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Kensaishit lol adding the Fenna react, one sec
Live reaction to Fenna:
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Live reaction to Fenna:
Posted! I figured that since I honestly didn't have many thieves left to work with, I'd focus mostly on sharing Kerensa's perspective of the breach and how the other squads were handling it from her view. Hope I did the Lions and the Bats right.
As for Alison, I think the poor woman may have bitten off a bit more than she could chew lol.
As for Alison, I think the poor woman may have bitten off a bit more than she could chew lol.
The bright light nearly blinded Alison. She quickly looked away, but kept her attention on the Ogre. As it began to try and stand, she slammed an elbow onto its neck, forcing it back down. Good timing, as Fenna's arrow streaked out not but a moment later, piercing it in the same place Alison had stabbed the previous ogre. The foul beast collapsed in a heap, and Alison breathed a quick sigh. She was about to spare a moment, figure out why Fenna had suddenly glowed like a stadium flood light, when the bridge rumbled under foot.
She looked back at Fenna for a moment, wondering what on earth the reason was for all that. The explosion of energy, the tossing of the spear.
Looking back at the enemy line, her tired eyes narrowed in frustration. Again, a part of her mind desperately wished for the modern assets of her previous life.
The enemy forces still marched forward, only slightly abated by the sudden release from Fenna. Her eyes darted from enemy to enemy, target to target. Her brain raced to determine which to prioritize, her mind turning over the overall tactical situation, desperately seeking a weakness to exploit.
There!
A knight, twisted by evil sorcery, had briefly stepped out of line as they advanced towards the party. The corpses on the bridge made it difficult for anyone to maintain formation, and as the knight stumbled only slightly, Alison dashed over the ogre corpse straight towards him. The knight quickly righted himself as Alison slammed into him with her full weight, tumbling both to the ground. Rolling off him quickly and crouching over his head, she grabbed the bottom of his helmet and forced his head back, raising the chin and exposing the neck. She drove the dagger into the gap between the helmet and the chest, the first stab nearly crushing the chainmail through the blow, the second finding enough of a break that the tip drove into the twisted man's throat. Even with the enhancements, the throat proved to be a reliable target.
A warning whispered in her ear as she immediately dove to the left, the deathly whistle of a longsword swinging right through the space she had previously occupied. She kicked up with her legs as the second blow came, the sole of her boot catching the pomel of the sword swing, buying precious seconds as she grabbed a flare off her belt and fired it point blank into the second knight's head. The bright light and searing hot flare forced the knight to stumble back, grabbing at the projectile as it burned mercilessly into his face.
Taking the opportunity, she grabbed the arm that held the longsword. She could feel the gross, bulging Source-enhanced muscles under the chainmail and plate, the crackle of the enchanted longsword still but a few feet from her. However, the distraction caught the knight well off guard, and she twisted the arm around, quickly forcing the blade from his hand. She let go, caught the blade, and swung it around like a bat, slamming the flat part against his head as black and white lightning arced into the knight, his acursed enchantments frying him in his armor.
Heaving heavy from exhaustion, she threw the blade haphazardly at a third knight charging to force him to parry, before sprinting back to the party line, seeing Barracker in his duels with an ogre and a knight. Groaning loudly with frustration, she forced herself into a sprint, wishing she hadn't just tossed that sword. With little choice but to expend another charge, she slid low and punched the piledriver into the knee of the knight, hardened steel stake shooting forward and punching through armor, then flesh, then bone, the tendons severing and forcing the hellish brute to one knee.
But in her rushed attack, she had failed to account for what that thick muscle would do. As she went to withdraw the weapon, she found it stuck in the thick joint and armor of the enemy. The knight turned on her, reading a mighty elbow to bring down on her.
Alison saw her mistake come barreling down towards her head.
Kerensa swore as she watched the breach open, sprinting down the battlements. The nearby Thieves Guild members rushed in to desperately try to plug the gap, but this one proved too much for the patrol, soon themselves overwhelmed and torn to shreds by the incoming horde of undead. Kerensa gritted her teeth, tasting blood in her mouth as she bit her cheek in anger.
She fell in line with some of the other squads rushing forward. A Lion had just fallen on two skeletons, when one suddenly struck out its shattered for arm like a spear, stabbing the man's leg and forcing him to the ground. Just as it grabbed his chest and yanked him down to finish the job, Kerensa's curved blade flicked out, cleaning and severing the jagged arm, then the head, bisecting the head, truly ending the beast. She propped the man up, grabbed a shortsword from a fallen soldier and a spear from another, handed it to the Lion, and nodded. He may not be able to stand properly right now, but he could fight. He returned the nod with a pained, but arrogant grin as he rose to his feet, using the spear as a brace, and limped forward to aid his comrades till he could fight no more.
They were a foolhardy bunch, Kerensa surmised, but brave as the animal for their name. She moved forward again, curved blade glinting menacingly from beneath her cloak as she stalked towards the breach. Here she saw now the Lions and another squad, shields locked and bodies standing firm.
Step, swing, shove, repeat. The formation was well-disciplined, if exhausted like everyone else. Swords came down, shields shoved forward, and a step was taken, slowly but surely driving the undead back. The Lions, badly diminished as the ones who had to fight ferociously to hold off the initial tide, fell in line with their allies, spears and swords stabbing forward between friends' shields.
They all knew what was at stake. Behind them, for many, were their families, their homes, and their lives. And for many more, that was in front of them, all ravaged by the damned army they now held back. With a fearsome smile, Kerensa stepped toward the line and walked along it, just behind the men. A spear of an undead would pry its way through the shields, only to be cut to pieces in a flash. A skeleton would rise to enact vengeance, only for its head to go sailing.
The men, focused on the enemy ahead, could only feel the presence of a friendly ghost, gracefully weaving between them and protecting them from the enemies just out of their focus.
Slowly, but surely, they worked together and began the fight to push them back.
@Saiyan@Jay009
She looked back at Fenna for a moment, wondering what on earth the reason was for all that. The explosion of energy, the tossing of the spear.
Looking back at the enemy line, her tired eyes narrowed in frustration. Again, a part of her mind desperately wished for the modern assets of her previous life.
The enemy forces still marched forward, only slightly abated by the sudden release from Fenna. Her eyes darted from enemy to enemy, target to target. Her brain raced to determine which to prioritize, her mind turning over the overall tactical situation, desperately seeking a weakness to exploit.
There!
A knight, twisted by evil sorcery, had briefly stepped out of line as they advanced towards the party. The corpses on the bridge made it difficult for anyone to maintain formation, and as the knight stumbled only slightly, Alison dashed over the ogre corpse straight towards him. The knight quickly righted himself as Alison slammed into him with her full weight, tumbling both to the ground. Rolling off him quickly and crouching over his head, she grabbed the bottom of his helmet and forced his head back, raising the chin and exposing the neck. She drove the dagger into the gap between the helmet and the chest, the first stab nearly crushing the chainmail through the blow, the second finding enough of a break that the tip drove into the twisted man's throat. Even with the enhancements, the throat proved to be a reliable target.
A warning whispered in her ear as she immediately dove to the left, the deathly whistle of a longsword swinging right through the space she had previously occupied. She kicked up with her legs as the second blow came, the sole of her boot catching the pomel of the sword swing, buying precious seconds as she grabbed a flare off her belt and fired it point blank into the second knight's head. The bright light and searing hot flare forced the knight to stumble back, grabbing at the projectile as it burned mercilessly into his face.
Taking the opportunity, she grabbed the arm that held the longsword. She could feel the gross, bulging Source-enhanced muscles under the chainmail and plate, the crackle of the enchanted longsword still but a few feet from her. However, the distraction caught the knight well off guard, and she twisted the arm around, quickly forcing the blade from his hand. She let go, caught the blade, and swung it around like a bat, slamming the flat part against his head as black and white lightning arced into the knight, his acursed enchantments frying him in his armor.
Heaving heavy from exhaustion, she threw the blade haphazardly at a third knight charging to force him to parry, before sprinting back to the party line, seeing Barracker in his duels with an ogre and a knight. Groaning loudly with frustration, she forced herself into a sprint, wishing she hadn't just tossed that sword. With little choice but to expend another charge, she slid low and punched the piledriver into the knee of the knight, hardened steel stake shooting forward and punching through armor, then flesh, then bone, the tendons severing and forcing the hellish brute to one knee.
But in her rushed attack, she had failed to account for what that thick muscle would do. As she went to withdraw the weapon, she found it stuck in the thick joint and armor of the enemy. The knight turned on her, reading a mighty elbow to bring down on her.
Alison saw her mistake come barreling down towards her head.
Kerensa swore as she watched the breach open, sprinting down the battlements. The nearby Thieves Guild members rushed in to desperately try to plug the gap, but this one proved too much for the patrol, soon themselves overwhelmed and torn to shreds by the incoming horde of undead. Kerensa gritted her teeth, tasting blood in her mouth as she bit her cheek in anger.
She fell in line with some of the other squads rushing forward. A Lion had just fallen on two skeletons, when one suddenly struck out its shattered for arm like a spear, stabbing the man's leg and forcing him to the ground. Just as it grabbed his chest and yanked him down to finish the job, Kerensa's curved blade flicked out, cleaning and severing the jagged arm, then the head, bisecting the head, truly ending the beast. She propped the man up, grabbed a shortsword from a fallen soldier and a spear from another, handed it to the Lion, and nodded. He may not be able to stand properly right now, but he could fight. He returned the nod with a pained, but arrogant grin as he rose to his feet, using the spear as a brace, and limped forward to aid his comrades till he could fight no more.
They were a foolhardy bunch, Kerensa surmised, but brave as the animal for their name. She moved forward again, curved blade glinting menacingly from beneath her cloak as she stalked towards the breach. Here she saw now the Lions and another squad, shields locked and bodies standing firm.
Step, swing, shove, repeat. The formation was well-disciplined, if exhausted like everyone else. Swords came down, shields shoved forward, and a step was taken, slowly but surely driving the undead back. The Lions, badly diminished as the ones who had to fight ferociously to hold off the initial tide, fell in line with their allies, spears and swords stabbing forward between friends' shields.
They all knew what was at stake. Behind them, for many, were their families, their homes, and their lives. And for many more, that was in front of them, all ravaged by the damned army they now held back. With a fearsome smile, Kerensa stepped toward the line and walked along it, just behind the men. A spear of an undead would pry its way through the shields, only to be cut to pieces in a flash. A skeleton would rise to enact vengeance, only for its head to go sailing.
The men, focused on the enemy ahead, could only feel the presence of a friendly ghost, gracefully weaving between them and protecting them from the enemies just out of their focus.
Slowly, but surely, they worked together and began the fight to push them back.
@Saiyan@Jay009
"Alright then, just like before, we'll plug the holes, watch your back, and make sure you don't get stabbed in it"
Alison rushed towards the great Paladin, seizing the opportunity without a second thought. It frustrated her to no end that the frontline was here, but it's what they had to deal with. Leaping into his palms, she shot up, Barracker practically caber tossing her high into the air. From up here she saw the whole battle for a brief moment. The teaming masses of undead, the hulking figures of the ogres, the citizens, and soldiers desperately trying to fight them all off.
Oh, how she missed the strategic comforts of her previous life at that exact moment.
Focusing on her quarry, the strange, dark purple glow of her source crystal grew and in her mind's eye, a line was traced from her weapon to a specific spot on its back.
"There!" she thought, as she traced her special tool along the glowing path. It felt almost automatic, like an out-of-body experience, as the tip of the hardened steel point drifted through the air as she fell. In its blinded state, the ogre had little time to react or even notice the threat hurtling down upon it.
Landing upon the ogre without hesitation, she slammed the point down, just below the back of the head, and fired. The steel piledriver shot forward with a roar, splitting tough hide, then muscle, and then finally severing the creature's spine. Using the now-falling momentum of the immense beast, Alison kicked off the corpse, dislodging her weapon and landing on the ground.
Without missing a beat, she reloaded and found her next target, another tank that was the Ogres. Seeing Fenna nearby and thinking quickly, she rushed forward, aiming low. The beast noticed her but had little time to react. It kicked out with its immense leg, but anticipating this, Alison put her hands on the incoming leg and vaulted over, rolling to the side and firing the piledriver through the creature's ankle, forcing it to kneel and bend over slightly.
"Fenna! Target up!" Alison called as she rolled out from underneath the beast, hoping the creature's reduced mobility and exposed posture would give the archer all the room she needed for a kill shot.
Kerensa dashed rapidly down the battlements of the Bazaar and its defenses, scanning keenly.
There!
She lept down and her curved blade flashed out. A militia soldier holding one part of the line had fallen over from a heavy blow to the head, but before the skeletal figure could exploit the breach, Kerensa cleanly severed its arms, then its head, from the body. The soldier quickly sputtered out thanks before taking his place again on the line.
The many rogues of the thieves guild had sadly taken heavy losses in the first stage of the battle, and as such, Alison had to deploy them the best she could. In a simple humorous sense, the mission had not changed. They were the protective shadow of the city, and just like before, they were watching the backs of the defenders. Thus, Kerensa and the few remaining members of Alison's squad were tasked with rapidly moving up and down the lines of battle. Anywhere the defenders were to get overwhelmed, anywhere the enemy slipped through and threatened to reach the back lines and sow chaos, her squad was there to clean up and contain before moving on.
It wasn't easy or foolproof. Exhaustion, lack of numbers, and the relentless ferocity of the enemy threatened to collapse at every corner, but after all that they had sacrificed, they would be damned to see it go to waste. Thus, with equally suicidal tenacity, the cutthroats and thieves lashed out all along the line, stomping out any roaming undead, stabbing their knives, and even firing their remaining flares into the faces of their enemies. Anything to hold them back.
Kerensa paused as she reached the bridge again, the first lap and sweep done. She looked on at the battle below and watched for a moment as the Second Chance made their stand and carved through the ogres. She gave a small prayer for Dormes to watch over his children and then moved on again.
@Jay009@Loksfjoer
Alison rushed towards the great Paladin, seizing the opportunity without a second thought. It frustrated her to no end that the frontline was here, but it's what they had to deal with. Leaping into his palms, she shot up, Barracker practically caber tossing her high into the air. From up here she saw the whole battle for a brief moment. The teaming masses of undead, the hulking figures of the ogres, the citizens, and soldiers desperately trying to fight them all off.
Oh, how she missed the strategic comforts of her previous life at that exact moment.
Focusing on her quarry, the strange, dark purple glow of her source crystal grew and in her mind's eye, a line was traced from her weapon to a specific spot on its back.
"There!" she thought, as she traced her special tool along the glowing path. It felt almost automatic, like an out-of-body experience, as the tip of the hardened steel point drifted through the air as she fell. In its blinded state, the ogre had little time to react or even notice the threat hurtling down upon it.
Landing upon the ogre without hesitation, she slammed the point down, just below the back of the head, and fired. The steel piledriver shot forward with a roar, splitting tough hide, then muscle, and then finally severing the creature's spine. Using the now-falling momentum of the immense beast, Alison kicked off the corpse, dislodging her weapon and landing on the ground.
Without missing a beat, she reloaded and found her next target, another tank that was the Ogres. Seeing Fenna nearby and thinking quickly, she rushed forward, aiming low. The beast noticed her but had little time to react. It kicked out with its immense leg, but anticipating this, Alison put her hands on the incoming leg and vaulted over, rolling to the side and firing the piledriver through the creature's ankle, forcing it to kneel and bend over slightly.
"Fenna! Target up!" Alison called as she rolled out from underneath the beast, hoping the creature's reduced mobility and exposed posture would give the archer all the room she needed for a kill shot.
Kerensa dashed rapidly down the battlements of the Bazaar and its defenses, scanning keenly.
There!
She lept down and her curved blade flashed out. A militia soldier holding one part of the line had fallen over from a heavy blow to the head, but before the skeletal figure could exploit the breach, Kerensa cleanly severed its arms, then its head, from the body. The soldier quickly sputtered out thanks before taking his place again on the line.
The many rogues of the thieves guild had sadly taken heavy losses in the first stage of the battle, and as such, Alison had to deploy them the best she could. In a simple humorous sense, the mission had not changed. They were the protective shadow of the city, and just like before, they were watching the backs of the defenders. Thus, Kerensa and the few remaining members of Alison's squad were tasked with rapidly moving up and down the lines of battle. Anywhere the defenders were to get overwhelmed, anywhere the enemy slipped through and threatened to reach the back lines and sow chaos, her squad was there to clean up and contain before moving on.
It wasn't easy or foolproof. Exhaustion, lack of numbers, and the relentless ferocity of the enemy threatened to collapse at every corner, but after all that they had sacrificed, they would be damned to see it go to waste. Thus, with equally suicidal tenacity, the cutthroats and thieves lashed out all along the line, stomping out any roaming undead, stabbing their knives, and even firing their remaining flares into the faces of their enemies. Anything to hold them back.
Kerensa paused as she reached the bridge again, the first lap and sweep done. She looked on at the battle below and watched for a moment as the Second Chance made their stand and carved through the ogres. She gave a small prayer for Dormes to watch over his children and then moved on again.
@Jay009@Loksfjoer
Yo! Sorry for the delay, work is hell right now thanks to a big project and I was basically running on fumes these last days.
Anyway post is up
I feel that man, these past few weeks have been just nonstop.
Also since nobody else was gonna take it, @Jay009, I think Alison would appreciate that fine opportunity to get above the ogre and test how thick that creature's skull really is lol. I'll be posting shortly!
It still knawed at the back of her mind. She felt fine. No real exhaustion; the pain was practically gone. Something had changed back there. Alison knew something had changed inside her. The vision, the trail she saw, the voice she could now cast. It felt as though a weight had been lifted, her body more limber and moving in ways it couldn't before.
But to the tired young man in front her, she merely shook her head with a sigh and pulled up a chair.
"I'll live, James. Nothing serious. Some people need that magic more than me anyway." She paused, looking him up and down once more. He was tired. His eyes had bags, and he periodically rubbed his temples. It had been a long night for everyone, she was sure, but this guy was trying to keep it all together.
And here they were, at the second line, practically praying for a miracle. The poor guy didn't deserve this. None of them did, and that was the problem, wasn't it?
"Sorry they dumped all this on you. I'm sure it's been a lot to handle. Look, I'll keep it short. There was an enemy force that was hunting the Second Chance." Alison said, holding up a hand to stifle any questions.
"My team and I took care of them, and they won't be a threat," Alison assured, "but we took heavy losses. It's down to me and four others. The rest are either dead or out there raiding the enemy camp. That's what those explosions were. With any luck, they will keep them off our backs for a bit longer while we reorganize. That's about it." Alison finished, keeping it brief. She stared for a moment in silence before putting a hand on James's shoulder.
"It's been a long night, and it's not over, but we're still here. From what I gather, a lot of that is thanks to you. That's something to be proud of, kid. You can't save everyone, but we save who we can. Don't forget that. Keep your mind focused on whose left." Alison said, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze.
"Let's start figuring out a way to end this."
@Teyao
But to the tired young man in front her, she merely shook her head with a sigh and pulled up a chair.
"I'll live, James. Nothing serious. Some people need that magic more than me anyway." She paused, looking him up and down once more. He was tired. His eyes had bags, and he periodically rubbed his temples. It had been a long night for everyone, she was sure, but this guy was trying to keep it all together.
And here they were, at the second line, practically praying for a miracle. The poor guy didn't deserve this. None of them did, and that was the problem, wasn't it?
"Sorry they dumped all this on you. I'm sure it's been a lot to handle. Look, I'll keep it short. There was an enemy force that was hunting the Second Chance." Alison said, holding up a hand to stifle any questions.
"My team and I took care of them, and they won't be a threat," Alison assured, "but we took heavy losses. It's down to me and four others. The rest are either dead or out there raiding the enemy camp. That's what those explosions were. With any luck, they will keep them off our backs for a bit longer while we reorganize. That's about it." Alison finished, keeping it brief. She stared for a moment in silence before putting a hand on James's shoulder.
"It's been a long night, and it's not over, but we're still here. From what I gather, a lot of that is thanks to you. That's something to be proud of, kid. You can't save everyone, but we save who we can. Don't forget that. Keep your mind focused on whose left." Alison said, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze.
"Let's start figuring out a way to end this."
@Teyao
Posted! I figured it would be good for Alison to link up with James and start strategizing the next move and helping the guy out. Poor guy seems to be feeling a bit overwhelmed, lol. @Teyao
On a semi-related note, as it was partially the cause of my delay, I have some more pictures of my recent flight! I wanted to share them as I'm pretty happy with how they came out. Flying into the mountains is always beautiful. Also the highest I've flown thus far.
EDIT: Fixed the pics.
Also, I have loved everyone's posts so far. Been a genuine joy to catch up while waiting between flights and reading your guys' posts. Keep it up!
On a semi-related note, as it was partially the cause of my delay, I have some more pictures of my recent flight! I wanted to share them as I'm pretty happy with how they came out. Flying into the mountains is always beautiful. Also the highest I've flown thus far.
EDIT: Fixed the pics.
Also, I have loved everyone's posts so far. Been a genuine joy to catch up while waiting between flights and reading your guys' posts. Keep it up!
"Brothers and sisters! We stand here!" Olaf's voice rang out over the battle as he fired a heavy bolt into an Orc Shaman. The rider flew off his mount as the hog charged through the forest below. He racked the bowstring back and loaded another arrow. Explosions and chaos echoed around him as the small forces of their party were surrounded. The ambush in the tents had only partially succeeded, being flushed out by the waves of magic being thrown at them. It was becoming clear to him that it was all becoming too much for the raid.
A woman next to him vaporized to ash as a lighting bolt zipped down from the sky and struck their position.
They were going to die.
Olaf gritted his teeth as he fired again, taking the mount out from under its rider and crushing it beneath its fat weight. He began loading another bolt when another magical explosion threw him from the tree, blowing it to splinters. Wood and debris dug into flesh as he was sent flying across the tree line and onto the ground. He roared with an anger and rage he never thought he had, practically ripping the axe from his belt and tearing off his camouflaged cloak as he staggered. A Dark Rider attempted to ride him down, but he dug into the air with surprising agility and slammed his heavy weight into the rider, smacking him off his cursed mount. Upon the ground, he quickly set upon him with the axe, dispaching the rider with a furious bloodlust.
Looking up from his quarry, his head immediately snapped back as a mace caught him from another rider. An Orc Shaman followed up from behind and, leaping off his hog, staff held high to finish him.
Olaf stared up into the canopy, vision blurry and hearing all but lost. His consciousness fading, he gripped the firepepper charge in his bag as the enemies swarmed about him.
"I'm... sorry... Kerensa... I couldn't... save you... from your... dream..." was all Olaf could say.
A series of flashes lit up the forest.
Pete could feel the hair stand up on his neck as the creeping reality of the situation made its presence known. Around him, the thieves and freed slaves fought desperately but were getting cut down by magic and the undead alike. He parried the incoming stab of a Beastman's stab, quickly jabbing his punch dagger up under the armpit before finishing him off with a slash to the throat.
It seemed their distraction was working too well, and with such an overwhelming response, they had no time to escape. He heard the pounding of hooves. Was it more Death Riders?
No, far worse, the heavy armored and personal guard of the enemy general himself. Fell Knights road into the whirlwind, cutting down survivors and holdouts, trampling over the last stands of many.
Yet, as his comrads fell left and right around him, Pete spied one last desperate opportunity. He saw the general not far behind him, trotting him, observing the slaughter with cool, uncaring eyes.
It was him. It was time.
And for the first time in Pete's life, he muttered a prayer.
"Oh Iris, may you protect thy children. Ares give me your strength. Iskara bless me with fortune. Diavian, free me from my fear..."
He dropped down and began to move quickly, weaving through the battle like a wraith as he looped around to get behind the formation.
"And Hades... make my pitiful fuckin life worth something." He finished as he ducked between burning tents and under carts before finally getting past the Fell Knights' formation. As the troops swept through, he saw the chance.
A clear line to the general.
Gripping his blade, he ran from his hiding place, running fast and low as he charged towards the man on horseback observing the battle.
"And by the gods, let my blade strike true!" his mind roared as he leaped up.
@xenon
Her chest felt like it was on fire. Alison leaped from roof to roof as she tried to make her way through the city. Gripping her last flare, she stopped and fired it into the air before scanning the horizon.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit, come on, come on you fucks..." she muttered nervously. She glanced down at the wound in her stomach and pulled her other hand away from it. It hurt, but the pain seemed to have faded into the background. In fact, despite it all, it felt as though her body had gotten lighter after defeating the captain. A strange euphoria had swept her, and her source crystal still gave off a deep, dark purple glow. But there was no time to make any sense of it.
A flare shot up not but two hundred yards ahead of her. A relieved sigh came from her as she began making her way over to it.
The small square below her was littered with butchered corpses. Piles of wolfman corpses and scattered thieves filled the place. At the center, on the ledge of a small fountain, sat a blood-covered Kerensa and a few surviving thieves. Alison jumped down and made her way over to them.
They had taken more casualties than she'd hoped.
Kerensa rose from her seat with a weary smile. "Alison, it's good to see you're still alive. Even better to see that your blessing has grown ever stronger. I take it the hunt went well then?" she said, her voice hinting at her exhaustion. Alison nodded.
"This it? Any wounded?" She asked, hoping to get a different answer than what she already knew.
"Yes... They were far too many. A whole other company. We were able to lead them here, where our final ambush finished them off. We did as you instructed. Continued to lead them ever deeper, fired from rooftops. But they were fierce and many. We hid our wounded in one of the safe houses a few blocks back." Kerensa responded sadly. As Kerensa finished, an explosion lit up the horizon. Alison smiled; it was the first good news of the night.
"Seems Olaf and Pete are giving them hell. Come on, let's see if we can link up with the others and offer whatever support we have left." Alison said. Without a single word of protest, the others rose to their feet and began to organize again.
"Come on! Move, move, move!" Alison yelled as they bounded over the rooftops. There were so many of them! Thousands of undead poured across the streets like an unstoppable flood. Some had even haphazardly scaled onto the roofs or poured out of the windows. She'd never seen anything like this in her life, and she knew their window of opportunity to escape was rapidly closing.
As they leaped across one gap, one of the surviving thieves gave a yell as a skeletal hand grabbed his ankle and yanked him down. She had no time to consider the dying screams of the man as Alison continued to bound across the tile roofs alongside Kerensa. They leapt down onto the street and made a mad dash down the main road towards the island. They crossed the main bridge and collapsed inside the island fortress, breath heaving and gasping as they finally made it to safety.
She looked over her squad. Four. That was it. Not including Pete and Olaf, there were only four left, including Kerensa, that had made it through the fighting. She shook her head and looked around to get her bearings before grabbing a soldier.
"You, where is the commander of the defense?" Alison said, mustering up the most authoritative tone she could. The soldier glanced her up and down but was quickly cowed by her expression.
"The command center is that way, but what-" She ignored him, jerking her head to Kerensa to follow before heading over to where the soldier had pointed.
Entering, she found it was about as chaotic as she expected. Orders were being barked, and runners were dashing in and out. She spied James and felt slight relief to see the young guy had made it. She approached him with a wave.
"Hey there, glad to see you made it. We can catch up later, but right now, I gotta find whoever's still commanding this defense. Need to report in and figure out what our next move is. I will say we bagged the bastard that was hunting you guys," Alison said with a tired grin.
@Teyao
A woman next to him vaporized to ash as a lighting bolt zipped down from the sky and struck their position.
They were going to die.
Olaf gritted his teeth as he fired again, taking the mount out from under its rider and crushing it beneath its fat weight. He began loading another bolt when another magical explosion threw him from the tree, blowing it to splinters. Wood and debris dug into flesh as he was sent flying across the tree line and onto the ground. He roared with an anger and rage he never thought he had, practically ripping the axe from his belt and tearing off his camouflaged cloak as he staggered. A Dark Rider attempted to ride him down, but he dug into the air with surprising agility and slammed his heavy weight into the rider, smacking him off his cursed mount. Upon the ground, he quickly set upon him with the axe, dispaching the rider with a furious bloodlust.
Looking up from his quarry, his head immediately snapped back as a mace caught him from another rider. An Orc Shaman followed up from behind and, leaping off his hog, staff held high to finish him.
Olaf stared up into the canopy, vision blurry and hearing all but lost. His consciousness fading, he gripped the firepepper charge in his bag as the enemies swarmed about him.
"I'm... sorry... Kerensa... I couldn't... save you... from your... dream..." was all Olaf could say.
A series of flashes lit up the forest.
Pete could feel the hair stand up on his neck as the creeping reality of the situation made its presence known. Around him, the thieves and freed slaves fought desperately but were getting cut down by magic and the undead alike. He parried the incoming stab of a Beastman's stab, quickly jabbing his punch dagger up under the armpit before finishing him off with a slash to the throat.
It seemed their distraction was working too well, and with such an overwhelming response, they had no time to escape. He heard the pounding of hooves. Was it more Death Riders?
No, far worse, the heavy armored and personal guard of the enemy general himself. Fell Knights road into the whirlwind, cutting down survivors and holdouts, trampling over the last stands of many.
Yet, as his comrads fell left and right around him, Pete spied one last desperate opportunity. He saw the general not far behind him, trotting him, observing the slaughter with cool, uncaring eyes.
It was him. It was time.
And for the first time in Pete's life, he muttered a prayer.
"Oh Iris, may you protect thy children. Ares give me your strength. Iskara bless me with fortune. Diavian, free me from my fear..."
He dropped down and began to move quickly, weaving through the battle like a wraith as he looped around to get behind the formation.
"And Hades... make my pitiful fuckin life worth something." He finished as he ducked between burning tents and under carts before finally getting past the Fell Knights' formation. As the troops swept through, he saw the chance.
A clear line to the general.
Gripping his blade, he ran from his hiding place, running fast and low as he charged towards the man on horseback observing the battle.
"And by the gods, let my blade strike true!" his mind roared as he leaped up.
@xenon
Her chest felt like it was on fire. Alison leaped from roof to roof as she tried to make her way through the city. Gripping her last flare, she stopped and fired it into the air before scanning the horizon.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit, come on, come on you fucks..." she muttered nervously. She glanced down at the wound in her stomach and pulled her other hand away from it. It hurt, but the pain seemed to have faded into the background. In fact, despite it all, it felt as though her body had gotten lighter after defeating the captain. A strange euphoria had swept her, and her source crystal still gave off a deep, dark purple glow. But there was no time to make any sense of it.
A flare shot up not but two hundred yards ahead of her. A relieved sigh came from her as she began making her way over to it.
The small square below her was littered with butchered corpses. Piles of wolfman corpses and scattered thieves filled the place. At the center, on the ledge of a small fountain, sat a blood-covered Kerensa and a few surviving thieves. Alison jumped down and made her way over to them.
They had taken more casualties than she'd hoped.
Kerensa rose from her seat with a weary smile. "Alison, it's good to see you're still alive. Even better to see that your blessing has grown ever stronger. I take it the hunt went well then?" she said, her voice hinting at her exhaustion. Alison nodded.
"This it? Any wounded?" She asked, hoping to get a different answer than what she already knew.
"Yes... They were far too many. A whole other company. We were able to lead them here, where our final ambush finished them off. We did as you instructed. Continued to lead them ever deeper, fired from rooftops. But they were fierce and many. We hid our wounded in one of the safe houses a few blocks back." Kerensa responded sadly. As Kerensa finished, an explosion lit up the horizon. Alison smiled; it was the first good news of the night.
"Seems Olaf and Pete are giving them hell. Come on, let's see if we can link up with the others and offer whatever support we have left." Alison said. Without a single word of protest, the others rose to their feet and began to organize again.
"Come on! Move, move, move!" Alison yelled as they bounded over the rooftops. There were so many of them! Thousands of undead poured across the streets like an unstoppable flood. Some had even haphazardly scaled onto the roofs or poured out of the windows. She'd never seen anything like this in her life, and she knew their window of opportunity to escape was rapidly closing.
As they leaped across one gap, one of the surviving thieves gave a yell as a skeletal hand grabbed his ankle and yanked him down. She had no time to consider the dying screams of the man as Alison continued to bound across the tile roofs alongside Kerensa. They leapt down onto the street and made a mad dash down the main road towards the island. They crossed the main bridge and collapsed inside the island fortress, breath heaving and gasping as they finally made it to safety.
She looked over her squad. Four. That was it. Not including Pete and Olaf, there were only four left, including Kerensa, that had made it through the fighting. She shook her head and looked around to get her bearings before grabbing a soldier.
"You, where is the commander of the defense?" Alison said, mustering up the most authoritative tone she could. The soldier glanced her up and down but was quickly cowed by her expression.
"The command center is that way, but what-" She ignored him, jerking her head to Kerensa to follow before heading over to where the soldier had pointed.
Entering, she found it was about as chaotic as she expected. Orders were being barked, and runners were dashing in and out. She spied James and felt slight relief to see the young guy had made it. She approached him with a wave.
"Hey there, glad to see you made it. We can catch up later, but right now, I gotta find whoever's still commanding this defense. Need to report in and figure out what our next move is. I will say we bagged the bastard that was hunting you guys," Alison said with a tired grin.
@Teyao
Finally posted! Hope you all enjoy it.
Ink drips onto the coarse paper, and the metal blade of the pen weaves it into words, symbols, and images. The book's pages turn, and in her mind's eye, she reads from it, unable to tear her eyes away...
Alison's eyes opened again, her breathing somewhat calmer, the pain in her stomach lessening. Glancing down at her right hand, the Source crystal glowed, a dark purple radiating softly from the mystical stone. Something had changed, and she felt different than just moments before. Her body was lighter, her arms, stronger, and most importantly of all, the vision again returned to that book.
As if the very instructions of that new incantation were inscribed onto her very being, Alison could feel the voice stronger now than ever before.
It was time to end this.
Captian Hrond stalked through the warehouse, cursing. The air was thick with Source, practically smothering everything around him. It sickened him and the relish of finally getting this kill was made all the stronger. The thick Source, however, failed to hide his prey as it had in the alley. His Luna state allowed him to cut through the mirage of scents and zero in on her. He could hear her heavy breath, and smell the life blood draining from the wound his claws had created. Yes, there was no escape now.
He rounded on the pile of wood and saw his prey. The desperate woman had activated her cloak, and to an untrained pup, she'd probably slip by, but not to Hrond. The cloak shimmered slightly, hunched in the corner. Blood pooled just below it, and its camouflage continued to flicker as heavy breathing came from underneath. He grinned and stalked forward, claws bared.
"It was a good chase, prey. It has been many moons since my blood has been raised so high. But your life ends here now. No more tricks, no more traps. You've lost to the overwhelming might of the Luna Clan, of Captain Hrond." Hrond boasted as he came up behind the hunched figure. He grabbed the shoulder and yanked back, ready to take the woman's head, when shock, then anger filled his mind.
Before him was a tattered cloak, blood, and the sound of heavy breathing, but nobody! His ears flicked and whirled as he heard the rushing of footsteps, but again, nothing!
"Gah-!"
"Well, it seems I've been volunteered. I just came with a friend to check out the place, and now I'm here." Alison said with a shrug. She let her hands then rest on her hips as she continued. "Miss Shields tells me you with our Guild and have been cooking up some new gadgets that might be useful to us. So what kind of developments are we talking about here?"
Titus looked up again from his work, the thin man nodding. "I have been granted access to several resources otherwise outside the guild's... means... but even still, we have little time to capitalize on it." he gestured firstly to a large box sitting on a wooden table, surrounded by what seemed to be pipes capped with cloth and fuses sticking out the back. "We've always struggled with the more armored types in our line of work, I have developed solutions with what little we have and even less time. This is a launcher of sorts. Bolts encased in firepepper pulp mixed in lamp oil with striking-steel shavings. We can make a few of these, use them carefully, and set entire cavalry regiments to flames..." he finished.
"And that? The piece you're currently working on?" Alison said, gesturing to his work table. Titus gave a small smile and nodded to her.
"Well, Miss Walker, the Guildmaster authorized this for you. Keeping in our problem, I have developed a... novel solution," he said, stepping back to let her take a closer look...
Alison watched as the Captain was distracted by her new ability. She lept down from atop the woodpile and landed behind him. At that moment, she saw it. Something instinctual clicked and it was as if the Source itself guided her swing as she slammed her left fist into the center of the captain's back. As she did so, the cloth unraveled around her arm, revealing a strange machine. With a loud and heavy "whump", a charge was detonated and a steel stake shot forward. It pieced through the wolfman's plate, then his flesh, before causing a dent in the front plate from the sheer impact.
The wolfman let out a gurgled cry as, with a click and then a hiss, Alison retracted the steel stake. The wolfman fell to his knees, staring down at the large dent in his armor. His eyes widened as he saw the blood dripping from his mouth. Alison stepped back, pulled another charge from her belt, and loaded it into the gauntlet. The cartridge locked into place as she stepped around the kneeling wolfman to face him. The wolfman began to chuckle before coughing.
"You think this is over? We are already in the city, as I die, the Luna Clan is still hun-" Another bang sounded as a stake shot through the wolfman's temple and out the other end.
Alison stumbled back a few steps and slid down the side of the warehouse wall, staring at the wolfman's corpse for a moment then looking down at the piledriver on her arm, dripping with blood and brainmatter. Shaking her head, she rose and began slowly making her way back towards the larger fight at the walls.
It wasn't over.
"NOW OLAF! GET BACK!" Pete roared as he lept behind the cart. An explosion, followed by several more, ripped through the previously quiet camp. Night became day as the incendiary explosives detonated on the food stores, weapon depots, and even tent rows of the invading army. Debris flew everywhere and Pete yelped as a burning turnip landed on his shoulder. Olaf quickly batted out the flame as Pete cursed profusely.
"Ya'd think this undead army wouldn't need so much damn food." Olaf grumbled.
"Yous think so... ows the slaves. We got em on the run?" Pete said, brushing the last of the burnt vegetable off him. Olaf nodded. "We got most of em out. Guards got wise. Took casualties, but you'd be amazed watching what recently freed, armed, and cornered slaves can do to an undead soldier. Seen wild dogs with less tenacity. Anyway, once they overwhelmed the rest of the garrison, they scattered. Only a few stayed to help and fight." Olaf said shaking his head. Pete shivered, but his face smiled into a cruel grin.
"They likes us. Backed into a corner, nufin we can do but tear em limb from limb. Shame they didn't wanna taste some more, but glad we ave a few." he said. Before he could say anymore, a scout came running up, breathless.
"Sirs! They noticed finally. We got half the damn general's guard and Death Riders coming for us! Just heard their horns blow." he finished. Pete nodded and turned to the rest of the gathering raiders.
"Right then! Steady lads, wez got ourselves some big game tonight! Barkley, take your squad and get up in the trees on the south side. Lasil, the mines been set? Good. Get your men into whatever tents weren't burned and wait. Olaf, take the sharpshooters to the East side and wait for em death riders tu land. Givem a good ole welcome. As for the rest of yous lot. H'ope you wazn't plannin on survin, cause when them mines go, we go in on the guards. Whoever gets that posh gen's ed gets a free drinks fo life in the afterlife on me! Lets go!" Pete finished, pointing his long, bloody dagger into the sky. The raiders cheered before dashing off to their positions.
Mines were set, Titus's Wonderous Box of Flames (trademark pending) was set up, and the ambush was laid. Now all that was left was the trap to be sprung.
Alison's eyes opened again, her breathing somewhat calmer, the pain in her stomach lessening. Glancing down at her right hand, the Source crystal glowed, a dark purple radiating softly from the mystical stone. Something had changed, and she felt different than just moments before. Her body was lighter, her arms, stronger, and most importantly of all, the vision again returned to that book.
As if the very instructions of that new incantation were inscribed onto her very being, Alison could feel the voice stronger now than ever before.
It was time to end this.
Captian Hrond stalked through the warehouse, cursing. The air was thick with Source, practically smothering everything around him. It sickened him and the relish of finally getting this kill was made all the stronger. The thick Source, however, failed to hide his prey as it had in the alley. His Luna state allowed him to cut through the mirage of scents and zero in on her. He could hear her heavy breath, and smell the life blood draining from the wound his claws had created. Yes, there was no escape now.
He rounded on the pile of wood and saw his prey. The desperate woman had activated her cloak, and to an untrained pup, she'd probably slip by, but not to Hrond. The cloak shimmered slightly, hunched in the corner. Blood pooled just below it, and its camouflage continued to flicker as heavy breathing came from underneath. He grinned and stalked forward, claws bared.
"It was a good chase, prey. It has been many moons since my blood has been raised so high. But your life ends here now. No more tricks, no more traps. You've lost to the overwhelming might of the Luna Clan, of Captain Hrond." Hrond boasted as he came up behind the hunched figure. He grabbed the shoulder and yanked back, ready to take the woman's head, when shock, then anger filled his mind.
Before him was a tattered cloak, blood, and the sound of heavy breathing, but nobody! His ears flicked and whirled as he heard the rushing of footsteps, but again, nothing!
"Gah-!"
"Well, it seems I've been volunteered. I just came with a friend to check out the place, and now I'm here." Alison said with a shrug. She let her hands then rest on her hips as she continued. "Miss Shields tells me you with our Guild and have been cooking up some new gadgets that might be useful to us. So what kind of developments are we talking about here?"
Titus looked up again from his work, the thin man nodding. "I have been granted access to several resources otherwise outside the guild's... means... but even still, we have little time to capitalize on it." he gestured firstly to a large box sitting on a wooden table, surrounded by what seemed to be pipes capped with cloth and fuses sticking out the back. "We've always struggled with the more armored types in our line of work, I have developed solutions with what little we have and even less time. This is a launcher of sorts. Bolts encased in firepepper pulp mixed in lamp oil with striking-steel shavings. We can make a few of these, use them carefully, and set entire cavalry regiments to flames..." he finished.
"And that? The piece you're currently working on?" Alison said, gesturing to his work table. Titus gave a small smile and nodded to her.
"Well, Miss Walker, the Guildmaster authorized this for you. Keeping in our problem, I have developed a... novel solution," he said, stepping back to let her take a closer look...
Alison watched as the Captain was distracted by her new ability. She lept down from atop the woodpile and landed behind him. At that moment, she saw it. Something instinctual clicked and it was as if the Source itself guided her swing as she slammed her left fist into the center of the captain's back. As she did so, the cloth unraveled around her arm, revealing a strange machine. With a loud and heavy "whump", a charge was detonated and a steel stake shot forward. It pieced through the wolfman's plate, then his flesh, before causing a dent in the front plate from the sheer impact.
The wolfman let out a gurgled cry as, with a click and then a hiss, Alison retracted the steel stake. The wolfman fell to his knees, staring down at the large dent in his armor. His eyes widened as he saw the blood dripping from his mouth. Alison stepped back, pulled another charge from her belt, and loaded it into the gauntlet. The cartridge locked into place as she stepped around the kneeling wolfman to face him. The wolfman began to chuckle before coughing.
"You think this is over? We are already in the city, as I die, the Luna Clan is still hun-" Another bang sounded as a stake shot through the wolfman's temple and out the other end.
Alison stumbled back a few steps and slid down the side of the warehouse wall, staring at the wolfman's corpse for a moment then looking down at the piledriver on her arm, dripping with blood and brainmatter. Shaking her head, she rose and began slowly making her way back towards the larger fight at the walls.
It wasn't over.
"NOW OLAF! GET BACK!" Pete roared as he lept behind the cart. An explosion, followed by several more, ripped through the previously quiet camp. Night became day as the incendiary explosives detonated on the food stores, weapon depots, and even tent rows of the invading army. Debris flew everywhere and Pete yelped as a burning turnip landed on his shoulder. Olaf quickly batted out the flame as Pete cursed profusely.
"Ya'd think this undead army wouldn't need so much damn food." Olaf grumbled.
"Yous think so... ows the slaves. We got em on the run?" Pete said, brushing the last of the burnt vegetable off him. Olaf nodded. "We got most of em out. Guards got wise. Took casualties, but you'd be amazed watching what recently freed, armed, and cornered slaves can do to an undead soldier. Seen wild dogs with less tenacity. Anyway, once they overwhelmed the rest of the garrison, they scattered. Only a few stayed to help and fight." Olaf said shaking his head. Pete shivered, but his face smiled into a cruel grin.
"They likes us. Backed into a corner, nufin we can do but tear em limb from limb. Shame they didn't wanna taste some more, but glad we ave a few." he said. Before he could say anymore, a scout came running up, breathless.
"Sirs! They noticed finally. We got half the damn general's guard and Death Riders coming for us! Just heard their horns blow." he finished. Pete nodded and turned to the rest of the gathering raiders.
"Right then! Steady lads, wez got ourselves some big game tonight! Barkley, take your squad and get up in the trees on the south side. Lasil, the mines been set? Good. Get your men into whatever tents weren't burned and wait. Olaf, take the sharpshooters to the East side and wait for em death riders tu land. Givem a good ole welcome. As for the rest of yous lot. H'ope you wazn't plannin on survin, cause when them mines go, we go in on the guards. Whoever gets that posh gen's ed gets a free drinks fo life in the afterlife on me! Lets go!" Pete finished, pointing his long, bloody dagger into the sky. The raiders cheered before dashing off to their positions.
Mines were set, Titus's Wonderous Box of Flames (trademark pending) was set up, and the ambush was laid. Now all that was left was the trap to be sprung.
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