Battle for Nul Hunur

Loud horns blasted in the air, alerting the entire city. Uriel stepped out to the balcony, and gazed at the distance. Dawn had arrived, but so did something else. A horde of ominous creatures stepped out of the trees and into the great fields. Long weeks had passed, and the day of reckoning had finally come.

A shiver ran down Uriel's spine, as she watched the massive force advance towards the city. The shiver brought both anxiety and excitement. These two emotions often coincided, whenever Uriel found herself facing a great threat. Was this normal, or was it a problem that would have to be addressed? Uriel did not know the answer, nor did she think too deeply about.

Suddenly, her doors swung wide open. Mycelia rushed right in. Cold sweat ran down her face. She took a few counts to catch her breath, before speaking.

"My lady, they're here!" Mycelia announced, loss of breath. "Keshrak has brought an army to attack us!"

Uriel responded with silence, at first. She took another moment to absorb part of the situation. With one last sigh, she turned around.

"Ready the city for battle," Uriel commanded. She approached a chair and began dressing herself. "Have the women, children and elders taken to safety, then get your apprentices and bring them to the wall. Also, summon two Blood Crows in here to help me with my armor."

"At once, my lady," Mycelia replied, nodding. Without wasting a single count, the sorceress rushed off to fulfill her instructions.

As soon as Mycelia left, Uriel began dressing herself. From her cabinet, she took her gambeson, a mail shirt, and armor for her legs. It did not take too long to put these on. The other components of her armor, on the other hand, required some assistance. Fortunately, the two Blood Crows she requested came just in time to help her.

Soon, Uriel finished readying herself. Attired with armor of black steel, and armed with a long-sword and mace, Uriel marched to the city wall, to get a better view of the coming force.

As she traveled through the streets, Uriel found lizard folk running around. Non-combatants retreated to the citadel with much haste. The citadel seemed to be the safest place, at the moment; for the metal golems watched over it.

As for the warriors, they scattered to their position around the walls and gates. They grabbed whatever weapon they could find, and rushed towards the locations assigned to them.

Before long, Uriel arrived on top of the wall. There, she met one of the many companies of her army. Mycelia, Ragosh, Jotun and Sidra stood among those present in the company. They each stood equipped and armed for battle as well.

"I would greet you all good morning, but that doesn't seem to be the case," Uriel snorted, approaching the ledge. "How is morale?"

"Nobody's panicking, so I suppose that counts as a good thing," Jotun answered, looking about.

Tension filled the air, as a short amount of time passed. Lizard folk, particularly those who had sought refuge, found themselves quivering. Their tails nervously whished left and right. Seeds of doubt grew in the pit of their stomachs. Despite being on top of these massive walls, and having unique allies by their side, these warriors still found enough space in their hearts to doubt their chances.

Not all felt like this, however. Conviction burned in the eyes and hearts of the elves and exiles, as their hands slowly twisted and gripped their weapons. This would be their new home, and they had no intention of leaving it any time soon.

"So they have finally come," Uriel muttered. She leaned forward and surveyed the enemy. "They appear… different."

Legions of lizard folk marched out of the forest, like a black flood. They came from different clans, yet carried a number of uniform features. Bluish marks ran across their bodies, while a number of spikes and horns protruded from their backs and skulls.

Contempt and ferocity filled the eyes of these advancing lizards. They roared, howled and snapped at the city and its denizens, attempting to intimidate those that hid behind the walls. They acted like a pack of hunters that surrounded a larger and more dangerous predator.

Aside from their appearance, the enemy had brought something extra with them. Rather than just wearing fur and leather over their bodies, these lizard folk donned armor made from bones, wood. The designs appeared crude and very primitive. Despite the materials and condition, Uriel herself knew that even metal would not be able to easily penetrate the equipment.

Loud drums pounded, as the enemy marched. A few number of these lizards raised poles like flags, displaying the impaled heads of those they had killed. Many of these heads still had traces of flesh and scale sewn upon the bones. Buzzards circled above the enemy, trying to peck bits of meat off these heads.

Many of Uriel's lizards found themselves coiling back with revulsion and fear at the heads. They imagined themselves as the next victims to be impaled upon the poles.

"They have really prepared for this," Uriel quietly remarked. She noticed that they had also brought ladders to scale the walls, and battering rams to break down the gates.

"I sense powerful magic flowing in their veins," Mycelia commented, taking a deep breath and sniffing the air. "It has been quite a while since I witnessed such corruption."

"By the ancestors, what have the Allosaur done?" Ragosh asked, gazing at the field. "Just how many clans have they destroyed and sullied?"

"I myself know not, young Ovoo," Sidra answered, tapping his hook upon the wall. He frowned, as his eyes spotted a particular company of warriors. "However, it appears not even my former clan was spared of their wickedness."

"We will avenge them," Uriel softly assured. "We will free all these warriors from whatever evil magic had fallen upon them."

Suddenly, the opposing army came to an immediate halt. Their drums and chants stopped. One lizard from the army then stepped forward. He appeared no differently from the rest of the army, yet he had a certain trinket that made him stand out: a sapphire embedded on his chest.

"Is that Keshrak?" Uriel asked, squinting at the lizard. "So he too has been corrupted."

"I would honestly be surprised if he wasn't," Jotun snorted, crossing his arms. "The deranged shaman is probably here to demand our surrender."

"No, he isn't," Mycelia replied with a frown. "However, I think I know what's going to happen next."

Keshrak stepped a few steps in front of the army. He then raised his hands to the sky and shouted a single word. Several counts slowly passed. Nothing happened. Was it a fluke, or some sort of means to mock his foes? It was difficult to tell. However, an answer soon came in form of a sound.

Uriel and the others heard it. A descending noise moving with great speed. It grew louder. Uriel's eyes soon turned towards the sky, where she saw a number of black dots. These dots grew larger, as they drew nearer. They left trails of smoke behind, as flames burned around them.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Mycelia warned, raising her staff. "Adepts, grant me your power!"

Mycelia's magically adept Ovoo stepped forward and pointed their staffs at her. Concentrating, they quickly poured out whatever power they could offer into her body.

As soon as the elven sorceress felt the power course through her veins, she lifted her arms up. Almost immediately, a wall of thick earth rose from in front of the city and stopped the burning projectiles. Loud blasts erupted from this wall. Cracks formed, as chunks and pieces crumbled off.

While the wall did manage to defend the city from many of these projectiles, a few flew over this wall of earth. They crashed around city, demolishing buildings and setting small fires about. A number of warriors grabbed buckets of water to extinguish the fires.

Mere moments passed, yet it felt all too long. The spheres of fire stopped descending. Slowly, the wall of earth crumbled completely, allowing Uriel and company to see the land and their enemies again.

"Such dangerous magic," Mycelia hissed, while panting softly. "I cannot believe that shaman is even capable of such a thing."

"Perhaps you ought to show him real magic," Uriel suggested, crossing her arms.

Mycelia's ears twitched with surprise and interest. She turned to the Overlord. Her eyes widened under her visor. "My lady, are you asking me to perform a spell? I thought that-!?"

"I denied the use, for we were fighting to show the Ovoo's strength. However, this situation is different. We are not fighting to boast the Ovoo's capabilities, but to put an end to the monsters at our doorsteps. Right now, I do not see any lizard folk who wish to negotiate; only monsters with the desire to kill."

Mycelia gripped her staff. "Then so be it." The sorceress smiled, as she turned to her adepts once more for power.

Again, they fueled her. Raising her hands to the sky, Mycelia chanted a few words. Clouds gathered and darkened the sky. They spiraled and twisted into a vortex, ultimately blotting the sun. Thunder crashed and echoed behind these clouds.

Without warning, bolts of lightning fell from the sky and crashed erratically across the outskirts. Some bolts just touched the ground, others struck Keshrak's army, zapping and frying a number of his corrupted lizard folk.

Several of Uriel's new lizard folk stepped back and cowered at the magic before them. Their eyes widened, as their jaws fell. Some even dropped their weapons with complete disbelief. They had heard stories about the battle between Uriel and the Allosaur, but they did not believe them entirely. If anything, they assumed them to be mere exaggerations.

It was a brilliant display of power and magic, yet Keshrak did not move an inch. Even when a bolt landed on the patch right in front of him, the shaman remained perfectly still and unhinged.

After the final bolt had struck, Keshrak turned to his forces, who remained as undaunted as he. The shaman then raised his hand for a moment, and then pointed it towards the city.

"Slaughter them all!" Keshrak bellowed.

The horde heeded the command. With vigorous howls, a tongues thirsty for blood, Keshrak's forces raced towards the city walls. They shook the earth with each step, and terrorized the air with their wicked roars.

"It's begun," Uriel muttered, standing back straight.

She inspected her forces once again. Unsurprisingly, those she had been with for long remained firm and vigilant, whilst most of her newer warriors expressed more uncertainty and fear. She did not cast any blame or shame upon them, however. There was nothing wrong with being afraid. As long as that fear did not turn to cowardice.

"Ready the archers," Uriel then told Jotun. "Fire on my signal."

Jotun nodded. The Blood Crow captain raised his arm and signaled both elven and lizard archers to ready their bows. He did not give the command just yet. Jotun watched the enemy draw ever closer, waiting for a good number to step within range. Soon, the chance appeared.

"Release arrows!" Uriel gave the order. Jotun dropped his arm, giving the archers permission to attack.

Fingers let loose. Bowstring twanged, and arrows flew. They soared from the city walls and flew out into the field. A number of them had struck the target, whilst many others missed. Several had landed luckily upon the targets, injuring less vital areas.

Enemy lizards gasped and whelped, as arrows rained down upon their scales, ending their cursed lives almost in an instant. Those who didn't die immediately had the misfortune of getting trampled upon, suffering a slow and agonizing death.

Keshrak's warriors drew nearer and nearer to the city. Soon, they would find shelter from the nearly endless rain of arrows. However, arrows were not the only danger that the Keshrak's warriors needed to be aware of.

Too focused on the arrows and the city, many of Keshrak's warriors failed to realize the traps laid around them. A number stumbled and fell into deep pits and trenches filled with wooden spikes. So easily they fell and crashed, to be riddled with large holes across their bodies.

Uriel watched her enemies' casualties slowly rose. Although many of them had already been killed by the arrows and traps, Uriel herself could not yet smile or breathe with relief. Indeed, many had died, but too many continued to encroach. Keshrak's forces still vastly outnumbered them.

Eventually, the enemy had reached the city. Uriel spotted ladders being raised upon the walls, and heard the battering ram pound against the gates.

"Draw weapons!" Uriel instructed, as she herself held out her mace.

Soon, the first of Keshrak's warriors arrived on top of the wall. With teeth dripping with saliva, and claws as sharp as blades, the warrior lashed out and attacked any foe within its reach.

More of Keshrak's warriors appeared over the ladders. Finally meeting their enemy, Keshrak's warriors attacked and slaughtered. They dipped their weapons and claws with blood, sparing none from their wrath and wickedness.

Terrifying and mighty Keshrak's warriors proved to be. This did not make Uriel relent, however. Taking her mace, she swung her weapon and struck down any foe that dared to stand before her. She broke bones and crushed skulls. Uriel did not hesitate to kill these enemies, for she felt nothing from them.

When gazing at their eyes, she monsters that showed no emotion. These foes had no fear or compassion for their enemies. At the same time, they showed no pleasure, anger, frustration, or any form of feeling that would be found in any living creature. No, Uriel only saw mindless monsters that obeyed and followed whatever command that had been given to them.

Uriel herself did not understand what it felt like to be a complete slave, but she could not imagine it being anything too swell. Enemies these lizards may be, monsters they may have become but even she felt an ounce of pity and sympathy for their states. It would have been better to end their lives, rather than let them continue without any freedom.

"Fight to the bitter end!" Uriel howled. She kicked one foe off the wall, and pushed the ladder down. "They wish to take your lives! Show them the cost of trying to do so!"

As the battle continued to rage, Uriel heard a loud roar, accompanied by a few horrified screams and wails. Turning her attention to one side of the wall, Uriel found a number of foes slowly overwhelming her warriors. More than five had already climbed up the ladder, and a few more began to arrive, and take hold of the position.

"Ragosh, Sidra, the east side is falling!" Uriel hollered, ducking in time to avoid a blow, and retaliating right after. "Leave this area to us! Go and help them!"

Ragosh and Sidra heard the Overlord's words. Neither of them argued or complained. With quick nods, they ran across the wall, towards the area that required aid.

"How are you holding up, whelp?" Sidra asked, as he cut down a foe that had gotten in their path.

Ragosh grumbled a little bit. "I am bruised and tired, but I am alive. So I suppose I am well, for now at least."

"That is good, because it looks like we'll be having a rather difficult foe on our hand."

They reached one side of the wall, where a number of foes had already climbed up. Among the foes stood an Allosaur, large and great. His body decorated with scars, and one eye shut permanently. He carried a massive club with three sharp teeth on the end.

"Chieftain Gargos," Ragosh hissed. He hid behind his shield and readied his sword. "Never thought I'd see the day I fight the Allosaur chieftain."

"I had actually always hoped to fight him," Sidra grunted. A wide smirk crossed his face. "He is one of the mightiest warriors in all the clans, and I have always relished the chance to test my mettle against him."

Ragosh swallowed. He then passed Sidra a glance. "Don't die."

The exile chuckled softly. "I could say the same thing to you."

Together, they leapt forward and attacked. They swung their weapons and lashed out their tails, focusing primarily on their offensive skills. Both Ragosh and Sidra threw everything at the Allosaur chieftain, testing his name and legend, seeing if he truly were a great warrior among warriors.

After delivering a few attacks, Ragosh and Sidra deemed the stories to be true. Their opponent had a large body; a hulking figure that made him a big target for spears and claws. Despite his great size, they could barely land a hit on him. It did not help that he also had some wooden armor to protect him.

His raw strength made him an even fiercer opponent. Every one of his swings would have delivered devastating blows. As primitive as his weapon was, Gargos had enough power in his attacks to even dent metal.

"He is as strong as they say," Ragosh snarled. He inspected his shield and noticed the number of scratches and splinters it had received. It might not even last much longer.

"If these conflicts have taught me anything, it's that even the strongest can fall," Sidra hissed, leaping forward to resume his attack.

Sidra and Ragosh threw everything they had at the chieftain, doing all that they could to keep him pressured and at bay. Together, they proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, they did not have the same level of skill and experience to match the chieftain's.

Ragosh attempted to sneak behind Gargos, but found himself being thrown almost off the edge of the wall. The young Ovoo looked and found his head just hanging on the side. His stomach churned at thought of dropping from such a height.

"Ragosh!" Sidra called out.

Turning his attention away from his enemy briefly proved to be a mistake. Having focused on the young Ovoo, Sidra did not notice Gargos charge towards him. Sidra found himself tackled on the ground, with Gargos' large hand wrapped around his long neck. The chieftain raised his club, ready to deliver the final blow.

Just as Gargos was about to smash Sidra's face in, a blade popped out from his chest. Behind him, Ragosh stood. The Ovoo had plunged his sword into the chieftain's back, and pierced right through his chest.

Gargos gargled blood for a moment. With one measly gasp, the Allosaur chieftain dropped his weapon and crashed on his side. His eyes remained open, as a puddle of blood seeped from his wounds.

"We're not yet done," Ragosh groaned, offering out his hand.

Rather than taking it, Sidra returned to his feet and swung his hook at a foe that had nearly attacked Ragosh from behind.

"No, no we're not," Sidra coughed. "Let us continue."

Sidra raised his hook and attacked the other enemies that climbed up the ladder. With swift swings and movements, the exile slew two more foes.

The entire battle carried on. Uriel's forces continued to defend the walls against the attackers. They swung, struck, clawed and even bit those who dared to climb over the ladders. Volleys of arrows dived down into the fields, piercing anything that stood within line of sight.

Mycelia and her adepts provided support by casting simple spells. They reserved their more powerful magic for Keshrak's own magic. At times, the air would be filled with sparks of various colors and elements. Fire, lightning and even earth clashed just above the battle. It would have been a magnificent spectacle to behold, if not for the fact that so much blood had been spilled.

As the battle progressed, a number of Uriel's warriors found themselves losing the energy and strength to continue fighting. They had already defeated a large portion of the enemy's army, but it didn't change the fact that a few legions still remained.

Despite still having a considerable amount of warriors left to continue the fighting, Keshrak could not help but frown deeply at how much he had lost.