You Want A War? You've Got One! 49.

Falnic. Belinswae. Winter...

"That's not what I've heard" says the Justifier's guard Mason, his fellow guard Mortiss, shakes his head then says "No I'm telling you, they're sending us out of the city" he continues with "To the southeast, where the half breeds have their villages".
A third guard at the table, Polmad, says "I've not seen any of the nomad bastards, I'm beginning to wonder if this talk of their army is just a load of crap".
Mason and Mortiss are about to disagree, when a guard at the next table along, who has overheard their conversation, leans in their direction, and says "They're real alright".
The three guards who are in the army of the cleric Kolvene, who are normally further south along the coast, look at the guard at the next table. And see that he's a lead wyvern rider in the wizard Sammacin's army.
"Flew down to the edge of the plains day before last" says the wyvern rider who is sitting with a trio of his flying squad, he tells the three from down the coast "More of the nomad scum in one place than i have ever seen".
"You attack them?' asks Polmad, who is the youngest of the three guards in the army of Justifier Kolvene.
One of the squad led by the lead rider wyvern rider snorts, while another sourly smiles. The third ignores the trio from down the coast, the town of Oldeen, about forty miles south of Falnic.
"No" dryly says the lead wyvern rider who like all of his squad, was born and raised here in the city of Falnic before joining the army of Justifier Sammacin.
"Why not?" asks Polmad in quite a demanding manner. The two wyvern riders who were paying attention, join the third, and no longer do so.
While their leader, a man in his early thirties, slightly shakes his head, then says  "I think that would be fairly obvious".
"It is?" says a slightly confused looking Polmad, the lead wyvern rider at the next table rolls his eyes, then says "Hell yeah" and before the youngest of the trio of guards from south along the coast can add anything else.
The wyvern rider in the wizard Sammacin's army says "Just one wyvern, and my squad of ten guards" he continues with "How well do you think we'd do against an army of tribesmen, many with bows, slings and spears?".
"Oh" says Polmad after a moments thought "Exactly" says the lead wyvern rider.
"Don't worry about him, he's just young and doesn't know that much" says Mason who can see why the rest of the wyvern riders at the next table ignored Polmad after he started talking.
The youngest of the trio who serve in the cleric Kolvene's army is about to argue with Mason about that. But Mortiss, who is sitting right next to Polmad, gives the young Justifier's guard a slight shove, and murmurs for his ears alone "Quiet Pol, don't go embarrassing us any further".
Well Mortiss thinks Polmad is the only one who can hear that. But someone sitting by themselves in a corner of the tavern. Easily heard what was murmured, he is an elf after all, and can hear what anyone says here this late in the afternoon in the tavern that's located in the northeast of the city.
With his hood upon his head, the elven spy Dalinvardél Tanith looks around at the others in the tavern this afternoon. There's more than a few guardsmen in Justifier Sammacin's army present.
That isn't too surprising as his main garrison isn't too far away, here in the north of the city.
There's guards from other Justifiers armies present too. Mainly in pairs or trios like the three from down the coast, from the town of Oldeen.
There's a smattering of city folk here in the tavern, though they're outnumbered by the guards in various armies of the Justifiers of Belinswae.
The spy Tanith is the only non human present, apart from the goblin who works in the kitchen, clearing away scraps, and cleaning the pots, pans, mugs and goblets.
Dalinvardél Tanith, or Dalin as he's referred to by those who know him. Has spotted the goblin whenever the door to the kitchen opens.
The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae in the Southlands has seen the goblin drop a number of mugs and goblets, before sticking them back in his tub of warm washing water. Dalin's surprised the goblin hasn't broken any so far he's been watching this afternoon.
The soft mat in that part of the kitchen has more than likely been placed there to stop breakages. As goblins tend to have accidents. Usually involving what they're doing. But more often enough, themselves.
The elven spy from south of the equator continues to listen to a number of conversations in the tavern. The topic of conversation isn't much of a surprise. As it's the main topic of conversation throughout the city of Falnic.
The gathering of an army of tribal nomads out on the edge of the dry, arid plains that they call home.
You hardly hear about the invasion of the Stone Hills of late, as everyone is talking about the impending attack from the east. From the enemy of the townsmen of Belinswae. The nomad tribesmen of the plains.
Listening to a pair of guards at the table in the opposite corner from where he sits. Dalinvardél Tanith hears about the movement of troops from elsewhere in central Belinswae.
Of a Justifier Lovis who is from an area further north of Falnic, whose guards have started arriving in the coastal city today. With others expected to arrive over the next few days.
More of Justifier Kolvene's guards are coming in too. Though the cleric from Oldeen about forty miles down the coast from Falnic. Already has more than half of his army in the largest city in Belinswae.
Justifier Davarn has a lot of his guards in the city too. The wizard who rules the lands directly east of Falnic. Has pulled a lot of his guards back to the city. For everyone expects the enemy nomads to strike straight at Falnic, and the towns closest to it.
As they'll more than likely leave the half breed villages further to the southeast alone. For the tribal nomads don't have anything against those people who live between the edge of the plains and the eastern settlements of townsmen in Belinswae.
A few other Justifiers of central Belinswae who haven't taken part in the invasion of the Stone Hills are bringing guards from their armies to Falnic too.
But for now, it's the three of, cleric Kolvene, Lovis the witch and Davarn the wizard, who have come in force to the aid of Falnic. For only the wizard Sammacin is the only Justifier of Falnic still in the city as he also hasn't taken part in the war against the dwarven clans of the Stone Hills.
Those Justifiers of Falnic who have gone north to invade the clanholds in the hills and mountains north of Belinswae. Have only left a token force from each of their armies back here in Falnic.
Figuring he's got as much useful information as possible for today from this tavern. Dalinvardél Tanith gets up and makes his way out of the tavern.
As he leaves, the elven spy sees the door to the kitchen open once more. And he spots the goblin carrying a tray to a table. The tray that has a number of mugs and goblets on it, makes it to the table.
Though barely, as it basically lands on it, when the goblin trips over, and falls down, dropping the tray of mugs and goblets on the table before he falls flat on his face.
The spy Tanith leaves the tavern to the sounds of one of the serving women, then the tavern keeper yelling at the goblin to get up.
The elf from the Southlands slightly shakes his hooded head as he exits the tavern. Then once on the street, he goes right, walking through the late afternoon sun, on what's been a cool winter's day here in the city of Falnic.
Dalin looks up, and sees a wyvern flying over the northern part of the city. It's come from the north, it's no surprise to the elven spy that it's come from one of the armies away to the north in the Stone Hills.
"Probably getting back to that Sammacin at what they're going to do" Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy murmurs to himself in his native tongue, the elf from south of the equator briefly stops infront of a shop, that sells curiosities and wonders.
The spy Tanith slightly nods to himself, then continues on his way after looking in through the open door of the shop. The elf who once served in one of the noble houses in his homeland of Alínlae.
Quickly turns right into a lane, he moves a little bit quicker as he goes through the lane, and turns right again. The elven spy hurries into a deep doorway, keeping himself in the shadows within the depths of the doorway.
The spy Tanith waits, as he does he keeps a hand on the hilt of one of his daggers beneath his cloak. The Southlander doesn't have to wait long as he continues to listen to who it is that left the tavern not that long after him, and has been following him since.
There's two of them, and as they turn the corner and approach the deep doorway that he's hidden himself in. Dalin knows that the two are guards in a Justifier's army.
"Where did he go?" quietly asks one of the guards "Don't know, but I'm sure he came this way" replies the second Justifier's guard.
The spy Tanith slightly nods as he recognises the voices of the two guards. They were the two who were sitting at the table in the corner opposite from the corner he was in.
Then as they hurry by the deep doorway Dalinvardél Tanith is hiding in. The elven spy steps forward, throwing a combination of punches.
A fist takes one of the Justifier's guards in the side of the face, sending him reeling to one side.
The second guard, who is slightly behind the first, ends up with a punch to the ribs, and another in the neck.
He hits the ground hard, while the first guard staggers and tries to steady himself. He hits the ground too when the spy Tanith kicks his legs out from under him.
The guards are in the service of Justifier Kaellin, part of the mage's token force left behind here in Falnic when he went north with his army to invade the Stone Hills.
Grabbing the front of the cloak of the first guard, who is still conscious. Dalinvardél Tanith hauls him up slightly off the ground, and quietly demands in the common language "Why are you following me?".
The elf from south of the equator pushes the guard back down when he doesn't immediately answer, and plants a boot on his chest after stomping on his gut.
"Orders" groans the guard, who though winded continues with "Have to follow any visitors to Falnic". "And why is that?" quietly asks Dalin after glancing back behind them to make sure the lane is still clear "To see what they're up to, and who they visit and talk to" explains the guard who feels like throwing up after getting stomped in the guts.
The Southlander who instantly figures out why, quietly asks the guard in Justifier Kaellin's army "For what reason?". "See if they're spying" gasps the guard.
Well we can't have that now can we, the spy Tanith thinks to himself, who punches the guard in the face, not too hard, just stunning him more than anything else.
The elf from the principality of Alínlae quickly takes the dagger from the belt of the stunned guard, and uses it to cut the throat of the unconscious guard lying close by.
"Now look what you've done" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith who places the bloody dagger into the right hand of the guard, who though stunned, sees what just happened.
It's the last thing he sees before Dalin thumps in the face with a punch, this one harder than the previous one, it knocks the Justifier's guard out.
The spy Tanith walks quickly away, as he does, he knocks on the doors he goes by in the lane, before he exits it, and turns left. Behind him in the lane, one of the doors does open, and a man sticks his head out, seeing no one there.
Until he looks back down the lane before he goes to close the door, and sees the two Justifiers guards lying in the lane. He goes to check on them, and we he sees what's happened, he starts yelling for help.
Dalinvardél Tanith who is good eighty yards away, and heading down a street towards the docks here in the north of Falnic, hears the yelling over the everyday noises of the city.
"Well someone's found them" the elven spy murmurs to himself as he goes to meet one of his contacts within the smugglers community here in coastal city of Falnic. As always, he's ever vigilant of anyone that could be following him . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 48.

Belinswae. Winter...

They enter the town fairly easily. By telling the large squad of Justifier's squad, some nearly fifty of them on the road to the north of the town. That they're traveling mercenaries looking for a hire.
That they were heading north to the Stone Hills, until turning around and heading back south when they heard that there's a fairly substantial sized force of marauding dwarven warriors somewhere in the area, heading this way.
The two who met in the Southlands, disguised by illusion spells cast by Mira Reinholt the mage, make their way through town, observing what's happening.
The town is definitely on a war footing, with guards going to and fro. With others stacking goods and equipment in wagons and carts, which are not heading north to the war in the Stone Hills, but south to the city of Falnic.
In a town, that doesn't have any walls or gates, the mage Reinholt is glad he's disguised himself and Shur Kee the monk.
For the simple reason that he sees more than a few townsmen from settlements further north. Towns and villages that they, along with the dwarven war party, have burnt to the ground over the last week or so as they've made their way south into the central region of Belinswae.
The once powerful mage knows that he and the acolyte in the order of Bru Li would definitely be recognised if they had entered town as they normally appear.
Going by makeshift shelters that some of the displaced townsmen from further north are now living in. The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster gestures to a nearby inn that seems to be a hive of activity, with  Justifier's guards entering and leaving it frequently.
"Must be their headquarters" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage to the short, statured monk walking beside him.
The physical adept from the far eastern coastal kingdom of Wah Lee, who is totally unrecognizable as he now appears as a mean looking bald headed individual, who has a nasty looking scar running down one side of his face.
Nods his head in agreement with the Vexilian mage in exile. Then Shur Kee, remembering what the swordmaster Reinholt told him before they set out for town from the woods just to the north of it.
Grins at some passing townsmen, who quickly hurry away. For the disguised short statured monk looks thoroughly deranged when he grins.
The spellcaster from south of the equator who quietly tells the acolyte in the order of Bru Li "I doubt there's another spellcaster about".
Reads the mind of one of the Justifier's guards who has just exited the inn, the once powerful mage who is constantly shielded now that he has an amulet that he acquired in the summertime, murmurs to Shur Kee "They belong to the army of one Justifier Lovis".
The practitioner of magic who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil in the Southlands, continues murmuring to the totally disreputable looking fellow beside him "They're heading south to Falnic, seems there's an army approaching the city from the Nomads Plains".
"Friends Dorc and Riley?" quietly says Shur Kee the monk, whose voice to his own ears, even sounds vicious to him "I'd guess so" replies the mage Reinholt in a murmur.
As they know that the two from south of the equator, who haven't been in the Stone Hills this winter, for obvious reasons. Are to raise an army to attack the largest city in the region of Belinswae.
To draw the armies of the Justifiers out of the Stone Hills, and back into Belinswae. In particular to the city of Falnic to defend it.
Seems that some of the neutral Justifiers who have kept out of the invasion of the Stone Hills. Such as Lovis the witch, are coming to the defence of Falnic too.
"You two, what do you want?" demands one of the guards on duty at the front doors of the inn when the two traveling mercenaries stop to one side of it "Looking for a hire" says Mira Reinholt.
Next to him, Shur Kee grins an evil looking grin, that the guard who spoke, is momentarily taken aback, and is silent for a bit, before clearing his throat, and says to one of his fellow guards "Take 'em round back, as see what the captain's adjutant says".
The other guard nods, then gestures for the traveling mercenaries to follow him, and says "Come on, this way" as he heads around to one side of the inn. The once powerful mage and the physical adept follow after him.
Rounding the inn, they enter a busy yard, keeping clear of the wagons and carts that are being loaded. The guard they're following leads them to an officer who is standing next to the stables.
He's just sent a couple of the guards off with some of the local townsmen, to see what's being brought in from the fishing village to the west.
As a gust of wind blows through the yard behind the inn, the guard that Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee the monk are following, says to the adjutant "Sir these two mercenaries are looking for a hire".
The officer nods, then looks at the two who are not as they seem. The officer looks the short statured monk eye to eye, but he has to look up at the once powerful mage.
The Vexilian mage in exile who is around six foot tall, stands taller than most locals. For the townsmen of Belinswae are a fairly short people. As are their eternal enemy, the tribesmen of the Nomad's Plains.
"Know how to use that blade?" asks the officer in the army of the witch Lovis "A bit" is the reply of the swordmaster from south of the equator.
"And you?" says the adjutant who nods at the physical adept "You know how to use that staff you've got there?".
For an answer, the acolyte in the order of Bru Li just grins. Which gives the officer a reason to pause, before muttering "Hell, is he not right in the head?".
The officer slightly shakes his head, and deciding that the taller of the two mercenaries is the one to talk to, and not the shorter, evil looking one, he asks the Southlander "Where have you two come from?".
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil tells the adjutant the same story he told the large squad out on the road just north of the town. The officer nods then asks "You see those dwarves?".
"No" lies the mage Reinholt who continues with "Though from others on the road we encountered, they can't be all that far away". Which is infact true, as the dwarven war party is only a couple thousand yards away. In the woods to the north of town.
"Figure they're less than a day away" says the highly skilled swordmaster, who then adds "Some of the people we saw fleeing south, said they were moving pretty quickly on the march" the exiled Vexilian mage follows that with "Only stopping to burn down anyplace in their path".
"Yeah that's what we've heard too" quietly says the officer, who then adds "Damn, thought they would be more than a day away still".
Then turning to the guard who lead the disguised Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee behind the inn, the adjutant says "Inform the captain that the dwarves are closer than we thought" he then adds "Tell them they could very well be here by day's end".
"Yes sir" says the guard, who then hurries to the backdoor of the inn, which he enters. As he does, the officer says to the two disguised by magic "I'd hire you, and the captain probably would too" the adjutant continues with "But Justifier Lovis isn't too keen on your kind" he shakes his head, then adds "Hell she won't even hire knights".
The officer then tells the supposed mercenaries "Since you couldn't make it up to the Stone Hills to join one of the armies there, I'd suggest you should head south to Falnic" he continues with "Justifier Sammacin who is leading the defense of the city will be hiring mercenaries, as will other Justifiers who are gathering there".
"So the rumour we heard entering town are true then?" asks the mage Reinholt, who continues with "That an army of those nomad scum are heading towards eastern Belinswae".
"Yeah it's true" says the adjutant, who shakes his head, then adds "Hard to bloody believe ain't it?". "Truly" says the disguised spellcaster from south of the equator.
While next to him, the silent acolyte in the order of Bru Li just grins. Which cause the officer to stare at him for a moment. And wonder if he's demented in some way. Someone who looks that evil, the adjutant believes, he definitely must be demented.
"Well, you two better get on your way then" says the officer in the army of Justifier Lovis "We will" says the highly skilled swordmaster from the Southlands "Good luck with getting out of here in time before those dwarves turn up " adds the once powerful mage "Thanks" says the adjutant.
While the silent monk Shur Kee just grins, which causes the officer to shake his head, and mutter "Some people" as the two mercenaries walk away.
The exiled Vexilian mage and the monk from the otherside of the continent continue on their way through town, heading south. Once they're on the road that goes south, they see wagons and carts heading south too.
Both townsmen and Justifier guards are at the reins of the wagons. They're clearing out, heading south to Falnic. The locals getting away from the marauding dwarves from the Stone Hills who have come south into Belinswae.
While the Justifier's guards in the army of the witch Lovis are heading to Falnic to help defend the largest city in the region. That's under threat of an attack from an army of tribal nomads, who are the enemy of all townsmen of Belinswae.
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, along with the monk who at times is the living incarnation of the Jade Warrior Bru Li.
Get off the road as a wagon goes by, they go down into a dip next to the road, there the mage Reinholt casts an invisibility spell on the two of them, and drops the illusion spells that changed their appearance.
They turn back around, and head back north, circling the town as they head back to where the dwarven war party from clan Galve are waiting in the woods to the north of town.
"What will we do friend Mira?" quietly asks the invisible Shur Kee as the two of them walk north away from the town "Let this lot get out of here" is the quiet reply of Mira Reinholt, who continues with "Not worth the risk, and effort of having an unnecessary fight" the Vexilian mage in exile then adds "Besides this lot aren't involved in the invasion against the dwarven clanholds".
"Sound thinking" murmurs the short statured monk who is glad to hear his own voice again, for sounding like a rather evil, and unhinged fellow, wasn't exactly the best thing to experience.
"I must confess friend Mira, i am glad to be me again" quietly says Shur Kee as the two of them walk to the side of the road as they head to the woods where the war party is hiding "That person you made me appear as seemed to be very offensive to anyone who looked at him" adds the physical adept.
The invisible spellcaster next to the monk grins, then the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li tells the once powerful mage "Now i know how friend Dorc feels scaring people all the time just by the way he looks".
"Except Dorc likes scaring the shit out of anyone who looks at him" dryly says the swordmaster Reinholt "Ah yes, that is true" murmurs the short statured monk as the wind blows in from the coast about five miles away. Though no where like how windy it is further north in the Stone Hills.
They enter the woods, and Mira Reinholt drops the invisibility spell he has cast upon himself and Shur Kee, the two of them head to where the dwarves are, where the mage Reinholt will inform them of what they've found out, and what his plans will be . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 47.

Belinswae. Winter...

Mira Reinholt the mage looks over at Ompal who says "Good land around here" he gestures towards the coast which is out of sight and a few miles away, and adds "Even towards the sea it be good for growing things".
"Aye" says Garkil who continues with "Just need some hills and a few mountains to make it better like" he then adds "Bit too flat for my liking".
Ompal rolls his eyes, while the mage from the city-state of Vexil in the Southlands grins.
Behind them, Shur Kee the monk who has been listening to the conversation of the trio infront of him, grins too. As does Tarong and old Kalend who are walking beside the short statured monk who is from the far east coast of the continent.
They're in the relatively rich farmlands of central Belinswae. Some forty miles north of the city of Falnic, just in from the coast.
Though the ground isn't verdant green like a lot of the farmland found in various kingdoms and the like in the Southlands.
It's practically lush in comparison to the bleak, rocky and slate covered hills and mountains found throughout the Stone Hills.
And more productive than the dry lands throughout the east and southeast of Belinswae. That part of the region closest to the arid Nomads Plains.
After crossing a bridge that goes over a river that leads to the sea, and after he looks back at the following war party, Mira Reinholt the mage says "I was expecting a bit more resistance the further we got down the coast towards Falnic".
"Aye mage" says old Kalend as he follows the black cloaked spellcaster, as they all know not all of the Justifiers in central Belinswae has taken part in the invasion of the Stone Hills.
And that one of more powerful one's, the wizard Sammacin of Falnic has also not taken a hand in the invasion of the dwarven clanholds found in the hills and mountains north of the region of Belinswae.
"Horse approaching" says Garkil a little while later, a chorus of "Aye's" comes from the following dwarven warriors, few moments later, old Kalend says "One of the lads".
"How can you tell friend Kalend?" asks Shur Kee the monk who like the mage Reinholt, has yet to hear the horse that all the dwarves have noticed.
"Well brother Shur Kee, it sounds different like" says the old dwarven warrior, who was busting heads and breaking bones, before many of the warriors in the war party were even born.
"We dwarves sit lower in the saddle than others" says Kalend who taught the clan chieftain Lomi Galve, how to fight with the hammer and the axe "And the fact we not be the smoothest of riders, cause we dunny not have many horses in the Stone Hills" adds the old warrior.
The rider soon comes into view along the road, and pulls up infront of the war party.
"Mage Mira" says the dwarf upon the horse whose accent when speaking the common tongue is almost as thick as his beard "There be a large troop of guards at the town up ahead we been watching" says the rider.
A group of the dwarves led by the swordmaster Varl have gone ahead to observe the next town the war party from the Galve clanhold are heading towards.
The small army of dwarven warriors, plus two humans. Have made no secret of where they're heading. They've burnt down villages and towns as they've made their way south from the Stone Hills through Belinswae, keeping fairly close to the coast as they do so.
Giving the inhabitants of each settlement a bit of time to quickly gather what they can take, before departing their homes.
Few have put up a fight, as the dwarven warriors are reluctant to kill any of the regular folk they come across.
Their war is against the Justifiers of Belinswae, and the guards of the spellcasters who rule the region.
From the maps he has of this part of Belinswae, the mage Reinholt knows that the town is just a couple of miles away to the south.
The Vexilian mage in exile asks the dwarven warrior on horseback "How many of them?". "Easily more than two hundred and fifty mage Mira" replies the rider, who like most if not all of the dwarves in the war party, refer to Mira Reinholt now as the mage, or mage Mira.
Even since the highly skilled swordmaster defeated swordmaster Varl in one on one combat. They know he's more than just a swordmaster. He's a spellcaster, who just happens to be an accomplished swordmaster.
"About the same as us" quietly says the once powerful mage, who then adds "Well at least we know they don't have a Justifier, or any other spellcaster with them".
"Oh?" says Tarong "They would of attacked us already if they did" explains the Southlander, who then asks the rider "Any wyverns with them?".
"There be a few in town" says the warrior on horseback, who continues with "They could belong to some townsmen" he then adds "But one of the beasties was spotted flying away to the south down the coast".
"Probably to inform those in the city of where we are" quietly says old Kalend, Mira Reinholt nods his head in agreement with the old warrior, then the highly skilled swordmaster from south of the equator says "Time to get a move on" the exiled Vexilian mage then adds "Let's go and have a look at these guards".
A little while later and the war party is amongst some trees. At the edge of the woods, they meet up with the advanced party led by swordmaster Varl. He leads the mage Reinholt and those with him up a slight rise within the woods.
They stop where the trees thin out then end, there they stand looking down the road that comes out of the woods further to their left. A road that leads to a town just over a thousand yards away.
"Seems they're expecting us" says Mira Reinholt as there's about fifty Justifier's guards out on the road, just on this side of the town.
The once powerful mage who has taken out his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece and is looking through it, then adds "I don't recognise who their Justifier is" he continues with "No one we've encountered so far, and they're not in Justifier Sammacin's army".
"Looks to be Justifier Alsene's men" says old Kalend "Aye that's who they are" says swordmaster Varl, who is the second to the Galve clan chief. The dwarven swordmaster who is in command of the war party, though it's the mage Reinholt who makes all the tactical decisions, continues with "We've done some trade with the sorceress over the last decade or so since she has become a Justifier".
The spellcaster from south of the equator nods, as he recognises the name of the sorceress as one of the Justifiers here in central Belinswae who has not taken part in the invasion of the Stone Hills.
"How's she been to negotiate trade with?" asks the mage who is in forced exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil in the Southlands "No worse than some of them" replies old Kalend "Aye, and no better than some of them too" adds swordmaster Varl.
Oh well, guess we won't be able to talk our way out of a fight with a neutral party, Mira Reinholt thinks to himself as he continues to look through his eyepiece that he acquired in the elven principality of Maladimbáh.
"Looks to be staging area" quietly says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands. The dwarves with him murmur in agreement, then the highly skilled swordmaster gestures to the guards out on the road, and says "Well they're definitely waiting for us, or at least know we're approaching".
"Aye looks like it" quietly says old Kalend, while the dwarven swordmaster Varl says "Looks like we've got a bit of a scrap on our hands".
The mage Reinholt who notices a few people on the road heading towards the town, also sees others coming from the coast, on a narrower road, that leads to a fishing village about five miles away.
The exiled Vexilian mage returns the eyepiece to an inner pocket of his cloak, and he glances at Shur Kee after thinking about something.
"Come along Shur Kee" says Mira Reinholt, who continues with "You and i are going to wander into town". "We are?" says Shur Kee the monk "We are" the swordmaster Reinholt says to him, then the once powerful mage tells the dwarves "You lot stay here, and stay out of sight while me and Shur Kee check things out".
"Aye mage" says the dwarven swordmaster Varl "Keep out of trouble" adds old Kalend "We will" says the mage Reinholt who can't help but grin.
Then the spellcaster from the Southlands, who wears an amulet he took from the dead body of the elven spellcaster Kaldeàlil Haldéliv during the summertime in Maladimbáh. Casts a spell upon himself and the short statured monk standing beside him.
"Hells!" exclaims Tarong, while Ompal grimaces, and Garkil mutters "By Thaxel". "By Dovarn you be different!" yelps old Kalend, while swordmaster Varl stares in disbelief at the two humans.
"Probably should of warned you" says the mage Reinholt who has changed his appearance by way of an illusion spell, along with the appearance of Shur Kee the monk.
The highly skilled swordmaster, whose voice has even changed, says to the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li "Better keep that hat of yours here Shur Kee, it's a bit too recognisable" the once powerful mage who is handing his double bladed sword to Ompal, adds "There's bound to be those we've forced from towns and villages further north, in town. They might recognise a few of our things".
The Vexilian mage in exile knows a few illusion spells, but he's not skilled enough at them to completely change clothing and equipment of someone he's changed the appearance of.
So he hands his bow and quiver to Garkil, and folds up the bottom half of his cloak, and tucks the back of it into the back of his breeches. The swordmaster Reinholt keeps the hood of his cloak off his head too.
Shur Kee after giving his conical shaped hat to Tarong, takes off his white cloak, and gives it to Tarong too.
Who gives his long dwarven made cloak to the physical adept from the far eastern kingdom of Wah Lee. Though the cloak just comes down to above Shur Kee's knees, it doesn't look ridiculous on the short statured monk.
"We'll be back later" says Mira Reinholt who has kept his black bladed sword at his side, along with a number of hidden daggers. While the acolyte in the order of the Jade Warrior keeps his staff with him. They leave their packs with the dwarven warriors, as they head through the trees to the left to get to the road.
After being slightly surprised at hearing himself speak in a different voice, Shur Kee the monk says "I was kind of hoping that you could of made me a bit taller friend Mira".
"I'm not that good at illusions" dryly says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, the once powerful mage who has fairer skin colour, and lighter hair colour than he really has, not to mention he's a little heavier looking, and his face is totally different than his actual one, tells Shur Kee "Just be glad you're not totally disfigured, and still human" he then adds "I don't exactly cast illusion spells that alter one's appearance that often".
The short statured monk is still as lean as he really is, but he's lost the golden tan to his skin colouring. And he's a good ten years older than he actually is. And he's completely bald, and has a mean looking visage, that isn't helped by a nose that's been broken in the past, and has never been straightened. Along with a scar that runs down one side of his face.
"You look like a right angry bastard" quietly says the mage Reinholt with a grin upon his altered face "I do?" asks the acolyte in the order of Bru Li "Definitely" says the Southlander who suspects he did a more thorough job disguising Shur Kee than he did himself.
Bloody easier casting it on someone you can see, than you can on yourself, the Vexilian mage in exile thinks to himself, as he and Shur Kee make their way out of the trees, and along the road to the town.
The highly skilled swordmaster from south of the equator quietly says to the short statured monk "Keep an eye out for anything of interest" the mage Reinholt then adds "We're just traveling mercenaries looking for a hire".
"Friend Mira, that is basically what we are anyway" says Shur Kee "You know what i mean" mutters the once powerful mage, which causes the physical adept to grin "And keep doing that" says Mira Reinholt, who continues with "That grin looks positively evil on that new face of yours" he then adds "It's bound to give a few people the shits when they look at you" . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 46.

Sir Percavelle Lé Dic yawns loudly, while next to him on the bench, Helbe the elven thief continues to eat his late night meal, while trying to stay awake.
In one corner of the room, Tamric Drubine is fast asleep on a camp bed. While closer to the fireplace, Lisell Maera has just fallen asleep on a rug on the floor.
It's the first time the four of them have been in the same place in some time this winter.
They're in a mountain village in the east of the Omban clanhold. A village that has a large dwarven army camped in and around it at the moment.
The four of them from the Southlands have taken over one of the houses that the villagers abandoned when they moved away at the start of Winter to the safety of the Omban mountainhold.
The residents of the village will soon return now that the enemy have pushed out of the Omban clanhold. While those further east in the Stone Hills will hardly take their time to come this way as they've got other things on their mind.
The heavily armoured knight, who has taken off his helm, greaves, and gauntlets, goes to lift his mug, and finds it empty.
The earl of Lé Dic who is tired, looks at the pewter jug in the middle of the table, and wonders if it's still got any more ale in it.
It takes him a few moments to find out, as he sits there yawning before he reaches out for the jug, and finds that it contains a bit of ale.
He gets half a mug from it, and after yawning again, the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, takes a sip from it.
"My fine pointy eared fellow, i must admit I'm absolutely pooped" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in a tired tone of voice, Helbe the elven thief as he methodically chews a mouthful of stewed vegetables, nods his head in agreement.
As the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic in the Southlands yawns again before taking another sip from his mug. The elven princeling uses a chunk of bread to soak up the sauce in the bottom of his bowl.
After finishing the small loaf of bread, and the slices of cheese on the trencher at his elbow. The elven magic user turns his head slightly to one side.
Even in his tired state, sir Percavelle notices this, and asks the young elven noble "What is it my light fingered taker of precious things?" as he figures the elven masterthief has heard something over the strong wind that's blowing outside.
"Wyvern coming in" says Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "It's just about to land".
"Him?" asks the knight, who still thinks of himself as a Paladin, even though he was stripped of the rank from those in his order, when he took off a number of years ago on an unsanctioned quest, taking one of their holy relics with him.
"Not sure" says the young elven noble from the principality of Laerel in the Southlands, a few moments later the grandson of Prince Raendril, after seeing Narladene the ground pixie appear on his right shoulder, and nod, says to the nobleborn knight "Him".
The former knight of the first rank in the order of Saint Mar-che grunts. Then the two tired Southlanders stare at the door that opens up to outside, and wait.
It's not long before the door opens, and lord Farque steps inside. The heavily armoured deathlord closes the door behind him, quickly before too much of the heat from the fireplace escapes outside.
Neither Tam or Lis wake up when the undead warlord enters and makes his way over to the table, where he sits down on the sole chair in the room, that's at one end of the table.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque who has to duck down as he walks through the room. Slightly pauses as the chair he sits on, creaks under his weight. He shrugs his heavily armoured shoulders then looks at the jug in the center of the table.
"Tis said to say my lord, it's empty" says sir Percavelle as he notices the large, heavily armoured figure at the end of the table looking at the pewter jug.
"Figures" dryly says lord Farque, who gets up, and taking the jug with him, and ducking down so he doesn't hit his head on the ceiling, he makes his way to the far end of the room, to the work bench there, next to which is a small barrel.
The undead warlord takes a mug from the bench, and dips it in the barrel of ale. He also dips the jug in the barrel, filling it up. With full mug and jug, the deathlord of Farque returns to the table.
Through a yawn, sir Percavelle tops up his mug from the jug that the lord and ruler of the lands Farque has just filled up.
The nobleman from south of the equator is about to take a drink, when prince Helbenthril Raendril nudges him in the side.
The earl of Lé Dic is about to admonish the young elven noble, when out of the corner of his eye, he sees lord Farque lifting up the visor of his full helm.
The heavily armoured knight looks quickly towards a corner of the room, while next to him, Helbe the elven thief is staring at the fire.
On the elven spellcasters right shoulder, Narladene the ground pixie suddenly finds something interesting about the weave of the elven masterthief's cloak she's sitting on.
She stares at that, as she and Helbe the elven thief and sir Percavelle Lé Dic don't look in the direction of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
After hearing the undead warlord close the visor of his helm after having a drink, the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel finally looks over at the heavily armoured deathlord, and asks him "Find anything?".
Lord Farque nods his full helmed head then says "A bit" the lord of the death realm who has been gone since before first light this morning, continues with "Seems the army of that Justifier Kaellin is moving south" he then adds "Looks like they're going to leave the Yalkin clanhold".
Realising that there's probably only one thing that could of caused this, because the mage Kaellin's army has been so entrenched in the Yalkin clanhold for weeks having defeated the Yalkin warriors in two decisive battles this winter.
Helbe the elven thief says "You think it's worked?" then remembering who he's sitting next to, the princeling from Laerel switches to the elven language and adds "You think Dorc and Riley have got their army?".
Next to the elven magic user, the nobleborn knight is sitting there dozing as he holds his mug of ale. He wouldn't of noticed if the elven masterthief said Dorc da Orc's name in the common language anyway.
"It would seem so" says the undead warlord in the elven language, he continues with "Cause there's no way that fucking mage would give up that position he had in the Yalkin clanhold otherwise".
The young elven noble nods his head, then after glancing at the dozing earl of Lé Dic beside him, casts a spell on the heavily armoured knight to go and lie down at get some sleep.
The elf from south of the equator says to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque "Wonder how many more of their armies head back to Belinswae?".
"We'll find out soon enough" says lord Farque who continues with "We'll check on them over the next few days".
Sir Percavelle gets up, and makes his way over to his things. The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who is sleepwalking, bumps his head on the low ceiling quite a few times, doesn't wake, and instead takes off the rest of his armour. Stacking it in a pile on the floor, then taking his bed roll and a blanket. He moves closer to the fireplace that Lisell Maera is sleeping infront of. Lies down on his bed roll, covers himself with his blanket, and falls to sleep properly fairly quickly.
All the while the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic has been doing this, lord Farque and Helbe the elven thief have continued their conversation.
Glancing over and seeing that sir Percavelle has finally put himself to bed, the elven master assassin after quietly yawning, asks the heavily armoured deathlord "Should we attack them as they fallback?".
"Not now, maybe later" says the undead warlord, who is also known as Draugadrottin by the people of his lands, he continues with "Best to let them travel south through the mountains unhindered for a bit" he then adds "We'll start attacking them further south in the foothills, once they're nearly back in Belinswae".
"Any reason why?" asks the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel "To get them to hurry the fuck up" replies the lord of the death realm, who then adds "Though more importantly for the benefit of the dwarves, to lift their spirits as they see that they've driven the enemy out of their homeland".
The elven masterthief nods in understanding, then after yawning again, he looks at the large, heavily armoured figure sitting at one end of the table, who tells him "In the meantime, that mage is sending some of his guards south via rift" the undead warlord adds "I sensed it as i was flying around today".
"You want me to find him and get rid of him?" asks the elven master assassin, who was always intending to kill the mage Kaellin the further east they made their way through the Stone Hills aiding the various dwarven clans who have been under attack this winter.
"Would be best, but not for little while" says Draugadrottin, who then dryly adds "We actually want his army out of the mountains fairly quickly, killing him too soon could turn their fallback into a fucking shambles".
"There is that" says a yawning Helbenthril Raendril, who takes the mug sir Percavelle was drinking from, downs the ale that's left in it, then says to the undead being who is known as Des'tier to an older generation of elven kind in the Southlands "I need some sleep".
The deathlord of Farque nods his full helmed head, and the young elven noble gets up, slightly ducking his head so he doesn't hit the ceiling in the dwarven house, he makes his way over to his gear.
Where he gets his bed roll and blanket, the elven magic user is too tired to cast again, picks up couple of pieces of wood and tosses them into the fireplace after he spreads out his bed roll.
The elven princeling is soon asleep as he lies near where Lisell Maera and sir Percavelle are sleeping.
At the table, lord Farque looks at the three of them, then at Tamric Drubine who took possession of the camp bed first, and is sleeping on it in a corner of the room.
The heavily armoured deathlord then beckons over Narladene the ground pixie who is sitting on Helbenthril Raendril's bed roll and staring at the fire. The lord and ruler of the lands Farque quietly tells the tiny winged creature something in the ground pixie language.
The naturally magical creature nods her head in understanding, then she sinks down through the table, then into the floor, and then the ground beneath the house near the center of the dwarven village perched on the side of a low mountain.
The ground pixie is soon quickly heading east and south as she does something for the undead warlord.
Meanwhile back in the house, lord Farque lifts the visor of his full helm, and slowly drinks the remaining ale in the pewter jug on the table. The lord of the death realm sits at the table throughout the night. Then is gone by the morning when the others wake up.
As he helps Lisell Maera prepare breakfast, Tamric Drubine looks around and asks "Anything happen last night?". Helbe the elven thief informs him, as well as Lis and sir Percavelle what lord Farque found out yesterday.
"So their other armies have started falling back through the mountains to Belinswae" quietly says the nobleborn youngster from the kingdom of Sarcrin in the Southlands, Tam then asks "Are we going to follow?" he then adds "Keep up the fight?".
Ignoring sir Percavelle Lé Dic who snorts then says "Of course" as he polishes his armour with a soft cloth. Prince Helbenthril Raendril tells the former heir to castle Drubine "Eventually".
The young elven noble looks at Tam, then the orphan teenager from the city-state of Brattonbury, and finally the earl of Lé Dic, and he says to the three of them "After all, they wanted a war, so they're going to keep getting one" . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 45.

The Stone Hills. Winter...

"Have them search the trails to the east, i want any of them found wiped out" says Justifier Kaellin "Yes Justifier" says one of his officers, who then hurries from the tent to carry out the mage's order.
The Justifier whose idea it was to invade the Stone Hills this winter, turns to one of his commanders, and says "Well?".
"More of Justifier Maxime's stragglers are coming in" says commander Shaef, who continues with "Another dozen or so this morning, that makes nearly a hundred of them since last week".
The mage Kaellin sourly smiles at the reminder of his fellow Justifier's failure in the large clanhold to the west of where he and his army are located.
Commander Shaef then adds "I doubt many more will come this way, from all reports most of the survivors from the wizard's army are being pushed south back to Belinswae" the Justifier nods to that, then he mutters "Damn useless fools, do i have to do bloody everything myself?".
The commander steps closer to the mage, and quietly tells him "Justifier, with the wizard dead, along with Justifier Marsille, as well as the Justifiers Kalsane and Paelau, who were out west on the coast. That's four of the eleven Justifiers to come north into these gods forsaken mountains who are now dead".
The senior officer glances around at the others in the command tent, before he quietly adds "That's almost half of Belinswae's armies here in the dwarven mountains leaderless or defeated".
The Justifier is silent for a few moments, then he holds up a hand when the commander is about to add something else, the senior officer remains silent as the mage looks down at the table that's covered in maps and missives.
Kaellin the mage looks up, then says to the commander "You've made your point clear Shaef, but we continue on as planned" the Justifier then adds "Others have failed, but we are victorious so far, having all but taken this clanhold" the mage looks around at his officers, then says "We continue on, and let nothing stop us".
After most of the officers depart, with one remaining along with a couple of scribes to go over the latest missives to come in recently.
The mage Kaellin pours himself a goblet of wine, then drinks it. He's about to have another, when the tent flap opens, and the senior guard Barsol looks into the command tent, and says "Justifier we've got a bit of a problem approaching up this way".
"Now what?" mutters the mage under his breath, who then says "What is it Barsol?" the senior guard dryly says "It's one of the knights" the Justifier rolls his eyes, then he says "Let me guess sir Gorand, or is sir Daelm?".
"Sir Gorand" is the flat toned reply of Barsol, the mage Kaellin shakes his head, then makes his way out of the command tent, to where Barsol stands with his fellow senior guard Yarmeed, both of whom traveled with him to the elven principality of Maladimbáh in the summertime.
In his failed attempt to sign a treaty to have some of his army be stationed in southern Maladimbáh so they could easily raid into the Nomad Plain's to attack their enemy, the nomad barbarians.
"He's coming up the hill Justifier" says Barsol, Yarmeed points between the tents around the destroyed dwarven village where they've set up camp, and he says "There Justifier".
"I see him" says the mage Kaellin, who spots the knight in his glistening armour, who is followed by his squire, with a page walking infront of the two of them.
The Justifier can guess what the knight in the order of the Victorious Sword wants. He and the other knights, and mercenaries in the army of the mage Kaellin want the same thing.
"Bet he's coming up to babble on about wanting access into the mines again" quietly says Barsol, the Justifier sourly smiles, as even his guards know what the ordered knight, and the other mercenaries want.
Behind the camp, is a trail that leads up the side of a mountain from the destroyed hilltop dwarven village. The trail is only a few hundred yards in length, it leads up to a mine entrance. A mine within which is a treasure trove of riches.
The Justifier has a number of his support guards in there bringing out the gold, silver and jewels that the Yalkin clan of dwarves have mined from beneath the mountain over the centuries.
In the mountain to the right, the mage Kaellin has his support guards taking iron ore, and other metals, predominantly tin from a mine there.
The Justifier and his army have a stranglehold upon the Yalkin clanhold, having defeated their army in two decisive battles in the last month or so.
Those dwarves of the clan still alive, are holed up in their mountainhold which is just a few miles to the north. The mage Kaellin knows there's very few of them left, and most there are not warriors, who he and his army have been fighting against since they invaded the Stone Hills in the early winter.
The Justifier isn't worried about them, for he has under his control what he has come into this part of the Stone Hills for, the Yalkin mines. Which by all accounts, are some of the more prosperous mines throughout the Stone Hills, even though the clan that holds them, aren't particularly large.
It's why the mage Kaellin picked this part of the Stone Hills to invade in the first place, to get the most gain, for as little amount of loss from his side as possible.
"He's a demanding sot, but he can fight for sure" quietly says Barsol as they watch the heavily armoured knight make his way up the hillside. The Justifier nods in agreement with that assessment, for though the knight in the order of the Victorious Sword is a huge pain in the ass at times. His battlefield prowess is second to none.
"He's probably still pissed off that he's been put down at the bottom of the hill with the other mercs" quietly says Yarmeed who along with his fellow senior guard Barsol chuckle, while the Justifier genuinely smiles.
For the knight sir Gorand, and the other knights tents have been set up at the bottom of the hill with the other mercenaries for a couple of reasons. First to keep them out of the way of the Justifier who finds them more than annoying, if not all of the time, then at least most of the time.
And the second, and most important reason. Is that it's the furtherest away from the mines. Which the mage Kaellin has barred them from entering.
The Justifier is willing to give them some of the spoils, as he agreed to when he hired them. But he knows sir Gorand and the other knights, who number just under twenty or so, would take wagon loads of precious metals and jewels from the mines if they had things their way.
The powerful mage is just about to say something to the two senior guards when the lookout on the platform to the right of the command tent calls out "Wyvern to the south!".
The Justifier looks that way, as the lookout who is looking through a brass, cylindrical eyepiece adds "Not one of ours!".
Casting a spell to see at a distance, the mage Kaellin easily spots the approaching wyvern. He checks to see that there's no dwarves on it. As some of the accounts from the survivors of Justifier Maxime's army who have made their way to the Yalkin clanhold over the last week. Have said that the enemy to the west are now using captured wyverns.
"One of ours" says Justifier Kaellin, who then adds "Well i should say it's from Belinswae" the mage slightly frowns as he gets a good look at the tunics and tabards of the wyvern riders, then he quietly says "Sammacin's".
"Sir?" quietly says Barsol after sharing a look with Yarmeed, as they like everyone else in the army, or for that matter in all the armies of Belinswae. Know that the wizard Sammacin is the only Justifier from the city of Falnic not to take part in the invasion of the Stone Hills.
The mage Kaellin calls over one of the officers from the lookout platform, and says to him "Keep him occupied" as he gestures to the approaching knight in the order of the Victorious Sword, sir Gorand.
"Have commander Shaef join me" says the Justifier to a nearby runner, the mage walks away, followed by the senior guards Barsol and Yarmeed, they make their way to where the wyverns land and take off.
As they walk over to where the flat part of the hilltop is, into the strong wind that's blowing late this morning.
They get a good view of the large green wyvern from Belinswae that's approaching from the south.
Behind the Justifier, the guard Yarmeed says "That looks like Maesil's wyvern" the mage looks back at the senior guard, who explains to him "He's commander Galbin's second" Yarmeed then adds "Maesil and i grew up together in the dock area in south Falnic".
Justifier Kaellin nods, then wonders why the wizard Sammacin, has sent his cousin Galbin's second, here to the Stone Hills.
They stand near the mage's own wyvern, as the large green wyvern from Falnic lands, the half dozen wyverns in camp at the moment squawk and screech at the new arrival from Belinswae. Who gives it back as good as them, before settling down to allow the squad of guards from Justifier Sammacin's army to get down off it.
Commander Shaef joins the Justifier and the two senior guards when the lead rider of the wyvern in Justifier Sammacin's army makes his way over to them, along with a pair of his guards.
"Justifier Kaellin" says the lead wyvern rider who has just made his way to the Yalkin clanhold in the Stone Hills "Officer Maesil" replies the mage Kaellin, who then asks "What brings you north to the Stone Hills?".
"A message from Justifier Sammacin" says the second to the commander of  Justifier Sammacin's army, he then nods to a small dark wooden box that one of the guards with him his carrying.
The mage Kaellin sees it, and lifts an eyebrow in surprise, then he says "To my command tent" he then tells his senior guards, and his army's commander "The back way" they nod in understanding.
As they head back to the command tent near the center of the destroyed dwarven village, they're silent. With only Yarmeed nodding once in greeting to his old childhood friend Maesil. Though still acquaintances, they're no longer what one would call close friends. As they're in different armies. And the fact that Justifier Sammacin refused to take part in the invasion of the Stone Hills. Has put an added strain upon old friendships throughout the armies of the Justifiers from Falnic.
They enter the back of the command tent, and the Justifier says to the officer and the two scribes in here "Go outside for a moment, I'll call you back when you're needed".
"Yes Justifier" say the three, who quickly depart.
The officer in Justifier Sammacin's army takes the small box from the guard in his squad holding it, then he nods for his two guards to step outside.
After they leave, the mage Kaellin says to the officer in his fellow Justifier's army "If you would place it on the ground Maesil" the officer does so, and steps back.
The Justifier casts a release spell on the small, dark, wooded box. Then with a gesture of his right hand now that he can actually senses what's in the box. He flips open the top of it.
Within it is a small ball of light "Sammacin" says the mage Kaellin, his voice activates the spell within the light in the small box.
A life sized image of the wizard Sammacin projects up from the light source in the small box, it stands a few feet infront of Justifier Kaellin, who has his senior guards and commander, standing behind and to the side of him.
"Kaellin I've important information for you" says the image of the wizard Sammacin, the youngest Justifier in Belinswae continues with "I've sent the same message to those of us still alive in the Stone Hills" he's referring to those Justifiers who have invaded the dwarven clanholds.
"You may of heard, or may not of" says the image of the young wizard, that's slightly transparent, who continues on with "That there's a large force of dwarven warriors who have moved south into Belinswae, destroying villages and towns as they head down along the coast, by last reports, they were nearly halfway to Falnic, they could be further by the time Maesil finds you and gives you this message".
The Justifier blinks in surprise at hearing this, behind him, commander Shaef mutters "Shit" in surprise.
Though it's what the image of the wizard Sammacin says next that really takes them by surprise.
"Be that as it may, that's not the reason I've sent this message" says the image of the young Justifier, which continues with "The reason i have, is because there's a large army of plain's nomads preparing to invade eastern Belinswae".
"What the fuck?" says a startled Yarmeed, while next to him, Barsol jaw drops open in shock.
"By all accounts, it looks like they're going to head this way towards Falnic".
"Those bloody tribes never work together, let alone leave the plains" mutters commander Shaef "If you want a Falnic, or that matter, the region of Belinswae to return to, you'd better get back here as soon as you can" says the image of Justifier Sammacin. It's the last thing it says, as it disappears when the light within the small, dark wooden box on the ground goes out.
After a few moments of silence, Justifier Kaellin looks at the officer in the wizard Sammacin's army and asks him "Is this true?". "Yes Justifier" replies Maesil who then adds "Some of the guards in my squad have flown out to the edge of the plains and seen the nomad filth gathering".
The mage grimaces after casting a spell as the officer in the wizard Sammacin's army spoke.
Commander Shaef asks him "Justifier?" the powerful spellcaster from the city of Falnic in Belinswae says "He's telling the truth". "Fuck" says the senior officer after a moment's silence "Indeed" says Justifier Kaellin who then adds "Fuck" . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 44.

The Stone Hills. Winter...

Tamric Drubine looks back when he hears the shouting behind him. The nobleborn youngster from the kingdom of Sarcrin in the Southlands joins in with the shouting when he sees what's happened.
"Cut it!" yells Tamric Drubine as he adds to the chorus of shouts and yells from the others on the back of the wyvern with him.
Two of the dwarven warriors are furiously sawing away with their knives at one of the straps that hasn't released. Tam who is wincing, stops himself from yelling once more, and instead breathes a sigh of relief as the strap is finally cut through, and the barrel of blast powder falls away to the ground below.
"From now on, we only light them if the straps are completely undone!" shouts Tamric Drubine to Jarka Mard who is sitting directly behind him.
The son of the Mard clan chieftain nods whole heartedly in agreement. As he would hate to of seen what would of happened if the strap hadn't been cut in time.
They're high in the clear morning sky above the Stone Hills. And they're all looking down at the barrel that's falling towards the sky.
Below on a hillside, is part of the remnants of Justifier Maxime's army. They've already dropped two barrels of blast powder down on them. The two large craters in the side of the hill, and the bodies scattered everywhere, are evidence of that.
Now the third barrel is tumbling towards the Justifier's guards who are fleeing for their lives across the the side of the hill.
Then just as Jarka Mard shouts to be heard over the strong winds "I wonder if it'll actually land amongst them?". The barrel of blast powder explodes, in the air, just thirty feet above the heads of some of the fleeing guards from Belinswae.
There's a moment of silence, then Tam says "Fucking hell, would you look at that!" while the youngest son of the Mard clan chief says "Fuck me, by Dovarn, look at that!".
The explosion by the third barrel of blast powder has had a far greater impact on the enemy below than the two previous barrels. Even though it didn't hit the ground before exploding, and there was no impact as such.
Instead the explosion in the air above the side of the hill, has killed, wounded, and knocked down far more Justifier's guards than the two earlier explosions.
Over a wider area too, as the guards were fleeing in every direction except north, where they've come from.
Tam figures at least forty of them were either killed or badly injured in that latest explosion. And almost that many were knocked down off their feet. With most of those guards struggling to get up, and continue on their way, away from the north, and the Omban clanhold.
"Maybe we should hold onto them for a few moments after lighting them, before letting them go!" says Jarka Mard, behind him, the mute warrior Omick from clan Mard, vigorously nods his head to this.
"By Thaxel's beard that was hell of a lot more devastating that it normally is!" adds the son of the chieftain of clan Mard "Maybe we should!" says Tamric Drubine who has to shout to be heard over the wind that they're flying through.
The son of the former knight of castle Drubine in the Southland kingdom of Sarcrin has the wyvern drop down in altitude to get a better look at the fleeing enemy below. Just the latest of whom, they've harassed and attacked in the week since the death of Justifier Maxime at the hands of Helbe the elven thief, and the defeat of the wizard's army.
The remnants of the Justifier's army, the bulk of which was in camp with him when he was killed. Is divided and scattered, who for the past week, have mostly been fleeing south through the Stone Hills back to their homeland of Belinswae.
Or east, to try and join up with Justifier Kaellin's army. The mage whose idea it was to originally invade the Stone Hills. Whose army is the largest by far to come north from Belinswae.
The wizard Maxime did have the second largest army, and had pushed far into the Omban clanhold, one of the largest if not the largest clanhold in the entire Stone Hills.
Until the wizard met his untimely demise, and his army was defeated in battle.
Tam who has helped to lead the attack on the fleeing army for the last week, has the wyvern land upon the hillside they've just bombed with barrels of blast powder.
The dwarven warriors get off the large winged creature, and begin the grisly work of dispatching the wounded enemy to the afterlife. And scavenging any equipment and tools, as well as food supplies they could use.
They don't bother to continue chasing on foot those of the enemy who have survived this airborne attack. They'll deal to them in their own time, and from the air where they have a clear advantage.
For now, gathering up what they can use for themselves, and killing the enemy wounded is more important.
"See any officers amongst them?" asks Tamric Drubine as he and Jarka, along with Omick, stay near the wyvern, that's let out a loud squawk in the direction of the surviving Justifier's guards who are running down the hill to the relatively flat ground below.
"They were pretty well organized compared to some of them we've found" adds the nobleborn youngster from south of the equator as the wyvern settles down, and covers it's head with one of it's wings as the wind buffets the side of the hill they're on.
"If there is, and they're not dead, they won't be in uniform" says Jarka Mard, as they've learnt that any officers in a defeated Justifier's army, tend to rip off their tunics, and wear one of a regular guard.
The dwarven warriors have been told to look out for anyone in better quality armour, who has better made weapons than those guards around them. As that tends to be the only way to identify an officer amongst the defeated enemy.
Tam looks at Omick, as the silent warrior points up into the sky to the west. There in the distance, Tam spots another wyvern, he asks the two dwarven warriors from clan Mard "One of ours?" as they're more to the southeast of the Omban clanhold, than directly south of it.
"Aye one of ours" is the reply of Jarka Mard, continues with "It be the lass and those with her".
The nobleborn youngster nods his head, and just as he's about to say something, one of the warriors going amongst the enemy wounded, calls out "Got one!".
Tam, Jarka and Omick share a look, then the three of them hurry over to where the warrior who called out, is standing.
Pointing with his axe, the warrior, who is from clan Omban, points at a Justifier's guard on the ground infront of him, and says "He be alive" followed by "Just a little knocked around is all".
"Definitely looks like one" says Jarka Mard, who takes his water skin, and pours some of its contents over the face and head of the guard from Belinswae, whose mix of leather and chainmail armour, is of far superior quality than the other guards around him.
As the Omban warrior moves off, and slams his axe into the head of a nearby Justifier's guard who is badly burnt and trying to crawl away.
Omick shakes the guard who Jarka has just poured water over. The quard in question groans and lifts a hand to wipe his wet face.
The first thing he hears before opening his eyes, is Jarka Mard telling him in the common language "Tell the truth now fella, if not this could go bad for you".
"What?" says the Justifier's guard, who after opening his eyes, and sees who it is that's standing over him, blinks in confusion, before saying in surprise "Hey, you're human" as he looks up at Tam.
"We know you're an officer, so no use hiding it" says the nobleborn youngster from south of the equator who ignores what the enemy guard just said "Where were you and your men going?" asks the Southlander, who continues with "You aren't exactly taking the direct route south to Belinswae".
The Justifier's guard turns his head to the right as he lays there on his back. At the fortune, or in his case, unfortunate time of seeing one of the dwarven warriors. Slam his hammer into the head of an injured guard from Belinswae just a dozen yards away.
"Answer the laddie's question now fella" says Jarka Mard, who continues with "Or your head will pop like a dropped pumpkin just like that chap's head over there has".
The Justifier's guard gulps, and looks up at the two dwarves and the fairly tall youngster standing over him, then he says "East, we were heading east" he grimaces, then adds "We've been trying to join up with Justifier Kaellin's army".
Both Tam and Jarka nod, as they suspected as such. As this lot from the remnants of Justifier Maxime's army, are the one's they've found, furtherest east than any of the others.
"Have any from your wizard's army made it to the mage Kaellin's army?" asks the former heir to the knight of castle Drubine in the kingdom of Sarcrin.
The guard, an officer in Justifier Maxime's army doesn't answer immediately. He only does so when the silent Omick takes a hammer from the loop on his belt, and slaps the head of it into the open palm of his other hand.
"Yes" says the Justifier's guard, that comes out more like a squeak than anything else, something he's trying to avoid doing as he lies there on the cold ground on the side of the hill, scared out of his wits.
"Damn" mutters Tam in the dwarven language, the Southlander continues in the same language with "Oh well, we knew there was a possibility of that" Jarka Mard nods in agreement to that.
Switching back to the common language, Tamric Drubine says to the officer in the army of Justifier Maxime "Tell us what you know about Justifier Kaellin's army".
As they listen to the Justifier's guard divulge what little information he knows about the mage Kaellin's army, as the Justifiers of Belinswae don't exactly work closely together. The other wyvern that Lisell Maera is flying, lands near the one that Tam is the lead rider of.
The two wyverns squawk and hiss at one another, which is pretty much normal for two fully grown tame wyverns when they greet one another. They're soon settled down, both covering their heads with a wing as the wind continues to blow hard along the hillside they're on.
"Officer?" asks Lisell Maera in the dwarven language when she and a couple of the dwarven warriors who have been flying with her, make their way to where the nobleborn youngster and the two clan Mard dwarves are standing.
"He is" says Tam to his fellow Southlander, who nods as she listens to what the enemy guard is saying.
"He's just repeating himself now" quietly says the youngest son of the clan Mard chieftain. Tamric Drubine nods to him, and Jarka slightly gestures to the silent Omick.
Jarka Mard moves to stand closer to the two young humans, the Justifier's guard eyes follow him, and he doesn't even see the swing of Omick's hammer that ends his life when it slams into the side of his skull.
"So, some of them have made it to Justifier Kaellin's army" quietly says Lisell Maera as they walk back to where the two wyverns are "It was bound to happen" says Tamric Drubine, who after a slight pause adds "As the lord mentioned, this might work in our advantage".
"That the mage Kaellin knows that his ally to his immediate west has been taken out?" says Lis "Yes exactly" says Tam "I hope so" murmurs the orphaned teenager from the city-state of Brattonbury in the Southlands.
"We'll soon find out" says the nobleborn youngster from south of the equator as they all look away to the east. While behind them, the rest of the dwarven warriors kill off the rest of the dying and injured Justifier's guards who have been bombed with barrels of blast powder this morning . . . . . .

You Want A War? You've Got One! 43.

The Nomads Plains. Winter...

"Are you sure?" asks lord Walashàele "Yes I'm pretty sure?" says Riley Hait the mercenary ranger in reply to the elven lord who is standing next to him as they look at the army that's making it's way across the Nomad's Plains.
The most powerful lord in southern Maladimbáh, is about to say something else, when he looks away to their right, where something catches his eye.
"What the hell is it doing?" asks the elven lord who has designs upon the throne of his homeland "Huh?" says the mercenary ranger from south of the equator, who looks away to his right and sourly smiles at what he sees.
"Oh" says the ranger Hait, who after a pause adds "Well, what does it look like it's doing?". "Looks like it's taking a shit" mutters the head of house Walashàele, the mercenary from the elven principality of Envadarlen in the Southlands nods, then says "Then that's what it's doing".
Standing thirty yards away to the right, Dorc da Orc, with his grubby knee length pants down around his ankles, is taking a shit. The large ork hasn't bothered to squat, he's basically standing upright, slightly bent forward, with a look of pure bliss upon his bestial looking face, as he sprays shit from his rather large ass.
The ork warleader couldn't care less that he's in full view of everyone. Including an army just a couple hundred yards away.
Lord Walashàele mutters something in the noble elven language that Riley Hait doesn't understand, then switching back to the regular elven language, he says to the mercenary ranger from the Southlands "That" he briefly pauses, before adding "Is bloody disgusting".
"Tell me about it" dryly says the ranger Hait, who then carries on with "You get used to it" he momentarily pauses, before continuing with "Kind of".
"I bloody well hope not" mutters lord Walashàele, who looks away from the defecating ork weaponsmith, and gestures to the army from Maladimbáh that he commands "For your sakes, i hope you're right about this" says the elven lord who continues with "By the forest gods there's no way I'm having them march across the entire damn plains to get to Belinswae".
"You won't have to" says Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who then looks over at Dorc da Orc, who calls out "That fucken birdy cat is coming back" as he hurriedly pulls up his pants after finishing shitting.
The mercenary ranger and the elven lord look southwest, and though the ranger Hait can't see anything in the clear, cloudless morning sky in that direction, lord Walashàele can.
"It has extremely good eyesight" murmurs the nobleborn elf "About the same as yours" quietly says the human ranger who was raised and trained by the elven warders of Envadarlen, he then adds "If you would refer to him as he, or Dorc, or even that big fucking green idiot, instead of as it, I'd appreciate it".
The mercenary ranger, who in actual fact is a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, couldn't care less at how lord Walashàele refers to Dorkindle when they talk about him in the elven language, which of course the large ork can't understand.
Does care that the head of house Walashàele, and the others in his army. Don't call the ork warleader, it. When they're speaking the common language. The ranger Hait is hoping the elven lord from southern Maladimbáh, gets it in his head to call Dorc by name.
For if the big ork from the wolf tribe of orks overhears in common, lord Walashàele or any of the others in his army, call him, it. He might take offence. Which is easy enough to happen. As a lot of things offend the large ork.
Such as the sun, that's shining down brightly, this relatively warm winter's morning on the dry, arid plains where the barbarian nomads make their home.
The warleader of the ork race is glaring up at the sun, and growling something at it, in his totally incomprehensible native language.
The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen in the Southlands, suspect the large ork is threatening to kill the sun, or some such thing.
"Right, I'll remember that" says lord Walashàele who continues to look at the approaching griffon that his daughter Jalindílth is on. His own griffon is flying around to the north of the army. Probably chasing something to eat this morning, which is sunny and clear, after a cold night.
The dry, arid plains get surprisingly cold at night during the wintertime. The two previous mornings, the army has awoken to frost upon the rocky ground. Frost that melts quickly in the warmth of the days found here on the Nomad's Plains.
They walk back towards the army, as they do, the daughter of lord Walashàele comes into land. Her griffon settles down, and she hops down off the large winged creature, and she makes her way over to where her father and the mercenary ranger from south of the equator stand. Dorc da Orc sits down nearby, where he takes something from one of his burlap sacks, and starts chewing upon it.
As he eats, the large ork eye's the nearby griffon that's watching the passing army from southern Maladimbáh.
"They're there" says Jalindílth Walashàele who continues with "A few hundred of them". "Is that all?" murmurs the elven lord "Most of them will be going overland to the border region with Belinswae" explains the ranger Hait.
The head of the noble house of Walashàele nods, then asks his daughter "Did you see it?" followed by "And how far away is it?". "I did" replies the attractive elven maid, who continues with "And they, along with it are about eight to nine miles away" then briefly switching to the language of the elven nobility, she adds "You can't sense it".
"Oh?" says lord Walashàele, his daughter nods, and he glances at his left shoulder at Palamarc the ground pixie, who whispers to him "You can't, but i can".
The elven lord nods in understanding, then he says in the regular elven language to the mercenary ranger from south of the equator "It is in working order isn't it?".
"It is" replies Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson, who continues with "From what i understand, you have to power it up, to get it to function".
"Ah" murmurs the head of house Walashàele, who then quietly adds "One of those" he then asks the ranger Hait "And how far does it go?".
The Southlander shrugs his shoulders, then says "I have no idea" he continues with "But i know the otherside is just over a hundred miles or so from Belinswae". "And that one?" asks lord Walashàele "It goes right into Belinswae" answers Riley Hait, who then adds "You come out less than six miles from the city of Falnic itself".
"Hell" says the elven lord, who shakes his head, then adds "I can't believe the townsmen in Belinswae don't use them to raid here on the plains".
"From what i understand, they don't know of their existence" says the mercenary ranger who continues with "We happened upon them by accident" Riley Hait then adds "And it seems that spellcasters are unable to sense them".
The nobleborn father and daughter share a look, then the elven lord says to the human ranger who was brought up and trained by elves "The nomads must of stumbled upon them over the years".
"They have" says the mercenary ranger who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, he continues with "Their spirit walkers deem them a sacred site, that's why most of them are going overland" he pauses for a moment, before adding "And the fact they've never got them to work".
The elven lord lifts an eyebrow at that. For he as a southern lord of Maladimbáh, has meet plenty of nomad spellcasters, more commonly referred to as spirit walkers, over the years. Some of whom have been fairly powerful. And they should be able to get them to work.
"And one of us will get them to work?" asks the head of house Walashàele, the ranger Hait nods his head, then says "Yes" he then adds "And rather easily too" he holds up a hand to halt any further questions on the matter, and he says "You'll see why, when we get there".
The elven lord refrains from asking anymore questions about it, and instead waves over a few of his officers, including his cousin Galacithàné who is his second in command. The head of house Walashàele has some orders for them.
Riley Hait remounts his horse, and gets underway again, the mercenary ranger is joined by Dorkindle, who walks off to one side of his mount. Who isn't exactly used to such a large green, smelly creature, who spends a lot of his time eyeing it up with evil intent. The horse knows Dorc wants to do something to it. What, it's not exactly sure. It just knows that it's bad.
The ranger Hait rides at the front of the elven mercenaries he and the ork warleader hired in southern Maladimbáh. They number just over a hundred, and make up a small portion of the elven army led by lord Walashàele.
Though the elven mercenaries are under the direct command of Riley Hait and Dorc da Orc. Who have also hired the elven lord and his army. Which they intend to have, not just invade Belinswae, but directly attack the coastal city of Falnic.
Infact they intend to forgo the invasion part, and get straight to attacking the largest city in the region of Belinswae.
It's just after midday, when Dorkindle is loudly grumbling about the bright sunlight, when they encounter the first of the nomad tribesmen near their destination. The ranger Hait talks to them for a bit, and they lead the elven army to where they want to go.
A short time later, and in a shallow, but wide ravine. Just down from what the plains barbarians call a stretch of long sand. They come across what they're looking for.
Lord Walashàele, along with his daughter Jalindílth, his cousin Galacithàné, and a couple of officers. Join the two from south of the equator, as they make their way down into the ravine with a handful of the nomad tribesmen.
While the army form the principality of Maladimbáh remains up above, where the army of nomad barbarians have their camp.
"Your brother the far hunter?" asks Riley Hait "He's at the other site" says Chanük the tribal leader, who has a fair grasp of the common language "Saladén left near two weeks ago, he's there with the bulk of the tribes" adds the nomad tribal leader who is leading the way around a large rocky mound in the middle of the ravine.
Lord Walashàele who is walking beside the Southlander and the short nomad tribesmen, is just about to ask something, when they get around the otherside of the large rocky mound, and he stops in his tracks when he sees what's infront of them.
His cousin Galacithàné who is walking right behind him, mutters "Shit" when he almost walks into the back of his older cousin. Then Galacithàné exclaims "Shit!" when he sees what has brought his cousin up short.
The elves all share a look, as they look at the marble and stone ruins. Clearly elven made, in the middle of which is a large door like frame, that's a magical portal. Which at the moment is off.
"I see what you mean" says lord Walashàele to the ranger Hait after a few moments of stunned silence, then switching to the elven language, he asks the mercenary from south of the equator "And the other end?" he then adds "Is that elven made too?". "A mix" says Riley Hait in the same language, who continues with "It's both dwarven and elven" he then adds "And the one near Falnic in Belinswae, is dwarven, elven and human".
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman gestures to the portal, and says "I assume you can get it going quite easily?" he then adds "It just needs power".
The elven lord nods his head as he looks at the ancient elven runes around the frame of the portal, then he says "Yes, fairly easy" then after glancing at his daughter, and his cousin, and the officers with them, he quietly says "Why the hell didn't we know about these?".
As there's nothing in their recorded history about the portals, that go across the Nomad's Plains, into both Belinswae and their homeland, the principality of Maladimbáh.
"Best guest that they were from the time when the nomads and the townsmen were one people" says Riley Hait, lord Walashàele lifts an eyebrow, then he says "You figured that bit out eh?". "Not that difficult really" says the Southlander, who continues with "Hell, they still look similar".
The elven lord nods his head in agreement, then he says "Not that they know" he pauses for a moment, before he continues with "Well, they don't want to know is more like it" he then adds in a murmur "And they're still trying to wipe one another out".
"You mean the townsmen are trying to wipe out the nomads" says the mercenary ranger, the nobleborn elf snorts, then says "Now they are" he continues with "Wasn't always like that, in my grandfather's time, it was the other way around" lord Walashàele adds "Nearly two thousand years ago, the nomads were doing their best to wipe out the townsmen from the pages of history".
The ranger Hait is silent for a few moments after hearing that, then switching to the common language, he says "It'll take a while to get everyone through" he gestures to the portal and adds "If you would like to begin".
The head of house Walashàele nods, then after giving an order to his officers, one of whom hurries back up to the waiting army. Lord Walashàele turns to the tribal leader Chanük and says to him perfectly in the dialect of the Plain's nomads, the same language spoken by the hordes barbarians of the southern tundra "If you could have your nomad warriors ready to depart, as I'll have the portal working soon".
Riley Hait lifts an eyebrow in surprise at hearing the elven lord speak that language, then he watches as lord Walashàele approaches the ruins and the portal, to study the runes on it, to see which one activates it.
Next to the mercenary ranger, the ork warleader grunts, then Dorc da Orc says "Bout fucken time" as the head of house Walashàele pours power into the portal to activate it . . . . . .