The farmlands to the southwest….
A dust covered soldier in chain mail armor wearing a blue and
white tabard wearily climbs a set of stairs up toward a small wall tower. He
passes a handful of soldiers who are vigilantly watching the nearby fields and
the forest beyond. He stops to catch his breath and then continues up to the
top of the tower. As he reaches the top he sees a figure in full plate mail
looking south at a plume of black smoke can been seen on the horizon.
“Sir, I have news. The militias have broken. The survivors
are en route to the keep. We have also released more messengers to Stonekeep,
Witchlight and every settlement along the way, but so far all our messengers
have been returned to us. Well what is left of them….. My lord?” The soldier
asks the fully armored figure.
“That is probably Woodpine burning. Maybe even Cherrytown.
Those settlements are around that area. Those settlements never stood a chance.
They were told to leave and yet there they stayed. Those proud fools, thinking
this is some rabble of marauders that will burn out. What was it you were saying? Oh yes, the militias have broken. I’m assuming you mean from Sharwick and
Furness. Why did they not listen? Why did they think this was some small band
of rabble assaulting their towns? They would not and could not hold against
these forces. They are hunger and hate incarnate. ” The armored figure lets out
a heavy sigh. He turns to face the soldier behind him.
“I’m sorry, you were saying the militia have been routed.
Well that was expected. They thought this was just a rabble of raiding drunken
horde. We have seen this is not that at all. Something or someone is driving
these beasts. They haven’t shown their face yet, but they will. Prepare to
receive the last of the local village militia. Treat their wounded and place
all able bodied warriors on the Eastern walls. With the towns of Cherrytown and
Woodpine burning that only leaves Kara’s Dale, the surrounding farms and then
this keep before they hit the river and the lands North. Send the last
messenger hawk to out outriders with word to bring them home. We can use the
mounted troops to harry this warband before and after they sack Kara’s Dale. Send
runners to Kara’s Dale. Tell them to evacuate the village and make for this
keep.”
“Yes sir.” Replies the soldier. He turns to leave and then
stops at the top of the tower stairs. “They will send help won’t they sir? I
mean Stone Keep and Withclight have warriors and heroes. They will come won’t
they sir?”
“Gods willing they will. They need these lands to be safe
and prosperous. Winter is ending and the food stuffs in the larger cities will
soon need to be refilled. It is our lands that help fill their warehouses,
larders and bellies. They will send help if they know we are in peril.”
“But sir…what if they don’t send help? What if we are left
to our own fate?”
“If not we will and must hold here. These warbands have no
military tactics. They have no tools nor the patience for a siege. The rage
driving them will falter outside of these walls. It is there here their
fury will drive them to madness. They
eventually will turn upon themselves leaving them confused and open for a
counter attack. This is where our cavalry will ride over them and drive them
back. Here is where these raiding beasts will meet their end! Now go and get
that message to the outriders and those runners to Kara’s Dale! Send for
Chamberlain Hobson as well. I will have words with him too."
“YES SIR!” the soldier slams a fist against his chest in
salute to his lord and hurries down the stairs.
The armored lord of the keep turns back to watch the smoke
on horizon.
“This band of rampaging beasts, these Chosen of Yeenogh and their
barbarian allies will soon learn that the men of Cloveshire Keep are no mere
band of armed farmers like they have been facing.”
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