Mihel stands at the forefront of the army with his royal regiment surrounding him. Godwine and the others stand in the third regiment of soldiers watching the left flank. They've marched through eight other villages since they joined, all giving whatever soldiers they can. As the sun begins to set the sky darkening the army begins to set camp up for the night, each regiment keeping watch of their own sectors. In the first regiment stands Mihel along with Celina Tasha and Godwine as well as the leader of the second, fourth and fifth regiment.
Mihel stands in front of a table with a large map of Folga on it. He looks over it slowly and methodically. "We have gathered about twelve regiments worth of soldiers. Thus we can send a few easy missions and not be affected. If we send regiment twelve to raid Azmar and return the goods to our villages and send regiment eleven to Checad and regiment ten to Siled and they do the same thing that should come with no consequences," after he finishes talking he looks elsewhere. "Here there is a mountain range completely blocking those three off from the rest of the nation so while they are being raided we attack Neer with the rest of the army. Our nine regiments should be able to easily crumple their walls and then we will have breached the mountain range."
Godwine looks at the map listening to Mihel. "Excuse me for speaking out of turn but Neer would be dangerous even with our numbers. How do you intend to attack?"
"While yes it will be dangerous we have no other options unless we go through Afrium we must attack through Neer. The plan would be to send the lesser regiments to get us an opening then we rush them and quickly take that bastion of a town," Mihel points at Neer then returns to look at the rest of the map.
"What's the plan after that? Look there are many villages close by over here, but the capital is the other way which is where most of their forces will come from," Godwine begins to give ideas which makes Mihel think. "We could send the ninth and eighth regiment to raid those villages while we prepare to fight the armies that are bound to be coming from the capital."
"Well the current Folgan king won't be joining their frontlines most likely. However our siege at Neer is going to take several days. Depending on how long it takes the regiments sent to raid will return before we breach Neer which could give us new options," Godwine and Mihel stand on opposite sides of the table thinking as the other leaders stand back with Tasha and Celina.
"We could rush Neer we have the numbers to get ladders up and eventually breach the wall; it would just cost more lives," Godwine gives an idea that seems to worry the other leaders. "Sitting back and using siege weapons would be good but will give their armies a chance to arrive before we breach."
Mihel looks at the mountain range on the map before he seems to remember something. "Before we were locked away our explorers were searching the mountain range and found a possible way around. There's a narrow path here that seemingly goes through the mountain range but was never fully explored before borders were closed."
Godwine quickly responds. "That would be too risky. Even if it was my regiment or your own it hasn't been fully explored, it could take too long or get everyone killed," Godwine looks over at Celina for a second before looking back at the map. "What are the main skills of the Osmon's royal soldiers?"
"Most are horseback which are all trained to be quick and efficient. The others are assassins that we normally have flank enemy lines," Mihel points at the two royal soldiers who are guarding the entrance of the tent.
Godwine brings his hand up to his chin. "Have the assassins sneak into the town. See if they can open the gate from the inside. While they do that have the calvary ready if the gate opens they charge in. It'll be messy having horseback fight in a town but it'll give us an opening to scale the walls," Godwine looks at Mihel as he waits for a response.
"That could work. But what happens if the assassins can't get the gate open?" Mihel sounds intrigued as he looks at Godwine.
"While they are in their eliminating high value targets and getting the gates opened we should be trying to prepare catapults or trebuchets," Mihel seems pleased with Godwine's response nodding his head.
"That sounds like a good plan actually. Didn't expect such a well thought out plan from a mere merc," Mihel chuckles some as he looks around the room. "No one could give any better ideas than you."
"King Mihel do beware that the lords who patrol this side of the mountain range are bound to attempt to stop us," Godwine warns Mihel but he seems uninterested, he turns and leaves without saying anything else. Godwine lets out a sigh before looking at the other leaders along with Tasha and Celina. "Let us return to our regiment I suppose."
As the sun rises on a new day Celina stands at the edge of the third regiment's camp watching the barren plains of Osmon one last time before their advance begins. Godwine walks around collecting and handing out supplies giving orders for who to carry what. Tasha assists in packing the tents as they finish getting ready to move again. "We wait for the king's horn then we sound ours and begin to move," Godwine speaks as the preparations to leave are completed and the soldiers begin to gather ready to march.
Minutes later a horn sounds in the distance followed by another then the sound of Godwine's regiment's horn and then the army begins to march. As they march eventually the land turns green as they enter the land of Folga, and to no surprise a small army led by a local lord stands in the distance. Infantry lined at the top of a hill archers on both flanks yet the Folgan cavalry is nowhere to be found. Celina walks up next to Godwine who is closely looking at the army and their formation looking around for any sign of the cavalry. "Godwine I along with some of our cavalry can charge the archers on the left flank."
"No, that is likely what they are hoping for. We should hold back and wait till the cavalry begin their charge," Godwine looks at the king's regiment then at the ones behind them. "Let the regiments behind us charge past us, don't slow them down."
Celina looks at Godwine both concerned and distraught at his willingness to use the death of others for his own gain. "Godwine you want to use the other regiments so ours can do better. I didn't think you would be like that."
"We are mercs and they gave us control over a regiment of course I'm going to do this. We have no reason to care for those who won't care about us. It is contract above all else," Godwine speaks with no doubt in his words. "Besides any day we may be turning our swords against Osmon."
Celina reluctantly nods. "I understand Godwine but I still don't like this," Celina turns, looking at a large tree line to the side of the battlefield. "The tree line over there. Let's use it so we aren't charging through this open land."
Godwine nods as he signals to the regiment to follow him. They slowly begin to move through the forest, as they enter the range of the archers one arrow lands next to Tasha followed by several more. The left flank archers know of their presence. Arrows pour down like a waterfall in waves, the trees becoming porcupines as the few arrows that don't hit trees either land next to the regiment or collide with shields, some hitting soldiers. Seconds later the arrows stop, the king's regiment has advanced. Some of the archers continue to fire at Godwine's regiment but most now fire on the advancing regiments.
"We've lost three members of our regiment Godwine," Tasha shouts as an arrow impales the tree next to her. "We are within range that we could charge them without much issue."
"No keep your shields raised, men. We don't charge till the cavalry is busy," Godwine shouts as an arrow bounces off his armor. As the king's regiment begins to march up the hill the ground begins to tremble. The Folgian cavalry charges from behind the archers colliding with the king's regiment. "Charge the archers now men!" Godwine shouts as he starts to run forward the archers within Godwine's regiment begin to fire their arrows at the regiment.
"May the winds guide my sails," Celina stands away from the rest of the regiment as she launches herself forward impaling a soldier as she lands on him, his blood splattering onto his allies. As the archers quickly try to switch to melee combat Celina runs through the soldiers until she reaches a noble who clashes with her blade. Vines impale the soldiers surrounding him wet with blood. The noble sets two figures on his sword seconds later it is consumed by fire causing Celina to jump backwards.
"Scared of a little flame?" The noble taunts Celina as he slowly walks forward. The noble's hand fills with flames as he chucks it at Celina. As Celina dodges the strike the flame hits a soldier from their regiment causing Celina to be thrown off slightly. "A merc that cares for the soldiers she serves. Well ain't that just sweet," seconds later the two of them are surrounded by flame pillars. "But I don't care about them, it is you and me," a scream can be heard from one of the pillars as a bow hits the ground.
Celina grits her teeth as she begins to run at the noble. Flames are flung with the circle of fire as their blades clash, neither side able to get the upper hand. "You fight fierce and wild just like a flame should," Celina compliments the noble as she delivers a kick to his chest sending him stumbling backwards.
"Heh," the noble slowly regains his footing while Celina delivers a cut to his shoulder causing him to scream in pain. "Why should I fight any other way when I use magic such as this?" The noble sends a wave of flames forward with a simple gesture causing Celina to disengage.
Celina smiles as she uses her wind magic to part an opening in the flames as the noble swings at her. One simple dodge and there is her opening. "You should fight in other ways so you aren't predictable," with those words she stabs the noble's chest piercing his heart. "Flames are a beautiful thing, treat them like the beauty they are."
Godwine slams his shield into the face of a soldier, vines emerge from the ground piercing several soldiers drenching the vine in scarlet red. As the flames disperse Celina stands over the dead noble and as the soldiers see their leader's corpse some turn and run yet most stay holding their ground. Tasha picks a sword up off the ground clumsily swinging it. Godwine glances over at the king's regiment who has taken a circle formation attempting to fend off the cavalry.
A small group of enemy infantry break off from the main formation moving to assist the archers. Godwine notices this as the archers move towards the infantry. "Do not back down men!" Godwine shouts as he chases the archers as bows slowly turn to swords and shields. "We fight! Do not back down!" with a swift move Godwine throws his shield forward, landing in front of the archers using his magic to form a holy wall blocking the enemies retreat. "Kill the cornered rats!"
Tasha chucks a vial towards the holy wall and it bounces off shattering as it hits the ground. Seconds later a strike of lighting lands directly on a soldier followed by a bang sending the soldiers in the vicinity flying. Tasha smiles as she summons magic staves, sending them to impale the soldiers going clean through.
"The smell of blood is always an exhilarating one," a noble whose eyes shake approaches Godwine. "Allow me to show you what blood can do," as he speaks he slices his arm as his blood drips onto the earth eventually it hardens forming an axe. "You are strong enough to be added."
Godwine sheaths his sword grabbing his two handed sword off his back as the noble charges swinging his axe downwards at Godwine. Godwine barely dodges to the side and as the axe collides with the ground a loud crash is heard as the axe is embedded into the earth. Godwine quickly rams the pommel of his sword into the noble's face causing him to lose his grip on his axe. The axe dissipates into blood the noble quickly forming daggers from his fresh blood that still oozes from the cut. He throws the blood daggers at Godwine, each dagger dissipating into blood after it collides with a soldier or the ground. Some daggers hit his allies, others his enemies. "You are unwell, allow me to help you find peace," Godwine impales the earth with his sword and then does the same with his short sword. He takes a fighting stance as the noble charges.
"I'm unwell, look at you!" the noble laughs as he forms a lance with his fresh blood jabbing it at Godwine who simply pushes it aside as the noble gets closer dropping the lance when it becomes ineffective. "You look to fight someone using blood magic with your fists! You are a fool!" as the noble forms a grated sword with his blood Godwine begins to throw punches. One hitting the noble's stomach causing him to gasp and spit blood. Another lands hitting his chest and then another Godwine leaves no room for air as one after another he beats the noble's body. As blood seeps from the noble's skin he continues to laugh. "To beat a blood mage you must end it quickly you idiot!" The noble's fresh blood that now covers his blood solidifies into spikes all aimed to pierce Godwine. Godwine isn't phased by this calmly and efficiently he breaks the spikes with clean punches one by one until there are none left. The noble's face is filled with terror as he watches Godwine easily foil his plan. Silently the noble forms a dagger of blood in his hand trying to stab Godwine but before he could even prepare Godwine delivers a punch filled with holy aura directly to his face sending his head flying off his body.
"May the abyss treat you well," Godwine closes his eyes until the noble's corpse hits the ground, quickly finding his shield and picking it up, causing the holy wall to fall. As they engage the main part of the army the king's regiment joins having dealt with the cavalry. Distant screams are heard as arrows quit being shot.
Mihel stands surrounded by corpses, his face sorrowful as he is approached by what seems to be a lord. "I knew you before the brothers disappeared, Mihel. You were a friend, someone we trusted. But seeing this side of you, seeing you slaughter these soldiers with such ferocity it disturbs me. We didn't want to close borders but we," the lord is cut off.
"But you still did. You let Afrium have their way with you. You chose Afrium over us; you believed their lies! I didn't want to stand here surrounded by the people I once traded with and visited. I was left with no choice but war! This is nothing personal, simply what must be done because you chose them instead!" Mihel is breathing heavily as he stares the lord down.
"To see your face being filled with such sorrow, it disgusts me. Why do you feel pity for those you fight? It is weak. If you intended to win this war then you should first fix that," the lord turns and starts to walk away clapping. "But congrats on this victory. I'm impressed you managed to defeat us but you will not win this war. This will be your only victor-" the lord is once again unable to finish speaking.
"Call me weak now," Mihel's lance pierces the lord's chest. "I fight for my people and they are starving. Your sacrifice for them will not be forgotten," the lord's eyes darken his limp corpse falls to the ground.