the investigation party make their way to the dark mountains, in the lead is Umbra and a squad of ten wraiths of Darkshire accompany them is Shade of the tenth knight unit there to provide any of his skills as a knight if needed.
the mountains is located west of the town spanning all the way from the wild lands and the giant forest, a possible satyr hideout if the reports are to believe.
"anything i need to know about the mountains?" Umbra asked one of the wraiths.
"back then we have encountered satyrs here before, using the natural tunnels coming from the wild lands all the way here, mostly to raid the town but when the increase of reports started they suddenly went silent".
now that's unusual satyrs as barbaric as they is, are capable of some form of strategy or tactics especially those herds lead by a Capra, but to avoid detection? that is quite a feat for the Capra to control the unruly lot.
"over here" Shade said to the party gesturing to a tree with markings, a rune carved in the wood.
'Mother' is what the rune said" Shade translated.
"now that's unusual" one of the wraiths chimed in.
"what do you mean?" Umbra asked.
"normally these runes are carved indicating a satyrs holy groove, but this is only if there's a shaman with them".
the wraith gestured to the marked tree "we haven't encountered a shaman before".
"there are more here too" a wraith called out pointing out more runes on the tree's.
now Umbra is getting worried, a shaman is a satyr with an intimate connection with nature around him, what's more they are highly respected in satyr society the lesser satyrs obey than their own leaders, the pieces of the puzzle finally coming together what was missing now, where are they hiding?.
Umbra urges the group deeper in the mountains, it's already midday and Umbra wanted to finish the mission quickly, in what a hundred years worth of experience thought him is to not stay in satyr territory at night and if the runes are to believe their already deep behind enemy lines.
Jaune finished the defenses he set up along the wall, wooden spikes and other hazards to slowdown an enemy advance, but was it all necessary? it was quite ironic actually that the kingdoms have such advance technology and yet can't even reclaim lands from grimm, lesser bestial grimm for that matter, and here he is using primitive technology and yet can stop even a large force.
Jaune couldn't help but chuckle, his own kind rely on huntsmen to protect them while the Arcadian's rely on paranoia and it's working for them.
"Captain everything is in place, should we proceed to the second layer?" one of the thralls reported.
"No, let's just wait till the wraiths bring back with confirmation, i don't want any friendly fire happening".
"yes captain".
as the thralls pack their tools finish for the day Jaune saw the sun dipping down, night is coming and the wraiths haven't return from their investigation, but he trust Umbra knows what he is doing and Shade is with him as well in cased things went wrong.
Jaune and the crews return inside the town, the captain joining his fellows at the barracks, making his way to the common room he found Morgan looking out the window, following his line of sight he's looking at the dark mountains, Jaune was about to ask if something wrong but Morgan spoke first.
"can you fell it Jaune?"
"feel what exactly".
Morgan let out a long sighed "I could feel magic radiating from the mountains" Morgan pointed to the dark mountains with his staff.
Jaune come closer and observed the mountains, other than a dark color there's nothing strange about it, now that Morgan pointed out Jaune could feel the hairs behind his neck stiffen and a shiver down his spine, this is what he always feel when he practice with his magic or experience magic.
"what do you think it means?".
Morgan sighed again "I do not know, i have tried piercing through the veil but something is blocking me, keeping me away".
"do you think its the satyrs?".
"possible, their shamans are powerful spell casters, but they must first commune with nature when moving with a herd to cast their magics" Morgan pointed at the top of the mountains.
"but that is different"
Jaune squinted his eyes finding the source until he saw it.
behind the mountains a thick fog began to cascade down the slopes of the mountain, what is unsettling is the fog brings about an aura of malice and hate, the fog descended to the town enveloping it, this close Jaune could feel the fog to be arcane in nature, chaotic and untamed, simply raw energy being directed than wield.
Jaune blink his eyes and the fog is gone, no one seems to notice it's passing other than the two magic-sensitive knights.
"I think it is safe to say the rumors are true" Morgan looked at Jaune, looking deep into his eyes Jaune could see a raging inferno behind those red eyes as red aura began leaking through "something is definitely coming".
Jaune frantically ran outside "sergeant!".
the demon was with the thralls overseeing their progress until the captain shouted at him "captain!, is there something wrong?".
"get the thralls outside and finish the second layer now!" Jaune shouted-ordered at the demon.
briefly dazed the sergeant quickly roundup the thralls to finish the defense work.
Jaune bit his lips hoping they weren't too late.
"the fog is getting thicker" a wraith commented.
the fog covered the forest floor not only slowing them down but obstructing their vision, the deeper they went the thicker the fog gets, in this rate they wouldn't accomplish anything so Umbra ordered them to return to town.
if only they weren't lost as the fog make it look like their trap in some kind of maze.
"is this a normal occurrence in Darkshire?" Shade asked one of the wraiths.
the wraith shrugged "more common than you think, although this one felt a little...off".
Umbra agreed, whatever this fog is it's getting them nowhere, Umbra could sense malice from the fog and he can tell Shade could feel it too, the fog is magic that Umbra is sure it's keeping them from finding the right path.
"what do we do now captain?" one of the wraiths said.
"we need to get out of this forest" Umbra stated.
"we could he-" the wraith didn't finish as he suddenly fell down.
Umbra and the rest hurried to the downed wraith only for them to tumble down a slope, the party was groaning from the earth beneath them suddenly dipping.
"what the heck happen?"
"shhhh!" the wraith that fell first is now crouched behind a rock a finger on his lips silencing them.
"what's wrong?"
"i said quite and look" the wraith bobbed his head down below, Umbra now crouching slowly inch his way to the wraiths position to see what's he's pointing at.
what he see below the valley is just as he feared.
satyrs a lot of them, all filling the valley below, smoke rising from their bonfires as the satyrs dance around it worshiping their gods, and what Umbra can tell preparing for battle.
"my Oum" a wraith said as the others join them watch the satyrs below "there's so many of them, we haven't faced this big of a herd before" he said in disbelief.
Umbra scanned the satyr camp again gouging their numbers, judging by the large bonfires they erected their easily around ten to twenty thousand satyrs not including the beowolves they keep in cages and other beastial Grimm.
He gritted his teeth, Darkshire couldn't hold out against such a large force, even if they did hold for two days for the legion there still outnumbered two to one, they don't have any siege equipment but what Umbra is worried about if their remotely ready to face them.
Shade sensing doubt from the wraith-captain placed his hand on his shoulder "don't worry I'm sure Jaune have a plan, he always do" he reassured, Umbra on the other hand "and what good can a unit of one hundred Knights against ten thousand satyrs?", Shade shook his head "have you lost hope already?", Umbra become silent.
"although he don't look like it Jaune is someone who doesn't give up without trying, have faith and believe me, he can pull off a miracle, he always do".
Umbra still have some doubt about all of this, the rest of them lost hope from the sight but Shade still held on still believe they can win, he don't know if it's arrogance, mere training, or their faith in Monty and their captain, but he served Arcadia for a hundred years now and none will find him wanting.
with renewed resolve Umbra need to return to town in haste, they need to warn the others and reinforce the walls if they want to see another day.
"Alright we need to leave and report our find-" He was interrupted by a thud behind them, turning around they find a satyr gazing down on them, the satyr have a horn in hand setting the alarm, a well placed knive in the throat killed it but it was too late.
there were more patrols in the area, seeing one of their own died as the black dust rise they sound their horns and the satyrs below was roused.
the wraiths realizing their spotted ran, if they die in the chase then Darkshire is good as dead.
"after them!, release the wolves!" a satyr shouted in the dark tongue.
Umbra sparring a glance below, the beowolves was sent to chase them, the beast can easily catch up if they don't hurry.
"we need a distraction to draw them away" Umbra suggested.
"I'll do it" Shade volunteered until a wraith chimed in.
"no sir, your a knight, we know these lands we can easily lose the".
the group split up in the forest Umbra, Shade and three other wraiths ran to the towns general direction while the other half of the party draw the wolves away.
Umbras group can hear fighting, metal tearing through flesh, the other half got caught and now fighting the beowolves off, their sacrifice won't be in vain, the sound of battle began to fade as the remaining group disappeared in the darkness.
