Chapter 9 Part 1

(Dime) Disclaimer: Activating C.R.A.I.G should only happen in emergency situations.

"Wait, I think we overlooked the fact that C.R.A.I.G can't be mobilised here." Jasyn says.

"And that is why I'm the brains, and you are our brawn. That already crossed my mind when I made this protocol. They were made INSIDE the dimensions. That means they can exit wherever, but can only re-enter the dimension through the location they came though." Christopher explains, patting Jasyn on his heavily armoured back.

"We should wait before activating C.R.A.I.G. We don't want to piss off some snotty noble." Beerwolf comments.

"Right, that's a good point. A foreign army coming from thin air in your territory doesn't bode well politically." Christopher clarifies.

"Uh, what's this Craig gonna do?" Jill asks, bewildered.

"It's not a person, it's an acronym. It stands for Christopher's Remote Activated Intelligent Golems." Beerwolf informs.

"Jill, I have a mission for you. And this is something you cannot screw up." Christopher says.

Jill rushes in front of him, getting onto a knee. "Anything, Your Highness."

Beerwolf sighs disappointed in her. "Stand up," he says, pulling her to her feet. Christopher snorts, unable to keep his amusement hidden. "The official way to show your respect to Loreafanian royalty is to cross your left leg at the heel, palms together just under your collarbone, bend your right knee slightly, and bow your head fifteen degrees." He performs this show of respect perfectly, nary a flaw. Jill attempts to do the same but couldn't find her balance.

"Don't worry about it, make sure you get it right the next time you need to perform it." Christopher mercifully says. "What was I going to say?...Oh, yeah that was it." He coughs, to attempt to dramatise it a bit. "I need you to find the noble of this territory or whatever the equivalent of it is here in Mercter, and get them here so we can have a meeting, this spot is too strategic to leave." Christopher hands her two parchments with a spell on them and a patch with the Loreafan crest on it. "These spells will teleport you back here, make sure to give that noble one, if he demands a guard go with him, show him my crest."

She holds out her hands and Christopher gives her the items. "It will be done by sundown." She charges off north, or 90° to the left.

"I guess she knows where she's going." Jasyn says.

"Lets just hope Larterda can hold out till then." Jasyn says.

…

A bell goes off in the distance, signalling an alarm.

"It seems someone finally noticed what was happening." Jasyn says.

"Your Majesty." Beerwolf calls out.

"What is it?" Christopher asks.

"I recognise the smell of one of the demons." The Wolfman proclaims.

"Who is it?" Jasyn asks.

"I found their scent on you, M'Lord. The day of your birthday." Beerwolf states.

"Ralgormath." Christopher says, looking at the demon formation over the ocean.

"Ralgormath? The one Sephicroth took an arm from?" Jasyn questions.

"The one and only. Which means he's likely commanding this force." Christopher strategizes.

Hours go by, The Port town has sustained minimal damage thanks to the town's defensive mana shield, however holes formed as the onslaught of projectiles force their way through. Fires are already starting to spread. A few of the demons take the opportunity to slip through the gaps. Defensive mages fight them off, a few men and women have died.

"They're doing well, but as soon as that shield falls, all hell will break loose." Jasyn says, hands placed firmly upon the pommel of his unsheathed blade.

(Dime) Sir, we have a large number of organic life coming our way.

(Narrator) Lemme get a better angle.

Tariku fly's higher into the sky to get a better view.

(Narrator) It looks like evacuees from the town.

"How many?" Christopher asks.

(Narrator) Roughly 800 children, 100 males, and 100 females.

"This must be a last resort for the town. Like a, save the children type thing." Christopher theories.

As the community of evacuees approaches Christopher and his carriage, he instructs Dime to erect temporary accommodation on either side of the gravel pathway.

"Evacuated citizens of Mercter, please use these tent's. I make a solemn vow that you will be safe here." Jasyn says, placing himself firmly in the middle of the road.

"Who are you people?" a grizzly sounding man says. He walks out of the crowd, battle scars littering his entire body, a seasoned veteran. His hand rests on the end of his holstered sword.

"We are allies from Loreafan. I have the pleasure of introducing the ever so scintillating, King Christopher Liard, The Healer King. And his husband, in all his omnipotence, King Jasyn Liard, The Mythril Warrior." Beerwolf introduces. "Please sit tight while Their Majesties sort this out."

"What are the Kings of another country doing here in Mercter? It doesn't make any sense." the veteran asks.

Christopher steps forward to put the Wolfmen behind him as he explains. "Every Adventurers Guild has one of my dimensional doors installed by necessity. I'm taking it upon myself to make sure they were installed correctly."

(Narrator) Even though Dime could just do that for you.

"Are you going to help us? I don't see what you can do against an army of demons." A woman holding an infant calls out.

"That's a fair question. Unfortunately we cannot mobilise our army without the permission of the noble of this land or higher. We are in the process of fetching the Duke or Lord of this land. Until then, we cannot lend aid." Christopher says.

"So you're just going to sit here while a demon horde burns our city to the ground." A man yells angrily.

"Trust me. I know how you feel. But what do you think will happen when a King of a foreign country mobilises an army through someone else's territory without their knowledge or permission?" Jasyn says. He pauses just long enough not to hear someone answer for him. "I'll tell you. Diplomatic termination, or maybe even war…So sit tight Beerwolf will update you when something starts happening."

"Take care of them, the best you can. Dime will assist you." Christopher says.

"If my King commands it, it shall be done." Beerwolf performs the Loreafan bow that Jill failed to execute earlier that day.

Not too much time after dinner rations went out to the evacuees, Dime pipes up to Christopher with an alert.

(Dime) Incoming teleportation, sir. Spacetime suggests that it's Jill and another.

"Acknowledged." Christopher says.

As expected, Jill appears not far from the carriage along with the noble of this land.

"Your Majesty, I have brought you the Duke as requested. Let me introduce you, this is Duke Sigurd Gardisson." Jill announces.

"Greetings, let's cut to the chance. Jill has filled me in on the situation you face on your visit here. I am willing to accept your assistance against the demons, however I do have conditions." Duke Sigurd says.

"A man who gets straight to the point. Go ahead, I would keep in mind that there are one thousand evacuated citizens here. They are under the care of my best and under a veil of spatial defence magic. Take this under consideration." Christopher says.

"Right, thank you for doing that for me. Now, when killing these demons, I would ask that any damage caused in the fighting be paid in reparations for repairs. I would also ask that any of our wounded men and women be healed. Finally, I would ask that any information you collect from this be copied and given to my office. Is all of this agreeable?" Sigurd.

"These are some nice terms, for an idiot. I will be losing many of my own as well. I also need payment for the healing. How about this? I won't charge you for my healing services and as a result any costs that would have gone into repairs will be offset by the cost of the healing. Dime can keep an accurate record of this for us. Even in the case of all reparations being offset, any extra healing costs will be voided." Christopher counters.

"Heh, I wasn't expecting you to be so well versed. We generously accept your backup." the Duke looks back at his burning settlement. "I just hope we aren't too late."

"Does Larterda hold some strategic value in Mercter?" Christopher asks.

"It's one of our major ports. Targeting this will start a famine in the local area. Seeing as most of the diet here is fish. Rationing will start. It's also a popular tourist spot, people from all over come to see if any of the local legends are true. It will squeeze our funding to be sure." Sigurd responds.

…

"Hmm. No time to waste then. Dime." Christopher calls.

(Dime) Yes?

"Activate C.R.A.I.G. Follow standard protocol for the system and place them just beyond the encampment."

(Dime) C.R.A.I.G activating…10%. As of standard protocol, all Loreafanian citizens have been notified of the current conflict. 60%. Opening dimensional gateway.

An immense shockwave erupts as the portal begins to open, shaking the tents and trees behind it. Fighting seems to stop on the demon's side as a pulsating mass of white and purple grows to astronomical proportions.

(Dime) 90% Sending automatons through the gate.

Thunderous marching steps erupt and with each new wave of golems passing through the gate, the sound becomes more and more deadening, and the ground starts to shake beneath their feet. Fifteen rows of 100 heavily armoured soldiers all completely identical in appearance.