• Closed • Vigil (Seasonal Event Vhalar)

[Pegasus]

Vigil
95th Vhalar, 717

It had been happening for a number of seasons now. Increasing attacks from bandits, people going missing, that sort of thing. Some brave souls had tried to find out what was happening but it had been, fundamentally, too little. Which meant that they were now in the situation they were.

On the night of the 80th Vhalar, there had been attacks up and down the city. Shops and business, inns and taverns, anywhere that made money was targeted and attacked. The groups who did this were well organised, efficient and skilled. Many businesses had suffered, vandalism, looting and attacks on employees. In the trials since then, there was a feeling of being very twitchy, of not trusting the Lightning Knights to protect the people. Yet, it had been over a ten-trial now and things seemed better.

Until the night of the 95th.

That night, as the sun lowered over the horizon, it started again. It was just like the last time, raids on businesses. Quick, efficient and very, very effective. That was the order of the trial and, more than that, businesses which had not been hit the time before were targeted now. Whoever was doing this were skilled, well armed and motivated.

As before, the raids happened simultaneously across the city. As it happened, in this moment, a group of individuals were in the Glass Quarter. Maybe they were going to see what the situation was, as the screams and shouts happened all across Rharne. Perhaps, rather than that, they were chasing away someone who had attacked them or theirs, or even pursuing a bandit with the aims of bringing them to justice. It was possible that they were trying to join up, to take advantage of the situation to do some looting of their own.

Either way, they converged in a small square, more of a crossroads than anything else, but they arrived there. There, they had a pretty good view over the city and so could see the black smoke trailing up to the sky as the first of the buildings were burning. Glass, Earth, even Dust quarter, they all were hit. The sounds of the city had changed to fear and rage.

There was a Knight, one of the Lightning Knights, running towards them. He moved past them, but as he did he shouted. "All able bodies! Help if you can!" But then, there was always the other option. There was almost certainly profit to be made, after all, in this level of strife.

What would they do?

Off Topic

Heya!

So - this is your "set the scene" post. Let me know how you're armed / equipped etc - and what you're going to do.
Just one post between mine, please.
I'll post again on the 26th October

[Lena]

Suddenly, the bell of the Cathedral tolled.

Lena jumped up suddenly, sending her book scattering, but she gave it no second thought. She snatched her satchel up as she ran, her hair flying, and out into the corridor. Outside, everyone was running in different directions, weapons being snatched, prayers being mattered. "What's happening?" Lena asked urgently, her hand stopping a passing Cleric on the shoulder. "Attacks across the city," the other Noviciate said, her voice breathless. "We're all being called to assist."

Lena didn't hesitate. She took off running through the hallways of the cathedral, until quickly, she was outside. The sight brought her breath away. Plumes of smoke rose all over the city, and it stopped her heart, but she could not stop the twinge of resentment. Well, mother, she thought, scowling. Are you to encourage the brawlers this time?

A call from her High Priestess roused her from her jealous thoughts. "We need Healers in the Glass Quarter - now!" called Amara. Lena quickly ran to her Priestess, and followed the woman down through the streets to the quarter. Her heart dropped with each step, as she saw the destruction of local businesses, of homes, of civilians hurrying away with scared faces.

But Lena was not afraid. She was determined.

As they reached close to the centre of the action, she spotted a young woman lying against her doorway. Quickly, Lena ran over to her. "What is it?" she asked urgently, scanning the body for injuries, but she couldn't see any. "My gut..." huffed the woman. Clearly speaking was painful. Lena ran her hand over the belly of the woman, noting the cringe as she ran over the ribs.

"Broken rib," she muttered, before pulling up the woman's shirt. She gasped as she saw the bruise already blossoming, purpling against the skin. "Were you kicked?" she asked, and the young woman nodded pitifully. Lena looked up, saw a passing Knight, and stopped him.

"Help! We need to get this woman to the Cathedral. She could be bleeding internally, and we can't stop it here," she whispered, not wanting the woman frightened. The Knight nodded grimly, and bent to the woman, scooping her fragile frame up and speeding away from the violence.

Lena stood grimly, and observed the chaos descending on the Quarter. How many others would need help before the Trial was out? Countless, she thought bitterly, and hurried further in to do her work. She could look after herself. She knew how to fight. The civilians, however, did not.

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

Once the shouting began and the first fires flared up on the outskirts of the Glass Quarter, business as usual inside the Lady Libertine became anything but. Her usual patrons, wealthy and or powerful alike were hustled out the doors, some of them having been dragged out of someone else's bed first, and sent home to their wives. Theo had no intention of joining the others outdoors in the fight. There was plenty to defend, right there at his own place of business. But in order to do it properly, he'd need to be well equipped and most of his weapons were at home in his rented bungalow, a block or two away.

But before he dashed out the doors, he made sure that Clayton and his girls would be able to fend for themselves until he got back. They were armed, all of them, in one way or another. Clayton, more conventionally. But the girls? Kitchen knives, a single pistol crossbow among them, hammers from the storeroom...even a cast iron skillet or two. Theo had told them, fill buckets of water and soak the lawn, throw water on the exterior walls and what they could reach of the roof. But if need be, get out and leave it. Not without a fight, he suspected. What some of them lacked in fighting skills they made up for in temper and scrap.

Theo had avoided the knights on his way home by ducking through alleys and backstreets. He'd made quick work of getting into leather armor, and equipping himself with his sword, pistol crossbow, a dagger and a set of throwing knives. It was on his way back to the Lady Libertine, where he'd run into trouble. He'd decided for the sake of haste, to take the most direct route. He spat out a few select curses then when he found himself cut off by a crowd of citizens and knights, busy trying to organize themselves and calling on all able bodies to join in the fight. It was too late to turn around, and duck around, without being seen by the knights or other locals in the Glass Quarter who'd recognize him as the owner of the Lady Libertine.

"Aelig's nuts," Theo hissed under his breath. He had his own investment to protect. On the the other hand, to be seen and fail to volunteer wasn't conducive to building a reputation for good stewardship, community concern, concern for his fellow Rharnians...and all of that altruistic rubbish. But then the perfect compromise struck him. Quickly, his expression one of genuine, or at least believable concern, he approached one of the Lightening Knights who he recognized as being a regular at the Lady Libertine. The man would probably recognize him too.

"If the location can be defended, I'd like to volunteer the Lady Libertine to accommodate the wounded or displaced, and as a base of operations," he said. "There are plenty of beds and other materials, and I'm sure my staff will be happy to help with those who need it." Some of them probably wouldn't be thrilled, Theo knew. His girls were happier in silks and lace, with entertaining, than anything that might get their hands dirty. But they'd rise to the occasion he was sure. Besides, the temple as a place for the wounded was more distant than the Lady, and by the looks of things, it might quickly become overwhelmed if it wasn't already.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian let out a long, slow sigh as she stepped into her house. It had been a long day, and not a good one. She had been trying to find any hint to those responsible for the attacks on the 80th, but it was almost as if the vandals had vanished into the woodwork. She was beginning to think they had escaped the city completely unscathed. As she thought, she pulled out the flask she had received from Ilaren. There hadn't been any word since then, but she was patient regarding the matter. She had enough to keep her busy these days as it was. Besides, "soon" for an Immortal was likely to be very different than "soon" for a Mortal.

Setting the flask down the table, Vivian started to unbuckle her sword belt. Then the sounds of trouble started up, screaming, cries for help. "Not again!" she snarled, refastening her belt before she left her house. The girls were up at the cathedral that night, so they were safe. The people of Rharne on the other hand, were not so lucky. She ran towards a square, hoping to get a view of what was going on. On the way, she came across someone trying to break into a bakery. Growling, Vivian drew her rapier and approached the man. "Freeze." she snapped raising the sword. The thief turned and growled at her, drawing a dagger. Then he saw the sword, the shield, and the armor. After a short pause, he dropped the dagger and raised his hands. "You're coming with me." she said, her tone cold.

The thief glared daggers at her, but she motioned him ahead of her and he went without protest. Jail was preferable to death, it seemed. Her prisoner in front of her, Vivian steered him to a square where one of the senior knights was apparently taking command. She turned her prisoner over to some squires in the area who bound his hands and led him away towards the cells. Vivian herself turned to the other knight and saluted. "Vivian Shiryu reporting in." she said, before looking out over the city. So many people, so many of them under attack. "Where's the priority, sir?" she asked, her tone one of barely contained rage. These bandits would pay for this, one way or another.

[Pegasus]

Vigil
95th Vhalar, 717

As it transpired, luck (or a lack thereof) was with them that night. Three of them converged on a spot and, in doing so, set in motion a series of events which would have ripples and effects in the moments, trials and even seasons to come. Lena had been spotted by the Lightening Knight ostensibly in charge of whatever was happening here, or at the very least the highest ranking one. He called her over, once he'd heard what Theo said.

"Much appreciated, sir, thank you." He was a fairly typical Rharnian, and he most certainly was not concerned about using a brothel as a medical center. "Ah, Priestess. This is Theo, he runs the Lady Libertine - and he's offered it as a place to take the wounded," he said, with a motion to the man. Unfortunately, the Knight didn't know Lena's name, although he recognised that he'd seen her around the Cathedral. He was looking between the two of them and considering that they would need some kind of security with them. He turned at the sound of another voice and he smiled at Vivian.

Decision made, he gave a prayer to Ilaren that this three could manage what he knew was going to be a big job.

"Excellent. You're assigned to these two. Theo's business is going to be used as a medical center." As a number of cries came from towards the edge of the Glass Quarter, flamed licked into the air in that direction. "And I think it's going to be busy. Work together." He glanced around them once more and then with a nod, he left to go and start passing word that the Lady Libertine was the new medical center.

On the way there, they had a few moments to introduce themselves to each other, should they choose to, but the new medical facility previously whore house was in front of them quickly. It was a well appointed place with a large reception area. There were low and comfortable couches, armchairs, a fully stocked bar. Then, there were a number of bedrooms.

They had moments, literally no more than five or ten bits, before injured started being brought in. Burns were common, knife wounds too. Bruises, broken bones, concussion and some of the worst beatings that any of them had seen. There were also those who were injured in rescue efforts, either when fighting or in a few cases when buildings, or parts of them, had collapsed.

In effect, it was chaos. That, in and of itself, was bad. However, after the injured began pouring in, they had little time to do anything except react. The place was soon overwhelmed and they would be faced with having to make tough decisions. What did they do with the dead, what about those who they could not help? The bandits made no distinction between men, women and children, and they all got brought in by grim faced Lightening Knights. Theo might have worried about the reactions of his prostitutes, but they got on with it. Many of them had at least some medical knowledge and so they worked.

Time passed; how much wasn't clear but they had more people than they could deal with, less healers than they needed and people would die because of it. The reception area was a treatment / triage area, the injured who could be taken to beds had been. Yet more kept coming in. Then, from the front there was a call.

"ATTACK!"

Off Topic

In your next post please let me know what you're doing before the injured arrive and after they start arriving. Feel free to assume generic npcs etc.
In terms of the call of attack - please just let me know what you do in the immediate ten seconds after you realise that the front of the building is being attacked.
I'll post again on the 31st October or sooner if you all post.
PM me with any questions - no posting order, but just one post between mine, please. Thanks!

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

It might well have been bad luck that caused Theo to be cut off from his place of business, that had put him in the position of having to pursue an agenda other than his own more immediate one. But he also knew that luck was a fickle lady, she often turned on a whim, and there was often something to be salvaged out of poor luck as well. In this case, offering his place of business as a healing station not only cast him in a favorable light due to his apparent generosity and civic mindedness. It also insured that the Lady Libertine would receive more of the Knights' attention, while other places of business would be abandoned and left to burn or be looted without much defense.

"It's the least I can do," he said, smiling when the Knight accepted his offer and thanked him. Theo already knew that this night would cause the Lady to take a financial beating. Stained carpets, ruined bed sheets, depleted supplies. But if the building was saved, it was well worth it. Besides, what was lost in material goods potentially could be made up, in spades, in respect and reputation. "A pleasure," he said to the priestess when the knight introduced him. "I hope that my establishment and my employees' help will be of some use to you and the wounded."

There was a woman among the knights? Theo hadn't realized, but he smiled and nodded a greeting when Vivian joined them. "I'm Theo Nji'Ryn," he said. "The Lady Libertine isn't far. Just this way," he added and then led the way. Clayton, the barkeep and handler would have barred the door in his absence, but it would swing open in response to a few short wraps from Theo's knuckles. He took a bit or two to speak with Clayton and the girls, who were in various states of undress, and suffice to say that the women weren't exactly enthusiastic about their intended roles that night. But they were nothing if not adaptable on the quick. Some of them might not like it, one or two might even be vocal in that regard. But they'd do asked.

As for himself and Clayton, once the wounded began to arrive they'd step in and help with the heavy lifting and whatever else required a strong back. "There's plenty of clean linens in the hall closet upstairs. Sheets, towels, soap and so on," he told Lena. "Whatever might be needed from the bar, just ask Clayton and he'll see that you have it." A costly night, that's what it would be. But all of it seemed to be offered in the spirit of cost was no matter all. The wounded and dying passed through the doors so quickly that he hardly had time to think of it, after all.

It was the call of attack, outdoors however that grabbed his attention and shifted it elsewhere. He dropped what he was doing, called out to the girls and Clayton to look smart, arm themselves. Then drawing his pistol crossbow, Theo made his way to one of the windows looking out to the street. Positioning himself to the side of it, he pushed the curtain aside just a little, to have a look outside.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian nodded and saluted the more experienced knight. "Yes, sir!" she said, falling in with Lena and Theo. Once they were dismissed, the turned to the others. "My name is Vivian Shiryu. Looks like I'll be your guard for the night." she said, smiling and feigning a confidence she didn't feel. She followed the pair back to Theo's business, which turned out to be a brothel. While Vivian personally disapproved of such things, she was well aware it was a perfectly legitimate business and many people enjoyed the work, so she kept her mouth shut. It helped that the employees were, if not happy, willing to help out as best they could.

Once it became apparent to the people and defenders of Rharne that they were acting as a field hospital of sorts, Vivian spent most of her time outside the building itself, acting as a sort of forward triage. The dead did not make it into the building. Her medical skills may be rudimentary, but dead bodies being in the same place as the wounded and the doctors would help no one. She directed that the dead be laid in neat and orderly rows, but that was all she could for them tonight. For the obviously dying, she had them set outside as well, with some of the citizens who had come with wounded they could still help to sit with them and provide what comfort could be given in their final moments.

If she had a moment, she helped Theo and Clayton with more physically intensive tasks, but for the most part, she acted to prevent both their impromptu medical workers and their medical supplies from being wasted on those they clearly couldn't help. It broke her heart to tell a crying citizen that they couldn't help their friends or family, but it had to be done. Each time, underneath her sorrow, her anger grew. Murderers and thieves, the lot of them. She'd see them all in the grave for causing such grief.

When the attack came, it was almost welcome. She drew her rapier and gripped her shield firmly. "Anyone who can fight, then be ready!" she called, her voice ringing with conviction. As for Vivian herself, she moved to meet the attack head on. Her armor, shield, and skills served her best at the front lines of a battle. But underneath her apparent bravery, there was something else. She had failed so many people since she had first joined the Rynmere military. Her family, her friends, her Queen, all hurt because she had failed. She had to prove to herself that she was more than a failure, that she could actually help people. Her jump into the fray was almost reckless, though she did her best to make sure she didn't leave an opening in her eagerness.

[Lena]

Lena felt her stomach sinking as she heard cries and crashes coming all around her. She was just wondering where to go, what to do - where she would be of the most assistance - when a Knight called her over. Instinct took over, and she hurried over to him. "Ser," she said, nodding her head, before listening to what he had to say. Her lips twisted - she knew of the Lady Libertine, and could not say that she approved, but she had no time to dwell. She could only help.

"My pleasure. Thank you for offering your business in this time," she said softly, but there was an edge to her voice. She was stressed, going into a place she did not approve of, where she would be the only healer - as far as she knew. She had no time for pleasantries. She nodded to Vivian as she approached - the female Knight was known to her, or at least rumours were. "I am Lena A'stril, Healer Noviciate of the Thunder Priestesses," she said quietly as they hurried along to Theo's business. Besides that, she did not speak much - she was stressed and worried about what was to come.

Lena barely noticed the women in their scantily clad dress as she walked into the brothel. Here, she meant business. She turned around to command Vivian, but saw that the woman remained outside, patrolling with a ramrod back. Very well. It would be her on her own. "Bring all the linens and towels that you have downstairs," she commanded Theo, no deference in her tone. This was her arena. "All soap, and anything that could be used for tourniquets - kitchen spoons, whips, canes, whatever. I don't care. As long as it is strong and sturdy."

When Theo and his manservant had done so, Lena turned to observe the wounded. She bit her lip. It was just her, and she could not save them all. She did not have the knowledge to bring people back from the brink of death - she could only help minor wounds. Closing her eyes, she muttered a brief prayer for strength before she turned to her first patient.

A young girl, perhaps fourteen arcs, cradled a quickly bruising arm, blossoming black. Tears stained her cheeks, and she was biting her lip, looking around frantically. Lena came beside her and looked at her carefully. "Hello. I am Lena. What's your name?" The girl blinked before stuttering out, "Aria." "Well, Aria, can I please have a look at your arm?" Aria nodded tearfully. As soon as Lena touched it, she let out a cry of pain. Softly prodding the skin, she could feel it was broken. "It's okay, Aria. It's broken, and I'm sure it hurts. I'm going to strap it up and then sling it. It'll hurt while I move it, so can you be a brave girl for me, please?" Aria nodded tearfully. Smiling gently, Lena grabbed some of the bandages Clayton had brought, as well as a wooden ruler. Gently, Lena placed the ruler on the underside of the broken arm, earning a hiss from the girl. She quickly but smoothly wrapped the bandages around the ruler, before she fashioned a sling from a torn piece of bandage. When she was done, Aria had a make shift bandage.

"There. That'll do for now. I have to help the next one, Aria, but will you be okay?" The girl's lip wobbled, but before Lena could leave, she grabbed Lena's hand and burst out, "do you know where my mum is?" Lena's heart sunk. "I don't, Aria, I'm sorry. But I promise I'll do my best to find her. Okay?" Before Aria could respond, the call came from outside. Her heart stuttered. "Stay here, Aria. It's okay."

She darted over to the window, by Theo. "What's going on? I need more healers, and we can't leave the wounded open to an attack," she hissed.

[Vincent D'Ordyn]

Timestamp:
Location: Somewhere in the Glass Quarter

Vincent's mood was dark, as the skies above thickened with the smoke that rose for too many fires. The city had just quieted from the last attack only trials before, and now it was once again in a panic as buildings were raided and looted, people were robbed, and homes were burned. It also happened on the first day Vincent had had off in a while. He and his company had arrived too late to stop the first attack, and after helping salve the wounds that the city and her people had taken had been granted a trial to rest before having to return to his duties as a Lightning Knight.

Sadly the day that had started so brightly, had turned sour so quickly. Walking through the streets Vincent's bad mood was evident in both his gait and his glower. Vincent had already encountered a small number of the bandits as he made his way through the streets of the Glass Quarter on his way back to his home in hopes of retrieving his weapons and armor. The couple that had tried to harass him and been met with both Vincent's ire and his fists, and had been left in the hands of a couple of knights for the City Guard, the rest had been smart enough to run before he'd been able to turn his attention on them.

A few bits past and Vincent began to hear a growing commotion coming from further into the quarter. Looking down the road Vincent could see it was fairly empty and he was almost certain that he could have made it back to his place without further incident, but judging by the sounds help was going to be needed elsewhere. With a small growl Vincent turned off the main road he was on and down an alley in the direction of the sound. "My luck can't be this bad." Vincent muttered to himself as he broke into a light job down the alley.

A few bits more bits passed as Vincent started to draw closer to the sound, and began to realize that it was the sound of foots steps on the cobbled stones of the Glass Quarter. Not one or two, but enough to ring out clearly through the streets around. With a sigh Vincent ground his teeth against themselves. "My luck really is bad."

With that a single word rang out over the roofs and walls around him and Vincent's blood ran cold, and filled with fire at the same time. "ATTACK!"

At that Vincent stepped around the corner of the alley and out into the street to get the first look at what he was up against.

[Pegasus]

Vigil
95th Vhalar, 717

It was overwhelming, but they were doing their best. Theo was hemorrhaging money like the most wounded there were losing blood, Vivan was acting as a first line of triage and Lena was working the best she could with a group of prostitutes as her assistants. In fairness, although it possibly did not feel like it at the time, those three each played to their strengths and that meant that it all went a damn sight better than it could have. The actions of Theo and Vivian meant that Lena was dealing only with those who she could deal with, not faced with making decisions about the already dead or too far gone.

Of course, they still lost people. A lot of them. But more people survived, thus far, than would have if the three of them had not worked together.

They had almost fallen into a kind of weird routine. Vivian let in only those who could be dealt with and she in turn dealt with hysterical, shocked and bereft relatives. Clayton and Theo did the heavy lifting, the moving of items of furniture, bodies and so on which was necessary. Lena took charge of the strangest group of medics ever, but she did so.

Almost into a routine. And then the call came.

"ATTACK!"

Theo moved, picking up his pistol crossbow and making his way to the window. Vivian jumped into the fight and Lena moved to speak to Theo, there at the window. Unknown to those inside, outside, Vincent was just appearing around a corner, his timing very good, or very bad, depending on one's viewpoint.

It was one of the family members who had shouted, they were sitting and holding the hand of a dying stranger, their own relative already in the neat and ordered rows of corpses. Their voice, when they shouted, was high pitched and terrified. What those who were defending saw was different, depending on where they were.

Vivian saw the approaching mob, for want of a better word. A group of maybe ten (she didn't really have time to count them) who were converging on the front of the Lady Libertine. They had weapons, swords and such, some maces and so on. All melee weapons, all close range. They looked like they'd enjoyed success in what they'd done, they had the sort of wild-eyed look of blood lust about them.

That, too was what Lena and Theo saw, but they saw further down the street and behind the attackers. There were no knights, no other defenders. There were no more healers, no more warriors. There were just attackers, all of them converging on the Lady Libertine. With a view slightly further away, they could see, even more than Vivian, that there was a large amount of mutual 'egging on' and pointing towards this building specifically.

Vincent, however, saw something else, not spotted by the others yet. That was another group, coming from the opposite side of the building from where he was, and slightly behind his direct line of sight. Down an alleyway and there were only four of them, but three of them had bows, one of them had a torch. Flaming arrows were about to start raining down on the Lady Libertine, and as Vincent saw it and realised that he would have to run across the front of the building to get to them, in his peripheral vision he spotted a very similar sort of shadow movement and the flickering of flames in the alleyway entrance just next to him.

An attack from the front and both sides? Unlikely to be a coincidence, all told.

Off Topic

Oh, I'm sorry it took me so long once you'd all replied! Lets kick this up a gear - and I will reply on the 26th November. Any questions please pm me. No posting order, but just one post between mine, please. Thanks!