The morning mist, heavy with the chill of the approaching day, clung to the ramparts of Tortuga Fortress. The imposing stone structure, perched atop a respected hill, seemed to defy the encroaching darkness. But the serenity was an illusion, a fragile veneer masking the tension that thrummed beneath the surface. The Ereians, although not masters of defensive warfare, had prepared for the inevitable.
From the east, the Lazican army surged, their battle cry echoing through the fields. Their shields, painted with the color of of their empire, reflected the first rays of dawn, transforming them into a shimmering tide of red. They met the first line of defense - a series of cleverly concealed pits dug into the earth, lined with sharpened stakes.
