The Demon of Knowledge; Elder Scrolls RP

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za awaited Bearn's lead, sparing a short glance towards Jane as he drew his shortsword. A strange feeling pulled at his gut, and although he was generally partial towards his own instincts, he ignored it. This is it, he thought. Perhaps a sense of normalcy will finally return to our lives.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Nylon turned to Phillipe. "We've gone a long way together, my fellow scientist. I just wanted to thank you, no matter what the outcome of this battle may be."

***

"This is it, isn't it?" Jane asked Bun-Za. "I almost never imagined the war coming to a close, I never let myself imagine it. I... I really wouldn't know what to do with myself, after. I certainly wouldn't go back to my life as an animal researcher in Akavir. I suppose someone will have to care for Siren, considering..." Jane's eyes watered for a quick moment, and then it was gone.

[Leyyuce]

"It'll be alright, Jane," Bun-Za responded; he knew, however, that the future could prove to be a very troubled time for Jane and Siren.

"I can't see why Bearn would do this to the girl," he asked rhetorically, "When so many others would take his place in an instant. He's one of the few with something left to live for." Bun-Za thought back to his own home in the Black Marsh; for all he knew, his friends and family might all have perished. It had been over a year and a half since he had seen any of them.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Bearn threw open the hatch to the secret tunnel to the Temple and went down inside, his team following him.

About ten minutes later the underground path ended with a trapdoor. Opening it and peeking out slightly, Bearn saw the interior of the Temple, empty except for a woman dressed in dull gray robes. He climbed out and motioned for the others to follow.

"Mother Daphne, I presume?"

The Priestess whipped around in surprise, but calmed herself when she saw Bearn.

"Oh, oh you scared me! I'm not exactly used to sneaking around behind the government's back... I'm a Holy Mother of Akatosh, after all! But nevertheless, I've closed the Temple down for the rest of the day, so you can get ready here."

Bearn pulled up each Obelisk of Shadow Field as the scientist pushed it up, and then everyone spread out around the Temple of the One.

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za had since returned his sword to its scabbard; he now crouched idly, awaiting the next step of the rebel's master plan.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Several minutes after Bearn and his team got situated, they heard a loud woman's voice coming up from the tunnel.

"Okay, Rebels! Move it, move it! We're on a tight schedule here! I'm not getting any younger!"

"I think I might know that voice." Theo said, a wary tone in his voice.

Jaura climbed out of the trapdoor, still barking orders at her troops.

[Jingles]

"Halt!" Ordered Haakon to the rest of the column. They had reached the bridgehead that led to the main gates of the city. He turned to Divayth. "What now?"

Divayth seemed to lapse out of a trance for a moment, and spoke. "Now, we wait. An army of Husks approaches, under the sway of the rebels. They will deal with the gates for us. Only once the attack has begun do we strike. We cannot risk having the entire city swoop down upon us."

"But my lord, what if the Husks attack us?"

"Then we shall destroy them. There is no other choice. However I'm hoping it will not come to that." Divayth raised his head, and looked to the horizon. "They will be here soon. Make ready."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Spoiler:

I'm delaying as a way to get everyone to get a post in... *cough*hint*cough*

Jaura and her Rebel underlings slowly filled into the Temple. Once they were settled, Jaura greeted Bearn with a hearty handshake and a pat on the back.

"Bearn! Good to see you!" She whispered. "It's only fitting I'm leading your cover to the Palace, ha!"

Mother Daphne nodded. "I hope you're prepared, everyone - Bearn, you get Nylon to the Palace at all costs. Jaura, you and your men make a distraction then cover his back."

Bearn nodded. "I'm ready. My friends... let's end this once and for all."

[Leyyuce]

"We're behind you, Bearn," Bun-Za said plainly whilst drawing his shortsword once again. He cast a quick glance towards Jane, who nodded in his direction.

[Sav]

Ormis stood still, quietly. He listened to Bearns orders.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"Then it is time." Bearn stated quietly. "Jaura, ready your men and march. Once you give the OK, we'll head towards the palace."

"Sir, yes sir." Jaura nodded. She still felt in debt to Bearn, without him, she would still be a mindless Mora supporter.

"Alright, troopers! Get going, thirty on each exit like we practiced..." The Rebels got into place, while Bearn, his group, Jaura and Mother Daphne stood in the middle.

Jaura held up her fingers in a clear sign.

Three... two... one!
_____

Wayne stood with his Rebel officers on the far end of the Plaza District bridge. After a short scuffle with the Stablehands and Guards outside the city, plus a to and fro with heavy artillery, the city went into lockdown with no sign of resistance when the Husks arrived.

All was quiet - until screams and the familiar metallic clang of swords were heard in the distance. Soon after, an alarm went off in the city, illuminating it's streets with an eerie red light.

"The Temple District has been invaded! Now wait... ready yourselves! It all comes down to this - win or lose, it ends here. I have confidence in you, my fellow soldiers, and I know we will win this! Your services here will be remembered by all eternity - live, you become a hero. Die, and become a legend!"

The Rebels in the crowd cheered.

"Now... steel yourselves... CHARGE!"
______

The Nords of Skyrim, waiting anxiously, turned almost uncontrollable as the alarms went off.

King Dracodan lead the soldiers. "Sir," An officer said next to him, "Now is the time to do what you must. Make a speech or charge, we must go forth soon."

Meanwhile, Siren and Boon were nowhere in sight. They had vanished, but this was certainly not the last time they would be seen.

[Jingles]

"They are here!" Roared Haakon. "Should we storm the gates now?"
Divayth shook his head and smiled. "Save your energy for when we're inside the city. The husks will doubtless deal with the gates."
Haakon nodded impatiently. "Well they'd better hurry up. By the sounds of things this Bearn, or whatever his name is has already made his attack to the south.

* * * *

Theydas sat astride a dappled grey mare at the head of the column, trying to keep his balance. He didn't like horses - he always figured they were for eating, not riding, and to make matters worse he was a nervous wreck - he didn't even know the first thing about wielding a blade, and despite Master Fyr's assurances that his new sword's enchantment would negate this inexperience, he couldn't help but feel petrified at the prospect of battle.

He felt ill. Fighting a battle from which one cannot escape is bad enough, but sitting, waiting for the fight was even worse. Around him, the older, more experienced wizards and battlemages sat quietly, eyes fixed on the city, seemingly unperterbed. Theydas just did his best to retain his composure.

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za rushed forward amidst the group of eager fighters, he himself exhilarated despite his general dislike of such straight-forward combat encounters. The mood was one of pride and perhaps premature celebration; the spirit of the rebels had attained its full potential, so that even the very real fear of defeat could not slow the advancing mass of ragged, ill-equipped warriors, nor lower their morale. Again a strange feeling took hold of Bun-Za, and again he ignored it. Most likely the thrill of battle, he thought.

[King Acunasti]

Spoiler:

I'll catch up on this tomorrow morning.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Bearn readied his companions as Mother Daphne cowered in a corner because of the overwhelming sounds of an intense battle outside. "Everyone stick together! Make a shield around Shadow Field, only attack when enemies get too close. We are expendable - the machine is not!"

Jaura came barging into the temple. "This is as good diversion as any! My men are breaking down the door as we speak, go!"

Bearn and his team went out as fast as they could.

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za maintained a firm grip on his shortsword's handle; with his opposite hand, he drew a small off-hand dagger. The weapon was symmetrical and well-weighted so that it could also serve as a throwing weapon; he held it as such.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Jaura's troops did a good job of covering Bearn's progress until they reached the gate. Some Husks charged the party but were fended off easily.

"What are we supposed to do at the gate?" Jane yelled over the battle. Bearn shouted back, "I think we're waiting for Tabitha and her slaves!"

As if on cue, the gate on the opposite side of them came crashing down as Tabitha lead her army into the Temple District. She had a ram with her, but the Husks immediately surrounded her.

"We have no time for this." Visas spoke quietly, but somehow everyone heard her.

With a flick of her wrist, lightning bolts shot out of her hands and at the gate, which was thrown back at least a hundred feet and landed on some Husks.

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za readied another throwing weapon, as he had spent several, and began a mild sprint; he moved straight through the thin cloud of dust that had been created by the metal structure's removal, slicing several Husks as he went. The revolting warriors fell promptly, some wounded mortally while others had received only minor injuries.

Bun-Za continued to engage the foes near the gate that had survived Visas' magical attacks, aiding in the effort to hold them back until the whole of the group had successfully passed.

[Jingles]

Spoiler:

Is Acunasti in charge of the friendly husks? I'm done with waiting in any case.

Haakon could still hear the sounds of battle from the city. "We must strike now, Divayth. We're running out of time!"
Divayth nodded sagely. "Very well. Sound the charge. We'll lead head on for the gate." He drew his sword.

Haakon turned his horse about and pointed towards the city, facing the Psijic column. "Make for the City! Charge!"

He turned back and kicked his heels into his beast's flanks, leading the way with Divayth following close behind. The column began to move. The pitter-patter of hundreds of trotting hooves turned to a roar as they moved to a canter, and then a raging torrent as they moved full-pelt into a gallop.

The army rumbled across the great bridge leading to the gates, moving past rubble strewn about from the exchange of catapult fire. As they came closer to they gate, they did not stop, falter, or slow down. Haakon roared a mighty roar, a technique learned from the Greybeards of Skyrim, and the gates buckled inwards on themselves, sending brass engravings and great splinters flying through the air. Divayth raised his brass staff, a dwemer artifact, and spoke a few words of power. An invisible force ripped through the air and blew the damaged gates from their hinges, crushing the husks behind it that were still desperately trying to brace it.

Moments before they reached the gateway, Divayth spoke again, a different spell this time. Green fire whipped about the head of his staff, his sword and his eyes. He and his steed seemed to grow huge and dark, and his words became a bestial roar. The husks in the first few ranks broke and scrabbled for the rear, before Divayth's illusion receded, and he and the leading battlemages crashed into the first few lines of husks.

"Do not stop! Make for the palace!" They kept on, their steeds powering through the husks, hooves clattering on cobblestone, and crushing any who were unfortunate enough to be caught beneath them. Divayth swung his sword about him, using his staff to create a shield that deflected blows to his vulnerable flank. Haakon and his mount were dripping with husk blood, his mighty claymore having already hewn a number of heads from a number of unlucky shoulders. He cleaved another husk asunder, and turned to see one of his battlemages claimed by a large husk armed with a great, two handed axe, knocked from his horse by the blow and landing on his back only to be pounced on by a dozen enemies. "Keep moving!" roared Haakon with a bloody rage in his eyes.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

As quick as it started, Bearn and his group was in the Palace District after going through the Temple Gates. They didn't make it far, because they got hit hard with Husk elite guards.

Bearn fought them off in groups, his sword work amazing. Husks were falling in pairs as they challenged the mighty warrior.

Theo was next to Visas, but he ended up being the only one casting any spells. Visas just observed, but one time a Husk attacked her from behind; the second it touched her, it disintegrated.

Jane stood next to Bun-Za, each of them were firing arrow after arrow at the Husks's open spaces.

[Jingles]

The inner gates were in sight. Divayth rode ahead towards them past the final line of husk warriors, his staff raised before the mighty doors. He closed his eyes, and muttered words under his breath before with a clang, the great hinges buckled and fell to the floor. The doors fell from the gateway. More husks stood in wait on the other side, armed to the teeth with vicious-looking weapons of war.

With the Talos Plaza nearly clear of husk troops, who had fallen back to the edges of the district, the battle line regrouped. Haakon, bathed in the sticky blood of his foes, cantered to a halt alongside the wizard. Fully half of his battlemages still stood ready behind him. Forward came the other wizards to fill the ranks of the fallen, all manner of staffs of ebony, obsidian, elm, oak, steel and glass pointed ahead like great magical lances.

Divayth turned silently to Haakon and nodded wearily. The great battlemage roared a final roar and the wizard unleashed a blinding white force from his staff, and together the magics struck the first lines of Mora's guardsmen, sending them screaming back amongst their own ranks with great speed, striking and knocking down their comrades. The first two ranks or so simply crumpled on the spot. With the light still cast ahead like a powerful searchlight, Haakon sounded the charge, and the horsemen thundered into the breech, blades and staffs raised, hitting the husks with a clashing of swords and bursts of bright magical fire. White Gold tower loomed above, its mighty stature, corrupted with profane magics, casting an evil shadow over the scene.

[Sav]

Ormis killed many Husks, he delivered a blow to ones head, killing it. He looked up at White Gold Tower.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Bearn slashed through a Husk's body , yet again, as another wave of Husks came from the Tower.

"There's no end to them!" Jane said, exasperated.

The group started to attack again, by now Tabitha was handling the forces in the Temple District and Jaura and her elite Rebels provided reinforcements for Bearn.

Wayne and the friendly Husks were still in the Talos Plaza district, the most heavily guarded district in the city. By now, the Skyrim troops had invaded the Elven Gardens district. Many mercenaries and friendly pirates under Wayne's command were handling the Waterfront. Since the Husks had no need for the Arcane University, it had been abandoned, Skyrim's forces were handling the Husks that came out of the Bastion.

[Leyyuce]

Bun-Za had soon spent a good portion of his arrows; wanting to have a supply available for later in the battle, he returned the weapon to his back and unsheathed his shortsword. He stood near Jane, eliminating the Husks who survived her carefully timed onslaught of arrows.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Just then, a loud, deep horn sounded from atop the Palace. It continued for a few minutes before stopping.

"That can't be good," Jaura decided.

As if on cue, around a dozen Shade Dragons, dark, black, horrible things, came bursting out of nowhere, flying high in the sky, sending their flames down on the Rebels.

"This isn't a problem," Theo said gleefully, "My air force is here!" He sent up a white flare into the sky, and soon after, the many giant dragonflies came flying in from the outer walls, being ridden by their Ashlander masters.

Although the dragonflies were large enough to hold three Ashlanders with ease, and many did, they paled in comparison to the Dragons. The only thing that made them powerful was the expert swordsmanship of the Ashlanders, getting their blades in just the right places on the huge bodies of Dragons.

Soon after, the Dragons were entirely preoccupied with the Ashlanders.