xenon

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@AvaP

The Dark Riders: Hailing from the Dark Elven lands across the sea, these cavalry forces are multi-purpose units that are lightly armoured and, even in large groups, can outrun the fastest horsemen. They can be deployed as scouts, can move ahead of the main army and look to blitz war machines, make precise flanking attacks or act within the main forces as shock troops, usually bolstering the smaller-numbered Lizard Cavalry.

___________________________

The two wedges moved across the plains like the wind. In spite of being the furthest away, the Dark Riders arrived at Saladin’s camp first. One wedge skirted around the camp perimeter while the other rode straight in, an attempt to make visual contact, fight or retreat if necessary.

Of the 150 strong wedges that rode straight in, their captain rode with horn held in hand, ready to blow once eyes were put on the enemy. They rushed through the burning tents but there was no sign of anyone. Until they heard the thieves shout…

______________________________________________

Saladin watched closely as he and the Fell Knights rode to catch up to the Dark Riders. Men of Rudiger, tough heavy infantry who were closely related to Sibliconian blood and just as nomadic, lagged behind.

The General was not picked as one of the Witch Queen’s 5 Antiquinites for nothing. He was of rare intelligence and shrewd with age. His mind ran through possible scenarios and he felt strongly that this could not be a full-sized army, but he did have a few guesses as to the reality of the situation. But he didn't have time to make an action because a 2nd explosion went off in the camp ahead, this one more powerful than the last.

He pulled his mount to halt and looked with shock and anger at the size of the explosion and cloud. He did not need to see to know that he had just lost an entire wedge of Dark Riders.

“It’s a trap,” he rasped. With quickness and decisiveness, he took out the crystal sphere he'd enchanted with his magical relay and gave out orders to what Dark Riders he had left. He sent a runner to the Beastmasters. And another to the Orc Shaman. Then he dismounted, retrieved his staff and spellbook from the saddle of his horse, then turned to the camp…

@AvaP

Olaf and Pete had successfully executed their boss’ plan. Not only had they delayed the assault, but they had also taken out almost a third of Saladin’s cavalry forces. But now they were in trouble. Their choice to wait stick around after drawing attention was valiant, but it would be their undoing.

They would quickly find themselves surrounded, enclosed by a circle of well-spaced, fast-moving horsemen who sped around the perimeter of the camp in a Cantabrian Circle of constant movement. In less than two minutes, the wedge would have spread out enough to form the circle, leaving nowhere to run without making contact in fairly open terrain.

Upon receiving their orders, the Beastmaster would whisper words to the Crebain, creatures of close relation to crows, who were then released from their cages and flew up into a flock and headed toward the destroyed camp to search out the enemy saboteurs.

20 Orc Shaman would mount hogs and ride to the camp.

Saladin had several high level spells prepped in his book and his staff was charged with Source. Within a short space of time, he was able to solo-cast a summon that would have ordinarily taken a small troop of expert wizards to bring about. Grey storm clouds formed out of nowhere in the sky above, then bolts of jagged lightning began striking down on the camp, creating small explosions with each hit and chaining off to anything close with conductivity. It was not over until 25 bolts had stuck.

Saladin closed his book and turned about to mount his horse again. “Kruger. Stay and wait for the Men of Rudiger. Wait for the direction of the enemy and move to cut them off.” He got a reply from Kruger, a lieutenant in the Fell Knights, and then added with express importance…

“I want at least one of them alive.”

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@AvaP

The gap of pressure on the walls was a small one and James Sirius was sharp to take advantage of it, because it disappeared quickly. And even still, it would be a close call because the walls on the former Right Wing were completely flooded with enemies who had been coming down the stairs in numbers and piling up in the streets.

Orcs, goblins, men, elves and dwarves, thirsty for destruction, started setting fire to buildings and pouring through the streets. The temporary checkpoints defending the 2nd half of the Tactical Retreat started to get hit with attacks. At first it was manageable.

But then the Bone Legions awoke. Thousands of them. Armored to varying degrees. They moved to the North Gate, the ladders and the siege towers.

Without the immediate reinforcement of the Bone Legion and the Dark Riders, the 50 strong Lizard Cavalry unit was in some trouble. The initial charge was devastating, and the tanky nature of the mounts and their ability to bite back, plus the heavy armoured riders atop them, made them an amazing unit. But numbers were numbers, and their's were few.

Now, isolated and immobile, not to mention fighting a unit led by the strongest Paladin in the city, there weren’t many left. They had taken out twice their number but were so few by the time that the Bone Legion were coming in, that The Bats and The Dire Stags would have a chance to retreat with minimal casualties if they were quick.

As for all other blocks, they would likely be best finding their way through the mazy small streets of the North-East Quarter, as the main roads were becoming increasingly hostile. Between enemy forces and the defensive blockades, many of the quickest routes to the center of the city were blocked off.

Vice Commander Jeremiah was grateful that the order for full retreat had been given finally. He did not realise it was the result of a streak of insubordinate initiative from one of the Heros from Another World. He had taken 200 men from the Bazaar and gone to fortify one of the main checkpoints that would best protect the 2nd Half of the Tactical Retreat. And now he had his hands full.

The fighting was tense but just about manageable. 200 men was just enough to beat back the outnumbering invaders on Desalines Lane, a key carriage-way that would protect Beam Street North. When flames began to rise all over the Quadrant and he got reports that the checkpoints closest to the walls had fallen, he knew things were about to get rough.

But he did not realise just how rough, until a group of pyromancers appeared on the rooftops right above their chokepoint. His eyes widened as he saw the fireballs grow in their hands. And then they pointed down on their position.......

______________________________________________

The Bone Legion was like a sea. An unstoppable tsunami that would swallow up anything it swept over. With the poise of the city's best defences broken, nothing could stop them in the North East Quarter. Even the best checkpoints could stand for no longer than a couple of minutes, because there were enough of the invaders that they could just take a side street, go around and flank the checkpoint from several sides.

The last defence before Citadel Mountain was the Bazaar and all defenders now were making a speedy beeline for that defensive island.

Big Bridge: In the north, connecting the North-West and North-East Quarters had been destroyed before the battle had begun. This was an attempt to funnel the enemy to The Bazaar. Of course, not all of Saladin’s forces would be opposed to swimming across the river and shortcutting to Citadel Mountain. There were enough reserve forces on the Mountain to deal with some. But the Bone Legion had come in numbers larger than anyone could possibly imagine. And if one were to look at some of the armour and decor of the skeletons, they would realize why.

Many skeleton warriors were garbed in the sigils of Eredge, Dantuin, the merchant city of Jhosiria and Juda… Osca and Perth. Many of these that had come to exterminate Valhiem were once friends, possibly family. Citizens and soldiers of fellow cities in The Empire of the Free Peoples. Killed and bid to rise again as slaves for the war machine of The Witch Queen.

And several thousand crossed the river, their armour heavy enough that they could simply walk along the riverbed and climb out of the other side. The rest of the Bone Legion would reinforce the numberless horde of Saladin’s other forces, as they descended on the Bazaar.

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Jay009

Anyone who had not made it to the island defensive-point in time, would without doubt be killed.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@TeyaoOkay thanks for letting me know! I'll be delaying the GM Update for a day anyway, so you're good brother.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@AvaP

In the Rearguard position, surrounded by his elite bodyguard, Saladin watched the battle unfold with a stern expression. Inside, he was satisfied with the progression of his forces. His second in command walked forward to stand by Saladin’s horse.

“Might I go for a stroll now?” the vampire asked, bored.

Saladin stroked his chin. After some time to think, he answered. “Yes.” Then he pulled out a computer from his saddlebags. He tapped and turned the golden cube, then the holo screen appeared above it. “Now that we have broken their poise, we will flood the city with the Bone Legions. We have as many skeleton warriors as they have defenders. The Dark Riders will go in behind, sack and burn the city, kill any who did not flee to the mountain. The mountain however will require our elite squads. Even with the defenders exhausted, that mountain will make their last stand strong. That is where you come in.”

The vampire ran his tongue over one of his fangs, his expression one of sadistic pleasure. “I guess I’ll inform my entourage of the good news then.”

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by an explosion behind them. Everyone turned around to see the besieger’s camp going up in flames. Then the camp alarms could be heard.

“We’re under attack?!” Saladin exclaimed. It made no sense. He had scouts set about the region. Even if an enemy army could have somehow made it here in time to help Valhiem, they would not have been able to get here without Saladin knowing about it. Not without The Wellsprings. “How!”

Saladin shut the computer down, rendering the golden cube inert. He put it away and the hordes of skeleton warriors known as the Bone Legions remained statue-like.

“Dark Riders, to the camp!” was the order transmitted through the magical relay to the Dark Rider Captains. They blew their horns and shouted orders that saw their units reforming into wedges and flying from their position near the North Gate of Valhiem, across the fields to the camp. “Men of Rudiger, you aswell! Fell Knights with me.” Then he turned to his second in command. “Hold the rest of us here and be ready for my command.”

The vampire was no longer playful but deadly serious. If this army had gotten by the scouts then it was skilled and well-commanded. This could be trouble.

_____________________________________________________________

Whatever Pete and Olaf of the Thieves’ Guild had done, Alison’s insurgency operation had done enough to at least temporarily stunt the progress of assaulting forces. The pressure was still heavy on the walls and the battle for the North Gate was intense, but that pressure had stopped growing heavier and heavier, at least for now.

@AvaP

In her moment of desperation, as her mind formed a last gasp plan to overcome her superior foe, Alison would feel the hum of her Source Crystal - The Gift - as it called out to the very fabric of existence. The lifeforce of her dead enemies faded..

That last wolfman was a lifeforce just strong enough to fill her Source Crystal, which shone purple to signify:

Ascension - The Rogue had ascended to a new level of strength. Her class-specific attacks would be innately, significantly more powerful. Her body could handle more damage, and her resistance to slashing, piercing, crushing or elemental injuries was considerably higher too. Her current abilities would grow, new capabilities would be born, and a higher capacity to learn more powerful things was apparent.

Ascension - The true power and realisation of The Gift of the Source Crystals.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

My Hider

Haha, fine, I'll admit; I had to paws to catch my breath.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud@AvaP

The first crack materialized in the wood of the North Gate.

“Commander Thorn, sir.” The Strategos lowered her spyglass and turned to Thorn. “The gate is almost breached.”

Thorn nodded grimly. He had hoped that they could hold the walls for longer than this but luck was not on their side.

@Zapdos

“Hello Zigmund.”

“Hm?” Zacharius grunted in confusion, surprised to hear the name. It caught him off-guard enough to distract him from the threat and he couldn’t get out of the way of the Natural Energy Beam that fired his way. The steel-clad Demi-Jinn did his best to brace and took the magical blast dead in his chest. “Grrr…” His boots scraped the pavestones as the beam of Source pushed him backwards, before Zacharius’ strength gave in and he was sent tumbling across the street. “Raaahh!”

Zacharius was more angry than hurt, though it was clear that the Drinker of Dive Blood could indeed feel pain. As he got to one knee, he slammed the butt of his battleaxe on the ground angrily and then stood up properly. Smoke rose from his chest plate, but the enchanted armour was barely scratched.

Back before Zacharius had given up his humanity, he was a Paladin Class adventurer with a heavy emphasis on defense over offense. This emphasis characterized the pact he’d made with the Djinn he’d Soul-Fused with. His weightless armour was almost completely impervious to most of the typical types of physical damage and had strong magical resistances too. This is what made fighting Zacharius such a deadly puzzle, especially when combined with the powerful and relentless attack style that he now took advantage of.

Then it hit him. Zigmund? Why would this adventurer know the name? Those who met Zigmund rarely lived to tell about it. And now Zigmund was missing in action. Failed to return after being sent to deal with the heroes from another world. “You…” Zacharius said to the Druid. “You are one of them, aren’t you?” He didn’t need an answer. It became clear when assessing Adam’s strange clothes. Zacharius growled and then roared before charging at Adam.

He swung at the injured man, missed and his battleaxe smashed a hole in the brick wall of the building. He pulled his weapon free, creating more damage and launched into another attack at Adam, every swing with all of his might intending to finish the fight in one landed attack.

When Adam managed to create some distance, Zacharius summoned a spell that charged his axe and he slammed it onto the ground, causing the street to crack open with a series of explosion that created a straight line of destruction heading right for Adam.

@AvaP

A Data Analyst? There was no time to even begin understanding Alison’s answer as the rogue exploded into an attack. She closed half of the gap before Hrond’s wolfmen could react and when they did, their weapons hit nothing but air as Alison ducked under them while seamlessly attacking the Wolf Captain’s leg.

Hrond’s speed and reflexes had been compromised by his injuries and he barely avoided the attack, but in avoiding it, he was off balance and on one leg, feeling like everything was in slow motion as his eyes followed her sweep around his other side until they could follow no more.

“Argh!” She sunk her dagger just above one of his kidneys. He stumbled toward his wolfmen who dashed past him to engage her and Hrond span about to watch. Seeing her occupied for a moment, he took this time to charge up and trigger one of his Racial Abilities: Light of the Luna.

Hrond was framed by a glow of white light. His strength and speed increased by half. And now he knew how she moved, how she fought. It was time to show this woman the true power of the Luna Clan.

He flew back into the combat, knocking one of his own out of the way to interrupt. A quick jab hit Alison in the mouth, before he slashed her weapon-hand, forcing her to drop the dagger. His combo continued to grab her slashed hand, swung her into the wall, then follow it up with a stab before throwing her to the floor.

He picked up her dagger and tossed it to her.

“You’ll be needing this…” He snarled smugly, feeling quite in control now. “...Data Analyst.”

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao

Source shimmered in Commander Thorn’s eyes as scanned the flags of the various blocks of infantry on the wall and began booming orders.

“INITIATE THE FIRST WAVE OF RETREAT!

LEFT WING! DOGS, BULLS, WOLVES!

CENTER LINE! SCARABS, PITS, WASPS!

RIGHT WING! MOLES, HORNETS, SCYTHES!”

The aforementioned blocks began to fall back off the wall, while everyone else fought to defend their retreat. Soldiers were pouring down the steps and into the streets to fall back the closest choke points to the North Gate, one of which was a 100m stretch away from where The Bats had formed up.

The idea would be to secure the nearby choke points so a full retreat to The Bazaar could be executed without all the defenders being cut down as they ran. The Bazaar was a strong defensible island in the middle of the city, protected by water and bridges, capable stopping the enemy forces for a small amount of time.

“TUSKS, FOXES, TIGERS, RETREAT!

RIGHT WING! COLLAPSE INTO THE CENTRE LINE POSITION!

MAGE SUPPORT! FOCUS THE GATE! ATTACK MAGES RETREAT!”

The Right Wing had to be given up as the defenders on the wall thinned their numbers. The Left Wing had to stay the strongest. They could not lose that gate yet.

@Jay009

Another smash from the battering ram saw the gate almost buckle completely. There were enough holes in the splintered wood that The Bats could now see through to the outside.

And then a final smash saw the gates fly open.

The trolls slowly wheeled the battering ram away and off to one side. Then horns sounded. An open lane between the river and assaulting army was now being filled with a charging column of Lizard Cavalry. Clouds of dust kicked up into the air as the clawed feet of half a hundred beasts thundered towards the North Gate. Hisses, warcries and horns sounded off.

Up on the mage platforms, the Clerics and Spirit Mages threw all their power into layers of protection enchantments, resistance blessings and magical barriers for The Bats. Then they fled to The Bazaar for further orders.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@TeyaoThanks for coming through for us. Also: That is NOT short!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud@AvaP

With the first of the siege towers connecting to the walls and the powerful first contact of the orc heavies, in addition to some defenders being peeled away to deal with the Corpse Dropper and the explosion at the South Gate, there was a decrease in ranged and magical firepower from the defenders. This allowed another 3 siege towers to connect to the walls without too much resistance. There were also ladders being brought up, secured and climbed by the corrupted tribesmen in Saladin’s army.

James Sirius, a young man whose voice and willpower had already earned him the trust of his friends to lead them, who had rallied townguards to his command in the middle of emergencies, was now taking full control of the mage platforms who could hear him, resulting in a more cohesive strategy of magical resistance.

The Dark Domain users cast spheres of impenetrable darkness, 6 feet in diameter, upon the tops of ladders to blind the attackers as they arrived on the wall. These spheres were quickly dispelled by the mages in Saladin’s army, who were vastly more experienced in Dark Domain magic due to not being limited by the law of the Empire. But the blinding attacks at least helped to provide some support. What was more effective was the Light Domain support who threw up strong shields of damage resistance and life-saving alteration spells on soldiers who were about to be delivered a deathblow. Minor holy damage enchantments were spent to briefly bolster the weapons of the defenders and allow some to overcome the incredibly heavy armour of the orcs.

The Earth and Water Domain users came together to combo-cast an evocation of icy comets raining down on a single tower, doing enough damage to it’s internal structure that it one side of it caved in and fell over, crushing and crippling many, and killing and injuring all those inside it.

Flames and lightning danced onto the waves of arrows that fired from blocks that were not yet occupied by assaulters, maximizing the damage done.

Off all the sections of the defensive line, the centre was the strongest in resistance. The singing had transformed into taunts, cheers, roars and insults from unoccupied defenders and even some engaged in the fighting were screaming trash talk as they stabbed at the enemy. The invigoration was visible and fear was non-existent in the centre of Valhiem’s defensive line. Zell Brooks' aura, a potent mix of bloodlust and charisma, seemed to be infectious and everyone close rallied around him to provide a stalwart defense.

Fenna Postma’s direction to focus her archer unit on those climbing the walls was a boon. In conjunction with the mage support, arrows rippling with fire and lightning enchantments rained directly downwards onto the heads of corrupted men, elves and dwarves who were climbing up. Some of the ladders on the right wing collapsed. MacKensie Trydant’s Rabbits and those who targeted the opened siege towers started chain lightning and fires inside the towers themselves, slowing the progress of the enemy outpour.

On the left wing, Barracker Kassel’s shield wall successfully blocked off the enemy from getting an initial foothold. A ‘push-of-war’ started between the Bats and the 1st siege tower. The 2nd tower connected and had more success against other blocks, aswell as the ladders used by the corrupted tribesfolk. Overall, it was a strong resistance put up by the left wing.

_________________________________________________________________

The soldiers and mages in the garrison were fighting valiantly, but the assaulters multiplied more quickly than the defenders could kill them. Slowly but surely, more and more orcs and goblins had a footing on the walls, and now corrupted tribes of men, elves and dwarves were joining them to beat back Valhiem’s defensive garrison.

@Jay009

In all of the chaos, two rams pushed and shielded by trolls were advancing towards the North Gate.

“LEFT WING, BRING DOWN THE RAMS!”

While 1 of the rams managed to get destroyed, the other was defended more stubbornly and made it to the North Gate. Over and over, the trolls threw the battering ram into the gate, which was strong but shook worryingly under the pressure.

Lizard Cavalry and Dark Riders began forming up on the left wing, aswell as legions of armored and unarmored Skeleton Warriors. They were getting ready to charge when the North Gate was breached, with the Lizard Cavalry as the spearhead of the charge.

And the iron bolts and mechanisms that kept the North Gate firmly shut, were holding steady but it wouldn’t be long before the power of trolls and the heavy battering ram would take it’s toll.

@Teyao

The mages that went to check on the Corpse Dropper would find it almost dead but subbornly clinging to life, fighting off militia desperately while ghoulings continued to crawl out of it’s belly. No one could finish the giant bat-like creature off as it limped and writhed around, but magic could and would undoubtedly put an end to the disgusting fiend.

@Zool@Loksfjoer

5 or 6 Dark elven Screamers managed to survive and just so happened to be some of the toughest and scariest of them all. Rapidly, the women climbed up the outside of the siege towers, essentially ‘jumping the queue’ to get involved on the walls and take revenge for their fallen sisters. The duel-wielding fighters were more skilled than anything that had reached the top of the wall yet, angry and screaming, some with arrows sticking out of them as they began taking lives.

If not dealt with, each would likely take 20 defenders with them to the afterlife.

@Zapdos

Zacharius separated from the wolfmen once he was inside the city. His orders were the same as Hrond: Hunt down Source Crystal Bearers. But he was also seeking out defensive barricades in the streets, ready to tear them apart while under manned and compromise any tactical retreats.

The Drinker of Divine Blood did indeed find a defensive choke point and as expected, it was undermanned at this moment. Zacharius came wading in, swinging his massive, ebony-stone battleaxe, destroying defensive structures as he took the soldiers by surprise. Easily he murdered everyone in the vicinity and cast an earthquaking power as he jumped up impressively high, and came down with magical power, practically exploding the entire choke point into smithereens.

Then he heard a commotion nearby, in particularly hearing a dying wolfman along with a crash. He knew that one of his strikeforce must have met someone powerful and headed down the street to find this foe.

And there stood Adam Phillips. Zacharius charged, deceptively quick, and attacked with his battleaxe in a 4 strike combo. Each swing was accompanied by the seering aftershock that would cut and unbalance the Druid if Adam managed to dodge but remained within 4 feet of the battleaxe was dodged.

@AvaP

Captain Hrond was horrified by the sudden and swift destruction of his vanguard force. When Alison and Kerensa jumped down, Hrond was barely able to react to the lightning-quick women. He managed to leap into the air and avoid Alison’s low attack. His 2nd-in-command barely managed to avoid losing his head to Kerensa, tilting enough that the thief’s sword cut off an ear but nothing else. He welped in pain, stumbled back, then pounced back at the woman with a sword attack of his own, engaging Kerensa in a duel.

Hrond’s leap backwards saw him land on the roof of a stall and his nose sensed the power of the two combatants in the streets with him. He noted that Kerensa was an extremely competent adversary but it was Alison who took his attention. Alison was not just an extremely powerful Source Crystal Bearer. She smelled nothing like Valhiem. Nothing like Mytheria.

"Is she…?" Hrond wondered if he’d ran into one of his primary targets, equally happy with his luck and uncertain about the quality, the texture, of Alison’s Source. It was so strange. Source power normally emitted from a Crystal Bear like a light. Alison’s Source seemed to ferment in the air all around her and him, like a large cloud. It was unnerving.

Hrond howled loudly, calling for the rearguard Strikeforce, who had hung back to take control of the South Gate. Now they came and instead of spreading, all 20 of the powerful wolfmen rushed straight for their Captain.

Hrond extended his slashing gauntlets, which looked like massive claws of black steel. Then he dived toward Alison and began a relentless slashing combo that interspersed with dashes and strafes to throw Alison off.

Hrond was agile, strong and incredibly skilled. But his strongest asset was perhaps his cunning. He would test her skill before making any rash moves.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud@AvaP

"...Light Domain bring down the Corpse Dropper! Earth and water target the troops! Everyone else go for the towers!" - James Sirius

.

Power beams of white light began to fire up from the mage platforms, among them the powerful Sprit Gun of James. The Corpse Dropper could not dodge them all. The giant bat-like creature was technically not an Undead, but it's flesh was rotten like one and it's body was powered with the Dark Domain's necromantic magic. This made it just as vulnerable to Light Domain attacks as any Undead.

The Corpse Dropper swayed and strafed in the air to dodge but several beams were direct hits, burning straight through the wings and weak belly bursting out of the other side. The Corpse Dropper screeched as it felt a new level of agony and it almost fell out of the sky.

Adam Philips choosing to delay his attack in order to aim carefully was worth it, as the creature turned onto a flight path towards the mage platforms and made Adam's attack considerably easier to aim. And now it was injured. Adam's Natural Energy Beam fired between the 1st and 2nd wave of Light Beams, and the Earth Domain user's attack was easy to spot as something different, not pure white light but a kaliedascope of colours, pure energy. It hit Corpse Dropper in the head and took off an ear along with a slice of skull.

Then came the 2nd wave from the Clerics and Spirit Mages. More direct hits, taking chunks out of the Corpse Dropper and burning up the ghoulings inside it's belly. The Corpse Dropper was full of holes and barely hanging onto life as it came crashing down onto abandoned buildings in the northeast sector of Valhiem. Loud cheers filled the air and many of the defenders raised their fists in triumph.

.

.

.

"WEEEEEE SHALL NOT,
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
WEEEE SHALL NOT,
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.

The singing rose above the din of battle all of the blocks across the central line joined in the song, replacing the word, 'Lions' with their own name. The Pits, the Scarabs, the Snakes, the Horses, the LoneStars and more. Such was the power of the message that morale in the Centre of Valhiem's defense rose considerably. Many hands that held bows became steadied by courage. Some deaths caused by the magical battle, instead of hurting morale, only served to strengthen the resolve of the soldiers who witnessed the deaths of their friends, filling them with a desire for revenge and the grit of determination. Zell Brooks, with one simple song, had stengthened the Centre considerably.

"LEFT WING, FOCUS FIRE ON THE RAM!"

Commander Thorn's voice suddenly echoed like thunder in the sky and there was no person in the entire city who could not hear him. Up on Citadel Hill, High Command were watching the battle with spyglasses, commmunicating troop movements to the central figure who was at the very top of the Chain of Command. Commander Thorn.

When Commander Thorn inhaled deeply to shout, the special enchantment cast upon him would activate and the faint outline of a giant magical megaphone appeared in the air several feet in front of him, the shimmering Source that outlined the megaphones shape big enough to be seen from distance. And when he shouted, his voice boomed across the city and even the fields all the way to Saladin's camp.

"RIGHT WING, FOCUS FIRE THE DARK ELVEN SCREAMERS!"

The ram was blasted with fire arrows and fire magic. It was built not just with wheels so it could be pushed, but a hut-like roof so it could protect the orcs who pushed it. In spite of the fire-proofing hides and magic that covered the ram, there was simply too much fire from the defenders when counting the dozens of fire arrows on top of the magical attacks. The battering ram set on fire and the roaring flames spread all over it, burning the orcs who ran out from blazing siege machine. The ram had been brought to a halt and burned to disfunction before the enemy could extinguish the flames.

On the right wing that included elite archer units like Fenna's Falcons and MacKensie's Rabbits, many bows loosed arrows upon the Dark Elven Screamers. Screamers were a female unit of elite warriors that dual-wielded long daggers and wore zero armour. Had they been allowed to ascend the wall, they would have been deadly in close quarters. The kind of fighters that could win a close-quarters skirmish all on their own. But they were vulnerable to arrow fire and that's exactly what they got. The archery training drills that Fenna and MacKensie had made sure their blocks did everyday were paying off as elite units of the enemy were cut down.

"CENTRE, BRING DOWN THE TOWERS!"

Along with James Sirius' direction of Air Domain Users and the help of Adam Philips, now the Centre of the Defensive Line added the power of their arrows and bolts to the counter fire against the siege towers.

When Adam managed to de-wheel one of the towers and temporarily bring it to a halt, everyone saw the weakness and turned upon the siege tower. Whirling clouds of condensed air, along with lightning attacks barraged the tower, weakening the structural integrity of machine. Fire arrows forced the attackers down low to deal with the flames instead of getting the wheels back on. Eventually, the tower came down and another triumphant cheer filled the air.

But this was the only tower to come down. Of the other 9 towers, the advanced construction and Counter Spell enchantments were enough to fend off damage that would otherwise immoblize them. The 1st 3 towers reached the walls and iron doors fell open onto the wall, releasing armoured orcs and goblins within, aswell as other unit types from Saladin's army.

Close-quarters combat on the walls had started.

.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

.

The defence had started promisingly well. But in the southeast, where city guards had managed to clear the ghouls and begin evacuating the last of the citizens to Citadel Mountain, something terrible happened.

An explosion went off at the South Gate of Valhiem, making a breach.

A combination of stealth from the wolfmen and a lack of manpower in the south meant that Captain Hrond Lewell's elite taskforce was able to go undetected for long enough to make their move. Now Hrond howled as he led his team into the city.

Screams of terror sounded and people ran. The city guards closest to the gate ran to meet the threat but they were no match for the Armoured Wolfmen. Hrond and Zacharius in particular would effortlessly cut down any defenders without breaking stride.

The citizens were defenceless for the moment.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud@AvaP

"What in the...? Ares preserve us... How?!"

"SOUND THE ALARM!!!!!"

They'd been warned. By James Sirius who had the displeasure of knowing Saladin well. By Adam Philips who had let them know that Saladin might well know his plans were leaked. They'd been warned to stay vigilant and closely watch for any tricks that the attackers may try to pull. But Saladin was too clever.

The assault came two days earlier than originally planned. At 4AM during a lull in catapult fire. This much was to be expected. What was not expected was just how close to the River Eisen that the assault would be. Saladin had pitched his camp on the northeastern side of city and ravaged Greenglow Woods for resources, but the siege towers he was constructing for the assault were being built seemingly to attack along the longer more easterly parts of the city walls. One by one the siege towers sprung up over the days, until there were 10 and counting. But the towers were constructed cleverly to be able to be disassembled with ease so that Saladin could reassemble them anywhere he pleased. And that is exactly what he did.

The Dark Domain ritual magic had maintained a shadowy illusion of the towers once night time came. The towers disassembled. Another shadow shield was thrown up to cover the ruse. And now suddenly there were 10 seige towers and a wheeled battering ram approaching in staggered lines, with the River Eisen at their western flank, heading right for the wall and North Gate.

.

The sound of Valhiem's siren filled the air.

.

Commander Thorn's fortified position on Citadel Mountain's north eastern cliffside began to populate with Valhiem's High Command.

.

The city began to stir in the darkness.

.

Kleon, a powerful Spirit Mage in High Command, fired a giant magical flare into the air like a firework, exploding into a giant ball of light that instantly illuminated the city with brilliant white light.

.

And what could be seen in the sky, soaring towards the city was horrifying.

.

The Corpse Dropper: A gigantic rodent creature created with the utmost degeneracy of necormantic magic, The Corpse Dropper exists from birth to death in constant agony. Bred too large to sustain it's own life as is, kept in a state of being that is not quite undead, the creature is swollen with the seeds of zombie-like entities called ghoulings that can be grown like a plant, from seed to human-sized flesh-eating Ghoul in a matter of seconds.

The Corpse Dropper's existence is to act as an offensive air unit, flying over enemy armies as it's stomach tears open and ghoulings begin to fall out of it, down on the enemy, the ghoulings growing into full size Ghouls before they land on the ground or the heads of the defenders. Most Ghouls will survive the landing, perhaps with some broken limbs but enough mobility to begin attempting to eat the flesh of anything living that it can see.

The internal damage being done to the terrifying but pitiful Corpse Dropper as it rains down Ghouls on the enemy will eventually kill it, but it will take a while. With upwards of 500 seeds wriggling inside any single Corpse Dropper, it is best practice to try and kill it, or at least knock it out of the sky, rather than waiting for it to kill itself.

__________________________________________________________________________

Ghouls began falling from the sky onto the northeastern quadrant of the city. The roofs of buildings, the streets, the Mage Support Platforms all began being hit with the thud and the splunking sound of corpse-flesh crashing upon it.

The assault had finally begun. The Southeast quadrant of the city that was due to start being evacuated after sunrise... the citizens there were now in a vulnerable position. Ghouls roamed the very streets where the Valhiem Garrison Blocks of 100 were designated to form up, organize and make for the walls. Chaos had erupted in the city. And outside, the siege towers and battering ram advanced.

The fight against extinction was now or never.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Great! Everyone's here. Thanks for such a speedy reply. Expect a GM Update tonight, guys!