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Bruh that's fake news

[King Zultan]

I probably should react to this one o king, Black has still Sas' knife on him, and the walls aren't wholly wooden, they're coated with clay/dung mixture. Feel free to adjust your plan, I'm not sure if I get the part done this week anyway 

Might as well get one of our own so we can give Sas his back, and I guess we could try to magic a arrow slit in the clay/turd wall, if that fails I guess we could use the axe.

[Strik3r]

It's a little riskier, but we should just take Sas with us, a slit in the wall, while the safest option, will limit Sas' angles for taking shots. Better to take him along and utilize him to his fullest potential. With us providing cover for him, it shouldn't make much of a difference in terms of protection for him. Besides, our favourite mary-sue Flax will probably have all of our enemies taken down before we even know it, so the amount of time we'll be in any danger will be limited anyway.

[King Zultan]

If you want to go outside we could instead of a tower shield we could make one of those archer shields that has the arrow slit in it.

[Strik3r]

I dunno what you mean exactly, but the premise sounds like a great idea!

[King Zultan]

I'm sure the things have a name but I can't remember it, but if I remember right it's like a slightly bigger tower shield with a hole in the middle to shoot through and a stick to prop it up with, and apparently you can hide two people behind it.

[Quaksna]

our favourite mary-sue

Bruh that was literally mythbusted all the way back in 2876 B.C. yesterday, when I conducted ths study, see



Anyway, I've been doing some ToDW dramatic music recently, so here's a track meant for tense situations - not sure if it fits this one exactly, but though you may appreciate it, here it is.

Now on with the show!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Could you handle a larger shield?" you ask your lead downstairs.

"I would, there's no bigger around..." he answers back. "If there's nothing of your liking, hop down, we have to move!"

Your magic could fix that, so you promptly do as he says, after strapping the cudgel behind to your waist, you find it oddly fascinating. With your knife drawn. Then, you start carving symbols in Flax's shield neatly.



"Eh?"

"Stand still, I won't break it. Don't want to strain myself much, I'll prepare a spell while I can... It'll be worth it, you'll see!"

You breath new life to the wood, just as you've done the encounter before.



Very soon, Sas leaps from the upper floor to you, too, he armed himself quite a bit. The door is shut, but you can hear noise from the streets, there is certainly something going on.

Flax is pleased when he sees the shield expanding, thinks briefly, then speaks, until you complete the spell.



"Okay, so here's where we're at. I don't think we can reach the southern gate before it's closed, and there'll be lot of guards there either way, tougher sort than these lowly thugs. But the lord that set up this trap has a holding nearby with access to the walls too, is it so, Tode?"



"Aye, for there is his garisson. But do be careful, the homestead is not the only place troops of the borough occupy!"

"We sure will, sorry for the mess!"

"This house has seen worse, but fly! More will come."



"Right!" the warrior nods, and checks your progress, you are finished. Just a couple additional loops of knots, but on the already large shield it makes a difference, time well spent you'll all agree. And you don't want to channel too much, as surely more shall be needed of you. "So I say, let's pay the lord a visit, if he wants to see us so much! If we get him at our mercy, we should be able to get behind the walls without any more fighting." Flax continues. "We mustn't stay out in the open very long, indoors we can resist better. Stay close behind me!"



He cleans the enchanted item of unnecessary twigs, you clump tight behind your new aegis, and are ready to break out.

"I'll be able to distract the archers' focus from afar." you speak. "Should buy us more time."

"Excellent! Most definitely. Who we can avoid, we shall - don't attack everyone in sight, we have a goal!"



"You know what to do." you whisper to Nami. "Halt them the best you can."

"I will."

"To glory and death, friends! March!" Flax says soundly.





He kicks the door open, and just like that, the first volley lands, fortunately, all of it sticks in the wood.









There were troops waiting on the sides for the archers to shoot, and now are after you, but Flax is taking good care of them, two are down in an instant, but more are coming.



You're on a lookout for any that get close, Sas searches for an opportunity to shoot, but can't get one, Flax is leading you towards a house, as staying close to the wall he can shield all three, but you'll have to cross the road at some point. The enemy bowmen recognize that, and take their time for a next shot.



The target homestead is indeed close, you can see it just over the street.



A swordsman and an axeman are close to you, but are visibly hesitant to approach Flax, witnessing his fury and prowess. Others have shown up, something of a yard away from you, those wield spears.



Some of the archers are already drawing, so you come in closer, there are three in total you've seen, but four arrows in the shield. Soldiers are soon to amass on the other corner of the house, so you will clearly get overwhelmed if you don't break through fast, but the archers leaning over a temple wall are not moving, so will get to puncture your backs.



What do you want to do?

[Strik3r]

"..."

[King Zultan]

Well shit I guess we should have made two shields, to late to do that now.

Guess we have no other choice than to run for it and hope for the best.

[Yellow Pixel]

Waaaaaait! Do not despair, for I am back!

It's time to do a swift and unexpected move! So why not using our magic to send a strong gust of wind towards the archers and deflect their arrows?

If you were wondering why I keep disappearing from the forum and were worrying for me, know that I have several psychological problems that I am trying to solve. But when I post it is generally a sign that I feel better.

I also want to say that I really enjoy the story, and especially the complex weaving of intrigues as well as the return of Nami, with her precious comments and sneaky actions.

[King Zultan]

Glad to see you back Yellow Pixel!

It's time to do a swift and unexpected move! So why not using our magic to send a strong gust of wind towards the archers and deflect their arrows?

+1 It's better than my idea of running and hoping for the best.

[Quaksna]

Yay Pixel is back hoooooray Good to hear you're okay.

Real good weather for ToDW this update, blessed be the dark clouds of Mordor looming over our homeland trapping us in ever-lasting darkness
. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As you see it, you can't afford to get overwhelmed this quickly on this spot. You'll have to rush through and hope for the best.

"Move!" you cry, signaling this concern to others, and Flax heeds your call.



He passes the shield to you, a rather heavy deal, and boldly proceeds to clear the way, while you advance in the back.



One archer drawing lets loose, but misses him, after that, the warrior hides behind the enemy troops, which give him a harder time than those before - still, as if he anticipated every single blow, they can't lay a hit on him. He too seems pressed by the situation.



You notice the last archer, showing his face from behind the house, whence you came.



Alarmed, you delegate Nami to him forthwith, and enchanted, his shot is delayed.



Sas gets him first.



The other archer across the road shoots as well, but you block that with the shield. Nevertheless, if they stop taking turns, you don't think you can prevent shots from three angles at once, and the shield is quite cumbersome. You have advanced to the other end of the house, and the mansion is just over the street, where Flax is kept busy, but you fear the moment you stop focusing on the bowmen it is all over. You need better protection, and luckily, you have your eyes and tongue free. Time for more magic!



As the two at the opposite wall are to shoot again, you direct the unseen to blow a burst of forceful gale in their direction, staggering them and foiling the shots, though it doesn't stop them for long. It is something else that does.



"He's a witch, get the witch!" they cry, blowing on their thumbs and doing other gestures, also knocking on the carved wall soundly. You can tell from the decoration and a statue next to the door, it has to be a temple. If they bring out sorcerers of their own, you might have worse problems than those bowmen!



Still, the exclamation has another positive effect, stirring the soldiers clashing with Flax, and giving him just the opportunity to exploit this short attention shift.





He successfully beheads the axeman and is after his shield, promptly strikes some of the incoming spearmen, yet still can't catch a break, nor grab the desired object.



He halts the soldiers sufficiently from getting to you, keeping solely his blade bloody, but new are coming, and you still have three archers behind you, possibly even more foes on the way.


What do you want to do?

[King Zultan]

At least things are going a little better for us, but they're still not very good so we should keep moving and fighting our way towards that building.

[Quaksna]

. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The slight turn of events only affirmed you in your hurry, even more when you hear that a bell has started booming. There's no way but forth, and the quicker you reach your destination the better. You step away from the wall, out in the open.



It seems there are no archers on the other side, but the furthermost leaves his spot, crosses the road and disappears behind the house. It's clear at which end he is going to come out...



As soon as you enter the fray, one of the spearmen leaves Flax and is after you. Now there's trouble - you need to keep holding the shield behind, but there's danger right in front of you, and you're less mobile than usual.

Before you can decide on what to do, Sas hops in between.



The soldier performs a thrust, and you can see, Sas' little buckler can't save you. The point connects, and the spear bursts through the hunter's flesh, stopping at his shoulder joint.



Fortunately, it is the last the spearman attempts, as his departure gave Flax significant upper hand against the remaining two soldiers, and sealed his own doom. His back is cut open, and he falls to the ground.



Without second thinking you get your hand on Sas' wound and try to at least stop the bleeding. Flax points to the shields next to the fallen, as he switches with you holding the enchanted one. Grateful you are, not to bear that weight anymore, and have him be in the lookout instead, you have other problems now.



You gesture to the one corner of the building, with the words "There's one." and Flax nods, he picks up the spears, and starts hurling them after the enemy, does not hit anything, but does stir up havoc.

Nami did a good job distracting the archers, too, you've got enough time to regroup and equip the bigger shields. Sas asks to fasten one on his right arm as well, and you oblige, seeing he wouldn't be much good shooting now with it.



Back at the temple you see some shrouded person has come out, but he seems more concerned about the dead than you.



Flax doesn't leave you room to look long though, he insists to protect your backs, while you face the lord's holding. Then, you swiftly proceed to cross the street.



Not a half a dozen steps and a new hardship shows its abhorrent face - arrows from above! You see an archer in one of the homestead's windows, Flax catches him also.



He adjusts his shield arm, turns around, and speeds up considerably. You're not sure whether he wants you to clump tighter or just presses you harder, but you'll take either of those, and follow his pace.



Sas looks up, and notices something more, a group of troops, around a few in the center sticking out, a man flashing familiar colors, a woman and a couple of little ones.

"Hey!" he exclaims and nudges Flax.

"I see, forget them!" the warrior retorts. "Now, move!"



As you are getting closer to the door, you focus less and less on the arrows, and rush ahead, the single archer you face doesn't overwhelm you. New troops show themselves incoming, but are still far away. When you reach the building, Flax pushes the door open, you quickly slip inside and he shuts it again.



There's no one awaiting you in the hall, much to your relief.



You check Sas while Flax fixes the door further with nearby racks and a chest. You hear no sound at your level, but upstairs, someone is guaranteed to be, and you don't think it's just the one bowman. You haven't helped the wound much, to your dismay, hard to say if it was the stress or something else.



There is a room right in front of you in the center, with the door partially open, you can see there are stairs. The hallway extends left and right also, but you can't see behind the corner.



Flax takes a peek, and he finds the passage clear, it truly seems you are alone at the ground floor.



What do you want to do?

[King Zultan]

Where's everybody else?


We should probably focus on fixing Sas's shoulder and let Flax do the scouting around the building.

[Quaksna]

Where's everybody else?

Guess Pixel just wanted to assure us he's okay, which thanks him for that, as for Strik3r we're in touch, he's preparing something nice for us in the shadows 


Done this one early, got a couple free days (forgot me nice brown and sharpener in the office though  ) and dunno if I'd get time this weekend.

. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You are hellbent on healing Sas, and carry on doing just that, although it really seems as if there was some kind of a peculiar resistance, struggling against you. That won't scare you, but you can't lose time - with a few nods you sent Flax ahead, while you carefully follow him.



The warrior found the room with the staircase safe to enter, and what more, he found a rope inside, much to glee of your all. It seems this space serves as the barracks Tode told you about, with all its beds and supply containers. The arms and armor is absent from the racks and stands, though, local soldiers have left already apparently. But sightseeing and looting is not on your mind, the way up is.



The hatch to the second floor is open, and you can't see much from the room above, the ceiling at best. No movement can be heard, either, but surely the source of the noises just a moment before could not have just dissappeared.



Flax starts climbing the stairs, while you mend the wound, when Nami interrupts you.

"They are waiting. A wizard among them."

You are to halt Flax, but he too has hesitated. You lean towards him and whisper.



"I think there's a magician up there."

"Funny..." he whispers back. "I thought the exact same thing..."



You know who to thank for that, but still, the healing got foiled. You closed the wound at least, but Sas is still in no condition to shoot. He has no such intention though, he dropped the shield and drawn his sword. Crashes and cracking of wood emerges from the back, as the soldiers from outside are already breaking in.



"Well, you should go first, then." Flax continues. "You have the medal. Don't worry, shield up and once we read the ambush, I'll crush the honorless bastards!"

You have some doubts, who knows what awaits you. But whatever you'll do, you have to move fast. The door can't stand long.


What do you want to do?