"To call the Theodinaz conflict as anything other than an opportunistic grab of land, while getting rid of a loathsome neighbor at the same time, would have portrayed the conflict in false colors.

The Holy Kingdom, especially with their human supremacist policies, was greatly disliked by their more inclusive neighbors. None of them were surprised that the dwarves to the south struck almost immediately after they received the news.

Others had followed suit soon afterwards." - Floren Jonqvist, Historian from Levain, circa 586 FP.

"Understood. We had accounted for fanatical militiamen in our prior planning, but not to this extent. That will force some changes to be made," said the Crown Prince as he pondered over the unfurled map on the table. On it, the lands of Theodinaz was drawn with detail, the works of some of their best spies and purchased intelligence.

The Holy Kingdom's land formed the shape of a rough square that stood on its edge, with a slight tilt to the left. Many small signs which marked the location of villages pockmarked the regions, with a military fort and a large walled town in each of the cardinal directions, all surrounding a city built on a hill in the center.

Fort Ascher had not been part of that arrangement. It was merely the remnants of a walled city from a defeated nation that was refurbished to serve as a military outpost. Other than their breadbasket region to the west, the Holy Kingdom had always focused their military more to the south. Unlike their neighbors in the other cardinal directions, which were predominantly human, the dwarven kingdom of Knallzog was to their south.

Ahead of them was Fort Prydwen, approximately a week's trek northwards. Much like most of the central regions of the Holy Kingdom, it was built on better lands, in the plains that surrounded the central hill.

Two days to its north laid the city of Zefirous, and another week from there, further to the north, was the hill on which the Holy City of Nu-Gu'od was built. Legend has it that the first God-King rose to divinity there, and the name of the city itself meant "Cradle of the God" in the old language the locals used.

"If there had really been forty to fifty thousand of them dead already, that likely meant most of the southern region had been emptied out of viable conscripts," muttered the dwarf in heavy infantry armor. "That left the garrison at Prydwen, estimated to be around eight thousand, and another five thousand at Zefirous, plus however many they could get out of the inhabitants there."

"It won't be as much, or as rabid as what we had to deal with," stated Reinhardt from where he stood across the table. "The rural peasantry are the ones who drank deepest into faith. They had little else. Those in the cities had better lives, and more to lose. They wouldn't be as eager to throw away their lives for their beliefs."

"Sounds about right. That's what we sort of expected outta the boonies too, but we guessed wrong there," admitted one of the dwarves in light infantry armor. "That said, your information on Zefirous is more… reliable, you said?"

"With some luck, we might have a way to open the outer gates. I doubt the citadel is doable however," he replied with a nod. "One of mine is an escapee from there and has old… acquaintances amongst the town's criminal elements. They would likely be quite amenable to switching sides given the right persuasion."

"Are you suggesting that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is to cavort with criminals and scum!?" interjected Graf McBaine angrily. Reinhardt could see the old dwarf about to say more scathing words, but couldn't because a hand was placed ahead of him, a gesture to halt.

"Peace, Lloyd. Should this be a feasible course of action, this would save us a siege against the outer walls," said the Crown Prince with an exasperated sigh directed at the Graf. He then turned to Reinhardt and gave him a more friendly look. "I am not daft enough to trade worthless things like pride for the lives of probably thousands of good men. We shall speak of this in more detail when we approach the city, Captain Edelstein."

"Anyway, we have to deal with Fort Prydwen first. Graf Harscape, your Stone Shapers are still in good shape, if I recall correctly?" asked the Crown Prince as he pointed towards the southern fort with one meaty finger.

"They were spared the fighting since they were busy expanding the warrens, your Royal Highness," replied the Graf with a nod. "They are ready to undertake whatever mission you have in mind."

"I have three more companies of combat engineers with me. I would like your Shapers to work with them and have them work together to ramp the walls of Fort Prydwen," said the Crown Prince with a satisfied smile. "Then we will hit them hard and fast. I do not wish for a prolonged siege. We are racing against time here."

"Beg pardon, yer Royal Highness, but why the hurry?" asked Barnaby as he voiced the question Reinhardt was also wondering about.

"Ezram and the former Sevral Duchy of Clangeddin had joined the battle. Father had negotiated with them while we traveled here. We had come to an agreement that we shall not engage one another, and each side will keep what they managed to conquer," said the Crown Prince in a more serious tone. "Posuin's at least too occupied by their internal mess to join in, though."

Ezram was another smallish kingdom to the north of the Holy Kingdom, while the Clangeddin Empire to the east used to be the largest and strongest nation in Alcidea, at least before the assassination of the much-hated emperor seven years ago sparked massive infighting between the many claimants and several peasant rebellions.

The Civil war that ensued broke the empire apart.

Similarly, Posuin to the west was another large nation embroiled in civil war, as the army they sent towards the new Unliving settlement had balked at their orders upon learning the gruesome fate of the Holy Kingdom's expedition. The general in charge had attempted to pull a swift coup, but had failed, and Posuin was embroiled in a civil war as a result.

"We are aiming for the southern and western regions. Let the Ezramites and the Sevrals race each other to Nu-Gu'od and smash themselves into that rock. We will focus on the proper annexation of our nearby regions instead," said the Crown Prince as he traced a line from the south-east, to above the city of Zefirous, then to the left, passing above the western city of Norouz. "We will proceed swiftly, but with care. I want doubled scout deployments at all times. Let's not fall into an ambush again. The Silver Maiden might not be around to bail our asses out this time."

"Still surprised she showed up when we were down in the dumps, really," admitted Barnaby.

"Oh, right, I forgot that it was classified information when you folks left," said the Crown Prince with a smile. "The Silver Maiden being in this area is no real surprise. After all… she was the one leading the group of Unliving that made the settlement to our northwest."

"Given her reputation, it was to be expected that she would take a look around a nearby warzone," he added with some thought. "And you folks happened to have a massive pyre burning for three days and nights next to your camp. It'd be weird if she had not come your way with all that."