What they found

Crossing the line by invading the Vullanese Islands was what it felt like as they climbed into the vehicles. In her mind she knew they could face fierce retribution from the two alien invaders. Landing with a force of ten to seventeen thousand the Vestrisians sought to chook a main island off. Yes, it was closer to Vullanese turf, which technically brought them behind enemy lines along the sea borders. Part of a unit made up of different races, backgrounds, types of military personnel Private Jordan Rozback Kazzarie held the military job of combat engineer/mortar team. This job required digging trenches, constructing pill boxes, setting up machine gun nests, or defenses. Even foxholes were required to be dug by her and a team of others who were not pulling mortar team duty. Somehow her attempts failed while in training and her first weeks in this war. She did everything by the book, and what the instructor said by numbers. Choosing not to let this hinder her persistence and determined mindset Jordan rushed on the landing zone. Only this time she was not going the field as a combat engineer in construction. 

Landing on an area called the Sea Gate Oracle this female Orc's unit of 1,248 Orcs, Goblins, half-Orcs, half-Goblins witnessed what mages called Grasp of Phantoms used on their first landing parties. Only a few hundred targets at a time was all the Vullanese could pull off before retreating or finding a bullet in them. Five days ago they overheard the accounts of disturbing Forbidden Alchemy being done on humanoids. Taking this island was a priority. Behind their Orc, Goblin unit, a battalion of 309 Caregiving Clerics would land once the beach head was secured. As their boots hit the wet sand dozens to scores of her countrymen opened fire. Nothing could stop the VUVR from landing more units. Engaging hostiles combatants occupied 320 Borderland Rangers, 380 Highland Berserkers, and part of her own unit. Two hours went by in the fight over the beaches. To the east, their own forces assaulted Vullanese forces on the main island of Asnar. 

Putting all her focus on the island, Jordan raised her weapon, a mortar then placed it on the sand. While their vanguard units, and other waves of units pressed their assault, mortar teams deployed on the taken ground. Setting it up with three others would not be so difficult if they had a building as cover. A hollow metal pipe tube on a metal base with bipod mount and sight. This weapon fired or launched projectiles in an arch pattern where the shell hits the area of designated target. No more than twelve mortar teams landed on the beach sector with thousands of other personnel. Despite being in the back they still succumbed to gunfire or stray bullets. 

On their part of the landing Invasion Jordan's unit decimated 243 Vullanese Infantry, 638 humanoid combatants touched by Forbidden Alchemy, 376 Combat automatons. One hour later Jordan's own unit pushed forward at least a league and a half into the island. With her team she pushed forward following the second and first waves which now blended into one. Carrying the mortar she could see corpses among the blood, carnage, destruction, shot up sheds, guts spilled, bodies with bones exposed. A variety of stenches wafted into her Orc nostrils, blood, filth, shit, burnt wood, torched clothing, vomit, the insides of torn up corpses. Near some of the buildings used as defenses she found a few dozen dead Vullanese in the traditional military uniforms of orange and blue, or in modern military uniforms of tan, or grayish. Some had single breasted uniforms, padded leather armor called Arcane Padding, Nazdar fatigues, studded insulated armor, diagonal breasted, buckled, and laced. Each type of armor and uniform were now stained with blood, covered in bullet holes, punctured by debris. 

In the process of securing another part of the beach head she overheard their colleagues to the southern part engaged a sizeable force. Whatever the island defense consisted of were more than what they could chew. Her whole unit moved south, allowing another unit, a battalion to take their place. Ten days of fighting brought them to the flanks of entire companies and small battalions. About six or more units of 285 Bishop Soldiers, 397 Palace Sentinels, 277 militia, 420 hired Buccaneers, 346 Vullanese Thirsting Shades, 421 Chaine Web Mages, 400 Grevaskii that were sent over. Each day they gained or destroyed a structure. Hours of fighting with the only undervalued music was gunfire, artillery, and grenades creating a ballad. Along these coasts of Asnar's twelfth island, they captured more buildings. These captured buildings included a merchant bank, a Theologian's Master Guild, cannon foundry, Inn, Warehouse, 4 workhouses, a complex, Apothecary Guild, two noble homes, Tavern, a fountain, a large well, and merchant shop. Most of the fighting left 29 other homes shot up, 6 taverns shot up, captured and ruined. One shipwreck was seized along with a Manor by the beach. Nearly 116 houses, 10 shops, lay in ruin from the invasion. A bakery was captured, two intact watch towers became theirs to use, four cemeteries lay in their hands. Prisoners numbered 448, 261 of which were wounded while 87 of whom went turncoat. Among these prisoners VUVR Military Police found five arcane revolutionists in their half traditional half modern clothing styles. Both seemed unimportant yet one of them wielded accumulated knowledge of the invaders' inner circles. One trove tracker who went awol during the fighting to discover pirate prizes found themselves in a trap. A lone spontaneous arcane artist rogue who inspired sabotage got beaten to a bloody mess. It did not sit well with the commanding officers in charge of this invasion. What did not sit well with a neutral faction was the apprehension of 48 alchemist apprentices. The neutral state of Rudeene sent one small fleet of four ships, which only distracted the V.U.V.R. navy in the regional waters. After the confrontation was resolved they resumed operations. One full day of the confrontation delayed a possible takeover by a few days. 

When their forces pressed further they found more islands trailing from the island they just seized. Inside a street within the port settlement a Court Denizen suffered a spell blast and grasp spell from a Champion Monk. Both found themselves capture, arrested, taken prisoner as a result. Entering a less damaged street a small convoy what a turncoat mage called a cobble brute. First appearing like broken up portion of the street and raised heaps the arcane golem rose up to attack the convoy. It destroyed one vehicle while an Elite Skirmisher suffered some seal arcane spell that brought doom to the target. Going towards the other side they found themselves watching over prisoners of war, civilian clearing traps. On this island a total number of 3,441 or more civilians stayed behind, 761 of whom joined the VUVR forces. Within other parts of the streets 178 Elf Warriors sent over arrested 334 looters, their elites came across hundreds of spring jaw traps. Any remaining  Vullanese forces pulled back to a forest island trailing off the one they just invaded. Their forces would pursue, but a mob of 382 vandals defaced 357 statues and busts. It incurs Demon Grasp traps on most of them. Only eight vandals died, seventy-four severely wounded, and sixteen went missing. The rest of the vandals came under arrest while a brigade and a half of VUVR personnel pressed on the forest island. 

Known as Steveshair this island was covered in plenty of foliage that the trees appeared to line the beaches like a palisade. Easy to hide troops in this island became the main go to for the Vullanese. Their own navy would open fire on that island since the neutral fleet lingered and the Nazdar sent a small one to harass them. Returning their attention to Steveshair Isle Goblin free runners were seen racing towards the island using bridges, boats, rafts, and the shallowest parts. Just a couple of their own units went in. One battalion of 330 Hardy Veterans, and a company of 271 under the command of Major Abzon. Just as the combined units of 600 Orcs, Half Orcs moved in their Generals sent more available units. Her own unit spared, 259 of their own. Jordan Kazzarie found herself and ten other mortar team members moving in with their comrades. Inside this forest island they found a few labyrinths hidden inside Steveshair Isle. Narrowing the fighting down to this location their forces engaged a unit of 287 Goblins who called themselves Battershield Warriors, 260 Vullanese Troopers/Allied Knights called the Knights of Obligation, 158 Loyal Cathars backed by 263 Pirates of a Fleet Boarder the Vullanese managed to hire. 

From her position Jordan launched the shells down on the enemy positions. Cracking of rifle fire, rattling of machineguns, popping sounds of grenades, explosions from mortar rounds went in sync with fires that sprang up along with clouds of dust and dirt. Splinters hit as many objects, and personnel in their path. Fires started on the island from various sources including a few accounts of arcane inferno used by a mage who was shot up by a forward firing team. All the noise of war filled the air around this island as their fleet and aircraft engaged the Vullanese for a short period. Screams and gunfire entered her ears between explosions as she loaded one shell after the other. It was her duty yet it made heart sink as it dragged on. Yes she wanted to fight, but she prayed for a quick short war. What relieved was seeing zero civilian corpses among the dead as they cross to the end of Steveshair Isle. Along the way she carried the mortar that was still warm. The Orcish rage in her sort of kicked in, but she was able to maintain it as hardly any combatants were left on the island. Something else was seen on this island. She spotted a Geist of the Moors during a Burden of Guilt the Vullanese held for their dead before surrendering. A Geist of the Moors in Vestrisia/Valde Isles was a humanoid who acted as a fiend to travelers. 

At the end of Steveshair island they found more of these islands some of the prisoners spoke of. More islands to take is all she could think as they gathered their forces. Combining units of companies they fielded 475 to assault this island. Fortune smiled on the VUVR here as commanders pulled 370 sailors from four of six ships. With at most 845 soldiers and sailors they pressed on the next island called the Verdant Haven. Crossing over to this island each member of the invading force witnessed an attack by an estimate of 430 aerial attackers. Through binoculars their captains noted 438 skirmishers using kite gliders to pull off an attack on a destroyer. Several made their way to them due to wind currents. Her own unit opened fire on their ground forces. Each glider went down into the sea while one crashed into the sands near them. 

After interrogating the prisoner, they discovered elven islands forming archipelago. They just took two or three of them. As for the island of Verdant Haven shield automaton constructs defended it. Alongside Vullanese combat mages these constructs were set to be used to fight the VUVR advances. One of their own allies attempted to attack this archipelago. Sending a force of 1,300 this ally found their forces crushed by these constructs. That was last year when the Vullanese had a stronger force to face their smaller enemies. Now it was weakened with mages using whatever they had in terms of spells. One of their own Lieutenants raced ahead only to find themselves partially disfigured by a wave of sand and salt water that rose up to grab them. The work of a major is all they concluded as the mass of sand, foam and shells forced him down. It had to be a powerful grip to keep an Orc down. Some of their own riflemen found the culprit hiding behind some brush before getting shot then pummeled. Each rifleman found themselves hit with arcane blast meant for minimus containment from a handful of mages. 

Just a single mage raced back to the settlement that occupied this island. Three more were shot up while the last mage found surrendered scare out his mind. Revealing themselves as a Touched Soulmender known as Hadda Basilean they unveiled information to them. This Hadda flat out betrayed the Vullanese by revealing there are 33 other Mages defending two Verdant Havens with 278 Armory Guards, 11 combat professors, 276 pupils, 480 Guardian Automaton constructs and 470 Rusted Sentinels. Between the two Verdant Haven Islands, 800 priests, monks, acolytes, and associates run the islands that appeared as one. All the structures on the islands made the illusion of a castle or palace. 

Forced to press further into these islands they found most of the constructs mentioned falling apart as they moved towards the VUVR personnel. Taking out these constructs wasn't as difficult as they first believed. Most had rusted pieces, remained unrepaired from the last fight, or left with no fuel. Yet chasing the humanoid, and living combatants proved a little jolting as they appeared from doorways, alleys, corners, and narrow passages. Some even forced them to give chase in places. A bad idea when y coming against a raging Orc who charges like a bull or bear when triggered. Each of the noncombatants raised a white flag hoping to presume their daily tasks. According to one of cooperative priests who took charge of the constructs, these islands were once attacked by 1,120 attackers who coordinated a charge on them. This charge was halted with help from Rusted Sentinels. Her own commanding officer took note of this as they came across more rusted ones falling apart, jolting, jerking, wobbling with each movement. Claiming these islands in the name of the VUVR allowed them to find bridges to the rest of the islands. It seemed strange for the Vullanese to let these bridges be taken without destroying them. A hint the Vullanese were starting to give up on this fight. Being a part of the Asnar Islands sent mournful feelings towards their fate. She knew whose side she was on yet inside felt sorrow these Vullanese. Orders pushed them across the bridges to the remaining islands. More units arrived to help them speed up the takeover. One company of Rangers full of young faces made the first advance. Directly behind the two Verdant Haven Isles rested an island called Ahenakir. Larger than the Verdants Havens combined this one used to be a volcano that collapsed in on itself. Five villages and one town rested on this island of Ahanakir. 

Towards the center their units discovered some layer of night monster who was slain centuries ago. According to a local 350 or so Dusk Warriors avenged a victim of some night monster that came. A tale that intrigued the Vestrisian mind. Jordan pondered over the culture and lives these Vullanese lived. She thought she overheard that monsters from other planes of existence would come to these islands. However very little resistance was shown from the Vullanese side of this conflict in the Valde Sea. Due to the overwhelming force of the V.U.V.R. assault, this island was given up easily. Six settlements semi-full of the inhabitants. Ahenakr were surrounded by foliage, old ruins, wildlife, downed aircraft, altars, shrines, plenty of wells. Last thing they expected was for the remaining inhabitants to hoist V.U.V.R. colors. Hoping to keep the Vestrisians from watching them or apprehending them, 367 of these people pack up to evacuate. their unit's commanding officer, Major Balagog ordered from them to search these villages for any hidden tunnels, or caches. What they found was abandoned homes, cellars, and shops. One night they slept before pressing onto the next island. The name escaped her mind as it was brief and went past her own head. 

All this island was in this archipelago of islands seemed to be the designated park or pleasure garden-forest. Going through this island appeared easy, creating an eerie atmosphere around the Vestrisians. Too quiet for their comfort her unit sort of rushed to the next island. On the other side of this island sat a castle like city on two close nit islands.  More of a castle than one unleashed something from the gates. As a whole Orcs, half-Orcs, Goblins, half Goblins, half elves, humans, Zedirians wiped out two defiant strikes made on their advance to this castle. One defiant strike used 380 beasts clad in different types of armor mixed with different attire. Defiant strike number two fielded 370 mutations that belonged to a horror story. Some had tubes, metal staples, bolts, wires, alchemist experimentation showing and automaton limbs. Entering this castle, they found an Ogre Jail Breaker dealing with a fake werewolf after a wall of runes was demolished by a blast using an arcane shell in one of the mortars. Inside a chamber they found a Key Master Rogue gored by a tusk from an already stuffed trophy head. No doubt the work of the fake werewolf who now lay dead on the floor. 

Deeper into this castle island they found chambers leading to caverns underneath the castle. Inside was a series of tunnels, cavern, chambers and grottos. Here they came across an Apothecary Merfolk cleric aiding a Vullanese armed with Mattock. Wrapping up their wounds from a recent quarrel that ended badly this merfolk allowed themselves to become a prisoner to the VUVR personnel. While bringing the pair of prisoners up to the main chamber they heard a great deal about intended kill contracts placed on 293 targets using ill-gotten inheritance. Apparently, the entire archipelago was their goal in terms of ownership. Instead, they received enough money to buy a manor. It was not what they wanted in the first place. Yet as they brought them to the commanders being held prisoners was not wat they wanted either as they saw this archipelago fall into Vestrisian hands.