The Burgundian cavalry man who helped finish off the Demon, Heolstor's appointed lieutenant Glarigg, directs everyone's attention back to the Demon.

They look back at the Demon's body.  It's vanishing before their eyes.  Thousands of ants have appeared, as if out of nowhere, and they are voraciously devouring it.  Almost all of it... the teeth, long and black and pointed, are left behind, and fall to the ground one by one.


"Another good reason not to delay," Glarigg says, with a warrior's disgust for the supernatural.  "Let us get away from that."

He turns his horse south, heading down the hill away from the oncoming mob of Hun reinforcements.

And then, at the bottom, west, up towards the positions held by the joint army of Humans, Elves, and Dwarves.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 16:46, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Gondioque observes, though not without glancing to judge the closeness of danger. Assuming there's time, she rides to the demon's teeth, takes a small sack out of her saddlebag, and (with leather-gloved hands) picks up and stows the demon's teeth. Sir Montcalm, with Geoff and Windfreid holing the horses, may help. Then they canter away south and then west.

Maki observes Gondioque pick up the remains of the demon.

Almost quietly he seems to chant. "From whence you came you shall remain,
Until you are complete again."

Saying that he follows the others away from the hill, and towards their allies main forces.

 Tugdual does not seem disgusted by the disappearance of the demonic corpse. To him, this seems as natural as it can get ; a being of supernatural essence, borrowing matter from the earth and giving it back...

 The druid kneels and gathers what remains of the fallen demon, dust and black teeth, and keeps it safe and sheltered in a flask.

 Without a word, he mounts the heavy aurochs and follows the Burgundian cavalry.

Gondioque, seeing somebody taking care of the demon's remains, fllows her intention of going south by southwest and then west to high ground. And Tavi...?

 ooc : sorry, I missed your post ; I didn't mean to snatch the demon's teeth from Gondioque.
 Although I must say that if it's the same to you, I'd like to extend my collection of demonic remains...

OOC: Done and done.

ooc : very well then.

 Thus equipped, Tugdual lead the way from the place that should henceforth be known as Flag Hill back to the streets of Nasium. This skirmish had been a success, but the battle was not won yet.

Maki continues to follow Gondioque along the paths she choses. His spirits remained high after that little victory, though he hopped he could help more soon.

Gondioque rides back to the high ground where she can observe. As they ride, she turns in the saddle (much easier with Voca's stirrups) and smiles. Well done, bard. A command for you: When the time is right for it, make sure you mention yours among the deeds of this day. She adds Not a princess, but as a prospective auditor.

When they arrive, Gondioque voices some of her thoughts while Geoff and Windfreid (especially) look around to avoid surprises. It may be we'll be involved in caring for the injured or in aiding the return of the Burundians to their homes. Other possibilities there are...unlikely ones, involving negotiations.

She pauses. Strange...I would have thought the Huns would have better generalship.

The group heads south, and up to the high ground just south of the "defended area"  The Burgundian riders who made the charge up the hill with Tugdual really feel as if they ought to be returning to the main battle.

But where, and how?  The Huns seem to have had their attack broken up- the timing of different groups was confused by the flags.

Maybe not for long.  Already, the group can see.. the Huns have retaken "Flag Hill", and with a much larger force now.  And they are putting up new flags!

"Reserve flags," one of the horsemen complains.  "Those dirty, sneaky..."

Or is it too late?  Has the coordination been lost to the point where new flags won't help?  It's hard to tell.  From here, the group can see the east flank of the battle area, but not the rest.  By forcing the battle into an urban area, the allies took a risk.  It is hard to control and observe over an urban area, and Arctos and Anakri gambled that chaos would favor them more than the Orcs.

Still, from the current position, the party can see:

1)  East across the valley, on Flag Hill, a large force of Huns and several Ogres are reestablishing the hilltop flag position.

2)  Northeast of the party's current position is the valley they crossed to reach Flag Hill, and have now left behind.  It is empty.

3)  Due north, further along the slope of the hill they are now on, there is a cemetery.  The defenders are counting on it to be part of the defense, and there are some warriors along the west side of it.  On the east, a few dozen Orcs are tentatively probing it.  (Although one might think "cemeteries... death.. undead.. evil!" the Huns are actually quite cautious about Human cemeteries.  Humans, especially the Roman, bury their dead with a lot of ceremony, sacrifice, outpouring of love and admiration.  And the "holy" dead are considered powerful forces of good- note the importance of "relics".  All of this means, there may be spirits and undead in a cemetery, but they'd probably favor Humans- especially if kin are present- over Orcs.)

4)  Northwest is the "back side" of the allied defensive hill.  There is a large amphitheater there.   With the trees and buildings in the way, no one can see whether or not Huns have looped around to encircle the defenders, but if they did, there might be tracks showing the passage of them and... oh my.  There are.  While everyone was busy at Flag Hill, someone got past and headed for the amphitheater.  Orcs, maybe twenty or so, and something with much bigger feet.  Like a giant, perhaps.

OOC:

Besides the original party, are any Burgundians with Gondioque and Maki? How about Tavi?

 Before heading away from Flag Hill, Tugdual tried to assess the situation. Various options and a lot at stake, but they had to make a swift decision.

 Back to the flags ? No way, the Huns would be wary now.
 The cemetery ? It could take care of itself.

 The amphitheatre... that place was in need of assistance, especially if a colossal creature was lurking there, ready to "sneak" on the allied position in the city...

 The druid mounted his auroch and called out :
  "Riders ! Your officers' position in town is threatened ! With me, let us charge in and bring them our support !"

 Tugdual takes the lead and mentally works in his spell repertoire to define a tactical approach.

"My Lady... It seems that the battles here are far from over. And no doubt is our aid still needed. Although I already made a song about Mr. Togual, I think there is still lots more to be written and the next battle is just around the corner." Maki said to Gondioque.
It appeared Huns tried to take similar advantage of their allies, as they just did with Hun flags.
Ignoring such a threat would be foolish, but Maki saw that Tugdual wasn't sitting idle.

You realize that if I were to take sides and it were known, Burgundy might go to war...which is against my father's wishes last I knew. Yet Gondioque's face, usually self-possessed, reflects her frustration—and her furious rationalizing. In what seems finally, she says Burgundy is neutral between the Huns and the allied forces. Yet giants out of place are the business of all who want peace. We shall ride closer...to see about this supposed giant. Freeman Maki, ride with us...please.

Behind her, Geoff and Windfreid are amused, excited with a tinge of fear. Sir Montcalm at first suppresses laughter, but his face turns somber when he realizes his Princess may soon be in mortal peril.

The party follows the riders with a gap between. (Should they near the action, tlhey wil pause to leave the pack horses...and remove the Burgundian colors. Sir Montcalm takes out others, a surprise. He begins attaching the ivory and blood red cloth. Goundioque begins asking What...? Sir Montcalm answers The Lady Vocaphil had them made for a time such as this.

"If anyone asks, i have no idea where Burgundy even is." Maki replied. But as he saw the princess with other banners, he did get worried a bit.
If she got hurt, he would feel a part responsible.

OOC: I take it ivory and red are Saxon colors

OOC: The colors could be different. I picked them because they seemed appropriate for Gondioque. They could be changed.

Even though they could not see more then the regular Huns, the tracks that indicated something huge made everyone catious of the situation.
Maki then remembered an old tale, which he sang:

David slew Goliath on the field of Elah.
Donny stood there watching. Donny was in awe.

Donny was inspired. He prayed and preyed and preyed.
"May i fight for you a giant, too, like David did today?"

God sent him an answer. God heard Donny pray. God sent him a giant, there were giants in those days.
God sent him an army of all of Donny's friends. The army that said "Donny we are with you until the end."

They chanted: "Donny and Goliath! Mano e mano, Weak against strong, weak against the vile, whore of Babylon."

The morning of the battle Donny didn't last. The collosus knocked him right upon his ass.
Donny's friends ran to the giant, They said "Donny was a fool. We told him not to do it, we told him you are cool."

Donny wept in prison abandoned and condemned. "Oh Holy holy father, what did i do to offend?"
God spoke to Donny: "Donny, how do i begin? I made of you a lesson. A moral lays therin. Weakness isn't virtue. Strenght is not a sin.....Just because you fight a giant doesn't mean you get to win!"

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The briliant original:
Andy Prieboy - Donny vs Goliath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX5GOZkBgXU

---

Thank you for the caution. My prayer is the the deities be kindly disposed, that my choices are well-reasoned. This spear is for more than show, and peril increases with delay. Are you with us in this venture regardless, Advisor Maki?

OOC: I'm Reminded of Barry Bonds. For many years, he wished to be in a World Series...he forgot to wish to win it.

"Of corse, My Lady." Maki sharply replies. He knew well what his duties were.

Gondioque looks at Maki, and there is the slightest on nods. She turns to proceed, but Sir Montcalm takes the lead, and she follows where he goes. Geoff and Windfreid ride slightly behind her and out a distance, acting as wings. It goes without saying that the formation is intended for Montcalm to attract any giant's attention, Gondioque to act when the foe is engaged. Geoff and Windreid will act as needed, probably to surround. One might find it interesting that the forces of Burgundy have tghe discipline and foresight to have preset formations. Also, by now, Make may have noticed that the party has their feet resting in contraptions they call stirrups, kwchidh proved more control over the horse and allow more secure rider movement.

Having concluded all this, Maki (perhaps) chooses to ride by Gondioque and tell what he might do.

Maki navigated his horse, so that it followed Gondioque and the formation they were all in resembled that of an arrow. He wasn't exacly sure what their goal was. Flank the huns, maybe just attract their attention or maybe try to suprise them, though no doubt soon they would notice them.

One thing was certain. Maki had faith in the leadership, and knew when the time to act was ripe, everyone would know what to do.

OOC: Ah just like the real army. Us soldiers never had a clue what was going on until the last moment. Maki also has a low rank. So i don't think he'll be suggesting any tactics unless asked of course.

Sir Montcalm, his face grim, leads the group more westerly than the group Tugdual leads so as to come upon the melee from the south or even southwest.

Both groups, keeping some ground between them, heads for the amphitheater, following tracks.

The amphitheater is on the southeast side of the hill, on the edge of the perimeter, but in the back, on the far side from the expected attack.

Anakri and Arctos had limited numbers and could not spare many to hold this piece of terrain on the far side of the battle field, but they had to give it a small detachment- it was too valuable to leave empty.  The top of the structure, while not in the best position to view the main town, has a good view of the valleys all around.

But while it has a good long view, the close view is obscured by woods, and that’s where the Orcs went, heading up to the amphitheater with only minimal interference from the defenders.  Now, as the group closes, they see the Orcs at the wall, about twenty of them, breaching the door with the aid of a massive looking Ogre.  The thing is a behemoth, as wide as it is tall, and wearing heavy armor.  It is pounding its way in, one arm holding a shield the size of a dinner table above its head, the other hitting the door with a club.  The amphitheater's door is strong but was made to hold back eager crowds, not this.

”If they get inside, we cannot follow and fight them on horse,” one of the cavalry men says.

”I can use the entangling magic again,” Tavi says, “but it would cut the entrance off from us as well.”

 Tugdual shouts :
  "Dispatch the orcs ! Break their formation, and let me take care of the Giant. Entangle all you like if it helps."

 With these words, the tall druid jumped off his aurochs, and let him pursue the charge alone with the riders. Jumping off a horse is a stunt best not tried without extensive training and superior agility, both lacking in the old druid's repertoire... the fall could have been fatal, but fall there was not. From the cloud of dust, a bald vulture emerged and swiftly flew up above the horsemen, and towards the walls of Nasium.

 Tugdual, now a fantastic albeit graceless raptor, too often associated with bad omen when it is actually a friendly creature, started circling the gate, from a safe distance up in the air (180 feet). A low rumble was soon heard, as electricity gathered in the few clouds above the town. A first flash of light and a thunder sound, the lightning bolt had struck directly at the armoured ogre, and more was to come...

   during the next two minutes, Tugdual will strike down with a total of 8 lightning bolts, one per round, each dealing 3d6 damage (reflex DC16 for half). He directs them at the ogre. If the monster manages to break the door anyway, Tugdual lands inside and changes shape.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:53, Mon 14 Oct 2013.