Seige at Akkee sect (1)

The situation at the base of Akkee sect did not change much, those on the mountain did not come down while the army did not assault them either.

They could use frontal assault with every large sects and clan but that would mean a lot of costs. Human resources especially magicians were scares, to begin with, the infrastructure needed them for maintaining its performance.

To waste the important resources was not a wise decision, the new compulsory education was operating but it was not like they could pick up the fruit that still unripe.

But they could not grant all magicians an amnesty, those with misdeed and criminal acts must be punished. It was a two or more birds with one stone, the treasury for the government was easily filled by confiscated those magicians personal belonging, the magicians themselves and their supporters would become captive and used as almost free human resources for many projects.

All magicians could be put to use, but David knew that he could not only get them a light punishment, he also needed some sort of sacrifice for his plan, and that sacrifice was Akkee sect.

Akkee sect was a very good example for many reasons;

1. They were a large family, unlike other sects that accepted outsider in, Akkee sect was Akkee clan itself, meaning killed them all would be digging up the roots alongside the tree itself.

2. They were fire magicians, those people born in Akkee sect most of the time were fire magicians with some other attributes mixed in. And fire magicians were less important for David need, they could not help him built road, dam, building, and etc.. The strongest yet simple offensive magic was not needed much in the time of peace, they could be used in metallurgy but the power was too low to help him with making iron not to say about steel. He could use other things instead of fire magicians

3. They were his old enemy. David was the reason for their downfall, took their throne in the fire tower from them, killed their former patriarch which mean the current Akkee sect's father and also many of his uncles.

4. The Akkee sect was the symbol of the past, destroying the symbol was important for the change he needs. Revolutions and changes of old culture, whether through force of the army, the announce of the new path, uprising of the local people, by force of foreign power, or a combination of everything, were always accompanied by destruction of any place either building or objects identified with the previous ways in public.

5. The natural fortress would be the best place to use as bait for those who ran from the authorities. If the bait was too unattractive it would not be effective.

6. Akkee sect did not fight in the war at its turf for at least some centuries.

Everyone knew that even a natural fortress that could be guarded as long as there were people on, was nothing if there were no people to guard them. The Akkee sect did not that foolish to lax their guard and now that many powerful magicians had come from all over the place to join in this place for the last stand. Even Akkee sect patriarch believe they could endure for a long time.

In the past, some other sects tried to fight with them but never did those people achieved to step foot in the main building of the sect. Now that more people had joined in to fight current patriarch believed that they could withstand, however, the fighting he knew of was just a simple fight between sects, not a war.

Did the long history of the sect never fight with some states?

No, they did, but the situation was a lot different from those time and this time. It was free for all in the past but now was all against one.

The strategy of David and Solo was very simple, it was maintaining the siege to starve them.

First started by observing and bribing the servants for the sects granary, estimated an approximate number of grains on Akkee sect granary, for the past six months. David ordered his men to finished observing and began trade blockade under the name of authority when the operations started.

The Akkee sect granary stored enough grains for their men for at least one year, it was the rule provide by their founder and always kept by every generation patriarch. They also had some small area for raising livestock and food plant, the water also easily got by water spell. At least 2-3 years would need to starve them.

If it was the old time, they could wait until the political changed or wait for reinforcements but now was not the time of the past.

The empire army could wait until Akkee sect people starve while drinking and dancing on the rear, the front line would be on high alert but unlike Akkee sect they could shift and rested accordingly.

Also, the number on Akkee sect was not the same as they were but almost tripling their number, this helped boosted the morale of all people on the hill and also made them underestimate the empire army after many people could break through the army line of defense and joined them on the mountain.

If things went wrong the patriarch believed they could try to break through and wreaked havoc while retreating to the north.

Little did he knew that he was already a victim on the spider net.

The newcomer said they wanted to help the Akkee sect for the honor of the magicians. Did they really mean it?

Would they really fight in unity or just looking for the place to save their hide? Would the notorious rapist who never restrained themselves keep their son in check? Would all of them the real escapee? Could Akkee sect patriarch control inner conflicts between the magicians and his people?

In short, Akkee sect was unlucky to be chosen and their doomed was inevitable, the question was only when.

There was one teenager boy in Akkee sect who suspicious over the situation but he did not really care for the sect, only his mom was important to him and he would do anything for her.