The War has Begun

The War has Begun....
 
Ive never been a soldier, part of a command structure. Kemurial has been incredibly accepting of me. Ive only been with his team a few days, but his trust in me, well, that's what keeps me here frankly. I have always been a solo. I work best alone. Working with others, part of a plan, timing, the responsibility of lives that you have to protect, rather then kill, is all new to me. It makes me uncomfortable to have lives rely on me. This is part in parcel of changing who I am. Instead of a crossbow for hire to further political or religious goals, I am defending those who cannot defend themselves.
 
We have agreed on a plan. Destroy as many siege engines, especially the large demonic one. As the rest of the team leaves to execute their part, I sit and have a moment to myself. In all my days, others people survival has never been something I have been counted on for. I think about others in my life that I have lost. My father, that fateful day when the city's council had him killed. My mother, she died that same day. Not from someone's attack, but from losing the love of her life. They were married 180 years.
 
After I executed my revenge, killing the council and their family, 22 lives in all, I took my mother to the surface. My skills as an assassin allowed me to provide her with a very comfortable life, although solitary. She would sit on the porch, and look at the ground for hours, eyes blank with staring. She could only look to the past. She died with Father that day. She finally died of old age, alone while I was on a job. Coming home to her in chair, eyes blank, sent me a message. She had been their awhile. I knelt in front of her, I looked deeply in her eyes, blank with stare. All I could see was the sadness. After Fathers passing, she just waited to die all because of politics.
 
Politics has never gone well for me, and wars are politics in spades. My job is based on my ability to be unseen. I have been tasked with destroying 3 siege engines, by myself. I have been given a brazier by Kemurial that summons a Fire Elemental. My job, oil, light 2 catapults, involving the ropes, and 1 Balista while they attack the huge demonic siege engine and 3 more catapults.
 
My odds depends on if there is magic protection or detection in place. If magical detection or protections are in place I have a 0% chance and will probably die. Looking to the depths of the earth, I talk to Calladuran Smoothands. Something I have not done since my Father has died. If I am to die today, my only request is to be with my Mother and Father. I am not a religious sort. Gods are narcissistic beings who toy with the lives on this world.
 
As I stand on the battlements and look out over the battlefield, I see the signal for me to begin. I use my Rope of climbing to descend the wall silently. Stealthily, I approach the first catapult. It is manned but about 10 chaos warriors. I sneak underneath, pour my oil on the wood and ropes, and I ignite it.
 
As the fire erupts, and the soldiers begin scampering in panic. The distraction allows me to move to the next and repeat. Again, mass confusion. On my way to the balista, I release the Fire Elemental and direct it to attack the two burning catapults, then return and take out the Balista. The forces around the Balista are confused at the burning catapults. Their lack of focus is making my job easier. As I am about to hit the Balista, I hear Freya in my head. The team is badly injured and are retreated across the river south of the demonic siege engine. I acknowledge the message but I am right at the Balista.
 
Do I immediately, retreat and give up this opportunity? I have never had to make a decision that could cost peoples lives that I am in charge of protecting. The pit in my stomach aches with such responsibility. Is this what Kemurial feels everytime he makes a team decision? I am nto sure I could handle that over and over. I decide to take out the Balista and then make haste.
 
Doing my best to remain unseen, I hurriedly make my way to the meeting point. As I arrive, I see the Chaos Forces closing on the team. I take up position in the forest, and start sniping. I concentrate on the Shamans and Death Knights. My crossbow bolts find their marks. Enemies begin to fall. These one or two enemies on Rory and Kemurial allow some breathing room. I reposition and start taking out Shamans.
 
Unfortunately, I am spotted and a force of a dozen soldiers are targeting me. Freya is able to cast some crowd control and tells me she is out of spells. That means Kumurial is low as well. Our summoned forces are all but gone. I decide to call out the retreat. This is Kemurials job but he isnt aware of Freyas lack of magic support.
 
I tell Freya to head back now. I will hold what I can. I continue to yell for retreat. The forces are beginning to overwhelm us. Kemurial takes one more swing, then winks out of sight. I take one more shot and drop one more soldier, then I active my psi lens. I arrive at the tunnel and seconds later, Rory shows up.
 
We enter the tunnel that leads back to our start, and trigger the collapse to prevent the Chaos Armies from using it.
 
Beaten up, battered and bruised, we arrive at the battlements. As Kemurial tends to the party, a celebrated Calvary of the Chaos Army approaches the gate. Standing out of range of our magic, he and his entourage address the leadership of Praag. As he speaks to to impending victory the battlefield it starts filling up with a full battalion of soldiers. Literally THOUSANDS of warriors.
 
Our job was to slow the attack. Not sure if we were successful. We did destroy or make inoperable 6 siege engines, but the primary engine is still fully functional. Its dynamic functions will be a huge detriment to the Praag armies. It can fire cannon balls, fire balls, and poison gas. I am not sure Praag will survive this onslaught unless there is a miracle, and I believe that miracle is underground.
 
Politics. Was it the best decision to go after the siege engines or should we have gone underground and looked for the item of power the armies are trying to find. If I am to die here, at least, I will die helping good people, and this shall be my legacy.
 
I'm not sure what has killed more innocents, politics or religion. Whatever the answer is, I refuse to be part of that equation any longer!!!!!!