Volume 2 - Prologue
The Dragon Mountain Range bisects the continent, in its entirety, from west to east. Many populated nations, including the Fenwick Kingdom, lie north of the mountains. The region south of the mountains is known to all as the Badlands.
Small monsters, such as goblins, occasionally pick their way north through the Dragon Mountains and creep into the lands of mankind. Although larger monsters are rumored to live in the Badlands, the southernmost nations never see them. Dragons regularly patrol the mountain range in its entirety, exterminating any large monsters or large groups of invaders. Human explorers traveling south get repelled as well, but usually they keep their lives, at least.
The Principality Legati and the Kingdom of the Heavenly Queen, both located south of the Tyrin Kingdom, noticed an absence of patrolling dragons along the mountains south of their borders. Such an event was not observed for the previous several hundred years, at least. All military forces were called to arms and sent south.
Calls for aid were sent north to the Tyrin Kingdom, the Principality of the Sun, and the Secular Union. However, without any indication of an immediate threat, no country was likely to send combat forces as aid.
The Secular Union observed something unusual at about the same time they received the requests from the nations to their southwest. The sightings of dragons near their borders had increased. It was as though the dragons abandoned the western half of the Dragon Mountain Range entirely and packed into the eastern half. They, too, were at a loss to explain this change.
--
North of the Foucault Empire lies the Tribal Lands. For ages, the various beast-peoples have formed alliances, warred, expanded, and migrated. The past few decades have seen relative calm, at least in the western regions. However, an emissary from the dog-people brought word of a different nature to the fox-people.
“A message for the Chief of the fox-people!”
The dog-eared messenger was escorted to the grandest tent in the village. An elderly fox-man welcomed the messenger. “Please, do not delay. What word do you bring?”
“Our scouts witnessed the cat-people and rabbit-people conducting joint operations of some type. They seem to be allied!”
“So?” the Chief asked. “If the cat-people and rabbit-people wish to ally, why does that warrant such an urgent message to me?”
“Our Chief believes the cats and rabbits are training for an invasion of our lands!” the messenger shouted back.
“What makes you so sure? For all I know, they could be preparing to jointly defend themselves…”
“Their training dummies were mocked up as dog-people!”
“Oh,” the Chief responded with an inflection of exaggerated recognition.
--
Of late, pirates from islands off the western coast of the Tyrin Kingdom were growing bolder. The Kingdom’s response to raids was slower than usual. The pirates did not know the cause, and they didn’t care. As their numbers and supplies swelled, they expanded their operations north and south. It wouldn’t be long before one of their ships crossed the border northward and struck a port town of the Fenwick Kingdom.
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--
Many orcs gathered for a war council. The topic of discussion? Defeating the elves, once and for all, of course. The Great War Chief, Corgak, presided as strange incense wafted away from the central fire.
“How soon until we’re ready?”
“Before the new moon, the dark elves assure us,” said Mudagog.
“Hm. I dislike accepting their aid, even if we do have a common foe. I don’t care much for them telling us when or how to attack, either.”
“War Chief,” Mudagog countered, “now is our best chance to strike! The elves are at their weakest, and we are at our strongest. At this critical moment, we must bring everything we have to bear. The dark elves, too, understand this. With their aid, we can assure victory!”
“Have they said what they want in return for their help?” asked Corgak.
“Nothing. They consider us defeating the elves to be reward enough.”
“Suspicious. And what’s to stop them from betraying us as soon as we defeat the elves!?” Corgak’s sudden outburst made several orcs turn their heads away in intimidation.
“War Chief… we need only win in overwhelming fashion. So long as we retain our strength, the dark elves can do nothing to us. The forest will be ours.”
“Hm.” Corgak looked down at the rough map in front of him. “Our hills are bordered by the dwarfs to the north, those shadow humans to the east, and the godless ones to the south. Setting the passive dwarves aside, the humans to the east and the south remain an everlasting threat. Even if we eliminate the elves, we will be gaining borders with the Dark Elves to the north, those sun humans to the south, and the damn Fenwick Kingdom to the west.”
“War Chief, may I?” a hoarse voice asked.
“Hm? Ah, Gulm, speak.”
A robed orc, visage almost entirely obscured, stepped forward. His appearance stood out when compared to all the warriors in attendance. “Many allies approach us from the far south. I have seen it. We must lay claim to the land that is ours, while we can. Our new allies will ensure we maintain dominance over all of our neighbors. The elves are merely a stepping stone for us.”
Cheers erupted from the room, but Corgak maintained a stoic expression. “I trust your visions. We must incorporate your prophecy into our planning. Mudagog.”
“Yes, War Chief.”
“Will Fenwick get in the way of our assault?”
“I have no reason to think the alliance between Fenwick and the Elves runs that deep. If it did, the dark elves would surely know. Fenwick won’t have time to respond, anyway. We will strike hard and fast.”
The War Chief nodded. “Still, eliminating the male elves will be quick. Securing the battlefield and retrieving the females will be time consuming.”
“That is true, War Chief. However, once we take control of the forest, we will call for the goblins and kobolds. Many hands make light work, they say.”
“Mudagog, what of the elvish children?”
“Children of those damn elves? I know not where childhood ends and adulthood begins for them. For any that are not fully grown, we may as well toss them in the firep—“
“Fool!” Gulm suddenly interjected. “Bring any small elves back along with the females! You think it’s enough simply to wipe out the elves in one generation!? We must hold their fate in our hands!”
While Mudagog stopped to process Gulm’s argument, War Chief Corgak weighed in. “Fine, we’ll do as Gulm says. We can always change our minds later.”
--
Pandora, having appeared in Garfield’s bedroom, climbed on to the bed alongside Hannah and Yttria. Garfield overcame his momentary shock at everything that was suddenly happening to him and executed a brilliant plan.
“Hannah, I have a mission for you.”
“A mission?”
“Yes. I want you to do two things. First, check to see what interesting requests are posted at the Fork’s Crossing Adventurer’s Guild. Then, time yourself to see how long it takes you to get back here without using any teleportation magic.”
“Huh? But that means—“
“«Teleport»!” Hannah was gone.
“Impressive,” Pandora admitted.
“I… think I’ll go home after all.” Yttria, intimidated by Pandora or, perhaps, feeling like a third wheel, made to exit the bed. Pandora reached out to stop Yttria from leaving. The only part of Yttria in range was her fox tail, so Pandora grabbed that. Yttria yelped and fell backwards on to the bed.
“I have no intention of monopolizing Garfield. I’m simply curious. There’s no need for you to leave on my account. Join us.”
It would seem Garfield was tired and outnumbered.