Cyrdic crossed his arms and listened to the exchange, actually a bit amused at the rumor surrounding the Ostland Baron. He'd heard a few tales of the two of them the past few days, but that certainly was a new one. He tilted his head, his ears twitching a bit as the two conversed. If Cyrdic didn't already know Camilla, he wouldn't have doubted the Duchess claim. She certainly carried herself like he'd imagine the ruler of a city would. And that wasn't a bad thing, honestly. It was pretty attractive, truth be told. It was then he wondered, had he ever heard of Pavona? Miragiliano yes, but...no he was certain he had. Oh well, it mattered little.

This little man had impressed Cyrdic as well, and he gripped his Ulrican sword hilt for emphasis when he next spoke. "Stay on the Wagon with Camilla. I'll be right next to both of you." He told herr Olden. The learned man gave an accepting nod, pleased that he could continue to speak to Camilla, as well as Cyrdic to learn more of their exploits. "Did you ever go to a university, herr Becker?" Olden asked. 

Cyrdic snorted. "No. Why?" 

"You speak less like a country man. Gruffly, certainly. But you've less slang, I suppose." Olden said. "I've an ear for these things." He explained, almost guiltily. 

"I was forced to read in my younger years of serving the military. I got into trouble, and worked for the Quartermaster," Cyrdic said, smiling when recalling the memory. 

"Ah, I see. Anywho, how long until we reach Altdorf?" 

"It should be a week until Carroburg, and then another day before we reach the Capital proper." Cyrdic explained. "That is, unless we run into trouble."

"What would attack such a heavily armed retinue?" 
[hr] 

[i]Hours later...[/i]

The scream was faint, as if it was made just within the cusp of the horrible mist. It echoed off the trees, causing it to seem unreal, like from within some nightmare one had difficulty recalling. Cyrdic's eyes steeled, and men muttered in confusion as the young Sergeant stood vigil, trying to garner the source of the cry. He needn't have worried, for a very real crash was heard from behind, which caused the rough and ready soldier to spin. Men scrambled and one cried out in dismay, for something very heavy had hit one of the caravan's wagons.

"Out of the way!" Cyrdic ordered, shoving men to the side as he pushed through the throng to stand face to face with the mangled corpse of a swordsman, his unseeing eyes staring straight into Cyrdic's. He knew the man, what's more. Richter had been a fair soldier by all accounts. "What..." Cyrdic breathed, unable to comprehend the loss for what it was. His instincts kicked in as a defense mechanism almost instantly, and as he turned back towards the mist, he saw something he expected, but wasn't quite prepared for.

An enormous towering creature stood like a nightmarish statue at the edge of the treeline, a great Minotaur-like beastman with hate filled eyes. It's jaws were open, revealing serpent-like fangs and buckets of drool drizzling upon the ground. In its left hand it easily held a double headed axe that not even two men could haul effectively. A horrible lizard-like tongue slithered out of its maw and licked its muzzle, still crimson from the bite it took out of poor Richter.

Behind the bullheaded creature, silhouettes began to materialize within the mist, growing more solidified as they approached with a terrifying slowness. Some were not quite as large as the Minotaur, but were a head taller than the other men, clad in blackiron armor and hefting aloft ornate swords of hellmetal. Chosen warriors of Chaos. To look upon them was a daunting sight, much less the possibility of fighting them.

Between the plate armored warriors, other beastmen began to stream out of the forest's depths and ran hooting and howling towards the empire's caravan. Monsters with the heads of Elks, bears, wolves and goats. They each had various grotesque mutations that showed the stigma of chaos, and they held their crude but brutal weapons high as they charged.

"Form up!" the Captain yelled. One arrow sliced out of the mist and hit Captain Holmmann beneath the armpit, staggering him and causing him to cry out. "By the Hammer's mercy..." Cyrdic whispered, before he broke out of his reverie with all of the rage in his heart for such abominations to dare attack an Imperial caravan. "Shield up! Halberds Down!" He roared, unsheathing his sword. Men hustled to obey his orders. "Make ready! Arquebusers!" The riflemen got to their knees and hastened their loaded weapons. "On my mark!"

As the men formed up and began to make a plausible defense, a booming voice was heard from the very front of the line. "Sons of Sigmar!" the Warrior Priest called out, his huge hammer lifted high in one, powerful hand. "For. the. Empire!"  
[@Penny]