The time has come. The Compact is sailing up the Gray River to war, in an attempt to destroy one of the four columns of the Bringer Army marching on Arx, each one at least twenty thousand strong. The one marching along the Gray River has been targeted, its forces moving in tight formation, and it is up to the Compact to pick the time and place of battle.

((For this, in picking ideal ground, Calypso rolls intellect + war at 40, and pick up to 5 other advisors who can make the same roll, and add results to yours. Can now talk oocly to do a quick pick))

Harald checked intellect + war against difficulty 15, resulting in 44, 29 higher than the difficulty.

Calypso checked intellect + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 82, 42 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked intellect + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 45, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Max checked intellect + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 29, 11 lower than the difficulty.

Frederik has rolled a critical success!
Frederik checked intellect + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 128, 88 higher than the difficulty.

Valkieri checked intellect + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 47, 7 higher than the difficulty.

There's good advice here with that many experienced encounters. Count Frederik Steelhart is the oldest and one of the most experienced commanders, and has seen more conflict than most of the others combined, and has fought an engagement not too dissimilar to this during one of the Gray Forest Campaigns a decade ago, when House Steelhart as part of the Oathlands assisted House Bisland against an invading shav horde that was smashed at Sorrow's Point, a particularly narrow path between two hills that hugs the Gray River. It'll let the forces debark and get the high ground before the shavs can see them, and put archers in an excellent position to rain down fire from above, if they choose to use it.

Now all can feel free to discuss that (feel free to pose), and as they do, it's time for those involved in logistics to get involved. All the Lycene, Black Mountain, and Thraxians doing the transporting need to keep a careful rein on the difficult logistics of moving the entire force up river in one piece, and undetected. For this, Calypso will check command + leadership at 40, and pick up to 5 members to do a command + sailing check at 30. ((feel free to page her your sailing skills))

Apostate drops Command Tent.

Apostate drops Medical Triage.

Valkieri has joined the Command Tent.

Mirari has joined the Medical Triage.

Frederik has joined the Command Tent.

Karadoc has joined the Command Tent.

Apostate drops On the Ships.

Alis has joined the Command Tent.

Calypso has joined the Command Tent.

Dagon has joined the Command Tent.

Harald has joined the Command Tent.

Ansel has joined the Command Tent.

Apostate drops Front Lines.

The members of the Inquisition go into battle hooded, though they wear arms and armor clearly under their capes and scarlet hoods. Each of the Confessors that Alistair leads is armed with a crossbow and some other hand to hand weapon, the soldiers of the Inquisition pointing their ranged weapons over the edge of Calypso's boat as the boat crawls its way up the Gray Forest river. For once the Inquisition seems to have turned its attention on a true foe, not just the weak, vulnerable, or the pocket books of merchants. Alistair sits in complete silence, a sword laid out upon his lap as he peers into a forest he once called home... waiting and watching.

Dagon has left the Command Tent.

Luca has joined the Front Lines.

Eirene has joined the Medical Triage.

Costas has joined the Command Tent.

Harald has left the Command Tent.

Harald has joined the Front Lines.

"It's a good spot for this, even if I worry it'll make cutting our way to the Bringers a bit uglier..." Luca's murmuring with the steely sound of his rubicund helm altering his voice, meant for Talen beside him. The duelist seems eager atop his big bastard of a stubborn warhorse named Gluefoot, ready to dismount the instant they see action, but using the height for opportunity to look out over the planned slaughter sight. "You coat the mirrorblade in nettle extract just to be an asshole?"

Isolde has joined the Medical Triage.

Audric has joined the Front Lines.

Alistair has joined the Command Tent.

Kima has joined the Front Lines.

Reese has joined the Front Lines.

Harald checked command + sailing against difficulty 30, resulting in 65, 35 higher than the difficulty.

Maximilian has joined the On the Ships.

Inigo has joined the Front Lines.

Max checked command + sailing against difficulty 30, resulting in 58, 28 higher than the difficulty.

Calypso checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 39, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Dagon has joined the Front Lines.

Ansel has left the Command Tent.

Ansel has joined the Front Lines.

Caelis has joined the On the Ships.

Gregor has joined the Front Lines.

Serafine has joined the Front Lines.

Caelis checked command + sailing against difficulty 30, resulting in 47, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Leta has joined the Front Lines.

Zhayla has joined the Front Lines.

Talen has joined the Front Lines.

Estaban checked command + sailing against difficulty 30, resulting in 39, 9 higher than the difficulty.

In the planning meeting, Maximilian is mostly silent - listening and learning from the older, more experianced commanders. This part is a land war, and while Max can be an amazing sailor, he's not much for reading terrain of a forest for combat advantage. It's not what he does. Still, when Fredrick speaks, Max takes copious notes. The old man clearly knowws what he's talking about and its impossible to not learn something.

The planning meeting done, Max returns to the black mountain flotilla of merchants and privateers, making sure the captains know their roles, know their routes and can stick to the plan.

Reese is adorned in all silvery steel plate and mounted upon her white war filly. Devotion is at her right hip, the princess keeping her hand close to the blade as if ready to draw such. She has her mace at her left left hip and a spear strapped to her back. She rides along the others who will be fighting int he mirror guard of the front lines.

Harmon has joined the Medical Triage.

Fiachra has joined the Front Lines.

Karadoc had been quiet. By now, his part helping was done. All the gear, all the food and all the provisions had gotten them to this point. He just had to sit back, and see how things progressed from here...

Artorius has joined the Front Lines.

Valdemar checked command + sailing against difficulty 30, resulting in 44, 14 higher than the difficulty.

"You found a sword," Dagon murmurs sidelong to Serafine. He stands dismounted by an ebon-black mare, a sword hanging from either hip as he looks out over the forest. Luca's words get a thin-lipped look, and he nods, though doesn't comment. The guard of his helmet is slipped upwards, giving a good look at the youthful features underneath all that plate. "You're going in front of me, right?" He asks of Serafine, a little grin twitching his lips despite his otherwise sober features.

Eirene is ready and waiting. Her medical forces are parceled out between the transport ships. Never put all your eggs in one basket. However, she keeps her finest forces at her side.

Maximilian has left the On the Ships.

Mirari is nearby Eirene at the moment. Dressed in black leather, a small dagger on her hip. She's idly using shears to cut up linen into long strips. Bandages. Each strip is then carefully rolled up. Her gaze rather dispassionate.

Harmon is clad in leather armor, visibly uncomfortable at both the idea of possible combat and wearing said armor. Really, it's a twofer of discomfort. Knuckle dusters are fastened to his belt, along with his many tools, reagents, knicknacks and the like.

Calypso goes over the plan one more time and confidently makes a decision, sending the ship captains off to do their part. There is only a moment of hesitation once they have left the command tent that she second guesses her orders. Weather or not anyone sees that hesitation is another story. She continues boldly setting the plan in to action.

Harmon spends his time working on mixing ointments and other medicines for use with bandages, or for administering to the wounded as needed.


Frederik had spoke quietly, and his words were chosen carefully, but he took the liberty of touching the map and showing exactly what he meant. The count remains silent otherwise, watching Calypso and nodding his head slowly to her words as she goes over the plan one last time. He doesn't step out of the tent yet, himself, instead giving the map one more once-over.


Serafine smiles at Dagon, nodding to the man. "Aye, I did. Don't ask how." She grins. "Like it?" She brandishes Pathway with a wink. She looks about. "Got a spare steed? I left mine in my other pants. Or I would, if I had a steed."

Inigo stands in his well-used and cared for leather armor, half cape lifting lightly in the gentle wind. His fingers drum upon Recompense's hilt, eyes glued to the horizon, watching and waiting. Every so often he'll mutter a word of encouragement to one of his soldiers, steadying the men and women of his command.

Caelis is quick to return to the Malvici ships. She might have spent the better part of the day all smiles and easy spirits but now that it's time to work she's focused and honed in on the orders she has.

    Ansel is here, his contingent positioned with the Valardin column, probably close by to Alis and Fiachra. Mounted atop a pale horse, easily findable by the plume of white shooting up from the top of his helm, which is drawn lower over his head. His second longsword remains sheathed and strapped to his horse's saddle, while the Telmar's ancestral blade is worn diagonally behind his right shoulder, remaining undrawn for now. Clad in crimson and white, he waits.

Valkieri is similar succinct in his advice in the tent with the other commanders, listening sharply when the others speak, offering his own view clear but brief. There's a moment of distinct acknowledgment in his gaze at Frederick's clearly canny strategy, and he ends up in agreement with the Steelhart count.

It's almost, almost perfect, as far as the sailing goes. Experienced captains all, even through the rougher waters there's little hiccups, and the ships land at -almost- the exact proper point, some overshooting it and doubling back, just losing a little time. Still, the forces are able to disembark in good order, at least a couple hours in advance of the Bringers, giving the Compact forces ample time to array for battle and claim the high ground. Now's time to array the order of battle, and choose the right dispositions before the Bringers arrive. The ground Frederik picked is damned near perfect, but it won't win a battle alone. ((Calypso intellect + war at 30, and pick up to 5 others for it, and feel free to be very detailed in exact troop dispositions, knowing you have two hills, and a narrow pass to work with, approximately a mile long))

The Grimhall longships strike upriver under uniform oarstrokes, in numbers beyond ready count. It is an almost eerie display. The shallow draft of the vessels allow them to run right up onto the riverbank, as thousands of maile clad warriors splash ashore in mere minutes. Harald loudly orders the men into formation as the oldest ally of the raider is shown: speed.

Estaban knows what is needed to be done, he gets back to the ships his feet on wood and the rocking of the boat makes him feel more like he is at home his feet have been on dry ground way to long. His attention on the orders he was given, his mind set for what is to come.

Serafine wields Pathway.

Luca wields Viper's Fury, an elegant two-handed Lycene sabre of Diamondplate.


He's been quiet for a good long while but when Gregor notices the standard of the Telmarch, he rides over to join Ansel. When his horse is close enough, he dops his head to the man, and draws his blade and twirls it from his horseback, "I'll ride with you my lord," He says to Ansel, looking forward once he expresses his words.

Reese wields Devotion, a silvery pink alaricite short sword.

Karadoc wields The Gentle Death.

Fiachra wields Oathlands steel forged Ravensblade.

Kima wields The Absolute.

Audric wields Coinspinner, a wickedly sharp alaricite long sword.

Eirene turns to her forces. "What are we?"

The cry comes back in unison, "Greedy mother fuckers!"

"And what do we say to Death?"

"Back off bitch, this ones mine!"
They trade firm salutes and ready to disembark.

Fiachra wields shadowed raven of the Greenwood longbow.

Eirene wields the Flame-Mender.

Flowing onto the shore alongside the Grimhall ships under Harald's command are those being led by Valdemar. The shush of myriad hulls tipping their noses onto the bank is like the hiss of a sea serpent, but the splash of boots and the grunts of soldiers as they wade onto shore and into Harald's ordered formation is quite human, if impressively coordinated.

Gregor wields Blade of the Mutt, a well-sharpened high quality broadsword.

Caelis wields a slender long sword with a mirrored pommel.

Black Mountains transport ships, helmed by experianced captains from Darkwater Watch, Southport, Setarco and Stormhold are professional and regimented. There is no sense of rush as ships pull to shore, disgorge their troops then with draw smoothly to allow a hole for the next ship.

Some 80 ships in total, fly the Black Mountain banner and in short order, they have made their landings and pulled back again, maintaining their defensive perimiter.

On the deck of the Damnation, the flagship of the Darkwater fleet (And defacto, Black Mountain), the two heavilly tattooed and wiry stormcallers, pound the vertical, two sided drum that keeps the beat for the delicate dance. It's a heartbeat that resonates and is replicated on two other ships, covering the Black Mountain Landing zone.

"Excellent." Murmurs Maximilian as he watches the smooth transfer from river to land - the most vulnerable point for any army in transit. "Make sure the captain of the Damorin Star gets a bonus. That was well executed, his correction."

Inquisitor Alistair and his Confessors disembark from their ship, the tight little group of black and scarlet hooded thugs of the Crown await for the directions of the Lady General to where she best wants to place their numbers... though they likely can't do much to affect the coming battle.

Mirari wields Night's venom.

Maximilian wields A Brutal Alaricite Cutlass with a Saw-Toothed Edge.

Estaban wields Lion's Reach.

Talen wields House Velenosa Mirror Blade.

    Ansel looks aside to the Steelhart, pulling his pale steed back a step, nodding to the Telmarine at his right. Shortly, room is made for Gregor and his mount to join the Telmar at his side. A wan smile is offered, the Sword dipping his head at the man. "Lord Gregor," says Ansel. His voice is glad, seeing the fabled knight of Highill. But for the matters yet to come, his expression is grim. "Please," he states, nodding to the space. And so the red wall of the Telmarch and the black dog of the Steelhart, emblazoned proudly on banners held high by armsmen, align themselves together. Ready to ride.

Harmon wields High-Quality Knuckle Dusters.

Leta wields a red steel pollaxe mounted on a solid reinforced ash haft.


When the place is offered, Gregor takes it. The sword for now in his hand is held downwards as he looks off in the distance, either being lost in thought of better times, or lost in thought of the upcoming battle. Either way, he breaks from it and looks over to Ansel noticing his grim expression. A man of few words demands him not to comment, and probably the situation as well so all he does is nod at Fiachra and then peer off again.

Dagon wields House Thrax Reafian Longsword.

With the order given the Inquisitor and his Confessors march forward into the Grey Forest, ranging ahead of the assembling army... searching for the encroaching 20,000 Abandoned and their Bringer Masters. The Confessors form a ring around the Inquisitor as they creep along and wait between the two armies.

Calypso confers with the others in the war tent and lets out the call. "Archers on the hills. Redrain, Valardin, Malvici. Infantry and reavers through the pass. Inquisitors ranging the front lines. Shields and spears in the front line, swords to follow. Keep a reserve of those seeking the bringer berserkers. Alis, Frederik, Harald, Valkieri and Ansel commanding." She makes the announcement and sends the trusted advisers and commanders to lead the rest in to battle.

Calypso checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 47, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Harald checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 39, 9 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 35, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Frederik checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 29, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Ansel has rolled a critical success!
Ansel checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 82, 52 higher than the difficulty.

Valkieri checked intellect + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 38, 8 higher than the difficulty.

The agents of the Inquisition are not gone to long. Maybe gone long enough to give over precious information!? Perhaps form some kind of pact with the demons to turn on their fellow Arxians!? Who knows what evil they work in the darkness of the forest. Eventually though the group returns, crossbows trained back in the direction they came as Alistair makes his way to the command tent. "They approach. I sense a concentration of their forces on the center, through the pass between the two hills." the dour man states in his flat tone, he delivers no tactical assessment of the information, leaving it to the commanders to decide what to do.

The long ranks of Grimhall shieldmen file forward, the iron rimmed edges of their broad, round shields overlapping in a solid wall as they move into the gap. Harald stands in the center of the front rank, a look up and down the shield line, finding no gaps. No nods or words of approval, it was expected.

Inigo tilts his head at the call, his cousin's words carrying far over the wind and general noise of a gathered army. With practiced grace he pulls his longsword from its sheath, raising the shining diamondplate over his head and slashing it downwards, signalling his troops forward. His battalion slides in to support the shields and spears as they march forward through the pass, keen azure eyes searching the hills and woods for any sign of the enemy.

Inigo wields Recompense, the Sword of Unity.

Frederik wields a stately hand and a half longsword.

The weather wasn't as great as it could be. A winter day, not quite cold enough to be freezing, and a recent snow had turned quite a bit of the pass to mud. There's a persistent mist that reduces visibility- not so thick as to make archers completely ineffective, but it'll blunt them somewhat, and prevent seeing the rear of the Bringer force as it enters the pass.

Alis leaves the command tent once the decisions have been made, and goes to join the concentration of Valardin and their vassals forces that have grouped together; relaying Calypso's orders to them as she goes along; to Ansel she directs toward the infantry to help make the calls on the field. And to Fiachra, their archers to lead up on the hill.

Alis wields Sunderer, the majestic rubicund flail.

Well trained for live combat, the Phoenix Brigade sets up at their staging point; triage and quick care and runners to get the wounded to and from the tents. Lady Brigadier Eirene directs them all quickly, eyes fixed on the choke point ahead. The medic has lost her soft casual edge she wears in the city; she is as sharp as her scalpels.

    A pair of Telmarine scouts hasten back in the direction of Ansel, quickly delivering a report to the Telmarch Sword. Hastily, Ansel dispatches a Telmarine runner towards the main command tent with the report he's just received, instructions to deliver the tactical assessment directly to Calypso. For everyone else's benefit, he calls out: "Far end of the pass is muddied!" he shouts. "Need to position archers on the solid footing, and slow their advance." The same information is quickly relayed to Calypso via the runner.

Estaban looks over and once he hears Calypso's words he moves to gather up with the Archers and moving out to get in their place on the ridge ge gad scouted out a few days before. His eyes looking around scanning for someone seeing if he can find said person once he does he watches for a long moment then is attention is back at the task at hand, his gloves hand moves back to pull his bow to have it atthe ready.

As news breaks to the front lines, Dagon turns to murmur some things for Serafine, before calling to his group of Knights: "Shields, form up. Reverse point -- Lagley, keep the spears in line and wait for our call. Get us far enough forward, and then fall around Serafine and I. We wait on the General's orders."

Maximilian nods to his second in command. "The water is yours, Valgrim. Keep the line - keep the drums going." He says, as he pulls on his armored chestplate. "Marines! With me. We reinforce the Grimhall."

The marines of the Darkwater ships form up, and with Maximilian, file in to place with the Grimhall Soldiers. "Old man." Says Max, steppin into place, a crick given to his neck. "You are not allowed to die today. Strict orders from Calliope."

The Mirrorguard strike force are led by Talen and Luca, their positioning ends up before as dictated by the commanders and their group aren't too far from the vanguard troops. All in all, they seem prepared even if they're not yet doing much. Fire and poison, effective additives to weaponry for those not lucky enough to wield alaricite or diamondplate blades.

Calypso nods to Alistair as he comes back with information. "In the center? The reserves are going to have their work cut out for them." She says with a glance over to where the Berserker-killer crew lays in wait. A letter arrives back from the front to her from Ansel. "Keep the soldiers on solid rock. Halt before the mud. Let the arches pick off their slow'd advance from there." She sends out messengers to those who need the information up in the hills and back to the front.

Valkieri strides out of the tent to make his way to the gathered Rubino, Zaffria, and Igniseri troops. He barks his orders in a clear, crisp tone, his Captain of the Guard Gian Fuller hanging close to his vicinity.


Serafine takes her position at Dagon's side, blades loose, The Valiant Woman in one hand, Pathway in the other. She nods at Dagon's words, her eyes grim, looking at the men that surround them. "Anyone that survives will get to see all my ink. And I have it everywhere." Said as serious as any prayer.

As deployments and commands are given by Alis, Fiachra takes the Valardin archers up into the hills. He's careful to search out solid ground for the best footing after receiving Ansel's report, so that they might harass the approaching forces as best as they can despite the mist.

The Valorous Few, wielding similar flame and poison to the Mirrorguard, move as ordered, sticking relatively close to the other prongs of the strike force for the moment. At their head, Audric is cheerfully chatting away with the other commanders.


The Steelhart scouts that Frederik sends out ride ahead. It appears that this isn't where the Steelhart tactician's talents lie, the Count's own scouts never make it back. This does cast a troubled expression over the old man's face, but he doesn't say anything, other then striding back towards where Calypso is and relaying they haven't returned.

As noble as Dagon might be, nobility does not necessarily attract chivalrous Knights. The Tydeland men that accompany Dagon are mostly Reavers and butchers, Knights only in name, and Serafine's offer have a few excited rumbles.

Reese is close to Talen and Luca in the mirrorguard with her pink blade in hand.

Alistair stares forward at the darkness of the forest, beyond the hordes awaiting. He glances over to Calypso. "We should say a prayer to the Gods." he recommends to the Lady General, before battle is fully joined and the time for litanies of faith and prayers must be cast aside for blood and steel.


Watches Talen and Kima speak for a moment, apparently their conversing has caught his attention. His expression remains the same as it always is, in the form of the scowl so it's probably nothing against them incase they see him. Then Ansel's scout speaks to him and he hears what the man has to say, knuckles whitening at the grip of his sword.


Gregor watches Talen and Kima speak for a moment, apparently their conversing has caught his attention. His expression remains the same as it always is, in the form of the scowl so it's probably nothing against them incase they see him. Then Ansel's scout speaks to him and he hears what the man has to say, knuckles whitening at the grip of his sword.

Estaban moves to follow after Fiachra making sure to be careful as they go, he is silent for the time being as they look for solid ground and get into postion to start picking the enemy forces off.

Kima /does/ see that scowl from Gregor, which she returns with a wink and a blown kiss. It is a contrast of regions: The Lyceum and the Oathlands.

It takes time for tens of thousands of soldiers to array for battle, the two hours are well used as the forces slowly array. There's the buzzing sound of that many men moving, the clank of armor, the constant sound of orders, a disciplined buzz. Not so from the end of the pass as the enemy forces approach. Normally there's a drum march, a beating, or at least a tromping of feet. Twenty thousand men do not move in silence, after all. These shavs seem unaware of that, and though the mist reduces visibility, it's eerie how the distant figures just continue to approach, the visibility obscuring them until the very start of the column starts to show through the mist. The mist unfortunately is an ally to the enemy, likely more than a couple yards even with the elevation would be largely useless. But still, the bringer forces come steadily on, moving in complete and utter silence. There's time enough for initial volleys, and though surely the Bringer Column sees the Compact forces ahead, they say nothing in their slow and steady march. ((Any archer types can roll command + leadership at 30 to command their units to fire, than dexterity + medium wpn at 45 for their own shot))

Reese also has her cousin Barric nearby and their Grayson troops. One of them carries her fancy war banner with the two soaring griffins, one adorned with pink ribbons.

Talen levels his pale grey-blue eyes on Gregor for a while, as if immediately feeling the stare. At Kima's response to the man, he emits a small sound of derision. "Don't distract them, they're so tightly wound they'll come undone at the mildest of flirt."

Once the ships are brought up, like Max, Caelis walks out with the men she ferried up. She falls in with their numbers easily, sword loose and ready to draw. Moving with the Malvici men she silently breathes her prayers to Mangata and a few others.

Alis smothers a smile at Kima's reaction to Gregor. Gotta put on the stoic face for the Othlander troops; but it doesn't stop her from flipping off Talen. He expected that, right?

Fiachra checked command + leadership against difficulty 30, resulting in 12, 18 lower than the difficulty.

Fiachra checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 35, 10 lower than the difficulty.

Talen goes immediately against his own words to Kima and bows toward Alis. "Fight well, your highness."

Calypso nods to Frederik for the information about his scouts. She doesn't quite move their position markers off the map just yet. As Alistair speaks, however, she nods. "You're right." But then the call of the enemies arrival comes through and the echoing of the first volley soaring through the air. She says a quick prayer all on her own, as that is all there is time for! "My Gloria guide us though strength and steel."

    Information dispatched, Ansel nods, getting the confirmation that it's been dispatched verbatim to the Malvici General. A glance to his left, and a nod to Fiachra. To his right, and a nod to Gregor. The young Telmar reaches to pat the shoulder of his standard bearer. Forward. Steel-clad in crimson and white, Ansel steps off at the head of the Telmar column, moving with the Valardin's infantry section in the direction of the previously identified pass.

Amid the soldiers of Grimhall ranks, one step back from the front line shields, Valdemar marches with the others from Grihem's Point. His axe is still at his back as the armies move to meet each other, one loud and normal and the other... not.

Eirene offers a prayer of her own. "Lagoma- if you want to help that'd be great. If not, Neither chance nor fate...."

Luca laughs to some front line banter he's drawing twin viper-pommeled blades from his back, one in mirrordark diamondplate, the other in quality steel. Fang like sabres spread and ready as he sets helm-hidden eyes on the battle ahead. No naked Prince for this battle, gleaming scales of dire snake leather fully covering him, hood of his cloak over gleam of rubicund helm. "Heeere comes the fun."

Estaban checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 26, 19 lower than the difficulty.

Talen throws sideways for Luca, "You have an interesting perspective of fun, brother. Still, it will certainly be an interesting challenge." The visor goes does, serpentine helmet snapping closed.

As arrows are nocked and the first volleys are given to the enemy, Alistair stalks the lines of the Compact. His normally quiet voice is risen, though the intensity he always displays is no less lessened. There is no time for a prayer of quiet resolve as the horde lumbers forward, but the Gods will have their due. "Pray to Vellichor, and pray he grants you wisdom to know your foe. Pray to Gloria, and ask she grants you Honor to battle with resolve. Pray to Jayus, and pray he gives you dreams of a future filled with art." he carries on as he marches down the lines. There is just a bit of emotion in the man's godly proclamations. "Pray to Mangata, who granted us the waves to come to this battlefield. Pray to Petrichor, who gives us these wild lands we fight in. Pray to Lagoma, for the flames we shall purge the enemy with." he raises a hand and orders his Confessors forward to give a volley. "Pray to the concepts. Limerance, Sentinel and Gild. For Love, Truth and Civilization, for we fight for all concepts." The light thunk of crossbows sounds as bolts are sent hurling.

Alistair checked command + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Alis flashes a bright smile, at that. "And you, your highness." she replies to Talen, as the first volley of arrows goes out, and she joins Ansel in moving towards the head of the infantry lines, grimly determined. "May the Sentinel and Gloria guide our hands" she murmurs fervently to herself, weapon in hand as she goes.


Notably in the command tent, while the others pray, Frederik just watches the map, pensive.

It's a soft murmur that lets Isolde's prayer filter through the air. "May our fury guide our blades. May our hate sharpen our wits. May our fear fuel our stamina. Darkest Reflection, accept your people and our strength, and guide us to victory."

Karadoc stayed out of the way in the command tent, watching waiting, seeing if anything was needed as the others directed the battle.

Kima dons her own helm, obscuring the woman's blonde hair and blue eyes and instead turning to the world a visage of blood and death; black and red. It's inhuman, the helm of a knight, removing the familiar and replacing it with something expressionless and cold. Her palms itch with anticipation, and there is a faint creak of leather as the fingers of her write hand curl about the hilt of the Absolute.

Even as he wears colors of a Thraxian bend, Dagon turns to his men and speaks the words of his new family, and his new countrymen. "We fall..."

"We rise!" Is echoed back. A low, rhythmic beat of shields begin as the men smash their weapons into their shields. You can take the reavers from the sea, but you can't take the sea from the reavers.

Reluctantly, Audric finally reaches up to remove his hat, slipping on the leather helm instead. "Worst part of it, really," he says, giving the hat a little pat before handing it off to be passed back and stored.


Gregor starts moving along with Ansel, his shoulders moving to the sides when others have to be walked by or walked through. The blown kiss does little to change his normal expression, not irritable or managing to find a smile. "Let's hope fancy swords and chatter get us through the night," He says to the sword of Telmarch.

Reese and Barric at the the front of their troops, looking all Grayson-like with the alaricite blades. Barric has the house Grayson blade adorned in green and Reese her pink one. She seems to be making an effort to stay close to her cousin. As the battle starts she sucks in a sharp breath, trying to steel herself for the fight to come. She then glances back to her troops, giving them a smile that she hope is encouraging. "Gloria be with us." She says. Her attention briefly strays toward Alistair, his speech getting her attention for a moment.

"At least you don't lose it," Talen tells Audric. "If you lost it, you'd be all sorts of distracted. Plus, feathers stain with blood easily."

As the foemen come into view, and the arrows start to fly, a slow cadence is rapped out with haft of spear and axe on shield rims. As the men of Tyde shout their battle cries, beside them the warriors of Grimhall chant with each uniform clash, "Grim! Grim! Grim!"

Maximilian slides his helm into place. The prayer on his lips is in ritual time repeated by the men of his command. "Holy Gloria, Lady of War, guide us in battle. Open our eyes to the traps and snares of the enemy. May our blades rebuke them, we humbly pray; and do you, lady of War, by the power of rightiousness cast back into darkness all those fell abominations that rise from myth and memory to tear down what man has built."

It's uttered quietly, but as a choir. The next line shatters the quiet completely. "MERCY IS NO VIRTUE!" Shouts Maximilian - and his men roar back: DARING NEVER A VICE!"

The mist frustrates matters. Surely some of the fire finds bringers. It must, after all, but it's damnably difficult to tell, and the lack of screams is unnerving. Normally there'd be screams. Deva's Redrain archers fire a volley as well, positioned above, and there's still no screams. Through the mist, it appears some of the shavs are toppling over, while they all seem to be raising their shields as they slowly march through the mud, tromping steadily. Other shavs seem to be dropping as the Compact's fire is steady and Redrain and Greenmarch archers keep pouring down, the dozens of falling shavs becoming a hundred as wordlessly the shavs walk over the bodies of the fallen. They suddenly stop in the mud, all of them going still, as the arrows keep raining down and dozens more die, then there's a sound like a roar, a titnaic rumble that shakes the ground from the far end of the column concealed in the mist, causing many soldiers to cry out. At the sound, the shavs suddenly start moving at a quickened march advancing towards the Compact lines, raising their weapons. ((Calypso select up to 5 to do command + leadership at 40 checks to keep morale, another 5 to do command + war at 40 for initial infantry combat, and -everyone- on the front can roll dexterity + weapon of choice at 45))

Inigo has rolled a critical success!
Inigo checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 110, 65 higher than the difficulty.

Reese checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 41, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Kima checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 52, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Harald checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 50, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Gregor checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 47, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Audric checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 50, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Talen checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 58, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Serafine checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 50, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Leta checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 59, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Dagon checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 59, 44 higher than the difficulty.

Luca checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 51, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Alistair does not have a voice for the Shrines, that much is clear. He would make an awkward Godsworn, but on the battlefield, where simple volumne is sometimes enough, he can deliver a servicable battlefield sermon. As his words die down he looks to his Confessors as they step back and reload. "May the Sentinel guard the Righteous." he nods to his men and draws his blade.

Max checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 58, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Alistair checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 55, 10 higher than the difficulty.

Ansel checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 45, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Artorius has rolled a critical success!
Artorius checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 62, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Caelis checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 50, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 63, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Valdemar checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 31, 14 lower than the difficulty.

Zhayla checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 58, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Luca glances aside to Talen and snorts. "You know, we really should get a chant for the Mirages. Something like, we are the terror that stalks in the night....nah." Turning back to the gathered Mirrorguard, Luca just raises his sword and points while calling out. "Let's go get shit done, boys and girls." And with that, he's off with the rest at an eager charge.

Eirene laughs wildly at something Isolde says. She then shouts it out. "To the Lady Lost no More- THEIR ENDING! OUR BEGINNING!" And then the battle begins in earnest and the medics prepare.

    Ansel looks aside as Alis takes the place once filled by Fiachra. Once more, a grim nod, and a glad tone. "Fear No Enemy," says the Telmar, advancing alongside the Valardin. He reaches over his right shoulder, drawing forth the ancient blade sheathed there, freeing it with a slow, oily sound of steel against leather. He moves a touch quicker now, glancing to his right, and to Gregor. A nod, then, to the Sword of Highhill. The time for words has passed now.

Isolde flashes a wild grin at Eirene's exclamation and she lifts her chin. She takes a couple steps back... it's nearly time and it's time to focus.

Fiachra checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 43, 2 lower than the difficulty.

"It is time," Talen murmurs amongst those around him. When Luca makes his charge and half the Mirrorguard split off, he waits a handful of seconds before he strikes and ember stick against his thigh, lights up his sword so it burns with the alchemical agent sticking to it and gives Audric a head-thwack. "See you on the other side. Don't die. Kima, you too." With that, down the rest of the hill they go in a bull rush meant to cut to the heart of the forces and find the berserkers and generals.

Inigo narrows his eyes as the fog begins to part and the line of their enemy comes into focus. Without shifting his regard he thrusts Recompense into the air, screaming aloud for all about to hear. "This is what we've come for! It's time to show these Shavs what it means to meet the Malvici and the forces of the Compact in battle! Just like Pridehall, SHOW NO MERCY!!!!" At this he breaks into a run, longsword held ready, charging forward with a cry on his lips as the first clash of battle is met.

Estaban checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 31, 14 lower than the difficulty.

Kima gives Talen a curt nod with her head, before her fist thumps to her chest, then out, in a Southport salute.


Aye, the time for words have passed. Gregor nods back to Ansel and starts picking up his pace as best as his limping will allow him. Still, he seems ready and willing.

Artorius looks to his men "For southport, for freedom! FOR ARX!" his men raise their banners and weapons high "FOR ARX!" they charged as Artorius lifted his great blade into the air "SHOW NO MERCY AND ACCEPT NONE EITHER!" they all charge into the enemy line without signs of fear. these warriors of the Malvici join the fray

"Likewise!" Audric says, spinning his sword in his hand once in his hand, grin as manic as ever. "Ready?" he asks, glancing at Kima, before he thrusts his sword into the air. "Valorous Few, with me!" he calls, charging off with his portion of the strike team.

Leta grows grim as she marches onward, partly at the state of her boots in the damp ground, partly at the sight of the enemy lines overhead. If she grins from the opening in her helmet, it's forced cheer and an affectation of bravado. "To the usual Gods, what folk are sayin'. And to First-Choice, can't help with that thing if I'm dead, can I? So." the pollaxe swings down and points forward and high. "Scads of silver, Captain-General!" she yells back to Audric and picks up pace after.

Reese charges forward at the head of Grayson forces along with her cousin Barric. She has her pink blade drawn, ready for the first clash. She joins in the crying out. "Graysons! For Compact!" She says lifting her voice to carry.

Estaban stands above watching his kin move in to fight the enemy whispering a prayer for them, his eyes trained on the shav below working on trying to pick them off as they come into sight. He lets out a fustrating growl as his shots keep coming up short, "Dam myst." he grummbles but does not stop trying to back up the forces below.

Two blades, one of fine steel, the other of brutal and dark Alaricite, flash in the hands of Maximilian Darkwater. Flanked by his guard of marines, Maximilian does not engage in any kind of grandios battle dance. THere's no showmanship to the mans fighting. This isn't some duel with a prissy fop, this is battle. The Darkwater count's style is spare, spartan and shorn of fluff as his blades move just enough to counter, then to exploit. Blows he could simply dodge, he does - saving precious energy and stamina for later in the fight.

His words already said, Dagon points his sword forward -- and with a wordless command the small shield wall begins to march in front of him. He and Serafine join the spearmen in the second line, to charge forward behind the shields and other infantry. They're not there to die in the initial vanguard, no -- they're there to punch through the vitals. The bashing of shields continue, and the men begin to chant their roars in time as they close with the forces ahead.

Max checked command + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 46, 31 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 58, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Talen checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 18, 22 lower than the difficulty.

Valkieri checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 54, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Dagon checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 37, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Calypso checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 66, 26 higher than the difficulty.

Caelis checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 25, 15 lower than the difficulty.

No rousing speeches from Fiachra. Just a steady command to the Valardin archers to loose their arrows, and the Greenmarcher follows suit. He's having to squint through the mist, and he's muttering curses in Oathlands shav under his breath, unable to tell if they're having any real impact on the forces below. The curses change to whispered words of a prayer as the infantry moves to engage, however, even as he's continuing to draw and release from one breath to the next.

Frederik checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 73, 33 higher than the difficulty.

Harald checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 29, 11 lower than the difficulty.

Eirene checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 17, 23 lower than the difficulty.

The Sword of Lenosia is not a man built for war, not truly. It shows in his style of tactic, the way he cuts down into the forces is brutal and he's likely to suffer many losses. The purpose isn't to hold out, though - it's a suicide mission to begin with. It's to get to those berserkers, those generals, then let the remaining forces and their champions and captains take out of the leadership. Talen's men around him are simply the vehicle, it seems.

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Luca doesn't lead so much as just charge headlong and joyfully into battle and expect the Mirages following him to keep up and help cut the path. Leadership takes so much effort, and gets in the way of his fun letting loose of death-dealing after all. He'll keep Talen in sight though, and if possible, Reese and Barric's column in turn, but really, his focus is seeking out any Bringer-looking or acting (as in tearing people apart) sorts to add to his skull collection.

Kima gives Audric a nod of confirmation, rushing off after him once he leads the charge forward. Much like the rest of the strike force, Kima fights with a ferocity that proves her moniker was well earned. The trick, of course, would be to keep it up long enough to make a difference.

The armies begin to clash and Valdemar finds a shav setting upon him. He pulls his long axe free and swings to strike, but his foe is the quicker and it's the barbarian's steel that smacks up against Val's armor, staggering him back a step and bruising the skin beneath the scale.

as the armies clash, Artorius moves his greatsword into a reversehand, making a wild swing and taking down any unfortunate shav or bringer to get into his path. His men follow him completely, fearlessly entering the open battle in the winter snow. There will be blood. Heads will roll.

    As the shavs charge through the mud in the disturbing silence they climb over the bodies of those falling to Greenmarch and Redrain arrows rushing headlong into the waiting Compact lines. The ground was well chosen by Frederik and Ansel. It's difficult for more than a few hundred shavs to array themselves at once, and the slope lets the different strike forces use the elevated ground to threaten their sides and harry them. And then there is just the madness of combat as the hundreds of silent shavs slam into the waiting Compact lines. Inigo quickly finds himself against a figure in full platemail using a great warhammer in a single hand, sending reavers flying as the Bringer of Silence tries to march through the Compact lines. As it smashes the ground Inigo was standing on for a moment, Inigo's Recompense finds the unarmored joint along the Bringer's arm, his diamondplate sword taking off its forearm and sending the bringer to its knees, that is then hacked apart by Malvici swordsmen.
    A second bringer is among the Mirrorguard lines and picks up a Lenosian soldier by each arm and pulls, tearing him neatly in half which causes the Mirrorguard to falter for a moment, and the half corpse flung into Thraxian lines makes those reavers pause ever so slightly, but Calypso's words help rally them. Artorius manages a perfect swing at the Bringer, taking off half of its leg that then has the Mirrorguard getting over their initial horror and falling in behind their commander Talen.
    Harald is there among the reavers as they stutter in the initial shock of battle, helping the men stand firm by showing indifference. Valdemar's long axe gets stuck in an inconveniently thick skull, causing him to be vulnerable for a moment and getting a nasty slash on the back, but Harald is able to drop the shav threatening him before Valdemar could take a more serious wound. Dagon's heirloom blade cuts a devastating swath through shav after shav that approaches the Reaver lines, coating the Duke of Tyde in gore that has some battlehardened reavers wiping away a tear a pride.
    The forces of Southport help hold the center around Calypso calling orders, the Baroness Kima of Saik and her smaller contingent fighting back a shav push that lets Calypso keep calling out orders, as Caelis and her marines fall in to support them.
    The Valorous Few, a name often said to be wrong on two counts, try to prove that wrong under the command of Audric, who somehow, someway, actually shames his men to fight by him and Leta holding their line against shavs. If Audric and Leta are fighting there, the others can't run, they figure. Would almost certainly get fired.
    Luca, Max, Alistair and Ansel somehow find themselves together on the field, pressed by a large pack, but Princess Alis leads a sudden push by oathlanders that drives back the shav lines.
    Reese spots a soldier in trouble, and rushes forward to help help, but is temporarily knocked off her feet by a Shav mace, her helm taking the blow. Barric is there to guard her back, but things look dire until Zhayla shows up a moment later, driving back the shavs long enough for Reese to regain her footing and cut down the shav that had knocker her down.
    The archery fire continues to rain down, though Fiachra gets a shot back himself, an arrow finding the padding in his clothes and only giving him an ugly bruise.

((And they keep coming. Same rolls again))

Max checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 44, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Reese checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 40, resulting in 83, 43 higher than the difficulty.

Max checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 53, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Gregor checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 57, 12 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked intellect + medicine against difficulty 30, resulting in 48, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 58, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Alis checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 34, 11 lower than the difficulty.

Isolde checked intellect + medicine against difficulty 30, resulting in 50, 20 higher than the difficulty.

Leta checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 54, 9 higher than the difficulty.

Serafine checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 44, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Audric checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 40, 5 lower than the difficulty.

Zhayla checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 48, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Talen checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 18, 22 lower than the difficulty.

Ansel checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 59, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Valkieri checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 64, 24 higher than the difficulty.

Caelis checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 40, resulting in 34, 6 lower than the difficulty.

Luca checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 96, 51 higher than the difficulty.

Talen checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 30, 15 lower than the difficulty.

Harald has rolled a critical success!
Harald checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 40, resulting in 61, 21 higher than the difficulty.

Kima checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 53, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Artorius checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 43, 2 lower than the difficulty.

Inigo checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 91, 46 higher than the difficulty.

"As good a target as any," Dagon calls out to Serafine -- the rumble from the back of the shav army has shaken his men, and Dagon's call of, "Hold fast!" comforts them little. They slam into the line of combat, and all devolves into chaos.

"Lagley!" Dagon shouts out, a warning given too late as a shav sinks a spear into the throat of a Tyde Knight. The man falls, dead, and his body is left behind as the shield wall advances and cuts the shavs down.

"Hold tight! Keep together! Push the line!" Dagon's shouts echo through his metallic helmet with a frantic command, even as he dodges a sword and slams the pommel of his blade up into the shav's nose, bloodying it, and spins, slicing Turning Tyde across his enemy's chest, sending a cloud of crimson into the air.

"Find the Bringers!" He shouts -- maybe to Serafine. Maybe as a reminder to himself. "Punch through!"

Fiachra checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 51, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Calypso checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 36, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Dagon checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 52, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Dagon checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 34, 6 lower than the difficulty.

Estaban checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 45, resulting in 41, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Alistair checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 35, 10 lower than the difficulty.

Valdemar checked dexterity + huge wpn against difficulty 45, resulting in 42, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Harald has rolled a critical success!
Harald checked command + war against difficulty 30, resulting in 69, 39 higher than the difficulty.

Frederik checked command + leadership against difficulty 40, resulting in 58, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 35, 5 lower than the difficulty.

Artorius shouts to his men "More come! HOLD THIS LINE!" he charges into the fray with his men, although his men fall, more keep the push. He takes the swing at the bringer, taking its leg as he keeps going forward. He tries to retain his composure best he can for the sake of his allies, tempering himself against the onslaught.

"KEEP PRESSING THE ATTACK!" he shouted once more to those under his command.

Running out with the Malvici, Caelis doesn't yell or offer any war cries. She focuses on maintaining support for Kima's group, staying behind them and calling out only where she needs to.

There's no shame in it, not when people are being ripped apart in front of your eyes. Even Talen has to stare, then he redoubles his efforts by cutting down the incoming foes. When he's wounded, the exotic hide is damaged enough to find him clutching his wound with a sound of pain. There's a growl next, a bristling fury building beneath the usual composed outlook. "Luca!" he yells across the field, "don't let the men stop. Execute anyone who attempts to fucking flee. We go onward, to the last. We get to their heart, we rip it out!" he bellows.

Eirene has left the Medical Triage.

Caelis checked command + war against difficulty 40, resulting in 31, 9 lower than the difficulty.

Audric's manic grin doesn't falter in the slightest, sword sweeping, slicing and stabbing as the fight's joined proper. "Scads, when we get our job done!" he calls, shouldering a shav into a spear. "Punch through and we start the fun stuff!" Of course, that bravado is a little bit hindered when the Captain-General doesn't notice a swing in time to block and takes a cut, promptly swear it up a storm. Through gritted teeth, he calls, "Forward!"

Serafine has left the Front Lines.

Reese is back on her feet thanks her cousin and Zhayla. She charges forward, trying to rally her troops to follow and trying to head toward whatever large bringer she can find.

Maximilian's men form up into a wall of steel, holding the right side of the bubble that is Luca, Max, Alistair and and Ansel. These men are Darkwaters finest. The Counts Own. They stand resolute, a firm wall against the hoard. Digging in, heels press to earth as the Shavs keep pouring down atop them. Sheild - spear - thrust - push back - reset - shield - spear - thrust - push back - reset. Maximilian himself stays on the line, his blades lashing out at targets that stray to close, fine steel to block, Alaricite to slice flesh and cut bone.

Eirene has joined the Medical Triage.

Serafine has joined the Front Lines.

Harmon has rolled a critical success!
Harmon checked intellect + medicine against difficulty 30, resulting in 64, 34 higher than the difficulty.

Karadoc checked intellect + occult against difficulty 30, resulting in 34, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene's sending her lads and lasses out to where they can do the most good, but even the sight of the Phoenix units aren't reassuring. It means someone is hurting...

"All right ladies and gentlemen. Here they come." Isolde's tone in the main medical staging area, where the frontline triage sends those that need serious surgery to get them patched up, is one of calm and poise. She starts directing the minor things to the apprentices, and she handles the toughest ones herself, patching them up as she can, saving where she can. She's efficient and skilled, and by god, is she not going to lose anyone on her watch. Bloody and messy, she doesn't care. She's going to sew these soldiers up and send them back out as soon as possible.

Alistair reaches into his jacket before the battle is fully joined, pulling out a small vial and consuming its contents. Sadly he doesn't bulk up or rage our with super human strength, he just seems a bit less... green in the face. Perhaps he isn't suited for battle? Despite that he charges in when the lines are met, the mass of Abandoned and Bringers providing him little information to discern the intent of the enemy. It is just a wave, a horde of mindless bodies with a single purpose. Charge. Fight. Die. Press on to Arx. Their goal is in Arx, and it is clear to the Inquisitor they just see this army of the Compact as a bump in the road. He crashes against Luca as the press of bodies wraps around them, his blade slicing down to cut away at a grasping Abandoned as Ansel leads a charge to break the pocket and the lines. The man raises a hand, signaling for his Confessors to fire their crossbows at will, preferably raining death upon any of the oversized Bringers.

Valkieri does not lead from the front. He requires the clear view from the rear to be able to see the subtleties of troop movements as his combined forces meet the other army in their attack. He barks orders with a ruthless sort of efficiency, sending runners back and forth where needed, keeping the lines of his infantry tight and responsive.

    Hemmed in with Luca, Max, and Alistair, Ansel does his best to keep the group's makeshift lines back from the four cut-off fighters. He parries a few strikes, trying to harry the closing-in shavs as much as he can. Vowkeeper dances around in a flash of diamondplate, finding purchase here, crashing against an oncoming sword there. All throughout, the Telmar's expression remains focused, and even. Breathe. Push the fear from your body. Change your stance. Pivot, step, swing. Repeat.

Zhayla flashes Reese a grin as they pass in the field. "You get the next one, yeah?" She slaps the Princess on the shoulder as she falls in next to her once again only to shake her hand out a moment later. Stupid metal armor. She shifts her grip on her trident and sets her sights with Reese's on the biggest and the baddest.

"Show them the strength of the White Dragons!" Alis shouts back to her troops, urging them to continue pressing the line as she joins them in the midst of clanging steel. The spikes of her flail find purchase once, but not the second time; though she bites back so much as a grimace when she takes a hit. "FORWARD!" Relentless.

Harald lays about him with a diamondplate war axe sluicing off a splatter of gore with recovered swings. Shield before him, roaring for his men to, "Make your ancestors jealous! GRIM!"


The hound of War, Gregor clashes with the shavs. His first attack is blocked but the shav blocking it gets punched right in the noggin by the Chillhearted and then slashed at the chest. He kicks the shav down, swiping his sword to the side. One shav charges at him and is bullrushed, flipped over behind Gregor and he moves over to stab the man in the chest. He takes a moment to gather his breath, the pain of his leg keeping him from moving too much but he's still got a good sword arm and it's that he uses to cut down another man. He's trying to do his best to help diminish the number of shavs around Alistair, Max, Luca, and Ansel.

Karadoc's blood went cold. He saw the creature moving through the mists. "Calypso! That's a... a... FORMORIAN! A giant from legends!"

Calypso keeps up with the order, giving! It seems to be plenty effective as the Compact militaries march on. Each new challenge that arises is met with a succinct and pointed call to action. Having the view of the battle field, with Costas at her side allows her to keep a watch on as much of it as humanly possible.

Harmon huffs and puffs as he runs through the battlefield, , ducking down and weaving through the chaos and dragging back people too wounded to fall back themselves. Harmon brings men and women back to the infirmary, bandaging and staunching what he can before running back out to keep saving the lives he can.

Kima, who had not faced the Bringers at Pridehall, but had heard many accounts of the creatures, does not falter when she witnesses first hand their ferocity. If anything, the Lioness seems determined to meet their inhuman strength with a force of will nigh manic in intensity.

Leta doesn't grin, and ferocious doesn't quite apply to the sellsword's fighting style. She holds the line, and she advances, pollaxe in hand, intent on repelling any attackers more than anything else. There's not quite enough room yet for ferocious, and she aims to keep it that way. Stab forward, chop, stab at the Shav harrassing the guy to her left, chop at the Shav attacking the guy to her right, bash someone trying to break through the lines and get at Audric. Oops, one slips through. If there's any joy, it's the grim satisfaction of a job well-done.

Serafine follows Dagon's lead and fights at his side, matching her foe and taking a scratch with the next wave. She gnashes her teeth at the paltry sting and presses on.

"You heard the man! No running! And find me something worthwhile gods damnit!!!" Luca's growling out to the Mirages helping him hold off other side of the knot compressing him in with others, only to be saved by Alis's press. "Damnit! I will not have another fucking disappointing battle!!! FIGHT! Break us free!" At which point the Champion prince is laying into the forces like an unholy demon, indeed seeming intent on treating everything between him and worthy challenge like wheat to the scythe.

Mirari keeps pace with Harmon when he goes to get people and bring them back into the medical triage tents. She assists in bringing people back with him, but does not attempt any medicine herself-- they are trying to SAVE these people, after all. Not kill them faster.

Inigo grimmaces as the wall of enemies slam into his troops, the clatter and clash of steel on steel resounding loudly in the air about him. Chaos reigns in the thick of the battle, a random sword thrust here, the head of an axe sliding by there, ducking and dodging, remembering to keep his feet moving all all costs. Such advice pays off almost instantly when men go flying overhead, the great warhammer blasting Reavers through the air like they are nothing more than child's play things. Suddenly the hammer is aimed at him, the ridiculously large head of the weapon screaming its vicious intent. Inigo grits his teeth and dives to the side, the rush of air as his doom passes by him loud in his ears. Such is the impact of the warhammer slamming to the ground it almost makes it difficult for the young blade master to get to his feet. But scramble to his feet he does and with a wide screaming slice of his own, he lops off the arm of the fully plated Bringer, a bloody grin spreading from ear to ear in the satisfaction of the Darkness's pain. He barely spares a moment to enjoy the evil thing being hacked to pieces by his men before he's moving in to engage once again.


"Formorian?" Hearing that, standing somewhat near Calypso, Frederik Steelhart waits until he sees a passing Thraxian reaver on he way to triage and barks an order to the man, getting a spyglass for his trouble, which is used so he can try to find the giant mentioned in the mists. "What is a Formorian?" he shouts out in Karadoc's direction.

Even after his fire is returned, Fiachra continues to hold his ground. There's a grunt for the arrow that doesn't manage to do more than bruise him, and he pauses only to check down the line of archers briefly before continuing to draw and fire. Even the presence of creatures from legend, possibly glimpsed through the haze of the lingering mist, don't seem to interrupt the Greenmarcher's steady determination.

Calypso speaks aside to Frederik. "A Giant." She says as she starts getting together the counter attack.


"I gathered that," Frederik reassures Calypso. "But what exactly does it mean? How big is the damn thing? How do we kill it?"

Eirene hears the hue and cry go out about a giant looming its way over. "Ten thousand silver to the one who brings it down for me and the Guild to study," the woman says, slapping a medic on the arm. "Let the word spread, we need to know more!" She looks to her units and reminds them "Now is when we become legends; live them instead of telling them." She looks at Harmon and asks, "Do you know much of those?"

Costas doesn't stray far from Calypso, watching the ebb and flow of the line and moving from their central position only to assist in pushing back any encroaching pockets of the enemy. There were more than enough noble warriors on the battlefield seeking glory for their names and families. He would content himself with ensuring that the Lady General had the breathing room needed to keep the battle in hand.

Artorius fights off bringers and shavs, his men holding their own for now. He hears of the giant, looking for it in the fog "Let me bring it down!" he cries out "Where is it?!" he tries looking for it while simultaneously warding off attackers.

Estaban looks at Fiachra blinking. "Lord Fiachra, shoul we continue with our volley? he blinks seeing the huge giant come into sight? His eyes widen looking back to the man who is leading him at the moment waitting for his word on what they should do.

After a few moments of swearing and frantic scrabbling to get back into form, Audric glances at Leta, then Kima. "Well, this is fun," he says, brightly, before diving back into the fight, apparently intent on trying once again to cut through to the heart.

Reese stays close to Zhayla and Barric with the Grayson troops behind them. She continues to charge in the direction of the biggest monster she can find nearby, seemingly confident that between three of them can kick some serious butt to together. She will have the troops focus more on shavs, while three of them focus more on the monsters. Of course in a pinch, everyone does as is needed, most likely.

As a sighting of the giant is called out Alistair lets out a snarl, "I think its more then just a Giant!" He declares as he stares off into the mist... which likely gives a fine opening for something awful to happen...

Reese apparently was really pissed by the blow to her head as an armored Bringer approaches the Grayson lines, picking up men and tearing them apart. She leaps up and cuts the thing's head off, a cheer going up from the Grayson lines. Gregor rallies Steelhart lines as he lays into the shavs with the experience of an old warrior, leading a push that allows wounded men to be dragged back to the Triage Tents, where Eirene is showing all the younger healers exactly how an experienced medic gets it done, saving lives with a calm determination and extremely colorful language, as Isolde cuts a counterpoint with an equally skilled melodic patience.
    Alis rallies the buckling Oathland lines, though her attention is taken for a moment by her men, and she catches a nasty wound in the side, and Ansel the frequent rescuer of Oathland women rushes forward to drive back the shavs harrying her.
    Valkieri leads the Rubino forces in a crushing attack on the flank of the shavs, using the sloped ground to lead his men cutting down scores of them, while Harald's reavers let out a roar and follow their lord of Grimhall straight into the throats of the shav, buckling the front lines of the shav forces and driving dozens underfoot while they try to regain their cohesion.
    Unfortunately this makes the shavs trying to get out of the reavers' way push hard towards the Lenosian mirrorguard, and Talen is caught right in the middle. Knocked off his feet, and badly cut, it looks as if that particular line will rout until the Bringer-led shavs run right into the waiting arms of Luca and Inigo, who cut them all down.
    Calypso's forces buckle, the southport forces faltering ever so much, and the general is threatened by rushing shavs who are then cut down by Costas.
    As the general is attacked, the lines falter for a moment, but Frederik rallies the troops, and combined with the reavers and Rubino troops rushing forward, it looks as if the shav lines might break.

The shavs start to turn and run, resulting in butchery, and then a giant figure begins to emerge from the mist, and they are moving forward again.

Harmon looks in the direction that the call of Fomorian had begun, squinting a moment before thinking.

Kima grunts, her voice sounding hollow from within her helm as she says, "So far, I rate them as equally annoying and troublesome to kill..." She gives a flick of her wrist, shaking blood free from the Absolute, though it was hardly a necessary action. Then the change to talk further was past, and Kima refocuses her effort. Though a wave of murmuring causes her to turn her head this way and that, searching, searching.

"Oh," she voices simply.

Through the mist, a monstrous beast towering over 30 feet tall begins to emerge. It was perhaps once humanoid, but its rotting visage shows sign of decay, flesh hanging off of it, and it holds a massive war maul and tattered leathers that are in all likelihood human skin. It bellows a roar that shakes the ground, and moves towards the lines.

As the bodies pile up and Talen is crushed into the ground, more than one unlucky person gets a gash to their ankle or knee until there's enough room to start pulling himself up out of the heaps of corpses or wounded. There's a snarl, a sound behind the visor, then he's spending a few moments to assess the condition of the Mirrorguard nearby and the progress required to continue their drive onward "Our numbers are dwindling," he tells the other Velenosan prince, "and we need to make it through. We need to tighten our efforts alongside the Grayson and Valorous Few's strike fo--" and he doesn't finish what he's going to say, staring at the lumbering beast.

"We don't want to fire into our own lines." Fiachra responds, grimly. "Keep the volleys falling ahead of our front line. We need to keep harrying them." That's to Estaban, and then he adds, with a twist of dark humour. "Large targets... even better." As the monstrous Formorian comes into view. How he manages humour in the fact of... that... is anyone's guess.

Max glances up when the call goes down the line. The fear that ripples when the beast emerges from the mist. "Fuck me." He murmurs, then starts to form up his marines, trying to think of something that will counter that thing. "Ballistae would be good, but they are on the ships over the hills. This is why land wars suck, boys!" He calls out.. "Pikes - get your fucking pikes."

Valkieri wields lightweight longsword of crimson rubicund with a basket hilt and falcon pommel.

Zhayla wields a barbed alaricite trident.

Ansel wields Vowkeeper the Sword of the Telmarch.

Valkieri wields Truce - the Sword of Gemecitta.

Costas wields Whip's Lament.

Alistair wields Prodigal Inquisitor's Blackblade.

    Ansel's really just returning the favor, here. After the Valardin Princess broke the circle of shavs advancing towards the Telmar and the three others he was pinned with, his attention once again is focused on advancing. Forward. Keep pushing. In the middle of the Telmarine column, he advances alongside the crimson banner of the Telmarch, by now tattered and torn from flying arrows. It's probably Alis' daring rescue of the trapped fighters that places her in peril to begin with, and the Telmar's ancient blade hastily cleaves a path towards the now-wounded Princess. A trio of Telmarines plant themselves solidly in front of the Princess, at Ansel's direction, as the Sword charges the lines with a contingent of his fighters, rallying the Oathland lines forward.

The Grimhalls push hard, seeming intent on running the Shavs off the field, until the emerging monster rallies them. Harald looks up and up, and his scowl deepens. "A foe of legend, at last."

"Point it out, Alistair! I need another skull for my collection!" Luca's growling out amidst his furious cutting down of people without the least bit of mercy. He's distracted for a second, cutting through the forces pushed into him and Inigo, so doesn't see the initial appearance of the monstrous thing. But who the hell could miss that? And so he's calling out to Alistair gleefully as he does see it. "Nevermind! Oooh baby, you're gonna hang over my fireplace!" Then nodding to Talen, Luca's crying out. "Get us to that thing!!! Now! Cut through!!" Oooookay then. Someone has discovered the way to motivate Luca. Just give him something that looks like death on two legs as a challenge.

"Please don't become unbearable..." Alis, with her own unique way of thanking Ansel for helping her fend off that last attack; just as the giant flesh dangling beast comes into view. "Oh c'mon three people taller then me! How am I supposed to get to that thing! Ansel!!" She elbows her way around the Telmarines, or tries to, so she can join the battle against the monstrosity.

Artorius looks at the creature with his eyes widening at the sight "and thus the legend emerges...." he looks among his men "LETS TAKE IT DOWN!" before a shieldbearer hits him with a shield...but the Shav saw the monster that was Artorius, his eyes showed the inner flame (figuratively) as he growled and let out a roar, cutting the shav in twain as he roared in return at the massive beast.

"That's worth more than ten thousand. Now I feel cheap," Eirene says softly as it comes out of the mist."

Nothing is real but the battle, the clatter of weapon upon weapon or armor, the grunting of opposing forces gripped in a deadly struggle, the cries of the wounded and dying. Inigo slashes and stabs, aiding his men as best as he may, cutting foe after foe down as they rush toward him. It seems that his group has made its way toward the Mirrorguard, fortunate timing as he spies Prince Talen being overwhelmed in front of them. "Onward! Let's help this crew!" He cries as he cuts a path towards the fallen noble, grim determination spurring him forward. All seems well, a nod to Luca and a spared smile for Talen as he struggles to his feet, when the roar of the... Giant!? Inigo feels his heart drop in his chest as the beast lumbers toward them. "Well... that's new....."


Experience is what keeps Gregor afloat in the battle. His leg certainly isn't helping. He grabs one of the wounded soldiers, pushing him behind him to get to the medics as he cuts a few more shavs down and then he looks over toe the giant. It has him in awe and makes that forever scowl grow ever the bigger. "Gods..."

Audric takes in a breath, his sword drooping just for a moment as the Formorian appears from the mist. Then the sellsword shakes his head, straightening up. "Going to wager a fucking guess that bringing that down'll hurt their spirits a bit," he says, to the two nearest him, Kima and Leta. "Forward! Meet up with Prince Luca and let's bring that damn thing down!"

"Gods in Elysia--" Valkieri stares up at the monster with wide eyes. There are many men in between it and him -- for now. But his finger is itching for his sword.


There's no eagerness to Frederik's expression, only a furrow of his brow after he rallies troops to Calypso's defense. Drawing his sword, slowly, he begins to wade through the crowd until he's finally at his brother's side, staring up at the massive creature. "And they


There's no eagerness to Frederik's expression, only a furrow of his brow after he rallies troops to Calypso's defense. Drawing his sword, slowly, he begins to wade through the crowd until he's finally at his brother's side, staring up at the massive creature. "And they're all so eager to fight it," he says grimly.

Alistair stares at the rotted visage of the once great Giant, and as Luca calls for him to point it out... the Inquisitor only need to lift his sword to point at the edge of the mist where the corrupted creature emerges. "The giant is tainted by the Abyss to the very core." The Inquisitor declares as his grip on his blade tightens until his knuckles go white and he is surging forward. "Bring it down! Bring it down! The Gods will guide your blades! May the Sentinel guard the Righteous!"

Calypso nods to Costas as he takes care of the incoming attack on her. But then, there is the Giant, coming right for them. She picks up Truestrike and gets ready to aide in the fight.

Dagon inflicts moderate damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Looking up at the giant Caelis breathes for a moment. "Mother of Tides, and Typhoons...." She bites at the inside of her cheek and calls out to her men. "Nothing changes! Watch Baroness Saik's unit! Don't let them be flanked!" she calls out before attacking.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

"Fuck," Dagon growls out, taking a moment in the midst of combat to look over that lumbering giant coming at them. He's a lot less enthusiastic than Luca as he calls out to his small contingent of Tydelanders. "FORM UP! Serafine... well..." there's nothing really to say. Run if you want? That would be an insult. And so he just charges forward, his duel-blades spinning against the shav's as he charges towards that big, lumbering beast. "You are men and women of Maelstrom! You are Reavers!" Dagon isn't Abbas, but he tries damn well hard to channel his inner Thraxian -- and as mainland as he might be or act, he gives a decent go of it: "You will fight, and together, we will bleed -- and we will die!"

And then he's launching himself forward.

Alis inflicts minor damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Karadoc inflicts moderate damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Harald inflicts minor damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Inigo inflicts serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Gregor inflicts serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Serafine inflicts very serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Leta inflicts serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Reese inflicts serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Talen inflicts very serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Zhayla inflicts very serious damage to Formorian Bringer of Silence.

Eirene motions to her medics to follow. "On me. We heal. We harm. We get our people away from it." Drawing Flame Mender, she draws the medics down to evac and lend support.


"They conversate at war... Did you think it'd be different?" Gregor asks of Frederik as he's wiping his sword and then checking the man over, "Are you well?"

Estaban says, "attack formorian'"

With a titanic crash as the different fighters of the Compact hack at it, the great beast topples over, falling onto of shavs and crushing it with its massive form. As it falls to the ground, it immediately starts to disintegrate, its massive body melting away until only a giant skull remains on the ground, the rest of it turning to dust in moments. As the giant falls, the rest of the shav column immediately stops their utter silence and begin to scream in panic and terror, and turn- a complete rout, and easy prey for the forces of the Compact to run them down if they so choose.

"STAND DOWN!" Dagon shouts to his men as the shavs turn tail and flee. The Reavers, as bloodthirsty as they are (they were already pushing forward), heed the call of their blood-soaked liege, who even now turn to survey the destruction and chaos.

Apostate drops A Titanic Skull.

Talen has left the Front Lines.

Talen has joined the A Titanic Skull.

Talen sits on it.

Alistair checked composure against difficulty 15, resulting in 34, 19 higher than the difficulty.

Gregor has left the Front Lines.

Gregor has joined the A Titanic Skull.

Maximilian looks back to Calypso's commmand unit - to see the order. Hold fast or run them down.

Artorius roars at the enemy lines, lunging to certain shavs and brutalizing them. Heads rolled and guts flailed with the swing of his blade. Even as they ran, he pursued for a good distance, his men looking at him strangely. a shav tries to defend itself against him, but he carefully replaces his spine with his sword, leaving it in the man to create a cruel statue. He roars at the enemy once more, but staying where he is.

Inigo checked composure against difficulty 15, resulting in 17, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Audric lets out another breath as the shavs turn and flee after the giant's felled, the sellsword's sword falling to rest point towards the ground. "Well," he says, cheerfully. "We aren't getting paid to hunt down fleeing shavs. At least, I don't think we are."

Karadoc was breathing hard. Sword bloody from giving a palpable hit to the Formorian, the point was placed in the ground, and he leaned on it, and pointed at the skull. "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST FUCKING HAPPENED!"


Gregor is given the same order from Frederik, a hand moving to the Chillhearted's shoulder and his other arm lifting to shield himself from the wave of dust as the creature disintegrates: "Hold your position," he mutters, before falling into a coughing fit as some of it gets in his mouth and nose after he spoke.

Reese checked composure against difficulty 15, resulting in 14, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Karadoc has left the Command Tent.

Karadoc has joined the A Titanic Skull.

Estaban nods his head to the other Lord and continues to shoot breath taken in and then let out with ever arrow that was let lose, no matter if the shots hit or not he did his best to help the front line. When the giant falls and the soldiers stop moving he holds his next shot waiting for the next order.

Serafine pants, blades covered in gore, looking to Dagon in surprise as he tells his men not to follow the fleeing Shavs, and even more surprised that the bloodthirsty Reavers obey.

Now their real work begins. The Phoenix start retrieving the dead and dying, their lady commander overseeing their work. She eye the skull and scowls as people clambor all over it. "Art," she calls out, looking troubled at what she sees of him.

Reese joined the other warriors in fight against the giant, getting in a powerful strike in the process. When the creatures disintegrates she watches with wide eyed shock seeming stunned for several seconds.

As the giant falls and its body starts to melt away Alistair pauses for a second. Any who are looking close might see the man almost lose his lunch... his features turning a bit green but then he closes his eyes and slowly shakes his head, quickly regaining his composure as he stares at the skull of the Giant as the rotted flesh around it and the flesh and bones of its body finish melting away into the ether. He stares at the skull and approaches it slowly, running a hand over it slowly.

Luca was first to the monster, but that just meant it had time to block his attempt to strike at it and after that, the others piling atop the monstrous thing meant there was no time for him to even get a taste of it. He's screaming in frustration as it goes down, looking about for Bringers to face and finding only fleeing enemies. For a moment, it looks as though the Champion is about to rush after them just to slaughter for frustration sake, but with a screamed expletive of fury, the prince gives way and just stalks from the field as soon as it's clear it's over.

Talen may or may not be deciding that after plunging his alaricite blade into the knee of the giant, then rushing away to watch it fall, he should rush back and climb it. It's high ground, it's advantageous. Although he got half his Mirrorguard killed, he does have some good ideas.

Kima, seemingly impassively (for who can tell what expression she wears beneath her helm), regards the titantic skull of the fallen Formorian. The shout from Karadoc earns her attention, and she raises her sword in salute and recognition of her cousin.

Inigo pulls his sword from the leg of the beast before it topples to the ground, his arm going up to cover his face as the wind whips the dust from the creature into the air. After a moment, and when the air clears, he turns his attention to the remaining enemy about him, a bloodied sword raised threateningly at the Shavs still about him. Inigo screams fiercly at them, his battalion behind him echoing his cry, and like magic (nothing to do with the Giant they just killed) they turn tail and retreat. The battle cry raises into a cheer of victory while the Shavs flee for their lives, scrambling over each other in retreat.

Mirari keeps pace with Eirene, helping to collect dead and wounded alike. She sticks to the Lady Physician like glue. Wherever Eirne goes, so goes Mirari. Though she appears to be the most useless medical assistant ever.

Artorius stood there, pacing, doing animalistic grunts and turns as he picks his blade up from out of the very dead sword-spined shav. before turning just to hack at the corpse. He roars ferally at the fleeing enemy once more. moving a few steps further to pursue the enemy.

Luca has left the Front Lines.

Reese eventually recovers her wits. She looks toward Grayson forces. "Let them flee." She says, trying to be charming rather than commanding.

Maximilian is not unmoved by the battle - nor the sudden end to it. He exhales - drawing in a deep breath, lifting his left hand to his lips to kiss the ring there. The clean up starts soon after. And true to darkwater words - Mercy is no virtue.

"Hold!" Caelis calls to the men around her and looks at Artorius wide eyed. "Stay on Baroness Kima." She growls and stalks over to stop her brother.

"HOLD!" Keep it simple, that's Alis. Maybe it's so that they can all stare as the giant falls and turns to dust, and leaves a gigantic skull behind. She's definitely staring a little. Regardless, she orders the Oathlanders not to give chase. And then she turns to start looking for the wounded who should be sent back to the medics if they haven't already gone.

Karadoc leaned against the skull for a moment, and walked through it, peering out the eye, seeing his Cousin Kima cheering for him. He grinned, and waved back. "Did you see me!?"

Isolde focuses on the wounded, saving as many as she can. Nearly fanatic devotion to her duty keeps her going, keeps her focus away from the chaos of battle and on the people who she can still save.

Alistair continues to stare at the skull before he slowly takes a breath and sheaths his blade. If he is about to declare the skull some icon of evil and demons... now would be the time. The Inquisition can probably get away with that, denying the compact their well fought trophy. Sadly, the agent of the Inquisition makes no such declaration and turns to return to the camp.

Zhayla's smart enough to be well out of the way as the giant falls, and she watches the shav line break with a grim certainty that slaughter will follow. When Dagon's voice lifts first so clearly, she looks over to him, and hope breaks past her guard as Reese echoes it. She grins at the Princess, whole-hearted, as the commands echo down the line.

Calypso watches as the giant falls and the Shave forces seem to awake. "STAND DOWN" comes the order from her position. "HOLD!" She calls out, halting any troops that can hear her.

he coughing fit answers Gregor's question and then he turns to the shavs, moving to walk to them until his brother tells him otherwise. He scowls and then returns his sword to his scabbard, the sound of steel against steel a hasty one. "As you say... -my lord-." He says coldly to the man before looking over to the skull, "...You should consult with a medic.:

Inigo has left the Front Lines.

Inigo has joined the A Titanic Skull.

"Hold!" Fiachra's order is given as soon as the battle turns into a rout, rather than having the Valardin forces shooting at the backs of those fleeing the battle. He lets out a long breath, and inclines his head to Estaban. "Any wounded should report to the medics." He's watching the way that the monster just disintegrates, and lets out a long, slow breath.

Well that was certainly not something you see everyday. Valdemar wipes the blade of his axe over the sleeve of a fallen shav body before replacing it with only a faint wince. He may not have served his weapon very well, today, but he lives, which means he'll get another chance. That'll do.

Artorius kept walking, he rips off his helmet throwing it to the ground he plants his blade into the ground, roaring at nothing now. he shook his head ferally.

Eirene checked command + medicine against difficulty 15, resulting in 51, 36 higher than the difficulty.

Valkieri looks like he's considering letting his troops run down the retreating shavs nearest them when Calypso calls over a general order to hold. He makes a quiet noise of distaste and calls for his soldiers to hold and stand down.

Max checked dexterity + artwork against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Talen at one point is probably yelling, "No, mom! I'm not coming down yet, I don't wanna leave!" Or not, I mean. Combat trauma is a thing. Though eventually he does climb off to trade turns with someone else, to go to the medical tent. Because fucking ow.

Talen has left the A Titanic Skull.

Reese checked dexterity + artwork against difficulty 15, resulting in 22, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Audric flashes a grin at both Kima and Leta as it becomes clear the battle's well and done, reaching up to sheathe his sword. "Well, Kima, I think I have to say that it was -barely- worse than the blood things."

Serafine squints at Talen as he perches on the skull, trying to look mad or irritable or something. "Oy. I did all the work. I'm gonna tell Elly you stabbed it in the knee after I killed it," she growls at him, miming a kick.

Leta follows Audric towards the giant, however reluctantly, but at least the fleeing Shavs give her room to maneuver her weapon with greater abandon and do what must be done. As the thing starts to tumble, she backs away quickly, covering the lower half of her helmet with her sleeve, and flinches at the sight. She's looking slightly pale, swallowing as she glances in Audric's direction. "Could be some loot on them Shavs. Just sayin'." she comments, then adds, "So - so that's why they build them walls of Arx so big. Think there's one of these for every army of theirs?"

Estaban pulls his arrow back and moves to strap his bow back onto his back, "I will help any who needs to the medics." he tells Fiachra, he has tomuch energy he needs to do something now that the enemy is running. He starts to move about helping any he can.

Dagon removes his helmet, his hair matted and bloody underneath. He holds it out in a salute for Calypso's order, being taken down the line, some small praise for the comradery shared with his commander. He's breathing heavily, and bleeding from a wound along his leg that causes him to limp.

But limp he does, over to Serafine, and clasps a metal-covered hand to her shoulder. "Thank you," he murmurs quietly.

This quiet moment is interrupted by a scream. One of Dagon's men, one of the Reavers, is repeatedly stabbing a knife into a half-dead shav that he caught, sending trails of blood up into the air. Disgust sinks across Dagon's face, and he gestures to two of his other men, who quickly move to restrain the mad reaver. "Tie him. He will face a half-day on a cross." And with a wave, the tired Duke dismisses the men away. "Cut the throats of any shavs that cannot be saved. Take the rest to Eirene." No honorifics given here, when they are on a sea of blood.

"Artorius!" Caelis barks and grabs at his arm to reign the man in. "We're holding. Draw back." She tells him, eyes dark and hard as she studies him.

Calypso is overheard praising Eirene for: Most badass battle medic in history. Im fairly sure.

"Look, I was just making sure it was dead," Talen informs Serafien with a short sniff. "Now, if you don't mind me..." he says, "I'm going to bleed on Isolde."

Talen says, "Also, Audric - that's 35,000 silver I now owe you, I think."

Eirene points over at Audric, "Remind me to get you to tell me about that shit with the blood dude," she says sternly, motioning people of where they need to go. She keeps an eye on Art, especially as Caelis grabs him.

Inigo is overheard praising Calypso for: Leading a massive force of the Compact in a glorious victory


"It's just dust," Frederik says hoarsely, rubbing at the front of his throat before watching the Reaver stabbing at the corpse. He shifts and turns to look at the Sword of Highhill, before striding towards the command tent.

Reese looks over the Grayson warriors to see if any are injured or need assistance. She then peeks toward Zhayla, giving her a smile that is somber with the sorrow of battle and yet still pregnant with the subtle glow of victory.

Talen is overheard praising Inigo for: Very well down. A good new recruit for the Mirrorguard.

Artorius checked composure against difficulty 15, resulting in 2, 13 lower than the difficulty.

Talen is overheard praising Luca for: You'll get to kill something big sometime, promise.

"I expected worse," Kima admits. "Especially once I spied the giant. Beginner's luck, do you think?" Asked wonderingly, as she continues to consider the only thing remaining of the hideous creature. She then gestures to Audric's injury. "Should I call for your medic, have you carried back on a stretcher?" It's asked in a teasing voice.

Eirene is overheard praising Karadoc for: Now you know why we do this! Good on you lad!

Talen is overheard praising Serafine for: Tolerably useful.

Serafine reaches out and grabs Dagon by his armor, hauls him over, and stands on her toes to kiss his cheek. And then claps him on the back. "You're welcome. Anytime, your grace." She winks, moves and winces, looking at the scratch on her arm. "Be sure to rub it in, the bleeding."

Calypso is overheard praising Alis for: Incredibly strong commander. Could not have done it with out you.

Dagon is overheard praising Calypso for: A level-headed leader, without bloodlust.

Reese is overheard praising Zhayla for: Powerful tiny tank

Frederik is overheard praising Calypso.

Kima is overheard praising Karadoc for: You fought well and bravely against a creature out of a nightmare.

Serafine is overheard praising Talen for: For not dying.

Reese is overheard praising Calypso for: Great leader!

"I probably won't," Audric replies to Eirene, cheerful as ever, before shifting to clap Leta on the back. "Shavs are barely worth the looting, really. I lost track of the numbers though, Talen, if you'd like to call it a wash." At Kima's words he blinks, glancing down. "I'd honestly forgotten about it until you reminded me, it's barely a scratch."

    Ansel pulls up, the giant going down a score of yards over to his side. He doesn't need to repeat the command to the Valardin forces around him; Alis and Calypso have been plenty loud and clear on that point already. The Telmarines around him quickly come to a halt, embracing and cheering when comrades are found alive, embracing and going quiet when they are not. The Telmarch standard is planted in the ground, tattered banner of crimson waving defiantly in the wind. Slowly, Ansel drops his shoulder, and slides Vowkeeper home into the sheath worn across his back, rivulets of blood trickling over the leather. He reaches up to remove his helm, looking after the fleeing shav forces, before turning back in the direction of Alis, or at least where the Princess used to be. He's looking for her, Fiachra, and Gregor, having lost his Valardin comrades in the din of battle.

Alis is overheard praising Calypso for: For leading us in victorious battle.

Serafine is overheard praising Leta for: For kicking ass and looking good while doing it.

Caelis is overheard praising Calypso for: Amazing general.

Zhayla has left the Front Lines.

Karadoc looked to his Cousin, "That... Wasn't so bad... Yeah... I mean... I thought I was going to die... all the way till it fell..... But... You know... I did it! Like... Like in the stories right?" He grinned, and walked through the lines, cheering people up as he went along.

Reese is overheard praising Eirene for: Keeping us alive!

Gregor is overheard praising Frederik for: For giving good advice and helping Calypso assure the victory of the battle.

Inigo is overheard praising Eirene for: Best medic in all of Arvum, and that's not biased.

Karadoc is overheard praising Calypso for: Setting up a HUGELY awesome battle, and leading it well.

Ansel is overheard praising Alis for: Saving an entire group single-handedly!

Harmon is overheard praising Calypso for: Being an incomparable general!

Artorius shook his head ferally, but almost simultaneously as Caelis comes to stop him he releases her grip on her, pushing her away as he sees a Shav barely moving roaring as he stomps it's head...well until it's beyond mush. roaring at the dead body before suddenly coming to his senses, his body shaking. "W-what..." he looks around looking at Caelis, him looking very uncharacteristically afraid "W-what did I do..?" he looks around at the gruesome bodies that no other man had made. he falls to his knees "What did I do...?" he doidnt seem to remember anything of what he just did.

Mirari is overheard praising Eirene for: Lady Eirene is the best battle field medic.

Leta shrugs as her back is clapped, and rubs at her nose, face flushed behind her helmet. "Shavs, maybe, but what about them Bringers in armor. Could be that's ancient magical elven armor." Leta, not an expert on ancient magical elven armors, says to Audric in a hopeful tone.

Dagon smiles, in spite of all the blood covering him, at Serafine's kiss. This smile is counter to the next thing he does -- which is look over a shav, barely breathing, and stab them through the heart. He shares a quiet word with the dying man before he moves on to the next -- those shavs which are injured but treatable, he sends back to the triage. Those who are better off with a mercy killing, he stabs straight through the chest.

Ansel is overheard praising Calypso for: Tactful and daring. For bringing us to victory.

Harmon has left the Medical Triage.

Estaban is overheard praising Calypso for: For beinf a amazing Lady general.

Eirene has left the Medical Triage.

Reese is overheard praising Alistair for: The Inquisitor can kick some bringer butt!

Apostate picks up A Titanic Skull.