Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2, Ch 1.4 Myre
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 2 Chapter 1.4
Myre Tormented
With all votes in, it appears that Myre is going to stay put for the time being until the immediate threat of Torments dies down. It also appears that Lady Marion will survive... for now. Based on the decisions the group has made this Chapter, the current modifiers are ++ Delay, + Danger, and - Luck, but this is still subject to change based on future decisions.
Cornelius was the first one to spot them, "They are circling the camp." he called calmly, tracking their progress with a finger as he nimbly picked his way across the top of the wooden barricade. He took aim as they drew closer to his vantage, knocking two arrows. Turning his weapon sideways so it was parallel with the ground, the shepherd loosed his shots, to which Josh announced with enthusiasm, "Wow! You just got two!"
"Indeed." Cornelius acknowledged calmly, stepping closer to where he had several more arrows sticking up out of the wood for ease of use.
"My turn!" the cub announced proudly, and knocked an arrow, only to have it fall off of his string and down to the ground a dozen feet below, "Oh heck fire!" he cursed.
"Spells." Cornelius spoke the order with all the confidence of a dog used to being obeyed-- and this was no exception.
Josh moved his bow to one paw, shouting out an incantation as an enormous ball of liquid fire grew between his open fingers. Little droplets of burning flame dribbled off of the orb and it turned into a miniature meteor as he loosed it to the ground below. I didn't see the impact, but it wasn't hard to miss the enormous glowing blast which rose up over the wall... it must have sent the Blood Beasts flying, because Josh really seemed to like the end result, "A HA! That's FOUR!" he announced proudly, "I'm winning!"
Lady Marion glanced up at the cub, "If we're alive then you're winning... this isn't a contest, Joshua."
"Front line." Cornelius directed, "They're coming toward you!"
I held my position behind Bahrla and Keeland. Liam stayed right beside me, offering a reassuring smile before he spoke up to those ahead of us, "Keep them at the entrance... me and Leijh will fire into the mass and you take out the close ones."
"Leijh and I, Mr Mail." Lady Marion offered from behind.
"You don't have a bow." the fox countered over his shoulder.
"No... I'm referring to your gramm--" she paused as the first of the Blood Beasts came into view of the opening in the wall, "It can wait." and, with that, she spoke louder, "Tah'Aveen protect us!" she called.
Directly ahead of me, Keeland spoke out the words of condemnation, ordering the Blood Beasts away before they even drew in range of his sword. The four front-runners, cowed by the divine decree, skidded to a halt and broke in either direction... but that was only four and left a whole sea of their brothers still coming at us. Cornelius' voice joined the Sergeant's from above the wall and the number of fleeing Blood Beasts doubled-- it still made barely a dent in the pack... but that is when Lady Marion prayed.
"Beloved Mother, Tah'aveen, Goddess of the Moon, hear my prayer." she intoned from behind me, "We, your loyal children, beseech you for your aid. Send your light down upon us... show us your favor, and turn aside these feral creatures." The sky illuminated in silvery light as a column of power-- pure divine intervention poured down on our camp... and the result was striking.
The entire front row of the Blood Beasts skidded to a stop. Like scolded puppies, in unison, they all turned-tail and fled into the night. Goddess, Miri... I don't think I'll ever see anything like that ever again. The most amazing thing though was that the light remained, creating a beacon around us and showing us that our prayers were answered. It felt-- I don't know what it felt like... but, Goddess, it was wonderful. The fact that half of the Blood Beasts were in full retreat made it even better.
"Spells!" Cornelius called from the wall again
Liam started the barrage, extending his empty paw and speaking out a series of quick syllables. A hungry black beam spanned the distance between him and his target, shooting right past our front line to unerringly strike the lead Blood Beast. The creature continued forward but its legs gave out. Its body hit the ground and it skidded for several feet before laying still; though it didn't bother getting back up, it didn't appear to be dead-- it was breathing. I realized that he must have sapped its energy because he looked a lot more invigorated as a result.
Lightning arced down into view from the wall above. Cornelius stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, one paw out as the surging blast crackled out from his fanned fingers. The jolt hit two of the Blood Beasts directly, charring them almost instantly. The third, behind them, received several powerful zaps, but it resulted in little more than some singed fur along with a few convulsions... it also seemed to make it angrier.
The creature thrashed back and forth, let out a howling, snarling hiss, and, smoke still rising up off its pelt, the Blood Beast charged straight toward our front line, bloodthirsty rage evident in its glowing eyes. The creature closed the distance rapidly, two others joining its charge. Once they reached a point maybe two dozen feet from the opening, the leader jumped, and the others followed. I'd never seen a Blood Beast leap like that before, Miri... it was amazing, and frightening all at once... until they stopped.
Josh's summoning spell was complete, and a large boulder off in the distance suddenly appeared in mid air, close by directly in the creature's way. In addition to the sound of three loud impacts, the situation worsened greatly for them as the young cub immediately summoned up a powerful blast of wind, changing the falling boulder's trajectory; it landed on them. I don't think I need to describe that sound, so we'll just move along and I'll say that it was time for bows again.
Liam was the first to have his arrow ready. He drew the string back and let the shot fly. It struck accurately, catching one of the remaining Blood Beasts in the neck and it stumbled before collapsing, "Another down." he called.
From his spot on the wall, Cornelius picked off the next Blood Beast in line, his arrow going straight through its eye. I took my aim next and fired a shot of my own, dropping another of their number. Josh followed up next with his own attack and, though the arrow actually took to the air, it landed far short of its target, much to the cub's chagrin, "Baby Hippos!" he cursed, "I hate this thing." and he tossed the bow back over the wall and into camp.
Our defenses had made such an enormous difference, scarcely a quarter of the animals' original numbers actually got to our front lines. Bahrla and Keeland, both set for the charge, swung their weapons as the Blood Beasts were narrowed down to fighting three at a time. The minotaur woman's gigantic axe swung from her left shoulder to her right hip, its wide arc cleanly slicing through two of the attackers. Sergeant Reilly quickly stepped in and dispatched the third Blood Beast with a quick stab.
The last three Blood Beasts stepped into the open spaces and two attacked Bahrla, but she cuffed the first on the head with a fist and kicked the second in the snout with her hoof, forcing them back. The third edged over to bite at Keeland, but he quickly retaliated and sliced its head clean off. Facing down the final two creatures, the shepherd brandished his holy symbol and shouted, "In the name of Tah'aveen... BEGONE!" and they listened.
We had won, Miri... we won, and not a single member of our group was injured. Bahrla used the boulder summoned by Josh to block off the entrance to our fortification, and we all knew we'd finally be able to relax... if only for that night. I can't begin to tell you how relieved I felt, but you can believe me when I say that we had one hell of a victory party... it may as well have been a Day of Celebration!
The night passed oh-so-quickly and, even though I don't think anyone (other than Lady Marion perhaps) got much sleep, I think we all awoke much more rested than we had in a long time. The ability to really relax for once made a difference. Looking back, I can imagine that it might not have been such a good idea to let our guard down but, then again, anything that found our camp would either have been too intimidated by the dozens of dead Blood Beasts, or would have been too busy eating them to bother with getting through the walls.
It's been a crazy last few days, Miri, but I have a feeling things will only get crazier. I have to finish up this journal entry because everyone else is already getting ready to leave. Liam came into the tent several times since I started writing to let me know that breakfast is ready... a few times he even stopped and hugged me from behind; I never realized how much I'd enjoy the feel of whiskers brushing the side of my neck, or a cold wet nose contrasting the feel of a soft, warm tongue-- but I'm already getting off track.
We're on the move again today, finally. I still don't trust Cornelius' motives, but for now he's helping to direct us away from this place, and I suppose I need to trust him enough to do that. We can't continue to stay here because he says it's only going to get more dangerous-- and that's something that Bahrla is quick to agree with. I don't plan on keeping us any longer than necessary, so I'll have to say farewell for now.
With any luck I'll be able to go over this journal with you in person... but, if not, then I hope it can find its way to you and that whomever gives it to you will be able to tell you that I did my duty to Myre until the end. Maybe, someday I'll even be able to introduce you to Liam in person... maybe everything I've written about him won't come as such a surprise if you have a chance to shake his paw first. I don't know how Lord Dalton will react to him, especially considering all the circumstances but, then again, fathers are fathers, right?
All my love, Leijh
* * * * * *
The travelers from Myre face off against another massive attack from Blood Beasts, but that should be the last of what the land has to offer... for now, at least.
This is the end of Leijh's journal for this chapter, which leaves 1 post left, presented for purely character-deveopmental purposes. Contributing Readers may choose what event happens and is presented:
1) Cornelius and Keeland 'celebrate the victory' together. (red border) 2) Liam and Leijh 'celebrate the victory' together. (red border) 3) Liam, Leijh, and Lady Marion hold their own 'Day of Celebration' (red border) 4) Lady Marion has Josh help her 'celebrate the victory' (red border-- on SF) 5) Cut to Saielisiev and his preparations to deal with the party (plot development) 6) Cut to Lord Dalton and Miri discussing Leijh (plot development)
Contributing Readers, make sure you vote before midnight (pst) on Thursday, November 24th. Happy Turkey Day!