A World Between Realms

The House of Eagle Vs. The House of Stag

Day One: Matthew's Team vs. Ealdred's Team

Matthew directed his team, using a piece of bark to sketch out the fortress's layout. "We need to optimize every structure for efficiency. Let's make sure our traps are both intellectual and practical. Sandra, please oversee the integration of the pulley systems here."

Sandra nodded, adjusting her glasses as she surveyed the marked area. "Got it, Matthew. I'll ensure it operates on minimal force but maximum impact."

Around them, the team worked diligently, occasionally consulting the diagrams sketched on large leaves spread over a makeshift table of stacked branches, surrounded by the dense forest.

Ealdred surveyed his swiftly rising fortifications, then turned to his team, clapping his hands to capture their attention. "Companions, our strength lies not merely in defense but in seizing the moment. Let us take the initiative and challenge Matthew's band while they still make ready. We strike swift and hard."

His second-in-command, Regan, strapped on his armor, rallying the others. "Ye heard Ealdred! Ready up! We move out in five. Stay sharp and stick together!"

As Ealdred's band approached, hidden by the foliage, Ealdred whispered, "Stay low and move quickly. They expect us not so early. On my signal."

They burst upon Matthew's encampment with a sudden rush, catching all off-guard. Matthew's team dropped their tools, scrambling in confusion.

Matthew, seeing the approaching figures, shouted, "Hold them back! Implement defensive protocol! Quick, to your positions!"

But the response was too chaotic; the members were disoriented, their theoretical defenses not yet ready to withstand a true assault.

As Ealdred's band launched their surprise attack, the chaos and disarray quickly overwhelmed Matthew's team. Amid the confusion, two of Matthew's teammates were injured, leaving them incapacitated and unable to continue the physically demanding aspects of the trial. This left Matthew with three other members able to actively participate, significantly reducing their manpower.

Sandra, clutching her side in pain, yelled over the noise, "Matthew, we can't hold them off with just the four of us!"

Matthew, assessing the situation swiftly, made a split-second decision. "Seize the emblem and any essentials. We must evacuate now!"

The remaining team members hastily gathered their emblem—a beautifully crafted representation of an eagle clutching a scroll—and whatever supplies they could carry. As Ealdred's band tore through their unfinished fortress, Matthew, Sandra, and the other two teammates, Warren and Fatima, managed to slip through a hastily devised escape route.

Once in the safety of the dense underbrush, the four paused, catching their breath. The sounds of their fortress being dismantled echoed through the trees.

Matthew, striving to maintain a semblance of calm, reassured his teammates, "We still have the emblem. That is what matters most. We are not out of this yet."

Sandra, grimacing from her injury, nodded. "We must find a safe place to regroup. Somewhere we can defend with just the four of us."

Warren, the youngest member, looked around nervously. "There is a rocky outcrop not far from here. It has natural cover and but one approach. It might be our best shot."

The four made their way to the rocky outcrop, using the natural terrain to their advantage. As night fell, they set about creating a makeshift but defensible position. The emblem was placed securely and wrapped in a cloth to protect it from the elements.

Matthew took on the role of the strategist once again, planning their survival and defense for the remaining days. "We must be cunning about this. We will set up watches in shifts and try to forage for food at dawn when it is safest."

Sandra, who had some skill in healing, tended to the injuries as best as she could with their limited supplies. "We must keep our energy up and stay alert. It will be arduous, but we can manage."

Under the shelter of the rocky outcrop, the team spent a restless night. Despite the setback, their spirit was not broken. They knew the trial was as much about resilience and adaptation as it was about strength and strategy.

Matthew, sitting beside the emblem, whispered to his remaining teammates, "On the morrow, we show them what we are truly made of.

As dawn approached, the four prepared to face the next day with a newfound determination, ready to defend their emblem and honor, proving that even a diminished team could still be a formidable force.