The Report of Hektr Uwwlenki from his work as a mercenary in the 14th War of Wood and Steel on the side of the Treant Empire

The Qssl'Orde, or how we call them "Green Skins" is not a frequent employer. In fact, my band of mercenaries has done more work under the Banner of Nulamore or the Kingdom of Ivoery than under the banner of our northern cousins. When one crosses the Qwwl-Qssl Border no immediate changes can be noticed, unless you wander along the Lifebringing river. Where all their land is Savannah and steppe the land surrounding the river has transformed into a thick jungle where their allies the Treat reside and trade happens.
The Qssl are no different to us except the unusual green hue their skin has, some say that this may be mutations from the influence of the tree men other's say it's merely Dryad blood in their veins. Hard to tell, as the men and Elves of the Treant we met seem to have the same condition going as far as having pieces of bark and leaf growing from their flesh.
More than once had I resist the temptation to ask "How will you ride a horse when you grow roots?". Even a simpleton like me understood that that could be taken as an insult.
Nearing the Treant Empire itself the usual Issue presented itself. Thick trees and vines blocking the way for man, let alone an army on horseback to pass. We were promised that this would not be a problem, but we couldn't see how.
Making camp at the border a shaman of the Chamaza. A short stocky man covered in ash. He lead his tribe in a feverish dance. Dancing on charring coals with bare feet. These people were odd, dark skin covered in ash feathers woven into their hair. If the Chalkhairs of the Empire call us short, what would they think of them? I chuckled, but was wise enough to not say so.
Still my staring was likely noticed as a young lass I'd later find out is called Chupka chose to drag me with them to the dance and I indeed attempted to join in only to burn my feat and arse on the coal.
I feared I insulted them and my comrades feared that the Chamaza attacked me, but luckily this was cleared quickly as neither was the case. The Chamza though laughed, as from what the translator said that what happened to me it what happens to children.
My Horselord Sepheri, wished to send me home so I could recover, but thanks to me insisting that I can recover before the war he permitted me to continue on the quest. I really need that money. Still I was given in care to the locals as they say that a wound like this should heal quickly if you apply some Kouououa. Well what the fuck is that? It's worm spit. Basically there is these weird rabbit-sized burrowing grasshoppers here and they have larvae of similar size which can be found in piles of decomposing plant matter. That's how the Chamza "farm" them. The innards of the creature mixed with crushed bone supposedly works wonders for burns. Honestly I am not sure if it healed any faster, but I don't think I ever smelled anything worse in my life.
The days I spent among the Chamza were interesting. Their reverence of ash, death and rebirth reminded me of the legends I heard of cannibals, but I didn't see them eat manflesh so I was somewhat calm.
Still I missed the open plain, the yellow grass and the open Qssl Fields. The sounds of the jungle are very different to the sounds of the steppe.
Wandering with the natives towards the battlefield was a chore. While they opened up the forest for our army with magic, they did not bother to do the same for themselves. Akin to monkeys they jumped between roots or swung on branches. A few of them used stone tools to help me carve out a path to bring my Kichka and Fetchka along (names of 2 horses).
As we wandered deeper into the jungle the heat started getting to my steads as such I had to ask the tribe for a day of rest, to which they reluctantly agreed. I spent hours sharpening my chipped sword so I might painlessly sheer my steeds. To shorten their fur as much as possible. This would never be done in the steppe as however hot the day is the night is always chilly. The jungle is always hot and the trees are so thick it is hard to say whether it is day or night as what gives light is mostly wild insects and mushrooms.
It was not a nice experience, very claustrophobic and lonely as I did not speak the Chamza tongue.
I felt as if I was far behind my brothers in my travels, but maybe that is because in the jungle I felt as if we were walking in circles. The chieftain sneered at my questions saying that if I have sufficient payment he can speed up our travels.
Showing him Celestial Glass coins heseemed not impressed, luckily I had some Ivory Chumza and Morlouxian Metal Coins and that seemed more appropriate to him.
Our direction of travel changed then seemingly heading sideways. Only after 2 days of travel we got to a riverbed, where the water was clear and cold. Going down the River we encountered the Iacarés, also known as the pests of the Southerns seas, though once again I was smart enough to not say so. Being mostly pirates they are the best known of the Humans of the Treantlands being the greatest Pirate menace in these seas second only to the Fat Man's Crew.
Still, it seems that while Inland they are better known for transporting people down-river, as the Treant forbid them from raiding other Vassal Tribes.
Upon presenting them my coins it would seem that, the pay was not enough, but they agreed to do it for the butchering of one of my horses an act I could not agree too. It seems also that they deeply despise glass as it is a symbol of the Merchants as such payment with Celestial Coil was impossible. Wishing to not anger the Chamza, I looked for other belongings I had and stumbled upon a mirror. The locals not knowing it to be glass covered in silver were were happy to accept the reflective metal and we were permitted to journey alongside them.
Going downstream was clearly quicker, even if once in a while we stopped to pay respect to a mount of bones, which is the Pirate's burial site. To throw the bones of a loved one onto piles, what a barbaric way to bury the dead.
Chupka at that point started being anxious as being young she had never ventured this far south. It was then that I learned what she feared, the Treant did not differentiate between man or woman. This tiny lass I'd be able to hold with one hand was expected to take part in the war. A cruel fate, but not surprising if one serves inhuman masters. That was another thought I kept to myself.
On our journey we would pick up one more passenger. A Dryad, who entered without pay. All bowed to her and that being a custom I followed, though it was no doubt an odd thought to bow to one of a race which outside of this land can only be found as a slave.
Still the dryad seemed to dislike something about me, she lifted me up by my hair cruelly clawing at my face as the natives merely observed. To treat a Mercenary as such was not a right of the employer, even worse she seemed to scare both Kitchka and Fetchka, as such in the tongue of the Chamza I firmly told her to stop, which she clearly did not like, but complied.
While one has to respect customs of the locals, if one hires a mercenary it is also their duty to show respect. As such by the law of the Great Lions I ad demanded an apology and if none is offered a duel.
The abominable Dryad looking down at me as if I was an animal rejected both, and roots sprung from the dead wood of the tree binding the boat in place. Anger filled the creature as it's feminine form morphed into wood and spikes. Then wind softly blew, and the Dryad calmed down. The riverbed filled up with roots which swiftly turned into wood as a tree with legs emerged out of the forest standing watch over us.Soft wind blowing between it and the dryad as if they we conversing using the wind. This Dryad apparently never saw men from the outside as anything, but invading beasts and as such saw it right what she did. The Treat on the other hand scolded her for laying hand on a mercenary, but being no more considerate towards me as laying hand on a Dryad was still laying hand on a "superior".Maybe if I had kept my mouth shut then it all could have ended with an apology, but anger had overcome me."I apologize, for the misunderstanding, but in my land Dryads are slaves. So it was hard for me to see why a race of slaves would be superior to me?"All were taken aback by my words be it the slaves or the wooden beings around me. Only Chupks with shaking hands handed me a wooden necklace before bowing and retreating.The Dryad formally accepted the offer of a duel from me likely thinking it would be satisfying to be the one to execute me. I saw the Treant move, he was about to do something to me too.This one was sadistic. Trying to send my horses after me, but no amount of magic would sway Tnz'qran horses to betray their rider so I did not even pay heed as they charged at me.
I pulled out sword and put my shield in my hand. I charged towards the Dryad and of course roots and vines then sprouted out of the ground.
I threw the shield under my feet as the vines surrounded me. Take this you vile beast! What warrior uses a shield which does not protect one from magic! I am not merely a man of the steppe, since I could in the saddle I've traveled the world fighting creatures you never dreamt of. This wooden wench did not compare to a wyvern or sky whale! It did not compare to a technobarbarian easily slicing trough ten men! For if they were so strong, why would they beg us for help?
I pulled out a technobarbarian relic, I stole many years back. Aimed it at the wench and fired it without delay. A blast of red light emitted from it burning the vines and burning her arm.
Were I fighting a man. I would have long won, but I knew better so I charged out as the vines withered. Once again with a sword, ready to continue the fight.
The Dryads would closed up and it's fingers turned to claws. She was way faster than stronger than a man twice her size. If it still had 2 hands I would be long dead, even with her handicapped I had no idea if this would not be the end.The relic, has just one use an needs days of laying in the sun to be used again. Now I was the one to call my horses as the Dryads magic power weakened. Fetchka she stopped, but Kichka still came. With a proper kick she sent the bitch flying to the ground.The Dryad stood back up jumping around like an animal, clearly to weak to use magic even once more. I wished to slay her, but a victor should show mercy so one day he may be shown mercy. As such in their tongue I proclaimed, that I won and in my land a duel does not always have to end with death. If she were to declare surrender, that would be sufficient. Still the Dryad leaped at my relic instead tearing it apart with her teeth corrosive liquid from it burning her face.
The Treant watching over us, saw that it was the Dryad acting inappropriately. Vines from the ground bound her and a soft wind blew.
The Dryad started crying and I was told to execute her as she was bound and so I did. Life drained from her or so I thought. Once again all the natives fell to the ground, but I did not as from said dryad another was born. One of different features she was to be a "replacement for the relic" to me. To these natives in front of me I was just granted a "divine being as a servant" I understood that. I understood that to them I was now no different than one in a Lionpulled Carriage is to me.
I accepted the Treants gift with grace, and chose to wander into the forest alone with her so she may guide me alone the rest of the way as I knew I couldn't stay with the Chamza after this.
In some ways she was like a grown women in other's a child mentally. She was one of the forest, and spoke the Chamza tongue fluently, but knew not what clothes, swords or even bows were. She knew horses were foreign, but not what they were exactly. I thought her to ride one, as then we'd move more quickly.
Where the Chamza pried for days for the forest to open slightly as I rode with Rutka (name he gave to Dryad) the forest became field under our horses even if we rode quickly.it took mere weeks to arrive in the south. The land of Wood and Steel always ravaged by war. To the south the Merchants, to the east the Supprians and preparations for war were clearly going.The tribesmen were preparing boats and sharpening their tools of stone. Butchering kkula frog after kkula frog for their exquisite poison. The Treants were spoiled by dryads grafting onto them wood which is as hard as tone growing on them armor for war.
Tomy surprise I was the first to arrive, likely the band of my Horselord experiencing many more difficulties on their travel. Due to this circumstance and my acquiring of the knowledge of local tongue I was permitted to listen to the talks of the Generals to relay if to Tnz'qran who are to come later.
The Meeting of generals was an affair very different to how it is done in Tnz'qran lands. Instead of one high general dictating to others how to run the war the Treant generals would form a circle, behind them the dryads would form a circle and behind them the tribal generals would form the largest set of few circles. All of them would mediate and chant as an odd hallucinogenic smoke fills the room. Me being one of the observers far out of the War Tent I still felt myself falling into a form of trance memories of Children playing filling my mind. Seeing what I suspect were my desires hoping it's the future. A ranch with Bloodox and Horses in Swe'yus.
Whom I recognized as the Elder of the Chamza tribe I traveled with woke me up eventually. Had me bite down on a some sort of soft wood, which was sour and instantly awoke me "One is always the weakest in their first experience."Now awake I observed the smoke dancing showing off the tactics we were to use. There were already battles raging on as we speak on the see and along the Supprian River the plan was interesting retreat slowly yo lure the enemy in before the Qwwl and Mercenary Armies along with hordes of woodland animals controlled by druids come in as shock troops to cut off the enemy.One problem was the enemy approaching faster than expected, and the Foreign forces coming later, as such it would be important to hold the line until an opportune moment comes.
The 13th war of Wood and Steel was lost because the Merchant Empire hired Westerasi Mercenarries. A deadly force which can overwhelm the enemy with odd weapons from afar. Said weapons are like very weak Technobarbarian Relics, but can be produced by them on mass!It's as if they made their own Effigy!
The first battle would come only days after, as I would be there to witness a "Merchant's Wake Up". The Merchant republic, fights similar to the Celestials, byt throwing amounts of resources and money at a problem no one else could approach.
Balls of fire fired from Trebuchets and by mages lit up the sky as bright as the morning sun burning jungle and field alike and volley after volley followed. Lighting up the Forrest and sky aflame.Then sudden silence as their cavalry charged forward. Above them 2 Janedi Skywhales, it must have cost a castle to purchase or tame those beasts.Still this was a war not a one sided beat down, the Merchant Cavalry charge suddenly stopped as all their horses started falling over dead as they ran and out of the ground emerged tribal warriors which for days must have been hiding under the dirt breathing trough tubes.The cavalry charge had collapsed, but one of the whales managed to make in deeper and grabbed one of the Treant elders carrying it now high into the sky.Still, one has to underestimate one's enemy when they Bring a Skywhale to a place full of fire. An maybe this tactic would work if the Treant's didn't hire mercenaries this time which were experienced with hunting Skywhales.A fopa in fighting a skywhale is using fire as the creatures violently explode if they are pierced by it leaving no useful parts behind. This was no hunt though as such I asked Rutka to help and she sprouted a giant yet thin spike of dry grass out of the ground piercing itself like a nail into the giant whale, which then though ripped itself free from it the rope-spike dangling free.
Likely trough wind she told one of the grander Treants of the weakness to flame as he grabbed a burning tree and threw it high, high enough to ignite the rope and kill the whale, but not before loosing an arm to the flames himself.
Likely due to now understanding that we have ways to combat Skywhales, the surviving one was not used in the coming battles. This battle though had one of the worst possible results, a draw. The Supprian-Merchant coalition lost it's Druid cavalry (you need to use mages as cavalry or the Treants will control your mounts) and sky whale, we lost many tribal warriors, Treants and Dryads.
The Merchant Empire uses a tactic known as the War of 5 Armies. Knowing that they have a numerical advantage compassed to the sparsely populated Treant Empire they engage in constant war. They have 5 large armies prepared where 4 rest and 1 attacks. They cripple their offensive potential, but in the long therm have an advantage against the Vassal armies which have to fight without rest. The only countermeasure to this tactic is combat drugs which prolong the inevitable. The Treant Empire on the other hand has few forces, but of very high quality making them superior at shock warfare as such a prolonged conflict favors the humans, though the more land they occupy the handier comes the Vassal's specialization in guerrilla warfare.
As such the Battle of the field of Fehan has devolved into a battle of armies clashing hour after hour. Unlike classic battles moralities are stacking high though as offensive capabilities of both sides outweigh their defenses. The Treant have extraordinarily powerful magic the Merchants have Westerasi "crossbow". Within days battles have transformed from clashes in the open field to excercizes in mobility akin to dances. Dances in which inpite of falling morale we manage to hold our own because the Merchants lack the windspeak the Treants have an allows them to instantly communicate over the battlefield.
That was the situation as I was sent into the forest to meet up with the Raiders. The Treant Trump card to finally win this stalemate.
As expected my liege Sepheri, has understood the plan instantly, but he also understood that said plan likely could not work with the battlefield situation as it is. As such he proposed a change to the Qwwl'Han and the Qwwl'han accepted. Rutka was sent to relay the altered plan, with the Treants hopefully accepting, as we would all be doomed if they did not.
For the plan was bold, it was to attack the resting armies, now likely reduced to 2/5 as due to the length of the battle the Merchant Empire was forced to call upon more and more reserves.The plan was for the Treant forces to start a push, to occupy the enemy forces and for the Raiders to destroy their supply lines. That Plan succeed splendidly and enemy forces were eventually surrounded. Surrounding them took to long though as such they managed to fortify their position and the Joint forces made one mistake. They did not offer a path of retreat. A cornered enemy will fight to the death, one should always offer a fictive path of retreat as a temptation as to break their resolve. For now we were forced to fight men ready to die. Us raiders are not good at open warfare, harassment tactics and open field warfare is our forte so it was disheartening to be overwhelmed by an enemy we thought we had surrendered.The hope in this War ending in victory came from the eastern Front, the forces of the Supprian Alliance have annihilated the Treant Army. The Treant Empire never managed to invade the Supprian Alliance, but they always managed to hold them at bay. This 14th War changed that.
The SUpprian Army, also ocntianing Treants and Dryads who defected the Empire was coming this way, meanwhile on the Naval front most of the Treat Fleet was destroyed by a suicide attack from the other Janedi whale after they destroyed a big portion of the Merchant Empire's fleet.
With the forces of the Supprian Alliance an offer of peace came. The first offer of "White Peace" in the history of the Wars of Steel and Wood.
Both sides have faced crippling amounts of casualties with the fronts barely moving. In exchange for the release of the prisoners of war (encircled army), the Merchant Empire would do the same and retreat.
This is how the war ended, with minimal pay for mercenaries and mountains of corpses so large one must fear attracting a necromancer with them. I for one have to continue being a mercenary if I wish to purchase my own land in Swe'yus. Let's hope that happens before my beard turns gray.
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