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"Lost Continent: Flight From Muurdaan" (BeckonCall's FNB!)

SpiralErrant SpiralErrant

[The three shaman all go to inspect the black tree for weaknesses and the nature of its shield and drool. They have been given the chain given to Orm by the gnolls believed to be a part of the cull.]

Bruul and Shul had looked behind them during their trek to the great towering trees, but never once saw any indication that Ummush was following them. Their surprise was not stifled when they found that it was Ummush that was waiting for them at the edge of the pit of bones that lay around the base of the tree/monolith -- from this distance a low thrumming noise could be heard directly below it... no bones fell this hour, as they seemingly always had on visits previous.

Shul coughed a mouth full of spores but upon recomposing said -- "It's a shield, but spirits are not impeded. They say great darkness above -- and sleep, and rivers of... meat?"

Ummush seemed to rub his belly as he gazed straight up at the angry humming black eye. "It's not evil. It just is. Somehow makes it worse. It was made to murder the world, they say -- and it doesn't even have a speck of passion about it. The shield is so we don't bother it while it prepares to kill us. plain and simple." Ummush snorted. He had contempt for it as a dumb animal.

Bruul, who had brought the chain of eyes, held each one to his own eye to look through them and a strange smile stretched across his face. Shul knew it, it was when Bruul had an idea to spoil for a fight, but that people were going to die. It was a grimace in every way it wasn't a smile. He handed the chain of eyes to the other shamans, who also looked...

...Through the lens of the Cull-eye orb, the shield was riddled with holes... the bottom of the sphere had many circling the trunk of the tree, and the bottom hemisphere had several others scattered in seeming random positions. There was obviously great detail to make out far above them -- but the Tyren could not discern it... green lines? Bumps on logs? This was a spyglass to give to a human or an elf.

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Meanwhile at the mages guild Anuc and a handful of springborn began to study spells of power and misdirection that could be drawn from the wood. Glyphs of power and misdirection, glyphs of fear -- special symbols that could be knitted into the wood if they could just understand them.

Anuc say a glyph for passion and... desire... and quickly took her own notes. Her associates pretended not to notice.

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Spacekitty Spacekitty :

To improve botanical garden:

(1 Capo, 1 Troll, 5 thugs, 5 Skilled workers, Amber)

--The Finecians outdid themselves in their most recent exploits... they took the lovely contributions of the highborn gardens and took their beauty two steps further -- sowing in robust succulents, amber embossment, and their agility enabled them to sow plants and vines in new areas underhanging the higher level and took advantage of "waste-heat" and running water drains to turn the roof into a gorgeous organic display, which helped insulate and strengthen the building as well.

Since the initial bristling about whether the Finecians would be allowed to help beautify the structure, people were very appreciative of their contributions...

FENNEC GAIN +1 INFLUENCE!


ANT VS. TROLL:

Crumbler was given an order to become the one-troll solution to the ant problem. At first he just broke their jaws or plucked their heads off if they tried to burrow above the ground into the excavation -- always gaining grevious wounds which the troll did not seem to mind. After that, he was instructed to refill holes with stone, but the ants rapidly started digging around them to the point they began to slip through the dirt and into the void below. Then, one day CRUMBLE almost slipped into a void -- with numerous giant ants waiting beneath the would-be trap. The troll rang a bell to summon a supervisor -- and sat at the pit reaching down with his giant ham-fist pulling ants from the hole and devouring the poison ants unceremoniously.

A skilled worker came to the troll and asked for a status report.

"Spicy."

The fennec tapped his foot... then rephrased himself.

"What the hell is going on... you are supposed to be guarding this hole!"

The troll replied.

"Ants have stopped trying to dig out as much as they are trying to eat me. So I turn things around and start eating them! Better move soon. Can feel they are subverting ground we are standing on."

The fennec supervisor looked at the slightly dancing loose dirt and stones on the ground they were standing on... there was obviously a lot of activity beneath the surface if the ground trembled so.

The troll picked his teeth then a chunk of crust out of his eye with the leg of a red ant.

"Tell bosses we better hurry. I can eat a lot of ants, but soon there will be lot of ants eating me."

The supervisor ran to tell the capos!!!
 
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Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon :

The constructs were lowered on a crane back down into the pit of the Nerid -- "Retrieve bodies. Test rats and bucket. Return." their magical voices seemed like somebody without lips and a mouth sealed with concrete. "Will do."

and then they were gone again. Far below them, the Attolians could hear the constructs chipping at the walls... or was it the floor? An hour passed before they returned to the lift, the lift being MUCH heavier this time -- the winch had to be adjusted to handle the new load.

Of the samples sent down, 1 of the three capybaras was on the brink of hypothermia, slowly coming back to life once the shadow of the vault lay behind it. The other two capybaras were very, likely painfully cold -- but were less worse for wear in the sunlight. It looked like it was indeed very cold there, but limited time, torches, and the proper protective gear should be enough to keep a person kicking down there. The water bucket was caked in condensed frost, but only the thinnest skin of ice had begun to form over it.

...Far more surprising was the "corpse" the constructs retrieved -- it was a cyan-skinned humanoid -- One of the sundered speculated it was a Triton or Nixie -- one of the humanoid sea-folk that did not have tails like merfolk. He seemed frozen in a 7 foot block of ice as if ready and waiting for combat. his icy tomb slow to melt even in direct sunlight What was more disturbing was that the constructs had not neatly cut out this body from the ice -- on the left side of the block was a severed arm and bi-dent -- obviously part of this particular trooper's neighbor, and a frozen but bloody shoulder-guard was on the right side, seemingly heaved off of another neighbor on the opposite side -- the frozen skin of it's shoulder taken with the poultron that covered it.

"Many bodies down there. Rows 5 high. Retrieve more bodies?" the construct asked.

"Retrieve?"

The team was shocked. These were not bodies laying at the bottom of a pit as they imagined -- these were persons encased in ice -- presumably to survive what had gone on at the surface. They had unwittingly ordered the constructs to pull at least one soul out of his cresh, and injured two others in the process...

_____________________________

Helysoune considered her contract fulfilled, but had brought back numerous useful bits for Nicholas and the Attolians to pore over. Among them were:

1) An inert (expended) tear of divinity -- she said there were dozens of these at the top of the spire.

2) numerous mightily intact pieces, including a wind-up KEY, the size of a battle-axe she had snuck off of the back of the Key'ed one himself. Between recent other additions to the science guild by the fennec the Attolians now had THIRTY (30) research points to study various aspects of clockwork soldiers, or the applications of their technology. If they could get the help of dwarves, these specimens could be pushed even further.

3) With so much work and material near the site of the capital building, it was little trouble at all encouraging folk to take extra shifts for extra coin -- especially those who already counted on the learner's square. In no time at all a decent learning HALL grew out of the learners square... with wealth spent not just on securing the labor but also for clay and ceramic heaters to make the structure comfortable during the winter. A misunderstanding between an Aymaran and the Kobolds saw the Kobolds working around the clock to get the learners hall finished -- it was not an attractive building, but it was strong, secure, and comfortable. Once it was done, the kobolds wanted nothing more to do with it. At it's unveiling, Anais T'leth Aboleth was excited to see the building, and committed to teach a course on "300 types of common -- the uncommon common and how it can make your common more common to the uncommon commoner!" -- Victorian Acolytes Enemy Standoo Enemy Standoo of course saw the merit of making a record of this series of lessons -- turning it into a text that potentially could have great value in the old world for teachers of language and diplomats alike.

+1 Influence Attolians -2 Wealth Attolians! -- the building is very strong and the attractive wages offered quickly secure the labor and materials!

Victorians gain text "Uncommon Common"


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THE SIGNAL FIRES!!!!

It was first spotted by highborn in recline and meditation at their new lodges south of Harun'Taras...

Suddenly, a number of fires jumped brightly alight in the minutes past dusk in the Reinen settlement area. Something was VERY wrong.

Moments later EVERYONE in the colony became aware of the danger -- not from seeing the fires first, but from the roaring volleys of pistol and musket fire from within the Reinen settlement.

From all three directions, the signal fires blazes towards the center -- already lit by a long-ranged burning arrow at the hands of the highborn.

Reinen women, children and confused elderly began to stream towards the 'Platz.

"THE MUDELVES ARE ATTACKING!!!!!" their cries burned the ear of all who heard them.

Another volley and a growing pillar of smoke rose up out of the area of the reinen settlement -- columns from fires burning unchecked, and walls of smoke rising from volley after volley of guns. Screamnig, hollering, hissing of the savages and the harsh barking of orders boomed from the area...

...And then LIGHTNING was seen to crawl over the landscape from across the river -- It was Witchfire.

Shortly after, the building which seemed to be the rally point for the defenders of the faith EXPLODED -- Raining bits of wood, debris and... gobbets of flesh as far as the platz and learners square.

The Witch had struck the Reinen Gunpowder Magazines. The number of refugees fleeing increased, their conditions far worse with a bevy of injuries piling up.

It was doubtful the mud-elves would stop their raid with it being so successful at just the Reinen -- an armed response would be neccessary... and fast!!!!

Everyone Everyone :

DECISION POINT: All players must decide if they send troops or have another response to the "Second battle of mud elf Aggression" -- in the light from the fires, at least two hundred mud-elves, (likely more in the smoke) have crossed the river and are massacring any Reinen that do not flee to the 'Platz.... TO ARMS!!!

.....TO ARMS!!!!!
 
The Attolians will respond to the Mud Elf Aggression in order to save as many lives as possible and to contain the Mud Elves from being able to attack any other place of the Colony. They send the following if available:

Caelis w/ High Born Lance, Star Tear, Amulet
Cassandra w/ Blood Scourge, Braid Armor w/ Vase (Light Armor Mode, 1 arm to hold vase and the other to fight close quarters if needed)
Falconer (If he is considered as a hunter and is skilled at it, then I would like him to have the crossbow recovered from the first battle. He would be something like a sniper and just taking opportunity shots at high value targets while keeping away from the fight as much as possible.)
2 Sundered Kings, Gnoll Regiment Banner
15 Halberdiers
15 Constables
10 Sirens (as battlefield musicians to maintain morale and hopefully rally some of the Reinen to join in the counter attack)
3 Augmented Stone Constructs

Lord Caelis also promises wealth (2 Wealth) to those who will help join the fight under him and spreads word that it is everyone's duty to protect their homes, friends and neighbors (1 Influence to make people more willing to take up on Caelis' offer). He also sends word to the Aymaran that there's another opportunity to feast and implores them to rise again to help against the Mud Elves (1 Influence to convince the Aymaran to join Caelis)Those who volunteer will have access to whatever weapons and armors available in the Smithing Guild to the Attolians if they need it.

The Following Remain at the Platz to Guard, Protect it, and Keep Order:
3 Augmented Stone Constructs
Any civilians who wish to take up arms to protect their homes are also invited to do so
The Remaining Sirens are asked to sing comforting songs to calm the people throughout the Platz and incoming refugees


The Attolians request that all Colony Members join the counter offensive as leaving the Mud Elves to freely roam this side of the river would be disastrous.
 
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MFGPwJz.png


Grimdr didn't know the colonies ways and was certainly still learning its quirks. But it was clear to him that something was not right. He didn't wait to hear screams or calls for help. He could solve his own problems tomorrow, whatever this was needed his peoples attention now. "OPEN THE DOORS!" He ordered "You lot, find anyone running from the danger, help them get to the hold. Protect them if you can but if whatever demons we face approach the hold, close the doors and let no one in." He ordered to a small group "I am trusting you with the defence of our home. Everyone else, with me. This colony is our colony, its people our people. We will defend them like we would our own! Sally forth with me!" He then stormed through the stone doors, opened far more then ever before, wider then just enough for one dwarf. He charged a short distance from the hold and then he and his kin formed up. Once in formation they began marching toward where they could see people fleeing from. He looked at one of the younger Dwarves under his charge. "You lass, run to the platz, send word I will take the fight to them, hold them off as long as I can. Let our friends knaa, any refugees be welcome in our hold and plead wi' them. Plead they prepare their forces, plead they do not waste the extra time I seek to give them." After he sent her off he then muttered under his breath "An' 'ope they arrive to save my warriors." He then once again took his place at the head of his warriors "To the River pass!" he called as they began a quick march toward it, the young dwarf bumbling and tumbling toward the Platz to try and tell the others what the Dwarf leader had told her to say.

The Firebeard send 15Skilled Warriors, 4 Deeprangers and 10Skilled workers to the Reinen to contain the threat as long as possible, planning to form a defensive sheildwall to deal with the threat as long as possible.
They keep the other 30-40 Workers at the hold, ready to give their lives to defend it, but also willing to protect anyone fleeing the attack.
They send word that they intend to contain the threat and buy time for the colony to prepare its battle plan. Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon
((Going to be surprised when he finds the attolians doing the same, something to bond over 'eh?))
 
TO ARMS!
(WIP)

We got ants again honey...
In response to the ant problem, it was quickly decided a more permanent solution was needed... but first they needed to survive the onslaught that was to occur- from both the ants and the mudelves. For the Finecians at least, the Ants were a more pressing immediate issue given their distance form the colony and a healthy task force of 2 Trolls, 15 Skilled Workers, 10 Thugs, 5 Amaryan Brutes, Mikkolete, Jonti (Illusionist) and (Fighter Capo) and Sontio (Fighter Capo) to overlook the situation. They would use the reapplication of fire to burn and smoke out the Ants and funnel them into a kill-zone created by Jonti using illusions of brick walls and enemies to force them into their awaiting arrows, foxtails spears and clubs, while the Trolls try to use rocks to try and block off the holes. Once a heavy smoke plume begins to bellow from the hole he will hide the FInecians inside an illusion of smoke with a single sunny point as the ants only seeming escape from the suffocating smoke, of course itll play them right into awaiting spears and bolts!

SECURE OUT INVESTMENTS- er I mean protect the colony! Yeah!
Hearing of the invasion, it is the Finecians time to shine! All available Employees are rounded up, including Exile and Amaryan workers who are promised a fair spill of the loot (and food for the Amaryans, they've heard Mud Elves are VERY tasty), 1 influence and 1 wealth spent to rally exile defense force (Defend your home- and investments boys. Plenty coin to go around. More mud elf heads you bring back home- the more coin you get! How about that for a pension eh?). The group will rally at Harun' Taras and set up a defensive perimeter to protect the city before launching a counter offensive with the rest of colonial forces when the time comes. (3 Trolls, 25 Skilled Workers, 14 Thugs, 5 Amaryan Brutes, 1 Amaryan Scarred, Mr. Mallowthew (1 Capo) to lead defense delegated, 1 influence, 1 wealth)

1 influence and 1 wealth spent to rally exile defense force (Defend your home- and investments boys. Plenty coin to go around. More mud elf heads you bring back home- the more coin you get! How about that for a pension eh? Dont worry about the danger, their simple minded barbarians and you have Fennec sharp shooters, Troll and Amaryan Bezerkers to keep most of em off of ya. Easy pickings i'd reckon. Nothing surely you boys can't handle! Free rounds on the house afterwards? Anyone got a deck of cards and willing to put their newfound wealth on the table? Dealer and booze are waiting!).

Meanwhile, the 6 Skilled Thug Sharpshooters and the Master Assassin (Illusionist/Fighter) Andrei will prepare for a stealth mission to take out key Mud Elf leaders and Targets. (6 Skilled thugs, 1 Capo)
Beckoncall Beckoncall
 
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Beckoncall Beckoncall

Securing Safety
Andrei (Master Illusionist/Fighter) and his crew are ordered to secure the escape route of the fleeing Reinen, Andrei using his illusions to hide their escape and the thugs providing covering crossbow fire.

ALL FINNECIAN WEAPONS AND ARROWS ARE TO BE SKRAPED!
 
Beckoncall Beckoncall

(Not really doing a story with this since I just want to get numbers out there)

The Ratkin mobilize to defend the colony and help usher the fleeing Reinen to safety.
  1. All available bucks, does and Dirty Paws from the Grocer and Farmer's Guilds and the Capital Building project are temporarily called to assist in the fight, while the Clean Paws and pups are tasked with heading for the Healer's Guild to assist in battle triage.
  2. Nateema takes her leave of the Fetch's mind to help out, but not before she leaves a very gentle message in the Fetch's thoughts, "Let us help you...". Once she's on scene, Nateema will use her magics to manipulate the raging smoke and create a barrier through which the Dirty Paws can help the fleeing Reinen to escape into the nearest Ratkin tunnels to safety.
  3. Once the Reinen are safe the fighting paws will use the smokescreen as cover to fight from, earning their reputations as 'smokewalkers'. Breeze and Needle will take point in directing the fighting ratkin, while Hawthorn will quickly supply them with whatever poisons he can spare to ensure every cut is a kill. The ratkin that are fighting will not enter close combat unless absolutely necessary, using cranks as their primary weapons.
  4. Coalback will organize the defense, using about 1/3 of the fighting paws to do so, and cover the retreat of any fleeing Reinen or wounded being carried to safety.
  5. Milkweed will take a small mischief (05 Dirty Paws) to scout around the battle site and 'Platz to make sure the Mud Elves aren't pulling any flanking tricks like they did last time. They will stay quiet and observe only, and if they spot anything they will move quickly to alert the other forces so we can reposition our forces and counter the gambit.
Unrelated to the Mud Elf attack...
  1. Daisy is the only one who will not be joining the fight. Instead she is going to continue trying to speak with the Zebani, but not by tunneling through the bricks. She's going to start tapping on the walls in different configurations to see if she can get a response from the Zebani that way. She's smart, and she likely understands that they use some kind of vibration to communicate, so she'll try and replicate that to the best of her skill to get the Zebani to open up their side of the wall on their own.
 
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THE STAGING OF THE SECOND BATTLE OF MUD ELF AGGRESSION:

The Signal fires burned bright, and the Attolians took the center of the field outside the growing conflagration that was the Reinen Settlement. Gunshots could still be heard, but not in volleys like before... instead there were isolated storms of fire, which more often than not, suddenly stopped behind the smoke, as the Attolians took to the field west of the river and homes of the Reinen.

To the left flank, The Hillmen had taken up hunting bows and bull-iron spears and dispersed amidst the highborn lodges north of the conflict -- they would wait for the Tyren to back them up, or they would at least deny (or threaten) the right flank on the enemy from this area. Taking to the roofs with the highborn occupants, the highborn almost lazily sat cross or a spreading brace-legged and shot arrows where they had clean targets in the smoke. The hillfolk with their hunting bows could not quite reach the area of effect -- that is until it seemed the wind began to pick up. While not accurate, the large number of badly aimed arrows did much to force the mudelves to temporarily take cover, buying crititcal time.

Breaking cover needlessly to join the Attolian forces were the ENTIRE fifty kobolds. jumping and hollering, they sideled up to the Attolian force shouting "Ai! Jafootie! Ty-tau! Ty-tau!" They then hissed and jumped up and down, waiting for the Attolians to advance. The mudelves started to move west through the clouds of smoke, when suddenly their entire advance screen was shot to death as the Firebeards, stained in their armor but not short of breath, arrived to deny the left flank south of the town and disabuse the mudelves of the notion that breaking cover of the smoke was a good idea.

Ratkin, Attolian, and Firebeard attention to refugees got over 80 Reinen out of the battle-site in short order -- Smokemagic and smokewalkers among the ratkin enveloped groups of endangers citizenry so they could be evacuated from the field. The Attolian musicians gave a call to refugees lost in the chaos to approach west or south... and worker dwarfs quickly rounded them all up and took them to the safety of the dwarfhold. In the panic of the Reinen, The ratkin had difficulty convincing refugees to hide underground with the ratkin -- but the dwarfs quickly took them off of their hands.

Quickly afterward the brutes were loosed on the field -- so far 3 scarred and over 25 others (mostly cunnings) -- barking and snapping, fell in among the kobolds.

At this point potshots from Firebeard Crossbows had forced the mudelves to retreat deep into the smoke, and they were not the happier for it. Nateema had the smoke all billowing upon them, and the white mud tell-tale of their tribe soon became blackened with soot and coughing. Using their shields to great effect, they got low to breathe easier, and some of the center of their formation attempted to fan the smoke away, to limited effect. Once the smoke was centered on the 10-score (200 infantry that had apparently crossed the river in war-canoes of sorts) the smoke was rolled thick and heavy to the east -- where it blanketed the river, disrupted all communications between presumed command on the east side of the water, and to the ratkins surprise and delight, the smoke disrupted the lightning of the witches -- the arcs struck the clouds of ash and coruscated wildly as if a tempest had erupted just above the ground... while it was hard to see, some mud-elves sent flying by errant blasts of lightning proved Nateema had, in fact, unwittingly utilized their own friendly fire against them.

While little could be said of the accuracy of fennec Xbows from the elven lodges -- (there was little if anything to see outside of smoke) -- one thing was sure... SKRAPE killed absolutely, and painfully. because victims of skrape were so loud, they began to play a furtive guessing-game with their arrows -- finding concentrations and positions in the smoke... and telegraphing them to everyone else due to the telltale howling and agony of the afflicted.

Just as the Firebeards and Attolians effectively linked up and solidified communication, Fennec messengers had apparently rallied dozens of exiles with coin and promises. None other than Harud and Baez showed up, a full armed congregation of Dracos exiles bearing Attolian weapons and shields, and repurposed bone-armor from the previous fight with these devils.

"Oi Watch yer STEP!!!" Harud struck the ground with a massive hammer, Baez just ripped a naval rope into ribbons above his head and tied them around his hands and knees so he wouldn't break them on anybody's face. Baez shouted "SEE THEM QUIVER IN THE FIRE AND SMOKE OF THE GODDESS!! *THIS* IS HOW FOES OF THE LADY STINK OF FEAR, RIGHT BEFORE THEY DIE!!!"

The arrival of the Dracos Exiles exhorted the firebeards to greater levels of morale, and the attolian sirens used screeches and wails to signal spacing, and movement, but most importantly to hold.



North of the Lodges, the Fennec were forming a hit-squad -- 6 strong with a capo to lead them, Mallowthew wondered if the dwarf rangers or any other special forces would be joining them. He sent some workers out to propagate the plan -- which was to, likely by crossing the river, assassinating the witch and any targets of opportunity to hopefully break morale.


Meanwhile the Fennec's trolls, after throwing their huge weapons misguidedly into the smoke, had begun to pull chunks of stone and wood off of a highborn lodge and turn it, albeit slowly, into a pile of rubble ammunition to continue the suppression and killing of forces within the smoke.


Suddenly it grew more silent in the swirling chaos of he Reinen vllage -- either the last of reinen resistance was overcome, or it too had gone to ground -- this could only mean one thing -- that they mudelves would be on the move again soon -- but thanks to the quick actions of the colony it would not be without a force to meet it!!!
 
Caelis was relieved as he saw the refugees making it safely out of the settlement and the various factions starting to deploy. The Attolian Shield and Spear Wall was joined by the Dwarves whose sturdy shields bolstered the Shield Wall. The Constables took the front with their shields and spears and were supported by the Halberdiers in the rear to form two lines of spears. The Kobolds were ushered to take the sides of the Spear Wall and the Aymaran were held slightly back but to the flanks of the line. The Kobolds and Aymarans would likely just charge at the enemy, so they were directed to stand a bit behind so that they would naturally take the flanks. However, Caelis also knew that once the order to advance was given, that there would be no going back as the Kobolds and Aymarans would charge the enemy. Thus, he was hesitant to advance into the smoke as it would be too chaotic. Instead, if the Mud Elves could be lured out of the settlement and the smoke into the west, then they would likely be caught by surprise as the Attolian line would then charge.

Thus, the order went, they would hold their ground for now. However, he instructed the 10 Sirens to make sounds of distress like they were fleeing refugees being pursued by the Mud Elves. Seeing how the Mud Elves were being peppered from the North, they would likely be inclined to continue their attack towards the path of least resistance. If they heard the sounds of screaming from the west, then they would hopefully think that their allies were moving to the west and follow them. After all, it seemed like the Mud Elves enjoyed causing suffering, so perhaps they would be drawn to the sound of panicking refugees.

However, the Mud Elves were also cunning. There would likely be other tricks in their sleeves other than their attack on the Settlement. Thus, Caelis called for Cassandra and the Falconer. He asked Cassandra to see if she could scry or sense anything alarming or concerning such as another witch or spell being prepared. After all, the Ivory Scepter almost killed them all last time when the witches released the Longdead. But, they also flanked the Colony via the ruins last time as well. Thus, she was asked to see if she could detect anything of note. The Falconer was also instructed to keep his eyes out for targets of opportunity and to use his falcons to keep tabs on various enemy formations by circling around them. Besides, his falcons could likely have a better understanding of the battlefield from the sky and detect a second prong or sneak attack.
 
Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon Beckoncall Beckoncall

The Highborn on the Elven ship were extremely relieved to see their comrades at arms and friends back safely on board. That was a close call! Too close and thankfully the G-ds were merciful! How close their deaths were, was not wasted on the Highborn on board, and especially the two Swordmasters that had narrowly survived. They recognized it was the strong backs of the Attolians had helped save them. The feelings of comradeship among the crew was high. The adrenaline of the two Swordmasters subsided and despite being immortal, feelings of their own mortality hit them like a ton of stone. They sat on the deck, wet and the feeling of wood, the smell of saltwater, the familiar faces were a profound relief to them. They were shaken up and although they had faced extreme danger before, this was the closest to death they had experienced. The Highborn Swordmaster officer, the bravest and fiercest among them stood up, he was clenching the wand and cloak still. His hands were gripping them tight and began to ease up as the adrenaline rush subsided. He turned to Lothar and extended his hand in gratitude.

He said in extremely accented common "Lord Wolf, much gratitude for your wise course of action, for the strength, friendship, gallantry your men have shown us. We appreciate it and not just in words. As you know, we Highborn love the Arcane and objects of the arcane, but we value loyalty and friendship even more despite our reputation for being arrogant."

The Highborn Sword Master officer seemed somewhat emotional, as if there was something he needed to get off his chest. "I must tell you something. The Demon in the fountain is evil. It has made a pact with your brother and has taken over Cassandra's soul completely. She is nearly gone. She might have one last path to salvation. We Highborn know about Demons. We battle them with High Magic and have since ancient memory. Blood magic is powerful, tempting and seductive. It also comes with a heavy price, a very hefty cost. Cassandra has paid with her soul and the Demon within the fountain desires all of our souls. It gets stronger by the day. The pact that Caelis made with the Demon will be his and all of our downfall. It's important for you to understand that your brother is in jeopardy, as are all of us at the colony. I hope you can be reasoned with, because Caelis will possibly become the Demon's property. Caelis will not listen to anyone about the fountain, but he might listen to you. The Demon's influence is why he defends the Demon and fountain. Caelis is on the path to becoming the Demon's slave. It is a sad and hard thing to accept, and until now, I thought it was too late."

The Highborn paused, one could see he was deeply conflicted. "This is not easy what I have resolved to do. The blood tear is of the same magic and I could wield great power with it (one can see the Swordmaster Officer's eyes grow large as he stared at it transfixed), and in truth I prefer to see it destroyed. My first instinct is to cast this vile item to the sea (at this the item glowed somewhat menacingly), It's OK. (the item calmed down), but to do so could put us in peril, there is no way to know how it will react, and this action might have unforeseen consequences. One thought which the tear itself is suggesting is to transfix it to the Ship and we could travel with great speeds, but again, this Vessel might come alive and begin consuming sea creatures, or our blood, and who knows what else. Just now, a vision hit me! The universe sent this item to us for good (one had to wonder if this idea was the Swordmasters or the accursed Blood magic). This Blood tear could be the very item that will help redeem Cassandra's soul, which the Demon possesses. This could be the object that frees the Demon from the fountain by putting the Demon into the Staff. This could be a risky endeavor, but such is life and death with Demons. The struggle with the Demon is coming to a head. It will not stay in the fountain forever, and as I speak, the Victorians are planning to destroy it. If the Demon is destroyed, Cassandra's soul will be destroyed along with the Demon. Freeing the demon is dangerous. By putting the Demon in the staff it will make the Staff and Demon disposable. My intuition tells me that the Zebani might be able to dispose of the staff for us or that our Arch War Mage might be able to disenchant the Staff with the Demon in it. If the Demon feels in peril, we might be able to use the tear to bargain with the Demon to flee, and in return give back Cassandra's soul."

The Highborn Swordmaster continued. "If the Demon remains when we return. I will present this idea to Caelis" For now this item should not be trifled with, especially not at sea where there is no escaping it, as it feeds on blood energies and releasing it's powers might compromise our mission, and our souls as it did Cassandras'." At this the Highborn Swordmaster ruefully put the Blood tear away, in a special enchanted box for containing magical items.

"As for the Attolian steadfastness, I offer my deepest thanks, and this Robe of Elemental protection to you Lothar. May it protect you."

At this the the Highborn Swordmaster officer handed over the Enchanted Robe of Elemental protection which was of great value, especially to a Highborn.

The sound of seagulls, the waves, the sun, the salt and sea calmed the senses. The Highborn Swordmasters had lived another day and the journey continued...

ATTOLIANS GAIN ROBE OF ELEMENTAL PROTECTION. Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon
 
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The air was tense even before the blast. Maybe there was a latent smell on the breeze. Maybe it was instinct that set the hilltop town on edge. Folk had said that the tyren were descended from prey animals, perhaps they sensed predators at work. Either way all their subconscious suspicions were confirmed when the first blast was heard. Tyren leaped to their feet, mercenaries ran to their posts and lambs bleated in fear.

Orm and the rings had been gathered in the shaman house, shrouded in smoke and talking of what the three had found at the tree. It was promising stuff! It'd have to wait though. Orm was still hard pressed to believe this was happening. The Mud elves across the river had gotten so many beatings from the colony and the the gnolls they shared the woods with, they must have been mad to try their hand at it again. Still... there was that darker part of Orm's heart that was grinning at the thought of heading out there against them. It had been so long since he'd been able to let loose. The rage and tension that was building up in his guts was begging for a release. Now these mud covered elves were stepping forward to gladly offer themselves up to help.

Bruul was shouldering on the iron robe he'd crafted from the plates of their history and the fighters around him were making their last minute cuts and carvings to their horns as Hrun'Taras marshaled for war.

["You think you can hold back until we get there?"] The shaman nodded to his chief.

["I'll manage."] Was all Orm snorted but they could see the effect coming over him already. The same one that was slowly working its way through the tyren ranks. Nostrils flared, breath quickened and tails slashed at the air like knives. The sound of the fighting was spreading and Orm could feel the rush of blood and the irritating sting rising in his eyes that couldn't be blamed on the billowing smoke.

The tyrenborn had already moved out, their light step and powerful stride sending them flying over the golden walls of the stockade. They'd be meeting up with the foxes as they gathered together to hunt down the muddlings that tried to avoid the fight and put as many arrows in as many backs as they could.

As the troops moved out and the guarding force left behind took up their posts Ummush whispered in the ear of one of the message birds that lived in the local trees, gently letting it take flight from the palm of his hands with its common tongue message tied to its leg. With a flutter of its wings and an oddly urgent sounding tweet it landed on the shoulder if the human hawk tamer.

- Moving out to flank from north
Will charge on signal -

So the bulls marched forth. With cleavers in hand and ranks of the faithful at their side, gripping their spears and shields. In loose ranks they walked through the lanes of the highborn villas, parting the hillfolk like wheat before the farmer as they took their place beside them. They wouldn't be letting the common folk charge in with them when the time came, Orm made sure they understood that. They could stay to defend the houses if they wanted, he couldn't deny them that right, but a minotaur's charge was no place to throw those who weren't prepared.

Orm's hoof scraped at the dirt... his hands tightened around the haft of his quartz axe. It'd taste battle for the first time soon.

[Tyren send Orm w/highborn axe
War shaman Bruul w/iron plate armour
5 Tyren warriors
20 faith of the rich to marshal at the high elf villas to the north

5 tyrenborn meet up with fennec forces to work in conjunction as scout and harassing archers.

Remaining forces stay to guard Hrun'Taras.]
 
Funny how you like our trickery when it's on your side...
Although the first moments of the battle had been hetic, with colonial forces rushing to respond and struggling to come up with a singular, competent defensive plan, slowly with the use of runners and the Attollians Falcons a definite coordinate response was beginning to take shape. The Attollians wanted to lure the Mud Elves out of the smoke into the open fields of the west where they could be more easily target and engaged by the shield wall. Mallowthew liked the idea, although he was concerned about how well they could hold against a likely large Mud Elf invaison force, and so he was obliged (if only to reduce their probationary period) to assist in the plan, although he wouldn't be putting his forces in any real danger just yet...

Andrei was ordered to temporarily stop organizing the hit team, delegating the task to the 6 hitmen to get things under way. They had proven themselves more than capable of making their own decisions and didn't need a capo to spoon feed them like some of the others...

Screaming sirens alone wasn't going to draw out the Mud Elves. They were clever bastards, once they saw a line of eager colonials waiting for them they we reconsider their charge... potentially heading his way! He couldn't have that... So a proper illusion was in order! Andrei would add to the Attollians guise, making it appear as if Mud Elf forces had already engaged a heavily disorganized and smaller Colonial line, the Mud Elves breaking through and calling upon their comrades to join them. For all they knew, victory seemed to be at hand- surely an easier route than into Finecian arrows and southbound towards the cull!

[Andrei (Illusionist/Assassin) uses his illusions to add to the Attollian's guise, making it appear to the mud elves that their forces had alreayd begun to engage them Attollian line which was made to appear much smaller than it actually was and disorganized, falling back and crumblign quickly. The Mud Elf "comrades" would urge their brethren to join them]

That isn't helpful guys...
Shaking his head Mallowthew ordered the three trolls to stop tearing apart homes and join the Tyren for their charge.
[3 Trolls join Tyren Forces]
 
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Hit 'em hard, hit 'em good
With Andrei currently unavailable, no such stealth mission could be under taken in good faith... nor now. Although it mattered little had rallied for it as of yet. For now, the 6 hitmen with their 5 Tyrenborn accompaniment would work as a deadly accurate skirmishers, getting close to the Reinen village and lying in wait for any Mud Elf to peek their head through the smoke, firing in at them and then changing positions, retreating under a hailstorm of arrows if engaged.

[6 hitmen and 5 Tyrenborn act as daring Skirmishers]

Give 'em Hell boys
With defenses set to the north and west, the remaining Finecian forces would re-position themselves to the south of the Reinen village to block that route of escape and hope to use their arrows to further force the Mud Elves west.

[25 skilled workers, 14 thugs, 1 capo move to the south of the Reinen village]
 
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED
Prince Vaethorion Prince Vaethorion General Deth Glitch General Deth Glitch KamiKahzy KamiKahzy
The Finecians request the Highborn supply their Spy Master and 4-5 elite soldiers, the Dwarves supply their deep rangers and the Ratkin 4-5 Dirty Paws and possibly a smoke walker/magic user to the operation team, which will currently be staying out the Colonial side of the river and acting as skirmishers against the Mud Elve's harrassing them and aiming for leaders.
 
STAGING -- PHASE TWO:

It was with little time to spare that the Highborn arrived. Far behind them moved two ballistae, the lighter mobile sort -- they had attempted to quickly fit the Beast-Feller for the fight, but it had been partially broken down for preparation to transport it into the dwarfhold -- where it was much too large to move freely even with it's arms retracted. Equally disappointing was the cave cyclops' apparent fear of fire -- The tamer abandoned it's employment the moment it gazed upon what to a dim and myopic creature the terrain of hell itself. "Sloth" was not intimidated by campfires, or torches, or even burning arrows -- but a whole village was on fire, and the Tamer could not goad the creature to advance on it...

A team of 20 archers stood with a Highborn Ballistae crew of ten -- they needed the extra labor to load the massive bolts effectively. Running past them where 20 additional spearmen who thanks to their drills with the other colonial forces, quickly found their place in the second rank behind Caelis' men.
Added to this were 10 swordmasters -- who originally had planned to join the brutes and approaching Tyren at the north -- until they saw Fennec circling around to the south side of the Burning Reinen Encampment.

The Highborn Tactician, her eyes a steely silver -- did not trust the fennec to hold their own... and as much as it was distasteful to turn their backs to them, they deployed at an angle securing the south flank, offering the right side of their line formation with their left echelon refused.... the fennec quickly took up position behind them. This positioning was clearly a ruse to goad an encirclement, the swordmasters were too versed and ready for such tricks and existed only to tempt the foolish into leaving their cover. Wielding her greatsword one-handed, the highborn tactician's off-hand SHOOK with the crackling energy of an Astral Tear of Divinity -- if things turned for the worse, she had orders to even the odds -- with massive sudden and decisive force.

Then the Tyren took the field. Their mercenaries formed up into a bristling block of spears from which all manner of missiles seemed perched to fly -- darts, arrows, javelins, bolas -- If the Pension Legionnaires were to receive a charge, it would be paid for up front in blood. A small number of Tyrenborn archers took places on the highborn lodges (Now that the trolls had stopped trying to dismantle them, but like most, there could be little certainty of targets in all the smoke.

Still, amid the coughing orders were being barked and drums were sounding -- The mudelves would not be content to be whittled away to nothing trapped in a firepit of their own design... they would be moving soon.

The tactician saw The Minotaur Chief, Highborn cleaver almost splintering in his grasp, and his dour looking war shaman behind him. To their chiefs side, 5 tyren warriors were spoiling to charge, sheer force of will seemingly the only thing holding them back.

The falcons all seemed to be circling over a central location which had good cover of buildings (however burning) on three sides. The sirens taunted them with cries of refugees, when the Fennec illusionist summoned from what seemed to be blue water droplets and sand swirling from the ground, what the defending forces could readily tell was an illusion -- a battle already underway, of mud-elves, in the chaos, overcommitting and already being engaged. Once the foundation of the illusion was set, it was embroidered with additional detail until the "fighting" could be seen from the edge of the smoke. The urgency of the drums and orders seemed to rise, and whorling in the smoke seemed to suggest a great movement was coming from the east -- THE TRAP WAS SET! THE MUDELVES JUST MIGHT BE CHARGING HEADLONG INTO THE COLONY'S WALL OF RESISTANCE!


As these final minutes would soon see the battle being joined, a task force of assassins was still being planned to cross the river during the fight... The highborn spymaster showed up with 15 countrymen insurgents, and when the fennec balked at the size of the force brought to bear by the highborn, the highborn were undeterred. "We'll stay to the rear -- lay an ambush -- cover your retreat, if need be." -- there was no arguing with them. Word was soon expected from the dwarf rangers General Deth Glitch General Deth Glitch -- or they would miss their chance to be a part of the covert operation...
 
"The signal fires are lit, the colony is under attack!" Came the hoarse cry of a squire, panting for breath as they'd come sprinting from the building site of the capital hall.

So the time had finally come. Elien had heard of these border skirmishes with the natives, a rancid tribe of savage elf cannibals that dressed in the bones of the slain and their rival clan of jackal like gnolls. She would never have guessed that they would be so bold as to attack a settlement as well defended as the Reinen outpost though! The blast of their gunpowder igniting could be faintly heard even from the Platz and from the roof they could see the pillar of smoke rising up from the scene of the battle.

"To arms, brothers and sisters, the enemy is upon us!" She called out, raising an armoured fist to the heavens and conjuring up a mighty huzzah from the assembled devout. Step by step did the Victorian chapter assemble itself for war. Squires buzzed around their knightly lieges in assisting them with their armour, monks offered prayers of safety and benedictions that the weapons of the devout may hold true against this grave threat. Each member of the black clad devout chanted their own private prayers to the saints for guidance, fury, and protection, that they might smite their foe and see this battle through to its conclusion.

As an armoured column of cold steel and iron they marched down the road to the learner's square, the rattling rhythm of their plate and chain mail sebding out the tune of their own battle drum under the chants and prayers of the devout. Elien marched at the head of her chapter, a retinue of knights at her back as others dotted themselves among the ranks of the devout, readying those they would take command over. Ahead of them rode the cavalry of the sacred lighthouse, three knights strong, with Sir Bruford taking the ignominious duty of carrying the canoness behind him on his saddle. The older mother of the chapter was insistent that she came with them. Elien was in no mood to deny an extra hand from the matriarchal tyrant. With one hand she shouldered the elf forged claymore, with another she signalled for the troops to veer off. Reports and scouts were already spreading word of how the colonial forces were forming a solid line to the west of the Reinen settlement, with other forces from the hills moving down from the north. The Victorian chapter would not join them directly, instead leaving the road early and marching their infantry formation to the south-west, completing the formation and penning the savages in with nowhere to go.

"You're certain about joining with the common troops, Mother Nazio, you wouldn't rather stand with your own?" Sir Bruford called back as his mare cantered down the gravel path, the lanterns on its barding flickering as they jostled in place.

The stern taskmaster had abandoned her usual scowl for now. She seemed almost jovial, in the same way she did before putting her charges through horrific drills. "Of course I do boy! These men were my duty and shall remain so until my final breathe! I shall see to their first battle since their rehabilitation, an artist does not leave their work half finished and a teacher does not send their pupils out unprepared!"

"And you're sure they'll be pleased to see you?"

She scoffed. "Of course they will! I shall order them to be!"

That got a good laugh from the younger knight. Indeed his hearty chuckle could be heard as the trio of riders galloped to join the main battle line. Sir Roslyn passed on the orders of the chapter master, informing the nearby commanders of their position on the flank and that the chapter's cavalry were under orders to support the sundered kings of the Attolians. The number of cavalry was few in their force but if they worked together they could make a mighty charge if needed.

Isabella Nazio left such things to the younger generation and took her place among the constables, her chain mail and tabbard looked freshly cleaned and the wooden practice sword they were so used to seeing her carrying was replaced by a pale steel arming sword. "Hello My boys! Did you miss me?"

Action summary:

Force list is -
Elien armed with her elven greatsword.
25 Devout
10 knights
3 mounted knights
1 Canonate (Isabella Nazio, Drillmaster)

Tactics - The chapter infantry takes position on the southern flank. 5 knights are working among the devout, each leading a group of 5 devout under their role as small scale tacticians and leaders. The remaining 5 knights will fight alongside Elien in the center (see unit description by Beck)

On the field they are small-scale strategists – expected to hold an area of a line or formation linking with other "rings" lead by other knights of the order. When not serving as officers among the lesser troupes they prefer to fight in a homogeneous group, exhorting each other to higher and higher feats of bravery and fury in service to the chapter master.

The 3 mounted knights link up with the Attolian cavalry
Canoness Isabella joins the Constables and rallies them to new heights of bravery and loyalty as befits her students! (1 Influence spent)
 
Beckoncall Beckoncall
(Even less story because numbers are important)

With the main forces mostly accounted for and the survivors brought to safety, Breeze felt it was best to send some forces to join the task force being organized by the Fennec. They could scout out the enemy position if nothing else, but a well timed shot might bring down that festering Witch if everything went well. Milkweed was still preoccupied with scouting out any additional forces inside the colony's borders, and Coalback had the defense in case the mud elves managed to flee the battlefield and make for the colony proper.

Breeze pensed to Nateema as best he could that once the Mud Elf charge happened, she should start sending the smoke towards the river to give the river scouts some cover while they transited.

Ratkin Forces in Main Battle:

Defense:
Coalback
Dirty Paws: 03
Bucks/Does: 14
Pups: 19
​
Offense (Ranged Attacks from Cover):
Nateema
Breeze
Dirty Paws: 05
Bucks/Does: 25
​
Healer's Guild:
Clean Paws: 16
Bucks/Does: 05
Pups: 35
​
Ratkin Forces joining Stealth Operation (Across River):
Needle
Dirty Paws: 06
​
Milkweed's Scouting Party (Inside Colony):
Milkweed
Dirty Paws: 05​
 
Everyone Everyone :

IDEA AT MAKING THE GAME RUN SO MUCH BETTER!

I am seeking a volunteer to create a google document -- where people POST their force assignments -- So instead of combing 5-7 posts to aggregate total force contributions, I can make it one stop shopping -- update of guilds will take a backseat until the fight(s) are over and I already anticipate a bunch of hunting and pecking to get all that good information provided in good faith.

Google docs will let everyone see what others are supplying, and best of all, make the PREP for posting an exciting event less of a chore, which will be better for all.

So my request is this: CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A GOOGLE DOC FOR THE RP -- and propagate knowledge of it. I will do this present fight and the guild contributions manually (though if the volunteer scraped for guild info (some of it I got in PM so they won't find it all) to start the doc it would CATAPULT us forward.

Anybody out there willing to do a little help for the greater good? Labor day weekend has been hectic for me -- but I am back on the beat! Expect progress!
 
Beckoncall Beckoncall Prince Vaethorion Prince Vaethorion Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon KamiKahzy KamiKahzy General Deth Glitch General Deth Glitch

Official Stealth Mission Plan

Primary Mission Objective: The assassination of High Valued Mud Elf targets. Primary target is the Witch (to be killed) with secondary target's being Tribal Leaders and elite fighters.
Secondary Mission Objective: To secure the Reinen ruins and the survivors among them.
Tertiary Objective: Killing of advancing or fleeing Mud Elves.
Team Leaders: Highborn Spy Master, 6 Skilled Finecian Thugs
Members: 6 Skilled Finecian Thugs, 6 Hitmen, 5 Tyren-born, 1 Highborn Spy Master, 15 Highborn Countrymen, Needle (Ratkin Sniper), 6 Dirty Paws, 3 Deep Rangers.

Basic Mission Details: Force will infiltrate the Reinen ruins using the smoke as cover and the attention garnered by the Illusion as the Mud Elf Forces move out to engage the Illusion (and our main forces), taking up positions within the Ruins unseen by our enemy. Once inside they will secure any survivors and then lye in wait for Mud Elf Support Forces to advance onto our side of the river or retreating/advancing forces to enter the town and then ambush them and carry out Primary and Tertiary Objectives.

MISSION PLAN DETAILS:
1. After the main Mud Elf force leaves the Reinen ruins to engage the illusion/allied forces and as the smoke blocks the view of Mud Elf Supporting Forces, the Stealth Team will sneak into the Reinen ruins as discretely as possible, going around and entering from the east to avoid detection. It is paramount that enemy forces do not see the team enter the ruins. The Ratkin KamiKahzy KamiKahzy are asked to use smoke to obstruct main armies view if possible. Dwarven Smoke bombs and maintain a low profile will be used to achieve this as well as timing.

2. Once inside, team will remain on high alert, taking out any Mud Elves remaining inside the ruins silently and disposing of the bodies.

3. Any Reinen Survivors will be secured, although extraction will not occur to avoid risk of compromising agents location.

4. The Team is to set up hiding positions within the ruins, keeping watch on the Mud Elf Support Forces to see if they advance and the Mud Elf Main Force to see if they retreat.
5. If the Mud Elf Support Forces cross the river, Team will remain hidden until the Mud Elf Forces enter or pass near the ruins and then ambush them, using surprise, the smoke, flash bangs, Foxtails (from the Finecians) to surprise, disorientate and panic the Mud Elves and then commencing with the Primary Objective and targeting the Witch and Tribal Leaders. Attacks will be carried out via crossbows and bows from hidden cover, and/or direct melee engagement (surprise attacks from cover) if Mud Elf forces are within the ruins.

6. Once Primary Objective is complete, team leaders will be left to decide either to engage Mud Elf Forces further in a prolonged combat (if applicable), continue securing the survivors (extracting them if possible) or retreat to safety of main lines. This is up to the discretion of team leaders, although protecting Reinen survivors is deemed important, but not more so than the lives of the team.




 
Prince Vaethorion Prince Vaethorion Heyitsjiwon Heyitsjiwon KamiKahzy KamiKahzy General Deth Glitch General Deth Glitch Enemy Standoo Enemy Standoo SpiralErrant SpiralErrant Beckoncall Beckoncall

A few Finecians go around to the different lines carrying vats of a suspicious purple goo they call "SKrape". It seems to hiss when placed on a blade and the droplets smoke puff up as smoke when they hit the ground. They urge soldiers to dip their weapons/arrows in the stuff to "ensure every scrape is deadly". The amount of screaming coming from those hit with Skraped Finecian arrows gives testament to its effectiveness. Those who decline having their weapons scrapped may find some of the stuff being splashed on anyways.
 
I wanted to write something so I did

Arrows flew from the southern line, their tips glittering purple even in the dim moonlight. As they soared high, arcing over the burning walls of the Reinen settlement, small purple droplets fell to the ground. Upon landing, they would vaporize instantly into a small wisp of smoke like water splashed onto a hot stove top. Only only a small purplish burn mark was left as sign of its landing. The skraped bolts would disappear behind the smoke that billowed from the ruins, the only indication of success was the soul piercing, pitiful wail of those hit. It wasn’t a normal scream of pain, but that of utter mortal agony. Having your shoulder pierced was painful, and getting gutted mortal. The pain and rapidly approaching mortality was more than enough to elicit cries from those fated to death. But being skraped… was a fate far, far worse.

Even the tiniest of cuts was enough, a single droplet could reduce even the toughest of men to writhing, crying children. Once it got into your bloodstream, it was already over. It was like an acid, eating away at everything it touched, skin, flesh, muscle, bone. The area hit would rapidly begin to turn a rotting purple and black, spreading across their skin as the poison traveled through their bloodstream, slowly eating away at the flesh around it as it did. Internal bleeding would turn their skin black and blue, purple dots emerging as the poison ate through and began to trickle out of their pores. Once it hit their heart however… the real fun began. Their heart would rapidly begin working against them, pumping the venom into their every extremity, burning them from the inside out. The acid of course would eventually eat away at enough to stop their heart, ending their suffering after about half an hour. But even after death the poison would keep on chewing. If there was enough inside of them the corpse would be nothing more than a bloated sack of purple tinted blood and melted flesh. Needless to say there was no cure.

It was no traditional poison by any means, rather a semi-industrial waste product that resulted from the growing of slime. It was quite literally scraped (hence its name) from the walls after the illicit drug was harvested, handled with the utmost care and stored in small vials for “later use”. The purple, slimy and smoky substance was one of the calling cards of the Finecian crime lords. Easily spotted on a blade or arrowhead by its purple gleam, it left a trail of destruction wherever it went. Small, purple burns marks on everything it touched, especially bodies. The substance was used whenever assassins wanted to ensure a kill, usually reserved for the most elite of targets due to the attention it brought. But today it was brought out in full force for the good of the colony (rather than against it for once). Metal barrels of the stuff were rolled to the front lines, enough actually to skrape the weapons of all in attendance. It probably raised red flags among the colonials about just how much of the stuff the Finecians had...

Such a deadly substance would be handled in the most serious, grim manner by most factions. It’s use something they wouldn’t take lightly. The humanity of the poison’s effects would make it rarely used if ever, seen as far too brutal for even warfare. Of course, the Finecians were not most factions… and therefore their use of it was, well, far more “liberal”...

About forty of the annoying fox people were spread out across the grassy fields to the south of the ruined settlement, the tall trees and the black orb that guarded their inhabitants in the distance behind them. They lay in small clumped groups, self divided among social cliches rather than in some sort of organized battle line.

Mr. Mallowthew, who headed the forces sat in the back with a few “officers”, skilled workers he had randomly deferred to to discuss his battle plans, leaving his soldiers mainly unattended save for when he would occasionally look up from his deliberations to yell an order no one really followed. He had set up empty barrel of Skrape as a table which he and his unwilling compatriots gathered around, stacks of paper and maps sprawled across its dull metal surface as Mallowthew went through every possible scenario and how they could react to it. Needless to say his “Officers” were eyeing their blades longfully.

Towards the front of the “line” (If one would call it that) sat two Finecians, cream colored thugs by the name of “Baron Jonreir” and Jahrein. Jahrein laid back lazily in the tall grass, his hands behind his head, feet kicked out in front of him, his crossbow laying beside him, Skrape dripping from the bolt head. He was taking a nap, or trying to.

Jonreir on the other hand had his scimitar/steak knife readied at his side as he stood on his tippy toes to peer over the tall reeds.

“The Enemy cowers in fear within their walls before Baron Jonreir’s great army of loyal peons!” He cried out, jumping to get a better look at the burning settlement. Still not able to make out anything he prodded his friend from his slumber.

“You, peasant! Crouch on the ground so I can get on your shoulder and get a better view!” He commanded.

“Wha-” Jahrein sighed, rubbing his eyes lazily as he sat up partially. “Oh for fox sake, stop with the act Jonreir”. And with that, he returned to his nap.

On the other side of the gathering, as it was more aptly described, was a group of three, Whisk, Daunty and a round white object who called himself Muncher. Whisk was busy hiding in a small hole he had dug amidst the weeds, popping out every half a second to make sure no mud elves were sneaking up on them. Muncher sat just beyond the entrance snacking on a rabbit carcass he had found and Daunty was muttering to himself about how stupid it was wasting their time firing blindly into the smoke as he reloaded his crossbow, swearing about his lack of gloves. If he cut himself and get skraped he was gonna take Mallowthew down with him, or so he said.

Other Finecians were more active, launching small barrages of arrows into the settlement. Whenever they hit one, as evident by the scream that broke the relative silence, they would erupt in cheers and laughter, bouncing about excitedly.

“That's 10 points for Glomper!” One would say. “Bonus points if you can hit ‘em again without killing it!”. They called the game “Hit the screamer”. They would see how many times they could hit a skraped Mud Elf before killing it. First to hit one got 10 points, subsequent successors earned 5 points but silencing it cost you 5 points. So far the record was four.

The arrival of the Highborn and Victorians would do little to change their behavior, save that they would position themselves strategically behind their allies…

The blatant disregard and enjoyment of the affair probably didn’t help their reputation and garner trust amongst their allies. At least they could be happy the Fennecs were on their side, for once.
 
The Battle is Joined:







The dwarves had taken the field first, but now it seemed everyone was in attendance. With the Attolians and Firebeards formed in a wall on the west, The constables and halbardiers (which had become so similarly equipped as to almost become indistinguishable) were joined by Baez and another score or two exiles -- They fell in line with similar equipment, some of the surplus halberds from the blacksmiths guild, long shark-pikes and cruelly barbed fishing spears found their place in the bristling thicket of polearms.



The Force set to receive the enemy was hideously formidable, a low rank of dwarven Shield-wall with their elites in centered, Directly behind them the even more solid and almost blinding sheen of the elven spearmen's grand mithril shields. Behind this double rank of shields lay a third and fourth rank of polearms -- The attolians, their constables, and Baez's rabble falling into position for yet a THIRD rank of spears utilizing a grade in the terrain to stand over the heads of those ahead of them. The Highborn set their spears against the ground at an upward angle, further strengthening the wall -- and with a barrier so solid behind them and only the most dependable dwarven support to either side of them, they knew they would fight in but a single direction.



Behind this Bristling thicket, A score of highborn archers -- they keyed in on where the falcons circled, and fired in high arcs so that their fire would fall directly under where the enemy was telegraphed. Random but heavy fire rained down from the north and south, be it fennec, or hillfolk, or even the assorted missiles of the Tyren's mercenaries.





Departing from the center line, One of the scarred noticed on the north flank the Tyren and trolls were getting ready to move. He barked for the Croc-men to shift from the main line to the group most likely to charge -- Orm and his relatively small host were almost ALIGHT with their spoiling for the fight.



To the south, The knights broke into their units of devout, and the highborn, seeing what was in store, sprinkled themselves at the gaps of the groups.



"FULL AREA DENIAL!" The highborn tactician hissed. Her silver eyes and hair were tossed to the side in a gesture of contempt as the swordsmasters hefted their blades. Elien stood shoulder to shoulder with her at the center of their "line" if you could call it that -- it looked more like four or five parties of adventurers ad-hoc and loose -- but this was an intentional deception -- each group had a zone of control, and if a devout in one group swung wide on the most extreme side, his blade could almost touch the tip of a similar swing on the other side. The "holes" in the line were killzones... abbatoirs of men and devils... and the Highborn stood in the teeth of them in hopes to make the slaughter even worse. The tactician turned to Elien and spoke --



"I am Ama handasse Marenven -- may the fools who march to us be ushered into any other world but here. I do not know how you humans say it in your course vernacular -- but when I look to our troops, I see, how you say, an ass-kicking machine."



Elien did not reply, but instead spun her greatsword in her grip -- it was so light, so balanced... she wondered if she could cut a cloth with it along it's own plane... She gave a simple nod to the tactician. Overhead flew the stinging missiles of the fennec and more still yet of the ratkin.



The Northern line as well was abuzz -- The leader of the mercenary block addressed his men:



"Nobody's gonna die today on this front, lads, so stop looking so excited -- put away your Tals, men -- our job is to protect sustained missile fire on this front and keep anything smaller than a minotaur from breaking ranks on this side of the fight -- that means we rally the fearful, and we reign the suicidal. This day we slam shut the gates of hell, and if any charge us, we turn the key on them. ALL WHO HEAR ME!! THE FAITH OF THE RICH HOLD THIS LINE! Give fire, but DO NOT think to pass us!"



Somewhere atop the lodges, a fennec was booing, then was castigated and slapped by his companion. From the high ground of the lodges more missiles poured.



Cassandra Scried the battlefield and spoke to Caelis briefly before he took his position with the other riders. "Something has gone horribly wrong with their plan -- they brought those buzz-bombs -- but the smoke has rendered them inert. Still, I sense no fear from them -- even as some of them die. They have already tasted blood... they will not be sated so easily."



Caelis rode to the side of the main line and formed up with the five other riders -- with him at the point, they organized in a piercing "V" formation pointed at the smoke. The Victorians ritually checked their straps and weapons and a great calm fell over the riders. "With the Aymarans moving to the Tyren -- our place will likely be to amplify the devastation of their charge, or sow enough of our own carnage to shake them free of whatever might bind before them.



It was then that the Fennec Illusionist and assassin, Andrei -- Sowed his Phantasms... that the battle was already joined... that it was lost at once if the enemy did not charge the center line... and once the forms of mist and glitter solidified into a dance of colonist and mud-elf -- Nateema used her talents to peel away the smoke over the battlefield like a bandage -- concentrating it, tripling it, in an impenetrable fog on the other side of the river. It was THEN as the smoke recoiled, that the covert team, as far east as they dared hide in the high brush, popped their own smokebombs and covered their own insertion into the ruins. Searching for survivors there was already blood and gore everywhere. Nothing moved. The team took positions in burnt-out houses and prepared for the next phase of their operation – only the most sure and surreptitous shots were taken. They had already begun to scan the smoke over the riverbed for command personnel as the black soot and fumes finally left the field and not before time too, as the last of the covert operators took cover..



What was revealed was Mudelves Huddled in a "Turtle-formation" (with all shields up and facing out, less than 125 of the mud elves remained alive, their shields heavy with missiles -- decked in bone armor -- only the best of them yet lived-- many of them struck several times already. Their situational awareness was dismal as they charged forward, many of them dropping their shields as cumbersome weighed with hatchets, javelins, and oh so many arrows.



Orm was already charging -- the trolls tried to keep up, but not even his warriors, not even Bruul, could match the speed of his charge. He saw nothing but a flurry of movement, and RED... so much RED... his eyes burned and felt swollen in his skull, his horns swung with his gait as the hooves of the Tyren kicked up grass and dirt alike -- destroying the land beneath them in a promise of what was to come of anything that stood in their way.



"FRAAAAAAGGGHHHHSTING!!!!!" Screamed the Aymarans -- capable of short but swift bursts of speed, they started their charge late, but quickly turned the Tyren and Troll boulder-roll into a TRUE AVALANCHE -- Moments before impact the shaking of the ground literally felled a building on the verge of collapse within the village. They were a storm of death -- and Orm was at it's head -- seeing the movement -- finding the middle... hit it... break it... THE RED RAGE HAD HIM NOW... It spread like embers on pitch turning each Tyren into a Terrifying engine of destruction. The Trolls, with little to hold onto, lost their minds completely and ran on all fours to get into grips with the oblivious enemy that charged the center line.





The Mud-elves had their secret weapon -- the "buzz bombs" -- clay spheres filled with poisonous insects -- but the smoke had put them in a stupor. The hugest among the mud elves, seeing their doom bearing down upon them even as they ran headlong into their trap -- heaved the weapons of questionable efficacy nonetheless and the charging wall of scale, horns, and muscle...



...And in a spinning windmill of a blow -- Bruul unleashed a chambered punch that DETONATED like an airburst above the enemy hurlers -- At ground zero of his strike a mud-elf literally crumpled flat, his legs breaking in a dozen places in his useless masses race to find the solid ground, then crushed under his own buzz-bomb. the rest of the clay vessels shattered in air or dropped like stones amid their own charging ranks... most of the insects pouring out inert like sand, but the few that remained active unleashed their wholly misplaced viciousness on their own wielders -- Bruul could have laughed if it would not have winded him in his charge. They were half way to them and already what most decent fighters they had, had essentially killed themselves at his behest.



"All of this momentum will move the enemy! Brace for approach and impact!" Elien almost sung over her assembly.



What she did not know was that the diverted and pushed forces moving south to meet them sprung the full force of the covert teams as they happened upon them en-masse. Many ran by the houses – which signalled to the team that their services would indeed be engaged. A mob of mudelves were backstabbed, sniped, and pulled kicking into the buildings – murdered one and all. The second wave stormed the windows of the structures where the covert teams had sprung – and violent house to house fighting ensued in the ruins. So fast and so violent was the fighting that troops in the main formation were not aware it was taking place. The sound of flashbangs and more hissing smoke was lost on them in the screams and crashes of battle. Apparently significant reinforcements were crossing the river – and while the covert operation could not stop them all from encircling the Tyren and Aymarans – the took more than their share of pressure off of the charging line – much more. The fennec merely crouched and could see everything beneath the smoke in the thin layer of air that lingered at the ground. Many a countryman engaged in life or death struggle saw their foes suddenly crumple to a hamstring… or a soft pounce and a swiftly placed curchief stifled the cries that could only come from a mortal wound… and plenty of SKRAPE.



This was but a fleeting dream of smoke and flashing knives and axes however, as the real battle came underway...



The full force of the Mud-elf charge hit the west shield wall, but not before the entire front rank were thrown back upon their brethren by a single concentrated volley of highborn double-fire. The mudelves did not slow however, trampling their own as The barrier Visibly SHOOK with the might of the furious savages pressing against it -- from behind the shields the breaking of bones and the grunting of wounded dwarfs and elves vanished on a wind of noise -- followed by the sound of more than half a hundred polearms striking the wet bags of flesh that crashed against them. The sound of pouring blood widened the eyes of many a non veteran fighter. The back ranks of spears pulled enemies into the air letting them fall lose, with the highborn's superior vision turning the slits between their shield into a wide world of targets -- vulnerable places -- mouths, abdomens, eyes Every Halbard came up bloody, throwing a rain of ichor over the entire formation. Fear might have captured the hearts of some in the line, but between the stirring song of the sirens and the Shouting Litanies of encouragement for Canonate Isabella, none faltered. All stood firm.



It was then the Ballistas hit -- propped up on piston-risen platforms hastily supplied by Attolian craftsmen, they nearly shaved the top of the front line and cut GROOVES in the enemy formation before slamming into the ground.



THEN the Tyren and the Aymaran hit like a tidal wave of hate. Orm did not process what was happening around him until he brushed a DISEMBOWELED MUDELF from over his eyes. The foe who first stood before him lay 15 feet behind him, a greasy stain like a beavers tail. His first swing with his axe felled eight mudelves, armored or not, and as he raised his weapon over his head to exhort his compatriots, lesser but nonetheless terrifying traumas were being struck all along the line. The Aymarans were instantly driven mad with the smell of blood and the scarred herded them further to the east where they would be in less danger of trying to eat the minotaurs. The trolls clawed to catch up, pulling mudelves limb from limb in their hurry to the center of the formation.



It began to rain limbs and heads on the south flank. Whole bodies at the first impact sailed impossible distances to land amid the fennec taking cover behind the devout. The carnage was incredible.



Undeterred despite an apparent loss of half their number, the mudelves began to CLIMB THE SPEARS and the hoisted dead, and the shields of their enemies to get into grips. As they did so --



FIFTY KOBOLDS LEAPED OVER THE ENTIRE WALL FORMATION INTO THE FRONT OF THE SCALING ENEMY. Cleavers, daggers, and jaws flashed as it rained kobold for but a moment, a miniature battle taking place among the thicket of spears -- the dwarves, low to the ground, severed legs and gutted enemies attempting to get over them brutally, but they parted their shields for the kobolds to fall back from their assault -- knowing they would not last long at the front of the battle. Not a single kobold did not clear the formation going in, and it seemed like almost all of them had made it out.



Cassandra's eyes BLED as she continued scrying.... this was no battlefield... it was an altar of sacrifice -- this blood fell upon the stored and banked blood of the mudelves that died in the first battle not so long ago-- something immense was taking shape.. and it did not matter if the majority of the blood soaking into the earth was mudelf... it did not matter at all from whence the blood flowed.



The first "foes" to hit the south flank were literally persons turned into missiles in their own right at the fury of the Aymaran and Tyren charge. Massive maces, clubs, And bull-iron Struck the ground raining dirt everywhere as if the entire battlefield was being artillerized. Bruul literally kicked an enemy champion APART and before Orm could lower his weapon from exhortation, he saw another face amid his red haze and he crushed it with his off hand. Still holding his victims neck, he threw it skyward and batted it almost one hundred feet away. The second wave to hit the south line were literally looking behind themselves for where all their brethren had went as they were casually slaughtered. More than half this force was wandering the destroyed ruins of the Reinen Village getting murdered, or stuffing the houses they met resistance with throngs of flashbang-disoriented warriors. At one point Two Dwarven Rangers screwed a beer-barrell filled with cotton and feathers over a blunderbuss and happily loosed it into a charging team of mudelf champions expressly gathered to root them out. The shot was relatively silent – the laughter of the rangers? Not even close.



Then, The despite the work of the insurgents, the Tyren and allies were finally surrounded – too many reinforcements swept over the river. Blows came from everywhere. The trolls seemed not to notice, but the Tyren paid their pound of flesh. The Aymarans -- if any were dead -- certainly hadn't noticed it yet -- even those with grevious strikes and steaming wounds continued to bite and lash with their tails.



As said, the first enemies on the southern line were actually missiles -- flying corpses and pieces of the foe. but after that, the disoriented vanguard of those slain by the embedded insurgents. Then, Finally, came panicked and desperate warriors -- looking for a hole, any way off of the field. They Chattered to each other -- likely something to the effect of breaking the lightness of the south line, while the majority of their forces died behind them.



They could not have made a worse mistake.



"FOR SAINT VICTORIA!!!! FOR LIGHT AND VICTORY!!!" The knights shouted. They would hold their zones of control. The breakout force was literally BLENDED by an almost lazily waiting storm of blades until the devout fell back by reflex at the ground being too slick with blood. Those that survived the charge against the Swordmasters and Victorians gaped stupidly until they were slain where they stood by ratkin and fennec missile-fire. Stupified by the carnage, drunk on their own blood -- Breeze swore she saw some of them looking at their mortal wounds and taking their last moments to relish their own death. Something wasn't right.



The vacillating points of the western line continued to probe and sting nearly blind at the thick of their enemy, needing little help to find it.



There were more mudelves -- hidden amoung the buildings or come out of the smoke in the chaos -- they had the Tyren and Aymaran Charge well surrounded. Bowfire from the north fell into the envelopment but it was not enough. Aymaran Fell, Tyren began to falter under the weight of pouncing mudfolk gone mad on blood -- a feeling Orm readily reciprocated. To Orm's left, Horgut fell upon his back, and Orm in a swipe COMBED all the foes off of him... bleeding from a dozen wounds Orm turned his weapon in his hand and grabbing the handle, Horgut pulled himself back to his feet. Blood ran from his nose and one of his ears... it looked like he was going to lose his rage -- the fire that sustained him... Orm shook his head. They were AWASH with foes. They were ONLY GETTING STARTED.



The ruins were rapidly filling with mud-elves… so much so the covert operation knew they would be overwhelmed. Ratkin pensed to one another and quickly found all their cells by scent to signal the extraction. No survivors found – attack the command – it was now or never. Still they could not find everyone in the smoke.. or that is what they had to tell themselves… how many had fallen whilst they were so outnumbered… it looked like most of them were moving out, a few breaking south with casualties.



Even as mudelves crossed the river agiley jumping from canoe to canoe – the dwarf rangers and Ratkin Dirty paws made more smoke. As They crossed, many died – dwarves smashed heads together leaving victims contented to drown. The spymaster PENSED to the ratkin and brought needle and the rest of them into formation. Designating their own bridge of boats the forces quickly skirted across them killing whomever came close – the rangers, last in line, bounced from boat to boat – but dwarven footing is legendary – not a misstep – they left their own smoke and entered the smoke that had since the start of the battle choked their enemy. The command group seemed to be in some sort of trance, something that shielded them from the smoke and enabled them to observe the forefront of the battle from above.



They were Butchered. Armored champions to sniveling witches-attendents, choked on hellsnuff and festooned with blades dripping with skrape, the spymaster coordinated the rangers bombing of the area, then they set to butchering all who still stood, or even lay but moving… but the witch was not in attendence.



Caelis saw the turbulence in the smoke and took it as a cue. He slammed his visor down and gestured to Lord wolf and the rest of the knights in attendance. "TAKE BACK THE NORTH REAR! SHAVE AND TRAMPLE!!!! GIVE THE THE SHOCK-TROOPS SOMEWHERE TO FIND FOOTING!" He was already charging... time seemed to slow... they rode past the cross section of the shield wall, grimaces, blood, fury, a diorama of war as they rode past their forces, and upon breaking into the enemy line... a diorama of hell. The Laughter of slaughtering dwarves for an instant grew louder than all other noises as the Cavalry charge did exactly as intended.... the scattered forced that had wrapped around the enemy? They were cut down like wheat before the scythe -- for an instant Caelis wondered what was he to do now that five mudelves lay skewered on his lance -- could he even see beyond them -- when he realized the strange points at the midpoint of the lance -- which elegantly quartered his victims to fall away like so many slices of bread. There were not enough mudelves north of the Tyren/Aymaran charging line to even slow them down. They rose almost all the way up to the river -- to the edge of the wall of smoke -- where just barely in the inky blackness he could see the utterly defiled and rended corpses of the entire command group -- backing out of the cloud onto the riverbank -- was the Witch -- apparently pleading for her life. Was the ambush successful? If so, why did the witch still live? She seemed to be looking high above the tree-line imploringly – she was not pleading with the insurgents… She had escaped her fate in the chaos and savaery of fennec, countryman, elf and dwarf alike… but her failure was supreme. The stealth forces were suddenly siezed with a chill and terror as they saw their primary target begging for her life upstream… a low gutteral voice seemed to emanate from the whole of this side of the wood. “JOIN YOUR SISTERS IN SACRIFICE, HARLOT. IT IS CLEAR THAT I MUST ATTEND HERE, AND I WANT YOUR POWER.”



The covert team fled like mad downriver, stole some canoes that had drifted downstream, and reunited with the southern line… suddenly to the devout it started to make sense why so little of the battle had come their way.



Breeze saw the standard-bearer for the mudelves on her side of the battlefield. Bracing their crossbow hard against their shoulder -- loosing a missile that struck the flagman in the head and -- wrenching it from it's shoulders, broke the flag-staff with it. The bloody rag fell into the dust of dirt and the mist of blood.



Caelis Wheeled his formation 'round and headed back for the Attolian lines. Cassandra was calling to him, silently -- through the din and into his mind alone. "Fall back your riders!" her voice implored.



For one moment -- besides the slurrying noises of feasting Aymarans, the field was calm. Enemy losses were total. Two Minotaurs lay unmoving on the battlefield... Some Aymaran lay dead, which was telling of their wounds for one was witnessed swallowing a corpse whole only to see it slide immediately out of a massive slit in it's belly. As if just noticing the wound, the Reptile barked once and died.



Extraction pups were already running up and down the line pulling away the wounded and administering support amid the attolian and highborn-- over 15 had to be taken off of the line, 2 dwarves had to be REBUKED to leave the battle line to tend their wounds. on the south flank, the elite cadre merely wiped their blades. Nothing but the sounds of crying mudelves, which came from everywhere. Skrape. Skrape was not generous with it's timetable.



"RECOVERY!" Shouted the mercenary captain -- who charged his unit forward, pulling the wounded Tyren into the center. HAUL THESE MEN... THESE PEOPLE OFF THE FIELD! RETAIN THE NORTH LINE!" And with great labor and difficulty, they did so, and in formation.



The Ballistas were loaded again... although all that could be seen besides the fallen and the slaughtered was the Witch-commander -- who by now had backed her way pleadingly to the waters edge.



THEN... THE ENTIRE FOREST FACING THEM ACROSS THE RIVER--



--THE ENTIRE "Vale of purity" fell in one violent gesture.. LEVELED COMPLETELY. Some trees sailed over the battlefield... several smashed against the shield walls -- one landed in the ranks of archers and support troops behind. The Flattened woods SMASHED the war canoes and buried them -- damming the river instantly in a heartbeat. The witch was crushed utterly under the falling wave of flying wood... now a bridge of woodland rubble spread as if a carpet to welcome what had wrought this devastation.



The Fennec and Ratkin did not wait to see what was coming -- nor did the highborn -- missiles rained into the void in the tree-line -- as hundreds of more warriors began to leave the woods on either side of the uprooted alley -- and behind them, ABOVE THEM... stood a massive giant of a form in the slowly clearing smoke..



It was the HORNED ONE.
 
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The highborn and more acute eyed races began to see the shape of the horned one in the mist and descending night. It looked like a wild man, 15 feet tall, somewhat stooped, with an additional 5 feet of blood-red horn rising above it like a crown. Its face-- if it could be called that, looked more like that if a leech-- from pointed ear to pointed ear, lay a circular maw that dominated all of the front of his head, with at least 20 rows of teeth of various different animals, rings on canines, crushing molars, bladed shark-like affairs, rat like piercing rings all the way down its seemingly almost floppy boneless neck. In on hand it held some kind of golden torc, in the other a great bear-paw, with the underside seeming to have the palm of a human hand, centered with the mouth of a dog who's gullet ran into and down his arm.

It had two bellies, one distended as if starving and another stuffed and bulging full, making its muscular torso hideous to behold. It had no eyes to speak of... and it's groin, legs, and neck were thick with wild fur or human hair. At each hip was a belt of giant skulls, some which glowed and others smoked... talismans of some Kind, or weapons. It and its forces approached slowly, as if daring an offensive or giving horror a chance to spread. Between each row of teeth, a hideous tounge seemed to run the circumstances of each row of teeth, and the bottom of its mouth flowed hanging and swinging rivulets of blood-mixed spit....
 
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