Kakoon on Ta’Vaalor Troubles

Smoke Above Ta’Vaalor: Kakoon tells of last weekend’s trouble in Ta’Vaalor in a great write-up on the officials:

http://bit.ly/1TxBxLN

Category: Towns
Topic: Ta’Vaalor

Date: 05/24/2016 01:00 AM CDT

From: SAM2004

Subj: Smoke above Ta'Vaalor

Lord Legionnaire Commander Cyik

It is with a bright smile and a lightened heart I get to write this report to you. From the lava fields of Kharam-Dzu to the snowy mountain top of Aenatumgana, members of the Guardians of Sunfist have been trickling into the Fortress. Having heard of recent attacks made by the Grimswarm, many came to aid the Fortress. Last evening, Ivastaen 22, 5116, a Grimswarm troll Ambassador returned to hear our answer to their ultimatum. Civilians, citizens, and legionnaires met in Neartofar Forest to give him our answer. The beacon was quickly lit as the cry “To Arms!” rang out among the town guard.

We fought shoulder to shoulder as the Grimswarm surrounded us in the forest. Fire poured from Jiarine’s hands, scorching earth and Grimswarm alike while Barthollomew used these first few moments to unleash a barrage from his crossbow. I was hopeful of our attacks, we seemed to be holding our own, I was wrong. The next wave of grimswarm hit and with it came a fireball of their own. Squire Legionnaire Krystalena was caught in the blast. I can still hear her screams of agony as she burned alive. Jiarine doubled her efforts, the roar of the fire drowned out the Grimswarm. She turned her focus towards the Ambassador and when she was done, a pile of ash was all that was left.

This is where things went bad. I’m still not sure what happened. A void tore open the sky above my head and my world went black. I remember watching my headless body being drug through the forest by a Grimswarm Scourge. I remember Mufassa dragging my body next. I don’t remember where he came from, he wasn’t there one moment, then he was. I remember him getting surrounded, the grimswarm closing in. Mufassa was dragging me again, this time covered in blood, some of his own, most of it not.

Some time must have passed because the next thing I see is my body at the feet of a Grimswarm darkweaver WarChief. I heard the words but don’t remember saying them. I mocked his attempt to bring me to his throne to intimidate me. I remember his words though, his words were clear. “My throne is temporary. When I pass, another will take my place.” What happened next was… Quite frankly sir, I don’t know what to call it. Barthollomew and Aurach burst through the entrance of the Warchief’s Hut. Barthollomew instantly grabs me as Aurach gestures at the Grimswarm darkweaver Warchief. Thorns thrust up out of the ground from behind the Warchief, one hitting him just behind the knee, knocking him down. That was the last thing I saw of both Aurach and the Warchief. I saw glimpses of this gnome, dipping under feet, diving under legs, dragging my body the whole time. We were at the entrance to the warcamp, seven grimswarm blocking our path, Barthollomew ducked his head and charged right through them. We were in Neartofar Forest, patrols of grimswarm everywhere, Barthollomew didn’t even slow. We were on Neartofar Road, Grimswarm running everywhere as fire rained down on them from the Drake. I saw us from the gate, Barthollomew was running down the road, my corpse trailing, I saw it coming but thought he could make it. A rogue fireball from the Drake landed right on top of Barthollomew and my corpse.

I don’t know how Sir and I don’t know why he survived, but as I watched Barthollomew disappear behind a wall of fire, there he was again, barreling right through it. While I would have appreciated if Barthollomew had stopped to put the flames out on my leg, I can’t fault him for his results. This is the second time this gnome has faced overwhelming odds to return my body back to the safety of the Fortress.

By the time I was able to get back to my feet both Vermilion and Annatto Gate had been breached and Triage had to fall back to the Hall of Arkati. Squire Legionnaire Legaci reported for combat and was sent to hold Vermilion Gate. Squire Legionnaire Mauric and myself patrolled the Fortress, finishing off any stragglers, while a group of citizens and civilians pushed back the Grimswarm horde at Annatto Gate. The breach was contained and pushed back in a matter of minutes.

With the Grimswarm back outside the walls, we felt it was time to take the fight to the Warchief. A bandon was formed at Annatto Gate to push through the swarm and attack the warcamp directly. As the gates were getting pounded, wave after wave of grimswarm, we waded into the warcamp. There we fought for every inch to the warchief hut. As we killed one, two would step forward to take their place. Rolfard was tearing voids open in the air, Zarston singing a battle hymn to raise our fighting spirits and break the grimswarm. Jiarine filled the warcamp with the smell of burning troll flesh while Hoy, Aurach and myself covered them from the back with our bows. The fighting grew heavier as we approached the Warchief’s hut. I had lost sight of Hoy in the fray and Jiarine had fallen earlier in the push.

Rolfard, Aurach, myself, and Zarston stood in the Warchief’s hut, waiting for the beast to show his face again. We didn’t have to wait long as a horde charged in with the Grimswarm darkweaver Warchief at the head. Zarston sang a song of Tonis to lighten our arms and speed our attacks. Rolfard called upon some of the darker magics of sorcery and summoned arms from the ground to grab, trip, and stumble the horde as they charged. Aurach lined up his shot, as his bow string pulled back a bolt of pure energy appears from nowhere. Aurach let loose his arrow, at the last moment he twitched his hand, adjusting the flight of the bolt just slightly. Years of practice? natural instinct? Perhaps Kai or another Arkati moved Aurach’s hand? Perhaps I just imagined it? What I can say for sure, the bolt struck true and pierced the Grimswarm darkweaver Warchief through his eye and connected with something vital.

The Grimswarm darkweaver Warchief lay dead as the bandon, tired and sore from fighting, collect wood to burn the camp. As we exited the camp we heard the roar of the flames, felt the heat stinging our backs, our lungs filled with the acrid smoke of burning flesh. We never looked back.

We were greeted by those willing to stay behind to protect the Fortress from the continued assaults. When the Warchief had fallen, the attacking Grimswarm had retreated. The Fortress was clear of danger and celebration followed. I could still hear the celebrating long after I had returned to the Bastion to collect my thoughts. While I am happy we were able to fight off the Grimswarm, I am worried about what the Warchief had said as my body lay headless at his feet. “My throne is temporary. When I pass, another will take my place.”

For Honor, Pride, and Glory
High Legionnaire Kakoon Arakhor

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OOC NOTE:

I have to say, this was one of the most fun invasions I have been part of. There were two interactions I had with other players that really made it the best. The first and probably my favorite actually happened hours before the fighting had began. GM Mazreth had given us plenty of warning to prepare for it so I took the time to go around and bug people as much as I could about it. Kakoon showed a few people how to get to the Drake and how to use it. Showed a few people the Ballista and the Beacon. Malees however took an interest in the murder holes and shooting arrows out of them. Malees is a warrior, not trained in ranged weapons at all, and I’m not sure has titled yet. The player behind Malees didn’t let that stop that character from participating in the invasion though. I got to roleplay teaching this barely off the turnip farm warrior how to shoot a bow. It’s these interactions that keep me playing this game. The player went out of their way to learn something different, new, and hopefully fun. (We’ll find out if Malees re-rolls into a ranger.)Just so they didn’t have to sit around to let all the capped players do all the fighting.

The second interaction was the insane rescue by Aurach and Barthollomew. I was at the edge of my chair, just waiting for a void to hit him. A spike thorn, e-wave, combat maneuver, something. I don’t know how he does it but he does. I can’t wait to see what he rescues me from next.

The above report is of course a little… embellished. I think we had made 3 or 4 trips into the camp, each time letting folks know we were forming up on Annatto Gate through the amunet. Not sure if Charlie did it on his own or if he had his Angels helping him but they definitely put in work. Having an invasion with an objective where we have to burn siege weapons, burn a camp, destroy boats, something other than wave after wave of mobs (which by the way is still very fun, it’s why I warcamp to begin with) adds so much more to the storyline of the invasion. Also gives us a clear and definitive off switch heh.

I know there are a lot of people who weren’t mentioned in Kakoon’s report that played a key role in the defense but being dead for a good portion of the invasion makes it hard to know what’s going on. I’m sorry if I missed you and hope credit is given where credit is due in the next report. I’m not sure what GM Mazreth has in store for Ta’Vaalor next but I’m looking forward to it.

The Legion’s Ranger
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/crimson-legion