[center][h3]Chapter One: The Coming Storm[/h3][/center]

“You called for me?” Fajar dropped to a knee and bowed his head as he spoke the words. He hated being summoned to the commander’s pavilion. Feared it. Feared the man, if one could call it that, that was in the pavilion.

“I did.” A voice answered, one that Fajar knew far better than he had ever wished. “You may rise.” Fajar hesitated for a moment before doing so.

“Is… Is now the time Lord Goscelin?” Fajar asked as he quickly took in the interior of the pavilion. It was mostly empty, save a large table dominated by a map of a continent he had never seen and an individual dressed in blackened armor.

“It is.” Goscelin said as he gestured for Fajar to approach the table. Drawing closer confirmed his suspicions that the continent was one unknown to him. The names of the countries on that map were not so foreign to him however. And how could they have been? Goscelin and the other Einherjar, the true Einherjar, had been obsessing about destroying the likes of Mycae, Riawin, and Eisen since before Fajar had ever even heard of the Einherjar. “Our attack starts soon” Goscelin stated, “and you shall be our spearhead.” Something about the way Goscelin said that last line caused Fajar to shiver.

“Will the Legions support me, Lord Goscelin?” Fajar asked.

“Of course. We wouldn’t dare miss out on the massacre.” Fajar had seen the Einherjar raze entire cities simply because they hadn’t surrendered fast enough. He had no doubt that Lord Goscelin was speaking literally.

“And what… is the plan?” Fajar asked after a moment.

“It all starts with the so-called ‘Fell Lands’” Goscelin began. “They will either bend their knee to us or flee in terror. Regardless of the decision they make, they will cause chaos in the northern regions of Mycae. And while the Mycaens are distracted in the north, you will lead our armies to strike them in the south.”

Fajar eyed the map for a moment before commenting “This Mycae looks like a great empire. Won’t we sustain serious casualties fighting them?”

“The strongest materials are also the most brittle.” Goscelin stated. “Kill or turn the Mycaen Lord Cornwalkis and the country will fall apart. Even now we are working to turn the nobility to our cause.” Goscelin paused for a moment before adding “You need not concern yourself with these matters Fajar. Leading the vanguard is your task.”

“I understand my lord.”

“Good. Now once Mycae has fallen we will move here” He traced a line from Mycae to a country called Cormyral. “If all goes according to plan Cormyral will already be at war with its neighbor, Riawin. Even if it is not, the outcome will be the same. We will break the Cormyrean hero known as the ‘Lioness’ and in doing so we will break the country. The entirety of the south will soon be thrown into chaos as all the remnants of the Riawin Empire fight each other. They will be easy pickings.”

“From there” Goscelin continued, “The west will be open for invasion. We will have to take care with Dakarragord. They know war better than others. I have great hopes in turning them, but should that fail killing their leader, Vaemaradosth Dakan, will spell their end. Great conquerors they may be, but in the end they are no different from any other group of barbarians.”

“What of the northern regions?” Fajar asked. “This Sakabanatu region and further north?”

“They are of no concern.” Goscelin stated. “The barbarians of Sakabanatu are disorganized and no threat. And those who dwell further north… They may be amongst the greatest warriors on the continent. We will leave them till the end or they will charge at us to their own doom. Either way it makes no difference.”

“When is it that we will use the fleet?” Fajar asked. “Would it not be easier to conquer the likes of Cormyral and Riawin if we struck from both land and sea?”

“The fleet” Goscelin’s tone caused the blood to drain from Fajar’s face, “is not something you need concern yourself with. It will be used in a time and place of my choosing. Not a moment before. Now go. Ready your troops. Soon we will strike.”