Introduction
For years, the Great Waste to the west of the Republic has been the home of nomad raiders. Petty little tribes, both human and otherwise, have roamed this trackless waste, raiding each other and the surrounding settlements. For a while, the local lords easily controlled this banditry. Then the tribes became dangerous: the raiders apparently set aside their feuds and prepared for war. Spies reported massive armies gathering. Shortly, some of the farthest flung towns were no longer heard from.
Heeding their spies and the stories of refugees from the west, the lords and the governor of the Republic sent out a call for arms. Throughout the settled lands, they asked for mercenaries and experienced men to fight the nomad foes. All manner of men answered--peasants, mercenaries, veterans, elves, and adventurers. Among these many came your group.
You were late in arriving, for the main army had already marched. Your party joined the ragtag lot of reserves going to meet them: the undesirables and unusables of those who came to fight. Along the way there were many quarrels and disputes. Peasants fought for a dead man's boots; drunken mercenaries ransacked a village; men were knifed as old blood feuds broke out. Finally, the reserves reached a village only recently taken by the main army. Still among the smoking ruins were the signs of nomad enemies--humans, ogres, and other unknown creatures. The commanders halted at this place. Now you have been camped here for several days.