A general born to rule

A new kingdom and enemies

The Morning After

The night had been long, and as dawn began to break over Valorcrest, Marcus and the Dark Elf Queen lay side by side, the passion of the night before finally spent. The Queen, her dark hair splayed across the pillow, looked at Marcus with a satisfied smile, her eyes still glowing with the remnants of their shared moment.

But the peace was short-lived. Marcus, ever the strategist, knew that there was still much to be done. With a sigh, he rose from the bed, his mind already turning to the tasks ahead. He dressed quickly, his expression thoughtful as he glanced at the Queen, who watched him with a mixture of curiosity and affection.

“You should rest,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “We’ve won the battle, but there’s still a kingdom to rebuild.”

The Dark Elf Queen nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “I’ll be here when you return, Marcus.”

With a final nod, Marcus left the room, his mind already shifting gears from passion to planning.

Sam and Alara

Meanwhile, Sam had managed to sober up while waiting for Marcus. He had noticed Alara’s discomfort as her sensitive ears picked up on the sounds coming from Marcus’s quarters. Ever the considerate one, Sam gently covered her ears, trying to shield her from the noise. But in typical Sam fashion, he couldn’t resist playing with her tail a bit, causing Alara to swat at him playfully.

By the time Marcus emerged, Sam was more than ready to get down to business. The two men exchanged a look—one of understanding and determination. Without a word, they headed to Sam’s office, ready to discuss the next steps for Valorcrest.

Planning the Future

As they entered Sam’s office, the weight of their victory began to settle in. King George’s kingdom, once a powerful force, now lay in ruins, its cities and villages under the control of Valorcrest. But victory brought new challenges. Now that they had claimed the land, they needed to decide what to do with it.

Marcus sat down, his mind already formulating plans. “We need to solidify our control over King George’s lands,” he began, his voice steady and authoritative. “First and foremost, we need to rebuild the infrastructure. Railroads, roads, bridges—everything that will allow us to move troops, resources, and trade goods efficiently.”

Sam nodded, his mind racing with ideas. “We should also focus on the economy. The land is fertile, and there are plenty of resources we can exploit. We can turn this into a major economic hub, fueling our kingdom’s growth.”

They spent the next few hours discussing their plans in detail. They knew that the people of King George’s former kingdom would need to be integrated into Valorcrest’s society. They also knew that they needed to make a statement, to show the world that Valorcrest was not just a small kingdom, but a rising power.

“We need to rename the kingdom,” Marcus said finally, his eyes narrowing as he considered their options. “It needs to be something that strikes fear into our enemies and inspires hope in our allies.”

After some deliberation, they settled on a name: Mordrath—a name that carried with it the weight of darkness and power. It was a name that would remind everyone of the fall of King George and the rise of Valorcrest. But it wasn’t just about fear. They also needed to instill hope in their people.

“And for our capital?” Sam asked, leaning forward.

Marcus smiled, a cunning glint in his eye. “We’ll name it Lumenhold. It means ‘Beacon of Hope.’ We want the people to know that, under our rule, this land will flourish.”