( The day of the rebellion, outside Fort Ironclad )
Fort Ironclad was the strongest and most important stronghold in the Eastern Duchy, protecting the most vital trade routes of the region.
It was nearly impregnable and had enough supplies to outlast a year-long siege with ease and hence, it was vital that this fort would fall and fast, for the uprising to take over the entire Eastern Duchy.
Out of all the targets that The Uprising planned to hit today, it was undoubtedly the hardest to conquer, however, that was only if it were a fair fight.
With some of the uprising members having already infiltrated the working ranks of the fort staff, this operation was more simple now than it would have otherwise been.
Today, apart from the uprising rebels that had infiltrated the staffer ranks, a few thousand of the Uprising members had been instructed to gather a couple of kilometers outside Fort Ironclad, in a natural lowland that prevented them from being scouted by the enemy.
Their instructions were to gather at the location before 10 am, and hence the early ones began arriving at around 9 am, while the late ones waited till the last 10 minutes to reach.
Amongst those who gathered, some were veterans of past skirmishes, clad in mismatched armor and carrying weapons well-worn from previous battles. While the others were fresh recruits, still bearing the nervous energy of the inexperienced, their eyes wide with anticipation.
The atmosphere was surprisingly light. Laughter and banter floated through the ranks as small groups formed, sharing stories and idle chatter.
A pair of soldiers huddled near a rock outcrop, animatedly discussing the latest video they had seen on the forums featuring TheBoss and his new pet.
"I swear, did you see how it wielded a sword? Man, if I had a pet like that, I'd use it to give me fighting lessons," one rebel joked, earning a round of chuckles from his companions.
"Maybe we'll get lucky, and TheBoss will show up today with that thing," another added, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and playful sarcasm.
"Pfft… The big boss doesn't have time for small-time operations. There's no way he shows up here" Another added, as the group excitedly discussed their spiritual leader.
The mood was infectious, and even the more seasoned fighters couldn't help but join in.
At the front of the gathering, standing slightly apart from the rest, the legion commander raised a binocular-like device to his eyes, scanning the distant horizon where the towering walls of Fort Ironclad loomed.
His expression was stoic, but there was a quiet intensity to his movements, a certain tension that belied the easy confidence of the men behind him.
Fort Ironclad was formidable, with walls that rose high enough to cast long shadows over the nearby forest.
Its massive iron gates were closed tight, and from this distance, it seemed like a fortress designed to withstand any attack.
But today, that iron fortress was bound to fall.
The Uprising had a solid plan, and all the legion commander had to do now was waiting for the internal rebels within the fort to give the signal for the other men to charge.
The commander's gaze narrowed as he focused on the flag atop the fort's tallest tower.
Currently, it was a white flag with a blue cross—the standard of the Eastern Duchy, fluttering lazily in the morning breeze.
However, for the Uprising's attack to start, that flag needed to change.
Once the Uprising's red flag replaced the Duchy's colors, they would march.
'It shouldn't take too long now–' The commander thought, as at sharp 10 am, the rebels inside the fort were scheduled to start creating chaos.
*********
( Meanwhile, Inside Fort Ironclad )
Within the thick stone walls of Fort Ironclad, a different kind of preparation was taking place.
For months, the Uprising had carefully planted agents within the fort's ranks—blacksmiths, cooks, even a few low-ranking soldiers. They had lived among the common folk and were now indistinguishable from the rest, waiting for this very day.
In the bustling kitchens, the tension was palpable. A pair of cooks exchanged quick glances, their hands working mechanically over the bubbling pots and sizzling pans. One of them wiped sweat from his brow and gave a sharp nod to the man beside him.
It was time.
They had been waiting for the internal command, a silent message sent within the guild chat. And when it came, they were ready.
In one fluid motion, the cook closest to the stoves overturned a pot of boiling stew, sending flames licking up the sides of the wooden counters. The fire spread quickly, feeding on the oil-soaked rags strewn about, and within moments, the kitchen was ablaze.
Elsewhere in the fort, a group of blacksmiths moved swiftly down the main alley, pushing a cart laden with explosive ammunition. They had positioned it perfectly, right in the center of the main thoroughfare.
And the moment they got the command, one of the blacksmiths, his face grim and focused, lit the fuse. The others scattered, vanishing into the shadows of the fort's side alleys, as seconds later a massive explosion tore through the alley with a deafening roar, sending shards of stone and debris flying in all directions.
*KABOOM*
Screams echoed through the fort as guards rushed to the scene, only to be met with chaos.
Meanwhile, near the fort's entrance, a pair of saboteurs had positioned themselves by the main gate's pulley system—the only mechanism that controlled the massive iron gates.
When the command to begin the rebellion arrived, they quickly sprang into action killing the unsuspecting NPC guards, as they quickly opened the iron gates.
Then, as instructed, with one quick slice of their blades, they cut the thick ropes that were attached to the pulleys that opened and closed the iron gates, rendering the gates immovable.
No one would be able to shut them now, giving the invading forces a clean path to enter.
Through the chaos and confusion, the flagman climbed the stairs to the top of the tallest tower, unnoticed in the turmoil.
With steady hands, he lowered the white flag of the Eastern Duchy and replaced it with the red banner of the Uprising.
For a moment, it fluttered in the breeze, almost unnoticed.
Then, the first horn sounded from outside the fort.
*********
( Back Outside Fort Ironclad )
The legion commander lowered his binoculars, his jaw clenched tight. The red flag had been raised.
"It's time," he murmured, his voice low but filled with the weight of the command. He turned to the gathered forces behind him, raising his arm in the air. "Prepare to charge!"
The lighthearted atmosphere vanished in an instant as the rebels straightened, gripping their weapons. Nervous energy crackled through the ranks as they formed up, their eyes now fixed on the looming fortress ahead.
The horn blared again, louder this time, and with a single, unified roar, the Uprising's forces began to march forward.
Their goal being to take down fort Ironclad, the fortress labeled the impregnable virgin of the east.
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/// A/N - Last day of mass release sponsored by patron Art.
This is chapter 1 of 4 for the day.
I hope you enjoyed it. ///