>>5931405>>5931413>>5931438>>5931523The Rex gives a command to kill the envoys, and they are cut down on the spot. One of them runs, but the dragon sorceress spreads her wings and chases him down, burning him to death on the spot, a feat that certainly makes an impression upon the enemy force.
Now the Rex's ploy comes into focus; a false retreat is ordered. If the enemy pursues, the army would counter-charge. However, they do not; they seem to remain dug-in.
The Rex orders that the army make for Harenae, where they will prepare for total war.
As they camp one evening, the Rex sits with the draconic sorceress. Here, out in the fields of the grasslands and away from his advisors and bride to be, the Rex confesses his attraction towards her, and she reciprocates his feelings. He finds her to be one of the most beautiful and exotic things he has ever seen, and her power astounds him. She, in turn, speaks of how much she desires a better place for her people in society, but she does not see him as a mere ends to a mean, for she too is genuinely attracted to him.
Before anything can happen, however, their camp is set upon by the three-headed mustelids. The three-headed weasel-otter-stoat-ferret-wolverine things are incredibly fast and vicious, able to attack three men at once with their heads and bite off a head with a single strike. Soon enough the camp is alight with spells and torches as the army works to fend off the ferocious beasts who have clearly been sent ahead to harass them.
The chimeric creatures have a habit of attacking in cunning ways, darting in and out, leaping over defensive lines and striking with their scorpion-like stingers, which cause incredible pain and often death.
In the midst of the chaos caused by these creatures, scouts from the enemy, through use of clever camouflage and illusion magic, sneak into our camp with the express purpose of destroying supplies. They are successful and many of our supplies are damaged. With several of the chimeras dead, the remaining three-headed beasts retreat.
It seems clear that the enemy means to harass the army and ensure its march home is exceedingly difficult. While not all supplies were damaged, a good number of them were. Similar darting attacks may be likely to occur in the coming days during the march back, a kind of "death by a thousand cuts" strategy. The three-headed creatures each killed several men before succumbing to their wounds, and more than a few managed to escape with how many in reserve.
What action will we take to ensure our march home is successful?
