The March to Stone Shard - Part 2

Date: 15th of Gol (The 5th Month of the Year 204 of the 2nd Age)

Ah, what a fantastic day this has been!

Praise to our ancestors!

Praise to our warriors!

The Battle of Stone Shard is over; we have won!

The first great victory of the Crusade is behind us and ahead there is more glory to be won, I’m sure.

As soon as the morning bell rang out in the camp, all the soldiers in camp excitedly scoffed down their breakfasts, gathered their weapons, donned their armour and fell into their ranks.

Within the hour, the entire army was ready to attack and the High King and Taigstun stood atop their carriages as the army cheered for them.

As much as I despised Taigstun, even I ended up cheering for them.

“People of the Dwarven kingdom! My brave brothers in arms!” The High King cried, his voice carrying off the walls and resounding in every man’s ears. “Today, we will accomplish something that no other Dwarves in history have ever done. Today, we shall retake the lost city of Stone Shard!”

The army cheered and let out a mighty war cry.

“Today, we shall carve our names into history and bring about the start of a new age of prosperity and greatness for our sons, and their sons, and their sons until the end of the world itself!”

We all cheered again, many raising their weapons as high as they could to the Gods.

“To the one who kills the most goblins in this fight, know this; I shall name you to the King’s Guard and grant you wealth beyond measure when we return to Dawn Hammer as heroes!”

Everyone cried out again in excitement.

I saw a few of my men whispering to one another about it, and another pair discussing how they’d get a group of them together, kill a hundred goblins each and then pretend one of them had done it. Then, when they’re rich, they’d split the money.

As dishonourable as it was, I was proud of my men’s cunning.

Even Sir Euwan seem seduced by the promise of fame and glory, a side of his I hadn’t seen in many a year.

Just as the crowd’s energy and talking were dying down, Taigstun declared, “Soldiers, onwards! To glory!” and, with that, we marched.

I, Sir Euwan, the High King, Taigstun, the other noble lords, the knights and ram riders rode at the front, the rest of the army behind us with no order or organisation.

The closest thing we had to a formation was that every house’s forces marched together with their banners.

Once we could see the gates, the High King ordered the horn players to play and a great roar resounded down the tunnels, before being met with an even louder roar from the army.

We at the front charged through the pitiful Goblin defences at the gates and carved our way through their sentries.

They had maybe a hundred goblins with flimsy spears against more than ten thousand mounted soldiers.

We left none of them alive and stormed into the main city square.

The Goblins swarmed at us from all sides, hundreds from every direction which quickly turned into thousands.

Even then, we were able to cut them down and more than ten of them fell for every three of ours.

Still, the Goblins persisted but then quickly started to break and retreat deeper into the city as the main army joined in on the fighting.

With them at our back again, the cavalry spread down every street, cutting down goblin after goblin, and the rest of the army followed suit.

Soldiers from every type, from every house, from high born to commoner overran the city like a burst dam down every street, every back alley, every building and every hole that the goblins called home.

The goblins were unable to martial a defence against us, let alone kill even a thousand of us once the main army had joined the fighting.

Within twenty minutes, the city had been retaken and the streets were littered with countless corpses of those green bastards!

Serves them right!

Ancestors and Gods, shun and curse them!

Even with our dead among them, no soldier could contain their cries of joy after the High King stood atop the city’s tallest building, Taigstun and his King’s Guard at his side, and declared, “Stone Shard is ours!”

We cried until our throats burnt and demanded drink to sooth them.

Most of the army rested, ate and drank, while others attended to our wounded, gathered the bodies of our fallen brothers in the tunnel we had come from, and began piling up the goblins in a large empty warehouse.

It took them most of the day, but the scholars from the Archive managed to get a final total of the dead by the start of this evening’s celebrations.

10,000 dead Goblins and 1200 dead brothers.

Most of the dead came from the ram riders, alas, but that was to be expected once we started our charge.

I wish we had waited for the main army to be closer to our cavalry once we had killed their sentries; that way, we might have had less deaths on our side.

While we do not know how many goblins fled exactly, some had escaped the city, but Taigstun sent out a few hundred riders after them.

With the battle done, night guard shifts organised and, after speaking with Sir Euwan and the captains, I told them that they could drink and party to their hearts content tonight to mark our great victory.

Usually, I wouldn’t let them let loose like this, but I imagine that we will be in Stone Shard for a time to fortify and set up supply lines with Strangúld.

Well, all will be revealed later.

Taigstun has called for another meeting tonight and, for once, I’m

[Most likely, Sir Euwan interjected Lord Long-night’s writing, leaving yet another one of his entries unfinished]

It’s no wonder Lord Long-night was in such high spirits.

With such an easy win, he and every other member of the Crusade was beyond ecstatic, so I can understand why he’d let his men party and drink, rather than rest and recover.

Even as disorganised and chaotic the battle was, and even after the goblins had surrounded them, the Crusade’s army was able to easily retake Stone Shard, and I can imagine everyone that night felt like the Crusade’s success was all but guaranteed.

From what I can gather from Lord Long-night’s writings here, it almost seems like he took the victory as a good omen that the army could win with no organisation whatsoever, which, I think was the exact opposite.

This convinced the Crusade’s army that they were unbeatable, that they could easily win, and that they didn’t need to do anything else than charge and fight, not establish ranks or strategies.

Well, whatever Lord Long-night felt before his meeting with Taigstun, I know for certain that those thoughts and hopes changed just hours later once he returned to his journal.

Date: 15th of Gol (The 5th Month of the Year 204 of the 2nd Age)

Ancestors curse you, Taigstun!

To think that he would whisper such idiotic ideas to the High King just to improve his standing with him.

At what cost to our people and our Crusade?

Damn him!

And damn the High King for trusting him so blindly!

To think I was so naïve and optimistic about this Crusade…now I’m anxious and doubtful that we’ll even keep Stone Shard once the High King declares the Crusade done.

Once I and the other lords had arrived at the High King’s tent, we bowed to his majesty, even though Taigstun was at his side.

Despite it being our High King’s personal tent, it had been refitted into a war council chamber with a large wooden table covered in papers and maps of the tunnels.

Then, he began the meeting and, within a minute, most of my hopes died for the Gold Crusade.

“My lords, first and foremost, I feel that a great thank you is deserved,” the High King began, a gigantic smile on his lips. “Thanks to you and the brave men who follow you and joined us on our Crusade, we have taken the first step into retaking our ancient homes from the Goblin vermin that have plagued us since before the Dread Dawn.”

The lords gathered cheered and bowed to the High King, thanking him for his praise.

Clearly enjoying our praises, it took a small nudge from Taigstun to get the High King to continue the meeting.

“Now then.” The High King cleared his throat. “To business. First, the scholars, priests and medics have gone through and identified, and recorded, the names of all those who perished in the fight today. Long will they be remembered.”

“Long will they be remembered,” we all repeated back.

“Once we return to Dawn Hammer, we will see to it that all of their names are recorded on the Golden Tablet on the Wall of the Fallen and glory will be theirs from this time until the end of time. For them, they have earned their eternal glory and have passed on as brave warriors and champions of the dwarven people; but, for those of us still here, there is plenty more glory to earn and plenty more Goblins to slay!”

The lords nodded and cried out in unison.

“Now, we shall go through our battle plans for the next part of the Gold Crusade, so, my lords, please pay close attention. Lord Star-forged, if you would.”

With a polite nod and bow, Taigstun stepped forward.

“Thank you, your majesty,” Taigstun said with a bright, false, smile, placing his hands on the table. “Earlier this evening, I and the High King met after the battle and I put forth my plans for the next major part of the Crusade. This battle plan will allow us to retake the great city of Anvil and, at the same time, deal a great blow to our enemies.”

Given today’s success, I had high hopes for what they might propose, even knowing the kind of idiotic man that Taigstun was.

Those hopes were soon dashed.

“First thing in the morning, all of our forces will mobilize and march down the three roads to Anvil and all will reach the city within a week.”

I and most of the other lords were far too taken aback and stunned to say anything at first, perhaps none of us could fully believe what he had just said, or we hoped that we’d misheard him.

Finally, after a few moments of uncomfortable silence, I was the first to speak up.

“I thought we’d be staying in Stone Shard for at least a few days.”

“As did I,” Lord Ahkvan said.

“Should we not reinforce our position here first? Secure a place for the wounded and supplies from Strangúld?” Lord Eurian asked.

“I would be willing to leave some men behind, your grace,” Lord Kaisar said.

“We should re-think this-”

Before I could finish my sentence, the High King had slammed his fist onto the table, silencing the room.

“…Your grace?” Lord Eurian asked; his voice shook as he spoke.

“How can you all be so cowardly?” The High King demanded, a nasty glare in his eyes. “Did you all join this Crusade under the impression that we would just take Stone Shard and return home? If so, speak now, and I’ll send you back to Dawn Hammer and throw you into the dungeons. We are here to retake all of our lost cities, not just one or two; all of them. And I do intend to take them all.”

“But, your grace, with all blessings and respects, if we don’t take this chance to set up-”

The High King slammed his fist onto the table once more.

“The longer we spend here in Stone Shard, reinforcing ourselves, the more time we give the Goblins to organise and reinforce Anvil, Dark Hammer and all the rest; if that happens, then our Crusade will take generations, not months. We have to strike fast and hard, and while the bastards can’t repel us.”

“What of the wounded, your grace?” I asked.

“We bring them all with us,” Taigstun cut in.

“Should we not even leave a hundred men to send messages back to Strangúld and set up supply lines?”

“We can’t spare a single man; the Goblins outnumber us in these tunnels and any man left behind would-”

“Your grace, with all respect and blessings upon you, I urge you to reconsider. If we don’t properly secure what we’ve taken then-”

Taigstun slammed his fist onto the table and glared at me.

“Lord Long-night!” He bellowed. “You would defy your king and question the plan his majesty agreed to!?”

I grit my teeth together as my hands curled into fists.

The entire room broke out into hushed murmurs at that with all the lords present, aside from Taigstun and High King Torvar.

Seeing the discontent among the lords, the High King cleared his throat and addressed them all.

“Once we reach Anvil, we will leave behind a garrison with the wounded to protect them, but no more men than is necessary to protect a make-shift hospital,” the High King said. “From there, we shall send messengers back to Strangúld and properly set-up supply lines.” Then, he looked at each lord in the eyes and asked, “Does anyone still object?”

I wanted to, Ancestors know I wanted to, but I would be one of the only lords left at the council with the balls to confront Taigstun and the High King and point out how fucking stupid not fortifying Stone Shard was.

When no one objected, the High King turned to Taigstun and nodded, to which the git bowed back.

“Now, as for the plan moving forward, the High King and I agree that it is vital that we clear out all the Goblins from all three roads leading to Anvil, meaning that the army will divide and all rendezvous at Anvil within a week’s time.

“First, High King Torvar will take 80,000 men and head down the left tunnel to the city; I shall lead another 140,000 through the central tunnel which, we suspect, will contain the largest number of Goblins.”

“What makes you say that?” Lord Ahkvan asked.

While annoyed with his disrespectful tone, Taigstun smiled and picked up one of the pieces of paper on the table; it was incredibly old and worn, and I thought it’d fall apart the second he grasped it too tightly.

“Wisdom Keeper Rarrack and his apprentices found an old tunnel map from what we believe was created two hundred years after the Dread Dawn,” Taigstun began, spreading the map across the table for all to see; it was a map of the roads leading to Anvil and back to Strangúld. “And, as you can see.” He pointed to the central tunnel to Anvil. “This is the longest and widest, meaning that there could be more Goblins in this tunnel than any other.”

Lord Ahkvan nodded and began studying the map more closely, as did a few of the other lords, myself included.

“As for who will lead the third army with our remaining troops,” Taigstun continued. “Lord Long-night, you will lead that force.”

I was taken aback, as were a few of the other lords.

“I believe that a man of your.” Taigstun’s face turned bitter. “‘renown’ would be more than up for the task.”

Now I understood what he was doing.

He didn’t want me anywhere near the High King, offering up my advice and ‘influencing’ him to make the ‘wrong’ decisions.

Ha! Like you hadn’t done just that, you stupid bastard.

I imagine you were overjoyed the moment his majesty accepted your proposal of such a bold, and foolish, strategy. After all, the more the High King likes your plans, the more his opinion of you rises, and the better off you’ll be.

Slimy cunt.

Ancestors curse him!

However, I couldn’t refuse.

I knew that; Taigstun knew that, and so did everyone else.

Refusing such an ‘honour’ would earn me nothing but scorn.

“I shall not let you down, your grace,” I said, bowing to the High King, arms by my sides, digging my nails into my trousers to contain my rage.

“I hope you won’t,” the High King said with not so much as an attempt to disguise the tone of disdain in his voice.

No doubt Taigstun had twisted his opinion of me and there was no way that a High King who despised me would ever allow me to serve in his portion of the army, nor would Taigstun, and so it was natural to them then that they put me in the army that neither of them are in, out of mind and sight.

“Then, when all three armies are at Anvil,” Taigstun continued. “We shall leave behind a small force and the wounded and march onwards to Dark Hammer.”

Then, they read out a long list of which lords would be a part of each army but, at the time, I was too focused on my anger to properly pay attention.

“Any further questions or objections?” The High King asked.

No one spoke up.

“Very well. This meeting is over. Tell your men to get some rest and be prepared for a long march.”

I left, informed Sir Euwan and a few of the captains, who then went on to inform the rest of them men and then I came back to my tent.

I then immediately punched the pole of my tent as hard as I could, drawing a bit of blood, and then began writing.

Damn you, Taigstun!

Ancestors curse you!

I still can’t believe these words as I write them in this book directly from Lord Long-night’s journal.

Taigstun was so arrogant and so sure of himself that the Gold Crusade would succeed that he didn’t leave a garrison behind to hold Stone Shard?

That he flat-out refused to leave even a hundred men behind to establish supply lines?

That he thought that he would be fine simply abandoning the first city that we had recaptured in countless years?

After I first read this, I immediately ran out of my quarters to search for one of the survivors who was willing to speak with me and he confirmed my worst fears.

“Aye, Taigstun said that,” the sergeant said before drinking from his mug. After several loud swallows, he put it back down and began pouring himself a new cup. “Said we wouldn’t need to garrison the city once we’d taken Anvil.”

“Truly?”

The sergeant nodded.

“Not even to set up supply lines?”

The sergeant shook his head.

“He wouldn’t even allow the wounded to stay behind?”

The sergeant shook his head again. “Part of me thinks Taigstun was that arrogant of a cunt that he thought we wouldn’t need more men or food.” He picked up the mug and smiled thinly. “Or ale.” He sipped from it and slammed it back down. “Another part of me thinks he refused to do it ‘cause Lord Long-night said to do it.’”

I was puzzled, at first, but I already had a terrifying hunch about what the sergeant meant.

“Ya know how Taigstun and Lord Long-night hated each other, right?” I nodded. “Bit of me thinks Taigstun refused just to piss off Lord Long-night.”

“Surely he couldn’t be so petty and stupid.”

“And yet he was.” The sergeant drank again and downed his entire drink. “Without a place to fall back to or get more men and supplies from, we would be dead quickly enough.”

“Did Taigstun not realise such a basic fact?”

“Aye, he did, but he thought he could use Anvil instead.” The sergeant scoffed and shook his head. “Bloody fool.”