A Gliesian Vampire, his loving wife and child carried along a roll of cloth, an assorted fare filled into a wicker basket and a few Sun Ray protecting enchantments on a clear cloudless day for today they shall have a family outing. Such an occasion was typically reserved for the Summer season but this humid autumn day was a most unexpected occasion. They set up their little picnic cloth upon a flat grassy field as they brought out maslin bread, cheeses, ale, nuts, butter-potted meat spreads and dried berries. Wife gently tethered their wild hearted offspring from running off as she juggled bring out the food with her husband. Once the meals were brought out, the Husband brought out one final piece to accompany this special day, a single telescope that he extended out its length that he may see the special occasion's show and pass the device along to his family when they wanted to take a look. Typically, such a seeing-eye device only had several niche purposes from sea-faring sailors looking to spot places of interests from afar, Legionnary Commanders wanting to peer across the battlefield and Astronomers who seek to read the portents that weaved above the heavens. Yet as the Vampire amusingly discovered, can be used to surveil any eventful happenings from a distance without the observed noticing.
Accompanying them were fellow Vampires, on their everyday cover clothing as they gathered upon the outskirts of the Duchy of Kalmte's capital, the city of Colobonne, specifically… the Battle of Colobonne.
"Annwyl, can you pass the Habafant Cheese?" the Dame requested softly.
The husband obliged. He turned around to the sizeable cut coagulated dairy. The pale golden cheese was hard at first to the touch thanks to its preservation method of placing the whey into a special skin sack to allow fermentation and solidification to occur. However, upon consumption, the Cheese mellows its rigid structure to a gum-like melt. Made by the domesticated bovine known as the Habafant, a rotund quadrupedal mammalian with features similar to rhinoceros and cows that favor the grassy plains habitat of which the Duchy being the ideal place to raise their herds on. It is used both as a beast of burden and as a source of food for the natives of continental Ysanigrad for centuries.
They maybe hardy creatures but the recent volcanic eruption of the Ostalrocs that only now had been swept away had tested their famed resiliency. Some died of respiratory complications whilst others starved due to the inedible grass the ashes had tainted. Before Operation Haymaker, the species was about to return to their normal grazing patterns before the Federation had arrived into their pastures. Most of the ranchers had already fled in the panic, yet a few stubbornly stayed with their herds all over Kalmte.
After passing the cheese, the Husband grabbed his telescope and began to peer over to the horizon. Already, he could see the strange yet great Iron Beasts advance towards Colobonne. Such an ending number of those otherworldly monstrosities bore feet made like the wheels of a cart yet their bodies of like an armored war steed galloping into battle. His family, mostly his curious son, took turns looking through the magnifying glass of the telescope as they continued to observe from several hundred meters away. As the battle progressed, the Iron Beasts began, for lack of a tactful means of describing, excreting out soldiers in green clothing from behind their bottoms. These 'Rye-fell men' as Sister Iris described to them formed the core of the Otherworlder's alien powers.
The iron beast had a sizeable trunk, similar to the length of a Habafant's that sprung itself to life as it adjusted its direction towards the city. The beast let out a blaring roar as it let loose pellets upon pellets of 20-millimeter rounds across the field towards two of Colobonne's city walls. Within a blink of an eye, the southern barbican of Colobonne's walls were pulverized into dust as the Otherworlder's soldiers broke through the gate like a flood.
Those Vampires who bared witness the theatrical carnage were left with their hearts beaten fitfully. To those who were on the fence of the Otherworlder Question or had marginally chosen to choose 'Nay' over approving of their offer back at the Tyhela were now convinced of the Federation's power after sipping a taste of this explosive demonstration. Not even their bravest of radicals would dare commit such an act of vandalism against the Duchy's Walls, let alone be a capable of destroying it so utterly and yet so quickly. Such is their first course demonstration of these strange Otherworlders, that Sister Iris had introduced to them. A divine-like power she now possesses over if not higher to her still above them.
[-]
Ash, smoke and the marching noise of UFE Treads filled Colobonne as the Seven-Ringed Flower flew triumphantly atop of the city's tallest building, the bell tower. The 'Battle' to say the least was uneventful. The defense of the walled city collapsed like a house of cards as soon as the Arabian APC's Chain Guns lay down their 20-millimeter machine gun fire unto Colobonne's battlements. The 23rd Infantry Battalion poured through the destroyed gate securing the city of the Federation. What paltry remains the city garrison had during the fighting had either surrendered or were crushed beneath all of the rumble. Population wise, about 2/3 of the City's burghers had fled thanks to reports from the enclave of Vampires that live nearby, making Colobonne virtually empty for the 23rd. A Forward Operations Base, the first of its kind outside of Neuogonia has now been established in Kalmte where operations within this section of the Northern Theater can be dispatched from.
This timely development was much to the often-underappreciated Supply Chain's relief. The so-called 'Gold Arrow Express' as referred by the 23rd's Logisticians was a series of road ways used by the UFE to push the needed supplies the Armed Forces needed to keep up the fight against the Slaegians the further they pushed inland. The 'Gold Arrow' part of the name comes from the vestigial empire's road signs that were painted a bright yellow across junctions to designate the direction of what settlements come ahead. The mostly dirt roads and even fewer stone roads of the empire, as analyzed further by Major Holyfield weren't designed to accommodate the volume of two-way traffic the Army Logisticians are used to working on. ISAC intern, created a one-way and constantly updating round trip route given to each individual driver Army Supply Trucks. The 'Express' route starts from main UFE Supply Depot of Neuogonia all the way to wherever the front lines were. More than a dozen tons of Supplies for the UFE Soldiers were pushed through the rural lands of Ysanigrad every day. The recent capture of Colobonne now allows the city to be refurbished into a Motor Pool and Secondary Supply Depot that bolster the volume of supply the Gold Arrow Express can deliver.
As the 23rd basked themselves upon their victory, another mission group of brave soldiers galloped passed them during their Noon-time Luncheon of MRE's and grubby chow.
The city was quiet, devoid of life except the fearful whimper of the remnant citizenry of the city as Styder Group's Land Cruiser sped through the city streets. Following Iris directions, the MRAP arrived in front of an opulently colored building. In contrast to the symmetrical and unpainted houses that made up Colobonne's architecture.
The Sprouted Flower, much as its namesake, is a vividly tangerine hued building decorated with crudely painted rainbow bouquet in full bloom. As Samantha and Iris entered its bell-laced door, they were greeted, or more accurately, aroused with purposely selected perfumes and spices. Across the first chamber were soft bottomed sofas, chairs and beds with paper folding screens cordoning off sections for privacy's sake. The establishment was quiet, despite its sized, having seen way more productive days. Samantha's heart fluttered red when she realizes what kind of 'services' the Sprouted Flower offered.
"How may I be of service at trying times such as…" a raven-haired young woman sultrily greeted as she sprang forth above the foyer's stairs to welcome the new arrivals. A couple of working girls were also awoken by the new guests and came to observe them.
Her face shifted from forced smile to genuine surprise when she saw only Iris and Samantha standing atop of the carpeted floor by the entrance.
The mistress was adorned in a skin revealing garment that exposed her belly and left little to the imagination of those peoples who seek her companionship. It was equally complimenting that her angled face, panther-like eyes and delicate lips could reel the hearts of any creature she gazed upon, male or female alike. However, her night-shaded hair was slightly disheveled, brushed roughly to an unladylike presentation. Even some of the other working girls were of a subpar distinction for supposedly a flowery establishment. Likely from the fighting that had occurred outside earlier had gotten everyone of them nervous and shaken.
"Liliyan? It's me, Iris." The Vampire Witch greeted her friend. "How were you?"
"Iris?" Liliyan gulped. "Iris!" she dashed down the stairs as she swiftly and affectionately latched onto the Witch's hand.
"It had been so long! I thought I would have to flee the city before you came! Then I heard fighting by the walls and saw the guards getting massacred by those iron beasts, Green Men and… and those Dragons whose wings were like drums! Me and the girls were terrified!" Liliyan shivered.
"It is okay now. Everything is okay. The fighting is over." Iris reassured her.
"Well, you're not the first person who called us that." Samantha smiled.
"Wait… you… brought one of them here!?" Liliyan's eyes widened. "Your… one of them, aren't you? The Otherworlders?" she interrogated the Captain.
Samantha nodded, confirming her question.
"You must be Samantha! From the letters Iris wrote of." She reverted back to her artificial smile once again. "I… I know your people are looking for some… 'entertainment' after all of this… but me and my girls aren't… aren't in the mood right now after all of what happened today. Can you tell your soldiers… Demons… or whatever you call them that they can come back tomorrow?" she blushed fearfully.
"Uhm no… we don't have time for tomorrow I am afraid." Samantha dissuaded.
"Fine then. Just… just make it quick…" she shuddered, tugging her bawdy garments with her fingers.
"We are just here to ask you some questions." the Captain raised.
"What do you mean?" Liliyan was about to pull away the light garments that covered her round bottom facing the two much to the alarm of Iris and the Captain.
"Liliyan! What are you doing?!" Iris yelled. "I know you are a bit of a free-nymph but this is too much from you!"
"The victors come the spoils? I am no fighter Iris… you know that." She whimpered. "I… I will scream as loud as you want… just don't hurt any of my girls."
"Wait… NO!" Samantha yelled, realizing what the Mistress meant. "We do NOT do that!" she cried.
"You… do not?" Liliyan rose back up, revising herself. "Those men are not going to… despoil…us?" she pointed to the men standing outside of the door.
"No!" Both Iris and Samantha exlcaimed in unison.
"Besides, that one over there? You see him? Only I am allowed to ravage him!" Iris pointed to Kayin, a hint of pride seeped from her tongue.
"Iris! Fy mlodyn du! I didn't know that you had it in you!" Liliyan squealed.
"And I thought I have to use the last of my Healing Balm from the Herbalist now that he left…" one of the dollish girls upstairs sighed in relief.
"So, you said you wanted to ask me some questions? How about you and your… uh party from outside come to the main hall so we can talk? The girls can still entertain all of you… well not in the way I thought." Liliyan invited Stryder inside both her establishment and home.
"That sounds so much better." Samantha smiled. "Just tell your girls to stay away from Diaz." She warned.
Gesturing them over, Samantha invited the rest of Stryder into the Sprouted Flower. Diaz (with a anonymously-hooded Aliathra by his side) and Clay easily settled themselves in, mesmerized by the wide variety titillating sensations that permeated the building. Crocker maintained his stoic professionalism amidst the sight of the handful of prostitutes that ogled his physique whilst Kayin was tugged against his will along with Iris as she introduced him to Liliyan.
"I have heard so many things about your 'Nightman'." Liliyan giggled. "His skin color quite… exotic." She commented.
"Yeah… very much." Kayin awkwardly smiled, trying not to crumble beneath all of the Mistress' flattery nor offend the host. He knows that beneath all of their sight, it was child-like curiosity rather than bigotry that drove the attention he received from most Gliesians of his ebony skin. Ultimately innocent if naïve.
"Tell me more about yourself Liliyan. What is your story?" Samantha asked, as she was poured a kind glass of water onto her canteen to refresh herself.
"I am the Head Mistress of the Sprouted Flower. I used my 'charms' and 'wiles' to grasp the hearts of everyone that seeked my companionship. The last proprietress of this establishment saw my way of words that I became the 'Brightest Flower'. Men… and even a few women travelled near and far just to see my face. I always had a way of getting my clients to tell me their deepest desires… I believe you would call it… Illusion Magicks." She brushed along Samantha's ears, lightly breathing into her drums with venereal temptations. "When she passed, the reigns fell upon me for the well-being of the Flower and those who work within its walls."
"I-I see. That's… actually pretty clever to be honest." Samantha blushed; it was quite a sight for
"Oh, don't worry, this is my 'True' Form. But I can do much more if you so have such desires that you wish to speak about to me? I can take you upstairs and show you an appetizer of what I can do I tend to keep my 'show' beneath closed doors." She winked flirtatiously much to the slowly lust-hearted Captain's jittering. Her instincts beneath all of her years working in the flesh trade can attest to it. "I can even let you 'pay' with something much more precious that silly gold." Her fingers danced alluringly closer to Samantha's hips.
"B-but alas!" the Captain regained her cool. "I am afraid I am here on official business."
"Well, I can see why. If you and your men not going to enjoy the company of my fellow sisters then I can only conclude that it is information you are after." Liliyan nodded. "Tell me what you wish to know, but be warned. I will state my price before I loosen my tongue." She haughtily averted her gaze.
"We need to find Ratimir. Rancid Ratimir." Iris asked.
"Ratimir? I will tell that one for free." Liliyan's eyes widened. "Quite an odd request, but not my strangest. Normally Rancid Ratimir doesn't like anyone disturbing his mad mumblings unless it was important. Why do you look for him?"
"There is a Council Vote going on and they lack his vote before they come up to a decision. It's very important to all of us." Iris explained.
"I see, what is the vote all about to be exact sister?" the mistress asked.
"It is regarding about being able to no longer have to worry about hiding anymore Sister. The Otherworlders are offering us sanctuary if we follow them. But some of the Elders are too reluctant to agree to their terms. You can see now that they are good folks since well… they aren't sacking the town like any conquering army would have." Iris summarized.
"Oh, I can see why. Your just like your Father again Iris… always pushing forward and casting the die." Liliyan giggled. "They do pique my curiousity a little bit…but even then, I too am not so sure myself of who these Otherworlder's really are." She eyed over Samantha and the rest of Stryder Group who settled themselves quite comfortably inside the raunchy room.
"Do you know where Ratimir is at least? We need to find him for the Council Vote to conclude." Captain Rose pushed the conversation forward. The time for small talk can be done for later.
"No, but one of my girls do." Liliyan answered.
"One of your girls? Explain." Samantha pressed the mistress.
"Well, you see, Ratimir only shows interest to only one of my girls. Pays many ducats just to have Maresh all for himself. Quite curious really…" Liliyan explained.
"Curious how?" Samantha asked.
"Maresh is a fairly… unremarkeable compared to the rest of the girls here." Liliyan said. "But nonetheless… she interacts with Ratimir more than anyone else outside of me and mother. Even then, I rarely get to talk much outside of him asking me 'Where is Maresh?'."
"Where would Maresh be right now? Is she here?" Samantha asked.
"No, she has been staying put at her home village of Egni for the past few weeks. To be honest, I grow rather concerned for her because she hasn't reported back for a long while." Liliyan anxiously divulged.
"Looks like we got a lead now Cap. I say we go now and get this over with?" Kayin suggested. "You do seem to know this Maresh person a lot since she works for you. Maybe you want to come along with us? You're a local after all."
"If it means we can find both her and Ratimir, then I accept. Just let me dress up to something more… comfortable for travel." Liliyan agreed.
"Oh please stay for a while handsome! I might actually toss a coin to you just to look at your obsidian face~" one of the girls begged coyly.
"Stay back. He is mine alone!" Iris pushed the beguiling seductress aside greedily.
"Oh man! I was about to teach Alie what a 'Foursome' is." Diaz sulked, leaving behind the sultry temptress who he was charming.
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"Well I am glad we're outta'ere. Girls are starting to stare a'me." Crocker shaken his throat exhaustively.
[-]
The Crow Master ticked her head as she finished wiping off the last specks of dust on her hair after barely surviving the barrage of invisible magicks from the invaders when she was discussing the last bits of the plan to evacuate the last batch of people of the city. She was dispatched by the acting-leaders of the Inquisitorial Remnant to secure and oversee the evacuation of Colobonne's large granaries. They managed to fill several dozen or so feet high of precious wheat during the harvest before the volcano struck. Now they must secure what precious food they have left to be used for the last safe bastion of the Empire that is Ghana's Walls. The attack on Colobonne could have happened anytime sooner, but alas the tenacity of the Otherworlders knows no earthly bounds. Her assignment of shadowing the Duchy's task of organizing the retreat of its own people and food stocks had struck several difficulties. The stubborn peasantry had to be put down and made examples of by the combined remnants of the Imperial Legion, the Duchal Guards and the Inquisition members. The farming peasantry were apprehensive to relinquish their meager yields to the cause, some even giving up in despair seeing that the Fall of the Capital to be the writing on the wall that all is lost. Not helping matters is that there were rumors that Vampiric Envclaves are sabotaging the evacuation efforts by delaying the travel of much needed supplies and if the most extreme of theories are to believe, spreading a plague to raise minions to actively stifle any attempts of a chance the Duchy has of fleeing to safety.
That is why Mita was here that day as she weaved passed the Otherworlder soldiers who began to swarm across the city. She needed to regroup with the Inquisition back north and plan a means of delaying the invader's blitzkrieg into the region otherwise all hope that Ghana's Wall have could be lost.
"This shit… is SO EASY!" one of the Otherworlder soldiers lazily wailed. His stave holstered away as he talked to his partner. "This war could be over before my birthday on June."
Mita ducked down behind some wooden barrels as she overheard a couple of patrolling Otherworlders passing by the alley she took. She can still easily understand their thoughts and languages thanks to an enchantment that she embedded unto herself to comprehend the invaders. In her line of work, to fight the enemy, one must know the enemy first.
"Dam'sho! That new intel that the big wigs from command they got from Haringpoint is on point." His more alert partner nodded.
The Crow Master shook with distraught. She silently cursed herself that the defenders of the Imperial Capital before it had fallen had failed to destroy all the important items that the Emperor was forced to leave behind.
"How did we know Kalmte is about to have all of them grains being evac'd though exactly? I hear Command must have a mountain of some good'tell after the Capital." The laidback patrolman asked.
Mita listened carefully to his words. This 'Ko-mand' is likely some sort of high ranking general or perhaps the main Demon leading, at the very least this invasion into the Empire's Breadbasket.
"I actually learned it from a guy who knows a guy who knows that creepy ass Bureau dude who shot up the Adventurer's Guild place." The focused soldier raised. "Says it came from the College of Magic off of this Gandalf-lookin guy named Owynne. Sang a leak so big that its practically flooding with detes back upstairs. Retreating points, instructions, anything about what they gonna do when they flee up north."
"Glad we popped that sonuvabitch to the floor. Who knows what he could have done with all them wizard bullshit he sparks out'ta his hands." The lazy one chuckled.
"Oh, that's not even the crazy shit of the story from my man." His patrol partner wildly waved his arm to interject. "They didn't pop his ass. The Black Ops teams found him dead! Officially its suicide." He explained.
"Guess we must had caught him in a corner and took the easy way out." The drowsy soldier snickered.
"Not so bro… I heard he offed himself because some talking artifact in that big temple place told him to! Or something… I don't know. My friend said he got the censored version of the report. It's probably some more crazy bull shit the nerds back at base are wanking themselves over the fun stuff." His counterpart answered.
"First Magic, then Dragons now talking stuff! Where the fuck are the hot fantasy girls now?" the laggard stuck his tongue out teasingly.
The two soldiers shared a light applause in that moment as Mita hunkered down at her hiding spot yet deep down, she knew exactly what those soldiers were talking about. The Crow Master became lost in a fog of distraught. Not only Grandmaster Owyne is dead but he had spilled valuable information to help the demons in their nefarious cause in the last moment of his life. Even more shocking is that the reason for him for doing that was caused by the Crystal Heart and that the Otherworlders have possession of it! It is likely Crystal Heart may have been corrupted by the demons to make Grandmaster to turn against his people or worst, amplify the powers of their own corrupted Chosen One, Samantha the Share Holder.
A loud rumbling sound approached the guards, snapping Mita back into reality.
"Captain Rose!" the mindful patrolman saluted, his partner following suit.
Peering over the window of the alien cart. Mita could not mistake the visage that appeared before her. The Rhannu-Prietar herself! She could not forget those leaf-colored eyes, scarley hair nor her youthful face.
"Hey which gate is cleared for me to get out of the city of?" Samantha asked the soldiers.
"It's the Western Gate. Just turn your Cruiser around by the corner up ahead and just follow the road until you see some stables Captain Rose." The cognizant sentry answered. "Where are you headed?"
"To a village called Egni. We need to find a Vampire who lives there for something important." Samantha explained.
"I hope those Vampires are willing to join us… all practicality aside… I always wanted to have girlfriend with sharp fangs and wings." The slacker jokingly states. He was then received an immediate jab from his fellow soldier.
"But I am afraid of heights!" a voice echoed from the back of the truck.
"Wait there's one in the back?" The slacker asked. Only to again be struck by his more professional partner.
"Don't waste their time!" he said to him.
"Well good luck on your trip then Captain Rose. 12th Platoon should be nearby to assist you so don't be afraid to call them once you get a brief of the situation down there. I heard there's a big camp of sorts not too far away so check it out." The soldier saluted.
Samantha retreated back inside the self-driving cart as the iron beast sped past the soldiers who then promptly walked away at the opposite direction leaving Mita to emerge safely from her hiding spot. This must be, despite her agnosticism from the Pantheon, a blessing from the Gods as the Crow Master put it. The Corrupted Chosen one is going to be moving away towards an easily isolatable area with a minimal team of Demons to protect her. Egni is about a day's walk from Colobonne but her training of controlled sprints or if possible, she can find a steed, Mita can cut down her arrival time at most in half. Assuming Samantha stays within that Ranching Village she could easily assemble the last reserves of her Crows still under her banner to assist her in capturing the Share Holder. That way they could free her and unlock more answers of what she knows of the Crystal Heart and Owyne's apparent betrayal. Her previous encounters, both of her own and accounts from her peers gave the Crow Master no room to allow for such trifling things such as leniency, Samantha will not go out quietly now and she will not ever.
The Crow's strike has to be perfect.
There was no time to waste right now. Mita tailed Samantha's Cart, using her enchanted cloak to shadow its gallop as they both made their way out of the fallen city. The Crow Master also had to juggle herself to throw a Message Spell back to her superiors for a request of resources. A mix of sedatives, people and a few swords in case they have to fight their way out.
[-]
The ocean's waves quavered the wood of the Ethuilen Galleons as weary sailors and warriors endured the biting chill of Northern Ysanigrad. Attrition had taken hold of Prince Valorion of the Royal House of Lareththor and his Military Expedition, from food shortages, the hostile elements, coastal raids and mental strain tested the will of the Elven Soldiers. Many of the brave sons and daughters of Ethuilen grew restless after many sudden promises of touching down upon land only to be cruelly abrogated by the grimly changing front of the situation on the Human Continent.
The ever-changing dynamics from their Slaegian Counterparts was hard to keep up with Valorion and his lieutenants. They were originally supposed to land on the port city of Marves north of the Imperial Capital to rendezvous with the remnants of the Slaegian Legion. But just before they could make landfall, they had received news that the city and thus their landing point had fallen. Attempting to salvage the situation, the boats changed course northward to a secondary landing point… which also became compromised by the terrifying speed of the Demonic Advance. They tried again and again, being slowly harassed by the Otherworlder's magicks such as fireballs and wyvern attacks that seemed to cut away from their strength bit by bit before they could muster their defenses, which was meager to say the least when your army is couped upon an armada designed for carrier space than naval combat.
Over a third of Valorion's initial expedition had succumbed to the attrition of the long sail northwards. Many sacrifices had to be made to ensure the overall well-being of the soldiers. Many of the Knights reluctantly had to butcher their steeds to make meats that would extend the food supply for several days whilst the leather is used to mend the sails of the ships that became worn out by the slicing gales that Northern Ysanigrad was infamous for. Some of their own war supplies, especially of wood were used for kindling to keep the soldiers warm, but even that wasn't enough to fully stave off the frigid chill. Much of the enthusiasm that the Elves had in fighting the demons were tempered to mere survival for their bodies and sanity.
Yet when it comes to prudence, none were so as besieged as the Commander of the Expedition himself, Prince Valorion. Despite his grand titles, acumen and achievements, he is still just as vulnerable to the attrition of his soul like every one of his troops.
"Thantros… Darhodor… Seilridielle… All of you…" he buried his face to hide the lamenting tears that fell underneath his azure eyes. Those were the names of several of his men, some he had known since childhood, others from his days of tutelage in the Academy that had perished tragically in this journey.
He could see their ghosts surrounding his room crying to him, to avenge them all… but all paled in comparison to the wails of one imaginative figure Valorion overheard in his visions.
"Aliathra… I will avenge you…" Valorion beat his chest, remembering his cardinal impetus for undertaking this crusade in the first place. The young general cursed himself that he is being anguished inside this damned piece of wood whilst his sister's murderers ran free to taint Ysanigrad with impunity, striking the ship's hull with his fist.
At first, the visions were just the dying calls of his late little sister, but the further the Elven Prince journeyed on his expedition, more ghosts, those of his followers and friends appeared before him to haunt his every waking hour. Even in the embrace of his in his cabin, the same bloodied phantasms begged for him to avenge them.
He remembered that day, when his Armada was beset by his own eyes: 'Fire from the Skies' that struck down like lighting upon several of his Galleons causing to be set ablaze before the cold blue sea devoured its wooden corpse. Summoned forth by Steel Wyverns of wings that could challenge the swiftness of dragons. They spat mocking Power Words of lethal rain upon his men who fought in vain to challenge them. Some of his own men could share into his hallucinations, speaking of banshee's and sirens asking of them to 'turn back' 'you will perish' from their righteous crusade which slowly eroded several of the elves resolves. He didn't know if it was either the Gods Protecting him or the Dark Forces mocking him at every turn that he managed to survive such attacks until now.
Just as he was about to succumb to his tribulation, two soft knocks interrupted his solitude.
"My Prince! We have found land!" the voice of one of his soldiers spoke.
"Land?" the mere thought of solid ground, away from all of these debilitating days at sea was a ray of hope to the Elven Leader.
He emerged from his cabin and followed his subordinate atop of his galleon where the Captain and the Navigator of his ship stood idly by to await him.
"Milord we have found a small shore that we can disembark some of our men to forage for much-needed supplies." The Captain said. "It has been about a week since we were last attacked and I must do say with confidence that we are likely past the worst of our journey over the Sea."
The Elven Crown Prince looked over by the Navigator's Telescope to survey the land. The shore was rocky if not somewhat challenging for a boat to land. Beyond the rocky beach, is a plain large enough to disembark his soldiers but at the risk of overbearing the battered galleons to its physical limits if they wish to chance upon a landing. Yet ultimately, the land was empty. A flexible and patient enough armada such as him could theoretically perform a gradual landing with what the table had in play.
"Where exactly are we now?" Valorion asked.
"Last night's stars say that we are likely several dozen miles or so away from Ghana's Wall Prince Valorion. Making the rocky shore of the Daosne Tribes territory. If we hurry to the Human fortress, we should be able to have warm beds and meals before the week passes." The Navigator answered. "We should follow the Captain's advise and just have several of our rangers---"
"Nay! We land our forces on Ysanigrad today." The Prince ordered. He was tired of sitting idle as the Demons swallowed the land in their tainted crusade. His armies must march to meet them head-on less all of Ysanigrad will be lost.
"I fear it may be a risk to land here I am afraid my Prince. The rocks may not be treacherous but we will likely damage our ships if we attempt to land our forces ashore now." The Captain advised.
"But if we don't land now, who knows what will happen to us?" Valorion argued. "Our maps say all that's beyond Ghana's Wall is nothing but ice! If we don't land our forces now then by the Gods we have failed in our mission by our inaction." He pressed.
His men were being stretched to the breaking point being cramped inside their roughened ships. The Daosne Lands feature ample opportunities for replenishment and resupply with wood to keep them war and wild mushrooms and game to eat. It will take a day to forage such items for the journey ahead but their chances of having an ample force to arrive of any value to Ghana's Wall is greater on the frigid northern lands of the Beast Folk than it is to canker inside their ships.
"Have all of the ships ready for a rough landing at the double. We will disembark ship by ship so be careful. I want to see every soldier that could still stand on their legs to touch land today." Valorion ordered.
The captain was no fool to disobey the Crown Prince. Reluctantly he bowed, walking towards his horn, and with a mighty gust from his breath, its howl echoed across the Elven Armada.
As each Galleon heard its bellowing echo across the northern Fjords, a spark of fire erupted amongst the weary crew. A second wind drove the sailors and soldiers to arise from their sloughs. The seafarers tossed their anchors, tied their sails whilst the soldiers buckled their weapons and armor as the first Ethuilen Forces finally touched down upon Ysanigrad. Mages assisted the disembarkation by hovering their supplies by the beach whilst their menagerie of mystical monsters assisted in the ferrying of the soldiers from ship to land. The process was meticulous if not without several mistakes made along the way. The Elves, boat-by-boat poured into that small rocky beach with such enthusiasm that some crashed accidentally across the rough rocks ashore. Some were so excited to touch land that they swam a challenging distance across. Several injuries and fatalities had occurred during the landing in addition to critical damages by their beaten galleons but chiefly, over 100 surviving Galleons of the Elven Armada, of each contained 500 Elven Warriors were now deployed onto the cold rocky beach below the gray covered sky equaling a 50,000 strong army.
Mounting atop of his beloved steed, the horned Dale Dasher Bethril, he cantered off to the front of his gathering army of the best of the best the Ethuilen Elves have to offer:
Rainbow Helms (some dismounted) raised their great swords and glaives at the ready, Sword Singers & War Dancers bowed at the ready equipped with their spell-woven weapons were as resplendent and as beautiful as their names presented, Phoenix Knights lit their lances ablaze atop of their Glatisant Mounts, Elven Forest Rangers carrying their beautiful enchanted bows by their breasts formed the sharpest tip of the spear, warrior elite of the Ethuilen Army.
At its core, Valorion could count on the strength of both the mountains and the downpour of rainfall. The frontline consisted of an impenetrable line of pike and shield-wielding Silalthian Guards whose white plumes unfurled like a rising bird across the cold winds. Counting behind them were their skirmishing counterparts, the Allushtashi Archers equipped with longbows as large as their entire bodies readying to unleash a hail of arrows unto their foes. Always appreciating a vanguard of Cavalry to complement his infantry, the Elves had also deployed their Gladehearth Knights who, although lighter armed than their Phoenix-ranked brethren were just as swift-footed and bold in their charges.
At last, to put the Elven Gift to be wrapped into a bow as a present of aid to the Slaegians were their mystical beasts. A Cadre of Great Eagles, some ridden by the most accomplished Forest Rangers and Knights being led by the helm of a mighty Sun Dragon whose auric head bears the second most important follower of Valorion's army, the Arch-Mage Sellyinne 'the Graceful Hammer' of potent if not nigh-godlike magecraft.
The Royal Prince looked onto his army and smiled proudly at his brave followers who locked their gaze onto their leader with devotion burned into their hearts for the cause.
"Brothers and Sisters of Alfel-Nora!" Valorion yelled forth. Bethril dashing across his army as he spoke. "It has been a treacherous journey from our homelands to the lands Ysanigrad. We had faced trials of starvation, pain and death but we have so far prevailed against them, brought forth likely by the Demon Lord's attempts to stop our advance before we could meet him in fair battle!"
His soldiers cheered in unison. Spirits lifted that they had survived the journey so far.
"We mourn for our lost dead and we shall avenge soul the Demon's had taken from us with ten more of theirs!" Valorion vowed. "It is time once again, for the brave sons and daughters of Alfel-Nora to protect the world once again from the Forces of Darkness. We had aided, guided, and lifted the many peoples of Ysanigrad as the one true Shepherds of Gliesia, as bestowed by our Gods. Now they ask for our aid once again. We shall show all of the world what our ancestors had accomplished many centuries ago! To beat back the darkness and restore the light of order unto Gliesia!"
His soldiers once again cheered, united in purpose and passion by Valorion's inspiring words. The Warriors raised their weapons to salute their commander as he passed over all of them, Valorion each looked onto their eyes back, reinstilling his commitment to his mission.
He rallied to his cavalry bodyguards by the army's right wings and together, the forces of Ethuilen marched to meet the Demonic Tide.
"Sister of mine… I shall avenge you." He whispered beneath his breath.
[-]
It was quite idyllic, if not haunting for Stryder Group when they slowed themselves down to absorb the Kalmte countryside. If one ignored the looming air of war on the horizon, there was a unique purity beneath all of Gliesia's archaicism. The fantastic fields of the duchy reminded Samantha of a time beneath Earth's own history free. A vivid looking glass of a time free of mega-corporations, big governments and indentured poverty of the Federation Worlds. The irrigation canals creaked down comfortably on her right whilst the autumn winds brushed soothing along the blades of chestnut-colored grass that the local livestock grazed upon by her left as her party journeyed by the loam-paved road towards Egni. It was easy to get distracted beneath all of this fey-flavored scenery.
"I hope this Maresh friend is at Egni. Yer' Duke is really keen'on gettin' everyone out'ta here before we move in." Crocker worried.
"My dear Maresh is a plucky lass. She knows how to handle herself and isn't afraid to live prudently if she has to. Being the daughter of a Shepherd after all. She does have a thing with her fingers when they touch the skin of others… now I remember." Liliyan answered. "If we find Maresh, we will find Ratimir. I assure you."
Samantha gritted her teeth. Now was not the time to smell the flowers. She needed to refocus back at the task at hand.
"We should be able to see the village just by coming over this hill." Liliyan pointed out.
The group pushed themselves over the terrain as they are greeted a full ambient view of the region ahead. A virile glade breathing with fields clothed in red, gold and jade as far as Stryder's eyes (and binoculars) could see. The village of Egni, lay before a few hundred meters below the hill. However, a closer examination revealed that the town was empty and that the populace had moved out into a makeshift refugee camp far ahead.
"We should definitely start at that Camp over there." Samantha peered her hand above her brow.
They should be able to evade suspicion by the locals as they investigate the town since news of Colobonne's fall of which the road they treaded lead to the city has not yet likely reached the locals as of yet. Their gear and weapons were hidden beneath a thick destitute leather jacket they wore over themselves to anonymously blend in with the refugee hordes that now drift all over Ysanigrad.
The group descended down the hilltop as they landed upon the mouth of the village. In contrast to the pastoric charm the wilderness had provided. The town was seemed to drained of all life. Boarded up rooms and abandoned hovels greeted the expedition with only a handful of remnants lethargically sitting idle by.
"All refugee's mus' present'selves to the Camp for'der Imperial Census for Rations and Passage out'ta Duchy." A Townsman of Egni monotonously ushered the new coming Stryder Group.
"E-excuse me… good sir." Samantha swallowed her throat and put up her best Gliesian Accent. "I am looking for a… a friend who lives here." She asked.
"Aye, I'nno everyone in this village. Who you-be lookin'fer?" the Townsman leaned closer, empathetically ready to help those fellows who wish to leave with their friends and families.
"I am looking for one named Maresh, the Daughter of a Shepherd? Do you know the person?" Samantha asked.
The Townsman's helpful smile twist to a disheartened paralysis as he struggled to construct his response.
"H-a-Have you not heard what'der Heralds had squawked… cydwaed?" the Townsman stuttered.
"What happened to her?" Samantha's eyes shot with adrenaline.
"Gods Protect'erus! Da--- Witch Hunters! They found'er to be casting hexes and curses! Making der town sick and raisin' da dead to kill us all whiley flee from da Demons." The Townsman wailed. "Inquisition ar'aboutta burn her at the stake by da temple now."
Upon hearing those words, Samantha fired her feet, carving a trail deep into the heart of darkness once again her squad following her. The Captain will not let this potential peace with the Vampires become ashes.