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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 2329177" data-attributes="member: 99">It had been nearly three days since the heroes had arrived back at Hrongar’s Hill and the place had been utterly transformed.  What had once been a small collection of buildings sitting in the open atop a small hill in a big valley was now a fortification designed to halt an army and kill a godling.East and west of the hill proper, the palisades had been extended and reinforced by the strength of the thousands of Legionnaires who had felled trees, dug ditches and generally plied the skills at fortification that they had drilled so long to perfect.  And now their shovels and axes had been laid aside in favor of sword and pilum.  They had done what they could and soon their efforts would be judged by whatever Bale and his minions could throw at them.No less profound were the changes wrought upon the land by Speaks.  A quarter mile out from the palisade stood another barrier, this one a thicket of brambles and creepers dense enough to halt all but the most determined advance.  It stretched the entire width of the valley and was reinforced along the near side by a low wall of loose stones that had been constantly pulled from his Bag of Endless Rocks by conjured Wood Woses.  On the far side of the thick wall were a series of wells that had been dug with magic, stretching all the way down to reach the Sweet Water of the Fodor Valley.  These had been covered with mats of branches and grass to disguise them with the hopes of trapping the unwary among Bale’s army.The near side of the thicket wall between it and the palisade was a complete and utter swamp.  The Decanter of Endless Water had been running non stop for three days and the land was inches below the water.  Only the earthen walls erected by the Imperials kept this from flowing down the draw on the east side of the hill and on into the Fodor.  In another day the water would likely seep through the barriers and flood the trenches behind.  But in another day they would not care.Atop the Hill were gathered the leaders of this improbably army.  Urdrax and the other chieftains stood shoulder to shoulder with Capito and the man he had appointed to act as general for the Legions.  And always near Capito were his band of faithful, the Paladins of St. Cuthbert.  They had flocked to his cause when it was discovered that he was the Right Hand of St. Cuthbert and they were never beyond the call of his voice that they might serve the hand of their lord in whatever way he commanded.Lazarius Ramius, Imperial War Wizard, had been hard at work making certain that these men would be able to follow their commander into battle.  A group of Hippogryphs stood in a small paddock that had once held pigs.  They were securely tied around the necks and hooded to keep them from taking flight to hunt horses, which seemed odd since they had been horses themselves only the day previous before Lazarius set his magic to work on them.Marius stood near the Chieftains and Commanders listening in on their plans for any signs of stupidity.  He had a firm understanding that what was about to unfold here today was not to be a traditional battle and wanted to make certain that those in charge did not treat it as one.  A short distance away stood Marcus who just couldn’t bring himself to be comfortable around Capito and his worshipers, particularly after what had happened to Albius.And apart from everyone stood Cathal.  In his hands he held the Bloodstone Blade, turning it over, running his fingers on the slate-like blade and trying to get comfortable with its awkward balance and heft.  So very much was going to come down to this enchanted piece of stone and it was he who was going to be the one wielding it.  He besought his ancestors and the spirits of their lands, “If I must do this thing then let me do it well.  And if I must die doing it then let that death be one that aids my friends and tribesmen.”His thoughts spoken, he let out his tension where it hung in the cold morning air along with a cloud of hot breath.  The silence that followed was filled by the approaching footsteps of Speaks.“It is time,” said the Druid.“I know,” said the warrior.“It is going to be a long day,” said the Druid.“I know,” said the warrior.  “Let us begin it.”</blockquote>

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