Trelor is Rescued from Hadovean Captivity

The battle begins

Trelor awoke from his nightmare to find he was still locked in his holding cell. Luckily the barred window allowed him to keep track of how many days had passed since his capture by The Crimson Hand. Listening closely through the window, Trelor could hear the familiar voices of Tombs and Ludendolf arguing about what should be done with him. "Boss, the wolves approach." Exclaimed Tombs, "They better have our coin this time!" came Ludendolf's demanding voice. Trelor rolled his eyes as he listened to the men, as he laid back down on his straw bed Trelor heard something that shook him to the core. A howl rang out through the canyon, "Wolves!" Trelor sat up at the horror of the thought. "You dare to betray the pack? The deals off Ludendolf! We will take him by force then!" Shouted The Red Wolf as he saw The House of Smith from the approach to the gates. "Im taking Trelor out of here even if i need to rip down these walls myself!" boomed a voice Trelor knew all to well, "Ahhh.... and that would be Kindred. Good lad." As the sounds of gunshots, explosions and clashing of metal echoed through the area Trelor relaxed back revelling in the fact that he was desired by so many people. He enjoyed the attention.

Red Wolf arriving at the gates

Red Wolf panted to catch his breath the amassed Wolf Pack before him "It seems we have been double crossed my friend's, the 'House of Smith' (he spat the last words) are here led by Kindred the Bane." *Briney hissed at the mention of the scum* "Hmph! Hmmph! Ohm! Mho! Gwd!" Petrus Theplaguedoctor cawed. "Do I have to get up?" Orik asked "Get yer ass up and battle ready!" Red wolf snarled back. "We're out numbered, and out gunned..." *Tyla gasped at the mention of guns* "BUT; We have something they don't! The strength of the Pack. We will prevail or we will dine in Paradise with our God's and Family! Death to the House of Smith! And pain to the Crimson hand for betraying us!" *The amassed force cheered* "Do we walk away our tails between our legs? Or do we show them that a cornered animal is the most ferocious thing they will ever encounter?" *A chorus of caws, hisses, roars, and swearing was the response* "Then let's show them their Folley! Let's show them the strength of The Pack!"

Jarvis Observing the battle from afar

Jarvis hated sleeping in the outdoors. Not that he was a man that needed his creature comforts by any stretch of the imagination, but a comfortable bed and a lovey lass by his side was always his preferred choice over a lumpy bed roll and swatting away bugs throughout the night. As the sun rose, Jarvis woke from an uncomfortable sleep. There he laid quietly for the next hour or two, formulating plans, calculating possible outcomes and available angles to play to his advantage. Although he looked forward to getting back home to Doomsayers Keep, as luck would have it, the scheme that saw him out here in the Contested Lands had ended less than favorably and there was a couple of somewhat unforgiving individuals back at the Keep who will not take kindly to news his failed venture. This, he would need to manage carefully. Not that he was worried. He had always had a knack for talking his way out of situations and Jarvis was confident this time would be no different. “I don’t hear that campfire crackling yet, I wonder what’s keepin Remly with breakfast” he thought to himself. Jarvis knew Remly would have been up before the sun rose, scouting the area for their morning meal. It was a routine they had followed throughout their journey. An agreeable fellow, young and keen to learn. He followed Jarvis’s direction without question, which worked fantastically in Jarvis’s favor. All part of his training as Jarvis would regularly put it. Lovely lad, but not the sharpest weapon in a rack full of Hammers, truth be told. It wasn’t long until Jarvis’s peace was shattered by Remly bursting into his tent, it seemed he had news that couldn’t wait.
REMLY: “Jarvis, get up, There’s something I reckon you might wanna see. There’s activity in that old abandoned fort we saw on the way past here last week. Got a few soldiers in it now. Armed to the teeth by my reckoning. Can we check it out? Can we?”
Jarvis pondered for a moment to consider, the news was enough at least to peak his interest. After all, it might present an opportunity of sorts and one should never pass up an opportunity.
JARVIS: “Right o my lad. You’ve peak me interest. Lets pack up camp and check it out aye” It didn’t take them long to arrive at their destination. They found a suitable spot at the top of a tree lined ridge that provided a view of the fort below and the surrounding land, with enough cover to keep their observations unnoticed.
There, Jarvis and Remly quietly observed the activity below. At least 10 minutes past before Remly rose, ready to advance towards the fort, his progress stopped as soon as it started by Jarvis’s hand across his chest.
JARVIS: “And where do ya think your goin young Remly. Sit yourself down before you give away our position” Jarvis said sternly.
Dutifully, Remly crouched back down.
REMLY: “W .. Well, I thought we’ll just go down at get a closer look. Ya know. Get into the action” Jarvis shook his head, pointing at the figures moving about inside the fort.
JARVIS: “I reckon that mob down there is the Hand. Aven’t quite add the pleasure yet. But let’s just say we got some mutual acquaintances. And you can be sure, they’ll be up to the eyeballs in Gun Powder.
See that lot approachin over there. I reckon that airy fella the one they call Red Wolf. And if that is the Wolf, then that lot with im, would be the Wolf Pack. Got a bit of a temper that Wolf, not to be trifled with.
Now cast yer eyes off to the west. That big angry lookin fella, that’s Kindred. Not the man you wanna see charging towards ya, not if you value your life anyways. Behind im, the House of Smith. Can’t see their leader Tree-lore there and I’ld at least be able to ear im if he was. Best to await this one out I reckon and see what unfolds. Might not take long. I reckon that Kindred is walkin into a hol load of trouble with two empire houses waitin to greet im. He’s good, but he aint that good. No use us bumbling down there getting all bloody for little return”
YOU DARE BETRAY THE PACK! THE DEAL’S OFF LUDENDOLF I’M TAKING TRELOR OUT OF HERE EVEN IF I NEED TO RIP DOWN THOSE WALLS MYSELF It took a few seconds for Jarvis to process what had just happened.
JARVIS: “Well that was unexpected” Jarvis says with a grin “Well Remly ole son. Looks like we just fell in orse s*%t and came out covered in roses. What a potentially profitable position we find ourselves in”
A confused expression spread across Remly’s face.
REMLY: “Profitable? What do ya mean Jarvis?”
JARVIS: “Well young Remly, let me answer ya question with another. What’s the most valuable thing in Ashnoor?”
REMLY: “Oh that’s easy Jarvis. Gold!”
Without taking his eyes of the activity below, Jarvis shook his head. A cunning smile spreading across his face as he started thinking of all the future schemes that could derive from this moment.
JARVIS: “Nah… Not Gold. Far to easy to get gold, always easy enough to find some rich sucker willin to pass on is gold if yer convincing enuff… Nah, I’m thinkin of something far more valuable and much arder to get ya ands on… Information”
JARVIS: “Now sit back and enjoy the show my ole son. We’ll see who does what to who and who holds a grudge about it. Armed with that information, I’m sure an opportunity of 3 will pass by our doorstep in the not too distant future”

Tombs before the battle

Tombs walked the parapet. It was a serviceable fort, though it wasnt home. The fresh air wafting away the smoke from his pipe as he wrestled within himself. The two mountains in his mind where Trellor and Rodrik. Trellor was the lesser of the two, they where aquaintances if not affable comrads, who had built a repore when Tombs had been an out right merc. For and against they both held no ill will against the other, that was the life of war. Things had changed quite a bit when Ludendolf had decided to make thier racket a public house. It made sense, more would seek them out for the "underhanded" work they did so well. Money had never flowed more, and in a way it was the same, you never new who the contract would be for or how far it would reach before getting payed. Tombs had been the one to broker the deal with the Red Wolf, and it was Tombs himself that had captured the infections ranger. He had shared a game of chess with Trellor in his cell, pocketing the second pures he had got out of the ranger. He had tried to make him as comfortable as possible while being thier guest, advising Ludendolf that it was in thier best interests to keep a repore with the ranger. Though he had been unable to maintain that situation due to the second problem; Rodrik. Rodrik a few days earlier had broken Tombs's hart. Being the sponsor for him into the crimson hand and his captain Tombs was wholly responsible for every action Rodrik made, and trying to proove himself he had over stept. He acted alone and with out the authority of his betters and had nearly brought disaster to the Crimson hand. Tombs very life on the line again put himself between Rodrik and doom by cutting Rodriks arm in punishment, but by doing so disobeyed one of the tennents of the hand thereby pulling the rage of Ludendolf on himself. In drunken outrage and shame Rodrik had attempted to leave the strong hold, with curses following him. Not realizing the love and leniancy Tombs had shown. Tombs road after him and tackled Rodrik from his horse, collecting a tree in the process. There they fought, though as drunk as Rodrik was it hardly counted as such. By the end Tombs berated Rodrik and tried to explain how close Rodrik had come to endangering not only his life but the family as well. Tombs offered to take Rodrik to the nearest monastery to tend his wounds but Rodrik refused, shame clearly on his face, and melted into the brush. That had been days ago, Tombs had been bedridden with grief for most of that time. Only now coming out to try and clear his head. Ludendolf had said that he didnt trust the Wolf pack to pay and had laid contingencies in case they wouldnt. One of those being the possibility of selling Trellor back to the smiths. Tombs tried to think it threw, Ludendolf had a much better head for the long game. Looking out he saw Red wolf approching the fort with a bag of coin on his belt. Tombs smiled, "at last good fortune" he said. Then he heard the bellows of outrage from the wolf, and at the tree line saw Kindred lurking there. "DAMN IT ALL!" Tombs exclaimed. He shruged "ahh well, such is life i suppose" and with that he sauntered to Ludendolfs office to report and plan the defence of the keep.

Kindred before the Battle

Watching the Crimson Hand encampment, "Bloody hell Trelor, why didn't you await the reinforcements you ordered for." Kindred muttered below his breath. From his position on high branches in an aging oak tree, covered in dirt and leaves, Kindred had watched the Crimson Hand's movements for days, noting patterns and times, troop gathering points. Most importantly Kindred had observed the posible location of his objective; the holding cells. On the second day of his observation, Kindred spotted what could only be considered a high ranking officer, smoking from a very familiar pipe. "If Trelor isn't amongst the prisoners in those cells, I know exactly who I'll be ... asking", Kindred murmured, leading to a rumble. Kindred had started to become disheartened on the morning of the 4th day, no gaps had made themselves apparent, no weak movements of guards that could be overpowered quietly. As much as Kindred wanted Trelor out, he was not risking anyone to the power of shot and powder, especially after taking the full brunt of one of their more inventive weapons, the Blunderbuss. On the late afternoon of the 5th day, Kindred began to pack up his equipment, checking food and water supplies, his weapons, and most importantly; the gold that had been procured for the recruited troops, and considered buying Trelor back, much to his dismay. Kindred began his slow, careful descent from the oak tree, thanking it for its service, when a howl echoed out in the distantance, "That is no animal ...", A second and third howl, forth and fifth echoing over each other, "The Wolf Pack, why the hell are they ... ", *howling*, "Oh for fu ...", *howling*, "Trelor, what the hell did you do to draw these", *more howling*, "savages attention". Watching the approaching rabble of savages and cannibals, Kindred realised that if the Wolf Pack are here for the prisoners, they are not going to last long, especially Trelor with his mouth, that he needed to slow the approaching Pack; never going to happen alone, or get the Crimson Hand on his side; also never going to happen, due to Kindred's disdain at the usage powder (however effective it may be), or ... As soon as The Pack reached the gates, Kindred bolted out of the treeline, to make himself visible to both Crimson Hand and Pack troops alike. "BASTARDS, YOU DARE BETRAY THE PACK" yelled a voice that was so very familiar, Red Wolf, "THE DEALS OFF LUDENDOLF." 'Ludendolf', that was a name that Kindred was that Kindred would remember, after realising that some of the Pack members had begun charging towards him, "I WILL TAKE TRELOR OUT OF HERE, EVEN IF I HAVE TO TEAR THESE WALLS DOWN MYSELF!!!", Kindred boomed, before retreating hastily into the trees before the Pack could catch him. Upon returning to the House of Smith encampment, Kindred announced to the troops amassed, "Men, Women, I will not force you to charge powder and shot, I will not force you to charge tooth and claw, but our men is in that fortress, almost certainly awaiting brutal deaths. If we do not free them, those dogs that call themselves a pack will devour them, down to the bone. Will you leave those men, who chose to defend their homeland, or will you free them with me?, Those who choose to fight, FOLLOW ME !!!"

Rronika

Setting her stave down against a tree, Rronika stretched her neck, enjoying the sounds and feel of the crunching ligaments as the kinks gave way. This last leg of her journey had seemed to take forever, but simultaneously fly by as she approached her destination. She had no reason to believe the little man who'd told her where the Crimson Hand encampment was located had been lying. In fact, she'd made sure he knew it was in his best interests to tell her the truth. It was always amazing how much people suddenly remembered knowing when offered living evisceration. She felt her breath quicken and her pulse increase when the howling of wolves filled the surrounding forest. She must be close if these mongrels were setting up baying. They wouldn't risk giving themselves away by revealing their location prematurely. She smiled with anticipated satisfaction and picked up her stave again, reaching up to stroke the beak of the crow roosted on top. "Soon, Dariel. Soon the battle will join - and you can feast." The eerie call of the crow seemed to challenge the howling wolves. Breaking through the treeline, Rronika caught sight of the Crimson Hand encampment ahead. Her slight smile stretched into a maniacal grin as she picked up her pace towards the encampment buzzing with activity. Ahead of her a berserker was closing the gap on the leader of the Wolf Pack. By the size and colouring of the berserker, it could only be Kindred the Bane. Rronika had heard of him and his fearsome reputation in battle. He was a force to be reckoned with and a Kingdom man through and through. If he was here to help the parasitic spawn of the Smith cesspool named Trelor, he was going to have to die. Rronika sighed. Such a pity. She saw Red Wolf's moment of confusion, followed by comprehension. "BASTARDS! YOU DARE TO BETRAY THE PACK? THE DEALS OFF LUDENDOLF! WE WILL TAKE HIM BY FORCE! AND YOU CAN JOIN HIM!" So the Wolf Pack were now at war with the Crimson Hand? Ha! Her day kept getting better and better.

Ravin before the battle

The scout entered the tavern, turned without a glance at the common rooms patrons and mounted the stairs. Usually he would have Taken them by two but the battle had made him weary. The second floor had half a dozen rooms and the scout headed for the door at the end of the narrow hall. Knocking once, he entered into a small room containing bed, small fireplace where a modest fire crackled. A desk under the window gave a helpful view of the township. At the desk sat Ravin Maybourne. Ravin was tall but unassuming in a simple tunic and pants. Parchment and books on the desk, maps notes and several messages strewn across the rough timber. Boots sat inside the door and a trunk at the end of the bed sat open with the glint of steel coming from inside it. Ravin turned to address the scout, “how fared the attack on the kingdom stronghold?” Sitting on the edge of the bed the scout replied, “We breached the outer walls and started dismantling their defences while beating back their defenders. The Crimson Hand and the Wolfpack gave a good account of themselves. The prisoners made a last ditch attempt to escape but a large majority of them were re-captured.” Ravin gazed out the window with a thoughtful look. “Interesting. We’re there any prisoners of note?” “Only one prisoner is still held. Trelor of house Smith, held captive in a stronghold to the north. The Crimson hand seem to be doing the heavy lifting and the Wolfpack seem to have engaged them in this.” Ravin turned his gaze on the scout with a quizzical look. The scout frowned, “This has not been done on your orders sir?” Ravin was thoughtful “No, but I would be a fool to think they either myself or the Empire owns either of those parties... Do we know what their intentions are with their “honoured guest?” ‘Not yet. However we have observed a sizeable force marching towards the stronghold led by Kindred the Bane. This seemed to interest Ravin, ‘To battle or bargain?’ The scout shrugged. ‘It’s kindred the Bane of house smith. House smith has deep pockets and kindred is known as a savage and effective warrior. It could go either way.’ ‘Thank you, you may go.’ Ravin gazes into the fire for some time. Finally the scout gets up and turns to head out the door. He turns back with a glance towards the trunk containing his Captains armour ‘Are we going to battle sir?’ Ravin turns his gaze from the fire to the two pieces of parchment on the Desk in front of him. One bearing the Imperial senate seal the other the coat of arms of the Maybourne Family. ‘That remains to be seen...’

Rodrik before the battle

"Aarrrrggghhhh!!!!" Screams Rodrik as the glowing hot steel sword sizzles his already bloodied chest. "How you like that manfilth?!" Rodrik's eyes looked up at the goblin jailer, "My brother will rip you limb from limb when he finds me!" Yelled Rodrik, startling the little goblin. "Noone has ever dared to pursue us across the Bloody Durg'arh Mountains into the old lands, scum!" Rodrik slumped his head forward knowing he was doomed to suffer this pain for a long while yet. Out the window of the torturer's tower he spotted a figure in red and black standing in the clearing next to a forest. "Tombs!!! Help me broth...aaaaaarrrrrrgghhh!!!" Screamed Rodrik as the hot steel pieced his skin again, to Rodrik's dismay the figure lit his pipe, turned and casually walked back into the forest. "No!!" Shouted Rodrik as he sat up in alarm, "Bout time you woke up! First you drink all of my whiskey, proceed to bring working women into my establishment, start a bar fight with my patrons, killing one and to top it off you've pissed yourself and in turn ruined my floor!" Said the Dwarven innkeeper. "What have i done?!" Said Rodrik, thinking of the fight he had with Tombs. "I just bloody told you!" Said the dwarf confused, "This should cover the damages." Rodrik dumped a sack of silver coins on the bar, the last of his money. "Very well, but dont let me catch you here again! Not after what you did to my wife!" Said the dwarf his eyes glaring at Rodrik. Without wasting anymore time Rodrik stood, his head thumping from either the hangover or the fight one could not tell. Charging out of the inn he noticed the familiar sound of Empire drums and the howling of wolves. "BASTARDS! YOU DARE TO BETRAY THE PACK? THE DEALS OFF LUDENDOLF! WE WILL TAKE HIM BY FORCE! AND YOU CAN JOIN HIM!" Rodrik made haste to his horse. "Come on Mayvar! We have to warn our family and most of all find Tombs. Im coming for ya bud!" He had a long ride back to the encampment and he would not stop riding till he got there.

The Battle Outcome

It was the Wolf pack that took the early advantage, routing the Crimson hand from their fortification and taking control of the defenses with the prison Trelor still inside. Ludendolf, Leader of the Crimson Hand and ever the opportunist negoiated terms with the House of Smith and assisted them in assaulting the fort now held by the Wolf Pack, freeing Trelor from captivity and enabling Trelors escape. As a tribute to his negotiation skill Lundendolf was also able to secure a sum of coin for the services of the Crimson Hand and term the arrangement as a debt owed by the House Of Smith. Trelor, along with the rest of The House Of Smith, knowing that they had better leave before the wolf ordered another attack on the already fatigued force, took off towards Kingdom lands. Trelor was frantic after word of his wife being in labour came and so he rallied the forces to double time, in hopes he wouldn’t miss the birth. His mind was also plagued with the knowledge that his long-lost brother was still alive, along with a more sinister acquaintance as the spider’s web grew. The Wolf Pack had safely returned their leader to hunt again his anger burning like a fire as he watched his prey retreat from the battlefield, swearing vengeance on the giant of a man that had dragged him to the cell meant for Trelor. Each house had lost and gained something that day, be it gold, friends, brothers or blood.