Commando Part 16

In a mass panic the locals and patrons emptied the tavern. Just the way the patrons rushed out told the new comers they were rushing back home. Roderic told them that these locals have been harassed by a single gang. All of them desired to avoid any trouble with this gang. This one gang was known as the Red Symbols had set up base at some old Gantronese facility. According to Roderic this gang had a date with the people and villages of Ujal Voge. For the past five years the Red Symbols came here each season to collect a debt. This debt involved a person taken from a village, livestock, and the selection of their finest alcohol or a night in the Taverns with no charge. Roderic was about to continue when the Tavern door burst open.

      A large group of over fifty rough and violent looking goons entered. Each one wore a different apparel of clothing. On the right arm on all of them were red tattooed symbols. Those whose arms were not exposed had their sleeves painted with these symbols or had them sewn on in red. Maurice counted up to fifty one members in this gang. Among this gang called the Red Symbols stood five Lizard like humanoids, fifteen humans, seven orcs, six wolf-Gnoll humanoids, eight Gantronese deserters, ten mysterious figures covered in pieces of cloth and scarfs wrapped around their bodies.

None of the scarfs were colorful nor soft, but rough strips of fabric.

      Twelve fighters from the Sarcagos Mountains all stood up at this gangs presence. A commando, two Unseen Bears,  Red Heart, four Onyx Cougars, a Silver Harpy, a pair of Tuxir, a Prowler, one Mountain Ranger, and possibly ten or more rangers of this area, faced this gang inside a large tavern. The supposed leading member of the gang was a large lizard humanoid with a normal chin, mouth and head with no snout stepped forward. His nose was more serpent like and he seemed to stick his tongue out like a snake as well. The scales were a shade of coffee, and hazelnut color all over his body. He wore a jumpsuit underneath a worn cuirass combat armor. For a weapon he was armed with some war pick mixed with a sickle weapon.

      Within a hearts beat every one of these Red Symbol goons drew melee weapons. Apparently to these Red Symbol gangsters the new comers were a threat. Ujal Voge was their turf and the Sarcagosee were trespassing. Every Sarcagosee fighter stood up as one. Armed with pistols, knives, war clubs, revolvers, hatchets, axes, maces, maces, quarterstaff, and knucklers the commando’s party kept their gaze on the goons. Without his pole arm sword Maurice had to draw his dagger from his boot. All the Red Symbols wielded katanas, battle spades, sledge hammers, harpoons, crowbars, short pikes, bayonets, kukris, and bizarre bludgeon weapons made from metal tools. Even though this gang could be armed with modern weapons still armed themselves with melee weapons. Neither side moved a muscle as they studied each other. The humans and a few other Red Symbol goons eyed Brittany and her body. Some even adjusted their pants crudely to expose themselves or made gestures towards the women.

      One of them thrust his pelvic at Oladele and Eledheim whom had moved to the side of the tavern. Not taking this very lightly the bodyguard guide raised her rifle at him. Both groups stood in the tavern locked in a standoff. A long silence fell upon the tavern as either side waited for the other make a move.

      Four locals rushed in through a back entrance behind the bar section. They looked young, about eighteen, seventeen, and sixteen years of age. Each one of them held headed adrenaline filled expressions. Two of the youth wielded harpoons, one wielded a swamping axe and the other one wielded a billhook. Just about every single Sarcagosee held pistols, revolvers and rifles fixed on the Red Symbols whom did not even see the four youth at the bar. Taking advantage of being in the blind spot all four youths charged. Oladele fired a shot at the thrusting one as chaos broke loose inside the tavern. Every firearm was unloaded on the gang as those wielding melee weapons made quick work of the ones who charged them. A small group of six Red Symbols rushed out of the tavern.

      Maurice, Hilastes, Eyanosa and six Rangers rushed after the last of the goons that confronted them earlier. Another dozen members of the Red Symbols stood outside near the villages. Over by the villages the Red Symbols docked twenty two swamp vessels. Sixteen locals came rushing towards their location from the furthest village. Several of the remaining Red Symbols turned to face these villagers whom they probably regarded as inferior swamp rats and weak sheep. In hot pursuit of these goons the fighters tried to catch up with them. Those who held rifles fired on the Red Symbols that fled. Four of these goons fell on the wooden planks as the last two stopped and dropped to their knees. The pair raised their arms over their shoulders and had their hands behind their heads. Looking past the other goons Maurice spotted the locals again at a closer distance than from the tavern.

      Ten of the locals were armed with older style rifles and breech loading one shot rifles. The other six locals wielded harpoons, spears, and reptilian hooks. Caught between the advancing armed locals and the pursuing fighters the last of the goons split up. Four Red Symbols jumped onto a swamp boat and rushed to crank up the engines. The other remaining eleven stayed on the wooden road standing their ground. One of them pulled out a pistol then pointed it at the four goons attempting to leave. He unloaded the entire clip on the four cowardly traitors trying to run away. At the same time ten rifles opened fire on the ten goons in a single volley. Seven of the Red Symbols fell from the volley. Eyanosa shot one of the last three as the other two were impaled with thrown harpoons.

      The two parties met at the fallen Red Symbols discovering five of them survived with bullet wounds. Another group of the Ujal Voge people came storming over to them. Maurice Viyamor stepped past the Rangers, corpses, companions and armed locals. He stood on the dock-like road seeing four of these locals heading towards this location. When they drew closer he could make out a few lead figures of Ujal Voge’s governing authority. Among the leaders were the Chieftain, shaman, head elder, and the translator. This quartet didn’t have any one else following them behind.

      Oladele, and her companions had rushed out with the Dwarves and zoologists to join them. Maurice heard their footsteps as he watched the leaders of the Ujal Voge villages’ converse with each other. All but one of them appeared angry, anxious, and comprehensive about something. Maurice hoped it wasn’t over them killing these Red Symbol Gangsters. When the four leading officials of the three villages approached their previous expressions changed to more hospitable ones. Each one gave their thanks to these foreign outsiders for eradicating this group of gangsters. It was said in a tribal language which Maurice and his companions couldn’t understand. Translation came from the translator to the Rangers who also translated to the Sarcagosee in common language.

      Even though the local leaders along with plenty of locals appeared angered yet afraid, they still offered food and gratitude. That night the Sarcagosee were invited to dine with the leaders, elders, and esteemed members of the three village tribe. Bowls of rice soup with crab meats, and strange vegetables made up the majority of the feast. However the main course was a fully grown crocodile from one of their reptilian ranches. Truth is told there weren’t any fences for borders of the ranches just poles and stakes.

      As they feasted Maurice and his companions were told numerous bits of information about this region of the Unknown Lands. Ujal Voge was one of multiple if not numerous settlements along a multi-road highway called “Krukir’s Way”. This set of toads led to larger cities such as Tusbib Pajibe, Magesar, and Waikun. It ran through the marshes, bogs, swamps and even up to the north where they came from. Every major and settlement rested on the other side of the swamps, which lay 150 miles to the south. The Chief named Oguun warned the foreigners there was still over one hundred fifty miles of boggy marsh ahead of their journey. All marshes, bogs, and swamps together stretched thousands of miles east and west. Between here and the swamps were a few more dwellings but each one was connected to this particular road.

      Brittany asked one of the Rangers where those Red Symbol goons came from how many they really had. Translator Fahurn overheard this conversation and spoke to the Chief in a low voice. In their own language the Chief Oguun, Translator Fahurn, and the Elders conversed with just each other. Roderic leaned over to inform Maurice that there are more Red Symbol goons located at some abandoned Gantronese base/facility located about two hundred miles west of Ujal Voge.

      When the Chief, Elders, and Translator finished their conversation all the tribal leaders turned their attention to the Commando and Ranger Roderic. Translator Fahurn spoke to Roderic who then translated Fahurn’s words to the commando. These Red Symbols were a single unit of ninety seven bandit-raiders whom acted as enforcers for an Over Boss named “Mommy Gluton” Gaodiir Caligari.

      Roderic proceeded to tell Maurice and his companions that this female Over Boss commanded over 950 thugs, 1000 or more gangsters, two fleets of pirates, a few cities and had one man-eating monster for a pet. She was often at war with her neighboring states, and seldom the Gantronese forces still in the Unknown Lands. Many rumors spread about her saying she fed captives, prisoners or even guests to her pet.