With the immediate danger gone, the party moves to fortify their defensive position and reset their traps, though with the stress of the situation, Messer fumbles the incantation and his ward fizzles.
Round 4
Alex: Making a trap
Preach: Barricades
Messer: Ward (fails)
Alsah: Set Ward (outside lighthouse)
Bryn: Barricade.
Juliet: Barricade.
Inside lighthouse:
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(14), 2 ward
Sea wall: 2 trap
In the distance, you see another group of rebels hustling towards the lighthouse. Larger and seemingly more organized than the last, this assault group moves with greater urgency, as the sea gate continues to inch open.
Seeing the danger the woman moves away from the lights again to remain hidden...
She continues to make more traps to impede the forces that are moving up upon them...
The woman looks back at the light house hoping they are faring as well as she is, whispering to herself, "The gods be with us all this evening."
Alsah slips into the lighthouse but stays near the door and ready herself
Well, crud. Messer decided to try and set up another ward before heading back to the tower.
If there is time, Alsah will set another ward near the disabled mechanism.
Adam continued adding anything he could find to the barricades, but it was getting difficult to add anything more to the mound they had made.
Bryn will maintain the barricade inside the tower:
Juliet withdraws into the lighthouse. She was neither stealthy nor one that could fight a pitched battle at range. Instead, once inside and safe, Juliet begins the process of summoning her phantom former self. Mathilde would be back on this side of the veil soon.
Slowly falling back, you continue to fortify your position.
Round 5
Alex: Making a trap while hidden
Preach: Barricades
Messer: Ward
Alsah: Set Ward (inside lighthouse)
Bryn: Barricade.
Juliet: Preps for a fight
Inside lighthouse: Barricade (3), 1 ward
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(17), 3 ward
Sea wall: 3 trap
The rebels continue their advance. A bell starts tolling in the distance as the enemy marshals its forces for the incoming assault. Another strike team can be seen hustling towards you.
Alsah moves to the nearby door and readies her crossbow. Once loaded she places it in easy reach and pulls out a scroll of sleep. she will use the door as cover. She will use the crossbow to reply at range, using the scroll when the enemy gets closer
With so many coming towards the Sea Wall the woman retreated back towards the lighthouse. But while there she thought it best to leave yet another surprise for when they did arrive. They would pay for every bit of ground. She tossed a look over at the sea gate still opening and gave a nod.
"Best get inside!" warned Preach as he ducked inside the lighthouse and started pushing stuff against the door. Soon it was going to be impossible get in or out!
Messer moved upstairs, locating a window to watch the approach from. Once they got close enough to hear, he called, "Please be careful. We have captives in here, and I'd rather negotiate there release before you start hurling arrows and spells."
Mathilde coalesces inside her summoning circle giving Juliet an inscrutable look, one that could be as much why am I back so soon as why did you send me a way so quickly.
"No time," Juliet snaps at her former self, "Soldiers amassing outside these walls. Scare them."
The phantom floats to a nearby window and then puts her head through it, yelling, "They're raising us to kill you all! Run!" before screaming and pulling herself back into the lighthouse.
Mathilde looks to Juliet and shrugs as if to say, What do you expect? I was a weaver.
Bryn will assist anyone that needs it, moving along to make sure no team mate gets bogged down in the preparations.
Round 6 recap
Alex: Making a trap while hidden
Preach: Barricades
Messer: Delay
Alsah: Preps
Bryn: Helps.
Juliet: Delay
Inside lighthouse: Barricade (6), 1 ward
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(17), 3 ward 1 trap
Sea wall: 3 trap
The threats and warnings give the rebels pause and the 10 man squad doesn't advance. Behind them the largest group yet, some 16 more troops, scream at them to advance, the inching open sea gate and rapidly advancing Risuri flotilla driving them into a panic.
"If nothing else," Messer murmured to himself, "We're confusing the hell out of them." Poking his head up again, he called down, "Pardon the spirit, it seems to be a little bit jumpy. Now, if you'd calm the shouting - yes, you sir, you're very loud - perhaps we can get this sorted like proper Risurian folk."
Looking over her shoulder the woman sees that the Duchess' men have halted their advance once more. She whispers, "Very nice."
Remaining within within the shadows the woman continues her works once again.
She sets yet another trap for the the forces she can see beyond the ones stopped.
There wasn't much more to be done with the barricades, it would be a job for the enemy to get past. Perhaps he could dissuade them...
Preach bellowed from the barricaded doorway, "IT'S TOO LATE! THE WAY IS TRAPPED AND BARRICADED! THE WARSHIPS APPROACH! LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!"
"Sorting things out really is in your best interest. I wouldn't want to be assaulting this place with the amount of explosives we've placed underneath. Your pieces would most likely end up as chum before any reasonable collection attempt would be made...." Brynn adds.
Round 7 recap
Alex: Making a trap while hidden
Preach: Delay attempt
Messer: Delay attempt
Alsah: Ward
Bryn: Helps.
Juliet: Barricade
Inside lighthouse: Barricade (9), 2 ward
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(17), 3 ward 2 trap
Knowing that they will most likely be hanged for treason, the rebels throw caution to the wind and press onward, three running afoul of the traps laid by the party.
It was down to the wire now, Preach had done what he could to dissuade the rebels but they seemed truly desperate. Now they had to defend themselves, so he drew one of his guns and stared looking through cracks in the barricades for a rebel to shoot!
The woman turns and attempts to climb the side of the tower.
Not doing well she quickly decides that the best place to be is not in front of it when the enemy forces arrive. She makes for the docks and the small vessel there. Wanting to make her own get away she will slash at any ropes holding it in place.
Messer sighed, pulling out a pint of oil, and hurled it at the oncoming troops. Not only to make the slippy, but some fire would put them off.
Bryn will assist Alex's climb:
Alsah picks up her crossbow and shoots
While the others exchange fire, Juliet works, continuing to barricade the lighthouse and buttress its bottom floor. Looking around, she panics a bit as she realizes Alex isn't there - hopefully the agent would be able to find a spot to hide...
Round 8 recap
Alex: climbing
Preach: Shoot
Messer: ?
Alsah: shoot
Bryn: Helps.
Juliet: Barricade
Inside lighthouse: Barricade (10 (max)), 2 ward
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(17), 3 ward 2 trap
Just as he was about to poke his head out to try and take a shot, Adam thought better of it, there was rather a lot of them swarming out there...
Instead he bellowed, "Last chance to surrender!"
The woman attempts to climb the wall but is unable. She quickly moves about searching for rope and finds a coil closer to the docks. She makes her return to the lighthouse and with Bryn’s help, a few attempts, she is able to toss the rope into his reach. The man secures it to the top and with the Duchess’ forces advancing climbs up the side of the lighthouse with renewed vigor and a bit of fear being caught outside. Clambering over the top the woman drops and carches her breath a moment before she starts to hail the rope up behind her.
Thanks Bryn. Alex says between heavy breaths.
Helping Alexandra in, Bryn responds, "Not a problem... now that there's nothing left to really do than wait."
"I wouldn't delay any longer... he's been waiting to see the explosion all night. He only resisted because I bet him the next round you guys weren't dumb enough to advance..."
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Round 8 recap
Alex: climbing
Preach: intimidate
Messer: defends
Alsah: shoot
Bryn: Helps.
Juliet: Barricade
Inside lighthouse: Barricade (10 (max)), 2 ward
Outside lighthouse: Barricade(15),
With the press of reinforcements at their backs, the rebels push onward, heedless of the parties words. The front squad runs afoul of the last surprises left by the team. The remaining pair start to work on dismantling the barricades, but a concerted defense Messer and Alsah dispatch them. The advancing squad of rebels begin to pepper the lighthouse windows with bolts, raining death at anyone who pokes their heads out.
The remaining enemies surge forwards, picking their way through their fallen allies, as others tumble to join them sprawled on the cobbles. From above, death rains down, as the party tries to fend of this last desperate push. Despite your best efforts, the rebels manage to make it though the outer defenses and start pounding on the lighthouse door.
As some hurry downstairs to brace the fortifications, the rest prepare a final gambit. The vessel of flaming oil that lights the night from this high vantage is heavy and hot, but with some careful coordination, you manage to maneuver it to the edge of the window and let gravity do the rest. The screams are terrible, but it serves its purpose, driving back the siegers and buying you a little more time.
As you prepare to repel another push, you are forced to close you eyes against the sudden brightness that illuminates the night, as a fireball explodes at the base of the lighthouse. At first, you think this to be a last desperate ploy from the enemy, but your fears are quickly dispelled in the clatter of raining arrows that soon follow to sweep the sea wall clear.
Turning to the harbor, you let out a sigh of relief, as you watch the ships of the Risuri fleet sail in. Within a few minutes, Risuri soldiers reach the lighthouse to relieve you and military doctors and druidic healers are quickly called for to tend to your wounds.
The cavalry, as they say, has arrived and for now at least, you have a moment to catch your breath.
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Well, this was familiar, Messer said as he rested, internally groaning at the wounds taken and the cost of receiving them. He would hear the screams of those who'd assaulted the tower in his dreams for a good, long while, and he could already feel them finding a comfortable place in his soul. There had been no better choice, as far as he could tell, but that didn't mean much sometimes.
Still, they had the rest of there own job to do, now that they had managed to bring down the gates. They needed to find the ambassador's cousin, if they could, and investigate the site.
That was a little close. I guess we won?
The woman stands beside Aslah and with a nod, "We succeeded at our mission. I am sure the matter if far from settled, but it would appear that we have the upper hand for now."
Once the barricades are removed she makes her way down towards the docks. She will help anyone injured to get help from the healers.
Now the immediate threat was over, the jitters were getting the better of Adam. "Why did they have to be so darned stubborn?!" he demanded of no one in particular. Sleep wasn't going to come easy tonight, death by boiling oil was a bad way to go and the screams and gods the smell haunted him. He didn't understand why they'd rebelled in the first place and this bothered him greatly, Risuri was a nation to be proud of surely?
"We succeeded at the other teams mission," Messer pointed out. "Now we need to do our job. As for why they're so stubborn...loyalty. Faith. Delusions. Lies. All of the above?" He shrugged. "It's easy to blame the gods or technology when your lot in life is unfair and you don't see a reason why you're suffering. It's always easier to blame than it is to try and change things."
Preach blinked at Messer, how could he have forgotten? A little unsteadily he blurted, "... Right. The Duchess! She's probably holed up in that keep in the center of the fortress. We need to be on hand interrogate her and her associates, and also to look out for Nathan Jierre."
we should report first
Alsah watches the ships
When there is someone to report to
Nodding, Messer agreed with that. "Some healing and supplies could be a boon, and explaining what we've seen so far."
"Yes," Juliet says, her voice shaking with adrenaline. "Let's wait for landfall, report, and then venture into the area once it is more secure."
Closing her eyes, Juliet centers herself, a few seconds passing by. The assault, while certainly exciting, was nothing she wished to repeat; the screams of the men at the base of the lighthouse ring in her ears. "I'd like to know why the Duchess felt this gambit would work..."
"Right, someone has to answer for these, crimes." She nods to Adan, "And finding the Minster's nephew might help us garner some good will."
She looks out across the harbouring attempting to look for the Impossible
As you receive treatment and take a moment to relax, you watch the Risuri assault from the relative safety of the lighthouse.
Risuri warships sail into the harbor, firing cannons, arrows, and spells at any of the Duchess’s forces who dare to break from cover. They drive the rebels back to the walls of the Outer Fort, while ships line up out the mouth of the harbor. Crews lash gangplanks from prow to stern chaining the ships together, so that a thousand soldiers can disembark to the mainland.
Soon the Risuri troops outnumber the duchess’s forces five to one, and easily climb over the walls with the aid of siege engines they have brought on the lead ships. You watch tiredly, as the Risuri forces push the Duchess' soldiers back from the Outer wall and deeper into the city. The din of battle fades as the fighting moves further away from your position, though the occasional blast of a horn or fiery explosion still punctuates the stillness of the night.
Eventually, you see a group of Risuri marines make their way up the sea wall towards you. In their midst, you recognize Captain Rutger Smith of The Impossible . He's all grins and greets you with a "Bloody well done, Constables."
Alsah smiles and salutes, sort of. (more a wave).
Thank you, Sir. Be careful, I think there are a few traps that we set still active.
"How is the fighting going, sir?" Messer asked as he also gave a tired salute. It should be a cakewalk, but if they wanted to find the duchess then they probably just needed to head to wherever the rebels hadn't folded.
The woman almost salutes but stops as she not a sailor anymore, "Captain Smith. Yes, we have succeed with this part of the mission. I am sure that there is more," she motions to the inner fort, "That must be done?"