The Clam Before the Storm

The dawn light filtered through the trees as Kael, Thane, Lyria, and their small band of soldiers surveyed the border city of Valdris from the hills above. Once a thriving town, Valdris was now the last bastion before the Vorath forces could break into the heartland. Its stone walls, though worn from years of neglect, still stood firm, and Kael knew it was their best chance to halt the Vorath's advance.

Kael leaned against a boulder, his eyes scanning the distant city. Smoke rose in thin plumes from the town, signaling that the people were still holding on to their routines, unaware of the imminent threat. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.

"Looks peaceful now," Thane remarked, his deep voice breaking the silence. "But it won't stay that way for long, will it?"

Kael shook his head. "No. If the Vorath reach Valdris, they'll leave nothing but ash behind. We can't let that happen."

Lyria adjusted her satchel, filled with the traps and alchemical vials she had painstakingly crafted. "The city isn't ready for what's coming. Their walls won't hold against the Vorath commander we faced."

Kael turned to her, his gaze steady. "That's why we're here. We need to buy them time—enough to get the civilians out and disrupt the Vorath's momentum."

Darran, standing a few steps away, hesitated before speaking. "General, if we hold Valdris, what's next? They'll just come back with more forces."

Kael nodded, his jaw tightening. "They will. But every moment we delay them gives us a chance to strengthen the inner defenses and plan a counterattack. This isn't about winning here—it's about giving humanity a fighting chance."

The group descended into the city, greeted by the grim faces of the local militia. Captain Alric, the commander of Valdris's defenses, met them at the gates. He was an older man, his armor battered and his eyes tired, but there was a spark of determination in his gaze.

"General Draven," Alric said, inclining his head. "We've heard rumors of the Vorath's approach. What's the plan?"

Kael laid out a map on a nearby table, the others gathering around. He pointed to the western pass leading into the city. "This is their most likely point of entry. The terrain funnels their forces, but it also limits our options for retreat."

Lyria chimed in, placing a small vial on the map. "I can set traps here and here." She pointed to narrow choke points near the pass. "They'll slow them down, but they won't stop them entirely."

Thane crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "We'll need more than traps and prayers to hold them off. The militia isn't exactly an army."

Kael met his gaze, his tone firm. "Then we train them. We only have a day, but we'll use every second of it. Thane, you'll oversee the melee fighters. Lyria, you'll work with the engineers to set the traps and fortify the walls. I'll focus on strategy and morale."

The group nodded, a grim determination settling over them.

The day passed in a blur of activity.

Thane took to the training yard, his booming voice echoing through the square as he drilled the militia. "You call that a swing? Put your back into it!" he barked, correcting a young soldier's form. "The Vorath won't wait for you to figure it out. If you hesitate, you die. Now, again!"

Meanwhile, Lyria worked tirelessly with the town's blacksmiths and engineers. Together, they constructed reinforced barricades, laid out spike traps, and prepared the alchemical charges. "These vials are unstable," she warned the workers. "Handle them carefully, or you'll blow yourselves up before the Vorath even get here."

Kael moved through the city, speaking with the civilians and soldiers alike. He stopped to help a young boy carry water to his family's wagon. "You're doing great," he said, offering the boy a reassuring smile. "Keep helping your family, and we'll make sure you're safe."

He found Alric near the city gates, overseeing the distribution of weapons. "How are they holding up?" Kael asked.

Alric sighed, his shoulders slumping. "They're scared. Most of them have never seen battle."

Kael placed a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Fear can be a weapon, Alric. Use it to keep them sharp. We'll get through this."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, an eerie silence fell over Valdris. The townspeople had been evacuated to the keep, and the soldiers took their positions along the walls. Kael, Thane, and Lyria stood together on the battlements, their eyes fixed on the western pass.

"Do you feel that?" Thane muttered, gripping his sword tightly.

Kael nodded. The air was thick with an unnatural energy, a faint red glow visible in the distance. "They're coming."

The Vorath appeared first as shadows, their massive forms emerging from the darkness. At their center was the commander, its armor gleaming like obsidian and its glowing eyes fixed on the city. It raised a clawed hand, and the army behind it roared in unison.

Kael's breath hitched as he counted their numbers. "They've brought more than I expected," he admitted, his voice low.

Lyria swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the strap of her satchel. "Do we have enough traps to hold them?"

"We'll find out," Kael replied grimly.

The Vorath advanced, their heavy footfalls shaking the ground. Kael raised his sword, his voice cutting through the tension. "Archers, ready!"

The soldiers along the walls notched their arrows, their hands trembling.

"Hold…" Kael commanded, waiting until the Vorath were within range.

"Now!"

The archers released a volley of arrows, the projectiles streaking through the air and striking the front line of the Vorath. Some fell, but the majority pressed on, their resilience unnerving.

"Prepare for impact!" Kael shouted.

The Vorath slammed into the barricades, their strength shaking the walls. Soldiers screamed as the battle began in earnest. Kael leapt down from the battlements, joining the fray. His sword flashed as he engaged the first Vorath warrior, his movements precise and deadly.

Thane was a whirlwind of steel, his massive blade carving through the enemy ranks. "You call this an invasion?" he roared, cutting down another warrior. "Come on, I'm just getting started!"

Lyria moved between the soldiers, tossing vials of alchemical fire into the fray. Explosions lit up the night, the flames consuming groups of Vorath.

Despite their efforts, the Vorath commander remained at the rear, watching the battle with a sinister calm. Its forces continued to push forward, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm the defenders.

Kael retreated to the barricades, blood dripping from a gash on his arm. "We're holding, but barely," he said to Thane and Lyria.

"This isn't a fight," Thane growled. "It's a siege."

Kael's jaw tightened as he looked back toward the city. "Then we make them bleed for every inch."