>>5380269>>5380236>>5380177>>5380084>>5380081>Gather what you can and depart with everyone...You could call this another victory, considering you destroyed much of the enemy force, but suffering your own losses and put in a difficult position leaves a sour taste to it all. For the sake of your followers you gather everyone with all that can be carried or dragged out, and then make a withdrawal from the burning camp.
Wondering whether news of this will spread as you stomp down the hill behind your pet humans, certainly part of this whole effort was for some reputation. You convinced these Gaelans of following you, but you want others to do the same, and showing that you can defeat their enemy is a good start. Even if word of the battle doesn't carry to the next village or so around these parts, there's no way the signs and remains of it al could be missed.
<span class="mu-b">"Wait here I think, some hours, then see them all home. I will return but it may not be till some time later."</span>
<span class="mu-s">"I shouldn't go with you? Well, alright then..."</span>
Of course you're more than happy to go marching through the heavy rain, mouth agape as you stare up at the sky and catch all you can to your mouth and body. But you recognize this is just more hardship for your followers, so you follow the village leader's guidance on this matter as he rides ahead to scout. Eventually returning and leading everyone to a small forest some distance away, you make sure that the Gaelans can get along without you... making sure to wait awhile in case you were followed, before parting ways with them.
To everyone's worry and displeasure, but they should be able to make it back to their homes without trouble, as long as they're careful and smart about the travel back. At the very least they won't have to worry about Namadans pursuing them, since you'll handle that threat as you separate from the group and head back whence you came.
<span class="mu-b">"Weaklings, some of them left already!"</span>
Your followers have their business to attend to, and you have yours. Indeed, it was another victory earlier, but you are not satisfied. Not yet anyway, after what feels rather more like a stalemate to you, a battle without a definite outcome or gains. Though you are disappointed to find much of the Namadans, the cavalry since departed by the time you return all the way back to the hill and around to their side of advance. Yes, by now what little remained in the camp has been reclaimed, sorely little for the enemy that you know it can't have been worth it for them. Unfortunately there's not many remaining at their staging ground at the foot of the hill on the eastern side, probably left only to see to the dead and pack up before returning home to their territory like the rest.
