War in the North

[Phaedra Maia]

In the pre-dawn darkness I began preparations, the enemies arrows were carefully wrapped and hidden in the quiver on my back. The bed roll was secured to the saddle of my pony, and the whole encampment was quietly breaking up.

I picked the hooves of my pony, watching as everyone prepared to mount up for what promised to be a long day of fighting. This was not going to be a minor skirmish, this would be a major engagement.

The short bow was secured to my saddle, I could not use a cross bow, it would bring attention back to me. My cross bow was also slung over the saddle. The short bow could be easily dropped in the heat of battle, and my signature cross bow then used.

I kept my quarry in sight, moving every now and then.

It was time to mount up, and as I did so, I pulled one of the carefully wrapped arrows from the quiver, sliding it into my boot before nudging my pony into an outside position, slightly back from the "wise men".

[Phaedra Maia]

The battle was joined, there must have been hundreds of horse as we faced off. The mages were clustered together, and I rode slightly behind them. My chance would come today. I could feel it.

At last we engaged, and the horses were eager for the charge, and from there, it was pure chaos.

Screaming horse, shouting men, horns signaling riders. It was hell on earth. Blood began to turn the ground a sickening red-brown as the horses hooves dug up the grass. Horses were shot out from beneath their riders, some screamed in agony, others trying to get up but unable to do so. It was carnage on an unbelievable scale.

Finally, my chance came. Several of the mages had been wounded, and Xenograg was in easy bow shot. In the confusion, I rested the crossbow across my saddle and grabbed the short bow. The specially wrapped arrow came free and quickly taking aim, I let the arrow fly toward the unprotected back of the sorcerer. It sank with a thud, and I dropped the short bow, picked up the cross bow and wheels my pony toward a different group of the Rellugai.

Now, I would only need to await news of his death.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg rides with the Rellugai shamans, Amaltea at his side. Xenograg's bodyguard is tasked with the safety of the shamans as well as his wife's and his own. The shamans are armed but their primary weapons are otherworldly. Xenograg is also armed with horse bow, Eldar sword, and Eldar mail armor, but his primary weapon is sorcery -- battle magic. Xenograg the Sorcerer is in his element. He takes no pleasure in killing the enemy but neither does he shrink from it.

The first enemy charge has two prongs, seeking to encircle the smaller Rellugai army. Xenograg sits on his horse with his eyes closed. Suddenly, one galloping prong inexplicably rides into a swath of sandy ground (very rare for this area of the steppe). Scores of horses break legs or otherwise throw their riders. This attack force is thrown into utter confusion. The Rellugai see this and turn to face the remaining prong. Both hosts of horse archers battle each other at the gallop. Arrows bring down men and horses with every passing moment as each warrior fires at will.

Xenograg continues to sit on his horse, eyes half-closed but with a small smirk on his lips.

Amaltea has the reins of his horse, and leads the shamans' party away from direct danger but close enough to affect the battle. The Rellugai shamans must first overpower the enemy shamans in psychic combat. Xenograg is psychically attacked by the enemy's chief shaman and must defend himself. He scries out his assailant and counterattacks mercilessly. The man screams as Xenograg immolates him from a quarter-mile away.

Xenograg the Sorcerer turns his attention back to the battle....

[Phaedra Maia]

After riding some distance, I turned again, searching for Xenograg. It was with dismay that I saw him still astride his pony. The arrow, while hitting true must not have penetrated whatever armor he wears.

Amidst the chaos, I slipped from my pony's back, grabbing a long bow from the hands of a dead archer. This would be more difficult to remain unseen, but the long bow would give me more power and distance.

Mounting the pony, I made for the congregation of mages once again. Finding a fallen horse and rider to the rear of my quarry, I slid off my pony, taking another of the enemy arrows from my quiver, and I took careful aim and let fly with the second arrow. I stepped behind my horse, waiting, then warily peering over the whithers before pulling a third arrow from my quiver, and took a final aim at my quarry.

From beneath the pony's head, the third arrow was loosed. With no time to wait, I dropped the long bow behind the fallen horse and mounted my pony. It was time to be on the opposite side of the battlefield, well away from the mages.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg turns from his psychic duel just as the Rellugai warriors begin a renewed charge. The usurper khan has been located, and Samuj throws everything in that direction. The Rellugai are exposing their flank and rear to the enemy with this maneuver. Victory or defeat is minutes away.

Xenograg extends his arms up and out, and pulls with every bit of his mental strength. "Move, damn you...," he sighs. Begrudgingly, it does.

[Xenograg]

All archers constantly adjust their aim for the wind. This day's wind has been steadily out of the southwest with but minor variances. The Rellugai charge is roughly towards the northwest. The flanking enemy is shooting with the wind at their backs, and plans to use it to fullest effect. Xenograg would prefer to aid the Rellugai, but the better tactic is cancelling the enemy advantage.

The enemy flankers are shooting at will, but most are in close rhythm with each other. Xenograg attempts to time his release with theirs. He is close enough with his timing. In the seconds the arrows are in the air, the wind gusts and shifts violently towards the southeast. Instead of landing in the heart of the Rellugai host, the volley falls harmlessly to its rear. The strike that should have crippled the Rellugai charge -- and cause -- is swatted from the air as if by the gods. The enemy's morale wavers as the earth and sky side with the Rellugai. The shamans on both sides are awed by this as much as the warriors.

The Rellugai drive home their charge with bow, lance, and saber. Xenograg prepares to guard their still-exposed flank when he feels a hard blow to his back. He turns to Amaltea, and her eyes are wide with shock.

"Xeno, an arrow is hanging in your cloak!" she says. "It did not penetrate your armor."

"Hail Vinyamar's fine work," is his smiling reply. Then the second arrow strikes true. Pain! The smile drains from his face as he continues to look upon hers.

"Xeno!" screams Amaltea, her gaze dropping from his eyes. Xenograg finds he cannot move or even breathe. His vision tunnels and then goes black.

"Don't you die on me, Xeno!" yells Amaltea. He is still conscious, just dilation-blind. He is still unable to answer her. He feels his wife's hands on him, then nothing more.

[Phaedra Maia]

When I paused and turned back toward where the sorcerer had been, I saw his wife holding him. She struggled to keep him atop his horse. This time the arrows had pierced tha armor or protection, now I must wait and see. Will my efforts be rewarded?

The expression on her face was one of grave concern, and perhaps more than a little fear. Crimson spread slowly over her clothing as she sought to move him away from the battle.

If I am lucky, we will be rid of the one called, "The Liberator".

Stifling a smile, I turned once more to the battle, making my way toward the rear. This is not my fight. There is no sense in risking my skin unnecessarily.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg awakens in a fit of racking, painful coughing. He is prone. The coughing eventually subsides, and Xenograg slowly recovers his breath.

"Where am I?" he asks aloud in general.

"You are in Eldicor, Sweetie," comes Amaltea's tired voice.

"What happened?"

"You were shot in the back with an arrow. I teleported us to Eldicor. Teleperien has healed you but not completely. She said she has to rest before finishing the work." That strikes Xenograg as strange.

"I was that bad, I guess."

"Don't try to get up, Xeno. You are still hurt."

"After that coughing, I have no interest in moving."

"Oh, Xeno...," Amaltea sighs in frustration and anxiety.

"I know, Love. I know," he replies. Yet another brush with death for him. Xenograg does not fear it, but he would dearly regret leaving Amaltea and the children behind.

A great fatigue comes over him, and he yields to it. Sleep is medicine.

[QueenTeleperien]

Ever since Teleperien was rescued from Vanion’s lair, her body resisted healing itself. Where the hooks dug into her body continued to ooze blood slowly. Twice a day Constance changed her bindings. She also noticed that her powers had diminished and even the simplest spell drained her.

Nomrah’s old staff was never far from her reach. Not only for self-defense.. she was still leery of going out without some protection, but it kept her energy up, the staff propped her abilities as well as her body. The wizard had returned out of seclusion to aid.

Alatar, an Istari, did his best to heal the but was not very successful. So Alatar concocted a potion for Tele that he said would help. It tasted very foul.

Unfortunately her schedule didn’t lessen, in fact it got busier. The harvest was coming in so matters of taxes, quarrels between farmers (that was handled by Borin) along with the usual bustle of the castle gave Tele little time to herself. She looked forward to her times in the arena. It was her refuge. She didn’t care if she was even greeted. There she was treated with courtesy of course, but not the center of attention.

One day, Tele was kept busier than usual and the thought of a cup of tea while watching the duelists disembowel each other was growing more and more tempting, however this would not granted.

In her study, the windows had been thrown open and the breeze held the scent of newly mown hay. Tele is reading a missive sent to her by the dwarves in Ulls. Her fair face went into a frown.

“Lady;
In our disagreement on taxes has been brought about again. We request audience…”

That was as far as her reading went. Shouts from the courtyard distracted Tele, dropping her missive on her desk and went to the window to get a look at what was going on.

There in the courtyard Amaltea, aided by one of Rellugai, is Xenograg’s limp form. Blood had covered Xeno’s back, staining also Amal and the escort. She grabbed her staff and rushed from the room.

“Lady..” Gwindor met her in the hall as she ran toward the doors.

“I saw.” Tele said. “Have one of the healers bring bandages.”

Gwindor bowed and hurried away. Tele ran out into the courtyard.

Amaltea was ashen faced. “He was hit in the back.” She moved his cloak. The arrow had not been removed, but broken off at the end. For this Tele was grateful. The loss of blood would have been worse if it had been pulled.

“That armor should have protected him.” Tele said glancing up at Amal. “I had it made specifically for that reason.”

A stretcher was brought and elven guards took the burden and carried Xeno into the usual quarters that Amal and he use. Getting Xeno out of the armor was no easy task.

“On his stomach please.” Tele says. Hot water and the bandages were produced and Tele went to work. Taking out the arrow proved to be harder than Tele expected. It had a barbed end that stuck like a fish hook. Washing his back with the hot water infused with Athelas Tele slowly drew out the arrow’s head.

“Keep this, we need to make certain the arrow is not tainted with some poison.”

One hand on the staff.. the other on the wound, Tele puts herself into a trance, once more touching Xenograg’s mind and memories.

The hand on Xeno’s back started it’s glow. Tele chanted: “Ėnvinyata hôn, alca serce cŭile inwaya!”

In her mind’s eye she saw the attack, the wounding. But she could not see the attacker. Xeno’s life literally hung in the balance. Reaching deeper she called; “Xenograg, hear my voice.. Uich gwennen na ringyrn ambar hen.”

Slowly the wound closed.. she sensed his spirit growing stronger again. When she felt his life returning.. she dropped her hand from his back. She looked up at Amal who was hovering nearby.

“He will live Amal.” Tele gave a weak smile. She gave orders to the healers to finish cleaning Xeno and bind his wounds; she stood slowly.

“If you have need of anything else, you know you are most welcome to to ask. I cannot finish the healing as yet I need to rest. It was deep and grievous and took much of my strength. He is not to get up even if you have to tie him to the bed. I suspect however he will not have much strength. I will return.”

Slowly Tele walked out of the room, leaning heavily on the staff. Gwindor and another guard had taken up station outside the door.

“Lady.” Gwindor looked anxious. His face showed his obvious concern. “Xenograg..”

“Aye, he will live. May I use your arm?”

Propped by Gwindor and the guard Tele allowed herself to be lead to her apartments where Constance and Alatar the wizard waited. She was quickly loosing all sense. The last thing she remembers is Constance clucking and helping Tele into her own bed.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg recovers quickly. His rediscovered Jinzaggin abilities include an increased self-healing factor. When Teleperien returns two days later, she finds her skills unneeded.

"This is something new, my friend," she comments.

"Something returned, actually. Another good consequence of your aid last year," he answers.

"You have previously made mention of improved vigor. Now I understand what you meant."

"Yes, exactly."

"Then you are free to depart the House of Healing. I expect you wish to return to the steppe."

"Yes, I must see how the Rellugai fared in the battle."

"Without you," she quips. Xenograg actually looks embarrassed.

"I could not have done any more for them. I was wounded just as the last charge drove home. They won or lost on their own courage."

"Then go and congratulate them."

"Indeed? Have you seen them victorious?"

"No, but I have not sensed disaster."

"That is reassuring," Xenograg says as he stands. "Thank you, Tel."

"You are welcome."

Xenograg goes to find Amaltea.

[Phaedra Maia]

The war I’d joined continued, but my task was completed. The Liberator was struck soundly and whisked from the battle field by his wife. Hopefully, he will perish from his wounds, and the ‘help’ I used on the arrow heads, but now I must return to the city. It’s not my war, and I might be missed. I have been gone too long now.

With as much haste as I could muster from this pony, we headed back to RhyDin to await news of the outcome, and for me to return to my usual life.

It was time to return and wait for the outcome....

[Xenograg]

Amaltea could not come along owing to state business in Barsi. Xenograg makes the long flight from Rhydin City to the steppe. He overflies the battlefield and the encampments. As Teleperien saw, the Rellugai won the battle. Locating his own tent, Xenograg lands nearby.

Most Rellugai are surprised to see the Darelir alive and well. Xenograg's retainers, having seen more of the world, are merely relieved. Moving through the camp to the chiefs' tent area, Xenograg begins to notice unusual behavior amongst the Rellugai he passes. Some make small gestures before themselves while others take a step or two back. At least one pair of eyes betray a sense of fear towards the Foreigner. Xenograg does not understand and makes a mental note to ask.

Xenograg is announced and granted entrance to what he learns is the khan's tent. He enters and kneels not before Samuj but young Genbak, Teogi's son. Xenograg holds his curiosity and tongue.

"Rise, Nur-Wan, and receive Our thanks." Xenograg rises to his feet with less-than-usual difficulty. He guesses at the khan's mood: tired, a little anxious, and undecided about something.

"Hail, Genbak Khan. Congratulations on your victory. I have only just returned and do not know the tale."

"Yes, you were spirited away after being wounded. You look well for a man dealt a mortal blow."

"I was taken to a place of healing, My Khan. I was rescued from death's door."

"Would it not have been better to die at your moment of triumph?" There is change in Genbak's voice here. Xenograg realizes there is a unresolved question of honor, either of loss or debt. He may have done too much.

"Perhaps. You say 'my triumph,' Lord Khan?"

"Your actions did not go unnoticed, Nur-Wan. The very elements obey your commands." Xenograg now detects the fear hidden behind the young man's dignity -- fear of usurpation. Xenograg is standing on a knife's edge. One wrong word and he will have more arrows in his back with no rescue this time.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg exits the khan's tent, unharmed.

The conversation actually turned out quite productive. After disarming Genbak's fears, the subject of Xenograg's motives came to the fore. The khan was both surprised and perplexed by Xenograg's requested reward. There are several different cultural concepts of ownership that complicate the negotiations, but Xenograg is confident the khan will agree in the end.

Xenograg flies back to Rhydin City and thence to Eldicor. It is time to speak with Queen Teleperien -- and then Vinyamar of Gondolin.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg's meeting with Vinyamar is brief and disappointing but not fruitless. The ancient Eldar, having prior commitments, declines Xenograg's commission. Vinyamar then opines that his older son, Lómënolmë, may be available. Xenograg thanks Vinyamar for the lead and pursues it directly.

Lómënolmë, an elf of the Second Age and long a past master himself, finds Xenograg's commission interesting. After an hour of negotiating and another of adjusting schedules, Xenograg has his master builder.

A week later, Xenograg returns to the steppe and likewise comes to an accord with Genbak Khan. Not even the early snow can dampen his satisfaction. The winters are harsh this far north, but so were the winters in the mountains of Manten and Demodar.

The final two steps can now be taken: a spell to cast and an announcement to make.

[Xenograg]

Xenograg finishes the demarcation ritual with less than a week to spare. The last days were especially difficult due to the cold, snow, and wind. It is done now, and he is quite relieved. Only the announcement remains, and that is easy.