The Cumbrian War

I snapped awake as I heard a gunshot. I ran outside. "What? What is it?"

"Breakfast!" Mercren cried as he grinned at me. Smiling back, I poke back inside the tent to get my staff and my bundle. I might get to liking this dwarf afterall. While Mercren prepared the turkey for our consumption, I unfolded the hide and chose a fair sized tooth. Turning it over in my hand, I nod and fold the hide back into a bundle.

"I should be back in a minute or two, Mercren." He just nods and waves me away, focusing on the bird. Chuckling to myself, I search the nearby area for the proper size and shape of rock. I find a chunk of granite that suits my purpose and go back to camp.

I find Feril up and stretching. "Morning. I hope you slept well." He looks a little tired, but says he slept fine. Feril wanders over to see what Mercren is cooking. I strike the rock with the tooth, and a small chip of granite flies off. Smiling to myself, I start to shape the rock into a reasonable facsimile of a hilt. Before I'm done, Mercren calls me over. "Breakfast is ready, old man. Better get some before we eat it all."

 

Amohl asked me if I slept well and I anwered that I slept fine. But I didn't, I kept waking up every half an hour constantly having the same nightmare.
I was back in T'sen Ang and my ex-family members were torturing me.
Amohl, Mercren, Gather and Katherine were looking at me, all mad faces, telling me that I was a disgrace to them because of my offspring and my lies to them. I screamed that I had changed my ways but they didn't listen. They just kept staring at me mad....

I knew the nightmare wasn't reality, but it scared me. What DID they all think of me and would they change their thoughts about me if they knew where I came from???
I tried not to think of it, but it kept lurking in my mind.
"ahhhh well" I thought, "let's get my mind on different things. Breakfest for one!"

[ooc] We're going by the wyvern's bridge right??? If you write that part (DW or Draco) make a stop there... I need to bury a woman's remains. [/ooc]

 

Gather was a saint. Clothes I could actually stand to wear, a bed to sleep in, as much food as I could shove into my mouth... If only life was always this good. Before I could go change, though, he wanted to pick my brain. Understandable, considering my entire purpose in this war was knowing what the other side was doing. I wondered briefly if the Officers in Tarant had noticed I was gone yet. I settled back in a chair with a sigh. Well, the sooner he knew what I knew, the sooner I could eat.

I licked my lips. "Well, the first half of the army is fairly straight forward," I started. "They left Tarant..." Istopped and tried to count backwards. Not knowing numbers beyond 13, it wasn't working too well. "The plans said the 26th day of March they would start marching for Stillwater. That was actually the scouting party that I presume you fought--they arrived... 7? no, 8... no, that's not right..." Itried to count backwards again. Numbers are so confusing. Finally I looked up in triumph. "5 days ago, with you defeating them three days later. However, the main force of troops are ordered to stay out of sight, out of mind until they can deduce the strength of the forces coming here. Only you're already here, aren't you? and they're two days away, so, you defeated the scouting party 2 days ago, that would mean..." I looked up at Gather. "They know today what your numbers are, as well as strengths and weaknesses. And it will take them 2 days to get here. My suggestion? We be anywhere else."

I sat back and waited for Gather's reaction. I didn't know what he thought of my news... It wasn't pleasant, but compared to the second plan Tarant had, the force bearing down on us was pixies in the park...

 

[OOC]
The bridge is south of us, and on the other side of the mountains. But we will get there, just not "soon." When we do get there, I'll even help you.
[/OOC]

Finished with the wonderful breakfast, we pack up camp and continue on our journey northward. We make as good of time as we did yesterday, and stop for lunch near a circle of rocks on the edge of a small copse of trees. Once again, I forego the meal.

I'm working on finishing the hunk of rock, when Mercren interrupts me. "What exactly are you doing?"

"This? Oh, I'm just making a knife. It's yours when I'm done. Which I just about am." While talking, I had continued carving. With a couple more chips flaked off, I fish in my pockets for a small vial. I open the top and pour some of the contents into a small groove on one end of the hilt. Closing the vial, I quickly set the wyvern's tooth into place. "And there we are. One knife. Here ya go." I toss it to Mercren, who neatly catches the hilt. As he looks it over, I excuse myself.

I unwrap the bundle and take out another tooth. I take it into the copse of trees and use it to saw a small branch off an oak tree. I rewrap the bundle and use the branch as a handle, hanging the wyvern hide from it behind me.

"Ahh, now that lunch is done, we walk again. A very unfortuate part of journies and adventures. The tedious part of walking where you want to go. Onward, friends. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can start walking somewhere else."

 

"This is bad news Eve. Tell me any other plans, army routes, secret weapons, spies or anything you know about. And be swift."

 

[OOC]
Hey Rosie! About time! :roll: Sorry you were busy, but now you're back - on with the party!
[/OOC]


0930 hours - April 8, 1985

The guard had let me pass and I entered the tent. As I entered the main room through the drapes I saw Evie standing there with Andrew wearing what I could only assume to be a man's shirt. Hadn't I seen Andrew in that a few days ago? No matter, I was glad that Evie was safe.

"Good morning Andrew. Good morning Evie" I said brightly. Then I noticed the look on Andrew's face. It was not good. "What is it?" I asked. He repeated to me what Evie had just told him. I caught a look on Evie's face that told me that there was something she had held back. Having done numerous diplomatic missions for the council I had come to recognise this, but Evie would have her reasons not to tell Andrew what it was. I let it lie.

The news wasn't good. I still had no training in army battle tactics - I was used to solo missions, so we would have to look to Andrew for those. At least Ben is safe at Qintarra.

"What would you have me do then Andrew?" I asked.

 

"I don't know Katherine...I don't know... just be ready...Maybe we should send a scouting party. Also I want more details Eve. How many archers, swordsmen, mages, gunners or anything else do they have?" I then remembered. "Kat I hadn't have time to thank you for your gift." I pulled out the dagger. "it saved my life three times." she smiled.
"I'm glad" she answered.
"Alright. Please continue Eve".

 

I thanked Amohl for the dagger it was well made and I was surprised at how balanced it was it would make a fine throwing weapon in a situation which my other arms would not be readily available.
We continued walking until dusk; I let Amohl do the navigating. The elf, Feril, was in deep thought most of the way and so Amohl and I chatted back and forth about various things. Feril would only speak if questioned and never completely joined the conversations. There was something he was not telling us I could see it in his eye a type of dark secret within the depths of his person.
At last it became dark we went about setting up camp I gathered wood and brought it to the camp I used my pyroaxe to start a fire. We decided the watch would be Me, Feril, Amohl. I despised the fact that Amohl was going to wake me up however and dreaded what he would do.

[OOC]Thanks for the dagger I'll puit it to good use[/OOC]

 

As we ate our dinner, I kept trying to draw Feril into conversation. He was polite enough, always answered questions. Even offered a couple of thoughts of his own for us to ponder, but he was obviously distracted. I wonder what's on his mind? Well, if I ask I could . . . no. He'll tell when he's ready. Besides, who am I to judge if he's keeping secrets?

We hammer out a watch schedule for the night after we finish eating. Mercren takes the first watch, followed by Feril. I get the dawn watch. Perfect. I should be able to finish the crafting of Feril's staff before dawn. I grin to myself as I prepare to sleep. With enough time left to plan how to wake up Mercren.

[OOC]
I don't have the time, or supplies, for a very fancy staff. It'll just be something to help you focus your spells, and cause less of a drain on you when casting them.

And your welcome, DW.
[/OOC]

 

The first half of my watch goes by relatively fast, the second comes to an end just as fast and I wake up Feril to start his watch.

 

When Gather asked how the approaching army was divided up, I sighed. "You're not listening," I pointed out rather peevishly, "The numbers don't matter. I'm telling you to get the hell out of Dodge before they show up. Let them retake Stillwater--it doesn't matter. What matters is the new pass that's been created through the mountains with Dwarven technology--stolen, I might add. What matters is that the second part of Tarant's forces left more than 6 months ago, long before war was ever declared. What MATTERS is the fact that some 10 thousand troops are marching on Quintarra, with nothing standing in their way but a bunch of magic users, who are going to be completely defenseless against Tarant's latest weapon!" I was practically shouting by this point. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. When I felt I had control of my temper again, I continued in a soft voice. "What matters, General Gather, is something called the Revernis Device. This invention does the unthinkable... it will destroy the world as we know it. Not in the physical sense, of course. In magical a one. When used on a creature--any creature--it destroys all magic ability in that creature. Permanently. The taking of Stillwater was simply a diversion. Tarant is going to destroy the elves."

 

"This is dreaded news!!! We won't help if we return. Our force is too small. I have a better plan. As a wise saying goes: the best defense is attack. Since most of their army is left we should attack. I'll send out messages to Quintarra and Caladon about this."

I called a meeting and gave out orders. Some left to take messages, some to scout ahead, some helped evacuate Stillwater and the remaining force was going to WAR!

"Alright! We are going to go forwards Tarant taking every village and town in our way thus hoping that they will withdraw their forces. Cumbria will help. Caladon will stay on defense. Also I sent out a message to Tulla about the device so we might hope SOME help from them. We are leaving right now! This mission is almost sucuide and we'll survive only with the help of gods. Katherine, Eve you may choose. You may come with me or you may go on your ways..." I was hoping they would come with me. I needed friends in this difficult situation and two gorgeus females would be best ) )... but I tried not to show that I wanted them to stay. It was their chose.

 

[ooc] NICE!!!!!! move Rosie... I'm starting to really really like this thread once more... oh and ps... I might have this wrong.. but if Mercren Amohl and Feril are also going by-passed that area (not too sure where Merdrens clan is) we might give a little extra push to the story if you get my point. We might get a glimpse of the tarantion army (or it's scouts)
Ps.. DW... where is your Clan exactly...???
oooohhh, I'm off on saturday btw... so I'll be a slow poster... you might just want to make my part short (thw watch and all)[/ooc]

 

[OOC]My clan is on the caladon side of the montain about 1.5 days journy as the bird flys south of the bridge Its your watch btw make sure you edit your post or somthing so that you can wake up Draco/Amohl [/OOC]

 

[ooc] I might manage to post early morning tomorrow, but right now I don't trust myself with posting anymore since it's already kinda late. And when I post when I'm tyred you wouldn't believe the number of spelling errors (even in Dutch) [/ooc]

 

[OOC]
Nice move Rosie! That'll kick start this thread again!! :razz: And perhaps I can start posting with regularity again :roll:

Also, as Mare has disappeared and there are Dwarves involved, how about she found out about this 'Revernis' device and was kidnapped because of this. Maybe she is being kept in a tunnel in the new pass that the Dwaves made. If Feril, Mercren and Amohl get her out of there, then they will be in an ideal place to collapse the pass and cut the Tarantian army in half. They will also have extra info on the Revernis device.
[/OOC]


I guess I was in a state of shock. The rest of the morning just seemed a blur to me. Andrew called some sort of emergency meeting and there were people running everywhere.

If I thought the liberation of Stillwater was tough against a couple of thousand troups then we didn't stand a chance against ten thousand! And this 'Revernis Device' made my blood run cold. Then something occured to me.

"Andrew!" I called, looking around for him. I saw him standing over near one of his officers. "Andrew!" I called again, beckoning him over. "I've thought of something. During my many missions for the Council, I've come across various bits of information about the Dark Elves. [Andrew visably flinches] "I was thinking it's about time we contacted them. They're completely against technology so who better to ally with against Tarant. With them we might stand a chance aginst this device."

Andrew is visably shaken at the thought, but does not dismiss it outright.

"I would be happy to be your envoy in this. I've got plenty of experience in diplomatic missions, and besides, I'd like to stop in at Qintarra in the way if it's possible. I've started to worry about Ben again. I thought he'd be safe there, but I can't be sure about that anymore and he's my responsibility."

I thought about the fact that this would mean leaving Evie with Andrew, but she would be best protected here and would be needed for intelligence. Besides, technically now she is here, my mission to find and protect her is over. I guess I still didn't want to leave her though as now I've got to know her a bit, I've grown quite attached to her.


[OOC]
OK Maniac, I await your answer. Also, you'll have to tell me where both Qintarra and Tsen Ang are if I go.
[/OOC]

 

My watch was brief... as usual I stared to a single place and meditated the whole way...
I noticed that Amohl had been working on something but it didn't matter to me anyway.
I still puzzled about what they thought of me, but I also knew that they helped me out in several occasions so they might just as well like me as I am anyway.
the hours flew by as if they were minutes and it was mercrens turn again... I shook him awake and laid myself to rest again... this time I did fall asleep quite fast.
[ooc] see you all on sunday... taking a day off with my family. The new dwarven pass... is that Hardin's or just another one.[/ooc]

 

I looked at Kat as if she was crazy. "NO!!! You don't know the dark elves! Yes they hate technology but they also hate Quintarra as much. They hate the whole world. No way I'm letting you go there! They would probably kill you and knowing what is happening here they would use it for their own schemes. Please don't ever again think about that. I would sooner ally myself with bandits."

 

[OOC]
Rosie did say that it was a new pass cut into the mountains. I'd imagine she meant it was some sort of tunnel made through parts of a natural valley that were normally inaccessible, allowing them to move their army through it. I that is the case, then collapsing it should be easy - especially if Mercren knows how to make dynamite or plastique!
[/OOC]


"Andrew, please don't get me wrong!" I replied, a bit flustered. "I know more about the dark Elves than you give me credit for. I was just thinking that perhaps we could use them for our own purposes. I was thinking of telling them about the army, but failing to tell them about the Revernis device! Imagine - wiping out both enemies at once! Now what do you say?"

 

"But you said SEEK THEIR AID. I don't know. This is a bit too risky. Dark elves aren't stupid. You would be more useful here. I'll need some friends to help me and all the others have left. Only you and Eve stayed. Jaden also but he's very silent and a lone wolf I guess."
A soldier ran in. "Sir, we're ready to leave!"
"I'll be right there! Alright. I'm leaving into a suicide mission. You may do what you want BUT DON'T go to the dark elves." I left the tent and jumped on my horse Lighting. Our army moved. South so as to avoid the coming tarantians.