| The Taking of Ranhold |
| Summary: | Ludovic and a small band lead the battle to claim Ranhold and unseat the Baroness. |
| Date: | 2019-07-26 (DCS run on 7/26, ICly dated to align with Part 1) |
| Related: | The Battle of d'Rhandoul |
| NPCs: | Samira d'Rhandoul (NPCed by Ivo), Moira of Hellsmouth RIP (NPCed by Alia), Gaius Marcus RIP (NPCed by Ivo), Sir Big Horned Son of Little Horn the Third (NPCed by Ofrider) |
| Players: |
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| Ranhold Castle |
| The castle is dark and full of terrors. Also darts and angry Aequorians. |
| 1875-07-24 |
The town is taken and finally all but subdued and only the barricaded entrance to the great keep stands closed. Alas, this is the sort of job that a small group of talented knights will have to do, and so Ludovic finds himself outside the doors, dressed in his rather lovely full plate, with his visor up, and a scowl on his face. "Suppose I should get rid of that door. You all ready? We're not likely to be able to get backup once we're in there."
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Moira had done her duty and seen the enemy back across the bridge to their ships. She had waited long enough to ensure that none were left behind, before she returned to Ludovic, picking up her horse along the way. Of course, she had to allow her mount to go, as they prepared to assault the keep and that was a wrench, but there was nothing for it, "I am ready."
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Not to be left behind, Luixa has both a bow slung upon her back, and a poleaxe in hand. There's a few more of her blackshafts with her, ready to head inside. "Ready whenever you are." She calls out with a nod of her head.
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Maximus is in his full armor, sword and shield at the ready as he looks at Ludovic. "Ready when you are. Try not to loose the other eye." Its said in good humor, though Maximus has always been someone of a more grim shade of humor. Nevertheless, he looks at Moira and Luixa, giving them a nod as he prepares for what they are about to face.
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Ludovic rolls his eye at Maximus before clapping Moira on the shoulder. "Protect my head." and then simply strides up to the door and puts his hand on the hinge bearing sides. Crack. Crack. Go the first two stones. The third one just sort of explodes. Oops. Ah well. Job done anyway. The rather grumpy d'Korbina starts kicking in the now unsupported door. The front door leads directly into a large open area filled with the tables and chairs that show its used for dining. Inside that space is a middle aged knight with a look of experience about him and two rather doughty looking guards. All three poised to prevent you from getting deeper inside.
"Even I am not tall enough to reach that, Your Excellency," was Moira's spirited reply, as she stepped in towards Ludovic, moving to ensure that she would move into the room at the same time that he did. Her eyes went immediately to one of the guards on Ludovic's blind side and she dove forward, slashing at the man like he was a weed she was determined to hack out of her garden.
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It would seem that Luixa and Dovi share a similar thought, for as they step in, they both go for the same guard. The polearm in her hands is brought up, perhaps used as a distraction to allow the larger Dovi a chance at the guard. Her own attempt fails as the guard steps away to engage the larger man instead.
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Maximus rushed to attack the champion, his sword clashing with the large man's own, though he takes a glancing strike, which causes him to sigh a little bit. "Damn." he grunts, but he stays in the fight, rushing again to try and overcome him.
-
Ludovic notes Maximus peeling off towards the knight and turns his attention towards one of the guards in response. He knocks his visor down as he moves, leading into the younger opponent with a kick against his shield that is followed by a rather nasty bash towards his head. The guard fends off the worst of that swing with his forearm but its obvious its knocked him a little off center. "Why wont you damn well surrender" he gripes as he steps back to follow up with another swing.
-
Without his trusty siege engines Gaius Marcus feels almost naked heading into battle, but a Legionary is a Legionary, is a Legionary, and if this is where the legion needs him then this is where he goes. Gladius in hand and protected by his lorica he follows the forces into the keep, ready and raring to fight to add this new territory to the Empire. Advancing on the guard not attacking Dovi he offers a brief prayer to the One before getting stuck in.
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Perhaps Moira should not have hacked so vigorously at that guard, as he manages to evade her next strike completely. Thankfully, there's a handy engineer right there to step into the gap and she moves into motion to assist the Tribune, "Finish him off for me, would you?" Because help is always appreciated.
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Maximus must be tired from the fight. He seems to take a solid hit from the champion, being knocked down for a brief moment before he rises back to his feet, then he smiles at Moira as she assists him. "Appreciated, Moira." and he comes back into the fray, because this Champion stands in the way of their attack. "Together." he says to Moira.
-
The guard really should be worried, with two pitted against him. While he's distracted by Dovi, Luixa hits him from the other side, managing to bring first blood to the guard. A quick glance is given to Dovi when he takes the hit, but she is once more, ready to poke at the guard again, steps taken to keep her to one side always.
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Ludovic grunts as the guard retaliates against his previous attacks and the tip of his sword ducks to the right and manages to scrape the tip of his sword through the gap between shield and arm. There's a god awful screech of metal scraping against metal but neither of them seem overly affected. For now anyway. Anyone who's ever fought knows Ludovic's going to have quite the bruise in the morning. Ludovic gives a short nod to Luixa as he recovers. As much as an I'm fine as is likely to happen right now.
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Ludovic gives a frustrated grunt as the guard resists the efforts of both Luixa and him. He half steps back, getting a bit of space, and then he just unleashes hell on the poor guard. Its more vicious than skillful. The blunt side of the hammer missing the head and smashing into the mans shoulder instead. Luckily its enough. The man screams as his shoulder gives way under the force and collapses down onto the ground. Ludovic turns, looking for his next victim.
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Moira growled, yes she did, as she saw that old grizzled knight continuing his attack on maximus, and she tried to put herself into the space between them to try to take some of the attack onto herself. She ducked down, attempting to get him in the chink of his armor. Hopefully, she'll hit a kidney.
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After a good opening Gaius pushes forwards once again, not noticing that Moira has switched targets until it's too late to compensate for the gap on his flank. There's a clattering as the guard's sword hit's his armour, and he might bruise, but he's had worse in his time. "Lay down your sword and surrender, " he growls at the guard, "or defect. Take it from me, life in the legions can be very rewarding."
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Luixa nods to Dovi as the guard goes down with a scream. Yep, that's going to hurt later. Quickly does her gaze take on who's still up and fighting, her steps to lead her towards Moira and Max and the grizzled guard they both have taken on. Maybe she can lend a hand.
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Maximus takes ANOTHER hard hit. He falls onto his back for a moment, and he stands up, looking at the Champion, this time, he tightens his shield before he charges in AGAIN.
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Ludovic growls. "Just go down already." as the guardsman manages to fend both him and Gaius off during an extended exchange of strikes.
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Oddly enough, life in the legions doesn't seem to appeal to the guard, who takes another swipe that Gaius is unable to fully block. Sensing someone else coming in on his flank he tires to draw the guard's attention from the newcomer, let them attack from the side. It's a fine plan, but it doesn't exactly work, leaving him with another dent he's going to need to bash out of his armour later.
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Moira does manage to get in there at least a little, and as a result, the strike that the old knight intended for Maximus glances off of her instead, opening a line of blood on her arm. But it's only a flesh wound, right? She continues slashing at the knight, willing him to go down while he still can.
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Luixa is going to rue joining the other two facing off with the grizzled guard, isn't she? She thought she was being sneaky, but it seems the old guy has eyes on the back of his head. As she brings her polearm up to bear, he turns quick as anything, striking a blow that dents her own arm at her left side. Gaius isn't the only one who will be bashing out dents, it seems.
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Maximus manages to keep his ground, and not take damage this time! sheer luck! Though he doesn't manage to damage his enemy at all.
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Moira kept in close with the knight, clearly not about to let him get away. Not that he was going away of course, he wasn't hacking away at poor Luixa. Well, she couldn't have that. She simply pressed on, trying to force him to focus on her while the others chipped away at him. She prayed to the One that they would not all be this difficult.
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FINALLY. Maximus was able to get in a good strike at the side of the champion, keeping to the other side of the guard that Moira was opposite of. Twirling his sword, he narrows his eyes a little bit, as it seems now that the champion is facing them all. "Surrender. Last chance."
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With the fight now 2-to-1 for the Imperials it gets a little easier for Gaius to force the guard backwards until he bumps into a table and unbalances himself. In that moment, as the guard is stumbling the engineer ducks in and thrusts his gladius up under the ribs. It's not a pretty strike, but here's no doubting that it's effective.
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Ludovic's strike against the guard is once again parried but, spying a glint of motion from Gaius, he twists his czekan about, causing the guard to stumble as he attempts to free his weapon. And into that gap of opportunity strikes Gaius. Ludovic nods to the imperial, sets his shoulders, and heads over to the rather beleaguered d'randhoul knight. Shame he has to die.
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Luixa isn't happy now, and so turns on the champion. Her polearm strikes, gaining a bit of blood on it's tip, even as Max offers the man the chance to surrender. Pulling her weapon back, she remains ready to attack again, though waiting to see if the man will take Max up or not.
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Moira might not have been getting any hits in, but she was doing what she was intent on doing, namely, being a human meat shield, and she battled the knight, taking as much of his focus as she could, allowing her companions to gather their strength and to whittle away at the old knight's strength. She took another hit, this a slash of the sword against her hip, but her leg was still strong and she fought on. "We need to finish this and keep moving!"
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Luixa bids her time, thrusting her polearm forwards, tagging the old guard when he turns to hit at Moira. She gives a half-snort at the comment, shaking her head at some thought that passes through her head then.
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Rolling his shoulders slightly as he pulls his sword from the guard Gaius turns to the last surviving defender in the room. Sneaking round his back seems almost unfair on the knight, but it really is the only place left that the engineer can get a blow in given the press of imperials so he moves in, lines up his swing, and when the opportunity arises, jams the tip up under the guards shoulder, into the gap in the armour at his armpit. "Right," the grizzled engineer states matter of factly, "moving on."
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Finally the d'Randhoul knight sinks down to his knees as Gaius finishes him off and Ludovic lets his czekan's haft drop back down onto the floor so he can lean on it and flip up his visor. Gulping air in he looks around at the group. "Lets hope they don't have any more like him eh." He lifts his weapon again, gaze skipping over the somewhat battered party. "Lead the way Sir Moira."
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Moira nodded, as she heard the command given to her and she took a moment to look between the members of the group as she began to make her way towards the next room. She had never actually been inside this keep, so the room to come would be as much a surprise for her as it would be for everyone else. Except perhaps Ludovic because…family.
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The closest door, once open, will reveal what seems to be a bedroom. Yet, as Moira opens the door, there are a couple soft 'puffs' that come from the wall opposite. Flying over Moira's shoulder are several darts, three of which catch Dovi, Max and Luixa, others finding their way into the walls or chairs.
With the trap sprung, further examination of the room beyond shows a nice bedroom, furs covering the bed, a trunk at its feet. There are several nice clothes hung up on pegs, including a cloak.
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The last time Ludovic was in this castle was the wedding of Samira and Mahak many many years ago. If he remembers the inside it isn't obvious and besides… they weren't trying to kill him that time. He files in with the others and eyes the chamber with very mild interest. Mild interest that turns into surprised shock as he gets stuck with a dart in his cheek. "Dang it. Ouch." The dart gets yanked out and tossed aside and the door gets a glaring stare. He steps out then mumbling "Damnable buildings trying to kill us too."
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Ducking as he hears those pufts Gaius hears a dark fly over his head then steps into the room to ensure there are no other surprises lying in wait. Finding none he steps back out, taking a moment to wipe his blade on the fallen knight's cloak. "I suspect they've used their time while under siege to lay several such traps Senator," he notes, "it's what I'd've done."
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Ludovic just grumbles some more and slams his visor back down.
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Luixa doesn't file forwards, glancing around behind them as if to make sure no one sneaks up on them. Likely the reason she gets hit with the dart on her lower neck, right where it slides into her shoulder, "What th…?" A hand swats upwards, succeeding in driving it a little deeper before she can pull it out and toss away, "Here's hoping they weren't poisoned…" That would just be great, right?
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It would seem that the residents had failsafes in place, on the off chance that they needed to lead someone into a trap and not take injury themselves, as Moira escapes the flash of darts. The others are not so lucky, but they seem easily enough removed and she proceeds in with the others towards the next door.
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Maximus is hit with a trap. That's going to suck in the future, but at least a week goes by quick…or so they say. But, as the group presses on, they encounter a Bedroom. Simple items, a foot chest that can be opened, a bed, and a closet.
Yet, inside of this room are five guards, ready to fight for their lives against the trespassers. Maximus stands ready against the enemy, but what would the others do? Maximus charges for the leading guard.
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Ludovic manages to take the guard he went up against hard and fast. His attacks both purposeful and full of vicious force. Without saying a word, or even waiting to see if the guy he's felled is dead or just wishing he was, he moves to support Luixa.
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Luixa is prepared this time when the door opens to reveal the guards within. As they come charging out, she faces off with one. Hits are traded back and forth, neither getting the edge at first until finally she manages first blood, the polearm giving him a cut at his hip.
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Noting the appearance of more guards Gaius readies himself for battle once more, wishing it wasn't in quite such close confines. "I don't suppose you fancy defecting?" he grunts to his opponent, as they start to trade blows, the other replying by clattering a solid blow off his helmet. "Only asking," the engineer grumps back, as their blades clash once more, "no need to be rude about it."
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What were all these guards doing in one bedroom, that was what Moira wanted to know. They barely had room to turn side sideways, and all of that swinging weapons. Well, in for a hammer and all. She dive on, attacking the first guard she got to. They traded damage all in all, though at the end the other guy looked worse than she did. She could go a bit further.
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Its an ambush of course! What else could they have been doing?!
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Maximus is trading hits with the guard, a shield block there, a strike there, and he can't seem to get any kind of advantage over his enemy, and vice versa for the guard. In the meantime…
These guards are clearly putting up a fight. Ludovic easily kills one of them…but the battle is still raging on!
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When Ludovic sees how bad the blow was that Luixa's about to take he reacts by physically ramming the weapon out of the way. A streak of his own blood gets pulled away with the guards sword, a section of chain cut clean through by the force of his movement. A snarl and he slams his shield physically into the guards face and swings the blunt end of his warhammer at the mans face.. just as Luixa's polearm to hit home.. Judging by the way he collapses.. he's definitely dead. He turns his head to look at Luixa, grunts irritably, and then turns right back into the melee.
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Luixa is surely bracing for that hit, and then glares at Dovi as he steps up in front of her, taking it instead. One might get the impression that she thrusts that polearm of hers into the guard with a certain vigor that keeps her barely from hitting Dovi. There's an answering growl from the Blackshaft as she turns to help out someone else.
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Maximus stabs his gladius into the throat of the guard whom he faces off with, but then his eyes drift off to Ludovic and Luixa, watching them as they slaughter their enemy. Then his attention though moves to Moira, and he lunges at the guard she fights against! It was up to Ludovic and Luixa what they wanted to do now that their enemy was dead. There was certainly more killing to be done!
But the guards fight on, as if driven by determination to keep their foe away.
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Feeling himself being pushed backwards Gaius can't seem to turn things around and go on the offensive. Clipping his knee on the side of the bed he has to focus for a moment on keeping his feet and that's all it takes for the guard to get another shot in on his lorica.
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Splitting off from Ludovic, Luixa heads towards Gaius, sneaking up behind the guard he fights with. There's enough noise going on that it allows her to get in at least one quick stab before he notices her there. Ahah!
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Well, whatever those five guards were doing in a room, alone, with no supervision, Moira did not care. She really only cared about the guard she was fighting, each strike taking a bit of him until he was nearly dead. Only to be piled on by Maximus and Ludovic. Well, that was what he got, right!?
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Ludovic rips into the next guard and helps tear him up too before starting towards the final one. He falls before he gets there though. So he looks at the party. "We're starting to look pretty rough. Anyone wants to go back now's your chance. I'm bringing in another knight no matter what. Think we should continue myself but if we come across more than five guards we're gonna have to just barricade it up and come back. He gives the chest full of trinkets an uninterested look and stalks back into the dining hall-entrance. Time to see what's behind door three..
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Once steady again Gaius refocuses, noting that help should soon be at hand as the others finish off their targets. Getting a shot in to the guards arm he then focuses on keeping the man's attention while the others dogpile him from all sides. He'd rather have killed him himself than have to reply on help, but he certainly isn't going to turn it down, "much obliged," he mutters as the fifth and final guard goes down, "much obliged."
-
The guards are extremely dead. Eliminated with extreme prejudice. Maximus approaches the others and he opens up the lootbox, getting ten crowns to split amongst everyone evenly. Each person gets two! HOORAY!
But now it was time to move on.
What else could be waiting for them in this death maze?
-
At that being said, Sir Big horned son of little horn the third marches into the room, his moustache bouncing as he rests his sword on his shoulder, a free hand twirling his moustache "At your service." he says with a laugh that's probably a bit to loud.
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Luixa won't forgo some of the treasure. Nope, some will be tucked away. She's going to need to get someone to fix armor, after all!
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Heading up the stairs is a slow process, there are so many nooks an archer or musketeer could be hiding in, so many steps that could be trapped.. Taking it slowly and carefully the party make it to the first floor unscathed, leaving at least one to wonder why it was so easy given the difficulties they've faced so far. In front of them is a grand set of oak doors that can really only signify one thing, the great hall, perhaps it was a mistake having it so close to the entrance, but then it did make it that much easier for guests to be shown in for an audience. As they approach the door though some notice that there's something off about one of the flooring slabs in front of the doors, but before there is time to shout a warning the trap is sprung, and another flurry of darts heads towards the attackers. They might not be imaginative, but they do seem to be effective.
All seems quiet from within, but as they enter it becomes apparent that House d'Rhandoul is not quite on its knees. At the far end of the hall, on the throne of the Barony sits Samira, waiting. On either side of her is a guard, armed and armoured, and looking determined to make their stand count. As the doors open, the Lady rises slowly, stately, taking in the site of those arrayed before her before focusing on Ludovic. "Cousin," she says slowly, "I suppose my husband failed then? Sad, but there will be time to mourn him later, once I have completed his work. I challenge you d'Korbina, here and now, I demand you face me. If you have any scrap of honour left you will cast off those you hide behind and settle this between us."
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Ludovic steps forward into the room and pushes his visor up to show his face. "And when one of us loses. What then Samira?"
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Moira might have had the One's own luck avoiding the first trap, but she did not manage to avoid the second, and a pair of darts shot out and hit her in the face One impacted her jaw, scoring a line along her cheek, before it caught in the steel of the chain she wore at her neck, the other nearly costing her her eye, the bark gouging into her temple. She yelped in reaction, a very unknightly sound, tugging them out before she threw them to the ground and advanced into the room with the rest.
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"Isn't that obvious?" Samira replies coldly, almost mockingly. "Should you, by some foul and cursed means, defeat me, then there will be no one left to stop you from taking what is mine and handing it to your new overlords. On the other hand, should I put a final stop to your treason, your puppet masters will leave." She pauses for a moment, to let him consider if he has the courage to put himself to the test, then adds, "well cousin. What is your answer?"
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Sir Big Horned unlike the others, he ran up the steps humming happily, as darts enter into his arm with wacking thunks of metal being pierced he laughs "What little things to stop us knights lord." he says as he curls his moustache, trying to hide the pain of a dart in his armpit as he stares arrogantly at his enemies , chuckling like this 'ho ho ho ho'.
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"If I win." Ludovic replies. "Your remaining guards will stand down." he looks to his men. "And if I lose then you're all to retreat." Rather than putting his helm back on he pulls it off and hands it across to Moira before stepping into the gap between throne and companions. "Let's get this done with then."
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Luxia steps within, moving to the side. Her gaze is upon the baroness, and her guards. Slowly might she move, switching weapons, preparing to use her bow as needed. With the expanse of the great hall before her, she's better prepared to use the bow. The arrow is aimed towards one of the guards, making sure he doesn't try anything funny. Dovi's words leave her frowning, eyes narrowing further on those at the opposite end of the hall.
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Maximus seems to move counter clockwise to the side as he hears the deal. Narrowing his eyes, he seems to accept it, knowing full well that Ludovic is playing with some serious fire.
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Samira inclines her head in acknowledgement to Ludovic and his answer. "I'm glad to see that haven't managed to beat all of your sense of honour out of you cousin," she states as she descends from the throne, and takes a shield from the guard on her left. Drawing her sword she commands the pair of them, "do not interfere unless they do, should I fall, lay down your weapons and surrender." One of them tries to object to that but he's quickly hushed before she turns and steps forward holding her sword up in salute to her opponent before stating simply, "may The One judge my cause to be righteous, may he guide my hand in cleansing the accursed from these lands." Small talk over she takes a ready stance and nods to Dovi that they should begin.
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Ludovic shifts his shield up into the ready position and waits for Samira to start moving. He goes to meet her. Quickly its obvious that they are roughly equal combatants. Where Dovi is brutal and big, all brawn and momentum, she's got the advantage of being nimbler and his blind spot. After a little bit Samira starts to get the advantage. Perhaps it's the fact Dovi's elbow joint was already oozing blood before they even started. Perhaps it's because his hearts not in it. Perhaps she's just better than him. In any case Dovi is slowly giving ground, step by step, and her blade scores more than one hit. Nothing seems to have gone through his armor.. but how can you really tell?
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Sir Big Horned watches the battle as he twirls his moustache before whistling pulling his musket out with a rag, going to a knee to pull out a dart before polishing his musket, looking quite relaxed as he whistles loudly, but its obvious the musket is loaded, as he polishes it "Don't mind me, cleaning my musket, just you and me, baby." he sings to his musket like a lover might to a woman, grinning devilishly at the enemy guards "Like a sweet kiss…' he continues to blather.
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Luixa continues to hold a notched arrow aimed at one of the guards. Her attention shifts back and forth between the guard and the fight going on between Dovi and Samira. With each hit that the Baroness manages against Dovi, that frown grows upon her lips. There's a quiet mutter beneath her breath, likely a few choice words about Dovi's skills right then.
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Knowing his blindspot Samira makes a concerted effort to keep on that side of her cousin, making him turn, guess, keeping him from finding his rhythm, stopping him from settling into the fight. She's clearly not been the kind of lady to sit and sew for there is skill and grace in her movements as she darts this way and that, taking advantage of her nimbleness against his hulking bulk. Noting that she's slowly getting the upper hand she smiles slightly, but doesn't stop to gloat, she's too busy concentrating on the traitor in front of her, trusting The One to see her victorious.
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Maximus stays where he is. Though his hand is firmly placed on the hilt of his gladius. He looks around at the other Imperials, and he gives a nod. He would wait where he is for now.
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Moira was not pleased. Moira was not pleased at all. But she would make no move that would bring dishonour to her commander, and so, she simply waited, watching the two combatants move in to engage each other. She even managed to keep the wince that wanted to come to her face with each strike against Ludovic.
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Gaius frowns at the idea of allowing one fight to decide everything that has gone before, but until Maximus moves, he's not going to. He's watching carefully though, ready.
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Ludovic starts to turn the tide, driving Samira back as he gets his feet under him and starts fathoming out how to keep her off his right side. Amongst the chain of strikes and parries he manages to get in a solid blow and then a weaker one. Everything looks good. Then she strikes back. The tip of her sword gouges a line up his jaw that's going to make it hard to talk, even after he's had it stitched up, and blood starts to drip from the big knight in quantities sufficient to leave drips behind him on the floor. Never a good sign. He winces once as he moves, the shield clearly starting to feel heavier than it ought to, but there's no surrender in him. Not yet anyway.
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Confidence is a good thing, but overconfidence can be a problem as Samira finds out to her cost as she tries to push her luck just a little to far with an attack and gets hit solidly in return. "Ah, so you can fight," she goads Ludovic as she regathers herself and they trade blows once more. Testing him for weakness they dance around each other until she faints to the left before quickly reversing her swing and clattering a blow into his ribs. "I forgot to mention cousin," she starts, still on the attacks, "I would also accept the surrender of you and your newfound allies. I would of course hand you over so that your soul might be cleansed, but the others would be ransomed as is fitting."
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Big horn's polishing slows as he watches as he looks to the rifle and back, as he turns his moustache frantically.
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"Going back on our deal Samira?" Ludovic's voice has a bit of a slur to it. "I've no reason to surrender. ‘`especially not when all I get is a different death." He spits out some blood. "Worried the One’s not behind you?"
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Samira laughs at her cousin, "no, I will not break our agreement. I had merely been remiss in not offering you a way to save your soul. Take it, or leave it and be damned, I can but offer."
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Ludovic manages to bring his shield up just in time to save his head from another strike but then she's moving in to strike again and Ludovic is slow. So very slow. He tries to parry a blow and takes a deep gouge to his shield arm in return. After that he's barely able to use his shield and a moment later she hits him again, smashing into his shoulder, and Ludovic goes down onto his knees. For a moment he tries to get up but its very obvious he just can't.
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By the end of it Samira is almost toying with her cousin, fainting left, then right, moving around to his blind side and testing his resolve, wearing him out. There comes a point though when she just decides to finish it and ups the ante significantly, raining blow after blow on him until they get through his guard, arm first, then shoulder. The smell of blood is clear now, it's metallic taste hard to escape in the great hall. As he sinks to his knees she pauses for a moment eyeing him almost with pity before eshe steps to stand at his side and raises her sword to his neck, ready to plunge the point down and sever his spine. "May The One have mercy on your cousin, for I will not," she mutters, then begins her downwards thrust.
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Dovi can yell at Luixa later. As soon as he falls to his knees and Samira stands above him, her sword raised for the killing blow, Luixa's aim switches from guard to baroness. She lets it fly, aiming for the woman's head or neck, somewhere nice and soft and not covered by armor… and once that arrow is let go, she's quickly notching another with quick experienced hands.
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He had ordered them to retreat. That much was true, but Moira was not about to allow her commander to fall. That was simply not to be born. She was a Horned Knight, no matter whether Ludovic had been stripped of his spurs and in the eyes of Aequor all of his knights might as well have had the same. Moira lunged forward, moving to clear the distance between herself and Ludovic, though she was simply not fast enough to get there in time.
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Maximus suddenly draws his sword and shield, moving like lightning as he attempts to use his shield to block her blow, the sword moving to try and slice her across the chest. Hopefully, Ludovic would not die today.
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Ludovic closes his eyes and bows his head as Samira raises her sword. It's obvious he's given up. Perhaps he even accepting the righteousness of that victory and the cost that inevitably goes along with with it. But the strike doesn't come and the blackness is creeping in. More worrying perhaps is the fact that all those little stone, crystal and gem-like things that you find in a great hall are starting to get agitated. A small carved crystal sculpture literally jumps off a table and bounces several paces towards him before suddenly stopping when the big man finally collapses.
-
The Baroness screams in a mixture of surprise, pain, and fury as Luixa's arrow slices across her face, throwing her off balance and causing her blow to go wide. "HAVE YOU NO HONOUR?!" she bellows as she turns to face the onslaught of approaching Imperials, raising her shield to defend herself as Maximus and Moira crash into her. "Liers! Blackguards! Is that all that is left of your once mighty empire!" Her guards are on the move, one heading for Max and the other Moira as they try to give they Lady time to draw back and regroup, but she herself just raises her sword and swings once more. Determined to make a fight of this.
-
Gaius, simple soul that he is, sees the officers and knights rushing forward to take on the baroness, and decides that all things being equal he's better off stopping the two remaining guards who are rushing to intervene now the rules of the fight have been well and truly broken. Engaging with the left hand guard he is mildly surprised to him fall backa pace with an arrow sticking out of him, then be sliced apart by Max, but that doesn't mean he isn't somewhat relieved. Having no desire to get in the way of the Baroness he moves quickly towards the other guard, shield raised, and sword at the ready.
-
Luixa turns her notched arrow from Samira to the guard she first had in her sites when the two begin to charge into the fray and others get too close to the baroness to allow her shoot without worry of hitting one of them. Letting it fly, she gives but a brief smile as it hits home, quickly notching yet another and taking careful aim to see whom she might go for, trying not to get any of their own caught in friendly fire.
-
Moira had fought. With honour or without, it did not matter now. All that mattered is that she had fought. For her kingdom, and more importantly, for her commander. She would not regret it. Not when she felt the strike of the guard, and not even when she felt his sword slip between the plates of her armor and sink home. At least she would not be in the way of Luixa's shot, as the woman collapsed, thinking, in her last moments, how ironic it was that Ludovic finally, mercifully, looked peaceful. Perhaps she would find something of that herself. If the One willed it so.
-
Maximus cuts down a guard with no small amount of assistance, and he turns his head over to Samira, who catches him off guard enough to slice him across his cheek in a grazing blow. Uttering a small curse, Maximus enters a defensive position, and he enters single combat with Samira! Though if she could take down Ludovic….he looks over at Moira as she died, and his eyes flared with rage. He attacked Samira…because now it was now or never!
-
Recovering herself from the shock Samira fights alongside one of her guards until he falls. There's no cry of anguish from her now though, her face is set with steely determination as she takes aim at Max and manages to sneak a blow in past his guard and scars his face. "So, imperial," she spits at him, "do none of you keep your word, or is it merely you that is honourless?" FIghting for the very survival of her house she pushed forward as he does, clashing swords in a great cacophony of sound.
-
"More like that I made a promise that I am unable to break while I still breathe." Maximus retorts.
-
Luixa holds the notched arrow, and when the perfect moment comes, lets it loose as Moira falls. This time it flies true, striking the woman in the chest. The shaft sinks deep, and no doubt, there is a smile to be given by the Blackshaft commander, "Die, bitch.." Watching Samira fall, she turns towards the one guard still standing, and proceeds to take shots when she can. One hits, then a few others merely graze his armor as she tries to not hit Max or Gaius. But then Gaius falls, and she just growls a little more. Working with Max to tag team the guard, an arrow is finally launched, and succeeds to send the man over backwards with an arrow out the neck.
-
So, Maximus keeps Samira busy up front (not like that) and he proceeds to evenly duel her until Luixa is able to put an arrow through her heart! He then grips the Baroness's hair before she can even fall. He then is dealing with a guard, keeping him in a sword-locked duel and getting grazing hits…then Luixa steals his kill. He looks at her and he gives a nod. "Well done. You struck down the baroness and her guard." he smiles, before he uses his sword to decapitate the Baroness.
"If there are any more soldiers left in the castle, this will demoralize them or make them foolish." he bags the head. Before looking to Luixa. "I have Ludovic. Something tells me he's still alive." despite the blood he's probably lost by now.
-
If only Gaius had stuck to his siege engines, he might have lived to see retirement, and his own personal farm. As it is though, he has the inglorious fate of being killed in the clean up. Samira is dead, Ludovic is.. well… he might be dead too, but that one final guard just refuses to make things easy for the imperials and takes some small token of revenge on them by ending the engineers life, letting his blood run thick across the floor, mixing with that of the baroness, Moira, and the others who have fallen in this fight.
-
Luixa nods to Maximus, the current head honcho left. Looking to both Moira and the others that have fallen, moving to perhaps check them for life, her gaze sliding back to Dovi. "Get him to the healers.. I'll follow after I give some orders to the troops to come in and clean the other areas out. And disarm whatever traps might be left." Speaking of traps, she rubs at that place where the dart hit her earlier, feeling it's itchy sting.