IC Scene - The Duke's Wharf

As the Wyverns continued their fight, Sir Lucius and his Dawn Knights emerged from their fiery predicament only to realize that they had just walked into another. The odds were obviously not in their favor as the five knights were left with the reckless Barbarossa as their only ally, but these were fervently pious men who knew that their fight was just. The Goddess would protect them.

"Captain!" Lucius shouted at Barbarossa, his Knights taking up a defensive formation around him. "Fall back to me and we will stand on the side of justice as one!" Lucius knew that the only chance they had was to fight as a single unit, but it was unlikely Barbarossa would see that wisdom.

"I say again Men of Windholm..." the Knight-Brother said in a booming voice, "...forsake the forces of injustice and join the followers of Astraea!" Again, Lucius was determined to convince the City Watch that their souls were of greater concern than the whims of an unjust lord. "You must see now that the Duchess has turned against the Goddess! She and her supporters will face Astraea's final judgment but you don't need to meet the same end! Join our righteous cause and fight alongside your fellow brothers! Astraea will forever bless you and your families!"

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

The sounds and smells of battle were something that never seemed to enter into the heroic tales sung by bards, they failed to describe the coppery scent of blood and the tang of metal mixing with the screams of wounded men or the clatter of blade on blade or shield. All of them assaulted Morek's senses at once, the sound of a blade piercing the flesh of the Radiant knight's throat as his lifeblood poured down the front of his armor. The man had tried to swing one last time before his strength deserted him and he collapsed, his final action unfulfilled.

While his man had died Morek had let his shield stray a fraction further from his body than before, intentionally leaving an opening for the Griffon Knight before him to exploit. The man had taken it, his blood up, and darted forwards with a quick jab of his longsword. Morek had grunted in pain as the sharp blade had pierced his chainmail hauberk at the hip and drew blood. Even as his opponent struck Morek had been reacting, lifting his Morningstar high above his head to smite his enemy while he smiled grimly under his helm; such wounds were not enough to stop him or even slow him down. The man had noticed his error at the exact same moment and desperately lifted his shield to protect himself. The shield had saved his life and skull from being reduced to jelly but not the bones of his arm, which Morek fancied he could hear, a familiar sharp crack beneath the deeper boom of his weapon sundering the mans shield. The Griffon's scream was most rewarding, the knowledge that he had laid an enemy low helped ease the pain of the thought of losing men to this fight even as the man had crashed to the ground in a heap, cradling his arm.

The griffons stole even that satisfaction from him as Melka's lightly armored body fell into his arms, her eyes glassy and dull. It didn't take a Radiant Knight to know the woman was dead. More felt saddened and wasn't sure why. Maybe because he was the reason she was there?

"You served well. Your debt is repaid in full my lady, forgive me but I must ask one last service of your body."

Melka wasn't much more than a sack of meat now, and Morek had plenty of experience throwing around heavy sacks from his time working the fields of Walven with his former congregation. Seizing the fresh corpse under the arms Morek let out a roar and flung it bodily at one of the Griffons left standing, using every ounce of strength he could muster in his powerful body and hoped his aim was true. He hoped that the distraction would be enough to join his men once again or at best incapacitate one of the griffons, for what man could weather an impact like that as if it was nothing? He drew in a breath and roared out to his remaining plaguewardens, while keeping his shield and weapon at the ready as he headed towards the melee his men were involved in, he would strike out against any outrider or griffon knight that stood in his way, not to engage in a protracted struggle, but merely work his way towards his men. AS he had told his men earlier, true soldiers fight together, not alone.

"SOLDIERS OF THE RADIANT CROSS! Form up!" Morek's plaguewardens would let out an answering cry before redoubling their attack, trying to break the enemy to follow their commanders order.



{Actions/attempts: Morek uses/tries to use his strong trait to hurl the body of Melka at a Griffon still standing, his hardy trait to lessen the effect of the wound recieved, and natural leader to rally and inspire his men}

Aelos escaped the fate of Barbarossa and as he ran towards the line of the priest Morek, he watched his knights stop the Clarion charge with their heavy destriers. More fearsome in battle than in faceplated charge, the fully plated Dragons roared as they swung their swords into the leather armor of the outriders. Ser Karstan had set his blood-hungry eyes on the outrider that had clearly shouted orders as he had raised his spear into the air, because cutting off the head of a dragon was sure to stop its claws.

Sir Aelos' agility came in handy as he maneuvered himself into a protected position between the Dawn's Wyverns and raised his renowned sword in anticipation. He would make the longsword sing like the mountains it was forged in, a song of blood and battle. Feeling no need to issue any orders, as his Dragons did what they did best, striking fear into their enemies from the safety of their plated body and the ferocity of the Northern heroes of old.

[ooc: Using the Free hand technique and agility to ensure Aelos manages to find a protected spot between the Wyverns and plaguewardens, while the Dragons use their fearsome reputation and the sight of the Outrider's demise to make lesser hearts run.]

The former butcher stepped back from the immediate fighting, as if in a daze. The carnage itself didn't bother a man such as he, who spent most of his days covered in blood and hacking away body parts. Rather than the shock of violence, it was the highs and lows of war that stunned the Captain. The thrill of his charge had left him, and the terror of being charged sunk in.

All he could manage to do was shout out a simple command, "Fall back!"

He stepped back himself, his gaze focused on Sir Lucius. The Dawnite called for him to fall back to the shield wall, and so he did. Though the battle raged on, the Captain only felt the sting of defeat.

"Men we ride to aid Captain Aelos!"

Than Alatin and his ride into aid the Dragons in their fight.

"Aelos see now the Lions march! We must finish this skirmish quickly!"

Natir saw the overwhelming odds against him and his men, he looked behind him to see if an open there had appeared, only to see 11 Knights of the Dragons charging. Turning back he saw another dragon with fire in his eyes.

Natir took out his shield and strapped it to his arm so it left his left hand still available, ready for an attack from the approaching beast of a man and called out to Gilaver. "Sir Gilaver! We are outnumbered, and are about to be flanked about to be flanked." Natir pointed towards the stampede of Dragons with a nod of his head "We need to fall back and regroup."

Turning to his men. "Quick pick up the Griffons, and break through these Dragons, Dawn and Crosses, we are Outriders, Outriders fight Jatu, and the greatest threats to pendor, but most of all, Outriders are never trapped! Again break free! Grab the Griffons and their wounded, and Break Free!"

Kharad calmly studied the defenders scurrying about the wharf to make their preparations. He made a sweeping motion with one of his scimitars toward the bow.

"Ghilmen, ready your bows! You see any man upon that wharf notch an arrow to bowstring, plant an arrow between his eyes!"

Natir and one of his men wheeled around and swiftly scooped up Gilaver and Cathlynn as they attempted to charge into battle.  The sole mounted knight fell in with them as the two wounded, too low and too distant, crawled to the road's edge, seeking cover from the chaos.  The rest of the outriders weaved in and out of their opponents, keeping them distracted and falling in the process.  One Dawn Wyvern clutched his arm as blood sprayed from it.

As Gilaver balanced himself behind Natir, the latter could see only one path for himself as the rest of the horsemen began to slip through the gaps in the enemy troops.  Spurring his horse onward, he charged straight between two Dragons as his other outrider swung wide.  Stabbing out with his lance, it snapped in a shower of splinters and wood dust as it impaled Wulven through the gut.  Gilaver, seeing an opportunity, slashed left at the other Dragon, Alm, whose wounded knee kept him from keeping his horse. [OOC: Fun fact: This started playing as I wrote this paragraph.]

And then they were through, the handful of survivors of Natir's and Gilaver's groups riding for Klaus.

Behind them, their charge aborted, Thane Alatin joined up with Aelos, the Dragon knights and their allies now caught between an army and a horde.  For as they linked up, Lord Kilnam charged forward into the Lions.  "Let's show these encroaching bastards what the men of Windholm are made of!" he had shouted, rallying his noble men to join him.  He now lay broken on the ground, his mangled corpse obscured by the horses of the other half of the Lions.  Javier's Ghilmen loosed a volley into the charging Lions, felling two, but it wasn't enough.  The remaining eight slammed the Eventide, impaling, trampling and scattering the formation.

Javier didn't notice the brave deaths of his men, though.  Unable to reach his intended target, his eyes swept the road until he saw Liza on the ground.  Rushing up to the Griffon knight, he began to hack at the defenseless warrior.  Blood and, soon, body parts scattered from the dead warrior as Sanders looked on just a meter or two away, horrified and crawling back as best he could.  The Eventide knight's abandonment of reason left the Griffon paralyzed with terror and drew the gaze of Morek and his plaguewardens.

It seemed, all at once, that victory had slipped from the rebel knights.  Even Lucius' silvery tongue was negated, both by the words of Klaus Witz, his broken Pendorian ensuring, at the very least, that the city guard were distracted from Lucius' words and the guards' own risen morale.  As Barbarossa backed up to Lucius, a single man, astride a horse and dressed in Griffon plate, shouted, "Knights of the Dawn, rebels of Windholm, surrender yourselves!"
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On Bay Road, Rayvs' and his men fought valiantly with the rebels beside them, hammering at the troops defending the intersection.  However, the loyalist troops held firm, despite their increasing numbers slain on the ground.  Somehow, despite the overwhelming odds, they fought with determination not unlike that of a professional soldier.
______

Inside the wharf, a group of archers scrambled to ready their bows, but the Ghilmen were fast and accurately, bringing down six before they could draw.  The return volley was pitiful as it missed.  However, several dozen more men could be seen scurrying about beyond the archers.  Whether they were soldiers or not wasn't clear as the Maelstrom pulled in alongside the Duchess' personal vessel.

Casualties:

Klaus flicked out his hands, gesturing towards the Dawnites and rebels while making an encircling motion. His greatswords fanned out to encircle the enemy, each with their weapons held and ready.

"Surrender to us, then you subject to king's justice. If not, and duchess make you, it will be... " lacking the words, Klaus just shrugged. Sir John arrived then from the shadows of the house, leading the retainers and adding their own men to the growing circle of Griffons.

"Make fast, they be here soon" Klaus said, gesturing at the advancing forces from the wharf.

"Decide. Schnell."

Javier laughed maniacally as he chopped the defenseless knight. Blood spilled the air, and soon hacked limbs joined the fantastic mayhem. Each cut, every stab, all methods of inflicting pain and punishment on his targets. As one of the Griffons withdrew in fear, Javier cleaned his rapier with his gauntlet before raising it to his mouth. He licked the blood off his hand, and then turned his attention to the fleeing Griffon. The Eventide mocked him, heeding not the words of Klaus.

"Come hither, or are thou too fearful of Sir Javier Kristoph Doyle? Come hither, and die by my blade!"

The young knight charged forth; all remnants of sanity lost from the Eventide commander.

* * *

As Javier continued his descent into the teaching of Erida Occisor, his former soldiers struggled to hold their ground. Nikolai was the first to die, his shot making its mark on one of the charging Lions, but the veteran Ghilmen was no match against against an array of lances. His body threw itself onto the lethal instrument. All that remained of a shattered corpse on the pavement. Robert followed soon after, successfully dodging one Lion's charge only to find himself trampled by another. He smiled briefly on the ground and attempt to crack one last joke, but an armored hoof cracked one first, his head. The last Ghilmen, an unknown lad hailing from the old D'Shar lands, pulled out his saber and challenged his opponents, but was quickly torn apart by the encroaching foes.

The Eventide Knights, nameless thus far, fought only to keep their shields up and facing toward the enemy. Alas, the force of Lord Wulfred's charging troops were too much for the Knights to bear, and three of the knights fell. One was impaled, a lance somehow managing to pierce through a weakspot on the shield. Another was beheaded as he raised his morningstar up in the air. Blood spurted upwards, but the body and the weapon slumped and let gravity take over. The last was separated from the formation and fought ruthlessly before finally getting downed by the combined might of the Duchess' men.

* * *

Of the knights, only Victor and Anton remained. The Ghilmen were scattered amongst the mass of foes, each now fighting with sword and shield and trying their hardest to simply stay alive. After the initial charge, both knights had a temporary moment of reprieve.

Anton looked up at the sky. For a moment he thought he saw something familiar, but was interrupted by Victor's hand on his shoulder.

"...Go."

Victor's other hand pointed in the opposite direction of Wulfred's charge, back where the remnants of the Dawn and Radiants were fighting. Amongst the chaos, one Eventide horse managed to survive the apocalypse unharmed.

Anton stood there, silent and unfocused, his stare reflecting just the surface of his experiences. Victor then pushed the knight toward that direction. Without thought or reason, Anton's body slowly started to move. Soon, the sluggish movements transformed into a desperate dash, and Anton called out for the steed to come to him.

Victor turned back at the mayhem. The fight was lost. He had freed Anton from his duties, but perhaps not even that will free the man. Should he survive, the experiences here will be too much to bear. Should he return home, the consequence of existing may even be greater, as the young bachelor was ignorant of what befell his would-be wife. The screams of pleasure and despair as she participated in the proper rites...

The lone Eventide Knight brandished his morningstar. Here, he would make his last stand. A lone knight against the world.

But, even in death, freedom is never free...

[OCC: Javier continues his attack. // Anton attempts to flee by obtaining a horse. // Victor and the remaining Ghilmen make their last stand. // Sir Nickolas makes things too complex.]

Aelos couldn't believe his eyes as the swift horses of the Clarion Call escaped the Dragon's wrath. In horror he watched Alm and Wulven getting dismounted and the spear splinter in Wulven's gut, without a moment to lose Aelos ran towards his friends. As he ran he asked Alm, who had removed his faceplate, if he was oke. Alm searched the ground and raised the skin of strong ale, a sword had found it and the ale had seeped through the cut and onto the road.

"No," he muttered.

As the young dragon reached Wulven and removed his faceplate, his friend's face spoke volumes. The spear that had somehow pierced through the heavy plate had done a terrifying job inside as well, that much could be certain.

"Is he going to make it?" A mounted Karstan asked, but he already knew the answer if they didn't manage to defeat the lion. He watched his captain return the longsword to its scabbard as he tried his best to keep Wulven alive.

"Join the Thane! Get me their heads!"

[ooc: well, Karstan joins the forces of Thane Alatin. Aelos stays behind with his wounded.]

Rayvs, in the thick of the fighting, wasn't concerned with the loyalists not breaking. Rather, he enjoyed the fight. After days pent up, with no action, he was finally in his element.

"Keep fighting! They're dropping like flies!"

By the time the Maelstrom slowed to a halt beside the Duchess's ship, Kharad was almost bouncing with excitement. Even after all these years, battle and plunder had not lost its allure.

"Grappling hooks boys! Board that bitch, and leave her with nothing! Tamir, you and your Ghilmen continue to pincushion those bastards on the Wharf!"

He ran toward the side facing the defenders upon the Wharf, and with great glee in his voice, he bellowed.

"We'll be taking what is deservedly ours! You wish to stop us, then come and get us Guardsmen!"

And with that he bounded full speed toward the opposite side and leapt aboard the Duchess's ship, eager to find what treasures she may have left on board.

Sir Lucius wasn't exactly certain how events turned so badly for him. He thought that it was within the realm of possibilities that the remaining Dawn and rebels could fend off Klaus and the Griffons, but with the Duchess' forces approaching from the wharf, the odds didn't look good. Despite this assessment, Lucius was never a man who relied on such things. He had Astraea on his side and she was a powerful ally.

"Do you truly believe your cause is just, Knight of the Griffon? Does your King believe cruel and unreasonable leaders are fit to rule?" he asked. "We don't have to quarrel, friend. Our true enemies stand before us. The enemies of Pendor and of the King." Lucius gestured to the Duchess' forces, but as he did so the other Dawn Knights raised their shields and tightened up the shield wall formation. They weren't going to surrender and would fight to the last man. It would either be a miraculous victory or an utter and final defeat.

Morek had finally managed to blood his Morningstar in Windholm, one of the outriders had fled right past him as they scattered to escape the Dragon Knights. A fiery anger had seized him then as the memory of these same men swarming around him scant minutes ago had caused the death and injury of more of his warband. He had swung viciously at the man as he fled past, the heavy bladed head of his weapon catching him in the chest and sending him flying backwards out of the saddle. His blow reduced the mans ribs to gravel and his organs at the impact site to something resembling the slush one found on the road in the time when winter is ending and spring has yet to arrive. Morek ensured he would stay down when he hit the ground by delivering a finishing strike to his head, a small mercy but one that the man would likely have appreciated.

With the outriders gone his plaguewardens and Wyverns had swarmed around him, the Radiant Sergeants having drawn their crossbows again at the lack of enemy within sword range. The wounded had rallied to him as well; Eran had apparently been awakened from his stupor by a swift kick between the legs by a plaguewarden, an unorthodox solution to unconsciousness if Morek had ever seen one. He and a plaguewarden that had took an arrow in the arm early on in the fight supported his brother Mautista between themselves. The wyverns injured in the past events were supporting the Radiant knights felled by Gryphon longbows, they nodded their heads at their leader as he returned it. They would run until they dropped if he so asked it of them and there was much running to be done. Blood dripped onto the paving stones from his morningstar as Morek finally had a chance to look around. He was not pleased with the situation, not at all.

The eventide were being mauled with Lucius and the butcher trapped by the griffons while one eventide had gone completely insane if the pile of limbs and blood were anything to go by. He pitied the injured griffon but would not waste the time he had in trying to save him. The Radiant Knight decided that discretion was the better part of valor in the face of such uneven odds but he intended to do what he could to give his allies a chance n the face of these odds. Pointing back at the circle of griffons and guard he started giving orders and moving.

"Wardens, one volley at the griffon infantry. Target the Greatswords give the Dawn a weakness to try and break through and run if they wish. Then make haste to join us and swap to your blades."

The wardens with crossbows turned and fired off their volley as Morek, not bothering to see the volleys effects, moved towards the side of the street that the alley way he had seen was on, heading along the wall as tight as he could make it, his warband falling in behind him, moving into formation as he spoke, acting to his will.

"To the side of the street, if the lions finish with the eventide they will come for us, and I will not be so foolish to try and give them a clear charge at us in the middle of the street. I will lead, wounded behind me in the middle of the formation, Wyverns will hold the side by the street as we move wardens hold the rear."

Morek raised his morningstar as he called out to his allies while he moved.

"Dragons! This fight is lost! Come with us! Grab that stupid bastard with the white sword and save yourselves! Dawn! May Astrea welcome your souls into her embrace brothers but I suggest you try to keep her waiting a little longer!"

As morek and his men began their escape he noticed the eventide knight on his horse, Anton, looking around frantically for escape while the Dawn Wyverns on the side of the formation were keeping an eye on Javier, if he turned on them as they moved past they'd try to fend him off while staying with the group, they knew that to fall behind was a death sentence. Morek was yelling again, this time at the form of Anton.


"Eventide! Come with us if you want to live!"

If they escaped Morek was pragmatic enough to want any sword he could get by his side. Except maybe the blood-crazed Eventide commander that was savaging helpless men. Morek was hoping against hope that he and his men would reach the alley and escape into the maze of streets, and if he was as unlucky as the rest of this battle, and the Lions did come for them, then the proximity of the wall to their side might stymie their horses and charge. He told his men to keeep moving no matter what happened, reaching the alley was all that mattered.



{Actions: A lot.}

Sir Gilaver growled in frustration as Natir grabbed him and his men from the fight. Just as he was about to give the Morningstar-wielding git a lesson he wouldn't forget... It didn't help that the wounded were left behind at the mercy of the enemy. Calming himself slightly, Gilaver slashed at one of the Northern knights charging against them, downing him from the horse. It would ease their task later at least.

Reaching the lines, Gilaver hopped off the horse and started shouting orders. He couldn't understand why the Mettenheimers had left their rear open for the enemy.

"Griffons and soldiers, shieldwall, spears ready.. The battle is not over!"

OOC: Hawkins, Cathlynn and any shielded and spear-wielding militia nearby cover Klaus' troops and the other militia in case they are attacked.


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Looking at the crazed Eventide knight in front of him, Sir Sanders felt true fear for the first time in his life. If the fate of his long time friend, Liza, was of any indication, the chances were that he would die. Trying to calm himself, he put his sword forward, ready to attempt to defend himself against the clearly superior opponent. A quick look behind him showed the Lions battling, which gave him an idea for small amounts of hope.

As he tried to get away from the crazed man, he got closer to the middle of the road. It was a slim chance he was taking, but if the Lions won the melee soon, they would have to override there and hopefuly catch the commander in that assault. He might die in the attempt, but Snders felt a small amount of satisfaction at the fact that he would die fighting.


OOC: Sanders tries to get away into a place where the Lions will cut through when they enter. He will defend himself from Javier to the best of his ability.

William looked around the sound around him fading, his heart pounding in his head. Anger. It was welling up within him, his captains force was down, Wulfred the cur was bearing down on them and Grifffons had fallen away. Rage. His blood began to boil.

"Alexander! Tell the men to follow my charge but keep a distance behind me."

The Thane spurred his horse forward towards the Griffons, his face was ready under the faceplate his muscles rippling.

"Death to MURDERERS, death to SLANDERERS and DEATH TO THE KINGS DOGS!"

His blood rage had been released. The Dragon Knights behind him waited a few beats and charged in after him chanting the same phrases.

OOC:William is lost into Blood Rage straight into the griffons with his men following shortly afterwards.

Natir took a breath of slight relief, but he soon realized his relaxation was premature as he saw the Dragons continue their charge towards him and the Griffons. Quick men clear these men up so we can go and collect our wounded. Draw your bows concentrated on the leader. Aim true my brothers. With that Natir notched an arrow in his bow, took aim, and released. Then quickly repeated.

Morek's plaguewardens nodded, nearly as one, and formed a loose line.  Leaning back, they attempt to compensate for the distance and obstacles as best they could before letting fly.  The volley was lackluster, however.  Seen by one of the Griffon knights before it was even launched, the city guard turned and raised their shields, both in reaction to the alarm and Gilaver's orders, catching the volley.  Even Klaus' head turned from the orders and the volley.

Lucius and the group around him bolted suddenly, running for the defile that Klaus had just emerged from.  Shoving aside a few lagging Gryphons, the rebel militia went through first, their morale obviously shattered and just now being given an outlet.  The Dawn followed, perhaps a couple preferring to have been in front, but knowing the fearful commoners couldn't be stopped just yet.  Lucius and Barbarossa took up the rear.

"Dawn Knight," said the self-styled captain, "I thank you for keeping my people safe, what few are left."

Back on the road they had just left, the Griffon forces, alerted by the crossbow volley, braced together for the Dragon charge.  Natir and his few remaining horsemen unleashed a pair of volleys into Thane Alatin as he drew closer, but their arrows did nothing, bouncing off both his armor and shield.  Alone, Alatin pierced the center of the formation, trampling two men, his momentum arrested by the tight cluster.  Around him, the rest of the Dragons crashed into Gilaver's formation. Spears found gaps in the armor of two of the Dragons around him, but the rest battered the watchmen.  The Gryphon archers, ashamed of allowing Lucius to escape, charged in on the Dragon's flank, but lacked the skill or equipment to hurt the knights and were cut apart instead.

However, the Dragons had failed to completely break the Griffon formation.  Spilling around the corner, just too late to stop Lucius, scores of additional city guard began to rush for the new melee.

Down the road, the beleaguered remnants of Javier's troop struggled to hold out against the Lions.  One ghilman managed to lightly injure one of their foes, but not enough as his arm was slashed open the next second.  Victor tried to keep the men fighting, but the group was faltering fast.  Anton had barely slipped the clutches of the Lions and periodically glanced at his comrades as they fell.  But he did as he was told and he swung up onto the abandoned horse, catching sight of Morek's troop as they fled down the alley.  He thought to follow, but would have to get closer to know if his new mount would fit.

None of it mattered to Javier, though.  Splatters of blood followed his manic charge as Sanders' held up his blade, the latter steadying himself with a calming breath.  With a deft stroke, he deflected Javier's blade with his own.  Despite the pain in his useless arm, which swung freely as he moved, he weaved around Javier's careless, bloodthirsty swings, slashing the madman's side.  But Javier was not deterred by the wound.  If anything, it seemed to encourage him more....
______

Back at Bay Road, the reckless Vanskerry lost several more men, but the weight of numbers and the vigor of the rebels won the day.  It was Rayvs' decapitating a man with a clean sweep of his blade, however, that drove the handful of enemy survivors to flee.  

The way was finally open.
______

Kharad's leap was successful.  However, the rest his boarders were less so as a gust of wind, unexpected on the unusually quiet day, were caught dangling precariously from ropes.  The gust buffeted both sea and air and the sailors took several minutes to keep some of their number from toppling into the ocean and giving the remaining men in the wharf time to advance on the Duchess' vessel.  They were very near boarding as Kharad's boarder team fully touched down on the deck of the assaulted ship.

Casualties:

Klaus unleashed a colourful insult under his breath, cursing the zealous tenacity of his enemies. He spun on his heel as the Dragons clashed into his own lines.

"Greats en mates! Greats en mates!" he roared, recalling a Fierdsvain tactic he had read about.

"Shields make partner with spear or greatswords! Protect the big weapon! Big weapons kill ze enemy! Go, go! Schnell! Make target riders, their horses are useless now!"

Alm pushing himself towards Aelos and Wulven in slow, painful movements. He clutched his shield with his left and used his right arm to get his heavy armored body closer and closer. Aelos had managed to undo Wulven from his breastplate, something that was made easier by Natir's broken spear. His hands covered in the blood of his good friend, he cursed the rebellion and those that caused it. Alm reached them now and looked at both Wulven's gutwound and his captain's angry face.

"Say Aelos, didn't you bring some ale as well?"

Rayvs grinned as he watched the loyalists flee. He ran a hand across his blade, lost in thought, awoken from his slight reprieve by Haroun's concerned voice.

"Rayvs? Are you alright?"

He shook his head to clear it, and said "Yes. Lets continue our march."

"Forward to High Street!"

He let the Ghilmen form up behind his men and staggered them. He waited for the Vanskerries to regroup before pushing on, his sword gleaming with blood.

The world was a blur around William as he crashed into the Griffon line. As his men crashed into the line behind his he shouted

Fight on foot! Kill the Mettenhimer!

And he was lost again the blur as he threw himself into the Griffons. All of the hate he had welled up without killing any men loyal to the king was lost into the Griffons. All the fury of the northman was unleashed into them.

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Alexander watched as his commander charged into the enemy, ensuring that he and his men kept a safe distance from him. There was no telling where his blade could strike when he lashed out like that. He also made sure to keep an eye on the Griffon commanders and the Outriders. Their morale looked to be wavering. If they would surrender so many lives could be spared! He did know one thing A Dragon Knight mounted is a forced to be reckoned with but a Dragon Knight on foot is a thing to be feared.

Klovis! Karstan! Give the order to dismount and fight! Klovis left flank! Karstan right!

Step and leap after another, Gilaver ran through the masses of soldiers that had arrived. His keen sword, Mistral, was kept ready for an attack. The Knights’ charge had been brutal, but the reinforcements would eventually turn the tide in their favour. That didn’t mean he couldn’t meaningfully contribute though. The enemy’s commander was painfully obvious, but also dangerous. Out of their troops, Gilaver had the best chance of bringing him down, or at least drawing him away from slaughtering the less experienced soldiers.

And as a Griffon commander, he had his duty to his underlings.

OOC: Gilaver uses his body control to go fast through the gaps in soldiers to attack the Thane. Using the reach of his weapon and his skills, Gilaver attempts to down the Thane by a strike to the neck (made easier by the Thane being in rage and likely not concentrating on Gilaver). The other Griffons participate in the normal fight.

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Sanders felt a small amount of relief wash over him as his strike found the enemy’s side. Drawing his blade away fast, he took a more defensive stance to prepare for an attack. Withdrawing from his attack lunge, he started retreating towards the Lions again, this time with less nervousness. The chances were starting to get slightly better for him due to this development. However, Sanders could only hope that this wasn’t just a single lucky stroke...

Morek's party moved down the alley at a quick march, the atmosphere one of barely contained relief as they slipped through the paws of the lion at their backs. Morek's shield was held out in front of him as he marched, leading from the fore. Already a few quiet, relieved, murmured comments were being passed between the party, the troops needed a minor outlet of the stress they had just been through and Morek did nothing to gainsay them, they were being quiet enough. One of the Radiant Knights spoke up, having noticed one of the wyverns glance at the nub of the arrow protruding from the back of his shoulder.

"What? This? This is nothing, you should have seen one of our Order after a Cobra Warriors javelin slipped through the vision slit of his helmet. He lost the eye of course, but compared to that I'm right as rain."

His comment brought a few snickers from the Barclayan Conquistadors and tight lipped smirks from the plaguewardens and wyverns. The healthy wyverns had fallen in behind Morek as he lead them down the alley with the Plaguewardens taking up the rear.

Morek himself glanced down at something new that had somehow attached itself to his gauntlet. A small pendant of black iron in the form of a clenched gauntlet was hanging by a leather strap from a protruding piece of metal. He held it up as he marched and looked at it. He had no memory of this, it must have gotten caught and snapped off the neck of the Ebony Gauntlet girl when he had hurled her body aside. With a few deft motions he tied the leather strap around the wrist of his gauntlet; it would serve as a constant reminder for him to seek out the Gauntlets in the future to tell them of the fate of one of their own. What had been her name again? Melka?

He shook his head to clear his mind of dark thoughts as the Radiants neared the end of the alley; this wasn't the time to brood on how things had turned out, his men needed to be lead. He turned his head and gave some orders.

"Plaguewardens, reload your crossbows and keep an eye on the end of the alley if that eventide on the horse comes down the alley don't shoot him, look for that horned helm their order likes to wear to identify them. I leave it up to your discretion what you do if that one that was chopping up the Griffons comes down but I would not be heartbroken if you put down that rabid dog. But if you see a lion test how their plate stands up against a few crossbow bolts. We'll get through this you have my word."

When they reached the end of the alley Morek held up a hand to bring the party to a halt before taking the next few steps alone and slowly looking around the corner in both directions, to see what the situation was. He kept his weapon and shield at the ready however, the new talisman on his gauntlet bumping quietly against the butt of his Morningstar as he moved.


OOC: Basically just move to the end of the alley and take a sneaky look around at the end up the street in both ways. Plaguewarden orders are as stated.