Sigma stood on the hill, surveying the scene before him. Hiruma castle, though claimed hundreds of years ago by the Shadowlands, nevertheless remained relatively intact. The main gate - and only entrance - was still there. He glanced behind him, and looked over the company that had marched out here with him. He was not expecting any of this. This was originally to be a scouting mission, but new allies joined them on their way to Rokugan, and even out here in the Shadowlands more had arrived. He looked back at the castle. The assembled Avatars were itching to storm it, but that was not a good idea. Not without checking it out first.
Cutthroat and Vlad jumped at the opportunity to scout inside. Sigma motioned for Maxwell to join them. From the air, Trunks on his griffin. And around the perimeter, too, he sent Tor and Ansem - both now of House Tocsin. While they marched out here, it seemed that the Shadowlands feared them and had left their way clear, but Sigma was not taking the chance that they were walking into an ambush.
As he waited for the reports to come back he looked over the rest of the company. He noted a face he was unfamiliar with - a Helvetian, named Jeraldi. Starting with him, Sigma catalogued the abilities of the Avatars. "I use air magic - not in a big area. Targeted, both near and far." Sigma nodded. Jon Stone, who was reassured that yes, his technology would function here. Sigma almost swore he could hear the mechanical servant that followed Jon squeal with glee. He raised an eyebrow at Alex Rovias, now in Helvetia. Aiskon, back in Galahad - a heavy hitter in many ways. Next to her flapped Sailormallard. Next to him, Mack, one of the newer Lightfoot, with his lightsaber. His daimyo, Cappy, placed a hand on his katana and nodded silently back to Sigma. Darla, shadowy and nearly invisible. And two mages, Stran and Sammy Falcon, from whom even Sigma could sense great power ready to spring forth.
The scouts returned. Tor and Ansem reported no lurking ambush. Cutthroat and Vlad reported what looked to be several thousand goblins inside the castle. Trunks reported the layout - 3 concentric rings, with entrances at opposing sides, and no easy way to attack from the air. The gate was the only way in. But the most surprising report came from Maxwell via radio - deep within the keep were three black dragons, and a Lugosi Ancient.
Sigma relayed the news to his companions. Cutthroat mentioned that he could project an image of a jade dragon over Trunks's griffon, and possibly frighten the goblins more. Agreeing to this, Sigma laid out the plan.
"Cutthroat is going to hop on the griffin with Trunks and create this projection. Scare the goblins towards the gate. Sammy, drop your toxic storm on the front gate. Those dragons on the inside are going to come bursting out, I'm sure - so Cutthroat, Jon, pick 'em off. Anyone who can attack them, do so. No one enter the castle just yet - except for you three." Sigma pointed at Vlad, Darla, and Ansem. "You're fucking shadows. Go through the damn walls towards the center, towards the ancient. Take out any maho users you find on your way. Alex and Tor - hang back with me here. Guard Sammy."
Sigma turned to Stran, and grinned. "Go for it, man. The rest of you, go!" Beside him, Sammy began chanting. Trunks and Cutthroat on the griffin-turned-jade dragon flew over the courtyard, scaring the goblins, forcing them into clusters. Sigma laced his fingers together, and Stran stepped into his hands. Sigma boosted him up and launched him into the air.
Within moments, Stran had transformed himself into a large golden dragon 100 yards long.
The goblins, predicatbly, fled from the onslaught of the two "dragons". They clustered up, only to run afoul of the growing storm of firey rocks being flung about by Sammy's spell. Stran, in his new form, easily crushed many goblins with swipes from his claws. Others in the group began picking off smaller groups of goblins that they could see. From the center of the castle, one of the dragons punched a hole through the roof. It flew about, searching - and met with blasts from F.A.I.T.H. and Jon Stone. Angered, it began a counterattack. And then Stran roared at the beast, who cringed in terror. Stran and Trunks began an assualt on it.
In the meantime, Mallard flew over the castle. Using his telekinesis, he moved the helmet on which Sammy's storm was centered, careful to fly just out of the range of the burning stones. The goblins could not all flee. Dodging the moving storm, Cappy, Aiskon, and Mack made their way into the castle, cutting down hordes of goblins.
Trunks leaped off his griffin on the black dragon, driving it to the ground. Sigma had a moment's recollection of a forgotten journey... "FIREMAW DOWN!" he mentally cheered... Only to stop short as they heard Vlad's voice ring out across the battlefield. "KILL THEM ALL!!!"
Mallard dropped the helmet and dove through the hole in the roof. Sigma couldn't tell what was happening, but from the roars of pain, Sigma could guess that the duck was winning. He tapped morse code out to Maxwell using radio static, "Report!"
Maxwell spoke through the radio. "No need for secrecy. I'm in the throne room. Vlad came in and tried to take on the big guy - this guy in black armor with a crown of fire. He lost. The ancient took off." Sigma passed on the information to Tor and Alex. Tor headed in, instructing Sammy to hit up their side again, and hand his broadcast crystal to Alex. Sammy chanted again, and Sigma felt a wave of energy flow through him and the rest of the Avatars.
Sigma spied Mallard flying out from the hole in the roof, and then Stran poked his head in. Sigma could see the jets of flame through the windows. He winced.
More sounds of combat. More battles with the dragon. And he swore he saw his daimyo take out a few hundred goblins with one swing... He got a twinge in his head, like someone was trying to probe him. But he had no time to worry about this as one of the dragons turned his breath on his allies... And watched as Tor commanded the dragon to turn away. The dragon, vaguely emembered as Flamegor, spewed its fiery breath at Tor instead... Who simply stood there, seeming to toughen for a moment. Tor grinned and crackled with the same black flame.
With Darla taking control of one of the dragons, the other dropped quickly. The sounds of combat from inside the castle were lessening. Tor had made his way inside, and Sigma gave the order to regroup. Alex spoke into the broadcast crystal. "Everyone, just... stop." His voice calmed the area. A gentle breeze flowed through the castle. It seemed as if everything slowed down to a crawl, and peace came over Hiruma castle for the first time in centuries.
One dragon, Ebonroc, managed to escape, but the ancient's hold over Vlad was broken. As Sigma picked his way into the castle, he saw the handywork of the company of Avatars. Not a single goblin remained alive, and Darla had risen one of the dead dragons to do her bidding. It was currently clearing out the goblin corpses.
Sigma grinned, and left the searching of the castle to his allies. He concentrated for a moment, opening a MUD portal back to the supply train that was being started from the Wall. He reported their success - much to the astonishment of the Crab samurai - and came back to the castle.
Today had been a good day.
[OOC: Apologies for any details I got wrong. The whole thing went by so fast! But it was seriously awesome
For anyone who wanted to keep a running tally, the crew consisted of:
-Aiskon Tyrwos of Galahad
-Alex Rovias of Helvetia
-Ansem of Tocsin
-Erikson Brightblade (aka Cappy) of Ares
-Cutthroat of Lightfoot
-Darla Coyle of Lugosi
-Jeraldi of Helvetia
-Jon Stone of Octagon
-Mack Ravensline of Lightfoot
-Sailormallard of Citadel
-Maxwell of Cleese
-Sammy Falcon of Lightfoot (or is it Tocsin now?)
-Sigma Caine of Galahad
-Stran Tannish of Godot
-Tor of Tocsin
-Trunks of Avalon
-Vlad Grimme of Lugosi
They managed to take out 2 black dragons and several *thousand* goblins. Go team!
]
