County of Emberwood.
Ren, Gareth and his soldier have already arrived in the territory of County of Emberwood.
He turned to Gareth and his soldier who followed him on horseback. "Let's raid the village first," he ordered, his voice harsh and commanding. He kicked his horse into a gallop, leaving no room for hesitation or mercy.
"Hyaa!"
The thunderous sound of hooves echoed through the air as they rode with a relentless determination.
After a few minutes of intense riding, Ren spotted a village on the horizon. The village, unaware of the impending threat, lay peacefully in the embrace of Emberwood County.
The raiders, led by Ren and Gareth, closed in on the unsuspecting village in Emberwood County with a menacing determination.
Ren's orders were clear and brutal as he commanded, "Destroy the village and capture all the villagers!" The thunderous sound of hooves and the dark cloud of dust announced the arrival of chaos to the tranquil settlement.
The villagers, initially oblivious to the impending danger, soon felt the ground shake as the raiders descended upon them.
Panic spread through the village like wildfire as the raiders began their ruthless assault.
"Run!"
"Bandit!"
"Help!"
Desperation filled the air as families were separated, homes were set ablaze, and the raiders showed no mercy in their pursuit.
The once-tranquil settlement became a scene of terror and destruction. The villagers' pleas for help went unanswered as the raiders carried out Ren's ruthless orders.
Ren, Gareth, and the soldiers dismounted, unsheathing weapons and setting buildings ablaze.
The air was filled with the screams of frightened villagers and the crackling of flames.
Chaos reigned as the raiders plundered, pillaged, and captured those unfortunate enough to be in their path.
The once-peaceful village was now a scene of destruction, its serenity shattered by the merciless raiders.
The village, once a symbol of Emberwood County's tranquility, now lay in ruins under the banner of Oscana Barony.
"How many people did we capture?" Ren inquired, his voice cutting through the chaos.
One of his soldiers, a grim-faced man with a blood-stained sword, approached and reported, "We've captured more than 400 people, milord. The villagers put up a fight, but we overwhelmed them."
Ren nodded, showing a cold satisfaction in the success of their ruthless raid. He then commanded, "Treat their wounds and send them to Oscana City. We will camp here tonight."
The soldiers set about their tasks, tending to the wounded and organizing the captured villagers for the journey to Oscana City.
The once-peaceful village, now reduced to smoldering ruins, became a temporary campsite for Ren, Gareth, and the Oscana forces.
The night descended upon the ravaged Emberwood County, with the flickering flames of burning buildings casting an eerie glow on the scene.
The captured villagers, battered and broken, were prepared for the journey to Oscana City under the banner of Oscana Barony.
"Gareth, can you send these people to our city?" Ren asks Gareth.
"Huh, why didn't we raid together?" Gareth asks him about his decision, why he should be the one to send the villagers to the city.
Ren looked at Gareth and explained, "Dude, I trust you, and I don't think I can send ordinary soldiers to send these people, what if they get attacked by some magical monster, once these villagers die, we lost chance for free labor."
Gareth, though initially puzzled by the decision, understood the reasoning behind Ren's choice. "I see, Ren. I'll make sure they reach Oscana City safely, you better wait for me if you want to raid Emberwood City."
Ren nodded appreciatively, acknowledging Gareth's commitment. "Don't worry, I'll wait for you. Once you've ensured the safe passage of these villagers, catch up with us at Emberwood City."
"Take Care, dude." Gareth is ready to escort the villagers.
"You too." Ren replied, nodding reassuringly.
As Gareth and the escorted villagers began their journey towards Oscana City, Ren, with the remaining soldiers, settled into the campsite amid the ruins of the ravaged village in Emberwood County.
_______
Emberwood City
"Milady!" the guard exclaimed, bringing an urgent message about what was happening in the village within her territory.
Countess Maresha was startled by the urgency in his voice. "What is it?"
"Oscana Barony is attacking our village, milady. They are taking many villagers prisoner." The guard's voice was grave as he delivered the awful news.
Countess Maresha's eyes widened in fear and distress.
Her nightmare had come true. Baron Gareth was taking his revenge by raiding her village.
She could only hope that Grand Master Albert could do something about it.
"He is raiding our land! He is using the Pinnacle Republic's invasion as a cover." Grand Master Albert said, his voice full of rage and disbelief.
Countess Maresha, despite the shock and fear, quickly gathered her composure. She knew that she had to act swiftly to protect her people from the ruthless raid orchestrated by Baron Gareth.
"Prepare the defenses!" she ordered the guards.
The guards hurriedly carried out her commands, sounding the alarm throughout Emberwood City.
The atmosphere in the city shifted from tranquility to a state of emergency.
Grand Master Albert, fueled by a mix of rage and determination, prepared to lead the defense against the unexpected attack.
The Pinnacle Republic's invasion had already stretched the kingdom resources, manpower, economy, and now the internal threat from Oscana Barony added a layer of complexity.
"I order you to evacuate other villages in my realm and send them to our city," Countess Maresha orders the guard to evacuate the civilians in the village that hasn't been raided by Baron Gareth yet.
"As your command, milady." The guard leave and prepare bring a wagon so the villager can escort faster before Baron Gareth raid the village.
"Fortunately, Father Matthias has already established a formation in the city, so it won't be easy to break through." Countess Maresha was glad that she had been taking measures to defend the city for a long time.
"Grand Master Albert, I leave the defense to you."
Grand Master Albert nodded solemnly, accepting the responsibility. "I will defend Emberwood City with everything I have, Countess. Your people will be protected."