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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


The battle raged on, the North Gate the last location in Vikarh still heavily contested by the intruding Northmen. Small contingents of their allies, the Orcs, Skaven and monsters, no doubt still prowled the streets further south, but their threat had effectively been ended. This fight was the last of it, and the Drach seemed content to sit and watch his champion lead his people to victory, glaring down from the saddle of his might Black Dragon atop the rooftops overlooking the square. Bane and the Chaos Lord still duelled, the two warriors now circling like wolves, the red plumed helmet of Vikarhs' champion having just saved her from another devastating glancing hit. The Chaos Lord was still bleeding from his wounded side however, and was starting to wield his great axe in a more one handed grip after taking a blow from Banes' enchanted maul to his left forearm. The group could no longer see the mighty challenge, but the roars of the Norsemen and the Midnight Guardians told them the flow of the battle even over the clash of their own blades. The deafening howl that erupted from the throats of the Chaos Chosen next told them that something had happened to Bane.

Varin sliced his dragon hilted blade through the bare flesh of a massively muscular arm, shearing off the limb before the talons of it's giant hand could rend his armour from his flesh. The highborn was an experienced warrior, both on the battlefield from his younger years and in single combat from his numerous bouts in the Shadow Arena, be they for entertainment or political status. He was doing a good job of keeping their advance moving even through the weight of so many armoured enemies, but already had taken a couple of heavy hits from a mace and a club, and the speed of his spinning blade was slowly faltering. Vryala and Karonath were still right behind him, keeping his flanks clear of attack and driving those Chosen they approached back with swipes and lunges from their blades, Vryala taking hit after hit on her shield, Karonath parrying blades away only to return with an attack. Phalx stalked after them, finding few survivors left on the ground in their wake, but plenty of foes still to face on the flanks of their formation.

Casaythe had found his position in the group quickly, following Vryala and stabbing out with his glaive at any Chosen that attempted to flow back into the gap they created as they advanced. Here and there, the Corsair chopped downwards with his weapon instead, keeping enemy halberds at bay or shearing through armoured legs or boots. It seemed to be working, the group were still advancing through the ranks of the Chosen like a barge through water, but the tide was against them and every step drained what little strength still remained to fuel their limbs. Caraoc and Elysian had little to add to the fight as yet, bunkered in their companions' formation as they drew closer and closer to the gatehouse, still too far away to stand a chance of breaking formation and getting inside, though the narrow doorway was visible now in brief glances behind the horned heads and chopping blades of their enemies. Fifteen paces would get them there, but that meant fighting their way through fifteen more foes, whilst keeping up with the pressure of those either side of the enemies ahead of them. Even as Caraoc remained optimistic and drew upon the Wind of Azyr in preparation, Elysian couldn't help but feel the advantage turning against them as they slowed down, and the Chaos Warriors roared in triumph at the duel.



Vryala felt the flow of the battle turning back against them too, but her well honed battle instincts told her to do something about it before it was too late. She reached for her belt and her hands found the last of her fire bombs, a small glass vial containing a highly volatile chemical solution that one of Vikarhs' alchemists had created, which exploded when shattered and contacted with the air. The warrior couldn't help but wonder, with most of the Commoners Market left in ruins by the stone throwers of the Orcs, if the alchemist still lived and if she would ever be able to buy more of the bombs. Even as she subconsciously considered the fact, the vial left her hand and sailed over Varins' head, into the thick press of armoured bodies that lay ahead of them before the gatehouse. Just as Vryala threw the vial, the rest of the group still fighting off the incoming attacks of the Chosen, both Elysian and Caraoc happened to look in the direction of the duel and caught a momentary glimpse through an open line of sight to the challenge which was swallowed by the movement of the Chosen as quickly as it had appeared.

Bane was on her knees, her helmet cast across the ground by the heavy axe blow that had bloodied her nose and mouth, giving her a devilish grin as she gritted her teeth and drove her Starmace upwards. The weapon got in the way just in time to stop the overhead chop of the Chaos Lords' great axe, and the two weapons locked as one, entering a battle of wills even as their champions' entered a battle of strength that Kalius Bane was destined to lose. The Drach watched on, motionless, as the strength of the foreign champion slowly forced his axe closer to Banes' exposed head, driving her Starmace down inch by inch. Suddenly, Vryalas' fire bomb hit the ground in the midst of the Chosen by the gatehouse, and the resulting explosion that mushroomed up into the air in a spray of hissing armour fragments was accompanied by an earth-shaking Boom! The Chaos Lord, now lost from sight to the Mages, turned his head for a moment to look at the loud and unexpected noise. Perhaps he feared the gate itself had been knocked in by the Khainite forces outside, or suspected some sort of magical attack for the dark arts of the convents were well known even to outsiders. Whatever the Chaos Lord thought the distraction was, the split second he turned his head was all the time Bane needed.

With a roar of effort, Bane rolled aside and turned the Chaos Lords' strength against him, removing her Starmace so quickly that her opponent overbalanced and drove his own weapon into the ground. Bane came up to her feet beside him so quickly that he barely had time to turn his attention back her way, his cold metal helmet turning to look her in the eye a moment before her Starmace came around on a collision course with the side of his head. Bane stared into the eyes of the Chaos Lord through the visor of his metallic blue helmet, her enchanting yet deadly ice blue eyes promising him death as her Starmace struck his helmet and tore his head from his body in a welter of dark crimson blood. Banes' sudden comeback happened so quickly that the Chaos Chosen were still applauding their Lords' imminent victory when the tide of battle turned suddenly against them. Kalius Bane and her Midnight Guardians were now free to attack them again at will, and the cold fury that had entered Banes' eyes in the last moments of the challenge was not about to fade.



Scalding hot droplets of sizzling, vaporized steel and razor sharp shards of shattered armour showered the group, mingled with the wet pelt of spraying blood and the cold slap of slithers of meat and flesh smacking against their skin and armour. A dozen Chosen Warriors, densely packed just in front of the gatehouse, had just exploded in a white-hot fireball that had rocked the entire mass of enemies ranked against them like a strong wave hitting the shore. The tide suddenly pushed against them from the force of the blast at the Chosen Warriors' backs, but just as quickly relented as their enemies' turned to look back in confusion, or were shocked or injured by the sudden intensity of the blast. If their charge hadn't got the attention of the Drach, the explosion most definitely would have, and the group surged forwards again with renewed vigour as they once again followed Varins' lead in deeper against the Chosen Warriors. Hacking left and right, up and down, Varin cut his way through the distracted warriors to where the huge gap had just been opened up in their midst, Vryala and Karonath butchering their way into the clearing behind him, Casaythe and Phalx following them forwards still sheltering the Mages from attack.

Varin stepped out into the middle of the clearing V had made with her bomb, raised his longsword to the dawn that broke the horizon behind the onlooking Drach, and then chopped it down in the direction of the gate.

"For the Drach! For Vikarh! Take back the gate!"

There were now only a handful of the armoured giants between them and the gatehouse door, though in the moments after the explosion the Chaos Chosen were quickly regaining their focus and steadfast determination.

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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

The Noresemens' sudden roar of triumph covered the turmoil of the fight around the group.
For a second, the drama was so tense that everyone turned an eye towards the duel, friend and foe alike.
Caraoc saw his vision come true again: Bane on her knees, about to be defeated by her giant horned opponent.
He just waited for the final yells of victory before he released the cumulated power of Azyr. His fingers were about to get loose and frantic.
That's about time... Just one more second... Ready... Steady...

Then Fate picked up an unexpected path.
The explosion in front of the group took Caraoc totally by surprise.
"Hey? That wasn't me!"
He wasn't the only one to have been surprised.
Instantaneously, the Norsemen silenced their victory yells, and were replaced by loud Druchii enthusiastic calls for victory.
The triggering event that Caraoc was waiting for would never come. "Bane survived?"
Fortunately, nobody had taken Caraoc's bet. So much for my seer's talents.

-=-=-

A wide road had opened itself towards the gate.
The group rushed and made most of the distance.
Caraoc was conscious that the Drach's attention would probably have turned towards their direction, by now.
He made his best to control the flood of Azyr energy that he had cumulated.
Easy man. Don't puke, don't fart. Concentrate everywhere.
<OOC: magic users have sometimes a harsh life, didn't you know?> IC

Caraoc emptied theatrically his repeater handbow on the occasional Chaos warrior that presented himself.
Not that much with the hope to find an unprotected eye or limb, but more realistically to force a reflex reaction against so many incoming missiles.

-=-=-

The gate was close by now.
They were thick iron doors that only opened from the inside, by controls found in the gatehouse beside. The gatehouse was accessed through a small doorway to the right of the gate, up a few steps, near to the stairs leading onto the wall. What waited inside it, they have no idea yet.

Caraoc asked Elysian, the thief adept of Chamon:
"You sure know how to open that damn door?"

Target #1 = small door.
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Dauricha
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Post by Dauricha »

OOC: 15 hour day so far. Meh. RP!!

IC: Phalx did not see Banes vital blow, blinded for that small moment by the light of Vryala's attack. She was damn useful sometimes. He raised his dark cloak at the white hot metal rain, hearing it patter and hiss to the floor. Then the dark rags were flying behind him,, as he moved in the wake of his powerful allies. He gave a fierce howl. One last attack, one last push and they would have done it. They would have saved Virkarh.

So far the Shade had taken a supportive role, keeping to the flanks, finishing off the brutal bodies of these damned souls. He wondered if any of them had even been elven. What foolish Druchii would do this to themselves?

He left such thoughts, their foes were becoming ready, no mean thing to trifle with. These were Chosen, and theywould die at his hand. Now was the time to snatch at glory. To battle, the Shades heart sung!

Phalx will no longer play a supportive role, but will move to stands besides his well armoured comrades, fighting the Chaos Chosen with great speed and his sword. If possible, he will use his cloak to distract.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
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Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

If indeed Vryala had changed the course of fate she did not realise, too occupied with ramming her blade through a Chosen's face plate when the blast lit the sky. By the sounds of it, the ebb of battle was rapidly flowing back and forth, and she followed Varin as he made the most out of every distraction, every inch of space. She thought she'd learned not to underestimate the strength and speed of her old boss, but here he was, surprising her still. Even Karonath looked to be straining to keep up with him; V could only hope the lesser armoured of the pack would not be left hanging in a hostile crowd, though both Phalx and the Corsair fighter seemed to be doing their job admirably so far.

Blackthorn led his mercs in a blistering charge once more; now the gate revealed itself to them fully. The warriors of the Changer had been scattered by her grenade - such a wonderful piece of kit - but some of them had regrouped in front of the gate, leaving a last barrier for the group to overcome. Varin was drunk on the joy of battle, crying out an oath of loyalty to the Drach; now finally, whether in victory or death, would they finally convince Vikarh's ruler of House Blackthorn's loyalty - in his city's direst hour, no less.

Vryala smiled. Her father would be proud.

Varin might agree or not - Vryala leaps ahead, taking the fight to the Chosen shield first. If anyone should be able to capitalise on her righteous charge, so much the better!
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

He wasn't dead yet, so far so good. Their charge was getting bogged down though and even Vryala's last grenade could only buy them time, it was up to them to make sure it was well spent. The gate house was near now.

"You sure know how to open that damn door?" Caroc asked, Elysian didn't answer but merely looked for a gap in the fighting sufficient to get close enough to find out. Using any kind of magic now was dangerous but unless the door to the gate house was unlocked a little arcane lock picking would be in order. If the Drach or any of the other Druchii present had magical skills or items enabling them to see the winds he could only hope they would be distracted by the whirlwind caused by the Chaos warriors.

Get to the gate when able, open it using Chamon (discreetly) if needed.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Nightcall
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Post by Nightcall »

All he could see what the thick throng of fighting bodies. It was hard to move, let alone swing his glaive. As the space became tighter, all he could do was stab at an exposed piece of flesh. It felt like an abattoir. He had no idea how the dual was going. If Caraoc's prediction was correct, this battle would be over soon. And it would well be his last.

Out of nowhere came the sound of an explosion. One of Vrayla's grenades had been hurled into the throng, he had assumed to clear some more space to move forward. A few moments later there was a triumphant roar from the warriors of Chaos. "This is it." he thought, "It's all over."

He shoved forwards to give himself some room. Pushing the head of his glaive towards the abdomen of a mutated human, he heard another sound sweep through the enemy ranks. The unmistakable sound of despair. What was going on? Molten metal and sharp shards pelted down on them from above, along with slivers of gore. It seemed someone had exploded.

"For the Drach! For Vikarh! Take back the gate!"

"Alright then..." He pushed himself one step at a time, simultaneously attacking with his weapon. Step. Stab. Recover. Step. Stab. Recover. It was a familiar drill, one that he had used frequently when trying to gain ground on a cramped space such as the deck of a ship. Could it be? Was the Chaos champion dead?

He dared not hope.

Slowly plodding forwards, trying to make room for the others. Not sure what's going on.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »

OOC - Sorry for the delay guys but I have time to post now. Things may still be a bit busy for the next few weeks however, so I thought I better explain myself. Me and my girlfriend just found out we have a baby on the way and because of that and other things she is now temporarily living at mine. We are looking to rent a house or flat immediately so between working, seeing doctors, looking for a place, sorting out everything else etc, this can no longer be a top priority. Hopefully if we do find a place we can move, get internet asap, and things will settle back down... well at least until the baby comes along :lol:

IC -

The Drach of Vikarh watched on as Varin and the group continued to butcher their way towards the gatehouse, Vryala now charging ahead of her Lord and Phalx moving up to a forward position, stabbing and slashing at the Chosen with wild abandon. Casaythe felt the pressure the Chosen Warriors were putting against them falter and pushed forwards too, wading through the ranks of the dying humans as he used wide sweeps of his glaive to clear space for Elysian and Caraoc to advance. Karonath and Varin were like two whirlwinds of destruction, the Khainite fighting with ferocity and blood lust, the Noble with grace and precision, both of them a near equal match in skill. Vryalas' fire bomb had cleared six ranks in the Chosen Warriors' formation, and the group had quickly pushed through it and launched themselves into those behind. Now they were fighting for the gatehouse itself, the small door only a few yards ahead of them beyond the spiked helms and thick fur cloaks of the Chosen Norsemen.

The group were still unaware of Kalius Banes' triumph over the Chaos Lord, but so were the Chosen that had not seen the duel due to being packed in near the gate at the back of the square. Those Chosen at the front of their regiment had seen it though, and moments after their morale had been shattered Bane and her Midnight Guardians were amongst them, shattering armour, helms and bones as well. The humans had held out in the square for hours, a testament to their toughness and resolve, but with nowhere to go and their Lord now slain, the last of their strength was beginning to falter. As Bane smashed her way deeper and deeper into their midst, leaving her wall of Guardians' behind her as she entered a state of pure destruction, yet clearly remained focused and graced with skill. Every spin of her spiked maul took off a head, crushed a breastplate, or shattered an incoming halberd before it could cut her down. As the group surged on towards the gate, those they were up against seemed to finally realise they were doomed.

Vryala hit the first of the six or seven Chosen still between the group and the gate as she crossed the clearing, driving him back into the Warrior behind him with her shield even as she smashed his blade down with her sword. The two Chosen fell back further still under her relentless pressure, crushing the one behind them underfoot as they knocked each other over. Phalx was suddenly at her side, his short sword lashing out like a viper to catch one of the falling Chosen between the helmet and the breastplate, slitting his throat. Vryala stepped over the dead Warrior and brought her heel crushing down on the helmet of the other, crushing his face within his helmet even as Karonath and Varin surged past her again. Karonaths' Draich came down diagonally and severed an arm at the wrist, before she span and brought it straight up, splitting one of the Chosen nearly in two as if he wore no armour at all. Varin took a few more moments with his opponent, dancing with him blow for blow before suddenly lunging forward and putting his longsword into the Chosen Warriors' visor slit, the skillful finish ending in a spray of warm red blood across Varins' alabaster face.



Suddenly a halberd caught Varin on the shoulder, and the highborn was sent reeling backwards and forced to block against a second attack. One of the Chosen had recovered quickly from the blast and now hurled himself back at the group. His face was a mess of mutated lumps and eyes, and he carried his halberd in one muscular arm, the other not ending in a hand but in a massive, mutated claw. The Warrior seemed to inspire the rest of the Chosen to counter attack despite the favour of the battle swinging back against them. Vryala stepped in as Varin backed past her, Karonath lost in an orgy of blood despite being nearby, continuing to drive her way into the thick press of bodies in front of her with almost no care for her surroundings. Phalx was finishing off the third fallen Chosen with repeated stabs of his sword into a weak groove in the Warriors' armour, rupturing internal organs with every rapid plunge his blade made into the humans' stomach, causing him to howl in agony before he finally succumbed and died. As Vryala batted off the swipe of the mutated claw with her shield and met the halberd with her sword, Casaythe pushed past between her and the wall, still making for the gatehouse in Karonaths' wake.

The Corsair cut his glaive up and down, causing the Chosen that lay ahead of him to block or step back, driving them away even as the group gained ground. Elysian and Caraoc were still following behind him, making good use of the path he and the others were cutting through the humans without getting too close to the halberds of the survivors. They passed Phalx, the Shade almost mindlessly stabbing one of the fallen Warriors' to death as they stepped behind him, watching Vryala step up to defend Varin. The Noble was bleeding through a break in the armour over his shoulder, hinting at a deep wound, but he was still using his arm despite the damage to the muscle. The highborn picked his way across the dead bodies to the two Mages and told them to follow his lead to the gate, leaving Vryala and Phalx to hold off the Chosen that surged back against them, as Karonath continued to slay anyone that came too close to her, now slightly isolated from the others and away from the gatehouse. Casaythe however remained level headed, but was having his every attack met by the halberds of the last few Chosen between him and the doorway, unable to get Caraoc and Elysian to their goal. He was relieved therefore when Varin charged past him, taking the fight back to the Chosen with his sword, allowing the Corsair the opportunity to stab around him and drive the Mages' forwards towards the door.

Elysian made it in first, leaping up the steps to the small doorway with haste in case a halberd swept up for his legs, and throwing himself against the iron door. Somewhat to his surprise, the door was still unlocked and it flew open as he crashed against it, hurling him into the dark space beyond. Caraoc took the steps two at a time and threw himself into the gap within the wall a moment after Elysian, landing beside the Shadowmancer on the cold iron floor. Behind them, Varin and Casaythe came to stand side by side at the bottom of the steps, the highborn calling over the clash of blades for Karonath to cut a path back towards them before she became truly cut off from the rest of them. Phalx reached the steps a moment later, and Varin grabbed him by the shoulder to stop him sprinting straight past and heading into another wall of halberds with his sword swinging at his side. The Noble told him to get into the doorway and draw his crossbow, following the Mages' inside if necessary, trying to spot the duel between Bane and the Chaos Lord if he could. Only Vryala was yet to reach the door or hear Varin call, still locked in a bitter combat with the claw wielding mutant Chosen Warrior.



Elysian picked himself up and held out a hand to haul Caraoc to his feet, before leading the other Mage up the small staircase to their right. They knew this was the door to the gatehouse, but had not expected it to be so easy to get inside. They headed up the stairs and into the small chamber inside the wall above the gate which it led to. There were several small arrow slit windows, which looked both in and out of Vikarh. Beyond the wall they could see the golden ranks of the Executioners and the bare, pale skin of the Witch Elves as they paced about in barely controlled restraint, eager to get inside and resume the killing. Inside the wall, the Mages saw the Chosen Warriors continuing to hold up against the Midnight Guardians, the elite of Vikarh evenly matched against the elite of the Northern army. When they reached the square there had been over two hundred Chosen, but looking out from their new vantage point it seemed almost a third of them had now been slain. What they also saw that surprised them was Kalius Bane, smashing her way through the Chosen like a Nauglir through a herd of horses, heading towards the gate with every step.

The Mages momentarily wondered why the Chosen had stayed in the square when the Midnight Guardians drove them back and cornered them there, but the answer quickly became apparent. The gate was operated by two great levers, which had to be pulled together while a huge iron wheel was turned to open the gate. Upon realising the Khainites' were at their backs, the Northmen had smashed their way into the gatehouse and sealed the gate again after Kronus had opened it to let them in. To ensure the Executioners and Witch Elves could not get in behind them, the Chosen had snapped both iron levers, ensuring the wheel could not be turned to open the gate. The two black levers were now little more than iron sticks laying on the ground, resting in pools of blood where the slaves that normally operated the gate had been cut down by Lord Kronus' traitorous Druchii guards. There were four dead slaves, one to operate each lever and two to turn the heavy wheel, though they would be lending the group no aid now that their brains had been spread across the ground, their skulls crushed by heavy iron boots.

Something in the shadows in the far corner of the room suddenly caught the pairs attention, and they span around to face the darkness just as another slave crawled forth, covered in bloody wounds and mumbling a stream of nonsense that was clearly not in elvish despite the slave seemingly being Asur in origin. The Mages' had raised their weapons at the unexpected sound, but lowered them as the apparently harmless slave crawled into the middle of the room, before sprawling out on his face with a long moan of pain and effort, his empty fingers stretching open as if reaching for something to hold onto. It wasn't until he lifted his head again that Elysian and Caraoc noticed something was wrong, and that the open wounds and bruises that covered his body were not just spreading rapidly across his skin, but were pulsing and writhing as though something was moving beneath his skin. Before the Mages could react to the sudden surge of magic within the gatehouse, the wounded slave seemed to explode from within as tentacles sprang forth from within his body, lashing wildly in the air as a great maw full of needle like fangs formed within what remained of the slave, turning him into a mass of pinkish flesh covered in eyes and other, smaller fang filled mouths. The horror writhed it's tentacles as it finally seemed to become sentient and register the presence of the two Mages in the room beside it, turning it's many eyes to look at them all at the same time.



Outside the gatehouse, Casaythe, Varin and Phalx continued to hold off the Chosen Warriors at the foot of the steps. Karonath was almost beside them now, leaving a trail of limbless bodies in her wake.

Vryala continued to lock blades with the claw armed Warrior nearby, when suddenly his head exploded atop his shoulders in a welter of bloody gore, a deadly weapon striking him down from behind.

Kalius Bane stepped over the mutated Chosen Warrior as his headless body fell into a heap in front of Vryala, the Champion turning her cold stare on the Warrior for a moment, her lip curling in spite.

"You again!" she roared, blood and spittle on her lips as she took a step forwards, Vryala wondering for a moment if she was about to strike her down as she had done before in the Tower of the Drach.
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

OOC: CONGRATS!!!!

IC:

Even thought defeat was imminent, the Chosen were selling their hides dearly and put up a tremendous fight. Against these mercenaries, however, they would not stand - V cleared the way for Varin, Karonath and Casaythe, who were all reaping a bloody toll on the Changer's favoured warriors. The gatehouse was within their reach, and she was relieved to see Elysian and Caraoc making a dash for it; victory would soon be theirs. All she and the other brawlers had to do was hold out long enough for the Khainites to relieve them.

Vryala found herself locked in combat with a large Chosen, horribly blessed and augmented by his patron, wielding a brutish halberd alongside an unnatural claw appendage. It only took a few strikes to confirm that her blade would not be able to sever this chitin-armoured extremity, which meant that this battle would be a long grind of attrition she'd be hard-pressed to secure. Howver, warrior's honour demanded she would not back down, especially with the Drach's damning gaze upon her. Strikes, evades, parries and counterattacks followed in rapid succession, until the bout ended rather abruptly. Kalius Bane stepped in from behind her latest kill, addressing Vryala with sheer contempt in her eyes.

Despite their obvious dislike for each other, V felt genuinely relieved at the Midnight Commander's survival, even though it seemed her own head would be the next target for that Starmace. A cold and cocky grin accompanied her response to this most dangerous of fighters; Yeah, again. Got a problem with that? though she did raise her shield in anticipation for the blow to come. Then, keeping her voice as steady as she could: The Khainites are beyond that gate. I'm off to help my friends unleash them. Aid me, or get out of my way!
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Dauricha
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Post by Dauricha »

OOC: Woo. Congratulations. By the sounds of it you've got your head screwed on, and no doubt will raise the child well. Good luck to the both of you. May Khaine bless your offspring.

IC: Phalx danced and leapt, cackling all the while like some past madness fool. His sword flicked this way an that, finding gaps in armour and the sweet flesh below. Once again the exhaustion of this most bloody of days was forgotten. He was fighting again, adrenaline rushing through his exhausted body, as he went about his work, aiding his comrades well he could.

One of the great chaotic brutes slipped, and the Shade went for him like a feral dog. He went in close, reversing his grip on the gore soaked short sword, driving it in, again and again through any and all chinks in the Northman's armour. Phalx cackeld and weezed, mad with the blood and battle.

Many moments after the Chosen had died, the Mad Shade stood, looking this way and that, swaying slightly as he sniffed the air. He ran one way, and was held back by Varin. For a moment he didn't understand, and would have attacked his Noble. Varin backhanded him across his pale blood covered face, like a master beating a pup. Some sense returned to the Shade however.

Use your crossbow! Barked Varin, shoving the weapon hanging from its strap at Phalx. He nodded cackling still, as he raised his trusted weapon. He knew little of what was going on around him. The finger wagglers were somewhere, and his old battle brothers were here, in the thick gore and blood. He didn't notice Vryala or Bane, once again lost in the slaugther. He howled like a dog!

Phalx, with a hopefully loaded Deathspitter, will spring into the fray again. He will use the crossbow one handed, his sword in the other, turning and spinning to fight any and all of the Chosen to come against this most mad of Shades.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
Mount: Dark Steed
Gold: 5829
Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
Check out, http://thingsfrom1934.com/
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

It was a... Frankly Elysian wasn't sure what to call it. An abomination perhaps, a spawn of chaos? In the end he settled on 'thing'. Certainly it wasn't natural; even if they had not just witnessed the creature's grotesque birth there was no way nature could ever throw up such a thing, all eyes and teeth. With the chanting warriors of Tzeentch just outside the window he did not have to look very far for an explanation. The greater question was what to do now. Clearly the mechanism had already been vandalised but with a touch of metal magic he was convinced he could set the mechanism in motion without the need for levers. In order to do that though he needed to take a look at the mechanism and ideally a little peace and quiet to work his magic. That meant the beastie had to be dealt with, only how did you kill a creature with no right to exist in the first place.

"Caroc, what I said before about magic. I think on balance it is now safer to use it than not." Hopefully the more bellicose mage would have something up his sleeve, for his part Elysian was less well prepared. Blinding all those eyes was an option but who really knew if they were even functional, or necessary. Time to hone his skill with chamon then but the thing wore no metal. An idea stuck him, if they could not kill the fiend, and he was prepared to bet that would be tricky if probably not impossible, given time and help, they could perhaps pin it. Looking at the long jagged metal spikes that once worked the mechanism Elysian reached out to them and did something a little less subtle than was his norm.

Elysian will try to hurl the broken levers like spears into the eye thing using Chamon.

OOC: Congrats, as reasons for having less time for RPGing go its one of the best around.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Post by Calisson »

Finally, the two mages had made it to the stairs leading to the gatehouse.
Elysian unlocked the door as easily as if it was already open.
Caraoc was rushing behind and could not slow down as expected by pushing on the now open door. He tumbled on the floor.
Fortunately, there was nothing frightening there, and Elysian helped him swiftly back on foot.
The view over the ongoing battle was extraordinary. The Norse warriors were clearly on the losing side.
What great slaves they will become!expected the corsair. But this was not the time to enjoy the sight.

Upwards, a smaller room contained the gate's mechanisms.
Or, as they realized when they entered, it used to be that way.

The room was a mess.
Four corpses with scattered brains were littering the floor. Amongst them were some iron bars, formerly parts of the gate's mechanism.
Caraoc was used to the naval discipline, where you clean the whole ship every morning and again in the evening.
This room was the exact opposite. Caraoc had once seen Casaythe to kill for a fraction of what was to be seen here.

Something moved from the shadows. Apparently a slave who somehow managed to survive.
Suddenly, in a nauseous magic surge, the slave transformed itself into some kind of disgusting thing.
When the transformation ended, it had many eyes, many mouths and many tentacles, and little else. That was disgusting.
Problem, whatever it was, it was staring at them two, in no friendly manner.

"Caroc, magic is now safer to use than not." Said Elysian.
"My name is hawk. Ca- RA -hawk. replied Caraoc angrily.
And I'm gonna clean that mess - Right now!"

What makes an eye to blink, a mouth to shut, a tentacle to rip off? A strong wind, of course. Especially full of dust.
Caraoc could provide plenty of it, even for the impressive number of eyes and mouths and tentacles. And it would clear off the floor from all the litter. Neatly.

Caraoc took of his sea dragon cloak, and started to whirl it around, using it like a broom to clean the litter, but in a circular way.
While doing that, he allowed the bubble of Azyr energy acumulated so far to exhale in the cloak and transform itself into a whirlwind.

"Go on black - Don't pass me up
Lets destroy - Don't make it stop
My tornado - My tornado
Clean shiz up - Clean shiz up."


All the shiz, living and dead, would be pushed and kept hard back onto a corner.
That would leave Elysian some lee to practice his own art.

Magic Whirlwind.

OOC: The Raveonettes - My Tornado
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/ravonettes ... 14305.html
Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ960OPZxBo
Caraoc's taste is improving.

OOC: Grats for the baby to come. Enjoy restaurants and movie theaters while you still can. Then you'll not need to wonder what you'll do tonite. For the next 18 years.
So much for your collection of reptiles & insects. Will they find a new home & daddy?
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Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: Locke (ex Fiat's) - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Post by Nightcall »

Halberds rattled as he thrust back at them with his own glaive. The corsair had finally made it to the gatehouse, but the enemy were still determined as ever to seal their doom. Despite Bane and her Guard reaping a terrible harvest from the mutated humans, their resolve was not broken and they kept surging forth.

At the foot of the stairs, Casaythe gritted his teeth and held his glaive forwards, stabbing and thrusting at any that got too close. Varin and Phalx were with him, the the three shot, stabbed, and hacked in a merciless manner. It felt to the corsair that the battle might finally be turning. For them to fail now was not something he could allow.

'Just a little longer, lads...' he murmured, fatigue pushed aside now by shear will and steely determination.

Helping hold back the horde whilst the others get inside.

((OOC: Congratulations! Exciting, daunting, wonderful news. If you need any advice just ask (mine's just turned 1). There's nothing like becoming a parent, I am sure you will both be fantastic.))
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Post by Kinslayer »

OOC - Thanks guys. I already live with my 2 year old niece I've helped bring up, and my sister has another on the way who is nearly here. We will be moving out now though to do this one on our own. As for the reptiles Calisson they have to stay, I make some extra money off breeding them and wouldn't give it up even if I didn't, though might have to cut it back a little. The first ones I'd sell would be all the little Saurus, Skinks and Kroxigor :lol:

Speaking of my reptile hobby / passion / lifestyle - check out what I got up to at the weekend here. (Probably nothing new to the Aussies!)

IC -

Inside the gatehouse, Elysian and Caraoc shared a momentary look of disgust as the slave in front of them warped into a creature made almost entirely of tentacles, eyes and hungry maws. It drooled droplets of multi coloured fire, which hissed and bubbled where they hit the iron flooring. As the horror completed it's possession, for that was what the transformation truly was, the Mages immediately sought a means to destroy it. Caraoc had been building Azyr energy since they had entered the square, and the Astromancer was already prepared to unleash a powerful spell should be so desire. Elysian pointed out that despite the proximity of the Drach, here in the gatehouse they were out of sight and not using their magical abilities to fight off the horror might prove a serious mistake. The Shadowmancer had not had time to summon as much energy, so instead of spinning a subtle web of energy about himself he instead went for a more direct spell.

Just as the air about Caraoc began to churn at the Astromancers' song of power, the two metal rods that had once been the levers for the gate mechanism began to rattle and shake as Elysian seized them with his mind. The horror became focused entirely on the two Mages, somehow looking at both of them with all it's eyes at the same time, it's tentacles writhing and lashing the air as more hellfire drooled from it's randomly forming mouths. Elysian pumped more power into his spell, just as the horror became a blur of pink movement as it launched itself towards the two Mages, hurling the two iron spikes like oversized crossbow bolts fired from his mind. The horror was fast, and the first iron rod missed it's target as the creature surged forwards. The second however rod struck the horror right in the middle of it's body, if it could be called such a thing, and tore it's way through and out of the back in a splatter of daemonic ichor.

Suddenly the room was filled with the roar of ferocious winds, as a wave of powerful energy spiralled away from Caraoc and Elysian, striking everything else in it's path. The corpses of the slaves, littered items and even the horror were cast back like leaves in a breeze, the daemon crashing into the wall at the far end of the room, still dripping with ichor but also still constantly changing, writhing and snarling with every passing moment. It was hard to tell for sure if the horror was wounded, but it was dripping black ichor now as well as sizzling fire, and a random series of growls, gurgles and eerie screams came out of it's fleeting maws in the moments following the magical attack. Clearly the blast had prevented the horrors' charge however, and while it writhed against the wall the Mages had the opportunity to take back the advantage and strike it again.



Outside the gatehouse, Phalx stood atop the stairs and raised Deathspitter to the crowd of Chaos Chosen arrayed before him. The Shade opened fire over the heads of Varin and Casaythe, seeing Karonath fighting alone in a circle of enemies off to the right, and Vryala still some distance to his left. Something had caused the warrior to halt her advance towards the gatehouse momentarily, but the Shade didn't stop to see what was bothering his ally. He didn't even pay Varin much mind as the Noble bellowed over the din of combat, trying to keep his most wild mercenary under control while the Drach was watching. The Shades' blood was up, and as one clip of crossbow bolts emptied leaving several Chosen Warriors' dead, he slammed another into his magical crossbow and leapt from the stairs with a mad howl upon his lips, drawing his sword again as he intended to take the fight back to the humans up close and personal.

As Phalx jumped through the air he caught sight of the Drach of Vikarh, still sat patiently atop his Black Dragon on an overlooking rooftop as he watched his warriors make safe his City. The Shade couldn't meet his gaze though and looked down at the Chosen, not even daring a glimpse into the dark oblivion behind the eyes of the Drachs' horned helmet. Then Phalx was amongst them, and laying about himself with blade and firing point blank into the armoured bulk of the Chosen Warriors'. Behind him, Casaythe stood beside Varin and marvelled at the Nobles' fine swordplay as he too fought off the humans. The Chosen were trying to get at the gatehouse now having watched the Mages get inside, or perhaps they were simply attacking with more pressure because the Midnight Guardians' were pushing them towards the wall with their own relentless attacks. It mattered not, all that mattered to Casaythe was that whoever approached him fell to his glaive, or was knocked sideways to be skewered on Varins' longsword. It seemed that all their foes were coming straight at them too, the bloody work of Karonath keeping their right flank safe from attack, Vryala and Bane unseen but holding off the left.



Vryala likewise was unaware of the situation at the gatehouse, not seeing Casaythe lunge forwards to put the tip of his glaive through the breastplate of an oncoming Chosen Warrior, nor seeing the other human dart in while his glaive was stuck to knock him sideways with a heavy swing of a halberd. Varin saved Casaythe from any pressing attack the Chosen might have in mind, giving the Corsair the moment he needed to right himself and recover his position, the Chosen Warrior already dead where Varin had cut him down. At that particular moment in time, all Vryala did see was the cold blue eyes of Kalius Bane as the Midnight Champion glared at her and all but spat her annoyance in her face, growling at her over the clash of blades. Even as the two great warrior women traded words, they did not stop fighting. Vryala put her sword into a humans' neck as she taunted Bane with a wide grin, and Bane had obliterated the helmet and head of another before she strode forth to respond.

Banes' Starmace came around in a lightning fast swing that caused Vryala to duck and lift her shield instinctively, for she has prepared herself for the Midnight Champion to react to her taunt in such a manner. She didn't have time to reply with an attack of her own however, only to duck and curse through hissed teeth as she realised her mistake. The magical maul swept through the air above her head as she ducked however, and tore the head off the Chosen Warrior that had been about to attack her from behind. Still ducking and now looking up and over her shoulder, Vryala saw the headless body of the human still holding it's halberd high in an overhead swing that would never fall. She rolled with her movement, hoping Bane wouldn't notice what she had thought had just happened, but knowing from the Champions' own sneer that she had known exactly what she was doing. The two girls glared at each other momentarily, before Vryala darted past Bane and plunged her blade into another Chaos Warrior. This Chosen met her attack with an expert parry, but as Vryala went defensive she felt Bane step in alongside her. A flurry of blows passed between the great warriors, two against one, which quickly ended in the human being pulverised on the cold stone floor.



Just then, the roar of a loud blast echoed out from the gatehouse door loud enough for all the group to hear, hinting at some sort of explosion within where Elysian and Caraoc had ventured, though no fire accompanied the sound.

Only Casaythe could tell what he noise was for sure, knowing Caraoc had just unleashed another of his arcane wind storms, for he had seen them many times before. Vryala, Karonath, Phalx and Varin were left wondering what it was.

Phalx, -2 crossbow clips
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Post by Raneth »

V met Bane amidst the madness of the slaughter, happily surprised that she was spared the Commander's wrath this time around. With a pang of disappointment, she realized she owed Bane her life, the Chosen behind her falling headless to the ground. No time to dwell, as more steel was hurled their way; Vryala fell back on instincts, charging in to create room for the more powerful fighter, which was promptly rewarded with another gory death.

A loud crack sounded from within the gatehouse, where the two Vauvalka had disappeared - assuming the blast had indeed originated from them, V inwardly cursed their audacity but recognised they probably needed some back up. Kalius was doing fine by herself, anyway; she doubted the Commander would require her blade more than her friends did right now. Thanks, she uttered matter-of-factly, before making a dash for the gatehouse.
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

Magic swelled in the tight confines of the tower as both he and Caroac attempted to blast the crawling madness before it entangled them in shredding tentacles. One of the levers hit home but the thing's flesh was weaker than he had thought and it punched straight through. Perhaps it was now wounded unto death but from experience with chaos creatures he thought that optimistic at best. Caroac's spell did hurl the horror back away from them however buying them time. Momentarily the shadow mage was shocked at the violence of the sudden storm but he was in position to complain, hopefully the walls were thick enough to contain it. This bought time, time that would be wasted if he did not act quickly.

"I will try to open the gate, buy me as much time as you can!" he yelled over the roaring wind.

Running over to what was left of the gate mechanism Elysian laid his hand on the metal and reached into it. The sooner the gate was open the sooner they could get out of the tower and leave the daemon to some gung ho warriors, like Phalx.

Elysian will try to open the gate using Chamon to manipulate the mechanism. He would be very grateful if Caroac would keep Mr squishy Kill-Kill occupied in the meantime.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Post by Calisson »

The whirlwind had worked well. Not only the room was cleaned and reflected better the corsair's taste for a spotless cleanliness, but - perhaps more importantly - the tentacle-wielding beast had been violently pushed back to the far end of the room and jagged by litter.
However, if the beast was wounded, it was not killed yet.
"Buy me as much time as you can!" yelled Elysian once the fading wind lowered the harassing noise.
"I'm a sailor. No worry, mate, this one is smaller than the Great Squid."replied fearlessly Caraoc.

Caraoc was confortable with the distance obtained. Perfect for a short-range weapon like his repeater.
The total lack of armour and the motionless of the creature made it as easy a target as a whale in a channel.

Pinning many tentacles into several eyes would certainly make the beast less dreadful.
That would require a little more accuracy than what the corsair could naturally provide, despite his excellent dexterity.
Fortunately, the Azyr master knew how to deviate the arrows in the air towards the very appropriate direction.

The corsair took his trusted handbow and methodically emptied a full round of ammo, while chanting a slow war song.

"Our other bolts are double precise A few escape our magic arrows
And with the bolts as bayonets Oh you siphoned off the hellion's threats
And even in your ghastly visions Our magic arrows fly precision
Whistle fly like a boiling potion Charge like a lot of motives"


Precision Machine-gun.

OOC: Timber Timbre: Magic Arrow
Lyrics: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Timber_Timbre:Magic_Arrow
Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icJOkfS7ImA

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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (7 clips), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: Locke (ex Fiat's) - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
(1 round of bolts expanded)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Post by Nightcall »

The enemy were surging forwards. He and his allies fought like cornered manticores as the mutated humans ever raged towards them. The mages had managed to get inside the gatehouse, yet far more was to be done if it was to be considered secure. His attack faltered a moment, and Varin was there, his awe inspiring swordsmanship hacking down Casaythe's would be slayer. With a grateful nod to the noble, the corsair continued thrusting and hacking at the enemy.

The air stank of sweat, gore, and urine. "These savages make a ships crew seem as cleanly as a Highborn's court" he thought to himself. The ground was sticky from the unnatural rain earlier, adding to the stink. Then unexpectedly there was a mighty blast from behind, with a gust of magical wind thrown out from the doorway leading to the gatehouse. 'Ugh oh... trouble!'

He turned for a second, all that he could dare considering the opponents before him. The mages had gone up there alone, and from the explosion, his weathermancer friend was in trouble. 'Caraoc!' he yelled, over the din, 'Are you trying to blast the place to bits, or do you need a hand up there?'

Yelling up the stairs. He realises if he just dashes up there, the defence may falter.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Post by Kinslayer »


Varin and his mercenaries had been successful in every way possible on their way into the combat, finding a way around the square and quickly breaking through their enemies' defence, before blowing a hole in the enemy ranks that may have also won Bane her challenge, and surging on to claim the gatehouse. Looking down upon their every move from the rooftops, such a sight would surely redeem Varin in the eyes of the Drach. But all of that changed a few moments later, with fatigue and exhaustion setting in and their strength finally seeming to break against the relentless resolve of the Chosen Warriors. Some members of the group had become isolated, Karonath lost in a frenzy off to the left of the gatehouse, Vryala previously trapped a short way to the right. Phalx had just left his position on the stairs to return to the fight as well, heedless of Varins' warning and order and the fact that he was all but naked when compared to the armoured giants that were these Chosen Northmen. Casaythe and Varin had been left defending the gatehouse stairs alone, while the Mages did their work inside, and even those members of the group left in pairs were now struggling to keep their heads above water in this sea of blades.

Karonath went down first, suddenly disappearing from view to Varin and Casaythe where she had previously been a flash of gold armour and silver blade that constantly moved on the flank of the combat. They couldn't see her, but a giant Chosen Warrior with a mutated, cyclopean head had just knocked her from her feet with the back end of his halberd. The Khainite had been sent stumbling towards the buildings on the edge of the square, where the Midnight Guardians were regaining ground amidst the enemy. As she fell to the ground behind their ranks, Karonath lay dazed on her back for a moment as she tried to clear the red spots from her vision and force herself to rise back to her feet once again. Not far away, Phalx was also knocked to the ground, though for the Shade the consequences could be much more severe. He too was now isolated from the rest of the group but he was also further away from the Midnight Guard, and despite having shot one Chosen through the visor numerous times until he fell, two more had just mowed him to the ground. They loomed over him, one raising a halberd as the other brandished it's pincer like claws, a horn rising from the left side of his face that completely covered one eye and caused his lip to curl into a permanent sneer. Phalx grasped Deathspitter, knowing his latest clip of bolts was already nearly empty, his every muscle aching and painful as he tried to respond.

Vryala fared a little better, having just been saved from her predicament by Kalius Bane despite the short but harsh exchange that passed between the two women. Vryala was not afraid of her superior and found some pleasure in taunting the Champion despite the risk on her life, but Bane seemed to savour their exchanges if anything, but was always ready to remind Vryala of her wrath and skill shortly after. Last time Bane had actually struck V down for her insolence, this time she had spared her and moved on. Vryala was considering her next move when she heard the howling blast come from within the gatehouse, for despite the gale being lost to the ears of many over the clash of battle she was well used to picking up on her comrades' mishaps and blasts of sorcery. Hoping the Mages' had not just revealed themselves to the Drach, but knowing their situation must be dire indeed for them to risk it, the Warrior instantly turned from Bane and with one last word was heading for the gatehouse once again. She wasn't far away and could already see Varin and Casaythe defending the stairs, taller than most of the Chosen Warriors as the Druchii were. The problem was the sheer number of those enemies already filling the gap between them.



Casaythe turned back momentarily after the blast to call up the stairs to Caraoc, but when no response came the Corsair decided that the noise inside the gatehouse must be too loud for him to hear. As he turned his attention back to the fighting in the square, he caught sight of Vryala trying to cut a path towards them through the thick press of bodies to his left. He instinctively swept his gaze across the rest of the fight in search of Karonath and Phalx, but could not see either of the mercenaries despite the fact they had been visible moments before he turned his back. Varin was still beside him, now drenched in blood that turned his black and silver armour crimson, matching the fine red cloak that was now in tatters behind him. The highborn had the dual ceremonial swords of his station sheathed at his hips, but had not once drawn the lesser blades for he still wielded his great longsword. The Noble twisted and turned the blade left and right, one moment lunging in the next parrying before making a perfect riposte. His skill and speed were more than a match for the brutality and strength of the Chosen Warriors, and scores of them lay dead where they had fallen at his feet.

Casaythe decided the best thing to do at that moment was to ensure Vryala could reach them, for someone had to get inside the gatehouse and ensure the Mages were not about to die, but he couldn't afford to leave his station defending the stairs. Varin was doing a fine job of killing the Chosen, but it was Casaythe and the long reach of his glaive that was tirelessly keeping the enemy from surrounding and outnumbering him to bring him down. Perhaps Vryala would relieve him and stay to defend her Lord, so that he could rush inside and aid his friend, or perhaps the Warrior would just run past and leave him to it, for she too had Elysian to think about inside the gatehouse. The Corsair plunged his glaive into a gap between armour plates as he ducked the swing of a halberd, suddenly rushing forwards to deliver a powerful chop to the side of the nearest Chosen that lay in Vryalas' path, the last one she would have encountered enroute to the gatehouse. The Chosen turned on him and stepped forth from the ranks of his allies, just as Casaythe had intended him to do, the Corsair moving around the Warrior so Varin could cut him down now that he was isolated and alone.

Vryala shield bashed one Chosen and didn't even stop to put her blade through him as he fell, instead ramming it into the next one in the line with all her strength. The blade grated along armour but failed to penetrate the thick northern iron, and instead of running the human through Vryala instead found herself slamming into him, lowering her shoulder just in time. The human was big and tough and did not budge, but by now V was inside the reach of his halberd and the awkward chop that was aimed her way a moment later almost caused her to laugh. Quick as a viper, she span around to his blind side and half decapitated him with a backhand stroke, her blade tearing free of his helmet as she strode away towards the next opponent. A moment later, with two more Chosen Warriors put to the ground by her strength and sword, she saw Casaythe again through the mass of enemies, and realised he was now only a few bodies away, fighting nearby. All the Northmen between her and him were facing the Corsair, trying to get at him around the long sweep of his glaive. None of them had realised yet that Vryala had just cut her way through their ranks and was right behind them. A wide grin formed on her lips as Vryala plotted a quick and bloody route through to the gatehouse, and leaped forth again with her sword silently swinging.



Inside the gatehouse, the roaring winds abated as quickly as they had begun, leaving the centre of the chamber completely cleared and the horror pinned to the wall like a living target. Elysian had already given wounding the creature his best attempt and it was still wriggling and writhing in the corner, so he instead turned his attention to the gate mechanism, leaving Caraoc to face the fiend. The Shadowmancer shouted his intent to his fellow Mage as the wind subsided, but did not wait for a response before he ran to the large iron wheel and tried to get a look at the workings of the device. It was clear that the wheel itself turned a series of cogs, which somehow he had not yet devised opened the heavy iron gate. He guessed alchemy or some dwarfen contraption was involved, featuring pistons and other such components that leant strength to the wheel, enabling just two slaves to move the giant metal doorway. Elysian had already worked out that he did not need to mess with the workings of the gate however, he simply had to make the wheel spin as if the slaves were doing it. He began to will the iron spikes that jutted from the wall and had once been the working levers to be pressed down, and for the wheel to start to turn. It was a lot to ask of his mind, the wheel heavy and more Chamon energy that he currently grasped being needed to make it budge, so he focused and tried to quickly gain his strength.

Behind the Shadow Mage, Caraoc did not take his attention off the horror as it squirmed and writhed against the wall, lashing around apparently at random with it's numerous tentacles. He couldn't tell if it was fitting in pain or rage, but knew as it started to focus its' countless eyes back on him in rapid succession that it was not yet undone despite its' wound. The Corsair Mage had already lifted his handbow, for motionless as the horror currently was it presented him with an easy target. Still, he decided to infuse the bolts with some of the Azyr energy he still had accumulated in his mind to help guide them into the creatures' eyes. The fact that the daemon was in a constant state of change made that no easy feat, for where one moment a large eye was watching him the next there was a long tentacle, and then a cluster of smaller eyes or a dripping, rancid maw. Still, he did his best to guide his bolts as he let an entire clip empty towards the creature, and as the bolts sailed through the air he guided them just like he would guide a ship at open sea. Some of the bolts were wild and out of control, a couple even missing the horror but most just crashing into it at random. Others sailed on smoother tides and he grasped them with his mind, directing them at eyes and other openings. A few bolts he seized with enough power to alter their course entirely, and he sent them thumping one after the other into the largest of the horrors' eyes just as it launched itself from the wall and started another mad charge in his direction. As the last bolt struck, the horror took one more lurching tentacle-step before it popped, exploding in a shower of pink gore and black daemonic ichor that rained down on the two Mages for several moments thereafter.

A crash behind him caused Caraoc to turn around, but Elysian was so lost in his concentration that he seemed not to have even noticed the horror that had just exploded and covered him in sticky gore. The Astromancer turned to see Vryala come clambering up the stairs, her hair a mess of blood and sweat, her armour covered in nicks and small dents, a mad look of equal parts bloodlust, adrenaline, exhaustion and concern in her eyes. Caraoc followed her gaze as she scanned the inside of the gatehouse, noticing Elysian crouched by the wheel and Caraoc standing in the centre of the room, her eyes also passed over the corpses at the back of the room and finally the slushy mess that now covered everything around the spot where the horror had met it's demise. "Don't worry, there was a daemon but we got it" exclaimed Caraoc, just as Vryala snarled like a lioness and strode forwards towards him, still looking at the spot where the horror and been shot down. Caraoc registered the threat as he watched Vryala, and turned just in time to see two small, blue daemons form in a flicker of weird fire, in the air where the horror had died. They were small and imp like, with large clawed hands and small heads but wide mouths, which were full of jagged teeth. In their palms sprouted tiny flickering flames that were maddening in colour, and the two blue horrors danced off in opposite directions, one coming straight for Caraoc as the other went for Elysian, just as the Shadowmancer opened his palms and the iron wheel let out a long, metallic groan as it started to move.



Outside in the square, Casaythe hadn't had a chance to flag Vryala down for the Warrior had simply stormed past him, exploding out of the Chaos ranks right behind the Chosen he had been fighting, running the Warrior through from behind before leaving him for the Corsair to finish. By the time Casaythe had gutted the man and left him on the ground, Vryala had been disappearing inside the gatehouse without even a word to Varin. The Noble was still holding his own against the seemingly numberless wall of Chosen, but the attacks of the humans were becoming less focused as some of the Midnight Guardians started to near the gate, causing the Chosen Warriors to turn their attention in multiple directions at once. The pressure on the gatehouse subsided slightly, and not a moment too soon it suddenly appeared. With a long, rumbling groan the gate suddenly started to move, rising on it's mechanism at a speed that was painfully slow to watch when waiting for reinforcements to be let through. It took the solid metal gate what seemed like an eternity to grind all the way to the top, and only then did the iron portcullis behind begin to rise. The metal screeched as it left the stone cobbles of the ground, and the Witches beyond gave a blood curdling cry in anticipation as they saw the Chosen Warriors in the square and eagerly waited to anoint their blades with more blood for Khaine.

Only a few inches off the ground however, the iron portcullis stopped rising and fell stationary once more, resulting in angry growls from the Witch Elves and a flicker of barely checked rage to flash in the eyes of the Hag, who watched on at the head of her army, only a dozen paces from the gate. The portcullis had stopped rising, which meant the wheel inside the gatehouse had stopped turning. Casaythe had just returned to Varins' side, and wondered what had caused the Mages to stop opening the gate now that Vryala was inside to protect them. Had all three mercenaries fallen? If so what manner of opponent was waiting for them within? The Corsair was not about to believe it, and with the pressure on the gatehouse subsiding he felt for the first time that he could leave Varin to defend the doorway on his own if he so wished, and head inside the discover the cause of the delay. Of Karonath and Phalx there was still no sign, and the Corsair had to curse their luck for it seemed they had fallen only minutes before the gate may be opened, and the fate of the Northmen sealed once and for all.

Inside, Elysian had lost focus on his spell when the hands of the blue horror had grasped his head from behind, the little daemon sinking it's teeth into the flesh of his scalp in a sudden cascade of pain. It was like being suddenly woken from a dream, and it took Elysian a moment to register what was happening and why he had lost control of his spell. He saw the iron wheel that worked the gate grind to a halt in front of him and cursed to Khaine as he knew his work was not yet finished. He lifted his arms over his head, grasping the blue horror by the face, and hurled it off his back and into a nearby wall. The imp like creature hit the wall and bounced onto the floor, leaving a splattering of iridescent fire wherever it touched the metal. It was back on it's feet in an instant, and as he turned to face it Elysian saw that Caraoc was having similar trouble with another of the blue daemons. Vryala was there too, seemingly having just arrived. Having only just come back from his trance like state of concentration where before there had been a pink horror in the room, it seemed to Elysian that the one creature had somehow split into two smaller ones. He didn't actually know it, but he was right... it had.

Caraoc, -1 crossbow clips
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Nightcall
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Post by Nightcall »

There came no reply from above, and Casaythe cursed under his breath. For all he knew, the winding room was rammed full of Northmen and the two Mages could already be dead. His heartbeat quickened at the thought. Attacked from the front, they would fare gravely indeed if a horde came charging down the stairs at them.

He looked back to the throng before him, seeing a Druchii warrioress fiercely fighting near the Hag. At least she had survived the dual, and that meant the Chaos champion was dead.

'Vryala, this way!' Casaythe called. He could not see Karonath, nor Phalx, who only moments before was stood with he and Varin on the defence. The lunatic must have dove into the fray with the others. The two had to take their chances against the Northmen alone, for there was no way he could stand down from his defensive post without forfeiting the life of the Noble stood next to him. And he was not stupid enough to make such a mistake, not with the Drach looming above.

He had no idea if Vrayala heard him or not, for as he finished off another marauder, she barged past him and Varin and made a hasty dash up the stairs. At least Elysian and Caraoc would be reinforced with cold steel.

The gate began to rise, and it seemed at least that his concerns were unfounded. However it quickly juddered to a halt. Either the mechanisms were stuck, or his companions above had their hands full with something besides levers.

The Noble beside him held fast, his fancy armour splattered with gore. It matched his cloak, which flapped behind him in tatters. "Keep it up Casaythe..." he thought, as he continued to hold the Northern bastards at bay, causing them to filter slowly to his companions mighty blade. "Some good might come of this." he thought greedily.

Stood with Varin, hoping Vryala will be enough to help the two Mages out of their pickle.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Post by Dauricha »

OOC: Sorry I haven't got a post up yet, mad mad mad busy few days, will have one up tomorrow morning. Here it is.

IC: Phalx ducked dived and leapt about, the Chosen falling before this wild horror, this cloaked death. He was unstoppable, they fell before him. The cries of the others were lost, he was here, and the enemy was as well, thats all that mattered.

Then his momentum was crushed. The shaft of a halberd took out his legs, just as he was about to make his next dive. He crumpled to the floor like a wingless crow. The Chaos Chosen were closing around. Not many bolts left, not much chance. He'd strayed to far. Bloody bastardering fool, he thought, as he made the only move he could. His was a barking laugh at the madness of it all.

Horn Face will die first, a bolt to the unmutated side of his face. He will then strive to get in close of the halberd, inside of the weapons attack, where his short sword will be most effective. From there it is time for Phalx to rejoin the rest of the group.
Last edited by Dauricha on Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
Mount: Dark Steed
Gold: 5829
Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
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Post by Drainial »

Slowly the huge wheel began to move, immediately Elysian realised why it normally took the arms of two strong slaves to shift it even with the complex mechanism. Working without the benefit of the levers the thief could only open the gates slowly. A steady grinding accompanied the rise of the heavy gate itself. As Elysian began work on the formidable portcullis however he let out a yelp as a burning, grasping, something attached itself to the back of his head. Chamon fled and abandoning magic he grasped hold of a squishy, hot, torturous fiend clinging to his neck and raking his neck. Hurling the thing away Elysian saw that it was another daemon, smaller but no less hideous. Another was advancing on Caroac but he was confident the pilot could handle himself. Movement caught his eye and Elysian noticed that Vryala had joined them, probably while he had been absorbed in moving the gate.

"Nice timing, kill that little bugger while I open the gate would you?" he asked the towering warrior woman. He knew her sword was faintly magical, hardly the equal of Blood Feather but surely more than enough to banish these little terrors. Confidant that his companions could handle the situation he turned his attention back to the wheel, though this time he kept a whether eye on the daemons.

Hopefully Vryala will take care of the daemon and leave Elysian free to get back to the gate opening. If not then he will meet any attack with his staff and knock the little blighter for six cricket style.
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

Though she'd never admit it, fighting alongside Bane had been quite inspirational to Vryala; she took to the battle with renewed vigour, a grimace of battle-lust hidden behind her face plate. Yes, these Northerners were strong and tough, but so was she, and she had superior skill and poise to back it up. Even though her blade occasionally failed against the sturdy Chaos Armour worn by her opponents, experience guided her instincts as she twisted and span to make her blows count, leaving nothing but dead and dying in her wake.

Closer to the gatehouse now. The Corsair was in her path, locked in combat with a brutishly large foe. She recalled her own stalemate, scant moments ago, and decided she might as well crash this party in turn; soon the Chosen facing Casaythe was no more, skewered by sword and glaive subsequently, left to bleed out on the cold stone. V's rampage did not let up, and soon she found herself within the gatehouse, running up the stairs to find the two Vauvalka. An unsettling sight greeted her - no human guarded this locale, but an unnatural spawn of Chaos. Whoever the Champion bested by Kalius may have been, now Vryala knew full well an even greater power was at large. And though she did register Elysian's call for aid, her mind involuntarily flashed back to Purefeather's realm.

Well, if there's one thing I've learned on that accursed plane, it's how to cull these critters. The pinks split into blues, but those split into naught but ichor. Let's have at it again, then!

V rushes the blue assaulting Elysian, shield bashing it away from the Mage, then follows up working the diagonals, like Karonath has taught her.
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Layne
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Post by Layne »

OOC : I have been lax but I'll try to keep up... busy time.

IC :

She had charged more or less blindly into the great mess of humans, and then things had gone a bit ... red. She was doing the thing she was doing, which was fighting like ten daemons in a sack full of knives, and unseasonably large humans seemed to be just arranging themselves onto the nasty end of her blade. She herself was not paying much attention, imagining herself floating above the shouting and ringing, sitting on Khaine's shoulder and stroking his neck while he laughed, and with flicks of his fingers and brows made Karonath's tiny, distant, barely visible body do irreparable harm to human forms.

She was the only member of the seven who charged the house who was actually shorter than your average human, and these men were mostly above the average, and so wasmost prone to disappear into the melee. She sat on her high vantage and watched the mess, enjoying the heat and joy of the great shoulder and neck, cuddling up to it with one hand, and shading her face with the other. Dawn was breaking straight ahead.

Suddenly she lost her grip, and fell, naked as she was, into the middle of the battle. Without weapons and armour she would quickly die, even if she survived the fall. And she would die naked, and Khaine knew what would happen to her body after that among these Northmen. As she fell, she looked and saw that she was going to fall on someone on the ground, someone with golden armour just like hers... and then she understood, just as everything flashed red.

Bubbles of white, blue and black grew and burst in the red, breaking it open, and visions of the truth came through the tears. There was a man's face with one eyes, then a tentacled arm, and, as she heaved backwards against a pain she did not understand from below, an elf in black armour - a Midnight Guardian. The last wisps of red blew away, and small white stars came through after them, growing and burning exploding, leaving only Khaine's own truth behind them. She heaved backwards again, this time with enough force to roll over backwards and stand.

She was facing the one eyed fellow, with a giant halberd gripped in one hand and one tentacle. Unusual and unlucky, was the thought that came to her mind just then. And she also knew that now she had this fellow and just a few more like him between herself and the gate house, and that she had also somehow managed to fight her way past the gate house and was on the other side of the gate-square from her start point, and that she had now the Midnight Guard at her back. She straightened, just a little stiffly, raised her sword in the air, one handed, twirled it about, and went to the attack again.

It had been some time since she had thought of it this way. She had waited for Khaine to do something for her, but just at this minute she thought that she would do anything for Khaine, and anything given would be just gravy. She saw Vryala go into the gatehouse, and she saw Phalx on the ground with Northmen hanging over him, and she decided her course quickly. Go save the Shade. And then, charging in again, she shouted, not words that she had learned in the Temple, but just pure rage and delight.

K will rush the men, aiming only to deflect attacks and get past, so she can get to Phalx as quickly as possible.
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Karonath - WS6 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I3
Equipment: Bloodfeather, heavy armour, helm, Sea Dragon Cloak, rope x 2, month rations x 2
Inventory: longspear, 2 short swords, glaive, winter gear, shade cloak,
Mount: Dark Steed (Shiny), talisman of kurnous
Gold: 2294
Skills: Ambidexterity, Controlled Frenzy, Basic Ride, Drukh Kaganth
Class: Khainite
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

The squid exploded to the corsair's shower of magic-enhanced bolts.
Just at that time, Vryala irrupted in the gatehouse. Caraoc smiled. Women... always late!
As he was starting to explain, with some poetry and bragging, how the situation had been settled, he saw Vryala rushing for attack. Uh? It came back?
Actually, that was something new. A bluish daemonic creature, this time more akin to air than sea, apparently. Where did it come from?
Never mind, Caraoc was equally at ease with either element, liquid or air, and the creature dwelling in these planes.

That blue little daemon seemed not as dangerous as the previous one, but it was swift. Its tactics seemed to tease rather than to tear apart.
It rushed towards Caraoc, who managed to evade the charge by a close margin. Wanna play that game?
The imp made another attempt, similarly evaded closely.

Caraoc recalled an expedition in Estalia. They had watched a very interesting sport in an arena, where a bull tried to impale a human, how did they call him? toreador, that was it.
No matter how hard it tried, the bull never made it, the human with a tiny sword and a cape always managed to run circles around it.
The human did not survive the Druchii bolts, however, despite his agility. His talent worked only against one creature at a time. But his entertainement had been fascinating.

Caraoc told the blue daemon: "Hey you! I am Don Jose the Master of Evasion. Tease, tease! You'll never get me!"
He took his sea dragon cloak on one hand, his staff on the other, and started to dance with the daemon. A dance of agility and evasion, at the core of Caraoc's proficiency.
"Hey torero
Make way for Don Jose the great torero
In Estalia I'm famous Caballero
I fight the bravest bull in all the land
With the flip of the hip of the music of the band
I cha cha,
The bull is so confused because I cha cha
I never kill him, only if he gets in my way
Torero, torero ole,
¡ Ole !"


Gaining time. Keeping one daemon busy while Vryala kills the other one.

OOC: Julius LaRosa - Torero
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/julius+larosa/Torero/
Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2U7turKegQ
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Post by Kinslayer »


Inside the gatehouse, the blue horrors shrieked and cackled with madness as they sprang at the two Mages, reaching for them with flaming hands and jagged teeth. The one that was attacking Caraoc had yet to catch him, for the Astromancer sung as he darted aside every time it approached, turning and dancing with the daemon, lashing out with his staff as it passed him if there was time. The blue horror seemed to use two voices at one, one laughing at it's own futility as it simultaneously snarled at the annoyance of Caraoc. The Astromancer was keeping it busy though, giving Vryala the time she needed to help Elysian out with the other little blue daemon. The creature had just reached Elysian again and caused the Mage to block with his staff when Vryala smashed into it, relieving Elysian of the distraction as her shield sent the blue horror sprawling. The Shadowmancer immediately returned his attention to opening the gate, as Vryala started to slash her blade again and again at the horror, frustrated as it danced around her blade with every diagonal cut. Not about to give in though, the Warrior only pressed the daemon all the harder.

Outside, the portcullis began to groan as it started to rise once more, this time receiving a savage cheer from the Khainites who had all but reached the end of their tether. Meanwhile, Phalx and Karonath continued their own battles with the Chosen lost from sight to Varin and Casaythe, who had no idea if they even lived let alone fought on. Karonath forced herself back to her feet, her senses returning to her as she realised just how lost in the slaughter she had become, having completely passed the gatehouse and isolated herself amidst the enemy. She saw Phalx on his back, two massive Chosen looming over him, and immediately corrected her course, charging back towards the Shade and hoping she would make it there in time. Phalx looked up at the two mutated Northmen that stood over him, and aimed his magical crossbow into the horned face of the one on the left. He fired the rest of the clip, it taking all the remaining bolts to finally rupture the chitinous bone that shielded the Chosen Warriors' brain. He fell with his halberd only moments away from striking Phalx down, but the second Chaos Warrior was still about to attack.

The Shade sprang from the floor as the halberd descended with the last of his strength, leaning inside the attack with his blade ready to run his opponent through. He was slowed by his weariness though, and the halberd caught him on the shoulder as his blade clashed harmlessly against the iron plate of his opponent. Phalx roared in pain as the blade bit into the muscle of his shoulder and grazed the bone, sliding back down to his knees in front of the Chosen Warrior who leered at him mockingly from behind his horned helmet. A heavy iron knee came up and connected with Phalxs' jaw, sending him sprawling onto his back once more, grinding painfully along the stone floor of the square with gritted teeth. The Chosen Warrior stepped forwards, uttering an offering to his dark patron as he raised his halberd once again. The battle around him slowed and faded away, the Shade only focusing on the Chosen Warrior that loomed over him as exhaustion and the hard blow to his jaw finally saw him succumb, darkness creeping into the corners of his vision before claiming him completely.



Varin and Casaythe continued to defend the bottom of the steps to the gatehouse, tiredness threatening them too now that bodies were stacked either side of them, but the Corsair willed himself to continue. His glaive was giving Varin the space he needed to work his longsword to deadly effect, the Corsair cutting down foes with all his strength and skill as well. Now that the Midnight Guardians were amongst them the Chosen Warriors were finally being broken up into smaller groups of five or six within their regiment rather than fighting as one massive horde, taking the pressure off the mercenaries at the gate. Over the scream of his latest kill, Casaythe heard the gate rumbling open once again, and risked a sidelong glance to see if it had opened enough to let the Khainites through yet. What he saw told him everything he needed to know. Their mission to take the gatehouse and reopen the gate had been a success, and the fate of the Chosen Warriors had just been sealed. With a bloodthirsty howl upon her lips, the Hag of Vikarh charged through the gate with hundreds of Witch Elves following in her wake, dozens of Executioners striding in through the gate behind those. The Chaos Warriors didn't have a chance.

Karonath broke through the ranks of the Chosen Warriors' into the small clearing that had formed around Phalx. Bloodfeather was red with blood, though the Khainite had been forcing her way through quickly without taking the time to kill each and every opponent she had passed. By the look of it, she had arrived just in time. The Shade was unconscious on the ground, a deep wound in his shoulder soaking his cloak a deep crimson around his upper arm. One of the Chosen Warriors was knelt over him, his halberd lain on the ground beside him where he had instead drawn a sacrificial knife. K didn't stop any longer to take in the details of the weapon or the human, hurling herself across the open ground and bringing Bloodfeather around in a deadly cut that the Chosen Warrior registered a moment too late. The armoured giant turned his head and saw the blade as it shore through his neck, Karonath landing neatly on the other side of him and grabbing his severed head by one of the horns of it's helmet. She hurled it away as the Chosens' body collapsed on top of the Shade, looking around as a familiar war horn once again heralded the arrival of the Witch Elves on the scene.

Elysian released his grip on the wheel as it finally reached it's furthest point, meaning the gate was now fully open as it had been when Kronus had let the northern army into the City in the first place. Satisfied that his work was now complete, the Shadowmancer turned around and let his senses return fully to the chamber inside the gatehouse. He saw Caraoc still taunting one of the blue horrors into missing it's every attempt to seize his arms or legs, but of the other there was no sign. Vryala was now striding towards Caraoc, the satisfied look on her face telling Elysian that she had indeed the sent the first horror back to whatever hell it had sprang out of. He grasped his staff and sword and rushed forwards with her, relieving Caraoc of the blue daemon just as he seemed to be running out of steam. Between the three of them, it didn't take long for the nimble, teasing thing that was the blue horror to be dealt with. Vryala quickly managed to get a hold of it, and she pinned it down while Elysian and Caraoc stabbed it over and over until it completely faded out of existence. Only once the little daemon was dealt with did they slowly pick themselves up, check their surroundings were clear, and head back down the stairs to rejoin the fighting in the square...



It was over within minutes. The Hag and the Witches were just the shock troops the battle had been missing, and they separated, wounded or ran down the Chosen before the Executioners strode in after them to finish the survivors. The Midnight Guardians formed up as one again, blocking the retreat back to the south for the humans and slaying the lucky few who made it past the blades of the Khainites. The Drach had launched himself from the rooftops once more and circled over the square atop his Black Dragon, watching the last crushing charge of the battle before he glided over the heads of the Midnight Guardians' and landed his mighty steed on the road behind them, just south of the square. Watching from the steps in front of the gatehouse, most of the group noticed for the first time now the iron cage that was hanging from the Dragons' saddle. In it moaned the tortured form of Kronus, now stripped of all titles and nobility, and named a traitor by the Drach himself. His punishments would be long and arduous, for the Drach was sure to make an example of him for all to see so that this treachery would never be repeated.

Varin led Casaythe, Vryala, Elysian and Caraoc down from the gatehouse steps after a moment longer watching the Executioners capture the last of the Northmen for slaves. There was still no sign of Karonath or Phalx, and the group began to suspect the worse as the fighting at last came to an end and the mass of people in front of them began to disperse. The Midnight Guardians were all now formed up in front of the Drach, apart from Kalius Bane who was stalking through the heaps of dead Chosen ensuring those that were still in one piece had no chance of rising again. The Witches were now following the Hag away from the square, their charge no doubt going to continue all the way to the Temple of Khaine. The battle was over, but the streets were still littered with small bands of Marauders, the loathsome Skaven, and even the hardiest of the savage Frost Orcs. The Hag would have her Witches cover the City, find all of those survivors and slay them in the name of Khaine, the Lord of Murder. The Drach did not try to stop her, simply watching them go with his ice cold stare.

As the Witches dispersed, leaving only the Executioners who were now stripping the surviving Chaos Warriors of their armour and binding them in chains, the group at last spotted their comrades amidst the dead littering the square. At first they caught sight of Karonath, who was knelt on the floor covered from head to toe in blood and gore. It wasn't until they got closer that they saw Phalx underneath her, unconscious where one of the Chosen Warriors had struck him down. The Khainite had used the last of her strength defending him, finally collapsing on top of him when the Witch Elves crashed past them and cut down their enemies. Bloodfeather had slipped from her grasp now that the fighting was done, and the Khainite seemed to be sitting upright only with a great amount of effort. The group raced over to her side, just as Phalx groaned and groggily opened his eyes, spitting a curse at the Chosen Warrior he had been fighting that Karonath had long since dispatched with her Draich.

The rest of the group could feel the exhaustion settling in too, and even Varin was forced to lower himself to the ground to kneel at Karonaths' side, unbuckling his chestplate and letting it fall to the floor with a sigh of relief.

The battle had been a bloody one that had drained all of them dearly, but it had been won.


Phalx, -1 crossbow clip

~ Please make sure you are updating your signature profiles with these changes. Dauricha, you still need to take off the last 2 clips as well.
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