Leothrad's Assault Chapter

Leothrad looked about him seeing four more ships gathered around him. Two were Cren War Galleys taken earlier that day, and two Angoth Vessels that joined him when the Angoths arrived. He was pleased to see his own brethren sent in more ships so the extras could make up the ones he took into his own fleet. Leothrad was Champion after all and an Officer of the Triangle Brotherhood. His new vessels had artillery aboard that was easily dismantled and brought to the upper decks and put together. His intentions were to set fire to several ships within the Cren fleet to create havoc among the enemy ranks.

Hundreds of warriors were armed and ready aboard each vessel he had under his command. Most of them knew how to fire a bow, whereas few knew how to operate the machines they had at their disposal against the Cren Order. Leothrad spotted the Cren fleet near the reefs, because of the lights in the lamps aboard each vessel. It made it appear like a field of camp fires sitting on the ocean’s surface.

“Champion, there is an Angoth swimmer from one of the Veek vessels. He was sent by General Apkis to know what your plans are for the morning attack.” Clovis informed Leothrad as he sat at a table with the maps of the regions under his nose.

“Send him in.” Leothrad told the Captain. “I’ll ask him what his General wants. Is he from the Angoth colony under the Veek Hegemony?” Leothrad asked turning his head towards the door, looking over his left shoulder.

“Yes Champion he is, I will bring him here at once.” Clovis left Leothrad to his maps and room.

His room was empty ever since the warrior who slept in here was dead from drowning. During one of the battles at sea a group of heavily armored Goblins grabbed him and dove into the ocean with an anchor tied to them. He was unfortunately brought down with them to a watery grave below the sea’s surface. Leothrad missed the young warrior named Toranon III. His father and brother had the same name so he was named the third of his name. Leothrad was growing fond of the warrior until that moment when he died. An Angoth warrior with four rings in his beard and a chain linked belt to hold up his trousers stood in the doorway.

“Are you Leothrad?” the swimmer asked the Champion of all Angoths. Leothrad stood up from his seat at the small bedside table he was given when they were looting Galleys.

“Yes, I am. Who are you? What is your name is the correct question then.”

“I am Servestine, I served the Veek Hegemony and I still do so with happiness and honor.” Servestine bowed and saluted Leothrad.

“Who is your Commander and General?” Leothrad asked, he felt as though he was interrogating the Angoth rather than asking him questions.

“The young Goldis is our Commander and General Apkis supervises him as Goldis commands us.” Servestine told Leothrad.

“Apkis sent you to see what my plans are, didn’t he?” Leothrad asked with a hand on his hip. Servestine nodded then turned to leave the room, but Leothrad raised his hand to stop him.

“Wait, why don’t you rest your eyes? My attack is about to commence. It would be best if you conserved your energy for another day. Rest here and I shall send my own swimmer to the Veeks and tell them of my attacks.” Leothrad encouraged Servestine to take the empty bed and sleep for the rest of the night as he brushed past him.

Leothrad went over to Clovis’ cabin and found him asleep as the ship rocked. He kicked Clovis awake who shot up with a start. He looked at Leothrad with an disgruntled look that wanted to sleep more.

“It is time get the men ready this battle was only beginning.” Leothrad said before exiting and started banging on the walls to wake up the rest of the inhabitants in cabin.

“WAKE UP! It’s time for a war!” He roared at the top of his lungs as dozens of warriors scrambled out of their rooms and rushed to the deck. All the commotion woke up more men below deck who got the message and went up to their stations. His army of warriors, archers and engineers waited for him on all the decks of the ships in his fleet. Each one was armed and ready for an assault on the sleeping Cren fleet. There were onagers, and catapults aboard one side of the deck while the other side had ballistae armed and loaded with spears tipped with points for destroying sails.

The onagers and Catapults were cranked and loaded with flammable projectiles to shoot at the Cren vessels. Leothrad climbed up on the stern side to assume command. He barked orders at the fleets and crews, telling the ships closer to the Cren fleet to begin the line formation. His ship followed the first two as the others followed the Delkyr Hunter. As the ships got close enough for firing range they turned and fired the ballistae first. No one knew what happened over there nor did they care. Most of the Cren vessels were manned by demons, and spawn not worthy of life. Leothrad thought he saw some ships sink in the dark dragged one with them. He had no doubt the crews were trying to cut their vessels loose from the ones that were hit in the hull. Seven masts were cut down as the projectiles probably shot into the ships in the back. Those masts fell onto other ships causing considerable amounts of damage to the Cren fleet.

None of the ships knew where this was coming from and panicked. Leothrad’s fleet then circled around to fire the catapults and Onagers with flaming projectiles. Those shot into the ships behind the ones in front. Flames spread from ship to ship killing crews, slaves, warriors and causing ships to sink. More problems were created by this assault as the Cren forces fought to put out the fires and cut ships loose from the ones that were sinking.

“Shall we do this again?” Leothrad asked his crew as he drew his sword.