GC XIII - Vignette
GC VIII - Vignette by
THEDONALD13, on Flickr
Starting from bottom to top!
"Father, the Royal Isle has been cleared of most of the Queen's men. Early reports indicate that the majority of her standing force migrated North to Garheim and not South to the Outlaw territories."
Lord Stout drank deeply from his cup and looked his eldest in the eyes and asked, "what have I taught you?"
He responded, "be greedy when others are fearful."
Lord Stout smiled, "yes my son. Send word to my old friend Khaldoon. Send a messenger West, after he passes The Great Dune Sea have the locals point you towards the richest man in the region. That should get him to his whereabouts. He may have the goods, but I have the ships. Next, send word to Durrough and see if we can pick up any help, particularly Green Frogs with bows! Lastly, see if you can secure a group of mercs out of Grahnhaven to use as guides."
"Yes sir," the young man responded.
Lord Stout added, "oh, and I I want it done yesterday. "
GC VIII - Unrestricted
GC VIII - Unrestricted by
THEDONALD13, on Flickr
GC VIII - Unrestricted by
THEDONALD13, on Flickr
GC VIII - Unrestricted by
THEDONALD13, on Flickr
"Sir! A party advances up the main road from Garhaven. At least a dozen men," the sentry shouts from his perch.
Most of he convoy trudged along uninitiated to the deep Garheim snow drifts. But the sentry could tell the men out front were well accustomed the fresh powder. They inched along until they reached just out side the first check point and started to disperse into a more defensive posture to match those of the Garheim sentinels.
The eldest of the men emerged from a middle the pack, and with a grizzled and worn voice he announced their intentions. "I am Lord Stout of Loreos's East Stowburn. I bring with you glad tidings." A collective sigh came from the Garheim soldiers, they were unsure of what to expect as the men approached. "My compatriot Haydar Khaldoon, and some support from Lendfald are hear to help drive the Queen's men into the icy depths!" The Garheim men cheered as they led the party into the makeshift field camp.
The Black Bird guides joined their countrymen around the fires. The Lenfaldian Scout Snipers charged to the perches and took in the vantage points. The Crimson clad brutes passed around what supplies they could, and the ringleaders called for an immediate strategy meeting
The Garheim commander spoke first, "we were 50 strong, a score of us mounted knights, when we made camp a fortnight ago. Bad weather forced us to seek refuge for the night here at the mausoleum. That's when they first attacked, under the cover of darkness they hit us hard. A Queen's force of like numbers came upon us in the early hours and killed 20 brave men before we even notched an arrow. As quick as them came, they disappeared into the morning mist.
We stayed another night to honor and bury our dead, thinking the Queen's forces had left to rejoin their ranks , instead they attacked again as we broke camp. This time we held and drove them back, but not before they inflicted more casualties.
We sent word to Granhaven and we were ordered to hold this point along road. So we have, we've held up here awaiting supplies and re-reinforcements as man by man we fall to enemy's arrows or the biting cold." A wave of relief came over his face as he looked at Lord Stout, "my Lord, we appreciate every man willing to join us, but you come in too few a number to push those demons back."
Lord Stout turns to Khaldoon uncomfortably and then back to the Garheim commander. "Good sir, we will aid you as best we can, but Khaldoon and I are business men. We came to deliver war supplies and the like, we have done so in Grahnhaven and are looking to move on to Havenhill. We were caught unaware that the main road was closed off by the insurgents. Our guides thought we may be able hold up here for the night as well. We are prepared to move out in the morning. We are willing to leave the Scout Snipers behind, but our business is in Havenhill and we will press on."
The Garheim commander raised his war hammer as to smash the table before him in anger, when suddenly the horns sounded. The Gaheim's sprang to their feet and sprinted to the half hazard palisades. The sentry shouted a gargled "they're here," as an arrow pierced his throat ...