The Return Home Chapter

After a days worth of besieging the fortress Ilkabad took time explore the area around the fortress. Evnar and a group of ten warriors rode along with the Vyceryl. There were trees and rolling hills with cottages and settlements located in various places among the terrain. They came across a farm whose owner had five sons and a daughter. There one of the farmers working under the lordship’s supervision greeted them since the children and master were absent. Once they had stopped at the farm’s stables the Vyceryl looked around and saw several dead goblins.

“I see you’ve had some recent troubles with goblins. Were they from that horde near Fortress Night-Stone?” the Vyceryl asked one of the serfs that worked for the owner of the farm.

“That and trouble with the goblin clans in the caves around us. At least those Makool lured plenty of them out of their caves.” The serf said leaning on a pitchfork.

“Is your master here?” one of Ilkabad’s men asked them.

“Nay, he is off with a hired archer and two of his eldest children. They went hunting down the goblins that attacked us. Fortunately no one died in the previous raid.” The serf said honestly as he went back to work.

“We will leave you to your master’s work then.” Ilkabad said when about four hunters came galloping up to the farm.

It was the farmer, his hired archer, and his two eldest children. Each one of them were armed with a bow and different weapons. All four of them had a few goblin heads for trophies. Ilkabad trotted up to them as they stopped.

“I see you’ve been busy.” He complimented indicating to the goblin heads dangling from their saddles. The master looked to be wounded and too tired to speak to the Vyceryl at the moment. His daughter, clad in scaled armor, spoke for him.

“Yes, but there is another war band heading towards our farm.” The daughter said pointing down the path they had come from.

He turned to Evnar and the ten warriors. Despite the battle they just fought, the Vyecryl and his men itched for more blood. They each nodded yes and their party proceeded down the path. It did not take them long before they ran into the goblins that were chasing the farmers. In mere moments Ilkabad and his party ran the goblins down. There was no more than a group of twenty seven of them. Each rider dismounted to claim the heads and gather the shields. While they were cutting the heads off the goblin corpses another group ambushed his men. A war band of a hundred goblins from three different clans attacked Ilkabad’s group and each other. His small band of warriors were caught in what appeared to be a goblin war.

Whenever goblins were not attacking settlements or banding together in hordes, they would often fight each other. The Angoths who lived near goblin caves prayed for the goblins to wage war against each other. It was not long before another group of them poured into the fight. To their misfortune Ilkabad and his men were near one of those goblin caves.

The Vyceryl and his warriors fought to hold their ground against numerous enemies. Ilkabad killed several types of goblins from separate clans. Another group of goblins appeared from some trees on the run. These newly arrived goblins seemed to be running from another hunting party. His own men killed the enemies even when they had killed another. It was getting to the point where there were too many goblins to handle until a horn sounded.

Fifteen armored cavalry rode out of the forest in pursuit of the goblins. To their greatest of fortunes it was Sir Titan of Kalte. The knight and his brethren trampled and cut down the groups of goblins. Leothrad and a group other warriors came. The Champion’s men killed many of the goblins before the clans broke and scattered to other places. Once the area was cleared the cavalry regrouped to let their steeds rest.

Ilkabad and his men kneeled down to rest and to honor the Champion in his presence. The Champion had brought Ilkabad the horses they had ridden to hunt the goblins down. He wanted to explain what happened but the Champion wouldn’t allow it.

“You have no need to explain anything to me. Take your men back to the ships and wait at my flag ship. Our work here is finished.” Leothrad said as he gave Ilkabad the reins to his borrowed horse. He and the eleven warriors rode back to the ships. From there they rowed back to the Serpent Hunter. When Ilkabad climbed aboard he was welcomed back by Captain Clovis and Aingvas. The musician or minstrel named Oephus played a song in commemoration of their battle. It was suitable to the way they had won it. However did not please Ilkabad very much, since that Knight was still out there. It was obvious to him and his brother that this Titan would rub the glory he was currently winning into Ilkabad’s face.

For five days they stayed to let the wounded rest and heal. He sat at the bow of the ship watching the wounded be ferried over to their vessels. Their new friends decided to heal each warrior as they passed every boat before dusk came. To the coalition it was miracle for one thousand of their wounded were healed in one day. That gave them enough hands to man the vessels. Once the last of the wounded were either on board or healed the journey home began.

On the day of the voyage home Ilkabad and his men mounted their kills over the sides of the ship. A few scores of goblin skulls decorated the broadsides and starboard. Evnar sat on the bow of the ship as the Serpent Hunter led Leothrad’s fleet to the island of Lakatul. His foot hung over the ledge watching the sea and land as the Serpent Hunter passed the shores of the Blade of Angeris. Evnar turned his head to face Ilkabad as the waves smashed against the hull.

The Vyceryl leaned against a barrel strapped to the mast with crates, barrels and sacks. Ilkabad looked over to his left and saw plenty of birds flying around other ships in the fleet. His thoughts now rested on his lover, Levanna High Mage of the Triangle Brotherhood Courts. She was no doubt in Lakatul within the quarters of her mother’s inn.

He soon recalled the days he would spend drinking with fellow warriors and courting the Champion’s sister. The various ales, mead and food filled the appetites of anyone. Warriors, craftsmen, bards, lords, and any other man or woman enjoyed the ports of Lakatul. The taverns full of wenches, ale, and music. Inns were alive with merchants, mages, and Veek politicians talking business, affairs, and the events of the world. That one single island laid between the fist of Lothi and the Blade of Angeris. There were a few forts around the island defending the ports. The best thing about the island was there were no Makool or Ipama around. No goblins in the region or even close to the island itself.

He just laid there against the barrel and fell asleep as his brother left the bow. Evnar’s footsteps on the boards stopped him from going deeper into the slumber. Ilkabad smiled a wry smile when he heard his brother’s footsteps pass him. The Vyceryl took advantage of this moment of peace that was given to him. He dosed off and dreamed of his various desires. His dream consisted of him wining glory, bearing the weight of battle, and making love with Levanna.

It lasted for some time as each part intertwined until he found himself in a labyrinth. This labyrinth took him down a path as he floated to a dark room. Once he felt his body sit down a blanket was draped over him. He woke up to see a blanket over him and night was already over the ocean. Ilkabad move a little and found Evnar asleep next to him. He heard his brother speak before he dozed off again.

“One of our new slave girls brought us some blankets. I assume the calm waters are enough to put you to sleep.” Evnar said before falling back asleep.

Ilkabad was woken up by a Makool’s scream with yelling and arguing that followed. Both he and Evnar got up and tossed their blankets next to their breakfast, which happened to be the reason behind the quarrel. Oogloot, Newet, and the other four Makool sorcerers were on the decks arguing with the cook, crew, and the Captain. All the Makool seemed to be outraged over the Angoths cooking Makool legs. Each one of them were close to starting a fight with the entire ship and crew. Captain Clovis tried to reason with them, but none of them would listen to a single word he had to say.

“I am sorry Newet, we are hungry warriors and we believed you ate each other!” He admitted, which was not too far from the truth about Makool.

Newet just flared up at the captain. This caused the crew members to grab the hilts of their weapons. It was apparent that these Makool would either die or were forced off the ship. Ilkabad was hoping this would happen. He had no love for the Makool especially when they tried conquering the surface would believing their culture was the dominant one of this world.

“It is not right for you to eat the dead of own kind. Do you intend to eat us once we are dead?” Newet snapped in Clovis’ face. The Makool raised a hand and a ball of energy grew in his palm. Leothrad came running out of the cabins and cut the Makool’s hand off then cut his leg. The sorcerer screamed and went down before the Champion sliced through him a third time. Newet fell on the deck with two limbs cut off and his blood flowing from his chest. Blood spilled from his body and flowed onto the deck.

The rest of the Makool chose not to bother them about eating Makool legs. To honor their new friends the crew chose not to eat Newet’s legs. For several days the Makool continued their protests against eating their brethren’s legs until only one remained. Two had died three others left the ship to region their brothers under the sea. The last one had remained quiet since the journey began. He sat on the stern with Ilkabad and Clovis while one of the first mates steered the ship towards its destination. Ilkabad had a good look of this particular Makool. His skin color was brownish underneath tattered rags and seaweed tied together.

As Clovis sailed the Serpent Hunter taking the first mate’s place Ilkabad observed the deck. He watched the crew keep busy with lines, scrubbing decks, climbing up the masts, and securing the cargo. On the broadside of the ship Leothrad was busy courting Ursella. She seemed to be a fine match for the Champion. Some had believed Senestra caught his attention, but she seemed more of the exotic type. He looked at the bow where Evnar used to be, but he had climbed up to the crow’s nest.

Their last Makool friend began to smile and shake with laughter. This caught Ilkabads’ attention, who was curious as to why this Makool was laughing and appeared happy about something. Ilkabad turned to look at this laughing sorcerer. Its voice changed from a gurgling sound to a woman’s laughter. In a blink of an eye the Makool sorcerer transformed in to a cackling woman.

“Those damned fools thought I was one of them!” she cried before laughing even harder. Her breasts expanded to the size of cabbages as her body became more curved and smooth. She tossed seaweedand tattered rags down and walked to the steps of the stern.

The whole crew stopped to gaze upon the nude woman before them. Even Leothrad and Ursella looked at her. The Captain’s jaw dropped gawking at her buttocks and beautiful back. Ilkabad had a shocked expression on his face with wide eyes. This nude woman turned to them and smiled. She put a hand on one hip as she looked around her.

“I’ll explain later!” she laughed even more and went straight to the cabins. There she disappeared leaving the crew confused and surprised. Ilkabad heard Evnar’s voice when the strange woman disappeared in the cabins in search of something to put on.

“I see the Fortress Iron Mace one the eastern side of Lakatul and the ports of Lakatul!” he shouted down at them from the crows nest.

Forgetting about the naked woman that had disguised herself as a Makool, Ilkabad raced over to the bow. From there he could see the Fortress Iron Mace, Fort Blood Rock, some ships docked at the ports and the tallest buildings along the first settlements of Lakatul. As they drew closer Ilkabad could not wait to see his beloved Levanna. He jumped with excitement overjoyed to see her once more. There was nothing else he to do than to watch them approach the islands. At ten knots the Serpent Hunter approached the ports and slowed down once it drew close enough to moor. Leothrad’s fleet was not too far behind but at a safe distance.

Clovis steered the ship up to an empty dock a few ships away from the Lessiiv. Ilkabad was tossed a line from the docks. He looked over at the docks and spotted a few taverns and some inns. Leothrad Leothrad came up from behind him with Evnar, Ursella, Oephus, and the strange woman. The five of them joined Ilkabad who turned to see them.

“Are we waiting for someone?” he asked them.

Evnar held his own sack of luggage over his shoulder and Ilkabad’s in his hand. He threw the sack at Ilkabad who caught it. They Vyceryl looked down at his own pack feeling confused.

“The new maids packed your things for you after all you are a Vyceryl.” Evnar answered his question before he even asked it.

Leothrad laughed and turned to watch the gangway be placed upon the ledge of the ship. Six of the passengers including the warriors disembarked from the ship. The Champion led the way down when Scur came rushing up to his side. A party of seven marched down to the inns, and taverns. Within moments seven musicians, witches, and former slaves stood in front of an inn. Ilkabad read the signs of the inn that was known as The Emerald Secret Vile. He smiled at the named recalling memories staying here and drinking at other taverns. The woman who had disguised herself to look like a Makool tilted her head back. Ilkabad expected her to laugh again, but she simply introduced herself to the party.

“Since we are all staying here to rest, the name is Vaynis the salt witch fo the islands. I guess you can say I am a deity of some sort.” She said as she entered the inn.

All Out War Begins Chapter

For two more days Leothrad and his coalition army fought an enlarged army. On the second day the enemy received some reinforcements. When part of these reinforcements attacked their positions Leothrad saw thousands of Makool, Goblins, and those crocodile warriors from the swamp caves. On that day the rest of the ships sent most of their crews leaving a dozen or so men aboard each craft.

That one move on the part of the Captains increased their numbers. This allowed them construct minor fortifications. Their second day of battle proved difficult. A huge force of ten thousand Makool emerged from the south. They were split up by the time the third day ended. Leothrad had sent out scouts to spy on the ten thousand Makool. They all returned to him saying only five thousand would be coming. The other half had marched down to the south. He had no idea where the other half was going.

All the scouts said they only saw the army split up before heading back to the camps. Leothrad hoped the other half would meet resistance. He looked over at the fortress and saw what appeared like a huge force of thirty thousand. Yet to him it seemed to keep on growing.

Over at the villages Leothrad could see the villagers and Ilkabad’s group fortifying their positions. He saw the knight from the Civid lands took residence inside the tower. The Champion saw to sending both leaders a hundred men to reinforce their defenses.

A strong wind blew from the west carrying the stench of the enemy into the noses. The banners and flags of six thousand or so warriors plus armed sailors, flapped in this westward wind. As the morning ended and the midday was approaching Leothrad had their lines stretched a little further to cover more the beach and grassland. It was to ensure the enemy wouldn’t flank their positions so easily. Some of the galleys they had captured from the Cren fleet made nice barriers to block the enemy from maneuvering around them. A force of six thousand and three hundred warriors stood firm and waited for the enemy. Leothrad and the other captains agreed not to advance since the gathering foes would simply surround them.

A horn blew then others were blown from the sid of the fortress. He looked over at the army amassed before the fortress. A portion of the army was already advancing towards them. It would be a battle for the Angoths and their allies.

“Rider!” Leothrad hollered and a warrior/scout approached him.

“Yes Champion. What is you command?” the scout asked as a pelt for staying put was raised for Ilkabad and Titan.

“Ride as as far north as you can Send any warriors down here. Speak with the Jarls and commanders of any forts you run across. Hurry rider! This could be our last battle!” Leothrad urged him to go. With the words of the Champion’s command in mind the rider rode off to the north. Leothrad did not waste time watching the rider, he turned to give the orders to the coalition.

“Archers at the ready!” he shouted and waited until the all archers were ready with bows and arrows.

“Loose!” he yelled and the archers sent a volley of arrows down on the advancing enemy.

“Send another volley!” Leothrad ordered.

He marched up to the infantry who already formed up their shield walls formations. The enemy had sent another group of eight thousand infantry. Arrows continued to rain down on the first legion of enemies. Numerous Makool and goblins fell to the volley of arrows. There were a number of the crocodile warriors that fell to the coalition arrows. The archers loosed a seventh volley before the rest of the soldiers prepared for a frontal assault. Leothrad watched as some ten thousand enemies march up to them. He would have ordered the archers to shoot except the legions of enemies had already charged their lines.

The front lines of warriors braced for impact as thousands upon thousands of enemies attacked them. Their enemy smashed against their lines pressing against their shields despite the swords, spears, axes and other weapons waiting to cut them down. Leothrad rushed to the front to aid his men. In the back of his mind he hoped Ilkabad and Titan aren’t overwhelmed by any large forces sent against them. The line appeared to be holding as warriors on the first two rows killed each Makool that approached them. Most of the goblins and Elite Makool fared better than the Makool standard infantry.

When Leothrad reached the front a quarter of the two legions lay dead at their feet. One warrior fought on until he lost control and pushed ahead of the shield walls. He found himself in between a few lines of enemies still killing Makool and Goblins. His fellow warriors tried to force their way to him when four crocodile warriors approached hims and killed the lone warrior. They managed to kill several more warriors before the coalition cut them down. The first lines of warriors were getting tired, but were being pushed against by the legions.

Leothrad saw multiple warriors get killed or forced down from the weight and wounds. He jumped in to lend a hand forcing his way through enemy lines. His sword arm swung as if something else possessed it. Numerous enemies fell to his hand bringing their morale down and encouraged his men to press the attack. The Makool and goblins easily fell to the next lines of warriors that pushed forward. They gave the other two lines of warriors time to rest. When they caught up with Leothrad the legions started to back off due to heavy losses.

Once victory seemed to be insight the enemy only backed off to let their brutes in the front. Hundreds of crocodile warriors marched up to the front. Every warrior at the front stood their ground with spears and other weapons raised against the oncoming brutes. Leothrad picked up a trident from a dead Makool and threw it at a crocodile warrior. It staggered a bit with the trident lodged in its stomach. The other lizard monsters advanced on the coalition leaving the one crocodile to die. Leothrad swung at another beast as the coalition stabbed at the others. Several warriors fell before the rest tried ganging up on the other beasts.

He watched the coalition warriors take down these monstrous beasts with some difficulty. One or two men per beast killed died as the coalition struggled to bring the reptiles down. Even with the champion killing the beasts easily, the coalition still lost a few hundred warriors. Right as the last few of the beasts died the legions of Makool and Goblins pressed their attack.

Then someone in the back yelled for archers to fire on the legions. To their surprise only a hundred arrows flew over their heads. What was wrong? Did they forget their job?

“What the demon hells are they doing over there?” Leothrad asked as he turned around. among the packed formations of shields he spotted a Vycyrel who could take command for the moment.

“You there, Vyceryl Starson, take command and drive these frogs back!” Leothrad said before he looked for Scur among the center line. When he found Scur he grabbed the young warrior from the formations.

“Scur come with me!” He ordered pulling Scur along with him.

The young warrior said nothing since he was given no choice than to come along. Leothrad made his way to the archers to see for his own eyes. He did not need to ask again why the archers weren’t firing arrows on the legions. About one and a half thousand Makool had emerged from the waters behind them. Every archer loosed arrow after arrow on the encroaching Makool.

He watched as hundreds of archers took out numerous Makool with every volley they fired. The Champion observed the battle as the archers reduced the Makool’s forces to a third of its size. The Makool panicked and either fled or charged anyways. Archers at the front prepared for the ones charging while the ones in the back fired on the ones fleeing. Leothrad rushed in to join the archers at the front. Leothrad rushed in to join the archers at the front. Scur followed him just in time to be caught in the Frey.

Leothrad and a hundred archers faced the advancing Makool. Despite the Makool’s advantage in numbers Leothrad and the archers hacked their way to the ocean. It was easy for them because most of the Makool wore little or no armor. Leothrad took pleasure in taking down the larger elites. For him it was almost a game to see how many would die before the enemy retreated.

He enjoyed every moment of the game he created, which Scur joined in. To his surprise the young warrior took down seven elite Makool even though more were emerged from the ocean. When the lad stopped swinging his weapon only one Makool remained. It rushed straight for the ocean hoping to get away. None of the archers fired any arrows in their direction. That was good enough for Leothrad. Assuming their archers were firing on the legion of enemies Leothrad picked up a Makool spear. He chunked it at the last one when it was knee deep in the water. The Makool fell in the shallow waters with the spear through its torso.

The archers who had aided Leothrad ran back to aid the others. Only fifty archers stood watch over the back of the coalition. Leothrad turned to the landed ships on his left. It had a single line dangling from the yard. The Champion looked at the line then turned to Scur.

“I have a job for you Scur. Collect those tridents and spears then place them in the sand facing the ocean.” Leothrad said before he left the youth as he grabbed the dangling rope and climbed up to the crows nest.

When he made it to the crows nest he saw eight thousand Makool emerge from the sea. He turned his head to see several thousand more Makool emerging on their left flanks. The only things separating his coalition were the ships they had pulled onto the sands. He felt a war coming from this King known as Kewan.

To his own amazement he saw fireballs hit the legions of Makool emerging from the sea. Leothrad turned to face the ocean and saw projectiles being fired from the fleet he had gathered. He watched the fire balls attempt to reak havoc upon the newly arrived legions. A smile was force onto his face even though he knew the projectiles did little to route the Makool. There were still numerous casualties being inflicted upon the two legions marching out of the sea. Leothrad looked over at his coalition and saw that the Makool were backing off. In the back of his mind he knew they were only doing that to regroup and build up their armies.

Arrows continued to rain down upon the retreating enemy. It was the archers’ attempts to reduce the numbers of enemies they’d have to face the next day. As the newly arrived forces came further ashore Leothrad saw more ships approaching the battle. They were certainly Angothic vessels coming in from the north.

He counted the numbers of sails he could see as the sun dipped down. His heart felt relieved at the sight of reinforcements approaching them. Before he came down, the champion looked over at Ilkabad’s position. He made out fresh corpses around the palisades they had set up around the villages and the tower. It was another eventful day only the enemy had more men now.

At dawn Leothrad awoke to Scur standing over him. The lad had been trying to wake him for sometime. He stirred a little then forced his body up to see what Scur needed. Scur was never a needy lad and hardly asked for anything.

“Yes Scur, what is it?” he asked the young warrior.

“The Jarl Aberis of Seaguard port wants to see you.” Scur said as the Champion sat up on the makeshift cot. Leothrad looked up at Scur and saw a plate of roasted Makool limbs. Just because the Makool were hate did not mean they did not make horrible meals. Every time they fought Makool the Angoths or Veeks filled their bellies with roasted corpses of enemy Makool.

Leothrad grabbed the plate from the young warrior and commenced eating his breakfast. He bit into a roasted foreleg of an elite and chewed slowly.

“What does Jarl Aberis want to see me for?” the Champion asked as he took another bite.

Scur did not say anything to Leothrad about that. He just gestured with his head turning the Champion’s attention to the hut’s entrance. There stood Jarl Aberis in his fine fur lined mail armor and leather greaves. His thick white beard was in two knots. Each one looked more like lines of a ship that kept the sails up or down. The Champion rose up and place the plate of Makool limbs next to him. He offered a seat to the Jarl who accepted the offer and helped himself to roasted Makool. The three Angoths ate in silence until there was nothing else but the bones.

Jarl Aberis wiped his mouth on a cloth offered to him by Scur who took it away for washing. Champion Leothrad waited for the Jarl to finish picking his teeth with the blunt dirk he offered.

“I will be brief Champio. Our forces may be over nine thousand strong, but the enemy has more than seventy thousand now. Prepare your men and yourself.” Jarl Aberis got up and left the Champion’s hut.

Leothrad wasted no time ad prepared for a long drawn out battle against unfavorable odds. He walked out of the hut thinking of the Nine thousand and four hundred men on the field. Leothrad found two bows and three quivers of arrows. He picked them up then handed a bow and quiver to Scur.

“Archers, finish your breakfast and form up! Infantry take your positions and hold them!” Leothrad roared the orders and took his position among the archers with Scur at his side. When the archers formed up their lines the infantry did the same thing not wasting a moment to dawdle around. The enemy camps were just now stirring and there was enough Makool and Goblins to overrun the fortress three times over. He cared for his warriors but was still willing to pit them against these odds.

“Archers, loose a volley and turn them away from Ilkabad and his men!” Leothrad barked at them. About a thousand arrows were loosed and shot up in the air. Each shaft made its way to the camps and rained down on the Makool. He assumed most of the shafts hit the tents, but killed a few hundred of the Makool in the process.

Leothrad and the coalition watched the enemy form up and march towards them in force. He waited for the enemy to move their first lines of warriors out of the camps before firing another volley. The drums of war boomed around them long with weapons banging against shields in rhythm.

“Archers! Send another volley, fire!” Leothrad notched an arrow along with the archers and fire his arrow. A second volley of arrows rained down on the enemy as they marched out in the open field. It was all they could do for now since there were well over eighty thousand Makool headed straight for them. A third volley was fired by the time this horde was halfway to their positions.

Once the fourth volley was fired the first two lines of infantry were ordered to prepare for the wave of enemies. They picked up a spear or trident off the ground and waited to throw them at the enemy. After two more volleys of arrows were fired the enemy was close enough to charge. Tens of thousands of Makool and Goblin warriors charged nine thousand Angoths and Auxmirians on the beaches. The first two lines of infantry launched spears and tridents like javelins. It was a last ditch effort to even some of the odds against them. Leothrad estimated that at least a thousand or so had died from the projectile flung at them. He watched the horde clash against the shield walls of the coalition forces.

Spears, axes, swords and war picks chopped up and pierced the first few thousand enemies. Angoths and Leothrad’s new allies hacked and speared as many Makool as possible before their lines had to switch. Leothrad left the archers and tried his best not to push through the enemy. That would cause him to advance too far into the enemy ranks. There was a great amount of pushing and shoving as there was killing while the morning drew to noon. Despite the defensive advantage more warriors slowly died as they fought to the death. There were a few points were the enemy would get tangled in their lines, but would wind up dead each time. Each warrior who died fighting took as many Makool with them as possible. Some even cut the limbs of the enemies closest to them just to put obstacles for the others to stumble over. Leothrad chose to stay with his men at the front to stir up morale.

Even as they lost men they fought on and slew as many enemies as they could. Thousands of fighters fell on the battlefield. An officer cut down three elite Makools that managed to beat down one warrior and slip through their lines.

“How many warriors have we lost?” he asked the champion as he killed a chieftain and Leothrad chopped off a Makool’s arm. That Makool was speared with four spears. Seventeen wounded warriors were dragged to the back as the rest fought furiously to reduce the enemy’s numbers.

“I counted nearly three thousand dead. Count the wounded!” Leothrad said taking out another elite. He used an enemy’s mace to kill a Makool with one swing. The Champion then cracked the skull of a goblin before he realized the enemy had pushed them back.

More and more combatants fell as the sands and dirt became red from the blood. As the battle went further on into the afternoon Leothrad’s men and the Jarl’s men were reduced to a few thousand. Nearly twenty to thirty thousand enemies lay dead in the field. Archers shot more volleys but were forced to fight alongside the infantry. Each warrior tried their hardest to reduce this horde down to the point where the forces would be forced to route.

Leothrad’s arm ached as he kept killing foe after foe. He managed to stay in the fight to bring morale up, which had been dropping ever since they lost over half their numbers. It didn’t matter if they were wounded or dead each warrior that fell was a casualty. The day looked like it would end badly for the coalition. The champion felt sweat dripping from his nose and chin. Another hour of fighting and he would be spent. He looked over at Ilkabad’s position and saw thousands of Makool retreating. Some warriors and captains saw this and felt the odds turning back in their favor. That was when the tables turned against the Makool King Kewan who was not even present for this battle.

To the north twelve loud horns blew. The noise drew everyone’s attention to the north as the sound of a stampede came up. To the dismay of the enemy the sounds of hooves thundering down from the north spelled death to the horde. Over eight thousand Angoth riders came thundering towards the horde of Makool. Leothrad watched the riders smash into the horde with force. They trampled over thousand upon thousands of Makool. Each warrior hacked and cut down any the ones in front had missed as they rode the enemy down.

The enemy immediately routed and left Leothrad’s and Aberis’ forces alone. Many Makool ran towards the ocean to escape. Most were too stunned over the heavy losses and ran southward. A few hundred managed to make to the fortress, which was only a death trap for them. Leothrad ran down to one of the ships and climbed up to the bow. From there he watched thousands of Makool be intercepted by another force of five thousand Angoth riders.

Leothrad continued to watch with a joyful heart as this second force of riders rode down the remnants of the retreating Makool. To his surprise the second force rode away when it was finished with the Makool. What for, they had won a victory over this King Kewan? He looked up and saw his banner dangling over the masts. Then he realized the commander of the second force wanted to leave the fortress for him to take. When those riders had left he turned his attention to the others. Six horsemen came riding up to his coalition.

The Champion slid down a line of rope and scoured the area for Scur and the other Captains. He passed men who were lifting corpses off the fallen and wound comrades. Wounded warriors used spears or tridents to prop themselves up. Nine warriors seemed to have died of their wounds. He found Scur with the Captain and kneeled down to see how the lad was after a long drawn out battle. Scur had been stabbed in the side and the arm. His arm was now in a sling to let the wounds heal. The young warrior did not look up at Leothrad for he was too embarrassed to be wounded in front of the Champion Leothrad. Leothrad understood this and left Scur alone. As turned away the captain answered his question.

“Well over five thousand men are wounded and three thousand of us are dead. That leaves us just two thousand men, Champion!” he said to Leothrad still in pain from his wounds.

“That is all we need to take this fortress back.” Leothrad said and he walked over to the six horsemen that approached their ships. The rider he sent out nodded and dismounted at the same time the others did. Leothrad smiled at the rider and turned to him.

“I was right to send you.” He complimented the rider who had brought them thousands of riders. He thanked the rider and then turned his attention to the Warlord that had come to his aid.

“Thank the gods they have come Leothrad! Otherwise we’d be dead.” Aberis cried with joy. The Jarl welcomed the other leaders that came to their aid. Leothrad looked at the leaders which consisted of a Warlord, a thane, a Vyceryl, and two Jarls.

“We must finish this battle tomorrow.” He said to them before he retired to his hut. The Champion slept like a log and awoke to the sounds of drums in the morning. He exited his hut which had Scur and the Jarl there with him. Aberis woke just after Leothrad left the hut. The two leaders approached the others for breakfast. For some reason a Makool representative sat with them. It seemed odd for the enemy to dine with them unless this particular Makool was joining their side or sought peace with them.

“Ah, good morning champion Leothrad. This is representative Agwopog of King Kewan. He has message for all of us.” Said the warlord named Orvice.

“Tell us Makool what does your master want from us?” Leothrad asked taking a pear and biting out of it.

The Makool stood up to speak. “My King Kewan says that all out war has only begun.”

Leothrad spat the seed at the Makool’s feet. “Leave these lands and never invade us again frogling!” he yelled in the Makool’s face.

“Very well then, I see you Angoths wish only war with us and death!” the Makool said as it stood up to walk back to the fortress. Leothrad left as well and gathered his weapons and armor. He gathered his troops and immediately charged the fortress. To his surprise another three thousand Angoths came to retake the fortress. Both forces surrounded Fort Night Stone and made an all out assault. Several thousand Angoths overwhelmed the few hundred defenders. They freed the prisoners and retook another fortress from the Makool Domain of Kewan.

Another Fortress Taken Chapter

Evnar sat in the dining quarters drinking with a crew member named Ongas. He was the large Angoth who slammed the head of a Makool aboard the galleon. A large breasted former priestess of Cren served them drinks of Cren brewed ale. She was nude except for a cloth skirt. Ongas the large bellied Angoth with the reddish brown beard grabbed and squeezed her tits.

The large Angoth looked at Evnar as a he massaged the Priestess’s breasts. “You wanna have a taste of her tits, Evnar?” Ongas offered the young Angoth warrior.

She looked at Evnar with eyes that were begging for him to punish her. He looked across the room and saw who was watching. Sitting at another booth that was built into the ship were Leothrad and Captain Clovis. Leothrad was perplexed by the spectral and appeared intrigued enough to join them. After all she did serve the false deity named Cren.

As Champion of the Angoths, Leothrad was offered seventeen former priestesses after the great victory against the Cren fleet. Each one of them were supposed to serve his one personal prize. Evados the innocent whom sat in the guest’s quarter as a prisoner of war. He watch Evnar grab her breasts and began squeezing them. Ongas and Evnar fondled the priestess until her breasts swelled up with milk.

“Evnar,” he said to the young warrior. “Ravage the corrupted priestess and save some for the rest of the crew.” Leothrad ordered as he stood up to walk over to her. Clovis made no moves to stop him after all she was his gift for the victory.

He glared at her with angry eyes. She looked at him with fear surfacing in her crimson eyes. The champion lunged forward and grabbed his cock out. Leothrad forced himself inside her and proceeded to thrust. It felt good, warm, wet and satisfying. Ongas grabbed her head and shoved his own cock into her mouth. She was forced to suck Ongas’ cock and endure being fucked by the Angoth Champion.

She seemed surprised by the thrusts the Angoths displayed. It was nearly an eagle’s flight from its nest to a tree branch on the other side of the forest when the Angoths came. Leothrad felt the urge to thrust in her several more times even after injecting his seed inside her womb. As he pulled himself out of her the Champion looked at her back. It was covered in tattoos representing Cren and her previous master Evados the Innocent.

Cren’s symbols composed of other symbols for supremacy, love, loyalty, and unity. He had not doubt the worshippers believed Cren had supremacy over all things, the world should love him and show loyalty to his descendants. Most of all they believed in unity under the Cren Order. Leothrad smiled the biggest smile when he saw the two new symbols on her shoulders. They put the symbol for freedom and the symbol for whore on her shoulders.

“Leothrad, please let the wench suck on Ongas and come over here to see if more forts were taken by the Makool.” Clovis said bringing Leothrad to the table.

As Leothrad left the former Cren wench to Evnar and Ongas, Evnar helped himself to ravaging her. In his mind he thought, So Cren’s Order and descendants seek to unite the world under his rule. The Champion found this to be amusing. He took his seat at the table with maps of Emnos or Onan-Hai and the sword shaped island. Clovis glanced up from a map that had a wooden model ship on it, which marked their location.

“Our new friends have revealed another fortress fallen to the Makool Domain.” Clovis said placing a finger on a spot along the eastern coastline of the Sword Angeris.

“It is one of the fortresses that were built directly on the coastline. There are seven small villages around this particular fortress.” Clovis said as though Leothrad had forgotten about that. The Champion nearly forgot about the fortresses they had built, but kept reminding himself. Leothrad was often busy fighting armies of their enemies or hunting down demons and monsters across the seas. Those were the reasons he almost forgot about the fortresses along Angeris’ eastern coast.

“Totar, bring those Makool sorcerers over here!” Clovis barked at the doorway where an Angoth sailor was standing.

“Aye Captain!” Totar responded.

“See if we can’t get any more out of these frogs folk!” Clovis growled.

Leothrad picked up a mug and tried to drink from it, but no contents came out. It turned out to be empty of the contents he was drinking earlier this morning. He looked at the empty mug wanting to get more mead. The Champion chose not to get more, since they were about to besiege another fortress. Totar, a thin looking guardsman of the ship entered the room with seven Makool sorcerers. One of them appeared to have received some pleasure as it tied its belt around its waist.

“Ah good all of you are here! Ignore those three!” Clovis said referring to the orgy that was going on at the booth.

“What can you tell us about the fortress here? It is called Fort Night Stone and we hadn’t heard from its garrison for some time. Do you know how many Makool are there?” Captain Clovis asked.

The seven sorcerers consulted each other’s knowledge about the Angoth’s lost fortress. One of them turned to the Angoth leaders, this sorcerer wore a necklace of shark teeth. Its name was Oogloot a former sorcerer of the late fish king Gawak.

“This fortress resisted heavily with help from the locals. It took thousands upon thousands of Makool lives just bring the fortress under our former master’s heel. A wave’s full of Makool hold it now.” Oogloot said, warning the Angoths about the numbers of Makool fighters there.

“This fortress is not an island fortress. There is no way your people could have-“ Clovis tried to tell them, but her was cut off by another sorcerer named Newet. Were

“Those villages around it gave some resistance, but were forced to submit.” Newet said. Leothrad felt impatient, hearing these words gave the urgency to go over there immediately and deal with the Makool scum.

“Enough talk about the fortress, Evnar wake up Ilkabad and Ongas, summon the warriors. Prepare them for a landing!” Leothrad commanded. He passed the sorcerers and went straight to his room. There Leothrad found his shield and pair of swords at the foot of his cot. The Angoth to his armor from the wall and put it on. As he armed himself Leothrad looked over at the other cot in the room.

Oephus laid on the cot asleep. Leothrad did not mind having Oephus as a roommate. The former minstrel would make an excellent bard in the taverns of his homeland. He left Oephus asleep and ran into Ursella who was startled to see Leothrad. “Need something?” he asked.

“I…am coming down to apologize to Oephus. Good luck on your next battle!” she said nervously.

Leothrad said nothing to her and ascended to the decks to join with Clovis. The Captain stood next to the doorway of the cabin. He gripped his long mace in both hands letting the lethal part rest on the boards and had his knife resting at his side. Leothrad stood next to the captain and observed the warriors and crew members assembled by Ongas, Evnar and Ilkabad. In front of the two leading Angoths were three scores of Angoth warriors. Leothrad took a few steps in front of them as he fixed his shield on one arm and sheathed his two swords, one on his back and the other on the side of the shield.

“Angoths, our new Makool friends have informed us that a fortress of ours has been taken. Fort Night Stone was taken by the Makool who seem to be having trouble holding the lands around it. Our lands need liberating and these Makool filth won't give it up so easily. In two days we shall arrive at this fortress and take her back!” Leothrad shouted giving them an arousing speech.

The Angoths roared their approval as the Serpent Hunter proceeded towards Fort Night Stone. It took the ships three days to finally arrive at the shores of Fort Night Stone. Leothrad and Clovis prepared the warriors for the assault. As the warriors filled the landing boats Leothrad caught Ilkabad and Evnar before they boarded.

“I need to have a word with Ilkabad.” Leothrad said grabbing his arm.

“Yes Leothrad?” Ilkabad asked.

“On board the Freed Moon is a Civid Knight named Titan. We are putting your troop of warriors with him. Once we land your groups will rush to the nearest villages. Kill every Makool in your path, and once you’ve landed do not let yourselves get surrounded.” Leothrad left the two cousins as he went to his own boar with Erden. Scur stood ready to take on the Makool. Although he was young, Scur proved himself to be a capable warrior among the Angoth warriors.

Ongas was ordered to stay with Clovis acting as his first mate. He was also under strict orders to stay away from the female priestess. In the back of Leothrad’s mind he hoped the fat boar of an Angoth would keep his hands away from Ursella. As he settled down in the landing craft, Leothrad looked down and spotted a harpoon at his feet. Leothrad gripped the harpoon while the landing crafts were being lowered to the sea surface.

“All right boys row these wenches to the shores!” Leothrad growled referring to the boats.

The boats left their ships loaded with warriors ready to kill their foe. Once they were fifty yards from the shore other warriors grabbed harpoons and stabbed into the ocean. It was a strategy that ensured their flanks remained safe when fighting Makool fighters. Leothrad stabbed into the sea several times as he recalled past battles. Whenever the Angoths or the Veeks fought the Makool on the shores they would always face more of them on the battlefield. Once their forces further on the beaches a considerable number of Makool would emerge from the seas. This would happen every time they invaded an island or retook one from the Makool Domain.

Hundreds of warriors rowed up to the shores with Fort Night Stone in sight. Leothrad spotted several Makool in the water as their boats neared the coast. He raised his harpoon and struck down piercing a selected Makool in the head. Leothrad jerked the weapon from the corpse and struck at the next one he saw in the water. Other warriors armed with spears or harpoons stabbed into the ocean’s surface killing their targets. Leothrad proceeded harpooning more Makool until they reached shallow waters.

The men at the oars rowed their craft aground. Some craft crushed Makool limbs or bodies. Other craft shoved rocks aside. In front of the coalition of warriors stood make shift tents of the Makool. Most of the tents appeared more like huts since their tents were made from seaweed and the tall stiff grass on the beach.

Leothrad stepped out of his landing boat as did other warriors whom drew their weapons. He saw thousands upon thousands of Makool marching towards them. Scur took his side as the coalition of warriors took battle positions.

“Shield wall!” Erden roared from behind Leothrad.

His command was echoed as other captains repeated the same words. Sixteen hundred warriors linked their shields together to form a shield wall. Shields of different shapes and sizes linked together at the front as those behind them overlapped. Together the linked and overlapping shields of the first three rows resembled fish scales.

Leothrad turned his head to see the warriors in the back rows forming another shield wall facing the ocean. “Thank the gods we taught those freed warriors our battle movements.” He muttered under his breath as the Makool kept advancing on them from their encampment.

“Champion, should I give the order?” Erden asked offering to do it himself.

“No Captain Erden, I’ll do it myself.” He said turning the offer down.

“Warriors, advance!” Leothrad shouted and sixteen hundred warriors advanced towards the large force of Makool emitting from the encampment. In minutes both forces met on the sands. Most of the Makool engaged the small army of warriors who showed little mercy towards them on the field. Shields clashed against shields, and weapons forged from volcanic metals.

Leothrad drew his sword and brushed past some warriors making his way to the front. Over two thousand Makool fought the Angoths and their new allies. Axes, Spears, and swords cut, slashed, and pierced through reptilian skin of the Makool. A few warriors fell to the tridents and javelins as the enemy pressed against them.

Makool fell like swaths of flies as the coalition pushed back. A thousand more Makool arrived from the southwest as another four hundred came to the aid of their Makool brothers. When Leothrad stepped up to the front for the fifth time three rows of shields joined him relieving the first three rows. Leothrad into a Makool’s throat as other warriors killed their opponents along the first and second lines of the enemy.

He killed his fourteenth kill in this battle when an Angoth slammed a sharp axe into the skull of an elite Makool. It was taller yet uglier with bumps allover its face and wore nasty looking teeth on a string around its neck. The warrior to his left shoved a spear into smaller but fatter Makool.

Leothrad cut down two Makool just before their archers opened fire. He watched over three hundred arrows shoot above their heads. The volley of arrows rained down on the four hundred Makool. None of them cared how many the arrows would hit as long as the archers did their job in the battle.

Another volley was fired at the small group of Makool annihilating most of what remained of that Makool force. The small reduced force broke and routed as the coalition pushed the larger force back. Despite the increased numbers the Makool were still dying in swaths. As they pushed on the coalition caused many Makool to trip and be trampled under their feet. Other Makool were knocked to the ground and trampled by their own side. Leothrad counted his thirtieth kill by the time the enemy began its slow retreat.

The coalition forces were able to spread out a little more like a bird stretching its wings out getting ready for flight. Four times the six rows of warriors exchanged positions letting one set of rows rest while the others killed Makool. It was a strategy the Veeks showed them only in phalanx formation. Fortunately they freed some Groviscian Hoplites who know phalanx maneuvers.

Leothrad felt victory was within their grasp when he saw the Makool begin to break from their own ranks. It was only to save their own hides for another of battle. He knew they were fleeing due to the numbers of Makool they lost to the coalition and what they had done to those hiding in the waters. He only hoped they wouldn’t send any more this day. One fight a day was all these warriors could endure for now. Archers in the back fired on those fleeing decreasing the numbers they’d have to face the next day.

Scur was by his side as more Makool left and those who chose to stay put, stood their ground. The day was drawing to a close as the sun sank behind the taken fortress. Once the last Makool facing them died a single banner that meant reinforcements was raised about one of the watch towers.

London

Hello audience,


Here is a heads up I will be going to London tomorrow and won't be back to the United States until the 25th of June. Thank you for viewing my content and reading it. I hope you have enjoyed the posts. Do share my blogs with friends, and colleagues.


Thank you,


Stephen McKee

The Galleon Chapter

Another fort had fallen to the Makool forcing Leohtrad to make another pit stop. He stood on the bow of the Serpent Hunter looking behind seeing the liberated fort over his left shoulder disappear behind four sets of sails from other ships in his fleet. Ilkabad stood next to him and walked away imagining what the Champion saw in through his eyes. Before he turned away Leothrad caught Ilkabad’s attention who just about to take a nap.

“Have the other ships…actually I’ll have the crews inform the other ships we’ll be headed to my home island of Mead.” Ilkabad nodded before going over to the nearest sack and resting on it before falling asleep. In his mind he recalled the island which had a different name but was well known for its nickname for all the taverns and inns where the world’s greatest mead and wine.

On the way to Leothrad’s home island and ancient Angothic Galleon emerged from the depths. It was riddled with heavily armored Makool. Some were heavily armored from head to toe. Ilkabad watched them leap down from their large vessel onto the decks of seven ships that came close to the galleon. Leothrad ordered for the other ships to get close to the large craft, letting these Makool come to them instead.

“Get as close as you can Clovis!” he could still hear Leothrad shouting at Clovis as he fought his way to the bow of the Delkyr.

More than a hundred Makool came aboard seven of the nearest ships attempting to overrun the Angoths and their new allies. Nineteen Makool lay dead on the deck by the time Ilkabad grabbed a loose line and swung his way to the massive galleon. It was one of the many but few ancient vessels the Makool Shaman or sorcerers managed to resurface the vessel with enough warriors to overrun four fortresses.

Ilkabad believed he was the only one boarding the Makool ship. When Ilkabad turned to his left and saw no one else from the Delkyr was attacking the huge galleon, he assumed he was alone in the assault. As he swung towards the galleon Makool threw the tridents and javelins at his line and body. Each one missed him by inches as he came closer to the sails, which nothing but shreds from the long periods they stayed under water. He caught himself on the dangling ropes on the yards and masts of the ship. The he slid down one of the lines to the deck of the galleon. There he landed on top of a commanding Makool warlord, chieftain.

He found himself aboard the enemy vessel surrounded by scores of enemies who didn’t seem to notice him there once he landed on the decks. Ilkabad drew a hand axe and his Kopis right as he commenced his own battle against the Makool. This single great warrior killed his way to the bow as more Makool poured out of the cabins of the galleon. He could not keep up with the amount of corpses he was adding to the deck full of skeletal remains. His mind went to how much he hated it whenever they entered a battle with the Makool the “The Champion of the Angoths” would send him or had him go in first. For Ilkabad it was always into the fray first as the rest of the warriors came in from behind him. In every battle with the Makool this would happen, perhaps Leothrad is trying to make him into another champion? His cousin Evnar often joined him at the front of every single encounter. Except this time Evnar was ordered to stay behind.

Nonetheless Ilkabad couldn’t be that angry with Leothrad, his lover’s twin brother, nor should he even hate the Champion. A hundred Makool glared at him with eyes full of hatred over the killing of their kin. For that moment Ilkabad felt isolated until he saw dozens of Velts and other new allies that Leothrad had picked up, climbing aboard the galleon. He was more than relieved when he saw Leothrad clambering his way up to the stern with a score of warriors armed with bows, swords, and axes following his lead. How many more were coming up to join them? Ilkabad thought as he fought to protect his position at the (bow) prow of the ship. There he took a stand as he watched another wave of Makool emerge from the cabin areas of the enchanted galleon. How were there more of them coming in from the hull? From his knowledge of Galleons those hull should only allow four hundred souls to fill their bellies. Were there more Makool coming in through the hull from the sea somehow?

Ilkabad had never seen this many Makool on board a single resurfaced vessel at once. He saw Leothrad’s allies force their way to the cabins. Seventeen warriors climbed on to the bow of the large craft next to Ilkabad’s position. They were Veltic swordsmen enslaved by the Cren Order once they were captured after battle. A dozen Makool were killed instantly by Ilkabad’s hand before the Velts reached him killing a few score of Makool.

“We’re here to lend a hand. Leothrad wants this entire galleon cleared of any Makool scum on board, he suspects there is a link of chains or lines connecting the galleon to the ocean floor.” A Veltic warrior named Dusbard told Ilkabad who seemed in a loathsome state towards the ship. Funny, Leothrad failed to mention that to me earlier. Ilkabad mutter to himself in his mind. As much as he loathed and yet loved this galleon full of Makool to kill he had a job to do for his lover’s brother.

“Alright what do we need to do about this link to the ocean floor?” Ilkabad asked Dusbard.

“Send the bitch back to the ocean floor!” Dusbard yelled at the top of his lungs as more Makool came after Ilkabad. Dusbard reached out and slapped the Makool with the fathead of his sword. The Makool fell flat on the floor and never got up until one of the others picked him up. It was punched in the face before meeting the blade of another behind it. Ilkabad and the Velts went on the on the attack butchering the Makool on the Galleon.

This ship was lucky it was about to return to the ocean floor. For the amount of the Makool would cause it to fall apart. No one could blame the ocean floor for having rusty iron links connecting itself to the ship. If anyone were to be blamed it had to be the Makool for creating the link from the ship to the ocean floor. All Ilkabad was to kill its entire crew of Makool and send her back to where she belonged. Even if the ship sank to the floor in pieces the floor would still take her and caress her wits soft touching sand. Yet the hard stones, rocks, and the coral reefs jutting upward would penetrate her like a companion who still loved him since she first saw him in his home and met him again somewhere else. It had always been Ilkabad’s duty to send this beautiful sleepy beauty to the soft caressing hands of the careless scholar full of joy and compassion.

Somehow the ship detached itself ocean floor, causing it to rock in the water. Ilkabad guessed the rusty links were fading away from being in the water for so long and stretching the distance between her and the sands she should be with. Now it was a matter of killing the Makool and the sorcerers inside, forcing the ship down to its resting place. It was after all for her own good since no ship in that condition could ever sail again. Even though he’d love to sail and ride this Makool infested beauty he had no choice but to send her down to the floor of the ocean. It felt as though he and his allies were raping the ship in order to get rid of the Makool inside. The very bowels of the galleon were full of Makool protecting the sorcery that kept it afloat from the place she belonged to.

Leading a contingent of warriors, Ilkabad jumped in first into a gaping hole near the prow of the beautiful galleon. He felt others were penetrating through the stern holes and the front entrances of the cabins. The great warrior found himself in the third level floor of the hull surrounded by Makool he had to kill in order to gain control of the stairs to prevent more Makool from coming up. The infestation was beyond count as scores of warriors butchered the Makool forcing them down to the last deck of the hull. There the Makool started to abandon the galleon leaving several sorcerers unprotected. Ilkabad hunted four of them down below the second level. Each one gave a good fight but failed due to the swiftness of Ilkabd’s blade and Kopis. One was found at the very end of the ship now regretting ever keeping the galleon afloat and away from the soft arms of the floor.

Another Makool gave up and dove out of the ship through a hole in the stern. A rather large looking Angoth with a thick black beard grabbed a scrawny looking Makool sorcerer by the neck and slammed its head repeatedly against a single beam. One larger looking sorcerer found itself kicked around by three long haired Angoths and finished off by a corrupted mermaid witch which slit its throat.

The last few were dealt with slowly as the ship began its descent back to the ocean floor. Two were crushed under the weight of the ships storage area collapsing in on two of the quarters. Three more died while Ilkabad made his ascent up to the outer decks of the galleon. One of the sorcerers ran for it but bumped into Ilkabad who had him stomped to death. Another on had control over most of the ship, which had it the one who had charmed it to rise up from her resitng place. Its brother appeared to have encouraged it to in the first place, but gutted the charmer with its trident. It was a betrayal that sent the entire galleon straight down to the floor never to return. For some reason five Angoths let the betrayer live and captured him for future servitude of keeping the ships from resurfacing. As Ilkabad dove from the sinking vessel he realized there were five Angoths left behind whom went down with the galleon. He watched the five comrades go down with the galleon. The corrupted mermaid swam up to him and as other allies returned to their vessels. Makkura was her name and she chose to be free of the Makool’s corruption. Several of the Makool sorcerers whom survived emerged before them offering their assistance.

“This may seem strange to you, but we have chosen to switch sides with the rightful powers of this world.” One of them said to the Angoth warriors. The Makools nodded their heads and expected to have a warm welcome for their assistance.