by Seth Ring
By the time Earl Blaige finished his rant he was practically screaming, causing the entire area to fall into pin-drop silence. Thorn was amused, but when he glanced around, he found all three of the other generals and the duke had their gazes fixed on him, a burning intensity shining from their eyes.
“You travelers can do that?” It was General Rensfaul who spoke, his voice barely a whisper. “You can communicate instantly over long distances?”
“Uh, yeah? All players, I mean travelers, can do that. You didn’t know?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Thorn found himself besieged by the three generals, each doing their best to pull him toward their personal force. It was only after the duke finally called them to order that they calmed down and stepped back. Grinning triumphantly, Earl Blaige pushed his fat body to stand in front of Thorn. Trying to cross his arms over his chest, he realized that he could not actually cross them because of how large he was, so he settled for placing them on his hips, making himself look like even more of a ball.
“How did you learn about this, Bothsworth?”
“Ah, it is a poorly kept secret at the academy, sir. We had a lot of dealings with the travelers who set up shops in the capital city, and we just sort of figured it out over time. But normally travelers are so fickle they are not worth employing so we never did much with the information. You know, you hire them to do a job and they only do it once or twice if they do it at all? And then they run off to Terra knows where to find something else to do. Really strange when you think about it.”
“Ehem, yes, I see.” Slightly embarrassed by the young earl’s comments, Duke Carlton turned to Thorn. “Earl Greymane, I’m afraid I might have to change your orders once again. You see, such wondrous communication is a matter of immense advantage, and we would be fools not to use it. Glettenberg, call all the officers here, they will need a demonstration of this if they are to believe it and accept the travelers into their midst. We’ll divide the Iron Wolf Army into four equal forces of twenty five hundred soldiers each, assigning them to each general.”
“What? Absolutely not!”
Earl Blaige protested, trying to draw himself to his full height. Unfortunately, all he managed to do was make the rolls of fat on his body jiggle.
“If you do that, you will cripple the effectiveness of an immortal combat force! You must keep the core of the army together and use them as a dagger to drive into the villainous Orc’s hearts!”
“But I thought you were not concerned with military strength,” General Thiera teased.
Lifting his head up righteously, Earl Blaige lifted his finger into the air as he replied.
“While the most important thing for a general is strategy, one must have the ability to crush the enemy if one wants to go to war!”
“Why is he speaking like that?”
Thorn tried to whisper to General Rensfaul who was standing next to him. Unfortunately, Thorn’s voice was naturally carrying and everyone in the area heard his comment clearly, causing the fat earl to cough in embarrassment as everyone began to laugh.
“The point is that you assigned the Iron Wolf Army to me, and while I’m more than willing to lend, say one thousand soldiers, to each general, I am not willing to lend them all.”
“Impossible. You can’t keep all of them to yourself! We don’t have enough travelers as it is, and you want to hog them?” Marquis Glettenberg shook his head as he turned to look at Duke Carlton. “My lord, the best use for the Iron Wolf force is spread evenly across the whole army.
“Are you crazy?!”
Earl Blaige flushed bright red again as he pointed a shaking finger at Marquis Glettenberg. Reacting quickly before the marquis could turn back around and see the finger, Thorn placed his hand over Earl Blaige’s. While everyone seemed to treat the fat young earl with great leniency, disrespecting a higher ranked noble was a serious crime and Thorn thought it better to avoid it.
“Ehem, why don’t we split the difference? I think four thousand troops is the lowest I can go and still maintain our core fighting strength. We could send two thousand troops with each of the other generals and leave the remaining four thousand under my command in Earl Blaige’s army.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
After thinking over Thorn’s suggestion, Duke Carlton agreed and Marquis Glettenberg left to gather all of the officers. Opening up a chat with Hasta, Thorn sent a quick message while they were waiting for the officers to arrive. Explaining the situation, he asked Hasta to split out two battalions for each of the other generals. The Iron Wolf Army was given their division assignments, leaving Thorn in command of the First, Second, Fifth, and Tenth battalions. Jumping back on the general chat, Thorn opened a voice channel and added everyone to it.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for bearing with the confusion over the last few days. We are getting everything organized to best coordinate with the Ironhold Army, but the duke has been adjusting the plan as we go. I think we’re finally set but keep your eyes open for changes. We have been preparing for this moment for the last few weeks and I am confident that our preparation will pay off.
“Each battalion will receive instructions from your battalion commander, so listen for their direction. We will be divided into four groups and accompanying the four generals on this campaign. While we are technically part of the Ironhold Army, I want to remind everyone that we are, first and foremost, representing Nova Luna and Fang Valley. I expect everyone to behave according to the standards of the Iron Wolf Army, which includes following the directions of the generals you are under.
“Corvo will be coordinating with all commanders so if you have any issues run them by him. We will primarily be tasked with acting as a communication network to strengthen the Ironhold Army’s ability to maneuver and react so Corvo will be creating an official channel for army-related communication. Make sure you keep the channel open with notifications on. While our primary task seems to be communication, I want to be clear. We are the Iron Wolves, and we will destroy our enemies in battle. I fully expect that each of you end this war with a positive kill count. I don’t want to hear that you sat in the back taking calls while our allies fought for their lives on the front lines.
“Finally, the enemy we are going up against is known for their strength, speed, endurance, and ferocity. They are famed for their skill with weapons and their thirst for battle. Some in this army might be afraid, but we are not. They may be strong warriors, but we have faced down and destroyed strong warriors before. They may be numerous, but we have met endless hordes in battle and emerged victorious. They might have Rasyn held in their iron grip, but we will shatter their hold and liberate the island.”
As Thorn’s warm, even voice rolled out through the channel, the players listening found themselves standing up straighter. His words were unhurried and his tone even, but they stirred a faint feeling of excitement in the chests of those listening. When Thorn was done speaking, Hasta’s voice sounded over the channel, his crisp speech providing a clear counterpoint with Thorn’s slow, deep tone.
“Iron Wolves, salute!”
Though the noise of a single individual saluting was negligible, when all ten thousand Iron Wolf soldiers abruptly saluted it caused a ripple to run through the rest of the Ironhold Army as all of the other forces turned to see what was happening. Pleased with the effect they had created with their salute, Thorn nodded to Hasta, who began to give out commands to the battalion commanders.
Under the eyes of the soldiers from other forces, the different Iron Wolf battalions began to split up, heading toward the banners representing the four different generals. After arriving next to the force that they had been assigned to, they stood in formation, causing a chain reaction to spread out throughout the Ironhold Army as the other forces hurried to get into formation.
Within twenty minutes the whole army had been drawn up in formation, presenting an awe-inspiring sight. Though Thorn thought he had become inured to the sight of massive groups of p
layers and natives in Moon Wolf Citadel, the sight of the Ironhold Army arrayed in neat rows under their colorful flags was enough to take his breath away. Casting one last glance over his own force, Thorn turned around to look at Duke Carlton and the four generals who had mounted a small platform facing the Ironhold Army.
Behind the duke a small army of mages were working together to open up the Aether gates, and a few minutes later the first of the giant portals began to open. As the portals grew, Duke Carlton held up his hand and began to address the troops.
“My fellow nobles, brave officers of the Imperial Army, devoted soldiers of the empire, today we embark on a task of monumental importance! Our friends, the Elves of Rasyn, have found themselves besieged, hunted, and enslaved by the forces of the Red Scourge. For too long have we remained silent as our brothers and sisters were dragged to the southern continent, relegated to a life of suffering and torture.
“No longer will this stand. The naval forces of the empire have attacked the Orcish fleets, cutting off their access to Rasyn, but the enemy has already established a presence on the island. It is our task, our duty, to drive them from the Elves’ land. Through the Aether Gates lie the ships that will take us to Rasyn. Follow your generals and bring victory to the empire!”
A chorus of loud cheers rang out, covering the army with an uplifted feeling. In high spirits, as if they could already imagine the enemy laid out before them, the generals began to lead their troops through the Aether Gates. Earl Blaige, while waiting for his turn, wandered over to where Thorn stood, a disgruntled look on his face.
“I can’t believe they took so many of your soldiers,” the earl complained to Thorn. “They could have just, you know, taken small groups. Maybe a thousand at most. But now we’re down a full six thousand immortal soldiers. Six thousand!”
“It’s not that bad, Earl Blaige.”
“Oh, call me Bothswern, or Bothy. That’s what all my friends call me.”
“I’m sorry, Earl Blaige, but protocol…”
“Yeah, yeah, military protocol requires you to call me by my military title or noble rank, I know, I know. Stupid rule if you don’t mind me saying. I mean, it is good for the troops. Unity of command principle, and so forth, but you’re my equal or more. I have no desire to call you Earl Greymane all the time, so cut me some slack here, okay?”
“Very well, sir. You may call me Thorn.”
“Thorn? Great. That’s much better than earl this or earl that.” Bothy grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at Thorn. “But judging by how quick you were to give up more than half of your force, I wonder what you’ve got up your sleeve?”
“Up my sleeve? What do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t play shy, Thorn. I saw you talking to your commander and splitting up your forces carefully,” Bothy said, gesturing behind him at the four battalions standing at attention. “The first, second, sixth, and tenth?”
“Fifth and tenth.”
“Right, first, second, fifth, and tenth. Curious teams to take considering how armies are normally structured. I would have expected that you would have insisted on bringing the first, second, third, and fourth battalions, but you jumped around a bit. Which makes me suspect that you are hiding something.”
Looking thoughtful, Thorn paused for a moment and then leaned down to whisper something to Bothy, causing the earl’s grin to widen a few notches.
“Haha, I knew it. Amazing. This is going to be so great!”
When it was finally their turn, what remained of the Iron Wolf Army followed Earl Blaige and the rest of his forces through the Aether Gates. Stepping Into the swirling energy, Thorn felt the world twist around him followed by the soft salty scent of the sea filling his nose. The Aether Gates had transported them across the continent to the eastern shores of Northern Angoril, allowing them to cut down their travel time by months.
Like a giant’s fingers, huge wharfs jutted into the sea from the shore, surrounded by a forest of masts and sails. At Earl Blaige’s direction, Thorn was about to lead his four battalions down one of the wharfs when a notification popped up in front of his eyes.
*ding*
Slightly confused, Thorn turned to look at Corvo just in time to hear the Avatar of Huginn mutter to himself.
“Oh no, not this block head.”
“Thorn! Avatar of Hati! Step forward and accept my challenge!”
The shout was loud enough that it drew the attention of the entire Ironhold Army, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and look back to where Thorn stood. It took a while, but Thorn finally spotted the person who had shouted at him standing on a little rise on the northern side of the harbor.
“Come, meet me in fair combat and let us demonstrate the glory of our god!”
Duratan was an Orc with a shock of blonde hair that spread from his head like a mane, reminding Thorn of a lion. Seeing an Orc standing on a nearby hill, the Ironhold Army suddenly surged with activity, but Duke Carlton’s booming voice halted everyone in their tracks.
“Hold! The Avatar of Skoll is not our enemy.”
“What an idiot,” Corvo muttered under his breath, as he watched Duratan begin jogging down the hill toward them. “That is Skoll’s avatar. And he is a real blockhead. He gets fired up way too easily and then tries to fight everything that moves. The only way to beat him in a challenge is to beat some sense into his head.”
“Well, conveniently, that is probably what I am best at.”
Thorn grinned, flexing his fingers. Getting out his helmet, he called out to Duke Carlton, his voice carrying easily over the army.
“My lord, Duke, permission to dispatch this challenger.”
“Go ahead but keep it short. We have a time table to keep.”
“Yes, sir!”
Settling his helmet on his head, Thorn clicked ‘Yes’ and began to stride toward the approaching Orc. Seeing his big figure coming, Duratan threw back his head and laughed, speeding up from a jog into a full blown run.
“Come! Let us match our might!”
Sprinting toward Thorn, the Orc launched himself into the air, his arm drawn back as he got ready to punch. Taking two quick steps forward, Thorn lashed out with his own fist, slamming it toward the airborne Orc. Just before they collided, Thorn thought he saw a small smile on Duratan’s face and then a bright light filled up his vision. Closing his eyes, Thorn felt his fist hammer into something impossibly hard that left his fist shaken. From the pressure on his fist, Thorn could tell that he had sent the Orc flying, but something about the situation felt wrong to him so he immediately summoned his [Armor of the Earth], covering his body with a warm yellow glow.
Hardly had he thought about it when an arrow made of energy slammed into his chest. The impact radiated through the magical barrier that surrounded him, and it was everything Thorn could do to keep from stepping back. Excitement grew in Thorns chest and a wide grin began to form on his face as he opened his eyes to face Duratan.
Over thirty feet away, the Avatar of Skoll stood rubbing his arm, a look of surprise and excitement on his face. Standing at nearly seven feet tall, with two thick tusks that jutted from his jaw, Duratan had a savage appearance, but the intricate armor he wore was anything but. Delicate golden filigree drew a sun motif across his broad chest and down his arms. On his left arm was a thick golden gauntlet radiating a golden light in the shape of a bow. As Thorn watched, Duratan held up his arm and the bow shrank back down, taking the shape of the small round shield that he had used to withstand Thorn’s attack.
“Huh, you’re as tough as you look, aren’t you?” Duratan said, throwing his head back to laugh. “But no problem. I’ve cut down taller trees before. Let's go again!”
Without responding, Thorn brandished his claws and charged forward, his massive boots causing the earth to shake under his feet. As he ran, he triggered [Wolf’s Rage], causing his body to burst forward with increased speed. At first, Duratan was excited to square off against Thorn again, but as the raging Titan began to ge
t close his broad smile began to waver. When Thorn was only twenty feet away the Orc thought better of trying to stop Thorn head on and leapt to the side to try and get out of Thorn’s path.
Unfortunately for him, Thorn was ready and he activated [Predator's Leap], instantly moving himself diagonally, shooting toward Duratan. Realizing he could not escape, the Avatar of Skoll roared, the echo of a wolf’s growl mixing in with his voice. The sound spun toward Thorn in a concentrated cone, forcefully halting his advance as [Predator's Leap] was nullified. Ignoring the stun effect, Thorn snapped a front kick, using the incredible reach of his legs to close the remaining distance.
*BOOOOM*
The impact of Thorn’s boot slamming into Duratan’s shield sent tremors through the earth and lifted a cloud of dust around them, obscuring them from view. Taking two steps back to settle himself, Thorn activated his [Spiritual Sense of the Earth], sending his [Spiritual Sense] pouring out of his body and into the earth element in the air. As information flooded into his head he could see the shape of a blade slashing toward him through the cloud of dust. Summoning his tetsubo, he caught the incoming blade of golden light on his metal weapon, halting the attack in place. Hearing Duratan’s surprised grunt, Thorn located the Orc in the dust cloud with his [Spiritual Sense] and stepped forward, lashing out with his tetsubo, only to cleave air as Duratan jumped backward.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Even before the dust had completely settled, Thorn had charged forward again, his tetsubo swinging. Duratan met him with a flashing golden blade formed from the golden energy coming from his gauntlet. The weapons clashed, sending showers of sparks flying. Spinning his tetsubo around, Thorn slammed it down again, only to find the golden broadsword intercepting it once more. With a flick of his wrist, Duratan sent the point of his blade stabbing toward Thorn’s gut, but the Titan was able to drop his hands, deflecting the attack with the pommel of his tetsubo.