Sideways Relations IV

From preliminary analysis of recorded meetings with Artinian civilians, at least the ones that survived the interaction with the grand tribe, all intel points towards… they're hostile ma'am, even beyond the raiding contingent heading towards our borders. They eat humans as food, with a low chance of them changing and openly aggressive towards those who are not their own. If we don't have green skin, they will not respect you, and probably either eat or enslave you. Note that the grand tribe has no outlying separate tribes, they've all been integrated long ago… or slaughtered."

"Where did you get this intel?" she asked.

"There are books and paperwork that were shipped for the past week from Gold Pine ma'am, most of which are just historical accounts of what had happened to this continent. Parts of them provide details involving their races in the area, with eyewitness testimonies that live in Glass Dale corroborating it via mention of family captured for food or playthings. While there may be some that do not live on this continent who aren't openly aggressive to other races, this one is not ma'am, by all evidence."

Shit! I was holding out hope for them to be the good orcs and goblins… damn it…

A long, drawn out sigh came out of her lips as she sat alone and just leaned back, resigning herself to this information. There were so many tomes in the libraries, she just didn't have enough time to read even half of them now. The cabinet was already earning their keep in spades. She closed her eyes and just thought for a moment. "So, you're saying Artinia isn't an immediate threat right now. But… those rebels now defending the city, they're under siege, as in dying to protect it. You know that, don't you?" She knew she was getting him to repeat what he just said, that Artinia at the moment was a nonfactor. The dev just wanted a little more reasoning behind it.

"Until you know what that faulty World Class Item is able to do, not at the moment. The chances of it acting as a WMD may be unknown, however the likelihood of it being able to harm the empire before our forces engage are low, like… 1.327% low. Granted, that might go up once we learn more. Those rebels do have access to resurrection per the temples, provided the bodies aren't dismembered too heavily. Their supplies also run deep, capable of lasting multiple months. It's entirely possible the king doesn't understand how long one of these sieges really lasts. The current threats are provided. You… also are not responsible for their lives just yet, ma'am." The dev reviewed the list, in descending order of priority.

"Merfolk are the top priority… wow… shit, wasn't there a report that they were swimming around armed near the surface?"

"And reports of large underwater creatures being mobilized in the northern ocean, yes ma'am. Our subs have SONAR tags on most of them. We haven't gotten a clear tracking tag on a particularly large one just beyond the northern ocean. We're not yet sending any other submarines to get a better picture, setting up a defensive perimeter underwater instead with limpet mines. All indications point towards them mobilizing to head towards Sweet Water, aggressively. They could attempt an engagement by as early as tomorrow."

"Did we clean up the waters for them? What, were the pirates actually doing us a favor keeping them in check?"

"It's possible ma'am. The toxins released by Scooze could have held their population down or created a sort of intangible barrier. We very well fixed what was keeping them at bay." The empress was getting a firsthand course in threat analysis involving how to really deal with surrounding kingdoms and nations. Strategy and Tactics skill would only help on the battlefield for this. She also hadn't actually spoken to the merfolk, as it was just assumed that they were happy they had cleaned up the ocean.

Mermaids that kill for the fun of it, Sirens and crazy looking monster fish with legs… no friendly redheaded ones or from superhero comics… they probably mate with humans and then eat them like a mantis…

"Is it possible we just got dealt a bad hand with both… er… races?" she asked.

"We aren't ruling out that there are respectable demi humans, mermaids and other aquatic species out there ma'am. Everything just points to us having bad neighbors. I should state, the history we've read through shows that things haven't changed in their neck of woods for some time. The merfolk have dealt with the toxins for as long as the oldest generation living in Sweet Water can remember. Humanity has not exactly been at the top of the food chain for this world, even with Artinia controlling a major area and keeping everyone else under constant pressure. They're the exception, not the rule. Tal Salunbal has a much smaller border, though still mainly human. We're still unsure about the history for them, more intel is needed."

Selene checked her clock. It was a little after 3 pm. Her eyes rolled up and looked at the ceiling, rocking her jaw a little as she licked a canine in thought. "What about the Minotaurs? I'm seeing them at the very bottom of this list…"

"They are in fact a tentative review. It may be possible to open negotiations with them, provided they acknowledge us as something they shouldn't mess with. Their primary goal seems to always be to attack three locations, Alsam Harbor City, Caerel Mines and Caerel City. All of them are nearby, just next to their borders in the northeast, around the tip of Artel Mountains, where Aureos is nestled against in the middle. Not once have they attempted to go south or attempt to attack Tal Salunbal in all accounts from those who have come from that location."

"So… those places have interest to them."

"Possibly, whether ancient tribal land that was taken from them or needs to survive, it has always been those spots that receive warbands. Not once have they succeeded, though they have worn down the defenders each time, only to be reinforced at a later date. I use tribal loosely here, given that their current era seems to be High Middle Ages. A fact that should set them apart from other demi humans is… they surprisingly do not see humans as food. That should be another exception to the rule, as we haven't seen how other subspecies favor us on other continents."

"Alright, well, there's time in the day to start with the orcs and goblins… can I get an assessment on combat efficacy?" the dev questioned. She seemed to somehow want to prove they were wrong for suggesting that the grand tribe couldn't be talked to, or maybe she just wanted to test just how good they were at their job. Regardless, this was her chance to head down there and speak to the man, or woman, in charge.

"Of our strength or theirs, ma'am?"

"Theirs."

"Once you give the go ahead, and I'm sure you will, it depends on how much of their land you want destroyed. Total annihilation is recommended."

"Oooook, so I take it that means we can easily defeat them?"

"It would take a minimum of an hour to wipe out their main military, or what we consider a military; that means any standard warrior, which seems to not exist given their civilians will attack if they see… food… walking around. If you want complete annihilation, seventy-two hours for all of the lands to be scoured of them." Selene's eyes widened.

Yikes. I mean, I know I have them to advise me in things like this, but seriously, genocide? Wait, what am I thinking, it's just the ones on this continent, not on others… I have to remember that… ok ok, let's just… let's just…

"Can we at least attempt diplomacy? Is there any room for talking, or is that just not going to happen?"

"I can't tell you not to try ma'am. I'm just trying to help you in dealing with them as military situation. The only thing I will say is… we all believe it won't go well. That raid contingent is heading in not to trade trinkets and beads. They also tend not to retreat and send more than enough to get the job done. Usually all evidence points to them sending a three to one ratio to swarm defenders with enough to carry back the loot."

"How unanimous is it?"

"All of us ma'am. 100%. I take it you are going to do this yourself?" The empress thought for a moment. Every single one of her cabinet agreed, the grand tribe needed to be taken out before Silvinholm, then handle the merfolk.

"Elsei is still in Eil'Ta Forest and it's not as if I can't handle anything myself."

"Bring a full contingent of honor guard and 8th Division, along with 1st Air Fleet."

"I thought you said it wouldn't take much given our technological advantage."

"It will take a full division to cleanse those lands in a reasonable timeframe without allowing constant movement of refugees to regroup and attempt raids further once you go that route, not including any spares you decide to send. That's 25,000 troops and vehicles brought to the party. Your safety is also paramount obviously in a hostile territory." She blinked rapidly, surprised that her administration was so harsh.

This was what I built, these guys and gals. I know they're doing what they can to make sure my empire stays in peak performance, to defend myself and the citizens, but wow… I hope their wrong… I really do… then of course… if they are right… I'm going to be getting a firsthand view of two races that'll remind me of the atrocities that one species can pull on another… not everyone is friendly or wants to be. Maybe there is something to what they're telling me… maybe this is a learning experience to how the real-world works, that not everyone wants to play nice.

"Alright. I'll go get suited up."

"For what it's worth ma'am, we do hope we're wrong. Even though we are machines, life does mean something. We just prioritize the lives in your empire over anyone else's. If we need to go to war, we'll make sure we're the winners."

"What was that old phrase from that General from the U.S… what was it… something something dying for their country…"

"Per my memories, though they may be skewed and not representative of official history with the words you just used, I believe it was 'The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for theirs.' That about sums it up plainly ma'am."

"I understand. Thank you." The coms ended as she just sat there. Hrist came by and looked at her through the door, which she just shared a look. "I'm temporarily holding off on Silvinholm due to strong recommendations from my new staff." The Valkyrja blinked in surprise at her. She was going to personally lead the taskforce while Selene sat back. "I have to go see if I can somehow stop my empire from going to war with the Be'arkeln Grand Tribe now."

"Are you… are you going to speak with them or destroy them?" Hrist asked. The dev just took a deep breath, bracing herself.

"Maybe both. I'm going to head there, see if I can't at least try and negotiate something."

"I'm going to come with you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way for this, Hrist." The raven-haired woman nodded at her. Both got up and headed to their respective rooms to change, with Selene getting back into her golden regalia again. The new material of her clothing since she had reached even Early Intersolar Era was allowing variable forms to be taken, adding new cloth or designs via nanite sprays from a makeup kit she had in her inventory. The color could change, with light up sections and even elongate or frill with micro piezoelectric film in the edges. Her armor could have extra segments installed at a moment's notice, turning from a stylish armored short skirt and black short shorts to a full battle bell of plating and leggings.

While they walked out of the palace, the dev's stomach growled a little. She hadn't eaten lunch just yet, though they would be arriving on Majesty's Grace. It would probably be a little embarrassing to have that sound emanating from her stomach while she attempted to speak to a liaison of the tribe. Once onboard, the empress got a chance to see the mass of transports bringing up tanks and heavy autos to be stationed throughout the rest of the air fleet.

That's a full column of mobile artillery… and a spare squadron of drone fighters… that's a heavy column right there… please be wrong…

Up until now, the air fleets had simply been for carrying her around with one, and only one, engagement from above without committing any ground assaults. Most of her ground forces would simply use the train system, sweep across the land on wheels or treads and even hover for patrolling, or sit stationary in FOBs waiting for orders.

"Worried?" Hrist asked her quietly as there was confirmation that the loading was complete. Selene looked at her as she sat in her chair on the bridge, waiting for the localized teleport of the fleet. The empress had a face covered in uncertainty. The dev even realized she was doing this before a potential attack by the merfolk.

This may be all for nothing… no, don't think like that! Try and get something going with them, don't discount the tribe just yet…

"In three… two… one…" the captain counted down as the fleet teleported in unison to the edge of Be'arkeln Grand Tribe's borders. "Port complete." The dev was still sitting in her chair for a minute as her mind was moving a mile a second. She didn't feel like this when she met the dark elves, the high elves or the dwarves. This was an attempted meeting with a potential hostile nation. This was a meeting with demi humans. A quick deep breath from the empress and she was up and about, committed now.

The trip down to the surface seemed to take an age as her honor guard lined the seats next to Hrist and herself. "Camo nets will be set up until a meeting is complete" she told her friend as a sidearm was loaded for her along with an SMG with anti-personnel rounds. They were setting up for the potential that the orcs could fight through the cauterized laser fire or being burned alive with plasma. Bullets were bullets, they still did the job. The main taskforce would hold back, fire off a request to speak to the leaders of the grand tribe, and simply wait.

"Landing in five." The helibot made contact with the ground, the door opening and allowing everyone to pile out. A tent was set up quickly, the surroundings looking similar to Death Valley. The sound of a vulture nearby told them very little lived in the area, at least anything that wasn't built hardy. "UAV launched, capsule drop in ten minutes."

Part of 8th Division held position, not taking any chances with the protection of the empress as she sat comfortably in the tent, checking through other reports to pass the time. The other half of the soldiers would come down from the northern tip of the grand tribe's borders, just at the edge of Boramar Mountains. It wouldn't be the first time for someone to think they weren't a threat and pull something on her military. Her cabinet was attempting to work nonstop to streamline everything for her, make sure that each area of the empire was sectioned for new Governors to be elected or crafted, with no Senators. There didn't need to be any sort of Congress or House of Representatives when they could easily send requests for laws to mayors or higher up. This also wasn't a democracy or a republic.

Her Chief of Staff provided a three-choice list of how she wanted them to address the empire and how much involvement they would have in most internal affairs. The dev immediately went for full intervention, seeing how bad the U.S. started to get and having to pick up the pieces when companies tried to have more power than the government. Given how her administration was mostly built rather than recruited or elected, it would be trivial to get new laws enacted to help the people and smack down any future corporation that defied them to abuse their employees.

Selene received a notice that there was a group of orcs heading their way. She heard rifles chambering rounds as well as charging up nearby, watching the incoming band of tribesmen. "Contact on the perimeter." The empress got up quickly and headed out, looking around for a moment before her eyes landed on the group standing there. A few growls and yips came out of their mouths, snarling and aggressive.

"Who the hell do you think you are, meat?!" the leader snapped, staring her down. She simply stood there, flanked by her soldiers. The orcs were undeterred, clearly not knowing the firepower that was leveled at their heads, or so stupid that they didn't care.

"My name is Empress Selene of the Clockwork Empire to the north. I am requesting negotiations with the Be'arkeln Grand Tribe. Are you the one in charge?" she asked him, holding her ground and unphased by the insult. Her Secretary of State had provided a relatively simple list for her to look at to help with diplomacy and foreign relations, what not to say and also what not to give out. They didn't need to know any sort of secrets, nothing classified, and didn't need to know how many soldiers were really near her, how many the empire could bring to bear.

"You think you are worthy of a meeting with our chief, do you? Ha! Ha hahaha!" the leader laughed out heartily as the others followed suit.

"I've brought a gift for him to show at least some openness for increasing relations." Selene opened her inventory and pulled out a dragon bone, scraped clean. There was also a satchel of dragon scales placed next to the bone. The group fell silent as they looked at the offerings, then looked up at her.

"You are serious, human. You are either incredibly brave, or very stupid to give us this."

"I take it those aren't what he would like?" The leader hesitated, then formed a plan in his head. He walked forward, alone, then picked up the bone and scales and hid them away in his makeshift hide pack. Clearly, they were worth something to him, to their people.

Of course they would be, it's not every day they get their hands on those materials.

The leader, a grey orc with a white line painted down his right eye and down his cheek, narrowed his eyes at her, thinking. She knew that look, the very same look the iron dragon used when it tried to figure out how to backstab her.

"We will take you to our chief. After that, he can decide." They walked away, expecting her to follow. What they weren't expecting was for her to get on an APC and ride the hood, slowly coming up behind them on wheels. The entire time the orcs kept glancing behind them, staring not at the dev, but at the vehicle that moved without horses or pack animals pulling them.

Maybe proving we have better technology will make them think twice. It's possible they will want to talk instead of fight. Of course, it could just be… no no, don't think that…

The trip was long, taking well over two hours, the time being roughly 5 pm. "How did they get to us so quickly if we have to travel so far?" Hrist asked her quietly so the orcs wouldn't hear her. Given the sound of the engines running on the massive APC, it was doubtful there was anything other than a loud rumble going through their ears.

"If I had to hazard a guess, magical communication" Selene replied to her. There was already a 2nd tier spell that allowed messages for Yggdrasil, as well as a Dungeons and Dragons spell Long Distance: Sending. The empress also knew of magical items like message stones or messenger pets. Given what she had already crafted for King Weren, as well as the extras she had doled out to other respective leaders under her rule, it wasn't that far flung to believe that certain groups or civilizations had that capability. The elves could communicate through nature, so it stood to reason the orcs and goblins might have some sort of shamanistic communication through the base elements or something.

It was also possible that there might have been a ritual that linked minds, which would allow them to send someone with a warband for long distance commands. The dev had heard of chemical mixtures that could be imbibed to do just that in a few different games, in an interesting twist for telegraphs or envoys, with people stuck in trances on both ends.

"Orlo, are you and Turnie still working on the Wild Magic project?" she asked via coms.

"Sort of ma'am. Nikola wants us to back off on the science, allowing his own and Robert's teams to do their jobs."

"Except you have seniority over them both and have come with-"

"Ma'am, I sort of agree. This isn't exactly my specialty or Turnie's." The empress went silent for a moment, as if she was having a verbal battle thinking she was right, and everyone was against her. She recoiled a little, trying to figure out what to say next. "We've done our best to help you on your way, but they are specialized in scientific endeavors. We can help here and there, but our main focus should always be to perform out in the field or with you."

"I'm… sorry… I… I didn't…"

"We're sorry to tell you that ma'am. Both Orlo and I have the equivalent of multiple Doctorates in quite a few fields of study, but you designed us mainly to get out there and be commandos. However, given we've said that, don't feel as if we don't want to help, just it would probably be a good idea to give things like this to the ones who explicitly sit around in a facility thinking… and in some cases actually doing something with that thinking" Turnie interjected.

"I heard that" Nikola chimed in.

"I know you did. I don't care. Fight me" Turnie quipped. There seemed to be some friendly opposition between the new band and the old. They were on the same side, but they still had to mouth about who was stronger. Nikola knew better than to take on a special forces model. The healer of Bronze Team wasn't to be thought of as incapable of walking the walk if she talked the talk.

"I'll pass. However, they are right. The extra teams have been invaluable empress. I believe we could make more headway with one of them on the direction Wild Magic has taken. I will credit my compatriots on what work they've done already though."

"You better, don't make us have to come fix anything" Turnie mouthed.

"Wouldn't dream of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, all of you." Nikola disconnected from the conversation.

"Rawr" Selene chuckled out through her mind connection.

"We've had our hand in just about everything you've had to do in the early stages of the empire, ma'am. I'm just letting him know… he has big shoes to fill in his specialization" Turnie told her.

"They'll serve me well, Turnie, don't worry" the empress said thoughtfully.

"I know they will ma'am, I just want them to see that if they don't, we're looming in the background. I hope I don't find out they blew up anything Juliet had the kindness to get built for them."

"I hope they don't blow anything up too. Alright, back to what I called you for. Orlo, based on initial design of the sensor towers we had stationed around the valley and throughout the empire, we have the capability to restrict teleportation. Could this be reworked to also restrict communication?" Orlo was silent for a few seconds figuring it out.

"While this really should be for Nikola and Robert, yes, definitely possible to alter the systems or entirely add a secondary tower to scramble anything outbound or inbound. Why do you ask?"

"Heading to meet the chief of the Be'arkeln Grand Tribe, some orc, I think. They sent an early team to scout out where our message came from. I'm thinking magical communication, do you agree?" Both of them didn't speak for a moment.

"Yes. However, I'm beginning to think that might be rare for most races. The elves have it mostly through speaking with nature and it coming up somewhere else, which means it's fairly easy to block. If I had to hazard a guess… the orcs don't have anything like that."

"Should really get Nikola back in on the conversation" Turnie commented.

"I just thought this was more of a military matter or intelligence; you guys fit that bill. Plus, Orlo technically did design the whole teleportation restriction system" Selene said.

"True. If that's the case, your new Secretary of Defense and Director of Intelligence should join in. Are you thinking of giving them names in the future?" Orlo asked, a light chuckle added.

"Do I need to give them names? They're pretty much just there for the job."

"I know that; though mentally, if you emplace a name for each of them, you'll be more connected to their opinions. You created them, yet it feels kind of like you don't favor what they tell you. None of us are here to impede you ma'am" Orlo explained. He was very good at psychology after all. She distinctly remembered scrapping the automaton that was around to clean her cabin before she crafted Jeeves. There was no real connection to it just yet, it served its purpose at the time. How things had changed now.

"I… I… I didn't… realize… fine…" she stuttered, not able to form a very coherent response in her head even. The dev added in part of her cabinet to the call. Bronze Team was the first batch of personality cores, they read her like a book alongside Jeeves and even Romeo and Juliet.

"Ma'am, Orlo and Turnie briefed us on what you're asking about. It seems more likely that they're using a minor artifact to do all of this, and they probably don't have many of them or are capable of even producing them. There is a high chance they got said message stones via a previous raid" her Director of Intelligence stated. Her Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense listened intently to the brief.

"So, magical items, message stones or something. By chance, would any of you have a guestimate for the number if you believe it isn't a spell?"

"Given they send only one raid at a time out of their borders, I'd say less than ten. If it was two or more, that number would go up to roughly fifty."

"Sheesh, that much of an increase? Ok, well, then I should probably look out for anything they use to talk to thin air then." Her main defense trifecta deliberated on who would have the stones. The chief most assuredly had one, with his right hand probably having one as well. The raiding party would have one, with another probably on the grey orc leader in front of her. That left an estimated six strewn throughout their nation, with one most likely owned by their shaman or religious leader. The numbers added up.

Just then, her eyes landed on something the leader pulled up from his chest and brought up to his mouth, attempting to hide what it was. He was definitely communicating, as it looked far too small for a waterskin.

I could have just waited a little longer to see it was an amulet, but I might have misconstrued it for him just praying to whatever gods they worship here. Alright Orlo, you win, I'll figure out names for my staff.

Meanwhile

Alfred paced back and forth, waiting for the priest to come out with an all clear. The sergeant had been clipped by a boulder flung from the last Trebuchet, their ammo running low to attack the city. That hit though ripped her left arm clean off. His forces had taken a few more losses, but the real ordeal was going to be holing up and trying to wait out Galdin's army inside the walls. He'd try to send for reinforcements and probably receive them, at least once. If the king was smart, he'd give up on the city and just build Garrington up as a replacement. The problem was… King Teiyan was anything but.

"Commander, she's doing fine. We're a little pushed right now, I apologize. There isn't much we can do beyond staunch the blood and heal half of her arm. We just… we don't have much mana left. Most of my fellow priesthood have nearly collapsed due to no rest in saving lives" the woman said as she came out of the triage room to speak to him. Her white garb was long since stained in blood and a little dirt.

The soldiers weren't the only ones that were wounded in the last few battles, as quite a few civilians, peasants and merchants were lying on makeshift cots and beds, some even on just blankets; most were covered in bandages, a few looked as if they could still go home… if they had a home. Not all of the trebuchet shots were aimed at the walls, a few were used to attempt strikes against the granary and stables strewn throughout the city, to destroy the water towers. Luckily, almost all of them missed. Unluckily, those same misses struck an armor smith's shop and one of the temples, slowing down repairs of equipment and killing quite a few priests they desperately needed to keep everyone alive.

"Thank you." She nodded and left, to head somewhere and sleep he didn't know or cared right now. He just knew his order was for his sergeant to reinforce a location and her getting wounded was his fault. The Commander sat down on a wooden bench and rubbed his hand over his face, taking in the first day of the siege. Their true losses were still quite low, thanks to the priests, but it wouldn't always be this way. He knew what was going to be coming soon, the firebombing to cause them to run around and stop the city from burning to the ground. Wizards and magicians were staged throughout on watch, temporary firefighters to cast water spells to douse any flames that erupted.

The corporal from before walked up and sat down next to him. "Sir, we've rotated all the guards on the walls so they can get some sleep while they can. The… mercenaries are also asking to join up with us, help defend the city."

"Good. They'll need to try and sleep the full eight hours, even through everything that is coming. Get those mercenaries into position, we need all the help we can get. Let them know… erm… let them know I'll find a way to somehow get them paid, either with raiding the noble's homes or something." That added a healthy boost to their numbers, getting them up to almost double the security used to be. Sixty thousand men and women against ninety thousand was a much more even battlefield. The adventurers were even going to help where they could.

"Commander, I don't think that will be a problem. They've taken over the estates of the nobles for temporary barracks and garrison. Hopefully those beds the wealthy slept in will give them some time for some decent shuteye. We'll rotate them out, so everyone gets a chance to ruin those sheets."

"And the well to do? Have we found a way inside their bunkers yet?" Alfred asked.

"No sir, not just yet. They're magically warded and reinforced vault doors, it would take longer than we have to break through those defenses. There's also the very real possibility they are heavily trapped."

"Hmm, indeed. Keep me posted, I'm going to take a spot in the watchtower." Commander Dalonas clapped the corporal on the knee and stood up, heading for the door.

"Sir? Shouldn't you get some sleep as well?"

"The men in that tower are our first line of defense, keeping an eye out for anything coming our way. They haven't left it since the early hours of this morning. I'll hold the line until some replacements can be sent up."

"I… understood sir." Alfred walked out of the temple and looked around. There were rescue workers doing what they could to pull debris away from those who were trapped under houses, shops and guard stations. Those who survived the last assault were heading towards the other side of the city, originally thinking if they just holed up, they'd be safe. How wrong they were.

The Commander walked down the street, weary from the fighting but still trying to keep going for his men. His eyes landed on what looked to be an abandoned pub, his mind rattling around the idea that hard liquor might be still somewhere in the establishment. He tried to cast that thought from his head, as it would be stealing, but those people had surely evacuated, hadn't they?

The man finally accepted the fact that if he didn't do it, someone else would. If the owners came back, he'd pay them and apologize, so it wasn't really theft. Alfred slipped in through the damaged front door and headed for the bar, sifting through broken glasses and an already damaged keg, completely empty. There was a locked chest behind the counter, though the wood seemed a little rotted. The lock snapped open almost immediately, showing the goods held inside.

There, sitting three bottles in, was the exact same vintage he was drinking before. A bottle of it would normally cost a good two gold coins, which he had on him right now. The problem was, if he put the money down on the counter, someone else would show up and steal that. As he picked up what he was looking for, there was a sound coming from a knocked over keg… or behind it. Commander Dalonas checked around the sides, not seeing anything or anyone, then soon realized it wasn't around the keg, but below it. The wooden container had been knocked over, blocking a cellar door. Normally, he'd expect there to be a second exit, though it could be whoever was hiding inside didn't want to be found, worried that he might be one of the loyalists.

Luckily for him, the keg was mostly empty from previous usage, which allowed him to pull it back with some effort, then check the door. Huddled inside behind their mother were two children, the father nowhere to be found. "I'm… I'm sorry, I…" he looked at the bottle still strapped to his belt, the woman noticing he was just taking the one from the slew of others. A sigh came out of his mouth as he saw the poor state they were in. "It's not safe here. You should head to the other side of the city, there are camps set up for you."

The woman didn't speak, just kept her children behind her. Alfred walked away from the door and stood next to the bar. The mother came up with the kids and looked at him as he put the bottle down. "Is there food at the camps?" she asked him finally.

"Yes, there is food and clean water. I… I don't know about clothes though. You may wish to try and pack what you can from your rooms, I can't guarantee others won't come to take what they want." He pulled out the two gold coins and placed them on the counter, moving them a little so she could see he wanted to at least pay her. The Commander even added a few more silver as an apology for his actions, feeling as if it was unbecoming of an officer. She walked up and took the coin, watching as he picked the bottle back up and headed towards the watchtower.