The March Towards War

The days after Myst delivered her proclamation had been a chaotic period for the Coven and its allies in the Black Hell Guild. The armies that marched under the ebon and scarlet rose had to be quickly and yet secretly amassed, the element of surprise still lay on their side so long as their bases weren't discovered and subsequently destroyed.

From the moment the Queen returned, it marked the opening of the grand and glorious era that generations willingly gave their lives for, their sweat and blood serving to further the vampire's ambition to set the world ablaze. And in her way, she did not disappoint those who remembered the sacrifices rendered. The first order she delivered was to conquer the small nation of Midi to the south. The army that marched towards the first target was headed jointly by the Queen's Eye, Reimu Ryougetsu, and Swartz, at the latter's own insistence. The duo were given command of a regiment of soldiers as well as the remnants of Black Briar, and sent on their way, Reimu constantly relaying information back to the Blackbird Castle. Despite the absolutely minuscule size of the territory they marched against, the battle was still raging even three days after the Coven's forces touched the border. Thanks in no small part to the Black Hell Guild's aid and their logistical support, casualties in their camp were limited to only the most severe injuries and the southern army's assault pushed on. It would only be a matter of time before the slave-run economy and virtually paranoid leadership collapsed under the weight and folded.

After a day of deliberations and strategic information gathering among the remaining heads of the Second Balam Alliance as they were quickly becoming known as, it was agreed upon that the next target be Joya to the east, the mountan region perfect for building fortifications and to sneak-attacking both Stella and Iceberg, while the two were too busy warring with each other to stop anything the Coven-led nation of Minstrel could do.

The only question was who to send to totally consume Joya and crush whatever resistance they could offer. It took only an hour for the upper echelon to name Yashin and Judas for the campaign to the east, backed by however many troops they deemed needed to succeed.. In the same announcement, Myst invoked her authority as the sole Queen of the Coven to bestow upon Judas a title comparable to Saleen, a rank that meant none but the ruler herself could nullify his orders. No grand ceremony or revelry could be had with his ascent once again into the innermost circle, not until the war's conclusion. Within the Coven's ranks, it was understood the First Fang was indeed a loyal retainer to the Queen and her act was merely a formality to show it.

Myst spent much of her time when not preparing for the next campaign in the war holed up in a secluded room of the castle grounds, a room only the now-five members of the inner circle were granted knowledge of. Inside the room was a flat stone table and a number of thrones. The table was meant to serve as communication between her and them, allowing her to telepathically commune with them at will and for them to contact her.