IC Scene - Smoke on the Horizon...

The smoke was visible long before the city ever came into view. It wasn't thick or billowing, however. It was merely a black haze that hung in the distance at the end of The King's Way, the main road to Windholm, thus marking the end of the journey. Or perhaps it only marked the beginning.

Approaching Windholm made it clear that the reports and rumors were true; the city was at war with itself. Burned out homes were visibile from a distance. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from new fires, only to dissipate into the hazy canopy above. Battle itself was not visible from a distance, allowing the imagination to run wild with what sights might be seen within the walls. Strangely, the surrounding countryside was serene, though devoid of people.

The only question: would the coming knights be the city's saviors?

[OOC: And so we begin. You may have to bear with me as this is only my second real attempt at GMing and never for a group this large. Take this moment to arrive at the city without entering. Also, none of you have to arrive along the mentioned road. It's mostly there so you can interact if you so choose.]

Sir Natir and his outriders were the first to arrive. He and his men took a moment to observe the city smoking in the distance. He could see no other knights approaching the city, yet, but he was not surprised to reach the city first. He and his men had ridden night and day to get here, but he knew his fellow Clarion Calls were at most a day behind him. He began giving orders,

Outriders begin to set up a camp out of the range of bows and catapult fire from the city, on the hill over there next to the main road, make sure to leave plenty of room for other orders and the other Clarion Call. Leave the top of the hill open for now. You, three, scout around the city see what kind of situation we are dealing with, I want more than what I can see from here, and see if your can contact Duchess Greysword. You, keep a look out for any approaching knights and tell them to meet here while to organize ourselves and to wait for more information. Quickly men, people are dying as we speak.

Mattus and his company approached the city in slowly. A few hundred meters earlier they saw some other knights setting up a camp far away from the walls. It almost looked like they wanted to siege Windholm. Everytime he and another Order met they amazed him again, but not in a good way. He approached the Guards at the main gate, 50 meters before the guards he got down from his horse and walked slowly closer, he left his weapons on his Hunter.

"Greetings my friend, We are Knights of the Radiant Cross and we request entry to the City, some high ranking members of our Order arrived from Amala and we have orders to escort them out of Windholm."

Behind the walls he saw some smoke rise up, they certainly would need their spears today.

Thane William Alatin along aside Captain Aelos Odheas approached the smoking city banners unfurled, leading a company of Dragon knights. They came galloping down the road, bearing down on the slowing knights of the Radiant Cross seeming to not see them. Until a the Thane shouted a commanding "Halt!. The party abruptly came to a dead stop. He motioned to the young Captain and the trotted forward next to Mattus saying.

"The Order of the Dragon and of Ravenstern have arrived to restore order in Windholm under its rightful ruler, Lady Greysword. Come now take us to her, time presses and the city falls under greater chaos the longer we wait."

The Thane still seemed to not notice the presence of the dismounted knight. His eyes were fixed on the guards waiting for them to allow him to enter.

The Griffon detachment arrived with Gilaver in front. He wasn't very happy by the sight that unfolded before him, too much destruction and senseless death. Gilaver quickly went through the objectives in his mind and made some last-minute adjustments. The group moved rapidly over the fields and through the roads to reach the gates, arriving just behind the Radiant Cross and Dragons. He gave his companions the order and moved to the gate by himself.

"Greetings guards of Windholm. I am Gilaver Gregale, captain of the Griffon detachment sent here. We have come to put an end to this conflict, and we request entry to the city."

"Just as expected." Mattus said more to himself than to everyone else. Then he turned again to the Guardsman.

"I let you sort this mess out first, we don't want to delay their important business". Mattus said that with a big smile and then ordered his men to dismount as well. They moved to the right side of the gate very close to the walls. Maybe they will be able to slip through if the Guards start arguing with the other Knights.

The outriders had barely started setting up before the saw that the other Orders had ignored Natir's invitation. Natir ordered his men to pack up the little amount of gear they had set up, and ride to the gate. "Seems like the other orders are in a hurry and are eager run blindly into a hornets nest. We might as well join them and hopefully make their attempt more likely to succeed. " He blew his horn to rally the outriders he had sent on ahead to see what was happening, and then got on his horse a rode to the gate.

William looked angrily at the Griffon, who did this southern whelp think he was.

"Out of my way Griffon, consider your services no longer needed, the Dragons have come and will deal with this revolt shortly and efficiently, return home."

"Guardsmen, the gates please."

Gilaver noticed a scout from Clarion Call approach him. He allowed the scout to tell his message and listened to it closely.

"Tell your captain that Griffons are willing to talk and I'll be there soon. I apologise for the inconvenience, dear guards, but I'll come back later."

He then turned to the Dragon and talked to him in his typical monotonous voice.

"Answer to the request, negative."

Gilaver raised his eyebrow and sent a bemused look at Aelos that roughly translated to 'Is this man serious?'. After the quick look he proceeded to follow the scout to Aodh.


(OOC: Sorry Aodh, I didn't notice that part...)

The Sea Viper should have been able to sail the long coast faster than many of the riding Order knights. Storms had forced her to land in the deep southern desert, multiple times. By the time the other Orders had arrived in the city, Seleucia wasn't even in sight of Windholm.


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<snipped>

Sir Aodh saw the Griffons and the scout walking back, choosing to not go back to his old camp spot but rather continue and meet the Griffon knights. On meeting them, he called out. [i] "Griffon, thank you by honouring me by heeding my call, but I have recently deciding that it may be better to set up camp closer to the gate. I had originally set up back there so that Orders approaching the city would run into me on their way there, and because I wasn't sure if the walls were guarded by friendly troupes, as you were not shot at I see there is no danger, and I was too far from the city that obviously the Orders could easily miss me.

I must apologize I am babbling and being rude. I am Sir Natir of the Clarion Call, and this is my warband the Crescent Horn, and who might you be?"

"Stop!" came a voice from behind.

Klaus stopped for the fourth time that day, looking back in the direction he had come from. Not far behind a number of his detachment had thrown themselves to the ground, holding their sides and panting for breath. One, a giant knight ripped his boots off, and was tenderly rubbing a huge blister on his heel.

"You see Sir John, the others have not problems with their feet. They used the grease like I showed them. That they are tired is no surprise, you Pendorians are not conditioned for long distance running."

"Do you do not know the Castleford family? We are an ancient line, and we do not put essence of dead pig upon our feet!" the knight growled.

"Nee! I do not care if you are an Adalhard, you will do as I instruct!" Klaus stated.

Sir John rose to his feet, but as soon as he put pressure on his foot he bellowed like a wounded lion, and sat back on his haunches. With a sigh, Klaus dug in his pack and withdrew some bandages, dried moss and a sweet smelling powder. He roughly took Sir John's foot and squeezed the blister hard. Puss squirted out, narrowly missing Klaus. Sir John howled in pain, and tried to pull his foot back but Klaus had a firm grip. He used the dried moss to soak the rest of the grey mess, then spread some of the powder over the glistening wound. Over this he tightly wrapped the bandage. Sir John continued to struggle, but Klaus only released him when his work was done.

"We've already learned how to use your cursed two handed weapons" Sir John muttered under his breath "we're Pendorians, not Mettenheimers. We should ride!"

"You might have learned our weapons - badly" Klaus retorted "and now I teach you to cover long distance on foot. Horses are for the weak, and I do not think you are weak Sir John"

The burly knight had no answer to this, so clamped his mouth shut.

"Fifteen minutes, then we move again!" Klaus growled, satisfied that the rebellious nature of the knight was quelled for the moment. He rose to his feet once again. Sir John rubbed his foot with a glare at the youngster but did not complain further. The Mettenheimer ignored his partly passed out companions, and stared at the low foothills that stood in their path, in his mind there was a town just beyond. Windholm, the place that his real test would begin.

He remained quiet for some time, but half an hour later he seemed to awaken from his reverie.

"Up! Now we run again. We're a day behind Gilaver. You may not be as strong as Mettenheimers yet, but I will make you able to match with the best runners in Pendor at least! UP!"

Klaus hitched his pack around his shoulders, and steadied the hilt of his sword sticking up by his ear to stop it rubbing against his neck and took off at an easy lope. Behind him, heavy footfalls announced that his companions had joined him. The group ran in silence, each thinking only about where their next breath would come from as they ate the miles between Sarleon and Windholm with each stride.

"None as far as I'm aware. Only restore order and peace in the town, which goes quite well with your objective. I am hoping to get the sides to negotiate, preferably with as little bloodshed as possible. Your Order can negotiate the taxes with Lady Greysword after that, we are not too interested in those."

Gilaver thought about something for a second.

"Thus, I believe that the shared objectives would be as follows:
- Quell the revolt currently on and prevent it from spreading
- Prevent the sides from taking up arms again.
Do you find this acceptable?"

Knight-Brother Lucius Maximian and his company of men approached the main gates of Windholm, clad in the traditional silver armor and colors of the Order of the Dawn. Further behind his group was Knight-Brother Vinson of Kulum who would reinforce Lucius's group of men, but for now he was leading the expedition.

As they arrived at the main gates, Lucius nodded at the guards from atop his horse and declared their presence. "Astraea's will demands that we be permitted entrance to the city of Windholm," he said, voice muffled by the helmet he wore.

Aelos wore his Dragon faceplate, but inside he grinned widely. Thane Alatin did as expected and ignored his words from the day before in Scalekeep. Nevertheless, he raised his left arm up in the air and said with a loud voice;

"Although the Duchess is proud, and we in the North see that often among or people, I'll seek out the butcher who leads the commoners, for just like in my snow covered homeland the commoners are just as proud as their nobles."

he lowered his hand and took off his helmet to properly adress those present, with a special eye to the Griffon Gregale.

"Those that are here to avoid bloodshed are welcome to join me!"

That said, he nodded at his knight-commander and approached the gate at a slow pace, followed by his five knights.

"Very well." Natir than rode up to the gate, "Good guard, I am Sir Natir of the Clarion Call, we have come to assist the Duchess in quelling the revolts, I ask that your grant us entry. You may contact a superior officer if you like, but that is another moment wasted that we could be calming the rebellion."

Gilaver rode back to his men instead of standing in front of the gate. He was left within hearing range, and hoped to see how this would go.

Approaching the city along the main road Seph spots a cluster of Clarion Call men and so approaches.

" Good day to you Sir Natir it is pleasing to see a friendly face amongst so many strangers.
Who would your new friend happen to be? "

Looks at the guards.

" Would you kindy open this gate? We have ridden a long way to come to the assistance of the good Duchess and I believe she will be rather unhappy if she were to discover that you prevented us from doing so.