https://geekandsundry [https://em.wattpad.com/2be341a365dfa9ddcc988e6d65265bd9c73ad452/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6b4d7672453369636b4a6a6733773d3d2d3634393934353735342e313536333763653862613065333333303832343339393830353332302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
https://geekandsundry.com/play-a-goblin-and-much-more-with-volos-guide/
Note to Readers: If one of your forces should suffer casualties they cannot sustain. Eg. -100 goblins from 50 goblins, then the remaining 50 losses should be spread out among your other surviving forces.
If you'd thought living long enough to beat the goblins soundly back was enough to dissuade the devious little creatures from attacking again, you were sadly mistaken. For the next day, dozens or more goblin tribes pressed their attack on the makeshift camp setup alongside the mountain as your army tried to recover what they could from the tower. The constant beat of their wardrums a reminder of their continued presence, while red storm clouds intermittently scorched both ally and enemy. (-10 Demon Blades, -50 Slave Guards, -15 Skirmishers, -3 Dark Mages, - 7 Fire Warriors.)
Bruised and battered from his fall out of the tower, Coredan stood poised at your side, guarded by two demon blades as he confronted a red faced Gly'del, the elf's fingers twitching at his sides as he tried to stop himself from strangling the dark mage. "--And I said I will not leave them behind to die!" snapped Gly'del.
"Then have them killed, and be done with it already. Our mages could always use more corpses."
The blow though expected, came too fast for Coredan to dodge, the mage taking the punch square on the jaw to fall back a step. Magic sparking to life at the his fingertips, demon blades drawing their blades in one swift motion to stand at his sides, while Gorrack, and Lorna quickly did the same.
Sensing where this was about to go, you decide now might be the best time to put an end to this bickering. "Enough of this! Coredan have the harvesters see to their wounded. We'll need every able bodied blade in the fight ahead. As for you three, I'm sure you have more pressing tasks such as preparing to leave this godforsaken place."
"And the dead my lord? What of the dead? Surely you see the wisdom in keeping the undead goblins to act as fodder. Without them our losses would already have been much greater than it is," asked Coredan.
Gly'del turned his scowl towards you. "It is not right! The will of the Lightbearer is clear on this! Foul magics such as this are unworthy of our cause! We must be rid of these mindless creatures! Send them back from whence they came!"
(Click here to compromise with Gly'del.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
But as much as you'd like to agree with the elven commander, throwing away thousands of undead warriors who'd proven themselves to be most useful in the battle for the sake of morality would be utter stupidity. Still, you couldn't allow those who'd sacrificed their bodies willing in service to the light be desecrated in such a manner.
"I fear I cannot allow that to happen commander. With the heavy losses we've suffered, we shall need them in the fight ahead, though I promise you, none of your people will be brought back from the dead. You have my word on that."
Somewhat mollified the elven warrior nodded his head stiffly, and walked away to begin his preparations. (+4,000 Undead.)
(Click here to ignore the elf's reservations.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
They needed a way to make up for the losses they'd taken on the mountain, and this by far was best way to do it. Morality had no place when it came to victory or defeat.
"That will never happen commander. As you must surely have realised by now, we are badly outnumbered, and I see no reason to widen that gap even further. If you don't like it, you may go your own way. As for me, I will not turn aside such an advantage."
Shoulders stiffening at the rebuke, the elven commander stormed away, the veins on his neck pulsating angrily. Lorna rolling her eyes at you as she turned to leave. (+5,000 Undead.)
"A wise decision my lord, though I worry about the fae's commitment to our struggle."
"Never mind about that right now, what I need right now is to get our forces moving up this accursed mountain already," you snap back, your hand waving towards the rolling white slopes, the ground littered with the recently blocked off caves, broken spears of the fallen and rotting corpses the mages had been unable to bring back to life. "Now go!"
Splaying a fake smile across his sweaty face, Coredan nodded and left without another word, certain that it wouldn't be the last time you saw of the black hearted mage. The derailment of their plans, had caused dozens of minor issues to crop up, and all of them had to be dealt with by you personally, as though common sense weren't enough to solve manyof these problems. However your two biggest headaches so far had been Gly'del, and Coredan, the pair constantly at each others throats for some dispute or the other. If not for the threat of impending doom, blood would already have been spilt, shattering the already tenuous alliance.
Not that there was much of an alliance to speak of anymore, the fire warriors while hardy fighters for the most part had lost almost half their number on the mountain, reducing their effectiveness as allies. Something for which Coredan was quick to point out.
Still it wasn't just their forces that had suffered such severe casualties, almost half of your own forces had been sheared away in the tower's landing. The only justifiable reason that Coredan could up with was that some magical energy flowing through the tower had somehow been interrupted, forcing it to land early.
Gazing back towards the camp, you watched as several companies rapidly began to form up behind you, creating a thick column of steel with the undead crawling all over the place, gory wounds exposing them for what they were. Unable to handle complex tasks, they would wait until they sensed any enemy approaching before charging at them regardless of their own safety, a useful if somewhat unconventional tactic.
Scampering across the milky white snow, a wiry pale goblin ran to intercept you, his light yellow eyes shifting from side to side, before coming to abrupt halt before you, breath misting in the cold air. "We are ready to move at your command, my lord."
"Good, send the word to move out."
Bobbing his head, the goblin rushed back the way he came. The demon blades immediately starting forward to advance as the vanguard, followed by dark mages, fire warriors, then guards. The undead moving about the fringes in clumps of thirty or forty, while the skirmishers scouted the paths ahead.
With the time to move finally upon you, you look up towards the thousands of mountains that dot the skyline, red clouds thick in the distance, before clomping through the snow to stride alongside the great serpentine beast as it winded it's way up the mountain. The thudding of their footsteps, beat of wardums and crash of thunder accompanying you as you made the climb upwards.
Your head moving from side to side as you surveyed the many rocks, and defiles in the ground for signs of the goblins that must surely be lurking about. The sweat freezing on your back as the land became steeper, and steeper the further you climbed.
Panting for each breath you take, you eventually reach the mountain path the goblins had to be using to mount their attacks and slowly begin your way up. The ground slippery, and narrow in some sections forcing the columns into ranks of three or four, reducing the speed of their movements.
Hearing the familiar rattle of spears and shields, you look up in time to see the demon blades meet a handful of goblins blocking the path upward, the orcish warriors making short work of them before kicking them off the side of the mountain to tumble downward. Their blood and innards staining the snow as they marched by.
Several more times, the demon blades clashed with goblins trying to obstruct their path, the creatures appearing along the ridges to hurl down spears or attack them with arrows before being blasted or ripped apart by your mages. If not for the harvesters, many would have died on the mountain from their wounds but as it was, it only slowed them down which in itself was quite dangerous with some falling off the side of the mountain or losing all movement in their body as the cold took them.
(Click here to order a short break.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Seeing no reason you had to push yourself to death, you quickly call a halt, and check to see how many survived the climb up. -1 Demon Blades, -2 Slave Guards, -3 Skirmishers, -0 Dark Mages, -0 Fire Warriors. (-103 Undead, most simply fell down the mountain or wandered off.)
While the decision to stop was a good idea, getting your forces moving again is quite troublesome, and takes some time for them to get moving again, causing additional losses. (-3 Demon Blades, -5 Slave Guards, -6 Skirmishers, -2 Dark Mages, -2 Fire Warriors, -67 Undead.)
(Click here to continue marching.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Fearing what might happen if they stopped for too long, you keep silent, and continue climbing upwards. The continued movement, keeping your forces intact for the most part, and moving forward. (-4 Demon Blades, -6 Slave Guards, -6 Skirmishers, -0 Dark Mages, -0 Fire Warriors. (-130 Undead, most simply fell down the mountain or wandered off.)
Hours pass by in the cold, causing your skin become as clammy as ice when scouts report a massive plateau ahead where your forces can rest up for the night, but unfortunately it is occupied by a large force of goblins that are ready for your arrival.
(Click here to send the demon blades ahead to deal with them.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With spears raining down upon them as they charged forward, the demon blades hammered home into the goblins, steel crashing against steel, drums beating as they carved a bloody path forward.
However it's clear to see exhaustion, and battle fatigue is wearing on them, and they take higher losses than anticipated before clearing them all away.(-46 demon blades)
(Click here to send the undead ahead to clear them away.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
The perfect tool for a task such as this, you watch as the undead charge mindlessly forward to smash into the goblin war host with savage maniacal fury, carving a bloody swathe forward, clearing them all away. (-16 Undead goblins.)
With the plateau empty of all enemies, your forces quickly move in to occupy the area, bringing again yet another decision to your attention. What to do with bodies of the deceased? You could of course have the Targestrian mages restore them to the living dead, but that would require a supply of mana which has become severely limited due to the loss of the tower. While some of the alchemical ingredients can be found here on the mountain, not all of the elements necessary to make the potion can be found here, meaning you will have to be careful how you use the remaining mana potions.
(The unexpected loss of the Tower has constrained the amount of mana potions on hand to only that which could be brought with them. You currently have 200 mana potions remaining.)
Stolen story; please report.
(Click here to command the mages to restore as many of the dead goblins to life. Mana Potions Required 20.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With the undead making up more than half your numbers, you decide to err on the side of caution, and have the mages bring back as many as they could. (+600)
(Click here to only re-fill the amount undead lost on the mountain. Mana Potions Required 3.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With not much need for them right now, you decide to simply replace those lost in the fight. (Any Undead lost in the mountain is again restored to your army.)
(Click here to have the bodies tossed off the mountains.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With not much need for them right now, you have the bodies collected and thrown off the mountains to ensure the smell of their decaying bodies or any diseases wouldn't affect your army.
Mentally, and physically exhausted from the hard slog upwards, you stare off towards the mountains peaks, body stiff, and wonder how much longer it would take to reach the mountain pass that would take you down into the great basin. Already you could see fatigue beginning to wear away into your warriors, and it wouldn't be long before that, that emotions began to fray. After that it wouldn't be long before the army devolved into warring factions.
But despite all those worries, you couldn't help but feel a sense of peace up here, the calm of the mountain sinking into your soul as the suns gently sink below the horizon, highlighting the crimson red clouds in a burst of brilliant light before vanishing away to leave an eerily silent darkness. The drumbeats you'd heard all day quiet for the moment as they too felt the stillness of the mountain, and wished to be a part of it.
In the silence, you listened to the whisper of the breeze, tasted the cold upon your tongue, and when it was broken by the sound of upraised voices. Already fearing it was Coredan, and Gly'del at it again, you let out a heavy sigh that misted in the cold night air before turning around and trudging back.
It seemed the work of a commander was never done, even in the glimmer of starlight.
Striding towards the camp where the ruckus was occurring, you thrust yourself through the ranks of the huddled slave guards that surrounded the area and found a bloody mark left upon the snow, made from the decapitated limbs of six dead guards, only distinguishable due to their armor. (-6 Slave Guards.)
"This is your doing elf! Admit it!"shouted a furious Coredan, the mage almost going so far as to attack Gly'del who stared up in confusion as he knelt down by the mutilated corpses, when Gorrack moved silently forward to interpose himself between the dark mage and demon blades looming over them. Fire warriors in pale white armor quickly moving in to protect their commander as they were surrounded by a sea of enraged guards.
With little time to act before this turned ugly, you bark out, "Fall back now, all of you! And return to your tents!"
Faces turn to glower at you, the tension continuing to mount. The tower reeve too infused with anger of his own to be of any use to you.
(Click here to give them a lethal display of magic.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Sensing that words would simply not be enough to turn the tide of their animosity you could feel, you allow magic to flow through you in rivers, and release a storm of fire outwards, catching those nearby in flames to send them screaming away. "I said return to your tents! I shall deal with this!"
Shying away from the flames that melt the ice at your feet, the guards finally break apart to retreat. With only a thin sliver of fire warriors remaining behind, before you send them away as well. (-8 Slave Guards. -90 Mana)
(Click here to give them a non-lethal display of magic.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Sensing that words would simply not be enough to turn the tide of animosity you could feel, you allow magic to flow through you in rivers, and release a storm of fire into the sky to catch their attention, turning your body into a beacon of blue energy that rolls out from you in electrical currents to sizzle the air around you, forcing them all to shy away in fear. "I said return to your tents! I shall deal with this!"
Shying away from you in fear, the guards finally break apart to retreat. With only a thin sliver of fire warriors remaining behind, before you send them away as well. (-180 Mana.)
Cooling the burning rage simmering inside of you at their stupidity, you confront Gly'del, and Coredan. "What is this?!"
"Is it not clear to see my lord, the traitorous elf has betrayed us and killed our warriors!"cried Coredan, his mouth twisted into a snarl.
Surprisingly quiet despite the accusation, the elf stood up slowly before speaking softly, "This was not my doing, mage. That is the mark of Lord Tazrael, god of fear."
Stunned by his words, you look down to study the remains of the six dead guards, and feel a chill squeeze through your chest. Shadow Hunters.It had to be. Who else could slip in and out without detection?
Face drained of all color, Coredan gaped openly before sputtering, "But how, why?"
Gly'del shrugged his shoulders. "As to that, perhaps they wished to sow fear among us or bring us a message, either way we would all do well to keep up our guard. He knows we are here now."
As the silence slowly deepens, you listen to the whispering of the breeze which has become almost haunting now, before trudging away deep in thought. Tazrael knew they were here. If true, things would only become more complicated the further you ventured in, but there was no turning back now.
Doubling the sentries, and guards on watch, you head towards the great black tent set up for you, when you catch sight of Lorna and Gorrack quietly chatting with each other by a campfire.
(Click here if you've made your peace with them.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Not liking the empty silence that awaited you in your tent, you move to take a seat opposite them, the burning warmth of the flames, warming your frozen cheeks, and stiff fingers. Gorrack offering you a cup of White-Fire, the distilled drink burning through your ice cold veins to wake them back up. "It won't be long now, before this is all over."
Gorrack grunted in reply, but that could mean anything from he agreed to it wouldn't really matter. Lorna however was more cynical. "Yes, but what then? Defeating Tazrael will not be so easy, and if the Bloodstorm comes we all end up being his pawns as he wreaks havoc across the world."
"You always have a way of cheering us up, don't you," you reply dryly.
Gorrack chuckled, while Lorna wrapped the fur cloak tighter around herself. "For good or ill you are in charge of what happens next, I only pray that you make the right decisions, without getting us all killed."
Grinning at her reply, you let yourself feel the burn of the alcohol, joining in Gorrack's laughter at her, all the while a part of you is haunted by her words. 'It all depends on you.'
You spend a few more hours with them, before stumbling off towards your tent to sleep. The guards posted around your quarters, nodding as you entered.
(Click here if you haven't made your peace with them.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Quietening at your approach, you ignore them as you continue on towards your tent to sleep. The guards posted around your quarters, nodding as you entered.
Too tired to do anything else, you roll yourself up in the fur rugs Coredan had acquired for you, and go to sleep before awakening to the sound of wardrums beating the air once more.
Body stiff with cold, you swiftly roll to feet, and exit the tent. The camp a bustle of activity as warriors rushed forth to beat back another goblin attack.
Having only managed a few hours of sleep, you head towards one of the cookfires to collect a bowl of what looked to be boiled meat in some kind of stew before sending for Coredan. The tower reeve, quick to make his way towards you.(+30 Health points.)
"Have we had any more visits from the Shadows?"
Coredan shook his head. "No, my lord, but already there is talk around camp that we should be heading back, that fighting Tazrael is insanity."
You shake your head. "There is no going back now, either we head further inland or freeze to death up here."
"As you say, my lord, was there something else you needed?"Inquired Coredan, his tone clearly suggesting he was unconvinced by your argument, but then again it really wasn't your job to convince him. His duty was to obey, and yours was to command.
"As soon as they are able, have our forces to make their way up to the mountain pass. We've had enough delays as it is, and I wish to be over it by dusk."
With that bit of business dealt with you, you continue meandering your way through the camp polishing off the remains of the soup before grabbing another bowl, and eating that as well. Who knows how long before you would eat again, and it was better to march with a full belly than an empty one.(+50 Health, +30 Mana.)
As the suns began to rise higher in the sky, the army broke camp and was back in it's formation as they continued their advance. However this time you decided to position yourself towards the front to get a better sense of the terrain you were heading into.
The paths sometimes wide or narrow led up the side of cliff face with no visible end in the sight, the peaks of the mountains throwing their shadows atop you, before passing by many underground caves. All of which had to be scouted out, in case goblins should infest them.
After travelling for several more miles, a scout reported an underground cave filled goblins lurking within, but what was of more interest to you was the news that the cave led to a tunnel that cut it's way through the mountains.
(Click here to brave the dangers of the tunnel.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Seeing no reason to abandon such a gift as this, you immediately pour your undead ahead of you to cleanse the tunnels while advancing a few miles behind. The demon blades cutting down the few dregs that managed to slipped past them.
Cavernous, and huge, the underground cave became larger and large before eventually leading you towards a massive encampment, where thousands upon thousands of goblins battled your undead warriors. Bursts of flames shot outwards from the mages to light the darkness, revealing a whole army hidden beneath the ground, surging forth to battle with spear and shield, yellow eyes dancing in the darkness, and wardrums beating rhythmically as they shrieked their warcries.
However with undead on your side the battle becomes more of a slaughter with the mages lighting the cavern, while skirmishers, and demon blades lending their weapons to the task of purging the area of goblins. (-349 Undead, -1 Demon Blades, -4 Skirmishers.)
(Again you have the option of restoring some to life.)
(Click here to command the mages to restore as many of the dead goblins to life. Mana Potions Required 40.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With the undead making up more than half your numbers, you decide to err on the side of caution, and have the mages bring back as many as they can. (+1,200 Undead)
(Click here to only re-fill the amount undead lost on the mountain. Mana Potions Required 11.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With not much need for them right now, you decide to simply replace those lost in battle. (Any Undead lost in the mountain is again restored to your army.)
The fighting done for the moment, you press deeper into the mountains, reaching the passage the scout spoke of, and continue upward before stepping back out into the freezing cold winds of the mountains.
(Click here to send the undead to clear them out, and continue on towards the mountain's peak.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Judging the close confines of the tunnel to be far too dangerous, you send in the undead to purge the cave of goblins, before continuing on up the mountainside. (-414 Undead)
(Again you have the option of restoring some to life.)
(Click here to command the mages to restore as many of the dead goblins to life. Mana Potions Required 40.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With the undead making up more than half your numbers, you decide to err on the side of caution, and have the mages bring back as many as they can. (+1,200 Undead)
(Click here to only re-fill the amount undead lost on the mountain. Mana Potions Required 11.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
With not much need for them right now, you decide to simply replace those lost in battle. (Any Undead lost on the mountains is again restored to your army.)
Slowed time and time again, by goblins striking out from the caves, your march up the mountain is reduced to more of crawl, until at last you reach the top of the mountainous peak. (-32 Demon Blades, -250 Slave Guards, -35 Skirmishers, -19 Dark Mages, - 20 Fire Warriors. -260 Undead.)
Heart beating like a drum, you look down from above and feel a wave of fear stab into you at what awaited below. In the immense bowl that stretched for thousands of miles below in all direction was a horde of innumerable goblins, and above gliding through the air currents were dragons of all shapes and sizes. The glacier ahead, shaped into a fortress the likes of which you've never seen before, and probably would never seen again, a fortress made of pure ice.
While standing besides statue of a demon lord was a creature of incredible size with wings of leather folded at his back, red eyes that glowed with power, and body alive with magical energy that crackled all around him in sparks of red lightning. The clouds above somehow darker around him as he stood in a column of fire that seemed to burn from within and without.
Lord Tazrael, God of Fear. Here he was at last.
1. Do you have the mages cast some type of illusion spell to conceal the descent of your army? (Mana Potions Required 50.)
2. Do you have the mages create some type of distraction to lure away the goblins? (Mana Potions Required 50.)
3. Do you have the mages caste a protection spell to guard your army while they descend? (Mana Potions Required 50.)
4. Do you conserve your stores of mana for now, and focus on trying not to draw any attention as you descend?
5. Do you call upon Sarsonel to lend you her strength, for this is her battle as much as yours?