The Wandering Inn

Book 8: Chapter 67

[The Wandering Inn is conducting a 2022 survey! Please consider filling it out here!]

[The author is on break until March 8th! See you then.]

When he grew up, they told him hed been in the tribe. Grown up on the Great Plains. But he was too young to remember.

This vast wilderness, free of cities and roads, was alien to him. Terrifying, even. He liked his warm bed and a roof over his head.

Yurts were drafty. The walls, however thick the cloth was, even if they could survive storms, felt flimsy compared to enchanted stone.

This was not his home.

And yet it was.

Tkrn knew Gnolls had always been here. This was their land, and it said something that after so many ages, what his people had done waskeep it the same.

Not turn it into a world of stone and glass, but live here. He began to understand when he ran around like a child and everywhere he turned his head he saw green. As if the world were infinite, and he could shout and scream and run and never reach the end of it.

Adventure. Freedom.

He still liked Liscor more. But this wasnt so bad. Tkrns friends were Drakes. He lived in a Drake city.

So it was so terribly strange to see them here, like scaled invaders, dragging their tails across burnt grass, holding shields in their famous Drake formations, neatly arranged like pieces on a chessboard, across from the Gnolls howling and blowing horns.

War. Tkrn had known battles. This was different. This reminded him of Liscors short siege, but unlike thenit did not smell of mud and rot as the spring rains receded.

This smelled like autumn. The first tang of it hung in the air, drowned out by the smell of smoke. The Drakes had been setting fires, baiting the Gnoll tribes into attacking them.

So smoke, ash, and rain from the shower pattering down onto the Demas Metal armor he wore. It coated the armor like a liquid, but didnt make it feel heavier. Gnolls like Dekava, from the Silverfang tribe, were envious.

Chieftain Mrell had given Tkrn a full suit of the armor, and he carried an Eyeshield of the Plains Eye tribe and a shortsword of Demas Metal. The drizzling rain had extended the blade, and the watery edge looked like it was constantly flowing, rippling with the rain.

I look like a Gold-rank adventurer, Tkrn realized. He raised his head and saw a ripple in the rain, coming down from sparse clouds. Overhead, something shifted, and he heard a snarl.

Shields up! Head down, you idiot!

A Silverfang [Warrior] snarled at Tkrn. The helmeted head of the [Guardsman] looked blankly at the Gnoll; an arrow snapped off the top of the enchanted shield Tkrn was holding as the other Gnolls ducked their heads, growling.

I know my job. Tkrn wanted to say that, but he heard a howl and a voice.

Silverfangs, to me!

Shaman Cetrule was pointing, and the Silverfang warriors advanced, falling in to march towards the enemy alongside Ekhtouch and Longstalkers Fang. Each tribe moved under command of their leaders, splitting up, loosing arrows, or retreating after fighting, but Feshi Weatherfur and Yerranola were among the [Strategists] and [Chieftains] coordinating them.

Chaos. Now Tkrn saw the front, where Drakes stood in line, fighting Gnolls who surged forwards and back. The Drakes listened to the bellowed commands of their officers; the Gnoll warriors howled, communicating with each other, cursing their enemies.

A contrast. Tkrn smelled blood, and that was the same, heavy iron. But both species fought so differently.

Drakes fought like Liscor; each Drake held the line. Where that line was changed, but they moved together, in unity.

The Gnoll tribes were scattered, free-form. The Drakes hated losing ground. They took strategic positions, tried to hammer their opponents with archers from elevation, and unleashed magic as they advanced step-by-step.

By contrast, the tribes treated the battle like Gnolls saw it. They would abandon a position if they thought they could save lives or attack elsewhere and didnt stick long in the fighting. They preferred to harry their opponents, loosing arrows, even switching from bow to blade.

Organization versus versatility or something. Tkrn was no strategist.

He saw another ripple in the sky and angled his shield. The trick was knowing where your helmet was. Despite the Silverfang warriors snarling, Tkrns helmet would save him from all but an arrow through the front. So if he held his shield like thisslightly in front of him, angled upwardshe could peek out with minimal risk.

He felt like he was dreaming. Cetrule was shouting orders, and Tkrn looked around for the person hed been asked to protect. Who Xherw had suggested he accompany. His friends.

Ekhtouch had sent fifty warriors total into this battle, where tens of thousands of warriors were taking part on one side alone. Was it eighty thousand Drakes?

Tkrn didnt know. It was so spread out he couldnt see all of them, but he thought he did see Gire.

Only one Gnoll was so tall. She wore armor from head-to-toe, treated magical leather rather than metal. She carried a number of javelins under one arm, and the Ekhtouch Gnolls each had a weapon they were most suited for. Many carried spare throwing weapons, and they set up a position here.

On the edges of the fighting. In the center, Steelfur and other great tribes led the offensive. Adetr Steelfur himself was in the front, swinging a pair of enchanted axes and howling as arrows and spears tried to pierce his fur.

In truth, Silverfang was not considered a mighty tribe, and Ekhtouch was so small that, despite their fame, this was a small area of the fighting. That might soon change. Tkrn edged out of line.

In a Drake army, theyd probably stab him for that. Here?

Tkrn, where are you going?

Dekava turned, eyes wide, and Tkrn waved at her.

Im going to join Ekhtouch. Cetrule knows!

He jogged across the battlefield, a short eighty paces as Silverfangs looked incredulously at each other.

What was that idiot doing?

Some Drakes on one of the hills might have thought the same thing, because Tkrn felt an unpleasant sensation on his arm. He looked at his right shoulder and swore.

Aaah!

He was marked! A glowing rune was shining off his armor! Tkrn went running as a volley of arrows began to target him. He threw up his shield and ducked his head behind it. He prayed Demas Metal was as good as he hoped.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

The sound of arrows rattling off his armor had a far higher-pitched sound than he expected. Tkrn barely felt it, but Dekava gasped.

Tkrn!

The Gnoll [Guardsman] checked himself. An entire volley of arrows was embedded in the grass around him; the ones that had struck him had glanced off.

Wow. Thats am

He lifted his shield and ran as a second volley of arrows began to land around him. But it stopped almost immediately; whoever had ordered the rain of arrows had probably seen it was as good as spit.

Tkrn was very surprised. But what he didnt realize as he ran, swearing and trying not to pee, was how even the other Gnolls were looking at him.

Even for Gnolls, who let warriors fight individually, it was a kind of crazy to run away from your group and make yourself a target like that. Even Dekava, who was a seasoned warrior and hunter, was shaking and tense in this battle.

But Tkrn?

He looked at the enemy. Drakes. Poor [Soldiers] following stupid orders. He didnt see Drakes as the enemy because many were his friends. But theyd kill him, and hed kill them.

Hed be scared stupid if he had to charge at them. A wall of gleaming spears? Drakes armed with swords in the second rank, teeth shining as they bared them, armored tails lashing? Even with the armor, Tkrn would be so afraid.

At the same timethat was all they had. There were their commanding officers, high-level, a [General] whirling a massive halberd around his head and roaring orders like he was right out of Satars storybooks. Zeresian forces, with their light armor they could swim in, ranks of [Javelineers] hurling enchanted weapons, and their swashbuckling infantry. Dangerous, and Tkrn knew that.

But that was all they had. Tkrn didnt freeze or panic. He could move, even run to Ekhtouch as his boots tromped through soggy grass and splintered arrow shafts, because hed looked [Terror] in the eyes.

Hed seen two red gemstone eyes in a mask of dead flesh. Smelled rotten flesh so old it had turned into something else, stretched and patched into armor over a beast that commanded undead.

Hed torn through a giant moth with a razor mouth trying to eat his face off as they landed around him. Hed seen the Raskghar devouring his people and led by a fallen Silver-rank adventurer.

He hadnt done much in those battles, but hed seen tens of thousands of Goblins break the Goblin Lords army, following a white flag and a Human girl. Tkrn was not that brave.

But he could do this.

Tkrn?

Gireulashia was surveying the battlefield, a javelin in one paw. She turned to him, and her eyes were wide. She was younger than he was, and she looked like it as Tkrn slowed.

Im, uh, here to help. I promised Mrsha Id be with you.

Tkrn felt stupid, but Gire looked relieved. The Ekhtouch warriors snorted at his armor, but made room for Tkrn.

Honored Gireulashia, they havent noticed us. What are your orders?

Tkrn blinked. They were making Gire, a fifteen year-old girl, their leader? It seemed like Ekhtouch truly did obey their hierarchy at all times.

So many Drakes. I see Adetr there. Feshi and Yerra there. Lehrathere she is.

Gire looked around, almost as wonderingly as Tkrn. Yet she saw spots in that chaos, pointing a huge paw. Tkrn squinted. He had seen Adetr fighting amongst Steelfur Gnolls. The Drakes were engulfing their push on all sides, but Steelfur refused to fall.

It looked like a thin protrusion in a line at the heart of the battle. Solid Drake lines slightly pushed by Steelfur. On the edges, lines of Drakes held firm, rotating out, falling back only grudgingly as Gnolls charged and retreated.

Where was Feshi? Ah, there. A safe position on one of the hills. Not natural ground; Tkrn eyed the raised mound of dirt. A [Shaman] must have done that. Archers surrounded it, loosing long-ranged shots.

Longstalkers Fang and Hawkarrow, probably. Gire pointed next at a flash of light. A rapidly-changing area of the battlefield where an entire battalion of Drakes was running back.

Because of the Stargnoll and her team. Stargazers Promise fought like adventurers, the four of them driving back ordinary [Soldiers].

Lehra, brandishing a glowing sword, armored in a metal beyond even Tkrns gear. Suxhel, hanging back, throwing spells and glaring at her enemies with her eyes, the Gazer protected from enemies by Elgrinna, the Dwarf, and Emper. The Stitch-man and Dwarf lashed out, Elgrinna holding a shield and axe, Emper spinning his staff, deflecting even arrows as Lehra fought ahead of the other three.

Adventurers in a battle. Those were the Gnolls that Tkrn knew. There were other famous heroes, of course.

Gnolls wearing Krakenhide armor, barely two dozen of them, crashed into Drake lines, as fearless as any [Knights], lashing out with weapons carved of Kraken ivory. Tkrn thought he saw extra appendages mixed with the flailing limbs; a tentacle or slashing arm that struck a Drake down.

Armor fashioned by one of the Gnolls greatest [Tailors] living. And [Shamans] from Weatherfur, one of the famous Great Tribes, were battling the Drakes, calling down shamanic magic.

Unlike [Mage] spells, theirs were closer to a [Druid]s magic, a gathering of power. One was conjuring walls of thorns underneath Drake feet, ensnaring them and leaving them easy prey. Another was simply raising a staff and open paw to the sky.

Glowing orbs of light were gathering overhead, floating out of Weatherfur Gnolls, even those engulfed in the fighting. They gathered into a larger sphere of glowing light, bright green. Almost friendly.

Aside from the fact that when the Gnoll threw it, it struck a barrier of magic, expanded, and left a hole thirty feet wide in the ground as it exploded.

Faced with so many famous tribes, high-level individuals, it would have been amazing for any ordinary army to hold against them.

However, Zeres itself had backed the disparate groups that combined into this main army. A non-Zeresian [General] cut a [Fireball] in two with his halberd, holding the center against Steelfur Gnolls.

Those [Javelineers] were hurling enchanted weapons that exploded, bringing Gnolls down, and as Tkrn watched, a cabal of Drake [Mages] exchanged fire with the [Shamans], hurtling [Lightning Bolts] and [Fireballs] across the battlefield.

Zeresian [Lineholders] and [Marines]. Theyre keeping our warriors from the [Archers]. Those [Javelineers] are striking down anything trying to flank them. Heavy cavalryI dont know the city. Weatherfurs Gnolls are losing to them.

Gire pointed out fighting on both wings as Gnolls and Drakesthe Drakes wearing heavy armor, and with plated mountsdueled in fast flurries of fighting. Gire looked around and nodded, coming to a conclusion in a matter of seconds. Tkrn was still stuck on thats a lot of fighting.

Feshi has to break through or well lose. That [General] is a target. So are the [Mages] and [Javelineers]. We target the throwers.

Ekhtouchs Gnolls nodded and rotated their position. Tkrn saw thirty-one of the fifty Gnolls plus Gire plant arrows in the ground or ready spears, handing some to other Gnolls to serve as ammunition-holders. The rest simply stood, shields up, searching for enemies coming their way.

ErGire? Do you want to coordinate with Silverfang or something?

Tkrn hated to burst Gires bubble, but Ekhtouch did not look that impressive. There were eight hundred, nearly a thousand Drakes armed with javelins.

Plus, Gire was out of range. Tkrn wasnt an expert on javelin-throwing, but he assumed you could toss a pilum or javelin about a hundred feet and hit someone. Ekhtouch and the advancing Silverfang line were both several hundred feet from the enemy. From the encamped javelineers?

Six hundred feet. A longbow could hit themmaybe, if you were a good shot. Throwing weapons? No chance.

Four of Ekhtouchs Gnolls had longbows. Tkrn watched as the Gnolls gauged the distance, checked the wind, squinted down the shafts of their arrows, and then Gire hefted her javelin. She barely looked at the enemy.

Ready? Loose or whatever.

A military leader she was not. Nor was Ekhtouch. Some had already shot their first arrow, and they didnt volley, but shot like each one was hunting.

Individualistic perfectionists. Tkrn lost track of the arrows, even Gires javelin, the lone throwing weapon among the arrows in the sky. He watched the distant Drakes throwing spears of their own. There was no way

He blinked as a tiny figure in the distance suddenly clawed at their shoulder and dropped. Suddenlytwenty Drakes fell down, and confusion erupted around them. One of them had a distinctly long-looking shaft of wood stuck in their belly.

Tkrns mouth fell open. He turned and saw a tall Gnollnot Gires nine feet, only seven and a halfaiming a recurve bow high up.

Windnow. [Tracer Shot].

A glowing arrow sped upwards, creating a glowing arc, what Yelroan would call a parabola, through the sky, and Tkrn saw it fly. Practically floating as the wind blew it straight towards the Gnoll [Archer]s mark.

The [Markswoman] grunted as it hit a Drake in the helmet. She growled at the others.

Adjust your aim on that. A third of you missed. Shameful!

The Ekhtouch Gnolls began adjusting their aim. Tkrn knew the Watch of Liscor didnt hit targets nearly as far. Two thirds had hit a mark? At that range?

Gire picked up another javelin, calmly peering around.

Oh, officer.

Her arm blurred, and her entire body seemed to rotate. She drew back, arching over incredibly far, then seemed to throw her entire form forwards and shift it into a throw, putting all the momentum into one arm.

The javelin vanished. Gire shaded her eyes as a Gnoll handed her another spear instantly. She smiled after fifteen seconds.

Got him.

Tkrns jaw was so far open he was in danger of swallowing an arrow. And, ohthey were coming. The first Ekhtouch Gnolls snarled as the Drakes realized some highly-skilled enemies were onto them.

Javelins and arrows! Dodge!

She flipped out of the way, and the other Ekhtouch Gnolls performed similar displays. One howled in pain, and another grabbed a potion as arrows pattered around them.

Enchanted arrows! [Interception Fire]!

A Gnoll swept a bow up. He shot a regular arrow into the sky, and a bloom of fire proved hed hit a target. Tkrn kept his shield raised, trying to shield Gireslower ribcage and left side. He realized he couldnt really protect her; she was far too tall!

Gire! If you need to take cover, get behind me!

Thank you, Tkrn. Im f

Gire smiled sidelong at him, then caught something. She inspected an enchanted arrow, the tip frozen solid, and handed it to a Gnoll next to her.

Javelin.

She reached out, accepted one, and threw it. She hit her target, Tkrn had no doubt.

What an incredible, ridiculous girl. A [Paragon]. All of them. Ekhtouch kept shooting and hitting their targets. Tkrn watched Gire as the Drakes began to take more notice of her. She was surveying the battlefield, throwing javelins, looking for an opening. Doing all of that at once at her age.

Buthe heard her murmuring.

Three.

She picked up a javelin, threw it, and was throwing another one when she spoke again.

Four. I dont know who they are.

Tkrn looked up at her. One of the Ekhtouch Gnolls handing her javelins was watching her. Gires eyes were bright.

I killed four people. Five, now. I never have before.

Her paw trembled so slightly as she lifted the javelin that only Tkrn saw it. Gire looked up. She never stopped moving. She was entirely rational; she didnt hesitate or miss. She knew the stakes. But she just looked at Tkrn, in that brief rotation of her body as she went to throw the javelin.

Its too easy.

He watched her aging, that girl, with each javelin. Each rotation of her arm. Tkrn lifted his shield higher. He couldnt shoot a bow or throw anything. But hed keep her safe.

Or die trying.

On the Drake side of the battle, Zeres commanders noticed Ekhtouchs arrival like they had marked Lehra, Steelfur, and the other significant Gnolls.

They had a different approach to the battle, however.

Ekhtouch is on the field. Theyre assaulting our javelin-lines. There is a tall Gnoll among them. Their [Paragon].

Good. Kill her.

One of their leaders was an officer of their throwing-divisions. A [Thousand-Foot Javelineer Major]. He was accompanied by several Drake [Mages] from various cities and a few [Strategists] in his position.

He had specific orders from Zeres own Admiralty. Win the battle if possible, but more importantlykill any Gnolls belonging to a tribe with unique war-capabilities, or famous heroes.

Like Lehra Ruinstrider. Reclaiming the Blade of Mershi was a war asset, and Wall Lord Dragial had posted a bounty in addition to the one already on her head. Of course, if the [Javelineer Major] got it, hed turn it over to Zeres.

Javelin.

He put out a claw, and his [Munitions Expert] placed one in his claw. Of course, an entire class just for someone who held and handed out resupplies of equipment wasnt impressive if that was all they could do.

That was why, as three dozen Drakes around the [Major] put their hands out, the same Drake handed them each a javelin, according to their needs. The [Major]s was a [Seeking]-[Piercer] javelin.

Officer-killer. If they could, Zeres would recover each one thrown, because they were expensive. No non-Walled City could field so many. He took aim at the tall Gnoll.

[Doubled Velocity]. [Invisible Cast]. [Enhanced Strength: Throwing]

The invisible, seeking spear shot through the air like a bolt of lightning. It curved, and the [Major] put out a claw.

Javelin. Missed.

Shed dodged. Somehow, the [Paragon] saw it coming. She threw herself out of the way, and he had another javelin in the air. He saw the distant shape whirland spot him.

Incoming!

Drakes cried out as Ekhtouch showered them with deadly arrows. The [Major] frowned. He looked upand threw his javelin. Then he cursed.

Incoming

He threw himself sideways as a javelin thunked into the ground so hard it split, leaving half of it cratered deep in the earth. Right where his head would have been. The Drake looked at the javelin.

Thats unenchanted.

The [Munitions Expert] blinked. The [Major] snapped.

Javelin! Explosive tip!

He raised the javelin and threw it. This time, he watched where it landed; the [Paragon] sprinted to cover, carrying a Gnoll in full-body armor to safety. He snarled

Sir!

The [Major] ducked a second javelin. He stared. Had she just put that into the air before him? Ridiculous!

Javelin!

He put a claw out, and one slapped itself into his grip. He raised his javelinand saw a third flicker going for his groin

Gyaah!

The [Major] twisted, dropping the javelin as he did. He put out a claw, shaken.

Jav

The javelin of the [Paragon] flashed past the left side of his head as one of the rings he wore overloaded, keeping it from his scales. The [Major] looked down at the ring that had saved his life. He backed up.

Mark that Gnoll! Pull three companies and take her down! Now!

He wasnt above bringing his entire company to the duel. The Ekhtouch Gnolls fell back as hundreds of arrows and javelins began to rain down around them. Then a few began to die. But not the [Paragon].

It frustrated Feshi as much as it did Gire. The Gnoll [Paragon] panted into the speaking stone.

I cant get him. Hes too far. I thought I could, but his ring saved him. Ekhtouch is falling back.

Understood. Shaman Cetrulemove Silverfang forwards. Attack the Drakes there. [Mark Position].

Feshi pointed, and a spot that only she and the [Shaman] could see lit up. She heard Cetrules growled reply a second before she switched targets of her speaking stone, cutting him off.

I see it, Strategist Feshi. Silverfangs

From her ground, she and Yerranola were watching the battle. Gire had announced she was going after the Drake commander of the javelin-group, and Feshi had let her try. She was amazed Ekhtouch could hit them.

If only we had a thousand, wed have won already. Gire, get to cover.

The Selphid turned from barking orders into her speaking stone.

If wishes were artifacts, wed be rich, Feshi.

True enough. Feshi clamped her lips shut; the normally-chipper Yerranola looked serious and intense. She waited for Gires reply.

Im using Tkrn as a shield. Were safe. Come on, Tkrn

Feshi was watching the battlefield with a Skill as well as her eyes. She had an aerial view of the battleeven the Professor had one. She was smart enough not to focus too long on one spot, even though Yerranola was there. She was not in command over everything, but she was close.

Even so, it was hard not to focus on what she thought was Gire sprinting away from the danger zone, holding Tkrn over her head like some kind of floppy umbrella.

Ridiculous. But that was adventurers and unique individuals like Gire for you. Nasty variables, the Professor called them. Even the most unpredictable enemy officer wouldnt be as weird as civilians.

Undeadadvance!

Feshi directed her attention back to her specific command. She saw a group of six undead champions of Khelt, the max the dagger could summon, charging a flank of scared Drakes. Their enchanted weapons and armor did a lot of damagebut they were outnumbered. Two went down fast, vanishing, returning to wherever they had been summoned from.

The Diamond Dagger of Serept was an asset. Free, summoned warriors. The sacrificial charge wasted all six, and it would take time for the dagger to allow her to summon more, but it slowed down an entire regiment of Drakes, allowing the tribes to complete a flanking maneuver.

Nice undead charge, Feshi! Grandmas tits, but this is ugly! Adetr Steelfur, youre in too deep! I dont care if youre winning, youll be cut off! You want a charge? Charge left! There we go

Yerranola cursed. Feshi had to agree.

Were they winning or losing? And more importantly, if they were doing either, how badly were they taking casualties? Each Gnoll that died was a loss forever. Feshi would rather lose with everyone wounded and able to fight later than win with ten thousand deaths.

So would the Drakes. She broke away from watching the Silverfangs charge under Cetrules [Wards of Defense]. They were doing well. Were those magic blades? She wished someone would have told her they were armed with magic!

Yerrahow are we doing? Break and huddle.

Yerra looked up. Then the Selphid put down her stone and looked at Feshi. The Weatherfur Gnoll was sweating. The battle had barely begun, but she was shaking, sick

And leading. She hadnt graduated, but she had already been a [Tactician] when she came to the Professors academy. She could do this. But she had to

Win. And because he had taught her well, Feshi stepped back from commanding to realize something.

Whats up, Feshi? How do you think were doing? The enemy leadership isnt that good. Theyre solid, but not original. Im not as scared as I would be if Venaz were doing this. Mind youwere not winning any awards either. Is that it?

Feshi growled. Then Yerranola had sensed it too.

Yes. Were facing the Selphids Dilemma.

The what? A few other Gnolls coordinating the battle looked up. They were good leaders, who had more practical experience. Feshi and Yerranola, though, had studied terminology and gone academic.

Selphids Dilemma was a way of explaining what the two were facing. Which wasa [Strategist] or a [General] or whatever who knew what they wanted and what to do, and who couldnt make it happen.

Like a Selphids own problems with a rotting body. Muscles would degrade, rendering limbs less mobile or useless over time. Hence the nickname.

The Gnoll tribes were notmoving like Feshi wanted them to. They listened, but sometimes they argued or took their time reacting. Had she been leading the Drake army, shed have done better, but her people were less coordinated. Tactically, they were perfect, but these were disparate tribes!

We cant perform sharp maneuvering unless its Skill-based, Yerra. And we need something sharp. The Drakes have their back lines well-guarded. We need to break them open, or theyll win the ranged battle.

Agreed. Who are we going to get?

Feshi snatched up the speaking stone.

Lehra? I have a mission for you.

She heard confused shouting and then a calm voice, despite the battle.

[Spears of Light]. Lehra, you are too far forwards. This is Suxhel. Feshi, what do you need?

Feshi could see the Named-rank adventurer and her team in her Skill-view, pushing hard towards the center of the fighting. Lehra was scaring the Drakes; she was fighting impressively, but she and Steelfur were useless in the vanguard. Oh, they did damage, but that wasnt how you won a battle! The Drakes were concentrating their strength there, checking the Gnolls best hammers. They had to hit them where they were weak and fold up their army.

Tell Lehra to fall back! I need you to all regroup. Stargazers Promise will fall back, cast [Invisibility], and circle the battlefield. If you have to, go through the [Riders], or you can break through spear linesget those archers! Throw them into chaos. Do you need more direction?

Suxhel hesitated.

I do not. [Barrier of Light]. But LehraLehra! Fall back! Feshi needs you!

Dimly, Feshi heard a voice roaring back, excited, over the shouting.

I see the [General], Suxhel! Cover me! Im going to take him out!

No!

Feshi and Suxhel shouted it at the same time, but it was too late. The Stargnoll went charging towards the Drake with the halberd, who whirled and pointed at her.

The Stargnoll herself! Thief! Fight me like a Drake!

Fight you? Ill fight you like a Gnollulp!

The ulp was the halberd hitting Lehra so hard she went crashing back into Emper. Feshi swore as the [General] and his bodyguard engulfed Stargazers Promise. Suxhel stopped replying; her team was fighting for their lives.

Damn! Adventurers!

This was why the Professor told her never to rely on them! Worse, she knew Lehra had been sucked up into her mindset. If she could take out the enemy [General]

But that was a gamble. It appealed to Lehras pride as a warrior, but Feshi didnt like gambling. She knew that Lehra was a certified Named Adventurer. But shed been Bronze-rank or barely Silver when she found the Blade of Mershi.

If she were the Drake commander, shed bet on that [General], a seasoned warrior, killing her. Now she had to bail Lehra out of the fighting. Feshi looked around. She checked her dagger and spoke.

I summon a warrior of Khelt! By my bladeprotect the Stargnoll! Arise and fight!

Outside of the tent, twenty feet away, a portal opened, and an undead Drake arose, holding twin daggers. It raced down the hill to throw itself into the fighting.

Am I wasting the undead? Im not being optimal, but theyre not listening! Feshis mind raced as she heard shouting from Yerranola.

Fall back, Hawkarrow! FallI think Chieftain Eithas down.

She raised her head, and Gnolls cursed and turned. Feshi switched over to that side of the battle and saw a Gnoll with a giant crossbow clawing at an arrow in her leg as Drakes raced towards her. Hawkarrows Gnolls were trying to get her up, but they were running from the cavalry charge.

Someone get Chieftain Eitha!

Feshi shouted. She saw a desperate stand as the Gnoll Chieftains tribe tried to put themselves in the way of the charging Drakes.

Even another Silver-rank team. But would they make it? The Drakes were aiming at Eitha, no one else.

Chieftain Eitha! Get up!

Nailren was loosing arrows as The Pride of Kelia and Hawkarrows archers tried to shoot the armored Drakes off their horses. His arrows glanced off the armored horses. He didnt want to kill them, but he was trying to hit them in the eyesbut they had blinker hoods on.

The Pride of Kelia, a Silver-rank team that had been around Liscor, had joined the fighting for their homeland. More Gnolls were bracing with Nailrens team, but they were too slow. Gnolls carrying her on foot couldnt stop that charge.

The Silver-rank team had come back for the famous Meeting of Tribes after struggling against Liscors dungeon and then the disastrous raid on the Village of the Dead with another team. They had arrived just in time for the war.

A sound like thunder. One of the horses and riders went down as a crossbow bolt pierced through both. Eitha lowered the crossbow, panting.

Leave me! That is an order! Run!

Hawkarrows warriors looked at the [Riders] and ran. Nailren wanted to stay, but he knew his team couldnt hold the gap. If only Gold-rank teams were here

Chieftain! Chieftain!

Gnolls were howling as Eitha tossed aside her crossbow, unable to reload it with her Skill so soon. She drew a pair of pocket-crossbows and waited for point-blank range, teeth bared. The enchanted arrow in her leg refused to be healed or come out. An Anchoring Arrow, courtesy of Zeres. It wasnt poisoned or as deadlybut it left her weakened.

Gnolls on horseback were pursuing the charging Drakes, but the Drakes had lowered lances, aiming for Eitha. Nailren turned back as a terrible howl arose. He looked up as something huge thundered by him. A foot nearly booted him in the face. Nailren blinked as someone rode past him, bursting through Hawkarrows lines. But

Was that a Human?

He saw a young woman with colorful, beautifully-woven clothing, wet from the drizzle, standing up in the stirrups, hand extending as she bent down, brown skin glistening with sweat. Eyes wide with desperation.

Inkarr!

A voice shouted from one of the speaking stones that Eitha carried. Nailren just shook his head.

Who?

She was riding towards the Drakes. And unarmored, she was faster. Eitha looked up as she fired her crossbows.

Get back! Not you! Not

Inkar swung herself down across her beloved mares saddle and grabbed Eitha under her shoulders in an incredible display of coordination and trust. If her mount had bucked or even twisted

The Gnoll came up, and Inkar almost screamed with the effort of lifting herbut Eitha grabbed onto the saddle and clung, hauling herself onto the back of the horse.

That only left the Drake [Lancers] now aiming at both Inkar and Eitha. The Gnoll scrambled for a weapon, anything! But Inkar was weaponless, and her horse, Flura, was too slow, even if the [Worldly Traveller] had Skills!

The tips of the lances aimed at horse and rider and Eitha. Inkar closed her eyesand Nailren, waiting for the impact, heard a pop.

She vanished and appeared half a dozen paces left of the [Lancers], who thundered past her in confusion, looked around, tried to turnand Inkar was racing away.

Cover that Human!

Hawkarrows tribe cheered and pelted the Drakes with arrows. Nailren shot a Drake through the helmet as Inkar galloped away, covered by Weatherfur [Riders], who swept the Drakes off their saddles with billhooks and other weapons designed for the task. How had she done that? A scroll? Magic? She had to have the timing of a genius or

Or was it her? The Human so beloved by Longstalker Fangs [Magical Weaver], Honored Deskie, that she had made the Human a garment herself.

Waisrabbit fur. Inkar rode away from the fighting, white-knuckled, as Gnolls cheered her name.

Inkar?

Tkrn nearly screamed into Gires speaking stone. What was she doing here? She wasnt allowed to fight! Shed been arguing with him! But he was a [Guard], and she

Quiet. I need to listen.

Gire covered his mouth with her paw. Ekhtouch had fallen back and were crouching in the grass. One of their [Shamans] had actually cast a spell to make it grow high enough to hide them from the rain of death that had tried to take them out.

It had killed two of Ekhtouch, despite their reflexes. A terrible loss for their tiny tribe. Even now, some were loosing arrows in secret.

Such simple spells. [Grow Grass] was useful. Or rather, [Grassy Meadow]. But still, it was the same basic spell. Who knew?

The same way [Detect Life] could find them hereif you put it on a long-range Skill or enhancement. Tkrn watched the battle with Gire. And he began to see why she was frustrated.

She had tried to take out an officer. She thought logically. The greatest impact Ekhtouch could make was not in decimating the enemy with their paltry numbers, but with taking out dangerous foes.

However, they had failed. And this battle wasnt going well, for all some people like Inkar were saving valuable lives.

Drakes had [Mages]. They loosed spells with abandon. That was not to say the Gnolls were helpless, but they had only one kind of magic. Collective; there was a limit to how many [Shamans] a tribe could support, and their power was derived from numbers.

The Drakes truly had handicapped their old foes. If Gnolls had an equal number of [Mages] along with their [Shamans]

But Gnolls had learned long ago to make up for that lack in battle.

Fireballs! Stay behind me!

Cetrules voice echoed over the speaking stone as Feshi gave him orders, and Gire listened. Tkrn could actually see the [Shaman]. Cetrule was fightingnot directly, but the only way he could.

A Drake [Mage] group was tossing deadly [Fireballs], which could wipe out all of the Silverfangs very quickly. The explosive orbs of fire were precisely scattered to just barely overlap their radiuses.

Hundreds could die within a few volleys. Yet Cetrule galloped, if not as adeptly as Inkar, certainly as bravely. He whirled on horseback and slammed something into the ground as he rode away from the Silverfangs. Not to run; to save them all.

A huge stave of wood, lengthened so it was as long as a spear, one end pointed so it could ram into the ground and stick as Cetrule struck it down in a moment. The top was a far more complex, carved beast of a snarling animal. Inlaid with runes and wards that Cetrule himself had carved.

[Spellfocus Ward]!

Cetrule howled, and the [Mages] throwing [Fireballs] cursed as their spells curved. The [Shaman] of the Silverfangs galloped away just in time as six [Fireballs] landed around his magical totem and exploded.

However, the reinforced marker was still standing, and the [Mages] next volley of spells all curved around it, missing the Silverfang lines. Instantly, they began screaming at the [Soldiers] to do something about it.

Anti-magic combat. Tkrn saw Gire smile briefly, then look up.

I have to do something. Or elseI have to. I am a [Paragon]. No one else can.

Maybe someone else can?

Gire gave Tkrn a blank stare. She shook her head with a smile.

You dont have to come. Ekhtouch. Eight warriors. Stealth specialists. Were attacking the enemy. There.

She pointed, and even Ekhtouchs warriors looked apprehensive. Tkrn turned pale. Gire eyed him, expecting him to turn away. But he didnt.

Are you sure?

She nodded once.

I can do it. Lets go. [Basic Perfect Action: Stealth Run]. [Keep Up With Me].

She dragged Tkrn to his feet, and then they were running. Eight warriors followed Gire as they passed across the battlefield. Heading straight for the middle of the Drake lines and the javelin-throwing Drakes.

We have a squad coming your way, [Major]. Our anti-stealth specialists mark it as Ekhtouch. [Paragon] again.

Damn. Kill that Gnoll!

Ulcre looked up sharply. He whirled and saw more Plains Eye Gnolls moving into sniping spots. He growled into the speaking stone.

That fool. He must not have heard. Why is he there? Counting plants or blades of grass? Get him out of there.

Yes, Shaman.

Ulcre tapped his foot, trying not to show any Gnolls walking around that he was waiting. He turned his head, counting how many Gnolls were in their positions. Almost

It was almost done. Why was everything getting in the way? Perhaps Dooms own power. Well.

Soon it would be put to better use.

Ferris of Manus felt like his heart was exploding. He had known stress before, like when Rafaema had nearly revealed herself. He had known terror in battlebut never like this.

A Dragon was going to die. If that child diedCire of Oteslia died.

That was the bargain. It was not Rafaemabut it was one half of their future.

He saw Plains Eye moving into position. The [Infiltrator] was a single weapon sent by Rafaema in a game of spy-versus-spy. Killer versus killer. They didnt know he was here, but he was outnumbered. Outmatched.

He had a number of tools he had never needed to use in Liscor on surveillance. The [Infiltrator] used them now. If they found a spy from Manushe might die. But if Cirediel of Oteslia died

He loaded the blowpipe, a short tube that looked more like a straw. Enchanted to make the projectiles fire with perfect range and accuracy. He took aim, lifted the straw out of his cup as if hed found something nasty like a bug, and puffed.

His aim was true. Across the distance, in a camp with colorfully-painted Gnolls, someone swore.

Gah! What was

A Gnoll woman clapped her paw to her neck with a roar of pain as people looked up briefly. That had definitely hurt. Ferris lowered the straw and strode off as the Weatherfur Gnoll grabbed at whatever had just stung her.

Weatherfur? Oh, yes. She yanked out the tiny, unpoisoned dart and whirled. She was about to howl an alarm when she realized she wasnt dying. And that the dart had something attached to it.

They are going after the Doombringer. Plains Eye. Shes in the Gaarh Marsh tribe. Move.

Her head snapped up. The Weatherfur Gnoll put two fingers in her mouth and whistled, suddenly alert.

Caution to the wind. He had to move as fast as he could. Plains Eye were not slouches. Ferris was sweating as he walked towards the first tent with a view on Gaarh Marsh. Buy them time. Buy them time.

He tossed the cup and drink aside, and someone snorted at him.

Littering. Pick that up.

Sorry.

Ferris turned to the affronted Gnoll and smiled. He walked away, and the Gnoll bent down to recover the cup, cursing him. Ferris sidled around the tent, listening hard.

[Shadow Presence]. He could tell they were inside. They were good; quiet as mice. But Ferris had a pair of [Detect Life] spectacles.

And they were locked onto their target. They didnt sense him as he calmly and carefully produced a wrapped bottle from his bag of holding. Hurry. Ferris pulled out a shortsword in his other paw and took a breath.

He might already be too late. What were they angry about? Someone in the way? Good.

He tossed the jar into the tent, and the whumph of oxygen and sound vanishing into a void was muffled. Ferris deployed the [Silence] spell and counted, waiting for the void spell to end.

fourfive[Shadowstep]!

The Gnoll leapt into the tent, blade swinging. He was thinking one thing and one thing only.

My life for Manus.

My life for Dragons.

Chief Warrior Merish was only half-listening to the Doom Slayers that Ulcre had organized, getting into position and reporting in.

He had been told to stay away. That his job was done. That hed done his best.

Like 5th Wall. Hed done his best, and his best was just that he ended up surviving.

Nothing made sense after 5th Wall. How could a monster like that half-Elf exist? Merish felt like his reality was coming apart at the seams, sometimes. Like everything after that night was a bad dream.

This felt like it most of all. Not just the Doombringer suddenly appearing or the Raskgharthis.

What was going on? Merish strode into the Gaarh Marsh camp as one of the [Guards] waved the Plains Eye warrior in.

Were gathering herbs today, Chief Warrior. Youre welcome to pick whatever you want. The children are mixing up poultices for the warriors, yes?

That was the activity that had carried the little girl called Mrsha, the Doombringer, here. She was running around with the other children, picking healing herbs so Gire could have medicine if she was hurt.

That was her name, according to the Raskghar. Ulcre had identified her as Mri. Merish didnt care. Shed be dead soon.

Doom didnt have names. Doombringers had to die. It had been instilled in him and all of Plains Eye from the time they were cubs.

So why

Why did that Gnoll with blonde fur and two obnoxious sunglasses stand there, posing like some kind of Drathian [Ninja] or whatever [Soldiers] from Baleros had gossiped about? One foot held against the other leg, arms outstretched in a Y symbol as children laughed at him?

He was even smiling. Merishs friend, Yelroan, stood there, next to the Doombringer as she tugged on a stubborn root with Shaman Theikha watching indulgently.

All were gathered in the shadow of the Earth Elemental. One of the guardians of wisdom and the oldest ways of all. Merish wondered why it didnt sense the Doombringer, why it didnt kill her.

Perhaps it left that to the Plains Eye tribe. And they were ready. But for Yelroan. Merish was terrified Ulcre would order them to fire.

He strode across the peaty ground towards Yelroan. The [Mathematician] could have been there by chance; everyone assumed he did almost everything because of his weird class. But Merish knew Yelroan was deliberate. Why was he here?

He had surely heard about the Doom Slayers; he was Yelroan. Did he want to watch?

Why was he so close? Merishs brain offered the most logical conclusion, but the rest of him ignored it.

He was following the Doombringer around. When she scampered off, Yelroan followed her and did another pose.

Are you going to help or pose there all day, [Mathematician] Yelroan?

One of the Gaarh Marsh Gnolls teased him. The Gnoll replied with a quick smile.

I like posing. Im advertising how cool my class is. Anyone want to hear a math joke?

Yelroan adjusted his sunglasses and blinded everyone for a second.

My eyes! Get that idiot out of there! Hes fouling our sight lines, Merish!

Ulcre shouted in Merishs earpiece. The warrior quickened his stride. He slowed, hair raising as he saw the Doombringer helping mash the roots shed pulled up. She barely took notice of him as he came to a stop.

Yelroan. There you are. Come with me.

That was all Merish blurted out. He didnt have a cover story or an excuse. He reached out for Yelroan, and the [Mathematician] turned. He blinked at Merish.

Merish?

The two locked eyes, and Merish felt a slight shock run through his body. He saw Yelroans brown eyes lock on his behind his stupid sunglasses.

Yelroan was surprised to see him here, but those eyes were so calm and focused. He glanced at Mrsha and then Merish.

Im a bit busy spreading the joys of math to the world, Merish.

What? No. Come with me. What are you doing?

Merish saw Yelroan sidle over to Mrsha, and his stomach lurched. He saw Yelroan looking at Merish and then around the bustling Gaarh Marsh tribe. He turned back to Merish, and his eyes blinked once.

Is something wrong, Merish? Its my day off. Have we won the battles in the north? I hope Chieftain Xherw is well. If Im needed, Ill go, of course. But otherwiseI like counting how many healing plants Gaarh Marsh harvests in an hour. Its soothing.

A [Mathematician]s prattle. To most, Yelroan probably sounded relaxed and energetic. Merish looked at his friend, and the truth couldnt be pushed away any longer.

Yelroan stood right there, in front of the Doombringer. Watching Merish. He didnt sayanything. But he knew.

He was waiting. Merishs eyes widened. He choked down a snarl. Then stood there, as if hed been poleaxed.

It wasnt just mad talk. He meant it. Hehe knew. Had he known before Ulcre? He knew, and he stood there.

The two friends looked at each other. Merish took a step forwards, ignoring the chatter in his earpiece. Ulcre was cursing Yelroan, getting the Doom Slayers to check in, advising them to wait until

What is wrong with you? Yelroan. Have you gone mad?

The children and the Doombringer looked up as the two adults faced each other. Yelroans fingers trembled as he adjusted his sunglasses.

Have you, Merish? Honestly. If you have to askits not a hard equation. Put two and two together.

He gave Merish a defiant look, balling his other paw up into a fist. Yelroan kept adjusting his stance, shifting. Looking past Merish, but clearlynot seeing what he knew was there.

His knees were shaking. So was his voice, ever-so-slightly.

Come with me. You dont know what youre doing. I dont know whats come over you.

Merish reached for Yelroan, and the [Mathematician] slapped his paw down. His voice was still light, but there was an edge to it, an undercurrent of that terrible tension.

Merish, I know exactly what Im doing. Id prefer not to be here, believe me. But if it were a choice between not being here andI have to be. Does that make sense?

No.

A little Gnoll handed him a notecard, and both Gnolls stared down at it. Merishs fur rose as Yelroan accepted the card, read it, and laughed. He laughed atDoom. Then he looked up to Merish.

You see?

Merish couldnt.

How? You know exactly what we have to do.

His voice choked back a shout, the urge to shake Yelroan. He couldnt cause a scene. Yelroan tilted his head slightly.

Do we? Look, Merish. What do you see? I see a bunch of kids helping make healing poultices. What do yousee?

Their light conversation was being ignored by everyone, children, the [Shamans], and the Weatherfur guards who were loitering, spread out, on watch for other threats. Some eyed Merish, but he was unarmed.

Yelroan had a bright smile playing on his lips, like hed solved some grand equation. Merish shook his head, uncomprehendingly. Like he was speaking to

A Drake. It reminded him of 5th Wall. Meeting people and not getting them. But thisthey were from the same tribe. Yelroan knew what was right.

You knoweverything weve been taught, Yelroan. All of it? Are you just going to ignore everything? You didnt explain it to me. You must be sick. How can you turn your back on it all? Just like that? So quickly?

Yelroan looked at Merish, brows raised high with disbelief. He looked down at a little head bent over her work, slamming a pestle into the wooden bowl as hard as she could.

So quickly, Merish? It should just take a second. One second. It took me a few hours because Im a fool. But all I had to do was look and open my eyes. What do you see?

He nodded downwards, and Merish felt his fur crawl.

Doom.I seehe gritted his teeth, forcing the words out as calmly as he could.

What do you see, then, Yelroan?

The Gnoll fiddled with his sunglasses and replied quietly.

I see the most precociously intelligent child Ive ever met. Mrsha.

The little girl glanced up in alarm and kicked Yelroan. Swearing, he grabbed at his shin.

Mri, sorry. I seeyou see that? Is that what you expected, Merish?

The [Warrior] looked down at an alarmed brown face, who quickly went back to mashing roots. Innocently, like Ikl or Sveha, his sisters children, when they were keeping a secret.

He felt sick. It was Doom wearing a mask. A child possessed. Yelroan smiled. He bent down and went to ruffle the little girls gold-painted ears. She reached up and swatted at his paw with a look of annoyance.

Stop touching me!

Children were scampering around, getting bored with mashing roots and giving them to [Shamans] to finish, but she bent her little head over her bowl with unusual dedication, though her paw clearly hurt. She kept shaking it out.

Merish could smell Gaarh Marshs natural scents, hear laughter from all around him. The sun shone down on the Doombringer, and she had a little shadow. There were even damned butterflies flying past her.

This was all a dream. He was back on 5th Wall, lying in the mud as his blood pooled around him. Half-buried by the corpses of Lizardfolk, Humans, Gnolls, Drakes, and every other species.

The dawn would break soon. Yet the skies that lit up would not turn bright but orange. The skies would become an inferno as magic crashed down. A thin line in the air. A pillar of fire.

A laughing woman in a sky filled with dark wings.

If that thing died, maybe it would end. Merish heard a murmur in his ears, the faint voice of a Gnoll.

Shaman Ulcreziek to Chief Warrior Merish. We are ready. We are waiting for you. Team 3. I am waiting on your status. Team 8? Any moment, Merish.

The Gnoll put a finger on the speaking stone clipped to his ear. He saw some of the Gnoll cubs running around stop playing and look around uncertainly. The littleDoombringer. The girl looked up, sighing through her nose.

So much work. She stretched her arms and looked at the two adults. She edged out of their shadow, and both stepped over. The girl waved a paw at them.

Sorry, Mri. Well just be another moment. I told Rose Id watch you, remember?

Two expressive brown eyes rolled upwards in annoyance, and she turned her back to Yelroan as he bent over. Merish was breathing hard.

Yelroan. Do you know what youre doing?

The [Mathematician] looked around, and his sunglasses shone, obscuring his eyes for a moment. But then they gave Merish that look. A piercing glance that rocked Merish to his core.

Yelroan had never looked like that, in his most serious, upset moments. He looked like Commander Cirille or a soldier from 5th Wall. Merish could grab him and justyank him away. The [Chief Warrior] almost did just that. But what stopped him, what made him so angry, was that look.

More than the calm stare of someone looking death in the eye, it was that other thing. Was that pride Merish saw? Terrified, fluttering, like a shaking butterfly, like the Gnolls very knees. Yes. Pride.

A growl emerged from Merishs throat, scaring the little children, whod gathered in a huddle. They almost fled, and, abashed, the warrior stopped at once. A [Shaman] eyed him, and Merish felt a little pebble bounce off his arm.

He recoiled, reaching for an axe he didnt have, and saw the little girl glare at him.

Stop that.

The words came from her mouth, and he stared at her. Hed been told she was mute. Was that some trick? The girl looked him up and down haughtily, like she was some kind of [Princess]. Then she waved the other children over.

MrshMri. Mri, somethings bad. I think the Drakes are here.

One of the children whispered to her. The DMrsha put down her pestle, ears flicking up. A scared little boy looked around. The Gnoll boy spoke into her ear, and Yelroan and Merish heard the quiet voice.

My [Dangersense] is going off.

The little Gnoll girl sat bolt upright. She looked around and then waved at Yelroan. She glanced at Merish and then, to his astonishment, yanked a little wand from her fur. She casually put it next to the mortar and pestle and wrote on a notecard. Merish saw the words as she scribbled with a quill.

Stay behind me, everyone. Ill protect you this time.

This time. Merish felt an unexpected taste of bile in his mouth. How dare she say that? Likelike she was a warrior. She looked around, and he saw her protectively motioning the others around her.

Doom.

What do you see, Merish? Have you gone blind? Im wearing sunglasses, but I know what I see.

Yelroan quietly prompted his friend. Merish looked at him and took a step back.

Stop it. Stop itdo you think everything weve done is wrong?

His voice was shaking, but his friend didnt let him go for once. Yelroans own voice was harsh. Trembling with stress, yet contained in a whisper for only the two of them.

Maybe. Or maybe weve been only partly right. Look at me, Merish. Do you think this is right? Stop blindly following orders and look at me.

The children stared up at Merish. One recognized his markings and ran over. She tugged at his leg, and he nearly kicked her.

Chief Warrior? I think something bad is going to happen. Do you have a weapon? We should tell the [Shamans], Mri.

The little girl was nodding importantly. Merish saw a little face looking up at him and hesitated.

II dont have a weapon. Im sure youll be safe.

She shook her head. The little Gnoll from the Stone Spears tribe gazed up at Merish and clearly spoke.

No, were not. You dont believe me, but I know were not safe. We were attacked by the Goblin Lord. Something bad is going to happen. Please, get a weapon. Please.

There was a look of mortal terror in her eyes. Merish gazed down at her dumbly. The Goblin Lord? Shed survived?

There was a kindred spirit in the little [Survivor]s eyes. She gestured at the others.

Please? No ones listening. Mister Yelroan, can you get a Chieftain?

Yelroan knelt down, blocking Mrsha from one side. He smiled at the Stone Spears child.

Ill let the [Guards] know in a moment. Or Merish can. I need to stand here, though.

Mrsha frowned at him. She wrote on a card and then looked up at Chief Warrior Merish. Slowly, her eyes focused on something Merish was wearing.

His armor had the insignia of his tribe. Along with other decorationsthere was a white eye, stylized and drawn onto his shoulder-guard. The warrior saw her gaze lock onto it, and then her head swiveled to Yelroan.

She recognized him instantly, somehow. Merish saw her eyes go wide, and Yelroans own gaze flickered to her. She looked at himat Merish

Then the most terrible calm passed over her face. Her tense body went limp. She crossed out what shed been writing and handed a card to the other children. They read it, sounding out the words.

Gotell Shaman Theikha? Go to her and be safe. Are you sure, Mri?

She nodded, never taking her eyes off Merish. The children hesitated, but obeyed as she tossed the contents of her bowl at them. Slowly, the Doombringer, Mrsha, rose to her feet. She stood on her two legs and faced Merish.

By now, the Weatherfur guards had noticed something was wrong. A little Gnoll girl tugging on their legs and telling them she sensed something added to their own instincts. They were speaking into their own stones, alarmed.

We are running out of time! Weatherfurs Gnolls are moving towards the camp now! Merish! Team 5! Come in! Team 8! Team 9!

Ulcre was shouting in Merishs ear. The warrior barely heard him. He watched as the little girl stood up, facing him. She met Merishs eyes, defiantly, and spread her arms. Then slapped her chest with one paw.

Here I am.

Merish couldnt breathe. He felt like someone was choking him. Yelroan put a paw out, and Mrsha looked up at him.

Dont worry, Mrsha. Hes not going to hurt you. You know where to go? Stay behind Theikha. I think shell keep you safe.

The Great Shaman of the Tribes had noticed the commotion as children clustered around her. She looked around, visibly confusedbut her eyes locked onto Mrsha. Mrshaand Merish.

She knew too. Yelroan was blocking Merishs way. Ever-so-slightly, tensed.

Merish. Merishgo home. Go to Khaze. You dont have to do anything.

Merish had to force each word out of his chest. He felt he didnt have the breath for what he wanted to say, but he had to speak.

Viri and you. Both of you. Whats wrong with you two?

Yelroan took a slight breath. His paws slowly took off his glasses, and he tossed them down. He looked at Merish, and his voice trembled with sadness.

Merish. I love you like a brother. You were a hero before you left for Rhir. I dont know what happened to you there, but you were hurt. But the same good Gnoll I always knew. This is the only time Ive ever thought something was off about you. Something truly wrong. Dont do this. This is the greatest mistake youll ever make. You see it too, dont you? Walk away.

The [Warrior] couldnt say anything. He was hyperventilating. Ulcres voice was a roar.

Merish, grab him if you have to! Squad 4

A voice broke over the [Communication] spell at last, a desperate howl. Every hair on Merishs body rose as Mrsha, Merish, and Yelroan all heard the panicked shout coming from the speaking stone.

Shaman Ulcre! Were under attack! Someone is ambushing our teams!

Who? Weatherfur?

No! [Maids]

A ghastly scream cut off the voice. Merish blinked. Then he heard Ulcre shout.

Anyone with a target, avoid Merish and Yelroan and Theikha! Open fire!

Everything happened at once. A shadow fell over Mrsha, Yelroan, and Merish. Yelroan leapt to cover Mrshaand Merish tackled him to the ground.

No!

The [Mathematician] struggled as Mrsha froze, staring up. The Weatherfur [Guards] shouted in alarm.

Assassins! [Counterfire]!

A Gnoll raised his bow and loosed an arrowit exploded in midair as it hit a projectile flying down. Shaman Theikha lifted her staff.

What is going on? Stop! This

Then she also froze. Mrsha gasped as an arrow struck the ground next to her right foot. She flinched and looked around for somewhere to run.

A babble of voices broke out. A Gnoll was attacking the attack teams. There were [Maids] ambushing other groups! But Gnolls had a bead on the Doombringer.

The one on the tower took aim at Mrsha, and an arrow struck him from the side. Weatherfurs Gnolls. Ulcre himself was charging for the Gaarh Marsh camp as Weatherfurs tribe charged through the Meeting of Tribes, howling an alarm.

Gaarh Marshs Gnolls had no idea what was going on. They spread out, shouting about Drake [Assassins]. More arrows were streaking towards Mrsha, but they missed.

A group of Plains Eye Gnolls forced their way through one of the entrances to the Gaarh Marsh grounds. They sank to one knee, and Merish looked up. Yelroan shouted.

Crossbows. They took aim at Mrsha, and Merish let go of Yelroan. He turned to the little girl, frozen in place. Merish leapt

And hit the ground face-first. He tumbled and felt no blossom of pain in his chest. He heard no click, no thunk of arrows meeting anyones flesh. He rolled over to get up again and realized Ulcre had stopped.

Theikha had frozen mid-spell. Mrsha hadnt moved. Even the Plains Eye Gnolls had gone still, heads raised, mouths open in awe.

A shadow crossed over the world, blotting out the sky and clouds. Merish, on his back, looked up as a hill moved. A cascading face of mud and branches, even parts of trees, a bog come to life, a towering figure of mud.

Not Golem. Nor Giant. Something that was not delicately made, never created by any hands, nor even alive like a Giant. Earth given sentience.

An Earth Elemental. It looked like a huge mound of earth that sprouted arms when it was still. Now, it rose, and the earth itself shuddered as Gaarh Marshs tribe went still.

Two eyes appeared, so vast that Merish could have run around on them, horizontal slits of moss that grew and blossomed before Merishs very eyes. With each second of movement, plant matter grew and decayed and rotted. The very earth blossomed and grew fertile where the Earth Elemental moved.

It stood. The entire Meeting of Tribes beheld the great protector of the Gaarh Marsh tribe, Khoteizetrough. A hand comprised of stone and muck, fingers tapering into the most delicate, narrow points, reached down.

Khoteizetroughs hand closed around Mrsha. The power to break a Drake citys wall with a single blowas gentle as could be. Mrsha jerked and tried to run, but the fingers curled around her, drawing her into the mud-hand as it rose.

Shaman Theikha herself looked up as the oldest being at the Meeting of Tribes lifted Mrsha up. She lowered her staff.

Now we will know.

The Gnoll whispered up at the sky as Khoteizetroughs wrathful head rose. Lifting Mrsha higher.

Higher.

Twice in the Meeting of Tribes, Khoteizetrough, the Great Earth Elemental, moved. First to unearth the treachery of a Walled City.

The second time to pick up a little child, who wriggled and tried to bite the hand holding herspitting out a mouthful of mud.

Mrsha was terrified as she rose into the air, a dizzying height. The muck around her was as solid as stone, and she knew she was going to die.

Would it eat her? Kill her? She looked upand went still as she beheld Khoteizetroughs presence at last.

The Earth Elemental had been like an unmoving hill, a source of green power, but nothing more. Now, she realized the Earth Elemental had been slumbering.

Or hibernating? Because there was no mistaking the lighthouse of power that the elemental was powered by. A vast, simple intelligence.

Not stupid, but primordial. Ancient. It was like the very High Passes had developed eyes and a mind and judged her. And he was only the size of a hill.

Mrsha quailed. Her mind went blank, as a grasshopper would feel looking up at a vast tidal wave sweeping towards it.

Incomprehensible. Khoteizetrough saw her. He saw her class. Her connection with the natural world. He saw her nature, hidden by mere paint.

She gazed into the core of his soul. The origin that stretched back to the founding of Gaarh Marsh. An ancient pact with the very spirit of the marsh itself.

Until one or the other is gone, he would protect them. They were bound by more than mere blood or time. The bones and bodies of Gnolls had been buried in Gaarh Marsh, and they had lived their entire lives there. They were the swamp.

And, oh, how it had faded. How it had been glorious, wartorn. How great evil had befallen it, from foul Crelers to war that had slain his kin.

Khoteizetrough, the Earth Elemental, had died. A Dragon had torn out his heart. Burnt his kin to ash.

He was dead. The body that Mrsha saw was the ruined wreckage of an Earth Elemental, not the pure green of one in its strength.

He had died millenia ago. But earthnature didnt die, it just changed. So the elemental had risen from the death of the last, a being of the swamps itself.

Until the last days.

That was what she saw in the being before her. Wisdom and loss. But wisdom of nature. Enemies died. His people he protected. If the swamp died, it would die with him, and he would defend it to the last.

But the world was simple to Khoteizetrough. Rot was not an evil in itself, but what was evil would always be. He did not have the means to counter great and insidious plans. But he saw wrong.

And so he lifted her up. Higher, higher, as a face emerged.

Moss for eyes. Stone teeth, amid a mouth of swampy water. Loam and decayed plants for skin.

Every Gnoll in the Meeting of Tribes, even the returning armies saw him. That giant, bearing judgment.

Satar Silverfang raced from her tent, hearing the alarms, and saw Mrsha rising higher, caught in the grasp. She heard Qwera moan as the Golden Gnoll came to a stop.

No, no, no. What is it doing? Its killed her.

A white Gnolls head rose as the paint Qwera had put on her washed out of her fur. Gnolls pointed up at the tiny figure and shouted.

Doombringer! Doombringer! Khoteizetrough has found

Screamingbut then silence. Everyone watched as the Earth Elemental brought Mrsha to head-height. Satars heart was thundering.

Doombringer. Mrsha hated her name.

She had accompanied Satar and Gire because she had to know. Satars research into the past, the conspiracy, the lies surrounding magicher trying to piece together the truth behind Doombringers, it mattered to Mrsha.

But she was so afraid the truth was that she truly was cursed. That she was responsible for all the bad things.

She knew Wer, the other white Gnoll, had told her it wasnt their fault. That they only harnessed luck, for good or ill. But he didnt know. If she could really make the world better by leaving, or just by going far, far away

He knew the answer.

Khoteizetrough looked into Mrshas soul, and she saw that massive face begin to move. Slowly, the earth began to shake.

Gnolls fell to their knees. Gaarh Marsh was bowing before their great protector. The world rumbled, and even distant Drake armies halted in uncertainty and fear.

Hundreds of miles away, Dragonspeaker Luciva raised a hand, and Manus halted as they felt the tremor. Thenthey heard the voice.

It didnt merely come from the Meeting of Tribes. It was deafening, overwhelming, because it came from the earth itself. As if every blade of grass had suddenly grown a tongue. It was that kind of voice. Booming, massivebut not because it came from giant lungs.

Because a million voices spoke it in perfect unison. The Oldblood Drakes blood chilled.

It was just one word. She had no context for it. But the Gnolls did.

Satar Silverfang looked upwards as Khoteizetrough spoke. She gasped and screamed, and her voice was lost in the roar of every Gnoll. In that single word he spoke.

He was no perfect being. Khoteizetrough could not save Gnolls from themselves. He could not defeat the Walled Cities alone. But he could remember. And what he realized, now, in this momentwas that his people, even his tribe, had forgotten.

The little Gnoll girl hung in the air, high overhead, as the elementals other hand rose, and his features contorted into an expression of wrath. He looked at Mrsha as that hand fell.

It struck the earth and caused an earthquake. The Doom Slayers of the Plains Eye tribe aiming crossbows at Mrsha screamed only once as Khoteizetrough struck them from this world.

Judgment. Passed and executed by the protector of Gaarh Marsh.

Then he spoke. And it was the one word that mattered, that set the mystery ablaze in Satars mind. The one clue she needed that proved it was all connected. Such a simple thing. A little lie that had been put in Gnoll minds like poison. Twisting the truth.

One word, that made Theikha close her eyes and weep for all Gnolls had forgotten. That struck Merish with the weight of what he had done. That began to shatter the illusion woven over them all.

A name for the girl. The white Gnoll.

Khoteizetrough said:

Doombearer.

And the world changed.

Chieftain Xherw returned from his great victory to find the Meeting of Tribes changed forever. Shaman Ulcreziek came to meet him with some simple facts.

Yelroan has betrayed us. I found a Doombringer and could not kill it. Andthe tribes have split.

The entire Meeting of Tribes had changed. Once, there had been a vast camp, sprawling and encircled. Now?

Plains Eye and tribes affiliated with them gathered on one side, warriors holding bows and weapons. Facing the Gnolls on the other across a neutral ground.

Silverfang, Ekhtouch, Longstalkers Fang, Greenpaw, Demas Metaland Gaarh Marsh were the ones on the other side. Every other tribe was wavering, caught in the middle.

Over her.

A Doombringer, fur white, listening to the shouting, warded by lines of Weatherfur guards, Silverfangs looking uncertainly at Akrisa as she and Krshia stood in front of Mrsha. But no Gnoll protested because Shaman Theikha stood, staff raised, protecting the girl with a [Mathematician] posing with his sunglasses.

AndKhoteizetrough. The Earth Elemental sat, having killed almost every Plains Eye Gnoll nearby. Face set with fury.

Doombearer.

Xherws blood chilled at the word that had echoed across the Great Plains. The old word for white fur. He looked at Ulcreziek.

It was all falling apart. All the sacrifices, the safeguards that had kept their kind safePlains Eye was uncertain, but Xherw knew what would come next.

The Meeting of Chieftains is called. Every Chieftain must attend. Chieftain

Ulcre looked pale and sick. Even uncertain? Him?

Xherw shook his head.

It is time for a reckoning of our people. Hold firm, Ulcre. I will speak to every Chieftain who is uncertain. We must win this. With me.

He looked around and saw Chief Warrior Merish lingering on the edges of camp. Looking as uncertain as all. Xherw turned as the Meeting of Tribes came to a close. The King of Destruction, the future of their people, retribution for Fissivals deeds, warit all boiled down to a simple, final question which divided them.

White fur. The first blood of Gnolls had been shed by other Gnolls.

Xherw fearedno, he knew that more would soon follow.

Authors Note: This is possibly the shortest chapter of Volume 8 by far, and the longest chapter of like, Volume 2-4.

How things change. When you first met Mrsha or Krshia, did you think theyd end up here with a giant Earth Elemental with an unpronounceable name telling people theyd forgotten their etymology?

Well, this is an ending point. I could add more, but nothing is as narratively fitting as this, for now. And Im going to rest up, so Id rather make it a clean cut than messy. On that note, please consider filling out that survey! Theres important questions there like finding people to help on unnamed TWI-projects! Or just letting me know where you all are. Are my analytics bad?

Which I will review later. Time to rest, play Elden Ring, and come back fresh. I will say that my birthday is sometime over my break, another reason Im happy its time off. Unlike other years, I will not do a week of writing. That was insane.

Maybe next year. Who knows? For now, I hope you enjoyed finding a big clue to one of our long mysteries. Ill put that Patreon poll soon, or concurrent with this chapter so votewere narrowing it down.

It is a chaotic time in the world right now. As of today, February 26th 2022, I am watching reports about the war in Ukraine against Russia and I hope my Ukranian readers, who I do have, are safe. I write about war, but dont want anyone to have to live it. I will be back to writing, and I hope you are all safe until then. The volume is ending.

Soon, for a given value of soon.

Yelroan by pkay!

Ko-Fi: /peekay

Irrurx, Crusader 57, Gothica and more by Gridcube!

Lyonette and Mrsha Portrait by Miguel!