Chapter 8 - Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye
KOSH
Kosh sees Elion and some others he recognizes from the village ahead. The group catches their breath as Elion approaches.
Kosh breathes heavily. "What's going on? How did you guys manage to escape?"
Elion wipes at his face. "Scouts reported that there was suspicious activity. We were able to start evacuating some of the people; then, explosions rang out. We didn't know what to expect." Elion looks around, "I certainly did not think this. I was able to save," He points to the people behind him. " only this small amount." Elion's face is grim, and he looks as if he has aged 20 years in the short time the group had last seen him.
Kosh looks around. Some of the people have burns and blisters and are being tended to. The ones not helping were holding themselves or loved ones weeping or mumbling to themselves. So much hurt and pain. It reminds Kosh of the night he was taken and thrown into a slave carriage. He watched from the window as his friends and family members were executed or loaded into other carriages. Kosh's town was burned to the ground. All that he loved was gone in a single moment. He knew all too well how these people felt. The village is down to only 15 people. Their loved ones are gone, but they still walk, undead now. If the remaining people didn't know this already, it would devastate them even more.
"Gather our people. We need to move southeast. There is a city a day from here. Hopefully, it remains untouched. They should be able to help us". Elion issues his four remaining soldiers.
Kosh
The rest of the day is uneventful. They will arrive in Lingard later tonight. Kosh's back hurt, and his body was sore. His heart broke too. Kosh closes his eyes and tries to settle his thoughts.
"Are you alright?" Kith asks Kosh, strolling up beside him.
I know what it's like to be them. Kosh says quietly. "It will be a long time before they recover."
"This may just be the beginning." Kith replies.
Kosh nods his head. "Once we get to Lingard, we should send word to Queen Anastasia."
Kith shrugs. "What do we even say?"
"We are at war."
Kith scoffs, "More bad news. I wonder if she will even be surprised."
Kosh ponders a moment. "We need to get to Belkzen stronghold."
"We can't take on Belkzen itself without an army," Kith says.
Kosh nods his head in agreement. "We need to get word to our allies, as well. They need to know they may all be in danger."
"We can take out the footholds they have along the borders," Kith replies. "We still have the potential for Runelords to deal with."
Kosh looks out over the hill they are standing on. Down below in the distance is Lingard. The last big city before they head into the Whispering Tyrant's domain. The sun was starting to go down, and the air grew chilly. The light in the town begins to flicker on. Kosh's heartfelt heavy and knew that what Kith said was true. It was only the beginning. And for the first time in a long time, Kosh felt helpless.
Ren
They finally arrive in Lingard. As they walk towards its vast sand-colored gates, four armed guards approach and Elion steps up to meet them.
"Sir Elion!" One of the guards says and greets him with a small salute. She is another elf, dark-skinned, with formal soldier attire. She looks past Elion and the group behind him, and her eyes widen. Ren didn't have to guess what she saw. He felt it himself—anger, shock, heartbreak. The adventurers decide to tell, at least Elion, what had become of the villagers that hadn't made it. Arix, you bastard. Ren thinks to himself.
Elion clears his throat. "Narrlin was attacked. They are what is left of our town."
Tears well in the dark-skinned elf's eyes, and she turns away briefly. She takes a deep breath. "My brother?"
Elion grabs her shoulders gently and puts his head on hers. "I'm sorry, Kylinndra."
Kylinndra stumbles a bit, and Elion steadies her. Speaking in Elvish, he tells her that her brother saved a few of the townspeople and that he was brave and honorable. Tears are now pouring down her face as she trembles in Elion's arm.
The group and villagers watch in sadness. Most of them had lost someone. Most of them started to cry themselves. Some had never stopped.
A dwarf woman dressed in fine silks and fabrics walks towards them from inside the gate. She touches Kylinndra's shoulder and whispers something to her, and Kylinndra excuses herself and walks quickly back into the city gates.
"Let's help move these people into the city." She says, gesturing towards the remaining guards. She turns towards Elion. "Follow me."
The villagers walk in with the guards, and Elion and the group follow the dwarf woman. She is an average-looking and size dwarf with loose, wavy blonde hair. She leads them through the town. It is as bustling as Narrlin had been a day ago. The city is much bigger and more populated on one side market with apartments on the top parts. On the other side were houses scattered between an inn and a tavern. Everyone looks happy. The opposite of all they felt. Ren sighs, tired and worried. The group hadn't talked too much. There is much more at stake than Ren's vengeance now. That has always been what fueled him. Now, he isn't sure how to feel. He knows he has to stop the Tyrant, but it isn't just about himself anymore. The dwarf woman led them into a tall building beside an open yard where men and women were training.
She leads them into a room with a large oak table and points to it. "Have a seat ."She says, sitting down herself. To the group, she says, "I'm Recca. Tell me what happened."
She looks ridged sitting in the seat, no emotions playing out on her face. After everything they had just gone through, felt, and done, it was hard not to think her a cold, heartless-
Elion's voice breaks his thoughts as he and the group begin to tell her of the events in Narrlin Hamlet.
REN
It's been two weeks since they had arrived in Lingard. Kosh had sent a message to Queen Anastacia, who had yet to respond. Ren walks out of his room and down the inn hall where he and his group are staying. Everyone is friendly and kind. Even to Kith, much to his surprise. To no surprise, Kith was usually on the training grounds sparing with others as he has done the whole time they have been here. Kosh was typically found with Elion and Recca. Ren could be found in the library, and Eris was usually in the temple or helping the folks around the city. This day is different, though. Recca and Elion asked for them to all go to the room they had been escorted to when they first arrived. It is the same as last time, with a massive table in the center, but it is crowded with a least twenty people this time. He recognizes some of them from around town.
After a few moments, Recca speaks up. "As you all have heard, Narrlin was attacked a few weeks ago. After some thought and consideration, my people," she indicates the twenty, "have decided to help fight back however you need. These are the leaders of other villages and towns thought the region." She opens her shirt just enough to see a pendant on her undershirt. Ren recognizes it: The Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye.
Kosh nods his head and walks over to the table to stretch out a map he has been holding. " If we can get an army together. My group and I can infiltrate the orc footholds along our route." He points to the map and marks Belkzen. "This will reduce their numbers and ability to flank us and provide the army with enough time to get closer to Urgir.
A knock sounds at the door, and in walks a gnome girl.
"Apologies for the interruption, she says with a clear and confident voice. "Sir Kosh?"
Kosh indicates himself by raising his hand. She extends a rolled message to him and excuses herself.
After a few moments of reading, Kosh enlightens the rest of the people with its contents. "The queen has sent out another team to come in from the south of the Graveland's. They will clear out footholds along the way as well. We will approach from the north, northwest position. We engage in one month."
Ren whistles. "Is that enough time? We have to travel across Belkzen while crippling them along the way."
Kosh shrugs. "We have no choice."
One of the men at the table speaks up. "How do you know that the group Anastacia sent out will be there at that time."
"As Kosh said, we have no choice and must hope for the best," Eris responds with a flip of the hand.
Kosh continues with the information given in the missive. "The other team will be in charge of recruiting others as well. We will infiltrate Belkzen and meet in Urgir."
"This might be a lot for just the 4 of us," Kith interjected. He is leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Ren would have never guessed he would have befriended an orc given his past.
Kosh gives Kith a look and doesn't answer. "The queen said to recruit too. They don't have many, but we can send word to Heg Town.
Another male dwarf stands to speak. We are a village a few days from here and closer to the Hold. I can gather at least 30 and meet you at the border of Belkzen.
"The dwarves would love to get their hands on the people of Urgir. And take back one of their homes." Eris says.
The man nods.
"We need all the help we can get," Recca agrees.
"I will draft up something then," Eris says. She grabs loose parchment off the table and sets about writing to Heg Town.
They all continue to set up destinations for scouts and other miscellaneous excursions needed before the battle that is to take place in one month.
As Ren walks to the apothecary, he can't help but feel a sense of unease at this lack of control and the gamble they are all taking. A cold sweat broke out over his body, and he trembled slightly. No choice is correct. Ren thinks. This mission is going to be arduous. One that many may not live to see the end of, himself included.
