ArtStation - Troglodyte [https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/013/076/575/large/pascal-quidault-claustrophobia-troglodyte-coriace.jpg?1537948301]

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ElxDN

“In his first few weeks as the new lord of these lands, Rygon would face numerous challenges in his attempts to establish himself as a credible authority figure. But despite his best efforts, the nobility would remain unmoved by his actions and he was met with threats from both within and without court. The most significant of these threats came from the Kan’trish’yarger, a group of supernatural troglodytes who had terrorized the region for centuries, and who posed a serious threat to Rygon's rule.

“Aware that he needed to quell the threat of the Kan’trish’yarger, he assembled a small band of warriors from among his lands, and called for aid from the conclave. But despite his pleas for support, none dared to lift a finger in response. And so despite their lack of experience in combat, Rygon relentlessly trained his warriors for weeks on end. He forced them through exhaustive marches, practice sessions defeating monsters, and even trained them against captured troglodytes.

“However, Rygon knew that his small army of untested warriors would be no match against the powerful troglodytes. So to swing the odds in his favor, Rygon went in search of the legendary ore known as Crowmessis, which was rumoured to hold an array of enchantments that could enhance a warrior's attributes and make them nigh invincible in battle. And having purposely selected this stronghold for this very reason, he spent thousands of gold pieces searching for any deposits upon his lands, and ultimately found it on the western coast among a friendly neighboring tribe of Tama’goin.

“The original inhabitants of the Qwaula’gor, these people were said to be born from the land itself, their skin covered in mud, their faces made from sand, and their limbs that of trees. Slowly driven back by invading troglodytes, they were forced to live on the coastline, and their bodies gradually adapted to become more like the sea itself.

“Promising them a return to their lands, trade, and wealth, Rygon swiftly secured an alliance with this once proud tribe and put his plans into motion. He used the newly found ore to craft a hundred suits of magically imbued armor, which glowed a brilliant white in the sunlight. Naming his new company the Silver Spear, they would be the vanguard for his army, and would come to hold a fearless reputation for battle. But even with these suits of armor, Rygon knew that he would need to be careful in his plans to destroy the Kan’trish’yarger. For where his army numbered in the hundreds, theirs numbered in the thousands. And it was this sense of caution that caused him to seek knowledge about the terrain, defenses, and the strength of the enemy.

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“Having learned that the greater bulk of their army lay hidden away in the Fortress of Galbreakia, Rygon knew he would have to find it, and capture it. But without knowing its location, or how to take it, he decided the best course of action would be to weaken them. And so for many months he would lead expeditions to scorch the land, striking rapidly again and again in a hundred different locations. Gaining victory after victory against smaller bands of warriors, Rygon knew at some point that the Kan’trish’yarger would grow frustrated in their attempts to hunt them down, and would instead attack his stronghold of Bulwark bay. Having prepared for such an outcome for months, he had stored away plenty of supplies, set up hundreds of traps, and had brought in dozens of Tama’goin to help defend the walls.

“When the Kan’trish’yarger finally did march south in numbers, they brought a force of close to fifty thousand, a force unmatched even by the empire's greatest armies. But even then Rygon was undaunted, and continued using the Silver Spear to lay waste to enemy garrisons, towns, and whole villages. And as the mighty host of Kantrishans descended upon his castle, he eventually sent half of his company to help defend the walls under the command of Furgral, an experienced adventurer that had become his second.

“Together with Furgral to keep the garrison’s morale high, Rygon would continue to nip at their heels, attacking constantly night and day, terrifying the enemy. He also would come to learn that the enemy army was being led by several powerful warchiefs, and made it his aim to find and kill them.

“But as the war continued to rage for weeks, then months, Rygon worried that battle fatigue could destroy them first, and so he rested his small force for several days. It was a risk considering the extra pressure that would add to his fortress, but that was what was necessary for the next part of his plan. For it was in the late hours of night that he realized he would need to strike all three warchiefs simultaneously. For if any of them survived and chose to flee back to their fortress of Galbreakia it could be disastrous.

“And so it was with careful planning that he skinned his enemies, used their flesh to disguise their armor as filthy troglodytes, and snuck into their camp. Then in a coordinated assault, they set off explosions to create distractions, and slew all three warchiefs.

“Still, even Rygon was unprepared for the chaos that would ensue as troglodytes turned on each other in a mayhem of bloody battle that left very few alive. Mopping up the survivors, Rygon could not believe the success of his plan, but the fight was not yet over, it was time to capture the Fortress of Galbreakia."