| Scouting The Pass |
| Summary: | A group of westerners come to Scout Steven's pass, and bite off more then they can chew. |
| Date: | Jan 26th 2018 |
| Related: | Related Logs (If there aren't any, use None. Don't this entry leave blank. If there is a log, use full URLs, like http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/logtitle) |
| NPCs: | Shemus Shepard, Nessik d'Bartone |
| Players: |
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| Aequor - Hellsmouth County |
| Hellsmouth county, seat of the d'Korbina, consists of mile upon mile of fine grazing land that stretches down towards the river to the northwest. Through this cattle-herders paradise run the marvelous, compass straight, roads left behind by the great vir sidus empire before its retreat. These roads link the county to the trade centers to the north, around the lakes, and the south as well as providing easy travel between land routes and the major river networks that run throughout Aequor. To the east the land quickly turns mountainous, but much of those lands have now been overtaken by the Qatunax scourge and can no longer be considered part of d'Korbina lands. The main town, Hellsmouth, sits at a major crossroad of these roads and carries the start of the main road that leads towards Mount Hadres and the famed Mountain Castle, Daemon Hall. |
| January 26th 1874 |
Early afternoon in the battleborn Camp. Most knights have their squires running about getting things ready for the move that will happen soon, once the Recon team get's the propper information needed.
That Recon team is meeting in the War tent at the center of the Camp, Inside is a large round table that has a huge map of Hellsmouth county laid over it, with pins in it for troop deployment and other needed points of interest. Highmother Helena Shepard, leader of the battleborn, looks out at those gathered as she begins to speak about the current mission. "With the Permission of Count d'Korbina, I shall breif you all on the current mission. The main pass is our first area of concern, and we need a base at the opening of the pass, I would wear a heavy cloak and please be sure to keep an eye out for the savages there. I need you to find a spot where we can put our forward base camp, and then we will move our current base od operations to that location and winter in that spot. I also wish to know if you can find any small nests of the savages, that is also somthing we can deal with over the next few months." She says with a no nonsense additude.
Also in the room is a Younger male that looks much like Helena's brother, Sheamus,with a horned Kaedon bow inside a back quiver, as well as a Red haired d'Batrone Bow knight and engineer, Nessik.
Viscount d'Korbina also happens to be in the war tent but, other than nodding at the mention of his name, and idly scritching the deep fur at the nape of his grey Elemental's neck, he's avoiding the limelight. His eyes flick between the various people here, taking note of names and faces and he's wearing partial, segmented plate under a bearskin cape. His horned, openfaced, helm is being held loosely in his hands.
Present here with the others gathered is the armored form of Avellino d'Cadri. Suited in a battle ready set of brigandine made from black leather and lightly polished steel he is ready for today's mission. At the belt about his waist is a dagger and broadsword in addition to a large pouch that holds writing supplies, a smaller one that holds bandages and supplies for making poltices, and yet another pouch that is empty. His fists are covered by heavy gloves with steel spikes on thier knuckles. Over the armor is a rather plain yet heavy wool cloak that has a color to it that is made to blend in nicely with the local surroundings. Though he wears no helmet the tall d'Cadri nobleman cuts a decent figure as he listens to the plan calmly. He doesn't interupt or argue he merely nods politely to Helena as she states what must be done. A moment of thought is taken as she finishes before the man voices a question, keeping his tone respectful. "So we will need to find a location that can be easily fortified and defended then. Preferablly one thats either well protected by natural barriers already, or that gives us an advantage of sight when anyone advances on it. Is there a specific area you wish us to focus on in our scouting? One that is likely to have suitable terrian for such a camp?" He peers towards the map thoughtfully now, falling silent as he thinks.
GAME: The cool breeze has left, and the game is saved.
The sound of a dagger thudding point first onto the table is heard, a rather starteling sound. "There, Right at the mouth of the pass. Scout it, and come back to me." She says as she looks to the assembled group. "Sir Shemus and Lord sir Nessik have already scounted the roads and other smaller passes, but you all will need to be vigilent for this. Viscount d'Korbina is your direct commander in this mission, and his word is law and superceeds my own." She says with a nod before giving a Fist to chest salute. "Good hunting gentlemen, may fate protect you." She says, giving a very religious neutral wish of good luck.
Nessik nods and turns as he walks out, whispering to the former shadowsnake. "You sure that small bow is going to be enough?"
Shemus smirks and tilts his head. "Don't worry your firey head Lord Nessik, This bow can punch through plate armor if the user knows where to aim for… and I know where to aim for." Already the beggining of a small rivalry.
Ludovic pushes up to his feet and moves to look at the exact spot that Helena's skewered with her knife. He studies it for a moment and then looks up at Helena. "Scouting the pass it is then." he looks thoughtful a moment and then shrugs. "We'll go see whats up there then." He looks at the others. "I want a patrol of horsemen. Light horse only, much of this ground is difficult." He glances to the map again and then starts fastening his helm into place. A final look to Avellino. "Do you have a suitable horse or pony with you?"
Avellino nods and turns to go out with the others. There is a gleam in his eyes, a look of excitment as he prepares to venture out. He glances to Ludovic as the man speaks. "I have a light charger, one of the al'Callenta breeds. Will he suffice?" He enquires of the man curiously. "You know the land better than I so I'll trust your judgement here." He smiles faintly.
Already astride their two horses with a small group of light cavalry with them, the two bowmen blink. "If I may offer some advice Excelency, I think once we reach near to the pass, we should move on foot, the broken terrain and the savages might unnerve the horses." Nessik offers, and Shemus chimes in. "Yeah, that and I doubt my firned here can fire that cumbersome thing from horseback." he says as they both start offering jabs back and fourth as the ride goes on. "Hey nessik, ask me how fat she is…" Nessik blinks. "How fat is she?""Her portrait is a map of the tarris lands."
"If it's trained right." Ludovic tells Avellino. "And sturdy. I've not seen the animal so I couldnt tell you." He moves to his own blood chestnut and swings up into the saddle before looking to Nessik. "Sir Nessik, since this is your home territory, would like you and a couple of your men to act as outriders. Not much else to say. If you didn't pack warm now's your last chance to fix it." The advice about dismounting near the pass just gains a shrug from the Viscount. "Odds are the Qatunax will be on horse when its possible as well We're best keeping them close."
Avellino approches a dark brown horse, a calm yet quick looking light charger. Swinging up into the saddle he nods to Ludovic. "Lightfoot should be fine in that case." Listening to the debate about dismounting he stays quiet and begins to trot his horse carefully in the direction they need to be going. He doesn't go fast, keeping the horse as a steady pace. The stallion is surprisingly quiet and fleet of foot, leaving little trace of his presence and living up to his name it would seem.
As the group comes near the pass, Shemus and Nessik are still makeing quips at each other. "Hedge Knight.""Bastard.""Poor escuse for a towel boy.""You would know flame hair.""Least my mother is noble born.""Least my mother can lace her own boots without help.""Oh yeah well your sister is a mountain troll.""You take that back!… wait which sister?""The one I banged."
Eventualy both do dismount as Nessik sends his three outriders to one side of the pass, and Shemus sends his own mounted archers to the other side of the pass. "Meet up about a mile further in, that's where the base camp should be at it's best." Shemus says before ne vanishes into the brush.
Nessik doesn't look amused. "I bet he has a criminal record…" He says as he moves forward, taking point and looking about.
Ludovic dismounts where the others do, taking his time to secure the reins and transfer musket and warhammer from saddle to his person before continuing.
Avellino is trying very hard to keep a straight face as he rides. The constant witty barbs provide an excellent source of entertainment no matter how he tries to hide it. He rides off to one side of the group scanning the terrian for anything that might be of interest. When Shemus heads off on his own Avellino begins to trot his horse a little ways away. He dismounts and secures his horse making sure his weaponry and other equipment is all in place. Peering about he looks thoughtful. "When in doubt go east." He mutters quietly before picking his way in that direction. He remains alert, trying to spot anything of note as he scans the area carefully.
Off in the distance is a group of Qatunax who look to be doing a patrol, or recon mission themselves, and who are looking towards the group of mounted battleborn heading for the right side of the Pass. Nessik strings his bow and pulls an arrow. "Shall I excellency?" He asks as the hidden form of Shemus has a bead on one as well.
Suddenly Avellino pauses, his eyes peering into the distance carefully. Those eyes narrow and he looks to Ludovic thoughtfully. "There looks to be about thirty of them, I'm not sure fighting is wise. Your call though Your Excellency." He inclines his head respectfully but keeps his attention on his surroundings, paying note not just to the group in front of them but also watching and listening for others as well.
"West." Ludovic tells Avellino with a quick smile. "If you're lost go west. You really don't want to go east on your own. Go west until you hit the big river and wait for a trader." Another smile. "Assuming you don't hit a trade road or village first." He glances across occasionally, checking for signs that the scouting six are still with them. Instead he spies signs of not-friendlies. He pauses, glancing up across at them. "If all your men, and the battleborns are accounted for, go ahead."
The group is spotted, and the qatunax begin to make a run for the men, one at the head of this foot charge is sent back by the power of a loosed d'Barton bow. "One." Nessik says, while another takes an arrow to the eye, and a central galenthian accented. "One for me too." Is heard, though the eight scouts come back and begin to take up positions with the other four, as the qatunax are now close enough for melee combat, loud, gambison wearing men and women in feathered headdresses and war paint, a few have skulls on their belts that could clearly be the nobles or other Hellsmouth commoners that have been killed.
Ludovic is not exactly prepared for the two archers to open up before the full scouting line is in position, nor for the qatunax to cover the distance from range to melee so quickly. Add to that the fact that he's obviously in charge and he's quickly in danger of being overwhelmed. His elementi hound snaps and lunges at the threatening savages, helping Ludovic as he stands his ground and fights.
GAME: The cool breeze has left, and the game is saved.
As Avellino sees the savage looking fighters running at them he steps forward, moving to stand at the front of the group and calmly shifting into a fighting stance. Strangely, he doesn't draw either his dagger or broadsword. Instead the first man to reach him is quickly put down by a spiked gauntlet to his neck. He falls bleeding heavily and his blood stains the heavy bladed knuckles on the d'Cadri's left gauntlet. One after another Avellino puts the down by hand, felling six men in fairly quick sucession with nothing more tha well aimed punches and kicks.
The six Qatunax that fall due to broken ribs, shattered jaws, knock outs, and one who has the brudge of his nose slammed into his own brain, are seen by a taller Qatunax who steps up with a long pole, a skull on one end and a steel spear head on the other. Speaking in a strange language before he rushes at the scholarly pugilist. Two of the Qatunax who were attacking Ludovic are brought down by two arrow,s one with a raven's fletching, the other with Hawk Fletching. The rest surround the group in a semi circle as thew scouts break off to fight a second group comming at them.
As arrows pluck two of his opponents off him and hound and man find their battle rythm, Ludovic's opponents start to fall under the bone shattering force of his axe. The first goes down with a partially severed arm, another with a typical downwards chop into the muscle between neck and shoulder and the third practically gets the top of his skull removed. It takes Ludovic a moment to pull the axe free after that, his boot coming down on his opponent to add extra force whilst the distinctive kite shield is brought up to cover his efforts.
Avellino watches as the taller spear wielding Qatunax charges him. He remains steady, almost completely unmoving until the last second when he suddenly dashes forward and breaks through the mans guard. Using those bladed gaunlets to effect he punches the savage right in the forehead the blade puncturing his skull slightly and killing him soon after. He pulls back as another body joins the pile and moves to aid the others as they continue to fight. Its an odd sight, the brigandine wearing man who carries a sword but chooses to use his fists instead. He moves seemlessly as he attempts engage another of the remaining Qatunax.
As the Qatunax start to fall around the group, Shemus comes out of Hiding to Pluck another one off of Ludovic. "Turned his head into a fuckin canoe." The younger Shepard says as he draws to take another shot. Nessik d'Bartone of course, put an arrow throug hone Savages eye and keeps standing next to his Liege. "Galenthian toilet humor.. how borish Shepard." He intones. "And four." He says as both archers look to have a friendly game of who can kill more going on. "I likes me jokes rauncy and my women wenchy, powder boy."
The qatunax, or what left of them, run at the group in a bloody frenzy, helling in that strange language that ends up with another two dead with arrows through the eyes. "Ooga Booga mother fucker!" is said in unison as both archers had the same idea.
Ludovic takes down another two with the axe, spinning to meet the third just in time to raise his shield and catch their strike against the painted surface. A moment later the problem is removed by the protective, murderous instincts, of his grey elementi as it rips out their throat. He glances across at the rest of the group, in control of the fight enough that he can care about the rest of the group now.
Avellino begins to struggle a little now as the savages swarm them, he takes a heavy strike from a dagger to his arm. His armor takes most of the damage but its enough to get him to try and redouble his focus here. He draws a deep breath, seeming to calm and center himself as he shifts his stance and tries to bring these wild fighters down.
There's a pounding of hooves and a burst of snow, and Myrana D'Armaz rides in from round a bend in the wintry landscape, hanging on so tightly to her charger's mane with her free right hand that she's nearly on the beast's grey neck. In her left, though, is a cutlass. As she breaks into the knot of other Westerners, she gives a high yell and lops one of the Quatanax's head clean from his shoulders. The speckled grey charger just powers through, powerful legs churning the snow into curled frosting and bearing the D'Armaz into the midst of the fight, cutlass cleaving left and right and wrecking havoc among the Qatunax.
"Al'Arrani is a Lucky man." Nessik says as Shemus nods. "Agreed, shall we help the scouts then?" And their attention is turns to them both strafing the other mess of combat, one going left, the other right as arrows with raven and haw feathers fly into the mass,. aiding the scouts, both counting off their kills.
The remaining four don;t realize their peril as two make a mad dash for the horse riding Myrana, another steps in to have a fight with ludovic, and the other against Avellino. While seperate from the two groups looks to be a rather tall figure in a fur cloak, a tribal like pole axe with a eight foot handle is watching the battlefield, going unchecked for now.
Sweating even in the chilly air Avellino continues to hold his own. As another man moves to engage him he faces him calmly. This Qatunax is a fist fighter and Avellino manages to hold his ground against him easy enough, though neither manages any true advantage for the moment. Avellino takes the moment to look the man in the eyes and study him curiously as they fight he speaks in a slightly rusty yet still workable dilect of the Barbarian tongue. "Can you understand me?" He asks the man calmly even as he blocks a punch. He wasn't quite certain what they said earlier but it never hurts to try and he does know quite few forms of language.
Myrana rides in like white terror, her braid bouncing behind her with Sage's surging gait as the charger forces through the snow. The bright cold bracelets on her wrists and the earrings in her white hair flash and wink, and she rides down one man with an awful crushing sound of bones and meat and a trunicated scream before those soup-plate hooves carve through and fling bits back in its wake. If she dismounts, she'll almost certainly get stuck in the snow, as she's neither big enough nor strong enough unmounted to make her way through the drifts.
So she stays in the saddle, even if Sage can't get anywhere quickly.
Soon enough, she comes up alongside Avellino, providing him cover on one side and beating off the Qatunax pressing in on him.
The long qatunax Looks at Avellino with a strange look, though he clearly doesnt understand the man's words, he does respond in his own language, until Myrana kills the man.
The two archers manage to clear the other group of fighters, leaving them with eight extra men on their side, two dead. "Milords and Ladies, I do think we have a problem." Shemus says as the rather large hulking Qatunax sheds his cloak, revealing a bared chest with tattooed runs on it, a headdress of feathers and a belt made of human skulls. He twirls his large poleaxe effortlessly, and with that deflects the two arrows shot from the archers as his group of more qatunax come out. "Um.. you two take the big one… rest of you, defend the count!" d'Bartone says as the groups break off, the savages leaving Myrana and Avellino to the big man, granted, his common is horrible, only knowing what little he learned from torturing westerners, but he says to both of them. "I will break you." And wades in to bring both of them low.
Avellino blinks as Myrana brings down the man he had been fighting. "Well done." He offers calmly to the small woman on horseback. But the reprieve is short lived. He spots the hulking warrior baring down on the pair of them and calmly advances on him. He intends to provide a distraction so Myrana can bring him down. He engages with the man, spiked fists against poleaxe using his own impressive size and strength in addition to a good bit of speed. Though he cannot break through the mans guard he does hold his own, taking no hits in return.
"Are you alright?" Myrana starts to ask the other Aequoran, though she doesn't know his name. Then she sees the katars on his hands. "God's breath!" She swears, startled. Those weapons aren't common, and they're always a bad sign that things have gone sideways, in her experience.
There's no time for anything more, though, as a huge man stalks towards them. Right away, even as she's turning Sage to face him, the longer reach of the huge Qatunax undoes her advantage; that axe catches her in the sternum and knocks her out of the saddle and into the snow with a cry and a thump!
The little D'Armaz doesn't stay down long, though; she picks herself up with a growl and thrusts herself back to her feet, swinging the cutlass she held onto and biting it into the man's side on her way up.
The large Qatunax growls as he continues his attack against both Aequorans, luckily, Myrana's horse makes a run for it bfore it can actualy get hurt.
The two archers and their six troops with them are making short work of the final bit of qatunax in the pass, with Nessik d'Bartone Launching arrow after arrow, and then pulling out a Falcion once his quiver is dry. Shemus Shepard, for his part, is simply Pulling arrows out of dead bodies and re useing them as the pile of bodys from arrows, sword, and maces pile up.
The sight of Myrana falling from her horse distracts Avellino, drawing concern and earning him a grazing hit to the side the bites through his armor somewhat. Frowning he draws in another deep breath and tries to focus speeding up his movements now in an effert to throw the other man off balance or keep him on his toes at the very least.
Myrana's cutlass bites into the big man's side, cutting the rope holding those gruesome skulls to his belt and sending them clattering into the snow. "Get out of Aequor!" Trembling, she meets the man's eyes, her own burning with intention and her Barbarian fluent, challenging. "You can't hope to-"
And then the axe slams into her and she falls back senselessly, unconscious.
Helena the giant of a man looks down at the knocked out Myrana, an almost lustful look before turning to the tall aequorian and keepint up with him, hitting the man with every opening he can find.
Avellino tries his best, even more so when he sees Myrana go down. But the other guy is bigger and stronger and slowly wearing him down. He still keeps his focus though fighting for all he is worth. He catches the look the man sends Myrana's fallen form and something in him seems to ignite. He narrows his eyes saying nothing but aiming a harsh hit at the mans face as payback for that oh so inappropriate stare.
The hulking man grins with a very sadistic smirk as he bats the hand away and steps in. "Mine." he manages to say in a thick accent as he continues to force his might onto the aequorian pugilist. Though, his men are now pretty much dead, with both archers and their men bloodied, yet victorious, and tired and taped out of energy, but still watching the fight. "Lord Avellino, break is fucking jaw!""Cut his bloody nuts off!"
Avellino faces the hulking man down quite bravely and glares viciously. "No. She is not." He gives it his best but is quickly overpowered after that, crying out softly in agony as he is knocked down by twin heavy hits to his arm and ribs. He falls, his leg cracking as he lands on it with a groan of pain. He stares definately up at the large man but quickly loses conciousness, passing out from the pain.
The sound of a low horn is heard, followed by a sincle for echoing through the canyon. "CHARGE, NO PRISONERS!" The rough riding of hooves mixed with the sound of Kaedon styled horns and the trumpets of the Horned knights ride in unison as they bare down on the Pass. Leaping from her horse, Helena slams into the hulking bruite before he can deliver the finishing blow to Avellino, or make off with Myrana. "Fight me coward." She says, her lightsilver blade, recently repaired, glows in the falling light of the sun as the two begin their fight, until the hulking man is met with a slash up the right side of his face, pushing him back before the man turns and makes a run for it. "Not today." She says as her eyes glow and she charges after the man, though, the wall of ice formed between her and the man causes her to slam a gauntletted fist into the ice, shattering part of that wall, yet her quarry got away. "I'M COMMING FOR YOU ALL, TELL YOUR MASTERS THATT THERE WILL BE NO QUARTER!" She says in a very vicious sounding barbarian language, sounding alot like a lowland dialect.
The two would eventualy wake in a warm tent, bandaged and tucked into a comfy bed each with medics looking over them.