The host of luz’s northern marches came under the dual
command of Lord Choldraf (14th-level cleric) and Mellard-Plict
(12th-level magic-user). Between them they brought 2,000
heavy cavalry, 1,000 light horse, and about 4,000 infantry, evenly
divided between heavy foot and crossbowmen. Humanoid
contingents included some 3,000 goblins and xvarts, serving as
scouts and raiders, 6,000 orcs and 4,000 hobgoblins as shock
troops, and a vast, mixed company of norkers, knolls, flinds,
ogrillons, bugbears, and ogres totalling some 5,000 to 8,000
depending upon the whims of its component members. This
force gathered in the arm of the Howling Hills between the Dulsi
and Blackwater, and at the beginning of summer (the Dozenmonth
of Flocktime in the north country) in CY 578 marched
westward. There was much quarreling during the course of the
move; Lord Choldraf berated Mellard-Plict for his lack of control
of the masses of humanoids which the wizard levied and
commanded, while the latter scoffed at both Lord Choldraf’s
own powers and at his well trained, but relatively weak, troops.
When siege was laid to Eru-Tovar the following month, each
commander strove to outdo the other, each wishing credit for
taking the Wegwiur stronghold. This lack of co-operation
enabled the defenders, numbering only about 3,400 effective
troops, to withstand almost ten weeks of siege by a force totalling
well over 25,000. The losses by the attackers were compounded
by the rival factions often slaying their wounded cohorts
if they held loyalty to the opposite commander.
When Tarkhan arrived to raise the siege, Lord Choldraf was
forced to screen the withdrawal of the luzites, since the humanoids
under the wizard Mellard-Plict were too undisciplined and
unreliable to handle the assignment. In fact, most of the wizard’s
troops had deserted, or merely decided to wander off on
a raid of their own, by the time the Battle of Black Water Bend
was fought. The high priest is in disgrace now, but it is likely
that Choldraf will find some way to redeem himself with luz. It is
reported that the wizard fled immediately upon the loss of the
battle, going far south and now raising companies of bullywugs
in the Vast Swamp, supposedly at the behest of Wastri, the
Hopping Prophet.
