MQ: Unconventional Tactics

[The International]

If anyone knew the Villeneuves, they would not have recognized any of them at this point. That was what they loved about their lives.

“What do we know?” Esme Villeneuve, now known to the Lady General of Raiaera as Elunice Velenith, was clad in ornate Bladesinger armor. His azure eyes were an epitome of ease. He ran his left hand through his neatly cut blonde hair while his right hand spun his circular buckler shield on the long table. It was his habit to fidget with things. Today, however, it was a truly nervous reaction. Even though Nalith had seen him in another form he had a haunting feeling that she would recognize him. Therefore he kept his head down and his attention elsewhere as she spoke.

“We know that the Necromancer’s army is vast, but the generals he can trust are far and few between thanks to Striker.” Nalith Celiniel said with her arms crossed. “His ancient history has left him somewhat paranoid. He would never grant one of his Death Lords more than he could overthrow himself. That is why Cara Skye, also known as the Lady of Death, has no more than two thousand undead under her command. She has little to no aerial assistance, which has kept us from being found. Unfortunately our intelligence indicates that the majority of her forces are high quality. They are all revived warriors with independent thought and centuries of experience on the field.”

“And she has just been the most dimwitted of pursuers, correct?” Alix Villeneuve, working under the alias of Arinotail Velenith, floated across the room. Out of all the Villeneuves, she may have been the most recognizable, retaining her auburn hair and her smooth gait as she walked across the giant map of Raiaera. The stage of war covered the entire wall behind Nalith.

“She has captured or killed several recon teams in the past month, and her own scouts have come quite close. A handful of our bravest have willingly sacrificed their lives acting as a distraction when she got close. The question is…” Nalith said as she placed her hands on the table. “Will they remember our location when they’re made undead servants?”

“That is a good question. Those poor souls…” Maelle Villeneuve said as she shook her head and tossed her curly golden hair. Her indigo eyes exuded a somber gaze upon the giant map as she imagined the suffering those otherwise sentient patriots of Raiaera’s past must have been going through. The young woman known as Mira Velenith wanted to kill each and every one of the soldiers in Cara Skye’s army. She genuinely wanted to end their suffering for some part of them had to know that they were betraying their homeland.

“We’ll kill each and every one of them.” Ludivine Villeneuve said with a crooked smile on her face. Only one of her cerulean eyes could be seen for the other was covered by her straight platinum hair. The brutal assassin known as Lilith Verenith wanted to kill Cara’s army for a different reason all together. The shadow dwelling High Elf took pleasure in being the harbinger of death and scandal.

“Do what you may with what we will have here. Elunice, I will charge you with the task of gathering a defense force. Remember that your primary objective is the preservation of the city.” Nalith gave a nasty look to Ludivine, only to be met with a mirrored reaction. “Take the battle to her only if necessary... Victrolis, you have been rather quiet. Is there something you would like to divulge?”

“No, Lady General,” Vespasian Villeneuve said as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his Bladesinger's armor. His azure eyes peered off into the depths of his mind. His siblings and parents could only imagine exactly what was going on in there, but they could deduce that he was creating a grand solution to the problem that was Cara Skye. They each knew how they as individuals would attempt to solve the problem, but Vespasian knew what they could do as a group, thus the youngest member of the family was ironically the mastermind. “I'm simply processing the information.”

“Very well.” Nalith said as she gathered her belongings. She allowed the family to exit the fortress villa of Tirinost. Before them stood a vast army of bright eyes and pointed ears. “We will be off then. May the stars watch over you as they already have.”

The soldiers cleared a path for the Lady General, and within minutes the army was off, leaving a clearing with only a handful of guards. The five Veleniths stood outside the iron clad fortress in a moment of silence. Esme was the first to break the silence. “That Nalith is something else, isn't she? A hero amongst commoners. We should follow her every command.”

“Absolutely.” Alix said with a nod of the head. “We should grant her every wish... But we aren't. Are we, son?”

Vespasian rubbed the back of his head. “... Not really.”