A white horse came in the middle of the night with a bloodied and tired rider. He had dirty blond hair under his lobster tail cavalry helmet and some stubble on his chin. His breastplate was scratched and dented and his dark blue cloths were dirty and bloodstained. An arrow stuck out from his side.
The rider had ridden 10 miles and now faced a massive stone wall with a deep trench around it which was filled with wooden spikes. From his left he heard many voices.
"Man! Identify yourself in the name of the Imperial Kaiser Otto the Fourth and the Empire of Steelhawk or be cut down!"
The rider looked over to see a group of ten men, all in the standard imperial infantry uniform, a kettle helm with steel chest plate under an imperial surcoat both of which were over a padded cloth shirt. The patrol squad all held lanterns, swords, and halberds. The rider opened his mouth to respond but fell off his horse unconscious.
The men rushed over to aid the fallen rider and closely examined him.
"He wears dark blue, by his gear he has to be one of us."
"He could be some marauder merely wearing our uniform."
"What will we do with him officer?"
The officer of the patrol squad spoke, "Let us take him to Captain Volvgar."
Two men dragged the rider's body while another led the horse. They walked through the pine forest around the wall until reaching the gate.
"Open the gates!"
A drawbridge slowly lowered over the spike trench creaking loudly as it did. Once the bridge was down the wooden gate opened and the patrol group entered with the wounded man and his white horse. Inside the walls was a military encampment with many wooden barracks, armories, and forges.
Guardsmen stood about like stone statues, their faces lit by torch fire. The officer of the patrol squad approached one of the guardsmen who was guarding a hospital.
"We have a man here who could be one of us, he is bloodied an unconscious. Please let us put him into this hospital good man," said the officer.
"You found an imperial soldier bloodied and wounded?"
"Yes he came a few minuets ago on a white horse."
"Interesting, I'll let him in the hospital and inform one of our priests."
"Tell me when he regains consciousness, I would like him to report to Captain Volvgar."
"Understood."
The officer walked back to his patrol squad and signaled the two men with the man to bring him into the hospital. He then signaled the man with the horse to take it to the stables.
"I suppose I shall write up a report of what happened tonight then I will rest. You can all go to your barracks to sleep, there should be another squad taking over patrol soon," said the officer.
The soldiers saluted their officer sharply and made their way to the barracks to rest.
The next day...
Zernico woke up dazed and confused. He was lying down in a soft bed in a large stone building. Around him there were rows of beds, a few of which were occupied by people who were bandaged, wounded, or coughing. He felt refreshed and all his wounds from yesterday had been healed by divine power.
"Ey look ere, we got a new one!"
"Ain't never seen him round the base."
"Blond lad! What's your name!"
Zernico looked up to see a man with a long face and droopy moustache looking at him. His eyes were bloodshot and his face a deathly pale. In the bed next to him was a large bald man with a square face which had a large light pink scar on it.
"My name is Zernico, where are we?" responded Zernico.
"Why you're in one of the many hospitals here Zernico. The names Abram by the way," said the mustached man.
"And mines Jerico if yer wonderin'," said the bald man.
"Well its a pleasure to meet you Abram and Jerico," said Zernico.
He was now aware he was in a hospital and began recollecting the memories of last night. After the disastrous battle at Stonenfield he fled the battle under Ivacov's orders to warn the people at the border of the attacks. He rode for several hours, often stopping or taking detours to evade bandits who were following him.
During his ride he saw smoldering remains of villages with their massacred populace still lying among the ruins, rotting bodies getting picked apart by rats and vultures. He spotted several groups of bandits wandering the land, all carrying the flag of the Black Dagger Bandits. It became clear to Zernico that the bandit activities occurring were not random or sporadic but rather highly coordinated and organized.
The disaster at Stonenfields was enough to show that they were not up against ordinary bandits. It would have been foolish to label the Black Dagger Bandits as a simple band of brigands who raided to countryside to satisfy their sick and greedy desires, leeching off a time of unrest in the region with the ongoing southern offensive. They were up against a capable paramilitary terrorist force who had trained and experienced soldiers and could plan and carry out successful raids and attacks and could go toe to toe with military forces.
Such use of ambush tactics and psychological warfare used by the enemies at Stonenfields suggested some sort of formal military tactical training with a healthy dash of guerilla tactics. The bandits were stronger than any force he had encountered before, almost superhuman in their ferocity and battle proficiency.
Although their attack was mostly just a simple charge supported by mage and archer fire it was planed well enough to catch the imperial forces off guard and conceal their actual numbers. Ivacov could have leveraged his numerical superiority against only a few hundred bandits however the attack came so quick he could not accurately assess the enemy's numbers and there was also the possibility of more bandits being hid within the forest. The element of surprise and superhuman soldiers won the enemy the day.
"What are you here for?" said Abram. "I'm ere for a bad fever, can't get any dam medicine in this place due to supply issues. Jerico over ere got his leg slashed by a southern spear. The silver lining of being here is the next southern raid won't be our problem to deal with."
"Well I came here to deliver an important message but collapsed after riding for several hours straight," said Zernico.
"Well then how bout you tell us the news lad."
"I'm not sure if I can tell yo-"
The door swung open and a tired guard walked into the room and saw that Zernico had woken up.
"Ah you've awoken. Stay right there, I'll inform Officer Leon of your awakening," said the guard.
"Ho ho ho! Meeting up with Officer Leon are we Mr. Important Messenger. Now that's an honor for ya!" jested Abram.
A few minuets later a large muscled man walked into the hospital. He had an air of command around him and his grey eyes quickly darted around the room, thoroughly analyzing the area around him. He scratched his short black beard and spotted Zernico.
"Ah, so you have awoken, tell me your name man," said Leon.
"My name is Zernico Tolero sir," responded Zernico.
"Are you a member of the Imperial Standard Army?"
"Yes sir."
"So then tell me, what is your purpose for coming here in the middle of the night, alone, bloodied and wounded?"
"I came here to deliver a warning, it was the dying order of my captain Ivacov Grent. Nearly my entire unit was slaughtered by a group of bandits known as the Black Dagger Bandits."
"Wait were you with the 23rd division!"
"Yes sir."
"Dam it I knew there was a reason they were late! I want you to report to Captain Volvgar, tell him your entire story." Officer Leon snapped his fingers and pointed at the guard, "Give this man a bath and a clean uniform, a cavalry officer one, and make sure to return him his officer's arm sash and medal. Please return to me Zernico once you have cleaned yourself and gotten a new uniform."
Officer Leon walked out of the hospital with his confident and measured stride. Zernico climbed out of his bed, only dressed in a long linen shirt and a loin cloth. The guard led him through a door and into a small room with a wooden bathtub and two hooks on the wall, one with a towel and the other a brush.
"You clean yourself while I fetch you a new uniform," said the guard.
The guard left and closed the door. Zernico looked at the bathtub and noticed a knob on the wall attached to a downward bent tube. Cautiously, Zenico turned the knob and water began pouring out of the tube and into the wooden bathtub.
"Indoor plumbing! They have a water system here! This place is incredible," thought Zernico as he watched the warm water fill the wooden bathtub.
Indeed the fortifications at the border between the Southern League and the Empire of Steelhawk were a marvel of engineering. Such advanced fortifications were required as the war had waged for over 100 years. Thus the border fortifications had advanced greatly over time and had high technology implemented with the help of Steelhawk's dwarven allies to keep the soldiers happy and in high spirits.
Even though there was miles of wild lands between the Southern League and Steelhawk attacks were still frequent by both sides. The water system at the border fortifications were not merely for the soldiers to fill their bathtubs but also to put out any fires that may break out by having water faucets set around the fortifications allowing for water to be quickly brought to any fires.
Once the bathtub had been filled Zernico turned the knob once more to turn off the water flow. He could see his face in the water's reflection, his dirty blond hair and black eyes, his face covered in long, light pink streaks, scars from his many battles. He stripped naked and entered the bath. The warm water felt nice against his skin.
He began washing himself, the spilt water flowing into a drain at the floor of the room. Zerinco used the brush on the wall to scrub the dirt of himself. He was thoroughly enjoying the bath, after the stress of yesterday this bath felt like being in heaven.
The guard from before walked into the room holding a imperial cavalry uniform. He silently put the uniform on the floor and left.
Once Zernico was done scrubbing and washing he got out of the bath and dried himself with the towel. He quickly slipped on the uniform, a dark blue cavalry jacket with brass buttons and braid over a steel cuirass and long brown gloves along with with black pants and horse rider boots. Before he had never been given a cavalry jacket as his unit was always quite undersupplied due to mostly only being a peacekeeping force. He put on his medal and his red arm sash walked out the bathroom with an urgent stride.
He left the hospital and analyzed his surroundings. There were many stone and wooden buildings along with high towers all surrounded by tall, thick stone walls. In the area in front of him there was a formation of soldiers practicing drills with their halberds. Zernico quickly encountered Officer Leon waiting outside.
"Come with me Zernico," he said.
The two walked though the fortifications and eventually reached the captain's quarters, a stone building upon which the flag of Steelhawk flew. Leon talked with the guards at the front of the building and eventually was allowed into the building. Zernico and Leon walked through the door and down a long hall eventually reaching a door. Leon knocked on the door which was quickly opened by a guard on the other side.
The room on the other side was filled with bookshelves and the walls covered in large portraits of all the great figures of Steelhawk's 189 year history. The entire room had no windows and was dimly lit by a few candles. Volvgar Grent sat at a messy desk at the center of the room which was covered in books, papers, maps, and inkwells. Next to Volvgar was an elegant looking woman who wore large glasses and was dressed in a metal breastplate over her black dress.
Volvgar himself was fervently writing on a paper, writing up orders for the army.
"Captain Volvgar sir, I would like you to talk to someone. He has important message for you," said Leon.
Volvgar looked up from his writing to look at the two. He had Ivacov's red hair and green eyes but rather than Ivacov's square face his was hawk-like and angular. Ivacov's eyes were round while Volvgar's were serpent-like. Ivacov had a shaggy beard while Volvgar was clean shaven.
Volvgar stood up and walked towards the two all while observing them with his scheming eyes. He looked at Zernico and gestured at him to approach which Zernico did.
"Tell me your name man," said Volvgar.
"Zernico Tolero sir," responded Zernico.
"Tell me your message."
Zernico told him of the slaughter at Stonenfields. He described the devil-like bandits with their superhuman strength and their animalistic bloodlust. He told Volvgar of the death of his brother in battle and how he escaped the battle. Volvgar was not effected by the news of his brother's death but rather listened on with his cold, calculating stare.
"The 23rd had a large shipment of supplies and even a shipment of dwarven matchlock muskets and ammunition which were meant to reenforce our fortifications. This is a complete disaster, then again what was I to expect of a division made up mainly of shitskined leeches from Uljirakgard," said Volvgar.
"Excuse me sir?" responded Zernico, taken aback from Volvgar's remark.
"Never mind, continue your story."
Zerncio continued his story by describing the devastated villages he saw and the bandits he saw roaming the countryside. He then finished his story buy venting his thoughts about the nature of the Black Dagger Bandits and their power. To all of this Volvgar listened intently.
"At Stonenfields you must have been attacked by none other than the Blitz Brigade of the Black Dagger Bandits. I have delt with the bandits before and even encountered the Blitz Brigade myself but I would never think that they would get this bold, even with the ongoing southern offensive. These bandits are evidently a major threat and could compromise food production with their countryside raids and even our defenses if they are going after military targets, what are your thoughts man," said Volvgar.
"I only wish to avenge my unit and Captain Ivacov Grent sir." responded Zernico
"This one has a nice bloodlust, I like it," thought Volvgar. "I suppose we could allocate a few squadrons of soldiers to crushing the Blitz Brigade which would cripple the bandit's operations. You were an officer in the 23 division yes?" said Volvgar.
"Correct sir."
Calculations ran through Volvgar's mind, he factored logistics and manpower, ran many hypothetical scenarios through his mind. He was like a human computer, a strategic genius.
"I want you to lead a force of about 225 cavalry men and 300 infantry and crush the Blitz Brigade in battle."
"But we could not beat them with 2500 men!"
"You fought with conscripts and immigrant soldiers and were caught off guard. Here you will be fighting with disciplined and well trained soldiers and will be taking the initiative in battle."
Volvgar withdrew a book from his desk and handed it to Zernico.
"Do you know your letters man?"
"Yes sir."
"Read this then, it will teach you the fundamentals of strategy and their applications throughout history."
"Thank you sir."
"I want you to lead this force in about three days time. Meanwhile I would like you to join Leon's patrol squad. Now begone, you better get to reading."
With a wave of his hand Volvgar dismissed the two from the room and outside the building. Zernico looked to the sky, book in hand, and thought about the new responsibility he was about to be given. The lives of hundreds of people and the vengeance of his fallen comrades all laid upon him.