Chapter 11 - Rebels of Val Foret (1) (Patreon)

"She, most pure of Faith, is the Oracle, a daughter in the line of those said to commune with the Six. Blessed by the Astrals, she calls forth the power of Eos to heal those who are suffering and afflicted. Her devotion to helping all those in need has inspired reverence for her among people from all over the world."

- Orange Fundamentalism Bible, Book of the Oracle

***

The spreading of the Holy Fundamentalism Order, which was a religion that was based on Andrastianism, but it was actually something far more, and with the appearance of the Orange Fundamentalism Bible, the spread of the religion was unstoppable.

And despite the hostile relationship between the Orlais Kingdom and Tevinter Imperium, both nations had a common enemy in the form of the Cult of Andraste. 

"If I were to bet my money, I would say that Tevinter would launch another wave of attacks on the Free Marches during the Great Crusade."

Kordillus stated as his grandfather nodded.

"I was going to propose that we cooperate with the Tevinter in this regard. We can use them to weaken the Free Marches considerably and let the two factions kill each other."

More than one hundred and eighty years ago, the Alamarri led by Maferath and Andraste invaded the Tevinter Imperium, taking over much of their southern territory. For some unknown reason, three magisters and their legions were sent to Emerius during the Exalted March, but never reached the city.

Meanwhile, Andraste established a fortress in Nevarra City, led by one of her disciples, Hector. Over the centuries, there were many conflicts, with the rise of City-States and even whole Kingdoms that were constantly at odds with the Tevinter Imperium.

"Don't you think that it could be dangerous, grandfather?"

While Kordillus could see the possibility of a scheme against both the Tevinter and the Free Marches, as both were enemies, he also felt that it was rather dangerous to be scheming together with the Tevinter.

"Of course it is... doing anything with the Mage Lords and Magisters is dangerous, but don't forget that the Tevinter is in rather precarious position. The Free Marches consists of some of the most prosperous, if not the most prosperous, cities that were once territory of the Tevinter, and at the same time, Tevinter is under constant threats from the Cult of Andraste that is taking strong root in practically most of the Free City States."

Kordillus wasn't raised in the Tevinter culture or society, but he was taught their manners and way of thinking. He was very well acquainted with the cutthroat society of the Tevinter Imperium and would never believe anyone, even a word, if they were from the Tevinter.

"If it would work, if we kill two flies with one hit."

As the future Emperor of the entire Thedas, he Kordillus was already planning the future targets after the unification of Orlais was finished, and he was looking directly toward the area of the Almarri Tribes, or what would become one day Ferelden.

For that to be successful with minimal losses, he needed to ensure that Nevarra, Antiva, Rivain, and Free Marches became as weak as possible so they couldn't help the Almarri Tribes in the time of need.

"Of course... and it would also cause the big losses to the Cults of Andraste in the process. I will contact some Magisters that I still have some kind of relationship with, to see if they could push the Magisterium in favour of war."

Magisters were members of the Magisterium, the upper house of the Tevinter Imperial Senate. These coveted seats are split among the Imperial Mage Towers, Mage Lords, and the Major Noble Houses. Their edicts rule the Tevinter Imperium.

Young Mages often aspire to become a Magister's apprentice because it offers them the best chance of ascending to the rank of Magister. Foreign mages may also indenture themselves to a Magister in order to eventually become imperial citizens.

The House Drakon, as one of the oldest Major Noble Houses and Mage Lords of the Tevinter Imperium, had hereditary seats in the Magisterium.

Even though the House Drakon was initially in decline, Vanderin Drakon still had some good contacts with the other Magisters and hoped to leverage them to initiate the attack on the Free Marches.

In fact, Vanderin Drakon knew that the Magisters wouldn't need a lot of convincing. As long as they hear that there won't be much reinforcement coming from the various Cimmerian Clans under the influence of the Cults of Andraste and Nevarra, then they would attack the Free Marches without batting an eye.

"Well, as long as it succeeds... I am going to change into my armor so you can send us away."

Kordillus stated as he then went to change into his armor, take his sword, and his staff.

***

Several Hours Later, the Training Grounds of Kingsglaive

Kordillus and Ciri already changed to their respective outfits, with Ciri wearing what she wore during the training and armed with her longsword Zirael, which now radiated a faint, faint blue aura and pulsing with Magic.

He himself was clad in ornate silver and gold armor with intricate engravings and filigree, giving off an aura of Divinity or holiness. A white hood and cloak draped elegantly over the armor, concealing most of the face behind a dark, polished helmet with sharp, elegant contours.

His face was covered by a metal mask, as was part of the tradition in these lands, but it was enchanted to be harder than most, and he could easily see through the mask itself. He held his Magic Staff, the Staff of Homa, which was one of the legacy items of the House Drakon.

A powerful Magic Staff made from the bones of the flame High Dragon, and the core of the staff was made from the Heart of Greater Fire Elemental. Meaning it was a priceless treasure, and it was a peak Artifact. 

There were not many weapons like that in the modern Thedas, and the rest were already in the hands of powerful Mages.

"Everyone is acquainted with the mission content and terrain?"

Kordillus, as the leader of the suppression force, asked the gathered troops of the Kingsglaive, even though he wouldn't have the field command, as that would be left to Commander Drautos, who was certainly much more experienced and suitable for the role.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Every single one of the fifty said as one, as Kordillus nodded and looked at his grandfather, who waved his staff and chanted the spell to open the portal of the Val Foret.

As soon as the portal was formed and it was stabilized, everyone started stepping through the portal, with Kordillus and Ciri being among the first ones after the initial ten Glaives that entered the portal.

***

Val Foret, Several Moments Later

The Val Foret looked like most of the settlements in the Orlais Kingdoms, with rather simple architecture and most buildings looking practical if anything.

The city had a population of something around forty thousand, though, because the city was only lately brought into the fold of the Orlais, the population census hadn't been conducted yet, and thus the population wasn't included in the overall population count of the kingdom.

According to the standards of the Orlais Kingdom during the Public Safety Reform that the Queen issued two years ago, every town needed to put together a Town Militia, and every city was required to establish a proper City Guard.

Val Foret already established the City Guard under the oversight of the City Governor, Lambert van Reeves, who was a former soldier in the Royal Orlesian Army but retired due to an injury that he suffered.

He was specifically sent to act as the governor of the Val Foret to bring the city under heel and align it with the Royal Standards, comparable to the rest of the Orlais Kingdom. When Kordillus arrived at the Val Foret with Ciri and the Kingsglaive, he immediately met with the Governor of the City.

The portal opened on the city plaza, which was located in the Inner City of Val Foret. In the Orlais, all cities were being rebuilt to fit the Royal Standarts, which bascially told how each city should be constructed.

These regulations were primarily aimed at improving the defensive capabilities of each city in the case that the city was under siege from its enemies or from the Darkspanws. In short, every city was to be protected by a set of walls, also termed the Outer Wall.

Then the City Castle with the inner area of the city was to be protected by two sets of interconnected walls that were connected with bridges. Even though it sounded expensive to contract, the reality was different because Orlais had Mages and Dwarves.

Dwarves were master craftsmen, and with Mages conferring resources, moving things, and doing Magic, the construction was often very fast.

This was also the reason why the Val Foret didn't fall to the riots instigated by the Andrastianists. Right now, the Inner City is under the total control of the Governor, while from the Outer City, only three out of five districts have fallen.

Each district was separated from the other with its own set of walls and gates for added security, and the fact that if the enemy took one, they would need to lay siege to the others meant it was impossible to simply walk into the other districts of the city.

The efforts of the rebels to breach the gates to the inner city were a spectacular failure because, at the moment the riots broke out, the City Guard retreated from the center of the riots and activated the defensive measures.

"Welcome, Your Royal Highness."

When Kordillus stepped out of the portal, he was greeted by the City Governor, Lamber van Reese, who knelt together with several hundred City Guards and people of the City's Bureaucracy.

"At ease, Governor."

Kordillus said as the last of the Glaives exited the portal, as they lined behind Kordillus. All of the Kingsglaives were at the Silver-Tier, and they were the best of the best of Orlais.

Reaching the Silver-Tier was already considered among the Elites in the current age, as the entire hierarchy fell by one level backward due to the lack of Legendaries in Thedas.

"You did a good job by keeping the rebels busy and reporting to the capital. My mother, the Queen, decided to send in the 2nd Legion, The Golden Lions, as the suppression force, while I will lead the Kingsglaive for the decapitation operation. I believe that you will provide me with all the necessary information that I require for my task."

Seeing that Prince wasn't outright angry with his performance, Governor van Reese sighed in relief as he motioned to the heavily armored man standing next to him, wearing a metal mask, who was the commander of the Val Foret's City Guard.

"This is Commander Gaston. He is in charge of the City Guard here and is currently in charge of fighting against the rebels. For the time being, the situation is stabilized; fortunately, the rebels don't have enough Mages or manpower to break through the Twin Walls of the Inner City. The situation in the other districts is more complicated, as the rebellion controls most of the living districts where most of the population lives, and they are attacking the other Outer Districts rather fiercely, and we cannot hold them for a very long time."

As a former soldier, Governor van Reese was very well-versed in military matters from the time when he was an officer in the Royal Army. The situation was rather complicated for the Val Foret, as they managed to contain the rebels and hold their position, but over time, it became clear that the Outer City would fall to the Andarstianists.

That was for sure.

"Do you have their precise numbers, names of the leaders, and their approximate location?"

Commander Drautos asked, as this was right now the most important question for their mission.

The decapitation operation was of paramount importance for the suppression of the Val Foret.