Out of the days of blood, none came unscathed. Major wounds were inflicted everywhere at once, and several were mortal. A few kingdoms collapsed immediatly, if there was anything left. Others managed to hold out longer, as they fell. Chondath managed to hold its ground for over a month, before finally collapsing. But now every remaining kingdom had sunk it's feet in. They were entrenched and watchful. The Gyshin would have their work cut out for them. The elves had left their precious elven lands completely, and had marched immediatly to Cormyr, which has become the shining example of resistance to the Gyshin threat.

So now the Gyshin were cleaning up the smaller stragglers, in preparation to take on their few remaining real threats. Westgate was one of these. A small independant trading city, they had no defense against the Gyshin. Anyone with a ship had already left, aside from a precious few who refused to leave. Stamp stood on the ramparts, his heart torn. To stay here, was death. He knew it, he could not trick himself. But to leave? Where would he go? What would he do? Did he dare return to Cormyr? As his mind wrestled with these questions, the pinchers of the Gyshin army moved close to the heart of Toril.

Chapter 40 - The Heart of Toril

"Chondath has fallen sir."

"I know that damn it, but it doesn't mean there is nothing to draw upon!"

"Your retainer is right, any help Chondath might have been able to give, will be suspect. Besides, they have lost too much to care about helping us."

Lyorn looked from Fane to Sir Morback. "Sir Morback, did I say that Chondath had to WANT to help us? I suggest we use what resistance is left to draw the Gyshin into a trap."

Fane sighed. "We would only draw their servants into a trap. It would not hurt the Gyshin at all."

Lyorn glared at his servant. "Their servants ARE their power. We must crush them all. And they would not doubt send useful servants!"

Sir Morback sighed. "Lyorn. Sir. They are greater than us. There are 10 of their servants, for every one of our warriors. We are outnumbered. We can not fight this kind of war."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?!? YES! We've lost, I understand that. I plan to make the biggest dent in their forces I can! This had been discussed!!"

Fane glanced at Sir Morback, "We were asked to give the others time. Some of them MUST return. It's barely been 2 months. We must hope that they are fighting the Gyshin at the Gyshin home world, and will force them to withdraw. We must stall."

"So, you suggest we just sit here, hiding, hoping that the Gyshin just up and leave? It will only encourage them! We must strike and keep them cautious!"

Lord Elmar had, so far, been quiet. He now rose his hand, indicating he would like to speak. Only when silence fell, and everyone watched him, did he speak. "I think that Lyorn is correct. We can not sit idol and hope that our forces elsewhere will succeed and save us. We must conceive of a plan that will give them the utmost time, but will also inflict the largest wounds upon their forces. If we do die, I would hope that they remembered us as opponents who earned their respect. As much as it wounds me to send my people into situation they will not return from, if it does much harm to the Gyshin, I will do it. Also...."

"Gruug agree! Gruug think that lord elf is wise. We should kill them much!" the small Goblin warrior announced, cutting off the elven Lord. Lord Elmar almost choked, his face going red.

Lord Elmar spoke calmly, "If we continue to interrupt each other before the other is done, we shall none of us be able to construct a good plan."

"And if we all so long winded as you, none we all do nothin till the Gyshin destroy us. I mean...uh...just hurry up elf!" retorted the goblin.

"And that is why our race has always defeated yours in history. Because you do not stop the think." said the elf.

Everybody held their breath as they let Gruug, the rather quick minded goblin, respond to this comment. After a few moments of quiet, the goblin responded.

"Hmmm, maybe you right."

Lyorn quickly brought them all back to the topic, "The point is, we know where the Chondath fleet has fled to. We know the islands. We can let this information fall into the enemy's hands, and then we can add a large contingent, and set up a trap. It will have to be very well done though."

Elminster, "May I remind you all. We have not yet tricked the Gyshin. Never have we been able to 'surprise' them or do something they did not foresee."

Lord Elmar, "Except for the elves. They did not see our power, we defeated their hordes."

Elminster, "And yet, so victorious, where are you now? You have left your elven homes. No one thought you would ever leave, and yet here you are. They made you feel so cocky that you rashly tromped out of your safe haven because you thought you could defeat them. Do you honestly think that it was not you who were tricked? How long could you have held out in your homes? To trick an elf into rash decisions. Now that is something to be respected."

The elf lord's face went a purple color.

"You sound like you are in love with them. Why don't you go join them if they are so much better than us?" said Lyorn.

"Nay. I fight for Toril, it is my only love." His eyes went distant for a moment. "To defeat our opponent, we must think like our opponent. We must love the Gyshin, like the Gyshin love themselves. We must think like they do. We must be the Gyshin, before we can defeat them."

"And then we, ourselves, are what we have fought to destroy. We truly can not win." said Simbul.

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