Johana pov

I didn’t waste much time after jack was gone to organize the troops that were not necessary to keep this city. A combination of bribing the more greedy, and silencing the more loyal, of this city’s old army to give me and the other military leaders enough confidence to be sure that a revolt would not happen.

Overall it took us two hours to organize everything necessary, though we did end up enlisting some of the locals with skills that would be useful in the upcoming conflict, a feat that would not have been possible had we been forced to lay siege to this city in a more traditional manner. Something we can’t avoid with our assault on the city of Melnin.

Our march was easy, nothing and no one tried to oppose us during it. Overall it took four hours for the walls to be in view, and half an hour after that for us to be just outside of the reach of their longest range practical attacks, but not so far that their mages couldn’t hit us with some extra wasted mana. Here is where we started to dig in and set up camp, much to the discomfort of the men on the walls.

A group of riders from the city approached us as we were setting up our siege engines, obviously sent here to negotiate with us. It would be great if they would peacefully give up the city, but I doubt that will happen.

Cath met with them briefly while i was organizing our soldiers, we’re not really here to negotiate anyway. Cath relays the deal to me, they are offering food in exchange for us leaving peacefully, they seem to think were some kind of simple raiding company, they don’t realize that it’s the city itself we want. Coming up with an idea i decide to meet with them, after arranging to get something from uncle of course.

I meet the men in the command tent we set up and pour myself and the four men a glass of wine, the same stuff my brother loves so much, whatever it’s called. The wine itself carries a disease uncle developed for occasions like this, and with me having ingested the cure a couple minute beforehand i can drink it without risk. The messengers however will return to the city and spread it amongst their ranks. It’s nothing too serious, just a headache, constant stomach pains, and cramps randomly occurring every once in awhile, but it is incredibly difficult to get rid of without the cure, and one of the few diseases that are virile enough to pass from person to person with casual contact.

Anyway, we talk, nothing come out of it except some nervous insults and they are sent back to the city after drinking their glasses. As soon as they are in the gate I give the order to start using the longer ranged weaponry we have, most of it won’t do a lot of damage, but it could get a lucky shot. More importantly it keeps the pressure upon them.

I also have our archers and mages start taking potshots at the men on the walls, telling them to keep their mana pools above seventy percent and their arrow counts above one hundred. Luckily conjuring arrows isn’t too difficult.

Shortly after that order is made Asmodeus approaches me.

“I can’t start draining the area of mana until i can get quite a bit closer” Asmodeus

“Building up our walls and moving them closer to the city is our next priority, we should be able to do that with minor disturbance for the next hour or so. Hopefully that should be enough.” Johanna

“Hopefully, for now i’ll help the builders then, the closer we can safely move the wall the better.” Asmodeus

With that conversation finished i start organizing our building crews, which are admittedly a little inexperienced so they need a closer eye than most. I find several group leaders and give them their orders before being on my way.

For now the ‘high command’ as we have been dubbed by the troops are able to personally give out orders as the situation evolves, that will change as the conflict heats up and more than thing will require our attention at any one time. Then we will have to retreat to the command center to give out orders, but for now it’s faster like this.

Currently high command consists of me, cath, and one other person, an old veteran mercenary that specialized in siege warfare named Griek, an ogre. With the rest of the leadership taking care of thing elsewhere, like setting up supply lines, and governing our other cities.

As i turn around to find our cartographers and receive a live map of the area that they are no doubt done with by now i hear an explosion behind me. A mage managed to strike our wall hard enough to crack it. It’s going to be a long day.