Our Column Ambushed

We set off at first light this morning, and for an hour or so we made good progress down the slopes.  Gallanarre and I marched two-thirds of the way towards the back of the column, where we'd be well protected if anything went wrong.  And it was true – we were.  After stopping for breakfast, we were closing to the point where we'd be parting company from the soldiers and heading down to one of the villages when a surprise Gurgam attack hit.

We ought to have seen it, but the scouts ahead has reported nothing.  Suddenly there were a couple of hundred Gurgam that appeared to our right, they rose out of the undergrowth and bushes and attacked.  Their tactic at first was to drive into the middle of our column and split it in two – this they achieved with some ease as they caught us on the back foot.  This put many of their soldiers directly in front of Gallanarre, myself, and our two guards.  We drew our weapons, and were ready to fight when the Dzarraf behind us formed a line and charged right at the Gurgam.  This line swept past us and hand-to-hand fighting broke out in earnest.

Several Dzarraf were injured before the fight started to turn our way.  The Gurgam that had pressed through our ranks were assaulted from both sides, and many of them fell.  The ground here was becoming a disgusting mix of their green blood and the brown dirt.  The enemy eventually backed off, and they left the battlefield scattered with their injured and dead.  We'd kept out of the fighting for now but Gallanarre could restrain himself no longer; he joined in with some of the Dzarraf who went through the injured Gurgam and ended their suffering.  Our scouts had already been over to where the Gurgam had appeared from and reported that the enemy had been partially buried in a series of low trenches, and covered with rags and cut sections of the undergrowth.  This ambush is the sort of thing that would take time to prepare, but I'll know more about that when I cast my eye over it when it's safe.  Perhaps the Gurgam here were lucky in where they placed their ambush, perhaps they'd guessed that we, or another column of Dzarraf or Gnaeblin, were coming this way.  Or perhaps they'd been tipped off.  Our plans to make this journey were made last night before Hushmaz left.  I hope to get the chance to investigate in detail; this is the kind of thing I do for a living – and I don't like the thought that there may be traitors among my colleagues.

The Dzarraf were just regrouping when a second wave of Gurgam appeared, this time from down the slope, but still on the eastern side.  Among these we can clearly see some Ogruks, they're much taller, and they seem to be the ones barking out the orders and cracking whips.  These are much stronger than the Gurgam, and will prove to be more of a challenge on the battlefield, but their presence should inspire our warriors on to greater feats of bravery.

The Gurgam are coming up the slopes now.  Gallanarre and I may even have to be involved in the proper fighting this time.