∞ 60: Much-needed practice [written/action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[written]

Genis, please send a message when dinner is ready. I will be out for awhile.

If anyone needs me, I will be in the library.


[action]

[For lack of anything better to do on a nice summer afternoon, Albert has decided to sit in the library with a ... somewhat-odd setup. A map stretched across a table out of sight from the front door, dotted with small wooden figures designed as soldiers, cavalry, archers, mages... The map, upon closer inspection, shows patches color that denote plains, mountains, water bodies, and forests.

In some ways, the setup looks like a game board. It's really a lasting reminder of another strategist's presence in Luceti; he was the one who had introduced Albert to the method of practice, after all.

Nearly two years in Luceti without access to strategy books and news of warfare have dulled his skills. He doesn't look pleased as he makes moves for both armies.]

Comments

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[New scouting information reaches the Imperials on the seventh day; the Patriarchal army is still not in sight, but now they know they are there. General Reinhardt won't merge the mage units back into the central battalion, in spite of the advice of his strategist; he is a loyalist, after all, and the mages are the only units not completely consisting of Imperial Faction members and family. The leader of the mages himself, Simeon, has been forced to assist them. The head strategist sends scouts out to General Busk to report Reinhardt's bias, but they will reach the capital far too late.

He again reforms the mages at the base of the hill, grabbing a ruler to measure their trajectory. A thunder attack would provide a directional wave attack.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[Raine can gather that he's seemingly measuring the distance of an attack range. And he's still showing little signs of noticing anything outside of his little world. She speaks again after he's finished handling the mages. Something to ask, in any case]

Which form of magic will they be using?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Enough mages will propel the spell far enough to smash into the Patriarchal lines. Albert spares a glance to look at the number of magic units, calculating the number they actually represented, and then follows the ruler along the map to show the path of the spell.]

Lightning. The spell Thunder Runner stretches across the ground in a move best described as a wave of blade slash. [The Imperials were lined up before the overpass, which extended in a perpendicular angle in front of them. The cavalry will be the ones who take the brunt of the spell.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

... I see. Hm. That seems to be a lot of distance for a spell. [Raine figures there are other things to take into account, but observing what he's doing at least is somewhat of an attempt to distract herself.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

There is a reason there are so many mages accompanying any sort of army that makes use of rune magic. [A fair amount of casualties. The Patriarchal army still has the overpass working in their favor, and the high ground as they change course for an offensive. Without a feasible way to escape, they reform ranks and charge.

The Imperial mages are done for.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[She watches this, curiously.] That seemed short-lived.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Politics are as much a part of a war skirmish as anything. Bias can lead to needless casualties or leave openings to other options. [He clears most of the mage figurines from the map, leaving a single one that is absorbed into the cavalry. With the advantages of surprise and rune mages taken from the equation, the Imperials will have to retreat or be diplomatic to leave without a staggering amount of casualties.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Mmm. Of course.

For now they still seem to be in a bind, unless they can do some quick maneuvering.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

They won't. They happen to have an incompetent general. [He frowns wryly, like it's some sort of joke.]

Were you looking for something, Professor?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I... see. [Except she's not sure she does see. Must be a private joke.]

Hm? I was just picking up some books. Lloyd and Simon will be in need of some lessons, so I was planning on writing them up later.