The buns were a feared group of elite cavalry originated from the fortress city. Despite being an elite combat unit they rejoiced in plundering and looting, unlike any other combat unit. Wherever they were seen panic spread among the populace and certain oases decided to submit without a fight in fear of facing the buns.
Over the years they had become more and more prominent to the point that their reputation proceeded them. They had earned themselves the title of invincible. No one dared to openly oppose them.
Their leader, Chungus Khan, a particularly burly bunny-kin and an ardent believer of Pire had been with them since the beginning and had contributed greatly to the rise of the buns.
Since the day he became the leader of the buns he had been able to do pretty much whatever he wanted. Sometimes he was told to go somewhere but even then he was given a lot of freedom in his actions.
That was exactly why his current orders confused him greatly. Pire had ordered him to attack a certain oasis and slaughter everyone there. Nothing wrong with that but the specifics annoyed Chungus Khan.
He was to directly head to the oasis without any sidetracking and leave right away after completing his mission. Just the idea of it was ludicrous!
Chungus Khan was firm in his belief towards Pire but he couldn't help but doubt those orders. The gods of the desert pantheon weren't as united as they feigned to the outside world. These orders seemed a lot like a setup by another faction.
The fact that the fires in the camp burned higher and gave off more light while a breeze could be constantly felt hinted at the close proximity of their gods. And for any god to accompany them this closely was a bad omen. A very bad one.
But what was a mortal to do in the face of godly schemes? All Chungus Khan could do was to follow his orders as close as possible and make sure his subordinates did the same. And that would be a problem.
The buns had been assembled on the precondition of being able to loot and plunder to their heart's content. Many strong fighters had joined solely for that reason and he wasn't strong enough to make all of them obey him. If a rebellion broke out in his ranks it would be a disaster.
Chungus Khan walked out of his big commander's tent and entered the hustle and bustle beyond. The camp the buns had set up was located on the outskirts of the fortress city. From the edge of the camp, the sound of weapons clashing and bones breaking could be heard. Some drunk soldiers were competing who could wreck the most undead while being completely smashed.
Chungus Khan had half a mind to go and join them, prove his mettle like he had done in his younger days. But no, he was the leader of the buns and he had more pressing things to do. He combed through the busy camp while greeting any drunk soldiers that crossed his path and looked for his advisor.
Carlson was the only human in this camp and the only reason he remained alive was due to Chungus Khan favoring him as a brilliant advisor.
Originally Carlson had been a beggar on the streets of the fortress city. He'd lived off the tales he told of a different world. For some spare change, he would go on and on about how he was once an apprentice knight of the solar empire and how he had been brought here by a sandstorm.
His stories fascinated many. A world where deserts were just small patches in an ocean of forests and grass? No undead in the deserts and enough food to support cities of hundreds of thousands of humans? People had thought him mad and seen his stories as pure entertainment.
However, under Pire's direct orders Chungus Khan had gone to personally pick up the alleged madman. Chungus Khan had seen the pesky human as nothing but additional baggage until the day when he had found out about the man's strategic talent.
Well, it wasn't exactly the strategic help he needed. To be honest, Chungus Khan looked for Carlson with every problem he thought of and couldn't immediately come up with an answer. Carlson was his go-to problem solver. And so far it had always worked out so he saw no reason why this time should be different.
Carlson's tent was at the edge of the camp, closest to the city. There he would usually sit in front of his small tent and tell glorified tales of the buns' past achievements to anyone who would lend an ear.
He called this increasing public reputation. Something he deemed vital for any army supported by taxes of the government. Chungus Khan didn't understand half of what he was saying but it didn't seem like it was anything bad so he just let the man do what he did.
And indeed he found Carlson sitting outside his tent preaching to some kids about how the buns had vanquished a village of wrongdoers. However, once he saw Chungus Khan, Carlson quickly ended his story on a cliff and told the children to come back another day to hear the rest.
"Lord Khan, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
Carlson had a way with words that irked a warrior like Chungus Khan. The way he tried to curry favor with anyone at every opportunity made him sick but the man's usefulness outweighed his bootlicking character.
"Carlson, there are some things I need your advice on."
Chungus Khan entered Carlson's tent and then told Carlson of his predicament in all detail leaving nothing unsaid. Carlson listened attentively and after Chungus Khan had finished he took his time to think it over.
When he had first done that Chungus Khan had whacked him and said to think faster but by now he had grown accustomed to waiting for a while. To pass the time he picked up some of the scrolls on Carlson's table and admired the drawings Carlson had made of all the important places in the fortress city. Finally, Carlson had finished his thinking and was prepared to give his advice.
"Lord Khan, I know this is contrary to your warrior beliefs but I would suggest just leaving any unwilling members behind. Spread the word of a sudden retreat to all your trusted subordinates and then sound the retreat as soon as the objective is achieved.
Those who aren't loyal to you will then stay behind and get eliminated."
"That might work. We leave at dawn, be ready."
"But lord Khan, why would you take me along? It would be better if I stayed here and held down the fort!"
"I might need your advice in the middle of things. You are coming along and that's final. Now prepare!"
"Yes, Lord Khan."