The rest of the DragonWolves filed into the galley and took in a respective set of lunch rations. Aster saw that a few of them weren’t present. Namely Wriixer who was at the helm and three others who kept watch. They each sat onto the table and opened their rations all at the same time, with each member staring at their food as if waiting for the signal to eat. Damnation, they are really waiting for my command. Aster thought to herself as she gave the order. The dining custom was encountered by her as a cadet in the Dragon’s Point Military Academy, the square movements, speedy dining and consummate chewing. All textbook military decorum.“Do our troops know that they are no longer in the academy?” She asked, Froster who had begun to partake in his rations.“Mam?” The Lieutenant had just swallowed a big bite of rice, beans and
The Suns were already high up, it was 1300 and to a fair amount the heat was beginning to take over the general dampness in the air. Froster and Likaya stood at the bow of the ship with the Lieutenant’s blast rod still vibrating with the Earth spirit. “So let met get this straight, you’re not a fan of casting spells or controlling Gearbanes but you prefer bonding elementals instead?” Likaya was fishing her pack for some disposable floating box that she could use as target practice.“Yes mam, I find it preferable to enhance my steel instead.” The Lieutenant’s cold golemlike tone had somewhat softened, but he still spoke with enough stiffness that was far outside of the norm.“What made you binding the arcane rather than using it?” She asked as she tossed an emptied box of ration candies into the water.Froster looked back into his memories, his first
“Mam” A gruff looking young man gave her a salute, the blue badge of the lawkeepers gleamed bright on his chest.“Marshal, good you know who to salute. What seems to be the commotion?”“Trader’s caravan was massacred in the Corinth road this morning, estimated thirty dead. We also got some swamp folk boats comin downriver empty and bloody. Some of the trapper camps were even emptied out. We have to close down the road and the river. Could be a Birchmen raid. Can’t let anyone through the marshes for now.” The countryside drawl was a bit hard to get used to but Likaya was able to take in what was being discussed.“Marshal, we’re not some slack jawed traders. We’re voltiirs of the Zeraph Military and we’re on a mission from the Army to search for lost assets in the Suha Marshes. You’ll le
Ordinary runecraft never reacted with that much energy, so she was sure it wasn’t just swamp labor tool leaving the traces.“Sergeant Wriixer, bring us to the island on the north east. The thickest group with the bent down swamp tree.” Wriixer turned the boat, the vessel tugged and cracked as marsh reeds were ripped apart by the paddle. As they neared the place, a strange smell began to permeate their surroundings. Likaya thought it was only her but she noticed the others reacting in some manner of disgust.“Lieutenant, you smell that?” She asked, noticing that Froster had put his left hand on his nose.“Yes I do mam. I believe it’s a Rot spell of some sort.”“Rot spell? That’s infernal magic isn’t it? Skolic stuff?”“Yes mam, but more likely it was a rune stored weapon smuggled to the Kolysians.” Likaya reviewed th
The team moved to the last cabin they hadn’t inspected, one that sat close to one of the work yards. This shelter was different from the rest, not many supply crates were present. It was instead a collection of arranged camper bags, folded tents and a few foldable tables littered with papers and books. “This looks like an archaeological expedition.” She muttered, walking towards an opened bag that had its contents spilled over. She picks up a reddish shirt that bore the image of a fish swimming downward, a symbol for the Southern Star. The letters SU were in the middle of the shirt in bright gold lettering as well, this was indeed a camp for the Southron University’s ex
The sheriff cursed in his indigenous language, shaking his head as he clawed on the horns on his head.“What’s happening here Captain? I knew something was wrong when I saw those sprites burstin up when they’d fly high. And those damn mushrooms, I don’t know where they came from.” Froster’s attention had peaked, as well as his Captain’s.“Mushrooms?” Aster Likaya interrupted. The sheriff nodded his head.“Mushrooms, yes. We tried to save that stranger as he ran to the West Inn. Next thing we know, we’re getting mushrooms boiling out of the place. We couldn’t go through.” The stranger was indeed someone from that camp, they just knew it.“I should follow my people, Richardson is still far.” Tipping his hat, the old Xanthite left the company of the voltiir’s steamboat. A complimentary warning
“CONTACT LEFT” Likaya called, shooting down the Birchman soldier before it could throw a javelin at them. Within seconds, the marshland was filled with guttural howls. The unnerving cries reminded her of a parched drunk, crying as he was thrown out of a tavern. Within seconds, crude javelins were launched from the reeds. Aster took cover by the galley entrance, firing away at any Fangsworn in sight. The autocross began to fire, the steady rumble of the automatic weapon was deafening but to the voltiirs it was a welcome noise. The weapon’s bolts tore through the reeds, the howls of the enemy were followed by water splashing as they fell from their ambush points. Sensing some relief, she checks on the squads, but the voltiirs had huddled into a defensive position with their backs against each oth
“As per the previous report, Wriixer has given us an hour.”It was the six in the evening, the suns were now setting as an orange glow bathed the stillness of the marshes. Night was coming.“Half another check, with Brasidas’ discovery. I need to know if we have to retreat.” Marshal Jennings was only in his early 30s, but some had assumed he was close to fifty. It was an exaggeration to some, but he never took it against them. His brown hair was graying by the side, eyes were sunken due to long nights spent awake on the saddle, while the facial scars caused by an arcane claw from a defiant mage bandit did make it look like he was covere
He swerves to his corners, checking the two entrances of the engine room. Hoping to crack a shot, but nothing. The silence was deafening, he could hear his heart beating, his sweat trickle and the shivering of his body. The Marshal tried to listen to his surroundings, blastfire still cracked around him. He could hear the shouts of the others that had come with him. They were alive, that was enough. Footsteps echo from behind him, he turns to see another Fangsworn standing facing him. It carried a twisted spear that shone red with blood, and it was aimed right at him. Jennings wastes no time pulling the trigger, the bolt does its work tearing through the Birchman’s armor. Whispering a quiet prayer of thanks to Akath, Jennings loads the cro