3. Skyway Robbery - Genesis 18:32

[Dekaru]

As the Imperials surrounding Finch batter his arm the combined protection of armor and smoke saves him from receiving more than a bruise. Becoming frustrated at the blockage imposed by the Imperials and seeing the similar frustration Andrea is having Finch swings his sword at one of the poor souls blocking his path sending his head falling to the ground and his body landing with a thud shortly after. Seeing his opponents undeterred by the death of their comrade and continuing their attack Finch decides to resort to the age old pirate tactic of being really scary.

[Imperial]-"Another head claimed for my tally and not a cut in return! Perhaps yah don't know why you should fear my name? A demonstration then!"

(Finch lashes out the Imperial soldier who killed Barkov to use for display kill. He'll also try to dodge but puts his efforts into making a grisly demonstration)

[Interovegas]

[Andrea: 6,5,5,4,3,3,2 Result: Failure to Comply ]
[Tattooed Warrior: 10,9,8,7,7,7,6,2+MD:7 Result: 6 Killing Damage + 6 AP to Torso]
[Finch: 9,7,4,3,2,1+ED:10 Result: Failure]
[6x Soldiers vs Andrea: 9,9,8,8,7,4,2,2,2,1,1 Result: 2 Hits that don't beat Andrea's armor (torso and torso)]
[6x Soldiers vs Finch: 10,10,9,8,7,6,6,6,6,5,3 Result: 3 Killing Damage to Head, 5 Killing Damage to Right Arm]
[Figure in Black Robes: ???]

From above Judy and Vala see a thin veil of smoke weave itself together into a long platform extending its way above Andrea and Finch's battle. Without any other signalling another four of the ominous battalion descend onto all four limbs and rush across their new bridge and into the fleeing Imperials.

Finch and Andrea are too overwhelmed to react to the new battlefield conditions. The unceasing torrent of blades keeps Finch and Andrea from performing any tasks. The Tattooed Warrior picks up his last javelin, releases a blood curdling scream and sends the tool of violence directly into Andrea chest. The javelin lodges itself deep under Andrea's shoulder.

[Dekaru]

Finch shouts out to Andrea

[Imperial]-"Knight! For what it's worth, you were the most reliable mage I ever knew!"

Finch swings in for what is fairly likely his last as his arm goes numb and his vision begins to blur

(display kill and dodge)

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea grits her teeth at the compliment out of desperation. There has to be a way! She tries to Leap up to the smoke bridge above.

[Interovegas]

[Andrea: 8,7,5,4,1+MD:8 Result: Failure]
[Finch: 10,8,7,6,1+ED:10 Result: Failure]
[6x Soldiers vs Andrea: 10,8,8,7,7,7,6,6,6,4,2 Result: Two hits to torso]
[6x Soldiers vs Finch: 10,9,8,7,7,7,5,4,3,3,2 Result: Hit to Torso, Left Arm]

The Tattooed Warrior retreats to a barrel at the back of the ship to retrieve more javelins. The soldiers assaulting Andrea and Finch continue to suppress the duo beneath non threatening strikes. The ominous soldiers have begun to tear into the flank of the retreating soldiers. Those around can see these possessed souls tear the Imperials limb from limb.

Judy completes her spell. She sends her conjured orbs into the feed hoping the whims of physics will visit a small mercy upon her.

[Xenoe]

Judy, finished with the task at hand, runs back to keep scythin and keeping the goons off her allies (maybe even catch Mr.Muscle in the motion).

[Dekaru]

Finch begins to wonder how much longer he can keep this up, he should have established some kind of gambling system on his ship for how long he'd survive surrounded.

(display kill and dodge)

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea's head is on a swivel trying to keep track of all her assailants, of which there are many. Out of the corner of her eye she sees one of the bridged ships floating behind her, almost close enough to touch. In fact, one of the corners is touching the stern. She hops over to the other ship's deck, then tries to Nightmare Leap up to the Ozcrows.

[Interovegas]

[6x Soldiers vs Finch: 10,8,7,6,6,6,5,4,3,1,1 Result: 4 Killing Damage to Right Arm]
[6x Soldiers vs Andrea: 9,9,9,9,9,6,4,4,3,2,1 Result: 6 Killing Damage to Torso, 3 Killing Damage to Right Leg]
[Finch: 10,7,7,6,2,1+ED:10 Result: A hero never gives up hope.]
[Andrea: 9,5,4,3,2+MD:9 Result: Leap Not]
[Judy: 10,8,6,5,5,4,3,3,2+MD:5 Result: Choppeth]
[Tattooed Warrior: 10,10,9,8,8,8,6,6+MD:8 Result: Enchanteth]
[Smoke Scythe Area Dice: 8,5]

Finch slowly drowns beneath the tide of Imperial steel. Every blow tears away a piece of his consciousness. He struggles valiantly against seemingly inevitable end that draws ever closer. On the precipice of death he is jolted with a million volt lightning strike of clarity. The moment slows and his awareness expands to every inch of the battle. In the chaos he finds his path forwards. He extends his right arm out with what little strength it can muster and takes the next slice into his limb. He twists and locks the steel in place. Finch capitalizes on the offending soldier's shock at the maneuver by stepping forward and raising his peerless saber perfectly through the middle of the soldier's throat and face. A second later the man's head splits in two and blood explodes from his exposed stump like water from a violent geyser. The blood paints Finch in gore. He pivots to the other soldiers, all waiting to see the captain's next move. Finch lets loose a blood curdling battle cry so terrible three of his surrounding attackers instinctually leap off the ship. Another two fall to the ground pleading for mercy and the rest flee as fast as their feet allow. Finch wastes no more time on the Imperial dogs. He limps to the edge of the ship and leaps for rope that brought him here, he catches it and lets gravity take him away from the battle.

Andrea's efforts are interrupted by spells again. Even with Judy's sorcerous assistance all Andrea can manage is to stumble her way to the edge of the ship where she can only be attacked by four soldiers at a time.

The tattooed warrior chants and shakes over a barrel of Javelins. He continues even through the wounds Judy inflicts upon him. At the end of his ritual he cranes his head suddenly at Andrea and gives her a twisted glare. One with eyes full of rage but a smile and lip licking.

The figure in black robes stands motionless and unwavering. As if observing the field of battle. Their minions however, are tearing a path of carnage through any Imperial soldier they can close distance to. It appears no Imperial soldier on this ship will live past the day.

[Dekaru]

Finch would breathe a sigh of relief but he is not safe yet. With numb hands slick with blood he sheathes his sword and grabs hold of the only thing that can get him out of his current predicament. With the Espiegel above him Finch gives every ounce of effort to ascending the rope to his prized vessel.

(CLIMB FINCH CLIMB!!!)

[Xenoe]

Judy takes a big breath of smoke and attempts to knock an arrow of smoke through the tattoo'ed man(preferably the head).

[Corenat Rovarnus]

[Mutter]"Milonda's teats," Andrea curses under her breath. At least the Cap-tane seemed to have won free of his engagement. She bellows a challenge at the tattoo-ed warrior and the rest of the sailors: [Imperial] "FIE, come at me then! Hit me with thy best shot!" She will try to hop over and Leap again.
[Shield on 6 and 10]

[Interovegas]

[Andrea: 8,4,2,1,1+MD:8 Result: She soars]
[Judy: 10,10,9,8,6,4,3,1,1+MD:10 Result: Snipedragon]
[Tattooed Warrior: 10,9,8,8,5,3,1,1+MD:8 Result: Too dead for it to matter]
[Finch: 9,5,4,4,2+ED:10 Result: Climb the mountain]
[Black robed figure: ???]
[4x Soldiers vs Andrea: 10,10,8,6,3,3,2 Result: One chop this time]

Andrea takes a knock to the head but pushes through the pain and magically transports herself from the melee to the unsteady top of the Imperial ozcrow. She grabs a slight bit of rigging and punches her lance into the ozcrow to keep her elevated position.

Judy deigns to take a direct approach with the tattooed warrior. Her quick and simple smoke arrow silences the warrior quickly and permanently.

Finch grits his teeth and climbs upwards despite his pain. (Climbing will complete in two more rounds). He notices a slumped figure hanging over him, seemingly pinned to the Espiegel's ozcrow. Without any other choice he continues his ascent undaunted.

The robed figure gracefully repositions along a railing of their ship that gives them a plain line of sight to the Espiegel. They perform a series of carefully rehearsed motions and conjure a wave of small sharp black forms from the crucible behind. They motion their hand at the party's ship and the cloud of sharp forms acts accordingly. The shards fly up and tear through the Espiegel's ozcrow in dozens of locations.

The ship begins losing altitude, fast.

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Hard at work on the rigging, Vala's concentration is finally broken by the metallic pings of the black projectiles as they puncture the ozcrow. She despairs upon seeing the Espiegel's lift system being perforated so thoroughly. This feeling only deepens as her attention is drawn to the large javelin sprouting from the bottom... and the winged man impaled upon it.
[Imperial] "Oh no! Ser Sky Sailor!" Vala dimly recalls the others referring to him as Orkan. "Need thou assistance?" She dashes over but finds out in short order that he is now but a corpse, stiff and inanimate. She bites her lip as instinct still urges her to pull his broken body off the shaft, but doing so might dislodge the javelin and tear an even larger hole. She leaves Orkan in search of materials to use for patching.

Meanwhile, Andrea Leaps back to the Espiegel.

[Dekaru]

Finch continues his climb and as the enemy enchanter ruins the Espiegels ozcrorow he curses under his breath

[Ob-Lob]-"Fuckin' enchanters."

[Xenoe]

Seeing the damage to the balloon and how much effort it would take to repair it, Judy tries to conjure a wide kite-like smoke form attached to the bottom of the ozcrow in an attempt to make their descent more controllable.

[Interovegas]

Finch hoists himself past the railing of the Espiegel at the same time that Andrea gracefully lands her return. Aredfln and Edmond yell out garbled greetings but continue to toil at their positions to slow the ship's descent. Before anyone can mention Orkan's demise to the captain his body squelches as it slides off the offending javelin and falls into the darkness and scattered torch lights below.

Judy wracks her mind for solutions to physics problem at hand but comes up short on a solution. She curses the lack of time. Had she enough to perform her more major smokematter rituals she might have been able to mitigate the current disaster.

Another swarm of shards cause countless more perforations in the Ozcrow. Aredfln yells for the crew to brace themselves. While everyone scrambles to secure themselves to the ship with rope they can see that the other Imperial and Confederate ships are victims to the same fate. The mystery enchanter's ship and a second turn their aim towards the Confederate sky galley that was circling the situation. The last sight the crew sees before impact are the oncoming legions of foot soldiers pouring down from both sides of the valley.

============================================

Consciousness creeps back hand in hand with a splitting headache. Andrea shoves a large piece of a support beam off her body and pulls herself up onto four legs. The ringing in her ears quiets down and she hears the sound of battle all around her. She steps out a couple paces from the debris and sees she is surrounded by the thick of battle and behind the Imperial line to boot.

Judy gets a wet hello from Henry. She can tell from the pressure that she is pinned beneath a chunk of the deck. She struggles to shove the debris off but can't get physical leverage because of the sacks of flight powder cushioning her from below. She too can guess the precarious situation around but can't confirm with her eyes yet.

Finch opens his eyes and meets the welcoming gaze of an unmoving body. He turns his gaze up and sees Imperials dragging bodies away from the scattered wreckages of airships. A lieutenant of some sort stands about twenty paces away with a familiar blade at her side. She examines the fine dindavaran saber in between giving out orders.

A noise erupts from behind a well preserved hull followed by a pained scream. Zwiche barrels through another two shocked Imperials and claims their heads with the axe and sword he wields in each hand. The lieutenant from nearby.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Untamed violence! Slay 'dis beastly ghoul a' monsters ought be slain!."

[Zwiche]

Zwiche roars out his fury, a wall of sound dwarfed by the giant from whence it springs. He stands nearly ten feet tall, his body corded in muscle, hard as the steel which springs from his hand, licking out across the necks of the unsuspecting Imperial soldiers. His ghostly pale Truil skin almost glows in the torchlight as he levels the massive sword at the lieutenant.

[Imperial] - "Dance with me then, if ye be so bold. I will claim thy bones for soup and thy meat for broth. I challenge thee, I Zwiche, false-born son of Haokang, trueborn heir of the throne of the Truil. Face me and die."

[Dekaru]

Finch lays his head back down on the wreckage around him and closes his eyes. He curses at his splitting headaches and does his best to suffer through the several concussions and bruised limbs he's suffered on this venture.

[Ob-Lob]-"Gonna need more than a sanger an' a slab to get through this one. Risros this bizzo better be worth a lot of moolah for what I'm goin' through."

[Interovegas]

The rank and file stand terrified but cannot be seen to flee when they possess such superior numbers. Each waits with baited breath and great concern, hoping one of their comrades suddenly discovers a wellspring of courage and lack of wit. The lieutenant looks about and understands her soldiers might yet defecate in their breeches at the terror of a giant emerging from burning ruins.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Fireside tale hath spread in 'da camp o' a barbarian o'da west. Farfetched stories 'dat he layed claim to more 'dan three score and five souls before 'dey laid claim to him."

The lieutenant motions upwards with her arms, dindavaran saber in hand.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Then speak to me o' a better death in this valley! Cut an' tear an' be reduced to oblivion ... Or! Or be heroes 'dat overcome monsters!"

She successfully rouses several of her retinue to strike. Four soldiers come charging in from both flanks screaming at the top of their lungs.

Soldiers-[Imperial]: "NIGHTS EMBRACE!"

[Zwiche]

Zwiche plants his sword in the ground beside him and grips his axe with two hands. Readied for the harvest, he lunges to join the charging soldiers. [Imperial] - "Let the Crimson Reaping commence!"

[Attacking unworthy opponents twice, using the Crimson Reaping combat secret - no penalty for multi-attack, they are treated as threat 1, and I produce a morale attack equal to my axe skill, even if I don't succeed]

[Corenat Rovarnus]

[Ugh] "Ugh." Andrea shakes off her disorientation as she creeps around the wreckage. She'd only just gotten back on the Espiegel and now it was grounded, potentially for good.

"Vala!" she hisses, searching for her squire while keeping an eye on the nearby combat.

She finds Vala curled around a length of railing, barely conscious and bruised from the impact. [Imperial] "I'm sorry milady, we couldn't keep it afloat..."
Andrea puts a finger to her lips: [Imperial] "Another time. We must abscond lest our foes find us in our weaken'd state. That wildman may hold their attention for a time."

Andrea helps Vala to her feet and the two search for the Captain and any crew that may have survived to regroup.

[Interovegas]

[Zwiche: 9,6,4,4,4,3,3,2,1 Result: ReApInG iNiiTAtEd]
[4x Soldiers: 10,9,9,5,3,2,2 Result: Gone]

It's over before it's begun. Two heads go flying into the dark. The other two soldiers try to turn tail immediately but don't make it one step before the giant is upon them. The others within ten paces can hear the series of cracks as the Truil barbarian cuts down through the clavicles and ribs of the fleeing soldiers. Other soldiers begin to flee from the sight.

The lieutenant manages to keep her nerves but realizes a one on one combat would be unwise.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Arrows 'dan! Fill 'is belly with cutting points!"

No sooner than she finishes her command a soft breeze kicks in and rain begins to pour down.

As Vala finishes her words she loses consciousness and goes limp in Andrea's arms.

[Zwiche]

Zwiche grabs his sword and storms into the rain, ducking and weaving like an [Insouciant Monkey]. He ignores the pitiful foes before him, focusing all his wrath on the lieutenant before him. Nevertheless, he doesn't let his rage overtake him. His steps are precise, his movements deft and coordinated.

[Imperial] - "You have no honor, Imperial dog! Your little soldiers shall not save you. They will join you in eternal rest."

[Double action to DODGE and DODGE, trying to get as close to the lieutenant as possible.]

[Xenoe]

"Henry, let's play dead," Judy says in a hushed voice that only canine senses should be able to discern.

Judy crawls towards a nearby stack of dead bodies and lies down near them, preferably through a path were the light doesn't shine, careful to slow her breathing.

Henry looks around, shakes his head, and crawls after Judy.

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea drapes her squire 'pon her back and creeps slowly northward along the wreckage, searching for a weapon or anything that could be of use.

[Interovegas]

[Zwiche: 10,10,9,7,7,4,3,2,2 Result: Moves like Jagger]
[5x Archers: 8,8,7,7,6,4,3,2,2,1 Result: Shooting at big dudes is hard]

Zwiche dances past the hail of arrows with a terrifying degree of agility given his size. The lieutenant bites her lip in frustration and steps forwards deciding enough is enough. She licks the length of the dindablade.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Dis is fine steel. The finest I have ever laid mine tongue upon. This mortal kiss be wasted upon the likes of thee beast."

She takes a distinct overhead pose with the bladepoint aimed low.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "By my name I Ki-"

Her words are buried under the noise of a warhorn from the south.

Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "Fall! Beast!"

---

Andrea grasps around the darkness for anything to help aid her escape. She pushes under the debris for a cool metal object. It's stuck tight, but not so much that Andrea cannot pluck it forth with her physical might. When she does, a severed arm comes out alongside a broken saber. The upper third of the saber is lost somewhere else in the mess but at least the the edge of the blade has remained intact.

[Blade does Width Shock+1 Killing]

---

Judy lays low and still. The archers up the short cliff nearby are preoccupied firing at something else. Henry obeys his owner and stays as quiet as he can. From just nearby in the darkness a couple Imperials are having a quick exchange, some argument about whether or not to involve themselves in whatever commotion is going on to the south. Their debate ends when the more assertive of the lot says:

Imperial Soldier-[Imperial]: "Ayn be a reaper's prize tonight. Spread 'round an take to the dirt. Ifn you get 'da mighty fortune o' deliverin' a right lethal shivvin 'dan do so. 'Till 'dan I be takin' dis hovel right 'ere."

Judy gets the sinking feeling he's referring to her hiding location.

[Xenoe]

Judy tries to keep as still as possible and see how things play out.

[Dekaru]

Finch keeps his hidden position but reaches for one of his daggers to hold close to his chest and ready to defend himself in case someone with ill intention comes running past or towards him

[Zwiche]

Seeing the forces arranged against him, Zwiche recognizes that this fight may give more danger than he can handle. His sword licks out towards the lieutenant, blade shimmering from the flames and water pouring down. As he strikes out, with the very same movement his legs take him back and his body dances to avoid the arrows and blows of his enemies.

[Attack with ALL IS ONE and DODGE with INSOUCIANT MONKEY. Base move back 15 feet.]

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea removes the arm from the broken saber and gives it a few swings. It's no replacement for her lance but it's better than nothing. She continues venturing northward taking care not to make too much noise.
[Body+Run for extra movement]

[Interovegas]

[Zwiche: 9,8,6,6,4,4,1,2,2 Result: Chop/Dodge]
[Andrea: 9,7,6,3,3,1 Result: +10 foot run]
[5x Archers: 10,8,8,7,4,2,1 Result: 3 Killing Damage to Torso]
[Elite Guards: 9,8,7,3,3,3,1 Result: Miss and Swish]
[Lieutenant: 9,8,4,1,1,1 Result: Swish and Miss]

A whirl of strikes and blows fly through the air. Arrows pierce the giant's shoulder but his technique is too refined to be stopped. He cuts into the lieutenants incoming strike. She grunts from the pain and recoils. She rapidly regains her stance and prepares for another exchange.

Andrea pretends at stealth as she thunders forwards galloping on her mighty hooves. She catches the attention of three soldiers joining the battle from the rear. From the corner of her eye she catches the glimmer of a dimly glowing blade a couple dozen paces to the west.

From the south the the horn echoes loudly again. Three riders on horseback thunder into the field of battle and run the lurking archers down upon arrival. One of the riders continues forwards and tramples poor Finch for 2 killing damage and 2 shock damage to his torso AP1. Another pair of horns sound out from behind them.

[Zwiche]

Zwiche continues his advance, sprinting as quickly as he can down to the south, planning to round the burning ship and crash into the back of the Confederate lines.

[DODGE and MOVE as fast as possible.]

[Dekaru]

Finch is really starting to feel like the world has something against him at this point. The trampling of his body knocks the wind out of him and Finch begins to cough violently. Between coughs he stammers out his best attempt at communicating with the Confederate cavalry soldier and raises his hand to show he isn't a threat.

[Imperial]-"You *cough* you're standing on my lungs! I'm on your side *cough* side dammit! Captain *cough* Finch, Confederate *couch* privateer!"

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea leaps over to that glowing blade and picks it up.

[Interovegas]

[Zwiche: 10,7,7,7,6,3,2,2,1 Result: Dodges]
[Archers: 7,4,2,1,1,1 Result: No aim]
[Lieutenant: 9,9,8,2,2,1 Result: Short Arms]
[Elite Guards: 9,9,8,5,3,2 Result: Shorter Arms]
[Footsoldier Near Judy: 9,9,7,3,3 Result: There's Waldo!]

Zwiche retreats slightly faster than his foes can give chase. His strange maneuvers make him an elusive target for the archers to the north. Notably, fewer arrows are coming his way. The lieutenant and her guard take note of the encroaching cavalry. She curses in some dialect of the plains and turns about towards the approaching phalanx of Imperial soldiers behind.

Over by Judy one of the Soldiers crouches down low to the ground right near her. His eyes are trained are the giant storming towards the line but his hand is fiddling with nearby objects. He realizes after a half a minute that there is a still breathing dog at his side. He yelps.

Surprised Footsoldier-[Imperial]: "Dis a mutt 'midst the dead! Go git! Git!"

Finch's words are lost beneath the noise. He is trampled for another 1 Killing Damage to the torso before the cavalry move on. He only barely catches mention of taking a lieutenants head.

More Imperial soldiers arrive from the rear.

Andrea succumbs to her curiosity and speeds towards the faintly glowing edge. She snatches it up and continues her run all while keeping Vala bent over her back. The glow fades as the sword is lifted from what might've been the previous wielder. Andrea only has time to give the weapon a cursory glance in the current situation. Uneven reflections of light along the body of the sword reveal a single word: "Daybreak".

[Zwiche]

His path now clear, Zwiche unleashes his rage. He sprints east, unlimbering his massive battleaxe. Without pausing in his charge, he swings the blade with deceptive ease, beginning the CRIMSON REAPING.

[Chop twice, against unworthy opponents.]

[Dekaru]

Finch rolls on the ground for a bit coughing as he is once again stomped on. Though he is once again bruised his trusty breastplate saves him from taking any severe damage once again. Breathing normally again Finch rolls and realizes that though they may have run him over the cavalry have perhaps given Finch a means of escaping the battlefield after all. Finch stands up and raises his hands towards the approaching cavalry to try and show he is friendly but prepares himself to try and avoid any swipes they make at him thinking him an enemy.

(Dodge)

[Xenoe]

Judy lashes out and attempts to punch the soldier's foot:

"Henry! Get him!"

Henry leaps for the other soldier's throat.

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea holds Daybreak aloft. Could it be? The Sword of Promised Balance? Unlikely, but in any case it's an upgrade from a broken sword.
Spotting allied cavalry coming in from the south, she uses Leap of the Nightmare to join up with the lead unit, making sure to announce her presence: [Imperial] "Be not alarmed! 'Tis I, Andrea Halsey of North Hold and Confederate in arms."

[Interovegas]

[Andrea: 10,8,7,2,2+MD:10 Result: NAY]
[Zwiche: 10,10,9,6,5,5,3,2,2 Result: REAP]
[Henry +1d: 9,9,9,4,4,1 Result: CHOMP]
[Judy: 10, 6 Result: Kek]
[Finch: 8,5,5,2,2 Result: Dodge]
[3x Archers vs Cavalry: 9,7,5,4,2,2 Result: Arrows fail against mighty threat 3 horses]
[Surprised Footsoldier: 9,1 Result: Failure]
[2nd Surprised Footsoldier: 8,2 Result: Failure]

Zwiche makes quick work of the lone soldier. The soldiers in the line are lucky enough to be unaware of the imending massacre approaching from their rear, and so their morale is spared for now. Andrea leaps towards the cavalry and lands a short bit away. The cavalry respond to Andrea's call from the dark with a loud incomprehensible cheer and continue on their way. A few more arrows are sent at the cavalry but find no flesh for purchase.

Henry leaps at the soldier's throat and tears it out in one grim motion. Judy flails at the second soldier and achieves nothing.

Regardless of their location, each member of the party can see the waves of torches descending from both sides of the valley. The battle on the ground is about to begin in earnest.

[Xenoe]

Judy: "Arg, I should've studied martial arts more earnestly! Henry, help!"

Henry looks back disapprovingly at Judy's "drunken fist" before attacking the second soldier.

Judy suddenly remembers she can generate electricity, and mutters the enchantment for shock before applying it to the soldier.

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea sees the wreckage of the Espiegel, in which many of her possessions still lie. But regaining her equipment can wait until Vala is safe. She Nightmare Leaps towards the allied line of Confederate troops.

[Dekaru]

Finch avoids both being trampled and being stabbed as he stands up and shouts at the oncoming attacks by the friendly soldiers.

[Imperial]-"I'm on your side dammit! Captain Finchroscuma of the Espiegel! Confederate privateer! ON YOUR SIDE!!!"

(Finch still prepares to dodge any swipes or shots at him)

[Zwiche]

Zwiche can see his final goal before him, and he slavers at the chance. His axe bared, he rushes forward in a whirlwind of steel and blood, paying no heed to his own protection for this one glorious moment.

[CRIMSON REAPING CHOP CHOP]

[Interovegas]

[Judy auto succeeds (Intensity 1 spell)]
[Zwiche: 9,9,9,9,7,7,5,3 Result: I sees skies of red, red ground too]
[Finch: 9,7,5,4,3+ED:10 Result: Stabbed]
[Andrea: 10,5,2,1,1+MD:10 Result: NAY NAY]
[Henry: 7,6,5,3,3 Result: CHOMP]
[2nd Footsoldier: 6,3 Result: Failure]
[Cavalry vs Finch: 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2 Result: Count your blessings Finch]

Andrea rejoins the front just in time to bear witness to a harrowing sight: The vengeful giant before her claims six heads with one grand sweep of his axe. Blood sprays about and coats friend and foe alike in the results of Zwiche's martial prowess. The confederate soldiers nearly break at the sight but a lieutenant from further back cries:

Confederate Lieutenant-[Imperial]: "This terrifying warrior takes arms against the Imperials. LOOK UPON HIM! He reaps their rank with impunity. Be taken in by his tide and follow! Repel these invaders!"

The rallying words refocus the frontline who begin their charge through the fresh clearing made by Zwiche.

The cavalry continue their assault on Finch. It is by some metaphysical grace that no lance reaches Finch despite his lackluster efforts at evasion. One suddenly thrusts their lance to knockaway the others.

Confederate Cavalry-[Imperial]: "Thy blades be still! The mud covered footling claims a title familiar to one spoken in the camps. Let the poor soul be. If his tongue is fat with deceit the footsoldiers will make work of him."

The others nod and turn their steeds towards other targets.

Judy and Henry tag team the second soldier for quick kill. Their scuffle has caught the attention of the soldiers just overhead.

Onlooking Footsoldier-[Imperial]: "Ey! A confederate lurks about the dark below. Thou! Archer! Make firing practice of her!"

[Dekaru]

Finch counts his blessings and starts his casual walk towards the friendly foot soldiers on the hill looking behind him routinely to check if any archers try to use him for target practice. As he approaches towards the friendly foot soldiers he shouts out towards them.

[Imperial]-"My clothes be tattered and my face be bloody but I be approaching as ally! Sank an Imperial galleon at the cost of my own vessel due to foul magics!"

(Still dodging)

[Xenoe]

Judy runs for the hills, and attempts to head towards her closest companions, the four legged knight, or the one captain finch.

Judy: "Henry, lets get out of here!"

Henry bounds after her.

[Zwiche]

Zwiche continues up the line of soldiers, reaping their skulls with impunity. His lips burst into song, and he chants the Battle-Death of the Truil as he walks forth, an inevitable force of death.

[Continue with CRIMSON REAPING, two attacks on those unworthies to the north. and activate HARVEST OF CRIES]

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Andrea lays Vala down behind the allied battle line where she will not be disturbed, then Leaps over to the Espiegel's wreckage to retrieve her possessions.