Snippet #1492634

Terra, the Dragon's Maw

Granted enhanced endurance by the new armor, the Black Guard was the first unit to arrive at the end of the Akaldai Pass. The stoney valley cut off abruptly, becoming clear, green grassland at an unnaturally defined line. At least it appeared that way to Wrath. He and his unit were barely a quarter mile from the edge of the pass concealed within the shadows of jagged rock, only one battle cart present along with their host of golems. Their target lay in sight: Scalescrossing. An odd name to be sure, but it was the first city in their line of conquest.

The moderately sized city had been erected some twelve years back right at the portion of land where the Akaldai met fields. With it's iron walls and great tower in the center, it effectively choked off any attempt to enter the Dragonlands by foot. Unless you wanted to pass through the city, pay the tax that supported the Children's armies and risk execution if you even winced at the word 'dragon'. From this distance Wrath could make out the shapes of snow-colored cloaks wafting in the breeze upon the battlements. Drawing on the mental clarity of his amulet, the general turned to his troops.

"The main army won't arrive for another ten minutes, give or take. As the vanguard it's our job to crash into their line, cause as much panic and damage as we can and allow the body of our assault to surge in through the opening we create." he nodded to Sid, who stepped in with the rest of the explanation. Wrath looked on with mild interest, both hands resting on the hilts of his untested blades and gaze flicking back to the target city periodically.

"Ok. If nobody informed you yet, the live-leather uniforms that you have been given are Assault issue." the halfling pointed to her breast where the grayed dragonskull emblem was located. "Tap it once and think the word 'boost' as clearly as possible. That will give you a nice running start. Twice, and thinking the word 'leap' adds a bit of spring to your step. Last, three taps and thinking 'surge' give you a massive increase to strength. Just know this; All three of these abilities are tied to the armor, and won't be accessable if it is too badly damaged. The powers only last a few moments, and don't refresh until your adrenaline levels drop back down to normal--yeah, sounds dumb, but if we use it too often the armor bursts into flames or something so we needed a limiter. Good? Good. Private Mialee, Senior and Junior, report!"

Both twins marched out of the line with an odd amount of coordination and saluted. At Wrath's signal they relaxed and Turha withdrew a fist-sized orb of semi-transparent steel from his tool-pouch. With a thought the mystical item pulsed dimly, prompting the legion of Darkguards to take a single step forward. "I've already synchronized a contruct to each soldier's armor, including that of your own and captain Grimsmirk. The remaining twenty are under our control." At the human's words twenty of the darkguard moved to stand behind a legionnaire that was designated as their controller. Turha made an about-face and scanned his fellow soldiers. "Simply will it, and the constructs will follow even complex commands. Just remember that their first priority is protecting you."

"Good." Wrath said quietly, then glanced at the twenty golems under the twin's control. They looked like the other darkguards at first glance, but further scrutiny wold reveal a slightly clunky look. As if they had been disassembled and pieced back together in the wrong places. The general regarded the brothers out of the corner of his eye as he turned towards Scalescrossing. "Your heads are mine if those modifications comprimise my darkguards."

Their only response was a simultaneous nod. Then, Wrath was off. A few bounding steps took him into the light and onto the grass. With a slap to the chest the general seemed to move in a blur, crossing the the last quarter mile to the wall with blinding speed and his cape billowing in the wind. Arrows from a pair of alert guardsmen atop the walls thunked into the ground, missing Wrath by several feet. The darkguard assigned to him kept up with his supernatural speed with long, loping strides. As the enchantment of alacrity ended the next began, sending the warrior launching twenty feet into the air to land upon the battlements. Both swords were drawn before the nearest guard could call out, and a severed head came toppling down on the outside of the gate. A hulking ebon hand clutched the precipice of the wall and swatted away another guard as it heaved itself up onto the wall. Both moved to engage their next foes.

All of this happened in less than fifteen seconds. Sid smirked and unslung the hand crossbow at her hip. She glanced back at the rest of the Black Guard, some of which wore astonished expressions and grinned all the wider. "Shall we?" the halfling was gone before any response could be given, ducking an arrow and flying up onto the wall to join Wrath. Her darkguard had trouble keeping up.

The remainder of the legionnaires and their guardian golems followed suit. Thanaros's eyes grew sharp as he found his center within the balance of mind, body and soul. As he rushed off he cast a glance at Liliana and managed a faint smile. Ferka trailed after him, greatsword drawn and face drawn in a mask of rage, an anitithesis of her brother's perfect calm. Iriana slapped Sarish's rear playfully with the flat of one of her new twin scimitars before slithering swiftly into the fray. Both harpies took to the air, calling back to Alistair to join them in their sky-attack as they went. Strangely, the cleric halfling Pel and Beelzes were sharing their gift of rambling incessantly to one another about nothing as they rushed along their magically propelled feet. As an afterthought the warlock waved to the Shanir sisters before donning her sunglasses and scouring a section of the wall with black fire that sent three screaming corpses tumbling to the earth.

Mikana was only just managing to free her weapon from it's straps when the others were gone. During the march, the diminutive elf had lugged around a wheelbarrow that held a warhammer as large as she was from haft to head. She undid the straps and made a gesture over her heart. Golden radiance flowed from Mikana's skin, and she lifted the brutal weapon over her shoulder as if it was a stick...and smiled at Caine. There was a reason she was always on top. Clinking in her medium armor, the elven paladin activated her sigil and raced onward towards the skirmish.

That left the twins. They simply watched the beginnings of the battle and made some finishing touches to their darkguards. All the while, they grinned maniacally. These constructs wouldn't be the darkguards for much longer...

In the distance, on the wall of Scalescrossing, the local soldiers finally managed to raise an alarm.