“ | Death that is. He levels all differences. Named Men and nobodies, south or north. He catches everyone in the end, and treats each man the same.1 | ” |
The Great Leveler is the first chapter in Before They Are Hanged.
Chapter Summary[]
Dogman and his companions traverse through the mist-covered lands of Angland, amidst a war that isn't theirs to fight. The mist obscures their vision and amplifies their fears. They are in a hostile territory, where being caught by either Bethod's forces or the Union could mean a gruesome death.
Dogman's anxiety is further heightened when he stumbles upon a corpse by the river, a victim of the ongoing war, with a broken spear lodged in its back. The sight of death, referred to as the "Great Leveller" by Dogman, is a grim reminder of the indiscriminate nature of war, where death spares no one, be it a Named Man or a nobody.
As Dogman ventures further, he discovers more bodies, each in a grotesque state, showcasing the brutal reality of war. His fear propels him to rush back to his companions, abandoning the cautious approach a scout should maintain. His haste proves nearly fatal when he is attacked and almost strangled by one of his own, Black Dow, who mistakes him for an enemy scout due to the mist and the tense circumstances. He mocks him as he pulls him to his feet. It isn’t just a few bodies, but an entire battlefield spread throughout the valley of Black Well. Although some of the bodies are Northmen, the vast majority are Union corpses.
Dogman and his companions witness the aftermath of a brutal battle between the Union and Bethod's forces. The sight of the dead scattered across the valley brings back haunting memories for Dogman. Threetrees, the group's leader, deduces the tactical missteps of the Union and praises Bethod's strategic prowess, albeit with disdain. Despite the grim scene, Threetrees believes this is just the beginning of a larger conflict, as the Union has vast resources and will likely send more troops.
The group reaches a crowded gate outside the city of Ostenhorm, the capital of Angland, where desperate refugees are being denied entry by the Union soldiers. Among the crowd, Dogman and Threetrees attempt to offer their services to the Union's King, hoping to find a place amidst the ongoing war. They are met with mockery and disdain by a young Union officer who dismisses their offer and insults them. Threetrees, known for his patience, holds back his anger but makes a veiled threat before they retreat from the gate.
Characters[]
Introduced | Appeared | Mentioned |
---|---|---|
The Dogman | Bethod | |
Black Dow | ||
Rudd Threetrees | ||
Tul Duru Thunderhead | ||
Harding Grim |
Locations and Terms[]
The North | Angland | The Union | Ostenhorm | Union Army | The Great Leveler |
References[]
- For good men or evil men, no matter the noble deeds you've done in life, they don't matter, after death there’s nothing on the other side anyway. It's a bit of a depressing place really.