Mankind has grown strong in eternal struggles and it will only perish through eternal peace. Now we stand before the almighty gods, to strike as swift as angels to eliminate those who deny us or birthright.
-First Prinnian Fuhrer
-First Prinnian Fuhrer
The forest was dimly lit thanks to the canopy of restless leaves above, the birds danced about in their majestic courtship with nature. Grass was dry and it seemed the full force of spring and summer had finally arrived dousing the land in green lush life, the crops had arrived and many tended to them enjoying the good year’s harvest. Sun shining brightly in the noon time air and all seemed at peace, the river roared past in a magnificent display of Mother Nature, a side which seemed could not be tamed. Warm dry air covered most of the land as the rains had disappeared for the season and it would soon become a wonderful time to stay outside, unless of course you where weighted down by hardened leather and chain mail. Clattering of armor and swords resounded throughout the peaceful woods; the noise quieted the forest life as they scurried away in fear. These scruffy looking men along with seemingly young men treaded in a ruckus as they moved down the dirt path banners and shields revealing the crest of Argonia, a small kingdom west of the Prinnian Reich's borders. These men numbering in the several hundred where responding to the report of the sacking of a border village. Prinnia had never hidden their ambitions to rule them and this would not be the first skirmish that would have taken place. Frequent raids had made warfare a fact of life, yet neither made any moves to conquer the other. So it was that this column moved up to scout and assesses the damage totally unaware of the brush moving beside them.
"How far is this shit hole of a village Jeofry?" A man by the name of Ivan scowled as he once again readjusted his broadsword; Jeofry was riding atop a black horse which snorted aggressively. Jeofry looked at the man covered in chain mail and face covered in war wounds; he thought he must look the same if not a little cleaner shaven. He pulled out his map and looked at the crinkled yellow paper, poorly drawn lines sketched over it with names barely legible, it was undoubtly still quite far away. He shook his head and pulled on the reigns slowly, casting a hard gaze at Ivan who had a little smirk spread across his dirty mug.
"Ivan we will be there when you shut that mouth of yours, which will probably be never." Jeofry chastised and Ivan backed off a flush of red running over his dirt caked face. They had been marching for a good day and he knew these men would be tending the fields had they not chose this life. The young men were gitty with the thought of taking it to the Prinnians, though Jeofry knew that the Prinnians were not a foe one could underestimate, in fact they were probably...
A sharp thunk was heard throughout the column and everyone halted, at first some thought that an animal had made that noise. Ivan though thought differently, he ran his hand over his face a crimson liquid covered him, but it wasn't his. He looked up to see a crossbow bolt lodged deep into Jeofry's unprotected face, the bolt had smashed its way deep into his skull and Ivan could see the gray matter spilling out. He wanted to puke, that was until a bolt punched him so hard in the chest that he flew backwards, dead before he hit the ground. The following several moments were followed by screams and panic as crossbow bolts came from every direction, these warriors accustomed to seeing their foe and courageously attacking meant nothing here. They were pinned down on the ground as bolts flew whistling through the air. Those who weren't struck fled and they watched in horror as the brush seemed to get up as well and chase them down, several men dropped their swords and hoped to be taken prisoner but no such thing came as they were struck down by daggers.
When the carnage was over a multitude of corpses and wounded lay sprawled about the forest floor, moans of anguish and cries pleading for help resounded. One of the bushes that moved stood as tall as a man and seemed silent like a hunter. Then a human hand pulled back the blind and inhaled a breath of fresh air, his hair blonde, and blue eyes piercing as he place his officers cap back on. He folded the blind into a pouch on his back and reloaded his crossbow, putting the bolt in the latch and pulling back with a satisfying click. At least thirty other bushes got up spread out along the forest floor and did the same until they were all together, the officer nodding at his men examining the damage they had done. The rest of his men went about cutting the throats of the wounded enemy and began rifling through their belongings.
"Reynald," A soldier by the name of Georld came striding up his crossbow shoulder strapped and strung on his back. "That was quiet the ambush we laid huh?" He smirked with pleasure.
"Indeed," Reynald spoke whilst lightly kicking the body of a dead horseman. "They didn't even have a chance to react, I almost feel bad for the poor bastards."
"Yea well they are Untermensch, no need to feel bad for beasts." Georld spat venomously, he placed his coalscuttle stalhelm back on his head and slung his crossbow onto his shoulder. "Any who sir, we should probably contact the rest of the division we cleared the pass."
Reynald nodded and turned to a mage who was tucking away his brush camouflage. He waved him to come closer, the mage put on an officer’s cap and hustled over and Reynald stuck out his hand. Instantly the mage gave him a medallion which he whispered ancient spells upon until it glowed gently. Reynald put it against his ear and at first nothing happened but then he could hear it, a faint voice which continually grew louder until it was as if a man stood before him now.
"This is divisional command we have you on the port medallion." A voice said from the glowing disk, "What is your current state?"
"This is Reynald we just eliminated a large armed patrol heading east, we are currently holding for further orders." He said, there were several moments of silence.
"Alright Reynald, how many are under your command at the moment?"
"Around forty five men, we have enough crossbow bolts to last us awhile." He looked around at his men who had nearly finished picking up trinkets from the dead. It was generally frowned upon to take the belongings of a dead enemy combatant but rules were meant to be broken.
"Roger, due to your current position the village of Taten is several minutes’ walk from your position. If you seize that town command will offer you a rest and there you can halt for the night."
"OK moving out." He gave the medallion back to the mage and called in his men explaining the objective. They moved out marching along the very road they had destroyed the caravan of troops. The invasion of these lands would be swift or so the Prinnian's hoped, they also hoped their superior tactics and numbers would help.