Their destination lay a few miles out from Andire proper in an abandoned farming community. Hard times had fallen on the hamlet, leaving the place to become overgrown and fallow. Judging by the ashen wreckage on one half they’d had a serious fire and never recovered. In the dawning light of morning it was an almost beautiful if haunting reminder of what nature could do.

Now it was being used as the base of operations for a gang of chaotic fey. A decrepit old chapel watched over the village atop a hill. Networks of tunnels had been carved into the hill to create a crypt for the dead. Properly interning the deceased was always an important matter. Unfortunately it also proved to be a good place for their enemy to set up shop. Busting that bunker would likely be difficult, but their party wasn’t alone.

The knight had decided to join them upon confirmation that this was where the enemy was hiding. Alco had brought twelve of his constables and one lieutenant. Ulgrin was glad for the back up. Watching from a distance atop a hill of their own revealed the place to be crawling with all kinds of fey and humanoids.

Annoyingly, they were serious about security. Routine watches patrolled the grounds and surrounding forest, making their job of infiltration that much harder. The Fallen Court was not stupid, but their chaotic nature did mean the defense had a few flaws.

Patrols were random. Groups of the Court wandered around in different directions, returned at nonstandard times, and had trouble deciding who was next. Ulgrin lowered the spyglass he’d borrowed, done watching two different parties bicker and argue about it. They didn’t seem very unified, which left obvious holes in their security.

“Well, I’d give us good odds on managing to find a hole open long enough for us to slip through and assault their base.” Ulgrin spoke, handing the spyglass back to Lieutenant Yarrow. The gnomish man nodded, diminutive plate armor jingling. “It’s going to be a narrow window of opportunity, though. We’ll need to move fast and hit hard. Keep the momentum going.”

Alco rubbed his chin, nodding. “It would be best to use the advantage of surprise as best we can. We will be attacked in the rear if any patrols return before we can seal the entrance, though.”

Their alchemist raised a finger. “Got a few solutions for that. The quick and dirty, and the slow and effective. Got a preference?” Alyss gave a quick grin, peppy despite the few hours of sleep they’d gotten. Stamina potions did that to a person. Ulgrin was on one as well and riding the wave.of energy.

“Keep both in mind,” Ulgrin stated. “It’ll depend on how our initial assault goes. If we screw it up and announce our presence too early then we’ll go with the first.”

Saezz raised a hand. “What about a distraction? Perhaps either himself or Raelza can cause a commotion in the underbrush. Then we sneak back around to meet you all.” The lizardfolk lounged in the grass, absorbing the suns rays. Almost catlike in a way.

Raelza shrugged. “It’s risky, but doable. But that means we’ll be missing out on the initial attack. Can we spare ourselves to lose the strength?” She was currently mounted on Wreath, who looked a bit antsy from being cooped up during their stay here in Andire. Well, the beast would be getting quite a bit of exercise now.

Ulgrin gave it a thought. On one hand, it would guarantee their ability to get through. But he also very much enjoyed having his friends by his side. “Let’s not split up for now. Our tactic is overwhelming strength, we need to preserve as much power as we can to pound their defense into the dust.”

Lieutenant Yarrow spoke up. “Some of the boys were previously rangers. Perhaps it’d be best if they scouted ahead?”

“It’ll help us avoid attention until we’re ready.” Ulgrin nodded. “Tell your men to maintain a good distance ahead and report back if we meet any unexpected patrols. We’ll hold onto their armor and put it back on before we attack.” While the constables were in mid-range armor, it was still loud enough to cause an issue. Each of them had a set of maille, breastplate, helmet, gauntlets, pauldrons, and gorget. Half were armed with halberds while the other six had shields and shortspears.

Together, they made for an impressive shieldwall. Ulgrin already had ideas in place for utilizing them. They’d make for an excellent anvil against his party’s metaphorical hammer.

Alco and Yarrow served as their group’s shocktroopers. Heavily armored, highly skilled, and with no small amount of martial power. The knight, surprisingly enough, wielded a simple spear affixed with two ‘wings’ to prevent overpenetration. The gnome on the other hand wielded an appropriately sized lucerne hammer that would no doubt be useful in pulling foes to the ground to allow his fellows to cut them down.

As the lieutenant ordered his men to make ready, Ulgrin looked to his allies. “Good to go?” He checked his own kit one last time, ensuring everything was as maintained as it could. Alder’s shield had been fixed as well as it could be.

Several nods and affirmations were returned to him. “Alright.” He looked back to the chapel. Another patrol was leaving. If his estimations were correct now would be the best time. “Let’s get moving. Keep quiet, you all. We need to maintain stealth for as long as we can. Scouts, move forwards.”

Ulgrin pulled his helmet back on and began walking. He was careful to watch his step, avoiding any forest floor detritus. Still, their party wasn’t subtle. The everpresent clink of chain could be heard over the morning birdsong. But the forest would keep them hidden for long enough, he hoped.

[Calm yourself.] Lorekeeper’s voice spoke to him. [You will be fine. I believe in you.]

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Thanks…” He replied, swallowing his fears that he would get all these men killed. “Here we go.”

Their party was quiet, save for low breaths and grunts. Everyone knew the plan and wasn’t willing to chatter at a time like this. Half an hour passed in tense silence. Ulgrin was waiting for the moment an enemy detected their presence and the plan went up in flames. He was pleasantly surprised to see they grew closer and closer with no signs.

Eventually the two scouts returned to them. “No sign of patrols, sirs.” A scruffy bearded human speaks up, the shorter of the pair. “We fanned out about a hundred yards. The coast is clear. Looks like we’re gonna get the jump on them.” He continued after a moment to drink from a waterskin. “Reached the cathedral, or as close as we could. They haven’t got a clue we’re here.”

“Excellent.” Yarrow said, twisting his long and elegant mustache. “Put your gear back on, quickly now. Time’s ticking.”

After their two scouts had donned their armor once again, Ulgrin led the group forwards. Their movements slowed to quiet the armor. Several more minutes passed before the forest began to clear out. Crouching down near the edge they watched the chapel, examining it up close.

One narrow path led up the hill, switchbacking its way up the somewhat steep incline. A low stone wall surrounded the chapel and graveyard, but it could be easily vaulted. Activity filled the courtyard and main building. Fey of all shapes and sorts wandered about the places. Some played pranks on one another, or on the humanoid helpers. It was a messy site, no rhyme or reason to the makeshift constructions in place.

Ulgrin took in a breath. “I’ll start us off. This should stun them long enough for us to make our way up the hill. Watch for that tower, they’ve got a few archers in it.” He gestured to a makeshift tower to the southwest of the chapel. Otherwise the plan is simple. Charge and hit them as hard as possible.”

“Want us to stick with the guards, boss?” Raelza asked. Her elven eyes stared deeply into the makeshift fortification, already scanning for who to shoot first.

“You and Wreath can go wild. Take care of who you think needs to be brought down first. I’m worried about that big bastard.” Sleeping at the edge of the property was a Hill Giant. The giant kin had at a distance been mistaken for a lump of supplies, but was in fact a twenty-foot tall humanoid. He was joined by two ogres, the smaller creatures subservient. He wasn’t sure why they had joined the fey, but it was a problem nonetheless.

Monstrous infantry played hell with regular infantry. While the giant kin weren’t incredibly intelligent, they were incredibly strong. One swing with their tree-trunk clubs and the line would fall apart in an instant. They’d need to be taken care of quickly. Annoyingly he didn’t have a good angle to hit them from here with any kind of magical artillery attacks.

“Saezz, do you think you can distract them if you focus on defense?” Ulgrin asked, gesturing at the giants.

The lizard thought about it for a moment. “Of course. He can easily trick a bunch of bumbling giants into following him.” He raised an eyebrow. “But Saezz is beginning to see a pattern in who you want him to focus on. It is fair, he supposes. Biggest fighter fights the biggest foes.” He smiled, shaking his head.

“You won’t be alone.” Alco replied, tamping his spear into the ground. “I’ll aid you in felling them.”

“Do keep up, sssir Knight.” Saezz said in return, playfully grinning.

Alyss cracked her knuckles. “It’s nice to not have to worry about collateral damage for once. You don’t mind if I blow up that church, right?”

“Isn’t that… a little heretical?” Alder asked, eyes wide.

“I’m sure the Gods won’t mind too much.” Raelza said. “It’s already being desecrated. What’s the harm in a bit more?”

Happy to see his companions were in good spirits, Ulgrin stepped forwards. He drew his staff and reached out to Lorekeeper with his mind. “I’ll need your aid, friend.”

[Of course. Begin supplying power.]

A runic sigil formed beneath his feet, slowly burning into existence as he began to stir up the energy within himself. Wind whipped at his armor as aetheric power built up. It’d been a while since he had put this much power into anything. It tingled, almost burning his nerves. The staff was raised and pointed.

Just as he saw signs of movement amongst the Court of the Fallen. He aimed towards their makeshift barracks. The building was constructed of repurposed wood from the nearby hamlet. Hardly a barrier to his power. The fey gathered near it turned, noticing the glowing light appear below them.

KRAK-THOOM!

A bolt of immense power surged forth, clearing the distance faster than one could blink. It struck the barracks. An explosion filled the area as the weak structure was sundered, sending fragments of wood and stone into anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. The deafening sound washed over the chapel, a shockwave breaking what glass hadn’t already been shattered.

Ulgrin fell back, gasping for air. His staff was hot, almost burning his hands through the metal gloves. He sucked in enough breath to say a single word. “Charge!”

A war cry filled the air as the constables began to move, charging up the hill. Raelza loped past them on Wreath’s back, her crossbow twanging. A satyr dropped from the watchtower, hooves kicking up into the air. Saezz was just behind her, long legs eating up the distance. Alco was close, his leaner plate armor designed for speed. The man very much evoked the image of a bird of prey.

Alyss worriedly looked at him, having stayed behind to keep an eye on him. “You okay?”

[Perhaps I made the mana channels too wide? My apologies, Ulgrin.]

“Aye…” He breathed, woozy for a second. The weakness left him after a few moments. “Let’s go. Don’t want to fall behind, do we? You want to blow that church up, don’t you?”

“Of course.” She replied, grasping two bombs in her fists. “Let’s go!”

Running as fast as his short legs could take him, Ulgrin watched as his allies hit the enemy’s base like a monsoon. Saezz and Raelza weren’t even stopped for a second, the paltry defense still shocked and off-guard. Just as they stopped trying, the constables hit their lines. It was a bloodbath.

Ulgrin saw one of the Redcaps be pulled down by Yarrow and subsequently stabbed by eight different blades. Even their inhuman constitution didn’t allow them to ignore that. Unorganized fighters made the mistake of attacking in ones and twos, then found themselves surrounded and brought down. Alder had joined the line fighters, his shield broadening their shieldwall. More than a few fey were pounded into submission by the boy’s mace.

Turning his attention away from their battle, Ulgrin ran as quickly as he could up the hill. Alyss joined him, neither of the two particularly fast at sprinting. She let out a gleeful yell and threw her explosives. The two bombs went sailing upwards and into the church via its windows. A hooded man had just opened the door and turned around as he saw them fly past. He yelped and shut the door just as light, heat, and fire was expelled through the chapel’s holes.

An already weakened structure began to buckle and break. It collapsed in on itself, burying the poor man who was just a bit too slow to get away. “Hahaha!” Alyss yelled, already pulling out another bomb. “That was great! Even if I never get the chance to do something like that, I’m satisfied for life!”

“Focus!” Ulgrin chided her, turning to face a charging Satyr. The hooved man wielded a maul in both hands, angrily yelling at them as he approached. “This is a battlefield, not a demolition!” Ulgrin sidestepped and knocked them upside the skull with a bash of his hammer.

“Oh, you’re just jealous my explosion was bigger!” Alyss replied, hurling a vial of acid towards a group of pixies wielding swords the size of carving knives. The tiny creatures didn’t even have time to scream as their bodies melted away. "Ground up some cold iron dust into the mixture! Seems effective, don't it?" Ulgrin looked away in disgust, choosing to focus on another threat.

Namely, the giants. Saezz and Alco circled the three, running rings around them. Probing cuts and stabs nicked the huge beings, but their skin was incredibly tough. Ulgrin didn’t think he could pull off another attack of that power, but he needed to figure out something soon.

The hill giant was starting to wisen up to the two attacker’s antics. They weren’t hurting him. Sooner or later their disorientation would turn to pure, murderous intent.

The battle for Andire begins. But the worst threat hasn't been put on the playing field yet. Thank you all for reading. See you next chapter!