[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/pKMNXR9.png[/img][/center] [hr] “[abbr=Prince]Renarrib[/abbr] Vos! A messenger for you!” Vos ducked out of the command tent, just barely hearing over the chaos of the rearguard command. The accursed [abbr=demons]sahrvuj[/abbr] had begun what looked like a final assault on Wek-Nor. Vos had been sent back to guard to supply lines and any reinforcements from the upper cities, not a prestigious job but necessary. His sisters and brothers guarded the flanks while his father remained in the crown city, Wek-Nor. The bloodstained messenger was propped up on a stone poking out of the earth. His scales were painted as a tens-captain, at least what was visible through the blood, belly wound, probably wouldn’t survive the night. A soldier kneeled by the tens-captain trying to keep him conscious as he seemed to be fading even now. “Name tens-captain?” The order seemed to bring the messenger to his senses somewhat. “Sukac, Renarrib.” The effort was clear in his voice. Vos kneeled coming closer to the captain, “What news do you bring?” Sukac breathed a painful breath, “Wek-Nor has fallen, the sea came up the river and attacked the city with the sahrvuj, [abbr=Large Land Sharks]lightfin[/abbr] riders and all. [abbr=Princess]Renarrac[/abbr] Vasa is dead, I was sent from her contingent, we were retreating to the [abbr=Mage Academy]Janusan[/abbr] to secure them as we pulled back from the city. My men were mostly killed by flanking lightfins that we engaged to prevent them from reaching the main force, the rest got me here Renarrib.” Grief could wait, action was needed, “What of my father, the [abbr=King-Priest]Renabussan[/abbr]? Did the court make it out of the city?” “Renarrib-ghrik-” Sukac coughed up blood, “...the Palace was hit directly by the sea wave, it must have weakened the base, it fell into the Varassetan.” Grief could wait. Vos turned towards the other soldier, “You are of his command?” She nodded. Vos spoke again, “Take care of him as you can, you will remain with the supply guard.” She nodded again as Vos turned back towards the command tent. He knocked on a support pole to get attention, “Honored Leaders, prepare the troops to march. Every able-bodied to the Janusan, all others north to the nearest village to await either news or our return.” Much of the tent was silent except for the sounds of activity from outside. “Wek-Nor has fallen, and an unknown amount of the Royal family is dead, our goal is to secure the Janusan teachers and students and any soldiers that may be there, and then head North to continue the fight. The Accursed Suhrvuj cannot hold the south for long if the North fights on.” Hundred-captain Cevos replied, “Renarrib, it shall be so.” The tent came back into full activity and messengers went out to ready the rear contingent, they were rested and would be ready to march soon once they became organized. Vos could lead them to secure the remaining defenders and the [abbr=Mage-Worker]Janus[/abbr]. Grief could wait. [hr] Organization, that was something the suhrvuj always lacked in their many raids. They had many advantages, their expert capacity on lightfins, their mobility in striking, and many more as they ruled the Welkossian sea. However the Renabussan of Welkos always held strong against them, they often came not in full strength as they had no great leaders. Or had at least if this latest attack was any indication. They had come as an army which had surprised many, they overtook the villages along the bay before a word had even reached the Palace. There had even been raids that had somehow managed to sneak behind the river defenses, of course, all of the cities of Welkos were walled for just such occasions from before the Renabussan had extended protection to the entirety of those along the Varassetan. In any case, the fall of Wek-Nor was a serious blow, and if they didn’t deal a counterblow to stop any advance then the entirety of the 10 rightly guided sites might fall into the hands of the suhrvuj like the dark times of old. That was why they broke into an offensive formation when the scouts had reported lightfin scouts of the accursed, they neared the Janusan. It was a matter of cheers to see a small host of the suhrvuj encamped around the secured Janusan as soldiers of Welkos fought to protect it. The arrival of the reinforcements had caught the suhrvuj off guard and they struggled to form any kind of formation as the horns sounded the attack for the Welkossian Army. First went out the Kitzon skirmishers and their famed redfin companions, they often swarmed and attacked the larger lightfin riders with these even as they didn’t have a comparable mounted force to compete. Following them were the Janus soldiers, ranged forces that used their will to cast the holy magic of the Great Kitz’lae Father on the accursed, and used sling and bow when tiring or otherwise unsure of their abilities. They were lightly armored like that of the skirmishers, although that was more for mobility rather than a lack of care to equipment with the former… After that was the [abbr=’Bronze Helmets’, Heavily Armed Professional Soldiers]Su’krava[/abbr] the mainstay of the armies of Welkos and the forces that had united the ten cities and two lands. Armed in bronze helmets and layered armor, they carried an ax and spear, and were quite well-disciplined, especially in comparison to the mobs that they usually faced among the suhrvuj. The Kitzon skirmishers harassed and kept the suhrvuj from mounting their lightfins or otherwise preparing, they lost many redfins, but that was in part what they were there for. The Kitzon pulled back out once the flames started flying from the Janus soldiers, they were trained to leave gaps in their ranks as were the Su’krava, the Kitzon pulled back behind both and the Su’krava went forward in front of the Janus as they switched to more conventional weapons after the volley. The standard strategy called for the Su’krava to form up once they passed the Janus and prepared to meet the enemy in formation. Rather than that the host fled as the defenders of the Janusan sallied. It seems they much preferred an easier target than was presented after all the fighting of the previous weeks. The initial mission was accomplished, although the scouts had been saying very worrying things about suhrvuj in the countryside, far too many suhrvuj. It was time to see now that they had come to the maw of loathed [abbr=God of Evil and Progenitor of the suhrvuj]Vuj’ar[/abbr], if they could escape its bite. [hider=Summary]We open on Prince (Renarrib) Vos of Welkos, an Itztli and one of many of the royal family engaged in warfare against a foe they name as ‘demons’ who are Akua. Vos received bad news on the war, they lost Wek-Nor the capital in a magical wave attack of some kind and likely many of his family lay dead. He orders them to set out to save some troops and mages, and then to from there, hopefully, escape the Southlands which are soon to be overrun and continue resistance from the Northern parts of the Kingdom, further from the sea. They succeed in driving off the suhrvuj for now and we end [i][b]until next time![/b][/i][/hider] [hider=Mp Summary]NA[/hider]