Chapter 12

“Decisive Battle for Kulan”

          Once in Greendale, Dekari went to the temple of Paial with the Eye of the Dragon. Two temple guards stood at both sides of the entrance to the temple. With great-helms, light-blue cloaks, and a broadsword each the guards stood silent and motionless. Dekari passed them and entered the structure.

            Once inside Dekari walked down a long hallway. With smooth stone walls the hallway had doors and rooms on each side. There was a quartermaster for several different things. One for herbs, one for armor, one for weapons, and one for potions. Dekari passed these 4 doors to come to a large circlular room. Directly ahead of him was a stairway leading to the second floor. Dekari climbed the stairs to reach Firatri’s room. He knocked loudly and a moment later the Paladin from Rockport, Firatri, opened the large, ironbound, wooden door.

            “Hello there,” Firatri said.

            “Hello Firatri,” Dekari said. “Anything out of the ordinary happen in town while I was gone?”

            “No, things ran smoothly,” Firatri said.

            “We got what we had gone for,” Dekair said.

            Dekari pulled the sheet of cloth from over the eye and showed Firatri.

            “An orb of farseeing, this one called ‘the Eye of the Dragon’. I would like you to keep it here in the temple, I’ll give you 50 avengers, who will be under your command as temple guards. Keep the eye a secret and use it to gather intelligence,” Dekari said.

            “Will do,” Firatri said as Dekari handed him the orb.

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Breakfast at the Dragonstooth

            Days passed with Firatri watching the orb closely. One brisk fall morning Dekari, Aiken, Kane, Draven, and Dredskif sat at the same table on the Dagonstooth porch where they sat every morning. The five companions ate scrambled eggs, bacon and drank coffee, imported from farther south.

            Dekari spotted Firatri headed his way. Firatri climbed the steps of the Dragonstooth porch to stand at the table of the 5 companions.

            “Dekari, I have been watching the orb night and day. It has shown me much,” Firatri said.

            “Have a seat, we can discuss it over breakfast,” Dekari said

            “Very-well,” Firatri said, then sat.

            “Hungry?” Dekari asked.

            “Famished,” Firatri said.

            “Barmaid,” Dekari yelled.

            A bitter young woman came out to the porch

            “Same as they’re having,” Firatri said.

            Not saying anything, she nodded and went back into the tavern.

            “The enemy forces from the west have sent more soldiers to the southern ports,” Firatri said. “Blood Elven warships of King Fisik, from Gorwyn and King Kanlihn, from Westfyrd have destroyed two fleets from the Bronze Republic. They patrol the sea in several large fleets, protecting transports. Minotaur transports have landed Minotaur armies from King Noto, King Tamar, King Firmin, King Dorto at the southern ports. Azathas Caellisethar, king of the lizard men as well as King Jupiter of Redrock have also landed at Kulan’s southern ports. The blood elves have enlisted help from the Ogrith, as well as Ogres, and Goblins.”

            “The infantry from Del’goth and Heath’goth, Phalanx from the Bronze Republic and Archer-Infantry from Qualistay have put one port city to siege. Its city walls high and the enemy that holds it being well supplied and constantly re-enforced,” Firatri said.

            “How has the allied army been doing?” Dekari asked.

            “Its slow going, there is constant fighting. For every battle they fight  and win they have another shortly after continuing south,” Firatri said.

            “What worries me is that the Lizardmen, Noto’s Minotaur and King Kanlihn’s westfyrd  blood elves have landed much farther north than the rest. There army appears to be headed here, or at least In this direction,” Firatri said.

            “How long until they arrive?” Aiken asked.

            “3 weeks at the most,” Firatri said.

            “The city walls of stone are no where near finished, we‘ll have to defend the town from inside the old wooden wall.” Dekari said.

            “How large is their army?” Dredskif asked.

            “Together between the three forces near 30,000,” Firatri said.

            “I’ll keep our garrison on alert,” Draven said.

            “I’ll raise more militia and concentrate on the pike, shield and bow,” Dredskif said.

            “There is something else,” Firatri said. “Trajan, the Legion general that broke away from Kulan with 7 other legions has begun an invasion into Emperor Titus’s lands. Trajan and 4 other legions have taken the capital of Kulan, Kular. He has brought 50,000 men south and sent messengers to Marcus, Dominus and Michael telling them to leave Kulan immediately, saying that they are trespassing and don’t have permission to keep armies in his country. The Kulan senate still recognizes Titus as the Emperor.  Emperor Titus has been forced into civil war. An alliance was forged, Southern Kulan, Del’goth, Heath’goth, Qualistay and the Bronze republic all have forces in south Kulan. Titus has 6 legions that are loyal to him. Of these he has sent one of to join the multi-national force In the south of his new nation.”

            “Another thing,” Firatri said. “Trajan has heard of the prosperity of Greendale and on his way south will stop here.”

            “How does that orb work?” Dredskif asked.

            “When I hold it I say what I want to see and the orb allows me to feel as if I’m standing in the room. I can see, hear and smell as if I was there,” Firatri said.

            The serving girl brought out Firatri’s breakfast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and  coffee, and set it before him.

            “Thanks,” Firatri said.

            “Can I get an ale?” Draven asked.

            “This soon after sunrise?” the barmaid asked.

            “Nevermind the time,” Draven said.

            “Verywell,” the barmaid said.

            She walked into the tavern and a moment later returned, giving Draven his beverage.

            “Thanks,” Draven said.

            The six soon finished breakfast and went their separate ways. Hours passed with Dredskif busy training the militia, Kane was busy overseeing the scouts, and Draven was busy planning defensive strategy for Greendale.

            As the sun reached its zenith, Dekari, Aiken and Draven met for lunch at the Dragonstooth.

            The three sat at their table on the porch of the tavern, Draven eating steak and drinking ale, Dekari, who didn’t drink alcohol, drank coffee and ate beef stew. Aiken had ordered an ale and was eating salted pork.

            While the three ate they watched as an emissary of Kulan entered the town, lead by Titus Paprius Damaticus. Titus came with almost a dozen men to the porch of the Dragonstooth.

            “Hello Dekari,” Titus, the emperor of Kulan said.

            “Hello there,” Dekari said.

            “The rouge general Trajan has invaded my southern half of Kulan. I have with me 5 legion generals. The army of 50,000 is close to the city, I ordered them to camp outside Greendale,” Titus said.

            “Looking to be supplied by Greendale?” Dekari asked.

            “I am here to name Greendale as the new capital of Kulan. Titus has the north and he has taken Kular. The senators have either been killed or exiled, some are with me. I brought with me 5000 laborers, they will all be put towards your city-fortress project,” Titus said.

            “Will I remain governor of this region?” Dekari asked.

            “Yes,” Titus said. “Your appointments in the city will remain as well. What I would like from you is your loyalty and your allegance to Kulan. With my army of 50,000 there are 250,000 refugees from northern Kulan as well as Kular when it fell.”

            “My grandfathers Del’goth army, as well as Heath’goth, Republican and Qualistay forces are in the south fighting for the independence of your empire,” Dekari said.

            “I secretly met with Jupiter, King of Redrock. He has agreed with a heavy donation to meet Trajans army and defeat them,” Titus said.

            “Its good to have two of your enemies fighting each other,” Aiken said.

            “As well as two of your enemies will grow weaker,” Dekari said.

Decisive battle at Greendale

            Over the next three weeks, Titus had been setting up Greendale as his new capital, several thousand more workers came to the city and worked on constructing low cost homes, cabins and longhouses, for the swelling population. 50,000 Kulanian legionnaires were still camped outside Greendale. Throwing thousands of gold and thousands of workers, as well as making the 50,000 legionnaires work, the Wall around Greendale was finally finished.

            Dekari sat with Titus in the meeting hall in Dekari’s command building, a longhouse in the residential district. They sat and discussed politics, when Kane came into the room.

            “Dekari. Titus,” Kane said. “Several scouts have come in saying that Trajans army is less than 3 hours away coming from the north. A few scouts also have come from the west, saying that a lizard man, minotaur and bloodelf army is coming, only about 2 hours away.”

            “Get everyone inside the city walls,” Titus said. “Go to my legion generals and tell them to break camp and come inside the city.”

            “This could be very convenient,” Dekari said. “If Trajan fights the enemy army from the west, you could wait until the battle was over then go out and mop up whoever is still alive on both sides.”

            “If anything I would seek diplomacy with Trajans generals,” Titus said

            Dekari and Emperor Titus left the command building went to the wall.

            The 5 legions started coming into the city, and with the last of them the large gates to the city wall closed. Kane had his Crimson Elves take to the wall, bows ready. Dredskifs militia also took to the wall with bows. Draven had the Avengers take to the wall as well, heavy recurves ready.

            The minutes stretched on as did the hours before horns of war could be heard. The entire army of invaders, 150,000 strong began taking the field several thousand feet from Greendale’s high walls. A large group of officers was at the head of the army. King Jupiter, of Redrock, King Fisik, of the Gorwyn Blood elves, King Kanlihn of the Westfyrd Blood Elves, King Tamar of the Korosodo Minotaur, King Noto of the Bloodrunner clan of minotaur, King Firmin of the Gobtel Minotaur, King Dorto, warlord from Gobtel, and King Azathas of the Lizardmen.

            While the invading army set up siege equiptment, drums from the north could be heard. At the head of a column of 70,000 Legionnaires from North Kulan, rode Trajan and his 7 Legion Generals.

            Dekari stood beside Titus on the city wall both watching the events unfold. Trajan marched his army onto the field and had them form lines. Titus walked down a long set of stairs leading from atop the city wall, took a horse and ordered the city gate opened. Several men atop the wall turned a large crank, the door opening. After Titus rode out they closed the gate. Titus rode across the field to meet with Trajan, stopping in front of him and his 7 generals.

            “Hello Trajan,” Titus said.

            “Hello, good day for a battle,” Trajan said.

            “Alone you can’t win. We need to put our differences aside for today,” Titus said.

            “Very-well,” Trajan said. “March your army onto the field and we will fight side-by-side today and I’ll kill you and take the south another day.”

            “Move your army closer to the city, I’ll have my 5 legions form ranks beside you,” Titus said.

            Trajan nodded and Titus rode back to the city.

            The gate opened and Titus rode in, found his legion generals and marched his army out of the city. Titus’s 50,000 soldiers formed lines beside Trajan’s 70,000.

            While the Minotaur, Blood Elves, Redrockians, and Lizardmen started forming lines, 100 Ogrith could be seen flying from the north to land near Noto. The first wave of the enemy, the Ogrith flew across the battlefield. The Large winged beasts dove down on the Kulanian soldiers biting, and clawing and gouging. While the legionnaires fought the half ogre half demon beasts the enemy advanced. Titus and Trajan sitting upon their horses ordered their army to advance.

            The Battle lasted hours. Both sides took heavy losses. At the end of the day Titus and Trajan lay dead. Both of their armies crushed, the battlefield littered with 120,000 dead Kulan soldiers. The invader’s soldiers collected the expensive suits of armor, the weapons and scavenged whatever they could find on the battlefield, that was of value.

            25,000 of the enemy left made camp, the morale of Greendale devastated, the city now surrounded and cut off. Throughout the night trebuchets fired large boulders into the city, killing indiscriminately.

            That night few slept in Greendale. At dawn Dekari, Aiken, Kane, Draven, and Dredskif met, as they did every morning, at the Dragonstooth.

            “I wonder what the future of Kulan holds,” Draven said.

            “With the death of Titus and Trajan there is no leadership for the plainsmen of Kulan,” Kane said

            “When Titus came here he brought with him 250,000 civilian refugees,” Dekari said, “Bringing the population up to near 300,000. If this city falls all those people will be killed, or worse, become slaves ”

            “We should ask Marcus’s opinion.” Aiken said.

            Aiken pulled his whistle out from underneath his shirt and blew it, making no sound. Minutes passed, but before long a portal opened in front of the Dragonstooth, several civilians taken by surprise, moved away from the light blue, oval portal. Marcus Ironfist stepped through the portal and approached the 5 companions.

            “Hello boys,” Marcus said.

            “Grandfather. Thank you for answering our call,” Aiken said.

            Marcus nodded, looking around,

            “The people here look afraid,” Marcus observed.

            “Almost the entire Kulan army was destroyed here yesterday. 120,000 men, on our side alone, perished.” Dekari said. “There are only 25,000 of the enemy, but they surround Greendale and we are cut off. The people will soon starve if we don’t receive shipments of food. The river that runs alongside Greendale will keep the people from thirst, but they will need to eat.”       

            “With the army of Kulan destroyed I’ll be pulling my forces out of the nation. I cant weaken my armies fighting a losing war for Kulan,” Marcus said.

            “I have about 13,000 soldiers here, as well as a large militia trained to fight as a phalanx. Would you allow me to take the people to southern Del’goth and form a new city there?” Dekari asked.

            “Instead why don’t you take the people to Kular. From there if you wish to fight in the defense of Kulan you will be on your own,” Marcus said. “Im withdrawing my force to my Del’goth motherland.”

            “Imperial Kulan will fall. When you bring your southern force up through Greendale can we travel with protection from your army, to Kular?” Dekari asked.

            “I don’t want any refugees coming to Del’goth, as long as the people of Greendale stay out I will provide security for the re-location,” Marcus said.

            “Verywell, thank you.” Dekari said.

            “I’ll portal back to my army, talk to Dominus and Michael Severus and Dryden of Qualistay. Prepare your people for the move, I will portal back to Greendale in a few hours with my army and we can travel north to Kular, from there I head home.” Marcus said.

            “Thank you.” Dekari said.

            Dekari called a meeting of the whole city. Messengers went throughout all of Greendale, and announced that Dekari would be giving a speech. Almost the entire civilian population of Greendale showed up.

            “There are 25,000 enemy across the field, as you all know. Before long they will be reinforced by many more. Marcus Ironfist, my grandfather, and King of Del’goth will be here shortly with his army to protect our journey. We will be evacuating the city and burning it to the ground, so that the spoils of war aren’t as sweet for the enemy. I will take you to Kular, the strongest city in all of Kulan. Most of Kulans legions have been defeated. If we stay the city will be taken and sacced, They would make slaves out of you or kill you. Go now and prepare for the long journey to Kular,” Dekari said.

            A Few hours later a portal opened again, this time Del’goth Infantry as well as Del’goth Avengers and Paladins came through. All the residents of Greendale filled out of the city and walked or rode with the Del’goth army and, formerly the Garrison, which now acted as a guarding froce, 5000 Legionnaires, 2000 Battledwarves, 3000 Qualistay Rangers, and 3000 Avengers.

            Once the last of the citizens left, Kane and a detachment of 100 Crimson Elven rangers lit fires throughout the city. The invading army watched as the people left but did not attack. Formerly the garrison, 13,000 men, elves and dwarves along with 10,000 of the Del’goth army. Outnumbered the invader just watched as they left.

            Noto, a Minotuar shaman, practicing elemental magic, cast a spell, the skys opening up and heavy rain falling upon the burning city. Once the fires were out Noto and the other kings marched into the city.

Meeting of 8 Kings

            The Kings Jupiter, Fisik, Kanlihn, Tamar, Noto, Firmin, Dorto, and Azathas met in a longhouse in Greendale.

            “That went rather well,” Kanlihn, king of the Westfyrd Blood elves said.

            “Took them tens of thousands of gold pieces and thousands of laborers, and mountains of stone to build this wall.” Noto of the Bloodrunner clan said. “The only thing that accomplished is now we have a huge fortress in the middle of Kulan, a huge fortress from where we can launch campaigns into the south and north at will.”

            “My navy, with Kanlihn’s has destroyed another fleet from the Bronze Republic,” King Fisik of the Gorwyn blood elves said.

            “I think it would be a very bad idea to attack any more Eastern nations until we have a firm hold on Kulan. We don’t want to stretch our army thin,” The Tall, broad shouldered King Jupiter of Redrock said.          

            “From here where do we go?” King Firmin of the Gobtel Minotaur said.

            “We march on Kular,” Noto said. There are only two places I want to leave until the end of our Kulan campaign. West-Wall Fortress and North-guard fortress.”

            “We should split our armies in two groups. One to win the south and one to win the north,” King Fisik said.

            “I agree,” Noto said. “King Jupiter, King Kanlihn, and King Firmin and myself will take the north,  The rest will take the south.”

            “Kings Fisik, Tamar, Dorto and Azathas. Protect the southern ports,” Noto said.

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            A month passed, with the refugees from Greendale, Mohawk and the surrounding dozen or so towns finally arriving at Kular.

            Kular was a magnificent city, with white city-walls stretching two-hundred feet tall and hollow with archer fire stations evenly spaced. Banners hung from many towers in the wall, each representing a royal family. They had passed thousands of acres of farmland as well as ranches coming to the city. The land was flat for the most part, three tributary  rivers flowing through the cities large territory.

            Dekari and Aiken, walking in front of the 300,000 came to the city gates The hallway leading through the wall was guarded by a dozen men, 6 per side. Dekari led the people into the city, many of whom, near 250,000, had fled Kular when Trajan had taken power. Those 250,000 returned to their homes and their lives.

            Dekari, with Aiken, Draven, Kane and Dredskif walked through the city until they came to the Kular Palace. A dozen guards stood at the bottom of the long stair leading up to the Palace.

            “Whats your business at the palace?” one of the guards said.

            “I bring news of the war,” Dekari said.

            “The Centurian assembly is meeting, what news do you have?” the guard asked.

            “Emperor Titus as well as Trajan were killed defending the nation,” Dekari said. “Southern Kulan is all but lost to the invader, and The northern and southern legions have been destroyed in a battle against the invader. I was governor of a large territory, The city of Greendale was being used as a military outpost, that has been taken.”

            “I will relay the message,” The guard said.

            “Thank you.” Dekari said.

            Dekari dismissed the Avengers, Dwarves, and Rangers, allowing them to return home.

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