The Fall of Diamond Lake
Witness accounts from Diamond Lake. The Stagg mercenary company (who since renamed themselves the Wasps ) lost over half their forces to cover the escape of the civilians fleeing the town. The entire town guard gave their lives to open a path for the retreating population.
05.13.621 AS Around 1 AM
Lurz sat awake outside the barracks. The air was warming after the cool, rainy days of the last week. The heat and humidity was coming again. Lurz kept his hood up, even as sweat was building around his neck and brow. His red skin would be harder to see in the dark, but a simple misunderstanding would mean death in this place. If the new Stagg leaders were to be believed, they would not stay here much longer. Lurz lit his oaken pipe and started to puff away. He looked out at past the walls of the town, toward the mountains, the Barrier of Ehron. The town was surrounded by them, built in a valley, near the eponymous Diamond Lake. Lurz had never been this far in the mountains before. He was still undecided about whether he liked mountains, and it would take time to ponder. Through the tobacco smoke, he studied the crags and trails weaving up the northern slope. There were crypts, tombs to old empires and gods. Part of him wanted to go there, explore the ancient world and treasures within, but he was no scavenger. He was a soldier, born as one. He would die as one. From down the lane, he could hear some shouting; it was more raucous from the tavern, where the humans were drinking themselves drunk. He told the former leader of the Staggs; Joshua time and again that he should never hire undisciplined men, especially human men. His response was always, "They are desperate for success, and such desperation will distract the troubles from you and your men." Joshua thought himself a genius of tactics. The man had never fought a real battle in his life, and that is why he died. A hooded soldier passed him and peaked from his hood with a nod. Lurz nodded back to him and reclined once more. Lurz would sit as part of the patrol team for the first half of the night, then Qabar, his second-in-command, would take watch. The humans scoffed at such levels of caution, saying that the town would be safe or that the guards of the town would call on us if an attacked occurred. Their carefree attitude would get them killed. The commander of them, John, was trustworthy, though. If Lurz were to stand and peak over the porch, he could see John near the bar, keeping watch. While the humans could stay at the inn and tavern, his troop would be relegated to an abandoned home with no wood for fire and all of the windows covered. I guess nobody should be harmed with the sight of a hobgoblin sleeping or brushing their teeth. Lurz undid his knot and ran his fingers through the thick, greasy hair. Hair hygiene was not an important aspect in his training, but being forbidden from using the bathhouses was an affront to him, especially after Joshua creating a personal bathhouse for his men back in Naeton. It was luxury, but not unwelcome and would not dull his instincts. He adjusted his hair and tied it once more. Lurz kept most of his head shaven, except for the top portion, which he tied, just as his father did. He remembered the same green eyes as his stare down at him as he first learned to use a spear. He took another deep puff. Smoke filled the air around him as the screams started.Lurz ran down the street with three of his men flanking him. Qabar was back at the barracks, shouting and getting the rest of the men in their equipment and giving orders of position. Human villagers were running past, with a fire behind them. Lurz and his men wore half-masks to keep secret. From a home, three shambling corpses shuffled into the mud of the street. The home was in flames. Lurz noticed a figure darting across the rooftops to the edge of town. Lurz announced in his language to chase the man. His men reeled and started after the figure, heading into the back alleys of this backwater town. Lurz went straight for the corpses. With a couple slices, the first hit the ground, and its head went rolling. The other two lumbered to him, pulling at him. Their rotting teeth graved along steel chain, then Lurz struck. It was a matter of moments, before the other two hit the ground. But, as he was regaining his breath and looking for the rooftop runner, one of the corpses ripped at his calf, drawing their first blood. Lurz wheeled around and pulled a javelin off his back, driving it into the corpse's skull. It continued to squirm, but he started off again.
Smoke rose above the town from multiple homes. Figures raced across the rooftops and over the walls. All the while, two forces bore down on Diamond Lake from the North and South. Hordes of undead in varying states of decay dragged themselves to the gates. Robed figures looked on the walled town, waiting for the fall.
Lurz should have realized this chase was a waste of time. He was shaking the blood from a shirt of chain when he heard the commander of Diamond Lake rallying his men to the north gate. He grabbed the spear from his fallen comrade and called for the other two to follow him, leaving the hobgoblin comrade among an ambush of four zombies. The streets were all rivers of mud with only the more expensive areas having wooden walkways in this town. The going was slow, but soon Lurz heard a familiar chant in his language: "Here, here, the clatter of spears! The enemy draws near! We will drink their fear! And the whole world will hear! We raise our flag! See the STAGGS!" Lurz called to his two men and hastened himself. The mud spattered with each stomp, He turned the corner and was on the main thoroughfare, joining with the rest of his men. He moved up the ranks to the front, meeting with Qabar. "The attack was a distraction." Lurz' voice was hoarse as he caught his breath. Qabar nodded. "The humans are still gathering. John has to wake some of his men. The idiots drank themselves unconscious." Lurz swore in his language, then stepped a few paces in front of Qabar as they approached the gates. He could see crossbowmen on the towers, firing as fast they could, but small arrows were peppering their position. Something else was out there, besides mindless undead. Lurz called out for the attention of someone in command. From nearby, an accented Common called to him. A wiry elf motioned him over to a stable. The structure had been set up as a command center. Poor choice, little cover and poor construction. "Masked one, you are the mercenaries sent from Naeton, part of the Wardens, right?" "We are the Staggs. We are being paid by the Wardens. Where are the strike points?" "Are you a moron? Just behind the gate." "They won't attack from one position. The benefit of undead is that you can waste large amounts on a distraction." The elf, dressed in fine armor, holding an enchanted axe, sneered at Lurz. He called to a nearby runner and spoke to him in Elvish. After a moment, he turned back to Lurz. "They are attacking from the south as well. Hurry up!" He spoke as though Lurz and his company already knew their orders. He was more worried than ever about getting out of this region. The Taagac Dech would claim these lands with no issues, and then execute him and his men as traitors. Lurz called to Qabar and ordered the forces toward the south gate. The troop turned about and made their way south. The clawing at the gates grew more distant and soon they were moving past the tavern once more: the Feral Dog. There, John was finishing filing his troops and shouting at the tottering ones. Lurz called to him. "We are taking the south gate!" Lurz continued running without waiting for the humans. Then, thunder roared through the town. No clouds blocked the stars. The southern gates had already fallen.
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