A grim gift

[Carbon]

The chopped off heads of a handful of the mercenaries of the Exigo that ventured into the Viridale not long ago are soon found on sticks in the Viridale forest border. A note is placed in the mouth of one of the heads. The note merely reads

"Defilers of the forest"

[Doubtful]

The heads are recovered by a mixture of Legion and Blackwood troops, the soldiers of Blackwood noticeably quiet as they take the sorry remains of their fallen comrades.

A small force is marshaled at the Viridale forest border camp, among it's number one Adrian Readen, comforting the wife of one of the soldiers.

"This cold blooded murder will not go unavenged. These degenerate forest bandits have lived outside the law for to long. They threaten the fabric of our way of life merely so they can feel better about their own religious fervor.

I for one will not give up my goodness, my decency and my honest way of life to return to living in the mud as these people wish us to. These people have prooved time and time again that they have no respect, no honour. We must never give in! We must never stop the march of progression!

We shall answer their challenge, if they wish war then they shall have it, and for every drop of good, honest, civilized blood that falls, we shall spill a gallon of theirs!"

A ragged cheer goes up from the soldiers, and the Exigo war party turn to leave. Adrian whispers one last line to a nearby aide.

"Speak to Tidestrike, go around him if you must. Step up work on the FB range, we'll burn these freaks out."