Fort of Last Hope

[willhoff]

Daniella nods to Vrebel and tells him to see to it that it is done.

*Vrebel gathers the loudest Horns he can find and distributes them to Captain Griff on the West wall, Captain Kromlek on the South, as well as his own unit on the North.  Each horn has a unique tone and pitch so no one is confused as to which wall the sound is coming from.  He instructs the Captains to designate a blower at all times who's sole purpose is to alert the fort of incoming dragons and they better have keen sight and hearing and a good pair a lungs.*

[Script Wrecked]

Later in the day, perhaps even by evening after the captains have had a chance to meet their men and review their positions and even to make a change or two, the various commanding officers and adventuring types receive word that there is a meeting in the war room.

Though she has already explained their [POST=1717842]usage[/POST] to the ballistae crew, Argali makes a formal presentation of the dragon head ballista bolts to the Lady Commander and particularly the remaining Last Hope commanding officers. She makes a brief dedication to the fallen Fort Commander and Captain of the Wall.

Taking leave from the Lady Commander, Argali addresses those assembled.

"Firrstly, the ballistae have been deployed and obscurred," she makes a brief nod to Griff, "and arre the ready forr the action.

"Zecondly, she has instrructed the trebuchet crrew to ztarrt flinging the debris and rubble back at the enemy ziege engines. Alzo, that the trebuchet zhould be deployed back frrom the westerrn wall, preferrably behind the building to be giving it the coverr(1).

"Thirrdly," and perhaps more for the benefit of those not on the supply wagon expedition, "you should be awarre that the Childrren of Grrannoch have answerred Fatherr Mithril's call to honourr theirr pact. We werre honourred by theirr presence in the battle against the Drrachs to securre the supply wagons. Many paid the ultimate prrice to be helping us. Hopefully, morre arre making theirr way to be assisting the Forrt of Last Hope. Thereforre, do not be attacking any ztrray giants that arre making theirr way to the Forrt." She looks pointedly at the Fort's original commanding officers.

"Now, forr the moving forrwarrd. Argali has brrought herr collection of the Cloak of the Watcherrs with herr. Any of you who arre wishing to take the fight to the drragon, please be letting herr know."

She takes a brief moment for those to realise what that would entail before continuing.

"One of the principles of the warr is 'the best defense iz the good offense', no? To zis end she has two zuggestions. Firrstly, we zhould be harrassing the enemy's flanks. One method would be to zend the catapult orr zmall-trebuchet crews into the mountains. They would have the prrotection of the zcouts to make surre the way ahead of them iz clearr. Frrom the zides of the mountains, prezuming the catapult iz having the range and the enemy iz close enough, they arre to rain the boulders down on them.

"The enemy must react, eitherr by moving theirr trroops, orr by zending the rezponding forrce afterr the catapult. In the laterr case, the catapult crew brreak down theirr siege engine and melt away into the mountainzide. We then have the opportunity to ambush the rezponding forrce, which she believes arre likely to be the winged Drrachs orr the Myr'Drrachs, with the elite forrce of warriors. And if they arre zending the drragon, at least it cannot be drropping the boulderrs on the castle walls at the zame time."

Argali pauses to allow for the consideration of the audience.

"Herr zecond 'best defense' zuggestion iz to deploy the heavy infantry in the mountains to the north and zouth of the Forrt. Then, when the enemy zeek to overrun the Forrt, the heavy infantry make the pincer counterrattack on both theirr flanks. She cannot prromise zis will be enough to turrn the tide against zuch a larrge forrce, but it will make zurre they do not have everrything theirr own way."

She looks about for any response from those gathered.


(1) if it isn't already so deployed

[RollinsCat]

Under shelter from prying eyes, Andrew and the soldiers lay out the pieces ot the net-throwing device.  Beams, supports, connections...all of which make at least some sense...and the multitude of other bits and bobs, which do not.  Andrew scans the diagrams to see where each piece will eventually go, jamming his spectacles back in his pocket and using pinches of the amazingly expensive incense that fuel a song to sharpen his sight and clear his mind for recollection when he needs it.  One of the soldiers wiggles a hand for the instructions and Andrew hands them over and sits down with a thump, arms on his bent knees, waiting to see what the soldier can make of the tightly cribbed notes.

[cbnicholson]

Shrowded by the Dragon, Daniel makes the Fort of Last Hope gates, dismissing the shroud he calls out to the guards indentifying himself.  Who is in command here?

[Alatriel]

Shrowded by the Dragon, Daniel makes the Fort of Last Hope gates, dismissing the shroud he calls out to the guards indentifying himself.  Who is in command here?

Daniel is escorted through to find Daniella discussing something with Captain Argali.  She turns at the sight of him and as the soldiers introduce him and state that he was looking for the Commander.  She smiles as she sees him, but one could see the lines of worry and fatigue that have crossed her face in the recent time.

"Captain Poetr, welcome to the Fort of Last Hope.  As  you can see, we've been a bit busy here holding this place to its name.  I heard of your achievements in Audira.  Well done.  What can I do for you, sir?"

[cbnicholson]

Daniel tilts his head respectfully to Daniella and Argali both, "Thank you, but I did as was prescribed by my order, not for glory.  If you have need of a steady hand here in any capacity, I have come alone.  My forces remain in Auderia assisting the locals in rebuilding and truth be told, we paid a terrible price in lives to secure the victory there."  Daniel finishes with a bit of grimace thinking of the losses then he straightens his shoulders.  "It would be an honor to serve beside you once more, Lady Daniella."

[Harlas Ravelkione]

* A day after Daniel arrives at the Fort of Last Hope Kobal Bluntaxe arrives by a narrow mountain trail. With him he brings an ox - an old and scarred beast - laden with boxes and barrels.

Kobal seeks out his warriors already stationed at the Fort before announcing his arrival.

After a couple of hours he emerges with a polished armor and a freshly groomed beard from the camp of the Runic Anvil. He makes a round on the Fort grounds, greeting those he knows and dogding any boulders from above. Finally he seeks out the command room and formally announces his arrival. *

[mixafix]

A lone halberdier stands guard in the shadow of an Ilsarian  bard watching the arrival of the Dwarf in all his formal useless strutting and shrugs digging deep for words to cover the moment. His own uniform tailored and unusually clean he whispers words at the bard.
 
 "Halted against the shade of a last Fort,
We fed, and, bled so easy, were at ease
And, finding comfortable chests and knees
Carelessly slept.  But many Captains held court
 We to face the Drach, and Dragon wings unfurled
 Knowing our Halberds had come to the end of this our world."

[ystrday]

Ell spends most of her time tending to the wounded, sick and dying. She can be seen at other times sitting with the recovering soldiers, talking to them, helping them write letters to send to their loved ones, promising the soldiers their families will receive the letters. In her quiet moments, she writes down the events that have happened, the people involved and their place during this trouble time. Ell observes the mood of the Fort, the moral of the Fort writing it in her journal. Praying always, that the Gods will save them all.

[mixafix]

Arfur stops abruptly, folds away a cloak and produces another one from a pack which seems more suited to the mood of the evening. Emboldened by recent events he speaks directly to his charge Andrew, Bard of Ilsare.
 
 "Sir it seems our Free Company of Stone bound, a fine mix of heroes true, bold, and well some downright dangerous has a broad range of skills. Our little dalliance to the east surely showed that.
 
 Only I am a mere halberdier and will defend you till I fall but fall we will it seems unless...
 
 Well I was wondering if you could inspire one from this mix of a hundred or so Captains, Lords, Knights,Sorcerers and other assorted souls titled or otherwise, to go kill this undefeated monster of a General that leads the filthy foe?"
 
 Realising he may have crossed a line into the world of tactical thinking and operational decision making he shrinks back a pace and adds.
 
 "I'll just go and make another patrol then.."

[gilshem ironstone]

Gel'larian bumps in to Arfur during his patrol, and after the shock of seeing someone familiar in an odd context, smiles broadly.

"Arfur, I know you serve the Muse, I have something I need to talk to you about."

He puts an arm around the human's shoulders and has a quick word with him.

//PM Sent

[willhoff]

//back in the war room with Argali

*Vrebel listens to Captain Argali's tactical suggestions and with a respectful nod he chimes in*

Agreed Captain them giants fought bravely out there.  If we can get some them with rock throwin skills inside the fort they may be of use to us again.  We gotta hole stockpile of boulders pilin' up from those dragon attacks, ripe ammunition for a giant skilled in boulder chuckin'.  A well placed boulder on them seige weapons out there will put it outa commission and if it misses you've at least squished some mydrachs.  If we can find someone ta get on the wall ta direct their chucks that knows giant all the better *looks for Andrew*

As for the others things ya said I'll leave that to those more experienced with the rugged terrain surroundin the fort, breakin down balistas on the fly, and cloak jumpin dragons.

Let it be known every boulder them dragons dump on this fort is gonna be commin' back at em' with their name on it.

[Dezza]

// These events begin several days after the adventurers met with the Castellan and assumed various commands around the city under Lady Daniella's leadership with support from the recuperating Castellan.  I have tried to include as much of what people are undertaking as possible in the determination. If I have missed you I apologise. Let me know in a PM. I am also factoring into the events as they unfold the help and support, monetary, items, armour, weapons etc that people have donated over the years in preparation for these times.


Fires crackle and burn along the length of the western wall. So hot that some of the topmost blocks of stone crack under the intense pressure. All around is chaos, men and women screaming, wounded moaning, the dragon alert horns adding to the din. Flames roaring, a dragon rising ovehead roaring its triumph, Captain of the East Wall Griff yelling commands over the cacophany of noises. Nearby an undamaged trebuchet whirs, thumps and sends debris over the burning wall into the massed soldiers outside. The voices of thousands of soldiers thunder from behind the wall followed by a heavy dull thud then several more and then a few more after that. Heavy blocks of stone thud into the thick dwarven built eastern wall which shudders in sections and bits of morter crack away from where the blocks join.

For the last few days the enemies had continued an intense bombardment of the western and northern walls trying to weaken the thick stone. In between, Dragons would strafe both walls sweeping them free or archers and crossbowmen and women and trying to heat up the stone to cause it to crack when hit by the enemy catapults.

Lady Daniella made her way to the western Wall where once again the defenders are huddled at ground level in the shelter of the wall unable to get to its top due to the fire raging above. As she arrived the precious few mages available to Griff were casting several ice storms to try and put out the fires so the archers could resume their positions and stop the enemy undermining the wall from beyond.

Over the constant sounds of battle around them Daniella leaned towards Griff and yelled to be heard.

"Whats your assessment Captain?"

Griff, tired, covered in filth, soot and blood, parts of his clothing burnt from dragon fire responded witha dreary overview.

"We nay beh makin any ground yet ifn dats what yea meanin." He smiled through the grime and the attempt at humour in a dark situation. "Truth beh told, deh walls tough, but it nay be holding out under all dis stress forever. Dey keep poundin dis wall an Oi figure we got a week or so before dey weaken part of it enough teh really try an break through. Biggest problem is deh sappers. Dey workin out dere teh undermine us an we cannae get at em when our archers ave teh keep leavin deh wall when deh bluudy dragons strafe em. Oive lost a lot of good people in deh last few days already. Deh General out dere be canny, he moves his people up when we drop down an den he pulls em back outta range when we come up again. Our catapults cannae reach em half deh toime an when we do they spread out to avoid to many casualties. Oi tell ya dis Jaedan fellow is too clever by 'alf."

Daniella nods at the summary. "It's as much as we feared, I'm going to pull the mages off the southern wall, the Cult don't seen to interested in whats going on down there, they seem content to throw boulders at the wall and mount a few feints towards the wall. No doubt still testing its strength. I think either the North or west wall will be their main focus when they finally come again in strength. I'll get you some more mages, in fact I'll see if Iellwen can make it over here too. Also I think Argali has a plan mapped out to try and get one of those dragons tomorrow. I'm going to assign Captain Daniel to you as well, you'll need all the help you can get and he's been through this already in Sederra, he's experience might help. I'll send word when we know whats going to happen about the dragons."

"Aye. Send him over." CRASH...a huge thud occurs directly behind Griff that causes a tremour in the ground they stand on as a boulder slams into the outside of the west wall.


Daniella leaves Griff as he orders the archers back onto the section of wall the mages had put out the fires on and makes her way through the rubble strew fort surrounded by a dozen guards to the North wall. All morning the Cult forces had been assaulting the wall bringing up grappling rope ladders, makeshift ladders and even a seige tower trying to gain a grip on the top of the wall. As she got closer the sounds of the raging battle were like a thunderous din of steel on steel and the voices of thousands in the mix. Turning a corner of a buiding near the western edge of the north wall she look up to the battlements. A group of Myrdrachs landed on top of the wall and started tearing into the archers and crossbowmen gathered there. As arranged a heavy pikemen team race from a nearby protective embrasure in a neat line forming a wall of steel points trying to force the Myrdrachs to retreat. Two launched back into the air and well trained crossbowers using heavy bolts aimed at their wings putting numerous holes in them and forcing them to turn and flee. The other three came on tearing through the defenders. Daniella uttered a short prayer to Toran, drew her glowing blade and raced towards the nearby steps takling them two and three at a time followed closely by her own men and women. Several bodies tumbled from the battlements and past her as she raced higher and higher. Reaching the top she paused a moment to regain her breath and then charged the Myr'drachs. Around her she felt the presence of her Toranite guards as they too followed her faithfully into battle. The Myr'drachs felt their blades in their backs and turned to face them wherupon the well trained pikement staggered to their feet and drove their heavy adamantium steel tips into the creatures from behind. Roaring in anger the Myr'drachs were assaulted every which way they turned. One sought to flee leaping off the battlement but not before Daniella's sword cleaved its wing in two. The creature plummeted to a sickening thud far below crushing some of those assaulting the wall.  The other two were cut down but not before another two soldiers lost their lives to the creatures ferocious claws. Order was restored once again for a moment and Daniella had the chance to gaze out over the battlement mindful of enemy archers.

She swallowed hard to see the size of the forces facing the Fort. On every side is was almost the same, thousands and thousands of soldiers, Myr'drachs, mages, clerics of all sorts in vast campsites spread over miles of land around the Fort. Rising from them were tall seige towers almost ready for assaults to come and beyond that heavily fortified positions where theur numerous seige engines and catapults were ceaselessly pummeling the walls of the Fort. She leaned back against the crenallation, closed her eyes for a moment and prayed for Toran to help them in the face of such adversity. Then, determination in her stride she pressed forward encouraging the soldiers she passed, sharing words of wisdom and giving directions. Halfway along the wall she passed through a tower to emerge into...chaos.

Several ladders of the cult were up against the wall and at least twenty Drachs were on the wall fighting hard to make space for the hundreds of others already making their way up the ladders. The allied soldiers were falling on their with a savagery that only war can produce. At the far end of the battle Daniella could see Vrebel engaging two Myr'drachs that had landed on the wall to try and help with the breach. He had already suffered a number of injuries but was holding his own.

Once again Daniella ordered her guards forward and they crashed into the ranks of the Drachs on the walls. Even as they fought more and more poured from the ladders into the breach forcing back the defenders on the top of the wall. The fighting became furious and bloody and raged back and forth, slowly by sheer weight of numbers the Cult began to get a larger space allowing their people free access to reach the top of the wall.

Daniella found herself engaged on several sides and fought furiously at the same time as yelling for the reserves from the tower to engage the soldiers on the wall. They had to drive them back, they could not lose the wall.

After what felt like an eternity dwarven warriors suddenly poured up the steps from the street below and onto the wall. Captain Thrakson and Thane Kobal side by side and leading hundreds of dwarves of the Runic Anvil thundered into the melee. The sheer force of their charge carrying the defenders with them as they pushed the Cult soldiers back, back further and further, axes chopping and cutting. The defenders rallied and within half an hour were using long pikes to push the Cult ladders back over the seething mass of soldiers below.

With the threat averted Vrebel, covered in blood and stonedust presented himself to Daniella with a calm salute and a cheeky grin.

"That was a close one. Those Cultists as tenacious I'll give them that."

Kobal regarded the young bladesmith with a critical eye.  "Aye, dat dey are, you just watch yerself laddy and give em what for."

Daniella took in both of them. "How longs this assault been going for Captain?"

"Nearly three hours now, all the way along the wall they are trying to get those bloody ladders and grapple hooks over the edges. We are spread out right along the line. I dont like it, they could gain anywhere along its length. I've had to station troops in each tower as back up. I had the Thane and his dwarves moving up and down the wall from below to watch whats going on and provide support where necessary.

"Good tactics Captain, Howe much longer do you think they can keep it up for?"

Kobal spoke up then, "Given deh numbers out dere Oi figure dey beh testing us pretty good this time, meybe a few hours more yet."

Daniella sighed trying to quickly calculate numbers in her head. "Alright, I'll send up two reserve units from the centre of the fort they can provide support at each end of the north wall in case you need them. As you say we are getting spread pretty thin."

Both men nodded and returned to their duties as the Commander left the wall.

Daniella headed south passing through the main bouvac in the centre of the town. She spoke briefly with Knight Captain Alerancy to arrange the additional soldiers for the northern wall then round a corner of one of the many stone buildings inside the fort to a relatively quieter area to see Gel'larian, Andrew and Arfur entertaining the off duty troops with a makeshift concert. Nearby Andrews shadow, Portlie watched carefully.

Around the area were men and women in various states of armoured dress, dirty, tired lounged around the large area or sat quietly in groups, content to listen to the music and stories of the trio in between their turns on the walls. Many present had lost friends and family in the last few weeks and there seemed no chance of any end to it at this stage.

Arriving soon after at the southern wall it was eerily quiet. Only the sounds of many voices, the occasional thudding of boulders on the wall or over it at times could be heard. Archers lined the walls and men were in huddled camps at its base taking the opportunity presented to rest. Daniella soon found Kromlek on top of the middle section of the wall with several soldiers standing over three Hilm soldiers who were bound and gagged.

"Whats going on here Captain Kromlek? Why are these men tied up?"

Kromlek snapped a salute then proceeded to kick one of the soldiers.

"Stop that Captain, tell me whats happened here?" Daniella's eyes flashed angrily.

"Dese here beh traitors, Oi caught dem meself near deh gates an hour ago messing wit deh mechanisms. Lord Herdferd had an engineer look at deh damage. Dey was trying teh mess wit deh lowering bits of deh gate so it would could be lowered fast an not beh raised. Deh gates can beh fixed but it going teh take a day or so."

"Remove that mans gag." Kromlek leaned forward and roughly ungagged the man who coughed and sputtered and cursed the dwarf, getting a hard cuff on the head for his efforts.

"Enough Captain," snapped Daniella. Her anger rising she leaned forward and cusped the mans chin roughly in her hand. "Is what the Captain said true? Were you trying to disable the gates for the enemy?"

The man hawked and spat at her before replying, "Long live the Cult! Death to all who oppose them."

Daniella's eyes flashed angrily and she stood straight ignoring the mans spittle running down the thigh plate of her armour. In a quiet voice, a voice almost trembling with anger she addressed two of her guards.

"Take these men to the dungeons and secure them there. Notify Captain Daniel to determine their official guilt and then to administer their punishment. I believe the punishment in Hilm for traitors is death by hanging."

The guards salute promptly and grab the bound men leading them away. Daniella turned to Kromlek her face white with anger.

"Report Captain."

Kromlek brushed a hand down his matted beard. "Been fairly quite loike. Oi heard reports from deh odder walls about deh foightin but apart from deh attempted sabotage dere been a few sorties against us but nuthin firm loike. Oi got deh men and women rotating in shifts to rest em up gud in case deh do pull somethin."

"That will be all Captain. Keep up the good work." Daniella turned to leave as Kromlek gave an enthusiastic salute.

[davidhoff]

*Griff's dust-circled eyes peer through at Daniella through the visor in his helm*  Aye Aye Commander, O'll keep ye posted on how tings goi'n.  *Griff then straddles his legs to keep balance as the tremour shakes the ground.*  Beh good tah get Daniel n Iellwen over 'ere, gona need em.  

*Griff turns suddenly as he watches in terror as the mages cast ice storms to put out the fires*  Stop dat roight now ye book-read'n-no-common-sense magicers!  Whacha tink'n?  *He gathers the mages together to have a talk* Aye ye lot beh needed 'ere fer sure, but ye nay go'n do'n tings unless Oi tell ye see?  Put'n ice on a pitch'n hot rock gon'a crack it fer sure; never moind deh ice boulders dat spell drops ain't help'n things.  A quick blast a wind beh betta n weh gona need some wata.  If'n ye wana cast yer ice storms aim dem at deh blasted enemy out der.  *After which the mages use gusts of wind to blow out the flames and cast their icestorms at any drachs within range.  Buckets of water are used sometime after the wall's cooled a bit.  He instructs the water buckets also be poored over the enemy side of the wall to reduce their ability to flame that side*

*Griff then goes to the trebuchet operators launching chunks of rock over his West wall at the enemy*  Aye laddys ye do'n a good job, but weh gota change tings up cuz der onta us.  Oi want ye tah start us'n different soize objects tah chuck.  We gota keep em guess'n.  Oi want ye tah lure em in with deh big ones at first, den once deh tink deh got us ranged, weh gona go wit lil mixed bag of bullets.  Aye, get ye some fist-soized metal bullets or mountain stones and fill dat launch-bugger up.  They not gona be able tah see all dem lil bullets com'n at once and we take more a dem out wit a bigger spread.  After dat, ye can keep em at range wit a mid-soized stone *puts two fists together* about twice dis soize.  Dat give us deh farthest launch meh tinks.  Dat way it'll take em longa tah get to deh wall when deh try.  Soon as deh come in close again...swich back tah deh bundle a bullets, n repeat dis tactic.

*When Daniel and Iellwen arrive he would greet them with kindness and respect, but would get right down to business.* Aye Danny in Ell, glad tah see ye both.  *He explains the status of the wall and the attacks upon it*  Aye, deh dragons keep swoop'n down n mess'n up meh archers, so Oi can nay keep any steady foire power on de blasted drachs dig'n under meh wall.  O've instructed meh men to start dropp'n chuncks ov rock over deh soide tah fill deh holes, but dat jus slow'n dem down.  Any oideas? *Griff removes his helm briefly to shove half a pork sandwhich in his mouth and chase it with some warm beer.*

[Script Wrecked]

// FYI, a ballista is similar to a giant crossbow, and typically shoots (ballista) bolts, though occasionally spherical stone projectiles.

Catapult is a generic term for any projectile thrower, but most people tend to associate it with a "rock lobber"/"stone thrower", such as a mangonel or onager (note that the design of both of these siege engines has changed over time).

The trebuchet is the ultimate medieval stone projecting engine. //

[miltonyorkcastle]

Steel continues to be conspicuously absent, from both council and the battles in Hilm, after disappearing almost immediately following the battle for Audira.

[Dezza]

// The very next day...

Daylight, wan and fragile appears over the walls of the Fort. Already much activity has been going on for most of the night. The unceasing assaults on the walls of the fort have continued from the enemy catapults. At irregular intervals dragons have straffed the walls of drops large rocks onto areas of the city. Some of them so big it takes a dozen dwarves to move them.

Sleep is hard to come by and by now the soldiers go about their tasks with a detached automatic response. The northern wall assault from the day before lasted a lot more than a few hours. Only ending after dark with the Cult forces withdrawing leaving large numbers of dead against the walls. The Cult lost a lot of lives in the asssault but every attack whittles the numbers of defenders as well.

On the West wall by days end one of the eight wall towers collapsed into ruin taking with it an entire unit of archers. For the rest of the night the many of the Cult catapults began targeting the wall around the collapsed tower to try and make the most of the weaker section of wall. Captain Griff having to bring up a dwarven stonemason crew to try and shore up the wall from inside the fort as best they could.

By midmorning the dragon horns sounded again as they were want to do at irregular intervals. On the southern wall. Kromlek stared into the ever lightening sky and chewed on a tough bit of salted beef. Arrayed on the wall for hundreds of metres on either side of him were his crossbowers, archers, mages, clerics and backup groups of pikes and heavy infantry. Almost eight hundred soldiers in all spread across five hundred metres of heavy dwarven stonewall, complete with crenallations, archer holes and eight reinforced towers, two of which were larger ones that joined the corners of the east and west wall.

Kromleks eyes widened slightly then narrowed, his jaw working on the salted beef as he considered his options. There was nothing he could do.

"FALL BACK, GET TO THE GROUND. ABANDON THE WALL!"

Those who had been looking at what he was looking at fled immediately, rushing for the many stone stairways that led up to each part of the long wall. Those who hadn't seen what was coming stayed moments longer before they too turned and fled. Inside the Fort resting units of soldiers wondered if the walls had finally been overrun with hundreds of soldiers from the southern wall appearing to be fleeing their positions and flooding into the fort.

Lady Daniella, Knight Captain Alerancy, Lord Herdferd and Captain Nelson came running from a nearby street where they had been discussind the upcoming use of Captain Argali's famous bolts later that day. Daniella actually cursed thinking the walls had been overrun and started screaming orders at the fleeing soldiers to get back to their posts. Then she saw Kromlek in their midst and realised many were looking fearfully over their shoulders at the southern wall but there were no pursuers. Shouldering her way through the soldiers she reached Kromleks side about to demand answers when a terrible roar thundered around the area and there was a terrific crash and dull rumble. The very ground trembled and many were shaken from their feet.

The thunderous roar and crash were heard all around the fort and the resultant explosion of earth and stone, dust and flame was clearly seen by the defenders on each wall.

"Toran grant us strength, what is it now!" Daniella raised her shield to protect her from falling chunks of rock and dust that once belonged to the central two towers on the south wall, one on each side of the gate. Both had disintegrated in the thunderous explosion and as she watched the terror unfold she saw why.

Massive claws suddenly appeared over the top of the wall and tore a chunk out of the wall as if it was a piece of clay. Then great gushes of elemental fire licked around the small cracks in the huge main gate. Even as they watched in abject horror the gate seemed to glow bright red, the metal bindings in some places melting to liquid steel. the heavy timbers in the gate, soaked in anti flame and heat liquids for regularly for ages seemed to resist but streams of what looked like sweat blistered and peeled off the inside of the gate.

Daniella turned and roared as loud as she could.

"Form up! Get me every available crossbower and archer. NOW! Get that Ballistae turned around! NOW.  Soldiers form defensive lines."

Chaos seemed to strike as suddenly soldiers were running everywhere. Kromlek, Daniella and the other leaders present did their best to form lines and prepare hasty defensive positions in the street inside the gate entrance.

Partway through their organisations the gate exploded sending shards of wood into the air and into the fort. Men and women screamed as shards of wood impaled them and they collapsed on the ground while healers and medics who had rushed to the area dragged them back into the nearby streets to tend to them.

Fire engulfed the tunnel into the fort where the gate once stood, bright pools of molten metal covered the ground. Broken rubble that was once the two towers and part of the top of the wall lay in scattered heaps around the ground.

Then rising above the shattered remnants of the wall a monstrous red dragons head appeared as if watching the soldiers gathered and daring them to try and stop it. It used a claw to tear another huge stone block from the wall almost casually and flicked it towards the soldiers. It crashed into their ranks crushing five and injuring more before it came to rest against a nearby building. Up and up the dragon rose until it stood at its full height. Even on the ground outside the fort the dragon still towered over the high walls.

The dragons head extended over the wall and its voice boomed loudly.
"You think to defy my strength and power. See now how the strongest thing you can build is torn apart so casually by my power. You will rue the day you turned against me. Argali the Traitor. This is my vengeance!"  He sucked in great volumes of air and Daniella, realising what was coming ordered the soldiers to retreat. Some did, but many didnt hear the order and were standing in awe and horror at the monstrous dragon towering above them that had so casually wrought destruction on the south wall.

Vast sheets of flame poured into the fort engulfing hundreds at once, igniting the buildings nearby and even cracking the stone paving on the street.  Those outside the main area of the devastating enferno instinctively began lossing arrows and bolts at the creature. Most bounced off without any effect and the dragons head snaked towards them and its roar bellowed forth sending waves of fear into the men and women. Most fled at that point, those remaining many fell to their knees whimpering and cowed by the terrible sight before them.

In the midst of it all Daniella and Kromlek worked to try and prevent the rout going on, trying desperately to salvage some sort of hope amidst what they were facing. with adventurers spread out all around the keep there was no hope they could assemble and face the dragon in a combined way before it had torn half of the fort to pieces.

Suddenly a terrible thought entered Daniella's head, Did the dragon know about the special ballistae bolts that Argali was even now preparing. IN the chaos she called out to Kromlek.

"Do what ever you can to hold him here, I've got to see to Argali's position."

"Aye lass, yea do dat." Kromlek gazed up at the massive dragon, then the raging fires in the street and on the buildings nearby, the dead and dying and the fleeing soldiers all around him. "Oi'll...do somethin bout dis mess." He slipped his trusty axe of his back and muttered. "Well, guess dis beh as gud a day as any teh die." He strode into the burning street and stood on a patch of ground that wasnt burning yet and used the wings of his axe to flash sunlight into the dragons face to draw its attention.

"Come on den ya big lizard, come and play wit da liddle dwarfie!" Under his breath Kromlek added, "An Oi'll shove me axe roight up yer ..." The last word was cut off as the dragon roared once more and heaved its massive bulk onto the broken wall of the Fort. It flicked its claws and several more stone blocks tumbled to the ground with great thuds. Then it dropped down into the fort itself and stood opposite Kromlek almost regarding him as a predator regards its next meal.

Suddenly five Myr'drachs appeared over the wall and started to descend into the area. The Cult in the chaos created by the dragon had sought to move into the breach the dragon had opened up.

Several expletives emerged from Kromleks mouth as he watched the new adversaries enter the battle. But his mouth dropped open in suprise as the Dragon seemingly annoyed at the intrusion on its attack lashed out with claws and wings smashing the five Myr'drachs into bloodied pulp within moments. Then its long sinuous neck disappeared into the tunnel where the gate once was and it breathed flames out of the tunnel to the area outside the fort where two divisions of Cult Drachs had marched up to the fort. The lead ranks were engulfed in blistering fires instantly and the rest fell back under the intense heat. The burst of dragon flame so hot the tunnel was impenetrable for some time due to the heat of the stone and the flames on the walls outside.

The Cult stopped in their tracks the Dragon turned back to Kromlek just as Vrebel came racing up from the northern wall having sprinted the entire way through the fort, then Griff appeared, Iellwen and others fanning out and taking in the scene of destruction.  The Dragon regarded them all then spoke aloud.

"I give you this warning now. If the Cult do not take this fort then in one month I will return and level it to the ground. Such will be my vengeance. And to prove that I will do this I leave you this reminder."

He flapped his massive wings and leapt into the air, from below arrows, bolts and magics flashed up to try and hit the massive dragon but none seemed to have any effect on the monster. Ayes watched in abject fear and frustration as the dragon reached the Forts main tower where the Fort Commander dwelt and where the Castellan now recuperated. All the tactical planning, support staff and administrative staff, the portal to Fort Hilm all resided in that building.

A sick feeling in many peoples stomachs, the Dragon crashed its body into the wall of the building and tore it to shreds with its massive claws, great chunks of rock, people, cupboards everything was torn apart and then it breathed into the interior several times, and when it was done the tower was a blackened ruin of debris. Only then did it roar its defiance and fury to all those present and launched into the air.

"ONE MONTH" was bellowed to all those in the fort.

Outside the Cult hesitated at first then tentatively moved forward to try and exploit the breach in the southern wall.

Kromlek started shouting orders to every available man and women trying to restore some semblance of order. Those who came to his aid joining him preparing for the Cult soldiers massing outside the gates.

The signal of a wall breach echoed across the fort and every single available soldier in the place flooded towards the south wall reaching there just as the Cult Drach elite squads starting pouring into the fort. The battle for the south wall was engaged.

On the western wall, with Griff gone to the southern breach Captain Daniel assumed command. Within moments of the wall breach being signalled the Cult at the west wall signaled their advance and before long Daniel was engaged in ensuring no breach occured on the western wall.

On the Northern wall, with Vrebel at the south wall Thane Kobal assumed command and prepared as the Cult massed troops to begin their charge. Up and down the line Kobals orders flew from mouth to mouth and within minutes the Cult were charging across the land outside the north wall to engage them.


Battle raged all around the Fort, everywall, every soldier committed while inside the Fort the main tower of the Keep was a smoking ruin. The Castellan and numerous others killed, the plans and tactics room gone, the portal and the Lucindites watching it, gone.

Daniella surveyed the scene of carnage even as several soldiers picked through the debris trying to find survivors. Frustration was evident on her face. For a moment she stopped and closed her eyes wishing Toran would tell her what to do to stop all this madness. But, there was no response. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Just in time to hear the dragon horns whirring again. She hated those horns and everything they represented. A stern look appeared on her face and she summoned her guards and raced back to the compound where Argali was madly preparing her bolts for the ensuing attack.

She reached the compound. Heavily fortified and covered with campflauged canvas she ran into the bustle of the area to find Argali sitting on the back of one of the ballistae.

"Its time Argali, we need to do this now or we are going to lose the Fort today!"

Argali glanced down at her with grim determination. "We're ready!"

Tense excitement fileld the ballistae crews and Daniella gave the word and messengers raced to around the fort to their designated points.

Moments later one cult dragon straffed the western wall, forcing a temporary retreat and as it reached the southern corner town of the wall and started to lift up Net launcher crews on top of the tower fired their gnomish nets under Andrews supervision.

Four nets opened up, the first one fell shrot and dropped onto the cult soldiers below the wall. The second caught over the dragons claw and draped there with little effect. The third snarred a wing and the fourth went over the creatures head. As the surpised creature struggled the nets tightened it further.

Anger took over and the dragon became oblivious to its surroundings. Its wing partially constricted it crashed into the top of the wall and struggled and fought to free itself from the nets capturing it.

Meanwhile in the centre of the Fort dwarven crews worked the mechanism to hoist three of the ballisteas clear of the buildings around them. This was the dangerous bit, up in the air they were sitting ducks. Spotters shouted commands and Argali worked the mechanism to rotate the ballistae and then set the elevation.

Looking down her sight Argali lined up the dragon thrashing about on the western wall as did the other two crews with her. "FIRE" she shouted and released the lever. There was a thud and a kickback and her bolt arced over the fort towards the Dragon. Two more thuds followed hers and there was a pregnant pause as people held their breaths to watch the glittering bolts fly through the air.

Argali's first bolt flew true and thudded into the creatures back, a second followed and thudded into its read leg and the third into its neck. The dragons screams of fury and pain could be heard across the fort followed by three low detonations. The dragon kicked and struggled feebly for a few moments more than collapsed and slid down the wall into the fort below where the soldiers fell on it with pikes, axes and swords, venting their hatred for the creatures and their incessant attacks on them.

Almost simultaneously on the north wall another dragon straffed the wall facing the same net throwers where Portlie and Arfur stood on top of the tower on the corner of the north and western walls. This time three of the nets scored direct hits tangling the dragon so well it collapsed in a mass of claws, wings and teeth into the soldiers on the wall. Charging along the wall Kobal gathered some of his Runic anvil soldiers that had helped him take down the dragons in Sedderra and en masse they raced to reach the dragon Kobals loud voice booming at soldiers on the wall to get out of his way.

In Argali's compound another three ballistae's had wound up and were setting their sites on the struggling dragon and within minutes of Argali and her crews bolts hitting home the second crew released theirs.  The first two bolts thudded into the dragons body while the third missed and hit the wall sending up a shower of sparks and embedding itself up to its neck in the hard stone. Then they detonated, the dragon staggered around, still alive but mortally wounded. The third detonated exploding the stone around it and sending stone shrapnel into the nearby soldiers and causing Kobal and his men to duck for cover from the explosion.

Getting to their feet, several with bloody shrapnel wounds the Runic Anvil Dragon killers as they were fast becoming known, led by Kobal leapt into action and within a short time the dragon breathed its last breath.

The last remaining dragon descended over the north wall seeing the ballistae positions in the centre of the fort and aimed directly for the raised platforms.
Argali could do nothing but watch as the dragon flew towards her position, her own ballistae empty as were the others around her. Even as she watched the remaining three ballistae were being wound up into position but it looked as if they wouldnt make it. Time seemed to go into slow motion. The first ballistea clicked into position and the crew was setting the bolt head. The second one mere seconds later the third a second after that.

Mechanisms whirred and turned, clicks, elevations, settings. The dragon reached the first ballistae and the crew in it dived off for cover as the dragons claws bit into the machine itself.

THUD, the first bolt was away, tearing a great hole in the creatures wing and continuing on into the fort somewhere.

THUD, the second bolt released, teh dragon crushed the ballistae in its claws and roared in fury at the hole in its wing. The Bolt flashed passed its neck cutting a red streak through its scales but finding no purchase. The deflected bolt struck another ballistae mount and detonated destroying it instantly.

THUD, the third bolt penetrated the back leg of the dragon and passed through the other side detonating while hanging out of the creatures leg.  Bleeding heavily from its injuries the dragon flapped as hard as it could. nearby two net launchers tried to prevent its escape to no avail and the creature flew away to the north leaving a thick trail of blood.

Cheers reverberated around the centre compound and Argali received many claps on the back for the damage they had wrought on the dragons.

Outside however battles continued to rage on the north and western walls but without the dragons to strafe them the allied archers and crossbowers took a heavy toll on the beseigers.

The southern breach battle lasted all day and well into the night with every available reservist thrown into the conflict and it was only when Daniella ordered the eastern wall stripped of soldiers and the rest sent to reinforce the southern wall were the Fort defenders able to push the last Cultists out of the Fort.

The rest of the night was spent trying to shore up the badly damaged southern wall and by morning the Cult were moving divisions of soldiers and some of their catapults from the northern wall around to bring them against the southern wall.

By midday the Fort looked exactly what it was, a war zone, but at least the dragons did not return. Daniella had ordered one of the remaining Lucindites to teleport back to Fort Hilm and tell them of the events of the day before and of the lost portal.

And as the day progressed more and more Cult soldiers began to gather on the plains south of Fort of last Hope.

[RollinsCat]

The net throwers worked better than he'd imagined, although not for the purpose he'd originally intended.  One of the soldiers helping him, it turned out, had a gnomish nanny growing up.  He thanked Ilsare that there was one person who could read the instructions.  Assembly had been interesting, doubly so when they realized there were plans for two - not exactly the same ("we thought you'd like to test the improved model as well as the original model!") and they had to figure out which went with what.  Thank the Muse thrice when the contraptions had been mercifully simple to use, if murderously difficult to put together.  Arfur and Portlie had been alternately hanging about and he pressed them into service on the ("New!  Improved!") model while he and the soldiers commanded the original prototype.

They'd tangled one dragon for Argali's bolts to finish, although he'd sung a song for the Heartsong's loss, and chased off another, badly wounded.  They'd also used most of the nets.

He clambered down, singing as he did for those around him, and went to find more net material and metal hooks for the tightening laces.

[Alatriel]

After the fighting was over and Daniella had seen to the orders of getting the wall repaired and sending back soldiers to the abandoned wall, seeing that the soldiers resumed shifts of rest to keep them as fit as could be in such conditions, Daniella retreated to an interior room of the fort, one of her soldiers following her while the other stood guard outside.

"I just need a few moments to pray, Sgt Davidson.  Could you please collect me in twenty minutes?  Unless something happens of course."

Sgt Davidson hesitated some.  "Commander, may I speak freely?"

"Of course, Sergeant," Daniella replied, her fatigue evident.

Sgt. Davidson looked at her with a respectful, but concerned expression.  "You know that I will follow whatever order you give me, Lady Commander.  I have no doubt in your ability to lead us here and see to the needs of those here at the Fort so that we can hold as long as possible."  He hesitated again.  "So if you tell me to collect you in twenty minutes, I will do so.  But perhaps you could take a bit longer.  If something happens we will let you know, but take advantage of what time you can to pray... and sleep.  You see that we all get our shifts to recover, but as the days go on you take less and less hours at a time for yourself.  I would simply let you sleep as a kindness, but please do not make me defy your order."

Daniella listened quietly as the concerned soldier spoke, and as he finished, she smiled, a weary smile of one who has been awake for far too long.  "Thank you, Sergeant.  Sometimes I forget.  You humble me by your concern, and I am grateful.  Give me five hours.  Wake me at once if the alarms sound or if anyone needs me."

Sergeant Davidson let out a breath of relief.  "Yes, Commander.  I'll see if I can find someone to bring you a bit of water to wash off the blood from the day."

"Thank you Sergeant"

Sergeant Davidson saluted crisply and turned, walking away, his armor clanking with each step.

Daniella closed the door and began to slowly unbuckle her armor of blue dragonscales that almost felt like a second skin in recent days.  Before she finished there was a knock on the door as she was brought a small bucket of water and a couple rags.  Daniella began the slow process of washing the gore from herself as well as her armor while she spoke softly as if to a trusted friend.

"Toran, I would tell you of what happened today, but I know you saw.  One month.  The dragon says he will give us one month and if we are not destroyed by one enemy, he will come and destroy us.  

"Nothing is ever easy, it seems.  I remember a time when another Dragon gave an ultimatum.  Is this any less important?  I look out on the faces of those men and women, dwarves and elves and human alike, and I pray for each of them, that they'll remain strong and have faith that we can and will win out.  But, Toran, I look to the horizon and I see what lies ahead.  Each time we lose someone.."  She stops and takes a breath.  "Toran, how could those men... soldiers of Hilm... people we trusted... how could they betray us like that?"  Her tone is tinged with frustration and anger barely contained.  "Do they not see that we fight for their freedom as well as ours?"

Daniella pauses a moment, placing both hands on the table, her armor laid out before her.  She lets her head drop to her chest, eyes closed as she takes several long and slow breaths.  "Please be with those that have given their lives to this war.  Please be with those of us that have lost loved ones and still remain here, but now without them.  We are giving this fight our all, my Lord.  But if something should happen for whatever reason and our all is not enough... Please.. please don't let evil win."  The last of her prayer is spoken so softly in just the barest of a hushed whisper.

She takes a few more minutes in silent prayer and meditation and then looks at her reflection in the bucket of water.  It was no wonder Davidson was worried.  She looked like she'd been dragged through the Pits and back after today's battles.  Quietly, she washed herself as best as she could and then fell onto the cot in the corner of the room.  She was asleep before her head hit the canvas.

[Harlas Ravelkione]

* After the fighting of the day is over Kobal sends messengers to the captains as well as Daniella to meet with him at the South Wall Gate, if possible. He then immediately goes there to get a view on the damage caused by Ractrafieroz.

Once those that will come have arrived Kobal starts a discussion. *

T'anks all fer comin' so quickly. We donnae got much toime an' come tha' day termorrow we gotta 'ave done some salvagin' at least.

Oi can oversee wha'evar repair we decoide ter carry uht 'ere, bu' firs' we gotta decoide on wha' we do. Oi gots a few oideas... though none of 'em perfect.

One. We coul' collapse tha' arch above tha' gate ter fill tha' breach. We coul' use some well placed earthquakes an' detonations. It woul' damage tha' wall of course an' it woul' remove tha' protection fer our archers 'ere. However, tha' cultists will have ter charge uphill through tha' rubble ter git inter tha' Fort. Tha' will give us tha' hoigh groun' and an advantage.

Two. Iffen ye can bring in some of those goiants Oi been hearin' 'bout ye coul' ask 'em ter poile boulders inter tha' gate openin', effectively closin' it. Depending on tha' toipe of stone available we coul' atempt ter melt it in place, creatin' one block of stone tha' acts as a stopper. Tha' means, however, tha' dah gate be closed ferevar.

Three. We coul' troi ter build a gate wit' wha'evar materials we got 'ere. We only gots a couple of hours, so it wont be good. An' it wont hold tha' day, bu' give us some pertection at least.

Any odder oideas?