Sentinels and Saviors [CRP]

[Andy]

"Ah, Renata, there you are," Tiras turned towards the sound of her voice. He was always glad of the remarkable clarity he could hear her with. It appeared her subordinates were off to strip the treasury. Good. Wars were never won on heart, but full stomachs and fat wallets. He felt assured that her boys could strip the prison of money in short order. Food might take several days. "So, I've made a somewhat disquieting discovery. I found Lennox's sword, cloak, and coat here, in the commander's office. I've seen neither hide nor hair of Lennox himself, but he was definitely here. I don't suppose you've found him?"

"Before that, though, I'm curious to know your thoughts," Tiras began walking towards the front gate, beckoning her to follow him. "The gate was open to this place, and the guards were standing about outside. The garrison was relaxing in the night air. Why?"

[Alusq]

"He's right..." Renata turned to point at Lennox, but he was no longer there. "Well, he was here a moment ago... Lennox!" She paced around a bit and called after him. "Probably gone to fetch it himself," she grumbled. She couldn't imagine him going anywhere without that cursed sword of his, whether it be because of the power the sword gave him or the endeavour of making sure it didn't fall into anyone else's hands. "He'll turn up."

Wait, why is Tiras going back to the front... gate. She remembered the fortuitous miracle that had let them enter the prison complex so easily as soon as Tiras spoke. "Well... Like you said... They were expecting someone?" She stood deep in thought as she answered with another question. "But... to receive a caravan so late at night... Something secret? Couldn't be a trap— lousy trap, if it were... Perhaps they underestimated us?" It didn't make sense to her. The Empire, from her experience, never underestimated dissent. Maybe they hadn't expected such cohesion from rebels... but then, was their group really all that cohesive? How had they won this fortress so easily? "I have no idea, Tiras." She admitted defeat. Now that she thought about it, Renata wished they could just take the loot and run, but it wasn't that simple anymore. Assuming even half the prisoners joined the band of rebels, they would need supplies. They would need to build proper camps, going forward. They would need every ounce of food in this fortress and a means to transport it. No, the combing of Traitor's End was only just starting.

[Swift_Assassin]

Lennox found himself back in the courtyard. With all of his equipment and gear back and then some, there was only one thing left for Lennox to discover here. He was back at the captains body. The body was still there, face still covered in the whisky he poured out on his face. Lennox knelt down beside him and grabbed his arm to look at his hand. Gauntlet. He pried the gauntlet off to discover more proof. This man had an Hyperion signet ring on his index finger. Lennox slipped the ring off the finger and slipped the ring into his pocket. "Sorry cousin. If only you could have talked this out with me, perhaps this wouldn't be your fate. I'll make sure this makes its way back home, so you won't be forgotten to history as a bastard of our line."

Lennox drew Dyrnwyn and ignited the blade, causing a bit of a commotion amongst Tiras' men. He then thrust the blade into the mans chest, spreading the fire from the sword to the corpse. When the blade's fire went out, he secured it onto his back once more and stepped away and closed his eyes, muttering a small prayer to St. Elimine. He wasn't particularly religious, but this man was kin. He deserved that much, even if he was a bastard or a follower of the Emperor's cult. "Hopefully Ludwig will accept you in the beyond. He was always kind to me, so he should be kind to you, too."

Lennox looked around and saw one of Tiras' men. "You! Lead me to Tiras. We need to discuss something."

[Andy]

"I don't know either, Renata," Tiras said, setting his chin in his palm. "Leaving the gate open, lounging about outside? Given the seriousness of the chief warden, I'm not certain why or even if he would let the garrison act like idiots, but then, I only knew in for a maximum of five minutes." He shrugged. His shoulders made soft clicks as they settled back in place. "I can guess a couple of reasons, though. And I like none of them." He turned to the groups of his fighters around them. Little torches and lamps had been lit, and some illumination was restored to the gloom. He saw some of the fighters with bows and arrows. "You there! Archers!" The group jolted up, turning to the sound of his voice. "Get up on the walls! Keep a lookout on the road! Report any traffic you see!"

As the archers saluted and hurried to obey, he turned to another group of his men with swords, maces, and some armor on them. "And you!" Their turn to jolt to alertness and face him. "All of you, shut the gates until we're ready to leave, then join the archers on the walls! If you find any cauldrons of boiling water or sand, keep them prepared for use! Move!"

He turned towards the inward section of the prison and saw a recently freed prisoner, a woman, with the build of a commoner or a scholar, and clearly wearing only a just-long-enough-to-be-decent shirt. "You!" She startled with fright. Tiras somewhat understood, he probably sounded like one of her jailers. "Bring everyone who was a prisoner here." He gave her a once-over. "As soon as you find something for your legs and feet." She nodded and ran off.

Just then, a familiar figure emerged from the gloom, led by a rather intimidated one of his men. "Lennox. It's good to see you're still among the living."

[Alusq]

"I'll see to it we're armed," Renata said before springing into action. If they'd been caught in a trap, their window of time to do something about it would be small indeed. She made her way to a temporary camp site that had been set up in the prison yard by the rogues who'd been sent to comb the complex of its supplies. "What's our count so far?" she asked her man Isidro, who was hobbling up to the camp hauling a large chest with a few others.
"Found a larder," he replied. "Seems low. Grain for... with our numbers now... a day, maybe two with rationing... Few chickens— keep the pace up, you dolts!" The chest hit the ground with a thud. "'Whole damn chest', aye?"
"Arms and armour?" Renata asked pointedly.
"Aside from what the guards were wearing... Hells, you can't be serious, Miss Renata!" Knowing what she was about to ask, Isidro began following after her as she went back to where Tiras and Lennox were. "We must leave as soon as we can! We're a raiding force, not a garrison!"
"Leave, and then fall into a trap? No," Renata replied. "Get together a crack troop— let's go for fourty, but as many as we can possibly outfit. I want all looting stopped until we're ready for battle." It was unrealistic to expect even that number ready in quick order, but Renata held onto hope that there were enough former prisoners raring for revenge to bolster their ranks sooner rather than later. Hell, it's even more unrealistic to ask thieves to stop looting.

Isidro stammered for a second, giving Renata and then Tiras a quizzical glare, before nodding and steeling himself. He ran back to the camp shouting for the brigands and thieves to form up. "It'll be shock tactics, right?" Renata asked Tiras, seeking his approval. "I don't think we've enough archers to deny them the walls. If they're coming... If they set up a siege, we're already finished. No one's coming to our aid. We'll have to catch them while they're setting up." She turned to Lennox. "Do..." No, she would not ask her friend to sortie from a fortress as his first act of freedom from the prison within it. "Do you have any ideas, Lennox?"

[Swift_Assassin]

"Some would disagree, I'm sure," Lennox said coming to a stop in front of Tiras as Renata was directing traffic. He reached down the coat and felt a lump. He reached a bit for a pocket, not seeing one on the outside. He opened it a bit and found an inner pocket. "Oh..."He reached in and took out some dried meats. He sniffed it a bit, and it smelt fine, so he took a bite out of it. "Forgive me. They haven't fed me since I got here. Anyway, I discovered something," he said, taking out the journal. He passed it to Tiras. "I found this coat and journal where the rest of my stuff was stowed. Apparently you killed a cousin on mine. A bastard cousin, but a cousin none the less. This coat is his. He almost got the color right, but it's just a little off. He had this signet ring and that was the geniune article, so I don't think he was misled. Not holding it against you, I would've killed him too given the situation."

He sighed a bit, before continuing. "Oh yes, the journal. I didn't read the last few pages, but he may have logged some vital intel in there. Give it a read and give it back. He may have deprived me of food for three days, but Hyperion blood ran in his veins." He turned to Renata trying to come up with a defensive plan. She turned asking for ideas. "I got one. Dress your archers in the enemies armor. Put them on the walls and keep the gate open. Don't let them know the fort is captured. Stage fighters outside and inside the fort. Start letting them in and if you can drop oil or scalding water on the people under the gate, do it when the are halfway through. That would cause chaos in the ranks and signal the attack. The archers can start firing on the soldiers and the infantry can ambush from both sides. They won't have time to form ranks. If you can find some large rocks, find some willing prisoners and hide them above so they can toss the rocks on the enemies heads."

"But that's just my idea."

[Andy]

"Then I hope you won't be too offended if I disregard it entirely," Tiras replied almost cheerfully.

"Uh, sir?" Tiras turned. It was the woman prisoner from before. She had on pants this time, and a cloak, to go with her shirt, side-buckled shoes, and it looked like a green-colored book. Huh. She was an actual mage, not just a dissenter. Excellent. She'd brought all the prisoners that hadn't cut and run out the postern, which was most of them. They'd helped his men strip the guards' bodies and line them up, then equipped themselves in the gear.

"Line up! Rows and columns!" Tiras shouted, turning his body fully to face them. He was commander now. The ex-prisoners tried, and partially succeeded, forming a patchwork lattice of people that had no true shape. "Very good. This was your first command. I am Sir Tiras Howarth. I was knighted with the dying breath of Sir Adrian Verde, and I am a veteran of the war a few years back. Sir Adrian and I disagreed with the razing of the Tower of the Saint, and deserted. You, by virtue of staying here with us instead of using the opportunity to flee, are now under my command." He indicated Renata.

"This is Lady Renata. She has the honor of being my second-in-command. If she gives you a command, follow it. She is formerly of the Preservation Church, so she knows firsthand how nasty they can be, and has joined me in rebelling against them, and against the unjust monster that occupies the throne of our country!" At this, there were a few cheers. "Now, currently I have a suspicion that there is a force on its way here. Do any of you have any idea what is coming here?" A few moments of silence followed.

"I might know," a burly man said, breaking the silence. "I've been here a week and a half, and I overheard the guards complaining one night. Something about transporting prisoners. I don't remember much else of the conversation."

Tiras nodded. I suspected as much. 'Traitor's End' doesn't seem to be where the prisoners stay. But where are they being transported to? And why? "Thank you for that information." He thought about what to do. I'll be damned. I might have to take back what I said to Lennox. The humor of the Fates aside, Tiras needed to figure out what to do with these new recruits. 

"Alright. Half of you, when that force comes in, are going to block off the gateway to the inner bailey," he said, running his arm across the middle of the assembled group. He picked which half, and they scurried quickly to do as he said. "You are to hold that line. Let no one pass without my say-so." He turned to the other half. "The rest of you, divide into two groups and occupy the shadows in the two corners beside the gate. When I give the order, you are to attack. The archers will fire first, just mop up the rest. Understood?" The group indicated 'yes' in various ways. "Hop to it, then. Go!"

As the did, he turned to Renata and Lennox. "Come, we'll greet this transport force from the tower, so I can also inform the archers. Oh, and Lennox, apologies. Your plan wasn't as unmeritable as I thought at the first."

They went into the gatehouse and climbed up to the walls.

[Alusq]

From atop the wall, Renata peered out into the darkness from between Tiras and Lennox, tho she had no hope of actually seeing anything. It was some consolation that anyone approaching the fortress wouldn't be able to see her either, exposed as she felt. She suddenly wished for some proper armour and felt a pang of wistfulness for her inquisitor garb, which had all long been broken or pawned off by now. Not that it had been nearly as protective as the armour of a soldier who expected to actually see full-scale battle. Perhaps she should've taken one of the watchmen's bows... No, it was more useful in the hands of the men lying in wait to ambush the enemy. She'd barely ever used one but for hunting in the first place. A breeze picked up.

"So, Lennox... Must've been some bar fight, aye?" Renata could not keep quiet, her speech shedding all propriety. Every minute spent staring into the darkness felt like an hour. This was just about as stressful as the prison raid itself had been. "The girl you were traveling with, last we saw you— she make off alright?" At least their enemy was human this time. But does that make it better or worse?

[Swift_Assassin]

Lennox was a bit amused by the initial rebuking of his plan. He doesn't realize that the Hyperions are a line of martial nobles. They are more than just warriors, but at least two members of the family were amongst part of the famed Three Generals of Etruria, with one being the Great General and one being the Knight General, with another only passed over due politics. Sure, no Hyperions had reached those lofty heights since King Zephiel's war, but that didn't mean that they were any less educated. He just stood back and let Tiras conscript his fellow prisoners into his ragtag band. He's tossing around Sir Verde's name around a lot. Hmmm...He risks wearing the name thin. He's holding onto it like a crutch. He needs to hold himself up by his own merit, not secondhand merit. Unless..., Lennox shook the thought from his head. He couldn't be lying about it.

Lennox turned to to Renata as Tiras introduced her. He looked back at the group and noticed a couple people looking at him. They must've wanted to know who he was that he didn't fall in line with the others, especially since he was treated worse than the others were these last couple days. His eyes narrowed and he quickly gestured to look at Tiras, as he was still addressing the group. When Tiras didn't introduce Lennox, it made perfect sense to him. He was a mercenary, an Etrurian noble. Tiras made no offer of being part of his group, so there was no reason to introduce him as part of the group.

The noble stifled a chuckle as he heard the orders. It wasn't quite like his plan, but it did adopt a few elements that Lennox thought were key to implement. When Tiras apologized, he couldn't hold it. "That's fine. Mine was a bit more reckless, you just tempered it a bit."

---------------------------------------------------

Waiting for the enemy was a slow thing. Especially not knowing for sure if there is an enemy. It was a bit easier for him as he ate and drank on the wall. He needed to get as much of his energy back as he could before the fight. Renata broke the silence. "Yeah. Got a table broken over my back. So then I gave the guy a release bernese suplex over the counter. I think ten or so bottles fell on the guy. I also don't think he made it. Then someone struck me in the face with buckler. I was out briefly, and when I came too, Lycian soldiers had spears at my neck as another soldier was burning alive trying to pick up Dyrnwyn. My cousin did some stuff around Pharae and Santaruz, so I think they saw someone with a similar hair color and outfit color and mistaken me for him. They forced me to help them strap Dyrnwyn to my back for transport and dragged me here."

"As for Raye, she....disappeared. I think she made a turn when I went straight. We weren't in a talking mood, and I was still kinda thinking about Valor, so I wasn't focusing on the fact that I didn't hear her footsteps," Lennox shrugged. "I tried going separate ways when I first found her and then she followed me to that boat. I decide she's sticking with me and she wanders off. Go figure."