IC Scene - The Duke's Wharf

Morek was hissing prayers under his breath, to every god that was worshiped in Pendor, and after a brief moment of consideration some that were not looked upon so favorably, asking them to protect his men and allies from harm. He turned his helmet to the knight that had been struck.

"That wound is nothing, you will fight on regardless. Your brothers in arms have siffered worse and stood strong against the snake cultists, a wound from a mere clarion is nothing in comparison. Bring honor to yourself and your order through your wound and your actions in spite of it."

The Plaguewardens reloaded their crossbows and aimed down the street again, releasing a volley towards the clustered griffons and outriders. However, this time they did not aim at the riders themselves, but the horses that they sat upon. They intended for the armor piercing bolts to cripple, maim, or provoke the herd instinct of the beasts to flee in the opposite direction of what was sure to be a painful impact. After their volley they would hurriedly try to reload and release another shot at the larger targets of the horses.

The line of Rebel Order warriors moved closer to their target, not at a sprint but at the speed that any soldier would recognize, a speedy trot that ate up distance at speed and allowed for a formation to maintain its cohesion, still presenting a wall of shields to projectiles.

Several more hacks from the axemen, protected by shields and, occasionally, other rebels, saw the door caving in.  Through the gaps in the wood, a semi-circle of city guardsmen could be seen ready to hold the entrance.  A cascade of liquid suddenly rained down from the floor above as the furniture rain finally abated.  A few of the rebels were hit.  The few that could smell it dove away from the soaked furniture and lit torches and matches followed.  In seconds, the scattered furniture was immolated with the fire spreading to the dry pieces and several people too slow too run away.

The knights of the Dawn largely pressed themselves against the house, but Lucius was entranced by the flame and eager to use it for his own devices.  Jamming kindling into a split section of wood, he watched as the house started to burn.  The only thing that was certain in the chaos was that the energy was gone out of Barbarossa's charge.

Just a few steps away, the Radiant Cross focused on their charge.  Crossbow quarrels flying overhead again, they pushed forward into the line of horsemen.  The first crossbow volley struck with pin point accuracy, sending three of the Griffon horses to the ground, but protecting the outriders.  The outriders responded with a volley of their own.  Their weak bows barely slowed the Radiant knights, but did managed to nick another plaguewarden.  But two of the heavily armored soldiers suddenly fell forward, long arrows protruding from their backs.  Despite the smoke and fires, a pair of longbowmen from the house managed to release arrows, flanking the charge.  The other archers shots arrows into targets of opportunity, wounding two wyverns facing the outriders.  Morek and his remaining knights reached striking distance as a second volley from his wardens sent two outriders toppling to the pavement.
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The noble smiled at Javier.  "You and I have something in common.  You fight for Windholm's people as well.  I am Lord Kilnam, ally to Valdor and Barbarossa.  Let us make the streets run red so that this city may have a better future."

He marched on at that point, beckoning Javier to follow.  At the intersection not far ahead, they two groups emerged not far behind the outrider line.
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Varys' men were marching almost immediately.  The vanskerry added a disorganized mob of rebels and his own men to follow and support the Eventide and flank the sally from the wharf.

At the battle itself, the rebels were interrupted by another piercing clarion as a large number of the Duchess' troops formed up at the Bay Road.

Gilaver watched as three of the horses got downed in bolt-fire. The Radiant Cross group was getting dangerously close, even though two of the knights were downed in crossfire. Sir Morek, a single Radiant Cross and two Conquistadores ran towards them, ready to strike. Gilaver turned to look at Sir Natir in preparation.

"Whatever you do, make it count."

As he said that, Gilaver readied his sword and shield and shouted to his Griffons.

"Charge, bring them down before they reach the Clarion Call!"

Three of the unmounted knights ran toward the Radiant Cross with their shields and swords ready, the mounted one lowered the lance and started gallopping forward, ready to strike down the enemy to come across. Gilaver kept the pace with them, ready to kill one of the enemies present.

Javier watched as Lord Kilnam addressed him and then continued his march. The Eventides joined him, and then upon reaching the intersection they saw they were finally behind enemy lines.

"At least something worked..." Javier muttered under his breath.

However, the question remained. Follow Lord Kilnam's lead, or splinter off to to fulfill some mission that is likely to fail like the others?...

Javier and his men marched alongside Lord Kilnam. The Eventide Knights were arrayed in front, shields deployed to shelter the Ghilmen behind them. Javier himself walked along the front lines, even though he was shieldless. The Eventide here would follow Lord Kilnam's call.

Barbarossa quickly retreated back from the flames, cleaver in one hand while the other pulled one of his militiamen back by the collar of his tunic.

"Back! Back all of you! Flesh and steel can't fight flames! Fall back!"

The Butcher made good on his own order, and kept marching backwards. Sadly, he did not look behind himself for the other rebel forces.

Rayvs looked back at the mob of Rebels and sighed.
He shouted back at them, "Form ranks! Line up, keep archers in the back and your fighters in the front. Leave a small line of warriors in the back incase you need to defend your archers."

Rayvs continued to march toward the battle, with his knights in front, and Ghilmen behind the shield wall.

Morek waved his morningstar in the general direction of the advancing Griffon knights.

"Again! Kill the horses!"

The Radiant Knight that had not been struck by an arrow in the back pushed through the shield wall and moved to take the charge of the Griffon Knight, his polehammer ready to gut the horse or or rip the Griffon from his saddle. He held his polearm with the casual confidenceof one who had seen the Snake Cult forces up close, compared to an Anaconda Knight a Griffon was not such a terrifying foe. The Plaguewardens obeyed their orders letting loose with another volley of fearsome bolts at Gilaver's courser and the charging Griffon Knight. To a man they hoped that the Knight would be thrown from a collapsing steed to be dashed against the paving stones of the street. After they released their volley at the horses they would reload and continue to fire at targets of opportunity, taking a knee to make themselves smaller targets. Half would turn to answer the Gryphon archers in the window while the others would contiune whittling the outridders numbers down.

Behind Morek, Melka the Ebony glove added her own contribution to the fight, a few throwing knives being hurled between Morek and his conquistadors at the knights on foot, aiming to force them to keep their shields up or get a lucky throw at a gap in the armor. She had her short sword drawn as well, ready to back the leader of the Radiants up once he engaged the enemy.

"engage the enemy! Send their souls screaming into the Abyss that awaits those who oppose the will of the gods!" With that Morek let out a roar that sounded like that of an enraged bear with his Barclayans, breaking into a dead sprint to meet the Griffon knights on foot. Morek was not one for fancy blade work, his weapon of choice made that fairly obvious. Leading with his shield he would simply try to  let his momentum carry him forwards and slam into the middle of the approaching trio of knights before laying about with his morningstar; trusting Melka to have his back and his Conquistadors skill to take advantage of the chaos that a large man with a dangerous instrument would cause.

Down the street the fourth of the Radiant Knights that had paused to drag the first of the injured plaguewardens out of the way would come pelting pell-mell down the street towards his commander at full sprint , not wanting to have his comrades fight without him.

Aelos had wrestled himself from the rear and establish a clear vision over what happened in front of him. The orders of the butcher louder than anything else, Aelos peered to the side and saw the desperate charge of the Radiant Cross. Aelos roared, encouraged by the priest and the adrenaline. Now, when the battle was about to turn bloody, Aelos felt more like a Ravenstern Dragon than he had ever felt at home. A Sangendal turned Odheas, Maeghor the Icedragon reborn.

High he raised Icebreath, the sword so white as snow. Loud was his call,

"Dragons! The traitor Gilaver! Charge!"

His knights turned their gazes towards the Radiant charge, their faceplate masking their own adrenaline fueled thoughts. As one, the three knights pulled the reigns of their destriers , their movement free because of the butcher backing away, and charged towards the joined line of the Griffons and Clarion Call.

Aelos Odheas, watched them charge and ran after them. He would finally have the chance to bloody his renowned sword.

ooc: Aelos and [3] Dragon knights join the Radiant Cross.

The house remained quiet after the rousing speech, though some of the city watch looked nervously at the closing fires, for the moment they were content to sit and wait in their defensive position. Noticing the nervousness of the irregular soldiers, the greatswords began to talk among them, while maintaining their positions. Their veteran confidence working to still the watchmen's fears.

Sir Lucius watched the fire he started spread across the house with a mesmerized expression, but to anybody nearby, it was clear that he was oblivious to the chaos developing around him, much to the dismay of the Dawn Knights with him.

"Men of Windholm!" he shouted into the house, directing his attention to the City Guard trapped inside. "Astraea's Will demands that the Griffon Knights and their allies face judgment by fire! You need not pay for their sins! Join the forces of justice and avoid eternal damnation!" Lucius stepped towards the doorway that the Rebels partially destroyed, acting as if the Goddess would protect him from any and all harm; this man was either insane or divinely inspired. "Save your souls and Astraea will protect you!"

[Lucius attempts to use his Priest Background and Silver-tongued Trait to convince the nearby City Guardsmen to switch allegiances.]

The other Dawn Knights looked towards Lucius as he spoke, but they were far more concerned with the flames growing all around them. Sir Jofrid quickly communicated with them and the group of them attempted to follow the edge of the house until the burning furniture no longer trapped them.


Meanwhile, the remaining Dawn Wyverns stayed with the Plaguewardens, eagerly participating in the foot charge. They easily kept pace, using their shields to fend off incoming volleys as best they could while raising their swords to strike.

The attack on the door broke and scattered with flames consuming everything in sight and obscuring the area with black smoke, rendering archery temporarily useless.  Rebels scattered around the debris, dragging the injured and dying with them.  The Dawn left the vicinity of their commander largely, though a couple stayed near enough to pull him away if he lingered too long.  Through the cracks in the door, the guardsmen seemed to be disappearing, one after the other.  To where they were going was unknown.

The blast of a clarion called the rebel's attention to their rear as a force of the Duchess' men marched out to meet them.  A small group broke off and formed to their left, clearly to hold against reinforcements from down the road.  Dozens more, however, advanced ever quicker on the wounded  rebels.  

Around the bend, the dragon knights charged to join the Radiants, largely unaware of the source of the clarion.  It mattered little, for soon they would deal death.

Morek's and Gilaver's troops clashed, with the conquistadores barreling into the dismounted knights first, bypassing the sole mounted Griffon.  A lance glanced off the armor of one of the griffons, but it was enough to send him spinning to the the ground, bleeding profusely.  Mautista suddenly stiffened, as one of the more fortunate Griffons slashed his leg, the horse's momentum allowing the blade to slice right through the armor.  He guided his horse away from the outriders beyond and vanished from mind as the griffons struck the two Radiant knights with numbers and zeal.

They were not supported by arrows, however, as the Outriders behind them found themselves ambushed by nearly thirty men.  They had enough sense to drop their bows and pull their swords before a volley of arrows slammed into shields and horses.  Lord Kilnam charged at that moment, rushing ahead of Javier and cutting down two of the outriders.  One of the noble's knights toppled off his own horse as the sudden chaos stopped Javier's men from joining the melee.  The interruption gave Javier a moment to notice movement behind his men, however.  A mass was shifting not far from his own troops [500 meters].  As his memory served, the road he was on led directly to the castle.
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Rayvs saw the men ahead of him, but did not stop.  He maintained he advance when several dozen turned to block the road from him and his men.  He slowed however, as the line locked shields together, protecting the men behind, who, one after the other produced pikes under the shields, creating a sharp wall between him and his objective.
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Shouts could be heard from the Duke's Wharf as the Maelstrom slowly brought her journey to a close.

Kharad could feel the blood rise within his veins as the wharf drew ever closer. He drew his twin blades and gestured frantically toward the grandest ship docked at the port.

"That is our target men! And a fine one at that! What luxuries the Duchess affords herself aboard that vessel will be ours! Take what you wish, but her personal quarters are MINE! FULL SPEED!"

Rayvs formed his men up and whispered, "Delay them. Let's hope our Vanskerry friends can pull of their maneuver."

Rayvs shouted out at the men.

"Gold or Greysword?"

All was quiet from the house as the fire intensified, the attackers could see figures moving inside the house through the smoke. The grey shroud muffled everything, but as the flames began to hold and lick up the makeshift barricades, smoke streaming through the open gaps a commotion could finally be heard.

"To the backroom, there is no fire there. We make hold the house! Go, go! To the backrooms! Schnell!"

Javier stood there, weary from all the chaos that engulfed the world around him. Some company right now would be rather pleasant...

While the Eventide knight went into a brief daydream, the illusion was shattered by movement of a large, bulging mass. When he realized that this road led to the castle, all he could think of is of a sandwich...

At the top of his lungs, Javier yelled, "Milord! Visitors Approaching! Castle Road!"

He repeated it once more, and attempted it a third time before his lungs gave out. Javier gasped for air, and once recovered issued orders to his men.

"Knights, three of you defend against the immediate melee. You two, form up here." Javier pointed to an area between him and the unidentified mass.

"Ghilmen, fire at will at any hostile you see. Try to take cover whenever possible, whether it be behind the shieldwall or next to a building."

Javier himself waited in the middle of his makeshift shielded fortification, knowing that he could not directly contribute to the conflict in any way.

Sir Natir quickly took in the situation that now engulfed his men, without hesitation, Natir ordered "Quick men break away from ambushers, We must break free and ride. Head towards the Radiant Cross's line if we break through we will out run any of our pursuers."

Natir turned his horse towards the bend and bolted, stabbing at any enemies in his way with his Lance.

Once free (OOC: assuming he can break free) he raised his spear calling back to his men, "Men of the Clarion hurry break free, we need not spill the blood of our fellow Pendorians today!".

Morek fumed under his helmet as his strikes were either parried or blocked and as he did the same to the blows the Griffon in front of him directed at him in return, the paint on their shields losing its pristine look as they saved their owners from injury and death. Though in a small corner of his mind he was mildly amused that the Griffons had managed to foul up badly enough to lance one of their own knights. Beside him his second Conquistador Eran let out a cry of rage as his twin received his wound, the man quit the fight and hobbled away from the melee and towards the Wyverns that were drawing near. Morek brought his man to heel with a curt sentence.

"Enough Barclayan! Fight as a unit or die alone!"

Morek and his Conquistador formed the front line against remaining Griffons on the ground, lashing out with fluid Barclayan swordplay from the Conquistador and brutally simple, but strong blows from Morek's Morningstar. The Radiant Knight stood behind the pair, trying to use the reach of his polehammer to stab between the two men and keep their opponents off guard. Melka for her part waited beside the Radiant for an opportunity to use her speed to dart in and take an advantage of an opening if one was made.

The Radiant Knight who had been charging up the street to meet up with his warband raised his polehammmer over his head and let out a war cry as he targeted and headed for one of the Griffons on horseback. The Plaguewardens made haste to scatter to the sides of the street to keep clear of any mass troop movements and take potshots at any targets of opportunity.

Morek was busy yelling at the Griffons as they fought, hoping to unnerve them.

"Know this Blasphemers! Since you stand in the way of the gods plan know that you have been condemned to the fire as much as your comrades in that building! Be thankful that you are being offered a quick end in comparison to theirs!"

While Morek was busy preaching his crazed dogma, Gilaver took a page out of the book of Griffon legends, and jumped off his horse to attack the nearest Cross supporter with his keen sword. Seeing the Dragons charging into the melee, Gilaver issued quick orders to his knights while fighting.

"Retreat while fighting, to the nearest house, we'll hold with our backs to a wall."

Not far behind Morek, the Dawn Wyverns that remained charged towards the fray in support. They were too far away from Sir Lucius to receive his orders directly but it was apparent that one of the Wyverns was taking point, fearlessly leading them into battle again.

Meanwhile, Lucius was pulled away from the doorway by one of the Dawn Knights who wasn't quite as insane. Quickly, the Dawn continued alongside the house, flames on either side of them. Eventually it was likely that either the thrown furniture would cease burning or they'd be far enough away to avoid the flames entirely and rejoin the rebel forces. Hopefully Barbarossa wouldn't be foolish before then...

William who had fallen slightly behind Lord Kilnam drew his sword and said to his men.

"We must rush to the aid of the others!"



Sir Alatin and 10 Dragon knights move in to aid of the others

Barbarossa breathed heavily as he observed the burning building and the battle not far beyond. The charge had drained him of his own morale, and that of his followers. They were not soldiers, merely citizens of Windholm who could no longer afford to eat.

"There. Once more charge! Charge with me!"

The Captain lifted his pole-cleaver with one arm and shouted again as he charged towards the on-going fight.

Using the better speed and lighter weight of their horses, the Larian Outriders weaved out of the grip of their enemies and to the aid of the Griffons.  As one, the two groups of knights smashed the Radiant Cross spears and swords stabbing into combat.  Morek managed to send one Griffon sprawling to the ground, his morningstar shattering the man's shield and likely his arm, but it wasn't enough as he and his men were tangled in horses, leaving them vulnerable to the opportunistic Griffons.  

Morek and Eran were pushed aside as Gilaver leaped through, spearing the throat of the last Radiant knight.  Eran tried to swing for Gilaver but took a pommel to the head, sending him to the ground in a heap.  Another Griffon swung for Morek, but Melka leaped before him, slashing her chest wide open and she fell back into Ser Morek's arms.  The one Radiant knight charging in to help was trampled under the thundering hooves of a dozen outriders, his skills unable to hold out against numbers.

The outrider charge began to slow as it absorbed the impact of the other forces charging in to help.  Almost as one, the Dawn's Wyverns, the Plaguewardens and Aelos' Dragons battled Sir Natir's troops.  Two Wyvern's fell, but the weight of numbers began to slowly erode Natir's fighting strength as outriders continually fell in the fighting.

As Barbarossa made his move to join the battle down the road, a battlecry cut his advance short.  From the narrow gap between the burning building and the house next door, men in the colors of Griffon knights followed closely by those of the city watch barreled at the self-styled Captain and his rabble.  Several of the rebels broke as the better armed troops tore through them, shattering their resolve.  Barbarossa himself roared in rage and used his cleaver to send one of the greatswords sprawling, but it wasn't enough.  He and his few remaining men were surrounded by the Griffons and the 60 some men pouring up the road from the Duke's Wharf. Sir Luicius and his men were also surrounded, emerging from the smoke and flames surrounded by Duchess' forces.

His back turned to all of the fighting, Javier braced himself for the impending charge.  He could see the banners clearly now: Lion Knights, with Lord Wulfred at their head.  Behind the line of horsemen, dozens of city watchmen and other soldiers marched behind them. Fortunately, his cries to Lord Kilnam were heard and answered as the nobles broke off their fight with Natir to face the new threat.  Thane Alatin's attention was also caught by Javier, but at the same moment, he caught sight of Aelos' men up the road, tangled with Natir and Gilaver.  The thane also caught sight of the Duchess' color down by a burning building near a bend in the road.
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On Bay Road, Rayvs' call was met with a confused response.  "Why are you even asking that?  It is quite clear tha--"  The man was cut short as the Vanskerry, never ones for advanced tactical planning, charged around the Eventide with a group of peasant militia.  Weaving around the widely-spaced pikes, the Vanskerry hit the shielders as the militia attacked the pikemen.  The line was a flurry of blood and screams as the two sides clashed.  The militiamen were torn to pieces as they hacked and stabbed at the pikemen, but already, mercenaries were moving up from behind Rayvs to take their place.

The Ghilmen, seeing an opportunity, loosed a volley into the fighting sides, felling several more enemies.
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Aboard the Maelstrom the crew prepared for battle as they watched the men remaining inside the wharf prepare for combat.  Archers could be seen readying arrows as infantry waited to see where Kharad would dock.  If they could survive the volley, taking the Duchess' ship was nearly assured.

Spoiler:

Rayvs yelled for an advance, and waited until the mercenaries passed his men before beginning to engage his enemies. His knights approached with him, while the Ghilmen stayed behind, firing whenever they saw a chance.


"Keep your shields up!" Rayvs roared to his men over the sounds of battle.

Javier could do nothing. He witnessed the fall of Rebel forces, the Radiants all but defeated with only the Plaguewardens still standing. The Dawn were surrounded, as well as the remnants of the butcher's militia. However, one death reminded the man of something all too familiar...

For a brief moment, the Eventide was pulled back to the hidden sacrificial chambers dedicated to Erida Occisor. As the Ebony Glove's chest was slashed open by the Griffon, it was all too similar to the sacrificial rites. The screams, the blood... It was all too similar to the way he witnessed his sisters died on the altar.

Losing all remnants of sanity, Javier unleashed a battlecry and broke off of his unit. His destination was the Griffon and Clarion lines...

* * *

"Sir Javier, what the hell are you doing!"

Anton, an Eventide Knight in Javier's group, called out to his captain. Before Anton could go after him, Victor restrained his fellow knight.

"Leave him. Knights, shieldwall!"

The Eventide knights followed Victor's orders, forming a full shieldwall against the oncoming onslaught. The Lions would not have their prey so easily.

"March! Ghilmen, fire at will!"

As one, the troops of Javier Kristoph Doyle abandoned their commander, and marched to meet the threat of Lord Wulfred. Anton, with one last glance at the departing Javier, rushed back to the Eventide troop and added his shield to the defenses.

It was clear. There will be no going home, not now, not ever. For the first time in his life, Anton thought of a small prayer, calling out to any god or goddess who would listen. All he wanted was his fiancee back home to be safe and sound...

[OCC: Javier charges toward the Griffon and Clarion lines, alone. His entire troop marches to face Lord Wulfred's forces, with the Ghilmen instructed to fire at will.]

As the situation changed in the space of few seconds, Gilaver felt nothing. Then again, he wasn’t really there at the moment, having succumbed to a rather potent flashback. The streets of Windholm were filled with cold white powder in his mind, and he just killed an armed man wielding an axe. Easily sliding his sword out of the neck of the knight, Gilaver took a fast look around him. He could still recognize the Griffons, fortunately, and took a second to give orders.

”Take the wounded man away from the fight. We won’t be losing comrades here if we can help it!” Gilaver’s orders were directed to Sanders, who just lost his shield arm, and the wounded man was the bleeding Liza on the ground.

At the same time, he sheathed the sword and pulled out the two-handed sword Mistral with practised movements. In his little fantasy world, he was rather confused why he wasn’t using it yet. With that, he jumped back into the small melee. He would attempt to down any of the riding enemy knights, and beat nearby hostile infantry with slashes from the blade. Heavy armour could protect you only so much.


OOC:
The wounded Griffon drags the even more badly maimed Griffon to the sidelines for makeshift medical aid.
Skill 4 with two-handed blades as opposed to 3 with one-handed. Still keen.