A victory for the dwarves, barely (OPEN-GUIS)

[Raɱis Uleken]

The Gui army, assembled in the Selen-Etten isle, was considered one of the strongest of its times, it was smart and through its natural selection, and its training, the soldiers that emerged from their training were some of the most efficient fighters the current world had ever seen. While Guiar was well known for having great warriors who were excellent on land, the dwarven army also branched out and became skilled at fighting on the sea’s too. They were preparing to have their own navy which would be used to attack their enemies and defend their land.

Amidst shouts of encouragement and success, the dwarves had return from the desert and were ready to gather provisions, to reassemble and to rest for the battles ahead. One victory meant a lot, they had decimated the lennecks, but there was still a lot to do. Many lands to conquer and regain from the fauns from wars in the past, many issues to settle.

Ramis and the king, Leomer, had decided to head to the isle one more time to congratulate the soldiers but, mostly, to make them see that this war was not over. The dwarves had a tendency to get drunk and celebrate their wins in a intense manner. This had to be stopped, for the well-being of the fleet and to assure the overall victory.

[Léomer Elke]

The last battle had ended with victory, and Leomer was pleased. After all, the well-being of his people was at stake. Heck, his own well-being was at stake. He had been ruthless since the beginning of the war, choosing the soldiers himself, recruiting the best ones and training them for the kill. His entire vision was that: if you get into a war, you have to win, whatever the cost.

He felt the whole realm in his shoulders, but he never panicked and never faltered. His council had done a good deal of giving him peace, and for that he had realized he was truly grateful and proud of. Even then, he could see Ramis from a distance, cheering up the soldiers, menacing them to stay off the malt, and he thought that he could not have been surrounded by better men.

The sun was low, and soon it would be night. He wondered if that bastard of Neithan Ardemie had heard of their ridiculous defeat in Tarhoth. Those fauns, those shaky fauns, how could they even fathom resisting the desert? Their weapons and their supremacy in battle? It confused him that they had not retreated yet. But they would, he thought, they most definitely would.

He approached Ramis, careful not to be noticed, and surprised him from the back. His voice was raspy, he felt tired but full of drive, “have you heard the latest? I am the king of the winning fleet, and the fauns are pissing their pants right now.” He let out a loud chortle, looking around and smiling triumphantly.

[Raɱis Uleken]

Ramis was definitely suprised. He did not expect Leomer to arrive today, there was no hurry, and there were things to attend to in the castle and in the capital. Still, it was good to see his king and his friend there, and he half expected this look of triumph on the face of the man that he had known since he was just a steward.

But this attitude wouldn't do. He was glad his king was pleased with the soldiers and the fleet, but he already seemed a tad drunk. Just as the soldiers around him, who were beginning to set bonfires and to loudly tell drunken anecdotes, his king could be planning the same activity for the night. He would share with his soldiers as a friend, they would lay with captured women all night, and their defenses would be at their lowest point.

The guis had to be controlled. But how could he appease them, after such a huge victory? To them, this might as well be the end of the war. But both Leomer and Ramis knew that there was still a lot to do. 4 years had passed already, who could say there wouldn't be another 4, if they did not think their next strategy through?

As Leo laughed, though, Ramis could not help but slip out a grin. He was content with this victory... a calm, controlled emotion that he made sure was in check. "Aye, I have heard that. Still, there is a lot to be done, my lord. Look at your soldiers: they think this is over, and I am of the thinking that the end is far ahead.You know this too. We need to attack them in a way that they won't be pissing their pants, but rather all dead, their wives crying and their sons orphaned. A clean, final strike."

He looked around, with clear worry in his eyes, and turned back to Leomer, who seemed to be amused by the music which had started playing in a nearing bonfire. "I think we need to pursue the aid of the echas, m'lord".

[Léomer Elke]

The king of the dwarves burst out laughing. Help from the echas? It was ridiculous just to think about it. Heck, if they weren't at war with the damn fauns, they would be in war with the faeries, he knew it. And Ramis knew his thoughts about the echas, why would he even propose this idea? He had to be insane.

"Here, my lord Ramis, take one sip of this ale and stop that nonsense", he said, putting his arm around his shoulder toughly and pulling him closer, so that no other soldier could hear him. He had a smirk on his face, but his tone was serious and angered. "Do you really believe those feeble faeries, who have not done anything for our race in a thousand years, would now come and help us? Do you really believe that, my friend? Don't be blind... the faeries will not help us, not in a million years."

He walked over to the nearest bonfire, serving himself another glass of ale from a soldier close by, and raised his tone. "No, Ramis, we will not get help. Neither the echas nor the nayelis will help us. They despise us... they despise our power". To this, the soldiers started listening and responding with "aye, aye" to Leomer's words.

"We are in this war alone, and we alone will bury the heads of every last men, women and child who defy the great dwarven army. Let's drink to this tonight, enjoy the touch of our women and get ready for our next battle in the morning." They all cheered, and clapped, and he smiled gladly.

[Raɱis Uleken]

Ramis’ mind was racing. More ale? Why couldn’t the king see that what the fleet needed wasn’t ale, but words of wisdom, and guidance, and rest? How could Leomer prance around in this manner, when the enemy could be lurking in the mountains? They could even be infiltrated in the campsite, for all Ramis knew!

He knew he was about to be imprudent, but his frustration was taking hold of his senses now. He had to make the king see what was happening. He took him by the shoulders, trying to stop him, and respectfully but sternly looked him straight in the eye. He whispered, so that the soldiers could not hear, but they still turned their faces around to look at the counselor.

“Listen to me, your Majesty. We might have won today, but this war is not over, I assure you. And the moment that the fauns decide to get revenge for what happened in the desert, I pray to the Divine Light that we have the elves, or the faeries, or even the humans on our side. I do not care which race joins us. We have had many casualties, and there will come a day when luck will not smile at us as it did yesterday.”

He fumbled back, not really believing what he had just done. Leomer had been his friend since they were very, very young. Still, he had no right to talk to him in that manner, or to tell him what to do with such disapproval. He was angered and thoroughly frustrated, and he just hoped that his friend would come to reason.

[Léomer Elke]

In all the haze, surrounded by music and men laughing riotously, Leomer could see sense in his counselor’s words. But the king was drunk now: he wanted to sing and laugh and listen to the soldiers who had valiantly fought the day before. He wanted to sit around the bonfires, eating red meat with blood dripping from it, drinking wine and ale. And later that day, he wanted to go to his pavilion and share the night with the beautiful Moira, the delightful woman that they had taken from Lenneckor at the beginning of the war. That was all he wanted, to spend the night with her under the skies, thinking of nothing.

But Ramis insisted on alliances, and the elves and faeries and humans… What were they to Leomer? Nothing. They had been nothing. They had not tried to help in the slightest since the war had broken out. They had stayed in the margins, oblivious to the rampage and destruction going on in the southern realms of their world. Who could count on them now?

No. He would enjoy this victory, the company of his soldiers and his friend Ramis (insistent as he was), and of Moira, his whore, his private queen.

“Drink with me, my friend, for we have won. All these things can be talked in the morning. Don’t you see their faces? Can’t you perceive triumph in the air? That is all we need to win! And aye, alliances… I understand the need for those. Believe me, this will all be discussed, now DRINK!” And he shoved the jug into his friend’s mouth, chortling hysterically.