you all enjoy the festivities, food, and drink as the night progresses. Some possibly more than others. No one seems to noticing anything amiss, save possibly some quiet people standing off in corners or near the walls. As many of the knights begin to drink more than their share however, the festivities are shattered in quite a bloody and abrupt way. One of the new knights walks up behind Micheal, the main one providing most of the magically enchanted drink and plunges a long serrated knife through his back. With a quick sawing motion, Micheal falls to the floor in a heap, his robes almost causing him to look like crumpled laundry.
Several other newly inducted knights stare in shock, unsure of whether this is some prank, trick, or effect of magic before several other knights move from the shadows, all drawing long, serrated, wicked looking daggers. Striking at those closest to them. Most of those in attendance hadn't brought their weaponry, and no one had much in the way of armor, save possibly some with stylish shields. In the midst of the chaos, an arcane distortion is scene and from it steps a human woman, tall, jet black hair down past her shoulders, wearing an ornate black steel breastplate with red inlay forming runes and symbols on it. She has a greataxe strapped to her back, and wields a shield similar to the brestplate with a morning star. She shouts
Long have you all grown comfortable and lazy on the backs of the people. Long have you profited from our suffering even while you spread lies about protecting us! No more! We follow the Great One, the True One, the Great Beast! He will free us all from the shackles you have chained us with. See our resolve? We strike fearlessly For the Great One, And in return, he grants us the power to survive!
As she says this, you all see pure dark energy swirl through the air around her. Any of your new brothers near her suddenly begin to wither away, their forms turning to what seems ash before disappearing, even one of the knife wielding assailants gets too close and perishes in this way. They never even had the chance to scream.
The woman laughs, let the weak and worthless wither away in the Divine light of Our Master! Strike them down, slay them for generations of oppression, generations of mistreatment! They cannot stand against what is true justice!
More dark energy seems to gather around the woman, before dispersing out,covering the area in a magical darkness that instills a cold terror within you. Suddenly, a bright Light Shines forth, casting away the dark mist and you see the High Cleric entering the room. At The High Cleric's entrance a flash of fear crosses the black armored woman's face. What ensues seems to be a test of wills that ends with the woman holding her own, until Headmaster Alaryn enters as well wielding his famed greatsword and his regal attire tattered bits. The woman seems to glower before retreating and mumbles something into her dangling earring.
Tonight is merely the end of the beginning! Across the whole nation the people strike at you and your corrupt knights! Soon, all will see the truth, all will know, and you will fall! As she finishes speaking another arcane distortion begins to swirl around her before she vanishes.
Even as she vanishes, about 6 knife wielding members move in towards your group. Almost half of the remaining knights have been either killed or wounded by the cultists, however, after the initial shock and surprise their training begins to kick in. Several other small skirmishes have broken out as the Knights that are alive and not fleeing attempt to fend of the assailants. Many using improvised weaponry such as chairs or sharp table knives, while others are left to fight with nothing but their fists or to throw tableware in an attempt to distract one of the attackers or at least hinder them.
"And this is why a Juno is never without a katana." Artemis sighed as she drew both of her katanas and sprung into action. "Listen, all of you! Get those who don't have weapons out of here! Those of you with weapons, follow after me! We're going to keep these cultists busy." Artemis shouted out before she charged to the closest enemy. "You made a grave mistake." She hissed as the blade in her right hand twisted and lashed out at the opponent.
Stepping back from the approaching cultists, Posh tugs off a leather strap he's been wearing as a belt. And takes in the situation.
"Oh! Cultists attacked us
No need to fuss
We must commit!
Though I may vomit...
Juno stab them like thus!"
Blurts out the gnome, making an awkward stabbing motion. His gesture makes it quite obvious he's never held a katana.
Rols breaks off a table leg and casts Shillelagh.
Looking at Posh he shouts, "Amal shufar, at rrug" and laughs
"Gods be damned," Tordrek mutters as he draws the warhammer off of his hip.
As Artemis strikes the cultist, he sneers, No, it is you, you and your bloodline that have made the mistake. No more will you keep the masses in the shadows, no more will you leave us nothing but scrapes and the bottom of your boots!
he lashes out with his dagger, however his zeal causes his hands to become shaky and Artemis deftly parries the dagger away.
One of his allies moves in behind Artemis, attempting to take advantage of the distraction and scores a nasty hit in her side. Artemis flinches slightly, used to her armor being there for such occasions.
Two cultists move towards the dwarf, circling around him and lashing out whenever they feel his defenses drop. One manages to score a nice hit across his arm.
The other two Cultists split up, one goes towards posh stopping short a bit. Posh, you grew up one of us! you know what it is like in the slums, how we are left with nothing, while those here take everything! Join us, and together we can bring justice to these corrupt elites, we can make the world better for the majority! He doesn't attack, merely attempts to persuade you.
The other moves to Rols, he also speaks. Never thought I'd see a half-orc fighitng for these fools. What makes you want to fight for those that would shun you?
he lashes out with his dagger. Scoring a minor cut.
Surrender and join us, and you'll never face that prejudice again... He takes a minor step back, awaiting a response
Lienhol is shocked, stunned at the sheer audacity of this attack. This puts him on the backfoot until he can gather himself.
He sets his face into a deep scowl now. There was no time to see to the rites of battle, now was a time for action. No cause could be worth such a wanton loss of life.
He steps forward, smashing a broken table leg under his foot with little notice. He picks up speed, pushing his huge body until he is barreling across the polished marble floors. The tight parade uniform rips in tears in several places where it was not made to accommodate such movements. He drops his shoulder moments before he impacts with one of the Cultists. The satisfying sounds of cracking ribs greats him in response.
"A weapon!" shouts Lienhol "Pray, do not force me to carry out this business with only my fists!"
The first knife to her back reminded the youngest Juno of her lack of armor, and she quickly adjusted herself to parry the next slash.
I can't fight on two fronts... Not without armor... Or reducing my opponents.
Then she noticed Lienhol and offered him a smile. "If you can use a katana." She told him as she handed off one of her katanas. Once she did she took her remaining Katana in both hands. "You talk too much." She informed her opponent as she stepped up next to him, getting away from the one behind her, and drove her blade towards him.
”I know the fear of the slums
We’ll all turn into bums.
Tis but a spoof
For I am the proof!
Please join us for some rum!”
Replies the gnome. Stepping a tad closer to Rols, he swings the leather strap towards the druids foe, missing his face by inches.
"Please don't make us hurt you friends. Lay down your arms!" he pleads.
Rols takes a mighty grip on his weapon and steps forward to repay his attacker.
As chaos breaks out, Alvin forces clarity past the haze of a good many drinks. The brutality of the attack shaking the young man deeper than he would have expected, "So much for the predictability of mortals..."
Time seems to slow slightly as Alvin considers the situation. Six immediate threats, one slowed by familial hesitation. Engaged evenly...with one exception. At least I'm not unarmed."
Drawing the ornately pommeled rapier at his waist, the half-elf surges into motion. Winding between broken chairs, he circles wide to come up behind one of pair that had converged on Tordrek.
The rapier becomes a blur as Alvin lashes out in an under-extended lunge, mindful of the constraints of his constricting parade gear. Lest the outfit suffer a similar fate to Lienhol's.
Tordrek runs toward the cultist near Rols, smashing his warhammer into their chest.
Lienhol barrels into the cultist behind Artemis but not before the cultist lands a fair nick on him with his dagger.
Artemis strikes with her katana, putting more force behind it, however the Cultist manages to side step the blade at the last second. Wearing a smug grin. So this is what the line has come to? See how the the elites grow weak!
He then strikes with his blade however it glances off the metaled shoulder of Artemis's parade uniform.
The one behind Artemis lashes out after getting behind Artemis once again attempting to take down the warrior before turning his attention to Lienhol. He uses the momentary distraction of his ally's attack to slip his dagger in once again.
The cultist speaking to Posh curses at him before turning and following Alvin.
Tordrek slams his hammer into the chest of the cultist knocking the wind from him, and widens his eyes suddenly as a rapier point suddenly protrudes from the mans chest.
The cultist infront of Tordrek curses before lashing out again.
the one that followed Alvin lashes out in anger and frustration.
Behind them, Rols swings his makeshift club with great strength, however the weight is off which causes him to mistime the swing slighty allowing the cultist to duck away.
Fine, have it your way then! The cultist shouts before attempting to striking Rols in the shoulder, however he misjudges the distance and cuts only the air.
Um, I meant to do that, to give you another chance to join us. The cultist mutters.
Lienhol stands to his full height as Artemis hands him a weapon. He rolls his neck cracking it loudly. His shirt is cut across the chest and blood wells from where the cultist cut him. "The blows of the faithless only embolden my spirit!" he shouts as he raises his hand, revealing a clutched orb of glowing, ichorous light. He crushes the orb and the light flows into him, causing the wound to mend.
He turns the blade of the Katana on his opponent. Unlike Artemis he treats the weapon with no finesse. For Lienhol, this weapon is only a tool - a means to an ends. His blow sails viciously through the air, cleaving the unfortunate cultist in two.
A steady flow of blood begins to darken Alvin's parade armor. No arteries, no tendons. Still, seems to have worked past his hesitation. Sad, might have spared you.
Pivoting to face the new attacker, Alvin feints, judging the man's reaction. A slight smile touches the half-elf's lips, a sloppy half step back revealed a weak knee, most likely missing cartilage from an infection. Whatever the cause it would be enough.
Pretending to stumble, he baits out an overextended lunge exposing the knee. A sharp kick buckles the knee, the man's resulting stumble leaving him unable to defend against Alvin's rapier as it plunges deep into his neck.
"There is still time to surrender
For that we won't hinder
We strive for life
Put down the knife!
Before we change your gender!"
Posh cries out. Looking over his companions, he notes a large pool of blood forming below Artemis. "Justice knows we are right!" he mumbles, drawing a cross with his free hand.
His hand glows a fierce white as he carefully picks his way across the battlefield, ending up adjacent to artemis. Reaching out, he touches the recruit. The glowing light shoots into the Juno.
Artemis turned her head slightly and looked at Posh. "You have my thanks Posh." She told the gnome before turn her attention to the one whom had stabbed her twice now.
"You're mine." She told him as she as focused her full attention upon this cultist. "And with your friend gone, I don't think you'll be able to get the same strikes you have been."
"Less talking, more bleeding" Rols continues to swing away at his foe.
I believe Tordrek is up, then the cultists.
"Lad, ya picked the wrong side. I'm sorry to have to do this to ya," Tordrek says apologetically as he bludgeons the cultist with his warhammer.
Leinhol Strikes down a the cultist that ignored him. Nearly slicing him completely in half from shoulder down to the cultist's waist.
Rol too, crushes his oppenent with one mighty strike. His club cracks open the skull spraying grey matter through the air.
Alvin strikes several vital areas on the cultist in quick succession, already having planned out his attack pattern based on the movements and actions he has seen to this point. His calculations were accurate to a T. The cultist crumples to the floor before he even knows what hit him.
Tordrek Brings his Hammer to bear on the cultist left fighting him. It connects solidly, forcing a grunt from the cultist. However he still stands and retaliates with his dagger getting a solid hit.
Artemis Strikes the cultist that has mocked her since the beginning of the fight drawing a large gash. He lets out a pained howl as he bleeds heavily.
I will see you in the next life wench!
he strikes at artemis again, his hatred seems to guide his hand as he lands a deadly hit on the warrior.
Lienhol whirls around on Artemis other attacker and thrusts the katana, impaling the cultist through the abdomen. The two fight for control of the blade, but the man begins to give out as his life blood spills across the ground. Lienhol reaches out with his brass hand and pulls the cultist towards him roughly, jamming the katana through all the way to the hilt.
"You will find damnation lonely, heretic. May the Gods have mercy upon your soul" whispers Lienhol into the cultists ear before ripping Artemis' weapon free of the now lifeless body.
Evaluating the flow of the fight, Posh sneers...
"We see you answered the call
And you persist to brawl
You should hang your head
Soon you may be dead
Now you shall fall"
Sidestepping away from Aremis' enemy, he brings up his belt. With a practiced twirl, he expertly slips it around the ankle of Toldrek's foe. A gently tug loosens the whip and brings it back to him.
Cackling he smirks. "Thought i was going to trip you, huh?"
Alvin sighs inwardly at the defeated cultists continued blood lust. Fanaticism never served those who throw their life away for the cause, usually only their decidedly long lived masters.
Whirling away from his last opponent, he strides with purpose around Tordrek's left side to approach the last knife wielding assailant, growling, "If you're so eager to die today, so be it!"
A hard thrust punches the blade deep into the man's side, "See what great change another corpse enacts..."
Artemis gave a long sigh as she dropped to one knee. One of her hands releasing her katana and covering her wound. Posh had been kind enough to heal the worst of it but her uniform showed the injuries. "Gods... It seems I owe you my life now as well Lienhol." She said with a slight smirk. "And I need to thank Posh as well."
"Nonesense!" comments Lienhol, turning away from the carnage. He picks Artemis up off her knee and his hands glow brightly once more.
"You and I are kin now, young Juno! Gather yourself, I imagine we will be needed soon." He flips the katana around and offers it back to Artemis, hilt first. "A blade made for battle, indeed."
Artemis took her katana from Lienhol and returned both to their respected sheaths. "I told you." She smiled. "A Juno never goes anywhere without a katana... and now I may never go anywhere without my armor either." She said with a slight laugh, trying to joke away the fading pain.
"I don't think I represented the Juno family well... I seemed to keep getting myself into trouble in that fight huh?" She commented as she crossed her arms.
Lienhol shrugs "Yet you do not lay amongst the dead. That is victory enough."
Looking over the mayhem, recognizing the familiar faces, Posh's boyish smile momentarily falters. The gnome kneels before the one that spoke to him and mumbles a few words in his native tongue.
Standing, he turns to the others with his smile returned. Reaching out to Tordrek and Alvin he draws his cross and sends a white glow into them.
"I believe armor will be a necessary evil from here on out. More so, I shall never do so much as bathe without my wands. Everyone ok?"
Rols surveys the human wreckage and attempts to save any of the Cultists that aren't quite dead yet.