In the open space outside the camp, His Excellency Theus, wearing an apricot mage robe, walked out of a carriage covered with delicate vine reliefs, holding a deep crystal scepter and wearing a silver ring crown. He looked like a noble lord coming to inspect and raised his hands.
A majestic demeanor that makes people dare not look directly at him.
There are two followers behind Lord Theus, one is a strange guard wearing black leather armor, black cape, and black helmet, and the other is a girl in simple clothes, holding a black cat in her arms.
And further behind, there is an army of thousands of people, with helmets and armor, and swords and halberds like a forest. If you look at it with "secret vision", you can see the aura looming, and there are many elite men equipped with magic items.
The general asked his personal guards to line up on both sides, and the bards accompanying the army blew horns and played military music. The general himself opened his arms and hurried forward to greet him. Lord Theus also hugged him, like an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.
"Pretending." Wolf laughed and cursed when he saw this situation from a distance.
The mysterious knight with a gray beard was holding his pipe in surprise: "Brother Wolf, don't be too loud. That Lord Theus is the high mage of the Tower of Pentagram, and he is also a student of the 'Duke of the Heart'!"
"Oh?" Wolf raised his hand and touched his nose to hide the smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Brother Wolf, haven't you seen those psychics? There are also psychic warriors serving in the alliance's standing army. The army that is coming for reinforcements now, I see the few strong men in the front row carrying giant swords and hammers, they are probably also
Psychic warriors." The Mystery Knight said: "Even though they are similar to us Mystery Knights, they can both cast spells and know melee combat, but they are actually much more powerful! When they fight, they are used to using the 'Giant Transformation Technique', swinging their sledgehammers and axes,
No worse than the boys under your command, brother Wolf. There are even some advanced psychic warriors who can summon starlight power armor and can smash through a steel door several inches thick with one punch. Their strength is comparable to that of a golem!"
"Starlight power armor?" Wolf asked, and there were mercenaries on the left and right listening attentively.
The gray-bearded Arcane Knight said: "I have heard those mages mention that the advanced spiritual warriors cultivated by the Golden Flower Society can summon their own personal constructs, but they are not like arcane constructs or magic constructs.
Act like that and wear the construct on your body, just like armor."
Someone interjected: "Isn't it just like the 'Mage Armor'? Is it so exaggerated? A 'Dispel Magic' is all it takes."
The Secret Knight shook his head and said: "You still have little experience. Someone tried it before, but it didn't even work with 'Advanced Dispelling Magic'. That is probably a rare supernatural ability! And wearing this starlight power armor, all power and speed protection are available
Ascend, you can jump fifty or sixty feet, you can also fly short distances, and the weapons in your hands can add elemental energy damage at any time, making you a master at attacking fortresses!"
Wolf said: "These abilities are still brought back to their original form in the anti-magic field."
The Secret Knight smiled bitterly and said: "So what about the anti-magic field? Those are psychic warriors, and their melee strength is very powerful! Who among the characters coming out of Evergreen City these days doesn't have a few refined weapons and armor? There are even some.
Legend has it that some psychic warriors can kill snow trolls with their bare hands. If we really have to fight in close combat, my body will probably have my neck broken in just a few encounters. Only Brother Wolf and you group of berserker warriors can withstand it."
"There are probably only a few psychic warriors with this ability. How can they all be so powerful?" Wolf said absently.
"That's even better than our Secret Knights. The Golden Flower Society is a unique organization of psychics, and it has attracted many people to join over the years." The gray-bearded Secret Knight took two puffs of his pipe and sighed: "They teach openly
That six, what kind of technique..."
"Control the Six Qi Guidance Technique?"
"That's right? That's the name! I also practiced for a while? It's a pity that I didn't get anything out of it, otherwise I would have planned to go to Evergreen City for further training." The Secret Knight turned to look at Wolf: "Brother, I have also practiced this.
Playing tricks?"
"After a few days of practice." Wolf replied casually, but seemed to look down upon him.
"That's right. With Brother Wolf's abilities, he may not really be afraid of these psychic warriors."
Wolf looked at the group of people who were welcomed into the camp by the general. The serene-looking girl behind Theus looked familiar? But he couldn't remember who it was for the moment.
"Is this... Lord Theus here to support you?" Wolf asked.
The mysterious knight with a gray beard said: "Maybe... ok? Are you all in the tent? There's no fun anymore."
…
"Your Excellency Theus, this is the situation in the south that we have discovered so far." The middle-aged general with receding hairline spread out the map and said to the senior mage in front of him: "The snake people are currently retreating to the hilly area in the southwest? There.
Are there a large number of underground lairs dug by the snakemen, even connected to the dark areas? Not only are they difficult to find, but they are also difficult to completely destroy. And the swamp lake where the frogmen gather is located downstream of the river in the southeast? One of the temples is located on the edge of the lake, surrounded by
It’s also a large frogman settlement.”
Theus, who had grown a mustache, nodded calmly, and the middle-aged general asked nervously: "Your Excellency Theus, please forgive me for asking, how long will the war last? Here.
We are already some distance away from the towns in the rear. In the past, the war was difficult, and the surrounding environment was humid and hot. Many soldiers suffered from dysentery, and the morale and mood of the army were not high. If it hadn't been for the recent internal rift between the snakemen and the frogmen, so that
Our army seizes the opportunity to launch a massive attack, but I'm afraid we won't be able to sustain it."
Theus caressed the deep crystal scepter without saying a word, while a man and a woman stood behind him, casting vague glances. The middle-aged general's face was sweaty and oily, but the girl holding the black cat was fine.
, but it was the strange guard in black armor, black helmet and black cloak. Under the strange helmet that completely covered his head and face, there was a heavy breathing sound like a bellows, which made the atmosphere in the tent quite depressing.
The middle-aged general tugged on his collar. He felt a little out of breath, as if someone was pinching his neck. But he did not dare to express his dissatisfaction at will. Those were the bodyguards of His Excellency Theus, and Theus is now not only
The high mage of the Pentagram Tower is also one of the students of the "Duke of Mind", and his appearance probably represents the attitude of the legendary psychic.
"Recently, the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce has cultivated a plant that requires a humid and hot environment for large-scale planting." Lord Titus said: "The southern part of the Everglades Province is such an area, but in order to ensure the safety of future plantations,
We must push the activities of the snakemen and frogmen further south. I led the army to reinforce you, also to consolidate your victory, general."
Hearing the words "your victory", the middle-aged general was secretly pleased. Although he had lined up his own soldiers and welcomed him with military music, he was worried that Lord Theus would come to pick up the fruits of victory.
"The plant cultivated by the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce? Is it some kind of magical herb?" the middle-aged general asked with a smile.
Theus smiled and said: "That's not true, it is a special textile raw material."
"Then I wonder how Your Excellency Titus plans to launch an attack next?" the middle-aged general asked: "It is best to choose only one of the snakemen or the frogmen to attack. And if you attack only one, the other will be defeated.
One party feels that it has a chance to breathe. At the moment when their conflicts erupt again, the other party who is safe does not dare to take risks easily."
"The target this time is the frogmen." Theus pointed to the lake on the map: "I won't hide it from you, general, but I actually have another purpose in attacking the frogmen this time, which is to control their egg pool."
The middle-aged general knew that frogmen's eggs were raw materials for spells. Many wars these days were started due to the origin of various spell raw materials. It was normal to need dead things like gems and metal ores, and it was not surprising to use living things. Necromancy
Although it is considered illegal in many places to cast spells on living people, it has always been banned repeatedly.
"But as far as I know, the frogmen will protect their egg pools to the death, and there must be a large number of frogmen around to defend them. If they attack deep into the swamp, there may be many obstacles." The middle-aged general advised.
"I understand this, so I will first send a few elite troops to sneak into it." Theus said: "They will destroy the frogmen's defense line inside, and we will not attack the frogmen on the ground this time."
"Not from the ground?" The middle-aged general was a little confused: "But we don't have many people here who can fly and fight. Although the frogmen are not good at flying spells, they hide in the dense rain forest and lurk. Our mages fly in
It is not easy to find targets in the sky. As for setting fire to the forest, we have tried it in the past. The frogman wizards can extract water from the swamp rainforest to extinguish the flames. They have a great advantage."
Theus smiled: "Who said we are going to attack from the sky?"
"This... doesn't come from the ground or the sky, could it be from the water?" The middle-aged general shook his head quickly: "The frogmen are amphibious monsters. Their defenses are just as tight underwater. We don't even dare to fight them easily on the boat.
."
"A little further down," Theus said.
The middle-aged general suddenly realized: "It's underground? Do we have to go from the Dark Area to the Frogman Settlement?"
"Yes!" Theus said seriously: "This is a passable route that has been confirmed many times. I have obtained a map of the dark area in the southern part of the province from Archmage Qidaluoq. And this dark area is very
It may have been dug by ancient giants. The road is wide and the foundation is stable enough for thousands of troops to march!"
"There is actually a large area of Darkness under our feet?" The middle-aged general was a little surprised, and then asked: "But won't there be obstacles on the way? I heard that there are always some strange creatures in the Darkness."
"There will be snakemen coming out, but we have sent people to contact them in advance, and the other party allowed our army to pass," Theus said.
The middle-aged general still had some concerns: "Although the snake people and the frog people are once again hostile to each other, but thousands of troops passed through the dark area, will they really not leak the news? What if this is a trap?"
"The general doesn't know enough about the snake people. These snake people living in the dark area are slaves of low blood. Their only job is to mine for the surface snake people." Theus said: "Actually, Qida Luoq
The mage has long maintained certain contact with these underground snake people, and these underground snake people have also been plotting to overthrow the rule of the surface snake people. If there is not a definite and reliable plan, I will not explain it to you, general... It's just that this matter requires
Keep it secret for now.”
The middle-aged general asked: "But our trip is to attack the frogman settlement. Is it safe on the other side of the Underdark?"
"This is also the task of the advance elite. They will help us clear the obstruction to the exit at the other end." Theus raised his hand and motioned to the two followers behind him: "These two are masters sent by my teacher, as well as myself.
Will go there in person."
The middle-aged general was shocked when he heard this: "Your Excellency Theus! Why don't you personally take action on this kind of thing? Wouldn't it be enough to spend money to send a few skilled adventurers?"
"How could an ordinary adventurer do such a thing? If the news is leaked, it will not be conducive to the subsequent military operations." Theus waved his hand and said: "And general, don't worry, I am fully prepared this time, that is, I will completely defeat the frog."
People rushed to the barren mountains and rivers further south. After all, the Mutual Protection Alliance still needs to use troops elsewhere, and it cannot always be held back by the south."
The middle-aged general finally understood that Lord Theus's arrival was obviously an arrangement by several big figures in the Mutual Protection Alliance, and was actually intended to end the war in the Everglades Province as soon as possible.
"Is there going to be a war in the north?" The middle-aged general knew that although the Mutual Protection Alliance had been established for ten years, this obvious separatist behavior did not immediately attract strong sanctions from the empire. This may have something to do with those legendary strong men, but
In fact, various small-scale conflicts continued, and sea routes were also blocked by the Imperial Navy.
"I don't need to worry about this matter too much, General. Let's focus on the battlefield in front of you first." Theus said: "The army I brought will be left to you, General, for the time being. There are also guides who understand the Dark Territory. But I
You may need to find one or two more masters, preferably one who is good at melee combat. Does the general have any recommendations?"
The middle-aged general thought of a high-level mage like Theus. If he were to form a small team to adventure alone, the matching melee warriors would also need high-level characters. Generally, high-level warriors wear armor and hold weapons. Dealing with ordinary soldiers is as easy as chopping melons and vegetables.
With such skill and martial arts, he would either serve as a commander in the army, or work as a personal guard for the lords and nobles, or as a bodyguard for the rich. The general did have several high-level soldiers as personal soldiers around him, but he was reluctant to give them to Tiu.
Go on an adventure.
The middle-aged general could only say: "I do know that there is such a master. He can beat the frogman wizard who turned into a super-large toad to death in three or five strokes. But he is a mercenary leader, and his behavior is quite brutal.
He is not a serious warrior, so I wonder if Your Excellency Theus can accept it?"
"Oh? There is such a person? It doesn't matter if you are a mercenary leader. At worst, I will pay extra." Theus said cheerfully.
"Then I will bring him immediately to His Excellency Theus." The middle-aged general quickly asked his subordinates to call for someone. After a while, he led the tall and strong Wolf into the camp and met with the stunned Theus.