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[Arlin]

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'Atten-TION!' Sergeant Kharen barked at the soldiers, as Arlin strode out from the Abbey. In unison, the soldiers saluted smartly, and Arlin returned the sentiment.

'At ease troops' Arlin released them from thier rigid stance, and thier hands dropped down to thier sides in complience. The looks on thier faces were grim indeed, for they knew that war was on the horizon. It seemed like every power was ready to converge on his city. He strode down the perfectly formed line of soldiers, nodding to each one in turn. Soon, thier time would come.

'War's commin' feller's, and it ain't gonna be purty. I want ya'll ta know that I is proud of each and e'eryone a ya, and I hatin' ta see it come ta this. But it seems like the Council be bent on war.' The half-ogre had one hope left yet for peace. He had sent his diplomats to the Council to get them to reconsider. However, he doubted they would accept it. The Council had long ago made up thier minds about him, and what he was. He snorted in disgust. Some lightbringers.

'The orcs ain't too far behind the Council niether. We is gonna be seein' action damn near every night. Be prepared, but know that we ain't gonna lose. We beat them Skullies, we can beat this namby pamby Council eh? They is so pathetic, theyve gotta bring beasties ta do thier fightin' fer 'em!'

Arlin was of coarse refering to Kotare, who had begun this war be viciously attacking two of his newest guards, Lillian and Liam. Both were recovering in the hospital right now. However, justice had been served, and Kotare had fallen before a hoarde of Frontiersmen, despite the two drakes he had brought with him. Eye for an eye, Arlin thought pleasingly.

His troops followed his every movement, and hung on to his every word as though it was spoken by some divine entity. One thing Arlin had drilled into them, time and again, was that loyalty was the most importent aspect of life. And Arlin had thier loyalty, and thier adortion. He knew it, and they knew it.

And soon, thier loyalty would be put to the test.
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As the fire fades to night, remember always the ember that started it all.

[Katya]

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“Fine, fine…” Katya said absently to the Army recruit. He was yammering on about supplies, but she was too tired to think, let alone be polite. He finally finished speaking and stood at attention, obviously looking for some sort of response from her. She nodded wearily, and he ran off, back to the officers. That was where the soldiers wanted to be…patrolling, watching over the city, following the Captain’s orders.

As soon as the recruit had left, she began wandering from room to room in the makeshift hospital. Few beds were taken. The citizens were understandably staying in their homes, even if they needed the fresh food and basic care the hospital routinely provided. After visiting the few patients that remained, she retreated to an empty corner of the room and flopped down on an empty cot.

Her head was spinning. The whole idea of war seemed like such…such a waste. She had met more than a few Yew citizens – including many of those banned from the area – since the Army’s arrival in Yew…and as in every group, the people varied in their ways. Some were polite, some angry, many completely indifferent. It was the way of all groups, all cities.

Captain, Captain. She sighed, and rested her face in her hands. She had been with him since Umbra, since the beginning of the Army. She owed him more than she could imagine. The Army had given her a purpose at a time she desperately needed it, and when the Captain granted her the space for the hospital, she had regained her life’s work. Not his fault that the more I see of war, the more I crave peace.

All we wanted…all I want…is to take care of these people. Why has it come to this? Katya stood suddenly, and made her way between the beds and out into the Abbey. The door to the chapel stood ajar…no wonder, considering the number of people seeking spiritual solace. She pushed the door open a bit and stepped quietly through. She smiled wryly as she peered around, thinking how surprised the monks would be to see her in this room. Thankfully, the small chamber was empty.

She walked down the aisle to the first set of benches, and sat facing the ankh. Virtues. Justice. What was justice here? According to the few tidbits of army gossip she had heard, both sides had lost casualties. Both sides seemed to want prosperity for the city. Both sides claimed themselves lightbringers, caretakers, protectors. And in the meantime, the orcs seemed to grow ever bolder. What was justice here?

There is no defeat in diplomacy, she said to herself, then shook her head sadly. She’d stand by the Captain, as she had in Umbra. She believed he could rule the city fairly, and that his intentions for the people were nothing but kind…but her heart broke moment by moment. She bowed her head. Gods willing, let this end soon…and let the healers – of both sides – have very little to do.