Strikes
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:56 pm
Howdy all. I had the nerve to begin a story. I am sure I will continue to flesh it out when I have the time. I look forward to hearing back from you all on the contents.
28 NOV 2010
Today was one of the last on a short voyage from Naggaroth for Stryleth. Such a voyage usually took a few weeks but this one was different. Taking the usual route would have put them closer to the hated elves and would slow them down with their roving coastal patrol boats. No, this one was taking the Dragoth straight into the human slaves. Slaves that would not know what hit them in the dead of winter. Such an exercise was dangerous at this time of year. With foraging to a minimum it would be necessary to carry the strike force quickly and then return soon to their home. It was a risk Stryleth was willing to take. Knowing that what awaited him as he returned might not be as troublesome as his wretched kindred who were making off with his estate after his father had a fatal accident.
The ocean foamed about the bow as it cut through the water like a sharpened blade on a weak slave. It was beauty in knowing he would be making this trip to find his rightful place. If everything went well he knew he would return a well furnished Druchii back to the place his hated kin had ripped from him. As Stryleth looked across at the Dagger's Heart he could see his only son, just a young 225 years old, searching the void as he was. Stryleth knew his son had aspirations for his own place and family. He knew that Letharion had killed his older brother to retain full ownership once he killed his father. It was something that he knew he would have to watch closely in the following weeks of the raid.
Returning to the cabin to ascertain if the stars were keeping them on course brought another note to light from his ill-trusted assassin. It would seem that he had heard a few of the corsairs talking about skimming profits from the voyage. Nothing really he should be concerned with right at the moment but something he'd have to watch as they got closer to Naggaroth. He also noticed how clean the room had stayed. Something was amiss and he needed to find out who was scanning over his plans and almost encouraging his anger to rise above a normal level. He expected this kind of deviance from his lesser nobles but wasn't ever trusting enough to let them see his plans he had always kept on him since the beginning. It was something he learned from his oldest sibling that had an unfortunate turn at the wall of his now lost home. Something he wished he could have done better as it was only his sixth time to kill. His father was furious that his eldest had met his death so horribly especially when it was
almost inconceivable he would have jumped from the wall. Several centuries had passed and now he was in the same problem his father had been in. To let his son kill him or kill his heir apparent.
Walking to his bed he pulled the drapes aside to see his favorite gown laid out perfectly. It was a unique gown because it kept the bearer from being wounded by poisons or so he was told. Some hag had presented it to him the last voyage he had went on some five years ago. It was something that most would not have seen in their lives. It was something that had kept him warm many nights and would continue to until he found something more unique than this. As he lay down to imagine about the upcoming raid he knew that he must find Letharion a new home, or risk death, or to kill him outright and be rid of his heir apparent for another one of his younger siblings. It was all coming to a point that a choice would need to be made and made quickly. The rock and crash of the raider ship Dragoth placed him soundly to sleep and for the first time in a while he knew exactly what he could do to fix all his problems.
An unusual creak awoke the veteran Druchii immediately from slumber. Someone was at his door and he knew not who it could be. Wondering and waiting for the attack never came. The steps moved on to the lower deck and for a moment he released his tensed grip from his throwing blade he always kept with him at night. Suddenly a knock at the cabin door and a name that was from the lesser nobles brought him fully awake. It was Lentithier who had made a name for himself on this trip by actually putting up his own home as collateral for the raid. It was something that stank of stature but was tolerated as this was one of many younger siblings from a house that had been destroyed by his own family in a feud that had lasted for a short two centuries.
Lentithier came in lithely on his haunches pretending to be lower in stature than he really was. As an elf this creature had a stature of a rising giant, however his words were always slow but always weighted in more ways than one. It was Stryleths judgement that he had a dangerous elf on his hands that could be manipulated lightly to do what was needed when he needed it. Stryleth knew that Lentithier could always be counted on to become hated by anyone who did not see things the way he did. Lentithier walked in only a foot or two knowing what awaited if he tried to come any closer. Lentithier spoke with a slow mechanical spatter about his Cold One in the hold beneath the deck. It seemed that it was coming to a boiling point and wondered if the Cold One would need to be put down as it was becoming a bother to the others, more so that usual.
Lentithier then spoke "Your lordship should become acquainted with my younger brother Soloeth. He has come along on this trip with a promise of finding a slave or two to buy his way out of a bad habit of promising young elf maids more than he owns. It is something that has become quite a bother to my father and his wife."
"Soon we will all meet with more heads to bring back than the holds can carry. It will be my pleasure to ensure he can receive what he is owe." Knowing full well his words would meet the right demands it was a banter he cared not to do late at night.
Lentithier bowed and graciously let himself out of the room with his back to the door. Something he thought every smart Druchii should learn sooner than dead. Soon, sleep came back and without any mention of the first dawn he was asleep.
First light shone and it was apparent there would be landfall soon. It was a good feeling for Stryleth. Knowing that he would soon make or break his fallen name from the storied histories. Would this put him back above his enemies and place him closer to attaining greatness with his lord?
As dawn continued to break across the horizon the ocean could be seen to have changed into shallower waters. As was expected, his scouting vessels were returning. Awaiting on the boat was his trusted shades. Shades always seemed never to want to do much except slit throats and kill. He would have to watch them so that they didn't take good flesh to be stricken by their differing views of Khaine. Knowing his unnamed assassin was inside this tight knit group was a good thing. If only to keep an eye on things ahead while being able to sneak around at night without having questions arise as to the why.
Hearing the good news that the slaves along the coast were a dreary and sleepily lot made for less of a trouble. After hearing all the reports he needed he began laying out his plan to secure the beach and then to move quickly inland before any wandering patrol fell upon his strike force. He ran up the flags to give the most direct and succinct commands to the other vessels to prepare their disembarkment. Once securing this he was able to move about more freely and let his ship captain take control of the downloading process.
The boats slowed to allow the slower and larger slaver vessels to come closer. Making land fall with shallow draft boats was easy. It was completely another thing to download all the cargo and be able to not get caught with your undergarments around your ankles. Dragoth was the first ship to enter the beach at high tide. It was his sole insurance to continue pushing with his supposed lead from the front tactic. It would make his other lesser nobles take heed that he was leading and they would follow his commands.
His ship held only a few Cold Ones and his own personal mount that had been trained within his own keep. It was a beauty to behold his dark pegasus. Such a nasty brute could only be controlled by himself and the beastmaster. Never the one to be outdone. He only allowed them short amounts of time to keep their contact with his own personal ride to a minimum. It would be a shame if someone slipped a few extra commands that may play out in the wrong way for Stryleth.
Letharion could be seen across the way working with his captain to ensure his dark rider's would be downloaded the quickest. It was always up to him to ensure his entire area around his contingent to move with the quietest way. It was also in his understanding that it was he who would be expected to know the layout of the land and always have a way out. Knowing this made Letharion an extra bit of headache but at his young age it was necessary to put him within precarious roles in order to see his leadership come into play.
Lentithier aproached him from the rear, something that never boded well with Stryleth. How that elf moved so lithely with his body never ceased to amaze Stryleth. "Is everything well as planned Lentithier?"
"Yes my lord, we have begun the disembarkment of the Cold Ones and will be done in two hours" spoke Lentithier.
Stryleth already knew the time it would take but didn't press the issue that they should be able to do that within one hour. He would wait and see if his knight's commander would be able to handle the rigors of a slave raid and not an all out war.
Boats continued to download their troops and soon the beach was teaming with life moving further inland to where a nice hill that was surrounded by trees stood. His scouts had begun to come back with further information that a small town militia seemed to be stirring from their homes. They had not tried to reach anyone and had probably not understood the importance of trying to reach help. The precision his troops were downloading was a testament to their years of hard service under his command. Many had seen combat across the globe with short stints serving him in the swamps, mountains and various other land formations. It was always his wish to never use their lives unless absolutely necessary. Each one knew their mission and would execute that mission to the fullest. He had always seen to it that they felt he held them in high regards. Even if they knew their lives meant only what he had decided for them.
Within four hours his ships were complete and pushed back out to sea. Only left a few smaller craft were left and had a small contingent to hide and if necessary take him back to safety if something should arise. With his nobles gathered around him he quickly laid out the plan to follow along an old unused lane and take a small town by surprise that ran along the river that the slaves called Reichsmarch. It was a small quiet stream during the winter and swelled beyond recognition in the rainy seasons. He knew that if he could cut off the lone bridge crossing the river and to take the river boats by surprise not a soul would know he was there until his group was well gone.
The column quickly formed and all the elves were prepared with little command. They knew what needed to be done and done quickly. If there were elves with light feet he had picked them. The corsairs would fall behind his command but far forward as they would have little chance to range too far and cause any issues with the Empire slaves that lay along their path. His crossbow elves would be right behind the corsairs for to allow for a quick blocking force to retreat or to push forward in case of an attack from the rear. His knowledge of these elves was somewhat mixed. Had they not saved him many times before he would have left their worthless hides at home.
******
The light shone bright above their heads with clouds forming to the East meaning there would be a storm coming. It would also mean that they would be able to move further and have less trouble with roving garrison patrols. He knew that as soon as he made it within the seventy-five mile mark he would be able to bring his scouts out further and have less chance on meeting any defense.
Their first stop took them within a few miles of a small slave hamlet that was set in front of the mouth of the valley he would be travelling up. This hamlet would need to be passed without being seen and would also mean that on the return trip back this area would need to be secured in case of any attack from his rear. It would also provide for easy slave replacements for those who were bound to die on their return trip.
The scouts returning spoke of earthen works and a six foot wooden wall that had two gates. One opening up to the valley and the other on the opposite side facing his force. It was approximately another 20 miles to reach the hamlet but it would suffice to allow for his scouts to find the easiest access to the valley. Waiting meant it would leave his men time to begin to building their love of traps for forces they could lay easily and still retain their lightning fast pace that so
many races could never keep up with. Even these weak horses they bred meant little for the swift feet of the Dark Riders.
Caltrops and all manner of lighter steak type equipment was strapped to the packs of his foot soldiers. It was these he expected to continue their work even after stopping on long marches such as these. Letharion rode back with his riders to report a small contingent from the local large town was approaching from the north. It was large enough to cause him pain and to raise too many other towns in the area. It would seem that his best chance was to chance either a southerly or northerly route around the hamlet. It was certain that even though his scouts had not returned that it would be better to move south because the riders were coming from the north.
With the orders given his troops began a quick flanking move around the hamlet and tried to outpace the enemy. As Letharion continued to send runners back to report it would seem that the local lord had only wanted to take a ride. The slave lord was continuing and was now well past the hamlet and travelling down the same road as his force. As Letharion tried to ensure their tracks were covered it was quite useless and had made the lord quite anxious to meet this contingent
that was to his fore.
Not wanting a fight as early as his first day, it would be necessary to either find another route, spring an ambush, or return to the road completely making a loop and then travelling to the north of the hamlet. Knowing his troops could continue at this pace for two to three days he gave the order to take the closest route and return and make a strategic indirect move and then slip past their pursuers in
the dark of night.
The column then took to the first road and as they were beginning to turn his forward scouts reported a large caravan of some kind of peddlers had been travelling in the same direction as he was. It would only be necessary to send his son to continue on this road to marry their two travelling ruts to ensure it looked as though the peddlers had made his tracks. It was a worth gambit; with one half of the Dark Riders making for the peddlers and another small portion to
cover their right turn into the next lane ensured he would not be
followed. Knowing the lordlings of this area well he knew that most were not accustomed to the cold and would therefore try not to find anything amiss as it were.
As his troops passed by in the quiet he could here to muffled laughter of his enemies beyond the trees. It only continued intermittently and could hear several cough from what seemed to be a sickness of some kind. Letharion returned from his mission of completing the tracks to the peddlers and reported his troop had also covered their change in direction so well the lordling had not even glanced at the side lane
once. It was in gratitude a sly smile reached Stryleth's lips. It
was with this small affirmation his soon beamed and continued to move forward to provide frontal security again.
His scouts continued to move throughout the day. They had attained a resting place in a small burned out homestead. It would seem this area had been hit slightly by the last Orc incursion during the summer and the occupants had either died or decided to move to safer environs. It was a good choice that was set closer to the beginning of the northerly range of hills that slowly began the step toward mountains. Being but a newly developed valley it was mostly free of
large towns but held the best slaves because these were the hardy kind of humans. These humans always seemed to fight the best as if they had something to live for. If they only knew exactly what they were going back to they would never allow themselves to become the very slaves they should be.
Making small fires on the opposite sides of the burned out buildings afforded his elves a bit of relaxation they were doubtlessly going to go without for several days yet. It would seem that the locals had yet remove the scattered foodstuffs for the animals. Since his was lacking, it was only necessary to send out small parties of forages to reap the benefits of such laziness. If there was only half a brain in one of these weaklings they never would have stood for so much food to
be left untouched and unmoved. There must be more reasons the humans should leave this very place untouched, shouldn't there?
*********
Pickets had been placed in the shadows as the chance for surprise was high being so close to human slaves. They always seemed to blunder in to things any real druchii would only make their first 100 years of life. Such foolishness always played in to hands when he was slaving. It was a good amount of time before the moon shone through the clouds that had been forming all day.
Suddenly a muffled sound, gurgles and bones being crushed brought his eyes open and his blade from underneath his sleeve. It was coming from the furthest picket line that was thin due to the nature of the trees and weather. His orders had already been brought to bear without speaking them. His foot were preparing a square formation and with the corsairs as a thin skirmisher line hiding behind the closest cover they could find. It would allow the enemy to come close with bolts hitting them as they came. The corsairs had a nasty business of taking care of the rest even if they were pure-professional slavers.
A large lump flew from the area the sounds had emanated from. As it arced it's way towards their main position the repeater elves executed a volley as it hurtled toward them. It landed well in front of the line with fifteen to twenty bolts sticking through the mangled body of what once was his picket. Quickly the closest corsair searched the body and reported with hand signs back to him personally. It would seem the body had been ripped asunder and was left more so pale than was a normal druchii tone.
His only enemy to be known to take such a short amount of time was those indiscriminate vampires! Why one would be staged out here was beyond him. As his first line of repeater elves moved outward he could feel a surge of disdain for this ugly beast. It must be a nasty Varg, a beast who had the unfortunate loss of discipline for himself. Such a beast could handle several elves but he had no such time for this. It was uncanny to see the limp elf with little to no blood pooling under his worthless body.
Another scream and yet another body flew into the circular defence around his burned out house. Still his position was still quite strong for such a vampire wouldn't dare enter this much of a force unless a death wish was warranted. Without warning the horn of Lentithier's riders could be heard crashing through the whitened forest. It was the sound of thuds and a crashing and cursing of such a disciplined force. He only wished he could see the last battle this monster would have. Wheeling and hearing the continued charge; it was then that a roar as such he had never heard issued from the beast! Was there more to be had from this carnal beast?
Cries of pain now lept from the lordlings as a rider had been taken down. It would seem the riders were less than capable and after issuing only succinct orders his foot now drew up into the battle that raged ahead of his vision. It was after hearing the release of another crossbow salvo that he now moved his son to a further flanking move while still holding a few in reserve as a precaution for any surprises this dreadful night.
Shields began to rupture as a clawed beast filled with red hate in it's eyes! Time slowed as he moved his mount closer to the ravenous slashing and hacking that continued with each druchii strike upon the weakened animal. It would seem he just wouldn't die. The melee continued only a few short minutes and had now been drowned out by the whinny of his dark riders returning from their continued scouting mission. It was now he had to bear the breaking news he had dreaded from the beginning.
Another contingent of shambling hordes had begun a march from further into the hills and woods. Stryleth had to decide to either begin his retrograde or become ensnarled in this petty squabble over slaves with some incoherent fake everliving corrupted slave.
28 NOV 2010
Today was one of the last on a short voyage from Naggaroth for Stryleth. Such a voyage usually took a few weeks but this one was different. Taking the usual route would have put them closer to the hated elves and would slow them down with their roving coastal patrol boats. No, this one was taking the Dragoth straight into the human slaves. Slaves that would not know what hit them in the dead of winter. Such an exercise was dangerous at this time of year. With foraging to a minimum it would be necessary to carry the strike force quickly and then return soon to their home. It was a risk Stryleth was willing to take. Knowing that what awaited him as he returned might not be as troublesome as his wretched kindred who were making off with his estate after his father had a fatal accident.
The ocean foamed about the bow as it cut through the water like a sharpened blade on a weak slave. It was beauty in knowing he would be making this trip to find his rightful place. If everything went well he knew he would return a well furnished Druchii back to the place his hated kin had ripped from him. As Stryleth looked across at the Dagger's Heart he could see his only son, just a young 225 years old, searching the void as he was. Stryleth knew his son had aspirations for his own place and family. He knew that Letharion had killed his older brother to retain full ownership once he killed his father. It was something that he knew he would have to watch closely in the following weeks of the raid.
Returning to the cabin to ascertain if the stars were keeping them on course brought another note to light from his ill-trusted assassin. It would seem that he had heard a few of the corsairs talking about skimming profits from the voyage. Nothing really he should be concerned with right at the moment but something he'd have to watch as they got closer to Naggaroth. He also noticed how clean the room had stayed. Something was amiss and he needed to find out who was scanning over his plans and almost encouraging his anger to rise above a normal level. He expected this kind of deviance from his lesser nobles but wasn't ever trusting enough to let them see his plans he had always kept on him since the beginning. It was something he learned from his oldest sibling that had an unfortunate turn at the wall of his now lost home. Something he wished he could have done better as it was only his sixth time to kill. His father was furious that his eldest had met his death so horribly especially when it was
almost inconceivable he would have jumped from the wall. Several centuries had passed and now he was in the same problem his father had been in. To let his son kill him or kill his heir apparent.
Walking to his bed he pulled the drapes aside to see his favorite gown laid out perfectly. It was a unique gown because it kept the bearer from being wounded by poisons or so he was told. Some hag had presented it to him the last voyage he had went on some five years ago. It was something that most would not have seen in their lives. It was something that had kept him warm many nights and would continue to until he found something more unique than this. As he lay down to imagine about the upcoming raid he knew that he must find Letharion a new home, or risk death, or to kill him outright and be rid of his heir apparent for another one of his younger siblings. It was all coming to a point that a choice would need to be made and made quickly. The rock and crash of the raider ship Dragoth placed him soundly to sleep and for the first time in a while he knew exactly what he could do to fix all his problems.
An unusual creak awoke the veteran Druchii immediately from slumber. Someone was at his door and he knew not who it could be. Wondering and waiting for the attack never came. The steps moved on to the lower deck and for a moment he released his tensed grip from his throwing blade he always kept with him at night. Suddenly a knock at the cabin door and a name that was from the lesser nobles brought him fully awake. It was Lentithier who had made a name for himself on this trip by actually putting up his own home as collateral for the raid. It was something that stank of stature but was tolerated as this was one of many younger siblings from a house that had been destroyed by his own family in a feud that had lasted for a short two centuries.
Lentithier came in lithely on his haunches pretending to be lower in stature than he really was. As an elf this creature had a stature of a rising giant, however his words were always slow but always weighted in more ways than one. It was Stryleths judgement that he had a dangerous elf on his hands that could be manipulated lightly to do what was needed when he needed it. Stryleth knew that Lentithier could always be counted on to become hated by anyone who did not see things the way he did. Lentithier walked in only a foot or two knowing what awaited if he tried to come any closer. Lentithier spoke with a slow mechanical spatter about his Cold One in the hold beneath the deck. It seemed that it was coming to a boiling point and wondered if the Cold One would need to be put down as it was becoming a bother to the others, more so that usual.
Lentithier then spoke "Your lordship should become acquainted with my younger brother Soloeth. He has come along on this trip with a promise of finding a slave or two to buy his way out of a bad habit of promising young elf maids more than he owns. It is something that has become quite a bother to my father and his wife."
"Soon we will all meet with more heads to bring back than the holds can carry. It will be my pleasure to ensure he can receive what he is owe." Knowing full well his words would meet the right demands it was a banter he cared not to do late at night.
Lentithier bowed and graciously let himself out of the room with his back to the door. Something he thought every smart Druchii should learn sooner than dead. Soon, sleep came back and without any mention of the first dawn he was asleep.
First light shone and it was apparent there would be landfall soon. It was a good feeling for Stryleth. Knowing that he would soon make or break his fallen name from the storied histories. Would this put him back above his enemies and place him closer to attaining greatness with his lord?
As dawn continued to break across the horizon the ocean could be seen to have changed into shallower waters. As was expected, his scouting vessels were returning. Awaiting on the boat was his trusted shades. Shades always seemed never to want to do much except slit throats and kill. He would have to watch them so that they didn't take good flesh to be stricken by their differing views of Khaine. Knowing his unnamed assassin was inside this tight knit group was a good thing. If only to keep an eye on things ahead while being able to sneak around at night without having questions arise as to the why.
Hearing the good news that the slaves along the coast were a dreary and sleepily lot made for less of a trouble. After hearing all the reports he needed he began laying out his plan to secure the beach and then to move quickly inland before any wandering patrol fell upon his strike force. He ran up the flags to give the most direct and succinct commands to the other vessels to prepare their disembarkment. Once securing this he was able to move about more freely and let his ship captain take control of the downloading process.
The boats slowed to allow the slower and larger slaver vessels to come closer. Making land fall with shallow draft boats was easy. It was completely another thing to download all the cargo and be able to not get caught with your undergarments around your ankles. Dragoth was the first ship to enter the beach at high tide. It was his sole insurance to continue pushing with his supposed lead from the front tactic. It would make his other lesser nobles take heed that he was leading and they would follow his commands.
His ship held only a few Cold Ones and his own personal mount that had been trained within his own keep. It was a beauty to behold his dark pegasus. Such a nasty brute could only be controlled by himself and the beastmaster. Never the one to be outdone. He only allowed them short amounts of time to keep their contact with his own personal ride to a minimum. It would be a shame if someone slipped a few extra commands that may play out in the wrong way for Stryleth.
Letharion could be seen across the way working with his captain to ensure his dark rider's would be downloaded the quickest. It was always up to him to ensure his entire area around his contingent to move with the quietest way. It was also in his understanding that it was he who would be expected to know the layout of the land and always have a way out. Knowing this made Letharion an extra bit of headache but at his young age it was necessary to put him within precarious roles in order to see his leadership come into play.
Lentithier aproached him from the rear, something that never boded well with Stryleth. How that elf moved so lithely with his body never ceased to amaze Stryleth. "Is everything well as planned Lentithier?"
"Yes my lord, we have begun the disembarkment of the Cold Ones and will be done in two hours" spoke Lentithier.
Stryleth already knew the time it would take but didn't press the issue that they should be able to do that within one hour. He would wait and see if his knight's commander would be able to handle the rigors of a slave raid and not an all out war.
Boats continued to download their troops and soon the beach was teaming with life moving further inland to where a nice hill that was surrounded by trees stood. His scouts had begun to come back with further information that a small town militia seemed to be stirring from their homes. They had not tried to reach anyone and had probably not understood the importance of trying to reach help. The precision his troops were downloading was a testament to their years of hard service under his command. Many had seen combat across the globe with short stints serving him in the swamps, mountains and various other land formations. It was always his wish to never use their lives unless absolutely necessary. Each one knew their mission and would execute that mission to the fullest. He had always seen to it that they felt he held them in high regards. Even if they knew their lives meant only what he had decided for them.
Within four hours his ships were complete and pushed back out to sea. Only left a few smaller craft were left and had a small contingent to hide and if necessary take him back to safety if something should arise. With his nobles gathered around him he quickly laid out the plan to follow along an old unused lane and take a small town by surprise that ran along the river that the slaves called Reichsmarch. It was a small quiet stream during the winter and swelled beyond recognition in the rainy seasons. He knew that if he could cut off the lone bridge crossing the river and to take the river boats by surprise not a soul would know he was there until his group was well gone.
The column quickly formed and all the elves were prepared with little command. They knew what needed to be done and done quickly. If there were elves with light feet he had picked them. The corsairs would fall behind his command but far forward as they would have little chance to range too far and cause any issues with the Empire slaves that lay along their path. His crossbow elves would be right behind the corsairs for to allow for a quick blocking force to retreat or to push forward in case of an attack from the rear. His knowledge of these elves was somewhat mixed. Had they not saved him many times before he would have left their worthless hides at home.
******
The light shone bright above their heads with clouds forming to the East meaning there would be a storm coming. It would also mean that they would be able to move further and have less trouble with roving garrison patrols. He knew that as soon as he made it within the seventy-five mile mark he would be able to bring his scouts out further and have less chance on meeting any defense.
Their first stop took them within a few miles of a small slave hamlet that was set in front of the mouth of the valley he would be travelling up. This hamlet would need to be passed without being seen and would also mean that on the return trip back this area would need to be secured in case of any attack from his rear. It would also provide for easy slave replacements for those who were bound to die on their return trip.
The scouts returning spoke of earthen works and a six foot wooden wall that had two gates. One opening up to the valley and the other on the opposite side facing his force. It was approximately another 20 miles to reach the hamlet but it would suffice to allow for his scouts to find the easiest access to the valley. Waiting meant it would leave his men time to begin to building their love of traps for forces they could lay easily and still retain their lightning fast pace that so
many races could never keep up with. Even these weak horses they bred meant little for the swift feet of the Dark Riders.
Caltrops and all manner of lighter steak type equipment was strapped to the packs of his foot soldiers. It was these he expected to continue their work even after stopping on long marches such as these. Letharion rode back with his riders to report a small contingent from the local large town was approaching from the north. It was large enough to cause him pain and to raise too many other towns in the area. It would seem that his best chance was to chance either a southerly or northerly route around the hamlet. It was certain that even though his scouts had not returned that it would be better to move south because the riders were coming from the north.
With the orders given his troops began a quick flanking move around the hamlet and tried to outpace the enemy. As Letharion continued to send runners back to report it would seem that the local lord had only wanted to take a ride. The slave lord was continuing and was now well past the hamlet and travelling down the same road as his force. As Letharion tried to ensure their tracks were covered it was quite useless and had made the lord quite anxious to meet this contingent
that was to his fore.
Not wanting a fight as early as his first day, it would be necessary to either find another route, spring an ambush, or return to the road completely making a loop and then travelling to the north of the hamlet. Knowing his troops could continue at this pace for two to three days he gave the order to take the closest route and return and make a strategic indirect move and then slip past their pursuers in
the dark of night.
The column then took to the first road and as they were beginning to turn his forward scouts reported a large caravan of some kind of peddlers had been travelling in the same direction as he was. It would only be necessary to send his son to continue on this road to marry their two travelling ruts to ensure it looked as though the peddlers had made his tracks. It was a worth gambit; with one half of the Dark Riders making for the peddlers and another small portion to
cover their right turn into the next lane ensured he would not be
followed. Knowing the lordlings of this area well he knew that most were not accustomed to the cold and would therefore try not to find anything amiss as it were.
As his troops passed by in the quiet he could here to muffled laughter of his enemies beyond the trees. It only continued intermittently and could hear several cough from what seemed to be a sickness of some kind. Letharion returned from his mission of completing the tracks to the peddlers and reported his troop had also covered their change in direction so well the lordling had not even glanced at the side lane
once. It was in gratitude a sly smile reached Stryleth's lips. It
was with this small affirmation his soon beamed and continued to move forward to provide frontal security again.
His scouts continued to move throughout the day. They had attained a resting place in a small burned out homestead. It would seem this area had been hit slightly by the last Orc incursion during the summer and the occupants had either died or decided to move to safer environs. It was a good choice that was set closer to the beginning of the northerly range of hills that slowly began the step toward mountains. Being but a newly developed valley it was mostly free of
large towns but held the best slaves because these were the hardy kind of humans. These humans always seemed to fight the best as if they had something to live for. If they only knew exactly what they were going back to they would never allow themselves to become the very slaves they should be.
Making small fires on the opposite sides of the burned out buildings afforded his elves a bit of relaxation they were doubtlessly going to go without for several days yet. It would seem that the locals had yet remove the scattered foodstuffs for the animals. Since his was lacking, it was only necessary to send out small parties of forages to reap the benefits of such laziness. If there was only half a brain in one of these weaklings they never would have stood for so much food to
be left untouched and unmoved. There must be more reasons the humans should leave this very place untouched, shouldn't there?
*********
Pickets had been placed in the shadows as the chance for surprise was high being so close to human slaves. They always seemed to blunder in to things any real druchii would only make their first 100 years of life. Such foolishness always played in to hands when he was slaving. It was a good amount of time before the moon shone through the clouds that had been forming all day.
Suddenly a muffled sound, gurgles and bones being crushed brought his eyes open and his blade from underneath his sleeve. It was coming from the furthest picket line that was thin due to the nature of the trees and weather. His orders had already been brought to bear without speaking them. His foot were preparing a square formation and with the corsairs as a thin skirmisher line hiding behind the closest cover they could find. It would allow the enemy to come close with bolts hitting them as they came. The corsairs had a nasty business of taking care of the rest even if they were pure-professional slavers.
A large lump flew from the area the sounds had emanated from. As it arced it's way towards their main position the repeater elves executed a volley as it hurtled toward them. It landed well in front of the line with fifteen to twenty bolts sticking through the mangled body of what once was his picket. Quickly the closest corsair searched the body and reported with hand signs back to him personally. It would seem the body had been ripped asunder and was left more so pale than was a normal druchii tone.
His only enemy to be known to take such a short amount of time was those indiscriminate vampires! Why one would be staged out here was beyond him. As his first line of repeater elves moved outward he could feel a surge of disdain for this ugly beast. It must be a nasty Varg, a beast who had the unfortunate loss of discipline for himself. Such a beast could handle several elves but he had no such time for this. It was uncanny to see the limp elf with little to no blood pooling under his worthless body.
Another scream and yet another body flew into the circular defence around his burned out house. Still his position was still quite strong for such a vampire wouldn't dare enter this much of a force unless a death wish was warranted. Without warning the horn of Lentithier's riders could be heard crashing through the whitened forest. It was the sound of thuds and a crashing and cursing of such a disciplined force. He only wished he could see the last battle this monster would have. Wheeling and hearing the continued charge; it was then that a roar as such he had never heard issued from the beast! Was there more to be had from this carnal beast?
Cries of pain now lept from the lordlings as a rider had been taken down. It would seem the riders were less than capable and after issuing only succinct orders his foot now drew up into the battle that raged ahead of his vision. It was after hearing the release of another crossbow salvo that he now moved his son to a further flanking move while still holding a few in reserve as a precaution for any surprises this dreadful night.
Shields began to rupture as a clawed beast filled with red hate in it's eyes! Time slowed as he moved his mount closer to the ravenous slashing and hacking that continued with each druchii strike upon the weakened animal. It would seem he just wouldn't die. The melee continued only a few short minutes and had now been drowned out by the whinny of his dark riders returning from their continued scouting mission. It was now he had to bear the breaking news he had dreaded from the beginning.
Another contingent of shambling hordes had begun a march from further into the hills and woods. Stryleth had to decide to either begin his retrograde or become ensnarled in this petty squabble over slaves with some incoherent fake everliving corrupted slave.