It had taken them a month to organise the tribunal, until then I had been guarding the walls. Since the failed defence of Dorgesh-Kann a number of developments had occurred, the Wizard's Tower had fallen – though fortunately everyone had been evacuated in it's final hours, as well as it's library removed – this was why Zanik's magically preserved corpse was currently safely stored in my house, which meant that as long as I wasn't there noone other than my demon butler could enter. Also a supply line between Varrock and Falador had been secured so that the constant train of runes, food and other vital supplies was uninterrupted, in fact some of our best fighters had been given the task of guarding this critical avenue while our best runners; true champions of the agility arena, ran back and forth the two cities. Irritatingly with the Grand Exchange too important for either side to risk losing Varrock was officially neutral turf, and so a constant stream of ammo was also leaving for Lumbridge as well which despite our best attempts we had been unable to disrupt.
Essentially we were now in a stalemate with the defenders able to annihilate any undead or living in the service of HAM who entered range of the walls while any attempts at a counterattack was engulfed by the undead tide and added to it's ranks. Of the elite HAM troops we had learnt from an emissary of the desert cities that they were excavating by the kalphite nest and all the cities were fortifying should they attack.
We did however have one advantage, with all of western runescape teleblocked and with Taverly guarded and within easy walking distance the defenders of Falador had easy access to a Summoning Obelisk from which they could create new pouches and recharge their powers, so far the HAM were being repulsed at every attempt to take the desert obelisk.
But now, with clear battlelines set, time had been made for my tribunal.
I'd set my case out quite well in my own opinion and doubted I'd be faced with worst than a demotion. My argument was simple: sooner or later we would have to have faced these troops and the result would have been the same thereby the location and the commander changed nothing.
One of the knights stood up distracting me from my thoughts.
And so my judgement was passed as the knight spoke.
"Scrooge, we have listened to the accounts provided by yourself and other survivors and have come to the conclusion that you acted without fault and with great valour and courage."
My jaw had almost hit the floor at that, not what I'd been expecting yet the knight continued.
"Also taking into account your previous experience of Sigmund as well as your position as an adventurer and your diplomatic skills, we have decided that we have no choice but to place you on special assignment."
He paused again before ploughing on – reading from a scroll.
"This assignment is for you to use your connections with Saradominist and Zamorakian -"
He paused again briefly before conferring with with his fellow knights none too quietly.
"What do you mean Zamorakian? We're at war with them aren't we!" shouted the confused speaker.
"Not at all." This was from Sir Tiffy, "The army we are fighting is in no way Zamorakian, if the beliefs of some of our more knowledgable upon this matter are correct" he glanced at me, "then this is the work of a far older god. In fact half our defending adventurers are Zamorakians."
The confused and now it seemed idiotic knight made a comment about throwing them off the walls before one of the knights caught him a blow round the back of his head with the pommel of their sword.
Sir Amik continued off where the now unconscious knight had stopped.
"As we were saying, this assignment is for you to use your various connections to raise an company or more of fighters which shall then be deployed under your command for a purpose we shall reveal at a later date. Any questions?"
"A few sir. Within what limits am I allowed to recruit?"
Sir Tiffy answered. "Any you want Scrooge" Brilliant, "though we do ask that you don't take too many of our current defenders."
"And the cave goblins?"
"Will be provided food and accommodation. In fact they are proving quite useful to our defences, they're smiths are at least as skilled as ours and that what was it called... ah yes, scientist of theirs has already upgraded our Commorbs so much we're on the verge of renaming them after him."
I smiled at that one, Undak had been here less than a week and was already redesigning the field gear.
"May I ask the cave goblins sir?"
"If you feel you need them for your assignment then yes, from what I understand most of their guards are proficient spear and staff fighters and they had some good crossbowmen so I'm sure they will be a benefit to your team Scrooge."
"Thankyou, sir." I paused trying to decide whether to continue before ploughing on regardless, " If I may sir, why me?"
"Why you what?"
"Why did you choose me for this task sir, there are adventurers with far more leverage than me and far better fighters as well."
"It isn't always about fighting skill Scrooge, sometimes it's about attitude. From what you've said you hate this Sigmund with a vengeance and nothing short of death is going to stop you, we need people like that to carry on the fight, people who will think nothing of taking a wound if it gets them that bit closer to victory."
"Thank you sir, I hope your trust in me isn't misplaced."
"As do I, as do I. Now off you go youngster, arm up and don't come back till you've got a horde worthy of your god whomever they may be."
Smiling to myself I walked out of the room with a spring in my step and new fire in my heart.
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I updated.