Lez Backstripper's unit did lose some members, but he was happy to have lost that Combat Medic, Norbit Nurgle. As handsome as he was it still did not draw the women he desired. To him going to war was better than sitting there watching his whole life go by without a mate. Leave his ass alone is what people told others to do. It left him limited people. Now back on the Condor Islands after the failed assault he was now leading 646 coalition forces as a third in command. Lieutenant Trebon became one of their leaders of five commanding officers of this battalion.
Despite the losses in the Gantronese territories following the pullout of Unknown Lands they acquired new allies. A copious amount of equipment still remained in their possession. Recruited new ships taken from the collaborators, traitors, servant soldiers, Gantronese, Oni. Overlooking the nature of their new recruits he overheard rumors of more events going on south of their location. Marooned or just stationed on various islands hidden from the rest of the world. Nothing was going to stop them from exploring more of those mysterious islands.
Getting away from the Gantronese near the altar was seen as impossible. Yet they managed to convince these Gantronese to take Private Bowser for a period to get a doorway out of their clutches. Driving those Gantronese away felt difficult and painful. Inside his mind mistakes drove him towards a possible court martial once reports reach HQ. Lez knew the last thing his commanders and superiors wanted to hear was he allowed Gantronese scum to live. All he could think of at this moment was how toast he was. Outside with the remnants of this own unit, he spotted what looked like Gantronese vessels in the distance. Hovering high above the waters or landmasses their shapes could not be mistaken. Headless Beetle shaped ships that were considered frigates among the Gantronese Navy. Other shapes could be identified like the typical modernized ship. Destroyers became a common vessel among the navies involved in this conflict. Yet their shapes and sizes sort of differed. Only the function of a Destroyer stayed the same among each navy. Hating their own navy at times Backstripper desired his own ship to sail.
Being forced to rely on them made his skin crawl a little. His commanding officer or superior, Commander Louis Black-Manticore felt the VUVR Navy could operate alone. Born as an elf their Commander was now 3,915 years old. Under his command were 278 including his own son Burdeau, the 2,858-year-Old Major who like his father declined any further promotions. Everyone had some Black Manticore Beast on their shoulder. Each had some golden leaf, root tattoos across the cheeks stopping at the nose. Long blonde braid from side or back among the cropped scalps. Lez could feel the centuries of experience both had in combat. Yet this era of modernizing weaponry with invaders from the stars tested these Elves. Not only did their age and experience grant them access to professions such as tutors, mentors, weapons masters, master at arms, butlers, advisors, educators, but military command. Each member state of the Vestrisian Union or the VUVR had their own experiences, viewpoints, hospitality on Elves. Differences among the Elves of the still young Vestrisian Union depended on which member state they lived in. Lheobethe was more elf than the rest of Ottante. Called Sand or Desert Elves Lheobethan Elves share a lighter shade of tannish brown skin tone. Omenil braved the deserts one time for a local Sheikh. Known as Baralai Fugig Geeraz the Sheikh according to the Elf had multiple rivals. Omenil's tale in the desert captured their attention.
"Renegade Illusionist from Kobhaven then hunts for the Mirror of Souls. Even though I was ahead of him in the desert he still finds himself onboard one of four Ships of the Line crewed by pirates. Apparently, they were pirates who have five thousand three hundred twenty-eight fans. They sailed through the Nordic areas, passed the Castarian coasts, the channel north of Evusia. Yet here I am somehow in second or third place in this race over this enchanted or arcane tuned Mirror." He shared this story multiple times throughout the few years he marched with the unit. Most preferred not to listen to his own history. Despite the lack of interest among the unit Omenil kept telling it in a softer tone.
Backstripper's gaze returned to the settlement they just reclaimed. Ever since they returned it became a back and forth stalemate. On their own side a crowd of villagers form an angry mob or two simultaneous to other villages. It had more to do with harassment by the enemy. Condor's western islands still lay in Gantronese hands. Looking at the most scholarly of their unit he overheard Bakstripper spoke in a voice of authority that attempted to be funny.
"Type what you want. It will still go back in a file. Say the unit crossed paths with abnormal discoveries. Old Village of Iperantosi colonists, mermaids, ugly hags, sows of the sea. Hostiles, different invaders, old enemies. rivals, useless combatants, wounded, prisoners of war. E-"
Backstripper's attention was ripped away by the beeping sound of the dirty pair of Third Eye Trinoculars he found off a Gantron yesterday. As a piece of equipment, he claimed as his own loot. It would become use like the polished weapons that usually sat on a coffee table covered with an old towel. Playing with the Trinoculars Lez caught the attention of their commander, Lieutenant Trebon. Not in the mood the hear anything else Trebon barked for the unit's artificer over. Master Craler kept humming the Okay Chugo song to himself when Trebon's voice disrupted his little melody.
"Master Craler the trinoculars!" Trebon's voice requested for the artificer to come over.
Artificer Master, Corporal Craler was more of the coward of the unit. Yet he did not back down from fights. Acting as he was told to stop being a coward he lightly pushed his way to Lez's own space. Disgruntled expressions mixed with anxiety appeared all over his face. Handing over the controls to someone who will do this job became a chore of disparity. Lez handed the device to Corporal Craler who used to be a younger Retainer to a noble or aristocrat. One of those guides, advisers in the service of a person with high status or office. In Craler's case, a guide like companion while training as an adviser. Lez watched him twist a few things on the gear shutting it off. Handing it back Craler gave him a nice wink.
"Thank you, Artficier Craler. Remember your peoples' saying. Strawberries kept fresh while apple is left for lunch." Lez thanked him hoping the device would still work when he himself attempted to reattach a few pieces.
"Empty booth fills up with knights, moments later." Craler responded back, hinting at a few rounds after this mission, and patrol.
Pressing forward Lez, Trebon, Black Manticore ruffled their unit towards another objective on the northwestern half of the island. Called Stitch Island this particular island possessed a tall mountain. There a statue of an armed wizard perched on crystals that appear like ice facing warrior servants of the infamous Aliscar Razdor. Condor Tribal Forces pulled away after Gantronese forces and new invaders launched their assaults. Reports of creatures called Wuzhigi roaming abandoned fishing villages. Primordial water demons that resembled apes brought over by the Gantronese. Lez sighed knowing most of their coalition members donned padded splint armor underneath their uniforms. The local they had wore an old version of the VUVR uniform. He described a man-eating monster the Gantronese force set loose called a Nian Horrif. It killed the local Vergobret, the appointed magistrate of the region. Other elected Vergobrets were said to have their own zones of influence evacuated after the invasions. In full force their battalion advanced passing a least wonderful snail monster with horns. Grass colored fur coming out of the shell, four horns, crab legs to help it move made this Garyhelix creature bizarre. Some of them watched this creature including one elf with slave markings that marked his own personal bondage for 77 months in Zegrav. Known as Marze Bloodmoon this elf was known for tarring and feathering a golfer in public over a land dispute.
As an isolated incident along their flank the Tattooed Elf mocked some Coalition members steering away from the rest. Closer to the road a trio of warriors bring in loot at a ruined shopping center to abandoned town. Here a nice unwanted encounter transpired. Condor Tribesmen were known to accept any allies at this point in their part of this conflict. Some Daimyo and their 726 Retainers went turncoat on the Gantronese forces on Condor's Islands. Not convinced of their allegiance Marz heckled them with a fate to a Heaven like afterlife in an endless field of flowers. Foreigners using the ruined settlement popped their heads out. About a quarter of their unit sort of stopped to watch as one who claimed to be Mr. Crowley complimented the flags, banners from eight different factions that made up the coalition force. Flatery did not really work on Marz mentioned a sword of some kind that causes trauma in goblins. A former goblin king still donning the crowned skull around neck emerged as the self-proclaimed kingpin that starts the brief shoot out.
Unable to stand the insult this goblin calls on other goblins to attack Marz. Retainers rush past Crowley to get a piece of Marz who watches them enter a caltrop filled stretch of the road's shoulder. Parts of a courtyard became littered with them showing the settlement was recently liberated or captured from Gantronese hands. Waiting for the small band to reach him Marz watched as three or more factions engaged in a ferocious rumble in the ruined parts of the settlement. Angry at Marz Trebon almost apprehended him, but pulled out his pistol. In formation they opened fire on the rumble that stepped into a booby trap of caltrops in the ground. Dozens to scores of the charging combatants cluttered the ground as bullets stopped them. Others stepped right into the little plot of caltrops in the ground. Lez's eyes caught sight of faces among the attackers as they dropped dead. Even the trio of goons got caught in the crossfire. Mr. Crowley, who paid tributes to Syndicate of treasure hunters led by the trio found himself hit in the arm and side. Backstripper approached the courtyard littered with bodies, blood, weapons to find a 30-sided die found next to the compass of the homesick. Picking those two up as souvenirs Backstripper noticed a Goblin clutching a half goblin like it was a dying pet. Witnessing his companion's death, this goblin knew a part of himself was now lost. Backstripper knew that pain well. Losing a pet or companion was not easy to get over. As he approached this goblin slowly died next to his companion.
Two artillery rounds shot straight past him tearing through their formation and hitting a cargo transport. His eyes caught sight of buildings only the Gantronese could build at the time. Lez could not identify which ones as he dropped in response to the shells. Expecting a secondary shoot out that made him feel like the gods or fate was scolding them. With almost a score of tanks, Zedelet transport half tracks their battalion engaged a hostile hold out. It appeared they were waiting to betray the Daimyo or waited for them. Almost invisible to the coalition the artillery pieces fire several more rounds. Desperate to hold the coalition forces back these Gantronese hold outs became flanked when reinforcements arrived. Condor Tribes fielded at least ten thousand to fifty thousand or more. Even though the Condor Tribes resisted in the eastern half of the islands their militia often included less prepared fighters.
"Our reinforcement along a dozen islands. Some five thousand eight hundred students, culinary artists, confectioners, and peasants dragged over here by the coalition. Followed by fifty-five aircraft from Cydnam, Nevradit, over twelve thousand infantry." A human looking half orc pointed out as they watched the clumsy new forces emerge. Some other officers shook their heads as the new reinforcements shuffled in wielding their rifles as if they were just brought in without training.
Lez could tell they were scared. It reminded him of a bayonet hating engineer he encountered during his first year in this conflict. Private and Engineer Penny-Rose Bisontramples, one of the 15,300 members to the Kyrine Engineers Division. She wore the blue cap, gray shorts, with belt, cut gray shirt, leather-vest-tank top, studded sleeveless shirt. Annoying and the worst driver. Besides that, she still served the V.U.V.R. Desirable yet too talkie for his liking. Wasting no time their commanders pushed them to move on down the road. As an officer he overhead some Manta Carrier, a massive floating airship was shot down by both sides. Parts of their world, especially in Aleon or Jurnis civilizations have those flying ships dotting the skies. Backstripper was certain those became good targets for the invaders.
"Single file could get us picked off. Spread out, form small units of five or six. Let's clean this landscape of any possible holdouts, stragglers, or ambushes on the roads." an irritated Trebon's least favorite co commander who contracted the Iron Virus during a campaign. A disease that causes the limbs to go stiff after a week of infection.
"Take no prisoners this time." Captain Mogine jested to the units. He was a former poacher who often jerked the chains of the commanders' whenever her got the chance. Charges against him included the annual hunting of taxmorays for the venom.
Placed in a unit of seven, Backstripper came face to face with the highest rank among them. A Colonel whose name he barely remembers orchestrated the round up. Colonel Onvyr Guillomyr was accompanied by a lesser prince Deleon who changed accents when speaking to a female commander they called frauline princess Agnez of Ruthonthra. Explaining their mission would take up too much time. Members of his unit consisted of knights, heroes, Uxane Warriors from Nochania Islands. His old unit was handed over to a recently promoted Captain Nina Acupeles. She took pride in her own achievements. Every week she would boast about this tradition that involved a trinket that resembled a tin soldier to each graduate of Panseen Academy. Boring, unbearable, teeth grinding to his old crew, Captain Acupeles' old unit jeered at them. Among Backstripper's slapped together unit was a nice mix of soldiers, warriors, mechanics, and medic. Sir Megaz Dragon Mervime the Swan Knight from Ezonel held some status, and command over his own unit adding more to Backstripper's command. One member was Private and Squire who lost his knighthood because he sold alcohol illegally. Supplying alcohol become a position for certain individuals who already held a trade. Private Miginz was one of many squires who broke an oath not to take any other trade until they served as knight for five years. As gorgeous as he looked, he gained weight then lost it gradually due to service. Another squire was given over to him as a medic. Against their own order this Private Tomboyne got in trouble with some other squires. In their report a group of lazy squires who became mages chose to transform into careless cats just to mess with a clueless fat dog. Backstripper thought it was a joke that they somehow got drunk. Her red hair did exactly shout qualified military personnel. Especially the way it was styled. In his experience plenty of female soldiers fought with a certain style hair.
To get things moving Black Manticore ordered for Lt. Trebon to move ahead with his own squad. At night one fire team's worth were taken out by Gantronese still prowling the area. Sending in scouts followed by a squad or two would probe the area while clearing it. Lez witnessed the battalion get split up into smaller units. One member used to serve as a green castle carrion guard of the tower from Evusia. Backstripper overheard his story as a hero who fought off a group of Redrin rebels who were perceived as a terrorists. In the V.U.V.R. many heroes perceived as outsiders or alien hybrids have to serve eighteen years of military service. As they started to split up the battalion something along the badly forged path disrupted their formations. From their left flank, north of their center a rather massive creature drew the battalion's attention. From the earth a dirty large mound of fur rose up. Claws took off a few limbs causing a chain reaction as every soldier either backed away or opened fire. Everyone closest to Lez witnessed multiple members shoot at this beast as it continued lunging at a score of their own. Limbs, blood, weapons littered the ground. Bodies collapsed as the scene unfolded all over their stretch of the dirt road. Numerous personnel placed their longer bayonets on the ends of their rifles to drive this creature away. Others wanted to kill it. Their Coalition commander, the Alagen ordered troops to remain calm and be ready to take its life if needed. His presence gave Backstripper an eerily lucky feeling. Blood, guts splattered anyone close to the creature as it went on a rampage. This encounter took out a score of personnel close to twelve dead, and eight or more wounded. Before him the Alagen commander collapsed onto him. A stray bullet hit him in the right spot to stay alive while slowly die. Slumping down Lez's uniform the commander muttered something with his dying breath.
"This war can drag on, but they have to leave at some point. Other planets have caught their attention..." He could almost hear the colonel babbling about in his mind as his body folded over like a set of X shaped table legs that folded up and detach from the table. Backstripper raised his rifle but their battalion and done enough damage to this creature.
Looking at what it was their unit noted this as an encounter with hostile wildlife of Condor Isles. One of their zoologist students declared it to be a giant sloth of a superior species. Giant sloths were not always so peaceful or gentle in the wilds. Long claws, long arms, powerful legs, the giant sloth kept to the larger branches according to one of their animal experts, a Druid, and Ranger. This was both sad and enraging for the coalition forces. Medics already raced to those who survived.
Trebon called out his own personnel and others who pointed at the culprits behind disturbing the beast. A Critic movie maker who tossed a dog toy at a gunslinger. That caused her to bump into the beast in the first place. A brief punishment involved both Privates or Corporals Sponez, Ganpuron, Clawne, Drupott to scout ahead of the battalion. Getting the unit moving again the C.O.s chatted over a certain weapon still around. Widow's Whisper, a rifle with no flash or noiseless was one of many old rifles shipped over. He overheard that over 9000 of them were shipped to the Condor Islands years back. Black Manticore ordered forty-four to stay behind for the wounded and dead making progress easier for the rest of the unit. Pushing the scouts to bring them up to date the rest of unit slowed their pace. Spreading out a little along the road they waited for their scouts to return. As they waited a Wizard of the Woods exits his own patch of woods that encircled his property. Some Coalition members mistake him for an occultist Druid that can summon tree spirits or demons of the forests. This argument ended rather quickly when the scouts returned to report a pillbox up the road guarding a Flak gun. What did not help was its position among large boulders along the road.
Lieutenant Backstripper's own unit, and three others attempted to flank this position with two other teams in reserve. Trees, bamboo, tall bushes called granite bushes made the path between boulders or around them a little dense. Some of the granite bushes were mistaken for actual boulders due to the leaves turning gray from age. Among the foliage, and stones they found some traps, startled birds that probably gave away positions when flying away. Zombies were found among this blockage or obstacle course that might as well be a natural labyrinth. Often called ground breaker zombies, these types infested regions where a necromancer, or some lab scientist messing with the deceased. Whether these were reanimated by some spell, or science experiment it did not really matter until those numbers grew. Backstripper overheard some city states in the Valde had zombies doing their bidding or acting as mules, or as some punishment. Weaponizing these would go against the natural order. Vullan's Islands were said to be infected with them, which explains why their advances were also slowed.
With his knife he made quick work of one that literally was recently dug up or reawakened. Careful with their position he crouched low while looking out for the pillbox machinegun position guarding the road. Seating on a stump in front of him a member of the Gantron sub race among the Gantronese. Miginz took the kill revealing it was part of some higher overseer rank to what was called the Ejonne. Not knowing what it really was in terms of a branch, or subservient soldier his own unit made its way closer to the pillbox's flank. Breathing in the battle's atmosphere Backstripper made his best to lead his units unseen. Those attempts failed as several members were triggered by different things. Sir Mervime took out another zombie in the open. Not the best moment for them. Everyone froze around Backstripper. Waiting for the pillbox to come alive one of the so-called squires under the knight's command snatched him up pulling the knight back in the foliage.
"What are you doing?! Get off me squire! Private! There is a lab behind that pillbox! Make a molotov or hand me extra grenades to make a bomb! Let me destroy it! Paladins do not suffer the undead to walk among us!" Sir Mervime demanded getting Backstripper's face. His own rank did not mean much at this point even though he was placed in command. The air was still as the two stared each other down. From the corner of his left eye Backstripper spied some Gloomflowers that started to sprout around an empty plantation that was overgrown and bordered by bamboo oak mixes, palm trees, coconut trees and lamp trees. Before either of them could speak a few Gantronese affiliated humanoids exited the pillbox. Barely within earshot they overheard some parts of the conversation.
"Will you make it obvious you are not mocking him? You have only exposed an opening in your defenses or security. Someone else is watching." the speaking figure was a Lamia.
"Tribes of the Condor people signaled for help due to the Pale Confederation among these Talusian, Goranese." the uniformed Dwarf Cleric pointed out. A Clerical mace tattooed to the left side of his face showed his status as a Cleric.
"Remember who your country is allied to? Honey, they only see us as allies to that country."
Acupeles burst from the foliage alone with a rifle in fire position. She squeezed the trigger unable to fire as it jammed on her. One of the many things that happened on a battlefield. All Backstripper witness was nosy Acupeles Bee snob getting self-handed to her by female Lamia Snake person. One leg grabbed by the snake like tail and slammed on the ground this female soldier's body lay limp. From the foliage the rest of the unit opened fire on the Lamia and Dwarf. The pillbox came alive with bursts of machine gun fire that shot into the foliage in a blind panic. From the building that had to be this lab fifteen mandrils are let loose. Only given new targets Backstripper's unit eliminated the mutated primates then waited for the pillbox to reload. One member of the Knight's unit, a battle mage rushed up to the pillbox. Sergeant Kerso Bohmir used a fireball from his palm into the slit burning the occupants to a crisp. Taking a step back to see his handy work the man planned out an outdoor pavilion meant to become a pub distillery or brewer for a meet up after a homecoming they like to call meat ups. A nice get together between veterans who bring their own mead, beer, wine, meals, and equipment to make fresh brews.
"Check the rest of the buildings. The more Gantronese or invaders we clear the longer it takes for the Condor Tribesmen to find themselves exiled." Black-Manticore's voice drew everyone's attention. The Commander appeared with a squad of Coalition troops. "Some factions in the Sarcagos Mountains are in communication with our troops in the Jurax continent. Some Eothan Exiled Resistance, Grussian Exiles, a few Dwarf Kingdoms holding out."
This Commander approached Sgt. Bohmir with a concerned expression upon his face. Giving Backstripper a wink he placed a hand on the Sergeant's shoulder. He held an object in his hand. Bohmir looked embarrassed and scared. His gaze went from the Commander's expression then to the object back and forth multiple times.
"Quit leaving this behind." he handed the Sexton over to the embarrassed Sergeant. "If you have ever heard of Aliscar Razdor. Just know he can only hunt down the magic users in this part of the world. We are no longer in Vestrisia."
Craler approached Lez with a huge grin that still could not hide the grim atmosphere of their conflict removing the Gantronese from this island. A Trebon with a Captain's insignia approached him as well. Not in a rub it in your face manner. Just the usual higher rank requires a salute. With Trebon as Captain Lez led his unit with the higher rank to an abandoned hamlet settlement made from mud bricks with some timber, or metal added. Adobe-hut mixed houses with a few longhouses among the hamlets. Silence filled the settlement except for their own footsteps on the ground. Crunching leaves, twigs snapped, pebbles laid out like gravel under their boots made too much noise. Lez could have sworn his breathing was loud. Island birds chattered around them filling in the sounds that surrounded them. Wielding his rifle the Lieutenant kept his eyes on a house with a black spotted snake made from wood around the doorframe. From another house next to it some occupants stirred.
What appeared to be a cephalopod made from artificer clockwork armor revealed itself. Taking another look Lez saw its shape as a sphere clockwork with an open mouth. Five metallic tendril arms with a blade saw, a spear tip, talons, a hook on the ends of the metallic clockwork arms that flailed around. Its legs were metal tentacles with talons. Unable to see what was inside the mouth his unit found themselves facing seven others who screamed curses and praises. Warry of dangers and on the hunt of hostiles the enlarged squad that might as well be a platoon opened fire on the outnumbered clockwork armored creatures. In his mind Lex was certain these creatures posed some threat to melee wielding combatants. As they opened fire the day was turning to dusk fast. In a firing squad formation, they made quick work of these armored creatures that were operated by some fleshy aberrations. Gantronese invaders held a slightly taller humanoid appearance with tendrils or tentacles for limbs or extra limbs. Their faces missed a nose, bigger eyes that gave the appearance of ghosts or white gray wraiths. Just a whole army of such a being invaded this planet of theirs. Trebon waltzed over to check what these things were.
His hand reached down the metal mouth pulled up a shapeless mass of tentacles, rough flesh with eyes and mouth. Its wounds from their bullets drained it off blood. Lifting it up higher Trebon was bitten by the creature making him drop it. All they heard were babbling, garbled words, curses, and Ahu Nixta from its mouth. Trebon kicked the shapeless mass like a ball across the hamlet into a wall. Craler picks up another and injects it with some syringe full of basilisk kiss. Really called Trazomane this medicine puts anyone in a calm state or sleeping state for operations or surgery. Meant to help ease the pain of the wounded being carried off the battlefield. Seeing it was growing dark their unit retreated back to the newly pitched camp where the late turncoat Daimyo once garrisoned his retainers. Although these creatures called themselves ahu nixta some members of the Calorn Coalition Medics, Field Surgeons dubbed them Dactillars.
Dawn and breakfast came with some news of other units clearing some villages. Another island was liberated up north. Hot coffee, or scorching tea, or coldai from the northern regions of Bisdolan, Blackmell mountains, New Vattoram helped awaken their fatigued bodies for another day of combat and trekking. With Acupeles out of the picture Trebon was pretty much in charge of a large platoon. Not something Lez was looking forward to. Almost eating on the go his unit made do with some jerky, fruit from locals, nutritious elf biscuits, others chewed on beef or meat filled crackers that was a little hard on the teeth. Another dreadful combat meal was slice of bread called Issechoke Bread Troll's toe. It either crumbles upon touch or is too hard to bite into. Soaking his own Troll's Toe in his coffee Lez nibbled and sucked on it until it was consumed whole. Crumbs came to the surface of his half-consumed coffee. Not stopping their platoon pressed along the road that passed the hamlets, a farm, some beehive farm they made attempts to avoid by slipping into the bamboo forest. Just past that bee farm they found the road broken up a little with a wagon turned over. Sensing a trap, they waited for two other units to catch up from the flanks. Loud buzzing brought their attention to the dense trees that flanked the road. Large insect creatures flew at them in a swarm. Brought out to the open these insect-like creatures looked like bloated big eyed mosquitos that attacked the company of soldiers. Knife size needles, spear like legs of the insects punctured members of the unit as they made their attack. Shooting them was not difficult as they seemed slow due to the size and weight. One fellow combatant fired above his head causing the abdomen of one to explode. Blood, yellow liquid splashed allover Lez and a few others. It may have wasted rounds, but taking those creatures out spared the lives of any locals who would attempt to return. Many Condor tribesmen he bumped into spoke of returning the moment the invader was driven out. Lez wiped himself clean of the guts as they calculated casualties to seven wounded six dead from the small swarm. Some of their units chased into the forest and discovered the insect beasts were called Anopholoi. Driven by a team of strange Yakfolk looking beast men that served the Gantronese called Yikariai these insects were used as a weapon against their positions. A lone surviving beast man was now a crippled prisoner of war. Six of them own were sent to base with this wounded prisoner of war.
Trebon's command wasn't favorable due to the casualties and the inability to foresee dangers. Black-Manticore took full command of their unit and ordered some scouts ahead. Looking at the surroundings Lez could tell Condor's Islands still held mysteries like other places. Backstripper knew he wasn't a sailor yet this military service brought him to other places on this world. From the lips of one experienced Captain under Black Manticore he heard a little tale about Flying Monkey demons in some platforms the Iperantosi claimed as their own. Aside from the seventeen islands they already claimed the Iperantosi tend to compete with the Condorine.
Under Black-Manticore's proper command the shrinking battalion beat another battalion of all Alagen, Redrin, Evusian conscripts to an overgrown ruin. Here their scouts bumped into a single mound of animated vines massed together with the assembled bones in the mix. Rangers, and the Elves among them knew what that was, an arborcyte. Not given the chance to explain what it was their leaders acted quickly as the vines flailed around taking down the closest members. Fire was all they can really think to use at this moment. Some of the mages sent a few flares of their own before someone tossed a desirable bottle of booze that became a molotov. Its screeches of pain pierced their ears forcing them back as they watched the creature burn to a crisp. Once the flames died down they assessed the damage to their own unit. Eight more victims were found among the bones that were now scorched black. Studying the bodies their medics noted different victims that included Condorines, a lost scout, a Gantronese spawn, lone adventurer, some Zoologist that went missing months ago. There was no stopping to observe plants or take in the ruins on these islands. Once the scorched area was clear Lez was one of the last few to move with the unit. He picked up a lighter someone dropped that read
Commander Black-Manticore turned them into two-legged cattle as he herded them on a Southwestward course. Ten of his C.O. staff, Majors, and Captains mounted some stray mounts they came across filling the role as herders. All they could think of was that song from the frontiers. To the shore lay several settlements that somehow avoided the fighting. Condor's roads tend to run along the coasts where the terrain become cliffs. On the shore they spot rocks that moved along the shallows. Squinting his eyes Lez pulled out a half binocular to see what those were. Giving him a closer look the binoculars revealed these moving rocks as large shells brandishing large claws. He caught several tearing into their food on the shallow beach.
"Blasted, relentless Bearmit Crabs. Always waitin for a meal in the shallows of beaches. Nearly lost my right foot on Alagen...." A half dark elf withing Black-Manticore's staff noted while on horseback. Captain Sirek Maberes, a 622-year-old Wizard with a bit of knowledge on wildlife, foliage, cultures, and politics. Backstripper only heard this Wizard used at least nine spells. His pregnant Dark Elf partner apparently joined them on this island. Dark Brownish skin under a purple blouse dress with a long skirt astride a mule. Her violet dyed hair in curls full of beads in the braids. Odvusee Maberes, Matriarch Ildanath of Culinary Courting. She often pinches the faces of any military personnel her hubby speaks to. Only when she is sauntering around or lingers. Two Dark Elves as bodyguards rode alongside her. She went a little hard on Lez in the pinching of his cheek. It became customary to some Dark Elf cultures. No one said it meant they were children, but a way of approval.
"While I was taking a stroll in the woods that was cleared, I spied some Trolls that recently set up camp." Odvusee reported now playing with his nose.
"You are distracting me Dimples, there are some villages we need to check on." Maberes insisted with a serious face.
"White sharks become more populated in certain areas due to bodies in the water." Odvusee pointed playing with his collar.
"Why did his wife join us again?" An Orcish voice complained to another member of the Coalition.
"Think of her as a camp follower. You know the ones who cook."
"Oh like we cannot cook for ourselves! The woman is pregnant! I may be an Orc, but at least we ensure our pregnant women, unborn children, Orclings are safe."
"Corporal Grat, Private Julak was a tusk missing. We will hear about this after this mission. For now do not bicker over civilian volunteers assisting with tasks such as nursing, and cooking. What does Commander Black-Manticore inquire?" Captain Maberes fixed the Orc and his companion, a Human from Boathria.
With a salute to the Captain the Orc sort of stumbled on his words. Black-Manticore gave orders to secure a settlement. A few days ago group of pirates landed. According to Condorine allies this was a crew of pirate animatronics mixed with clockworks landed. They hastily constructed a fort on an island from the ruins of a fishing village an Alagen reconnaissance plane investigated. Backstripper felt sick to his stomach, a third enemy to fight. Their own luck ran out quickly as a small force of what looked like clockworks on wheels raced up the road. Bearing the symbols of the invaders these clockwork soldiers were only armed with melee weapons attached to the limbs. In response to sighting them each Coalition opened fire on a band of fifty-four working gyros, gears, clicking and whirling their way to a firing line formation. Maberes' wife slowly plotted away expecting this to be short. Each round that hit the clockworks either bounced off or tore into the wiring, loosened screws causing them to fall apart. Bohmir sent a wave of lightning bolt into the charging clockworks. A female Condorine leaped over to blast the clockworks with an air blast spell from her two hands that sent the remaining clockworks off the cliff. She bowed at the coalition as if to say you are welcome and to rub it in.
"Condorine what is your name and rank?" Trebon demanded acting as Black-Manticore's voice.
"Ibe, I guess you can say an Orphic Lieutenant. My elders sent me to assist you with a militia to remove the pirates, and other invaders. Most are green fighters while the experienced warriors are healing or occupied up north. Some cults have reawakened here. It endangers the lives of a small coven consisting of seven condexines or text mages. They are called the Children of Rangda, a Hag Deity Demonlord who returned.-" she explained herself until Black-Manticore cut her off.
"Just lead us to the other villages we will sort out these cultists after the invaders are gone." Black Manticore barked at her.
Forced to follow his orders this pompous or hotshot Mage led the Coalition Force down the road to the villages. Backstripper studied the villages noting they were stuck in some older versions of tribal houses with docks for the fishery. With their luck the villagers either fled, wiped out, hid, or simply gathered for other events in their sacred places. No one was really home except a band of eight pirates making their landing. These were boastful pirates who had the name Barzic written on the landing boats who immediately started rowing back out to see. An awkward moment for both as the pirates expected a quick raid of loot without resistance. Checking each house they found the village empty. No signs of fighting or plague just a mass of footprints across the road. Splitting their forces in half Black Manticore left Trebon in charge. Backstripper joined the half that went for the villagers. Pebbles, grass, covered the hills that lay in their path to where the villagers went off to. By midday they found a grouping of over two hundred or three hundred villagers encircling a bon fire with some figures tied to stakes. Knowing full well what this was Maberes sighed casting a small cloud spell that became a deluge. Lez knew how people would point out how mages could just win the war. When reality something else hunted them down during conflicts. He only heard rumors thinking it was just a myth. Easy targets for snipers or made obsolete with artillery or bombs. Most of the Mages he knew of stayed out the conflict remaining in the education system. In his own mind he thought it was unnecessary, but it helped with the healing.
Disappointed the villagers shouted at the coalition forces. Curses, insults, phrases of a Hag deity spewed from their mouths. Rather than attack them these villagers revealed the locations of holdouts on the island. One was led by a council of ten fat slug humanoid Daimyos controlling the end of this island. Village elders urged them not to report this crime to the ruling tribes. Offering a dozen of their best warriors the villagers hoped to brush their cult under the rug. Several days passed by with some success in removing hold outs along the Island's center until they came upon some groups willing to rise against Condor and the coalition. Trebon ordered him and a squad to investigate the group that resided east of their position. Despite his current rank Lez felt a sudden reverse on himself when they discover over a hundred Trollkins starting an uprising with aid from the new invaders. Has he been at war this long to where some encounters became repetitive? Some of the invaders held similar appearances to horned Kuruks, mutated elves, and swamp trolls. Just these races only in strange armor and uniform. Instead of engaging them his unit spied on them to get information. Once they raced back to the camps their report involved these new invaders, and Gantronese leaving each other alone to face these pirates.
"Pirates as a threat are not uncommon. Just the sheer size of their crews, fleets, or armadas that have now sprung up. We had pirates as privateers. Omavern was one of them." Black Manticore pointed out rubbing the head of a winged cat that dug its claws in his boots. Backstripper stood there hoping the little Leonin did not attack his boots.
"Fans of these pirates could be found among the port cities, island city-states, secluded communities, those settlements that get cheated or scammed by companies." Black-Manticore added to the part about pirates while his winged cat went after Captain Trebon's boots. Its claws went after the shoestrings. Doing his best to focus and not kick the cat off Trebon added some report from other parts of the front.
"Holdouts recently became a concern in the Condor Northern Islands, the Iperantosi Islands, the Western islands along the lands of Jurax. It is also reported from the Iperantosi base that an Ivodran squad found a cursed warehouse where they find nine sets of ancient Gantronese Armor on some islet. Other teams found caches of rifles to raise a full army. We need to push the Invaders out." Trebon unveiled to Black-Manticore while the cat raced to Backstripper. It flapped its wings a few times rose up in the air only to land on his shoulder.
Just ignoring the scene of the cat head butting Lez, the commanders planned out their assault on the invaders. Unable to get the cat off him Lez returned to his tent to get rest for the next round of battles. Pushing the advance as usual alongside coalition troops, local militia, chosen warriors, volunteers from free cities his beaten up unit set off to face pirates. He did this with a winged cat on his shoulder.