The Battle for Tarithnesti (Part 11)

 07 Deepkolt 349 AC

ON THE BANKS OF THE THON-THALAS

Grotto motions to Ornforithalas, "Let’s send the archers to try to flank them. Me, you, and a couple other can go straight at them to draw their attention. Perhaps we can end them this way."

The guard captain listens to Grotto's plan and agrees. He motion for fully half of his archers to break off and swing around to the far side of the Draconians. Jensolyn frowns, "I don't recognize the kind in the middle. Grotto looks again. The center draconians stand a little over six feet tall with the curling horns of a ram.

It takes about a minute for the scouts to carry out their flanking maneuver. A bird call signal the captain that they are ready.

"On your signal, master dwarf," Ornforithalas says.

THE PROTECTOR'S TOWER

The beam from the Protector's Beacon washes outward across Tarithnesti, flowing over the walls, through the streets, and across the ancient trees surrounding the city.

Every defender can feel it. Exhaustion becomes distant, heavy limbs feel lighter, strained muscles respond once more. Across the battlefield, elves who moments ago fought simply because they had no choice now fight with renewed purpose. In the streets and alleys of the city, the elves rally. Draconians fall, slain by spear, sword, or arrow. Human invaders are routed, forced back to the edge of town. The few goblins who survived the first battle five days ago, throw down their weapons and flee.

Shadow reels from the impaling blow and coughs up blood. He reflexively clicks his heels, even though the magic has been in effect since the beginning of the battle.

He falls back, passing through the Wind Wall. He gasps out the words to a spell, "Κλήση Τέρατος Οκτώ - Αβόραλ" and a pair of seven-foot tall, winged humanoids appear. Clawed feet like those of a bird grip the tower's battlements while keen eyes, like those of an eagle survey the unfolding battle.

“Hello there my friends, would you heal me and help me defeat this Red Dragon that is attacking this Elven city.” 

One of the creatures reaches out and places a hand on the dark elf's shoulder. Healing magic flows, mending nearly all of the mage's wounds. The other avoral leaps from the tower and spreads its wings, swooping down upon the dragon and its rider. Talons scrape along armored scales, leaving shallow scratches in their wake.

Ra’ziir pulls the reins, turning Redaw away from the dragon to set up another attack run. Calling upon the Song of Celerity technique that bladesingers are famous for once again, the elfemental conjures a swarm of snowballs to pelt the dragonand its rider.

As the spell effects dissipate, Ra’ziir spurs Redclaw back into melee with the winged serpent “We will take this @%#$ down together! For Tarithnesti! By the Gift of the Blood and the Jewel, I SMITE THEE!!”

The dragon's rider manages to bring his lance around, setting the heel against his mount's shoulder as Ra’ziir closes in, opening a shallow gash on the gold elf's ribs. Ra’ziir ignores the wound and focuses his on the dragon. The obsidian blade strikes true and Ra'ziir's crystalline heart directs his Arcane power into the blow. Three more strikes, following in rapid succeasion are enough to slay the dragon following dehydration spell and previous injuries. The dragon falls. The rider drops his lance and pulls a cord, instantly releasing himself from the saddle.

He begins floating slowly toward the ground just as Raven arrives. Nightwatcher comes across in a single powerful arc, neatly bisecting the enemy officer. His legs drop away, accelerating to normal speed while his upper half continues its slow descent toward the ground.

Cedron aims his ring of telekinesis at one of the kapaks and concentrates, grabbing one of the draconians with a beam of invisible force. He hoists the struggling, surprised attacker into the air and hurls him at the Baaz commander who has taken control of the Tower siege. The baaz doesn't even turn to face the flung kapak. He just holds out one arm and guides his thrown ally around him. Cedron then drops from the sky onto the Baaz's shoulders and drives the Harmonic Blade toward the draconian's chest, slicing a thin gash along its chest.

The baaz shrugs his shoulders, forcing Cedron off and runs toward one of the cracks in Shadow’s wall. He pulls a red-orange gem from a necklace and stuffs it into one of the cracks opened by his troops. He turns and runs. A moment later, an explosion tears through the structures lowest level.

As the explosion dies away, Kysek strikes. Blackflame and White Faerie each sink into the unguarded back of a pair of Kapak Draconians. Both go down and Kysek leaps away before either can turn into a pool of acid at his feet.