“Fortify the walls!” Shem shouted, pointing to the south gate. Men scrambled frantically across the courtyard to fill the empty stations on the wall. Despite all of his careful planning, Shem was left in a vulnerable position. The enemy had advanced much more quickly than any of the scout reports had ever thought to anticipate.
The enemy would soon be upon them and they were in for the fight of their lives. Shem’s heart sank. He had made so many sacrifices. Pushed himself beyond his limits and overcome impossible obstacles. All in a bid to win the hearts of the people and rally his army. But would it be enough? He didn’t have the luxury of the time required to contemplate. They were all depending on him now. This would be the battle to end all battles. It would decide the fate of not only this civilization, but perhaps even the fate of Applacea itself.
Defeat was not an option. If he failed in his duty, the consequences would be dire. Catastrophic. He could scarcely imagine the horror of what defeat might mean for himself, his men, the nation of Nivea and the world. Every challenge, every obstacle, every sacrifice. The tireless years of training. And all those he lost along the way, were hinging on this moment. The day had come where he would either face his destiny and fulfill the prophecy or fail all the souls of Applacea. Not only every living being across this beautiful world, but the countless future generations that would cease to exist.
The sheer weight of responsibility threatened to crush his very spirit, but this was no time for weakness. This was the ultimate test of his strength. The moment of truth. The apex of his purpose and the fulfillment of his destiny. He ran about the courtyard, shouting orders to his men. Preparing his army as best he could for the battle ahead. He had to ensure everything was in place before the enemy unleashed destruction upon them. “Prepare the Ballista!” he called. The men heaved, loading their weapons. “Ready the tanks!” The men did as they were ordered. Swiftly falling into formation and preparing to attack, just as they had been taught.
Despite the impending doom, Shem felt a surge of hope. His men had been well trained and now that they were being tested in real combat; they were proving themselves to be truly capable. Maybe there was hope yet for victory. He allowed himself a faint smile, proud of the progress they had made. He continued shouting orders and his men obeyed without question. Executing the duties of their station with smooth, practiced, precision.
Shem had managed to assemble a formidable force, but the enemy they were about to face was mighty and terrible. Victory was far from assured. He steeled himself, firmly making a declaration in his own mind. “I’ll do everything in my power to defend my people. No matter the cost.” He would fight with every fiber of his being, even to his last breath, if victory required him to do so. The piercing sound of the enemy's cries rang out in the night. The men tensed at the horrific sound. Though the cry was unpleasant, it had not affected Shem in the same way as the men. In truth, he had sensed the foul darkness of the abominable creatures well before they had announced their unwelcome presence.
He deftly climbed the ladders that led to the top of the battlement, intent on gaining the greatest view of the battlefield. He could see the enemy in the distance, preparing for their assault. From his bird's eye view; Shem expertly scanned the fortress, searching for any weaknesses or potential strategic advantages.
He assessed all of the armaments to ensure that the army was making the best use of every tool they had at their disposal. It was a varied collection of medieval weaponry mingled with a more modern arsenal; a fair number of said armaments being a strange cross between the two. They had firearms of varying sizes and capabilities. Nearly every man had at least one. Among them were assault rifles, pistols, and sub machine guns. The turrets at the south wall were some of their strongest firearms, which were high powered gatling guns. But these were rare, outnumbered by semi automatic weapons, bolt pack guns, and bows.
They had an eclectic collection of weaponry and they were more heavily stocked than any other province in Applacea, but not all of the army’s arsenal was advanced. Though the advanced weaponry was a boon to their effectiveness in battle, what mattered most was the skill and mind behind the weapon – and Shem trusted his men implicitly. Every warrior was best equipped according to his unique skill and abilities.
Everything was in working order and he didn’t spot any glaring misstep or need among his own men or the stronghold itself. In every strategic, defensive or offensive aspect, his plans were expertly executed and his men in place. Now he had to prepare their hearts.
The enemy was still gathering in the forest and hills ahead, but they were currently out of range. Now was the time to rally the spirits of his men as this was more than just a physical battle. Victory would require mental fortitude, and a driving force beyond the mere chain of command or their given orders. The true driving force of any soldier; the motivation that caused a man to push himself beyond his limits, was his sense of purpose and the bond he shared with his brothers in arms. They stood at the precipice of the greatest challenge of their lives and Shem knew he needed to remind them that there was no greater pursuit, no greater honor, and no greater aspiration than the battle before them.
Another sinister call rang out, and the first of the Troglodytes emerged from the cover of the forest. It was a hulking mass of muscle and fury. It roared, and the thunderous boom of its voice echoed throughout the valley. It was much closer now than before. The harrowing sound sent a shiver down Shem’s spine and he could sense a wave of fear fall over his men. A few more Troglodytes emerged and joined in the cacophony of bestial screams.
Even from this distance, they could see the ghastly creatures. They were humanoid in form, but were far from human. They were much too savage, ghoulish, and grotesque to be mistaken with men. The ground shook as they walked, leaving garish shapes in the ground that were more like craters than footprints. Their feet did not possess toes like those of a man. In its place, were hideous claws. Which, according to legend, were able to tear a full grown man to shreds in an instant. Their legs and arms were covered with large patches of grungy hair. So much so, that it was more akin to animal fur. The strange patches appeared almost as if the creature's legs were covered with goat fur. All the way up to its waist – and from its arms, up to its elbows. These same patches of scraggly hair could also be found in a long column up their spines, reaching all the way onto the tops of their heads. A Troglodyte's flesh was the color one might expect, although more pasty or gray depending on the particular beast.
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Though most were of great stature, they did not stand tall. Instead, they hunched over snarling, with pointy goblin-like ears, massive bushy brows and large pointed noses. Their mouths were hideous, more like the jaws of a shark, with rows of sharp pointy teeth. It was said that even the mere breath of a Troglodyte could be fatal. Due to the sheer putrid stench, which was so overwhelming; it was known to cause shock or even death. Their eyes were milky white, completely absent of pupils, and their hands ended in grotesque claws. The last unmistakable feature of a Troglodyte, was the abundance of blisters and sores covering its sickly skin. Its visage was horrible. A truly disturbing sight to behold.
As hordes of the disgusting creatures gathered, Shem and the men began to fully comprehend what they were up against. A massive throng of Troglodytes had gathered for battle. Some of them a mere two feet tall, others eight, and some, even several stories in height. Shem looked around at the gathering horde and at the brave men who stood against the unstoppable tide. He knew the worst outcome would manifest into reality if the men's hearts failed them. He could not allow that to happen.
A few of his officers stood nearby. “There’s no hope.” One said, his voice shaking. “We’ll all be slaughtered.” Many of the soldiers within earshot nodded, murmuring their agreement. Shem turned in their direction – and nearly all of them had the decency to look ashamed. “You doubt our ability?” He asked, as he cast a piercing look over them. “You doubt me?” Gasps rang out and the sounds of shock reverberated throughout the crowd. “No Great Koa.” The man responded. “I – we would never doubt you. We do not wish to fear... we do not wish to accept defeat, but what can we do against such an enemy?” Shem turned away from the battlement wall to face the army gathered behind him, raising his sword.
“Hear me, men of Nivea. Men of Applacea. As I look among you… as I study your faces… I see the fear in your eyes, and in your hearts. I know the might of our enemy causes trepidation and even terror. Their presence is undoubtedly intimidating. I won’t deny that.”
He paused, looking over them with that same piercing gaze. “Who are we, mere mortal men, to stand against such ferocity? That is a fair question. Who are we?” He asked pointedly, sweeping his blade across the crowd.
“You have called me the Great Koa, Shem Nakka Shem. You have witnessed as I claimed victory in countless battles. You have seen me overcome impossible odds. Every one of you, even those who doubted, those who questioned. Those who slandered my name and dismissed me as a fraud; have seen firsthand, as I’ve succeeded where others have failed. As I overcame all opposition. As I fulfilled the prophecies, right before your very eyes. I know each of you. I’ve fought and bled beside you and I trust that not a man among you would deny my title or my ability. If any of you feel otherwise, speak now and I will absolve you of your duty."
He paused, studying them carefully. All were silent. “I swear to you now, that if you do speak out. I will not retaliate. You are free to go. You have always been free men. Fight beside me if you choose or go in peace." He scanned the soldiers, looking each man in the eye one by one, with an indescribable intensity. Waiting for any response. Not a single man moved. Not a single man spoke.
“I see that it is not me you doubt. You know my word is my bond. Any of you could have left at any time. And yet, you stayed. Even now, you stand with me. This can mean only one thing. It is not me you doubt, but yourselves." He paused again, allowing the implication to sink in. Many of the men exchanged glances.
“Who are you to fight against the things of nightmares? How can any of you hope to stand? I know these are the thoughts many of you have secretly harbored in your minds. I know, because even I have entertained these thoughts at times.” More shocked gasps from the crowd.
“But why do you doubt yourselves? I’ve seen first hand what you are made of. Yes, not long ago, many of you were mere farmers. Many of you never imagined you would become warriors, let alone fight in the presence of the Koa or in his personal army. But here you stand. Having overcome the brutal training, having won so many battles. Having bested the fiercest of enemies. Having overcome the deepest of fears. You were present to witness everything I have done. But what you have failed to realize, is that it was not me alone who accomplished these feats. These acts of valor should rightfully be attributed to more than one man. You were there with me. Fighting alongside me, every step of the way. Through the blood, sweat, death, and tears you held your ground. You held onto your convictions. Your honor. Your faith.”
The crowd stood mesmerized, hanging on his every word. “I tell you now, without a shred of doubt. Your ancestors would be proud of the men you have become. You are all great warriors. Down to the last man. They said it was impossible to protect the kingdom from the encroaching Troglodyte invasion. Yet, not one of the cities under our purview have come to ruin. They said it was impossible to bring the disparate tribes together who have been separated by language, tradition, culture, long held grudges, and hatred. Yet, here we stand. Shoulder to shoulder. They said it was impossible to unite Applacea under a single shared purpose. Yet here we are, fighting together against a common enemy. Though we all come from different walks of life, and from every province in Applacea, I consider every one of you men of Nivea. We are all brothers in arms.”
The men looked to one another and stood taller at his words. “Men of Nivea, this battle may seem impossible to win. But I say to you now, we have already done the impossible! Every one of us has boldly faced, and overcome hopeless odds together. And we will do so again. This day is yet another chance for us to achieve the impossible. But we can only accomplish this task, if we do as we have done before. Stand together! I tell you this day, that I will fight with everything I have. With every fiber of my being. I will stand against the darkness and emerge victorious!" He paused, taking a moment to breathe. Shaking from the sheer passion. Then he raised his arms.
"Are you with me!?" A massive shout echoed across the stronghold and into the valley. It was so loud and so ferocious, even the Troglodytes stopped in their tracks. The army began to chant. “Koa, Koa, Koa!” Shem raised his hand to silence them. "I see you have found your courage…"
He thrust his sword into the air as he shouted. "Do you yet doubt yourselves?” “NO!” They shouted in unison. “Will we be victorious?” “YES!” They shouted as one. The boom shook the very earth and walls around them. “Then brothers in arms, now is the time. For king and for country, for all Applacea. For your loved ones and all that you cherish… stand and fight! Make the Troglodytes wish they had never dared set foot on our soil and extinguish them from the face of Applacea! Death to the troggs!” The Troglodytes began to charge. “DEATH TO THE TROGGS!" The men shouted as they took their positions.
Shem gave the signal to attack. They fired volleys that darkened the sky and waves of troggs fell before them. In return, the troggs threw uprooted trees and nearby boulders at the men. One of the largest troggs aimed straight for Shem; tossing a boulder the size of three men, but he was able to dodge in the nick of time. The men beside him weren’t so lucky. They let out a blood curdling scream.