The Revolt Of The Provincial Army Recruits

[Steve]

19th Brightening, 3rd Cycle, Month of Kalenryas, Winter Season

The training facility for the Sheria Serpants had been training what was becoming a formidable Provinicial Army. These were civilians being trained by the best, the Imperial Leginnaires. Even when their training was completed, these soldiers were not as capable as a Legionnaire but they knew the basics and could handle a weapon. These recruits were grouped and were in various states of training, ranging from raw recruits to soldiers capable of going into combat.

The trainees could not help but notice the smoke that had been increasing in the past three brightenings. Forest fires in the winter season were not common. On the third brightening the recruits were told about the smoke and the burning of Sheria. The recruits were surprised when they learned that the fires were being set by Imperial Legionnaires. Not only that, but farm land was being salted and wells poisoned. At first they thought that this was being done to territory controled by Orcs. But no, this was being done to territory that was controlled by the Imperial Legion. It seemed that the Imperial Legion had turned against those whom they should have been protecting.

It did not take long for information to become distorted as it was repeated over and over and became even worse. Soon rumors developed about Legionnaires using children as targets for spear training.

Representatives from the different groups met several times, going back and forth to discuss courses of action. Finally the decision was was made to revolt. The well armed recruits took their weapons and the entire group attacked the Legionnaires who were training them. Though greatly outnumbered, the surprised Imperial Legionnaires fought bravely and effectively. For each Legionnaire killed, there were ten Provincial Soldiers killed. All but one of the Legionnaires stood and fought valliantly until killed. The one who escaped was selected to run to Legion Headquarters and report the mutiny.

Once the rebellion was over, many walked off to go home but most of them decided to form military units. The recruit leaders were now military leaders. They were really not ready for battle and their fight with the Legionnaires illustrated that, but they were ready and eager to protect their homeland from the brutes who were worse than the Orcs.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Word of the revolt of the recruits had reached Shield Daekin Dogg in Darkblade Fortress. He was surprised to know of the scorch of Sheria from the surviving Legionnaire who met him. If that was true then the news had to travel really quickly as not even he knew of the orders issued by his Commander in the west and after checking some maps he knew that Hiems wasn't that close for a runner to arrive so shortly after the orders had been issued. The smoke in the sky was visible, true, but its origins were a mystery up to now.

Gathering all the Legionnaires he could muster the veteran Dorin marched to the Training Fields to meet the rebellious recruits.

"What is going on in here?! Who is in command here?!"

He shouted to the first group of Serpents he met, his voice was a bark and although he had rarely been seen in the Training Fields he was widely known for his ferociousness and the strict discipline he demanded from the men under his command.

"I want order restored! Stop listening to nonsenses brought by some Orcish spy, the origins of the smoke in the horizon are still unknown to me, an Imperial NCO, how could you simple soldiers know about it? I want the leaders of this uprising brought before me, I'm not tolerating this kind of behaviour!"

Justice in time of war had to be swift and Dogg didn't want to lose time. His men behind him were tighly packed and expecting the worse, the anger of the Serpents had followed the survivor and tales of the atrocities committed to the Legionnaires in the Fields were already known.