Boats off shore

[Gauls]

Brgthng 5, Cycle 1, Month of Kalendryas, in the Season of Winter,

Era I of the Celestine Mandate,

Era XV Post Fractum

The wind had picked up and the waves crashing upon the beach southeast of Taralon began to get bigger. There were other boats out on the water this day but they were mostly ships of war or local fishing boats. There were however a group of boats that numbered about 5 that were a bit strange and out of place. They seemed to be moving as if tied together. They moved with the current and so it was no evident if anyone was sailing the vessels or not. They were common fishing vessels but they rode deep in the water as if carrying some really heavy loads.

The boats were getting awfully near to shore, much too close for a normal captain to bear letting his ship get to shore. Something had to be wrong. The fear was confirmed when one of the boats on the left outer side ran a ground 100 feet off shore. People could be seen spilling off the deck and into the water. The rope that had tied the grounded boat to the other snapped and was trailing behind the other boats in the water.

People were shouting to shore and toward the people that were either in the water now or still on board the stranded boat. Then it happened again. Another boat ran a ground on a sand bar. The waves crashing along its side pushed it coast ward breaking the rope that tied it to the other boats. More people hit the water and some on the other three boats were tossing floating objects toward them. All of this drama was plainly visible to people on shore nearby.

[Zim Rage]

Zim was out of his forge and near shore, which was a rarity for him, both to be out of the forge and near a shore. He didn't even notice the pod of boats until the first one crashed into the sand bar. He heard the thrashing and calling for help. He looked and noticed people spilling out. The boats seemed unusualy heavy, loaded by some odd load.

Zim squinted against the brightenings light to see if his 'half elf' eyes could focus better on the ships and thier crew. Zim was a very suspicious person, especialy during times of war. He did not go to thier aid. Instead he shouted "Stay calm, I'll go for help!" He stood for a second and then took off to the nearist millitary post.

[Gauls]

The waves continued to crash against the hapless people in the water as well as the two grounded boats. The first stranded boat began to list to one side further spilling people into the water. With the strong waves, the people bobbing in the water drew closer to shore quickly. The first person to reach sand was a middle aged lady clutching a bag of clothes. It wasn't clear if they were hers or just a floation device that someone threw to her but even after getting onto the beach, she did not drop the bag.

The remaining three fishing boats that were still tied to each other made their way down the coast heading for the Taralon docks. The boat captains seemed to have a better handle on the controls now that they were free from the two boats that broke away. The second boat that hit the sand bar was still a ways off shore at least 200 yards off and so the people on board were hesitant to jump into the water for fear of beasts in the water or being drug out to sea. They sat and waited.

More people began to scramble ashore one by one until at least 50 from the first boat that wrecked were now standing on the beach bewildered.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

A horn sounded. The boats had been sighted by the City Militia and they were informing Darkblade. From the golden walls of the Fortress eyes peered and orders were given. Even before they arrived at the docks being brought by Cencoris Eyvind Redbeard himself already some Marines had jumped into some boats to help and rescue the people on the boats still offshore.

What in Aeternia was going on? Who were the people on the fishing ships? Simple questions thought by a complex man while he headed to the docks. Minutes passed before he reached the beach. There was people running around him, trying to help, others simply staring while some went to call the soldiers. Too late...too late...

The colossal Vagaran approached the nearest person that had arrived at the beach, an old lady holding a bag of clothes. Placing a knee on the sand and leaning to her to help her sit, Eyvind asked politely.

"What happened? Who are you?"

[Gauls]

The woman was wild-eyed. She had already been through so much and to have her trip end after being thrown from a boat into the sea didn't help much.

"They came... from everywhere they came!" she muttered.

Others survivors standing nearby chimed in. "Orcs! Goblins! Thousands of them by the looks of it!" Another man stepped up holding his son in his arms. The boy lay limp in his father's arms but alive. "Look what they did to my son!"

The boat stranded out on the sand bar was being offloaded onto the marine craft that went out to rescue them. In all, 250 people had made it onto the 5 fishing boats. The sheer weight of so many people was what caused the boats to sit heavy in the water and run a ground.

"We are from Peda. We jumped into the boats and headed out to sea when the waves of orcs came rushing in. The goblins those little devils, fired flaming arrows at our boats trying to fire our boats and roast us alive!" another man in the group now around Eyvnid said.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The words of the poor people hit his heart like a hammer. Orcs...and Goblins...they had attacked defenseless people, hacking and burningt and killing as they went. So this was the feeling of hate. So this was what moved men forward in time of war, this hunger for justice, for revenge. It was time. Time for war. Slowly and still trying to gather himself from the images he had seen, the Vagaran walked away from the group, leaving whatever healers and soldiers he had brought with him from Darkblade to help them. The image of the little child pending from the father's arms didn't leave his mind. He thought of Rainn and what destiny the Orcs would save to her if they ever got their fealthy hands on her soft skin. Gritting his teeth he shook his head to get his mind clear.

The Commander of the Serpents climbed up a pike of crates and unsheathed his sword. Soldiers and common people from all of Taralon had come to the docks to see what was happening. The rumors of Peda's fall already spreading as wild fire in a field of chaff. They all gathered around him, looking at him, staring at him waiting for a reaction. And it came, from the depths of his lungs and with the passion of all his being it came.

"They burn our houses! They kill our people! Blood and Death! Blood and Death! To war! We march! TO WAR!!!"

The shouts of the soldiers and the people echoed through the docks and soon all the city knew it. The war had began and it would be brutal. It would be total war.

[Tarfuss]

Shhhhht. Shhhhhht. Shhhhht. Shhhhht. Tarfuss was sitting on his bunk in his barracks room at Darkblade Fortress. His pipe was stuck in his mouth and he had his long sword on his lap. He was running a honing stone over it in a methodical manner. He listenened to the sound it made. Shhhht. Shhhht. Shhhht. His meditative task was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a horn. It was an alarm signal. He put his pipe out, stowed his honing stone, and sheathed his sword. He grabbed his weapons and left his room.

Learning the location of the threat he ran to the shore, gathering legionnaires as he did. The Spear Deakin barked at those not moving with the alacrity he felt the sound of an alarm warranted. "Move it, Legionnaire! Move it! Unless you want my boot stuck up your seat! This isn't a drill!"

He arrived at the shore with a group of legionnaires in his wake. He looked out at the boats foundering in the water and the refugees scrambling to shore. It was unclear what exactly had taken place. A far off storm perhaps? Then the stories of Orcs and Goblins began to make its way to him. His lips thinned out into a frown and he felt the anger stirring in him.

Looking up the shore he spotted an easily enough spotted figure, the tall redheaded man was shouting orders. Tarfuss motioned to the group of legionaries following him and he trotted over to where Redbeard was. He was whipping the crowd up into a blood thirsty call for revenge. A call for war. He threw the tall man a question: "Orders?"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

War, at last. No more would he sit waiting for the orders of Prime, now he would act. The Manjet would march and oh it would be a glorious march. Already some Legionnaires arrived from Darkblade and the Vagaran couldn't avoid a smile when he saw his friend Tarfuss at the head of them. The now Spear Daekin knew exactly how to bark orders to the soldiers like the Drill Instructors had done with them when they were simple recruits. His questions was quick and simple, straight to the point. He asked for orders.

Jumping to the ground, the Cencoris approached his trusted companion, there was no need to make it widely known, yet. If the information was kept secret it would give them at least one Brightening in advance to whatever spies the Orcs could have in Taralon.

"All leaves are cancelled. I want the Manjet ready to march tomorrow at dawn. We march to war and to the world's ending if needed, but we will make the Greenskins pay for their actions. You will join the Black Shields and form the spear head of the infantry. I will ride ahead and try to halt whatever advance the Horde is making into our territory. I will return to you later on, after some blood is spilt and some punishments are applied."

After a pause he continued.

"Meet me in the conference room in a few candlemarks. I want a meeting with all the Officers before we leave."

[Tarfuss]

Tarfuss nodded. "Sir! Yes Sir!" Normally he didn't speak to Eyvind in such a formal manner, but this was a formal moment and other soldiers were within hearing range. It was best to adhere to custom.

He spun around on his heel and barked to the men waiting. [b]"You hear the Censoris! It's time to put an end to the Orcish whore-sons. We're marching on the morrow. Get back to the fortress and pull supplies and get your gear in order. I want you up and ready to go before dawn. I'll be holding an inspection of you and your gear before we leave. If there are any discrepancies Aeternia will start to look good to you. Dismissed!"

He spun back around, saluted Redbeard and made his own way back to Darkblade to oversee preparations for the march.