The gathered troops shifted nervously, they had all noticed something odd about Ozymandias, but even though Tomar had talked at length about it they hadn’t put too much credence behind it. But the lack of a mana field, the carugar pet, and the approaching beast horde made them all tense and willing to believe what Tomar was saying.

They all looked at each other, trying to determine on which side of the argument the man next to them was going to fall on.

“You deranged fool, you’re-” started Caldura before she was cut off by Blackwell tensing his sword against her neck.

Normally she would have been able to send rocks flying at the disloyal troops, but a day of digging the trench had left her tapped and unable to manipulate any more mana. The pounding headache from pushing aside tons of dirt effectively crippling her. Now, she was helpless, having been taken by surprise by Blackwell.

“No, no more of your lies. [Soldiers] who are about to die defending this settlement deserve a leader who they trust. Not one shrouded in lies and royal orders.” said Tomar, sneering at Caldura.

“We don’t have time for this! I’m ordering all of you to-” started Lt. Harkonen before he was stopped by Ozzy placing a hand on his shoulder as he stepped forward.

He didn’t address Tomar, he didn’t even look at him. Instead he spoke to the gathered soldiers.

“What if I am a monster? What will you do?” asked Ozzy, moving in a small circle and looking them in the eye. “It’s true, I don’t want to kill anything. Life is precious to me, and I’d happily live in peaceful gluttony. But that horde of howlers is descending upon us to end not just our lives but the lives of everyone that depends on us. So they must be destroyed. We have to act now, and not one of us can do it without the other.”

Ozzy circled back to the weapon racks to stand by Lt. Harkonen. “Maybe I am a monster, I don’t think I’d know if I were one. I’m not what you are, I’m not what you intended. So there may be no way for you to trust me.” He grabbed his familiar bloodstained spear which he had sharpened last night. “But we need to go, now.” With everything he had to say said, he strode from the open area, towards the rallying point outside the settlement. He didn’t look back at the gathered [soldiers].

The [soldiers] stood there, in silence. They all looked at that bloody spear that was held in Ozzy’s hands and considered the elf that held it.

Tomar didn’t understand what had happened, but he sensed the mood change.

“Right then, good enough for me.” said Blackwell, removing his sword from Caldura’s neck and striding off behind Ozzy.

“Wait! What?!” screamed Tomar.

“Well done.” said Caldura, rising from the ground before backhanding Tomar with enough strength to drop him to the ground.

Lt. Harkonen walked over to where Tomar lay on the ground. “Private Nairo, please make sure that Tomar is firmly tied to a post before joining us outside.”

“Yes sir.” said Nairo, before giving a quick salute and dragging Tomar away, who still couldn’t figure out what was happening.

The [soldiers] gathered in their designated spot, flanked to the left and right by Aon Dar, and [Hunters]. Pick formed in the air beside Ozzy as Lt. Harkonen and Caldura joined him to survey the deployment. The howlers mere minutes from arrival.

“Well, never thought I’d die fighting beside a couple of monsters.” joked Lt. Harkonen.

“How about side by side with a friend?” asked Ozzy. “Man, these set ups are great.”

“Yeah, guess I could do that.” said Lt. Harkonen, slapping Pick on the back and heading to this position. Pick bowed to Ozzy before moving to his area as well.

“That was a nice speech, and just now, a good sentiment. You’re getting better at this.” said Caldura.

“Not really. I had no idea what to say. I just ended up stealing lines from movies.” said Ozzy, with a sheepish grin.

“Movies?” asked Caldura.

“Plays, like a theatre or something.” said Ozzy.

“Huh, I knew it sounded too good coming from you.” said Caldura, smiling softly. “Still, good work.”

“Thanks, you go get some rest. We’ll need you on the next shift.” said Ozzy, before striding out to his position on the line.

Caldura opened her mouth, about to remind him that she was supposed to stay by his side. But seeing how the [soldiers] parted ways to accommodate Ozzy, and the nods of respect he got from those around him, Caldura felt confident in Ozzy. A surprising emotion to be sure, but a welcome one.

--

What can be said about the bloody banalities of a fight against nature that hasn’t already been described in exquisite detail by bards, playwrights, writers and artists. The courage of the men, the slow tiring stretch, the willful thrusts of the spear petering out into monotonous drudgery as the hours continue, the loss of feeling in arms that had borne the brunt of the ravaged strikes of a frenzied creature. It had all been covered before. All battles are different, but all battles are the same.

People died, heroic efforts were expended, one [soldier] weathered the attacks of three howlers simultaneously to pull back a downed [soldier]. A carugar leapt from the line to take down a howler that was about to jump on the [Hunter] they hunted with. [Acting Lieutanant] Harkonen issued [Fallbacks], launched [Aggressive Assaults], and [Formed Ranks] more times than he could count until finally he wasn’t able to use them any more.

For Ozzy it was a battle of firsts. The first creature killed. The first wound received. The first person he held in his arms as he watched the life fade from their eyes in concert with the blood draining from their disemboweled entrails. The first time he issued a command, knowing that the people carrying it out likely wouldn’t live. The first time he slipped on blood soaked ground and faced the certainty that he would die if he didn’t get up. The first time he wept as he held a wounded hunter’s hand, wept as the hunter thanked him for dragging him out of the battle, wept as he thanked him even though he only had one arm left. The first time a crying husband punched him in the face as he told him that his wife had died. The first time he lit a pile of dead bodies in a mass cremation. The first time that he felt that he had no more tears, and that all that had been inside of him had been left on the battlefield.

--

A long stretch of troops huddled in a valley between mountains. Even within their tents the people wore their cold weather gear and huddled in groups. The only exception was a brightly lit tent which was located in the center of the column of people.

While many of the tents surrounding it were gaudy, this tent in particular displayed the wealth of the inhabitants through its judicious use of purple and gold trimmings. The sight inside was similarly shocking. Not just as a display of wealth, the gold trimmed furniture, the gleaming cutlery, the exquisitely dressed [butlers], but also because the inside was ludicrously warm. Anyone occupying the tent wouldn’t be aware of the cold even if a blizzard raged outside.

“I’ve prepared letters for his holiness the [Archbishop], the [King], the [Chamberlain] of the spirit god. How are things looking on your end Bubbie?” asked the [Earl] of Xerath.

“I’ve just about finished mine, are you sure we can’t send a group of [Knights] ahead to deliver these Peaches?” asked the [Duchess].

“No, I check with the [Mountaineers], these areas are filled with monsters that only a [Battalion] or more can engage at once. Giants, Oldblood wolves, even Frost Wyverns have been spotted in the region. Any small group we send out will become a snack before long. No, the best we can do is to continue as we have been.” assured the [Earl].

“Ma’am, the [Deacon of Wind] is here and requesting permission to speak with you.” called out the [Bodyguard] at the tent door.

“What does Ernie want now?” mused the [Duchess] before calling out, “Let him in.”

The [Deacon of Wind], dressed in the traditional loose and airy clothing composed of long thin strips of fabric stepped into the tent. No trace of snow could be found on his body. “Aerie, Planc, how are you?” he asked, greeting the [Duchess] and [Earl].

“We’re well Ernie, what brings you here cousin? Other than a desire to get out of the cold.” asked the [Earl].

“Oh come now Jolly ol’ boy, do you think I would abuse your goodwill like that?” chortled the [Deacon].

“Don’t call me Jolly, you know I hate that nickname. And of course you would, you squeezed your way into this expedition didn’t you?” replied Planc, scowling.

“Calm down Peaches, you lost that fight years ago. There’s no getting rid of the nickname now. But really Ernie, what’s the matter?” asked Aerie.

“Well, now it may be that my squeezing has borne fruit” said Ernie, as he sat down on a chair and received a mug of hot wine from a [Butler]. “I’ve received word from God, apparently an expedition is being planned by the Church of Knowledge. It will be heading this way, I’m supposed to meet them on the way back and join them.”

“So, what’s that got to do with us? You're your own elf, free to do as he pleases.” said Planc dismissively.

“Oh no, already? How? And the God of Wind considered this important enough to contact you?” asked Aerie.

“Yes, already. The God of Knowledge must have taken notice and mobilized the church, which tipped off the others. Which means it won’t be long before everyone else is curious. I don’t know what’s unique about that settlement, but soon everyone is going to know.” said Ernie.

“That’s right, contacting a [Deacon] out here must have cost the God of Wind plenty, why is he interested?” asked Planc.

“No idea. But whatever you guys found out there that you won’t tell me about, it’s drawn interest now.” said Ernie.

“But there’s nothing there. I mean, I can see why the Church of Knowledge is interested, but why are the other churches mobilizing?” asked Aerie.

“It doesn’t matter if there’s something there or not. The Church of Knowledge is going, so everyone else thinks there’s something there which means they’re all going to follow along.” said Ernie.

A moment later both Ernie and Aerie perked up as they felt something in the distance.

“Huh, that’s probably part of why the God of Knowledge is so interested.” said Ernie.

“How? It only becomes this strong at level 10. It has only been a few months, no one levels that fast.” said Aerie.

“What? What happened?” asked Planc.

“The settlement, I assume it’s the settlement, just pinged on mana. The mana field has grown strong enough that it’s signalling itself now.” said Ernie.

The [Earl of Xerath] paused for a moment, his holdings had been inherited, which meant that he never had to absorb a Landston, its mana had been consistent from ruler to ruler. “Wait, it’s signalling? So he got a [Beacon] type skill, and it’s strong enough to reach here?” asked Planc.

“Yes, for it to be strong enough to reach here, he must be at least level 10. Which is incredible considering it has only been a few months.” said Aerie.

“Oh, I don’t know. From what I’ve read in the archives, the first development period of settlement lends itself to quick level gains. Heck, Baldur the Quick claimed Yesur and was level 20 in two years.” said Ernie.

“Yes, but Baldur the Quick had multiple Landstons. You really need to review your history texts further. This type of speed is unusual, hopefully it doesn’t put too large a target on his back.” said Aerie ash she looked back towards where the settlement lay, beyond the horizon, her concern growing at the thought of what could happen to her son’s body.