War of the Woods - Turn 2 Aftermath
The morning sun rose above the horizon at long last across the Strangleweed Sea, though from the shoreline, the pervasive haze of the Dusk Woods dimmed its brilliance manifold. Such was the gloomy existance of Doomshank Port. Even with the capture of the port by the Alliance of Avelorn and construction underway to make it into a new shining beacon of Order, the taint of chaos clung in the air as if choking out the light.
Nevertheless, this morning was a momentous one if not fraught with anxiety. Scores of prisoners lined the streets just beyond the battered port walls, chained and gagged, these beastmen and others that had sided with the warherds waited for their destiny. One in nine though, would not be so lucky, as they would be kept as a blood sacrifice for Dionaea Hatebled, an agreement that the snakelike warrior found satisfactory. The rest may live yet, but many of the alliance didn't think the trade would come to pass.
A low rumbling horn sounds the arrival of the warherd representatives and from the walls of the port-city, all of the alliance members could see that the Warherds were true to their word. Bound around the neck to each other, dozens of proud warriors of the alliance walked in solemn silence back towards their allies. With them, many more common folk, laborours and even scholars and engineers. They were dirty, unkempt and malnourished but by and large, unharmed.
Dionaea smiles wryly, thinking back at the exchange she had with the contemptuous gor. She had not thought it possible but somehow the runt made it happen. "Releassse the prisoners!" she ordered her followers and at once the chains were snapped from the victim's limbs with blurring strikes of glaives. The bewildered captives waste no time and rush out the gates as the other captives returned through them. A lone pestigor shaman looks back at the Melusai warrior, his diseased flesh seemingly melting from his face. He bows down low almost like a gesture of thanks but his twisted beady eyes blink curiously as he smirks and disappears into the exodus.
Successful exchange of prisoners -
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Despite the safe return of the prisoners that Lady Valencourt had taken, Doomshank Port was kept at high alert. The exchange was over but the expectation of treachery lingered like an acrid stench. So the motley crew of defenders waited patiently for the warherds to strike. Amongst them stood Kuradin Whitebeard, a duardin who thought himself peerless in battle. He had come in search of a challenge and glory but the wait was making him impatient. Tycha Sorrowforged of the Iron Peacocks also kept watch over the walls with longing. Sigmar had sent her far into the unknown reaches of the Interstice to hunt down worthy adversaries, but with each passing moment, she feels her triumph delayed and denied. A rumbling roar echoes from behind them and these champions of order are quick to turn around and reach for their weapons, but they only see disappointment. A bloated fetid creature stands in the bay of the port, seemingly chuckling to itself. The Alliance were quick to assume it had aligned itself to the war herds but found that the agent of chaos had come to offer assistance to the alliance... A most strange turn of events. Logarius the Vile toiled amidst the muddied streets, seemingly watching and waiting for something.
The air is split by the cries of a messenger rushing through the gates atop a gryph charger. She drew the attention of many around and through pressured speech she warned everyone of a surprise attack at Oakshade...
Ruse at Doomshank Port! -
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Shrieks and wails of terror pierced the woods as haunts and geists tore through like a scythe through grass. The forces of Taer Ghyran held their ground with the bold tenacity that their people were known for. Gunpowder choked the air as volley after volley of rifle fire pierced the incorporeal forms of the countless nighthaunt army. Shadowed arrows flew through the air from unknown ambushes and ranks of spear and swords stood shoulder to shoulder in defiance. Alinar shouted words of encouragement to his men, despite the terror that each of them felt.
The tomb of Keldos lies dormant and hidden within the walls of Oakshade, and if the forces of the dead were to reach it, untold horrors would be unleashed from their ancient catacombs. Knight Incantor Aneira and Lord Ordinator Leonidas along with their contingent of stormcast warriors fought bravely along side their mortal companions, but even their valour and might they couldn't quite quench the endless onslaught of the dead.
The nighthaunts poured on the assault, hellbent on securing the ritual site. They were led by Kelen the Reaper and further supported by several vampire members of Valencourt. However, their appearance in the battle of brief and they quickly leave the field before even needing to dirty their hands....they had more important matters to attend to.
The malicious spirits whirled around Oakshade like a torrent of death. Men are cut down in droves and morale plummets. Alinar had a heavy heart as he watched his men bravely fight back but the toll was great.
A crack of thunder and bolt of lightning brings forth a cadre of Stormcast Eternals. Their impact excorcising the malevolent ghosts with a pulse of holy energy. They brandish sigmarite weapons and push back with shield and spear with the cheer of the Taer Ghyran forces at their back.
Bursting forth from the treeline are dozens of Sylvaneth warriors who pierce through the nighthaunt enemy with barbed tendrils and whip like vines. "~For the Alliance!~" cries the treelord ancient as groves of tree revenants awaken and rush the forces of death. Soon the seemingly doomed defenders of Oakshade are pushing outwards and the clutches of death upon the stronghold finally loosen. Kelen the Reaper abandons the siege, cursing the names of the vampires that have abandoned him to this defeat.
Oakshade successfully defended by the Alliance -
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The surrounding lands of Valencourt Castle as well as the Riverlands are quickly brutalised by Lord Konrad in an attempt to rouse the fury of Lady Katarina Valencourt. He has razed villages that were loyal to her and plundered graveyards to enlist into his hordes of undead. With these forces he bided his time and watched, her envoy had promised a duel and he looked forward to it.
The free guild forces lead by Captain Pavyl Ivansget and Lt Gerhardt Von Keppler watch anxiously from Riverwatch as Konrad's forces gathered and waited for this duel in the twilight hours. Though competent and brave, the free guildsmen couldn't help but feel unease even from the safety of the walls of the outpost. The masses of undead, though aligned with them, were horrific to gaze upon.
From the treeline emerge several figures, clad in rich crimson armour with burning eyes to match. Several members of the Valencourt family stand defiantly just out of range of the great cannons of the outpost. Lord Konrad nods to them in acknowledgment, but they were not the ones he planned to fight. He began to grow impatient.
A monstrous howl in the distance gives way to a shadowy creature approaching and crushing the trees underneath it. Unlike any other being the mortals had seen before, Lady Katarina Valencourt was a terrifying sight to behold and even more so when engaged in combat. She wasted no time in diving straight into a melee with Lord Konrad atop his zombie dragon mount. The two exchanged blows and bellowed out roars that would burst the heart of any lesser man. Yet despite several bouts, neither could gain the upper hand and claim victory over the other. The hordes of undead surrounding Riverwatch gazed at the spectacle, their vacant minds unable to comprehend what was unfolding. The free guildsmen watched as well, but in stunned awe at the duel, terrified of what the outcome would be. If Konrad were to lose, the monster of Valencourt would surely consume them all.
A deafening slam of Lady Valencourt's tail upon the ground halts the battle and everyone listens intently. "Lord Konrad, I suppose I've underestimated you. Your strength is most formidable. Yet, I wonder why it is you would stand equal to such weak mortals?"
Konrad lifts up the visor of his helm, revealing crimson eyes and a fanged maw twisted into a sardonic smile, "Perhaps it is time for the strong to stand together and crush the weak under their heels then?" With a snap of his fingers, the legions of undead begin to turn away from their duel to look upon the mortals camped upon the walls of Riverwatch. Anxiety retreats to sheer panic as the first zombies lunge forth to devour any man within reach. Gun shots ring out as chaos envelops the Riverwatch outpost followed by frantic cries and battle orders.
Lady Katarina and Lord Konrad retreat slowly away towards the direction of Valencourt castle, followed by the rest of the court; their laughter punctuated by the screams they leave behind.
New Faction Established; Riverwatch has fallen -
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