Though I haven’t had any further trouble with the hounds behind me, I still haven’t been clear of danger. Often having to slip into the shadows as a pack of monsters moves on through, looking for any stragglers from the battle, with one of such monsters carrying a half eaten arm in its jaws.

Again, a couple of these groups were gnolls or dire wolves coming from the west.

Why weren’t these guys immediately deployed to the battle?

Is it possible they are alert to the possibility of someone being out here and keep some of their army in reserve, or are these fresh troops newly summoned as the battle continues? At least, I hope it’s still continuing and that our army hasn’t suddenly decided to run off.

At such a distance from the fighting I’ve left behind, the world seems peaceful in a twisted apocalyptic way.

There is no sound other than my own footsteps, but because I’m going through effort to stop these sounds all I can hear is my breath. Furthermore, if I listen closely I can hear my heart beating, a soft rhythmic pulse.

Calm. Focused.

The highly temperamental weather had no wind for the past few minutes, it was as if the whole mountain had frozen in time, waiting with a held breath to watch the bloodshed.

Moving onwards I spotted four men from the Black Hound, non of whom I recognise. Wait, three men and a short haired women. 

Walking into the open, still vigilant to my surroundings and making sure I’m not going to attract some nearby horror, I wait for them to come over.

A haggard man in his late 30’s lead the group forwards, eyes darting around looking for any threats. Not the only one with a dose of ‘healthy paranoia’ I see.

“7th squadron. Lt. Hywel, you’ that ‘Aegan fellow?”

“5th squadron… Been a fan long?” I jest with a slight smirk, which is followed by his own.

“Nah, just ‘member a fellow who whacked a couple of guys half decent like, before limpin’ off to ‘is quarters is all.”

“Well, I don’t know who this Aegan guy is, but if I see him I’ll tell him to do better next time. Where’s the rest of your squadron then lieutenant? Dangerous with all them violent teen thugs and all, that roam around these days.”

“A little wise man tol’ me they often don’t hang ‘rounds these parts. Anyway, out with these guys to look for stragglers and that, looking to regroups them with the rest who made it this far.”

“Then lead the way.” My words coming from another sly grin.

“I aren't your ma’, lookin’ to hold your hand. I’m going back, you follow or you don’t.”

This guy reminds me of people back in the barrens, equipped with their unique form of venomous humour. Naturally being my favourite kind.

Them cursing and insulting you, just shows you they care enough to not ignore you. But if they do so whilst coming at you with a weapon, they clearly care too much and should seek advise to sort out their feelings.

It only took us a short distance to reach a camp filled with people either eating, resting or maintaining their equipment.

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Within these people were my squadron, minus five people. Two members I hardly interacted with, Grigori, Marcos and Suculus. With the last two being of the three people lent to us from Captain Kadir’s personal squadron.

As well of most of our squadron being here, one Black Hound squadron was present, with non of them dead or missing, since unlike us they avoided detection successfully. Though a portion of them are out looking for the entrance to the witches… Lair? Hideout?

Now we have to wait for information on where we need to go from this scouting group, as well as wait for any other groups to arrive. However, we all have orders to only wait until midday for stragglers before continuing without them. Similarly, if you don’t reach here before midday you should turn back and rejoin the army.

A little before midday, a group from the Taldarian army skirmishers arrived, shortly followed by another group from the Black Hounds with Grigori and Marcos in tow. At midday, another group from the Taldarian army arrived just before our scouts came back with information on where the witches are hold up.

So, out of the 13 groups that had intended to arrive here before midday, only five got actually got here. Which was to be expected I guess.

Shame that non of the Dancing Swans arrived though.

It didn’t take long for us to get to a ridge overlooking where we need to enter from the north.

It is very similar to the stone building above the ruins we explored, except it is a little bigger. Hopefully with less stubborn doors too.

In a courtyard-like area in front of the building was a group of 40 gnolls in a loose formation, just waiting there. After a couple minutes of observing, the big archaic door slowly opened along with the emergence of ten more gnolls. After they were through, they all worked to slowly close the door.

And there goes my dreams of a cooperative door.

The gnolls then form another line at the back of the formation and then they all begin slowly jogging east, remaining in their formation.

As soon as these creatures were out of sight, everyone moved onto the courtyard, keeping watch to make sure no one comes up behind us.

Whilst this is happening, ten of the strongest amongst us slowly open the gargantuan door. With me thankfully not being amongst them.

Once everyone had filtered into the large bare stone room, the doors were painstakingly closed, as to leave no evidence of us entering.

In this room is a few broken stone benches and a few of those magical torches. The only other thing left was a wide staircase going downwards, with what looks to be a pile of broken stone and metal besides it, that likely covered the entrance to the staircase before it was torn off.

But, these thing are huge and near impossible to tear apart.

So… What exactly ripped this open?