Vodun Does Not Retreat

She rode into camp on a white horse.

Smiling like we already won.

Baron Maman Brigid and a second army.

A letter from Ghede Ghadou Loa.

Two years I begged for help. Two years of silence.

And now — he sends her. Hélas.

She came in and tore my standing down.

She said "While you built toys — my scouts roamed your ground.

My army slipped in like breeze — and you expect to stop the Niri?"

Your builders — fools. How naive can you be?

She say - "Amadioha split from his army. One week east. Exposed."

"We have a fortress —" I open my mouth to say.

But she looks me dead in the eyes "That is not the Vodun way."

I grip the table. "The weapon IS the plan.

We built it for this fight. We hold the line where we stand."

She holds a letter high. Ghede Ghadou Loa's seal.

"Baron Kriminel — sous les ordres de Brigid." This can't be real.

He places me under her command.

Trahison. Two years I built this valley. I do not understand.

Vodun does not retreat. That's what she told my men.

Vodun does not retreat. She marched us from the den.

She pulled us from the fortress where my weapon held the line —

Vodun does not retreat... but she was leading us to die.

Quelle folie — mes soldats falling for her command.

Vodun ne recule pas... but who will save this land?

They called it the Dead Forest, but plenty alive here.

Twenty thousand Vodunese walking without fear

We left at dawn, marching towards Brigids fight.

But the overgrown branches made it feel like night.

A scout bursts through on horseback—fear shining in his eyes:

"Mesyé! The Niri are here, they’ve caught us by surprise."

We must move but ground is a bog—boots slipping in the slime,

Niri warriors are coming, we have run out of time.

I grabbed her by the collar: "You fool — you led us to a trap."

She screamed, "I am your Baron!" — Fout Tonné — and I heard the bowstrings snap.

My men threw bodies forward — shields across a disgraced man.

Spears as arrows flying through the air.

Loyal soldiers. Even as the weapons of death whistled near

Dying for a Baron stripped of his command.

Vodun does not retreat. That's what she told my men.

Vodun does not retreat. She marched us from the den.

She pulled us from the fortress where my weapon held the line —

Vodun does not retreat... but she was leading us to die.

Quelle folie — mes soldats falling for her command.

Vodun ne recule pas... but who will save this land?

"We must retreat." I shout

"Vodun does not retreat!" she screamed.

I drove my fist across her jaw. She fell into the mud.

That is not retreat — it is common sense.

This ground with not bathe today in our blood.

I dragged her on the horse. Mon Dieu — I should have let her fall.

We broke the treeline bleeding. What was left was barely all.

And there he stood. Amadioha. Standing on the plain.

Standing on my weapon. Mon arme. The thing I built.

The shield I forged for victory — aimed at my own chest.

The siege machine that saved us — turned against the rest.

My soldiers, throwing their bodies to protect me.

A brutal display. The cunning of the War Eze

Brigids words flashing back. "This is the Vodun way."

Vodun does not retreat. That's what she told my men.

Vodun does not retreat. She marched us from the den.

She pulled us from the fortress where my weapon held the line —

Vodun does not retreat... but she was leading us to die.

Quelle folie — mes soldats falling for her command.

Vodun ne recule pas... but who will save this land?

I did everything right.

I built the weapon. I held the valley. I waited two years.

And when help arrived — it destroyed me faster than the enemy ever could.

Amadioha stands on my machine.

Brigid stands on my name.

And my soldiers — my soldiers stood between me and the grave.

Même maintenant. Even after everything.