[HQ Ignorance] Re : Scene 56: The Battle for Segurane City

[Loran]

Several times, Azhur listened careful the message send by the invaders, then he tried to decipher all the last news that the old Banner of Red Valor could deliver on its worn fabric : the flood was quite successful, Aalmon was gone, trying to buy  some relief from the mercenaries and Icthya’s direction was… unclear. “As usual” sighted Azhur.


Bearing a humble cassock of simple liturgist, he then went to a closed meeting where City’s castes main representatives (including a new representation for the women), military staff of Segurane, ecclesiastic authorities of the New Reformed Church of Rokar and other Talor's fellowship members were discussing, some with agitation and fear. He jumped on a chair to use it as an improvised pulpit and asked for attention:
- “Leaders of Segurane! As I predicted, you now feel the vampires looming above us, he began with a contained energy. After the gorp vomited by our prisoner, this is the second manifestation of the great Evil to come, the sign of the ultimate Adversary of the Creator, the permanent, unholy and spoiling mark of the Devil! Thanks to our alliance with the aldryami, the abomination of walking dead legions has been discarded by the revolt of your protecting Deu river awaken by elvish magic… Now, if anyone here could still be in danger to fall, seduced by boristi sophisms, we all have to keep in mind a very basic fact: by a not so strange coincidence, and I must add, very fortunate for our enemies, this night isn’t any holy moment for the malkioni faith, but the great holy night of a demon called Vivamort, mythical traitor to Creation and now bane of all living fleshes. Keep focused on this evidence, such are the saints that our enemies are now praying
 and praising!”

His glance swept across the assembly, looking for sign of doubt, denial or anger against him, noting for himself any possible face failing to hide some secret allegiance. To avoid growing despair, he continued his sermon with a softened voice:
- “ As I already told you, you are not only fighting for your own life and honor and those of your families... You are not only fighting to save your own Essence and those of your families… this wouldn’t be the hardest test for our faith… We are now fighting for the fate of this land.. your land… we are now fighting for the example we will leave in History… Only the winner writes History and we will not let the Devil writes in its own chronicles ‘Today, here in Seshnela, I have begun my feast on humanity!’

He smiled to the assembly as he was feeling sincere hope in the apparently random but in fact positive fitting of disparate events:
- “But fear not my friends! As long as the Creator has His full and whole place in your heart, He will never leave His creatures without resources against the Arch-Enemy… We still have unexpected strengths waiting the right moment to strike and I can assure you that the intentions of Our Creator are absolute and His weapons prepared since a long time… Only the most foolish can forget the lessons of the past when good King Gerlant cleansed his land with his sacred fire! For now the only thing we have to do is to save time, let the tide turn and wait for the sign of God! You will recognize it easily as it will be plainly exposed on the faces of these heretics! It will be the horrified grimace of the damned when he learns his judgment. Apparently, the invaders ignores that bad King Guillarm already met his fate, abandoned by God and condemned to be devoured by humble rats… We will not instruct our enemy on this divine signal… Let’s continue
 these parlays… Let pass this cursed night and if, tomorrow, the sun set again, a new power will raise, pushed by the hand of God Himself!”

During a moment, Azhur let the assembly splitting up in a multitude of impassioned discussions and addressed to members of the city council near him:
- “I advise you to send a simple answer, apparently obvious but in fact saying nothing and obliging a lot, like: ‘Yes, the authorities of Segurane accept the principle of negotiation on the unification with Nolos and Pasos, as proposed. Qualified representatives of the rokari Noble Caste from Nolos and Pasos should present themselves at the main gate, tomorrow, at the first hour of the day. The rest of the troops is authorized to camp in the clearings in front of the city, outside one flight of arrows from the walls.’”

Azhur made sure that his words were well taken and commented:
- “By these words, we avoid inviting any sorcerers inside our walls. I also bet that they will have difficulty to find in their armies any member of a noble house that will be able to pass the test of nobility and faith as defined by Saint Rokar without being immediately designed as heretic, but even if they succeed, these envoys will be then kept, well locked against treachery, for future and honorable negotiations with Pasos and Nolos… In between the wrath of the Creator will have struck and our chivalry will have charged in the glorious light of the day just into these -so-well-placed- open spaced clearings, thanks to our elvish allies! Our knights and footmen should prepare for battle in the secret of our buildings while we faint a frightened attitude on our walls. I think that they will wait a night to get without effort the ripe fruit of their schemes without engaging their already challenged forces. They have other enemies from Ralios and
 Arolanit to fight and they need fresh new troops. After all, a living willing knight is much more effective than a stupid zombie… They will thus waste the cursed effects of their holy night’s ceremonies.”

Finally from his sitting again he proposed:
- “Now let’s pray for the victory of virtue over sin! Please my lord bishop, tell to the assembly the right words of Saint Rokar that will strengthen our courage and determination!”

There Azhur stepped back, feeling no confidence in no church’s specific prayer and finding once again the great loss of his youth’s faith… but this he didn’t show it and he kept thinking “Duty, Chivalry and Equality is my credo…”.

OOC:
I never interpreted a monotheistic priest... interesting impression.
Loran

----- Message d'origine ----
De : Lev Lafayette <lev_lafayette at yahoo.com.au>
À : HeroQuest Glorantha <ignorance at mimesisrpg.com>
Envoyé le : Jeudi, 28 Février 2008, 14h34mn 20s
Objet : [HQ Ignorance] Scene 56: The Battle for Segurane City

Scene 56: The Battle for Segurane City

In front of Segurane City gathered the unholy host.
First there was some three hundred score militia from
Nolos, lightly armoured pikemen who looked somewhat
uncomfortable this far from the ocean's edge. Flanking
them to the east was one hundred and fifty score
mercenaries, many whom have been in Nolos' employ for
years, a rag-tag collection of hardened warriors from
many lands, some with significant magical abilities as
well. Behind the militia, seventy five score of
vampires and wizards many of who had taken now to
flight and were surveying the city's defenses creating
great fear among the population.

Within the walls, Anzhur surveyed the forces present.
The city, although depleted in numbers, was still
defensible. On an open battlefield, it was clear that
the sheer weight of numbers would mean their defeat,
but here - here there was a chance, if not of victory,
at the very least of a stalemate and forcing
Theoblanc's army into adopting a seige position. As
expected, a militia soldier from the army outside the
gates had brought a message. The message condemned
Guilmarn for failing his faith by living a debauched
life, an immorality which now made itself present by
his inability to defend the Kindom of Seshnela from
outside invasion. The missive argued that power should
be given to the faithful who could not only defend the
Kingdom but re-unite with the historical lands of
Nolos and Pasos.

Some leagues south, on the other side of the Deu
River, Icthya and a small group of allies had
infiltrated the scattered remains of the undead army,
dressed in the clothes of the undead. Taking the
appearance of a company they managed with relative
ease to dispatch numerous stragglers [roll 11 vs roll
20, with +15 bonus to Icthya's group - this is a very
simple task, so a critical success vs a critical
failure - total defeat for the stragglers]. Dozens
fell to their subterfuge until they found themselves
on the southern banks of the Deu with the rear of the
undead army on the other side of the river.

To the west, Aalmon Far Rider, with subterfuge magics
and bearing a large quantity of gold, penetrated the
other mercenary army under a flag of truce, with the
trollkin following. He is taken to a three who are
introduced to him as representatives of some of the
mercenary army - others are further a-field. All give
the appearance of long-standing mercenary soldiers.
The largest of the three, Sir Reinhaart, dressed in
black iron plate armour and with a great black bushy
beard questions Aalmon with mocking bellows. "So this
is one third of what the City of Segurane offers if we
leave them alone? That would mean that two-thirds
still remains within the walls - and we have at least
half a chance of getting that if we don't betray our
paymasters, right? And you say that many of the undead
have been swept away? Well, good for them, they were
cannon-fodder anyway. Better the old stinkin' bones
than us. So tell me, courier, I have never broken a
contract in my career. Why should I start now? And
tell me more, what loss do I incur if I simply take
this gold as a bonus and be done with you?" Yet
despite this intimidation however, Aalmon could see
that the Reinhaart was genuinely interested in
learning more. [roll of 3 vs roll of 11]


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