08.29.3013: Hostiles On The Lakeshore
Summary: A patrol of Cindravales, Rovehn, and one Iah run into some Hostiles on the shore of the Great Lake.
Date: 29 August 2013
Related: None.
Hostiles Nikomachos Eiris Rebecca Elodie Sammel Talynne Ioan Solon 


The Shores of the Great Lake, The Plains of Ares, The Vale
In Poses
29 August 3013

With Hostiles on the Plains of Ares, and possibly around the Great Lake, patrols need to be ridden. And so a collection of nobles from Houses Rovehn and Cindravale (and one Cindravale-born Sauveur), along with a couple of soldiers from House Rovehn have been assigned a patrol path near the shores of the Great Lake. Since there haven't been any signs of the Hostiles in the area yet, a future Cindravale and the squires of the knights have been invited along as well. The land rolls and undulates as it nears the shores of the wide lake, the other side visible only as a faint haze on the western horizon. In this area, the tall grasses of the Plains run down almost to the water's edge, making it seem as if a golden ocean crashes into a blue lake.

Nikomachos has suggested a path just above the shore itself, on the lake-side of the slope's crest. For all that it is supposed to be a quiet sector, he has his horse-crested helmet locked down behind his gorget, his unnamed AI searching out movement as readily as he is himself. His light tenor lifts out across the shared comm-channel as he guides his heavy, black destrier along the barely-there path, "I do love this area of the Vale. There's something so crisply refreshing about it, especially now at the end of summer, don't you think?"

Visor down, Eiris turns her head to look at her riding companions, throwing a smile to Elodie before she slows to come up alongside of her sister. Talynne receives a light bump as her mare come in close, the canter coming down to a slower gate as her braid bounces in the transition. "So tell me, how have been your ventures away from the caravan?" A brow rises beneath the smoky visor, a knowing grin spreading her lips to show a flash of white teeth. Looking ahead at Nikomachos comment, she nods her head, "The smell of harvest time always tends to stir my blood," she admits back, giving a roll of her shoulder as her hands flex on the reins of her mount.

Sergeant Rebecca Mordain sits astride her horse, Spectre, in her pure black armor and helm with red eyes. She takes one of the far flanks of the group, as her husband, Sergeant Ioan Mordain, takes the opposite. Their mounts are light, as is their armor, and they are Scouts trained to see trouble before it can reach the main group. The Red Wraith, as she is called, sends up her peregrine, Ghost, to the sky to search on her behalf. "Phantom," she addresses her AI, "Extended sensors for motion in the distance. Set camoflauge to Ares1." Her armor shifts in color to match the waving grasses of the plains, her buttermilk buckskin's tawny coat blending well on its own.

The soon-to-be Cindravale in the midst has been out and about the vale, and getting to know more of her future 'people' as well. Happy to be along and check on some of the people that she's helped tend, Elodie rides in her protector armor on her favorite schooling mount, a tall chestnut with a blaze named Habu. She keeps a steady pace near Sammel, occasionally looking over to the knight, but mostly keeping an eye out on the terrain, both for Hostiles, and to better her familiarity with the terrain. "It is quite enjoyable. It is interesting how the shifts are less subtle here, and more colorful," she offers to Niko's question.

With a lance, since he's mounted, but also with the poleaxe secured in its holster on his saddle just in case it's needed, Sammel looks around for a few moments, offering a smile to Elodie from his place on No Name, his horse. A grin is offered as he hears Niko's words, offering his brother a grin as well. "Quite true. There's always something refreshing around here," he replies, with a smile.

Talynne, wrapped in her armor and wearing even her helmet as they were patrolling, gave a smile that was more seen from the crinkle around her eyes and heard on her voice as she spoke. "I would agree with you, Lord Sir Nickomanchos.. this is by far one of the best times of year for coming to this area. Everything waiting with baited breath for the first taste of chill." Sinner, Talynne's rather magnifiscent destrier, brushed up against Eiris' in return, the rich, black horse giving a little click sound as Taly turned her attention to her little sister and chuckled. "And my adventures have been.. Interesting." Petting her sister's horse at the neck for a moment before she gave her a wink. "How has Academ been treating you since the last thousand times I checked in?" Her tone was playful, but quiet.

<FS3> Nikomachos rolls Alertness: Failure.
<FS3> Sammel rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Rebecca rolls Alterness+1: Good Success.
<FS3> Talynne rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Elodie rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Eiris rolls Alertness+1: Good Success.
<FS3> Ioan rolls Alertness +1: Good Success.
<FS3> Opposed Roll — Hostile10=Stealth+2 Vs Hostile20=Stealth
< Hostile10: Good Success Hostile20: Success
< Net Result: Hostile10 wins - Marginal Victory

Taking a look over to the other flank Ioan spots his wife, Rebecca. He sighs a little, it's his first outing sense being rescued and he's nervous that he'll not do so well. He is quiet, keeping his attention on the horizon. He hasn't been able to replace the armor he had, so he doesn't have an AI just yet, which means he needs to be extra alert.

The waving grass makes tracking any specific motion difficult, especially for the more limited AIs of the lighter armor. As always, actually paying attention is far more useful than trusting to one's AI to do so.

Nikomachos may be holding his lance butt-down in its saddle-brace, and he may be chatting along like he's on a pleasure tour, but he keeps his head moving, especially as they come up toward a spur of land jutting out into the lake, a rise in the terrain that hides that which lies ahead. "I think it may have something to do with the approach of Hallow's Eve, Lady Eiris, Sir Talynne." He makes the mistake of half-turning his head back as they reach the crest, "Sergeants, would you check the area ahead?"

In the little bay below, four Hostile Soldiers are dragging some sort of equipment up from the depths of the lake. Those wearing Scout Armor can also see the vague blurs of heat in the grass that could be Hostile Scouts, but could also be rocks warmed by the late-summer sun or some wildlife that has crept close to investigate.

Amusement colors Eiris' tone as she smirks, "/Interesting/ indeed…it goes, sister mine…it goes. I much prefer the open air like now than stuck at studies, but you know this." A gaze slips over towards her sister but stops on the way. The Rovehn tenses, brows furrowing as she keeps her voice low. "My Lords…hostiles near the lake, four to be certain. There may be more but I can not be for sure…" She tenses, a little, bringing her reins up and drawing away from Talynne's side after giving her a look. The folded bow at her side is drawn free and snapped open, letting it unfold into place.

"Copy, Sir Nikomachos," Rebecca replies over the comm. She presses her knees against Spectre and the horse moves forward at a faster clip. She reins him in before the rise and dismounts, before belly-crawling up to the overlook and peering over. "Hold progress," she notes to the party as she triggers the zoom on her visor. "I have four Hostile soldiers down below at the lake. Looks like they are recovering equipment from the water. Heat signatures nearby. Could be rocks. Could be scouts." She wriggles back down the rise and leads Spectre back several paces before mounting again. She unhooks her bow from her saddle and sets her quiver to arrows.

Ioan follows Rebecca as she moves ahead. He doesn't dismount, but he does get his bow ready and notches an arrow just in case. Better to be prepared he thinks. He nods as Rebecca mentions the Hostiles and sticks by her side. "Well, this will be interesting." he says to Rebecca, his voice is clearly full of doubt.

"Hmm… I always prefer to have you out in the open air with me, my dear Sister." Talynne said to Eiris warmly, though she met the line of Eiris' vision and narrowed her eyes. The shift in her tension had Sinner more attentive beneath her, and Talynne only took a moment to watch Eiris' position to make sure she was at a good distance, but close enough to watch, before she pulled her own bow and prepared it. Remaining on her horse, she clicks softly to let her mount know she'd be firing. "Indeed… let's keep it interesting for us, deadly for them, hmm?" Ioan got a wink from Talynne, before her attention was blued to the threat in the distance.

Nodding a bit as he hears the part about the Hostiles, Sammel nods, "I see them." A brief pause as he looks around. "Whatever it is they're doing, it'll be nice to stop it." Looking between the others for a few moments now, before he looks back in the direction of the Hostiles.

At the mention of the Hostiles, Elodie loops Habu's reins around the pommel of her saddle as Eiris has had her do when she's learning, and she reaches back to string her bow, and nocks an arrow, though she keeps the bow down to her side as she holds the reins with one hand again, looking in the direction Sammel and Rebecca have indicated. She doesn't chatter any more on the comm, just looking to her knight, then towards the Hostiles.

Galloping up to the group assembled on the field upon his black destrier, Solon is already wearing his aggressor armor, and has a lance placed with the end in its brace. "Sir Nikomachos." The greeting is given to Niko, "I must apologize for interrupting your patrol here, but I could not miss an opportunity to take a ride on such a day as this. Perhaps there will be fun to…" And this is when he is interrupted by the mention of Hostiles. A slight smile creases his lips and he gives each and every one present a stare of sheer excitement as he turns Hengroen to face the party of Hostiles. "Not perhaps, no. There shall be fun to be had this day. Are you capable of still mounting a charge, Sir Niko?" He tosses a grin to his cousin as he slams down his visor.

Nikomachos twists back to look ahead at the comments, smothering a mild oath under his breath. Thankfully, the word does not get transmitted by his well-trained AI. Leaning forward to pat his monstrous destrier's neck, he nods at the reports coming from the others, turning his head once more as Solon arrives, "Glad you made it, Sol. Squires will stay back, Lady Elodie, if you wouldn't mind hanging back for a while yourself?" He opens his mouth to continue giving orders, and then he chuckles, tilting his head before he turns them into a question, "Try and keep up, Sol. What do you think, sweep a charge out left alongside the waterline to give the archers a clear line of fire and avoid the possibles?"

On the other side of the rise, the Hostiles remain just out of easy bowshot, their burden now up and out of the water. Two of them work on it, while two others, with crossbow and spear, move out to stand watch.

Rebecca switches her comm over to the Mordain personal one and murmurs, "Relax Ioan. It's like riding a horse. Your body knows what to do." Too bad he can't see her smile under the helm. Ghost stays above, keeping an eye on the rocks that might be scouts, calling out now and then from high overhead. She toggles back to the general comm. "I'd prefer they don't get whatever it is they are after, Milords, and it looks like they have it on dry land already."

Glancing briefly to Rebecca, she nods in silent agreement to the assessment. Her reins settle into place much as Elodie's and she uses her legs to direct her mare, clicking her tongue as she draws away from Talynne, expecting her sister to be rather close with her. The Rovehn Lady draws an arrow from its spot on her back, nocking it into place as she waits to draw, leaning into the side of her mare to bring her about and get into a better position to prepare to engage. Her AI continues to scan, pulling up further details before she stills herself so that she can get a glance around in other directions to be certain that it is but one group.

Sammel nods a little as he hears Niko's words to Elodie. "We'll try our best not to get wounded," he offers to her, before he offers a grin both to his brother and his cousin. "It's about the one thing Niko's quite capable of," he remarks a bit lightly now, before he gets his own lance ready, and checking that the poleaxe is easy to get hold of, should he need it.

"I agree with you entirely, Sergeant Mordaine." Talynne nodded to her. "Let's fire in waves, maintaining a rain of arrows so that they don't have a sense of finding a good time to fire in between our shots. We have enough archers, talented ones at that, to do so." Talynne's voice is firm, and she maintains a well practiced distance to her sister, while moving Sinner up towards Niko so that she's sure he sees her intentions. "We'll have to start firing once we get them in range, and keep at a good clip so they can't escape the arrows by running."

Switching to the Mordain channel as well Ioan says, "I know my body does, it's my mind I'm worried about. I don't want to let anyone down again." He says, taking a deep breath. "So, I won't." He says, finally with determination. He switches back to the party channel and says. "Sounds like a plan, Lady Talynne. They won't know what hit them!"

A light laugh is Solon's response to Niko's remark about keeping up. "I think between us and Sir Sammel, these Hostiles might regret making their presence known. Your plan is sound, Niko, let us get it done." Turning in his saddle to find Sammel, he offers his cousin a polite nod before returning his attention to Niko. "It seems the three of us are ready, Niko. Once the archers are ready, I say we make our charge. Hopefully we can eliminate a substantial part of their party before they have a chance to mount a counterattack."

Nikomachos nods his helmeted head sharply at Solon's response, nodding again at Talynne's words, "That sounds admirable, Sir Talynne." Sammel's words draw a laugh, "Besides finding a wife first?" And then he presses his heels to the flanks of his destrier, Erinye, and the black monster takes off up the hill at a canter. As they cross the crest, Nikomachos ignites the Hard Light shield at his left forearm, waves of orange flame spreading out from the emitter. As they start down the hill, he raises up his lance, calling out, "For Glory!" And then the ribbons at the tip of the weapon stream upwards as he lowers the point, couching the butt under his right arm and picking out one of the Hostile guards as his target.

As the Havenites sweep over the ridgeline and start down at the Hostiles, the Soldiers clump up between the device and their attackers, leaving the equipment be for now as they aim to defend themselves.

Rebecca puts her heels to Spectre and the horse gallops partway down the hill, to get his rider into bow range of the clump of Hostiles. She hangs on with her knees as she nocks and arrow and draws the string back, long practiced at firing on horseback. She aims for one of the enemy who holds a crossbow itself, and prepares to fire. "Ever Forward!" she adds to the shouts of house words.

Glancing towards Solon's appearance, Eiris quickly focuses back on the targets ahead and the banter causes her to grin, though somewhat more seriously than her levity moments before with Talynne. Which of course leads her to glance to the other ladies in the group, noticing Elodie's care taken with the reins. This crooks a grin and it grows only more so as Niko cries out and sweeps downward onto the waiting foes. A brilliant /YAH/ clears her throat as her legs press into her mare and she leans into the quickening speed so to not be unseated. SHe uses her legs entirely now as her hands remain on her bow, waiting to get within range as her AI spews out calculations at her. Once within range, she slows her mount to allow those of the havenites who will join melee to break away so the archer can get a focus on a target. She draws back, only then urging her horse forward as she releases her arrow, letting it catch against her helm and slip past her fingers to traverse the distance.

"Something like that, Niko," Sammel replies a bit lightly, before he brings No Name forward as well, fast as he aims his lance for the Greatsword-wielding Hostile. "For Glory!" he echoes now.

Ioan follows just behind Rebecca as he draws his bow. "Ever Forward!" He shouts along with his wife as he aims for the Crossbow wielding hostile. He's not been on horseback in a while, but it's not something you just forget how to do and he does it expertly.

Turning to face Talynne, Solon offers her a nod. "I have absolute confidence in your ability, and the abilities of those with you, Sir." Turning to face Niko once again, he offers the following comment in a light, but very matter-of-fact-tone. "The way I hear it, she found you." It is but a moment after Niko sets off that Solon squeezes his knees into the flankes of Hengroen and the black destrier begin to canter up the hill. The cantor soon becomes a gallop after the hill has been crested. He shouts out his own, "For Glory!" though admittedly, it is still good to hear Niko say the words. Solon then lowers his lance, the blue, red, yellow and white ribbons streaming as he braces the weapon and picks his target.

Having ridden Sinner for quite some time now, it's not a matter of calling commands but a matter of using the flexion of her thighs and the adjustment of her ankles along the sides of her horse. So Talynne urges the horse forward, moving at a steady clip, taking the movement beneath her as a given while she prepaired herself to fire just after her Sister let loose an arrow. Sticking true to her plan for staggering fire to maintain a constant rain of arrows, she counted in her head to allow the first arrow to fall before she fired hers. All the while she kept herself in line with the rest of the archers, and made sure not to overcome prime firing range by moving too close to the Hostiles.

<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Nikomachos with Spear - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Solon with Bludgeon - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile23 with Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile20 with Bow - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Solon attacks Hostile21 with Lance - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Solon's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile23 with Lance - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile20 with Bow - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile24 attacks Nikomachos with Sword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile20 with Bow - Light wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile22 with Lance but Hostile22 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Sammel with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Eiris with Crossbow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Elodie passes.

Rebecca looses her arrow and watches the red and orange fletching streak towards the Hostile. It strikes it in the throat, but doesn't stick in, glancing and only drawing a little blood. She fits another arrow to her bowstring and turns Spectre to a better angle. She takes her time, letting all the distractions around her go away.

There is a thrilling moment for Eiris, her voice lifting into a cry of triumph as her arrow finds its mark, save for it is short lived for the fact their foes all remaining standing. The Rovehn Lady assess quickly with the help of her AI and then squeezes her knees into her mount, urging the mare forward, but along the side so that she is not shooting in from behind those engaged with her comrades. "Taly!" she calls to her sister, lifting into the stirrups as her second arrow finds its place at her bow and she focuses her attack on the one she caught in the chest with her first arrow. The arrow leaves her bow once more, the faintest whisper of its movement near her ear. The younger Rovehn loses her grin as she begins to draw closer, skirting at a parameter.

Erinye's hooves send water splashing as the destrier just touches the waterline in his looping charge. Nikomachos rides down on the spear-armed Hostile, but then one of the others steps out to flank him, swinging with a sword, and he is forced to cut Erinye aside a little to bring up his shield. And then his lance-point is going past his target, and a spear is flickering up toward his face. His shield takes a hammerblow from the sword-wielding Hostile, and his head is pulled around sharply to the right as the spear finds purchase on his helmet, driving the armor into his temple and sending stars across his vision.

Ioan watches as his arrow flies along with Rebecca's. He aimed for the neck, but seems to have aimed a bit lower then he meant to. "Damn." he mutters as he draws another arrow. "This one will hit for sure…"

Noting that the hostile20 shot at her sister, the bolt sailing by with no effect, Talynne growled under her breath and fired at it again, intent on killing it since her first arrow had simply struck, not killed. "Be cautious, Ris!" There was a shift in her position to slightly superimpose herself forward ahead of her sister, but not into her line of fire. Another shot was loosed in order behind the shot fired so that the arrows continued to stagger at thier opponents.

An electric thrill runs through Solon as his lance hits home, dealing a solid blow straight to the middle of the Hostile. Apparantly the Hostile is not a fan of being skewered by a Valen lance, as he lashes out and tries to bludgeon Solon. Fortunately, Solon's armor deflects the blow, and he is able to ride past without incurring any harm. Enacting a defensive posture, he continues riding until he can wheel around and prepare another charge. As he wheels around, he notices that his target is still standing. Opening up his comms, he sends out a message. "The Hostile that I damaged seems to still be standing, would one of you archers be so kind as to put an arrow in him to finish him off?"

Hitting the Hostile in the head with his lance, Sammel doesn't quite manage to get away from the incoming Greatsword in time, taking the hit to the collarbone area. There's a bit of a pained cry, as the hand holding the reins move up for a few moments while he moves into position for another run at the Hostiles. Looking a bit more careful now. "I'm okay…" he mutters into the comms now, as if to reassure people.

<FS3> Talynne rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Ioan rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Eiris rolls Awareness+1: Success.
<FS3> Elodie rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Opposed Roll — Hostile10=stealth Vs Hostile11=stealth
<FS3> Rebecca rolls Alertness: Success.
< Hostile10: Success Hostile11: Success
< Net Result: DRAW

<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile20 with Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Solon finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile21 with Bow - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile24 attacks Solon with Sword but Solon DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Sammel with Greatsword - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Nikomachos with Spear but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Solon with Bludgeon but Solon DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20 finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile23 with Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Rebecca takes careful aim at Hostile20.
<COMBAT> Elodie passes.

<COMBAT> Hostile20 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 has been KO'd!

Having stayed back a bit for the initial charges, gives Elodie a different vantage point than the rest. not sure if anyone else sees she toggles her comm back OpenGL all. "four scouts to the land side," she calls out, drawing her bow and taking site.

"Remember to breathe, love," Rebecca murmurs to Ioan over the comm. She finally closes off all the distractions around her, has a perfect bead on the Hostile's throat, and the creature drops. "Damn." She quickly shifts target to the Hostile with a spear.

Another arrow finds the chest of Eiris' chosen target and he remains upright and still a threat. Her eyes narrow and she nods to Talynne, a thumbs up before digging for another arrow. THe motion is done quickly, this time moving in closer to take aim. Elodie's words are heard over the comm but she does not stop herself, in fact she is even slowing, catching her breath to steady her aim into a more vital area. Though the presence of something moving in swiftly nearly causes her to lose aim, the arrow finally breaking outwards, meaning to take down the hostile with her third arrow.

Frowning a bit as he receives a hit that bounces off his helmet, Sammel finally gets in position to have No Name charging the Hostiles again now. "Okay, time to die, Mr, Hostile," he remarks, keeping it off the comms now.

Making a quick decision Ioan instead aims at the target that Lord Solon lanced previously. This time he aims perfectly and the arrow he looses finds the target, the hostile finally falling. "Hah! He shouts over the comm. "That was my first Hostile." He says, sounding rather pleased. He scans the area looking for his next target.

Nikomachos blasts through the little knot of Hostiles, fending off a last thrust of the spear on his way through. He twists his aching neck, "Well that was unpleasant." Drawing Erinye around, he looks up at Elodie's call, "Damnation. We may have to ride past after the next charge." But there are Hostile Soldiers between them and the newly-revealed Scouts, and so Niko picks out the spear-armed Hostile once more.

From the tawny waves of grass rise four Hostile Scouts, their outlines blurring due to the active camouflage cloaking them from easy view. As they raise the launchers attached to the back of their arms, however, the active camouflage goes inactive, showing them in all their angular glory as they take aim at the second wave of Havenites. By the lakeshore, the remaining three Hostiles cluster together back to back to back, watching out for incoming arrows and lances alike.

Talynne winked to her sister, than adjusted her aim to be focused on the same target as Eiris chooses. "Even, steady." She spoke into the group com… And then she lets loose another arrow to the hostile after her sister fires.

Watching the Hostile he previously lanced fall to an arrow, Solon once again keys on his comm. "My sincerest thanks to whomever just did that." His communication is cut off as he has to first dodge one sword thrust and then an attack from a blunt weapon. Some might curse at that, but Solon simply laughs. The thrill of battle seems to be upon him as he clears the Hostiles and joins Niko and Sammel. Elodie's call comes in, and he offers Niko a nod, "Let us do away with these three remaining before us, and then we shall clear up the second scouting party." This time, he decides to take on the Hostile that attempted to run him through with his sword. Setting his lance into place, Solon charges.

<COMBAT> Hostile13 attacks Eiris with Launcher - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile13's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Elodie takes careful aim at Hostile10.
<COMBAT> Solon attacks Hostile24 with Lance - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Solon's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile23 with Lance - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile22 with Bow - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile22 with Lance - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Nikomachos's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile22 with Bow - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Nikomachos with Spear and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile10 attacks Talynne with Launcher and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile10's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile23 with Bow - Serious wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile23 with Bow - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile24 attacks Solon with Sword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Sammel with Greatsword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile12 attacks Ioan with Launcher - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile12's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Rebecca with Launcher - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile11's weapon clicks empty.

<COMBAT> Hostile22 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Hostile23 has been KO'd!

Waiting to address the new hostiles that are far closer to her position, Eiris has made a dire mistake. Even as she helps to down one of those remaining by the lake, she feels the launcher slam into her chest and twist her about, stealing her breath as her armor manages to prevent the brunt of the damage. Leaning over her pommel, she gasps for breath, taking a moment for her lungs to work. Her arrows remain untouched as she recovers, though leaning into her mare, she begins to move again, so as to be a harder target. FInally she heaves a breath, able to fill her chest once more, eyes watering behind her AI visor as it readjusts for her movements.

Rebecca's shot flies true and her fletching buries itself in the neck of the spear-wielding Hostile that was harassing Nikomachos. The creature drops, clutching at its throat as it dies. "One for me," she quips to her husband over the comm. She spots the Hostile Scout firing at her in just enough time to turn her body to one side so the launcher spike bounces off her armor instead of skewering her. "Scouts!" she shouts, and retargets on the one who fired on her.

Solon grunts as his lance grazes the chest of the sword-wielding Hostile. Unfortunately, his luck doesn't seem to hold up, and he takes a light cut to his own chest. He says a word of thanks to the Six for the wound not being any worse than the cut he's taken. Opening up his com system, he decides right then and there that this last remaining Hostile should be a priority. "Archers, take down the last Hostile remaining from the first group while the enemy scouts reload. Sir Niko, Sir Sammel and I shall engage the second group momentarily"

"Thank you, love," Elodie says quietly over the con when Sammel said he was all right. With Habu at a stand still, she takes aim and waits for the camouflage to fall, then looses her arrow.

Growling out viciously as her sister takes the fire from the launcher to her chest, Talynne swings Sinner around to get in front of her sister's horse. "Ris, confirm you can breath." Her bow aims at the bastard Hostile that shot her sister and she lets loose an arrow at him. Her massive horse and her own body providing a bit of a shield for her sister vs. the Hostiles that had flanked them.

Nikomachos just nudges Erinye slightly aside this time, taking the spear on his shield and crossing his lance over to catch his target in a glancing blow. It's enough to transfer impact to his armor AI, however, and fiery pinions rise up from the Phoenician's shoulders, holographic wings of flame bursting forth over him. "I'm beginning to be peeved with the Scouts. I thought for sure they would pounce on us." A quick glance behind him shows that his previous target has fallen, and then he guides his destrier toward the attacking Scouts.

Steel ribbons fly, several of them striking home, but none of them doing catastrophic damage, for now. Even as most of the Hostile Soldiers fall to lance strikes and (mostly) arrows, the Scouts start forward, running quickly toward their targets. They bound easily through the tall grass, sure-footed despite being unable to see the ground beneath. Even as they run, they draw forth heavy double-bladed axes, grasping them with menacing intent.

Ioan looses his arrow at the target, barely missing him. A frustrated grunt leaves his mouth. "Can't hit'em all…" His tone changes as his wife announces her kill. "That's my girl!" He says, excitedly. "Understood, Lord Solon.'

Smiling a little as someone manages to get the Hostile down even though he only had a slight hit himself, Sammel takes a few moments to look around for the incoming scouts, working on picking the right one to charge for now.

<COMBAT> Solon finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile13 finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Sammel finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Hostile24 attacks Nikomachos with Sword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile12 finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Hostile10 finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Elodie attacks Hostile10 with Bow - Light wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Eiris passes.
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile13 with Bow - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile11 with Bow - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile11 finishes reloading.

Rebecca looses her arrow and it buries itself deep into the neck of the Scout who shot at her. He's still standing, but she's not done yet. Her body seems as if it were born to the motions of nock, draw, release, as she prepares to shoot the creature again. "How are you doing, love?" she asks Ioan.

Solon is quite appreciative of the fact that their archers have caused a bit of havoc into the enemy ranks. Sadly, the Hostiles seem to be done with their ranged attacks. "Let us put ourselves in the path of the enemy, Niko and Sammel." Far better for one of them to take a glancing blow from one of those axes and giving the archers room to maneuver and continue atacking. Picking his target out of the four available, Solon sets his lance and urges Hengroen into a charge.

"Hit the one with the sword, but he's still up! How about you?" Ioan says to Rebecca, sounding slightly frustrated with himself. He aimed a little low again and hit armor instead of the neck. It's a little risky of him to continue shooting at the one with the sword with a hostile charging at him with an axe, but he's going to make sure no hostiles get away to report back.

Elodie watches the arrow glance off, but she's already reloading as nudges Habu to a better angle. She winces at Rebecca's shout. "yes, four of them," she affirms, verbally resetting the incoming volumes on her controls.

Finally having picked a target, Sammel moves in for one of the Scouts now, lance lowered as he moves in to attempt taking out the enemy now.

As Talynne gives her a reprieve and cover, Eiris touches her hand to her chest and nods, "Breathing..now…blessed things." Its meant as a curse as the hostiles start to close in. Edging her horse slightly around Talynne's to draw one last arrow and attempts her aim on the one starting for Talynne first, her eyes narrowing as she grits her teeth. The younger of the two Rovehns, arm drawing back and feeling the pain in her chest as the pain seers through her. She lets out a breath and releases her arrow, letting it soar with a careful aim.

Nikomachos ducks low in his saddle as he heels Erinye away from the surviving Soldier, letting its sword sweep past over his head at the top of one of the Hostile's ridiculous leaps. The destrier thunders back up the ridgeline it just charged down, with Nikomachos focusing in on the Scout leaping after the soldier he knows is a mother. "Hold on just a moment longer, we're almost there."

Indeed, the Scouts seem to be ignoring the incoming lancers to focus on the chewier archers without any regard to their own safety. The wounded Soldier down on the flat runs back to the equipment just dragged up out of the lake, and starts to push heavily at it, starting it back down toward the water.

Remaining careful now, since there were Hostiles running at them with axes, Talynne kept her position up on Sinner but tucked her arms closer to her body. "Careful Ris, Axes. Stay low." Another arrow loosed at the Hostile that had shot her sister earlier.

<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile13 with Bow - Light wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile10 with Lance - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Sammel's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile11 with Bow - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile13 attacks Eiris with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Rebecca with Bludgeon and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile10 attacks Talynne with Bludgeon but Talynne DODGES!
<COMBAT> Solon attacks Hostile12 with Lance - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Solon's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile11 with Lance - Light wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Nikomachos's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Bow but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile24 passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile12 attacks Ioan with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Left Leg (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Elodie attacks Hostile10 with Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile10 with Bow - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Hostile12 has been KO'd!

<FS3> Ioan rolls Riding: Great Success.
<FS3> Sammel rolls Riding: Good Success.
<FS3> Eiris rolls Riding: Great Success.
<FS3> Solon rolls Riding: Good Success.

Rebecca gives Spectre his head as the Scout charges at her with an axe drawn. The horse dances back a few paces, and she compensates with her aim. "Incoming, Ioan," she warns her husband, since he's continuing to target the sword wielder rather than the charging scout. She looses her arrow and it thunks into the side of the Hostile's head, but not deeply as out of the corner of her eye she sees Ioan get hit. Solon takes down the offender though, and she begins a circling dance on horseback with the axe-wielder stalking her.

The pain through her chest and shoulders is too much as Eiris arrow is not enough, the arrow on the hostile stopping her attack. It gives her little time to prepare for the incoming strike to her chest with the axe. The high pitched screech as it slams into her chest is accompanied by a grunt and cry from the young woman. She tumbles free of her horse, knocked to the ground as she again fights for breath, this time gritting her teeth as she forgets her bow, a few arrows spilling from her quiver on her back. She struggles to pull her sword free of its place at her hip, steel ringing out as she does. She moves forward then, attempting to quickly cross the ground and get close enough to make work with her blade. Which sadly, likely will not be much.

Habu whickers and dances a little backwards at the in oming Hostiles. he's supposed to be retired and doesn't like the proximity, causing Elodie's arrow to fly wide. " easy boy," she comforts, setting another arrow in string. "let's hit them first."

After having placed the lance firmly into his target, Sammel tosses the weapon to the ground, and hurries to get his poleaxe out as he slides off No Name's back. "Okay…" he mutters, before he adds, "What's that remaining Soldier doing?" Moving for one of the Scouts, he tries to drive the spike of the weapon into the enemy's throat now.

Solon's lance rips open a gaping wound in the Hostile as he passes it, the wound as such that he instantly recognizes it as a fatal wound. Putting that hostile out of his mind, he wheels his horse in time to see Eiris take a substantial blow. Frowning, he immediately dismounts from Hengroen and with a pat, sends the horse out of the melee. Drawing his greatsword, he charges the Hostile, his sword held in an offensive position as he shouts out "For Glory!" in his attempt to defend Lady Eiris.

Ioan winces as he's hit by the hostile charging at him. His leg throbbing in pain now. He does his best to concentrate but his arrow is loosed far away from his intended target. He turns to face his new opponent, but he's already been killed by Sammel. "Whatever it is, it can't be good." He says, drawing another arrow intended for the lone Hostile.

Nikomachos is apparently as frustrated by the dodging and darting of the Scout he's chosen as his target as Rebecca is, for his lance merely clips the Hostile's arm on the way by. Once more, the holoprojectors at the back of Nikomachos' shoulders flare bright, fiery wings blazing up behind him, but this time, the Cindravale-turned-Sauveur does not ride on through the tangle of horses and Hostiles, instead releasing his lance to go bouncing to the ground and drawing forth his sword as he turns Erinye around in a tight little circle. Shifting to the speakers on his armor, he calls out again, "For Glory!" Anything to draw the Hostile's attention away from the archer and toward himself.

The Hostile Scouts leap upon their mounted foes eagerly, even as one is spitted by a lance as it hews at its target. They draw more blood with their axes than they did their launchers, but as the more heavily-armored knights bear down on them, they turn to face those foes. Evidently they are not entirely without a care as to their survival.

Down at the bottom of the ridge, the Hostile Soldier is having trouble with the weight of the equipment, but it is slowly beginning to force it back toward the water's edge.

"EIRIS!" Talynne cried out in dismay as her sister was taken from her horse, she takes aim at the hostile that hit her, completely ignoring the one that had been attempting to hurt her, and firing an arrow at the bludgeon weilder. Taly remained up on her horse, of course, and nicked a sound at Eiris' horse to get it to move back.

<COMBAT> Hostile24 passes.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile11 with Sword - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Elodie attacks Hostile10 with Bow - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile13 with Bow - Light wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Solon attacks Hostile13 with Greatsword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile11 with Bow - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile13 attacks Solon with Bludgeon - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile13 with Sword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile11 with Polearm - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile10 attacks Talynne with Bludgeon and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Hostile13 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Solon has been KO'd!

<FS3> Elodie rolls Riding: Failure.

"Someone stop the one at the lake!" Rebecca calls over the comm. "He's trying to bury whatever they were after in the water!" She releases her arrow at her target and the fletching quivers brightly like it sprouted from the Hostile Scout's chest. She shifts her position to aim at the remaining Hostile ground soldier to try and stop his attempt to move the equipment.

"Been shooting at him!" Ioan exclaims as his arrow hits his target. He seems to be able to resist the pain in his leg for now. He spurs his horse lightly, moving as he aims. "If I provide a distraction for him, he won't bury the thing." He says over the comm.

Stepping between the Hostile and Eiris, Solon steps forward and engages the Hostile in melee combat. Their weapons meet once, then twice before Solon sees an opening. Taking it, he manages to deliver a light wound to the Hostile's chest. Unfortuantely for Solon, he has left himself open, and takes a vicious hit to his midsection. Sucking in his breath, he coughs out once, then twice before collapsing to his knees, just in time to watch an arrow take the Hostile to the arm, killing it. He turns his head slightly to ensure that Eiris has been unharmed for the time being before blacking out and collapsing to the ground.

Darting in for her attack, the call of her name is ignored, focusing. Green eyes narrow, sharpening on her foe as she struggles with breath, her braid shiting down her back as the Rovehn Lady slips ever closer. Her blade lifts and hacks through the air with little finesse, it is obvious what weakness Eiris has. Even as her blade misses, cutting through only air, she catches the movement of Solon stepping in before her, keeping her sword at bay so as not to catch him with a haphazard blow. Though the return blow from his dance partner causes the Rovehn's lips to part and a warning cried out into the air. Green eyes widen and she moves then, clutching at her aching chest briefly before she lower down to press her knee into the earth next to the Cindravale Lord, tearing her glove free after her sword finds the earth, tip first. She places a bare hand to his neck, sliding two fingers to check for his pulse. "LADY ELODIE!" This is called hoarsely over her shoulder before she mutters beneath her breath.

"Make sure you guys distract him well enough, and I'll head for him as soon as I'm done with this one?" Sammel offers in return to the Mordains, before he moves the axe part of the poleaxe in for an attempt at taking out the scout he was fighting now.

"it looks like its trying to push whatever they took out of the lake back in. really must not want us to get it," Elodie replies with clinical detachment to Sammel. "I could possibly stop him, but I prefer to keep you from get- Sir Solon!" she breaks off in alarm. instead of reaching for another arrow, she reaches down with her free hand to take the reins and guide the Habi towards the fallen lord whether he wants to go or not. "no need to scream, I'm on my way," she says calmly into the com channel.

Nikomachos ducks back slightly as Rebecca puts an arrow into the Hostile Scout turning toward him, and then it leaps up at him, his shield rising between them to absorb the axe-blow, and then his sword flashes out, hacking hard into the Scout's side and sending it tumbling to the ground again before it pops back up to his feet. Subtle pressure of the knight's knees keeps Erinye between the Scout and the others, his head half-turning at the calls from behind him. "What's going on back…" and then Elodie's cry cuts him off, and he, shouts, "Sol!" He doesn't turn away from the foe in front of him, however, instead forcing Erinye forward, trying to trample the creature down and finish it off.

Watching Solon go down to his knees, Talynne took aim at the Hostile that kept trying to hit her and fired off a arrow into him. "Medic!.. do we have a medic?" Was called out to the others, her tone somewhat dire. "Ris, get your bow out."

<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Bow but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon - ARMOR on Right Leg stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Eiris attempts to rally Solon and SUCCEEDS. Solon is back in the fight!
<COMBAT> Solon passes.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Light wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Hostile24 passes.
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile10 with Bow - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile11 with Polearm but Hostile11 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile11 with Sword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile10 attacks Talynne with Bludgeon but Talynne DODGES!
<COMBAT> Elodie attempts to rally Solon but they are not KO'd.

Another shot from the Red Wraith and Rebecca's arrow barely penetrates its stomach. "Dammit, Ioan let's get closer!" she shouts over the comm to the other scout. She spurs Spectre down the hill towards the lake and aims again at the soldier.

Tumbling rather than dismounting next the heir and Eiris, Elodie nods to the Rovehn. "keep them off us, please" she requests after The Lord rouses. "hold still just a moment, Sir Solon. Let me see what you've got, I'll have you up in no time." her words carry a fire of command and encouragement.

the pain is starting to get to Ioan, causing his arrow to miss his intended target. "Closer sounds like a good idea, we can't let him do what he's trying to." He says, his tone sounding determined. Ioan gets closer to the hostile before taking his next shot. "Hey buddy! Catch!" He says to the Hostile, his hope is that the Hostile will focus on him over the equipment.

Leaning in over him, Eiris takes hold of Solon's shoulder, "Lord Solon, do you hear me?" There is a moments quiet and then she tries again, giving him a shake as the call for her to take her bow is heard, though she doesn't look away - not til there is some sort of response from the Cindravale lord. When Elodie arrives, the Rovehn nods her head, "Yes, of course…" A glance to is given to Solon before she rises and flicks her bow to lock into place, full open and draws and arrow, taking aim at the closest one - the one that is still giving Talynne some trouble. Now with a steady stance on the ground, she takes her time to aim.

Seeing that her sister and Elodie were now attending to Solon, Talynne watched as her last arrow hit the Hostile that was trying to beat on her. She drew back on her bow to fire another shot, this time pretty much at his face, as she was tired of him flailing at her. Luckily, Sinner was keeping her moving and only helping her avoid the weapon he wielded at her.

Solon's eyes flutter open at the sound of Eiris' voice, an inelegant grunt escaping his lips as his mind registers the pain in his abdomen. "I.. I hear you, My Lady." He clenches his teeth as he listens to Lady Elodie come over and tell him to keep still. "Of course, Lady Elodie. I shall not move until you give me the okay." Doctor's orders and all that, given that this is now a medical situation and she is in charge. "Tell me, is the battle almost over? How long was I out of it?"

Nikomachos trades a furious series of blows with the Hostile Scout before him, half-parrying its blow before the axehead meets his greave, then slipping his sword free to slash back-handed across the Scout's chest, although the blow merely clatters over the Hostile's armor as well. "How bad is he, Lady Elodie?" The question comes between breaths as he continues his furious assault on the Scout, ever-so-slowly driving it back by virtue of the sheer mass of him and his destrier. And then he hears Solon's voice across the comm as well, "No time to be napping on the job, Sol." There's a partially-relieved tension behind the words, worry for the just-younger Heir.

Down below, the Hostile continues single-mindedly pushing the box, ignoring the glancing pain of the arrow that clatters across its stomach. The equipment moves slowly, but now steadily, toward the lakeshore.

Frowning as Solon goes down, Sammel relaxes as he sees both Eiris and Elodie going for the man. Turning back to the Hostile in battle with him and Niko, he shakes his head a little. "Stop playing with him, Niko." It's offered a bit lightly, as he once more attempts to go in spike first.

<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile24 with Bow - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile10 with Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Solon passes.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile11 with Polearm - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile11 with Sword - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Hostile24 passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile10 attacks Talynne with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Elodie treats Solon:
< Abdomen (Serious): successful
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Bow - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile10 with Bow - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Hostile10 has been KO'd!

<FS3> Ioan rolls Riding: Success.

Elodie chuckles and shakes her head. "you've barely been out a few moments, my lord. still more Hostiles for you to kill." She works quickly, keeping her head down and she gives a nod. "I'll need to so more when we're finished, but you're good for now." So saying, she gives him a hand to his feet, the n mounts Habu to beat feet out of there.

An arrow from Rebecca bounces off the Hostile's armor and she growls under her breath. "Ghost, dive bomb it!" she calls, and the falcon begins to dive in the way only a peregrine can, at the head of the Hostile in an effort to put it off balance and distract it while she takes another shot.

<FS3> Rebecca rolls Animal Handling: Good Success.

Breathing heavily as her chest tightens while pulling her bow, Eiris is a little slower, hearing the voices back towards the lake. Her brows furrow beneath her visor and turning, she draws another arrow, still barely within range of the hostile near the lake, she trains on him. The longer she takes with holding her arrow, the tighter her teeth grit. Breathes in and out and lets go of her arrow, letting out a gasp as she releases, letting her bow drop to her side as she leans forward some and presses at her chest, pulling at the armor that has done wonders to keep her alive but now feels like its weighing heavily against her. A glance is given over to the moving heir of Cindravale and she starts to say something but stills herself from interfering.

After missing yet again Ioan says, "Cover me!" To Rebecca as he slings his bow over his shoulder and unsheathes his sword. He gets right up to the hostile and dismounts, charging the sword-wielding Hostile.

The arrow she unleashed struck into the hostile that was badgering her, thank the heavens. But then, the slam to her hand has Talynne crying out in surprise, her arm shaking as she noted that Ioan and Rebecca were still attacking Hostile24, who was still moving. Talynne took aim and let loose an arrow shortly after her sister's, grunting with the supreme effort of holding her bow out in order to make the shot. "Die.." She breathed the word as she let out a sigh of relief and relaxed her aiming arm.

"Do… do not make me laugh, Niko." Solon grunts out at the man as Niko's quip comes over the com's. Reaching an arm out to the Lady Elodie, he squeezes her shoulder and offers a very sincere. "Thank you for treating my wound, My Lady. I know it will not please you, but I must attend to my duty and see to it that the Hostiles are cleared out of the area." Sure enough, he grunts and groans as he gets up to his feet, sword in hand. His first step forward is something of a stagger, but this is quickly righted as he continues moving forward. Setting the last hostile in the area in his sights, Solon raises his sword in a knightly challenge before attacking.

Frowning as he sees that his stab with the spike in the Hostile's stomach doesn't drop it, even not with his brother's attack to it as well, Sammel lets out a bit of a sigh. "There has to be one of those every time, does it?" Pulling out the weapon again, he once more moves in spike first. A chuckle is offered to Solon now, "I think she's getting used to it with all the times she's had to patch up me, then let me go straight back into the fight, cousin," he remarks, a bit lightly.

Nikomachos turns Erinye to his right, bringing the Hostile onto his shield-side and catching the axe on the blazing surface. "I'm not trying to, Sammy. Why don't you — " And then Sammel does, and then Nikomachos does, but the Hostile keeps fighting, Niko blinking inside his helmet, "Knight on a Crutch… what is that thing made of?" Solon's response causes him to laugh softly, more relief flooding into his voice, "Sorry."

The surviving Hostile Soldier is spattered with arrows once more, and even has a falcon dive-bombing it, but there's not a whole lot a bird can do against an armored Hostile. The front edge of the equipment touches the water, and it begins to slide more quickly.

<COMBAT> Elodie attempts to treat Solon but SOLON has no treatable wounds.
<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile24 with Bow - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile11 with Polearm - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile11 with Sword - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ioan attacks Hostile24 with Sword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile11 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Light wound to Left Hand (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Solon attacks Hostile11 with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Critical wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile24 passes.

<COMBAT> Hostile11 has been KO'd!

When the Hostile soldier looks up at Ghost, Rebecca fires her arrow straight into his throat. It's a pretty serious wound from the looks of it, but the thing is still standing. She growls and fires again at it. "GO. DOWN." So says the woman who refused to fall when fighting to free Ioan from the drug pushers.

The bantering of the Cindravale lords is enough to brush away any lasting worry for the heir as Eiris' arrow finds its mark - riddling the hostile with yet another hit. She is not the only one, three archers in total are picking away at him and yet he refuses to fall. She nocks another arrow, drawing back and waiting for a moment to let loose when Ioan is not in the mix, but stops, not wanting to catch the soldier, her bow lowering as she catches her breath again, her head dipping as she takes a step forward, and then another, moving in a strafing angle to get a clearer view before releasing.

Frustrated that her arrow did nothing but 'tink' off the Hostile she was firing at, Talynne growled under her breath in anger at her slightly less than functional hand and pushed it to work again. She took aim and let loose another, going for a shot at the neck to avoid all that thick armor. "DIE.." She sounded a little more adamant this time. Or maybe she was just having to yell at /something/ with her hand threatening mutiny while she held her bow.

Ioan watches as arrows fly at the last remaining hostile and grins as Ghost and Rebecca together successfully land an arrow though the neck. His own attack with his sword fails, as he connects, but only manages to get armor. Looking at the equipment he decides it's best to make sure it doesn't get any further into the water. He gets on the far side of the equipment and pushes it away from the lake.

There's a brief chuckle as the Scout finally goes down now, and Sammel takes a few moments to catch his breath, before he hurries onwards down towards the remaining Hostile now. Trying to do so without falling over as he runs, since that would be bad.

Solon watches the Hostile get absolutely slashed to pieces between the onslaught brought on by Sammel, Niko and him attacking in unison. A slight smile creases his lips, a sense of pleasure in knowing that the three used a bit of coordination and teamwork that they haven't practiced for a long, long time. Memories. Now that the only remaining Hostile is being peppered by arrows, he knows it is a matter of time until it is slain. Putting his greatsword away, Solon takes a breather now. His only disappointment on this day is knowing he's going to have to spend a little time recuperating from his wound.

Evidently, something the brothers hit last time was important, because the Hostile Scout cannot evade Nikomachos this time — or Sammel, or Solon. Niko's sword takes it in the chest, cutting deeply, and when the Cindravale boys are done with it, it's not moving anymore. Niko looks down to Solon for a moment, sizing up his cousin's injuries, then looks about, spying the surviving Hostile down by the lakeshore. "Be right back." And then he's nudging Erinye forward, leaning low in his saddle as the horse gallops down the slope toward where Ioan and the Hostile are struggling.

<COMBAT> Talynne attacks Hostile24 with Bow - ARMOR on Left Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile24 attacks Ioan with Sword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Solon passes.
<COMBAT> Sammel passes.
<COMBAT> Rebecca attacks Hostile24 with Bow - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos passes.
<COMBAT> Ioan passes.
<COMBAT> Elodie attempts to treat Solon but SOLON has no treatable wounds.
<COMBAT> Eiris attacks Hostile24 with Bow - Light wound to Neck.

<COMBAT> Hostile24 has been KO'd!

<FS3> Rebecca rolls Riding: Success.

Another shot and Rebecca's arrow bounces off the armor on the neck of the Hostile soldier. She reins in Spectre and jumps off his back to help Ioan push the equipment out of the water as best she can. "Any idea what this even is?" she asks over the comm to the others.

With the Hostile — despite looking like a pincushion — taking up its sword again and swinging overhand at Ioan, the equipment halts its progress into the lake. It's missed sweep causes it to stagger, and Eiris' arrow cuts across the front of its neck. The wound is not deep, but the wound bleeds profusely… in fact, it bleeds in arterial jets around the arrowhead. The Hostile's hands come up to its throat, and it falls to its knees, then collapses down onto its side, half in the lake and half out.

As her arrow finds some small space left untouched, Eiris stops moving after her arrow buries home. The Rovehn lets her bow drop down and she stills, standing in the tall grass of the Vale. She catches her breath, taking her time to try to relieve the pinch of her armor on her chest. She rolls a shoulder and winces, her hand pressing again to her sore torso. THat said, she stares at the collapsing form and lets a wry smile quirk her lips. Her hand lifts to remove the visor from her face, pushing it up as she then drags the helmet off, freeing her wild hair that has come free of the half braid down her back.

A sigh of relief left Talynne as she slipped her bow back over her shoulder and looked down at Eiris, flipping her face cover back with her unwounded hand. "You ok, Ris? And nice shot." Winking down to her, Talynne cradled her arm to her chest as she spoke, then glanced over. "Can you get back up on the horse? We need to head over there and see why these Hostiles were so willing to stick around to the bitter end for their item."

Although he can see the Hostile go down before he gets there, Sammel doesn't slow down. Shaking his head at the part about what the equipment is, he shakes his head a bit, "Not sure. Must be something important, though."

Ioan squints, knowing there's not much he can do with the hostile. He braces himself for the coming attack that never actually hits. When he opens his eyes he watches as the hostile falls. "Good job, whoever just shot him." He says, there's a bit of pain coming from his voice as he looks down to see what kind of damage he's received. "Hey, Becca." Ioan says as she comes to help. "I'm not sure what this is, but it's ours now. Perhaps we can get something useful out of it."

Hengroen comes over to sniff at Solon after all the commotion seems to die down. Rubbing the horse's neck, Solon begins the arduous process of mounting the animal. By the time he manages to do it, he's huffing and puffing. Pushing his visor up, Solon can be seen wincing slightly as he guides his horse over to Eiris and Talynne. "That was a magnificent shot to fell that final Hostile, My Lady. I do hope that neither of you suffered any grievious injuries. You are welcome to come to Phylon for any treatment you may require."

Rebecca grunts as the equipment is finally on shore again. "Looks like one of their shelters. Sir Nikomachos, I can ride back to Phylon and get some crawlers out here to move it back to the capital," she offers, "If someone can patch up my dearly beloved here."

Nikomachos pulls up from his headlong charge toward the last surviving Hostile as it becomes a Hostile corpse. The squires come up from behind, finishing off any Hostiles still clinging to life. Niko's squire brings over the Valen's lance and a cloth to wipe the blood from his sword, the youth still mounted on his own destrier. Taking the cloth, Nikomachos nods to Rebecca, starting to respond, then blinks once, "Wait a moment… if these eight came from the lake… that means that there's a good chance that there are more that survived the landing down there…" And under his quick guidance, Erinye begins to step back away from the lakeshore. "Ah… Sol… we may want to retreat, actually. Lest we discover we've poked the hornet's nest… there could be up to a thousand Hostiles under there."

Turning to look up at Talynne, Eiris nods and gives a whistle to the mare who is still taking its time in plodding back to her. Waiting, she glances up at Cindravale's heir and shakes her head, a strained smile to follow. "No, nothing that we likely can not survive, my lord, thank you though. For your help. It was not I alone that brought down the hostile, I think you find quite a few arrows in him." She adds this softly and then reaches up for the sattle, dragging herself up onto the back of her mare with a gasping grunt, setting her helmet onto the pommel. She glances over at the two. "Let us go find out…and then we can grace Phylon with our injured selves."

Solon offers Eiris a polite nod, before turning and guiding his mount alongside Niko's. "You are right. Let us go back to Phylon and patch up our wounds from this little encounter. I must say, it was quite pleasureable to fight alongside you once again. I have missed it." He reaches over, wincing as he does so, to clasp Niko's shoulder. Straightening back up, he speaks slightly louder. "Let us depart from the scene for now. We are victorious, and each and every one of you played a critical role in this victory. I am proud to have fought beside you. Now, to Phylon!" With that, he begins to head in that direction.

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