by Dean Henegar
“Here’s what I propose, Narbos. We agree to a sixty-day truce. No forces in each other’s lands. Before the sixty days are up, we meet and see if we need more time to deal with Zipp. Also, I figure you’ll need to fight your way past my eastern transition point to get back to your zone, and I want you to agree to return the transition point to Hayden’s Knoll once you take it from Zipp. You’ll also do your best to keep Zipp’s forces from pushing through from Bharga’s Crossing and into Hayden’s Knoll. There’ll be no giving him safe passage through your forces to attack me,” I offered, hoping I had covered all the bases. Delling was better at this kind of thing, but he wasn’t here, so I had to do my best.
“Agreed, I also ask that we exchange information with each other about enemy forces. We can designate messengers from our zones to be neutral so our guards won’t kill them when they pass through,” Narbos added.
I nodded in agreement, and the system crafted a contract with all the points we had stipulated. Should either side break the agreement, there were vague warnings about bad things happening to whoever committed the first violation.
Quest Updated: Defender of the Imperium.
You have negotiated a truce with the zone of Bharga’s Crossing. The forces of the Zisilerpicazant clan remain to be defeated. A reward of 1000 experience, 100 gold, and 500 resources have been given for negotiating a temporary peace. Time will tell if hostilities between your two zones will resume.
“Good, lead your people out first, Narbos. I’ll move my army after you’re gone,” I told him, not wanting to leave our strong defensive position, just in case.
“No problem. I need to hurry and get my army back to Bharga’s Crossing and over to Haven, the last town I control. I have to log out in a bit and don’t want to leave my army standing around in the middle of nowhere,” Narbos said.
“Dude, you’re logging out now? I set aside the whole day for this invasion thing and I really want to be the one to kill Zipp after all the times he’s killed me,” Darkfallow whined.
“Sorry, but I’ve got some real-world stuff to do. Maybe Raytak can use a necromancer for a while. It looks like Zipp is staying here in Hayden’s Knoll if you want a crack at him. I’m probably just going to fight a cousin of his or whoever is leading the army invading my zone. I can send for you once I’m back in-game,” Narbos offered.
“He’s not exactly welcome around here after the shenanigans he pulled in town,” I said, not wanting the annoying necromancer running around in my zone.
“Come on, I just want to fight Zipp. I owe the idiot. Do you know how many times that imp has killed me? Thirty-two times. That’s right. I’ve been pwned by the imp thirty-two times. He’s made killing me one of his personal hobbies. If anyone is going to get the last hit on that imp, it’s me. Come on, Raytak, dude, let me stay and I’ll do a lifepact or whatever saying I won’t cause trouble. I just don’t want to miss my shot at Zipp,” Darkfallow begged.
“It is true. Zipp has been on Darkfallow’s case for a while now. Have him enter a lifepact that says he won’t cause any trouble and cut him loose on Zipp’s army. Worst-case scenario, he kills off some of Zipp’s army before being killed again,” Narbos added.
I didn’t trust Darkfallow, but if he was willing to do a lifepact, I might find some use for him. After all, Darkfallow was taking up a player spot in Narbos’s army, not my own, so I could add him without having to cut one of my other friends.
“Fine, we’ll do a lifepact where you promise to not harm or allow harm to be caused to any citizen of the zone or any players operating on its behalf. I’m in charge here, so you also have to follow my orders to the best of your ability. Agree to this and I’ll make sure you get a crack at Zipp if it’s at all in my power to do so,” I offered.
“Deal, as long as I can come and go as I please. I don’t want to be tied to your army all the time,” Darkfallow added.
I agreed to his stipulation, signing the lifepact the game created for us. “Right, see you later, Narbos. Good luck with invaders in your zone,” I said.
Narbos got the hint and began to get his army moving toward the transition point.
“As for you, Darkfallow,” I said, “fall in with the wagons and I’ll figure out where you might do the most good. Stench, if he acts up, take care of it.” The ogre chieftain looked down on the black-robed necromancer and growled, his finger sliding over the blade of his gore-encrusted axe.
“Woah, that is pretty cool, Raytak. I wish we had some elite ogres in our army,” Darkfallow said as he headed toward the supply wagons. This was going to be an interesting fight.
Chapter 20
Once I was confident that Narbos’s forces were indeed heading toward the transition point, we began to take apart our defenses and return to Goreaxe Peak. The legion would set up a fortified camp at the ogre home while the scouts tried to find the enemy armies. I spent the next couple of days setting up defensive works and observation points around the ogre mountain. A notification informed me that Narbos had taken the eastern transition point, and true to his word, he returned it to the control of Hayden’s Knoll. It was hard to not just order the army to march for Holdfast, but without knowing the size of the enemy force, I might be leading the army on a suicide run. If the total force of the Zisilerpicazant clan was too strong, we would head to Hayden’s Knoll and go on the defensive. The town was well fortified and had not only a strong town guard force but also my substantial defensive garrison.
Darkfallow minded his manners, logging in and out occasionally to see what was going on. I didn’t trust him, but Stench always seemed to have several of his ogres hanging around wherever Darkfallow went. In addition, a few members of Ignominia trailed him and attempted to befriend the necromancer, which was likely Wrend’s doing.
“Sir, scout coming in,” the soldier posted outside my tent announced.
“Send him in,” I replied.
A haggard-looking scout entered and saluted. “Sir, I have the initial reports on enemy dispositions. Also, one of our scouts at the eastern transition point forwarded a message from Narbos,” the soldier reported, giving me a copy of two messages.
Taking the message from my scouts first, I had my first look at the enemy army.
Enemy Force Assessment:
Two separate armies are closing in on Holdfast from the north and east. The force approaching from the east is nearly at Holdfast and closely matches the information received from Narbos the Grimm. Numbers are approximate, as it was considered too hazardous for any scouts to get close enough for an exact count. The conscripts that fled our recent battle have reformed and joined the Zisilerpicazant army, alongside the other zone forces from Bharga’s Crossing.
Troggs: 2500+
Lurkers: 300–400
Deep gnomes: 150+
Town guard: 400+
Conscripts: 2000+
Skittering death: 300–400
Tunnel wurms: 2
Ikbose elf warriors: 50–100
Ikbose painweavers: 5
Zipzisilerpicazant
The northern army is at the town of Holdfast and was beginning to encircle it for a siege. Several of the creature types were unknown, and a general description is given. Numbers are also not exact, as the presence of flying and fast-moving creatures made it hazardous to approach too closely.
Troggs: 3500–5000
Giant bats: 100+
Deep gnomes: 200+
Trolls: 30+
Pony-sized bunnies (pink): 300–400
Unicorns, black coats, and nasty-looking horns: 100+
Flying things that appear to be floating cloaks: 50+
The gnomes were setting up defensive works and siege engines while the troggs surrounded the town. The unicorn things stayed in a herd and looked to us like they were a monstrous form of heavy cavalry. The bunnies were all over the place, raiding the outlying farms along with the bats. The pink creatures may look harmless, but they have a tooth-filled mouth that did horrible things to the f
armers. I’m sorry to report we were unable to assist the civilians without giving away our positions. We did lose two scouts to the bunnies, who have an exceptional sense of smell and were able to track them down.
It was the scouting force’s assessment that once the two forces combine, they will take the town without too much difficulty. The garrison had advanced warning of the approaching army and was able to withdraw into the town and destroy anything they had to leave behind. Our forces, while heavily outnumbered, are alert and prepared for the enemy.
When the two forces combined, they could easily take the town. The garrison, combined with the town guard, would make a fight of it, likely inflicting severe casualties. Still, even if I marched my force to join them, I didn’t think we could face that strong of an army and prevail. With a sigh of frustration at our current situation, I opened the letter from Narbos.
Raytak,
My army is holed up in the town of Haven. Combined with the remnants of the defenders, we should be able to hold against the sizeable Zisilerpicazant force that is now besieging us. Before the town was cut off, I received notice of a fresh column of enemy troops nearing my transition point. I’m sorry to say, I don’t think either of our transition point garrisons can hold them. Here is the scout’s estimate of numbers for the new column. Sorry I couldn’t do more, but I’ll be out of the game for a while and can only set my troops to defend for now or they’ll get cut up too badly without me directing them.
Troggs: 1500
Imp Warriors: 500. These guys are supposedly the same size as Zipp but armored and holding some long knives. Not sure how tough they are. We haven’t fought any yet.
Skittering Death: 100
Lurkers: 300
Tunnel Wurms: 2
More bad news. The new force would obliterate the garrison force at the transition point and barely need to slow down. When it combined with Zipp’s army, things would get even worse. One option was to engage and try to defeat this new force before it linked up with the rest of the enemy. I felt we could beat it, but I would take some serious casualties in doing so, leaving me with a tattered force that could no longer challenge the main army. The enemy force was combining, and we needed to as well. It was time to fall back, all the way to Hayden’s Knoll. We’d gather our strength and break the Zisilerpicazant army against the walls of the town.
“Blevins, gather the command staff and our allies here. We’ve got work to do,” I ordered.
“Will you require refreshments for the meeting? Advanced notice of such gatherings would be appreciated in the future, sir. The logistics involved in—” Blevins cut himself off as he saw my rage building, then wisely jumped from his recliner and left to gather the people I had asked for. Somehow, the private had managed to smuggle his favorite chair in. I would have to ask around to find out how he managed that. Looking about my tent, I sighed at its garish design but had to admit that the larger area was useful in a few instances, like when I needed to meet with several people.
“Let me share the information I just received from our scouts as well as from Narbos in the next zone over,” I said after everyone had gathered. I passed around the copy of our recon reports and Narbos’s note. “We have a couple of options, none of them ideal. First, we can try to take on the new army about to hit our transition point. From Narbos’s message, it looks like they will hit the point before we can get there to reinforce the garrison. We could still engage them and likely defeat that force, especially after they faced attrition from the garrison. While we can beat them, we can’t do it without casualties, casualties we can’t afford if we want to have enough of an army to beat the other invading forces.”
I paused to let the challenge of the first option sink in before I continued. “Our other option, the one I am leaning toward, is for us to fall back within the walls of Hayden’s Knoll, gathering all our forces and allies to break the enemy army on our defenses there. From what Delling has told us, there is enough room in the city to house any dependents we have. The Drebix people are already on their way and should arrive there shortly. I wanted to get your input and see if any of you had any suggestions,” I offered.
“I hate to admit it, but you’re right that we can’t take on this whole force with the army we currently have. My people are already on their way to Hayden’s Knoll, and I think defending there is the right course of action,” Beremund said.
“This is my home. My people stay here and defend it. You can break your promise and flee if you wish. The Goreaxe clan will defend itself and not hide behind the walls of some human city,” Stench said with disgust.
His shaman glared at the leader before speaking up. “Stench, you lead the Goreaxe, but I have been elevated to clan shaman to advise you and dispense the wisdom of our ancestors. To stay and fight will only bring the death of our people. We are the last of the ogre clans that resisted the mindless rage and ignorance of our brethren. We cannot allow our people to fall. We are strong but too few in number to defeat what comes our way. Relent, my leader. Save our people and bring them to safety so we do not perish from the land,” the shaman said with passion.
Stench looked even angrier as he glared at the shaman.
“Stench, I don’t leave because I want to,” I said. “I’m leaving because I have to. To stay here, even with my army at your side, will only result in defeat. If we pull back, we can save your people, and once the enemy is defeated, I will come back and fight at your side to retake the Goreaxe lands. I promised to help you, but for you to stay is foolish.” I could ill afford to lose my ogre allies at this point in the war, but I was willing to risk it if the alternative was throwing away my army.
Stench gripped his axe tightly as he took a step closer to me. Brooks and Captain Landry placed their hands on the hilts of their swords in case things were about to get violent.
“Bah!” Stench roared, raising his axe. My hand fumbled for my blade as I prepared to activate Honor Guard, but I paused as the ogre turned toward Blevins’s desk. His blade descended and hacked the table in two.
“Very well. It boils my blood, but I know my responsibility here. I will go to your human city to kill these invaders, and I will hold you to your word, Raytak, once the enemy is defeated,” Stench said, his axe now resting easy in his grip. The snick of a blade being re-sheathed punctuated the silence as Wrend stepped from behind the ogre, Stench looking shocked that he had never noticed the Ignominia leader.
“Sir, I assume we’re going to escort the ogre noncombatants back to Hayden’s Knoll,” Wrend started. “We obviously can’t use the main road that leads straight through Holdfast since the enemy army will be traveling on it. Heading overland will be a long slog. The enemy will take Holdfast, and with their forces, it’s not going to take them all that long. Chances are, the enemy will use the road to get to Hayden’s Knoll long before we can arrive there with all the civilians slowing us down.”
“The sergeant is right, sir,” Brooks added. “We need to run some sort of delaying action. Perhaps we can shift some troops through to slow down the enemy advance,” Brooks advised.
He was right; the enemy army wouldn’t be that fast with such a strange mix of creatures and the necessary supply train to feed and equip them all. They wouldn’t be that fast, but they would be much faster than my army once we started dragging along ogre civilians. The terrain we had to pass wasn’t too difficult, save for the forested area near Hayden’s Knoll. Beremund and his Drebix could find us the easiest path through, but it would still be slow going. I had the makings of a plan and just needed a little information before I could implement it.
“Nergui, would your force be willing to run a delaying action on the main road?” I asked. His cavalry would be key to my plan and would be much less useful inside the walls of the city.
“I’ll do what I can, but if the enemy has too many cavalry forces of their own, I will not waste my troops. Should the battle look untenable, I would have to declare my contract complete and leave the field,
” he replied.
“Very well. You won’t be fighting alone, and I expect you’ll be used mainly for keeping my defending forces from being cut off and surrounded,” I offered.
“That would be acceptable,” Nergui replied flatly.
“Nergui and his Devlin Horde will head to the road here,” I said, pointing at a spot halfway between Holdfast and the old ruins of the first town. “The terrain there is rough enough to slow the enemy but still suitable for cavalry. In addition to the horde, I’ll send the Shield Brothers and the Azure Blades to provide a strong force of infantry. I haven’t heard from either mercenary band but have to assume they are somewhere on the road from the transition point to Holdfast. Most likely, they fell back once they found the numbers opposing them.”
“That’s great, Raytak, but they’ll need more than just infantry and cavalry. They need skirmishers to force the enemy to deploy and to keep their ranged troops from peppering the infantry. My skirmishers are depleted and what we have left are needed to guide everyone back to Hayden’s Knoll,” Beremund said.
“You’re correct. I’ll be detaching all but a squad of my scouts to assist in the delaying action. In addition, I’ll get the dwarves to contribute their pathfinders to the mix. Ty will be in overall command, and he knows a thing or two about nasty ways to delay an enemy,” I told them, having received confirmation earlier that the players were back online, and all of them except for Drake had agreed to help in the invasion.
I didn’t know if Drake just hadn’t logged in or if his class was restricting him. Still, the system would allocate something else to take his place if he declined. At least that was what I expected to happen. In addition to Ty, I would ask the ranger Quimby and the other player, Deacon, to help with the delaying action. They all had classes and skills that should fit well with the type of fight I imagined they would be engaged in. Ty was an expert in this type of warfare and would get the most mileage out of the mix of troops I was sending him.
