World Conquest Online

Dom awoke in his bed in Riverside as the Head Maid, Ban Jieyu knocked on his door, the sun had barely risen in the distance and he reached out to wake up Meritamen, but was surprised that she was gone. Ban Jieyu had taken up the role as Meritamen’s right hand within the Town Centre, where as Chanda had become her left.

"Sorry to disturb you Lord Lazarus." Ban Jieyu stated sincerely. "Lady Meritamen asked me to awake you at first light as she said you had a busy day today."

"Thank you Lady Ban." Dom replied exhaustedly, his body aching from the long day and night. He climbed out of bed and got himself dressed, once again going for a casual outfit rather than his full armour. He also grabbed his sword the Harpe, leaving the Slaying Spear behind.

Downstairs he found Meritamen waiting for him, she was already dressed in her smarter tunic and was eating a small breakfast at the table nearest to the entrance to the upstairs. She was sat talking with Lucius who looked surprisingly refreshed and ready for a busy day.

"I went to the Bathhouse." Lucius commented with a laugh as Dom looked at him confused, "Crassus had me drinking too much and I needed a good wake up. Actually the bathhouse was quite busy this morning, I think a lot of people had similar evenings."

"I hope he is awake, as he’s coming with us!" Dom teased as he tiredly sat beside Meritamen who passed him a plate of food she had already got for him. He looked at her with a slight embarrassed tinge, and she smiled back with a wide grin. Lucius just rolled his eyes at them before continuing.

"Gan Ning has prepared the Galatea, and all of the Heroes have been notified that they may be needed, but I expect you have made your decisions on who you need with us today?" Lucius explained.

"I have had a think about it." Dom replied, "Ideally we should take a selection of Military and Domestic Heroes with us so we can plan as we travel. We don’t need to finalise who will be managing each area long term today, but at least we can begin that. I want us three to go, as well as Subutai and Shang Yang as a start."

"They are both already at the docks with Gan Ning, Subutai is preparing a small military detachment to follow on a separate Bireme, whilst some of the forces will be moving by land towards the first location." Lucius agreed, "Shang Yang has been organising two Merchant Ships full of Civilians with Xun Yu, most from Tongpai Town, but some from Riverside, who have the necessary skills to help build these two towns up."

"That is great, as I want Xun Yu with us as well. Of course we need Crassus and I want Artemisia to join us to be based at the Sea Location." Dom continued, "Also Qiao Guolao, I know that he has just arrived but I think it would be great for him to get involved, I have high hopes for Elder Qiao. It may be worth his daughter Xiao Qiao catching up with Xun You today and how she can support him."

"We need to take Hatshepsut as well, so she can draw up initial building plans for the Towns" Meritamen added, before asking. "What about the Military Commanders?"

"I want to leave the majority here so we can re-organise tomorrow." Dom replied, "So let’s just take Hua Rong and Tomoe with us. Hua Rong has excellent eye sight and Tomoe can manage the Military detachment we are taking with us. We already have Gan Ning and Subutai. This is mainly a domestic mission."

"Tomoe has been at the docks since before dawn, I’m not sure she wanted to be left behind." Lucius laughed, "I’ll have the others informed that they can stand down, I’m sure some will go back to bed."

"I’m quite jealous." Dom joked as he finished eating the food Meritamen had gathered for him.

.....

They had soon finished eating and made their way towards the Docks, as they walked they were joined by Hua Rong who seemed in a positive mood. He had his bow on his back and was dressed in some light leather armour.

"How was your evening Hua Rong?" Meritamen asked him with a slight teasing undertone.

"Thanks to you Lady Meritamen, it was excellent." He replied with a bow of the head. "I am quite excited for the future."

"What have you two been up to?" Dom asked, not knowing when Hua Rong and Meritamen had built up a friendship, having only had a couple of days where they could have properly crossed paths.

"As a reward for his Bravery, I introduced him to one of the former Concubines." Meritamen explained happily, "I believe her and Hua Rong would make a lovely couple."

"She is beautiful, and extremely talented." Hua Rong agreed.

Dom looked to Lucius who shrugged his shoulders in return. Meritamen had been working as a match maker in the background, trying to create ties for the new arrivals that gave them a common reason to be loyal to Riverside.

They soon arrived at the Docks, that were abuzz with movement at the early hours. The Bireme was already out at water with it’s Warriors onboard and ready to depart, as were the two Merchant Ships that had a small contingent of Civilians and some of Pullo’s Century on them.

At the docks the Trireme, the Galatea, was docked. It had a wooden stepped ramp ready for the arrivals to embark upon it. Beside it was the damaged Sibylla who was waiting for the Enyo to be launched so she could be taken in to the Shipyard and repaired. There were spaces in the new Shipyard, but Himilco had explained he wanted the most experienced team to fix her.

At the top of the ship, Dom could see that most of those he had expected to be there were gathered and waiting, with Artemisia and Crassus at the front of the Trireme, waving at Dom’s group as they arrived. Dom worried what would happen if he left the two of them together, as they were both very strong minded people in their own ways.

At the bottom of the ramp, Tomoe was waiting. She had left behind her normal armour and Naginata, and was instead wearing light leather armour similar to Hua Rong, with her two swords strapped to her waist. Dom expected that was because she wasn’t overly confident on the River and that the armour would weigh them down if there was any issues.

"Good Morning Lord Lazarus, Lady Meritamen, Mayor Lucius and Commander Hua Rong." Tomoe greeted kindly, "Commander Gan Ning has said that everyone is onboard and ready to depart upon your arrival."

"Thanks Tomoe!" Dom replied joyfully as he made his way up the ramp, with Meritamen grabbing the back of his Tunic for support. Lucius, Hua Rong and Tomoe then followed them up. As they arrived on deck, a deckhand quickly pulled the ramp in and Dom heard Gan Ning bark an order for the Galatea to be pulled free. Currently the oars had been pulled in and at the rear of the ship a couple of fishing boats were tied to the Galatea and were now slowly pulling her away from the dock.

Dom looked around, the top deck was filled with the Heroes that were joining them on this trip, as well as a selection of Hoplite who were assigned to the Galatea. Instead of their usual spears they had smaller javelins for throwing and their armour was lighter than their land counterparts. Beneath him he could clearly see through the large gaps in the floor the large amount of rowers that were below him. Most of these were retired Hittite warriors and their bodies had become more toned since they started their new roles.

At the front of the ship, that was now being reversed, were Artemisia and Crassus who were in deep conversation about something. Further back from them sat at a small table near the singular mast of the ship were Shang Yang, Xun Yu, Hatshepsut and Elder Qiao who were also in an excitable conversation about something. Lucius headed towards them, whilst Meritamen, Tomoe and Hua Rong stayed with Dom.

At the rear of the ship was Gan Ning, with Subutai and another person that Dom didn’t recognise from the back of them. They were discussing something with Himilco, who had decided he would captain the ship today for this excursion, which had made Dom laugh a little as his Shipwright used any excuse to get on the Galatea.

"It seems we have gained an additional guest for this trip." Meritamen laughed as she looked towards the rear. The third person in the group turned at her laugh and showed that it was Sun Ce, who had a large material patch attached to his face. Dom wondered what sort of adhesive had been used to attach it there, but it was clear that he wasn’t uncomfortable with it. She then turned towards the front of the ship, "I’m going to join Artemisia and Crassus, I am sure they will be up to no good and I want to see the view as we travel down."

"I am going to check in with the Hoplite and make sure everything is prepared." Tomoe stated as Meritamen headed off towards the front. Tomoe smiled kindly at Dom before heading towards the Hoplite that were currently making sure things were fastened down and checking the Rowers were all prepared.

Dom and Hua Rong headed towards the rear of the ship, where Gan Ning and Himilco were talking to the fishing boats that were pulling them out.

"A little more space please Ophelia!" Himilco shouted kindly to his almost girlfriend Helena’s daughter.

"The Galatea is much heavier than the Bireme’s and Merchant ships!" Dom heard Ophelia shout back angrily.

"I know, please just give her some more space." Himilco shouted back politely, not rising to the anger from Ophelia below, who was leading the fishing boats in pulling the Galatea back.

"Watch yourself!" Gan Ning shouted to the second fishing boat, that was about to get tangled in Ophelia’s line. The fishermen on that boat quickly apologised and changed course.

"This looks like a lot of fun." Dom laughed as he leant over the rear of the ship beside Subutai and Sun Ce.

"It has been!" Subutai laughed back, "We should be clear momentarily, that’s when it should get interesting."

"Cut the lines!" Ophelia yelled as they were far enough away that the oars could be released. Gan Ning quickly drew his blade and cut in to the two ropes that were attaching them, letting them fall loose in to the water so the fishing boats could pull them in to be reused again.

"Drop oars!" Himilco shouted loudly.

"Drop oars!" Dom heard echoed from below, as the time keepers who would beat the drums for pace passed on the orders.

Suddenly Oars appeared on both sides of the ship as the rowers below pushed them through the windows that they used. The ship came to life then as the oars on one side pushed one way, and the others the other way. The ship slowly rotated before facing down the River, with the Bireme leading from the front and the two Merchant Ships following from the rear.

"Gentle pace!" Himilco ordered loudly.

"Gentle pace!" Dom heard echoed from below again, as the drums began to beat at a slow pace as the rowers began to row in unison.

They were soon on the way and Dom leant against the rear of the ship with Gan Ning, Subutai, Sun Cen and Hua Rong. He looked down and could see the rest of the Heroes were all in their own conversations. Meritamen had joined Artemisia and Crassus at the front, and the three of them seemed to be laughing about something. Lucius had sat beside Hatshepsut and was talking with Shang Yang, Xun Yu and the Elder Qiao. Shang Yang was pointing at a sheet on the table they were sat on, whilst Xun Yu was pointing elsewhere on it.

"She’s impressive isn’t she." Gan Ning said to Dom as the Galatea slowly made her way down the coast, the momentum of the ship increasing steadily.

"I wasn’t expecting her to be so smooth." Dom replied seriously.

"I was explaining to Sun Ce earlier that our ships are much better than the ones from the Han where we came from." Gan Ning continued, Dom looked to Sun Ce who nodded his head in agreement. He had black hair, dark eyes and powerful eyebrows. He was naturally handsome and gave of the feeling of someone that should be followed. Dom however had many Heroes like that, and as impressive as Sun Ce was, nothing compared to Subutai.

"I have promised my wife and the good Doctor that I will refrain from talking too much." Sun Ce replied in respectful tone. "But I must thank you, for not only saving my life, but my wife’s. She has explained to me everything that has happened to her, as well as what happened to me. Without you, we would both be no more. You have my unending loyalty and I will make sure to pay you back tenfold for your kindness."

"That is a lot of words for someone that isn’t speaking." Subutai laughed, before patting Sun Ce on the shoulder in a friendly manner. Sun Ce squinted as his back was still painful even if his wounds were shallow, but he smiled slightly.

"I appreciate the words." Dom replied with a smile, before putting his arm out, "We are glad to have you with us, welcome aboard."

Sun Ce grasped Dom’s arm in response, the two of them sharing a look and acknowledgement with each other that Sun Ce was now one of Dom’s most powerful pillars.