All was quiet along the castle walls of North River as the watchman stared into the distance looking for signs of movement. The pounding of drums could be heard over the horizon, and a loud horn echoed as a horde of creatures peaked the ridge to the south. The kingdom had grown dark, the sun didn't seem to be able to peek through the ever-thickening fog that covered the land.
The watchman rang his bells alerting the keep. Fires began to light across the wall as soldiers rallied to the queen, who was now standing on top of the southern rampart.
“Where is that damn pirate?" She said, looking toward the river.”
Standing at the front of the horde were a group of unseemly gnomes, riding battle roosters. The leader grasped the reins of his mighty bird and thrust his spear into the air as he cried out a war call. The monsters began to charge the keep at full speed, giants toppled trees as they blundered across the large field approaching the castle.
“With me!” yelled Rhoane, who was standing at the head of the vanguard. The soldiers rallied to their general, creating a shield wall just in front of him.
“Archers at the ready!” he ordered, as he galloped along the front line on horseback. The creatures snarled and growled as they approached closer and closer, pounding the ground with their hooves and claws.
“Loose!” cried Rhoane. The archers fired their bows into the sky, sending an ocean of arrows into the enemy ranks.
Gillie looked out over the battlefield at the large army as they stampeded towards her. She took another glance at the empty harbor. “We are alone,” she said, taking a step toward the edge of the wall. Gillie reached out over the wall while spreading her wings.
“Circulus in praesidium!” she yelled as a surge of energy burst from her hands surrounding the castle in an ominous glow.
“Etrigon, protect the princess!” she said to her personal guard. Etrigon bowed and headed to the great hall. As the first wave of creatures made it to the barrier, they disintegrated upon crossing the threshold. The army halted in its tracks as they inspected the barrier.
The group of gnome’s trotted forward on their war fowls. The leader dismounted his bird and walked to the edge of the barrier. He began to stroke his beard as he examined the barrier, then kicked a rock into the glowing ring, disintegrating the stone upon crossing it. The gnome grunted and looked to the top of the wall at the queen, then fixed his gaze on Rhoane.
“I am Singy, leader of the gnomes. Give us the princess and you shall live to see the sunrise again.” Rhoane stepped forward glaring at the small creature.
“I do not wish to kill such an opponent, there is no honor in it. Return to your forest. The only thing for you here is a swift death.”
Singy looked back to his fellow gnomes and gave a nod, one pulled out a small whistle and began to blow, yet no sound could be heard. The soldiers begin to laugh, until they noticed Rhoane on his knees. “Back to the keep!” yelled Rhoane to the vanguard. The warriors hesitated as Rhoane repeated his order. A loud roar could be heard in the distance, followed by the sound of beating wings.
A large western dragon swooped overhead as the soldiers rushed to get inside the castle. Rhoane called for the ballistas as the men barred the gate. The beast circled the castle before scorching the barrier with dragon fire. Gillie struggled to maintain her spell, but was unable to hold it against the power of the dragon’s fire. The queen collapsed to her knees as the barrier broke. Rhoane ordered the ballistas to fire on the dragon as he rushed to the queen's side. Bolt after bolt launched into the sky, yet not one made its mark.
“My queen! Are you injured?” asked Rhoane, as he lifted Gillie to her feet.
“I’m fine brother, we must defend the gate” she said, as she drew her sword and made her way to the center courtyard.
A loud crash was heard as the front gate broke. The hinges detached from the walls, and a second crash sent the gate toppling to the ground. A large hill giant stepped through the opening, swinging its club made from a tree. Rhoane charged the large beast, gracefully dodging it's swings, and delivering a direct blow to the giant’s gut. Gillie took flight and lodged her blade into the beast neck, bringing it down.
The dragon continued to circle the keep, decimating the battlements as the ballistas continued to fire at it. Finally, a bolt plunged into the dragon’s shoulder, dropping it from the sky as it cried out in pain.
Rhoane and Gillie fought to hold the gate, but began to lose ground as soldiers started to fall. Rhoane ordered the soldiers to regroup in the courtyard. Many had fallen, and the hordes numbers seemed infinite as waves of creatures stormed the gate. Rhoane placed his shield on the ground and stepped forward. His eyes began to change, and claws grew from his fingers. His body began to grow in size as his skin turned to scales. Rhoane now stood several stories tall as a great Wyrm. He took a breath and unleashed a flurry of blue flames into the gates entrance, clearing a path. Rhoane took flight, torching all in his path, as the soldier’s charged behind him. Gillie attempted to heal the wounded that were scattered across the courtyard. As she knelt to help a young warrior, she heard a bird clucking. She spun around to find herself surrounded by the group of gnomes.
“I’m not afraid of a bunch of gnomes,” said the queen with a chuckle. Singy made a sour face at her as he twitched his nose and chanted “Avec.” A sudden wave a fear rushed over Gillie as she stared at the little creature.
“Give me the princess, or I will cut off those pretty wings.” He said as he drew a knife from his boot. He kicked his bird, but before it could take a step forward Etrigon gave the bird a swift kick, sending it flying into a nearby wagon.
“My Queen, you must get up!” he said, standing in front of her, sword and shield at the ready. Gillie shuffled to her feet and stood side by side with Etrigon. The gnomes attacked in unison slashing and hacking as they lunged. Suddenly, a blast of fire knocked the gnomes off their feet. Gillie and Etrigon looked back to see the princess standing there. Her eyes glowing, and her hands still on fire. The gnomes rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames and scurried off through the gate.
Gillie made her way to the top of the castle wall and looked over the battlefield. Rhoane was contending with a pair of fire giants, and the soldiers were doing all they could to hold back the army of monsters. Rhoane bit one of the giants on its neck and proceeded to tear its throat out, as the other plunged its large crudely made blade into Rhoane’s side. He dropped the dead giant and turned to the other, torching it with a blend of fire and lightning. A loud horn blasted from the hilltop as a wave of large trolls made their way down the slope. Rhoane spread his wings and flew to the castle wall.
“My queen, the day is lost. You must leave” he said, as he landed on top of the wall.
“I will not abandon the people!” she replied. The queen turned to Etrigon and instructed him to take the princess and ride north to the Iron Crossing. Etrigon bowed and did as instructed. He took the princess to the stables and readied their horses, then rode through the back gate with haste.
Rhoane turned to the field weighing the situation.
“My queen, I must insist we leave as well,” he said. Gillie stepped forward, gripping her sword tight.
“We can not lose,” she replied as she spread her wings and took off into the sky. Rhoane followed close behind her. The trolls had made it to the front line and were wreaking havoc on the soldiers. Rhoane dove in first, bathing the enemy horde with fire, being careful not to attack his own warriors. Gillie swooped in behind him delivering several blows to the trolls. The horde continued to push back, gaining ground quickly. Gillie hovered over the battle, when the sound of cannon fire rang from the harbor. Two cannonballs hurled through the air into the enemy ranks. The band of pirates charged from their ship, followed by a small legion of undead skeletons. Captain Gaius stood on the railings of his ship with a bottle of rum in his good hand. He downed the last swig and threw the bottle, hitting a goblin in the head. He drew his sword and yelled “Fire!!” Another volley of cannonballs soar through the air tearing through the enemy ranks.
"Bring the mortars about and hit behind their front line! Train the 18 pounders on the mass of the horde and pour on the grape shot! Keep firing til the cannons melt down! Everyone else, make ready and follow me! TO THE QUEEN!" Gaius wrapped his hook around a rope and jumped from the railing, landing on the dock. The undead tore through the horde making quick work of the enemy. The pirates joined the queen’s army and began to make ground. The horde retreated into the hills as the queen’s army pushed forward.
The day was won, or so they thought, but the dead were many. There would be no songs of victory on this night.
To the north Etrigon and Zariel rode for the Iron Crossing. As they got out of earshot of the battle, a brisk wind swept across the land carrying a foul voice, chanting. The horses came to a stop and began to buck violently, throwing the two to the ground. Etrigon scrambled to his feet and drew his sword.
“Stay close princess,” he said. They looked all around them, yet saw nothing.
“We must keep moving,” Etrigon ordered. As he began to take a step, a root burst from the ground and wrapped itself around his leg. Etrigon began to hack at the roots to free himself, but the more he moved the faster it seemed to engulf him.
“FLY PRINCESS!!! You must get to the crossing!!” he yelled. Zariel Refused his order and began to swing her own blade at the plant. Roots began to wrap around the princess as she fought, until they were both fully entangled.
“You should have stayed with your queen,” a voice said, approaching from behind. Mortis stepped into view accompanied by the band of gnomes. Singy unmounted his bird and walked to Etrigon, “Not so tough now, are we?” he asked, as he spit in his face. Mortis approached the princess but was cut off by the group of gnomes.
“Gold first human,” they said, as they all held out their hands. Mortis pulled out a sack of gold from his robe and tossed it on the ground. Singy grabbed the bag, jumped on his battle rooster, and took off into the woods with his fellow gnomes. Mortis grabbed the princess by the ankle and began to drag her as he waved a hand and opened a portal.
“Tell your queen, we’ve only just begun,” he said, as he disappeared through the portal, taking the princess with him.