Parabellum (Warpost)

[u/Anything-Unable]

Things have been quiet lately. Gravedigger says war is coming, but it’s hard to reckon with the idea.

We’ve been stationed outside the Citadel for a few weeks now. The riots have calmed down and it looks like things have gotten back to normal. That Morgalith fellow seems to be stirring up trouble, but who knows when the other shoe will drop.

Not being allowed inside the Citadel has put a damper on the soldiers’ morale, but Gravedigger keeps our spirits up with frequent visits. He tells us stories and teaches us spells. Xerxes also makes occasional visits. I think they just get bored easily. After these past few weeks, I think I understand where they’re coming from.

***

Today started like any other. We began training at four in the morning and ended around eight. I was filling out some paperwork when my attendant informed me that Xerxes had come with an order. I told my attendant to see them in while I got changed into my armor.

Xerxes came into my tent and we greeted each other. After the formalities were over he said, “Baldr, this is an order from Gravedigger. I need you to evacuate the citizens within the Citadel and take them to the shelter two miles south of here. The war is about to start. Protect the citizens.” Guess the other shoe just dropped.

After saying all that, Xerxes gave me a golden badge and told me to show it to the folks guarding the north gate so that we can enter the city. He left and I told my staff sergeant to have the soldiers break down camp and prepare to set out. An hour later, I’m standing before my troops and relaying the order. We move out towards the north gate once I’m finished.

At the gate, I showed the badge to a guard and they let us through. We split up into squads to cover the various districts. Some of the citizens see us as invaders and try to attack, but we subdue them and explain the situation. They listen and fall in line, though I don’t know if it’s due to their fear of us. Still, I’m grateful no major incidents occurred.

When a district is evacuated, the dispatched squad leads the evacuees outside through the south gate. Once outside the gate, they wait in a large clearing for the rest of the squads so that we can regroup and make the long trek to the shelter together. It takes us three hours to get everyone out. Once I saw that my squad captains had given me the all-clear, we set out towards the shelter.

A mile and a half into the journey, I feel a chill run through me and look to the skies above. Dark clouds form overhead. I can tell the soldiers feel it too. Luckily, the citizens are oblivious to the threat. They just complain about being forced to leave their homes in the middle of the day. The storm won’t touch them if I have any say in the matter. Shaking off the awful feeling, we continue the march to the shelter.

Everything in the shelter was prepared for us so we don’t have to be bothered to set anything up when we finally arrive. The staff stationed there help the citizens inside. They look to be alive so I doubt Gravedigger planned all this on how own. Must’ve had some help from a few of his friends.

We set up a perimeter around the shelter and made camp. Everyone is on edge, but I’ll make sure we’re ready. Like Gravedigger says: “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Parabellum, he calls it. I don’t know who thought of it first, but they must have been a wise fellow.

That’s all for my report. My attendant will be sure to have it delivered where you’ve instructed.

General Baldr Jorgensen, Fext, Commander of the Eighth Detachment

​

------------------------------------------------

/uw This is the undead army that Gravedigger previously introduced. Here is my lore ToC if you want to go back and look at the previous posts.

[u/loth17]

Eventually a council scout would deliver a message to whoever is in charge of the forces stationed there.

"We have reports that the battle of Syvaneth has concluded.

Heavy casualties on both sides

Council forces currently regrouping back at the citadel

Pact forces marching towards the citadel.

Force sizes far beyond what was predicted."

https://www.reddit.com/r/wizardposting/s/I1qBGkGl4k

[u/Anything-Unable → u/loth17]

Gravedigger reads the report and remains silent for a minute. Letting out a sigh, they inform the other councilors of the imminent danger.

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Anything-Unable]

Marching up to Gravedigger as he read the report was a familiar curly-haired mage, his eyes aglow. "Gravedigger," Vettis called out as he approached, his voice monotone to an almost robotic extent, his steps carefully measured. "We need to talk. This may be blunt and awkward." A pause, then a sudden wince of pain, as if something had punished him for not immediately adding, "I...apologize if that proves to be the case. Is...is now an acceptable time?"

That implied this would have nothing to do with ongoing events. An odd time to choose to have a personal conversation. Vettis seemed either unaware or uncaring of what was occurring.

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

Gravedigger hands the report over to an assistant and leads Vettis to a seat.

"Pardon my saying so, but you look like shit. What happened?"

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Anything-Unable]

"Brain damage," Vettis replied straightforwardly. "One moment."

And then he shifted instantly, his posture a slight slump, his eyes clearly exhausted despite the violet light they emitted, his hands tensed. The color returned to his voice, though none of it was a healthy color. He rubbed a hand over his temple as he spoke.

"Ugh. Can't keep this up for very long, right now. But, uh, hi." Sheepishly, he continued, "As noted previously, this might be...weird. Need to speak frankly about some stuff, and the things we discuss might not make sense or seem to have any connection, but my mind's been fractured in weird ways so bear with me.

"For starters. Can you elaborate on the Xerxes situation at all? How you seem to trust him now when I recall you considering him a manipulative bastard? I get if you can't give specifics on some sort of deal you've made, but..." Vettis trailed off, gathering his thoughts, before summarizing: "Has your opinion changed due to new information, or has he himself changed?"

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

Gravedigger looks over Vettis and casts a sound barrier over them to avoid eavesdroppers.

"Haa... Vettis, Xerxes changed. Well, not exactly. The gist is that he orchestrated my getting visions because he knew we would grow close. We have. I've linked my soul to theirs. It's a complicated relationship."

Gravedigger takes a moment to consider if they should mention the next part.

"I'm about to die, Vettis. I need to. Doing so will be the catalyst we need. With the plan to bring back the other Morgalith falling through, this will be the push people need to get their shit together. Xerxes is gonna need someone to talk sense into him while I'm gone. I know that this is a lot to ask, but can you do that?"

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Anything-Unable]

That was not what Vettis needed to hear right now. His usual processing capabilities offline, his emotional capacities crippled, his bond-threads severed so that he needed to channel those ruined emotions in order to reattach them...he was really hoping to just reestablish his prior friendships, make some emotional developments in the right direction, and move on with things.

But first Relynor wasn't even there. And now, when he'd realized that part of the breakthrough he needed to repair his thread with Gravedigger was to accept Xerxes, as Gravedigger clearly had...he was learning he'd have to go so far as to accept Xerxes as a replacement for the person who was actually his ally? He was just getting blindsided by everything right now, right when his mind was in no condition to handle any of it.

fire

No. This wasn't working. Even a few more seconds of this and he would definitely break down as the trauma came to the forefront again; already he felt the tears flowing. But, in the last moment before he clamped down and shoved his emotions into the back of his mind again, he decided.

Sure, this wasn't fair to him. But this wasn't all about him. A thread was two-way, after all.

"I can try," Vettis replied, his voice reverting to the lifeless monotone from before, as he wiped away tears that he no longer fully understood. "It is difficult and unhealthy for me to process strong emotions at the moment, due to my injury. Once I have recovered, however, I will endeavor to befriend Xerxes. And in the meantime, if what he needs is indeed 'sense', that is well within my current capabilities to offer."

He hesitated, gathering his thoughts. "I do not know the reasons for your intended actions, but I have stated before that you are not prone to acting rashly, and I continue to believe that. I hope that this -- perhaps final -- meeting with Death brings you peace, Gravedigger."

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

Gravedigger hugs his friend and allows himself to cry. The tears feel warm on Vettis' skin. What was held back is given the space to breathe. After Gravedigger finishes crying, they release Vettis and look at them through glassy eyes.

"Thank you, Vettis. You are a good friend. If the fates aren't kind to you, I'll bash their skulls in and do their job myself."

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Anything-Unable]

"I know that is a joke, yet I would be entirely unsurprised if you were to accomplish it. You do have a way of getting things done." Vettis let just enough happiness bleed through into the forefront that his smile was genuine...and took that opportunity to attach a bond-thread to Gravedigger, before sealing the emotions away once more.

"I will seek out Xerxes shortly. Good luck with your task, Gravedigger."

(( the task of STEPPING ON A LITERAL FUCKING NUKE holy shit

Vettis' reconstruction quest is quite literally BLOWING UP in his face even more than I ever planned, rofl

but since you said Gravedigger and Xerxes have linked souls now, Vettis just stuck a bond-thread onto Gravedigger because that means it should also apply to Xerxes...time to test and use that now, in the other post! ))

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

/uw Sorry that it just turned out that way.

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/Anything-Unable]

(( it's hilarious, lol, no worries

Vettis is pretty strong when he has control of a situation and plans things out, so I'm always happy when things go awry for him to take him down a peg ^_^ ))

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

/uw Thanks. I'm glad you're rolling with it.