The Bitter Harvest
"Now that Grallem Vallkern is under my control, don't you think it is time we resume searching for the Twisted Oak?". Kalyustar stared into the empty eye sockets of the Shadeglass Skull.'Ah... Soulchemist, I can see you have not forgotten about that tree', its answer came as the usual subtle whisper. 'It worries that nobody has found it yet, doesn't it?'
"It does... but I heard that the captain of the Grieving Princess is searching for it. And the talk in the inns is that he is following a detailed map to it."
'And didn't you hear that it came down in Crow Wood?'
"What? The Rotmoons can see Crow Wood from the skydock!"
'And what do you plan to do, Soulchemist?'
"We travel light. Let us hunt some orruk!"
In the waning light of day, hundreds of crows cawed among the trees, their droppings fouling the scattered scrolls and pages of log books left in the wake of the Grieving Princess crash. In eary silence, Kalyustar led the Cursed Company out of a pumpkin field and into Crow Wood.
Suddenly, the crows took flight in massive flocks, startled by upbeat seashanties sung by gruff and out of tune voices. With their usual subtlety, the Rotmoons stomped forward, Kaptain da Leeva in the lead.
With a flicker of his hand, Kalyustar infused Keinrich with necromantic energy. The Seneschal rushed forward, grabbing a log book and a scattering of scrolls.
Bellowing in rage, da Leeva order his crew to grab what they could while he rushed forward to catch Keinrich. But Kalyustar motioned Krunti to intercept the Big Boss, ancient racial memories stirring inside its duardin skull.
Dragante and his mates approached from the north, stomping over one of the halberdiers but unable to best the Gor.
Grellem marched on from the south with his own retinue, commandering Tollich to surge forward through the orruk gun smoke.
Kaptain da Leeva impaled Krunti with a flourish of his cutlass.
Kalyustar stood firm as the Rotmoons took potshots at him, returning fire with his sorcerous blasts while raising Krunti again and sending the duardin to claim the log book held by Bold Rick.
Exahusted from his efforts, Kalyustar could only watch as Krunti shambled back to him and Dragante hacked it from behind.
Sheltering behind the fence of the pumpkin field, the Gor hold long enough for Redghar's party to drag themselves forward and overwhelm Awkwardo.
Keinrich found itself beset by Dudoso and Percy Percy. Hard pressed, the Seneschal took a defensive stance, its zweihandler deflecting graceless blows but unable to land any telling strike.
Grellem Vallkern and the rest of the Cursed Company closed in, preventing the embattled Tollich from being ganged up by El Doctoro, Bortagno and Tambor.
As night closed in, Kalyustar and da Leeva stared at each other over the wrecked cargo of the Grieving Princess. Animalistic as it was, the orruk had enough cunning to see the battle was at a standstill. And Kalyustar knew that made it extremely dangerous to be so close to him. Wrapping the night around himself and his minions, the necromancer withdrew.
'One of your champions and one of your soldiers badly damaged by a bunch of brutes, and what for?' the Shadeglass Skull voice came, dripping with mockery.
"I've taken as many of their crew down. And I've secured plenty of scrolls and..."
'But so did the Rotmoons, didn't they?'
"Yes!" Kalyustar had to admit with frustration. "It was a bitter harvest for the both of us. But I know where da Leeva will head to count his loot."
'Relentless and constantly hatching new plans... as I said, Soulchemist, you keep amazing me'.
***
Saul's side of the story is here.
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