Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

[fanta23]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Samira Heard the call to arms against the catapults and began to run to the ramparts but then Samira heard the shout "INCOMING!" Samira quickly ran into the nearest cover possible which happened to be the smith. There was a few human blacksmith inside still sharpening and repairing weapons and armor.
Samira quickly drew 4 of her six throwing knives and handed them to a smith "Sharpen these quickly will ya? I will be needing them in a bit." Samira kept the other two dull knives cause you never knew when you could be without your main weapon. The knives while dull still held a sharp point which behind a swift and hard hand could still pierce through flesh and a small amount of armor but throwing was out of the option. Samira saw a few of flaming pitch crash into the courtyard. One landed in the already smoldering grave pit another landed on a soldier trying to get to cover. The soldier became doused in flames and began screaming out in pain as the flames feasted upon his body. Samira reacted quickly knowing that the soldier only had precious seconds before the burns would be too great. Picking up a bucket of water the smiths were using to cool hot metal she ran over to the soldier and doused most of the flames. The few that were left on him were small enough that Samira gave quick swats to douse them. Samira knew they weren't safe yet since that was just the first volley. Samira grabbed the man's burnt tunic and pulled him into the smithy. HELP! MEDIC WE NEED A MEDIC! screamed Samira out the door of the smith. All Samira could do now was try keep the man alive until a healer of some kind came and wait for the barrage of flame and rocks to end and wait for the ladders and ropes to arrive.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Ako'orzyne had spotted the catapults and nudged the man on watch beside him, who called the alarm.

That done, he dashes towards one side of the wall, pulling a rope out of his pack as he went. "If anything but me comes up this, kill them and slice the rope." He says a guard as he ties it off against a battlement and throws it off. The guard didn't have time to reply, just look stunned as the drow all but jumped off the edge, using the rope to slow his fall.

He hit the ground fairly hard, using a roll to break the last of his momentum. Not bothering to brush himself off, he starts sneaking towards their lines, slowly moving through the tall grass, keeping low and not making a sound...

 

[Mamono Assault Force]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Deagan turned with a grin to the approaching Rohn, as well as a raised eyebrow, "Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed, "I've got all the reach I need, right here." he said as he hefted his rather oversized claymore in his fist. And he folded his arms, nodding at her mentioning that they should talk about Deagan's debt to her, while chuckling as she elbowed him, "Stay safe?" he shouted up to her as she went to climbing up the towers, "I don't know the meaning of the word!"

Deagan followed Kemili as the catapults fired at them, taking cover with her, while pulling his claymore out for good measure, using only one hand to do so, either to try and impress Kemili with his strength, or simply because he really was that strong.

Ducking with her, he let out a, "Woah!" as a ball of fire went flying by them both, as well as the other soldiers hiding with them. He chuckled a little, looking to Kemili with an amused look, "All hail the end of the world, eh?" he said to her with a humorously stupid smile.

 

[lurker]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

"I wouldn't call it an ending yet, we still got a chance," the half-drow replied, peering over and looking at the forces pouring forth. "We just need the foot soldiers to get close enough, in the meleefighting the brutes won't dare launch them at thier own troops."

 

[DeMatt]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Deep inside the keep, the noise of the alarm only just penetrates. The thumps of the first catapult stones are a bit more noticeable, shaking mortar dust down onto the countertops of the kitchen. Some of the workers look up, nervous and wondering, before a snarl from the head cook gets them back to work.

Lily merely works a bit harder, shrugging her shoulders over her ball of dough to keep the worst of the dust out. Catapult attack or no, the people of the castle will be needing their lunch eventually.

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

At Deagan's holler, Rohn glances back with a grin, then puts her attention on the forces ahead of her.

You just might have found someone as crazy as you are.

She caught sight of one of the arrows being loosed in the direction of the catapults and the call came out that they were still out of balitsa range. All the while, her fingers worked to lock a bolt into place, pushing herself up from a knee to look out over the ramparts. Frowning, she still brought the bow to her shoulder. Maybe a human-launched arrow might fall short, but a mechanical one...

At the cry of "Incoming!" though, she ducked back down behind what cover there was, watching the pitch come sailing into the courtyard and feeling the rocks slamming into the walls.

"Sons of whores," she spat under her breath, quickly picking herself up before the next volley could be loaded and bringing her crossbow to her shoulder once again. It might be a futile gesture, but she was still willing to try. Squeezing the trigger, she let the bolt loose, trying to see how far it would get before ducking down again, both for cover and reloading.

 

[Mirchie]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

"Damn. Ah well, let's see what they're throwing at us today." Roy shrugs, drawing his cloak closer around him as he steps up to the battlements, giving the fireballs little more than a second glance. Stepping into an unoccupied corner to survey the Orc masses, and bringing a hand up to shield his eyes, he turns back to Sgt. West after a few seconds. "Sergeant. We do have our own catapults do we not? Why are we not retaliating?"

 

[Mamono Assault Force]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Deagan raises an eyebrow at Kemili, both at the glimpse of her rump while she raised herself up to peer over, and at her statement while he says with doubt, "I don't know... Orcs are a crazy lot, I wouldn't doubt anything they might do. Hell-I don't even know what they're attacking this fort for!" he said as he chuckled.

"The fates will it, I s'pose. Although sometimes I think The Creator-praise be his name, has a bad sense of humor..." he said with a slightly uplifting, and slightly sarcastic tone. And, as another flare flies by, he smiles at Kemili, "The fire is pretty though, don't you think?"

 

[lurker]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Kemili gave a smirk. "Yes, dark and mysterious, much like everything we've known about this mission... guess we'll try to beat them down and give them hell if we fail!"

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Rohn's crossbow bolt sailed through the air, but stuck into the ground a few hundred metres before the catapults. The Orcs didn't even notice as they reloaded sending another volley towards the castle. Behind them, the wardrums started, Orcs clutching ladders began beating their chests as the warriors around them lifted spears into the air, letting out a massive warcry as the pitch covered rocks slammed once more into the castle walls.

Not a one of them noticed Ako'orzyne sneaking towards them.

Sgt. West turned to Roy.
"We've got no catapults. They were all pulled south for the invasion. They took our engineers too, so building one could be... not so pleasant," Sgt. West said. He remembered the last time untrained soldiers tried in desperation to build a catapult. It hadn't worked very well, and the aim was completely off. Celthor soldiers had been splattered beneath their own munitions that day.

Meanwhile, guards were simply trying to stay alive before the Orcs began their proper advance.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Stopping in some heavy brush ahead and to the side of one of the catapults, Ako'orzyne stopped and pulled a small box from a pocket on his vest. Inside was a small vial of very powerful acid, and a few custom arrowheads, designed to carry a liquid and shatter on impact. He carefully filled the arrowhead and attached it to a shaft, then replaced his supplies, nocked the arrow, and waited until the horde between him and the catapult was most distracted, the moment after it fires, when all eyes should be on the flying rock. When that occurs, he fires, placing his shot at one of the vital gears of the machine, and moving again, towards the next catapult.

 

[Keylo]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

((Filler post out of boredom?))

Enigma stood as nonchalantly on the wall as ever while the bombardment continued, sidestepping occasionally to avoid flaming debris that her protection spell 'couldn't' fend off, seemingly content was just watching.

Mmmhmm, ladders, war drums, seems like they're coming for a rush. Goodie, I haven't seen an orc invasion first hand after all! Now there launching more rocks, including that one which seems to be flowing a wee bit further...guess I can't really dodge this one. Would make an awful mess too if it hit the wall. Oh well, fight burning rocks with fire, what I always say anyway.

As a burning rock which was launched unexpectedly high into the air descended towards where Enigma was, the flames around Enigma began to swirl around her and gather to her staff.

"Right, what was that incantation again? Hocus pocus, mifdim...Hmm... can't remember. Oh well, go with that. Exuro!"

Leaning back slightly and holding her staff as one might a javelin, the magician caused that the flames on the battlement and from the earlier volleys to be gathered to her, and melded into a concentrated ball of flame. Then, with some effort, the elf literally threw her magical instrument towards the oncoming rock, fireball first, penetrating it and causing it to explode magnificently in a shower of small flames and debris. Staff magically returning to her afterwards, the elf once again resumed her role as an observer...

 

[fanta23]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Samira waited for what seemed like ages but no one came to hear cries. The soldier now crippled from the rocks and burned in many places began to cough histerically. Samira knew he would not make it now pulling out her dulled dagger she exterted a enough force on the still semi sharp tip to quickly end the suffering of the dieing guard. Samira then gave a prayer both to his ancestors and the sun and then draped a nearby smith's apron across the man. Samira saw the pause in the volleys and took that chance to make a dash to a ladder leading to the battlements to see what was happening now. As Samira climbed she saw and elf throw the staff she was carrying at one of the rocks heading straight for her. Samira hurried the rest of the ladder and peered over the wall to see the large wooden machines being reloaded for another volley.

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Letting out another curse, Rohn began the automatic process of reloading her crossbow. At least she had an idea of the range she'd get, provided she had enough time to fire. Taking another look over the walls, it looked like she'd have her chance, too. The orcs were beginning to heft their seige ladders, which meant they had to cross the field and get in range. If she could just stay in one piece until then, everything would be fine.

Another volley streaked toward the wall, although this time, it was interrupted by some sort of flaming blast before it connected. The resulting explosion caused more than a few heads to turn. Following the path of the staff as it returned to its owner, Rohn was able to catch sight of the one who'd cast the spell. Though aware of magic, she'd only seen it in practice a few times, this being one of them.

"Hopefully she can keep that up. Will make returning fire a lot easier," she muttered, more to herself than out loud. Still, the guard beside her obviously heard her.

"Dunno about that. Magi are a funny lot. Often do stuff just when it suits 'em." He seemed a bit bitter about that fact.

"Then hopefully it'll 'suit' her to help keep the orcs out," was the girl's reply. "Besides, you lot have managed without magicians before, haven't you?"

"Aye." He still seemed a bit hesitant, though.

"Besides, who needs one when you've got me," she flashed him a cocky smile.

"Big words, little girl. What makes you so good?"

She glanced down to the courtyard where the ground troops were gathering, trying to pick out Daegan among them before flashing the guard another grin. "I've got a bet going on this one."

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

One of the catapult crews howled in anger as their rock exploded in the air. They immediately began to reload... and their catapult fell apart. Wood and metal eaten away by something, the pieces fell in a jumble across the ground. More angry growls, and the wardrums pounded harder. The Orcs began to charge across the open plain, weapons raised high.
The catapults fired one last volley over the charging horde's heads.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

((Haha, a bit more spectacular than I expected, but I'm definitely not complaining XD))

Ako'orzyne smiled as he watched his handiwork, crouched in some brush thick enough that the orc charge went around it, passing him by. His gaze wandered back towards the fort, assessing the damage done by the catapults. Deciding that they weren't enough of a structural threat to warrant destroying when there was no obvious explanation as to why they would fall apart, he turned his gaze further into the enemy encampment. If this army was as organized as it seemed to be, there'd have to be someone, maybe a small group, in charge of everything here...

Slining quietly deeper behind enemy lines, he kept an eye out for two things: Anything that looked like a command tent, and any other drow milling about. If there was some around, he'd be able to stop sneaking around, pretend he was supposed to be here all along, and hopefully arouse less suspicion than if he was caught skulking around.

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Even with the distance between the fort and the catapults, it wasn't hard to miss one of the things simply...crumbling in on itself. At least that was how it looked to Rohn, anyway, and she wasn't going to complain. One less volley was one less volley.

"Hope you lot are ready, because here they come!" Rohn ducked down, bracing herself for what she hoped would be the final assault from the catapults, given that the orcs were charging up for melee purposes. Grabbing one of her bolts, she clutched it in her teeth as she swung back up, bow to her shoulder. She knew now how far away they could be before she'd have a chance at hitting them, so she waited until that moment, taking the time to find her target: one of the orcs carrying a seige ladder. With any luck, if she could make one of them stumble, or better yet, fall, the ladder going askew might result in some collateral damage. As soon as she squeezed off the shot, she was reloading and taking aim at the next target, the action of shooting and reloading becoming automatic as she grew determined to pick off as many as she could before they even reached the wall, her fellow archers and the ballista men seeming intent on the same task.

 

[lurker]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

"Yes, ladders! I was worried I'd get bored up here!" she calls with a grin, reaching into her clothing to grab one of her throwing knives while giving the whip a test 'crack'.

 

[Mamono Assault Force]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Deagan chuckled, "Now, that's just mean!" he said with a sarcastic tone, "You've had me to play with up here this whole time!"

Deagan, still a smile on his face, unlatched his large claymore, and made an awkward maneuver as he pulled it from it's large sheath, hefting it with only some effort, which was commendable for a human. Although he wouldn't be swinging it around wildly. And since it was so massive, he had little room to put it, and so he was content with hefting it on his shoulder, using his upper body to support most of it's weight.

His smile faded as the orcs drew closer. He used his free hand not holding his blade to touch his right, then left shoulder, before placing his hand on his forehead as he said a small prayer. "Faith be my shield, Judgment be my sword, and may the Creator's love be my armor." Deagan said with blessing, as his hand seemed to glow with a little bit of a Paladin's holy power, before fading away. And, likely due to whatever spell he just chanted, he seemed to fill with a bit more vigor than he had before, a confident smirk on his face growing wider, while he gripped his weapon with both hands.

"I'm ready for you, you sodding bitches..." he said in a near whisper.

 

[DeMatt]

Re: Chapter 1: Fort Barthone

Having gotten her dough suitably kneaded into loaves, and placed in the ovens to bake, Lily takes a minute to rest and shake her hands out.

It's right then that a page comes running up to the head cook, giving him a message and then running on. He, in turn, looks around the kitchens, picking out idlers with his eyes.

"The greenskins are launching another assault, so they need more bodies outside to fetch and carry. You, you, you - go up and outside, to carry up full quivers and waterskins to the soldiers."

The second "you" happens to be Lily. "Yes, sir...", and she sheds her apron, leaving it on her bench, then jogging around the hallways to the smithy.