The Great Axe hissed through the air with practiced grace as Mylori laughed. He felt incomplete without a weapon in his hand, and his Great Axe had become as much a part of him as his own arm. He moved naturally, with a fluency that did not match his Dwarvish frame. The honed blade connected with the last surviving border guard with a sicking crunch as the metal crumpled flesh and bone. Wiping the crimson blood from his face, the Forgelord spat into the freshly fallen snow. Turning back towards the broken camp where the Limgar border guards had been huddling against the coming cold, Mylori took in the scene. The snow had been stained red by Limgar blood. Two of the guards had fallen where they sat, hands not even reaching their weapons before they were forcefully separated from their life. The final one had managed to bolt, at least until Mylori caught him and silenced him from alerting the garrison. The small group of Hammerbearer's that had accompanied Mylori were searching the camp and ensuring that they were not caught off guard by any passing patrols. Mylori never felt more at home than he did on the battlefield, and he took a moment to look east to where he knew Tavirin was marching against a new foe with a quick and small detachment. He hoped that he would see the aged Forgelord again soon, but until then he must put up with Narrik. As soon as he thought of the Dwarf, he felt a chill run down the back of his neck and a familiar stench filled the air, the rot of death cutting across the acrid smell of freshly spilled blood. Turning towards the gathering shadows at the center of the camp, Mylori wasn't surprised to see Warlock Ronaz'Thunk stride into the camp, flanked by the inevitable detachment of Lichguard. Mylori wasn't the only Dwarf in the camp to tighten his grip on his weapon as the Hammerbearer's shifted, uncomfortable of these new arrivals. Walking by the side of the Orcish Warlock was the Dwarf that Mylori most detested seeing, the third Forgelord, Narrik Deadheart. Clad in black armour disturbingly similar to the armour donned by the Warlocks and their Lichguard, Narrik was a sight that turned Mylori's stomach more than the horrors of war ever could. Even when he spoke, his voice rang with the rattling tone of the Warlocks. [b]"Greeting Forgelord Mylori! I am glad to see that you have returned to us"[/b] Mylori forced down the retch as he met eyes with his fellow Forgelord, and he could swear that the Dwarves eyes were darkening, but before he could be sure, or even reply, it was the Warlock, Ronaz'Thunk, that spoke. [b]"I had heard that you would not survive Dwarf"[/b] At that Mylori allowed himself a smile. If it weren't for the Lichguard gathered around him, the Forgelord doubted tha the would have stopped himself for striking the Warlock for that insolence. [b]"Obviously your informants misjudged me Orc. It was just a scratch I assure you"[/b] Seemingly deaf to the Dwarves words, Ronaz'Thunk moved over to the corpse of one of the border guard, looking down at the deep slash across the man's neck, blood still seeping out to stain the snow. [b]"This one will do"[/b] Before any present could question his intentions, the Warlock closed his eyes and extended his hands towards the corpse. The air grew chill, and Mylori could only watch in stunned silence as the corpse began to writhe on the floor, movements awkward and inhuman. Slowly rising till it was a few inches above the ground, the corpse's eyes shot open, bloodshot but lifeless as they stared up at the Warlock. [b]"Where is the garrison located in this province?"[/b] The corpse twitched and as it opened it's mouth, blood spilled forth and a horrific retching sound issued forth. Words could be made out in the retching, and Mylori watched as it answered the Warlock. [b]"Marching...East...Along...Coast"[/b] Satisfied with what he had heard, the Warlocks eyes snapped open and the corpse dropped to the ground, limp once more as blood dripped from it's mouth onto the snow, so soaked with blood it was little more than slush. The Warlock turned away and was already striding away, quickly followed by Narrik and it's contingent of Lichguard, before it spoke to Mylori. [b]"We march for the coast. Gather your men Forgelord"[/b] And so the small group of Dwarves were left where they had been before, alone in a broken camp with three dead men, although one didn't seem to totally understand being dead. Mylori was in shocked silence for a few seconds before gathering himself. [b]"We're heading back to the main camp, prepare for marching at dawn"[/b] Wrenching his Great Axe free from the corpse it was still embedded in, Mylori set off after his men. He had pushed hard to reach this Province in time to lead the offensive, and would not allow that cursed Orc to beat him to the battle. [u][b]Garrison[/b][/u] [hider][b]Province 61 [/b] -3 Heavy Infantry Units -4 Artillery Units -10 Mechanical Warriors Units -1 Mechanical Walkers Units -12 War-Magi Units [b]Province 51[/b] -5 Heavy Infantry Units -7 Artillery Units -32 Mechanical Warriors Units -9 Mechanical Walkers Units -40 War-Magi Units [b]Province 48[/b] -5 Heavy Infantry Units -5 Artillery Units -5 Mechanical Warriors Units -6 Mechanical Walkers Units -13 War-Magi Units [b]Province 47[/b] -5 Heavy Infantry Units -5 Artillery Units -5 Mechanical Warriors Units -5 Mechanical Walkers Units -14 War-Magi Units[/hider] [u][b]Actions[/b][/u] [hider][b]5 Heavy Infantry Units, 5 Artillery Units, 5 Mechanical Warriors Units, 6 Mechanical Walkers Units and 13 War-Magi Units move from Province 48 into Province 49[/b] [b]5 Heavy Infantry Units, 5 Artillery Units, 5 Mechanical Warriors Units, 5 Mechanical Walkers Units and 14 War-Magi Units move from Province 47 into Province 46[/b] [b]10 Mechanical Warrior Units and 15 War-Magi Units move from Province 51 into Province 48[/b] [b]10 Mechanical Warrior Units and 15 War-Magi Units move from Province 51 into Province 47[/b][/hider] [u][b] Recruitment[/b][/u] [hider][b]Province 61[/b] 1 War-Magi Units [b]Province 51[/b] 1 War-Magi Units [b]Province 48[/b] 1 War-Magi Units [b]Province 47 [/b] 1 War-Magi Unit[/hider] [u][b]Research[/b][/u] [i]Lesser Earth Magic (Turn 2) [/i]