Morning came quickly. The sun rose quickly in the east pulling forth a calm orange glow which now engulfed the camp, illuminating the rag-tag army which was forming near the gates.
Me and thassius stood front and center in front of the grand wooden gates. We certainly looked like an army but whether we would act like one was still in question.
Itch had come to see us off.
His speech had included the classic fake tears before sending us off. We are to march due north of here and destroy the camp of goblins there.
Myself and thassius had been given the information this morning from the rat who sat on the black throne. He called himself Styx the dark shadow. His group of assassins and spies had visited the camp just a day prior and had reported what they had seen.
Around 70 goblins. The camp was working on building a wall however we should arrive long before construction was finished. Vrogg while strong is on the weaker side for a general. He should not be a problem.
Once our mission was finished we were to march west for 2 days to meet up with the rest of the army to storm the main fortress. A crudely drawn map was provided to help us navigate.
A message that Styx seemed to insist quite strongly on was to not return without Vroggs head. I interpreted it more as a comeback with his head or die trying.
The gates ahead of us finally creaked open and we began our march north.
The sun was pleasant today and the clouds were white and fluffy.
Following closely to the map we took off into the woods. Now a group of only 90 or so rats it was much easier to march through the woods while keeping relatively close. To use roads or paths would risk alerting the goblins we were coming.
The march was peaceful. Four hours in we came across a mighty river. While still on the shallow end, it was still fast running and a risk for fully armoured rats.
Using some of the axes our troop had picked as weapons we managed to cut down a tree to use a safe passage over the river. While one particularly dim-witted rat still fell in he managed to swim to the side of the river without drowning. We pushed on deeper into the forest. In about 5 more hours we should come upon the camp.
3 hours passed quickly as we meandered through the peaceful forest.
Suddenly I came to a stop my instincts on full alert. My ears pricked up dutifully upon sensing a low and deep rumbling reverberating through the ground.
Desperately searching my ears finally picked up a far-off thudding that seemed to slowly be getting louder.
I looked at thassius noticing he also seemed to be on alert.
Trying to stay as quiet as possible I scuttled down the line asking groups to hide in different bushes dotting around the forest. The thudding had now become crashing as the creature moved closer.
Ducking into a bush of my own I kept my hand rested upon my hilt gently flicking the sword up to release it from its sheath.
Whatever was coming was big. Far too big for us to fight especially knowing we would have to fight 70 goblins after.
The crashing finally revealed a gigantic figure. It made the red baron look minuscule. Its gigantic head just about passed the 12-metre tall tree line. Four arms stemmed from its torso. In two of its hands lay the dead remains of what looked to be two huge birds.
The most striking of features was its face. 4 eyes one facing in each cardinal direction. One on the direct front of its face, one of the left and right and one final one on the back. Each eye was accompanied my a mouth and a nose both proportionate to its huge eye. Its ears sagged off the corners of its rather rectangular head.
The sight was horrific. As ugly as it was terrifying.
I did not dare to make a sound. I could not imagine a world in which we could take down this beast.
Thankfully the monster continued walking not even batting an eyelid. Two more minutes passed since the monster had left before we finally made a move. Now with increased vigour, we took off in the way of the camp.
The once distinct level of peace I found in the forest was disturbed by the knowledge that beasts like that exist. Even the birds that found themselves prey seemed big enough to kill at least 20 rats.
45 minutes passed before we began to slow down. This was close enough. Any closer and we would run into goblin hunting parties. On the map, the camp was surrounded by large steep hills. They assumed it was placed here to reduce places it could be attacked from. However, these hills would provide the perfect place for surveillance.
Manoeuvring around the entrance to the camp we came up the less steep side of the hills to establish a view over the camp before we attacked the following day.
Reaching the peak of the hill I gazed over into the clearing which now stood in front of us.
However where a small 70 goblin camp had meant to be stood a fortress. Built against the steep hills was a huge township. Goblins stampeded throughout. Just estimating there must be at least a thousand or even more.
Fuck.
Closest to the steep cliffside stood a large wooden building which seemed to be the main fortress.
Goblins came in and out consistently throughout the time we watched.
Small plots of farmland were constructed inside the village with goblins working the fields. The only entrance to the camp was walled off with high wooden walls. Towers stood on these walls each armed to the teeth with ballistas and bows.
While some of the goblins seemed women and children we counted at least 400 were armoured and had weapons. More would likely pick one up if needs be. We would be outnumbered at least 6 - 1 in an ideal situation. Let alone this Vrogg we had yet to see.
The information was wrong.
No.
The information was lies. There was no way spies could misreport what was clearly a long-standing village as just a minor camp.
"They lied to us"
I finally broke the silence gesturing towards the camp.
"But what reason woulds they haves"
Thassius spoke back.
I racked my brain. It must have been Styx who commissioned the information. It was his spies who got it. So why would he so blatantly lie?
He would most likely be punished for this so why?
I thought for a few more moments before it began to dawn on me. He did not lie to just inconvenience us or get us away from the main troop. He lied to kill us.
Attacking this camp meant death yet returning without a head meant death as well.
Any explanation would seem like blatant excuses told to escape death.
Who would they believe a two-month-old rat or a member of the tribunal?
But why would he try to kill us?
Because we threatened the delicate balance.
Each member of the tribunal has power in some regard. The great red armoured rat has the red legion, Styx has his assassins, The priestly rat has religion, The strange creature most likely had a power I had yet to see and the Red baron had pure strength and brutality to remain clan leader.
We however would mean he also had a squad of trained soldiers directly at his command. After this war, we would be a team of veterans. Able to function on our own and led by a skilled warrior and general in Itch.
We would sway the power too much to the red baron. Rats are inherently ambitious. Given the chance any of the tribunals would betray in a second if it meant greater power. Therefore we must be removed to increase the chances another could rise in his place.
Shit.
That bastard plot against us.
I took thassius away from the others and confided to him my ideas. He agreed.
For now, it would stay a secret to the others.
I needed them to think straight.
They would need to be at their best.
It was time to start planning to take a village.