Path of Majesty (Memory)
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 12:26 pm
Glade 4, 4508 ¤
Down the stairs they came yelling and whooping, one even blowing a horn. They were then surrounded by all sides and fighting for their lives, as the battle waged blood was spilled all over Vrak and his comrades, the fight was eventually had with no casualties and only two guards were injured. The post was theirs for the taking and residing in, for now, until the Krish got wise when their outpost was found overrun. Mirth had assured the Men from his intel they ran resources back every two days to this outpost from their main tower not far. This means they had at least a day's time before they were compromised, but they spent no time getting ready, not making themselves comfortable in the slightest. Instead they fortified and organized, setting up camps and readying weapons. They would bring the fight to the main tower in a day.
Food was rations and there was a pot of chili made for the Men of Majesty who tried to share with the guards, who were disinterested. That night without a sign of the Krish they had until daybreak to make their way to the tower, sleep was restless for those who dared most stood watch and at daybreak they made their way north towards Aud and not long after breaking the cover of trees saw in the rolling hills a tower in the distance made of dark stone. Marching forward they expected a great battle ahead of them but they were thirty strong with the guards help who proved in the first battle to be worthy enough.
While they only needed three heads Povrak had explained in private what Grunla had told him about the land. He didn’t explain his personal entanglements with the woman, but Mugrock had a sly, slight smirk on his face when hearing of the woman’s name.
“Grulna, I think I’ve heard of her before. Prominent around here… very well, we will have the manpower I believe. Let’s take it to them.”
There they were, lying in wait now ready to ambush the tower. It was three stories high and made with black stone; gardens surrounded the building in ruin left unattended by the Krish. A storehouse wasn’t far and there were some skinny horses tied up to the shack-like barn. The arches set to ready as one of the Men blew the horn they had collected from before. As if on cue they blew their own and came running out to greet the collected Men, who had opened a door in the back and some were sneaking inside while the fight in the front of the building distracted them. Podvrak was among them coming in, not much for sneaking, he was there for when things went wrong; as no stealth was truly needed to slaughter a building full of evil minded people. No one would come to their aid and the Men would be praised for this deed. Putting their life on the line is why they created their band of mercenaries, and not to mention, they always got paid in the end.
The battle started with archers, Mugrock included, sending arrows at the first and second waves of Krish. The stronger Krish who batted off the arrows stuck in their flesh were slaughtered by the combined Men and guardsmen who used sword, shield, pole arm, and ax to defend themselves. Blood flowed on the ground as the Krish attempted retreat, closing the two large doors which allowed entry into the main lobby. Instead, from behind them Podvrak and the others who had snuck in took them over and the Men overran the building from the inside, headed upwards to root them out. The battle took hours, Krish like rats in every cranny, and upon reaching the top the men were exhausted. One lone Krish remained, a wizard, who spoke common. He said.
“I can tell your future, you blissless bastards, and what I see is not good. You will die by the hand most familiar in a strange place upon the hare blood moon. I see so clearly on the altar…. You’re weeping…”
The Krish wizard raised a hand towards the group and was slain by one of Mugrock’s arrows in the throat. Silencing his madness forever. They took his head and two more from the body pile collected and burned outside far from the unoccupied tower. Those who weren’t wounded were assembled and given tasks. A team of three Men were sent to Aud to send word about the tower and send people to occupy it.
Several of Adela's guards stayed while the remaining Men all left and took the heads back to Mirth. Travel was slow for the tired Men but they reached there in several hours worse for wear, covered in blood of their own as well as their enemies, asking for payment and this time Mirth would not take no for an answer.
“You bring word you have slain the tower in the North? This is the head of the wizard? I feel such joy, I cannot believe. Spend a night with me here at the castle for a feast, I will provide you all with rooms and drink aplenty. And tickets to the bathhouse, on me. You reek of gore.”
Glade 5, 4508
The feast was marvelous and the drink overflowed to the point he could not remember the night. But Mugrock seemed to and was in such a chipper mood.
“I have made arrangements with Mirth, we’re taking on a long term contract here as his personal guard. That is with stipulation we’re able to build a permanent residency or operation here in Adela. He will pay for the building and give us the remainder pocket change, we will essentially be working to build this. So, labor of the soul, are you ready to fight for peace? The Krish won’t like that we slaughtered their outpost, more and worse are bound to come. I want to know, are you ready to fight for this? I haven’t spoken to the other men, but if we build a base we can expand and maybe make a guild, Men of Majesty, fighting for honor. We could retire and train others in the arts, of what’s right and wrong in the world…”
Podvrak had asked for time to think it over. All he could think about now was his promise to Grulna and the aching gash by his ribs from the spear that pierced between his armor and got him there. It was hard to breathe but he was able to walk and just couldn’t make any sudden movements. He found himself eventually stumbling in the streets, unaware how he had gotten there and panting like a dog, leaning over a horse trough. In the crystal clear waters he could see the clouds behind him drift by and then his eyes, the pupils so dilated he thought he must be dehydrated from the night before. Someone tapped him on the back, Podvrak flinched, and they asked if he wanted to see a healer. He obliged by revealing the blood stained wrap around the wound on his ribcage. He was taken to the last house on the hill towards the barns, deposited in a smoke-filled room on a bed surrounded by native flowers and incense and candles. Bones hung from the ceiling and there were pelts of animals hung around with runes inscribed on them. The room was dark and smoky, with Podvrak in the very center surrounded by a circle of herbs. He felt more awakened and revitalized the more he breathed in until someone came in the room through a canvas door, Grulna. She had on her usual long skirt and an apron, as well as wearing a mask. She looked surprised and happy to see him, placing her hands on his body and inspecting the wound as he grimaced, realizing she was a medicine woman all along.
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