Barazon Untaken
A tale freshly told of the Gondorian
Having taken Caldur of Farside, Amroth marches upon Barazon, Seaward Tower\'s fief.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The suns morning light shimmers off the waters of the Bay of Umbar as dawn breaks across the Harondor. Amroths siege of Barazon lasted through the wee hours of the night but has now subsided. Makeshift camps have sprung up along the outlying lands, hastily constructed, as the Order digs in.
Their passage from Caldur to Barazon was slower than expected and the hot days and cold nights as well as the ever present threat of the local population have tested their resolve. But they are here with weapons of war and siege craft, and they look to break the defenses of the keep on this very day.
Their Captain stands near a ballistae, pointing out potential weaknesses to the Swansmen around him.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Within the city, the Fief Lord stands on the tower walls, looking out over the camps of the beseiging force, dotting the landscape. To his side, his senechal waits for orders. With the lightening skies of the dawn the pair stand in silence, taking comfort in each other\'s presence, but neither speaking. Neither needing to speak even. Finally the senechal speaks up to state the obvious. \"Well, we made it to the day.\"
\"Indeed,\" the Lord answers, folding his arms across his chest. \"And who knows what that will hold.\"
\"Take heart, my Lord. We are as well prepared for this as we can hope. Help is coming.\"
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Aside the Knight-Captain, Huan barks.
[Azradi(#20135)]
The rising sun blinds any who dare gazes to the east. Already the rising heat seems to ripple and distort the road\'s distant reaches - as well as mask the distinct view of anything traveling down it.
Such as the mass of dark objects that soon appears, shimmering - as if seen beneath water or through the eyes of a opium-lover. Bright flashes glint here and there and then, Lo! A host can be espied - a column of swarthy and grim, soldiers. Above them flies the battle standard of Farside - a field of dark purple upon which a raven, talons extended, swoops in on its prey.
At their fore rides the Tower\'s ruler, Azradi anAzulada, upon a spirited steed of midnight: Demon. As grim as her men, she sits tall in her saddle, clad in bright mail. A fire burns in her gray eyes, the driven spirit of an ancient race.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
\"To the East! To the East!\" come the cries of the fief\'s watchmen lining the walls. The cry ripples down the line, reaching the ears of the fief Lord. \"My spyglass!\" He calls, moving with his senechal down the wall to the nearest corner. A page arrives shortly with a passable spyglass, and he holds it to his eye as he tries to read the approaching force, and count its men. \"Farside\'s banner!\" he exclaims, almost disappointed.
But on the Western horizon, where the sky is still black with the waning night, a sail appears, and with it, another, and another, though their dark hues hide them against the sky. Aboard, Eruphel stands on the deck of the Naloinzil, staring at the silouhette of her fief. She takes a deep breath and sighs. \"It is not afire.\" she comments to anyone who is near.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Amongst the men aside the Knight-Captain, somber and steel-eyed, is Berengardh Vinyatar, Admiral of Amroth\'s fleets. The sun reflects off the mail-clad Haradrim so all must shield their eyes. But the spectacle is sighted, nonetheless. He says, \"I shall see to the coast, Bragollach.\"
And so his passage takes him that a way in much haste.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
One of the black sailed ships nearer the front of the Seaward force sails with Yildirim standing on the bow, his blade in hand blade down, as if resting upon it. With a free hand, he motions to away from the Naloinzil, \"Steady now, steady...\"
He looks not for flame or smoke in worry, for his eyes dance with excitement, though he means to hide it well.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
\"Yes,\" says that Bragollach to the Knight-Admiral, \"Goodbye.\"
He reflects for a moment, just a moment, and then his words are swift: \"Sound the horn. Train the ballistae upon their hosts. We must form a line, and quickly, or we shall be overrun. Keep your courage to the death of it. Hold.\"
And so the horns of Amroth blow and their ants scurry into position before the amassed forces of the Tower Farside. The air is hot with both fury and fear.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The sound of the horns float unimpeded across the water as the Gondorian army rises. \"Prepare the ballistae, and tighten the sails,\" Eruphel commands, and right away the orders are echoes all over the ship. \"We cannot get there soon enough!\" She stops short of calling for the oars, though. The Naloinzil becomes larger on the horizon, the accompanying ships becoming clearer as well as the sun finally reaches across the sea to shine upon them.
Upon the black-sailed Arambodh, Nisrin keeps a practiced, steady hand upon the tiller, her eyes fell-lit from the eastern sun. Per Yildirim\'s gestures, the blue-clad girl shifts her grip upon the till, steering away from the Naloinzil.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Even as Eruphel makes her wishes known, the Arambodh pull\'s ahead of the Naloinzil, it\'s Captain grinning as he outpaces the larger ship, the prow cutting smoothly through the waters. Though he speaks no words of siege weapons, instead, preparing to disembark, calling those of the crew free to gather their weapons. Soon men will be on the ground, and they will be among the first.
Yildirim advises, \"Steel yourself men, they smell of wet chickens, but fight as wolves. If you see their captain give call... He is for me!\"
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Sea-Knights of Amroth need no word to follow their Admiral. They simply do, a solemn procession to the coasts and perhaps their deaths too.
None amongst the brave of Amroth dare say it, but doom has a potent odor. And it is that odor, not of chickens, of which these men smell.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
As Imrakhor issues his orders, Huan growls to a low pitch.
[Azradi(#20135)]
At the sound of horns, Azradi pulls forth her eyeglass - training it on the Amrothian forces as she controls her mount with her knees. She sweeps it across the enemy, noting their movements and actions, particularly the re-positioning of the ballistae - then she shifts it to the western waters of the bay. She smiles grimly, and then in Haradaic, gives orders to her officer: \"Pick the pace, keep in column formation until we are nearer, then fan out and settle the archers in. They are turning their ballistae on us, keep the formation.\"
The column of Farside soldiers speed up to a faster march. Azradi rides a little bit ahead, half-turning to face her troops - Demon side-stepping skittishly as the pair keep moving. She draws her scimitar and holds it high \"You will have your chance soon, Farsiders! These stonelanders have defiled our lands! They have dared to try our strength! Let them fall here! Let their blood soak the earth! LET THE RAVENS FEAST ON THEIR FLESH!\"
The soldiers of the Raven roar, pounding sword and spear on their shields - the pick up the pace even more, urged now by the blast of their own horns.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Horns and more horns. Eruphel takes a deep breath, thrilling with that nervous rush of adrenaline. \"Turn the Naloinzil broadside! Load the ballstae and provide covering fire while the ships unload!\" A hue and cry rises, and right away the ship turns, the sails unfurl, and large stones are loaded into the small but powerful seige machines. \"Fire when ready,\" Eruphel commands, and with that, the first, and then the second volley flies, the stone and rock missiles spreading out slightly as they fly through the air, each one the size of a man\'s head, and land in the general direction of the Gondorians who advance upon the shore.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The ballistae of Dol Amroth have moved into position as the Knights and Men-at-Arms of Gondor, mostly on foot, array themselves out into as thick a column as they are able in limited time. There is a haggard desperation to these men, all animals beaten and cornered by their prey.
At the fore of this column is the Captain of Amroth, he who has Mastered the Sudden Flame. Imrakhor booms across the ranks, \"Dare not die for Amroth upon this day! It is they who are to become martyrs for their land!\"
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Berengardh has a small detachment of archers with him and they fan out in face of the machines of Seaward Tower. So it is that the marines that converge upon the coast are they who bear the assault of the ballistae. Screams and cries are heard and ignored. It has come to this, and so Amroth bleeds.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The hound Huan howls along with the screams.
[Azradi(#20135)]
In swift time, the Farside column nears to arrow range. The column begins to spread out in an opposing line, reforming with great precision. Another line forms some paces before the swordsmen and spearmen - archers armed with short bow. Quickly they prepare their bows and kneel on one knee, their quills handy before them.
Azradi and her officers dismount, leaving their horses for a young lad to lead away to safety. She takes her position between the line of soldiers and archers, her personal guard arrayed behind her. She lifts her scimitar high and studies the enemy line for a moment, then down comes her blade. \"Fire!\" she commands in Haradaic.
A black flock of arrows are shot at an angle upwards, until the fall amidst the Armothian ranks in an arc of death.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Yildirim frowns as the ballistae land, quietly commenting, \"Boring...\"
But as his ship nears the coast, he calls to Nisrin, \"Careful near the coast... ready for my mark to charge...\" His men, most older than he, are nearly all smiles, wicked and grim, their curved blades at the ready.
Then there are there, leaping over the railings into the shallows, the glorious first to take the field of battle.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
\"Shields!\" shouts Imrakhor, and in a flurry they are formed into a wall over the heads of the gathered Swansmen. \"Hold your arrows. Do not charge.\"
There is death amongst the ranks, yes, but sorrow is for another day.
Nisrin grins fiercely, navigating the helm with a flick of her wrist, her scimitar flashing, hanging from the sash at her side then with a wild laugh she follows the men, gripping the scabbard and ready to draw and kill.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel watches as the ships begin to unload on the shore, while her own ships ballistae fire one at a time: stem, stern, stem, stern. At last, the Seaward Lady calls for a cease fire. \"Allright. You will take us closer to shore. Prepare the boats, we will land as they cover for us. Then she gives instruction to her captain. \"If they rally and concentrate their forces, fire ballistae upon them. Else wait for an opportunity to give support AND, do not forget to watch the far horizon, in case they have a trick or two waiting behind us. Do not forget either, they have a black sailed ship among them. Be sharp.\" The Naloinzil\'s sails fill once more and tighten, and the ship moves forward toward the shore. Eruphel gets down into the longboat, along with some of the more heavily armored corsairs, while others simply jump into the shallows and make their way to shore.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The marines and their Admiral close upon the dismounting Corsairs with as much speed as their tired legs can muster, in hopes that the ballistae shalln\'t fire so near to Harad\'s own. Leading the charge is Berengardh.
\"Keep their backs to the coast!\" he yells, raising his blade.
And rising out ahead of the Sea-Knights are a rain of arrows!
[Azradi(#20135)]
\"Archers ready...\" Calls Azradi, her narrowed gaze upon the line of Knights. Aside, she orders her officers: \"Make ready to advance past the archers the moment after they have fired then shields up, fire and advance and so forth. Eventually they will loose their own arrows and bolts upon us.\"
Her instructions offered, she commands. \"Fire!\"
With Azradi leading, the Farsiders race in between thier archers and form several paces before them, bringing thier sheilds up even as the last Umbarean arrow has found its mark -- whether flesh or soil.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
If there is a strategy to Yildirim or his men, it is simply to have their blades seek as much flesh as can be. They tear into in the Knight\'s marines, a few of the Haradrim sailors being cut down at once. Yildirim cuts his path through them expertly as any, though he spares a protective eye and keeps his blade\'s work near Nisrin.
As the arrows cut away the men in front of Berengardh, Yildirim moves his forces in to fill the gap, \"The skies! An eye for the skies!\"
\"Lady, stray not far!\" he calls to Nisrin.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Arrows land upon the crashing shore, splashing like rain in the waves, and thudding against shields of the Haradrim. But though these sounds are muliplied a hundredfold, the sounds of the Corsairs who are struck, and who cry in pain nearly drown all the rest out. Some of them fall to the ground, their bodies swaying back and forth as the ocean plays with setting them on shore. But the fighting sailors still advance. Out in her longboat, Eruphel is tightening her armor, pressing her helm snugly upon her head, and taking up her shield. Soon, her own boat lands upon the shore, the corsairs jumping out and dragging it the rest of the way ashore, so she steps out upon dry(ish) land. Eruphel surveys the scene, /her/ Keep up above, the Sea Knights between her and it. She draws her sword.
Nisrin glances up quickly to observe the rain of arrows overhead, then deftly ducks, scooting close to Yildirim. There is a thin line of blood upon her scimitar already, and a thirsty light in her eyes.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The arrows are loosed! The charge is nigh! A horn blows!
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The shields of Harad are raised and yet those of Amroth are not. \"For Imrahil!\" screams the Knight-Captain. And as the horn blow subsides, such a drumbeat chant is heard amongst the ranks of the Swan that it shakes the earth.
\"Imrahil! Imrahil! Imrahil!\"
But it is not that which shakes the earth, but instead the sound of hoof-fall of their cavalry. Amroth charges to meet Farside, and Imrakhor swings.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but Azradi parries the attack with her Scimitar!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
A fell look captures the face of Berengardh as the Sea-Knights catch wind of the chant raised by their brethren. They answer not with voice, but steel.
His sword comes to Yildirim first, in an arc across his body.
Berengardh with an ancient blade, the Knight Admiral strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh\'s attack misses Yildirim.
[Eron(#24786)]
The Saqrwa\'il, another Haradrim ship, has fired and is reloading as smaller craft are launched. It takes moments for the small landing ships to reach land in which heavily armored men disembark. At their head a man who\'s face is hidden behind a winged helm which beholds the face of a serpent. this man is obviously their commander, his arms and armor much more extravagant as the black bladed Scimitar is pulled from it\'s scabbard as he moves to join the push against the Gondorian infantry.
\"To arms! For Seaward and for Umbar!\" Eron cries, his voice booming inside of his helm so resound over his troops, that with a blood thirsty roar, descend upon their foes.
[Yildirim(#24191)] Berengardh is an unexpected foe and it catches Yildirim off-guard as the veteran Knight-Officer\'s blade comes for him, but young Captain is fleet of foot and steps beyond the reach of Berengardh\'s blade.
\"Too soon, too soon!\" he laughs, \"What use is taking the prize without the game first!\"
\"Nisrin! Flank him if you can!\"
And the curve of his scimitar swings across the Knight-Admiral\'s middle.
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar and lightly wounds it!
Nisrin smiles brightly at the Knight-Officer, her lips parting to reveal bared pearly teeth then the slight girl darts forward and towards Berengardh\'s side, swiping at the tall Man with the heavy curved blade.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Berengardh dodges your attack.
[Azradi(#20135)]
Arrows fall upon the Haradrim soldiers, some bounce off their shields, others sink deep in flesh. Somehow, above all din of screaming men, horns and thundering hooves - a single command penetrates, born by a woman\'s throat. \"Phalanx!\"
Hastily, the Farside troops divide into blocks, shields out and above, spears held out in the fore - forming a solid, bristling block to meet the cavalry charge. With such little time, not all are successful, but many are.
Covered by the overlapping shields of her guard, Azradi pushes them away the moment the barrage of arrows has stopped - those nearest her try and form their phalanx around her - but the Knight-Captain\'s charges in the fore and thus they have less time then their comrades - a thick knot is the best they can manage.
Eyes bright and fair countenance flushed with adrenaline, Azradi brings up her curved blade swiftly to parry Imrakhor\'s attack. She rocks forward on her right foot, and using all the leverage she can muster from her height, she pulls her blade back swiftly only to swing at him - hoping to catch his sword arm before he passes her by. But the knight\'s steed is too swift and her scimitar catches its back legs...
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Knight-Admiral has felt the cut of blade numerous times before, but as they say: the first cut is the deepest. And so Yildirim draws blood.
He roars and manages to dodge aside Nisrin\'s strike to level another blow towards the Corsair gentleman. \"A youth and a woman,\" he seems to laugh out.
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh\'s attack misses Yildirim.
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron descides to \'get real gone\', as he\'s unchecked and spots a Gondorian Knight working through Haradrim infantry. \"You\'d be a fine collection Pale skin!\" Eron roars as he rushes towards the Swan Knight, twirling his blade in a flashing flourish before working to cut a line across the midsection of the man.
Eron attacks Swan Knight with his Scimitar and lightly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Lord Bragollach is a flurry of flash and steel, and as his horse nearly collapses upon him, of dirt too. Harad\'s dust bites his eyes.
The horse whines and as the Knight-Captain collects himself, he puts the beast out of its misery. And then he charges, and his bloodied blade is brought to bear upon Azradi. No words, just a fell twinkle in his eye. And a smile.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm\'s length.
[Yildirim(#24191)] Again Yildirim is able to side-step the Admiral, \"Indeed, old man, it is time to bleed out the old blood, as it were!\" He returns the attempt with his own blade, \"So kind of you to save me the trip to your manor! That is Gondorian hospitality for you!\" the young corsair mocks.
Meanwhile, the Swan Knight\'s tabard soaks red as Eron\'s blade finds blood. \"Bastard!\" he shouts out, his longsword seeking to return Eron\'s blade\'s kiss. Perhaps unseen by Eron though is the Knight\'s Squire, clad in blue, move to the Haradrim\'s right and too, his blade strikes out for Eron.
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar, but he misses by a mile.
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eron.
Swan Knight moderately wounds him!
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eron.
Blue Squire attacks Eron, but Eron parries the attack with his shield!
\"Only if it makes you happy,\" purrs Nisrin delightedly, unfazed by her miss. The Seaward girl tries again, placing one hand upon the back of the scimitar and stabbing it towards Berengardh\'s shoulder.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Berengardh dodges your attack.
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron moves to parry The Knights attack, but spots the Square. Twisting his arm violently, Eron grandy finds the squires sword with his shield, but the Knights makes it past the attempted Parry. \"Nnngh.. Only a coward lets their apprentice attack a man from behind.\" The Serpent Guard snarls, as he lashesh out with his blade again, the sword swinging towards the Swan knight, but He\'s not the intended target, instead of the blade coming to bear on the Squire, as Eron begins to dance between the two foes.
Eron attacks Blue Squire with his Scimitar and moderately wounds it!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel, Lady of Seaward, wades forward into the fray, a ring of elite knights surrounding her to watch her back and flank. But the woman is no slouch with a sword, and engages the enemy one slash at a time, dodging nimbly to the side when a sword swipe gets too near.
[Azradi(#20135)]
\"Lord Bragollach,\" Azradi states as the man approaches and she has a clear view of who stands behind the helm. Her lips curve into a feline smile and she steps aside, bending slightly to avoid his blade. Even as she does, her blade is coming up from beneath, seeking to gut him. \"How unfortunate to meet you.\"
Azradi attacks Imrakhor with her Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Berengardh recalls his youth in Belfalas, and remembers the fleet-footed Squire he was in those days. And for a moment, his feet remember too. He dances in and out of blows wordlessly, pausing only as he strikes to say this:
\"Darkness, children. It is your birthright.\"
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh\'s attack misses Yildirim.
[Yildirim(#24191)] \"Ha! The Haradrim lectures on honor!?\" The Knight laughs, but it is cut short as Eron\'s blade finds his squire. \"Timmir! No!\" And his blade cuts towards Eron. The Squire, caught by surprise, takes a step back from the Haradrim to regain his footing, blood already dripping from the wound.
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eron.
Swan Knight\'s attack misses Eron.
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron grins, seeing his advantage. \"Oh the love of a knight and his pet...\" The Serpent Commander says with a hollow laugh. his blade dripping with the blood of the young, Eron sidestepps the knights blade, onlky to retreat further, lashing out a second time at the Swan knights Precious square.
Eron attacks Blue Squire with his Scimitar and lightly wounds it!
\"You will find that even children can kill,\" replies Nisrin to the unexpectedly fleet-footed Berengardh. She pushes forward, seeking to drive into the Knight-Officer\'s defense: again her sword, quicker this time, seeks Gondorian blood.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Berengardh dodges your attack.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Haradrim woman is quicker than the Knight-Captain may have anticipated and instinct alone saves him from fate\'s sharp end. A line is cut across his body and blood is drawn upon his undershirt. But that is not visible.
Only the desperation of a lost race and the swift slash of his sword, meant more to widen the distance between the two combatants than all else.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm\'s length.
[Yildirim(#24191)] \"Darkness as birthright? Could you make less sense, old man?\" Yildirim bemusedly questions, the blade again missing the Corsair, \"Perhaps your mind leave you even know, old man. Let me aid you back to the dust!\" Even as his blade cuts out again, his eyes fall to Nisrin from time to time with a hint of worry.
Eron\'s blade tip is all that slips between the Squire\'s armor, but it is enough to make him squeal in pain. The Knight\'s gaze hardens more and his blade swipes towards Eron\'s back. His Squire finding his nerve to attack towards the man\'s legs.
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar and moderately wounds it!
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eron.
Swan Knight\'s attack misses Eron.
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eron.
Blue Squire\'s attack misses Eron.
[Eron(#24786)]
The Haradrim Commander is a nightmare. he moves in chainmail like smoke through a siv. Lifting a leg while ducking and twisting Both knight and Squire find nothing for their blades to find purchase upon. Straightening up, Eron lashes around, shoving his shield towards the Blue Squire in a shield bash attempt, perhaps to disengadge the under experienced warrior, as an overhand blow of the curved blade of Eron hurtles towards the Swan knight.
Eron attacks Swan Knight with his Scimitar and badly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Knight-Admiral is staggered backwards by the Corsair\'s blow but not so distracted that he does not catch the hint of worry. \"Ah, I see,\" he says.
And this time, he stabs at Nisrin\'s shoulder with a flourish.
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Nisrin.
...and it misses!
[Azradi(#20135)]
Lady Farside pivots to the side, allowing the Gondorian blade to whistle past her. \"As talkative as ever, I see,\" she comments, her lips twisted wrly. She steps forward to close the slight distance, her feet raising small puffs of dust, and swings her blade - aiming now for Imrakhor\'s sword arm.
Azradi attacks Imrakhor with her Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"You should pay more attention to my blade, old man!\" Yildirim cries out, his blade recklessly swinging at the Admiral, \"Nisrin! Pull away!\"
Eron\'s attack is curious, the Squire is not so green as to not be able to defend himself against the shield bash, and his sword again slashes out to protect his Knight. But Eron\'s sword catches not the Knight\'s breast, but as the Knight moves to defend, he miscalculates and the blade catches the edge of his hand, clipping off his smallest finger. He screams out as he weakly swings his blade to keep Eron at bay.
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar and badly wounds it!
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eron.
Swan Knight badly wounds him!
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eron.
Blue Squire severely wounds him!
Nisrin ducks Berengardh\'s blow, giggling girlishly -- but her eyes are lit with fell concentration. Even while she is crouched below her full height, a flick of slender wrist sends the scimitar\'s tip in search of the elder Knight\'s shin. She hears not the young Captain\'s warning.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Berengardh dodges your attack.
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron is hit, and hit again, with Behemoth strikes that have his life\'s blood pouring out onto the beach. Breath comes in haggard weasing breaths as he manages to keep his feet. The shield has fallen off of a half numb hand at this point, as with a snarl, Eron moves to clutch his scimitar with two hands to hack at the Swan knight.
[Combat(#13388)] Eron slowly removes from his left hand a large Smith\'s Shield and then he places it back to his back, waiting for the next time to be use.
Eron attacks Swan Knight with his Scimitar and lightly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Imrakhor turns enough of his sword arm away from Azradi that it is kept in tact. But it bleeds and hangs limply at his side. He sets his jaw and says:
\"I was unaware there was anything to discuss. Jabber on, if you must.\"
And, switching his blade to the other hand, he stabs at the Farsider.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm\'s length.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel suddenly appears at Eron\'s side, as he takes two blows from the Gondorian knights. She waits till the squire is in his followthrough swing, and then dives in with scimitar thrusting out. \"For Barazon!\" she shouts.
Eruphel attacks Blue Squire with her Scimitar and badly wounds it!
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"Haradrim witch!\" the Knight calls out, even as Timmir face is splattered with his own blood, a heavy gash ripped into his side. Again the Squire pulls back from the fight, this time with good reason as his Knight moves between him and Eruphel blade swinging to free her head from her neck.
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eruphel.
Swan Knight badly wounds her!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Again, Yildirim bites at the Knight-Admiral. This time is different, however. The Vinyatar staggers and clutches his shoulder. That same his hand is brought to his nose and he sniffs. \"My blood,\" he observes.
His attention returns to the Corsair man and he swings at him.
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh moderately wounds him!
[Eron(#24786)] His eyes Alight as the Swan knight swings his blade down on Lady Seaward, and with both hands still shakily holding Devotion, Eron thrusts, entending on empaling the swan knight with his blade
Eron attacks Swan Knight with his Scimitar and badly wounds it!
[Azradi(#20135)]
The Black Numenorean moves from the path of Imrakhor\'s blade with arrogant casualness. The feline smile returns and Azradi dances a few steps to the side - a cat playing with her prey. She clicks her tongue, \"Tsk, tsk. And here I thought the Swan-knights were gentlemen - the flower of Dol Amroth in both war and peace.\"
Lady Farside lunges forward, her scimitar arcing in towards the man\'s thigh.
Azradi attacks Imrakhor with her Scimitar and lightly wounds him!
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Yildirim bleeds his first blood of the day as the Admiral\'s blade catches him across the ribs, his blackened armor hiding the wound. There is no jocular reply this time from the corsair his concentration true, he swings to finish the fight.
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar and badly wounds it!
\"Captain!\" cries Nisrin, forcing forward again to cut at Berengardh with a wide, circular arc. The happiness is tenuous, and the smile is downturned to a snarl.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Your attack against Berengardh badly wounds it!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel raises a shield to ward off the attacking blow, but the blade strikes her Serpent Helm, cutting a gash through the brass, and opening a gash in her head. She reels under the blow, staggering sideways and faltering in the bloody mud. She rises to her feet as her husband rises to her defense, engaging the Knight. Its all the time she needs, and she takes a more defensive position, both against the squire and the Knight.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Even as Azradi\'s blade bites to his thigh, Imrakhor complains between his teeth, \"Must you so intolerable, woman? Cluck, cluck.\" The Knight-Captain is now visibly unsteady, the weight of fatigue and wound settling him.
But there is a reserve and from there he summons another strike.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but Azradi parries the attack with her Scimitar!
[Yildirim(#24191)] The Knight is barely standing as Eron\'s blade opens a new wound on the Knight\'s body. Tears begin to slip down the Knight\'s cheeks, as he cries out, \"For Imrahil! For Gondor!\" and strikes at Eruphel again. His Squire, cries out and charges the woman also, as he watches his Knight slowly die from his wounds.
Swan Knight swings ominously towards Eruphel.
Swan Knight badly wounds her!
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eruphel.
Blue Squire moderately wounds her!
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron roars in feral anger as the two descend upon his beloved, and he\'s driven to desperation. Fueled with strength that goes beyond his frail form\'s availability, he hurls himself at the knight, both hands bringing the Scimitar down upon the man, in hopes of ending him. Unknown on even if the blow has landed, Eron eyes the squire now.
Eron attacks Swan Knight with his Scimitar and terribly wounds it!
[Azradi(#20135)]
The soldiers of Farside are valiant - many spurred on by fearful speculation for the fate of Caldurian family - but more bodies dark of face and bearing the raven litter the ground than Amrothian Knights. Even so, the men of the Raven remain a potent force and push forward against the might of Imrahil crying, \"Farside! Caldur!\" as they advance.
\"It is called civility, Lord Bragollach,\" Azradi answers patiently. She parries the Knight\'s blade with a twist of her wrist. \"I do not need to hate my enemies in order to kill them.\" The corsair woman brings her curved blade in again, this time aiming for the other leg.
Azradi attacks Imrakhor with her Scimitar, but Imrakhor parries the attack with his Longsword!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel takes the knight and his squire\'s crushing attack in a forced retreat, each ferocious blow pushing her back. She takes a blow to the shield that makes her howl in pain, even though no blood is spilt, the following blow was lucky enough to glance off her belt and knick her hip. Now the woman dances forward again, but more prepared to parry as she follows through, striking at the knight, actually trying to catch his sword hand.
Eruphel attacks Swan Knight with her Scimitar and terribly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Blades cut flesh and flesh again from the body of the elder Knight. He again sees images of his youth in Belfalas but they are now laden with smokes and ashes now, rather than a fleet-footed youth. Death taps upon his door.
But he is of the ranks of Numenor and so he still manages a strike.
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh\'s attack misses Yildirim.
[Yildirim(#24191)] The Knight is not ended, but his sword flies from him, his arm still grasping the hilt, white knuckled while Eron\'s blade is drawn from his body. He coughs, blood seeping from his lips as he falls to his knees, whispers in a lilting tongue coming from his lips. His squire, enraged by a different love than Eron\'s, he seeks to kill that which he defends.
Yildirim finds ease in dodging the Knight\'s attacks now and he gives the elder Knight no quarter, punishing for his insolence with heavy downward strikes.
Suniti has arrived.
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eruphel.
Blue Squire badly wounds her!
Yildirim attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar, but he misses by a mile.
[Eron(#24786)]
Shaking. Breathing hard. Eron\'s body is failing him. but the blow by the square brings back a last hurrah from the man. \"Join...Your Master...\" Eron says, a slightly cough bringing crimson to view from the chin of his helm, as his face is hidden from view. Eron rushes the Squire, twirling his blade in a flourish meant to distract, before the thrust is exposed as the attack of choice.
Eron attacks Blue Squire with his Scimitar and badly wounds it!
\"You are happy now, Stonelander?\" Nisrin smiles thinly at Yildirim, then braces her scimitar for a double-handed strike, aiming to cut upward through the ailing Knight\'s defense.
You attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
Berengardh dodges your attack.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
As the sword arm falls away from the Knight\'s body, Eruphel wastes no more time on him, living though he may be, for the squire heightens his attack on her, and she is pressed back yet again. \"Loyal dog, do not mourn your master, for soon you both will be together.\" she says scornfully, thrusting in low toward the man\'s groin area, aiming for the meaty flesh of the leg.
Eruphel attacks Blue Squire with her Scimitar and badly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
The Knight-Captain slashes Azradi\'s blade from his leg into the dirt. The clang of steel fills the air. He still staggers, but adrenaline rushes a blow.
It comes twisting upwards towards the lady\'s shoulder.
Imrakhor attacks Azradi with his Longsword, but he misses by a handspan.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The Swan-Knight begins to babble, \"I\'m sorry... I\'m sorry... My Prince, I failed... Timmir...\"
His pleas for forgiveness are not heard by the Squire as Eron\'s blade catches his in the side, he bats away the man\'s blade belatedly, missing Eruphel\'s that slips deep into his leg. Another cry and he falls towards the woman, his last ounces of strength for his final attempt to take the woman\'s life.
Blue Squire the Squire swings his blade towards Eruphel.
Blue Squire\'s attack misses Eruphel.
[Eron(#24786)]
Eron moves to stand shakily over the Square, and with both hands, while his blade soars at, and misses Eruphel, The merciless commander of the Serpent Guard descends that blade upon Timmir.
Eron attacks Blue Squire with his Scimitar and terribly wounds it!
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Perhaps the lands fallen to the seas sustain him long enough to bear blade again. Or perhaps it is death\'s last blow to the living. But the Admiral strikes heavily at Yildirim, shouting: \"Imrahil! Imrahil!\"
Berengardh , with an ancient blade, strikes towards Yildirim.
Berengardh\'s attack misses Yildirim.
[Yildirim(#24191)] Again, Yildirim\'s dodges, his smile returning, \"Oh yes, do not worry. I won\'t forget him either.\" His blade swings down towards the man\'s neck. \"In time old man, in time...\"
Yildirim furiously attacks Berengardh with his Scimitar and terribly wounds it!
[Azradi(#20135)]
Azradi\'s blade only touches earth briefly she twists aside to avoid Imrakhor\'s attack - an attack that comes close enough that she falls silent to concentrate. Stamping her right foot forward, her beaded-braids rattling against her mail, she lunges, seeking to skewer the knight\'s shoulder where his ailette joins with his ring-mail coat.
Azradi attacks Imrakhor with her Scimitar and severely wounds him!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Even wounded as she is, Eruphel manages to dodge the next swing of the squire. \"And now you die, far from home and your loved ones. Your head will become my ballistae as we retake Caldur, foolish boy, you and your Knight.\" She jumps forward, swinging high toward the squire\'s neck.
Blue Squire collapses to the ground, defeated by Eruphel!
[Eron(#24786)]
\"That one....Counts as mine....You know...\" Eron says as he turns to shamble towards the dying Swan Knight, intending on finishing him as well.
[Yildirim(#24191)] Eron\'s blade catches the Squire in the other leg, he drops to the ground like his mentor, his master and his friend. And then, as he looks up, the Knight watches his Squire die, his head rolling down the embankment towards the sea. Then he falls, his chest heaving thrice more and then naught.
\"Imrahil?\" Nisrin tests the strange name, licking her lips like a pleased cat. Then she giggles and drives the scimitar-point down, down towards the elder Knight\'s dented and battered chest.
You recklessly attack Berengardh with your Scimitar...
You have defeated Berengardh!
Your attack against Berengardh fatally wounds and defeats it!
Eron watches the knight die, And looks around. The field seems to be won.
Eron collapses.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
And as the tide slowly turns, the gates of Barazon finally creak open, the portcullis rising as it is hoisted, but before it is even up all the way, mounted riders are charging out onto the field from the beseiged Keep, swords in hand as they engage the enemy, ducking to pass through the low gate in their eagerness. Behind them, soldiers follow on foot, mopping up those who are already fallen, finishing off those who can be finished off quickly. Like a river of blue, the new force spills out toward the remainder of the encampment.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
\"Of course, Dear.\" Eruphel says to her husband, looking down at the beheaded squire, and then down the hill toward the sea, where his head floats. Then she looks up, seeing the knights sally forth from Barazon. She smiles. \"Like children let out to play.\" she murmurs, and starts to walk forward when...she finds Eron, collapsed on the ground from his wounds. \"My Lord!\" she cries. \"Guards! Protect us!\" she says, calling to his own Serpent Guard. She drops to her knees to lift him up, feeling his back first for wounds, then looking him over, trying to staunch his bleeding, though she barely fares any better.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
Azradi\'s blade buries itself into the Knight-Captain\'s shoulder and the pain causes him to cry out and lose his sword. The Master of the Flame no longer can master his own blade as both his arms now hang limp. He staggers backwards only just managing to keep his feet firmly planted.
But where most collapse, Imrakhor steels himself. The shard around his neck glows red. He breaths heavily: \"Retreat, retreat.\" He sucks in air again.
\"Retreat!\" he bellows, his voice carrying now. He follows his own call.
[Imrakhor(#30834)]
There is no smile for the Knight-Admiral now bent, broken, defeated as he is. Where once the visions of Amroth burning were but daydreams, he now sees them clearly. But not the blades. The blades bite and he perishes.
Gasping, groaning, Berengardh succumbs to death\'s seduction.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The Black Squire reaches down, grabbing at the chest of the fallen Knight. He recites Westron text, his elation in it clear, \"The chain of his office is simple silver, and the sign of his command, worn over his left breast, is an eight pointed star, a compass, with the Sindarin letters of the directions inscribed in faint gold.\"
No more thought is given the Knight and quickly finds himself at Nisrin\'s side. He takes stock of her wounds, and seeing nothing of worry, smiles, faux punching her chin, but says nothing of them or his own wounds.
At Eruphel\'s cry, his focus is snatched away once more, \"Your Lady calls for help!\" and taking her hand, dashes towards the Lady Seaward.
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Yildirim examines the injuries on Nisrin.
HEALING: Yildirim examines you for injuries...
Nisrin pauses to beam happily at the perished Knight\'s stricken countenance, but then she is pulled away. \"The Lady Seaward is hurt?\" she queries, worry creasing her forehead.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
As they bond towards Eruphel and her guards, Yildrim answers, \"We shall see in but a moment... But she is a strong woman. I am sure she is well... there!\" he points towards the group, \"Someone lays still...\"
[<#20135>]
A look of satisfaction crosses Azradi\'s fair features. She does not press ahead when Imrakhor\'s blade drops from his hand, her eye caught by a red glint. Then satisfaction gives way to startled recognition, even as the Knight-Captain calls for retreat. \"
[Eruphel(#20109)]
\"We need healers.\" she says aloud. As she looks up and sees others approaching, Eruphel\'s bloodied faces seems almost relieved to see Nisrin virtually unscathed. She calls out to her kin by marriage. \"Nisrin, I need you to see to Eron. I have...wounds of my own. And getting this helmet off will take a surgeon and a blacksmith.\"
[<#30834>]
What strength is left in Imrakhor is used to evade Azradi\'s grasp. There is a quiet desperation to the man as he holds onto the chained jewel about his neck. \"
\"It is one of her Serpent Guard,\" breathes Nisrin, her slender hand tightly gripping Yildirim\'s own. \"They have felled my brother?\" Her soft breath is questioning, with disbelief writ upon her smile and in her obliging nod to Eruphel. The Hashikh girl pulls away from the Black Squire and approaches the fallen twain swiftly, sinking to her knees.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Yildirim does not hesitate, he chooses Eruphel too examine first.
\"Lady move not,\" as he examines the helm, \"I will need a blacksmith and a surgeon to get this helm off, but...\" he cuts a length from his cloak, \"Press this against the wound for now.\" He goes to work with his dagger cutting stretches from his wrap and taking turns looking over Eruphel and then to Eron, finding the most grievous wounds and wrapping them in turn.
\"He will live,\" he decides some time into his work.
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Yildirim tends to the injuries on Eruphel.
[Suniti(#17201)]
It seems the guards at the gates must have been on the ball, for as soon as it is even reasonably safe to, Suniti is being herded out - a basket of linens and other healing goodies close at hand as she looks out over the carnage, a bit nervous looking suddenly.
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Suniti examines the injuries on Eruphel.
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Suniti examines the injuries on Nisrin.
HEALING: Suniti examines you for injuries...
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Suniti examines the injuries on Azradi.
[Combat Function Library(#15)] Suniti examines the injuries on Yildirim.
Nisrin sits nearby, mindless of the spilt blood. Absently, with wide dark eyes fixed on the Lady Seaward and her Lord Husband, the girl wipes her scimitar on the sleeve of a severed arm.
[Azradi(#20135)]
Her hand grasps air and Azradi\'s countenance twists in frustration. Her men stream around her, letting forth a mighty roar as they pursue their fleeing enemy. Their fatigue restrains them, however, and they merely nip at their heels.
She crouches to cleansher sword on the cloak of a dead-man, glancing up to one of her officers as she does so. \"Bring the healers and baggage wains forward. Find a few men fresh enough to scout forward.\"
\"Set up our camp where the Gondorians did, they chose well.\" She rises, sheathing her sword. \"I am going to go find my ship Captains and Lady Seaward.\"The Farside officer bows and rushes to do her bidding.
Glancing down, she spots her opponent\'s longsword. Lady Farside reaches down to take her trophy ere striding to her horse and eventually the coast where the second battle front was fought.
[Azradi(#20135)]
To the dwindling sight of Imrakhor, born away, Azradi calls out: \"Run, baby, run!\"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Yildirim finishes tending to the Lady Seaward and her husband before triaging those he can find that can be saved. His work goes on long after the battle is won and it is some time before he is seen again near his ship.
[Suniti(#17201)]
Seeing Yildirim with Eruphel for the moment, Suniti makes her way over and begins to arrange things. \"Yildirim sir, you should at least put on this salve, lest you make your own wounds worse.\" She takes some out and applies it quickly, the slavegirl being rather impetuous it seems, but then she looks down to Eruphel, trying to get a better idea of what might be most pressing to deal with...