Meiffert

[unpopularprophet]

Lieutenant Meiffert looked back at the mountains of Bandakar that he he had been sworn to defend. Under the night sky of this cloudless night, only the icy tops were visible. The movements of the Five Thousand D'Haran Specials were imperceptible to even the experienced officer. They were leaving their post, leaving it in the hands of the people of Bandakar, whom they had trained as best they could in the time they had in the art of hit-and-run, of deception and merciless, dirty, killing. Disobeying their orders from the top... in order to do their duty to their people. Johann's entire world had been turned upside down in the past three weeks. The first week of disorientation with the Bond, the second week having their opinion's and views being challenged frequently by a woman who was a better fighter than any of them. Last, this past week, handing weapons to men, some youths no older than thirteen, short swords and showing the fell methods of death and destruction. Everything was changing.
But they were not taking it lying down. Up north, Lord Rahl yet lived, Johann could feel it, even with all the obfuscation over it, he could still feel, more like a whisper than the familiar tug, the life of Deneric Rahl continuing. Rahl lived, and the Midlands would surely support him, since Trabane's selfish power hunger, no matter how much he deceived himself to that end, would not satisfy itself with D'Hara... and it might well be that not all of D'Hara had come under Trabane's heel.
Hope remained in the north. As long as that was true, their actual duty was not to follow orders, not to rush their their master's aid.. but to strike.
Lieutenant wondered if Arya, his cousin who had been all but his sister, a Mord-Sith, had been killed defending Lord Rahl. The idea was horrible, but possible. Even if she lived, she had to be at least as disconcerted as he was.
Johann was resolved. One way or another, the source of all this was Emperor Collin. Collin had made a huge mistake. Five thousand Specials were worth more than twenty times their number, and required fewer resources than a typical force of a thousand.
Emperor Collin's force had sent scouts to the edge of Bandakar, and not one had returned, as they had almost surely expected. But it also meant that Knoxx was blind to their movements, and even if the whole army were twenty yards left, no one could notice them without magic, and their wizard, Bás Chiúin, was renowned for his talent not only for obfuscating even larger forces with magic, but being able to take on ten wizards at once. One did not become a wizard in the Specials without talent. And they had the Seeker with them. Dear spirits, Johann had been in situations even the Commander would blanch at and never shown fear, but Alice scared him... in more ways than one.
Emperor Collin was going to have nightmares.

[unpopularprophet]

Another successful night raid. Johann was STILL cleaning blood off off his equipment. A week before, Knoxx and his force had arrived at Bandakar, only to find that the D'Haran army they had come for had abandoned the safety of Bandakar's mountain perimeter. The passes were all manned by fierce and freshly seasoned D'Haran citizen militias, and the Specials were out for blood. Over the past week, they had slaughtered almost a quarter of the Old World force that had come, one of their wizards had fallen to good old Bassie, and two twin sorceresses with linked Gifts had succumbed to the Sword of Truth's bite. Hit-and-run guerilla tactics had served them well- they had only suffered seventy five casualties. They were intercepting most of the larger force's supply trains, burning most of it.
"Eventually they shall catch us."
Alice again. She had been in the heart of every fight unarmored, but had still killed more than Johann and the Commander together. She moved like a butterflies shadow through the enemy, and struck like a Sanderian lion.
"How, Alice? Bassie hasn't failed us yet, and we have them right where we want them."
"No, we are still where THEY want us. Even if they do fall like grain before a scythe, they have more where they came from. Unless we can finish them quickly, fighting will play into their hands just the same. Knoxx is not the true threat- Collin is. Destroying this force would be a significant blow... But still not a fatal one."
Johann mulled over her words, seeing the sense in them.
"We can hardly march on Altur'Rang with only five thousand, D'Harans or not."
"And why should we? Trabane rebelled nominally so D'Hara would take direct action, and D'Haran territory is being attacked. If Trabane hasn't sent a force on it's way here, I'm a toasted toad."
"You still haven't explained how they shall find us in the short term."
"Because we are going to let them, of course."

[Pillar of Creation]

Knoxx growled in discust as he threw the newest report into the fire. The small force had been attempting to destroy the force of thirty thousand he had sent to guard the pass into Bandakar, fortunatly they didn't seem to realize the larger force of two hundred thousand was hidden away safely to the north. Suddenly a thought struck Knoxx, he raced to the small table in his tent and began to write a note.
We are not your true enemy. we were sent to protect Bandakar from the advance of Lord Tarabane, and keep the people loyal to D'haras ture ruler Lord Rahl. If you are loyal to Lord Rahl meet with out force that is going north to help him. If you a loyal to Tarabane you will feel the full wrath of Emperor Collin.
As he finished he stuck his fingers to his lips and let out a piercing whistle. A soldier opened the tent flap and walked in.
"Take this letter to our guard force. Be sure to move slowly and be noticable. When you are captured put up no fight and you may be spared."
The soldier put his fist to his heart, carefully put the letter in a leather pouch, and went on his way.

[unpopularprophet]

Torak's force was being cautious with the messengers. Behr's men were known to the whole D'Haran Army, and the sight of the Sword of Truth, so prominently displayed on the hip of a WOMAN, was more than enough cause for apprehension. Thus was not what put Johann on edge. What worried him was that Alice, who had not shown fear when surrounded by some of the most barbaric troops in the Old World army, was tensed like a wolf found in its den. Quieter than the traitors could hear, he tried to inquire about it.
"What has you on edge, Alice? I've never seen you worried by anything."
"It's the Sword. Something in the impressions from past users is trying to warn me..."
That was not saying the least. The strongest impression, the Bringer of Death, was making themselve's very clear: something wicked... unnatural... this way comes. An enemy that long ago had learned to hate and fear the Seeker.
An officer approached the group.
"General Torak appreciates your warning. Please inform Commander Behr that his troops have a responsib-"
"INTRUDERS! INTRUD-"
The guard who had been closer to camp than regulation was screaming-until his voice was cut off. The officer started yelling the men into battle lines when ensign shapes fell upon them.
Alice wasted no time in starting to cut down the strange warriors. Three ran at the Specials armed with three bladed knives, silent against the sound of the screams that had erupted around the entire encampment. Despite their devilish speed, two fell beneath the Sword of Truth. The third veered towards Meiffert, who was braced for death with sword drawn, and then one of Alice's knives hit it in the side, slowing it for one second... Long enough for Meiffert to hack off everything above its collar-bone.
"Meiffert, now would be the time for us to return to camp. Agreed."
Johann nodded his agreement, and Alice tool point, leasing and slicing their way through the chaos.
"Meiffert, did Bassie do as I asked?"
"Yes, he should be there."
Breaking free of the embroiled camp, they made their way south and east... South of where Bas's illusion had deceived the two armies into seeing twenty men repeated until they seemed a force of five thousand.
They reached the hill where the Specials were encamped under obfuscation. Bás Chiúin was waiting for them.
"Did Knoxx's forces strike?"
"Yes and no. He sent mriswith."
"MRISWITH!?!? They haven't been seen for millenia!"
"Which makes one wonder what exactly Collin has been doing. Is it ready?"
Bas's scarred face smiled behind his red-gold beard.
"My name comes from an ancient Low D'Haran dialect from the north. 'Silent Death' has lived up to his name."
"Good. Maybe some of you shall survive after all."
They climbed further to the peak of the hill. Behr looked relieved to see them back- the conflict could already be heard from the miles between. Knoxx's force had followed the mriswith and surrounded the Trabanic force.
"Idiots. Now the D'haran's can shoot to all sides.
They could see miles from the hill, as the surrounding area up to the mountains was relatively flat. The two opposing forces were lit up by balls of Wizard's fire and bolt's of lightning exchanged by the opposing Gifted. Subtractive magic being more common than it once was, the D'Haran Gifted had managed to prevent the mriswith from annihilating their men for the time being.
They could also see the abandoned decoy encampment be swarmed by mriswith. Bas sighed.
"Well, mriswith aren't exactly a WASTE if a light spell."
The decoy camp was instantly consumed by a blinding flash. Focusing intently, until his face turned red, Bas took the heat given off twenty feet or higher above the massive detonation, focusing in into a white-hot liquid ball of Wizard's Fire the size if Northwick Town Plaza. His strained face somehow expressionless with the effort, Bas sent the fire screaming, with a dark corona of Subtractive following, into the heart of Knoxx's force, miles away. Bas's knees gave out. He asked,
"Did the cloak give out?"
Alice indicated that the obfuscating cloak of magic still held. Bas smiled.
"Good. Maybe we shall survive, yet."

[unpopularprophet]

"Now what?"
Johann's question was on everyone's mind now. "Surprisingly", Alice spoke first.
"There is nothing to be gained from this fight. Bandakar is more than capable of withstanding any assault for a time- after all, they do have Gifted of their own. Staying will only get the rest of you killed sooner or later."
The company stood silent, the clamor of battle still ringing in the nearby conflict.
One of the men spoke...
"It is not in a D'Haran's nature to flee..."
Another man cut him off.
"But nor is it to be foolish. I'll gladly die in battle, but not to satisfy my own ego. We need to be USEFUL, not to engage in self-satisfying heroics."
"How can we claim to be useful if we run?"
"We live to fight another day- that way, we make damned SURE that Collin pays."
The men laughed at that.
Behr sighed.
"We can no longer be useful here. We have to move on, strike somewhere else in the Old World. Right now, we are the only true D'Haran forces fighting Collin. We DO have a duty, and it is to defend D'Hara and the New World ."
"But what if those bastards anticipate this? They know we aren't fools. Another ploy shall also be expected- we are developing a reputation for chicanery."
"So we do something that is bound to surprise EVERYONE... We take a side."
There was some murmuring at this, but it was still surprisingly quiet for a gathering if five thousand troops.
"That seems practical- therefore possible to anticipate."
"If we help Torak here, it will almost certainly mean that they will last long enough for reinforcements to arrive. It will also establish sympathy for us among Trabane's ranks. Our immediate objective has nothing to do with who rules D'Hara- it is about defending the New World."
"What if Knoxx anticipates this and moves against us with more mriswith?"
"Then we shall both help and be helped by Torak in terms of fending them off. Plus Alice..."
Behr looked at the Seeker, not daring to hope...
"If you do this, I shall proceed as planned, and leave in a week. I want Collin to get it into his head that a Seeker- those who topple kingdoms, destroy Boundaries, accept no superior, and herald death to ALL who oppose them- that a Seeker- THE Seeker...
is out for his blood."




"Well... What the FRACK ARE WE WAITING FOR?"....




"For Knoxx to move his next pawn on the board, so we can check the King."

[unpopularprophet]

"He may have already made his move..." The master wizard had an odd look on his face. Then he threw up his hands towards the battle, a look of intense concentration upon his grizzled features. They watched as the illusion around Knoxx's not-so-vast force wavered and fell. He harrumphed in satisfaction.
"Takes a good weaver to know best how to unravel a cloth. Knoxx has already left with his main force."
Behr considered this.
"Torak's force will want to pursue, and in all honesty, I wish them the best of luck. Trabane may be a fool, but these are good men trying to defend our homes. I say we help them out here, then let them on their way."
Alice nodded.
"Knoxx has made his move: now we make ours."
Swords were silently drawn, and Bas's cloak drew lower to conceal the already stealthy men as the force marched silently but swiftly towards the battle.
The mriswith has proved an useful surprise tool, but long over were the days when the Gifted were helpless before them. The mriswith were deadly enemies still, but the Subtractive's comeback millennia before had once again made the mriswith impractical weapons.
All their presence really did was reveal the lengths to which Collin would go for power. Torak's men had built a shield line pushing the enemy steadily back, with argons flying out into Knoxx's decoy force, with horrific effect.
Once they were undetected within a few yards, Bas dissolved the cloak, and the Specials struck. Outnumbered, surprised, scared, not half as disciplined as the D'Harans, their main advantage failing to prove salvation... Their fate was sealed. The only question now was whether or not Torak would be reasonable afterwards... or if they would be forced to deal with him.

[Anthony]

It had been a decisive victory. The appearance of the D'Haran specials was to much for the old world force to handle. General Torak had sent a messenger with a message of thanks to commander Behr, along with the order that that he report to Torak at once. They needed to discuss the old world.

[unpopularprophet]

Behr though it would be best to humor Torak and let slip by that one word, "Order". Alice, Johann, and two twin troops named Sigurd and Bertram accompanied him to Torak's tent, leaving Bás Chiúin in command until they returned. The men they passed seemed friendly to the party, and gratitude filled the atmosphere.
The messenger gladly guided them to the General's tent. Now, either they would part ways on friendly neutral terms, or things would go sour. For the sake of the men whose gratitude the Specials had earned, very member of the party hoped that Torak would prove more reasonable than the man he was loyal to.

[Anthony]

Torak was taken aback by the scene. Behr accompanied by a officer two soldiers....and the seeker. The sword of truth was immediately recognized and it sent a chill up Torak's spine. He hadn't known a seeker had been named. Non the less this would change nothing.

" You requested a meeting?" Behr said smirking.

Torak knew Behr had been one that sided with Rahl. He knew a sense of resentment was lying with in the man. He had let Behr know the reality of things.

" I requested nothing commander, and I will disregard your lack of a salute or the use of the word sir, when addressing a superior officer. Which the last time I checked General out ranked commander. I could care less what side you where on or what feelings you may hold. You will show the proper respect to a superior officer."

The group paused. Taken aback. All but the seeker saluted.

" I know you might not be happy about what has transpired, and quit frankly I don't care. D'Hara has been unified and not a second to soon it would seem. This army is only a preliminary force. Sent to test our defenses and tactics. To see if we are truly a united nation. To see how much of a fight D'Hara will give. I tell you they will get all they want and more. Lord Trabane has ordered the bulk of D'Haran forces to report to Caska. Most should be there by now. But what to do with your group? With you specialized tactics I think you would be served better out here hitting convoy's and camping troops. I will give you a additional 6,000 troops and a second wizard. "

Torak paused and looked at the seeker. " My apologies seeker. I did not notice you there. What can we do for you?"

[unpopularprophet]

"YOU can stop being a pretentious arse long enough to see I am trying very hard not to laugh at you strutting around like a peacock in your fancy new rank. Commander Behr already intended to stay in the Old World, am I wrong?"
Alice's irreverent attitude snapped the men out of the trained trance, the immediate obedience to authority. Behr replied.
"Torak: I remember training you back when I was Commander General." This surprised everyone else but Torak. Behr had never been talkative about his past.
"You were always very eager to prove yourself, to rise to the challenge. But that is not why I admired you. I admired you because you actually thought, and thought well. ON top of that, you were always questioning me, my methods, my philosophy. You were the catalyst for me questioning myself, and coming to the conclusion that it was the security of D'Hara, not my loyalties, that mattered."
Torak ground his teeth.
"You are out of line, Commander. I am your superior officer, and-"
"You were the one that convinced me that the rules were not what was important. Discipline is not about rules-"
"I order you to-"
"You're also the reason I had to leave the First File, or have you forgotten?"
Even Alice couldn't help but watch silently as this conversation unfolded.

[Anthony]

"No. I have not forgotten." Torak's anger eased. As long forgotten memories flashed in his mind. "You chose your path. Not I."

[unpopularprophet]

"Yes, it was my choice to cover that incident. Rahl himself questioned me about it, did you know that? I couldn't lie to Rahl, but I was not going to let you suffer for an accident. No one was harmed, but you would never have worked in the Army again. Lord Rahl could tell I was protecting someone... And knew I wouldn't do so unless I was certain in my judgement. But I couldn't stay in command of the First File after refusing information to Lord Rahl. So I volunteered for outpost duty in the Old World.
"I know that you always preferred quick action- I know it all too well. I know that loyalty to Rahl is not a virtue in itself. We both know that it is D'Hara that is important. Why you work for the man who split D'Hara in the first place, I have no idea. But we have no conflict in interest. I intend to give Collin hell- and so do you. We may feel differently in whom we give our loyalty to, but the real threat is the Old World, and squabbling over who is in control isn't going to make things better. You want us to start raiding? We intend to. But this is our job: no one else can tell us how to do it... 'cept perhaps HER-" Behr indicated Alice-"But her role is much the same. But she is even more independent, eh?"
"I will do what I see is necessary. Other's wishes and opinions are secondary to my real duty."

[Anthony]

"What you did has not been forgotten. Nor will it be. For that fact alone you stand before me now. If I were someone else your troops would have been attacked on site. A rouge commander is not something a General in D'Hara views kindly. You are correct, arguing over who to support is a mute point. There has already been a winner. And that man is doing what the former could or would not. Bring the old world to it's knees. Think what you may but Alaric Trabane is a great man and a great leader and one of the best military minds D'Hara has ever seen. I do not question your loyalty to D'Hara or it's protection. But I will not have a unchecked unit roaming the old world. Not while I am in command of this region. I have no time to control what and where you go. I trust great Commanders to know what must be done and do it, and you are a great commander. All that I require are reports on your actions, along with ability to direct your force at certain objectives when I see it necessary. Other then that take your 5,000 along with the 6,000 I am giving you, and bring hell to the old world the best way you see fit. If you are in need of of supplies or reinforcements, they will be provided. This is my offer and a generous one at that."

[unpopularprophet]

"Refusing aid on principle is a fool's action. An extra six thousand may prove useful... But I was not going to keep my force concentrated. Remember the old history? So you remember hearing of the Phantom Legions of D'Hara?"

[Anthony]

Torak smiled to himself. He knew the stories well. Behr had spoken of them many times in their talks.

"I see. Not a bad plan at all. Fear is spread though a army like cancer. Then do what you must. I will take my men north to intercept Knoxx. I will be gathering my forces in Caska. Their should be a quarter million men their by now."