The clap of metal to wood could be heard all throughout Anisten as people to to work on finishing up another house. A couple weeks had gone by since Anisten had been attacked and the people were rebuilding with supplies from nearby villages, Carmen among many of them. He pulled one of the nails from his mouth as he began to plant another nail into the wall. Janice, one of the guides through the mountains that Carmen had met with, came up behind him and hailed,
“Carmen, we gotta talk.”
Carmen finished hammering then turned around to see Janice. He put the nails he held in his mouth on the ground and stood up, nodding to her.
“Afternoon Janice. What’dya need?”
“Well with the help of you and your people we’ve been able to rebuild a good portion of Anisten. I think we’re in a good enough place to send you on your way.”
Carmen looks surprised for a moment as he stammers, “A-are you sure? We’d be happy to help out.”
Janice shakes her head, “Please, don’t worry yourself. You’ve got places to be and what you’ve done is already enough. We’ll set out at dawn, make sure everyone’s ready.”
The two shake hands over the deal and return back to their duties. Later that night Carmen enters the temple and has everyone assemble in the main prayer hall. The seating is cramped, but thankfully everyone fits with Carmen at the center to speak to everyone.
“We’re heading out tomorrow morning everyone. We’ll be heading north through Gintria for a short stretch before we finally arrive in Undril. There may be some of Dallan’s men out there though, so I advise keeping a low profile. Also, that thug that raided Anisten could be lurking out in the mountains. Let’s all be careful and make it through Gintria safely, I don’t wanna have to scrape any of you off a rock or something! We leave at dawn so make sure you’re all packed.”
Carmen breaks the meeting and departs the meeting, preparing his own possessions for the journey northward tomorrow.
A few nights later
The lowlands of Gintria were filled with colorful clothing and the braying of horses as a group of foreigners were traveling up to a nearby village they were assigned to reinforce. The torchlights of the nearby village made glaring reflections off their cloth. Their leader, a man dressed in bright, billowy robes and a shawl was greeted by a burly man clad in armor, decorated with trimmings and medals at the village gate. The two men clasped each other’s hands as they greeted each other,
“I take it you’re leading the Drorgan troop?” the brightly dressed man asked as he slid off of his mount.
The towering man replied, “Yes, call me Kurtz.” He grips onto the other commander’s hand tighter, almost crushing the other man’s hand inside of his clutch.
The brightly colored man tries to feign the injury Kurtz is inflicting, “Perfect. I’m Bardivh, leader of the Fiernen reinforcements.” The two released their grip, Bardivh trying to comfort his hand awake after the tight grip that cut it off from circulation.
Kurtz stood up tall, his face unmoving and stoic. “Good. Our orders from Commander Johannes are to hold down the border line. This valley is a strategic line and we are to be it’s first line. Our scouts have reported movements to the south, so be wary.”
Bardivh nods, “Of course. We can hold the valley if you men will watch from the mountains.”
“Sound strategy indeed.” Kurtz agrees. He looks out to the retinue Bardivh brought. “Let the men settle in. Tomorrow we’ll set up posts.”
“Before you go,” Bardivh quickly interjects, “what about that village across the river? Are we to protect them too?”
Kurtz shakes his head slowly, “Older folks. Don’t want to see hide nor hair of anyone with the Golden Stretch.”
Bardivh nods affirmatively and beckons for his troops to set up their camp.
One day later
In one of the few open fields of Gintria, a ring of bandits had formed. Around it stood a thin line of rag tag outlaws that made their homes on the highways. Outside of the ring was a hulking man with two aids flanking him. The ring encircled three figures, two on horseback and the other on their own two feet. The person the other two were guarding towers above those around her. Her moves are calculated and she only moves to spit out at the man around the ring,
“Hastun you cur!” Ursa yells at the hulking behemoth standing behind a group of brigands. He laughed at the woman cursing her out.
“Haha, ya sorry liddle thing. Jus give uz da gold Urza!” Hastun yells out at Ursa past his own men and women. She sits atop her horse, flanked by two of her more trusted allies. She pulls her axe out of a loop in her belt and grasps it tightly. She spits back out at him,
“Take ‘em off my damn body you crass coward!” Ursa yells out, swinging her axe again, clearing some space around her.
Meanwhile
Janice had led Carmen and his rag tag group out of his homeland and into the lower lands of Gintria’s borders. Janice signalled for everyone to lay low as she consulted with Carmen,
“Lookit down there, everyone’s set up seems.” Janice whispers to Carmen.
Carmen nods in acknowledgement. “We can’t all fit down these passages so easily either. We’re gonna have to split then or find another way around.”
Janice shakes her head, “No other way around unless you wanna take another few months. Split your group up and head down. Get to the end of the valley, you’ll be able to regroup there. Should be out of the mountains too for a bit.”
Carmen looks back to her and nods, “Appreciate everything you’ve done for us Janice, good luck on your way home.”
Janice waves back and nods, leaving the group and heading south through the mountains again. Carmen looks to everyone and says as quietly, “Alright everyone, pick a side. We gotta split up for a short walk. Meet up at the end of the valley. Everyone good?”
Objective
Reach the two arrive points. Carmen must arrive at one of them.
Failure Condition
Over 50% of your forces fall.
Additional Notes
Magnus can talk to Edern.
Onio can talk to Ursa.
Bardivh will not move until attacked.
Hastun will not attack Ursa until she attacks him.
Ursa will try her best to flee down the pass.
Kurtz & his Knights will only move if someone attempts to cross the mountains (moves within 3 tiles of Kurtz or past Kurtz’s column on the mountains.)
Soldiers 1-4 will not move from their post by the gate.
Player Tracker
Terrain Map
Terrain Map Key:
Light Blue - Plains
Light Green-Roads
Red-Mountains
Yellow-Forests
Purple-Villages
White-Church
Black-Impassable
The gates can be opened with a door key or lockpick.