A Chance to Turn the Tide (16 Jan 2003) Redmane helps Sir Theodore and the forces of May fight the Destroyer's minions.

Commander's Camp, West of the City
Large tents adjoin one another and are roofed over by a pavilion that has grown thick with snow, helping to hide the campfires within. Though the smaller tents of the army's officers and soldiers appear quite cozy, none are in use now for May's forces are being readied for a daring attack on the siege engines of the Destroyer's army. Horses whinny and nicker to each other nervously in the packed snow on the edge of the clearing.

Over an hour has passed, by the reckoning of a water-clock, and Lady Redmane has had ample opportunity to refresh herself and eat while going over the battle plans with Sir Gawain and his lieutenants. Brien, outside, has taken charge of securing the road and verifying the position of enemy sentries so that when the order is given, they can be taken out immediately.

Ahearn's ears flick up. Riders approach, he indicates, and sure enough it is not long before Sir Theodore himself strides into the camp, his warlike attire and long bearish face not at all like the roly-poly teddybear after which he was named, though his brown eyes are just as gentle. "Lady Redmane," says the bear-knight with a nod. "It is good to see that you are well, and gladder still am I to know you have found brave men of Mirari who stand in her defense. What would you have of me?"

"It warms the heart to see you and your men as well, Sir Theodore," Redmane replies. Gesturing to the armored figure next to her, she says, "This is Sir Gawain of May, who leads these troops. We've outlined a plan of attack meant to disable the enemy's siege engines. We'd hoped that with your additional forces, we could then drive the invaders against the city walls, where the defenders could help cut them down."

Sir Theodore goes over the plans with Sir Gawain and Lady Redmane quickly, and shakes his head. "With the numbers you have described, while mine men will be able to do right good injury to the enemies, I think it unlikely that we will be able to drive them as you say. But we could lead them to pursue May's men and then engage them as they followed, doing them a goodly hurt. Beyond that... retreat were wise, lest our forces be overwhelmed on all sides."

Redmane nods, and purses her lips. "We have one of their sentry's signal horns. I imagine that could be used to lure a patrol into an ambush," she says. "Is there anyplace that you'd want a larger force driven to? They already know about me, but likely not about the troops of May."

"I doubt that they will be so foolish as to commit their entire forces to a counterattack or be led away entirely, but even the half of their forces would be worrying," Sir Theodore muses. "But no, there is no fortification nearby that I can think of to which we could draw their forces. I will be well satisfied if we can proceed instead as a mouse might devour an elephant."

Sir Gawain looks up. "And how might that be, pray tell?" His curious glance takes in both Lady Redmane and Sir Theodore.

"Infiltrate their ranks before striking?" Redmane asks, not sounding very surprised by the notion. "I was able to bluff my way into one of the construction camps earlier, and tried to sow some seeds of dissent, but they are most likely on the alert for that by now."

"I was thinking more, a nibble at a time," Sir Theodore says with a laugh.

"They seemed poised to attack the city's fortifications at dawn, Sir Theodore," Redmane explains. "If we can destroy their siege engines before then, that would give us more time to nibble away at them and try to panic their troops."

The commander nods agreement. "Aye, milady, that we can accomplish." He gathers around the map with the others. "If we provoke their men by an assault on their engines, here, here, here, and here... We provoke a reaction that we can lead to this field, here. It would provide an ideal place in which Sir Theodore's men could hammer through them, inflicting damage out of all proportion to numbers."

Smiling at the plan, Redmane asks Gawain, "How many knights will be needed to cover the retreat of the archers after they strike at the camps?"

"I should think as many as we might have available," Sir Gawain says thoughtfully. "After so great a hurt, they will likely thirst for revenge, and I cannot think that they would send any small numbers against us."

Sir Theodore adds after a moment of study, "Our steeds are possessed of greater mobility, so we should be able to break away here, or here...." He marks the places that offer access to broad stretches on which the cavalry could outrun foot soldiers. "If we can lead them far enough away that they elect to break away, or are exhausted, then we can regroup here."

"Ahearn and I can try to keep the pursuers angry enough to maintain the chase, I think," Redmane says, looking to theLord of Horses for a yea or nay.

The Lord of Horses nods. Indeed, I have no doubt that we can, he answers her, in speech that all can understand. In the language of horses, he adds, Or, rather, you can make them angry, while I keep them chasing us -- as opposed to catching us.

Redmane winks back to Ahearn, then says to the others, "We might even be able to keep them on the road, with luck. Should we go ahead and take out the enemy sentries then?"

May's commander nods, smiling. "Well, then! It appears we have a plan, milady, milord," he says. "If we are successful in this, I have no doubt that we can continue to harry them thusly, and prevent them from rebuilding their engines, for some time to come. Is there aught else to discuss?"

Sir Theodore scratches behind an ear. "I have no complaints with this plan, yet remember that the fortunes of war can change swiftly," he cautions. "We must be ready to recognize that change when we see it, and bend with it."

"We must hope that those in the Palace are also hatching plans of their own," Redmane says, "so that we won't be entirely on our own in the end. They know we're here, as I saw the black boat make it over the wall earlier. Brien, let your scouts know to keep an eye out for crows, in case October sends us a messenger."

The lieutenant nods from where he's been taking notes on the battle plans. "Aye, milady. We'll send word to you immediately, if we spot a messenger."

"Sir Gawain, I don't mean to impose on you so much," Redmane whispers to the commander of May's forces, "but I don't suppose you have any spare armor that might fit me? I left mine in another world."

With the sentries dispatched by broad-headed, silver-feathered arrows from the cover of the woods, the work camp beyond is taken completely by surprise as soldiers of May charge inward, covered by archers firing high volleys of burning arrows that ignite woodpiles and tents. "For Mirari and May!" come their loud war cries as they swarm the workmen. Similar scenes of destruction are taking place up and down the woods.

This is familiar grounds for Lady Redmane, but instead of the mud-spattered figure of darkness who first approached, it is now an armored lady upon a gleaming white horse who waits in the shadows to give the signal to retreat, armored in mirror-like plate atop silver chainmail so light that it feels like wearing cloth, but strong enough to turn a blade. Ahearn too has been accoutered with barding, plates of silvery metal atop leather backing.

The first sign that things are not turning out completely as expected comes when a familiar silhouette comes into view against the flames of the burning work camp. It appears to be an armored knight, save that it rides a giant scorpion-beast and one arm ends in a massive claw.

Lieutenant Brien, at Redmane's side, whispers, "A Vyglari! But they're supposed to be..." He shakes his head. In these times, it is no surprise to find legendary nightmares walking abroad.

"Call the retreat, Brien," Redmane says, and hefts her lance into position. "I'll deal with the Vyglari."

Brien nods, and shoulders his bow to take the signal horn from Lady Redmane. He blows thrice. Archers change to broad-headed, man-killing arrows again, while their friends who were preparing their arrows for them take up their swords and prepare to defend the retreat. The soldiers of May who were busy in the camp pull back slowly, then morehurriedly as they catch sight of the insectoid monstrosity.

The Vyglari rattles and snarls, following after them with alacrity! It screeches with battle rage, and where its tail lashes, a soldier falls, sometimes one of May's men, other times a goblin worker who failed to find safe refuge.

Leading Ahearn out into the open, Redmane raises her lance and bellows a challenge to the monster, "Face me, you puffed-up cockroach!"

The Vyglari rears up, the lance in its right hand held as if it were a mere spear. "Surrender or die," it threatens inan insectoid hiss, eyes slit.

Raising up her shield, the knight levels her lance and signals Ahearn to charge, aiming for the monster's torso. "As if there were a difference between the two," she mutters in reply to the Vyglari.

Behind the Vyglari, the enemy army's campfires flicker and then vanish, screened from sight by the bodies being marshaled to retaliate. Then by ones and twos, torches blaze from the staves carried by the standard bearers, lighting the faces of the ogres and trolls as they charge forward with axes and mauls. They are at a great distance, but they seem to stretch from one horizon to the other.

Lieutenant Brien calls to Lady Redmane, "Careful, milady! We'll await you," and falls back into the woods with his men.

For a terrible moment, it seems as if her charge might miss entirely ... but then the lance slams home against one side of the Vyglari, knocking him backward and leaving a smoldering wound that would be mortal in any ordinary creature. He swipes with his lance and claws, but Redmane's quick reflexes allow her to deflect the one against her shield and to dodge the second, as Ahearn runs past, then turns about for another charge.

The Vyglari keens loudly, gathering itself up for a painful defense, head swinging back and forth until it can fix on Redmane again. "You will die slowly," it promises.

"As long as you die loudly," Redmane retorts, hoping the monster's screams will help demoralize the approaching troops. She lines up her lance again, aiming once more for the torso.

This time, as Redmane and Ahearn close upon the fell creature, the Vyglari gathers its strength ... and leaps!

But quick as the monstrous man-scorpion was, the knight's reflexes are swifter as she brings her steed into line and drives her point through its heart, spitting it near the full length of her lance. Its claw passes inches over her head as it thrashes, wail cutting off as fire begins to take root in its innards.

A tilt of the lance, and the Vyglari slides off to the ground, leaving smoldering ichor. The beat of the oncoming army's footsteps might have faltered for a moment ... but then distant voices call orders, and there is the soundof far-away whip-cracks, and the trolls push forward again.

"The Destroyer kisses puppies!" Redmane calls to the approaching forces, and urges Ahearn to begin their retreat towards the trap.

On Merriweather Field, a wide stretch that marks where two woods eye each other across a long and thin ravine, the rest of May's forces have regrouped and Sir Theodore's men await the order to charge from within the cover of the further trees along the ravine as if it were a highway. The enemy is in close pursuit on all quarters, according to the report that Lieutenant Brien gives Lady Redmane as she arrives.

On the far side of the ravine, May's archers have taken up posts again; before them stand the footmen, some with swords, some with pikes lowered to receive a charge. It is merely moments, if that, until the snow will run red and black with blood and ichor.

Slowing slightly, Redmane looks back to see if more Vyglari or other difficult-to-kill creatures have moved to the front of the pursuit. "Let's give them some incentive, Ahearn," she whispers to the Lord of Horses. "Can you fake going lame in one of your legs?"

There are no other Vyglaris that Redmane can recognize immediately, though there are plenty of ogres mixed in with the trolls.

The response comes back, Can you fake being a powerful Ironbearer in service to the Destroyer? Certainly. Almost immediately, Ahearn's gait shifts under Redmane to something distinctively wounded.

As the pair limps into the ravine, Redmane calls back to the trolls and ogres, "You'll never take us alive! And I hope you choke on our bones to boot!"

The trolls bellow, and the ogres charge ahead with death in their eyes! The monsters swarm out of the woods, moonlight and torchlight limning their bodies and striking sparks along the edges of their weapons. Sir Theodore's men are invisible in the distance.

"Okay, let's limp a little faster," Redmane notes to Ahearn, seeing the descending horde. "I think they're inspired enough now!"

You don't say. Ahearn lunges up the far side of the ravine and into the woods where they can join the others and prepare to receive the charge. Behind him are the monsters, stretching entirely across the field from one end to the other, beginning to make the descent into the ravine. Their war-cries bear a certain barbaric rhythm, resonating with their footsteps.

"I didn't think we'd attract so many!" Redmane exclaims once she sees the enemy numbers. "They're likely to crush each other at this rate!" she says as she draws her sword and waits for the attack signal.

Sir Gawain says cheerfully to Lady Redmane, "We did smash nearly all their toys, so it stands to reason that they're upset over it. Besides, didn't you want to get their attention?" He shouts to the pikemen to be ready to receive a charge, then calls to the archers to begin firing. Silvery-edged birds take flight, felling enemies in droves ... and still they press on, filling the ravine.

"It's not the sort of reaction I usually get is all," Redmane replies, watching the arrows fly. "It could turn a girl's head, being so popular."

The first of the ogres have crossed the ravine and advance up it, blood in their eyes, sometimes literally for the ogres seem to be too tough to fell with merely a few arrows. Trolls snarl behind them by a few paces. At another barked order from Sir Gawain, the pikemen move forward to engage, beginning a second line of death and intense fighting, as swordsmen move in to help the pikemen. Archers continue to volley arrows into the mass of enemies ... and still the knights have not yet appeared.

Redmane gazes back toward the far end of the field, to see if the last of the enemy troops have entered yet.

There seems to be no end to them. Sir Gawain whispers tensely to Lady Redmane, "Where is he? If we don't break away soon, they'll spread around the sides and roll us up like-- bedrolls!"

Grinding her teeth, Redmane replies, "I think he's waiting for them all to enter the kill zone, so we can cut off their retreat. But by the time the rear echelon finds out what's happening, they should already be in the trap. If they reach the trees, we'll have to engage them anyway."

As if Redmane's words were the cue, Sir Theodore's men charge into the field, a trumpet blowing the call to charge. Their silvery lances and swords seem magically empowered, cutting through the ogres and the trolls far more readily than May's swordsmen and pikes. Sir Theodore himself rides at the head of the flying wedge, using his massive bear-strength to fling entire ogres bodily into the back of the enemies. "FOR MIRARI!" he roars. "FOR APRIL! By the name of Angelique!"

"Yes!" Redmane yells, and urges Ahearn forward through the pike line, sword drawn and ready. "Turn them back onthemselves until they tear each other apart!"

The battle rages like a living thing, as May's men struggle to press their attackers back, and Sir Theodore carves a path through the army. But there are so many enemies, too many to imagine that they could all be destroyed, at least without great loss of life from Sir Theodore's men and May's forces. Redmane's own sword smolders with burning ichor as she is forced to defend herself from all sides.

Amidst the chaos of the melee, Redmane tries to spot anyone among the enemy that looks to be giving orders.

As Redmane's eyes quest about the field, she catches sight of some ogres who seem to be dressed far more ornately than the others. Though the army seems to stretch far beyond them as well, at least as far into the darkness of the trees as she can see.

Sir Theodore calls to Redmane as she nears his charging force, "Milady, we are being swarmed on all sides! It appears they have sent far more of their army than I would have guessed. If we could force them to pull back with a threat from another direction..." His voice trails off as he spits a troll on his sword, then flings him aside.

"What threat can we add, aside from setting the woods on fire around them?" Redmane calls back, deflecting an axe-blow with her shield.

"A sally from the defenders might force them to call back their men," yells the bear-knight. "I think snow-heavy wood will not take light well!"

A stray gust draws Redmane's attention upward, to where a slim bronze girl hovers in the air as if standing upon an unseen platform. "I've found you at last, Lady Redmane!" calls Nashita al-Zephyr, her voice so musical against the raw cacophony of the battle. "Your friends are safe, but I cannot fulfil your third wish until I have brought you within Mirari's safety as well! Will you come with me?"

"Time to fly, Ahearn," Redmane says, and calls up to Nashita, "Yes, take me there! It's time for Mirari to strike back!"

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