Siege!
Almost ninety percent of your force was decimated in the failed siege attempt. Their bodies surrounded the fortress like an additional wall. To prevent stench the forest people dropped down burning oil and allowed the bodies to burn. Flesh and bone blackened creating a ring of smoke that shielded the fortress like an impenetrable sheath stretching up to the heavens. You are certain that even God can smell the burning flesh of those faithful to him yet he does nothing. He has lost favor in your race, in the church and in the empire. It is your fault for leading this folly attack.
As you tend to the few surviving wounded who made it away from the fortress you see on horseback a group of high ranking officials from the head cathedral in the capital. You already know what they have come for and you stand ready to take the punishment you deserve. The caravan stops and a high ranking bishop/politician dismounts from his horse. He wears gold and silver along with jade and smells of saffron. This rich politician pulls out from his coat a copper tube. From within the tube he pulls out a piece of parchment and hands it to you. He says nothing, never even making eye contact. You unroll the envelope even though you know what it is going to say. After quickly reading the text stamped by the head of crusades, you fetch your horse and ride off. A new commander quickly assumes your role and you ride off out of the empire and into the uncharted territories. You no longer deserve to live among the faithful, you have failed them and you have failed God.
Failure
As you tend to the few surviving wounded who made it away from the fortress you see on horseback a group of high ranking officials from the head cathedral in the capital. You already know what they have come for and you stand ready to take the punishment you deserve. The caravan stops and a high ranking bishop/politician dismounts from his horse. He wears gold and silver along with jade and smells of saffron. This rich politician pulls out from his coat a copper tube. From within the tube he pulls out a piece of parchment and hands it to you. He says nothing, never even making eye contact. You unroll the envelope even though you know what it is going to say. After quickly reading the text stamped by the head of crusades, you fetch your horse and ride off. A new commander quickly assumes your role and you ride off out of the empire and into the uncharted territories. You no longer deserve to live among the faithful, you have failed them and you have failed God.
Failure
