The Dwarven invasion

[Corothius Encinosa]

Syados Edge: ‡High on the mountains that overlooked the prosperous fishing
village of Zulu below was one of the barbarians outposts that was established
to be of a number of relaying bonfires that would signal a call of distress
to those who were always awake, either one shift or the other through the
day. Only a few men actually kept an eye on these little signal positions. And this one inparticular was at the
highest part of the mountains that they were able to traverse to so it could
be even longer to reach if invaded, and even easier to see from distant
signalers miles away elsewhere. It was just an irksome hope of the young teenager
who was manning this one tonight that the other signalers far far away, whom
he had never even talked with or seen once in his life, were still there, and
would do theirjob if the time ever came. Stories came in from ships and
fishermen who talked with the sailors of thsoe ships about how one day if
their Lord Kept up his ways he would piss someone off and they would be
coming to these very shores to deal with him. Below the mountains, the kid looked over the
expanse of the village that was a good several dozen buildings and homesteads
sparsed out from one another for one purpose that was discovered as they were built years in the past. The larger
buildings were closer to the shore where the few docks that were necessary to
tie down their fishing boats and the longer pier that reached out into the
deepest of waters of their little bay that was suitable for an actual ship
that the stories came in from could dock. There was no need for a garrison in
the village itself, the men would eat the villagers dry, and inpregnate every
daughter that came of impregnable age. Instead they had pled years in
the past to have their garrison elsewhere, and thus it was decided that only
a small militia of village folk were necessary to actually guard the village.
After all upon the seas beyond patrolling ships kept vigil to ensure that
invaders would not sail right into their cove of water and land upon their
docks to pillage them dry. It was part of the deal they made and why they
gave so much of their taxes away.‡

Dance of the Rot: ::Heavy foot falls touched down upon the deck of the iron
clad he commanded as he stepped from the captains quarters and onto the deck
of the ship. A young dwarf offered him a deep bow of his head as he stepped
in along side the captain of the ship. They spoke briefly to one another in
the flinty, gutteral tongues of the dwarves before the younger of the two
stepped away to start barking orders to his men. The deck of the iron clad
was a busy place, even more so when prepping for battle. Many a hand worked to
stuff powder into cannon and packing behind ball or pulled line to coil sail
to slow for the assault. Heading to the bow, large hands set down upon the
railing as he leaned over, howling to the Monitor that lead the line of ships
along the cost.:: "Grungaz um Baragz!" ::A similar call was thrown back from
the captain of the smaller ship in return, bringing a smile to his bearded
face. Looking out across the black of night, he could see the lights of the
town coming up some mile or so ahead. The ships of his own had no light to
be found upon them, for his kind could see well in the dark, a biproduct of
their lives under the stone. Turning from bow, he pulled aside another dwarf,
commanding him to call the same line to the vessels at the rear. The next
task was to find the fellow he had spoken to moments before, who was giving
out orders by the mast.Hand fell heavy upon his shoulder as he muttered to him
once more.:: "Zharr bin or."

Imaboggle: ::The young dwarf stood on the bow of the Monitor he was
commanding, his blonde braids whipping wildly in the wind. He grinned as he
hefted a huge polehammer over his shoulders, the metal runes laid into the
face and handle barely visible in the darkness. The dwarves under his command stood at
attention, their attention on the business at hand - keeping the fuses from
being blown out by the wind, loading powder and angling the cannons towards
the town they preparing to attack. The young dwarf captain perked up his head
as he heard the call to ready the cannons from the huge Ironclad, and
gleefully shouted the same back towards the one who had called it. The young
captain raised his hand, and kept his voice low as he dipped his head to speak to
his first mate. "Get word to the other Monitors," he muttered. "Ready the
cannons, and see if we can't get a little closer to the mainland before
blowing it all to oblivion." The first mate nodded his assent, and shouted out
orders to the other Monitors, who spread the word to the other ships prepping
for attack.::

Syados Edge: ‡ Miles away, there was a ship bearing the standard flag that
posed to threaten others as they were of the northern territories, and served
the feared Barbarian Lord. The men upon the ship were only a skeleton crew as
they were not of a mind nor need to sail about in the dark upon the waters.
Their two anchors were already set and dragging sluggishly upon the
seafloors far far below whilst the chains keeping them fastened upon the port
and starboard parts of the ship kept loosening and tightening with the coming and
going of the waves that sloshed against its wooden planked sides. There was
the normal sole man at the top of the mast with an eye upon his glass who
randomly set it to his eye to cast a glance about upon the waters surface. The moon
would sometimes poke free from it's barrage of cloud covere to allow him to
feast his eyes upon the longer distances upon the waters miles and miles away
before the world would begin to curve downwards along the rounding horizon.
There were the distant lights of a secreted fishing village named Zulu for
instance that he began to have fond memories of, or moreso of a fishermans'
daughter who lived there whom he'd gotten his hands upon the last time they'd came
into port there. He also knew that there was not another ship abouts unless
you headed further easterly where a larger dock lured visitors to a somewhat
larger village.‡

Dance of the Rot: ::Hands set to the wooden rings of the twin doors of the
captains quarters, lifting and pushing upon them to bring open the door and
letting himself within, only to shut them fast behind him with a turn of the
wrist and the sweeping of his arms. Around the table that was the centerpiece of
the room, and the maps upon it he did stride and instead to the lox box at
the foot of his bed he went. Pulling from around his neck a rope, he
retrieved the key that hung from it and crouched down to push the key within the lock
and turned to set free the lock. Taking grasp of the bronze grips, he
hoisted it up with ease and set it upon the edge of the bed with a slight
grunt. Lifting the lid, he set about to remove the clothes from his person, tossing
them over the bed untill he was dressed with that which the stone gave him,
and nothing more. Instead, he went about dressing himself in the under armor
that was set within the chest, and overtop that the treasured armor that was
the reason it was so locked. Item by item he did secure upon his person with
great care, each part snug and secure, overlapped by another untill at long
last, a horned helm came to rest over his face. Leaving the chest, he fell to
his knees with a rustle of armor, reaching under the bed to remove a large
object wrapped in cloth in the shape of a disk. Pulling this cloth aside, he
took from it a large shield, its back covered with many a strap of braided
hides and cables of wire, as well as the scabbard of a blade, with a weapon
within. Fixing it fast to his left arm, he made his way back outisde to find
the first mate once again, instructing him to gather his strike team and the
Rune Priest, as well as to hand over his spy glass, which the fellow did
before running to do as he was asked. It was to the bow once again that he
made his way, scanning across the waters for signs of other ships, brewing storms
or, as he feared the most, sea serpants.::

Imaboggle: ::After talking to his own first mate and men, the young captain
went to his own quarters to prepare. He swung open the doors wide and
carefully set his polehammer against the wall. He sighed as he reached over
top of his bed and hefted down a sword housed in a gilded, jeweled scabbard. He
unsheathed it, letting the gold and strands of whorled precious metals laid
into the sword's face glitter in what little lamplight he would allow. He
twisted his mouth in a slight grimace, wrinkling his nose at the ostentatious
splendor of the sword, then let it slide back into the scabbard with a sharp
twang. The captain tossed it on the bed with hardly an afterthought, then
began fitting himself with his own armor, the heavy plating fitting snug around his
broad shoulders. He fitted the golden sword onto his belt, then reached into
a small nightstand to pull out a large velvet bag. It made soft, hollow
clinking noises as he shook it gently, and his face lit up as he chuckled quietly and
tied the bag to his belt as well. He hefted the polehammer over his should
and swung open the doors to rejoin his men on the bow of his ship. Won't be
long now, he thought to himself, and waited for the signal from the Ironclad's
captain.::-d-

Syados Edge: ‡Within the quaint solace of the fishing village Zulu, where
just the other day old man Millers daughter got wed to little man Tod Killen
who took her off to his distant farmlands further inland where his ma and pa
had raised the go good lad. The man who was posted with guard duty upon the docks
that night thought upon what a quaint little life the two would be living
together as fresh newly weds this night. Unknownst to him was the number of
dwarven vessels a distance outland where the seas shimmered and the waves
continued to reflect the distant moon that began to peel forth from the
clouds with their steady slow passing pace. A few torches lined the docks
themselves. Shifting this way and the other with the coming and going of the winds that at
times would even blow one of the torches out, and give him seomthing to tend
to for a time to ensure they remained lit. A tall polearm was within the
grasp of one of his roughened palms. Palms that had hardened to near brimstone in
texture from pulling in nets most of his life. The pole that towered above
his head was a newly resmithed halberd whose blade gleamed with its
reflection being cast from the nearer of torches as he turned it about in it's pull from
the docks floorboards beneath his feet to land a pace onwards as he continued
his patrol. Using its shaft like a walking stick to aid in his walk like a
loyal companion for a drunkard or ill-footed man. He wore not any armor, and to
tell you the truth, he didn't even own a suit. There was a sturdy layer of
leather armor that was worn over his normal thick cotton jacket that was used
to ward off the chill of the night. The collar of the same he tugged upwards to
cover his ears as a wind came up and began harrassing him again with its
piercing of flesh. ‡

Dance of the Rot: ::After searching the town and the water, his eye turned
towards the outlying mountains themselves, namely the crest of them, after
all, no outpost would do any good on the inside face of them, nor would it
help to have one on the outside. No, the only choice was the crest, for it was
high and provided good visability. The steady and constant sway of the boat
had his view constantly shifting, and he grumbled in frustration over it
untill joy overtook him upon finding his mark. A small outpost up upon the
mountains, a tall stack of lumber, surely coated in pitch and oil. This was
his target. Bringing low the spy glass, he handed it off to the first mate
who had come back up with a ten dwarf strong group of heavily armed soldiers such as
himself, all armed with axe, mace, hammer and shield. With them was an older
dwarf who stood out amongst the group who was all ready scratching runes into
the deck of the vessel with his staff, forming a large circle.:: "When we
are gone, open fire, we will rejoin once the shelling has stopped." ::The
first mate nodded firmly as Magni stepped into the circle with his other men.
By now the line was made, the ships resting just out side the city, beyond the
reach of light, hiding in the dark and shadows of the clouds above. Drawing
a rather odd looking sword from the scabbard attached to the back side of the
shield, his gauntlets held fast against the hilt as he slammed the
flat against the shield, a loud clatter mirrored by the action of his shield
brothers. The Older dwarf nodded and brought his staff down hard onto the
deck, striking the rune which glowed with a pale blue light the others following
and disapearing one by one untill with a soft breeze the group was gone,
arcane forces hurling them through space and time to bring them to the
outpost on the crest of the mountains, directing in front of the stack of wood. Down
below, Magni could hear the far off rumble of the first cannon shot that
would start the assault and sound the end of the town below.::

Imaboggle: ::The clattering of the shields from the Ironclad were music to
captain Modi's ears. He shouted at the first dwarf poised over his cannon to
fire, and each dwarf manning a cannon followed suit so a line of explosive
fire burst out from the side of his ship. This was the signal for every
other Monitor and Ironclad to begin firing, and a burst of terrible thunder
and tearing flame rained down upon the unsuspecting town. Out of the corner
of his eye Modi noticed a blue flicker from the Ironclad his brother Magni was
captaining, and he raised his hammer in a salute. Magni would not be able to
see it even with the cannonfire lighting up the night sky, but it was done
more out of proud respect than anything else. Modi valued his brother above
everyone and everything in the world, and even a gesture that went unseen
would have necessary in the younger brother's mind. He went on to shout at
his men to reload the cannons as quickly as possible, and tapped his foot impatiently
as the dwarves scurried to follow his orders. One of the younger dwarves
dropped a cannon ball in his haste, and Modi ran to stop the ball with his
foot.\"Careful, you fool!" he shouted, and set his hammer carefully
against one of the ship's planks. "If you want something done right, you have
to do it your bloody self," he muttered under his breath as he loaded the
empty cannon.He clapped the nervous dwarf on the arm in an attempt to calm his
nerves, then raised his own polehammer back onto his shoulders. "Give the
umgi two more volleys!" he shouted as his men set their fuses to the cannons
once more.::-d-

Syados Edge: ‡It was such a nice night. He had stuffed himself with a few
slices of pie that his dear wife had left for him to snack on while on his
lunch break, something that he had enjoyed but an hour ago. Or so if the moon
wasn't playing tricks on him. His hand was sent to pat the fill of his tummy
that his wife was so proud to accomodate him with. Twas as soon as his hand
set against his belly that a loud BOOM! Erupted in the distance. There was no
way that it was his stomach growling, just no way. Then something shattered
distinctly of wood and the continuance of splintering debris behind him> His
head snapped to discover that the ol' warehouse that had been built in the
early days of the villages first founders had just been turned into a pile of
useless wood! His mouth was still agape at the sight as several more cannons
immediately pursued the first with succeeding thunderings that began to quake
the bay. The mountainy outcropping spilled into the seas. And in the
process, the booming from the cannons increased in volume, and echoed, boy
did those sounds echo. It was much like pronouncing your prescense in a large
amphitheater in rome or such bleacher surrounded structures. Thus, the sound of the
invasion not only awakened every single non-deaf ear in the village. But the
attacks also succeeded in sending the echos into the farther reaches of the
countryside to the next set of mountains that grew even higher to the south.
Needless to say, the garrison men who served under the barbarian king were
not deaf either. In the distance, the sound of such men began to gather
themselves with due haste. Horses winnied as saddles were slapped upon their bared hides,
a few already corrupting the air with a trail of dust as scouts outdistanced
the main body before they'd even get to their horses. At another distance,
the ship upon the seas heard the distant eruptions from the cannons. The man in
the watchtower nearly crumbled to his knees in surprise as his arms flung
over the ballast he was standing in to keep himself balanced and in control.
His hands reaching over it's rail to catch the spyglass that he'd nearly let slip
out of his hands to the scare. It was immediately brought to his eye that'd
begin to count the number of ships that so many cannons were causing such
noise. Needless to say men were being awakened below deck as the sounds of the man
at the wheelbegan hollaring at the top of his lungs.‡

Dance of the Rot: ::With the attack below commencing, his own attack would
have to follow in short order. His orders were barked in the tongues of his
own kind, as to keep those near by from listening in. Splitting the eleven
dwarf strong group, into a group of four and five, the larger group remained
at the signal fire, three guarding the other two who set about destroying the
signal fire, pulling the bottom pieces of lumber out and tossing them down
the mountain side, and to continue doing it untill the pile fell and toss those
down as well, their goal to render the signal fire useless. Magni lead the
remaining five into the out post proper, in search of those who stood guard
over it. In a double file line they did move, weapons and shields at the ready,
back to back and shoulder to shoulder, the unit moved as one, with no side
exposing any thing but a shield to an attacker.:: ((Group of five and six*))

Imaboggle: ::The Monitors continued their assault, reducing the town to
rubble under the cannon fire. Modi shouted at his men to continue three more
volleys, strolling down the line of cannons as he cried out his orders. After
the third' and final volley, he held up his hand to stop his firing, which
in turn stopped the other Monitors' cannon fire as well. An eerie silence
settled over the black water, the sounds of screams and crackling fire
demolishing buildings wafting over the gently rippling waves. "Hold position!" Modi
shouted to his men, who relayed the order to the other Monitors and the
Ironclads. "Hold until the signal is given." Modi gently set his hammer
upright on the dock and leaned his weight against it. It was up to Magni now, and they
could only wait until his mission was complete.::-d-

Syados Edge: ‡The outpost on the highest stretch of the mountains crest was
not an outpost deserving of a dwarven tortoise. Or whatever that roman term
was that described their tactic of movement. It was infact a mere shelter for
the handful of men who kept station there. A few cots were within two of them
were no longer occupied as the men were on their way out of the outpost by
means of a ladder that led to the rocky rooftop above that the outpost was
constructed to be prtially built with and beneath the rocky outcropping. I was
better to run than to try to take on armed dwarves! The two men were mere
shambles of men, skinny and by the looks of it not being paid much at all for
their tasks to save the villagers below, or warn distant lands of the enemy. Not
like they had a chance to do their job with the aid of magic giving them not
even time to leave the outpost to light it. The one teenager who had been
actually on watch, and outside of the outpost to light it had been scared out of
his wits to do his job as soon as the magical apparition of a fully outfitted
dwarf appeared out of nowhere and was followed soon after by even more of
them. This was impossible to do, Mostly because to reach this outcropping one
had to climb up a number of ladders and grooves along the rocky surface of
the mountain that no dwarf could do with armor on! Or so he had believed.
Needless to say, he was hidden on the side of the mountain where he had leapt into
a little hole beneath a boulder to hide himself. Saved for the most part by
falling logs and lengths of timber that were thrown over the edge soon after.
He could only smell the acrid scent of piss that he had stained himself with
out of abject fear. ‡

Dance of the Rot: ::With the two watchmen fleeing, Magni broke off from the
group to head after him, a pair joining him while the other three swept into
the main room to sweep it for others, where of course they would find none.
As the men scrambled up the later, Magni could do little to stop them. They
had a head start, were not burdened by armor, and had longer legs. Dwarves
were, after all, not renowned for speed. With the men gone and the room
cleared, Magni turned his attention back to the distruction of the fire, or rather,
having his shield brothers do it while he watched the shelling of the city
below, and the sudden lack of noise as it ended. Smoke curled into the sky
from fires born of rubble and chaos. His nostrils flaired, taking in the
faint smell of smoke and the surprising smell of urine, which brought a
strange look upon his face. One of his dwarves who stood by, speaking up and
asking what he smelled. His repsonce was but a simple.:: "Weakness." ::Pulling a
small, chalk tile from a small leather bag on the backside of his shield, he
crushed the stone within his hands, speaking out to his brother far below,
his words carried on the wind to only the ears of his kin.:: "Move the Monitors
in."

Imaboggle: ::A soft breeze ruffled Modi's hair, the words of his brother's
runic spell carrying the command to his ears. Modi grinned, and ran to the
edge of the bow. "Move them in!" he shouted to the nearest Monitor. The shout
was passed from ship to ship, and soon the other Monitors began to move closer to
the shore. The massive black shapes of the Ironclads remained where they
were, for their bulk was much too heavy to bring into shallow waters. The
smaller Monitors were swift and silent, and they managed to reach the shore
without incident. The six Monitors held at least 50 dwarves per ship, and
these battalions emptied out onto the shore in an orderly and military
fashion, their shields and armor jangling noisily. Modi stood at the front of the army, one
hand on the ornamental sword at his belt and the other hoisting his runed
polehammer over his head. "Take the town by any means necessary!" he shouted.
"If any of them should surrender, take them prisoner, but use any means necessary
to keep anyone from escaping the town. Onwards!" he pointed towards the town
with his hammer, and marched with the army into the ruined and crumpled town.
Modi didn't expect much difficulty in taking over the town, considering they
had nearly razed it to the ground and most likely demoralized the
peasants.::-d-

[Corothius Encinosa]

Syados Edge: ‡Whilst the village was bombarded, villagers awakened from
their sleep, whilst others died sleeping. It did not take long for the
smarter of their number to run from their very homes with perhaps a belonging
or two in hand whilst the handful of men who were more so keen to fishing and living
a life upon their boats rushed to defend their families and homes from
whatever it was that was attacking them. They though, woud only rush into the
continual barrage of cannon fodder that landed amongst their number. Maybe one or
two would have waited behind some structure that was still sturdy enough to
provide protection. Protected enough to be around when the dwarves finally
came ashore. The village was no military outpost with cannons on the shore or on
defensive walls, none existed. They had come from barbarian tribes further
inland and sought to try making a living upon the fish and selling them to
inland tribes as the markets came to demand such. The markets wouldn't
be finding anything from their small village the next time it was opened.
Nonetheless, the two men who found their homes finally no longer under the
barrage of cannons would note the number of dwarven craft setting for shore, and
the number of dwarves upon them. Theyw ere not foolish enough to rush to
their deaths for honor or vengeance but instead snuck back towards one of the
paths that the other fleeing villagers had taken as well to escape the carnage
and death of their neighbors and home. Perhaps, if they were lucky, they
would make it to the warriors outpost farther inland and spread word of what
was occuring. In fact, even now, the scouts that were deployed upon the
beginning impact of the attack were approaching the villages outskirts where
the looming mountains walled up a concealing wall of rock, and the scant
number of villagers who had escaped were seen fleeing from one of the crevices that was
wide enough for a cart to drive through. They would be reached without
hindrance more than likley.‡

Dance of the Rot: ::High upon the crest of the mountain Magni stood,
watching the assault of the town bellow. It was indeed almost like looking
over a tafl board, with his troops out across the board, moving in to take
the prize. Hand fell idol upon the pommel of his sheathed blade, metal clad fingers
tapping against the hilt as he watched out across the darkness. His small
gathering of men stood with him, having cleared the area of troops and
destroyed the signal fire, they were without direction or aim.:: "Orders, M'lord?"
::A voice came from over his shoulder, causing him to look up from the scene
of chaos and carnage below. Standing at his back was his second, one of the
few dwarves he trusted completely and without hesitation, a man he knew would
give him his life if he asked it.:: "Follow the hide of the mountain, listen
to the stones. Find the passes over or through the mountains that ring the
town and secure them.Let none pass, if they resist capture, put them to the axe
and hammer. We cannot let them bring word of our attack to the other towns.
Take four with you, and send the other five out the other way. I shall meet
you on our ship at day break."

Imaboggle: ::Modi grimly surveyed the devastation of the town as his
warriors cut down everyone who resisted. Many of the townspeople had
surrendered since it seemed to be a simple fishing village made up of mostly
women, children, and men who were untrained in the art of war. "Anyone who surrenders will
be treated fairly!" he shouted to the cringing townsfolk. "You will be
treated as prisoners of war, but I do not enjoy inflicting punishment
unnecessarily. Do as you are told and you will be given fair quarter." He clapped the
surrendering villagers in irons; Modi was not a cruel dwarf, but neither was
he soft and easily forgiving. He turned to his men after the villagers were
secure. "Search the perimeters of the town!" he shouted to one of his garrisons.
"Hunt down everyone who has tried to escape. If they surrender bring them
back here, if not - treat them as hostile and kill them swiftly." The
100-dwarf strong garrison raised their weapons and shields in salute, then marched
out into the night to fulfill his orders. Modi turned his attentions towards
the villagers and surveyed them critically for a few minutes. After looking
at them thoughtfully, he moved to stand in their line of site, and hefted
his large polehammer onto the ground. Modi's face was stern as he leaned on
the hammer, a gesture that was not inherently aggressive but still held a
potential threat of violence. "I need to know if there are any military outposts
in this area, or if there is any way to easily get word to soldiers in this
area", he said to the villagers, his voice firm but gentle. "Anyone who gives
me this information will be well rewarded."::-d-

Syados Edge: ‡The barbarian lord had chosen to place an outpost moreso in
the mountains that were beyond the villages own encircling mountain. There
were caves which provided shelter and made for an ideal means of traveling
unseen when the men who were assigned to that area were knowledgeable upon which
paths to take to formulate ambushes and reconing of information that went on
beyond the long high stone walls that were built by nature so long long ago.
It was within these mountains that an unknown number of men would still need
to be discovered before they could be counted. Yet the scouts had arrived
quickly enough. Horses that had been bred upon the plains on the otherside of
the mountains they were posted at were adept at speed and stamina. Many of
the barbarians were well experienced upon their horses. Yet not the entirety
of the outpost was able to rely upon them since they were secreted in the
mountains. Thus there were no corals outside of the village, no buildings or
sitings of civilization that could be spied out that would identify their
prescense. There was the age wearing path that led from the villages
mountains southwards, and another one northward to the next village. But the roads were
not paved, made of stone or anything more than a hard packed earth that had
been passed over by cart wheels and horse hooves for many years passing. The
scouts would reach the fleeing villagers before the dwarves would land upon
the shores as long as that would take. The stragglers, wounded and stricken
with fear were indeed left behind as they could not be helped. The barrage
had left a strict fear that was determined to kill any in its' path, those who
had chosen to flee had not the faith in luck to test their abilities to
remain around. There were only a handful of scouts, a small enough party that
would arrive and gather what little information would be given. Some were taken
upon horseback to be taken to their outposts in the mountains farther beyond.
Whilst the rest would be left to run on their own for a time further. THey
had no choice in the matter truly. But the scouts prescense let them know that
the rest of their number were on their way. And there was now more of a
chance to remain alive. One of the scouts was given a gesture to enter the
crevice which would lead into the villagers mountainy surroundings. His horse left
behind so he could pass amongst thsoe still fleeing. He had to see who it was
that was attacking them. In time, he would take note of the dwarves who were
upon the shores, and going through the charred and burning huts and
homes. ‡

Dance of the Rot: ::Metal met leather with each motion of his hand as he
continued to gaze out upon the field before him. He felt some how robbed of
an experiance, like the victory was one that was hollow. Indeed, a feeling
of illness started to grow within his stumach as he watched the smoke curl into
the night sky, mingling with the clouds high above. Their was no resistance
to be had here, not where he thought there would be. He expected such a
valuable and defendable position as this to be built up more, not to find a sleepy
fishing village with narry a soldier amongst the lot of them. Behind a mask
of hanging mail, his lips curled into a deep frown. His back turned to the
burning village, for the view from so high above it sickened him. Instead, he
called to his departing men to return to him. Giving his second another rune
marked tial from the small pouch on the inside of his shield, he bid them
farewell as they gathered togeather to use it, taking them away from the
mountain top and to the Ironclads out in the waters, leaving him alone. Yet
he was not alone for long, for using one of the very same tiles, he took
himself from the craggy peaks so high to the sandy shores where the Monitors sat,
dug in sand. It was to his brother that he strode, sabatons leaving heavy
tracks in sand as he approched the young dwarf.::

Imaboggle: ::Modi sighed as the villagers cowered before him, their whimpers
and the buckling of the remaining structures sagging under the spreading fire
the only sounds that cut through the silence. "Really? You're really going to
do this, in the position you're in? A few simple words and I could have
helped you, rewarded you, and this is what you choose." He shook his head.
Bloody humans, ransack a town or two and they froze up like mice caught out
in the open by a hungry owl. Modi had known that overtaking this little town
wasn't going to be particularly glorious or exciting, but he hadn't
anticipated how truly unfulfilling taking over a little unarmed fishing
village was. He craved glorious battle against a foe that could hold his own and test his limits,
and watching the buildings crumple and his men loot the remaining structures
left Modi feeling irritable and empty. His face only brightened slightly when
he saw the figure of his brother stride confidently towards him, his armor
glinting in the firelight. Modi clapped his brother's hand in a strong, warm
embrace. "Well? Did you find any stragglers?" he asked. "I couldn't get a
single word outof these pathetic creatures about outposts or anything about the
outlying lands.::-d-

Syados Edge: ‡It was true. The villagers they had gathered were both wounded
from the barrage of cannons, or were too stricken with fear to be able to say
a thing. Those who had enough courage had already fled or died trying. Their
number was not too many indeed, maybe a dozen or two at the most.
Nonetheless, whatever dwarves would be searching the mountains would only
find another pass or two which other villagers might have escaped through.
The scout though knew enough from the brambles of a nearby bush that amassed and filled a
stretch of land that was plowed and currently barren of any grown food. They
were dwarves alright. Short and armored with their own makings of metal and
steel that they had such an abundance of. The scout would take his leave soon
enough as he saw the dwarves going through the homes and coming closer and
closer to be a little too close to keep watching. So he quietly left and
snuck away like the agile scout is most proficient at accomplishing. His foot would
be in the stirrup in his steed in moments passing. Two other of his scouting
party relinquished his steeds reins to him whilst asking," so?" The returned
scout in turn would nod with a scowl of anger amidst his young
features.-"...dwarves...far from home..I will return to tell of such." -Nods
were shared between them, and he'd ride off to do exactly that at a quickened
pace that left dust piling up in the air behind him. The two others nodded and decided to
scout around the villages mountains to see perhaps the number of ships that
liably brought them to shore. Meanwhile from the mountains A team of horsemen
were riding out from a valley of stone and boulders. A huge darkened cavern
like orifice being their entryway into the sunlight. They sight of the
fleeing villagers straggling towards them were in view, and they were quickly
spurred for to ensure they would be given what protection was able to be given so
late in their fortune. Just how many horsemen began to pour from that orifice
was unseen..for the dwarves were still in the process of following their
orders.‡

Dance of the Rot: "No, I did not. I was high on the peaks, but I saw not a
single flicker of light on the planes from the village to the mountains foot,
nor any on the mountains themselves. Either there are none to be had, or
they are traveling in the dark. It will be slow going for them either way."
::He of course spoke in the tongue of his people, his voice deep, flinty and
gutteral.:: "There is no great ship yard or host of warriors that could
attack our flank, we have no need to linger." ::Casting an open hand to the small
gathering of survivors of the assault, he spoke now in a tongue that they
could understand, and hear well.:: "Coming here was a mistake, this wanton
violence was not needed. Set them free, I will not stoop to the low levels of their
king. They have suffered enough for crimes not their own..." ::The tone he
held was one of deep sorrow and regret, the actions of this night clearly
heavy on his mind and heart.:: "Back to the ships once we are free, we must make
haste to the East, no more stops, it is clear that our only target now lays
not on the waters shore."

Imaboggle: ::The look on Modi's face would have been comical, if not for the
grim situation and setting. His mouth dropped open and he fixed a look of
incredulity at his brother. "So this...this was all for nothing?" he asked in
the dwarven tongue, his voice low and harsh. "What the hell are we doing here
then? I thought-" he broke off suddenly, his hand tightening around the
polehammer as he glared at Magni. "I thought you had everything planned
to the smallest detail. This was supposed to be a clean,
efficient operation, and now you're telling me we've made fools of
ourselves?" Modi hefted the hammer over his shoulder and stalked over to his
remaining garrison. "Call the other soldiers back, we're leaving. We shouldn't linger, there's
nothing left for us to do here."::-d-