07-29-2018, 07:31 AM
“They have the entire city on lock down and are amassing their forces, by the time the Kingdom army learns of this threat it could be too late, for them and for us.” the Duchess continued to eye Revan with hope.
“You are a prime, naturally you would be a worthy commander, the General and the majority of our forces must remain here to protect the refugees.”
“Duchess, forgive me but would my services not be better getting you and your people to safety?” Revan asked not wanting to leave them here for the slaughter.
“Fear not Revan, perform this task and you will have the gratitude of me and my people forever.”
“You’re asking me to take a city of undead with next to nothing, what makes you think I’m capable?”
“Because you are our only hope.” the Duchess replied placing a great weight upon Revan.
Revan pondered for a moment the odds of success, slim yet perhaps if the forces he was given were well trained it might end up being possible. “I accept.”
Captain Kalen walked with Revan through the tents to the troops that would be joining them on this suicidal mission into the dark heart of this undead threat. The troops were mostly human with some orcs in the back who must have been volunteers from the orc settlement. Two large hulking machines towering even above the orcs also stood in the ranks drawing Revan’s attention to them.
“What are those?” Revan whispered impressed by their size.
“Centurions, they were a gift to our town from Midred.”
“Midred had those but still lost?” Revan asked concerned.
“Not many, the local dwarves made them as gifts, and as extra security, they weren’t enough to stop an invasion of the whole city.”
Revan looked over the small amount of about fifty soldiers, ten of which were rangers personally under Kalen which gave him a very small amount, luckily it seemed they were all in fighting condition and were outfitted with fairly good armour that he assumed was also some form of gift from elsewhere.
“Where did you get your gear, it seems higher quality than what I’ve seen elsewhere around these parts.”
“The Dwarven forge, gifted to Midred, no doubt these undead abominations sought it for themselves.”
“Would the Dwarves be available to help us?” Revan asked needing to know more before they set off.
“We’ve heard nothing from them, I highly doubt any still live.” Kyra said now turning to face the troops.
“You will treat Commander Noctis with the same respect you’ve shown me, with his enhanced fighting ability he will lead us to retake Midred!” the soldiers cheered leaving Revan wondering if he had made the right decision.
The rains had come again as the entire trip to Midred was one through mud and puddles, the blue of Theguris now soaked a dark blue that seemed to blend in miserably with the rest of the weather. Ahead now sat what appeared to be a tower and nearby was a strange metal circle surrounded by standing stones, also what looked like small slabs of stone was amongst it.
“That’s the Dwarven forge.” Kyra said looking over the empty forge.
“How does it work?” Revan asked not knowing how such a thing would function.
“A dwarf once told me it converts things, and the Dwarves never seem to do much smithing, that’s all I know, the Dwarves haven’t offered to teach us.” Kyra sounded somewhat offended by that fact.
“It seems abandoned, any idea about that tower?” Revan asked seeing it was metallic but was evidently covered in bones.
“A warning perhaps, I just don’t know.” Kyra said contemplating their next actions.
“Why is there a Dwarf forge here, do they live here?” Revan asked noticing the placement as odd.
“It was an order of the King, the Dwarves were ordered to share but nothing said they had to teach us to make things, so the Duchess made a deal, they come down from their mountains and make equipment for us and they keep the knowledge to themselves.”
“I bet that didn’t go over so well with our more boney counterparts.” Revan replied as a small joke before getting up.
“Rangers stay in back, first group cover our approach and file in behind second group who will be with me.” the only difference between the groups was the third were not very fond of swords and seemed into more bigger weapons.
Revan and the second group armed with swords and shields moved toward the metal tower, as they approached it buzzed as if letting off a signal, by the time Revan realised it was a lookout it was too late. Reanimated bones like magic spawned from the dirt beneath them, quickly once more surrounded Revan ordered a hasty fall back the way they had came. Arrows opened a path way out of the horde as Revan cut down two of the undead in quick succession.
An undead armoured skeleton grabbed one of the soldiers and dragged him to the ground and some sort of magical transference began as the soldier seemingly had his life drained, Revan pierced the skeleton quickly causing it to shriek in anger as the soldier crawled away.
“Fiend!” Revan yelled kicking the creatures skull into the ground crushing it beneath his boot.
The undead were too many and one by one soldiers began falling, before Revan knew ten souls had already been lost. Revan pulled out his bow and fired at the enemy joining the rangers in their extreme accuracy, the undead were slow but extremely numerous and nobody dares linger too long on the thought of where the bodies had come from.
“They must have their entire army here!” Kyra shouted realising that this was probably about the size that took the city in the first place.
“I didn’t realise it would be this size.” Revan said firing another arrow into the skull of another undead, what must have been at least a hundred were still clambering towards them.
A horn sounded drawing the attention of both them and the undead, a hot bright and burning flame washed over the undead horde burning their bones into cinders. At first Revan expected the Dwarves but instead his attention was drawn to what seemed to be humanoid lizards.
“What are those?” Revan said watching around twenty of these reptiles attacked the undead with fierce ferocity.
“Salamanders.” Kyra said charging forward with her men and the orcs into the enemy.
Revan had no idea what exactly Salamanders were but he began learning quickly as he joined in battle alongside them, their mastery of fire scorched the majority of undead as their arrows did the rest and not before long the undead army lay defeated and scattered, the ground around them was left scorched and charred and the metal tower too had been burned.
A unique Salamander stepped forward as his burning blade un ignited. “Greetings I am Lord Kalvak.”
“I am uh Commander Noctis, what brings you here?” Revan hadn’t quite gotten used to the temporary title.
“We are hunters of undead and other such abominations, we have come seeking honour in battle, not to mention coin.” Revan saw something odd, a badge of sorts on the Salamander’s waste.
“What’s that you have?” Revan asked curiously.
“This is a badge that recognises me as a mercenary of the army, so I’m not mistaken as a bandit.” Revan couldn’t entirely tell but Revan suspected at some point these Salamanders might have been more likely to have been foe than friend.
“We march to retake Midred, the population there was slaughtered.” Revan said choosing to be honest to the strange reptiles.
“Then we will join you, it is our duty as a part of the kingdom military to protect you, plus we get paid by the body count, or rather the amount of cinders.”
“How’s that work?” Revan asked wondering how they kept track of their kills.
“A magical scroll, it’s fireproof and we cannot make it lie.” the Salamanders began forming up looking at Revan as if he were their ticket to payment.
The combined force of Human, Orc and Salamander came to a stop near the walls of Midred, lines of skeletons stood armed with spears and weapons accompanied by skeletons in black cloaks. “Looks like they were expecting us!” yelled the Salamander Lord Kalvak said observing the army before him.
“I hope you were looking for a challenge Lord Kalvak.” Revan said observing also some strange four legged dog like creatures moving through the lines.
“Foul creations.” Kyra said with hatred towards the army ahead of them.”
“Lord Kalvak, our men will hold them back while you use your fire as a shield wall, our rangers will barrage them through the wall.” Revan didn’t like their odds of not being quickly surrounded.
“If we have to pull back you can cover our retreat, third group have heavy weapons if they breach the firewall they will be sent in.” all they had to do now was take positions quickly and begin the battle.
“You are a prime, naturally you would be a worthy commander, the General and the majority of our forces must remain here to protect the refugees.”
“Duchess, forgive me but would my services not be better getting you and your people to safety?” Revan asked not wanting to leave them here for the slaughter.
“Fear not Revan, perform this task and you will have the gratitude of me and my people forever.”
“You’re asking me to take a city of undead with next to nothing, what makes you think I’m capable?”
“Because you are our only hope.” the Duchess replied placing a great weight upon Revan.
Revan pondered for a moment the odds of success, slim yet perhaps if the forces he was given were well trained it might end up being possible. “I accept.”
Captain Kalen walked with Revan through the tents to the troops that would be joining them on this suicidal mission into the dark heart of this undead threat. The troops were mostly human with some orcs in the back who must have been volunteers from the orc settlement. Two large hulking machines towering even above the orcs also stood in the ranks drawing Revan’s attention to them.
“What are those?” Revan whispered impressed by their size.
“Centurions, they were a gift to our town from Midred.”
“Midred had those but still lost?” Revan asked concerned.
“Not many, the local dwarves made them as gifts, and as extra security, they weren’t enough to stop an invasion of the whole city.”
Revan looked over the small amount of about fifty soldiers, ten of which were rangers personally under Kalen which gave him a very small amount, luckily it seemed they were all in fighting condition and were outfitted with fairly good armour that he assumed was also some form of gift from elsewhere.
“Where did you get your gear, it seems higher quality than what I’ve seen elsewhere around these parts.”
“The Dwarven forge, gifted to Midred, no doubt these undead abominations sought it for themselves.”
“Would the Dwarves be available to help us?” Revan asked needing to know more before they set off.
“We’ve heard nothing from them, I highly doubt any still live.” Kyra said now turning to face the troops.
“You will treat Commander Noctis with the same respect you’ve shown me, with his enhanced fighting ability he will lead us to retake Midred!” the soldiers cheered leaving Revan wondering if he had made the right decision.
The rains had come again as the entire trip to Midred was one through mud and puddles, the blue of Theguris now soaked a dark blue that seemed to blend in miserably with the rest of the weather. Ahead now sat what appeared to be a tower and nearby was a strange metal circle surrounded by standing stones, also what looked like small slabs of stone was amongst it.
“That’s the Dwarven forge.” Kyra said looking over the empty forge.
“How does it work?” Revan asked not knowing how such a thing would function.
“A dwarf once told me it converts things, and the Dwarves never seem to do much smithing, that’s all I know, the Dwarves haven’t offered to teach us.” Kyra sounded somewhat offended by that fact.
“It seems abandoned, any idea about that tower?” Revan asked seeing it was metallic but was evidently covered in bones.
“A warning perhaps, I just don’t know.” Kyra said contemplating their next actions.
“Why is there a Dwarf forge here, do they live here?” Revan asked noticing the placement as odd.
“It was an order of the King, the Dwarves were ordered to share but nothing said they had to teach us to make things, so the Duchess made a deal, they come down from their mountains and make equipment for us and they keep the knowledge to themselves.”
“I bet that didn’t go over so well with our more boney counterparts.” Revan replied as a small joke before getting up.
“Rangers stay in back, first group cover our approach and file in behind second group who will be with me.” the only difference between the groups was the third were not very fond of swords and seemed into more bigger weapons.
Revan and the second group armed with swords and shields moved toward the metal tower, as they approached it buzzed as if letting off a signal, by the time Revan realised it was a lookout it was too late. Reanimated bones like magic spawned from the dirt beneath them, quickly once more surrounded Revan ordered a hasty fall back the way they had came. Arrows opened a path way out of the horde as Revan cut down two of the undead in quick succession.
An undead armoured skeleton grabbed one of the soldiers and dragged him to the ground and some sort of magical transference began as the soldier seemingly had his life drained, Revan pierced the skeleton quickly causing it to shriek in anger as the soldier crawled away.
“Fiend!” Revan yelled kicking the creatures skull into the ground crushing it beneath his boot.
The undead were too many and one by one soldiers began falling, before Revan knew ten souls had already been lost. Revan pulled out his bow and fired at the enemy joining the rangers in their extreme accuracy, the undead were slow but extremely numerous and nobody dares linger too long on the thought of where the bodies had come from.
“They must have their entire army here!” Kyra shouted realising that this was probably about the size that took the city in the first place.
“I didn’t realise it would be this size.” Revan said firing another arrow into the skull of another undead, what must have been at least a hundred were still clambering towards them.
A horn sounded drawing the attention of both them and the undead, a hot bright and burning flame washed over the undead horde burning their bones into cinders. At first Revan expected the Dwarves but instead his attention was drawn to what seemed to be humanoid lizards.
“What are those?” Revan said watching around twenty of these reptiles attacked the undead with fierce ferocity.
“Salamanders.” Kyra said charging forward with her men and the orcs into the enemy.
Revan had no idea what exactly Salamanders were but he began learning quickly as he joined in battle alongside them, their mastery of fire scorched the majority of undead as their arrows did the rest and not before long the undead army lay defeated and scattered, the ground around them was left scorched and charred and the metal tower too had been burned.
A unique Salamander stepped forward as his burning blade un ignited. “Greetings I am Lord Kalvak.”
“I am uh Commander Noctis, what brings you here?” Revan hadn’t quite gotten used to the temporary title.
“We are hunters of undead and other such abominations, we have come seeking honour in battle, not to mention coin.” Revan saw something odd, a badge of sorts on the Salamander’s waste.
“What’s that you have?” Revan asked curiously.
“This is a badge that recognises me as a mercenary of the army, so I’m not mistaken as a bandit.” Revan couldn’t entirely tell but Revan suspected at some point these Salamanders might have been more likely to have been foe than friend.
“We march to retake Midred, the population there was slaughtered.” Revan said choosing to be honest to the strange reptiles.
“Then we will join you, it is our duty as a part of the kingdom military to protect you, plus we get paid by the body count, or rather the amount of cinders.”
“How’s that work?” Revan asked wondering how they kept track of their kills.
“A magical scroll, it’s fireproof and we cannot make it lie.” the Salamanders began forming up looking at Revan as if he were their ticket to payment.
The combined force of Human, Orc and Salamander came to a stop near the walls of Midred, lines of skeletons stood armed with spears and weapons accompanied by skeletons in black cloaks. “Looks like they were expecting us!” yelled the Salamander Lord Kalvak said observing the army before him.
“I hope you were looking for a challenge Lord Kalvak.” Revan said observing also some strange four legged dog like creatures moving through the lines.
“Foul creations.” Kyra said with hatred towards the army ahead of them.”
“Lord Kalvak, our men will hold them back while you use your fire as a shield wall, our rangers will barrage them through the wall.” Revan didn’t like their odds of not being quickly surrounded.
“If we have to pull back you can cover our retreat, third group have heavy weapons if they breach the firewall they will be sent in.” all they had to do now was take positions quickly and begin the battle.