Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 1827657" data-attributes="member: 99">Cathal’s feet pounded the tundra rhythmically and tirelessly as he headed back south.  The sun was going down and an icy chill was settling across the late winter of the Northlands but he sweated profusely from the physical exertion of his steady run.  He would perhaps stop and make a small fire soon and melt some snow for drinking.  But he would keep running until well into the night before he briefly slept.Behind him, just barely visible jutting over the horizon, was the tip of the Stone Tooth.  There he had given the Dwarven stewards of the Glitterhame the plea from his people.  The Dwarves had explained in return that they were already mobilizing the warriors they had present.  For an Edict Stone had arrived from the Novantae clans warning of a “Red menace rising in the west”.  They did not know what this was in reference to, but considered the possibility that it referred to the Crimson Eagle standard of the Empire.Regardless, they stated rather unequivocally that they would not and could not directly oppose the Imperial Legions unless they came under direct attack by them.  Happy though they were to have the Fodor tribes as neighbors, they simply had no where near enough troops to oppose the Legions.  And unlike the tribesmen, they were ill suited for hit and run fighting.  And so, with a grim handshake, they had sent the Brigante back to his people to bear the news.Now Cathal was running to his chieftain to tell him of his failed mission.  His step faltered for a moment and he slowed to a walk, his great loping steps still covering more than twice the distance of a normal man.  Then he set about finding a dead tree to break firewood from and hoped that Speaks was faring better in his attempt to talk sense into the Suevi. --------------------------------Speaks stood in the center of the gathered shamans as he concluded his address to them.  “I know that you are reluctant to put aside your tribal ways.  And I’m not asking you to.  But if you are to remain the strong trunk from which your tribes branch then you must act to make use of the strength that nature can offer you.”They regarded him with expressions varying from rapt curiosity to abject suspicion.  He could tell that his words alone would not suffice and that did not surprise him.  The force of his words had never served him as well as the force of his actions had, even among those who respected him.  It was time that he showed then what his powers could do.“Gather close around me,” he told them.  Then, “Come, Scipio.”------------------------------------------A sizable bonfire had been lit earlier and new logs were added to cast enough light that the gathered warriors could see the chieftains who would address them.  In the dim recesses of the night lurked the women who feared for the fates of their husbands and children in the coming invasion.  They could feel their whole way of life slipping away but, unlike their men, they would not be able to directly confront the invaders or be allowed the luxury of a quick death in battle.  They were consigned to slavery and, worse yet, witnessing the enslavement of their children.Relmar sat upon a chair that had been draped in furs and clutched a thick, wooden club that had its head carved in the likeness of a mountain lion, totem of his tribe.  He magnanimously gestured to Urdrax, indicating that he could address the gathered warriors and shamans.  The gesture left little doubt that Relmar was the one holding court here.The barrel-chested Brigante stood from his own chair and stepped near the fire.  “Time is short and so short shall be my words to you here tonight.  You all know that the Imperials are camped upon our southern shores and that they meant to take our land, our families, our ways from us.  But this may not yet come to pass.”He continued, “I have received word today that ships gather to take these warriors back to their homes.  Homes that are threatened by the same Orcs who came against us only last year.  I do not know if they will all retreat or if they will march into our lands when the river swells.  But I do know that if we attack them then their pride will force them northward and that they will not stop until we are in their grasp.Our hope lies in bending away from their march, like a tall tree bends in the wind.  We must give them time to understand that there is no glory to be had here on the banks of the Fodor.  We must give them time to worry for their families that live in their hot homelands, threatened by the foulness of the Orcs.  Let them think of those they love going into the cookpots of the Orcs and they will cease to think of us as their enemy.”Urdrax’s voice rose in challenge, “But if we try to stand fast before their might then they will break us like the tree that does not bend!  And they will take from us slaves and treasure and land!  And they will have a reason to take and take until they have all of us!Our hope lies in giving them nothing!  We will retreat before them, leaving no stores, no game, no battle, no spoils!  Only the emptiness of our cold homeland while their Empire is threatened by the inhuman Orcs!  That is not the victory they need and they will leave our lands with the names of our tribes bitter on their tongues!  And they will not return.”A shout went up from some of the warriors, mostly those of the Brigantes and Corritani.  But the shouts were neither loud nor long for retreat was not something easily cheered for among the proud Fodor men.  As these cries died on the night, Urdrax sat and Relmar stood.“I am troubled.  Troubled to hear such words uttered by a proud man like Urdrax.  Who led our people so well at his fortress where Hrongar fell.  But now that place seems more a prison than a fortress.  It has walled in his mind with thoughts of retreat and defense!When have these been the ways of our people?!  When did we become villagers who hide and peek from behind the trees while our homes are taken and burned?!  We are a warrior people!  And warriors make WAR!”  A cry shot up from the Suevi warriors and was carried on the voices of more than just a few others.“If the Imperials wish to come into our lands then let them!  But they will find it no easy march through the country!  They will find our arrows raining upon them from the hills!  They will feel the bite of our steel against their sentries and those they send to forage!  They will find their baggage trains burned and looted!  Urdrax is right!  They will give up their attempt to conquer our lands!  But not because we have made it easy!  They will give up because they will know that these lands are those of WARRIORS!!”  Another cry went up and this one was louder than the last.“If Urdrax or Hrothan will not lead this battle then I will lead it.  It is my lands that are most threatened by these Imperial marauders!  And my warriors will stand with me!  But if those of you from the north wish to fight like the warriors you are, then stay here with ME!  If your own leaders will only lead you away from your enemies, then come to my tribe and I will lead you to VICTORY!”  The cry this time came from a substantial majority of the warriors and more than just a couple of the shamans.But a deep, growling voice came from the darkness, “You will lead them to death.”  Heads spun, eyes turned and peered into the darkness, searching desperately for whoever would defy Relmar in his own camp.  Out of the blackness stalked the enormous, prowling figure of Scipio.  His growling voice boomed again, “Do you think these Legions came here thinking that you would not fight them?  Do you think they expect you to step aside as they conquer your lands?  They did not bring a band of skirmishers to take your valley.  They have an army of THOUSANDS!!  Even if they withdraw many to the Empire, they will be left with an army far larger than that of the Orcs you faced last year.  And you have how many men to oppose them?  Half of those who fought at Hrongar’s Hill?  Try and bring battle to them and you will be crushed!”The gathered warriors stared in frank amazement.  Here in the circle before them stood the giant, menacing figure of the Suevi totem.  Relmar seemed a frail doll in the face of such muscled might.  Silence ruled the night until Scipio took up his speech once more.“But that is exactly what the Legions expect.  And so you shall not give it to them.  Instead, let their own expectations work against them.  They expect attack and so they will travel slowly.  The further they go without opposition, the more they will get the feeling that you are planning something they have not foreseen.  They will grow more cautious still.Their supply lines will stretch longer, requiring more men to guard them and STILL you will not attack.  Their advance will slow as they have fewer and fewer men to guard their lengthening flanks until they are moving at no more than a crawl.  And they will still not have bloodied their swords.  Still not have slain a single Fodor warrior.  Still not have a single bit of treasure to show for their efforts.All the while, the Orcs pillage and burn across their homeland.  Their lands invite attack from their neighbors while they sit far, far from those threats in a cold and foreign land that has yielded NOTHING for their efforts.  Their morale will start to crumble and their army will begin to die.  Not from your spears and arrows.  But from desertions of men who long to be at home where they can defend their families, just as you long to defend yours.”The Dire Mountain Lion paused and let the silence take hold again in the night.  “THAT is when it will be time to strike!  THAT is when your enemy will be weak!  THAT is when you will have some hope of making a difference with your battles!  But NOT NOW!Right now, the Imperials can only offer you one thing in return for your battles and that is death…”  His voice trailed off, leaving only the ominous sound of the giant cat’s breathing.There seemed nothing to say and so no one did.</blockquote>

Verification