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Sarrick stands atop the Tower of Varrl. The greatest fortress of the Aeslings was his for a time, though right now it was a shadow of its former glory. Parts of it burnt still, and the flies, crows and rats were swarming in to feast. Below him, his servants dragged Aesling corpses by the hundreds, arranging them carefully in the courtyard.
Sarrick turned to the south. In the distance, the enemy camps could just about be seen. Distant tents and the smoke from camp fires. The Aesling had refused his first message and ignored his second. They showed no sign of submission. He could beat them still, but at too great a cost. The winter was closing in, and come spring the hosts would be marching on Kislev in earnest. There was no need to exhaust himself here, and a huge swathe of Aesling land had been overrun by his forces. Even now, great columns of carts took stolen goods back towards his ships, with lines of slaves trudging alongside them. And far distant, in the lands of the Baersonling, he knew a new army was rallying to his banner, inspired by his hunts and urged on by the new ally he had on their throne. Yes, a fruitful season, even if he had not achieved quite all that he hoped.
Below, the arrangement of enemy corpses in the courtyard was almost complete. A great message spelt out in slaughter, with letters ten paces across.
“Twice you refuse me. The gods call me and I answer them. My sacred calling spares you for a time, but your arrogance costs you a place in the god's design.”
Only the final line was still being put together, made of the Aesling's greatest warriors. They had died just like the rest. As more would. They had turned down his offer twice. He would not offer it a third time. Instead, he left a simple promise, spelt out in their dead.
“I will return.”
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So yeah, bugging out. My forces took 100 loot here in Aesling land, so really can't complain. My ships will meet up with the sea beast funded reinforcements being raised in Baersonling land, and then Sarrick and company will be heading back to deliver their mammoths and spend the off season in sweet home Hung Wastes.
