The World of Layonara
In-Character Forums => The Dragon Storm Campaign => Topic started by: Dezza on April 25, 2011, 07:21:58 pm
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// 2 days after Razeriem and Hardragh capture Prim
"Go ahead and find out why our *curse* army is not moving" The Mad Doctor raged while seated on a wagon in the column of soldiers marching towards Vilsna. The combined Nesar armies had crossed into Kuhl and had made fairly good time along the main road from Nith to Vilsna over the last few days.
Alandric had graciously allowed General Zan Rimous to take his armies first since they would have to branch off to skirt around Vilsna and head to Amaria leaving Alandrics forces clear to assault the large town of Vilsna. But now, not even halfway to Vilnsa the long columns had slowed and now stopped with no word from the General as to why. Alandric was in a foul mood anyway and this just added fuel to the fire.
One Eye rode his tall black warhorse along the lines where tired soldiers took the moment to sit down or rest from the toiling march. Men and women flinched away from the sight of him as he thundered past.
Eventually he reached the forward units and the Generals party.
"The Doctor wants to know whats going on General, he is not pleased with this delay."
The General turned his mount to look at the large Raven then averted his gaze.
"We have Cult soldiers ahead, they have formed defensive lines across the road and into the rought terrain on either side. I've sent out scouts to assess how many lie in our path."
The Raven's horse shifted under him as he spoke, "You have soldiers, send them in and you will soon find out how many Cultists lie ahead."
The General licked his lips nervously and angry mutters could be heard from several of those in his party.
"Of course that will reveal those immediately before us but it would be a waste of life and will most likely not tell us if the enemy has other surprises for us further back that we cannot see."
"It is not a waste of life, those that fall can be used again."
More angry mutters and the general developed a sheen of sweat upon his brow.
"Yes, yes of course, how foolish of me to forget that. It is indeed lucky for us that the Doctor is present that we have the benefit of such powerful magics. I humbly ask for one more hour for my scouts to return, if they do not then I shall do as you request."
Jehorum's horse shuffled back and forth and he seemed to consider the words.
"Very well, one hour then you assault their positions," a pause, "and you will personally lead the assault." He wheeled his mount around and raced back down the lines leaving the General and his staff angry and afraid at the same time.
An hour later, as ordered General Zan Rimous led his army into the enemy positions on the road to Vilsna, and lived to talk about it later although many of his men didnt.
They reached the barricades and threw themselves onto them trying to breach them and drive a hole in their ranks to send cavalry in and around them to cut them off. They managed to do so before a small group of four Myr'drachs appeared and cut into their ranks decimating them within minutes. By this stage Alandrics forces had reached a position where they could watch the battle.
He ordered them to hold their positions and even chuckled a few times at the scene of carnage before him. Eventually however he signalled to Adder, Gimli and Eyebite to lead their Corathite soldiers into the fray.
"Clear this mess up for the general will you, otherwise we'll be here all day."
Hours later the armies had formed up and were marching past the broken enemy lines. Dozens of small trees had been cut into posts and staked up around the area and numerous cult bodies hung from them for the crows to feed on.
Alandric glanced behind him as they moved forward once again and commented to Jehorum who road his horse beside the wagon.
"Good days work One-Eye, the enemy are all dead of fled and our army swells with soldiers more biddable and less fickle than before."
Jehorum grunted in agreement and glanced behind the wagon where dozens of undead Cult and Nesar soldiers shuffled along behind them. Around them dozens of Corathite priests kept them in line and moving forward. Behind them a wide space had opened up between the undead and the first groups of Nesar infantry. Fear in their eyes as they stared at the horror that walked before them, some of them had been friends the day before, some enemies, and now they were undead.
The march to Vilsna continued.
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// 6 days after Raz and Hardragh capture Prim, 4 days after Ractrafiorez rips down the south wall at Fort of last Hope.
"This entire campaign is one mess after another. It would be quicker to slaughter everyone and raise them again and send them on, at least they could march all day and night and it wouldnt matter. This endless starting and stopping is ridiculous." Alandric continued to rave and rant from the wagon on which he sat. For the last three hours General Rims armies ahead of his own had been diverging from the main road to take the branch to the north west in order to head towards Amaria through the Hills of the Lost.
It was taking ages to move the supply trains for the generals force to the fore and out of Alandrics own armies way. They had been moving for almost a week now along the main road with only one main encounter with Cultists and still according to the scouts they were at least a day or two from the outer reaches of the lands around Vilsna.
Just the day before a flight of Myrdrachs, four in all, had drifted towards their column creating all sorts of panic but they had seemed content to watch them for a while before flying off to the north back towards Vilsna.
Alandric could tell from the quietness of the soldiers marching in long columns behind his people that they were growing more and more concerned and worried as they got closer and closer to Vilsna. The sight of General Rim's large force moving away from their own also left them feeling unsure.
Alandric called Jehorum over. The large raven drew his horse alongside the wagon to listen.
"When the Generals people are out of sight, tell the Ravens to break out the whips. I want this column moving faster than this pace. The Cult know we are coming now, they know we're moving slowly. I want to suprise them and not give them a chance to prepare anything too nasty for us at Vilsna. Get me Adder as well, we need to start making plans for taking this city from the inside if we can."
One Eye nodded without a word and set about getting the Ravens ready to see about moving the columns along for the impending battle to follow for Vilsna.
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// 8 days since Ractrafiorez gave his ultimatum at Last Hope, 2 days after Gel'larian and Ferrit stumble back into the Fort of last Hope.
Jehorum rode down the column and wheeled his horse around near the Doctors wagon reducing it to a walk alongside the slowly moving wagon. "We've reached the outskirts of the city. There are some large estates that appear abandonded coming up on the left and right sides of the road. It seems the Cult are holed up in the city proper. They've got a large wooden palisade all the way around the main town with several towers as well."
"Where is the graveyard?" Alandric stared ahead over the heads of the infantry towards the large town ahead surrounded to its north and east by thick forest. Smoke trailed into the air from numerous chimneys in the town. One could almost imagine they were not expecting to be attacked at any minute.
"Near the western edge of the town, the palisades been built right through it."
Alandric didn't respond, several different ideas running through his head. Jehorum continued to walk his mount beside the wagon waiting for additional orders. It was several minutes before Alandric said anything.
"Any idea on their numbers?"
"None whatsover."
Alandric cursed, "Whose stupid idea was this anyway?"
Jehorum diplomatically remained silent until Alandric continued.
"Set up camp two bowshots from the town, we'll fan out into some of these farms then we'll go and speak with the leaders of the town."
Jehorum turned his head towards Alandric, his suprise masked by his helmet.
Alandric waved a dismissive hand at him. "I'll make them an offer they would be most foolish to refuse. See to it."
Jehorum hesitated a moment before urging his big horse forward to issue orders.
Hours later the Nesar lines were still setting up camps across the farms before the town. Scouts had been sent out to skirt the town to see if the enemy had hidden forces in the forests or along the roads to the west. Meanwhile a small party moved forward towards the main gates to the palisade and the town.
Alandric, Jehorum, three Ravens and a shambling undead creature belonging to the Mad Doctor moved to within hailing distance of the towers above the wooden gates. Faces of Cult soldiers stared down at them over bows and crossbows trained on the group.
Alandric raised his voice so he could be heard.
"Soldiers of Kuhl, know this. You have two days to make a decision.
You will either surrender the town and its inhabitants over to us and we will allow any who do not wish to remain here to leave unharmed.
Or, you can stay here, within these walls and face the greater burden of disease, poison and your dead walking the streets trying to kill you. And when thats finished then you will have to fight us and our demons and undead and all manner of creatures you would rather wish never to see.
Rest assured, once we start, there will be no end, for when you die we will ripo your hearts from your chests and fill your worthless bodies with life that will serve us in death even though you resisted us in life."
Alandric motioned to the undead near him to shuffle forward.
"Look well upon this creature men of Kuhl, he was once one of yours and now he serves me. Such will be your fates if you do not surrender to us.
The choice is yours."
No response came forth from the towers but Alandric could see a large number of soldiers pressed up against the tall wooden posts trying to glimpse what was happening outside.
Once they were a safe distance away Jehorum dared to speak.
"Do you think it will work?"
Alandric shrugged.
"I don't really care, tonight Adder can send his poison rats in and our people will raise the dead in the graveyard. I have neither the time nor patience for this."
"What about the two days you gave them?"
Alandric shrugged, "So I lied, I want them dead and rotting long before then. We need more men to take Zolinar next and I intend to get them from here. Now stop questioning me and start working out how you are going to get inside the city."
-
The night was especially dark or at least he thought so. Perhaps it was his mood. Over the previous days they had set up camp outside Vilsnar and Alandric had been sending his Orraculi under the cover of illusion magic to scry on the strengths and weaknesses of his advesary. He also sacrificed some of the Nessar men, under duress of couse, his comrad Jehoram whipping them into running the distance between their camp and the fortified walls, measuring speed, time and accuracy of their archers. They all died naturally but is was a small cost for valuable knowledge. Their corpses would always be recycled regardless.
Vilsnar was not a problem. He did not expect to lose this battle and calculated a small cost in men. What aggiated him was his destination after...Zolinar. He had counted his army of men and undead and felt weak against the rumours of Zolinar. That was where the true battle would be fought. He could not afford to be defeated. Failure was simply not acceptable. Better to sacrifice oneself and have the soul mother take all your strands that have the Mad One grab hold of them. Alandric was riled with how he would overcome the innevitable battle against a horde dwarfing his own army. The skill of the Raven under Jehoram and guile from Stygian's poisons were certainly battle winners but they would surely not turn the tide of war. He had one last option and he summoned his comrads.
Jehoram and Stygian entered his tent and waited patiently for Alandric to address them.
"My friends, I leave now on the eve of battle to seek more strength for our army. As you know this battle poses little problem for us. Vilsnar will certainly fall. What bothers me is Zolinar. We simply don't have the force to take it. We need more allies."
He pauses for moments. The two look at each other but their stern expressions betray no thoughts.
"Hence I will leave this very night by means of magical travel. I leave the nessar army under your charge Raven. Lead them well. Follow the tactics we've been discussing and victory will be ours."
To Stygian, "You'll lead my orraculi and sancti. Catapult the diseased corpses over the walls and raise them from the inside. Get to their graveyards and raise what you can. With chaos from the inside the Nessar army and Ravens will have little trouble taking the fort. Cover their advanace in darkness and ehnhance their weapons and armor. I'll leave the rest to your discretion. Try to save some of your posions for the battle ahead."
He turns and grabs his pack and sings it over his shoulder. From his robes he withdraws a magical device. "I'll try to return before the battle ends but in truth I don't know how long it will take to convince him."
"Who are you talking about?" one of them asks.
Alandric grins..."an old friend" then activates the device and disappears.
-
// Several days later, the day the PC's in Fort of last Hope head into the tunnels under the fort.
Jehorum regarded the burning buildings on the outskirts of the western edge of the large town of Vilsna. Nearby work crews made up of residents from Vilsna worked furiously under the watchful gave of Nesar soldiers and Black Raven guards to put out the fires. Behind him further back in the centre of town more Vilsna citizen work crews were being forced to bring all the dead from the several day long battle to take Vilsna into the centre square.
There were probably not going to be enough to satisfy Alandric Jehorum thought and for a moment he contemplated ordering the Ravens to randomly kill another few dozen citizens or captured soldiers to add to the piles but as he opened his mouth to give the order another voice interrupted him.
"Lord One Eye the graveyard crews are now digging up the corpses to add to those in the centre square as ordered." Adder gave a lazy salute while Gimli and Eyebite not far away swaggered about.
Jehorum closed his mouth and looked down at the man from his black horse.
"Good, The Doctor will be back at any time, when he appears see that you inform me immediately. Did those Drach units escape into the forest or did the cavalry catch up to them."
Adder shrugged, "I saw the Nesar Captain return to the city with most of his men and no captives so I assume they failed."
Jehorum casually responded, "Bring me the Captains head for failure. No, belay that order, tell him to chose a man from his division to die for his incompetence. That should motivate him to do better next time."
Adder grinned and rushed off to comply. As he left a large brute of a man with huge square shoulders and a thick neck wandered over to Jehorum. From his mount Jehorum didnt have to look down far to see the mans face, he was that tall and broad. He wore the uniform of the Nesar peasant infantry and Jehorum vaguely remembered he had been a blacksmith in Nith before being pressed into service.
"Lord One Eye, we've secured all the areas of the town now and are sending groups out to the farms to check them too. We found a few more Cult soldiers hiding in some and put them with the others. Still no sign of any of them Myr'drachs."
Jehorum nodded to the man who lumbered off. Vilsna had almost been a let down. Once they managed to get some undead into the large town at night and got a few fires going in several points around the palisade surrounding the town they had been able to rush the main gates and bring them down with relatively little loss of life. It seemed that most of the professional soldiers had marched for Zolinar days before they arrived leaving local levies and a handful of Cult soldiers in charge with only a few Myr'Drachs.
Once the Myr'drachs had been taken down and most of the soldiers captured or killed the rest surrendered very quickly. Of course Jehorum had executed all of the towns leaders and those who had denied them entrance and would have kept going if the Nesar Infantry Lieutenant hadn't threatened to leave and take all his men. The matter had irked Jehorum at first and he had consiodered doing it anyway but in the end decided it wasnt worth it and that the Doctor might punish him if he returned and found half the army had left because they were a bit squemish that he'd killed a few people.
He glanced up at the sun in the sky and for a moment hoped the Doctor returned soon. He figured that they would be ready to march within a day or two after the clerics had raised the dead in the centre square and a few other matters had been taken care of around the town.
Meanwhile a week away from them now General Rim and the larger portion of the hastily assembled Nesar army were engaging in a series of heavy engagements against dug in Cult soldiers along the road to Amaria. For Days they has struggled to make any headway against the fortified positions of the Cult. Still at least two days travel from the city proper General Rim and his forces were making very slow progress.
Further south thousands of soldiers including large numbers of mounted infantry and cavalry were moving in organised columns following the road the Nesar armies had taken weeks before as they invaded southern Kuhl.
The combined Rofireinite and Toranite Host had made relatively good progress since leaving Nith two days prior. They made a spectacular sight as they moved along the roads, banners and pennets snapping in the wind as they moved north.
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Alandric returns later that evening, the familiar smell of formaldehyde heralding his presence. He paces into the room which was once a house that they converted to a office during the battle. Alandric is visibly tired but there is an eagerness in him that emanates triumph.
Jehoram lifts his head and immediately reports. Alandric holds his hand out to stop him, "you've done well. I've taken the liberty to perform an inspection and all is as i had planned. I expected nothing else."
Jehoram shows no sign of pleasure and simply asks another question. "And your mission?"
"A total success" Alandric replies almost too suddenly. I have the means to turn the tide of war when we reach Zolinar. The battle will be fierce and we still need to win the strategy, but we'll have a little help when the moment is right. Timing must be the key."
Jehoram nods and simply waits patiently.
"Send for some wine and tell me everything that happened here. We've fot time to rest for a few hours before we begin our march on Zolinar."
Jehoram snaps his fingers and a servant appears. "Wine and three goblets. Find Adder and bring him here."
The servant departs and Jehoram begins making an account of the triumph in Vilsnar.
-
Adder opens the door and steps into the confines of the small house. The sickening sweet smell of decomposition hangs about him. A small red pit creature with a long forked tail and a maw full of cruel looking fangs, his familiar, follows close behind. Adder bows his head towards Alandric, "Your Orraculi and Sancti performed well, Orraculum Stipatio." There is an evil grin on his lips. "Directing them in their tasks was very enjoyable, it is with a tinge of regret that I hand them back over to you. How are we to proceed from here?
-
Two days later Alandric and the Nesar army, including the undead and the regular troops, Black Ravens and Corathite priests and mages are moving again.
Leaving behind 200 pesant army and 100 regular army infantry to hold Vilsna they move north towards where the real battle will be fought. The Cult troops that had fled Vilsna before they arrived would be well on their way to Zolinar now and Alandric had it on good authority that the Cult General Cyn Chen, head of the Drach Tesak had already arrived at the city and was setting up her defences.
Alandric glanced back over his shoulder and the lines shuffling along behind his wagon. Roughly five thousand strong they were going to have to think hard before they approached Zolinar where Cyn Chen had at least ten to fifteen thousand troops at her disposal. The only consolation he took was the fact that every time she lost men in battle he would gain them.
"How much longer to Zolinar at this pace?" Alandric snapped at Jehorum who had once again moved alongside the wagon on his large black mount.
"Another week yet, we have to cross the Hills of the Lost to get there."
Alandric cursed at the slowness and spent some of the time trying to think about how he was going to explain his debt to the Sanctis.
Meanwhile General Rim had finally managed to reach a position where he could see Amaria in the distance but could go no further. The enemy were dug into defensive positions across the valley in which Amaria rested. The ground sloped gently downwards over miles and miles of open grassland with copses of trees located here and there. Farmsteads spread out across the entire valley, all empty now, with the approach of his army.
Just getting to this point he'd already lost a quarter of the seven thousand men and women under his command with running engagements against Cult positions since they had passed Kalar Lake. Their hit and run ambushes testing his people to their limits.
Now at the head of the valley he decided to sit and reorganise his forces and discuss plans to take Amaria with his officers. As he sat in his tent with several faces around him including the dark faced Corathite Priest from Arnax Ozri Nai who Alandric had placed in charge of the Black Ravens with General Rims army.
There was a flutter at the entrance to the tent and a guard entered with a message for General Rim. Asked to read it the guard cleared his throat and read the message the bird had just delivered.
" To General Rim from Toranite Field Commander Ardran Jertrouse,
Combined Toran and Rofirein Host, five thousand strong, heading north along coast road from Nith. Currently approaching Kalar river near coast and making haste to Amaria. Estimate arrival in Amaria lands within three days."
Excited words from those gathered greet the message until Ozrin Nai speaks cutting over them all.
"You must inform them to turn back they are not welcome here."
All eyes turned to face him their initial enthusiasm for the missive falling away. General Rim seemed to be thinking what to say.
"We can respect your differences Dread Priest but yours is only a small part of my army and if you can win this fight for us I will gladly tell them to turn about and leave, otherwise will will need to wait for them to reach us."
Ozrin snapped back and within moments those gathered were almost coming to blows. Eventually guards were called in and people separated.
Order restored Ozrin glared at General Rim.
"Take their aid then but you have lost ours, we will inform the Queen of your betrayal." With that he stalked out of the tent and within hours all the Corathites and the Black Ravens departed heading for Zolinar to rejoin Alandrics Host.
One of the lieutenants present glanced the pale General Rim.
"I hope you know what you are doing General."
The General looked at him.
"I have no family to go back to, it may be best that I die in the battles to come but if I do make sure they never get my body. For now let us focus on plans now that we know we have a real army coming."
-
// As Raz and Tralek, Gork and Hardragh settle in and make plans around Sundance.
"Again! We'll never reach the city at this rate!" Alandric ducked as with a roar three Myr'drachs swept over his wagon intent on attacking a group of soldiers in the rocky terrain to his left.
Fire rippled through the air from a cleric nearby striking one of them which turned and dropped down in front of the startled Corathite priest and ripped a claw through his body before seeing Alandrics wagon and turning towards it. Before it even got near Jehorum spurred his mount forward, swept his blade in a wide arc and removed the creatures head from its shoulders. Unfazed Alandric stood on the wagon and did a slow turn to take in everything around him. Fighting was going on it seemed all down the line of his troops. The Cult had ambushed them after entering the Kuhl forest and since then it had been a series of battles as Alandrics force were attempting to fight for each step they took. Every soldier from both sides that died was raised not long after to shuffle along with the growing number of undead in the army. That was not the only thing growing however, so was Alandrics impatience.
Jehorum stayed close to Alandrics wagon sweeping back and forth shouting commands at Ravens who swept back and forth up and down the line to where the fighting was heaviest. Another heavy detonation sounded in the forest to the right and an orange cloud climbed upwards to the tops of the trees above. Up and down the line spot fires in the forest were threatening to grow larger and spread. Soldiers formed pockets in the shadows of the trees trying to ward off attacks by Tesak, Myr'drachs and other Cult soldiers.
Vision was restricted by the smoke and trees around them and the sounds and cries of both sides in the forest echoed loudly with the sounds of metal on metal and men and women dying.
Aladric suddenly laughed taking in the chaos around him and thinking of the irony of it all. Jehorum glanced over at the sound of the sudden laughter but if he thought to say anything he decided against it. Alandric wasnt called the Mad Doctor for nothing.
"Its time I did something about this" muttered Alandric and leapt down from the wagon. He draw a staff filled with dark energy and tendrils of negative energy crackled around him, his visage altered and a wave of coldness spread forth. Cloaked in black energy Alandric strode into the chaos of the fight and began to unleash his own powers at the enemy cultists, shadowed closely by Jehorum.
Hours later the scattered army units had reformed, the dead now marched along with them and Alandric was urging Jehorum to make up for lost time.
"Two days to go, two days to go to reach Zolinar, then the fun begins." Alandric smiled.
Moments later a figure climbed up onto his wagon from the opposite side from where Jehorum rode along. Alandric turned to abuse the person and saw steel flashing towards him. Shocked Alandric drew back and almost fell out of the wagon as the assasins dagger glanced harmlessly off his staff and wedged into the back of the seat. The Drach Tesak Assasin cursed and pulled hard on the dagger trying to pull it free. Jehorums blade swept out over Alandrics head and licked towards the assasin who dropped low abandoning the dagger. Alandric meanwhile had regained his composure and reached out to grab the assasin, his hand glowing with an ominous light. Flipping onto the wagon top the assasin balanced easily and draw another blade from his clothes.
Meanwhile those nearby had started to react, Adder was climbing up the back of the wagon while Gimli and Eyebite climbed the sides and Jehorum moved his mount close to the wagon trying to reach up with his long blade to catch the assasin.
Trapped on the roof the assasin moved around trying to find a safe path out and finding none backed to the centre of the roof. One by one Adder, Gimli and Eyebite made it onto the roof and regarded the assasin. He feinted towards them and then leapt up to grab a tree branch that was passing overhead as the wagon rolled to a halt attempting to gain the higher branches. There was a sharp crack and a black bolt of energy lashed out and struck the man. He thudded back down onto the wagon where Gimli, Adder and Eyebite finished him off.
As they dragged the body from the roof Alandric called out to them. "Get him up and with the other undead. Nice of them to keep supplying us with more soldiers. The way we are going we'll have all we need by the time we reach Zolinar itself."
-
Later that day a group of Sacnti were summoned at Alandrics command. Once in ear shot he gave orders.
"I know something of this Cyn Chen and the latest assassin confirms my thoughts. Pray to the Most Unholy and grant our commanders and scouts the gift of true sight. I won't have infiltrators sneaking in right under our nose."
They nodded and immediately left.
To those remaining he chuckled and added, "Little use assassins will have against the walking dead. If we come up against them send in the dead first. Lets just hope Cyn Chen keeps feeding us corpses."
-
Two days of hard fighting later Alandrics force reached the edge of devastation.
It seemed that Cyn Chen had wasted little time preparing for the oncoming army and had cut down every tree in the Kuhl forest within two miles of the outskirts of the city. Alandrics forces moved to the edge of the forest where a huge swathe of stumps dotted the landscape around them. In between them dozens of Cult soldiers were fleeing back to the city down in the now barren valley where the Cult had spent their time using the trees cut down and put them to good use.
A huge palisade now surrounded most of the inner city. There were a large number of buildings outside the palisade and even from where they now stood Alandric could see well prepared defences full of enemy soldiers.
Two flags waved high over the main tower near the gate into the palisade, one of Kuhl and one depicting a brackish coloured dragon bearing a bloody dagger. Alandric could only assume it was Cyn Chens own standard.
Jehorum set about spreading out the army at the edge of the forest ordering camps set up and ring trenches built around them to protect them from attacks from the forest. There were still a large number of enemy out there ready to ambush and attack them from behind if they let down their guard. The undead were spread out along the camp lines, hopefully they would draw any attacks and give the defenders time to repel them.
Alandric paced back and forth gazing down the valley at the city of Zolinar and its ring of freshly cut trees forming a high palisade. Cyn Chen had to have at least ten to fifteen thousand troops in and around the city and that meant Alandric was outnumbered almost three to one. He realised he needed more soldiers and fast. He had to move soon and put his plan into action. He soon realised there was no way he could order a direct assault on the city with the army he had. Suddenly he had it and called Jehorum over along with several of the Sancti and Adder, Gimli and Eyebite.
"I want you to take all the Ravens we have here and go west. According to the sketch that soldier we caught earlier gave us there are several villages there. Kill everyone, raise them and march them back here as fast as you can. With luck Cyn Chen has sent a lot of the city's people to those villages as well. Take as many priests and mages as you need from our army to make it happen but do it quickly!"
Within the hour two hundred armoured Ravens along with various mages and clerics rode through the forest to the west. A short time after that the first ambushes came. Forest raiders hit the camps, some of which were still only setting up and broke into their midst creating havoc and chaos as soldiers and undead moved to engage the rogues and assasins that struck so blatantly.
Without the Ravens to issue commands effectively to the army Alandric found he had to rely on weak willed humans to do his bidding. Luckily by now most were so afraid of the Doctor they jumped to do whatever he asked out of fear rather than anything else.
The attacks continued at regular intervals for the rest of the day and into the night giving the newly arrived soldiers to the area no peace at all. By morning many more were dead and others were found in their small tents with throats cut in their sleep.
Alandric cursed the lost soldiers but ordered them piled up in a central area for his clerics to tend to when they returned.
The battles continued for much the same for the rest of the day. Most of Alandrics army's attention was spent protecting their rear facing the forest from the incessant attacks of the Drach Tesak forces of Cyn Chen.
Late in the afternoon the gates of Zolinar opened and streams of soldiers marched out. Long columns advancing through the buildings outside the palisade and upon reaching the very edge of the city spread out in a long line. Alandric counted almost three thousand by the time they had finished spreading out. Then he heard shouting in the forest and through the trees several of his scouts raced into the camp yelling that thousands more were in the forest advancing towards their position.
Caught behind a rock and a hard place Alandric ordered his army to form back to back lines to defend against both sides and moved the undead into large pockets in front of those lines.
The next half an hour dragged into eternity as the army from Zolinar marched up the slightly slopped valley through the arrays of tree stumps towards Alandrics position and in the forest the other force advanced on him as well.
Alandric cursed suddenly, they were set to fight on both sides but he highly doubted they would last very long. Yelling loudly he changed his previous commands.
"TURN AROUND TOWARDS THE CITY, GO AND KILL THEM!" he pointed to the advancing force. At least this way they were moving downhill and had some advantage over the soldiers coming up the slight slope towards them.
Alandric had to yell abuse several more times and then had the signaller sound the horn. As the note warbled across the terrain Alandrics entire force moved towards Zolinar and the three thousand soldiers coming their way. The few remaining priests and mages forced the undead to the front, shambling and ambling along, using what magics they had to hasten their movement and soon the entire army was moving.
It was more a shuffle into each other than a full blown charge. The soliders from Zolinar were obviously not expecting the Nesar Corathite army to engage them with another similar sized force at their back and were taken by surprise. Even so once the fighting began it was a mass of confusion as the two armies merged with each other.
In the tower of the city Cyn Chen watched with annoyance. It was not what she had expected the Corathites to do and it worked against her plans. She could see some of the regular cult soldiers were spooked by the undead and wished she had more Myr'rachs than she did to send out and rip them to pieces and be done with them.
She signalled to an archer who shot a green fletched arrow high into the air. Moments later the other force she had sent out into the forest reached the crest above the milling confusion of the battle in the cut down forest near the city. As she watched several demons appeared in the battle and her secondary force began to move down to engage them as well. if things worked here she could crush the Nesar-Corathite force in the first engagement.
However things in this war never seemed to work out the way they were supposed to or they had been told they would and Cyn saw movement again at the edge of the forest behind her second army. A large force of mounted cavalry wearing dark armour spread out along the ridge. Cyn cursed viciously.
"Why didn't I know about them? I thought you said their Ravens went west yesterday you fools!"
Moments later Corathite priests and mages unleashed a volley of spells into the back of her second force that had been intent on joining the battle in the valley. The spells tore through their ranks. Cyn saw the familiar signs of death spells cast at her soldiers and saw them die in clusters to the powerful magic. Then the force of Black Ravens, roughly three hundred of them charged on their heavy warhorses down the slope. Her people never stood a chance and she ordered the retreat even as the cavalry cut great swathes through the lightly mounted troops on foot.
An hour later Alandrics army was retreating wearing back up the hill dragging the dead with them while Ozrin Nai reported directly to Alandric and told him of what had happened in the west near Amaria many days before.
-
As things begin to calm down and defensive positions are prepared near the top of the hill overlooking the city, Adder gets to work. He motions Gimli and Eyebite over and briefs them quickly on what is going to take place. "We need to weaken or destroy those palisades. Prepare yourselves, for after the sun sets we will head out. The two of you will be responsible for ensuring the enemy does not reach me while I am working." Gimli spits and scratches his butt vigorously with a grin. He did not need to say anything. The grin said it all. It promised quick death to any enemy soldier coming within reach of his axe. Eyebite only mumbled and twitched in an agitated manner.
Adder entered the tent where Alandric was currently hunched over a map of the city with Jehoram. He looked up as Adder entered and asked "Any changes on the battlefield?" Adder smiled malevolently, "Not yet. Hopefully soon though, and in our favor. I need three of your Orraculi. I intend on taking down or damaging those palisades enough to compromise their defensive use." Alandric looks thoughtful for a few moments then responds, Take three. Try not to get them killed. I have other uses they can be put to." Adder nods and ducks out of the tent to find his three conscripts.
As night falls the six of them make their way towards the enemy walls. Armed with true sight enchantments and invisibility spells to enhance their effectiveness. Once close enough, Adder mutters a short incantation and touches each party member then motions them to spread out horizontal to the palisades. The three Orraculi pull out the multiple wands that Adder armed them with prior to beginning their mission and begin hurling fireballs into the wood defensive positions. Adder begins the complicated incantation for a powerful summoning spell and within moments a rift in space and time opens up and a monstrous winged devil begins pulling itself out. He struggles mentally as the pit creature tries to break free from its binding, but in the end proves too strong willed for the beast. He orders the huge creature to take down the walls. Within moments arcane fire and brimstone are falling from the sky as the creature unleashes destruction... and the fireballs continue to strike repeatedly.
-
Later that evening Alandric departed the company of his commanders and secretly wandered the battlefield. The task he had in mind was too important to leave in the hands of others. Also he simply didn't trust them, not even his own commanders. There was no such virtue in the temple and anyone who put faith in others usually ended up dead.
With greater spells of cloaking in place he trudged through the recent battles looking for a fallen enemy that might still be clawing onto the thin stings of life. It took over an hour to locate one. His army was very thorough in recycling the recently deceased. One that they had missed managed to drag his way a few hundred feet behind a fallen tree. His blood trail was a clear path for Alandric to follow with his darkvision.
The man was panting profusely, a sure sign that death was on his doorstep. When Alandric materialised suddenly in front of him his eyes opened wide in horror but he was too weak react.
"Greetings my friend" Alandric taunted him. "You almost got away but you have something i require."
The Khul warrior in a thick accent whispered back "what do you want fiend?" His voice was barely audible.
"Only you blood" Alandric replied, "Or at least what's left of it." And with that Alandric gently lifted his wrist and turned it over palm upright in an almost tender like way. Alandric then drew a scalpel from his robes and dragged it across the veins in his wrist, severing them and allowing for a thick warm stream of blood to flow. He placed his scalpel back into his robes and withdrew a glass flask from his pack, holding it under the stream of blood and collecting as much as the man would spare.
The man's eyes were beginning to roll back into his head. He was too weak to fight against Alandric. He managed to ask one more question before he passed. "What are you, some kind of Vampire?"
Alandric chuckled. "Oh no. This isn't for me. It's for someone else."
Alandric squeezed every last drop from the man and corked his flask. Hiding it within his pack he re-cloaking himself in magic and headed back to his command tent.
-
// As Molvaren assaults Castle Hilm in the three day assault (plot finale)
Two days of constant attacks by Tesak rogues and assasins on his campsites was keeping his army far busier than he would have liked, of course each and every dead ally or enemy were put to good use and his undead army was glrowing slowly it still was nowhere near enough to make a difference against the heavily defended city ahead of him.
It was three days now since Jehorum took his own Black Ravens and most of his priests to bring in more undead and the delay was annoying him. it was fortuitous that Ozrin Nai had returned with all the Corathites that were with General Rim near Amaria, that was an unexpected boon and one pivotal in ensuring their forces were not annhiliated in the first engagement. But now he was stuck. Not enough soldiers to advance, too much pride and fear of failure to retreat. He knew he had the opportunity to win this battle in his robe pocket and unconsciously patted the bottle of blood as he thought about it. But, the problem was making it count and there was no way to do that until they were at least within the walls of the city or had the opportunity to break through.
He had already tried sending groups around to other parts of the city and they had stumbled back into the camp telling of being ambushed by groups of Tesak and soldiers who tore into them freely. One group of over a hundred he never heard from again and so stopped sending out smaller units. He couldnt afford to lose the bodies at this stage. And so, they sat in camps on the treeline looking down over the city and suffering attacks from the enemy at all hours of the night. If that wasnt bad enough during the early hours of the morning the Tesak had started targeting mages and priests and that just would not do.
Adders efforts previously to destroy the palisades had been lucky and turned out to be less affective than the overall effect seemed to have been. When the smoke and dust had cleared the still wet timbers stood tall and strong and subsequent attempts showed that the Tesak had set all manner of terrible traps and pitfalls around the city.
Alandric stood suddenly and called over Adder. "Have you found a way to get those rats into the city without being seen yet?"
Adder shrugged "Its too open to go during the day and there are too many Tesak at night to get close enough without being seen."
Alandric opened and closed his hands the anger rising. "I didn't ask for excuses I asked for results. Find a way to do it tonight. I want them spitting blood and covered in boils and all sorts of nasty diseases and I want it done yesterday! I want them to feel fear in their bones, I want them to know that they do not mess with teh Corathites because we do not care what we do to them and when they die...well....it is only the beginning of what we will do to them. GO!"
Adder bowed and backed away leaving Alandric seething and staring down the gentle slope to the city. "Soon my friend, soon you will rise in glory." He patted the bottle of blood absently one more time then resumed his seat staring down at the city as if by willpower alone he could tear it down.
-
// 8 days prior to this near Amaria
"General Rim, lookouts report that the Rofireinite and Toranite hosts have appeared on the coastal road."
The General emerged from his tent at the news, mounted his horse along with many of his general staff and rode out to the far edge of thier camp on the ridge overlooking the valley where Amaria sat. Reaching the rise he dismounted and gazed down towards the ocean.
Several miles away over a deep valley thick with heavy woods and foliage he could see a column on the ocean road leading to Amaria. As he watched a deep frown creased on his forehead.
"What are they doing?" he asked one of the lookouts.
The young man nervously looked back, he looked worried. "Sir, They are leaving sir!"
"They're doing what!" roared the General.
"Leaving Sir! We saw them arrive several hours ago and those ships out there arrived and they have sent in dozens of longboats and taking them onto the ships."
One of the generals staff ventured an opinion vagualy hoping it might be the truth of the matter but like many present did not hold out much hope. "Mayhaps they are going to attempt to take the docks and invade from their, General?"
General Rim watched as men and horses were slowly, carefully ferried out to the waiting ships. As they left he felt they took all his hope with them. They were not going to help. He could not take Amaria without them, nor could he return to Nesar in failure. There would be no combined assault on Amaria then.
Suddenly hollow inside the General turned back to those gathered on the ridge. "I will go down to Amaria to discuss the terms of their surrender. I imagine when they see the army down there leaving the talks will not go well. We have not the manpower to take the city. Our lot will be to hold and wait for aid or to turn about and withdraw." Grim faces met the statement.
For the rest of the afternoon they watched in despair as the Rofireinites and Toranites, over five thousand of them were loaded onto the ships. There was no way from their position to get word to the force of their situation and to find out why they were leaving.
Three days later the last of the army were aboard the ships and they watched as they sailed out into the ocean giving Amaria a wide berth and continued north.
General Rim received the news with a heavy heart and together with three of his advisors who volunteered to go with him he rode slowly down the road towards the first of the Amarian defences. There he was met and escorted towards the city. Not long after the foursome rode back towards their own lines and upon reaching the camp the General headed straight to his command tent without a word to anyone.
Near nightfall the gates to Amaria opened and armoured groups of soldiers marched out of the city along the road leading up to their forward defences. Thousands of soldiers joined the mass already at the frontlines and spread out.
Warning bells were rung in the Nesar camp and General Rim finally emerged from his tent in full armour. Assembling his army he addressed them as darkness finally fell. The entire valley and the ocean beyond were bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.
"Men and women of Nesar. We have been betrayed. Not only by those who rode with us from Nesar but also by those who we thought would surely come to aid us. The Rofireintes and the Toranites have left, the rumours you have heard is true. Now, the leaders of Amaria have decided that they wish us gone from their lands and are preparing to push us away. I am going to fight, I did not come this far to turn back now. They raided our lands, they murdered and they stole our people and we have marched halway into Kuhl to be stopped here? I think not. I am prepared to die for my country but I understand many of you may not feel the same way. This is an impossible battle to win. As such I have ordered some of my staff to lead those unwilling to continue back to the crossroads to Zolinar and set up a defence there and wait for more assistance from Nesar. Those who wish to stay will fight at my side and delay them long enough for the others to withdraw." At that he turned his horse about and moved to the middle ofthe road not wanting to look behind him to see just how many joined him and just how many left.
Eventually the army separated, just under half began the withdrawel, most of them the peasant infantry who had homes, farms and families in Nesar they wished to return to. At the signal General Rim moved foward his greatly reduced army moving slowly and nervously at his back.
They spread out slowly along the ridge and began to move towards the oncoming army of Amaria they had done the same and were picking their way up the slope. At an unspoken moment the two forces charged each other and the bloody fighting by night began.
Hours later Amarian soldiers picked through the debris of the battlefield, ending the lives of those soldiers of Nesar who were too injured to bother healing. Hundreds of them moved through the area with lanterns to see by. One group of soldiers found a man in full armour, a Nesar generals plume on his helmet who was killed and pinned beneath his horse as it too died. He appeared to have taken a large number of injuries before he succumbed to death. A noble ending for a man whose life could have been said to have been fairly mundane and average.
-
As night fell, Adder whistled in his tent as he packed the supplies he was going to need. The next few hours were going to be the deciding factor whether he was going to find himself lying beneath the bindstone in Arnax, disoriented and ill. It mattered naught though. All that mattered was fulfilling the will of the Dark Lord. To lead the madness, one must be prepared to embrace it. He shouldered a makeshift backpack that was essentially a modified cage, full of rats enchanted with magical sleep to keep them quiet. He carefully placed the padded box full of glass vials in the top area. Glass vials full of liquid death.
Two hours later, he sat next to a sewer grate to one of the cities many waste lines. Wounded gravely and breathing heavily he checked his supplies. All rats were alive and still asleep. The vials in the box were undamaged. He took a moment to quaff a light blue potion to heal some of his wounds, and then he proceeded. It took another half hour to jimmy the latch off of the heavy iron grate. When done, he lifted it slightly, slipped the supplies inside, and then crawled in with them, closing the grate behind him. Sewage washed over his clothes and hands, the smell overwhelming. It could not have been timelier though, as an enemy patrol passed by. He held his breath, hoping the broken latch would not be noticed. It seemed an eternity, but they soon passed without any alarms being raised. He soon found why there was little concern. Halfway down the long pipe he was crawling through he came to the first of what he estimated to be at least two dozen iron grates built into the stone walls. It would take sappers forever to bypass those, and the noise would be sure to alert anyone of their endeavors. He chuckled though, because never in the designer's wildest dreams would they have considered rats to be the soldier that needed to be kept out. He pulled out a syringe, loaded it with biological agents, injected a rat, woke it from its magical sleep, and released it to the city, shooing it for good measure. He did this at least four dozen more times. Within an hour they would begin to enter the airborne infectious stage.
Just before dawn, a severely injured Adder poked his head into Alandric's tent. "Orraculi Stipatio, the biological weapons have been deployed." He then leaves and heads to his own tent, snapping irritably at a nearby Sancti to follow to attend to his wounds.
-
// *coughs* Jehorums not back yet...
-
After hearing Adders words Alandric turns to Jehoram and Ozrin.
"Alright, there it is. If his concoction works as well as it did in Nith you'll have the means to get me into the city."
He pauses for a few moments to catch his breath. His next words are slow and stern.
"I need to be in that city tomorrow. Success rides on it. Ensure that it happens or die in the process. I won't accept anything else, dismissed."
-
//*Coughs* Edited... ;)
-
After hearing Adders words Alandric turns to Ozrin, "There you have it. If his concoctions work as well as they did in Nith you'll have your opportunity to breach the walls in short time. We can't wait for One-eye. Start preparing and take what you need and get me in there tomorrow!. Ensure it happens or die in the process, now Go!"
-
Ozrin scowls at Adder, "You rely to much on this pathetic creature, Do you even know if what he claims he has done has occured? He may be planning to undermine you. How did he get past all the Tesak, their traps, their Ori and their true sight, the Myr'drachs and their keen sense of smell. I say he is lying, he has not done these things, he merely wants more deaths to occur. Deaths we cannot afford as yet. We must wait for One Eye. Doctor."
He turns to Alandric with the last word, utter contempt for Adder clearly evident on his face. "Who will you believe, a lowly servant or a Priest of Death from the Temple of Arnax."
-
"Why would he make claims that will be clearly proven in the morning? If there is no sign of disease spread by midday then drag him outside in chains and have him flayed in front of all. I won't have anyone waste my time." He catches his breath.
"And what is that status of One Eye? Why hasn't he returned? I need information! Get it for me."
-
The little red devil materialized near the head of his bed and whispered in his ear. Adder smiled. "Let him spout his nonsense. His words illustrate his ignorance. He forgets, we are all servants of the Dark Lord. One who speaks thus of a Stipatio treads dangerous ground. He would have done better to keep silent and deal with me later. His actions speak of weakness, and we will exploit his hubris when the time is right..."
The devil whispers again, and Adder smiles again. "No, he is touched by the Lord of Darkness. To serve him is to embrace the madness..." He trails off into sleep, recuperating still from his serious wounds.
He had planned for the true sight, the Tesak, the Ori... but he had seriously underestimated their sense of smell and the traps. He was truly not good with finding traps.
-
//Some of the occurrences from my first CDQ session with "Mix" intertwined with the siege of Zolinar. Somewhat in narrative form... This is also an open invitation to any player that is Corathite friendly (Or can tolerate Corathites) that wants to become involved in-game, or through forum interaction in this CDQ. Could become interesting. ;) PM GM Mixalot...
----
Adder was standing near the front lines watching as siege machines began lobbing animated corpses over the wall. The enemy had shown no inclinations to mount a counter attack, and things had slowed to the irritating mind-numbing crawl that sieges often degenerate into. A conscripted gnome unit had erected some type of machine to fire large balls of iron into the walls, but had thus far been unable to make it function properly. Adder had made up his mind that if no significant progress had been made, he was going to murder them and add them to the undead units. Gnomes were utterly useless creatures.
A courier from the rear lines soon arrived and informed Adder that a messenger was waiting a short distance away. He indicated the man had "personal information" for him. When Adder approached he was greeted by a man he recognized as a recent recruit in the Gloomwood Magalare, over which he currently led as Stipatio. After a short greeting they were interrupted by two assassins who were lurking in the nearby river. They had been breathing through reeds while they waited. Adder stepped back and yelled in surprise as they both lunged at him with long thin daggers. He was obviously the target. The Corathite messenger ran one of them through with a short sword, and out of nowhere an axe swinging Gimli appeared, his axe biting into the flesh and bodies of anyone who was not Adder. He must have been shadowing him when he left the front to speak to the messenger. Unfortunately the messenger was a hapless victim as well, and fell seriously wounded by Gimli's flashing weapon. Adder was able to use his healing skills to stabilize him though.
The messenger told Adder there was another man who had travelled to the area with the Corathite and asked him to have Adder meet him in the square of the nearby village. The Corathite claimed to know nothing about him, other than that he asked for Adder by name and he had met him while he was in route to the siege. Magalare business was then briefly discussed and direction and orders issued for subordinates. The messenger was left in the hands of a nearby Sancti to help him recover. Adder made it clear that the man was not to die from his wounds.
Adder and Gimli then headed to the rear to see the person who wished to speak to him, and more importantly... what he wanted. When they arrived they found the village abandoned. A search found the bodies of many of the villagers and most of the rear guard dumped behind a building near the square. It was unnaturally quiet. No birds, animals, or sounds of labor were to be heard. Protective enchantments were cast. It was not long before assassins struck again. The battle was brief and painful for the attackers. It was obvious they were professionals. Nothing was found to indicate who they were or who had sent them.
Adder and Gimli then hurried back to the siege, concerned this was some sort of diversion to pull commanding officers from play in a possible counter attack from the defenders.
When they returned the only thing of note happening was the gnomes blowing themselves up with their siege contraption. Adder ordered them added to the ever-growing undead force and catapulted over the wall... perhaps as zombies they could find an ankle or two to gnaw on. He ordered several squads of infantry back to secure the village and their supply lines.
There were many questions in the back of Adder's mind. Who was the person that lured him to the village? He would have to question the Corathite messenger further... Was it related to his recent investigations and questions at Bloody Gate regarding Milara? Perhaps...
-
// Four days after Molvarens assault on Castle Hilm comes to a close and his armies are now moving back to Kuhl.
Ozrin Nai, Priest of Death, entered Alandrics tent and inclined his head slightly.
"Doctor, there are some things I believe you should know. An imp just arrrived from Arnax. The allied forces have defeated Molvaren at Castle Hilm however that is problematic for us. His armies are returning to Kuhl. It is estimated Cyn Chen will receive reinforcements within two weeks, more than we can possibly handle. Also General Rim was defeated near Amaria and the remainder of his army is fleeing back to the crossroads to Nesar and Zolinar."
Alandric stared at the dark skinned Priest of Death his guts churning, everything was falling apart and time was running out. He had made deals that could not go unfullfilled for this engagement, better that he should die if he could not finish what he had started.
"Send an imp to find Jehorum, two days ago we were told he was leaving a village not far to the west and making his way back here. Send one to Arnax as well. Tell them I want more priests and mages, as many as they can provide for two days time. As soon as Jehorum returns we are going to assault Zolinar. And Ozrin....we will not stop until the city is ours or everyone of us is sacrificed to the Dread Lord."
Ozrin's eyes flashed with anticipation at the battle to come and as he moved to leave he paused. "There is one more thing Doctor. The servant of yours, Adder, while I must attest, the disease he miraculously released into the city seems to be working to some degree I still question his loyalty. One of my people saw him in the woods yesterday consorting with others. I would be wary of him."
"I am wary of everyone Ozrin, especially Priests of Death."
Ozrin grinned menacingly before leaving the tent.
-
*When he was alone he summoned his familiar, a grotesque floating orb covered in wet leathery flesh with dozens if eyes protruding from stalks. One large eye in the centre regarded him anxiously.*
"Keep an eye on Adder for me. I would know if my own captains seek to overthrow me on the eve of absolute destruction." The familiar, sharing thoughts and feelings with Alandric seemed to know it's task well. Before leaving Alandric cloaked it from sight. With it's silent hovering motion it would be near impossible to detect.
****
A short while later Alandric summoned some of his pupils.
"It seems the disease is spreading within the comound. I want a full report on the extent of the disease, which areas are most effected, numbers and the current morale of the army. You've got till morning to report."
He dismissed them with a wave of his had.
-
Hours later several of Alandrics pupils begin to appear and make their reports.
"Doctor it appears something is happening, there are large bonfires that have been lit just outside their eastern postern gate and wagonloads of dead are being taken out and burnt there. The guards are wearing cloths over their mouths."
-
Adder stands among the soldiers in one of the forward positions watching the activity near the walls with satisfaction. It would not win the war, or take the city, but it helped. It was disappointing to see the dead go to waste though, and the removal of the bodies from the city was not what he wanted. He directed a nearby infantryman to spread word to the nearby siege machines to begin targeting the workers and wagons.
Adder noticed a Death Priest of a higher rank, Ozrin if he remembered his name correctly, watching the proceedings from a distance with contempt. It was the same person his familiar whispered of many days ago. He locked eyes with the man briefly and then watched as the priest turned and headed back toward the command tents. He would have to deal with that thorn at a later point in time, but for now there was service to the Dark Lord to attend to. He returned his focus to the siege activities at hand, whispering prayers to the Mortis Mentis.
-
Hours later several of Alandrics pupils begin to appear and make their reports.
"Doctor it appears something is happening, there are large bonfires that have been lit just outside their eastern postern gate and wagonloads of dead are being taken out and burnt there. The guards are wearing cloths over their mouths."
"Very well." His mind calculates rapidly before he adds "Resume your position and report again in a few hours."
-
Several hours later two of the pupils rush into the tent and drop to the ground faces pressed to the rugs on the floor of the tent in obesiance.
Alandric glanced down at their sudden entry. "What is it?
The apprentices stammered and glanced at each other fearful to report.
"Doctor, the enemy..."
"Speak, you blathering fool." Alandrics staff lashed out catching one of the pupils in the side of the head and sending him crashing aside a red welt down his face. The other pupil shivered and rushed out the words.
"Doctor, the enemy have a dragon, it just arrived."
Alandric felt his gut wrench at the mention of the world dragon. "It changes nothing we will still attack as arranged. Go and tell Ozrin that any man or women who tries to flee or leave our army is to be killed and added to the undead. At least then they will do our bidding without fear. GO!"
The pupils scrambled back out of the tent while inside Alandric swept his staff around smashing anything and everything in sight in his frustration and fury pausing only when the place was a chaotic ruin. And suddenly moments later mad laughter poured out of the tent causing those hearing it to get cold shivers down their spines. It was going to be a glorious battle indeed.
-
Adder watched the dragon circle the city walls and chuckled to himself and muttered. "This is going to get interesting." The sounds of mad laughter drifted down from the command tents and he laughed aloud himself. He knew that soon blood was going to flow like rivers and the Dark Lord was going to feed well.
-
** Later anyone passing close enough to Alandrics tent would hear him speaking about the battle ahead, the destuction of Cyn Chen and the dragon, plans of breaking the walls, pillaging the castle and fortifying it before Molvarens remaining army reached Kuhl. Oddily enough though, anyone who knew Alandrics agenda would realise he was alone and that he was seemingly talking to himself. Those brazen enough to chance a glance into the tent would see him sitting on a chair, talking to a skull which he held in his skeletal hand as if the inanimate object was listening to him. It was certainly an odd thing to behold and yet many would not feel inclinced to question it or mention it to others. Alandric, talking to a skull? He was the Mad Doctor after all.**
-
Night passes once more and dawn breaks over the battlefields at the southern edge of Zolinar. A light fog drifts across the tree cleared areas from the city to the edge of the huge trees of the forest where Alandrics Camp was spread out through the dense forest.
Overhead a dragon roared yet again and strafed an area far down the line of the trees with acidic spray that burnt and corroded anything it touched. The grey and white mottled dragon, fresh from the battlefield around Castle Hilm had harrassed the Nesar-Corathite army all through the night. Even catching a score of undead and melting them with its breath in one strike. The Nesar army had not the resources to deal with the new threat and many of the peaasant army had tried to flee the pending engagement during the night only to be caught by Ravens patrolling and then executed before joining the ranks of the undead.
With the first feeble attempts of sunlight to penetrate the light mist a new force joined the battlefield. on the western edge of the forest hundreds of undead slowly appeared through the mist shuffling slowly over to the Nesar-Corathite army lines. Around them walked a number of mages and priests of Corath and protecting them came the Black Ravens and other cavalry that had left with Jehorum several days before.
Before long One Eye was riding his familiar Black horse into the main camp, dismounting just before Alandrics tent and dropping to one knee as the Mad Doctor came and stood before him.
"I am displeased how long it has taken you to return, but I see you have brought a reasonable amount of undead with you."
Jehorum said nothing, it was no use to tell the Doctor that the mission he had sent him on was impossible to complete within a day or two, or that it took several days just to find the villages and then more time to round up everyone, kill them and raise them again. It was no use telling the Doctor that herding several hundred undead through a dense forest in the middle of nowhere was not the fastest thing to do. No excuse would be good enough, even if it was the truth.
"When do we attack." Jehorum said simply.
Alandric regarded him then turned to Ozrin who had suddenly shown up nearby. "We begin in four hours and nothing...nothing is to survive."
Ozrin smirked and Jehorum stood once more and nodded.
"As you command. What about the Dragon?"
Alandric looked at Jehorum "What about it? Don't worry about it, I will deal with it when the time comes, or rather, he will deal with it." Then turned, laughing, and re-entered his tent.
-
*A short time later a voice roars from in the tent*
"All of you in here right now." His mirth was now replaced with a more serious tone. "And send someone to find Adder."
Ozrin and Jehoram entered and waited patiently before the pacing Alandric. with his head dipped and his skeletal arm caressing his chin he spoke orders without looking at them.
"Here is how it will go. Ozrin I want you to conduct a ceremony so vile that it will put fear into every onlooker from Zolinar. Sacrifice some of our own men to make it happen. Raise standards from the skin of bones of our enemies that they'll recognise. I want them realising the horror of what is about to befall them."
At that point Adder enters the tent and takes his position beside the others.
"Another thing Ozrin, I want your greatest Sancti to join my strongest Orraculi. HAve them pray to the Mad One and summon a demon force unlike anything ever before. My Orraculi have memorised Gate and major summoning spells. Together they will be led by Adder. He will coordinate attacks by land and air. The lesser Sancti and Orraculi will tend to His Children (undead). Behind them the Nessar army with our own will charge the walls. I will coordinate the war machines to assist your advance. When your close enough, have the Sancti summon darkness and curses on our foes. The Orraculi will spread fear by way of necromancy. THis should assist your charge. Remember this attack doesn't stop until they're dead or we're obliterated against the walls."
He stops pacing and looks at Adder. "With the demon army, ensure you take out the threat from the walls. Use them to cause enough chaos to enable our army to breach the walls. Don't fail me."
He looks at Jehoram. "I will join your Ravens. When the time is right we break through and attack Cyn CHen and her Dragon ourselves. I'll keep some of my pupils to assist."
To them all. "Start preparing. No point in hiding our intention. Cyn Chen has enough spies to relay our every move. Lets show that we march to our glory and erase Zolinar from every map on Layonara!"
-
Adder smiles in anticipation, bows his head, and departs to find his Orraculi. In the back of his mind he makes a mental note to instruct them to prepare some acid sheath spells, as he plans to do.
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The tree line was oddly quiet, only the thumping of heavy hoofs on the ground from impatient mounts, snorts from their noses and the clinking of harnesses drifted down the cleared mile of forest between the city of Zolinar and the Kuhl Forest. The horses of the Black Ravens formed a long dark line out in the open before the trees. Masses of undead milled about while behind the horses mages, clerics and other Corathite servants watched with dark glittering eyes he field ahead.
Behind them nervous Nesar soldiers stood in long lines waiting for signals from the Corathites to begin the attack. What they had seen and witnessed over the last few weeks enough horror to last them a lifetime. It paled into significance however at what they were witnessing now.
The Priest of Death Ozrin Nai, joined by several highly ranked priests and servants of the Dark God stood on the ground halfway to the city of Zolinar defying the enemy they had begun to mill around on the city's palisade defences.
Around them four tall poles had been erected just before dusk and some of the enemy Drach Tesak that had been captured in their relentless raids had been eviscerated and sacrificed in the open on the battlefield to the Baron of Death. Their entrails and body parts being pecked apart already by crows while their blood dripped onto the ground of the battlefield below.
The ceremony complete a roar came from the back of the city and yet again the dragon that had become a major problem for the embattled Corathite army rose into the air and began to climb.
Ozrin Nai cried harsh words aloud and the chants of those around him joined him and before them a gate ground open yielding forth heat that washed over those gathered. From the circle of blood on the ground creatures poured forth, demons of varying types and strength lusting for the blood and souls of mortals. Their howls, cries, jibbers and hisses loud in the air. Angry at being unable to turn and strike at those who had summoned them they turned to the nearest opponents where they could and set off towards the city.
Myr'drachs lifted into the air and angry black swarms and moved forward to land outside the palisade, exactly as Alandric had planned. With a single horn every one of the remaining war machines in the nesar army unleashed their cargo and entire groups of undead carrying disease and other nasty surprises were launched into the city.
Fire suddenly erupted in the area before Zolinars palisade as a greater Balor summoned by Ozrin Nai himself unleashed fury on the Myr'drachs and the battle was joined. Beast verses demon ensued in front of the palisade, the fire quickly spreading to the walls of the city after Alandrics engines had plastered the area of the last few hours by every bit of oil they had left.
The fire spread in fits and starts closer and closer to the palisade while a vicious battle took place between demons and Myr'drachs outside the city. Within the city itself the defenders raced to deal with the undead in the streets some one which were attempting to plunge into the water supplies and wells.
All around him in the trees Jehorums Ravens chaffed at the bit, wanting to charge down the hill and involve themselves in the raging fires and planar battle going on. Only fear of Jehorum and the Doctor who led them holding them in place. Eyes glanced desperately at Alandric who stood just in front of the forest out in the open one arm raised to the sky holding aloft a dark staff.
The demons were dying one by one, torn apart by the mighty Myr'drachs and the Dragon was starting to descend on the tree line and still Alandric held as the fire crept closer and closer to the palisade seemingly unbeknownst to the defenders who were focused on the demons outside and the undead inside.
Closer and closer it drew until it began to lick at its base and suddenly those in the tower over the main gate noticed the fire and the threat it provided. As figures started to scramble to bring buckets to bear, the dragon lined up its approach from east to west ready to cover the entire line of Alandrics' forces in acid breath. Jehorum watched the dragons approach glancing between Alandric and the dragon, back and forth as closer and closer it drew. He could see it breathing in deep gulps of air preparing. The sardonic face of Adder turned to glance towards Jehorum. Eyebite and Gimli closer by him. He seemed to be enjoying the moment of impending doom immensely.
The fire seemed to dampen for a moment then flared and blazed brightly, suddenly shooting up the palisade, the flames completely obscuring the tower and the occupants within it. From their position Alandric could hear the screams of the burning men and women inside the tower.
His arm dropped and almost as one, fear of having to face the advancing dragon driving them the Nesar-Corathite army charged forward. Undead shuffled along in large groups while the Cavalry raced forward forming into ragged formations in which to strike at the Myr'drachs trying to clear up the last of the demons and behind them running for their lives came the panicked Nesar infantry. Those too slow were caught in the dreaded dragons acidic breath, the skin burned from their bones within seconds of them being struck.
On the gentle slope, Alandric walked forward between the massive tree stumps left after Cyn Chen had all the trees around the city cut down to build the palisade that now defended it. The Ravens reached the Myr'drachs first and and soon the sound of screaming and dying mounts and their riders filled the air. Fire roared its fury over the main tower and gates into the palisade slowly spreading along its front the fire added to by mages and clerics launching spells into the same location. Alandric had put everything into breaching the gates and gaining a foothold to the city so that his plan had a chance of working.
As the Ravens engaged the Myr'drachs the undead and the Nesar soldiers poured between them making for the palisade itself. The fire had spread further and further to the left and right rising up in huge sheets of flame to obscure the vision of the archers manning the walls and forcing them to withdraw from the heat emanating forth. Several Drach Ori attempted to put out the flames by Nesar sniper archers and Corathite mages were specifically looking for them and any time they appeared they faced a vicious assault from the attackers.
As Alandric reached halfway to the palisade the Nesar soldiers and undead were reaching the heat soaked area and slowing down unable themselves to find a way through. Several started to fall to Cult archers able to shoot at times through the flames.
Alandric watched the Ravens for a moment, they were trying to form up in groups of three to every one Myr'drach in an attempt to bring down the formidable creatures or to at least keep them busy long enough that Alandric could carry out his plan.
Turning back to the slowing advance Alandric called forth his own demon, a powerful creature from the Pits who leapt froth with a snarl at Alandrics direction unleashed torrents of fire on the main gate adding to the conflagration and burning alive many of those who were on the inside trying to put out the fire or shoot at the advancing forces. Behind it Adder and several mages began dropping sheets of ice onto the ground to form a path to the gate to enable the soldiers to move forth. The demon reached the gates and overhead the Dragon descended again to strike at it rage overcoming its senses. The Demon raised a monstrous flaming sword and cut through the gate in a single sweep then pushing through, flames roaring all around it.Then the Dragon hit and the demon, the remainder of the gate, the tower and dozens of Cult soldiers beyond were engulfed in a great sheet of acid destroying much of what remained.
Adder cheered and added more ice storms into the breach before cajoling the undead into the gap then the Nesar soldiers. Beyond the gates however was another story. Back across the street Cyn Chen had assembled her forces. Arrows rained out in slews peppering the undead and then into the Nesar soldiers beyond. Hundreds died in the initial assaults through the gate before the masses of undead, almost impervious to the arrows of the defenders began to give the soldiers a chance to get into the area in small groups. Many were dispatched quickly by the defenders and it wasn't long before they were starting to hesitate to go through even with Adder and other Corathite mages and clerics hurling abuse and threats at them all.
From Alandrics vantage point he watched carefully as they gate was breached then laughed as the dragon helped to finish the job. Even though it had removed his demon it had done more than Alandric could have wished for. He surveyed the field once more, the Ravens had managed to take down some of the Myr'drachs but the fierce creatures were ripping through the Ravens ranks. The Nesar soldiers were slowing in their advance into the city as they met fierce resistance amongst the Cult soldiers within.
It was time, thought Alandric. High in the sky the Dragon climbed for altitude then began a lazy circle to choose its new target. There, a small pocket of people on the field beyond the battle with the cavalry and the Myr'drachs. That was the Dragons new target. It's gaze centred on the man in black in the centre of the group, Alandric, and began its run.
Far below, oblivious to the dragons impending attack Alandric drew forth a skull from a place within his robes and placed it onto the ground. Speaking words taught to him in confidence he drew froth a vial of blood and opened the stopper. Even as he did so a cloud moved in front of the sun and a shadow was suddenly cast across the land.
The dragon above began to descend, its target clear, the sudden shadow not distracting it from its target far below.
One drop fell onto the skull, then two drops and soon a splatter of blood dripped and ran over the skulls smooth surface as Alandric continued the words he had been taught for just this moment.
The earth shook, a tremour that was felt through the city of Zolinar. High above the Dragon perceived the tremour as a shockwave in the ground that spread out from the target it had chosen, but still it continued on its path.
Alandric dripped the last few drops of blood onto the skull on the ground and completed the words of power.
The skull suddenly rose from the ground taking on an ephemeral quality as a shimmering form began to coalesce around it and then spreading down. A humanoid shape took form and slowly took solidity. Alandric stepped back and dropped to one knee as the figure finally took full form and gazed around him. Dressed in black armour with a flowing cloak of dark purple silk that flapped in a non existent wind the form drew forth a large jagged two handed sword of an unusual metal that glowed with a deep purple ominous glow in its right hand, a short silver and black staff topped by an unusual red gem held in its left hand.
Suddenly the figure glanced skyward, its skeletal eye sockets glowed deep purple like the two handed sword hand easily in one hand as it watched the advancing dragon.
Storan, once an emperor of all he had conquered, a mighty warrior mage, binder of Pit creatures to his will uttered words that caused the area to throb with power. An intense humming sound began and the dragon's descent slowed in time while Storan moved quickly, ancient words of the Al'noth flowing from his fleshless mouth and sheathing the area around them in such power that Alandric could only dream of. Creatures suddenly appeared around Storan, ancient warriors who served him in life and bound to him in death, the best of the best throughout his history wielding a variety of weapons and bearing armour from warrior codes across the Pits. They formed a defensive phalanx and a large banner unfurled from one larger than the others bearing a horned Pit Fiend Skull as a helmet. The banned flapped once, then twice as a wind borne of primal energies flowed across the area. The third time is snapped open completely revealing a dark purple field with a black sword pointing downwards.
Alandric began to laugh, caught in the safe area outside of the time alteration that Storan had initiated he felt the powers emanating from Storan and the portal he had opened. Words of power continued to flow from Storans fleshless face each one calling forth more and more primal energy into the world of Layonara.
Above the group on the ground a huge shape began to form, thunder cracked and lightning blazed in the airspace between them and the dragon caught in Storan's magic that was slowly descending. A cloud of vapors poured forth from the portal and began to take form.
Across the field of battle, and outside of the range of Storan's spell the battle slowed naturally as peoples gazes were drawn to the growing storm cloud and the unnatural wind that was now whipping about the area.
Cyn Chen ascended stairs rapidly with her command staff to the top of the tallest building in the city emerging on the roof as the cloud suddenly became corporal. What they saw stunned them and chilled them to the core.
It appeared as a massive blob of flesh that seemed to simply hover in the air. A huge mass of crimson ridged flesh almost a hundred feet in diameter most aptly described its immediate appearance. As Cyn Chen watched the blob of flesh seemed to pulse and eyes and dark orifices appeared all over its body that could only be described as hawklike. The eyes ranged in sizes the largest being over three and a half foot long but they shifted and changed their size and shape as the blob hovered there.
Cyn Chens eyes drifted to one of the black orifices on the creature and blinked as suddenly spells burst forth from them, balls of fire, lightning bolts, sheets of acid and flame that struck out across the area towards the city of Zolinar.
Ducking involuntarily as the magical bursts struck around the city Cyn Chen felt a dryness in her throat and fear in her belly. From her vantage point she could already see her troops near the main gates drawing further and further into the city to escape the huge floating shape outside it.
Desperately Cyn Chen glanced up as the dragon suddenly moved downwards as Storan's magic released it. Unable to shift its descent the Dragon plummeted straight at the flesh creature in the sky. Bolts of lightning arced into the dragon as it closed on the creature and then they collided, the dragon sinking deep into the creatures form.
For a moment the blob of flesh stretched and flexed and Cyn thought the Dragon might tear a hole through it but then with horror Cyn noticed that the dragon was stuck on top of the creature pitifully trying to move its wings, tail and legs only to find them becoming more and more useless until the dragon was entirely paralysed and lying there helplessly its wild eyes rolling in its head. Even as she watched, masses of flesh extended out from the blob from several of the black orifices, almost like some sort of sick appendages and reached up to grasp hold of the dragon. Powerful magic pulsed through them and the dragon was incinerated it its grasp.
Below the unnatural creature Storan's words spread across the landscape towards where the Ravens were engaging the Myr'drachs and wrapped them in a sea of death. From out of the forest behind Storan thousands and thousands of undead birds intermingled with some larger undead forms of wyverns and drakes filled the sky like a blanket and descended into the melee, smashing themselves relentlessly into the Myr'drachs, clawing at eyes, crawling into mouths, ears and breathing holes. Tens of thousands of the creatures engulfed the Myr'drachs without mercy and as they smothered them the Ravens took the opportunity to plunge, swords spears and lances into the Myr'drachs killing them as best they could.
Cyn Chen watched from the building rooftop as her defence of Zolinar was ripped apart from magic more powerful than anything she had ever witnessed before. The area outside the city was a dark blanket of flapping, chittering and clattering winged shapes. She could see already many of her Myr'drachs either being dragged down and hacked to death by the Corathites Ravens or else fighting to free themselves of the undead birds and trying to flee the field of battle.
Inside the city her soldiers had fallen back long enough for the Nesar soldiers to gain the gates and form a bridgehead inside the city and even as she watched she knew much of the fight had gone out of her armies at facing such foes. Even the Nesar soldiers near the entrance to the city were nervously half watching what was going on outside.
Cyn desperately reconsidered her plans then swiftly made her decision as the massive blob of flesh in the sky started to float towards the city itself. Magic flashed from the dark orifices on its body setting alight building after building as it moved. She realised then what the enemy before her was intending. They didn't want the city, they intended to destroy everything and leave nothing behind.
Cyn dispatched orders to her people straight away. The local soldiers and the forces here originally could hold it alone she was not about to risk herself of her beloved Tesak in a fight such as this. They had nothing to match what was before them.
What followed was a slaughter and destruction of immense scale. As the Tesak fled the city so to did many of the remaining Myr'drachs fending off the undead birds that chased them relentlessly until reaching the range of Storan's control whereby they fell to the ground as lifeless piles of bones. The creature summoned by Storan wobbled its way over the city destroying anything and anyone from either side. Cult soldiers were obliterated along with Nesar soldiers by the creatures primal magics, launched from the dark orifices all over its body until after a time it began to wobble unsteadily and then puffed out of existence leaving a city burning below it.
Alandric walked down the hill alongside Storan and his phalanx of elite undead warriors taking in the scene of destruction before him until Storan halted where on the ground the skeletal remnants of the dragon had fallen after sliding off the flesh creature that had killed it. Here Storan paused and turned to Alandric, his dark purple eyes glowing as ominously as his sword.
"And this to seal the agreement." Then he turned to the skeletal remains, uttering deep and ancient words of power and magic as the bones shifted and reconnected and the creature rose from the ground shifting its head to turn and face Storan who waved it towards the city. The undead dragons mouth opened and roared silently before it flapped fleshless wings and leapt into the sky then descended into the city tearing apart buildings and anything resembling life.
Alandric watched as the remnants of his army including many of his Corathites fled the city racing back up the low rise towards the forest edge there to turn and watch the undead dragon tear what was left of the burning city apart with its claws and magical fire breath. He saw Adder and Gimli dragging Eyebite from the battle below who was bleeding heavily. Then he saw Jehorum reform the remaining Black Ravens and begin hunting down soldiers fleeing the destruction going on within the city.
Moments later Ozrin Nai and a large group of Corathites drew near and halted staring with awe at Storan and his guards while Alandric gloated and turned to them.
"Nothing is to remain here Ozrin, nothing, send out the word, this day the followers of Corath will show everyone what happens when you defy us. Go and kill, maim, torture any you find for tomorrow we leave this place with nothing but the dead. We have done our job, it is time to go home."
As the Corathites rushed off eagerly to pass the word Alandric turned back to Storan and bowed deeply.
"I agree that your promise is fulfilled as you said it would be and to a far greater benefit that I could have hoped for. You will have all that you asked for and more if need be."
Storan, once trapped for eons and not long freed from imprisonment regarded Alandric. "Yes, you will. Now you have seen some of my power, it is only a taste of things to come." With that he turned and marched into the glowing portal followed by his elite warriors and as the last one entered it snapped out of existence. The wind died instantly, the sun moved from behind the cloud only to be obscured again by the smoke and fumes drifting high into the air from the former city of Zolinar.
All through the night the undead dragon creature by storan demolished anything standing while the Ravens and Corathites hunted for fleeing soldiers and delighted in their own forms of entertainment anytime they found some. Terrified Nesar soldiers who managed to survive the slaughter withdrew to the forest and others simply fled in groups to the south eager to be free of the fighting and the unnatural and mad Corathites, especially the one they called the Doctor, the worst of them all.
By the next morning the sun rose over a burning pile of rubble that was once Zolinar and as the sun touched the bones of the undead dragon it clattered into dust signalling the end to Storans part in the destruction.
Stories soon spread of the arrival of Storan and the destruction wrought by the creatures he summoned. Of the complete and utter destruction of the city of Zolinar and almost all those who were left behind when Cyn Chen and her Tesak fled the field of battle. Of the undead host of birds that came to Storans bidding, of the horrors and the terrors that walked the forest that day and of the atrocities unleashed on those found by the Corathites after the battle was over.
Such was the price of war some in Nesar said while others wondered at the high price of working with Corathites.
Either way Alandric and his remaining army moved south as he had said leaving behind nothing but rubble and death in what was once a large thriving city in a lush forest in Kuhl. As well as realising to the world that as one threat is diminished, another rises in its place. The world had only just got a glimpse of what the future 'might' hold.
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//I think my favorite part of these write ups is that the Green Dragon Cult are the good guys :p .
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//Makes it strangely more enjoyable to read between two bad guy armies as opposed to good v bad.
Guess its just a change from the norm, even though the norm is also good fun :P
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//Ummm holy c#%p!!!
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//Ummm holy c#%p!!!
Couldn't ask for a better reaction!!