Nazdar Flame Thrower in color skethwork

Commando Part 7

Going through the forest road the small convoy made its way to the base of the first peak that was part of the Qad Rise Mountain range. The path was more covered with brush and tree roots yet looked so safe to travel on. As they made their way upward the quartet came across a few settlements, and homesteads dotting the slopes and sides of the Qad Rise. There was a small group of at least twenty seven Uwaux living amongst a smaller group of Tuxir in a village still under construction. The quartet passed through this harmonized community of Uxane whose inhabitants had a number of the Cabrakan-Tadis. A few horses, and tamed Mervac Hounds were with the enclave of Uxane peoples.

      The quartet passed through the rising community with little trouble, but a lot of gazing, and some greetings from several members. All day and through the night they ascended the Qad Rise taking the paths freshly cleared and fixed for all travelers. It was very clear the road was still being fixed and cleaned up. They ran into teams of path blazers and rangers who were busy cutting up bushes, chopping away at roots, and digging up tree stumps. Branches were gathered along with sticks and twigs. Leaves and rocks were brushed to the side.

      As the quartet passed the teams they found a group of female pilgrims wearing brown robes under travelling cloaks. Each one was an elf with different hair color and style of braid or bun. It was obvious these were apprentice pilgrims from the nearest town of Wintertide. Pilgrims of Wintertide were tasked with planting specific flowers and herbs along the path to a shrine to a deified saint and heroine on a mountain in Eoth. Apparently Eoth was now under Gantronese control only it still did not stop them. These pilgrims would reach either Uwaux or Tuxir compounds and outposts where they’d meet their escorts/protection.

      Under the supervision of a high priestess the group seven apprentices started planting seeds along the cleared path. All the young elves turned to look at the quartet whom looked a little bloodied from the recent fight with mercenaries. Many covered their shocked mouths at the sight of the blood on their clothes. The four of them ignored these expressions and pressed on towards Wintertide. Breezing through the town they finally made it to the road that took them directly to their main base. Just past Wintertide were a series of switchbacks trailing up the face of a mountain of the Qad Rise. This particular path led them straight to a mountain pass as old as time itself. To many dwarves it was called the Vammin Crevice to others it was simply known as the Cleaver’s Slice. That was a fitting name for the passage through the Qad Rise. It resembled a cut into a piece of meat, except the cut did not go all the way through. Slowly they proceeded through the pass flanked by the mountain peaks of the Qad Rise. If ever an army would try invading this pass it would just spell doom for those in its ranks.

      Maurice looked up at the towering walls hoping they’d go through this pass without any trouble or any dangers back to base. Vammin Crevice was long with plenty of rocks and stones cluttering the path. Amongst the rocks lay some skeletons and skulls of deceased demons, travelers, warriors, various beasts and beast men. Their steeds and beast of burden stepped over the remains of the deceased as they cautiously moved through the mountain pass. In a matter of minutes the quartet came out of the pass to a road leading down the Qad Rise. Maurice looked at the path ahead of them and spotted their destination, the Mountain of Elarikh Ogantis.

      The mountain known as Elarikh Ogantis was where the Red Hearts and other gangs had their base in a spread out dwelling on the side of the mountain. On this mountain there were at least eleven settlements and dwellings on Elarikh Ogantis. Most of these settlements and dwellings were towns, villages, and lodgings of some sort. Before proceeding down the path the commando spotted a tower used as a lookout for the first town. Between them and the lookout was a forest of grey trees filled with plenty of wildlife. Not the type wildlife that was as dangerous as the Beastly monsters of the Unknown lands, but still best left alone.

      As they proceeded towards the forest it began to grow dark again. Determined to reach their dwelling the quartet stepped up the pace. Within a few hours the group made it to the town taking the road through the forest. It was a quiet night for this particular town. Many of the inhabitants were mostly singles, miners, ex-soldiers, former guards, warriors, hunters, adventurers, merchant-tradesmen, a few artisans, ex-thieves, escaped slaves, trappers, dishonored knights, hedge knights, ex aristocrats, herders, haywards, sappers from various armies, former peasants, masons for construction, and one administrator. This town was called Lost Rasp’s Axehead, it was founded as a mining, and trading town for business between the civilized peoples of the Unknown lands and several nations to the west. The same could be said for a couple of other towns whereas the villages were attempts at establishing colonial havens for the unfortunate. As they proceeded up the mountain a cold wind blew around signifying the cold night air of the mountains had come. During the day it was usually warm thanks to the sun despite the cold climate. Passing a peasant’s hovel and another settlement the quartet found their way to their city.

      Resting on the face of Elarikh Ogantis was the Ancient Dwarf City Bor Dorahl. Once the capitol of an ancient Dwarf Empire, Bor Dorahl witnessed the fall of the empire and the rise of various city-states. It surpassed many kingdoms and states, which died over the centuries. This city survived two thousand years of history, but most of it fell to ruin. Within the span of a century its inhabitants rebuilt it and expanded it a little more with other peoples and races. This city was also home to some gangs including the Red Hearts and the Unseen Bears, which were in a strong alliance. These Red Hearts hid the commando from the Gantronese whom still held territories north of the Sarcagos.

      Going through the streets of Bor Dorahl was easier than crossing the paths of the Sarcagos Mountains. By the time it was midnight the quartet wound its way through the city to their main dwellings. At the very edges of the city the Red Hearts and the Unseen Bears shared a large manor big enough to house a hundred or so residents. A group of eleven members of both gangs stood guard at the entrance to the manor. Once they made it to the front gates multiple guards greeted them and opened the gates for them. Several steed handlers came up to them and took charge of their steeds. Their rewards would be shipped straight over to the vaults deep within the treasury hold of the manor. Each of the party took their weapons as their mounts and rewards went to different locations.

      Relieved the journey was finally over the quartet went inside the manor. Maurice, Brittany, and Amonif went to the lounge area whereas Hilastes went straight to his own room. The lounge area was located in the left wing of the manor. It held the shape of a trapezoid with a portion being the shape of a semi-circle. Inside the lounge was enough furniture for an audience at a theatre. Sitting in the lounge were a score of Unseen Bears, Several Red Hearts, and three other Vestrisian commandos. The occupants looked up to see the trio entering the lounge. Every one of them cheered at their entrance into the lounge, raising their glasses and mugs. At the request of the happy occupants the three of them took the drinks they were offered. For a while they had a few drinks with the welcoming crowd of ex-soldiers, and goons. Maurice looked around the room seeing the faces of good spirited company. His gaze was drawn to the farthest corner of the trapezoid lounge.

      In the corner sat two of the gang leaders and a high ranking officer of the VAVR’s Expeditionary Forces. All three of them sat a finely carved table with their own personal tray of pastries, delicacies and shots of many beverages. These leaders are Colonel George Bryce the Quick of Ezonel, commanding officer of the Expeditionary Forces, Rachel ‘Revolvers’ Grange, the leader of the Red Hearts, and Major Vorheels alias Clayton ‘Mad Eyed’ the leader of the Unseen Bears. All three of them enjoyed themselves when Colonel Bryce summoned Maurice over to them. Not even hesitating Maurice went over to the leaders and took a seat. Each of them congratulated and thanked the commando for completed another mission. Those weapons and ammunition would go in handy for the Kingdom of Ayalim against a multitude of enemies. As a reward for a job well done Maurice was given a portion of the Dwarf King’s payment, a bit of cash, a new revolver with four boxes of ammunition, and a bottle of the Onyx Cougar’s finest made wine from a local vineyard outside the city. Bryce told him he was given a full week off for completing the mission. He dismissed him, but before he left the table Maurice informed them of their encounters with assassins, thugs, bounty hunters and hired killers along the road.

      For three days Maurice relaxed in the city district of Emarn Point where the Unseen Bears, commandos, and Red Hearts’ base were located. Across the street from the manor was a set of pubs, and bars owned and run by the Silver Harpies alongside the Onyx Cougars. These two gangs consisted of wine makers, distillers, thieves, adventurers, engineers, barkeeps, bartenders, mill runners, trackers, hunters, and common workers. Silver Harpies were mostly females who wanted to protect their profits from outside corruption and rival businesses. Maurice went inside a pub called Megan’s Pub where the patrons were a mix of goons, guards, smugglers, fighters, miners, Unseen Bears, Onyx Cougars, and locals from all walks of life. He was greeted by the Unseen Bears who cheered at his arrival. Others simply glanced over at him then turned away after nodding and tipping their drinks to him. The main bartender noticed his entrance and called him over.

      The commando took a seat at the bar next to an Unseen Bear and a local Engineer-Brightsmith who was next to a well-dressed female Zoographer. As he sat down he ordered himself a glass of Infinite Blazed Gin. Just as he took a sit the commando heard the sounds of roaring engines of motorcycles riding through the streets. Cheers and laughter followed outside as some sort of celebration was taking place. When the cheers, and noise died down another figure entered the pub. Out of curiosity Maurice turned to see this newcomer. This newcomer was dressed in black clothing and had half his face covered with a black cloth. He wore a black wide brimmed hat and a black cloak. Around his waist and across his chest and shoulder this newcomer wore belts of bullets. At his hips were two revolvers that were possible armed and ready to shoot. Everyone turned to look at this newcomer as more figures entered the pub. Each one of them was armed with a variety of weapons.

      Disgusted that a group of unknown figures entered the pub armed to the teeth many goons got up going for their weapons. The barkeep opened a back door to let the civilian patrons leave the pub and not be caught in the crossfire. Once all the noncombatants left and those running the pub hid or joined the fighters Maurice joined the Unseen Bears. He had left his drink on the bar, but that didn’t matter now. Evert patron’s evening was disrupted by the arrival of this gang of figures. A standoff ensued between the armed patrons and the intruders. The atmosphere of the pub grew tense as the two sides prepared for a bar fight. To their misfortune more unknown figures showed up at the pub. It was a few moments before anything happened, which felt like hours of the standoff. Within a heartbeats notice both sides charged at each other making a mess of things inside Megan’s Pub. 

Events before the war

The Gaskouth War between Mulzan backed by the Gantronese and the Zema Ilam over Zekmar

-the Zema Ilam are pushed eastward by Mulzan and the Gantronese expansion

-the Muzad tribes fight alongside the exiled Zema Ilam to maintain independence from the Gantronese expansion

-lands of the Zema Ilam are turned into territories controlled by Mulzan and the Gantronese

-the Castarian Empire expands further across Vestrisia sparking the 1st Castarian War

Boathrin Civil War

-Vullan expresses disloyalty to the crown by reforming the old empire

-loyalist Boathrians and Al-Dadorians wage war to reclaim Vullan in the name of the Queen

-the Boathrin Kingdom is split by the two rival factions

Sovereign Wars

-4 Zhenrai Kingdoms hold back the Castarian Empire and form an alliance in 2nd Castarian War

-Gantronese Empire continues conquest in the western continents

-Nazdar conquer the continent of Estorasia

-a few nations maintain their independence in a few continents

Muskallan Conflicts (three conflicts over the span of forty years)
-various Muskallan clans expand territory westward, include various groups into horde
-forge an empire westward with funding from Gontrella well before pushing eastward
-their horde is destroyed twenty years before the Muskallans invade the east again

­-Raiders from Muskalla attack the cities of Dos and Liv while surrounding Tamoth

-Muskallan raiders form alliances with the bands of orcs in the Blackmell Mountains

-Orcs attack villages in the mountains and Bymere Country

-Naatidra and New Valorum send armies to end the raiding

-Mercenary armies are raised to fight the War bands and Raiders with the support of the local tribes and Elven city-states that form a confederacy

-Muskallan and Orc allies are destroyed on the field and the orcs are forced deeper in the mountains

-New Vattoram and Naatidra annex parts of the Bymere country to protect the various tribes there

-Bisdolan is founded and takes most of Muskallan lands which is handed over to the Nazdar when they arrive

Other events in Vestrisia

-slavers continue to invade homes and abduct women, children and other youth across Naatidra, and the rest of Vestrisia

-resistance against slavery begins in New Vattoram

-Antalace spreads his movement to the cities of the Zhenrai Nations and other parts of Vestrisia

-Slavers are attacked across the Vollante Ocean and six other states

1833-the Castarian Empire begins demanding slaves from the neighboring kingdoms to labor on lands reserved for peasants

-Castarian peasants rise up against their government

-the Vestrisian Union of the Vestrisian Republics is formed in response to Castaria’s new method of labor

1836-Castarian War ends- the Castarian Empire falls to the V.U.V.R. and the revolution

1837-Nachanian War- Zegrav threatens the Nachanian Islands

-the Vestrisian Union intervenes on behalf of the Nachanians

-Zegrav joins after its defeat

1838-more nations join putting pressure on the Vullanese Empire

1839-Vullanese Empire forms an alliance with Nazdar and the Gantronese

1840-Vullanese temples are attacked in Boathria

-the Valde war is declared between Vullan and allies vs. the Vestrisian Union