Letter from Bretonnia (March 28th)

My Lord Charles, Duc de L’Anguille

Once again there is a foul stench that blows in on the ocean breeze of Bretonnia’s northern coast. It is not the stench of corpses on the shore; the hundreds of dead citizens who lie in the sand where they were cut down defending their homeland. Nor is it the stench of the bitter, cruel beings that lurk in dark ships just over the horizon, anticipating their next attack on our

beloved shores. The stench that fills my nostrils this day is far worse than any other I can imagine. It is the fetid stench of dishonor and defilement…for the Dark Elf Raiders have returned to plague our shores and enslave our people.

I find it difficult to express my utter disgust for these evil creatures. They conduct their affairs of battle without honor; attacking our coasts, villages and inhabitants without provocation. They kill soldiers, women, and children with equal abandon. Those they do not kill are clasped in irons and taken from our beloved land to a fate which sickens me even to contemplate. The captives are enslaved to serve these masters of cruelty in the dark land of Nagarroth. I can imagine no worse fate for the proud and honorable citizens of this land.

The dark menace behind these evil deeds is the reviled captain of the Black Ark "Despair". I have learned his name of late and it burns my tongue to utter it: Malebentius Damous.

He was sighted at the raid on the village of E’ntebbe less than one week ago. The village militia put up a particularly valiant resistance to the attacking corsairs in hopes of delaying them until my forces arrived to answer their alarm. Realizing his corsairs might be driven off before obtaining their precious bounty Daemous himself rode out to spur them on. From the hills of the approach route overlooking the beach, my knights and I witnessed the carnage.

The village militia outnumbered the Elven raiding party only slightly and had managed to prevent the center of their line from breaking. Their numbers were rapidly diminishing however, as the vicious Corsairs relentlessly continued their advance. Suddenly from the gaping maw of the Black Ark, a regiment of Dark Horsemen emerged. They were led by a figure who even at my great distance, appeared the embodiment of chilling evil. This was without a doubt Captain Damous. He led his riders down the gangplank and splashed ashore, first at a trot but quickly building to a gallop. Seeing this, I ordered my knights to follow me down the hill to save the villagers and destroy the Dark Elves.

As we rode headlong down the steep embankment, I made every effort to maintain the location of the dreaded Captain Damous. He had by this time reached the rear of the struggling Corsairs. Then, as if swinging open the gate on a fence, the center of that line gave way, allowing him and his riders to impact the surprised village militia at full gallop. In an instant, Damous had taken off several heads with his cruel blade, panicking the militia and breaking their line.

At the sight of this, I spurred my horse deeply to quicken his already rapid pace, but I knew in my heart that I we would not reach the battle in time. The Dark Riders pressed on, hacking ruthlessly at the now fleeing villagers and taking heads and limbs with almost every swing of their blades. And all the while, their leader continued unabated. It seemed as though nothing could stand before him.

A blast from my regiment’s herald to assume the Lance formation also served to alert the evil ones of our arrival. To this point they were apparently unaware of our presence as they relentlessly pursued the remnants of the militia back toward the village. Realizing he would soon have to face more than ill-trained citizens Damous immediately reined in his dark steed and ordered his troops to reform. But the riders were unable to stop their advance as quickly as their captain and it looked for a moment as though they would continue their sickening pursuit right into the tips of our lowered lances!

But before we could reach our quarry, a volley of crossbow and bolt-thrower missiles the likes of which I had never witnessed before halted our charge. The bolts rained in from the decks of "Despair" into our left flank as we charged across the beach to engage the dark riders. In the blink of an eye I had lost more than a dozen brave knights of 50, and my men could not continue in the face of the devastating barrage. Our enemy, seeing us falter, turned tail and fled towards the safety of their ship as the missiles continued to pour into my confused and crippled men. I commanded them to retreat but could not maintain good order and many more of my men were struck from their steeds as we attempted to flee.

Once we were safely beyond the range of the missiles, we regrouped and prepared to face the enemy again, but it was no use. The enemy had returned to their foul craft and was setting sail. On the main deck, I could see that blasphemous soul, Malebentius Damous watching us as even then, he calculated the specifics of his next attack.

My Lord, I write to you not to make excuses but to beg your forgiveness and assistance. There is little doubt that Damous will continue to plague our shores and with my small garrison remaining, I am unable to adequately reinforce the coastal villages. It is certain that without your help, many more will be slaughtered or taken captive. I implore you, do not allow this travesty of justice to persist!

Eagerly awaiting your advice and assistance,

Marcel Roche

Knight Captain of the Realm