I Write Short Stories
Gelt’s Crusade, Part I
[quote](For the related post on just who exactly this "Balthasar Gelt" character is, see: https://similarworlds.com/34-Books-Literature/1286308-Who-is-Balthasar-Gelt-This-is-mostly-meant-as-a )[/quote]
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The sounds of revelry fill the streets of Altdorf, the congested capital city of the Empire of Man, with fireworks exploding overhead in mid-day, cries of joy floating upon the air and songs playing in celebration of the coronation of the new Emperor, Karl Franz. But Balthasar is not participating in the bright revelries above, he is brooding in the brazen gold halls of the Gold Order as he reads the reports pouring in. Middenland just north of Altdorf had only tacitly approved of the Emperor and was supplying arms and armor to secessionist forces who had swiftly claimed control of much of the greater capital province, Reikland. He had warned Franz of this danger but the fledgling Emperor had dismissed the threat that was now coalescing.
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This could not be allowed to threaten the security of the Empire in its most fragile time. As Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, Balthasar commanded considerable authority even without the support of the Emperor and he had strong personal ties to the Imperial Engineer’s School thanks to his experiments with black powder. Grunberg had only just joined the secessionists, one member of their leadership present and only a small armed force and it was no more than a day’s march from the capital. A threatening position indeed and an ideal place for them to launch an assault upon the capital itself and oust the man they see as a pretender to the throne.
The Supreme Patriarch tapped a metallic finger to his chin, creating the sharp [i]tink[/i] of metal-on-metal, as he considered his options. He had received gifts from the Imperial Gunnery School in return for a new formulation of black powder just a few short weeks ago that he could use to outfit volunteers. It would be a difficult rabble to control but something had to be done about the secessionists and soon, before more of the people saw Franz as the same pretender that the secessionists and Middenlanders did. He decided finally upon exercising his connections in the city to rally a force and strike at Grunberg. Franz could play his political games in the capital, Gelt would not let the Empire fall apart while their Emperor parleyed with politicians.
Gelt’s voice calls out to his aide in a metallic ring that is almost like that of a ringing brass bell, “Hendrik! I need as many men as you can muster within the hour and the gifts from Nuln we received last month ready for an immediate march on Grunberg.”
A pale man clad in red and gold robes shuffles into the room and bows his head, raising an eyebrow as he asks curiously, “Including the mortar?”
The Supreme Patriarch nods his head, his golden mask exaggerating the motion, “Including the mortar. See if you can get volunteers from some of the city defenders who are experienced with operating the mortars. And try to get some Outriders from the Pistolkorps for the rifles.”
Hendrik bows his head, responding quickly, “Of course, Lord. It will be done,” before ducking out of the room hurriedly to go about his master’s request.
Gelt turned back to the reports, reading further to best inform his moves to secure the Empire before it could slip through Franz’s fingers like so many grains of sand. This would be the start of a new era for the Empire of Man no matter how it played out, if all went according to plan then Gelt saw this as an opportunity for a true Golden Age...
[quote](For the related post on just who exactly this "Balthasar Gelt" character is, see: https://similarworlds.com/34-Books-Literature/1286308-Who-is-Balthasar-Gelt-This-is-mostly-meant-as-a )[/quote]
The sounds of revelry fill the streets of Altdorf, the congested capital city of the Empire of Man, with fireworks exploding overhead in mid-day, cries of joy floating upon the air and songs playing in celebration of the coronation of the new Emperor, Karl Franz. But Balthasar is not participating in the bright revelries above, he is brooding in the brazen gold halls of the Gold Order as he reads the reports pouring in. Middenland just north of Altdorf had only tacitly approved of the Emperor and was supplying arms and armor to secessionist forces who had swiftly claimed control of much of the greater capital province, Reikland. He had warned Franz of this danger but the fledgling Emperor had dismissed the threat that was now coalescing.
This could not be allowed to threaten the security of the Empire in its most fragile time. As Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, Balthasar commanded considerable authority even without the support of the Emperor and he had strong personal ties to the Imperial Engineer’s School thanks to his experiments with black powder. Grunberg had only just joined the secessionists, one member of their leadership present and only a small armed force and it was no more than a day’s march from the capital. A threatening position indeed and an ideal place for them to launch an assault upon the capital itself and oust the man they see as a pretender to the throne.
The Supreme Patriarch tapped a metallic finger to his chin, creating the sharp [i]tink[/i] of metal-on-metal, as he considered his options. He had received gifts from the Imperial Gunnery School in return for a new formulation of black powder just a few short weeks ago that he could use to outfit volunteers. It would be a difficult rabble to control but something had to be done about the secessionists and soon, before more of the people saw Franz as the same pretender that the secessionists and Middenlanders did. He decided finally upon exercising his connections in the city to rally a force and strike at Grunberg. Franz could play his political games in the capital, Gelt would not let the Empire fall apart while their Emperor parleyed with politicians.
Gelt’s voice calls out to his aide in a metallic ring that is almost like that of a ringing brass bell, “Hendrik! I need as many men as you can muster within the hour and the gifts from Nuln we received last month ready for an immediate march on Grunberg.”
A pale man clad in red and gold robes shuffles into the room and bows his head, raising an eyebrow as he asks curiously, “Including the mortar?”
The Supreme Patriarch nods his head, his golden mask exaggerating the motion, “Including the mortar. See if you can get volunteers from some of the city defenders who are experienced with operating the mortars. And try to get some Outriders from the Pistolkorps for the rifles.”
Hendrik bows his head, responding quickly, “Of course, Lord. It will be done,” before ducking out of the room hurriedly to go about his master’s request.
Gelt turned back to the reports, reading further to best inform his moves to secure the Empire before it could slip through Franz’s fingers like so many grains of sand. This would be the start of a new era for the Empire of Man no matter how it played out, if all went according to plan then Gelt saw this as an opportunity for a true Golden Age...
31-35, M
