Volume 2 Chapter 9 Ropsein - East Clanf War Begins
The nations of Naroppa did not feel surprised or afraid when a new kingdom appeared far to the east.
The Ropsein Kingdom, formed by wild mountain tribes, was seen by western nobles as something small and unimportant.
"Oh, they made a country out there," people said, as if talking about the weather.
But this calm view would not last—especially if the green crescent Theocracy of the Laabia nations chose to ally with them.
Now, on the Beyari Peninsula, a holy war had begun.
The pigmen—orc tribes who worshiped the Holy Cross—clashed with the crescent-bannered soldiers of the Theocracy.
Both sides claimed to fight for their gods. Both were willing to burn everything in their path.
One kingdom did care about the birth of Ropsein.
The East Clanf Kingdom moved quickly. Their reason? Elodia—their royal sister—had become the ruler of this new land.
After the fall of the Empire, countries dreamed of growing large again.
And for East Clanf, helping their "lost" sister gave them a reason to take land, use old roads, and dig up old power.
The region was rough and wild, but full of promise.
Rivers ran through flat lands, good for farming. Forests held game, and iron mines could feed forges for a new industry.
To King Simeon, the risk seemed worth it.
* * *
In the capital city of Clanf Furt, the royal council met.
Inside the stone hall, the king sat with his top ministers.
Their topic was clear: sending soldiers to the region of Magelun.
One minister opened a scroll. "Your Majesty, may we send thirty percent of the army?"
"Even that is too much," Simeon replied. "Elodia was raised like a butterfly. She has no skill for war."
The other ministers nodded.
Had it been Prince Louis who fled, they would have moved more carefully.
But Elodia was young, and more a symbol than a leader.
"She must have escaped the chaos of Parisess," one minister said. "Her followers likely gathered others who had fled. They took land from the forest tribes and claimed it."
It was guessed they had no more than one thousand fighters.
By the rule of war—three attackers for every one defender—East Clanf could crush them with ease.
"What shall we do with Lady Elodia?" someone asked.
"Bring her back alive," the king said. "She can be useful in many ways."
Another voice spoke. "What about the local women?"
The room grew quiet, but the meaning hung in the air.
The forest people—some called them elves—were known to be beautiful, even if seen as wild.
Some soldiers had already started dreaming of rewards: silver, gold, and those who could be taken as prizes.
The nobles smiled, not out of honor, but for gain.
After that, the army marched out that week.
The people cheered and waved flags.
It was called a righteous rescue. A brave mission to return the lost princess.
No one noticed the lone traveler who slipped quietly down a back road, away from the noise.
* * *
The march to Magelun took nearly a month.
At the start, they had called themselves heroes.
By the time they arrived, the name had faded.
Now, they were just an army.
They kept their spirits high through harsh means—taking food, pushing villagers from their homes, and treating the land as spoils.
It was no longer a rescue. It was an invasion.
Although the nobles had ordered that no one harm Princess Elodia, no one truly believed the lower-ranked soldiers would follow that rule.
The military supervisors stayed alert, watching closely, but they did not care much about anything else.
At that time, no one expected poor soldiers to behave.
Paying them gold felt like a waste, so they were allowed to take what they wanted—on the battlefield.
If this had been a formal army, with trained men and even farmers drafted to serve, there might have been rules and some control.
But this group was built from the lowest kind of people—thieves, drunkards, and deserters—gathered only to make the army look bigger.
Most of the skilled fighters had been sent west, to prepare for a possible fight with West Clanf.
What remained were second-class troops: loud, proud, and careless.
And that carelessness would cost them.
* * *
The army had marched long. Now, they rested on hard dirt, lying on thin cloth, under a sky that gave no comfort.
As they stopped for the evening, a village appeared ahead.
Its houses stood tall. Doors were closed. Windows shut.
But something felt off.
It didn't look abandoned.
Yet... it felt empty.
"Where are the villagers?" someone asked.
"No idea," said another. "They couldn't have known we were coming. Something's not right."
The general frowned. He gave a sharp nod, and officers sent their squads out to search.
The soldiers moved quickly, boots echoing on stone paths.
They found no one—no voices, no footsteps, no smoke.
But inside the village?
Barrels, crates, and shelves packed with food and drink.
"Dwarf ale," one soldier said, holding up a thick brown bottle.
"They traded with dwarves? This stuff's rare."
The general stroked his beard. "Three cups per man. The night guard gets one."
Cheers rose. That was enough to light up the evening.
In one of the large houses, soldiers found dried meat, vegetables, and good barley.
These were claimed at once—spoils of war. That night, they held a feast.
* * *
For the first time in weeks, they rested in rooms with walls and a roof.
The straw bedding was scratchy, but softer than dirt.
And the wine—dark, smooth, and strong—was far better than the sour drink they usually had.
That night, they ate well. They laughed. They forgot the cold.
Some began to think: Maybe this campaign isn't so bad.
"I'm ready to sleep already," said one soldier.
"Don't say that," his partner replied. "You'll make me sleepy too."
They stood together at the edge of the camp, watching the dark trees beyond.
It was quiet—too quiet.
"Nothing's going to happen out here," the first soldier muttered.
"Watch your mouth," the other snapped. "It's when you think you're safe... that everything falls apart."
Notes:
• Ropsein Kingdom - A budding military power located in Naroppa, known for restructuring Kotche territory and functioning as a production base for weapons and armor. It has protected the lives of soldiers from the Holy Maro Empire.
• Beyari Peninsula - A region experiencing a religious war between the pigmen (Orc) nation and the Green Crescent Theocracy of the Laabia nations. It is geographically significant due to the conflict between the Holy Cross and the green crescent beliefs.
• East Clanf Kingdom - A powerful kingdom with influence over the Arlis-Otroot Dukedom.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
• Simeon - The ruler of the East Clanf Kingdom. His appearance is not described, but he is portrayed as a strategic leader. He judges the benefits of expanding into the Magelun region as sufficient. His relationship with Elodia is one of opposition, as he seeks to capture her to justify his territorial ambitions.
• Magelun - A dangerous and barbaric land, but a potential refuge from the East Clanf Kingdom.
• Louis - Third Prince of Empire. The new heir to the Kingdom of Ashreach's throne, recognized by the Papal States. His ascension has triggered political and military tensions.
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