Beloc says nothing. He keeps his focus on their flank, twitching at every sudden movement around them.

The group leaves the premises of the chow hall, headed for the West Gate. Along the way, they dispatch several more lacedons and ghouls, striking them down without losing an ounce of momentum in their stride.

As they move along the road between the two office buildings just outside the gate, the group can definitely confirm that the fireballs are coming from the top of the twenty foot wall surrounding the perimeter of the base. Just before getting to the gate, a blast of flame screams at the group, making a beeline for them. As the party scrambles to get out of the way, the fireball changes its path, and gains just enough altitude to fly overhead. It travels another 30 foot before crashing in to a group of four ghoul infantrymen, who had managed to tail the party.

From up on the wall, a shadowy figure clad in a flowing cloak steps off the edge. It doesn't fall, but instead gracefully sails downward, the cloak billowing out and flapping in all directions behind the figure. The man touches down just ten foot from the party, standing between them and the gate. A shriek to the right of the new comer reveals a lacedon with an engorged stomach, as it barrels out of the shadows towards the man. He raises a cane out from under his cloak, and points it at the lacedon. A blast of sparks and flame erupt from the end of the cane, making the sound of a very loud gunshot. The lacedon explodes from the waist up, showering the ground behind it with entrails.

"I'd hoped to cross paths with you three again, but never under these circumstances. Where's Kallium?".

Shiaran purses her lips grimly.  "He didn't make it.  A giant got him."

Darius grimaces. "That complicates the situation quite a bit. I really liked him. Kallium was a good elf. What do you all intend to do now?".

"Fildegarne has no choice.  We finish the mission."  Sypher's voice is quiet, ominous.

"Then would you mind hosting a cripple on your journey? I can't directly trek along with you into the lion's den, but I'm familiar with the lay of the land and her people".

Beloc remains quite for the majority of the conversation, not only out of the loss of a fellow wood elf but because they'd lost their guide on this crusade. Aside from the remnants of a few bruises and scrapes, he appears to be fully healed from the previous encounters.

His ears perk up, however, when Darius asks to join them. "It would be an honor." He looks around at the devastation this attack has already caused. "I'm sorry I couldn't help defend you shop here. You know these soldiers fairly well, do you think they'll be able to fend off this assault if we leave?"

If R.E.B.O.R.T. could smile, he would be. "It looks as though our path is still one and the same."

Without warning, he raises one of his wrist mounted pistols to their flank and fires off two seemingly random shots. Off in the distance, a charging lacedon drops dead in its tracks.

"This environment is too hostile for conversation. Seeking cover is advised."

Darius nods at Rebort. "Right, this way". Darius makes his way out of the gate, with the party in tow. All around the gate are the charred remains of undead. In some areas they  pile on top of one another, some still smoking. "Less than an hour ago, several wards triggered in my shop. I keep them as a forwarning to something like this. As far as I know, the town remains untouched save for a few that may have gotten out before I arrived. They'll be dealt with by the constables and patrols soon enough. The base should hold, but it will be with heavy loss. Filty carrion eaters planned well this time, choosing to attack at dinner. They managed to catch 90 percent of the military here all sitting down to eat. They quickly forget the lessons of battles past though. Fildegarians do not bend and break when backed into a corner. We mold to its shape, make it our own, and come out bearing teeth". Darius rounds the corner of an empty guard shack, outside of the motorpool. "We can grab a ride to put some distance between us and them for now. Hopefully no one left any bread crumbs to let them on to your mission. I'll drive. Rebort, man the machine fed gun turret. Shiaran, take the passenger seat guns. Beloc and the gentleman who's name I've yet to catch, if you would, be our eyes. You'll find viewing ports all over this thing".

Darius opens a side door to a vehicle that Shiaran would recognize from earlier. It towers over him, and it's covered with armor plating. A turret sits atop with a large machine fed gun and a smaller one. Another of the small variety sticks out from a port on the front left seat. It has a hatch on either side for entry, as well as one on the backside of the turret. A flatbed with rails makes up the tail of the vehicle, complete with digging spades, ropes, fuel cans, and a barrel marked "water".

"I'm ready to go whenever you are. If you have any unfinished business, I suggest making it expeditious"

"Sypher Whiteraven." He nods to the mage in short greeting.  "Our business lies ahead.  Thank you for joining us."  Sypher climbs in.

Shiaran places a hand on Darius' upper arm and squeezes gently.  "I'm glad you made it."  She climbs in and man's the side gun.

Beloc nods and heads to the side opposite Shiaran and peers out the view ports.

R.E.B.O.R.T. climbs in and straps himself into the machine feed turret. He gets himself situated and sets his sights down the barrel. A small rectangular monocle slides out of a side panel at eye level and rests over his right eye.

"Ready."

Darius turns a key next to the steering wheel, and the engine of the armored car roars to life. Steam seeps from overflow valves on the outside of the vehicle, and Rebort finds the turret become exceptionally easy to rotate. Rebort notices on top of the turret there is an additional hatch, likely for popping up to get a view of the surroundings. The turret itself houses two guns. One that looks to be a modified gremlin machine automatic rifle (GMAR). The other is much larger, and looks to fire rounds that make the M-92 breach rounds look small. Mounted on the front armored window of the passenger seat is another modified GMAR.

Darius calls out "Hang on to your seats" as the car lurches forward. He tears out of the motor pool nearly on three wheels.

From your limited view ports, the city looks much like it did when you ventured out earlier in the day, save for being dimly lit by street lamps powered by the same amber crystals found in the chow hall.

Darius takes the armored car down twisting and turning streets. Even though the elevation is relatively flat, it's dizzying and disorienting. After a few moments, he says "We're now leaving the city".

The amber light of street lamps fades. Darius flips a switch on the dash and two bright white crystal ignite on the front of the armored car, bathing a 50 foot cone in front of the vehicle in bright, white light. "There are several more of those on the sides, take note of where the switches are in case we need them". In the distance, the orange glow of the fire shines on the bottoms of the clouds above.

After driving for half an hour, Darius finally pulls over on the side of a dirt road. "We can break here for the night. Traveling further in the dark could land us on top of a heavily armed patrol. Is everyone alright?".

Beloc looks himself over, somewhat amazed. "As good as new, thanks to that little trinket of yours."

R.E.B.O.R.T. climbs down from the turret, still dented and leaking an odd colored fluid. "Primary systems still intact, barely. Damage sustained was limited to my external surfaces."

Beloc walks over and attempts a minor healing spell, but R.E.B.O.R.T. stops him before wasting the energy. "While I am still mostly organic in nature, many of my systems interfere with the healing magic ones such as yourselves rely on and are only half as effective. A new type of magic has been forged to care for ones such as myself."

He looks over to Darius. "Wizards such as Darius, and other arcane practitioners, can be schooled in such ways."

During the trip, Shiaran learns all she can about the vehicle asking nonstop questions.  When the car comes to a stop, she is still talking.

Shiaran perks up at Rebort's comments.  "I'd like to learn."  She looks back in the direction of the city.  "Master Grintome, why didn't the invaders attack the city?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Wed 17 May 2017.

Sypher moves his view from window to window trying to keep an eye out for trouble.  When the automobile finally stops, he looks slightly relieved.

"I am unharmed.  Are we sleeping in the vehicle?"

Darius answers the questions as they come.

Despite the enclosed space of the vehicle (more commonly referred to as a "Badger") there's enough room for 8 medium sized humanoids to fit inside. Darius explains the machine is a short range troop transport. They get used for everything from delivering special tactics teams to critical battlefield areas, to medivacing wounded from the front lines. It has a range of 100 miles before neesing to be refueled. Theres enough fuel in the spare cans to refuel once. Acquiring more will be an "as needed and on site" evolution. The mounted GMARs function the same as the standard issues one, just these are hard mounted to the vehicle. They can be removed, but they lack bipods and won't be as accurate. The large MAR mounted to the turret can also be detached, but suffers from the same accuracy problems without specialized equipment to stabilize it. Its rounds are large enough to punch through any humanoid armor, and other light vehicles such as the Badger. The vehicle is immune to most small arms fire, due to its armor plating, but doesn't hold up well against armor piercing rounds or explosives. The 6 wheel configuration is fair at navigating rough terrain, but mud is an absolute Achilles heel to the thing.

Speaking on the city of Langdon, he explains the attacking force will concentrate their full might on the military first, then the spoils of civilian life second. He seems fairly confident that that battle will turn in favor of Fildegarne.

Answering Sypher, he explains that it would be best to try and get comfortable in the confines of the Badger. Sleeping outside, while an option, carries with it inherent risk.

Darius also take the time to weave the necessary mending spells to fix Rebort, and produces a few small vials of red liquid; a healing draught for anyone in need.

"If there are no more questions for now, I suggest we all get some rest. We'll sort out our course in the morning, and plan a route. Hopefully we can find a contigents of our own forces to get the latest details on PCA activity, and soon"

Sypher nods and tries to find a spot to sleep.  His mind races with all that has happened in the last couple of days.  Eleven years.  What can one individual hope to do to stand against such immeasurable destructive power?  Guns?  Tanks?  Warships?  All of civilization will crumble into ruin.  The paladin shrugs off the melancholy.  No.  Iehova is greater still.  He is the Creator of all things.  I will rest in that thought and give my life to Him and His cause.  Nothing else matters.

He takes out his small, leather-bound book and reads from it from somewhere near it's middle.
 After a few moments of study, he closes the book and secures it again in his vest.  Finally secure in his own mind, the overwhelming transition pushed back to the periphery, Sypher finally sleeps.

Shiaran pays attention to the casting of the repair spells on the golem.  Her time with the mage is limited and there is - not a desperation or anxiety, but - an urgency in her hunger to learn from him all she can before they have to separate.

The technology also fascinates her and she pays rapt attention to every word out of the man's mouth.  When he indicates the fate of the city, there is a momentary pang of regret that she did not stay to help, to prepare the city for what was to come.  It was a tactical liability if the military started to win.  The PCA would move on to the city as a distraction to draw out the entrenched Fildegarnians.

There is nothing to be done about it now.  Our best option to save the most people will be the ley lines.  The internal debate completed, Shiaran finally passes out at the gunnery seat, the last besides Darius.

He stirs for a bit trying to get comfortable but even finds some quiet enough to fall asleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Wed 17 May 2017.

"Thank you, Darius."

The dents and claw marks magically pop out and fades away as the mage finishes his casting. Without the need for sleep, R.E.B.O.R.T. assumes watch over the rest of the group. Throughout the night, he scribbles away on little bits of parchment as he tries to bind words of magic to them.

R.E.B.O.R.T. is going to try and start producing scrolls while he can during rest time.

With the days events done, the group drifts off to an uneasy sleep. The journey is just beginning, and many trials abd tough decisions lie ahead.

The Argonette Forest and spectral fault await...


END OF EPISODE TWO: GONE ARE THE BETTER DAYS