Commando Part 11

As soon as it was over the crowds left the Warlord’s corpse at the doorstep to the lair of the now deceased Bandornez “No Beard”. Maurice looked down at the mangled, beaten, corpse of the Warlord that lay there lifeless. This corpse was one less enemy to worry about avenging the attack on their home base. Seeing another enemy taken out along with the Gantronese force sent here made it seem easier for the SCA to spread its alliance further into the Sarcagos. Tired of being under the threat of Gantronese invasion the people would probably choose to join them.

      A hand rested on his shoulder drawing his attention away from the Warlord who sent the mercenaries and bounty hunters after them. Brittany stood beside him with Hilastes and Amonif stood behind her. All three of them appeared ready to go home and prepare for the next target, which would no doubt be the Gargoyles. The quartet left the corpse there for someone else to bury as they went back to the city where the commander was waiting. Inside the city Major Vorheels thanked those who joined their ranks in this fight over the Sarcagos. A new era was rising inside the Unknown of lands. Sure enough the cities around Paqyk Summit sided with the Sarcagos Alliance to further secure their safety from the Gantronese influence. For a few weeks they stayed in the area while sending their forces back to home base in groups with the wounded. Under the cover of darkness a letter came to the Major from the VUVR itself via SCA headquarters. Inside a private room in a tavern the Major read out the letter to the Vestrisians. This letter’s contents held orders from the Furd Greymir himself.

      To the Vestrisians it was a relieving breath of fresh air to hear from their main commander. However to the others who sided with them it was only another voice of authority they’d have to follow and obey. Furd Greymir’s orders detailed congratulations on staying alive in the damned Unknown Lands and for creating alliances with the more civilized locals. The SCA were to act as a buffer against any more Gantronese invasions and her allies here. According to the Furd more progress was being made against the enemy in various fronts such as Zekmar, Al-Dadoria, the Bymere Country, Vidothra, and in Bisdolan. Their newest orders were now to scour the more civilized areas close to enemy territories in search of surviving Vestrisians. That meant going south of the Sarcagos and looking for every Vestrisian soul that could be alive. Each one they found was to be sent to the port city-state of Deveston.

      Once the orders were clear to everyone in the room they set out to return home. On their way out of the city they were greeted by the locals whose militia, fighters, police, and warriors donned something or dyed their clothing Vestrisian blue. Some even wave imitations of Vestrisian flags with the gold pitchfork, pick axe, anvil, crossed sword and wrench. Just about all of them shouted the war cry “URA” repeatedly to the marching Sarcagosee. The long march back to the home base at Bor Dorahl was a very long and arduous one. It was a slow trek because of the wounded that had to be hauled on the backs of transports, and wagons or carts. When they returned home it was already close to midnight.

      Maurice returned to his own quarters for a good rest for the night. He fell onto his bed and fell asleep in a fashion that was more like he had passed out. A long sleep was all he asked for after these battles. He woke up to the sounds of loud banging on a hard surface. It woke up or startled the whole building of residents. Maurice and a few others searched the place for the source of this noise as it continued every few moments. They discovered the source of the noise inside of the studies. There one of the dwarf members of the Red Hearts was trying to fix a desk. He kept trying to shove a piece into place but it only popped out. This seemed to frustrate the Dwarf who was a former carpenter, and a tinker. Everyone cursed him and left the room while a couple entered to help him. Disgruntled that he was woken up earlier than he’d liked Maurice went straight for the kitchens for his morning grub. At 9:54 a.m. the commando ate his morning meal with his companions including the Unseen Bears and Brittany’s group. They sat there for an hour as other residents came and left leaving the quartet to their own thoughts.

      In his mind Maurice contemplated the dangers of the Unknown lands that lay between them and the surviving Vestrisians. He got up to look at the map that was on the wall of the large lounge area next to the kitchens. It was a map of the entire Unknown lands with many of the areas marked as uncharted and some of the more civilized cultures and people marked down. There were at least 30 known purple beast tribes, three known Beast Men Tribe Confederacies, approximately seventeen cannibalistic tribes, four Green Demon Tribes all over the Unknown lands. He took a closer look at the Sarcagos and its settlements and kingdoms. To the south of the Sarcagos’ edges were the Tuxir and the Uwaux peoples. Around them were the more savage peoples and demon beasts. In the southern borders of the Unknown Lands with the seas were the more civilized states and cities including Borvados, and the island nations. As he scanned the map he realized there were more dangers that lurked in the jungles, swamps, bogs, marshes, fungal forests, rocky terrain with bits of grassland, woodlands, hills, and river plains here and there.

      Within moments of gazing at the Borvados portion he was summoned by Vorheels to the Colonel’s office next to his own living quarters. The commando took a seat in a chair as the Major closed the door to Colonel Bryce’s office. Bryce sat in his chair behind his desk in his Vestrisian uniform without the badges on. The Colonel had a long face with a few scars on one cheek and a natural military style mustache under an aquiline nose. His officer’s cap with the Vestrisian emblems in gold rested on a mannequin head. On Bryce’s desk were papers, files, and documents. One set of papers caught Maurice’s attention. They stuck out from the rest with the gold emblem of the VAVR. Bryce picked them up and flipped through them as he explained Maurice’s next set of missions and objectives. According to reports there were approximately two hundred fifteen Vestrisians held captive or prisoner in various places all over the Unknown Lands. Commando Lieutenant Maurice Viyamor was given the orders to head south west to the city-state of Rednight Fangsir. It was a vampire city on the edges of the Unknown Lands, Gantronese Empire, and the fringes of the civilized city-states. This city rested between six mountain peaks and the ocean with a large citadel-tower in the center within the Dyhrex Mountains.

      Without saying a word to his superiors Maurice took the orders exited the office then proceeded to gather a team for this little quest. He chose Brittany, Amonif, Hilastes, a Silver Harpy, several Onyx Cougars, a couple of Tuxir trackers, and prowlers, plus a lone Ranger. As soon as they were ready the party of twelve left Bor Durahl towards the south western routes. Within a few days they passed through Tuxir lands and crossed over into Uwaux territory. Neither of the Uxane groups had any quarrels with this and allowed them safe passage. A few even escorted them to a quicker route to reach the furthest borders of their lands. Going through the Uwaux lands they came across the more fertile lands with plains, forests, hills, foothills, bits of grassland and plenty of fungal forests and rocky terrain that bordered the marshes, bogs, and jungle-swamps of the Unknown lands. Among the more subtle appearances of the landscapes were villages, towns, nomadic encampments, dwellings dotting the regions of the Uwaux territories.

      On the southwestern borders the party of twelve was taken to the sacred mound of the Uwaux. Here the Uwaux lands ended and stretched eastward to the next mounds. Beyond these borders was the rest of the savage wild Unknown Lands. Just past this mound was a thick jungle that led to the marshes, bogs, swamps and into more jungle until it reached the Dyhrex Mountains.  

Commando Part 10

Combined with the Gantronese wave the second wave pressed the advance against the Sarcagos forces. Seeing the two waves coming towards them stirred some fear into the defenders who had hoped to besiege the Warlord and force him to surrender within a matter of days or simply put a bullet through him. A force nearly triple their force was gaining ground on the gathered Sarcagos fighters. Before the enemy force was even upon them a few hundred fled back into the city for shelter and a better defensive position than the open hill. Every outlaw and lone wolf fired wildly into the ranks of the Gantronese and thug army. Hooting and hollering were combined with the sporadic shooting. It did little to deter the advancing waves even though hundreds upon hundreds fell leaving corpses to be trampled upon.

      Maurice watched the locals break into a full retreat before the advancing enemy who was now sending in a fourth wave for supporting reserves. It seemed like a hopeless fight now with all the local militias backing out of the fight or were they just seeking better ground against the two waves of enemies. His disciplined fellow Vestrisians held their ground even with the gap between them and the enemy shrunk. His allied goons or gangs were stubborn much like the gathered outlaws and lone wolves whom kept fighting regardless of their losses and being outnumbered. He took a few steps back leaving his Major in command with another Sergeant and Captain aiding him. The commando witnessed an immense battle he had not seen since the fields of Zekmar, Dorntalla and the isles of the confederacies.

      Over ten thousand enemies encroached on them despite the losses they suffered and the overwhelming shooting. Foes fell and became trampled upon by those advancing forward while shooting back. The commando witnessed this larger force press against their position even as men within their ranks fell like flies. His own comrades started to back up slowly as a means to pull back to the city if the enemy got too close. Sure enough the enemy waves were within a charge’s reach of them right as multiple gunslingers and fellow combatants ran out of ammunition. In a single motion this larger force charged at the few thousand defenders holding their ground.

      Maurice drew his weapon ready for the collision of bodies and steel. Every Vestrisian, and gathered fighter drew a melee weapon. On either side of him various weapons were drawn ranging from axes, hatchets, clubs, maces, knives, combat knives, daggers, dirks, war picks, hammers, sickles, mauls, machetes, bayonets, spiked gauntlets, knucklers, morning stars, glaives, flails, tridents, spears, staffs, and claws. There were plenty of swords of various types, crowbars, metal bars, chains, gunstock war clubs, and cudgels. Within moments of drawing weapons the larger force collided with the defenders. The Gantronese were armed with bayonets, katanas, scimitars, Ono axes, Kanabos, metal tonfa batons, iron poles fashioned for combat with concealed blades in the hilt, and strange looking pole weapons that were cut in half for close quarters.

      . In a mass collision of bodies the Gantronese wave crashed into the defenders guarding the city of Vig Durahl. Every combatant on their side seemed to have held their ground swiping away bayonet strikes. A huge debacle of bodies pressed against each other as those in the back rows stabbed and beat the other foes while the ones in front held firm or pushed. Most of the Gantronese in the back had to protect their brethren’s flanks against an array of strikes all along the line of the battle. Maurice struck down several Gantronese attackers before having to hold his ground while locked with a Gantronese infantryman. Behind him were Hilastes and another Unseen Bear. Hundreds of Gantronese died in the back rows and along the front lines during the first moments of the collision. More of them slowly died as did those on the defending side. Scattered individuals and groups of defenders managed to hold the Gantronese at bay with enemy corpses piling up around them. He caught a glimpse of Brittany and thirteen others taking out dozens of Gantronese while Unseen Bears killed the enemies in the back ranks.

      History class taught him how the city-states of the Boathrin Isles particularly the Locian city-states fought against raiders and rival city-states. The body count kept mounting but the enemy just kept coming. Whenever an enemy fell in the fight another would fill his place.  This fight soon became a savage stalemate before the city of Vig Durahl. Having his weapon locked with the enemy while trying to push back did not please him. It did keep their flanks secure at the center. As the stalemate dragged on casualties mounted on both sides. For nearly an hour they struggled to maintain their footing while those behind them killed the Gantronese. Hilastes finally killed the ones in front of Maurice allowing him maneuverability. Taking advantage of the situation the commando plunged into the ranks of the enemy. Using his polearm sword Maurice cut down dozens of the Gantronese troops and several of the Warlord’s remaining thugs, henchmen and minions whom fled. His killing spree freed others who were locked in the hold and encouraged others to press the attack.

      Chaos consumed the area before Vig Durahl with combatants on both sides falling to the hands of each other. Thousands upon thousands lay dead, decapitated, wounded, dying and paralyzed from blows spread out or on top of one another forming heaps of corpses. From the looks of the battlefield more Gantronese lay dead and wounded. However this force still outnumbered them even with the Warlord’s men retreating from the field. Noticing the retreat of the Warlord’s men the Gantronese sent a few hundred to go after the minions and henchmen. However it proved a fatal flaw as the townsfolk of Vig Durahl and the surrounding towns charged out in force armed with rifles, hunting rifles, and other assortment of melee weapons. These groups of newcomers only reached up to several hundred in strength. Still the Gantronese had more than both combined, but no longer had the backing of the warlord.

      At the Warlord’s own lair another battle seemed to break out as his remaining henchmen fired upon the Gantronese officers and commanders. It was a sight no one really expected to see except in a play or in some dream. Sure enough the Warlord’s own men turned around and opened fire on the pursuing Gantronese. On the path leading up to the summit the two forces fired on each other inflicting staggering casualties. Maurice returned his own gaze to the battle he was in, which had moved away from the city by a few feet. More Gantronese troops died at the hands of the gathered SCA as they lost ground. Just as he jumped into the battle again those who had fled back to the city returned to the fight with more of their fellow citizens shooting from the city.

      By the time Maurice had killed several other enemies the Gantronese began to break. This force of Gantronese invader wavered from the constant loss of men and the slow loss of ground. Despite the ground being covered by corpses and weapons the defending SCA pressed the advance practically slaughtering the remaining Gantronese. Within moments of the sudden advance and the militias returning to the field the Gantronese were on the verge of full retreat. Victory was assured with the Gantronese force melting away in the advance of the SCA and the militias. For some time they chased the Gantronese nearly halfway to the Warlord’s palace until they had to stop due to exhaustion. The remnants fled away from the battlefield and the Summit while coming under fire from riflemen, militias Unseen Bears, gunslingers, and sharpshooters. Each gunner kept shooting until the last of the Gantronese disappeared into the western Sarcagos Mountains.

      Maurice gathered those who were able to stand chose a large group of 154 leaving the rest to tend to the wounded and dying. With a gathered healthy force Maurice and his commanding major advanced on the Warlord’s palace where most of his men lay dead among Gantronese corpses. On the summit they entered the Warlord’s lair to find the battle that was fought at its doorstep reached deep into its halls and chambers. In just about every hall, room, chamber, and corridor they discovered the fallen whether it was a Gantronese or a henchman or minion. Plenty of them lay wounded and only a few scores of No Beard’s men remained. Fifty seven to be exact remained standing that did not include the wounded that numbered in the hundreds. One of the main henchmen a black haired Dwarf with rune tattoos on the shaven part of his head led the party straight to the Warlord himself.

      Deep in the Summit they entered a large office-chamber where they found Warlord Bandornez himself in a corner. The beardless Dwarf Warlord held a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other. His own concubines, and guards were nowhere to be found. This defeated Warlord was surrounded by bottles of wine and whiskey showing he had been drinking himself drunk. Not caring to let the drunk foolish Dwarf Warlord the Sarcagosee grabbed him. They dragged him out of the Summit lair where they met a massive crowd of the people who lived in the surrounding settlements. Two of the Vestrisians who held him tossed him over to the people who immediately pounced on him like a wild pack of predators on their prey. In moments Warlord Bandornez “No Beard” was beaten, punched, kicked, trampled, and choked as the crowd encircled him. 

The Completed Poster sketchwork

Commando Part 9

Their pursuit of these foes led them out of the city. On their own rides commandos and Red Hearts chased down the last remaining foes whom tried racing to the ends of Bor Dorahl’s limits. Near the outskirts of the ancient Dwarf city Red Hearts, Unseen Bears, Onyx Cougars caught up with these intruders. Just thirteen of attacking intruders remained with the united gangs in hot pursuit. Scores of pursuers shot at them with an array of various weapons from pistols, to rifles, sub-machine guns to assault rifles and repeaters. Just six out of the thirteen fleeing foes made it out of the fire. A total of six of the unknown intruders escaped Bor Dorahl. Maurice watched these escapees ride down the road to the Gantronese held areas of the northern Unknown Lands.

      For a whole month the inhabitants of Bor Dorahl were on their toes expecting another attack. During this single month all the Vestrisians and their goon allies talked about uniting their forces into a single faction. Together their forces would be able to repel a brigade’s worth or a full division of Gantronese or enemies. Inside the ancient castle within the face of the mountain the gangs and Vestrisians along with Bor Dorahl inhabitants forged the Sarcagos Circle Alliance. The Unseen Bears, Commandos, Red Hearts, Onyx Cougars, Silver Harpies, smaller groups and the inhabitants of Bor Dorahl joined as one faction.

      With their unification these gangs and factions could secure a foothold for the VAVR, a free state, security for travelers and a buffer against the Gantronese and the Gargoyles. Colonle George Bryce the Quick, Rachel Grange, Major Vorheels, and other leaders discussed revenge against the Gargoyles, Warlords, and whoever sent these intruders. In a matter of days their newly formed Triumph irate ruled government chose to strike.

      Over six hundred fighters were assembled for the campaign of the newly founded Sarcagos Circle Alliance. Maurice Viyamor was one of these fighters. Most of them were Vestrisian ex-soldiers, Unseen Bears, and Commandos. Under the command of Major Vorheels the battalion marched towards the west while envoys travelled to the Uwaux and Tuxir Nations for support and maybe unite with them. In force the battalion sped its way towards the mountain of Paqyks Summit. This Mountain was home to the Dwarf Warlord Bandornez “No Beard” Stonecutter and his few hundred henchmen and minions.

      As they rode towards Paqyks Summit more fighters joined their ranks. From lone wolves, gunslingers, rangers, Uxane Prowlers, Renegades, honest outlaws, Tuxir Uwaux riflemen, disgruntled bands or miners and prospectors. Their force doubled to over twelve hundred angry men, women, elves, dwarves, Forsythans, and Gnomes.

      This single Warlord had many enemies and approximately seven towns and cities under his control. If these settlements pulled for him they’d face thousands of scared combatants forced to fight for a Warlord. After two hours of riding with a growing force of two thousand strong they came upon one of Stonecutter’s cities. Named after a god, Vig Durahl is a city of some 24,000 various peoples and professions. It rested on the slopes of the Summit along with two other towns, Rambadir, and Dhurnheim.

      Their forces halted at the gates of the city. His senses told him the Warlord might have more men than they thought at first. To Maurice’s dismay the Warlord’s own fortress like palace had four encampments of three different factions. It appeared to be a force of six thousand or more. Setting up camp the gathered forces of the SCA chose some envoys to negotiate with the mayor or governor of the city. Major Vorheels and Maurice were chose along with a female elf named Tethys Farleth to speak with governor of Vig Durahl. A trio of envoys entered the city under escort of police guards which numbered four out of the found hundred eighty of the whole force.

      Inside Vig Durahl they found a mixed population of Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, Humans, and civilized Orcs. Even Uxane, Grussians with their pill box hats, box beards, Eothians in the traditional yellow gold trimmed ponchos each a different color with its own patterns and design depending on the clan or region. Grussia was the more militaristic state that created and supplied a variety of weapons until the Gantronese took over. Eoth was the populace nation with access to the seas. Like Grussia, Eoth was wedged between two mountain ranges with islands in the large lake the nations shared. Eothians were more of them mule drivers, fishermen, fish mongers, Trackers, Traders, Shipbuilders, Rope Makers, Cutters, Stevedores, stable hands, and Herders. Due to their location numerous Eothians and Grussians picked up mining, logging, adventuring among the artisan jobs and sailors/divers. Eoth was not without the arcane using enchanter-warriors and the Jaguar border guards.

      Maurice looked at these Eothians and Grussians who seemed to have migrated here decades ago. He wondered if any of them were refugees escaping the Gantronese hands. As they proceeded through the streets the inhabitants were preparing for a siege from both sides. Word had spread that their force was outside causing hundreds to begin taking shelter in cellars, and basements. A few hundred citizens picked up arms and marched towards the governor’s estate. There the three envoys met Governor Ordwick von Ramsteakle a very round fellow who appeared voracious.

      For hours they spoke with the fat governor Ramsteakle. This fat pig of a governor despised Warlord Stonecutter but was too afraid to lift a finger against him whenever his thugs or henchmen caused trouble for the citizens of Vig Durahl. Pressure from locals, the armed militias, an army outside the city, history of constant abuse and oppression, and fears of falling under Gantronese rule again forced Ramsteakle’s hand to act. He ordered all citizens with a weapon to join the forces outside while permitting the SCA access to the city.

      Neighboring settlements were contacted while a militia of one thousand two hundred twenty was marshalled. This added to the gathered mob of fighters who had joined the envoys to the Governor’s Estate. A force of three thousand five hundred armed peoples and soldiers set up positions around the North West flank of the city. Vig Durahl’s neighbors would permit six hundred ten to join them making their own force 4,110.

      Against the force of six thousand the gathered fighters could fend off an attack or two, push the advance, counterattack and storm the palace. With four thousand it seemed possible and easy enough. On the next day their force increased by a few hundred more only to find a large encampment of Gantronese troops. It was obvious Warlord Bandornez “No Beard” Stonecutter sided with the Gantronese. To many this meant he was handing over the Sarcagos on a silver platter.

      The battle commenced with a force of three thousand advanced towards their defenses. Having everything set up for their defense the Sarcagos Coalition waited. For some time they waited, watching the enemy movements. Once the enemy was in firing range, the best marksmen opened fire. Thirty five minutes of shooting and exchange of fire the three thousand sent against them saw their own numbers reduced to not even a third of its strength. Seven hundred enemy combatants fled back to their camps. Losing a hundred sixty seven dead and two hundred wounded the defenders prepared for the next wave.

      Wave number two came a few hours after the first. This wave was slightly larger than the first by three thousand. As a larger wave advanced on them another group joined the Gantronese. Many of the Sarcagosee fighters were dismayed at the sight of more enemies. Some considered fleeing as others began shooting at the advancing wave. Maurice fired his rifle at specific targets as his fellow Vestrisians let fingers become trigger happy. Seeing the SCA forces sending lead down towards the enemy encouraged the gathered militias. The advancing wave returned fire and even took cover slowing their advance.

      Maurice kept throwing heat upon the advancing enemy with his gathered allies and comrades. Over the course of the shootout they chipped away at the second wave.

Their adversaries also chipped away at their defenses. All around him combatants fell dead, took cover, and received hits that took them out of the fight. However their losses were not as heavy as the enemy heading towards them. For nearly a full three hours the battle raged on with casualties mounting on both sides. Wave number two was slightly wavering and ready to break. Somehow this second wave did not break and retreat. Was it the Gantronese presence? Did the invaders force their hand and coerce the warlord’s forces to stand their ground? Sure enough the enemy did stay put while a third wave advanced forward.