(1868-06-25) Siege of Elder's Eye pt II
Siege of Elder's Eye pt II
Summary: Having discovered the path to the waterway the group assembles a strike force to sneak into the fortress and open the gates to allow the forces of the Arrani Legion to capture the fortress. On the way, they discover the River Spirit of Grand Mother Fellum, and her companion Trolly.
Date: 06/25/1868
Related: Westwar, d'Kemp Campaign
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Bertram  Dario  Myrana  Saren  Tavi  Zayne  Fellum  

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Fortress of Elder's Eye
The Waterway, and the Fortress.
06/25/1868

The Legion's plan has been set in motion, and cannon fire, ballista bolts, both normal and carrobalista, and trebuchets have been firing nearly nonstop at the fortress. It would remind those gathered of the bombardment that precluded the assault on the Wall so many months earlier. Men move forward under the protection of mobile cover to fire crossbows and longbows at the defenders, while men from the fortress rain projectiles of their own. The fortress' own impressive artillery lets loose on the attackers. All the cannon fire, long cannon fire, and explosions have created a near perminent blue fog of powder smoke that clings to the ground. At night, the sky flashes and thunder roars.

A small group has been gathered by the Blue Cavalier Tavi Deverout with the intent of moving to where they believe the old waterway is. Assembled by the Cavalier are four other Cavaliers, five Thornesmen, and twelve hard looking men from the Argent Legion who according to Tavi have had: Checkered Pasts and as requested know how to find their way out of places if caught. Tavi leans casually against a rock where he has brought this mottly crew and cleans his fingernails with a dagger and looks at the assembled nobles with that mischievous grin of his.

He tilts his hat just slightly and says evenly. "We found it." He lets that sink in a little. "The army has been pounding the shit outa those bastards at the Eye, and in about an hour they will be assaulting the walls to buy us the time to sneak in." He grins. "We've got two missions. The first, open the outer and inner gate at the same time. The Legion's cavalry will stream in at that point supported by the Relient's who will secure the gate houses. The second is to caprure the Baron Arthur d'Kemp. Or if he resists kill the fucker, but, her excellency - " He gestures to Myrana, "Baroness Armaz here has requested we try to take him alive. So. Easy on the trigger boys." He winks.

He looks to Zayne. "Zayne. You, me, and my Cavalier buddies are going to secure the inner gate house and open the gate. My Lady Armaz, you're leading the group that is opening the outer gate. We'll open the gate once the Lady Myrana uses the signal tower there to flash three times. It's a simple shutter system as is pretty common in the North, I'm guessing given whom her husband is she can figure out how to use the shutter system. She figured out how to use him after all." He eye rbow waggles." "If anybody has a better idea, now is the time. Becuase once we go down in the waterway it is go time."

"When you give me the signal, Tavi, I'll get them to blow the charges in the other tunnels." Says Sir Bertram of Harcourt, engineer of the Black Bears and knight of Viscount Adriono d'Armaz. He's clad in the same dark coloured suit of brigandine as he always wears, only with a black cloth cover over his metal helm and grease painted on his face to subdue it. He's got his small round shield strapped to one arm and a broadsword in the other, and is grinning. He loves the tunnels - or at least, he understands them. "I'll lead us with the Thornesmen."

Myrana's blue eyes have been nearly teal in the flashes of eerie thunder rippling through the literal cloud of war; in the acrid, choking powder, there seems to always be a faint perfume of rainclouds and ozone lingering around her, like the wind that sweeps through the trees before a thunderstorm. Combined with the musky perfume of dogrose and vetiver she wears it is a wild and alluring fragrance, like burning rose gardens. And to say that she's been tense is an understatement throughout the entirety of the barrage; her eyes flash with every bolt of lightning that drops down, and she seems to be controlling herself as carefully as she can under the pretense of languid indolence; she laces the tips of her fingers together as Tavi debriefs them, nodding only once at his humorous assessment.

"If its like the ones at the docks of Four Corners, I can do this," she says.

Zayne stands dressed in his normal grey brigadine armor, his giant blade strapped within easy reach. He looks eager even though he does frown as Tavi says they should try and take the Baron alive. He looks to Myrana. "If he attacks me I request permission to bring you his head instead. I really want to slice that guy up…" He grins wickedly and nods to Tavi. "It sounds like we have a solid plan then. I have no questions. Just point me at the people who need killing and I'll get my part of the job done." The leader of the Black Bears looks positively gleeful at the prospect of going into battle again.

However in the background there is another, one who is far less gleeful. Saren Augustus stands with an expression of unreadable stone, his lips moving in a silently given prayer.

Dario's expression is grim as he stands near Myrana. "I will be going with you sister. At the very least I can offer them a bigger target to attack." He says quietly and then nods in agreement to Tavi. "Let us begin as soon as everyone is ready then. I pray we succeed in this." He doesn't look conviced that the One is listening to those prayers of his though.

Tavi nodsto those there and then moves to the hole in the ground to drop in. There is a splash that follows his dropping into that tunnel. The tunnel is dark and is lit by a strange bluish light emenating from fungus on the ceiling. The water moves swiftly, but not so swiftly that one can't stand or move. It is just above the knees, and the waterway is is wide enough for six people aabreast. Tavi looks to bertram once he makes it downa nd smiles. " This might be the first time you've worked AND had a bath!" He claps the man on the shoulder, "A good day for all of us!"

Myrana blinks, and then smiles a little distractedly, but still warmly at her brother. "Alright, Dario." She's not heavily armored, as she usually is. That brigadine has been buried somewhere and never spoken of again. So, clad in a leather coat for her armor over her black riding habit, she gets someone to help her down into the hole and drops the last few feet with a splash, giving an immediate and startled "BURR!" as the water goes up her thighs unexpectedly. "Damnit Tavi!! I thought you said it was knee deep!"

Tavi says, "It is! For my knees! What we're not all the same height?"

Zayne jumps down after Myrana and grins at her. "Its not even knee deep on me…" The water is indeed below his knees, apparently being insanely tall has its advantages. "Its not so bad Tiny Boss. I can carry you though if you wish?" He smirks and arches a brow waiting for Myrana's response with a look of amusement.

Bertram raises his hand to the two Black Bears from the engineer troop outside and then chops downward before jumping into the water. His boots are only ankle high but he doesn't seem to mind getting a bit wet. The two engineers outside run off. Only a few minutes now until the explosion in the walls masks them here. Sir Bertram purses his lips at Tavi. "I killed more people for Aequor at Fiorello than you've done in your entire life, ya fuckin' lout." This is followed by a wink and the hint of a smirk. "Alright then. Keep your voices down. They carry down here, and carry long." Bert gestures to two of the lightly harnessed Thornesmen and takes off in the lead with them.

Dario is still above ground, eyeing the hole warily. "The last time I tried something similiar to this…I got stuck." He considers a moment anf frowns. "The things I do for you sister…"

And he too begins to climb down into the waterway.

"It smells like rats," Myra mutters, and gives Zayne an evil look, eyes momentarily glowing in the half light before some torches are lit and she wades in with her skirts weighing at her legs and her white braid dragging its end in the water. Its gotten long in the course of the war, and it reaches the backs of her knees when braided. Much to her dismay in this particular scenario. "If you're carrying me, you're not making sure I don't get swarmed by rats," she says, stoically and in a quieter voice, a little guilty at Bertram's reminder. She waits for Dario to get down into the cold water to make sure he's alright, and then promptly siezes his hand without a single trace of pride. "I hate being under ground," she mutters at him before raising her voice again to a more audible level. "Alright, Sirs, lets be on our way."

The waterways are easy movement, but treacherous footing. More than once people slip, to falter and splash down in the cold and bracing water, before they resurface spluttering. The water is indeed cold, not so cold one is likely to get frostbite or even hypothermia, because thankfully it is summer or near enough to it t be the season, but cold enough to be uncomfortable. The blue fungus runs the entire length as far as anybody can tell, and it glows a steady, if eerily blue that entire length.

Tavi moves witht eh rest, slogging through the knee deep (for him) waterway, being certain of his step. In flat ground, or even rocky terrain this trip might take thirty minutes to where they're going. But given the slimy and trecherous waterway, he's glad he planned for an hour under the surface. He looks at the glowing fungus and frowns. "Bloody creepy as the One's balls shaved." He says quietly. Which of course everybody hears, because Bertram is right, sound carries.

Dario takes Myrana's hand and gives it a gentle squueze of reassurance. The other hand hangs near one of his hand cannons as he guides his sister forward scanning the area carefully as they go.

Zayne chuckles at Myrana and stays near the front of the group. He studies the fungus with a frown. "Why does it glow?" He looks puzzled by this as he strides forward trudging through the cold water and trying to keep his balance as he walks.

Myrana stumbles once, only saved from falling entirely into the water thanks to Dario's hold on her hand. She shivvers even as he helps her back up to a stable footing, as her free hand landed on the wall for balance, crushing one of those luminous mushrooms and sending a cloud of phospherent spores up as it crumbles into dry, doughy mushroom flesh. She brushes it from her hand with a further shudder and keeps on.

"S-some deep down creatures glow," she stutters, nervously. "Like in the deep ocean. S-sometimes you pull up white fish that glow at night in the barrels, even after they've died. Maybe its like that?"

Dario is also studying the strange growth on the walls. He guides Myrana off to the side so he can inspect them as they walk. He is a bit unsteady, the Bishop not being the most graceful of men to begin with. But he does seem very curious about the unknown plant life. "I wonder if it has any useful properties, should I pick one to examine you think?" He watches as Myrana's hand crushes one and gently tugs it towards him examining it. "Careful Myrana, we don't know what the effects of those mushrooms are. Best not to smash them, the spores could have unknown effects." He smiles softly and tries to keep her steady letting her lean on him as much as she needs.

Bertram may be used to being underground, but is most decidedly not used to this kind of strange fungus. A permanent frown has etched itself on his face, but he says nothing. Others are speaking enough. He simply plods onward, carefully, but briskly.

"That's all I need. Not only a carnivale freak, but a glowing one," Myrana's hand is very tight in Dario's. But at least it isn't dark, she reasons to herself, taking a deep breath of the slightly stagnant air. The cold gripping her legs halfway up her thighs is bad enough, but being down in the earth in a tunnel that feels like it might collapse (even if that really is just her imagination) is quite nerve-wracking. "Here's one, brother." She plucks a little mushroom where it broke off onto a fold of her sleeve and tucks it into a pocket of his robes, well away from his skin.

Zayne is silent now, the sloshing of the water and the eerie light causing him to slowly shift to high alert. Afterall this seems like too much of a perfect place for something bad to happen. And since strange things seem to follow them around like a lost puppy lately, Zayne is taking no chances, he watches his surroundings carefully.

Despite the near trecherousness of the waterway it isn't long before they group finds a ladder of all things Strangely it looks well maintianed. The water flows and swirls into a pool around the ladder, presumably draining into an even deeper underground wateeway. There is a light chuckle heard by all except Bertram. It is soft, yet sounds as if it comes form a pwoerful set of lungs. It is likely becuase he did not hear it that rising from the water, a humanoid figure stands, dripping the water off slimey skin. The creature stretches and the sound of river rocks grinding together can be heard, and grabs Bertram by the leg and lifts him in the air. A softer voice cackles and echoes in the dark as an old hag looking woman appears to step OUT of the wall.

"Ah. Children of Creation, it is so nice to be awake again." She says in a sing song voice of an old woman. Her clothes appear to be little better than rags, her skin severly wrinkled, both form old age but also appears as if she had been in the water for so long. "My friend Troll here hasn't eaten since Darius sealed off magic, nor have I." she leans in and pokes Bertram on the nose, making a soft: "boop" noise as she does. "Have you anything to eat to give an old woman and her companion? Somethign to stave off the dreams of centuries?"

Tavi jsut stands there wiht his mouth agape. For once the Pirate has nothing to say.

Bertram is perhaps concentrating a bit too much on the job ahead once out of the tunnels that he completely fails to note the noise, and then, the tentacle that sweeps him off of his feet and lurches him into the air. A yell is let out from the short knight. His grip on his sword and shield tighten to the point that his knuckles pop loudly… not that it'll be heard over his yelp, or the sound of the creature speaking. Lashing out wildly, he tries to swing his sword, but misses and cuts only air.

Dario steps in front of Myrana almost immediately after seeing the water shift. As the creature rises up his hands flex near his hand cannon and he narrows his eyes. "And what is it you eat exactly? I assume traveling rations are unsuitable for one such as you? I have a flask of fine strong brandy you can have if your friend will release ours." His tone is calm and he considers the old woman and her 'companion' warily. Still he tries negotiation first as is his style.

More monsters? Zayne arches a brow at the hag and her pet, in one swift motion his giant blade is drawn. The lightsilver greatsword glitters in the low light and Zayne steps forward assuming a fighting stance. "Let him go." The Red Bear growls out angrily rage flashing in his eyes. Still Dario is trying to negotiate so he holds his ground and does not yet attack.

Myrana gasps, and doesn't struggle as Dario puts her behind him at once. From behind the bishop she stares in amazement at the troll and the hag, and poor Bertram dangling from the former's fist like a fish.

"Please put that man down!" She exclaims.

The Hag gestures toward the troll, who simply opens hit's hand and drops Bertram into the river with a loud splash. The Hag leans in and squints one eye to examine Dario. on "Ah. Priest. I can sense the faith on you. Sort of. It's dark now, but at one point it was bright." She holds out her hand. "Brandy you say?" She cackles a long mirthful cackle. "My. Nobody has offered me drink before. Who offers a River Spirit something to drink? Even when I was but a young stream on a different mountain, no one ever offered me a drink!" She cackles again. "Can you believe I was pretty once? Oh. Men would come form miles around to dip their toes in my banks and offer me all kinds of delicious food. Never a drink though." She cackles a third time and squints at Dario once more. "Well boy. Hand it over. I'm curious now. One must take a first time very seriously. All first times. I remember my first time." She sighs. "He was a handsome warrior. I a lone river spirit in need of company. He made me SQUEEL." She sighs then looks abck to Dario. "Well! Give me the drink boy!"

Bertram goes face first into the stream, and it's a half a minute before he gets up. When he does, the panic is still evident on his face; his eyes as wide as saucers, nearly bulging out of his head, his beard dripping with water and his mouth open in a wide grimace. He scrambles to his feet and shuffles over to the group of Aequorians. In numbers, safety… or something. This is the first time Bert has ever encountered something like this. He's terrified.

"Bert-" Myrana catches at the demolitionist's sleeve as he gets up and attempts to draw him back into safety behind the front wall of the three other men, shaking herself but less badly than Bertram; she's seen monsters before. She's still frightened, but experience has taught her to try and control it around the supernatural; nevertheless her fright is apparant in her pallid face and freezing hands.

Dario bows his head slightly as the spirit speaks to him of his faith. "Yes. Losses will often affect ones faith. When one feels forsaken it is hard to believe. Still it is nice to meet you, spirit of the river. I am called Dario. Here. you have kept your word so I shall glaldy keep mine." He reaches for the flask at his belt and removes it stepping forward and offering it to the old woman. His hand is steady as he offers her the brandy. The drink within a new creation he has been tinkering with, its not yet perfected but its of good quality, a taste of almonds and vanilla present there with a touch of spring spices that give the otherwise fairly smooth drink a pleasant kick." Dario looks to Bertram in concern and shifts so that he can protect the man as he retreats. Dario then considers the woman carefully. "Do you have a name? Forgive my ignorance but this is my first encounter with a spirit like you, I wish to avoid being impolite as best as I can." He smiles faintly still remaining quite diplomatic."

Dario bows his head slightly as the spirit speaks to him of his faith. "Yes. Losses will often affect ones faith. When one feels forsaken it is hard to believe. Still it is nice to meet you, spirit of the river. I am called Dario. Here. you have kept your word so I shall glaldy keep mine." He reaches for the flask at his belt and removes it stepping forward and offering it to the old woman. His hand is steady as he offers her the brandy. The drink within a new creation he has been tinkering with, its not yet perfected but its of good quality, a taste of almonds and vanilla present there with a touch of spring spices that give the otherwise fairly smooth drink a pleasant kick. Dario looks to Bertram in concern and shifts so that he can protect the man as he retreats. Dario then considers the woman carefully. "Do you have a name? Forgive my ignorance but this is my first encounter with a spirit like you, I wish to avoid being impolite as best as I can." He smiles faintly still remaining quite diplomatic.

Zayne has Bertram's back as he is dropped. The Captain covers his mans retreat and gives him a reassuring look. "If this is unerving you should be glad you missed the caravan incident…" He turns back watching in mild disbelief as Dario bargins with the hag. Still he bites his tongue and remains silent for now, instead watching the troll to make sure it makes no move to hurt anyone in the group.

Bertram shakes himself off, spraying the cold water on those around him. Then he shakes himself off again, and this time, some of his fear ebbs away - or at least, some of the fear that he wears on his face. His breathing slows and he tucks his shield in front of his torso, sword pointing down. He is still on edge and not talking, but looks more alert than terrified, now.

"Flumen." The old hag says with a gap toothed smile. "No one ahs asked me that in centuries." She sips from the flask that is taken from Dario and sighs happily. "Ah. Drinking. I always wondered." She offers the flask to the Troll, who takes it in a meaty palm and eats it. A large toothy grin of river rocks. It lumbers forward and places both hands on Dario's shoulders.

"Drink. Good. Drink giver. Friend." He nods.

The Hag smiles to Dario. "You all may leave my river. Go with your god, and good luck." She then steps back and fades into the stones while the Troll appears to simply sink into the river and dissapear.

Dario smiles gently as they are given permission to leave. "Thank you Flumen, and thank you as well Sir Troll." He flashes the pair a smile as they disappear from where they came. And then he turns to Myrana with a smile and a concerned gaze. "Are you alright sister? I think that went fairly well all things considered…" He looks pleased, even though a river troll ate his flask. "I shall have to name that particular brandy in honor of that encounter when I make more of it." He returns to Myrana's side and offers his hand preparing to guide her towards the ladder.

Myrana lets out a shaky breath.

"W-well done, brother," she says in a low voice, wishing quite fervently that she were not standing so deep in the waters patrolled by a river spirit. A creature out of Fiorello's legends. Though in Fiorello, they are often half snake, or they take the shape of horses. Little lancets of bright light creep in the water around her legs, and so she hastens to take his offer of help and ascend the ladder, kicking her sodden skirts out of the way as she climbs.

Tavi just points and then looks to Myrana. "What the shit jsut happend?"

Zayne pouts. "And here I thought I would be fighting a troll…I don't know if I'm grateful or disappointed here." He definately looks a little put out as he moves towards the ladder.

"R-river spirit," Myra calls back to Tavi as she climbs. "This is her waterway. The fortress was just built atop the ruins we're walking through right now. F-fagh!" She tries and manages not to swear as one boot slips on the ladder while gaining a footing, but then climbs quickly up to the top and looks around.

Dario eyes Zayne almost scornfully. "You need not answer every problem with violence Sir d'Rana." He will follow Myrana up the ladder staying close to her as they near the surface.

Bertram still doesn't have anything to see about waht they just witnessed. He picks his dripping sword up and points forward, then begins to move. Better to get going rather than think about what just happened.

The ladder goes up and up several dozen feet. Eventually the walls are bricked. Ancient and red, some fo which are crumbling and cracked. In the old tongue one might see etched into one: Placed by Darius Firebrand, to honor the Spirit Flemen. After another dozen or so feet, it gives way to more modern brickwork. Solid, and grey, matching the stone work of the fortress of Elder's Eye. The sound of thunder cna be heard as well as the cries of battle.

At the top, the group discovers themselves in an abandoned courtyard, only abandonded becuase all the soldiers are manning the walls. Behind the party, the Keep itself stands, while before them the inner wall.

Bertram has calmed down enough from that encounter to set himself back into fighting mode. He raises his hand to indicate that the others should stop, and walks forward in a low crouch until coming to a stop at the entrance of the courtyard. He turns back to the rest of them and speaks quietly. "They're all busy. What do we do? I brought a couple of charges to blow the gates if we need to, but best we stay snooping." His beard and hair still drip.

Zayne climbs the ladder to the top and climbs out looking around carefully as he crouches as best he can. He surveys his surroundings. "I see two ways of doing this, a few of us cause a distraction while the others unlock the gates. Or we sneak around and try and undo the gates without being seen at all, given that some of us are not very stealthy, I vote option one." He keeps his voice low as he speaks looking around carefully, ready to draw his blade at first sign of a threat.

Dario climbs up slowly so as not to fall, he spies the stonework and admires the engraving respectfully and with interest, reading over it before he is forced to climb the rest of the way up and out. As they reach the courtyard he quietly draws his hand cannon and positions himself at Myrana's side giving her a soft reassuring smile. He considers the suggestions offered a moment but stays quiet. Letting Myrana decide this for herself.

Myrana turns to the commanders of the little force now inside of Elder's Eye. Excitement sparkles all around her, in her eyes and in the latent charge in the air particles close to her body. She grips Dario and Zayne by the shoulders and looks first at Tavi and Bertram as she speaks before letting her gaze stab at the others. "We've passed through Eldisei safely, now to the next stage of our plan. Listen closely: this is the only order of events that gives us a chance of escaping without having to break out of a locked fortress.""Half of us must go to the inner gate, and the other to the outer. By the time you've gotten yourselves into position and killed anyone stopping you, I will have reached the signal tower; once I see that both gates are open, I will send the signal out to our forces outside. Don't linger at the gates, but meet me at the base of the tower and we will attempt to find Roba— I mean, we will attempt to find the Baron and capture him. Understand?"

Bertram listens carefully and thoughtfully to Myrana explain here scheme of manoeuvre, patting his sodden satchel morosely. "Aye, m'lady. I'll go to the outer. If all goes pear shaped, at least we can try and blow the outer gates. Better to have those open than none, yeah?"

Tavi nods and draws both his hand Cannons. "Well then. Let's go. The Inner is closer, so Zayne, the Cavaliers and I will go there. The rest of you hit the Inner gate. There should be a sally port open until troops move to the outer wall." He grins and then punches Bertram on the arm lightly. "Don't blow everything up just because you can eh?" He looks to Myrana and nods. Any of the main towers will do. They'll have signals there. Get there, and be ready. We won't have much time." He nods and begins to rush toward the inner gate, the Cavaliers following."

"I'll go with you Sir Bertram, I have been meaning to see your explosions at work. Perhaps oen day I will be able to improve such things with my skill in alchemy. Until then I shall watch your back." Dario moves to stand near Bertram his expression grim yet composed. He will follow the other man at a quick pace once they take off.

Zayne draws his greatsword. "Lets go then Sir Tavi. Best of luck to the rest of you." He takes off at top speed running towards his destination with narrowed eyes and a look of determination.

"Only if I have to, you dog." Bert responds light heartedly to Tavi. "Good luck then." He looks over at the Bishop rather skeptically, and only loses the expression when he takes in the Argent Legionairies who will be traveling with him. "Alright. I have a couple of ideas, actually. Nother time." Standing up, he gestures forward. "Let's go then, lads! And quiet!"

"Alright." Myrana nods to the men she's brought inside the fortress, then pulls her hood up over her white hair and bolts off towards the nearest tower at a run, sticking to places she hopes no-one will be likely to check on from up on the walls.

The group all runs toward their respective targets, assignments having been dolled out and the clock ticking. Already the artillery form the legion ahs ramped up, firing faster and harder at the walls of the fortress, a sure sign of an impending attack to anyone who has ever even read of siege warfare. The fortress fires back, cannons booming and trebuchets releasing their payloads while ballista fire normal and explosive carrobalistas in response to teh Arrani Legion's impending assault. The very ground shakes, and the sound od explosive shot fills the air.

An Arrani Legion trebuchet shot slams into the inner wall, sending cracks up it's side and knocking a crenalation from it's position. It falls and impacts the ground not far from Betram, exploding into a thousand shards of mortar and stone as well as sending up a plume of dust. A man at the sally port, spins as that hits the ground and his eyes go wide as he calls outm "INTRUDERS!" And draws his sword to charge as the other guards there charge as well. One however, smartly begins to close the gate….

Zayne, Tavia nd the other cavaliers rush the gate house. Tavi shoulder blocks the door, crashing through it with a splinter of wood and a crack of hinges. Cavaliers stram in, hand cannons firing, a man levels a rifle inside, short sword bayonet fixed, and appears about to fire at at an unsuspecting Cavlaier, that Zayne is right behind. Niether of them appear to notice the threats to them …

The first thing Bertram does when he senses a piece of wall falling down on him is look up and move out of the way. As it comes crashing to the ground, he raises his round shield to cover his face and neck, trusting in his armour to block his torso from pieces of debris. The trust is well founded, and although he feels the impact of shards of wall, none of it injures him. Shaking it off, though, he realises that he's now in a fight. He stops, planting his feet and absorbing the charge of the d'Kemp man, trading blows with him that land on shield or armour but do no harm. All around him, the Arrani Legionairies get stuck in. "Bishop! The gate! Get the gate!"

Dario raises his hand cannon firing a shot at the charging d'Kemp guard. It lands solidly blowing a hole in the mans sword arm. Quickly Dario advances as he readies another shot, aiming for the man who is working the gate as he rushes forward to fight the soldier for control of it. His gaze is narrowed and detrmined and he prepares to fire once more.
<Pose Tracker> Myrana has posed.

Myrana trades blows with one of the soldiers, but light on her feet, Myra evades his attacks and gains only a scratch on his armor for her efforts. "Take him out!" She points at the man who's crying 'intruder'.

Pushing the Cavlaier in question aside so he doesn't get injured Zayne rushes the man about to fire at the pair of them. With a might roar his blade comes arching down trying to strike the d'Kemp soldier with a violent blow. It isn't as effective as it might have been but Zayne is determined and keeps the blows coming growling agressively as his eyes emerald gleam wickedly.

Battle is joined INSIDE the fortress as the small assault force makes their presence known. The man fighting Bertram snarls and slashes, taking the engineer's attacks on his shield. He slashes again, trying to drive the engineer back. "Ben! Close the gate!!"

The Man named Ben, is turning a wheel very quickly, his eyes staring at Dario's barrel …

Zayne's blade cleaves through the man's Long Cannon and into his shoulder. He screams and falls, dying in a pool of blood that erupts form the wound as well what bubbles out his mouth in a fountain of blood. But there are more. The Cavaliers have their sabers out and are dueling d'Kemps, while more men rush in, two charging toward Zayne with broadswords bared.

Dario takes aim trying to shoot the man named Ben in the head. His gaze is steady as is his hand as he advances and pulls the trigger. There may even be a touch of regret in those dark eyes of his but he does his duty here in grim silence.

Myrana kicks a man who attempts to catch and drag at her arm, planting her boot right in his belly with a sharp jab of her heel. He doubles over backwards and she knocks him upside the head with Ardaigh's pommel, ringing his steel cap. All her focus is currently on getting through so that she can hurry to an outward tower.

The shot from Dario's hand cannon finds its mark, the bullet blasting its way into Ben's face and into his skull. Dario grimances breifly but is quick to take control of the gate and try and open it once more.

Momentarily Zayne is taken off guard as two men replace the one he had been fighting. He chuckles darkly even as he takes a blow. "Are you so eager to die? Let me send you on your way then.." He lunges forward once more, that glittering lightsilver blade stained with one mans blood already as he swings it down for more.

"Surrender, ya curs, and we won't cut ya in two when we take this bloody place!" Bertram has time to snarl back to his enemy But he's still not going to give their enemies a chance. The engineer waits for his opponent to strike, turning it to the side with his shield and pushing him off balance. He then chops downward, taking the man's hand off at the wrist and then kicking him down to the ground as he screams. "On, on, let's go!" Bert is going to get into that room as quickly as he can.

The Hand Cannon expended fired and dropping an enemy soldier, his saber slashes and he parries an incoming blade. He lashes with a boot that connects to the man's groin with a thud and his blade is brought up to ram into the man's throat as he doubles over. He rips the saber out the side of the man's throat in a fountian of blood and quickly turns to engage one of the two men facing Zayne.

One of the men dives at Zayne, slashing furiously. Trying to drive the man to his knees, or better yet, score a mortal wound on the man.

Bertram's blade slips past the man's shield, and crashes into his breastplace, the heavy broadsword cracking the armor and cutting the flesh beneath. His eys go wide as he falls back and onto his back, where he clutches at his chest even as his breath, knocked out of him begins to fade as his lungs fill with blood.

Myrana drives her man back but he snarls and lunges, riving his blade point first toward her. Trying to slam his blade into her softer armor.

Dario catches the wheel, and keeps it open. Thornesmen rushing through, along wiht other men from the Legion. The Thorsesmen kneel and fire their long cannons. Dropping several soldiers charing at Dario. One of the calls out, "Hurry up! We have to keep moving!!"

Once everyone is in and moving Dario rushes after them his hand cannon at the ready again as he quickly catches up with the group as they move towards thier destination.

Myrana is driven back a step as she tangles with the soldier to no effect, dodging out of the way of his attacks nimbly but unable to hurt him. Damn, but she misses the comforting weight of her brigadine coat! After a year's almost constant use of the heavy coat, though, she moves like lightning.

Zayne brings his blade forth towards the other enemy that he is facing, letting Tavi take a shot at the other one. He maintains his agressive stance fighting furiously as he attempts to cut the man in two.

"Onward! Bishop, go get that gate open!" Meanwhile, Sir Bertram turns around to see Myrana still struggling to get free of her assailant. "I'll catch up!" So, instead of moving to the gate, the engineer steps back the way he came and seeks to bring his sword down on his lady's foe.

Dario nods to Bertram glancing back at Myrana. "I'll get it done. Make sure my sister gets into position without coming to harm!" And then he is off sprinting up to where the mechanism for the gate is. Provided there is no one else inbetween him and his goal that is.

The man Tavi charges at spins and back hands Tavi knocking him into teh wall with an explosion of breath even as Zayne's heave blade hits his opponant's midsection. While it doens't cut the man in two, the entirety of the man's guts are ripped from him in a shower of blood and vicera. THe man's eyes go wide in terror, and his face is instantly pale as he simply falls to his knees and then to the side. Dead before his head hits the floor.

The Thronsemen are firing in groups of two, to keep up a constant set of fire. One of them turns and calls out to Dario, "My Lord! Get to the Gate house! Take the Legionairre soldiers with you, we'll keep these bastards at bay and see the Baroness to the Tower!" He lefts his Long Cannon to his shoulder having finished reloading and lets a shot fly. It takes a man square in the chest and drops him.

Bertram rushes to Myrana and the man there kicks out to drive the man away form him and when he spins to try and finish the Baroness off, finds that lightsilver cutlass in his chest. He blinks, and drops his sword falls forward to lay in a pool of his own blood.
Bertram has partially disconnected.

Bertram falls backwards for a second time today, this time on the ground from a solidly placed kick. As he is sprayed with the man's blood, he pushes himself up again. "M'lady, get moving!" He turns around and sprints after Dario, alongside several of the Argent Legionairies. His wind seems to have come back after such a long time sick - the hard work of exercising during this siege appear to have payed off for the hedge knight. Soon, he's by Dario's side.

Myrana is quick to tilt the man so he doesn't drag Ardaigh down under him. Panting, she nods her thanks to Bertram and wastes no time in turning to run off after the tower. In the scuffle her hood has fallen back off of her head and her white braid swings down her back as she pelts off. "Thank you!"

Dario offers the Thornesmen a quick salute and respectful nod and continues running. Dashing as fast as he can for the gatehouse. He calls back to the Legionairres. "Come on gentlemen. I give you my word that if we survive this I'll buy each of you an entire bottle of the drink of your choice." He keeps moving glancing to Bertram with a look of thanks as the man catches up with him. "Now. Lets go get this gate open." he says as they draw near to the gatehouse.

Twisting around as the blood of his last opponent splatters him Zayne sees another facing Tavi. In a quick arc of flashing metal the massive sword in Zayne's hands slices forth and neatly severs the mans head before he can even realize what happened. His head rolls off his collapsing body a look of surprise permentally left on the dead mans features. He grins at Tavi. "Alright there Sir Tavi? Come on, we aren't done yet!" And he is off to find the level or wheel or whatever it is and open the gate.

Tavi pants and wipes the blood from his newly split lip. He nods to Zayne, and gives the man a grin. "We are not done yet indeed!" He then sprints to the gate house, "Grab the other wheel, the others have to be in position soon! Let's open this thing and beak it!"

Dario and the Legionaires break into the outer gate house which shakes as artillery hammer it. The legion troops engage the d'Kemp guards, one man screaming as he dives at Dario …

Myrana makes it through the door and the Thornesmen there form a defensive escort, rushing toward the closest outer gate. The man who called to Dario now calls to Myrana and Bertram, "We're holding here but we're running low on ammo! Get to the Tower and send the signal! Quickly!"

Myrana nods and leans fully into her run and ascending at a breakneck speed up to the tower itself and up the stairs if nothing prevents her, wet skirts slapping against her pumping legs and Ardaigh scything through the air in time. Urgency blazes through her, and unwittingly leaves a trail of sparks in the water of her footprints and where her wet skirts and coattails slap at stone or wood.

The main gate held, at least for now, Bert hands off a satchel charge to one of the Argent Legionairies. "If they're going to retake this place, touch this bloody thing off and blow it up." With a pat on the mystified soldier's side, he turns around to jog after Myrana. Now he's starting to feel the burn in his lungs. He ignores it… for now. He's a bound behind her.

Dario gets knocked out from an impact from the Arrani Legion's artilelry. The gate house shakes and a piece of the wall crumbles knocking the Bishop out. In the other Gate House Tavi nand Zayne begin to open the Gate, covered by the other cavaliers. The Legionaires begin to open the Outer Gate. All that needs to be done is send the signal ….

Myrana and Bertram rush into the tower wiht three Thornesmen who are out of Ammo. They have naked steel in their hands, each one with a gladius and a long bladed dagger. Four Guards rish them and the Thornesmen counter. There is a clang of steel on steel as the fourth man rishes Bertram screaming at the top of his lungs …

Myrana just blows past the first man to respond to the sudden appearance of the Armazi forces in the tower, green cloaks and white rose emblems rising at them in a deadly rush. She puts her shoulder down and almost seems to undulate catlike past him as if he were a tree to be woven about without breaking pace and she a forest hawk. The wet leather of her coat might strike sharp and stinging (though not injurious) at his thigh or belly, but she offers no attack on his person, counting with a commander's mad and prayerful faith on the intervention of her Thornesmen cousins and brothers and her father's knight Bertram. Her free hand reaches for the mechanism and slaps atop it if she reaches it in her rush, using everything in herself to catch on it and break her momentum long enough to cast a look out the arrow holes to see if both other gates are still well and truly open.

Bertram makes sure to put himself between Myrana and the charging, crazed d'Kemp Guardsman. He is able to block the man's whirlwind of blows for now, but not to get his own in. "GET THE MESSAGE OUT, M'LADY!"

The Thornesmen and Bertram fight the d'Kemp guards. Steel on steel ringing as they all rade blows. A Thornemen is stabbed, even as a d'Kemp has his throat slit. A d'Kemp is smashed against the wall and is about to be stabbed in teh back when a compatriot fires a hand cannon. It wounds the Thronesmen, but doesn't kill him, as he continues to fight.

Myrana can see the Inner Gate nearly fully opened, and the outer gate not far behind it. By the time the Arrani legion forces arrive, the gates will be open …

Myrana hauls on the mechanism to free it from its resting bracket with a strangled scream of effort on her part, only to have it /k-CHUNK// into position the first time and send out the first wink of light. She shakes her head, jarred to the bone, then hurries to wink the mirror way above her head at the apex of the tower the second and then the third time.

The signal sent, Tavi slams a dagger into the mehcnaism to break it and jam the mechanism in place. He leans against the wall and pants before he nods to Zayne. "Come on. We need to meet up with the others and get d'Kemp."

Bertram and the Thornesmen manage to finih their opponants. The Thornesmen with a series of slashes or stabs with their weapons, and Bertram wiht a wicked cut that impacts the man's gorget. It doens't break the armor, but the man's neck snaps from the force of the impact. He screams and falls, chocking as the airway is presses closed from the swelling neck and the man's sudden paralysis.

On the third signal a bugel is blaired and the Cavalry lurches forward followed, even as other men rush toward the walls. The Arrani Legion surges to capture the fortress while the way is open. The defenders rush a hasty defense to try and keep the cavalry from crashing through them.

With the way open, the battle for the fortress is on, and so far the plan is working, now they jsut have to get into the Kemp, and capture Arthur d'Kemp …

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