Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3702035
>>Let the soldier carry you
we got hit with Gas I assume.

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>>3702038
man, we are off to an awesome start.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3702035
>Let the soldier carry you

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>>3702049
Ah so this is how we die

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3702035
>Let the soldier carry you
Don't worry boys the help is here!

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>>3702038
>>3702049
>>3702136
Average result: 2.33

You allow the soldier to carry you away from the mist as you slowly start regaining your sanity. Various clues slowly start adding up inside your brain. The sudden realization that you almost ran straight into a cloud of toxic, possibly alchemical, gas made you hyperventilate. The next thing that hit you was an artillery shell.

The enemy was surely preparing this attack for a while and he probably figured out that it will cause quite a bit of panic within the soldiers manning the first line of defense. That meant they were likely to abandon their posts and flee into the second defensive line, but for greedy Uspeshan strategists it wasn’t enough. Therefore, a bombardment of the ground between the first and the second lines of defense was ordered to catch the fleeing soldiers in the open and inflict as many casualties as it was possible before the actual battle even started. And you, unfortunately, experienced this barrage first-hand.

The first shell landed a few meters away from you, sending both you and your saviour flying into the air. You had no time to raise your magical shield and the shrapnel effortlessly penetrated your winter coat and multiple pieces pierced your right arm in multiple places. The soldier carrying you wasn’t spared either, but he quickly got up and readied himself to carry you again, just as the next shell landed just behind him. This time, your magical shield wasn’t even necessary as the soldier provided an excellent cover for you as he exploded in a gory explosion, painting your face and your uniform with his remains. This all happened within a span of mere seconds and it was enough for the gas, which was accelerated by strong winds, to catch up with you. Bracing yourself for inevitable you close your eyes and hold your breath as someone grabs you by the arms and starts hastily dragging you away. He uses one of his large hands to cover your mouth and pinch your nose shot. After a while your body starts begging for air as you scream and wiggle in desperation on the ground.

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>>3702333
Artillery shells still fall all around you, but the barrage isn’t as severe as one may have thought. Finally, after dozens of insufferable seconds, the person carrying you gets away from the mist and he finally lets you breath. You take the biggest inhale of your life as you land in one of many underground bunkers located in the second line of defense. After you and several other lucky stragglers get inside, the pair of heavy doors is closed and the entire bunker is sealed shut to ensure no gas will get in. After being placed in the corner, you look around to see at least forty souls gathered in one, tiny room with wounded soldiers almost lying on top of each other. Most of the soldiers bear an insignia of the 84th infantry regiment, originally assigned to the first defensive line. You see a young medic running up to you, clearly terrified. His look of horror makes you realise your entire body is covered in blood of the large soldier who tried to carry you to safety.

- ‘Don’t worry, not hers. Mostly.’

You look towards the voice and only then you notice a black-haired dwarf with a short beard standing right beside you. Is he your saviour? The dwarf turns his head towards you.

- ‘Seriously lass, what the fuck were you thinking? People died trying to save you. I should have left you there, but even idiots like you don’t deserve to die in a cloud of poison gas.’ - he scorns your entire silhouette with his small green eyes. - ‘Judging by your gender, you are probably some pristine magician, straight from an academy. Do you know fighting war is quite different from pulling rabbits out of your magical fucking ass?’

- ‘Hey man, that’s enough.’ - the young medic, now clearly irritated turns towards the dwarf. - ‘Go make yourself useful somehow. I just want to check on her health.’ - he points his hand towards one of many wounded soldiers lying on the floor of the bunker. - ‘As you can see, I’m quite bloody busy.’

You lower your eyes to avoid the dwarf’s gaze as he looks at you one last time before moving deeper into the bunker. You feel sharp pain as the medic touches your shrapnel-ridden arm. Gritting your teeth you look at him. There are barely any tools or medical supplies. There’s no way he’ll able to take care of the wounded here. On the other hand, your main casting hand was severely damaged and your own healing abilities are quite limited too

>’Let me go, I can help you with the wounded. I’m a cleric.’
ROLL D6
>Say nothing and allow him to examine your wounds.

>>3702340
>>’Let me go, I can help you with the wounded. I’m a cleric.’

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3702340
>’Let me go, I can help you with the wounded. I’m a cleric.’

>>3703270
+1 nice roll

>>3702340
Backing the six

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You push the young medic’s hand aside.

- ‘Let me go, I can help you with the wounded. I’m a cleric.’ - your voice is tired and a bit shaky.

- ‘But your wounds...’ - the medic looks and points at your right arm, but you simply shrug.

- ‘Do you have any tools to remove shrapnel?’ - you look at the woefully unprepared man as he slowly shooks his head. - ‘Thought so.’

You quickly analyze the situation. Clerics use very precise telekinesis to remove any fragments, including shrapnel, from bodies. It’s a very painful process and you are sure you won’t be able to do it yourself. As long as you don’t reunite with Elke, the shrapnel will probably stay inside your body.

With the help of your only functioning arm you quickly raise yourself and start following the medic as he goes from wounded to wounded. His role is quickly relegated to just assisting you in simple tasks, like holding the wounded soldiers or bandaging some less severe wounds which you wouldn’t want to use your limited magical energy unless you absolutely had to. The dwarf’s words still echo through your mind as you work around the clock to attone for your display of stupidity or straight out sheer insanity. The morale inside the bunker quickly raises as soldiers from the 84th realise how lucky they are to have a cleric at their disposal. Even if said cleric is wounded and covered from head to toe in gore. The healing process goes really smoothly until it’s interrupted by an arrival of an Imperial officer from the depths of the bunker. A short woman rushes behind him.

- ‘Attention!’ - his voice resonates within the tight confines of the bunker. - ‘Our telepath’ - he points at the small woman behind him, - ‘has established communication with another magic user who unlike you cowards, stayed behind on the first defensive line and got himself a gas mask. He told us the cloud isn’t corrosive. It is NOT alchemical in nature.’

After giving his soldiers a few seconds to discuss this revelation with each other, he continues.

- ‘The remaining defenders are spread thin and the Uspeshans may attack at any moment! Fortunately these bunkers are stocked on gas masks which we will use to make it through the cloud and reinforce the first line! I want every able man to march out at once and every wounded to be transported deeper into the bunker!’

The entire bunker came alive as soldiers started to rush from one room to another in order to grab gas masks and other important pieces of gear, almost trampling some of the wounded in the process. Looking at this chaotic preparations, you look at yourself. Technically you are wounded which allows you to stay in the bunker and keep healing other soldiers, but your abilities may as well be used on the frontlines.

>Approach the captain and ask for a permission to go to the first line
ROLL D6
>Quietly stay in the bunker and keeping healing those who still need your help
ROLL D6

>>3702348
>>3703270
>>3703610
>>3708524
Also lads, sorry for the delay. I had two very busy days and I shamelessly used what little free time I had to relax and not to write.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3709188
>Quietly stay in the bunker and keeping healing those who still need your help

>>3709191
worry not OP, we all have real lives

>>3709535
+1

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3709188
>Approach the captain and ask for a permission to go to the first line

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3709535
+1.

>>3709188
>Front line

>>3709191
No worries bb

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3709188
>Quietly stay in the bunker and keeping healing those who still need your help

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3709188
>>Quietly stay in the bunker and keeping healing those who still need your help
if we can save lives we should

>>3709535
>>3709810
>>3711037
>>3711123
>>3711138
Quietly stay behind wins with an average result of a roll being 2.75
Expect an update within an hour

You decide to stay behind and help those who are already wounded. This wasn’t the easiest choice to make as many soldiers heading for the front line will undoubtedly end up wounded and in need of clerical assistance, but leaving those still untreated in the bunker will almost surely sentence them to death and that’s something you simply can’t bring yourself to.

The process of transporting injured soldiers deeper into the bunker wasn’t smooth. Those who could walk did so, but those who couldn’t were needed to be carried by others. As a woman with one functioning arm you simply sat and watched as more physically capable men fulfilled this task before heading out outside with the rest of the combatants. That gave you time to notice that the small woman which accompanied the Imperial captain at every step was constantly looking at you, much to your discomfort. As you watched from a safe distance as the men disappeared into the thick, green fog your mind got visited by various thoughts which didn’t leave you even as you got up and started to once again tend to the wounded.

The whole situation was weird, really weird. This gas attack conducted by the Uspeshans was a massive success as it drove Imperial forces out of the first defensive line without any actual fighting or even artillery strikes. In fact, Uspeshan artillery was, at least to your knowledge, used only to decimate fleeing troops, not to soften up any actual defenses which meant the enemy would simply be able to march into the Imperial trenches and capture them intact. But that never happened. The assault never materialized and friendly forces were now regrouping and re-manning the first defensive line. The Uspeshans simply threw away the biggest advantage they gained from the gas attack. But why?

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>>3711396
Suddenly you hear a feminine voice inside your head.

- ‘Listen up cleric girl, we’ll be sending out any wounded to you so prepare yourself for new patients.’

Telepathy. An art which most clerics actively disliked even though it was a part of the same branch of magic. As most magic users quickly learn, cosmic magic is split between two main branches – Body Alteration and Mind Alteration. The first one allows magic users to heal or create undead while the second one allows them to create sounds, images or even suggestions inside other people’s minds. Telepathy falls into the second category, in your eyes being little more than glorified mind tricks which just happened to be an useful tool of communication. That also explained why this woman was so fixated on you as telepaths need to memorize how the person looks before they are able to create any sounds in their minds. In this new era of warfare, telepaths quickly became the most wanted magic users in every army on the planet, much to the dismay of other groups.

As a non-telepath you were unable to answer so you quickly noted the woman’s message and carried on as usual. The healing duties exhausted your wounded body to a massive degree and familiar symptoms like nosebleed, started to occur as you treated the last of the injured. Soon, you received another telepathic message.

- ‘The enemy is not attacking so you may start to relax a little. They just dropped some artillery shells, but neither of them exploded. The captain thin-’

The telepath never finished her message. She must’ve been interrupted by something or someone. You wait several more minutes, but no wounded and no fresh message arrive. You look at the men gathered inside the bunker with a great degree of concern of your face.

>Use some excuse to leave the bunker and head towards the first defensive line alone
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK
>Explain the situation and ask every able man to go with you towards the first defensive line
ROLL D6
>Do nothing and wait patiently
ROLL D6

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Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3711400
>>Explain the situation and ask every able man to go with you towards the first defensive line
>ROLL D6

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3711400
>Explain situation, request escort

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3711413
>>3711490
Seconding
We healed them, time to use them

>>3711413
>>3711490
>>3712138
Average roll result: 4

You quickly decide that staying here and simply waiting for further development would be not only infuriating, but also potentially dangerous. The enemy could be creeping towards your bunker at this very moment without any of you realising it until the very last moment. Now it’s time to act.

After carefully explaining the situation to the soldiers you’ve noticed they were surprisingly eager to join you. Not only because they too were frustrated and angry with being stuck in a bunker with no way of influencing the battle, but also because they had no reasons to doubt someone who just saved their lives, especially if she provided a detailed explation.

The bunker quickly came alive as the freshly healed soldiers started to run from room grabbing their rifles and gas masks before gathering up in the main room to venture into unknown. You ended up picking a handgun, just in case, and a gas mask. You’ve never liked those things, but right now it was a necessity. A few moments later you and approximately 15 Imperial riflemen left the bunker to investigate what happened with the first line. At first you’ve encoutered a rather plesant surprise, the gas slowly started to dissipate and the visibility was much better now than just 30 or so minutes ago. You clearly weren’t the only people outside as dozens of Imperial soldiers were running all over the place or even marching towards the first defensive line themselves. The whole operation was chaotic and the gas clearly paralised the chain of command. Once a well-oiled machine, Tornland regiments were reduced to dozens of small units, all trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

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>>3712301
Once you and your ragtag unit of soldiers got closer to the first line, you stopped for a moment as alarms in your head started to go out. Firstly, you’ve noticed that the gas cloud above the first defensive line was much thicker than anywhere else. Second later you saw many shapes crawling towards your general direction. You quickly overcame your fears and slowly moved towards the nearest of them. All of these shapes were humans. Terribly burned, disfigured, dying humans. Looking into the thick green mist you could see even more shapes writhing on the ground as their bodies were slowly consumed by corrosive gasses. The artillery strike the telepath mentioned carried alchemical death. The gas, having identical colour as the ‘regular’ one, stroke fast and left no chance for escape. Hundreds, possibly thousands fell in unimaginable agony as their bodies literally melted away. But even then, the Uspeshans weren’t quite done yet.

Suddenly, dozens of bullets started flying from within the mist in your general direction. Several unlucky men were hit, but most of you managed to get on the ground. You quickly realise what was going on. Uspeshan soldiers used the alchemical strike to get as close as possible to the first defensive line and fire at every sign of movement. After adjusting your vision you notice some silhouttes in the distance, located behind the gas cloud. The Imperial troops quickly return fire and the whole scene quickly turns into a bizarre skirmish of men firing almost blindly at every sign of movement.

>Start crawling towards the victims of alchemical attack and try to somehow help them
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK
>Stay in your current position and focus on healing those who can still fight
ROLL D6
>Quickly get up and start running towards friendly lines, trying to find any high-ranking officer to warn about this development
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3712307
>>Stay in your current position and focus on healing those who can still fight

Triage its a hell of a concept

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3712307
>>Stay in your current position and focus on healing those who can still fight

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3712307
>Keep current position and heal, but have someone crawl away to inform command.

Wonder how the telepath was killed. The gas doesn't work quick enough to just cut her off mid sentence, does it?

>>3712307
>Stay in your current position and focus on healing those who can still fight
Damn we should have asked where they found the body. If it was in some bushes it would told us our patrol was ambushed for finding enemies. That would have told us they were trying to hide the alchemical attack.
How do I roll?

>>3713984
Put "dice+1d6" in the options field without quotes

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>>3713774
No, but delivering telepathic messages requires a great deal of concentration and sudden influx of pain or other sudden situations can easily shift the telepath's focus forcing him/her to stop delivering their current message. Remember that in his world telepathy is basically an art of tricking one's mind into hearing voices.

>>3712359
>>3712491
>>3713984
Average roll result: 3

You decide that keeping yourself and your squad alive is more important than any other, often more risky, action. The sight of people struck by alchemical gas can be rivaled only by the horrors of Magnier, but right now there’s not much you can to help them unless you want to expose yourself to a great dose of enemy fire. Right now, the Uspeshans held every advantage and it was your job to somewhat balance it out. Uspeshan machine guns fired relentlessly and Imperial soldiers, lacking such weaponry, were forced to hunker down, only occassionally being able to fire some shots in return. Similar skirmishes were happening all over the front line as more and more regrouped Imperials attempted to reinforce the line. After a few minutes artillery had finally joined the fight as some artillerymen finally realized what was going on and started lobbing shells in general direction of the Uspeshans. With each passing minute, more and more guns joined the barrage and soon the first Uspeshan wave began to fall back as their own artillery bombarded the area where Imperial forces were located. With corrosive gas still present in high density in the trench line separating both forces, neither side was able to enter it to seek cover. It quickly became clear to all involved that the winner of this engagement will be determind by whoever can capture and hold the trenchline after the gas finally disappears. Crawling from soldier to soldier you kept praying for your shield to hold as it kept flickering under all the gunshots and shrapnel it was forced to endure. Finally, after almost 40 insufferable minutes the gas finally dissipated enough to allow troops to enter the trenchline. Exhausted, breathing heavily under your gas mask you looked up and saw a single flare high above in the sky, signaling the start of an assault. With an incredible scream, hundreds if not thousands of humanoid shapes on the opposide side raised themselves from the ground and started a mad dash towards the empty trenches. The Imperial side was able to respond only with panicked gunfire and occassional artillery explosion. Seeing this tidal wave coming your way, you knew you had to make a decision. Staying here would almost certainly mean death so you need to move. But where?

>Get up and sprint towards the trench line and hope Imperial soldiers around follow you in your charge
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK
>Get up and make a haste retreat towards the bunkers hoping enemy fire and artillery won’t rip you to shreds
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3714324
>Hasty retreat

Bunkers should weather gas attacks better than trenches

>>3714346
support, no one else roll so the average is a 6

>>3714324
>Hasty retreat
dice+1d6
We cannot cheat the system, it has to be fair. I am sorry if I end up killing her.

>>3714038
Thank you and I hope everything turns out fine.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3714662
forgot the roll

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3714324
>Retreat
We have some good rolls, I hope I don't fuck it up

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>>3714346
>>3714662
>>3714728
Average roll result: 5.33, not bad lads, not bad at all

After quickly deciding that running away from the incoming human wave would be more suicidal than running through an artillery barrage and machine gun fire you swiftly get up and start running back towards the second defensive line. Many soldiers get the same idea, but many of them quickly fall struck by Uspeshan bullets. Miraculously you got to the bunkers without even needing to raise utilize your magic shield. Apparently, your smaller feminine frame made you a less potent target than bulkier Imperial infantrymen. Exhausted, but relieved you enter the vast trenchline connecting the bunkers.

The second defensive line was by far the most complex one as the 113rd infatry division comprised of Magnier survivors had nothing better to do than constantly improve the defenses. Dozens of bunkers, machine gun nests, observation posts and communication trenches made this line a difficult nut to crack and it seemed like the Uspeshans already played their best cards to capture the first trenchline almost unopposed. Of course, they inflicted thousands of casualties on the Imperials and forced them back several kilometers, but Tornland’s soldiers were far from beaten and, judging by your limited knowledge of alchemical arts, there is simply no way the Uspeshans gathered enough of that inferal gas to pull the same trick twice. While they still may have some left in stock, it looks like the next phase of the battle will be more conventional and in conventional warfare, the Empire is at least on even odds with its enemies.

The green mist over the battlefield was getting thinner with each minute and the sun was finally setting down. A night attack was possible, but rather unlikely and you couldn’t help, but relax a little. Most of your body hurt, your right arm was still ridden with shrapnel and you were still covered in gore of the unlucky soldier who tried to carry you away during the initial gas attack.

Still standing in the middle of a deep trench, you think about your next action. There are still wounded soldiers all around, but you also need to take care of your wounds. It’s also hard to ignore your exhausted body as it keeps screaming for rest.

>Walk from bunker to bunker, trying to heal as many soldiers as you can until you collapse from exhaustion
ROLL D6
>Go towards the infirmary and try to find Elke as she may be able to heal your wounds
ROLL D6
>Simply rest and try to regain as much energy as possible
ROLL D6

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3714819
>Go towards the infirmary and try to find Elke as she may be able to heal your wounds
We are going to be shelled with artillery we have to stop bleeding first before anything else.

>>3714728
The dice gods looked down and said good job.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3714819
>Find Elke

We've had enough of healing until we drop

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3714897
>>3714843
>>3714819
backing

>>3714819
>>Go towards the infirmary and try to find Elke as she may be able to heal your wounds

>>3714819
If we survive this HQ will treat us as a spy for somehow knowing about an alchemical attack, or promote us for somehow knowing about the alchemical attack. Or both and add a commissar to watch us for defection. I do not know what is worse.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3715124

>>3714843
>>3714897
>>3715066
>>3715149
And now you've been cursed by a streak of perfectly average rolls. At least I don't have to do any math this time.

You start a slow march towards the infirmary. Finding Elke and getting yourself healed became your first priority You know you are almost at your breaking point and only now, after the action died down, you’ve noticed how much effort it takes to take a single step. Healing people in this state is almost certainly out of question. Fortunately for you, some soldiers nearby noticed your struggles and picked you up. You didn’t even have the energy to issue any sort of objection. You simply nodded your head, pointed towards the general direction of the infirmary and muttered a muffled ‘thank you’. The soldiers, clearly familiar with the layout of the trenches immediately figured out where were you heading and carried you straight to the building you and Elke were so familiar with. The gas was almost completely gone at this point and after your arrival you and other soldiers were finally able to take off your gas masks and breath normally for the first time in seemingly ages. It was a welcomed change even if all of the unpleasant smells associated with trench warfare assaulted your nostrils relentlessly.

Immediately after entering the infirmary you saw a familiar face of an elven girl as she was running all over the place, tending to scores of injured soldiers. She looked the same as usual, save for signs of fatigue which was completely normal for someone in her position. At first she didn’t notice you, but after healing another wounded rifleman she turned her head towards the entrance and her eyes landed upon you. She froze in place for several seconds as her brain was having troubles comprehending that the red shadow of a woman she was currently looking at was indeed her friend Amelia. Finally her body remembered to function properly as she threw herself in your direction almost falling down in the process. She quickly grabbed your injured arm, unaware of any injuries and fell to her knees before you. Your scream of pain alarmed her that she should probably grab another bodypart or simply refrain from touching you for the time being. Elke’s eyes started tearing.

>>3715403
- ‘Amelia, thanks Gods, Amelia you’re alive. I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry! I wanted to stop you, but I couldn’t…I-I thought you died in the gas attack. I tried looking for you, but I was too busy with the wounded...’

You lift your functional arm and put it on Elke’s shoulder.

- ‘Hey, it’s fine. I’m alive and well, see?’ - you try to smile when you notice Elke looking with horror at the blood covering your body. - ‘It’s not mine, mostly. They got my right arm, but nothing more.’

You can’t help, but notice how shaky Elke’s hands are when she approaches your wounds. Removing shrapnel requires precision and a lot of nerves and at this point the elf probably lacks both of them. There are also many other wounded still needing medical assistance and even if Elke heals your wound completely, you probably wouldn’t be of much use as you are too exhausted to cast healing spells.

>Tell Elke to calm down and focus on others. Your wounds can wait a bit more
ROLL D6
>Tell Elke to calm down, but allow her to continue with the procedure.
ROLL D6

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3715406
>>Tell Elke to calm down and focus on others. Your wounds can wait a bit more

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3715406
>>Tell Elke to calm down and focus on others. Your wounds can wait a bit more

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3715406
>Tell Elke to calm down and focus on others. Your wounds can wait a bit more
Hopefully there won't be another attack so soon.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3715406
>Tell Elke to calm down but let her continue

We can heal more people ourselves after we're healed

>>3715530
Our body is damaged and we used up all our healing abilities we need a day of rest to regain our stamina.

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>>3715419
>>3715442
>>3715454
Average roll result: 5

- ‘Elke.’ - you directly in her eyes - ‘I’m fine. Really. Please look around you. There are people in here who need your help more than I do.’

The elf’s hands hover above your wound for a few more seconds still shaking like crazy.

- ‘B-but your woun-’

- ‘It’s fine. It’s fine. I won’t die although I may if you try to retrieve shrapnel from my arm with those shaky hands.’ - you smile weakly and point at Elke’s arms.

After realizing in what state she’s currently in Elke drops her arms and gets up slowly, unsure what to do.

- ‘Go do your job girl, I won’t go anywhere this time. That’s a promise.’

Finally the elf nods her head and slowly turns around. After a few more moments she goes back to the wounded soldiers. Hopefully no one bled to death during these few precious moments.

You quickly lean on the wall and close your eyes, focusing on the sounds around you. Besides shouts and screams, you are also able to hear distant explosions and gunfire as both sides try to gain control over the no-man’s land. This low-intesity combat will most certainly continue throughout the night, but right now it’s none of your concern. What matters right now is the long winter night ahead of you, a true blessing from the sky. 14 hours of darkness, more than enough to rest and regenerate yourself. Up to this point winter was an Uspeshan ally, freezing temperature allowing their forces to move through the marshes and start this whole offensive, but right now it decided to switch sides. The long night will allow the Imperials to regroup and beef up their defenses even more. Despite this, the Uspeshans will surely attack as soon as the visibility improves. They have to. They need a greater victory than this. Weeks of planning and tons of gas just to capture one trenchline? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

- ‘Amelia?!’

You open your eyes just to see terrified Elke standing above you. You definitely fell asleep for at least a moment and it must’ve spooked the poor girl quite a bit.

- ‘I was just sleeping, no worries.’

- ‘Thank Gods! I’m done with other soldiers, it’s your turn now.’

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>>3715977
This time Elke’s moves were precise and calculated, but despite this the operation was still incredibly painful and uncomfortable. You’ve healed hundreds of people before, but it was the first time you found yourself on the receiving end of such treatment. The process of sealing wounds was accompanied by an extreme tingling, slowly replaced by equally extreme itching. It took many for your right arm to become fully functional again, but it defnitely beats being crippled for months or years.

- ‘Well look at you. Almost as good as new.’ - Elke smiled clearly satisfied with her work. Before you are able to say anything she disappears and returns a few moments later with a large bowl filled with water.

- ‘Time to wash your damn face.’ - she said as she tossed you a clean rag and left.

Despite your exhaustion you followed Elke’s instruction and after several minutes of intense washing you were finally able to see your face without a thick mask of blood and gore. You quickly used the opportunity to also wash your arms.

- ‘Did anyone ever tell you that you look much prettier without blood all over your face?’

You sighed and looked at your elven friend who once again appeared out of nowhere.

- ‘I guess it’s not something that happens to me as often as one may think. Hopefully you will be the first and last person to give me that compliment, but thank you.’

Elke giggled.

- ‘And you will look even better after getting some sleep.’ - she yawned - ‘I should do that myself.’

You simply nodded and wished your friend a safe and calm night. Almost immediately after you closed your eyes and fell asleep. Your sleep was deep and uneventful and your mind was too exhausted to give you any unpleasant nightmares. Still, you woke up after just several hours. It was still dark outside and the only source of light inside were few weak lamps. Looking around the infirmary you quickly notice Elke is nowhere to be seen which is weird considering the amount of wounded men inside. Leaving them seems kinda careless, even though most of them were healed by now. You are convinced she will come back shortly, but her absence still unsettles you. You quickly think about several places where Elke could’ve went.

>Get up and go downstairs, into a bunker located directly below the infirmary.
ROLL D6
>Get up and go outside, straight into the trench network.
ROLL D6
>Go back to sleep.
ROLL D6

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3715989
>Get up and go downstairs, into a bunker located directly below the infirmary.
Maybe we will find a captain under ground. I just do not want to get shoot this soon.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3715989
>Get up and go downstairs, into a bunker located directly below the infirmary.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3715989
>Get up and go outside, straight into the trench network.
Basement seems too obvious

>>3716126
+1
Lets not go for the obvious

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3715989
>Trench network

Those dirty Uspeshans better not be up to anything

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3715989
>Get up and go outside, straight into the trench network.
>>3716755
>inb4 nightvision magic

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>>3716126
>>3716403
>>3716755
>>3716813
Average roll result: 2.33

Guided by nothing, but your intuition you leave the infirmary and enter into the vast maze of trenches. It would be more probable for Elke to be somewhere nearby, like the bunker underneath the infirmary, but somehow you remain convinced she left the bulding altogether. Your search was brief, as mere moments later you see your elven friend standing motionlessly near one of the exist into the no-man’s land and looking into the darkness separating you from the Uspeshans. Sporadic artillery shells land worryingly close to your position and you decide that it’s time to take your friend back inside. You approach her without her ever noticing you.

- ‘Elke! What the hell are you doing here?’

The girl suddenly jumps, visibly surprised. She quickly turns towards you.

- ‘I...I just needed to catch some air and this scene- ‘ - she turns her eyes towards the no man’s land. - ‘filled me with some thoughts.’

Raising your eyebrows you get closer to your friend.

- ‘Elke, it’s dangerous to be here.’

The elf quickly waves her hand dismissively

- ‘I have my shield up, no worries.’

Before you are able to say anything in response Elke suddenly asks you a strange question.

- ‘Do you know Yaeyala?’

Stunned by this question, you simply stare at Elke in silence for several seconds allowing her to continue.

- ‘She’s the elven goddess of death. Every night, she sends her daughters to mortal battlefields to collect souls of the fallen and guide them to the afterlife. Seeing as the fighting never dies out and each night is filled with death and destruction, it made me think that nowadays we don’t even let our Gods work in peace.’

Upon hearing this you shift your gaze to the no-man’s land. Near and far sounds of gunfire and explosions fill your ears as you join Elke in observing the dark plains before you. After a few long moments of silence you finally speak up.

- ‘I guess your Gods will just have that much more to do once this war is over.’

- ‘Yeah...’ - the elf voice is silent, barely audible. - ‘Let’s head back, there are still a few more hours left-’

Elke never had the chance to finish this sentence as the entire trenchline around you went ablaze. Hundreds of artillery shells started to fall seemingly everywhe, drowning the trenches in a giant sea of fire and debris. The earth itself started to move under the pressure of this mighty barrage as a massive pile of rubble collapsed on top of you. Fortunately you were able to dig yourself up. The air around you became a cloud of smoke and dust, thicker than any gas the Uspeshans could throw at you. Completely disoriented, you quickly notice both your friend and the way disappeared in this infernal ocean of choking smoke.

>Look around you and try to find Elke
ROLL D6
>Try to find your way back into the infirmary
ROLL D6

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3716937
>>Look around you and try to find Elke
we can't lose the other healer

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3716937
>Look for Elke

Damn this was supposed to be a quiet front. We need to tell central command that the Uspeshans REALLY want something here.

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>>3716943
>>3716940
we are fucked

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3716937
>Look around you and try to find Elke
I suppose fate really hates poor Amelia

>>3716940
>>3716943
>>3716995
Average roll result: 3

Putting your shield up you start to look around you, your eyes trying their best to pierce the thick smoke and find Elke. Dozens of small fragments bounce harmlessly off your magical bubble which weavers further and further with every passing moment. Ignoring this, you wander around searching for your friend. Few moments later, you end up tripping on something and falling to the ground. Only you realized Elke was near you the entire time. Unconscious, burried under a pile of broken logs and many kilograms of soil with only a small part of her face and her single hand sticking out. You immediately get to work, trying your hardest to retrieve Elke from her tomb, but your strength, divided between keeping up your shield and physical work started to fail and soon you needed to take a break. Just then one of the shells landed close to your position, throwing you aside as your shield barely held against the blast. Barely conscious, with your nose bleeding from the overusage of magic, you start desperately crawling back towards Elke’s location. More shells kept landing all around you steadily, but surely covering you in a layer of dirt and splinters. Moving slover with each passing second, you were just barely able to grab Elke’s hand before passing out.

Explosions. Screams. Machine gun fire. More explosions. Were you really hearing those sounds or was it just an illusion? Were you even still alive? Maybe the daughters of that elven goddess will carry you to the afterlife? What’s with this weird shape flickering in front of you?

Gustave Michaux, an eighteen year old proud soldier of the Uspeshan Royal Army stood over a pile of rubble, looking with bewilderment at the two feminine figures buried underneath. After charging through Imperial artillery and dozens of machine guns and surviving the initial assault, this was an oddly pretty sight. Those two women looked more peaceful than anyone should ever look in a place like this. He looked at them just for a couple of seconds, but it was more than enough for an Imperial soldier next to him to pull a trigger on his revolver. The bullet immediately entered the boy’s skull and Gustave Michaux was no more.

This scene made you finally realize what was going on. Apparently it was now morning and the Uspeshans after covering this part of the trenchline with thousands of shells successfully entered the remains and engaged remaining Imperials in a deadly melee. You were still holding Elke’s hand and you were still feeling her pulse. It was time to plan your next move.

>Play dead until the fighting stops, it matters little who wins.
ROLL D6
>Get up and try to get Elke to safety.
ROLL D6
>Get up and try to actively help in the fighting leaving Elke for the time being
ROLL D6

>>3717216
>>Get up and try to actively help in the fighting leaving Elke for the time being
we must hold the line no matter the cost!

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3717228

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3717228
Seconding
Elke will be fine right?

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3717216
>Get up and help fight

We truced with them in the city crisis but this situation isn't as forgiving.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3717216
>Get up and try to actively help in the fighting leaving Elke for the time being.
I hope Elke is not taken prisoner when we come back.

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>>3717276
>>3717420
>>3717678
>>3717789
Average roll result: 3.5

- ‘I’m sorry Elke. I have to go.’- you whisper as you squeeze your friend’s hand as hard as possible. After short prayer for protection you get up from the rubble and start running, not really sure where exactly. Your main objective was finding an Imperial strong point and offer your clerical powers to the biggest group of soldiers you could find. Of course that meant you would have to run next to numerous friendly soldiers without stopping to help them, but it’s not you were able to help every single Imperial currently engaged in melee combat.

First you ran past the infirmary. The building itself was reduced to rubble during the bombardment, but remaining soldiers, veterans from Magnier quickly turned it into a defensive position. That quickly became a pattern. Tornland’s finest would turn every shellhole and every piece of debris into hard points forcing numerically superior Uspeshans to pay dearly for every segment of the ex-trenchline. Most soldiers were too occupied to pay much attention to your presence, but your shield received some small arms fire. Fortunately, no one attacked you with a melee weapon as close range attacks like this are something your magic shield is entirely useless against.

After performing this mad dash you find yourself next to the command bunker of your division. Imperial forces already formed a defensive perimeter around it and the proximity of the bunker’s entrance meant that they would be able to retreat inside in case of emergency. Riflemen send one disciplined volley after another hitting every Uspeshan who couldn’t keep his head low. You quickly cross the firing line and get inside the circle of defenders trying to find any figure of authority, but this time the figure of authority found you first.

>>3717898

- ‘Oi, cleric lady!’ - your ears were hit by a resounding voice of a dwarven officer, colonel Jannik Doerr, the commander of one of the betallions comprising the 113th infantry division. - ‘Come with me, we have a lot of wounded over here!’

You decide to use this opportunity to learn about you current predicament.

- ‘I’m sorry colonel, I was knocked unconscious during the barrage. What the hell happened?’

The dwarf laughs.

- ‘Those brutes simply bombarded our segment with everything they had until early morning. Then they used whatever was left of their corrosive gas stockpile to cut off our sector with well-aimed gas shells which means most of our troops can’t get here without being exposed to either deadly or deadly Uspeshan fire.’ - he scratches his beard - ‘Simply put – we are fucked. Now get to work!’

Colonel Jannik taps your shoulder and immediately runs towards the defensive circle barking orders and insults. You decide it’s time to make yourself useful.

>Stay above the ground and try to heal any injured rifleman to keep the firing line as strong as possible
ROLL D6 HIGH RISK
>Go into the bunker and heal those who are not longer in fighting shape
ROLL D6 LOW RISK

>>3717903
>>Stay above the ground and try to heal any injured rifleman to keep the firing line as strong as possible

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3717903
>>Go into the bunker and heal those who are not longer in fighting shape
Its more important to get those who can't fight back into the fight.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3717903
>Go into the bunker

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>>3717910
>>3717965

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3717903
>Go into the bunker and heal those who are not longer in fighting shape

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3717903
>Go into the bunker and heal those who are not longer in fighting shape

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>>3717910
>>3717965
>>3717980
>>3717987
Average roll result: 2.5

You decide that healing those with heavier injuries should be your priority. Many of those soldiers will probably die if they don’t receive your help. You quickly run into the bunker. Despite the massive Uspeshan barrage the structure was in relatively good shape, serving as field hospital and command center. Just like yesterday, the few medics who found their way into the bunker amongst all this chaos were woefully unprepared for tending to so many wounded soldiers. Most of them left their supplies behind as they ran for their lives towards the bunker. Once again, it was time to take charge. Immediately after arriving you started to order the conventional medics around as their role was relegated to helping you and judging who required your attention immediately and who could wait a bit longer, all of that done obviously to minimalize the potential of anyone dying before receiving your healing magic. It was a long and tedious process as some wounded required multiple spells and many minutes of precise movements. Soon after, new patients were being carried inside as more and more people flocked to the bunker and more and more became wounded in the process. Despite the grueling nature of the task you didn’t rest for even a second, satisfied with your pace. Your presence gave the bunker an atmosphere of hope. Soldiers who just several minutes ago thought their death was inevitable were now returning to combat thinking that he and his comrades may actually stem the Uspeshan tide.

All of these hopes were shattered by a sound of a powerful explosion and dozens of people burning alive.

Several Imperial soldier came sprinting down the stairs, their eyes filled with terror.

- ‘Enemy mage! Enemy mage!’

Upon hearing that you instinctively grab the nearest melee weapon, a bloodied bayonet. Every man able to stand either does the same or aims his rifle or handgun towards the staircase. You look around you, fully aware that if these soldiers fire a single bullet at this mage, they’ll all be as good as dead.

- ‘Don’t do anything unless I give you a sign or they start firing at us.’ - you say as you take several steps towards the staircase stopping just a few meters from the first step.

Soon the screams and explosions die down completely and you brace yourself for the inevitable. Seconds turn into minutes as you look at the staircase, waiting for someone to show up. Finally, an old elf, with graying hair and deep blue eyes comes into view. He walks slowly and carelessly despite being completely unarmed. He stops after taking the last step down and fixes his eyes on you. You feel like the time itself stopped as everyone in the room awaits your reaction.

>Charge the mage with your bayonet
ROLL D6
>Drop the bayonet, you don’t want to see your hospital turned into a slaughterhouse
ROLL D6

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3718121
>>Charge the mage with your bayonet
TO GLORY

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3718121
>Charge the mage with your bayonet.
We are so fucked.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3718121
>Drop your bayonet

We'd survive a fireball, but everyone else in the room would be toast

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3718121
>Charge
This is how we save everyone

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>>3718133
>>3718147
>>3718405
Average roll result: 3.66
Let's see how you will like this one

You make up your mind in a mere split second. Surrendering a field hospital to the Uspeshan forces was never an option. Too many questions, too many uncertainties. On the other hand, charging the mage was simple. Either you or the enemy will perish and if you come out on top and hold until Imperial reinforcements arrive you will save everyone and return to Elke.

You lunge yourself forward aiming straight at the elf. The arrogant mage, probably a member of some ancient noble family, didn’t see that one coming. Surprised by your speed he tried to cast a fireball, but he was moments too slow. The bayonet pierces his winter coat with ease and sinks into his stomach. The mage screams in pain and collapses, landing on stairs. Since you basically threw yourself at him you end going down together.

You raise your head and see the stairs crawling with shocked Uspeshan soldiers. Few lonely bullets bounce harmlessly off your shield and you quickly switch your attention back to the mage who clearly wasn’t done yet. Seeing a spell forming up in his hand you quickly grab his arm and twist it towards his allies just in time as a massive stream of fire comes out of the mage’s hand, immolating every Uspeshan on the staircase. The old mage, hurt and furious, gathers his last ounces of strength to ram his head into yours causing you to recoil in pain. This gives him enough time to cast one last spell, a powerful fireball which he casts not at you, but into the bunker itself. Every room is quickly filled by a storm of living fire. Your ears are quickly filled with screams and pleas of wounded soldiers burning alive in their beds. Boiling with rage, you turn towards the monster responsible for this and quickly pull the bayonet out of his stomach only to slam it once again into his flesh. And again. And again. The bayonet comes up and down tens of times. It burries itself time and time again into his stomach, into his breasts and into his face until his body stops resembling a humanoid. Even then, you keep stabbing him until finally someone hits you in the face with a rifle butt. You land painfully on your back and the entire world spins around you. Still, you are able to see several vague silhouettes gathering around you. The bayonet landed right next to you and your handgun is still in the holster, ready to be finally used. You frantically look around.

Everyone, but you, is dead and the weird shapes keep gathering around you like vultures ready to devour your frail body. Your mind screams only one thing:

>KILL
ROLL D6
>GIVE UP
ROLL D6

See you lads tomorrow.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3718527
>KILL
That's our PTSD cranked up to a whole new level

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3718527
>KILL
Take a few of them with us.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3718527
>>KILL
>ROLL D6

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3718527
>GIVE UP

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>>3718556
>>3718619
>>3718675
Average roll result: 5.33

Something inside you snapped.

Ever since you joined the army your sole and only purpose was saving lives. That’s all you ever wanted. You weren’t fighting this war to kill, you weren’t fighting for glory or for your country. You’ve used your healing magic on countless people, sealing their wounds, removing shrapnel and bullets. And yet, most of them were now dead, despite your best efforts. Shot, mauled, gassed and torn to pieces by the Uspeshan beasts. Now, lying on the cold ground, surrounded by scorched corpses you’ve finally realized your mistake. Time and time again you tried your best to save as many people as you could and time and time again you’ve failed, but not it was all clear. You had to kill in order to save. You had to kill every last one of them.

A powerful energy blast knocked the few nearest Uspeshans off balance. The rest of them, caught completely by surprise barely reacted as you quickly rose to your feet and stabbed one of them with your bayonet. Grabbing your handgun you quickly unloaded it into the rest of the group before running towards the ones still lying on the ground and stabbing them one by one. Dropping your pistol and picking another one up you looked up the staircase, once again crawling with Uspeshan soldiers. Without any second thought, you open fire at them with deadly efficiency as the narrow, straight staircase doesn’t offer any cover or place to dodge. The men could do nothing, but return fire in hopes of going through your shield. After spending the whole magazine you drop the handgun and pick up another weapon – this time it’s a revolver. One brave soldier uses this opportunity to charge at you with his bayonet, but you quickly stop him with one, well-aimed shot to the head. You continue climbing the stairs picking up weapons as you go, shooting Uspeshan bastards with rifles, pistols, carbines and revolvers. The staircase starts to disappear under the pile of bodies as terrified Uspeshans begin a chaotic retreat up the stairs, trampling their own wounded in the process. You double your efforts, firing everything at your disposal to kill as many of them as possible. Finally, after hitting the last enemy with a rifle round just moments before reaching the top of the staircase, you drop your firearm.

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>>3721504

Surrounded by nothing, but dead and dying bodies which cover the entirety of the staircase you start once again descending down the stairs, putting your bayonet into every Uspeshan skull, just to make sure they’re dead. Some of the wounded try to crawl away, some of them try to beg for mercy and some of them even try to pathetically fight back, but it doesn’t stop you from continuing this methodical process. Sometimes a lonely round comes flying down from the top of stairs, but your shield intercepts all of them and after returning fire and dispatching a few of them, the attacks stop altogether. After making your way through this valley of death you arrive at the place where you started your rampage. Out of the 6 Uspeshans caught by you there, only 1 was still alive. A young man, now leaning against the wall while trying to stop the bleeding from his stomach with his own hand, looks at you with fear in eyes. You slowly approach him.

- ‘P-please...I...I surrender.’ - he pleads as you crouch next to him.

One second later, the bayonet is already in his stomach. You quickly retract the blade and thrust again. You stab his guts at least 13 times before finally ending his suffering by stabbing him directly in his eye and going all the way in.

After making sure everyone inside the bunker was dead you once again start climbing the stairs, but this time you stop after several steps as you hear a weird noise coming out from the top of the staircase. A large chunk of metal is being dragged through the ground slowly covering the entrance. You start running, tripping many times on numerous corpses litering the stairs. Before you are able to reach the top the chunk was already set in place and now more pieces of debris were being thrown at this barricade.

- ‘Nonononononono.’ - screaming frantically you start releasing energy blast after energy blast trying to move the massive chunk out of the way. Soon your nose starts to bleed and exhausted you fall in front of the pile, punching it weakly. Few moments later the barricade gets big enough to completely block the light leaving you in total darkness. Using the last ounces of magical energy you create a weak light to illuminate the corridor. You look one last time at the trail of corpses. Just few moments before they were all screaming, fighting and dying and now, laying next to each other, there was no traces of life left in them. You can’t help, but smile looking at this peaceful image. They no longer had any problems, they were no longer in pain and they no longer had any fear for their lives. Every last one of them, both friend and foe, was now saved from the horrors of this war. And all of this was thanks to you – a proud cleric of the Tornland Empire.


Amelia Weisseblume
Status: Missing in Action

That was quite an intense update. Now, it's time for some clarification.

The quest DOES NOT end here. In a day or two I will create another thread featuring other characters and the aftermath of the battle of Camargue marshes. Then, it will be to you to decide the future of the quest.

In the meantime I will happily read any feedback and answer any questions.

Thanks for following this quest, even after my long absence.

>>3721524
well we got our PC killed...victory?

>>3721524
Thanks for running!

Can Amelia survive in the bunker? Are there rations/a hope of rescue? Or is it RIP when we starve or they pour gas down the hole or bring in another mage/mage killer?

>>3721535
Yeah nice job.

>>3721532
The dice gods enjoy Amelia's suffering. See you soon Mamut.
>>3721546
She can eat the bodies, but at that point she would lose her sanity. Such an awful way to go. At least we still have Elke. Right?

>>3721511
So question at what point did we start down the bad ending path?

>>3721588
When we did not tell HQ about our autopsy and the alchemical attack. Then again we did not believe we have enough information to make a call. So we had to let it go.

>>3721535
She went out like a champ, wouldn't you agree?

>>3721546
The bunker is big and it was stocked with supplies, but I doubt many of them survived the firestorm. The Uspeshans definitely won't be eager to uncover the entrance any time soon. Amelia's body may survive for quite a long time, but her mind is another matter.

>>3721588
As soon as you decided to participate in the quest :^)
I guess the true point of no return was charging the enemy mage. Of course, it depends if you consider surrendering to be a better ending than...well, this.

>>3721618
I sincerely doubt surrender would have increased our odds of survival.

>>3721618
If we surrendered we could be treated as a high level POW, and forced to help find the scepters. I would have preferred that she went out with glory on the battlefield instead of being buried alive.

>>3721618
So not informing HQ about anything, was what really killed us in the end?

>>3721640
That's assuming the HQ would've took it seriously. Remember, until the Uspeshan offensive this was a very quiet, low-priority sector of the frontline.Convincing the HQ to make preparations would've been a tough task by itself, but if done correctly then yes, it would've make the battle much less one-sided.

>>3721637
Did too good a job killing the enemy at the end there. If you guys had rolled low they would have just killed us instead of needing to bury us alive.

Of course, not charging the mage would have meant our whole unit would be surviving as POWs, with a chance to get back in action through another catastrophe or prisoner exchange, but that's even more of a burned bridge.

Expect a new update between Thursday and Friday
The quest is alive and well, it will just take more time than I expected

>>3728901
Nice