After returning to your kingdom with the news of your conquest fresh on every man and woman's lips, you give orders for the loot to be divided amongst those who were enslaved, as recompense, and the rest put in your holds. Still, it is a small fortune, as no barbarian chief lasts so long and becomes such a large thorn, without building a reputation for himself. And as his slayer, that prestige now falls to you.
There is an eve of ceremony and merry-making as a feast is held in your honour. Total victory is nothing to be sniffed at, with not a single man lost, and you find yourself enjoying the company of the **** girls in the evening, they having been 'unwilling' to leave your company once you returned.
A day passes.
And in the morning you find yourself looking at your map of the realm again. The fort that was liberated from the barbarians is marked now as belonging to your kingdom, the blue of your family shield colouring its once plain wooden piece. If needs be, you could always use it in future for any number of things. But for now your attention is drawn away to your advisers.
"My liege." begins your honour-guard. You had since learned his name was 'Gunther' and that he had been your father's advisor too before his demise. He continued,
"Even with the demise of the barbarian chief, there are other forces that would seek to do your people harm. My men have been reporting strange creatures that live in the forests to the east, and we have received word from a few peasants living on the outskirts that say they have been attacked, or in some cases had relatives captured, by the beasts."
"And what are they Gunther?" This second voice came from Soran, the Wizard. He had been in his laboratory when the attack on the barbarians happened, located to the north west of your lands near the mountain range. A wise old man, with a long beard and small glasses on his nose, he seemed at times distant.
"From what we have heard, they have the lower half of a goat, or deer, and the upper appearance of a man, with horns that grow from their fore-head. Demons from the sounds of them."
"More likely creatures of the woods. But we would be better off seeing them first, to know what we are actually dealing with." said Soran.
"We have already ordered that no one enter the forests, and all logging has been stopped. we will need fire-wood if we are to survive the winter, and our stocks may not be enough for everyone lord. What are we to do?" asked Gunther.
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