Hello Readers,
My attempts at getting back up to date will continue as I continue the story of the adventurer's Ulemon, Tariel, Namsuri and Raistlin. Last time we saw them framed for murder, although the truth came out in the end.
I realized that an important part of the plot was left out of the last post... The man in the brown robes, with green robes underneath... was the son of the Shaw of Ergard. You remember, the one who was shot on the steps of the Sultan's palace. He was also in the hall when the Sultan realized that his Emerald was missing, and he was also gone when the search was started. Leading all to believe that he had killed his own father, in both an attempt to gather personal power, and to derail the Nation Building Talks. With that in mind, when the army was said to be attacking the Sultan of course thought it was the Army of Ergard. So with my lapse of writing taken care of, I give you... End of a Legacy ... in Ergard
The Sultan, hearing the news of the army's advance, immediately turned to the adventurer's. "Oasis's army is scattered across the city. It will take hours to marshal them. I need your help." The adventurer's, seeing the chance to cement their objective of gaining Oasis's help in the future and the fact that the army was wearing black clocks also gathering their attention, agreed to do whatever they could to stall the armies advance. Having been given the Sultan's 75 personal guard they set off to the east. They had been told of a narrow pass between two rock formations. It would take the enemy army hours either north or south to go around the formations, and so it was a good chance they would try to go between them. The gap between them lay at the bottom of a slight valley, with the formations rising like cliffs on both sides. The gap bottle necked down to a mere 75 feet across at the narrowest point, but unfortunately only stayed that narrow for about 15 feet. Knowing this, the group grabbed up as much oil and other flammable materials, as well as debris to pile up into makeshift barricades, and set off for the gap. Arriving at the gap ahead of the advancing army, the group dug pits and buried barrels of the oil, as the men of the personal guard hastily set up the debris to slow the advancing forces. Finishing just as the forces were coming into range the adventurer's set up with the Sultan's Guard in a battle line just behind the hastily set fortifications, bows drawn and waiting…
…The first one to be in range was Raistlin as he let go with one fireball and then another. Hitting in the center of their line he slowed them, but their charging advance did not break. Just as they were reinforcing their center though is when the came within range of the archers. Although few in number, all were highly trained and skilled, and even when firing in a volley the majority of the shots fell true. After a second volley they fell back for one more volley before retreating to the top of the ridge looking down at the choke point. At this they were resetting their line as the Black Army came upon their barricade. Raistlin, waiting for the front line to get past the barricade, cast his remaining Fireball ignited the barrels that had their tops resting just above the desert sand, and in sympathetic chain reaction they all exploded up and outwards. The debris that was sitting above them became so much shrapnel in addition to the fiery inferno that had consumed the middle of the charging army. In disarray the front line which was on this side of the explosion was cut to ribbons by the archers highly accurate volleys, while their back ranks halted their advance as they awaited the fire to die down. Firing a few volleys through the fire, the party decided that this is the most that they could do, and along with the Sultan's Guards fell back to the city.
Retreating back to the city, they found the token force that was set up on this side on the city. On the far side of the city however they saw smoke rising. As they came upon the rear guard, they were told that a second force had attacked from the west. Leaving the Sultan's Guard here they made a beeline through the city to the front line of the fighting. The Black Army had already made it into the city, and the cities defenders were fighting street by street, selling themselves desperately to give time for the civilians to flee. As the adventurer's came upon the front line it was only four blocks away form the palace itself. Tariel immediately looked for higher ground from where he could strike at the enemy. Raistlin vanished in a swirl of magic. Ulemon made his way to reinforce the crumbling right flank, with Namsuri following him, daggers flying at anyone who looked about to break through the line.
Having found an empty rooftop, just behind the defensive line, Tariel pulled an arrow taut and fired at the enemy. With cover from below, and not many archers in the opposing force, Tariel was able to let fly against the Black Army with impunity. As fast as he could draw and fire Tariel was a machine of death as his arrows found gaps in armor, and unprotected faces in which to deposit his arrows.
Raistlan on the other hand used his considerable powers to sneak past the enemy line and through a few side streets before doubling back to a building about half a block behind the enemy advance. Reaching the roof, he looked out and saw the enemy caster who he had seen before he started his trek. With his own magic still hiding him he drew power for another spell, and with a gesture and a few words the enemy caster was down without ever having known what had hit it.
Namsuri was making sure to keep close to the protection that was offered by Ulemon as they passed to the very front line as Ulemon, a one man wrecking machine, began single-handedly driving back the enemy line. Pushing hard and fast Namsuri soon saw that he and Ulemon had broken through the line and with this realization Namsuri turned and began using the advantage of being behind the attackers to begin placing his daggers with amazing accuracy and deadliness.
Ulemon himself was almost acting on instinct alone as he broke the enemy line, but instinct quieted back to logical reasoning as he saw what had to be the enemy commander step forward to face him. I all figure, large to the point of almost being bulky. Wearing armor as black as night, thick and covered in razor sharp points and spikes. With a helm that showed nothing but the slits of his eyes, he drew what seemed to be a utterly massive sword and raised it in a knight's salute. Not used to this tie of ceremony from these enemies, Ulemon was a bit taken aback, but quickly recovered and saluted as well. Each warrior held this pose an extra second longer then needed, knowing that as soon as they released that battle would be joined. All around them men screamed, yelled, cried and died, but for these two the only thing that mattered was their battle. Seeing Ulemon standing with his back to him, a devious fighter turned to run a sword through his back, As he drew back his sword however an arrow struck him in the back. Tariel, from his vantage point, had seen the would be attacker and fired an arrow as quickly as he could. The arrow flying true, piercing his armor before piercing his heart. As he fell to the ground, so fell the salutes of the two warriors and battle was joined with a tremendous crash of steel upon steel. The battle around them did not stop, battles rarely do completely, but there seemed to be a ill in the fighting. Those who still had an enemy before them pushed on, but those who found themselves target less fell in to watch the epic clash that would undoubtedly end the conflict. Ulemon had a tremendous defense, and his armor was up to the task of deflecting any glancing blows that fell upon him. His opponent on the other hand was relying on his stung and deadly attacks to end the fight quickly as he allowed the attacks Ulemon was making to strike him in hopes that Ulemon would leave himself open for attack. It was a fairly even battle, and seemed like it could have gone on forever. But then one of the dark warrior's blows struck true. Momentarily weakened, Ulemon grabbed at the wound, and knew its depth. Tariel, never having stopped firing, but keeping an eye on Ulemon's conflict let fly at the warrior, even as Raistlin from his perch let a spell fly at roughly the same time. The combined magic and might stopped the warrior from making his final deadly attack. With the initiative now in his favor, Ulemon stood and rained blows down upon his enemy. The final one cutting deep into his torso, and renting his armor in twain. With their leaders fall the Black Army melted away, as the Sultan's forces rallied and renewed their defense.
With the Black Army defeated, the adventurer's made their way back to the newly crowned Sultan. In recognition of their accomplishments, he informed them that at any time in the future they could call upon the aid of the Desert of Fire, and they would find an army waiting to stand with them. However, the Sultan did ask for one more service before they left his lands…
I think I will leave that one on a cliff hanger, and let you know how their time in the desert ended in the next installment. I really do apologize for the long amounts of time between posts. It is not on purpose, I just all of a sudden became very very busy. I will be trying to get more posts up now though that I have a little bit my extra time. Until next time though friends, may your armor hold against the heavy blow, and may your helm never blind you.
-DM Eraser
