Raider Assault - Air Division

[get_off_my_lawn]

Who: Taryn, Arturia, Nero, Lleld, Katina, Kusuha, Temeraire, bird beastmen npcs, British npc riders and a possible appearance from Viridi
What: Pre-battle and during battle fights against firedrakes, their mounts, and their camp. The plan is here.
When: June 15th our time - early morning (pre-battle) and actual battle
Where: Raider Camp in the West
Warnings: All the things that come with action movies; blood, violence, cursing, etc



[The battle itself will be run in two parts after the initial assault, when the two groups separate. The raiders will use hit and run skirmish tactics once they can properly react, moving in wings of three. We'll successfully capture 25 drakes, and the combined air/ground forces take out approximately 100 men and 100 drakes. Remember there's a nasty shrapnel ceiling launched from the ground forces to keep the drakes from flying too high.]

Comments

Pre-Battle

[get_off_my_lawn]

As the sun crested the horizon of the air assault camp - stationed in a different location from the ground forces - Taryn readied herself for battle. Garou did things differently than beastmen, who did things differently than humans. It was going to be interesting inducting the British forces, the British leader, into her traditions. Battle was a spiritual thing to her as much as it was a physical thing. She was modi, which meant battle was what she was born for.

The werewolf bathed and let her fur dry in the rising sun. Then she took the war paints she rarely used to draw runes of courage, strength, protection and destruction on her fur, including hagalaz on her face, over her right eye. Her mane-like hair was allowed to flow free instead of restrained in a single band and bracers and others bits of armor added to her form.

Picking Mitternacht up, she overlooked the camp, the two dragons - one small, one large - and the other forces as they readied themselves. The beastmen were already preparing a spiritual drink full of nutrition and magic to calm pre-battle jitters and center the mind. The werewolf cut an impressive figure as she hooked the crystalline hammer onto her back and called out.

"Pendragon! Sturmschwert! It is time to seek Fortune's favor! Let us ready for glory and prepare to sate our thirst with the blood of fire."

[Thread battle prep here, Taryn will do a prebattle ritual, but will also have other threads in here.]

[ex_cashcow493]

It would be polite to answer when one summoned you, so Arturia wasted little time in leaving the confinement of her "quarters" of the camp in vestments unlike any other seen before. Well, that wouldn't necessarily be true. Garments worn in battles she thought would be challenging. When she wore the armor of a flower, she would be seen as a beautiful lily on the field. The lily that protected Britain and rejuvenated the spirits of those around her. A lily held so much meaning. Hope, faith, purity, renewal, promise, passion, cleaning, remembrance; these were all things that Arturia Pendragon promised the good people of Britain.

This battle held different meaning though. She had to wear the vestments of a king to remind those who served under her that they were not alone. Their king had joined them and would ride with them into battle. Together, they would ride out in victory!

For this she wore vestments of blue, the color of royalty in their kingdom and the color she associated with primarily. Silver armor fastened around her chest, her legs, and her hands glistened as though they were freshly shined. Her hair didn't flow free as it often did, instead it would be fashioned into a bun with a braid wrapped tightly around it. Instead of the fluffy ribbons of color she wore, there would be a single thin ribbon that fastened the braid in blade. Here she looked more like a knight than a girl who had been given the throne by birthright.

With her sword strapped against her back, she approached the woman with a thick cloak over the side of her body. After all, royalty still had to be presented as such. This would be no exception.

[get_off_my_lawn]

The armor and difference was noted by Taryn. It was also appreciated, as she, too, was different in this kind of battle than in others. The weight of that armor wasn't going to be a problem, though she did hope Arturia would shed the cloak once it was time to take flight. Cloaks always got in the way during battle.

"Impressive armor, Arturia," she said once the woman drew close. She took a moment to circle her, to get a good look. And then she paused behind Arturia for a moment with a "hmm" before finishing the full circle.

"...when did you take a mate?"

[ex_cashcow493]

Instinctively Arturia's body would freeze in place at such a question. The relationship she held with Irisviel would remain a secret for many more months in her eyes, yet this woman already wagered a guess judging by how she held herself? A stoic gaze could only go so far.

Lying had always been beneath her and unlike the woman, so there would be no other option but to confess should it come to that. There remained hope that maybe, just maybe, she misunderstood her.

"I apologize, but it seems I misheard you."

[get_off_my_lawn]

A wolf's nose can tell a lot, such as the scent of nervousness, but it was body posture that spoke even more to the Garou. Taryn met Arturia's eyes evenly, one alpha to another alpha, and repeated her question.

"I asked, when did you take a mate? The wind has not brought me news from Britain of you being mated." And neither had Arthur told her anything...

[ex_cashcow493]

"For news of this nature must be handled delicately." A simple reason, but more or less the truth. Arturia feared for what would be said not about her, but about any potential queen she took on. "Besides, I have a brother and cousin to consider. Their lives have been void of kindness for the most part, so it would be improper for me to boast of my own happiness when they suffer so."

Someday she hoped Irisviel would forgive her for her hesitance.

"How did you hear of it?" Yet, she couldn't stop herself from asking. "It is a well known secret that not even the keenest of observers can catch."

[get_off_my_lawn]

"I didn't hear of it," Taryn replied. "You wear your hair as a mated woman. Nero does as well and doesn't hide that she has a mate."

The werewolf did keep her voice down so this topic would be between the two of them. And to emphasize what she meant, she ran the back of a claw along the braid holding Arturia's hair up. "Until today, I've never seen you bearing a braid."

[ex_cashcow493]

Now she felt the fool truly. To give up her greatest secret through a misunderstanding of this nature wouldn't bode well for her, but perhaps deep down, Arturia wanted to tell someone. The tension in her shoulders dissipated at her touch, showing not an ounce of hostility in the woman's actions.

"I wear my hair in this manner not as the King of Britain, but as a knight. Should I allow it free, surely I would be a distraction on the field of battle with my looks. My knights, as strong willed as they are, will always seek to protect a maiden. I wish to fight with them as their equal, not as someone who needs to be guarded."

With half a laugh coming forth from her throat, she shook her head.

"When we return home from our glorious battle, I shall make the announcement for all to hear. My lady has been waiting patiently for such news, so it would be improper to have her remain in the shadows of our victory."

[get_off_my_lawn]

"You are mated, Arturia. You are no maiden," Taryn replied with a chuckle. She turned and tilted her head up, letting her silvery-grey mane in it's unfettered, unbraided state be seen clearly to the woman two feet shorter than her.

"In Garou culture, the braid symbolizes the bond between mates. Only those who have taken a mate wear a braid in their hair."

It only occurred to her then that she actually used the true name of her people, not that of the beastmen that she pretends to be of. Either Arturia would catch it or not. She should probably tell Arturia about what she really is considering Arthur...

"Forgive me, for inadvertently forcing the matter of you and your mate."

[ex_cashcow493]

Garou? While Arturia couldn't be considered cultured, the term may have been heard in passing. A king hears so much that it would be difficult for her to catch onto every little thing.

"No, I understand why you made the assumption." Without a hint of anger in her tone, it could be seen that she was alright with this. "It felt good to tell someone of my secret. Perhaps I will continue to wear my hair in this manner after I am married. Only if it would not offend, that is."

[fortheworldtosee]

"You have quite the way with words, my friend. I have mentioned this before, but it certainly deserves to be noted."

The voice of the exiled Emperor is coming from behind Taryn. Despite the praise, she sounds sounds unusually unimpressed, and when the wolf turns to greet Nero, she'll find out why.

Instead of her normal bright, revealing clothing, Nero is dressed shoulder to toe in armor. Nothing heavy of course; it's a practical set, made so it won't inhibit an agile fighter. But it was a complete set, covering up every bit of the Roman that she so loved to show off.

The woman herself, unsurprisingly, does not seem very happy.

[get_off_my_lawn]

Taryn stared for a long moment when her eyes took in Nero. Or, more importantly, what Nero was wearing. Emblazoned with Britain's crest, it seemed...

"Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

Taryn had to laugh.

[fortheworldtosee]

Nero growls, a sound that could certainly impress some of the surrounding beastmen, and stops her foot. She's practically fuming.

"Just what is so funny?!"

[get_off_my_lawn]

That just makes Taryn laugh more, especially that growl, and the wolf-woman ends up dropping to a knee, hunched over as she continued to laugh.

"Haha - you're looking so - hahaha! So... so... hahahaha!"

Perhaps she shouldn't have placed herself in a position where the two feet she had on Nero was a non-factor...

[fortheworldtosee]

Nero's hands - even down to those, she is armored - curl into fists, but she does nothing. She may be irrational when she's angry, but she's not stupid enough to attack the leader of an army she's currently surrounded by, even if that leader is her friend.

"Silence, I say! This is no laughing matter!"

[get_off_my_lawn]

Taryn reached out to tap her claws against Nero's breastplate, almost laughing harder at the metal sound that rose from the tap.

"It looks good on you," Taryn said, trying to contain her mirth.

[fortheworldtosee]

Okay.

You know what?

Screw proper behavior.

"Your ears are sharp, are they not? Then listen when I say silence!!"

Aaaand she lunges.

[get_off_my_lawn]

How often does one get to see a seven foot tall furry chainsaw of death end up on her back with a small furious blonde on top of her? Not often.

Taryn doesn't even fight when Nero lunges, letting herself get dropped onto her back. It just made her laugh more, hands coming up to catch Nero's armored hands.

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Oh, Arturia, what would you say about your cousin now?

[fortheworldtosee]

"Fine then! If you will not be silence, I shall silence you myself!"

Even though she still sounds quite irritated, there's a hint of a laugh in her voice as she grapples with Taryn. Let it be known that Nero's strength is not to be underestimated at all; despite standing even shorter than Arturia, she can take down all manner of man or beast with her bare hands, so pushing back against Taryn's hold isn't particularly difficult.

[ex_cashcow493]

Arturia continued to just watch the two of them play from the side with her face in her palm.

[grandtheftmecha]

Even this late in the preparations, Katina's still going over her weapons - because, yes, she has brought everything with her. A light lance, a hand ax, a buckler, three swords of different size and style. She could make up her mind on having a small pistol at her side, but what weapon would be best suited for aerial combat? A short blade for dismounting the rider, or a lance for when she's mounted? Or both. Would the weight be a problem, even in light armor?

"Shit, I almost wish I wasn't good with so many weapons."

[get_off_my_lawn]

"I suggest asking the weapons which is right," Taryn said as she walked passed where Katina was. "They'll tell you."

[grandtheftmecha]

"What if they don't agree?" They're Katina's weapons after all. Even if she knew how to 'ask the weapons' what gives them any reason not to just tell her to use them?

[get_off_my_lawn]

"The weapon guides the arm as much as the arm guides the weapon. If they don't agree, then you have conflicting strategies in mind," Taryn pointed out. "When your heart is set on the battle, the weapons won't argue."

[grandtheftmecha]

Kneeling, Katina frowns thoughtfully. Then... "Oh! Oh, I kinda get what you mean. And that's the problem... I know the goal is getting the drakes, but I also need a weapon that I can fight from it with, while riding something I don't know how to really ride."