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The battle plan of the Shining Horde was sound. The conscript forces were cut down like wheat before the chaff and the Nahautl managed to get the explosives to the wall.
The thunderous explosion was met with cheers from the Horde's lines. But as the heavy cavalry breached the wall, they were met by a host of elemental beings summoned by Shu Han sorcery.
Spells where unleashed on the ranks of Nahautl and Ogun infantry, forcing them to retreat. As the other forces regrouped from routing the Shu Han conscripts, a force of cavalry came from an exposed flank, hidden by magic.
Thousands died on both sides, and Jin-Sahn reluctantly had to sound the retreat. Prince Chen was gravely wounded fighting in the breach, nearly a dozen of the Death Guard sent to accompany him died pulling his body to safety.

The return to Terenuthis was long and somber, many wounded not surviving the journey.
There will be little to celebrate this Repaing Festival.

directions

Feel free to reflect on your character's heroics during the battle, or how they failed anything you can think of. You're all back at the Khal's palace and it's been several weeks since the battle. By all means describe the journey etc.
The battle had been terrible. Even though the Azuma had kept her away from the center of it she could still hear the screams of dying men and smell the burning of her flesh. Part of her wanted to be angry with Sanjuro for suggesting she go but she knew he had no knowledge of what would transpire there. She knew she would carry what she had seen with her for a long time, perhaps even to her own grave.

The fight was terrible but the aftermath as much worse. She thanked her grandmother's spirit for the early lessons in healing that she had continued and had insisted in aiding those wounded after the battle was over. It had gotten to the point where she was going through the motions nearly detached from the repetitive motions of ceasing bleeding, applying tourniquets and applying bandages. Eventually May had to drag her away because she was swaying with exhaustion.

Since their return the princess had spent much of her time helping those injured recover or in the orchards reflecting on what she had seen. She had taken to visiting Prince Chen daily and assisting with his care. Even though he was the member of the Khal’s family that she had the least in common with, he was still much like an older brother to her. The princess spent a great deal of time at the bedside of their sorcerer too, taking great care with his injuries. It was hard to see him covered in burns and suffering so she did the best she could to ease his pain as he recovered.

The passing of Warmaster Bryn also hung heavy on her heart. Even after only knowing him such a short amount of time he had become very dear to her and she knew he would be missed by many. She knew his death would affect Donovan greatly, so she politely excused him from their lessons for the time being to allow him to grieve.

Any time she was in front of the court, she was the image of perfect control, consoling the grieving and giving support to her people. As always, she left her self open to receive any guests who wished to speak with her, consoling those who had lost loved ones to the best of her abilities while keeping her own pain to herself. Besides that, she kept her solitude when she could, spending much time in the sacred orchard. At least beneath the trees that were heavy with fruit she could sit and allow herself to mourn the many souls that had been lost.
The battle was fierce, the execution was flawless. Eida was proud of his organization. The horsemen in a rotation line on the outer of the infantry milled like a furious saw. Jaeda even got his turn. They broke of and ran ahead of their unit, a deathly thick fog rising from the ground in a deep violet haze, enveloping dozens of soldiers, who all slowed to a crawl and collapsed.

With a pull of his hand, nearly invisible golden threads had attached themselves to the bodies as they scrambled up from the ground in trance like motion. The Shu-Han conscripts re-armed themselves and turned about. They ran forward, shielding Eida and the front lines from their own men, hacking at limbs and taking blows from confused men. Eida continued to rush through the nightmarish scene, Jaeda's cruel edge carving into it's targets one after another, the weapon itself alive, striking out on pure instinct.

He only had one task, to get the engineers to the wall. So close, and he heard laughing somewhere above him. Looking up, Eida witnessed a Shu-Han magician skating on a cloud, and in that moment, the man cut down his own soldiers. a full fifty or more dead in the heat of an inferno as the dream-ties Eida had woven disappeared with the bodies. The wave of heat blasted him him back, slamming into a tree. The wind knocked out of him, the last thing he saw was a perfect clearing for the charges to dash through, they had reached...the...wall...

Eida regained consciousness laying on a wagon as it trundled over a road. He ached. Every nerve in his body was on fire, and the pounding in his head wasn't fading. He opened his eyes, and blurry forms rushed about. No sounds of fighting, but there were no happy voices either. He had failed, and he had the entire return trip to the kingdoms to dwell on it.

Some time later:

It had taken the better part of the trip back for his eyesight to return fully, and even longer for the nerves to heal enough that he could stand on his own. Jaeda could only support a body this frail for so long, and it took everything in him to concentrate on anything through the fire in his mind.

Awilix was disappointed, upset with the world. Eida couldn't distract her because he was stuck laying on the stone slab he currently called a bed. The nights were frigid, but he couldn't bear to have anything touching his skin, his skin had sloughed off at the slightest contact, and was just beginning to recover from the incident.

The only thing that made the entire ordeal bearable was the occasional visits from Callista, Awilix, and a couple others. He had to insist on them bringing him news and telling stories while he sat in silence, his vocal cords having been seared like every other part of him. He smiled to himself when he say the small emerald on the Princess' hand. At least she had managed to escape from the ordeal unscathed.
Donovan sat in the dim light of the room as the sun set. The orange glow of the squat candle not yet offering any more light than then the last rays of sun, and yet starting its vigil against the blackness of night, flickering at the top of the desk. Putting quill to parchment Donovan wrote.

Dearest Mother, Uncle and Aunts of the palace.

It is with heavy heart that I pen this missive. Command of the An-Tir expeditionary force in service to the Khal of Khals has passed command from Warmaster Bryn to the newly appointed Warmaster Soto. Warmaster Bryn succumbed to sickness following injuries sustained at the battle of Shu Han. Additional losses of the children of An-Tir are attached following this missive.

As Aide de camp I bear witness of the valor and events leading to the passing of our Uncle Bryn.

Prior to the gathering of all the Khals’ force, the forces of Shu Han sallied forth. In the moments that followed Uncle Bryn presented a sound plan for addressing the threat with minimal loss to await the rest of the forces. His advice was disregarded in favor of a bolder plan calling for an immediate counterattack.

After a breach was successfully made in the Shu Han defenses. An expert trap lay within. Upon seeing the forces being surrounded. Uncle Bryn commanded a charge to provide relief. He showed the utmost valor and guidance being a the very tip of the spear.

During the conflict Uncle Bryn received several wounds but continued to fight on rallying both An-Tir and other forces to his banner. Overwhelming enemy forces necessitated a retreat of all forces.


Donovan leaned back and sucked in the air between his teeth. These words of the report could never do the Warmaster justice. He had fought like an enraged lion striking down foes left and right. The report could never do justice to how he fought on either. Plunging his sword deep into the breast of fiery creatures – later the smell of the charred flesh that peeled away when his armor was removed… and yet he continued to fight on despite those wounds. Donovan hoped he would be half the Knight Uncle Bryn had been.

Upon returning to camp Uncle Bryn was treated for his injuries, and entered into a deep sleep for several days. When he awoke he had a sickness. He expected his death was nigh and made provisions for the good order and discipline of the An-Tir forces, including directing Warmaster Soto to command.

Donovan had sat by the Warmaster’s side throughout the sickness. The day he awoke the princess had visited.

Thank You she had said in the An-Tir tounge.
Though it pained the old man, and he grimaced to speak in more than a whisper, there was a genuine smile in his eyes as he looked at the princess.
You do me great honor visiting me, when so many are lost. Be strong for your brothers, they will need you more now then ever before. Mine has been a life of service, there is nothing greater. As I have served my mother and the Khal, Donovan will serve the Khal, and you in turn one day. Do a dying man one favor. Never forget who you are, not who everyone else expects you to be, never forget who you really are. Please.
With that he was exhausted and lay back in the bed. The princess glided closer and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Thank you he murmured
Thank you she said.

The Khal in his wisdom has released the injured and those unfit for continued service to return to An-Tir. This letter, and Uncle Bryn’s bones accompany them.

In service to the Mother and children of An-Tir
Donovan
Aide-de-Camp
For a mortal, Ruby was raving mad but Jill liked her bravery. Still she was a touch worried about keeping her safe in the heat of battle. Unlike many of her brothers and sisters, she was not the most battle worn or mighty. There was a very good reason she pretended to be a more fearsome animal than she really was.

It was a fight to get up to the wall and set the charges but they made it. Jill had to eventually tip her hand and her friend, as well as her company got a very good look at why Lunars were said to be the fearsome creatures they were. In her warform her martial arts were an ever more terrifying array of leaps and dodges, raking her enemies as they passed. It bought them enough time, and kept Ruby safe enough to trigger the explosion but not before she was caught up in the blast.

She had cursed and ran to the rubble, relieved to find the red haired woman alive but injured. Jill had hoisted her up in time to see their new gateway flooded with massive elements slamming into their forces. There was no winning this battle, it was clear to see that so it was due time for them to retreat. Ruby was heavy but not so much that she couldn’t shift into her tiger form to carry her out while she sounded the retreat. ”You’re not going to make a habit of this,” she grumbled as they headed towards the edge of the battle.

It was a long somber trip back but Jill was just glad her new friend had made it. There would be plenty of time for treasure, she’d live a long life and she had little desire to be in a fight like that again any time soon.
The rush that overtook Rebekah was amazing. She watched as the two Ascended took out everything in front of them. Rebekah was reserved in her fighting, worried about hurting the men in front of her or discharging the explosive composites around her from the heat, so spent most of the time fighting in close combat. She could feel both of the Lunars sizing her up, and felt like she came up short in their eyes. This mass conflict was exhilarating, but not her strong suit. The charges set like a dream, and most everyone made it up close in one piece. Before they got away though, a bolt of lightning came crashing down, setting off the charges. The explosion rocked the wall and sent it tumbling down in shattered piece. The triumphant cries from behind her muffled the dying screams of her men as tons of rubble collapsed on them.

There was a sharp pain in her leg as Ruby looked up at the world from the ground. She was out of breath from ragged screams as Silver pulled her pinned and shattered leg out of the rockfall. The tigress ran hard, away from a menagerie of creatures that hid behind the walls as they cut down the horsemen that cleared the enormous hole.

"Next time, give me just one opponent. Seems more fair than being outnumbered two-to-one." Rebekah laughed, and winced as her leg was set by careful hands. The battle was a failure, and she was sure that her favors were probably all called in now, but she had one hell of a time. She spent her downtime tinkering with what goods she had left. All but two of the engineers had died in that mess, and they handed her their gear when they got back to the city before walking off. She couldn't blame them. They were already paid, and there was no spoils to split.

There wasn't much left for her here, so Rebekah had made up her mind to leave as soon as her splint could come off. She wasn't much use without her men, her weapons, and the toys that were all spent in the assault.
Jin-Sahn had a very, very long time to dread his return home, and had been met with fury as he'd expected. But to be honest, it wasn't so bad as he'd expected. All things considered, his father had very nearly praised him by the end of it.
Still, three thousand dead men, hundreds of thousands of coins invested into the invasion squandered, a gravely wounded brother and still the walls of Shu Han stood. The Khal of Khals was not a happy man, and everyone walked softly around him.
A few good things had come of it though, the other Warlords spoke highly of Talon Master Stalling, and his father was interested in the woman.
He made his way to where she was stationed to extend the offer personally.
He knocked on her door and greeted her.
"I hope you're recovering well." he spoke with honesty. The woman had done something no one else had thus far, and had earned her praise. "My time is limited so I shall cut to the point; my father, the Khal of Khals, has extended you an offer to serve in his horde. He is impressed by the damage you inflicted on the walls of Shu Han, and knows that your insight shall be required for the next attempt to take the city." he gave her a moment to let his words register.
"You will have our finest engineers at your disposal, and as many men as you need. My father will spend no expense to acquire the items you need to create more of that powder. You will be given lodging and paid well. Take time to think this offer over, and report to my assistant. You can find him in the east wing, ask for Ide." he continued.
"I hope you'll accept, Awilix is very fond of you. As am I." he smiled and turned to leave.
The Shining Prince left her alone again, he didn't even wait to see if she wanted to say anything. She leaned across a pillow and scratched under the chin of one comfortable looking cat.

"Hear that Silver, someone actually wants us around. Here I was planning on walking outta here, least when I could walk again." Rebekah fell back onto her pillows, which so so much more comfortable than a seaside cot. "Don't have any place to be, don't owe nobody a thing. What do you think? We could live like queens here for a while, and when we get bored, we head on our way."
The white feline stretched and yawned. Like all cats she'd mastered looking disinterested in the going ons around her but had been also paying attention to everything at once. "As long as there aren't any miraculous treasures hidden behind any walls. Or explosives. Not that I mind them but I think you need to take a serious break from anything that goes boom for awhile."
Ruby pouted. "That's no fun, I never even got to use my piece, too many people in the way. Besides, not the first time I've had things fall on me." How they knew that the wall would crumble was beyond her anyway. That city was scary.

"He said next time, so there will be something happening, but I don't think he'll appreciate the time it takes to make batches of that resin. So what, break long enough to make more things that go boom?" She smiled playfully. Rebekah knew it would take a while to bring herself back to a project that big, but her last one was one hell of a success, even after her hand was forced.
Awilix had been in a foul mood since Prince Chen fell and the battle became a clear loss. Her men had fought bravely, side by side with the Knights of AN-Ti and the Temujin, and she had stood with the Death Guard as they died defending their Khal's son. A dozen exalted for a mortal... but he was her Prince, and it wasn't her place to say their sacrifice was in vain.
Worse still, all of her new friends had gotten hurt as well! Lookshy, Eida, and the Warmaster. Well... he was more than hurt, likely he was going to die soon. Like so many of her Warband. Why were sorcerers and Dragon Blooded so opposed to bending their knees? If the Shining Horde didn't have to put them all to the sword, they would have stronger counters to the damn Shu Han army.

But that was neither here nor there. Right now she had to tend to her men. She came in and shooed away the women attending her Eida. Suku remained a good distance away, his over enthusiastic show of affection for the sorcerer hadn't done anything for his recovery.
"Well, the Khal is going to have a meeting soon, to find out what is to be done about his brother's failure to support our army." she began without preamble. She frowned, longing to touch him, let him know he was cared for. That he had to fight to live or she would be upset with him.
"Your good friend, and always sexy, Sanjuro seems to be up to something. Sometimes I'd like to know what it is he sees. We Exalted are all so different. I think he knew what was going to transpire. I still don't know why he sent the Princess. Who misses your talks, you big show off. Look where it got you? Trying to impress me in battle when you should have been wooing a woman like her." she scolded him.
"Oh don't be such a man! Of course she likes you, you walk around with no shirt on! And don't you dare scoff at me, the whole Palace has gone on about how she won't be married to Jin-Sahn for a year now. It's a long shot, don't get me wrong. But Shono has such a huge soft spot for the girl... if he can't find a use for her we may just snatch her up." she got as close to the boy as she could without touching him. Let him feel the warmth of her, feel her love for him.
"But whoever she marries needs to have skin damn you! So heal faster!" she said, pulling away from him and frowning.
"Alright but only because they have good food here," she said butting her head against Ruby's hand in a shameless plot for more scratches. "Let's build something big and shiny. Like a giant version of one of your wands. Then there will be no need for explosives." It probably wasn't possible even with the Khal's resources but it was a pretty entertaining idea to think about.
Eida had plenty of time in his stationary state to try and weave together a simple magic for the next couple of days, and Awilix' monologue was just enough of a push to find a voice for himself. One set for replies, one set for listening, and he should have a temporary medium for himself. There was no way he'd be moving on his own for a bit.

The ink that defied physical reason writhed over the burns and settled in his hands, coating a pair of his rings in minute symbols. The little effort he put into speaking the final piece had him screaming in a muted release of air that sounded no louder than an exhalation.

The rings took on the color of a rosy gold and a scaled pattern melted itself on the jewelry. Eida's hands spasmed as the metal cooled from its superheated moment. "I will be Eida's words for now. Though you need to take me with you if you want to hear him from another source." A voice rose from the rings that were bound in Eida's gold thread. A voice not comfortable with the language it was speaking. An old voice, with a sense of power.

"This meeting, he would attend, and I do it because he asked. and he says this. 'Keep your pet away. That tongue feels like a thousand knives.' Now, if I am to go anywhere, take the bands from his blackened fingers."
Mercy reflected back on the battle.

It was an all or nothing gamble the prince had commanded. She stood in formation with the other squires, to be in reserve and fill the gaps in the line the cavalry made. The marched forward in close formation the steady clank of chain and plate beating out like a thousand small drums keeping beat to their march.
Marching forward she saw the rolling fireball that erupted as saw the stones from the wall fly high into the air, a huge chunk of it landing just in front of the unit marching next to her, it bounced up and flew in at head level knocking men over, and sending others flying like rag dolls as it landed square in their midst.
And she marched forward.
The cries or battle and the clang of battle mixed with the cries of the fallen ahead of them. Then the dramatic thunder of hooves feeling in through the ground and hearing it like the sound of many rushing waters. It was glorious to see the Temujin charging in, her blood pumped in anticipation as their furvor fueled her own.
And she marched forward.
Some units were breaking. The enemy was executing a flank to her right side and many that were running were cut down as their escape route turned into an abattoir. Her unit was already committed to a point, but she could tell it was suicide. If their units continued to break, they would not be there in time to re-enforce, they would just be the next to be ground up. The noise was deafening. She could barely here the standard bearer call out the order. She tightened her grip on her spear, readying for the charge. Then she saw the Shu Han forces tossed into disarray, a reserve cavalry unit taking them from the rear. Their crumbling gave the Khals forces time to rally. She saw the might banner of An-Tir to her left smashing in and her heart swelled with pride. She let out a might cry with the rest of her unit.
And she charged forward.
Her spear cut through the ringmail of the conscript fated to first meet her as they crashed into the enemy. He fell taking her spear with it, flipping the shaft out of her hands but slamming it up like a post stopping the next in rank from properly moving up. It gave her the time she needed to draw out her short mace and srike him down in turn. She had just a second to see his helmet collapse on the side pushing into his skull and the side of his face bulge outward before he fell.
The battle was joined and she swung again and again, for her very life depended on it.
The sound of battle was gone- the temujin, the wall, the cavalry, the prince. Only the Shu Han in front of her and her battle brothers at her side remained.
It butchers work her mace falling again and again shattering collar bones and shoulders, braining others. Her armor turned many blows that should have been fatal, soon the rage of battle took on a slower pace. The tightly packed formations were loosened. It was a mass of melee that had spread out as footmen had to identify if the figure in front of them was friend or foe. Woe be it to those who identified slowly, or got too separated from their allies for the enemy would descend on them like a pack of wild dogs.
Then the horns blew and it was to fall back. They must be consolidating for another push, but they never did. They just fell back and fell back, until falling back turned into a rout and then a run.
She broke from her reverie.
She was cut and bruised, her armor had been ruined, and her left arm broken, though she didn’t realize it until later when the adrenaline wore off.
The mood in the castle was somber. Somewhere she was sure the generals were blaming each other for defeat, and at the same time congratulating each other for valor. But there was none of that here. The Warmaster was dying, and many of her fellow squires were already cold, left on the field. She had heard the Prince was gravely wounded as well, hopefully he would pull thru.
Rebekah let out a grunt of exertion as she scooted over to get off the bed. Silver was almost instantly under her shoulder, helping her stand up. "Any idea where the east wing is?" When the Lunar shook her head and shrugged, Rebekah started trying to walk with the crutch support on her bad leg. She should only be in the damn thing for another couple days, but it still hurt. She let out a hiss as she slammed her ankle into the ground when she stood, but shook it off and started out of her quarters.

"Well, good chance to go exploring then, and the best reason to look around. Never had a better reason than 'I have no idea where I'm going.'"

Ruby and Silver toured the corridors and got mostly blank looks from the servants and guards walking around. The one time she actually did try to talk to one, he just shrugged at her and moved on.

Getting frustrated, Ruby started walking around more quickly, more or less ignoring the Temujin in hopes that one of them would realize that she had no clue where she was now. She turned a corner and there was suddenly a mousy girl in an arm sling in front of her. With no real time to react, she collided with the sudden obstacle and lost her balance as the crutch fell out of reach. Rebekah fell to the ground in an indignant heap. "I give up on this place." She used the wall to bring herself back to her feet and looked over at the girl she walked into, recognizing her vaguely from the combat. "Are you ok? Didn't mean to hurt you, just...lost."
The rings came of with small bits of crackling skin that tenaciously held to the rings. Warm to the touch, Awilix would certainly feel the presence sitting inside. "That wasn't so hard, now was it? A little pain gets us anywhere we need. Now, where are we going? Sight isn't in the cards I've been dealt."

Eida was left in his room alone. He heard what Jaeda told him, and told him what he would respond with, but this was the most freedom the two have had from each other since the binding. It was quiet, and lonely.

"What do you see in him anyway? He's part of a dying people. You at least can make more. You should know the tlamacazqui well enough that they can only be succeeded by surrendering themselves so that I can move on. His offspring will be mortal, and weak. Why urge him to chase after something he won't take? The family he makes would have no position of power and no actual power."

The walking slowed, and Jaeda could hear voices in the distance, so it went quiet and waited. Awilix would talk to it eventually.
Fuck your mother for a penny! yelped as the grown woman crashed into her banging her injured arm sending lancing pain through her.
eh, sorry realizing that perhaps she came out better of the two in the collision as the fiery haired engineer lay sprawled on the ground. Mercy walked over and picked up her crutch and gave it to her as she leaned up against the wall.
Can’t blame ya none for being lost in here. Is big and it looks wonderful, but there ain’t much for landmarks. Wacha lookin for? I’m on my way to the kitchen. Aint nothing better for mending bones then a bit o grub Her eyes looked over to Jill, and widened in surprise and forgetting her internal dialog muttered Cor, I never! Never thought I’d see something so wonderful in my life .
Awilix took the ring and began walking to her next destination. The voice speaking to her made her growl.
"Do not think you see as far ahead as I do. My plans are far reaching and he has his usefulness to them." she said.
"He needs no power, nor do his children. But I know he has a role to play yet, last of a dying breed or first of a new order it makes little difference." she moved with purpose, though was clearly distracted.
The new Warmaster was busy in the camp which left Donovan alone in the palace to relay any news updates. He had mourned for the evening as he penned his letter, and allowed himself a late rise. Today was a new day. He shaved the stubble from his chin and dressed in his simple linin tunic court clothes. He had no agenda today. He doubted there would be much of one. He bristled at the thought of being here, and that no one had ridden out to take advantage of the breach that had come at so great a cost. A walk. He needed a walk to clear his head and thoughts, and move the blood to rid the stiffness and bruises that he still felt, and headed down the hall.
Walking the other direction was the peer of his late Uncle, the warlord Awilix. It was her brash plan that had cost them the day and his Uncles life. So much for walking to clear his head.
My Lady he said stiffly.
"Awilix will do, I'm certainly no lady." she answered the knight reflexively. It took her a moment to recognize him. The old man's translator.
"Don't tell me that tough old bastard didn't make it," she sighed. She could read it in the way he carried himself. She'd lost a lot of good friends overwhelmingly years. It drained you.
"For what it's worth, his plan was a good one. It wouldn't have won us the city, but perhaps a few of our best and brightest would be here planning our next move had we listened to him." she meant the words, but wouldn't have changed her actions.

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