The general of ice.

"Hello. If it's important, speak up. Otherwise, get lost. I don't have time available for wasting." Nyo!Belarus roleplay blog connected with the Continent of Pervale roleplay ring.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I'll have the next act posted soon. I promise.))

[the-cold-general-blog]

Act II: Conquest.

The first part had been completed. His army had been moved from Haliano into the Neutral territory, violating the border and the peace treaty from the Great Alliance. But incursion was only step one. No way he would do all this, betray his former king and rally an army behind him just to unlawfully cross a border. Soon he set his sights on a new target, planning to exploit the element of surprise.

The city of Cras. It being the only major city inside the neutral territory, he figured that it would have to be the capital of the neutral territory. He also felt that the city being so close to the border with Haliano might be an extra slap to his former king, saying with it that the king of Haliano could not control his military and officers. And with Cras the capital, when he would conquer it, he would have legitimate and just control over the neutral territory.

He let a few scouts go ahead first. Check out any defenses, look for traps, enemy troops or civilian resistance. While he did not expect any of this due to his element of surprise, he did not want to walk blindly into a potentially dangerous zone. But soon the scouts reported back. No major obstacles. Maybe a few protesting civilians, but that could be resolved quickly, maybe with violence if necessary.

And then it was time to move. Ordering the vanguard and middle army to move ahead, he stayed behind for a little while, dipping petals of roses in dye. Red, for any violence and bloodshed that may follow in a counter-attack for Haliano. Black, for his actions would be perceived as those of one with a black heart. Grey by mixing white and black, for morals and reality is often more grey than people like to admit. And those were all for now. He left them behind near the border,  unsure if anyone other than him would understand the meaning, but that was irrelevant to him. He just wanted to leave the message.

And then it was time for the conquest of Cras itself at long last. He had caught up with his army, riding at the front together with the vanguard. He didn’t waste time with speeches, that could be done afterwards. For now, he rode into the city, his army following. Every street occupied, every building guarded, every exit blocked. No one but he or his army would get in or out while he made his way to the political centre of Cras. With the element of surprise having worn off by now, he drew his sword to counter any resistance he may meet while going for the leader of Cras, to demand the city and with the city, the entire neutral territory.

The guards present reluctantly surrendered because they were outnumbered 1 to 4. Grumbling and groaning putting their weapons down, Aleksei finally met face to face with his target. If the leader of Cras were to surrender and submit Cras and the territory to Aleksei, he would in turn let the leader live and keep running Cras, while answering to Aleksei. If not, Aleksei would personally take the leader down and take control with bloodshed. Minutes passed as the pros and cons were being processed and thought over. In the end....the leader surrenderd. Aleksei Dorovich, former Haliano general, now king of his own over the neutral territory, with a minimum amount of violence thanks to the size of his army and the element of surprise. Or was king maybe a bit too low? Maybe he could call himself emperor. But that was for later. For now, he would bask in his victory. Sending a letter to the king of Haliano, which would read: “Greetings from the new, nameless-for-now kingdom/empire, founded by your former general.” A seemingly polite message in itself, it was intended to spite the king of Haliano.

[the-cold-general-blog]

Act I: Agression.

It finally happened. All the secrecy. All the weird notes. The secret training of the troops. The requests for increased output of the mines of Haliano. The re-recruiting of the troops to make their loyalty shift from the king of Haliano, to the general of the army of Haliano, through speeches with fast, angry and somewhat violent tone mixed with promises of wealth and power if they were to follow Aleksei Dorovich. All in secret. Rumours of a possible coup starting to fly and lots of conspiracy theories starting to get formed. “What if Aleksei became king?” “I heard he’ll enforce martial law.” “If he commits that coup i’m moving!”

Just a few of the rumours going out and about in mostly the capital, where he planned everything. All rumours were less than good. In his few visits, he lived up to his nickname of ‘The cold general’. Cold, calculating, bold with a clearly present violent nature where his position easily allowed him to pick fights if he wished to do so with little to no concequenses, if charges were actually to be pressed against him.

But the time for secrecy had ended now. He has the troops ready. Equipped. Motivated. And as Hali’s he had no trouble traveling with military units through Haliano soil except for the Altea river which had to be crossed. With effort he and his army, mostly consisting of infanterists, but with cavalry as well, he managed to cross the Altea river. He had now reached his first destination. The southern border of the Neutral Territory.

And now...now it was at long last time to finally show his hand. With many armed forces at his side, he, on horseback with his personal sword, the first sword he had ever used since he joined the military, polished, repaired and upgraded many times, was the first to set foot on the Neutral Territory. Slowly advancing the first few meters into the territory to savor the moment, after that he gave the order to advance. It was just his luck that the only major city in the Neutral Territory of Cras was  the closest to the Haliano borde, which was his main target and priority in this act of agression. Declaring war on the Neutral Territory. To seize Cras. Having betrayed Haliano. And most shocking, which would also have the biggest concequenses, breaking the Great Alliance. The peace every nation would support, or in his view hide behind, was no more. War has returned to the continent of Pervale.

[pervale]

Update: we are still alive.

[the-cold-general-blog]

♪ Gaze upon a white throne, a legacy of lies. Sing with me a song, of conquest and fate. Night breaks through the day, hard as a stone. ♪

Ever since hearing this mysterious song, and molding it so it would fit his own purpose, he was often heard singing this. Mostly to himself. As for why he would do this. That is anyone’s guess. Rumours are it is a premonition of a bad omen.

[the-cold-general-blog]

The bear awakens.

After returning from the spring festival, Aleksei seemed to have changed. He seemed more distant than usual. Colder. More preoccupied. And seemed to spend less and less time in the armory and training grounds, and more in his office. All while forbidding everyone to speak to him, and as the general, only the king would be able to negate this order. But for the king of Haliano to catch wind of this, someone would have to talk to him, indirectly ignoring the order he put out. That was how he saw it anyway. So he assumed, that for now, he could continue to work. But work on what? That was a mystery for all but him. Not even his most trusted subordinates knew. But it was no secret that it would be something big. Something huge! Something that would send a shock throughout Haliano, and possibly even throughout Pervale. But that point was still a while away. For now, he stayed mysteriously locked away from everyone.

[the-cold-general-blog]

As time passed, his personal lockdown seemed to get slowly lifted. Now, only a few messengers and other high-ranking officers were seen entering and leaving his office. The fact they arrived empty-handed and left with letters, some in envelopes and some not, made it clear as day he was writing people. But  who he was writing, still remained a mystery. Yet they did set things in motions. Soon there were whispers and rumours everywhere going through the castle. Only at a few places these rumours of an ‘allegedly’ golden opportunity left the castle when message carries left the castle grounds to locations and persons Aleksei had pointed them to. It became clearer and clearer that something big is in the works, with only the top-officers knowing the plan, and Aleksei himself the only one knowing all the details of it.

[the-cold-general-blog]

The bear awakens.

After returning from the spring festival, Aleksei seemed to have changed. He seemed more distant than usual. Colder. More preoccupied. And seemed to spend less and less time in the armory and training grounds, and more in his office. All while forbidding everyone to speak to him, and as the general, only the king would be able to negate this order. But for the king of Haliano to catch wind of this, someone would have to talk to him, indirectly ignoring the order he put out. That was how he saw it anyway. So he assumed, that for now, he could continue to work. But work on what? That was a mystery for all but him. Not even his most trusted subordinates knew. But it was no secret that it would be something big. Something huge! Something that would send a shock throughout Haliano, and possibly even throughout Pervale. But that point was still a while away. For now, he stayed mysteriously locked away from everyone.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I just might post a bit of foreshadowing soon, maybe dropping a little hint here and there.

[the-cold-general-blog]

So my idea got through! The admins did think it was a bit soon for something so big on scale, so I can’t start it up yet. Maybe next month,

[the-cold-general-blog]

Since there is some interest shown, I shall submit my idea to the main blog, or how you youngsters call it these days. If it gets approved, I shall start it soon.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I may be kind of planning something big but i’m not sure if it would go well, or received well by the others. To try and initiate it, or not?

[askthemighty-francypantsy-deact]

Its best to be yourself rather than look for the approval of others. Hope that helps you.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I really hope i’m not sounding like an ass right now. But approval of others is not what i’m looking for. I want to make sure I don’t Piss off Anyone out of character before starting it because the idea I have, it’s really big and possible gamechanger. I still appreciate the response though. Thank you~

[askthemighty-francypantsy-deact]

Just offering wisdom, I thought you needed help decided what to do XD

[wingsandweaponsmakethequeen-blog]

Pardon my asking, I just joined this group, but that would you happen to be planning? I’ve yet to do anything with my muse while I try to get a feel for what’s going on. 

[the-cold-general-blog]

Well, with what I’m thinking of no one is missing out yet. I didn’t tell any details yet to anyone. There is the spring festival going on, you can look up info on that on the, what do kids call it, ring blog? That one blog where you send applications in and provides main and basic info.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I may be kind of planning something big but i’m not sure if it would go well, or received well by the others. To try and initiate it, or not?

[askthemighty-francypantsy-deact]

Its best to be yourself rather than look for the approval of others. Hope that helps you.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I really hope i'm not sounding like an ass right now. But approval of others is not what i'm looking for. I want to make sure I don't Piss off Anyone out of character before starting it because the idea I have, it's really big and possible gamechanger. I still appreciate the response though. Thank you~

[the-cold-general-blog]

I may be kind of planning something big but i’m not sure if it would go well, or received well by the others. To try and initiate it, or not?

[the-cold-general-blog]

Spring festival. (Open)

The spring festival. Each year he attented in his military career he had attended it, and this year was no different. Finding himself currently in Sulfeara, he looked around the people either being busy with their trade, or celebrating the festival. Alchemists, wizards and witches, botanists and merchants, they seemed to be in the majority in his perception. A good blacksmith or armorer seemed to  be rare these days. The Great Alliance, after all these years, still stood solid among all nations on the continent. He only got assignments if there were some criminals, raiders or bandits harassing the people of Haliano, and that was about all he got. Not much of fighting of training, but he still managed to live long in the military, with only one scar visible. He let out a deep, slightly annoyed sigh. His presence was more or less expected, as the highest-ranking military officer of Haliano. Not appearing could come over to the hosting royals that he, and with him Haliano, would think the other countries were lesser. And besides that, he did enjoy the festival. The ballet-dancers surely impressed him, and while he didn’t have to do much with the trade of using plants for healing or poisons, he secretly did enjoy the flowers. And each year, he bought a bouquet of them, while always trying do hide and denying doing so. For who they were, or why he bought them, is to today still one of his most well-hidden secrets. And whenever he was asked about this, he would give a long, angry speech on how that him buying said flowers had nothing to do with them and that it was his business.

So far he thought of the festival as above average. Crowds were never one of his favourite things, but the dancers, the flowers and seeing the work of the blacksmiths present, that made the festival a good thing for him again. But that didn’t really show on his face, which did look pretty sour. Which, for him, was a pretty standard face. That, mixed with his sturdy, strong and highly protective armor, made him seem very unapproachable. Just the way he liked it.

[celeste-ambition]

Caoimhe Flynn did not consider herself a fanciful woman by any means. She didn’t have the time to be. She had a business to run - fabric to buy, dresses to sew, clothes to sell from the barely standing shack on the beach she’d inherited from her late mother. She had a rebellious little brother to raise - all alone, from the time she was eighteen, and the pigheaded brat certainly didn’t make that easy. Fun wasn’t going to keep a roof over their heads or food in their bellies or help her claw her way out of poverty - and she wouldn’t rest until she’d pulled her family from the clutches of poverty. They deserved better than that, and they would have it, one day. That was the entire reason she attended these festivals, to sell. Well, it was most of the reason. Even she could admit she had the smallest of soft spots for the Spring Festival. The air was full of wonderful scents and sounds - freshly baked pastries, roasted meats, flowers and herbs, the waves lapping at the shore in the distance, ballet music, children’s laughter. If there was one thing that could persuade Caoimhe to be a little fanciful, have a little fun, it was music and dance. The Haliano ballet had long ago stolen her heart. 

So every few hours, she took a break from hawking her passionately sewn clothing and hand crafted coral jewelry, and wandered about the Festival. She timed everything very carefully, so as to never miss a dance performance, and she carefully measured out her meal money, to be sure she could afford her Wemboldtian pelmeni and meat roll, and still treat herself to a slice of cake and the occasional pint of beer. She’d dressed particularly nicely this year - a short, sleeveless white dress with a ruffled skirt, and a thin, black, hooded black cloak lined with white lace, to guard against the cool ocean breeze - and she was having an almost lovely day … almost, except for a little run-in with one of the many pick pockets that liked to target such large events. She was now walking a little apart from the crowds of people, trying to wipe blood off her purse - which was strategically lined with large sea urchin spikes. Someone had gotten a nasty surprise when they’d tried to snatch it off her shoulder - she just wished she’d gotten a decent look at them, so she could get the asshole arrested for bleeding all over her new purse. It had taken ages to meticulously harvest, clean, arrange, and attach those spikes in a way that was both practical and aesthetically pleasing! She scowled at the blood handkerchief in her hands, barely managing to avoid walking into a woman fussing over a child - she was hardly paying attention to where she was going in her frustration. 

[the-cold-general-blog]

Aleksei Doroshevich, the visiting general from Haliano, was not paying much attention either to the people around him, but unlike Caoimhe he wasn’t walking and doing a secondary activity at the same time. He finally found what seemed to be a very good blacksmith, which had some impressive weaponry. A more known fact about him was that at each Spring festival which was hosted in any country other than Haliano, he’d bring back one weapon as a souvenir for himself. At the moment, his attention was being fully drawn to the large, steel battleaxe he was examining. The handle seemed to be made of quality oak wood, reinforced with some iron. The blade of the axe appeared to be made out of almost flawless steel. A most likely expensive, but high quality weapon. He liked this weapon, letting his finger run over the edge of the blade to test its sharpness. Very sharp, and very satisfactory for him.

That was, at least, until he felt a certain figure seeming to blindly walk into him, the surprise of it almost making him drop the axe he was admiring seconds earlier. Clearly annoyed by this, he turned around, ready to give whoever walked right into him a lot of angry shouting. He was big enough that it wouldn’t knock him down, but he still disliked it all the same. The fact that the one he was about to shout was a woman shorter than him, didn’t do anything. “What the fuck are you doing, you fucking blind bitch?! Fucking watch where you’re going!” He shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear, his face set to pure rage and his voice matching. Holding the axe in one hand now, he used his free hand to give the woman a hard push, hard enough to make her fall down. “Now get lost! And be grateful we’re not in Haliano now or I could have you get rotting in jail for that!” He continued to shout, wondering now why he had just pushed her, instead of punching her in the face. Maybe the festival was softening him up....only just a very little bit. 

[the-cold-general-blog]

Spring festival. (Open)

The spring festival. Each year he attented in his military career he had attended it, and this year was no different. Finding himself currently in Sulfeara, he looked around the people either being busy with their trade, or celebrating the festival. Alchemists, wizards and witches, botanists and merchants, they seemed to be in the majority in his perception. A good blacksmith or armorer seemed to  be rare these days. The Great Alliance, after all these years, still stood solid among all nations on the continent. He only got assignments if there were some criminals, raiders or bandits harassing the people of Haliano, and that was about all he got. Not much of fighting of training, but he still managed to live long in the military, with only one scar visible. He let out a deep, slightly annoyed sigh. His presence was more or less expected, as the highest-ranking military officer of Haliano. Not appearing could come over to the hosting royals that he, and with him Haliano, would think the other countries were lesser. And besides that, he did enjoy the festival. The ballet-dancers surely impressed him, and while he didn’t have to do much with the trade of using plants for healing or poisons, he secretly did enjoy the flowers. And each year, he bought a bouquet of them, while always trying do hide and denying doing so. For who they were, or why he bought them, is to today still one of his most well-hidden secrets. And whenever he was asked about this, he would give a long, angry speech on how that him buying said flowers had nothing to do with them and that it was his business.

So far he thought of the festival as above average. Crowds were never one of his favourite things, but the dancers, the flowers and seeing the work of the blacksmiths present, that made the festival a good thing for him again. But that didn’t really show on his face, which did look pretty sour. Which, for him, was a pretty standard face. That, mixed with his sturdy, strong and highly protective armor, made him seem very unapproachable. Just the way he liked it.

[the-cold-general-blog]

I swear i’m not dead. I might write an open starter soon regarding the Spring Festival.