The tension in the air was palpable as Henry processed the soldier’s frantic words. The twilight hour had barely settled over Woodhaerst, and yet the promise of rest seemed distant, eclipsed by the urgent report that threatened the town’s fragile peace.
“The beasts… they’re coming. Thousands of them… all at once!” The soldier’s voice trembled with exhaustion and fear, the urgency clear in his every breath.
Henry’s eyes narrowed, and his mind quickly shifted into the strategic mode that had served him well in countless battles before the convergence. But this was different. The convergence had turned the once predictable world into a place of unpredictable threats, and the beast activity was one of the most dangerous uncertainties they faced.
“What do you mean, ‘all at once’?” Henry demanded, his voice firm and unwavering as he demanded more details.
The soldier swallowed hard before continuing. “Sir, the scouts reported the beasts of the wilderness have suffered a great slaughter— and been driven into a frenzy. In their frustration, the adventures have over hunted the nearby beasts.” Sweating profusely, he wiped his brow, then continued, “Now…it seems, a beast king and underlings are converging on Woodhaerst. They’re charging straight at us, no hesitation, no fear. Its almost as, they wish to repay their slaughter in blood, and wash away their hatred in war!”
Henry’s mind raced as he considered how best to defend. The beasts of this world had always been a threat, but they were typically territorial, attacking only when provoked or when their domain was encroached upon. A coordinated attack like this, on such a massive scale, was something entirely new—and far more dangerous than he ever experienced.
“Gather the army,” Henry ordered, his voice sharp and decisive as he walked to the barracks. “We need to prepare for a siege. And double the watch on the walls. I want every available soldier and adventurer ready to defend the town.”
The soldier, still catching his breath, looked to Henry with a mix of fear and hope.
“Get some rest,” Henry said to him, his tone softening slightly. “You’ve done well bringing this information to us. We’ll handle the rest.”
The soldier saluted weakly before stumbling off to find some much-needed rest. By the time Henry reached the barracks, the key members of Woodhaerst’s defenses had already gathered.
“We don’t have much time,” Henry began without preamble. “The beasts are coming, and we must be prepared. We’ve never seen them act like this before, which means we must be ready for anything. Sergeant Ulysses and Captain Joseph, what do you advise?”
Sergeant Ulysses saluted before speaking, “The territory is large, and the plan is to have four layers of traps laid out in defense. Sire we are currently building the first and second traps. To retard the beast horde, we’re constructing abatis and chevaux-de-frise. With the archers on the walls and the soldiers on the ground they should be enough to stop the first wave.”
“The first wave?” Henry asked curiously.
“Yes, m’lord. We expect three waves at minimum, four at most. We believe the barricades might stop the first and second waves,” Captain Joseph smiled proudly.
“And the stronger waves?” Henry wondered.
“We’ll need you to set dig a mote around the city and fill it with water. That’s the second trap, and third trap is using dried branches to create a fire ring and entrap the stronger beasts between the water and fire,” Sergeant Ulysses added.
“Well done sergeant and captain. Each you take a wall and assume command of the soldiers and adventures for this war.” Henry ordered, satisfied by the plan.
Three days later, the first wave of beasts reached the outskirts of Woodhaerst. The soldiers, adventures, and Henry worked 72-hours nonstop to complete traps. It was an exhausting endeavor, but the town was as ready as it could be. The walls were lined with archers, their bows drawn and ready to fire at the first sign of movement. Below them, the gates were heavily fortified, with makeshift barricades erected to slow down any creatures that managed to breach the outer defenses.
Henry stood on the wall, his eyes scanning the darkening forest in the distance. The sounds of the approaching beasts were growing louder, a cacophony of growls, roars, and the pounding of countless paws on the ground. The air was thick with tension, every breath tinged with the metallic taste of fear.
“Steady!” Henry called out to the soldiers and adventurers around him. “Hold your fire until they’re within range. We can’t afford to waste any arrows.”
The tension built to a breaking point as the first of the beasts emerged from the treeline—hundreds of cougars, boars, raptors, condors, elk, antelope, rams, wolves, coyotes, badgers, foxes and all manners of beast meant to weaken the town’s defense.
“Archers, ready!” Captain Joseph commanded, his voice carrying over the sounds of the approaching horde. He waited until the beasts were within striking distance before giving the order. “Fire!”
A volley of arrows shot through the air, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. The first wave of beasts fell, but more quickly took their place, undeterred by the bodies of their fallen comrades.
The beast wave battle had begun.
As the first wave of beasts charged toward Woodhaerst, the clash of survival and strategy ignited. The air was filled with the sounds of arrows slicing through the wind and the pained cries of the animals that were struck down. Despite the ferocity of the defense, the sheer number of beasts seemed overwhelming, like a living tide crashing against the town's fortified walls.
Henry stood tall on the wall; his eyes fixed on the chaotic scene below. His heart pounded with a mixture of adrenaline and determination. The soldiers and adventurers around him were focused, their faces set in grim resolve as they continued to unleash arrows into the advancing horde.
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“Reload!” Captain Joseph bellowed, his voice cutting through the din of battle. The archers quickly obeyed, nocking arrows to their bows as the next wave of beasts surged forward.
Sergeant Ulysses directed the ground forces with precision, positioning soldiers behind the barricades to intercept any creatures that managed to break through. The first few lines of defense were holding, but the relentless pressure from the beasts was beginning to take its toll.
Henry’s gaze shifted to the abatis and chevaux-de-frise—wooden spikes and barriers that had been hastily constructed to slow the beasts' advance. The traps were working, impaling the smaller creatures and forcing the larger ones to navigate around the obstacles, buying the defenders precious time.
“Focus on the big ones!” Henry shouted, pointing to a group of massive boars that were charging toward the gates. “We can't let them breach the barricades!”
The archers adjusted their aim, targeting the larger beasts with pinpoint accuracy. The boars were hit, their momentum faltering as arrows found their mark. One by one, they crashed to the ground, but not before ramming into the barricades with enough force to shake the entire structure.
“Reinforce the barricades!” Sergeant Ulysses ordered, sending a group of soldiers to bolster the defenses. "We can't let them break through!"
The soldiers moved quickly, using their spears to fend off the smaller beasts that tried to slip past the barricades. The adventurers, meanwhile, engaged in close combat with the creatures that managed to climb over or around the obstacles. It was a brutal, chaotic fight, but the defenders held their ground.
Henry could feel the strain on his people. They had been preparing for this moment for days, but the intensity of the battle was unlike anything they had faced before. The beasts were relentless, driven by an unnatural fury that defied explanation.
“Captain Joseph, any word from the scouts?” Henry called out, his voice carrying over the roar of the battle.
Captain Joseph, busy directing the archers, glanced over at Henry. “None yet, sir!”
Henry nodded, his mind already racing with contingency plans. The first wave was meant to test their defenses, to weaken them before the true threat emerged. He knew that the worst was yet to come.
As the last of the first wave's beasts were cut down, a tense silence fell over the battlefield. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen creatures, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat. The defenders took a moment to catch their breath, their faces etched with exhaustion and relief.
But Henry knew better than to let his guard down. “Get the wounded to the infirmary and resupply the archers!” he commanded; his voice resolute. “This isn't over. We need to be ready for the next wave.”
The soldiers and adventurers quickly moved to follow his orders. Those who were injured were helped off the battlefield, while the others gathered arrows, checked their weapons, and reinforced the barricades. Just inside the southern gate, he watched as Priestess Thera healed the wounded. It was a comforting feeling knowing the barricades held, and no casualties were reported.
Truth be told, he found the quiet after the first wave was unsettling. The tension among the defenders was palpable as the eerie silence stretched on. The first wave had been repelled, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the next assault began. The forest, once a sanctuary of natural beauty, now felt like a lurking predator, its shadows concealing the danger that was gathering strength.
Henry took a deep breath, his mind already working through the next steps. The respite would be short, and they needed to make the most of it. He turned to Sergeant Ulysses, who was directing the soldiers to reinforce the barricades and set up additional defenses.
“Sergeant, ensure the abatis and chevaux-de-frise are intact. We need those traps to slow them down again. If there are any weak points, shore them up immediately,” Henry ordered, his voice steady but urgent.
“Yes, Lord Brown,” Sergeant Ulysses replied, his tone reflecting the gravity of the situation. He quickly relayed Henry's orders to the troops, who sprang into action with the efficiency born of experience.
Henry's gaze shifted to the town beyond the walls. The people of Woodhaerst were relying on him to keep them safe, and he couldn't afford to fail. He knew that the next wave would be stronger, more determined to break through their defenses. The weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders, but he was no stranger to such burdens.
As the soldiers worked tirelessly to prepare for the next assault, Henry's thoughts turned to the possibility of seeking help from the Twilight Order. The jump gate, though currently only connected to the Order's headquarters, could potentially be used to bring reinforcements or supplies. But he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
As he thought, side by side, the sounds of the forest grew louder. The ground seemed to tremble with the approach of the next wave. The beasts were coming, driven by a primal fury that was as terrifying as it was relentless.
“Sergeant Ulysses,” Henry called out, his voice cutting through the noise of preparations.
Sergeant Ulysses looked up from the ground, his expression one of focused determination. "Yes, sir?"
“Steel your men!” Henry shouted from the wall; his voice tinged with anticipation.
“Yes, sire,” he saluted and began issuing orders.
Henry's grip tightened on the hilt of his axe as he prepared to face the next onslaught. The first wave had been just the beginning, a test of their defenses. Now, the real battle was about to begin.
Once again, hundreds of beasts emerged from the forest in a terrifying wave of claws, fangs, and talons. This time, they were larger, stronger, more ferocious—wolves with sharp fangs, elk with piercing antlers, bears with massive claws, diving raptors with deadly talons. Their roars echoed through the night, a deafening chorus of primal rage.
“Hold the line!” Captain Joseph commanded, his voice strong and unwavering. "Archers, aim for the front! We’ll take them down; it will cause the rest to slow down or dodge!"
The archers responded immediately, their arrows flying with deadly precision. The larger beasts took several hits before they fell, their massive forms crashing to the ground with earth-shaking thuds. But for every beast they took down, another seemed to take its place, driven by the same unyielding fury.
The ground forces braced themselves as the beasts reached the barricades. The abatis and chevaux-de-frise slowed their advance, but one barricade falter as a herd of ram rammed the defenses breaking through at the cost of their lives.
“Repair the barricades!” Sergeant Ulysses shouted, rallying the soldiers to reinforce the town's primary defense. The beasts that managed to breach the outer defenses were met with a wall of steel, the soldiers and adventurers fighting with everything they had to protect their home.
Henry jumped down the walls and ran to the breach. His axe blurred as he cut down one beast after another. Behind him the soldiers quickly moved to repair the damaged barrier. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, sharpening his senses and fueling his every move. He was so focused he failed to hear the soldiers inform him of the fix defense. Only, after Sergeant Ulysses tapped his shoulder did he fall back.
The battle raged on, the night filled with the sounds of clashing steel, the roars of beasts, and the cries of the wounded. The defenders of Woodhaerst were outnumbered, but they fought with a ferocity born of necessity. This was their home, and they would defend it to the last breath.
As the wave began to ebb, the ground was littered with the bodies of fallen beasts. The soldiers and adventurers, though bloodied and exhausted, had held the line once more. But Henry knew this was just the beginning.
The night was far from over, the third wave would soon be upon them.