Baldur looked down at his new armor and grunted with approval.
His iron lamellar armor had been replaced with an Adamantine lamellar cuirass. A reward from the Duke of Calvet. Worn over this new armor was an open-front surcoat in the signature Shield Companions blue. It had a collar made of Lycan fur and had the white Nordic raven of the Shield Companions embroidered on the back. A set of lamellar faulds were also added to his armor as well as a set of steel spaulders with lames. He also wore a set of fur-lined splinted vambraces and woolen socks to keep himself warm. Baldur could feel winter drawing closer. He felt it before anyone else and already started wearing warmer clothing.
The Nord hummed to himself as he looked at the mirror before grabbing his Long Axe and walked outside of his tent. Outside, his Axe Companions, now called the Stálbrjótar or Steelbreakers, were gathered around the fire and sharing their stories. Telling their fellow Shield Companions why they were called Stálbrjótar now.
While waiting for the siege to begin, Baldur took his Axe Companions and headed out into the forest. The scouts had reported that a host of Lycans were spotted in the area and Baldur asked the Duke of Calvet if he and his Axe Companions can hunt them down and eliminate them. He even told the Duke that they would do it for free.
Not one to pass up such a chance, Duke Arnoult allowed them to leave the army and hunt down the Lycans. After three days, Baldur and his Axe Companions returned. Bloodied and bruised but each of them dragging a Lycan corpse with the Nord dragging the body of an Alpha Lycan. He told the Duke of Calvet that the entire host of Lycans were dead. They can send someone to take a look at the corpse pile they left behind if he wished.
That night, Baldur marked the foreheads of each Axe Companion with the image of Mjǫllnir using the blood of the Lycans they have slain. Branding them as the Stálbrjótar.
To separate the Stálbrjótar from the rest of the Shield Companions, they all wore Adamantine lamellar armor with open-front surcoats worn over like Baldur's own set of armor and mail aventails were added to their Nordic-style Helmets. Each of them were now armed with a sword in addition to their already numerous armaments. Trained by Baldur and Oleg, the Stálbrjótar were the Shield Companions' most elite unit.
Baldur allowed himself a small smirk at the sight that met him before turning serious when he saw Knight-Captain Isabelle enter the Shield Companions encampment and strode over to him.
"What is it?" He asked as soon as Isabelle arrived.
"The assault is about to begin. The Duke of Calvet wants all who wears heavy armor to spearhead the assault on the town's wall. They'll set up a foothold for the rest of the army once they arrive at the battlements."
"Very well."
"And I will join you."
Baldur raised a brow but shrugged and started walking towards the entrance of the encampment "Suit yourself. Try not to die when the battle starts."
Isabelle huffed and stomped after the Nord with the Stálbrjótar following after them. Their weapons drawn and eager to spill the blood of the beasts. As they passed by the tents of the Shield Companions, Baldur called for Isolla and the Knightly Companion Cavalry. Telling them that they would spearhead the attack on the battlements.
The rest of the Shield Companions started following the Nord who exited the encampment. Outside, Isabelle's Dawn Templars were waiting for them and greeted the Shield Companions.
As Baldur neared the siege tower, he spared a glance at the Town of Besanvin before continuing on with his march while chanting to himself in hushed tones.
"Skeggǫld. Skálmǫld. Skildir ro klofnir."
"Skeggǫld."
Next to the Nord, Oleg joined in his chanting "Skálmǫld. Skildir ro klofnir."
The two shared a nod before chanting in unison as they climbed up the stairs of the siege tower. Their voices slowly raising in volume as sound of their thundering boots echoed throughout the siege tower.
"Skeggǫld. Skálmǫld. Skildir ro klofnir. Skeggǫld. Skálmǫld. Skildir ro klofnir."
From her spot behind them, Isabelle was slightly intimidated upon hearing the two chant in a language that she briefly recalled the Feohmænd call Nordic or the Old Tongue. The language was foreign to her as well as her Templars. Just like before, she was glad Knight-Captain Léontine wasn't here to witness this. Her fellow Knight-Captain might just interpret their chanting as Dark Magics or the like and have them burned at the stake. Sometimes she wondered about the kind of people the Dawn Templars attracted.
(Line Break)
Eventually, the Shield Companions and the Dawn Templars had filled up the siege tower and were now waiting for the Duke to signal the assault. They didn't have to wait long as a horn was blown and Baldur felt the siege tower begin to move. He looked over his shoulder and saw Bhaltair climb up the ladder leading to the top of the siege tower where the Rhodok would operate the scorpion built on the platform above them.
Bhaltair cracked his neck before loading the scorpion with a large steel bolt and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"BHALTAIR!!"
The Rhodok launched the steel bolt towards the battlements and struck a Pigman directly in the chest. Impaling it as well as the Beastman behind it.
"YEEAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!" Bhaltair cheered. He then reloaded the scorpion and sent another steel bolt at the town's defenders. He leaned to the left and narrowly missed an arrow to the head.
"That was a close one. BHALTAIR!!"
He shot the scorpion once more and killed the Satyr Archer that shot an arrow at him. Nailing the Beastman in the head.
"Ha! Back at ye, ye mangy bastards. BHALTAIR!!"
Down below, Isabelle looked up at Baldur and opened her mouth to speak but saw the Nord was staring directly at the ramp of the siege tower. Unflinching. The Knight-Captain decided to ask Oleg instead. The Vaegir scratching his beard while waiting for the siege tower to arrive at the wall.
"Is he always like this?"
"Who? Baldur or Bhaltair?"
"Uh, both."
"Pretty much." Oleg answered with a shrug before unsheathing his sword and staring at the runes engraved on the flat of the blade.
Soon enough, the siege tower stopped upon reaching the wall.
Isolla could hear her heart pounding as she, along with the Knightly and Squire Companion Cavalry, lead the advance out of the siege tower towards the battlements of Besanvin's walls. All the while getting pelted by arrows, spears and rocks.
The Swadian was wearing a set of armor consisting of an iron cuirass, spaulders with lames, vambraces, poleyns, greaves and sabatons. Underneath, she wore a short-sleeved, mail shirt over a maroon tunic and black trousers. Over her head was a visored barbute helmet and around her shoulders was a blue cloak with a black, Lycan pelt mantle and a hood lined with Lycan fur. In her hands was the bastard sword she acquired during the bandit raid in Vinlun as well as a knightly heater shield with the Shield Companion's heraldry.
Isolla and her group were in a tightly packed formation as they slowly crossed the siege tower's ramp. Blocking arrows, spears and rocks thrown their way by the Beastmen. The Swadian let out a startled gasp as she felt an arrow bounce off her helmet before shaking her head and continued towards the battlements. Taking a page out of Baldur's book, Isolla suddenly broke off into a sprint and jumped down into the battlements and the Beastmen.
Bellowing a war cry, she sliced open a Pigman's throat and kicked it back before impaling a Boarman in the abdomen then bashed it off her blade with her shield. She turned to her right and bashed her shoulder into a Satyr before moving to slice it's head off but the Beastman was killed by an arrow to the side of the head. Courtesy of the Bow Companions and Yumi Rōnins shooting arrows at the defending Beastmen.
"Behind you!"
The Swadian quickly turned around and kicked the Satyr in the gut. Causing the Beastman to stagger back before a blade suddenly burst out of it's chest.
Isabelle pushed the dead Satyr off her blade and nodded at Isolla before grabbing a Pigman by it's armor and repeatedly punched it in the face with her Adamantine hand. Delivering deadly blows to it's head that disfigured the Pigman. She then kicked the Beastman through the gap between the crenels and watched as it fell off of the battlements to it's death.
The Knight-Captain felt a hand on her shoulder before he was forced to turn around and found herself suddenly flying back.
Isabelle landed on her back in a daze. The sun blinded her but a large figure blocked the sun's rays and the Knight-Captain's eyes widened before rolling out of the way just in time as a large hammer smashed the area where her head was. She got up to her feet and jumped back as the Lesser Minotaur swung it's maul once again. Isabelle moved to attack it but didn't get a chance to as Oleg smashed into the Beastman's side and pinned it against the crenels before taking a step back and stabbed it in the throat.
Oleg watched as the Beastman fell to it's knees while desperately trying to stop the bleeding but it was for naught. The Vaegir scoffed before turning to his left and swung his sword. Locking and crossing blades with a Satyr before smashing his helmet against the Beastman's head. Causing it to stagger back before Oleg split it's head in middle with his blade.
The Vaegir stepped aside and grabbed the back of the Pigman's head as it tried to charge him and used it's own momentum to smash the Beastman face first into a crenel before slicing it's hand off then smashing the face of his kite shield into it's head and sending the Pigman to the ground.
Oleg looked around him as the Shield Companions and Dawn Templars fought off the Beastmen left and right. Already they had cleared a section of the wall. Allowing the rest of the Shield Companions and the army to flood into the battlements. It would make it easier for them to take the wall.
His instincts screamed and Oleg turned around. He ducked underneath a swing of a Pigman who stumbled forward after he missed and the Vaegir quicky stabbed the Beastman through the back of the neck. Half of his blade busting out of the front before he pulled back and left the Pigman to fall to it's knees and die. He then raised his kite shield and blocked a large ax before proceeding to slice off the attacker's hand then bashed the face of his shield on the Beastman's head. Throwing it to the ground. Stunned.
The Vaegir then spun his blade into a reverse grip before plunging the sword into the Beastman's heart.
Meanwhile, Baldur and his Stálbrjótar were fighting like men possessed. The Nord grabbed a Satyr by the neck and lifted it off the ground before mercilessly throwing the Beastman over the battlements and into it's death. He turned around and grabbed a Pigman by the back of the head before smashing it's face in a crenel then throwing it over the battlements.
Baldur's large stature was intimidating to the Beastmen in the battlements. The only ones they think that could tower the Nord's height would be Minotaurs. Unfortunately for them, they didn't have any among their ranks and only had Lesser Minotaurs which were the same height as Baldur or Oleg but still deadly nonetheless.
The Nord barely felt the arrow bouncing off his new armor and turned his head to glare at the Satyr holding a bow. He never gave it the chance to draw another arrow and threw his Long Axe at it. The weapon sailing through the air before slamming hard into the Beastman's torso. The axe head buried deep in it's chest and almost cleaved the Satyr in half.
Baldur moved to retrieve his weapon but were slowed down by a pair of Beastmen blocking his path.
"Out of my way."
He grabbed two Satyr's by the horns and smashed their head against the other before throwing them both off of the wall and to their doom. Baldur reached his weapon and removed it from the dead Beastman before turning to see that Shield Companions' banner had replaced the Beastmen's on top of an arrow tower.
The Nord grunted in approval before turning to his right and grabbed the haft of a spear. The tip merely inches away from his face pr rather aventail.
The spear barely moved as the Boarman holding it tried to push the weapon into the Nord but Baldur proved himself to be the stronger of the two and effortlessly snatched the spear from the Beastman's grasp before smashing the knob on the Boarman's abdomen then flipped the spear and impaled the Beastman. He then gripped his Long Axe near the axe head before bringing the weapon down and split the Beastman's head in two.
Baldur removed his weapon from the Boarman's skull and raised it above his head.
"DREPTU ÞÁ ALLA, STÁLBRÖTUR!!"
To the side, Erik, now the Captain of the Stálbrjótar, punched a Pigman in the face then bashed his shield to break open a Satyr's guard before swinging his Nordic Sword. Slicing open the Satyr's throat before turning back to the Pigman and blocked it's axe with his shield then stabbed the Beastman in the heart. He pulled his blade free and turned to his fellow Stálbrjótar.
"Death!"
"DEATH!!"
Bellowing a battle cry, Baldur and the Stálbrjótar threw themselves at the Beastmen and cut down any beasts that stood before them without mercy. Following their carnage was Oleg and his Sword Companions. Picking off the ones that managed to avoid the wrath of the Nord and his Feohmænd mercenaries.
As for Isolla and the her company, the Swadian fought side-by-side with Isabelle and her Dawn Templars as they carved a path towards the gate's controls. They needed to raise the gate and portcullis to allow the rest of the army to enter the besieged town.
Isolla grabbed Isabelle by the mantle and pulled her back just in time to avoid getting struck by a boulder hurled by the trebuchets which were manned by the Black Dogs. The boulder, instead, took out the Beastmem in front of them. The Swadian glared at the mercenaries in the distance before turning back to the Knight-Captain.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine but the idiot in charge of the siege weapons won't be once I get my hands on them." Isabelle growled.
The Knight-Captain pushed herself back on her feet and retrieved her sword before swinging upwards and locking blades with a Satyr. Removing her Adamantine hand from the handle of her blade, she quickly punched the Beastman in the abdomen. Causing it to drop it's blade and stagger back which Isabelle took advantage of and severed it's head in one swing.
Isabelle's instincts kicked in and she ducked underneath the swing of a Pigman before swinging her blade in retaliation and pinning her attacker's blade against a crenel. She raised her Adamantine hand and brought it down on the top of the Pigman's head. Stunning it and forcing the Beastman to loosen it's grip on it's weapon which allowed Isabelle to take it from it's grasp and swing the blade into it's neck.
Now wielding two blades, Isabelle lunged at the closest Beastman and impaled it in the chest before using her second blade to behead her opponent.
Off to the side, Isolla had dropped her knightly heater shield and took out her dagger which she stabbed a Boarman in the abdomen before grabbing the back of it's head and smashed it's face into a crenel. She turned around and parried an attack to her heas before quickly swinging down and cutting open a Boarman's thigh. Forcing it to drop on knee before bringing her sword down and split it's head in two.
Isolla was suddenly struck on the back of the helmet and she fell on one knee. She looked over her shoulder and saw a Lesser Minotaur raising it's axe over it's head with the intention of dealing the killing blow to the Swadian but Isolla acted quickly despite being dazed from the attack. Spinning on her heel and thrusting her blade up into the Beastman's throat.
The Swadian ripped her sword free from the Lesser Minotaur's throat and the Beastman fell to it's knees while Isolla stood up and swung her blade down. Chopping the Lesser Minotaur's head clean off it's shoulders.
Breathing heavily, Isolla took a step back and leaned on a crenel. Taking a small breather to steady herself until the spinning stopped before immediately throwing herself into the fray once more with a war cry.
Isolla and her company continued to push through the Beastmen and made their way to the gate's controls. Once they reached it, Isolla ordered the physically strongest of her company to use the gate controls to raise the gate and portcullis while the rest of the company formed a defensive wall of shields and kept back the Beastmen that tried to hinder them. Slowly but surely, the Knightly Companions managed to raise the portcullis before doing the same to the gate.
As soon as the gates were opened, the Calvet, Lavaud and Templar Knights charged past the gates and rode into the town. Taking out any Beastmen that crossed their path or failed to get out of the way in time. The cavalry was followed by the infantry and both forces spread out to take the Town of Besanvin and rid the town of Beastmen.
(Line Break)
Far from the Town of Besanvin, a large Discordian force was camped out in the northern region of the County of Vallonton. Their army was a mix of Orcs, Ogres and Dark Elves and in command of this force was a Dark Elf by the name of Agenilda. Said Dark Elf was inside her tent and was looking at a map of the county. Marking the settlements occupied by the Eostians and the ones occupied by the neutral Beastmen.
Agenilda wore the standard armor of the Dark Queen's Dreadknights which was forged from Darksteel. The armor consisted of a breastplate with spaulders, segmented tassets, cuisses of overlapping lames, poleyns, greaves and sabatons. The armor was adorned with both gold and purple accents and a purple loin cloth. She also wore a large purple cloak and a diadem to signify that she was in command.
The Dreadknight sighed in annoyance when her ears picked up the familiar thundering steps of the savage Orc Chief, Gorim Skullcrusher. Agenilda turned around just as the Orc Chief entered her tent. His form towering over her but she didn't let that intimidate her. He may be big but he was still an Orc. Clumsy. Bad form. She can kill him right then and there but doing so would turn the Orcs against them and, as much as she hated to admit it, they still need the Orcs for their brute strength and durability.
"What do you want, Gorim?"
"You promised us a fight but it's been two weeks and we still haven't done any fightin' around 'ere. My boys and I are gettin' antsy and if we don't get to kill or fuck anythin' soon, you lot would be- "
"Our scouts have returned, Gorim, and they report that an army of Eostians are taking this county back from the Beastmen. Keep your boys in line for just a few more days. You'll get to stab something soon enough."
Gorim bared his fangs at Agenilda and the Dreadknight gripped the handle of the sheathed single-edged, curved sword tied to her belt. Her mind already thinking of ways to kill the Orc Chief.
"Fine. We'll wait."
Without another word, the Orc Chief stomped out of the tent and Agenilda released her grip on her sword before running a hand through hair and breathed out through her nose.
"Orcs." She muttered.
Agenilda returned to her map and narrowed her eyes as they landed on the Town of Montaully then to the Town of Besanvin. The Eostians had left an army to garrison the former while the rest were besieging the latter as of this moment. She can take Montaully first then move onto Besanvin. If she was right, the Eostians' next destination was the Castle Vallonton which was where the leader of these neutral Beastmen reside.
The Dreadknight hummed to herself before calling for her squire. She proceeded to write a letter for the neutral Beastmen's leader stating that if he bends the knee to the Dark Queen, she would send a force to Castle Vallonton and aid them in defending the castle against the Eostians. Once the Eostians are defeated, they would be allowed to keep the County of Vallonton but will do so as a vassal of the Dark Queen.
Agenilda folded the letter and placed it inside an envelope before turning to her squire and ordering her to find their fastest rider to deliver the letter to Castle Vallonton.
The Dreadknight knew that the Beastmen would have no choice but to accept her offer. They were cornered and had no reinforcements coming to their aid. The Eostians would have every single one of them slaughtered but if they bend the knee to the Dark Queen, Agenilda and her army would help them defeat the Eostians.
'Eostia will fall and the Dark Elves will stand over it's ashes. Never again will my people be locked in the chains of slavery. Never again.'
For too long the Dark Elves have suffered under the Eostians. Taken from their homeland to become slaves while the High Elves did nothing but stand aside and ignore their suffering. Not anymore. The Dark Elves are strong. Molded by pain and suffering. The Eostians took them from their lands. Now it is their turn to take from the Eostians. The Dark Queen would see to that.
(Line Break)
A Calvet Infantryman screamed as he was sent flying by a Minotaur. His body slamming into two other Infantrymen and the three became a mess of limbs on the ground.
Standing in the center of town square, a Minotaur was surrounded by a number of soldiers, knights and mercenaries. Both dead and alive. Those that were still alive maintained their distance from the Beastman who wielded a massive mace. Those armed with spears and pikes tried thrust their polearms at the Beastman but the Minotaur simply grabbed the haft of the pole weapons and pulled their wielder towards it before killing them.
The Minotaur grabbed a spear-wielding Infantryman and pulled the man towards it before swinging it's mace down and crushing the poor soldier into the ground. It then turned to the side and grabbed a Dawn Templar by the neck as she tried to sneak up behind it but failed. The Minotaur lifted her off the ground and the Templar Knight struggled against the Beastman's grip but the Minotaur suddenly squeezed it's hand and crushed her throat. Killing her instantly.
The Minotaur huffed and threw the dead Dawn Templar by Isabelle's feet and the Knight-Captain glared up at the Beastman. Fire burning in her eyes as she gripped her weapons tightly and bared her teeth at the Minotaur.
"You'll regret that."
The Minotaur roared and threw it's mace towards a group of Infantrymen before dropping on all fours. Isabelle watched as the human parts of it's body transformed into that of a bull before charging towards Isabelle. Knocking away anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in it's path.
Just as the Beastman drew closer, Isabelle, who firmly held her ground, spun to the side at the last second while holding out her swords. Slicing the hind leg of the Minotaur as it passed her by and the Beastman crashed into the ground.
The Minotaur's body transformed back to it's previous state and the Beastman tried to stand up only to fall on one knee. It levelled a glare at Isabelle who ignored it and ran towards the Minotaur with battle cry. In response, the Minotaur grabbed the carcass of a dead horse nearby and threw it at the Knight-Captain. Isabelle couldn't react fast enough and the body slammed into her. Pinning her to the ground.
The Minotaur huffed and started limping towards Isabelle. Grabbing a pike along the way before stopping in front of the pinned Dawn Templar. It raised the pole weapon above it's head. Intent on impaling the Knight-Captain who glared defiantly up at the Minotaur.
"Do it!"
As the Beastman reared back the hand holding the pike, it suddenly roared in pain and fell to it's knees. It's cries of pain were cut ofd when it's skull was split open by a Long Axe.
Baldur removed his weapon from the Minotaur's head and smashed the knob of his weapon on the side of the Beastman's head. Throwing it's body to the side before walking over to Isabelle and knelt down.
With a grunt, Baldur lifted the dead horse just enough for Isabelle to crawl away before the Nord dropped the horse and moved over to help Isabelle up her feet.
"You good?"
"I am now." Isabelle replied before bowing her head slightly "Thank you."
"Hm."
Baldur turned away from the Knight-Captain and rested his Long Axe on his shoulder. Looking around him as the Infantrymen, mercenaries, Peasant Militia even the knights started to plunder.
"Baldur."
The Nord looked over his shoulder and saw Oleg approach. Followed by his Sword Companions.
"What is it?"
"We found the building the Harpies use as a nest. We sealed them inside. What do you wanna do?"
"Find Bhaltair and Batu. Have them surround the building with Bow and Crossbow Companions. Burn the building."
Oleg nodded wordlessly before leaving to find the Rhodok and Khergit as well as the Shield Companions' missile infantry.
Isabelle, meanwhile, looked up at the Nord who continued to watch the looting around them.
"Has anyone ever told you about your disturbing fixation of locking the enemy in a building and burning them alive?" She questioned.
"No."
"Did you do the same back in Calradia?"
"No."
"Then... why do you do it?"
The Nord looked down at the Knight-Captain with a neutral expression "Have you ever had goat legs before?"
Isabelle raised a brow at the Nord's answer before her eyes widened in realization and disgust.
"Are you serious!? Y-You're joking, right? Right!?"
Instead of answering, Baldur simply walked away. Leaving the Dawn Templar to stare at his retreating back with her jaw to the ground.
The Nord's lips quirked slightly upwards when he saw her expression over his shoulder. They didn't really eat the beast parts of the Beastmen but the reason why he burned them alive was simple. Sending his men inside to deal with the beasts would result in casualties. Locking the beasts inside and preventing them from getting out while setting the building on fire kills two birds with one stone. He didn't have to lose men and all they had to do was kill off those that try to escape as they burned alive.
Baldur's thoughts were interrupted by a series of loud screeches and looked towards the direction of the sound. There he saw the Harpies try to fly away only to be shot down by the Bow and Crossbow Companions and fall to the burning building below.
The Nord grunted before stopping in front of the statue of the Goddess to observe it.
It had been desecrated. Pieces of it were missing and he could see bloodstains here and there. The skull of a horned beast was painted on the statue's abdomen with blood. Two posts were placed in front of the statue with shackles attached to them and he looked down to see stains of dried liquid and blood on the ground between the posts.
"Monsters."
Baldur spared a glance over his shoulder as Knight-Lieutenant Estelle approached and stood next to him. Her lone eye staring at the statue.
"I've seen what they do here. The Beastmen would take a virgin, usually a Nun, and chain her up in front of the statue. They would rape her while the rest of the Beastmen gather around them. Chanting something in their native tongue. Once the first Beastman finishes, another will take it's place. Then another. Then another. This dark ritual is performed so the poor virgin they raped would spawn a litter of Beastmen at once. They could do it elsewhere but they choose to do it in front of the statue for the sole reason of mocking the Goddess and her Church."
Baldur grunted and gave the desecrated statue one last look before leaving. He didn't really care much about the Gods of others aside from his own.
Even though they call themselves the Kingdom of Nords, Calradian Nords believed in the Calradian God and the Seven Saints though there were still a few that continued to practice the Nordic faith. The same can be said about the Vaegirs. While the majority practiced the Calradian religion, Oleg just so happened to be born from parents that practiced the Nordic faith.
Baldur and Oleg had to convert to the Calradian religion in order to be accepted in the Vaegir army. They, however, only saw the conversion as a means to an end. Had they not converted, the original Shield Companions would have had a harder time finding work in Swadia as well as becoming the royal guards of the Swadian King.
Despite having converted, they didn't really practice the Calradian religion that much or at all and continued to practice their own faiths. Even Batu and A'isha were allowed to practice the Khergit and Sarranian religions respectively. They can worship a damn goat for all he cared as long as it doesn't interfere with their mercenary work.
The Nord eventually regrouped with his Stálbrjótar and headed for the local inn where the rest of the Shield Companions had decided to rest. The town was as good as theirs and all that's left was to mop up whatever resistance the Beastmen had left before declaring Besanvin as reclaimed. For this, the Shield Companions' cavalry force joined the Calvet and Lavaud Knights alongside the Vallonton Resistance's cavalry. It wouldn't take long before the town was clean of any Beastmen.
Baldur kicked open the door of the inn and the Shield Companions inside greeted their leader with drinks in hand. They weren't allowed to fuck but they sure as hell were allowed to drink but only up to a certain limit. Baldur needed them to be able to focus on the job and be ready for anything. The Shield Companions needed to be sober for that to happen. Still. What's the harm of taking one little drink?
The Nord accepted the tankard handed to him by Bhaltair and took a big swig before slamming the now empty tankard on the table and the Shield Companions erupted in cheer. Just in time as the remaining Shield Companions joined them. Declaring that the town was Beastman-free. The cheers growing louder at the news.
(Line Break)
In the trees just outside of Besanvin, a group of Dark Rangers from the Discordian army watched the Eostians take the town from the Beastmen. Their eyes and ears seeing and hearing father than any Human, Dwarf or Halfling. Allowing them to observe the battle from a safe distance.
With the Town of Besanvin taken, the Eostians would rest for a day or two before heading for Castle Vallonton. The messenger sent to the remaining Beastmen should be arriving tomorrow but the reply may take more than a day or two. This was why the Dreadknight tasked these Dark Rangers to slow down the Eostians by any means necessary.
The sun was setting in the horizon. This worked to the Dark Rangers' favor as they would be able to remain hidden under the cover of darkness. They were not as stealthy as the Dark Queen's Shadow Guards but they were definitely more stealthy than the Black Dog mercenaries trying to sneak up on them from below.
Simultaneously, the Dark Rangers rained barbed arrows down at the small band of Black Dog mercenaries below them. Killing every single one of them before they even realize what was happening.
Not one to stay in one spot for too long, the Dark Rangers dropped down from the trees and left to find another spot to observe the Eostians while waiting for the opportune time to strike. Disappearing into the night as the darkness set in.