DOMINUS- Kennex Kay has started at Arx - Ward of House Thrax - Kennex Kay - Main Hall.

The wall to the Kennex Kay is destroyed, and three Kennex guardsmen are already on the ground motionless, cut down. Four others are frantically trying to keep a swarm of attackers from marching further in, but having to steadily give ground. At least one torch has been tossed into the middle of the courtyard, the flames finding little purchase yet, but ominously close to some of the chairs with a chance of a spread.

((OOC: Can check wits or dexterity at normal for initiative, and then have a few minutes to say what you're intending to do))

Ian checks dexterity at normal. Ian is marginally successful.

Zoey checks dexterity at normal. Zoey is successful.

Having already ushered all of the children living in Kennex Kay away to the relative safety of the nursery, Zoey stations herself on the landing with her bow, intent on taking down as many of the invaders as she can. Under her breath she whispers something to her grandfather as she aims and fires.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at hard. Zoey is successful.

As the sound of people trying to break down the wall rings the Kay like a bell, Ian emerges from his room, tugging his hood on. He has his cane in hand, but he also has Ashfont at his belt, the rubies glittering at the hilt like drops of blood. He takes note of Zoey on the landing with her bow, then turns his attention to the struggling defense, and raises his voice in a commanding bark that's an eerily perfect imitation of his older brother Aethan. "TO ME! FOR STORMWARD!"

Dawn's Light manages to catch the forward most captain who was shouting orders, the bolt from the alaricite bow cutting right through the man's armor, as he stumbles and falls.

((OOC: Okay Ian, check command + leadership. Normal if you are trying to just rally the ones in the room, hard if you are trying to rally the full estate))

Ian checks command and leadership at hard. Ian is successful.

One of the four Kenenx Guardsmen had fallen, and the others were on verge of rout, but hearing Ian's cry the others roar and double to the attack, as a half dozen other guardsmen and a dozen house servants holding whatever makeshift weapon they could grab stream out of the estate to the House's defense.

Arrows from the attackers fly.

OOC check dexterity + dodge at normal please.

Ian checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Ian is marginally successful.

Zoey checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Zoey is successful.

It's a close one for Ian, as he nimbly moves out of the way of an arrow that was dead center for his forehead. The dodge training really pays off. Zoey is able to lay low as a half dozen arrows go her way, along with shouted roars of, "DEATH TO HOUSE KENNEX!" Their guards and reinforcements fight on, holding a line against the attackers.

OOC Okay, can check wits or dex at normal for initiative, and then what you want to do this round.

Ian checks dexterity at normal. Ian is successful.

Zoey checks dexterity at normal. Zoey is successful.

Ian checks dexterity and medium wpn at normal. Ian is successful.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at normal. Zoey is successful.

As Ian moves to engage, he slips his cane into the loop at his belt, and draws Ashfont. The diamondplate blade shines in the line that streams through the skylights as he brings it around, crashing into the wave trying to push their way inside. His eyes fairly crackle from within with electricity; they move fast, taking in details around him, but his expression is slack, peaceful. It's an eerie combination with the way he literally cleaves some poor asshole's skull in two.

With a mother lion's growl in her throat and rage burning in her eyes Zoey rises and nocks another arrow. "Not today," she says in reply that not a one of them is likely to hear as she draws back and lets it fly. The arrow imbeds itself in one man's eye, and he drops to the floor, dead.

As the arrow lands and another Helianthus soldier is cut down by Ian, there's a cheer that goes up from the Kennex guardsmen even as two more fall, three servants (former thralls that are fiercely loyal to their liberators), are felled by arrows or wounded and out of action. Two more torches are flung into the estate, one landing on a couch, but the Helianthus numbers are dwindling and they fight with desperation to get into the estate and overwhelm it.

OOC: A large flurry of arrows, check dexterity + dodge at hard this time.))

Zoey checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Zoey is marginally successful.

Ian checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Ian is marginally successful.

Once more the arrows from Helianthus' archers arc toward Zoey, and she ducks and tumbles to get out of the way. One of them catches the hem of her gown, tearing though it before landing with a clatter among its fellows.

As arrows rain down on the defenders, Ian manages, somehow, to avoid being pierced -- a feat, given that a lot of them are aimed straight at the Sword of Stormward. Indeed, he has to put up his arm. stopping three of them using the thick, hardened leather of his spaulder, colored the red of Thrax. As he brings his sword around again, he lifts his arm to make it clear to the attackers that the arrows have failed to do more than dent his armor and gives, for a moment, the barest trace of a smile.

The surviving Kennex Guardsmen take heart as the fight begins to tilt in their favor, which only seems to make the attackers more determined.

OOC If doing something else, can tell me, otherwise can roll attack rolls.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at normal. Zoey is successful.

Ian checks dexterity and medium wpn at daunting. Ian is successful.

Ian checks dexterity and dodge at daunting. Ian fails.

100 inflicted and Ian is unharmed.

Zoey quickly recovers from her tumble, not even noting the tear in her dress. Again she nocks, aims, and fires.

Wash comes out of the nursery with a nanny and all five of its current occupants. He sends them on the easiest path away from the fighting and sends Jayne off with them. They'll have some last ditch protection. He leans over the bannister and shouts directions to the servant and directs them to make their stand in the kitchens, at least there will be plenty of weapons if the rebels get that far. <This is what I posed outside.> He'll draw his cutlass and proceed toward the sound of fighting once it is clear what is there.

Wash checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Wash is marginally successful.

With a calm best described as beatific on his face, Ian brings his sword around and cuts into whoever is unlucky enough to be in front of him right at that moment, while grabbing someone else by the collar with his left hand and hauling him around so that as the sword cuts through, it impales the man. He headbutts someone else while drawing his sword free, reverses, and smashes that same person on the temple with his sword. He's moving almost too fast to follow, but he's making no attempt to dodge, or even to try to do so, setting all of this aside in favor of drawing more blood, disabling more people, and doing it faster. He locks eyes with someone else, and his eyes are just as calm as his expression, perfectly confident in a way they never are in more social settings.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at hard. Zoey is marginally successful.

Wash passes Zoey on the landing at a full run. He leaps down the steps four at a time, slashing through one climber's throat and bodily throwing himself into a second. There is a look of terror on his face, the last expression he saw on his daughter's face before he sent them down the servant's stair to the kitchens. "You bastards! You scum!"

Domonico checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Domonico is marginally successful.

Zoey's arrow flies true as it can, given the involuntary gasp when she sees Ian dive deeper into the fray. It sinks into a man's shoulder and she says, "I am *not* losing anyone today!"

Though the attackers buckle at the sudden fury of the attacks, particularly on the part of Ian, they continue the assault and another dozen armed Helianthus soldiers are trying to slp in behind them. Arrows fly, and attackers swing at Ian as another Kennex guardsman falls.

OOC: Everyone check dexterity + dodge at normal this time, Ian took the difficulty down by one. Dom you can do a weapons check as well and pose if it succeeds.

Wash checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Wash is successful.

Zoey checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Zoey is successful.

Domonico checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Domonico is marginally successful.

Domonico checks medium wpn and dodge at normal. Domonico is successful.

Domonico checks dexterity and medium wpn at normal. Domonico is successful.

Domonico wields Warspite, an alaricite xiphos.

Maybe it is because there are fewer arrows aimed her way, between the falling of Helianthus' soldiers and the increase in targets this is entirely likely, but Zoey is able to duck and dodge them without needing to add more bruises to the collection that will doubtlessly color her body tomorrow. She hears the denizens of the nursery as she rush past behind her, but dares not take her eyes off the battle in her home for even a moment. She readies another arrow.

The consequence of not trying to dodge is that yes, you get hit. The consequence of being House Kennex's living figurehead and not trying to dodge is that you get hit a LOT. So it is with Ian, but no matter how many times he's struck, nobody's sword or spear comes away bloody, and it doesn't seem to slow him down. At least right now, he looks like a force of nature, the storm and the calm at its center, all rolled into one.

Wash is not a swordsman, he's a sailor, but he's fought on a deck, and knows that the high ground gives him and advantage. He stays on the stairs, challenging anyone to try and pass him. He'll buy the servants and children time to fortify themselves behind the heavy kitchen doors. At least Jayne is with them to secure the door. He keeps his head low, since it appears there are archers behind the press.

"MAGNOTTA!" comes a cry from the direction of the Helianthus soldiers. Not *from* them but... *behind* them. The voice of Domonico is loud and clear as is suited to the Southport Admiral and suddenly there is a flash of red and black with several cries of pain coming from the Attackers as Domonico's Warspite sets to. His attacks are, as always, well drilled with muscle memory kicking in as he moves to try and link up with the Kennex guards and Ian. "MAGNOTTA!" he cries again.


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The wave of attackers buckles under the new aid coming from Wash and Domonico, and in particular Ian's assault, but they still press on. Some of the Kennex guardsmen are giving ground, and the fires are getting alarming on the ground, but have not spread from the Main Hall yet.

OOC: Okay, roll wits or dexterity at normal for intiative, and then can say what you're doing in that order.))
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The wave of attackers buckles under the new aid coming from Wash and Domonico, and in particular Ian's assault, but they still press on. Some of the Kennex guardsmen are giving ground, and the fires are getting alarming on the ground, but have not spread from the Main Hall yet.

OOC: Okay, roll wits or dexterity at normal for intiative, and then can say what you're doing in that order.))

Domonico checks dexterity at normal. Domonico is marginally successful.

Ian checks dexterity at normal. Ian is successful.

Zoey checks dexterity at normal. Zoey is successful.

Wash checks dexterity at normal. Wash is spectacularly successful.

Ian checks dexterity and medium wpn at daunting. Ian is marginally successful.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at hard. Zoey is successful.

Wash checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Wash fails.

Domonico checks command and war at daunting. Domonico is successful.

50 inflicted and Wash is harmed for minor damage.

Domonico checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Domonico marginally fails.

30 inflicted and Domonico is unharmed.

"Domonico!" Ian greets Domonico with an almost careless cheerfulness and a genuine smile, casually clocking someone upside the head and slicing their legs out from under them to clear the rest of the way for Domonico to break through into the manor. He brings his sword around, grabbing someone's weapon with his hand, below where the blade is sharpened to roughly jerk their guard open and run them through, then uses his sword and where he controls said person's sword to fling them at several people behind them. "Good to see you. On your left!"

The stairwell is wide enough to be decorative, not defensible. Wash slides his body over to block one person ascending while slashing his cutlass behind the kneecap of the one whose path he does not block. He can't match Ian's skill. But the desperation on his features indicates that he might not even feel the knife that scrapes through his vest. "Back! Back! You can't have them!"

No time to celebrate her patron's arrival. Wash is fighting for his and his children's lives, and Zoey is thinning the numbers of those who would get within range of his blade. Another of Helianthus' soldiers falls with her violet and gold fletching sticking out of his eye.

"Ian." Domonico's reply to Ian is as serious as ever and he responds to the warning *just* in time. Unable to get his xiphos up to parry the sword slicing down at him, Domonico instinctively brings his hand up to intercept the falling blade, smack into the center of his palm. He winces in pain but the fireweave wrapped tightly around his hand prevent him losing it.

There is a beat as both him and the attacker realise what has happened before Domonico locks eyes with the man and his head snaps forward, delivering a nose shattering headbutt with his alaricite helm, followed up with a stab straight to the throat.

"Kennex! Rally on us!" Even in the midst of a combat he is able to see a bigger picture and barks out orders, directing guards to chokepoints to support each other... particularly the staircase as Wash.

More guards are streaming in from around the house, along with servants cheering on Domonico's call and rallying to the side of Wash, Ian and Zoey, with a few archers taking up position around the noblewoman. The attackers are starting to give ground, firing bows and crossbolts as they begin to withdraw, being pushed back from the hole steadily.

OOC: Everyone check dexterity + dodge at hard, it's a lot of arrows.

Wash checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Wash is marginally successful.

Ian checks dexterity and dodge at daunting. Ian marginally fails.

Zoey checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Zoey marginally fails.

Domonico checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Domonico is successful.

25 inflicted and Ian is harmed for moderate damage.

10 inflicted and Zoey is harmed for moderate damage.

Ian isn't trying hard to dodge, still, and several hits seem to make no mark on either him or his armor, until an arrow shot from a heavy crossbow right at his shoulder from point blank manages to punch through his coat, the arrowhead sticking this time. And then comes the crack of thunder and the rain begins to fall. As the water blows through the hole made in the wall, washing some of the heavy spatter of blood from Ian's face, he calls out: "Break the skylights!"

Wash continues to pretend that the children, the most valuable and weakest members of the house are up the stairs behind him. He quails before the arrows, retreating step so that he can get leverage and push the man off of him that had stabbed him. "You won't lay a finger on my children." He swears. "Not while I am still living."

Zoey cries out in pain as another of the enemy's arrows tears through her gown and imbeds itself in her thigh, thankfully nowhere near that vital artery. She stumbles back, hand instinctively going for the wound, but when she hears Ian's command she nocks another arrow and aims for the glass in the ceiling.

Domonico kicks up a small table and briefly ducks behind it as the enemy volley is launched. THUNK. THUNK. Go the arrows into the tough wood before he straightens up, Warspite at the ready and quickly assessing the situation.

Ian checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Ian is successful.

Domonico checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Domonico is successful.

Wash checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Wash fails.

Zoey checks dexterity and archery at daunting. Zoey is marginally successful.

30 inflicted and Wash is unharmed.

Ian can be heard thanking someone (Domonico, maybe?) as he cuts into an armored giant of a man with a two handed swing, a motion which causes the wound in his left arm to ooze blood at a faster rate. There's warm sincerity in his voice when he gives this thanks, not the same kind of tone he used when Domonico showed up a minute ago. Then the giant falls, and Ian's expression goes back to flat, his gaze back to focused, as he picks his next target.

"Archers, the skylights!" Zoey calls to the bow wielders who joined her on the landing as she aims and looses her arrow in the direction of the glass in the ceiling. The head cracks the skylight, sending shards of glass tumbling to the ground along with those first precious drops of rainwater.

Wash is not fighter, so he has to retreat, step by step, rolling with each blow. The experience of getting beat up in spars has taught him exactly how much his armor can take. He lets it do the work as he retreats up hte stairs. If they funnel toward him, each one on the stairs is one more person not attacking Ian and Domonico.

Domonico works around Wash, using his greater mobility to cover the Kennex from flanking attacks, parrying with Warspite and delivering clean, precise strikes back with nary a movement nor breath wasted as his nearest opponent falls, clutching at a throat now spurting blood. "Kennex! Push them back!" he shouts as another rallying cry before noting some enemy are still in the Kay. "Ian. Can you hold here? Wash needs help."

Domonico works around IAN, using his greater mobility to cover the Kennex from flanking attacks, parrying with Warspite and delivering clean, precise strikes back with nary a movement nor breath wasted as his nearest opponent falls, clutching at a throat now spurting blood. "Kennex! Push them back!" he shouts as another rallying cry before noting some enemy are still in the Kay. "Ian. Can you hold here? Wash needs help."

The shattering lights and rain from it helps immensely, as there's cries of shock and pain from the attackers as they are driven further and further back, and they are now pushed almost outside the house, and look on verge of breaking. "ARCHERS FIRE!" It's frantic, and desperate, and some charge even as the arrows fall.

OOC dex + dodge at hard for all

Wash checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Wash is marginally successful.

Ian checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Ian is marginally successful.

Zoey checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Botch! Zoey is simply outclassed. This is monumentally beyond them and the result is ruinous.

"Go." Ian forces back a man with a war ax with an overhead parry, Ashfont canted to an angle that deflects the blow and throws the person holding the weapon off balance and in the way of several archers, effectively protecting providing a shield, while Ian himself narrowly avoids a longsword swung in his direction, even though he wasn't looking at the person who swung it. The Sword of Ashcrest's blade, red with blood, with diamondplate shining through, matches its hilt, by now.

Domonico checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Domonico is successful.

100 inflicted and Zoey is harmed for grievous damage.

Zoey checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 6, rolling 106 higher. Zoey rolled a critical!

Zoey remains capable of fighting.

Wash checks charm and manipulation at hard. Critical Success! Wash is spectacularly successful.


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There's word of combat raging in the Queensrest, as a large number of citizens and guards storm the inn, but it doesn't last long. Rumors are far more interested in what the group found, and they spread like horrified wildfire throughout the city. Assassins have struck at the very heart of the Faith, and while cut down to a man, their mission appears to have been accomplished before any help could reach them. Despite the valiant efforts of the templars, and the final bravery of the man they were guarding, the assassins have succeeded. .

Dominus Orazio is dead.
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Domonico checks dexterity and medium wpn at easy. Domonico is successful.

The sense of victory at breaking the skylight and and seeing the invading forces pushed back is short lived. One arrow pierces her sharkskin jacket, imbedding in her shoulder and barely missing her heart. By some miracle she does not drop her bow as she cries out in pain and stumbles back again, leaving a trail of blood as she starts to retreat back up the stairs.

Wash retreats a couple of steps, separating himself from the blades and lowers the point of his cutlass. "Listen. Just listen." He throws an weak tremble into his voice. "You want the Duke. Right. Just the Duke. You don't want us. He's here, in the nursery. Just let the rest of us live." It's cowardly, it's deceptive, and it's exactly what they want to believe, that killing one person can finish this. Wash almost makes it look like he will let them pass. Then Domonico crashes into them from behind and the tip of that cutlass flips up en garde again. "Well fuck you." He retreats as Domonico forces them to turn, his blade takes one in the throat. "Fucking child killers." All pretense at fear is dropped in favor of normal caution. He lets the better armored allies take their attention as he moves up the stairs with Zoey, shielding her from any parting shots.

Ian must have heard his wife scream, but he doesn't look back towards the stairs in her direction or show any signs of having been distracted by the sound; Domonico's going in that direction, leaving him as the only one rallying the defenders pushing Helianthus' people out, and he's taking that duty seriously. Someone versed in his style of fighting might be able to read that it has become brutal again, however; together with Kennex's remaining guards, he cuts, slashes, and throws the occasional punch, his eyes all but glowing from within. One of the invaders trips over a corpse and Ian puts Ashfont through his throat after he falls, with those brilliant blue eyes locked on his. As the invaders' retreat becomes a rout under Wash's taunts, the Sword of Stormard is left bloodsoaked, and very little of that blood is his.

Domonico scoops up another sword from a fallen combatant and lays into the attackers on the stairs distracted as they are by Wash. The Count Magnotta, a scion from the City of Swords, demonstrates the effectiveness of an attack from behind and... quite brutally too. Few who are within reach of Domonico survive unscathed and he continues through them until he is replacing Wash's defensive position on the stairs. "Wash? Zoey? Report!"

Zoey can only grit her teeth as she starts to make her way back up the stairs, stumbling on the hem of her own blood soaked gown. Both arrows are still in her, as she recalls hearing somewhere that she could lose blood faster or make the wound worse if she removed them on her own. She reaches out to Wash for help.

Wash follows Zoey up the stairs, offering her his shoulder to lean on. "Zoey's hurt! Get a mercy! It's bad!" Wash admits reluctantly. "Jayne has all the servants and children in the kitchens. There's no one up here but us." It was all an act after all, and he's ready to snap out orders if there are any needed, but what is most needed is gentle support. "Let's get you laying down. Don't touch the arrows. Leave them in."

The attackers have either fallen or fled, they could be pursued, and the House Kennex guards want to do just that, but wait for orders from Ian and others. The fires are fortunately contained.

Ian looks back up at the people on the landing, then grabs one of Kennex's standing guards by the arm. "Jones. You're fast?" His voice is low, unhurried. "Go find Lady Julianna Igniseri. Go get her. Tell her Zoey's hurt." He'll step through the hole along with the man, onto the street, in case it's necessary to cut him a path out to get help.

With Ian stepping out into the bloody fray, Wash invites Domonico to follow him up the stairs. "If you will come stay with Zoey, I'll check on the kitchens myself Dom." They are well enough acquainted that he too will dispense with titles at this point.

Domonico drops his borrowed blade and sheathes Warspite, continuing up the stairs towards Zoey and, without preamble, scoops her up in his powerful arms with surprising gentleness and quickly moves to take her to a suitable place to lay her down. "Easy Zoey. I've got you."

Zoey winces as Domonico picks her up, choking down another cry before resting her head on his shoulder. Her breathing gets heavier as the adrenaline wears off and the pain grows to full force.

(OOC)The scene set/room mood is now set to: Bodies lay draped across the room, many wearing tabards belonging to Helianthus. They made little progress past the ruined wall they came through. Most of the fighting took place in the center of the room and up the nearest stairwell. Men in Kennex livery stand ready with weapons near the door and the hole in the wall.

The Kennex Kay is, to put it mildly, a mess. There's a giant hole in the wall, made by the sledgehammers of Helianthus' followers, and piled in and around that hole, there are bodies, a lot of bodies, most of them wearing the colors of House Helanthus. Rain spills from the broken skylight above, slowly putting out a few small fires burning in the hall; one of the couches is especially torched. Ian stands downstairs, near the hole in the wall and all the bodies, with Ashfont in his hand; the blade is soaked in blood, his clothing is soaked in blood, and his face is bloody. There's a crossbow bolt sticking out of his left shoulder. Upstairs, Domonico and Wash as clustered around a very bloody Zoey. The arrow that pierces her chest looks a LOT more damaging than the one in Ian's shoulder.

Domonico is fine. All the blood belonging to others.

Tyce the gruff and disapproving, Argent, a silver hound, 2 Scarlet Phoenix Guard, Starboard an excited Oakhaven bloodhound arrive, following Juliana.

The Kennex Kay is, to put it mildly, a mess. There's a giant hole in the wall, made by the sledgehammers of Helianthus' followers, and piled in and around that hole, there are bodies, a lot of bodies, most of them wearing the colors of House Helanthus. Rain spills from the broken skylight above, slowly putting out a few small fires burning in the hall; one of the couches is especially torched. Ian stands downstairs, near the hole in the wall and all the bodies, with Ashfont in his hand; the blade is soaked in blood, his clothing is soaked in blood, and his face is bloody. There's a crossbow bolt sticking out of his left shoulder. Upstairs, Domonico and Wash as clustered around a very bloody Zoey. The arrow that pierces her chest looks a LOT more damaging than the one in Ian's shoulder. (re for Juliana)

Vicarin checks composure at hard. Critical Success! Vicarin is spectacularly successful.

Vicarin walks into the building, a wary expression on his face when a dozen men point their swords at him. He goes very very still but his face betrays absolutely no surprise or panic of any kind. "I am Lord Vicarin Saik. I mean no harm to the owners of this place and those here." he announces in a calm voice. Swords are lowered and he walks past the men at arms to where Domonico, Zoey, Ian and Wash are.

"It's alright." Ian waves off a couple of slightly jumpy guards with a flick of his blade. "House Saik are allies." The nod he gives to Vicarin is distracted. He looks out at the street, then chooses a few people to guard the gaping hole in the wall against anyone who might sneakily be trying to take advantage.

Domonico lays Zoey down gently, his fireweave and leathers now coated with her blood (and more than a little of the Helianthus attackers). "Damn it. I wish Thea was here." He glances to Wash and hmms, "How hurt are you?" he says before focusing on Zoey's injuries. The calm voice from Vicarin gets a called response of... "Lord Vicarin. I need you to find some whiskey I'm afraid for Zoey here."

The Kennex Kay is, to put it mildly, a mess. There's a giant hole in the wall, made by the sledgehammers of Helianthus' followers, and piled in and around that hole, there are bodies, a lot of bodies, most of them wearing the colors of House Helanthus. Rain spills from the broken skylight above, slowly putting out a few small fires burning in the hall; one of the couches is especially torched. Ian stands downstairs, near the hole in the wall and all the bodies, with Ashfont in his hand; the blade is soaked in blood, his clothing is soaked in blood, and his face is bloody. There's a crossbow bolt sticking out of his left shoulder. Upstairs, Domonico and Wash as clustered around a very bloody Zoey. The arrow that pierces her chest looks a LOT more damaging than the one in Ian's shoulder. Vicarin has just come inside, as well. (re for Raja)

Juliana didn't come alone, Luis wouldn't have allowed it, it was hard enough to make him stay with Igniseri. The Phoenix guard is bloodied, the Eurusi Tyce, rather haggard, Jules... Jules is fine. Well no, Jules is pissed. Which means fine in some circles, dressed in her leathers she pushes past those that would stand in front of her, stepping over bodies without bothering to look at them, a glance towards Ian. "Bring him with. Carefully." stated to guards that just became beasts of burden. "They are, luckily so is House Igniseri." stated to Ian's waving the guards away and continues her unerring pace towards Zoey. Dropping to her knees and already pulling open the bag she carries. "What have you gone and done now, Lady Kennex?"

Zoey lays on the floor with Domonico watching over her, one arrow sticking out of her right thigh and another in her shoulder a bit too close to lung and heart. She tries to smile to Juliana, but can only grimace in pain. "Skewered some traitors and broke a skylight defending my home and my children," she tells the physician.

Breathless, covered in blood, dripping in sweat, Raja pushes her way inside the Kennex Kay. Her alaricite blade in her hand is wet with fresh blood. The way she moves, it is clear that the blood splattered over her is not her own. Quickly, she glances from person to person and then up to where Zoey lies. "Zoey!" She exclaims. She rushes up the stairs, crowding with the others to tend to her. She kneels down next to her patron, "Oh gods, Zoey.." She pauses at what Zoey says, "The children. Skander. Tell me they are fine!" There is a clear panic in her voice. This is said to anyone around who may know the answer to this.

Wash let Domonico take over helping Zoeyawhile ago while he went to check on the kitchens. Fortunately the doors still hold. Wash lets them know the fighting is over, but encourages them to return to their quarters and avoid the rest of the house, for now. He brings back a couple of women who insist that they will not be coddled, but no children. "Everyone is okay in there." He assures Raja. "I got all the kids out first thing." He knows who Skander is and Raja as well. "They are all safe and sound." Somewhere along the way he took off his vest and wrapped a strip of cloth around his middle.

"Of course, Lord Admiral. I'll see to it at once." Vicarin tells Domonico turns about and hurries away.

Ian makes an irritated noise when a bunch of Igniseri guardsmen move like they're going to try to scoop him up. He's still holding a very sharp sword, which is probably enough to make them think twice. "Wash. Where did you send Jayne with the children?" He sheathes his sword and retrieves his cane from the loop it hangs from, clearly intent on going to make sure they're alright. Crossbow in his shoulder and all.

Domonico looks to Juliana as she kneels beside the fallen Zoey and he nods once to her, "A healer? Good. Let me know what you need me to do. I know basics." To Raja, he holds a palm up, just as a indication to give the skewered Kennex some space. "Thank you Lord Vicarin," he calls out, a little distracted.

Relieved to have Wash answer Raja, she nods in acknowledgement of what he says and closes her eyes. "I promised you I'd protect him like my own," she says.

Vicarin speaks to a guard nearby and he goes off along with the man. He returns shortly with a bottle of an amber color liquid which seems to be whiskey. He also seems to have snagged smaller bottles of vodka, rum and brandy. He hands over the bottle of whiskey to Domonico and then sets down the other liquors on a free surface somewhere near by.

"Trying to one up that husband of yours, I see." Jules returns dryly, already moving to lay her ear by Zoey's mouth and listen to the quality of her breaths. Raja's entrance and the rest of them are ignored as she works. Though she does look at Domonico "See that Ian doesn't bleed out before I get to him will you?" pauses at the sight of Wash. "And him." then lifts to look back down at Zoey, her eyes softening. "So I guess it's a good thing that you hold a friendship with a Master Physician, huh? Did I tell you, I made Master?" starting the flame for the blessings before looking to the arrow in the Lady's chest. "This is going to hurt Zoe.."

Raja is not paying any attention to Domonico. Not one bit! It is almost like he isn't even there. A tear wells in her eye and she reaches to very gently touch Zoey's hand with her own bloodied hand. "You can hold my hand if you like." She glances up to Ian, then to Wash, "Thank you. Thank you so much." There is a true humble gratitude in her voice.

"Congratulations," Zoey says, squeezing her eyes shut and taking Raja's hand in preparation for what comes next.

"The kitchen. It's the only room in the house with four stone walls." Wash explains. "And four exits. Thick stone doors." He joins Vicarin at the drinks table, showing him where the whiskey is and where to find tongs for the ice. "Here, try this. Saik did you say?" The way he moves indicates little discomfort and no current bleeding. "Do you want a drink Raja? Stiffen you up before you see the lad?"

"I have some basic medical training. Very basic mind. So I can try to hold the fort for someone until the physician can look at them." Vicarin announces to the room and looks around to see if anyone besides Zoey might need help.

"I'll be back." Ian leaves through the double doors, headed for the courtyard and eventually the kitchen, to check on the children.

"Indeed my Lord. Thank you." Vicarin says to Wash as he's shown the whiskey and other things that go along with it.

Domonico gives Zoey a swig of the whiskey before handing it to Raja and nodding to the two women with Zoey, "See to her well please." He stands, unintentionally striking a pose as he assesses the situation. "Lord Vicarin... please see to Lord Wash there. Wash? Be a good patient please." He then stalks after Ian with the intention of seeing to his friend and ally

Raja wraps her fingers gently around Zoey's hand. She knows what comes next will hurt, but she will be here as much as she can. "I am sorry I wasn't here. I was.. well.. I was right next door at the Seryn estate. I tried to get here, but.. I had some traitorous slavers to filet." When the whiskey is offered, you bet your buttons she takes a swig. "Thanks." She looks to Wash and his offer of whiskey. She holds up the whiskey that was given to her, "I'm already covered. Thanks!" Of course, she makes sure that Zoey gets her own share. "You know what you need is a good bit of haze. It will help relax you so you won't hurt so bad. I know where to buy the good stuff." She winks at Zoey.

Vicarin nods at Domonico and then turns to Wash. "Well, my Lord. As I said, very very basic training in the healing arts. But I can try if you'll let me. Where are you wounded?" he asks of Wash.

Domonico leaves, following Ian.

"I promise nothing Dom if Lord Saik makes an attempt to take away my glass. My dander is up you see." Wash casually jokes. "I shall be cross." He raises his arms so that Vicarin can see about the hasty wrap around his middle section. "How are you related to the Saiks again? I thought I knew all of them."

Zoey takes that gulp of whiskey, then another deep breath. "If the Master Physician says it's okay," she replies, about half a laugh coming out before she grimaces again. "Fuck, this is worse than Naamah was!"

"I'm a cousin to Medeia and Neilda, my Lord." Vicarin mentions to Wash as he looks over at the man's wound and gently undoes the wrapping. It only reveals quite a shallow wound. It is bleeding but it's nothing serious. He puts the wrap back on, but ties it a little better this time.

Domonico arrives, following Ian.

Ian comes back from the courtyard, together with a small swarm of the more stalwart of the Kennex house servants, all of them armed with buckets for a bucket brigade to use water from the saltwater pool outside to put out the last of the fires. His expression is flat, unreadable. The rain from outside has washed the worst of the blood off his face and soaked his hair.

Finn the large Northern hunting dog with icy blue eyes arrives, delivering a message to Domonico before departing.


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The riot in Crimson Square is quelled, through blood and steel. Rioters are rounded up, what few still proudly wear the Helianthus colors, and many more, who claim innocence of all wrongdoing. And, most curiously, there is an armed arrangement of soldiers taking up post around House Grimkin's Arx estate. There seems to be some dispute over the guilt or innocence of a few guests within its walls. But those are a distinct minority of the dozens that the defenders round up for trial. Lord Victus has promised to respect tradition when it comes to traitors: they will go to the crosses.
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A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Raja before departing.

Once Jules starts to work, it's without banter, she is focused fully on stopping the blood that decides to pour from the wound. All she manages as she scrambles the close the wounds is a terse. "Keep her still.." not that Zoey probably is going to be moving a lot while Jules pull free arrows, stuffs holes full or poltices to keep out infection and bandages her up.

Raja checks strength at normal. Raja is marginally successful.

Domonico is also looking suitably grim as well as he follows Ian, his crested helm pulled from his head and now tucked under one arm. He looks to the bloody scene before tapping Ian, "Sit. Get seen too. You can direct the efforts from here just as easily." He is interrupted as he receives a message and pauses to scan it and stiffens, "My sister has been greviously injured. Will you be alright without me here?"

Despite her best effort to hold it back, Zoey screams when the arrows are pulled free and squeezes Raja's hand. Once that moment passes though, she is quiet again, doing her best not to move even while tears run down her face.

Raja glances up to Jules and nods. She then adjusts herself to help keep Zoey still so the healer can do her work. She still holds Zoey's hand and looks to her, empathy in her gaze. She tries to help her be still, but is barely able to manage it. "Good job.. good job.." She reassures her patron.

Ian looks up at the landing when he hears Zoey scream. His expression is unreadable, and his voice as he gets the bucket brigade going is eerily calm.

After having finishec with Wash, he goes to Ian. "Would you like me to take a look, my Lord? I doubt I can do much but I can try." he says.

Wash begins the unenviable task of coordinating body removal. To the courtyard for one, from there, to carts. At least twelve men died here. Only two at Wash's hand. He carries his drink with him and gives orders. He isn't going to do more than that, he's injured.

After having finished with Wash, Vicarin goes to Ian. "Would you like me to take a look, my lord? I doubt I can do much but I can try." he says.

Ian looks towards Vicarin when the man addresses him, and blinks a couple of times. There's a pause, like it's taking a moment for the words to penetrate, then he gives a curt nod. "Help me get my coat off. We won't be able to push the bolt through the lining."

Vicarin helps Ian get his coat off and then inspects the wound that he has suffered.

Ian clenches his jaw as the coat is eased free of the short crossbow bolt and removed. The wound isn't that bad, with the bolt having gone into the fleshy part of his arm. "How strong are you?" He asks Vicarin. "I'm going to need you to snap the bolt so I can push it through." A wound like this, it makes less sense to pull it out and deal with the jagged arrowhead than to push it through.


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Word comes of a significant battle down in the new Ward of House Pravus, at the South Docks on the south side of the Gray River. Forces loyal to Helianthus attempted to set the ward ablaze and to steal ships, to both sabotage some of the coming war effort and to obtain an easy way to escape the city. The forces of House Pravus, Inverno and Leporidae took losses but managed to crush the mix of Helianthus soldiers and their sellsword allies.
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"Whiskey?" Zoey asks Raja while Juliana cleans up and closes the wounds. Doubtless there will be scars, and the brocade gown is most certainly ruined.


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The Cathedral of Arx is home to a grisly scene. Bodies of templars, of white-robed 'zealots', and guards litter the grounds along enough blood that, if it weren't for the rain, would paint the steps of the Cathedral scarlet. Rumors quickly spread that some of the white-robed arsonists were executing Templars on the Cathedral steps. Said rain has assisted with fighting the fire, but the inside of the Cathedral is a smoking ruin. The roof is caved in, everything within is blackened char, yet, somehow, the outer walls and the structure of the Cathedral still stand. There might be hope to be found there yet.
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Vicarin nods quicky at Ian. "About average, I'd say. I can try. Hold on." he says and lightly grasps the shaft.

Vicarin checks strength at normal. Vicarin is successful.

"I'll do it in three. One.. " he begins to count and suddenly snaps the shaft off. "Done." he tells the man.

Raja lifts the whiskey to Zoey's lips, careful not to drown her in the potent brew. Once she has had her fill, she talks quietly, "We should get you somewhere comfortable and into more comfortable clothes." She looks around, "Will you all be staying here tonight?"

Ian's face loses a little bit of color as the wound is jostled by the shaft of the bolt being snapped, but he sits very still for the whole process. "You only got to one." He points this out like it's not, you know, blatantly obvious. In case Vicarin forgot how to count, and didn't realize.

"I don't know," Zoey admits. "I'll have to ask Ian. Maybe we take the kids and go to the Hart..."

Wash comes back in from the courtyard. He's been going in and out. "I'll be going out. Catalana was away. I need to find her, and make sure she knows everyone is safe."

"And someone needs to report to Victus." Wash adds. "Which. Should be me." He says, swearing softly.

Zoey bandaged, and doused.. yep, same stuff she gives Ian to keep him from being trouble. Juliana has her own guards.. much to their disapproval, carry the Lady up to her rooms.. sending Raja with no doubt to make sure everything is okay. It's only then she will turn towards Ian. "How about you?"

Vicarin smiles at Ian. "I know. You'd probably stiffen up when I got to three and make it harder. This way, I felt it was easier." he says to the man.

Ian nods to Wash, indicating his agreement that Wash should be the one to report to Victus. He gives Vicarin a puzzled look. "Why would I do that?" But then Juliana's here, distracting him from the question. "I'm alright. Just push the bolt through and bandage my arm."

Wash says, "Zoey's going to live?" Wash asks Juliana. "Is that certain?""

"You'd stiffen and make it harder." Vicarin tells Ian.

Juliana looks at Ian for a long moment, then Wash. "Did you just ask me to promise that, Wash? I see no reason she wont live. I will do everything I can to make sure she lives. But that is as much up to the Lady to behave herself as well." then looking back to Ian and Vicarin. "Do you need my help?" though which one she is asking is unsure.

"I'm uninjured, my Lady. But this Lord here.. " he gestures to Ian just needs a bandage. I'm not sure if stitches are required." Vicarin tells Juliana.

Zoey, meanwhile, breathes Ian's name before falling asleep in Raja's arms.

"Good enough." Wash says, fetching his vest and fingering the cut that made it through the leather. "I'll go give a report to the Maw, I might find Catalana there."

Raja glances down to Zoey as she falls asleep in her arms. She sighs softly and moves to let Juliana's guards lift her to take her somewhere more comfortable. Raja, of course goes to follow to ensure Zoey is doing ok. Knowing Skander is safe, she focuses on Zoey for now.

Ian looks between Juliana and Vicarin. He doesn't say anything, but in the line formed by his mouth are hints that his patience with sitting still and being a good patient is starting to run very short.

Ian is easy, Juliana has pushed and pulled more arrows from the man than most men shoot in their lifetime. "I am not even going to scold you today." murmured as she works on the man."Deep breath... hold on." the arrow removed as efficiantly as possible and dropped on the ground before she starts padding and poltices as well. "I can take the children.." looks up at Ward. "All of them if you want. back to Igniseri with me until you have a chance to make sure everything is secure for them."

"Well then.. " he trails off. "Looks like it's handled here. I'll be off then shall I?" he says to no one in particular.

Ian lets out a short grunt as the bolt is pushed through his arm. "The kids stay here. We stay here. The Kay is safer than leaving it, right now." Hole in the wall or no hole in the wall. "Thank you, Lord Vicardin. Baroness Saik will want to know everything here is alright."

"And I shall inform her, my Lord. Have a g--" Vicarin starts to say 'good day' as a force of habit but checks himelf. Instead, he simply says, "Farewell." Looking to Juliana, "If you are also leaving, my Lady, would you like an escort? I'm heading to Saik tower but I can escort you to where you want to go first."

"And I'll tell her, my Lord." Vicarin says to Ian. "Good d--" he almost says and checks himself. "farewell." is offered instead. Turning to Juliana, he asks, "Are you also leaving my Lady? I xan escort you if you like. I'm heading to Saik tower but I'd be happy to escort you wherever it is you need to go, first."