Sacrifice!

[*Selebius]

"You have survived, you know these lands. We are here to evacuate all remaining Harmonium personell. Help us, redeem yourself by doing so and join us once more. We all despair sometimes,think all is lost. Falling holds no shame as long you get up again."

He offers the man his hand. "What do you say?"

[*Krayt]

Leaving? The Word hit the man as were it a sledge hammer. His jaw fell listless and his eyes turned glossy. He had not dared to think that thought for a very long time. Lost for a moment he stared at his hand then to the men that surrounded him. The old haggard man reached his weatherworn hand for the halforc's. Clasping it in a surprisingly firm grip.

Envigorated by those words he scribbled a new note for the Measure. A new kindled hope burned in his eyes as he wrote. And eagerly handing it over to Hograth once done.

Will help. Know the way to Underhell. All mad not listen, won't leave. Men follow orders. Stay.

Hograth knew the terrain ahead would soon be far more streneous and dangerous as they would have to cross the dense woodland and mountain ranges. Unless they took the far longer route through the plains at the foot of the eastern range.

[*Selebius]

He reads this new note, ponders. While he still his questions but he knows time is important and shaking the man's hand he turns to his troops.

"We have our guide!"

Trusting this man might be risky but he has to take this risk, the alternatives not less dangerous.

"Who is mad? The soldiers? And who is giving the orders?"

[*Krayt]

There was very littl response to his call. The men remained in their columns and the forward Crescent formation. But his mind had started to synchronise with theirs at this rate. He knew they had Heard him and acknowledge it even without slightest reaction.

A vexation flashed in the mans face as he wrote anew. The normal restraint baring emotions to fully show was gone. Another effect of the lonely decades that had deformed his features as well as his phyche. His eyes dark and angry as he handed Hograth the note.

Christos

The weather was still good. Pillars of sunlight surrounded the tall but solitary trees. The dew started to dry away. It was by far the most pleasant days they had during the entire journey.

[*Selebius]

Hograth nods to the man, even smiles in an encouraging way- keeping what he has learned to himself. He needs this man, he might be broken, he might be half mad but for now he is his only way out of this swamps, the key to his and his trooper's survival.


Christos


He will have to deal with this soon- but survival first.

[*Krayt]

Suddenly the man dashed forward bumping through the troops in his way as were they trees or any unliving objects. Taking the foremost position he ran several yards ahead of them. Soundless despite his armour leaping over fallen trees like a squirrel. The thought of the others lagging behind and the difficulty of moving in formation seemed lost to him.

This unnerved the troops rather gravely he noticed. It was bulding up insecurity as they was unsure of his part in their collective whole like a rogue trooper acting on his own. He could hear a murmur of discontent now and then.

The elderly Harmonium was leading them on a straight path towards the southern fortress Hograth realised. He could perhaps make it but could the whole contigent? And just how long since was it he had been there? Indeed it was wise to doubt him.

The landscape changed and they found themselves in a lush forrest. The undergrowth was dense and the ground still soft and watery. Eventually they reached a vast lake travelling along the eastern strand. The vast blue bulk reaching to the horison and beyond. It was a tranquil jaunt with no distubances. The elderly had disapear among the young trees barring much of the sight forward.

Coming rushing back at them without forwarning with alarm across his face he points to the sky. Three small specks prowled the otherwise blue sky. Their formation a little too organised to be birds, flying wtih the exact distance between each other. The one in the van seemed to be first to maneuver and the other two quick to follow in. Travelling easterward over the water drawing nearer to them fast.

[*Selebius]

Hograth keeps his own troops together, treating the old man more like a native scout or helper than a member of his command.

This one is no longer Harmonium, too much he had lost, too much he had to give up in the name if survival. But who is Hograth to blame him, to judge him? Who knows how his own path would have been if he had to face the same choices and difficulties?

He would allowshis men some rest as they reach the lake, to refill the waterskins, to hunt fresh game in the woods- just a day to recover their strenght- if possible.

If not he presses onwards and regardless of what happened his orders when seeing those flyers are the same:

"Quick, disperse and hide, crossbows and spells ready. They must not see us and if they do they must not escape to report our position back to their leaders."

[*Krayt]

((If you new guys (or anyone for that matter) want to join in it's not too late at any rate, just let me know if you do. ))

The lakelands was ideal for a day's reprive. The troops managed to fell a large elk and fishing Went over ecpatations in the reed grown shallow waters.

The troops retreated from the easily taversed shoreline into the forest all finding a spot to hide in. The thick foilage covered them from view. Crouncing in the undergrowth with their crossbows at the ready they made a improvised wall of their towershields and seperate positions all within sight of each other. If these men had a flaw it was that they were too defensive and too dependent on always having contact with the other parts.

It seemed impossible by the riders came in high speed towards their positions. A glimmer of a spearhead? The reflection of a shield? The men sat back tensly and stiff as statues.

The riders sank in altitude and rode near to the water surface until they landed on the beach just in front of them. Apparently it was the location rather than any search for intruders that had attracted them. The massive eagles whipping up a cascade of sand as they touched down. Hograth recognised the attire the riders wore, black hide armour with a the white hand of Xvim at their chest. Dismounting one of them started a fire using an exssesive amount of wet wood he found near. The middle rider seem to be in command of the other two making handgestures. Too far to be heard from this distance. The third tied the mounts to a larger fallen tree.

[*Selebius]

There are some tense moments as Hograth fears they might be detected by the riders and he hoped his troops will stay calm- a bolt or spell fired in the wrong moment by some nervous trooper can easily give away their position and endanger the whole mission.

But then when the riders land and start to set their camp up the threat turns into an opportunity.

"This is what we need... we shall take at least one of them alive."

Looking for volunteers to join him he then starts to plan the ambush, examining the terrain, the position of the enemies and their eagle mounts.

[*Krayt]

((At it with the mapmaker again I'll have it ready for you soon, this one should be better. ))

Cian crouched behind a ash. Heard the Measure and started to crawl towards him slowly as he was no man of the wilds but of the field. Two more troopers made their way towards him.

Their guide however made his way towards the riders with unmatched speed without being seen nor heard so sudden that none had a chance to stop him but there was still time before he would reach them and possibly attempt something stupid. His dirk in his mouth to make use of all four limbs he certainly had something planned in his broken mind. A few troopers pointed their crossbows at his back. There was still time but it had to be execute fast and decisively.