Ezekiel grimaced under the morning sun as he adjusted the dress shirt under his military jacket for the fourth time that day, trying to find a proper fit for it. He wasn't used to his tailcoat not covering his chest completely, and he found the long, flowing blonde hair cascading down his shoulders distracting as well.

Behind him he could hear Korlac and Drez snickering as he walked slowly, getting used to his new gait. The alteration elixir Liarra cooked the night before was good, and with it lasting an hour it gave them enough time to do some morning shopping and still get out of town before it wore off.

"You can put your jacket in my backpack,." Korlac offered as he quit laughing and caught up to Ezekiel.

"I told you it wouldn't fit," Liarra mentioned as she kept walking.

"I need my jacket. It has all of my essential gear in it," Zeke explained as Onyx followed behind him, the only one not amused by the situation.

"How much can your jacket hold?" Drez asked.

"A lot. In fact, it is holding a lot, which is why I'm glad you grabbed it when you fled the Dancing Duck."

"Liarra, how many rations should I buy?" Korlac asked as they stopped in front of a general store.

"Get three weeks’ worth for 4 people," the alchemist replied.

Onyx growled behind them, causing Liarra to spin back and look at the metallic furred cat.

"What? I thought he said you feed yourself?"

Onyx snorted as she pawed the ground while lazily stretching her legs.

"She does, but she was hoping to get a lamb leg for later down the road," Ezekiel explained.

Korlac left to buy the rations as Drez poked around the outside of the store, looking at various pieces of equipment.

"So you speak cat?" the water goblin asked.

"No, but I speak many planar languages, Uerthan being one of them. I also spoke Angelic, so I'm able to communicate with Onyx or any planar-bound creature."

"But you were speaking common just now. You only ever speak common with her."

"True. Onyx has picked up on the language during our travels. We have an understanding."

"Gotcha, and you said something about knowing her previous companion?”

"Yes, she was... a very special friend."

Korlac returned with multiple stacks of food; mostly cheeses, hardtack, dried meats, and fruits as those kept best while on the road.

"Drez, do you need anything besides food?" Ezekiel asked.

"Like what?"

"Well, Korlac has his weapons and armor, Liarra her alchemical supplies, I have my grimoire, I was just wondering... you've proven yourself proficient in combat, but do you need anything else? Like would a suit of armor be useful for you, or any kind of weapons?" Ezekiel asked.

"Naaah, armor would just feel weird, I'm used to moving fast. And weapons, anytime I tried using those, they just got taken from me. I'm used to using my knees and fists," the goblin explained in his squeaky voice.

"Fair enough."

"What about your grand plan? This will probably be our last stop on the way to the Citadel. Do you need anything?" Liarra asked.

"As long as you have plenty of supplies for your bombs, I think we're covered. I'm cooking up something, but it's still early. I'll let you know more as we get closer."

As the group finished up their shopping session, buying a few extra candles, smoke sticks, torches, and other common supplies, they became aware of the guards at the gate preventing a crowd of people from entering the town. They appeared to be regular citizens, all in tattered travel garb, covered in dirt and mud. Some were on wagons or horses, while others were young and being carried by adults. There were dozens of them, and they all seemed exhausted.

"What's going on?" Korlac asked as he packed away some of the supplies in his bag while Ezekiel shoved more in his jacket, splitting them up so they couldn't be caught unprepared again should they lose a pack.

"Refugees from up north," the clerk said. "They started arriving early this morning, just a trickle at first so the guards didn't think much of it, but they're coming in by the lots now."

"Refugees from what?" Liarra asked.

"Rumor is a cleansing battalion from the Citadel is on the march, heading south. They're likely the first to be displaced by them. We're hoping they stop short of Millstone, else we could be in a lick of trouble. Last time we had a battalion come through this way, they killed thirty so called 'heretics,'" the man explained.

"So wait, if these are the survivors, why are they on the run?"

"Well, it's in the name isn't it, cleansing? If they find you guilty, they don't just kill ya. They burn your home down and torch everything around it. They probably come from very small villages, where after the battalion is done doing their dirty work, there's nothing left of the village even if they left survivors."

The rotund clerk spit on the ground in disgust, bidding the group a good day as he left to address other customers.

"We need to talk to them," Ezekiel proposed.

"Why risk exposure? There's a bounty on your head, is it worth it?" Korlac asked.

"If the Battalion is headed south that means it's going for Greencoast and it'll definitely come through Millstone. If we're serious about stopping it, we have to know what we're dealing with."

Working his way to the gates with the others following him, Ezekiel came to where the guards were holding back the refugees as tempers flared. Many outside the gatehouse argued loudly with the guards, demanding entry and protection inside the city walls.

Ezekiel tried to pass through, but just as the guards were preventing entry into the city, they were also preventing people from exiting.

"Get back! We're locking down Millstone. No one in or out!" One of the guards shouted in warning as they shoved Ezekiel back, causing his long blonde hair to arc in the air.

"By the hells, where are we, Farwall?!" Someone shouted from the crowd, eliciting more responses from the people outside.

"Korlac, if you could, please," Liarra asked her huge friend.

Stomping up to the gate while squaring his shoulders, Korlac bellowed a guttural roar. The guards and villagers alike all froze, fear gripping them at the outward rage of the barbarian as the villagers outside the gate split down the middle, making way for them. The guards opened the gate for them to leave, and no one outside tried to rush forward as the entire crew passed, the eyes of everyone watching them fearfully. Once they cleared the guard post, the gate was closed on them again and the group kept moving through the parted crowd. At the far end, Ezekiel tried questioning some of the refugees.

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"We heard it was the cleansing battalion sent by the Citadel. Is that true?" Ezekiel asked.

"Aye, rush through on horseback they did," an older woman in wool clothing confirmed.

"Were they all on horseback?"

"They were, around thirty of them. In bright, shining metal armor and carrying heavy shields, lances, and swords at their belts. They threw fire from bandoliers, and burned anyone they deemed a heretic," a bald man in a leather jerkin spoke up.

"Did they ask questions? Interview people?" Liarra asked.

"No, they just rode in and started throwing fire and killed people as they ran from their homes," a younger woman said as she gazed far off into the woods, her expression blank.

"They just started burning houses and killing people? Why?" Drez asked in horror.

"They were acting on rumors or tips. A normal Inquisition procession would do interviews and investigate, but a cleansing battalion simply acts on information the Citadel has been collecting. Why dig deeper when you can just burn out the infection," another man with a patch with fresh blood trickling down from the wound explained.

The group gathered a few more details from other refugees, but learned nothing more. Eventually they were back on the road by themselves, walking, passing another group of refugees from time to time. Korlac offered food and water to everyone they encountered. Some took them up on the offer, and the group soon found themselves running short on supplies.

"Korlac, you can't keep offering our rations to everyone we pass! We won't have enough to get to the Citadel," Liarra lectured.

"But they look hungry."

"They probably are," Drez said softly.

Suddenly, Onyx bounded off into the forest.

"Where's Onyx going?" Drez asked in a panic.

"She'll be back. She always comes back," Ezekiel explained, buttoning the top collar of his shirt as his true form returned. He sighed contently as the wind blowing through his short hair felt normal again.

"Alright, Colonel, so the plan is now the battalion, then the Citadel?" Liarra asked as she kept walking.

"Right," he affirmed.

"So, if you don't want to reveal the plan for the Citadel, what's the plan for the battalion?"

"I'll tell you when we're closer."

"Ezekiel, you need to share more. We need to understand the plan sooner than five minutes before you enact it," Zeldren snapped back.

Ezekiel turned and found himself on the battlefield with his brother. Crusaders around him screaming as the undead swarmed a mere hundred feet beyond.

"What did you say?"

"I said we need to know the details sooner rather than later," Liarra repeated, her tone exacerbated as Ezekiel swung his head back and forth, gaining his bearings.

"Zeke, are you okay?" Korlac asked as he placed a hand on the moon elf's shoulder.

The summoner flinched at the orc's firm grip, and he instinctively tried to pull away, but the hand grounded him and helped him feel tied to the present, though his eyes still wandered wildly looking for his brother.

"What's wrong with him, Kay?" Liarra whispered.

"Combat fatigue. Happens with soldiers who've seen too much death in the field," the orc explained as he kept his hand firm on Zeke's shoulder.

"Great, so we're going into battle with a crazy person," Liarra whined as she rolled her eyes.

"He's not crazy!" Korlac suddenly roared, his tone deep, loud, and firm. Liarra flinched this time, not expecting such a reaction from her friend.

"I'm sorry, Kay, I didn't mean..."

"It's not easy, for anyone. It's not easy for soldiers, so why would it be easy for wizards or summoners? To see your friends die, to be asked to kill people every day," the orc explained as Ezekiel grabbed his forearm, bracing himself.

"Thank you Korlac, I... I just needed a moment. Something Liarra said, it... it reminded me of a comment my brother once made back at the Fall."

"You can call me Kay."

Ezekiel nodded as he staggered to the side of the road, taking a seat on a nearby tree stump.

"I think a moment's rest will do, then I'll summon some horses since we're far enough outside Millstone at this point."

Drez sat down and munched on some cheese as Korlac chewed on some dried meat.

"I'm sorry Zeke, I didn't know..." Liarra explained sorrowfully.

"It's okay, how could you? Truth be told, I've been having nightmares for a while now, and they've been getting worse as my search for Zeldren has been getting closer."

"So... does that mean your brother also lectured you for not sharing your plans early enough?" Liarra asked cautiously with a small smile.

Ezekiel looked up and returned the smile, realizing she and his brother were both right.

"Yes, you both have that in common. Regarding the battalion, I have a few thoughts..."

Gathering a stick, Ezekiel drew out two lines on the dirt road then threw on a collection of sticks on one side of the road and a half dozen stones on the other.

"Okay, so the sticks are the battalion, we're the stones, and the lines are the tree lines into the forest. Now since they're on horseback, the tree lines make their mobility a problem outside those boundaries," Ezekiel explained as the others huddled around him.

"We're still outnumbered six to one, and they're mounted and with armor and lances," Korlac commented.

"Right, but that also works against them. Now I can create some problems for them, as can Liarra..."

"My web grenade?" she asked.

"Exactly."

"But that only really affects one person, maybe the horse too if I'm lucky with my shot."

"Doesn't matter. We're not looking to hit everyone. We're looking to cause a pile up," Ezekiel continued as he started drawing in the dirt. "First we have to catch them unaware. If the others are okay with it, I'd like Drez, Korlac, and Onyx to serve as bait in the front. Liarra and I will be on either side hidden in the trees."

"If they're out in front they'll be slaughtered!" Liarra protested.

"Let him finish," Korlac interjected.

"Thank you, Kay. So like I said, the three of them hold the middle. Now calvary needs to sort of ramp up to respond. Lowering lances, prepping shields, that kind of stuff. Once they're spotted, there'll be a brief moment where the battalion will switch into chase mode. When that happens, Liarra, you'll throw two web grenades on the two horses on the right, while I'll drop the other two on the left in a pit."

"How do you know there'll only be 4 across the road?" Drez asked.

Ezekiel looked at the road again, doing rough calculations in his head. He stood up and walked the width of the road, counting under his breath.

"Unless the road opens up wider further down, riding any more than 4 across will be too cramped for professional calvary. I wouldn't put it past normal citizens to ride in closer ranks, but a military unit will want to keep their formation clean in case they need to respond in a specific fashion."

Liarra picked up the stick Ezekiel had used to draw the map and tapped it impatiently, drawing idle circles around the loose sticks that represented the cleansing battalion.

"We're relying on a lot of variables here," she critiqued.

"Welcome to battle planning, where you have to make some assumptions."

"Right, so we have a pit that blocks them from running past, and two webbed that clogs up the other side. So what's to prevent them from circling around the forest to chase down the others?"

"Ahh, good question, that's where we enact the second step. Korlac, Drez, and Onyx can more easily come around the forest since they won't be mounted, and they can engage the cavalry in the second row in combat. Without the aid of mobility, the mounted soldiers will be at a disadvantage."

"Won't there be multiple rows piled up?" Drez asked.

"There will, and this is where it becomes a pincer attack!" Zeke declared.

"A what?" the water goblin asked, still confused.

"He means he's going to summon something at the rear of their formation," Liarra explained, finishing Zeke's thought.

"Exactly!"

"So what are you summoning? Bob, or the spark paws?" Korlac questioned.

"Neither. They took Davis and then sent assassins after me, which is a pretty clear message. Time for me to send a message of my own." Ezekiel said as he stared at the rough battle map.

"Okay, so that's a bit disturbing, especially coming from you. I'm interested in hearing just how many different summons you have, but before that, what role do I play after the web grenades. You have the others carving up the middle while you summon reinforcements in the back. What should I do?" Liarra asked.

"Good question which leads to my next question for you. How accurate are you with your bombs?"

"I can hit something pretty easily within twenty, maybe thirty feet."

"No, I mean do you run the risk of injuring allies if you throw a bomb into the area they're fighting."

"Oh, yeah, I got pretty good at shaping the blast as needed because Kay tends to be in the thick of things. I can probably prevent two, maybe three people from getting hurt by the explosion, but I wouldn't bank much more beyond that," Liarra said as she squinted her eyes in thought.

"Okay, and what kind of bombs can you create? I saw the sticky flames and your web grenades. Anything else?"

"That's about it, though I recently purchased a formula for a freeze bomb, I just haven't had time to experiment with it. It uses slithers of dry ice to create a flash of cold."

"Hmmmm, best not to get experimental. I think you should use your sticky flames for now, as those should be effective against the horses. Let's just hope they don't have any pit-infused undead with them."

"What's that?" Korlac asked, confused by the terminology.

"A particularly nasty surprise which contributed heavily to losing the Crusade. They combined necromancy with demonology. They'd create an undead zombie or skeleton from a fresh corpse, then infuse it with an abyss-bound soul, effectively letting a demon ride around untethered in the undead. Works better than summoning as it lasts longer, and grants them immunity to things like fire that the undead don't usually have."

"By the old gods, are you serious? Who did that?" Liarra asked, shocked at the revelation.

"The Church of course, under direction and tutelage from the god king himself, Tal'Dar..."