Juo’Nar’s Entrance II
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Juo'nar's Entrance II
Author: Siggi Sigurthson
“The troops were kidding around and a group of warriors were amusing the troops by pretending to be orcs when something started happening to the rear of the formation. I could barely see a large green figure on the bridge behind. I started to call out a warning when the crash of a flamestrike claimed the first defender. The defenders held their ground for a short time and it seemed that all was well when the Dark Knights showed up. Ebony boned skeletons appeared and slowly started working their way through the defenders. I sent glances over my shoulder now and again but I had nothing to worry about, it was those inside that needed to fear. The minutes passed as I looked on in helpless frustration as the defenders fell, one by one. I especially kept an eye on my companion Nova. He had taken refuge behind a hard core of maroon liveried warriors who were holding steadfastly against all comers. He looked back and I saw a gleam in his eye. Slowly he inched his horse around the maroon core and raised his silver crossbow and took aim.
His arrow took flight and lodged itself in Juo' nar, who took no notice of the futile blow. His bodyguard of Dark Knights on the other hand noticed and one of then singled Nova out. I shouted warning and he goaded his horse into a gallop but it was to no avail. I watched in horror as the abomination cut my friend off his horse, then casually cut the horses throat. “When I was finally able to tear my eyes off my friend’s corpse I looked back and found the main gate empty of life, but not unlife. The undead roamed from the area looking for fresh targets trampling the dead without thought.
I glanced over my shoulder to find a small group of warriors also standing outside the gates looking in, horror and fear clouding their eyes. As I studied their faces behind them I saw a moongate form. Praying that it would lead me to glory and revenge for my fallen friend I threw myself into it and landed in chaos. I appeared to the south of the bank where a small core of defenders was fending off the fringes of the undead horde. We formed up and I don't know how many of creatures I slew.
At one point I caught a glimpse of turquoise out of the corner of my eye and there was Nova, raised from the dead by powerful magic. I ran to his side and together we moved here and there clearing lesser undead from the area, allowing the Grandmasters to take on the most powerful of undead unhindered. I seems like it was a lifetime but it could have only been a 10 minutes later when Juo' nar and his retinue took notice of this core of resisters. As I was cutting down a lich I saw a group of black clad warriors single out one of the Dark Knights that seemed particularly damaged and they proceeded to end it, but not without cost. When the creature fell and the area cleared many black clad warriors lied broken alongside the dead Dark Knight. I headed over to look when I heard fighting in the building next to the bank. I turned to look only to see not ten feet from me the green form of Juo' nar turning around to head out of the building, right toward me! With a motion bred out of long instinct I jumped to the side and hid. I crouched behind a light pole and without breathing I looked on in horror as he stopped and looked around, laughing with glee at the carnage surrounding him. His guard was swarming around clearing the area of defenders. When he finally moved off I leapt from my hiding place and ran into the building. Big mistake. I ran into the building looking back over my shoulder only to run straight up onto the sword of one of the Dark Knights. My life was over. I was a ghost. I knew that I had to find a healer or a powerful mage that could bring me back to fight so I headed out into the courtyard. There was nothing moving.
Not undead, not defenders, nothing. The horde had killed everyone and moved on, leaving bloody wreckage behind. Eventually in my wandering I came across a small core of fighters fending off a small group of undead. I went into the building they were defending and found ten or twelve ghosts hovering near a group of healers. Those healers may not have fought as valiantly as the armored warriors defending the main gates, but in my humble opinion they proved more valuable to the defense of the city than any other group. You returned me to life and I thank all of you heartily. Thank you!
“There was more that happened but it was all a blur. I eventually met up with Nova and after many hours of bloody fighting we returned to Vesper to rest and recover. It was then, as I bound my wounds and tried to get my mangled close helm off my head, that I began to think about how the recent events that have occurred affect us all. For every Grandmaster Warrior or Mage there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fighters, alchemists, scholars and others just like me who may not fully understand what is going on in the grand world around them but have to live, and persevere, through the trouble that has been inflicted on our fair land. It is not enough to just hold the city of Trinsic. It is not enough to fight off the ravening hordes of trolls attacking Vesper. None of these things will fix what is broken. What we see here is only the effects of something deeper, and I believe more insidious. If we hope to return Britannia’s cities to the safe havens they once were we must go deeper. We must determine why and how these attacks are coming to be and most of all who is behind it. If we fail this then all shall fall, not just the weak or the unwary, but all. May your will stay strong against all worthy foes.