The Red Hand

"It's nice to finally meet you, Chancellor Gildra." Kelira smiled warmly as she dismounted from her horse and shook the beastwoman's hand. She'd ridden out from Zoltan to greet the Chancellor as well as speak to the Confederation Expedition Force's Commander to discuss how to best use their forces in the coming operation. Naturally, they weren't expecting to fight Akagi themselves and were mostly preparing to handle any loyalist forces and occupy the rest of the Kingdom to maintain order and control. "I am most grateful that you've come to my people's aid in this darkest of days. I can assure you that my people will return the kindness that the Confederation has extended to us."

"Tis only natural to aid those who stand against the Demon Lord." Gildra said as the two exchanged pleasantries. "I apologize that I have not brought a larger force, though my men should be more than sufficient to pacify the countryside once the Demon Lord falls." The Confederation's expedition force consisted of approximately thirty thousand men, most of whom were lightly armed fast cavalry units and skirmish forces suited more to swift movement than direct combat.

"I would rather something than nothing." Kelira said with obvious irritation in her voice. "I was hoping that Emperor Hadrus or the Whistlewood Elves would respond to our pleas for help, but it would seem I expected too much." She'd thrown a fit when the diplomats for both the Empire and Elves told her she, diplomatically, that she was on her own. They'd cited security concerns or other excuses that Kelira knew were bullshit, but there was little she could do given the circumstances.

"Hadrus sends his 'best wishes.'" Gildra said with a wry smile, understanding and sharing her frustrations. "Where are your forces at the moment?"

"Encamped South of City. We have maybe fifty thousand men under arms, though sadly I must report that their quality is less than what I would've wanted." Kelira was able to get some professional troops, though due to the majority of Noble retinue being obliterated at the Battle of the Simoea Plains, few remained outside of those small Noble Houses that declined to join the punitive force. This meant that most of her forces were conscripts and were of little use in actual battle but given her intended use for them it was not perceived as a significant problem.

"I suppose that's fine. This is a battle between the Gods and the Demon Lord, after all." Gildra said. “We're just here as support.”

"Speaking of the Divine, I have heard nothing from my usual contact in some time. Do you know when they will arrive?" Kelira had grown ancy given that she'd heard nothing in days.

"I know as much as you do, I'm afraid." Gildra replied as a group of cavalry ran past, kicking up a large amount of dust. "I was informed to have a force meet you here. I know nothing else, though I suspect we'll know when they arrive. Gods don't tend to do anything quietly."

{A God descending at full power is said to shake the very foundation of the world itself. I have no idea what such an event is like, but I cannot imagine it will go unnoticed.} (Kelira)

“Though, here.” Gildra said as she pulled a small pendant from her breast pocket and handed it to Kelira.

“This is?” Kelria paused as she examined the artifact. It was a small, dark, circular, metallic pendant engraved with a complex weave of magic that ran through it. At its center was an engraving that she instantly recognized, a pair of snakes wrapped around a fig leaf. It was the symbol of the God of Death, Esquire.

Kelira was by no means a master of magic, though she knew enough about it to understand that whatever magic was imbued was something of far more complexity than a mortal could hope to create.

“I was instructed to provide this to you upon my arrival. I was told it was a protective charm forged by Lord Hilare himself.” Gildra explained.

"I see... And I apologize if I seem a bit nervous." Kelira replied as she tucked the pendant into her pocket. "There is just simply so much at stake that I cannot help but be so." She continued. "Will you be leading your forces personally? I was not aware that you had experience commanding a military force."

"I do not, and I will not." Gildra laughed. "My presence is only temporary. I wished to ascertain the situation on the ground myself is all. General Hillmon will be leading our forces. My talents lay in wrangling the Assembly, not leading troops into battle."

"Ah, the famed 'Iron Claw'" Kelira knew the General's name well since she'd sparred with him a few times as a result of border skirmishes in the past. He was highly regarded due to his martial and tactical skill, and the towering figure of the Wolfman was enough to send shivers down the spines of even seasoned veterans. "I was not aware that he would be here. I will have to greet him."

"Chancellor." A Dogkin beastkin officer interrupted their conversation. "Please excuse the intrusion, but General Hillmon would like to speak with you immediately."

"Speak his name, and so he shall appear." Gildra laughed. "Tell the old wolf that I'll be over in a minute."

"He has also requested Lady Kelira's presence as well." The officer continued. "I do not know any details, but that it was urgent."

"I suppose we shouldn't keep him waiting then. The old man will get grumpy if we take too long." Gildra said as the three of them made their way to Hillmon's war tent, which was not entirely finished due to the rushed nature of their arrival.

"Old man! Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to rush a lady?" Gildra said as she pushed open the cloth curtain covering the entrance revealing a very rugged and unfinished interior. "And here you are rushing two!" She chortled.

"I'll rush whoever I need to!" The old, gray wolfman barked at her before sighing deeply. "Just get in here so I can get on with it! We don't have time for dilly-dallying!"

"Not going to retort about the old man part?" Gildra smirked as she walked over and pat Hillmon on the back, which Kelira found humorous.

Enorian Beastkin varied greatly in their appearance. Some were barely distinguishable from Humans, having minor features such as ears and a tail. While others looked much more animal-like and could easily be mistaken for bipedal members of the species in question, a variation that the Gods stated was simply due to random chance. Hillmon was the latter, and was little more than a large, muscular wolf shaped like a Human. Naturally, those who looked more animal-like tended to receive more discrimination from non-beastkin, and many Humans tended to view them as little more than feral beasts or monsters. Hillmon's missing left eye and related scar were a result of that discrimination. Though rather than originating from an attack by an outsider, they were inflicted upon him by his Human mother, or at least that's what Gildra had been told.

"I am old." Hillmon sighed again, something that Kelira figured was normal for him when dealing with the Chancellor. "And I don't have time to deal with your nonsense right now." He said as he turned his gaze to Kelira, whom he greeted politely. "Not long after we encamped, I sent a small team to scout the area so that we might replenish some of our water. I've also just sent group to meet up with Lady Kelria's forces so that we may begin joint operation planning."

"So that's why those men were in such a hurry." Gildra said, noting the quick departure of a small group of cavalry just moments ago.

"Indeed, and on that note. Lady Kelira, I'd ask that your men be placed under my command for this operation." Hillmon asked, knowing full well that under normal circumstances such a thing would never be allowed. "That will allow me to handle operational planning most efficiently, especially as our task is that of suppression of civil unrest rather than combat."

"I believe that would be for the best." Kelria nodded reluctantly. She understood that while many would resent such a choice it was truly the best option given her lack of skilled commanders. "I've little experience leading so many forces, and I'll be honest, none of the Nobles under my banner have the necessary experience either. It would be foolish to have us take a leading role under these circumstances."

"Thank you for your understanding. This will make things easier." Hillmon nodded. "Especially when I fear that the enemy is already close."

"Close?" Gildra asked with a furrowed brow. "I was under the impression that no army had marched to meet us. The Gods made no note of such a force building anywhere within the occupied Demon Kingdom either."

{Could they have hidden it? But how and where did they come from?} (Gildra)

"A few hours ago, a five-man scouting party I sent out came back with only three of its members." Hillmon explained what'd happened. "They reported a clash with a group of three armored men that were tending to some kind of metal horse."

"A metal horse?" Kelira asked with a raised brow. She'd seen all manner of strange beasts but never one made of metal that wasn't a Dwarven Golem. "I suppose it could've been a summon."

"I do not know what it was, but they stated that it did not attack them, but when they began to flee, it roared loudly." Hillmon shook his head, unsure as to what they were but believing them to be dangerous. "These men were supposedly Human, and with the circumstances what they are, I'm certain that these men are tied to the Demon Lord. Though in what way I cannot say for certain."

"Scouts?" Gildra hummed in thought. "I suppose even the Demon Lord would want to understand what kind of forces they're dealing with. They probably want to know our numbers and composition."

"Most likely, and I've sent out additional men to see if they can find a larger force. If the Demon Lord is already preparing to fight us, we need to be ready." Hillmon continued. "Do we know when the Gods intend to arrive? I admit that I would feel more comfortable if they were already here."

"As I told Kelria, I do not have an answer." Gildra shook her head. "I wish they had been more specific or at least posted a Demi-God to our forces as an attache. I feel so exposed right now."

{Now that I think about it that they didn't send someone to work with us is odd. Why would they not want direct control over our forces? Something about this whole situation is starting to bug me since the Gods don't seem to be as invested in this whole situation as they should be, given the circumstances.} (Gildra)

"Perhaps we could contact them via the Temple?" Kelria noted that the Gods tended to communicate with people who prayed at a shrine, and they may be more willing to respond due to the situation.

"Good idea, I'll head there immediately." Gildra nodded. "Old man, I leave our people in your hands." She stuck out her hand for a fist bump, which Hillmon returned.

"You and those Human gestures." Hillmon shook his head. "Though I suppose it's not the strangest one I've ever seen." He continued. "I'll have my men prepare fast horses for the two of you. May the Gods watch over us during the trials that will surely await us during the battle to come, and I pray that the world finally finds peace."

"I'm sure it will, old man. I'm sure it will." Gildra smiled, though she felt an odd sense of dread swirling deep within her heart.

{We just need to survive. Survive and give our people a chance at a future. That's the only thing that matters right now.} (Gildra)

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