We quickly ran down the path, Frejr, with a much calmer Qent, confirmed that they had retreated from the field, keeping tight formation. She’d lost sight of them after several minutes, as Qent was not well enough to move. Qent apologized, though Frejr was quick to note that he’d been instrumental to our success.

We followed the path, across the many footprints that marked where the army had trod. A single group of footprints, orderly in their pattern, moved contrary to the others, stomping over the other now indistinct prints. Soon a group appeared in the distance, a turtled formation of shields and spears. I watched them carefully, deep enough within the forests to avoid their vigilant gazes.

Numen stared at them, and shook his head slightly, there were no real openings we could use. The armour was still leather, but complete and properly fitted. Their formations left little to no openings, this was the true war party I assumed. The trained warriors, where had the others come from? I wondered to myself. Volunteers? Guards perhaps.

It didn’t particularly matter, they were scattered, this group wasn’t, if they escaped, they could cause more problems down the line. Far more than the green scattered members of their war party. Was I prepared to hound them down? The question flitted across my mind for an instant, and I sighed. No, I wasn’t. They weren’t the only fire to put out, the main body of the army had gone for the throat, I also had to accept that the other farm had likely been wiped out.

I gritted my teeth, but signalled to Numen, we were going back. Numen hesitated for a moment, gaze lingering as they continued to move down the path, but ultimately nodded, and we left. Frejr saw us coming back, and perhaps our moods reflected in our movements. She asked nothing, simply prompting Qent to stand.

“We need to make our way to Torven, are they still holding out I wonder.” I said. Qent looked at me with an unspoken question. “No, we couldn’t afford to follow them until they drop their guard or get tired.” I replied. “Did the other two irregulars say anything about the gnoll army?”

“There are more here now?” Frejr asked. I nodded, gesturing towards Kikre.

“It’s Igrem and Wen.” Numen said, Frejr nodded. “They seem to have been waiting there since the morning, they rushed in when they saw the stampeding army. Igrem is a little shaken up, he barely missed the first trap. I came out to tell him to stay put after that.”

“I see, how many were taken out by the traps or killed by you and Wen?” Frejr asked, thoughtful. The forests ended and we exited into the clearing, Lapi emerged from the forests, some blood staining her muzzle. I caressed her head, and she followed beside us.

“Two thirds.” Numen replied with conviction. Frejr nodded, looking at the corpses spread out over the area, we took a route around them, through the forest. Igrem and Wen greeted us, Frejr in particular. Looks like she’s fairly famous among the irregulars. I’d probably get an incredulous stare from Numen if I asked about it though, considering how large a deal he’d made about me ignorant of Igrem and Wen’s identity. I shrugged internally.

“We heard about the gnolls, were heading straight to Torven so that we could bolster defences or harass the bastards.” Igrem said, his voice gruff, he was an orc, though his speech was impeccable, without an accent. From one of the towns perhaps.

It was less than a week’s travel to Torven. We came there to find a siege, a huge army of gnolls had gathered, amassed on two sides of the gate. Several catapults had been constructed, I wondered if they had lobbed dead cows across the walls. Their presence worried me, a tribal battle would never have involved siege weaponry, where had they gained knowledge on these contraptions?

“How?” Igrem said, pausing to find the words. “They can build catapults?!” Seems I wasn’t the only one to find such a development surprising. Frejr watched the scene, taking in the sight. Qent looked troubled, puzzlement painted over his and Numen’s faces. Wen cocked his head, but said nothing, cupping his chin in his hand.

As we scouted we were approached by another three irregulars. They introduced themselves to Frejr, shaking hands and so. A swordswoman, another spearman and what appeared to be a swashbuckler. I shook their hands, noting their names, Sel, Ponc and Maevern. They led us to where the other irregulars had gathered, a small camp half an hour away.

All told we were a gathering of roughly forty people, they greeted us, and we were directed to a small table that had been set up. One man stood there, leaning over the table, and when he saw us he straightened himself to talk to us.

“Frejr, it’s been a long time.” He said, voice somewhat weary. “I was hoping you’d have arrived earlier, I have no experience with planning these things.” He said, gesturing at the map that lay across the table, it held the map of the area, with some carved wooden tokens placed upon it to signal enemy positions and the like. “Like it? Apparently one of them is an adequate woodworker.”

“I don’t have any experience in this either.” Frejr noted. “We’ve never had to handle a true army before.” She shook her head. “Do we have anyone with proper military training?”

The man shrugged. “Some, but most of them were never cleared for leadership positions. You should’ve seen the arguments that cropped up when we first gathered, we’re a bunch of bears, not a pack of wolves.” He sighed, shaking his head.

“Are they good enough?” Frejr asked, looking out across the people gathered.

“Most of them wouldn’t pass your expectations, they’re green, the only ones we can count on are you, Igrem, Wen, Riser, Leethe and perhaps Numen.” He turned to Numen. “No offence meant.” He shook his head, brushing it off. “Who’s the other one you have with you?”

“I’m not sure, all I know is that the earliest stories of him say that he’s been working at Soren as a guard for a while, their casualties were reduced to nothing during that period of time.” She said. “Besides that magical armour of his, it’ll probably be best if he tells you about himself.”

Huh, her attitude’s improved at least. I thought to myself sardonically. The man turned to me and I shrugged. “I once served in an army as an archer then infantry, the armour was given to me sometime after I left.” I thought for a moment more. “I cannot take any alchemical mixtures, they have no effect on me.” And I’m not too sure about us taking on a group of four hundred.

“If it’s not too much to ask, could you remove the helmet for a moment?” He asked. “I prefer to look people in the eye as I greet them.” I nodded, hand moving to detach the faceplate and hang it upon my shoulder like a spaulder. His eyes followed the action with a small amount of shock, but he quickly mastered that. “I am Azarint.” He extended his hand.

“Kael.” I replied, shaking his proffered hand.

[Think he makes a habit of this?] Page queried.

Perhaps, though surely someone has refused at least once if so. I replied.

I left soon after, with Numen, leaving Frejr and Qent behind. Qent pleading with his eyes for us to stay behind, Numen attempted to give him a reassuring look, though that seemed to make him resigned instead. Lapi had already gotten a few looks from some of the others, she didn’t seem to mind though, having reserved a spot for us to use. Her body stretched out yet somehow still in a dignified pose. I reached down to scratch her ears, and sat down.

Lapi’s chosen spot was somewhat apart from the others, which made it less crowded at least, and away from prying eyes. I lay down, Lapi shifting herself to provide a cushion to rest on, and shut my eyes, reattaching the faceplate to my helm and rendering it fully opaque.

“You… you’re really just going to sleep?” Numen said. I sighed, and nodded. There was no telling when we’d get rest again if we were going to start some kind of campaign. Our opponents were far greater in number than us, the only advantage we’d have would be mobility and constant harassment. Besides, what was I supposed to do now?

“Shouldn’t you stay alert? They’ve been here a while, maybe they’re close to finalizing the plans.” I said nothing, attempting to tune him out, if they finalized it then I would simply get up and get moving, but I doubted we’d be suddenly mobilized. As it was we were too lax, they’d need to get everyone prepared, and since this was most certainly not a disciplined army that would take at least several minutes, long enough to clear whatever haze I might be in.

All this thinking wasn’t helping either…

Someone struck me, and I engaged Sense, the light would have been too bright for me. It was Frejr, using the flat of her sword, she raised it again, and I pushed it aside with a hand. “What is it?” I asked, I’d probably gotten less than two minutes of rest. I refrained from clicking my tongue.

“Your strengths must be known to us so we can plan better.” Frejr replied. I reduced the opacity of the eyeholes, keeping it a two-way mirror. My strengths? I thought to myself.

“I was infantry, I trained to use swords and spears, with a small amount of training in knives. That’s it.” I said, somewhat puzzled.

“And the armour?” She asked. Ah, that. I shrugged.

“It’s modular armour, nothing particularly special besides being able to suit my needs, it functions like normal armour in combat situations.” I said, better not to reveal more about it than I needed to, and most of the possibilities with it were not something I could take advantage of.

“You took Qent’s flame without any ill effects.” Frejr remarked. I shrugged.

“Mostly like normal armour.” I corrected. It would be difficult to explain that one.

She stared at me for a moment longer, then walked away.

[That could have gone better.] Page noted.

It could also have been a lot worse. I remarked. Perhaps her attitude had been on my nerves, though I was always one for secrets. You probably wouldn’t know that I guess.

Now that I was awoken I doubted I’d be able to sleep so quickly. I sighed, standing from my position and heading to the forest. “What’re you doing?” Numen asked.

“Going for a walk.” I said, which was only technically true, I wanted a piece of wood to work with. I doubted I’d find anything at all though, just thick branches wouldn’t work at all.

Lapi stood to accompany me. Numen however gave me a shocked expression. “You can’t just go off like that, what if they finish while you’re wandering?” I stood there for a moment, he had a point I guess, but I didn’t feel like sitting around.

“I’ll walk around the camp then.” I replied, changing directions on the ball of my foot. He didn’t seem to have any objections, so I went, Lapi following beside me.

It wasn’t a very large camp, considering the number of people, but the split was obvious, there were many individual groups among them, sitting and talking amongst themselves. An area in the middle of the camp had been left empty of people, strange. I wondered what the plan was, if they were all almost the same as me we’d have some issues, and without cohesion, we’d have more.

I clicked my tongue as I continued, my attention caught by a horse mounted messenger from the outside. What’s this? I thought to myself.