Good Evening, I got another good evening of writing done, and completed another chapter, another of the ‘wider picture’ interludes featuring General Cav Badar and his mercenary army. As I have with other ‘Interludes’ I am going to post the entire section below.
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Interlude: The Coast of the Nightlands
The northernmost continent of the Terra had many names, as they all did, but most commonly, it was known simply as the Nightlands, and it certainly looked it. In time long past memory, in the early wars of the gods and their followers, Ymiron, the God of Night, had made the continent his powerbase and home of his servants. The entire continent was permanently shrouded by night, the sun appearing as a dull second moon overhead. It was the Boon of Ymiron that even in night, and the cold from the absence of sun, still there were places were food would grow.
The sun had been high above when the countless warships and transports under the command of Cav Badar, sailed into the Bay of the Silver Moon, and the nearer their ships were to the shore, the darker everything was. There were three camps, and a small harbor, all under the Dark Moon Banner, but far too few to stop the force that Cav Badar had brought to bear. The beaches were cleared by early evening, or what would have been early evening where they had come from, and the General himself came ashore. His men were already well in the process of enlarging the harbor, and building two others to bring in supplies and troops, and fortifications facing the interior.
A large tent had been setup for the General and when he entered, a variety of salutes were offered. Cav Badar, still cutting a formidable figure armored for battle returned the salutes in kind and came forward to observe the map. He turned to Vae’gar, always hovering nearby, and said, “how are we looking, lieutenant?”
Vae’gar took a step forward and addressed the room, “casualties amount to a few dozen, mostly wounded, in our landing. We have a few of their wounded, but those that still lived and were well enough to move fled into the hills. We should have the coast fully secured with defenses in the hills by the end of the day, the harbors should be completed by the end of the day tomorrow, and the rest of our forces landed by the end of this week.”
Cav Badar nodded along to that and studied the map in silent for a few minutes before saying anything. “Grathnik,” an elderly goblin snapped to attention. “Melonda,” a young, half-elf missing her right hand and eye, nodded. “Have your Red Spears and One-Eyed Archers move toward the mountain pass to the interior and fortify it. From there we will arrange a rotation of companies to guard it. Expect resistance, it is the only way that a force of any side can reach this bay, or the interior. “Galandh,” an entirely bald dwarf stopped sharpening his axe and looked up at the general. “Take your Rain of Hammers company west. You’ll find a path that also leads into the mountains. It is well blocked by stones. Clear them and fortify the entrance. The rest of you, work on security the rest of these hills and setting up fortifications and fortified camps.”
Various form of salute and a mutter of acknowledgment followed, and the various company captains left the tent to follow their general’s orders. A flurry of other smaller orders were issue, scattering the small cloud of messengers always nearby, leaving only Cav Badar and Vae’gar in the tent. The man walked to a nearby table, poured a cup of water, downed it, and turned to sit on a plain, but still comfortable chair. With a sigh, he removed his helmet, ran a hand through his white hair, and sat back in thought.
A streak of light falling from the sky could be seen, even through the canvas of the tents, and it came to a rest, in a bright flash, right outside the flaps of the tent. A few seconds, during which the challenge and answer of guards could be heard, the entranceway opened to reveal one of the Angelorum, who looked around earnestly and beamed a smile when they landed on Cav Badar. As this was happening, the general let out a small grunt of annoyance, and stood once he had been recognized and moved towards his new guest.
The Angelorum stood almost a full head taller than the Human and in the candlelight of the tents seemed to radiate a similar yellow-orange light. Their features and proportions look similar to a human, save for the wings made of light, neatly folded at their back, and the glow of light that they and their clothing shone with. They had hair swept back and reaching just about their shoulders, a chest plate emblazoned with the symbols of their people was over what looked like a tunic that came to just above their knees. Legs and arms, both muscular, were bare with gauntlet and greaves over gloves and boots. Cav Badar wondered whether these pieces of armor were fashioned or were merely manifestations of the Angelorum’s power, he had seem them create a multitude of weapons of light seemingly out of thing air.
The Angelorum did not seem inclined to start the conversation, so the general did, “how can I help you today, Zaroth?”
The smile never left Zaroth’s perfect and shining face as they replied, “We have witnessed you army moving to invade this continent, the Nightlands I have heard them called, and we wished to know why. Your forces are formidable and your skills well talked of, but surely you cannot think you can take the continent and storm of the Citadel of Endless Night with this force?”
Cav Badar shook his head, “I did not come here to seize the continent nor storm the God of Night’s fortress, but to instead create a place where all of our forces may gather, once his various followers across the rest of the Terra are dealt with, and continue the war from there. Until that time comes, we will do what we can to ensure to support or reinforcements for his servants comes from his base of power here.”
Zaroth seemed to ponder this for a moment, “I see the value in that, although you may be here some time. Even with out help, there seems to be difficulty for those who claim to oppose your God of Night in tracking down and defeating his opponents. Besides, surely there are other way that those that follow the Dark Moon Banner can use to support their allies.”
Cav Badar shook his head and indicated the map on the table, “see for yourself, Zaroth. The countless wars of the various divinities, and their servants, have turned this continent into a fortress, walled around with mountains, which we do not find so easy to get around as you, Zaroth. There are only three bays on the whole continent where a large army and fleet could sail of land from.”
The general indicated another bay that was approximately a quarter of the way around, east, the outside of the continent. “Blood Moon Bay, the entirety of which is Ymir’Atan, capital city of the Night Elves, the oldest and perhaps greatest of Ymiron’s servants. Twin fortress guard the mouth and any landing would be right into the heart of the city. Fine as my army, it would be slaughter to attack there, if we could even get our fleet there. Blood Moon Bay opens into the Tortured Islands and the Storm Seas which surround them. Only those with favor of the God of the Seas could even home to move through there in force, and though he is known to be fickle, he has never been a friend to the God of Night. That same protection prevents the Night Elves, or any of Ymiron’s other armies from sailing from there. I have squadrons nearby to ensure that any lone ships attempting the voyage are captured once they leave the Storm Seas.”
He then indicated a bay, by far the largest of the three, laying approximately right across the continent from them. “The Bay of Icy Stars has been frozen over for time out of mind. One could, I suppose, risk the Ice Floes and land an army with appropriate transportation at the edge of the ice, but it is a long and punishingly cold journey to anyplace we could possibly setup a permanent camp, supplies would rapidly become a problem from the distance and lack of food to forage, as would another of the Night God’s servants, the Ice Trolls. They are few in number, so far as we known, but they are formidable opponents and can live and move freely on the Ice. Occasionally, our histories tell us, they would launch small raids from there, but bigger and full invasions armies would be impossible, and I have squadrons in the area as well, hoping to catch any such raids.
Cav Badar finished up, indicating where they were, “Bay of the Silver Moon is the only one we can easily approach and land our forces, it was lightly held to avoid suspicion before the Dark God was ready to reveal himself, there is enough space between sea and the mountains to build up a substantial force, an the limited ways into or out of the area make it easy to defend, and we are close to my islands, which will make supplies all the easier.”
The Angelorum took it all in with their usual impassive face, nodding occasionally, and was silent for a moment before responding. “I appreciate your insight? Do you require any assistance from us?”
“Materially? No, but if you can use your unique view to keep me apprised of any movements of our enemy,” replied Cav Badar. If Zaroth noticed the terseness in the general’s voice, they did not react to it.
Zaroth nodded again and produced a sphere of light in their hand, and handed it to Cav Badar. It had weight to it, which was not expected, but the warmth it radiated was unsurprising as he could feel the same coming off Zaroth just standing nearby. “If you have need of us, contact us with this, and we shall do the same. We shall do as you ask, and we shall be ready once Ymiron’s followers are appropriately dealt with. Until then, fair you well.”
Not waiting for a response, the winged figured turned on their heel, strode from the tenth, and soon a streak of light extended in the sky. With a look of annoyance, Cav Badar wrapped the sphere of light in a cloth and put it on the table beside the chair that he sat heavily on.
Vae’gar waited to see if the General needed anything and was just about to leave when the elderly human said, perhaps to him and perhaps to the himself, “I shudder to think what of what their idea of ‘appropriately dealt with’ means.”
“Sir?” Vae’gar inquired as he stepped forward.
Cav Badar looked up and seemed surprised that he was not alone. He sighed and addressed his adjutant, “Vae’gar, be careful of the Angelorum, and people like them. They have a view of how the world should be that does not allow for variation or opposition, and they will use all their might to make the world conform, and feel themselves righteous in doing so.”
The elf took another step forward and hesitated, but after a moment he placed his papers down on the map table, and took a chair opposite the human. “I saw the slaughter at the Battle of the Two Rivers, as it seems to be called, even of those who were trying to surrender.”
The Elderly general nodded and ran a hand through his hair, “yes, that battle was won before a sword was drawn and thousands might have survived had they not involved themselves. The same is being enacted, large and small, all over the Terra. Their presence induced the God of Night to declared himself, and all areas of our Terra into war and chaos, and in every corner, the Angelorum strike and slaughter not only the armies under the Dark Moon Banner but search and question far and wide in the name of finding the Dark God’s secret supporters.”
“Sir, is there anything we can do?”
Cav Badar gave a hollow laugh, “if only there were. As it stands, they seem to be convinced that I and my armies are no followers of Ymiron, and they seem satisfied to let us do as we will. I have had many of their messengers ask me to join their efforts of rooting out his followers. Opposing or questioning them would only lead to more slaughter. All we can do is try to find a way to unite and end the Dark God’s latest quest to rule us all as soon as we can.”
Vae’gar nodded grimly to this. “Do you believe that others will come to aid us?”
“Who can predict the future with any accuracy? But yes, I believe that we will get aid before too long. There are others who feel as I do.”
Vae’gar stood, gathered up the papers from the table, and was about to leave when another question occurred to him, “what do you make of the rumors that the Dark God has gotten some powerful weapon that was hidden from him since the beginning of our age?”
Cav Badar shrugged, “I have heard the same, and there does seem to be a. . .boldness to his moves in the last few months that does not match the tales of the last few times he was freed. I have also heard, at least third hand of course, that around the time of our battle, there was some big scandal among the other divinities, and a hunt for something. I do not know what to make of it, and it would not much change our situation.”
Vae’gar nodded, “is there anything you need, General, before I see how things are progressing?”
Cav Badar shook his head, “no, thank you, Vae’gar. I need to rest and think for a bit, I think. Have some food sent in a couple hours, and we’ll have another gathering early tomorrow morning, for what little such a term means here.”
Vae’gar snapped a salute and strode out of the tent. The aged general felt comfortable enough to remove the rest of his armor. He spent a few minutes stretching his tired limbs, drank a few cups of water in fairly quick succession, and then went through the flap on the opposite side of the tent from the entrance, within which was a desk, a small chest, and one of the couches he preferred to sleep on, one of the few comforts he allowed himself for his age. He was not surprised to see, sitting quietly on a chair in the corner, a tall and powerfully built figure.
Cav Badar sighed, “I am here, as you have asked, and I do see the wisdom in it, but we are risking much, especially if what you say is true and Ymiron is indeed in possession of the Hand of Death.”
“It is true,” said the deep voice of the man in the corner. “And I have told you the precautions to take, but even with the Hand of Death it will take time for him to regain all of his power and make full use of the it.
Cav Badar nodded, sat and then lay back on the couch, and said, “I hope you are right. I know that Ymiron needs to be stopped before either he or the Angelorum cover this whole Terra in blood, but I do hope that I have not led my people to death, or worse.” He glanced over to see the chair empty. Somehow, he was not surprised by that either and with another sigh willed himself to slip into an uneasy sleep.
I hope you have a wonderful day, have the chance to do or experience something creative, and I’ll catch you on the next one!
– Jon
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