The City at Dawn

[Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska 3491]

King Karl II in the streets of Markev.

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The men of Markev had grown accustomed to rising long before the sun. A full night of rest was a luxury that war demanded they do without, and the wee hours of the morning became devoted to preparation and planning for the impending invasion.

 

One frigid morning at the height of the Deep Cold, a Renatian outrider scouting the city’s perimeter, notices that the walls of Markev are bustling with far more life than he’d come to expect. Dismounting from his wiry and unkempt horse, the ranger cautiously makes his way through the brush, stopping his approach at the treeline. Removing a spyglass from the weathered satchel at his side,  he raises the tempered instrument and peers through the misty gloom at the fortifications of the proud settlement.

 

Sounds from the walls reach the scout before the fog clears. A cacophony of men’s voices, striking hammers, and creaking wood drown out the morning calls of the forest’s songbirds. Over the clamor, the harsh barks of a Waldenian sergeant giving orders catches the scout’s ear. Squinting, he begins to make out dark shapes in the gloom: Men, bent over great heaps of wood like ants, driving nails and stretching ropes with feverish energy. Makeshift cranes, rising out of the mist like mountain peaks, dispensing their cargo, as yet unknown to the onlooker, onto the city’s walls. The scout ventures forward a few paces, hoping for a closer look, but shrinks back into the darkness as a torch-bearing Haeseni passes above him on the wall.

 

The first rays of dawn strike settlement, casting the surrounding countryside in a warm glow, as the Red City shines bright like a beacon over the Czena. At last, the scout makes out the handiwork of the industrious Haeseni, but even as his mind celebrates the realization, his heart sinks low into his stomach.

 

The walls of Markev bristle with newly loaded ballistae, the cold steel of their sharpened bolts gleaming in the fresh light of the day. The men of Haense soldier on.

Haensetian Siege Engineers drilling in the Sleetfells.

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((We will be holding rp siege construction events within the city. If you want to partake in glorious sappery join!))

 

((writing creds to birdnerdy xoxo

[OzYmandi 647]

''weren't they gone'' asks hobbles, a peculiar halfling

[Anisgar 585]

"Stronger then ever!" remarks Godden

[Archbishop 1784]

14 minutes ago, Anisgar said:

"Stronger then ever!" remarks Godden

"Didn't you die in the OSL cells after Renatus handed you over to the church?" asks Walter.

[Wulfery 832]

 To meet an end worth of a great saga...

I 'ave did me part. I 'ave went through 'lot, 'n seen much. It be 'bout proper time to rest, 'n see world far away from all that I 'ave came to kno'. Me father spoke how wonderful it be, 's 'is father said to 'im, but I see elseway. I see much different this world. It be riddled with plague o' war, 'n constant conflict. I 'ave protected those who 'ave escaped before, 'n now be time I go 'way. 'tlest thus much I could 'ave done for ye, ye majesty. "With those words Wulffrey have watched last of his ships sail away, under banner of Haense, no longer under banner of The Graise Fleet. Let gods have mercy over them, as they fight in this neverending conflict."

[Ixli 1472]

Edred Maeyr'onn stands over his evergrowing mali'aheral army, looking to see whom to take on as officers.

[B 173]

Serfs hauling carts beelined into the vicinity of Markev, each of which had torn fabrics blanketing raw material varying from siege projectile, warlike equipment and foodstuffs for those flying Haense banners. 

 

"All to fuel us for the conjuring storms ahead."

 

Duly noted Ambroise, a youthful fair-haired individual pledged to the U.S.A. 

[CheekyNolan 5420]

"Why is it always Karls, Stephens, and Ottos with these people." remarks an ageing orenian.

[Britannicvs 2508]

"Excuse me ter are a bonch of dwarves mannen yer siege engines in the photo. I wonder ef that reflects yet stat' ef Haense en teh comen months." Dwifar Goldhand commented, looking at the propaganda nailed to a tree.

[rukio 8924]

A white haired, red eyed, though their eyes are hidden by a veil, elf by the name of Stricken Athena would smoke. "Nice."

[HurferDurfer1 2979]

Coltaine stares at the wall he and the former queen Ingrid had raised  all on their own." Aint no flay gonna impregnate that *****."

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.