Ch. 5 Emil Returns

Detric, Jaci, and Jasmine moved through the forest towards the main village of the Sylvian Forests at nearly a full sprint. Detric was surprised that he did not tire, they had been moving for days now stopping only for short rests. It was as if The Source itself pushed them along. Who was this Emil, and how had he managed to repel his evil? Detric was confused, but knew that whatever was going on, the Elders must be informed.
They arrived at the central hall in two days, many of the village were surprised to see them return so quickly, and more surprised by the urgency and fear in Jaci's eyes. By the time they reached the central hall, it seemed the entire village followed them in.
“Elmil has returned!” Jaci shouted, ignoring the normal customs of the hall.
All grew silent, and everyone in the hall turned and stared at Jaci in disbelief
“He attacked us outside of Meadowbrook, and Detric repelled him!”
“Detric?” one of the crowd asked
“I found my true song it seems”
“How do you know it was Emil?” Arvid asked
“The red cloak, the blood red eyes, and he knew me...he has come back, and he is powerful. He would have destroyed us were it not for Detric”
“He must be powerful indeed if he has overcome his banishment-” Anshelm began, but was interrupted by another voice, entering the hall
“The northeast patrol is under attack, undead are swarming our borders!” A young elf warrior ran in.
“Emil has returned indeed...we must act quickly” Gereon spoke “Eilert, Pridbjorn, summon your forces, war has returned to our midst. Anshelm, call your clerics, you will be needed to fight this evil. Aloysuis, Detric, gather the war-bairds. The elfkind march to war!”
“Come young Detric, there is much I must tell you” Aloysuis nearly dragged him from the central hall, explaining as they ran to the baird-hall
“Emil was once a great Silver Cleric, one of the most powerful, but he turned, forsaking the ways of The Source, he became a force of great evil, and many clerics and others followed him in his evil ways. He and his followers were banished from the forest, but only by the joint work of our clerics here....it seems he has now overcome that banishment, and has returned to once again attempt to overthrow the Elders and displace the Source from the lands.”
“Yet I repelled him? how is this possible?”
“You did not repel him, the Source protected you, yes, you played a part, but it was the power of the Source moving through you that repelled him. You have a strong soul, we will need you in this fight.”
Detric did not entirely understand, but he followed Aloysuis into the baird-hall anyways.
Horns, bells, and whistles were sounding throughout the village. The Elf-kind were preparing for war indeed...but how could one man instill such fear? What evil was this that could strike fear into the hearts of these elfkind? Detric had never seen his friends so determined, afraid yes, but a different sort of fear...what was he marching into?
It did not take long for a force to be gathered, Clerics, Druids and shapeshifters, Rangers and Warrior, and warrior-bairds scattered here and there, Detric among them. They began marching northeast, with another force remaining in the village should Emil maneuver around them. Eagles, Hawks, and other birds acted as scouts. Detric could not tell if these were shapeshifters or actual animals, but decided it was likely a mix of both. As they Marched, all of the bairds broke into music, and powerful music indeed. Detric played with them, and the combination of flutes, drums, harps, horns, and his pipes made an awesome, warlike sound. All the elfkind in range of the sound had an increased step, seemed to grow in strength and courage. Music was powerful indeed. What should have been a two day journey was made in not even one day. Detric was uncertain if it was the magic of the music, or of the clerics, or some combination of the two, but some sort of magic was at work here, he had never seen an army move so quickly and not tire!
As they approached, what was left of the patrols battling the undead mixed into their ranks, the wounded moving to the rear where a mix of clerics, druids, and bairds were awaiting the wounded.
The battlefield was a meadow just outside the tree line, swarming with creatures Detric had only seen before in his nightmares. Undead of all types, evil clerics, all wearing the dark red robes of Emil, seemed to be commanding the evil mass, and more were coming. How could the elfkind resist such evil, such hate? They were heavily outnumbered, and had slim hope of reinforcements of any great magnitude.
The music continued, and his fear began to disappear. He realized that his and the other warrior-bairds role in this battle would be to strengthen those fighting, to counter the fear instilled by such evil, and continued to play.
He saw a group of clerics, led by Anshelm begin some sort of chanting prayer, and saw undead struck down as they approached. A group of the red clerics, seeing this also formed a group and, seemed to be focusing on the Silver clerics. A battle of wills began, and a baird near the clerics who had been supporting them was thrown through the air by an unseen force. The undead onslaught had ceased, held back by the clerics, but these very clerics were now the focus of another sort of attack, and though he did not entirely understand, Detric knew that the Silver and red clerics were now directly battling one another, and called out, in a commanding voice that surprised him “Bairds! assemble with the Clerics!” as he spoke, he ran to them, and began to focus his energy and music on them, joined by several other bairds. He heard across the battlefield what seemed to be the most vile and evil music he had ever heard, and realized that the evil forces also had warrior bairds, and they, along with the Clerics, were now in a direct battle of wills.

********************************************

Jaci watched helplessly as the Cleric and Baird duels grew in intensity, then saw a horde of orcs and trolls approaching. Emil had pulled out all the stops, summoning all sorts of evil to the battle. Her twin scimitars would taste blood today.
All forces were now fully engaged, the clerics and bairds in a duel of mind and magic, and now, the warriors, rangers, druids and shapeshifters were directly engaged with an army of orcs, trolls, goblins, and undead, as the clerics could not focus enough attention on smiting them all.
Jaci tore through all near her with her twin scimitars, Jasmine at her side protecting her flank and rear. The elfkind were superior in skill and determination, but were being worn down by sheer numbers. It seemed the more creatures Jaci sliced through, the more appeared on the horizon. The Silver clerics were not overpowered, but could not focus any aid onto the battlefield, having to use all their power to hold the evil red clerics at bay, and many of the bairds were also engaged in that duel. The elfkind were running out of numbers, many druids having to leave the front line to act as healers, replacing the clerics otherwise occupied. The front line forces of the elfkind found them fighting enemy forces on three sides, struggling to keep from being encircled. This had become a battle for their very lives, and they were slowly being worn down.