Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine followed Meesei's eyes and spotted the oncoming enemy reinforcements. She nodded in full agreement by the time Meesei finished. It was a simple matter to edge over to the parapets and wave around a bright magical light at the end of her staff to get attention from below. The hard part was to pick out either of the commanders. the Dominion commander was leading from the front but not without clear protection from bodyguards. However, Hjergir would be stuck right into the front line with his rushing warriors.

"We shall make it fast!" Fendros answered Meesei's order. He slid down from Leaps' back and gestured everyone to the staircase. Everyone knew the order to proceed.

While the others scurried below, Sabine cut out her hesitation and sent a bright red magical flare arcing out towards the reinforcements.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fair enough.

It would make narrative sense for Sabine's pack to stick together but it would make more logical sense for them to be down one the ground. There's only so much space for them to go down the tower. I'll let you decide, it doesn't matter too much at this stage.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei's pack went through armour-first. Lorag, Janius, and then Kaleeth poured in and went straight for the nearest threats. The few Skaafin that levelled their arrows or took out weapons were hard-pressed to find anywhere to wound their foes before they were engaged.

Janius made an example of one Skaafin by thrusting his axe-bearing arm into its middle and sent it flying over the edge of the tower.

Fendros leapt through upon Leaps-On-Elves with a more slithering landing and put an arrow in another Skaafin's neck in short order. He knew Ahnasha would not give him the chance to pick his targets carefully before the rest of them dropped. Besides, there would be plenty of arrows to replenish his quiver here.

Sabine was the last of their group through, needing to keep the portal open for everyone else. By the time she landed and gained her bearings, the present Skaafin were already overwhelmed. She spared an inquisitive look at the orb above the pedestal at the centre of the platform they stood upon. It could not have been a sigil stone unless it was reserved for a portal made later.

Back at the command post, the commanders watched on after Ri'vashi gave the signal to skirmish the enemy's main force.

Teroiah gave a moment to regard the position they sat in. "It would appear our fortifications are nearly complete. By my estimations, if your feint succeeds, we may be ready to bring artillery to bear. Most efficient."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine was determined. She lowered her brow and nodded. Ahead of them, the twin forces of Dominion and lycan soldiers spread their formations to approach the tower.

Either by professional focus or by indifference, the Dominion commander and his subordinates failed to so much as recognise the looks and attire of Hjergir and his men, though they did not hesitate by telling Hjergir of their approach. The conjurers in the unit summoned a number of fast-running clannfear Daedra to rush the lines with their bony, crested heads while more destructive mages lobbed magicks designed not to kill so much as force the enemy behind their barricades. The main line of infantry thumped forward at double time with shields, wards, and spears forward to meet the enemy. The few archers with angles on enemies they could see shot to kill. They were especially interested in airborne foes, against whom they could show off their many decades or even centuries honing their aim.

Sabine focussed as narrowly as she could on the highest platform of the tower. She took her time while the enemy was engaged at the base of the tower to line her entire body up in just the exact way to help her precision. The magic gathered slowly at first, and then grew into the familiar overwhelming power required to open a portal. It opened after a while at both ends at once. Something the pack had not seen before and somehow made the experience all the more strange.

Gro-Tagnud narrowed one eye. "Risky, but you know your troops," he said.

"Let us see them show their courage," Teroiah agreed. "I wish to see these Daedra forced by a feint their arms commit to despite their minds' knowledge."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros had Leaps slide to a stop beside Meesei. Even atop the wamasu, he was barely level with Meesei's eyeline while she was hunched over. He pointed one end of his bow towards the tower's top. "You or Sabine could take us to the top. A few units beseige the base. We work our way downstairs with height on our side. The rest of the force can start moving on the next tower."

"A portal!" Sabine realised.

Over at the command centre, Gro-Tagnud's stern face did not betray any disappointment or elation. "We have to draw their attention, make them commit too early if possible," he advised. "Our fastest troops need to split away forward and goad the enemy into wasting time and energy. It'll take pressure off our front line and put pressure on them."

"You underestimate the enemy's patience and endurance," Teroiah said over her glass.

"It's not bait," Gro-Tagnud retorted. "It's buying time. If they're suicidal, they'll give chase for long enough."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

@Muttonhawk I've been good, all thing considered (covid, uni etc.) What about you?

@Vec

Just chillin'. Working from home, going on jogs, feeding the cats, the usual. In a pretty lucky spot. Glad to hear you're doing alright.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine exchanged a glance with Fendros, catching her breath. "I should stay with my pack," she said firmly. "You go, Fendros."

"I could use the mobility," Fendros said under his helmet. He skipped up to grab Ahnasha's hand and pull himself up in barely a moment. Unlike Sabine, he could take advantage of quick repositioning on Leaps to angle his shots and survey the battlefield. All the same, he smiled and gave Ahnasha a quick hug around her torso before letting her on her way.

"Feeling better yet, Lorag!?" Janius roared as they started towards the Dominion advance. He was covered in Daedric ichor and sprung for action.

Up in the command post, Legate General Gro-Tagnud commented once he was confident Hal-Neesa was occupied. "That vampire had better be all Marod puffed her up to be or this is all about to take a real bad turn."

"With respect, Gro-Tagnud," Teroiah responded. "Focus on the enemy's next move."

Gro-Tagnud grunted. "General Ri'vashi. You got better eyes than I do, your werevultures might signal a flare from further out than we thought. Eyes peeled, everyone."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Me neither!

Hey @Vec, how are you doing? We're on the final chapter pretty much, yeah. Big climactic battle and all.

Elite, Vec is from another RP I was in. He's cool.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gro-Tagnud breathed in and Teroiah interrupted. "Acceptable losses, less resistance than expected," she reported, her nose wrinkling.

"There's still that titan flying around here somewhere," Gro-Tagnud added. "The advance towards the watch towers proceeds. A more solid defence should show up any minute now."

With the battle going on, neither the Legion nor the Dominion commander quite wanted to engage the word games required to order Hal-Neesa to do exactly what they wanted.

"Any insight for us, Hal-Neesa?" Gro-Tagnud asked without looking directly at her.

Teroiah took a slow sip from her drink.

A few bright flashes lit up the valley below as Sabine conjured up what appeared to be a rain of speeding stone meteors from destructive magic to rain down on the enemy Daedra.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Over at the command centre, the three commanders stood in various settings. A table had been set up with a map of the area unfurled and weighed down by a few stones. Gro-Tagnud stood rod straight beside the table with his hands behind his back. Teroiah had set up a metre-high standing litter topped with cushions upon which she sat cross-legged with a stemmed glass of water and three potions to restore her magicka. From their views upon the plateau with Ri'vashi, they observed the devastation Meesei's pack wrought.

"We have maintained our momentum," Teroiah said. "It is time we sought an objective while our artillery is brought to bear."

"Don't get cocky," Gro-Tagnud rumbled without taking his eyes off the field.

Teroiah laughed condescendingly. "I shall draw upon my own experience, Legate-General. How about you hold the flank like we discussed and my soldiers will make for the towers. Ri'vashi? I trust you have retained the strength to keep the Daedra scattered?"

She did not wait before sending a magical signal light up from her litter. It was all in their battleplan anyway. Enough Dominion troops had emerged from the portal that they were ready and poised to emerge from the gaps in the Legion lines like fluid gold. The frontline had conjured bound spears and shields, behind them were mages bringing forth more conjured Daedrea skirmishers and destructive spells, and at the rear were archers set to clear the way. They advanced down the plateau in an assertive formation, heading towards the towers to take them before the chaos below could fully resolve.