Retribution 1106

We entered Norska as the snow stated to clear from the valleys, just the right time for an invading force. The difference was that the massed armies weren't there to invade Norska but were there on the request of the Norskans to free the area around Thor's Temple in the Forest of Frieg from the Swarm.

The mercenary camp was fairly large but somewhat exposed out beyond the factions though close to the Lions. We had representatives from the Lion azure, Merchant Militia, Talastri, and Sigmarite mercenary companies. We also had two exile groups - the Silver Oak were still sorting out their differences with the AlGaia leadership and we had the 95th of foot under King Shaka who had issues with the viper leadership and were hiring themselves out as mercenaries. There was a very large Hei Ravni presence though they mostly kept themselves to their own compound on the side and found a home for the sole member of the Caliphate who had travelled so far North.

Unfortunately a force of the size involved couldn't hope to arrive without being noticed and despite the best efforts of the scouts the Swarm were alerted to our presence. We were still setting up when the first Swarm attacks hit the camp - suicide troops came in at speed sowing some kind of dust or powder. It wasn't long before we found out what the powder was as everyone that had come in contact with it came down sick and it rapidly spread from them to anyone that came close. Within a very short time the vast majority of those present were affected.

It soon became apparent that we were up against two of the Swarms leaders - Snikt and Bubus, the master of pestilence - and that Bubus had prepared a special disease just for us. There was something in the disease that meant that while the usual cures for disease would appear to work, they would only work for a short while. We had three or four days to live but would be getting steadily weaker as the disease progressed.

Within an amazingly short time all the alchemists that were present had been brought together under the leadership of Stenkill of the Wolves and a plan of action was being followed to find a cure. For the rest of the weekend little groups of alchemists, covens I'm told, were to be found moving from camp to camp under very heavy guard and wagons were mobilised to move entire labs from one camp to another to prevent the Swarm from knowing where the research was going on. As the various researches progressed their results were combined and more research was started. It was a very busy time for the alchemists.

In the meantime we had regular patrols of scouts out to infiltrate and disrupt the Swarm lines and they had regular patrols out to infiltrate and disrupt our lines. Attacks were common and often very heavy.

A couple of days in the Vipers, AlGaia, Jhereg, and Hei-Ravni took to the field in an attempt to recapture Thor's Temple so the alchemists could have access to its holy spring. They faced a mighty army of the Swarm and were unfortunately thwarted in their attempts to capture the fortified temple though they did kill many of the Swarm. There were many losses in the battle including Mulch of the Evil sunz. The Hei-Ravni took exceptionally heavy losses, around a third of their number, including Kobold Teriyaki that most notable, and fleet, of battlefield water carriers (almost a year to the day since the death of Agna, the other renowned water carrier). Shortly after the battle young Kobold Tsunami, she who could find things before you knew you needed them, fell to an attack on the camp. It was a dire day indeed and the chances of finding a cure for the disease looked much reduced.

The combined mercenaries took the field the next day, nominally under the command of Sgt Rizon, in the service of the college alongside the Wolves, Lions, Fir Cruthen, and Steppe Alliance. We were expecting to be used as a seperate force, and were originally expecting to be protecting General Donald and Master Joseph, but were instead merged into the Wolf forces which was an unexpected honour. Rizon, who left his bow behind due to the effects of the sickness, and King Shaka of the 95th somehow managed to be convinced by General Donald that it was a death or success mission. The battle was long and hard fought. Capturing the temple went fairly smoothly due to the much reduced defence after the previous day's fighting but a Swarm relief column was detected by the scouts and most of the force sallied forth to deal with the approaching threat while the Steppe Alliance protected the alchemists. Shortly after returning to the temple we were once more attacked and the defence turned rapidly into a fight of attrition as wave after wave of Swarm attacked. During this period Lixx the Goblin died in most heroic manner going one-on-one with a rat ogre. Once the alchemists were done and were sure they had enough of the water a breakout was required was required and once more the success of the mission was in the balance though we won through in the end, unfortunately losing one of the Sigmarites in the process but many more were saved by valiant work from the healers. The water was successfully brought to the main camp and passed to the alchemists for them to work on. Many strong bonds were forged during and kind words spoken after the battle and hopefully this will lead to better relationships in the future.

Shortly after the return from battle there was chaos in the mercenary camp as another disease took hold, having been brought back on a souvenir picked up during the battle at the temple, but it was rapidly contained and dealt with by healers from many of the camps.

That night the Lion camp was beset by wave after wave of Solkar followers who must realised that they were exceptionally low on healing and were thus vulnerable. Fortunately healers and surgeons from the Vipers, mercenaries, and Hei Ravni came to their aid or many of those that had survived the battle would not have survived to see morning. Something strange happened to the Sunz - for a while at least - they became peace loving, very confusing.

By this stage the alchemists were working in shifts pretty much round the clock to affect a cure and they succeeded. Rumours abounded that there would not be enough of the cure, that entire camps would have to do without, but they were without merit. In the end everyone was given the cure with the Wolves waiting to the end to ensure everyone else was cured before them.

We'd survived the Swarm's disease and killed a couple of their leaders but had we done enough damage to prevent the Swarm from being a threat in the future? Only time would tell but at least they wouldn't be a threat for a while.