RP:D Day; The Air Assault on Rynvale
NOTE: The outcome of this role play came under administration review. It was determined as having occurred as written, except that the damage inflicted on Castle Archmosia was actually taking place on an elaborate illusion of the Castle. Vuryal was determined to have been made aware of the pending assault, and the Archmosian Time Rift initiated. The real castle, and its master removed from this time and space. Please assume allied forces determine after the fact that their attack had inconclusive result.
Part of the Liberation of Rynvale Arc
Synopsis: The floating Avian City of Armantium is moved into position over Northern Rynvale, and used as a base to launch what was thought to be a crippling strike on Castle Archmosia.
Characters: Cerinii, Shaelus, Kumorohyou, Npc Gregor, Jaize
Location: Rynvale; Castle Archmosia
Playing time: 6 hours.
Armantium:
Cerinii 's piercing, sanguine eyes stare ahead. Her fingertips briefly, touching against her lips. She sighs softly, looking to Shaelus. "Und so, it begins." Her obsidian feathers rustle, metallic digits clenching into a tight fist. Eyes locked onto the figure of the castle.
Shaelus stood at the edge of the city looking down at the passing ground below. Armantium floated quietly throught the air, passing over woods and fog, casting a shadow over the land. With the Castle Archmosia spotted in the distance, Shaelus touches one of the now glowing symbols on his armor. A short alarm sounds throughout the city, signalling all to attention. His voice echoed throughout communication devices scattered around the city. "The hour of war is upon us! Be ready!" Mere seconds later, avians began pouring out of the city streets towards the dock. They hurriedly formed ranks before Shaelus, though not quietly in the slightest bit. They certainly were an arrogant people, and they had no fear of their voices being heard as they cheered and banged their weapons together. Truthfully enough, the sight of the avians rallying for war on their own city was a humbling event for even Solaris to see, for this event hadn't occurred since ancient times. He didn't allow himself to be swept up in the past just yet, however. He held up a fist and screamed for war while using his other hand to bang the handle of the Dark Scythe upon the platform, acting more or less like any of the other soldiers. He twisted himself and pointed the Dark Scythe out to the quiet castle, "For Lithrydel! For Armantium! For the Republic!" His cry, amplified as it was by Armantium's technology, was muffled by the sudden roar of wings as the avian soldiers swept by him and began leaping away from the dock. In the midst of it all, Shaelus-Khar's own wings spread and he shoved himself away from the city as well, leaving the small force that remained to man the turrets, defend the city, and drop explosives once the city's shadow finally fell onto the castle.
Kumorohyou watches from his vantage point upon Gregor's back, taking in as much of the city as he could. Truly amazing. Taking a moment to fly over the Avians forming up behind Shaelus-Khar, the humanoid panther's fur stands up on end at the sound of their battle cries, and the scientist couldn't help but admire them. Turning his gaze back to the Time-Lord's fortress, Kumori readies himself and Gregor to form up alongside their formation once they have taken off.
Shaelus screamed ferociously as he and the other avians flew low towards their target. Armantium's bullets screamed above them and thundered against the castle's wall before being cast aside for lack of finding a stress point. The avians flew in erratic paths to avoid being shot down by arrows and cannons from catapults, but their numbers made that impossible. Avians fell from the sky left and right without even being granted the chance to use their weapons. "To the roof!" Shaelus shouted to the others, while he himself came to a skidding stop before the soldiers outside the castle that were already forming ranks in order to protect the archers. Solaris lifted his mask and took a breath before bellowing a sound with his true voice. Light raced around his body and ground shook and trembled, causing the archers great difficulty in aiming to increase the odds that the avian soldiers would reach the top of the castle with their lives. The fallen god ceased his cry and threw himself towards the shield-bearers. His scythe splintered their shields and removed limbs almost as fast as they could run towards him. Their numbers proved too great for even him to kill fast enough, however, and before long they swarmed all over him. Their weapons were useless against him, but that didn't stop them from trying. The light began swirling around his body again as he took in another breath, and became as bright as the sun itself when he cried out again with his voice. The power of his voice was directed in a straight line before him, wedging a path in the soldiers that lead right to the archers. Without hesitation, Solaris threw himself down the center of the path and into the middle of the archers, even as more and more soldiers ran out to protect them.
Kumorohyou shields his eyes from the bright light emitted by Solaris' power, the scientist quite grateful that they were fighting on the same side. Kumori and Gregor then fly up alongside a secondary wave of Avians, the feline spotting the fact that they were equipped with the explosives he designed. The two members of the Fold Round proceed to fly around the group of winged beings, doing some last minute inspections of each explosive to ensure nothing happened to them in mid-flight. Giving a satisfied nod at how well the Avians have taken care of them, Kumorohyou has Gregor fly ahead alongside them once again.
Cerinii inhales sharply, "We cannot shoot around! Aim for the General!" She cries with little regret, but much remorse. A silent sorry, would be conveyed in her eyes. She keeps her own turret upwards, allowing her own bullets to continue their fire against the larger weapons. Of course, hits from these weapons are inevitable, for the city cannot take evasive action. A minority of troops aim towards Solaris and the vicinity around him, bullets screeching past and striking at the fallen god. Cerinii casts a glance to Kumorohyou, curious as to why he does little more than swoop around. She leans down, sweeping up a grenade-like device. She removes the pin, launching it with her metallic arm with a little cry of effort. The device lands upon a catapult - but only just. Within moments, the chemicals blend and cause an explosion - sending splinters and hunks of the catapult up.
Shaelus instinctively held an arm up as the spray of bullets tore through the archers and soldiers around him before striking him as well. He jumped away from the whole scene, convinced that the gun turrets were more than capable of keeping the situation under control. One of the bullets had struck him in the face, shattering his mask. His will and attachment to the mask alone held it in place, though it looked like a broken mirror. The Dark Scythe followed behind him under its own power as he raced vertically alongside the castle's wall to rejoin the rest of the soldiers who attacked the rooftop defenses. As he rose, he swept by archers hanging out of windows and threw them to the ground below. It's a long fall for people who can't fly. Soldiers and guards had rushed out to the top of the castle to meet them. Limbs from warriors of both sides already littered the roof, as did bodies. Solaris took his blade again in hand and jumped into the fray. He grabbed even the largest men and threw them hard enough to send them over the edge, while others had their bowls spilled to create a slippery mess of blood and organs. Blood that wasn't his own dripped off of his mask and armor, creating quite the gruesome image as the avians began leaping back into the sky, having cleared enough of the weapons and archers away for the second wave to commence a bombing run.
Cerinii watched as the fallen god and the feline continued with the onslaught. She ceases her fire, then calls out, "Cease fire!" She raises another grenade-like device, watching as the troops follow suit. She commans, "Ready!" The clunking or armour can be heard, as they assume a ready stance. Prepared to fling their devices. "Fire!" She cries once again, pulling the pin and flinging the grenade. This action, seems to catch on quick. The 'chink' of pins being pulled and the fling of grenades can be heard, whistling through the air. Once her grenade is flung, she scampers towards the cannons. She kneels, arms wrapping around what seems to be a giant bullet. She strains to lift the tip of it, as more bombs are flung a small number of soldiers gather to assit her. They raise the large bullet, sliding it into the cannon. However, it is not fired just yet. She cries out, "Loaded!" Before scurrying to the next cannon.
Shaelus lead the retreat as the various explosions began rocking the castle. What was left of the avian soldiers was considerably less than the numbers they'd started with. They regrouped in the air, still dodging arrows from the seemingly endless archers that still surrounded the castle to shoot at them. The whole group of them fled back to Armantium where they too began helping to load the various cannons that ran the entire length of the tall city from top to bottom. Shouts of "Ready!" and "Loaded!" can be heard as Shaelus again took a place at the edge of the city to watch. His voice once again echoed over the citywide intercom, "Prepare to fire!"
Kumorohyou 's pointed feline ears pick up the sounds of arrows being released just below him. Grapping hold of the saddle just in time, the feline holds on for dear life as Gregor barrel rolls, the arrows glancing off at an angle on the dragon's belly-scales. At the moment Kumori is turned upside down, the scientist drops what appears to be a silver canister into the midst of the archer group. The two members of the Round make their way back to the floating city, leaving the silver vial to explode and send the enemies flying. Landing at one of the clearer areas in Armantium, Gregor allows Kumorohyou to dismount, the large panther proceeding to move down the row of cannons, helping anywhere he could.
Shaelus waited until he'd finished setting one of the cannon shells into place before bowing in response to Demont. "Demont-Zhan, you are required elsewhere to protect Arien of The Fold. She bears the Spear of Harmony to use against Faustina, and we cannot let anything happen to her." After that, he turns and watches Cerinii, waiting for her to finish her business before giving the order to fire.
Roussai exits south.
Kumorohyou continues to move amongst the avian soldiers at their stations, stopping to help in any way he can. All the while, the scientist couldn't help but admire Armantium and its infrastructure. It was easy to tell why the avians were such a proud race, and deservedly so.
Jaize spares no time with quaint formalities. "The Charges! For the Castle Interior! Give them to me before the order to fire is cast!" Jaize's eyes dart to find Shaelus, hearing his commands and assuming him the general of this front of the assault. "One Moment!!!" she calls above the deafening crashes before turning back to Cerinii, "Do not argue this Cerinii. It must be done. Now, the charges." Thin digits still stand extended towards the Avian.
Cerinii dips her cranium, prepared to argue but her sister had beat her to the punch. She flits back; quite fast for such a heavy Avian - to the city, retrieving the charges from the Chamber of the Raan. She holds them tight in her metallic hand, returning to Jaize. She extends them to her, "...Be..Be careful, ja?"
Kumorohyou turns to see Jaize and Cerinii, bowing quickly before turning his strange, electric-blue gaze to Archmosia, which has become a smoldering ruin.
Jaize wraps careful but steady fingers around the charges. "You have my word, today is not my end." Those words spoke, the Naga turns and is off like a shoot! Her scales gliding over the broken earth and stone like smoothed ice. Another instant and she is gone, weaving her knowing way through the interior of the castle to place the charges against the structural supports of Castle Archmosia. Dirt and embers smudged all over her armor and exposed skin, Jaize huffs, fastening the last charge. "For Cerinii..." she whispers, before making her way back out through the clashing swords and various bodies that litter the ground. How fitting that Vuryal has these creatures defending his castle...and he is no where to be found. Cannon's bright and aimmed at the entrace, Jaize makes a swift turn to avoid their fury, watching from a decent distance and waiting for it's inevasible destruction.
Shaelus stood ready at the edge of the city dock, watching the castle below for signs of the naga's exit. The moment she was clear of the castle, Solaris raised a fist and screamed, "FIRE!" Every gun turret on the city of Armantium that was facing the Castle Archmosia lit up all at once. Their noise was nothing compared to the ground-shaking thunder of the cannons as they launched their payload into the castle walls, creating massive holes. The city began to spin as each cannon was fire, so that those on the other side could be fire as well, while those just fired could be reloaded in time to fire again should it be required.
Jaize squeezes the trigger to launch the charges, a deep bellow shaking the ground as the bowels of the castle are caught in the firey assault. She sent back a few feet, scrapping against the ground and watching the city spin overhead.
Shaelus leaped from the city dock as the cannons fired again and again. He wrapped his wings around his body so that he fell quite fast towards Jaize while the castle crumbled in the distance. His wings opened just before he hit the ground, though he still landed with a thud. He grabbed one of the naga's arms and lifted her into his arms as he squatted down and threw himself back into the air. The cannons ceased on their own just as the city began to gain altitude. Shaelus spiraled around the floating structure before reaching the cityscape above and coming to rest beside Cerini. He lowers his arms so that Jaize may rest on the ground before speaking into the intercom system again, "We're done here. All soldiers back to the city." It wasn't long before the smoldering remains of the castle were just a speck on the distant horizon as the city moved steadily away from the battle.
Kumorohyou watches from the side of the City facing Archmosia, the panther scientist remaining silent as he looked out over the island below. What would Vuryal's madness lead him to do in response to the destruction of his castle?
Jaize finds herself raising of the ground in surprise but does not struggle. Sitting, dazed for a moment, the Naga watches as the city fades off into the distance like a nightmare.
Cerinii sighs softly, reclining against the wall of a city. She closes her eyes, allowing the wind to sweep past her and cool her skin. Her feathers rustle, before she murmurs, "That went well, I believe.."
Shaelus shrugged to Cerinii, "It's far from over Senator, I'm sure of that."