S04E09

## The Battle of the Nameless Trail Part I

### Summary:

House Gaz must fight to survive in battle against Tyrosh and Lys. Hamza seeks revenge against his half-brother Symon Santagar.

## Breakfast at War

It had been three more days of maneuvers and the army of Volantis still hadn't fully engaged with the forces of Tyrosh and Lys. The courtiers of House Gaz had joined Baxos Zannar for another expensive breakfast. Today it was beef pie and buttered cherries.

With them was Aux, a warrior assigned to them by Baxos for their protection during the battle to come. Aux was an ugly, dangerous man who kept a strangely designed crossbow at his side at all times. His presence was a constant reminder that the group were surrounded by members of the Tiger Party.

While eating their opulent breakfast, the group noticed that Rook hadn't come to eat. They went to his tent and found it abandoned, with no trace of packing up to leave, no noticeable tracks and no sign of foul play. The group was concerned, but found no leads except indications that Rook had wandered off into the night.

## An Errand for Baxos

Returning to Baxos's tent, they saw the young field marshal point to the East. "See those trails of smoke over there? They are the campfires of our enemy, less than a mile away. They're becoming impatient. I think we'll finally fight today." Then he looked around before shouting, "Boy! Boy, where's my wine?"

A servant boy said, "So sorry, the vintner never come with wine this morning."

Baxos was unimpressed. He asked Lord Hamza and his company to go down the hill to the armory and larder and investigate the wine situation. He suspected that the lack of wine might be the Elephant Party looking to sabotage moral in the camp. The courtiers of House Gaz were insulted by such a lowly task, but went anyway.

## Surprise Arrows!

Arriving at the armory and larder, the group questioned the quartermaster. He told them that a wine shipment from Volantis was due last night, but never came. There was no wine to bring to Baxos.

All of a sudden, a rain of arrows came down on them, fired from a patch of thick trees nearby. A whole regiment of Lysene archers was attacking them by surprise! The group split up, running to get out of range of the enemy bows. Hamza and Aux took turns shielding Fiyona with their own bodies, at times carrying her to cover for her safety. Clyde and Whistler turned another way, using a nearby cliff as cover. In the end, they all ran to safety without any serious injuries.

## Betrayed

They came again to the tent of Baxos Zannar, warning him of the attack on their rear flank.

"Yes, "Baxos said casually. "I let the enemy encircle us. I knew the Elephants in our army were never going to fight for the glory of Volantis, but they will fight for their lives. With enemies on all sides, there is no surrender. The only option is to fight."

The group was shocked. They eyed up Baxos's guards and reached for their weapons.

"I know you'd like to kill me," Baxos said. "But you won't. Because I know where Symon Santagar is commanding a cavalry company."

Lord Hamza had unfairly lost his inheritance and his noble status to his half-brother Symon. During the Invasion of Ashford, the brothers had dueled for Hamza's honour and Symon had cheated. On top of that, it was Symon who had brokered the alliance between Tyrosh and Lys that had started this war in the first place. Thirsty for revenge, Hamza gathered his House's military forces.

## A Speech for the Troops

The army of Volantis was disorganized and shaken. The mercenaries had caught on that they were surrounded and many of them would die in the battle. They looked confused and afraid.

"I think you should say something to the troops," Baxos said, "I would do it, but I don't think they're happy with me at the moment."

The courtiers of House Gaz huddled together, trying to think of any brave words they could remember. Moments later, they stood before the gathered army and spoke:
"Each of you who fights with me is a hero, and the enemy doesn't stand a chance! Elephant, Tiger, slave or free, today we die together, so let's not embarrass ourselves with cowardice! I am not a Triarch, nor a king, nor much of anything. You win a war by making your enemies die! I came here to win. I believe in every one of you! The enemy may take our lives today, so let us fight together!"

The mercenaries, free soldiers and slaves gave a roar of approval and rushed out to fight.

## War

Hamza marched his troops toward the forces of his hated half-brother Symon, his courtiers serving as his captains. They met at a curve in a stream. The two sides were about equal in number, but Symon had twice the cavalry. With that advantage in mobility, Hamza and his captains would have to move their units cleverly.

The two sides rushed together with their infantry and archers. Hamza's side used a nearby stand of trees as cover as they launched volleys of arrows at long range. The arrow attacks turned out to be devastating to Symon's infantry and the enemy archers weren't nearly as effective when they returned fire. Clyde advanced his garrison to meet the enemy infantry, his unit taking heavy damage. The situation became so dangerous that Clyde left his unit to so as not to die with them.

Symon's own elite cavalry dashed toward the stream, looking to flank Hamza's forces from the side. At first, only Arrokko and his mercenary infantry were brave enough to face Symon's elites head-on, but the failure of Symon's infantry to hold the line allowed Whistler's cavalry to join Arrokko. Soon, Symon's elite squad was wiped out. Symon turned and fled on top of his horse. Hamza left his unit and came charging after his hated rival.

## Hamza's Revenge

Just as Hamza was about to try to knock Symon from his horse, Whistler's soldiers drew their bows and shot a cloud of arrows at Symon. The arrows missed Hamza by mere inches. Symon was hit by over a dozen arrows. He fell from his horse and writhed on the ground in pain. Hamza stood over his brother and spat on the dying man in his last moments.

Lord Hamza and his captains had punched a hole in the Tyroshi/Lysene forces. The army of Volantis now had a hope of victory, but there was still more fighting left to be done...

## Experience

Each character gained 3XP and the House gained 5 Glory

Hamza spent:

- 20 Influence to buy an Heir

- 3 Power to liberate his Slave Unit into an Infantry Unit composed of free people

- 5 Wealth to put Tolls on the highway running through your lands

- 10 Wealth to begin building a Temple

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