Rise of the Horde

Adhalia started adding new markings on the map that was on the enormous table when everyone was settled down. She marked the places that she traveled along the way as she headed for the Orcish lands before being captured by the Galuk orcs.

Everybody watched in silence as all their gazes were focused on what Adhalia was doing. It was drop dead silent inside the hall and they can even hear their own heartbeats when Adhalia stops for a few moments while remembering the details of her travels.

It took her a few moments before she had created an almost complete map of Ereia. Xiao Chen approached the map as he observed the new markings that were added.

"So there are only a few towns along the way and few choke points to slow down our advance when we start our expedition.." Xiao Chen muttered as he scratched his chin.

"Yes, chief, but there would be some villages of the nomadic people along the way who moved from one place to another to herd their cattle. We could start with them as they are easy to befriend, unlike the other Ereians." Adhalia answered while adding a few more markings on the map.

"Judging by the current season, many of them would be here, here and here, but I am not a hundred percent sure if they are there since it\'s been a long time since I last encountered them." she continued as she added more and more markings.

"A month later would be the harvest season and Ereia would be busy in their harvest. The farmers would be in the fields and the number of soldiers available to defend it would dwindle down or the quality of their conscripts would be at an all-time low. And the beast folks further south would raid them more frequently during the harvest season and keep the standing army of Ereia busy for a while." she muttered.

"Yes, we should aim for the harvest season to make our advance easier and for us to prepare better. We still need to train the Skalsser orcs to have them adapt to how our warriors do battle." Xiao Chen muttered as he glanced at the representatives of the Skalssers.

"And we still had to deal with the army that is just a few days of march away to the east. We don\'t want them to strike us on our rears while we are on the move." he continued as he turned towards Sakh\'arran, who nodded his head in reply.

"I could try to convince them first to join us, chief. They might be one of my friends and could aid us in battle with their numbers." Adhalia suggested to them, as she hoped that the Ereian army that was being observed by the Verakhs in the shadows were those who would follow her family. She still had the crest of the Darhkariss with her, which could help her convince them that she really is a Darhkariss.

Xiao Chen nodded his head at her suggestion. "You can give it a try and I hope you can convince them or they will experience the full power of the horde." Trot\'thar butted in as moved his arms and gave them a stretch.

"This perfect one will show them no mercy." Dug\'mhar joined in as he kissed his biceps and flex his muscles, which earned him a slap to the back of her head from Haguk.

"We could also split our forces into two groups. One would move along the towns and cities along the way while our main army would directly head for their capital and take down their highest leader, but it is risky." Sakh\'arran suggested as he inspected the map.

"The Skalsser orcs along with a fourth of the First Kani\'karr Corps could draw out their army and keep them occupied while the main force would bring down their capital." he continued, then looked at their chieftain to ask for his thoughts.

The suggestion of Sakh\'arran was good, but Xiao Chen thought that it is too risky since the terrain of the endless sands is full of danger, especially from nature, and he might lose many of his warriors just against the power of nature. He doesn\'t want to risk it and this was going to be the first battle of his warriors against enemies that they know almost nothing about. They needed to be baptized by many battles against them first in order to adapt to the way they fight and specially with how sly humans are, there is bound to be someone among them with a brilliant mind that can toy around with his simple-minded warriors.

"We don\'t want to risk it. I need the all the warriors that are available to move together as one. We are heading to a place that we haven\'t been to before and with only one guide to lead the way, it\'s too risky." Xiao Chen replied to Sakh\'arran\'s suggestion.

"And even if Adhalia successfully convinces the Ereian army that is nearby for us to have more guides. It\'s still too risky. We never know what is going to happen, and it\'s better for all of us to be intact." he continued while glancing towards the representatives of the Skalssers who have been silent all this time.

*****

After the meeting, Xiao Chen went on a stroll around the fortress as he inspected all of its corners to ensure that the place would stand strong. He went around the fortress without his armor and with just the two blades on his back to mingle with the Skalsser orcs for him to know their thoughts. Xiao Chen even ditched the two ladies who were keeping him under surveillance as he used his skills to leave them behind. He took a cloth and wore it on his head to somehow make it harder for the members of the First Horde to know who he was with just a simple glance.

Food was abundant in the fortress as there were plenty of supplies being delivered here by wagons from the city of Yohan. There was also no problem with the water supply, as there were plenty of freshwater resources around the fortress. The cleanliness of the fort was also commendable as Xiao Chen spotted latrines around the fort and even the Skalsser orcs were using them.

He aimlessly walked around as he listened to the words of their new friends. A smile crept up to have his lips as he heard positive comments from their new friends about their new home. With how things are developing, it would be easier for him to fully incorporate them into his tribe. The more members he could gather, the stronger he will become and with the aid of his mysterious system, everything would go well even if till now he still doesn\'t know the purpose of the system that latched on to him and its reason for choosing him.