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21st Day of Ignis

128 I.E.

The front lines were a tangled mess of beings from both sides of the conflict. Spears clashed as the soldiers at the front danced back and forth, hoping to stick the enemy before they were killed. Bodies piled up faster than they had in Olaraa, and their mutilated corpses were trampled on as each side contested to gain a foothold over the other.

Xellik licked his lips between his tusks as he marched towards the front. This was to be his first taste of battle since leaving Zugrul, and he planned to relish every moment of it. A blade of mana formed in his hand as he pulled it back and swung. It easily sliced through the metal of a Rogarian soldier's armor and cut him open. When the orc released his grip on the weapon, it vanished instantly and freed his hands up to unleash a spell in two directions, incinerating several opponents with a gout of fire that spread out on either side of him. The flames licked at his allies, but passed by them without harming them. When he needed to parry an attack from a Snowhoof minotaur, the sword reappeared instantly against his palms.

"Warlord," Sorda said as she fought beside him, "Why haven't you used the Emerald to crush them? It has so much power. Ending this battle should be a simple task for it."

Xellik felt the crunch of a human's nose as he punched him in the face and used the opening it created to slice the man's throat. Once he took a second to step back, he replied, "I would if I could." He could feel the warmth of the gem against his bare skin beneath his armor. He huffed as he stepped back, letting a wave of Legion soldiers wash over him and Sorda like a tidal wave. He watched with no small amount of satisfaction as the troops cut through the Coalition's defense force.

"The Emerald is powerful, but slow, much like the earth that it represents. That little display on Jha'zal took a lot of energy to perform. The Emerald needed time to recuperate. It didn't even have enough energy to seal the chasms in Olaraa, and trying only drained it further."

"I see," Sorda replied. She wiped the blood off her sword with a hand, then flicked it off her.

Xellik rejoined the battle in a fury of magic. Between his sword and the power granted to him by Sytarel, the meager forces of the Coalition proved to be no challenge for him. The Snowhoof minotaur put up a decent fight, but they too fell before his might. His body and armor were covered in the blood of his enemies, and he licked at it as it dripped off his face.

Perhaps Sanctuary will fall, as well, he thought.

The sound of an explosion could be heard coming from the back of the Legion's army as the shockwave traveled across the plains. Xellik knocked a dwarf into the ground face first and stomped on the back of his skull as he looked up. A red flare hung in the air before it dissipated towards the ground.

"A red flare," he remarked as he watched it fade.

"It looks like the situation has changed. Shall we head back?" Sorda asked.

"Yes, though I have a feeling I already know what's happening. Besides, I need something to eat, and I don't want to take all the glory from the rest of our army." Xellik grabbed Sorda's arm and teleported them back to the command tent at the rear of the Legion's forces. The orcish warlord slumped down in a stool and released the leather strap of his gorget to let it fall to the ground.

"Warlord, sir!" saluted one of Xellik's soldiers. "We've reports on the left and right flanks that the COalition has sent out their cavalry."

"How did they mobilize without us noticing?" Sorda asked. "What are the mogor squads doing?"

"They used magic to conceal themselves until they were already upon our forces," the soldier replied.

Xellik leaned forward on his stool and wiped his face clean with a handkerchief. "We already knew they were going to do this. We have a mole in Sanctuary, remember? Send out the mogor in full force and squash their paltry defense. Whatever tactics they have cannot possibly defeat our sheer numbers."

The orc pounded a fist on his chest and rushed out, directing the counter-attack. The thunderous roar of hooves filled the air as the mogor set out across the plains.

"You sound confident that we'll win," Sorda said, sitting across from him. "Brute force won't always be enough."

Xellik snapped his fingers twice, summoning a number of servants into the room. They worked quickly to remove the warlord's armor for him. He ordered them to get him some food and to clean the blood off his equipment before he planned to sortie again.

"Even if we lose, it won't matter. This is merely a diversion so we can begin the next phase of our invasion," Xellik said.

"We can assure victory if we use the Emerald's power, warlord. Why won't you summon an elemental like you did to sway the gnolls into joining us?"

"I won't take the chance that the Coalition will figure out how to counter-attack," Xellik said, looking sternly at her. "If we send in a giant elemental, then there's a good chance the Coalition will simply use those accursed Waygates to vanish back to their homelands. They'd then have all the time in the world to prepare for an assault against them, and they'd know about the Emerald's existence. It's too soon in our invasion to let them know about it." A servant brought a bucket of water into the room, and he immediately tipped his head back and poured it over himself, catching a bit in his mouth. Most of it splashed over his now exposed body, washing away the sweat and grime from the battlefield.

"The Emerald is powerful, but it's limited," he continued as he wiped his face clear with one of his hands. "I've learned lots experimenting with it. An elemental of the size I conjured on Jha'zal would not be able to survive for very long, and it wouldn't make the trek to Kitair after summoning it. This would heavily drain the magic from the gem, too. Not only that, but the elves and their druidic magics will make it difficult to utilize earth magic against their forces."

"Then what is the point of having it?" Sorda asked, standing with her arms crossed.

"It secured my leadership over Zugrul, and it will play a major part in our Kitair campaign, once it's underway. It's more than an amplifier of magic. It's also a powersource."

"What do you mean?" Sorda asked.

"You'll see once our fortress is completed," Xellik said cryptically. Food was brought in by the plateful, and he dismissed Sorda. "At any rate, make sure our troops don't get themselves too worked up. We'll be here for some time while the rest of our forces move into position. Understood?"

"Yes, Warlord." Sorda saluted him then stomped out of the tent.

Swirling around, Xellik looked to his scrying orb. It rested atop a pedestal, cupped between a pair of stone hands. He waved a hand over it as he ate, and the image inside shimmered as it changed. The mogor forces were nearly upon the enemy's cavalry, and he smiled as he watched the quad-tusked beasts rush forward with their heads down.

* * * * *

There was only one word anyone could use to describe Sanctuary's condition: chaos. The commanders were working tirelessly to attempt to react to everything the Legion threw at them, but no matter what they did, it didn't seem to be enough.

The leaders for Olaraa's forces were on the ramparts, getting a view of the carnage below. Advisors worked to update their maps as quickly as possible to track both the Legion and the Coalition's movements. Leaning over a map, Commander Gryph was talking into an amethyst crystal as he relayed his orders in real-time to the Olaraan soldiers. Another stone, set in his helmet, relayed messages back from the front line. The sound was nothing more than the frenetic screams of his kinsmen calling for aid and dying out in the fields.

"Kragstone's men need more arrows. What are the supply divisions doing? Get them more ammunition on the double!" Gryph shouted. "Have them pick the bodies of the fallen clean if they have to! We can't afford to run out of supplies two hours into the fight!"

He looked up in time to see an explosion of magic take out the center-left portion of the front line. The shockwave echoed in the air, but the screams of the fallen were silent, lost among the clash of steel and the wails of the dying.

"Frosthelm's line has collapsed. Oakforge, you and your reserves are up! Get in there and hold the line!"

Gryph watched from a distance as a wall of dwarves surged to fill in the spaces caused by the lost soldiers. Despite their best efforts, it seemed as if the Legion was pushing them back, ever closer to Sanctuary's gates. Gryph could only grimaces and watch as their lines were torn up, reforged, then destroyed again in an endless cycle of carnage.

"Commander, you might want to see this," said one of Gryph's aids.

The dwarf looked over and said, "What's the matter?" as he followed the finger pointing towards the field.

He could see a group of orcs mounted on what Gryph could only describe as monstrous boars tearing through the ranks of their cavalry. The beasts were large enough to flip a horse with their tusks, unseating their riders and leaving them defenseless among the trampling hooves. Their cavalry units began to crumble as the boars rushed through them. It was like watching a knife cut through silk. Their soldiers had no chance of competing with such beasts.

"Have them fall back!" Gryph ordered. "Hurry before they're all over-taken!"

"It's too late, sir," the dwarf replied. "They're over-extended."

Already a section to the Legion's infantry line was being diverted to surround the men and elves that had ridden into battle. Gryph pounded a fist on the stone crenulations. "Do we have anyone in the area that can reinforce them and get our allies out of there?"

"None, sir!" said the panicked aid. "The Legion has them cut off."

Gryph whirled back around to watch, transfixed as the beasts gored and trampled survivors of their initial charge. A ring of spearmen circled around the soldiers, jabbing anyone who tried to flee and corralling them back towards the boars.

The plan had always been to have the cavalry perform hit and runs on the Legion's foot soldiers to try and demoralize them. It would break up their formations, and allow the Coalition's troops to mop up, gaining them an advantage. Gantors had anticipated that the Legion would adapt to their tactics eventually, but not this quickly. The cavalry were barely able to do anything before the boar monsters showed up and decimated their numbers.

How did they react so quickly? Gryph thought, furious that their carefully laid plans were falling between their fingers like so many grains of sand. It's as though they knew about the charge. How? The invisibility spells should have cloaked them until just before they struck!

With the mounted soldiers dead, the boar riders turned their attention to the Coalition's front lines. Gryph quickly worked to reorganize his troops, throwing a line of spearmen in the way to halt the charge. It wasn't enough. Such tactics were meant to stop horses, not beasts that were large enough to seat an ogre.

Grumbling in a low voice, Gryph turned around, slowly, and sauntered over to the map. "Where is the Highlord right now?" He looked over the markers that his aides were moving to mimic the battle below. His eyes scanned the collected markers, trying to find where Gantors' unit was placed.

"He's southwest of the gate currently," one dwarf said, pointing towards a grey marker with a stylus. "Shall we send him reinforcements?"

"Have the two nearest squadrons maneuver to cover the Highlord. It's time we executed our backup plan." Focusing on an image of Gantors in his mind, Gryph picked up the amethyst once again and said, "Highlord, can you hear me?"

Battle cries and screams echoed back at Gryph through his helmet. The gong of a hammer slamming down on metal sounded back at him and with a huff, Gantors replied, "Aye, what's the matter?"

"Our initial plans have failed. The lines are collapsing all over the battlefield, and our mounted forces have been destroyed."

There was a pause. "And the good news?"

"We still have our backup plan to fall on. Now's as good a time as any to execute it."

"The King didn't think very highly of the idea when we presented it to him after the meeting. What does he have to say about this decision?" Gantors asked, panting between words. The Highlord was giving his all to defend Sanctuary, and Gryph respected him for it. It was little wonder why he was the leader of their military.

There was shouting coming from Gryph's helmet as the Highlord worked to reorganize the lines. He didn't speak until he was finished.

"We don't know where he is at the moment, but I'm afraid if we don't act now and call a retreat, we're only going to lose more ground and even more of our soldiers. They all know the retreat signal. At the very least, we can get our forces within the city and prevent them from sieging the walls. They might still bombard the city but it'll give us more breathing room."

Gryph waited for Gantors' response, and he could hear his heart beat drumming away in his head. The aids around him were silent as they awaited the Highlord's orders. No one wanted to be running away again. It felt like all they were doing was losing one battle after another. However, Gantors' backup plan could afford them the time they needed to reorganize their troops and stage a counter-attack.

There was a long sigh as Gantors said, "Sound the bells. Pull everyone back into the city."

Gryph relayed the orders to those around him, and there was a flurry of activity as everyone got to work, moving to their assigned places. A runner was sent out, headed towards the House of Commons as quickly as possible to run the bells.

"I'll begin organizing our troops. Godspeed, Highlord," Gryph said before he got back to work.

* * * * *

Dane looked back towards the city as he heard the bells from the House of Commons echoing across the fields. Already, waves of soldiers were rushing back into the city, shouting obscenities at each other in a mad scramble to get away from the front lines. The gates weren't large enough to fit everyone, and people pushed and shoved as the lines began to collapse.

"We don't have a lot of time," Dane shouted to his men. "Retreat for the gates! Now!"

"Fall back!" Elizabeth relayed the order. "Get back inside the walls, hurry!"

Motioning to his archers, Dane said, "Continue firing as you go. I don't care if you miss, just keep the Legion at bay as best you can. Cover our retreat!"

Dane didn't wait to make sure everyone started running. He stayed behind, utilizing his magic to ensure his squadmates had time to get away. Lights danced upon his hands as he worked to cast a spell. The crack of thunder preceded a flash of white as lightning surged towards the Legion's front lines. Yet more arcane words flew from Dane's mouth before flames erupted from his hands as he orchestrated destruction before him. The orcs and their allies that chased after his retreating men fell before him.

"Dane, come on!" Elizabeth screamed, her shouts loud enough they almost drowned out the sounds of battle. She ran back into the fight, cutting down an orc intent on crushing Dane's skull in with a large maul. "The bell rang twelve times. We've got about thirty seconds to get back to the gates before they start to close them!"

Even as she spoke, Dane could feel the ground rumbling beneath them. He could feel the tell-tale tickle in the back of his mind, signifying the amount of mana being channeled nearby. It was distinct, and growing more insistent by the moment.

What in Xenar's name is that sound? Dane thought, glancing around to try and find the source of the sensations.

He glanced back at the gate, gauging the distance between where they stood and safety. There was no possibility of them making it back in time. Nearly everyone else had already pulled back and they stood alone with a sea of Legion forces collapsing in on them.

"Get some distance, I need a moment to open a portal for us!" Dane shouted as the rumbling grew in intensity. The sound of several large explosions could be heard in the distance, and along Sanctuary's walls, bright flashes of orange flared into existence as plumes of dust and earth were thrown up into the night sky.

It's getting closer!

The sound of galloping hooves rushed towards them, and Dane turned in time to see one of the Legion's mogor and its rider coming straight for them. He motioned for Elizabeth to the side, and did likewise. Bringing his sword around, Dane sliced the side of the mogor, causing it to squeal in pain as it lurched to the side. Elizabeth followed up his attack and slipped her blade into the beast's neck. The mogor tumbled forward and skidded on the ground, throwing its rider from its back.

_Just a few seconds more!_Dane panicked, seeing the line of explosions reaching ever closer to their position.

A minotaur tried to carve him with a large sword, but Dane was able to deflect it with his own blade. The metal cracked under the force of the blow, and he was forced to throw the broken sword away while blasting the minotaur in the face with a fireball.

"How much longer?" Elizabeth shouted, blinking away blood from a fresh wound on her brow.

"Get close to me!" Dane called out as he grabbed his bow from his shoulders and began to fire his last few remaining arrows into the Legion forces.

He focused his mind on the gates behind them, to get them up onto the ramparts above the throbbing mass of soldiers all trying to press into the city. He recited the invocation as quickly as possible as a portal ripped open behind him. Grabbing for Elizabeth's wrists, he shoved her into the rift and leapt in after her as the Legion forces collapsed on their position. Seconds later, the explosions that surrounded Sanctuary rushed towards their former position and consumed their attackers in a conflagration of flame.

As Dane came out of the portal, he whirled around to make sure they weren't followed. An unfortunate orc stumbled towards him, disoriented from the teleport. Dane punched him in the face to unbalance him, then shoved him back over the side of the ramparts. He shouted a warning to those below, and heard the wet crack of the orc's broken body hitting the stone road.

Exhausted, Dane quickly ducked behind the crenulations, mindful of where he still was. He pulled Elizabeth down to keep her out of the line of fire, and uneasily peaked out from behind the stone. The roar of rushing water filled his ears as he watched from the relative safety of the wall. The explosions, orchestrated by the dwarven mages, cut a large trench across the land. It stretched many meters across and who knew how many meters deep, and it looked around Sanctuary like a great noose. He watched as water drained from Crystal Lake to fill the trench.

Legion troops caught on the inner portion of the city's new moat were cut down by Coalition soldiers. The enemy that remained beyond the expanse of water quickly rallied their forces and rained arrows and magic down on the defenders of Sanctuary, but even that slowed to a halt after a few short, frenzied minutes.

_Looks like whatever happened just bought us some time,_Dane thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

"How could they do all this?" Elizabeth asked breathlessly. "Who did this?"

"As much as I hate to admit it," spoke a soft, airy voice behind them, "the dwarves are very gifted sorcerers. Doing something like this is like child's play to them."

"Commander Leafsblade, sir!" Dane said, giving a quick salute. "Forgive me for not saluting properly. I'd rather not stand up and become a target."

The elf shrugged. "You aren't in my military anyways, Lieutenant. Are you all right?"

"Mostly," Dane admitted. "Thank you for your concern."

"I saw your retreat," Yalthros said. "Brave of you to stay and cover your men so they could retreat. But stupid."

Despite himself, Dane gave a smile, though it lacked some of the mirth it should have carried. "My old professor used to say the same thing about everything I did." He looked back out over the battle-field. Dawn would be approaching soon, and he knew that his men would be tired after the opening battle. "What happens now?"

"For now, we wait for the King's decision. This is his kingdom, and he'll defend it as he sees fit," Yalthros explained. "I doubt he's happy that the Highlord made the decision to blow open the trench, but the lines were collapsing all over the battlefield."

"I didn't realize things were so bad while we were out there."

"Easier to see these things when you're up on the walls," Yalthros replied. "I need to tend to my duties. Take care, young Master Trueshot."

The elf gave a quick salute, and then hurried off amidst the clinking and clattering of his own armor. They would not have long until the Legion attempted to cross the trench, but Dane's reckoning. Rest may very well be out of the question. He watched the orcs pulling back some distance to get out of range of the Coalition archers. It would hold them back, for the time being, and as long as they couldn't cross the waters, a siege against the city's walls would be prevented.

The only question remaining on Dane's mind was how long they had before that happened.