The Graypeak Mountains had never had much vegetation. After the Ratfolk ravaged them, not a single tree taller than three meters would grow there for the next ten years.
The Rat Tide had carved countless mountain paths through the valleys, branching like tributaries. Using those paths, the Free Army crossed the Graypeak Mountains swiftly and approached their northern reaches, at most three days from the Kingdom army.
The farther north they went, the more Ratfolk they encountered. The Rangers struggled to handle them and frequently drew them back toward the main force. The troops dealt with them easily, but their advance still slowed.
Femi, Jack, and the others chose Trapezoid Mountain, a dozen or so li away, as their temporary headquarters.
Three sides of Trapezoid Mountain were gentle slopes, but the northwestern face was a cliff. The mountain was easy to defend and hard to attack, and the cliff could serve as an escape route in a pinch.
The Rangers reached Trapezoid Mountain first and cleared out the wandering Rat Swarms. The main force then made camp on the summit and began building a Portal.
Thanks to Freedom Street, Free City had long since become remarkably skilled at building Portals. Annan would call it second-best... though quite a few factions could claim first place. It was certainly practiced, at least.
Femi ordered a Reconnaissance Airship to send word to the Kingdom Army, but the fighting there had grown so fierce that the airship could not get close enough.
Femi and the others were discussing how to draw the Rat Tide's attention, thinning it bit by bit until they could make contact with the Kingdom Army, when Annan arrived at Trapezoid Mountain in person to raise morale.
The moment he stepped through the Portal, Annan saw Mages under the Light Feather