Ostria

The city is famous for its titanic walls which can be seen even from many miles away. The walls divide the city into concentric rings known as Rounds. Each Round is walled, with the height of each crenelated wall growing as one moves closer to the center of the city. From a distance this makes Ostria resemble a layered plateau.

The Innermost Round contains the seat of House Mazetti, as well as its family catacombs and the headquarters of the Guardians. Moving outwards, the next tier is the Middle Round, which comprises the Upper Half, which houses the city's aristocracy, local officials, wealthy merchants and visiting members of the Peerage, followed by the Lower Half, which is the city's center of commerce and includes the fortress-like First Ostrian Bank. The final Outer Round is filled with the majority of Ostria's civilian population, as well as the Hydra's Fang - a recently built alchemical district. The Outer Round tends to be the first and only place most visitors to the city ever truly see.

There are four main gates in the city's outer wall, the Gate of the Dawn to the east, the Gate of the Dusk to the west, the Gate of the Sea to the south, and the Gate of the Plains to the north.

Gates between Rounds are staggered for defensive purposes, to prevent invaders from taking a single straight passage to the heart of the city. The increasing heights of each wall provide safety to the inner Rounds if the outer Round ever falls. In the entirety of Ostria's existence, it is said that the walls had never been breached by invaders.

They are coming. There's a lack of elegance in the approach of the horde. The arrogance wrought by overwhelming numbers brought to bear against any ducal seat that they just assume would fall, like so many. Ostria alone has not been evacuated throughout the Lyceum, with every other house standing and dying, their city-states burned around them, or moving to concentrate their strength at Lenosia as a final bulwark against the dark tide. The Hydras of Ostria do not run.

The defenses of the rounds have been prepared, and the horde is slowly but slowly approaching all four outer gates at the same time. A massive dark tide of abyssally tainted shards surrounding the city in a wave that goes on as far as the eye can see. Winged demons fill the air, and it's enough to take the heart of any human defender.

Not that Ostria only has humans.

((Entrance poses, as well pre-battle check to improve the morale of soldiers, any social or war check at hard works, and will apply a bonus throughout if successful. No damage for failure on this roll.))

Cambria checks command and leadership at hard. Cambria fails.

Miranda checks command and war at hard. Miranda is successful.

Marzio checks command and war at hard. Marzio is successful.

Hadrian checks command and diplomacy at hard. Hadrian marginally fails.

Reese checks command and leadership at hard. Reese fails.

Cambria checks command and war at hard. Cambria is successful.

Reese has came to Ostria to join the battle. She is adorned in her pink

Reese has came to Ostria to join the battle. She is adorned in her pink ribbons and steel silk. The Templar knight has a moment of nerves that keeps her from encouraging the troops like she hoped too. Instead there that is a pallor to her cheeks and her breathing is elevated with the subtle signs of fear. The Knight of Ribbons being here would probably be more encouraging if she was giving off a better sense of leadership and giving commands. She is here, nervously and imperfectly here for this last stand.

Lady Miranda Mazetti looks out over the city she has come to love and call home, affection and admiration plain in her expression - even with the hordes of the Abyss at the edges of all she can see. The lady-general is clad in steelsilk, wielding alaricite, and holding a vial of Mangatan holy water in a pouch at her hip. This is not the time to leave things up to chance. After a moment, her attention turns to Marzio. "A kiss for luck?" Okay, maybe it is the time for a little bit of leaving things to luck. She smiles brightly at her husband before turning to look for Cambria and Hadrian beyond.

Today is the day that decides Ostria's fate. The Walled City on the Sea that has acted as the seat of power for the Hydra since the Age of Songs stands ready to be tested against the greatest adversary that it has ever stood against. Over the years the walls have been built higher, thicker, stronger. The City of Walls must stand. If not for itself, then for their neighbors. If not for themselves, then for all those seeking to make their way safely to Arx. It's atop one of the taller structures that Hadrian stands with only a pair of Glaivedancers to accompany him. The battle plans have been drawn and the defenders arrayed. Now it's time for the signal. The beat of wings announces the arrival of Winifred and the approach sends Hadrian's cold black hair shifting as the amalgamation of woman, lion, and eagle-winged First Child descends to the rooftop. "Winifred," Hadrian offers up to the massive sphynx with an elegant, formal bow directed toward Winifred. Even the typically unwavering Glaivedancers take a few steps away, creating ample room for the landing.

"May I join with you for this battle?" Only when the consent of Winifred is given does Hadrian make the climb to sit astride the back of the sphynx.

At the highest point of Ostria the signal is given. A sampling of the eternal flame of Lady Petraea Livy that burns within the Ward of the Lyceum was taken and carried back to the Walled City. It is now, at that highest point, that a great signal fire is lit. The fire that warns of the horde's advance and Ostria's defiance begins to burn from that symbolic flame. From atop the city and astride Winifred's back, Hadrian can be heard shouting out for the Hydra's people to hear, "Rise up! For the Hydra, for the Lyceum, for our Compact!"

The gleam of diamondplate and alaricite shimmers from the back of Winifred and the son born of Southport stands prepared to fight. Not for the home that he was born; but the home that he adopted.

Cambria stood before the assembled Guardians of Mazetti, as well as army regulars, friends and family. She stands resolute despite the overwhelming enemy tide that even then could be seen upon the horizon. Her speech is not long, it is not, perhaps, even worthy of being considered among the 'greats' of history - but it is honest, and it is real.

"I am not the woman you think I am," she says. "But ever since I have assumed the mantle of leadership," from Marquessa, to Duchess. "I have ever made it my goal to be the one that you deserve." Her blue eyes, cold and glittering, sweep across those nearest her. "Whatever may come today, we stand here together not only because of the Vow we swore so long ago, but because of the love we bear for one another, and those who even now seek refuge in Arx; because we will not flee in the face of evil."

War has come to Ostria. The Ostrian Cavalry have had little rest over the last few days, the thousand horseman strong force having spent numerous days out assisting those fleeing the coming horde where they can. Marzio had been out there with them, having already said his goodbyes to he and Miranda's children before sending them ahead with the others to safety. Only once they had done all that they could do were they ordered to return to Ostria to get what little rest they could and to make ready for the coming battles.

Where does a force of a thousand horsemen go, however? Think of all that horse poop. All the same, they have taken refuge behind the first of Ostria's many walls, the horses and their riders pawing at the ground nervously, gripping their reigns, double and triple checking their saddles and weaponry. Rising up in his stirrups, Marzio removes the great plumed hat gifted to him so long ago and calls out to his men, "Riders of Ostria! Remember what we fight for. Remember what these bastards are here to steal from you! From your wives and husbands! From your children! From all of those we love! Remember what they come to crush! We stand today! Now and forever! We will not bow to this evil! For Ostria! For the Hydra!"

Glancing aside to his first lieutenant, Marzio offers a sharp nod and the other man crashes his sword against his shield. Again... and again... and again... yelling out. Soon the rest of The Thousand take up the cadence... Boom... Boom... Boom... yelling courageously. Only then does Marzio offer a smile to his wife and lean over to pull her into a kiss that could by all likelihood be their last.

Ostria. Theron takes in the sights for what very well could be the last time. The ever-present smile on his face is completely genuine this time. He doesn't need to hide his true nature anymore. Everyone has to face the horrors of existence now. He no longer needs to be secretive, pretend he knows nothing. He may now openly long for the only combat he's truly considered to be a worthy endeavor.

The smile does falter briefly. He may never see such a challenge again. However, there is more to that falter, and Theron finally looks behind the line he is prepared to hold. His eyes focus on something that he cannot physically see. Braith had not been thrilled with him to stand watch with the children of the Mazetti. It had taken pointing out it put her and a select few as the absolute last thing between death and the survival of the Mazetti line. He'd rather she be here at his side. Secretly that thought also absolutely terrorizes him.

It is pushed away, deep down, like so many other secrets. His eyes close, he inhales, and turns back to the line. Allegiance is present as always in Garibaldi's possession as sword-bearer. Instead he draws an ancient sword, and turns attention towards Cambria. There is a solemn nod of acknowledgement.

Theron wields Intricately forged ancient steel broadsword.

There's the beating of wings as a large dragon soars above the rounds, and comes to land by the Duchess of Ostria, a saddle already waiting on his back as he inclines his head towards Cambria. The thundering drum beats of the horde outside grows louder and louder as they approach the gates from all directions, an actual sixteen headed hydra at the front of the charge towards the Gate of the Sea, its existence almost a mockery of House Mazetti's sigil. Which, Azazel being Azazel, it almost certainly is.

The forces thunder closer and closer, thousands of winged imps and larger demons taking to the air to fly towards the outer most walls, and rain death upon the defenders. And then ever so slowly, the enemy is in range of the outer siege weapons, and they charge at the first fire, while their hulking ogres and giants hurl boulders towards the outermost ring of defense.

((Round 1: Any check that can be justified at hard, whether weapon skill or war or social, and if a character has magical access, note it in the roll. Failures on the rolls will result in damage.))

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Miranda is successful.

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio is successful.

Cambria checks command and leadership at hard. Cambria marginally fails.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Hadrian is successful.

Theron checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Botch! Theron fails completely.

Theron checks 'permanent wound save' at hard. Critical Success! Theron is spectacularly successful.

Despite the terrible damage, Theron does not take a permanent wound.

Theron checks 'unconsciousness save' at normal. Theron is successful.

Theron remains capable of fighting.

Cambria swings onto the back of the dragon without hesitation, almost as if she had always anticipated this moment - and was not, in fact, absolutely grateful that the powerful creature had chosen to come to them in their moment of need. There's a grim look for the hydra, the number of its heads actually quite disturbing.

"Would it be too wrong to make some sort of vow where for everyone of us they cut down, two more appear in our place?" It's clear it's some kind of black humored jest, the flash of her teeth more of a snarl than a proper grin.

Miranda allows herself to linger, just for a moment, in that kiss from Marzio. A glint in her eyes says she is going to fight with everything she has to ensure it wasn't their last. She echoes Marzio, lifting her voice to join the chorus of, "For Ostria! For the Hydra!" That alaricite blade is hoisted high, glinting and hopeful. Then, she's away from the man she loves and the riders, on foot and pressing the attach against the Abyssal enemy. Her sword slices clean through the torso of one, and she beckons the next one forward.

Reese was a bundle of nerves which kept her from being much use in inspiring the troops. The pink knight knows how to fight though. She has her silver pink blade in hand, rushing into the battle with a show of grace and skill. "Gloria be with us! Help us to save the land and the people of Ostria!" She says, charging forward and getting right into the thick of the fight. She swings her blade at the closest demon. She swings, she fights as hard as she can.

The pounding of weapon on shield from the cavalry mounts, seeking to match that of the hordes threatening outside of the walls of the city. It continues to build and build until the signal comes and the gates open, allowing The Thousand to rush from the city and to rush toward the enemy forces outside. The cavalry flows outward blooming from the wide gate and quickly flowing into a triangular formation seeking to spear through and to carve the forces in half in a perfect world. Marzio is there, alaricite and diamondplate armor gleaming and quickly becoming covered in gore as he charges his stallion forth, seeking to use the momentum of his mount to drive his alaricite spear into his enemies.

Is that a dragon?! Theron is unable to stop the sudden question that pops up in his mind. The second question is the safety factor of a saddle on a dragon for Cambria. The Hydra also weights heavily on his mind randomly wondering if it's some sort of blasphemy for the Mazetti to take it down. The Monster hunter turns back to the task at hand. The ancient blade already making a series of loops, stolen maneuvers from Glaive Dancers perhaps. Theron is trying to buy himself time, as the flying imps pose a new challenge for his experience.

Distracted as he is, he's able to parry the first Imps flying attack. Theron unfortunately is not able to parry an Ogre-Thrown Boulder and goes flying backwards barely able to keep his grip on the hilt. His vision swims and darkens, he tastes blood and spits it out. Shoving himself to a knee, and then to his feet. A wheeze, cough, his first shout fails from the wind knocked out. The second is a passable "For Ostria!".

Boulders are cheating, Theron randomly decides.

"Sieeeggeee!" Hadrian can be heard calling out as Winifred takes to the skies, "weapons, target thaaaaat!" As Winifred sweeps through the air, circling and gliding over the Walled City that has both housed and protected her for centuries. "disrespectful fuuuuuck at the Gaaaaaate of the Seaaaaa!" Are the words that the siege operators hear as the Duke of Ostria begins to call out adjustments to the defensive strategy. It's when Hadrian goes quiet and offers an uttered, respectful word to Winifred that the sphinx breaks away from her sweeping glides across the city. Eagle-like wings make powerful beats as rider and First Child pass near dragon and Duchess, "We've got too many in the skies! We need it cleared out!" The Marshal of Ostria calls out toward the Duchess as they sweep by.

Then it's toward the Gate of the Dawn to the east. They do not dive immediately into the fray, but instead mount and rider rest above the gate. More shouts are heard as Duke Hadrian issues commands from above, shouting over the beating of wings.

The existence of the the sphynx and dragon certainly catches the enemy off guard, and the death rains down on the hydra, with twelve of its sixteen heads ripped apart. Of course, others begin to grow immediately, but it still pauses in the assault on the gate. The massive horde of shards begin to reach the four gates, and the sky turns black with the number of arrows launched, as more and more boulders are thrown by the giants among the demonic tide.

((First enemy round, I will check luck for everyone here, and a failed luck roll means that the enemy targets you, and you have to roll a defensive check at hard (for simple fail, norm for marg, daunting for botch) to avoid damage.))

Apostate has called for a check of luck at normal.
TIE: Cambria is successful. Hadrian is successful.
Kalakh is successful.
Miranda is successful.
TIE: Marzio is successful. Theron is successful.
Botch! Reese fails completely.

Reese checks dexterity and dodge at daunting. Reese is successful.

The Thousand strong cavalry of Ostrian Riders continue their wild charge. Swords, spears, lances, and shields flash in the light, coming away covered in blood and gore. They take losses as that cloud of arrows flies high enough to blot out the light overhead, but still they press on. Marzio growls under his breath in fury, stabbing again and again with his spear, lunging and twisting as he dodges and wheels his steed about.

The lady-general continues to press beyond through the enemy lines, cutting down what she can as she makes a concerted effort to seek out the hydra. How dare they bring their own symbol against them? She leaps nimbly over an obstruction to find herself within striking range of the great beast.

"Fancy seeing you here," Cambria calls out as Hadrian draws near enough within the skies above to call out to her. The mirth is not long to last, however, as she gives the Duke and the mighty sphynx a nod. "The hydra acts true to lore! Trade you?" Cambria calls out, seeing how heads begin to regrow as rapidly as they were destroyed.

"My friend, let us see if the answers the old tales provide us hold true!" By which she meant to test if the fire of dragon's breath would prevent the hydra from regrowing its heads.

A demon charges at Reese who is really is a good target having dived into the battle wearing a bunch of pink. Reese darts to side of the large hellrific creature, spinning a fancy circle that confuses the beast. She slams her sword right through is lower left back and when she draws her blood sword back, the demon falls.

More blood is spat out by Theron, Guardians rush by him to do their duty. As luck has it. The boulder is right THERE to lean upon with a splayed hand. A moments thought, and Theron takes a step back behind the boulder to shade himself from the unnatural whistling shade approaching. His waterskin is briefly used, the water within cut with a percentage of wine. His bleeding mouth stings. His focus becomes less blurred. It's tucked away, the Sword lifts up his sword once again. His charge starts unsteadily, the boulder took a toll. The Guardians swarming passing him, and beyond him steels resolve, he gathers air again to bellow for those around him, as well as himself. "ONWARRRRRD!"

The horde they brought seems endless- even with the far vantage point in the skies above Ostria, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, just a swarm that goes on for miles and miles of what must be hundreds of thousands of shards, carrying the arms and armor that all too often has been stripped by the unfortunate who could not reach Ostria in time for safety. The sheer number of stones being thrown are beginning to break parts of the Gate of the Dusk and Gate of the Plains, and the Gate of the Dawn has a team of ogres with a battering ram beginning to move to the gate. The Gate of the Sea stands best, but it still might not hold at the hundreds of shards and Hydra pressed against it. And as if that wasn't enough, at least a dozen beholders rise from their ranks, and begin pursuing the sphynx and dragon in the skies.

((Round 2: Victory Point total 49, same checks at hard however you want to justify them, damage for fails, etc, can pose as soon as you make them.))

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Miranda is successful.

Cambria checks command and leadership at hard. Cambria marginally fails.

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Theron checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Theron fails.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio marginally fails.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Hadrian fails.

Theron checks 'death save' at easy. Theron is successful.

Theron remains alive, but close to death.

Theron is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Theron checks 'permanent wound save' at hard. Theron is successful.

Despite the terrible damage, Theron does not take a permanent wound.

The rush of Lady Miranda Mazetti is noted from above by both Hadrian and Winifred. The diamondplate spike that is Hadrian's sword is pointed toward the hydra and Miranda's rush to dispatch it, "We must clear a path!" Trying to consider the unfolding battle from a strategic standpoint, mount and rider seek to change the tide with precision. Winifred dives and Hadrian lets out a startled yelp, clinging to the scrubby fur at the sphynx's neck as she makes her swift dive through the skies above Ostria. Her impact with the ground is stalled just before reaching it, but instead she practically stomps across ranks and rows of shards and even an ogre at one point. It's clear that Winifred seeks to both clear a path, but also protect, Lady Miranda in her bid to reach the hydra.

The damage is done as the large cat-like sphynx hops and twists, swiping a massive paw that seems to crackle with energy. As quickly as she lands, just like the cat much of Winifred's body represents, the First Child springs into the air again and launches herself back toward the skies over the Walled City to contend with the swarm of winged threats diving from above.

The battle grows more intense the further Marzio and his men drive into the horde of shards. Weapons clang against armor and the cry of pain from his men likely become all to common, intermixed with the wild yells of combat as men fight for their lives. Marzio's teeth are bared, his eyes wild as he stabs out and misses a shard, only to have to throw himself completely backward in his saddle to dodge a blade that slices by too close for comfort where his chest had been a moment before. His spurs dig into his horse's side and the beast leaps forward then kicks out with both hind legs, crushing the chest of a shard though likely not enough to fell the monster. Looking around wildly, Marzio tries to find someone, anyone, nearby. Theron, Miranda, Hadrian, or Cambria.

Any Ostrian worth their sea salt know you don't attack a hydra by aiming for the heads. Miranda shouts almost gleefully and she bounds along the cleared path that Hadrian and Winifred create for her, and her attack upon the giant thing is kept low. She aims at the legs, focusing on dismantling joints with her blade. If it can't walk, it will be easier to kill.

Reese continues to battle on, trying to cut a way through demons and orges toward the Hydra. She fights with skill and for now remain standing. She fights on, likely taking down abyssal creatures near her. Her silvery pink blade is coated in blood. She is beyond the ability to speak much, being so focused on fighting, but she does manage to cry out one word. "Gloria."

Between the appearance of the beholders, and the ferocity of the hydra, Cambria and the dragon upon which she rides appear hard-pressed to make any noticeable headway against the enemy. The pair, the Duchess a small figure upon the dragon's back, fight viciously for all of that. Each geyser of dragon fire that seems to clear a path is only too quickly filled by the multitude of enemies against them, and prevents the pair from tackling the hydra directly.

Hadrian and the Sphynx abandon the skies in order to help on the ground below so that Miranda might take the fight to the hydra itself, but it is a course of action Cambria does not have the luxury to do more than take note of. She sees, too, how there are gates threatening to collapse, and others among the dark tide that she can readily pick out who might otherwise want for help...

Yet war was not the place for pity, only grim determination.

The hydra is moving slower at least. There's a problem with the Gate of the Plains, finally shattered under the assault of dozens of thrown boulders from minotaurs, and hordes of shards begin to pour into the Outer Round, meeting ranks of massed Ostrian Pike and infantry. There's crossbow fire coming from houses in the Outer Round as well, but it's a costly propostion, civilians participating being targeted just as readily as the soldiers.

And as the forces thunder in, the beholders drops rays of death among the defenders. Some of the Ostrian allied mages answer with their own flame, and at least one beholder explodes, but a carpet of death is being layered among the walls of the Outer Round.

((Luck check round of enemy attacks))

Apostate has called for a check of luck at normal.
TIE: Cambria is successful. Theron is successful.
Miranda is successful.
Hadrian is successful.
Kalakh marginally fails.
Marzio fails.
Botch! Reese fails completely.

Reese checks dexterity and dodge at daunting. Reese is successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Marzio is successful.

With enemies inside the Outer Round, more and more of the army of Ostria is committed to the fight, trying to drive back the forces inside the city. The other gates have held so far, but are in dire shape.

((Round 3, Current Victory Point total 72. Again can check and pose, if anyone is dragging the unconscious to safety, can do that as part of your check, you just won't contribute victory points on success and will save theron instead))

Cambria checks command and leadership at hard. Cambria marginally fails.

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio is successful.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Hadrian is successful.

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Miranda is successful.

The outer gates are falling, but that is within the plan. It is to be expected. Not ideal, but expected. The Walled City suffers and now Hadrian must answer that slight. "We need to bring them down!" Hadrian calls out as he gestures toward the floating beholders wreaking havoc atop the walls. For his part the Duke of Ostria is a passenger, helpfully calling out fresh targets for the First Child's benefit. A benefit which Winifred capitalizes upon with true, astonishing ability. Again Hadrian is forced to hold on tightly, all while trying his level best to sheathe his sword. He quietly curses himself for even thinking the damnable thing would be necessary on sphynx-back.

Sweeping through the air with a rush of wind, Hadrian's next moment is glancing up to see those same beholders grow in his sight as he and Winifred streak toward them. "Wai--" and then Winifred is through, at least two or three of the beholders practically exploding with their passage as the sphynx rams directly through the monstrosities!

"Oh!" Hadrian retches, bits of beholder splattered all over the front of him, "Oh! Oooh!" Bww-uggh! He retches again, "It's IN MY EAR!"

Winifred seems uncaring of the Duke of Ostria's plight.

Surveying the field from where he is, Marzio catches sight of Guardian armor falling as Theron takes a little bump to the head and goes down. Calling out to one of his cavalry men, Marzio points with his spear and together the two drive their horses through the horde in a dash to reach Theron's side. Both pull their horses in, sending dirt flying and Steve dismounts at a run. Skidding to his knees, he hefts Theron up to Marzio, helping the Mazetti lord get Theron across his horse and leaves himself vulnerable to an attack from behind. Marzio yells out, spurring his horse away in horror as a sword tip emerges from Steve's chest, trying tp put some distance between himself and the threat while ensuring that Theron is secured.

One of the beholders explodes in a violent eruption of magical light and gore, thanks to one of the mages who has lent their aid to Ostria. Cambria and Limatusadin continue to harry the numerous aerial enemies even as those on the ground advance through the Gate of Plains, wreacking havoc and devastation upon the beloved city and its people. Another of the beholders is slain, and apparently Hadrian gets a taste of that gore firsthand. Marzio and the cavalry remain a prominent force upon the field, despite the overwhelming odds, and she can see those bright points amidst the sea of chaos that are the heroic and brave Miranda and Reese.

Reese was swarmed by demons, but the pink Templar dodged and darted with amazing skill as she battled on. She continues to fight her way toward the hydra, focused and drawing blood as she goes. Her breathing is elevated. Her cheeks are flushed pink. She tries to keep her focus on the battle and on saving Ostria. She cries out Gloria a few times, but the blonde templar is far too busy fighting to give any prayers more involved than such.

As bits of beholder rains down from the skies from Winifred the Sphynx's rampage, a number of abyssal mages are badly pressing the Ostrian forces in the Outer Round, forcing much of the infantry steadily back towards the gates of the Middle Round. The horde is being bled for each step, but their numbers feel endless. Scores and scores of winged demons fly after the sphynx and dragon, attempting to harry them, while imps still rain death from above.

((Luck turn of enemy attacks, checking))

Apostate has called for a check of luck at normal.
Hadrian is successful.
TIE: Miranda is successful. Marzio is successful. Kalakh is successful. Reese is successful.
Cambria is successful.
Theron is successful.

As Miranda continues to hack away at the hydra, she tries to keep some sense of what is happening around her, but she's not able to see much from her vantage point. A quick look, but all she can see at the moment is Cambria swooping through the sky. The lady turns her attention back to the awful creature and sees the progress she's made in her assault upon the thing. She reaches into the pouch at her hip and pours the holy water into the wounds.

Miranda drops Vial of Holy Water of Mangata.

Things could be better. Another random thought flitters through the dazed mind of the Sword of Ostria. Theron really needs to focus at the task at hand. He's able to parry several more Imp attacks. But each parry leaves Theron more frustrated. He's a Monster /Hunter/, not a Monster Duelist. The frustration grows with every motion. It's a deadly distraction. Theron will likely never know what struck him and rendered him incapacitated flying through the air like a rag doll once more.

A prone figure that should have been tearing its way through the vast horrors upon the land is merely just a odd feature of difficult terrain. Fortunately for Theron, sharp eyed Marzio saves the deadweight of Theron. If Theron regains consciousness and lives, he'll certainly toast to the memory of Steve of the Cavalry, and likely give Marzio his cask of 1st Wall.

There's a sizzling sound as the Hydra shrieks from its regrowing heads at the holy water, which does cause the stumps to not regrow. Seems to work as well as fire, at least, while Miranda is battling it. The army continues to be pressed, and some of the shards are starting to reach the gates of the Middle Round despite a heroic, ferocious resistance on the part of the Ostrian army to hold them back.

((Round 4: 122 Victory Points. Checks again at hard))

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Miranda is successful.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Hadrian is successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio is successful.

Marzio has taken the time to lash Theron to his saddle as best he can with a length of leather cordage, though he's done it one handed and on the move so it likely won't be the most comfortable ride. All the same, once he's sure that he isn't going to lose Theron at any moment, he turns his eyes back to the sea of shards around them and stabs his spear out again, jabbing one in the head and then driving his horse forward in the wake of the falling monster. "Cavalry! Press forward. Try and cut them away from the walls!" he yells out, though his voice likely drowns in the clamor of battle around them.

That sizzle emboldens Miranda. To all she Ostrians around her, she calls out a somewhat conflicting message: "KILL THE HYDRA!" The lady braces a foot on the hacked away parts on leg and sprinkles the last drops of the holy water along her alaricite blade, angling to leap and sink the sword in a way that would cut the monstrous creature.

Cambria checks dexterity and medium wpn at normal. Cambria is successful.

Reese fights onwards. She hears Miranda's cry and tries to turn her attacks on the hydra if she can. She prayers to Gloria for help in a moment of the intense desperation of being unsure how to take down a Hydra. Reese is still on her feet and still fighting onwards. "Gloria let this blade I wield shred the Hydra's tentacles so that people of Ostria may yet live on!" She says, focused on the civilians they are protecting in her heart. Her pray is short and cried out in a breathy urgent voice.

"The Outer Round has fallen," Hadrian announces, more for Winifred's benefit and his own strategic thinking. The wind whistles and howls around him, sending what fabric is able snapping and fluttering around him. It's a difficult decision, leaving others to fend for themselves. It's an act of delegation that results in Hadrian taking a deep, deep breath and calling out to Winifred, "My dear lady!" He waits a moment to determine that he was heard. He was, of course. The First Child's hearing far more keen than any humans! "We must do as much damage as we possible can to their flank. Find their leaders, find those guiding and leading this horde. We MUST destroy them, we MUST sever the head from this snake!"

While the Middle Round must see to its own defense while the fortifications hold, Winifed and Duke Hadrian set themselves to a different task. They dive toward Gate of Dusk and with dirt churning force Winifred lands, twisting and spinning. Her wings bat and Hadrian keeps his head down, seeking not to be dislodged or otherwise buffeted free of his grip on her scruffy hide. Again Winifred's paws crackle with energy as she spins, sending a mass of shardlings and a group of ogres sailing into their despicable compatriots.

"For our Compact!" Hadrian calls out to no one in particular - he's not even certain that anyone is around - as Winifred whips about and disgorges a gout of crackling energy from his human-like mouth. The scent of charred, unclean flesh fills the air and the beholder-gore covered Hadrian continues to hold on tight while Winifred does her very best to be the biggest, most terrifying nuisance that she can be.

"Hey," Cambria said to Limatusadin, the dragon upon whose back she rode. "You think it's time I give this stuff a try?" From her waist, the Duchess pulls free a flask containing a strange golden liquid and holds it tightly within one hand. If the dragon answers her, it is its own tongue - what does a dragon's laughter sound like? Rather frightening, all things considered, even when said dragon is on your side! Without hesitation, Cambria drinks the liquid in one go, and whatever she experiences upon doing so is a moment and a story for another time.

"Take me down!" She cries, and in a glorious dive the likes of which only a dragon is capable, in terror, beauty and majesty, the pair torpedos towards the earth below, with Cambria /vaulting/ from the dragon's back to land among the devilish enemy, the alaricite sword she had named the Absolute, given to her by none other than Dominus Orazio as a gift from the Nox'alfar themselves brandished and promising death.

Her eyes saw...differently. Inhuman acuity. Motion - no matter how slight or peripheral - caught her attention, filled her awareness. Judged inconsequential or defined as threat, prey or unknown: instinctive decisions yet no longer buried deep, now lurking just beneath the surface of her mind. She could feel her every muscle, every tendon and bone, could concentrate on each one to the exclusion of all the others, achieving a spatial sensitivity that made control absolute. The violence residing within her was that of a killer. Cold and implacable, devoid of compassion or ambiguity. The realization would have terrified her if only she had not exalted in it instead.

And above her, the dragon continued to sear unto utter ash the monsters that threatened to overrun them, its roars piercing the cacophony and yet it was as music to her ears.

The hydra finally goes down, a mixture of fire and blessed water keeping it from regenerating, as the southern gate holds. The Middle Round gate starts to go, but then the Duchess of Ostria herself is there, and her dragon, and ash and death are left in their wake as the Ostria army lets out a cheer and rallies, pushing back from that point.

But Azazel's legion is certainly not done, pouring into the Outer Round in greater and greater numbers, with the western and eastern gates now down, and the skies are obscured with demon and arrow alike.

((Luck round of their attacks.))

Apostate has called for a check of luck at normal.
Cambria is successful.
Marzio is successful.
Reese is successful.
TIE: Miranda marginally fails. Hadrian marginally fails.
Theron fails.
Kalakh fails.

Miranda checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Miranda is successful.

Hadrian checks command and leadership at normal. Hadrian is successful.

With the duchess and her dragon taking the lower field in the midst of the battle, the tempo has shifted. The rear of the legion is hesitating. It's still a tide flowing forward, but there's a hint of uncertainty in the enemy horde that wasn't there before. The Middle Round gate is still holding, though the damage to the Outer Round is extensive, and there's a number of giants trying to break some of the walls to the Middle Round for another gateway through.

((Round 5, Victory Points 197. All can check at hard, Cambria checks at normal due to gummi berry juice))

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Critical Success! Miranda is spectacularly successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio is successful.

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Cambria checks dexterity and medium wpn at normal. Cambria marginally fails.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Hadrian marginally fails.

Reese keeps fighting on after the hydra falls. She swings her silvery pink blade, trying to cut a path in her direction of the giants. Who knows how quick she will get there. Reese stops to fight demons along the way if the runs into them. Her pale skin is coated with sheen of moisture, but the pink templar is so far only covered in the blood of monsters. her swings are success as she battles on.

"Winifred, left!" Hadrian practically screeches out as he spies the massive ogre sheathed in rough plate wind up to hurl a boulder at the sphynx. Maybe it's a showcase of their ability to work together well or maybe Hadrian's just the screeching thing astride her back, but Winifred does bound to her left and the boulder goes sailing by. Incidentally it smashes into the ranks of shardlings assaulting the western gates, but on those same foul creations of the abyss come.

Again Winifred whirls about and her crackling paw sends shardlings sailing away. She lowers herself, the back end of the sphynx wiggling as she prepares to leap forward and ahead. Next stop: stepping on that Pantheon damned ogre. Then onward and further into the fray, stomping and sending the servants of Azazel scattering by the dozens and hundreds. For now they must escape the harried situation they've found themselves.

Winifred's butt-wiggle ceases when she surges up and forward, leaping high and hard across the ranks of attackers surging toward both First Child and her companion, as well as the western gates in their bid to continue their surge into the city.

Marzio drives his horse back toward the walls of the city, attempting to drive in behind the forces pushing in on the city walls and catch the horde of Shards from behind where he can, hoping that they are so focused on gaining entry into the city that they've forgotten about the pair of Mazetti lords charging around on horseback. He saw the hydra fall, and can only hope that his family are safe in their own places in this battle. All the while, Stride's End continues to jab and stab, taking shards out of the battle.

Miranda cries out in (temporary) victory whent he hydra collapses under her assault, and she quickly dashes out from the path of its descent to the ground. Then, she looks around her and sees Marzio. Relief floods and she launches into a whirlwind of movement, slashing down every shard between them as she presses forward. Forward. To her husband. By the time she reaches him, she's left a path of limbs in her wake. "Marzio!" She reaches out. "Help me up." The crowding into the outer ring is troublesome, and she offers to watch his back from behind him if he swings her up onto the horse.

On the ground now, Cambria cuts what seems like an impossible swath through numerous shards. She seeks to rally those around her, forming a knot of defenders that attracts the attention of the more powerful and frightful beasts among the abhuman tide for its sheer tenacity and refusal to fall. They may sem to waiver, but that is no certainty to those men and women fighting for their very lives that the battle is even close to being over. From her vantage, Cambria can see Reese as she slays foe after beastly foe. Winifred, the lovingly chosen name for the First Child that the Guardians had long ago promised to keep safe, is hard to miss given her size and amazing ferocity. (It's also more than a little disturbing to see her beautifully human face /eating/ things like shards or biting the limbs off minotaurs).

(At least dragons looked more natural as they chomped on other monsters)!

Fortunately, if seeing First Children devouring the enemy bothered the troops of Ostria, there wasn't a sign of it as they rallied to the attack. The enemy was wavering, and there was the sense of the possibility of victory, reinvigorating the toops. The demonic forces sensed it too, and near all the remaining beholders swooped up to try to rain as much death as possible all near the gate of the Middle Round, attempting to blast a path clear so they could flow into the city proper.

((Luck turn of enemy attacks))

Apostate has called for a check of luck at normal.
Critical Success! Cambria is spectacularly successful.
TIE: Miranda is successful. Theron is successful. Kalakh is successful.
Hadrian marginally fails.
Marzio marginally fails.
Botch! Reese fails completely.

Marzio checks dexterity and dodge at normal. Marzio is marginally successful.

Hadrian checks charm and leadership at normal. Hadrian is successful.

Hearing his name called out, Marzio's eyes search the press of bodies around him until he finds Miranda cutting her way through to him (and Theron). When she draws near enough, he reaches down without stopping the stallion's canter and uses the horse's momentum to vault Miranda up onto the saddle behind him. Three people heavy, even the Ostrian stallion will be feeling the burden but it doesn't waver in it's duty. There is a grunt from Marzio as he feels a hard jab in his ribs and he turns to see an arrow clatter to the ground, turned away by his alaricite armor.

It's the decisive moment. Even some of the shards are starting to give ground, and there's a push from the Ostrian infantry to slowly try to drive them from the Outer Round. The street fighting is chaotic, and some of the Ostrian units are able to slip behind attackers, pincering them between forces, but with the number of flying demons even that kind of classic maneuver becomes precarious.

It looks like Ostria may hold. There's a sensation within the army to put everything now, to press the enemy and drive them from the gates, but there's still so, so, so many. And they haven't yet started to break into a rout, in the bitterly contested fight.

((Round 6, final round unless someone self sacrifices. 236 Victory Points, so Ostria holds unless something is truly catastrophic. All rolls at hard except Cambria at normal.))

Cambria checks dexterity and medium wpn at normal. Cambria is successful.

Miranda checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Miranda marginally fails.

Demons swarm around Reese. Is this just bad luck or do they hate the pink? Maybe Reese herself is part of why this happened with the way the Templer Knight was going after those Demons, fighting on and and on. She gets swarmed by multiple Monsters of the Abyss, her pink hard to see amongst all the red as on grabs her and starts to pull her down. This appears that it will be the end of the Knight of Ribbons there is no way she can survive or at least almost no way without aid.

Reese checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Reese is successful.

Marzio checks dexterity and huge wpn at hard. Marzio is successful.

Hadrian checks intellect and war at hard. Botch! Hadrian fails completely.

Cambria sees Reese as she appears to be swarmed by a mob of demons, and then disappear from view. Without hesitation, Cambria leapt from her place among the circle of soldiers that had rallied around the Duchess in order to save the Knight of Ribbons!

"The Compact needs you!" Cambria shouted, cutting down the hideous fiends surrounding Reese, and extending her a hand in order to pull Reese back to her feet.

Hadrian checks 'death save' at normal. Hadrian fails.

Hadrian has died.

Atop Sunrise, Marzio, Theron, and Miranda surge forward through the press of enemies around them. Marzio holds the reigns in one hand and his spear in the other which he stabs out again, and again, trusting Miranda to keep herself atop the horse. "Is it just me or does it seem like the tide might be turning?" Marzio yells out, perhaps with a touch of optimism coloring his voice some small bit.

Reese is pulled to her feet and dragged a bit back from the demons that swarmed her by Cambria. It is very possible that Reese would have fallen and not survived this battle without her actions. She tries to keep standing, to keep fighting. Reese is a little rattled by the close call. Still the Knight of ribbons fights on. Once back on her feet, she keeps fighting the demons. She starts to pus them back.

Miranda /is/ doing her best to stay on the horse, but that means she is not doing her best at stabbing shards in the face. It may not matter, because she calls out in response to Marzio, "It... does! We might be able to finish pushing them away from the walls!" She's careful about Theron, too, and scans out over the battle around them.

"Don't! Stop! Winifred! Now!" Hadrian calls out over the roar of battle and - frankly, pissed off shardlings - as the sphynx leaps through the sky. Her wings beat, carrying her over the hordes of abyssholes. He holds on tightly and then his world is turned upside down, inside out even. Winifred spins in the air, performing a sphynxroll! as she picks up her momentum mid-leap and half-flight. Throughout the roll Hadrian's eyes are slammed closed and he holds on tightly. He hugs to the back of the Guardian's protector and protectee both. When she lands - Hadrian is left to breathe out a sigh of relief as he sits upright anew, straightening.

"Winifred! Behind you!" Hadrian calls out as his eyes widen and he twists, spying the revolting mage staring daggers in the direction of Winifred and, by proxy, Hadrian. Winifred's slow in turning on account of batting a large ogre away, sending him like one of the boulders that ogre surely had thrown at some point in the battle. Shardlings fall, arrows still split the air at random intervals, and the general roar of fury outside the walls of Ostria fills the air.

Too slow. Too distracted. He wasn't born in Ostria. Southport had long been his home and he'd even plotted a course to pass by it on their journey to Arx should they escape.

Winifred needs him. The sphynx had already done much to repay the protection she had been provided for centuries.

Hadrian twists and pulls himself up even as the arc of foul energy is hurled toward the rear of the sphynx. He may not have been born in Ostria, but he took his acceptance and the Duty that it imposed quite seriously. For a man who had long declared that appearances meant everything, that a single roll of the dice should never decide every outcome, and more - he decided to risk it all. It's as a smouldering husk that the Duke of Ostria is struck by the foul purple-black energy and unceremoniously tumbles to the trampled ground behind Winifred. She fights on, but it is because she must.

The combined fury of so much of Ostria's might - family, allies, proteges, Templars, knights, Cardians, and more combined - is presented to Azazel's legions. The Abyss is weighed and measured that day and their might is found wanting. Soon the shardlings begin to route, withdrawing with haste to prevent an even greater loss of their own might. Even as they make their hasty retreat, Winifred continues to maul and paw her way through the masses, sending more and more of the shardlings scattering in bits, pieces, and burnt husks.

Today is a celebration of House Mazetti, the Walled City, and all of its friends and allies. Today and going forward, new heroes are born among the Guardians and on Mondays... they wear pink.

Arx awaits.

In the heavens above, Limatusadin soared unchallenged, destroying all that came against him as though they were little more than toys to be batted aside. The Sphynx inspires the people of Ostria, rather than frightens them, as though they understand her for the patron defender of the city beneath which she had slumbered for so long. All around the enemy begins to thin, to miraculously relent. With Reese at her side, the Duchess and Knight of Ribbons shine like beacons of hope.

As Cambria fought her way through the horde, she heard the soldiers take up a chant around her. The same words, shouted over and over as though in some kind of sacred intonation, a scrap of purity hoisted above wickedness and none would willingly relinquish it. It was a call and a promise, a curse and a prayer. The Guardians of Ostria, who were now warriors and civilians alike, matched the monstrous enemy in preternarual fury, roared as they stove in skulls and spilled entrails. In one mad voice, seemingly one mad mind, the raised high their hope like a shield and became unconquerable.

It is a victory, however, not without its price.

And they break. The forces of Azazel are in full retreat, pulling back from Ostria and put to flight by the forces of Ostria. They have much to mourn, with their fallen duke and so many of their soldiers. But it's a victory. The citizens of the Outer Round survived, despite demons quite literally at their doors. The Middle Round was never penetrated, and the place outside of the gate is referred to in the future as the 'Duchess Landing', as soldiers tell stories of Cambria and her dragon putting the forces to flight. And so many stories about the defenders. About Reese. Marzio. Theron. Miranda. And so very many about Duke Hadrian Mazetti.

Generations will come and go, and the memories of humans wax and wane. But not so for First Children. A sphynx lives forever, after all. And she'll never, ever forget the man that saved her.


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The Lyceum is not a place given to sentimentality at the best of times. The Hundred Cities are famed for their pragmatism, and so it was when Azazel legions began marching across the Lyceum, an overwhelming majority of the city-states simply evacuated to move for the strong point of Lenosia. The smart, pragmatic choice, and if the slow moving couldn't quite make it, well that's rather unfortunate. A handful of domains stood and fought, being swept under the tide, their domains razed and their people consumed by the march of Azazel's forces.

The duchy of Ostria did not flee.

It was a brutal battle, all told, but tales quickly come of the Duchess of Ostria fighting atop dragon back, personally holding the inner gate of the Middle Round of her city, while the Duke-Consort Hadrian Mazetti fought atop a sphynx that called Ostria home, unknown but to a precious few.

The battle was intense, and Ostria held, driving back Azazel's legions which had to regroup their battered forces and march around the city, leaving Ostria be. It held, but at great cost, with painful losses among the Ostrian soldiers- and of the Duke Hadrian himself, who gave his life to save the Sphynx of Ostria when victory was in their grasp.

As Ostria endures, they will remember.
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