Ganune's Defenders

Just looking at these elf warriors Steffan wondered if their company would be enough to hold back the Veerlander clansmen. His boss approached the Ganune officers in a frustrated pace. The Mercenary Commander's nostrils flared as he stormed up to the Ganune encampment. Ten of his best mercenaries accompanied him. Through his eyes this was seen as an affront for another mercenary to stir them up in this fashion. Steffan watched with the rest of the Dragon's Might Company curious about how no one informed them. In the background the city of Trican stood with its gates closed. Every cultist they rounded looked pleased to be acknowledged. Just a few dozen of the guards were there with one of the city's leading Chiliarch, a commander of a thousand men. This only struck another question to him. How many troops do they really have, and where are they? Whoever this Chiliarch was he appeared aware of the situation yet failed to tell their company. Ten thousand troops is what they needed for defending this city not a smaller force of over thirteen hundred. Seeing the Elf force and their new "recruits" this added barely five hundred more.

Steffan did not want to calculated how many troops they had now. All he wanted to do now was begin preparing the defenses against the next wave of clansmen. His Master, this Chiliarch, and Miriav met at the edge of the encampment they set up. Each leader exchanged words over the situation. He stood with his fellow mercenaries, watching the leaders try to come to an agreement with the Ganune ideas of defense. Steffan looked over at their defenses then at their leaders whose voices grew louder. Both mercenary leader and elf leader appeared in agreement about buffering defenses with more troops. He ordered one of the officers next to him to check on the defenses. As the trio of leaders argued Steffan grew impatient and decided to take matter into his own hands. Turning around he whistled for the whole company to join him. Seeing there was no point in arguing over these defenses he led his fellow mercenaries to the defenses they constructed.

Behind him he heard the leaders voices rise up in full argument over layers of defenses. There were ways you could defeat armies of invaders without hiding in your walls. Millennia's of warfare saw defenders destroy entire hordes through various means other than hiding behind walls. Using the landscape as a first layer of defense either wore down the enemy or forced him to leave defeated. With a small company of mercenaries Steffan Mondos prepared to face the next wave of Veerlander clansmen. At the earthworks they constructed Steffan looked out at the landscape covered in bodies. All the remnants of the first two forces came together bringing in another force that made their army over ten thousand and counting. The mercenary he sent came running over to him with some news. Trican did not have another pass open for the clansmen to move around the defenses. So the ford was the only way these clansmen could march on their defenses. If this were a regular army he would be court marshaled, or beaten for taking the troops without any orders saying he could. However Dragon's Might allowed the highest rank under Master or the commanding officer to take charge if they were dead, wounded, unable to stand, intoxicated, distracted, or delayed. With just 225 mercenaries under his command Steffan hoped to delay this massive horde coming towards them.

Steffan's movement of his mercenary troops forced the rest of their forces to move towards the earthworks at the ford. It was now 1,676 defenders at the constructed defenses plus 115 cultists tied up to keep their hands to themselves.  Miriav, and his Master clearly did not want to discuss anything else with the Chirarch. Either they defend this position or be slaughtered like cattle. His Master, Vandos Gohmen retook command and ordered their bowmen to notch their arrows. Miriav ordered for her warriors to do the same, and encouraged the Ganune's to do the same as they formed a shield wall with the rest of the melee fighters. Their eyes were on the large force marching over to the ford when the gates to Trican burst open and over a hundred armed Ganune citizens came charging out of the city. All of them gave out drunken war cries and slowly made their way in a group. As new comers arrived at the front he counted about 111 drunks armed with war hammers, maces, clubs, axes, daggers, war picks, and broken pieces of furniture. In a drunken haze or state all of them simply slipped past the main defenders and charged into the ford to fight the Veerlanders. Steffan squinted his eyes noting there must have been more than 10, 000 clansmen. One hundred eleven armed drunks were showered with arrows. Arrows and corpses landed on the ford crossing in the body of water that divided the city-state from the rest of the mainland.

Blood filled parts of the crossing making it unsettling along with the arrows, and corpses. To the person who has never seen battle it would sicken them given they had weak stomachs. He studied the field finding none of the clansmen were killed other than those in yesterday's battle. Master Gohmen gave the order to begin loosing arrows, and bolts into the ranks of the oncoming horde. Steffan strung his own bow and loosed an arrow into the ranks of the clansmen who were just now coming up to the crossing. Their shields were up to protect themselves from the arrows being loosed. He did not watch his arrow to see where it would land nor did he care. All he cared about was fighting this battle, surviving until morning then the next, and get paid. There was no way he could tell how long this battle would last. Some battles last a day, others lasted a week, whereas some lasted for a whole month. It all depended on the numbers of enemies, the defenses, landscape, resources, and how determined both sides were. Among the arrows and bolts fired he noticed the Ganune's had guns on their side that took some time to reload. During his time as a mercenary he saw the world change, new weapons emerge in such a short time. Warfare never really changes just the factions, and the weapons unless the faction keeps using weapons that would be considered outdated or primitive. That was his own opinion on the matter. As he loosed another arrow the Veerlander clansmen started to fire back. He got down behind the earthwork as the arrows showered on them in return.

Hundreds of arrows landed around them hitting shields, barriers, stakes, mounds, and makeshift mantlets (portable shields or shelter for sieges). They suffered some casualties as everyone did not reach cover in time. Miriav's elves used the cultists as meat shields to draw the arrow volleys from them. Some of them would not be recognizable and others would appear like human porcupine by the end of the battle. One of them already had twelve arrows in him. The volley did not stop them from "returning fire" a new saying and order in this new age of warfare. Everyone is either falling behind or mixing up their armies with modern weaponry. Melee weapons would still be in use for close quarters, and ammunition ran out. Steffan got up from his cover to loose another arrow into the horde of armored clansmen. Their progress was slow as they used shields to protect them while huddling in one huge mass. Projectiles still found their mark causing the shields to fall. Each time a shield fell it was either picked up or replaced by another. Like a massive, lethargic beast the mass of Veerlanders pushed through the crossing and into the caltrops laid on the earth in their path.

Here is a Taste

I know you are curious about what this is. This my friend is a pastry. It is a round treat designed creatively with a hole in the middle. The hole is filled with a flavorful filling that makes you desire more treats. Its delicious appearance makes my mouth water. As you bite into it, a taste will enter your mouth that you do not want to disappear. Its middle filling is like a chewy jelly that no one could ever resist to have on their taste buds. I dare not tell what this jelly like substance is. Revealing the secret might ruin this nutritious yet sweet surprise. The taste is so delightful that you'd wish it would last forever in your mouth. When you are done with the pastry, you might feel a sense of sadness and depression. Don't let that get to you for there is a platter of other pastries to make you happy for eternity. 

Anchor Flag

Thought I would post another flag. 

Ganune's Flag

City-State of Ganune

For the past 800 years the city-state of Ganune stood on the island off the coast of Veerland. He did not understand why this Veerland was known by two names. To those outside this realm of clansmen and tribes it was known as Verland, and to these clansmen it was Veerland. He only saw them as raiders, marauders, bandits, brigands, barbaric vandals, and savage warriors who did have a culture. Despite having a culture these Verlanders or Veerlanders were divided into different clans and tribes. Hailing from a kingdom from Orian he served as a mercenary at age sixteen to the age of twenty-one. When he was done, he put the sword down to pick up a trade or at least get some kind of work. For nearly three to four years, he worked and had to defend his employers from time to time. It was not until he was 26 years old when he picked up were left off with his mercenary career. Now at the age of twenty-seven Mercenary Eminent Steffan Mondos from an Orian Kingdom he never wants to speak of again. He was among an incomplete company of mercenaries.

This small company of mercenaries were one of six other companies that belonged to a larger army of mercenaries. Known as the Dragon's Might who are based in one of the island city-states near the coast of Orian. It was just one city on an island that he was to never mention period. As for Ganune, three islands formed the city-state. Each island had a few settlements and a main city. Steffan did not believe this city-state had much to worry about since it could easily evacuate its population across waters to other islands. All he heard about Ganune was three islands made up this state, and each one bordered a larger landmass. Two wedged against or trailing off mainland of Veerlander country, and the other one next to a larger island with other islands. One elf kingdom or state ruled over that island however it was more than a few thousand years old. It appeared to be an aging empire that was fading as the centuries passed. Evidence of their civilization was scattered across the Teniim Sea. He saw how the Veerlander and Orian hatred for Elves was clear. Steffan should have known his half elf heritage would screw him in Orian, and Kyria.

Every year the Veerland clans whom he wasn't sure if they were humans, orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, a mixture of all of them or something else, attacked Ganune. Outside the city-state's island of Trican his fellow mercenaries were camped out with the Ganune forces. With him and his Master were just 225 mercenaries from all walks of life who joined the Dragon's Might. Their forces camped out with the Ganune forces along the borders of the Trican island that was literally a bridge cross and a ford crossing from the mainland. Ganune deployed 1080 of its finest troops with the promise of more marching from the settlements. They had just engaged a few war bands who warned of a larger force. This as several days ago as he watched two Veerland Clans duke it out. To them this was no surprise but still a spectacle. While these clansmen fought, Steffan was tasked to see about the mercenaries under his supervision. For them this was like a play, a concert, or a sports event. He went around to keep track of their mercenary troops. There were twelve natives from the region, and nine Ganune's who had traveled around the Teniim sea in search of work. A troop of 13 Dragon Soldiers along with 2 knights whose kingdom resides in the regions of Southeastern Orian, Ossus, and Arqolith. There was a group of 10 infantrymen under the leadership of two knights. A quartet of Barbarians who called themselves the Bulls. He found eleven deadly warriors sparring along the edge of the camp. In one corner he found twenty-six Elf Warriors, Soldiers, and Bowmen from various lands. As much as he hated those younger than himself, he had to tolerate a squad of fifteen fired warriors in their youth. Each one had to be smacked every once and awhile. They joined at ages 16, and 17 however failed to act as men with discipline. When he was young, he was pressed to grow up and accept the world was not going to bend over to him, and the lawmen of any nation were above him.

Steffan went through the middle of their encampment where he found a grouping of thirty-three random warriors from all over the world. Despite their past days of raiding ships 51 buccaneers, corsairs, privateer, and pirates from other seas were recruited.  Dragon's Might also attracted some strange beings such as four winged humanoids from the mountains in the west. With them came three sea warriors from different island continents. For defending their position, they hired two ballistae crews with fifteen men each. He heard strange stories of beings from the stars and claim to be from other worlds. It changed things for some regions, however a single Lamia, snake woman joined their mercenary army. She was armed with two types of bows, crossbow and composite bow. When he was done checking things off he went to report to his Master at his tent. There he found him arguing with the Ganune Commander about reinforcements. Apparently the Ganune's like to wait for one the two sides to be done fighting before striking out. For a city-state with three islands and 650,000 citizens they expected more. Olvas was not too far away on its own island. However, they also came under the threat of the Veerland clans.

Steffan interrupted the two commanders hoping to give his report before the Master left his tent for a walk. According to his report the Veerland Clansmen were fighting each other for some reason. The Ganune leader scoffed saying their goal is to be the first to attack the city state. Olvas has seen the same thing happen. When he asked about their experience a Veerlander Mercenary entered giving the Ganune's a start. Steffan had to calm them down while his Mercenary Master laughed at them. This Veerland mercenary reported the numbers of this force of clansmen were likely 21,300 or more. One of the Ganune officer asked him how does he know this. He smiled saying he spoke with one of their spies who entered the camp. All Ganune's in their dark leather jerkins, long shirts dyed different colors, thick hide trousers, and fur coats eyed him. Steffan could tell they must have been itching in agony inside their fine adventurer style boots. One by one they stood to exit the tent bringing Steffan, and his Master with them. The Veerlander mercenary led them to the end of the camp that was closer to the Ganune borders. Steffan's Master told him to check on the front. Obediently Steffan saluted and march straight for the front where the other mercenaries watched the battle between the clans. Before them was a landscape of trees, grass, and hills covered in bodies of the clansmen who killed each other. All the survivors seemed to have ceased fighting and went back to their own territories and camps. Both forces had prisoners in tow. He looked at the banners of the two clans. One clan had an ugly face with a single eye on it, and the other had a dragon looking creature that appeared more like a hound. Steffan did not watch the whole battle yet he could tell the two clans tore each other apart. All the mercenaries who watched this spectacle were under his boot heel. He had each one to set up extra defenses then man them.

His eyes focused on the men, and the front lines. Just because they were mercenary soldiers did not always mean they would refrain from killing each other. After years of experience, they managed to construct strong defenses from the earth and trees. For the rest of the day his mercenaries dug in and built earthwork defenses using dirt, stones, and logs they chopped down. Seeing the clans had sent twenty thousand they expected more would follow. His overseer position was a fitting one, since all of them liked him and respected him. Whenever he gave out the orders to build the defenses all two hundred went to work. Up until dusk they worked leaving a well dug earthwork defense with stakes, spears, broken arrows, points, and steel caltrops cluttered around the area in front of the defenses. While they slept the Ganune's manned their posts to keep watch. At sunrise Eminent Steffan Mondos was woken up by a soft kick from a boot. He stirred awake to see a gorgeous blonde elf officer clad in armor that was worn in the high fortress age. She must have had it customized to fit her and lined with furs for comfort and decor. A nice green blouse was worn underneath to cover her. Her hair was blonde in a long military braid that wrapped around her neck and shoulder. Steffan got up asking her who she was introducing himself as the Eminent of the Dragon's Might Company. She introduced herself as Miriav Honestone company leader who came with three companies. This elf picked up his gear and tossed it to him ordering for him to get dressed. With some agitation he did so as she gave her reports. The remaining clansmen were regrouping with a force of 4,508 that were about to have reinforcements beef them up. He froze looking at her asking why haven't the Ganune's sent any more forces.

As would any city-state Ganune kept most of their forces inside to defend their position leaving a smaller force to defend a small position the enemy would come across. Miriav mentioned this city was influenced by a cult who she believes lose their marbles over large breasts for some reason. Her elf warriors, and troopers managed to press 115 of these cultists into service. Once he was dressed, she tossed him an apple for breakfast and led him outside to the city-state's doorstep where a force of 371 elf warriors, and troops stood in formation.

A Squire's Avalanche

For the past five years he served as squire to Sir Bob Denson. His master was violently chewed up then swallowed whole before his very eyes. At age twelve this was horrifying for a squire to watch. Icaros the Baldmin's Bass as he was called behind his back his whole life stood next to Sir Bob Denson. His real name was Boramere, however he called himself Bob for short. He was now at the age of twenty-six years old and his wife, a battle mage princess was pregnant with his first child. For a seventeen year old squire Icaros still felt a little intimidated by the Knight, and Buccaneer they called the Grim Reaper. Bob was known across the galaxy as a great warrior on the battlefield, monster killer, and part time guardian to those protected by the Inner Circle of Warriors. With them were four more squires including the newest member Mockshah. Little Mockshah did not become a direct squire of Boramere. He was adopted from a world they believed did not exist. His sword master was none other than Bangorang the great warrior, sword heroine  and mentor. She trained this new squire who hardly showed up at all. What kind of galaxy has one planet with life on it he would think to himself. It was a question on his mind every time he saw Mockshah. As for the other squires spoiled brats, and ungrateful turds who were just now showing restraint, focus, and discipline. Their ages, thirteen, fourteen, and nine.

Each one had their quirks and triggers. However none of them approved of Mockshah joining them as a squire. To them he was an outcast, a non noble even if he did have dragon blood in him. It was mainly because he killed so many monsters as a child. That was something few if none at all could achieve at ages 4, 6, and 7. At age Seven he rushed up the stairs and stabbed something that threatened to detonate a weapon that could destroy their worlds. Doing that drew attention to the young Mockshah who was given the titles hero, champion, squire and a prince. The ruling house and the clans urged he be given the utmost respect after slaying that awful creature. Here he is with the Knights and Crusaders at age twelve, and a squire like himself about to defend a fort.

No more than five thousand Infantrymen, Knights, Swordsmen, Archers, Warriors, and Squires manned a fortress in the mountains that guarded a pass. It was one of many fortresses that guarded the Realm of Gongrad. Its name was Evarik's Retreat, a valley that carved its way deep in the mountains making the fortress tucked in with mountains flanking the pass. Icaros saw the enemy horde marching up to their defenses with siege weapons meant for tearing down and scaling walls. He heard the horns blown and the orders to loose arrows and open fire. This force was said to be 207,000 strong. He watched arrows and projectiles rain down on the enemy. More men were needed to defend this pass according to his logic. His master said there would be more coming in through the pass. Icaros gripped the reigns of his steed as he witnessed the enemy suffer the losses of their first wave.

The Mutant faction of Lairthos threatened the realm for years and now decided to send a larger wave this time. More would have been sent only their neighbors constantly invaded them as well as each other until they came to an agreement somehow. His fellow defenders did not let up until the Lairthos horde was meters away. Those who were at the front formed shield wall to hold them back. Bob looked at him ordering for him to take the other squires to the side of the pass where the archers would be during the fight. Although he was frustrated Icaros still obeyed his master. He took them to a ridge along the face of the mountains that overlooked the horde. He had two other warriors help him herd the squires up the ridge. On the ridge stood a hundred bowmen raining down arrows on the horde that appeared larger that the reports said. He was forced to watch the warriors and knights hold their position against a larger forces. Icaros could not tell the details of how many the defenders killed or how intense the fighting was. Something in his gut said the enemy was wearing them out using brute force.

Next to him was Mockshah who picked up archery. This squire started firing down at the artillery crews of the Lairthos. He must have hoped to kill the crews to limit the horde's strength. One of the archers noticed this and pulled him over to help with the archers. Icaros wanted to protest when the leader smacked him and shoved a crossbow in his arms. His idea sort of worked for a while. Icaros saw the defenders start to pull back while losing members to the horde. Lairthos desired to defeat defenders before they take advantage of the victory. With this faction gone the others will destroy each other since they are the most disciplined of enemies. Icaros loaded the crossbow and fired numerous times before he saw the horde was pushing them back. Fear that the enemy would cut them off gripped him. He blindly kept reloading again and again after firing each bolt into the horde. His master stuck out like  sore thumb in the crowd in his Orange Armor. This Knight and Champion kept cutting a path through the enemy before his comrades had to fish him out four times in a row. All his focus was on his master who drew attention from the main defenders. From the corner of his eye he saw something launch at them. It hit some of the archers forcing them to move back along the ridge. Arrows followed another projectile that speared an archer. Many of the younger squires screamed while Mockshah only made a hurt expression. The young squire hit the hard surface out of anger then tossed his own helmet down the ridge. His helmet hit the side of the mountain past their position. He heard the noise of helmet clanging against the rocks when they witnessed an avalanche. Mockshah's helmet must have hit a loose stone or cause a slight vibration that led to an avalanche. In panic all the archers and bowman grabbed the squires and raced back down the ridge. For some reason Mockshah crawled into a corner dragged a larger round shield to use as a protection. This avalanche appeared more like a rock slide mixed with a landslide. Rocks, earth, and parts of the mountain broke off and slide down on the unsuspecting Lairthos horde. It lasted for several minutes as a large chunk of the mountain came down on the enemy.

Chaos At the End

Early in the morning Galmand awoke to the sounds of troop movements outside his own tent. He had his army wake up at the crack of dawn at the sound of a horn, or drums. A team of at least five stayed up all night to keep watch for the dawn. Each one either strummed the drum, or sounded a horn to wake up the whole camp. It was traditional for Ehkbullar armies while they were at war. Getting up Galmand prepared for what today brought his way. He knew today or the next day the Verlanders would attack again with a larger force. Galmand ordered his forces to join the gathered defenders at the fort. Here he met with the Commander who appeared unhappy to see him and a little defeated. She had been chewed up by their superiors at the capital over her activities with some civilians and her not giving Galmand a proper greeting. She was given a message about his arrival ahead of time.

He looked at her face and realized she could be removed from command if this happened again. She led him to the front lines where bodies of the attacking enemy still lay from the previous attack. The landscape along the border had patches of woods they had to keep an eye on every season. It did not matter which clan attacked Ehkbullar, their rangers and militia had to defend the borders. Having a long wide clear space between their outposts, and those forests suited them better than some wall. Centuries ago one Kingdom had a wall built to keep them out. History taught them the flaws of just setting up a wall to keep savages out. That wall would have to be manned every day and eyes kept on the borders each night. He remembered learning in class a Verlanding tribe broke through the walls of one kingdom that was overrun as a result. It took the neighboring kingdoms combined to drive the savages out. Although Ehkbullar was dotted with solitary peaks, small mountain ranges that served as settlements there were some cities or kingdoms under the ground. As for Gnome cities, or kingdoms that varied. They were either under ground, along the base of a mountain, in the hills, or the forests. Goblins were underground or in their version of the underworld. Many used caves as cities or houses. Zunias had settlements within the forests. In this day in age cities grew allowing the races to come together on the surface. Galmand looked at the cleared area that was covered with bodies. He looked at the areas that flanked their position. If his calculations on a map were correct they should be in the middle of the bulge in their border. Just a brigade defended this part of the front. Other units, and armies of larger scales covered the border north and south of their position.

The Dwarf turned around hoping to see reinforcements coming to bolster the defense here. Even they were good, the current defenders would not be able to hold a larger force. Galmand returned his gaze to the forest and saw movement. He caught the Fort Commander's position who saw the movement at the same time. She barked out orders for the summoned forces to prepare for another assault. Galmand used his own whistle to summon his own gathered force. All Galmand had to do was listen to the sounds of troop movements behind them. His focus rested on the forest that covered the true size of this next wave. The Fort Commander shouted orders to keep their eyes on the forests. She sent three messengers to the nearest positions to the south, west, and north east. Galmand gave her a skeptical look. Why didn't she use the more modern communication he thought. Then he realized the new devices did not always worked. It was safe to assume hers did not work, or was broken.

Out of the forests marched a force of what appeared to be 10,000 or more Veerland clansmen. He could tell this force was made up of different clans just from the banners. Some had black wolves on red banners, others had white dragons on black fields, and the rest had round shields with tribal and clan like patterns upon pikes. This force was heavily armed with steel weapons and the best armor that could come out of a human's forgery. Nothing else bothers a Dwarf force than an enemy with this kind of technology. However Ehkbullar had advanced weapons to defend itself. Galmand watched the clansmen with their conical helms, half helms, sallets, bascinets, chain-mail hoods, kettle helms, Barbuta helmets, and burgonet helmets. Many of their helmets had horns, spikes, wings, and tribal icons on them. The armor varied in terms of style and craftsmanship. However Galmand doubted the armor could hold against the new crossbows, and armor piercing points of their projectile weapons. He watched as a volley of bolts and arrows launched over his head into the mass of clansmen. Heater shields, round shields, and tower shields managed to catch most of the volley. A few hundred unfortunate clansmen fell to the ground from the first volley. Wielding a variety of weapons the clansmen charged forward regardless of the second volley. He picked up a crossbow to fire into the Verlander horde watching more arrows and bolts launch into their ranks. As he fired another bolt he witnessed this ten thousand man horde come closer. They drew close enough to hear battle cries, screams of death, and pain. Some started to return fire using tower shields as cover. Several arrows flew past Galmand's position forcing him and the Fort Commander to take cover. He barked out orders to bring in the modern guns. Several hundred Dwarfs armed with rifles rushed up to the front with arrows and bolts flew over their heads. Galmand felt like an idiot loading another bolt while his own men reloaded their rifles for another volley.

Taking his time Galmand fired another bolt after the other volleys. In the open area thousands of Veerland Clansmen littered the ground. He paused loading and watched the clansmen horde begin their retreat. Ten thousand strong looked more like a few thousand huddled in a mass of bodies and shields melting back into the forest. A few more volleys were sent after them before the order to cease fire was given. Galmand looked up to see half a day had gone by. He decided it was best to keep an eye on the woods. Letting the enemy come to you was the better strategy. This Fort Commander did agree with that until a Gnome came up on a  bicycle. He held an envelope with the military seal. Galmand snatched it from his hand first. She flared a little as he opened the envelope. Galmand read the orders out loud to the whole lot. By the next day their forces were to advance at the same time as the militia in the south.

No one was happy about those orders. Their enemy was in the forest and could easily ambush them. Galmand finally asked the Commander's name before letting her take command as the orders suggested. Her name was Commander Annabel Stone-Spear, a daughter of a frontiersmen. Her family was large and they spread out across the region of Ehkbullar and the neighboring nations. All her life Annabel wanted to become a ranger like her uncle. She told Galmand her life story as they assessed the casualties. Only a handful of their own died in the onslaught that occurred at the bulge in the border. As for the Veerlander Clansmen 7584 more of them lay dead. The two commanders stepped out a little further with a team of bowmen with tower shields encircling them for protection. Galmand studied the forest pondering over how many clansmen could be hiding in these trees waiting to attack a third time. He glanced over at Fort Commander Stone-Spear when a wave of projectiles shot out of the forest. Some were balls of flames others cannon balls, stones, and missiles launched from siege engines. Galmand's protection started to retreat when a large projectile hit them. 

At the Front

There was nothing these outcasts and outlaws could do. Each one of them was bound for the front lines to face Veerland's forces. Under Galmand's command a force of 1500 conscripted Dwarves, and Gnomes marched down to the the border. The commander at the fort provided troops and handed over the prisoners in the dungeon. With this assembled force Galmand pressed on to the nearest train station. Every locomotive station in the east lead straight to the border with Veerland. Galmand and his 1500 man army waited for a whole day before a locomotive hauling no more than 60 cars behind it arrive.  Realizing the urgency of their mission his army climbed on the moment it arrived. Time was precious forcing the conscripted army to move every passenger's luggage out for them. Each item was placed in a dry place against the wall under the roof that hung over the platform. All they did was rest and waited for the locomotive to start up again after its cargo and passengers got off. When the locomotive pilot announced it was half way to the front the conscript army awoke. Galmand sat in a more private car with officers and his starting troops. In his mind he remembered the Veerlanders and their 56 tribes and clans who often fought one another. Verlanders as Dwarves called them, fought each other until exhausted or a warlord rose up to command all of them.

Knowing the Verlanders they would send a wave of their unwanted, black sheep of clans, aggressive individuals, and the dimwitted no one wants to babysit in first. That would be followed by two waves of soldiers, infantrymen, and  clansmen. He had fought the Verland Clans multiple times during his youth and in his adulthood. Ehkbullar used various weapons including older style weapons to reduce the cost of making more modern weapons. They kept the modernized weapons locked up in armories of every city. Older style weapons were allowed in the household and office of every citizen or subject of Ehkbullar. Whether that subject was a Dwarf, Gnome, Goblin, a Zunia, hoofed humanoids who either horns or not, it did not matter who served in Ehkbullar's armies. Galmand was aware the new invader was allied with the Verlanders. That meant all those clans would be armed with better weapons. Seeing an enemy with advanced weapons was a bad sign in the field. There was nothing more dangerous than an enemy with modernized weaponry. Galmand estimated the battles would be even more fierce than the ones in the past. He laid his head against his seat to rest his eyes as the locomotive made its way to the front. One of his officers joined him at rested herself in the seat across from him. They gave each other glances saying the same thing. Wherever they were headed, chaos would be all over the place.

For a few hours the locomotive traveled on the tracks towards the central front lines. Galmand slept through out much of the journey. The Dwarf could not stop thinking about their borders and how many rangers and militia were at the front already. He had a dream of what he thought would happen at the front, only it was more of a few glimpses of what he perceived as parts of a dream. Details of the dream were unclear as they meshed together. The dream sequences were disrupted by the locomotive coming to a halt. Galmand awoke to rally his army of outlaws, outcasts, goons, soldiers, and conscripted bandits. As he walked out of the car he discovered they were at the front.

With his force of 1500 men Galmand marched up to the border that was lined with watch towers, outposts, forts, and artillery positions. Looking at the map he located their position which was in the center of the borders with Veerland. In this part of the front they found a brigade of rangers, militia men, archers for some reason, random fighters, more bowmen, guards, drafted robbers, and other outlaws manned this section of the front. It appeared to be reinforced by a battalion of conscripted soldiers and outlaws forced to march here. Galmand was not surprised by the number of troops who were armed with older weapons and melee weapons. Veerlanders were an enemy who used traditional weapons in combat. There was the occasional battle where a tribe or clan managed to get a hold of guns. He marched up to the nearest fort that was manned by the rangers who had three other forts for bases. Here there were 425 Rangers at the border, which was not the total number that defended the border. Ehkbullar's borders could be defended by a minimum of 5000 to 10000 Rangers combined with ordinary infantry.

He ordered his forces to rest and make camp near the closest fort. Marching up to this fort Galmand found an entire encampment of militia, archers, fighters, bowmen, and other individuals who eyed them as they approached. He read their faces and glares that said where the crud were you? Others demanded why there was only a battalion coming in. Galmand ordered for his officers to maintain order as he made his way the commander's quarters. Every fort along the borders had a commander's quarters in the base each tower. Galmand did not need to ask where the Commander's Quarters were since he spotted the tower. He showed his badge, and the papers containing his orders to a guard who let him inside the fort. Inside the fort he had to find the quarters while forced to pass the rooms, and barracks of the angry garrison who eyed him with hatred for city dwarfs. Galmand wanted to think it was because his beard was better groomed than their wild beards.

Ignoring the glares he made his way through the halls to the commander's quarters. This fort's commander was a Half Dwarf and Half Gnome female with an exotic taste for other females. She had two female dancers in her quarters and a band playing music. Galmand watched as she made out with one of them before interrupting with a bang on the door. The dancers screamed and rushed out. Whoever this commander was she appeared more like a four foot teenage human. She sat down looking disappointed in the fun being taken away. Her expression said he was a killjoy, which appeared more like an irritated expression. All she did was give out the number of troops stationed her and the situation. According to her records they had 1,296 militia in the area so far, 360 archers since modern weapons are reserved for the soldiers and in armories. There were currently 246 random fighters, bowmen, guards, drafted robbers, and outlaws drafted at the front. Another force of 601 militiamen were on the southern flank. A total 1082 clansmen of Verland had been killed so far in the last attack. No more than 589 of these clansmen were taken prisoner. She did not know how large the Veerlander force was since most of the prisoners either had their tongues cut out, mute, dimwitted, managed to escape, tried to fight their way out, or took their own lives.

Galmand slammed his fist on her desk demanding she take him and his troops as the reinforcements. They may be on the front lines, however more of their countrymen will march to this front before the invaders even reach the borders of Lornav, Dormany, and Derol. She sneered a little, but agreed with him. She reminded him of the two goblin tribes of 4500 in the southern parts of the borders. Galmand looked at the map on the wall. Sure enough the Goblin tribes occupied the southern portion of Ehkbullar. It appeared that front would be covered for some time.

Ehkbullar Flag

Ehkbullar is a kingdom inhabited by several races such as the Dwarves, Gnomes that appear more like small people, Goblins of various types, and Zunia's who look like smaller humans with hoofed feet and sometimes horns. They are more like craftsmen who build machines, advanced weapons, advanced transportation, and known for mining, woodworking, smith work, and masonry. Their neighbors are Dormany, the Veerland clans and tribes, and the Nevoran Federation. Due to their various crafts, and productivity they have expanded trade routes to other nations beyond the borders of their neighbors.