GLACIAL MOUNTAINS (EAST) - 51052 Early Rain (PARENT: UXOL I, CHILD: UXOL III)
Impression of the East Glacial Mountaints
Gwyn walks with his four companions, Nol, Tardem, Reesh and Roca, along the obscured cliff paths in the Glacial Mountains northeast of Uxol. Though a mild thaw is setting in, many of the slopes are still very treacherous, especially due to the howling winds that still blow about. But during the moment when the winds subside, Gwyn hears a distant sound.
"Did you hear that?" the patrol leader Nol asks.
"What are you talking 'bout? I did not hear a thing." Roca replies.
"I did though." Gwyn adds, "I think it comes from a little bit down, where we just walked past."
Gwyn turns around and heads back. Indeed, the sound becomes louder as he approaches, like a pick hitting rocks somewhere inside the mountain. He motions the rest to join him.
"I think it's a group of miners, about to break out of the mountain.", he speaks softly.
"That's all we need to know.", replies Nol, "Reesh, make your way back to the city and report this. Meanwhile, we'll set up an ambush to find out whether we'll be meeting friend or foe."
Nol looks around. His modest scouting party is wholly incapable of facing a full army, but with the right strategy they may be able to hold them off for a little while.
"Gwyn, Tardem, position yourselves behind those rocks. Roca, you come here together with me. Do not make a noise or attack until I give a signal."
As the band waits, the clanging of picks becomes increasingly loud, until the first rocks start to move on the cliff side. Roca immediately abandons position and gets out his wooden shortbow.
"Roca, what are you-" Nol says angrily, stopping halfway.
Roca knocks an arrow as more rocks move. By the time a small hole opens, he fires it straight through. A sudden scream erupts from the other side.
"One down.", Roca proclaims with satisfaction as a brief silence falls. Gwyn and Tardem stare at each other. This was not what was planned.
"Let's abandon post, and warn the city.", Gwyn whispers. Tardem nods, and both of them sneak away quietly from their posts.
Meanwhile, Nol quietly waits, but then hears the sounds of hacking picks multiplying tenfold. He realizes that soon a lot more than a small hole will open up in this mountain.
"Roca, let's get out of here! This is getting dangerous!"
Roca glances briefly at Nol: "No, you get out of here. I'll hold them off.". Upon which he knocks another arrow ready to shoot through the second hole that emerges.
Nol makes a break for it, and runs hastily down the winding cliff path after Gwyn and Tardem, as three large holes open up in the cliff face, and several dozens of soldiers emerge.
He hears the last screams of Roca, as he gets stabbed in the back. Not long after a volley of arrows is launched in his own direction. His predicament is worsening, and Nol decides to skip the path altogether and quickly slide down the cliff face.
Gwyn and Tardem too receive a volley of arrows, one of which hits Gwyn in the shoulder.
"Tardem! We need to go quicker!"
Gwyn hurls himself down a steep and rocky slope. Tardem looks back, but upon the sight of another volley underway, he figures he'll be better off running.
GLACIAL MOUNTAINS
Colonel Brandis Valtarim, a stately man much like his uncle Drennon but skinnier, stands within a large alcove on the eastern edge of the Glacial mountains, surrounded by several battalions of infantry, rehashing his instructions to his eight captains. He went over the instructions countless times, but his whole plan hinges on the speed of those miners from the Granite Mountains. The city of Uxol is surrounded by stone from all sides, and he sees only two ways to capture it. Either starve them out in a prolonged and extended siege effort, or to have the miners tunnel their ways in. The tunnelling is extensive, as the miners need to cover hundreds of yards. However, the miners from the granite mines are exceptionally skilled, and should be able to rapidly progress through these limestone and argillite layers.
"Colonel, fresh status report from the frontline!", the messenger shouts out.
"Bring it.", the Colonel replies, "Any special encounters or setbacks?"
"None of note sir. The tunnel has been cleared fully. Our miners were caught by an ambush of four scouts. Our powerful archers killed two, wounded and captured one, while the fourth fell down the cliffs after being shot by us...".
"Sir, they might have become aware of our approach.", captain Velox says, "Citizens will notice when a person falls down the cliffs."
"I agree. It will shift their focus north. Perhaps this is the moment to take our positions in the south?", captain Marelle adds.
"You are both right. As always.", the Colonel replies, "That means we need to make haste with our manoeuvres.
Velox, head to the frontline and secure the northern perimeter. Shoot all that come our way, and make sure you let nothing in or out of that town. Marelle, take the mining positions to the southwest and southeast as quickly as you can. All other captains, position yourself as agreed for the siege!"