Hodstock

Morganblood and the others hearts were pounding in their ears. They looked around, sword in hand, armor on back, and pupils retracted. A calm breeze broke them from their trance as they looked up at their commander. 1

One of the officers spoke, 'General Morganblood, what is the meaning of this? Where are we?', as soon as he spoke, a large rumble was felt in their feet.2

Morganblood's fell to his left knee, feeling the sharp pain ripple through it. He planted both hands against the ground and stuck his ear to the soft soil below. The rumbling was troop movement, coming from the east. The army knew that there was a large force coming, but who they were, or even where they were was not imminent. 3

He lifted himself to both feet, 'We are not in Yu anymore, I know that much. The universe, the people, everything we knew is gone, Foci has given me this army to do something. What this something is, I do not know,' he spoke.4

Mountain Monk looked around, not seeing Tison and the others, her heart sunk deeply into her stomach, 'Morganblood.. the others are not here.' 5

Morganblood sighed, both of his hands coming to attention and bowing to the woman, 'I do not think they were picked to come. We shall not mourn or worry about them, we need to push on with our destiny.' 6

She nodded, not knowing how large the force was coming, she rose her left hand and signing to move west. Quickly the forces moved through the forest, making clean sweeps through the bushes, not wanting to give out any notice of their presence. 7

Morganblood looked over his shoulder as they came up a hill. His eyes sharply caught two large troop movements, 'By the looks of it, someone is retreating right toward us,' he looked to Mountain Monk and then his other officers as he said this. 8

General Julia/Mountain Monk looked up to the man, 'It seems we must move faster,' she then turned to the troops, 'Everyone! Double it!'.9

The troops movement was faster now, traveling as quickly as possible without the element of stealth behind it. They had no idea where they were or what they are going to encounter, but they moved onwards to the west.10

A small glimmer of armor moved through the bushes, two officers rushed this light, tackling a man to the ground, 'Who are you?' they spoke to him.11

'I am General Redsnecht of the Hodstock Rebellion, if you wish to kill me now, do it,' he spoke directly to the officer who was on top of him, grabbing him by the collar.12

Morganblood gently tapped the officer on the shoulder, and the officer released him carefully. Morganblood took a small glance at the man and helped him to his feet, 'Do you need aid?' he said to Redsnecht, he replied, 'We are losing this battle, they outnumber us by two hundred thousand, we are retreating to a small fort, our last called Togasara.'13

The General looked toward the ground, 'I take that as a yes, should we keep moving west?' he said to Redsnecht, still looking at the soil below.14

Redsnecht replied once more, 'Yes, keep going, I shall join up with your forces as soon as possible!' he took a great leap forward, heading toward his forces to the east.15

Morganblood called out for his officers, making triple pace to outrun the incoming armies and settle a front in case they caught up. 16

The purple wave of Yu forces made it up the hill to look outwards toward a large tower, it was not a fortress or even a castle that they were suspecting. The tower rose larger then anything that they had seen before, no one at the time was occupying it.17

The Yu forces came to the entrance of the massive tower, pushing it open. To their amazement, a large cache of many types of weapons and armor and a large food storage. 18

Scouts from an unknown army, clad in red, came to the fort in less then a few minutes of the arrival of Morganblood and his Yu forces. He looked up from sitting in a chair and rushed the red clad armor that they wore, shoving one to the ground, rising his blade up and subduing him on the spot, as his officers took out the others. 19

He turned, seeing the massive white clad Hodstock Rebellion pouring into the back entrance of the tower, as the red army was half a mile away from their position. 20

'They outmaneuvered them, well done,' he said to himself as he turned to find the commander once again. 21

Finding the commander, Morganblood placed his left hand on his right shoulder, pulling him to the right to look at him, 'Who is your enemy, what are they like?' an upfront conversation started between him and his new alliance.22

Chapter Two - The Alliance23

The long table in front of them was magnificent, but this was not time to admire beauty, 'The center of Hodstock has a long generation of invading the north and enslaving them for the past four hundred years. The North rose up against them and defeated them many times in battle, but failed to take them over. My family has defended the south, drawing the battle every time. The center destroyed the North in a single battle with their new calvary units-,' he was cut off by Morganblood, 'Calvary ... heavy or light units?' he asked.24

'They are a heavy unit calvary. They destroyed half of my army, not by luck either, we used to have the best in the world, but now.. we might just have lost everything. This fort protected my ancestors for generations and generations, I hope it can hold out once again,' he paused, thinking about what would happen if he lost, then spoke again, 'The center are invading us for no reason, they want to control everything. We are peaceful people too, we have never invaded anyone for game or glory, this cannot happen here and now, not while I live! I have no more calvary, but I have plenty of horses, can your men serve as my calvary?' the best Morganblood had heard all day.25

'I was a General of the Calvary in my homeland, I would love to serve as your General of the Calvary, but, what are their plans?' Morganblood asked another question and Redsnecht replied, 'The Imperial Red Army plan to take out the south for our resources and amounts of land, which is dwindled down to this tower.'26

Morganblood scouts walked to the table, laying down a map of the area and were the Imperial Red Army is coming from. A large hill with a crack in the middle of it, surrounded by a large, thick forest. 'This is where you retreated, correct?' he pointed to the hill, 'Yes, that is how we escaped,' Redsnecht replied.27

'Gather your men, I want them to cover my left rear, split the army into two sections, footmen on one side, and my calvary on the other. How many men do you have?' Morganblood asked more questions to Redsnecht, who replied, 'I have sixty thousand men left, enough to hold a last stand.'28

He sat in a long thought, maybe for about three minutes, before standing up and looking outside a window to the enemy. The ridge was starting to turn red from the enemies armor.29

Mountain Monk stood up and walked over to the table, she placed her hand on the table, slamming it to get attention, 'We must show them confidence, we must rush them, forget about tactics. They already think they have won the fight, they do not think they have any chance of losing. We shall give them everything we have. Redsnecht, do you have any other allies or any chance of reinforcements?' she spoke to everyone in the room.30

Redsnecht thought for a moment, then spoke up, 'There is a rebel city about a fifty miles from here, it could hold up against any invasion for years. I have about fifty thousand stationed, if we could get there, I could hold out this war much longer.'31

She looked down at the ground, then back to the table, 'Well, Morganblood, I want you to charge with me in the front lines, Redsnecht you hold the center with your army. The left and right rears will be held by all the other officers and the most experienced soldiers. We need to be quick.' 32

Chapter Three - General Julia's rush!33

Julia took her hand to the hilt of her blade, pulling it from the sheath and putting the edge in front of her. Men poured from the tower's gates, falling into formation immediately. They had rested for only a mere twenty minutes and they were already prepared for another battle, or retreat, any outcome. 34

Redsnecht ordered the officers to the left and right rears of the army, his eyes looking across the hill that is now poured red with soldiers of the Imperial Red Army. He called upon Morganblood to move through the center column to the front lines. The purple armor of the front line looked odd and different from the white clad armor of the Hodstock Army. 35

General Julia spoke of the battle plans, and ordered the charge. Before Morganblood could move onto the saddle of his horse to ride along Julia in battle, his troops were moving across an open plain toward the enemy.36

Reaching about twenty yards toward the enemy, the bowmen and long bowmen aimed, resting onto the left knees and firing upwards onto the hill. The arrows pierced the ranks, leaving gaps here and there and softening the front lines before Julia and her Yu Forces smashed the front. A little struggle pursued on the clash of the two armies. The rear had just caught up, smashing the sides of the Imperial Red Army and allowing her men to push the center column of their enemy. 37

Morganblood and his reserves pushed outwards from a small forest area, only leading about seven hundred men into the side of the Imperial Red Armies side, in an attempt to split the massive army. 38

Unable to cut a direct line, as his men were being swarmed, he cut right, curving out the army as reinforcements from the woods, about fifteen thousand filled in the gap he made, swarming the left column of the Imperial Red Army.39

Julia charged forward, smashing the center Column as the left was sacked and pillaged by Morganblood and his stealth calvary attack. The Imperial Red Army was slowly collapsing due to the weight from the imposing ends. 40

Redsnecht rallied his men, 'We are pushing them back, forward, forward!' his men charged once again, smashing them back even further. 41

Thirty feet was gained, Morganblood's calvary pulling back from the fight, running in back of the Hodstock Army. He curved, sending his forces toward the right column of the Imperial Red Army, which was now acting like a middle column. It has taken light casualties, but as Morganblood's calvary smashed into it, the Imperial Red Army collapsed into a full blown retreat.42

The rushed on, as their enemies did to them, killing of stragglers and running after the retreating army. 43

Ten miles were crossed before the Hodstock and Yu Forces came to a halt. 'I will send scouts to tell my rebel town to cut all food supplies and burn their fields. We will suffocate them for awhile,' Redsnecht said, a smirk on his face to the battle won.44

'We couldn't do it without you,' an officer said to Morganblood and the Yu Forces, his smile graciously crossed his face, his eyes closed. 45

Morganblood looked at the smile, 'What is your name, Officer?' he asked the man, who replied, 'Zennousha, son of the later commander of the Red Imperial Army,' he spoke with pride.46

Julia pulled out her blade, which was stained blood completely by now, flesh dripping to the ground as she put it to the throat of Zennousha, 'Why do you serve our ranks?' pressing it not so gently into his flesh.47

Redsnecht saw the commotion, his hand coming to Julia's shoulder and pulling her away, 'This is not the real Imperial Red Army, the real Imperial Red Army was actually called the Red Imperial Army, born in North Hodstock. That was the real ones that beat back the Center Hodstock for many years, but now is turned to ashes, given a new name.'48

Chapter Four - Lance Ryan Williams49

A man walked out of a bar, looking up at the sky. His pale hands moving upwards to the sky, in some attempt to grab it. His fingers clenched together, then his hands pulled down. 50

He sighed, turning to the left and started a slow paced walk down a large dirt road. He was obviously drunk, every step getting heavier and heavier, his shoulders relaxed and his pace getting slower. 51

Both of his hands fell down to his sides, 'I hope they are not awake,' he said to himself as he came to a small door. His left hand grabbed the handle and he stepped into the shack. 52

'Daddy, you have been drinking again,' as a little form hugged this man's waist, 'You got to stop,' she said with a handle full of tears in her eyes.53

'I-I am sorry,' he lifted his arms and hugged her head, a kind and benevolent smile coming across his face as he kissed her on the forehead, 'Well, it is time for both of us to head to bed.'54

He tucked his daughter to bed, landing another soft kiss onto her forehead, pulling the blanket over her to the end of her neck, Goodnight little one,' he spoke softly, then staggered to a small rug in the middle of the floor.55

Slowly he pulled the rug off, a small latch covered in rust he pulled, an opening in the floor which he stepped into. Closing the door above him, he lit a small lantern and sat down in a chair.56

Overlooking some papers, he began to write about the first Imperial War and what is happening now. He envied the Hodstock Army and their causes, but he knew from his past military experiences with the Center Hodstock he could not join them.57

After looking over some notes, he opened the door and put the rug back into place after climbing out. Since he did not have a bed to himself, he slept on the rug.58

He awoke to a large knock at the door, quickly getting up he stumbled over to it and opened up. A man in a full military officer uniform looked directly into the eyes of the man, 'Grand General Lance Ryan Williams, you are being assigned to fight against Redsnecht Rebels camp Togasara.'59

'Alright, I will pack my stuff,' Lance closed the door, in which he emerged from not to soon after, with his daughter beside him. Lance was in his full military uniform, about six foot, one inches tall stature. 60

Sitting down in a chair in front of seven other generals in the capital hall of Center Hodstock, Lance put both of his hands on the table. 'The Rebels at Togasarah are fierce, the walls are impenetrable and a battle has been won by the Rebel Hodstock Army yesterday. They will need reinforcements soon, so we will need to either cut them off, or destroy the city. Cutting off a fully morale army would be stupid, they are desperate and would most likely win the battle and get the reinforcements, ending up us losing a war. We must take the city, it will take them three days to get to the city, maybe even a week, we must as soon as possible. '61

'We will mobilize an army for the task, the main army will cut them off at Justine and slow them down as far as possible. Lance, I wish you good luck,' the council was quick and figuring out what needed to happen, Lance served in the Imperial Red Army during the North Hodstock Wars, that nearly destroyed Center Hodstock in a series of devastating champaign's against them.62

Chapter Five - The Demoralization of Center Hodstock63

The Rebel Hodstock Army was in full marching mode, taking out straggling divisions of the Imperial Army that was retreating through the hills and forests like scared rabbits.64

Morganblood and Julia rode beside each other, sending out scouts ahead to find locations of enemies who will fall prey to the army. Small villages were left behind, giving word to join or die by the Rebel Hodstock army.65

Slowly as they crossed from Village to Village, they gained more soldiers, expanding their territory slowly. 'We are about three days away from Togasara, we must hurry before they try to cut us from there, we have not enough men to keep fighting,' Redsnecht spoke to his officers.66