[ Eptian LXI ]

Some time later Eptih linked up with the Hetharcyp and he found that Fayareg had managed to renew them after their heavy losses battling with the Sonimian overlord. Eptih took command and set about to immediately reinitiate their insurgent campaign. Although they had been weakened numerically they had learned many lessons and therefore had become more hardened and capable. 

The time came for the meeting Eptih had agreed to attend with the leaders of some mortal cities and so once again Eptih put Fayareg in charge of the Hetharcyp with instructions to continue their work but to avoid major confrontations at all costs. Eptih took a small cohort with him and proceeded to the agreed upon meeting place. 

Upon arriving at the meeting Eptih was at fist greeted by Nolopan and subsequently introduced to nine other town leaders. Eptih was baffled by the cast before him and accused Nolopan of wasting his time but Nolopan assured Eptih that all in attendance were serious and capable of providing adequate amounts of manpower. Some of the leaders took acceptation to Eptih’s comments and arguments broke out among the attendees some of which defended Eptih wile others attacked him. Nolopan soon gained control of the floor and managed to redirect the agenda to what the original purpose of the meeting had been. From this point on the discussion revolved around the formation of a pan-Mortal army. Each of the leaders agreeing to supply a continuous supply of men to be trained by Hetharcyp. Much debate raged between Eptih and the leaders all of which began to bore Eptih greatly but eventually it was agreed that Eptih would commit to sending one hundred Hetharcyp to train waves of Mortals for the formation of an army, all of which would be done in complete secrecy. 

In addition to training this new army the Hetharcyp would provide protection to the developing army so that it could grow and strengthen in safety furthermore the Hetharcyp would continually send their portion of their numbers to join the army but only if the various leaders delivered their required recruits. Eptih having agreed to this believing an army was a good idea felt it was unlikely that the leaders could supply the necessary recruits but his was willing to try. The meeting ended and an agreement had been ratified to create a pan-Mortal army aimed at destroying the Velidians and freeing the Mortals from servitude. 

Eptih left the meeting with much to think about. If the leaders did provide the recruits needed he would have to do the same and thus weaken his forces that were currently in the field, fighting and hunted by every element of Velidian civilization. How could he weaken his force and not allow the Velidians to recognize this. Eptih realized that to buy time and appear larger then he was he would have to split his force into two thus appearing to be growing so rapidly that two separate divisions could be fielded, but in reality each of the two divisions would be very weak. It would be a dangerous gamble but if there were any hope of creating a pan Mortal army risk would need to be taken.  

While Eptih was away from the Hetharcyp meeting with the several Mortal leaders Fayareg had continued the campaign against Velidian Elements. Fayareg had gained Eptih’s confidence and this was the first time he was commanding the Hetharcyp with orders to continue regular operations. In the past when Eptih had left the Hetharcyp in Fayareg control they would recede from their regular strategy avoiding all conflict. Fayareg at first was doing well and had attacked many Velidian installations and managed to kill many Narcirogen. 

The word soon came that the Velidians had come back to Eptih’s hometown and had taken it establishing a capital for the New Sonimian overlord. Fayareg wondered if Eptih had been in command of the Hetarcyp at the time would have worked to prevent it. And with that Fayareg lost some of his confidence and was now looking to do something glorious to shore up his honor.