Warriors of Polforia

The first to arrive, where the cousins of Duvtkkar. They arrived even before they received the message of Duvtkkar, as they had seen the column of smoke coming from the farm, and they quickly left to help. They come, rather than for a battle, to help with a fire, but soon they learned about the werewolf attack.

Later came the Borragh, neighbors of a farm to the south, riding horses and with their hunting bows and spears. After them, arrived the Poahyko, neighbors from the west, carring their wood cutting axes, as they where in that activity when they saw the smoke. As the Kanovs arrived, quickly a defense was organiced around the ruins of the farm, in case the werewolves tried other attack. Being around twenty kanov at arms, and having established a perimeter -and putting down the fires-, they began to sweep the area, looking for werewolves as some where sighted, dispersed near the farm. But the now dispersed werewolves, weren't fighting and eluded combat.

At dawn of that long and bloddy day, arrived Ruthkarnd the Bear, the Great Kanov -chieftain- of the Porfiros Kanovs of the region of Okviyia, along with twenty of his warriors, riding horses and armored.

Duvtkkar, a free Kanov, and therefore, a warrior, was one of his men, and when he recieved his message, he quickly gathered some of his forces to help. As he arrived, without inminent danger of other werewolf attack, he decided to have a gathering with Duvtkkar and the survivors.

"So what happened there?"

"Werewolves." said Duvtkkar's wife.

"Of the White Fang". Added Bogdhul, the half-kanov. Rutkarnd remember him for the uprising against the Vampire. A valuable warrior.

"But why?"

"This stupid there thought he could deal with demons" spitted Duvtkkar at Bogdhul's feet. "I warned him it wasn't a good idea! But no! He never hears! NEVER!"

"And what wanted he with the White Fang, anyway?"

Duvtkkar looked with hate the small girl hidding between the legs of Bogdhul, that Ruthkarnd hadn't gave much attention before. Only now, he noticed that, rather than having some hairy pants, she was the one with hairy legs... a half breed?

Duvtkkar's wife hitted his husband with a wood spoon. "Stop frightening the poor little thing!" she nagged her husband, before turning to the kanov chieftain. "Bogdhul only wanted to return home a little lost girl! A good action, but now splattered in blood." she said.

Ruthkarnd the Bear looked with interest the hibrid child. Half werewolf with something else? elf? human? Not a Kanov, clearly. As the tall, big, heavy and hairy kanov looked down at her with cold icy blue eyes, the child hidded behind Boghdul. "And what happened?" the Bear asked.

"I made a deal. To return the child to her clan" said Bog.

"...and he was stupid enough to believe in demons" pointed out Duvtkarr's wife with the wooden spoon.

"Will the werewolves return?" asked the Bear.

"We don't know." they answered. Rutkharnd hated fighting werewolves, because rather than a fight, often become a hunt. And not allways the hunters where the Kanovs. Passing the next days patroling the forests and wilderness to try to even reach some werewolves wasn't a fun thing to do. Neither was easy to do a raid to werewolf lands, as these lands doesn't have anything to raid, and the werewolves sensed the kanovs far away, so they never get to caught the werewolves, who lived like animals, without builded houses or homes. Or camps. An attack like this wasn't something they could leave slid, or other similar attacks will be done by their enemies... but it wasn't easy to retaliate to an enemy with the characteristics of werewolves. What to do?

"Let's set some patrols" he said. Duvtkkar protested that it wasn't enough. He know that... but how to hit the elusive werewolves?

"let's storm their fortress". said Duvtkkar.

"What?" asked Ruthkarnd the Bear.

"The White Fang have choosen as lair some ruins of an old Keep." explained Boghdul. "There it was where I was bringing Pumori."

"A fortress?" said Ruthkarnd, interested. If the werewolves had settled in such place, that changed things. Rather than roaming the forests for days for nothing, there was a goal. A place to attack! If the White Fang abandone their den, they can still reach it, and burn it down as a reprisal for this attack. If instead, the werewolves defend the keep, they will have actually a battle. A Battle! Not chasing tails and ghosts in a forest, but a battle! The White Fang for long have been a bane to the kanovs of Polforia, and many of the lands of the infamous werewolf clan where inhabited, as the population either escaped from the werewolves, or was killed... But now, this change things. A fortress? For too long the White Fang have reigned with Terror! If he, Ruthkarnd the Bear, destroyed the White Fang werewolf clan, songs will tell his story! And as well, it will mean these inhabited, uncultivated but rich lands, could get free for settlers...

"...it isn't far away" continued the half-kanov, Boghdul. "About three days on horseback".

The Bear liked it. It have been long since he had a good battle! Not since the peace with the Dark Tower of the Swamp, at least.

That night, he gave orders to his men to go to their homes to gather their weapons, armors mounts and rations for two weeks. As well, to gather their families and cattle, to send them to his longhouse, which was protected by some palisades, and other fortified castros, in case the result in battle where adverse, or the werewolves tried something. Finally, he send messengers to other chieftains, distant farms and errant warriors, in case they want to join the Host, to be part of the Glory and Fame from bringing an end to the White Fang.

In the cold morning of the next day, it was visible the breath of eighty kanov warriors among a forest of spears, gathered in front of the longhouse of Ruthkarnd the Bear. As well, there was Bogdhul, who was going to serve as guide to the fortress of the White Fang, a small teen elven looking girl -that Ruthkarnd noticed, looked alike Bogdhul- and the small half-werewolf girl. -Pumori was her name?-

Ruthkarnd picked his axe, and as he raised it, he yelled:

"To the Howling Keep! To Victory and fame! STAVMA UTKA! HOOK HOOK!"

"HOOK! HOOK!" chanted the Kanov warriors, hitting their weapons against their shields, and so, blowing their horns, the host began their journey to the fortress of the White Fang.

Along the way, during all the first day, some more forty other warriors, stragglers who sleept or lived in distant farms, joined the column. Later, some thirty warriors of Wisznaska, with their painted faces and open porfirian ponchos joined them, and during the second day, Burdovarr Kinslayer and sixty of his men joined the host, and as they marched, errant warriors, monster hunters, mercenaries, free-men and adventurers joined the column, which ventured into the deserted lands of the White Fang: once fertile farmlands, abandoned by their population in fear of the shape shifting demons...

---

"Finally here" said Bog, as he unmounted. after five days of travel, helping Pumori to get down from the horse. He was very worried for her now, as she have been in silence, completely closed to herself since what happened in the farm.

The column had finally make it's way to the Howling Keep, at the heart of the White Fang werewolf clan territory. An army march slower than single travelers, and now that the werewolf occupied ruins where visible, Ruthkarnd the Bear and Burdovarr Kinslayer -who where proclaimed leaders of the host by the kanov warriors, lifting them over shields- ordered them to unmount. Normally, Kanovs don't fight horseback, and less against an enemy like werewolves, that frightened and make nervous the beasts.

The Kusyuks -sargents of arms- barked orders, preparing the battle line to advance over the fortress, and everybody rushed to take possitions.

Bog carried in his arms Pumori, before giving her to Bogilla. "Take care of her" he said. The battle was calling...

Edit 12.12.2016: Updated lights and shadows!