After such a long time, here's another part of the campaign!

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(Story by Koviell Sashermasock)

"Even an old man can provide magical assistance. This will be the last time I'll take arms in a battle." Tells the Elder.

"Since we're all reunited, the battle preparation will begin. We will make sure that the Frozen Citadel will be ours by the end of the next!" Shouts Warmaster Leto.

The army cheered. We went back to the tent, this time with Warmaster Leto and the Elder. This is going to be a long night.

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"We must prepare an invasion plan. As you can see, the Frozen Citadel isn't an easy target." Warmaster Tarne points key elements on a map of the area round the citadel. "The eastern side is completely covered by the mountain there. The siege should take place on the west; this is where the main gate is located."

"What do we know about the enemy forces?" Asks Warmaster Leto.

"We know that some orcs patrol the top of the Citadel. The terrain around is covered in snow without forest. Our cavalry should be able to manoeuvre." Explains Warmaster Tarne.

"While there are orcs located there, the giants will be a threat. I've never faced a giant, not even seen one in my whole life."

"This I will be able to answer." Says Mystic Larol. " The Frost Giants are very, very tough targets to take down. The air around them chills and they could turn water into ice in mere seconds. Simple arrows won't be enough and direct melee assault would be suicide."

"It would be difficult to aim a siege weapon on a moving target, so what would you suggest then?" Asks Warmaster Leto.

"We will have to use fire; fire will be our greatest ally in this battle." Answer Mystic Larol.

"This might be a little difficult. It would require lots of fire arrows to ignite a giant, I suppose… Unless we have a way to cover them in oil or something similar." States Warmaster Leto.

"We… do have a way… One of our cavalry divisions will be tasked to ride near giants and throw bottles of oil and fat at them, then our archers could shoot fire arrows at them. This will be risky. We have no idea if this will be enough. We have an idea how many giants might be in there and if we will have enough oil." Explains Warmaster Tarne.

"I see. How many siege weapons we have?" Asks Warmaster Leto.

"Ten, but we're about to get an eleventh catapult." Answers Warmaster Tarne.

"What about our mystics?" Asks Warmaster Leto.

"We're… we're not enough. Answers Mystic Larol.

"Now that I look again at the map, there is a building, there, this could cause problems. It does look like some kind of tower." States Warmaster Leto.

This whole strategy talk is giving me a headache. I choose to get out of the tent and think. Outside, I see all those soldiers. Their morale would fall if they knew this next battle would be lost if we fail to dispose of the Priestess.

I walk away from the camp and climb up a tree. I want to go home. This place might have a similar environment to Torabia, but it's still alien to me.

"In hief unidati dies ollama sashermasock."

"What it is?" Asks a voice from below.

I look down to see Kalsed looking back at me. I jump down the tree and land gracefully.

"It's my family motto."

"This isn't the tongue of the dragons." States Kalsed.

"You're right, it's our own dialect."

Kalsed sits on a stone nearby. "I know that you miss your homeland, a lot. I couldn't stop thinking of our world went I saw the unspeakable horrors of the Nine Hells."

I sigh. "There is a lot of pressure over my shoulders, and I don't know if I can do it."

"What do you mean? We're all on the same boat. I think that..."

"No no no! It's not that! We get in a battle we cannot win."

Kalsed frowns. "A battle we cannot win?"

"You never found it odd that they never mentioned the idea of getting 'inside' the Citadel?"

Kalsed takes some time to think. "I suppose that it would be the next logical step to the plan after we..."

"No! Everything they will do is buy us time to sneak inside."

"Calm down my friend, calm down. This 'may' be a thing, but what we don't need now it low morale into our ranks. If the elves and the hobgoblins get afraid to fight, this will be over not only for us, but for everyone." He smiles. "Look, we will do what we can. We must."

I sigh. "I still think that this plan is too easy. A siege can take days, weeks or even months. I'm no expert in warfare, but I still think that it wouldn't be as easy as it sounds to march on the Citadel."

"We won't know unless we try. You should take some rest, friend. Tomorrow will be a hard day. We better get ready." Says Kalsed before he pats my shoulders.

I look at him. "I'll take some time alone to study."

"Don't stay up too late, friend." Tells Kalsed, before leaving me.

I lack of experience in warfare, but I still think it may not go well. Mmm... I know! I know what I can do. I pile up some snow and whistle an arcane note. The snow ignites but the fire don't last long; just enough to turn the snow into water. The water cools down and turn to ice after a few minutes.

I take out a sachet of fine silvery powder from my bag. I pour the content in my hand and blow it on the ice. With the help of my cape, I polish the surface of the ice to see my reflection. This should be enough to work. I sit down in front of the ice mirror and begin reciting the formula in the spellbook. As I speak the magic words, the ice mirror is shimmering with light.

I whistle the final arcane word, raise up, look at my reflection and give it a command:

"Mirror, reveal me the location of Mahaarwina."

My reflection in the ice frowns. He waits a few minutes and answer back. "I cannot grant you this request."

Mmm... this would have been too easy. I'll try something else.

"Mirror, reveal me the name of the leader of the Frozen Citadel, before Mahaarwina."

My reflection gives me a mean look. He closes his eyes and a name appears in magical letters on the ice; Jarl Roglace Nokskotg. Mmm... maybe this would work.

"Mirror, reveal me the location of Jarl Roglace Nokskotg."

My reflection in the ice bows to me. He snaps his fingers and a door appears. The reflection opens the door and I can see a throne room inside. This place is full of ice. The throne, the doors, the walls, the furnitures and the decorations; all made of ice. I see an old frost giant sitting on the throne. There is another next to him, empty.

I can see a door that looks familiar and... the ice shatters! My spell got countered. The priestess may have noticed my attempt to spy them. At least I had some time to look inside the Frozen Citadel.

I whistle an arcane word and ignite what's left of the ice mirror and I walk back to the camp, leaving behind the freezing pond of shimmering water.