"How was your experience with learning from her?"
Sybil masked a look of... something as she responded to Drest.
"Let's just say it was short and sweet and leave it there, shall we?"
Chapter 5 ~At the Gates of Victory~
It did not take long for news of Victor Frealde's death at the hands of Sybil Hallewell and her mercenaries to spread across Ludoh. Nor did it take long for the council to declare a state of emergency. With her plans now laid bare before her forces, many of them Ludohan natives, it was only inevitable that there were those who decided to get out before things got dangerous. Or in this case, the majority of the Ludohan natives and a few groups of mercenaries here and there. However, this did not deter her in the slightest; if anything it encouraged her. With the majority of Ludoh's military might on the Isle of Spirit, and her so near the House of Councilors, she had nothing to fear aside from the council members personal forces and what meagre aid they could call upon within a week. In her mind, she had already won.
Unfortunately, the council was not to go down without a fight. A quartet of council members sat around their usual meeting table; however many of the seats were now empty and a scrying orb sat on the table. The rest of the council members had either fled or had already taken up arms and were somewhere in the building, waiting for the witch's forces. Somewhat out of place in the room, a woman with fiery hair and lavender armor sat at the other end of the table. Behind her, a man lurked in the shadows; his silhouette barely visible to those assembled.
"The witch marches on us even as we speak. We've no hope of any more aid from our few allies and her forces still outnumber ours. I fear there is little we can do to stop her.""If we weren't at war in all but name with Eslana over some useless island we'd have the means to stop her. But who is it that insists that we reclaim the island?""But who voted to sell it to those corrupt merchants in the first place? You were the one who dealt and bribed your way to that!""We weren't using it, we weren't going to use it, and we haven't used it in over a century. If they wanted it, there was no reason not to sell it to them!""You were but a whelp then and knew nothing of the Isle's importance! And you still do not, despite numerous attempts to inform you!""I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I don't concern myself with useless information.""But you certainly concern yourself with that servant of yours! I hear you even have a-""Silence! Do you intend to bicker until the moment you die? Councilman Barrand, drop the Isle issue for now; you can complain about how our military is distributed after we deal with the witch! Councilman Gallovine, save your smear campaign for later! We have an important guest!"The silenced quartet finally focused their attention on the sole woman in the room. She can't quite mask the disdain in her voice.
"If this is how you behave in my absence then I wonder how you meet any of your goals. I didn't want to return to this country so soon after my last visit, but the witch poses a threat to us as well. Isn't that right?" She motioned to the man in the shadows. He silently nodded in response.
"Loathe as I am to admit, it would also be troubling to lose your assistance in our multiple research projects. I will provide you with some aid in the coming battle, though due to continuous sabotage of one of our projects, I will not be able to use my full power. It should, however, be enough to slow them down. And, if all else fails, he's here to tie up any loose ends."With that, the woman left for the battlefield.
"I'll join her. Someone has to watch the gate, and I doubt she'll stick around if she's at risk to break a nail."And then there were four.
"I suppose I shall guard the hall then, for that failure will surely lose the gate."And then there were three.
"I'll continue with the preparations then."And then there were two.
"How did it come to this?"The man in the shadows shrugged as he too left the room, leaving only one.
"..."And soon, there would be none.
The House of Councilors stood on the other side of the river. All that stood between Sybil's mercenaries and their pay was a field full of an assortment of troops and whatever lay in the House of Councilors itself. Amongst the mercenaries, one stood out as their commander.
"Ah hell! Of course Hallewell would decide to take a frontal approach during our shift! Welp, all that's left to do is fight to the death then."200 gold appears in the party's gold stache.
Reach 19,4!PCs:
Eric Altien: 31/31
Dale Barton: 27/27
Ava Ferrer: 24/24
Caius Lochlan: 24/24
Seaiga: 28/28
Gilbert: 22/22
Wynne Merick: 29/29
Quetzalxochitl: 30/30
Drest Aedàn: 30/30
Brant Agilis: 27/27
Lian-Ziu: 26/26
Allies:
Victoria Frealde: 34/34
Enemies:
Ludohan Axeman A: 36/36
Ludohan Axeman B: 36/36
Ludohan Axeman C: 36/36
Pathblocker A: 35/35
Pathblocker B: 35/35
Thalian Mercenary A: 29/29
Thalian Mercenary B: 29/29
Thalian Mercenary C: 29/29
Thalian Mercenary D: 29/29
Ostili Bowman A: 27/27
Ostili Bowman B: 27/27
Ostili Bowman C: 27/27
Ostili Bowman D: 27/27
Ostili Bowman E: 27/27
Ludohan Cavalry A: 33/33
Ludohan Cavalry B: 33/33
Ludohan Cavalry C: 33/33
Ludohan Infantry A: 33/33
Ludohan Infantry B: 33/33
Thalian Sky Knight A: 36/36
Thalian Sky Knight B: 36/36
Thalian Sky Knight C: 36/36
Thalian Sky Knight D: 36/36
Thalian Sky Knight E: 36/36
Thalian Sky Knight F: 36/36
Ludohan War Dancer A: 25/25
Malar: 36/36
Carter Barrand: 40/40
??: ??/?? [Bolting]
EXP: 00