Wildcard - Deception - RPLOG
Participants
Date
6/6/479
Log
The quiet pattering of the gentle rain is interrupted by a deafening explosion on the south wall of the Solacious compound, and a mob of beings, painted and dyed an inky black flood into the compound, scattering in several directions!
Angus quickly gets to his feet as he hears an explosion, his seat in his office slamming against the ground from the speed as he's already snatching his weapons belt before kicking the door open. He looks around, seeing if he can find a servant or one of his men. "What's going on?" He shouts, before heading towards the sound of the explosion.
Iorek's ear perk as he snaps around to the sound of the blast. Perched on a roof near the centre of town, the canine has been obsessed with waiting for the gang to strike again, this may be his cue as he slides down the ladder he set up before running towards the incident.
Angus is certainly not the only Solacious to mobilize. Attacking the Solacious compound is like kicking an especially angry sort of ant hill! Foxes and an assortment of other beings in Solacious house colors are swarming from all over toward the sound of the explosion.
A young fox in military gear, probably a distant cousin, stops to salute Angus, then hurries along beside him. "Explosion, Sir," he says, "Someone has breached the south wall of the compound. That's all I know."
Outside, it is hard to learn much more with the sea of angry Solaciouses swarming toward the breach in the wall. What DOES become readily apparent, is that the attackers have managed to entrench themselves pretty firmly. Beings are atop the wall, holding firing positions and rotating an almost constant barrage of pistol fire. They don't seem to be trying to hit anyone, neccessarily, but they are not letting anyone near the wall. Other beings wait on both the inside and the outside of the breach, all painted a solid, inky black.
Angus scowls as he comes upon the breach, ducking behind a wall as pistol fire is thrown his way. "Grab every being that has skill in earth mathemagics, bring that wall down on their heads! Once the wall of fire lets up we can charge the breach and seal it!" He shouts at his younger cousin. With that he takes a deep breath, switching out his soul gems as he keeps an eye on the intruders.
Iorek hearing the pistol fire and seeing the rubble and smoke rising from the wall of the compound, Iorek opts to move to a flaking position. Looking for a roof to get up onto for a vantage point, the idea strikes him to weaponise the vodka he has been carrying around, having sworn off it, yet unable to let it go.
He stops to force a bandage into the neck of the bottle well out of sight as he plans his next move, looking for a roof he can get onto.
"Yes Sir!" the young fox snaps off a salute and goes to relay Angus's instructions. Soon, a group of four beings, three foxes and a young bull, probably a fosterling from the Stronghearts, hurry up to Angus. "Sapping squad Delta reporting for duty, Sir," says the fox in the lead, all of them snapping off crisp salutes, "If you can get us a window," she says, "We can get that wall down. But it will make the breach wider." Other knots of beings are forming just outside of pistol range along the wall and activity can be seen on rooftops of nearby buildings. Whoever orchestrated this attack must have been an utter madman, or just stupid. These knuckleheads would be lucky to last ten minutes against this kind of trained force!
From outside the wall, Iorek can see a group of no more than twenty beings pressed up around the breach in the wall, half of them watching warily in both directions. It is easy to find a rooftop that looks out at the hole, but nothing high enough to see over the compound wall. A good throw wouldn't be a problem, though.
Angus Checks his musket, drawing the hammer back before pointing at the wall with his right hand. "We bring the wall down on top of them, The confusion should give you enough time to erect a temporary earth wall. We go from there repelling them, just like a wall breach in a siege." Poking his head out for a moment he scans the targets and who's on his side of the fight. "All groups, hold fire until given the order, we need to force them to take cover long enough for the sap team!"
Iorek feeling the best help he can be is to break their formation for the guards to counter attack, Iorek kisses the bottle before lighting it and lobbing it at the group of enemies around the breached hole.
Not taking the time to admire his work, strolls back into cover on the other side of the road before darting around to find a new vantage point.
The orders are passed quickly along as Angus takes charge. The constant cover fire does not waver, even though the Solaciouses have not made any real move to attack yet. And the attackers have shown no interest in actually firing at anyone, just tearing up the turf near the wall while the beings at the base sit and watch and wait. What are they waiting FOR!?
On Angus's order, most of the Solaciouses are waiting patiently behind cover, while a number of archers and even a contingent of windrunners have taken up positions on rooftops. All it will take is a word for them to rain down sharp, metal tipped death on the attackers.
The steady stream of gunfire is momentarily interrupted by the sound of breaking glass, a whoosh of flame, and the panicked cursing of a trio of beings on the outside edge of the waiting attackers. Three black painted heavy clanners stagger away from the group, dripping flames. Some of their fellows follow after, trying to bat out the flames and roll their companions about. There is an outcry from the group and fingers point out into the drizzling rain toward Iorek and a huge black bear peels away from the crowd to give chase!
Angus waits for the next time they need to reload, but his ears perk as he hears the shattering of glass and the burst of fire. "Volley, now!" He barks out the command as he comes out of cover, his musket up to his shoulder as he takes aim. Squeezing the trigger as the dragon's muzzle at the end of his barrel flashes an angry red.
Iorek hears the heavy foot thuds of the bear coming for him and waits just around a corner, blade ready. His plan is to sneak attack the bear as he goes to round the corner, a quick thrust to his neck and hopefully let the corpse fall back, so it's still in view of the other attackers.
The air thunders with the sound of gunfire as the Solacious line fires on Angus's order. There is a cry of dismay from the beings on the wall as they duck out of sight amidst the smoke and ricocheting bullets.
This is just the opening that the sapper team needs and the four beings charge toward the wall. Unfortunately, there are still quite a few defenders on the ground! A crew of eight heavy clanners of various species charge from beneath the shelter of the breach in the wall to engage the four sappers!
"Get back here you little pipsqe-" are the last words the bear ever says as Iorek's dagger slips smoothly under his ear and into the vital tissue beneath. The corpse does not tip back into the street, but follows his own momentum forward, slamming into the cobbles at Iorek's feet. It's a good thing that no one is out in the rain to watch all of this. Questions would doubtless be asked.
Angus Drops the musket, letting the strap around his chest catch it before it hits the ground as he draws a pistol. Taking aim he fires at the nearest heavy clanner, going for the eyes as his pistol falshes white. "Firing Line, bayonets and blades. Charge that breach and give them time!"
Iorek huffs as the bear falls foward not as planned, he's not going to draw more attention like this. "Oh well, plan B..." with some deft cutting around the gaps in the cervicle vertebrae, Iorek grasps one of the bears ears in each hand before throwing the severed head in view of the other guards, before dashing away, trying to find a route to come up to a flank position on the guards at the hole in the wall.
While most of the Solacious line hurries to reload their weapons, a contingent of saber weilding foxes charges toward the wall and the attacking heavy clanners. Angus's shot strikes it's target, the pistol ball burying itself in the side of an attacking boar just before he reaches the four sappers. The rest are not far behind, though and soon the battle is met out on the field. The sappers are caught up in the melee as the contingent of foxes meets up with them!
Out in the streets, the heavy head of the bear is met with cries of dismay. "Hold your ground!" comes an order from in their midst, though it is hard to guess which being gave it, "Don't give the little shade any more opportunities. We have to hold the wall a little longer!"
Angus holsters the pistol shouting as he moves into the fray. "Press that line! GIve them breathing room, I want ranged volleys on the wall and behind the vanguard line. BREAK THEIR LINE!" thick Metal gauntlets tightened into fists as he strikes for the jaw of the nearest heavy clanner in black, both fists flying in a flurry of two blows to take them down now!
Iorek pulls out his bow and one of his sleep powder smoke bomb arrows from his vigilante days. Taking a few deep breaths as he leans against the corner, he pops out of cover, aiming to get the smoke triggered inside the breach for some wind cover. Picking out a target, he feels this will be a good chance to try his Kitsune powers, try to make him think and enemy is coming through the smoke.
The charge of the Solacious brigade manages to push back the attackers, giving the sapping crew a little breathing room, though one of the three foxes in the crew seems to be running with a pronounced limp. Now that their men are in combat out on the field, the beings atop the walls can no long fire with impunity, and the Solacious gunmen are keeping them hiding behind cover.
As Angus personally takes to the fray, he finds himself confronted by a gigantic ape who pounds across the ground toward him. Not that the show of intimidation does much good, since Angus is ready and waiting, laying his gauntled fists one, under the ape's jaw and the second directly into his temple, felling the massive being in a single one-two combo!
Iorek's bomb arrow thuds heavily into the dirt at the feet of the beings who have finally managed to douse their burning companions only to get a face full of sleeping smoke. "CREATORS!" comes a shout from the smoke, "He's here! Get him!" A rangy looking wolf throws himself violently at a pitch-smeared horse beside him and the two fall to the ground in a fist-flying, hair pulling brawl!
"Hold!" comes an order from inside the wall, "Hold for just a bit longer!"
Angus rolls his downed foe over and points once more to the wall. "Bring that down now. All of it! I need a runner for the gate guards, circle around and cut them off before they can escape! Take prisoners, I want to know what the fuck is going on!" He snaps once more, a snarl forming on his muzzle as the fighting escalates.
Iorek out of tricks, there is no option but to go for a straight fight, it sounds like they are stalling for time so can't let them have it. Stepping out of hiding, he slowly paces forwards, firing off an arrow at one of the currently uninjured foes.
A young Solacious snaps off a salute to Angus and dashes away while the others continue to fight, holding off the remaining mauraders while the sappers finally lay their hands on the wall.
As the rain continues to pour down, the air above the battlefield suddenly flashes a brilliant green and smoking flares are tossed down from atop the wall. "Time!" comes a shouted order from the wall, "Go! Go! Go!" A collection of beings scramble over the outside of the wall, sliding down ropes as fast as they can while those beings still able scramble for the anonimity of the winding streets of Firmament!
Iorek's shot flies true, lodging firmly in the shoulder of a surprisingly fat otter being who has just turned to flee. The otter cries out in shock and in pain, staggering a bit, then resuming his attempt to escape.
Angus finishes loading his pistol, pointing towards the sapper. "Stay that order, force the wall down on them now! No one escapes!" He barks the order before pointing his pistol at the nearest Pitch black foe, and fires directly at his knee. "Get the wounded clear, Find out what's going on!"
Iorek sprints up taking a running punt at the fighting horse beings head, hoping to at least knock him out. notching and arrow and pointing it at the wolf "Don't you dare move, I'm not happy with my kill count yet."
Another attacker inside goes down under Angus's shot. A pitch painted equine, some kind of draft horse crashes to the ground with a bellow of pain and the contingent of foxes falls on him, holding him down, though the remaining three take the opportunity to beat a hasty retreat.
The sappers at the wall are already at work, each with their hands on the stone and muttering to themselves. After another short moment, the wall above the breachcrumbles and crashes down, trapping the three fleeing marauders.
Outside the wall, inky black beings are scattering in all directions. Unfortunately for the horse and wolf, no one stops to break up their tussle. Well, Iorek does. There is a sharp crack as Iorek's blow lands on the side of the horse's muzzle and the pitch smeared being goes limp while his confused wolf companion blinks in confusion, but raises his hands in the air.
Angus points to the limping soldier he saw earlier. "You, get to medical! Those who can stand and are injured help those that don't." He then points to two more soldiers. "You and you, head to the barracks. I want DSU and Solacious at this wall while it's being prepared. Everyone else, find out what in the name of the creators is going on."
Iorek takes a step back so that he has the wolf covered but can't be easily disarmed by him and patiently waits for some form of reinforcement from guards or Lord Solacious' men. His eyes locked tightly on the wolf.
The three fleeing heavy clanners, seeing that there is no longer any way to escape, stop immediately, dropping to their knees and putting their hands on their heads, allowing themselves to be captured without a fight. The others all follow Angus's barked orders, helping the injured to the infirmery and getting the prisoners locked down. Other soldiers come running to the outside of the wall, relieving Iorek of his dead and prisoners. It looks like the marauders were held at the wall.
Angus takes a deep breath, holstering the pistol once more as he takes stock of the situation. "Creators, what is going on." He mutters before he moves over to the sapper group. "Good work by the way, are any of you injured?"
Iorek drops his arrow when the soldiers show up, letting his bow hang from his arm by the string. Satisfied that they have the situation in hand, the canine follows along behind his prisoners' escorts.
"Nothing a little rest won't fix, Captain," the leader of the sapper group says, helping to support her injured companion, "Glad you were there to take charge."
A cohort of guards arrives with Iorek at the same time that a guard wearing a strange insignia comes to a panting halt by Angus. "They broke into the vaults!" he pants, "It was all a distraction!"
Angus crosses his arms over his chest as he studies the injured one. "Appreciate the compliment, but it's you that I'm glad was here. Without you and your team this would of gone south fast." His ears perk as he's approached, turning to see a familiar face among his men before the report comes in. His ears fold as he thinks of what they could of grabbed within the vaults, but holds his composure for the time. "Damnedable bastards, I wonder how they got in." He notices the insignia on the guards uniform. "Excuse me soldier, what unit are you from?"
Iorek looked like he was about to speak before the soldier's had more information about the diversion. "I took down 3, injured one with an arrow to the shoulder, I don't think he was bleeding enough to track. Three were burned by a flaming vodka bottle, seems like they are covered in pitch so seems useful, maybe it's a sign that they are based from the docks? They seem very coordinated with the ropes, I would have maybe guessed sailors or pirates but that's just conjecture. Wish I could have done more."
"Divine Sentinels, Sir," the soldier says, pointing to the strange pyramid with an eye at the top emblazoned on his uniform, then he stands at attention looking miserable. "We don't know how they got in, Sir," he says, "A-and I can't say what they got away with. . ."
Angus stares at the badge for a few more moments, before his angry gaze slowly moves up to the beings face. "Intresting, I would of thought I'd know my own people." He answers, before Lunging forward, reaching for the imposters throat with one of his gauntlets.
Iorek is startled by the sudden aggresion from Angus. Not wanting to look like a threat, he raises his arms over his head, the bow over his arm silding down to his shoulder and hitting off his torso.
The poor soldier, a rather harried looking ferret chokes and gags, scrabbling at Angus's gauntletted hand. "Please! Sir!" he gasps, "I'm in processing! Paperwork!"
Angus keeps a tight grip on his throat, not enough to hurt him. "Then tell me, where did you get that badge? Who's your CO, what's your name." He states calmly, not letting the man out of his grip. "Also hello there Iorek, if you give me a moment we can have a conversation."
Iorek nods nervously to Angus, slowly putting his arms down but remaining silent. Forgetting to grab the bow again it falls to the floor
"Essen," the ferret croaks, "Essen Softpaw. I'm a liason from the church brought on for processing new artifacts! Sally Solacious gave me the badge. W-we met a f-few weeks ago." The poor being tries not to squirm in Angus's grip. "Wh-what have I done?" he stammers.
Angus blinks for a moment as his blood starts to cool. "...Creators, my apologizes." He answers, slowly releasing his grip. "No one informed me we were recruiting from the church." He pats the soldier on the shoulder. "My sincere apologizes." He lets the being go, giving them a nod before he turns to Iorek, arching a brow towards them. "So...what are you doing here?"
Iorek still seems a little surprised by the specticle but refocuses his attention when Angus addresses him "Huh, oh well, I have a personal interest in stopping this gang, I came over when I heard the explosion expecting it might be them. Their leader "Wildcard" went after the thieves' guild and dropped corpses in Mange square. He was one of the Wild Jacks."
The ferret dusts himself off and hurries away. "I-I will file my report," he stammers, rubbing his neck, "I'll see that it gets to you."
Angus flicks his ears. "See that you do, after that you and I can go out for a drink." He mutters, pointing to another DSU near him, hooking a thumb at the ferret before pointing to his eyes. He still wanted the new guy watched. "Wildcard huh? I'll need you to tell me everything about this wildcard and his group. If you would be so kind as to stay a litle while." Turning towards another Solacious he points to the wall. "We need that up and repaired quickly, dig the poor bastards stuck under it out and put them in irons before you start fixing it please. I'd hate to have them stuck in the wall."
Iorek nods "Happy to, I want these sons of pitches gone, and well." he sighs slightly rubbing the back of his head "It has been pointed out to me that trying it alone is very stupid."
He looks over at the wall, finally taking in the actual damage. "Sorry if I got in your way, I figured that if I could distract them from the otherside, maybe I could give you guys an opening."
The soldier salutes Angus and turns to follow after Essen, and the rest of the crew hurries off to fulfil their orders. Whoever this Wildcard person is, he certainly has a devoted bunch of followers. And this is certainly not the last that we will be hearing of him and his people.
