Mercy Guard

Mercy Guard

A thunderous crack resounded throughout the barracks as guard captain Beau Kew slammed open the worn door to the westgate barracks. The sudden bang snapping those present to attention.
Beau was eager to prove himself capable of leading. He’d always used a combination of fear. That and a split of the loot, but Beau wasn’t affording himself that crutch here. He was a leader, a natural one at that, but he couldn’t use his regular tools if he wanted a substantial shot at reformation.
“Alright here guards. We’ve been seeing more dissent than usual around here crew,” Beau began voice booming. “When seeking justice for the poisoning of a fellow guard captain, captain Galdar had shit flung at him.”
“They saw it fit to boo us, while one of our own lies stricken with poison,” he continued. “They have no confidence in us, we need to give these people assurances. The security of Mythrite is to be our top priority from this point forward,” Beau concluded.
“So, be visible to the people of this town. So stand tall. Do your duty. And march to the end to prevent this frontier from toppling around you. We’re increasing patrols. Go out there. Make sure that you’re seen and give people the impression that they’re secure, and we will ease the turmoil,” Beau finished.
Several of the assembled guards headed for the exit, obviously obeying the orders that they were given. Some even had what could be considered prideful expressions. However, many stayed where they were and continued to go about their business. “Oy you layabouts. What’re you doing? Get out there,” Beau reprimanded those who elected to remain in place.
“Why’d we listen to yer dribble there,” a crooked toothed human with patchy hair said. “Yer not the one who pays us. Them's the merchants over in the trades corridor. You need to pay us if’n you want more.” The man took off into the further depths of the barracks.
It is the ones like these that affirm the people’s opinions, Beau thought internally.

#

Beau hefted his sword and another goblin was felled. He glanced around with sweat stung eyes. The guards managed to keep rank while the scattered and chaotic goblins got cut down. Their visera coated the landscape.
The goblins bolted in a full unmeasured retreat. “Pursue them,” Beau bellowed. The guard pursued the goblins who ran full tilt into their would-be reinforcements. They crashed sprawling to the ground upon the wall of collisions.
Blood pounded in the pursuer’s ears as they closed the distance. The goblins several already sprawled on the ground were given no quarter as they let out blood curdling screams upon being impaled with cold steel.
“Split off! Envelope them,” Beau shouted and contingents of the guards broke off to take over the goblin flank. The second wave of goblins slid on the muddy ground and tripped over their compatriots, living and deceased.
The envelopment closed to a full encirclement and the remaining goblins made last ditch desperation charges only to find themselves impaled on the guards swords.

#

Beau and Galdar kicked through the corpses of fallen goblins, while the guards who took part in the rout looted the corpses. “This week has been… difficult,” Galdar said. “While we’ve taken steps to fix it, the crux of the problem remains. It’s impossible to deny the impact his mayoral proclamation had on the security of this town, even while no one takes him seriously. No one challenged his authority, and so he naturally assumed a position of power despite his relative lack of support. And so, I think someone needs to challenge him. A counter-campaign, if you will. Someone needs to step up and say that this town has its own authority, it has a guard ready and willing to protect them. And that someone will need support."
Beau replied, “I assume you have someone in mind?” He didn’t fully trust Galdar and was expecting an attempted power grab. Which is why he was surprised and caught off guard by Galdar’s response.
"I would do it myself,” Galdar replied, “but with the recent scathing words of Captain Sagitarii my reputation has been dragged through shit...literally. You, however, are respected by those of the town and the guard alike."
“You’re saying that I should run for mayor then?” Beau asked. “It’s not what I had planned, but it sounds perfect to me.” It seemed like a good way to get people to take heed of him after all.
Beau looked around to the guards looting the goblin corpses. “They operate well enough once they’re in the field. It’s difficult to actually get them out here though.”
“Bribe them,” Galdar replied after a moment. “I just slip my men bribes to get them to follow orders.”
Beau lamented for a moment on the similarities between this guard and his former crew. He was still resolved to lead the right way, honorably.
Following this conversation, Beau made his way to the Orator’s stage to capitalize on the momentum of the successful goblin rout. Townspeople were awoken by the hooting and hollering of the triumphant guard and rose to see the commotion.

#

“Alright, the goblin attacks have slowed. We’ve sustained losses but so have they. Their weeks of mindless barrages have cost them dearly,” Beau spoke to the assembled guards in the barracks. They had sustained significant losses, injuries, and damage. They had suffered desertion and simple lack of morale. Those who remained were overworked. The room was filled with cracked lips and baggy eyes.
“We can’t afford to give them time to regroup,” he continued. “If we strike before they have a chance to organize again we can break their siege.”
People glanced around or otherwise stared at their boots. The lack of enthusiasm was to be expected, but this seemed heavier. “You seem to misunderstand something here captain,” someone spoke up. It was a man with shaggy red hair tied off into a ponytail, with a tense face. “We,” he motioned around, “are the town guard. We protect the walls and inside the walls.”
“No,” Beau replied sternly, closing distance with the man. “You protect the town. The goblins are a threat to the town. If you need to leave the walls to protect the town, you do it.”
“If you want to pay me I might be able to make it my jurisdiction,” his crooked tooth glinted.
Beau stepped to within a foot of the dissenter. Sneering down on him. “Last time I checked we were up to date with your pay. You telling me that that’s not right?”
“I’m just saying that it’s not my jurisdiction, captain. Just not too keen on risking my life while you lead from the back is all.” he replied pseudo placatingly.
If this guard won’t obey a simple order, Beau thought, do I really want to bet on him doing what I ask when there are lives on the line? I know my plan will work but do I really trust this lot?
Beau departed to find aid elsewhere.

#

Beau made his way with trepidation to the field where the caravan camp abided. He held no authority here, and he failed to get help when he did. He approached the longhouses used to bunk the caravan guards near the center of the fields. The hustle and bustle of the camp was beginning to die down. The miners had just returned for the day an hour or so ago, and the last of them were filtering out with the day’s hauls.
He approached a cart that had been left near the center of camp and hoisted himself onto it. “Attention! Can I have your attention?” Beau’s voice resounded. He waited for a moment patiently while the nearby caravan guards and few remaining miners glanced around briefly in confusion, before turning their attention to him.
“Listen up. We have a plan to break the siege, but we need your help to do it,” he started. “It’s a direct strike of the goblin encampment. They’ve suffered severe losses, and with your help, together we can break them down. Comrades, with your trust we can win this day.”
“I will lead the assault myself, from the front. I will not expect you to risk what I myself will not. I understand what it’s like to be down on one’s luck, but everyone has a point where they need to prove who they are. This is that moment. This is your opportunity to get the respect that you rightly deserve. You just need to trust me that we can and will win this day. There is no plan without you,” Beau concluded his passionate appeal hoping that these folk were less corrupt than their counterparts inside the town.
Beau walked through his plan for the caravan guard, and they listened. A few offered minor critiques and refinements which were happily accepted. After going over the plan, modifying the plan, then going over the plan Beau set out with a small and trusted group of the guards.
Now reaching dusk the group made their way to the gate, passing an overflowing emergency response camp on the way. The camp was staffed with mostly impromptu personnel, who eyed the procession with dead eyes.

#

Beau gave the leather straps and the mail of his armor a final check making sure everything was in order. He took note of the arms and armor that he and his compatriots carried. It was as good as could be expected.
They waited among the derelict buildings and shrubbery outside the town's walls. The waiting was always the hardest part. From his position in the shrubbery outside the walls, Beau caught movement in his peripheral vision. Silhouettes were emerging from the gatehouse. A lot of them in fact. They began spreading, but in the lowlight, it was impossible to distinguish them.
Just then dozens of torches erupted to the East. The caravan guard. The signal. Beau drew his sword and led the charge quick and quiet to the goblin camp.
They got real close before a goblin looked at them and screeched, a good way to tell that you’ve been spotted. Beau rose from his crouched position and led a charge into the goblin flank, trusting that the guards he’d brought with him were following. They were, the goblins went sprawling as they were impacted from the second direction. Seeing their reinforcements the caravan guard, previously actively defending leant into their attack.
The wave of bodies crashing into the goblin flank lasted longer than it should have. A lot longer. Bolstered by the cries of the goblins that rang throughout the night. After yet another heft of his sword and cleave of a fresh goblin corpse, Beau sweat stinging his eyes, caught a glimpse of why. The town guard was fighting. They had followed them through the gate. Torchfire illuminated the scene. The combined force of the two guard companies were reaping the goblin hoard like scythes through grain.
Beau led a small platoon along the whirlpool of violence, blood pounding in their ears echoing off the interior of their helmets. Until they came upon a large bonfire near the center of the goblin’s camp. With most of the goblins frantically throwing themselves toward the orderly chaos of the battle the camp was sparsely populated, still the platoon carved through the remaining goblins, town and caravan guard side by side, culminating with Beau cleaving the goblin chieftain’s head into the central bonfire with a single mighty swing.
A cry went out among the nearby goblins which spread. The hit to morale that seeing the flesh melt off of their chieftain caused, made those within sight of it scatter into the forest and over the hills. Seeing their compatriots flee caused more of the goblins’ morale to break and scatter. The snowball continued until the remaining goblin force was thoroughly routed.
There was a pause, a moment of silence; and then a cheer emerged from the assembled guards as they hoisted Beau armor and all onto their shoulders and chanted: CAPTAIN-BEAU-KEW! CAPTAIN-BEAU-KEW!

#

“Drudi Flintlock approached me with a proposal the other day,” Galdar said. “He doesn’t believe that we have the votes to win this thing. However, he can tell we are on a good path, and that we have stirred some support from the common folk. He wants you to drop from the race and give your support to him. In exchange, we will be placed in charge of the combined town and caravan guard after he wins the election. Not to mention, getting on the good side of Flintlock may be very helpful for those in our position.”
Galdar had approached him while on an extra patrol related to the unrest caused by the election.
“Drudi has been threatening high standing social figures to coerce their support,” Beau replied. “That effect your assessment? You trust him?”
“We walk a very dangerous line here, Beau,” Galdar started. “If we do not throw our support to Druidi and he wins anyway, we lose any chance of holding influence over this town. With our support, and if Druidi keeps his promise, we have a position of power, more so than even now; once Druidi increases the town's security and establishes the guard as a more well-founded structure. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him, but keep in mind: we have the support of the guard. Even if we don't win this election, it's us the guards trust, not Druidi.”
That if nothing else was correct. The guards trusted their leaders, they still held admiration for breaking the goblin siege.

#

Beau walked back to the barracks from the campaign office of Drudi Flintlock turmoil plagued his mind. He had been polling in third, and his winning had been a long shot, so when prompted by Galdar he cut a deal with Flintlock. The funny part was that he didn’t need convincing either. He’d already proven he could lead the right way, so he was done. It made sense. Being mayor wouldn’t get people to follow him, they already did.
He felt a light tug at his sleeve. “Excuse me,” a high pitched voice said. Beau turned to look at the young girl. “You dropped this back there,” she said pointing and holding out a small leather bag.
Beau took the bag pensively and the girl ran along. He paused for a moment before loosening the strings and peaking inside. The small leather bag was filled with gold coins with a note on the top that read ‘We remember our friends’.
He stared at the note for a long moment before tightening his fist around the bag and walking off briskly. Drudi would not win.

#

Beau had taken the Orator’s stage to announce his withdrawal from the mayoral race. He had thrown his support into Drudi’s rival to applause from the crowd. Galdar called him a naive fool and informed him that he was making a mistake.
Drudi won.
Beau accepted a ‘promotion’ to the weakened caravan guard. He took it triumphantly at that. The town guards are all taking bribes and not doing their jobs, only protecting the wealthy. Despite this Beau was strangely pleased. The caravan guard behaves honorably; they had backed him during the goblin rout. Many still admired him from that rout, which helped with rebuilding. Rebuilding efforts were already rolling full steam ahead with the caravan guard adding fifty percent again to their ranks. He’d rather be nowhere else.