Breaking The Line

    The adventurers have been slowly pulling the size of the massive force down bit by bit, with every attack they do on a patrol, and Auther having to request more men from Hector who has been standing here in the front of the line.

Yet his company's numbers have dwindled to now maybe about hundred strong, a skeleton crew in his mind to continue to hold this position. In the back of his mind they should pull back to a safe line, but no order has come.

No word to withdraw to regroup. No orders of any kind and so they have held the line. Turning back small forces that have poke and prodded them from all directions in the front. The only saving grace that Hector has come to has been the binder gift that his queen has sent him. These, Phalanx binder troops, that are only four in number strong have been a boon, however-- He is not even sure how long that will last.

After all, she could have sent the whole group she has in the back, but only four. To make matters worse is that the people of the land no longer attack at night, making his vampiric troops weak and easier to deal with. All this heavy armor binder can do is lean against the makeshift fortifications they have and stare off into the distance.

    Even as one of his lieutenant walks up to him, he does not break his gaze toward the city. "Sir! Our scouts have picked up movement coming from the city. It looks like they are planning a possible full on assault on our position."

Hector's hand creaks against his armored body as his hand tightens on the metal plates. "And no word for our Lady nor Auther?"

    "No sir. There has been no messengers and nor have we been able to get any word to them." The lieutenant lowers his head. "I-- fear we are alone out here sir... The other commanders know it as well, but none of us have said a word."

"Keep it that way," Hector says lowly as he goes to rise up to his feet. "There is no reason to break morale anymore than what it already is." There was a low hum in the helmet, a sigh almost, as he brings his hand down to pat the vampire commander's shoulder. "Get the men ready. This may be our very last battle together.... But hear me on this." His armored head turns and looks down at his lieutenant. "Should you see your men waning or even yourself. Retreat. Do not stay and battle. Retreat in full."

"And you sir?" He asks.

"... Just do as I order. This is not a request. It is an order. If this battle claims to many lives. Retreat."

    The lieutenant lowers his head. His eyes searching the ground, before he nods his head. "As you command, Sir-- and Sir?" Hector turns to look at him. "It-- It has been an honor sir."

"And you as well..."

==============================================================================

    People of the Land forces, along with adventurers from all over have come to the heed the call. It was time to break the hold on the southern route and push back the scourge who dare have been challenging this position.

As all come marching, with the sunrise moving into the sky, it casts light on the misty field, where the undead have made their foothold.

    The Undead all stand at ready, soldiers on foot with swords and shields. Those on skeleton horseback and archers that have taken positions not only in the back, but also up on makeshift watch towers. Blazers burn near the archers, an old military tactic to light arrows on fire.

Mixed among these group of undead soldiers were some oddities. Four binder troops that stood out from the rest of mix company. They held spears and round shields. Their armor more roman line, match in similar style to that of the Knight Harvester. In the front of all these forces however was a much taller Binder. A massive war hammer being held in his hands as he steps to the front.

    He stares out at the forces before him, before he calls out to the landers and adventurers alike. "Come! People of the land and adventurer alike! Come at us! Let us all test our steel in battle!" His troops roar behind him, as they then bang their weapons on their shields, with a 'cry out' to follow in the middle. Then the massive binder continues as he points his hammer at the group, "We are the children of the forgotten land! We are the sons and daughters who have been erased from history! But you will now know our names! You will know now the taste of our power! We fight for our country, our kingdom, and our queen, Helena Lethe!"

After Hector makes his call, one of the Lander commanders looks at his troops, to the adventurers and then makes the motion as he roars out, "ATTACK!!" And the landers go charging ahead on Peko and on foot.

Hector turns to his own men and points forward with his massive steel armor. "MEN! FORWARD FOR THE QUEEN AND OUR FUTURE!" Then his own men go rushing on horseback and on foot, as the archers all get ready to take aim with their burning arrows.

        [ BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AFdwoyNT24 ]

    While some of the Landers were wary of it, Giganpor was there on his Nightmare steed. His massive hammer-axe weapon he was becoming good with now in hand. The metal weapon is pointed downwards at first, but as it comes time to charge, he easily moves it to where he can be prepared to charge.

    Seeing the Harvester-like members in their forces, he notes them in the armor and comments before the charge, "Those look like the thing before. Adventurers, target the phalanx in different armor. Do not let them get to the Landers." Giganpor's voice is raised on that one.

    The call to battle is given, and while Giganpor is no leader, he can raise his own battle cry, "FOR FREEDOM!"

    Then he's off in a charge on Nightmare-back, bringing his weapon down so the spear point is going to skewer Undead he comes across, not to mention the trampling from the Nightmare he's on as well.

    Merek takes the time to prepare all of his gear, while he begins to attach the potions to his belt, then he takes the hood of his attire to pull it up. There's a shift of the Shadow Eclipse, while he begins taking that into a hand, "Alright," he notes, then he begins to charge forward along the lines. "We should probably take out Hector's archers." The weapon is pointed forward.

Uta, by now, has gotten her technique down to an art. Sneak onto the scene of the battle with the aid of magical darkness and racial skills, medical-grade inspect everyone, take note of important names, icons, or status effects.

"Just what /is/ the name of your kingdom?", Uta mutters to herself. "No wonder nobody knows it if you never, I don't know, mention it?"

And once again, her first attack is magical in nature, from a distance. Differently from before, though, she doesn't launch it while squatting in the bush, but she first jumps out of the bush, and sneak-runs towards the rest of the Adventurer force, staff pointed sideways at the enemy. An aria is sung, polychrome tendrils of light dance around it, and when the song hits the right high note, a blast of lightis directed towards the phalanx in different armor, as Giganpor ordered.

"Ok, folks, for those who haven't done any inspection, here's the intelligence briefing. Main forces are around the same levvel, if not a little higher. There are four binders who are higher level than the normal forces. The big guy is called Hector DeVarn The Just , and is boss-tier alone."

And so it has come to this, another battle. This one is going to be far larger than the last. Kaydon stands, arms folded across his chest, as he watches the forces build on both sides. No one was really going to win this battle, but he would do his best to ensure that the victory, as pyrrhic as it may be, went to the Landers.

"I am going after their leader."

He says this to any around him, Lander or Adventurer alike. Because he knows if you cut the head off of the snake, the body will die. And perhaps this one will be more talkative. He doubts it, however. These commanders have been loyal to a fault. It's like fighting members of a cult.

He chooses no mount, using his were fang speed to move across the battlefield as the charge begins. He doesn't even have his sword drawn, instead leaping over enemies, vaulting over obstacles, and moving straight for Hector. There's a look in his eyes, like the beast he resembles. Something wild. Clearly Kaydon has an objective, and there's little in this world or any other that can stop him once he's focused on a target.

    While she had not been able to yet rediscover the location of the Misty Ruins castle Shiruba has been able to piece together several other small but important pieces of information. The one most relevant to now was noticing how much of a focus of the Undead Army had been on the more northern areas of the Dominion, particularly ones focused on farming.

    When the leaders of the Merchant Blades and Peko Army made it known they were ready to actually strike back rather than simply defend, the Guild Leader of the Silver Swords presented this knowledge to them, and suggested marching on a more southern location in hopes it would be less heavily defended.
    That would also push their influence away from the capital city and its trade routes, which both leaders agreed was a good idea. March on the south, with the rising of the sun to cripple the vampiric enemies. Drive the enemy away from the southern trade routes and show they were willing to fight for their land and freedom, Lander and Adventurer alike.

=============

That all brings us to here and now, and the two forces coming to their initial clash. From here it looks like their strategy had been relatively correct, with the southern line being less manned due to the focus on the north and the numerous raids the Adventurers had been able to strike down.

    Shiruba hops off the Peko Army unit she had been riding with, so they can make their charge into the fray. She needs to stay back where she can properly support the forces with her superiority in ranged combat.

    Almost immeadiately her eyes fall on the watchtowers. Even with lessened enemy numbers and the rising sun to aid them, archers with a high vantage point would still be dangerous. Something to keep in mind, though from even here she would have difficulty striking them accurately.

    The wolfgirl stalks off admist the thunderous charge on the main line, keeping her fair distance as she considers the order of her fellow Lead. Take down the more dangerous enemy before they can devestate the Lander forces, yes, that is logical strategy.

    Shiruba nocks an arrow, takes aim at one of the Phallanx Binders, and fires. It electrifies mid-air, turning into a lightning bolt of fury that will hopefully be able to shock its way through that heavier animate armor.

    A slow breath and Amelia Theodore steels herself for the battle to come.
    A slow breath and the old Paladin clears herself of the jitters of nervousness and pre-war adrenaline.
    A slow breath and Amalthea is ready.
    In the span of three deep, cleansing, breaths the silver-haired Odysseia Knight draws her blade and straps her shield to her arm.
    "This is it. The moment we've been waiting for." She says, loud and clarion. "This is the moment we take the fight back to the undead and show them what we're made of, Adventurers and People of the Land, together."
    The old paladin's expression hardens as she tightens her grip on the blade in her hand.
    "Expect no quarter. Give none in return. And for crimeney's sake try not to get yourself killed, kids."
    The dead begin their charge. The Landers start rush forward.
    With a speed that belies her age, the old knight rushes the battle lines, blade flashing in hand as she crashes herself shield first into the line, battering and bludgeoning anything in her path as she rushes towards the first heavy Binder she can find and engages with a ferocity and prejudice that borders on righteous zeal.

    Setsuna watches the undead legion infront of them and squats down a moment to draw out a quick plan on the ground and is about to speak up hoping to say something before Giganpor gives his own plan of attack, attack. Standing up Setsuna watches the group for a moment before looking over at Uta. "Thank you , now I know who to write my thank you letter too. " Stepping forward as he raises his staff into the air and gives it a small spin as if he is gathering something, "I summon you , spirit of nature, lash out and zap my enemy!" With a spark of electricity a small streak of lightning jumps towards the first binder in his range.

Goldenblade is a bit concerned, and she asks those nearby her, "Uh. Do they -know- they're dead? Or is that just scriptwriting mimicking normal pre-battle pep talks?" But both sides are charging now, and it's not like her to be left behind. Distinctly not shouting, she's saving her breath, she rushes in as well. She can't keep up with Giganpor on his horse, she'll hang back with the infantry, fighting with both blades, steel gleaming dully as she advances with the group.

At Uta's news that we're attacking Hector DeVarn The Just, and his first question is, 'Just what?'. Then she wonders, if he's 'The Just', are /we/ unjust? She seems to remember an undead horde coming out of the ... where did they come from, anyhow? And then just conquering other people. Well, we're opposing them now, so the questions probably don't matter. She follows behind, with the group attacking the binders, whirling and slashing, blades biting into the undead and sapping .... unlife?

    The people of the land's forces charge in and go slamming into Hector's own. Several of the vampires and skeletons riding on horse back are knocked right off. A few more get cut down. The opening battle is a messy one, but it is a battlefield for sure and once they all start to mingle, it is hard to tell who has what in an upper hand.

As Giganpor goes charging in on his faithful nightmare, one of the vampires on their skeleton horse goes to meet him directly on, with sword drawn and attempts to take a passing swing!

==============================================================================

    The Adventurer's turn their attention on the Phalanx Binders in fear that they will raise soldiers on the field into more undead to keep the battle one sided.

Shiruba's arrow flies true, as it slams into one of the Binder's causing it to take a step back, as electrical current runs along its body. Amalthea comes rush in and finds her own blade being parried by one of the Binder's, before she may have to avoid the metal creature trying to kick her back all roman 300 style.

As Setsuna attempts to cast another bolt of electricty, the binders move from the location, and like Shiruba, will have to avoid the archers from the back line who take aim and fire. Merek then moves in, as his cursed blade cuts a deep gash into the roman-like binder, before the metal construct to turn around swiftly and attempt jab its spear directly into Merek.

Goldenblade comes in, with blades twirling, her swords cut into the armor of the large binder, which causes the metal monster to stagger back, but then the beast moves in and goes to use its shield to bash her back.

As Uta summons tendrils, one of the binders uses its spear to parry, along with shield to block, before it then leaps up into the air, and comes spear down like some type rocket directly at her location!

==============================================================================

    Kaydon moves across the battlefield swiftly. Enemies attempt to stop him, but his eyes are locked onto what he really wants: Hector.

The Werefang jumps out from the battle and goes directly for the near seven foot binder. Hector having very little time to react, raises up his battle weapon in defense, as Kaydon's own blade slams down hard on the staff of the two-handed battleaxe, that look to be a hammer in the distance.

    The weapons lock for a moment, before Kaydon's own bestial rage pushes past the defense, causes Hector to slide back a bit as the air between them seems to almost explode, and causes the knight's cape to bellow out from behind him. "You come to challenge me? Alone? I am impressed and I will give you such an honor!" Hector says as he then shifts his own weapon and gives the axe a swing directly for Kaydon.

        [ Shiruba, Setsuna vs 8]
        [ NPC, Giganpor vs 7 ]
        [ Amalthea, Goldenblade, Uta, Merek vs 8 ]
        [ Kaydon vs 10 ]

    Merek pulls back the hood while he swings about with the weapon to lift a hand up, bringing the Divine Shield along in front of him to deflect the swing of the spear from the binder. With the firebrand in the weapon swinging along into it, he then begins to draw upon his magical abilities, then he swings a firebolt into the binder. "What are you doing!?" he calls then to Kaydon while he fights with Hector. He then looks to the party, "I'm maneuvering into a close range, would you use the bow to cover if you can, Shiruba?"

    Shiruba had taken note of the archer positions and the watchtowers as she advanced, and already calculated that into her strategy. As soon as she made her shot she was making herself a moving target. She knew what trajectory shots were likely to be coming from and swiftly weaves her way around the battle to avoid them. A few come close though, thunking the ground just barely on her heels and narrowly taking a tuff of hair off her tail.

    Eventually she skids to a stop, turning to glance over the battle and nodding to Merek. "He's keeping the boss off our backs." Or that would be her guess. It's a risky tactic, so we'll leave that one to the Marine to deal with.

    She nocks an arrow and, at Merek's request, smirks a little. "Let's see if I can't tie them down for you." She fires, aiming at the Binder Phalanx's boots.

    Where the arrow hits the ground splits open and numberous thorned vines spew out, lashing like botanical tentacles to grab onto the animated soldiers with their crushing grip and hld them in place for others. While successful blows will hammer those sharp barbs in deeper, digging into seams and joints in the armorer where they can.

Goldenblade is a bit too fast for the Binder attacking her, avoiding the shield bash with a backflip, then striking back with probing thrusts, forcing it to spend its defenses or suck up many small hits from the Blade Dancer. She whirls around, stabbing from all angles to test and try its defenses, her long ponytail trailing out behind her as she dashes this way and that.

She concentrates her attacks, hoping to quickly beat down the binders before they can raise too many of the Lander dead to serve their armies.

    Though her blade may be swatted aside, the old Paladin isn't simply going to roll over and take a sudden booting. That heavy foot resounds against her shield with a deafening clang as she brings the heavy plate up to deflect the oncoming blow.
    This is when the old Odysseia Knight flips her grip on the sword in her hand; grasping it by the blade to hammer on the Binder with the blunt end of the pommel and crossguard of her sword.

"Tell Hector I send my regards," Uta replies to Setsuna. "And if you want to be thorough in your epistolary gratitude..." she happens to address Setsuna, but she's speaking so loud it's clear the information is meant to be heard by everyone. "There are three other named monsters among the Forgotten Forces. Same level as the Binders, like sub-bosses."

Uta dodges barely just in time to avoid the Binder jumping spear-first towards her. She rolls and tumbles on the floor, and springs back up, panting. She'll go close range, parrying and attempting to strike with her staff as necessary, until she'll see an opening to smack the opponeng in the head as hard as she can.

Sword and axe clash, and Kaydon and Hector seem to be at an impasse, as the two push off from each other. Kaydon deflects the blow from Hector's axe with his Damascus Blade. He stops for a moment, looking around, surrounded by enemies, face to face with the boss, and with Merek yelling at him. He looks back at Merek for a moment, "Don't worry about me, take their forces down!"

The were fang turns back to Hector, "You know how hard it is to pin down one of you guys? I tried the other day, guy would barely say two words to me." He clenches the hilt of his blade tight, considering his next move, "You came into this fight knowing it was a lost cause. I want to know why. I understand loyalty, but this is suicide."

Kind of like jumping solo into the middle of the enemy's formation is kind of suicide also. The difference is Kaydon knows he'll come back if this plan fails. He is sure that this guy only will want to talk through combat, though. So he moves in again to strike at Hector, shifting the blade to slash upwards.

    "Spirits of the shadow, grant me your quickness." A dark aura surronds Setsuna allowing him to leap out of the way in time, though his robe does get pierced by the arrow. Fortunately damage to the so called armor only takes a few coins to repair. Landing safely he uses the last few seconds to get himself into a better position, "Nature's poison I call on you strike swift and true." As an egg shaped stone appears he throws it like a football and for a moment it seems like this is just your every day stone attack, until the egg hatches and a sand viper, a very mad sand viper, lands and strikes at the archers.

    Giganpor might be a bit of a stranger to horse back, but he had learned something whenever Auther had almost unhorsed him before. How to anticipate things like that. And fortunately Giganpor isn't just a one trick horseman. While his Nightmare skids a little, then rears back, the Were Fang brings his weapon around to sweep away enemy forces near him as a summoning circle appears over his shield.

    "Fires of the word, heed my call! Come forth, Flaris! FLAME PILLAR!" Out of the red summoning circle comes a fiery cat elemental, looking to be made entirely of flames. That quickly begins to breathe those flames into a massive pillar on the undead around Giganpor.

    Obviously you don't try to unhorse a Dreadnaught without some serious side effects, as those flames are definitely aimed at the vampire horseman or anything remotely on a horse that looks vampire like nearby, too!

    The people of the lands own militia continues their assault with the Forgotten. Their blades and shields clatter against one another, as neither side seems to give ground. Orders can be heard roaring out between the two sides, but neither give way.

The archers however do not give up their positions, they too continue to fire into the battlefield, trying to cover their own forces down below. This includes the likes of Shirba and Goldenblade.

    As Setsuna then goes to sling stones, that become sand vipers into the forces, he will find his attack suddenly meeting an unseen magical barrier that is suddenly raised up. There standing amongst the forces is an vampiric 'battlemage', who looks Setsuna dead on, before spinning around to gut a Lander who tries his hand in trying to backstab him.

Quick inspection says that is one of those 'commanders' that Uta brought up.

It is only after the lander is dealt with does the battle mage turn his focus back on Setsuna, the mage does a hand motion, before fling his hand forward. That shield, shifts before it becomes whirlwind of slashing air.

    Giganpor meanwhile attempts to raise a pillar of fire around him, causing the undead to back off, but it opens him for an archer attack from the tower!

==============================================================================

    Merek blocks the Binder's spear, and then blasts fire into its armored face. The armored monster steps back, but then goes to swing its round shield directly for the human trying to knock him off his feet.

Shiruba's arrow sends out vines that wrap around one of the binder's holding it into place. It tries to break free, but this sets up the binder to be unable to defend itself as Goldenblade goes in to slash and dice.

It continues to struggle between the blades, and the vines, as the swords cut more gashes, the vines find more ways in. Soon the Binder is covered by the binds and then is crushed in a display of wisp lights that float upwards; That is one down, three more to go!

    Both Amalthea and Uta go for the bashing method against the two binders they deal with and both will have to deal with a counter attack that soon follows, with a swing of their spears to try and catch them both.

==============================================================================

    Kaydon's blade slashes into the heavy armor, which becomes obvious while it hits, the blade creates sparks, it will take more than him alone to bring down the behemoth of a commander of these forces.

Hector's 'gaze' with an omnious golden-red glow in the visor of the helm can be seen for only the briefest of moments, as he turns his own weapon in time to match another of Kaydon's swings. At least with the cut in the armor it is obvious the big guy 'can' be hurt.

    "Your own forces have done an excellent job in cutting off my men from any hope of returning home. While the commanders know that this battle is a loss, my men do not." He then steps back, to swing the axe once more, the power pushing dirt up into the air, before he brings it back down with another swing. "But the commanders have their orders! They know what must be done to preserve for another day."

The next words could almost be missed. "If I thought sacrifice my life alone would allow them to all go home... I would honorably do so."

        [ Shiruba, Goldenblade, Giganpor vs 5 ]
        [ Setsuna vs 11 ]
        [ Merek, Amalthea, Uta vs 9 ]
        [ Kaydon vs 10 ]

Goldenblade is wildly confused by the undead army and their self-image as normal soldiers in a noble cause. Are they imagining they're alive? Is the game just giving them generic army dialogue? Is logic applicable, or do we just do what seems to solve the problem? This seems to be her solution as she fights on.

She's luckily not pressed hard to defend herself, throwing a parry to block the almost errant blow that comes her way. Normally she'll dodge, and it often forces her out of position, but she holds her ground this time, to leave her in a better position to counterattack. She strikes now fiercely, quick strikes to sap the binders' health.

    Merek lifts up the weapon of his while he begins to summon a shield of aero energy about him. That manages to keep any of those swings from reaching him. <<"Flank him, while I work on tanking and striking.">> The man swings that blade about which he uses to summon flame upon the weapon, the weapon swinging into the binder which he is fighting with twice. "Twin Dragons!"

    Oh Amalthea hears the exchange between Kaydon and Hector. Though she's too busy to throw in her own opinion as she faces down the Binder in her path, the old Paladin grits her teeth.
    If not for the fact that he's her enemy, she'd be taking pity on Hector; knowing full well that he's sacrificing himself and his soldiers for what he believes to be a higher cause.
    But she can't afford that pity in the middle of he field of battle. Not while she has multiple foes to worry about as she takes a normal grip upon her blade again and lashes out, sword flashing as she intends to batter down that heavy armor with a series of brutally withering blows on the Binder in her path.

Kaydon is well aware of the fact that he can't take this guy alone, but he's not trying to take him down. He's trying to hold his attention while the combined Lander and Adventurer forces take out the Undead forces. His plan is to risk his own life in order to keep the boss' attention away from the battle, the last thing they need is him wading through the Lander forces swinging that axe like a scythe harvesting wheat.

"I can promise you an honorable fight!" Kaydon says, speaking up loud enough so hopefully some of the others will hear it as well, "Order your troops to withdraw! Don't you think there's been enough bloodshed on both sides, if we can solve this another way, we should!"

He turns his blade to the flat side, the axe skating along the Damascus of Kaydon's mastercrafted sword. He knows he won't be able to beat Hector alone, but if he can keep him talking, and keep him from attacking the Landers, then Kaydon's plan will succeed.

"I'm not even asking you to betray your queen, or give me her location, as much as I would love that information. Withdraw your troops, we will with draw the People of the Land, and we can face you down with just the Adventerers. It will spare lives on both sides of this conflict!"

He still attacks, however, lashing out with his blade again, trying to get around the defenses of Hector and his axe, to drive the blade in between plates of armor.

    More arrows are fired her way but Shiruba will not be so easily pinned down. As soon as she's done her job of setting up the Binders for the assaults of her allies she turns and sweeps and arm through the air. "Brake Wind!" The surge of wind spiraling around her at the command intercepts the arrows and scatters them away from the Cait Sith. She holds up two fingers to her eyes, then turns them to point towards one of the archer watchtowers.

    She knows you're there, she just has more important things to deal with than your poor performance.

    Important things like the remaining Binders, and that undead mage trying to terrorize the Lander forces. Also Kaydon dealing with Hector on his own, but the were-gnoll seems to be holding his own so far. Gives the party time to deal with the various other threats. That mage could be a problem, but they can't let that be a distraction to divide up their forces too far.

    The arrow Shiruba nocks in her bow next shimmers briefly as if it was covered in frost, which she fires in a higher arc than before. Mid-flight it seems to divide and spread itself, turning into a barrage of narrow spikes of freezing water and ice pelting down to try and farther hinder the Binders' ability to rally together their counterattacks.

    So his attack bounced off, Setsuna hadn't even really been tracking it to make sure it did anything, a fire and forget spell as it were. However the mages malice can be felt in air and Setsuna looks up to throw a shield of rock around him when he is torn into by blades of air and wind. His avatar gets decorated with blood and dirt as the spell ends and Setsuna looks at the source. He cast taunt...or well not really because he is a magic user and most glass cannons like himself don't have a taunt. He does stick his tongue out and pulls the skin down one eye though at the mage. Yeah the spell hit, but he is still standing. For now he had a purpose, looking at one of the shield bearers and bangs his staff on the ground, "Shake and be swallowed by the earth, return to the ground." If all goes right a tremor would crack the ground and pull the shield bearer under.

Uta is hit smack on with the spear, and sent flying a small distance away. She bounces on the floor twice, and tumble-rolls to a stop.

She props herself up with her staff, and hoping the distance from her opponeng is sufficient to give her some respite, she intones a celtic tune, the tendrils of light once again following the music, and converging on her, hoping the spellcasting not to be interrupted before it's done...

    Giganpor, being a target, decides to bring the attacks more towards those they don't want to hit. Flaris spews out flames, Giganpor's buckler comes up to add to the flames as the arrows are incinerated before reaching him.

    Looking at the fire cat, he calls, "Flaris! Dismiss!" The cat leaps into a summoning circle, disappearing as Giganpor turns his horse and charges towards the archery towers. The arrows and men can follow if they want, but the problem? Well, Giganpor's not just charging. His shield glows green again as another summoning circle appears.

    "Might of the earth, rise from slumber! Come forth, Granit!"

    A summoning circle appears that he charges through as he shifts to his Were Lion form, and at the same time a gorilla-like earth elemental appears on the back of the Nightmare before swinging around to charge alongside him. Bringing his horse as near to the Binders as he can, he suddenly stops and has it rear. His shield and weapon continue to glow green before the hoofs of the horse, and his elemental's fists come down. "EARTH PILLAR!"

    A rather large pillar of earth comes up as he tries to destabilize and bring down an archery tower. The fun way! By making the very ground destablize it!

    The undead and landers continue their assault against one another, though for the first time, the landers actually lose a little ground, as their own attacks are starting to become evaded, blocked, and having to avoid the rain of arrows that still come for those like Shiruba, Uta, and even Setsuna.

As the Mage commander seems to vanish back into the fray to deal with some sets of landers. Though in truth, it is not because the mage's attention was bored of Setsuna, but because Giganpor just placed a minor dent in some of their own forces.

It is here that Giganpor would soon see the Battlemage coming walking over calmly, as several of the forgotten forces try to get back up on their feet. He makes a motion with his hands and then the earth cracks where Giganpor stands and then attempts to split and rise where the Werelion is.

==============================================================================

    Goldenblade moves to the next Binder and goes to strike with her fierce moves, cutting into the armor. Which works out well in timing with Merek's own strike, slamming into the Binder.

The two do a great deal of damage to the armored creature, but it doesn't go down yet. Instead the armored creature attempts to swing the spear against Goldenblade, before spinning around and trying to strike the butt of the weapon directly for Merek.

An arrow comes from Shiruba and the Binder turns just in time to parry it away with its spear, but this sets it up for Amalthea to batter down the binder. Hit after hit, that is until Setsuna opens the ground and swallows the Binder whole.

    The only trouble was here comes the next binder, with only two remaining, charing directly for Amalthea, as it leaps over the cracked ground and attempts to skewer Amalthea where she stands!

==============================================================================

    "Only if you can get /them/ to agree!" Hector responds back to Kaydon's words as he lets out a rragh, as he moves to counter, but is to slow. Kaydon's blade locks into the armor and scraps deep inside, and rips out a chunk of plating.

The binder commander of this squadron of forces, turns himself around and readies his weapon once more. "I am a knight of honor and my word is my bond. I am Hector DeVarn The Just. I fought alongside the king, commander of the troops of the castle walls, and overseer of the Princess. If you can get those militia to back down. I will have my own men withdraw to safety."

    Hector stares directly at Kaydon. "But my forces will only be called off, should yours pull back first." Hector does not swing his weapon, he stands on defensive, waiting to see what Kaydon will do. His hand tightens on his weapon though, even as his cape gently moves in the passing breeze. "But them," Kaydon may see the glow of those 'eyes' look too. Toward the binders. "I may have no say over... I do not trust them to follow my command to withdraw..."

    [ NPCs vs 11 ]
        [ Shiruba, Uta, Setsuna vs 12 ]
        [ Giganpor vs 9 ]
        [ Goldenblade, Merek, Amalthea vs 13 ]

Kaydon chimes in over the local chimlink, "Get the Landers to withdraw!" It comes as a rather sudden order, but none the less he knows they'll listen to somebody like Shiruba or Giganpor. They have the kind of authority to make it happen.

"Sir Hector has agreed to duel us, alone, if the Lander forces withdraw to a safe distance, he will have his do the same. And I trust him. The Binders may not follow those orders, though the regular troops will!"

Kaydon lowers his weapon to his side, opting not to attack, as Hector has not done so either, "If we are doing introductions. I am Kaydon, Outcast Warrior and Blacksmith, and I represent Silver Sword. I have relayed your request to the Adventuer leadership, they will have to convince the Landers to withdraw, though. I trust them to be able to do so."

    Merek looks then to Kaydon when he speaks on the chimlink, taking a moment to think about it. <<"If you trust him, if he doesn't keep his word, we can retreat.">> The man nods a bit to the landers, "You all, retreat! We can manage it from here if you would." He then waits to see if anyone else is accepting that offer. All the same, the party will need to probably fight the binder.

    There's a sudden trembling of the earth. But there's one thing to be said for the Were Lion. Right now, he has a lot better control of the earth magics than some battlemage. A steed that is naturally attuned to Earth, a summon that is Earth, and himself with his own power. A second pillar of rocks suddenly come up to block the incoming ones, then disrupt them as it rises higher than them.

    Giganpor looks out from his rock formation. Then gets a bit of a grin as he looks at Granit. "I think this guy wants to try to out do us in earth magics, Granit. Crush him?"

    The gorilla elemental bangs it's chest in answer.

    Then Giganpor turns his steed. And has it horse kick the pillar, even as the green glow stays. Granit joins in.

    And their very goal? Knock over one of the larger rock pillars literally on to the Battlemage that foolishly thought to try something like crushing them.

    Oh that's not good.
    That's not good at all as that Binder comes lunging in and-- impales Amalthea clean through the chest, battering past her armor and hoisting the old paladin right off the ground.
    "GUH...!" She grunts, clencing her teeth as her armor shines red where she's run through. But then she grasps the Binder's WEAPON in her shield hand, eyes wide and wild, as she yanks hersels... TOWARDS it while run through.
    "Landers. Pull back." She decides after a beat. She trusts Kaydon's judgement on this; and it's a daring assumption on Hector's honor.
    But if the undead pull back then all that will be left would be to deal with the Binders while Kaydon faces down the undead champion.
    She raises her blade.
    And while that weapon is still embedded in her chest she intends to ram her own blade into the Binder's armored bulk.

Arrows! Uta quickly mutters what we will generously assume is an Arcane Word of Power (it probably is something else) and begins an erratic darting dance among them, the speed of the projectiles matched by the air-magic propelled turbo brownian motion of the Spriggan, which leaves crackling electric energy behind her. Once she's done, panting, she checks the status of her avatar, and finds herself shockingly unperforated.

"...who would have thought that? Seems like I've zigged when I should've zigged, and zagged when I should have zagged. I usually get that wrong..."

Noticing that Setsuna's health is running low, she twirls, and points her staff at him. "Setsuna! LOOK AWAY!", she orders, and she sings a song that begins as your average healing aria, and all of a sudden blasts into a high-volume high-pitched note, held long; the staff resonates by flaring into a flash, the magical light mainly projected in the direction of Setsuna.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Goldenblade screams as she binder's spear comes her way very fast and unstoppably, and she scrambles clear so fast she's left scortchmarks on the earth as she darts away. She comes up behind him in the melee, and fire leaps from her blades as she strikes at her attacker, an effort to put him down borne out of panic and desperation. She got lucky once, she's not counting on that again.

    Setsuna gets turned into a pincushion as his shield comes up moments to slow and he falls to one knee. "Damn it doesn't hurt when its just one but a few and doesn't matter the pain suppression." He stands up and sees the invisible warning over his health bar. As he prepares his attempt to fall back he sees his hp bar suddenly start to go back up after a blinding bright light. Looking over at Uta he shouts, " Thanks." Turning to the binders a serious look has appeared on his face, " Those of who you have fallen, it was your fate to fall. I offer you this chance to defy fate and rise back to attack again. " A mass wave of necromancy energy would go out over the field as landers who have fallen would be replaced with skeleton warriors. "If they cut you down, get back up and cut back." He would set the skeletons targets to the binder.

    A missed attack is still enough of a diversion to give others a chance to get in and hit hard against the tough Binder enemies. That is still effective strategy, divide up their focus and sooner or latter other things will get through the defenses.
    Shiruba might of taunted those archers a little too much though as several more of them turn to open fire on her position. Oh crap. Sparks fly around her feet as she bolts away from the fight with the Binders and goes on a zig-zagging dash across the battlefield and back. In the end she manages to avoid part of the attacks, but a few of the bone archers wise up and start shooting -ahead- of her instead of behind, and when she slows down to evade those some of the slower shooters manage to make a few hits on her back and deplete a chunk of her health bar.

    A canine whine emits from the Wolf Cait Sith as she reels from the hits, stumbling before reclaiming her footing, and shifting her attention back to the matter at hand. Ears perk up merely out of instinct even if it's over the Party chimlink that Kaydon speaks.

    Then she's off like a shot again, this time bounding towards the Lander forces, specifically to find the leaders in the crowd, in case they can't hear the others shouting over the din of the battle. "It's an oppritunity to cut down on possible casualties! Withdraw your ranks and they do the same, leaving the Commander to us!" Hopefully the Guild Leader rank of Giganpor, Athelea and herself will help leverage towards the Lander forces agreeing. If it's an chance to keep more of the Landers alive she was no reason to not take it. "We'll cover you if they don't retreat as agreed!"

    Fortunately distance isn't a great problem for a skilled archer, and when she sees her party is having trouble finishing off the last of the Binders, she quickly fires an arrow back at the Binder armor. An arrow that somehow reaches near sonic speed, creating a powerful pressurized wave of air with it's hurtling path!

    Merek moves in and attempts to use some magic to try to freeze the Binder up, or cause it to be stun in place for a moment. It tries to break free of the spell's hold. This open's the roman like binder to have Amalthea's blade rammed right through it, which causes it to bend over just slightly.

Goldenblade moves in with her heated blades and slams them into the metal, heating up the armor. As Setsuna then prepares his next spell, the binder at last breaks free. It turns its blade on the undead that Setsuna brings forth with simple ease.

It was the perfect distraction as Shiruba finds her mark and the Binder goes down onto its knees, before floating off into wisps.

==============================================================================
    Hector looks slowly over to Kaydon, as he seems to give the notice to his comrades. The commander then turns to see what happens next. There was a shift in his stance, a hidden sadness? A prayer? It was hard to say what the slight lowering of the helmet meant.

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

    'Hector! Hector!' A young girl's voice called out. 'You've come back home along with daddy! Did you two win the battle? Did everyone make it back alright?'

'Young ladies such as yourself should not worry about such thing as battle, your highness.'

'What if I want to be a knight one day. Like you! After all, daddy fights wars, alongside you. I want to do that one day too!'

'... Your highness... Wars are not games. You should desire to avoid conflict, not create it. While we do defend our land to protect those we love, there is no greater honor than to spare a life. For mercy takes more bravery, than that of slaying.'

    'So, do you show your enemies mercy?'

'I show them honor and should they too have honor, than yes, I give mercy.'

'Hector... You will always come home, right?'

'Always, your highness. Just as I will always make sure your father comes home as well. I give you my word...'

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

Hector slowly raises up his head, before he rises up his hand. The archers who were getting ready to fire are suddenly told to hold. His eyes continue to watch the battlefield.

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

    'DeVarn.'

'Yes, m'lord?'

'Please, you know you can call me Lethe at least.'

'But to call you anything less, than the proper title that you hold as a king, would be disrespectful.'

    'And yet, we are old friends. Brothers in battle. You have been by my side after all, when you were a teen, and I just a boy dreaming of glory!'

'Sir?'

'Can you make me a promise, old friend?'

'What do you wish for me to promise, Lethe?'

'That should anything happen to me, that you will make sure my daughter continues to have the best childhood. As if she was your own? I know she never knew her true mother and that... Helena is a good woman, but...'

'Your majesty. I already see her like she is my own. I will /always/ make sure she is safe and well seen too.'

'Thank you, Hector. I-- know that is the case, but I wanted to hear it from you.'

'Always... old friend.'

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

    Word starts to get up to the ranks. The milita starts to pull back. Giganpor's attack is successful, though once the dust settles there was no wisps, which means the darn Battlemage went /somewhere/.

Though the mystery to where would soon be interrupted as Hector's voice roars over the battlefield like rolling thunder as he bellows out, "Forgotten! Withdraw from the battle! This is my order and my command!! Any who disobey will be handled with by my hand!"

    As soon as the word is given then commanders out on the field and even the one up on the makeshift watch towers give the orders. The forgotten are quick to pull back as well, heading into the forest.

Hector stands there, the glow of the 'eyes' dims to darkness, as he lowers his hand. His forces are gone, none to question why he did not follow. He turns to look to Kaydon, before he steps away, his grip tightens on the waraxe, as he whispers lowly. "For this day... I must break all my promises... forgive me..."

Then turns around once more, as he slams the butt of his Waraxe on the ground. "Adventurers! Come! Face me in honorable battle! Let us see who truly wins this day!"

    With the enemy withdrawing and the call of the Adventurers to face Hector, Giganpor looks considerate. He does look for that pesky Battlemage, but doesn't see him. "Granit, dismiss." He tosses a small bag of something to the elemental as well.

    The gorilla-like elemental hops into a summoning circle with it's prize as the Were Lion moves his Nightmare steed over towards where Hector is. Giganpor's gaze turns to the Forgotten and the Landers, making sure both withdraw safely. He seems to consider as he looks at Hector.

    "You and your kinsmen's honor surprises me still in this war, Sir Hector." The Were Lion seems to consider, then looks to the other Adventurers before he looks to Hector again, "I would hear your story before we do battle, yours and the Forgotten's. In exchange, we will tell you ours if you have not heard it from your Queen or Sir Auther. I sought peace with your Queen and Sir Auther before. It was rejected. But our histories, those that make us who we are should not be left to the dust of the battlefield simply because of the actions of a few."

After the troops actually follow through, on both sides of the battlefield, Kaydon steps away from Hector, lowering his blade to his side as he does so. He sticks the tip in the ground, awaiting the arrival of the other Adventurers so they can do this boss fight the appropriate way.

The were fang glances over his shoulder as the other members move up to his position. He's still grateful he was able to hold his own long enough to bring this fight to fruition instead of having the battle claim far too many lives. A glance over at Gigan as he offers to trade stories, and Kaydon admittedly wishes there was a way to end this with no bloodshed, but he doubts that Hector could allow that, either because of programming or, perhaps, because of something deeper. He still hasn't figured out everything that's going on, but this may help them towards that goal.

Goldenblade breathes hard as she finishes the fight with the binders, the last of them going down, at least. As to what we're doing next, she gathers herself, but it looks like there's some discussion gooing on. She will move up to stand by Kaydon, since that's looking like where the next fight will be. She, too, is glad that no more Landers will be lost, and she wonders what will be gleaned as we listen t this opponent. She's used to games like checkers, or chess, where the pieces don't really have a story, so this whole game that's like reality confuses her.

    Setsuna watches both armies depart , his eyes flicking through the crowd to make note of the battlemage was also leaving before he sighs and dismisses his undead forces. This was meant to be an adventurers only thing, however while the others talk and get to know their opponent Setsuna just takes a moment to prep himself for combat. He was ready for an attack any moment now.

    Merek lifts up a hand while he brings about healing energy upon the woman, then he nods a bit. With that, he would look to Hector, "We do want to know your story, I imagine there's no way to... Keep from fighting," he mentions, then he takes a stance, while he wields the Shadow Eclipse. He waits for the conversation, "... We will honor you if you are falling in the fight."

    The Lander forces listen, and withdraw. There's no clinging to attacking no matter what happens, and one of the reasons Shiruba is already convinced that at least the more developed Landers are more than just running programs to fill a scene.
    Hector holds up his end and gives the command for his forces as well, and the undead withdraw. The watchtowers are vacated. They've succeeded in getting the forces to retreat from the position, without having to fight through every one of them.
    Now only one is left.

    Shiruba trots closer to the faceoff, and even gives a respectful nod in Hector's direction. Any commander that is willing to stand so his men can see another day deserves that much regard, even if it's the enemy. "We will be sure to make it a glorious one."

    That said she's not letting her guard down. Ears are attentively forward, grip still tight on the handle of her bow. Fingers of the opposite hand twitching around the string at the ready. An appreciative nod is given towards Merek as he heals the wounds on her back though.

Uta remains fully focuses as the armies depart. Once the situation has shifted into one of, it appears, discussion and negotiation, she props herself up on her staff and simply listen. If there is a thing she has always liked, it's a good story, after all, and she's been missing her books from Earth of late...

    Giganpor asks for a history lesson and Hector holds his Battleaxe at the ready. His stance shifts, as the cape moves slightly in the wind. "You desire to know my history?" He chuckles lightly. It had a tinge of sadness to it. "My dear sir, in another lifetime, I would share with you a tale of tales, but our memory... our memory is not what it once was..."

"Time has not been kind to us. It is stripping away our humanity. It is taking away our memories, and so we hold onto what we know tightly. Clinging to it like the last rope of our sanity." Shiruba may remember such words from the King, maybe even from the Princess, along with others who were in the Misty Ruins.

"What I do recall, is much pain. Much misery. As my flesh turned to armor. Or so it felt, so my memory recalls." There was those sign of 'eyes' under the helm as they glow gently like embers. "Before then... The king and I were close friends. His wife, she did not live long after the birth of the child.. or at least when the child was to young to remember her."

    "Helena came from another kingdom. The king and she became close, they married, and sometime after... The princess grew ill. No one could-- help her." His hand reaches up, it shakes a little. "... always the pain... Why is it always so hard to remember..." His hand then grasps into a fist. "... That sword." He lowers his hand, his eyes drift to Merek. His hand tightens on his weapon. "That sword..."

The armored body tenses. Those eyes burn brighter, as his other hand takes hold of the weapon. There was a shift in the air, like the sanity was slowly leaving Hector. "It... caused... such... pain." He rumbles out, as he goes to take a step forward. "Ruin. Death. Curse you!!" He roars out, "You doomed us all!"

And like a mad lion, he swings the axe in rage. Either by the memories or just by the sight of the sword with those memories. The axe comes swinging and the battle commences.

Goldenblade is not even close to fast enough to avoid the raging attack. He'd spent all his skill in avoiding the last overwhelming attack from the binders, and she hasn't got enough left to stay ahead of this attack. She eyes her shrinking health bar even as she counterattacks, piercing thrusts to test Hector's defenses, not huge damage dealers individually, but she keeps probing, exploring, searching out his weaknesses. Other than his rage. She can't stab him in his rage. If only.

Shiruba is quick to step back as soon as Merek is finished healing her, and looks back in the direction of the withdrawing Landers. They've already made good distance, and it looks like Athelea opted to stay with them as a just-in-case escort. That's good. Quite smart really. Even if Hector agreed to the withdrawl, there may be other enemies that do not and will try to take advantage of the retreating forces.

Her attention turns back to the remaining individuals as they speak. Still wary, though her head tilts at something Hector says. Something that's quite familiar... but there is little time to ponder on it as Hector decides that's enough storytime and makes a brutal opening attack on the Adventurers closest to him. Reprive aside, he clearly still means serious business.

    Strong, heavily armored Boss. This is a situation that's not entirely new to her. The gears of her mind are already clicking even as she draws one of her less prominent embued arrows. "Raid Boss or not, he can't easily focus on -all- of us at once!" That's all she's going to say strategy wise, more would give possible tactics away. After that she fires.

    The arrow doesn't look like much, but when it impacts it explodes thanks to the Fireball spell contained in it, in opens of knocking Hector off his guard long enough for the meleers to get back into position to assault him.

    Setsuna gets a bad feeling as the sword is mentioned and when it appears Hector start to lost it the necromancer begins to gather his magic. "Watch out!" He shouts but it is to late as the battle begins and any form of diplomacy disappears. " So much for honor, just attacking at random. " He dips his staff into his own shadow, pulling back an orb of darkness as he throws it at Hector, hoping to truly give the warrior blind rage.

This battle is going to be rough, Kaydon is sure of that much. But he stands by to let Hector do his thing, tell his story. It's actually rather sad, but he wonders if that's the Queen's doing, if she's the reason behind him being unable to remember. There's no time to ask questions though, as one look at Merek's sword sends Hector into a rage.

Kaydon was unprepared for Merek to set him off like that, and despite his best effort to bring his sword up to defend himself, is thrown from his feet by the massive slash. He lands hard, but rolls back up into an upright position after a moment, "No more time for pleasantries, lets go!"

He quickly closes the distance between himself and Hector, twisting mid rush to try to maneuver to Hector's side, away from that axe, and slash with a now burning blade into the side of the armored figure.

    Giganpor tried to bring his shield up, but ends up unhorsed completely. The Nightmare backs away from the attack, an angry red line on it as well as it's rider. It snorts a few times as it moves away before stopping.

    Giganpor meanwhile rolls to get his weapon that he dropped and get back to a knee. Standing up slowly as he glares at Hector, "So much for talking... I think he's mad because of Merek's sword." The Were Lion brings his weapon to bare, leaning it on his buckler one handed.

    Then he leaps forward as the weapon glows a green color, stabbing forward with it as he tries to shove Hector off balance. He knows the fault to giant axes. Those are something that he really knows can be unbalancing, too, so he's looking to achieve just that!

    Merek listens to the story and while seeming to consider all of that, the man notices when Hector would begin to swing into the party when he mentions the sword. With a step about to the back he tries to defend, only for him to take a strike. The shimmers begin to glow while there are red wounds upon him, while he takes a stance. The man begins to sweep along to Hector, "Hector, I apologize!"

Uta instinctively leaps back in shock when Hector goes on a rampage.

"Hector DeVarn The Just! Snap out of it!", she calls out. Very tense, she scans the battlefield, staff held at the ready. She looks around for options, until a voice reaches her. Her posture straightens, and suddenly she's all ears, "Did someody say... 'random'?"

She shakes her head. "No, no, wait, there are more important things to do!" She notices Merek's HP being so low, and sighs. "This is /so/ getting me in trouble," she mumbles, rolling her eyes. "MEREK! For the Goddesses' sake, GET RID OF THAT FREAKIN' SWORD! It freaks him out!", she yells, and begins singing a powerful, majestic song that makes her staff shoot a beacon of light, which is aimed at Merek.

    The waraxe comes and makes a deadly mark on those around him. Those golden red embers for eyes light up the entire visor of the helm like fire burning inside of the old warrior turned armor.

Goldenblade comes in trying to find a weakness in the armor, as her sword's swing against his armored hide. Shiruba fires an arrow, that explodes on impact, blasting away chunks of armor. Causing Hector to go off balance slightly.

This is the opening that Setsuna needed, as the dark ball slams into the old binder. The armor groans, as Hector moves his axe up into the air, just as Kaydon's attack hits him, that cuts the armor deep.

    The binder roars out in pain, but all in anger. Merek attacks with the cursed blade, as Uta tries to heal him; And fails. The binder's eyes fall on Merek once more, or so it seems by how the head moves.

As Giganpor moves in to off balance the binder, that axe swings around with ungodly speed to block Giganpor's attack. Showing signs that Hector, perhaps in his 'life', was indeed a master of the battle.

"You do not hear their screams..." He rumbles lowly. "... the voices... the jealously... the rage!" He brings up that axe at last, directly at Giganpor, before swinging it around toward all those close to him once more. For those in the backline, they have to avoid pieces of rock flung up by the axe that comes racing their way!

    Ah, so this was the time that it came to that, Merek looks to the people around him being struck by the axe and rocks. Then it looks like even the people that want to protect him don't manage. There's a smile with a chuckle, then he takes a look to Hector. "HECTOR, IT IS ME YOU WANT! I WIELD THE BLADE! It took your King, it took everything. I know its whispers because I know them, I know what made your King go mad." Something he's not told anyone else, "It's been resisted by me. I wouldn't wish this on anyone else. So come at me."
    The man takes ahold of Uta and tries to push the woman behind him, then he nods to Goldenblade, "Get them away, you know what to do." He then offers a little grin to Shiruba, "Flee, don't worry about me, I don't think we will win in this fight. You need to regroup. See you on the other side friends." Then he begins to charge to Hector, swinging his weapon, meeting the axe with it. "KNIGHT, LISTEN TO ME! YOU CAN BE FREE FROM THIS!" There's exchanges of the weapon, "Make sure that you get all of them away, Giganpor!" Then another swing, swing. The sound of the weapon meeting weapon. That is when it comes. An axe swing strikes right into him, and glimmers along with a glow of that red, "Guys, don't try to win, escape!" Then he takes a look to the man, "You have your own vengeance, let them go, for the price of me." Then he begins to blast along into red shimmers while his body begins to fade away, shimmering upon the field.

That damned sword. It's that damned sword, causing trouble with the undead again.

    "I know you can't unwield that thing Merek, but for goddesses sake don't be so obvious about it around them!" Shiruba snaps, practically barks all things considered. Then she stamps on the ground as she chants. "Box Canyon!" Several chunks of rock rise up around her... but the stones slung in the wake of Hector's axe slam into them before they can fully form. Earthly shrapnel tumbles backwards, a few pieces pelting her as she scrambles back from the collapsing formation.

    Hector, even on his own, means business.

    "Kaydon, I have newfound respect for you for holding him off as long as you did," she comments towards the were-gnoll.

    It only takes her moments to realize what's going on, and that is enough for her to grab Kaydon by the arm, though she's not strong enough to easily move him. She knows he's likely to keep attacking if not directed to something else. "He's right. We don't need to all sacrifice ourselves for what we've already accomplished here. Fall back. Don't make me make that an order as Guild Leader!" Before she starts backing off herself. Though she's got her bow ready to cover anyone else more hurt that should need it.

After facing the full brunt of Hector's fury, Kaydon wonders if the armored warrior was holding back when he faced off against the gnoll were fang alone, or if Kaydon's skill and perhaps a bit of luck was what kept him alive, because no doubt Hector could have crushed him.

Either way this is not a winnable fight. He'd be hard pressed to keep going after just spending so much time talking Hector down from a suicide mission. When Shiruba grabs his arm, he hesitates for a moment, not wanting to let Merek throw himself into the jaws of the beast, but it would be ungrateful of him to keep going when the magic knight is giving himself up to save the others.

"Damn glory hog! Next time let somebody else heroically sacrifice themselves!" He yells at Merek, as he moves to fall back with Shiruba, making sure that the others are going with them.

As they say: Discretion is the better part of valor.

    Setsuna throws a shield of rock infront of him deflecting the attack but is to slow to get to Merek before the crazy guy with the sword makes his decision. " You idiot, you don't have to! " He argues for a moment but he reads the baattlefied and sees the others retreating and frowns. "Fine." Setsuna activates a speed buff and begins to try to help anyone who may need to retreat, before he would do the same.

    Giganpor pulls back as the axe comes down, another angry red line as he barely avoids being cut in half literally by it. The red line's still there, though, and the HP bar is enough that Giganpor hops back a couple times, to get the distance so he can do something else other than attack.

    "Light of the heavens, bring peace to the land! Come forth, Auris!" A summoning circle appears beside him as his shield, already glowing from the failed defense, brightens again. A bird-like elemental flies out of it and circles around Giganpor as he drops to a knee, "Auris, Ola Repth." He winces a bit, trying to stand even as the bird-like elemental tries to heal him.

    Hearing the plan, Giganpor scowls a bit, "Don't be a--" Too late. Merek's doing it.

    Calling to the others, "Fall back! We can't win this as we are!" Giganpor moves back towards his Nightmare, mounting up on it and turning to make sure the others follow with him.

Goldenblade looks puzzled at Merek, as if she has any control over what anyone else does. That said, this bad guy is seriously mad, and her HP bar has plummeted as a result, and that's enough for her to get the hell out of dodge. Or whatever this place is called. "Don't need to tell me twice," she grumbles as she backs away, nodding at what Giganpor says. "Falling back, aye!" She's not going to hang around to get slaughtered if she can help it. That's not her idea of a fun time.

Uta was already there, ready to attempt something. Perhaps another desperate heal, perhaps some melee defense. But Merek makes it perfectly obvious what he wants, and his push speaks louder than his words (although those settle in as well). Despite being a martial artist in the middle of a battle, Uta is caught unprepared, and staggers. She fixes her yes on Merek, disbelieving.

She looks around. The situation is desperate. "Merek, I know this is unlikely, that we respawn and all, but... you know, if there is even the tiniest chance that you might actually die for good, and... and these are our last moments together, well, there... there is a thing I've always wanted to tell you, but I've never found the courage to say." She bows her head, holds it there a moment, and raises it again. Her brow is knit due to her eyebrows slanting in sadness. "Merek, you are a complete moron." She inhales, deeply. "You're a moron who's been extremely kind to me, who has always supported me, and who has been the only one to be at my side and keep me involved in all these wonderful adventures. But still, a moron." She straightens, her hair bobbing as a reaction. "And please note I say that with the utmost respect possible." She bows, a bow of gratitude, and then turns, and darts for the others. At a jogging pace first, but eventually picking up speed, faster and faster. Her face kept hidden.

    Merek Sacrifices himself. He yells to get Hector's attention, challenges the knight dead on and for swing for swing, the weapons meet.

They clash as sparks fly, but the cursed blade chips slowly away at the waraxe, while the waraxe does little to the blade. It is only when the axe sinks into Merek, does that visor start to dim.

There was a dark past hidden with the history of that sword and just a sliver more of Hector's humanity tries to slip away, as he slowly watches Merek fade and a grave marker left behind. For the forgotten, it should be a glorious victory! He defeated an adventurer, but instead the Knight's hand on his weapon grows loose.

"... not again..." He whispers softly to no one, but the wind that rolls by on the open field. He does not turn to attack those fleeing, only slowly looking in their direction.

    It is only then does he see the arrows come from high above. It would seem that with the battle though being over. Perhaps the Merchant Blades and others worry that Hector would not be done with them, but some also comes from fellow adventurers as well late to the party.

The arrows rain down and Hector by instinct moves his axe to deflect them, before the large armored knight goes to retreat as well, back into the forest, as the fog also slowly clears the field and the sun continues to rise.

Its rays dance across where Merek ways, where the battle was, but the way has been cleared; They won. Even if the victory was a painful one.