"To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”
-Sun Tzu
After the fierce battle in Athelaim, Mengus and his party found themselves with a new problem - prisoners. The aftermath of the battle left them unable to make it to the tournament on time, and with prisoners captured they had to think of something what to do with them.
After thinking of some possibilities, like letting them go, or killing them...Mengus decided he could use the extra money so he is going to ransom them. Paying wages to Saraphine was draining his wallet, this way he could afford her for some more days.
The decision was made to journey to the town of Crepatia to ransom the captives. The path to the tournament had taken an unexpected turn, as the prisoners presented an opportunity for additional gold.
Crepatia, the "All-Conquering," was named after the long-haired military genius Serapsos, who crushed a Barranian host and secured the lands west for the Empire. They say that he hang his enemies for the tallest tower and let them there until there was nothing left of them.
As Mengus and his party continued their journey towards Crepatia, they found themselves passing by the Remtal Castle, the sight that greeted them was far from the usual grandeur of a fortress. Instead, the castle was under siege, a scary looking scene of chaos and conflict.
The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and the metallic tang of blood. Siege engines groaned and clanked, launching projectiles towards the castle wall. Thousands of people were standing next to each other, in the desperate struggle - defenders resisting the siege, attackers pushing forward with determination.
The castle's sturdy once-sturdy walls were cracked and destroyed with the impact of siege weapons, and billowing smoke obscured the sky. The clash of swords, the thunder of catapults, and the screams of war.
Mengus could feel the pressure in his chest, he was amazed by the view. The air buzzed with the ceaseless hum of activity, punctuated by the rhythmic thuds of battering rams against the castle gates and the distant cries of both attackers and defenders.
The siege camp sprawled across the landscape, a makeshift city of tents and wooden structures. Soldiers clad in various armor and insignias moved around, preparing for the next assault. Siege engines, ranging from trebuchets to ballistae, were positioned strategically, their operators tirelessly aiming at vulnerable points in the castle's defenses.
Defenders atop the walls hurled arrows, rocks, and boiling oil down upon the besieging force, determined to repel the relentless onslaught. Archers exchanged volleys of arrows across the battlefield, creating a deadly curtain of death between the warring armies.
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The ground surrounding the castle was churned into mud and dust, trampled by the ceaseless movement of soldiers, siege engines, and warhorses. The wounded cried out for aid, and the fallen lay silent, their fate sealed by the brutality of war.
Mengus and his party went the opposite way to evade the army, still even far away they could hear the moment when the gate was broken into. The battle was lost.
The bustling town of Crepatia greeted Mengus with a mix of chaotic energy and vibrant life. The marketplace thrived with merchants selling their wares, and the streets were alive with hum of daily activities.
With a handful of prisoners, Mengus made his way to the garrison. The structure looked down the town from a high point. A guard stood at the entrance.
"Looking to sell those prisoners, are ya?" the guard asked, eyeing the captives with a stern gaze.
Mengus nodded. "indeed, trying to make a few extra coins and heard this is the right place."
The guard, seemingly focused on the transaction, directed him to the garrison's holding area for prisoners. Once inside, Mengus negotiated the sale of the captives, earning a modest sum for their release.
"Is it always this noisy here in the town or is there a special occasion?" Mengus asked.
"There's a tournament in the arena so people are going nuts. Would go to ya know but have to sit here looking after these fuckers." The guard spat on the floor.
Mengus raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised by the unexpected news. "A tournament, you say? Well, that sounds like a perfect way to put these freshly earned coins to good use. Thanks for the heads-up."
Maybe he missed one tournament but he managed to get on time for the other one.
Eager to join the tournament and put his skills to the test, Mengus made his way to the town square where the arena stood. The festive atmosphere was lifting his spirits, with the crowd buzzing in anticipation of the impending spectacle.
As Mengus approached the arena entrance, a herald announced the structure of the tournament. Four groups, each containing four participants, were formed for the initial rounds. The one-on-one battles within these groups would determine the finalists who would then compete for the ultimate victory.
Mengus focused on the task at hand, observing the other combatants in his group. The diverse array of fighters showcased an assortment of weapons and fighting styles, each vying for a chance to advance.
To Mengus' surprise he saw Saraphine there as well.
"What are you doing here?" Mengus approached her.
"Earning some extra coin, you?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"Ha-ha-ha very funny." Mengus responded to her joke. "In what group are you?"
"3, you?"
"In group 1, so we shall meet in the finals, right?" Mengus teased.
"You can bet." she winked at him and went away.
Even in his past life, he developed the bad habit of gambling, and to make things worse, he was a poor gambler. Now, in this new life of his, it appears he's fallen into the same habit again. Hopefully, this time around, he'll prove to be a better gambler.
"If I lose this bet, I'll have 0 gold......Maybe this was a bad idea..." The outcome would determine not only his financial standing but also the course of his journey.