The Homecoming 151.

Back Again...

His name's Darid Parsen. He was born in the town of Massic. Grew up there, before he moved into the castle beside it, castle Lé Dic.
When he joined the army of the nobleborn Lé Dic family, after he failed at being an apprentice carpenter. Which was nearly two years ago now, when the young lady Linara Lé Dic took over the rule of the fief after her father died.
Darid who at eighteen made a better castle guard than he did an apprentice carpenter.
Soon found himself being made a squad leader in the army of the Lé Dic fief.
And by the time he had turned twenty at the end of winter. He was inline to be promoted to sergeant at arms. Well, at least one in training.
That's until the Harkonin army from the fief to the east started pushing into the Lé Dic fief.
Darid who thought he'd be part of the force that would go to retake the border town of Falshire.
Was more than a little disappointed to find himself remaining behind at the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
That's until he learnt that the Lé Dic army was wiped out when it pushed into the Harkonin fief after it retook the border town of Falshire.
And that the Harkonin army invaded the Lé Dic fief, where they'd head for the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
A castle that baron Harkonin wanted for himself. But more importantly to wipe out the last of the Lé Dic family.
The Harkonin army was soon at castle Lé Dic, and attacking it.
Darid Parsen soon found himself in the thick of the battle for the massive castle.
Where he was on the south wall of castle Lé Dic. Where throughout the day of the battle, the fighting was the heaviest.
The squad leader in the Lé Dic family fought beside friends and strangers. Beside his fellow soldiers in the army of the fief, who had remained here at castle Lé Dic. And others who had come from the Duc de Laér estate in the east of the fief.
He fought beside castle servants he knew. And townsfolk he grew up with. And others from nearby farms and villages he had never met before in his life.
Darid also fought beside other strangers. Some of the mercenaries who had shown up at the end of winter, who had traveled with sir Percavelle Lé Dic, when the former earl returned to his family's ancestral home.
He briefly fought alongside sir Percavelle Lé Dic himself. Something he'd never thought would happen in his life.
He remembered being a child, and seeing the famous knight riding through the town of Massic many a time, before the then earl left the Lé Dic fief.
Darid like all boys his age, dreamed to fight alongside the famous paladin. And when he finally did, here on the south wall battlements of sir Percavelle's ancestral home.
It was more than he expected. For the former earl, though older, was still untouchable as he cut down any of the enemy who got in his way.
Also during the day, Darid fought near the ork creature. Which was altogether a completely different experience than fighting alongside sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
For starters, the large ork stunk worse than anything imaginable. When the former apprentice carpenter saw it earlier at the end of winter tourney. He didn't get close enough to smell it. And he dismissed those who had, and who had told him that the large creature smelled like a midden heap during the height of summer.
Darid found it to be true and more, when he fought beside it along the battlements on the south side of the massive castle that's been the home to the Lé Dic family for generations.
He gagged, and almost threw up when the ork creature leaned over him, and shoved away an enemy scailing ladder that he and a couple of others were trying to push off the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
It then growled something at him and the others that Darid couldn't understand, before it ambled off along the parapet to get to some more of the enemy who had topped the war.
A little later, the former carpenter's apprentice from the town of Massic is sure he saw the ork creature bite off the face of a Harkonin soldier, and eat it. Darid isn't entirely sure, as he was in the midst of fighting a couple of the enemy, who were doing their best to kill him at the time.
Darid Parsen also fought alongside the other mercenary who was on the south wall of castle Lé Dic throughout most of the battle.
The mercenary ranger who was in command of the defence of the south side of the massive castle. A man who Darid learnt was named Riley.
Who the former apprentice carpenter fought alongside many a time during the battle.
That was until Darid Parsen was hit in the side of the chest by an enemy arrow. And when a well meaning castle servant snapped the arrow, then pulled it out. Daird's fate was set.
For when he was carried down off the wall, and taken across the courtyard to the nearby tower when the wounded and injured were seen to.
Darid Parsen bled out before any of the healers, or the court wizard could get to see him.
In one of the underground chambers of a tower on the south side of castle Lé Dic. The dead have been laid out. They've been stripped, and washed by a number of the older women from here in the castle and the town next to it, Massic.
The battle above, has just ended. With the enemy, those who have survived. Fleeing away to the southeast at this time as the battle suddenly went against them.
As their rafts all sank, and those who didn't drown in the moat. Were barely able to get out of the water, where they were attacked by their fellow Harkonin soldiers and camp followers who had unexpectedly turned on them.
Rumour is it, that they were enscrolled by the elven magic user. One of the mercenaries who had come to castle Lé Dic when the former earl of the fief, sir Percavelle returned.
The older women cleaning the bodies of the dead, preparing them for burial. Who have been doing their work in near silence throughout the day.
Are now busy chatting to one another as they do their work now that they've just got word that the enemy has been defeated, at that they're fleeing from castle Lé Dic.
One of the women, who is kneeling down between two of the pallets that dead are lying on.
Suddenly goes still, as she is certain she just heard something right behind her. It sounded like movement.
She turns her head and looks back at the body of the young man she has just washed clean. A young man she knew, as he grew up not far from where she lives in Massic.
She looks back at the dead soldier, and blinks in surprise as she is pretty certain, that even in the lamp lit chamber that's underground. She sees the dead soldier's eyelids moving.
She then screams and gets up and hurries away as the eyes open, and slight groan comes from the lips of the dead soldier she has just washed clean.
The other women in the chamber look over, then they all scream and shout as they see one of the dead, trying to sit up on the pallet it's on.
All of them quickly flee the chamber beneath the tower. Leaving only the dead in it. Well, the dead and one other.
He sits up groaning, and looks around blinking his eyes. And is surprised to find himself in a chamber with dead bodies lying in rows around him.
Most are naked, and show signs of being cleaned recently. While away to his left, closer to the door of the large chamber, others are still clothed, yet to be administered to.
He sits there on a wooden pallet, not just trying to remember how he got here and what happened. But more importantly, what his name is.
He sits there for a little while in the lamp lit chamber, until he recalls that his name might be Darid.
Though he frowns, as he seems to remember that his name is something else entirely different. What? He's not entirely sure of. As things seem to be a jumbled up in his mind. As memories return to him, that he never knew he had.
He's sitting there naked on a wooden pallet, surrounded by dead bodies on other pallets. Trying to remember what's happened and who he is.
When the chamber door opens, and a relatively tall, and lean figure in a white hooded cloak enters, and makes their way over to where he's sitting.
The person crouches down next to the pallet he's on, and looks at him, then slightly smiles.
He realises that the person isn't human, and is infact an elf. And that he isn't entirely certain, but he thinks he knows the elf.
"How are you?" asks the elf in the white hooded cloak "Fine" is his reply after he clears his throat.
The elf nods his hooded head, then lifts a questioning eyebrow as he asks "And your name?".
It takes him a few moments as he tries to sort through the conflicting memories in his head, then he says "I think it's Darid" he briefly pauses then adds "Darid Parsen".
He's silent for a few moments, for he's certain that is his name, but it doesn't seem right.
He looks at the elf watching him, and says to him "No, that's not right, it's" he then tells him the name that suddenly comes into his mind "Zubutai Timaginson".
Helbe the elven thief smiles, then tells the young man, Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesmanwho until a little while ago was dead "Welcome back".
To the southwest of castle Lé Dic, about seventeen miles away from the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Mira Reinholt the mage who has put the prisoner to sleep by way of a spell, is quietly chatting with Narladene the ground pixie as they wait.
"What's he like?" asks Mira Reinholt the mage who is sitting on the ground, up against the starboard side hull of the ship's boat that's behind him.
"He seems fine enough" is the reply of Narladene the ground pixie who is sitting coss legged on the ground to the right of the once powerful mage "For a human" dryly adds Narladene in the ground pixie language which the mage Reinholt doesn't understand.
The two of them are discussing the war engineer Tovis, who the Vexilian mage in exile has yet to meet.
The tiny winged creature then tells Mira "First he seemed a little taken aback at coming along with us. Though he seems to be fitting in now" the ground pixie continues with "He was more than a little annoyed that the baron sent him to the border town of Falshire to be part of the bait and trap for the Lé Dic army. Most of the baron's men there were wiped out there and he barely got out of there alive".
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil who is also a highly skilled swordmaster nods his hooded head in understanding as the naturally magical creature has informed him of what's happened in the build up to the battle of castle Lé Dic.
"Helbe didn't have to tamper with him too much to get him to come along" explains Narladene who then adds "Just a subtle compulsion spell". "That's good" murmurs the swordmaster Reinholt.
"Oh there is one thing" says the ground pixie who originally hails from the Sunreach Mountains, who then adds "He's totally enamoured with Lis".
Mira Reinholt winces when he hears that, and he quietly says "That's not going to go well for him" the spellcaster who was the once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, then silently adds, for his sake, i hope he doesn't fall in love with her.
The mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil, looks down at the naturally magical creature who has changed the subject and said "Wonder who it'll be this time?".
The highly skilled swordmaster shrugs his shoulders, then says "It could be anyone" the mage Reinholt continues with "Though it won't be a someone not human since there's no one there for that" the once powerful mage briefly pauses then adds "Or a woman, since he begged him not to do that again".
Narladene laughs as she remembers the time when Kail the sorceress was a member of the group.
"Or a spellcaster" dryly continues Mira Reinholt, who then adds in the same tone "When he was that sorceress he was totally useless, a danger to the rest of us as much to any enemy we came up against".
The tiny winged creature is laughing so much, tears spring forth from her eyes. And while the exiled Vexilian mage is sourly smiling, he too starts to laugh.
After wiping her face after she finally stops laughing, Narladene looks up at the swordmaster Reinholt and is about to tell him something, when suddenly she looks away to their left, and quietly says "He's moving".
The mage Reinholt looks away to their left, where about thirty feet away, lord Farque lies face down on the ground, with his sword upright in the ground next to him.
The undead warlord is indeed moving, he rolls over, and after a few moments he sits up. He looks their way, then stands and pulls his sword out of the ground, and returns it to the strap that's across his back.
The once powerful mage stands and Narladene makes her way up onto the starboard rail of the ship's boat as the heavily armoured deathlord makes his way over to them.
After nodding to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, Mira Reinholt asks him "How did it go?". "Fine" is the reply from lord Farque.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster after glancing down at the ground pixie standing on the rail beside him, who like him, wants to know, asks the undead warlord "Who is he this time?".
"A young soldier by the name of Darid Parsen" is the reply of the lord of the death realm who has just come back from that realm, after returning Zubutai Timaginson to the world of the living . . . . . .

The Homecoming 150.

On A Boat...

"Bit more actual breeze coming along now" says Mira Reinholt the mage as he looks aft, to the west.
The once powerful mage then looks ahead in the direction they're going, looking east then north over this part of the Lé Dic fief.
"Not many people about this afternoon" muses the spellcaster who hails from the city-state of Vexil as he looks overboard, and down to the ground, five hundred feet below the ship's boat they're on.
A flying boat in far better shape than the one they were first on earlier this morning. Before taking this one near the downed airship they went by earlier in the afternoon, further to the west in the fief that's ruled by the nobleborn Lé Dic family.
The Vexilian mage in exile who is looking down at where a village is at a crossroads. Sees no one on the roads, and hardly anyone in the village itself.
"Not many people here at all" says lord Farque who like the mage Reinholt, speaks in elven so that their prisoner can't listen to what they're saying.
Mira Reinholt nods his hooded head, then after glancing at the Druvician aircorp wizard tied up at the base of the mast, where he's dozing in the afternoon sunshine. He quietly asks the undead warlord "We far from the castle?".
The heavily armoured deathlord who is at the tiller of the ship's boat, replies with "Under twenty miles i guess".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque who knows where they're going, as he can now sense Dorc da Orc to the east and north. Since the large ork is so easy to sense as he's so unique amongst others such as humans.
Slightly frowns behind the faceplate of his full helm, as he can sense the other unique lifeform in the area, who is part of the group. Is heading this way through the ground.
The lord of the death realm doesn't mention that Narladene the ground pixie is heading this way. Instead he tells the once powerful mage "We'll be there around dusk i suppose".
The spellcaster from Vexil who is also a highly skilled swordmaster nods his head, then yawns. The mage Reinholt then increases the wind coming at them from a stern. As he's got extra power to burn thanks to the wizard they captured from one of the two Druvician aircorp destroyers they brought down last night.
Airships that belonged to the personal fleet of the lord high constable of the kingdom. Who is part of a conspiracy to spread the ways of the dark druids throughout the kingdom of Druvic.
"Might get there a little bit earlier" says the swordmaster Reinholt, who after briefly pausing adds "Hopefully".
Lord Farque, who is also known by the name of Draugadrottin to the people of his lands, faraway to the south. Has told the exiled Vexilian mage that there's a battle taking place at castle Lé Dic.
After all the deathlord of Farque can sense lives winking out of existence when they die. He says to the once powerful mage "Hopefully" dryly followed by "That's if something doesn't come up".
The spellcaster who was the youngest ever practitioner of magic to be a part of the mage council of Vexil, wryly smiles as he looks away to the east again.
Mira Reinholt knows that anything could happen. And to never to expect things to go as you intend them to go.
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere within the Southlands, takes a drink from his water bottle.
Then leans back against the port side gunnel he's sitting by. After a while, the swordmaster who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil.
Is dozing in the afternoon sunshine this clear spring day, just like the prisoner is doing.
The mage Reinholt doesn't know how long he drifts off for. But he wakes again when he hears the the undead warlord moving.
The once powerful mage sees that the heavily armoured deathlord has stood up from the bench in the stern.
And still keeping a gauntleted hand on the tiller, lord Farque steps to one side, then looks overboard.
Sitting up straighter on the bench he's on, the Vexilian mage in exile after yawning, asks the large figure, in the suit of dark blue, black full plate armour "What is it?".
The undead being who is also known by the name of Des'tier to an older generation of elven kind remains silent for some time, until he finally replies to the swordmaster Reinholt "Narladene is coming here to us" the lord and ruler of the lands Farque briefly pauses before adding "She's moving fast too".
Narladene the ground pixie who has been flying underground since she left castle Lé Dic.
Shoots up through the surface of the ground, and as her gossamer like wings rise her up into the air, she looks to the west in the sky. And in the distance she spots the ship's boat she's been looking for.
The naturally magical creature who can sense Mira Reinholt upon the flying boat. Crinkles her brow as she senses another spellcaster on the ship's boat with the Vexilian mage in exile. A wizard of all people. Who aren't normally those the swordmaster Reinholt would be in the company of.
The ground pixie as she wings her way towards the flying boat that's heading in this direction.
Wonders who the wizard in the company of the once powerful mage is.
The tiny winged creative who originally hails from the Sunreach Mountains. Spots in the distance upon the ships boat.
Mira Reinholt the mage, along with the familiar, not to mention large, heavily armoured figure of lord Farque, who is at the tiller of the flying boat.
The naturally magical creature who is just able to see, one other in the ship's boat she's rapidly approaching. It must be the wizard she senses.
The ground pixie flies quickly to the ship's boat that's heading eastwards.
And she's soon near it, then over the side, and onboard.
Then as she stops near the undead warlord, and makes herself visible to the mage Reinholt, as the heavily armoured deathlord can see her no matter what.
The lord of the death realm quietly asks her in the ground pixie language "What is it?".
The tiny winged creature who is breathing heavily, even though she doesn't actually breathe air in or out. She just goes through the motions of breathing.
Clears her throat, then Narladene the ground pixie says to the undead warlord "Riley's dead".
The heavily armoured deathlord is silent for a few moments, then he mutters "Fucking hell Zubutai" in the ancient language of command.
Mira Reinholt lifts an eyebrow, for he doesn't know what the undead warlord just said, but whatever it was, the lord and ruler of the lands Farque isn't happy about something.
"What's happened?" asks the exiled Vexilian mage in the elven language as he looks at both the lord of the death realm, and the naturally magical creature hovering near him. "Riley's dead" sourly says Des'tier in elven "Shit" mutters the swordmaster Reinholt in disappointment.
The once powerful mage shakes his hooded head, then says "By the shape of fire it's been some time since he last died".
The mage Reinholt who is infact referring to Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, continues with "Since after we found Tam".
He figures out that Tamric Drubine is nearly sixteen years old, then the Vexilian mage in exile says "About eight, coming up nine years now" Mira Reinholt momentarily pauses, then he adds "Going to be different without Riley around".
"It's a pain in the ass is what it is" sourly says Draugadrottin who continues with "You know how fucking difficult it is to find an already trained calvary commander?".
"You're going to bring him back aren't you?" asks the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster. The lord of the death realm just grunts to that.
"Ah" says Narladene, who after a brief pause adds "I don't think Riley will be in ah" she pauses again as the deathlord of Farque and the once powerful mage look at her.
The ground pixie isn't all that sure what to say, but she continues with "He's um not in too good of shape, you could say".
"What's wrong with the body?" asks the undead warlord who would prefer to have Zubutai Timaginson to return into the body of Riley Hait the mercenary ranger.
"He's missing about half of his head" is what Narladene quickly says.
"Great" sourly mutters the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who sighs then says "Well i guess there's plenty of fucking dead bodies at the castle for me to chose from, since there's a battle going on there".
The naturally magical creature who hails from the Sunreach Mountains nods her head to indicate that this is so.
The heavily armoured deathlord says to the mage Reinholt "Teleport me as high as you can into the sky". Draugadrottin who has let go of the tiller of the flying boat continues with "I shouldn't be too long".
Mira Reinholt nods in understanding, and steps over to the lord of the death realm, touches his heavily armoured left shoulder, looks up into the clear afternoon sky, and teleports the undead warlord away.
Lord Farque reappears in the sky, high above this part of the Lé Dic fief. As he starts falling back down towards the ground. The undead warlord draws his sword from across his back.
Des'tier knows that when he hits the ground and has gone into the death realm in the afterlife. The sword of power Ryn, will be in the ground, blade upright, right next to his body.
Meanwhile on the ship's boat that lord Farque and Mira Reinholt took from near a downed Druvician aircorp frigate just after midday today.
Narladene the ground pixie asks the exiled Vexilian mage "Who's that?" as she gestures at the wizard tied up at the base of the mast dozing.
"My power supply" wryly says the once powerful mage who is at the tiller, bringing the flying boat down in altitude, heading towards the ground, to an empty field to the east.
"How's that battle going?" asks the swordmaster Reinholt "In our favour now i guess" says the tiny winged creature, who goes onto explain how Helbe the elven thief is free to do what he wants now that baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc is dead.
The ground pixie interrupts her explanation of what's been happening at the battle of castle Lé Dic, when she says "There he goes". The mage Reinholt looks to where she points, and he too spots lord Farque falling towards the ground.
The heavily armoured deathlord passes about a hundred feet off their bow, and a few moments later he hits the ground.
Both Narladene and Mira Reinholt are silent as they look down to where the lord of the death realm lies. With his sword sticking up out of the ground right next to him.
The once powerful mage and the tiny winged creature glance at one another, and after a while, the spellcaster who is in exile from his homeland of the city-state of Vexil breaks the silence, and says "So about that battle".
Narladene resumes her explanation about what's been happening at castle Lé Dic.
As she does, Mira Reinholt brings the ship's boat down to where lord Farque is lying in the middle of a field. There they'll wait beside his body for him to return to the world of the living . . . . . .

The Homecoming 149.

The Battle Continues...

Sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk hop over to a raft that has a scailing ladder up against the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
One moment the Harkonin soldiers and camp followers who were on the raft with the ladder were climbing up it, and waiting to climb.
Then the next moment they were all in the moat, beneath the water. By the looks of it, keeping themselves beneath the surface until they drowned.
The short statured monk who is first up the scailing ladder, which is surprisingly steady with no one holding it.
Looks up and spots Helbe the elven thief up on the battlements looking down at him from between two merlons.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel then steps back out of view. And the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li continues up the scailing ladder, followed by the former earl of Lé Dic.
"Oi cunts!" calls out Dorc da Orc from the other raft they used to cross the moat to the south wall of the massive castle that's been home to the Lé Dic family for centuries.
"What about Dorc?" adds the large ork who remains upon the raft with the body of Riley Hait the mercenary ranger.
"Wait there beast" replies sir Percavelle Lé Dic who is up the first couple of rungs of the scailing ladder, and is rather glad to be leaving the ork warleader behind.
"Opens up that little fucken gate over there" says the ork weaponsmith who waves away to the left in the direction of the sally port not far from the main gates along this side of castle Lé Dic.
The heavily armoured knight doesn't say anything, and just grins behind the visor of his full helm. As he hopes the big, burly ork gets peppered by enemy archers and crossbowmen.
Or even better, falls into the moat. Which the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che will find absolutely hilarious as he knows how much the large ork hates water.
"We will friend Dorc" calls down Shur Kee the monk, as they all know the warleader of the ork race is far too big to climb one of the scailing ladders.
If they were bigger, thicker and heavier, and not on floating rafts on a moat. He'd be able to climb one of them to the battlements of the massive castle that's been in sir Percavelle's family for generations.
"And friend Dorc" adds the short, statured monk wearing an odd, conical shaped hat "Leave friend Riley's body alone" says the physical adept who hails from the far eastern coast of the continent.
Dorkindle sourly smiles as he knows exactly what Shur Kee is referring to "Me will" says the large ork, who then mutters in his native language "He nots fucken fat enough to be tasty anyways".
The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks has spied some of the ranger Hait's brains sticking out of the half of his head that remains.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world intends to scoop out some of them, and gobble them up when no one is looking.
After all, that's the best way he can think of honouring the dead mercenary ranger. Eating some of his brains to always remember him by.
The son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, grins and softly chuckles as he looks down at the body of Riley Hait. While Shur Kee the monk basically scrambles up the nearby scailing ladder, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who though wearing a full suit of heavy plate armour. Isn't exactly slow as he heads up the ladder too.
The grin is wiped off the broad, green, feral looking face of the ork warleader when all of a sudden the body of the ranger Hait disappears from beside him.
And as a raft full of Harkonin soldiers and camp followers further to the right of him along the base of the south wall of castle Lé Dic. Turn their weapons upon one another, and start killing each other.
The ork weaponsmith looks up to the battlements above him, and spots Helbe the elven thief looking down at him.
Dorc da Orc grins and waves to the young elven noble who is the nominal leader of the group in the absence of lord Farque.
"Ah sweet" murmurs the big, burly ork who hails from the bottom of the world, he then calls out "Magic me up!" Dorkindle then mutters in the ork language "Ya fucken tree humper".
After a few moments, when the large ork finds himself still upon the raft on the water, and he can no longer see the elven princeling looking down at him. He growls, then yells out "Cunt!".
The warleader of the ork race sighs, and sits down in the middle of the raft he's on.
Not caring that along the moat here on the southern side of castle Lé Dic. That all the other rafts that have soldiers and camp followers from the fief across the border to the east on them. Start sinking one by one.
Dumping all of those on them, into the water.
Up on the battlements of the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
As first, Shur Kee the monk climbs over the top of the wall, and onto the parapet. Followed a short while later by sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
Helbe the elven thief, who no longer has to worry about the dark druid Palvarc since Narladene the ground pixie killed him.
Is free to unleash upon the Harkonin soldiers and others from the fief across the border to the east, who are assaulting castle Lé Dic.
The highly talented elven spellcaster deals to them by simply sinking every raft they're on, here on the south side of the massive castle.
Most of them who fall into the moat can't swim anyway. And many of them drown. While others struggle through the water to get to the otherside of the moat.
Helbe the elven thief glances over at the former earl of Lé Dic and shakes his hooded head no, and says "Nothing" in response to the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che asking him "Is there anything you can do for the ranger fellow?".
As he gestures at the body of Riley Hait who now lies on the parapet at the feet of the young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
"All we can do is get this battle over with as quickly as possible" says the elven master assassin who by way of a spell sinks another of the rafts down on the moat below them.
The elven princeling who has sent Tovis the war engineer back down into the south courtyard. Glances over at Shur Kee the monk, who has just covered the dead ranger's body with a discarded cloak that was lying nearby.
Catching the physical adept's eye, the elven magic user slightly nods his hooded head to the acolyte in the order of Bru Li.
The highly talented spellcaster who finds it easy to cast multiple spells at the same time. Tells Shur Kee something by way of mindspeech.
The short statured monk from the far eastern coastal kingdom of Wah Lee after listening to what the elven princeling has to say into his mind. Nods his head in understanding.
Hopefully i shall see you again soon friend Zubutai, the physical adept thinks to himself as he looks down at the cloak covered body of Riley Hait the mercenary ranger that lies upon the parapet.
While down below on the moat along this side of the castle Lé Dic. The battle that's raged since this morning. Has suddenly drastically changed now that prince Helbenthril Raendril is free to do what he wants, now that he doesn't have to worry about the advisor to baron Harkonin.
The dark druid Palvarc, who lies dead upon the roof of the central keep of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the nobleborn Lé Dic family.
"Percy, Shur Kee" says the elven master assassin "Help this lot along the parapet clear any of the enemy who are still on the battlements" adds the young elven noble who is now in overall command of the defence of castle Lé Dic.
They both nod their heads, then the short, statured monk asks the elven masterthief "What will you be doing friend Helbe?".
"Helping Dalin out over on the east side of the castle" is the response of the elven magic user, who after sinking the last of the rafts down in the moat below, with the exception of the one that Dorc da Orc remains on.
Has a number of the enemy across on the otherside of the moat on this side of castle Lé Dic. Attack their fellow soldier and camp followers who have been able to get out of the water.
The elven princeling after a quick glance down at the body of Riley Hait who has been covered with a cloak. Disappears as he shifts away to the east side of castle Lé Dic.
Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy has just helped a soldier and two castle servants roll a couple of dead Harkonin soldiers off the top of the wall. Dropping them down on those on the moat, who are trying to climb up to the battlements here on the east side of the massive castle, when Helbe the elven thief appears beside him.
"I see you took care of that druid" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy who nods towards the central keep of the castle.
The young elven noble just nods his hooded head as he looks down at the enemy here on the east side of castle Lé Dic.
The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae notices the flinty look in the eyes of the elven princeling, and immediately figures out something else must of happened that's got the attention of elven magic user who is about ninety years younger than he is.
"What is it?" quietly asks Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
"Riley's dead" is the quiet reply of the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel, who like ever when he's talking to just Dalin, he speaks in the elven language.
The spy Tanith winces when hears about the death of the mercenary ranger who was brought up and trained in the elven principality of Envadarlen.
"Fuck" mutters the elf who once served in one of the more prominent noble houses in his homeland of Alínlae.
The elven master archer nods his hooded head in agreement with Dalinvardél Tanith.
Then the elven magic user spots a quartet of Harkonin soldiers further to the north along the top of the east wall of castle Lé Dic.
With basic mind control and compulsion spells. Helbe the elven thief has them jump off the top of the wall. To dive down into the moat, to hit any of the rafts at the base of the wall.
Or dive head first down into the east courtyard of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
Those four from the Harkonin fief are quickly dead. Once they are, the young elven noble who hails from the principality of Laerel.
Starts sinking the rafts the enemy have been using down in the moat, here on the eastern side of castle Lé Dic.
Prince Helbenthril Raendril just glances at each raft one at a time and they begin sinking as he casts a very simple, and very small blast spell beneath each raft. Which easily breaks them apart. Sending those on them, into the water.
"Guess we won't have much trouble from them now" says Dalin as he sees the enemy rafts down in the moat start to break apart, dunking those Harkonin soldiers and camp followers on them, into the water.
The elven masterthief nods his hooded head in agreement, then tells the spy from the elven principality of Alínlae "Had to get that druid out of the way to allow me to do what i want".
"Stands to reason" says the spy Tanith over the noise of the defenders along the parapet cheering as they see what's happening down below on the moat.
"Oh Mira is on his way here" says Helbe the elven thief, who after a slight pause adds "The lord is probably more than likely with him".
The elven spy looks sharply at the young elven noble and quickly asks him "You think".
The elven master assassin who doesn't even have to read the mind of Dalin to figure out what he's thinking. Interrupts him, and says "We'll see" the highly talented elven magic user after pausing again, continues with "We'll find out later today, or in the evening i guess. As I've sent Narladene to tell them about the death of Riley".
"Let's hope that he can" murmurs Dalinvardél Tanith, whose fine eyebrows go up in surprise when the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel tells him "Oh, and I've also captured the baron".
"He's out of it, tied up and gagged, in the hayloft of one of the stables over on the west side of the castle" adds prince Helbenthril Raendril.
"Hell" murmurs Dalin who as he now sees some of the enemy on the otherside of the moat, attacking those of their fellow soldiers and camp followers in baron Harkonin's army who are struggling out of the water, continues with "By the forest gods, the baron's day has definitely not gone as he expected".
"That it hasn't" quietly says Helbe the elven thief, who after the death of the dark druid Palvarc at the tiny hands of Narladene the ground pixie.
Has single handedly, turned the battle for castle Lé Dic this clear and sunny spring day, in the favour of those defending the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for many a generation.
Infact it was in the death of baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc.
That has allowed the young elven noble to defeat the enemy army attacking the Lé Dic castle . . . . . .

The Homecoming 148.

Repercussions...

It's Tovis the war engineer who is the only one in the group who actually sees what happens on the south wall parapet of castle Lé Dic.
Baron Harkonin's former war engineer, who down in the south courtyard of the massive castle, has just helped the trebuchet crew to load a netting of rocks and broken bits of masonry. And seen the load get flung over the battlements at the enemy attacking the south side of the castle.
Spots the encounter between Riley Hait the mercenary ranger, and the enemy knight who he immediately recognised as sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander. On the eastern half of the battlements along the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
The young engineer from the fief across the border to the east. Breathes a sigh of relief when he sees the mercenary ranger in command of the defence of the southern side of castle Lé Dic.
Drop the nobleborn knight from the Harkonin fief, with a thrust to the face with one of his long daggers. Which must of gone through the eyeslot of sir Taevar's helm.
Tovis who sees the enemy army commander drop to a knee up on the parapet of the south wall. Then blinks in surprise as the nobleborn knight suddenly swings a hammer up at the mercenary ranger.
Which catches Riley Hait in the side of the face and head. The ranger Hait who has the lower half of his face covered with black cloth.
Staggers sideways from the force of the blow to his head, and topples off the top of the wall between two merlons, and disappears from view.
Tovis the war engineer briefly pauses in shock. Then he takes off running across the courtyard towards the nearest set of steps that lead up to the battlements along this side of castle Lé Dic.
The young man who until recently was baron Harkonin's war engineer, doesn't even see the Lé Dic soldier up on the parapet, pick up a polearm.
And swing it at sir Taevar who struggles to his feet, holding the hammer he hit Riley Hait with, out in one hand. While blindly groping out with his other gauntleted hand, as if he's trying to find out what's infront of him.
The landed knight who is the commander of the army from the fief across the border to the east. Is whacked in the side of the helm by the polearm swung by the Lé Dic soldier. The same one who made his way along the parapet with the ranger Hait from the otherside of where the south gates are.
Sir Taevar is knocked sideways, and he staggers, and hits the top of the wall, where he too tumbles over the side, between the two merlons that Riley Hait just went between.
Over the south wall of castle Lé Dic, on the moat below it. On one of the rafts that the Harkonin army have been using to ferry men over to the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
Dorc da Orc, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, all at the same time, happen to be looking up at the top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
When they see Riley Hait the mercenary ranger fall from the battlements.
There's stunned silence from the three of them. When moments before, sir Percavelle Lé Dic was shouting out his family's name. And Dorc da Orc was muttering away to himself in his native language at the water surrounding him on the raft.
While Shur Kee the monk had just shouted out, as he let lose another ball of spiritual energy. That's now going sideways across the surface of the water, heading towards a raft with the enemy upon it, further to the left of them, near to where the gates are on this side of the massive castle.
After the body of the ranger Hait hits the water, there's a brief moment of silence, then Dorc da Orc mutters "Sick fucken cunt going for a swims like that" followed by "Why he want to do that for?".
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk who are polling the raft towards the south wall of castle Lé Dic, while the large ork crouches in the middle of it.
Glance at one another, then hurriedly start to pole the raft to where the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen is floating in the water.
A moment later, a heavily armoured figure falls from the battlements and hits the moat right next to where the ranger Hait is.
And while the mercenary ranger who was brought up and trained by some of the elven warders of Envadarlen floats face down on the water.
The heavily armoured figure who hit the water next to him, quickly sinks beneath the surface of the water.
"Hurry" is all Shur Kee the monk says as he and the former earl of Lé Dic pole the raft to where Riley Hait is floating in the water.
Dorkindle picks up one of the paddles and flings it away at a nearby raft, hitting some of the enemy upon it. Sending that raft spinning away from where the mercenary ranger floats.
They get their raft close to where the ranger Hait is on the surface of the water, and the short, statured monk uses the long pole to hook the ranger Hait's cloak and pull him closer to the raft.
"Beast bring him aboard" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and for once the ork warleader doesn't grumble as he reaches out sideways, and with one hand plucks Riley Hait out of the water and brings him onboard the raft.
Putting the soaked mercenary ranger face down on the raft, the ork weaponsmith sees the bloody head of the ranger Hait, and says "He fine, he just got a headache".
The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world then rolls the wet mercenary ranger over.
Dorkindle grunts at what he sees, then the large ork says "Second thoughts, he dead". As Riley Hait whose side of his head was smashed in, up on top of the battlements along the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Is missing at least half of his head, as he fell from the top of the south wall. Hitting the wall a couple of times as he fell to the moat, then hit the water.
Both Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are silent as they look at the body of dead mercenary ranger lying on the raft.
Then the acolyte in the order of Bru Li, who isn't one to swear at all, says "Ah shit" in disappointment as he looks at the body of Riley Hait, who as Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, is the short, statured monk's oldest and closest friend within the group.
On the roof of the central keep within castle Lé Dic, Helbe the elven thief looks at the dead dark druid Palvarc, then at Narladene the ground pixie who has just landed upon his shoulder.
The two of them then look at the staff of the dark druid's, which lies just out of reach of an outstretched hand of the dead advisor to baron Harkonin.
"What about that?" asks Narladene the ground pixie with a nod of her tiny head at the staff lying near the dead spellcaster from the Harkonin fief.
Rubbing his chin, Helbe the elven thief murmurs "I'm not sure" the young elven noble then adds "Leave it for now" followed by "We'll deal with it later".
The tiny winged creature nods her head in agreement. For if they try to break open the staff to let the trapped ground pixie within free, they could very well kill it if they're not careful.
The elven magic user turns around, and lifts a hand and waves when he spots Lisell Maera on the north wall parapet looking this way.
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury who is in command of the defence of the north wall of castle Lé Dic, waves back. Relieved that the elven princeling survived the encounter with the dark druid Palvarc.
Then the elven masterthief looks sharply at Narladene, who says "Mira". "Where?" asks the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
"To the west and south" replies the naturally magical creature who can now sense the mage Reinholt "About twenty to twenty five miles away" adds the ground pixie who continues with "He's on an airship. No it's too small for that, must be a ship's boat".
The elven master assassin turns and looks away to the southwest, and asks the tiny winged creature "Is he with him?".
"I can't tell" is the reply of Narladene who knows the young elven noble is referring to lord Farque, she continues with "I guess he is".
Then the naturally magical creature looks closely at the elven magic user who she's attached to. Who is frowning at something.
"What is it?" asks the ground pixie who originally hails from the Sunreach Mountains.
"Tovis" says a frowning prince Helbenthril Raendril who has spotted the young war engineer over on the parapet of the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home to the Lé Dic family for generations.
The elven master archer who watches baron Harkonin's former war engineer hurrying along that parapet, says "I'm told him to stay off the top of the walls" Helbe the elven thief then adds "I told Riley to make sure".
"Make sure what?" asks Narladene as the elven magic user suddenly falls silent in the middle of what he was saying.
The tiny winged creature then looks along the battlements of the south wall of the massive castle as she sees that's what the elven masterthief is doing.
"What is it?" quietly asks Narladene as she suddenly feels Helbe the elven thief go tense.
The young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel off the west coast of the Southlands is silent for a few moments, then he mutters "Shit".
The highly talented elven magic user then shifts across to the parapet along the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
He appears right infront of Tovis the war engineer, who is rushing towards a section of the wall, where some of the defenders are fighting the enemy who have got up onto the battlements.
"Stay behind me" orders the elven masterthief to the young engineer who he puts a barrier spell around.
All the near breathless Tovis the war engineer says is "Riley" and nods over the otherside of the wall, to the moat below.
Prince Helbenthril Raendril just nods his hooded head, then hurries along the parapet with the young engineer following behind him.
As the young elven noble makes his way along the battlements. One by one, the enemy soldiers in the direction he's heading, who are fighting the beleaguered defenders of castle Lé Dic.
Jump off the parapet to the courtyard below as he controls their minds. Soon nearly a dozen Harkonin soldiers and camp followers jump to their deaths.
And the elven master assassin reaches a wounded Lé Dic soldier who has been wielding a polearm against the enemy.
"Sir" is what the wounded soldier says to the young elven noble, then nods between two of the merlons next to them.
The elven magic user touches the arm of the soldier in lady Linara Lé Dic's army and heals him.
Then Helbe the elven thief looks over the side of the wall between the two merlons, down at the moat below.
The grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel quickly spots the raft that has Dorc da Orc, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic on it.
On the raft with them, is Riley Hait the mercenary ranger who lies next to where the ork warleader is crouching in the middle of the raft.
One look at the ranger Hait and the elven masterthief knows he can't do anything for him, and that he's dead.
Narladene draws in sharp breath at the sight of Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, even though she doesn't actually breathe.
"Fucking hell" mutters that ground pixie as they look down at the dead body of Riley Hait lying on the raft that the ork weaponsmith, the physical adept and the heavily armoured knight are on.
The elf from the island principality of Laerel slightly nods his hooded head in agreement with the naturally magical creature, then he quickly looks at her as he suddenly thinks of something.
"Go" says prince Helbenthril Raendril in the elven language to the ground pixie upon his right shoulder.
"Where?" asks Narladene "To Mira" is the reply of the elven master assassin who continues with "And lord Farque" he then adds "Tell him Riley is dead".
The tiny winged creature looks down at the body of the dead mercenary, then says "He can't use that body again, he's missing half of his head".
"Doesn't matter" says the young elven noble who then explains "There's plenty more dead here in better shape, one of them will do".
"Right" says the naturally magical creature with a nod of her head, then without saying another word, she takes off, heading down into the castle's south wall, then into the ground beneath it.
As she can fly faster through that, they she can through the air, as she heads to the southwest, where she can sense Mira Reinholt the mage who is onboard an airship's boat just over twenty miles away from castle Lé Dic.
"Who were you talking to?" asks Tovis the war engineer as he looks at the elven magic user who is in charge of the group he has joined.
"No one" replies Helbe the elven thief in the common language.
Baron Harkonin's former war engineer takes another look down at the dead mercenary ranger on one of the rafts down on the moat, then he asks the elven master archer "Now what do we do?".
"Win this battle of course" is the reply of the elven princeling from Laerel who knows that there's a good chance he'll see Zubutai Timaginson again in another body, some time later today or tonight . . . . . .

The Homecoming 147.

A Death...

Along the north wall parapet of castle Lé Dic, Lisell Maera is taking a bit of a break as there aren't that many of the enemy attacking this side of the castle at the moment.
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury who is drinking from her water bottle, looking over to the east wall parapet, where the fighting has been continuous throughout the afternoon.
Lisell or Lis as she's commonly referred to by the others in the group. Has spotted Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy in the thick of the fighting along the battlements on the east side of the castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
The teenager, whose mother was a street prostitute and whose father, who she never knew, was a sailor.
Watches now, as the spy Tanith is once again fighting the Harkonin soldiers who have got up onto the parapet of the east wall of castle Lé Dic.
Lisell Maera is just wondering if she should send a couple of archers along the battlements towards the northeast corner tower, so that they can shoot across at the enemy who have gained the top of the east wall.
When one of the two experienced Lé Dic soldiers who have been her seconds here on the north wall parapet, says "Over there".
Lis looks at him as he leans backwards against the next merlon along, and sees where he's pointing to.
The attractive teenager who hails from the western coast of the Southlands, looks at the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
There she spots two figures standing upon the roof of the largest keep in the massive castle. One of whom she instantly recognises as Helbe the elven thief.
And after a few moments, she realises the other is Palvarc the dark druid, who is the advisor to baron Harkonin.
The two spellcasters, one elven from the island principality of Laerel. And the other, human, from the fief across the border to the east.
Stand about sixty feet apart on top of the central keep of castle Lé Dic. The two of them seem to talking about something, as it looks like they're calling out to one another.
Lisell Maera who is leaning back against the merlon behind her. Stands up straighter, and closely watches the confrontation upon the roof of the central keep. Wondering what will happen.
Over on the battlements along the west wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations.
Tamric Drubine who has just sent another soldier with a crossbow. This one from castle Duc de Laér, who journeyed here with lady Marsaé Duc de Laér.
South along the west wall parapet. To help out those shooting at the enemy across on the south wall of the massive castle. Which it has been all day. Is under heavy attack from the enemy army.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, glances at the archer beside him. Who is leaning back against the merlon they're behind, who nods into the castle and says to young noble who commands the defence of this side of castle Lé Dic "Wonder what those two are doing?".
Tamric Drubine, or Tam as he's more often referred to, by those in the group. Turns around and looks into the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
There on the central keep he sees Helbe the elven thief who has his back to him. While opposite the young elven noble, is baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc who stands towards the eastern end of the roof of the largest keep in the massive castle.
The former heir of castle Drubine in northern Sarcrin watches on with intent as the two spellcasters face one another in the very middle of castle Lé Dic.
Tam knows that basically anything could happen in the confrontation between the two practitioners of magic.
Meanwhile, along the battlements on the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home to the nobleborn Lé Dic family for centuries.
Where the fighting has been the heaviest throughout the day.
Riley Hait the mercenary ranger after letting an arrow fly from his elven made longbow. Helps a pair of castle servants and a soldier in the army of lady Linara Lé Dic. Push an enemy scailing ladder off the face of the wall.
As he and the soldier use a polearm to do so. The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen looks down at the moat below.
On it, away to his left, he spots one of the rafts used by the enemy. It has on it a trio who are definitely not from the Harkonin fief.
The ranger Hait sourly smiles as he sees Dorc da Orc, sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk on the raft, making their way across the moat to the south wall of the massive castle.
As usual when there's water involved. The mercenary ranger sees that the large ork is doing as little as possible, as he crouches down in the middle of the raft, leaving the heavily armoured knight and the short, statured monk to pole the raft across the moat.
Then after he and the other three finally push the scailing ladder away. The soldier who gets behind the merlon on the left, has turned around and says to the ranger Hait "Look at that on the central keep".
The mercenary ranger who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who due to circumstances beyond his control, happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Riley Hait.
Turns around and looks into the castle, and as a few burning barrels shot from a catapult down in the south courtyard barely passes overhead.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman looks across to the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
And there he spots Helbe the elven thief towards the western end of the roof. While opposite him on the eastern end of the central keep, stands baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc.
The mercenary ranger who was raised and trained by some of the elven warders of Envadarlen wonders how the elven magic user will fare against the dark druid from the Harkonin fief.
As the elven princeling told him earlier in the day, he'd die if he directly confronted baron Harkonin's advisor.
Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson looks away from the two practitioners of magic when he hears the shouts of "Lé Dic!" away to the left along the battlements in response to the shouts of "Harkonin!" from the enemy who have topped the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Over on the east wall parapet of castle Lé Dic, Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy who has just stabbed a Harkonin soldier in the throat, and shoved him off the top of the wall to the moat below.
Helps a Lé Dic soldier to pick up another soldier from the fief across the border to the east who the spy Tanith has killed, and roll the body off the top of the wall.
Where it crashes down upon one of the enemy rafts on the moat at the base of the east wall of the massive castle.
After doing so, the Harkonin soldier says to the elf from the principality of Alínlae "Look there on the central keep".
The elven spy who once served in one of the more prominent noble houses in his homeland of Alínlae turns and looks across to the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
There he spots Helbe the elven thief on the roof of the largest keep in the massive castle. The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel is facing the dark druid Palvarc, the advisor to baron Harkonin.
Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more often referred to by the others in the group, wonders how the elven masterthief will fare against the dark druid from the Harkonin fief.
As he had mentioned he would find it difficult facing baron Harkonin's advisor, and the staff the dark druid uses.
On the four walls of castle Lé Dic. Lisell Maera on the north. Tamric Drubine on the west. Riley Hait on the south. And Dalinvardél Tanith on the east.
All see what happens when prince Helbenthril Raendril and the dark druid Palvarc suddenly attack one another.
For a moment there's a dozen elven magic users in white hooded cloaks leaping forward at the dark druid from the Harkonin fief.
And beam of dark green energy shoots from the staff of baron Harkonin's advisor.
The beam of energy goes through one of the Helbe the elven thief's, and shoots off into the afternoon sky, going over the west wall of castle Lé Dic.
Suddenly they see Palvarc the dark druid grab at his face, then spin around, trying to aim his staff at one of the copies of the young elven noble.
Then the dark druid drops his staff and covers his face with both hands. The copies of Helbe the elven thief disappear, and there's just one of him now standing off to one side of baron Harkonin's advisor who has dropped to his knees upon the roof of the central keep of the massive castle that's been home to the Lé Dic family for generations.
It's not long before they see Palvarc the dark druid topple over onto his side, with a bloody face and throat, while the young elven noble from the principality of Laerel stands a dozen feet away from him, watching him without moving.
Well he's dead, that's for sure, Riley Hait the mercenary ranger dryly thinks to himself after he sees baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc fall over onto his side on the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic while Helbe the elven thief watches on.
The mercenary ranger who is on the south wall battlements of the massive castle, looks at the soldier infront of him as they pass over the main gates on this wall of the castle.
Who looks back at him and says "There's an enemy knight on the parapet".
"Shit" mutters the ranger Hait, who looks around the Lé Dic soldier infront of him. And through the defenders further along the battlements. He spots a heavily armoured knight amongst the enemy who have a foothold along a section of the wall.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is pretty certain that the enemy nobleman is sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander.
And that he must have some balls to get on the water, and climb to the top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic wearing all that heavy armour.
Now the commander of baron Harkonin's army is cutting down any defender who gets in his way. Whether it be a soldier, castle servant or townsfolk. The landed knight from the fief across the border to the east, cuts them down with ease.
The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen slightly grimaces, then he covers the lower half of his face with the traditional black hordes cloth he wears around his neck.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman swings his longbow onto his back. And he draws his two long daggers, as he the soldier infront of him, move forward along the parapet to where the enemy knight is.
There's a soldier a bit further infront of the two of them, who is a bit smarter than anyone else who has come up against the commander of the Harkonin army so far.
For he throws a hammer over the heads of the townsmen infront of him. A hammer that whacks into the heavily armoured left shoulder of the enemy knight.
And though sir Taevar staggers backwards, the landed knight still swings his broadsword, which chops into the side of one of the three townsfolk directly infront of him.
"Here" says the Lé Dic soldier with the ranger Hait, who picks up a polearm off the parapet, and hands it to his fellow soldier who just threw the hammer at the nobleborn knight from the Harkonin fief.
They both hold it as they close in on the commander of the enemy army. Who is leaning against a merlon, while a Harkonin soldier jumps forward, and attacks the other two townsmen.
All three of them go off the back of the parapet when one of the townsfolk is cut down by the enemy soldier's shortsword, tripping over his fellow townsman. Who grabs at the Harkonin soldier. Hauling him off the battlements as he goes to swing his shortsword again. All three of them hit the courtyard over forty feet down with a thud.
The two Lé Dic soldiers with the polearm stab it forward at the heavily armoured knight who is now standing upright and facing them,
Sir Taevar batters it to one side with his heavy broadsword, sending one of the soldiers stumbling into a merlon. And the other who now holds the polearm by himself, swings the long weapon at the commander of the Harkonin army.
The heavily armoured knight ducks under the swinging polearm, and sweeps his broadsword out infront him. Where it whacks into the legs of the Lé Dic soldier with the polearm.
That soldier drops to the parapet screaming in pain, with his left leg chopped off below the knee.
Riley Hait leaps over the downed soldier, and dropkicks sir Taevar in the helm as the enemy knight goes to stand up.
The Harkonin army commander goes stumbling backwards, while the mercenary ranger who has landed upon the parapet. Springs to his feet, and is quickly upon the enemy knight.
The ranger Hait has fought many a heavily armoured opponent before. And he knows they all have a weakness. Their helm, or more precisely, their faceplate and eyeslot, which hampers their vision.
And unless they're extremely quick, like sir Percavelle Lé Dic is. They move far slower than those with lighter armour, such as the hardened leather armour the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen is in.
As sir Taevar staggers to a halt, Riley Hait jabs one of his long daggers at the faceplate of the enemy knight, straight at the eyeslot in the full helm.
Baron Harkonin's army commander gets lucky, and turns his head at the last moment. And the mercenary ranger's long dagger scrapes along the side of knights full helm.
Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson stabs his other long dagger at the inside of the enemy knight's left arm. Where he sees it's chainmail covering the underside of the arm, as the plate doesn't fully enclose the nobleman's arms.
Sir Taevar grunts in pain, and his left arm drops to his side as blood starts running down it.
Then the ranger Hait stabs his first long dagger once again at the front of the Harkonin army commander's full helm. This time it goes in through the eyeslot.
As it does, Riley Hait murmurs in the hordes dialect of the southern tundra, through the traditional black cloth covering his face from the nose down "Fuck your mother".
Sir Taevar drops to a knee screaming, as blood splurts from the faceplate of his full helm.
The nobleman from the fief across the border to the east, who is blinded and has dropped his broadsword.
Gropes around for his weapon, he can't find it, but grabs something else instead as the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen steps forward towards him.
Blind, on one knee and about to die, sir Taevar swings up as hard as he can, and the hammer that was thrown at him earlier, which he has managed to blindly pick up.
Completely takes Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman by surprise, smashing into the side of his face and head . . . . . .

The Homecoming 146.

Pressure...

While Helbe the elven thief confronts Palvarc the dark druid upon the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic, where Narladene the ground pixie eventually kills the advisor to baron Harkonin.
The attack upon the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family, intensifies.
For the simple reason that Dorc da Orc, Shur Kee the monk, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are behind the Harkonin soldiers and others, who are on this side of the castle.
The large ork, the short, statured monk and the heavily armoured knight are attacking those from the fief across the border to the east, who are yet to get onto the water.
As well as those who are already on the water, trying to get up to the battlements along this side of castle Lé Dic.
They're putting pressure upon those in baron Harkonin's army who are on this side of the massive castle.
Forcing those who aren't already on the moat, onto the water. And those already on the water, up one of the scailing ladders to the parapet along the south side of castle Lé Dic.
One of those who immediately saw the danger posed by the former earl of Lé Dic, the ork creature and the short fellow in the strange clothing, and wearing an even stranger looking hat. Was the Harkonin army commander, sir Taevar.
Who doesn't know it, but with baron Raevar Harkonin captured and hidden away in one of the stables within the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
And with the baron's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc about to meet his fate upon the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
It's he, sir Taevar who is in overall command of those from the fief across the border to the east.
What the Harkonin army commander does know. Is that it's not safe here on the water's edge with the former paladin, the large green creature, and the short fellow in the odd, conical shaped hat running this way.
So he jumps on one of the rafts that has come back to this side of the moat. And with others from the Harkonin fief, starts polling and paddling to the south wall of the massive castle that they're tying to take over.
The landed knight who is the brother inlaw of baron Raevar Harkonin. Who was sending soldiers and camp followers across the moat to the massive wall on this, the southern side of the Lé Dic family's ancestral home.
Now finds himself amongst those hastily making their way to the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Hoping that no one up on the battlements shoots an arrow or bolt at him. Or that something worse comes over the top of the wall to the hit the raft, that has ten others onboard of it at the moment.
And when something fairly large, exactly what, sir Taevar isn't too sure. Hits the water off to their left. Splashing many upon the raft, and sending it rocking from side to side.
The Harkonin army commander isn't exactly sure he and the others are going to last all that long.
Especially him, as he's in a suit of full plate armour. And if he goes into the water, he'll sink to the bottom of the moat fairly quickly.
The nobleman knows that his best chance of survival is to get to the south wall of castle Lé Dic. Then climb one of the scailing ladders to the battlements above.
Where some of the others have had a fair bit of success clearing the defenders off sections of the wall. Until those from the Lé Dic fief rally and push those from the Harkonin fief off the top of the wall.
Sir Taevar knows that if he gets up onto the parapet of the south wall of the massive castle.
He along with those with him, can hold a section of the wall. Allowing for others to gain the top of the wall.
The brother inlaw of baron Harkonin winces behind the faceplate of his full helm. And he looks back when he hears a roar.
And he sees the ork creature at the water's edge, throwing a spear. Which the Harkonin army commander, thankfully sees is going towards those climbing up one of the ladders further away to his left.
The nobleman from the fief across the border to the east, shakes his full helm head when he sees the spear slam into the back of a camp follower halfway up that particular ladder. He falls down, knocking off another climbing below him, and smashing down onto those on the raft that the scailing ladder is on.
Sir Taevar hopes the gods, as he doesn't particularly care about the old ways. Look over him, and keeps him safe as he and those with him. Assault the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations.
The landed knight looks quickly around when he hears someone back on the otherside of the moat, shout something that sounds like "Bru Li spirit!".
He blinks in surprise at what he sees. It's a white ball of what looks like to be a magical energy of some kind. About nine foot wide, coming across the surface of the moat at an angle. In what sir Taevar first thinks is towards the raft he's on.
But it passes behind the raft he's on, and continues on it ways to the right. Where it ends up hitting those upon another of the makeshift rafts being poled towards the base of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
When it hits the raft nothing happens. Not so when it hits the nine or so from the Harkonin fief who are on that raft.
They all go flying off that raft in all directions. Some hitting the south wall of the massive castle at speed.
While others go barreling and skipping across the water. So fast that some go up to forty to fifty feet from where they were on the raft.
One passes over the raft the Harkonin army commander is on. Almost knocking off a couple of the men at the front of the raft sir Taevar is on.
The brother inlaw of baron Raevar Harkonin hopes to the gods one of those glowing white balls of energy doesn't hit him and others on the raft they're on. As he knows that there's nothing to defend against something like that.
The commander of the army from the fief across the border to the east breathes a sigh of relief when he spots sir Percavelle Lé Dic and the two with him. Hurrying along the bank of the moat, towards where an empty raft is floating back near the water's edge.
Though he can't hear them over the noise of the battle. Sir Taevar can clearly see the former paladin is arguing about something with the ork creature running beside him.
The big, burly green creature who the Harkonin army commander clearly sees is at least seven and half foot tall, and must weigh as much as four large adult men.
Is keeping well away from the water as he jogs alongside the heavily armoured ordered knight who was once the earl of the Lé Dic fief.
Sir Taevar looks ahead again, and uses the pole he's holding, to help propell the raft he's on, closer to the south wall of the massive castle.
The nobleman who is married to the younger sister of baron Harkonin, looks ahead, and sees they're headed towards a raft already up against the base of the wall on this side of castle Lé Dic, where a scailing ladder is being held up against the wall.
"Almost there men!" calls out sir Taevar the army commander by way of encouragement "Let's get up that wall, and take this damn castle from them!" adds the landed knight, which illicits some cheers from those on the raft with him, and from others close by on other rafts who hear him.
As a camp follower infront of the Harkonin army commander falls screaming into the water with an enemy arrow in his guts. The raft bumps up against the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the nobleborn Lé Dic family for centuries.
"Across to the other raft, one at a time now" orders the commander of the army from the Harkonin fief "Let the others go up the ladder first" adds the heavily armoured knight, who soon finds himself stepping over to the other raft that has one of the scailing ladders on it.
After a quick glance up to the top of the wall, hoping nothing gets dropped down on top of him, sir Taevar looks back across the moat.
And he spots sir Percavelle Lé Dic and the short fellow wearing the strange looking hat. Wading through the first few feet of water, to the empty raft that's near the bank.
They quickly get onto that particular raft, while the ork creature paces back and forth, gesturing with his hands, while saying something to the other two on the raft near the water's edge.
The Harkonin army commander is pretty certain he's never seen such a look of disgust upon anyone's face before, compared to the one right now on the face of ork creature.
Who is pointing at the raft the other two are on, or the water itself. Sir Taevar isn't too sure.
What is he sure about, is that big, mean looking green creature is definitely not happy about something.
The nobleman from the fief across the border to the east wonders what's got the ork creature so worked up.
Then he looks back to the ladder on the raft he and some of the others are on. When an experienced soldier, who is in charge of those holding the scailing ladder steady, says to the nobleborn knight "Commander you want to go up now?".
After looking back across the moat, where he spots the large green ork creature looking totally outraged, not to mention the look of disgust still plastered on it's face, step into the water, take another step, then step up onto the raft sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and the short fellow wearing the odd conical shaped hat are already on.
He says to the experienced soldier in the baron's army "I'll go up after whoever's next".
The next person to start up the scailing ladder on this raft. Is a young soldier in the baron's army, who is a member of a crew of one of the war machines.
The youngster is fairly nimble, and he's over a third of the way up the ladder behind two others, when sir Taevar puts a foot on the first rung.
Don't fall off and drop into the water Taevar, the Harkonin army commander dryly thinks to himself, as he can't think of a worse way of dying in a battle like this, than falling into the water, and sinking like a stone due to the heavy plate armour he wears.
Trust the damn Lé Dic's to have a such a bloody deep moat, the landed knight sourly thinks to himself as he starts up the scailing ladder, that's on the eastern half of the south wall of the massive castle, to the right of the main gates on this side of the castle.
The brother inlaw of Raevar Harkonin flinches as a crossbow bolt skims across the wall just above his head as he goes up the scailing ladder one rung at a time.
The commander of the army from the fief across the border to the east who hears what must be the ork creature roaring somewhere upon the moat.
Looks up to the top of the wall, where he sees one of those further to the top of the ladder. Jumping up onto the top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
And the next moment later he disappears over the top of the wall, and onto the battlements along this side of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Though just a few moments later, that same soldier in baron Harkonin's army comes tumbling off the top of the wall from between the two merlons further to the right.
Sir Taevar watches as the soldier hits the water to the side of the raft he and the others used to reach the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
The commander of the army from the fief across the border to the east, continues up the scailing ladder. Looking up as he does so, where he sees the next person near the top, one of the camp followers, climb up onto the battlements of the massive castle.
The heavily armoured knight who is married to the younger sister of baron Harkonin, hurries up. As above him, the young soldier who went up just before him.
Scampers up the last few rungs of the ladder, and follows the camp follower onto the top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
The nobleman from the Harkonin fief has one last look down to the moat. Where he spots the raft sir Percavelle Lé Dic, the ork creature and the short fellow wearing the strange, conical shaped hat coming towards this part of the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations.
Then sir Taevar climbs up a couple more rungs of the scailing ladder, then basically lunges up to the top of the wall, and starts hauling himself up and over.
A pair of hands grab him, and help pull him up and over. The landed knight looks up, and sees it's the camp follower who got up onto the battlements just before the young soldier from the Harkonin fief did.
Who the commander of the army from the fief across the border to the east, sees is busy fighting the enemy with another Harkonin soldier to the left along the parapet.
"Thanks" a near breathless sir Taevar says to the camp follower once he's standing upon the battlements of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Then baron Harkonin's brother inlaw draws his broadsword and moves off to the left "Drop down!" orders the nobleborn knight.
The two soldiers from the fief across the border to the east, immediately recognise the voice of their commander, and they duck down.
Sir Taevar swings his heavy broadsword over the two of them, from right to left, cutting down two of the defenders of castle Lé Dic.
Once the two Harkonin soldiers get up, the commander of their army tells them "We have to hold this section of the wall to allow the others to get up".
"Yes sir" say the two in understanding, while behind them, the camp follower helps another person from the Harkonin army up onto the battlements of castle Lé Dic.
"Harkonin!" shouts sir Taevar as more of the defenders on the south wall of the massive castle hurry along the parapet this way, shouting "Lé Dic!".
The Harkonin army commander who as the brother inlaw of the baron, and as far as he knows, the only nobleman from the fief across the border to the east, to get up onto the battlements of castle Lé Dic.
Feels the pressure to succeed and take the south wall, and eventually the castle itself. As he knows there's no going back now. As it's either victory or death from now on . . . . . .

The Homecoming 145.

Magic Battle...

Invisible, whilst standing upon the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
Palvarc the dark druid looks up at a tower on a corner of the keep that his magical staff is pointing to.
The spellcaster who is the advisor to baron Harkonin, narrows his eyelids and waits.
Then he slams up some wards as his staff jerks down in his hands, pointing down at the roof he's standing on.
The dark druid assumes his magical opponent is now upon the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic, as he is.
Baron Harkonin's advisor is correct in his assessment. There is indeed another practitioner of magic on the roof of the largest keep in the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Blurred and shielded as he stands upon the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
Helbe the elven thief looks to where he can sense the dark druid Palvarc. Who is just over sixty feet from him.
Upon the right shoulder of the young elven noble, is the ground pixie who is attached to him, Narladene.
The tiny winged creature is quietly informing him what the spellcaster from the Harkonin fief, who she can clearly see, is doing.
The elven magic user slightly nods his hooded head as he listens to the naturally magical creature whisper to him that baron Harkonin's advisor is more or less pointing his staff at the elven masterthief.
The elven master assassin from the island principality of Laerel grins as he contemplates what he'll do.
Hoping that it will stroke the ego of the dark druid from the fief across the border to the east.
The elven princeling figures it probably will, considering he will give away a slight advantage he has over the spellcaster who serves as the personal advisor to baron Raevar Harkonin.
The dark druid Palvarc's staff keeps fairly steady, continuing to point at where an invisible spellcaster is standing opposite the personal advisor of the head of the Harkonin family.
Then suddenly he blinks in surprise as a figure appears about sixty feet from him, here on the roof of the central keep of the massive castle that's been the home to the Lé Dic family for centuries.
The dark druid immediately recognises the figure on the roof of the central keep. As the spellcaster who he ran into earlier today. In the west of the Lé Dic fief.
And as the figure in the white hooded cloak stands there, looking in this direction.
Palvarc wonders why he made himself visible. Considering the dark druid can't sense what the fellow on the roof of the main keep of castle Lé Dic with him, is up to.
Well, aren't we sure of oneself, Palvarc the dark druid thinks to himself as he looks across the roof to where the other spellcaster stands.
The advisor to baron Harkonin sees that whoever it is, they're elven. As he's just able to make out the sharp features of their face.
So he knows that his opponent here on the top of the central keep of castle Lé Dic, is probably way older than him, and more than likely way more experienced than him magically.
That doesn't mean they're more powerful than i am, the spellcaster from the fief across the border to the east thinks to himself, who then wonders why the other spellcaster is just standing there, looking in his direction. He gets his answer just a few moments later.
"Show yourself druid" calls out Helbe the elven thief in the common language, the elven magic user then adds "I know you're there, so no use hiding".
Baron Harkonin's advisor who can't even sense the elven spellcaster standing about sixty feet from him, who he can clearly see now, and who his staff is pointing at.
Waits a moment as he contemplates what the figure in the white hooded cloak just said.
Then realising he might have more of an advantage if he drops a spell, which is obviously ineffective since the elf knows he's here. The dark druid from the Harkonin fief becomes visible, strengthening his wards as he does so.
Seeing baron Harkonin's advisor become visible. The young elven noble from the principality of Laerel slightly nods his head, and glances at Narladene who is on his right shoulder.
The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel wonders if the staff the dark druid has, that's pointing this way. Is pointing at him, or it's actually pointing at the ground pixie who is attached to him.
The elven princeling has a sneaking suspicion that it's actually pointing at Narladene now. As he figures that the captured pixie within the magical staff, sees her as the greater threat. Which is infact correct.
The elven master assassin wonders if baron Harkonin's advisor knows this. He rather doubts it. As any spellcaster who uses a magical item like that staff, that has a naturally magical creature held prisoner in it.
Is only concerned about themselves and the obvious threats they see against them.
After dropping his invisibility spell, Palvarc the dark druid, whose staff is pointing at the elf in the white hooded cloak across on the west side of the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
Is silent for a few moments, then he calls out "Where's the baron?".
"He's around somewhere" is the reply of prince Helbenthril Raendril who briefly pauses before adding "Don't worry, he's still alive" the elven masterthief continues with "Unlike those poor villagers in the west of the fief you killed earlier today".
Palvarc slightly smiles at that, the memory of the quick sacrifices he made in the underground druid's circle in the west of the Lé Dic fief before midday.
Though the dark druid isn't completely sure the elf is telling the truth about the baron. He sees no reason why he would lie about something like that.
"So why have you kept him alive?" calls out the spellcaster from the fief across the border to the east.
"So his enemies, the lady Linara and sir Percavelle Lé Dic can put him to death" is the reply from the young elven noble who knows exactly what he's going to do "After they defeat his army of course" adds the elven magic user.
Glancing away to his left towards the south wall parapet of castle Lé Dic. Palvarc sees the defenders of the massive castle fighting the baron's men upon the battlements.
Then the dark druid, who is part of a conspiracy to spread the old ways throughout the kingdom of Druvic, making not just the druidic way, but the dark druids beliefs popular again throughout the kingdom.
Lifts an eyebrow, then calls out "That's not very likely to happen" Palvarc continues with "There's less and less Lé Dic soldiers upon the battlements as the day wears on. My baron's men are gaining sections of the south and east walls at ease now" the spellcaster from the Harkonin fief then adds "It won't be long before there's too many of them on the battlements, and in the castle. That the Lé Dic army, will have to surrender or face being wiped out".
"That's what you think" calls out the elven princeling from the island of Laerel, that lies far away to the south, off the west coast of the Southlands, the elven magic user then silently adds, but what are you actually thinking of now?
The young elven noble, who like all elves, dislikes druids, and their form of worship and beliefs. Knows that baron Harkonin's advisor already knows that he's casting. As his staff is warning him that he is.
After all the elven magic user's shield spell, that doesn't allow to him to be sensed, is up at the moment. So are his wards, both protection and barrier spells.
But the elven master archer wonders if baron Harkonin's advisor knows the specific spells the elven princeling is casting. He rather doubts it, as the pixie captured within the dark druid's magical staff wouldn't be able to tell him.
It probably just gives him a feeling through the staff of someone else casting that's a threat to Palvarc. So one more spell cast by the elven magic user won't be much of a difference, or if any at all.
Helbe the elven thief reads the mind of Palvarc the dark druid as the two of them stand upon the roof of the central keep of the massive castle that's been the home to the nobleborn Lé Dic family for generations.
Nope, I'm not going to do that, nor am i going to do that, i won't do that either, or that too, the elven masterthief thinks to himself as he reads the mind of the spellcaster from the fief across the border to the east.
Ah so that's why you didn't attack the castle yourself, prince Helbenthril Raendril thinks to himself, the highly talented elven spellcaster then sourly adds, because your stupid fucking auguries told you that the baron's attack upon the castle would fail if you did.
Slightly shaking his hooded head in disgust at that, the young elven noble who is the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel, murmurs in the elven language to Narladene "Get ready".
The ground pixie who is on the right shoulder of the elven master assassin she's attached to, and who is invisible to the dark druid on the eastern side of the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic.
Nods her tiny head that's she ready. As the two of them have already spoken about what they'll do when the elven princeling would confront baron Harkonin's advisor when they returned to castle Lé Dic.
The elven magic user sourly smiles as the dark druid strengthens his wards. In particular his protection spell, so that the young elven noble is no longer able to penetrate them and read his mind.
Palvarc who got a brief warning from his staff, usually to do with spellcasting. Which the elven magic user is already doing. Increased the strength of his barrier and protection spells.
Then calls out to the tall, lean figure standing on the west side of the roof of the central keep "You might as well hand the baron back".
"No that's alright, I'm pretty sure he deserves to be executed" calls back the elven master archer as he waits for the dark druid to act.
"Well it's your death then" loudly says the spellcaster from the fief across the border to the east.
"Well about that" calls out prince Helbenthril Raendril, who continues with "If i die, you'll never find the baron. I'm pretty certain he'll be long dead before he's found".
That might be a possibility, Palvarc thinks to himself, who then silently adds, but i'll find out where he is before i kill you.
The advisor to baron Raevar Harkonin then calls out to the elven spellcaster "Think what you like, but that's never going to happen".
"Like you attacking this castle right?" says the nobleborn elf from the principality of Laerel, who then adds "It's never going to happen".
How does he know that? the dark druid thinks to himself, who after briefly pausing, silently adds, probably guessed most likely, since i haven't actually attacked the castle at all.
The spellcaster from the Harkonin fief slightly steps forward, and keeping his staff leveled and pointing directly at the elven magic user on the western side of roof of the main keep of castle Lé Dic.
He then calls out "Last chance, tell me where the baron is" followed by "If not, you'll die".
Let's see about that then, Helbe the elven thief thinks to himself, whose power of foresight earlier this morning, told him that he would die if he directly confronted baron Harkonin's advisor.
It's why he hasn't done it today at all. Instead having Shur Kee the monk earlier in the day directly confront the dark druid.
And he doesn't plan on doing it now, here on top of the roof of the central keep, here in the middle of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
The highly talented elven magic user waits. And he doesn't have to wait long after baron Harkonin's advisor takes a step forward.
For Narladene the ground pixie quickly whispers to him "Now".
The young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. Magically leaps forward towards the dark druid Palvarc, who an instant later activates his magical staff.
A beam of dark green energy shoots from the point of the staff at the leaping elven master assassin. Who in mid air, magically turns into a dozen of himself, all leaping towards the advisor to baron Harkonin.
Palvarc's eyes open wide in surprise as his target turns from one to a dozen. As he could never imagine any spellcaster could make that many lifelike illusions of themselves
The beam shot from the end of his staff goes through one of elven spellcasters, and continues on into the sky to the west.
Then suddenly his staff jerks upright and back in his hands. Almost whacking him in the face. As if it's trying to point directly at him.
That indeed, is exactly what it's trying to do.
The dark druid cries out in pain as there's suddenly an awful searing feeling of pain in his left eye.
He lets go of his staff with one hand, and goes to clutch at his left eye with the other.
After pulling her tiny sword out of the left eye of baron Harkonin's advisor. A rather devilish looking grin appears on the beautiful looking face of Narladene the ground pixie.
Who sees the elven magic user she's attached to, land about thirty feet to the right of where the dark druid is staggering back, groaning in pain.
The elven princeling was the fifth figure in that direction. He keeps the other greater illusions he's created up.
So that the disoriented spellcaster from the Harkonin fief, who is now blind in one eye. Spins around trying to figure out which of the elves in the white hooded cloaks is the real one.
While his staff is still upright, pointing to where Narladene, the real threat to him, is hovering near his head.
With your eye suddenly blind, and you're in a lot of pain. You kind of don't think that clearly.
And as his magical staff continues to point upright at the ground pixie that's invisible to him.
He hauls it down, points it at another of the elven magics users in the white hooded cloaks. And shoots off a beam of dark green energy at it.
The tiny winged creature, who like all of her kind. Is immune to spells easily passes through the wards of Palvarc the dark druid again. And once again she stabs her sword, which though is small. Just a two and half inches or so in length, is incredibly sharp.
"Aaaahhhh!" screams Palvarc in pain as he drops his staff, and grabs at his right eye now. The advisor to baron Harkonin who is now completely blind.
Goes to grab at his belt, where he has a healing potion. He yelps in pain, as something awfully sharp goes into that hand.
Then the dark druid, who still has his wits enough to keep his wards up. Hears the elf away to his right, say to him "You might as well give up, because this is not going to end well for you if you keep trying".
"Damn you" mutters Palvarc, who goes to cast a spell in the direction he hears the elven magic user. Even though it's a struggle for him to cast more than two spells at once. Not to mention he's now blind.
The spellcaster from the Harkonin fief doesn't even get the chance to cast. As he suddenly feels pain in his already blinded right eye. Then across his face, down to his mouth, which feels like it's been sliced open as his mouth fills with blood.
Then he howls in pain, as something is jabbed into his left ear.
His left eardrum bursts, and he drops to his knees, with blood running down his face, and out of one ear.
The advisor to baron Harkonin tries to clutch for his staff that he dropped. But he moans in pain as something stabs him in the left hand.
Helbe the elven thief looks at the dark druid kneeling upon the roof of the central keep of castle Lé Dic, with a bloody and ruined face.
The elven magic user looks at the grinning ground pixie hovering next to the head of baron Harkonin's advisor and quietly says in elven to her "Finish it".
Palvarc the dark druid suddenly hears a distinctly female voice say into his right ear, his good ear "This is for that staff, and who you've got trapped in there".
Narladene the ground pixie then stabs her tiny sword into the throat of the badly disfigured, and blinded dark druid.
With her being so small, just four inches in length and not particularly strong. Even with her extremely sharp sword. It takes her a while to slit open the throat of Palvarc the dark druid, and kill him . . . . . .