In-Character Forums > The Dragon Storm Campaign
Fort Hilm
Dezza:
A week and three days after the Cult entered Nesar, and surrounded Fort of Last Hope Sir Lance and Lady Danielle return from a meeting in Fort of Last Hope to dire news.
Together they enter the war room in Fort Hilm were Lord Alexander sits in a large chair, ashen faced. The general mood of those present is one of foreboding and fear.
"Lord Alexander, whats wrong? What has happened?" Lance says as he and Daniella approach him.
He looks up at them both with tired eyes. "Molvaren's army has crossed into Hilm and is heading this way. Our advance scouts that survived to bring us intell tell us that he has at least 25 divisions of Drachs, four of Myr'drachs as well as a dozen general soldier infantry. Thats almost thirty thousand soldiers. Not to mention the fact that several dragons have been seen with the force as well. We have about a week before they begin to engage our outermost legions."
Lance and Daniella look at each other, a sinking feeling in their guts. Lord Alexander speaks again.
"There's also another ten to twelve thousand marching from Briardusk. We're expecting them to cut off all access to the south of Hilm within the week and to engage the southern legions in the same time." He pauses for a moment as his words drift off, he looks sick with despair. Almost desperately he looks up at both of them. Please tell me there's some hope...some...somewhere, somehow. That all we've done to prepare for this moment is not for naught..."
Lance and Daniella glance at each other helplessly for a moment before Daniella firms and speaks. "There is always hope My Lord, even if it is but a glimmer. The smallest light can become the greatest flame when it is fanned."
Tears appear on Lord Alexanders cheeks causing both Daniella and Lance to feel slightly uncomfortable at the usually strong mans sudden emotion. He sighs deeply and brushes his face with the back of the embroidered sleeve of his jacket. "Toran help us, or we are doomed."
Alatriel:
Daniella's resolve strengthens in her posture.
"Lord Alexander, it is daunting, yes. But you can't despair. Your people need to see your confidence or they will lose their confidence as well. You need to help them believe that we can win this. You need to show them that you have faith, so that your faith will empower them all.
"I've sent word for the strike team to be assembled and sent out against the enemy's heart. We need to buy them time to cut them from their source of power.
"I know it's hard to swallow. I know that looking out there and knowing that many of those brave men and women will die is not something that any of us want. But you need to pull yourself together before you face your people. If they see you like this, they will lose hope, and hope is all they have to keep them going right now. Hope, and faith. Both of which you can help them keep.
"Can you do that, sir?"
Dezza:
"Don't worry Commander, I will be whatever the people want me to be. But it will be a facade for now, because to be perfectly honest at this point in time I dont know how we are going to face the forces advancing on us...and survive." He rises slowly from his chair and takes on an officious air singling out specific people present.
"I want envoys sent to the Horn Kingdom, I want to know if we can send as many people not involved in combat to camps inside Horn, the women and children not fighting, the old and infirm. We wont ahve long to evacuate them if they agree so make it happen as fast as you can. Break open all the stores that have arrived over the last few months and make sure every able bodied soldier is equipped properly.
He turns to Lance and Daniella. "Its time for Hilm to do what it was made to do."
Alatriel:
Daniella nods at Alexander's decision.
"Very well, sir. I will inform the council of the news and make sure that while the Cult empties its forces against us, we are prepared to strike them while their guard is down. Let's turn this battle into the diversion rather than the main event."
She waits for any further comments, then goes to find the wizard attached to her in order to send a message quickly to the council regarding the report and orders.
Dezza:
// The day after the PCs return to Fort of Last Hope with the precious wagon train and lance is recalled to Hilm and races out to the forward defensive positions about 50 miles out from Fort Hilm.
Lance's horse was breathing heavily, trying to suck in great lungfuls of air, slathering froth dripping from its mouth and sweep pouring off its flanks as he rode it forward as fast as he could to the forward lines. Around him several Company of the Star men and women and behind him 500 Heavy Cavalry formed a long line. They had rode since morning after lance had returned to Fort Hilm from Fort of Last Hope and been informed of Molvarens engagement of the front lines.
He had already passed through the mixed forces defensive positions about 10 miles out of the fort and the Rael and Hilm positions at the 25 Mile mark where they had changed horses. Now he was at least ten miles still from the outer defences after many long hours in the saddle. Ahead in the distance, about 5 or 6 miles away, across the gently sloping lands of Hilm black smoke rose high and thick into the sky and a dark stain seemed to cover the land for as far as he could see. He slowed his horse warily and raised a hand for those following to also slow to a walk. The horses heads hung low from the exertion of their extended race across the countryside.
Lance's gaze took in the large dark stain on the ground far in the distance, concern showing on his face. He called a halt as through the smoke three massive shapes could be seen flying around in lazy circles through the smoke smeared sky and above the dark stain on the ground.
As they sat and waited the dark stain seemed to shimmer and move, slowly, inevitably towards their position. To his left one of the Company of the Star men gasped and spoke aloud.
"By all the Pits, is that what I think it is?"
Lance's horse shifted uneasily beneath him and Lances heart beat faster. He uttered a soft prayer for the lost and turned in his saddle, raising his voice to be heard by those behind him.
"Turn around, we ride for the Raelite Defences, this battle is lost, the enemy comes."
Shock and disbelief fills the hearts and minds of those behind him as the reality of what the dark stain ahead of them represented. Tens of thousands of Cult soldiers well inside the outer defences meaning the several thousand soldiers posted there were dead and their positions overrun.
Wheeling the formation around they pushed the horses as hard as they could to stay ahead of the massive enemy host behind them. Nervous glances often checking and praying that the three dragons over the host stayed with it and didn't decide to come for them before they reached some point of relative safety.
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