he rode in, a king

[groundrules]

HONEY, WE’VE GOT VISITORS

Sa-Hareth-brand Cassandra tries to flag the future, gets left on read. True story — and then, the dead come. His offer neglected, a desperate Unhalad resorts to sieging the farmhouse in search for the mirror that was previously on the Imperious.

He’s in for disappointment, while the party prepare for... house guests over the early-morning 16 June to 17 June period.

Around 3:30am (16 June) of a storming night, those who are awake or sensitive to the supernatural may hear the winds and fleeing rats whisper that something comes. At 3:45am, Karsa’s wards around the farmhouse set off, briefly shrieking. Within minutes, Unhalad’s undead infiltrate the farmhouse, with one slight creature first entering down the kitchen chimney. A small faction of undead remain on the roof, while a swarming majority circle the farmhouse. Throughout the night, they attempt to break in through doors and windows, making slow progress. They are warier of the forest-facing back entrances. The attackers comprise droves of undead, some clearly only recently converted in haste. They are weaker for it.

Over time, the undead drip into the farmhouse. They lack the coordination for a concerted effort. Attempting to exit within the first three hours of the siege will prove disastrous, as too many undead wait outside. The undead will seek a mirror, being first and foremost drawn to Winnie, who carries a similar item on her person. Fox and Five will also be of interest. Fox can escape attention by discarding the shards. Any character that was bound to Anurr’s tree still bears the lingering marks of Anurr’s undeath is especially perceived as an enemy. Regulus enjoys the same treatment, given his extensive recent stay with the free people. The undead will savagely wreck the house in their hunt, striving to kill those in their path. They can be slain regularly. The older, "properly" summoned undead (identifiable because of their clear state of rotting) should be incinerated or severely amputated to avoid further resurrection. Because of the overwhelming number of undead, it is best to keep lean, mean and mobile within the house. Karsa joins the farmhouse around 6am. She’ll teleport in, but the density of undead outside will prevent her from teleporting out safely. Alongside three party volunteers, she reinforces some of the wards, decelerating the advance of the undead. Her group will also throw away any of Unhalad’s markings (salt and ash) out of the house and into the inner garden pond.

Come sunset (16 June) Unhalad himself will ride outside of the farmhouse, holding distant vigil over the hostilities with his retinue. On his arrival, unbound farmhouse animals will flee into the forest. Unhalad will be recognisable because of the immensity of raw power he emanates — a feeling of great and overwhelming despair and hunger. Options to evacuate the chaos include sneaking out, fighting the undead, calling on reinforcements from any local allies, or holding position until around 8am of 17 June, when Unhalad’s last-minute forces start to disintegrate because of the haste in which they were summoned. The minority of Unhalad’s forces that were summoned back alive with the appropriate diligence will not break down and will need to be banished. The free people will not intervene, unless they are called in.

If you’ve made it this far into Sa-Hareth’s worst hazing ritual, congratulations. A few more days of crud to go. Over the next few days before the 21-22 June departure, characters will have to make do with their shattered lodgings and dearth of supplies, or can seek sanctuary back in Sa-Hareth. Any money spent on accommodations will have to come out of the travel fund. You're on your own, kids. The animals can return from the forest, and the free people might spare some food and water, gifted to those who stood out during Anurr’s trials. The Anurr cultists of Sa-Hareth could also part with a few provisions for their good friends, Xie Lian and Xiao Xingchen. To opt out of the event, have characters out of the house on the night of the siege. It will be difficult to re-enter. The OOC plotting floor is yours!

FARMHOUSE LAYOUT

Comments

b

[unswervingcompanion]

"We are doing well enough." Hendrik replied, watching the Luminary heal someone as he wiped his gloves on his cloak. His shift had recently ended and it was hard to sleep knowing his charge was going to be called upon soon. He tried to make sure the other ate and slept and while he didn't really like being so heavy handed, it was simply his way of worrying.

And since he couldn't truly sleep anyhow, he helped remove blood stained cloths and helped as well with trying to obtain enough water. It was a sobering experience though he'd dealt with some of his own soldiers being wounded from battle in Heliodor and in the Last Bastion. But mostly those were taken by others. This was different as he was literally more hands on here. And it always rattled him inwardly as others spoke to him about their hopes or dreams as if they were dying and wouldn't ever have a chance to tell another living soul.

As information trickled in he was sure to report it to Eleven and the suffering irked him. It was a reminder of how much the people went through here and how much the folks of Cobblestone back home must've suffered due to Heliodor's assault. His green blue eyes focused now on the the one he would've destroyed and that would've set the world back who knows how many years had he succeeded. And Hendrik was infinitely glad that he hadn't.

"If you need to rest, you can go."

[bearshermark]

"What?" Eleven glanced back to Hendrik with a flash of a tired smile. He hadn't gotten enough rest, but that was a difficult thing to manage during an invasion. "I just started. You're the one that needs to take a rest. It'll be difficult to protect me if you're tired."

Pointed reminders to Hendrik about his oath wasn't the sort of tack he'd normally take, but just as the man had taken on a new fondness to push him to rest and eat, Eleven had turned to employ similar tactics. It was effective, and through the strain and tension of a long-fought battle, it helped with maintaining a focus on priorities.

"I promise I'll call on you immediately if there's a breach."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight was familiar with how the Luminary looked when he was tired. And with the light barb that was leveled his way had him fix the younger man with a half hearted glare. "I do not need as much rest as you believe that I do."

Hendrik hadn't been able to rest no matter how much he tried. Some of this was all too familiar, people in pain and needing comfort or reassurance as they mended and healed. It had been something he tried to do for his soldiers of Heliodor, and he never tried to begrudge them his presence since it meant a great deal to them.

There always seemed to be less of things like this when Jasper had the reins and the two worked together, but that was something he never admitted out loud. But for now he stepped away from his charge and looked around.

"There are more than need tending to and you will exhaust yourself if you do not have an extra set of hands." Meaning his of course.

[bearshermark]

"And you're not made of stone," Eleven returned, tying a careful knot at the end of a dressing. He offered his patient a soft smile and a reassuring pat, then rose from his knees with a blooded cloth in hand.

"Hendrik..." he said, voice pitching softer. But for several breaths, he simply looked at the man, took in his bearing and the conviction that never seemed to leave his brow for even a moment. In that way, Eleven found he could understand a little of how Jasper must have felt. The Hero of Heliodor. Of The Last Bastion. A man that had already conquered the darkness Eleven himself was still afraid of despite evidence of a scripted future. In comparison to a man so widely accomplished, he was but a clouded star.

By rights, he should be serving as the man's squire, rather than Hendrik acting as his retainer of sorts. He'd done nothing so far in his life to earn the authority he'd found himself with- save perhaps, for a touch more healing talent than most others here seemed to possess.

"..Okay," he relented at last, "But we can't both of us afford to have used all our power should someone come in with life-threatening injury. I'll save my magic for injuries threatening life or limb while you stem the bleeding for most others. We'll call on Xie Lian if your strength begins to falter."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight might not be made of stone but he had a duty to do and that meant that he had to be watchful. One false move in this place surrounded by death would be the one moment that something would happen to the Luminary. And that wasn't going to happen on his watch. So he just shook his head stubbornly.

But then Eleven said his name which of course had him listening. If there were orders to be received, he would dutifully carry them out. He himself hadn't yet tried to get a feel for the place because the place itself did not matter. All that mattered was keeping the boy safe from his harm. That was his oath, his duty and his everything right now.

Finally though it appeared as if the boy would have him assist to which Hendrik was only more than happy to do. True he didn't hold half of the power that the Luminary did or would again, but he could help wherever and whenever it was needed. Stoically he nodded to what he was hearing. "I will do what I can."

It wasn't as if the knight could sleep anyway so he might as well be doing something useful.