Master of the Deep

*Graaaaaaaah* *Swoosh*

Goblins shrieks sounded as rain of arrows landed around them.

The men on top of the walls of Hatr were aiming their bows at the small stature creatures. Fingers, numbed as the unending horde of goblins, kept their advance towards their village.

"Graaah" "Yieeeeee" "Yaaaaaaaa" Various sound came out of the charging goblins mouth. Uncaring for the casualties they receive. Only focused on their goal of breaching the walls of Hatr.

The same crazed eyes that the goblins that ambushed Prewell had. Shows up in the eyes of these goblins.

"Archers retreat! Spears forward!" An elderly man standing with the archers on the wall shouted.

As the goblins reach the walls, using their claws to pierce the wooden wall, using it to help them climb towards the position of the men.

As a goblin was about to reach the top, it was pierced by a wooden spear. Life gone from its body.

It began to lose its hold on the wall. Falling down as it hit its kind just below it.

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"Are the stones ready?!?" Yelled, The elderly man as he asked the people around him.

"Yes, elder!" A young man carrying a basket filled with rocks of various shapes and sizes, answered the Elderly man.

Around him a group of youths carrying same baskets filled stones are gathered.

"Good! Begin dropping them towards the goblins. Spearmen! Don't let our men get dragged down by the goblins. Keep stabbing them, give the young ones time to drop the stones." Barking orders as he wields a sword. He slashed at the small hands reaching for the top of the walls. The elderly man, a veteran who was once a member of Lord Arguile's personal bodyguards, now serves as the village head of Hatr.

The Eastern most settlement of the barony of Zalsac. Leading the old and young of Hatr as they repulse the incoming goblin horde.

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The youth of Hatr drops stone towards the climbing creatures. The men stab those trying to reach for their young. The women below the walls helps with carrying arrows, and stones to the men above to wall.

The entirety of Hatr, like a well-oiled machine. Moving and functioning as one, every member of the village has a role in the overall defense of the sttlement.

As if acting out a play, they have rehearsed thousands of times. Every action and every movement are done as they were expected.

This is Hatr, the land where the toughest of men in Zalsac reside. The first settlement to face the creatures coming from the Great Forest.

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"Stones! We need more stones!" A member of the youth dropping stones on the goblins yelled.

"Retreat! Spears, close the gap to the wall. Raise your shields and hold your ground! Archers, stand behind the spearmen. Aim at the enemy through their shoulders!" Yelling for the spearmen to advance and the archers to take their position.

The Elderly man, motions for the young men of Hatr to retreat. "Boys, refill your baskets."

As the stone droppers left and the formation a top the wide wall changes. The goblins are given time to reach the top of the wall.

Just as the goblins were to let a feral laugh as they were one step closer to breaching the wall. A flurry of stabs and rain of arrows befell them. Their corpses litter a top the walls as the men of Hatr continue their valiant defense of their home.

*Wooooooooooo* A loud horn sounded. Goblins trying to climb of the wall withdrew.

The elderly man, looked a cross the field outside the village. Hundreds of goblins retreat in droves, as a makeshift flag made of red cloth waves through the air. With a print of hand in the center of the red flag.

It signifies a unified command among the goblins. A goblin chief leads this hoard.

"GRAAAAAAAA!" A strong roar resounded through the field. A goblin much bigger than the other, riding an enormous wolf.

Its eyes surveyed the walls of Hatr. Seeing no progress in siege of the settlement, it snorted.

Turning its gaze away as it led its mount away.

Raul, the elderly man, clenched his hands holding the sword. A sense of powerlessness appeared within him as he watched as the figure leading the goblins walked away. 'A Goblin Chief, a goblin which has the strength similar to that of a Bronze or Silver Knight. Intelligent among its kin and always accompanied an army composed of its kind.

If it decided to join the battlefield, I'm not confident that Hatr will be able to hold until reinforcements arrives.'

Perhaps the goblin had enough for today. They all retreated hiding somewhere in the distant groves away from the village.

As the men of Hatr breathed a sigh relief. The women climbed the walls and began administering aid to the men.

The young men of Hatr, began disassembling old houses. The materials from the disassembled houses will be used to replace the scarce number of stone left.

The men began stabbing the corpses of the goblins which littered the wall. Making sure that no goblins were left alive.

Throwing the corpse below the wall. They dragged them into an opening in the village. Burning, the corpses and taking out the gem like object left from the ashes.

Monster cores, of the source of income of the village. Selling this cores to the barony in exchange for necessities.

After recovering the monster cores, the men head towards their requisitioned houses to rest. The women will replace them in watching over the walls, they will be alerted when the goblin horde once again comes into the vicinity of the village.

Raul together with some of the villagers gathered.

"A newly formed Goblin army no doubt. Their numbers do not match what on established goblin army should be." A scarred face man spoke.

Raul, nodded in acknowledgment. "At least 3,000 to 4,000 goblins passed through Hatr. Using the edge of the Forest as their guide. They seem to be heading north."

"From the looks of it those goblins are fleeing from the Goblin Chief we are currently dealing with at the moment." The scarred faced man added. He had seen the way the goblin hoard from the outside wrestle and dragged those disorganized fleeing goblin from before.

A tribal war between goblin. An uncommon occurrence but not an unlikely one. This could also explain a lot of movements in the Great Forest as of late.

"Seems like a battle between goblin tribes. The ones before are the losers in the battle. Now they are afraid of how they will be dealt with by the Goblin Chief outside." A plump man crossing his arms carrying a massive hammer which strapped to his back spoke.

"Whether it's to kill those fleeing goblins or to take them under its command. Both things are bad for us." Raul inserted his thought in the matter.

Both Scar face and the Plump man nodded. Either way Hatr will have to hold its ground. Losing Hatr means losing everything to them. This village is their home.

Just as the men were conversing a woman running towards them shouted

"Elder! A person claiming to be Ser Lancel Od of Baron's retinue is outside."

Raul, Scar Face and Plump Man rushed towards the wall. Leaving the woman bewildered as their figures passed hers.

The three is in joy. Lancel Od of Zalsac, one and half a year ago this knights name resounded throughout Zalsac.

The Leviathan's arm, as the people calls him. Baron Prewell's go-to person when dealing with armed conflicts in the barony. Together with the elusive mage Lucius Marius and Naval Master Wiegraf Felberg, they are the rising stars in Zalsac.

They are one of the reasons why Lord Prewell despite his age is recognized as the master of Zalsac. Though his reputation known for its notoriety, Lord Prewell's ability to invite two Bronze knights and an Earth Mage not long after taking over the late Lord Arguile's position is more than enough for the common folk to respect their liege lord.

After all this is the countryside. Benefits precedes reputation, being able to invite three powerful men in to the barony within two years into his term is already a good thing.

With Ecish, the Ogre Slayer, Ser Lancel Od, Mage Lucius Marius, and The Captain Wiegraf Felberg, Zalsac's future is in good hands.

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Lancel after weeks in the wild was finally reached Hatr. Seeing the ongoing siege before, he did not rush to Hatr. He scouted for information and counted the number of goblins around the settlement.

'Around 5,000 goblins and more are coming from the forest. Add to tha a goblin chief around the same level as me.' Biting his thumb as he awaits to be let in the village.

Raul and the other two reached the wall. Seeing the golden haired knight, smiles couldn't but show on their face.

Ordinary goblins they can handle, but a super powered goblin chief they couldn't. Lancel appearance added to the mens morale.

"Open the gates! Let Ser Lancel in, hurry!" Raul yelled to the people below.

As the men of Hatr welcomes Lancel. Saint Gerald Castle received troubling news.