|
Post by Poopmok on Jul 27, 2017 20:01:40 GMT
Being a Northerner, this wasn't Leonid's first mission dealing with the beasts. In fact, he was usually selected for this sort of work among the Chosen.
"And the country peasants must deal with the brunt of it, as is the usual. Do you have any leads on this Red Horned one? My group has only just arrived to the city, and what we managed to find on the road here has only given us more questions than answers," he explained.
|
|
|
Post by cassiusexgladio on Jul 27, 2017 20:34:40 GMT
"A few." Caerholm replied. "Beast tribe raiding party has been causing chaos just north of the Vinn River. It's a frequently hit area - most of the smaller villages have been destroyed. At this point only two remain and both are chock full of starving people that are dependent on our supply caravans. I've received reports that some of Red Horns loyal followers have been attacking the caravans. They're fierce beasts but I suspect that if you somehow managed to subdue one without killing it, you could perhaps get some information out it. We've been trying to get our hands on one of them for a while but all of our attempts have failed so far. Perhaps you will have more success."
|
|
|
Post by Poopmok on Jul 27, 2017 21:51:03 GMT
"That seems to be our only option at this point. These beasts seem intent on destroying all humans in their way, yet aside from that, we know nothing of their motives. Perhaps we'll learn," he nodded in reply to the captain, set on their new goal.
"And keep your men and yourself among the living, you're the only sane man I've seen in this dutchy," he said to Caerholm, something of a compliment.
|
|
|
Post by cassiusexgladio on Jul 27, 2017 22:13:48 GMT
"Thank ye, m'lord." Caerholm said. "We'll see what the future holds."
***** Four Hours Later
The caravan was composed of around 7 wagons in total, all groaning heavily with food and supplies for the embattled villages. They rumbled across a rough hewn dirt road. On either side of the road was the woods - pressing inwards with unfriendly presence. A double line of soldiers marched on either line of the caravan. At the rear and the head, a few mounted horsemen.
Caerholm had assigned Hinreth, a grizzled sargent, to serve as the Chosen's personal bodyguard and liason.
"Yessir. This is my fourth supply run. Almost every time, we get hit. Hard. But we pull through. Those beast people may be giant cloven hooved bastards but there's nothing good Imperial steel can't fix. You a spell slinger? Noticed them runes."
|
|
|
Post by Poopmok on Jul 27, 2017 22:24:24 GMT
"I'm what you'd call a shaman, to be precise," he said to the sargent, who he'd been bantering with for the past few hours.
"The Gods' in this area are foreign to me, but these runes come from my homeland, and through them I can channel the power of my own Gods. Other shamans aren't nearly as tattooed as I am, but since I am so far away from home, it is a necessity," he explained, always wary of an attack.
|
|
|
Post by cassiusexgladio on Jul 27, 2017 22:29:44 GMT
Unbeknownst to the caravan, in the woods crept a sizeable force of beast people. Cloven feet picked their way stealthily and subtly through the underbrush. An ambush was imminent.
"Ah, I see." Hinreth nodded, not really understanding much. "Well, as long as it helps, eh? Those monsters 'ave been doing all sorts of strange magicks lately. Did ye hear about the garrison they disappeared? More'n two hundred men all up and walked into the forest. Found their armor and weapons stacked neatly in a field but no trace of them. Probably etten. Beasts like human flesh."
|
|
|
Post by grasssea on Jul 28, 2017 20:38:12 GMT
Matteo had stayed behind with the Duke, out of some measure of paranoia. He hated avoiding a fight, but his soldier's instincts had told him another attack might be imminent. He absolutely wasn't scared. Beasts were nothing to be afraid of. (Watching Leonid in action could sometimes be a bit upsetting though.) When he was finally assured that the Duke was in good hands, militarily, he rode after his companion, hoping he hadn't missed the fight.
|
|