The Lore master Xantese Zerylliom with a humble help of Sleeping Dragon presents:
Ancient Library of Balor: Lost Tomes
The Story of Passing Years: Chronicles of the Shadow Crystal Wars, recorded by Archmage Loest.
~ Interlude 1: Battle Plans ~
It had been some weeks since the newest recruits came to our camp when Commander Skullcrusher and Lieutenant Truesight decided Ythan was ready to accompany her and Victor on a reconnaissance mission.
“It should be fairly simple, hun.”
“What she means is, even you can’t screw it up.” Victor’s obnoxious laugh, practically a guffaw, filled the strategy tent in which we were meeting. Commander Skullcrusher had called all of us together for our first discussion with the newcomer, and Priestess Mist had just returned with Assassin Thoughtripper (whom I shall refer to henceforth simply as Zhanna and Serena) from their recent expedition to Lyth, offering stealth training to the warriors of that country as well as healing of the sick and injured (and, knowing the Priestess, a healthy dose of what amounts to proselytization, though the Lythians certainly wouldn’t convert to adoration of The Seven under any conditions, let alone just because some woman came into their midst offering healing and firm lessons from her religious experiences in a kingdom since overtaken by the Shadows).
Zhanna turned to the buffoon, who was busy chortling over his “joke” still. “Don’t be so brash, Victor.” She turned her kindly face to Ythan. “What he’s trying to say is that we don’t wish to throw you to the Wulven. This should provide you with ample opportunity to showcase your talents in a relatively safe manner while utilizing your abilities to their fullest.” She eyed Victor. “Hopefully this one won’t be too much trouble. I suspect Lieutenant Truesight will see to it.”
“No need to worry, Zhanna. Vic learned long ago not mess with me.” Lieutenant Truesight glared at Victor, whose laughter had ceased sharply and whose hands darted somewhere under the table. I could guess they were protecting a tender area below the belt.
Serena, whose profession perhaps misleads those who meet her (though there are few who meet her who don’t know her well and aren’t on the business end of her blades), stopped contemplating the whole scene and spoke. “As fun as this banter is, we have work to do. Glad we settled that Ythan’s going on this mission with Victor and Gwen, but there’s more at hand. Lance and Amber have been occupied in the West with all the fighting in The Vale and could probably use some reinforcements. Eladwen, Nishaven, and Jericho aren’t making much headway in Braxno, no doubt because the warriors don’t value their knowledge as much as they might one’s strength, a move I lobbied hard against.”
Victor stopped cupping his privates. “I thought it’d help them to see the reasoning behind it instead of feeling like they were being attacked.” He’d stood up and placed his hands on the table, leaning forward and staring daggers at Serena, who glared icily back.
“The point,” Zhanna interjected, “is not what was but what needs to be. Stationed as we are so close to Brother’s Isle, we must find the resources to approach the Templars for their assistance. It also seems we could benefit from discussing payment with the Yari, though we’re just as likely to be outsold with them. In addition, we need to reinforce The Vale with as many men and women as we’re able to spare. Finally, we must send warriors to better explain to the Gaderi the necessity of their involvement with our troops. We will need to use the other new recruits for some of these things, regardless of their preparedness. Luckily, the Lythians understand our plight and recognize that the enemy is far too close for even their comfort and will soon send men and women to aid Amber, Lance, and the Swan.”
“Have you gotten this, Loest?” Commander Skullcrusher never quite believed in my ability to notate as quickly as I do.
“Yes, Commander. I must add,” and here I stopped writing briefly, “that the Priestess Mist has quite a point. While the Enchantress Aramia, Priest Threbin, Knight Pureheart, and Assassin Ravensoul may well need more preparation, they are no longer far behind the Hunter Redthorn. Though they truly need more time, we are rather short on that particular resource.”
I resumed my note-taking, beginning with what I had just said.
“I suppose so,” Commander Skullcrusher said, nodding. “We just need to see how we can best use these new warriors. Gwen, Vic, Ythan, you need to head to The Wilds immediately. It’s a long voyage from here, and we need to know whether the locals are willing to assist us. Everyone else will remain here, mostly because Zhanna and Serena just returned from their own voyage and you deserve what small amount of rest we can afford. Besides, I need your help in finding their talents and deciding what to do with them.”
“Agreed,” Zhanna said.
“We’ll leave in the morning,” Lieutenant Truesight added.
We had decided that Zhanna, Serena, and I should watch as Commander Skullcrusher trained the recruits in the morning, discuss what to do with them after dinner that night, and ship groups out the next morning. Yet things never work out quite as well as we plan them.
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