Rise of the Horde

The simple walls of the chamber, adorned with nothing but simple carvings of the Ereal's family, absorbed the dim glow of the flames emanating from the candles on the table, before the four figures who were huddled around.

Syvis, the cold and seemingly uninterested one, sat with her gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of the table, her fingers idly tracing the lines, yet her mind far away, lost in the vast, thoughts plaguing her mind.

She was the only one who could perceive the subtle whispers of magic that permeated the air, the faintest tremors in the dark weave of power. But even her keen senses, honed through years of practice and experience, were dulled by the exhaustion of the recent battles.

The war had left its mark on her, draining her reserves and blurring the edges of her perception. Across the table, their sisters, Aella and Kaela, the twin warriors, exchanged a silent glance, their brows furrowed in worry.

The weight of the recent events pressed upon them, their distrust for their new allies, the orcs and the Ereians, a palpable tension in the air. Their minds were filled with images of their kin being killed before them, the charred remains of their homes, and the ghosts of fallen comrades. The weight of their loss, the sudden betrayal by those they once considered friends, made it impossible for them to fully trust these new allies.

Leading the council was their eldest sister, Elara, the current Queen of Ereia, her face etched with the burden of responsibility. Her piercing eyes, usually sharp with command, were clouded with hesitation.

She knew their predicament, their position precarious and their future uncertain. She understood their fear, their reluctance to trust new friends. They were still haunted by the ghost of the past that caused them dearly.

Those who they have thought were their friends, were the ones who made their world crumble before them. But she knew they needed allies, their strength diminished after the devastating battles, but the betrayal still stung.

The meeting, however, was coming to an end, with no clear path forward. They had discussed the possibilities, debated the risks, but the shadow of their past betrayal lingered, a heavy presence that made it impossible for them to come to a decision.

Finally, Elara, her voice weary, declared, "We need time to assess our options, to decide our course of action. We will reconvene tomorrow."

As the four leaders dispersed, each retreating to their chambers, Syvis's focus sharpened. A faint whisper, a subtle disturbance in the dark currents of magic, caught her attention.

She paused, her gaze piercing the shadows, her senses straining to pinpoint the source. The whisper was fleeting, like a shadow disappearing into the night. But she felt it, a tremor in the dark weave, a hint of something unseen, something that she was very familiar with.

"I guess they are also wary of us, as we are wary of them," she shrugged as she ignored the presence that just vanished.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious chamber, adorned with dark curtains and shimmering black crystals, Faynah, the younger of the cousins, leaned back against a plush velvet chair. Her gaze fixed on the walls as she mumbled to herself.

Her expectations was spot on. For weeks, she had been monitoring the dark elven leaders, their anxieties, their doubts and their ambitions. She had been expecting the leaders of the dark elves to convene a gathering. "As expected," she murmured, her voice a low whisper, a subtle melody that danced in the air.

Adhalia, her cousin, who was also her confidante and ally, appeared silently beside her. Unlike the others, Adhalia was the only one who knew of Faynah's secret ability, at the moment. The two women were bound by a pact, a shared goal for their house.

They were now the only two remaining members of their bloodline. "What did you learn?" Adhalia asked, her voice soft, her eyes glinting with anticipation.

Faynah smiled, a sharp, predatory smile that stretched her lips, revealing a hint of sharp teeth. "They still haven't made a decision yet" she said, her voice low and melodic, her eyes gleaming with a dark light. "They are divided equally. Two willing to work with us, and two, still very wary of us."

"What do you think will they do?" Adhalia asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Faynah snorted, a sound that echoed in the silent chamber. "They have no choice but to work with us," she said dismissively. "They would be fools if they think that they can go against us. If that happens, they will soon learn a painful lesson; the orcs who are with us are not easy to deal with. And they are in our lands, this is our homeground."

Adhalia nodded, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. She clearly knew about the fighting prowess of the orcs. Sure the elves would be at an advantage as the fight starts, but once the orcs gets close enough, they would slaughter any who stands in their way. And their fellow Ereians would flock from all corners of the kingdom, when called upon.

*****

The cavernous hall of Tortuga Fortress echoed with the rumble of a voices. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and leather, the weight of anticipation heavy on the shoulders of the assembled soldiers.

At the center of the hall, a large wooden table was laden with maps and diagrams, around which stood a handful of weathered figures. They were the commanders of Tortuga, the stalwarts who stood between Ereia and the new threat from the north. At the head of the table, Zaraki, the assigned general of the House Darkhariss, spoke in a low, gravelly voice.

"General Nassor," he began, gesturing towards the weathered map spread on the table, "We have received detailed plans from the chieftain, Khao'khen. He believes these arrangements will ensure the defense of Tortuga."

General Nassor, a man whose years had carved deep lines onto his face, squinted at the map. His eyes, as blue as the winter sky, flickered with a sharp intelligence that had seen countless battles and weathered every storm.

Although he knew nothing of this chieftain that Zaraki mentioned, he was certain that he was someone well respected by him, based on the look of admiration on his face as he mentioned about him.

"Speak, Zaraki," he commanded, his voice rough but steady.

Zaraki continued, his gaze fixed on the map. "The first stage," he said, tracing his finger along the lines, "is the construction of a ditch. We must dig a trench three meters deep, ten meters wide, encircling the entire perimeter of the fort."

"A trench so deep," grumbled Baron Kasto, his arms crossed, "will require a substantial amount of manpower."

"The second stage," Zaraki continued, ignoring the baron's grumble, "is the installation of sharpened stakes. We must line the ditch with these stakes, their points facing outwards. They will slow the advance of any attacking force. And we will also make use of caltrops."

"Caltrops?" Commander Nasor interjected.

Zaraki nodded. "Yes. Caltrops must be scattered throughout the ditch as well. They will serve as a further deterrent, hindering enemy movements."

"And the eastern and western sides of the fort?" asked Commander Kontar.

"Those sections, will be the least likely target," Zaraki said. "The enemy will be force to attack from the north, because we will be filling the paths to the eastern and western sides of the fort with plenty of traps. Therefore, we shall fortify the northern side most heavily."

"And how do we ensure their attack from the north, Zaraki?" The old general's voice was a deep, resonant rumble, like the echo of a storm. "Well, if they are willing to have their soldiers killed by our traps, then so be it. There will be no need for us to fight them in battles to defeat them, if that happens."

"The chieftain's plan," Zaraki replied, a hint of confidence creeping into his voice, "is to create a strategic illusion. We will focus our defenses on the north, constructing elaborate fortifications and traps. But on the east and west sides, we will implement a different strategy."

"A different strategy?" Commander Nassor's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing.

"Pitfall traps, General," Zaraki said, "riddled with sharpened stakes at the bottom. They will be concealed, cleverly disguised. It is our hope that they will force the enemy to believe that the east and west sides of the fort are more heavily defended than they actually are. They will be wary of walking into a trap, and their focus will shift to the northern side, where we will be waiting for them."

"An intriguing strategy," Nassor conceded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "But we must ensure the traps are well concealed. We must not give them an advantage by revealing our hand too soon. And what of our archers and slingers?"

"They will be stationed on the walls, ready to unleash a barrage of arrows and stones at any approaching force. The goal is to break the enemy's momentum, to inflict casualties, and to keep them at bay. The northern side will be our killing ground."

A wave of murmurs went through the hall as the commanders debated the details of the plan, their voices blending into a low hum.

Nassor leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head. "A bold plan, Zaraki. One that requires a great deal of trust and coordination. We must ensure everyone understands their role perfectly, and that they are ready to fight with relentless determination. The fate of Tortuga rests on our shoulders."

"We are ready, General," Kontar said, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering. "We will defend Tortuga, and we will crush any enemy that dares to approach our gates."

The commanders around the table, their faces hardened by countless battles and their eyes filled with the fire of unwavering loyalty, echoed Kontar's sentiment.

"We are ready," they shouted in unison, their voices a powerful chorus that reverberated through the cavernous hall of Tortuga Fortress.

The preparations for the impending battle began, the air crackling with the energy of resolve and a grim determination, and a deep-seated understanding of the stakes involved. They were not just defending a fortress, they were safeguarding the gateway towards their kingdom.

The echo of hammers ringing against metal, the rhythmic thump of shovels digging into the earth, and the hushed whispers of men preparing for the inevitable clash, all blended into a symphony of preparation.