Maximum Conquest

Maximus loved the wilds, or Draconia, or whatever it was called. The barbarians of the steppe never really threatened Dragon and never really needed all of his talents. The Generals and soldiers from Geneva were worthy opponents but the Council of Lords lacked the courage for prolonged conflict. He, General Maximus Testosterous, was the first general to take hold and occupy Genevan land. Cyrodil fools, and other soliders from Dragon did the same but only once the armies were gone at the crusade, what strength and honor did that prove? Yet here he daily had the opportunity to fight endless conflicts and spread conquest.

Never against the same opponent either. The land here held a huge collection of various tribes, creatures and so forth all with their different strengths and weaknesses. He could fight hordes of skeletal undead in the morning and then repeal an attack of ogres over lunch and then end the day slaughtering an enclave of drow. It was marvelous.

Yet for all the disorganized savagery and wildness of the wilds many of the captured natives reported that nearly every tribe and settlement sought the approval and guidance of the Druid Council. It appeared to be the closest thing to a government this rabble had. Naturally it was his target. Lord Captain Raz Guz had obtained the location of the grove from a Wemic King which surrendered to him and on Maximus's orders had been burning forest and putting pressure from the north. Maximus have left the 3rd way gate with his polished Draconian forces and would approach from the south. Today was a day bards would sing of.

"Scouts reports the Gibberling horde is over 200 strong and charging this direction as if in stampede." His officer reported.

"Good let them come. No quarter only if the druids realize they can not surrender will they muster all their strength to meet us, it will allows us to destroy all of their forces and break their spirits at once instead of over time." He replied.

"Yes my lord the order is given."

"Form up the men standard legion line." He only had 50 men with him and gibberlings could easily overwhelm in mass but they would break against his lines. He thought about bringing more but there was no more. He had to protect all of the held territories which were all under heavy assault almost constantly. He preferred this as the victory would be more dramatic. Blood and glory.

The officers issued the orders. The men took the standard legion formation standing shoulder to shoulder then every other men took one step backwards making a jagged line. The gibberinglins came out of the tree line hurried and raving. Crude shields and daggers were the only armaments they had.

"Javelin loose." The front line of men threw their short weighted javelins into the horde. It did not slow the horde nor did it kill many as their shields absorbed the attacks. However, the shield plus the weight of the javelin made it to heavy to lift so shields were dropped or drug.
"Draw swords." The men all drew their short swords and stood unmoving a wall against a wave.

The gibberlings collided like a charging torrent. The charged so fast they wedged themselves in the gaps between the men's staggered formation. Exactly as planned. The men took their drawn swords and stabbed to their right holding their shields firm in front. The gibberlings were busy trying to take down the shield in front of them and with their own shields weighed down they were open targets. Every gibberling that had filled the gaps died to be replaced with new screaming masses and killed again, again again and again. It was that way until the bodies were too much for the gibberlings to continue to fit in the gaps.

A trumpet sounded signalling the changing of formation. The front row of the staggerred formation took 4 steps backward now inverting the stagger. It created new gaps for the gibberlings to fill and they did. The cycle of death repeated.

Soon the horde was thinned. So much so the gibberlings tried to disengage and retreat from Maximus's unbreakable wall. He gave the signal and another trumpet signal caused all the men to kneel. This revealed a row of archers with arrows drawn. They loosed in perfect unision exercising a wave of death into the crowd just above the helmets of the kneeling men.

The gibberlings fled in terror and panic only to find Maximus's final trap. The ground behind the horde had been changed to mud. The gibberlings were paniced but after the first dozen or so had been caught in the trap they turned to try and fight their way free. A trumpet signalled the charge of his small calvary force which had till now hid in the trees. The demoralized gibberlings easily fell in unorganized masses. After the charge only a few panicked wounded survivors remained. A final trumpet signal and the sword men charged to rush overwhelm and dispatch the remaining filth.

It took only a few minutes to wipe up the few that were left and kill the wounded.

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The sun was setting as he met Raz Guz and his forces on the edge of the grove. Maximus had them from all sides now. "Lord Captain Raz Guz come with me King Scourge as well. We'll go meet the besieged Druids and negotiate their surrender. Hopefully they refuse and we can burn this down and be done with it. But I have to offer because their surrender could mean endorsement of us to the natives and an easier subjection."

He rode in on his black stallion adorned with the armor of a General of Dragon gleaming in the evening sun. His lords flanked him as he strode into the center of their stone henge and surveyed what he considered now to be his. On the far end of the stone circle was a bound druid. Raz guz's men had taken the grove earlier reports said they only found one druid. Maximus wondered if Raz Guz was lieing, it seemed his nature to do so but it did not matter the field was his. He dismounted and strode to the captive his black cape only slightly ruffling.

"You are beaten, these lands are mine. Concede them to me and you will find me merciful, resist and you will find your life forfeit and this grove burned to ash."

He responded with surprising serenity, "The sun may set and for a period darknest night, only to again welcome the suns rise and warmth of day. If you are the herald of such night then I welcome you. If death take me then I welcome it. To fight such is as foolish as to fight against winter."

"Your sun may set buy mine rises and as far as that sun reaches will answer to Maximus the terrible, Maximus the fierce, Maximus the MIGHTY. That sun rises for me now."

"It rises for us all. You and me."

"Enough tree loving nonsense druid where are the others?"

"The leaves go as the wind blows."

Striking him hard in the gut, "I can make you talk pains and torture you could never experience in the company of butterflies and squirrels."

"Pain is life. It helps us know joy as joy helps us know pain."

"ENOUGH!!! The natives here seem to think you are pretty important. A king Maker is what Scourge calls you. You made his brother king instead of he. Well I made him king. Of the two of us only one could enforce our strength. However, it would save many of the lives of the natives if you simply proclaimed me the ruler of all under heaven. I would let you join my court and live a very comfortable life hugging whatever tree you prefer."

A new voice spoke. From one of the trees, "Strength does not make one a king. No more than wings make a bird a cloud. To be in the same space as a cloud does not mean you are a cloud. To sit on the same throne of a king does make make you a king. Only the wisdom and love for your people can do that." It was an Ent. A very old ent by the looks of it, "The virtue of strength will fail. Galendriel's followers love her. Love is greater than strength she will never fall to you."

Maximus turned to the ent, "Who is Gallendriel? The Grand Druid?"

The tree laughed or so he thought, "No She is the Crimson Queen by right. She will restore Hyrule the land of her fathers. The land that you stand on is rightfully ruled by her."

"Where is she?"

"I do not know where my friend is." It was a long pause. Maximus began to wonder if the tree had fallen asleep.

"Cut it down and burn it. Burn it all down. We'll take the Druid back to the citadel in the city and make him talk." General Maximus gave the order. "Yes general." Was all Raz guz said and it was done. The orc charged in biting gnawing hacking burning. In a few moments the most sacred of spaces was defiled ruined and destroyed.

Before he teleported back with his captive and prize he spoke to Raz Guz, "You did well to find this place. Your Talents should be rewarded. I name you Lord Captain Commander. Your voice is now second only to my own. I have a new task for you Commander. Find anything you can on this Gallendriel and Hyrule. If you find her tell her I will gladly meet her in open battle to determine the fate of rulership of this land. I will also take her surrender. When the druid breaks and gives us more information I'll send a messenger to you."

"Yes General" was all he said in return.