The seas were calm, the crisp air a welcoming breeze as the prow of volrath's lead ship came into sight of the cove; it's sleek exterior bouncing over the waves as the fleet of vast warships came tearing towards the shore line.<br/><br/>Aeirik grinned fiercely as the salty spray from their thrusting dash across the oceanic carpet peppered his face with its cool droplets. Water clung to his hair and beard as he relished their pace, unheard over the clamour of the boat's passing he yelled his warcry to the wind and bared his teeth at the site of so many warriors ready to meet them on the shoreline.<br/><br/>In no time at all the vast fleet of ships had shuddered to a halt upon the fine sand of the foreign shore and at a roar from Aeirik men sprang into the swell, broad shields lowered. Carefully they formed ranks under the fire of enemy arrows with a precision borne from hard training and their captain's bellowed instructions. In mere minutes the full force of Volrath's army was assembled and there came the great boom of drums as each ship's slave drum sounded the march.<br/><br/>Step by intolerable step the men of volrath's army moving as one up the beach, their lowered shields bristling with arrows, each fallen man replaced by the one behind him, the wall of shields almost impenetrable. Then, as they came mere paces from the front line they leapt as one into a wild run and man after man crashed into the lines of enemy warriors berserk with furious strength.<br/><br/>Wading into the fray with the second wave of soldiers Aeirik laughed as he lay about foes either side of him, creating a pile of bodies beneath his shining two handed blade. By the end of the battle Aeirik was stood upon a small hummock of dead men, blood streaming down his face and hands, still laughing.<br/><br/>Things had gone well, though there had been a price, scattered everywhere were the dead and dying remains of the brave warriors who leapt so fearlessly to meet their enemies. It would take them time to regroup, to gather their strength but the sand ran red with more blood not of Volrath's men and for that Aeirik rejoiced, even as he wearily walked the battlefield and dealt the mercy blow to friend and foe alike....