The Ultimate Price: Round 5, episode 3

Messages to Erlenstar Mountain:

His Majesty, Prince Tirunedeth of Erlenstar, to Lady Auber of Ymris
Fall, day 5

My Lady Auber:

It is with the greatest horror and grief that I must tell you that your Lord Husband, my dear brother-in-law and advisor Heureu, is lost to us in battle with the enemy. Although it sears my hand to write the words, I owe the truth to you, and to Heureu’s memory.

As you will no doubt hear, battle was joined late yesterday afternoon. In the thick of the fighting, Baron Heureu disappeared. We later followed tracks back into the area behind the Eagle Pass. A short way along the road, several of his men lay dead amongst the stones—it seemed that their bodies had been savaged by wolves, or wild dogs. As we stared in horror, we heard a weak voice hailing us from behind a fallen tree. The man, although gravely injured, urged us to leave him where he lay and follow the Baron with all speed, for he feared the worst. No sooner had he said this than he collapsed, unconscious. Leaving one of my men to watch over him, I hurried into the woods with the rest of my troops.

We pressed on along the track, but darkness was falling fast in that deep canyon, and it was hard to see. At length, it was full night, and we were forced to stop and build fires to ward off the wolves, and to drink a few swallows of wine and bind up our wounds. We rose as soon as it was light enough to see, and resumed our search.

After several more hours, looking amongst the great trees and boulders of the canyons, we found the Baron at last, lying grievously wounded and accompanied only by a single man-at-arms, Sil Oakland. Sil told us that on the previous day, as the enemy appeared before us in the Pass, Baron Heureu had heard men clambering behind the Pass and, accompanied by his soldiers, had hurried back to bar their way. At first the enemy fled before them, but eventually, at the point where we had found some of his men, they turned and battle was joined. To our horror, Sil told us that the demon-spawn seemed able to shift shapes during the fight, unlike those we battled in the Pass, although their shape changes were slow and seemingly difficult. After the fight, only Heureu and Sil remained on their feet, but the enemy were also greatly reduced. They resumed their flight into the forest, pursued again by the Baron, and arrived at length in a shadowy glade. Sil shivered as he told us that it seemed to him that Death awaited them there.

Here again Baron Heureu and Sil fought courageously with the shapeshifters, and here the Baron was struck down by the demon’s sword just as night began to fall on the canyon.

Yet even as Heureu fell, pierced through, he managed to slay the shape-shifter, or so Sil believed, yet no body was found when it grew light again. Sil stayed faithfully by the Baron’s side throughout the long dark night, repeatedly driving off the marauding black wolves with only his sword, having no means to make a fire.

By the time we came upon Baron Heureu and Sil, the Baron was no longer conscious. I cannot describe the horror and despair which fell upon me upon seeing him insensible on the ground, his clothing torn and bloody, and his fair countenance stained with blood.

I had been there only a brief time when he slipped away. We saluted him as the bravest of men and most faithful of companions and advisors, who had given his life to be sure that none of our enemy would survive to attack when our backs were turned.

After his death, we moved his body from that accursed spot to a peaceful meadow near a small lake, where we laid him out as best we could, and where I performed the Meditation of the Sword for him, as a brother should.

Since we could not bear his body back, being few in number and many of us wounded, and would not leave it there to be savaged by the wolves, we built a mighty pyre and gave his body to the flames in all honor. All grieved for him, a strong man, a great leader, a true friend and brother.

My Lady Auber, I give you my word as monarch and as your brother by marriage, that although I do not have the power to restore your husband to you alive, we will bring his ashes back to you upon our return, that they may lie in the Ymris crypt beside those of his grandfather. I will stand as father to Heureu’s son and daughter, and lend my arm to defend you and your home as he would have done. Baron Heureu gave his life for all the people of Erlenstar, and he will not be forgotten.

Yours in the deepest grief and sympathy,
Tirunedeth
Prince of Erlenstar

Battle! : Round 5, Episode 2

Abbot Aloil’s Book of Days
Fall, Day 3

After many quiet days in camp, the first sighting of the enemy was made yesterday. In some ways it was a relief to His Majesty the Prince, I think, after so many days of thinking and rethinking his plans. He feels his responsibilities most deeply.

As soon as the news was received, the army sprang into action.

As planned, most of the men will be placed back in the hills, with all the heavy artillery and under the command of Lord Spirel. Lord Astrin’s cohort of scouts and spies will continue to watch and to coordinate the movement of the forces—it is believed that a relatively small number of Sea People lead the enemy forces, with merely human troops following in the van. Our placement in ambush should enable us to see them approaching and to close the pass by rolling down the heavy stones as soon as the shape-shifters have passed through. Then all will depend upon Prince Tirunedeth, Baron Heureu, and their small picked force of men, to eliminate as many of the demon-spawn as they may.

We are fortunate that His Majesty learned of the special properties of the Eagle Pass during his studies at the College of Riddles in Caithnard. Only here, where ancient reports claim that the great caverns “swallow” magic, could we have the opportunity to deal with our foes as equals. Of course, much hinges upon the truth of the faded documents—but that we cannot know until the moment is upon us.
I plan to remain with the Prince’s force, for better or worse, to document these momentous events for those who may follow us. The men have made their farewells, knowing that battle will be upon us soon.

Fall, day 4
Ah, what a day has passed! We arrived at the pass this morning, and moved into positions of concealment. As always, Prince Tirunedeth set men on watch, including his favorite bowman, whom he trusts above all others.

Late in the afternoon came the word we were awaiting—the enemy had been sighted. We can only hope that the bulk of our forces were in place with Lord Spirel, ready to block the pass before the main enemy army can reach us. No word has arrived this day from Lord Astrin, or from any of the scouts.

The first of the Sea People entered the Pass cautiously, as we watched from our hiding places up on the slopes

Unsurprisingly, the Prince insisted upon being the first to test the invaders in battle, to see if they retained the ability to shape shift, or if they would be forced to fight and die as men, as our equals.

When His Majesty stepped down out of concealment, it was clear that the enemy had no word of our true plans, for they were completely taken aback. As the Prince engaged his foe, the archers began to fire their arrows down into the approaching enemy, and all became chaos and cacophony.

Men were running, shouting, cursing, screaming all about me. Truly, it was a vision from a nightmare, and I saw things which I can only pray that God will remove from my memory in time. I watched His Majesty breathlessly, terrified that he would fall to the enemy or that the demon would suddenly shift or bring the rocks down upon us in a landslide. Although it seemed that days passed, I believe that in truth it was less than an hour that they battled there in the narrow canyon. At last, Prince Tirunedeth’s opponent collapsed to the ground.

All around us, the sounds of battle began to die away. As the Prince wiped his bloody sword clean upon the leaves, and took a weary drink from a flask offered by one of the men, I realized that we had not seen Baron Heureu since the first moment that the invaders had appeared. The thought seemed to occur to His Majesty at the same moment, and he quickly gathered a few of the men to search for his brother by marriage. He bid me stay here, and tend to the wounded and fallen as best I might, and I have done so to the extent of my abilities as a healer and a man of God.

Next episode: http://kerrysims.blogspot.com/2007/07/ultimate-price-round-5-episode-3.html

The Army Camp: Round 5, Episode 1

Messages to Erlenstar Mountain from the camp near Eagle Pass

Lord Spirel of Hlurl to Duchess Raederle of An
Day 1, Fall

My beloved,

The army has arrived at the chosen site and set up our camp. All seems well—in truth, at times it is hard for me to believe that we await the arrival of our most dread enemy, since our time here has begun with such peace. The camp is well-situated, close to water where the men are able to fish to augment the supply train, and with ample pasturage for the horses.

Close upon our arrival, the Prince called his noblemen together to discuss our strategy and the deployment of our artillery and our forces.

His Majesty relies heavily upon the guidance and wisdom of his brother by marriage, Baron Heureu, as well as upon Lord Astrin of Ymris, who is a learned man with a great understanding of tactics and strategy.

In addition, we receive consolation and direction from the Abbot, Reverend Father Aloil.

No consolation however is enough to relieve me of the want of your presence. It grieved me beyond measure to leave you as I did and I will not soon forget your sorrow.

I beseech you to keep a smiling face and a brave heart for the sake of our son. The thought of his face, along with that of your own dear countenance, fills my memory to the exclusion of all others.

I pray that all is well with you, beloved, and that you have had the news you longed for about the babe.

Your loving husband,
Spirel

Baron Heureu of Ymris to the Lady Auber of Ymris
Day 2, Fall

My lady wife:

I hope that this letter finds you and the children well, and that you are feeling stronger than when I last saw you.

It was hard for me to leave, especially now that you are increasing again. My thoughts have been with you all.

However, it is clear that my presence here has been of great value to Prince Tirunedeth. All indications are that our plan has worked, and that the false intelligence which he had his chatelaine convey to the spy at the wedding has been accepted as genuine. If we can surprise the enemy as they slip through the pass, we have a great chance of killing enough of them that we can buy peace for our people, perhaps for a generation or more. Astrin’s best guess, based on his contacts in the thieves guild, is that although powerful, our enemy are few in numbers.

The Lord Prince has weighed our options with care, although I fear me that the responsibility lies heavily upon him. He sits for many hours before making his disposition of troops, and I know that he worries for each of his men when he must place them in a position of danger.

It is truly said that a crown is a lonely burden, and a heavy one. I do all I can to support his Majesty, and to be brother as well as friend to him, to the best of mine ability.

As for myself, all is well. I find some comfort in talking with my grandfather’s old friend, Abbot Aloil. Truly he is a man of great spiritual depths, as well as great subtlety in more worldly matters. You and the children, as well as the babies to come, are in my heart always.

Yours,
Heureu

Chrisolaryx Fletcher to Clethra Oakland Fletcher (inscribed by Reverend Father Aloil)
Day 1, Fall

Dear wife,
His honor the Abbot is kind enough to write this for me, so that I may send news to you about myself. He will tell the messenger to ask the Reverend Mother Grania to read it for you. I hope that you and the children are all healthy and that the harvest has been a good one. I am glad that you have the boys to help bring in the crops. I hope that Laurus has accepted my decision that he is yet too young to join the fighting, and that he is a support to you and to Aunt Michelia and the children. I know that it was hard to know that I must go.

So far I must say that things have not been as I expected—life is good here in camp. We fish, care for the horses, and take care of our own needs.

We share our latrines and facilities with their Lordships and even with His Majesty the Prince, and you would be surprised to know that they are much like ordinary men.

Most of the men keep their spirits high, although of course we wish for this time to pass so that we may return to our farms and our families in peace.

There is always a man on watch toward the Pass, so do not fret about my safety. It’s a funny thing, though, we’ve seen a lot of wolves around, even in the daylight. I guess maybe it’s just that we’re out here in the woods, but it almost seems like they are watching the Prince. But that sounds silly, I know. Must just be an odd chance.

That’s all, I guess. I hope to see you before winter, if all goes as the Prince hopes. Keep well.

Your loving husband,
Chrisolaryx
(by the hand of Aloil, Abbot)

Next episode: http://kerrysims.blogspot.com/2007/07/battle-round-5-episode-2.html