Carefully the Mercenary band crept back to the edge of the great clearing. The signs of Orcs were everywhere. A thin trail of smoke permeated the whole of the forest, faint metallic tones in it told that the Dwarven forges were burning out of control or some such, clearly the gathering was a mess. The question was only if there was anyone or anything left worth saving:

“Report” Malcianus whispered as the last of the scouting parties returned.

“Two more squads along the western edge sir” the trooper began grimly. “One had another of those wolf things with them some are lightly wounded but nothing that will slow them down that much”

“Hmm the odds are nearly even then twenty of us and a little more than that of them. The problem then is the prisoners, if we rush in they will surely be put to death before we can overpower them all. Hmm…” He stroked his chin for a moment before coming to a decision.

“Well the word from our Master is that the main force of Orcs is besieging the Princes stronghold still. Master Zathabarius is mustering the most of the company and will lead a relief force there, I have reported the carnage here and that there are some survivors though the longer we delay the less of them there will be. So this is what I want to do:

“I will lead two thirds of the band in a diversionary attack from the west. The rest of you are to sneak in and deal with any guards that remain by the prisoners and get them to safety back at our Manor. I do not have any magic that can deal with so many Orcs while they are so spread out, but if we can draw them back towards us in a group then I have a spell that will blind or render them unconscious from a poisonous fog.

“When you see my signal, watch for your moment, then rush the Prisoners guards. It is imperative that you make sure they stay with you and head towards the Manor not the Princes Keep to the west, if they do that they’ll likely run into outriders from the main Orc band. Keep them working east towards our home. Master Zathabar has left a single warband behind to man the walls, if you make it back there you can hold this rabble off till we rejoin you.

“Any questions? Yes soldier…?”

“Sir… Whats imperative mean………”

Back at the Fair Clearing

What happened? It was all so fast so, violent….

The fair was proceeding very nicely over all. No fights (yet) plenty to eat and drink, some exotic stuff to see (The “elf dancers” were especially well attended this year, but you had to wonder if they realised because the custom of dancing in what was basically a nightie drew viewers for non aesthetic reasons!)

Then out of nowhere the Orcs arrived shooting arrows and slashing at anybody that seemed to resist even slightly. But worse than that were the wolves. You only saw two of them but the things were huge and what made it shudderingly worse is somebody whispered they were barely half grown!

The conquest of the fair took less than an hour but it seemed like an eternity to you and the other hapless victims. A few minutes more and you were herded unceremoniously to one corner of the clearing. Bound hand and foot and made to watch as the Orc band despoiled the camp, wrecking everything and devouring or drinking the best that the four villages had to offer.

One Village elder tried to reason with the biggest of the Orcs. Shaking your head at the thought of it you were not sure if that was the bravest or most foolhardy thing you had ever seen. For a moment, one brief moment, it actually looked like the Orc captain was considering the mans heartfelt and well reasoned pleas. Then the Orcs sabre swept out and back and the elder recoiled screaming and clutching at the stump of his hand.

For a moment your blood boiled at the sight but what could you do? Try anything now and you’d be cut down as well. In despair they took you with the rest and tied you to the trees as the grim drunken revel carried on through the afternoon.

As time went on you wish you had done something to fight back. As every half hour or so a drunken Orc would come up and pick out a prisoner and dragged them off to the great hall. None of the folks that had gone in there had come out again alive…

When would it be your turn….

“She did WHAT!” The scream of rage shocked you and your mates out of their reverie. Something was up and that usually meant trouble for the soldiers on the frontline.

Malcianus came boing out of the cart, his face flushed red with rage. “Change of orders Soldier, get this cart under some cover then we march back to the gathering grove double time!”

Along with the rest of the 20 man squad you jumped to it. In a few minutes  the cart containing the tent and gear was concealed under some cut branches and brushwood. All the while Malcianus stood apart muttering under his breath. You’d like to think he was intoning some kind of spell but it looked for all like he was just cussin’ a blue streak. Eventually you all finished and lined up before the Apprentice Mage.

“Alright men here’s the situation” he began, apparently back in control of himself “I have had a magical message from our Master, a warband of Orcs has ambushed the Prince’s entourage as they headed to the fair. They managed to escape back to the fortress but the Warband has followed them and is laying siege to it.” He paused as an involuntary ripple of alarm passed through the Mercenary band ” Settle down, that’s not our immediate concern, apparently the Orcs sent a portion of their forces to raid the Gathering. They have no warriors to speak of back there as you know. As the only trained troops in the area its up to us to stop them or at least rescue whomever we can. Yes what is it?”

One of the other troops had nervously raised a hand, more like a schoolboy than a soldier you thought wryly.

“er Sir how many Orcs are heading to the gathering?”

“I wish I knew the message was as you can imagined ‘terse’. But dont worry I am not going in blind, no, we will go back to the Fair slowly and cautiously – just in case. As I said if there are too many then I am not throwing away our lives in what’s already a Balls up of the first order. Way I see it if there is any chance of taking them down then we will, but if not, we might be able to make enough of a distraction to let some folks get away. We won’t know till we get there. So unless there are any more questions stow your gear and get ready to roll?!”

Nobody said a thing so with a knot in your stomachs you headed back the way you had come…

“Very well, far be it my master intent to disturb your friendship gentlemen. We withdraw, but instead before we leave let me offer the hospitality of the Manor to any that wish it. My Master has instituted some changes that you may begin to see. There will be no more disrespectful behaviour of any of the soldiers in his employ in your towns and villages no instead we will be offering you our neighbours help and assistance at very fair rates in the future to reflect our common holding of the land. But…” and here the man paused to fix the Steward with an eerie look. “..we will expect more respect than evidently you were used to granting the previous commander of the Manor! One day you may need us and your greeting will be remembered.” – Excerpt Post 8

Somehow you managed to keep a straight face as Master Malcianus gave the drunken louts the mildest dressing down you had ever heard. Probably a wasted effort but had to admire the  man for trying. Peasants were just that usually, no discipline and no respect right up until they needed help.

When the gawking villagers had all but left Malcianus turned to you. “Begin breaking camp soldier. I can stomach these fools no longer in any case!”

“Sir should we mention the Orc tracks we saw on the way in, sir?” your companion guard mentioned respectfully.

“Probably, but I am in no mood for it now. I suspect they’d throw that back in our face as being our fault as well”

“Yessir, its just that the princes guards aren’t here I see. I just wondered…” Malcianus cut him off with a sharp glance and a chop of his hand

“Enough! I have made a decision!” Then his irritation softened. “You are correct soldier; well observed, but until these fools unbend those stiff necks our hands are tied. Break camp I’ll send a message to the Manor about all this, including what we saw on the way in. Dismissed!”

The camp broke down by the numbers, but with some misgivings you headed back to the manor. “Say did I hear a cart of supplies didn’t turn up to the Faye a couple of days ago?”

“Yeah whole cart full of fine cloth and curios from the big market in the capital. Not showed up yet. Co incidence?”

“Doubt it, bandits more like”

“Not Orcs?”

“Nah, there is only the one Warband of any size in the local area. They keep to the barren lands for the most part. In a long running fued with the Gor’Bayen over water rights or some such I heard.”

“So why all the tracks?”

“Dunno, maybe they is looking for a way to out flank the Gobbo’s. They know if they stray to far into these woods the prince’ll have their ears!”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the troop of marching men. So where exactly was the Prince and his men?

“alaright settle down you lot” Sargent Tellos bellowed at the newly formed “squad” of troops.

“As yer know your the most greenest of green horns in this outfit so guess who has to do the shitty stuff first!” The scarred man grinned evilly; revelling in the sour looks and winces of anticipation his words brought.

“…But…” he continued still grinning, “… don’ let it be said I didn’t do nothing for yer. First task for you saps is a cake walk, not very interesting but still easy duty so listen up!”

“Your squad gets to escort master Malcianus to the Princes fayer day after ter morra. You get to pitch a camp then stand around looking snazzy in yer nice new uniforms. If you’re lucky you’ll get a chance to sample the Ale before yer leave. So nothin’ hard that even you chicken legged beginners can get right aright?

“You ‘n’ you get to the quartermasters and check out a wagon and a tent” he finished pointing ot you and one other. Rest of yer, back on the square more drills for yer so you don’t embarrass the boss first time outta the compound. DISS- MISSED!”

Stoically the pair of you made your way to the quartermasters to get the Wagon and extra gear. On the way your companion whispers “You heard the rumors about the Orc yet?”

Shaking your head you motion for him to continue. “Yeah well, I was pulling guard duty in front of the Bosses’ rooms day before last and there was one hell of a commotion from inside. ‘parrently Master Zath has a big temper when it lets go and somebody had just told him that the local Orc tribes had refused some message he sent them. Well not ‘zackly refused. The grey skinned buggers asked him fer more money over something near as I can figure out. Says “they’d collet there due by themselves” and Zath stormed off cursing that they had best not interrupt his plans of he’d turn them into stones or some such…

“I did some askin’ around and a mate of mine in the scout platoon said they’ve seen more Orc tracks in the forest than is usual last few days to be sure.!”

“Thats all very interesting, but so what?” You reply “There not mad enough to come attack this Manor even before we got ourselves a wizard in charge. Whats the worry?”

“Well way I see it, we’re gonna be all alone in the woods with nothing but a bunch of peasants and maybe an Orc warband or two. ANd guess who the boss wants us to protect and make nice too… Just what you think will happen if they find out we’re in the woods all alone.”

“Huh, never attack us next door to the Princes faye the Princes guards make chutney outta them even if we weren’t there…”

Nervously the entire company stood to attention below the balcony. This was the first time Master Zathabarius was to address the company since he had taken command of the troop some two months ago. Only the officers had spoken to the gaunt dark skinned man so far and they had never disclosed, no not even when plied with a good few drinks, anything about what he was like. Ordinary troopers like you had maybe gotten a glimpse of him from time to time, but that was about it. All you knew was that he was human (probably) from Mengath judging by his skin tone of dark mahogany and over forty years of age. Oh yes he had a limp as well, definitely dragged his left leg, but nobody had had the balls to ask why.

A movement from the balcony caught your eye and brought you back to the present. Malcianus stepped forward flanked by Odo and another shorter figure you couldn’t see from your position at the back of the parade.

“Attention Soldiers!” the Mage whispered, yes that was a little creepy. The man’s voice might well have been coming from about a foot from you – no louder than a stage whisper thought he was maybe a hundred feet away from where you stood. Magic didn’t always have to be flashy lights or will enslaving charms you supposed. Still it was a little creepy.

“I give you our master, Grand Mage of the Twilight Oasis, Commander of this company, Zathabarius!” the assistant wizard declaimed then stepped back as the senior wizard stepped forward.

“Greeting soldiers! Stand easy, this is no rigid parade.” The mans voice was deep and warm and unlike his aid he spoke without spell amplification. He actually chuckled as he surveyed the eighty or so troopers in the courtyard. “No, you should be aware by now I do require discipline but not to ridiculous lengths. We are, or shall be, a practical group! Stand easy!”

“Now those of you that have taken my leadership with good grace, deserve to know what lies ahead of us. It will come as no surprise to you that I am a practitioner of the Arcane. I do not hold it against any one for feeling nervous about that! But I assure you it is a skill as any other, one that require exacting discipline to exert, not unlike combat drills I am told, but of the mind not of the body.

“I have taken the running of this band for two reasons: Firstly I have over the course of my career made my share of enemies, as has many a lord. In short some of you will be seconded to my bodyguard and will be expected to deal with the non mystical threats to my life; Assassins and thieves and the like. In due time I will interview your best and most stout-hearted to see if they will take that duty.

“Secondly, it is my Patrons wish to enforce “justice” in this world. That means those that have broken the fairly rendered laws of the land should receive punishment in due turn for their wrong doings. The bulk of this band will therefore be sent out at times to apprehend said villains and return them to the authorities they have offended. A service for which we will be duly compensated.

“We will be reorganising into squads of 20 soldiers and each squad will be given an objective or list of objectives then I shall send you out to earn your pay by apprehending such individuals as we are commissioned to bring back… ” he paused and his eyes flashed with dark amusement, “… one way or another. In the meanwhile until your name is posted on the board consider yourselves at liberty for the rest of the day. Dismissed!”

In the weeks that followed the compound felt like it was being turned upside down. The new Patron was clearly very wealthy but more importantly some kind of Mage, as were his two apprentices (or assistants – as the Woman “Dark” Odo curtly informed you one time). Fortunately that was your only brush with her. She seemed a touch sadistic and was reprimanded for using her powers to get troopers to perform tasks for her.

Watching your friends and acquaintances suddenly turn into sycophantically waiting on her every whim nearly made you run away. But it soon turned out that such abuse was not going to be allowed. When the other “Assistant” mage Malcianus found out about it the two had a great storming row in the middle of the courtyard. With Dark Odo eventually slinking back to her quarters like a whipped cur. More importantly Malcianus freed her stooges apologised to them and tipped them generously for the indiscretion.

Despite that two of them still quit and left the Mercenary band.

Others were dismissed with pay and a few new faces began to fill out the ranks as well. Nothing greatly unusual in that, except you noticed the once being paid of were all lazy sons of bitches or those that had let their skills get very rusty. Overall the quality of the troops was being improved, even a newcomer such as yourself could see that!

Then about a month after the Mages moved in the new uniforms arrived from the Tanners. Brand new coats of well cured studded leather for each man at arms. Those with officer ranks even had embellishments of brass or even silver! A full Moon on a sable field now rode on the right breast of every member of the Company.

Being one of the newest you got your towards the end of the distribution. But it fit perfectly, almost weirdly so as you never went up for a fitting or anything. “Magic” some whispered, but there was nothing magical about the Hauberk you now wore with unaccustomed pride. If magic had been used to make it, then it had to have been a magic tailor and nothing more.

Meanwhile at the Mercenaries camp.

Resignedly you and a couple of your squad mates set about tearing down the tent and base camp the new boss had ordered set overnight. “Typical” army one of the older men had muttered. “Hurry and wait Hurry up aand wait”.

You and a few of the others wouldn’t know about that you were too new to the uniform having barely graduated your basic training. Again you accepted the menial jobs always go tot he new guys. Thats just the way of the world. Still you had to wonder what was going on.

A few weeks ago the business at the old Manor was as normal, not very disciplined but it was a good laugh. You had felt so proud the day they had issued you with your leather armour and (gasp) as sword of your own, four months of “training” under Sgt Pike had not taught you half of what you learned in the last six weeks though!

You hadn’t seen him arrive. Magister Zathabarius that is. A carriage had turned up at dusk one day and the immaculately groomed servant had ever so politely asked to see the Captain of the band. Naturally he was greeted with the usual surly compliance, even the previous officers were not going to turn away potential coin despite the standing orders not to bother them after sun down.

A few minutes later as you watched the spectacularly accoutred Carriage and the well dressed attendance standing on its footplate. Captain Markus had come half staggering out of the officers mess, to stand at the window of the carriage.

As you watched he suddenly stiffened to attention and actually saluted the “Patron” in the carriage. Nobody could hear what had been said but the impact on the captain was obvious as he wheeled about and all but sprinted back into the officers mess!

The stranger looked carefully at the Dwarf and then at the now growing crowd of gawking villagers eyeing the scene with semi drunken amusement.

“Very well, far be it my master intent to disturb your friendship gentlemen. We withdraw, but instead before we leave let me offer the hospitality of the Manor to any that wish it. My Master has instituted some changes that you may begin to see. There will be no more disrespectful behaviour of any of the soldiers in his employ in your towns and villages no instead we will be offering you our neighbours help and assistance at very fair rates in the future to reflect our common holding of the land. But…” and here the man paused to fix the Steward with an eerie look. “..we will expect more respect than evidently you were used to granting the previous commander of the Manor! One day you may need us and your greeting will be remembered.”

You were one of the last few to drift away as the Justice Moon Soldiers struck their camp-site. The dark skinned stranger stayed away for the most part and allowed the soldiers to do the bulk of the work. So you studied them a little.

Naturally you had seen a few of them over the years come riding through the village at break neck speeds or come swaggering into a village Tavern and demand to be served right away no matter who had been waiting ahead of them. Arrogance was part and parcel of the job you guessed for such as them.

Still looking at them work, so was swift hard labour. In fact seeing as how you had struggled with the set up of more than a few tents just a couple of days before it was marvellous how swiftly they disassembled the heavy cloth tent and stowed it into a surprisingly small set of poles and bundles of cloth.

Interestingly this set of them were a damn slight cleaner than you had noticed before. All of them were clean shaven save one that sported a half beard that just failed to hide a scare on the lower part of his face. But even he was neatly groomed and washed. By heaven they were actually approaching smart? Whomever this “Zathabariaus” was he had wrought some swift changes in his troops. Idly you wondered how much money he had offered the once surly mercenary band to straighten up so far so quickly.