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.
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.
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