Chapter 4 The Cleansing

 

Eol despite his inability to convince his generals his plans were actually a good idea he still planned in his head how he could defeat the hordes of the mountain. He even considered sending in a small group of men to draw out the hordes so his armies then could meet them on the field of battle. The only snag in that plan was there was tens of thousands of foul creatures in there if not hundreds of thousands. Eol needed more men. He had an idea how he could do it too. He soon had his military council return to his chambers in the middle of the next day. "We need more men to accomplish this feat. I propose we march to Jirim's kingdom and take it by force as a military base to assault the mountain. The wood elves in the west may be able to be convinced to join us if I send one of the elves of Therwalt's company." Eol explained to his council. The idea was pitched to them that this seizing of Jirim's country would protect them from more trouble caused by Jirim. "The first and second legions and the first and second units of cavalry shall come with me. His eight hundred men are not his garrison. He recruited them from the countryside and in the time it would take him to round them up we would already be in his throne room with swords at his neck" He continued explaining. After a long debate the commanders caved in to the logical arguments from their king. It was determined they would take the newly made road rather then the trails and they would do it in two days hence. Preparations were made and farewells given as the day came. The gates swung open and the legions along with the supporting cavalry proudly took up their path on the road and began the week long journey to Jirim's country. I suppose you are wondering what of Therwalt and his people? Ever since their return they spent all their time chasing off goblins,wolves and trolls. They had even come across a gang of the troll/giant hybrids the Trollikans. They were running themselves ragged and had no idea exactly why so much activity had began coming from the mountain. It was like a bee hive that had been struck by a club. Little did they know Eol was doing everything in his power to gather the forces needed to clear out the mountain. Every night the army camped and later the next day they would continue marching. When they were an hour away from the Majestum woods by horse Eol left one of his commanders in command of the infantry who gratefully slumped down for a rest while Eol lead the cavalry into the woods to seek out his friends. It didn't take long to find them in their clearing. "Halt!" Eol ordered. His cavalry stopped in an instant and stood waiting. He trotted over to his friends with a large grin on his face. "My friends!" He greeted. "I have come with good news we are readying operations to cleanse the mountain, but we shall need the aid of the western wood elves, that's where Elwar comes in, we need him to be our emissary" He explained quickly. Though they were tired Elwar threw himself into the saddle and quickly thundered away down the trail. "I can not stay longer we are advancing on Jirim's palace as we speak I must go" He apologized. Therwalt simply nodded and wished his friend good luck as he and his cavalry turned around and thundered away back to the road with the infantry. They made camp to the side of the road for the night and settled in for their dinners. That night an increased watch was assigned as most of the camp slept. At very first light they were already on the move once more and by that afternoon were at Jirim's city gates. The siege ladders and rams were brought up in case Jirim did not surrender. "Jirim! We have you outnumbered! Come out and surrender your city or we shall take it by force!" Eol bellowed. No response. "Break the gate down archers to the walls. The archers scaled up the ladders and had the city guard forming up at the gate in their sights as the infantry wielded the battering ram from within the shield wall. In five or six hits the wooden gate burst asunder. The ram was dropped and swords were drawn as Eol's legions pushed the city guard aside and marched straight up to the palace. Jirim came out in full armor with a handful of his commanders and they formed a loose little ring formation. Eol and his commanders strode forward and put Jirim and his commanders at sword point. "The city is ours Jirim now you can choose to fight and die or you can surrender and leave the city with your life. Jirim and his commanders scrambled out of the city as fast as they could. Eol left a legion of the skirmishers he had brought with him and his old guard comrade Gerwald in command of the city. The people of the city rejoiced that they were now under Eol's command he was a much better king then Jirim had ever been. Eol left his main army on the outskirts of the city to defend the now destroyed gate while he took his cavalry to the lands of the western elves as Elwar had instructed in his messenger bird he had sent. They were soon in shock when they arrived in the village center of the western elves to find a great red dragon. The horseman drew weapons in fright when the dragon itself spoke to them. "Fear not soldiers of men I shall not harm you. I am Thileas dragon of the mountain volcanoes. Long have I been an ally of the elves ever since they healed me from terrible terrible wounds." The dragon explained to them. The horseman were still in shock to see a real live dragon. That is when they met the elven lord and strongest among mages. Lord Bruiven the greatest of elven lords and greatest among mages had long white hair down to his back and his ancient and fair face showed not a wrinkle or age line. He had a kind face with inviting bright green eyes. It was almost as if his mere appearance was a spell. He stood around six feet tall about six inches shorter then Eol and no where near as broad or muscular. He wore simple white robes and a white gold circlet around his head, his feet were bare and his face clean shaven unlike the kempt beard of Eol. "Welcome Eol king of men and also welcome to the soldiers who accompany you" He greeted in his sing song voice with a slight bow. Eol and his men returned the bow. "You need not your arms and armor these borders are well protected" Lord Bruiven directed towards the soldiers before turning to Eol. "I understand you have a request of me? Come let us walk" He suggested. Eol followed beside the wise elf and was surprised at the grace and nobility that this elven lord carried himself with. "As you know the mountain on the outskirts of the Majestum forest has long troubled peoples throughout the land. I plan to cleanse the mountain but I lack the soldiers to accomplish such a task. I was hoping you and your elves would join us" Eol explained to the elven lord who remained silent. They walked for a few minutes before the elf lord finally spoke. "We will not enter the mountain but if you can draw the beasts out onto a field of battle then we will join you. Follow me I have something special for you." Eol continued to follow the elf lord to what appeared to be an armory. Inside were crates filled with elven bows and elven arrows, a handful of crates held some elven armor but there was an armor stand in the corner that the elf lord stood beside. "Our smiths made this especially for you and the rest in the crates are for your soldiers, we could not outfit your entire army but we could outfit perhaps a legion or just your cavalry however you choose to use it, this is payment for your help in defending the forest" The elf explained. Eol was shocked at such kindness. He slipped off his heavy scale armor and his sword belt and slid on the golden elven chain mail that had metal plates sewn into the chest. A diamond studded belt and sword sheath accompanied the armor along with a gold helm and shield. "Thank you so very much Lord Bruiven words can not express my gratitude" Eol stuttered. The elf simply smiled. "Nor do actions express our gratitude in your protection of the forest" He replied. Eol quickly had his new armor on and he looked truly magnificent. Several elves came into the armory and in groups of two's and fours carried the crates over to where Eol's cavalry waited and they were truly shocked at the elves generosity. "There is one last thing Eol" Lord Bruiven added as a young (even by human standards) elf came into the village center with a cloth wrapped bundle which the elf extended towards Eol. Eol carefully took the bundle and threw aside the folds of cloth to show a magnificent hand and a half sword. Elven writing etched all down the blade, sapphire in the hilt. It was a true thing of beauty. "This was your father's the former king of Applewyn, it is Ilia the sword of the king" Lord Bruiven explained. Eol checked the weight of it and the sword fit him perfectly. He replaced his old sword in the sheath with Ilia and gave his old sword to one of his commanders. "I am greatful of your help Lord Bruiven, I shall send for the rest of my army and the elves of Revenwil and we shall together cleanse the cursed mountain" Eol promised. And that he did he sent a group of ten cavalry back to Applewyn with all haste and Elwar hastened off to Revenwil. Eol then sent another ten riders back to the newly renamed city of Bridgebarrow that they had just captured for all men able to wield a sword to be armed and waiting at the city gates in a week. As his commanders slowly returned to him from their missions Eol began to hold military council along with Lord Bruiven about the best course of action to take to clear out the mountain. After several days it was determined Lord Bruiven would cast an earthquake spell directed at the mountain to draw the beasts out where they would be greeted by Eol's legions. The elves would extend the battle line with Revenwil on the left flank and Lord Bruiven's elves on the right flank. Eol would position his cavalry on the right and skirmishers on the left so as the beasts came out the flanks could swing forward and trap the beasts so that they had no choice but to try and fight through the legions. The day of the attack Eol was informed his army totaled six thousand. He had armed the first legion and some of his cavalry with the elven armor and given the elven bows to the archers within the legions. On they marched and in a matter of hours stood in battle formation outside of the mountain. Lord Bruiven stepped forward and began muttering in elvish as he made a shaking motion with clawlike handsigns. Slowly the mountain did indeed begin to shake and the enemy began to pour out of the mountain.