S3E4 - The Dark Army

SFX Battlefield in the distance, breeze some raven calls
Morren
(Slightly out of breath) ...Aha... The ravens feast early this day... (grunt as she walks)
Bryce
(panting slightly out of breath)Yes Captain... quite so... hmm... (thinking)
Morren
(panting) Benedict...
Nar - Keldor
Her gauntlet-ed hand rested on his armored shoulder a moment. He didn't stir. Or react she noted. He simply stared at the ground leaning on the battle worn two-handed greatsword his armored chest heaving for a moment while he was catching his breath.
benedict
(panting and talking to himself) 3...
(pant, lip smack) 3... oh wait... 4... we've lost 4.
Nar - Keldor
A slight breeze carried the smell of iron and blood across the icy cold air of the field. He could see other units and skirmishes still battling, the closest 100 yards away. They were in a position far to the south of the attack's center... primarily fending off or intercepting small units of Orc and man that were attempting to flank the order's outward defense on the battlefield. He noted the sun's position still low in the eastern sky hidden slightly behind the tower behind him. It felt like it had been hours... but it was merely the beginning.
SFX Horn blast and distant roar of crowd
He looked back to his Captain as the roar came from the invaders to the west. Her pale green eyes shone behind the visor of her steel helm. He saw the ends of dark ash colored locks from her temples falling from behind its edges. These were braided and kept shorter than the shoulder. This was a common length for Infantry and Cavalry he had noticed. Though many wore their hair in different styles befitting their own personalities. They wore the same plate armor though emblazoned with the Sword and Crown emblem it was left to personal taste or preference on whether
or not they would don a helm.
bryce
(shouting) Ridley can you see their vanguard still?
ridley
(shouting) Nay! They seem to be all gone. This is fresh for us sir! How bout you Mallius? hahaha!
(teasing) What do your pretty elf eyes see.
mallius
Hahaha! Same as you!
Nar - Keldor
As the Dwarf Knight Ridley confirmed with her Shieldbrother, Captain Morren didn't take her seafoam eyes off the newest member of the 5th infantry. She needed to make sure he was as ready as he could be for what may come. The battlefield holds no mercy after all.
Morren
(Calmly)come... Another wave Benedict.
(smiling) hmm.. Another dance.
nar - keldor
Benedict nodded and as he saw the approaching horde of wild faced enemies he drew up his sword to meet them.
morren
(smiling) Shall we then?
benedict
(battle cry)
Morren
(battle cry)
ridley
(battle cry)
Bryce
(battle cry)
Mallius
(battle cry)
door transition
SFX inside the tower walking, heavy reverb, silent to the battle raging outside.
cordelia
Vix, is that a library over there?
Vix
(peering) Ah... Yes. Yes it is. I shall see what it may hold. May give us a clue.
cordelia
Please do, we need ANY clues at this point.
Nar - Keldor
Cordelia looked around the massive central hall they stood in. This was the 10th floor and was a massive mezzanine styled area. It was also unused.
CORDELIA sigh as she looks around. Then a sound of CORDELIA realizing
Cordelia found herself remembering seeing the army with Lord Alvar only a few hours ago.
distant armies shouting, wind
lord alvar
I never thought I'd see such a sight... An army daring to advance on the Celestine Tower. (heavy sigh)
Nar - Keldor
They stood on the massive wall overlooking the battlefield. Legions lined up on the vast creamy white plain, Tufts of browning grass poking up out of the snow at intervals casting a dirty hue to ground. The small armies at this distance seeming less real and more like a game for a sinister child. The sun cast the towers shadow in a long hand across this field of battle stretching a few miles, landing finally on the faint encampment in the distance. The invaders encampment.
Cordelia
Its...
(in terror) aw...
Sophie
(interrupting) Horrifying.
Lord Alvar
Yes.
(beat) And our forces are... bare as you can see. I fear some not as ready as others...
(sigh) Too young. The local farmers have offered up arms to assist but I've decided only as a last resort. Do...
nar - keldor
Lord Alvar looked at Cordelia. His grey eyes and kind face still proud, but unable to hide a glimmer of hope behind them.
lord alvar
Do you believe the portal still exists?
cordelia
It sounds like much of the tower is a mystery even to you My Lord. From what I know the 5 towers are connected with a portal that can be used to pass between them.
Vix
I concur with Cordelia as I have heard the same thing. That in times of old it was used to assist in help... or message as well as moving people and resources.
(heavy sigh) Although, it may be rendered unusable. I cannot guarantee it still works.
lord alvar
We... haven't ascended past the 10th floor for centuries.
(beat) There's been no need to.
(Sigh) then there became superstitions and legends that kept any secrets it held safe. I know not if they are true, but there may be guardians that I don't know about. hmm...
(stating the obvious) Who knows what ghosts roam those halls above?
cordelia
If we can find the portal we could bring the Librarians here to assist before all is lost.
lord alvar
Agreed. And that is the hope we must rely on.
(deep breath) Hurry, my friends, and may the Knight and Maiden guide you.
SFX back to central hallway
zorin
You sure they said they came to this floor? It looks like its been empty for a long time. I mean between the dust...
(beat) and the...
(grunt as he walks then gasp of wonderment) Wow... look at that.
cordelia
(gasp of wonder)
sophie
(gasp of wonder)
vix
(gasp of wonder)
Nar - Keldor
The sun had raised in the sky far enough to cast itself through the large ancient stained glass panels in the central hall. 6 panels stood each a different set of multicolored glass depicting a figure surrounded by several smaller scenes. The reds blues and greens danced across the 50 ft walls the image diffused but no less beautiful. They noticed this chamber branched into 6 directions, no doubt spanning into the other 6 smaller towers.
Sophie
(sees something of wonder)You go ahead. I'll... (beat) I'll be right there.
Nar - Keldor
As they all left the room to inspect the path to another tower, Sophie stared up at the images. One figure in particular carried a staff and long black robe. Behind which the face was the grim visage of an ivory skull holding a staff in one skeletal hand and a single coin in the other.
transition
SCENE - Team loading the trebuchets and launching them. Yells and cheers.
gustav
(yelling from afar)Yeah! Good shot! HAHAHA!
Ayla Forsythe
(yelling from camera) you too my friend! (grunt)
Silvie
Load them up! Lets show them what we knights can throw back at them! For honor!
SFX - Cheers echo from the other 3 trebuchet teams as they grunt and begin hauling
Ayla Forsythe
(narration)I turned back to the rope attached to the long arm of the trebuchet and took a cursory glance to make sure I didn't see any tearing.
(calling) return to loading!
(narration) I joined my team as we turned the multiple wooden spokes of the war machine winding the 30 ft arm down and lifting the several tons of counterweight off the ground simultaneously. Based off our last shot we would keep everything the same as much as possible. I could smell the burning bonfire behind us and it helped ensure we couldn't smell the horrible smells of battle ...though at the time the heat was more welcome.
roar of battle far off
gustav
Captain! (beat)Cavalry fifteen degrees west... nine hundred yards and approaching.
silvie
(announcing proud to the team) Well hurry up and prepare to welcome them!
Group laughter and cheers
I don't mind late comers to my party... do you?!
gustav
No!
Ayla Forsythe
No!
All
No!
silvie
And we still have gifts for our new friends?!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) Silvie knew. She knew as she looked across the battlefield at the charging cavalry a mix of human and orc mercenaries no doubt serving this... Lord... Pallus. Their dark armor was cruelly cut to angles at the shoulders, horns curved wickedly in different directions and their eyes... Their eyes flared with an intense bloodlust as they drove towards the front ranks of our infantry. Those brave souls set out to anticipate and intercept our enemy. Silvie... just knew... from the still and tense air behind her we were ready.
All
Yes!
silvie
Then may the knight guide your hands... (shouting) FIRE!
SFX - Trebuchet launching and whistling through the air. crashing, screaming
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) Cheers erupted from our ranks once again as the 200 pound stones cut though their advancing ranks. Despite having our duties changed at the last minute it felt as if this truly was our calling on this glorious day. Our barrage continued as the sun drew low in the sky... until the last of the advance pulled back at the end of the day to return to their camp on the other side of the distant hill... and we pulled back opposite them to the south west of the tower. It was then that something happened I will never forget.
SFX shouting and riding up from the front line
Arsinia
(Panting) Make way! Medic! Help them please...
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) a rider rode back from the front line after retrieving a body presumed dead. But I saw the blood matted blonde head loll to one side displaying behind the grim look of a very much alive knight. And more so I... I knew him.
gustav
(concerned) Ho there Arsinia! Is that...
Ayla Forsythe
(shocked outcry) Mallius!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) Arsinia slid to the side of her bay colored horse to dismount. Gripping the cracked leather reins in her left hand she placed a calm hand across our friends badly hurt head taking care not to touch any of the wounds hidden in the mass of hair and blood. The pointed tips of his graceful elven ears helping to identify him to us even when he were so unrecognizable... The iron and mineral smell of the horses sweat and the blood was the first real smells of warfare we had all day. Gustav and I realized this as we looked at each other shocked... (beat) as if just then it dawned on us this battle was in fact very... real.
mallius
(weak groaning) Uuugh... uh...
(breathing) Ay..Ayla? I can't... see you my friend... Is it you?
Ayla Forsythe
(concerned) Yes I'm here... Mallius... Please.. stay with me.
mallius
(weak chuckle) Heh heh heh! ...It would take more than that lot to take me out my friend.
Ayla Forsythe
(Narrating) His bloody smile told me this was true and my heart settled a little. His head again rolled as if owned by a child's rag doll to a side... He was looking up from the back of that horse... as we pulled him to the ground. If Mallius was a human like myself I'd say we were about the same age... around a quarter century. His elven bloodline was ancient in the land of Trull. More specifically his family were nobles within the Silver Maple woods at the northern border. His tanned skin wore a proud badge of those sunlit groves of the sweet purple apples native there that held tart apricot notes within the crunchy fruit itself. His golden hazel eyes, though filled with pain showed much life still to be had.
(chuckle)(narrating) I had no choice but to smile in relief at both my fearless friends condition... and his attitude towards it.
Cleric
(clears throat politely) Excuse me Sergeant Forsythe.
I must tend to his wounds now.
Ayla Forsythe
(surprised) Yes... Yes of course.
Ayla Forsythe
(narration) Hearing my formal title was to be honest a bit jarring as here we didn't refer to them directly. Our positions and roles at the great War Machines that towered before us spoke to them enough. Everyone loaded the machine, but only we Sergeants pulled the release. And only then... after the Captain called for it...
We bandaged up Mallius and made our way back into the great wall that surrounded the Celestine Tower. And this time those great Doors... were open.
The sounds of walking around the parapet.
Nar - Keldor
A few hours had passed since our forces had returned to the keep to refresh themselves from the battle. eight hundred and twenty five... Eight hundred and twenty five young soldiers was what we had. There were a handful of veterans such as myself fighting alongside these brave young people but the... odds were staggering. The more we repelled the more we felt them double in size... Like a great hydra. Benedict had enlisted much to my delight though I wasn't surprised... It was at the end of the day I saw him helping tend to the wounded with hopes and prayers. I felt something in them though, not just the rhetoric of faith... simply recited from the practiced tongue but there was... actual power in his words. A calming power. I noted how the knightlord must be truly guiding him as I saw him kneel next to a Dwarf whose arm was battered and bloodied. I saw the dark raven hair of his father on his bowed head. There was no doubt this was Lucilius's son, the heir of Garnet Keep.
Keldor
(greeting) Evening, how goes the watch?
daria
(jumpy, slight nervousness) ..G.. good... Knight Captain.
Nar - Keldor
Her nerves were tight from tension of the day. I could feel the coiled spring of readiness tempered
with panic...
keldor
Excellent... I... hope you don't mind if I join you here.
(chuckle) I'll have a hard time sleeping this night.
daria
(chuckle) Sure. Be my guest...
(chuckle and loosening up) Though I don't have much to offer in the way of refreshment or...
keldor
(joking)well then! I would have to leave this embarrassment to my station.
they both laugh
daria
(laughing then a beat as they notice his tunic) Hahaha!...
(sigh) Excuse me Knight Captain.
Keldor
(correcting gently) Keldor. Please, call me just Keldor. And your name is...
Nar - Keldor
She looked at me with a different look then. The hard gaze seemed to soften in her deep brown eyes and the rich mahogony of her cheek shone a tint of scarlet where it met the gleaming helm of her polished silver armor. A long plume of midnight blue dyed horsehair poured out in the gentle breeze gracing her pauldrons.
daria
I am Daria.
(beat as she recognizes the name) Kel... Keldor. Your tunic's emblem is red...
Nar - Keldor
I considered the old worn tunic over my armor, now restored somewhat to its original glory. Originally white as was hers it was now more cream with the holes of wear about. The crown and sword at my chest along with 2 wide bars at the base denoting my rank were in fact originally red. Now they faded to a
paled crimson, the colors lost to time as with what they symbolized to me in those... Lost years. Her emblems, as were the rest of the knights here... were blue.
daria
(beat) G..Garnet Keep?
(slightly confused) but I thought the Keep was...
caleb
(interrupting) Lost?
(chuckle and cocky) heh, as did I Watchmaster... As did I.
Keldor
(polite) Caleb. How are y...
caleb
(angrily) Oh stop with the pleasantries, Keldor. (beat) Heh, we both know there is no time for that... Especially from you... Deserter.
daria
(strongly) I... I beg your forgiveness Knight Captain he's... he's no deserter.
caleb
(mock surprise) Oh? hmm... did you not know the story of the brave Sir Keldor?
Keldor
(softly) Please, Caleb I...
caleb
(furious) Please?! You ask me to forgive you for abandoning your post? For abandoning your so called friends?
(draws closer hissing) You... You LET my sister die in that fire... Didn't you?
Nar - Keldor
His words struck home like a lance draped in a holy flame. I felt the white hot lava of guilt pour over my heart remembering his sister Elona, bravely diving into the flames of the burning building to defend her family. His Auburn hair was still cut close to the head as he always preferred... His Ice Blue eyes
peering through the dark rimmed slits he allowed them now like a predator preparing to strike... His hot breath held remnant smells of a hasty meal.
Caleb
(shouting) Answer me!
(beat)(shouting) Didn't you?!
lamprey
(shouting) Caleb!
(huffing as he walks swiftly) Caleb!
(beat) You are no judge!
(beat) YOU have no idea... WE have no idea what he's been through.
Nar - Keldor
Lamprey walked swiftly between us. His blue eyes strong and locked on Caleb. His black tunic whipped against the leather armor he wore underneath. A streak of mud cut across the tunic's 4 fading red bars at the base denoting a Sergeant Major of Garnet Keep. Caleb's white tunic depicted 2 blue bars indicating a Knight Captain, like myself but based out of the Celestine Tower. Lamprey's left eye was bloodshot from the grit of the day in the trenches with the pikemen... repelling infantry and cavalry alike from a centralized attack.
lamprey
Now... is not the time to relive... that which we cannot change.
caleb
(turning still a bit angry) My quarrel isn't with you Lamprey.
lamprey
(coldly) It is now...
Nar - Keldor
Caleb froze for a minute assessing the situation. The wind on the parapet gently blew by as I could feel the tension in the air approach a zenith. My hand unclenched leaving deep indentations in its palm I was unaware of until now. I now smelled birch and pine in the bonfires out at the perimeter 50 feet
below blazing, the arms of the several trebuchet lined up just at the edge of the firelight 50 yards from the wall. The moonlight aided in a blue-white glow that reflected from the walls of the magnificent tower behind us... hmm, one thing to note for some such as myself, When tension rises I've found you become more aware of your surroundings... in many ways more alive. I suppose that is why some of my shield brothers and sisters grew to love battle.
shouting from below
daria
(sigh) There is no time for any of this! Now calm yourselves!
(turning to shout over the wall) Ho there! state your name and business!
nar - Keldor
Watchmaster Daria moved quickly to the edge of the wall peering down 60 feet to the muddy ground below. Standing there was a single figure at the edge of the torchlight. Teal warpaint surrounded his eyes and pulled down his alabaster face into twin points like assassin's daggers. His red copper hair was straight and hung to the shoulder. It was pulled back revealing the pointed ears of the elves. He wore the midnight tunic emblazoned with what appeared to be a smeared dark blue teardrop. But inverted as if flowing upwords. I looked at Lamprey whose furrowed brow and eyes confirmed he had never seen it before either. His lips curled cruelly back.
Loukas
(shouting mockingly) I... am Loukas! ...and I carry a proposal of great importance to one of your own.
Nar - Keldor
The creak of the small gate opened as two heavily armoured sentries walked out to hear the visitor's proposal. They looked at each other a bit shocked to find one of the generally goodnatured sons of the forest staring at them with a crazed look on his face. The mysterious teardrop shape now revealed a grim skull looking as if it were melting down the front of the tunic in a deathly blue green.
Sentry 1
(hissing) Speak your words. Speak them and be gone.
Loukas
(condescending and mocking) My only wish is to speak with my brother's son... Is that so much to ask for?
(chuckle) Tell my dear Mallius to meet me in the center of the battlefield at dawn before OUR first sorties. The fate of... the Silver Maple Woods rides on it. He will know what I mean.
(long cruel laughter as he gallops off)