Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 18, 2009 22:21:23 GMT -5
Long ago, before the Erosion and the Fatis Mirajin were created, a comet his Isaara. The impact created a great crater, named Alsua by early civilizations, which eventually became lake. However, when the comet entered the atmosphere, pieces flew off of it. A rather large chuck came off a few seconds before it hit the ground, and it plummeted into the earth west of the main body.
The ground it had hit was full of tunnels made by a badger-mole colony, who quickly abandoned it to escape falling prey to predatory birds. A few thousand years later, a Firestarter architect, Lars Johansson, created an ingenious blueprint that would use the crater and the surrounding tunnels as its main feature. Construction took one hundred and seven years.
The ground at the base of the tower, one thousand feet below the ground, had to be leveled. Next, the base of the tower was built. The tower was very sound, because there were never any earthquakes in the area, and it remained touching the sides of the crater until 200 feet below the surface. 70 years after construction began, the blueprints were revised, and the structure no longer had to remain touching the wall at all points.
Instead, the 20th story below ground level, there was a platform meant to filter and catch water. Lars has already thought of a way to transport water and food down to the bottom floor. It was a series of pulleys and buckets in the center that went down 10 floors each. There was also a well at the bottom of the structure.
Past the 20th floor, covered bridges connected the main building to the tunnels. The tunnels spanned for quite a while, and are still mostly unused past a certain point. There is no light in the tunnels past the light of the torches that burn inside the tower, but on most levels spare torches are left in a barrel that can be used by those who plan on exploring the tunnels.
At ground level, drawbridges connect the structure to the surrounding plain. There were only 2 stories above ground level, referred to as “the upper levels”. Military units are stationed on the roof of the tower, and there is also an observatory (Firestarters sometimes turn to the star-gods to make decisions). Most of the floors of the tower are residential, but it’s a fully functioning underground city.
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 18, 2009 22:30:42 GMT -5
Crater Tower looks very small to the retreating Firestarter army, but they follow their orders and keep hiking towards it. As they cross the drawbridge (which they thought was for a mote) they notice that they can see 200 feet below them. Most of the soldiers stay in the middle of the bridge.
General Roderick enters the tower first. The Keeper of the Tower, Lars jr., addressed him. "You've won then? I see no other reason for a Firestarter army to be entering my city."
General Roderick responds solemnly, "we've retreated, Lars, there were too many of them, and not enough of us."
"I know that you Generals place your faith in our superior numbers, but did you set up barricades to protect your flanks?"
"No, sir." General Roderick didn't like Lars much, he seemed very conceited. "I request that you at least house my soldiers."
"You and your soldiers are all welcome here. We'll set up some tents in the tunnels that will house your soldiers, send me your best mages and rangers, my reports say we may need them."
General Roderick did so, and the rest of his army rested. in their tents in the tunnels, feeling a bit uneasy of their new surroundings.
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 11:51:32 GMT -5
The Shadow is the last member of the Firestarter army to enter Crater tower. He walks without emotion, receiving directions to General Roderick and quickly navigating his way to the impromptu command center that has been created in one of the lower levels of the tower. He enters the room silently and kneels, making just enough noise in to be heard in the process. Roderick turns, a very weary look on his face. He sighs.
"Ah. I'm glad you're hear. I'll probably be removed from my position after this fiasco...unless I can turn it around now."
"It was not your fault. I will take full responsibility."
"Even were that possible, I was the one who arranged the battle plan. It is my fault more than anything. Now I need to somehow come up with a strategic plan which will defeat the Sonambulists and take a minimum of casualties with low magic mages."
"I will help. Have training."
"Go ahead. Here's our current supply list and tactics readout."
The Shadow joins Roderick at the table, and they discuss plans.
((Do the tunnels around Crater tower have an outlet above ground?))
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 12:59:50 GMT -5
((Some do, but they're pretty far away. I'd also like to hint that what's happening in the rest of the game is going to happen soon in this board, so include lots of robots, which have been pretty ignored so far... oops))
Mage-lieutenant Lyzerge, one of the higher ranking officers of the tower, puts forth his opinion, "I doubt the Sonambulists will be foolish enough to attack us here. They'll most likely try to starve us into submission, which will never work. Four of our ten trade routes go through the tunnels, whose entrances are in Firestarter territory, and I'm sure the other 6 would not mind rerouting for our cause. we also have one hundred battle-mages stationed here, and with the addition of your army and the civilians that will be sure to help us, we can fire non-stop volleys at them if they get too close."
"We also have an entire floor filled with fighting robots that are on standby."
((Mind you, this is south of Athena's office, so when the north malfunctions, the robots won't become inoperable))
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 13:50:57 GMT -5
The Shadow finishes his study.
"No good with sieges. Trust your skill. Have work to do."
He sets the papers down and exits the room.
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 17:00:01 GMT -5
Mage-Lieutenant Lyzerge watches The Shadow leave. "He's not too talkative, is he?" he says as he turns to the General. "What do you think we should do?"
((That's you now, Connor))
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 17:24:33 GMT -5
High Commander Kypsidor watched as the two graveyards were filled. "How many injured do we have?" he asked his head physician, who stood next to the lead mechanic on his left.
"Around ten dozen" replied the head physician, weary. "About half of them are Firestarters.... We can't handle them all" he tried to say the second sentence as non-insinuative as he could.
High Commander Kypsidor thought for a second. "Get the wounded Firestarters on carriers", he turned to his commander, on his left "Get me four of your archers, I'll gather some swordsmen. We're to release the captive Firestarters as soon as possible."
Four rangers, 8 swordsmen, the High Commander, and Commander Lydon accompanied the 64 injured Firestarters and a large group of physicians in the direction the Firestarters had retreated a few hours ago.
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 18:26:48 GMT -5
Roderick sighs heavily and thinks.
"Alright, I think I have it. When the Sonambulist forces arrive, we'll give them a few days to get set up and settled in, and complacent. Once they've settled into a siege routine...hm...how far can your mages conjure fire?"
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 18:32:32 GMT -5
The mage-lieutenant replies, smirking "farther than the foolish Sonambulists will camp". He points at a spot on the map, which has the tower in the center, and different colored lines running across it. "These lines are the tunnels, we can disrupt the earth from under them. The blue ones are the closest to the ground." Lyzerge draws a black line in a large circle, about 100 meters around the crater, "This far".
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 18:43:15 GMT -5
Roderick smiles.
"We may finish this yet. Here's what we'll do: when the Sonambulists have settled, we'll send the Shadow on a reconnaissance mission to locate their storage areas, leadership tent, and any other areas of interest. Once that's done, the mages will move in and destroy the ground around those areas, ideally eliminating their supplies and leadership. If this succeeds, they will almost certainly give up, and if they don't they'll be unable to outlast us. Any suggestions?"
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 18:52:52 GMT -5
Mage-Lieutenant looks up from a report he had just gotten. "No suggestions, but it seems that the Sonambulists are up to something, there's a small group approaching with covered carriers. I think it's a trap."
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 19:22:45 GMT -5
General Roderick massages his temples.
"Let's go."
He exits the room and moves quickly and assuredly through the tunnels, grabbing any archers he can find. Finally, he comes out at the top of the tower, a full complement of one hundred archers behind him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small disk, which he puts to his mouth. When he speaks his voice is amplified, booming down to the approaching convoy.
"SONAMBULISTS! You can stop right there, unless you want to start a new career as pin-cushions."
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 19:32:24 GMT -5
High Commander Kypsidor jumps at the sound of the voice. It had been eerily silent before, the only sound being the physicians moving about and helping patients. Kypsidor motions to Commander Lydon, who promptly walks over, "Yes, sir?" he asks.
"They think we're here to attack, and we can't communicate with them right now. I want you to have one of your archers send a message for me."
"Yes, sir." He responds, with a tint of sadness in his voice. Interactions with the Firestarters never did go well.
---
An archer approaches the tower and lays down his weapon 150 paces in front of the tower, just out of range, and keeps walking, with his hands in front of him.
One of the operators of the Observatory, which is on the top floor of the tower as well, speaks "there is a large Sonambulist encampment being set up beyond some hills."
Mage Lieutenant Lydon holds his hands cupped in front of him, and a faint distortion of the air can be seen. "On your mark, General."
|
|
Badgerlord
Swordsman
Lord of the Badgers. Ninja. Surprisingly good dancer.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Badgerlord on Aug 19, 2009 20:05:21 GMT -5
"You will do nothing. Sonambulists have proven themselves reasonable in the past, and this is clearly and emissary."
He turns to a messenger next to him and takes the disk away from his mouth.
"Send out a group of Paladins. Have them bring the archer to me. Unharmed."
|
|
Howl
Scholar
I know I'm crazy, thank you
Posts: 283
|
Post by Howl on Aug 19, 2009 20:13:53 GMT -5
Lyzerge puts his arms by his side, and the distortion dissipates.
The Archer stops as the paladins get near, they talk for a little, and the paladins escort the archer across the bridge. and to the top floor of the tower and present him to General Roderick. "I'm here on behalf if High Commander Kypsidor. We have 62 of your injured soldiers, and we can't care from them all, we request that you take them in so we may continue battling." The archer waits for the General's responce, while Lyzerge remains silent, absorbing the new information.
|
|