[center][h3][color=E4D00A]Hugh – Bloodstained Field[/color][/h3][/center]

Scarcely had the sun risen before the Reclaimers departed the village.  For another hour they walked northwest, most in a sort of anticipatory silence.  After all, they were en route to the site of the mysterious reports.  None knew quite what to expect, leaving imaginations to wander.  Were they to find monstrous undead stalking the fields, like the legendary Risen?  Was a band of cultish dark mages prowling among the dead, seeking trophies and samples for horrible, occult experiments?  Were the unknown groups allegedly hanging around the fringes of the fight mere scavengers seeking to make a killing off the corpses' loot, or omens of something far more dire?

As it happened, the scene of battle was far less devoid than Hugh had expected.  When the Reclaimers drew near to the sparsely-forested area, they encountered a division of the Bravuran royal army.  The camp, as they passed through, was in a sorry state of affairs.  Groans and cries of pain through the tents, the familiar and woeful sight of lacking field medicine, and obvious damage to equipment could mean only one thing: another skirmish had just been waged.  “Hmm...” Hugh murmured as he looked around, audible to only the few Reclaimers nearest.  “I hadn't expected this to be a live battlefield.  Panoplian fighters must be on the other side of this expanse.  We're going to have to tread carefully to avoid being mistaken for marauders.”

After approaching the commander of the division, explaining what the Reclaimers were up to, and attaining his permission, Hugh approached the convoy and the soldiers around it.  “Alright.  We're leaving the convoy here and heading in.  According to Commander Shepadd, the lurkers have been spotted to the north.  Between us and them is the battlefield, including several copses of trees, a small river, and a hill, from which they are purportedly surveying the scene.  Dylan, since you are the fastest, I would like you to take a discreet look at the hill from the east and report back.  We need to know if there are more of them hiding in the trees, and if there are any bolt holes they might disappear into.  Once you've found it, report back to me and Gaius.  My plan so far is to send you, Kel, and Taene to fly around and flush them away from the northern trees, and the rest of us to move from copse to copse until we're close enough to ambush them.  Depending on what Dylan finds, however, I might need you, Gaius, to help me amend that plan.  Get ready for battle, Reclaimers.  It's time we see our enemy's face.”