Rebellion of the Ratta (Open to all)

[Fish Stick]

Time Stamp: Kalendryas 1, Winter, Era 1 of the Celestial Mandate, Era XV PF

It was time, time for what they had been waiting for. The Ratta had prepared, and suddenly the skies above Taralon went dark. The journeyman necromancers and mystics began to cast their spells; terror would run through Taralon as it had not been known. The man in black stood there in the center of the streets upon this brightening and looked towards the sky, a single thought in his head, being It’s starting. As the sky began to darken, a hundred Ratta stormed out of the sewers, and began attacking and killing anyone they saw. The Imperial’s had moved out, and Taralon was theirs for the taking. Ralzari’s troops eagerly awaited his commands.

Tro watched as the spheres of acid where thrown everywhere, skeletons arose, psions made their way through the city letting people feel, see, and theink about their own worse fears. Screams could be heard out of where the ratta first attacked, buildings began to burn, and the city of Taralon was under assault. ”Are your troops ready to move out?” Tro asked Ralzari. ”If any of Taralon has resistance we’ll definitely need your troops. Right now we are heading directly for the center of Taralon, so as to take the government sector. Our terrorism will only last as long as our arcanic reserves last, so we may need to use the kaugzi as soon as the reserves are out…”

Even as he spoke to Ralzari, there was resistance building. Some of the taralonians had decided to fight, and the man in black stood in their way. Releasing a way of energy, he shot spheres of acid every which direction, using a bunch of initiate necromancy spells all at once. The acid hit members of the Taralon resistance, and their skin melted away from their bones as their screams turned to gurgles and then to silence. He was infact a strong necromancer, and having a staff of arcana with him made him even more dangerous.

Tro felt the energy of the necromancy spell, and then looked towards Ralzari. ”Would you like to join me in watching Taralon burn? And we can let your kaugzi have some fun on their own as well if you wish…” said Tro, and then awaited a response from Ralzari.

Elsewhere in the city, houses began to burn, and people’s screams broke the silence of the darkness that had spread over Taralon. Fear was the name of the game, and the Ratta would spread as much of it as possible with their surprise attack upon Taralon…

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The screams and the explosions called Eyvind's attention. He had been quietly at his home the whole Brightening save a visit to Derick's armory and he had even received the visit of Kella in his new house. Nothing he could have imagine could have foreseen what was going on. Running to the door he opened it wide and saw the smoke raising in the air and the screams intensifying. An attack, but from where? The scouts would have reported an advancing Orcish army and it would have been stopped, there were thousands of men camped outside Taralon!

But there were also some thousands within and soon the trumpets were sounding and the gates of Darkblade were opening, the Imperial Legionnaires had taken a while to recover from the surprise and they now marched out of the Fortress to smash this attack. Without losing time the Vagaran reentered his home.

"Fiona! My armor! Help me with it, quick quick!"

The red-haired man said as he unsheathed his sword and held his shield expecting to see an enemy entering his sacred ground, his home. The dwarf woman almost made magic while placing his armor in place, never had it been so adjusted to his body and so effortless of wearing. With a nod to thank her the Cencoris placed his helmet and ran outside of the house's door.

"Lock the door, protect Rainn! I will be back as soon as I can!"

And he ran off to the streets of Taralon. He was in the Lower District, where the Government buildings were located and somehow he knew, by looking at the ever approaching smoke collumns that the enemy was coming this way. Approaching a horn to his lips he blowed and the sound echoed strong in the middle of chaos and from the direction of Darkblade another horn answered! His Black Shields! The cream of the Legions, the very best soldiers the world had ever seen, handpicked from the Legion's best, and they knew where their commander was. Yet another blow did Björnsson give to the horn, hurrying his men to the fight. He should have been with them but now he was here, near his own house, protecting his family and the way to the Governor's residence. A Constabulary soldier passed by running in direction of the smoke raising, a lonely soldier.

"You! Come here! Gather whatever soldiers and able bodied men you find over there, in the end of the street." he pointed to the closest intersection of the streets in the direction of the smoke "We will show this scum we are not over yet!"

And as the soldier ran off to gather his companions and the simple citizen of Taralon that wished to contribute by joining the resistance, Eyvind walked to the intersection and waited. His men would be here soon, the rest of the Legion would be already smashing this attack and troops were probably being called from the Training Fields already. Even the Navy was probably sending Marines to help out. Taralon would not fall.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

It never rains but it pores

Palacrisis had finished his meeting with Eyvind and was making his way across town towards the nearest gate that would allow him to make his way home. Riding his Sandbred bay and deep in thought mulling over what they had discussed Palacrisis barely noticed the tall hawk faced man who caught at his bridle.

trouble my lord ….the city has been invaded by a band of Rattas and they have a necromancer with them.

Before a startled Palacrisis could reply formations of local troops began to pore through the gates* pushing the mounted man and his Arakmatian sorcerer aside in their haste to get to the fray.

Pala climbed off the horse and whispered close to Hassan Beys’ ear asking after the estate and the rest of his family and receiving assurances that the four knights and Kallick were armed to the teeth and watching the estate.

They cast their eyes around and smoke was rising in the direction of the government centre Palacrisis pointed in the general direction and without any further thought began jogging towards Sherital Way and the Grand Council of Sheria.

Hassan Bey lopped beside him and as was his way began to lecture. I see you are determined to get involved my student well you have a lesson to learn. If you are going to use your apprentice powers in combat then you are alone .I shall defend myself but student you will have to learn that essentially all magi operate alone so do not expect me to bail you out if things get a little rough.

Which was a bit of a blow to Palacrisis’s confidence but he ploughed on searching for that essential point of contact with the nexus of power clara

Ever so often they caught glimpses of the Rattas as they ran towards their destination but never enough to throw a bolt of energy in their direction. The main square was their destination and Pala planned to attempt to raise a magic circle as a defensive measure charging the outside with mana so that hopefully it would deflect or absorb all outside penetration. Pulling on strands of mana, Pala would begin to encircle the outside of the circle with weaved magical energy, to form a barrier around himself , slowly strand by strand careful to focus on the outside of the circle he would try to complete the circle of mana.

But he also knew that if the spell casting was interrupted it might all come to naught and he would have to face a horde of hideous vermin with nothing more than his wicked hunting knife in hand.

OOC ~ * As per Eyvind request

[Yura Shadowheart]

Being stationed in Taralon under the employment of none other then Eyvind Redbeard himself, the apprentice necromancer was awoken to the sounds of screaming and burning. She could feel it, the vile necromantic energy being unleashed upon the unweary. Her heart sank as she realized that it would not be her own two hands to bring the city to its knees, rather some other dubious scoundrel.

She was outside to behold the devastation that was being wrought upon this town, she waited letting her mind delve her into clara as she watched the invasion unfold before her eyes.

She heard a the echo of a horn blow out, but she was too far into the fray to safetly withdraw to the Cencoris and she did not dare wish to deal with the Black Shields or any official military personal.

When she had reached clara to gather ara and vis to form mana and gather acidic energy to unleash her spell upon her foe. Rather then distill venom into the target, she would in a sense envenom her target by infusing it with corrosive acid to tear the vermin apart from the inside out leaving nothing more then a pool of melted flesh, blood, organs as well as a bleached skeleton. The spell was a unique variation she called Death Wish

Should the first spell been successful she would withdraw back into Clara and go through the monotonous spell casting steps to use her standard spell Raise Corpse to conjure forth a skeletal minion from the rattas bones.

She would continue to move forward in search of whatever it was that was that creating such havoc

[Gilles de Craon]

The young Legionaire had barely started his training. He was untested in the field of war, but this day that would change. Gilles de Craon and another Legionaire were practicing thier blade work, as the horns sounded. At first he thought it was practice drill, but the look in his training partner's eyes told him differently. He ran to his bunk and doned the armour that was issued to him so recently.

It took longer than he wished, for it was still new to him. The scalemail of his medium Infantry issued armour was still stiff, but Gilles failed to notice. Next he fastened his pauldron on right shoulder and greaves, before pulling on his steel plated gloves. His heart was racing, and he fastened his green cloak on, and then the longsword. Being a green Legionaire, he was not sure where he would stand but he grabbed his spear and three pilaii along with his kite shield. Lastly he pulled the full faced helm over his head, the smell of fresh leather still clinging to it.

He then raced to the courtyard of Darkblade Fortress, the gates were rising. He searched for the commanders, looking to see what his orders would be. Ready for battle and to draw his first blood, he waited for the order to join the coming fray.

[Zim Rage]

Zim expected the worst. With the looming war and being inside his forge slaving away on military orders of some form or another he had no news of how close the orc assult was running. Zim thought to himself as he heard the screams, his town had been invaded once and he was ready to stand and fight then, having no training, and no armor. Now, Zim at least understood how to use a hammer, and was heavily armored. It was time to take his stance now.

However, Zim was oddly ammused when he saw that it was an assult by ratta that was taking the city. They did not come from the gates, they did not climb the walls, but rather they came slinking through the sewers like the rat relatives they assended from. Though to fit through the sewer drains, Zim didn't know how, they must have been breaking them upen as they came out.

Brandishing his Warhammer, a small buckler, and strapping two Heavy malets to his sides The blacksmith looks somthing of a tank. Wanting nothing to do with his clothing catching Fire Zim did away with his cloak and tunic, the addrenalin would be enough to keep him warm. The sheild on his arm covered from fist to elbow in a circle, and was made of Hymm steel. While Zim didn't actualy own this, he had made it, and would pay for the resources later.

Zims armor was the armor that was gifted to him by commander Tasad of the heavy infantry division. It was standard military and while the origonal armor did not fit Zim correctly, he made the proper adjustments. And as a master smith Zim knew how to make armor corrections, and he knew how to swing a hammer. Zim just wished that the war hammer was a little lighter and a more agile weapon. But that is what Zim brought the sheild for.

Zim ran from his forge toward the center of the city. The gate guards would be moving towards the government district, he would join up with them there if he could, or anyone else that he found along the way.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Near the gates

The horns and trumpets had sounded but that wouldn't have been needed for the columns of smoke could already be seen from afar, the 12th Regiment of the Provincial Army of Sheria was the first to answer to the call and left the Training Fields heading to Taralon, two others followed its march. A forest of Pikes seemed to approach the Capital of Sheria followed by a wave of armored Dwarves carrying hammer and accompanied by hundreds of Elven archers with their deadly bows. As the Provincials reached the gates some Constabulary soldiers already waited to give the many Companies their orders.

The agile Elves started climbing to the rooftops of some buildings to try and see what was going on in the maze of streets and there they did their advance. Pinpointing some Rattas they waited for the advance of the Pikemen's phalanx with their shorter brethren hidden under the Pikes. In any street where the Rattas would make a stand against the advancing Provincials a battle would occur with the Pikemen holding a line against the tide and the Dwarves charging from underneath the long weapons to kill the pinned enemies. From the rooftops the Elves shot their arrows attempting to either kill the Rattas or pinpointing them so the Infantry could clean their fealth.

Final destination, center of the city.

Darkblade Fortress

The training in all courtyards had been halted by the sound of trumpets. Legionnaires, both veterans and recruits, were hurried to form in the square in front of the Fortress' gates. The orders were simple, each Cohort would pick a street and start cleaning while the Black Shields themselves headed to the center of the city accompanied by a Green Centuri. It was a last moment order give by Shield Daekin Coates himself. And it was the towering Vagaran who appeared in front of Gilles with a hand on his hip.

"Recruit! What are YOU doing here? Join the other Greens behind the Black Shields, you're coming with us!"

It wasn't a long way from Darkblade to the Lower District where the Government buildings were located and where the Rattas seemed to be heading according to the spotters located in the Fortress' walls and it was that direction that the Black Shields took. As they passed the gate, they heard the sound of a horn echoing above the screams and Daekin Dougan leader of the Black Shields' archers and the leader in Eyvind's absence blowed his own horn in response.

"He's alive lads!"

And the black cladded soldiers raised their weapon and shouted in a chorus "Hurray!"

"I want two ranks formed in front of the archers and the rest behind them, let the Green take the flanks and search the burning houses for survivors or hidden Ratta. No prisioners!"

"No prisioners!"

The chorus of the Black Shields shouted while they started marching. Shield Daekin Coates appeared near Gilles and poked him with his elbow slowly.

"Remain calm, everything is going to be alright."

And with that he rushed for the front ranks, taking his tower shield from his back.

[Riar]

Riar yelped as a ratta leapt at him, claws slashing. He only just managed to avoid getting his throat slit, but it still ripped through his sleeve, drawing a line of blood.

He had no weapon other than his bow, and he doubted if the ratta would give him a chance to nock an arrow and draw. It simply wasn't possible.

"Help!" He yelled, stumbling away from the snarling rodenti.

[Gilles de Craon]

"Recruit! What are YOU doing here? Join the other Greens behind the Black Shields, you're coming with us!"

With the order Gilles fell in with the other green cloaked Legionaires. Though he had only been in Darkblade Fortress for a short time, he prided himself on following all orders that were shouted to him. For shouting was the way that the senior Legionnaire spoke to freshies, as if they were dumb and deaf. But it was part of being the new people on group and Gilles would take the abuse till he was able to dish it out himself. To do that he would have to prove himself as a Legionnire.

He heard the roar of his fellow Legionnaires as the horn of thier commander blew. The next few orders were yelled out, and Gilles ran with the other green cloaks. Attempting to follow thier lead as best he could, the pilaii were held in his shield hand ready to be grasped if one of the dirty creatures presented themselves. The young man found himself on the left flank, and rushed towards a set of homes that had just been set ablaze. Once there he kicked open the door, and shouted 'Legionnaire de Craon' and listened for any one in need of help. If he heard a voice he would rush to them, wary of the flames, to get them to safety. If no one cried back he would rush to through the home, looking for hiding Ratta, or any injured persons that were unable to reply.

[Steve]

Taralon is a large city and it is presently being attacked by 100 Ratta and a few other folks. It will take a bit of effort to find them.

Reports and smoke will indicate where they have been, but they will not stand still, waiting for a counter-attacked. They are a fast moving strike force.

[Joyau delaLune]

Joyau flew toward the smoke and fire, her medic kit and medicines in their case hung over her shoulder. She had hurriedly put on her green leather breeches, knee high boots and white linen shirt under her light leather breastplate. She was too focused on the mayhem unfolding in the streets, with citizens, and soldiers alike running around trying to find out what was going on, to be scared.

She had learned that her old friend Eyvind Redbeard was in charge. She was looking for him, specifically, since she had been sent to attach herself to his regiment as a medic on thr front.

She assumed that a medic tent had already been set up, if not, she was authorized to set one up at Darkblade fortress, and she knew that there would be strecher bearers, orderlies, also dispatched so she could concentrate on treating the soldier's wounds. [hope my assumptions are correct]. She might even have to attend to some in the field if they were bleeding to death, or too critical to move.

She continued to fly toward the lower side of town where the smoke and fire were billowing flying just above the heads of the crowds, sometimes dipping into doorways, looking back and forth to try to judge whether it was safe to proceed further.

As she got closer she heard a voice .

"I want two ranks formed in front of the archers and the rest behind them, let the Green take the flanks and search the burning houses for survivors or hidden Ratta. No prisioners!"

"No prisioners!"

The chorus of the Black Shields shouted while they started marching.

Joyau stopped midflight looking at the columns of black shields .

She thought it best to lag back and watch their backs, looking to see if any wounded men needed her attention.

[Fish Stick]

Mysterious Man

After destroying the men that had gathered against him, the mysterious black cloaked man moved forwards, and decided it best to face off against the man that would certainly stand in their way more than anyone else. Entering his Clara, he'd move forewards, looking for the man in charge.

OOC: 2 adept spells left.

Tro R'tocan

Devastation was the name of the game, and Tro took out his daggers, and prepared himself to battle once he left the sewers. He'd have to let Ralzari take care of his own troops for now, while he took care of his ratta. Making his way towards the first Legionairre, he'd dodge, and bolt around the man quickly, then jump up from behind the man, working on stabbing him in various vital points as he attempted to dodge any blows. After finishing him off, if he succeeded, he'd then make his way to his troops, and say, "Don't stay in one place more than a little while, make sure you set a house afire, and then move out of that area to a different area. Head towards the government section as you do this though, but be sure to spread out, and dodge as many imperial troops as possible..." And thus his commands had been set out towards his Ratta.

Nri Stromca

The deaf ratta whom had been beaten up by the gnomes, found himself within his Clara, wandering around the area, being sure to scan his surroundings. Looking up at his Area, he'd see a sprite whom he'd wonder why the sprite was staying back by the fortress, and not getting into the fray. Using the spell of Invisibility, he meandered towards her, and then continued to watch her, and make sure that she didn't use any magic on any of his comrades...

OOC: Nri has 2 adept spells, 2 apprentice spells, and 2 initiate spells left.

[Rioshi]

One more for the hunt, and nary a Fang left idle.

Drifting on the edge of the city of a somewhat decayed wall lined with vines of ages past, a katta leaned against the street corner, waiting in the passing of moments to come. As each flicker of a scarlet scent weaved itself through the smoke, the figure let out a sigh of relief. Something was finally happening, and perhaps Rioshi might partake in this- gods willing. A sport, or maybe a little food? Really, it seemed this brightening the only certainty was that a certain katta would finally find his boredom dulled as his search continued throughout Taralon. A city of blades and a city of distractions... but a city hopefully to provide what needed to come. Far too many had left the light of day by armed decree, and the twisted minds of far too many aberrations kept the vigil in hopes that they might drink from the writhing souls curling at the skulls of the vanquished. Only a katta made to change it for those caught up in it all might dare to take that on face value.

The skies grew heavy under the stem of darkness, and it was with no great stench that the sewers emanated what would either be food or business. Either way, they would find their tact lacking should they move only with the usual terror desired by invasion or preemptive home strikes- yet the dead and acidic taste which may leave a trace could hardly be mutual. Civilian corps would not be fully developed, but it was not just civilians which fought in a militarized zone- and freelance was never lost in terms of amusement. Change was never lost on those who came to go where the winds (And armed detachments) forced those to travel to.

With these very winds at his back, a dagger slid under the latch of Rioshi’s suit sleeve, and a white figure slowly walked towards the smell. None of worth could mistake such a stench, and Rioshi was certainly not one to start such at this place and time. Bristling with anticipation, a katta of boundless curiosity stalked the halls of an open Taralon under cover of darkness. Blood spattered eyes looked out from the broken night, and yet all were ignored as the katta walked steadily to his destination. What happened, happened.

OOC: Call to arms, call to hunt... it is all the same when a Vagaran friend calls you to savor the taste of change. As you requested, Red.

[Isil Telperion]

Isil was one of the elves on the roofs. He had been summon from the training grounds with the rest of the army when the city was attacked and now was hutting for ratta rebels. Being used to the forest trees Isil found it wasn’t hard to move amongst the roofs.

“How fortunate for Talaron, the Ratta attacked before the army departed for war” – He tought. – “And how fortunate for us for this little taste of real combat before sting out for more dangerous things.”

He advanced through the roofs with some of his companions by his side looking down on the streets scouting for the main forces and shooting any Ratta that came within their line of sight.

[Tarfuss]

Tarfuss opened one eye suddenly. He was lying on his bunk in the Senior Non-Com area of the barracks and he heard the horn sounding. Swearing, with his head beating from a little too much ale earlier, he swung out of his bunk and quickly slid into his armor and grabbed his gear.

Running out into the street he started assembling as many of his men as were around and then headed toward the pillar of smoke. The rest would have to catch up.

Upon reaching the rest of the Black Shields he saluted the officer in charge and got his men in formation with the rest. Some were already there, a few were still missing. In the back of his mind he wondered what in Aeternia had happened, do ruin his good sleep and rest. That was deed enough for someone to bleed, and soon.