Sket Island

 Discovering this island was one island they passed while crossing the bridge infuriated the platoon and convoy. Captain Amberson, and Heilungson calmed them down. Jaxa noted to himself that they missed something while on the bridge. Some island they perceived as small actually extended past the bridge's western flank. Checking maps was useless since this island liked to disappear in the fog or after heavy rain. Not checking the maps or local ferrymen the leaders plotted a location for their landing. Their transport-ferry, called the Helpful Pig sailed along the island's southeastern coast. Most of Sket's land mass and coast were covered in forests, jungle, and swamps. It stretched further west and south with a few beaches visible. Jaxa kept his focus on the swamps and trees from the starboard side. Appearing like pillar sized roots standing in the water the trees formed a dense wall. Moss, vines, drooping moss, low hanging branches filled gaps between these already dense trees. Entirely focused on the trees he spotted skeletons attached or tied to the trees. Jaxa recognized some types of swamp trees. Gnarled granny legs, timber crowns, willows, various oaks, soggy elms, witches' fingers, Golden Cypress, and Yimdarks made up the trees on Sket's swamps. He could not get a better look at these trees or skeletons since they moved closer towards the beaches. 

All over the intended beach, another beach landing already commenced. Sket's southern shores appeared flanked by thirteen vessels of various classes. Most of these ships looked outdated, modified or stolen from somewhere. Through the eyes of the set up Calornese Alliance these thirteen ships and landing force were unauthorized to be here. Before the invasion of Iperantosi began they gathered enough personnel, volunteers, privateers, and mercenaries with a signed pact. No one else was to invade or create their own invasion in the midst of operations they already executed. It was a crafted pact to avoid unnecessary crossfire, or mistaking smaller groups as identified hostiles. Despite all of that some independent forces were already on the beach. Guessing the size of this force they estimated approximately seven-hundred or more figures landed on Sket's biggest beach. Other smaller beaches to the west hosted smaller landing parties One sortie landed further down the island. Barely making out the true size of the landing force, they watched another force counter from the trees. Lieutenant Tazzarru, Captain Amberson, and Tank Sergeant Gipp Gregors ordered their units to hold back. Even Sea Dodge held back on moving in further. Just holding back allowed them to relax a little. Watching the fight commence or continue they waited for a victor. Not caring about who won the ferry slowly sat back. All thirteen unaligned ships opened fire on Sket. 

From the west by south a pair of vessels sped their way from behind cover. One slightly damaged destroyer emerged from behind a bulge in the island. A patrol boat accompanied this destroyer. At first glance they believed these were Gantronese ships. Believing there was another Gantronese fleet heading their way the ferry started to reverse course. One crewmate checked the alignment through a looking glass. To their relief those were not part of any Gantronese fleet. Not anymore at least, as both flew a different flag. Depicting a black star on a field of black and red stripes the flag had the star resting in the center of a green circle. As the battle over the beaches dragged on the two ships opened fire on the thirteen vessels. Jaxa turned his attention towards the stern. Behind the ferry he spotted the same ironclad from the ferry port. He nodded his head in approval since the Iperantosi were taking up the fight once again. 

A fiery explosion ripped his attention away from the incoming ironclad. One of the thirteen ships blew up from several direct hits from the destroyer. Four of the vessels broke away from formation to engage the destroyer and patrol boat in retaliation. All four ships peppered the Hag's ships with little effect. It was hard to tell if any of the steam-sail hybrid craft did any damage. Some of them were elf ship shapes equipped with small rotating turrets steam powered engines. Others appeared custom crafted in a wide brig shape or resembling a sword fish. It seemed strange for the wood-steel ship hybrids to have turrets or to still be around. What was stranger was how this Hag possessed her own navy. Even if it was tiny compared to island nations or city-states. 

With five less ships in formation the other eight ships fired more rapidly. Jaxa watched the ships tear down trees with various rounds. He did not know which rounds were fired but could tell every few rounds resulted in a different form of destruction. On the beaches the unaligned landing force met stiffer resistance that seemed to throw itself at them. Their own vessel drifted with the sea currents at a slow beast's pace. While the parties fought over ground, hidden cannons exchanged fire with the eight remaining ships. Jaxa tried counting how many cannons this Hag-Witch managed to attain. Another ship went down as these unaffiliated forces went at it. Sadly, for the Hag's forces the patrol boat went down from concentrated fire. As it caught fire going down it exploded in a fiery blast. All he could think was What comes around goes around. He smiled for a bit until a vessel closer to them came under heavy fire from Sket's shores. In the Hag-Witch's arsenal he guessed about sixteen Gantronese Nezero-64 aka. "Ship builder's nightmare", or "Boat Killer", fired on the vessels closest to the coast. Except for their own ferry transport that made all attempts to stay clear of the battle. Jaxa recalled these Nezero-64 cannons were encountered in Dorntalla, and Zekmar. Appearing much like a steel cannon that can be mounted like a turret or deployed in the field as mobile artillery. The Gantronese Nezero-64 cannon emitted a blast of fire. One would think it was a flame thrower of some sort. All sixteen of this Hags Nezero-64s nailed a vessel holding the appearance of an elf dagger-saber. Although it had turrets of metal it still went down. 

Amberson did not want to sit idle and watch these unaffiliated forces die in vain. He rallied the mixed unit of soldiers, tank crewmen, and two Zhenrai. An abrupt stirring came over them with the urge to aid the beach landing. That is when the destroyer took down a second ship. Seeing the unaffiliated fleet get reduced was only the tipping point in this battle. Two of the smaller vessels began their retreat. Another vessel pulled back due to the heavy damage they sustained. from the left flank the Iperantosi Ironclad ship fired on the destroyer putting an end to its terror. Now that an opening was seen the ferryman gunned it towards the shore. In the water they spotted figures drowning or staying afloat. Whoever was left of the unaffiliated fleet bombarded areas where the Nezero-64s sat. Some hits caused explosions; others caused trees to fall on the cannon's locations. Rescuing some one hundred forty-three sailors, crew, and passengers the ferry prepared to drop their cargo off on the beach. Getting into place the Vestrisians got engines running when something else emerged. With a head resembling a turtle dragon mix, a large monster attacked one of the remaining vessels. It scared the rest of them away, leaving the landing forces to the mercy of the Hag's army. 

For some reason their own vessel did not stop. Jaxa believed they would be this monster's next meal. As it destroyed the first target the monster revealed itself to be some kind of Dragon Turtle the battle disturbed from its slumber. Whatever ship it targeted, that vessel became torn in three pieces. He was certain they would find no survivors. Just as he thought it couldn't get any worse, the Dragon Turtle had company. A metallic fish shaped machine emerged from the water. It had a few hatches open that let out a moaning cry. The sound attracted the Dragon Turtle, drawing its attention away from the rest of the unaffiliated ships. Whoever it was they were keen on rescuing both parties as they led the monster away. Using this as a brief distraction the destroyer fled the scene. 

Making this an opportune moment their tanks turned themselves into artillery turrets. Several machine guns opened fire on the beach. It was assumed the unaffiliated were done for. Even from the ferry they saw the battle hardly moved past the beach landings. None of them could tell who was left alive among the unaffiliated forces, and the Hag's forces. Approaching this beach looked easier since less Nezero-64s fired from the trees. Their landing was like a walk in the park. Only a park covered in blood-soaked sand and corpses. Weapons lay among the carnage. The vehicle ferry extended a ramp outward then lowered it on the beach. As usual the tanks went first followed by infantry. They tread cautiously wary of the costly battle that just occurred. Corpses of thirty-five pirates, forty-two armored Elves, twelve clansmen, twenty Dwarf Paladins/Clerics, one hundred Uxane, thirty-four volunteers, seventy-two Drow, 574 knights/men-at-arms, ten orcs and a sheriff made up one force of unaffiliated troops. As for the Hag's forces Dark Knights, 282 various mutated monsters, a Black Viper Blade of Waterdeep Heisten, over one hundred thirty lesser hags. Waterdeep Heisten lay along the coast east of Vorcadam as one of those city-states that chose the Gantronese as allies. Other humanoid-creatures included eight Gnolls, six lightly armored Orcs in torn leather, Seven Drow in mixed mismatched armor, eight uniformed Goblins, nine clothed skeleton-men, thirteen Ghouls, and five heavily armed Gantrons. Their tanks rolled over these corpses, weapons, helmets, pieces of armor, and debris from the battle. 

Behind the forward tanks Jaxa could barely make out the furthest beachhead. Trees still stood around the debris from the battle. Flames lingered as smoke continued rising. Odor from Burnt wood, smoldering flesh wafted into their nostrils. Enough to make on sick, the bad odors forced them to cover their faces with cloth. As they progressed it seemed unsettlingly quiet. To some it would appear everyone else in the unaligned force lay dead. Whoever though that was certainly wrong. Jaxa knew a few among them, but he was not going to give names out. A bolt shot from the trees smashing against the front tank. Shattering upon impact this bolt sent splinters everywhere. it did little to no damage to the ground troops. Those who moved in the center got startled. More bolts shot at them from the cover of trees. In retaliation their own tanks opened fire with their machine-guns in short bursts to long bursts. All foot units huddled against the back of the tanks while they lit up the beach again. Jaxa took a quick peek of what was shooting at them. Using a mirror he got a slight glimpse of seven scorpion-ballistae that managed to fire more bolts at them. 

Whoever manned those outdated weapons, barely stood a chance against the armored tanks. Amberson sent five his men to get the half-track, and Ant-Personnel Car. A couple of arrows found their way into a leg or dug itself into the sand behind them. Just another futile attempt to fend them off while other toys in this Hag's arsenal came to play. Somewhere from the flanks to catapults launched explosive projectiles. Each catapult missed their intended targets. Such weapons were not always accurate. While that did scare them it only gave away the catapult's locations. Amberson's men used the Armed Car to take care of the catapults no doubt reducing it to splinters. After their tanks said it was clear they were met by small cannons that barely did much. One soldier died, four were wounded. Joining the machine-guns this time the infantry took out seventeen cannoneers, the two bowmen, seven thralls manning the ballistae, teams of Goblins that operated the catapults. 

Upon entering the ruins and debris area, another group burst from the ground. Four Wereboars six Goblin-Hybrids, four lost frog-folk led by an Orange skinned Orc mounted on a large lizard beast, attacked them. Jaxa found himself on the line gunning down their fifteen attackers. Only the reptile mount remained alive. It snarled, snapped its jaw at them before disappearing into Sket's dense forest swamp. Captain Amberson took full charge of Jaxa's unit as Lieutenant Tazzarru was hit with debris shrapnel in the leg and arm. Taking approximately twenty-nine men by foot Captain Amberson left the rest of their units to defend the beach. Reaching the positions of the Nezero-64's their eyes rested on a few trails the destruction unveiled. Without hesitation Amberson led them into the second trail entrance with Fizban at his side. All the usual jungle noises rose up due to the guns falling silent. Breathing felt difficult while progressing deeper. Not because of the humidity or denseness, but the fact they were so close to hostiles hiding in the foliage. Taking turns being leader did not bode well with ten of the soldiers Amberson chose for this. Given little choice they pressed on. Jaxa made one attempt to urinate before rejoining the line. He barely touched his canteen of water. When he took a chug from his canteen, he found a crooked, misshapen, forcefully malformed creature nailed to a tree. Rotten, mutilated, and showing signs of burn marks the corpse almost blended in with the dark tree. Catching sight of other corpses Jaxa was not the only one to notice this. Private Sceo Alose also noticed the corpses nailed to the trees. 

Private Alose stood just around 5'9 with the fine demonized body most people crazily craved over. The type of body that mad men sweat around women. Her pretty square face held a scar from a claw weapon across the left cheek. He recalled her fighting on despite the cut in close quarters combat. Jaxa himself did receive a cut to the arm that barely took him out. It did tear his uniform sleeve. Everyone in Amberson's unit got one or more scars during this war. Referring to scars another scar was growing inside their heads. Just Private Alose's counting aloud became that interior scar. By the time the irritating counting of nailed corpses reach six hundred sixty-three she stopped. Passing the uncounted nailed corpses Jaxa and his unit heard war cries erupt in the jungle swamp around their location. They formed a circle in preparation for any attacks heading their way. On his side of their circle Jaxa spotted a Tiger Lizard prowling the tree branches. Although these scaled feline beasts had orange skin black stripes these Tiger Lizards had green-brown backs. The Borvadosi saw more than a pack in the branches. Keeping an eye on these Tigers, Jaxa counted at least eight, which he can see. Drawn to the smell of fresh blood the Tiger Lizard's stirred from the branches. In moments their numbers swelled to over twenty-seven. As the fighting continued the Tiger Lizards rushed towards the source. Several fellow Skain-Vestrisians pointed them out to the rest. 

More certain they needed to follow the trail of nailed corpses Captain Amberson took the platoon eastward. No one objected to this while they put the battle behind them. Acting as though there was little time to waste the unit pressed onward. Blindly following the path of nailed corpses, the unit found a hut being supported by over twenty-four stumps. Most of the path leading to the hut were planks similar to a dock with tree roots forming parts of the path. Surmising this was Hag's Hut the unit studied the hut. Appearing more akin to a lodge the hut consisted of three stories. Having more of a round shape with three layers, this hag's Hut had a crude thatched roof. Just outside on its porch stood a number of figures. Two female Goblin shamans with sagging bodies. It seemed that way at first glance until the shamans moved around to reveal they wore baggy dresses. Donning what looked like baggy bloated outfits the female Goblins edged close to the walls of the outside. They clearly saw the Vestrisians approaching first. Other creatures included a Minotaur pair, Gigas brute, Dragon Mutant, Lion Mutant, Chimera on a leash, Onocentaur half donkey, half human also called a Helf, some lethal looking Mage Knight Automaton, and a pair of Sea Demons in a mix of armor with clothes. 

Moldy Ethel Tearwallow's Gigas resembled a muscular Ogre mixed with a hornless Jinni. Her Sea Demons held the appearances of dogs, fishmen, and bug-eyed fish mixed in. Some wielded a War Malot, long axe, Katana-Scimitar, Xiphos blade, Crude Mace, Spiked club, Spears, Tridents. However, these weapons were rendered obsolete and useless against firearms at a distance. Taking aim, the platoon of Vestrisians made quick work of the armed humanoids and their Chimera pet. Using single shot mode, they all refocused fire on the automaton that shot a fireball at them in return fire. Returning fire on the metal being managed to break pieces off. It shot into the murky waters in front of the porch. From the left side a large head resembling a toad or frog emerged with those big eyes. Before anyone else could make it out a tongue shot out then wrapped itself around the automaton. It grappled the automaton then pulled it in. Scared out of their minds the female shaman rushed inside the lodge hut. A window on the second floor opened. A gnarled hand revealed itself to be wielding a pistol. No one recognized the weapon she held. Whatever weapon the gnarled hand wielded looked completely outlandish. With a gnarled finger she squeezed a trigger mechanism discharging three light blue energy shots their way. All three shots missed them only hitting the earth and destroyed some planks. One of Amberson's men, a Corporal Laven Toyol, took aim with their T.M. 13 rifle. Taking a few pop shots at the hand Toyol put an end to the brief shootout. Hitting the hand, they forced the Hag to drop the weapon, which shattered on impact with the wood porch. 

For a few moments they waited for another round of shooting to occur. When that did not happen, they rushed over to Tearwallow's Hut-Lodge. Breaking down the door they were greeted by some interesting trophies on the walls. Four mind flayer head mounted next to a crocodile head, Tiger Lizard head, and a stuffed Dire Toad.  Moving past the entry hall of trophies Amberson took six of the chosen unit. The rest would have to be outside on look out. Tearwallow's first floor consisted of seven rooms total. Her lounging/dining room, the kitchen, storage, forge, guest room, alchemy room, and experiment room. Inside the experiment room they discovered a captured succubus with her wings cut off. Tied to a chair, this succubus looked to be drugged, and somewhat well fed. Amberson ordered for her to be brought to camp quickly. Privates Folwork, and Wesward rushed out with the succubus in their care. Left with four men inside Amberson summoned two extras, a Corporal Albuin, and Private Alose to join them inside. Tearwallow's second story consisted of five and a half rooms. Two guest rooms used as cells, a messy study room, storage, and her own quarters. On this second floor they discovered seven maids, Welder from Tante Isle, three Dorntallan Alchemists, Plague Doctor, three miners, four missing deep-sea divers, a Goblin-Orc blacksmith, female engineer, Scholar, and a captured Iperantosi Fighter held prisoner. On the floor of her own quarters lay Tearwallow herself, stabbed several times. The Hag-Witch they hunted down lay dead in a pool of her own blood. Out of nowhere the scholar grabbed the engineer's breasts before the prisoners were sent down. She smiled when he kept making a grab for her. 

Jaxa was sent to check the upstairs, the third and final floor to the Hut-Lodge. A total of six pirates hid inside the third room, the Hag's treasure room. What better place for a pirate unless they were cornered. Two females, and four males appeared sick of Tearwallow's hold over them. However, they were locked in intercourse. Any ordinary citizen not depraved would call it gangrape. If he were writing this scene, it would be described as four holes filled by the males or simply forced sex. Neither female could speak as they were stuffed with meat, and their hind ends penetrated. Jaxa chose to end the intercourse. Pouring four shots into the group and ended the sexual intercourse one calls a gangrape in civilized areas. He fired all four shots as quickly as the mechanism allowed. The trigger could be fired when a fresh round was in the chamber after releasing the previous bullet. One bullet dug itself into a kidney, a second hit a rib cage, a third tore into a stomach, and the fourth went into the bladder area from the side. Four male pirates collapsed to the floor dead, dying, or wounded. Their victims dropped on their hands and knees. Both female pirates grabbed the bloodied daggers and finished the males off. Left with two female pirates in revealing outfits of a torn linen shirt of red, a green shirt, studded breeches, and leather greaves, he helped them up. One had olive skin with raven hair topped with a purple bandana, which did seem odd with the red shirt, and studded breeches. The other was a blonde half elf with a fine tan, donning a knitted hat to go with the green shirt, and leather greaves. 

Pirates always had a similar trademark or two to show their pirate status or profession as one. Either a skull was on their bodies, crossed bones, or crossed weapons. Pirates of Calorn will also have a tattoo or symbol on their clothing depicting the crew emblem that showed their membership to that crew or gang. In the case of these six pirates the skull was evident along with a Hammerhead shark. At a closer glance he saw the shark donned a tricorn hat. Jaxa caught sight of the clothing on the males. A sea vest with the new cargo pants, plaid shirt with breeches, sleeveless open doublet over torn sea pants, striped shirt with Lesdonian pants. Lesdonian pants would have nine yellow and black stripes. Jaxa returned his focus on the two female pirates. Learning their names as Beda the Riot, Nedra Peregrine Jaxa rushed them down the stairs so he could continue his search. He entered another room of the third floor, the upper laboratory. In his mins he knew more were hiding in this Hut Lodge. A hand went for his crotch as he stepped further inside. He heard the door close behind him in a light manner. A small feminine voice spoke up from below him. 

"Please shoot us Borvadosi, I mean Vestrisian. We seek a way out of Vestrisian imprisonment. Let our pleasuring change your mind." the little voice requested of him as the hand fondled him. Jaxa felt two hands undo his pants then proceeded pulling his manhood out. He looked down to see a pretty Goblin. In his mind she thought her ravenous but knew he could not guarantee anything. He was not the leader of the unit downstairs. 

Barely five feet tall this shaman Goblin held her crimson red hair in a flower bun. The other Goblin had greenish hair in the messy style. Both took turns eating his shaft without the biting or chewing. Lips and tongue slid up and down Jaxa's shaft for a good eight minutes as he blocked world out. One at a time the curvy short Goblin gals pleasured him as he grew harder as a result. Another four or five minutes passed and Jaxa found himself ejaculating. He did not mean to do that all over the female Goblins. Each of them smiled at him then each other over that. After lapping him up they cleaned up thoroughly. Both cleaned up quickly redoing his pants right as someone came banging on the door. 

"Hey um Borvadosi!" It was Captain Amberson who clearly forgot his name and rank. Jaxa did not really care about that. He was not in Amberson's actual unit. 

Letting that go he opened the door allowing the two Goblins fall into the captain's custody. Neither female Goblin wanted this, but they had no choice. Simultaneously the female Goblins let out curses, protests, insults, and grumbled over the situation. Jaxa to this chance to check the other rooms again. Tearwallow possessed a total of seventeen lava crystal eggs, the usual treasures, various weapons, armor pieces, many chests, staffs, exotic fruits in the treasure room. It looked to the point of cracking under the weight. Her other two rooms had vials on shelfs, Alembic, jars, Apparatus. retort, a bed, broken wardrobes, ruined tapestries, dressers, cruddy lamps, bookshelf, display of utensils, hats from other witches. One tapestry was that of a Tiger Lizard's skin. He would have caught a closer look at everything, but his presence was needed with the others. 

Racing down the stairs Jaxa found the unit outside herding the captives and prisoners away from the Hut-Lodge. No thanks to some heavy humanoid sized Frogs some parts of the path were destroyed. Planning to return Captain Amberson wrapped a V.U.V.R. flag to a porch peg. Forced to take an alternative route the combined unit made their way southwest. This route brought them to a stretched-out battle site. Coming upon the aftermath they found hundreds of combatants, creatures, and fifty-six giant frogs lying dead across portions of the marshy swamp. Presuming these were participants of the battle they heard earlier they felt forced to follow this trail of dead. 

Just the trail of dead led them to the beach on the western half of Sket. Many combatants included five hundred forty-five Serpent Dragon Knights, Warriors, Guards of Vishnael. Every Vishnaeli wore the scaled armor with the great helms on their heads. Most of the scales were either green or gold. Weapons of choice included swords, scimitars, broad axes, maces, weaponized kite shields, spears as well as halberds. Other combatants included one hundred and two Monk warriors clad in white or yellow-gold tunic-robes with a purple cape wrap draped over them. These combatants were armed with the many martial arts weapons found in Koriv, Gora-Via, Vorcadam such as Naginata, Dao, Daito, Nagamaki, Tetsubo, Tonfa, tekko, Ninjato, Jians, Monk Spades. Whichever group they originated from they fought ferociously, but with little protection. Their eyes spied a total of one hundred fifty-four Sea Demons laying among the dead. Similar to the ones they gunned down at Tearwallow's Hut. Even Drow could be found int he mixture of the dead numbering two hundred. Their white hair, black hair, dark studded leather armor with small plating were nearly identical. Yet their weapons consisted of Scimitars, sabres, Bows, Arrows, Daggers, Rapiers, Death Machetes, their own version of the flintlock pistols, War picks, spiked maces, crossbows, and scorpion chains. Close to eighty-four Goblins lay among the slain. Weapons of these included War Axes, Long Knives, Bayonets, Short swords, Spears, Bows, cleavers, curved blades, studded or spiked clubs. Whatever the battle was over it was unclear to them, but none appeared to have survived the stretched-out battle. 

On the ocean they spotted ten ships belonging to their V.U.V.R. and allies. Three Vestrisian Destroyers, one Battleship, an Evusian Destroyer, Alagen Sloop, Lybrisian Light Cruiser, two Nahemine Destroyers, and a Redrin small Battleship. All ten ships engaged five mixed vessels that stood no chance against their fire power. Painted green, and red the five ships became nothing more than target practice and sitting waterfowls that looked more like absurd match boxes mixed with an oval bowl. From the allied ships one hundred sixty-seven armed sailors, soldiers, and marines took the captives and prisoners off their hands. Amberson briefed the highest-ranking officer among the landing party, Second Mate Lieutenant Hoffee of Redrin. Hoffee stood at close to six feet in height, or bones height with auburn hair, handsome brow, jutting chin, tough guy nose, shaven face, hints of a healed scar, and a robust body underneath the greenish uniform. From Hoffee learned about some Iperantosi women were discovered in the hands some allied troops. These women were set to be returned somewhere in Iperantosi. Jaxa interjected about the taken women they were told about at the end of the main bridge. Despite his rank and interruption Jaxa managed to fill in a puzzle piece for the coalition fleet. With that bit of information revealed along with the village's location the combined unit returned to their own beach landing on Sket. Upon their return they discovered the unauthorized forces lost between seven-hundred twenty-three and eighteen hundred two, including a force of twelve winged elves from Syrianos, and eighteen free renegade Dark Elves with brown hair, and raven locks. As for the crews that survived the battle about four hundred sixty-nine of them got picked up. One small fleet of six ships arrived. Three Sloops, two destroyers, and a small aircraft carrier. Another force also landed on the beach. Greeted by two hundred twenty-four fellows Vestrisians, they also learned of a particular invasion force that landed on Calorn south of here. It was not a single faction, but multiple factions coming down to their planet. Apparently the Gantronese sent fifty thousand or more against several of these other invaders. 

Whoever was wounded among their combined unit were already brought on board one of the cargo ships that followed the small fleet. Five in total waited for them to reembark on the sea. At the request of Captain Amberson two hundred Vestrisians assisted in carrying plunder, loot, corpses, and weapons away from the Hut, and the sites. Sket possessed other buildings, but they were deeper in the forest. Jaxa caught glimpses of them while moving through the swamp. For each corpse they picked up they left an intentionally bent or dented bullet casing. Using pliers or clampers they made the dents or bents obvious to see. This was modern military fashion of marking the dead left on battle sites after burying the bodies. Leaving Sket at the hands of eight hundred thirty-four allied troops, forty-seven trusted Iperantosi Rebels, Jaxa's unit headed home. Their mission on the Iperantosi Islands was completed.