A month and a week later the Zhenrai had to return to their Clan county. Six restless spirits haunted a newly constructed barn. Her own father allowed it to be constructed next to their stables and ranch. On her family property they shared land with this farmer who brought a cow, 3 ponies, a bull, 3 sheep, one goat, donkey, pig and a camel. this added to their own 12 cows, 8 goats, 9 donkeys, 2 horses, 6 pigs, 14 sheep, and ten Yackdreth. A team of farm hands helped run it while 3 knights guarded it. Despite their bravery those ghosts scared them more than any Gnoll, Ogre, or Troglodytes that prowled the countryside. What the Zhenrai did involved one of their priestlier members. Brynn never got to see them deal with the ghosts. One of these specters scared her when she tried taking a peak. Brynn mentally waved the memories away to concentrate on the Dinotzi Thumb's defenses. As she made her way down the hill of the motte and bailey Brynn got a better view of the situation heading towards them. This whole village and motte n baily reminded her home. Some of the steer reminded her of the furry and wooly Yackdreth herds. Yackdreth came in different sizes and various horns. Yet all of them had those deer like eyes, and hawk like beaks. Some were black furred, wheat colored, brown, and ginger. Several types of horns could be found on these creatures. A ram style set of horns, antlers, cow horns, horns that appear like tusks from under the ears, goat horns, and tri horned could be found on the species known as Astrinus Brannae. Seeing the horde get closer she quickened her pace.
Brynn passed Town Guards and civilians before she found Kriscyne at the Tavern. He sat down in what looked like a dress at first glance. Upon closer inspection it was not a dress, but some fabric worn by certain clans. His Dragoons were stirring from their shot rest. A short rest that was interrupted by the sirens of the alarm. Every Dragoon he still had available formed two lines outside the tavern. Brynn watched them do this realizing they already knew they were under attack. Kriscyne got up from the chair he occupied. He put on his pants tucking in the fabric with his shirt. As he put on his boots several shots rang out, signaling to them the settlement defenders already spotted this approaching force. Another set of gunshots came as a warning to these attackers. Kriscyne wielded his carbine rifle ready to engage the attackers.
"How many are there?" he asked her.
"Just 137 Town Guards, 58 soldiers, 20 cavalry, and 17 warriors at least." she answered the Dragoon Lieutenant.
"I meant the attacking force! Not the defenders." he replied as more gunshots could be heard outside.
"A few thousand or more. They must have planned this for some time." she suspected as the ratatat of machine gun fire joined the chorus.
"Dragoons!" he addressed his man who straightened at attention. Kriscyne exited the tavern with Brynn following him. "Go aid these defending townsfolk, help will come soon. It always does."
"How is Vygoon?" she asked Kriscyne. Losing a leg in combat was never a pleasant experience. One was lucky if they got the leg reattached.
"Asleep in the apothecary and doctor of this village. However she will not get her leg back. At 42 years old she looks good for her age, yet a mother to five. I believe she will be returning home to spend time with them afterwards." Kriscyne replied to her. He dismissed the rest of the Dragoons.
His Dragoons saluted him then bolted for the defenses armed with their weapons. The two leaders were left to rally her Country Guards. At a quickened pace they went through an empty labyrinth of streets. Rosefire's Country Guard could be found at their headquarters along the edge of the village. Positioned closer to the Motte and Bailey it had its own walls of palisades. Rather than give the password she banged on the gate door.
"Let us in you lazy Muskylats! The Thumb is under attack!" Brynn hollered at those inside. Country Guards under her command opened the door for her and Lt. Kriscyne. One hundred thirty-five raced out with their own weapons at hand. Every one of them were afraid she would hand them over to the military or to the prisons of Gaskouth Ladai. Both would send them to the front in cold Vimasdra, Brynn heard it became a stalemate as of 1844. Neither side could outmaneuver the other. Dogfights and bombings came seldom due to the weather.
"You aren't going to brief them in?" Kriscyne critiqued her. This Lieutenant was unfamiliar with how the Country Guard worked. She turned her head to face him.
"They know what to do, Lieutenant. Dinotzi Thumb comes under attack by warbands every season. I would have them shoot from this place except it catches fire too easily. Plus shooting from inside echoes into the ears and would scare my owl companion." She explained to the Dragoon Lieutenant as more fire was exchanged with the attackers. Brynn hooted like an owl summoning a hawk owl cross-bred a falcon from Badraan-Lheobethe. It flew over to her excited to see her.
"This is Maplebee, she has been with me for ten years. She is a gift from a travelling wizard I saved from Troglodytes in the Bymere Country. He was selling bred owls and hawks for income while travelling." Brynn stretched out an arm for Maplebee to perch on. Closing the doors she led the Dragoon over to the stables where she left her weapons. One volley of fire was exchanged from the attackers over to the defensive barriers and walls. Total strength rose to over 588 thanks to volunteers from the villagers. Maplebee flew away to the keep of the motte and bailey leaving her to fight this battle.
Over the course of three hours they pushed back this larger force. It wasn't until night time when the shooting stopped. Kriscyne and Brynn met with the leaders of each defending group of Dinotzi Thumb. For the Town Guards a Captain Grahab Riovos led them. Grahab was a human Castarian who appeared to be aging to late 40s who wore the Vestrisian blue uniform with pauldron armor pieces on his shoulders. A half Orc commanded the garrison of 58 soldiers and 20 cavalry as Captain Ingaarm Granskull. Leading the Sheriffs was none other than Karl who was the Warden-Sheriff. A team of 10 sheriffs had to command an assembled force of 191 volunteers with help from 6 Elves and 17 warriors. Mayor Tauler was present as well, since it was required of her. Inside the Townhall they held this meeting. Tauler was a medium sized woman who had seen plenty of adventures and a few wars in her lifetime. She had reddish brown hair, light brownish skin tone, a very distinct appearance that reflected beauty in her youth. This Mayor wore a green suit dress with a few necklaces showing off her past loot. On her head rested a felt hat with a circlet sewn to it.
"That was the only first wave we pushed back today." Ingaarm pointed out. Brynn agreed there would be more waves coming after them tomorrow.
"I did not get a real count of how many attacked us. We may have taken out several hundred." Riovas put in. None of them argued about the casualties. It was nothing short of a miracle that they lost no one. She saw with her own eyes these attackers wielded rifles along with missile weapons.
"What does this settlement have for defenses?" Kriscyne asked making his words sound more like a demand. Even though he saw it firsthand the Lieutenant revealed he did not see the whole settlement or noticed it upon their arrival.
"One wall surrounds the village, another for the fort, two for the motte and bailey castle-keep. More palisades connect the settlements together. One ditch around the whole thing. Another ditch circles around the fort and the scarp mound. For weaponry, everyone either has a bow, melee weapon or a hunting rifle. However most of the fighting aged youth and adults have gone to war. That just leaves us the town guard, sheriffs, my troops, warriors, and any volunteers among the population. We do posses 6 machine guns, 3 cannon-artillery pieces, 103 revolvers, 73 percussion pistols, 44 grenades, 67 machine pistols, 155 bolt action rifles, 319 extra rifles, 52 old style rifles, and 18 traps." Ingaarm Granskull assured Kriscyne, yet it sounded more like he was bragging.
"Does the military know we are under attack?" A female Sheriff blurted out catching everyone's attention. Brynn glanced over at this female sheriff who had blonde locks of hair coming out of her brown dirty fedora like a waterfall. In her typical Sheriff's khaki colored trousers she wore a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over the flannel shirt she donned a denim jacket with the sleeves torn off. Underneath she wore a traditional Castarian Miska, a tunic dress with a colorful pattern on the neck and chest. It did not cover her forearm tattoos. Brynn saw one side of her face was smooth while the other was burned with Gnoll claw scars across the cheek.
"Yes Sheriff Valod they do. Or do we call you Sheriff Sugar Daddy Divor three arms?" Karl remarked at her. Valod's face turned into a shocked and scared expression. Her fear showed she had something to hide.
Was she engaging in sexual acts with other women? Brynn's eyes went to her crotch then glanced at her own quickly. Squinting her eyes with suspicions Brynn kept any ideas out Valod to herself. This sheriff had a secret that was known to some, but not all. Brynn did not want to know either. Every leader of the Thumb's defenses present blinked their eyes in silence for a few moments. Riovas chose to break the silence that filled the room.
"Some of the civilians who came to us for safety say these attackers killed 22 people. Two were cut down, 7 cut in half, and 11 had their heads cut off. That is not all to their story. Some of these attackers were killed by the ones who met a gruesome death, which were their first kills. One these attackers' casualties were the Castarian Flag from its days as an empire wrapped around them." Riovas explained to the leaders. Another voice appeared in the room followed by a loud door slam as someone closed it.
"I believe the Political Officer and Senator were correct in their orders. What we have here is an insurgency. Good evening everyone, excuse me for the intrusion I am Major Ollen Jakab. I have arrived with 226 Dragoons, and 6 paratroopers as reinforcements. Is there a Captain Rosefire?" the owner of the voice interjected politely.
"Right here." Brynn replied wondering if he had something for her like orders. What was this about? What did he want with her?
"Does one hundred twenty four Country Guards under the command of Lieutenant Rothburt and a Sergeant Hathinne have you as a Captain?" Major Jakab asked her.
"Yes they Major Jakab! Now can we know how you got past those attackers?" Mayor Tauler demanded from the Major, throwing the weight of her position a little on him. She did her best to make it sound more like a request.
Major Jakab, human of around 36 years old who held a height of 5'6 was a lean male with an oblong face. On his left cheek he had a gash that was healed over. The rest of his scars, if he had any more, were covered by his Dragoon's uniform that was much like Kriscyne's uniform. On his uniform Jakab wore few more pins and patches showing experience in the field. His rank as Major required him to wear a badge of some sort. He briefly described how they got past the attacking forces. Brynn's own Country Guard led them through a back entrance hidden by trees flanking the rear of the Thumb. Each leader was dismissed by the Mayor after explaining to the Major what was going on. Kriscyne was sent to the Tavern while Jakab had Lieutenant Rothburth report to her, his Captain Rosefire.
"Colonel Bencasa's scouts found us with orders to prepare for an insurgency. He believes it could stir up a rebellion in Castaria, and Zegrav.-" Rothburt informed her in his report. She cut him off.
"He sent you where your commander is . Did you find anything in your shortened patrol?" She continued his report for him.
"Just a group of Rangers camped out 27 miles from here. A group of 14 Rangers, Captain." He answered her. Rothburt expected her to punch him in the stomach for moving towards other orders. She did not, since he would be needed for the Dinotzi Thumb's defense.
"What about the swamp creatures and armed Ghouls? You were supposed to, well Sergeant Hathinne should have taken care of them." Brynn questioned the Lieutenant. In her own mindset he own Country Guard should do their duties their unit commanding officer to them first. Then perform the second duties given during the first.
"You are dismissed Lieutenant. Get some rest." She ordered the Country Guard. Sending people off to bed made her feel like a mother. She herself went to bed after petting Maplebee her owl for a while. Their next battle would have to come in the morning. As for the existence of this insurgency, she was not so certain. Many Castarians opposed the oligarchy and Czarist rulers the VUVR defeated in the field. Was their some hidden tradition the V.U.V.R. insulted or something? She would have to get answers tomorrow or the day after.
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