Thanks to :
AD&D for a world of spells & magic
Jack Vance, "Eyes of the Overworld" for being a source of inspiration for TSR & myself
Synopsis :
Set in an alternate reality, fantasy world. Alysa Ascanius, an Arch Mage whose diplomat parents were tortured & killed by Cantran clergy when she was a 12 year old child enacts revenge against the perpetrators decades later. She has started her mission to the Cantran capital with her small entourage supposedly as a diplomatic consul but she has another agenda.
Tags : FLR, femdom, loving wives, cuck, feminisation, fantasy, magic, combat
It's starts off slow but events cascade soon enough. Skipping chapters wont be useful, so reading sequentially from chapter 1 is recommended
There are no STD's in this fantasy world.
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In the morning, my cock, pubic hair and groin were encrusted with our combined dried lubrication and ejaculate. We should have cleaned up immediately after making love. However Lyria magically cleaned us both, solving the problem. I missed being able to use spells and cantrips for the myriad of minor tasks that needed doing every day.
My orderly was waiting outside the tent as we had slept in and the rest of the camp was getting ready for our descent down the hills into the city and castle. Legionnaires were polishing their armour and leather bindings to parade at their best. I waved him away as I was bursting to piss and went over to the shallow latrine trench to relieve myself.
"Consul, Centurion Gantacus requests your presence."
"Tell him, I'll be there after a bite to eat. Chase up something for me to eat and a hot cup of cocoa."
"Of course sir," as he trotted off.
Lyria, emerged from the tent and came over to me. "Apologies consul, I was out of line last night," she said formally.
Jokingly, I countered with, "Lyria if that was the outcome of your being out of line, I hope you do it more often. Seriously, I understand that it must have seemed strange. This is the last we shall speak of the matter." I hugged her and smacked her behind to send her off to clean up. I could be bossy too.
Trartus, my orderly came back with a bowl of oats and a cup of cocoa. I took them and asked him to lead me to Gantacus.
"Gantacus."
"Consul."
He was seated on a small fold up stool with his weapons next to him. All soldiers on campaign had a weapon within reach at all times. He gestured to a large rock he had reserved for me with a towel laid over it. I sat and ate my oats. Even mages had at the very least a knife at hand too. Projecting a knife at speed with perfect accuracy was a deadly deterrent.
We had discussed likely scenarios for our arrival in Synessia and we had planned for similar protocol as used at other courts, but this was a special case and neither of us could be certain how events would proceed. The mage college, the king and his senior advisors had briefed all the senior members of the party.
We had assurances from the Cantrans that we would be safe and given diplomatic immunity. But they had said the same twenty years ago and the same king and the the bishop involved last time were the head of the state and clergy respectively. We had contingencies and code words to indicate various levels of danger. Kings often do as they wish in their own domain regardless of the consequences as they have total power and are used to wielding it. We planned to tread lightly to avoid irritating the cardinal or king, especially in public auditoriums. In private we would take a less measured but still cautious stance.
I had been given details and message protocols for contacting our spies here and all those Cantrans who had been charmed while they were in our court. And to determine if they were still compromised. Our local spies would also be aware of our arrival and would be expecting to brief us on the latest developments. This needed to be done soonest to arm ourselves with the latest knowledge that we could potentially use in initial negotiations. The magistra, king and marshall were very interested in hearing the latest developments with paladins and battlepriests. Lyria and I had been warned not to use any magic until we learnt what alarums if any the Cantran clergy had enacted in their castle.
We would be watched and reported on closely so we had to be very circumspect not to give away the identity of any local operatives. My urgent and primary goal was to embed the second plant in the castle's water supply. A natural spring in the lowest level of the castle. Once that was in place regardless of the outcome of our diplomatic mission, events would unfold inevitably. But better by far for them to be guided than happen randomly.
A secret contingent of fifty of our most experienced battlemages led by Minnerv herself were enroute behind us and would infiltrate the city and castle soon after we arrived. If events cascaded as we planned they may not be needed or at least not for explosive violence and mayhem.
We were planning to put Lyria in the castle kitchens on the pretence to learn Cantran recipes. Kitchens were often a rich source of gossip. As were servants who often saw and heard more than their masters expected.
None of our party other than myself know the complete plan, in case the Cantrans took the risk to kidnap and torture any of our contingent. Although, knowing the mind of Minnerv better than most, I was almost certain there were plans and contingencies that I had no knowledge of. And no one except myself knew of my plans for revenge on the once bishop, now cardinal.
It was likely their King would already be aware of our imminent arrival and presence close to the city. They knew we were coming and the approximate time. Probably we had been observed for the last few days. We hadn't tried to hide or take back paths here. A party of our size cannot sneak around like a small group. He would surely have an escort to lead us in. Protocol would be up to them and it was likely the king would keep us waiting for a day or two after we arrived in the city and make our presentation at court a major event and formal occasion and likely an evening banquet. Whether we would be outside or inside the castle was up to him. We were unsure of where our soldiers would be garrisoned. Given the circumstances of our exit from the capital last time, we didn't expect them to be stationed inside the castle and to be watched closely. We were flexible. Once we decamped this morning we would be on display for Cantra to see and judge. We planned to relax and disarm them by having no mages officially in our delegation.
"Any changes or new thoughts now we are here consul?"
"We have to see what they have planned and react after that. They seemed genuine enough to want to meet and reopen a consulate and restart trade negotiations. According to our spies not much has changed since our last efforts here but that is old information, months out of date. The clergy may be a problem and they likely think of us as godless pagans or heathens that dabble in heretical magic and this could potentially cause problems. Depends on how greed tempers their sensibilities. We have a great deal to offer them, more than they to us. Our empire is rapidly expanding, theirs has been stagnant for the last two decades. They have several contested borders and resistance from most of their surrounding states. They are not well liked. There have even been some minor uprisings inside Cantra due to their high taxes and rigid control. They squash any resistance brutally which doesn't endear them to the general populace or regional lords. They have problems but are still in complete control and apart from us, are the most powerful empire on the continent. We mustn't underestimate them."
"What time will your men be ready to leave?"
"Give us another 3 hours to be presentable and we can head off, say around midday."
"It's possible they might try to provoke us to see our response. The men must stay in line unless I order otherwise. Unlikely, but after last time we need to be ready for anything. All the women will be staying for you initially until I see how the winds blow. And be ready to leave at a moments notice, know where the horses are stabled and keep weapons, water and rations ready to go. Brief Lyria, as she will be vital in the event of any catastrophe but likely to be stationed with the cooks or nearer to me. We will be closely watched and there must be no hint of any mages with us. Surely they will have taken some precautions after we embarrassed them previously."
Gantacus was ignorant of much of the labyrinthine plans about to unfold and I felt the burden of responsibility to keep everyone safe. I recalled the words of one of our ancient sages - "You are but a leaf blown on the winds of great change." I am starting to think I might be such a leaf.
===
The legionnaires were all in their mounted version of combat armour in splinted mail armour with metal plumed helmets, greaves, etc. All polished with shields bearing the Monagon crest.
The signifer leading, followed by Gantacus, then myself, the assistant consul, our scribe, then the legionnaire squads, 3 abreast, headed by their decurions. The merchants, then the engineers and medic seated with the horse handlers and our wagons trailing at the rear.
We rode down the widening road through the outskirts of Synessia until we arrived and stopped before the massive outer wall gate.
A paladin officer by the look of his armour marched over to us with a squad of soldiers in similar but less elaborate armour.
"Stand fast, state your name and purpose," he shouted loudly, trying to look and sound impressive.
"Gantacus nudged his horse forward, exactly level with the signifer holding our standard and spoke in a moderate but clear voice, "I am Gantacus Lullius, centurion, escorting the Consul Alwyn Locantus, Baronet of Acasia, representative of Crastus Agrathus, King of Monagon."
It sounded pretentious but that is the way of such things. The legionnaires behind us were completely motionless, armour gleaming and at parade mounted rest. The only movement were their horse's tails twitching.
"Centurian Gantacus, we have been expecting you and the Consul's party. Welcome to Synessia, capital of Cantra."
"Your soldiers and steeds will be garrisoned outside the city. We have prepared accommodations for them. They will follow the provided escort. You may proceed with the consul, consular officials and delegates, servants and any non combatants to their quarters in the castle proper. No mages are allowed inside the gates."
Gantacus glanced back at me and I nodded.
