FINALLY!

I've been unable to post this because my internet which is top notch has been crashing down on me.

100/100 mbit up/down load fiber cable, it hasn't worked properly since about two weeks ago.

And FINALLY I am getting forward in the story hehe.

Now to get on with the story.

Waking up early, Vivo climbed out of bed slowly as to not wake up Melisa

whom was still sound asleep, he got dressed collected his things and left for the lords

residence.

Walking into the plaza in front of the lords residence, he took in the scene, about a hundred

men where scattered around the plaza collecting supplies, blankets, tents and storing them

in barrels and crates which they then stacked up on three horse carts.

Most of the men where dressed in a white tunic, a brown leather belt around their

waist, brown leather sandals and matching pants. an exception to this walked towards him, dressed in a

red tunic carrying the lords emblem depicting a diving hawk, black pants

along with black boots.

-Arden: My name is Arden and I am the captain of this expedition, what is your businesses here?

-Vivo: I am Vivo, the blacksmith that will accompany the expedition.

When presenting himself Vivo bowed his head slightly. Arden nodded in acknowledgment then continued.

-Arden: good you're here early, and much earlier than I expected, The blacksmith supplies

haven't been loaded onto the carts yet. I wanted you to look over them to check if you

have everything you will need with you. If that is the case you can begin loading them

onto the last cart right now they are in the warehouse over there.

He pointed across the plaza to a large structure, inside the warehouse he found what he

was looking for, Crates filled with iron bars, tongs, hammers, aprons and even a small divisible

furnace. Finding everything he would need for the expedition he packed it in a crate and loaded

it onto the cart.

When he was done he found the captain again overlooking the last of the crates being packed onto

the carts.

-Vivo: So is there anything else you wish of me ?

-Arden: No that'll be all. We are now waiting for all the carriers to arrive before we set off.

Go rest, we have a long walk ahead of us, just stay within earshot.

Taking a seat outside the warehouse he watched as the final crates where loaded and the carriers

arrived. Arden then began ordering the men to form up into a column protecting the wagons and the

carriers. He gestured for Vivo to join him.

The column marched north through the town. The men now carried weapons on their waist and small

round shields on their backs. Equipped with their leather cuirass, greaves and an iron helmet.

The whole procession could not be considered impressing, neither their numbers nor their

formation was particularly impressing, the men just moved in the general formation they weren't

disciplined enough to move in a strict column.

When they had left the gates and the river behind them Arden spoke.

-Arden: So... Have you been briefed on where we are going.

-Vivo: No.

-Arden: And you still agreed to go, why are you a fool?

-Vivo: Haha no, I want to see more than just the town in my lifetime maybe travel the world.

-Arden: There is better ways to do that than to get involved with this expedition. I cannot

guarantee your safety, all I have is fresh recruits with no experience whatsoever. And to top

it all of we have no information about the enemy numbers or their base. This expedition was

sent out to clear the mines up north from a goblin infestation and to locate where they are coming

from and eradicate them.

They walked silent for a while until Vivo spoke.

Vivo: How are you supposed to handle this with only fresh recruits?

-Arden: Goblins are fairly easy to handle if you outnumber them their only strength lies in numbers.

As creatures they are weak, have low moral and only a few of them are considered intelligent.

-Vivo: Then shouldn't this be easy?

-Arden: No. It all depends on their numbers the lay of the land and if they have any tacticians.

They have two distinct advantages, one we have no idea of their numbers, and two we do not know

our way around these parts.

They continued to talk for a while but most of the day they walked in silence, to the west Vivo

could see the three mountains containing the tomb of kings and far north in the distance a large

mountain range rose up as if trying to touch the sky.

It took them a total of three days to reach the mining village. Every day they had pushed on until

dusk to hasten their journey

That night he sat down by the campfire together with some of the friends he had made during the

journey among them where Arden. They talked about women, food, sparring and at some point

the subject of what they would do after their service came up.

Arden had a military carrier in mind as well as a wife and 4 kids.

Erald, who was a slightly chubby average height man with a round face and big nose, wanted to

become a farmer and have a quiet life with wife and kids.

Erald's close friend Lan shared his dream of a quiet country life. He was a strong looking and tall

with a broad chest and well defined manly face.

Honund on the other hand, was a tall thin guy almost looking like a walking skeleton compared to Lan,

had no intention of leaving the army his ambitions was to protect the people.

Loornal, tall and handsome with a face looking as if it was sculpted by the gods,

only wanted to have a family he didn't care about his occupation as long as he could

support his family.

Kal'mor, tall strong and had an authoritarian aura radiating from him, did not join in on the topic.

Then there was Roy, a completely average guy in every single way he could blend in in every crowd,

he had always liked horses he wanted to gain the trust of the lord and become his stable master.

Sean Jack and Henry, all shared the dream of traveling the world together, Sean and Henry where both

slightly above average in height well built and with broad shoulders the only thing distinguishing them

from each other was Sean's black hair and horse like face compared to Henry's brown hair normal face

although somewhat large and pointy nose. Jack was the shortest guy out of the whole party only about

150 cm but his whole body exuded strength.

Then there was Pjot, average height but very thinly built always wearing a crazy look on his face,

He didn't talk much but when he did it was either crazy talk or complete nonsense. The only reason

he was allowed at their campfire was that no one else had taken a liking to him and the captain didn't

want to alienate any of his men.

Even tho they had made camp right outside the village Arden kept the guard shifts during the night,

he didn't want to underestimate the goblins that would be like asking to get killed.

When it got dark Vivo grabbed a sleeping bag and went to sleep, after all he was no soldier and

didn't have to keep watch.

The next they Vivo woke up early and together with the rest of the men they broke camp and headed of.

Their destination was the mine located furthermost to the west. It took no more than two hours

to reach the mine. Arden had sent scouts ahead which reported back that the entrance was guarded by

only a few goblins.

-Arden: During the battles ahead you and the carriers will stay close by but stay back unless some

goblins break through and assault you you should not engage in battle.

Arden then gave the marching order which began the assault. The guards at the entrance fled inside

once they saw their numbers. Once inside the mine Arden began systematically exterminating the goblin

infestation, the tunnels branched at several points, dividing his men into several groups they spread

out. Vivo and the carriers followed Arden and his men the whole time, the goblins where few and

far apart, in the end there where no casualties a few cuts and bruises and about 60 dead goblins.

Arden ordered them to rest, eat and patch themselves together he wanted to clear another mine before

night fall.

Clearing the mines took a week, although only a few of the mines where in use there where several

abandoned mines due to shortage of manpower, overall they had only taken nine casualties but none

of the men had escaped harm. They where all tired and Arden had ordered them to make camp for the

next several days in order for the men to get rested and Vivo to repair their equipment.

Vivo had his work cut out for him there where several shattered swords and shields that needed

replacement and the rest needed sharpening and maintenance.

First he began making replacements for the shattered equipment, during the first day of rest he had

created enough swords to replace those shattered, by the end of the day Kal'more came to him with

a bowl of pea soup.

-Kal'more: you need rest you've worked the whole day without rest.

Vivo saw it differently, he would probably ´be done with replacing the equipment today if he had

used his doppelganger but he didn't want to scare the men or make himself appear as a threat.

-Vivo: thanks, but it needs to be done if we were to be attacked the men wouldn't be able to fight

without their weapons.

-kal'more: True, but everyone needs a break once in a while.

-Vivo: No I've been working to slow I should have been able to replace all the broken equipment

today and I've been unable to do so.

Kal'more left him with a puzzled expression on his face, Bit vivo didn't register his expression

he just gulped up his soup and got back to work. Absorbed in his work he didn't notice darkness

fall around him until Arden grabbed his shoulder.

-Arden: It is good that you're hard working but even if you don't need any sleep the men do,

and they won't be able to with you hammering all night.

-Vivo: Sorry.

He put out the furnace before going to sleep. He had been able to sleep up to four and a half hour

lately when he exhausted his body, the rest of the time he spent enchanting and disenchanting

a small bag he kept with him. Ripping apart the mana threads and then recreating them to keep

increasing his proficiency in creating storage units with increased space.

The next day when dawn came Vivo disassembled the furnace and moved it into a small clearing,

he created two doppelgangers stationing one out of sight overlooking the path from the camp

and the other helped in repairing.

A couple of hours later he had to dispel his doppels as Arden came over.

-Arden: So this is where you've been. still working I see.

-Vivo: yes I didn't want to be interrupted while I work.

-Arden: I see but what if you where attacked ?

-Vivo: Then I'd manage somehow.

Arden looked unconvinced but continued.

-Arden: Well at least come back and have something to eat before you continue.

-Vivo: No, I will probably get done by tonight if I am uninterrupted.

Arden didn't push the issue, leaving Vivo to work alone he headed back to the camp.

Re-summoning his doppels he added one more, he didn't need to control the one keeping watch

and controlling his own and another body while repairing went fluently, adding the third doppel

and working with it was hard so he used it in a support roll helping with small tasks speeding

up his work slightly.

There where no interruptions during the day and when the sun began descending past the horizon

he was done. whipping the sweat from his forehead he could feel his other bodies exhausted and

wet. Packing up everything he left for the camp after dispelling his doppels.

Surprised that he had finished all his work Arden complemented him and let him rest as he gave the

order to distribute the equipment.

Arden had ordered for one more day of rest after Vivo finished his work to let the wounded

recover more. They where marching east alongside the mountain range, Arden kept several scouts ahead

at all times in search for the goblins or their origin. Sometimes they would encounter small hunting

parties of ten to twelve but those skirmishes where over quickly as the goblins where vastly outnumbered.

Moving slowly through the difficult terrain it took them two days until they found an entrance

guarded by almost a hundred goblins. It was just a big cavern entrance although a pair of

wooden palisade gates cowered it and in front of it the position was fortified by 3 guard towers

stakes and Something resembling walls. It was all shabby constructed and badly maintained

further fortifying the image of goblin stupidity.

Ordering his men into position Arden prepared himself for the coming assault and once he got the

signal that the men where in position he launched the assault.

Their position was down hill from the fortification, spread out along the forest edge, The men

shouted out their battle cries as they charged through the bushes against the fort.

The goblins position was quickly overrun by the rampaging men, although the archers in the

towers got of a few shots it didn't take long before someone took it upon themselves to

climb up and slaughter the towers inhabitants.

Taken by surprise some of the goblins fled into the cave while the rest held their ground.

Even tho their position had been over run and there was total chaos around them a few of the

goblins gathered and protected a shaman whom was chanting, tho it didn't take long for the men to

realize it and gather for an assault on the shaman's position.

When the shaman was slain the goblins moral broke and they scattered, fleeing in every direction.

By then the battle was over, a few men hunted down the remaining goblins and the rest began looting

or patching themselves up.

walking over the dead goblin corpses Vivo observed that all but the shaman had green skin, the shaman

unlike his brethren had pale brownish skin. He then got to work repairing what little he could, without

setting up shop, before Arden gave the order to move again.

The order came less than an hour later to go ahead and enter the cave. They walked into a large dark

tunnel the walls where covered with torches at regular intervals giving enough sight to walk forward

but not enough so that you would be able to read a book. Walking forward unchallenged for a couple

minutes before encountering a T junction ahead, from left and right goblins swarmed into to tunnel,

the men prepared themselves for what would come.

Arden finally gave the order to charge, and charge they did screaming their lungs out, the sound

echoed and amplified to an intensity that became unbearable for humans and goblins alike. A split

second everything became almost quiet before the sound of goblins and men crashing into each other

with full force erupted.

From his position Vivo could see the goblins getting pushed back and slaughtered, but still goblin

reinforcements kept swarming in, even tho there was no end to the goblins only 6 men had fallen as

the goblin casualties stacked up.

The fighting continued like this for about twenty minutes, the progress of the battle became much slower

than the initial assault, slowly pushing forward Arden and his men began feeling fatigued.

Vivo saw a movement from a ledge above where Arden now was, without thinking he grabbed his mace

and charged forward screaming warnings to Arden and his men, goblins began jumping down into the

midst of battle creating chaos among the men, some became confused and demoralized and fled.

Arden turned around just in time to see Vivo pushing him away as a goblin struck the ground where

he just stood. A split second after that he felt his body strike the ground as the world

became black.