Ashlani’s Reincarnation

Reports came in, half a dozen of them every day. When the first traces of our enemy appeared in the surrounding mountains, they came with no signings of the beasts themselves. It kept me on edge, my scales constantly flattened against themselves to present a more armored front to whatever and whoever approached me. I didn’t try to hold back my immediate willingness to work violence, and it infected the rest of my Empire. Everywhere I went, my people were snarling, slavering and chomping at the opportunity to go and kill these fools that threatened us and our children. The sand pits were constantly full, mock battles fought around the clock and needing stronger discipline from turning not just bloody but deadly.

Fortunately, Shemira, as the Militia’s Superintendent and Percral, as the General, maintained the fights’ momentum in a positive direction, so they served only to further whet my people’s appetite for blood. As reports returned, letting me know that the first conflicts with our enemy had occurred, I decided to finally finish a long-standing Quest that I’d allowed to continue incomplete for a long time, but it was time to finish it.

After Percral excitedly reported on his victory against the leader of a company of twenty Misti Hawar, Foire gave the information that we had so long been waiting for: the main body of the Misty Hawar enemy force had been seen, and they were making preparations to attack in the next day at the latest. Most likely, they would strike this every night, and the time to wait was finally over. I gave my approval for the final few preparations to be made, but we had long since anticipated this. This was only the arrival of the inevitable.

With that, I went on my way towards where I could find Shraal. He and Nievtala’s priesthood, the Unbroken Blades, had long since finished the barest trappings of creating a temple, with the sanctum, altar, and divine representation, and now, not a day passed by without some new adjustment or improvement being made. I’d delayed on finishing the Quest to ensure that I would reap the greatest rewards possible, but now that the war had begun, it was time to rededicate ourselves to only the war, instead of all of the efforts in developing in strengthening the nation. With that in mind, I checked over the requirements that the System had given me back when I’d newly evolved to Keel:

Create a city that can house, provide for, and protect 10,000 inhabitants. Rewards will vary according to the quality of the final product.

• Declare your nation as extant to three foreign nations’ qualified representatives. Progress: 3/3 COMPLETE.

• Gain a population of at least 20,000 sapient civilian inhabitants within the bounds of your new nation. Progress: 11,429/20,000

• Establish a capital city. Note: The requirements of a capital city are as follows;

• Able to house, provide for, and protect 10,000 inhabitants. COMPLETE.

• Contains three established public institutions, such as a school, a policing force, or a city council. COMPLETE.

• Has an established governance office. COMPLETE.

I had done everything I conceivably could in the time that we’ve had, as I couldn’t provide for my population to burgeon any quicker. As it was, every dead body, whether enemy or friendly, was quickly consumed to ensure that my militia and soldiers were well fed and full of energy when the time came to fight. Fortunately, I’d had the wherewithal to force my people to stop their indulgences over a year ago now. Most important of all, the Keel were held back from eating until we were full, with the exception of the three infants who were only toddlers at this point. As each of us was, at least, nine or ten feet tall, we could consume over one hundred pounds of meat each every day, though that would have overstuffed our bellies and fattened us up.

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Instead, every one of my people was ready and excited to destroy this sword that hung over our heads. Everybody, from Kha to Keel, was made of ripcord muscle and just enough fat on our bones to keep us warm in the snow. Thinking of it, I sent a quick thought to Nievtala.