A Grand Design 26.

Winter. Oaklynn. Girdane.

They've waited over three weeks now. Which isn't that much of a problem, as the warehouses around the one they've been living in are all controlled by the regent of Oaklynn.
So the recently made waagen can roam about during the daytime in their human forms.
And at night, the adult waagen Grance roams around in his beast form.
They don't want for anything to kill and eat. As a steady supply of prisoners from the city jails are brought to them every evening.
And they get to kill and eat those prisoners. Predominantly human, though on occasion they've killed and eaten goblin prisoners. Who they've found taste absolutely disgusting.
And once they killed a dwarven prisoner. Whose iron rich blood and body was fought over by a number of the young waagen. Until Grance took what was left of body away, and ate it by himself. Enjoying the rich, savory flavour of the dwarf.
While they've been about the last couple of days. Both the young waagen during the daytime. And Grance in the night.
Have noticed that more of the regent's soldiers have moved into the area, with many of them moving into one of the nearby warehouses.
Which are all located to the north of the city's airdocks. Which itself, is located about a mile and half of the city proper.
And when Grance has spoken about this to the keeper Sarmac who is the person they have the most contact with.
The keeper informs the adult waagen, that the regent's men who have moved in recently, will be doing the same thing that they've been brought to the city of Oaklynn to do.
Then one afternoon, the first day that it's snowed in and around the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
Captain Kilmane and the wizard Haric along with the keeper Sarmac enter the warehouse to speak with Grance.
"Tonight then?" says Grance the waagen after captain Kilmane tells him "We'll do it tonight".
With all the young waagen watching them, they make their way over to a table near some of the shelves, as Sarmac lights a couple of lamps that are on it. The captain in the regent's army, unrolls a map that he's brought with him. It's a map of the palace of the king of Girdane.
As all four of them look at the map, the large waagen who stands almost seven foot tall, nods his bestial head as captain Kilmane quietly goes over the plan.
"Here" says the regent of Oaklynn's most trusted officer as he points to the third storey of the palace on the map.
"This hallway" adds captain Kilmane who continues with "Is in the royal quarters" he then explains what it looks like, and after he does, the captain adds "You'll come out right in there".
Grance nods again, then the waagen asks "Everyone?".
"Everyone in the royal quarters" says the captain in the regent's army, who then adds "Guards, palace staff, court officials, members of the royal family, the wife, the heirs" captain Kilmane follows that with "Everyone".
The large waagen, who rarely ever changes out of his beast form, nods again when the captain quietly tells him "If one of the youngsters happens to attack the king himself, make sure the job is done Grance" captain Kilmane continues with "We don't want any survivors in there".
The adult waagen grunts, then the captain in the regent of Oaklynn's army tells him "If any of the youngsters die in there, bring their bodies back" he follows that with "We want this to look like no one knows what the hell happened".
"I understand" says Grance, the keeper Sarmac gestures to where the young waagen are, and quietly says "We'll tell them when we explain the plan to them".
Then the wizard Haric tells the adult waagen "There's spellcasters amongst the palace officers, and though they can't harm you lot directly, they can still wound and kill you if they're smart about it".
"I know" says Grance who continues with "I've fought magic users before" the waagen then adds "And Sarmac and i have talked to the children about it, and told them what to expect".
The adult waagen, then looks at the captain in the army of regent Sammis, and asks him "When?".
"Halfway between nightfall and midnight" replies captain Kilmane, who takes a sand glass from out of an inner pocket of his cloak, and adds "You'll have a quarter of a glass to get it done" he continues on with "Make sure you've killed everyone by then, and you're ready to come back".
Grance nods, then he looks at the rumpled looking wizard in the ruby, red robes who he doesn't like, and says to him "Make sure you've got it there" the waagen follows that with "If not, I'll find someway to get out of there, and I'll hunt you down and kill you".
The overweight wizard sourly smiles as the towering waagen looms over him, with a look of disgust upon his snub like maw.
"You don't have to worry about Haric" says captain Kilmane, who then adds "I'll be here to make sure things go to plan".
Grance grunts, for he trusts the captain, and the keeper Sarmac, a hell of a lot more than he does the wizard. Who even Kilmane and Sarmac dislike, and only tolerate because they all work together in the army of lord Sammis, the regent of the city of Oaklynn.
The captain then says to the keeper "Gather all the youngsters" followed by "Time to fully explain the plan to them". For the young waagen know why they've been brought to the city of Waagen. They just don't know the plan in detail.
As Sarmac walks off and calls out to the young waagen to all gather together, the waagen Grance quietly asks the captain in the regent's army "What about your other plans?".
"Other plans?" asks Kilmane with a slightly confused look upon his face "All those soldiers you've brought into the warehouses over the last few days" says the adult waagen.
"Those plans" says the captain in the army of the regent of Oaklynn, who continues on with "Someone has to clean up things, and take over after what you lot will do in the palace" Kilmane follows that with "That's what they're for" then he silently adds, more or less.
Grance grunts as he figures that's what the soldiers in the regent's army who have recently arrived in the warehouses will be doing.
After he and the young waagen wipe out everyone in the royal quarters in the palace of the king. They'll move in and take control, as the plans that lord Sammis has been working on for a number of years, comes to fruition.
After they speak to the young waagen, and go over the details of the plans for tonight, they wait.
The waagen aren't fed as usual when dusk falls, and it continues to snow outside. They don't need to, as they'll get their fill later in the night.
They all wait about in the warehouse, with captain Kilmane reading missives, while the wizard Haric contemplates the map on the table.
Meanwhile both Sarmac the keeper, and Grance the waagen, speak to the children and youngsters one at time. Going over with them the plans for the night.
Then eventually towards the middle of the evening, the wizard Haric looks at captain Kilmane and nods.
The captain in the king's army, goes outside to check on conditions. And sees that it's still snowing, as it has done since just before midday today.
Then the captain comes back inside, and nods as everyone looks at him "Time to go" says captain Kilmane.
"Prepare to leave" says Grance the waagen to the children and youngsters who number thirty. The adult waagen repeats that in their own language.
And the children and youngsters change. The change isn't gradual or drawn out in anyway. It's fast, almost impossible to see. As one moment, there's youngsters and children standing there. The next moment, there's thirty more waagen standing in the center of the warehouse between the rows of shelves.
They've grown in their time here in Oaklynn, many of them well over six foot in height now. And weighing much more compared to when they turned up here at the end of winter.
Captain Kilmane nods to the wizard Haric, and the spellcaster says to Grance "I'll try an obscure it the best that i can" followed by "Hopefully that'll delay any spellcasters in the palace from sensing it for a bit".
Grance just grunts, then says to the overweight wizard in ruby red robes "Just do it already".
Then after captain Kilmane nods to go ahead, the wizard in the army of the regent of Oaklynn casts a rift spell.
It doesn't take long to form, as the otherside isn't all that faraway. Just a little bit south of here, in the city proper. To be exact, the palace of the king, which is located in the center of the city.
Once it's completely formed, Grance the waagen sees that you can't really see through it like you would normally do through a rift.
But that doesn't stop him from ducking down, and being the first one through the magical doorway.
He's followed by the thirty other waagen, who one by one, run through the rift. All going through to the palace of the king of Girdane. Into a long hallway in the royal quarters.
Once the last one is through, Haric the wizard counts to three, then he drops the spell. And he goes over to the nearby table where captain Kilmane has just put the sand glass.
And as the rumpled looking, portly wizard watches the sand fall, the captain looks at the keeper Sarmac and nods. The keeper hurries to the warehouse doors and opens them wide.
Meanwhile, in the center of the city of Oaklynn. In the palace of the king of Girdane. Within the royal quarters. There's a slaughter taking place this night.
Waagen are killing everyone they come across as they run through the royal quarters on the third floor of the palace.
Servants have their throats ripped out. Palace officials about to leave the royal quarters, have their heads torn off.
Guards who try to fight, are torn limb from limb as the waagen rampage through the third storey royal quarters in the king's palace.
A lean looking waagen with silver hair smashes through the closed door of a bedroom. And leaps upon a bed, where it mauls to death the crown prince who is the heir to the king. The prince, a boy of ten. Is killed by a young boy around the same age, who was a farmer's son in the duchy of Falosen until he was turned into a waagen during the autumn.
Two doors down, and in another bedroom. The two young princesses, and their nurse are ripped apart by two more waagen. Who rip heads off, legs and arms, ignoring the screams of the nurse to the two young girls.
Those screams abruptly end when a paw rips the throat out of the nurse, raking away half of her face at the same time.
Around the corner, and down another hallway, Grance the waagen runs through an energyball that comes hurtling down the hallway.
The adult waagen leaps forward, and lands upon the sorcerer, an officer in the palace guards, who just cast the energyball.
Grance bites the man's head off as he pins him to the floor. While a trio of younger waagens run by them. And two of them smash into two palace guards infront of a door. While the third waagen smashes into, and through the door.
While behind them all, at the other end of the hallway. The sorcerer's energyball has disappeared when he's died.
Grance gets up, and hurries forward, ducking down through the doorway. He bounds across one room, a sitting room. And enters a bedroom, where he finds a woman, who has been raked down the back. Is crawling across the floor.
It's the king's wife, or consort queen which is her official title. Grance slams his right front paw down onto the back of her head, shattering her skull apart.
Meanwhile near the bed, the young waagen who burst it's way into the king's private chambers. Is growling as the king attacks with his sword.
The king of Girdane, Jarnard the Second of his name has got in a few hits as he alternates between screaming in anger, and shouting out for guards.
Then king Jarnard the Second gets in a good hit. Slamming his sword into the side of the face and head of the young waagen, taking off it's maw.
As the young waagen drops, and the king of Girdane turns. Grance the waagen leaps, and slams into the king, smashing him into the wall.
The adult waagen gets his jaws down and around the top of the head of Jarnard the Second of his name, then he bites. Shattering the king's skull to pieces, killing him instantly.
Grance looks around, then he picks up the dead youngster, whose body has reverted back to human form, and slings him over his right shoulder.
The adult waagen exits the king's bed chambers, then then the king's private quarters. As he does, Grance howls, a signal for the waagen to hurry up and kill everyone, as they're about to leave.
The thirty young, recently turned waagen and the adult waagen kill every single person in the royal quarters on the third storey of the palace of the king of Girdane. Also killing those who enter the royal quarters to see what's going on.
In the process, three of the young waagen die, as Grance sees the other two bodies being carried by other waagen as he heads back to the long hallway where they're entered the palace through a rift.
And when he gets back to the hallway, he sees that the rift has reappeared, and that the young waagen have already started to go through it.
Grance waits so that all the youngsters go through before him, as he approaches the rift, a rift that he sees is obscured again, so that you can't really see what's on the otherside.
Then after the last youngster runs through it, Grance hurries forward carrying the dead waagen in it's human form over his right shoulder. He ducks down, and passes through the magical doorway.
And once he steps through the otherside, he steps into absolute mayhem. Waagen are on the floor of the warehouse, screaming and shouting in pain. Many have turned back to human form as they've been killed, each peppered with dozens of arrows and bolts.
Thinking quickly, Grance goes to step back through the rift, but it's disappeared behind him.
The adult waagen roars in anger, and leaps to one side where he sees soldiers in the army of the regent of Oaklynn. There must be a couple of hundred of them along parts of the walls of the warehouse. Most with crossbows or bows. And others with long spears.
As Grance leaps at them roaring, and he's hit by an arrow, then a crossbow bolt. He hears a heavy thunk, like a crossbow firing, followed by another.
He's knocked out of the air, and he hits the floor, with not one, but two heavy long spears through him, fired from a pair of ballista on the back of two wagons that have been brought into the warehouse.
The last thing Grance sees as he lies on the floor in the warehouse is soldiers walking towards him with spears. And as arrows and bolts thud into him, he sees those soldiers go to stab him where he lies dying.
After a few moments of silence, captain Kilmane calls out "Clear!". "Clear!" is repeated by squad leaders as they move forward and check on their handiwork.
After the last squad leader calls out clear, the captain in the army of the regent Oaklynn says to a subaltern "You know what to do".
"Yes captain" says the subaltern, who starts issuing orders. And the soldiers put away their weapons, and start carrying the dead bodies away. To put them in the wagons that are outside.
As they do, captain Kilmane followed by the keeper Sarmac and the wizard Haric cross the warehouse, going around the bodies of the children and youngsters who are yet to picked up and carried away.
The three of them stop at the only adult body, a naked human with two heavy long spears through him, as well as about twenty arrows and bolts in him.
Looking at Grance in his human form which they've never seen before, Haric the wizard quietly says "He looks fairly ordinary".
Captain Kilmane nods in agreement, then glances at Sarmac the keeper, who says "It was all worth it" as he was the one who was closest to all the waagen, and got to be friends with Grance.
"Yes" quietly says Kilmane, who then adds "It was all worth it" the captain in the army of the regent of Oaklynn briefly pauses, then he says "Because we now have a new king, and we serve in his army" . . . . . .

A Grand Design 25.

Winter. The City Of Oaklynn. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

"You know what" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, who continues on with "I don't think there's a single soldier left in the city".
The elf, who is originally from the principality of Alínlae briefly pauses, before he carries on with "Well, apart from the palace guards".
Next to the elven spy, the mage Mira Reinholt nods his hooded head in agreement as they make their way through the streets of the city of Oaklynn.
"Plenty of them though" dryly says the spy Tanith in his native language, as across the street, heading in the other direction, walk a trio of city guards, or to be correct, guards in the army of the regent of Oaklynn.
The elven spy, who is an officer in the armies of Farque, then quietly asks the human spellcaster walking beside him "Were you able to find one?".
"I did" says Mira Reinholt the mage who has just returned from the airdocks that are to the north of the city.
The mage who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil, continues on with "Though they'll have to go around about way to get to Salme" he then quietly adds "From there it'll be carried by horse to the army".
The spy Tanith nods his hooded head in understanding as the two of them diagonally cross a street.
Then the spy from Alínlae and the mage from Vexil, look up as flakes of snow start to fall upon the city of Oaklynn.
It's the first snowfall of the winter here in the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
Snow is more likely to fall here in the east of the kingdom, as well as in the central duchies. Compared to the western part of the kingdom. Which is usually far more windy out there, than it is here in the east.
"Great, snow" wryly says the mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
As the two of them make their way through the northern part of Oaklynn, as they head south. Towards where the longest street in the city is located. The street that has the king's palace on it. As well as the regent's abode. And the city council building.
"Where's Shur Kee waiting?" asks the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, to be found anywhere in the Southlands. Until he was stripped of most of his powers when he went offworld through a rift/void spell that he accidentally cast.
"In that taverna opposite the regent's mansion" is the quiet reply from the elven spy who once served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alínlae.
"Wonder if he's noticed anything today?" muses the mage Reinholt as the two of them round a corner as the snow continues to fall upon the city of Oaklynn.
"Hopefully something" is the quiet reply from Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
"Because we're pretty much not finding out anything else of worth" continues the elven spy from Alínlae. As they've found out hardly anything new since the very end of autumn, and the start of winter when word reached the city of Oaklynn.
That the dukes Hilloc, Korros and Lombasil, respectively of the duchies of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Had rebelled against the crown and the king of Girdane. Essentially starting a civil war.
The once powerful mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil, quietly tells the lean and tall elf "Let's hope things change".
The spy Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement, and murmurs "Let's hope alright" as the two of them make their way to the center of the city.
On a side street just off the long street that runs through the middle of Oaklynn.
Shur Kee the monk sits back down, after looking up at the sky when he saw a wyvern circling above. On it's way to the king's palace, which is towards the other end of the long street.
The short, statured monk, is the only customer sitting at one of the tables out the front of the taverna. As it has start to snow upon the city of Oaklynn.
The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, who hails from the far east coast of the continent. The kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact.
Looks away to his left, to where on the otherside of the long street. Lies the mansion of the regent of Oaklynn.
As he does, the mage Reinholt and the spy Tanith turn onto the street, and make their way to the front of the taverna where he's sitting.
"I found one" quietly says Mira Reinholt in response to Shur Kee the monk quietly asking him "Were you able to find an airship friend Mira?".
"Anything of interest happen here?" asks the once powerful mage who waves to the barman through the open front door, for some service.
The taverna owner who thinks they're crazy to be sitting outside as it continues to lightly snow. Takes the order of the two new arrivals. Who both want hot, spiced wine. And some warm bread, and fried lardons, which are a diced up fatty pork cut, similar to bacon.
"A wyvern just came in" says Shur Kee in response to the exiled Vexilian mage's question "Most likely from the front" adds the physical adept, whose only change in attire for the colder weather, is a thick white winter cloak compared to the thinner one he usually wears.
"It did" says the mage Reinholt, who along with the spy Tanith saw the wyvern heading towards the palace. And the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil read the mind of the rider. Finding him to be a courier, who is trained not to read the missives he's been given by the commanders in the king's army out in the west of the kingdom.
"Anything else?" asks the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"Not much" says the short, statured monk who continues with "Apart from a little earlier in the morning, a coach went from the council building down to the palace".
"Most likely the regent" says the once powerful mage who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque.
The elven spy Dalinvardél Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement, then says "Court is in session today". The elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae continues on with "Most of the nobility in and around the city at the moment will be there today" Dalin then adds "So of course the regent will be there".
Court has taken a break for the midday meal, and lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn is in a second storey room in the palace.
At the window is one of his spellcasters, the wizard Haric who says "I think it'll snow all day" as he looks out the glass window.
Next to the slovenly, and overweight wizard in the ruby red robes, the advisor to regent Sammis, sir Welson nods his head in agreement with the spellcaster.
Slightly frowning as he sits on a sofa thinking about something, lord Sammis the regent says "You think it will?" followed by "Snow all day?".
"I do" says Haric the wizard, who follows that with "And into the night too" the portly wizard with the florid face then adds "And i don't need to cast anything to tell me that either".
After a moment lord Sammis the regent of the capital city Oaklynn slowly nods. Then he looks over to where captain Kilmane is standing near a side table.
A side table that is full of food and drink, which commander Jaqor Kaim is eating from.
The regent shares a look with the captain, who lifts a questioning eyebrow.
Lord Sammis clears his throat, then says "Welson you wouldn't happen to know where those documents have got to have you?".
"I don't my lord" says sir Welson who turns from the window to look at the regret.
"Might be best if you go to the office of the exchequer yourself and get them" says the regent of Oaklynn.
"Yes my lord" says the advisor to the regret, who continues with "I'll see to it immediately".
After sir Welson departs, lord Sammis says to his army commander "Jaqor i want all our men not on duty to be on stand by" he continues with "Even those who have leave at the moment".
"I'll see to it my lord" says Jaqor Kaim the commander of the regent's army, who then makes his way from the room.
Leaving just the regent, the captain, the wizard and a palace page in the room.
Looking over at the young page, lord Sammis says to the boy "Page, could you see if the king is in his family's quarters" the regret of Oaklynn then adds "I need to speak with my cousin".
"I'll find out for you regret Sammis" says the page, who bows to the regent, then exits the room, closing the door behind him.
Lord Sammis gets up off the couch, gesturing captain Kilmane and the wizard Haric to him.
"Tonight" quietly says the regent of the capital city of Oaklynn, who is the older cousin of the king of Girdane, Jarnard the Second of his name.
"You sure?" asks Haric wizard after he and captain Kilmane glance at one another.
"Absolutely" says lord Sammis, who quietly continues with "This snow should help things, and create a bit of confusion".
Both the spellcaster and the captain in the regent's army nod in agreement to that.
Then the nobleman asks his most trusted officer "Are our men in position?".
"They are my lord" is the reply of captain Kilmane "All of them?" asks the regent "All of them" is the reply of the captain.
Lord Sammis slightly nods, then says "Come along" and as he makes his way to the door, he quietly asks the wizard "I take it you haven't seen the royal family's quarters?".
"I haven't" says Haric the wizard, as only members of the royal family, which regent Sammis is one, as he's part of the extended royal family. And palace staff, are only allowed into the quarters of the king and his family.
"I can show you the hallways leading to it" quietly says lord Sammis after they leave the room "That's all i need" quietly says the overweight wizard, in the ruby coloured robes.
The regent of the city of Oaklynn leads the way through the palace. Making his way up to the third floor, which the king's quarters, and that of his family are located.
They make their way through a series of hallways, until they get to one, that has a pair of open double doors at one end of. There stands a pair of palace guards to either side.
As they walk down the long hallway, the regent of Oaklynn quietly asks the overweight wizard in the rumpled, ruby coloured robes "Will this do?".
"More than adequate" is the reply of Haric the wizard, who then nods when lord Sammis quietly tells him "Make sure it's on the otherside of the doors, facing into the royal quarters".
Then they fall silent as they approach the open double doors that are guarded.
Stopping before the pair of guards on this side of the open doors, regent Sammis asks them "Has a page come through recently?" the nobleman then quickly describes the page in question.
"He has regent Sammis" says the senior of the two guards as they all look through the open doors, especially Haric the wizard and captain Kilmane who carefully study what's on the otherside of the open doors, where the hallway continues.
"There's the little scamp" says lord Sammis pointing down the hallway through the open doors, where the page in question is making his way in this direction.
"My lord regent" says the page when be comes through the open doors and stops "His majesty is in the blue room".
"Very well" says the regent of the city of Oaklynn, who then tells the young page "Return to your post".
And as the page continues down the long hallway, lord Sammis says to captain Kilmane and the wizard Haric "Remain here, i shouldn't be too long" followed by "The afternoon session will begin soon, I'll just see if his majesty will be in attendance".
The captain and wizard in the regent's army wander over to the benches against the walls near the open doors, and take a seat.
While lord Sammis goes through the open double doors, passing the two pairs of palace guards, and enters the royal quarters.
The regent of the capital city continues down the long hallway, eventually turning right into another hallway. Passing an occasional palace guard standing near doors to rooms.
The nobleman gets to the door to one of the waiting rooms, the guard here opens the door for him, and he enters.
It's called the blue room, because of the colour of all many of the items in the room that are various shades of blue.
Vases and basins on side tables and chests, and shelves are in blue. So are a handful of statutes and busts, mostly in a light hue of blue.
Inside the room are a number of people, officers and advisors to the king, many of whom are nobleborn.
The regent Sammis spots his cousin the king, leaning against a table at the other end of the room, speaking with a couple of officers in his army, and two of his advisors.
The regent of Oaklynn makes his way to the table, and when king Jarnard the Second spots his older cousin. The king of Girdane tells the others that he wants a word with his cousin.
As the army officers and advisors wander off elsewhere in the large room.
The two cousins greet one another, as they didn't speak to one another during the morning session at court, as it was quite busy downstairs where the royal court is held.
"What is it?" quietly asks lord Sammis after he asks his younger cousin if he'll attend the afternoon session of court, and the king answers with a distracted nod as he looks at the maps, and pieces of parchment on the table.
"A wyvern rider came in earlier" says king Jarnard the Second of his name, the king of Girdane.
The regent of Oaklynn nods as he had heard that, then the king hands him a piece of parchment and tells him "Here read this" followed by "And not only that, but one of the wyvern riders is missing" the king of Girdane then adds "The first one to do so".
I hope to hell it isn't the one working for me, lord Sammis thinks to himself, as he has a number of people within the king's army, who are working for him, essentially as spies.
The regent of the capital city slightly frowns as he reads the missive the king has just handed him, then lord Sammis says "The rumours are true then" followed by "They have hired a mercenary army from somewhere".
"Yes" says king Jarnard the Second, who continues with "The size of one of the duke's armies if our information is correct".
"Hell, i wasn't expecting that" quietly says the regent of Oaklynn, who is the one who has basically encouraged the rebellion of the three most western duchies in the kingdom.
By having the king aggressively raise their taxes a few years ago. And then by marrying duke Hilloc of Dalmar's younger sister, the lady Mera by force a little over eighteen months ago.
"They've engaged with the bulk of our army" says the king of Girdane, who follows that with "And by the sounds of it, they're a whole lot stiffer opposition than what we expected of the armies of those rebellious dukes".
Lord Sammis nods his head as he continues to read the piece of parchment, then the older of the two cousins says "Looks like we're holding".
"Yes for now" says the king of Girdane, who then adds "Our superior numbers are making the difference, and the mercenary companies we're hiring every day and sending out west are helping too".
The regent nods, and puts the parchment down onto the table, and asks "Will you mention this at court?".
"Might as well" says king Jarnard the Second, who then dryly adds "With the way rumours fly around here, they'll soon find out anyway".
The regent of Oaklynn snorts, and nods in agreement with his cousin the king. For after all, not that anyone knows, it's lord Sammis who spreads a lot of those rumours.
The two cousins talk for a little while longer, then the regent departs the blue room. While the king of Girdane prepares for the afternoon session of court.
Out in the long hallway, at the open double doors to the royal quarters, captain Kilmane and the wizard Haric stand when the regent of Oaklynn walks out through the open doors.
And as the three of them continue along the long hallway, heading to the nearest stairway.
Lord Sammis quietly says to the captain and the wizard in his army "Definitely tonight" . . . . . .

A Grand Design 24.

Winter. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

They've travelled northeast. Just the three of them. Teleporting most of the time. And when they haven't. They've walked. Making their way north through the duchy of Isanor. Which is the furthest north in the kingdom of Girdane you can go. Until you hit the Kaldel Plains.
With a strong wind coming off the Kaldel Plains. They appear again after teleporting once more.
Beldane the cleric does up his cloak, as the wind hitting the bare hill they're on is cold.
Not so for the other two with him. As they couldn't care less about the wind.
Because one is an ork. Who finds this cold winter weather here in the very north of the kingdom of Girdane.
As absolutely balmy, comparable to a warm midsummer's day in the southern polar region of the world, where he's originally from.
While the other is dead. Or more precisely undead. Who doesn't feel the weather at all.
"The plains" says Beldane the cleric who nods to where the Kaldel Plains are less than a half a mile away now.
Lord Farque nods his full helmed head as they look at the nearby plains. While Dorc da Orc wanders away to the right, to take a piss.
As the large ork sprays his foul smelling, alarmingly green coloured pee into the wind.
Lord Farque asks the member of the church of Glaine "Is the distance fine?".
"It is my lord" says the powerful spellcaster, who then asks the heavily armoured deathlord "Where?".
Pointing further to the east out on the plains, the lord and ruler of the lands Farque says "There".
The fighting cleric who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell, nods his head then says "I'll need to do it two or three times" he continues with "I can't do it indefinitely to allow them all through".
"I understand" says the lord of the death realm, and as the ork warleader walks back to where they're standing. Draugadrottin as he's also known by to the people of his lands, says to cleric who is part of his army "You might as well get started". The powerful cleric nods and says "Yes my lord".
Then as Beldane casts a gateway, lord Farque sets off towards the Kaldel Plains, saying in the ork language "Come on cunt, we're going".
Dorc da Orc who is looking around, wondering what they're going to be doing. Grunts as he follows after the heavily armoured deathlord.
As the two of them walk down the hill towards the Kaldel Plains.
The gateway that the fighting cleric has cast, finally forms. Beldane steps through it. And a couple of moments later, it disappears.
More than likely, they've crossed the northern border of the kingdom of Girdane.
They definitely know they have when they walk out onto the Kaldel Plains. Getting hit by the strong wind that's streaking down across the plains, and hitting the north of Girdane.
Des'tier as he's known by to an older generation of elven kind, who might know who he is.
And Dorkindle, a name only really used by his mother. Whose skull is tied to his large waist belt.
Walk eastwards across the Kaldel Plains. Not caring about anyone or anything at the moment.
The two of them just walk, knowing that a fairly substantial part of lord Farque's army will soon be here on the plains. Just across the border from the kingdom of Girdane.
A kingdom that's been hit by what's essentially a civil war. As the rulers of the three most western duchies in Girdane, the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Have rebelled against the crown, and the king.
The two of them walk in silence, which is only occasionally interrupted by Dorc da Orc grunting when he spots something, or if he kicks at the ground as they walk.
The two of them veer to the southeast as they continue across the plains as it goes along the northern border of the kingdom of Girdane.
A little while later, and the lord and ruler of the lands Farque senses a gateway forming somewhere behind them.
A few moments later and it forms, and out of it runs scouts in the army of Farque. Who lead the way. For nearly a third of their army, who have left the main force. And have come this way, to avoid the forces of the king of Girdane.
Beldane the cleric has to create a gateway another two times during the afternoon. But eventually, he gets all three thousand soldiers and officers up onto the Kaldel Plains.
Which they head eastwards along, skirting along the northern border of the kingdom of Girdane. Which eventually they'll re-enter.
They march throughout the rest of the day, and then into the night. Only stopping late in the night, having gone somewhat further south than east. So that they're basically along the border between Girdane and the Kaldel Plains.
The force of just over three thousand have packed fairly light. And only brought tents that hold two. Which they pitch, after which they have a cold meal before bedding down for the night.
Lord Farque after asking Dorc da Orc if he's going to sleep, and the large ork replies with "Nah slept the other fucken day" speaks with one of his subcommanders.
"You're in command" says the lord of the death realm, who follows that with "The warleader and i are continuing on".
"Yes my lord" says the subcommander, the undead warlord gestures away to the right and says "Captain Tovis will be your acting second, followed by the cleric Beldane".
The war engineer, where he stands infront of the small tent he's sharing with Larris the sorcerer nods his head when he hears that.
"You know which way to go" continues the heavily armoured deathlord who is speaking in elven "It'll be easy too, all you'll have to do is follow our tracks" adds Draugadrottin, who gestures at the nearby ork weaponsmith as he says "The scouts will easily find where the warleader has been". The subcommander nods and says "We will my lord".
Then the lord and ruler of the lands Farque walks away, followed by Dorc da Orc.
The undead being doesn't get far, and stops where a grumbling sir Percavelle Lé Dic has finally put up his tent this night, after refusing any help from the nearby soldiers.
"Percy stay close to Tovis" says Des'tier, who as the former paladin turns, he adds "Keep him out of trouble".
"Will do, wot" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then sourly smiles as he catches sight, and smell, of the large ork a bit further behind the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
"Pray tell, where are you off to lord Farque?" asks the nobleborn knight who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic, where he was a former earl of Lé Dic.
"Ahead" is the reply of the heavily armoured deathlord "Is that smelly beast going ahead too, wot?" asks the nobleman who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che.
Who flashes a grin when the lord of the death realm replies with "He is".
Leaving a grinning sir Percavelle Lé Dic behind them, the undead warlord and the ork warleader make their way through the camp.
And continue to the east along the border region between the kingdom of Girdane and the Kaldel Plains.
The two of them walk for quite sometime in relative silence, which is occasionally disrupted by a grunt from Dorc da Orc. Or when he whistles for a bit. Badly and out of tune, as he's tone deaf like all orks.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque eventually stops, and after looking around, he takes out one of the maps he's got. And after studying it for a little while. He continues on his way, followed by the large presence of the ork weaponsmith.
They continue eastwards for another half a mile or so. And after another brief stop where he quickly looks at one of the maps he's got.
The deathlord of Farque turns south, and continues back into the kingdom of Girdane.
Nodding his full helmed head in the direction they're going, lord Farque says in the ork language "Pretty sure that's the fucking duchy of Wostin" followed by "One of the central fucking duchies".
The big, burly ork who hails from the southern polar region of the world, just grunts in reply.
Draugadrottin rolls his eyes, then says "We're now behind the bulk of their fucken army" the lord and the ruler of the lands Farque then adds in dry tone "This is your fucking plan remember?".
The large ork who is a member of the wolf tribe of orks, grunts again, this time in understanding.
"We'll just keep going south" says the undead warlord, who is interrupted by a muttered "Not north" from the warleader of the ork race.
"And we should run into their lines of supply" continues the lord of the death realm, who follows that with "And any more of their fucking troops they're sending out west".
"Not north" Dorkindle mutters, before he grunts then says "Fuck yeah" followed by "That's a good fucken plan me come up with".
A grin splits the broad, green, feral looking face of the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks as he thinks of change in plans and strategy.
That he helped come with, for the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen in their rebellious campaign against the king and crown of the kingdom of Girdane.
It's well after midnight, infact it's probably halfway between the middle of the night and dawn, when lord Farque suddenly stops.
The tall, heavily armoured deathlord who has been continually sensing since they left their army behind them.
Has sensed something of interest away to the south somewhere.
The undead warlord puts up a gauntleted hand for silence, when the large ork opens his mouth to say something.
The warleader of the ork race is busting to ask Draugadrottin what's happening, but he remains silent.
And eventually he's rewarded with "Hurry up cunt" from the lord of the death realm, who starts running.
The son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks. A tribe that's yet to replace Dorkindle's mother. Even though he killed her well over twenty years ago. Which was only fair, as she was doing her best to kill him at the time.
Grunts, then sighs as he sets off after the lord and ruler of the lands Farque. Who is slowly increasing pace as he runs southwards.
Soon the ork warleader starts lagging behind as they run through the night.
Des'tier who has sensed something of interest. Could run a hell of a lot faster than he is at the moment. But he keeps to a pace that he knows Dorc da Orc can more or less keep up with.
Dorkindle murmurs "Deer" as he catches wind of a small herd of deer, somewhere away to the right.
A little bit later, he murmurs "Bear" as he catches the scent of a bear not all that far away as he runs southwards, following behind lord Farque, who is over a half a mile ahead of him now, and getting further away.
"Birds" murmurs the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world who smells, then sees various birds in the branches of the trees he passes this night.
The ork warleader who is a general in the armies of Farque, breathes deeply in through his nostrils as he runs south.
Dorc da Orc like all orks, has an incredible sense of smell, who can catch the scent of something from many miles away.
Smells lord Farque nearly a mile away now infront of him, as they head south through the duchy of Wostin.
The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks then catches the scent of something else further infront of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
The ork general briefly pauses when he catches scent of it, then he takes off running again.
The large ork increases pace, but he's still some distance behind lord Farque, when his naturally enhanced hearing picks up a loud, indignant squawk like scream.
Quickly followed by what can only be described as a squawk like scream of pain, that's suddenly cut off.
Dorkindle grunts when he hears that, and murmurs "He dead" and quietly chuckles to himself as he continues to run to where he can smell where the lord and ruler of the lands Farque has stopped.
The large ork eventually runs towards a stand of trees near the base of a hill, he grins as he slows to a walk. When he sees a dead wyvern lying at the edge of the trees.
With lord Farque standing nearby, holding a man upside down by the right leg.
He's a wyvern rider in the army of the king of Girdane. Who like all wyvern riders in king Jarnard the Second's army, are the elite messengers for the crown.
"Here hold this fucker" says Draugadrottin in the ork language as the ork warleader walks up to him.
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world, takes the dazed wyvern rider by the same leg.
While the heavily armoured deathlord makes his way over to the smouldering fireplace, where the wyvern rider had stopped and made camp for the night.
Des'tier kicks the tail of the wyvern he killed out of the way. And next to the bedding and blanket beside the fireplace. And the saddle and harness for the dead wyvern.
The lord of the death realm picks up a leather satchel, and opens it. Inside is parchment after parchment. Which he starts to read. As he does, Dorc da Orc wanders over with the dazed looking wyvern rider.
"What the fuck is it?" asks the general in the armies of Farque, who then adds "Plans?".
"Some of them" replies the large, heavily armoured deathlord, who as he reads continues with "He was heading to the bulk of their army in the duchy of Isanor".
The undead warlord then slightly frowns as he holds out one missive from the others and reads it. The lord and ruler of the lands Farque continues to frown after reading it.
"What?" asks Dorkindle, who nods at the piece of parchment Des'tier is holding out from the others.
"He's been told to take note of all their troop movements, along with their supply lines" quietly says the heavily armoured deathlord, who then adds "And pass that information on to someone".
"Fucken who?" asks the ork weaponsmith with a frown upon his broad, green, brutish looking face.
"It doesn't say" quietly says Draugadrottin, who after a pause adds "But there's a map of both the duchies of Isanor and Poldis, marked where that person could be".
The undead being is silent for a few moments, then he looks at the dazed wyvern rider the large ork has in his grasp.
"He's a fucking spy" quietly says the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, Dorc da Orc's eye ridges lift up in surprise when the lord of the death realm adds "But for who?".
The lord of the death realm nods at the wyvern rider and says "See if you can wake him".
Des'tier points to the rider's water sack lying nearby, and adds "Use that".
But the ork general will have none of that, for he's already pulling down his grubby knee length pants, to piss on the wyvern rider in the king's army.
Which he duly does, which causes the rider to gasp and splutter in disgust as he gets drenched by the foul smelling ork pee.
The wyvern rider might reek like hell, but he's no longer dazed, and is now fully awake.
"Now to see what this cunt knows" says lord Farque in the ork language, who then switches to the common language and starts asking the wyvern rider questions.
Who will answer those questions as the undead warlord and the ork warleader torture him through what's left of the night . . . . . .

A Grand Design 23.

Winter. In The West Of The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Lisell Maera the messenger who has just dismounted, hands the reins of her mount to one of the soldiers.
Then makes her way forward to the advanced camp, where she finds Tovis the war engineer.
Sitting on a boulder, protected by some trees. Out of the cold wind of the morning.
After greeting the young engineer, who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic.
Lisell Maera says "Not much" in reply to Tovis the war engineer quietly asking her "Did they find out much?".
The engineer, who is a captain in the armies of Farque grunts. As he knows lord Farque went off to where some of the waagen had been killed, the first to be killed, as they've attacked both sides in the conflict that's broken out here in western Girdane.
"Seems they've only been told what they need to know" says the attractive young woman who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury as she sits down next to the war engineer.
"Helbe reckons they don't even know the names of the humans they're working with" adds Lisell Maera who is more commonly called Lis by the others in the group.
"Well, the one the lord ah spoke to, doesn't seem to know" continues the messenger in the armies of Farque.
The young engineer, who once served in the army of a baron Harkonin, in his homeland of Druvic.
Slightly grimaces at the mention of that from the messenger Maera. As he knows the deathlord of Farque went to raise the waagen who were killed. And to find out any information he could.
And by the sounds of it, he hasn't been all that successful in finding out information about the waagen.
Who they are, and why they are attacking the armies of both the three dukes who have rebelled against the crown, and the king himself. Who is trying to quell the revolution, and to stop the war from spreading further east into the kingdom.
"That's a pity" murmurs Tovis the war engineer, Lisell the messenger nods her head in agreement, then after she looks around at the area they're in, she quietly asks the young engineer "How are things here?".
"Good i guess" is the reply from the captain in the armies of Farque, who looks up through the trees around them, then quietly adds "At least it isn't snowing out here" the war engineer continues on with "Apparently it doesn't snow much out here" continues on Tovis, who then adds "Though it gets windy out here, as you can see" as he gestures around them. As the wind blows between the branches above them.
Lis looks through the trees to where some of the tents are, then she quietly says "Arvelle and his company should be here soon".
The young engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, who is now a captain in the armies of Farque nods, then says "Has the field commander come up with a new plan?".
"He has" says the attractive young woman originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, who continues with "The councillor will tell us of Tam's plans once he gets here".
Tovis nods, then he stands up and stretches, the war engineer offers a hand to Lis, who after slightly lifting an eyebrow, she takes it and stands as the young engineer says "Let's go and take a look at them".
After letting go of the messenger's hand, the war engineer leads the way through the trees, leaving the advanced camp behind.
They follow a game trail by the looks of it, occasionally passing a black clad soldier in the army of Farque.
As the trees thin out, and they start going uphill, they keep low as they walk. And eventually get to where a squad of Farqian soldiers are scattered across a hilltop, about a mile from the advanced camp.
Keeping low, Tovis and Lis join them. And when they're about to crest the hill, they drop down to the ground. And crawl forward as the wind sweeps across the hill they're on, here on this cold winter's morning in the west of the kingdom of Girdane.
On the top of the hill, the war engineer takes out a cylindrical eyepiece he's been given. And after looking through it to the east, he quietly says "There they are". Then he hands the eyepiece to the attractive young woman beside him.
The messenger, or runner as they're sometimes referred to, looks through the eyepiece. She could already see the enemy in the distance to the east. Now she gets a better look at them.
They're in hill country here in the west of Girdane, specifically the duchy of Isanor. Which is considered to be the first of the duchies in the west of Girdane. Followed by Poldis, then the three most western duchies, Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen.
The armies of the trio of dukes of the three duchies who have rebelled against the crown. Didn't have much trouble with the king's army crossing the duchy of Poldis. Nor with the duke of Poldis and his forces. As he's quite sympathetic to their cause.
And that many of the king's men who were already out here in the west of the kingdom to help stop the spread of the plague that hit the three western most duchies during the autumn. Pulled out of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
And across much of Poldis, where they met the first of the king's forces to come out west to stop the rebellious dukes and their armies.
And in very east of the duchy of Poldis, the first fighting between the king's army and the armies of the dukes Lombasil, Korros and Hilloc got underway.
Now after the king's army has fallen back into the duchy of Isanor, and now the first few weeks of winter have passed. Things have ground to a halt.
With the forces of the rebellious dukes not advancing much further. And the forces of the crown hunkering down. As they hope to stop the armies from the very west of Girdane, entering the duchies in the middle of the kingdom. Which they intend to do, once they go through Isanor.
Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. Watches the enemy in the distance. Where beyond a valley, she can see their camp, which looks to be growing by the day.
"We don't want to be fighting them down in that valley" quietly says Tovis the war engineer, the messenger nods in agreement with him, and does so again when he quietly adds "But we just might have to".
"I'm sure Tam and the others have figured something else out" quietly says the attractive young woman, whose mother was a street prostitute, and whose father, who she never met, was a sailor.
Well, i hope they have, the messenger thinks to herself, as she continues to look through the eyepiece at the king's army in the distance.
"They really don't want us to go further do they?" quietly says Lisell Maera "They certainly don't" quietly says the young engineer who is a captain in the armies of Farque.
As once the armies of dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar are out of the duchy of Isanor. And are into the three relatively small duchies in the middle of the kingdom.
Travelling, even in the wintertime, is fairly easy. And they'll be quickly into the eastern duchies of Girdane. Including the duchy of Marsin, where the capital city Oaklynn is located.
For if the rebellious dukes and their forces get into the duchy of Marsin. That means the crown has already lost, for there is no way to defend such a large city like Oaklynn. A city that isn't walled, that has it's airdocks outside of the city proper.
"There's quite a few of them there" quietly says the messenger as she observes the enemy in the distance.
"That there is" quietly says the war engineer, who figures the king can muster a larger army than the forces of the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Even with army of Farque they've hired.
"They're pretty green, just like the armies of the dukes" quietly says Tovis, who continues with "Though they've hired mercenary companies too".
"They have?" asks Lis "To the rear, you can just make them out" says the captain in the armies of Farque.
The Brattonburian looks to the rear of the enemy, and after a few moments, she slightly nods as she spots some of the mercenary companies that have been hired by the crown.
"They definitely don't want us to go further east" murmurs the messenger, who then hands the eyepiece back to the young engineer who hails from the kingdom of Girdane.
The captain takes it, and after looking through it for a little while longer, he returns it to an inner pocket of his thick winter cloak as the cold wind blows across the hill they're on.
Then Tovis looks at the attractive young woman lying beside him, and nods back in the direction they came from.
Lis nods, then the two of them crawl backwards for a bit, then once they're below the crest of the hill, they get up, and still keeping low, they head back towards their advanced camp.
Only standing upright, once they're back amongst the trees.
"This is going to be a grind for sure" quietly says Tovis the war engineer, who gestures around them, as he continues with "This hill country isn't the place to have a decisive battle" he follows that with "And with their numbers, it'll be best if we spread out as much as we can, to thin them out".
"An insurgency Arvelle called it" quietly says Lis as they back to the advanced camp, as the wind continues to blow through the trees.
"Pick them off in smaller skirmishes as much as we can" adds the messenger, who follows that with "Until they're forced to do something they don't want to do".
"Insurgency" quietly says the young engineer, who after a slight pause, adds "Yes that's a good name for it".
Around midday of the cold and windy winter's day here in the hill country of the duchy of the Isanor.
Councillor Arvelle Ganard and his company reach the advanced camp. After going ahead on foot, to the hilltop where the enemy can be seen. And observing them for a while, the member of the personal council to lord Farque returns to the camp. And details what the new plans are.
Telling the officers, including Tovis, what they're going to do.
The war engineer's eyebrows lift up in surprise as he listens to the plan devised by field commander Drubine, ork warleader Dorc da Orc and others.
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic, looks at Lisell Maera, who though not an officer in the armies of Farque. Is here listening in on the meeting called by councillor Ganard.
And he sees that the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, is also surprised at the new tactics devised by field commander Drubine and others.
Once the meeting is ended, and the officers given their orders. The councillor keeps the young engineer, and the messenger back.
Along with Larris the sorcerer, who at the moment, is part of councillor Ganard's company.
"Not much for me and my corp to do until we get to some favourable ground, and there's an actual battle" says Tovis the war engineer to the tall plainsman with the shaved head.
"I know" says Arvelle the plainsman, who continues with "That's why you will go north with the smaller force" he then adds "You'll take some of your corp and equipment with you".
The tall plainsman, who is a former illegal wrecker, then says after a brief pause "The lighter stuff that can be moved easily, not the larger war machines".
The war engineer nods in understanding, then nods again when the member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque gestures at the sorcerer and says "Larris will go with you".
Both the spellcaster and the young engineer slightly grin as they served together during the campaign in northern Nastell, and worked well together.
"Lis you'll remain with me" says the tall plainsman who isn't what he appears to be.
As he's really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Arvelle Ganard the plainsman.
"I need a reliable runner to relay messages back to Tam and the main force, with us here with the advanced forces" explains the member of lord Farque's personal council.
"I thought Dorc would be out here leading the advanced forces" says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, who continues with "After all, this is what he's good at".
"No he'll be going north with you Tovis" says councillor Ganard.
The war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic slightly frowns, then says "Is that a good idea?" followed by "Isn't Percy with those companies?".
"Normally I'd say it was a totally fucking stupid idea having those two together" says Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who then adds "But not this time" he continues with "Lord Farque himself will be going north too".
The three of them, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and Larris the sorcerer share a look, as councillor Girdane didn't mention that in the meeting a little earlier.
"The less who know about that, the better" quietly says Arvelle the plainsman in the elven language "Even amongst our own ranks" adds the former illegal wrecker who used to ply his trade up on the Kaldel Plains.
The three of them nod, then Arvelle aka Zubutai the son of Timagin says to the young engineer, and the spellcaster "You two might as well gather those here you're taking, and head back to the main camp" the tall plainsman with the shaved head then adds "They're expecting you lot".
Both Tovis the war engineer and Larris the sorcerer nod, then they move off, to collect those of the engineering corp who are in the advanced camp, who they'll take north.
Meanwhile, the member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque says to Lisell Maera "Might as well go and take a look at them again since they're not all that far away from here".
The messenger in the armies of Farque nods, and she along with councillor Ganard, and a handful of others in his company, head up to the hilltop where the nearby enemy can be seen from.
By the time they've got to the crest of that particular hill, here in the duchy of Isanor.
Tovis the war engineer, Larris the sorcerer, and others in the engineering corp, have mounted with their gear. And are riding back to the main camp of the armies of the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
To join up with those who will be traveling north, as the new plan for the campaign against the crown of Girdane gets underway.
Up on the crest of the hill, where the king's forces are being observed from. Lisell Maera as she lies there on the windy hilltop, quietly asks the member of the personal council to lord Farque "So what exactly are we doing here?".
As he looks through a cylindrical eyepiece, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman replies to the messenger's question with "We're going to pick a fight, that's what we're doing here".
The attractive young woman originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, slightly winces at the prospect of that. Now that a sizeable number of their own army are leaving, and heading north . . . . . .

A Grand Design 22.

Winter. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Some of duke Hilloc's men ride up over the hill, and look down upon the road. After bringing their mounts to a halt, more than a few of them glance at one another.
For down on the road, is a company of the king's army. About two hundred of them. Who have been wiped out to a man.
Though they didn't enter into battle with any of the rebels from the very west of the kingdom of Girdane.
The squad leader in command of the mounted patrol looks around. He contemplates riding down to the road to take a closer look.
But he decides not to, as he's heard the reports of similar situations, which have been traps.
The squad leader and the rest of his men look all around, especially to the east, the direction the enemy company were coming from.
Then not wanting to linger, as who knows what could be around. The leader orders the squad to turn, and head back to the army.
Watching them ride away, is a child amongst the trees on a hill on the opposite side of the road.
The child, who is wearing thin, thread bare clothes, and no shoes. Even though it's a chilly, early winters day. Wondered if the mounted squad in duke Hilloc's army would ride down to the road, and have a closer look at the company in the king's army who have been wiped out.
But prudence got the better of them. And they decided to turn around. And head back in the direction they came from.
Lucky for them that they did. For the child, a young girl of about seven or eight years of age.
Turns and heads back further into the trees. Where waits thirty or so other children and youngsters. Who like her, are all waagen. Who over the last couple of weeks. Have been attacking both sides of the conflict that's broken out in the west of the kingdom of Girdane.
Arvelle Ganard the plainsman dismounts, and hands the reins of his mount to one of his company.
The tall plainsman with a shaved head, looks down at the tracks and marks in the ground. Around the devastation of a combined company of the three dukes of the very west of Girdane. Who have been killed to the last man.
It's not difficult to figure out who did it. Because it wasn't the enemy. As both soldiers and horses, have been ripped and torn apart.
The tall plainsman who is a former illegal wrecker, looks over at one of his company for today.
"Still no sign of them?" asks Arvelle Ganard the plainsman "Nothing councillor" is the reply of Larris the sorcerer, as he looks across the muddy field, where nearly a hundred and eighty of the dukes Hilloc, Korros and Lombasil's soldiers lie dead, along with most of their horses as they were a mounted company.
The tall plainsman, who in actual fact is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of the former illegal wrecker Arvelle Ganard. Looks over to where one of the scouts is pointing away to the right.
"They go that way?" asks the member of lord Farque's personal council "Yes councillor" is the reply of the scout, who then adds "No doubt they disappeared like the others".
"No doubt" quietly says Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who after a moments silence, adds "Might as well have a look to make sure".
Once the councillor is mounted again, they skirt around the muddy field that's part of a farmstead, the house of which, along with the barn, or what's left of them, can be seen in the distance, smouldering.
Arvelle Ganard's mounted company don't ride very much further, when the scout in the lead stops, and points down at the ground.
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, along with subaltern Larris ride ahead.
And when they reach the scout, the former illegal wrecker who used to ply his trade up on the Kaldel Plains, asks the scout "How many this time?".
"Over twenty I'd say" is the reply of the scout, councillor Ganard nods, then he looks at Larris the sorcerer, who tells him "Rift most likely".
The tall plainsman nods, then asks "Any idea when?" followed by "This morning?".
"Most likely" says the spellcaster who is a subaltern in the armies of Farque, who then adds "If that smouldering farmhouse and barn is anything to go by".
Arvelle aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, shakes his head, then says in a slightly sour tone of voice "Fighting a war against the king is bad enough, but these attacks by these waagen are just plain annoying".
The sorcerer Larris nods in agreement, then councillor Ganard says "Let's head back".
Lord Farque walks through the woods, he's followed by Helbe the elven thief.
The undead warlord soon gets to his soldiers, most of whom, are on their knees. They bow their heads to the ground, as their lord and ruler walks by, who acknowledges them with a nod of his full helmed head.
Their officer is standing, and she bows to her lord, then says "That way my lord" as she points ahead.
The heavily armoured deathlord nods again, as he has already sensed the way to go.
The undead being, who is also known by the name of Draugadrottin to the people of his lands. Continues on his way through the woods. Followed now by both Helbe the elven thief and the officer.
The lord of the death realm walks another fifty yards or so, then he comes to a stop.
As across the ground, between the trees, and in bushes. Are the remains of a squad of a dozen of his soldiers in his army.
Lying with the torn apart bodies of his soldiers, are two dead children. Well, they were children. For they were waagen. Who reverted back to their human forms when they were killed. As they're riddled with arrows and crossbow bolts. And are covered in numerous wounds from various weapons.
The undead warlord looks at his dead soldiers, and the two children in silence for a while, then he turns to the officer.
"Have our people buried" says lord Farque, who continues with "I'll say a few words once they're rested in the ground".
"Yes my lord" says the officer, who bows, then turns and makes her way back to where the rest of the squad are waiting.
"Here?" quietly asks Helbe the elven thief as he looks at the Farqian soldiers who fought to the death against the waagen.
"No" says the heavily armoured deathlord, who like the elven magic user, speaks in the royal elven language.
"Too close to our dead" adds the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who then reaches down and picks up the two dead children. One by an arm, and the other by a leg.
And he walks away through the woods, followed by the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel.
While behind them, the officer and the squad move forward to bury their fellow soldiers in the army of Farque.
As they walk between the trees on this chilly winters morning here in the west of the kingdom of Girdane.
Lord Farque, or Des'tier as he's known by older generation of elven kind who might know him. Nods his full helmed head away to the right.
And says to the elven masterthief following him "They went that way, a couple more wounded, one badly who might die".
On the right shoulder of the elven master assassin. The ground pixie Narladene, nods in agreement. As she has seen the tracks of the waagen the squad of Farqian soldiers fought.
Where they went too, before finally disappearing, most likely through a rift.
"How many in total?" quietly asks the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
"By the looks of their markings, I'd say ten" is the reply of the lord of the death realm.
The highly talented elven magic user winces, as the squad of a dozen Farqian soldiers fought at least ten waagen.
And they managed to kill two of them, wounding two others, one badly too.
Prince Helbenthril Raendril doubts any other living soldiers in the world could of done that. With a squad of just twelve, against ten waagen.
The undead warlord finally comes to a stop, about five hundred yards away from the site of where the squad of his soldiers fought to the death.
Helbe the elven thief, with Narladene the ground pixie stays back as the deathlord of Farque drops the two dead children on the ground.
For over the years, and the number of times he's witnessed it. As has Narladene, it's always a little unnerving to see it in person.
Infact when they feel the air turn even colder, as the temperature drops. And blue light starts to emanate from the lord of the death realm.
The two of them look away. Looking off between the trees to the left as the heavily armoured deathlord raises the two waagen from the dead.
With horrific wounds, and arrows and bolts in them. The two children, one a boy of about eleven, and the other a girl around the same age.
After briefly being suffused by the same blue light that's glowing in the eyes of lord Farque. They unsteadily get to their feet and stare at him.
Draugadrottin looks closely at them, and seeing that the young girl is missing a fair chunk of her throat, and her lower jaw is gone, making it basically impossible for speech.
He slightly waves his right gauntleted hand, and she drops to the ground, after he returns her to a state of death.
The undead warlord then looks at the young boy, and after a few moments, there's a semblance of intelligence in the child's eyes.
Lord Farque slightly nods his full helmed head, then says "Speak" before he starts to ask a number of questions he wants answers to.
The field commander Tamric Drubine looks at the latest message that's just been delivered to him in his command tent.
And after reading it, he tosses it into a burning brazier, where it goes up into flames.
The nobleborn teenager who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, makes his way out of the tent. Followed by a pair of Farqian soldiers, who he knows have been specially trained by prince Helbenthril Raendril.
Waiting for the young field commander outside the tent, is one of his officers, who has been his acting subcommander, the avenger sir Kamson.
"Where's the warleader?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander "Behind your tent commander" says sir Kamson the avenger, who then adds in a slightly dry tone of voice "Sleeping".
Field commander Drubine listens carefully, then he rolls his eyes as hears the snoring coming from the otherside of his tent.
"Come on, we might as well wake him" dryly says Tamric Drubine who is more commonly called Tam by the others in the group.
He along with his two guards, and his acting subcommander make their way around to the backside of the tent.
Where they find Dorc da Orc, sprawled on the ground, fast asleep and snoring, with a couple of empty ale barrels nearby.
"Where the hell does he keep finding booze" mutters Tam, who then turns to one of the guards that's been assigned to him, and says "Galsin, your hammer".
The Farqian soldier hands the young field commander the hammer. Then the nobleborn teenager who hails from the kingdom of Sarcrin says "I'm certainly not kicking him" he continues in a mutter with "I'd probably break my foot" in response to the inquiring look directed at him by sir Kamson.
Field commander Drubine smashes the hammer down hard into the head of the sleeping ork warleader, to no effect.
Tam sourly smiles after hitting the large ork in the head a couple more times with the hammer, and is unable to wake him up.
The son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, which is located in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
Looks at his two guards and his acting subcommander, and says to them "Who wants to try?" as he offers the hammer he's holding.
The two soldiers and the avenger all look at one another, then sir Kamson quickly grabs the hammer from the hand of his field commander. Then he smashes it down onto the head of the sleeping ork warleader.
The avenger, who is a former member of the Knights of the Dark, has to whack the large ork three more times in the head.
Before the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Snorts in the middle of a snore, and he starts to wake up.
Looking at the hammer he's holding, sir Kamson quickly tosses it to Galsin, who hastily puts it in his belt loop as the ork warleader yawns as he wakes.
"Dorc, come along" says Tamric Drubine, as the ork weaponsmith sits up frowning, rubbing the side of his head, where sir Kamson whacked him a few times with the hammer.
"Huh?" says Dorc da Orc as he looks up and finds field commander Drubine standing there with the three others.
"We've got things to do" says the nobleborn teenager originally from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"Hey evil knight" says the large ork with a chuckle when he recognises sir Kamson, who sourly smiles as the ork warleader always refers to him as that.
Dorkindle is of the opinion that anyone who was in the order of the Knights of the Dark, is evil. More so if they quit their order and became an avenger.
The son of the former matriarch stands up and stretches, then grunts in disappointment as he looks at the empty ale barrels.
Then after looking around, he looks at the young field commander and asks "We not fucken moving?" as the camp isn't being broken down.
"No" says Tam who then adds "Not yet" the nobleborn teenager who hails from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin then tells the ork weaponsmith "A shitload of them have been spotted turning south".
"Lookin' for fucken ground to fight on Dorc reckons" says the warleader of the ork race, who then adds "Some fucken where they can out flank us".
The young field commander nods in agreement as he sets of with the large ork beside him.
While his acting subcommander, and his two guards follow behind them.
The armies of the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Though enthusiastic in their rebellion against the crown and king.
Not a lot of them are experienced in warfare. Infact just a small amount of them have been in a war before. And that was nearly twenty years ago in the battle of Vexil.
Where the kingdom of Girdane, and it's king at the time, king Jarnard the First of his name, the father of the current king.
Where one of the main antagonist against it's neighbour, the city-state of Vexil.
And while some in the armies of dukes Hilloc, Korros and Lombasil have been in battle before. For the most part their armies are inexperienced.
Something that Tamric Drubine, along with others in the armies of Farque, have to take into account as they command the campaign for the three dukes who have rebelled against the crown and king of Girdane.
As they head off to meet up with the dukes of the three most western duchies in the kingdom, field commander Drubine quietly tells the large ork "The waagen have again attacked both our armies and theirs over the last couple of days".
Dorc da Orc grunts, then asks "We kill any of them cunts this time?".
"Some of ours killed a couple of them yesterday" replies Tamric Drubine who then adds "Lord Farque and Helbe have gone to check on that".
The young field commander knows the undead warlord will get some answers to their questions, now that they've finally been able to kill some of the waagen. Who have proven to be elusive as they've randomly attacked both their forces, as well as the king.
"Hopefully we'll find out a bit more of what's going on" adds Tam, Dorkindle grunts as they go to meet the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen to plan the next phase of their campaign against the crown and king . . . . . .

A Grand Design 21.

Late Autumn. Oaklynn & Surrounds. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Once the coach is within the grounds of the regent's barracks and it stops infront of the buildings.
Lord Sammis the regent of the city of Oaklynn hops out of it, followed by his army's commander and one of his advisors. And they enter one of the buildings.
"Sir Welson can you go and check on how our men are faring, now that more of them are being deployed around the city and up at the docks" says lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn as the three of them head down a hallway.
"Yes my lord" says sir Welson, a nobleman from the duchy of Marsin, who is the regent's closest advisor.
Sir Welson turns left at a branch in the hallway, heading for the officers quarters in this particular building.
While regent Sammis and his army commander, who share a look, continue down the hallway.
For sir Welson might be the closest advisor to lord Sammis. But not everyone in his inner circle is privy to his plans that he's worked on for a number of years. Infact very few of them are.
The regent Sammis and his army commander, a man by the name of Jaqor Kaim. A man not of noble birth, who was a controversial appointment when he was made commander of the regent's army five years ago by lord Sammis.
For he was previously a commander of a mercenary company who were based here in the city of Oaklynn. A mercenary company that was absorbed into the regent's army when Jaqor Kaim was made commander.
Make their way through the building, and exit it. They cross the windswept courtyard behind it. Heading to a set of stables.
At one end of which, stands two soldiers in the regent's army, who have only recently returned to the city of Oaklynn.
After the two soldiers bow to their lord, one of them opens one of the stable doors. And the regent and his army commander enter the stables. The stable door closes behind them.
Inside the stables, captain Kilmane who is looking at one of the horses in one of the stalls, turns and makes his way to his lord and his commander.
While the wizard Haric is dozing nearby on some hay bales.
After bowing to the regent of Oaklynn, and greeting his commander, captain Kilmane says "They're further north of the docks, thought it would be little safer if they weren't in the city at this time" followed by "Sarmac and some of the others are with them".
In response to lord Sammis asking him "Where are they?".
After hearing that reply from the captain, the officer he trusts most in his army, even more so than commander Kaim.
So much so, he put Kilmane in charge of his plans out in the very west of the kingdom during the summer and autumn.
The regent of the capital city Oaklynn nods, then asks "How many did you bring with you?".
"A little over thirty of them" is the response from captain Kilmane, who is still out of uniform, and wearing the armour and clothes he wore while he was out in the very west of the kingdom. Which he only returned from late yesterday morning.
"That's well under half of them" continues the captain in the regent's army, who then adds "But they're the best at following orders, and have proved to be the best in combat so far".
"Good to hear" quietly says lord Sammis, who then asks "And what's their best like?".
"Those thirty, even though they've only recently been turned, could easily wipe out a company of two and hundred and fifty of our best men" says captain Kilmane.
"Hell" mutters Jaqor Kaim the army commander, while the regent of Oaklynn grins at what he's just heard from the captain.
"Grance has come along with them to keep them inline" says the captain in the regent's army.
"One of those three we hired isn't he?" asks lord Sammis "He is" says Kilmane who continues with "Him being here might be a bit of a problem, considering he refuses to change to his human form".
"Hmmm" murmurs the regent of Oaklynn who is a cousin of the king of Girdane.
Lord Sammis mulls this over for a few moments, then he says "We'll have to work something out, and keep him out of sight".
Captain Kilmane nods, then the regent asks him "And the others?" followed by "Still out west?".
"They are" says the captain in the regent's army, who follows that with "They're hanging back for now. But once the king's army engages with the forces of those three dukes. They'll start picking both sides off at opportune times".
Both lord Sammis and commander Kaim nod in satisfaction at that. Then the king's older cousin looks over at the dozing wizard, and dryly asks the captain "How was he out there?" as he gestures at the spellcaster on the nearby hay bales.
Even though he doesn't particularly like Haric the wizard, captain Kilmane says "He was more than adequate" as they look at the overweight, and slovenly looking wizard in the rumpled, ruby coloured robes.
"He looks a state, and he's annoying" says the captain in the regent's army, who continues with "But he gets the job done, so that's all that matters".
"Yes, that's all that matters" says the regent Sammis as he looks at the spellcaster, who though younger than him by fifteen years or so. He got to know well, as he was brought up and raised on the regent's family lands. Which are further to the north of the city of Oaklynn.
And they became good friends, not that that's common knowledge. As the newly made lord at the time, found the young spellcaster to have an extremely quick mind. Who could come up with complex ideas with ease.
Even though his appearance, isn't what you'd expect with someone with an agile mind.
"Wake him up" says lord Sammis as he gestures at the dozing wizard "I want to see them for myself" adds the regent of Oaklynn, who is the older cousin of king Jarnard the Second of Girdane.
Captain Kilmane nods, then walks over to where the dozing wizard is, and kicks one of the hay bales Haric is sleeping on.
"Wake up wizard, we've got visitors" says the captain in the regent's army.
The spellcaster grunts, and opens his eyes "Sammis?" says the wizard Haric as he peers through the gloomy stables at the two figures standing near the end of the stalls.
The overweight wizard in the rumpled robes gets up with a groan, then says "My lord" as gives a perfunctory bow to the nobleman he serves.
The regent of Oaklynn steps forward and nods, then he says "Haric" by way of greeting, followed by "Take us to them".
The portly wizard who knows exactly who the regent means, grunts again then says "Of course".
He then takes a deep breath, and casts a rift spell here in the stables. It quickly forms as they're not going all that far.
Captain Kilmane is first through it, followed by commander Kaim, then regent Sammis himself. The wizard Haric is the last one through the rift.
The otherside of the rift, which disappears once Haric has come out of it. Is to the north of the city of Oaklynn.
Amongst the rows of warehouses just beyond where the airdocks are. They're about a half a mile from the massive docks. And a further mile and a half from the city itself.
They're at the northern end of the warehouses. Behind one of them, that have a handful of the regent's soldiers, out of uniform. Watching it from nearby.
"Best to keep your hands away from your weapons" says Haric the wizard to the regent and the army commander.
"The children don't particularly care, but Grance doesn't like it when you rest a hand on a hilt, or hold onto a weapon" adds the spellcaster who is originally from further north here in the duchy of Marsin, where the city of Oaklynn is located.
Captain Kilmane nods in agreement, then says "He can be a bit touchy about things like that".
The regent nods, then asks "We have any problems with that out there?" followed by "We lose any of our men to them?".
"Just the two" says Kilmane who continues with "One who kept holding onto his dagger when he was around Grance" the captain then adds "And another who was accidentally mauled by one of the youngsters".
Captain Kilmane shakes his head in disgust, as he says "The idiot got too close to the child after it first changed" he then adds in a slightly dry tone of voice "You want to give them room when the first change after being turned".
"I'll make sure to remember that" wryly murmurs lord Sammis, the regent of Oaklynn.
They walk up to a plain looking door at one end of the warehouse, and captain Kilmane knocks upon it.
A couple of moments later, it opens, to reveal the keeper Sarmac, who bows and says "My lord".
"We're here to see them Sarmac" says the regent Sammis, who has known Sarmac since childhood, as he was the apprentice gamekeeper on his family's lands, eventually becoming the full time gamekeeper, before joining the regent's army.
"Of course my lord" says Sarmac, who steps aside, allowing those outside to enter the warehouse.
The warehouse is over two hundred feet long, and in places it's stacked with crates and boxes, and barrels. While towards this end, there's piles of sacks full of grain more than anything else. Along with thirty or so children and youngsters, who are spread out across this end of the warehouse.
The regent of Oaklynn knew that they were all children and adolescents. But actually seeing them, and knowing what they can turn into, and what they're capable of. Is something else entirely different.
"You wouldn't think of it by looking at them, at what they can do" quietly says lord Sammis in barely more than a whisper.
"No use keeping quiet my lord" says the keeper Sarmac, who continues on with "They can hear you even if you whisper".
Both captain Kilmane and the wizard Haric nod in agreement with the keeper, who wears a leather smock like the one's worn by blacksmiths.
The regent of Oaklynn nods, then he looks at the captain in his army, and says "In your messages, you said they're still growing".
"They are" says captain Kilmane, who follows that with "Normally in their human forms, but far more so in their other form" he then adds "Some of them are nearly six foot tall in their other form".
The regent nods as he looks at the children, who after a curious look at the new arrivals, have gone back to doing what they were doing when lord Sammis and the others entered the warehouse.
Some are reading books, others are playing children games, like knucklebones, with real knucklebones. While others are sleeping on sacks of grain and flour.
Lord Sammis slightly smiles as he watches them. As they'll be his instrument of change here in the capital city. When he unleashes them to do what he's planned.
Then the regent looks at the former gamekeeper at his family's estate further north in the duchy of Marsin, and asks him "And Grance?".
"Grance!" calls out Sarmac the keeper, who then tells the regent and the others "He's down the far end".
From between the rows of boxes and crates that are stacked up towards the roof of the nearly twenty foot high warehouse. Walks a massive form, that's nearly seven foot tall, and must weigh in excess of four hundred pounds.
As it gets closer, the regent of Oaklynn, and his army commander. Sees that it's fur is dark in colour. And that it's snout and maw, isn't particularly elongated, but more snub nosed than what they were expecting.
All the same, when looking at it. The fully grown waagen gives off a look of strength and power, coupled with extreme violence. Which they've been told, it's certainly capable of.
And though both the regent and his army commander what to feel the reassuring touch of the hilt of their swords in their hands as they watch the large creature walk this way.
They do what Haric the wizard told them to do, and they keep their hands away from their weapons.
When he reaches them, and after looking at the regent of Oaklynn, Grance the waagen says "Lord Sammis i assume?".
"I am" says the king's older cousin, who wasn't expecting to understand the waagen so easily "Good to finally meet you" adds the regent, who had the wizard Haric search throughout the central region of the Southlands for the last few years, for something like a waagen.
And the rather slovenly looking spellcaster in the last two years was able to find not just one waagen, but three.
All of whom are mercenary in nature. Who are willing to do anything for a price. A rather large price at that.
Something which lord Sammis is willing to pay. As it will more than help with his plans.
"I hope everything is to your satisfaction" says the regent of Girdane as he gestures around at the warehouse they're in.
"I've been in worse accommodations" says the large creature in a slightly dry tone of voice, the waagen then continues with "But it's adequate".
Grance after a slight pause, then adds "Though the food is a bit disappointing".
"The waagen prefer fresh, or live food my lord" says Sarmac the keeper, who nods to some of the nearby children, and adds "Even in their human froms".
The former gamekeeper from the estate of the regent's family, then says "We've got some animals coming in from the stock pens near the airdocks" Sarmac nods at Grance and some of the nearby children, as he adds "That should state their appetite".
"To a point" sourly says the large canine like creature that stands on two legs. Towering over everyone else in the warehouse.
Lord Sammis lifts a questioning eyebrow as he looks at the keeper Sarmac, then captain Kilmane, and finally the wizard Haric. Whom all slightly grimace.
Then Kilmane tells the regent of Oaklynn "Waagen prefer humans for their food my lord".
"What, alive?" asks lord Sammis, captain Kilmane nods yes. And the regent of the capital city slightly grimaces. While a grin appears on the canine like, short muzzle of Grance.
The king of Girdane's older cousin, then looks at commander Jaqor Kaim, and says "We might have to clear out some of the city's jails" followed by "People won't miss the lowlife reprobates".
The army commander nods his head, as the city's regent gestures at the nearby waagen, then at Grance as he adds "Anything to make our visitors stay here more accommodating".
Grance the waagen grunts in satisfaction at that, as he thought he might have to forgo the taste of human flesh while they stay here in the city of Oaklynn.
Then the large creature, who is immune to magic, looks down at lord Sammis and asks "So when do you want us to do this?".
"Hopefully within the next few weeks" is the reply of regent Sammis, who continues with "Not until the king's army is fully engaged in the war with the rebels from out west".
They all nod at that. While the regent of Oaklynn can't wait for the next phase of his plan, or his grand design if you will.
Jarnard won't have any clue what's about to hit him, lord Sammis thinks to himself, referring to his younger cousin, king Jarnard the Second, king of Girdane. Who has absolutely no idea what regent Sammis has install for him . . . . . .

A Grand Design 20.

Late Autumn. Western Girdane.

"Hmmmm" murmurs Narladene the ground pixie as she pops her head up out of the ground and looks around.
Above her on a tree branch, a squirrel is chirping at her in a scolding manner.
The naturally magical creature tells it to get lost, and the squirrel after one last chirp, scampers away up through the branches of the tree.
"Not here" Narladene murmurs to herself, who then sighs, and drops back down beneath the ground. And she continues on her way.
The tiny winged creature has been searching for days now. Trying to find the waagen, who have been attacking the villages in the remotest parts of western Girdane.
Waagen who have also been attacking the king's men who have come out to the very west of the kingdom, to help stop the spread of the plague that's hit some of the villages and farmsteads in the duchies of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen.
As well as attacking the forces of the dukes of the three most western duchies in the kingdom.
Narladene who is in the duchy of Falosen at the moment. Pops her head up out of the ground again, about half a mile from where she did previously.
The naturally magical creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, and who is attached to Helbe the elven thief.
Comes up completely out of the ground when she spots something away to her right. The ground pixie wings her way over to it.
And looks carefully at the ground, where she sees footprints, or more precisely boot marks. She looks a few yards away to the right of them. And sees more boot marks. And near them, she finds what she's been looking for, signs of waagen. A small group of them by the looks of it.
Narladene follows the boot marks and the waagen tracks, which by her best guess, look to be at least a week old. Heading south, she only follows them for a few hundred yards, until they suddenly disappear.
"Drats" mutters the tiny winged creature, as she realises that the waagen and those with them, went through a rift or gateway.
The naturally magical creature sighs, then she turns around, and follows the tracks back to where they've come from.
The ground pixie goes a good mile and a half, nearly two before she makes an important find amongst some woods.
Narladene frowns as she looks down into a large, and fairly deep trench dug into a clearing within the woods.
Down in it, are two rows of empty wooden cages.
She goes down into it, and when she sees that the cages aren't overly large, she slightly grimaces when she realises they're only big enough to hold children or youngsters.
The naturally magical creature comes up out of the trench in the ground. And through the trees to the left, she spots another clearing in the woods, about fifty yards away. She wings her way over to it.
The ground pixie who hails from the Sunreach Mountains, who first met prince Helbenthril Raendril in the city of Leeabra, the capital of the kingdom of Druvic.
Finds another trench dug into the ground, with a similar amount of empty wooden cages in it, two rows of about fifty each.
Also in this clearing, about ten yards from one end of the large trench in the ground. Is a fairly large tree stump, that has an iron chain wrapped around it.
Narladene slightly grimaces again when she sees the iron chain has fetters at one end of it. And that the stump, and the ground immediately around it, is fairly dark in colour. From a large amount of dried blood.
"Fucking hell" mutters the tiny winged creature as she can imagine what happened here. Where children and youngsters who were taken from their villages and farmsteads in the remote areas of the duchies of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen, were turned into waagen.
Well, some of them were, most were probably killed in the attempt.
The ground pixie finds evidence of that, when she heads through the woods, and about fifty yards from the second clearing. Between some trees, she finds where a large pit has been dug.
The naturally magical creature, just shakes her head, as she looks at the dozens and dozens of bodies of children and youngsters in various stages of decomposition within the pit.
Most if not all are in parts, with very few of them whole. And even then, those that still resemble a child or youngster have chunks of flesh torn from them.
As she wanders through the woods, Narladene finds two more of these pits. And she guesses there's about two hundred and fifty to three hundred dead children and youngsters in them.
Less than half of the missing from the villages and farmsteads of the remote areas of the three most western duchies in the kingdom of Girdane.
She figures there must be a similar site to this one, somewhere else in western Girdane. Where the missing children and youngsters were turned into waagen.
The naturally magical creature sourly smiles as she looks at the last of the large pits she has found.
Then she wings her way up to the branches of a nearby tree. Where she talks to a pair of larks. Birds she find that are always willing to gossip.
Narladene like all pixies and sprites has the ability to speak with every kind of natural animal.
Speaks with the pair of birds, who are willing to tell her everything that's happened in their part of the woods over the last few weeks.
As she listens to the larks, the naturally magical creature looks away to the east, more specifically the southeast.
Then after speaking to the pair of birds, she drops down to the ground, and goes into it.
Beneath the ground, Narladene senses as far as she can. Not for magic, but for movement.
The tiny winged creature senses as carefully as she can. And after a few moments she locates what can only be a village. About eight miles away to the east and south.
The ground pixie frowns as she wonders why she can feel people moving about in that particular village. And why it wasn't wiped out by the waagen and those they're with. Especially since they were based not all that far from it.
The naturally magical creature originally from the Sunreach Mountains, who until recent memory, within the last twenty years.
Was the last being to see a Greater Dragon, about five hundred and fifty years ago, when she was a young pixie.
Starts making her way to the southeast, and wonders if the village and it's inhabitants weren't wiped out by both the plague and the waagen.
Just incase it's location gave away where some of the waagen and those working with them, were based.
Just after midday, when she gets to the village, and does a little nosing around. Listening to the villagers and those from the nearby farms who are in the village today.
That is indeed what she finds out. As she hears from more than a few of the locals. That the strangers who have often come to their village since the end of the summer. Have stopped coming over the last week or so.
They've usually been here to buy supplies, mostly food. But also equipment, like milled wood and rope.
And by the sounds of it, from what the villagers describe them as. Narladene figures that the strangers are either mercenaries or military of some kind. Though they wore no uniforms, tabbards, or sigils.
But to the inhabitants of the village, that was left alone by both the plague, and the marauding waagen.
The strangers who had often visited them during the autumn, were definitely fighting men.
The naturally magical creature who is attached to prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel, hangs around the village for much of the afternoon trying to find out any information as she can.
Then the ground pixie from the Sunreach Mountains takes off. Heading east and south across the duchy of Falosen. As she goes to catch up to the army.
Which no doubt has left the duchy of Dalmar, and crossed over in the duchy of Poldis by now.
A sure sign, that the rebellion by the three most western duchies in the kingdom of Girdane. The duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar, against the crown and king. Is now well and truly underway.
Narladene travels throughout the rest of the day, and into the night. Right through the night, and into the morning.
The tiny winged creature who finds it easier, and much quicker to fly through the ground than the air.
Doesn't need sleep or rest of any kind. It's one of the advantages of being a naturally magical creature like a pixie or sprite.
She has just gone under a narrow country road in northern Girnath, when she suddenly stops. And heads back to it. Once she's under the hard packed dirt road again.
The ground pixie from the Sunreach Mountains senses, both for movement as well as magic.
Narladene slightly frowns, then she takes off again, following the path of the road as she travels beneath the ground.
The tiny winged creature follows it eastwards, flying as fast as she can. She sticks her head up through the surface of the road after she's gone a few miles.
And before she pops her head back down through the ground. She spots a number of wagons. Along with dead horses, as well as dead soldiers scattered across the road and just off it. Soldiers in the army of king Jarnard the Second of Girdane.
Narladene can immediately recognise that they didn't die all that long ago. Probably just before dawn.
"Come on" the naturally magical creature mutters to herself as she flies beneath the ground, more or less following the path of the country road as it goes eastwards through the duchy of Girnath.
The ground pixie with her tiny gossamer wings fluttering faster than the eye can see. Continues to fly as fast as she can underground. With a scowl on her pretty little face as she does so.
"Almost there" mutters Narladene as she continues to sense both movement and magic. Then she mutters "Fuck" in disgust, silently followed by, Damn it!
The tiny winged creature sighs, and slows down. And after about another five hundred yards or so. She comes up through the ground.
And sees the waagen tracks and boot marks on this section of the road, which is slightly damp this cold late autumn morning, after a brief shower just before dawn.
The ground pixie sourly smiles, as she sees where the waagen tracks and boot marks go off the road, then suddenly disappear.
Narladene shakes her head, as she wasn't all that far behind them. But now she knows there was about thirty waagen, along with a dozen others. Men from what she could sense from their movement.
She also knows they're with a wizard who she sensed. Who created a rift, which they all went through. Just before the tiny winged creature got here.
The naturally magical creature knows that the rift went somewhere to the east in the kingdom. And from how powerful she sensed the wizard was, she figures they could of gone as much as two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles away.
"Now i know there's a wizard involved" Narladene murmurs to herself, she also knows that she can easily identify, and locate him again if she's within twenty miles of his location.
The ground pixie looks away to the east for a few moments later as the sun continues to rise in the east on this partly cloudy, late autumn morning here in the very west of the kingdom of Girdane.
Then Narladene drops back down into the ground, and turns south. And heads off again, going in search of the army, that Helbe the elven thief and the rest of the group are with.
The naturally magical creature travels throughout the rest of the day, and the night. Always sensing for movement, as well as magic.
Just incase she's able to locate any more of the waagen, and those who are with them.
But she finds no more signs of them. As she heads into the duchy of Dalmar the following afternoon.
The tiny winged creature then turns eastwards once she's in northern Dalmar. And by the next morning. She's nearing the border with the duchy of Poldis. The duchy directly to the east of Dalmar.
Narladene soon finds the spot of the camp that she left a number of days ago. And a little bit later she comes across the sight of the next camp, that's just before the border of the duchy of Poldis.
The tiny winged creature continues beneath the ground, under the road the army has used to go east.
She's soon into the duchy of Poldis, and though she periodically checks above the ground. She finds no signs of battle as of yet.
Though she can clearly see the way the formidable army from the very west of the kingdom of Girdane has gone on it's way eastwards.
It's later at night, that the naturally magical creature comes across the rear of the army, that consists of the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen's armies. Along with one of the armies of Farque, who have been hired by the three dukes of the western most duchies in the kingdom.
The ground pixie sees that it's the last of the supply wagons. Who are about to stop for the night. She continues onwards, not stopping until the middle of the night.
When she finally gets towards the front of the army, and where they've stopped for the night.
Narladene heads to where the army of Farque have set up. And she goes immediately to lord Farque's tent.
Who has sensed her approaching, and called Helbe the elven thief, Arvelle the plainsman, and Tamric Drubine the field commander to his tent.
The ground pixie lands upon the right shoulder of prince Helbenthril Raendril who slightly smiles at her appearance.
Then Narladene makes herself visible to both Arvelle Ganard, and Tamric Drubine, who normally can't see her.
"What did you find?" quietly asks lord Farque in the elven language as he sits upon his camp chair after a yawning Arvelle Ganard lights a couple of lamps in the tent.
The naturally magical creature then explains everything she found out in her search for the waagen, who have attacked both the king's men, and the soldiers of the three dukes who have rebelled against the crown.
As well as a number of villages, and farmsteads in remote areas of the duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
The elven masterthief, the former illegal wrecker, and the nobleborn teenager all grimace when Narladene describes the location she found where the missing children and youngsters were turned into waagen. Well those who actually survived the ordeal. As all the others were killed in the attempt.
The ground pixie attached to the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel then describes how close she came to actually seeing a fair sized group of the waagen, and those others with them. Before they disappeared through a rift, and headed further east into the kingdom.
"A wizard you say?" quietly says the undead warlord after the tiny winged creature originally from the Sunreach Mountains, sums up what she found as she searched throughout the duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
"It was" is the quiet reply from Narladene, lord Farque slightly nods his full helmed head, then looks at the other three and asks them "Do we know if anyone of significance here in the kingdom has a wizard who is close to them?".
"None that I've heard about" says Helbe the elven thief, both Arvelle the plainsman and Tamric Drubine the field commander nod in agreement with the elven master assassin.
"Then that's something we'll have to find out" says the heavily armoured deathlord.
"You think it's someone within the kingdom attacking both our side and the king's with these waagen?" asks the highly talented elven magic user.
"Seems most likely" says the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who continues with "The most complicated of plans, is usually done by someone fairly obvious that people tend to overlook".
Draugadrottin as he's also known by to the people of his lands, looks at the nobleborn teenager, then the tall plainsman, and the young elven noble, and then finally the ground pixie.
And he quietly tells the four of them "We find where these waagen and others have gone to, and we'll find whoever it is that's behind these attacks" lord Farque briefly pauses before adding "And when we do, we can deal to them too" . . . . . .