Sandy River DL
(Verified Destroyer Leader)
- Location
- Lake Michigan
- Pronouns
- Her/She
You could call them the 'DFW', or 'dead fools walking'.
Scaling Up
- Thread starter Kryslin
- Start date
Sandy River DL
(Verified Destroyer Leader)
- Location
- Lake Michigan
- Pronouns
- Her/She
The three hundred Leonidas brought did exactly what they set out to do though. They bought time to allow Athens to beat the Persian fleet and evacuate.
- Location
- Sydney
I imagine the rest of the Spartan army is less enthused by this consolation. After all they didn't have a choice to stay and are mostly forgotten about in the retellings of the battle.
Apparently the Spartans always brought along slaves and non-citizens to handle logistics and act as additional soldiers. The wealthy Spartiates (aka Spartan citizens which made up a tiny percentage of the population of Sparta.) were not going to do actual work after all. That was what Helots were for.
Thermopylae doesn't seem to have been any different in that regard for all there left out of the myth of the three hundred. They had no choice in staying yet get ignored because they weren't citizen much like how knights get the reputation and peasant conscripts are ignored in medieval times.
(for more about how the tale of Sparta should really be a tale of the Helot population that made up over 85% of the population see ACOUP.)
Last edited:
Kinsfire
Verified {Redacted}
- Location
- New Jersey
Marvelous line in the Belisarius books where a rather philosophical Persian (I think) refers to the wars and battles of old, where Heroes of Legend fought, and millions of soldiers died. And philosophically comments that not one of the names of any of those millions is recorded anywhere ...
Fall 13
New
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
The encampment under the scrub trees was as extensive as its invading occupants could manage and still be hidden by as much illusion and camouflage as they could maintain. It was laid out in a somewhat chaotic fashion, mainly because of the limited available cover.
In the remains of an only slightly demolished house, a number of the invaders had set up, using the building as a command post. It currently was, as such places tend to be, busy.
"There's some grumbling from the men." The man speaking was dressed in gear that someone from the late medieval period would be familiar with; chain mail and breast plate, open faced helmet, and armed with a sword at his hip, having left his shield at the door.
The man he was speaking to was currently in his gambeson, sitting in a largely intact chair, pondering the map of the area, and his objective. "What of it?"
"They'd like some hot food," the lieutenant stated.
The man in the chair frowned. "The order still stands," he said. "I will not explain it again: Smoke from cooking fires gives away the position of our camp and our numbers. Until I am ready to strike, no fires." The man in the chair fixed his gaze on his lieutenant. There was no emotion in that gaze, just the cool, calculating gaze of a professional soldier.
"As you order, sir," the lieutenant answered after squirming under that gaze. "Punishment for disobeying?"
"Ten lashes for the first offense. Twenty for the second. And death for the third."
"Yes sir," the lieutenant said, bowed, then left.
"My lord, they won't like it," a woman's voice said from an adjoining room.
"I do not care," the man in the chair said, rising and walking over to join the speaker.
In that room was the one thing he truly cared about: Like most dark elves, she was slender, with white hair. Unlike most of her kin, she was actually quite tall. And in his eyes, quite beautiful. She was dressed as she normally did, in a white tunic, gloves, and thigh high boots, with her normal rapier hanging on a peg nearby.
"Milord," she said respectfully, "what is it you want?"
"What I want is to be able to return to my rest," the tall man said as he stepped over to the dark elf. "I cannot do that until the labors lain upon me are complete." He brushed the elf's hair away in a tender gesture.
The woman regarded her lord and commander. He was tall and fit, having been a soldier and knight for most of his life. His long black hair fell straight past his shoulders. His gambeson was dark blue, his breeches and boots as black as night. His sword hung on a peg adjacent to her rapier. "When will this be over?" she asked the knight before her.
"I do not know, Pirotess," he said in a low voice.
They enjoyed the moment of quiet before a loud voice broke it.
"Yo, Ashram! How's it hangin'?" a man's voice asked from the other room.
Ashram the Black Knight shook his head. "Someone has tempted fate," he muttered. "I only allow you to address me in such a manner, Schneider, because I respect your evident power." To Schneider's companion, he bowed slightly. "Lady Arshes, a pleasure to see you again."
"Always the charmer, Sir Knight," the other dark elf replied. She was a tad shorter than Pirotess, but of a far heavier build, having some human blood in her ancestry. Like Pirotess, she was dressed mainly in a white tunic and thigh high boots. Unlike her counterpart, she had hair as black as jet. She had set her sword by the door, a rather substantial looking broadsword compared to the thin rapier that Pirotess used.
"So why are you here?" Pirotess asked as she got some glasses out along with a skin of watered down wine.
"He sent us," Schneider said as he sat down at the table (notably not at the chair Ashram had claimed, showing the swordsman some respect) and placed his feet up on the table. "He felt you could use some magical backup." He accepted the glass of wine from Pirotess. He pointedly kept his hands and leering gaze to himself.
Ashram sat down in his chair. "Did he now? How generous of him." There was a note of sarcasm in the usually calm, nearly emotionless voice. "I wonder why? This world's magic is nearly non-existent."
"Maybe," Schneider answered non-committedly. "But I do know one thing."
"And that is?" Pirotess asked, from where she stood at her lord's left hand.
Schneider gave Ashram a smug smirk. "Inverse is here."
Ashram frowned. "That is… unfortunate, if true. And complicates things immensely."
They were interrupted by one of the lieutenants rushing into the room. "My lords! Begging your pardon for the interruption, but someone from the city is here for a parley!" The man looked like he was afraid for his life.
"Are they now?" Ashram said, an eyebrow arched. "Bring them here, and we shall talk." While he could be deceptive, he paid at least lip service to the general conventions of warfare. It would allow him to acquire useful information through careful questions and reading between the lines. Information that would help him refine his strategies and tactics.
The man bowed. "At once, milord!" He departed with all due haste from the command post to fulfill his orders.
There were two people led into the almost intact house Ashram was using as a command post. One was a short, stocky copper haired human, dressed in copper scale mail. Her tabard was green, liveried with an open white book with one page showing a copper dragon's head.
The other was a bit taller than her companion, with long silvery-white hair and long elven ears. She did not wear any armor, but one could glimpse rings, bracers, and amulets being worn, and the cloak she wore was exceptionally made. Her tabard was green, and bore a gold harp and trumpet.
"Ladies," Ashram said as he stood as his guest arrived. "Be welcome to my table. Please, sit, and we shall discuss matters. No harm shall befall you, despite my cohort's reputation." He gestured to where Schneider sat at the table, a smug leer on his face. "I am Ashram of Marmo, and my companions are Pirotess, Darshu, and Arshes Nei," he said making the introductions. "Might I know whom I am talking to?" He already knew who the redhead was, and suspected someone had left out some critically important information. "Please sit," he gestured to some chairs.
"Hlal Quicksilver," the stocky redhead replied as she took a seat.
"Madelynne Greenleaves," the white haired elf answered, also sitting.
"I will answer your initial question, ladies," Ashram said in a calm voice. "I seek to take the unfortified, ungarrisoned city to the south, find what my master seeks there, raze it to the ground and salt the earth. The usual."
"I can see that our negotiations are at an impasse already," Hlal deadpanned. "Nothing I can do to persuade you otherwise?"
"You could find the item we are seeking and deliver it to me." At his gesture, Pirotess crafted an illusion, showing a golden box, a pane of crystal set into each side. Within, what appeared to be a mummified heart inscribed with runes lay.
Ashram continued in his calm, emotionless voice. "Otherwise kill my army to the last man on the field of battle and save your city." He shrugged. "It matters not to me."
"You overestimate your chances," Madelynne said, watching both of them from where she sat. Hlal's eyes narrowed as she took in the image of what she knew was Falazure's phylactery.
"If you're talking about Lina Inverse being around," Ashram said, his smile urbane and his tone as treacherous as California bedrock, "rumors of her existence are overly exaggerated."
"Dude," Schneider stage whispered to him, "don't be doing that. She might take notice."
"She might not," said a new voice, "but I most certainly did." Out of a tear in space appeared a certain trickster priest, who bowed.
"Oh bloody hell," swore Schneider. "You!"
"Oh yes, Darshu of Metallinika, it is I," Xellos said with a grin that was anything but friendly. "I see you remember our last encounter."
"Hello, Xellos," Hlal said in an offhand manner. "I take it you humiliated him thoroughly?"
"Ah, greetings, Lady Quicksilver," Xellos returned. "And yes, I did."
"Left me unconscious in the middle of a field, stripped naked with my ass up in the air," Schneider muttered. "Gara and Arshes laughed for a week."
"Still funny, dearest," Arshes added from where she stood behind Schneider. "He played you like a master plays a violin."
Ashram cleared his throat. "I take it this is where you tell me that you have a Lina Inverse and you're not afraid to use her?"
"You were doubting she was still alive," Xellos answered. "I am here to provide proof." With a "Yoink!" he reached into a tear in space and pulled out one Lina Inverse.
She was not amused.
Schneider, also known as Dark Schneider and Darshu, summed thing up the best: "Fuck, we're toast."
"Since negotiations are at an impasse," Madelynne said into the quiet, "the next part of this falls to me. Sir Ashram of Marmo, Darshu of Metallinika! I have been empowered by the local government to order you to disperse and return from whence you came. Otherwise, if you assault the city, you will be shown no quarter, and your forces will be considered terrorists and treated as such. You have 48 hours to comply."
"A shame it has come to that," Ashram said, standing. "I shall see you out. Ladies, Xellos…" With that, he rose, bidding his guests to do the same.
Upon his return, he partially rescinded his order against cook fires. The enemy obviously already knew where they were, maybe he could still conceal their numbers and their true strength.
Once outside, the foursome were shown to the road Hlal and Maddie arrived on. "Well. That could have gone better," Lina grumped. "But I guess it's par for the course."
"I agree," Hlal said as she began walking. "Still, it did some good. We know who we'll be fighting, and that they're looking for something, and they plan to destroy the city to do it."
"I suspect that's what Schneider was there for," Madelynne added. "He's pretty good at laying things to waste. He's calmed down quite a bit since the last time I met him."
"But did you need to drag me into this?" Lina asked, whapping Xellos on the back of his head.
"Probably not," Hlal admitted, "but they already knew you were here. I'm sure you noticed their reaction to seeing you. Now, we can call for a ride, or we can just step sideways and walk for a little bit…"
"Walk," the others said almost in unison.
"Console, this is Wards Flight One. We have reached the target area," Vista reported from her position on Naurelin's broad back. They'd finally gotten a riding harness set up so someone could sit in relative comfort and safety while flying dragonback. She had to wear an actual flight helmet, which was cool. For some reason, PR had a branded flight helmet ready for her.
"Wards Flight One, Console copies," came back the reply. "Start the cameras and sensors rolling."
"Affirmative, Console. We've got a good signal and everything's running." She pressed a control on the tablet being held in place in front of her so she could watch as the sensors and cameras being carried on the harness began sending back data.
"No sign of reaction from the ground," Naurelin rumbled. "Looks like everything is working."
"Between your magic and my space warping," Vista answered, "they probably can't see or hear us, but may have other ways of detecting us.
"Coming up on the end of our first pass," Vista instructed. "Come around and make another pass parallel to the first."
"Coming around now," Naurelin warned, and banked into the turn. "Looks like they know we're up here. I see them loading something that looks like an oversized crossbow and elevating it."
"Think your Power can take it?" Vista asked.
"Shouldn't be a problem," Naurelin answered. "Hang tight, things might get a little rough."
"How good are you at bombing, teammate?"
"Pretty good in a dive, not so much from altitude. Why're you asking?"
"Was thinking about you dropping a rock on them from up here."
"One small problem with that," Naurelin stated. "The moment I drop the rock, the invisibility drops too, and we become extremely targetable. Hold up, they've just fired."
Vista watched a large projectile similar to the late, unlamented Shadow Stalker's crossbow bolts, except sized up about ten times, get launched in their direction. It was coming up to their altitude, then suddenly slowed and fell back to earth.
"That's gonna hit someone," Vista warned.
"It looks like it is going to land to the north of the encampment," Armsmaster cut in over the radio. "Report back to The Rig, we have the intelligence we need."
"Wards Flight One copies, RTB," Vista radioed back. "Engaging Vista express at your command, Naurelin."
"Make it so, Mr. Vista," Naurelin said, chuckling.
They both were laughing as they were suddenly over the bay, and Naurelin began maneuvering for a landing on The Rig.
Back in the camp, Ashram considered what had just happened. He did not fear dragons – he had slain two in his previous quests, after all – but he was wary of them.
He pondered what he had learned, and summoned his captains so they could formulate new strategies and tactics as they prepared to assault the city.
In the remains of an only slightly demolished house, a number of the invaders had set up, using the building as a command post. It currently was, as such places tend to be, busy.
"There's some grumbling from the men." The man speaking was dressed in gear that someone from the late medieval period would be familiar with; chain mail and breast plate, open faced helmet, and armed with a sword at his hip, having left his shield at the door.
The man he was speaking to was currently in his gambeson, sitting in a largely intact chair, pondering the map of the area, and his objective. "What of it?"
"They'd like some hot food," the lieutenant stated.
The man in the chair frowned. "The order still stands," he said. "I will not explain it again: Smoke from cooking fires gives away the position of our camp and our numbers. Until I am ready to strike, no fires." The man in the chair fixed his gaze on his lieutenant. There was no emotion in that gaze, just the cool, calculating gaze of a professional soldier.
"As you order, sir," the lieutenant answered after squirming under that gaze. "Punishment for disobeying?"
"Ten lashes for the first offense. Twenty for the second. And death for the third."
"Yes sir," the lieutenant said, bowed, then left.
"My lord, they won't like it," a woman's voice said from an adjoining room.
"I do not care," the man in the chair said, rising and walking over to join the speaker.
In that room was the one thing he truly cared about: Like most dark elves, she was slender, with white hair. Unlike most of her kin, she was actually quite tall. And in his eyes, quite beautiful. She was dressed as she normally did, in a white tunic, gloves, and thigh high boots, with her normal rapier hanging on a peg nearby.
"Milord," she said respectfully, "what is it you want?"
"What I want is to be able to return to my rest," the tall man said as he stepped over to the dark elf. "I cannot do that until the labors lain upon me are complete." He brushed the elf's hair away in a tender gesture.
The woman regarded her lord and commander. He was tall and fit, having been a soldier and knight for most of his life. His long black hair fell straight past his shoulders. His gambeson was dark blue, his breeches and boots as black as night. His sword hung on a peg adjacent to her rapier. "When will this be over?" she asked the knight before her.
"I do not know, Pirotess," he said in a low voice.
They enjoyed the moment of quiet before a loud voice broke it.
"Yo, Ashram! How's it hangin'?" a man's voice asked from the other room.
Ashram the Black Knight shook his head. "Someone has tempted fate," he muttered. "I only allow you to address me in such a manner, Schneider, because I respect your evident power." To Schneider's companion, he bowed slightly. "Lady Arshes, a pleasure to see you again."
"Always the charmer, Sir Knight," the other dark elf replied. She was a tad shorter than Pirotess, but of a far heavier build, having some human blood in her ancestry. Like Pirotess, she was dressed mainly in a white tunic and thigh high boots. Unlike her counterpart, she had hair as black as jet. She had set her sword by the door, a rather substantial looking broadsword compared to the thin rapier that Pirotess used.
"So why are you here?" Pirotess asked as she got some glasses out along with a skin of watered down wine.
"He sent us," Schneider said as he sat down at the table (notably not at the chair Ashram had claimed, showing the swordsman some respect) and placed his feet up on the table. "He felt you could use some magical backup." He accepted the glass of wine from Pirotess. He pointedly kept his hands and leering gaze to himself.
Ashram sat down in his chair. "Did he now? How generous of him." There was a note of sarcasm in the usually calm, nearly emotionless voice. "I wonder why? This world's magic is nearly non-existent."
"Maybe," Schneider answered non-committedly. "But I do know one thing."
"And that is?" Pirotess asked, from where she stood at her lord's left hand.
Schneider gave Ashram a smug smirk. "Inverse is here."
Ashram frowned. "That is… unfortunate, if true. And complicates things immensely."
They were interrupted by one of the lieutenants rushing into the room. "My lords! Begging your pardon for the interruption, but someone from the city is here for a parley!" The man looked like he was afraid for his life.
"Are they now?" Ashram said, an eyebrow arched. "Bring them here, and we shall talk." While he could be deceptive, he paid at least lip service to the general conventions of warfare. It would allow him to acquire useful information through careful questions and reading between the lines. Information that would help him refine his strategies and tactics.
The man bowed. "At once, milord!" He departed with all due haste from the command post to fulfill his orders.
- - - - - - - - - -
There were two people led into the almost intact house Ashram was using as a command post. One was a short, stocky copper haired human, dressed in copper scale mail. Her tabard was green, liveried with an open white book with one page showing a copper dragon's head.
The other was a bit taller than her companion, with long silvery-white hair and long elven ears. She did not wear any armor, but one could glimpse rings, bracers, and amulets being worn, and the cloak she wore was exceptionally made. Her tabard was green, and bore a gold harp and trumpet.
"Ladies," Ashram said as he stood as his guest arrived. "Be welcome to my table. Please, sit, and we shall discuss matters. No harm shall befall you, despite my cohort's reputation." He gestured to where Schneider sat at the table, a smug leer on his face. "I am Ashram of Marmo, and my companions are Pirotess, Darshu, and Arshes Nei," he said making the introductions. "Might I know whom I am talking to?" He already knew who the redhead was, and suspected someone had left out some critically important information. "Please sit," he gestured to some chairs.
"Hlal Quicksilver," the stocky redhead replied as she took a seat.
"Madelynne Greenleaves," the white haired elf answered, also sitting.
"I will answer your initial question, ladies," Ashram said in a calm voice. "I seek to take the unfortified, ungarrisoned city to the south, find what my master seeks there, raze it to the ground and salt the earth. The usual."
"I can see that our negotiations are at an impasse already," Hlal deadpanned. "Nothing I can do to persuade you otherwise?"
"You could find the item we are seeking and deliver it to me." At his gesture, Pirotess crafted an illusion, showing a golden box, a pane of crystal set into each side. Within, what appeared to be a mummified heart inscribed with runes lay.
Ashram continued in his calm, emotionless voice. "Otherwise kill my army to the last man on the field of battle and save your city." He shrugged. "It matters not to me."
"You overestimate your chances," Madelynne said, watching both of them from where she sat. Hlal's eyes narrowed as she took in the image of what she knew was Falazure's phylactery.
"If you're talking about Lina Inverse being around," Ashram said, his smile urbane and his tone as treacherous as California bedrock, "rumors of her existence are overly exaggerated."
"Dude," Schneider stage whispered to him, "don't be doing that. She might take notice."
"She might not," said a new voice, "but I most certainly did." Out of a tear in space appeared a certain trickster priest, who bowed.
"Oh bloody hell," swore Schneider. "You!"
"Oh yes, Darshu of Metallinika, it is I," Xellos said with a grin that was anything but friendly. "I see you remember our last encounter."
"Hello, Xellos," Hlal said in an offhand manner. "I take it you humiliated him thoroughly?"
"Ah, greetings, Lady Quicksilver," Xellos returned. "And yes, I did."
"Left me unconscious in the middle of a field, stripped naked with my ass up in the air," Schneider muttered. "Gara and Arshes laughed for a week."
"Still funny, dearest," Arshes added from where she stood behind Schneider. "He played you like a master plays a violin."
Ashram cleared his throat. "I take it this is where you tell me that you have a Lina Inverse and you're not afraid to use her?"
"You were doubting she was still alive," Xellos answered. "I am here to provide proof." With a "Yoink!" he reached into a tear in space and pulled out one Lina Inverse.
She was not amused.
Schneider, also known as Dark Schneider and Darshu, summed thing up the best: "Fuck, we're toast."
"Since negotiations are at an impasse," Madelynne said into the quiet, "the next part of this falls to me. Sir Ashram of Marmo, Darshu of Metallinika! I have been empowered by the local government to order you to disperse and return from whence you came. Otherwise, if you assault the city, you will be shown no quarter, and your forces will be considered terrorists and treated as such. You have 48 hours to comply."
"A shame it has come to that," Ashram said, standing. "I shall see you out. Ladies, Xellos…" With that, he rose, bidding his guests to do the same.
Upon his return, he partially rescinded his order against cook fires. The enemy obviously already knew where they were, maybe he could still conceal their numbers and their true strength.
- - - - - - - - - -
Once outside, the foursome were shown to the road Hlal and Maddie arrived on. "Well. That could have gone better," Lina grumped. "But I guess it's par for the course."
"I agree," Hlal said as she began walking. "Still, it did some good. We know who we'll be fighting, and that they're looking for something, and they plan to destroy the city to do it."
"I suspect that's what Schneider was there for," Madelynne added. "He's pretty good at laying things to waste. He's calmed down quite a bit since the last time I met him."
"But did you need to drag me into this?" Lina asked, whapping Xellos on the back of his head.
"Probably not," Hlal admitted, "but they already knew you were here. I'm sure you noticed their reaction to seeing you. Now, we can call for a ride, or we can just step sideways and walk for a little bit…"
"Walk," the others said almost in unison.
= = = = = = = = = =
"Console, this is Wards Flight One. We have reached the target area," Vista reported from her position on Naurelin's broad back. They'd finally gotten a riding harness set up so someone could sit in relative comfort and safety while flying dragonback. She had to wear an actual flight helmet, which was cool. For some reason, PR had a branded flight helmet ready for her.
"Wards Flight One, Console copies," came back the reply. "Start the cameras and sensors rolling."
"Affirmative, Console. We've got a good signal and everything's running." She pressed a control on the tablet being held in place in front of her so she could watch as the sensors and cameras being carried on the harness began sending back data.
"No sign of reaction from the ground," Naurelin rumbled. "Looks like everything is working."
"Between your magic and my space warping," Vista answered, "they probably can't see or hear us, but may have other ways of detecting us.
"Coming up on the end of our first pass," Vista instructed. "Come around and make another pass parallel to the first."
"Coming around now," Naurelin warned, and banked into the turn. "Looks like they know we're up here. I see them loading something that looks like an oversized crossbow and elevating it."
"Think your Power can take it?" Vista asked.
"Shouldn't be a problem," Naurelin answered. "Hang tight, things might get a little rough."
"How good are you at bombing, teammate?"
"Pretty good in a dive, not so much from altitude. Why're you asking?"
"Was thinking about you dropping a rock on them from up here."
"One small problem with that," Naurelin stated. "The moment I drop the rock, the invisibility drops too, and we become extremely targetable. Hold up, they've just fired."
Vista watched a large projectile similar to the late, unlamented Shadow Stalker's crossbow bolts, except sized up about ten times, get launched in their direction. It was coming up to their altitude, then suddenly slowed and fell back to earth.
"That's gonna hit someone," Vista warned.
"It looks like it is going to land to the north of the encampment," Armsmaster cut in over the radio. "Report back to The Rig, we have the intelligence we need."
"Wards Flight One copies, RTB," Vista radioed back. "Engaging Vista express at your command, Naurelin."
"Make it so, Mr. Vista," Naurelin said, chuckling.
They both were laughing as they were suddenly over the bay, and Naurelin began maneuvering for a landing on The Rig.
- - - - - - - - - -
Back in the camp, Ashram considered what had just happened. He did not fear dragons – he had slain two in his previous quests, after all – but he was wary of them.
He pondered what he had learned, and summoned his captains so they could formulate new strategies and tactics as they prepared to assault the city.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Ah, the plethora of villainous Xanitos Gambits are all primed to pile up. How delightful.
Good god, Ashram and company are gonna be SO pissed when they find out how blindsided they've been by the withholding of vital intelligence when they were given this task!
- Location
- Scotland
I've got to wonder how they'd react to the knowlege of the sheer scope and breadth of forces arrayed against them. Let's see, there's Lina, her sister Luna, the entirety of Lina's old adventuring party, Lina's old frenemy Naga, SEVERAL Dragons, number varying depending on whether the Dragon Gods decide to become PERSONALLY involved or not (which I suspect not as the other forces are more than enough for them to decide simply to watch the show with copious amounts of pocorn), the PRT (including Miss Militia our lady of all the guns), whatever military units decide to show up and finally, all the other assorted Mythicals including the ever infamous Tucker's Kobolds.
Yeah, Ashram and crew are so utterly screwed it's hilarious.
Yeah, Ashram and crew are so utterly screwed it's hilarious.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Don't forget the gith are also on their way, and the other various Xanitos Gambits all piling up at once.
I suspect David Xanatos would look at this gong show, and start screaming angrily at people using his name for anything involved with it.
Eh, if DS pulls out his dragon knight armor, might get interesting.
- Location
- Somewhere
Well now, I didn't expect Record of Lodoss War to be introduced. But then, it was a Tabletop Campaign done by its creator via D&D's distant era of First Edition turning into a Light Novel series and anime. Not to mention being a setting that represents what DMs wish their campaigns were like, rather than how they tend to turn out. I also saw Bastard! introduced in with this chapter as well.
Really bringing out the classics, aren't you Kryslin?
Making me feel old here with me not only getting those references but also remembering the distant and legendary days when anime was a new, mysterious, and growing thing here in the US. And I am only in my early forties.
We're talking about Ashram and Dark Schneider here, that wouldn't stop them. I remember the series they come from, and know what they have on their lists of accomplishments.
Really bringing out the classics, aren't you Kryslin?
Making me feel old here with me not only getting those references but also remembering the distant and legendary days when anime was a new, mysterious, and growing thing here in the US. And I am only in my early forties.
We're talking about Ashram and Dark Schneider here, that wouldn't stop them. I remember the series they come from, and know what they have on their lists of accomplishments.
- Location
- Russia
Not knowing the slightest thing about them, I do like that Ashram and co aren't particularly arrogant and stupid, just uninformed and and clearly employed by the wrong party.
The fact he's actually trying to plan with what he finds out instead of trying to barrel in guns blazing is honestly impressive.
The fact he's actually trying to plan with what he finds out instead of trying to barrel in guns blazing is honestly impressive.
🤨 Wait, a Dark Elf named Pirotess? which would indicate the guy is...
Yup. I think I still have a copy of Record of Lodoss War laying around in storage (on VHS)
I'm aware of Dark Schneider though I never watched that particular anime
*old man voice* Don't talk to me about feeling old, you whippersnapper! *end Old Man voice*
I hit 50 last year.The worst part is that what they are looking for isn't on this plane. Even if they were able to raze the city they still wouldn't find it. Unfortunately Ashram is very honourable. He will carry thru his mission or die trying. Scaring him off isn't going to happen.
they recognised the National Guard weapons as firearms, but compared them to gnomish/dwarven weaponry. They likely are assuming they are more like muskets. The rate of fire and ammo capacity is going to be a nasty surprise.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Yeah, there's a massive difference between a flintlock rifle and a modern assault rifle. Similarly, there's a massive difference between an alchemist's bombs and an RPG, frag grenade, or any other high explosive a modern military might use. And any assumption of what they're dealing with when it comes to Taylor based on "is a dragon" is missing some Critical Need To Know Information. Such as the fact Taylor pulled almost all energy out of an exotic effect grenade, to the point she nearly risked learning what happens if ALL energy is removed from an object.
M. H. Fuzzball
Aperture Science-certified Horrible Person
- Location
- Sector 2814
I imagine one A-10 with as many Rockeyes as will fit under its wings would ruin that army's entire day. And if their anti-air capability is limited to ballistas, they're not going to be able to hit it before it drops that bad day on them.
Bring a jeep with a mounted chaingun, and plenty of ammo. Cut apart a goodly chunk of the building they're using, politely wait for the collective brown pants moment, followed by a hasty surrender. Quietly allow them to leave, defeated, without any loss of life. Add to that, displays of various parahuman abilities, and this crew is going to want a piece of Falazure for leaving out rather critical bits of info.
A change of topic. Does anyone have any idea how tough Falazure's phylactory is? We know it survived the dropping of Falazure's lair into Carceri, and the fact the Lady didn't outright destroy it when it showed up to her must mean it's bloody hard to destroy.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
More she didn't want to deal with it I suppose. She just sent it to a pocket dimension for keeping. I do wonder if Hlall will tell them that it's not there as to avoid unnecessary deaths. Because otherwise a large group of actually rather reasonable mercs are going to die pretty horribly, magic or no magic. Also I imagine that the dragons Ashram faced weren't on the same level as the Dragons that call this city home.