I had the camp cooks prepare a huge feast, using almost half of our food supplies for this one meal. The food was only soldier fare, but there would be plenty of it. The ogres were almost shy at first as they visited and accepted platters of our simple army chow. The children were the first to break out of their shells, many of the soldiers going out of their way to teach them the simple games that soldiers played while in garrison.
I spent more time with Stench and the shaman in my garish tent, hammering out the framework for an agreement. Delling would have to endorse it, but we essentially agreed to the same alliance we had with the Drebix and the Stonefinder Clan. I had an idea that our newest allies would give us a huge advantage in the coming fight.
“How many among your people are shamans?” I asked Stench.
“There is always one, only one. When a shaman is ready to pass on, their power is transferred to one of the next generation, ensuring that a shaman is always there to lend wisdom to our people,” Stench answered. I smiled outwardly but was disappointed with the answer. Hopes for a squadron of giant vultures carrying runesmiths were dashed. My idea for the magical equivalent of a strategic bomber force wasn’t going to happen.
“We will stay for one day, if that is okay with you. Then my army will march on Stonetree,” I told Stench.
“The Goreaxe will march with you, Raytak. Our numbers are few, but what strength we can muster will join you in the task of eradicating the Ikbose from these lands,” Stench said, his axe in hand.
“I meant to ask if that axe has some special meaning for your tribe, based on its look,” I asked diplomatically. The axe head was gore-encrusted but sharp and free of any corrosion.
“The axe has been with the clan from the beginning. Touch it and see the history of the Goreaxe and the clan it is named after,” the shaman replied. Stench held the axe out and I gingerly touched the metal blade. My vision swam before focusing on a scene from long ago.
I was deep inside the mountain as an ogre worked to forge the axe. The clanging of a hammer striking metal sounded as the craftsman went about his work. The blade was perfect, and I could feel the satisfaction in the blacksmith’s heart as he began to affix the axe head to the shaft. Everything fit as it was supposed to, and the finishing touches were put on the axe as a stream of frightened ogre children and old ones rushed past him, heading toward the surface.
The blacksmith paid the commotion no mind, all his focus on the task at hand. Embellishments were delicately carved on the blade as drops of some glowing liquid were placed here and there, enchanting the blade to an unnatural sharpness. Wounded ogre warriors dragged themselves past the craftsman, shouting at him to flee before it was too late.
The clash of weapons grew near as the blacksmith tied mukok leather around the haft, allowing its wielder to grip it with confidence. The last few ogres fled past as imps and creatures from the underworld pursued. The imps hurled fire as twisted versions of men and orcs charged into the melee, wielding crude swords and clubs. A lazy swing from the blacksmith clove the heads from a pair of the twisted men.
Some magic in the axe absorbed most of the fire bolts hurled by the imps, and the blacksmith began to fight back in earnest. Each swing of the axe slew an enemy, often two enemies at once. None of the simple armor worn by this horde could even slow the axe. Soon, its once pristine blade became covered in the yellow-green gore of the twisted underworld creatures.
Sheer numbers finally overwhelmed the craftsman. The ogre was a great blacksmith but a mediocre fighter, even when wielding such a powerful weapon. With a roar, the retreating ogres charged back into the fray, their resolve bolstered by the brave stand of their blacksmith. The ogres pushed back the tide all the way to the portal that had summoned them here. The shaman’s staff shattered the glowing red stone that powered the portal the creatures had assaulted the clan from, closing it forever.
The axe was recovered from under the body of the blacksmith, its once pristine finish marred and stained by gore. The king took the axe as his own and no attempt to clean it worked. The blade stayed sharp no matter the amount of use it received and corrosion never marred its gore-encrusted surface. The axe became the symbol of the clan, a representation of their indomitable spirit. Eventually the clan took its name from the famous weapon wielded by the line of kings that ruled them . . . The Goreaxe Clan was thus created.
My vision returned to the present and I moved my hand away from the ancient weapon, respecting it and the ogre that wielded it. Stench was descended from these kings, and I hoped he would once again grow the clan to greatness.
“Thank you for showing me. I know the Ikbose have kept you cut off from your farms and hunting lands. Can I assist in any way?” I asked, remembering the starving looks of the children and the way the entire clan had fallen upon the feast earlier.
“The hunting lands and foraging fields are now open to us once again. We will be able to feed our clan . . .” Stench started to say before the shaman cleared his throat and stared down the chief.
“What I meant was that we would be grateful for the assistance of our allies until we can gather and hunt enough to sustain ourselves,” Stench replied. I could see the shaman was a positive influence on the ogre leader, steering him away from his pride and helping him to do instead what was best for his people.
“I’ll leave what food I can and order a resupply run to be made. If you have the means to get there, the town of Holdfast is only a day or two’s march away. You can trade there for what you need now that you are allies of the Imperium,” I offered. The two ogre leaders asked a few questions about our town and the foods and goods they might find there. The ogres maintained a small but profitable mine deep in the core of their mountain and had some precious gems and gold to trade.
Once the pair left for the evening, I opened the campaign map and ordered two resupply runs. The extra ammunition would be needed, but more important were the rations that would help keep the Goreaxe fed until they could work out their food situation. The cost of ten gold and one hundred resources for the two resupply runs was a small price to pay.
Quest Update: Unite the Zone. You have hammered out the framework for an alliance with the Goreaxe Clan. Only the Ikbose stand in the way of total control of Hayden’s Knoll.
Reward: 2500 experience, 250 gold, 1000 resources.
Congratulations, you have reached level 14. Open your character sheet to review changes and new options.
Now was a good time to review my updated character sheet, as it helped fill the time while the men slept.
Raytak, Commander, Level 14, Captain.
Experience 35,501/40,000
Manaless: You have eschewed learning any schools of magic. As a result, you have hardened your defenses and become resistant to hostile spells and magical abilities. The forces under your command also receive a lesser version of this ability. Magic resistance 14%, magic resistance for forces under your command 7%.
Goon Squad: Summon 10–15 angry prisoners to fight for you three times per day to fight on your side for five minutes. The goons are summoned randomly in a 25-foot radius from the commander and attack the nearest foe. Goon squad forces are unarmored and equipped only with a makeshift dagger whose item-level matches the average item-level of your troops’ weapons. The goons do not respond to commands and act independently.
Order of Battle:
1st Legion of Hayden’s Knoll:
Regulars: 3 companies, 2 platoons 639/850
Advanced Soldiers: 1 platoon, 1 squad: 50/60
Elite Soldiers: 5/5
Attached Formations:
Ignominia Platoon
Regulars: 1 platoon, 3 squads: 80/80
Advanced Soldiers: 1 squad: 10/10
Elite Soldiers: 1/1
Auxiliary Formations: 1/2. Dwarven runesmiths (6).
It was a modest increase for this level; I gained two platoons, an elite—which I hoped was finally Tavers’s promotion—and another formation of auxiliary. Ignominia a
nd advanced troops stayed the same. Manaless and Goon Squad saw small improvements, but nothing else at this time. Level 15 would hopefully lead to bigger upgrades.
The plan to stay here at the foot of Goreaxe Peak for another day was still in place. The newly spawned platoons, the replacement scroll, and the natural replacements would get here in that time since I now had the respawn point set back to Holdfast. The extra auxiliary formation could only be selected in one of our cities, as well as the respawn protection for Wrend. The gruff ex-prisoner would have to stay alive on his own until we defeated the Ikbose.
The next day kept us busy with arranging which foodstuffs we could spare for the Goreaxe as well as absorbing the new replacements. The resupply wagons arrived late in the evening and I took half the food from one wagon for our soldiers and left the rest with the voracious ogres, whose first teams of hunters and foragers left to gather what they could.
Stench approached later in the day with a delegation of older ogres and some of the larger younglings. I broke away from training bravo company and joined my new ally just outside my tent.
“Raytak, these of my people will be going to your town of Holdfast to trade. Can you spare a man to guide them there and let the town know that we are friends?” Stench asked. I didn’t want to send away any of my soldiers at this point, but the ogres were right; our new allies might cause a bit of a stir back in Holdfast. I didn’t want them stumbling upon a frightened farmer trying to fight them off.
“Sergeant Wrend, have a pair of soldiers and one of our scouts accompany the Goreaxe delegation to Holdfast. Let them know to make sure their trip goes smooth and they arrive there and back safely. See if Tavers can part with the wagon that held the destroyed catapult. The Goreaxe may need it to help carry supplies,” I ordered. Wrend nodded and pulled the soldiers he wanted to accompany our allies.
We hosted the Goreaxe again that night, making sure they all had a good meal before we departed the next day. The last-minute preparations were made and the wagons packed for the journey. Stench arrived just before dawn, leading a score of warriors.
“I wish I could bring more of my warriors, but I need to leave some to protect the people,” the ogre said.
“No need to apologize. Twenty of your warriors are more than a match for the foes we face. We’re glad to have you fight at our side. Once you and Delling hash out the details of the alliance, I suspect we will be sending a small force to help you defend the area if you so desire,” I mentioned, thinking that Goreaxe Peak would make a good spot for a defensive garrison outpost.
When dawn broke, we moved out, the legion’s pace slowed by the siege train once again. The slower pace was mitigated a bit by the strength of our newest allies, however. A pair of ogres had no trouble lifting even a heavily laden wagon when it became stuck in one of the many ruts along the trail.
There was once a road from Goreaxe Peak to the town of Stonetree from the time before the two had become enemies. The path had understandably not been used for decades and was now only a faint trail cut through the rough ground. Still, even a rough trail was better than trying to move overland again.
The scouts reported the enemy was content to stay within its walls and we made our slow way to the city of our foe. Two days after we had started from Goreaxe Peak, the walls of Stonetree came into view. It was time to end the threat of the Ikbose and seize control of the entire zone.
Chapter 29
The city wall of Stonetree was strange. Tree trunks were set upright, forming the main wall, much like the way Holdfast’s wall was constructed. The difference was in the material. These tree trunks had been petrified, and now they were as hard as stone, creating a much more secure defense . . . one that was likely to withstand even a heavy pounding from our siege engines.
The main gate to the city was constructed of planks cut from the same petrified wood. The weight must have been tremendous, so unless the hinges were made by some magical means, they would likely not stand up to too much abuse before their own weight collapsed them.
The walls blocked most of the city itself from view, save for a few areas where a rise in the ground gave us visibility. The only part of the city we could see was a residential quarter full of closely spaced small homes constructed from the same petrified wood that made up the walls and gate. The second floor of some taller buildings stood out, that I assumed were shops or taverns of some type. The overall place was about the size of Holdfast and much smaller than Hayden’s Knoll.
Other than the occasional shed that we found to be filled with farming implements, none of the Ikbose appeared to live outside the city itself. There was plenty of farmland and various crops being grown, but the farmers must have to make the trek from inside the city out to their plots every day. It didn’t strike me as the most efficient system.
“Figured out how you’re going to take down the city yet? I thought you Army pukes loved this kind of stuff,” someone called out to me.
“Ty! How did you get here? Is everything okay?” I asked, stunned yet excited to have my friend back. I dreaded his answer to my question; if the reason he was back was because he needed to be in the medpod again . . .
“Everything’s going well. I’m in my grandson’s room, playing from real VR gear. No medpod for me anymore. The others should be along shortly. We wanted to check in on you. I leave for a few weeks and you go and get yourself into another war. What are we facing?” Ty asked.
“These Ikbose characters are causing all kinds of problems. They’re trying to wipe out the Goreaxe Clan, who are now our allies,” I said, pointing toward the towering forms of Stench and his companions.
“Narbos is planning to invade Hayden’s Knoll and has sent forces to help out the Ikbose. I need to take these guys out as quickly as possible; the invasion could come at any time. I’m going to get the catapult set and start pounding the gate. We also have two siege towers I was going to throw at the wall when it’s time. Any ideas in that addled Marine skull of yours?” I asked Ty, still shocked and happy at his sudden appearance.
The men around me acted like it was no big deal he was here, which made sense as he was officially in the Imperium army, even if his class allowed him to play like any other player. One of the scouts came running up to report while Ty was thinking.
“Sir, a group of four adventurers are approaching rapidly from the northwest on foot. They look like the ones that have helped us in the past,” the scout reported.
“Yes, Sergeant Ty just informed me they were on their way here. Dismissed,” I said, the scout hustling back out to watch for danger.
“Where do you want us to place the siege engines, sir?” Tavers asked, Brooks right at his heels.
“Set up the catapult to engage the gate. The scorpions will cover the open ground in case the enemy sallies from the fortifications. Other than that, standard fortified camp. We don’t have the numbers to fully invest the city. If the enemy wants to leave the city to do battle, so be it. I’d rather fight them out here in the open then have to pry them out from behind their defenses. Also, congratulations on your much overdue promotion,” I said, noting that Tavers now had the three stripes of a sergeant. He was our newest elite soldier.
“We’ll make it happen, sir. Welcome back, Sergeant Ty,” Tavers said, he and Brooks shaking hands with Ty before leaving.
“Anything I can do to help?” Ty asked.
“Sure, can you open those gates for me?” I joked, pointing at the main gate to Stonetree.
“I don’t think I can help with the gate, but I did just get a quest to infiltrate the city and take out their leader. The quest says sharable so I think that means I can get the others to join in on it,” Ty said.
“Hey, old man Raytak. What are you up to?” Yendys asked while running up to me. Jacoby, Kathala, Smashem, and Nitor ran up in her wake.
“Hi, everyone. I wasn’t expecting you all to show up. What brings you out here in the middle of nowhere?” I asked.
“We all wante
d to check on how you were doing. We haven’t seen you in a while and we also wanted to help Yendys with her quest to gain a prestige class,” Jacoby said.
“If you guys have time to help, Raytak needs to take this city to complete control of the zone. Let me try to share the quest I just received,” Ty said to the others.
“Awesome! My class quest just updated to include taking out the leader of the city. Thank you, game AI, for coming through,” Yendys said excitedly.
“Well, guys, looks like we have our mission. Ugghhh, we have to infiltrate through the sewer. At least the game smells don’t stick that bad to our gear. We’ll take out the leader and meet you inside the city, Raytak,” Kathala added as she read her quest description. She shared the quest for me. The information was greyed out so I couldn’t accept it, of course, but I did get to see what my friends were undertaking.
Quest Offered: The Head of the Snake. The Ikbose elves have a long and cruel history. Their latest exploits include the attempted extermination of their neighbors, the Goreaxe Clan. Infiltrate the city of Stonetree through the sewers and eliminate the leader of the Ikbose—the Grand Painmaster—freeing the zone from his cruel oppression.
Bonus Objectives: Unlock the history of the Ikbose elves and destroy the source of their cruelty.
Rewards: n/a. The commander class does not allow you to undertake this quest. Seek adventures in another way in order to develop your character.
“Looks like you guys have your hands as full as I do. The legion will be beginning the assault on the town as soon as our siege towers are done. That should help pull their attention away from you guys when you infiltrate the place. Do you need any supplies from us or . . . What happened to Crunchy?! ” I shouted as Yendys’s unicorn beetle skittered across the field to join the group. The poor thing must have been cursed or something since its shell was changed to a bright pink with the legs, horns, and mandibles turned an eye-burning red color.
Limitless Lands Book 4: Opposition (A LitRPG Adventure) Page 31
