[quote=@Shmektheshmuck]
There was no need for conscription in Theolagius's military, almost every man and their slave enlisted themself.  An army in the millions.
"Forward!" An officer bellowed, spearmen, swordsmen, archers, cavalry... they all moved in unison, even mages rode with the siege equipment behind.

(A week prior)

"Astreiden, come here." a very tired Royal adviser ordered.
"Yes attasivan, what is it."
"I understand that your trip to Orcish lands did not go so well, pity.  I have another test, a simple one." Yktrisen took a sip from a ceramic mug, thick wine dripped down his chin.
"Another?"
"Yes, you will go to Xi'an... with the crusaders."
"The crusaders!  You want me to go to battle?"
"No, I want you to observe, capture a Xianese heretic, a demon even, interrogate him and find the flaws in their lands."
"How could you find this simple?  Speaking with orcs was enough, I could die!"
"I'll pray for you."

(Present)

Astreiden lay in the back of a supply wagon, he shifted uncomfortably.
"Damn, why am I doing this?" He asked no one, an officer, one who accompanied him to Ocrad, rode up beside him.
"Do not worry, boy, you'll be back in your comfy bed before you know it."
[/quote]

"Your Majesty, the Theo's have declared war on us. How should we proceed?" Asked an anxious looking general

"Have the earth and water demons damn up the rivers into Theo. The narrow mountain passes make an invasion impractical so we'll have to starve them out" Ling said, referencing the steep passes that made anything wider than a cart impossible to navigate. Probably those passes were the only reason they had stayed out of conflicts this long. 

"Humans need water my liege"

"I know that general. The plan is to use their own citizens against them. Daming up those rivers will cause a terrible famine, and in a pinch we can blow up the temporary dams and flood the lowlands" Ling said, confident that even the most insane would drop their invasion if their fresh water was cut off and starvation was possible