The Horde

    Lord Doran Icefist paced the corridors of his castle, the once mighty fortress of the Northern Barrier mountains.  Castle Icefist had kept the realms of Auburndale safe from the onslaught of the Beastlands’ inhabitants, since its completion following the first Beast War.  But since the end of the Hundred-Year War, when the kingdom was at its weakest, increasing raids around the borderlands have caught the lord’s attention.  This will threaten the new found peace thought Lord Icefist.  “The border lands have been quiet for years.  Why now after such a long time do these beasts rise up against us?  Are the men on the battlements,” asked Lord Icefist?  “Yes my lord, but I also carry dire news.  The Horde has struck again, Stoneguard has fallen,” entered Knight Commander Jax Stormblade, captain of Castle Icefist’s defenses.  “What, why wasn’t I informed immediately.”  “News has just arrived my lord, the first of the refugees are pouring in as we speak.”  “What of our scouts, why didn’t they report,” boomed Lord Icefist?  “They were ambushed, those that survived led what was left of Stoneguard here.”  “What of my nephew is he still…”  “Yes my lord it was because of him that many escaped with there lives from Stoneguard.”  “And what of the Horde, where have they gone from there?”  “They come here Doran, from what information I have received there are thousands that stand against us.  My lord our only hope is to retreat south toward the Silver Spires,” pleaded Sir Jax.  “What, and leave the Horde unchallenged.  No we will not leave Icefist, the fortress my ancestor Andrenus Icefist built after he led the Army of Threes in the first Beast War.  They will pay for what has happened to Stoneguard.  We will hold them at the Barrier Mountains.  I believe it is my destiny.”  “But my lord.”  “If you are so worried send word to the Rildare to send reinforcements.”  “You are dismissed commander.”  With that Commander Stormblade turned on his heels and stormed out toward the battlements.

     “My lord a messenger has arrived, he informs me that reinforcements will arrive in four days time,” spoke Sir Zander Foresight as he entered the war room.  “The reinforcements will arrive to late Doran, the scouts report that the Horde will be here in two days time. We’ve lost half our forces against the Horde already on the plains of Goan, we should escape while there is still time,” said Commander Stormblade.  “I have been a fool, may the Gods have mercy on us all.”  Five days earlier the champions of Icefist rode out to meet the oncoming evil. When battle was finally engaged the forces of Icefist almost completely destroyed the Horde, but the tide of battle started to shift as ten dark knights rode forth with a multitude of undead warriors.  When they entered the fray of battle, destruction and doom rained down on the forces of light.  When the order to retreat sounded many of the knights who stood on the battlefield looked around in awe.  For Icefist had never fallen back let alone retreated.  They had been lucky to have only lost half of their forces.  For if the rear vanguard had not fought so valiantly the entire northern army would have perished.  ”But still I cannot abandon the castle.  All those that wish to go must leave immediately and Jax make sure my nephew goes with them.” Sir Jax looked at his lord with his anguish filled amber eyes; “It shall be done.”  “As for those that decide to stay we must ready ourselves for battle.”

    From the thousands that dwelled outside or within Castle Icefist that chose to leave there were also many that chose to stay.  There were those who having lost their homes in Stoneguard would run no longer.  As well as the knights and men-at-arms that had taken the oath of fealty, and would rather be eaten alive by dragons than forsake their lord.  Lord Icefist knew this but he would not force anyone to stay and had said so, but still they would not flee.  He was forced himself to order some knights and footmen to accompany the refugees back to Rildare, the city of the silver spires.  He made sure that his nephew Blake Icefist led them.  Blake put up a good fight, but when the dust settled his uncle prevailed.

    Here they come,” shouted Sir Zander, who was stationed in the north tower.  The Horde swept over the battle field like a gigantic juggernaut.  Everyone on the battlements could see the Dark Ten on the hill opposite the valley.  Guarded by a legion of undead warriors.  The beastmen and ogres were being whipped into frenzy that only the blood of their enemies could placate.  Goblins and orcs poured over the surrounding knolls plotting out the terrain.  “There’s so many,” exclaimed Sir Zander.  “For everyone we cut down there will be five to take its place.”  Horns began to blare above the chaos, and Knight Commander Stormblades’ voiced boomed forth.  “Ready yourselves men, Icefist has never fallen.  Not in the Beast Wars, not in the Hundred Year War, and I’ll be damned if it falls today.”

    “What news, has Castle Icefist fallen,” asked Lord Knight Jeffery Quivalen?  “No my lord, they are holding on by threads.  The beast army is laying siege,” replied Sir Aron Baldorf.  “Laying siege?   I’ve never heard something so preposterous.  How could those mindless animals possibly lay siege to that mighty fortress?  The scouts must be mistaken or there complete idiots.”  My lord I thought the same thing so went out to see for myself, it is true by the White Warrior I swear it.”  “Send word of this to Lord Knight Relva.  He should be informed.”  “Yes my lord.  Are we going to break the siege?”  “First let me see what were up against.”

    “Castle Icefist has been cutoff.  Though it still as of the last report it still stands.  Stoneguard has fallen as well Aberdean and Boreas.  The whole northern border has been ransacked.  Barbarians to the west have taken up arms against us, but Runesword Keep has been able to bring them to a halt.  My lords, we are in dire times.  But it also seems that the Horde has made one vital mistake.  For when they attack Boreas, they slew Prince Salas of the Imperial Court.  With that the elves have taken up arms and with a little goading the dwarves have also joined us as well.  We plan a to encircle the Horde while they are laying siege to Castle Icefist and force them into the Gorge southwest of Icefist.  Then the ground shall be swollen with their blood,” reported Lord Knight Winston, counsel member of the Knights’ Counsel.  “Is everyone agreed.”  All the knights in the room slowly nodded agreement except one.  “Lord Relva do you disagree with these plans,” asked Lord Knight Lerig?  “I do, my agent among the Wizards’ Conclave says they believe that magic is involved.  They also said that whatever is controlling the Horde lies in the northern most region in the Beastlands.  With this new information in mind I recommend and they agree as well that we send a small force northward through the mountain pass north of Aberdean.”  “What would these wizards know, they’re probably the ones who conjured up these beasts to begin with,” countered Lord Knight Barnabus.  “This changes nothing Relva, we will still proceed as planned,” spoke Winston.

     “Fools their all fools, but at least they let some wizards go with them.  Sir Vogaleer I need you to put the band together, but it must be done with the utmost secrecy.  For if the council finds out that I went against their wishes they would be havoc in the council.  To mages shall meet your party in the Red Wench Inn on the third equinox of the second moon.  That will leave you not much time, but as I said my friend there is not much time.  Make sure to acquire some of those knights that brought those refugees in.  This should cover all of your supplies and more.  It is imperative that this mission be completed.  The fate of Auburndale rests in your hands and of those who go with you.  Be careful Miles no one has been beyond the boundary in two centuries, you must be ready for anything,” spoke Sir Relva.

    “When do we leave,” asked Blake Icefist.  “In two days time we shall set out.  The scouting reports reveal that we can bypass the main force if we circle farther west by northwest.  When we hit Aberdean.  We'll head straight north.  We should reach the foothills of the North Barrier Mountains by midmorning four days from now,” said Sir Miles Vogaleer.  “But didn’t the Horde take Aberdean,” asked Sir Dorean Whitesword.  “They overran Aberdean no one said they stayed long,” retorted Blake.  The band contained three knights, two mages, a grizzled dwarf, and an elven ranger.  Sir Miles Vogaleer led the party.  Sir Blake Icefist would guide the party until they reached the North Barrier Mountains and Granite WarAxe, representative of the dwarven race, would lead them through the mountains along with Sharn Minthra, Knight of the Silverbrand, protectors of the elven race.  Lady Alexia, wizardess of the Grey Diamond, and the dark robed wizard of the Black Heart, Hamon were the delegates of the Wizards Conclave.  Of everyone in the party Hamon only spoke to Lady Alexia.  Dorean thought that it was for the best. For he wanted nothing to do with the dark robed wizard.  In contrast he did want to catch the eyes of Sharn.  Having seen Dorean gallivant after the ladies in the years that he had known him, Blake was not surprised.

     The group left that night under the cover of darkness.  After leaving Rildare the party traveled with as much speed as was possible.  It seemed most hard on the mages who needed most of the day to study their spell books and rest.  Sir Dorean and Granite began to think that they were just holding the party down and voiced their opinion regularly.  For like most dwarves and knights it was thought no sane person would even think to use magic.  They would rather rely on the sword arms and armor than a bunch of funny words and a bat wing.  “We be reaching Aberdean soon, it should be right over those hills,” reported Sir Icefist.  “Blake, I didn’t think smelled this bad last time we were here, it smells like that deer skin we were curing last spring that went bad,” cut in Dorean.  Rounding the top of the next hill they where the smell was coming from.  “The Gods,” Sharn exclaimed!  Located in small meadow at the base of the hill and continuing up the next hill laid the rotting corpses of the dead..  There were humans and goblins, orcs, ogres, and even a frost giant bodies lying where they had fallen.  As the group passed through the horrifying scene, Dorean fell to his knees and began to vomit.  His usual cheerful mood had all but vanished.  “Blake no battle I have ever been in could have prepared me for this.”  “I know my friend, but we must keep moving,” said Blake, who had begun to take on a green look of his own.  When the party finally arrived in Aberdean, the same ghastly sight greeted them as before.  Bodies lay strewn across the killing field that was once Aberdean.  The only sounds heard were those of the carrion birds crying out in anger at being disturbed from their meals.  At the scene before them even the dwarf turned a shade of green.  The main gates were smashed to splinters.  The few structures still standing were unrecognizable.  “Well let’s scavenge what we can, then lets get out of this God cursed place.  By the way stay away from the dead.  They could have left some undead guardians here; they did in Stonguard,” said Blake.As dawn crept upon the North Barrier Mountains, the party had reached the foothills.  Another hard day of travel and they would reach the pass.

    Lord Winston stood in his command tent studying the plans that would win victory for Auburndale.  “The majority of our forces shall be here on the other side of the Gorge.  We will use the elven knights and the dwarven warriors on each side, channeling them toward us.  We’ll use our cavalry to herd them toward the Gorge.  I will lead them.  Once in the Gorge there will be no hope for survival.”

    “Everything is going according to plan.  They should be entering the Gorge by now.  Damn this fog I can barely see my own hand.  How am I supposed to fight something I can’t see,” said Lord Relva.  “My lord, look, something is moving down there.”  As the images moved slowly closer Lord Relva and his men started at what they saw.  “By the White Warrior himself!  The elves and dwarves are in the Gorge.”  The silence that spread throughout the army because of the site before them was shattered by the screams of dying men.  Lord Relva turned his mount and surveyed his men.  “Where is it coming from.  Wait that came from behind us.”  Lord Relva rode through the ranks of the First Legion toward the rear.  As he came closer to the rear the sounds of battle became louder.  His men began to shift uneasily in their saddles.  “May the Gods show mercy, there behind us, the Horde is behind us,” screamed Relva!

    Sir Garin led the remnants of the third legion and what forces were left of the fifth army toward Rildare.  The elves and dwarves rode with them.  Believing they had failed, they vowed they would never fail again.  They had been the spearhead of the main forces, sent against the Horde, but when the sounds of battle drifted toward them they quickly returned.  What they found were the shattered remains of the fifth army.  There in the middle of sea of blood, surrounded on all sides by the Horde, battled the remainder of his father’s force.  Watching in horror as the grisly scene took place in front of him, he thought he heard his father’s booming voice shouting orders above the din of the battle.  Gaining control of himself once more he yelled, “Ready yourselves men, today is a good day to die.”  Garin led the charge to save his father.  Later it was said that when Garin entered the fray, death followed.  Garin no longer knew where he was or that he was covered in blood (mostly his enemies’) all he knew is that he must reach his father.  “Father, father I’m coming,” he yelled over and over until his voice was ragged.  With the element of surprise and facing their enemies back put the third legion at a great advantage.  When the battle was engaged the Horde went into such disarray that a gap was literally cut into its ranks.  Seeing their only salvation for escape before them.  The Fifth army retreated through the hole in the lines as fast as their tired legs could carry them.  The Third Legion held the breach until the last man was fleeing to safety.  But by then the Horde had regrouped and with their wild bellows of rage and blood lust the tide again shifted.  “Father,” shouted Garin’s gruff voice.  Garin only had time to scoop Lord Relva up and order the retreat before the Horde again started to push forward.  With the hope of survival and safety the battered army kept on the move.  Being pushed and herded by the Horde whenever they tried to stop and lick their wounds the army marched on.  Now they were within three days march from the Silver Spires, the walled fortress of Rildare.

    The party reached the pass at sunset the next day.  The group still hadn’t found any sign of the Horde or any other living thing for that matter.  They were surviving off what rations they had brought with them or what they could scavenge.  They chose to stay in a secluded cave a small distance away from the trail during the night.  Not a sound came from any of the wildlife all night.  The next day the band started up the pass.   The pass hadn’t been used in over two centuries.  Not sense Sentinel had been abandoned.

    In the rein of Emperor Kaldon, Lord Knight Byron Stormblade was ordered to build three outposts.  Two out of the three were destroyed during the First Beast War, but one still remained.  Sentinel had actually been part of the mountain once.  Dwarves had come down from there mountain homes.  And with their help the mountain fortress was built.  They had cut into the living rock and created Sentinel.  Many thought that after the wars’ end the Beastlands held no significant threat to the empire, so under the orders of the Emperor himself it was finally abandoned.

    But as the party peered towards the remains of the fortress, they could not help but feel in awe of the giant edifice with its massive walls surrounding it.  As the party drew nearer the outpost they could see the signs of time on its stonework.  Blake promised to himself that after this was all over with he would again return to this place.