When Mannacorn Anaheim saw that the old woman selling goat's milk had only just packed up her stall, the head of the Anaheim family and Purple Dragon Knight felt irritation stirring within him.
Bane's Godspawn had originally been certain of victory in this war. He had prepared to join the fighting-prepared in every way.
Yet when Mannacorn actually entered the military camp, he discovered that neither his training before becoming a Godspawn nor his experience as head of the Anaheim family had made him any good at commanding troops, or even fighting in person.
Even his father, Bane, the God of Tyranny, was no expert in warfare. He excelled instead at intrigue and provoking conflict. Bane even loathed fighting in person. The God of Tyranny considered that his subordinates' responsibility, not his own.
"If they [his subordinates] go, then it is as good as me going. Don't think they're anything special. This [fighting on the front lines] is an opportunity I have bestowed upon them."
-Bane, the God of Tyranny
Bane abhorred risk. He would act only when the situation was under his control, and Mannacorn discovered that he was the same. For Bane's Godspawn, aversion to risk was an instinct rooted deep in his DNA.
He wanted to join the special military operation too, but a voice deep within his mind kept stopping him.
That infuriated him.
"Why is that old woman still selling things?" Mannacorn asked the Ranger following him, Andreas, Suzail's patrol captain. "She stays here peddling her tragic story. Isn't that going to have a negative impact? Andreas? I remember telling you to have someone deal with this."
"Yes, my lord," his follower Andreas replied helplessly. "We sent people to investigate, as you instructed."
"And what did you find?" Mannacorn raised an eyebrow.
"My investigation found