The Death of the Gold Crusade - Part 2

That was the last entry in Lord Long-night’s journal.

He was writing those very words mere moments before the attack at Anvil, before the slaughter…before the death of the Gold Crusade.

All I can say for certain about the Battle at Anvil is that there were more than 150,000 Dwarven soldiers at the Battle of Anvil and that there were only a thousand survivors.

Survivors…

Calling them that feels cruel. It’s far too cruel of a term to describe those few fortunate souls who were able to survive that nightmare and doesn’t even start to describe what happened to them.

Ancestors…

Even saying that they survived that nightmare isn’t true.

I remember the looks in the eyes who came back to Dawn Hammer and those eyes haven’t lost that same look since they’ve come home.

Ancestors, forgive me.

I know how difficult it’ll be for me to find people willing to even talk a little about the Battle of Anvil, and it will be even more difficult for them to speak even just a few words about it, but I must press on.

I need to try and determine what happened at Anvil, to make sure that the memories and final moments of the unfortunate, foolish fallen are never, ever forgotten, and that our people for generations to come know how fortunate they are to live behind the gates of the cities.

After a week of searching, asking, and begging, I’ve managed to line up a series of one-on-one interviews with a handful of the survivors.

They know what I want to ask them about, and I can only imagine the courage it took them to agree to my request to talk to them about it, but words cannot express my gratitude for those brave souls willing to speak with me today.

With our Ancestors’ blessings, I should be able to get somewhat of an understanding of what happened at Anvil and why so few of our brothers returned home.

My first interview today is with a medic called Tylan.

Once I’ve questioned each witness to the best of my abilities, I’ll write down their testimonies and, by this evening, I hope I’ll be able to transcribe the events of the battle, so that future generations will know as close to the real story of what happened that day as possible.

Tylan looked to be in far worse condition than I had anticipated.

His eyes, lifeless like all the other survivors I’ve seen; his skin, covered in scars from the Crusade, and his presence…it felt like I had a great weight being forced upon my shoulders just being in the same room as him, as if his trauma from the Crusade was my own.

I met him at his home where his wife gave us both food and drink and, after a few minutes of silent eating, Tylan began.

“I don’t know how useful it’ll be for you, Joseph, but all I can tell you is what I saw that day,” he said, putting his hands together and elbows onto the table; his eyes fixed on the wood. “When the battle began, I was in the hospital, tending to the casualties we had sustained in the assault to retake Anvil. We had around three thousand wounded soldiers, some of whom wouldn’t last the night, but I had wanted to make their final few hours at least comfortable.”

He ground his teeth and closed his eyes, his hands shaking, and I told him he could take a moment if he needed one.

Tylan shook his head. “No point in me running away from what happened. I…I need to accept it…to come back…home…” He took a deep breath and then continued. “I didn’t see the initial attack on the frontlines, but I heard a large commotion and a lot of shouting and panic. I’d wondered at first if a drunken brawl had broken out, but then I heard the bells ringing and I knew we were under attack.

“Per our training, half of us ran out of the tent and rushed to the frontlines, ready to carry the wounded back to the hospital for treatment, but I was one of the ones meant to wait and receive the wounded at the hospital. I spent a good amount of time gathering my medical supplies and then waited for the injured to arrive, but only a few dozen of them were ever brought to us.

“I asked one of the captains about it, but all he said was it was a mess out there and that’s why moving the wounded was so much slower than the normal. Confused, I stepped out of the tent and tried to see what was going on and…” He dug his fingers into his palms and took a deep breath.

Even thinking about what he saw that day was enough to make him freeze up and panic.

“…The best word would be chaos,” Tylan whispered, forcing himself to keep his eyes open and trying to keep himself calm. “Dwarves of all divisions, phalanx, Slayers, men at arms, knights, rams were all running around without direction, arrows raining down from above, and I could see a massive goblin horde not just at the frontlines…but from the tunnels to our rear as well…the very one’s we’d come from earlier that day.

“I didn’t know what to do, until Sir Euwan ran over to me and told me, ‘We’re retreating! Grab a ram and prepare to ride back to Stone Shard! Tell everyone you can and get as many people to follow you as you can. Now!’ I nodded as quickly as I could, even as I was trying to process what I’d just heard…we were running…we’d lost…

“I…I…I…” He stopped again, bit his lip, took several deep inhales and let out several long exhales, and then said, “I didn’t tell anyone…I just…ran. I ran and grabbed a ram and…rode it to where Sir Euwan and the others had assembled…and then…nothing…I don’t know what happened next…”

He trailed off and looked to the side, putting his head in his hands.

“Everything else is…just a blur…” he mumbled. “The next thing I knew, I was in Stone Shard being shaken awake by a soldier I didn’t know, saying Sir Euwan needed me and…and…”

Tylan couldn’t keep himself calm anymore.

He broke down into tears, his entire body shaking, and wept and wept and wept. His wife came back and held him tightly, holding him close, shushing him and saying that everything was okay.

She politely asked me to leave and I agreed without hesitation.

I thanked her for her hospitality and then I thanked Tylan for coming back alive and for telling me his story, that I’m sorry and would never talk to him about this again.

A tragic and upsetting tale, truly and I didn’t know what to say to him.

I never asked him any questions, I never even asked him if he was alright and, when I tried to imagine what that would’ve been like for him and anyone else that day who saw that nightmare, I can’t do it.

It’s too unthinkable for me and I can’t say that I wouldn’t do what he did that day.

My cowardice would’ve driven me to do the same thing and may the Ancestors curse any Dwarf, alive, dead or yet to be born who dares to question Tylan’s actions that day.

My next interview is with a retired member of the Slayers order; Wulwan, once known as Wulwan the Keen-eyed. He retired from the Slayers after he came back from the Crusade, but not before defending Strangúld one last time against the goblins.

He ended up retiring a month or two later due to the wounds he sustained at Anvil.

His right eye was taken out by a Goblin and his arm was badly wounded too, although I don’t know how.

Perhaps, if Wulwan is willing to tell me, I’ll find out.

Wulwan seemed rather…jolly for someone who survived the Gold Crusade and the slaughter at Anvil.

Initially, at least.

His eyes weren’t dead, even with his body as broken and scarred as it was, and he didn’t seem to be suffering from any trauma, although I did initially wonder if he was merely trying his best to act tough and hide his trauma from me.

“Anvil,” he muttered, before grunting and smiling grimly. “That was a day. I was on the frontlines when the goblins attacked us; they came from the tunnel leading to Dark Hammer in the tens of thousands, maybe 60,000 or so, and they caught us rather off guard. I and the other Slayers were on watch duty, standing on the rooftops, on the walls and towers that had been built, and any raised levels near the tunnel, overseeing the workers and on the lookout for goblins.

“I and my squad were on a tower about fifty metres from the frontlines where the poor phalanx and men at arms had been building fortifications for hours at that point, and few were in their full armour when the horde arrived. Upon spotting the goblins, we called out the incoming attack and rang the bells and, soon enough, the entire camp knew what was happening and the defence was being organised.

“The phalanx and men at arms grabbed their gear and got into position, forming a tight phalanx formation ten men deep and the archers took their positions behind them, arrows knocked, bows drawn and crossbows ready. I and the Slayers began setting up and I saw several trolls among the goblin ranks, first I’d seen on the Gold Crusade and, for the recruits who’d never seen them, that sight alone was enough to make them shit themselves.

“Two of the guys next to me did, and they were experienced Slayers, so I know that others would’ve as well.

“Soon, Lord Ahkvan, Lord Feather-fall and Lord Quartz, and some other lords who I didn’t recognise, joined us and took command of the defence. Lord Feather-fall took command of the Slayers, Lord Ahkvan the phalanx and Lord Quartz stayed in the rear with the archers in order to better command the defence, but…even in that moment, I didn’t think we’d hold them back.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

Wulwan smiled dryly. “Right up until the moment the goblins were charging us, all those poor bastards on the frontlines had been working building the fortifications, and so they were exhausted, and scared, and that meant they weren’t ready.

“Fuck, I was surprised some of the lads could even stand, given how long and hard they’d been working.

“Lord Feather-fall then climbed up the tallest tower and yelled, ‘Fear not, brave soldiers! Reinforcements will soon be here to help us, so we just have to hold out until then. Fight your hardest and earn your glory and place in history!’ Some of the men cheered and roared, and the rest joined in soon afterwards, even as terrified as they were.

“Then, the battle began.

“Our archers fired, and many goblins fell, but many of the goblins blocked our arrows with their shields. Then, the most bizarre thing happened as the goblins reached the phalanx.

“Right before they reached out spears, the goblins in front came to an abrupt stop, dropped onto their hands and knees and the goblins behind them leapt onto their backs and then jumped above the phalanx.

“But that wasn’t all they did. The ones who’d jumped above the phalanx had bows and arrows and shot down at the soldiers from above, killing a good number of our men before they then landed in the thick of the phalanx.

“They dropped their bows, drew their short swords, axes, hammers and whatever other weapons they had and began cutting our men down by the dozen. The goblins who had bent down then got back up and charged into the broken phalanx, taking advantage of our confusion and terror from the initial attack.

“The newer recruits broke ranks to either attack the goblins or to run away, not caring how they would upset the line, or the fact that there were men right behind them stopping them from running away, while the veterans among the phalanx tried to maintain the formation to no avail. Hardly a shock when half of your formation doesn’t stay in formation.

“With one attack, they had destroyed our defensive line and chaos descended upon our soldiers.”

I was speechless.

The goblins did something so strange and managed to break through the phalanx so quickly and easily.

I then asked Wulwan if the goblins to him seemed particularly muscular than the ones that they’d run into prior in the Gold Crusade.

He thought for a moment and then said, “Yeah, quite a lot stronger looking than the others and their strength definitely showed. They were strong enough to rip shields from our soldiers and beat a full plate armour knight to death. That wasn’t even the end of their strange tactics either.

“Out of nowhere, arrows began falling on the archers, the phalanx and even the Slayers. Someone next to me got shot right through the neck and panic began to set upon us. I and the other Slayers looked around for where the arrows had come from and saw something truly unbelievable.

“The goblins had climbed up the walls of the city and the caverns surrounding it, anchored themselves into the wall and had then started shooting arrows at us, passing over their soldiers and easily landing them in ours.”

At this point I could notice Wulwan’s disposition change, his eyes locked to the floor, his hands shaking ever so slightly as he held them in a grip. Inviting such horrid memories made even such a hearty dwarf forego composure however little.

“Lord Feather-fall quickly spotted the goblins and ordered us to fire at them, but they were rather high up, some I believe were more than a hundred metres up the walls, and few of our shots found their marks.

“Then, as if to make our troubles even worse, the trolls began assaulting our lines with massive swords and stone hammers, breaking the phalanx formation and completely routing our forces. However, I and the other Slayers made quick work of the trolls, even as goblins continued to fire and kill our brothers in arms. As I was shooting, an arrow hit me right here.” He pointed to a massive scar where the arrow had pierced his right bicep, close to the top of his shoulder. “I lost all feeling right away and dropped my crossbow. So, I called for a medic, one found me, and I was being taken back to the tent when the High King and the main force arrived to reinforce the line.

“Our men rallied in an instant as Lord Quartz, Lord Ahkvan and the High King cut through the goblins with the King’s guard by their sides, and we began to push the goblins back, but that didn’t last for too long.

“I don’t know what happened exactly but, the next thing I knew, I heard an order for soldiers to attack a goblin force that had appeared at the rear, but I was in no condition to fight, so I went to the hospital to get patched up. Instead, I ran into Sir Euwan who told me not to bother, ripped the arrow from my arm, and told me to get a ram to break through the frontlines with.

“I rode with Sir Euwan and the rest through the goblin lines and.” He stopped himself, lightly touching the patch covering his missing left eye and scowled. “Only I and the other lucky bastards made it home.”

Even if he didn’t say it, I can imagine what happened; Wulwan the Keen-eyed lost his eye and title that day.

I thanked him for his time and for making it home and, with somewhat of a sad smile on his face, said that he hopes it helps me.

Given everything he’s experienced, I’m impressed that he could remain this strong.

I know I and few others would have been able to.

Captain Kethan, Taigstun’s officer, was next on my list.

Being one of the few higher-ranking officers to make it home, he would have greater knowledge and understanding of what had happened between the lords of the Gold Crusade as the battle raged on, so I’m hoping that I can get a good sense of what happened to the nobles that didn’t make it home.

After all, only Lord Long-night ever got back to Strangúld in the end, and how the others died is all but unknown.

It would be too tragic not to know how such great lords and legends died, so, Ancestors, please let Captain Kethan tell me, so that their deaths and memories are given the respect they deserve.

Being honest, I had expected Captain Kethan to refuse; after all, Taigstun never made it to Anvil, so I didn’t know if someone as loyal as him would be comfortable talking about the battle in an honest manner.

Even after listening to his testimony, I don’t know how truthful his words are.

“I had been talking with the other officers when the bells rang,” he said. “I and the others gathered our gear and ran into the centre of the camp where the lords’ tents were so we could get an understanding of what the situation was and what our orders were.

“Lord Long-night, Lord Ahkvan, Lord Quartz, Sir Euwan, Lord Feather-fall, Lord Whitehall, Lord Jaakan, and Lord Pearl-blade were there when I was given my orders. A solider from Lord Long-night’s retinue arrived and informed Lord Long-night of a goblin horde, around 50,000 strong, was attacking the city from the tunnel to Dark Hammer.”

Lord Long-night nodded, turned to me and said, ‘Captain Kethan, gather what you can and lead them to the frontlines now. I and the others will gather the rest of the troops and join you shortly.’ “I eagerly accepted my orders, called the squads under my command to my side and we all charged to the frontlines, weapons drawn and ready to fight.

“Lord Ahkvan, Lord Feather-fall and Lord Quartz weren’t far behind us with what men they could rally, and we all joined the fray as soon as we could. Our phalanx joined those already there, our archers helped provide support and the rest charged into the thick of the action. I was beside Lord Quartz for a time and I remember thinking at the time how fortunate I was to see such battle prowess in person.

“It was almost beautiful at the time, seeing the light blue glow around the Dawn Blade as it became drenched in blood, cutting down a Goblin with every swing.”

Captain Kethan’s expression turned bitter and he let out a low sigh.

“Then, the trolls arrived and smashed our lines and…I ran, without looking back.” He spat and his expression twisted in agony. “Ancestors curse me, I even ran past the High King’s forces as they went to reinforce our brothers fighting on the frontlines. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from running and…I saw it…I saw the second horde arrive at our rear…emerging from…emerging from…” His lips trembled and his hands curled into fists. “Emerging from the central tunnel…the one Lord Taigstun was meant to arrive from…

“I don’t know how many there were, but they swarmed into the city and soon moved to block all three tunnel entrances using their sheer numbers as an unbreakable wall. “When I saw that, I fell onto my knees and cried. I thought that I was going to die and…then, I heard it…the call to retreat from some of Lord Long-night’s men.

“All other thoughts got pushed from my mind. I ran to my ram, saddled up, rode him and met up with the other ram riders who were going to break through the goblin lines and…”

Like the others before him, Captain Kethan stopped talking as soon as the conversation turned to the charge through the goblin ranks and the ride back to Strangúld.

“I still have nightmares about it, you know,” Captain Kethan whispered, turning away from me. “Of the retreat back to Stone Shard with the other riders…and I can still feel that fear…it feels like it’s grasping onto my heart whenever I close my eyes. Ancestors, I pray no one else ever has to experience such things from this time until the end of time.”

I went to thank Captain Kethan, but he asked me not to; he just told me to go and leave him be.

What happened as they charged, I don’t know for certain, but I don’t know if I want to even imagine what happened, let alone hear about what happened.