Tales of the battlefront

[Nightsblood]

Ad stood on the ramparts and surveyed as the ballista crew went quickly through their paces again, simulating loading and firing. After a few minutes observation he commented
“Good work lads, but take a break… aye ? It’s been quiet for hours now“
One of the crew threw him a quizzical look, obviously the brightest of the crew as light then gleamed momentarily in his eye before snapping a salute “Righ’ boys, you ‘eard ‘im…..we cin take a break”
“Erm…right…..I’ll..ermm… call you if you’re needed” Ad called out to their retreating backs. He coughed nervously as he turned….ah…good. No-one around.
Still, at least the lines were quiet. Prudently he decided to have a look at the western ramparts.
The western ramparts were manned by the gypsy warriors,, he leaned out over the battlements…hmm… further from the gate. A little removed from the action but needed all the same. Certainly a better view of the gate. Little chance of them using the cliff as cover to pursue an attack on the gate. Good. Maybe a ballista would serve here as well…he wondered who he might suggest that to.
By the time he got back to the eastern heights there was a crew of archers lined looking out over the field. Some pushing and shoving was going on and down at the gate Raver berated them for their boisterousness. Ad leaned casually on the battlements and called down making his presence known. Winter was up to some high-jinks teasing one of the archer crew but otherwise things were still quiet he thankfully noted… and no-one had commented on the ballista crew’s lack.
“Gonna go up to the western hill for some tea, if’n you wanna join me, Ad.” Raver called up. Tea ?…how could he refuse ? So off he trotted again.
“Someone mention tea ?”
“Kettle’s on the fire, won’t be long to boil” Raver called from her position overlooking the field. “Just wish they weren’t so damned indisciplined” she grumbled, surveying the opposite rampart.
“Nerves, Raver…the waitings getting to them. Getting to me too. Talking of waiting…that kettle boiled yet ?”
So they sat and had tea talking of this and that, at one point Ad scalding his hand on the kettle. Conveniently, Tala, his packmistress, showed up in time to apply salve and a bandage. Raver made good her chance to go and get supplies leaving Ad and Tala to discuss the Featherlight evacuation.
“Taking them out through the lines is sheer folly” Ad commented. Tala nodded in agreement. “Maybe we can find another way, through the Rawlins” she suggested.
It was Ad’s turn to nod in agreement “Aye. Been looking in the eastern wood. No luck as yet, though. Star thought she spotted a likely trail when we visited their canyon. She thought it might need a bit of trailblazing, though, to widen it for their passage. Been looking to see where it comes out so we can work both sides. Might not get much of a chance from the canyon side with all this going on.”
“Mmm.. we’re probably running out of time” Tala concurred “…maybe it’s best to let the Circle seal them in”
“Aye. I didn’t think the Tribe would be so long reaching a consensus but it’d be just like the orcs to pre-empt that decision too.”
With that consent Tala whistled on a giant armoured half-orc standing guard at the gate that Ad vaguely recognized as the one called General Grag.
“Been planning to make a scouting trip of their lines, general, would you like a report ?” she called down as he came over
His gruff acquiescence nodded they made their way down to the gate, master engineer Sudoc introducing himself on the way. And so they made their preparations to scout.
No sooner had they left the defenders lines than they ran afoul of traps. Tripwires and snares of all manner slowed their passage and it was a few fevered moments of work to extricate themselves hoping against hope that they weren’t spotted in the interim. A quick survey and headcount was all they could manage before discretion kicked in.
And so they turned to report that the Lines were drawn with traps dotted and 50 to 60 orcs bunched beyond consisting of archers, elites and pointy stick wielders ready to advance. As the report was being delivered the first of the orcs appeared, charging the gate.
Ad quickly removed himself to the battlements only to be confronted by master engineer Sudoc “Can you two man that catapult ?” he barked to Ad and another elf he recognized as Belor. “Aye..I watched them at work before” Ad conceded guiltily “…think I might manage”
“Good. Hoist a rock in the cradle and wait for my word”
“Right !” and so they waited…
“You can fire your bows too, for the moment ” came the bellow. “What we need are kegs. Can you run to Jiyyd and get some from the shop that sells the fantastical goods..oppsite droigo’s ? Tell him Sudoc sent you.” Seizing their chance in a lull Ad and Belor sprinted to the Exotic emporium run by Laurs Patter.
“Keg’s if you’ve got them” demanded Belor
“Eh ?” inquired Laurs “who’re they for ?”
“Tell him… Sudoc…sent us” panted Ad “ …’s for..the..catapult”
“Right…and who’s paying ?” stalled Laurs
“Erm…. Jiyyd ?” suggested Ad “we need them …quick”
“I’ll need authorization…need to re-stock, you know” shrugged Laurs
“Oh .here” scowled Belor digging in his purse “ I’ll pay for one…that do ?”
Ad handed over another sum to a satisfied Laurs just as Sudoc showed up cursing.
He prayed for the strength of the bear as he shouldered a keg and trotted back to the ramparts at a quick lope. Soon 4 kegs were stacked beside the catapult…viewing the situation Ad started moving them behind the archer tower leaving one keg ready to load.
“I need rags to light them, can you run back to Jiyyd ?” Sudoc demanded of a sweating Ad. Nodding to save his breath Ad set off at a lope again. In to the tailors Ad quickly negotiated the use of some leftover rags and sprinted back to the lines.
"You get them ?" demanded Sudoc
Ad dumbly nodded handing them over while catching his breath. “Also got some oil here “
“Oil ?” questioned sudoc
“Can rub it in..help them to light.”
“Good idea !” enthused Sudoc accepting the oil.

And so they waited for the next attack………

((the server crashed soon after so part of this story is to detail that there are 4 kegs and the means to light and launch them ready for others to use if any DM reading this is involved in the jiyyd wars. It’s also my way of paying back kudos to the folks that give their time and effort to this endevour))