The Battle of Grey Tree
Apr 29, 2018 14:49:39 GMT
The Sergeant / Alisha, Malri 'Taffeta' Thistletop, and 1 more like this
Post by Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar on Apr 29, 2018 14:49:39 GMT
Excerpt from the Journal of Varis Nailo
24th day of Tarsakh
The orcish hordes continue to advance, encircling Daring and preparing for a final assault against the city itself. It cannot be long now. I think back to my first campaign with Sir Lanith, how appalled I was to receive the order to slaughter the orc females and younglings. How clear the logic of my mentor's command appears now. These creatures cannot be redeemed, cannot be saved. Compassion and diplomacy will avail us nothing now. It is kill or be killed. We must not fail.
At the council of war in the map chamber of Daring's Hope, I, along with the minstrels Lachlan and Leocanto, the skin changer Daisy and Dorian the Helltouched magister, agreed to see to the concerns of Sergeant Grimes of the White Hawks of Kantas. It seems reports had been coming in of a contingent of orcs heading for the mining village of Grey Tree to the west of Daring. After some wrangling with local farmers over the requisition of a few horses, we rode hard for the beleaguered settlement, driving the animals almost to exhaustion.
We were brought up short of our destination by a pillar of smoke a short way from the road. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the burning wreckage of a cart. Daisy, using her mystical skills, spoke with the mule that had been pulling it, discovering that the cart had been attacked by creatures that came from a nearby copse of trees, and his master slain. No sooner had this discovery been made than a hail of javelins from the tree line informed us that the cart's assailants were still very much in residence, and battle was joined. The orcs proved no match for coordinated attack and Leo and I rode down the stragglers, capturing one and questioning it about numbers and disposition. It yielded little worthwhile information, and we quickly put the thing out of it's misery.
We rode on to Grey Tree, being greeted by Zara, the owner of the quarry and de facto leader of the village. She had mustered a small contingent of fighters, but the majority of the population were undecided as to whether they ought to fight or flee. Some pretty words from Lachlan convinced them to stay and fight, and we set about making preparations for the impending attack.
Soon enough, the drums of our foe filled the air, and the creatures arrayed themselves around the village, preparing to join battle. Our meagre defences and force of common labourers armed with hunting weapons seemed suddenly paltry things against the brutish aggression of the interlopers. But the free folk of Kantas are not to be underestimated. Though the ground was stained with blood by the setting of the sun, the orcs had retreated, their numbers greatly diminished and one of their champions dead at our feet.
We lost many brave souls this day, more still carried off into slavery by the retreating greenskins. I know this is but a drop in the ocean of blood that is to follow. I only pray Tyr see's fit to grant us victory in this.
24th day of Tarsakh
The orcish hordes continue to advance, encircling Daring and preparing for a final assault against the city itself. It cannot be long now. I think back to my first campaign with Sir Lanith, how appalled I was to receive the order to slaughter the orc females and younglings. How clear the logic of my mentor's command appears now. These creatures cannot be redeemed, cannot be saved. Compassion and diplomacy will avail us nothing now. It is kill or be killed. We must not fail.
At the council of war in the map chamber of Daring's Hope, I, along with the minstrels Lachlan and Leocanto, the skin changer Daisy and Dorian the Helltouched magister, agreed to see to the concerns of Sergeant Grimes of the White Hawks of Kantas. It seems reports had been coming in of a contingent of orcs heading for the mining village of Grey Tree to the west of Daring. After some wrangling with local farmers over the requisition of a few horses, we rode hard for the beleaguered settlement, driving the animals almost to exhaustion.
We were brought up short of our destination by a pillar of smoke a short way from the road. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the burning wreckage of a cart. Daisy, using her mystical skills, spoke with the mule that had been pulling it, discovering that the cart had been attacked by creatures that came from a nearby copse of trees, and his master slain. No sooner had this discovery been made than a hail of javelins from the tree line informed us that the cart's assailants were still very much in residence, and battle was joined. The orcs proved no match for coordinated attack and Leo and I rode down the stragglers, capturing one and questioning it about numbers and disposition. It yielded little worthwhile information, and we quickly put the thing out of it's misery.
We rode on to Grey Tree, being greeted by Zara, the owner of the quarry and de facto leader of the village. She had mustered a small contingent of fighters, but the majority of the population were undecided as to whether they ought to fight or flee. Some pretty words from Lachlan convinced them to stay and fight, and we set about making preparations for the impending attack.
Soon enough, the drums of our foe filled the air, and the creatures arrayed themselves around the village, preparing to join battle. Our meagre defences and force of common labourers armed with hunting weapons seemed suddenly paltry things against the brutish aggression of the interlopers. But the free folk of Kantas are not to be underestimated. Though the ground was stained with blood by the setting of the sun, the orcs had retreated, their numbers greatly diminished and one of their champions dead at our feet.
We lost many brave souls this day, more still carried off into slavery by the retreating greenskins. I know this is but a drop in the ocean of blood that is to follow. I only pray Tyr see's fit to grant us victory in this.