Reeling in Loss

The first steps on the land of which they wished to Liberate. The Liberation Army had to punch through the gap in the mercenary forces. Which they gathered up at the local fort that lied to the north of the port city and to the east of the capital.

It was a somber feeling, to defeated and run to safety at first landfall. Also the lost of the priestess and child hood friend is eating away at Elias. Keima trying to consol the prince said, "I'm ashamed to hear you met such misfortune before I arrived."

Jeod still clad in his Ranger armor of a Paladin class spoke next. "Your Highness. This man is Keima, the knight that we spoke of earlier."

Elias replied, "A pleasure." Then Jeod spoke again, "Still ... It rankles the mind. I never would have dreamt that Dessel was after Lily and not you , my prince."

Elias asked, "Who was that enemy cavalrymen that took her?" and that is when Prescott responded, "His name is Liam. Formerly a proud servant to King Gerard. Not unlike myself. And just as I fell victim to Dessel and his foul magic. It would seem he had met with a similar fate."

Elias was still remorseful and frustrated, "All the same, why Lily?"

Then Keima added his opinion, "Perhaps her role as a priestess has something to do with it. Lately I've heard tell of Cornelia's desire to spread its roots into the Arcadia. Making one with direct ties a prime target."

Elias continued his somber words. "In any case, the risk to her safety is clear, should she fall in Dessel's hands. And sitting idly by only serves to stoke my worry further. Let us be off at once." then Elias turned for the door and started walking toward it.

Then a scoundrel looking man stepped up, and said, "Wouldn't do that if I was you. No chance you're helping the girl if you don't even know where you're going."

Elias was astonished by scoundrel and his words, but kept his composure. "And you are?"

Kemia replied, "Don't worry, he's a friend. A collaborator of mine by the name of Garrett."

Garrett spoke again, "Fancy way to refer to a spy. You need intel, dirt, or just the latest weather. I'm your man."

Keima asked the scoundrel, "And what of Liam?" which Garrett replied, "Rode east, faster then a clap of thunder. I can only assume he's going for the city. But the real problem is his army of mercenaries. We want after Liam, we've gotta go through them."

That is when the Ranger spoke, Jeod called to the prince, "Your Highness. We all share your sense of urgency, but we've no jope of aiding Lily without first routing the enemy before us."

Elias replied with confirmation, "Right, We depart as soon as we're able."

Then Jeod pulled out a map while they had this make shift leadership council sitting in their temporary fort. The others gather around and he explained, "We are here and the mercenaries are based here. The enemy forces are going to defend here." as he pointing to building icons on the map.

Prince Elias made a mental note and replied, "So, that fortress over there serves as the enemy command post."
Keima replied, "Indeed. Your Highness. And the region will not know peace until we can claim it as our own."

Keima continued, and moved his hand back to the other area on the map. "As for us, this fortress here is our first and final line of defense. If the enemy overruns it, we'll have nowhere left to turn."
Elias replied, "Then we defend it at any cost, and proceed forth with extreme caution."

Jeod said. "Perhaps we ought to go over the different class of warriors we have available."
Elias replied, "Such information will be most useful."
Jeod confirmed, "As you wish, my prince."

Jeod then outlined the plan, and started on the topic of forming groups and class of warriors they had at their disposal. And which that will be effective against the surrounding enemy.