November Family/Ilsa/Roleplay

Undead in Vir el Mari heights

• Summary: Ilsa's receives a request for help from her father.

Even while the katzbalgers whistle through the air about her, she can still feel the slight vibration of the messenger’s steps as he cautiously approaches.

“Draw near and speak, herald” Ilsa commands without turning or slowing the forms. She knows the purpose of this visit; the same as yesterday and the day before: trouble back home.

“It’s the Undead, my Lady. The militia are holding, but they’ve gained little ground. Michisuru's Wall has sustained much damage and will need extensive repairs. Your father sends this.”

‘Flow Down the Mountain’ suddenly freezes, the short swords forming a V-shape in front of her.

She returns both katzbalgers to the double baldric on her back as the herald hands over the small, folded note.

Breaking the seal, she quickly reads her father’s hand.

It is already late in the day and twilight is approaching fast.

“Good,” she thinks, “these troops could use some excitement.”

“My brother, Calvin, set out this morning for Alebad. Ride north and find the Count. Tell him I bring 25 Infantry to the Heights. We depart at first light tomorrow. Look for us near dawn on the 4th day. We will return these degenerates to the ground where they belong.”

“Yes, my Lady”.

“Before you leave, stop by the Scout’s Tent. Have them copy the route we found down here. It will save you 2 hours on the return trip. Swap your horse as well.” She had not forgotten that the 18-hour journey from Vir el Mari heights was a tough one. Few horses would live through another hard ride so soon.

---

Slaughter at Rola Sierrie

• Summary: Poor weather and coordination combine to result in a bloodbath at a fortification's walls.

Long before sunrise, the wind began tugging at the tightly secured flaps of Ilsa's tent. Within minutes, the tempest had lathered itself into a blinding fury.

Unable to sleep, Ilsa reviewed Paladin Cicero's Orders again.

She had no doubts that Lady Ravenna would lead Silvae Legio well, but their last visit to Rola Sierrie went largely unchallenged. The latest Scout Reports however, told of a well entrenched and patient army.

It was a good plan. Among other carefully coordinated events, 8 Siege Engines would breach the Palisade. The current and two former Paladin Primuses would then pour a wedge of more than 1200 cs of Cavalry into Rola Sierrie.

Reality, an untamed and unpredictable beast, all too often disregards such well laid plans.

Had Ilsa been able to see more than five feet in front of her warhorse's nose, she might have delayed their advance, or called it off altogether.

Wind-whipped rain slashed itself into the backs of Ilsa and her troops, pushing them forward toward the fortification's walls.

Fired directly into the wind, many Lukonian arrows were, literally, slapped down or veered wildly away from their intended targets. Many, however, found other targets.

Every raindrop that fell was quickly stained dark red as it mingled with the blood of both man and horse. The stinging rain slid relatively unhindered off her troops; the Lukonian arrows did not.

Fire In The Belly, 30 riders strong at dawn, counted 9 dead or dying in the blood-streaked mud. 21 had been dragged directly to the Healers' tents. Not a single rider was left "combat ready".

In an odd and unspoken truce, liveries from both sides helped divide up the remaining riderless horses who had not yet wandered back to their owner's camps.

As if finally satiated with the rivers of blood spilt, the storm slowly slackened and the rain lifted; leaving an eerie calm behind.