Of Beetles and Bogarts
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After a long absence, the crafter and farmer known simply as "Z" returns. Another blade to help in the defense of Norwick.
What's all this talk 'bout bugs attackin' the town…? By the grace o' the Earthmother, Chauntea, we're gonna put a stop ta this...
Z (pronounce Zee not Zed), storms off to get the scoop. :x
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_Another series of attacks take their toll upon the town. While under Rasuil's assumed command the archers and siege weapons focused massive losses upon their assailants, who's numbers were at their highest seen yet, the gates were breached yet again causing further damage to the Temple of Chauntea and the archer columns were devastated by hordes of goblin bows and grenadiers.
The old Wolf can be seen splitting his time between visits to the Temple to offer his prayers to the House of Nature in Yllalyn's name, who was grievously injured in the attack, and continuing to assess damages, modify defenses and refine the archers attending his sessions.
Later he can be seen commending a few of the guards stationed and speaking with the former Redcloak Commander Albryanna, who took charge of the field in the latest of attacks and led it to it's greatest defense with not a single enemy making it beyond the hills crest. With the guards collective cheer ringing out at their victory, morale amongst the towns defenders is noticeably on the rise once again.
Has the sly old Wolf convinced their Commander back? Has the tide finally turned for the townsfolk? Will these attacks ever end?
Only time would tell.._
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_Nica, meanwhile, seems to have sniffed the opposite of pixie dust, the most recent wave of attacks having taken a toll on the blonde, who doesn't even appear to defend her boxing title at Fight Night (gasp!). Instead, a visibly weary Nica offers to help out at the temple of Chauntea, cleaning up, setting broken bones and dressing wounds, while discreetly making enquiries about the fallen. What were their names, did they have families and would they accept attempts at resurrection if provided?
While the living come first, it's clear that the rising death count is getting harder and harder to bear for this less hardened volunteer defender.
When not at the gates or the healers, Nica pays a series of visits to the Silver Valley, seeking out tinkering gnomes, trap-makers and inventors in particular._
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_While Rasuil comes and goes much as he always has, lately his stays in town have been far more diverse than his regular watch atop Deathtrap Tower at the southern gates.
Following the latest wave of attacks, the old Wolf can be seen assessing and aiding with the damage to the temple of Chauntea, as well as continuing to deliver general "orders" to the Redcloaks in the guise of sound suggestions - including adding two shields per side in reserve atop the cliffs to stand with the archers in the event the walls are scaled again, preparing vats of grease to add to the cliff sides to stave off further such attempts, as well as directing the archers to concentrate their fire upon one target at a time in future engagements.
He also takes it upon himself to assure the ballista is properly maintained and points out the ideal placements for the remaining siege gear, high atop the cliffs and well north of the archer placements where both range and spotters field of view are maximized.
Over the following days the accomplished ranger also holds both basic and advanced archery training, for Redcloak and citizen alike, and at no cost gasp. While he expects that any attending Redcloak provide their own weapon, to those citizens who are without he provides a practical oak bow (or crossbow at their request, though it comes with a dirty look, also free) to learn with, returned to him at the end of the session unless purchased. Using one of the burnt out carcasses from the previous battle to denote their few physical weak points, his lessons range from basic care and handling of ranged weapons, to tracking and successfully hitting a moving target - with a brief aside to cover the merits of situational awareness and the perils of friendly fire.
One may wonder at this rate if he has risen to the cry for leadership among the militia despite his own grumblings. While never having held a position within their ranks, his vast experience in the towns defense and time proven tactics among some of their largest sieges in the past are well known among its members.
Nah.. he's probably just sniffing pixie dust again. It'll likely wear off in a few days, so get your free lessons from this Fight Night legend while you can!_
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María travels often between her tower and the southgate. Kitty can be seen at her side, lazily dragging himself along. While she doesn't really keep watch or anything, she just sits and starts reading books over there, just in case something happens.
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_The ever introverted lightning mage keeps quietly to himself atop the hills adjacent the southern gates, waiting expectantly for the next swarm of beetles, bugs, and goblins to flood across the plains. Every few hours he retreats to the fire to join his friends, using the time to rest his weary eyes.
He can often be heard murmuring to himself, continuously practicing to improve and learn new spells. Oddly enough, he's been taking a keen interest in any critters that wander nearby, focusing intently on them until they scurry off.
Does that badger look bigger?_
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_The local forest witch known as Elaine doesn't seem to be up for keeping watch, and doesn't even appear to care about those that lost their families or homes to the goblins all that much. Not very surprising, considering she's been heard saying things such as "in life you adapt or die" or "those who can't survive by themselves just hold back Nature and natural evolution". At times she is hanging around with her friends by the south gates but as soon as battle rages on she just vanishes from sight. There are murmurs of discontent pointing out that it was her who drew the goblins and bugs to Norwick in the latest, devastating assault, and she used the town and the guard's lives to not risk her own. But then no flashy fireballs came from her fingertips to destroy the goblins, and for someone coming from a lineage of shape-shifters and rumoured to be a prominent shape-shifter herself, no local folk remember ever seeing her changing into any powerful shape and charging the battleground to wipe the goblins out.
Why doesn't she just turn into a giant salamander to burn and eat all the goblins? Why doesn't she transform them all into solid stone, like she does to the goblins that trespass the area of the forest that she has claimed as her territory? Why doesn't she brew up some kind of concoction or curse to turn all the goblins into mushrooms or toadstools?
While the problems of the Norwickians are far more important than wondering whether this particular witch decides to be helpful or not, it may seem plausible that some folks in their desperation may be looking in disappointment at how Jerrick's daughter inherited tremendous powers, but apparently not the will to use them for a good cause. At least for those that consider that saving Norwick is a good cause._
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_Dwarven Legionnaire Corporal Legan Axckleln is also standing guard on the southern gates. His axe culling many a goblin that dares approach the town he chose to protect.
At the same time, Spellweaver Professor Salin Ashald is seen providing whatever support he can to the victims of the recent goblin attacks, giving them food and water, and appeasing the children with a few cantrip demonstrations._
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_With ever quick feet and watchful eyes, the green-clad unarmed fighter known as Nica is a steady presence in and around town. She gives no rallying speeches, offers little advice or sweet soothing words, but she's there, day in and day out, fighting alongside her friends and allies or helping out with basic field medicin.
Whatever horrors are coming, for whatever her presence is worth, it seems Nica is determined to see it through._
