Dreadlords The Siege of Wissburg

[Samantha Black]

While Edric tried to recall the layout of the city, Ralene was doing much the same. They'd left the place in a bit of a mess and state of frenzy nearly two months ago, so it wasn't easy to assume that even the larger buildings would still be the same. Ral hoped she'd managed to set fire to their forsaken temple but such a thing could hardly be of use to them now.

She pressed on into the darkness of the tunnel, head ducked and knees bent, free hand bracing lightly against the dirt and walls. There were signs along the way that magic held this over-long grave together and she wondered if one of these Dreadlords escorting them into the city had anything to do with it.

Everyone seemed to slow as they passed beneath the wall of the city, feeling that disturbing sensation of something tugging and diluting their grasp of magic. The sense of oppression felt heady and thick on the air, even below ground, and reminded her strongly of what she'd felt when one of the Priests had attempted to sway her mind before.

Dreadlord Gravitz finally came to a standstill and Ralene stepped up beside Noel to watch over her shoulder as the man got himself into position.

"Based on the map you provided," Dreadlord Heathren, a war-battered woman in aged armor moved in next to Gravitz, "this should bring us into the basement of the tavern which isn't far from the eastern gate."

"Quiet. Everyone stand still," Gravitz wasn't particularly tall, but as broad a man as Ral had ever seen - looked a bit like an oversized dwarf. The long beard didn't help. He raised his hands up to the dirt ceiling and placed his palms against it then closed his eyes and appeared to listen.

He stomped his foot upon the ground once, hard. Listened a bit more, then opened his eyes and nodded to Heathren, "Coast is clear." With a sweeping gesture of both hands downward from the ceiling, the earth above him moved like clay in the hands of a sculptor. A Dreadlord-sized hole through nearly four feet of dirt above opened up and sent a rush of air that smelled of cooking and ale down into the tunnel. He stooped, cupped his hands, and looked to Ilversmith who moved forward and stepped into them. Gravitz boosted the slighter man upwards through the hole, then turned to Noel and nodded for her to go next.

 

[Noel]

It felt wrong. Passing past the intimidating wall above made every inch of her feel uneasy. Nothing about Noel's magic indicated that she was some sort of destructive force and, recognizing that early in life, she'd devoted herself to precise control of her abilities. Feeling that control lessen and be dampened caused goosebumps on her skin.

There wasn't time to think on that though as the group stopped and Gravitz indicated they were just under the tavern's basement. If all went according to plan they'd be securing a gaping hole in the wall of Wissburg before long.

She gave a nod after witnessing Ilversmith be lifted upwards and stretched an arm upwards to grab at the stone of the basement. Gravitz grabbing hold of her waist to hoist her while Ilversmith reached down a hand to pull her up. The two Dreadlords would be working in tandem to move the rest of the Dreadlords and Initiates up into the tavern itself.

But as the first one unoccupied by the task of ferrying people through a hole Noel tried to get a view of what they were dealing with. The stench of spilt ale and another smell that caused her to realize the people of Wissburg had become rather desperate for food. They were boiling leather for sustenance.

The tavern at the edge of the city was likely reliant upon travelers, probably the first place to have their food rations cut. Odds were good too that they were nearing their last cask of ale given the scantiness of the basement.

Then there was the narrow stairs up into the tavern. A small door that everyone taller than Noel would likely have to duck to enter. Not good, they'd have to pass through into the crowded tavern one at a time.

 

[Edric]

Edric was foisted into the tavern by the hulk of a Dreadlord. A gruff chuckle coming from the other man.

"Big one next."​

Sable probably should have been one of the first ones up by Edric's estimation, but perhaps the dreadlord in charge had estimated him as the best to guard their rear. He motioned down to his companion still in the tunnel, and then slowly stepped forward to stand besides Noel. Eyes on the slight stairs.

Heathren caught his attention with just a click of his tongue.

The other Dreadlord made quick motions with his hands. Fingers folding and flickering as he spoke in the sign language all Dreadlords were taught.

Edric nodded his head, not waiting even a second before he stepped forward. He moved quietly, his feet falling silent on the ground as he reached the small steps upward. Motioning for Noel to follow behind, Edric silently moved up the stairs.

Fingers wrapped around the handle of the door.

Gently he pushed it open, a small creak echoing out as he peered into the tavern itself. For a moment his eyes adjusted, his reserve pouring magic through his gaze. Lips thinned, and then slowly he stepped back and signaled to those down below. Eight people. Sleeping.

Heathren frowned, then answered. Ensuring that everyone present would see.

"Sneak through, if they wake, kill them.."​

 

[Sable Pembroke]

First one in, last one out. That was Sable's modus operandi at this point. Not that he minded; no, quite the opposite, it was what Sable preferred.

With some help, Sable found himself pulled out of the tunnel and among the others as well. The others had made it clear: no heroes today. Follow orders to the letter, get in, do the task at hand, get out. Fine and fair. This was, however, not a good plan. Not so long as it included Sable, anyways.

The young titan had to stop himself from gesturing to his heavy plate armor as their commanding officer ordered Sable to sneak. These people would have to be in comas to not be roused by the steady clunking he'd produce just by existing within the steel that encased his body. Heathren might has well have just sent the kill order and nothing else.

If that's what she wanted, though, that's what she'd get. With a nod, Sable steeled himself and prepared to move with the others as quietly as his armored shell would allow.

 

[Samantha Black]

Ralene had followed shortly after Noel and helped hoist the others up through the hole. By the time Sable joined them she wasn't sure there would be room for Gravitz to fit, but Gravitz wasn't joining them. Ral had stooped down to offer her hand to the man when he silently waved her off and sealed up their only exit point out of the city. Seemed the man had more work to do underground.

Her attention shifted to Heathren as the woman signed their next steps and moved to fall in with a glance at Sable. He wasn't the only one in heavy or plate armor - both herself and Heathren were as well. That they were expecting all three of them to get through without disturbing the peace was asking for a miracle, but then her eyes caught sight of Ilversmith ahead at the door.

The man looked the spitting image of Proctor Ilversmith at the Academy ... a twin perhaps? But his hair was longer and pulled back in a low ponytail, sporting a slash of white at the crown that the Proctor was missing. He wore no armor, but instead the robes of a mage, and she watched as he lifted his hands to begin casting a spell.

One by one: Edric, Noel, Heathren, Ralene, and Sable stepped by Ilversmith who tapped his hand twice on each of their shoulders. Ral felt a coldness pour over her and watched as the faintest sheen of white pooled before her eyes.

The world around them became muffled and slightly hazy. Ralene had no idea what sort of magic this Ilversmith sibling was known for, but she surmised it had something to do with keeping their presence hidden as they moved through the city. She was right. Upon stepping into the room on the floor above, she looked around through the darkness as those sleeping on cots. The tavern had been turned into a barracks of sorts; the men sleeping here were soldiers.

Ilversmith brought up the back, and though Ralene could not hear him directly she could feel the tiny reverberations of his continued cantrip through the magical tether he'd placed upon them.

 

[Noel]

Ilversmith's enchantment was a weird thing to process. Her own breathing seemed to be quieted, the sounds of the siege seemed to vanish, and the world around them even dulled slightly. It was almost like Noel was in her own little bubble. A sliver of reality that just contained her as the rest of their vanguard stalked around her.

The magic allowed them to reach the exit of the tavern without alerting the sleeping soldiers quite easily. Due to the soundproofing the only threat would've been one of the soldiers seeing them after naturally being roused awake.

Once they left the tavern Ilversmith's enchantment persisted. It would be useful to stealthily make their way towards the walls. Being spotted wouldn't ruin the mission but they were here to punch a hole into a wall, not to dispose of wayward guards or priests.

It's cold. That was her initial thought as the night air brushed against her skin. The city had apparently been dealing with a looting problem as evidenced by the boarded up windows and the trash that lined the streets helped to show just how bad things had gotten within the city.

As they approached the wall Noel took in the towering stone structure. They had several ways of breaking it between the group. Noel herself likely could if they gave her enough time, and enough metal, but she mouthed to the others, "what now?" as the wall seemed to grow in height whilst they drew nearer.

 

[Edric]

Wissburg hadn't changed.

Or rather, it had only changed for the worse. As they stepped out onto the street that became almost instantly clear for Edric. Every building seemed nearly abandoned, the roads were somehow more worn, and those horrid changed symbols of Anirius were either painted or hung up everywhere.

It was like some macabre piece of art.

Nothing and no one walked around Wissburg as the group of Dreadlords began to move through the streets. A silence hanging over the entire city which denoted the state it was in. Yet as they drew closer to the wall, Edric could sense the defenders.

Hundreds, no, thousands of pinpricks of life flowing atop, around and beneath, waiting for the Anirians to finally make their move. They were camped within the buildings, Edric could see, and around the gate itself. Ready to be driven forward.

Breaking through to the gatehouse wouldn't be easy. Not even for them. "There's..."

He frowned for a moment, whispering at the gathered men and woman around him.

"We're going to have trouble getting through." He remarked. Most of what he felt were likely conscripts, but the chance of getting through without being seen were low. "A few of us should disguise ourselves, try to get through unseen."

All of them would be too much, but a few could manage.

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Relief washed over Sable as Ilversmith cast his spell over the group. There was no way he was getting through undetected without it, and this gave the group a much higher likelihood of both survival and success. He'd not felt this stealthy since Trix had muffled his armor with her moss back in the swamp.

This city was in exactly the sorry stat Sable might've expected for one that had been under siege for a straight month. There was a time when he'd heard of some fabled "Siege of Bread" that supposedly occurred in Amol-Kalit. After all of this, after seeing the sorry state of both the sieging and besieged, Sable didn't believe it. How could he? Life really was not so illustrious as history books had made it out to be. He was coming to realize that more with each passing day.

Edric seemed to be readying the group for a change of plans. Of course. Nothing was ever so simple.

"I don't think I'll fit in well in disguise," Sable stated in reply, ever aware of his size. "But if we need a diversion...well, I can make a scene."

That and then some. Putting a barrier around himself and charging through was a big attention grabber and exactly what he was built for. If he did that in the right spot he could buy time for the others while keeping himself out of harm as well. Risky, certainly, but it was something.

 

[Samantha Black]

"Quiet," Ilversmith hissed at them, "no one move."

His magic shivered under the rain as a small group of guards walked by. Their armor clanked, their boots squelched, their faces very closely matched those of the Initiates. Seemed they were feeling the cold and the wet just as much.

Ralene nearly held her breath as she watched them march by. They didn't even so much as flicker a glance toward them and she gathered they had Ilversmith to thank for that. But she noted they weren't wearing any specific banner or sigil, which meant it wouldn't be terribly difficult to fit in among them.

Heathren kneeled at the center of their group, looked to Ilversmith who nodded to her, then turned to the Initiates, "We're not just going to charge in there," she assured Edric, "it's not just Guards we have to get through. We can't get anyone in until that magic shield is taken down. We need to find the source of its power ... the conjurers."

"The Priests," Ralene replied, her gaze locking with Ed's, "it has to be them. I've seen what they can do and they're damned powerful. We've got to find them and take them out. ... I'd start at the temple."

"The temple's the other way," Heathren noted with a sidelong glance, "center of the city. We're going to have to split up. Ralene, you and Noel go with Ilversmith, he'll hide you along the way and hopefully he can undo the Priests' magic."

"Your confidence in me is inspiring, Carra," Ilversmith hissed with a scowl.

"That's my secret power, Malcolm," Heathren grinned, "Edric stay with Sable and me - we'll blend in better at the gates."

 

[Noel]

The worst thing about platinum was that it was exceptionally difficult to come by. It made it hard for her when she was younger as obtaining more it felt like a chore. But over the years she'd managed to collect enough for a full set of armor and the best thing about platinum was that it never rusted. It never corroded.

It was still really damn cold though.

"Right," she confirmed through a shivering breath and a nod. She'd accompany Ralene and the Dreadlord who could hide them from sight. That felt more reassuring than posing as sentries out in the open.

Killing a group of priests sounded just fine to her. Much better than standing in the rain.

She followed Ilversmith and Ralene as rainfall pattered uponly metal and cloth with an eerie silence. It truly was an amazing power to experience firsthand and she was prepared to see what else Malcolm Ilversmith could do if he was being entrusted with disabling the priest's magic.

But if he somehow failed then, "so Ral," she whispered as they crouched by a patch of bushes whilst a patrol passed them for the fourteenth time, "you've seen what they can do? I assume in a worst case scenario a rod of platinum or iron through their skull would end their magic?"

Plan A was certainly to let Ilversmith try whatever it was he had in mind. But if that failed? Well, they could try simply just felling each and every last one of them.

 

[Edric]

Splitting up in the midst of enemy territory was a dangerous call, but they were Dreadlords. Half the reason they trained all their lives was for situations like this.


Edric offered his two departing companions a nod of goodbye, and then focused his attention on the gate. Nearby he could still sense that glut of life, conscripts and soldiers all waiting Vel Anir's next attack. Getting close would be difficult, he knew, but there was a path through. As long as they were careful. "I can get us near the gate."

He said, glancing at Sable.

"But once we get close, it'll be difficult not to be seen." Finding disguises to fit all of them were unlikely, and even then there was a chance that getting too close could be a mistake. Edric had spent weeks in the city, some of the Guards would likely recognize him eventually.

The Dreadlord at their helm didn't seem concerned however, simply motioning for the two Initiates to continue forward.

"Once we get close enough, we'll drop the stealth." The man said. "If we can take the gate house we can fight from in there until the other team takes down enough priests."

Edric stalled for a moment, and then nodded.

The fighting would be brutal, but the enemy couldn't burn down the gatehouse. If the three of them managed to hold out for long enough they'd be able to open the front doors of Wissburg. Then the army could just walk inside. "This way."

Edric said, motioning to a darkened alley as they began to make their way towards the wall.

 

[Samantha Black]

"Quiet," Ilversmith hissed low at Noel, clearly both offended and unimpressed with her lack of care in their present state. Initiates.

Ral grew a smirk at this, knowing that it was not very often Noel was chastised for anything, but lifted her hands to silently sign a response.

[Priests do not wear armor,] she stated, keeping one eye on Ilversmith to be ready for his signal to move, [and are very flammable.] Her smirk spread into a smug grin, speaking from experience herself. [Rod through the head should work well.]

She felt a tap on her shoulder from the Dreadlord and they were on the move again, pressed alongside a building she did not remember. So much had changed over the few months since her prior mission here and she couldn't help but be impressed by the industrious nature of the zealots here. They passed through a narrow alley between buildings to avoid a front of traffic along the main road and came out just outside the smithy. Ralene grabbed Ilversmith by the shoulder to stop him and pointed.

[That is where we lived for our mission,] and though the remaining of the city was now curiously unfamiliar in setup, she felt her bearings settle back into place as she leaned to look upward for the cathedral tower. Still there, not burned down. Pity.

[Temple,] she signed swiftly, pointing next to the tower, [find a side entrance.]

 

[Noel]

Noel shut her mouth and nodded towards Ilversmith. She didn't have to be told twice when she'd screwed up. The metalmanipulator picked up on Ral's signing quickly, it was moments like these that reminded her why everyone in the academy learned the universal hand gestures that formed an entire language.

She signed back to Ral's assurance that platinum or iron rammed through their cranium would do the trick, [good to know].

Eventually they reached the area that Ralene indicated was the temple and pointed out they'd need to find an entryway. Ilversmith lifted his chin in acknowledgement. [Got it.] With a quickened pace the trio made their way around a corner and, upon seeing no one, followed the perimeter until they came upon a door.

It was one of those older types of wooden doors designed with function rather than style in mind. It had hinges, sure, but in place of a knob was a simple rope and a chunk of wood was lodged underneath it to keep the thing from constantly being blown open by the wind.

Ilversmith reached down a hand and pulled the door-stop out before he pushed his magic towards the door itself, silencing it as he slid the thing open.

Inside they'd find themselves in a storage room with a polished floor and several doors that likely lead deeper into various parts of the temple. [Which way?] her gesture came fast, hoping for anyone to have a more educated guess than she did.

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Right. Ral and Noel were off to deal with their part of the mission, and Sable and Edric, alongside their superior, Heathren. There would be no glorious charge, no blaze of glory...at least not yet. Sable followed suit with Edric, bidding a brief wave of goodbye and good luck to the girls as they departed, then followed after Heathren.

By Edric's initial suggestion, Sable presumed the three of them would be trying to maintain their covert status. He had no clue what sort of distraction they could make while also not being caught, but surely Dreadlord Heathren would have a plan.

Once we get close enough, well drop the stealth. The man said. If we can take the gate house we can fight from in there until the other team takes down enough priests.

A shiver ran through Sable, up his spine and over his shoulders. He stifled a grin at the thought. Finally, some action! A heroic diversion, three warriors against insurmountable odds, all to break the unbreakable siege!

Sable steeled himself. This would make or break the whole operation. He had to be at his very best.
"Let's get to it, then." He replied quietly, following Edric once more into the tight space that awaited them. In for a penny, in for a pound.

 

[Edric]

It did not take them long to forge a path through the ruins of Wissburg. They even passed by the barracks that he and Ralene had escaped from some months ago. Most of it had been repaired, though as they sneaked through the darkness he could still see the scorchmarks on some of the remaining stone walls.

Before long the three found themselves situated directly before the gatehouse, stuck in a small alleyway.

Everywhere ahead of them moved soldiers, if one could stretch the definition. Some wore full armor, others chainmail, but most looked little less than ragged thralls. Bare scraps of leather clinging to them and poor excuses for swords hanging from their hips. "Milita."

Edric commented with a grunt.

"Makes it easier." Heathren said coldly, though Edric couldn't disagree. He knew that Wissburg had trained soldiers, good fighters. Many of them had been on the training field with him. Yet none of the Milita could be counted among those. "Sable, see that door"

Heathren said, pointing to a piece of the gatehouse that seemed more tucked away in the corner of the wall. "We need to smash through it. Edric and I will get your back."

A nod tipped the other Initiate's head, fingers settling on the hilt of his sword.

No use in holding off.

 

[Samantha Black]

Storage room. She remembered clearly her prior exploration of this side of the temple with Edric. They hadn't been able to access any of the rooms, but each room had been filled with supplies. Supplies for what? They'd never found out, but Ral had a few hunches. They'd not reached quite this far down before, but if memory served correctly then one of the two center doors would lead to the main hall.

Ilversmith carefully and silently closed the outer door behind them, looking to the girls as they exchanged sign.

[Look for a door with a keyhole,] Ral replied. Easier said than done, the room was utterly dark...for a moment. Behind her a pale white light bore into the air and she turned to see Ilversmith conducting a wand of all things. College magic - wasn't that Elbion's thing? Either way, it was more use to them than her wasting her own energy on enhancing her eyes.

Ralene moved to the center right door, no luck. Noel to the leftmost. No keyhole either.

"Ssst-" the Dreadlord hissed to them both and pointed to his door, the rightmost.

With a nod, she quietly made her way over through the crates and looked to Noel, [Iron lock - can you open?]

 

[Noel]

She nodded at Ral's instruction.

The storage room was filled with dust and a gritty dirt floor but it beat the cold and the rain of the past several days. Finding a keyhole would be challenge and the light that Ilversmith produced gave her such a shock that Noel nearly grabbed a weapon.

Rubbing a hand against the rough wood she searched but came up empty, her head whipped around at the high-pitched noise their leader made between pressed lips. Even from a few paces away she could make out Ralene's next instruction, [Yes. One second.]

Moving closer to the other two she positioned herself behind one of the storage crates. And then, with a focus and a minor scrunch of her brow the iron broke and the lock popped open.

Ilversmith killed his light and what awaited them was a long, ominous, looking hallway that likely led to their prey. They began to inch forward as quietly as possible, even with the charms it would be best if they caught their targets by surprise.

And then, just around the bend in the hallway the light of a lantern could be seen as it slowly moved closer to them and the chatter of two individuals could be heard.

 

[Samantha Black]

It was at this point that Ralene was exceptionally grateful for Ilversmith's presence. She could move quietly when she needed to, but much like Sable this was made all the more difficult with her plated armor. Feeling the tap on her shoulder and experiencing the curious bubble effect around their forms allowed her to release a small breath of tension she'd been holding since the door swung open.

[Stick close to the walls,] Ilversmith signed to them, [move slowly.] Then gestured for Ralene to take the lead.

Even with his spell, Ral still hunkered down as she moved, edging along the wall beyond the doorway and following the line of the hall. This particular corridor within the Temple felt familiar with it's many doors lining its length. Storage rooms. Difficult to say if it was the same hallway she and Edric wandered down before being found. If so, perhaps there were some key ingredients here for creating a very effective diversion if her prior hunch was correct.

"They've quieted down on the southern front," said one of the voices down the hall, "scouts have spotted reinforcements moving in from the east. They're planning something."
"Have the fortifications within the main gates been finalized?"
"We buried the last of those barrels this morning."
"Make sure the men are prepared for immediate withdrawal if it comes to that."
"Yes Sir."

Ralene froze where she stood as two men rounded the corner to head down the hall in their direction.

Gilheed.

The Captain had apparently been promoted and brought to the inner circle - no doubt thanks in part to the death of Donric by Ed at the gates during their previous escape with Sirl. For what felt like the longest split second in her life, Ralene watched the flashes of memories of Gilheed run through her mind's eye. He'd been a good man and someone she'd not wanted to see taken down as collateral damage. As he turned his attention down the hall and laid his eyes on the VERY strange shadow among the darkness, Ral felt her resolve waver.

 

[Noel]

[Got it].

Noel stuck so close to the walls she thought she'd end up catching claustrophobia. In such tight corridors time seemed to slow, breaths dragged on, and Noel knew that it was usually whoever moved first that won regardless of talent or magic.

That's what made the muttering around the corner both frightening and thrilling.

It was ominous to know that your prey approached. To know that, despite years of training, you were about to have to take a life. Maybe two. And at the same time it caused the anxiety to build up inside. Knowing that if you tripped, if you hesitated, if your opponent simply was a bit lucky, the next maneuver you made could be your last.

She risked a glance back towards Ilversmith and Ral, signing furiously, [you ready?]

To her shock she saw something unexpected. A Ralene who didn't appear ready to immediately act. A Ralene who appeared prepared to bit at her lip, to hesitate. Noel didn't wait for a signal from her fellow initiate or the Dreadlord overseeing them.

The allomancer pounced like a cat a second after the pair of men turned to face them. Already a small piece of metal re-shaping itself, forming a thin dagger at her wrist as her palm curled upwards. She drove its point into the base of the neck of the man beside Gilheed and blood ran down his throat as she covered his mouth with her free hand.

She could only hope one of her companions dealt with Gilheed.

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Admittedly, the thought of fighting militia was a mixed bag. On one hand, they were likely not capable fighters. There was little honor in crushing whelps beneath one's feet, and there was no telling if they were even willing participants given the nature of the priests they were supposed to be hunting. On the other hand, the siege needed to be broken no matter what, and smashing through hordes of fodder was a pretty good way of making one's numbers sound better for the history books. A conundrum that Sable himself wouldn't have a say in resolving, all things considered.

Sable eyed the door in question. A damn hefty looking thing; not solid iron, but sturdy oak reinforced with iron bands. This would take a bit of elbow grease.

"Alright. I can do it, but it isn't going to be pretty. Or quiet." He warned, though he imagined Heathren already knew that.

With a confident nod, Sable threw up a series of amber barriers in front of himself and began to bolt for the gatehouse door. Caution be damned, this was it.

 

[Edric]

A few eyes turned as they stepped out from their hiding spot, but it took far too much time for anyone to raise a crime of alarm. Some likely thought they were simply more Knights, or priests, or perhaps someone else entirely, but most did not notice them at all.

That was the trouble with ill-trained troops, they didn't know what to look for.

The trio of Dreadlords was more than half-way across to the gatehouse when the call went up, an alarm bell ringing and one of the actual Soldiers of Wissburg standing. By the time men reached for their weapons and called out where they were, the three had already reached the Gatehouse.

Heathren was the first to encounter one of their foes.

The blade the Dreadlord held spun forward so quickly that one could have lost it with a blink. Cool steel cutting through flesh as a cry went up. "GET US THROUGH THAT DOOR!"

Voice bellowed as the Milita began to draw in around them.

The two Initiates were targeted in the same instance, but Edric moved far more quickly than either of the men attacking them. His own blade darted forward, muscles flexing as quickly dispatched the two men. Reaching the gatehouse door just as Sable went slamming into it.

A swarm of their foes not gathering and falling upon the trio.

 

[Samantha Black]

Ralene had always known Noel was quick ... quicker than her to be certain, but seeing her in action rather than remembering sparring or dueling classes was another thing entirely. She blinked in surprise, a grimace overtaking her face at her own hesitation, and before she could move to detain Gilheed, Ilversmith already did.

The older Dreadlord issued a spell at the once-Captain and Ral watched as Gilheed seized on the spot and dropped to the floor, nigh catatonic and making choking sounds.

"Stop!" Ralene hissed at Ilversmith, shoving the man against the wall, with such force that she heard something snap and she wasn't sure if it was one of his ribs or a wooden beam, "Leave him alive." Interrupting Ilversmith's spell had stopped Gilheed's seizing, but the Captain was out cold.

"Bannick!" Ilversmith gripped her gauntlet to no avail against her strength, "What is the meaning of this?!"

With a glance between Noel and the Dreadlord, she dropped the latter and moved toward the former, stopping short at Gilheed to grab him under the arms, "I know him, he helped me and Edric when we were here before. He's a good man and he may be able to help us again if he's not brainwashed."

More footsteps sounded from somewhere out of sight.

"We don't have time for this," Ilversmith scowled as he kneaded at his chest, "kill him and be done with it Initiate."

Ral reaffirmed her grip on Gilheed and looked the Dreadlord in the eye, "No," then looked at Noel, "open that side door to your right." Her frown deepened and her eyes narrowed, "Please."

 

[Noel]

To Noel's surprise Ralene Banick pinned Dreadlord Ilversmith to the wall. Hard.

She'd known her classmate could be heavy-handed from time-to-time, truth be told it was part of the reason Noel respected her, but to attack their commander was unacceptable. They'd spent their youth and thus their entire lives trying to earn the approval of their betters within Anirian society.

That apprehension softened though as Ralene explained her case. Apparently, she knew him well enough to remember that his name was Gilheed. He saved both of their lives (why was Edric always getting himself into trouble anyway?).

So, when Ral pleaded with the allomancer before her Noel immediately nodded. "Got it."

Without further discussion Noel opened the door to her right and left it ajar.

"Initiate Schwarz, kill that man and subdue Initiate Banick, we have a job to do here."

A collar of metal flew off of Noel's armor and formed a u-shape. It pressed into Ilversmith's lips and then bolted itself to the wall behind him, ensuring he was held firmly in place unless he found a way to separate his head from his body without dying.

"What are we doing, Ral?" Any man who'd risked his own station to keep one of her classmates alive deserved the courtesy of not being murdered.

If she wanted to store Ilversmith in the room that would be simple enough and Noel would remove the metal that held him against the wall. If she wanted to store Gilheed there that was fine too.

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Momentum and adrenaline were splendid, wonderful things. After a full month of sitting in the rain and cold with nothing to do, a glorious charge was practically therapeutic for Sable. With a roar and the thick slab of metal he called a shield in front of him, amber barriers glimmering in the rain, Sable charged. Heathren and Edric cut down militia as they closed in, letting Sable focus on the target that Heathren called out once more.

The bulwark's wards zipped through the air, crackling as arrows and bolts loosed by militiamen impacted and shattered against them. Everything was going smoothly so far.

Armor plates clanked as Sable barreled forth, then finally slammed into the door shield-first with all his might and weight. Not enough, but not a problem either. He drew back slightly, then shoulder checked the door, feeling the wood splinter and the iron bands bend from the stress. Barred from the other side. Still no problem for him.

A new ward took the shape of the door frame, layering itself over the door like skin. Sable chanted the proper incantation, then roared once more as he exerted arcane force. The barrier expanded convexly against the wood and iron surface, bulging the whole slab inwards. A horrible, shrieking creak could be heard as the metal gave way, tearing itself from the stone arch of the doorway.

At last the door exploded inwards, the bar within launching like a spinning blade before impaling some poor soul within the guard house in the head. Pieces of the door showered those within, and shouting a warcry all the way, Sable poured in after it.

 

[Edric]

"Edric!" A voice called to him as his blade sunk into the stomach of one of the Militiamen, his face a mask of cold determination. The sword ripped free, sending the man teetering onto the floor. He turned his head, seeing the door smashed in and Sable already stepping inside.

Heathren was next, motioning for him to follow.

With quick backward steps Edric began a flowing retreat. An arrow landing within his shoulder as he stepped through the doorway and into the gatehouse. A grimace flickered over his features as he reached up, grasping the shaft and ripping it free before letting it drop to the floor.

Blood splattered, but by the time the metal point struck the ground the wound was already healed.

"INTRUDERS!" A voice shouted from within the gatehouse. "THEY'RE IN THE WALL! CUT THE ROPE!"

"Shit." Edric said to himself as he darted forward. "Sable, cover me!"

He shouted, Heathren calling out. "Wai-"

It was already too late. Edric launched himself through the doorway just opposite where they had come into. Moving with an impeccable swiftness as he stepped into the gate room. There three men were moving, one holding a knife as he ran towards the massive rope which wound around the mechanism which would raise the portcullis.

Another of the men grasped a crossbow, raising it and pulling the trigger. Letting the bolt fly directly towards Edric's face.