AmericanSniper52 225 Share Posted January 23, 2023 A song of Fire and Flame Ooc note: this is another in the series of PoV posts, don't Meta The ashes lay heavy on the wooden fortifications that day. Upon the whole valley. The battle would come soon, and with it, death and devastation. Theo Starling had not slept that night. He had stayed to plant spikes around his defensive earthworks surrounding the giant coconut tree called "Koko-mama" by the druids he was meant to protect; Nemea, Aerendyl, Sister Igne, and Fal'leon. When their time to rally came, the elf felt fear, not fear for himself, but fear of what may happen to his many family members taking part in the battle. He arrived back at the Grove after daybreak; just in time to join the rally. As they awaited the dragon to arrive, the adventurers: meant to find the dracolich's one weakness and end the beast, began to depart. He wished them luck in their hunt, and silently asked Cerunnos in prayer for their hunt to bear fruit, and perhaps save them all. For the first moments, the battlefield was silent;, he held hope that perhaps his family was high up enough to prevent any undead from reaching them any way other than their defenses. It was foolish for him to think so. From above, atop the hill next to the palace of Balian, undead loaded crossbows, and launched storms of bolts upon the druids. A shout of "Shi-DUCK!" Rung through the air Theo quickly turned to hide behind the kite shield on his back. Having barely enough time to remove it after the first volley, and form a line of shields and entling armor to protect them. An arrow struck home against his friend, Sister Igne, which battered her shoulder. Theo froze, looked on in horror as arrows flew, before he suddenly barked orders out to the combat druids and entlings to "FORM UP! HOLD THE LINE!" Theo had once been an officer in the Amaethean glaiveguard, he knew he would have to use his training to keep the defense here from falling apart. If we can hold out long enough, help will come, Theo thought. So they waited, holding out until his hope would be answered. An entling burst into flames when an undead hurled a fire potion upon its barked skin. Nearly splattering Theo, and his grandmother, Nemea, who had been holding the line alongside them. He could do nothing, he felt not but hopelessness. How long until a potion hit him, or his grandmother? For a time, no help came; the undead pelted their line with arrows. Theo had thought Balian had left them to die, fodder in this battle. He wondered, Would he even get to be with his family if he died here?. Would Cerridwen allow a non-druid into the Eternal forest? He tried to force those thoughts from his mind. He noticed his grandmother was stepping forward, breaking rank. Theo looked on in anger as he watched this, She could get killed! he thought. He shouted again, panicked and breathless: "Don't break from the formation! Stay together!" And so they held. Aerendyl and Fal'leon, who were trying to connect to Koko-mama, took cover, their effort slowed; they needed time. It was then that help arrived; soldiers of Haense, and their king rushed out of the palace. Ambushing the undead, similarly to how they had ambushed the druids. The city of Balian had not left them to die. Having been relieved, the druids below suddenly unleashed Koko-mama; she swept over the top of the hill with her trunk, sending undead tumbling, some into the outcrop the druids were on. Theo rushed forward, joined by a soldier of Haense in cutting back the servants of Iblees, hatred fueling his attacks; A soldier of the entity which had caused him so much pain throughout his life. The undead tried to escape by vaulting the palisades the elf had built, only to die screaming on the spikes he had laid on the other side; it brought him satisfaction to know his defenses dealt some small amount of retribution. The undead must've somehow scaled the cliff faces. There was no other explanation for how they got above them; he felt immense guilt in his very heart, knowing it was his failure that nearly cost them their lives, the lives of his family. After that, there was a lull, the druids launched an immense coconut at a siege troll, battering the field troops with swings of its great club and striking it dead on. No other undead came to attack them from the cliffs; They had all been swept away. Suddenly, an immense roar shook the heavens themselves from above; as the dragon dragged against the wall of Balian as it descended upon the druids. Theo charged back to his allies as the scaly beast smashed it's full weight into Koko-mama; her trunk cracking as he went to carry half of her off, splinters the size of arrows and spears sheared off. "TAKE COVER!" Theo shouted as he raised his shield in the defense of as many he could fit under it, The entlings sheltering the others. Druids watched in horror as the dragon carried off their tree, to an unknown fate at the time. How could this happen? Theo thought, knowing the others were likely feeling it too. "NOO KOKO!" Fal'leon shouted in pain. Without their main artillery, the small contingent of Druids were left near defenseless. Theo knew it would only be a matter of moments before the undead smelled weakness and went forth to slay them. "FALL BACK! FALL BACK TO THE CITY!" Theo called. Ensuring that their Haensi allies and the druids made it to the gates, following behind them. "Druids at the gates!" A guardsman shouted, quickly letting the party inside and saving them from being overwhelmed by undead. It provided them a moment's respite; almost all the defenses, ballistas, cannons, catapults, had been smashed and or burned. He knew, in his mind, the dragon could not be felled artist rendition of undead dragon It was then that they heard that infernal cry. Red lightning stabbed the darkened sky as Cloudbreaker once more approached. Volleys of giant bolts were loosed and yet only two struck home. The dragon perched itself atop the front wall of the city, its fire welling. Atop the ballistas, more of Theo's family, the Jusmias, were nearly sundered as the dragon unleashed a blast of flame, melting the stone and wood in mere moments; catching many within its lethal blast. Horror filled Theo's mind, thinking half his family had died in an instant; snuffed out like a spark. The dragon quickly departed, and Theo rushed forward to find his family. Thankfully, they were able to avoid the fire and were unharmed. Theo once more raced back to the square in a panic. When a Haensi soldier called over to him. "Quick! Let's blast the beast with the cannons!" Theo ran to the cannon, trying to angle it at the dragon so the weapon could be fired accurately. However, the dragon's fire spread, choking the square with burning hot smoke and singeing Theo's lungs as he breathed. They were forced to abandon the cannon as it melted down. Time seemed to slow, sound ceased to be as he stared at the melting buildings, as well as the scorched corpses of those caught in the flames. Sweat dripped down his face, before he finally came to. "We have to evacuate the square!" Theo finally called to his fellow druids, snapping Fal'leon out of his semi-catatonic state. They began to run, his companions following alongside. He ran to warn the defenders at the back wall; calling to them. "THE PLAZA IS BURNING! THE FRONT GATE IS FALLING!" They paid no mind, they were all too focused on holding the undead off the walls. Theo knew they would not fall back; they would hold, or die. It was then, that his grandfather Aerendyl gave him an order "Get the other druids out now! I will stay and evacuate the wounded!" Theo wanted to protest. Yet he could not, Sister igne was cold and said she did not care if a few descendants died; it made Theo sick to his stomach. He still cared for people, he fought to keep them alive just as much to defend nature. It made his blood boil, but he listened regardless. He and the other druids vaulted the wall without Aerendyl. Theo wasn't sure if he'd ever see his grandfather again; tears streaked his burnt, ashen covered face as he hauled Fal'leon atop his horse. Riding for the Grove, he had failed, and he knew it. When they arrived, he slumped in silence. Thinking upon his foolishness; it nearly cost his life, as well as his family's lives. As he thought this, his grandfather Aerendyl, and grandmother Nemea, finally arrived back to the Grove. He could think only of those who were not so fortunate, of the dead and dying, in that accursed city of Balian. Ooc: I wanna thank the amazing STs who made this event happen, it was a lot of fun, and i hope we get more like it at just as big of a scale! I love all of y'all and hope you all have a great year <3 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeawithFrisket 2616 Share Posted January 23, 2023 Ember nodded sipping her tea as she nodded, though one thing lingered in her mind as she teased her illir about it “Atleast it did not aim for your legs” her smirk was rather warm, yet devilish. A smile came from it as she lowered her tea cup ”we are happy you are safe, Theo” she said looking to him @AmericanSniper52 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSniper52 225 Author Share Posted January 23, 2023 (edited) @TeawithFrisket"That makes two of us" the elf replied, having relayed the story to Ember Munnel. Entirely exhausted from the days of preparation and battle. "I may go lay down, now." Edited January 23, 2023 by AmericanSniper52 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheese 2282 Share Posted January 23, 2023 "How the hell are you still alive?" Juniper blinked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSniper52 225 Author Share Posted January 23, 2023 1 minute ago, Cheese1sgrater said: "How the hell are you still alive?" Juniper blinked. "Luck" the elf replied 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheese 2282 Share Posted January 23, 2023 Just now, AmericanSniper52 said: "Luck" the elf replied "Share. I need it more." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zemzy_Oakheart 167 Share Posted January 24, 2023 From the safer regions of Almaris than the battlefield at hand, the teenage Blume Herrlichkeit was out at the homestead she had commissioned to be built so long ago, patching the wall work as she'd been paranoid for another unwelcome guest to hop over it again. As she mixed the mortar in its bucket, the streaks of red lightning skittered across the sky in an intimidating array of power emanating off from the south. Blume knew it was from the dragon people had been talking about for months now, she thought about Theo being enlisted with others from the Grove to defend Almaris from the Iblees hordes; she knew he was much stronger than herself against the beings, but prayed for his safe return. It'd only been a month since the fight broke out, with the rumbling of earth quaking beneath her boots at the end; it didn't bode well by the feel of it. Is this what adults meant when becoming of age felt like the world was coming to an end? She'd ask herself with a more worried mindset at that. No matter how dark her thoughts grew in pondering the notion, she still couldn't help but pray for Nemea, Theo, Aerendyl & the others to return home safe so she may hear about it & know they were safe. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lomiei 1487 Share Posted January 24, 2023 +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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