Notes on Monster Hunting

by Chad Retterath

  I set down Teke’s supplies and brought over the box of bandages. I let him sort through it all because I had no idea what he would need.

  Skrale quietly spoke to Teke before continuing out to the wall. The sky was quickly getting darker and the air had grown cold and windy. Soldiers with bows and crossbows stood, pressed against the parapets, watching the ground below. I stared at the northern horizon as we turned left and continued around the corner. I felt like I could see shapes of people and creatures, but it was too dark to truly know. I felt it could’ve easily been my imagination. Shadows always create shapes and play with the mind.

  We stopped after some time walking on the stone wall. It felt like halfway between the northern gatehouse and the eastern corner of the wall, but it wasn’t as far as it felt. I could still see the medical building and we were a good distance from the gatehouse.

  “We’ll stay here for now. Once we know more, we can reposition.” Skrale spoke loudly, then stopped and leaned against the battlements.

  Torches lit the whole upper wall. I worried that they would die too soon, but it wouldn’t matter if Etikstan waited until morning. Below, it was dark with only a few lanterns or torches to cast light. Hundreds of soldiers stood and waited and I couldn’t even see most of them.

  We sat and stood and watched and rested and ate and waited in a cycle. We didn’t joke or play games or do anything that our company always does. Skrale stayed standing and watched for a long time.

  I’ve caught up now with all the time I’ve had to write throughout the night. I regret not writing more. We seemed to do less that was worth writing about. I hope it is enough for whatever the reason may be for the reading of this journal.

  Sunlight has started to color the eastern sky and we’re all uncomfortable. I checked on Teke and Kully, who were both outside watching like all of us. When I returned, I brought Skrale to the side, just away from everyone else and asked about the liquid he carried.

  “It’s what you think,” he said. “Teke made another potion.” He grabbed it from his belt and looked closely at it. “We don’t know what creatures they’ll have. I want to be prepared.”

  “Be careful with it. I don’t want you hurting any friends.”

  He nodded. “It’s only if I have no other options.”

  Skrale hadn’t smiled in a long time. Even when he was stressed or worried, he always smiled. It made us comfortable and confident. It made me happy.

  I longed for his smile.

  The sun rose while I wrote. Etikstan finished their approach in the light of the sunrise. A massive wave of humans and creatures that look so small from my spot on the wall. It terrifies me that I don’t recognize any monster below. There are soldiers riding giants and other monsters pulled by chains behind carts and horses. Etikstan has no siege equipment. They don’t need it. Not with their monster horde. Five or more creatures, goliath in size, that walk on two legs are at the very front middle of the mass of people. The creatures look like they are as tall as the gates of Lamberg. Taller than several men.

  They’ve started their march and Skrale ordered Fourth to move to the corner. It’s begun.

  I’m terrified.

  Day 184

  I’m sorry.

  I’ll try to write the details, but I only have so long before I need to move on.

  Etikstan moved towards the city without hesitation. Arrows and bolts flew from soldiers on the walls and on the ground below, but Etikstan did not stop. The missile fire ended abruptly throughout the wall as soldiers as far as I could see on my left heaved and vomited.

  Fighting a puker was something I never wanted to experience again, and I didn’t. Teke told me he killed the creature before it reached our corner. They were prepared to hit every part of the wall. I don’t know how Teke and Kully fought one on their own.

  First and Second squads broke from their position and ran down the wall. I was scared and told Fourth to hold position. Skrale and Lekk led the charge that killed the other pukers, and missile fire continued shortly after they started their return.

  The creatures must have been in the city for days, and the one I encountered just came out too soon. I don’t know how they hid or how they suppress their powers.

  I wonder how many died from the ambush. The razor-sharp fingers of the pukers could effortlessly slice through the leather armor of Tullinbran’s regular soldiers. I’m happy First and Second squads led a counter attack on the creatures.

  The armies collided below as the goliaths swiped their enormous arms and trampled through the first rows of Tullinbran soldiers. There was nothing we could do from above. We watched in horror as the lives of soldiers we knew vanished. A surge from the middle of Tullinbran’s army brought the elites to the center, in front of the goliaths. Tellick bombs flew through the air. Explosions ripped through the area. Tullinbran and Etikstan soldiers dropped, dead from the shrapnel. Three of the goliaths collapsed from having their chests ripped open or legs blown off. Blood filled the area. The beginning of a new lake.

  Fast, segmented creatures with eight legs rode out from the back of Etikstan’s army and flanked both sides of Tullinbran. The creatures and their riders sliced through the humans. Etikstan pulled their goliaths behind and sent tusked creatures to the front.

  I could only watch, frozen and horrified. Then Palon noticed some four-armed, flat headed animals crawling straight up the stone wall. Their feet stuck to the stone and they crawled up effortlessly, like they were walking on normal ground. I called out and brought soldiers and hunters to the walls. We were too afraid to drop bombs or rocks or fire arrows because Tullinbran soldiers were still alive on the ground. We backed away and let the creatures climb over the battlements. As the first stepped over, Palon kicked it backwards, sending it tumbling to its death. He was worried about it landing on allies, but it was too late to change anything. The creatures had thin, sharp fangs and talons that emerged from their skin when they finished climbing. They rose over the battlements too slowly to worry us, as we cut them down one by one. Their blood spilled across the stones and made our footing slippery.

  Giant hairy creatures like millipedes with countless legs managed to climb the walls as well. They occupied us for a long time. They had skin as hard as stone and fought with massive fangs. We fought and killed them all.

  Everything that climbed the walls had thick skin like the pukers. It wasn’t as hard as chitin, but it was thick and cold like a stone. Our swords chopped through, but it chipped and dulled our blades quickly. During one of the fights, Orkin ran past us carrying Yutt on his shoulders. Blood ran down Orkin’s back and Yutt’s eyes were closed.

  Second squad fought viciously until creatures stopped climbing the walls. Lekk’s squad was between mine and Skrale’s. They killed more creatures than we did, and Rux even ended up beside us for some time fighting our creatures

  All I saw when I finally looked over the wall again was the small group of remaining Tullinbran soldiers that had gathered in front of the gatehouse. Our squads tossed a few tellick bombs far below into the mass of Etikstan soldiers and tried to aim for any enemies when we dumped bodies over the wall. The tellick bombs ripped soldiers apart on the ground, but the gaps were quickly filled in.

  Tullinbran’s forward army was surrounded. Their backs were pressed against the gatehouse and there was slaughter everywhere in front of them. Blood blanketed the ground. The rising sun reflected off the pooling, red liquid. I could only catch glimpses between Etikstan soldiers’ shoulders, but it was obvious how much had been spilt.

  The soldiers we trained fought as hard as they could, but the tusked creatures ripped through their defenses. Soon it was only Etikstan outside.

  Thousands of Tullinbran soldiers had died.

  The army parted and allowed the goliaths to approach the gatehouse. They smashed through faster than any siege engine ever could. I never thought I’d see something so strong. The last two goliaths each grabbed a side of the barred gate. Handlers whipped them,
then they ripped the bars right off the gate.

  Then it sounded like the world itself started to explode. Third squad immediately attacked and led soldiers into a vicious fight. Wennel kept his promise and used everything he had. A goliath trampled Etikstan soldiers as it ran away from the city, completely engulfed in flames. The other collapsed without a head.

  I couldn’t see exactly what happened in the gatehouse. The battle lasted for a long time. Probably longer than it should’ve. It didn’t hold. I don’t know what happened to Third.

  All I know is after some fighting, the gatehouse erupted. Stones flew into the sky and a whole section of the wall collapsed. Etikstan froze as dust and debris drifted in the air. It was only a few moments before the stones settled and Etikstan’s soldiers and monsters poured into the city.

  Skrale had all three squads immediately go back to the guardhouse. Other soldiers on the wall watched us pass without saying anything.

  The medical center was filled with injured soldiers from the climbers. Henli, who had stayed with his squad, went to help the medics.

  Skrale shouted orders. He planned on holding the guardhouse. I wanted to talk to him. Ask him what he’s thinking, see into his mind in the middle of the battle.

  But I would never get the chance.

  Palon and Rux waited at the top of the stairs, while Widdy and Ralet stood on the opposite side with crossbows. The rest of us stood nearby, watching out both doors. Teke, Henli, and Kully were working fervently, but people were bleeding out faster than they could work. A pile of bodies had already started to form.

  I knew when they entered the building. I could hear them below; their armor and claws climbing the steps. Palon and Rux held their shields and pushed back the first soldiers that arrived. Widdy and Ralet shot them in the backs and let their bodies tumble down the stairs. Groose was nearby with one of his new bombs in his hand and his munitions bag at his side. Urny, Oitter, and Jenn all stood behind the heavies with weapons in their hands, ready to fight. Skrale, Carner, me, and Lekk watched the door from the side we came and Trennor and Orkin watched the door behind Widdy and Ralet.

  A furred creature with long arms like tentacles appeared in front of Trennor’s door and was immediately struck with a yax bomb. Flames covered the creature as it ran and fell from the wall. Etikstan soldiers were right behind it and pushed forward. Groose threw his bomb past me, over Trennor’s shoulder and struck the battlements outside the building.

  The explosion made my ears ring and almost made us all lose our footing. Trennor flew backwards and hit his neck on the wall and all the soldiers I could see outside were thrown off the wall. Widdy and Ralet were both forced against the railing, which cracked and broke. The two fell to the floor below.

  Palon and Rux yelled and charged the soldiers on the stairs. We jumped on top of them and fought through to the second floor. Blood poured down the stairs as we sliced through the soldiers. Ralet had backed into the corner and was covered in blood, but none of it was his. Bodies were lying on the floor and he sliced another soldier’s throat as he tripped on a comrade’s corpse. It looked like he had dragged Widdy to the side when they fell, but Widdy was dead. Ralet ran to us as we pushed the soldiers away from the stairs.

  Something roared and growled on the floor below, so we carefully retreated back up the stairs and prepared to defend again. I hated leaving Widdy’s body below, but we couldn’t take the risk of carrying him. Ralet immediately grabbed someone else’s crossbow and stood back in his position.

  Teke had pulled Trennor away and was trying to help him. He did everything he could, but he announced Trennor had died.

  Then I understood why Krelik fought outside the walls. More of the furry, tentacle monsters roared and crawled up the stairs. Groose and Carner used some well-placed munitions to blow apart the creatures and any soldiers on the floor below.

  Before I continue, I want anyone who finds this to know I did it for a reason. Without a second thought. Losing Cremn had been hard. It was nearly too much, but Skrale and everyone in the company helped me through it. I had already witnessed Third squad’s death and Widdy and Trennor and Yutt and I couldn’t handle anyone else’s death.

  But it was war and somebody else always has to die.

  Another growl and roar drew my attention to the door on my left. Skrale drank the potion and smashed the glass vial on the floor. He grabbed his axe and sword and stood in the doorway.

  Another furred, tentacle-armed creature with five eyes and a mouthful of fangs stood on the wall with a squad of Etikstan soldiers behind. Lekk shouted at Ralet, who sidestepped and fired a bolt. It sailed through the room, narrowly passed Skrale’s head, and struck the furred beast in the chest. Lekk drew his sword and stepped in behind Skrale as the beast bent over and roared. Skrale charged and Lekk followed.

  The two moved fluidly, one after the other, out onto the wall and began fighting without any hesitation.

  Skrale dodged and chopped at the beast and Lekk stepped past and began fighting the squad of soldiers by himself with a longsword in his hands. All I could do was fire arrows past Lekk and Skrale. Most of my arrows bounced off armor, but I still killed my share.

  Lekk stumbled, slashed across the arms and chest. Blood pooled at his feet as he cut soldiers down behind the beast.

  Skrale chopped a tentacle off the beast and was struck by the other. He flew into the battlements and smashed his head on the stone. The beast bent down to bite him, but Skrale was immediately back on his feet. His right cheekbone looked shattered and blood ran from his eye and nose. He effortlessly dodged the creature’s bite and stabbed his sword through its head.

  It collapsed, so Skrale climbed atop the body and leapt at the soldiers trying to fight Lekk. Skrale only had his axe left and swung it like he was trying to attack the air. Lekk took a few steps back and turned. A dagger’s hilt stuck out from his stomach. Skrale stepped in front of the sergeant and decapitated a soldier as another slashed Skrale’s stomach open.

  Lekk reached the door and shouted at Carner.

  Skrale was on his knees, disemboweled and bleeding, in front of the three remaining soldiers and another tentacle creature that had just arrived.

  Carner hesitated until Lekk yelled again. Firebombs sailed through the air and struck the soldiers. The light from the firestorm briefly blinded me.

  Skrale was dead.

  And I ran.

  I left everyone. I ran through the fire, past Skrale’s burning corpse and went down the first stairs I found. So many Tullinbran bodies covered the ground and so few of Etikstan’s. I found my way to the ground through a guard tower. I pulled a tunic off an Etikstan soldier and wore it. I avoided everyone I could until I was out of the city. Explosions sounded and monsters roared behind me, but I didn’t look back.

  I ran and walked and kept running for over a day.

  This is my last entry. I don’t know if someone will find this or if everything I’ve written will be washed away in the rain. I’m going to put the journal in a sack and leave it on the side of the road. I don’t want it.

  If a hunter finds it, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, but I had to leave.

  I hope some of you survived and escaped.

  I want you to know that I’m not proud of myself for this. Every member of the company is my family and I couldn’t witness another death.

  The sun is low and I feel like Etikstan’s horde is on my heels. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’ll go somewhere Etikstan will never reach.

  Please survive.

  Three days after the Battle of Lamberg

  My name is Teke, Sergeant of First squad and lead medic of Skrale’s monster hunters.

  I survived the Battle of Lamberg. Battered, but alive. Myself, along with the other survivors of the company, stumbled upon Beatrice’s journal during our flight from the city.

  I have taken it upon myself to continue the story from the point of Beatrice’s departure to honor the friends I lost within the city walls. />
  Beatrice ran soon after the firebombs erupted. Only a few of us saw her leave and we couldn’t dedicate any manpower to chase after her. We needed everyone to fight to hold back the soldiers pouring in through the other door and up the stairs.

  She ran and Lekk tried to run after her, despite his potentially fatal injuries. I never saw what happened, but I later saw his body without an arm, lying against a parapet on the wall. Two Etikstan soldiers were dead beside him. We only stopped for a moment, and it seemed he had bled to death.

  Back in the building, Palon and Rux continued to hold the stairs. It was becoming difficult for the soldiers below to climb the stairs from the visceral mess strewn about. Palon shouted that they retreated below. Nobody was climbing the stairs and the mumbling and footsteps below ceased. I tried to keep everyone focused, as we didn’t know the plan of the enemy and I didn’t want them to realize everyone we had already lost. I knew losing Lekk and Beatrice would destroy the morale of Second and Fourth squads, but hiding the truth was not an option.

  Smoke started to rise from below. If they couldn’t take the guardhouse, they were going to raze it. I helped Kully to his feet and brought him to the left door. Others followed us as black smoke started to fill the room. We were greeted by Etikstan soldiers that were waiting to ambush our company. Oitter ran to me and said soldiers were waiting on the other side as well.

  We were completely surrounded and the soldiers on the side were closing in. Groose sprinted past me and ran into the smoky room. Soldiers shouted in another language, then Groose reappeared without his bag. He held one oiled and one tellick bomb. Palon understood what Groose was doing and immediately stepped in front and crouched. Groose threw both bombs into the building and hid behind Palon as his entire bag erupted.

  The explosion spurred the soldiers in front on the wall to charge. At the same time, the building burst into flames and started to collapse. No Etikstan soldiers walked out. Palon pushed through to help the front line. We were quickly being overwhelmed. It was thirteen of us against more of them than I could count.