~ Dire Struggle for Dillend: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

Now that there is a real army to help out, Cy needs to leave the major battle tactics to Capt. Wheeler. His small force is now a skirmishing force. As soon as he is sure that Edryd is clear of the battle with his charge alive, Cy begins flanking manuevers and quick, harassing attacks. His goal is still to keep his men alive yet, the battle must be won. He is becoming slightly less concerned for his own safety.

His group engages the enemy, with swords clashing, pole-arms joining the fray, and a few arrows shot at close range. The scene is chaos, but Cy's men manage to cut through a group of Caerloon soldiers. None are slain, but a number of them, perhaps eight to twelve, were seriously injured. With a few more passes, that group could be eliminated.

In the process, though, Cy's group also took some damage. Cy, himself, got slashed in the fray (5 hp damage), and other members of the group were struck too. Some are not looking as strong anymore, but none are on the verge of death.

Meanwhile, the last hit had struck deeply, and Hannibal felt sickened as blood flowed from the wound. He hoped that he did not overestimate his opponent's abilities. The man was fast, even after being injured twice, and seemed unaffected by events around him. To boot, it did not appear that this man had had any of Emma's tainted potatoes yet.

Knowing that his only chance was to press the attack and hope for the best, he continues the fight. Using feints and thrusts, he battles the sentry to the best of his ability, hoping that Emma's god would smile on him this day. His moves, however, are unsuccessful; the sentry parries and blocks.

Storm is angry that both his attacks missed their marks. "Damn swords," he thinks to himself. "Ye be better than that!" With that he stares hard into his adversary's eyes, and snarls under his breath as he lets his anger fuel his next attack. He fakes with the dagger, pretending to lunge with it, but instead swings his mighty long sword. As he attacks with his sword, he drops the dagger from his hand and then, in one smooth motion, attempts to use the unsheathing motion of removing his other long sword as the attacking thrust, having the sword gracefully shoot straight from the scabbard to his enemy's body.

The move is executed perfectly, and Storm's blades strike the soldier hard. But the soldier is strong and pushes back from Storm, tightening his own grip on his swords and biting his lip. He growls at the Dwarf as if challenging him to attack again.

Crayne looks over to where Gaven stands and rubs his nose with the back of his hand. Closing his eyes he casts Detect Magic. After a moment his eyes adjust to the beautiful spectrum of colors that operate within the plane of magic. He flicks them about the scene that currently reveals itself before him. He closely looks at Gaven to see what colors are currently with him, particularly interested in any protection magic that he might currently have activated. He also looks for any items such as jewellery that show color. Moving his head from side to side he also quickly glances about the fort to see whether anything else shows a magical presence. Furthermore, Crayne tries his best to look for the disapearing figure of Dire Luthor. Through his magical knowledge Crayne presumes Dire is currently using Wraithform, although a second thought does cross his mind, he had read recently about a spell known as Phase.

The colors sharpen before Crayne's eyes and he lowers them onto the Red Dragon Mage, Gaven. There he was, lit up brightly with oranges and yellows, standing out of the dark veil which covered the rest of the battlefield. He squints his eyes in concentration, frustrated with the limitations of the Detect Magic spell: he cannot determine exactly if Gaven has a particular kind of magical aura, just that he definitely has one. He does notice, however, that the staff Gaven holds is of a slightly different shade, a more red hue, indicating some kind of magical aura about it, in addition to the mage himself.

As he glances around the rest of the fort, Crayne sees nothing but dark shadows; no magical auras. That is, until he sees another figure, whom he quickly recognizes as Dire Luthor. Dire is entering one of the guard towers, right near Hannibal's position. "How did he get over there?" Crayne wonders. "I must ask him about that spell, whatever it was!"

Edryd, the object of his affections cradled in his arms, searches in the ranks of Rinder's army for the healer's banners. He could feel her breathing, deep and steady, and his blood is warmed. Exiting through the open gates, Edryd rushes the priestess away from the fort to the treeline, where he finds a few of Rinder's men. "Are you the healers?!" he asks quickly, out of breath.

"We ain't got magical powers, but we'll do what we can," one of the three men answer.

Sensing he is running out of time, Edryd tells himself that will have to be good enough. He lays her on a healer's mat and strokes her hair. His heart is pounding, his pulse thrumming between his ears. In the fortress he had felt fey, like death oncoming, distant. Now he felt like he could see 360 degrees around him, like the entire battle was in his senses. Right or wrong, he felt more alive than he had in weeks.

He rises, eyes burning, watering, cheeks flush, teeth bared. He had friends in there, friends who had to live, live as his beloved lived. And the heathen of Caerloon had to pay. He draws his sword and lofts his shield, risen up to his full height, a head taller than almost everyone around him. He strides back toward the fray. The other soldiers of Rinder part before him, feeling the power of Anhur radiating outward. He mutters prayer after prayer, then reaches the enemy lines.

"Rinder's Six was last at the barracks being used as a prison," Emma tells Captain Wheeler, indicating the proper building with her spear. Her eyes widen a bit as she realizes it is starting to catch fire from Gaven's Flaming Arrow spell. Of course, she has no idea how the building came to such a state, but it alarms her nonetheless.

"There's another of our number upon the wall," she continues, shouting to be heard over the fray, "Hannibal, our...archer." She chooses that title for the thief since it best fits his role at the moment, and comes to the realization that his part in this battle might show him there are more noble pursuits than what she assumes is his previous profession.

"As for me," she finishes, "I led the last of the prisoners to the escape route. I assume they found you and the safety of the trees?"

Wheeler nods. "Yes, we have a couple of healers out there, but they're not clerics like you, and three to save all those prisoners..." his voice fades out.

Emma urges the Captain to move forward with her and his men as they continue their battlefield discussion. "As for our opponents," she says, "We determined that Captain Sanford was indeed the traitor that allowed Dillend to fall. There also appears to be a Red Dragon mage involved by the name of Gaven, just as our investigation into Dire Luthor's charges revealed to us. So the treachery is two-fold, Captain. I suggest we bring them to Anhur's justice."

With those words, Emma hurls her spear at the nearest Caerloon archer upon one of the catwalks or towers, and then draws her broadsword. The spear sails through the night air, striking one of the sentries in the leg just as he was going to launch an arrow at Wheeler's position. Emma smiles, breathing heavily with all of the exertion she's put forth so far, but her eyes and spirit are alive with the battle. This was what Anhur's priesthood prepared for all their lives, after all.

"I suggest that we organize your forces, Captain!" she offers. Her eyes notice Cy and his liberated force moving across the parade ground in a tight wedge-formation. "I think Cyvieliog has the right idea! We must break apart any organized resistance, and fight our way across the parade ground. Many of them have already been eliminated, I think...either by Anhur's grace or Dire's fiery magic. But there are still Caerloon forces in the towers and along the walls. We need to sweep them away so our men won't have to watch for incoming arrows."

"I'll stay by you and your men, though," she finishes, "Through my prayers Anhur can lift the spirit of our forces and dash the hopes of those we face." With that, she begins to wade into the lines of battle, her broadsword leading the way. She calls out a battle-cry of Anhur to rally the Rinder forces, yelling, "For Rinder and Anhur's Justice!"

Meanwhile, inside the burning prison-barracks, Pinker and Kel face down the dying Captain Sanford. "You traitor," Pinker says in a low, determined voice, "will roast in the Fires of Cyril as we take back what you gave away...and may you be cursed forever for that!" With that, he lunges at Sanford, driving his sword into the Captain's heart, killing him.

Kel grabs Pinker's arm. "Come! We've got to get out before we die a firey death in here along with him!"

Outside, Canter breathes heavily after dispatching his last foe. He turns to see the other Rinder troops around him and a smile grows on his face. He then notices the Rinder soldier near him desperately trying to best his enemy. With a rush of adrenaline, Canter steps closer and drives his blade into the Caerloon soldier, instantly killing the man.

A Caerloon soldier, after failing to hit Dire on multiple attempts, turns his attentions to Canter. But Canter sees him coming and spins around, raising his sword to block the oncoming attack.

At the same time, Storm's opponent launches himself at the Dwarf with renewed energy. His sword strikes, though not a particularly deep hit. (3 hp damage) Still, Storm growls with the impact, wanting to kill this man as soon as possible.

The sentry opposite Hannibal attacks, too. But Hannibal finds a lucky break and manages to dodge the attack. The soldier's sword hits the wooden railing, sending splinters into the tall, hot flames engulfing the burning barracks below.

Gaven raises his staff and swings it hard at a Rinder soldier nearby running in with Wheeler's troops. The staff connects solidly with the soldier's face, sending him flying through the air backwards and landing on the cold, hard ground, bleeding profusely from his nose.

Cy catches his breath after completing the last pass through the enemy. Noticing some of Rinder's newly arrived troops in the vicinity, he calls out for them to join him and his party, which three do. Then he looks over his men. "You, stay clear, no need to die today!" he calls to one of the soldiers who is looking the worst. He then instructs the new ones on the formation. "Let's go!"

As he feels the tide of battle swims him back to his days as a young officer, Cy begins the battle chants that direct his troops... much as they did in the ancient days.

"Pick you feet up, Close it down, Walls of steel all around! / Wheel left to fill the breach, Armsman use your longer reach, Hold them back to win the day, Hurly-burly battle fray! / That ring of brutes can use our steel, Cut them down and grind your heel! All to quick we shall be done, The killing over, battle won!"

His men reach the enemy lines with a loud crunch as swords meet armor and bones are broken. By the end of the pass, five Caerloon carcasses lie on the battlefield, to which Cy smiles.

But all is not well, that last pass left many of his men with more substantial damage, including Cy himself (4 hp damage). He looks over his men, hoping that they will see this battle through to the end and be remembered as heroes.

Hannibal then sees his opportunity as the sentry's blade is momentarily caught in the wooden railing. He steps forward with all his strength and swings his sword down hard. It strikes the sentry with a Crack!, slicing into the man's skin. But it also gives the sentry enough of a push. With a loud "ahhh!" he falls over the edge of the catwalk and onto the roof of the burning barracks below. He screams, a blood-curdling scream, for Hannibal to help him out.

Hannibal swallows hard, then turns his back on the enemy soldier, burning to death below. He yanks the former-soldier's sword from the wooden railing where it was wedged, and turns to look at the scene below.

Storm, at the same time, continues to battle against the soldier who had just hit him. With a quick one-two maneuver, he slices at the enemy, striking him first with his sharp dagger and then plunging his sword into the man's stomach for the final, fatal blow. He yanks his blade from the dying soldier and exhales loudly with satisfaction.

Crayne then looks to Dire, the effects of his Detect Magic wearing off. He can see Dire's body begin to fade into visibility along the catwalk, near Hannibal. Then suddenly, he hears Dire's voice loudly in his ear, as if the wizard were standing right next to him.

"I will dispell his protection, you strike..." Dire says. Crayne can see Dire casting already, his hands outstretched toward Gaven, on the field below.

Crayne smiles, knowing how much he is going to enjoy this. "For my uncle Karelth..." he whispers to himself as he moves toward the Red Dragon Mage, invisible all the while. He approaches the mage as he strikes another Rinder soldier with his staff. He positions himself behind the mage's robes, then tightens his grip on his short sword.

Then, with all the strength he can muster, he charges forward, driving the sword's short blade into Gaven's back. Instantly the invisibility is worn off, but the strike is a hit! Gaven reels with the impact, turning to the side so as to move himself away from Crayne's blade. "Aaaah! You dare strike me?!" he howls at Crayne.

Edryd then rejoins the fray. He looks to Storm's position, seeing the Dwarf far at the other end of the parade ground from the main gate. Setting his jaw tightly, the paladin vows to fight his way across the battlefield. With a quick strike, he hits a nearby Caerloon soldier hard. The soldier stumbles back, trying to regain his balance to return the gesture.

As the Rinder forces move into the fray and join the battle in earnest, Emma takes an opportunity when she's not engaged by an opponent to call upon her god's power. She prays and stretches her hands toward those that are allied with her, casting a spell to raise their courage.

From that point forward, the priestess is a whirling dervish of activity, hacking and slashing with her broadsword. The etiquette of attack and defense breaks down in the heat of the moment. This is no longer a duel or a simple practice with Edryd or Cy for her. This is a battlefield where your opponents are discovered and dispatched in a chaotic frenzy, where sheer determination and willpower carry more weight than the perfect weapons-training. Of course, her skills with the broadsword have improved somewhat and she feels confident with the new weapon now. Her lessons have certainly proven themselves to be valuable...

Emma strikes a nearby Caerloon soldier with a loud thud. He backsteps, and Emma matches his movements, indending to keep the pressure on. Standing next to her, and fighting alongside her, is Captain Wheeler. He defends an attack and jabs at an enemy soldier. "Not bad for a priestess!" he compliments her.

Canter continues his duel, attempting to drive his sword into the belly of his adversary. But he finds his move blocked and so retreats to a more defensive posture, knowing a counterattack is just seconds away.

At this point, Pinker and Kel join the general chaos of the battle, striking enemy soldiers when they can. Both mount impressive offensive maneuvers, perhaps inspired by the justified slaying of Sanford just moments before.

The counterattack then strikes at Canter. But his defensive positioning helps him to avoid and evade, and he escapes that bout without a scratch. Edryd, on the other hand, is not so lucky. His adversary lands a solid blow on the paladin, and Edryd recoils with the sting of the blade. (6 hp damage) Emma, too, is struck by her enemy. (4 hp damage) She grinds her teeth and exhales strongly, trying to ignore the pain.

Crayne's eyes narrow and he faces off against Gaven, short sword in hand. The Red Dragon Mage is furious, and places all his fury into his attack. It seems lightening fast; his staff strikes Crayne's chest with unbelievable force, throwing Crayne's body backwards to the ground below. Crayne is out of breath, and feels piercing pain in his chest where the wound is now bleeding profusely. (6 hp damage)

Cy gathers his men for another attack. The wade into the fray, moving a little slower with their new wounds and growing tired and weary of the battle. Yet they make it through--some of them. Cy strikes at the closest enemies as hard as he can, running at least two through to the ground. Looking around him he can see the wedge formation losing its definition as the chaos of battle takes over. But after the pass, he can see a new group of five Caerloon bodies cold on the ground.

However, Cy's group doesn't look too good. Looking over his men, Cy instinctively runs his hand over his most recent wound, received in the last charge (4 hp damage). Four of his men were slain, and seven remain with him. He looks around the rest of the battle, trying to judge whether or not the tide was turning in their favor.

Hannibal moves further along the catwalk away from the tower. Sheathing his sword, he pulls his bow back around to the front and cocks and arrow. He can see across the gap in the walk where the main gate is, to the Caerloon sentries on the other side. He observes one of them land an arrow in a Rinder soldier below and then drops to one knee, aiming. He lets off two shots. The first hits, knocking the sentry over onto the walkway. The other shot flies over the fallen man's head.

Storm then sees out of the corner of his eye, Crayne's body flying through the air and landing with a loud thud on the cold ground. He follows the mage's path backwards and his eyes land on the Red Dragon Mage, Gaven. Suddenly charged with energy, Storm screams loudly and runs directly for this enemy, his eyes burning with determination.

He strikes at Gaven hard. His first attack is evaded, but the second finds it mark, hitting the mage hard, a good hit. "Keep yeself safe!" Storm calls to Crayne. "I gots em!"

Edryd and Emma then strike at their enemies. Edryd hit his, dealing a hard blow and knocking the soldier to the ground, though not killing him. Emma, too, stikes her enemy successfully, sending his reeling backwards and stumbling at her feet, crawling away. Canter attacks his enemy, striking the man, though not particularly hard.

Canter's adversary then strikes at the leatherman's son. He hits Canter hard, and Canter can feel the pain and he retreats backwards instinctively. (4 hp damage)

Edryd then comes under attack. The paladin blocks one, two, but misses the soldier's third attempt. The Caerloon soldier's sword comes down on Edryd with a crushing blow, driving its blade deep into his skin. (8 hp damage)

Gaven then turns on Storm, his eyes narrowing. He strikes at the Dwarf with his powerful staff, hitting Storm with immense power. Storm falls backwards, but quickly regains his stance. "Arrr!" he cries, holding his stomach in pain. He must catch his breath, breathing hard, from the powerful blow. (9 hp damage)

At the same time, the sentry who Hannibal fired upon rises again, and quickly fires two shots at the thief. Hannibal sees them coming and jumps. Left, then right. He can hear them streak past his ears over the shouts of soldiers and metallic clangs of swords below. Fortunately, he doesn't hear the impact of arrow to skin, and smiles as he knows that both incoming shots were evaded.

"The Battle for Dillend needs to be a rout," Emma thinks to herself, "We can't allow our momentum to disappear because they still outnumber us..." She once again offers up a prayer to Anhur that he might affect the morale of their opponents, to keep them disorganized and fearful, perhaps even unsure of how many Rinder forces were

attacking.

Emma's eyes are momentarily closed as she completes her prayer. But that instant is enough. Edryd is the only one to see it. High above the priestess, on the catwalk along the eastern wall, an archer, taking aim at her.

"NO!!!!" Edryd screams, rushing from his position. Badly injured, he leaves behind him a trail of blood but he keeps moving. He can no longer feel his legs, they run without direction from his head. All his thoughts are focussed on Emma.

Edryd arrives at Emma's position, leaping into the air in front of her chest, facing her and her tabard. The archer's arrow strikes him forcefully in the back. With the impact his head is thrown back. Then a second arrow strikes, landing just inches from the first, in Edryd's back.

The paladin's body lands on Emma, sending them both the ground. But Emma doesn't care about the fall. The events had unfolded right in front of her, she had seen it all. And now, as she struggled to free herself, Edryd's lifeless body lay right next to her.

She strokes his face, trying to remove the dirt and blood so he can breathe. His breaths are light and short, and his eyes open just slightly, then close, repeatedly. "Edryd!" she yells, tears forming in her eyes. "EDRYD!!"

"Get him out of here!" Crayne yells, running toward her position. "Get him out while there's still time!!" Crayne's voice is straining, a combination of his own wounds, the toll of the battle, and concern for the scene in front of him.

Kel then arrives at the scene. He grabs a spear from the ground, covered in blood, and hurls it at the catwalk. "Move him now while we can still cover you!" he shouts to Emma before running off for the south-eastern guard tower.

Emma is frozen, she cannot speak, cannot move, as she once again holds Edryd's exhausted body in her hands. This time, however, felt different. And that was not a good feeling.

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