Scatter War

Their march is soft like the billowing breeze in autumn. They are swift, inconspicuous, and leave no traces. Trudviar makes sure to follow his King's instructions to its every dot.

Leading a force of over twenty elves, his troop arrives in an unknowing village.

Trudviar knows Art since he was a little boy as an odd kid out of the bunch. They share a vague relationship of uncle and nephew. Most often though, they are more like brothers as the concept of age among elves is vague.

Growing up as a useless member of the village obsessing about books and the arts, Art is someone that the other elves use to look down on. Even Trudviar at some point feels pity for the kid. But suddenly, that 'kid' becomes the unfathomable man that he is today.

Not just any man, but a King.

The day they attacked the bandit's village, Trudviar was thinking of dying a glorious death. He was hoping to soothe his grieving heart with human blood, and his inevitable demise on this blind conquest of vengeance. Even now, Trudviar strongly believes in accomplishing this bane hope.

However, as he recalls the old-timers he battled with, and the elven women they saved, Trudviar ought to think— maybe he can do more.

The King's plan of action for this war is just utterly ridiculous.

Trudviar had strong doubts, however as the King explains the finer points and objectives of his every branching directive, Trudviar comes to realize it is possible. Borrowing an army is a very apt description of what they are about to do.

However, it still stumps him a lot that in order to achieve this, they have to divide their forces. Trudviar is leading his troop to Baron Jeremy's territory, meanwhile, Varen is leading his troop to Baron Zaun.

Dividing their already thin forces is ridiculous enough. But after occupying the village, they had to divide their forces again. Trudviar shyly grins at the ridiculousness of this, yet it doesn't stop him from doing just that…

No matter how ridiculous it is, they would have to do as their King commands. It is for a simple reason— faith.

King Arthram Fae Zorun becomes King, not the day he declares himself as such, but the day people place their trust in him.

Trudviar recalls the ridiculous scene of him making a tantrum in the village plaza. For a speech, it was a damningly creative one.

They carry their bow, quiver, and iron as they wait for the day to pass by, and for the night to take claim of the sky. Trudviar recalls the night raid that took the purchase of the many elven lives.

Thus, the night begins.

"Remember, one of you dies and the rest follows." Trudviar grimly warns the elves around him, and they solemnly nod to his words. "Fight, kill, and live, so that we may continue this war..." Though his troop all consists of simply elven women, Trudviar doesn't dare underestimate them.

Watching over them for a certain period of time, Trudviar is very aware that they can take care of themselves just as much as any men do. Their hatred and natural affinities as elves contribute much to their current abilities.

Starting his second time's night raid, Trudviar leads the elves to the silently sleeping village. The elf race have naturally silent steps as being hunters requires them so that they can provide food for their families.

Trudviar instructs his fellow elves to disperse and assassinate the humans in their homes with a silent whisper barely audible to the human ears.

With nimble steps, Trudviar sneaks himself to a human family from the roof by prying the soft nipa with his sword. He takes advantage of his slim musculature and litheness to force himself inside. The other elves must have this easy because as women, they have more petite figures than him.

But Trudviar doesn't disappoint as his every move is calculated. He comes to the human family silently sleeping by their hard wooden beds. There is a father, a mother, and a daughter.

Trudviar draws his dagger. It is easy to use, light, and perfect for assassination. He only needs one thrust to the father's temple to make his kill. He removes the father of the family effectively reducing their chances of resistance. After that, he kills the mother.

He looks over their daughter in her silent sleep. The sight of her reminds Trudviar of his daughter. The little girl had a father and a mother too. Trudviar would know better as he just killed them. Killing his self-remorse, he moves his hands and pushes down the knife on the little girl's temple.

No mercy as their King decrees.

Art repeatedly explains over and over again that in this war that they must think of humanity as pests. There is no room for compassion if they want to gain victory over the disgustingly overwhelming humans. The odds are all against them, and Trudviar understands this.

The little girl's death is a necessity for their race's survival.

It was just not revenge that the King seeks— Trudviar understands that only later. They must survive after this, and Trudviar firmly believes in this new ideal that the King manages to implant in his people. Trudviar and the others only need to nurture this ideal.

Trudviar moves out of the humble house of the family of three and proceed to another house. The silent slaughter continues.

However, destroying it is the barking of a dog. One family the elf is marking happens to have a dog. The elf almost dies at the hands of the mother who barely was able to wake up before a knife inserts itself into her temple.

Luckily, Kara was near where the commotion is.

Trudviar knows that at this point, they had to gather fast as the other humans would also wake up because of the commotion. "Kill as many as you can and gather on the east side!" He screams at the top of his lungs, and frantically, the elves proceed on killing as many as they can.

The frantic massacre mercilessly claims lives whether it be young or old.

The elves bring their iron, and with a practiced swing, they make quick work of the barely awake villagers. Kara who had her axe dripping with blood launches herself to another home and massacres another family.

As per their past training and briefings, a pair of elves hurry into the village stable. Anyone who tries to escape this way only meets with slaughter.

Some humans were able to fight back, but they weren't able to last for long as the elves have iron weapons, and the villagers only have farming tools.

They are just villagers… Just like the elven villagers that once were slaughtered under the human raiders of Count Urden. This is what hate and vengeance would become— blood, screams, and deaths.

Trudviar and the elves finish their work that night without any accidents. Not an elf died, which just boosts their confidence. Before the morning comes, they bury the dead humans in mass graves. Burning them might be a more efficient method however the smoke would attract other people as this village is in the centermost part of Baron Jeremy's northern territory.

When morning comes and the burying is done, all of the elves come to rest for the day, as only in the night would they make their move again.

This is how Brunhen Village meets its end.

The Brunhen Village is a rather hidden place, yet it is at the center of Baron Jeremy's northern territory. It is a village with untapped potential. This village has the potential to become a city if they receive the right resources, but the local lord didn't make use of them.

This village has the potential to be a transit station for other villages to gather their local produce, and the same way from here, spread goods to the other smaller villages thus giving an economic boost to the whole barony… and even possibly, a chance of promotion to a viscounty.

It must be true as the Elven King said so.

Now, Trudviar will use this village not as a transit station for life, but for death.

"From now on, we shall divide ourselves into ten groups. We will be operating in two-man cells. That means it will only get to be more dangerous for us. Our priority is secrecy, and the elf race's survival. So no matter what you do, do not die."

Trudviar solemnly announces to his elf kin.

"From now on, you are warriors. You have battled and touched the blood of your enemies. Now, we wage war. The main objective of this mission is to burn the granaries of the villages here in the baron's northern territory. We accomplish this, and we create refugees. These refugees will be our borrowed army. His majesty's intention is clear. Now, we must heed his intentions."

Trudviar unknowingly smiles at the end of his pep talk. Some of his King's tics are rubbing on him, and it is contributing positively to his work.

The elves make prudent in their scattering as dusk approaches. When night once again claims the skies, the elves move in synchrony, and once more, they spread chaos to the innocent villages that have no hand in their pain.

Thus, the scattering war.