"Purging" | Baldwin, Sanctified

Written by Yankee Samarai

The sign breaks under the hatchet. It welcomed many into the outpost. A pole is erected, and the flag of the Sanctified waves in the wind.
Baldwin breathes deeply, although it hurts his lungs. His fever is worsened, his face pale, constantly sweating. He sees the flag from his bed at the inn, his HQ.
knock knock
Baldwin gestures for his nurse to leave.
As she exits, two men in blue tunics enter. One is elderly, short hair, a long beard, and carries tubes of paper. The second is Scarface. They bow. "Sire!"
"What news," Baldwin ignores their ceremony.
Scarface speaks "The garrison rests at 600 strong Sire. There are many recruits, the range of skills and abilities remarkable. Also, Bergenstaat has released our new line of mag-fighters (weaponized mag-gliders, so airplanes essentially).
"And what of our fighters?"
"Within the hour they will be landing on the sky islands in this region, we shall have total dominance of the area."
At this point, the elderly knight moves to Baldwin's bedside, laying out a blueprint of Adventurers Outpost and plans for a brand new fortress.
"Of course," his voice is cautious "we must beware the Pale is still roaming about. And many of the prisoners we set free seem intent on causing trouble. We may want to delay building new forts, and spend our resources making our position here impregnable. Also we might want to hasten transportation of the weapon to a sky-island, where it will be safe from most attacks. Currently we have 150 men guarding it, but we have sent reinforcements. We should add additional towers for our rifleman, raise and thicken our walls, and prepare ourselves for a ground assault."
Baldwin clenches his fist "Donindor slipped from my grasp! Our victory was so close."
"We are looking Sire."
Baldwin is silent, but angry. He looks out the window, he can see the Kokkan in chains. "I am beginning to think we are going to a great deal of trouble for a bounty. Are you certain Hwrang House is as powerful as you say?"
Both commanders shift, "Without question Sire!"
Baldwin leans into his pillow. "I am imagining a different use for her."
Scarface is the only one brave enough to question "Is your brother giving you doubts?"
"It would be disappointing to enter the afterlife without him. But he is too bound to this earth." coughing "If the other Kokkan never shows up...disassemble the traps, and prepare her for a purging."
"You mean to not send her off?"
"I do, just with more heat...perhaps. Let me pray about it."