Cypress Springs
Returning home after being away for twenty days, the battalion led by Baron Akistro seems... Much smaller than it was before they left. The gates of Cypress Springs opened to welcome home those who survived. Captain Horace approaches Akistro to see the battle hardened General weary, wounded and distraught. The Red Month was always the most difficult part of the year for everyone, but especially for Akistro as he carried the weight of every guard on his shoulders.
Casting his gaze upon Horace, all light had left Akistro's eyes as he spoke. "We succeeded in preventing the corruption lines from coming inward towards the town, but the cost I fear was great."
Horace looked upon the battalion as they marched on towards the guard quarters. Every single guard was covered in bandages, some maimed with missing limbs or grievous injuries. Some guards were carried on cots while others were steadied and braced by their comrades walking beside them. He faced his general, realizing the motti was no exception as he was dressed in tattered armor and bandages, with blood seeping through most of them.
Akistro turned to watch as his beaten, demoralized soldiers, moved at a snail's pace back to their quarters. He continued to speak as they ambled on, "We don't have the exact numbers, but we left with 1,600 motti, and we're coming back with much, much less. We speculate at least 700 lost to the raid and corruption."
Horace's face fell as he clenched his fists tightly, "T-That many sir, in a ten day raid..."
Akistro's resolve had been shattered. He stood completely still despite his vast injuries as he waited for the information to sink in. "There are many beasts remaining, and we are too weak right now to fight them. Keep the remaining guards posted on the wall. Absolutely no one is to go outside. The swamps are swarming with beasts and we must rest before we can make them safe enough to traverse once more. The corrupted have taken residence at The Sanctuary..." Akistro trailed off, steadying himself before continuing. He turned his face away from Horace, "Briar and Diana are among them." He whispered.
Horace could barely register the barrage of information Akistro gave, his heart crumbling as he found out some of his closest comrades and friends were not coming home.Â
"We've decided the Departure Ceremony will happen at the end of the week. Keep it discreet and it will occur at the usual spot. Please discuss specifics with Second Warden Kingston, gain a full tally of our losses and report back to me before then. Also summon Archbishop Elio, as we have much to discuss..." He paused a moment, turning his back to the gates of the town and looking far into the distance, where the closest Caretaker Lodge stood. "The little ones..." he whispered, "Have they-?"
"Thoroughly distracted with their ferrowicks. The timing was right to give them something positive to think about instead. I don't think they're aware of the devastation as usual. Most of them are distracted at the Southern and Western Temples... They hardly ever come on this side of the city due to the dilapidated buildings. There's nothing for them here."
Akistro nodded, a glossiness to his eyes, "And how did you fair?"
"Your brother protected us," he looked up to the divine barrier, "Alongside the grace of our God, not a soul was injured here from the Raid. The barrier shows no signs of weakening."
The General clenched his teeth and wrinkled his nose as it began to sting. The lump forming in his throat as he looked high up, the faint shimmer of the barrier could be seen just before the canopy of the trees. "I'll be at the Manor. Please tend to matters in my stead until after the Ceremony."
"As always, my lord." Horace offered a deep bow, placing one set of hands together in a prayer gesture and placing the other set palms up. A sign of respect for the high clerics of the Guiding Light.
Akistro nodded and rejoined the ambling soldiers as they made their way back to their homes.