They arrre corrrect, Kelumarion adds, running a paw through his thick mane to dislodge a gob of debris. You have done no wrrrong, and you owe us nothing...you werrre merrely a victim of forrrtune. But forrrtune has sparrred you, too...so that when you arrre rrready, you may make these monsterrrs rrrue the day they lifted hand against you and yourrrs. The furor in his rumbling voice at the atrocity Kamilo and her forces had suffered is only barely contained, and it smokes and roils through his words.
Hedda nods at the others' words, knowing that she wouldn't be able to articulate anything close to them. Her eyes glint with resolve, "Revenge," then a small glimmer of hope softens her look "and redemption," she murmurs quietly.
Hearing your words of encouragement, Commander Kamilo thanks you. Meanwhile, Aron and Sosiel calls you for a private talk, which gives commander Kamilo enough time for her to recover herself.
"We might have to take some decisions here..." Sosiel starts. "Vilareth Ford has fallen and, even if it is not a crucial fort, it is the last fortification before we effectively enter into enemy land... I believe it would be a mistake if we don't defend it, for if it falls into the enemies hands once more and we need to retreat, we'll be completely surrounded."
Aron nods to this commend, but adds more information. "If you agree that Vilareth Ford is too important for this mission to leave it unprotected and to its own luck, we have a couple problems... Commander Kamilo and her men are too few in number to protect it, but we can't spare a single one of our crusaders, otherwise we'll most certainly be crushed on the following battles, specially in Keeper's Canyon, where I've heard there is a great army waiting for us..."
"This basically leaves us only the option of asking Queen Galfrey for some backup, at least enough man for Vilareth Ford to be secure. I believe we could send commander Kamilo and her men to reach the queen and bring more man while we wait her for them. This could give the poor commander some time to rest..." Sosiel continues, giving his opinion about what to do.
With this, Aron shakes his head. "On the other hand, we could definitely use her skill with the sword and her men's expertise with our army... after all, we lost half a dozen man in the attack... we could send a single rider to ask the queen's assistance and move forward. With our main army moving, the enemies would not think of attacking Vilareth Ford so soon..."
With this, Aron shakes his head. "On the other hand, we could definitely use her skill with the sword and her men's expertise with our army... after all, we lost half a dozen man in the attack... we could send a single rider to ask the queen's assistance and move forward. With our main army moving, the enemies would not think of attacking Vilareth Ford so soon..."
Elriel listened attentively before speaking, "The Queen gave us this mission herself. And although Vilareth Ford is very important, we still have to fulfill our mission to do before securing it."
He continued, "I say we continue on and ask Commander Kamilo and her men to join us. It will be good to give her a chance at revenge. We can also send two riders, two for protection, to let the Queen know about the Ford and let her decide how to best handle it."
He looked about to see if anyone proposed a different course of action.
Elriel's proposal sounded similar to what the bloodrager would have proposed, if she was one to think about such things. Hedda added, "Agreed. We're supposed to reach our destination quickly without detection. We shouldn't wait."
Elriel's right - our best hope is in speed. Having some reassurance that Vilareth Ford will be open on our return would be nice, but we can't spare the people for it. Sending a pair of riders is the best bet; I can conjure mounts for them that'll give them a day's ride while letting their horses rest, so that they can make better time. We can have the Commander and her soldiers ride in the middle of our contingent, where they'll be well-protected and have a chance to rest and recover some on the way.
Brevon lifts his visor. The damned thing had muffled his hearing and so he hadn't heard the beginning of the conversation. It isn't until Arrika is halfway through her recommendation that he's able to decipher the content of the conversation.
"Yes, good thinking. Of course there will be distractions. There will continue to be distractions. The demon scourge would love nothing more than for us to chase our tails for all time. And so we must prioritize, and Vilareth must be bypassed for now."
Rukzha is deep in thought while the others discuss. "Leaving the ford undefended at our backs could cut off our way out, or even worse get us caught in a pincer move between two enemy forces. Still I do not like the idea of weakening our forces any more than you do. The ideal situation would be if we could somehow make sure that a message was delivered to the Queen.
Two riders is not a bad idea, but I believe I've just gotten inspiration for a better one. Just like showing something that is not real can fool you about reality, so can also something that is not real inform you about reality.
You've all seen my powers to put others to sleep, but I can also use magic to send dreams to those which are asleep. As long as I'll be able to catch the Queen asleep, I should be able to reach her with a dream. That can't be stopped as easily as a rider, and won't diminish our forces either.
Aron or Sosiel, do either of you know the sleeping habits of the Queen? "
Rukzha is deep in thought while the others discuss. "Leaving the ford undefended at our backs could cut off our way out, or even worse get us caught in a pincer move between two enemy forces. Still I do not like the idea of weakening our forces any more than you do. The ideal situation would be if we could somehow make sure that a message was delivered to the Queen.
Two riders is not a bad idea, but I believe I've just gotten inspiration for a better one. Just like showing something that is not real can fool you about reality, so can also something that is not real inform you about reality.
You've all seen my powers to put others to sleep, but I can also use magic to send dreams to those which are asleep. As long as I'll be able to catch the Queen asleep, I should be able to reach her with a dream. That can't be stopped as easily as a rider, and won't diminish our forces either.
Aron or Sosiel, do either of you know the sleeping habits of the Queen? "
Elriel frowned, "I would think the Queen is protected from such things. Otherwise, it would be too easy for demons to torment her sleep."
He looked at the witch, "You can try but I would also send the two riders. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simple ones. Not that anything is simple in this war."
Both Sosiel and Aron shake their heads. "It is an almost impossible thing to know, honestly." Sosiel explains. "Unlike many other commandants, Queen Galfrey is personally invested in this war, and as far as I remember, I do not recall of her having been able to maintain any habit our routine... she sleeps when she can't stand anymore, so it would be a long shot to try to guess the appropriate time."
Aron nods in agreement. "Very well, I'll then talk to the survivors... even if it is already getting dark, I'll send them immediately. I believe I'll send Arov and Shiga, a half-orc and a tiefling, since they would be able to guide their mounts even after the night falls." With this, Aron leaves you.
Nurah, once more with you, also gives her opinion. "So... I imagine we'll be leaving tomorrow morning, right? I believe you've heard about the talk of a large army ahead of us. It would be unwise to leave the protection of Vilareth Ford just to camp a couple miles ahead and risk to be ambushed."
Nurah, once more with you, also gives her opinion. "So... I imagine we'll be leaving tomorrow morning, right? I believe you've heard about the talk of a large army ahead of us. It would be unwise to leave the protection of Vilareth Ford just to camp a couple miles ahead and risk to be ambushed."
Elriel nodded, "Yes, I think that makes the most sense."
He looked around, "Double guard duty again and I would not relax ourselves just because we're in a supposedly very defensible place."
Elriel neared their newest recruits and talked to their commander Kamilo, "I hope you're Ok with our decision. I figured you'd want a chance to vent your anger on the demons."
He added, "Do you think your men are up to the task or would they rather stay behind?"
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He noticed Hedda nearby and called her over, "What is about these demons and hurting women? Any idea why you two were targeted in particular?"
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Hedda's brow creased as she considered Elriel's question. "I don't know. But demons often think women are weak and easy targets. Or maybe in our cases, they sensed our strength and decided to use us as playthings until they could break us. Breaking the strong is true entertainment for them." She paused as if hesitant to voice her next thought. "In my case, they may have sensed my taint and thought I'd be willingly turned to be used by them."
I'll come with you, Aron. Arov and Shiga will be much better off with conjured mounts for a while. If they're sturdy enough, they may even be able to ride through the night and day that way, and the faster we can get a message back, the better. Both Arrika and Kelumarion accompany the seasoned scout, greeting the half-orc and the tiefling warmly. Focusing intently on her ring, Arrika begins a rolling, resonant chant - to those unfamiliar with the Kellid tongue, it may sound mysterious and rich, but in truth it's simply a phrase, repeated in different tones and registers over and over. Leotha dhachaigh...leotha dhachaigh...leotha dhachaigh...
Soon a pair of shaggy, red-furred horses materializes into being; the mounts are perfectly docile, butting gently against Arov and Shiga in greeting. Take another horse apiece, real horse that is, with you - these should get you through the night, while keeping the other horses fresh for riding later. Spirits go with you. With a touch to her forehead in salute, she watches the pair ride off, her stomach in a knot. Aron...do you really think they'll get back to Kenabres? Will Queen Galfrey be able to spare the people to come and protect the ford? Are...are we dooming ourselves, not leaving the way behind us guarded?
"Well, it is done, mistake or not," Brevon responds seriously to Nurah. "We must pray that the gods favor us, and that Sarenrae's light can reach us even through the umbral shroud of evil that now gathers. I for one have faith that it can."
Elriel neared their newest recruits and talked to their commander Kamilo, "I hope you're Ok with our decision. I figured you'd want a chance to vent your anger on the demons."
He added, "Do you think your men are up to the task or would they rather stay behind?"
Now already back into her crusader armor and cleaned, Kamilo looks much more as the former commander she was. She might need further help to overcome the injuries, both physical and psychological, but, at least for now, she seemed recovered enough. "Yes, I do appreciate the chance... and I promise I won't fail you. For my men, I believe they are more than ready to serve once more and bring the fight to those damned demons."
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Arrika goes with Aron as he calls the two chosen crusaders. Neither of them are happy about being sent away from the battle but they are mature enough to follow their orders, even if the promise they will be back soon enough and, perhaps, join you once more.
They both grab their horses. When Arrika conjures her twin phantom steeds, they look at them with amusement and excitement and soon hop atop them. Aron ties the two real horses to the phantom ones before wishing them luck. As Aron, Arrika, and Kelumarion watch the two messengers disappear in the dark, he turns to her. "When we are dealing with demons, it is quite difficult to know what choice doesn't doom us all..."
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At Brevon's comment, Nurah simply nods in agreement. "Well, in that I fully agree. I also have complete faith."
You wake up to find the camp already getting ready to move on. At first light, you all leave Vilareth Ford behind... its gates closed but no one left behind to actually protect it. If it was a mistaken, you'd surely know sometime soon. You cross the river and after a couple miles you can already sense a deep change in your surroundings, even if you are not heading into the truly blighted lands yet.
The sky above you seems darker and dimmer... no normal vegetation grows on the desolate land aside from some thin brownish grass that you soon discover to be as sharp as a razor... you here no sound of animals, no birds or small mammals. The only live form that appears to be present are the bugs: flies, wasps, beetles... the buzzing isn't constant, but present from time to time.
You continue your journey northeast, the same direction from before Vilareth Ford, with the exception that now you are on the Worldwound's side of the West Sellen River. You walk for most of the day before Aron reaches you for his report. "We could still ride about half and hour before resting but I think we should halt for the day. If the information we extracted from those tieflings who decided to talk, there is an army in Keeper's Canyon waiting for us. Getting closer would only mean we are a more tempting target for them. I suggest we rest now and prepare ourselves for a battle tomorrow."
Nurah, always worried about the army's safety, express her opinion. "But, with such army close to us, would not they be tempted to attack us during the night? We can't see in the dark as they can... we'll be crushed!"
To this, Sosiel gently shakes his head. "No... I believe they won't... attack, I mean. As far as we know, they don't expect that we know about their presence and they might have already prepared a pretty nasty ambush for us. By resting tonight, they would not risk a battle on different terms from what they've already planned."
Aron doesn't seem to be so sure as his lover is, but he keeps his opinion to himself. "Nevertheless, there is nothing we could do. We can't fight them tonight, we can't turn back and leave, and coming closer will only endanger us."
Brevon sighs in horror and wonder at the devastated landscape, the twisted and corrupt influence of the demons evident even in the blades of grass. "The land itself becomes our enemy," he mutter quietly, not wanting to concern the others.
"I suppose you are right," he agrees with Aron. "This is the nature of the war we wage now. I fear the battles will only get darker, so we should become accustomed to fighting in the dark, hmm?" He tries to sound confident, although the prospect terrifies him.
Hedda barely notices the change in vegetation. What she does notice is the increase in insect activity. How she dislikes what she considers to be incessant buzzing which reminds her of how close they are to enemy territory. "I agree with Aron that we should stop. We already know the lay of this land and can take time to strengthen our defenses just in case we're attacked. If we keep going, we don't know what terrain we'll end up camping on and we may draw unwanted attention."
Elriel did not want to spend any time in this blighted land and the fact that he knew that it was going to get worse depressed him.
He nodded in agreement when the others suggested stopping for the day.
He wondered out loud among his companions, "Is this what a world where the demons win looks like?"
He swatted a colorful insect on his armor and blood splattered on his body, "And what's up with these insects all over the place. Did they eat all the other animals?"
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It was evident that the landscape was getting to the half-elf rogue.
The awful thing is...this is probably paradise compared to what it looks like if the demons win. Despondently, Arrika waves away a carrion fly that seems intent on landing on a patch of gore on her shoulder; unfazed, it continues its single-minded quest. It may be the insects that have blighted everything...or it may be something else. My mother always taught me that the spirits inhabited everything around us, brought life and vitality - but it feels like, well, they've just gone from here. I've never been in a place that felt so...so dead, down to its very soul. The Kellid girl looks almost ready to weep, though she keeps it to just a catch in her voice. They've destroyed Sarkoris. Our home...
The camp is tense this night. Some of the crusaders are eager to attack, others a bit anxious, a couple them afraid or preoccupied... the expectation of the next fight makes it difficult for you to rest. Fortunately, no horror attempts anything during the night.
On the next day, at first light, you start to march once more towards Keeper's Canyon. You ride about 11 miles before Aron signs to you that you have arrived at your destiny. Guiding your man to a small hill, you are able to see what looks like an abandoned small town, once located where the Ahari River once fed into the West Sellen. Keeper's Canyon was once a holding of Drezen... a small town that helped facilitate shipments to and from Drezen. Today, only the shells of a few stone buildings remain, along with a half-dozen leaning pilings in the river from what was once an extensive maze of piers.
Standing atop this low hill, you are able to see hidden figures behind the buildings. After a couple seconds, they start to move to the ample spaces, perhaps giving up the element of surprise once it was clear you already knew about them. You count around three hundred on the other side, comprising of two distinctive armies: the first, composed of tieflings, is the larger one; the second, composed of small demons, probably dretches, is the smaller one. The demons appear eager for the bloodlust.
Brevon moves to the front of the crusaders and, after a brave speech, he marches towards the enemy, slowly and steady instead of a maddened charge. The enemy was more numerous in a 3-to-1 proportion, so you could not afford to lose a single man. When they were close enough, the crusaders fired with their bows while the dretches sent foul magic towards them... a couple tieflings were slain, but the mettle of the paladins resisted the cursed magic.
Then the armies clashed. With their blades shinning with righteous might, the crusaders teared through the demonic flesh, completely destroying the low demons without losing a single soldier! Astonished and cursing, the commandant of the dretches, a winged humanoid demon with goat legs and two small horns, teleports from the battle, reappearing atop the ridge to watch the remaining of the battle.
The tieflings try to retaliate, but Brevon's strategy and defensive tactics are capable to protect all the crusaders... the tieflings weren't as fortunate. At the right moment, Brevon orders the knights to a final attack and soon the tieflings start to rout. With another order, the knights impede the enemies from fleeing, and soon many of them, those who were able to survive, are now on their knees, surrendered and beaten. Their commander, an unexceptional human mercenary named Berrexi is among them.
Before the battle, he did not think he could do it. He looked across the canyon, eyeing the multitude of demonspawn. How many were there? Hundreds. He turned back to gaze upon their own battered forces. Brave men and women, yes, but soft, fragile things made of flesh of fear. How could they hope to best an army of hate and wrath, an army who had nothing to lose, while they...they...
You have nothing left to lose, Brevon.
It was true. The world had taken all that he had loved and cared for, everything that he had lived for, the only things that pulled him from his bed each day. And so what was he doing here, commanding an army? Why was he leading these people into the heart of evil? The answer, he knew, was found in his past. In his dreams in the farmhouse in Karcau. There, in dreaming, he had found something. Something outside himself and his own pain and grief. Something to dig into with his fingers, to grasp and to hang onto, as the world around him collapsed in upon itself. An anchor, a liferaft. The roar of destruction and the burning wind of apocalypse had overwhelmed him, and he shut his eyes and ears against it. The darkness had been his friend, protecting him from the truth.
But when he did dare, finally, to open his eyes, to see what was left of the world, he saw only himself. Alone.
There was no anchor. At least, no longer. There was only darkness, the man, and, far in the distance, a timid candle flame. There was nothing to save him but himself. His own will to stand up, again. And to walk, again. And to create a world for himself, again. And then, he had willed it so, and he had stepped toward the light.
And so he had realized, standing before Keeper's Canyon, that his life was his own creation. His destiny, here before the armies of darkness, was a product of his own desiring. And there was power in that notion, for recognizing that his own life was his, he realized that the same was true of every soldier in their contingent, including Arrika, Hedda, Elriel, and Rukzha. They had all chosen to be here, to offer themselves to the possibility of their own annihilation, embracing the risk of their own demise. And so, it seemed to him, they really had nothing to lose.
The thought was profound, and he had offered a whispered prayer upon its inception. As he did so, Radiance began to glow and to hum, igniting herself, seemingly, of her own accord. He did not question this, for he knew that the two of them were joined together in spirit. He drew her from her sheathe, offering her to the sky and sun above, exalting in their newfound freedom from the bonds of fear.
It was then he had turned to the crusaders and offered his bold speech.
Elriel kept in check his usual care-free fighting style. He did not want to give in to the thrill of killing enemies. His recent experiences had etched some concern on his forehead as he started to really worry of what this world was doing to him.
More so when he decided to fight alongside the new recruit, Commander Kamilo. Elriel wanted to make sure the woman was apt for this sort of thing, especially given all she had just recently endured.
As the first tiefling's head popped out from her deft sword, the half-elf knew there was nothing to worry about. This woman fought with the ferocity of a barbarian yet seemed in control of her emotions, much more so than Elriel. And he was trying to keep control.
Elriel merely nodded as the opposing army was cut down. Commander Kamilo was someone he could trust.
Another fight...another bloodbath. While Arrika could feel Kelumarion's joy in going tooth-and-claw into the fight against evil, she didn't share it. All she wanted was to be back in Kenabres, curled up with one of the spellbooks the Eagle Knights had lent her - but that wasn't to be. As her arms had started to tire and her will had started to wane, her god had sent her a verse she'd first learned as a little girl, too young even to understand its meaning:
::There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity within the planes;
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal...::
And as the paladins halt the army's flight and the commander kneels before Brevon, the refrain ends:
::...a time for war and a time for peace.::
Brevon's sword arm had gone numb. At some point, he wasn't sure when for he had lost all concept of time, he felt as though Radiance were guiding him herself, directing her edge against the vital and unprotected segments of the demons. This was for the best, for some of the creatures were so deformed that Brevon would never have known where to strike. But she seemed so sure, slicing this way and that, over and over until both of them were soaked in demon's blood.
He had paused, suddenly aware that there were no more enemies to combat. He stood upon a small hill with a view of the surrounding broken valley, and he removed his visor to get a better view of his surroundings and, of course, to allow the sun to strike his brow. There, atop the blighted ridge, the most menacing of the demons had stood. It disappeared as he blinked. He had the feeling they would be seeing that one again.
With great relief, he finds his friends and pats each of them on the shoulder, assuring them of a job done well. And then the commander of the demon's army is brought before them and forced to kneel.
"Berrexi, is it?" Brevon keeps his blade sheathed as he approaches, gesturing to his men that they should lift Berrexi off of his knees into a standing position. "There we are. On our feet, as all men should be. I see that your weapons have been stripped from you, but you may yet have your dignity--a gesture of good faith. For although we were enemies for a time, that battle is ended. Let us now work toward being allies, yes?"
Brevon extends his hand, a gentlemanly offer to shake. But as he does he casts detect evil, meeting Berrexi's defiant stare directly.
Despite Brevon's intentions, Berrexi only laughs at his attempt. "So, we are now friends? Don't make me laugh, you fool... this battle is already lost for you... you are all doomed and I call a fool anyone stupid enough to believe otherwise!" He then spits on Bravon, hitting his armored chest.
"Go ahead and kill me... I'm already dead nevertheless thanks to my failure today... however, I know that, in the long future, I may end up dancing atop your broken bodies, when I return to this scorched land as a demon..."
Meanwhile, Sosiel and Aron direct the crusaders in scavenging the battlefield for useful resources. They grumble once more at what they consider an 'activity beneath them', but do the job nevertheless. Once more they find just a little amount of food and water, as well as more armors and weapons that could be useful.
Brevon pauses and frowns slightly when the man spits on him, but isn't terribly surprised. A man who commands a demonic army couldn't be counted on to act gentlemanly, afterall. Still, he hates that his face gives away his disappointment. He'd have to work on presenting himself as a real commander.
He sighs, shaking his head. "I suppose you will die, as all of us will. One day. But not by my hand, sir." He turns to his soldiers surrounding them. "Take him away, but keep him alive. He is a prisoner, and shall be taken to Kenabres to stand trial before those his armies have wounded."
He smiles at Sosiel as Berrexi is hauled away. He can't help it. Despite the dead bodies all around, the feeling of victory has seeped into his skin. "Fools, he says, to think we might survive this war. I should take it as a compliment. Without some degree of foolishness, how did anyone ever accomplish anything great?"
Elriel stood beside Brevon as he questioned the losing commanding officer. In truth, Elriel wanted to be asked to slay the man but was content just to watch the interrogation instead.
When he turned defiant, a shortsword found its way to his hand. He looked at Brevon for permission that never came.
When the officer was taken away, he asked Brevon, "Why? Why the need for a trial? Why not just kill him and move on?"
It wasn't a question to defy Brevon, the defacto commanding officer of the little army, but Elriel was sincerely curious to know what drove the man's compassion.
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