The Korrespondent would like to take this opportunity to put the fears of the brave Khadorans of Laedry to rest. The 5th Kommand is firmly in control of the region, and the local agitators have been pacified. Kommandant Zaitsev has personally assured our staff that the Winter Guard have repelled every significant Menite and rebel advance into our region and that his men continue to make punitive raids against our enemies.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the Protectorate has not accomplished any significant victories since the fall of Leryn, a victory itself made possible only by the actions of traitors. Kommandant Zaitsev also reminded us that after the events of earlier this year here in Laedry he is extremely confident there is no traitorous element left among the loyal patriots of the region.
Indeed, the good Kommandant informs us his intelligence indicates the Protectorate and Llaelese rebels have fallen to infighting. Like the cowardly dogs they are, they now scuffle over their unearned table scraps. It is only a matter of time before they weaken each other so greatly that Khadoran dominance in all Llael is assured.
In the meantime, Kommandant Zaitsev tells us two more Battalions of Winter Guard and Iron Fangs are already on their way to Laedry. These reinforcements will make up the core of a new force around which a mighty Khadoran army will form?a mighty army with the express purpose of liberating all Llael from Cygnaran and Menite influence! Citizens need not worry about decreased rations to supply all these soldiers. These battalions will be quartered some distance from the city and bring with them their own food for several months. The Kommandant is quite sure they will not be a burden on the patriotic citizens of Laedry.
We are also informed that rumors of a new hostile force in the region are totally unfounded. Any non-Khadoran forces sighted by civilians are certainly misidentified Menite or rebel raiding parties. Citizens are urged to flee from any armed troops they do not recognize as Khadoran. Furthermore, rumors suggesting that an entire garrison east of Laedry was destroyed in a recent night attack are greatly exaggerated. The fire that consumed several insignificant military supply buildings was the result of a simple accident and nothing worthy of undue alarm.
Kommandant Zaitsev,
We will be overrun no later than noon tomorrow. The elven mercenaries we expected to encounter are no sell-swords at all but what I believe to be the leading edge of the full Iosan army! I know this is difficult to believe, but you must take me at my word.
Three days ago we arrived at Fort Predna, 10 miles south of the ruins of Riversmet, and relieved the platoons stationed here. As you know, our intent was to root out and destroy the mercenaries sighted by civilian farmers. Based on their descriptions, Kovnik Losev suggested the enemy might be a new company of Iosan mercenaries. Ultimately we determined the incidents were most likely attacks by the Llaelese rebels, misrepresented by confused civilians. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Last night, the second night since our arrival, the Kossite scouts lead by Sergeant Vasily did not return from their daily reconnaissance. I ordered the watch doubled and dispatched two more scouts to find Sergeant Vasily and his unit. It was a few hours before dawn when one of them returned, badly injured.
He reported the pair were moving through the forest when they sighted a large armed force moving toward the fort. Given the darkness in the trees at night he could not be certain, but their weaponry and armor did not seem familiar. They attempted a closer observation but were attacked by one of the hostile army?s outriders. The returning scout only barely escaped with his life, and the other was not so lucky. I assume all our other scouts had suffered similar fates.
Upon hearing this report I immediately sounded a general alarm and called all troops to action. Field guns and mortars were prepared for battle and stations along the fort?s wooden stockade were manned.
They arrived soon after daybreak. The morning fog was still thick between the trees, but they didn?t seem interested in stealth.
They are indisputably elves. And they are no mere mercenary band?this is a true army.
As they came closer we saw dozens of well-disciplined soldiers in orderly lines. They marched just outside the range of our most powerful artillery, some with shields and blades in hand and others carrying long rifles. We could hear shouts in their hissing language and saw huge, unknown machines lumbering forward. They slightly resembled warjacks of a very strange configuration.
With a shrill command a line of riflemen moved forward accompanied by a pair of their machines. Our mortar fire was inaccurate and failed even to give them pause. They kneeled and fired their rifles, killing two of our guardsmen at the barricades. Even as they took aim once more, their two machines began to glow with an aura of bluish-green light. After a moment the glow discharged into bolts of energy that effectively vaporized our mortars and their crewmen. The elven riflemen fired a second volley that wounded several more of our men, and then the entire line withdrew to the position held by the rest of their force.
I dispatched two more scouts to find a safe line of retreat. Neither made it more than twenty paces from the fort, each cut down by crossbow bolts to the throat by hidden snipers.
It is now evening, and I believe the only reason these elves have not already wiped us out is that they are awaiting the arrival of a second element that we have sighted to the north. When both forces converge they will be able to annihilate us with almost no risk to themselves.
Our men are prepared to die well and will fight to the last. When all is lost I will fire our ammunition depot and take as many of the Iosans with me to hell as I can.
I am dispatching four runners with copies of this message in the hopes that one might reach you. You must not underestimate the threat this army represents. I fear it is only the tip of the Iosan blade and that a new enemy now confronts us.
Glory to the Motherland!
Kommander Nikita Yuroff
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