SoO 3 - War of Talons - Chapter 5

War of Talons: Tales of the Wylde

Chapter 5 - The Assault on Bedldem

Before the Scattering, and the subsequent occupation by the Empire, Bedldem was a simple, unassuming place. Being the closest human town to the Sea of Oak and the portal to the Wyldewood, it occasionally enjoyed prosperous commerce with traders who knew the way to the wylder's kingdom. It then stood as a potential staging ground for the empire's forces, who would eventually attempt another breach upon the Oakenfold gate. Their recent battle with the phoenix in the Sea of Oak seemed to have culled an impressive number of shadowfowl and human loyalists for the time being. A rather humble detail of guards were stationed along the wooden walls and ramparts that had been built around the perimeter. The purging fires of the phoenix did not reach the forest near Bedldem, so Aurelion's army took advantage of its lush cover and lined up silently along the edge of the treeline that acted as a boundary between the wilderness and Bedldem. Aurelion and Hedstrum crouched behind a tree and studied the fortifications. They knew a frontal assault, even with their numbers, would be a bloody gambit. This was no time for an honorable advance. Aurelion called into the night, imitating an owl. Figures dashed forward, quickly yet quietly. The first line of Aurelion's troops slinked out into the field like panthers. A solitary guard on one of the ramparts puffed on his pipe as he lit it with a match, anticipating an uneventful night watch, when he paused, curiously staring into the night as he had just noticed movement on the ground. His eyes darted along the perimeter as he saw many forms crawling with starling speed. He gasped to yell and found his mouth stifled by an elven hand as sharp steel found its way under his pauldron, between his ribs and into his heart, in a deft, insidiously graceful action. His anguish was muffled as his killer gingerly laid him down onto the rampart floor. More wylder crawled up and climbed the wood pilings meant to repel them. Other guards disappeared with a mere gargling or whimpering as the limber and lithe wylderfolk made quick work of the outer guards. Two trolls had made their way to the gate and opened it. The town's guards noticed and rushed forward, only to be met by the Aurelion's main forces as they charged into Bredldem.

It was then that the shadowfowl appeared, the vile beasts emerging from the darkest shadows near the invaders and lashing out with cruel talons. The main courtyard erupted in conflict as the wylderfolk engaged the beasts for the first time. The fray was a storm of chaos as the undisciplined and inexperienced among Aurelion's army clashed fearfully with the fowl. The satyr's arm blazed with phoenix fire as he lunged and clawed at his foes, which squealed and retreated, some writhing in torment as the flames engulfed them. After many of the creatures fell at Aurelions touch, his followers rallied as they saw the might of the phoenix's blessing. The battle was swift as more wylderfolk joined in. Bedldem was theirs before morning had broken. A single remaining shadowfowl took to the air, so Hedstrum pointed, and several rangers launched a volley of arrows after the winged monstrosity. A few of the missles hit the evil bird, yet it managed to pull itself higher into the sky. Aurelion watched it fly away, its wings flapping desperately as it pointed itself toward the heart of Orlandia, where the Emperor sat upon his throne. "Corax will know about this victory," Hedstrum remarked, "We will not have much time..."

"There will be plenty of time for word to spread to the outlying towns... word that there is hope, and that they too can make a stand,". Windows of houses began to open, and the cautious heads of the people peered though doors that were once bolted shut in fear. Bedldem's citizens made their way into the morning light of the suns, cheering and embracing the wylderfolk who had rid the town of the Yaoguai's influence. The battle was not without its price. Dandel Quickenbuck gave a solemn count of thirty-three elves, trolls, and orcs, even a pixie that had met their end that night. Aurelion called his followers together and they paused to honor their fallen friends. "Always friends, never to end," the satyr added, as they stood in silence.

EmperorCorax sat in the great dining hall of Castle Orlandia, which was a cold, dreary, cavernous chamber with his presence at the lonely table. He sulked as he waited for his meal and stared with disdain at the stained glass rose window that faced the eastern exposure of the castle, its reddish hues managing a brightness from the morning rays despite the Emperor's shadowy influence. He muttered a complaint about having the glass painted over when he noticed something moving through the panes... something flying desperately toward the window. The glass shattered with an alarming clatter as a dark projectile barreled through it. The object came down into a brutal, bloody landing on the immense stone table, glass shards flying and tinkling across the chamber. The Demonlord scowled furiously as the dark mass slid towards him, finally halting before his place at the table. Now that it was still he ground his teeth as he identified it... one of his shadowfowl creatures, specifically one he created to act as captain of the guard for the border towns. The Yaoguai seethed as he also noticed a number of elven and orcish arrowshafts protruding from the creature. Corax Corvidious, Demonlord and Emperor of Orlandia, raged for the better part of a day, destroying everything in the dining hall. Someone dared to defy his rule, and he swore at the top of lungs, in between the foulest words he could muster, that he would obliterate the very souls of those responsible.