Fall of Haven

Battle of Highrock

The Grand Army of the Haven Republic was making our debut on the desert plains of Highrock. Leading the way are the soldiers of the Legion. Like every other soldier on the field I was fresh out of training. Knowing little more than the basics of battlefield strategy, weapon handling, and even what we were up against everyone's objective was simply to survive the 122nd Legion's first foray into combat.

My first day as a member of the 122nd, it was hot, it was sandy, chaotic, and nothing at all like the simulation training on Tolk. Of course, that's pretty much the way it was for all of us. All those test and all the years of training don't really prepare you for all the screaming or the blood does it? Frankly, I'm still amazed we ever made it through the first hour, never mind the first day.

Riding in back of the armored carriage there was an overwhelming sense of nervousness. It was quiet and looking around all you can see are the full faced helmets and plate armor of our division. The shiny steel armor with fresh blue and white trim shined in the light of the few holes in the canopy of our carriage. After what seemed like an eternity the silence was broken, the sounds of battle we have heard about all this time. Then it hit, a flaming boulder strikes mere yards away from our carriage and arrows start deflecting off of the armored shielding of our transport. As I looked around our squad leader was looking straight ahead as if he was completely calm. He then began thumping his sword on the wooden floor of the carriage.

*Thump Thump Thump...*

I looked around at the others curious on what our response was for this. But everyone seemed as confused as I was. Was this his way of getting the nerves out? But then I realized...

*Thump Thump Thump...*

I swiftly followed suite and began thumping my sword on the group in a similar statuesque stance.

*Thump Thump Thump...*

The others see what is happening and the mood shifts from worry to excitement and eagerness as we all start thumping our swords, unifying ourselves on one accord. The transport shakes as another boulder slams near us and leaving a trail of fire as it rolls off.

The sound of thumping has drowned out the yelling and has also infected the other transports. We didn't even notice our carriage gaining speed and our ride becoming more and more unstable and we didn't care. We were ready to greet death at his door and come back ready to do it again.

I look out the back and shade comes over the convoy as we enter a tunnel. Our carriage stops in our designated staging area and the hatch opens.

"It's show time Legion! Give 'em hell!" we hear as our commanding officer Master Champion Worgar ushers us into formation behind a stone wall, our shields raised for protection of whatever is behind the barrier.

The wall falls forward as mammoths push against it and horns blare signaling our charge. We felt prepared as our first real charge into battle began. Bursting through a secondary wall with our shields, we emerge onto an open field of combat. Though we had very little intelligence on who or what we were fighting, we could clearly see who was on our side.

The Champions have been here fighting for what must have been ages against these machines. I've never seen anything like it. Hundreds upon hundreds of constructs trading blows with some of the most powerful warriors in the world.

At that point it sunk in that this is what we have been trying to prepare for. Just as I snap back to reality I nearly dodge away from a club swinging by my face. I prepare for a follow up attack and when I look around I get my first glance of these finely crafted death machines. The lifeless eyes and the bloody metal body were enough to make lesser men yield. I bring my longsword up and parry the backhand swing, deflecting the club up and away as I follow up with a strong swipe down across the constructs body. Not even a stagger from the machine as it grabs my breastplate and slams me to the ground. Before it could finish flattening me all of a sudden the head slides off and the construct falls over on its side. Champion Worgar reaches out his hand and helps me up.