The War of Lilacs

[sam4books]

"Very well" Egle spoke up, once she had heard opinions from mostly everybody. "Desdemona will lead her forces through the regions with circling Sonneberg in mind. While Erik and his forces will focusing on pulling aggro towards Erfurt. This way we keep them from attempting control over the south." She nodded a bit to herself. As if mulling the plan over in her head. "Yes I believe this plan does nicely. For now, we hold back our knights. Keeping them back in case we need reinforcements. The hunters will move in first. Then the redhand and Erik's forces. I suggest our forces begin to fork once we reach the Saale-Holzland Region[15]. That way we will have a good strategic position setup. Though theoretically the fork can happen at any point. If we do this correctly, we can theoreticly confine them against the west and the north. It may not give us as much as an upper hand, as prevent them from receiving something as such."

She paused again...Looking down at the map...considering things. She nodded again. "Otherwise. I believe we are in accordance." She smiled, happy to see such discussion occur pleasantly between all of them. As long as they remained a unified force, nothing could stop them. "Shall we eat? In honor of our coming battles? As a toast to all the warriors that will fight and have fought on this land?"

She didn't wait too long for an answer, as Cyndi would have already stood up. Moving his way towards the door. He gave a sharp whistle outside, and moments later, a group of Hunters would come in...carrying a very large roasted boar. Surrounded by vegetables of all sorts. As well as a few fruit. An apple ceremoniously plopped into the mouth. Egle had wanted to make sure those placed under her payroll would feel welcomed. And what better way to welcome a guest than with a feast?

"Please..." she gestured as a few more Hunters came in with a goblet full of ale. "Eat. Drink. Be Merry. For tomorrow we shall begin our hunt."

 

[Svetovid]

Desdemona nodded and crossed both of her large arms underneath her chest. "Very well. The tank will be protected. They will have to get through me before they'll be able to lay their hands on it," she promised. "I will take a couple strigoi, but I want mostly human operatives. I assume that those already with the tank are well versed in its operations?"

 

[Pattern-Weld]

The Spriggan turned its head to the boar, but with its featureless face could not eat. Instead, when its portion was cut it simply placed a hand on it, and let the filth devour it and carry it up her body. "I will go with the hunters." It droned, very little emotion in its voice.

 

[SpringNixie]

((END OF TURN 1))

Court of Spring Resources: 4
Court of Lilacs Resources: 2

 

[sam4books]

Egle was pondering over the map in the war room. Something that possibly could very soon become a lasting hobby for the young queen. Pushing pieces here, pulling pieces from there. Imagining infinite possibilities of movement. Like a chess board where she was queen. Egle wouldn't have had it any other way. She was born for this. Made for this. Crafted and molded just for this purpose. She had already finished prepping her Knights for when they enter the fray, and they would remain her pride and joy. Her elite warriors. They were armed and ready to be there for her allies, whenever they should need it.

Outside, Cyndi was waiting for their mercenaries, with payments in hand. His knobbly hand gripped onto a shined wooden walking stick that looked a tad bit taller than it should be. Leaning against it for support. He had the look of someone still recovering from a fatal injury. Unsuited for war, he chose not to journey with the others, but instead stayed behind to help out the Queen's guests with any questions or concerns. He looked grim, but he was a very talkative person beneath the filth soaked skin.

Meanwhile, on the Red Hand channels, as well as through the whispers of Filth that traveled through the Nexus, her allies would hear Queen Karaliene checking up on them from within the war room: How goes our advance?

 

[Pattern-Weld]

"I will be taking our hunters northwest into the forest."[15] Riggans voice droned through. "We follow the serpentous call."

 

[Nocturnal_Nexus]

"I am also leading my forces westward. We must reach the town before it is taken. But if it is...they won't be staying for long."[15] Erik's voice rang throughout the Nexus. Egle would be able to catch glimpses of their movements in her mind.

 

[Velvet Silk]

"I'll go alone - well. Alone-ish, I suppose. Hit the lowlands to the south - start seeing what defenses I can set up along the outskirts." [Space 18->Space 16->Space 23]

 

[Svetovid]

It was no surprise that Elge's call was carried to her by the Filth. It made her grimace,for the sound of the churning black was like razor blades being flung around in a rusted blender. Nevertheless, it was the best form of communication that she had: unlike the radio waves which could be intercepted, she assumed that the Filth would give up nothing to anyone trying to listen in. After all, the Dreamers looking through her eyes wanted her to fight for Elge.

While Desdemona sat on top of the tank with her rifle in her hand and her hammer strapped against her back, her reply came carried by the same monstrosity that had infected her mind: "We'll be lending support towards the south [to Space 23]." The soud of the tank roughing its way across the ground could be heard as well.

 

[SpringNixie]

((END OF TURN 2))

PRIVATE MEETING: Where's the War?

Court of Spring Resources: 0
Court of Lilacs Resources: 2

 

[Pattern-Weld]

Riggans voice would come through the radio early in the morning. Her troops had been moving without rest. "I wish to take Weimar[12] and desecrate the land. The city shall become your fortress. An extension of your power. Indomitable."

 

[sam4books]

"Go for it, young Huntress." Egle's voice rang through the Filthy whispers. She sounded irrate though. A little more than usual.

"Lilith, whenever you are done there, come back to the camp.. I have words to discuss with you. Let Christoph know to go join my Brother. He has desecrated the land for the purpose of higher defense. Speaking of which---good job Bro. What's the estimated time before you reach the city? Do you think you will need reinforcements in the future?"

Within her war room she would turn to Valantin and Victoria. "Either one of you, or both, should prepare to aid Desdemona in the southern expansion." She offered to them, before inquiring of their ally---"Desdemona, you are heading west[22] yes?"

 

[Nocturnal_Nexus]

"Father's blessing was well received. Thank you Sister. I will then continue to cross westward through the plains[12]. The town is on the outskirts. I should arrive soon. We will need reinforcements to capture and hold the position." Erik's voice whispered through the Nexus.

 

[Svetovid]

The movement forward had gone well. Despite the terrain providing difficulty, the tank and her soldiers went through without too much pause. Every so often, Desdemona would leave the top of the tank, unhook her hammer from her back and bash down a particularly bothersome tree that had managed to get in her way. They wouldn't have the element of surprise with how much noise they were making, but that mattered little in lieu of reaching the nearest settlement.

"That's correct. We'll be heading west [22], then hopefully south [25]. Should it all go according to plan, we'll find ourselves in a city," she said, sending the message through the Filth.

 

[SpringNixie]

A slender woman of Spanish decent strode purposefully into the room to kneel before Queen Karaliene, her head bowed to her ruler as the wild robes and tightly-clad armor of Filth and blood she wore whispered to her in those maddening voices she had come to enjoy. Maria Piralia, once a reluctant Magus for the Templar, now rested where she knew she belonged. She was a being of war now. A being of might and blood. She would help to lead her queen's dark crusade and be remembered for the glory she brought into this world. She grinned madly at the thought.

"My Queen of Lilacs," she spoke softly as her eyes gazed upon Egle's feet. "The knights at your disposal are ready to march into battle at your command. Please, do not let us sit on the sidelines any longer than we must. We all hunger for the blood of your enemies and shall not find rest until our blades are sheathed inside the bodies of your enemies." She looks up now, her shadowed eyes shifting as if some creature moved behind them. "Let my magic rend them asunder, My Queen."

 

[Kisikillillake]

[ Soundtrack:
]

Lilith, after arriving with Christoph in Gera [17], would find it a poor but homely city - traditional. She admires the gothic streets, mixed in with newer things like the ever-present, efficient, trams along the streets in Germany, and imagines that it couldn't have looked all too different a few hundred years ago. The ancient and new coming together.

Due to the official atheism in the former communist republic of East Germany, most of the population is non-religious. She does not know this, yet...

The infected army would herd the people into a cathedral. The animalistic Hunters darting around at the edges of the crowd, swiping up people who try to break out past the lines.

People would be packed wall-to-wall.

Lilith and Christoph would give a speech of the Endless Night, how the world, Gaia, is dying, and needs a new hope, and Christoph would of course preach how Viisk is the only way to true salvation. Lilith making sure to add in "And the Goddess Zilvinas, Queen Karalienė." to Christoph's impassioned speech.

"Understanding the universe is not an ascent, but a descent. You will understand this... You will relish in it, like us... The ecstasy of the Fall."

Smiling as Christoph would reply by preaching of the immaculate slime, and the obscenity of the "immaculate" conception of the filth. Lilith nodded humbly, though that proud smile across her black lips, as he speaks, gesturing to her abdomen which visibly curves with child against the figure-hugging nun robes - silken, inky-black and luxurious. Eyes a burning soft-magenta underneath the nun hood hiding her hair, as she holds off some of the filth-mutation's parody of fae glamour from the filth evolution caused as a result of Egle and the others being brought into the fold. Letting the burning stars beyond stars shine through.

Her words in reply echoing across the chambers,
"Yes, those who cannot fight may serve the Goddess also - we all have a part to play in the glorious future."

"We submit ourself to the bright darkness. Fill us with the immaculate slime."

"May the Goddess Zilvinas and Lord Viisk protect us. Give us our place in the new order. The new species. The future!"

"We hear her hissing." solemnly, as an amen.

In any crowd of so many people, there's always at least one who underestimates the situation, or just plain doesn't know when to stay quiet. A non-believer, a man, would dare to speak up, heckling. "Wahnsinn!"
She'd give a gesture and a thought to a golem, and the hulking thing would plough through the crowd, before one of the scythe-like claw arms would behead the man, sending a brief fountain of blood into the air.

Lilith looked out impassively as the beheaded man would get dragged up to the pulpit by the golem, and then nod. It was pre-destined. The man's blood would fill the ancient golden goblets of the cathedral. She would prick her thumb with the ceremonial dagger she carried, and let the black blood pattern in filthy spirals as it merges with the blood, propagating the infection, not diluting. The ever-spreading meme.

One by one they would be called to show their devotion. There would be no dissent.

"Drink deep."



The babbling hymn would spread amongst themselves, into the streets. It could not be contained.

Later, at one point she'd stumble across statues of Adam and Eve, abandoned to time in a run-down park.

Lilith'd stare at it for a few long moments. Part of her finding the sight quite agitating, not quite knowing why. She directed a golem brute to smash the rather ugly idol to Adam to pieces, leaving Eve intact. Moving onwards.

The fountain in Salvatorkirche - 'Brunnen' - would be a shrine to the Goddess Zilvinas.

The base of operations a large mansion-like school. All the more easier to keep the populace indoctrinated with the Burning Meme, obscene tomes laced with liquid insanity.

The people were ready. They understood their purpose. Their resolve true.

"Lilith, whenever you are done there, come back to the camp.. I have words to discuss with you. Let Christoph know to go join my Brother.

Lilith received the call. "Understood, my Queen. Heading back."

She nods to Christoph, letting him know quietly. Leaning in to give the man a hug, after going through so much together now. She still has emotions, despite the insanity of the things she's been doing. It's all for the greater good, after all.
"May you walk in Her light."
She smiles at him, before taking her leave back towards the Keep, taking a small escort.

 

[sam4books]

"Feel free to capture the city once you get there Desdemona. I trust you will know what to do." came her voice. Which she would then broadcast across the nexus to reach her Brother.

"I will have you your reinforcements soon my Brother. Do keep safe out there. I shall not want to see my Brother purged from me already."

And speak of the devil, the reinforcements had already arrived.

Egle smiled sweetly at her magus, second in command to Peter, and one of the few knights that had embraced her dark gift completely. Egle respected many things about her, and made it clear that if Peter were to ever fuck up in his duties, she would be the one to take his place. She had the will, and she had the way.

"Go to meet my brother in the field. Protect him and his forces from the enemy. Make sure no one interferes."

She would then radio Jinnra, who she knew would not hear her through the Filth.

"Keep on your path my friend. If you are able, seek to aide Desdemona, who is currently in Saale-Orla[23], and en route to Saalfeld-Rudolstadt[22]."

 

[SpringNixie]

Maria nodded and stood so that she could bow lowly to the Queen of Lilacs. She spoke with devout reverence for the woman who stood before her. "Your will shall be done, Goddess. Your knights shall march upon the fall of night and all will tremble as we spread your will."

With this, the knight turned to leave, the ground beneath her growing colder with each step she took. She reached into the nexus of whispers so as to announce to her knights their newest commands, her bloodthirsty thoughts filled with delicious intent.

 

[Achlad]

Valantin nodded to Egle, smiling at her. "I believe I will indeed. I need some time away from the castle regardless, lest I go stir crazy." With that, he'd withdraw from the war room.

 

[SpringNixie]

((END OF TURN 3))