<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i62.tinypic.com/zl3n1l.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">On the front-line</span></span></div><br/><br/>The tip of a Dark Creature's spear  found it's way into the chest of a soldier nearby, quickly sprouting  an torrent of red blood. The soldier screamed out in pain as blood began to trickle out of his mouth.  The creature attempted to pull  the spear back through, yet the hands of the dying man found itself  wrapped around the shaft of the spear. With a look of pure spite on  his face, he pulled backwards using his weight to rip the spear away from the dark creature. Another soldier grabbed the shield and pulled the creature back into his ranks. Other soldiers were quick to put their spears and swords into the dark creatures body. The  creature roared a terrible scream, the soldiers kept stabbing their weapons into the creatures torso.  It tried to lash out at the soldiers for a split second, but his voice went silent and his body  fell limp.  Across the lines of combat, the soldiers faced a similar situation.  Often times needing to sacrifice five to ten soldiers for even one of the dark creatures killed.  The mages were the only thing slowing down their advance, but it would not stop them completely by itself.  The Dark creatures never slowed in their advance, constantly pushing further and further down the road.  The soldiers on the walls were quick to position troops on the stairs, preventing their positions from being overwhelmed.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Ayrie and Kaia versus the monsters</span></span></div><br/><br/>Ayrie's magic was proving to be more than a mere annoyance to the enemy.  Every time the flames cooled enough for the soldiers fighting the Dark Creature's to push into the gap created by his magic.  While they would be pushed back in turn, it was enough of a hindrance in their dark plan for them to take steps to get rid of this powerful mage.  The archers around Ayrie noticed them first, watching as a few of the creatures began to head their way from the main battle lines..  The options for Ayrie would be clear, yet limited.<br/><br/>On one hand Ayrie could continue his magical assault on the enemy, thus helping his forces rid themselves of some of these Dark Creatures, thus saving some soldiers in the process.  But he would not only leave his position up to assault, but also he would also drain his energy at a quick pace.  He could also help defend his position with the archers, risking death to save them but also gaining the trust and respect of his fellow soldiers.  Or he could abandon them, and escape to another position to continue his fight elsewhere.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the creatures below continued their assault on Kaia's position, with thrown spears impacting the building and flying past her body at a steady pace.  The position she stood upon was not safe, yet she could do a lot of good from this spot.  She could continue to shoot at stray targets that strayed too far from their own lines, but in the long run this would not be sufficient to stem the tide.  More so it opened both her and her comrades open for injury or death.  She could also assist Ayrie against the creatures that threatened his position.  This again would come with the same risks as before.  Or she could retreat to a safer position and take up a position that gave more opportune shots.<br/><br/>Both could assist each other, or try and assist the soldiers on the ground.   Yet both could forsake those whom need their help and face the consequences later on.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Elsewhere in the battle</span></span></div><br/><br/>Ladders began to be put up on the  walls from the outside, and a combination of Line-breaker's and the  small creatures that make up the bulk of their armies began to climb  .up the ladders.  The small creatures would normally stand near five  foot ten, but their backs were bent sideways halfway down.  While it made climbing the ladders difficult, it made them awkward to fight.  A simple swordsman however, could dispose of one with patience and a good swing of the sword.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">The falling debris </span></span></div><br/><br/>Leo's traps did not cause much damage by themselves, the traps that fell far from the front-line's were blocked by the creatures big shield.  Some would get buried under neath the large amount of heavy objects, but most would escape with just minor's injuries.  The story closer to the front-line's were different.  The creature's still would raise their shields to block the falling debris, but this opened them up for attacks by sword and arrow.  While small amounts of death actually resulted from this, it gave the soldiers a sense of faith in Leo and his ability to make traps.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Ralthavar's rolling battle.</span></span></div><br/><br/>Ralthavar, because of his plan he becomes placed in an interesting situation.  He and his men could single handedly be responsible for a major success or failure in the first stages of the battle.  While the death of numerous Dark Creatures would be assured, the careful planning of the attack could change that drastically.  If they took their time to line up their assault with the logs, they could take care of many other enemies than if they had rushed into the scene.<br/><br/>Either way, Ralthavar would also share the spotlight with Leo when it came to ingenuity during battle.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Sven's perch</span></span></div><br/><br/>Sven's escape had landed him in an interesting spot.  His vantage point allowed him to not only see the battle ahead, but what was also transpiring in the side streets.  His eyes could see the monsters fighting both the soldiers that were positioned there, but also attacking the civilians who had not already fallen back across the bridge.  He would also notice the soldiers were quickly losing the battle in these streets, and the creature's would soon be in position to pour out behind the main body.  He would find himself at a crossroad in what he could decide to do.  Either he could find a way to make his way down from his perch and warn the soldiers themselves or he could run and find a commander.  Warning the soldiers first, the reaction would be quicker but less organized.  While if he warned a commander first, the soldiers ran the chance of not getting in position of time.  Both ran the risk of many soldiers losing their life and the end result not being enough for the soldiers to successfully defend their flanks.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">In the middle of the battle.</span></span></div><br/><br/>One of the dark creatures thrust his  spear at the head of Fenris.<br/><br/>Fenris blocked it with a swing of his  sword, cracking the spear down it's shaft.<br/><br/>The broken spear fell to the ground and in a quick motion the creature drew it's sword.  Raising  it's shield up, it thrust it's body forward shield first into the  shielded form of Fenris.  As the shields connected the sword of the Dark Creature slashed out above the shields.<br/><br/>Fenris took the blow, slowly being  pushed back as he cowered behind the shield to avoide the strikes.  He lowered his body down and slashed his sword at the legs of the  creatures, cutting through the rotting flesh with ease forcing the creature to his knee's. Fenris raised his body while lowering his  shield, and raised his sword up high and was ready to strike the killing blow down on the creature.<br/><br/>The sight of another spear flying in  from the left side quickly forced his head down to the right. The  razor sharp edge of the spear cut through a few strands of hair   before the shaft rested on his shoulder for a split second before  the creature began to pull it back.<br/><br/>Fenris raised his shield and pushed   the spear upwards, before thrusting his sword quickly through the  neck of the creature causing it's dark blood to erupt outwards.  Fenris quickly pulled the sword out of the second creatures neck and  thrust it into the chest of the first one who was trying to ready his sword for another strike. Quickly causing the rotten flesh to give way to a torrent of dark black blood.<br/><br/>Another spear was thrust, this time cutting a small gash across his forearm. He pulled his sword from the creature, allowing it to fall down, before he  raised his shield up to cover his body from a second strike from the creature. His eyes fixated on the creature yet his eyes were mindful for any sign of attack from the other directions.<br/><br/>A strong hand gripped his shoulder,  alerting him that Lord Bali had some news from him.   Fenris quickly  stepped back from the front-line's, eyes open for any attack until his spot was quickly filled by another soldier. Fenris quickly made his way back from the  frontlines and he side stepped a rushing soldier, before looking at  Lord Bali. He grabbed a cloth from his waist, eyes locked on the lord with a look of 'why did you drag me away' on his face, and  began to tie the makeshift bandage on the wound.  A few soldiers ran between the men, rushing towards the front-line with an ill advised  look of confidence on their face. Lord Bali's hand remained rested  on the hilt of his sword, his face like he had seen a ghost, and a somewhat exhausted look that had befallen his body.<br/><br/>“Well speak Lord Bali!” Fenris  demanded “Our situation here is bleak, we lose many men agianst this enemy.  We can not sit idly by!”<br/><br/>“There's a pair of Dôr Thuran.”  He paused, and took a deep breath. “They just appeared out of the  shadows.” Lord Bali said as he motioned for Fenris to follow.   Fenris had adopted a similarly perplexed look, finishing up tying the cloth around the wound before he followed.<br/><br/>"Our soldiers have them encircled but they ask for you to judge our old enemy's intentions,"<br/><br/>“A Dôr Thuran?”  Fenris shot back “I thought none have been seen since the end of the Great Reckoning?”    Fenris said as he quickened his pace.  “What made them leave the bloody blocked pass?”  He paused his tone as his head twisted quickly to battle behind "What brings them to us?"<br/><br/>Lord Bali matched his pace and continued “Yeah, thats what's so fucked up about their appearance  here!” Lord Bali paused as he pointed towards where the towering creature's stood.  "We don't know, but we best find out quickly."<br/><br/>Fenris had heard the stories of these massive  beasts, yet he never believed them to be true. yet his eye's did not lie about what stood in-front of him.  His eyes strained to grasp the enormous height of the two beasts, he could only guess that the two creatures stood well over several feet tall.  His pace slowed as his eyes darted to the frame of the one that drew his attention the most.  From his distance he could only make out the basic details of it, but he saw the creature's armor borrowed heavily from the forest,  In lieu of steel plates on his chest and shoulder, the creature had what appeared to be thick yet well shaped plates of wood.  As he looked even closer it seemed every last piece of his armor bore some heritage to the forest.  A thick layer of a moss like substance blanketed his chest and arms, while a helmet made from the same wood as the chest armor covered his face; crowned with a couple circles of thorns.  His eyes flowed down to his left arm, sharp wooden spikes erupted out from the back of his arm.  His spear was mostly normal, save for the inscribed runes and an area just beneath the spear tip.  Surrounding an emerald green colored gem were more wooden spikes erupting in an even circle around the gem.  The spear tip was a solid, and appeared to be a very sharp to the Guardian's eyes.<br/><br/>He began to move again as Lord Bali called him back to attention, his head darted back to the battle behind him noticing the front-line was being pushed back even more.  His eyes darted back to the Dôr Thuran's and his eyes quickly fell upon the other one, and his eyes were greeted by the familiar site of steel plate's covering the body of the creature.  Overlapping up and over the chest were solid plates of steel, surrounding a teal colored gem.  His eyes moved up and looked at the shoulder plates of the creature and marveled at the design.  His right shoulder had two additional overlapping plates of steel, with tassels coming down off the edge.  His eyes darted to the right shoulder and noticed that only one plate covering it but three spikes of solid steel rose out of the armor.  Up his neck rose two more plates of steel that curved outwards provided protection from any errant strikes.  Beneath the spike covered helmet no eyes could be seen.<br/><br/>Fenris slowly moved away from the rear ranks and his expression of surprise did nothing but grow with the unobstructed view of the creatures.  His head quickly looked over to Lord Bali, both had looks of uncertainty, before returning to the creatures in front of him.  He slowly moved into the circle of soldiers, placing his hand on the shoulder of the first he came in contact with.  "Easy soldier"  He spoke in a hushed tone.<br/><br/>"They're monsters sir!"  The soldier spoke in an even more hushed tone, fear could be read off his young face.  "They almost wiped mankind off the map two-"<br/><br/>"I know" Fenris interrupted "keep your sword at the ready." Fenris softly commanded as he moved closer into the circle.  Fenris was halfway between his soldiers and the creatures, his sword raised up high and pointing towards the chest of the wood covered creature. "What are you doing here, Dôr Thuran?"<br/><br/>"Dar lun tovash dorlun." Spoke the wood covered creature to Fenris in a very deep, yet ghostly tone.  The soldiers and Fenris each braced themselves as the creature spoke.  Each soldier looked between themselves with a nervous look, and strengthened their grips on their swords.  "Tovas don tuli?"<br/><br/>Fenris sword lowered as his free hand flew to his face, shaking it from side to side.  His hand released his head and he stared into his open palm as he spoke "By the Goddess, they can't speak the common tongue!"  He said as his sword pointed back and forth between the two.<br/><br/>The steel clad creature moved his head towards the face of Fenris, the soldiers each moved backwards and raised their swords up in response.  "I can speak for us, if you'd like human."  His tone was not quite as deep, yet just as eerily ghostly as the first.<br/><br/>Fenris's head quickly jolted to the form of the creature before speaking "If you could speak, why not answer my question?"  He said as frustration bellowed from his face.<br/><br/>The creature took a quick couple steps closer to Fenris, causing many of the soldiers behind Fenris to rush forward and thrust their swords at the creature, Fenris placed the tip of his sword on the teal jewel on the creatures chest.  The creature slowly lowered his head down and looked straight down into the face of Fenris.  "You did not ask me a question."  His free hand slowly raised up before placing it's massive fingers on the edge of the blade.  "We are your enemy no longer."  He paused as his hand pushed the blade away from his chest.  "Your enemy is out there."  Raising his free hand and pointing out towards the battle with his index finger.<br/><br/>Fenris looked around at the other soldiers, nodding at them each in turn before they backed away from the creatures.  "How do we know we can trust you?"  Fenris said as he pulled his sword back to his side, letting the tip sag to the ground.  "How do we know your end game is the same as ours?"<br/><br/>The creature lent out a soft laugh "You can't and it's not."  He spoke with a matter of fact tone  "But we will assist you none the less in this fools errand."  His head darted over to his comrades, who was stuck staring at the walls.  "Valen, Dorith?"  A serious tone filled the air.<br/><br/>"Galuin de na ni veylo fan!"  He spoke as he pointed his spear towards a section on the wall, to the left of the gate.  The second creature looked towards the section and nodded his head.<br/><br/>"What is it, creature?"  Questioned Fenris as he looked back, seeing nothing but the large battle behind him.  "What does it see?"  Fenris asked.<br/><br/>"His name, commander, is Dorith."  Came an aggressive tone from the creature.  "What he sees is not good."  Pausing as he pointed his finger towards the walls "The enemy is assaulting your ranged units, trying to rid you of your archers."<br/><br/>"Lord Bali, we must send some soldiers to reinforce that-"  Fenris began to order.<br/><br/>"Dorith will go."  The creature spoke in a commanding tone.  "He will need five soldiers with him."<br/><br/>Fenris adopted an angry look as his head tilted "And who are you to order us?  In our castle?"<br/><br/>"You know my name very well commander."  Spoke the creature in a near silent voice.  "Thedas."<br/><br/>Fenris adopted a look of shock, as did the Lord Bali.  "You were responsible for starting the  Reckoning!"  Fenris spoke in a hushed voice.<br/><br/>Thedas tilted his head up as he spoke in a quiet tone "History is written by those that win, commander."  Thedas placed his hand on Dorith's shoulder and continued "Doh, Durith."<br/><br/>Thedas turned his head back to Fenris as Dorith began to run out, ignoring the soldiers who stood in his way and began to make his way towards one of the stairways that led to the wall.  Thedas looked back to Fenris and spoke again in a confident, commanding tone "You don't need to trust us, just help us help you."<br/><br/>Fenris looked over towards Lord Bali then towards the soldiers who were nearby.  "You soldiers."  Pointing out several of them in the process "Go with the one called Dorith, assist them in my place."  Lord Bali quickly moved over to Fenris and was about to speak but Fenris spoke first "Indeed I do not trust you, Thedas, but I welcome your help.  The enemy of my enemy, correct?"  Fenris said as he lent out his hand as a gesture of good will.<br/><br/>"We are not your friend, commander."  He spoke in a quick voice "But we shall be brothers in this war."  Thedas spoke in a confident tone, and he extended his hand as out and grasped the hand of Fenris and shook.  His head quickly darted up and his hand fell from Fenris's.<br/><br/>"Speak of what you see."  Spoke Fenris<br/><br/>"They have created a breach in your lines on the wall, I fear that your flank is in danger."  He replied.<br/><br/>"I will go and get some soldiers."  Fenris shouted as he turned some body to run back to the lines behind him but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.<br/><br/>"I need a word with you yet, commander."  Spoke Thedas "Alone."  Removing his hand from the commanders shoulder as he montioned over to a side street that would lead to one of the stairs, before walking away.<br/><br/>Lord Bali let a second pass, waiting until Thedas was out of earshot before speaking "I don't trust it." He said as his eyes followed Thedas moved.  "I don't trust it around you while you just have a few soldiers."<br/><br/>Fenris looked back towards the Lord Bali and spoke in an excited tone.  "By the Goddess you are right my friend.  That's why i ask you to return to the fight, and find me some true soldiers."  He paused as he turned his body towards the Lord and continued "Templars, the Hillklag swordsmen, orcs and any who have proven themselves in battle offer them the choice to fight by my side."  He paused.  "Send twenty of our swordsmen as well.  Make no mention of Thedas or Dorith, let me do that for them but mention the dire state of the flanks."<br/><br/>"All right." Sighed Lord Bali "All right, be careful in the meantime."  He said as he shook his head and turned around and ran back towards the battle.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">Fenris and Thedas</span></span></div><br/><br/>Fenris approached Thedas in a careful manner from behind.  "What is so important that you must speak to me alone from my men?"<br/><br/>"This battle is hopeless commander."  He spoke "Even you must notice this."  His voice was quick and blunt.<br/><br/>"No battle is hopeless when the Goddess fights with us" Fenris preached<br/><br/>"Even so, what power is a Goddess against a god in flesh?"  He countered "Your men can fight, but they will die."  Thedas turned his body to face Fenris "The forces at play here are complicated, even I don't fully understand it."  He paused as he pointed down the road towards the Sky Bridge and continued "Unless you and your soldiers make it across then I fear all might be lost."<br/><br/>Fenris shook his head at the thought of a retreat.  "We shall do no such thing.  The general has ordered us to hold, even to the last man."  Fenris spoke.<br/><br/>"A bad order."  He bluntly spoke.<br/><br/>"And what grants you this foresight, Thedas?" Questioned Fenris.<br/><br/>"As real as your Goddess is to you my god is to me."  He said "Only my god doesn’t remain silent like yours."  He paused as his head looked back to the rear of the army and continued "Your soldiers are coming, in good time even, we'll continue this conversation when we are across the bridge."