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Defender Text: To War For Peace

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AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY DEFENDERS HAVE BEEN RUSHING TO RECOVER TEXTS FROM THE PAST. SOME HAVE EVEN SPENT TIME TO WRITE NEW ENTRIES INTO THE LIBRARY.

BELOW ARE TEXTS ADDED DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS. THESE DEFENDER TEXTS ARE ALL WRITTEN FROM ONE PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW AND BELIEF….

Manuscript for Lord Amberlight, the Lightbringer.

This manuscript contains observations and tactics developed with the explicit purpose of helping combat the Aruan Forces in the aftermath of the conflict known by some as the Ikaness War. I am Zeke, a Champion of the Empyreans, member of the Comanchees and former Aruan. The purpose of this manuscript is not only to help the allied forces in their coming battles with the Aruans, but also to take lessons of the past and implement into a style of war whose objective is to cause the least amount of casualties and loss of resources as possible.

To use knowledge of War to prevent it in the first place, is the single greatest use of that knowledge. When already found in War, to achieve victory with the minimum necessary use of violence is the highest form of wartime skill.

May all who read this work benefit from it in its intended manner, to help prevent bloodshed and suffering. And to Amberlight, of the Antumbra, may this open the doors to future cooperation and unity as we strive to build a better world together. May the Righteous triumph.

1) Declare an united War against the Enemy:

One of the Aruans’ biggest weakness is a lack of cohesion and cooperation among their ranks. They are led by their Legionnaires and Generals mostly by force and fear of repercussions rather than respect and a sense of solidarity. So too must we take this as a lesson, and make sure we are united in all future major endeavors, for those whose hearts are not fully committed cannot be expected to give their all when the time comes. The inner enemy must be defeated first, before the external enemy is to be vanquished.

2) Do not become predictable in War:

As narrow sighted as Aruan upbringing can make Defenders, it does not mean they are blind. They can and will figure out ways in which their enemies can be overcome, especially in the middle of combat, they can be dangerously crafty and creative. We must always make it a point to overwhelm our enemy’s ability to adapt. Once they have adapted to one of our stratagems, we can use it as a bait, or keep rotating between different tactics to always keep them on the back foot.

3) Do not lose your Presence of Mind:

Many times during my service to the Aruans did well-thought out plans and organized formations fall apart in the blink of an eye. They are susceptible to multiple events happening in tandem or unexpected issues to arise during battle. Leaders quickly anger and will likely try to force things to work, leaving them exploitable to infiltration, subterfuge and sabotage. So too must we learn from this, and never forget to not let our emotions get the best of us, to watch what is happening as the battle progresses and understand that War has ebb and flow, not a strict set of instructions to follow. The commander who loses their cool first, will likely lose the battle. Seek out for opportunities to present themselves, and react swiftly, without hesitation.

4) Be Urgent:

Aruan keep a vice grip on major affairs by making their Generals and Legionnaires carry the burden of most major decisions. This came at a cost, however, since if any leaders did not treat tasks and preparations with a sense of Urgency, they would not get done. These would add up, and lead to dozens, if not hundreds of unattended tasks as the lower ranks found themselves meandering looking for something to do. As we prepare to bring down the Goddess, so too must we be wary of falling for this trap. We must treat everyday as if it was the last day of preparations that we have, and strive to make the most of it. Even if we have months to prepare, this will ensure that our work is of the highest caliber, so it is treated with the same respect as if it were our last.

5) Avoid the snare of Overwhelmed Leaders:

Defenders raised under the Aruan Reign are familiar with the caution one needed to have if information was learned that would be deemed dangerous to the Reign. Aruan censorship caused the deaths of many in order for them to keep their guise of harmony going as long as possible. This also caused their leaders to be overwhelmed, having to keep an eye on their enemies and their allies. We must learn that the power of a leader is not in getting everything done personally, but to delegate and empower those who have the talent for certain tasks to do so in ways even the leaders themselves could not do. Thus do all the ranks of our forces understand they are a part of all our victories, and all our defeats; and this will create a call to action where all are united under the same cause. One of the greatest assets of all great leaders is a Chain of Command they can be confident in. Do not be lazy and give away all your authority, however, as it is still your responsibility as a leader to leverage tasks and guide those under you.

6) Be parts of a Whole:

As all Aruans lacked a cohesive unity, so too did their power lack this in almost all conflicts they took part in. Unless a leader drilled into their heads a single, simple thing to do…rarely did they have the tactical flexibility to adjust to their enemies. We must look at this and see an opportunity of growth. Our forces are varied and unique, many have specialties, combat styles, cultures and tools of different nature. We must embrace what the different parts of our forces are talented at and let them master their crafts, but we must also look at the bigger picture, and see how these individual parts can work in tandem to achieve extraordinary results. The true power of a complex force such as us, is when we know to harness our specialties, being fast and precise; and when to unite as a single unit, being powerful and overwhelming.

7) Pick your Battles:

Aruans are easily provoked, and their fury is certainly something to fear. However, their quickness to retaliate or eliminate something they see as a threat, makes them incredibly susceptible to feints and baits. We must take this as a lesson to beware our Egos and temper our pride so that it does not worsen out situation. There are battles that need not be fought. Do not fight battles you understand cannot be won, especially if there is a means of avoiding it. Do not fight a battle than can be won, but at great cost…a victory that inflicts massive losses is often times worse than a defeat.

8) Seek to Turn the Tables:

As a defender on the frontlines of Aruan conflicts, few times did I see a more crushing defeat than when we let out guard down for we thought we had won. After a battle, we are mentally and physically exhausted, and often sit down to debrief or simply fool around. It is at this time, we are weakest. As leaders, we should take this lesson to heart. Patience and observation are powerful tools in war, even losing battles and situations can be turned around by retreating, feigning defeat, and turning the tables on the enemy as they lower their guard. More honed warriors will not lay their guard down, but they too can be baited. Battles often favor the Defense, even if this is due to a provoked attack.

9) Trade Space for Time:

Aruan combat tends to be very responsive. They are few and far between, those who are constantly on vigil and watching pieces move as time passes. During this time, their enemies could recover, prepare, and eventually come back stronger, leading to many defeats in Aruan Military history. As commanders of this new coalition, so too must we understand this concept. Yielding the enemy a space they covet, can work wonders in buying us far more time to take it back and beyond. If the enemy comes with overwhelming force to take an objective, putting up minimal resistance and using this time to reposition and attack from an advantageous point is the greatest of tactics in preserving our own men and resources. If the enemy is broken and retreating, do not give them a chance to recover. Always seek to fight on your terms.

10) Have a clear Ultimate Goal:

Aruans tend to attack with single, short term goals in mind. Rarely have I seen Grand Strategy being talked about no matter in which type of debriefing I found myself in. This meant that often times, we understood every single battle to be paramount and important for our ultimate victory, which made all losses more crippling to morale than they should have been. The lesson here is to have a clear goal of what the major objectives of the War is, and keep those in mind always. Even though minor conflicts can be lost, as long as our true goals are being met, and they remain a mystery to our enemies, we will be the ultimate victors. This is the true meaning behind the saying of “Losing the battle, but winning the War,” for it is this clarity of purpose that lets you know what to give up, and what to fight for. Done right, by the time the enemy notices what you are doing, it will be too late.

11) Know your Enemy:

Information is the ultimate downfall of the Aruans. Even information they possess which is vital to their victories takes time to be shared to the proper leaders. Their constant competition and distrust among Defenders and Demigods, creates huge gaps in reports. This is lethal in War. Information is everything, understanding what the enemy is up to, keeping track of what you are doing, and especially having control of what information can be sent to the enemy are all the highest standards in waging war while minimizing violence. Entire conflicts can be settled without a single arrow being shot, and this can be achieved through the power of intel.

12) Overwhelm the Enemy:

In longer engagements, we often grew accustomed to how the pace of the battle was being held. In times where this pace was suddenly changed, we often routed shortly afterwards. Setting the pace of a battle is one that requires preparation and coordination, but once the enemy is accustomed to a slower pace, a lightning fast attack can overwhelm their defense and end a conflict in mere moments. Such victories are powerful, and are essential to minimizing bloodshed.

13) Hit them where it Hurts:

I often saw battles take place as an Aruan where there was little strategic value to the objectives we took. War for War’s sake is the most desecrated form of the art. To minimize conflict and collateral damage, objectives must have a purpose. Meaningless battles for objectives that are useless or of little relevance are a sign of a bloodthirsty warrior, not a commander of War. If conflict over objectives of little value should ever occur, it should only be to distract or mask our greater, ultimate objectives.

14) Divide and Conquer:

Be it fighting alongside the Demons they call Demigods, field units, or themselves… Aruans often have issues working together. There are many components to the Aruan reign which are individually powerful: a legion of Demons, high-ranking and skilled Defenders, powerful and destructive technology. However, they are not united, and splitting this daunting force to be picked off will allow even battles that would be costly, to be won with minimal losses.

15) Envelop the Enemy:

With their delicate command structure, put into a situation where they are isolated and in danger will easily route an Aruan offensive. Being intricately familiar with the land we will fight on, and using all means of transport and combat the terrain allows for such as Vessels, Tunnels, High Ground, Narrow Passages and Entrapments will make the enemy feel there is no safety and cause them to remain anxious and on edge. This type of enemy, can easily be manipulated.

16) Maneuver the Enemy into Weakness:

The ferocity of Aruan offensive can cause much destruction, but it can also be constantly guided into fighting on terms that are not their own. Maneuvering them into positions they are weak, such as eliminating the Demons from the battlefield, fighting from outside of their line of sight, leading them down fortified positions. When the enemy advances with ferocity and zeal, let them do so to their own demise.

17) Use your Victories to Negotiate:

Aruans often negotiated for terms after crushing their enemies. This often lead to deals that, while advantageous in the short term, only led to remorse and uprisings in the future. The lesson here is to Negotiate with the other side of the table in mind, seek win-win negotiations before, during, and after conflicts. As your success and influence grows, your demands will sounds more reasonable instead of more threatening. Not only will this have greater chances of success, but also will create enduring treaties instead of the short-lived ones drafted out of convenience or survival.

18) Know how to End Things:

When Aruans achieved any sort of victory, they often looked down upon the defeated party, mocking and ridiculing them. This serves no purpose other than making future enemies. When besting enemies, recognize their strength and their efforts, especially if they are now to be under you. This opens the door to future collaboration, show humility and let fresh wounds heal. Your victory is momentary, but its repercussions can be felt for years to come, make sure they are positive ones.

By: Zeke

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