Gentleman's Wars: The Rules of Engagement: A Tower Defense LitRPG Series (The Great Game Book 1)

by Andrew Karevik

  “Do what you’re going to do, I guess. The throne is yours for as long as I see things are going well. But if you mess up, I’m taking it back. And there is no negotiation there. Understood?”

  “Don’t worry,” Avaline said, smiling wide. “This union will achieve incredible things! Just you wait!”

  And with that, the argument was over. Eustace could grumble and bitch about it as much as he’d like, there was no undoing what had been done. A marriage under the night sky was permanent. Nothing could nullify it at this point. And so, we moved on. The pair retired quickly after a hasty celebration involving some bubbling wine and a three-day-old pound cake, and I was left to explain my predicament to Eustace.

  Once we started talking war, the old man became a little more amiable. He seemed to enjoy the fact that I had all sorts of questions to ask about how to handle a desperate enemy. Eustace had many stories and quite an arsenal of his own. Even though it was late at night, he had forgotten all about his fatigue and insisted on taking me down to the storage center where his golems rested.

  The collection was impressive. He had nearly 50 golems at the ready. Most of them were Stone Golems, a few siege beasts and a handful of Karrack Golems. “These are pretty much all I have left after that wretched pair of fights against you,” Eustace said as he walked me past the motionless golems. It was strange to see such beings up close and personal. Normally I watched them from far above, never really getting a sense of their size.

  Now, as I stood face-to-face with a Stone Golem, I realized the beast was standing at nine feet in length and was almost as wide as a doorway. Could you imagine standing toe-to-toe with such a thing? I doubt there was a soldier alive who’d want to stand in their way.

  “I fear I will have many legal things to handle with this marriage. Need to update the wills and claim logs and so on. So I won’t be able to join you in a defense. But I didn’t think you wanted me as your ally on the field. You’re wanting these, aren’t you?” he asked as he led me down the rows further and further. The light from the mana crystals around us began to diminish as we approached a large steel vault.

  “I’ll take anything you’re willing to provide,” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “And of course, don’t forget we’re obligated to defend and aid your house too.”

  “Hah, who would want to invade us? I’ve got a security rating of 30 on all of my properties. Unless you’re just trying to get rid of some golems on purpose, there’s no reason to attack my land.”

  30? That was an astounding number. Security ratings could reach all the way up to 50, but most folks found 25 was the maximal investment. Unless it was a war-level struggle, most battles would be too costly to justify taking the property. There was no profit in going bankrupt trying to capture a bank.

  Eustace stopped before the vault and patted it. “You’re new to this business, so chances are you don’t know what’s in here. Are you familiar with the Nine Gentlemen?”

  I shook my head. “Never heard of them. Are these fellows famous?”

  “Not fellows,” Eustace replied as he pulled the vault wheel, causing the metal contraption to begin groaning violently as it slowly loosened. “Golems! Special types. Treasure Golems to be exact.”

  “Treasure Golems?” I repeated as the vault wheel continued to groan until, finally, Eustace was able to open the door. I pictured there would be some kind of large treasure chest with legs waiting for us.

  “That’s what we call tradable, unique golems. See, Malphius’ shop sells special one of a kind golems. They’re pricy, the only units you can buy with silver, but they are powerful.” He pulled the door open to reveal three golems, standing at the ready.

  The first golem was made out of steel, with red crystalline spikes jutting out of its back and sides. Occasional flickers of mystic energy surged through those crystals. He was squat and blocky, with long metal fingers that scraped the ground. Its head was oddly in the shape of a gorilla, but with a long toucan beaked nose.

  The second construct was a magnificently tall, golden golem that was thin and wiry. Its body contorted and twisted as it moved about in place, wobbling left and right. It was no archetype I had seen before, a completely crazed experimental golem that certainly captured my attention.

  And the third golem was a large stocky creature with no arms or head. It had centipede legs at the bottom of the large block. In the center of the stone block was a long copper cannon. This one was particularly unattractive. Though with a cannon that big, it didn’t need to look good to attract buyers.

  “These are fantastic!”

  “Indeed. The Nine Gentlemen were golems created on commission by the Queen. The artificer who had been assigned to create the designs was…”

  “Artistic?” I asked, looking at the wobbly golem.

  “An idiot who thought his talents were best used to create these strange-looking things instead of following the sketches as given. Nine in total, ridiculed by the papers as the Nine Gentlemen. Needless to say, these were promptly returned. The Queen didn’t want an art gallery, she wanted powerful golems. But once these things hit Malphius’ shop, they were in demand. Sparked the entire Treasure Golem craze, as everyone wanted these unique golems. Convinced Malphius to hire that artist back and start a line of exclusive, unique golems.”

  “Incredible. So they’re strong?”

  “Indeed. They’re very powerful. The artist might have been a lunatic to try and sell these abominations to the Queen, but he carried out the technical specifications to perfection. They’re powerful forces and prestigious as well. Best of all, they’re hard to counter since they are one of a kind.”

  “So I can borrow these?” I asked, rubbing my hands together. These would annihilate Lady Efera’s army.

  “Borrow? No. Never,” he grunted, turning to face me. “But I believe a dowry is in order. The fact is, Richard, our houses are allied now. Forever. And while I certainly wanted my boy to take his time, he jumped the gun and did that which cannot be undone. So we’re together. And between you and my grandson, well I can’t help but feel like you’ll be calling the shots when it comes to growing the kingdom and defending our lands should a real enemy ever come knocking. So…I’m giving you that army you saw back there and one of the three Treasure Golems I own. Call it a gift of good faith, a solid promise that I want our union to prosper together.”

  “Why the sudden change in tone?” I asked. “An hour ago you were cursing our name because of the swift marriage.”

  The old man shrugged. “Doesn’t stop the fact that we’re bound together now, does it? And it would reflect poorly on my house if we weren’t there for our allies in their time of need. So take one and get a move on. You’ve got a lot to handle.”

  I could not believe him! The 50 units were good enough, but one of these unique golems? What a treasure. “Sir, you humble me with this gift!”

  “Well, it’s cheaper than giving you the usual amount of silver for a marriage,” he replied. “At least for a gentry. I’d rather give you the items which I paid for a long, long time ago.”

  “Still, it’s quite generous,” I murmured, looking at the three Gentlemen. Such an incredible display. And I could choose one? Which to pick?

  Eustace pointed to a small table sitting in the middle of the room. I hadn’t noticed it due to the presence of these magnificent and strangely constructed golems. Upon the table were three small pamphlets. “Take a gander at the stat books for each. And choose wisely, son. You’ll never have a chance to pick another one from my collection. The remaining two will be sold off when I die at an auction, to ensure my grandchildren are looked after for the rest of their life.”

  I could not help but wonder just how much these golems were worth. If Eustace could sell them to take care of his family when he passed on, they must be worth a small fortune each. I eagerly grabbed the three pamphlets in hand and began to read their descriptions, eyes wide with excitement.

&nb
sp; Thornstin

  The Thornstin Gentleman model is an exceptional melee powerhouse, designed to meet enemies on the field and fight with extreme ferocity. The ability to produce high-powered mana spikes out of its metallic body grants it extra damage when struck by an enemy force.

  Strengths:

  - Overwhelming: When the Thornstin unit advances forward, enemy units are forced backwards, regardless of the unit type. Even Shield Golems will move backwards up to 5 squares.

  - Spike Shot: Every ten seconds, the Thornstin releases explosive mana spikes that deal significant damage to all enemy units within 2 squares.

  - Steel Frame: This Treasure Golem is made of pure steel and takes very little damage from most attacks.

  - Obedient: The Thornstin is capable of following your movement orders, though it cannot be ordered to target specific units.

  Weaknesses:

  - Belligerent: The Thornstin’s enhanced aggression causes it to attack any golems nearby, friendly or otherwise.

  - Strange Construction: The Thornstin cannot be repaired during combat.

  Hubler

  The Hubler Gentleman model might seem unorthodox in its form, with its unique coil design and lack of stable body type, but that is what makes it brilliant. Able to move across the battlefield, ignoring all barriers, the Hubler is an assassin. Just point it at an enemy golem and watch the foe fall to pieces within a matter of seconds!

  Strengths:

  - Mobile: The Hubler is fast and able to bypass any obstacle or golem in its way, slinking and springing across the battlefield to reach its target.

  - Agile: The Hubler avoids all damage when moving, regardless of the type or accuracy.

  - Weakness Seeking: This Treasure Golem automatically targets an enemy golem’s weak point, allowing it to bypass damage resistance.

  Weaknesses:

  - Fragile: The Hubler is best used for targeting specific adversaries. If used for general defense, it will easily be destroyed by a rush of enemies.

  - Route Calculation Delay: The Hubler must wait 30 seconds between attacks on a target before it can strike a different mark. It will return to the Mana Sphere during this time.

  Gorn

  The problem with most cannons is that they stay in one place. The Gorn unit solves that and remarkably so! Armed with a Malphius Multi-Element Cannon, the Gorn can be set to three different fire modes to ensure your enemies will be annihilated with ease. Crawling up and down the battlefield on its centipede traction system, the Gorn is an immense but unstable artifact of power.

  Strengths:

  - Elemental Selection: You may set the Gorn’s elemental cannon to fire, ice, electricity or earth payloads.

  - Barrage Mode: This mode lets the Gorn strike at targets as far as 50 squares away with incredible speed and accuracy.

  - Sniper Mode: The Gorn carefully aims at a target with pinpoint precision and fires high damage shells.

  - Scattershot Mode: The Gorn fires three payloads 3-6 squares away.

  - Building-like: The Wrench Golem will actively repair the Gorn when it is damaged.

  Weaknesses:

  - Unstable Reaction: The Gorn occasionally misfires and damages itself. This cannot be avoided.

  - Mode Cooldown: Switching modes takes 1 full minute. The Gorn cannot move during this process.

  - Point Blank Fire: The Gorn, if exposed to melee combat, will attempt to protect itself by firing point blank. This will damage the unit as well as all enemies and buildings around it.

  Three different Treasure Golems, three different strategies. A powerful frontline fighter that could drive the enemy backwards, a high mobility assassin and a pure damage engine. Which to choose? I must admit, my eyes kept going back to the Gorn, that strange, ugly and squat beast with centipede legs. The cannon had such potential. Throw a Wrench Golem nearby (but not too close!) and I could counter the golem’s propensity to damage itself. Plus the range was high and the mobility ensured I could tactically position it as needed.

  Call it impulse or intuition, but I found myself dropping the other two pamphlets back on the table rather dramatically. “I’ve made my selection,” I said. “The Gorn!”

  “Damn it,” Eustace swore. “I was hoping you’d pick that ugly coil one.”

  “Afraid not, I’ll take the ugly cannon one instead,” I said with a grin. “Now, if you don’t mind packing all these golems up, I have a road ambush to set up…”

  Chapter 38

  As my lonely autocarriage rolled home, with nothing but a train of golems in tow, I activated the Grid to see how the construction projects were going. Having successfully secured an alliance with the Frankinsons and narrowly avoiding a major diplomatic incident, I felt quite confident. The old man had put up a real fuss about things, but he had done his duty as an ally. With this influx of golems (not to mention the Gorn), I knew we could set up an effective blockade that would whittle down the Lady Efera’s forces.

  From the Grid view, I could make up the various roads that connected to my properties. Images of golems were above each road that fell within my own border. Zooming in on each construction area, I could see piles upon piles of rocks being placed, with massive trenches being dug before and after the rock pile. The Construction Golems were huge. Even from the Grid’s perspective, I could tell that they were far larger than normal constructs. I had imagined that they would be the size of human workers, but these colossal forces were nearly twenty feet tall, with four arms. One hand was a hammer, another a massive shovel and the rest were normal golem fingers, meant to grasp and hold.

  The depth of the trenches was far beyond what any normal golem could climb. And the height of the rubble piles ensured that it would be a huge waste of time and energy to take these routes. Sigmund had done an excellent job creating these roadblocks. They would force Efera into the bottleneck of the newly constructed road that connected the Meadowlands to my estate.

  The question was: should I use resources to protect my new lots? Or should I go all out on the road defense? One thing I had learned early on was that golems alone were not effective at raising the security level of a location. Even though I had a large influx of foot soldiers, my silver was limited, and I hadn’t quite bolstered my Manor just yet. I had the theories of what to place down and the golems were already there, but I hadn’t spent the actual silver. My till was running a little low, even with the loan, since the cost of the trebuchets was 500 a piece. Spending to bolster the Meadowlands would be stretching myself too thin.

  But if the Lady Efera chose to strike at those empty lots, she’d own them more or less. I had tried to see if the Construction Golems could block off the road to the Meadowlands entirely, but there was a warning that a valid path must exist at all times. I could block potential alternate routes, but not the main path, as part of the rules of the game.

  A tough choice, but in the end, I had to commit to a strategy of attrition. By splitting my resources two ways—towards the Manor and towards the road block—I’d be forcing my foe to lose a significant number of units before reaching a decision on where to target. She might think that my empty Meadowlands was a trap. After having lost a great number of troops (hopefully) in the road block, she’d be forced to pursue her main objective, which I assume was my Manor. Taking a pit stop would only risk losing even more.

  With that choice made, I opened up the newly formed road on the Grid. A stat block greeted me as I surveyed the land right before the crossroads leading to the Meadowlands.

  Meadow Road

  Connected to: Meadowlands – Manor Road

  Defense Rating: 0

  Commerce Rating: 0

  Outstanding Issues: None

  None of these stats mattered more than the Defense rating. I hoped that I could get it high enough to whittle down my enemy’s forces. The goal here wasn’t to fully repel her (though that would be a bonus) but rather to deal as much damage as humanly possible. What d
id I have to work with here?

  The battle zone itself was narrow, four squares wide and eight squares long. It was a cramped area, making it hard for me to build an effective maze. I wondered if it was even worth the silver to place down barricades. Well, wait, no, there was a way to make a maze here. It wouldn’t be anything incredible, but I could place three barricades down every other row, forming a giant zigzag. The time it would take for these golems to turn left and right, making it around the barricade would add up. In fact, if I placed a Slugtine trap before each turn, it would slow them down even more.

  I hastily assembled this miniature maze, creating left to right zigzags with the barricades. I did leave one spot open per row, to place a tower. One Karrack Tower placed per row, with six rows barricaded would be enough to cause a simple bleed effect. I wasn’t worried about the towers becoming damaged or destroyed. The goal wasn’t to win here; the goal was to inflict as much damage as possible.

  One useful tidbit that I knew was of the Lady Efera’s Fire Spice problem. Without Fire Spice, it was impossible to repair golems. So, even if she were to blitz through this defense, the units I harmed would most likely not be fixed. So ultimately taking a few losses here and there wouldn’t hurt me nearly as much as losses would hurt her.

  Once the Karrack Towers were placed, I pondered what to position at the remaining squares in the back, near the exit area. One of the key differences in road defenses was that the enemy’s goal wasn’t to destroy the Mana Sphere. The golems and towers were powered by the road’s connection to the capital, so they could function indefinitely. However, all the enemy needed to do was pass their golems through the exit and they would be able to continue on their way. Blocking the exit was illegal too. They had to be able to pass through the area.