Chalik is obviously taken aback for a moment, then bows deeply and says, "My Lord, I wish I had better news for you." He hesitates for a moment before continuing, obviously very uncomfortable. "Though I've not earned it, I would ask a boon of you. If you are planning to try to rescue the captives, please let me guide your people. I crave the opportunity to redress my failure."
Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 3 - The Imperials)
- Thread starter Deuce Traveler
- Start date
Deuce Traveler
Adventurer
As you are discussing your next move, one of your men that was on guard-duty barrels in and interrupts your conversation. His chest is heaving and sweat pours over his light coat. After a moment he gives a weak salute and says, "Horsemen... they spotted us, sirs. Came right up to our position, they did, then rode off before we could say spit. I think they know where we are now..."
Fenris
Adventurer
Dartis swears again, then offers a quick apology to Danica.
"Alright, back to the cave!" be bellows out "Silas, Danica each of you take half the men and head towards the cave, take sperate routes to slow down pursuit. Danica take the northern path, Silas the southern. Put archers on the hill above and spearmen in the mouth of the cave. Put a few volunteers back about 100 feet in that dense grove of trees. We'll try to pin them if we can.
Chalik, I wish I could grant you the boon, but right now I would ask that you accompany my men to a safer location. Hopefully we can beat back the first assault and try again.
I will stay here and give the leaders a few arrows to slow them down. Now move" Dartis bellows out his orders quickly directing the direction for travel with the tip of his sword.
"Alright, back to the cave!" be bellows out "Silas, Danica each of you take half the men and head towards the cave, take sperate routes to slow down pursuit. Danica take the northern path, Silas the southern. Put archers on the hill above and spearmen in the mouth of the cave. Put a few volunteers back about 100 feet in that dense grove of trees. We'll try to pin them if we can.
Chalik, I wish I could grant you the boon, but right now I would ask that you accompany my men to a safer location. Hopefully we can beat back the first assault and try again.
I will stay here and give the leaders a few arrows to slow them down. Now move" Dartis bellows out his orders quickly directing the direction for travel with the tip of his sword.
GlassEye
Adventurer
Silas grabs a couple of the veterens that he has become acquainted with and sends them to preparing the men to leave as quickly as possible. After he sees the men begin scrambling in their preparations to move he returns to Dartis. "They may have archers of their own, Lord Kalnian. I can aid you a bit in that, if you'll allow it. I can give you some small protection against their arrow fire, at least for a short time. It won't protect your horse and it won't protect you from their other weapons so that will still be a danger but I would rest easier if you would allow me to cast a protective ward over you."
Silas tries to get Chalik's attention. "[Dwarven]Stone-Brother[/Dwarven], Do you know of the cave near here?"
OOC: If Dartis agrees, Silas will cast Protection from Arrows upon him.
Silas tries to get Chalik's attention. "[Dwarven]Stone-Brother[/Dwarven], Do you know of the cave near here?"
OOC: If Dartis agrees, Silas will cast Protection from Arrows upon him.
Danica Swann has never been told to lead others before.
As Dartis' words sink in, she bows, slightly, and says "Yes, my Lord."
She sees that Silas is taking care of the dwarf, and some of the stronger fighters. She casts her eyes around the camp, and tries to rally those who are nearby. She will ensure that none are forgotten.
"All of you, listen," she implores, trying to raise her voice above the mounting confusion. "We are moving out. All those on the East side of the camp will come with me." Here she makes a sweeping gesture with one hand, as if to bisect the group. "The rest will follow Silas. Grab your things, we're leaving right away."
Has she sounded confident enough? She hopes so.
She has her meagre gear with her, of course, but she takes a moment to grab the piece of leather from her belt pouch. She runs it down either side of her face, and then horizontally across her chest. "Keep me safe like steel" she whispers to herself. She then replaces the leather thong.
[OOC: she casts Mage Armor]
She stands by the access to the north road, as others gather to follow her, or so she hopes. "Morrison! Keeling! Come on you two!" she calls to two stragglers she can identify.
As Dartis' words sink in, she bows, slightly, and says "Yes, my Lord."
She sees that Silas is taking care of the dwarf, and some of the stronger fighters. She casts her eyes around the camp, and tries to rally those who are nearby. She will ensure that none are forgotten.
"All of you, listen," she implores, trying to raise her voice above the mounting confusion. "We are moving out. All those on the East side of the camp will come with me." Here she makes a sweeping gesture with one hand, as if to bisect the group. "The rest will follow Silas. Grab your things, we're leaving right away."
Has she sounded confident enough? She hopes so.
She has her meagre gear with her, of course, but she takes a moment to grab the piece of leather from her belt pouch. She runs it down either side of her face, and then horizontally across her chest. "Keep me safe like steel" she whispers to herself. She then replaces the leather thong.
[OOC: she casts Mage Armor]
She stands by the access to the north road, as others gather to follow her, or so she hopes. "Morrison! Keeling! Come on you two!" she calls to two stragglers she can identify.
Last edited:
Deuce Traveler
Adventurer
As the news of the approaching Imperials reaches the ears of the men, a sense of panic can be felt rippling through the irregulars. Some begin to pack their bedrolls and other gear unto the few horses and on their backs while others gather their weapons and wander the camp aimlessly. A few of the men that have experience attempt to mold a semblance of order, but it is the young voice of Danica that finally brings the would-be soldiers into an organized force. Within the space of ten minutes, two columns are following the trails the men made days ago along the river, only to break off from their paths later on in order to reach the rock formation with the bear cave.
Dartis and Chalik stay behind with two dozen of the healthier, swifter men, creating a vanguard that sees to the protection of the men and takes to the wilderness between the two columns and slightly behind. They are left unharried, although a force of a dozen horsemen appears to watch and follow them from a distance. Dartis' horse, Swift, dances majestically around his irregulars, as the young noble raises his bow at the Imperials in defiance.
The entire force reaches the rock outcropping without incident, and the third of your forces that brought bows and arrows take positions on the highest portions. Another twenty men hide themselves in the woods, waiting for the Imperials to come. Around fifty men are left over, and they position themselves at the lower portion of the rock formation and the green field immediately around.
It takes some time... a frustrating and tense amount of time- but finally the ordered military march of the Imperials can be heard east of you. From the top of the rock outcropping, some of their bobbing helmets can be seen through the trees nearby, and you see the group stops about a third of a mile away. From the top of the rock outcropping, your party also sees a second group of Tallione cavalry approaching from the western side. This is a larger force, about a couple of dozen in size, but it's hard to count through the trees.
From this second force, a rider gallops forward, and your men knock and ready their arrows in his direction. He bursts forth into the edge of your clearing, watching your men with disdain. He pulls his horse back and waits then shouts loudly, "I would have words with your commander!"
Dartis and Chalik stay behind with two dozen of the healthier, swifter men, creating a vanguard that sees to the protection of the men and takes to the wilderness between the two columns and slightly behind. They are left unharried, although a force of a dozen horsemen appears to watch and follow them from a distance. Dartis' horse, Swift, dances majestically around his irregulars, as the young noble raises his bow at the Imperials in defiance.
The entire force reaches the rock outcropping without incident, and the third of your forces that brought bows and arrows take positions on the highest portions. Another twenty men hide themselves in the woods, waiting for the Imperials to come. Around fifty men are left over, and they position themselves at the lower portion of the rock formation and the green field immediately around.
It takes some time... a frustrating and tense amount of time- but finally the ordered military march of the Imperials can be heard east of you. From the top of the rock outcropping, some of their bobbing helmets can be seen through the trees nearby, and you see the group stops about a third of a mile away. From the top of the rock outcropping, your party also sees a second group of Tallione cavalry approaching from the western side. This is a larger force, about a couple of dozen in size, but it's hard to count through the trees.
From this second force, a rider gallops forward, and your men knock and ready their arrows in his direction. He bursts forth into the edge of your clearing, watching your men with disdain. He pulls his horse back and waits then shouts loudly, "I would have words with your commander!"
Deuce Traveler
Adventurer
The man boldly rides forward to come within 50 feet of your archers. He removes his helmet and stares upwards at Dartis and the party. "I don't come to parlay, but to offer an opportunity to parlay with my captain, Commander Fralius Sassarius. He wishes to meet you away from our two forces. He wishes to request your terms for agreeing to the parlay. I am also to add, that a refusal to parlay will be considered to be a signal for hostilities where we will then meet you on this field."
Fenris
Adventurer
"I will meet Commander Sassarius. There is a rock outcropping a league east of here. I will meet him there, he may bring one assistant" replies Dartis.
OOC: [sblock] This assumes that in Dartis's experiance with the Imperial they have honored parlays and been generaly noble in this regards. Parlays among officers have certain traditions associated with them that I am assuming as in play here [/sblock]
OOC: [sblock] This assumes that in Dartis's experiance with the Imperial they have honored parlays and been generaly noble in this regards. Parlays among officers have certain traditions associated with them that I am assuming as in play here [/sblock]
OOC: Apologies, things have been absolutely crazy for me lately. I missed the comments of people addressing Chalik and didn't realize I wasn't responding. Chalik would accompany the Dorinthians as requested, offering any information he might have about these caves, though I get the feeling he's pretty far from home at this point. He would also try to stay close to Dartis and/or Danica, as he feels responsible for the loss of the others and is still looking for a way to make good on it.
Chalik sneers at the offer of Parlay but holds his tongue.
Chalik sneers at the offer of Parlay but holds his tongue.
Similar Threads
