WAR ♞ MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU

[boardmaster]

MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU
20 AUGUST (GLADIA) 2016

The quiet, seemingly unremarkable town of Friedgood doesn't seem like a prime target for a Noir attack. Ask any outsider what a Friedgood local's favorite activity might be, and they’ll likely respond "I don't know, digging?" They're not wrong: Friedgood's primary industry comes from the excavation of precious stones and minerals in the nearby mountain ranges and volcanoes. Those who don't make their living from mining most likely still enjoy digging, as the town is a hot destination for archeologists from the school of Pigeonsblood looking to uncover the ancient secrets of Gammon.

More important than shiny rocks, however, is Friedgood's strategic location within the country, specifically the checkpoint known as Platform 42 and 5/8ths. It forms a stark contrast to the sleepy town it resides in. This bustling travel hub is known as the "Gateway to Gammon", and boasts fast transport to almost anywhere in the kingdom. Security is tight here, with grim-faced Gammon soldiers working around the clock to ensure that criminal activity doesn't stand a chance. Keep your contraband at home — an infraction will cost you heavy jail time. Friedgood is also the only town with a road providing access to Grantebrycge, Gammon's illustrious University town.

By conquering Friedgood, Noir hopes for universal access to all of Gammon.

On the 20th of Gladia, amidst strong winds and persistent thunderstorms, Heroes will arrive to the Central West Plateau. Even surrounded by tall mountain ranges and ominous volcanoes, its ancient wall is truly a daunting sight. A marvel even by modern construction standards, it was built over 300 years ago to defend against hostile nomadic tribes, and remains as strong and sturdy as the day it was built. It also provides an important environmental buffer to the people of Friedgood — the wall is resistant to lava.

Basic info on the war can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙ The War of Three Armies
It’s time to head to the battle, Hero. You may be walking, riding a mount - your own, or a borrowed spider or boar - or hitching a ride from someone else. It’s a miserable trek to the plateau, but at least you’re not alone. Once you arrive, Verdoni is there to greet you, accompanied by another Gammonian, the commander of this battle.

Pinta [ so god damned salty about not being a naval tactician and assigned to ships ] Ah, yes, the vaunted Heroes I’ve heard so much about. The name is Pinta, ah... naval tactician to Gammon’s armed forces. Ask why and I’ll show you a bloody hell. Anyway, welcome to the Central West Plateau! During ancient times, the volcanoes were said to be a wall of flame that protected Gammon. But if that stopped the Othellians, I suppose I wouldn’t be here, ahaha! Now, with them dormant, we must instead rely upon our steel and our wall. It’s strong enough to protect Gammon even if every volcano in the area were to erupt all at once! At least that’s what the locals say. They didn’t sound too dodgy, but... moving on! If you have any questions, our men will be glad to explain; show you how the cannons work, where the traps are and whatnot. Again, this really isn’t my expertise—oh! Our wizards have been creative as of late. We’ve these wind platforms that will fling those Noirs up, up, up! Into the air! Try not to get caught in them, yeah? Our navy will take care of our seas. They’re an outstanding lot, they are. All we need to do is focus! Gammon shall not sink here!

You’ll then be handed a magical bracelet. The miners use it protect them from toxic air, so this is a precaution; should you need it, it should last for the duration of the battle. Now all you have to do is wait and prepare for the battle. Acquaint yourself with the battleground: explore the Defense Wall and see what traps there are. It may give you some ideas of your own. There are also war cannons aligned on the top wall and within its interior. Otherwise, check your supplies or rest and collect yourself for what will come. Your mount may also want attention.


TWO ♙ Fellowship of the Bling
Initially cloaked by thick fumes of sulfur, ozone and the dreary overcast of the storm, the Noir battalion finally arrives. Their general, Spicy Spice, steps, nay, struts forward.

	Why is it that every time I come around, that Cochrane Bridge wants to go down? [ ADJUSTS HER WORLD CUP BRA ] They can’t keep that wall up forever.
Let’s make this a quick one, so we can get out of this smelly rain! [ gets ready to fire her gun in the air when she remembers something ] And don’t forget, target their puny pathetic healers, first. [ raises gun high above her head, signaling for the attack with a BANG! ]

On her cue, the Noir Vanguard rushes forward with a fearsome war cry, followed soon after by the Rearguard.

ENEMY ♟ Mounted Noir Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against Fire	Immune to None
These soldiers gallop onto the battlefield with their imposing GOLDHORN GOAT mounts. These are bigger and stronger than the average goat, and their golden horns tend to ABSORB SPELLS directed at their riders. Some spells in a soldier’s arsenal: GRISTRELKI sets fire to the rain — literally. It converts the rain in the sky into a barrage of fireballs. Pray your umbrella’s fireproof! With the PLAMEVODA spell, they can turn hot water (i.e. those from geysers) into bubbling hot lava. When combined with a strong cooling spell, the spell can trap you in rock… That is, if the lava doesn’t kill you first! DVIZHE SMERTI is a dangerous spell that paralyzes its target, rendering them unable to even speak or blink. This can be cured with mana exchange. Hurry before Noir strikes with a rain of fire!Of course, the soldiers are capable of HEALING SPELLS to assist their injured allies and mounts. The VANGUARD is lead by an impressive wall of massive shield units, armed with various melee weapons: swords, maces, and daunting battle axes. Herd them into the traps around the battlefield to render them immobile! The REARGUARD, armed with bows and arrows, will try to overwhelm the HEROIC VANGUARD. HEROIC DEFENSE back them up with long-ranged attacks and the cannons! If they get close enough to the wall, the Rearguard will relentlessly attack the Defense! Both units are under strict orders to prioritize an attack on the HEROIC SUPPORT. If they see any Hero or Gammonian soldiers helping each other or performing rescues on the battlefield, they will give chase IMMEDIATELY. DROPS: Shield with Noir Emblem, Flame Staff, Assorted Non-Magical Weapons, Golden Goat Horns, Lava Lamp

In the heat of battle, you will feel the ground beneath you shake and tremble. In a turn of events neither side could have predicted, a dormant volcano in the distance erupts, raining down fire and scorched earth on the area. More alarming, however, is how the resulting earthquake sets off powerful, white-hot geysers on the battlefield. Stay alert! To make matters worse, the approaching lava makes Noir’s fire spells even more deadly, and Noir shows no signs of letting up on their assault.

Spicy Spice You think a little bad weather is going to stop us? Don't make me laugh. [ laughs anyway, then falls into a coughing fit ] Urghh, damn these fumes — Oh whatever, Send in the riders!

THREE ♙ The Desolation of Noir
Undeterred by the eruptions, the geysers, or the bad weather, they’ve called in their aerial units, fierce griffon riders who’re trying to fly over the wall and into Friedgood. Don’t let them pass! Make use of your resources and shoot them down: Heroes with long ranged weapons or magic will find their skills useful here. Learned how to fire a cannon? Now’s your chance! If not, protect your allies, Hero and Gammonian, as they line up their shots.

ENEMY ♟ Noir Griffon Rider
Weak against None	Strong against Fire, Lightning	Immune to Wind
For the first time, Heroes will witness firsthand how Noir’s legendary griffon riders—often called masters of the skies—live up to their name. A griffon’s powerful wings not only lets them soar at great heights; they can whip up terrifying BEAMS OF LIGHTNING. Griffon riders are armed with JAVELINS which they can also throw and cast the same spells as their counterparts on land. However, they share a closer bond with their griffon mounts. Upon losing their master, the griffons will go BERSERK and proceed to kill everything in sight. If a Hero gets caught in a griffon’s talons, the creature will drop them into their boiling demise at either a GEYSER or VOLCANO. DROPS: Mount Treats, Riding Gloves, Noir Lance, Harness, Griffon Feathers, Griffon Talon

The lava is fast approaching and Noir can no longer take the heat. The griffon riders are maintaining their assault, but the rest of their army is falling back to escape. Time for you to retreat too before Gammonian soldiers seal the wall and you’re trapped on the plateau side. Fried Heroes ain’t Fried Good.

• Defense, continue shooting at any enemy target in range! Be attentive and aid your allies as they retreat back to the wall. Do not fear, you have the advantage.
• Vanguard, fall back! Watch the skies for any griffon riders on the way to the wall. Once you arrive, take down enemies who try to breach. Letting even one enemy pass could spell disaster.
• Support, grab the wounded and check the wall’s condition! Any damages should be repaired immediately to prevent the lava from entering Friedgood.

FOUR ♙ There and Back Again
The wall closes, sealing the lava and ending the battle. Hopefully no one got left behind.

Spicy Spice Now I'm wishing that I didn't wear these shoes (I hate heels). Better get up out my face! [ trips on her way out ] Oh shit!

Catch your breath, Hero. You won. First, check up on everyone and heal your wounds. If you borrowed a mount you might want to take the time to say farewell, since the trip back to Friedgood means you’ll be parting soon.

The people of Friedgood are grateful. They know what would have happened if you lost. There’s no time for fancy parties. They’re pulling out whatever they can find for a makeshift street party right then and there.

You can find bowls of Splotched Richard - a dessert pudding - and Bangers and Mash. If you’re in the mood for something strong you can get pints of Guileless or Pale Noir, maybe a Lasker Train Bomb if you can find someone who’s willing to mix it. Or perhaps you fancy a CreamAle, the favored drink of Grantebrycge.

You’re welcome to stay out and party as long as you like - the party is for you, after all! In fact, the people will respect you more if you get drunk and pass out on the side of the street. But for Heroes who’re tired from the war, you’re always welcome to stagger into the Bollox Inn for a room, free of charge.

Comments

[verisimilitudes]

It isn't the most awkward rescue attempt in history- but it isn't graceful either. To start, he's riding a boar and not a horse. While it means that Lucio doesn't have a truly absurd leap to make, it also isn't a mount that Laurent has much practice in guiding. He cannot afford to compromise his seat, nor is he willing to compromise his hold on the man's arm.

They pitch to one side and then another. The boar responds by curving into that pressure- adjusting its trajectory in line with the weight its rider brings down. There is a second, half of that, where Laurent thinks he has miscalculated and doomed them both. And then it passes.

His second rider is strong, physically, and Laurent uses that weight as a counterpoint to remain anchored. He sways in the saddle, then rights himself, reigns coiled around his left arm

"Oh good." Who talks this casually after something like that? This guy. "I thought we were about to die quite painfully. I don't suppose you're able to engage our pursuers while seated are you?"

[timetogetdown]

Lucio clung for dear life until he noticed the person he was clinging to was talking to him. He loosened his grip a bit.

"I can try, but I'm not very good at this stuff yet. Cover your ears."

Letting go of Laurent entirely, Lucio focused to holding on with his knees so he could twist around and point both gauntleted hands backwards. The gems on his gauntlets glowed green and then a huge thunderclap of noise blasted out behind them. It was directed more or less in a cone backwards, but even the bleed was still extremely loud to Laurent.

To the Noirs giving pursuit, it must have been much worse. The riders seemed surprised but largely unhurt. Their mounts, however, were less able to prepare or deal with such an attack, and looked to be panicking.

[verisimilitudes]

It's a powerful grip. Laurent takes it as a positive sign that he'll be able to keep himself grounded despite both their rocky start and the uncertain path ahead. He leans forward in an attempt to balance them appropriately- to square himself over the mount's back and reduce wind resistance. He can feel the moment the man begins to shift and on instinct shifts his leg to lock his ankles around Lucio's own, one more thing to keep him steady, to keep him on the boar's back, when he's twisting behind them and letting go with his hands.

Covering his own ears isn't something he has the luxury of, and in the seconds before the sound blasts out around them he hopes that whatever is about to happen won't be especially bad. It isn't- but it's far from comfortable. Jarring and dissonant, a cacophony that he can't describe, it leaves his ears ringing and he feels deafened, momentarily. He expects that it must be worse for their pursuers and takes the opportunity to goad the boar onward, double time- sending the pair skittering over uneven terrain and soaring through upended pieces of earth.

"Can you make any other sounds with that?" He has no idea how loud his voice is right now. Hopefully he isn't shouting, but equally hopefully its enough that he's heard.

[timetogetdown]

Suffice to say, he was yelling. Lucio winced slightly. That was twice now he had accidentally deafened someone. He needed to practice that trick. Learn to control it better.

"Any kind of sound I've heard before while wearing them. I dunno how that helps us right now though."

[verisimilitudes]

It's hardly the worst thing he's experienced and he'll recover soon enough- he wasn't taking the brunt of the blast, he was simply within range of the blowback. It's uncomfortable, but not life-threatening. Laurent dismisses it as collateral damage and has already moved on.

"Can you play back my voice?" He calls back, with guiding the boar into a narrow dodge as rock comes hurtling by- slamming into the earth and skidding along the ground. "On my count?"

[timetogetdown]

"I can only use words I've heard you say, but yeah."

A twirl of a finger produced a perfect recreation of Laurent saying "On my count?"

[verisimilitudes]

"Perfect."

Laurent's own weapon, the crown he wears, allows him to control the will of others by speaking to them. It is, in a way, similar to what he's understood that those promoted to Queen are capable of. He isn't certain if it will apply when his weapon is used by someone else's- but surely it can't be dissimilar to those Heroes he's seen operating in tandem, amplifying one another. He just needs to be concise- something that can be overheard by their allies without causing collateral damage.

"Three, two," He takes a breath. Clear and concise. Clear and concise.

"Attack Noir soldiers!"

[timetogetdown]

Lucio had no idea where Laurent was going with this. It's not like they'd listen to him would they? He did it anyways. A second after he said it, Laruent heard his own voice, magnified, shout.

"Attack Noir soldiers!"

[verisimilitudes]

He isn't able to afford the seconds it would take to look back. Mere seconds before his voice is magnified and sent backwards, an explosion on their left flank leaves their path strewn with flying debris. Behind them, their pursuers are equally thrown into chaos. Shouting erupts, one Noir soldier beginning to attack another- spells cast from the backs of their mounts flinging into each other.

It's one grey area to another- Laurent hadn't been certain it would work in the first place, let alone is he able to guess at how long it might last.

"Are we clear?"

[timetogetdown]

Lucio watched the enemy descend into chaos grimly. That was a nasty power Laurent had, and Lucio felt a bit complicit in helping it happen.

But he had to admit it was effective. Suddenly betrayed by their fellow soldiers, the Noirs that hadn't been effected were in no state of mind to continue their pursuit, orders or no orders.

"Yeah...Yeah, we're clear."

[verisimilitudes]

Lucio is a little more than just complicit, but then, Laurent has never hesitated to make a call, however ruthless, should victory hang in the balance. His reply is clipped, it's almost a dismissal.

"Good."

The distance between them grows as the boar continues forward. It's far enough ahead of their now distracted pursuers that he's willing to look back over his shoulder.

"Now where do you need to go? Back into the fray?"

It's his understanding that Lucio is a member of the support team, and by extension his goal will be to return to those with greatest need for his aid.

[timetogetdown]

"No. Behind the front lines. I'm not so good in a straight up fight."

He didn't like it, but without his sonic blaster his ability to help was limited. He shook his head as he went on, "I can at least help with the injured. Maybe when I get a better handle on this magic stuff..."

[verisimilitudes]

It is a reasonable course of action. Laurent can respect what it means recognize one's own limitations- he own strengths are far from heroic. He has trained for years and with one very specific purpose, but it does not make him a swordsman that can stand on equal footing with someone twice his weight or carrying an extra foot in height. It is pragmatism, not bravado, that wins a fight.

Laurent puts on a burst of speed and takes them through a gap in the lines, weaving comfortably through the chaos.

"I'll drop you off. Feel free to reuse my voice should you find yourself in another pinch."

[timetogetdown]

"Thanks." I think.

Lucio slid off of Laurent's mount and flipped him a thumbs up. He didn't WANT to use that kind of power if he didn't have to. He would, though, was the thing. He knew that about himself.

"What did you say your name was?"

[verisimilitudes]

"Laurent."

The boar kicks at the ground restlessly, even as its breath continues to heave. It looks far from exhausted, which is either a mark in its favor or the rider's. Laurent guides the creature in a short semi-circle, long enough to look the man over once more and to glance at the field he'll return to.

"Your own?"

[timetogetdown]

"'M Lucio. Good luck out there, Laurent."

[verisimilitudes]

It's as long as either of them can afford to linger- Laurent is not one given to sentiment, nor are they familiar enough with one another to warrant it. His heels kick into the creature's flanks seconds before they depart.

"Likewise."

[timetogetdown]

Lucio watched him go. There were a million other things he needed to do out here today, but he needed to stop for a second.

He stared at the magic gauntlets he had been given. He'd intended to use them as a toy. A tool to make songs. He flexed his fingers and used just a touch of mana, and Laurent's voice played again: "Attack- Laurent."

He had no desire to compel anyone to kill Laurent. The man had just saved his life, after all. He didn't even know if Laurent's compulsion effect would still work through a sentence spliced together like that. But...these gloves weren't toys. They had the potential to be very scary, if you were creative.