prelude to war.

The sun beat down on the barren field as a light rain had begun to fall obscuring most. Suddenly the sound of splashing came from a stream up ahead followed by the whinny of a horse. Several men all riding horses appeared out of the gloom. One apparently the commander shouldering a spear with a rapier and sickle-sword strapped to his belt turned to face the rest of the troops the man began to speak. “I have ordered this call to arms to avenge my father whose colors you see adorning your armor and the standard. He was felled here two years ago by the dogs who call this place their home. Now we shall avenge him, bring the perpetrators to their knees.” The man lifted his hand where the other men could see and clenched it in a fist. “We will make them pay.” They charged off into the trees shouting.