Chapter 22: The Call for Reinforcements
The village was still reeling from the aftermath of the siege. Smoke rose from the smoldering remains of destroyed structures, and the cries of the wounded echoed through the square. Srabon moved through the chaos, his expression grim. The Builder was already at work, coordinating the villagers to clear the debris and start the repairs.
Mira approached Srabon, her arm wrapped in a fresh bandage. "Chief, we can't hold out much longer if the Goblin King launches another attack. We lost half our troops."
Srabon clenched his fists. The Goblin King's forces were relentless, and they were running out of resources. They couldn't afford to lose any more men or defenses. The system notification flashed before him.
[New Quest: Call for Reinforcements. Reward: 800 Gold, 600 Elixir.]
Srabon opened the map, eyes scanning the surrounding areas. There were several nearby villages that could potentially offer assistance. But convincing them to join his cause would be difficult.
"Mira," Srabon said, turning to her. "Prepare to send a messenger to the village of Stonefall. They're known for their powerful Barbarians. If we can convince them to join us, we might stand a chance."
Mira nodded. "And what about the survivors from Ralston? They said they wanted revenge against the Goblin King. Maybe they'll fight with us."
Srabon's eyes narrowed. "Good idea. Gather them in the square."
Later that evening, Srabon stood before the survivors of Ralston. Their leader, a burly man named Rolf, stepped forward. "You called for us, Chief?"
"Rolf, I know you and your people lost everything in the Goblin King's raid. If you're willing to fight, I can promise you a place in this village — a new home, and a chance to get your revenge."
Rolf's eyes darkened, and he exchanged glances with his fellow survivors. "We'll fight. But we need weapons."
Srabon nodded. "The Blacksmith is already working on new weapons and armor. You'll get what you need."
[Quest Update: Equip New Recruits. Reward: 300 Gold, 200 Elixir.]
As the survivors dispersed to prepare for training, Srabon turned to Mira. "Send the messenger to Stonefall. Tell them we need their best warriors."
Mira nodded and hurried off. Srabon took a deep breath, gazing out over the damaged village. The Goblin King would come again — and next time, Srabon would be ready.