forum The Sound of War (oxo closed)

Started October 03, 2022 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

Thaddeus had his head turned to face his husband, fast asleep. His platinum hair had fallen over his eyes. The braids he had in were messy and strands were beginning to fall out. The sheets only came to his waist, exposing the dozens of scars littered on his back. They were several stripes that looked to be made from a whip and several others done by swords or knives. There was a story behind each one of them but it wasn't something he cared to talk about. There were some that him no qualms to speak about. And there were others that would cause nightmares for days.
He was still in sleep, almost deathly so. It was only the rising and falling of his chest that proved he was still breathing. And while others' expressions may soften while they slept, Thaddeus did not. He still had a hard face, unamused, concentrated. He looked very much a warrior in his sleep as he did when he was awake. When he shifted, his muscles stretched and flexed. He had a perfect physic had it not been for the scars.

Theo awoke slowly, gentle sunlight peeking through their eyelids and causing him to stir. His eyes blinked open, then closed again. They didn’t want to get up. Not now. It was warm… warmer than usual… it was nice. Wait. He remembered. They turned, saw the large body beside them, and sat up. A yawn caught him by surprise, and then he looked around. It wasn’t too late. The sun had barely risen above the horizon. They turned, and placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder.
“Prince,” they murmured. “Are you awake?”

(Sorry it’s short djdsijk)

Thaddeus had tightened his arm around his husband during the night somehow. Passing nightmares that had caused him to stir but never fully wake. Just enough to get a physical reaction from him.
When the dawn came and sunlight began to peak through the curtains, he awoke. His head was pounding and his body was sore. He kept his eyes closed to block out the sun. He buried his head deeper into the pillow. He would give himself some tome to let the headache pass before getting up, he decided.
However, Thaddeus found himself watching his husband as he slept, thus causing him to stay much longer than he intended. He watched them wake up and stretch. He closed his eyes briefly and only nodded as his husband asked him a question. His eyes opened once more where he watched them unbashfully.

He studied Thaddeus, then sighed. They remembered how drunk he had been, the consequences of that. Theo should have remembered, at least kept it in mind. He ran a hand through his dark hair, not really minding his husband’s eyes on him at the moment. Slowly, gently, they then took Thaddeus’s arm and put it aside so it wasn’t over him anymore.
They looked around. There was no sign of any snake or other scaly creature, but Theo was not alarmed. Vivi and Ko did not live with him, after all. They were his friends, not his pets. They usually turned up later in the day, when they had gotten a decent sunbathe.
Theo took a breath. “Can you find your way to your rooms?” They asked. Their voice was tired, a little gravelly.

Thaddeus turned on his back, watching his husband, before deciding to sit up behind his husband. He had always found himself particularly touchy in the morning, this morning was no different. While he was careful not to touch Theo, he was so close to him that they could likely feel the body heat radiating off of him.
"Probably not," he spoke in his thick, deep morning voice. "I have meetings that I'm late for." Though they were likely as hungover as he was. "However, I find myself wanting to skip them today."

Theo frowned. “All the same, you need to leave.” Although he didn’t want to be harsh, the early hour prevented them from using any sort of filter. He didn’t particularly care about any meetings or whether or not Thaddeus would skip them, they just wanted him to go away. If they were being honest, he wanted this bed all to himself again, and sleep in a little longer.

Someone is prickly in the morning.
Thaddeus only snorted and swung out if bed. So this was how it was going to be. He thought they had made at least some progress the night before. He wanted then to at least be friends. They were stuck in a marriage together.
He pulled his arms over his head, stretching. The sunlight bounced off of the scars on his back, particularly the whip scars. Several streaks down his back. His muscles were pulled taunt, showing off his figure. He slowly pulled on his clothes from the night before, not bothering to out on his shirt. He at least hoped he could spark rumors of them consumating their marriage so there would be no whispers.
Without a second glance or word, he strode out the door. He would figure out where his room was or he wouldn't. He was sure he could some sweet servant girl to show him to his room.

Theo watched him, his eyes drawn to the scars strewn across Thaddeus’s body. When they realized they were staring, he looked away. When the door shut behind him, Theo sighed. Thank the Goddess.
They fell back onto the bed. Thinking back over what had happened, he immediately covered his face with their hands. I’m a terrible husband. He was making this ordeal more difficult than it needed to be. He always knew they would be terrible at this, but after what had happened last night, how Thaddeus had listened to him, how could they repay him with this? They let their hands fall on either side of him, and stared at the ceiling. I’m a terrible person.

Thankfully, Thaddeus ran into one of his soldiers, who grinned at the prince and thumped hik on the soldier, very loudly talking about what a long night the prince must have had to be walking around without a shirt on. He only rolled his eyes and shoved the soldier away playfully before they were walking back to the prince's room.
Finally, back in his room, Thaddeus bathed and dressed for the day. He had a war council meeting to call. The sooner they faced the threat of his father, the sooner it would be over. He was ready to take his crown and his birthright.
He sent a maid forward with his message of starting a war council meeting. Another one showed him to the war room, where he looked at the maps that were drawn, where they believed his father's soldiers were stationed. He made quick work of fixing it. There had likely been changes in the past week He had left. His father was stupid but he also couldn't fully change where his military was stationed. So this was best Intel that he had.
He stood at the head of the table, hands clasped behind his back, and waited.

Theo managed to snatch another 30 or so minutes of sleep before a manservant knocked on the door and informed him that their mother had requested their presence in her chambers, soon if not immediately. This scared Theo a little and only intensified the self-hatred spiral they ended up falling into as he got ready for the day. He had a morning routine as well as an evening one, and it was only after completing every step with the help of his few maids that they ventured out from their room, feeling frankly quite miserable. Of course, he hid this with his even posture, poised gate, and clear expression as they made their way towards his mother’s chambers.

Meanwhile, the war room slowly filled with the sort of people you would expect to be at a war meeting. Military officers, generals, and captains in their simple but professional uniforms and their grim expressions; war mages and witches with their long robes and belts filled with potions and pouches of raw ingredients, their staffs and wands. Most regarded Thaddeus with respect, though a few whispered to themselves when they thought he wouldn’t hear. A few even had hope in their eyes when they saw him.

Thaddeus watched as each and every person filed into the room. He noted their expressions and their body language. He noted which ones would follow him, which ones were wary, and the ones that looked at him in outright defiance. He didn't care if they didn't like him. He was there to be loved by everyone. He was there for military support to win back his kingdom and his crown. He would be king. He would kill for it. He would die for it. No matter the outcome, it would be him sitting on the throne. And if he died, he would place one of his siblings there, one that he knew would rule fair and wise. One that would survive. But he had every intention of surviving this war. Every intention of winning this war.
"Let's begin."
He waited until everyone was seated before continuing. "I took it upon myself to update your map. You've clearly underestimated my father. He has about twice the camps that you've scouted. His troops are here," he pointed at the map, "here and here. It's likely that at least one of these camps has changed position as my father is well aware that I possess this knowledge. But there are only so many people you can move in such an amount of time." He grabbed the figurines that represented them. "So far, you have been on the defense, countering their attacks. They're testing you. Teasing you. They want to see how well you guard your borders and how easy it is to cross. It's time to stop playing defense. We need to be on the offense. He won't see it coming."
He placed the figurines at one of his father's camps. "This is their largest camp. This is where messages go in and out of, to my father and the other military camps. We hit here and we hit them hard. It will interrupt their messaging and wipe out the biggest threat pertaining to us. We'll set up better scouts and guards along the border. Anyone that is not a citizen is arrested and brought to the palace for questioning. Anyone dressed as a soldier is killed on sight." He would not risk his own people being murdered for fleeing the country, but it was better to be safe than sorry. He would interrogate them all personally if he had to. He knew how to talk to his people. He had done it many times.

The war room was quiet, except for maybe the occasional cough. As the attendees listened, a few exchanged uncertain glances, while others studied the map with interest.
Someone murmured, “If only we could use the armadas.” There was some half-hearted laughter that followed. The Ensian forces were quite adept at marine warfare and were known for it, but that became their biggest problem here. Ensian shared a land border with Vallasaria, and although they had been able to utilize the wetlands on the northwest side of the border to their advantage, the southern side was dry and flat, and thus made it difficult for the Ensians to navigate. It had forced them to take a defensive position up to this point.
One of the officers raised a hand. “Prince Thaddeus, this is a good strategy,” she said. “I am only worried about the execution. Our troops are still getting used to the land, and we may not be strong enough to initiate an attack and make it successful. The only advantage I see is that this large camp is near the Keshnam Swamp, which is where we are stronger.” She pointed to an area on the map to the west of the figurines.

Thaddeus regarded the woman as he would any warrior, because she was just that, a warrior. "And they know that as well. It's what they'll be expecting and they're reinforced their camp. They have more soldiers, more magic, more strength, and a dragon. This camp in Azmarin while large and building, is our best opportunity to show our strength. It's where they will least expect us to hit. We go in the dead of night. We'll hit them in three days time. The sooner the better. They'll have less time to mobilize themselves.
"And you're forgetting one thing. I have a dragon. Azmarin does not. They won't stand a chance."
He only hoped none of his siblings were waiting for them with their own dragons.

Some attendees began whispering to each other, their worries or their own private plans. They seemed to be divided between skeptical and convinced.
“So you’re saying, an ambush?” One of the mages asked.
“How do you suggest we prepare ourselves?” The officer from before tilted her head.

“Theo.”
He looked down at his lap. They found it difficult to look at her.
“How do you like your husband?”
“He’s… he’s good. I’m… I’m not surprised by him.”
“Oh? Does that make you happy?”
What was she getting at? Theo knew this wasn’t really what she wanted to talk about. Wouldn’t she just get to the point. “… I suppose we shall see.”
“Look at me.”
He looked at her. Queen Aditya had an unreadable look on her face. If Theo had to guess, perhaps stern. They shared the same dark hair, though the queen’s flowed in an inky braid over her shoulder. Theo’s skin tone was only a shade darker than hers, and Aditya had that little mole just above her jaw. They were each soft combined with sharp, yet organized the two in opposite ways.
“Then why didn’t you make love to him last night?” She asked.

"They have the numbers, they have the strength, they have the dragons. If we're going to win this war, it will be through strategy alone. It can be done but we have to be smart. If they see us coming, we'll be marching into a battle we cannot win. We ambush them in the dead of night. We do it quickly and quietly. Take out as many officers as we can before the bell gets rung." Thaddeus moved pieces around the board. "We'll go in three different units. Units one and two are responsible for taking out all of the scouts and guards on duty. Unit three will go here," he pointed to a spot on the map, "This is where the commanding officers' tents lie. We cut off the head of the snake first. The rest of the soldiers will fight carelessly without a leader to guide them. They're trained to take orders. When there are no orders to be had, they won't know what to do.
"We take no prisoners," he let his words sink into the commanders around the table. "We wipe them out. As soon as the other camps figure out what happened, they'll be scrambling. Azmarin is only the first. We hit there then we move to the next as quickly as possible. We won't have the element of surprise this time. They'll be expecting us to hit them again, they just won't know which one. We'll have to make it advantageous to us. Lead them somewhere we have the high ground. We'll have to be smart about it."
He couldn't just fly in on his dragon and burn it all to the ground, as wonderful as that sounded. There were protections set in place, weapons that could harm or kill his dragon. He wouldn't risk her for the sake of blazing the camps. He valued his dragon more than his own life. So to use his dragon, he would have to be smart about it. They would need to knock out the wards, take down their weapons and most powerful mages. His dragon would come into play but just not yet.

Theo couldn’t speak. How the hell did she know? He just blinked, not knowing how to respond and frankly disgusted by the bluntness of the question. Yet at the same time, there was an old sense of shame. “Mother, I…”
Queen Aditya raised an eyebrow. “My son, you need to understand that this alliance must be strong, stronger than most alliances.”
But I do. We are already married. And isn’t that what they say about every alliance? Their gaze hardened. He wanted to lie and say he and Prince Thaddeus had consummated, but knew she would see right through it. “Mother, did you invade my privacy last night?”
“Never, child. Only a servant of mine.” She said evenly, as though it were natural that she should be informed of his activities with his husband. Or anyone, really.
A rare storm of anger battled with the self loathing that still settled in their belly. Now there were many things he could say to her. So many things, yet he wanted to say them all at once.
“Do you want me to tell Prince Thaddeus that you did this? That your servant was watching us while we sleep?” They were still, eyes locked on Aditya.
“Perhaps you should. Prince Thaddeus of all people should know the importance of this alliance. This must be perfect.”
Theo was somewhere between appalled and ashamed. Perfect. That’s how she always preferred things, for as long as Theo could remember.

Prince Thaddeus soon caught everyone’s attention as he spoke. There were nods here and there, some exchanging of glances. There was still an atmosphere of doubt, but there was nothing to be done about that. This was the best strategy they had. They could actually do something this way, and turn things around.
Some studied the map, following where Thaddeus pointed and considered where there next target after Azmarin should be.
“The Keshnam Swamp is where we have the highest advantage, though that might be a bit predictable…” the officer considered. A small badge that read Commander Nashi was placed on her chest. “There is another camp near there, but perhaps it is too far.”
“Perhaps we could split up,” one of the commanding witches chimed in. “Once Azmarin is taken, the magic users could gather strength in the swamp, while the weapon users could go on ahead to the next camp.”

Thaddeus nodded. "We cannot allow them time to regroup. They will strike if we give them the time too. It is imperative, not only for our survival, but for the whole of this war to attack as soon as possible. After we disable Azmarin, we will branch off the army to attack the closest camps. They will know we're coming fir them, so the element of surprise will be gone. We must be swift and brutal. No survivors, no prisoners. We cannot take that chance. We will leave just enough of the army to protect the palace but everyone else will be needed on the front.start recruiting, drafting. Any man over the age of sixteen and under the age of forty-five must serve unless they be the only male son, are in schooling, or have an injury that prevents them from it. Encourage the women to join, but do not draft. Anyone with even a hint of magic will need to be taken under a mentor. We need everyone we can get."
And so, the prince began planning their expedition. After they hit Azmarin, their element of surprise will be gone. They need to hit them as quick as possible. Their enemies will be expecting ror them to take time to recover from their losses and injured. They would not. Those who could not fight would be sent home to recover while the rest moved on.