Winterbane Chronicles | An Asylum Production

Crazy Joe day had arrived, and Carly was feeling optimistic.

This was probably her first mistake.

She had organized the event, explained the mechanics, reminded everyone to send their infantry and lancers out of their cities, and made sure the stronger players knew their garrison assignments. Twenty waves. Individual cities for the first nine, HQ for ten, another nine city attacks, and one final HQ defense at twenty.

Easy enough.

She had even managed to get a little coffee before things started.

A woman could dream.

The first few waves went reasonably well. People were online, troops were moving, and Asylum was accumulating points. LiXx was present, which was always a mixed blessing. She was perfectly capable of being helpful, but she also possessed an extraordinary ability to turn any organized activity into an opportunity for personal entertainment.

Lourdes had settled in comfortably, apparently arriving with popcorn and absolutely no intention of taking anything too seriously. DD was already providing commentary, which meant the two of them were likely to become a problem before the event was over.

Carly was checking the garrisons when DD announced that his dog was ready for battle.

Lourdes took one look at his profile picture and informed him that the dog was probably the only one in Asylum who had actually read the instructions.

DD was understandably offended.

His dog, however, remained silent and dignified.

“At least somebody here has discipline,” Lourdes observed.

Carly decided she liked Lourdes.

By wave five, LiXx had somehow started a discussion about wine, DD was defending his dog’s honor, and Lourdes was questioning whether DD had ever considered putting his dog in charge of his account.

“Honestly, he’d probably do better,” she remarked.

DD seemed to find this personally hurtful.

Carly, meanwhile, was trying to keep everyone focused, although she was beginning to suspect that Lourdes had joined Asylum specifically to encourage DD’s worst behavior.

She was fitting in beautifully.

Then came wave ten.

HQ.

Mugi was supposed to be there, naturally. He was DIQ’s strongest player and the obvious choice for the main garrison.

There was only one problem.

Mugi was late.

Carly checked the countdown, checked the map, and checked again.

Kis was immediately recruited to locate her boyfriend, who apparently had decided that the concept of arriving early was more of a suggestion than a requirement.

“He’ll be here,” Kis assured everyone.

Carly was not convinced.

The countdown continued.

Then Mugi appeared.

His troops were nowhere near HQ.

For a moment, Carly simply stared at the screen. She could practically hear the seconds ticking away, and somewhere in the distance, Mugi was about to discover the true financial cost of procrastination.

He started speeding his march.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

His troops were suddenly moving with the urgency of a man fleeing an international crime scene.

LiXx was cheering him on. Lourdes had apparently abandoned her popcorn to watch. DD was offering commentary that was not helping anyone.

“He’s not going to make it,” Lourdes announced.

“HE BETTER,” Carly replied.

Kis, maintaining considerably more faith in her boyfriend than anyone else, insisted that he would arrive.

And somehow, against all reasonable expectations, Mugi made it.

His troops reached HQ with seconds to spare, the garrison filled, and the attack landed.

HQ held.

Carly leaned back.

“Wonderful. Excellent. Next time, Mugi, perhaps we could try arriving before the enemy.”

Mugi had successfully completed his mission, which was the important part.

Kis was happy.

Carly was alive.

LiXx was asking whether there was a bonus for dramatic entrances.

There was not.

The middle waves were a little less forgiving.

The attacks were getting stronger, and the alliance was beginning to feel the pressure. Carly kept an eye on participation, making sure everyone had troops where they needed to be and that the garrisons were holding.

Joey was doing his part, and although he was competitive, he wasn’t making a federal case out of every point. He was enjoying the event, keeping an eye on the performance, and occasionally giving Carly a little grief about how things were going.

It was nice.

Almost suspiciously nice.

LiXx, on the other hand, had apparently decided she was the alliance’s morale department. She was encouraging people, making observations, and periodically reminding everyone that she was underappreciated.

“Nobody appreciates the work I do around here.”

Lourdes asked what work she was referring to.

“Keeping everyone happy.”

“You’re complaining about wine.”

“Exactly. Nobody appreciates how difficult my job is.”

DD suggested that LiXx’s job description be amended to include professional beverage acquisition.

Lourdes thought this was reasonable and volunteered to supervise.

Carly immediately regretted allowing the conversation to continue.

By wave seventeen, she had accepted that some things were simply beyond her control.

The enemies were getting nastier, the cities were taking harder hits, and wave eighteen was approaching. Everyone needed to stay focused.

For approximately thirty seconds, they did.

Then DD and Lourdes started arguing over whether his dog could be considered an alliance veteran.

Lourdes maintained that the dog had contributed more emotional support than several actual members.

DD argued that his dog deserved a promotion.

Carly, without looking away from the battlefield, suggested they put the dog in charge of wave nineteen.

Lourdes approved.

DD was delighted.

The dog remained silent, which was probably the wisest decision anyone had made all afternoon.

Waves eighteen and nineteen were a different animal altogether.

The attacks were brutal, and Carly’s attention was firmly back on the operation. This was where coordination mattered most, and Asylum needed everyone contributing.

They made it through.

Not without some casualties to their dignity, but they made it.

Then came wave twenty.

One final attack on HQ.

Mugi was ready this time. Kis had apparently ensured that he understood the importance of punctuality, and Carly was grateful not to have to witness another transcontinental speed-marching expedition.

The garrison filled, the attack came, and HQ held.

Twenty waves completed.

Asylum had done it.

Carly finally had a moment to look at the standings.

And there it was.

SKY had beaten DIQ.

Carly stared at the scoreboard.

Somewhere in SKY, Icarus was undoubtedly having a wonderful day.

She publicly congratulated the alliance because, despite the competitive nonsense between them, SKY had earned it. Icarus was her husband, Thunder was their R5, and the alliances were all part of the same rather dysfunctional Winterbane family.

But privately?

Well.

She opened her messages.

Icarus had already beaten her to it.

Good job, bb. SKY got first.

Carly smiled.

Congratulations. You guys did great.

A moment later:

We beat you.

There it was.

She knew he couldn’t help himself.

Enjoy your little trophy, bb.

It’s a beautiful trophy.

Does it come with a matching crown?

Already wearing it.

Carly put her phone down.

She loved that man.

She really did.

But the next Crazy Joe was in two days, and she suddenly had a renewed sense of purpose.

Back in Asylum, the post-event discussion had already begun. Joey was happy with the performance, LiXx was still campaigning for wine, and Lourdes had apparently decided that DD’s dog should receive the MVP award.

DD supported the nomination.

Carly was considering it.

Honestly, the dog had been remarkably well-behaved.

The alliance was celebrating its survival, and although SKY had taken the top spot, Asylum had put up a good fight. There was always next time.

Two days, in fact.

Then another two weeks without Crazy Joe.

Carly announced the schedule, and the alliance collectively seemed to relax.

Lourdes suggested they use the fourteen days to train DD’s dog for the next event.

DD agreed, provided the dog received appropriate compensation.

LiXx wanted to know whether compensation could be paid in wine.

Joey suggested they all just enjoy the win for now.

For once, Carly agreed with him.

She had survived twenty waves, a last-second Mugi rescue mission, an alliance-wide wine shortage, and whatever Lourdes and DD had been doing for the better part of an hour.

She deserved a break.

She glanced at her messages one last time.

Another from Icarus.

Love you, bb.

Love you too.

Still won.

Carly laughed.

Two days, husband. Two days.

And somewhere in Winterbane, Thunder was probably online, saying absolutely nothing, while Icarus enjoyed his victory and Carly quietly plotted a comeback.

THE END.

Alliance Notice-

Next Crazy Joe: 48 hours.

SKY: Currently insufferable.

Asylum: Accepting applications for dog garrison officers.

LiXx: Still waiting for her wine.

Winterbane: Send help. 😂