17th Moonstone
As the Warriors entered the courtyard they were swept aside in the rush of Apprentices and civilians running everywhere.
"What is happening?" Derek asked after fighting his way through to Speardwarf's side. "2 more squads of Goblins crossed the Northern and Eastern borders. They kept to the trees so we didn't see their approach and now they're nearly at the walls."
Kanet gestured to the model of Thunderclan's territory next to the Deputy. "Where will we attack?"
"Here." The Deputy replied. "Just inside the East gates."
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The force gathered was impressive. Speardwarf stood with Arzez and the other equipped Warriors in the front with the horder of Apprentices behind them. Kanet and Argonnek had taken up positions a short distance away, using a couple of trees as cover.
Several civilians came running through the gates, some with light injuries. One peasant passed, carrying the body of a child in his arms.
It took only a few more minutes for the Goblins to reach the gate. The invaders poured through, Wrestlers following their leader Axelord Entrancetick.
Speardwarf prepared to give the order to attack when a wave of bolts hit the assembled Warriors. Most bounced off armor or missed completely while the ones that hit were pulled out and tossed aside.
Glancing at the gates Speardwarf's face took on a look of horror. Goblin Marksmen stood in the gateway and several more were on the walls including the Elite Marksman Witchkiss. There had to be more then a dozen of the creatures, all carrying loaded quivers.
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Kanet and Argonnek were popping out from behhind the trees and firing on the incoming Wrestlers while Derek and Arzez fought to hold back Entrancetick and the Apprentices used their numbers to take out one Wrestler after another.
Witchkiss leapt down from the walls, firing a bolt into the leg of Derek as he dropped. Rolling to his feet as he hit the ground Witchkiss joined the main body of Goblin crossbowmen in firing into the melee.
************
The fighting was fierce but the Warriors of Flamebanner were holding the road against the Goblins. Stesok had taken the lead of the Apprentices and the tactic of swarming a single enemy until they were dead before moving on was serving the unarmed and unarmored Dwarves well.
Speardwarf was facing off against Entrancetick while Derek lay dazed nearby. The Dwarf was using his enemies armored form as a shield against the Marksmen but he was still covered in scratches from bolts.
Kanet and Argonnek continued firing until they ran out of ammo. Then, crossbows at the ready the pair charged into the thick of battle bashing Goblins in the face and leaving easier targets for the other Warriors.
Stepping over the body of the Planter Libash who was laying in a pool of blood with half a dozen bolts in him, Argonnek was hit in the arm and leg and collapsed only to regain her footing a moment later and continue limping across the field.
Kanet was beating a Wrestler with his bow when a bolt hit him in the chest. 2 more followed it as Witchkiss came into view. The Goblin grinned at the wounded Dwarf as she flipped her weapon around to reveal a sharp blade and drew a dagger from her belt.
The Goblin stabbed at her foe but hit only limestone blocks as Kanet rolled away. Furiously the Goblin turned to face her opponent...and so was unprepared for the pick-axe that sank into her arm, causing her to drop her bow with a shriek as Fireheart pulled Islandcall out and let the Goblin sink to the ground.
Witchkiss wasn't done yet though. She raised her arm and signalled her second in command. After giving orders the Goblin Marksmen let loose a barrage of bolts. Kanet and Fireheart did their best to avoid the bolts but the Thunderclan Leader was hit in the legs and as he stumbled several more bolts sprouted from his chest.
Witchkiss had been killed as well as Entrancetick and without a leader to direct their aim the Goblin crossbowmen fled, a select few remaining to protect the retreat with their lives.
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The Halls of Flamebanner were filled with sadness as the Dwarves mourned the loss of their Leader, Fireheart. Mothwing had taken the body into the infirmary and Speardwarf, Sarek, Orwen and many others had gathered outside the door.
Finally the Medicine Dwarf emerged. "The wounds were too great and Fireheart's remaining lives were lost. Thunderclan's Leader is dead." Mothwing said.
"Now what do we do?" Sarek asked. "Who becomes Leader?"
"The Deputy succeeds the Clan Leader. That is the Warrior Code." Mothwing said.
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We lost Fireheart, a child and a Planter. Kanet is wounded with a mangled heart and lungs. Argonnek is lightly wounded in the right arm and left leg.
Speardwarf is Deputy which means he is to be named Leader. Do you guys think I should continue my tradition of actually doing the ceremonies and make the next update the Leader Ceremony?
This fortress will continue and I'll likely take on a new Dwarf. Though it would have been easier had Fireheart married. Somehow he was the only Founder who never even had a Lover despite spending a lot of time chatting...I checked and he was a full Legendary Conversationalist.
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Topic: Flamebanner: The Battle of Flamebanner! (Read 133329 times)