Conquest
Page 6
“Gather up any loot and treat the wounded. Get me a headcount so we can find out what the butchers bill was for this skirmish,” I said as I turned my attention to the prisoner. “What are you doing here? This isn’t Drebix land and our small town isn’t any threat to your people,” I asked, as the berserker stared at me with open hatred on his tattooed face. The crossbow bolt was still stuck in this bicep and there were numerous small cuts from the scuffle with my men. “Get the prisoner some water and tend to his wounds,” I ordered to the private next to me, as a notice popped up in my interface.
You have defeated an attack by Drebix Tribesmen. 150 experience gained, 12 silver and 22 copper added to the unit treasury.
One of the scouts came running back into the clearing. “Sir! Looks like there were another half-dozen of the Drebix out there, but they’re high-tailing it back to wherever they came from. I don’t think they’ll be any more trouble tonight. A couple of the scouts are following them now to see where they go and will report back once they know something. Here are the final casualty numbers, sir.” The scout handed me a slip of paper showing our losses. We had four soldiers and one scout killed. As predicted, three of the losses came from the men that were on watch. The Drebix had proved to be formidable stalkers and ambushers, but unable to stand against the tactics and coordination our soldiers used. We also had two wounded that were too injured to walk, but would survive. Stretchers would be required to move them for at least the next day or two until the accelerated healing the game provided kicked in. One of the Drebix raiders had also survived, but was badly wounded and would have to be carried on a stretcher also… if he survived the night. I walked over to where the wounded were being cared for. Every soldier had some rudimentary first aid skill, but I would need to build the aid station upgrade for my garrison to have true medics assigned to our forces. I spent some time with each of the wounded, offering words of encouragement. I was saddened to see Private Tremble among the wounded. Tremble had been there with me since the first day in-game and had surprisingly survived through all of our battles thus far. Most of the npc soldiers assigned to me didn’t even have a name and were just listed as
“Private Tremble, I thought Sergeant Brooks and I had taught you to use your shield and not your body to block the enemy weapons,” I joked. Private Tremble grinned through the pain and responded.
“Sir, please don’t tell Sergeant Brooks I was hit. He’ll make me do shield drills for hours, carrying a shield on each arm,” Tremble pleaded.
“Don’t worry, Soldier. I won’t tell, if you don’t tell. Rest up and get better. We need good men like you on the fighting line for whatever foe we face next,” I said as I left the wounded to rest. I moved our force about one hundred yards away to another stand of trees that had a good line of sight on our first camp. I had the men prop up our dead in the old camp to look like they were sitting near the fire. I also had the Drebix dead wrapped with blankets to make them look like sleeping soldiers. I didn’t think we were likely to face another attack tonight, but if the tribesmen came back, I would like to think we could be the ones doing the surprising this time. In the morning we would bury the dead, if there were no further attacks. I didn’t feel bad using the fallen in this way, as every soldier is ready to do his duty to protect his comrades, even in death.
Luckily for us, the rest of the night passed uneventfully. The soldiers stood to at first light, fixing our morning meal and packing our things away. I had one squad detailed to bury the dead and decided to take another crack at our prisoner, as I had begun to remember some of the techniques that were used in interrogation. I would use only the softer skills, as I had a feeling that “harsh” methods would not work against a barbarian type. I grabbed two bowls of breakfast. The morning meal on the trail consisted of a thick porridge sprinkled with dried fruit and small pieces of meat from the “back” that was served in our other meals. The food was simple, hearty fare that would give the energy needed for a long march, with the added benefit of having light, easy to carry ingredients. I approached the barbarian who was seated against a sturdy tree. His body was bound to the tree and his hands were also bound in front of him. I could see the ropes had burned into his wrists overnight. Either they were bound too tight, or they had dug into his skin from struggles to escape. Setting the bowls of food beside me I undid the gag we had put in the prisoner’s mouth. I had ordered him gagged last night to prevent him yelling a warning if some of the Drebix attacked our fake camp.
“I’ll untie your hands so you can eat breakfast, but only if I have your word as a warrior that you will not attempt to escape…at least while you’re having your meal,” I offered to the man in front of me. He glared with hatred once again, before speaking for the first time.
“Since when does the Imperium feed and care for its prisoners? Do you intend to keep me strong, so I last longer under torture for your amusement? Perhaps you want me strong, so I’ll better entertain your crowds at the games. Just kill me now Imperial, or hand me a weapon and face me in combat like an honorable warrior would. Do the officers of the Imperium no longer have the guts to fight their foes directly?” the man said and then glared once again.
“I don’t know what stories you heard about prisoners, but none of the men under my command will torture or sell another man into slavery. Slavery in the Imperium was done away with centuries ago. I admit some prisoners, along with criminals, are forced to fight in the games as punishment, but I see no reason for that to be your fate. What I hope to accomplish is to find out why you attacked us, and why you were stalking about our lands,” I responded, somehow knowing the background of the Imperium with regards to slavery and the arena games. The AI continued to import any knowledge my character would naturally have directly into my mind. Nevertheless, this guy was starting to annoy me.
“Bahh! Just pretty words to get me to betray my people. Truly, Imperial dog, there is no reason for pretense, just get on with whatever horrible thing you intend to do with me,” the barbarian said, as he slumped back against the tree in disgust. I had finally reached my limit with this one. I grabbed his face and stared directly into his eyes.
“Know this moron, I have fought here and in the many lands of my world for decades. Yes, I have killed many men, but I have never harmed an innocent person if I could avoid it…and NEVER allowed a prisoner under my care to be harmed. Did I not order my men to treat your wounds and give you water? Am I not offering to feed you, asking only that you agree to not try to escape for the few minutes it takes to stuff your ugly, painted face?” I held his gaze and the barbarian stared at me for a time, as if trying to discern if I was telling the truth.
“Though I don’t trust you Imperial, I believe your word that you do not intend to harm me. Your masters may have other ideas though. I agree on my word as a Baresark of the Forerunner Clan to not escape while I eat my meal. I offer no guarantee to what happens after that. Our people are taught to never stop trying to escape, if captured.” With that, the barbarian held his bound hands out. I drew my dagger and cut the rope binding his wrist, then handed him a bowl of food and a skin of water to wash it down with. The barbarian tasted the food, concluded it wasn’t poisoned, and shoveled the porridge with his hands quickly into his mouth.
“I was going to give you a spoon, but have it your way,” I laughed as the man looked at the spoon I held out. He licked his fingers clean and accepted the utensil, shov
eling the chow into his mouth much more efficiently now. “My name is Raytak, by the way, and our town is called Hayden’s Knoll. My task is to keep it safe from all threats. We came here because some of your people scared a work party that was gathering lumber. I’m not here to attack you or enslave your people. I am here to make sure you’re not a threat to the ones we protect. If you wish us harm, I will wipe your people from the land, leaving nothing but burnt out homes and crying widows. If you want peace, I will offer the olive branch instead. One way or another, I will see there are no threats to those I protect. I believe you would do the same if you care about your people as I care for mine,” I said as I finished my food. The prisoner washed his food down with the waterskin, placed his bowl on the ground, and passed me the waterskin. He held his hands out to be bound once more.
“I keep my word Imperial…I mean…Raytak. Though I shouldn’t, I somehow believe you will keep yours. A warrior knows another warrior and I have seen into your soul through your eyes. The deaths of many have occurred through your actions, but I did not see deception. Leave these lands, Raytak, and see to your people. There are bigger threats than the Forerunner Clan that will find you soon enough,” the man said as I gathered up the dishes and handed them to a private that stood nearby. I saw one of our scouts coming in and making his way toward me.
“My dead and yours will be buried, if you have any special funerary rites, you can come back and do whatever you want later…assuming we don’t kill each other first. My soldiers honor their dead, but are practical about it. A mass grave is as good as an ornate mausoleum, as far as we’re concerned. I’ll leave you ungagged if you promise not to shout any warnings.” I hesitated for a moment and continued. “I also believe you are a man of your word, barbarian, though as you said, I shouldn’t,” I offered as I hurried toward the scout.
“Beremund, Raytak! My name is Beremund,” the barbarian offered as I left.
The scout approached and saluted before giving his report. “Sir, the Drebix left a trail that’s easy enough to follow. They’re heading northeast and moving quickly. I estimate there are only six or seven of them left from the party that attacked us last night. The fieldcraft of this bunch isn’t very good, I think we must have killed whoever was good enough to catch us blind last night,” the scout reported.
“Alright, let’s get everyone moving. Assign stretcher bearers and have them rotate with fresh soldiers so we can keep a strong pace. Scouts out, platoon advance,” I ordered, and our column began to pursue the fleeing Drebix. Scouts moved out to screen us from the front and sides while the rest of us marched in a column two soldiers wide. We made good time and by noon had left the sparsely forested area and had moved into rolling hills covered by scrub and thorny plants. The day was warm, but not oppressively hot, and I knew that the cooler air of Fall was only a month or so away.
Chapter 7
The sparse vegetation and rolling hills eventually gave way to a lusher environment as the afternoon progressed. Trees separated open fields, many of which appeared to have been recently cultivated. We passed the first farmhouse we had seen in these lands. The crudely constructed hovel was burnt to the ground, and along with it, a nearby barn had been torched. We approached the farmstead cautiously as the scouts investigated. After a few minutes, one of them returned.
“Sir, it looks like this place was burned about a week ago. We found the graves of six people that were recently dug behind the farm. The livestock, and anything of value was taken, and the farm looks to have been constructed in the Drebix style. Footprints show that a large group attacked from the northwest, over twenty of them. The graves themselves were recently dug, and I suspect the group we’re following must have dug them.” The scout finished the report and I considered what had happened. Someone had attacked the Drebix and it wasn’t the Imperium. There were more factors in play then I had initially thought. I quickly ordered Beremund to be brought up.
“Beremund, were these your people? Who attacked them and how long have you been fighting them?” I asked.
Beremund looked over the scene and stood quietly for a moment before continuing.
“We’ve been attacked off and on for a few weeks. The attackers always hit the outlying farms and leave no survivors. That’s why my war party was sent out, to look for whoever is doing this. I’m sorry we thought it was you. We’ve heard the stories of the war and, seeing your force, we figured you were the ones responsible,” Beremund trailed off as he stumbled toward the graves. I walked with him, flanked by several soldiers. Two of the six graves were smaller than the others and it wasn’t hard to figure out why.
“These were my relatives. A distant cousin, his two workers, his wife…and twin boys that were only seven years old. May I see my pack, please?” Beremund asked and I had his pack brought forward. He gestured toward a flap on the side and inside I found two small wood carvings. They were the half-finished carvings of bears. Beremund took the carvings, gently placing one on each of the smaller graves.
“These were my little cousins. They like my animal carvings and I would always make them each one when I was on patrol. Initially it was just something I did to pass the time on watch, but the boys would light up whenever I gave them one, so I made a point to ask what animal they wanted. They both had said bear this time.” Beremund closed his eyes while kneeling at the grave of his relatives and then stood up looking me directly in the eyes. “Thank you for allowing me this small kindness. I do not believe you or your people had any hand in this and I offer my apologies for the attack last night.” Beremund hung his head in shame as we reformed our column and followed after the six Drebix warriors that had escaped us earlier. I believed Beremund, but wasn’t keen on cutting him loose until we got a look at his village. I still needed to determine if the Drebix were a threat to Hayden’s Knoll, though now I began to foster some hope that our two peoples could live in the same zone without chopping each other to bits. There appeared to be some common foes in this zone and it would be foolish for us to fight each other if there was another powerful enemy waiting in the shadows.
The trail of the Drebix was easier to follow once we made it past the burned-out farm. They were not taking any care to cover their tracks and seemed to be focused on reaching their destination quickly. The troops entered another of the small forested areas when we began to hear raised voices in the distance. The scouts ran back and informed us that just past the tree line was another farm, much larger than the one we had found earlier. I ordered the men into line with ranks two deep, placing the scouts in front and to the flanks as skirmishers. Two, able-bodied soldiers were left with the wounded as we moved toward the edge of the forest to observe the farmstead. During one of the first fights I had in this game, a goblin had snuck up on a wounded soldier we had left behind, slitting his throat and taunting us before fleeing. I now would make sure that the wounded had at least some protection.
We made it to the edge of the tree line and I had our forces halt. The farm was neat and tidy, consisting of two longhouses with thatched roofs. A large simple barn was there and a few smaller sheds that were likely used to store tools and seed. The crops looked like lettuce or cabbage. A few men and women were seen hurrying from the field to meet the group we had been following. We were about 150 yards away and couldn’t make out what was being said. One of the farmers appeared to be the leader and he gestured wildly with the warriors in front of him before going over to the longhouse and ringing a loud signal bell. Men and women began to drift in from the fields, I counted at least twenty. A few emerged from the houses and began to hand out weapons. They armed themselves with a few spears, but most had only hand axes that were better suited to chopping logs for the fire, than for chopping foes.
This was also my first chance to get a look at the six who had fled our fight earlier. Three were the same type of raiders we fought off yesterday and three were holding bundles of the throwing spears that had dealt so much damage in our earlier fight.
Dreb
ix Skirmisher Level 3 (3)
Drebix Warrior Level 3 (3)
While the farmers were gathering weapons, strange shouts and growls could be heard off to our left in another patch of trees that bordered the farm. The farmers gathered together with their improvised weapons ready. Most were only level one or two and had the npc farmer class. The three skirmishers moved about twenty yards ahead of the rest and prepared for whatever was coming. The other three raiders joined with the farmers to bolster their courage by having trained warriors among them. To our left, six, dog-like creatures ran from the forest toward the farmers and were soon followed by a force of twenty-five humanoids. The humanoids were all nearly seven feet tall and covered in coarse fur with a mane on their hunched backs and a mouth full of sharp teeth. The humanoids carried either battle axes or spears and were equipped with shields. The creatures had a crude leather harness that would provide them some additional protection, though not nearly as effective as our leather armor. I concentrated on the new foes and their information was revealed.
War Hyena, level 4 (6): These vicious beasts are larger than their normal kin, bred for speed and aggressiveness. Should you see a war hyena, beware, their even deadlier gnoll masters will surely follow.
Gnoll Warriors level 5 (25): Gnolls are a vicious race of hyena-like humanoids that thrive on the suffering of others. They can organize into large groups, but are often controlled by other, stronger, masters. Gnolls are cowards by nature and are quick to flee if a battle turns against them.
The three Drebix skirmishers began to hurl spears toward the war hyenas, taking down one before the other five hyenas swarmed them. The beasts quickly cut the three skirmishers off from the rest of the farmers and were looking forward to an easy kill. Their gnoll masters were cheering them on with their yipping, yet ominous, laughing noises. I had seen enough to know these gnolls were our real foe. Time to strike the fear of the Imperium into the beasts.