Sacrifice!

[*Selebius]

Someone else is hunting them...

The half orc examines the corpses, trying to find out what weapons have been used to bring them down, hoping to learn a bit about this new threat.

As he hears the command and the crossbows shooting he shouts: "Hold Fire! What did you see?"

After all someone hunting them and being familiar with this swamps might be a valuable ally...

[*Krayt]

The corpes has been rotting fast in the humid stale air. The stench stings his nosesdrills as sulfur powder had been stuffed into them. A swarm of flies buzzed around him unhappy with having their feast intterupted. A billowing mass of maggots covers the naked flesh having taking a blackish tone. It had been left there for weeks he concludes.

He recognise the huge weaponry the Black Trolls had plied against them. Along with the sunder-gnawed bones laying scattered at the mossy spongeous ground it was beyond all doubt their doing. But there was something more he noticed that a few of the crucified bodies have a fine hole made by a thrust of slicken long blade or pike. No troll of that size would have wield such a weapon as they couldn't benefit from their monsterous strenght.

The soldier reports the light is low and the mist still thick all he saw was a blurred crimson field standing three meters infront of him. "I saw something in the mist, no troll it was smaller."

Unlike the trolls Hograth had heard no sound from the creature itself in this occation.

Cian is quick to make a remark. "If it's a scout we must stop it."

[*Selebius]

"If it is a scout we better get moving fast. The men are tired, sending them out to chase a shadow who is familiar with this swamp will not gain us much. A formation as big like this one cannot move unseen anyway.... but I suggest to stay vigilant and if we find ourselves watched again we can perhaps lure the creature close enough to capture it alive. If they are fighting against Xvim's hordes they might be even useful allies."

[*Krayt]

"Yes sir." Cian replied. Young and eager he was despite his silence the most offesive inclined of the troops.

The regiment moved onwards. Two full days passed without any distubances. Their supplies dwindled fast and Hograth quicly realised that it wouldn't last for the entire journey. They had unfavourable weather with heavy rainfall. The ground became faster and the march shallower. Around midday the second day the sun broke through th clouds.The fragrance of Bog Myrtle layed heavy in the windless swamp much a relief as they travelled along a gently flowing burn.

Ahead of them stood a single man standing passivly in salute. A small vessel made of black hides was hauled up on the near brink. Hograth doesn't immediately regognise it but soon recalls it is a several decades old Harmonium standard armour. White beard sticks out from the helm. Rust has eaten away most of the red enamel exept a few flakes defiantly hanging on.

[*Selebius]

Hograth signals the soldiers to stop and take up a basic defensive formation- they are not yet out of trouble after all and who knows what to expect from this officer? After all it could be that the Hardheads sent to this place have gone rogue- so Hograth is prepared for trouble.

Nevertheless he hails the man: "Hograth Thorn, Measure. With whom do I have the honour to speak?"

[*Krayt]

The men in the front has lowered their halberds waiting for the order to surround him. Crossbows remains pointed at the solitary unknown man. The men at the back turned around in defensive stance as did their right flank.

He didn't reply nor did he spoke a word. Raising his hands over his head as to surrender he lets his halberd drop to the ground disappearing in a lush undergrowth of Bog Myrtle. After a long silence he slowly lowered his arms as if to reach for something at his back or grab hold of his helmet.

[*Selebius]

Hograth watches calmly, not letting his guard down. Many strange things have happened here and it is still unclear who us an ally and who us not.

[*Krayt]

His movements slow pressing his fingers on either side of his rusted helm giving it a light but decisive shake before he doffed it in the same slow fashion. Long silvery hair fell down as the helm had been lifted halfway over his face. He took the helmet in one hand holding it under his arm. It was a haggard face that greeted them. His eyes sunken deep and sinewy facial lines. He had long hair at the sides but was bald at the top. He seemed old well over sixty. He gaped widely to reveal there was no tongue in his mouth. Taking no other action he awaited the verdict passivly.

[*Selebius]

"Cleric! See to this man's wounds please." Reaching into his pockets he retrieves the small collection of empty sheets of paper he uses for his notes and the charcoal, offers those things to the man. "Can you write, Sir? What happened here, who are you?"

He is polite and respectful but there is a hint of his tension and the overall stress in his voice, the Measure's movements slow however, showing well that he is tired.

[*Krayt]

A cleric responded fast being the first to approach the lone man. Others rushed in and surrounded him while the whole train column moved forward forming a crescent covering them. The clerics spell had immediate effect and the man suddenly looked a lot healthier but the tongue didn't regrow. Bewildered by the many troops focusing on Hograth seemed hard for him at first. The halforc could see he had been alone for a very long time. Hesitantly he took the charcoal and paper thinking hard by the looks of it. He had not talked for decadades and there had been little use for writing. But he started to scribble eventually.

Yes.
Sent for Jacaal relief. Bolster defences. All lost. Escape from Underhell. Broke orders, fled. Survived. Fight trolls, fight orcs fight Whitehands. Swamp makes for hiding. Find deserved home.

Was Ulim Yurev. Vanguard. Expeditionary force battalion 187. Now traitor, traitor need no name.

There is a profound sadness and guilt in the mans face as he hands Hograth the paper.