The two people amble forward to speak to the party.

"Elves!" the younger man says excitedly.

"No, not all Elves," the older one says to his partner.  "That one... he's a Dwarf!  This is an usual group!"

Then he speaks to Salen.

"You don't know where you are?  But how can that be, how did you come to be here?  Elves know this place, they come here now and then, their forest is close by.  This is Bruxzella, the gem of Belgica."

The Prismatic Fey steps up.  "I brought them here, that is why they do not know.  I am unsure myself.  I thought this was the right place, but this is not what I remember.  A bright mall, with a rainbow reflecting in the pool, and so many happy people between the two temples!  What has happened?  Please tell me the Huns have not slaughtered everyone!"

The young man stares.  "What is she?" he asks in a whisper.

Although the question was posed to his mentor, Galazia answers it.  "I am a spirit of Light and Color, and I am a servant of Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, who is herald and handmaiden to Juno."

The older man bows.  "Forgive me, divine one!  I am Iato, chief sexton of these temples."

It is hard to tell if Galazia blushes.  Maybe its just one of the many colorful flickers in the aura of light that surrounds her.

"No, no, I am not divine.  A servant, no more than you, but from a different place.  Tell us, please, what has happened?"

"The Huns are not in the city, but they are close upon us," Iato says.  "Most of the people have fled.  They will be here, soon.  They are already camped outside the city.  Any day, they will get restless, realize how few we are left here, and attack."

Swift grins as she walks around "So, how many are you and how many do you think there are out there? Maybe we could fool them into thing there are more here then there are?" Too bad they couldn't have brought more people with them.

"Greetings, Iato. I am Salen, and this is Ovo, Swift and Galazia. We are here to distract the Huns as best we can, by whatever means we can. We will need to know every window, every door, any secret passages. There are not many of us, but we do not require great numbers to cause the Hun great difficulties. Any information, any help you can give us, will prove invaluable."

Salen could not help but think to himself, So this is Bruxzella, then!

Iato introduces himself, and his assistant Kastor, in response to Salen.

But Swift's question troubles him.  “How many of us?” Iato repeats.  “Scarcely a fifth of what there was in the city two weeks ago.  And just a fraction of our fighting men.  Duke Ambric said, we must not let the army get trapped here.  He said Theoderic is coming with his army, and our fighters will  join forces with them, and with the Elves, but until then we must not fight them piecemeal.  So the troops, and many of the people of Bruxzella have gone.  Now there are only a few left. A few... and ruses and tricks, to make them seem many times their number.   I will be among the last out.  We were finishing the closing up of the temples.. hopefully they will stay secure long enough.  The priests asked the protection of the gods for them.”

The younger man, worried now that he sees that these strangers don’t really know what they’ve run into, shakes his head.  “You’ve come into a terrible place!” he said.  “Any day now.. any hour!  Huns could be pouring into the city.  This is not the right time for anyone to come here.”

More out of shock and surprise than fear, Galazia innocently asks,  “Then we should go back?”

Now it is Iato’s turn to be surprised.  “Go back?  How?” he asks.

“The portal that brought us here,” Galazia says.  “But we must choose now.  It will not last long.  A rainbow is an ephemeral thing in this world, though it is forever in mine.”

”You could bring others with you!” Iato says, sounding hopeful.  There are families with young children that have not left yet, that will have a hard time evading the Huns!”

Galazia shakes her head.  “I cannot bring many.  Just a few.”

”A few of the children, then,” Iato says desperately.

Galazia looks at Swift.  “I could bring us all back, and a few… or maybe there is time to make more than one trip.  If you ask it I will do this.  But if we do not hurry, then we are here, in a city that is about to be attacked.”

Swift looks around "Yes, if the children are close, call them and we will take them though to where we were. But we must do it quickly. We can't let woman or children fall into the hands of the huns. I will go back and then come back here as quick as I can"

She looks to Salen "What should I tell them back where we came from?"

The situation was far grimmer than Salen had dared to think, and there was no question they needed to get as many innocents away from here as fast as they possibly could. Someone would have to stay and aid the defence, though...

He turned to Swift.

"Tell them that Bruxzella is about to be assailed by the Huns, and within hours, not days or weeks. The army cannot come quickly enough, so dire is our predicament here.

Take as many of the children and families with you as you can, in however many trips
you can make in such a short time. I will stay here to help organise such a retreat, and to aid in the defence if I must - someone can take my place on the return path."

Salen looked back to Iato and Kastor.

"We must move quickly, there is no time to waste. Show me where these people are."

Swift looks at Salen "Before I go, I have one idea, if we can't stop them from coming in, why not make it so they want to leave? Sometimes when cites are besieged, plagues and other things take to the city. So maybe if we can make the Huns think people died here, they will just leave"

A smile crossed Salen's lips, and he nodded at Swift's suggestion.

"Excellent idea. Perhaps if we can get the locals to make their skins look paler, with powder or something; simulate the appearance of sores and the like. I'm not sure we can pull that off in such a short time, but if we could get even one or two families to do so it might give the Huns food for thought. It all helps."

She grins at Salen "Thanks, lets do it"

Swift looks at the locals "OK, lets get the people we want to get out of here and make it quick, we can't hold this gate open for very long."

She looks at Galazia "So, how much time do we have?" she did what to get the innocents out of here.

It is hard for Galazia to know exacts with time.  Only that speed is important.  So they round up what they can.

There are two temples on opposite sides of this mall.  Iato identifies them as the Pantheon of Gods and the Pantheon of Goddesses.  Bruxzella gave them equal prominence.  But not identical prominence.  On one side of the Pantheon of Goddesses is the building used as school, orphanage, and foundling hospital.  It's mostly empty, but for a couple of caretakers and the few children they haven't been able to evacuate yet.

This is the group Iato and Kastor want to send back.

Galazia implores them to move as quickly as possible.  They wrangle kids together, and a mist settles over a rainbow swirl over the water.  She leads the children, caretakers, and Swift back in.

And they are in the place of sky and rainbows again.  Only... not everyone made it.  Just she, Swift, one caretaker (scarcely more than a child herself) and four children.

Galazia looks bothered.  "The portal is not closed," she says.  "I think this is all I can take.  But we must go fast, to get back here."


Back in Bruxzella, Ovo, Alara, and Salen are left with the others.

Kastor says with an understanding voice:  "I'm sure she did what she could.  All she could.  She seemed sincere."

"Let's go to my home," Iasto says.  "I will explain to you what is happening here, what we have, and what we are up against."

Ovo held up a hand.

"This here sprite will be come'n back for more o' those little ones. I think it be ah good idea ta be here when she comes back. Ya know she nay be able to keep the open'n open for long. Ye can talk here can ye not? I would be like'n ta go wi' ye but the children need ta come first I'm think'n. Wot say ye Salen n' Alara?"

"What?"

Salen looked at Ovo, his expression confused and uncomprehending. Then he thought about it for a while, and figured that he had reasoned what the gibberish translated to.

"Ah, I see. Well, I am unsure but I think we will be wasting time if we stand here awaiting Galazia's return, when there is no guarantee that she will. Who knows if the portal will remain open at all? We have no time to squander."

The elf turned to Iato.

"Would it be possible to leave someone here, with the children that have yet to go, in case the portal does stay open and Galazia returns? Kastor, perhaps? Then we could accompany you to your house, and hear what you have to tell us, in order that we may make preparations for the Huns attack. I will offer my physical support if you require it, good sir."

Swift hurrys the children to the other end even though even she would like to stop and look at the pretty colors. She jsut wants to get as many of the children though as she can and let the others on the other side know of thier situation.

Ovo shook his shaggy head.

"Awright! I'd be fine wi' leave'n the children behind... wi' ah caretaker. I see the wisdom in that. Ye have me aid as well. Now then... wot sort o' siege engines do ye have? How strong be the gates? I'd rather put up ah token o' ah fight than jus rely on some charlatan's show. The Huns may have ah Blackguard o' priest that kin tell true pestilence from the fake. We must slow down the Huns nay stop them if I remember the King right. We must make'em think we have ah force ta withstand ah siege."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Fri 14 Sept 2012.

Iatos appoints his assistant Kastor to keep an eye on the portal area, just in case they return.. or something else tries to use the portal.  You never know.

The old man brings them to a rather nice looking residence near the Pantheon of the Gods.  Sky blue walls, and niches with white marble statues along the front façade.

”Residence of the priest,” Iatos says.  “But I don’t think he’d mind me using it for you.”

He gets out a large key ring and unlocks the door.


”I’m the caretaker for the temple properties, you see.  Got keys to everything.  But the temple itself, all sealed up now.  It’s got warding spells and prayers of protection, hopefully, when the Orcs take this city, they’ll last long enough.”

When?

Iatos settles the party in, and finds some bread and cheese and wine, and talks about how things have gone, here.

”We expect to lose the battle here.  There are so many Orcs beyond the walls it’d be impossible to win.  But they will spend their time on us, and every day, Theoderic will get closer, and Duke Ambric and the Elves will get ready.  The troops are building, but not here.  Bruxzella is a big decoy.”

He tells of the volunteers left to defend this place- many are old men.  And their wizard, the Count Dongestede, who is skilled with illusions and makes illusions of troops guarding the wall.

* * * * * *

Swift, Galazia, and the small group of refugee children make it to the other end of the portal.

They are back in Viroviacum, in the Temple of Juno, much to the surprise of the handful of townsfolk here who are having an impromptu ceremony asking Juno, great queen of Heaven, to send a new priestess to help them.

They all look at the new arrivals.  Galazia convinces them that no, none of them is a priestess.

But maybe it would be a nice thing if they watched over these children?

Then she turns to look at the portal, and is very worried.

”We can get back,” she says to Swift.  “But not back again.  This is the last, then the portal must rest until we can use it again.”

Swift looks at one of the towns poeple "Look, these children are from Bruxzella and the city is about to fall. Please look after them and take them to the king with that message. We must return, good bye" she says as she disappears back with the fey.

Ovo thought upon this a bit then nodded.

"I nay know much O' spells n' magic but if this Count's illusions are aid'n ye then I'm fine wi' that."

Then he cocked a brow.

"Wot o' the gates? Are they reinforced? How many do ye have in the city? Again have ye any any siege engines? Have ye made contact wi' the Huns? Mayhaps we kin buy time if we hold false negotiations... a day or three at most. Yet we must give them pause to attack n' then make'em pay when they do. Make'n the Huns weaker now will allow the King ta defeat them all the easier later."

Iatos spends some time with them, in the priest's home, as they wait for the return of Swift and Galazia.  They have a nice place to sleep, at least, and food is available.  Iatos talks about Bruxzella in general and its current situation.

The city began with some temples and fortifications on the high ground overlooking the Zenne River.  A market grew up in the low area between the river and the high ground, where traders arriving by boat could offload and sell their goods, and eventually, the river was bridged, and the low ground became the commercial heart while the eastern upper area of the city became an area of temples, palaces, and forticications.

Now, Bruxzella is about a mile long north-south and a half mile east west.  The west side of the city is lowland, along the Zenne river.  The high east side of Bruxella is higher ground, with one high bluff curling around to the north.

The west side, facing the Zenne river, has the weakest sections of the wall, but the city counts on the protection afforded by the Zenne river and the low, marshy flood plain on the far side.  The east has the stronger walls.  Particularly strong fortifications are at the bluffs and the gatehouse at the north, and the gatehouse at the east.  The only entrances at the south end are small ones, and these have been sealed up.

As far as the military situation, Iatos decides to defer to one of the "Gray Legion" and invites one over to lunch the next day.

Iatos explains:  "The Grey legion know more of the military situation than I do.  It is old custom that when there is war, a family sends a young man.  But Count Dongestede believes that holding this city for as long as possible means holding it to death, so he asked for older volunteers.  Old men, willing to lay down their lives so that their younger family members could continue their lines.  Lots of experience among them."

A gray haired but still strong looking man sporting faded tattoos joins them.  He introduces himself as Stradi, the elder of a family of river men, and now one of the Grey Legion volunteers.

"The Huns have almost completely surrounded the city," he explains. "A good five thousand of them, in rings of camps.  They've got siege engines, war beasts, archers, trolls, and weapons of every description.  Against that, the Count is buying time with his tricks.  Some Elves came out to join us, and they're committed to it.  They've been working on something that I think is some kind of poison.  They intend to use it on the Orcs.  Fling it at them with catapults."

By 'almost completely', it seems there is a narrow corridor north of the city that the Huns have not closed, because it is low and swampy and cut off from view, and the troops they send there get ambushed.  So Bruxzella has an escape route, and every night, more people use it.  It is already obvious today that there are even fewer people than yesterday.

* * * * * *

Swift returns, back along the path.  They find the same cloud as before, but the cloud is now dark and ominous like a storm cloud.

Galazia tries to explain thoughts and feelings in the physical world can cause changes here:  "Where the worlds touch, sometimes some energy crosses.  Sometimes in your world you will see a sky brighter than most.  Sometimes, things like great fear shared by many will manifest here.  Your feelings in your world changes ours."

But they head back through nonetheless, and they find Iatos's assistant Kastor waiting for them.

He is overjoyed to see them back.

"You were gone a day!  We were very worried.  I wonder, though, another..."

"No," Galazia says sadly, looking behind.  "It is already fading.  Such things do not stay open forever and it is good that they do not, because all worlds would become one."

Kastor nods, looking a little discouraged.  "We do what we can," he says.  "Your friend's are at Priest Lamater's house.  We should join them.

* * * * *

(When they do, assume that they can catch each other up on whatever has happened since the group split up, and the information about Bruxzella)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:51, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

Swift steps out and looks at Galazia "How are you feeling?" she then looks at Kastor "Lead us to our friends." she watches as they go, just in case. She is worried that the huns will break into the city at any time.

Salen's pointy ears perk up when Stradi mentions some fellow elves are in Bruxzella.

"Elves, you say? Perhaps you could take them to us, for I would much like to talk with them. They seem to have a fair strategy as to how best tackle the Huns under these circumstances. Unless of course you can take us to the Count Dongestede himself..? It might be best if we all discuss together how best we may achieve our aims."

Salen has more questions, but thinks they might be best left for the elves and/or the Count.

On the way back to the Priest's House...

Galazia looks at Swift like she had just asked an absolutely unexpected question.

“I am feeling… dark and gray,” she says after some thought.  Bad things will happen.  More, like before.  I hope it is not like before.”

"What do you mean?" Kastor asks, looking back over his shoulder as he leads the way.

Galazia explains.  "We Prismatic Fey are poor fighters.  Our powers are only strong when lent to the service of others.  But a Hun shaman caught us alone, and we could not stand against him.  It is a dreadful time.  We were tortured.  Swift was among those who saved us, and now we aid her.  I hope we fare much better this time."

"You will," Kastor says with innocent, optimistic certainty.  "I will help you.  And there are the others you came with.  You will not be alone this time."

"You are kind, Kastor." Galazia replies.

Kastor leads them to the Priest’s House, a very elegant structure with blue walls and marble statues.  They reunite with the others in their little party.

* * * *

"Welcome back," Iatos the Sexton says.  "Sir Salen has expressed a desire to meet with the other Elves that have come.  I confess to a mistake.  I had assumed, I suppose automatically, that the Elves here, Salen and the others, must be fully aware of each others’ presence and what they were doing.  It seemed... well, Elves and Elves, of course... I am sorry, I was wrong.  Come, let's find them at Count Dongestede's house"

From the Priest’s house, they walk back out onto the great Temple Mall, and from there, to the long, wide stone stairs heading down into the low area of the town, the dense, busy area along the river.  But even as they head down, there are several men headed up from below- and they are armed and ready.

They pause to speak to the Temple Caretaker.   “Iatos, still here?  We thought the temples were sealed, your work done!”

“They are sealed, Hallus, but then I ran into these visitors.  We are going to the Count’s, to see the other Elves.”

“Well your timing is poor, and so is yours..." Hallus looks over at Salen, directing the last comment to the Elf.  "A few of Dongestede's Elves are at the wall already, at the East gate.  The Huns are on the move, Iatos!  The hour has come!”

"We must go to the East Wall, immediately. Well, I must - but should we all? Perhaps you - Swift, Ovo, Galazia - can go with Iatos to see the Count while I go with this good Hallus to meet the other Elves. Time is of the essence.

If that is agreeable, of course."

Swift looks at Galazia "I am sorry you feel so dark, I hope I can help you feel better"

She looks at Salen "I will come with you, I don't want to get separated even if I am tired" she took a long drink of her water skin.

The East wall, fortunately, is not very far.  The Temple Mall is up on the high area of the town, by the east side.  The wall is already in sight.  But “Dongestede’s Elves”, according to Hallus, are at the East wall’s gatehouse.  That is a little further than just getting to the wall, but still, not as far as Dongestede’s House, which is down by the river.

The party hurries over.

Along the way, Galazia tells Swift, it is not a time to feel better.  There is fear and doubt in the air, and it is not all hers.

“Don’t let it overcome you,” Kastor says, falling behind as he and Iatos cannot move as quickly as the others.

The gatehouse is the main fortification on the east wall of Bruxzella.  There is a flat terrace between two towers, and there are catapults up there being prepared for action.  There are two passages through the gatehouse, each leading to a great wooden door bolstered with iron bars and straps.  One door is opening!

On purpose!

And in the entrance, a half dozen men.  Three are Elves.  A fourth is a huge, heavily muscled warrior with two swords.  The other two are old, gray haired, proud looking men in armor that doesn’t fit them as well as it used to.

But to find out who is who, it is time for a new thread:  The Siege Towers of Bruxzella

 

Swift follows the others to the gate.

To the Towers of Bruxzella -->