Your group makes it back to the city in what must be only a little short of record time and say your farewells at the gates, most of them running off to see wives or families. You take stock of the area then get yourself through the now alien feeling streets to your old area of the city and are relived to find it almost completely unchanged. You go to an old way house you knew in the hopes that the same owner was still running the place.

As you walk in the door a man behind a bar looks up and stares right at you for a full minute before saying "Well this is some triumphant return, look at the state of.."

Your coin purse drops on the table

"your huge full coin purse" he slowly finishes.

You grin and tell him you'll take his best room for the night and some hot food followed by whatever his best bottle of alcohol is then head upstairs to wash the road off your face. Your Old friend meets you as you come back down and tosses you a key as he lays a large bowl of thick stew on the table alongside a large bottle of mead with two glasses.

"two?" you point out.

"Well its not everyday an old friend comes back into town after years away, so since your now paying for an entire bottle of finest mead reserve I thought I'd close for the evening and join you".

You laugh and join him at the table sharing stories of the years since you grew up in the city together and went separate ways.

Very late the next morning you wander down nursing your head and see your friend behind the bar equally worse for wear. You wander over and take the mug of water he hands you. Over breakfast and a lot more water you tell him your plans now that your back in the city. Your goal had always been to get enough to settle comfortably in or near the Iron district, then as the months went by, maybe get into one of the guilds as a skilled worker or arrange with a company to be a free-lance worker on their books. Your years of experience with all good references would stand you in good stead.

> You Tell you friend that you'll just be staying a couple of days while finding your own place up in the Iron district, after all you have enough coin to rent an entire house for most of a year.
You hang around long enough for your head to stop hurting and the food to settle then head off to see what changes the years have wrought on the rest of the city. Your Old district may not have changed at all but the wooden docks and buildings have stood longer than most peoples grandparents had been alive. You walk slowly up the sloping city until you reach the large walls that divide the districts and head through the large gates. The first thing you notice is that the gates which used to be old relics unmoved in decades had been cleaned up, reinforced and were guarded, they seemed friendly enough and were only guarding the gates closing mechanism not the gateway itself but it was still an odd sight.

The Iron district had also changed, the stone buildings seemed even bigger than before and many of them were more ornate, even near the gate which would be considered the less well off area. You head further in and see signs for several new mining companies and new guard businesses recruiting. You quickly move off the main roads and find a respectable looking Inn to ask about rooms.

You don't have any luck in the first few inns and taverns you try but after a while you find one with a small flat to rent- Its a little more than you wanted to pay but its only a few minutes from the guild buildings so you agree terms and say you'll move in that night. You head back to let your friend know then move your few worldly belongings into your new place.
> You easy city living
You settle into your new place almost immediately. At first you have no idea what your going to do with the large wardrobe and drawers set up in your room but then you just smile to yourself and head out to the nearest tailors and buy several sets of cloths. All practical and hard wearing, but still one of the first times you've owned more than 3 outfits in your life. After stowing it all away you start your rounds of the district and try to see as many of the changes as possible.

You do your sight-seeing for the first couple of days then start to gather information on the Guilds and Companies that interest you. Having got the basics noted down, you buy in a nice supply of long lasting rations (just incase) and set about having an easy life for the whole of winter. Eating down in the taverns or the nice inns, and seeing what nightlife there was to offer.

It was just as you were starting to really enjoy your complete lack of routine and responsibility and were planning on heading down to your friends for an evening drink when you start to hear loud voices and strange shouts from the taverns main room. You thought that this was a little to nice of a place for it, but never one to pass up spectating a good tavern brawl (and occasionally participating) you head down the stairs.

But your stopped short when you reach the room and instead of a brawl you see a room full of panicked people all saying the word fire. You grab the nearest man and ask what is going on and he tells you the old districts up in flames, they think it started on the shore amongst the docks but the wind off the sea pushed it up into the old wooden buildings and they took like kindling, within minutes the whole district was one big inferno.

You rush outside and round the inn, your window looked the other way shielding you from the sight but now you just stare blankly towards where the wall separating the districts and see a fierce orange and yellow glow over the wall, occasionally punctuated by large bursts of flame with plumes of black filling the air above it. You sprint down to the gates but once you get there you find them closed and barred shut. grabbing the nearest guard you shout for them to be open so you can get to your friend but he just stares blankly back at you obviously shocked dumb then walks away. The gate captain walks over and tells you that if anyone is still in there and didn't get out before the gates had to be shut, that there was no chance of them being alive. You start to tell him that he is wrong and needs to open the gates when he takes you over to them and tells you to put a hand on them.

You reach out and feel the thick gates metal almost hot enough to burn you. The captain quietly tells you that the fire came at the worst possible time. it had been dry for weeks and wooden buildings had been build right from the shore to the base of the wall, all stocked full of the years produce, hay, wheat, pelts and oils. most of it flammable. The wind blowing in from the sea had fanned it into an inferno almost as soon as the first warehouses had gone up. It had spread unnaturally quickly and only the closing of the huge gates had stopped it spreading through into this district too. The gates would stay closes until the embers were cold, and that could take a couple of days at least without any rain to quench them.

You head slowly back to your room and collapse into bed unsure what to do next.
> You morning or choice
You awake in the morning unsure what to do. Your plans had been of an easy year living off your money and you could still do it, prices would probably go up for a time but you'd still comfortably now that your settled. But you are now sure you'd lost any place that you had called home and your closest friend in the fire so you at least wanted to find out what had happened.

You grab some food then head out to start trying to ask questions and see if anyone is the wiser about what had caused the fire, and to do a last look through the survivors for any sign of your friend.

You ask several guards but most don't seem to know any more than you do. Eventually you see a guard that isn't as shell shocked as the rest and he tells you that the captain over at the military barracks has all the information about the fire and that you should speak to him. You head there to see what he knows.

'The Barracks' as it is generally know does contain the city guard's barracks but also the military side of things, the army barracks, its armory, offices and everything else it needed all in one giant building  that straddled and made up part of the wall between the iron and stone districts. You quickly see a small group of people talking to soldiers outside one of the entrances and approach them to hear what is going on.

Its one of the captains explaining the fire to them, a few minor details extra but basically what you had heard before. Once he is done you ask him about how it started. He looks you over then sends you in and tells you to talk to the man at the desk, first room on the right. You enter and realize you not left with much choice as to where to turn since there is a group of soldiers blocking the corridor a few meters away with only one door standing open between you and them. You enter and approach the man looking at you from behind the desk.

"What can I do for you?"

"I want to know how the fire started."

The man seems mildly amused by your abrupt response but any trace of amusement quickly vanishes as he replies.

"A ship packed with flammable fuel was set alight and rammed into our docks. the fire was deliberate."

Stunned by the sudden revelation you ask "Are your sure? wait are you just telling everyone this, wont it cause a panic?"

"There's no point trying to keep it a secret, half the fishing fleet saw it happen as did many of the survivors that ran into the sea and were picked up the by the ships, the entire city will know in two days at the most. Also there were thousands of people in that district at the time, I wont dishonor them by lying about their deaths."

"But who would do it, what is there to gain from burning down old district?"

"We think it was Carn, at least the burning ship and the one that had been accompanying it bore their colours"

You think for a few seconds but the name rings no bells "Who?"

"Carn, the city a few weeks along the coast by boat, you been living under a rock or something? There has been minor trouble and trade disputes between us for nearly two years now."

"I've been up North for years in the mines, news apart from bandit activity doesn't make it up there..."

"Well long story short we started full maritime trading over 3 years ago, then two years ago some minor trade problems began, then it was about land, finally about fishing rights. things had been getting tense for months with armed ships keeping fishing boats company for protection and guards on our borders but no-one expected this. They have been sent ravens with questions about the ships but they will of course deny all knowledge, then it will be war. The king has already started recruiting to replace the men lost in the fire and more to fill out the army."

You just stand unsure what to say, should you hate an enemy you don't know for what they did? Denounce their tactics, or just avoid the war and try and rebuild a life in the city.

"So son" the commander stands up "we are still recruiting and the army wage is just as good as the miners one. You want to enlist?"

> You hate what they did but you have money and a chance at a life now so it would be stupid to throw it away in a war, you politely refuse and head out.
You spend the first few days split between organizing whatever is left of you life and watching the embers of the old district burn down to cold ash. Once the gates are opened you had planned to search through the wreckage for you old friends tavern but one look through the gate shows a nondescript layer of ash evenly coating  the ground as far as the outer walls and the shore, only the occasional blackened wooden timbers or cracked black stone sticking up to break the massive expanse of grey and black.

Soldiers and workers begin repairing the walls and gates from the fire damage and as the weeks pass people begin to clear out the ash and wreckage that survived. In many places the fires burned hot enough that not even much bone was left but in others teams were on duty collecting remains and transporting them into mass graves outside the city limits.

The war had broken out after less than a fortnight. Carn repeatedly denied any involvement but after the trouble between the two cities and the witnesses to the ships bearing their royal colours war was inevitable. Reports said it was going our way and that we mostly had control of the seas between the cities and were making steady progress  on land as well, casualties were growing but going by the weekly reports given by the guards theirs were much higher and we would have them under tight siege by the end of spring.

You take it easy for the first few weeks but then begin helping out where you can. Your time in the mines has given you a simple grasp of solid construction so when work teams are put together building new stone docks in place of the wood ones you join them as skilled labor and since you don't need the money you let your wages go to re-homing the survivors. Your work and charity gets you some small attention from the survivors that make up a lot of the unskilled labor and when they learn you used to live in the old district your adopted into the 'family' again. You even meet a girl a little younger than you that lost her family in the fire. Your friends at first with you looking out for her, then you become closer, and by the time spring draws near you marry and settle into a life in the Iron town.

By this time you've begun accepting your wage since most of the survivors are now in temporary homes. Your work on the docks and accepted position amongst the survivors has landed you a full time position in the construction guild overseeing some projects in  the rebuilding of a new partly stone old district.

The War went as quickly as you had been told to expect with Carn under tight siege by spring and fallen completely by summer. your army had been ruthless , firing burning oil and tar into the city and burning their food stores whenever possible, all in 'revenge' for the old district. Their king had denied all involvement right up until the surrender but he was now exiled along with his advisors and the city under your kings command.

The world passed you by as you spent your years happily with your wonderful wife and family, there were always rumors of other wars and far off battles and victories but you didn't concern yourself with them as your city was now flourishing and always expanding and you had plenty of work as you moved up the guild ranks.

*** Congratulations! This is the peaceful and happy ending. No big exciting adventure but you're happily married and well paid in a flourishing kingdom. And since all is going well its easy to ignore those little niggling doubts about what really happened that I know your harboring ***


You awake in the morning unsure what to do. Your plans had been of an easy year living off your money and you could still do it, prices would probably go up for a time but you'd still comfortably now that your settled. But you are now sure you'd lost any place that you had called home and your closest friend in the fire so you at least wanted to find out what had happened.

You grab some food then head out to start trying to ask questions and see if anyone is the wiser about what had caused the fire, and to do a last look through the survivors for any sign of your friend.

You ask several guards but most don't seem to know any more than you do. Eventually you see a guard that isn't as shell shocked as the rest and he tells you that the captain over at the military barracks has all the information about the fire and that you should speak to him. You head there to see what he knows.

'The Barracks' as it is generally know does contain the city guard's barracks but also the military side of things, the army barracks, its armory, offices and everything else it needed all in one giant building  that straddled and made up part of the wall between the iron and stone districts. You quickly see a small group of people talking to soldiers outside one of the entrances and approach them to hear what is going on.

Its one of the captains explaining the fire to them, a few minor details extra but basically what you had heard before. Once he is done you ask him about how it started. He looks you over then sends you in and tells you to talk to the man at the desk, first room on the right. You enter and realize you not left with much choice as to where to turn since there is a group of soldiers blocking the corridor a few meters away with only one door standing open between you and them. You enter and approach the man looking at you from behind the desk.

"What can I do for you?"

"I want to know how the fire started."

The man seems mildly amused by your abrupt response but any trace of amusement quickly vanishes as he replies.

"A ship packed with flammable fuel was set alight and rammed into our docks. the fire was deliberate."

Stunned by the sudden revelation you ask "Are your sure? wait are you just telling everyone this, wont it cause a panic?"

"There's no point trying to keep it a secret, half the fishing fleet saw it happen as did many of the survivors that ran into the sea and were picked up the by the ships, the entire city will know in two days at the most. Also there were thousands of people in that district at the time, I wont dishonor them by lying about their deaths."

"But who would do it, what is there to gain from burning down old district?"

"We think it was Carn, at least the burning ship and the one that had been accompanying it bore their colours"

You think for a few seconds but the name rings no bells "Who?"

"Carn, the city a few weeks along the coast by boat, you been living under a rock or something? There has been minor trouble and trade disputes between us for nearly two years now."

"I've been up North for years in the mines, news apart from bandit activity doesn't make it up there..."

"Well long story short we started full maritime trading over 3 years ago, then two years ago some minor trade problems began, then it was about land, finally about fishing rights. things had been getting tense for months with armed ships keeping fishing boats company for protection and guards on our borders but no-one expected this. They have been sent ravens with questions about the ships but they will of course deny all knowledge, then it will be war. The king has already started recruiting to replace the men lost in the fire and more to fill out the army."

You just stand unsure what to say, should you hate an enemy you don't know for what they did? Denounce their tactics, or just avoid the war and try and rebuild a life in the city.

"So son" the commander stands up "we are still recruiting and the army wage is just as good as the miners one. You want to enlist?"

> You cant accept what They did to your city and your friends. Setting the city on fire with no warning to kill civillians was not an act ment to go unpunished so you enlist.
Life in the army starts with training. You're assigned a bunk and basic leather armor on the first day and the next morning at dawn you're woken with the other new recruits to head out for basic training. Your unsure what to expect but life in the mines has kept you strong and and in excellent physical condition so the exercise runs, weights and jogging in full armor don't overly strain you. Other recruits don't fare as well but your not given the time or opportunity to help one another.

Your thinking the training is a little harsh for the first day as many of the men and boys in your group have never done physical labor when your all gathered and told that today was the testing day. They needed to asses what sort of condition you were in so they could get you into the proper training programs. You see that everyone is relieved by this and you start marching back to the barracks as your sergeant tells you the last task for the day.

"Everyone is to be interviewed about their experience and past jobs, don't worry this isn't a test and it will be kept informal, we just need to know if you've ever held a weapon before or which part of the army suits you best".

You all enjoy your evening meal then are called over one by one to the sergeant's table. You tell him that your good with a bow and passable with a knife but that you've never had formal training with a sword before. Your experience in the mines interests him more and one of the other men at the table takes over and asks you several technical questions about struts and construction work. You answer all he asks fairly well and after the Sarge gives him a nod he says "Welcome to the engineering division".

You look momentarily confused until he laughs and asks where you thought all the forts, war machines and defenses came from and who you thought build the army's outposts. The light dawns on you and the man smiles.

"That's right, you'll be supporting the army using your experience, building our defenses, putting together our war machines and constructing everything from our forward base to our cooking tents. It may not sound as glamorous as charging in with the vanguard but we have a much, much higher survival rate and if the camps are attacked we defend them shoulder to shoulder with all the rest, what do you say?"

Your readily agree and Sergeant Reardon, as he introduced himself, leads you off to meet your new training squad. Your introduced and learn they are made up of everyone from those with basic unskilled labor experience to a couple full guild engineers who signed up on the day of the fire.

Your training goes well and you get on well with your squad, learning to treat them as your friends as well as squad mates. After a couple of weeks pass War is finally declared. You had known it was just a matter of time but you quickly find your Sarge and ask what it meant for you.

"For you and your squad? Nothing at all! Your not fully trained yet and once your basic is over you still need to be assigned to your unit and your duties explained. Since you've got good solid construction knowledge and the experience to back it up you'll most likely be sent to Third company on our borders to get the forward forts built and running as the war progresses. Wont be for another month yet but either way no chance I'm letting my boys out near the fighting till they are ready."

Reassured by the Sarge's attitude you pass the info onto your squad and finish out the last of your basic training in the barracks.
> You third company
The Sarge is a little off in his estimate of your departure time. It actually takes a month and a half to get your squad in shape. Its been a long wait but you are finally all ready to head out to the front to help in the war effort!

Your squad is woken by an early bell ringing somewhere in the barracks tower and you all assemble in your new polished steel armor. during your training you had all been measured and fitted out in strong forged steel, it turned out many of the iron mongers and jewelers of the city had turned their forges over to making weapons and armor so there was no shortage of equipment for the army.

The Sarge gives you all one last look over.

"Well its taken longer than I'd like but your all ready to serve your king! You're all heading out to the 3'rd to help in the construction of the new bases so our boys on the front have a good foothold in place before winter hits."

A soldier to the left pipes in "But I thought we already had bases on our borders?"

"Our Borders? Boy do you think the entire army has been sitting and waiting for you since the war started? They have been advancing solidly for the past 6 weeks. The new borders are near 2 weeks march further forward and THATS where we need the new bases."

You think to yourself that the army has made pretty amazing advances considering the fact that Carn was the kingdom that started the war.
> You it DOES seem odd, so you speak up
"Sir, Our men are making amazing progress in the war but I have to ask. Carn were the ones that started the war, I mean they sent the ships into the Old Quarter and everything with the trade disputes. Were they not prepared for our counter attack?"

You see the Sergeant frown and a shadow clearly crosses his features. He quickly shakes it off and explains that the first week or two on the border was intense fighting and lead to a great many casualties. However once the army had broken through the initial defense line, it had been much easier to push ahead and prevent the Carn army from regrouping properly.

You think that this is indeed a possible explanation but a few doubts still remain in the back of your mind.The Sarge says a few last tips and goodbyes then heads off. The last you see of him is as he walks out the door with the shadow back over his features as if he didn't really believe what he had said himself.

You see a soldier you don't recognize step forward.

"Right then, I'm Capt. Argor. Since I took an arrow in the knee and had to come back here for treatment, I've been given the onerous task of accompanying you to the front lines to make sure you ladies don't get lost. You were all told to report here in full gear and with all your supplies so has anyone left anything behind that they just must run back to their rooms for? Hankies? Training Bra? No? Good, I might not have to babysit you all quite as much as I feared, lets head out cos this is gonna be a long trip for you city folk."
> You quick march out of the city with the new Capt. Calling you all little girls for the entire 6 hour march.
You are given a break for lunch with only cold rations, then double speed marched hard till dusk. The Capt. Pulls you all off the road beside a small stream and even though your all ready to collapse and pass out he has you form up.

"Right then, this is first point spring. A few generations back some officers from the 1st and 2nd companies were insulting the 3rd, saying we weren't real soldiers because we just built things while they won the war. Our officers didn't take too kindly to this and lets just say a bit of an argument broke out. After the tempers calmed a bit our men challenged the rest of the army to prove their supposed superiority"

He paused to give you all a big grin.

"Our boys in the 3rd work hard every day moving timber and stone, carrying loads long distances and almost never take days off. Their boys sit on their arses most of the time and only train short periods a day when they aren't actively attacking something. So our officers said they should all go for a little march. You all just made it here within daylight hours which isn't bad at all for this time of year. The 1st and 2nd company soldiers made it in about the same. OUR officers beat them by 3 hours and had a full camp set up and running by the time they limped in. They looked up from their fires and said this is normally just the first point the 3rd stop at before marching on but they had thought they should wait for them to catch up. Its been known as first point ever since. Now anyone joining the 3rd makes the march, so welcome to the 3rd gentlemen, now get our camp up!"

Relieved that Capt. Argor wont be calling you all girls for the rest of the march you all set up camp and get some fires going. You're just settling down beside your fire to have supper when a couple of other come over and join you.

"We had been thinking the same thing as you about how fast the war is going so when you spoke up we thought we should have a chat and share our concerns about the situation."

You think slowly before the reply
> You say "Well then what did you think of Sarg's answer?"
The two men seem to sense your hesitation so think for a while before one answers.

"I would say... that I'm not sure he believed it any more than you or I did."

It's exactly the feeling that you had gotten but you also wonder why they are bringing this up now.

> You say "Honestly? Your right, I'm pretty sure that no-one really bought it and there are other higher ups back at the barracks that seemed to share the doubts."
The men think for a bit before replying, the one who had been silent up till now looks at his companion and says "On your head be it." then gets up and leaves.

"Sorry about him." the man says "He is just a little bit on edge about this whole situation."

"And just what is this whole situation?"

"Ha! fair enough. Well I can tell you some of it now, You did some work in the mines recently and our employer owns several of the new sites that have been opening, so in reality you've been doing work for him."

You nod slowly, its common for prospectors to open several sites to ensure one produces. You don't have enough information to pin down a specific job or owner though so keep listening.

The man continues "He developed an interest in you from the reports he was receiving which is what put you on our radar and your behavior and reaction to the war made up my mind to come speak to you. Now you can appreciate how much of a risk I am taking here but I have decided to trust you. The war isn't all it seems and you know that. There are a lot of things you don't know about but the main one is that Carn didn't start the war and didn't attack the Old Quarter."

He pauses to watch your reaction before continuing.

"Now lets set one thing straight, we aren't talking treason here, we are completely loyal to the king, but we think he is being betrayed and tricked by his council. Now I will give you tonight to think this over and talk to you tomorrow evening again if you want to know more."

The man gets up and leaves. You realize you don't even know his name but he is too far to call out too now so you sit back and think over your options.
> No matter what they claim, they are commiting treason, report to the Capt. During the day and stop them!
Evil council tricking the king to start a war, its like something out of one of your dreams... you briefly mull over the fact you haven't had any of those recently but put it down to being so tired from army life and move on to planning.

You know what the two men look like and one other man that they talk to a lot so you just need to avoid them during the day and get to Capt. Argor with your information. You keep an eye out during the next days march and try to act as normal as possible, when one of the men comes over to you during a break you even share a water flask before moving off so you don't raise their suspicions.

You finally see your chance as the camp is being set up for the night, the two men are off at the edge of camp to set up their bedrolls like normal and the man they talk to a lot is on sentry duty. You don't know their names but you can give a near perfect description and point them out once you have the Capt. and other guards with you.

You move quickly over to the Captains' fire where he is talking with a runner from a temporary camp up ahead. He motions for you to wait until he is finished, you are impatient to tell him what you know but have no choice but to wait a moment since you don't want to blurt it out in public.  One of the cooks hands you ale and you sip at it nervously as you wait. The man drops his tray against your ankle as he passes and you almost jump out of your skin but just about remain calm and give him a nod when he apologizes.

Theres no sign of the men and you only wait one minute but you are dripping with sweat as he waves you over. You realize its FAR too much sweat as you try and speak and feel your throat close over and collapse at his feat.  The Capt. immediately calls over a medic and crouches beside you but you are suffocating and he cant help, the medic runs over and immediately points out two small puncture wounds on your ankle. "He's been bitten, looks like Asp poison, I'm sorry but theres nothing we can do."

"It was the cook, he poisoned me and stabbed my leg when he dropped his try!" you try to shout, but all that comes out is a rasp.

You fade into black as you hear the Capt. ordering the men to kill all snakes on site and double check all kit before use.


The men think for a bit before replying, the one who had been silent up till now looks at his companion and says "On your head be it." then gets up and leaves.

"Sorry about him." the man says "He is just a little bit on edge about this whole situation."

"And just what is this whole situation?"

"Ha! fair enough. Well I can tell you some of it now, You did some work in the mines recently and our employer owns several of the new sites that have been opening, so in reality you've been doing work for him."

You nod slowly, its common for prospectors to open several sites to ensure one produces. You don't have enough information to pin down a specific job or owner though so keep listening.

The man continues "He developed an interest in you from the reports he was receiving which is what put you on our radar and your behavior and reaction to the war made up my mind to come speak to you. Now you can appreciate how much of a risk I am taking here but I have decided to trust you. The war isn't all it seems and you know that. There are a lot of things you don't know about but the main one is that Carn didn't start the war and didn't attack the Old Quarter."

He pauses to watch your reaction before continuing.

"Now lets set one thing straight, we aren't talking treason here, we are completely loyal to the king, but we think he is being betrayed and tricked by his council. Now I will give you tonight to think this over and talk to you tomorrow evening again if you want to know more."

The man gets up and leaves. You realize you don't even know his name but he is too far to call out too now so you sit back and think over your options.
> You wait it out and see what he says the next night, theres too much truth in what he says to ignore it all.
You've had your doubts all along so now you want the facts. You wait till evening when you are all making camp and head out to the edges where the two men normally set up their bedrolls. It isn't long before they come over, set theirs up near you and join you at the fire. "So you didn't try to turn us in?"

"I thought about it a lot but I need to hear what you have to say."

"Hmm honesty at least, I'm not sure I would have trusted you if you said it didn't cross your mind." he gives you a smile then moves closer so he can speak in a lower voice. "Everything I said last night is true and we have the proof with us, letters and land deals signed by keys members of the council, all encouraging the war. One was even stupid enough to put in writing that he had captured the two Carn ships to use in 'plan spark'. Others talk about preparing for war and the buildup of the army being hidden from Carn's spies. Even the torture and murder of people they think might betray them or go to the king. Basically everything we need to avert a war and have the king put the men to justice."

You think for a while and decide if they really have all this proof that you are going to help them, besides now that you  know this much you are sure they would kill you if you show any sign or betraying them. You talk till sundown about plans and strategies.
> You reaching the Front Lines
The marching is taken slowly but efficiently and you approach the lines in just under two weeks. The Capt calls a halt for the evening about half a day out from the front lines and says that  he plans to arrive by lunchtime tomorrow so you better all clean up your gear and look presentable for the last march.

That night you and the two men set up your sleeping rolls near the edge of camp like normal and the man you often see them talking to goes on sentry duty nearby. Its all been arranged for midnight when all but the sentries are asleep.

The three of you stay awake and near midnight you all pack up your rolls and sneak over to the sentry who steps back into the light. One more man joins you and the five of you slip out of the camp then turn towards the front lines and break into a jog. The weeks on the road has made you strong and fit so you all go double time for the first few hours before slowing to a normal fast marching pace.

The man who is obviously the leader calls back to you all "Right we need to get across by sunrise today or our chances of survival are near zero, our Proprietor has provided us a rough map of the front line fortifications as of when we left the city and plans of what work should have been completed since we will be heading about 2 miles south of the road where there shouldn't be any defenses in place yet so we will only have sentries to deal with."

You start marching again when you suddenly remember a conversation you had with Capt. Argor only 2 days back

"Wait!" everyone stops and looks back at you "listen, I was letting the Capt. go on about his love of rocks again when he mentioned a runner from the front, he said they came across solid granite just south of the road so moved a mining operation there at short notice, if its close to our crossing point it'll be swarming with men."

The leader stares at you for a second before considering the map again.

"Good work Glor, we cant afford to meet to many guards, so its north 5 miles instead. Double time people!"

You all set off at a fast jog and your just glad you let the Capt. talk about rocks.
> You reaching Carn
Your leader guides you skillfully through he front lines, avoiding encampments and guards and you get across the lines with only one guard killed. You are sad that one had to die but there was no other way and plenty more would die if you didn't succeed.

You get through as dawn begins to break and all collapse two miles across the lines from exhaustion. You've all been jogging in full gear for just over 7 hours now and are all spent but you're across the lines and the leader says you can rest. You don't know what to expect but you soon see a small farmers cart approaching your position. The leader quickly speaks to the man and you all pile into the back as he turns back towards Carn and whips the horses into a trot.

The journey from there is uneventful, you all change out of your gear into nondescript clothing and the other men all have identification which marks them out as working for Carn's king so no soldiers bother you.

You reach Carn after several days hard travel, swapping carts a few times.

> The War
THIS IS THE SECOND BEST ENDING, THE SOLDIERS ENDING.

 CONGRATULATIONS!

Once in Carn you are taken before the king and your leader makes his report after presenting the documents. King Hader immediately sends them to his scribes who make several copies and over the next few days they are smuggled out of Carn to all near-by kingdoms. King Hader also sends several emissaries to your City and is finally granted a cease-fire when one of your kings high council personally intervenes and tells the king that the council had been blocking Carn's requests and emissaries from reaching him. The Councilor was in fact your proprietor and was able to tell the king some of the truth of the situation.

Once the king knows he was being lied to he immediately took control of the military and ordered a cease-fire and confined the council to chambers under guard until he had found out the truth. And once the truth came out the entire council bar one was hung from the city gates. Peace was made between the two kingdoms and it was all due to you hearing your captain talk about his love of rocks.


The two men seem to sense your hesitation so think for a while before one answers.

"I would say... that I'm not sure he believed it any more than you or I did."

It's exactly the feeling that you had gotten but you also wonder why they are bringing this up now.

> You say "We'll were just soldiers, and new ones at that, guess its not really our place to question things we don't understand."
The two men seem to think about what you said for an age before finally replying.

"Well you might be right, have a good night since I'm not entirely convinced Arbor there is going to easy on the marching tomorrow!" He gives you a smile and a bit of a funny wave as he stands up from the fire and you return the gesture before taking your soup from the fire and having your supper.

Luckily the next day the Capt. does go a lot easier on you all, making the First Point in 1 day seemed to pacify him somewhat. He now is mostly quite congenial between short bursts of calling your all little girls but you think its just his way of encouraging you.

The next two of weeks passes very uneventfully as you march towards the border with days pretty much consisting of March, Eat, Sleep then march some more, when the capt. points out that you are all crossing the old border and into new territory. You think that it seems pretty close considering how far North you used to go mining and hear Capt. Argor saying that he can explain the local borders to anyone who wants.

You make the mistake of asking and after a very long a boring talk (maps appear to be Argor's passion but he is only sad he dosn't have an advanced editor to insert one here.) it is explained to you. To the North of your home city your borders are greatly extended due to the western mountain range as it slowly curves North and East and meets the sea. So since the mountains are hard to cross most of the year, your city controls all the encircled land, and since its safer there, that is where it has most of its farms and townships. Whereas to the south and east other nations have encroached significantly closer over the more open and less defensible terrain. Sadly he doesn't stop there and starts going into the different types of rocks in each area and you gather that this is some sort of hobby of his.

Worn out by the talk of maps you bed down for your first night in the newly claimed territory. Since Argor kept you up talking about the types of rock in different areas of the kingdom most of the sleeping spots are full.
> You grab the spot beside the Capt. As its nearest.
Just as you lie down to sleep you see the two men who had approached you a couple of weeks before walking nearby, you give them a nod and they give you a wave and wish you a good nights sleep.

Nothing had come of the talk they had tried to start so you think to yourself that you had been very paranoid in suspecting perfectly normal guys in your own unit and drift off to sleep telling yourself that you should chat with them over supper sometime since they seemed nice enough.

The morning feels much like any other as you all pack up and start marching but you cant help but think about the fact that this used to all be ruled by a different kingdom, there is even the occasional sign of battle along the road. Whether from small skirmishes or a full battle you cant tell but the Capt. seems perfectly content to ignore it all and carry on down the road so you all just follow. He occasionally calls back a running commentary on the rocks and geology of the area but you all mostly ignore him when he does this.

The Capt. calls back "Two weeks more and we hit the forward base sites and begin our work. Just remember that this used to be enemy territory so keep your eyes open as we go just incase."
> You nearing the New Border
The marching is taken slowly but efficiently and you approach the lines in just under two weeks. The Capt calls a halt for the evening about half a day out from the front lines and says that  he plans to arrive by lunchtime tomorrow so you better all clean up your gear and look presentable for the last march.

Having not gotten round to it before now you decide to spend supper chatting to the men who had approached you before. As you approach the fire one gives you a slightly cagey look but the other welcomes you and you all soon chatting happily away about life back in the city and plans for after the war. One or two others join you round the fire and by the time you head to sleep your feeling pretty silly for mistrusting their intentions at first.

Having had a tankard or two at the fire you readily fall asleep.
> You morning awaits
The morning horn is pretty normal, as is the packing up of the camp and forming up although you are all the shiniest you have looked since first got your armor since you were all told to look good for your final arrival.

The only trouble starts right before you are all due to set off and stems from the fact that 4 men are missing along with all their gear. The Capt. orders an immediate search of the camp and area around it but nothing is turned up. He seems genuinely angry for the first time and mutters about men being dragged naked behind horses before ordering the march to begin at double time since its an hour late.

After an hour of double time he calls normal march and shouts back to the squad.

"Well boys it appears you have now seen the ugliest part of army life, deserters. I'm going to tell you now that running off after  you enlist and gain your armor is a very, very bad idea. The day you left training you swore to serve your country for at least 3 years so breaking that oath is treason and trust me on this, we deal with treason VERY harshly."

The proclamation is met with silence as you all try and think of who is missing, you think that you might have an idea when the Capt. begins to speak again.

"Now once we reach the temporary camps we are not going to enjoy a nice lunch like I planned, instead I will have to report this and each and every one of you will be questioned by some of our... lets call them information retrievers for now. So I'm going to give you all some honest advice. Do not lie to them, do not hold back and do not try and make things up. If you are honest, you'll have a two minute chat and be in the lunch tent right after. If they catch you lying you'll be in a whole lot more trouble. You all understand?"

The squad replies with a resounding "Yes Sir!" then marches in silence until shortly before noon when a runner approaches from up ahead. Its a scout from the camp up ahead and he chats to the Capt. before running back the way he came. The Capt. thinks for a bit before addressing you all.

"Well it seems that our deserters tried to cross the lines some time this morning and get over to the enemy side, it also appears that they were carrying some important documents with them. They didn't make it. This wont change our plans at all but just a reminder for you all, be completely honest when questioned and you'll be fine."

Once you reach the camp you are all surrounded then guided to a large tent by soldiers from another squad whose emblem you don't recognize. You are informed that you are all here for a quick chat at the request of the intelligence section and that you should wait patiently to be called through as it shouldn't take long.

The man seemed nice and reassuring but being 'invited for a chat by the intelligence section' doesn't calm you down much.

Your turn finally comes and you are lead through a tent opening into smaller adjoining tent with an old small man waiting behind a desk. You notice another man standing to the side poking at a lamp seemingly trying to get a steady glow from it as it flickered and spluttered.

The small man looks up and smiles "Come in and have a seat, don't mind my colleague there, he just refuses to requisition a new lamp if he feels he can fix that one." The other man just grunts and nods in your direction before turning back to the lamp and swearing at it under his breath as he started fiddling with it again.

"So I'll be honest with you" he begins "The men that deserted your company may have been trying to take documents containing very classified information regarding our city over to the enemy. We simply need to know everything we can to ensure nothing got through that could put our city in danger, do you understand?" he waits for you to nod before continuing. "So if you could please tell us anything you think is important I'll note it down then you can be on your way to the lunch tent which I believe will be something nice today."

"Rabbit stew and potatoes." interjects the man at the lamp.

The small man laughs before continuing "My colleague keeps a close eye on the menus, but we must be getting on, so do you have anything you feel might be important to share with us?"

The men seem congenial and relaxed and this isn't exactly an interrogation so you quickly decide what to say
> No need to mention a few small chats and get yourself in trouble. You say that you dont really know anything, you may have said a few words to them but dont really know them or what they planned.
You didn't exactly lie to them at all but you left out quite a few details here and there. No point in mentioning things that might make you look bad since you didn't really have anything to do with it now is there?

Well, The small man behind the desk doesn't seem quite as sure so asks one last question.

"There aren't any small details you may have left out are there, anything connected to the men or what they may have been thinking?"

Having come this far you arn't about to make yourself look worse by changing story so you deny knowing more.

The little man thinks for a second then gives his colleague a small nod then turns back to you "Thank you for your time Glor, my colleague here will point out the lunch tent to you, I believe that captain Argor is waiting anxiously there for you all, he acts like a bullying older brother, but like older brothers he does care about you all. goodbye."

You thank him and follow then grunting lamp obsessed man out of the rear tent flaps.

You got away with it!

The man holds aside the flaps for you and points towards a large tent with a blue pendant flying above it. "That one." he mumbles at you then starts you turn back into the tent.

You take a step forward before everything goes instantly black.

> You waking up?
You wake up in a small room with earth walls, you look round and realize you must be underground. You feel restraints on your arms and legs but can see the small man sitting near you. He is arranging small metal and bone implements on a table beside him. He begins to speak without taking his eyes off his task.

"good evening Glor, you have been asleep for several hours now while we finished the rest of our chats. Unfortunately you were clearly holding back when we talked so now I must find out exactly what you weren't telling us."

You immediately try to explain but realize your mouth isn't obeying you and you can at best make a slobbery grunting noise.

"Ah yes that is a drug I have given you. most people start talking far to fast and saying anything they think I want to hear at this point. To stop that behavior I have taken your power of speech for about half an hour. After half an hour the drug will wear off and you can start talking but until then I am going to make sure you understand that I want the EXACT TRUTH and nothing else. Not the smallest detail missing and not the smallest one invented. Now lets begin."

The pain is more than you imagined possible and you are informed that you have also been given drugs that appear to prevent people from going unconscious due to pain so that you have no escape. The man is as good as his word and by the time half an hour is up you are screaming wordlessly.

he stops and gives you time to recover and let the pain ebb away.

"Now you see how serious I am about the truth do you not?"

You croak a yes in reply before telling him everything, every detail about the men you remember, every word you remember being said and everyone you saw them even talking to over a fire. After you are finished he asks a few questions he seems satisfied.

"Thank you Glor, now I see no hesitation at all in your eyes and your story perfectly matches what we already knew to be fact so I know you are telling the truth."

You sag back against the hard table relieved. he gives you something to drink before continuing.

"Now sadly I have made a small mess of a few parts of your body and some of the acids I used on you leave horrific scars and other damage. Also you now know about our section and its methods so you cannot be released incase you spread this information further. Ironically information about us and our commander was part of what those traitors were trying to smuggle out!"

You try to object but realize the drink he gave you was the drug that paralysis your mouth.

"Now Glor since you were honest with me your death with be very swift, and do not worry, you body will be returned to the city as evidence of the horrible torture our enemies do to captured soldiers."

You barely even see his hand slip forward to slide his small blade into your neck and sever your spinal cord.

You die instantly.


The morning horn is pretty normal, as is the packing up of the camp and forming up although you are all the shiniest you have looked since first got your armor since you were all told to look good for your final arrival.

The only trouble starts right before you are all due to set off and stems from the fact that 4 men are missing along with all their gear. The Capt. orders an immediate search of the camp and area around it but nothing is turned up. He seems genuinely angry for the first time and mutters about men being dragged naked behind horses before ordering the march to begin at double time since its an hour late.

After an hour of double time he calls normal march and shouts back to the squad.

"Well boys it appears you have now seen the ugliest part of army life, deserters. I'm going to tell you now that running off after  you enlist and gain your armor is a very, very bad idea. The day you left training you swore to serve your country for at least 3 years so breaking that oath is treason and trust me on this, we deal with treason VERY harshly."

The proclamation is met with silence as you all try and think of who is missing, you think that you might have an idea when the Capt. begins to speak again.

"Now once we reach the temporary camps we are not going to enjoy a nice lunch like I planned, instead I will have to report this and each and every one of you will be questioned by some of our... lets call them information retrievers for now. So I'm going to give you all some honest advice. Do not lie to them, do not hold back and do not try and make things up. If you are honest, you'll have a two minute chat and be in the lunch tent right after. If they catch you lying you'll be in a whole lot more trouble. You all understand?"

The squad replies with a resounding "Yes Sir!" then marches in silence until shortly before noon when a runner approaches from up ahead. Its a scout from the camp up ahead and he chats to the Capt. before running back the way he came. The Capt. thinks for a bit before addressing you all.

"Well it seems that our deserters tried to cross the lines some time this morning and get over to the enemy side, it also appears that they were carrying some important documents with them. They didn't make it. This wont change our plans at all but just a reminder for you all, be completely honest when questioned and you'll be fine."

Once you reach the camp you are all surrounded then guided to a large tent by soldiers from another squad whose emblem you don't recognize. You are informed that you are all here for a quick chat at the request of the intelligence section and that you should wait patiently to be called through as it shouldn't take long.

The man seemed nice and reassuring but being 'invited for a chat by the intelligence section' doesn't calm you down much.

Your turn finally comes and you are lead through a tent opening into smaller adjoining tent with an old small man waiting behind a desk. You notice another man standing to the side poking at a lamp seemingly trying to get a steady glow from it as it flickered and spluttered.

The small man looks up and smiles "Come in and have a seat, don't mind my colleague there, he just refuses to requisition a new lamp if he feels he can fix that one." The other man just grunts and nods in your direction before turning back to the lamp and swearing at it under his breath as he started fiddling with it again.

"So I'll be honest with you" he begins "The men that deserted your company may have been trying to take documents containing very classified information regarding our city over to the enemy. We simply need to know everything we can to ensure nothing got through that could put our city in danger, do you understand?" he waits for you to nod before continuing. "So if you could please tell us anything you think is important I'll note it down then you can be on your way to the lunch tent which I believe will be something nice today."

"Rabbit stew and potatoes." interjects the man at the lamp.

The small man laughs before continuing "My colleague keeps a close eye on the menus, but we must be getting on, so do you have anything you feel might be important to share with us?"

The men seem congenial and relaxed and this isn't exactly an interrogation so you quickly decide what to say
> You complete honesty is best even if you might look bad. You tell everything from when you first had doubts, them approaching you and the last night by the fire.
You were warned not to lie to these people and you don't plan too. Even if they seem nice, they are still intelligence workers so you cant be too careful.

You tell them the entire story of meeting the men, you tell them every detail you remember about them before and after they approached you. You even tell them anything you think might have given them reason to talk to you. After your done the small man smiles encouragingly and asks a few small questions to clarify details before putting his quill down.

"Well thank you Glor, I do believe you've told us everything you know. You didn't even try to hold back minor details that may have made you look bad but don't worry, you having some doubts isn't a crime and I'm sure the commanders here can put any of your fears to rest. Now I believe the Captain is waiting anxiously in the lunch tent for you all. He puts on a strong front but he always takes care of men in his charge, now go enjoy your lunch, my colleague there will point the tent out to you."

The grunting lantern obsessed man waves you over to the back of the tent and opens the flaps for you "The one with the blue pendant." he points to a large tent some way across the camp "Rabbit stew today." he adds before retreating back into the tent.

You call you thanks and head to the tent. The little man was right and Capt. Argor is waiting at the entrance, he gives you a reassuring smile and sends you over to the long table where the squad mates who went in before you are all sitting and dishing out stew from a central pot.

As the lunch hour passes all but 1 of your squad makes an appearance. The Captain calls you all over and you hear him muttering that he told him not to try and lie before he addresses you all properly. "Right boys you've been spoken too, had some good grub and not its time to meet the rest of the 3rd! We have the main barracks tent in this camp so the commander will give you all a once over before your all assigned duties. Follow me."

No-one asks about the missing squad member and several others had heard the Captain's muttering so you all march to the 3rd companies barracks tents in silence thinking that this camp may not be as welcoming as everyone seems so very keen to make out.
> The New Commander
Once you reach the 3rd Companies HQ tent you are all looked over by an older officer who is introduced as the 3rd's commander, and one of the highest ranked officers on the front lines. He gives a welcoming speech and tells a few of his old military stories to try and make you feel at home but ends with telling you all that one of your number ran off during questioning towards the front lines so was probably working with the others that had disappeared.

He quickly changes the subject and tells you that the most important matter at hand is getting this base up and running. You can see the start of the fortifications from here and the men working on them so he leaves you back in the care of Capt. Argor (who it appears requested to be assigned to your squad) and he takes you to the work site.

Once there you are divided into smaller teams and sent off to the areas that suit your skills best but 2 other highly trained men and your self are kept back and are taken to the work-site overseer's tent. Due to your experience you each given teams to command and areas of the fort to work on, The deadlines are strict but your labor is made up of disciplined soldiers so work should progress quickly.

Weeks pass and the forts defenses and main buildings are fully constructed right on schedule. Capt. Argor calls in a few of the team leaders including yourself for a chat.

"Well boys the work here has gone great, but the 1st and 2nd haven't been idle either and and still pushing on ahead. Resistance is growing as they near Carn but we should have it under siege but the time spring hits. That being the case we need men and overseers on the front lines to quickly erect new defense lines and set up all the siege works once we reach their walls. The rest will remain here to finish off these forts and make them defensible and livable for years to come. I for one will be heading forward, its dangerous but I was never one for waiting around, who else wants the exciting job?"
> You head to the front and eventually the siege lines
The trip to the front is a long one, each day away from the newly built forts increases the risk of being attacked by small bands of skirmishers or partisans that might be in the area. Your party has an escort from the 1st but you only number 100 men and so everyone is kept watchfull and double sentries are posted each night.

Along the way you stop at the small temporary encampments your army is using to move the supplies, no more than palisade walls around bare earth but each time your group stops for a day or two to help fortify the camp before moving on. Finally after many days of marching and building your company arrives at the front lines, they have been pushing ahead each day against increasing resistance but the enemy seems to retreat each time it has lost the advantage.

Capt. Argor confides in you that he hates the tactic but that its been their most effective one of the war. They set up small ambushes and skirmishers to engage your vanguard into each fight blocking the advance. They would just keep moving and plow over the small attacks but very occasionally its a much bigger force and plowing ahead would lead to massive casualties. So most days the march is interrupted and temporary defenses erected.

The advance continues this way until you are within sight of the city and the clear plains around it prevent any large numbers of troops to be hidden.

Spring is just about to begin as your troops encircle the city and you and the rest of the 3rd start building defenses and war machines.
> You final Charge
Your troops are elated about beginning the siege as they see it as a much safer occupation than marching through hostile woods and you share their relief. Your men work quickly and in a couple of days you are beginning to see walls, ditches and palisades spring up around the city.

You mainly work on erecting palisades behind shallow ditches but lend a hand to the construction of the massive trebuchet that are going to bombard the cities walls. You feel that the work is going well and that within a week your army will have a very strong position ready to repel any final attacks.

Unfortunately Carn does not wait for the week to end and instead attacks in force. Just before dawn they flood out of a merchants gate and launch a full scale attack on your encircling lines. You have some defenses in place but there are still gaps and it is through one of the gaps that they push. Capt. Argor hearing the horn rouses you all instantly and orders you into full armor.

"Now is the time we draw swords with the rest! We built these defenses and now we man them ourselves!"

He leads you all out and into the camp, as you move forward you can see fires spreading and hear the din of battle. Your army hadn't been as prepared as it should have been and it seemed that every man in Carn was on the field in full armor. The Capt. upon seeing the state of the camp lead you in front of the medical tents and ordered you into a defense line before running inside.

Once he returns he explains whats happening.

"They are attacking and making ground through the camps fast. These are the medical tents, sick and injured are being evacuated by the staff as we speak but we need to buy them time. We hold here. No retreat untill they are safe you understand me?"

Your squad responds with a resounding "Yes Sir!" and prepare for the onslaught.

It comes fast and is brutal. A full platoon of enemy soldiers charges you shield line and is in the process of breaking through when they are hit in the flank by a squad from the 3rd who were barracked elsewhere. They join your defense as the enemy regroups and you start gathering stragglers from defeated squads.

The enemy attacks relentlessly but each time you just hold the line long enough, then finally the all clear is given from behind. Your squad gives a ragged cheer and those left standing begin to try and retreat. Sadly the enemy has been reinforced and hits you hard, finally smashing through your defense line and overrunning the tents.

You fight bravely and have used your skills to take down several attackers but you are tired and you shield arm slips long enough for a spear to take you in the side. You fall and look up at one of your attackers officers as the rest push over you to get at the retreating defense lines. You see him pause to look down.

You manage to say "We will still win the war, My home will be avenged."

He looks down at you with something akin to pity "Avenged? We never attacked you, your own council sent the burning ships so they could invade us, no, there will be no vengeance for your home here."

Then he takes a soldiers pity on you and ends it all.


Once you reach the 3rd Companies HQ tent you are all looked over by an older officer who is introduced as the 3rd's commander, and one of the highest ranked officers on the front lines. He gives a welcoming speech and tells a few of his old military stories to try and make you feel at home but ends with telling you all that one of your number ran off during questioning towards the front lines so was probably working with the others that had disappeared.

He quickly changes the subject and tells you that the most important matter at hand is getting this base up and running. You can see the start of the fortifications from here and the men working on them so he leaves you back in the care of Capt. Argor (who it appears requested to be assigned to your squad) and he takes you to the work site.

Once there you are divided into smaller teams and sent off to the areas that suit your skills best but 2 other highly trained men and your self are kept back and are taken to the work-site overseer's tent. Due to your experience you each given teams to command and areas of the fort to work on, The deadlines are strict but your labor is made up of disciplined soldiers so work should progress quickly.

Weeks pass and the forts defenses and main buildings are fully constructed right on schedule. Capt. Argor calls in a few of the team leaders including yourself for a chat.

"Well boys the work here has gone great, but the 1st and 2nd haven't been idle either and and still pushing on ahead. Resistance is growing as they near Carn but we should have it under siege but the time spring hits. That being the case we need men and overseers on the front lines to quickly erect new defense lines and set up all the siege works once we reach their walls. The rest will remain here to finish off these forts and make them defensible and livable for years to come. I for one will be heading forward, its dangerous but I was never one for waiting around, who else wants the exciting job?"
> You stay back to finish off the fort's defences
The Capt. Looks right at you obviously wanting you to volunteer but you don't raise your hand and silently watch as he and the group of volunteers head out to the front.

The rest of you get back to work and the teams that no longer have overseers are split between you, but you know the work by now and more importantly most of the workers in the 3rd have been building these forts for years so know the work whether you do or not. The fort is finished on schedule and your men even find time to do some minor detailing on the wood and stone to make it feel more like a town than a front line fort.

News comes in from the front and you hear about your army's advance, and as spring is about to start you hear that Carn is finally encircled and that the siege lines are being build by the 3rd company already. You are once again amazed by the fast progress but keep your concerns to yourself.

A few of you are given minor promotions for the speedy work and are retained at the fort for maintenance work and the continued important works that the commanders want. Your company has even managed to bring out or build proper long tables and roasting pits for the food hall. Its just when you are on your way to a meeting concerning the replacement of a wooden structure with stone that the news comes in.

Carn launched a major counterattack from their city before the defenses and war machines were ready. they were beaten back but your army suffered very heavy casualties, some squads and platoons being completely wiped out. You ask about the 3rd but are told that they heroically held a defense line in front of the medic tents against horrific odds, most of them are getting medals for it but only 6 out of the 100 men there survived so the medals will be posthumous.

Feeling saddened by the news you barely hear about how the Carn army was beaten back in the nick of time by a flanking maneuver. Nor do you listen to reports that bombardment of the city started with firebombs in 'revenge for the Old Quarter'.

You stay on at the fort for a few weeks then head back to the city as a military man, you settle into a city construction position and take no further part in the war, which quickly ends with your city's complete victory.


The two men seem to think about what you said for an age before finally replying.

"Well you might be right, have a good night since I'm not entirely convinced Arbor there is going to easy on the marching tomorrow!" He gives you a smile and a bit of a funny wave as he stands up from the fire and you return the gesture before taking your soup from the fire and having your supper.

Luckily the next day the Capt. does go a lot easier on you all, making the First Point in 1 day seemed to pacify him somewhat. He now is mostly quite congenial between short bursts of calling your all little girls but you think its just his way of encouraging you.

The next two of weeks passes very uneventfully as you march towards the border with days pretty much consisting of March, Eat, Sleep then march some more, when the capt. points out that you are all crossing the old border and into new territory. You think that it seems pretty close considering how far North you used to go mining and hear Capt. Argor saying that he can explain the local borders to anyone who wants.

You make the mistake of asking and after a very long a boring talk (maps appear to be Argor's passion but he is only sad he dosn't have an advanced editor to insert one here.) it is explained to you. To the North of your home city your borders are greatly extended due to the western mountain range as it slowly curves North and East and meets the sea. So since the mountains are hard to cross most of the year, your city controls all the encircled land, and since its safer there, that is where it has most of its farms and townships. Whereas to the south and east other nations have encroached significantly closer over the more open and less defensible terrain. Sadly he doesn't stop there and starts going into the different types of rocks in each area and you gather that this is some sort of hobby of his.

Worn out by the talk of maps you bed down for your first night in the newly claimed territory. Since Argor kept you up talking about the types of rock in different areas of the kingdom most of the sleeping spots are full.
> You dont really want to sleep near the Capt. In case he tries to talk about rocks again in the morning, sleep out at the edge of the camp.
You head right out to the edge of the camp and set up your bedroll, you don't mind this as your used to sleeping in the wild and there is still the ring of sentries beyond the reach of the light. You drift off to sleep watching the stars and thinking about whether you prefer hare or rabbit in stews.

You awake to a slight noise near your head. You groggily sit up and see one of the sentries has come just into the firelight and at least two men were walking past your bed roll in full gear towards him. They freeze as they see you move before one comes close. Its one of the men who approached you before.

He squats down beside you and quickly whispers "I'm sorry, we did give you a chance but theres no going back now."

You take a moment to wonder what he means since your still half asleep but before you can say anything you feel a wetness on your neck and chest. You try to speak but just gurgle blood and realize he had cut your throat.


The Sarge is a little off in his estimate of your departure time. It actually takes a month and a half to get your squad in shape. Its been a long wait but you are finally all ready to head out to the front to help in the war effort!

Your squad is woken by an early bell ringing somewhere in the barracks tower and you all assemble in your new polished steel armor. during your training you had all been measured and fitted out in strong forged steel, it turned out many of the iron mongers and jewelers of the city had turned their forges over to making weapons and armor so there was no shortage of equipment for the army.

The Sarge gives you all one last look over.

"Well its taken longer than I'd like but your all ready to serve your king! You're all heading out to the 3'rd to help in the construction of the new bases so our boys on the front have a good foothold in place before winter hits."

A soldier to the left pipes in "But I thought we already had bases on our borders?"

"Our Borders? Boy do you think the entire army has been sitting and waiting for you since the war started? They have been advancing solidly for the past 6 weeks. The new borders are near 2 weeks march further forward and THATS where we need the new bases."

You think to yourself that the army has made pretty amazing advances considering the fact that Carn was the kingdom that started the war.
> You head down and head out! The army awaits!
The Army must be pretty dam good since they have been advancing so far, you do have some niggling doubts about just HOW well they are doing but what is the point in raising them now?

You see a soldier you don't recognize step forward.

"Right then, I'm Capt. Argor. Since I took an arrow in the knee and had to come back here for treatment, I've been given the onerous task of accompanying you to the front lines to make sure you ladies don't get lost. You were all told to report here in full gear and with all your supplies so has anyone left anything behind that they just must run back to their rooms for? Hankies? Training Bra? No? Good, I might not have to babysit you all quite as much as I feared, lets head out cos this is gonna be a long trip for you city folk."
> You to First Point
You are given a break for lunch with only cold rations, then double speed marched hard till dusk. The Capt. Pulls you all off the road beside a small stream and even though your all ready to collapse and pass out he has you form up.

"Right then, this is first point spring. A few generations back some officers from the 1st and 2nd companies were insulting the 3rd, saying we weren't real soldiers because we just built things while they won the war. Our officers didn't take too kindly to this and lets just say a bit of an argument broke out. After the tempers calmed a bit our men challenged the rest of the army to prove their supposed superiority"

He paused to give you all a big grin.

"Our boys in the 3rd work hard every day moving timber and stone, carrying loads long distances and almost never take days off. Their boys sit on their arses most of the time and only train short periods a day when they aren't actively attacking something. So our officers said they should all go for a little march. You all just made it here within daylight hours which isn't bad at all for this time of year. The 1st and 2nd company soldiers made it in about the same. OUR officers beat them by 3 hours and had a full camp set up and running by the time they limped in. They looked up from their fires and said this is normally just the first point the 3rd stop at before marching on but they had thought they should wait for them to catch up. Its been known as first point ever since. Now anyone joining the 3rd makes the march, so welcome to the 3rd gentlemen, now get our camp up!"

Relieved that Capt. Argor wont be calling you all girls for the rest of the march you all set up camp and get some fires going. You're just settling down beside your fire to have supper when a couple of other come over and join you.

"Hey there mind if we join you?"

You nod to a rock near the fire "Of course."

After sitting and eating for a minute one of the men turns to you, "We should be honest with you, we didn't join you just for the company this evening. We have had something on our minds recently and thought you might be thinking the same things as us." After a pause where he looks carefully at your expression he starts again "We are concerned about just how fast the war is going, how one-sided it is and maybe even some of the stories about why it started. We asked about it quietly before and the commander just told us its because we were better prepared than before and broke their defense lines. What do you think?"

You think slowly before the reply


You get your things in order and even if you didn't make as much as you'd hoped for, you still added a few good weeks living expenses to your purse.

There have been rumors lately of bandit activity on the road south so you talk to the other workers there to see what their plans are. One group is planning to leave on the day they are laid off and make good time down to the city because they want to get back to family there. The other south bound group plans to stay until all the small jobs are finished around the camp for a few extra coins then have a much more leisurely trip with stops off at way houses and farms along the way. The second group will turn up to the city nearly two full weeks after the first but your in no rush yourself.
> You earn the last few coins and enjoy the leasurely trip back now you have no rush after all.
Your group numbers around a dozen workers and stays on over the weekend and most of the next week, dismantling old shacks and helping construct the permanent miners residences. The work is relatively easy after the hard labor of the mining and although the pay is low your still getting free food and a place to sleep. Once the work is done you all collect your pay from the overseer on the Friday, a week after the other group had left, and start a leisurely trip down the south road.

Your group sets an easy pace stopping for at least an hour each meal and taking the occasional day out in farms and way houses that some of the other men knew from previous trips. You don't encounter any or the rumored bandits on the road but a dozen well built and fairly well armed men must make a less appetizing target for bandits. All in all you make terrible time back to the city but you really don't care as you enjoy the company and find the lack of rush very relaxing.

Since you have plenty of time you all discuss future plans, some are just going to sit out the winter in the city living off their wages then head back out to new mines. A few are lifers and will be clocking in with their guild as soon as they get back ready to be sent on the next job and a couple like you are going to take a year or two out, one even gives you a name to ask about a flat in the Iron district.

Its only when you all wake one morning expecting to see your first glimpse of the far off city in the dawn light and instead see a plume of pure black rising miles into the sky that you all start rushing back to the city as fast as you can.

> You blackened Homecoming
Your group practically runs the entire way back to the city making it back well before the sun is at its peak. You all go through the main gates into the Iron district and down towards the source of the smoke. It quickly becomes clear that its the old District, the area you grew up and where you know your closest friend should be running his fathers tavern. as you get close to the wall separating the districts of the city you start to meet groups of people just standing and staring, all seemingly in shock. Most are the better dressed of the affluent Iron district but you see the occasional Old district dwellers, standing alone or in twos and threes, but all equally lost or in shock.

You approach the nearest group and ask what is going on.

"Fire, just a bloody huge fire. It spread in seconds. we didn't have time to do anything. Just ran. We were bringing some fabrics up from the dock, only reason we made it, we were only one street from the gate. Oh God.."

You leave the man as he sinks to the ground and stares towards the high walls.

You had only been looking at the people and the smoke before but now you just stared blankly towards where the wall separated the districts and just see an orange glow over the wall with plumes of black filling the air above it. Thinking of you friend and his tavern located close to the docks you sprint down to the gates but once you get there you find them closed and barred shut. grabbing the nearest guard you shout for them to be open so you can get to your friend but he just stares blankly back at you obviously shocked dumb then walks away. The gate captain walks over and tells you that if anyone is still in there and didn't get out before the gates had to be shut, that there was no chance of them being alive. You start to tell him that he is wrong and needs to open the gates when he takes you over to them and tells you to put a hand on them.

You reach out and feel the gates metal almost hot enough to burn you. The captain quietly tells you that the fire started late the last evening. It came at the worst possible time. it had been dry for weeks and wooden buildings had been built right from the shore to the base of the wall, all stocked full of the years produce, hay, wheat, pelts and oils. most of it flammable. The wind blowing in from the sea had fanned it into an inferno almost as soon as the first warehouses had gone up. It had spread unnaturally quickly and only the closing of the huge gates had stopped it spreading through into this district too. The gates would stay closed until the embers were cold, and that could take a couple of days at least without any rain to quench them.

You stand and stare over the wall for what seems like an eternity then quietly turn and walk back up into the Iron district. You take your road companions advice and speak to the man he mentioned about a flat and find that he did have one free. You agree to the price almost without listening then buying a cheap bottle of mead you head back out to watch the place you grew up burn down to the ashes before collapsing into your bed long evening fell.


You think to yourself that with the rumors of a new mine opening that it might be best to catch this group up and see if they know anything about it. You set off at a fast pace to catch them up.

By mid morning you see a dust cloud ahead of you on the road so you keep your fast pace up till you get close enough to make out the group.

Its getting close to midday before you get close enough to realize who it is your chasing. Its a group of miners! You quickly conclude that they must be the hired hands sent to get the mine up and running so you approach them to see if you can find out more.

As you catch up to the rear of the pack some of them hail you. You respond in kind then fall in beside the rear couple and start chatting. You learn that there are about 50 of them in the group including all the skilled workers the mine needs but that they would be happy to have you along as an unskilled hand. Its not going to be as much money but they tell you that they have sent their mine guards off ahead to make the area ahead safe so there isn't any way to get ahead and get a better job.

> You it's not worth it, Start your journey south
Having decided to head back south you set off back the way you came. As you near the turn off to you old camp you see a new sign has been erected pointing the way to the new mine, a sure indicator that new guards and an official are there now. That means no easy nights rest there as they are always careful to keep hangers on and travelers well away from the mines "to keep them from getting any ideas about the silver" as you were once told.

You camp off the other side of the road  then continue south in the morning.
> The South Road
As you start down the southern road you think to yourself that it's been such a long time since you were back in the city that you're not sure that you'll even recognize it. Yet, despite all the supposed changes and improvements, one thing that would never change is the Old Quarter on the south bank where the river joins the sea. For as long as anyone could remember, the wooden buildings had stood virtually unchanged as the rest of the city rose and fell with the economy and rulers of the time. The Old Quarter was filled with dock-side housing, markets and way-stations for travellers; and it had been your home before you left to find work.

Having done your time in the mines and come away with a reasonably full purse you don't feel the need to hurry as you walk, so you are enjoying the experience of not having to rush to get to your next job. You don't see any signs of other travellers until early evening when a mid-sized group of workers and a few guards pass, marching double time to the north.

You carry on till it"s nearly dark and set up camp in some woods beside the road.
> You morning on the south road
You quickly pack up your camp and set off south just as dawn reaches over the horizon, then realize ruefully that you could have slept in.  As you walk, you think on other habits you've picked up in the mines. Most were useful but getting up at dawn and sleeping at dusk would be pointless in the city where everyone rises late...

You are so engrossed in your thoughts that you barely notice the two figures on horseback when they join the road not far ahead of you and start moving south at a slightly slower pace than yourself.

You come out of your thoughts with a start as you notice them barely twenty paces ahead of you. Reflexively, your hand drifts down to your knife, just in case. But just as quickly you realize they are dressed as local land owners and one is a woman so you relax and hail them.

"Hey there, heading down to the city?"

They turn back to you and both smile before the man replies "Of course, there isn't too much else this way but we would be happy for some company if you'd like to join us?"

You quickly catch up then fall in with them. You pass the time in conversation and learn that they are indeed local land owners heading to their house in the city for a few weeks. You tell them that you're just out from the mines and heading back for a well-earned rest. The day passes with you trading minor pleasantries and you agree to share a camp near the road for the evening.

It's just unfortunate that as you take out your sleeping roll the man clubs you behind the head and rides back north with the woman and almost all your belongings as you lie unconscious on the ground beside the fire.
> A Painful Morning
You wake beside the cold ashes of the small fire only wearing your shirt, trousers and boots. Everything else, including all your coin, has been taken. You curse yourself for trusting the couple from the night before simply because one was a woman and try to take stock.

You can't head North again, as in your current state you probably won't find another job for weeks and you can't even feed yourself so you're left with three choices: tightening your belt (well holding your trousers tight as your belt has been taken too) and heading to the city as fast as you can to hope for work/food there; hunting after the people that robbed you; or looking for the first trail off the road that might lead to a farm where you can ask for help or some work in exchange for food.
> You go After The Robbers
You think to yourself  "Screw this, I worked too hard to give up all that money so easily!"  You head north after the robbers, keeping just off the road in the trees in case they are waiting for you.

You follow their trail north for nearly the whole day until you find them leading off towards where the couple had first entered the road. You know since they were on horseback that they probably made it back the same evening, so you hope that after a whole day they would have become complacent.

You decide that:
> You they are going to be complacent and you are a decent fighter, straight down the track after them!
You think you could take them in a clean fight as the woman seemed small and the man didn't seem like much of a fighter - He had just taken you by surprise before. You start quickly down the trail after the marks left by the horse and after half an hour you see signs of smoke ahead

Looking through the trees, you see the woman grooming her mount and the man sitting by the fire, both completely unaware. You stride out into the small clearing and walk purposefully towards the sitting man.

The woman looks over at you and you hear her say "Oh dear, this isn't very good, is it?". The man glances up at you as you approach and says, "Not good at all," as he starts to rise to his feet.

You laugh and say "You're right! It's not very good for you. You picked the wrong man to rob!" You smile and start to take the last steps towards the man, but as you raise your fists you feel a strange sensation, like being pushed from the side. You hear the woman saying "Oh honey, we meant 'not good for you'. Bandits never just work in twos and this trap was intended for someone else. Since you don't have anything more of value we just need you out of the way fast".

You look down at the crossbow bolt planted firmly in your side just in time to see a second one appearing in your chest with a dull thud. You sink to the ground. It all goes dark as you feel yourself hoisted up and carried into the trees.


You think to yourself  "Screw this, I worked too hard to give up all that money so easily!"  You head north after the robbers, keeping just off the road in the trees in case they are waiting for you.

You follow their trail north for nearly the whole day until you find them leading off towards where the couple had first entered the road. You know since they were on horseback that they probably made it back the same evening, so you hope that after a whole day they would have become complacent.

You decide that:
> You even if they are complacent, best you play it safe and try to sneak up on them through the trees and shrubs along side the track.
You've decided to play it safe, who knows if they were working alone and they may be better armed than before. Plus it would be sweet to see the mans face as he first realizes your there when you knock him out just like he did to you.

You sneak along near the track for close to an hour when you see smoke rising ahead from some trees. You push ahead being careful not to make any noise and approach the clearing slowly. You see the man and woman there near the fire talking and overhear snatches of conversation. You cant make it all out but it sounds like they are talking about a trap and waiting for someone.

Are they talking about robbing you or a new trap for someone else?

Unsure about their intent you think its best you take them by surprise either way and lift a hefty looking branch then sneak into the clearing at an angle so their backs are mostly turned to you. You approach as silently as if you were stalking a deer and slowly lift it above your head. You smile to yourself then call out "Hey!" just as you swing. The man looks up in shock just as the branch connects, knocking him out cold.

"Thats one down" you say as you turn to the woman and heft the branch. The look of surprise on her face is priceless! "How did you..." she starts but you cut her off. "Lets just say you picked the wrong guy to rob, now I don't make a habit of hitting women but I can easily make an exception so bring me everything you took, along with some food to make up for my inconvenience and I'll be going."

She just stares and asks "But how did you get them all with just a stick?"

You look at her blankly for a second and see her break into a smile "Ooohhh, you just snuck into the clearing didn't you. I'm sorry honey but you should have realized we don't work alone, even if my guards don't make such good sentries".

You glance at the trees just as several men with crossbows come running out and take aim at you. The woman backs away from you.  You think it was probably a bad idea to chase after robbers in the middle of nowhere as the men open fire rendering you into a human pin-cushion.