Draconia Chronicles: Knights of the Westfold
Chapter 1: Iron and Steel (The Second Westfold War)
It does a dragon good when she rids herself of shit. Those are the kind words of the overlord Oscura as she and her kind have ruled over our lands for the past 100 years. Since then, grass of our land's rolling hills may be green, but come the thunder of battle and they are painted dark and red with blood. The blood of my ancestors, those of my friends of whom many have died fighting for one single purpose. It is the one purpose our kind hold up the old sword of defiance, natural freedom.
When the Dragons invaded our lands a century ago, our ancestors fought bravely but were overpowered. The Queen of the Dragons soon instituted martial law against our people. Some of our known craft such as blacksmithing were outlawed, and thus we moved our work into the mountains. There our arsenal grew under the snout of the enemy to the hammer pounding hot steel and iron. We made steel for armor and weapons and iron for arrows and horseshoes, and even stored food for the harsh winters.
It is first morning's light on the first day of spring. The stillness of the flat open plains now roar with the thunder of a thousand horse's hooves. I looked on at the head of the army. My armor clinked and rattled as I adjusted my grip on the reins. The banners of the rebellion noble houses of the Westfold flew proudly in the spring gales. With my longsword at my side and clad in my armor of steel plate and chainmail, "Well now, it appears our guests are tardy," said a knight, Lady Claramond of the House of Whitetail.
We have been preparing for this campaign against the Dragons. Now it all came down to a war we know will carry on through many a spring, "Oi! It's our rider!" Claramond said pointing the head of her flanged mace at a rider coming up from the trail leading out of the pass from our territories to the Dragonlands. The rider was coming toward our ranks as fast as her stallion could take her. When she came toward our army, she took off her mantle. It was a young woman, a child, likely a page to another knight.
"The Dragons are coming, hundreds of them coming over the Northern Mountains," the rider panted, this means that these Dragons are new probably coming to quash our rebellion before it even starts. I patted the rider on the shoulder for her hard work to get us the vital information. As the rider went back to her village, I looked up at a nearby branch, and on it was a sparrow working away at it's nest. When it caught sight of me, it flew away. I took it as a sign that this was the beginning of another war.
Our kind are known by different names from the different tongues of our land. In the northern lands, we are known as the Broc. In the lands to the south, we are known as the Blarel which is the old word that originated my family name. In short, we are badgers. Though we are one species we are divided amongst the noble houses. Some side with the dragons while others stand and fight. Many of the rebelling houses are in the southern Westfold, and have been a constant thorn in the Queen's side ever since.
I surveyed the enemy. They appeared to be Lightning and Fire Dragons, "They know nothing of these lands," I replied, judging my their scent. I smirked a smile at my friend to my right side, "I suppose we should greet our newcomers properly to the Westfold, Claramond, take your forces and circle around the forest and attack them from the rear on my signal," our warrior kind are called knights, but we have a special soldier that has become feared by all dragons, "Lady Glenda, have infantry form up for advance,"
Infantry were one of the staples our armies. They are experienced soldiers, having fought the Dragons many times. They are driven warriors driven to only see that the Westfold is free at the cost of their lives. Many of them wear kettle helms or pot helms over chainmail coifs. They wear a coat-of-plates armor, steel plate and chainmail. They are protected by shields and armed with spears, swords, and other weaponry. These were well-trained soldiers. We will show these dragons that we are ready for a war.
"Archers forward!" Glenda called out, and a line of bow-women came forward out of the ranks of the infantry. Archers serve as both as our first form of attack in battle. Since they are as well-armored as infantry, they can hold their own in a fight. At their command was Glenda. She is a noblewoman from the House of Gwynedd in the northern territories. She is a strong warrior with nut brown hair and blue eyes while my hair is black. Armed with a sword, shield and a battle axe, she is very capable in battle.
Though we are an army in rebellion against this foreign power, we are anything but a handful of rag-tags. We badgers are an organized fighting force of citizen soldiers. A queen is expected to be served the finest meal at her supper. it is Indeed sad that Oscura cannot attend, "Ah...looks like they want to offer terms," said Glenda resting the head of her battle axe on her plate armored shoulder. Lady Glenda smiled as she turned an eye to me, "let's be honest we did not dress up for nothing,"
"Too true, now let's go pick a fight," I replied, and nudge my stallion in the side with my spurs to go into a full gallop. I was followed by my two commanders to the middle of the battlefield where a fire dragon was waiting for us. I am the only commander from the Southern Westfold. My soldiers and knights of the Blaireau wear blue jupons and surcoats with a gold badger paw. The knights and soldiers of the Whitetail wear black with a white hawk, and the forces of Gwynedd wear green with a gold lion.
As we met the leader of the Dragon army, I tilted up the visor of my sallet and bevor to get a better look. It was Lady Red, "Here are the terms of Queen Oscura," she explained to us. Even though it is a Dragon speaking to us, it would be rude not to pay attention to her words. They are the words of a queen after all, "lead this army off field, and you will each receive estates in the Dragonlands including places in the Queen's Court when she summons you to do her bidding," I smirked a smile at her offer,
"I have an offer for you Dragon," I spoke up, "power down your magick and retreat, stopping at every village you pass by on your way and beg forgiveness for 100 years of blood, pain and murder, do that and we'll spare you, do it not you will all die," Lady Red chuckled at my threat which turned into a laugh, "oh you find that amusing? I wasn't finished, since the Queen cannot attend, you must cross this field, present yourself before this army, put your head between your legs and kiss your own ass,"
Natural freedom is a right given to all creatures great and small. The nobles of this land are looking for a leader. One with the will to unite the houses, and courage to lead all our armies into battle. No more will my people see a village burned to the ground. No more will we let these fiends pillage and plunder what little we have to survive. I am Noemi, Lady Noemi of the House of Blaireau. I have just one thing to say to you Dragons, and your foul bitch of a queen. The grave before the chains.