Chronicles of Espiria Season 1

Episode 1 - Battle on the Frontier

Written by The Dude

Ulric pulled his spear out of the body of a jackal-headed Mauler warrior and took a moment to process the battle that continued to rage around him. The cries of human and Mauler alike, the clashing of metal on metal, and the sickening sound of metal on flesh, came together to form a deafening cacophony that made it nearly impossible for Ulric to think of very much beyond his desire for the battle to just end. He was jarred from his contemplation by the sight of another Mauler, another jackal, bearing down on him with axe raised. Ulric raised his shield just in time to to deflect the axe, then finished the jackal off with his spear.

At that moment, he spotted his commander locked in combat with a bear and started sprinting to him. Commander Hogan's courage had been an inspiration to Ulric in training, and now he needed some of that courage. As he drew closer, he noticed a Durri, a rodent-like Mauler, sneaking up on Hogan with a crude spear. Ulric threw his own spear at the Durri, just missing him, but still managing to scare him off. Ulric arrived at Hogan's side just as he managed to finish off the bear.

"Are you all right, Sir?"

"I'll be fine. I keep forgetting how tough those bears can be. How are you holding up?"

"I'll be fine as well, once... Sir, the left flank!"

Hogan looked to the left flank and noticed it starting to crumble. He pulled out his horn and blew a signal to the archers to fire a volley in support of the struggling soldiers. Moments later, a volley of arrows fell on the Maulers attacking the left flank, striking down any who weren't clever enough to bring armor or shield. This gave the soldiers the space they needed to reform ranks. As they did so, however, Hogan saw the culprit behind the near collapse; a lion-headed Mauler let out a roar that caused one or two of the soldiers to flee. Though he had never seen this beast before, Hogan recognized the Mauler by his reputation as a terrifying foe.

"Brutus."

Ulric was frightened by the mere mention of his name. "What do we do?!"

"We cut off the head of the beast. Come Ulric!"

Hogan started running toward Brutus, Ulric struggling to keep up. Maulers who attacked Hogan on the way were dispatched in moments, while Ulric, less experienced in real combat, required more time and effort to defeat his attackers. Brutus, meanwhile, started cutting through the line again, causing it to start collapsing again as soldiers and their severed limbs were scattered in all directions. Hogan arrived just in time to block Brutus from charging through the hole in the line he'd made. The remaining nearby soldiers rallied around their commander and reformed the line. Brutus left his soldiers to break the line again and turned his attention to Hogan.

"You are Commander Hogan, the man who struck down my brother."

"Continue your raid on this land and you will join your brother today!"

Brutus let out a roar and charged at Hogan. Hogan barely managed to dodge the strike and answered with a slash at Brutus' belly, which also barely missed. The battle between Brutus and Hogan was fueled by instinct; their was no more planning or strategy, simply the next slash, the next parry, the next dodge.

Ulric finally caught up to Hogan and was ready to aid him, but was caught off guard by a bat-headed Mauler wielding a pair of axes. The waist-high beast seemed intent on overpowering his foe with shear ferocity, leveling a constant barrage of axe swings at Ulric that he only blocked because he was more skilled with his shield than his spear. Hogan and Ulric remained locked in combat with these two Mauler warriors until Hogan's sword slid into a gap in Brutus' blade. With a grin and a flick of Brutus' wrist, Hogan's sword was ripped from his hand; once disarmed, Brutus kicked Hogan to the ground. He was just about to finish Hogan off when a horn blast sounded over the din of battle. Hogan and Brutus recognized the sound immediately; reinforcements had arrived for Hogan. Brutus was out of time. Begrudgingly, he backed away from Hogan and roared the signal to retreat. Before he turned to lead his troops to safety, Brutus gave Hogan one last glare.

"This isn't over, human. We will meet again."

Hogan stood back up and watched as the army retreated, running not in fear or shame, but in disappointment. Ulric was glad to see the battle end, but was confused why they were not pursuing the Maulers.

"Aren't we going to pursue them, Sir? The reinforcements give us a clear advantage."

"For the moment. But if we pursue them, they'll lead us along a winding trail until we get bogged down in rough terrain, then they'll ambush us. I've survived enough Mauler traps to know what one looks like, and I will not let another good soldier be killed by one if I can help it."

Once Brutus was out of sight, Hogan turned to face the reinforcements that were rapidly approaching. Hogan had not had time to call for reinforcements, so he was pleasantly surprised to say the least; his pleasure only grew when he recognized who led the reinforcements.

"General Estrilda, I didn't expect to see you here."

"My spies informed me that Brutus was supposed to be leading this incursion, and I knew that you would need help against the Paragon."

"What I need help with now is the dead and injured. This was a costly victory."

"Of course." Estrilda turned to a soldier next to her and said, "Sergeant, begin bringing the injured to the medic tent. Have the healers at the ready."

"Yes, sir."

The sergeant and several other soldiers went out into the field in search of survivors, Hogan and Estrilda following close behind, while the rest of Estrilda's forces started setting up their own field hospital. As Hogan reached the place in which he dueled with Brutus, he heard a familiar groan. He found an old friend among the dead, struggling for breath.

"Izold!"

"We need a healer here, now!" Estrilda shouted.

"Hogan..." Izold struggled to breathe out.

"Don't speak, old friend. We'll get you to a healer in..."

Izold grabbed Hogan by the arm.

"Hogan, did we win?"

"We pushed them back for another day. Now lie still, help is on the way."

"I couldn't stop him. I'm sorry."

"You did all you could. And I'm sure you'll get another medal for this."

At that moment, a young priest knelt next to Izold and began praying. As he prayed, light began to emanate from the edges of his many wounds. The wounds began to slowly close before their eyes.

"I'll stay with him, Hogan." Estrilda said. "You tend to the rest of your men."

Hogan did as he was told, but looked often back to Izold to try to see if there was any progress.

Later, Hogan and Estrilda walked through the hospital tents, encouraging the healers and soldiers within. Hogan eventually came to Izold, apparently sleeping peacefully, the same priest still at his side praying.

"How is he, doctor?"

"We did all we could, Commander, but he was gravely injured already when you found him. There were multiple stab wounds in his chest, one piercing his lung, and as you can see, his leg was nearly severed. Lucius there continues to work on him, but nothing short of a miracle will save that leg. I'm afraid his days as a soldier are over."

"You never stop being a soldier, doctor," Hogan responded. "Even if you can no longer fight."

"He will have a place on the Wall of Legends for his courage this day," Estrilda reassured Hogan. "The crown will see to his care from now on."

Back in Hogan's command tent, Hogan was finally able to calm himself enough to recount the events of the battle to Estrilda.

"Had you not arrived, General, I don't know how many more men we may have lost."

"You've conducted yourself well today, Commander. You'll get a medal for this victory."

"Like Izold."

Estrilda could hear the sadness in Hogan's voice.

"Izold will be fine. If he can't stomach the life of a civilian, he could become a teacher at the barracks. We can always use skilled instructors."

"That's not it. Izold is a fighter. He won't let something as petty as a missing leg stop him. No, it's this war. The war with the Maulers has been going on longer than anyone can remember. Your grandfather, Dura rest his soul, told you stories of his own grandfather fighting the Maulers. It never ends. I fear it never will."

"Perhaps it won't. That is not ours to know. All we can do is protect the realm until such a time as we don't have to."

Estrilda rose from her seat. Hogan followed suit out of respect.

"In two days time, you and your men will return to Ranhorn for some well earned rest. I will stay and guard the frontier with these men for now."

"Yes, sir."

Estrilda turned to leave.

"I know you will do as you please, but I suggest you get some sleep. You have much to prepare tomorrow."

Estrilda left Hogan alone. She was right; Hogan returned to his seat once Estrilda was gone. His mind wandered to the event seven years ago, when he learned first hand the price of failing to heed instinct.

He was a Master Sergeant, second-in-command to a recently appointed young nobleman with little experience with a blade, and less experience in combat. They had just dealt a crushing defeat to a Mauler raiding party and were watching them retreat. Hogan's gut told him to let the beasts go, that they were bait in a Mauler trap. His new commander, however, was not so astute, and ordered his men to pursue the beasts and wipe them out. They had no choice; to disobey a direct order meant a court martial and, if the nobleman was so inclined, summary execution.

As he feared, the Maulers had set a trap. The nobleman died bravely, which was the only kind thing Hogan could ever say about him. Outnumbered and surrounded, the rest of the regiment survived only by some brilliant leadership and strategy by Hogan and the peerless training they had all received. They forced the Maulers into retreat again, and Hogan was appointed Commander of the Frontiers, second in command only to a few generals like Estrilda; but Hogan lost many good men to his commander's poor decision, and he swore that day never to repeat it.