Legacies of light

Arc 10.67: A signal of destruction part 4



Location: Eastern battlefield

Φ Held down by shadows the humans struggle to break free of Scáthach powers. They want to escape as quickly as possible and return to the battlefield to aid their loved ones, yet they can’t move an inch.

This causes many to fall into despair, freak out in anger, or cry while screaming for their freedom. But Scáthach is nowhere to be found until she appears from the mountain range with numerous plates carrying food.

Many of the humans look at her with confusion, but she just says, “Dinner is ready,” in a cheery voice.

Using her shadows she releases all of their body parts with the exception of their legs, then places all of the massive amount of food she has on one shadow table.

The humans are very confused by this, and some try to use their newfound freedom to run away, but they don’t move an inch from where they are.

“My shadows will only allow you to walk towards me or around this table, they won’t allow you to run away like you are planning.”

A human says, “What kind of trick is this, you witch?”

“Let us go right this instant.”

“We have people we need to save, and a war to fight.”

Scáthach says, “Throughout history, all humans have had to understand the idea of value, to ask for something you must offer something of equal value in return.

Yet you people go ahead and ask me for freedom as if I have any reason to give it to you, such childish behaviour from adults should be shamed, and removed.”

Her shadows move up the necks of the humans and wrap around them. Then Scáthach says, “If you thought I couldn’t kill you all, you have been sorely mistaken.”

She releases the shadows from their necks returns them to their former state and says, “But my student told me not to allow excessive human casualties, and as a widow mother myself, I don’t feel like killing any of you. So go ahead and eat.”

The humans look around at each other, and many of them start to walk forward towards the table. Then one asks, “What’s is this.”

“Animals I hunted from the top of the mountain and cooked for all of you, but you better eat them quick or it will go off.

The food looks delicious and many of the humans' mouths start to water, yet they all still choose not to take a single bite of the food, up until one says, “We are going to become slaves or be executed after this whether we like it or not, so we might as well enjoy our final proper meal.”

The humans start to eat the food wholeheartedly without any chance of stopping, many sing, dance, and laugh the rest of the night away, and as they do the queen of shadows stares at them deep in thought.

For a bunch of men who were scared for the sake of their families, they seem to have relaxed quite a bit despite the danger to their families still being present.

They were all so impassioned, and while it might be easy to accept one's own fate of death or suffering, it isn’t easy to accept it might happen to loved ones.

So that would either mean that they are truly such hopeful creatures or the threat of death to their loved ones is unlikely. Sigh, she says, “With all the evidence from the humans' behaviour it seems you were right Lugh.

-The next morning-

Location: Beastkin campsite

Φ Walking towards the horse, I sigh and say, “I really didn’t manage to sleep a lot last night.”

As I reach the horses, I notice that Setanta is in front of all of them, so I ask, “Setanta what are you doing?”

“Oh Laeg, wonderful timing I need you to help me check up on the horses.”

“Ok, I planned to do that anyway,” I say as I come and join him.

Throughout our four horses' bodies, we clean, scrub and brush them, while double-checking all of their wounds to see if they have healed nicely. As we do this Setanta says, “You’re worried.”

I am shocked for a moment, then ask, “Did Ferdiad tell you?”

“No, you usually look really happy when caring for horses, but today you look nervous, so you must be worried about something.”

“It’s pathetic, but I think I am scared to enter the battlefield. Even though me and my brother came to Gorias with our heads held high, and spent many resources becoming better I still have this voice in the back of my head telling me to give up.”

“Laeg, I get scared.”

“Huh, you get scared? Please don’t make such a joke.”

Looking straight at the horses, he says, “It isn’t a joke, all it takes to learn fear is to simply be proven you aren’t indestructible and then from that moment the little voice telling you to run away never vanishes.”

“But if that is true, why do you constantly do such things?”

“Because I don’t want to lose to myself. It is easy to never change and find comfort in the things you know, but if I see some value in doing and experiencing something, or not then I want to move forward with those decisions regardless of comfort, otherwise how else can I lead the people of Gorias.”

Facing me, he says, “Nothing is wrong with that fear, it stops people from being idiots and picking a fight with someone like Master. Though it shouldn’t be your god, but a tool to force you to think and that is the process you are currently on, so enjoy it and whatever answer you come to make sure it is one you see the value in.”

Looking at him, I say, “Thank you I feel like my mind is clearer. You truly are smarter than you come off.”

Laughing proudly, Setanta says, “OF COURSE I AM!”

-Break-

Φ At 900 hours the Lúcogadh army restarted their approach towards the human castle.

At 1120 hours the Lúcogadh army arrived at the human castle. The castle was tucked at the northwestern edge of the mountain and used as a natural wall. Due to this they only had two walls around the castle towards the south and east.

In front of the castle many humans stood, most with bows but a few with shields. A large ground of humans also stood on the walls and were equipped with bows as well.

Φ Staring at the castle, I wait for one of my scouts to return, and as she does I ask, “Situation now.”

“Aside from what you can see the humans have quite a few catapults inside which will pelt us with long-ranged fire, another thing I noticed is that they have a large metal box inside the castle, it seems to be a mobile contraption that holds wonderbeasts, it probably holds a few small ones they plan on releasing at us.

But the most important piece of information I have found is that they have coated the wall in oil. It seems they don’t want us climbing the walls with our agility, though it will only make our explosives more dangerous.”

“Thank you for your work.” Turning to my subordinates, I say, “We will be moving forward with the fourth strategy discussed last night. In the name of Ruán Ó Lúcogadh, I command you to attain a speedy victory.”

“YES SIR!”.

At 1150 hours, the battle begins.

Throughout the battlefield the large beastkin army breaks up into hundreds of smaller units, and scatter about like little rats. This makes the fire from the catapults and arrows a lot harder to hit.

Φ Seeing this play out Ibar asks, “So we are trying to waste their ammunition by not clumping up.”

Ferdiad responds, “Exactly, but that’s now all. Since beastkin are simply superiors to humans in battle the small units are able to put dents in their number if they get close enough.

Turning to Setanta, I ask, “So what is our role?”

“To be distractions, now I need you to move over there.”

Φ While the infantry moves forward many different members of the cavalry, and the chariots move to flank the archers, but as they do they are bombarded by arrow fire. Their large mass makes it far easier for arrows to hit.

Φ Under a swarm of arrows, I see both Setanta and Ferdiad knocked away from our chariot while sweating, so I continue to ride the chariot forward with all my heart, but my sister says, “How much longer do we have to be here?”

“For as long as we can hold out, this allows us to take the stress of the approaching infantry,” Ferdiad responds.

“Sister, calm down we still have control.”

“I know, I know, but the atmosphere fills even more chaotic than usual.”

Φ Soon the infantry meet each other and many small skirmishes begin. The small beastkin groups peck away at the human army like insects feasting on a beast.

These small attacks disrupt the formation of humans, as their advantage is number, not individual skill. So whenever the small beastkin groups meet the humans they decimate the humans they face and quickly move away.

Φ The leader of the human army stands on top of the castle walls and looks down on the battlefield then says, “Something is wrong.”

“General Adan, what do you mean?”

“It is the beastkin despite being in all of these small groups they are still coordinated.”

“That’s impossible there are hundreds of them.”

“I know but it is, they are all moving far too in line with one another it is as if they are having commands sent to them, it is the only way they could be running circles around us like this.

But the strangest thing about our current situation is the fact that despite how much they are outdoing us, they still haven’t made any real attacks towards the main two gates.

I feel like something is brewing. Morice tells everyone to get ready to release the black box, I have a feeling that we will need its power soon.”

“Right!”

Φ Ruán standing at the base they beastkin set up before launching the attack says, “Impart new instructions.”

One of the beastkin speaks at a frequency so high that the human ear can’t pick it up, but in one of the numerous beastkin groups, there is a least one who can hear these instructions and informs his group to act accordingly.

Ruán looking down on the battlefield, says, “It’s over.”

Φ In the area where both the south and east walls connect a group of beastkin who are invisible walk up and place the Luibh beads against the oily wall.

Φ Ruán says, “The house of Dofheicthe, a vassal of house Fuinseog, they hold the blood of the wonderbeast, unseen toad. A wonderbeast that produces mucus that reflects all light allowing them to be unseen by their enemies. In this battle, they are our vital blow.”

Φ On the battlefield a large explosion goes off and makes a large hole in between the southern and eastern walls. Then in this moment, many of the chariot units and infantry start to move towards that hole.

The humans lose morale incredibly quickly due to this, and the beastkin rush in completely relaxed, as to them they have all but won the battle. But a turn happens on the battlefield as many of the chariots are suddenly blown away, along with infantry form both armies.

From the hole, a wonderbeast appears and walks through the hole in the castle wall. A slap bull, an uncursed variant of this wonderbeast. It lets out a mighty bellow then rushes forward crushing all in its path, and as it does Setanta says, “I think I have just found out what will make us famous on this battlefield.”

Name: Slab Bull (Cursed)

Height: 15m

Type: Herbivore

Description: It is a Coven hooved herbivore with four horns and purple skin. It is a cursed version of the slab bull which has erased many of its characteristics, but in exchange, it has a curse that makes hard things become softer and soft things become harder around it.

Fact: Despite how fat some may look, it is one of the most muscley animals on the planet.


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