Relief Forces Arrive

The camp of the Piaster Kingdom's Winged Hussars, on the opposite bank of the river, stood where the woods met the farmland along the shore. Its defenses were strict on the river- and farmland-facing sides, to prevent a breakout by the Rhine Alliance army, but sparse on the side facing the woods, where only a few sentries and some obstacles against infantry had been posted.

Baron Gunnar led several hundred elite fighters from the Kingdom of Sardinia, slipping through the shadows of the woods in scattered groups.

They lay patiently in wait until the Winged Hussars atop the watchtower were briefly distracted by a plane passing overhead. They seized the fleeting opportunity and launched a sudden attack with blinding speed.

The Sardinians rushed the posts with astonishing speed and silent ferocity. Cold blades precisely slit throats; heavy blows landed with dull thuds, shattering bone.

The sentries fell in shock before they could even sound the alarm.

Then the elite force surged toward the camp's perimeter like tigers loosed from their cages, clearing the obstacles in their path.

Few armies besides the Osmagar Empire would station their main cavalry force in dense woods.

The Winged Hussars' commander clearly shared that view. The defenses along the edge of the woods were crude and ill-suited to the threat, and the attackers quickly cleared them away.

By the time Gunnar led his assault force like a sharp blade to the wooden wall around the camp, horns were already blaring inside.

The defenders had just seen the leaflets and were already demoralized. Now, with the enemy upon them, they fell into chaos.

The soldiers struggled to rally, hurriedly climbing onto platforms behind the wooden wall in an attempt to form a defensive line.

In the morning light, Gunnar's ornate full Plate Armor stood out.

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