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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1707243" data-attributes="member: 15043">Technicaly difficulties aside... here is the next update (there's a slew of them... backlogged because of the outage).And what's so bad about the dragon <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />?=========================================Things erupted into a blur for Vintressa.  One second, the thin view of her world revealed Erelion looking at her in a look of shock and contempt.  The next, she felt the world heave, and suddenly she saw the sky.  A thundering roar shook her very armor, and she heard hooves, clangs and crashes.She tried to sit up, but the armor was simply too heavy.  It felt as if lead weights were attached to her back when she tried to sit up, and the same tied to her arm when she slowly moved it to the side.  There was a screech, a rumbling loud scream that Vintressa recognized.Aunt Tess... there must be fighting, her stunned brain realized.  After some effort, she was on her side, and felt hands grabbing her, more than one person.  Suddenly the sky changed to forest, and Raven’s face obscured the narrow view.“Are you okay, Vin?” she heard her friend ask.  There was a shift again, and suddenly the stuffy, stale air of the helmet was replaced with the fresh smell of the forest.  Vin gasped for breath, her hand reaching into the pouch by her side, and she felt relieved that a smooth orb still rested there.“I’m fine,” Vin replied, now able to look about.  The twenty-two knights that had charged towards Ari laid on the ground, their legs splayed, broken lances still couched.  No blood showed, and for a moment Vin thought they were dead.  “Is she alright?” Tess limped into view.  Raven told her yes, and Vin watched her Aunt limp over towards the fallen knights, kicking their lances away and unbuckling their swords, promising the limp forms, “You won’t be hurt when the paralysis wears off... that’s if you do as you’re told!”“Ah.. paralyzed then.”  Vin looked about.  “Where’d Ari go?”“He took off when they charged him... and you fell off.  He panicked, I don’t think he meant for you to fall,” Raven said softly.  “He flew off in the same direction that Erelion rode.  Here, you need help up?”  Vin grabbed Raven’s hand, and the other hands offered to her by the Household Guard, and pulled herself up.  We failed again, she thought morosely, picking up her mother’s helm, We were supposed to capture him.  How did it go wrong?Think, Vin... she told herself.  There are other options... these twenty two could become prisoners.  From her father she knew that many times nobles would take family members or bannermen of their rivals as ‘guests,’ to ensure good behavior.  I should get a look at their tunics... see what houses they belong to.  The thought of hostages was one she found morally deplorable... but right now she couldn’t think of anything else.  Now I know why father said there is no good or evil in lordship... only good people forced to do evil, and evil people in their own element.She put the helm back on her head, and slowly walked among the prone men, her mind hoping to see sigils of great houses she could use.  She recognized the blue and white family crest of House Bearsans, but that was hardly a major family... merely a vassal of House Erelion.She ran a hand over the ruby in its pouch, wondering in her mind.  No hostages here worthy of a throne, she thought.  Neither was Lord Haldris, she thought.  Then a thought ran into her mind, and underneath her mother’s helm, a small smile formed.  “How long are these men a captive audience?” she called towards Tess, her voice once again muffled by the ornate metal covering her head.“About ten more minutes...  Majesty,” Tess quickly added after seeing the helm on Vin’s head.Vin gave a small nod of approval, before opening a pouch on her side.  “Gentlemen, I have need of you as messengers,” she said simply as the Fire Stone caught the sunlight streaming down from the heavens...“I don’t care if the Emperor has not given the orders, I want your troops on the road now!” Manse barked.  “I am the one with the Imperial dispensation to command Emperor Valdemar’s forces in his absence,” Manse waved the paper, “and by all the gods, I will use it!”“Milord, what is the rush with putting the troops on the road?” his opponent, Duke Illyin Haldarman asked.  His words were innocent, but the tone was questioning more than Manse’s demands.  The Duke had a short, trimmed mane of white, which made his words appear more stately than they were.   “His Majesty is very confident that the Dragon intends to surrender.”“If she surrenders,” Manse replied sharply, “you may strip me of my sword!”No sooner had he spoke these words than a young squire burst into their camp, his eyes wide with fright.  The young man’s mouth opened and closed, but no sounds came from his terrified lips.Albrecht stared at the young boy for a few seconds, before his annoyance boiled through.  “Remove the manacles from your lips!  Speak!”“Milord... His Majesty...” the young man sputtered, before Erelion’s gilded arms shoved the squire out of the way.  His armor was scuffed, and Erelion’s new, green sable cloak was shredded and ruined, briars sticking from its torn form.  Manse didn’t need to look at his face to tell that his prophecy had come true.“She tricked me!  Pelor’s pissing eyes, she tricked me!” Erelion snarled, storming into the room.  “Those troops on the road!  I want them marching, now!  Towards Iskeldrun!  We’ll smoke her arrogant ass out!  Smoke her out!”  He ripped the cloak from his shoulders and flung it in his fury.“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” Albrecht said slowly, despite the small voice in his head that told him he should gloat.  “Manse!” Erelion spun towards him, “You were right!  By the gods you were right!  And I’m going to reward that, after we burn Iskeldrun to the ground!  You will be governor of the new capital city I shall build, accept?”Burn Iskeldrun?  “Perhaps Your Majesty should weigh the future of Iskeldrun... after the fate of the Dragon has been decided?” he suggested carefully.  If I can separate the two... perhaps we can spare the city...Manse realized he had said the wrong thing when Erelion looked at him with almost feral eyes.  “No.  The city will burn.” Erelion said slowly, viciously.  Later Manse would be amazed how quickly Erelion’s tone changed, once twenty-two bedraggled, wide-eyed men returned, tales of red magic tumbling from their lips.“The sun’s coming up, Vin,” Raven said softly, shaking her friend.  It had been nearly a full day since the parley debacle, and Raven was surprised she had awoken to quiet and calm this morning... she’d fully expected to awake to horses screaming and swords singing.Vin knows what she’s doing, Raven told herself again.  You have never met this Lord Erelion... Vin has met him several times before yesterday... she’s in a far better situation to judge what he’ll do.Raven’s attentions were rewarded with a screech, as Vintressa shot up, her hand grasping around.  “What!  What!  What...” her breathing slowed, when she saw it was just Raven inside the tent with her.“It’s morning... and as your ‘aide,’” Raven held her hands up to mimic the quotes around the title Vintressa had given her in front of the military commanders, “I say its time for you to wake up!”  We have a long day ahead... its a miracle Lord Erelion’s army isn’t in our little midst right now.“I’m up, I’m up,” Vin repeated, rubbing her eyes.  “Go find Avaril, Aeron, and the others.  By the time you bring them here, I’ll be dressed,” Vin said dryly, her eyes still half shut.“Um... wouldn’t you like something to...” Raven said, only to have Vin’s grunt and dismissive wave signal she didn’t want breakfast at all.The camp was exceedingly small for that of an army, but it was the largest camp Raven had ever stumbled through.  The soldiers all bore one of two sigils... the white dragon of the Imperial Household Guard, or the mounted red knight on white that signalled the City of Iskeldrun.  Only twelve thousand were here, and other than a few captains of the city watch and the few that bore the white dragon, there were none mounted.And, she reminded herself, One very young prismatic dragon, sorry he dropped his rider and angry that he got poked with a lance.  If Ari’s talk after he returned was any indication, he would not dash away when someone struck him with a lance this time.  Though I don’t blame him... I would run if twenty men pointed lances at me and tried to run me through too...It took Raven a good fifteen minutes to round up the people Vintressa had requested, all having been awake for some time already.  By their eyes, she could tell some of their thoughts... Aeron’s were concerned as normal, as were Aegrifyr’s.  The Chief of the City Watch, someone named Daedles, always was casting worried glances back in the direction of the city, and the commander of the Household Guard, a certain Avaril, was like granite... completely unreadable.True to her promise, Vintressa was dressed when the small group returned to her tent.  She had managed to put on her wool underarmor and a surprising amount of the Empress’ dragonscale before they arrived.  Rather quickly, Avaril helped her put the rest of the steel monstrosity on.“Our scouts have seen stirring within the camps of the Erelion host,” Avaril said a few minutes after the war council convened, “the horse is on the move, coming down the Baranil Road... headed towards Iskeldrun.  They have firebrands and sunrods aplenty.  We saw many of the squires also had kindling packed on the backs of their horses.”“And his foot?” Vintressa asked, looking every inch a commander, save her continued troubles moving about in armor.“If they are moving, it is slowly, after the horse.  If I am guessing correctly, they will be at the crossroads of the Baranil Road and the road towards Thuyciden by this evening... from there it is only a few hours march till one reaches the walls of the city.”It’s rather obvious, Raven.  Erelion intends to burn Iskeldrun to the ground.  The daughter of the thief turned businessman may not have been a soldier, but she did have common sense.  Why else would they have so many sunrods and firebrands?  By looking the princess’ face, it was obvious she knew as well.The City Watch commander could tell as well, and he quickly spoke up.  “Highness... my men are equipped to stop disturbances, and catch thieves... not fight with knights on horseback.  We have only small shields and short swords... no match for their lances!”“The Household Guard here numbers only five hundred,” Avaril spoke up.  “We can don our heavy mail and function as heavy cavalry in a pinch, but Lord Erelion’s horse numbers over thirty thousand, half of which are knights and their bannermen.  It would only take one heavy charge...”The rest didn’t need to be said.  Raven had seen many tourney melees... it was an annual occurrence in Iskeldrun, where two groups of knights fought to the last side standing with blunted weapons.  Sometimes one side had a large number of its men dismounted quickly.  All the other side had to do was go to the far end of the ring, lower lances, and thunder down...“What is the status of their magic forces?” Raven asked.  “If we brought out the entirety of the Brotherhood of Court Mages, how could we fare?”  Something I understand more than blades...“It would be prudent to guess that each house brought their court mages with...” Aeron began, “and in all honesty, while the Imperial Court Mages are picked and trained to deal with enchantments and deciphering illusions and the like, many of theirs are likely picked for how powerful a fireball they can lob.” That told Raven all she needed to know, and she gave a sigh.“We cannot hope to best them on the field of battle,” Avaril summed things up.  “Unless Your Highness uses all means at your disposal.”Vintressa looked towards them thoughtfully, before giving a nod... not of assent, but of decision.  “Avaril, Daeldes, form up your troops.  We’ll form line of battle behind the road junction.  Spread your troops wide... two ranks deep instead of the usual six ranks.  Aeron, I want some illusions from you of extra ranks behind the real ones.  The other mages will make what firepower spells they can.”“Highness,” Avaril started to speak.“Vin,” Raven interrupted him.  “Didn’t you hear?  They’ll run roughshod over us!  Shouldn’t we go back to the city walls, and wait for help from your parents?”  Or use the stone… it can’t be that bad…“And wait while they build catapults, scorpions and ballistas, and launch all of those firebrands and fiery pitch over the walls into the city?” Vintressa snapped back.  “No!  We stop them here!  Outside of the city!”  Her eyes let all of them know that no dissent would be brooked on this matter... and one by one, the council filed out... save Raven.“You know if we don’t succeed, he’ll probably torch the city anyway?” she asked.“Yes!  I know!” the princess said, sharpness still in her voice.  She glared at Raven for a second, before shaking her head.  “I can’t sit by and let them torch all of those people, many of them not able to run away!  And if they get their hands on Royukgan and Valaron...”“Why don’t you use the Fire Stone then?  We know it makes soldiers… and you can command them to defend themselves…” Raven asked.  It’s the only way, Vin!  You are outnumbered, and the enemy is more than willing to crush you between his mailed fists!Vintressa’s eyes flared slightly at the statement.  “Raven… do you remember the stories of that staff, and other items that your parents and my parents fought to destroy so that a great evil was rid of this world?”  Raven nodded.“That stone,” Vin said quietly, glancing over at the massive red ruby, “we supposed to be part of Graz’zt’s staff.  The Countess never added it on… my father made a better target.” Vin’s eyes then went back to Raven.  “Wouldn’t it seem that if something was made to be used with such an evil item… it is evil itself?”Raven suddenly, fully understood.The day had grown hotter than expected, and by afternoon, Albrecht Manse was fairly roasting in his plate armor, woolen underarmor, surcoat and tunic.  From the side of his horse hung his heavy steel shield, of the old circular design.  His long, heavy longsword hung there as well.  And from the horses in front of his came the heavy, choking dust that had plagued the columns all day on this wide but dusty road.The day had been one of those that Manse dreaded... excitement and anxiety built up for nothing, only for another rumor of dark columns and mysterious riders filter down the line.  For all the might and pageantry of the long column of knights, resplendent in full battle armor and riding eight abreast, banners streaming behind them in the wind, they acted like small children in the courtyard of their parent’s keep. The most recent rumor was that outriders to the left of the column had spotted something to the east... whispers of a woman on a huge black horse, rumbles of a massive beast.“These outriders act like children in the dark, even in daylight,” Bearsans had laughed when Manse had told him the tale.  The small lord had recovered surprisingly well from his rather ignominious capture and release.  “Unless that Fire Stone makes people teleport an army, it’s nothing!  It cannot be the Empress... she is before us!  And the Emperor would have had to spend all day yesterday fighting Hyppyn, and only today would have been able to start his march back!”Manse was still ill at ease.  I will not be at ease until I have seen the Empress’ army, with her at its head, with my own eyes.Finally, somewhere close to three bells afternoon Manse guessed, he spotted the ‘Emperor Valdemar’ resplendent in his gilt armor, jade inlays of his family’s twin snake sigil curling around a long lapis lazuli column on his breastplate.  Overnight, he’d had his armorsmiths modify his crest so that not only was there a gilt snake with ruby eyes, but the six iron swords that were on his crown were now on his helm as well.  “I see you have modified your helm, Majesty,” he said simply.  Garish was Manse’s personal thoughts, but he didn’t let that through.  The Emperor seemed pleased to hear Manse’s notice of the change, and he put spurs into his white stallion to fall alongside the lord.“Indeed.  I should think I should look both splendid and terrible for the first flexing of my muscle as Emperor,” Erelion responded.  “Something that should come in useful soon.  Have you heard the latest report?”  Manse shook his head no.“The Dragon has formed her columns athwart this road... just beyond the crossing with the Thuyciden road,” Erelion pointed ahead.  “They say she has a line of battle of perhaps twenty thousand foot, and maybe three or four thousand horse.”“Small numbers,” Manse said aloud, thinking it best to keep the other idea in his head quiet.  Erelion looked at him closely.“You aren’t telling me all of your thoughts.  You were right yesterday... likely you’ll be right today to.  That is why you are my head bannerman,” Erelion said simply.  “Speak your mind.”“That cannot be her entire force.  She is hiding numbers elsewhere.  Our scouts said she left Iskeldrun with forty thousand altogether.   The numbers you speak leave some fifteen thousand unaccounted for, which raises some alarming questions.”“I understand,” Erelion nodded.  “I was thinking of dispatching Haldarman out of the line of battle, and forming with his foot up facing our east... and taking Eijold and doing the same to our west.  That will leave us with...what... forty thousand versus hers?  And should she try to ambush us, we’ll be able to stall her until the army can react!”Manse gave a smile.  You read my mind, milord.  “Two to one is still favorable odds, my lord.  And three to two should be odds close enough that even Haldarman could hold against an ambush.”</blockquote>

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