westwhere | he rode in, a king

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

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Eleven raised his head and, recognizing Lily, put some effort into sitting upright at least. His arms were left to drape between his knees.

"No, that's all right. I'm just.." He'd felt exhaustion before, but this was deeper than that. There was probably a word for it, but his mind couldn't begin to think of it. He shrugged. "It was a long battle."

Because although he'd spent most of it well behind the front lines, he was sure most all of them felt the same. They'd barely slept, hardly eaten, and spent the last full day fighting for their lives.

He turned a look on Lily, taking in her disheveled state alongside the comforting fact that she seemed to be moving well under her own power. Tired, but not to the stiffness of injury.

"I'm glad you're all right."

The moment she sat down on the ground Lily knew she was not going to be able to get up again for a good while. Bone tired and rattled to the core she might not have been drained enough to fall asleep on the cold ground, but she could certainly not move for a second.

"It's for the best, I'm so tired I fear you might end up with a milk stool instead of a bed." Rolling her shoulders Lily tilted her head from side to side, stretching her neck. She was sure she still could reassemble another bed if she had to, but at that second she had never been more worn out.

"You helped a lot of people," she continued pushing her hair over her shoulder and out of her face. On the side of her head was a small wound where she'd caught some fist or weapon in the fray, but it hadn't bled for very long and was about the worst of the injuries she'd sustained.

Smiling tiredly Lily looked back at Eleven. "I'm glad you are too, I don't think we could have made it through without you."

Edited 2021-06-16 03:27 (UTC)

His eyes caught on the injury and the dried trickle of blood. Not a recent injury, and she seemed perfectly lucid.

Eleven's gaze dropped under the weight of her earnest recognition, but the flutter of nerves failed to manifest as more than a passing discomfort. But there was pride there too- a tiny, fragile kindling of it. He could claim it without guilt, without the feeling that he hadn't truly earned it.

Perhaps the truth of that credit was a little stretched, but it was hard to prove otherwise. It might just be the reality.

"It wasn't just me," he demurred, "Hendrik worked just as hard, and getting that water without you would have been a great risk.. There were a few others that helped. And of course, everyone that fought to defend us. Those that took down Unhalad.."

He dearly wished he'd been there for that, but the wounded had taken priority. "We all had a hand in this victory."

While he spoke she looked back at the ruined garden and the mangled walls of the farm surrounding it. Lily hoped with everything she had left that they would still be getting away from this terrible place, but until then the work hadn't ended. Even if - as he said - everyone had already done so much.

"You're right, we all did," she sounded exhausted but full of gratitude that they had made it. "But you were brilliant my friend and I intend to tell you as much." Just like when she told him she was going to make him a cup of tea earlier, it was not an offer, it just was.

"Why do I have the terrible feeling it's going to be a long time before anyone here gets the rest they need?"

Eleven heaved a sigh, but with it came a tired smile. Yes, he could take his part of the credit for saving the day.

"Hm..." He leaned back, eye closing. "Probably because we'll need to figure out what we're doing- if we're going or staying to wait for word.. Salvage supplies, secure shelter- hopefully eat at some point."

Sleeping wasn't really on the agenda but for those that had already succumbed to unconsciousness. Eleven blinked his eyes open and straightened before he could do just that.

"I think... we're likely to pour our energy into shelter today while we discuss our options for tomorrow. I'm sure everyone is too tired to move far."

"You're right. We ought to find the most solid room still standing, fix what we can, and build a fire." A fire sounded absolutely wonderful but doing everything else before getting to stop moving long enough to enjoy it seemed like a very lofty aspiration. Lily didn't like the idea of staying here if they didn't have to, but she didn't think they had a choice for the time being. Even if they had been given an immediate exit, she didn't think she would get very far.

"Do you think anywhere's fit to sleep in with a bit of work? I'm a bit worried Regulus is going to freeze on the ground." Lilt tilted her head towards the makeup bag on the dirt and frowned tiredly.

"Hmm.." He turned his mind to what he'd seen wandering the grounds for injured after the battle had officially been declared over. "I think the rear quarters are the least damaged. They're still going to need work before they're suitable for anything, but it's a place to start."

Clearing out debris, covering the room with some sort of roof fixture, boarding windows and dusting out the ash.. It would be exhausting work for a group that was already on their last legs, but their need for shelter was dire.

"Goddess," he lamented, "I hope some of us have strength left."

The prospect that the entire group was tapped out was grim, especially because there was no way of knowing if the assault would come again, refreshed quicker than those at the farm could restore themselves.

"With some rest I'll be able to help put things back together a good deal quicker," Lily frowned, hating to admit that she was so spent. "For now I can patch at least a few holes before I have to rest." In truth, that was pushing it, but she wasn't ready to be finished yet.

"If you're ready to move yet," she wasn't sure that she was. "I'll help you sort out the most whole room we've got - but I'm going to fall asleep in it for a long time afterward."

Eleven breathed a long sigh, working to regain some semblance of normalcy to his limbs. Well enough that he wasn't injured for pain to be sapping at the final dredges of his strength. Slowly, he managed to push himself to stand, then reached down a hand to help Lily regain her feet.

"I should have just magic enough left for a fire," he admitted, "And we're like to have plenty of kindling, so at least we won't freeze when our strength fails."

Groaning, even before she took his offered hand and got back onto her feet, Lily covered her mouth and concealed a yawn the moment she was standing again, already missing the chilly ground and the bliss of not having to move.

Struggling against a tide of sleepiness Lily stooped back down long enough to retrieve the makeup bag she had carried into the garden with her.

"We'll patch what we can, build a fire, and I'll use whatever's left of me to repair us a pair of chairs to fall asleep in by it?"

Eleven nodded with an amused huff. The task set upon them would be ordinary and simple any other day, but as they were, it sounded near impossible. In all likelihood, it would truly sap the rest of their reserves before they weren't able to stand any longer.

"Goddess willing, the rest will manage to do without us after that."

"They'll have a fire to work with," she laughed tiredly and turned back towards what remained of the farmhouse. A fire was going to have to be enough.

he rode in, a king

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