have overstepped your privileges here, Ignis." Flaur frowned as she told me.
"You're our prisoner, whatever spell you're using to achieve this vision, please, just stop. We're in the middle of a war, whatever you would tell me--"
"That's where you're wrong, your Majesty," I interrupted her as I adjusted the markers for troops and opposing forces on her war map.
"W-Wrong?" Flaur stumbled on her words.
"Yes, wrong. You're not in a war, you're in a genocide." I said as I pointed to the map, placing my finger on Quell.
"Let me explain,"
"Long ago, where I once lived, there was a war being fought between two factions," I omitted the fact that this was ancient Aurum and Ars Goetia, "One day, there was a certain fortification held by the losing faction that acted as the keystone of their defense; with it, they held the line against the other."
This was the Hynskil Fort, it was given early on to players in their playthrough as Ars Goetia. It was the perfect fortification with its natural defenses being nestled at the edge of a low valley and a mountain range at its back.
Flaur raised a brow, her interest was piqued as her defensiveness smoothed over. But Stergos wasn't convinced, he still kept his combat stance at the ready; his eyes keenly trained on my every move.
"The winning faction was at a standstill, this fort was impenetrable, it managed to repel every one of their attacks; eroding away their confidence and manpower with every attempt."
"They then decided to use a method that would shatter the leadership of the losing faction, crippling the fort's defenses without incurring further losses on their own end; by using planned insurrection."
Flaur's eyes lit up as she heard me mention the word 'insurrection'.
"At first it was bribing greedy nobles looking for more power, to then more abstract planning... religion,"
"The cult of the Pure," Flaur muttered aloud.
"Religion is an invisible force, it latches onto everything, from the poor to the rich; it does not discriminate. With the inclusion of religion, and a false pontiff, the winning faction had raised their own force; that being the neighboring town that was under the fort's protection."
Stergos was the next to speak up, his combative stance slackening.
"That wretched worm Ervwin, he's the false pontiff," Stergos said with a scowl, glancing back to Flaur.
"But, I do not understand. This tale of yours, the army of peasants, how would they ever stand a chance against the fort?" Flaur asked, she pushed past Stergos and stood by the edge of the war map.
"I'm not a fool, Ignis, I know you're telling this story as a mirror to what is happening right now. My camp, we are this fort, and the citizens of Quell, they are the army of peasants assailing us. So please, tell me, what happens next in your story?" She asked with a wavering hope in her eyes.
"The army of peasants were slaughtered by the overwhelming power of the fort," I told them.
"But thats..." Flaur's eyes glistened wet as she took a step back, dejected.
"With the complete loss of the army of peasants, word of this bloodbath spread throughout the land, spreading seeds of doubt in those under the banner of the losing faction; they all thought the same thing--"
"'What if we're next?'" Flaur and I said simultaneously.
"I see, so that is my fate..." Flaur muttered defeatedly.
"But you see, that is where this story, and your story, differs," I pointed to the mass of peasants on the map, symbolized by a small wooden pitchfork.
In CoE, this was a necessary loss for Ars Goetia to suffer from. It was made to teach the player two lessons: to not get comfortable and a war is fought on all fronts. As much as it was a harsh lesson, resulting in the player losing a third of their map control within the first quarter of their playtime, it helped to set your expectations.
And even though this was a mandatory loss for the player in CoE, as it couldn't be prevented by any in-game means, it didn't mean I couldn't do something now to rectify that in this future.
"Due to your good nature, you've managed to prevent the automatic fail state that you would've incurred if you had ordered your troops to kill the Quellians. I can imagine the doubt you've been burdened to carry so far, and for that, I thank you for doing so alone for this long," I told Flaur.
"But, the frontline is going to fail, and the troop morale is plummeting-- my hand will be forced," Flaur said as she cast her eyes down.
"In any religion, no matter how big or small, there is always a pyramid of command; much like a military outfit," I began to explain as I shuffled a small wooden snake token onto the map.
"There is a saying where I come from, 'To cut off the head of a snake', simply put, it means that to solve a problem, you must remove its major actor," I said as I crushed the wooden snake token in my hand.
"If we were to kill Erwvin, then, the Quellians would give up?" Flaur asked.
"Ervwin? Oh no, we wouldn't kill him. Killing the head of a religion is dangerous, it would canonize them as a martyr and in turn, strengthen the cause." I explained as I revealed the snake token in my hand; it was unharmed.
"If anything, if he dies here, the Quellians would go into an uncontrolled frenzy. He's what's keeping them at bay, and unfortunately, he must live... for now,"
"I don't understand, where are you going with this?" Flaur asked.
"What if, instead of killing the Ervwin, we kill the reason as to why they're here in the first place,"
As I began to walk over to Flaur, Stergos shifted forward and stood in between Flaur and I. But I managed to freely phase through him as I stood before Flaur, snake token in hand.
"I know it's much to ask, especially after having pulled that stunt with the spell," I put the snake token in her palm, closing her hand for her, "But please believe me, what I'm going to tell you next is how everyone here will get to live,"
Flaur paused as she felt the token in her hand, a mixed look of fear and hope fighting for control on her face.
"Tell me... tell me what I must do, Ignis," She said as she found her resolve.
"They're here to see the Demon Queen die, so that's exactly what we're going to do--
We'll show them your death,"