This plain was the battlefield of the biggest skirmish between Red Army and central Castall troops. It is actually the natural border between the west region and the central region.
The natural border means the area on the western side is filled with thickets, hogbacks and bayous.
The main reason for the invader's trouncing over the locals was due to these natural structures. From the central region, they only see steep hills, troublesome watery areas and trees but from the other side there is only another plain with easy sloping towards the mounds.
The Red Army could observe the enemy from the high ground and then make surprising ambushes from unexpected openings.
Now, the steep hills function as garrisons to retaliate any attack from the central region.
If the margrave's force attacks and an overall mobilization order is given, these high ground would become staging areas where the troops would gather in order to attack the enemy.
This is one of them, the central garrison, the tallest elevation in the area.
As the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon, the red-tinted land is slowly soaked with the color of night.
A powerful-looking man stood with one foot on the battlements, looking out over the land — beyond the western foothills. After that, he put his foot down.
He is a man who bulged with muscle.
His neck is stout, and his chest muscles are impressive enough that one could sense them even through his thick armor. His powerful arms protrude from his rolled-up sleeves. There is no better way to describe him than “hard boiled” regardless of which part of him one looks at.
His face is like a boulder, weathered by harsh conditions, and his thick brows and unkempt hair speaks of a savage, wild nature. His mighty body and his stern appearance ought to have matched each other. His Ferelden rank was Viscount but a Count in new kingdom's hierarchy. His name is Brian Haddock.
Sitting cross legged on the ground near him is a man, despite having a smaller body than him, possess even ripped muscles than the older man.
He looks physically convincing and agile, yet his hair breaks that trend.
It is cleanly cut but weirdly round, like a bowl, and it feels almost comically out of place. Havinh said that, this man with funny hairstyle had achieved military milestones during battle against Orlais forces in Hyuutia. He is Baron Scott Aldiss.
Such men now look to the sky.
The wind carries the thin clouds at incredible speeds, but even the starry night beyond their gossamer veil could not produce enough starlight to illuminate the land.
Brian Haddock’s nostrils flare, and he take a deep breath, smelling the breath of night through the early autumn air, which is flavored with a hint of winter chill. The violet night sky is swallowing the faint light of dusk upon the horizon with a speed visible to the naked eye.
Meanwhile, Scott Aldiss turns his back to the hills, and looks at the men around him.
They are battle hardened warriors, who trusted those two and who followed them. It is because they are surrounded by such warriors that they permit themselves a moment’s laxity.
After all, the day’s work was done and nobody could dispute that.
***
Baron Scott Aldiss.
He is a man of many accomplishments who, through his fighting skill alone, had earned the honor of being named one of the Redcliffe’s Nine Mountains by the previous Marquis, Eamon Guerrin, title given to the nine best melee fighters in the region.
The reason why such a man remains at such a lowly post stemmed from two problems which Scott Aldiss had.
The first was because he was very free-spirited — he hated taking orders.
The second was because he was lazy.
When these two points came together, they led to a way of life that said, “I hate fighting, it's too troublesome."
There was no need for people who could not obey orders in the military and they were universally loathed as well. Under normal circumstances, it would hardly have been strange if he were disciplined or dishonorably discharged. However, he had not met with such a fate, purely due to his strength. In addition, there were those who admired men like him.
The rough sorts who were unhappy about being ordered about by destitute nobles found Scott’s way of living by the strength of his arm most thrilling.
"Hoi, Scott."
"What, viscount, um..sorry, count Haddock.."
"For the past week, we have sent more and more men from here to the villages in the central region."
"Can't be helped. It's a lot harder to defend helpless villagers than our position here. Thank god, I remain here."
Brian Haddock becomes annoyed.
"We even now have wooden barracks and a sewerage plant in the garrison. Does The King intend to turn this place into a permanent defensive area?"
"You should ask His Majesty. Aren't you close to him?"
Again, Brian Haddock is annoyed at that reply.
"Does he really have any plans to take the central region?"
Not saying anything, Scott just shows a hand gesture that indicates he has no idea what the King is thinking.
Brian Haddock sighs.
Just then, the bell rings.
It would seem that it is time to change over to the night shift. By right, Brian Haddock has been on the lookout from the afternoon until now. Scott Aldiss who just starts should be the one who is in charge of the night shift until the afternoon of the next day. They had spoken at great length, so they would wrap it up with one more thing. As Brian Haddock think that, that notion evaporates from his mind as the bell continued to ring.
Scott Aldiss, follows closely by Brian Haddock, looks to the plain beneath them.
Those bells mean “Enemies sighted.”
They saw sparkles in the darkness and moving black white figures.
It is impossible for them to discern the true identities of the enemies at this distance while in the dark. Therefore, they wait for the group to come nearer.
"White flags."
"Do the enemies intend to surrender?"
"Fool. They want to negotiate...Hey..you!"
A soldier is called.
"Yes, milord."
"You ride as fast as you can to Torun. Summon His Majesty here now. The enemies intend to negotiate."
"Understood."
