Goblin's words have proven to be true - the abandoned mines were not that far and provided a good place to rest. When their group arrived, a goblin scouting pack was already there. People exchanged not-so-friendly looks but went by their business undisturbed. As it turned out, Sogmeath was well spoken with his goblin brethren as well - they obeyed his commands and seemed eager for the attack.
They found the food and some supplies delivered just as they were promised. None of the humans wanted to wield heavy orcish weapons (there were a few axes and rusty, great swords), but were happy to take goblin crossbows and knives. Soon after arriving and eating how stew, they were ready to go to sleep. Greyjell's crew went to the two old houses left by the miners and laid on the floor while Lilinoe and the old captain met with Sogmeath one last time before the attack.
"My scouts are back, friends" said Sogo without his usual smile
"they say the town looks quiet. No fire, no guards. Maybe they wait, maybe they know, or maybe they afraid. Doesn't matter. We go to sleep and wait. Before the sun is up, we attack. I will tell you when. Five hours, six, maybe."
Lilinoe nodded and asked about the plan and the defenses from their side. They spent almost an hour talking, with Aeron adding some valuable tips. After the meeting, she asked the captain to post the guards for the night and he simply nodded his head. Then she excused herself and started her rituals in preparation for the battle.
She sat on the ground with her legs crossed. Just as she practised countless times before, she closed her eyes and focused her mind. After some time, her breathing slowed down and she was able to imagine everything that was going to happen. She envisioned her hands doing the right gestures, she mumbled the words. Every wizard, if he has the time, can make spellcasting easier by preparing for it beforehand. It's supposed to make him remember the spells and use them instantly later - especially if one was as inexperienced with battle as she.
Although she tried hard to maintain her focus, something was not right. It weren't the two guards looking at her, both curious and uneasy. It wasn't half a dozen goblins hiding in the bushes around them, snooping on the humans. It was somehow connected to the dead. Not normal spirit chatter, she was used to that and knew how to tune it down. Rather strange pull, as if someone was demanding her presence, her mind. She remembered the faces rising from the dark waters, some decomposed and some fresh, all looking up to her. Waiting, but for what? The more she tried to remember the dream, the more she was unable to focus on her current task. They were there, she felt that. And not only in the spiritual sense, as a weak force floating in the air. They were there, flesh and bones. Waiting. She fell asleep without realising it and the guards were kind enough to cover her with some clothes.
--
It couldn't have been too long, maybe five hours. The moon was high in the sky, probably a little after midnight. They were walking through the marshes as silently as they could. Most of the goblins went ahead, not wanting to wait for slow and clumsy humans. Not one person uttered a word, the silence was almost complete. They could feel the danger growing near as they came closer and closer to Hilltown.
Another man lost his balance and stepped into the muddy water, immediately helped by his companions. Only the sound of the slushing water and the whispered
"Thanks", could be heard.
After an hour, they had to stop. The saw all of the goblins spread across the long line off tall grass, laying low. Lilinoe crept up to them - the stench wasn't very nice - and one of them pointed his dirty finger ahead. She could see the outline of three guard towers and the small wall between them. What she couldn't see was the fire and that was confusing. Weren't there any guards? Or was it a trap? She knew goblins could see a little better than humans but not in the complete darkness. They waited and she hated that. Every step closer to the fortress, she felt more drawn to the people waiting for her. The faces spoke to her all night in her dream. They told her to come, they told her many things. And, what was new and strange - she wasn't that tired, as if communicating with them didn't drain her powers.
"What are we waiting for" she asked in a low tone but the goblins didn't answer. She wanted to turn back and join her party, when it began. Suddenly, from the other side of the town, a big blaze could be seen above the walls. That must have been the awaited sign, because the goblins all rose as one and run forward. First, they tried to be silent but when someone started shooting arrows from above, they didn't care any more. Screams, roars and grunts could be heard all around. Arrows cutting through the air with the sickening whistle. Saying the spell for stone skin which should protect her for some time, she rose up and outstretched her hands. Sparks of energy danced on her fingertips and she willed them to form a projectile. Some called it mana bolt, others, a magic arrow, but whatever you called it, it flew incredibly fast and basically burned the person it hit. She sent one shot after another at the tower and in the short bursts of light, she could see the archers. Elves. Damned elves, tall and slim in their fine armors. Wasn't it supposed to be a town occupied by a wizard with the help of some local creatures?
There wasn't much time to think. After a few more hits, she run forwards. Some goblins were using ropes to scale the wooden wall, but she saw a better, quicker option.
"Follow me" she shouted to her man, seeing Aeron one step behind her
"Through the gates".
Then, while running, she formed a fireball and threw it at the gates. It would be rather useless against solid, metal gates and stone walls but in this case, it was almost enough. Just as the fire blast subsided, they saw that the hinges were bending inward, ready to break. A few solid strikes form her people and they were in. Then, to the walls, were the elves were fighting graciously with their spades...
---
When they entered the city, she couldn't help herself and left everyone to go in the direction of the faces awaiting her, calling her. She felt them. Waiting. She walked by the few houses, seeing halflings running here and there with the buckets of water, tending to the wounded. She saw a dozen corpses hanging on the quickly-built gallows. Someone tried to hit her with a club but she just walked past, like she was completely safe. She went north, were the walls met the sea. There wasn't much fighting there as everything was happening on the western and southern parts of town. The walls here were empty - they must have gone to defend the fortress itself. She reached a small but sturdy wooden door that would be lifted by three strong man pulling a thick rope. It lead to the small beach, were the fishing boats were kept. She disposed of the protective chain with a magic shot, but the doors were still to heavy for her to lift. Not being able to do anything else, she knocked on the door. Some shuffling could heard from the other side. Then, a sound of something cracking and scraping, like dragging something through the ground. Then, the door started moving upwards. Little by little, it lifted steadily until she could see. The faces. The drowned. The dead. They came to her as she came to them.
Never seeing dead before, she should probably be afraid, but she was calm. In her mind, she greeted them like children. Swollen, bleeding, sometimes skeletal children.
As some of the dead were pushing the doors up, the rest of them rushed in like a black tide.
"Go" she said
"Bring the wizard. Kill the ogres". Silently, they obeyed and soon disappeared behind the closest houses.
---
The fight couldn't have been too long. Less than an hour, probably. The goblins and her people did their job and secured the southern, less defended part of the walls. The orcs also were able to get in but thanks to their simple tactics took pretty big casualties. When Lilinoe came to the city square and sat on the bench, she could hear the scream reverberating through the town. Soon enough, first orcs could be seen, all bloodied, insanity in their eyes. No doubt shaman Kraghmo had some spells to make them feel no pain through the fight. Later, the goblins came, sweeping the houses one by one in search for the valuables. Then, her people led by Aeron, also covered in blood, clearly not happy. He looked at her, came closer and pointing his finger, started shouting: "If you think that we are willing to die, while you sit here, doing nothing, you're wrong". He trailed off, raising his eyes, looking above her. One of the windows in the fortress's tower situated just behind her back, opened. Then, an elf jumped out. Then, second and third. Same thing happened few seconds later on the upper floor: the window opened. Nobody was able to jump out. And then, nothing. The shadows started moving between the houses, drifting toward them and suddenly, they were surrounded by the dead. Not as many as before, but still, an imposing view. One of them, a big fellow with white, unseeing eyes, was dragging someone behind him. He came closer and with forceful move, pushed the man. He stumbled and fell on the ground, spitting and bleeding. The cape embroidered with silver linings and his white beard made it clear - that was certainly a wizard. He stood up and looked around him, then spat on the ground.
"What is this unholy alliance? Do you know my name? My rescue will come soon enough, you better start planning on how to get out of that predicament."
When nobody answered, he spun around, looking from Aeron, to Kraghmo, who just came to the scene, then to the dead, then to Lilinoe, still sitting on the bench. He decided on speaking to her and took a step closer but then stopped, stumbled and fell on his face. There was an axe in his skull. Shaman Kraghmo pulled it back and handed back to one of the orcs.
"Wizard dead. We free. You go" - he said, looking at humans, at Lilinoe and her new allies. She nodded.
---
Before the sun came up, they discussed their further plans, standing in the fortress main hall. Shaman kept his word and agreed for them to take any ships they needed. It was clear that he wanted them out of the island, the sooner the better. Aeron quickly explored the small docks and said that there were to little of them to use the big ship that the elves used to come there.
"We would need at least forty people and right now, there's sixteen of us. It's better to take three smaller boats". He either forgot one crucial fact or didn't want to remember it. She would have to remind him:
"Oh but we do have enough men" said Lilinoe, letting him think for himself. He narrowed his eyes, thought for a minute, sighed and said:
"Damn it, I've seen a haunted ship once but have never sailed one". To this, Lilinoe said:
"Aeron, you will not be merely travelling on a haunted ship. You will be commanding it. That is, if you don't want to stay here".
"Dead ship, dead island. I'm going too" - said Sogmeath, making his presence known for the first time
"But where?"
Lilinoe turned to Aeron, who was drinking wine from a valuable, golden chalice:
"Captain, will go to the island in the east, I've got a friend there. Load whatever we need and let's go. After the ogres have unexpectedly died in the heat of the battle, I feel we are no longer welcome here". The captain finished his drink, threw the chalice away and went out, chuckling to himself.
Last edited August 16, 2021 7:43 pm
