Turn #67 - Living vs. Manethander in Elinie (Grey Hills)

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

It would be tempting to draw many of the scouts and irregulars back, to use them to screen the army. However, Marya believes finding the enemy to be paramount, so she manages without.

Archers and crosbowmen are put at the front of the columns and distributed along it. Sadly the army does not have that many archers, so they are stretched thin.

Behind the archers march the heavy infantry, to support them (if needed) and to give the army time to form behind them, if the enemy should strike.

Otherwise, the march goes on.

[DM B]

After a couple of days of heavy skirmishing you reach higher ground with a lot less foliage. Lots of hiding places still, but it's harder on the goblins to remain mobile. Twice you're able to pin them and bring up the heavy infantry - with predictable results. You've taken a beating - or at least your scouts have - but soldiers are mad...for some reason their spirit soars and they appear more confident than ever. After that there are no goblin ambushes.

But the night after guards start disappearing while on duty...surely they have not deserted...

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

Nighttime attacks were expected, to a degree. Facing goblins and humanoids, all with superior nightvision compared to humans, as well as vampires who likely see better during night than day, this was to be expected. Marya is not foolish enough to blame desertion, this is likely Manethander's minions at work.

There is not much to be done. Sentries are stepped up, given the numbers in the army, extra sentries can be afforded. Soldiers and officers are told never to move about alone at night, always to have at least two other companions with them. EVEN when going for a piss. In the end though, the night will take it's toll. The IHH templars are asked to volunteer some of their templars and priests for sentry duty, above the usual, as the faithful have a better chance of detecting and repulsing vampires, if only by small margin.

Some of the Hell Hounds are deployed as extra sentries. They do not have much need for sleep and their glowing green eyes can pierce the darkness, within a dozen meters. Perhaps here they can be even more useful than on the battlefield.

[DM B]

The night after the missing men return...to feast upon the blood of the living. They rip through the sentry lines and then rip into a squadron of Eliniean cavalrymen. The entire camp can hear their screams...until they are cut of by a terrible bolt of lighting striking down from the heavens and a clap of thunder so loud it leaves those closest to it knocked senseless. When finally men with torches manage to reach the site they find Drago Tanar standing there, stark naked, save his great axe. He is covered in blood and gore, and surrounded by dismembered dead...they count six bodies afterward. The missing men. At least as score men are also dead - drained of blood no doubt. But what cause the greatest outcry is a cavalry lance that rises from the ground...transfixing the still-'living' vampire impaled upon it.

[DM B]

Some of the Hell Hounds are deployed as extra sentries. They do not have much need for sleep and their glowing green eyes can pierce the darkness, within a dozen meters. Perhaps here they can be even more useful than on the battlefield.

Several hell hounds can be seen pacing around the battle site, looking expectantly at Drago...

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

While the remaining soldiers hold back beyond the limits of the scorched earth, muttering and eying the twitching form, Baron Bellamie comes pushing through the gathering crowd.  He is fully dressed and alert - he seems not to have slept - and as his eyes fall upon the vampire a cold and dangerous smile spreads his lips.  "Oh, now... what have we here?"  He steps unhesitatingly towards it, slowly circling it as he approaches.  "How marvelous."  From his belt pouch, he pulls a thin silver chain, fine and delicate and long, longer than the pouch would seem could have held.  With a sudden, vicious jerk, he loops the chain around the vampire's arm, pulling it back, then the other, then its legs, finally securing the chain around the creature's neck while he whispers to it, his face a deadly mask.  Surely such a weak binding could not hold such a creature - any man of the army could snap it in two!  But pale wisps of smoke, barely visible, seem to slowly rise from the bindings, and the vampire, whatever its struggles, seems unable to free itself.  "Patriarch Tanar... I am impressed," he adds, standing from his crouch beside its head.  "Shall we bring your prize for our allies to admire?"

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

Behind the scenes, Marya Tanar is feeling the pressure of command very keenly. She has overreached, but her pride (and common sense) prevents her from stepping down. Trying to migitate the situation a little, she focuses on making the generals and commanders of different contigents talk to each other. There are meetings, discussions and so on. On the surface she tries to appear in control, but on the inside she is tearing her hair out. As the army marches on, those officers who have experience with the terrain and with working across nationalities are, as quickly as possible, given more freedom and responsibilities. The general command structure remains what was decided on, but she tries to pull competent personnel close to her and to listen to them.

As the march continues, Baron Bellamie begins to interject his own suggestions during the general meetings - sometimes aloud, in his by-default role as commander of the reserve, and sometimes in quiet asides with the Duchess afterwards.  His suggestions are consistently well-reasoned and coherent, but more important is his care to maintain the chain of command the Patriarch and Sword Mage have instituted.  He notes small issues that arise and suggests solutions for consideration; he answers concerns raised by other commanders; and he sets an example.  His own forces show the intense training and professionalism of the Osoerdean army, but within a week he also has taken impromptu authority over the supply trains, by virtue of the reserve's task of their protection, reorganizing and integrating them into a smoothly-working whole.  The Roesonean Knights, distrustful though they may be, accept his orders willingly enough - though their officers are still bitterly resentful of his authority over them at times.  They know he has seen war before and survived it.

OOC: Tristan is somewhere between Skilled and Expert in Warfare and an Expert in Command.  He'll be willing to assist the Sword Mage should she require it.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage arrives at the scene, at the center of which stands Drago, shortly after Bellamie. Letting Bellamie administer to the vampire by himself, she attends to her brother. Noticing that he clearly does not need her help, she removes her helmet and wryly remarks, with a glance downward, "That eager to impress the ladies, eh?". She looks tired and worn, but this seems to have brought her back some energy. "Let them sneak, let them plot, let them deceive, but they will never stand against the might of the Tanars."

Turning from her brother, she orders the armsmen she has brought with her to assist Bellamie in transporting the vampire spawn. Putting them at his disposal while sending messengers to rouse the other regents. There is going to be a meeting, soon. He is given access to a tent where he can conduct any interrogations that he wishes, while the other's are summoned to the command tents.

Though she is baffled by it herself, she has come to work closely together with Bellamie the last days of the march. To her surprise he has offered her his help freely and she is not foolish enough to refuse it. She can see that she needs it, so she is coming to rely on him. It seems a little more manageable now.

[DM B]

(I'm not posting here before some other layers have had an opportunity to look and post)

[X-Points East]

IC:

"With all due respect", states Elamien Lamier, who has drawn near, "the Patriarch and the High Hierophant ought to be consulted, before moving the captive.  This is no ordinary matter; and I need not remind any one that we are on Elinien soil. . . .

"But who is this?" she asks, as she slowly approaches the vampire, squinting her eyes slightly in the torchlight.  "Have you a name?"

[X-Ilien & PCE/GeM (Linde)]

Baronetess Tilgentor arrives at the scene and is briefed by one of the soldiers pressent.

Prompted by Elamiens words she adresses the Swordmage: "I agree great Hero. If you so please, then let us give time for the Patriarch to arrive." she looks cautiously at Elamien as she nears the vampire, but continues to speak to the Swordmage: "It bears great danger for a mortal soul to spend too much time near such spawns of shadow. Perhaps it would be prudent to question it as quickly as possible and then sever its head from its body?" 

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Widely awake by all the commotion the Pontiff arrives escorted by som of his Armsmen.

“My captain here praises your bravery in not only defeating a handful of vampires but you have actually managed to capture a live specimen.  Chosen of Cuiraécen we salute you!”

“Captain move the temporary Pulpit from where we made ready to conduct the morning ceremony up here. Now let us see if our former soldier is either bound to its new master as a slave or if he is set loose as a free agent. We know our enemy has vampires in his employ and we know there exist some kind of connection between a vampire and those the vampire spawns. Let us see if we can find some traces to the vampire who created this creature.”

The armsmen at the site of the battle quickly make space and the vampire still impaled on the lance and imprisoned by Tristan’s silver chain soon have a pulpit next to it. Maester Kaleiman arrives and Wallac speaks to him.

"The enemy seeks power through use of the Book of Law and three are the number of virtues of Haelyn learned from the Book of Law as understood Meloraens and taught us:  courage, honor and justice. Through the power of three we shall seek to break the power of the vampire. When I have weakened his will even further please try to track his creator, who I guess is a much more powerfull vampire.

First there is Courage, courage as that we saw when the chosen of Cuiraécen defeated his brothers and captured this creature. Drago Tanar please step down here and hold to the silver chain.

Second there is Honor. As taught by the All Father that demands mercy and respect. Once this creature before us was a comrade in arms. We respected him for his skill, courage and loyalty. We will have mercy for immortal soul and set it free. All Father forgive him for what he have done and help purge the stain of this poor sinners soul.

Third there is justice. Justice is when we punish our enemy for his crimes. Behold the six dead vampires.

In the name of Haelyn who this soldier worshipped when still having a free will of his own I command you to release the grip on this soul..

Maester Kaleiman please he is yours”

[X-LPA/Gaerred Khaiarén (Gray)]

A strong light approaches from the south, as Gaerred approaches he spear head is raised high from which white-yellow light emanates.  He approaches the Elamier.  He watches the spectacle for a moment and once it concludes he speaks.

"Sermons are wasted upon these creatures -- for not only it is righteous, it is merciful to end its existence and cast its soul rightfully to be judged by the gods," he says casually approaching the creature and looking over it . "It is an abomination, contrary to every tenet of the gods - contrary to life itself." 

"It has long passed the precipice from which it could be saved - it is to be pitied," the word seems to almost be spit from his mouth like an accusation.  "For either this creature was violated by the Shadow and became as it is now and from which it has lost its freedom to repent OR it choose the Shadow, probably for power, and in the process bargained away its freedom to repent and be saved," he says.

"If any here would wonder what the Shadow does - then let them know this:" he looks to each regent the Swordmage, Dargo, and such, until ending on Tristan and then casting his eyes to no place in particular.

  "The Shadow violates and the Shadow promises.  In the Shadow's promise, it is implicit in the arrangement that it is master and you are dog," he says. "For all that it is said, it is a very rare creature that bites it master - rarer that survives its masters wrath."

"This creature should be cast to the Light of the Lady, searing in its touch yet righteous in its radiance."

[X-Points East]

IC:

Elamien, who has listened attentively to Gaerred, then speaks:  "Who can deny the wisdom of these words?"

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

Patriarch Rashid, having arrived as the High Hierophant speaks concludes, replying Elamien;

"None should."

And he steps forward, drawing the sacred Sun Sword from its scabbard and close upon the vampire.

Rashid stops before the impaled form and looks around. Behind the zealous heroes are men. Normal mortal men. In their eyes are reflected both excitement and fear. Any question posed to this vampire, will be heard by these ears and it may be devastating to morale to let its venomous words be spoken.

"Be destroyed foul being." Rashid raises the Sun Sword over his head, and it ignites with the fury of the Sun. He then makes a clean chop at the creatures neck.

"There is nothing good in these beings. No truth they can tell us. Destruction for them all."