Private Tales One Steppe At A Time

[Agatha]

Taagi Baara Steppes
Sometime ago​

The grasslands stretched for as far as the eye could see. Standing up in her stirrups, Captain Agatha of the Blackshields cast her eyes towards the horizon. The ever-present sun glared down at her as she did, bathing her and the company in light. Sweating, sulking, theirs was a host of killers, bastards and broken men. But a host nonetheless, Agatha thought, using a gloveless hand to swat a horsefly as it alighted 'pon her hog's neck. The beast shivered beneath the strike, gave a snort.

"Careful there, cap'n!" A voice called out from amidst the ranks. "A few more slaps like that an' she'll buck you."

Grabbing a fistful of bristly hair, Agatha turned her hog about in order to address the speaker. Clad in mail, with a nasal helm resting high on his scalp, the trooper in question looked every bit uncomfortable as she felt. Moreso, even. For few men lived long enough to provoke Agatha's ire; even fewer survived it. "Did I ask for your advice?" She demanded, her usual smile finding its way to her face albeit with a sardonic twist. "Do you think I need it?" Staring down at the warrior, the she-orc watched with amusement as the trooper wilted beneath her gaze.

"N-no, captain, not at all!" Taking a step back, the mercenary dipped his head in respect. "I didn't mean any disrespect. 'Pon my soul, I didn't! It was just a foolish jest."

Feigning disappointment, Agatha cast her gaze towards the other warriors under her command. A few were smirking, either at her reaction or their brother's grovelling. Or both. "Anyone else feel like jesting?!" She bellowed, wiping the smirks from their faces in one fell swoop. "If so, save it for the horse lords on our asses. I'm sure they'd love to hear what you have to say... assuming they don't fillet you with arrows first." Eyeing her brothers and sisters closely, the captain hooked a finger over her shoulder.

"See that big dust cloud behind me? It belongs to Han Darbai's host. Three thousand mounted warriors, by my reckoning. Care to guess who they're chasing?" Pausing for a moment, the captain cast her eyes towards the encroaching dust storm. "Now, unless you want to face those horse-fuckers and their endless supply of arrows on open ground, I suggest you get back to marching." Lifting her golden eyes to the sun, Agatha listened as the sergeants caught on.

"Right, lads, you heard the captain! At the double! Quick~ march!"

A chorus of footfalls replaced the distant rumble of hooves as the second began it's journey once more. Agatha turned to one of her escort. "Find me Nugai and Two Eyes. And be quick about it."

 

[Nugai]

He pulled his hat a bit lower over his face. If he couldn't see the sun, it was easier to pretend like it wasn't baking him alive.

They were in a situation where if their scouts did everything right, no one would ever give him any credit, but if they fucked up they were all dead. So, as much as he hated thankless tasks, he had to make sure it was clean. The margin for error wasn't quite at zero, but it was close enough that he could feel the sword on his neck.

"We've been in worse," Nugai whispered as he gave Bato a soft pat on the neck.

He clicked his heels as he saw a small plume of dust cut away from the main host of the second. It was on a direct course for him, so he tugged on the reins to pull Bato towards the messenger. Agatha had wanted him to stay close, so it wasn't odd that she would've called for him and he'd been waiting for the summons.

His Ibek bound its way over to the incoming mercenary and he pulled up as the other soldier shouted, "Cap'ns needs you five minutes ago, Nugai."

He gave the other soldier a nod in affirmation and avoided making an offhanded comment about haste. There were few of the mounts in the entire company that could match Bato on a bad day. Today, his companion seemed to bristle with energy and he hardly needed the nudge to make his quick way towards the company. His left hand went up to his hat, to keep it atop his head as the rushing wind tempted it to fall back. Slight pressure with his knees were all that he needed to keep them on track, though. So, he was able to keep ahold of his bow as well as his hat with relative ease.

"Woah," He instinctively shouted as they approached. He offered a quick salute and a sharp bow of his head. "Someone said you were looking for me, Cap'n."

 

[Khulan Altan]

Atop a bluff sat the Red Ass of the Steppes, mounted upon his silver boar. His daughter preferred her steppe horse, shaggy and stocky little beast that it was.

"To think," Khulan started, heavy scowl carved deep into the stony features of his face. "This rabble dares harry us," the old mercenary raised the bottle to his lips, a dried out gourd which sloshed about with wine, and took a glug with his eyes still on the horizon. Stare fixed upon the plume of dust which rose in the distance.

"They have speed, and numbers, father," Enkhtuya provided, her voice soft, yet pointed. "Captain Agatha has done well to avoid conflict on the open field,"

"Bah," Khulan barked and wiped away the drink that shone on his lips. "What else can a fool do, but keep from stumbling?" he grumbled, and clicked his tongue, shifting his weight to guide the beast to turn. It walked back toward the main host, and Enkhtuya followed after.

"It does not do well to speak so poorly of your comrade, father," she said, more steel in her tone.

"Pretending there is a road when the path is but a knife's edge helps none either, dearest daughter." The old mercenary huffed. A pair of clicks this time, and kicked heels set his steed to trot forward, the boar's mass lurching forward with a rush of speed.

Enkhtuya shook her head, and followed after.

Soon, they would rendezvous with Captain Agatha.

 

[Agatha]

With her attention focused fully on the nearest horizon, Agatha nearly didn't hear Nugai as he approached. Reputed to be the best scout in the company, Nugai was exactly the type of man Agatha needed to see her people safely back across the Sayve. Or at least to the Beard - that distant stretch of hills that would offer her people some shelter from the growing shitstorm on their heels.

"How familiar are you with this part of the world, Nugai?" She asked the scout, returning his salute more out of respect than anything else. "You were born here, were you not? On the Steppes?" Turning in her saddle, the captain tore her gaze away from the Han's war host to look her subordinate in the eye. Smiling gently, the she-orc waited patiently for the man to respond.

Her warriors had already tasted her venom this day. Now, she could go back to being her usual cheerful self. Calm, and composed - for the time being, at least. Save the rest for later, she thought, blinking the sweat from her eyes. Save it for the Han.

Turning back, Agatha continued her vigil. The last elements of the Second, now sandwiched comfortably between Cato's third company and Khulan's 'bloody fourth', marched on by, seemingly content to save their breath for the miles ahead of them. A wise choice. Agatha wasn't sure she could stomach another smartass remark, today of all days. 'Sides, her outburst had been something of a breakdown in discipline; and that she simply couldn't abide.

"I'm thinking, sooner or later, we're going to have to face that horde." Pausing, Agatha grimaced as the smell of pig shit made its way to her nose. "At this rate, it'll be sooner. That's the reason I summoned you. I need someone to slow them down, and you seem the perfect man for the job. You know these lands, after all, and the people who call them home. You know their strengths, their weaknesses. Most of all, however, you know their tricks."

Smiling, the she-orc captain gave the steppe rider a keen-eyed look. "I need you and Two Eyes to be just as tricky. I'd ask Captain Cato for assistance, but his boys seem to be in a bit of a rush. As our mine, truth be told." Shrugging, Agatha turned away. "That being said, you needn't worry too much about getting support. I have a plan, you see, and here come the means to see it executed."

The pounding of hooves grew louder as, right on time, Khulan arrived, bringing his daughter with him.

 

[Nugai]

Sweat trickled from his brow as he raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his eyes. He took a hard look at the distant plume of dust that represented their eventual greeting party. Not a party that he'd normally want to meet, but hopes were piss in the wind.

"Aye, I was born in the Steppes. If anyone can slow that beast, we might be the ones to do it. Still going to need a hell of a plan, Captain."

Her smile said everything that he needed to know. There was clearly some kind of scheme working its way onto this little chase, and he'd always cast his lot with Captain Agatha before whatever third rate captain they had nipping at their heels. They'd already shown little regard for safety on this pursuit, it wouldn't be unimaginable for them to stumble. It was still a hell of a gamble.

As Captain Khulan arrived, it gave him more of a hint as to what they were going for. He offered a quick salute and a nod of the head. These were quick times, so it wouldn't be prudent to waste time with anything more formal than that.

There were many ways to disrupt a train such as the one that was behind them. He wanted to believe that he could leverage his knowledge of the Steppes to help aid them, but he'd never been much of a plans guy. There had been times in the past where he'd been involved in hit and run maneuvers to scare off larger hosts, but he'd always been under the command of other greater minds. Luckily, that was where Captain Agatha came in.

"What did you have in mind, if I might be so bold?"

He swatted a fly, as it landed on his arm. They were biting, and he wondered if there was going to be a storm in the near future. The sky seemed empty of clouds, but a little bit of cover might be the break they needed.

 

[Khulan Altan]

Large was the Red Ass, and larger still was he upon his silver pig. "Captain Agatha," he grunt. And looked at Nugai. "Quiet one," he nodded to each in turn.

Enkhtuya nodded her own greeting. "My father worries for the fate of the footmen, Captain Agatha,"

Khulan sucked in breath, his whole frame swelled like a toad ready to croak. "I!" His red face turned almost purple, but he bit his tongue, and glowered down at the dirt, grumbling as his daughter did not look to him.

"But I assured him you had a plan," she added softly.

Khulan huffed, and the air left him slowly with his exhalation. "Yes," he agreed. "I would hear this plan. Captain,"

 

[Agatha]

"You'll find out soon enough. Trust me, it's not as complex as you're probably thinking." Looking away from Nugai, Agatha greeted her fellow captain with a raised hand and a smile. "Friend Khulan! So nice of you to finally join us!" She said, swiftly shifting her gaze to Enkhtuya as the outrider gave mention of infantry and her father's worries. Not that he actually had any, of course, so soaked in drink was he of the Steppes.

Sniffing at the air, Agatha shook her head ever so slightly. It had been quite some time since she had seen eye to eye with Khulan. In her mind -and most everyone else's- he was a drunkard and a fool, barely capable of looking after himself, let alone a company. Still, he was a brother. It wouldn't do to think ill of him.

Nor his flesh and blood.

"Thank you, Enkhtuya. I know how... stubborn your father can be when he sets his mind on something." Darting her eyes towards Khulan, the captain gave him a knowing smile as she shifted in her saddle once more. Her hog, as big and beautifully hideous as the ass's, snorted, before sticking its snout in the dirt. No doubt rooting for something to eat, Agatha thought, her expression turning grim as her gaze went beyond Khulan to the distant plume of dust.

"We find ourselves in something of a predicament, wouldn't you agree? From where we sit, it's seven miles to the Beard. Seven miles of open ground over which our mixed force must march if we're to stand a chance of seeing off that host at our backs. At the current rate of march, we'll still be a few miles short by the time their vanguard catches up with us. So, here is what I propose: the four of us, including good Ser Two Eyes, take thirty riders apiece and try to screen our people long enough to reach the place we're going."

Pausing, the captain patted her hog with a gauntleted hand. The beast, noble and smelling, snorted as if to acknowledge its mistress.

"I know what you're thinking... that sounds like a fool-ass plan, and you'd be right. It is a fool-ass plan. However, assuming we can kick up enough dust between the five of us, we should be able to hide our force well enough to slow the enemy. For the Han is a cautious man. He will not pursue that which he cannot see. Well, not with any great haste, anyway."

"What say you all?"

Khulan Altan Nugai