After a five-day wait, Eigel finally received the reinforcements he had been hoping for from the northern wastelands.
Hundreds of dragon boats approached, their black chaos octagonal flags densely clustered, covering the originally clear sea surface. Thousands of barbarian warriors disembarked, using everything they had plundered as military supplies.
A short-statured dwarf lord, Zumarla, led by chaos champion Haldon, came before Eigel. With a large hooked nose and tiny eyes like needle holes, Zumarla bore massive tusks and grey skin with blood-red eyes, hardly resembling a normal dwarf anymore.
The origins of chaos dwarves were unclear to all races of the Old World. It was known that before chaos descended, it was a golden age for dwarves. They had expanded westward to the seas and eastward on expeditions, reaching as far as the borders of the Zhendan Empire at their furthest.
However, the dwarven expedition faced difficulties when they reached the dark territories far east of the World's Spine Mountains. Some dwarves chose to return to the mountain range, while others insisted on settling there.
Ultimately, about seven thousand years ago during the first chaos invasion, the dwarf kingdoms in the World's Spine Mountains permanently lost contact with these brethren, who were believed dead and celebrated as legends.
Yet, when the dwarves reopened the old paths after over five thousand years, they were met not by their kin, but by chaos dwarves—merciless beings devoid of sympathy.
Like Zumarla, these chaos dwarf lords exhibited only greed and cruelty.
"According to our agreement, I and my five hundred subordinates will follow your command. We bring two chaos hell cannons," Zumarla stated, his long black beard braided with skulls. "In return, we dwarves expect ample slaves and gold from your conquests."
"Agreed." Eigel, King of the Skarins, readily accepted the terms.
The arriving army rested on Randri Island for two days before, aided by a storm, Eigel led them southward.
In spring, the first town to fall was Aerki, the northernmost town of the Duchy of Leonath.
Aerki, a prosperous coastal town in northern Leonath, was defended by Baron Aerki with thirty knights and a thousand serf infantry. When the dark mass of the chaos army appeared on the horizon, Baron Aerki sensed trouble. He ordered the destruction of all bridges and rallied the town's forces for defense, forcibly conscripting all males over fifteen to man the walls, where they stood in fear, watching the approaching chaos forces.
The town's efforts proved futile as chaos mammoths crossed the rivers and shattered bridges, easily breaking through the town gates.
In despair, Baron Aerki sent a plea for help to Leonath Castle in the south, but before his messenger could depart, the town fell. Eigel's army captured it effortlessly, turning the town and nearby villages into a sea of flames, slaughtering everyone.
Karnak Castle fell the next day at noon. Baron Karnak and his forces resisted fiercely until they were completely overrun. Eigel admired his resolve and decided to keep his head as a trophy.
The barbarian army rested briefly, destroying every village within sight before continuing their relentless march south.
By the third day, the coastal towns of Camper and Skaer had fallen.
On the fourth day, Salzo Castle was overrun, with all eight hundred defenders killed.
By the fifth day, the barbarian army of over thirty thousand had penetrated deep into the Duchy of Leonath, leaving only ruins and death in their wake, save for the scouts sent to call for help.
Duke Dalheid of Leonath finally grasped the severity of the situation in the north of his duchy. He immediately ordered the mobilization of all military forces within the duchy to confront this chaos invasion and urgently dispatched a letter to Couronne, requesting the king send reinforcements.
Dalheid sent a vanguard of about three thousand troops under Grail Knight Eisen to the northern stronghold of Tour Castle. Eisen received orders from Duke Dalheid to delay the barbarian forces long enough to allow for the duchy's forces to assemble.
Meanwhile, in Couronne, the capital of Brittany.
The long tolling of bells echoed as the city teemed with activity. Knights donned their armor and mounted their horses, while large groups of infantry assembled under the command of sergeants, creating a chaotic scene in the spacious squares. Grail Knight Grand Master Yules, fully armed, watched over the gathering army.
A knight in his thirties, Carlade, stood behind Yules. He was Annala's brother, the Count of Gallamante from Bastonne, and had rushed to Couronne upon hearing Yules's call, leaving his lands and bringing his trusted knights with him.
"Two thousand one hundred knights, six thousand squires, and eight thousand infantrymen—th
irty percent less than expected," Yules noted with concern as he surveyed the assembled forces. "The Lady has warned me of an unprecedentedly strong invasion."
"The call to arms has been issued, and more knights leading their own squires will arrive," Carlade assured from behind Yules. "The kingdom has been quite chaotic lately."
"Yes, if we wait, indeed more knights will come," Yules acknowledged, placing a hand on Carlade's shoulder. "But we cannot wait any longer. If we delay too much, Leonath will fall. We must depart now."
Carlade nodded silently, grasping his sword and mounting his horse.
The prolonged bell tolls continued as knights climbed atop their steeds, and soldiers armed themselves with spears and shields. An army of approximately fifteen thousand strong set out, a formidable force leaving the city.
Residents lined the streets and filled the square, rumors of a barbarian invasion from the north having reached their ears, plunging nearly the entire city into deep panic. It was said that a chaos lord from the north led an army of hundreds of thousands, intent on destruction.
With so much having occurred this year, and now under such crisis, only the high walls offered any sense of safety to the residents.
Yules knew he had to say something. In this difficult time, with peasant rebellions, a lack of food, and the lowest number of knights in thirty years, he was about to take away most of Couronne's defenders and a large number of knights.
"Knights of Brittany! You know the kingdom is in peril, with barbarian tribes from the north coming in their dragon boats, bringing destruction and darkness," Yules shouted to all the assembled troops and even the residents nearby. "The kingdom faces a critical moment, and we must rise, or we will be lost forever!"
"This is the moment of battle, knights of Brittany. You have sworn to fight to the death, and we have united under the name of Arthur to build our nation here, forging a thousand years of glorious history!"
"Now, as darkness approaches, we still have the strength to fight. In the name of the Lady, we have persisted until now; in her name, we fight on. Now, the kingdom needs us, the Lady needs us! Tell me, knights, what is our duty?"
"To defend the Lady's land! To fight for the Lady and the kingdom!" the knights roared out, the over two thousand knights and their squires echoing the call from their hearts.
Knights, the shield of civilization.
"Glory to the knights of Brittany, draw your swords, raise your lances, for our most devout faith in the Lady of the Lake, for the light and glory of Brittany, march forth!"
"March!"
"March!"
Yules grasped his sacred sword "Durandel," mounted his beloved warhorse, and led the way out of the city, followed closely by Carlade and Annala.
A large contingent of cavalry followed by infantry left Couronne.
The king stood on the city walls, silently watching the departure. Yules had taken nearly seventy percent of Couronne's defenders and a large number of troops summoned from nearby areas by the king's command. His departure nearly emptied Couronne.
"So, the war in Leonath will decide the fate of all Brittany. If Yules fails, the northern kingdom will have no more troops to call upon," Richard muttered to himself.
"Yules, you must succeed... and bring our knights back safely."
...
The army departed the city, with Carlade following behind Yules. The kingdom knight looked up at the gray sky, his brow furrowed. "The weather seems unusual."
Almost all the knights felt this; their main force came from the duchies of Connacht, Le Angouleme, and Jissoleaux. The dukes in the south had received the king's and Duke Dalheid's letters for help, but gathering their forces and covering the ten-day journey took time.
"It's the power of chaos. The forces of chaos are corroding the material world," Yules looked up at the cloudy sky. "The winds of chaos are sweeping across the land, and under such conditions, any odd occurrences are to be expected."
The long column of knights marched on the road. The capital Couronne and the surrounding area were very prosperous, with visible manors and farmlands and various workshops along the Sanne River.
Five Grail Knights followed behind Yules, the maximum number he could afford given Couronne's security considerations.
"Master Yules, our food supplies will last for about a month and a half," one of the Grail Knights came up from behind and spoke to Yules. "If the battle drags on too long, we might face the risk of running out."
"The decisive battle won't take that long; a month and a half is enough. I understand the barbarians' nature—they are a warlike race," Yules was confident about the food supply. "What I'm really
concerned about is the stores back in Couronne."
The dukes of the south had responded; understanding who their real enemy was in this time of crisis, Duke Berthelot's forces were already preparing to move north, and Ryan, Bodric, and Francois were starting to prepare food supplies.
Having heard of the south's prosperity in recent years, Yules thought he should visit the south if he had the chance.
After two more days of marching, Yules dispatched numerous scouts to monitor the movements of the barbarian army. Although the scouts suffered heavy losses, they brought back valuable intelligence.
The barbarian army had initially advanced rapidly, but after capturing several coastal towns and castles, their pace slowed. Many tribal chiefs, indulging in plunder and ignoring Eigel's orders, scattered chaotically, and the spring thaw caused many rivers and mountains to become muddy, complicating the barbarians' advance, especially for the chaos dwarf hell cannons and mammoths.
Grail Knight Eisen, leading the vanguard of the kingdom's forces, clashed several times with the barbarian vanguard, temporarily holding them at Tour, a sturdy fortress. The barbarian vanguard was temporarily halted by this fortress, but it was only a matter of time before it fell, especially once the chaos mammoths, hell cannons, and Eigel's elite Skarin forces of ten thousand arrived at the front.
"Once Tour Castle falls, the barbarian army will face Leonath Castle directly," Yules analyzed with several Grail Knights and Carlade, along with his sister Annala, after days of marching and reviewing scout reports. "Have we confirmed which tribe this barbarian army belongs to and who commands it?"
"It's the Skarins tribe from the northern wastelands, led by the King of Skarins, the Blood God's… chosen champion, Eigel-Stilbjorn," a Grail Knight reported. "The situation is grim; the barbarians have destroyed all villages to disrupt our potential supply routes. Lord Eisen's vanguard can only harry them, unable to destroy them. Leonath Castle is still gathering forces."
"The chosen champion of terror?" Yules looked at the map and suddenly smiled. "What a fine gift. I will present his head to the Lady."
"Damn barbarians will turn to ash under the Lady's light!"
"These chaos scum will pay for their deeds!"
Just then, a scout, carrying a flag, approached Yules and the others. "Master Yules, new intelligence."
"Speak!"
"The barbarian army has broken through Tour Castle. They are now assembling on the plains of South Niz nearby. It seems they plan to face Duke Dalheid's forces there in battle!"
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