>>390739>Tachell's head tips downwards, stopping far enough away not to harm eardrums, craggy snout wrinkling in a poor copy of the equine motion."Greetings Amy! Hail Lilamaredre! The drums of war finally approach. An excellent send off this is, even should the God-King and Emperor not be able to join us! Then again, they are most certainly tearing the Kenhals open for the coming fray!"
"Good!"
>Hugging you once more, this time not so tight, Umakachov hefts you into a decently comfy seated position on his right arm, scarab helmet emitting a soothing tone."Apologies, Amy. I was a too quick in thinking the hunters had found us once more. Old habits are... difficult to stop."
>Listening to the drums overtaking choir in short, harsh beats, keys and brass reverb in cold accusations, background voices blend together firmly afterwards.>It wasn't something you'd listen to more than once, and the singers were poorly trained, at best.“Could either of you explain the meanings? Please.”
“The opening was similar to hunting calls which followed us across Tallus, before we breached the Gate you were rebuilding that is. The Dominion Plane... rather one of their disgraced Grand Singers, is leading an outcast warclan."
>Standing up to give a half-mollified, easing smile towards Avernus, your dam's ears flick around."Those spiteful unliving bastards never tried listening to us once..
A section of the Dominion is seeking out Solar traitors. Accusations of sabotage, destroying gifts, slaughtering a peaceful Dominion delegation. They claim Planar Treaties were dishonored, that part isn’t clear though. Overall, they're declaring war over a Herald being killed.”
“Hm. The Shades have not spoken of such actions.”
“Oh well. I guess we'll stay here until the nearest Klave arrives. Amy, big hug time!"
>Sire kneeling down to let you off for a near spine popping, freezing double foreleg hug, your dam nickers quietly.“Safe travels Little Bug, and have fun on Tallus for me.”
>Swiveling on hoof to half-bow at the King, right foreleg curling up to touch barrel, Avernus sing-whistles in a solemn, rolling timbre."Wait a few more minutes for me, my beloved, I shall ever return to you as I did once before. And, please smash a few thousand Dominion jackasses, will you?"
>Returning the bow a few dozen feet, or more, the King remains still for five seconds, maw splitting apart in a much-too-wide grin."As long as I live we are together and forever we remain, I shall, my wonderful Avernus!"
>Wildly rolling fractures of Void covering the King roil, shoving himself off the slope, wings and claws outstretched, the second echo cackling for him on approach towards hundreds of bright purple, gold outlined portal stones forming across the 1st Ring’s open airspace."You tactless idiots dare enter OUR home without bringing gifts!? I haven’t had this many opportunities for glory and honor in the sixteen thousand years I’ve been alive! While I don't think there's anywhere enough room to mount ALL of your heads, I WILL try!
Legion, drown the first wave in your numbers and pincer Orders of interest!
Legionaries, seize the outer rings, then push in to cut off Gate hijackers! Don't destroy them, please!
Shades, dive from upper Rings to rip forming Orders to shreds, and stomp on their pathetic false-songs if you can!
Half-Shades, support the Kratha in storming their commanders! Cut off enough heads and the Hydras will drown in their own blood!
Knights of Fall, force them into choke points! Make them suffer for each hoof of ground they would dare seize!
Sir Umakachov, lady Amethyst, keep that Gate open until the closest Kratha Klave can take over, and you have FULL permission to invoke the whole of Tartarus as you wish! Once relieved, join the Knights of Fall!"
[1d6+50 = (6+50) = 56] <King Tachell
[1d6+38 = (6+38) = 44] <Tartarus Legion
[1d6 = 3] <Legion Reinforcemarents
[1d6+19 = (6+19) = 25] <Tartarus Legionaries
[1d6 = 4] <Legionary Reinforcemarents
[1d6+15 = (3+15) = 18] <Tartarus Shades
[1d6 = 2] <Shade Reinforcemarents
[1d6+13 = (4+13) = 17] <Tartarus Half-Shades
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <Half-Shade Reinforcemarents
[1d6+25 = (4+25) = 29] <Kratha
[1d6 = 3] <Kratha Reinforcements
[1d6+11 = (5+11) = 16] <Knights of Fall
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8] <Knights of Fall Reinforcemarents
[1d6+10 = (4+10) = 14] <Umakachov Dalli
[1d6+13 = (4+13) = 17] <Rune Knight Amethyst Storm-Rose
>vs:[1d6+44 = (5+44) = 49] <Dominion Plane Outcast First Singer
[1d6+29 = (3+29) = 32] <Dominion Plane Outcast Warclan, 1st wave
[1d6 = 4] <Outcast Warclan Reinforcements
[1d6+20 = (6+20) = 26] <Dominion Plane Songweavers, 1st Order
[1d6 = 4] <Songweaver Reinforcements
[1d6+16 = (6+16) = 22] <Dominion Plane Outcasts, 1st wave
[1d6 = 5] <Outcast Reinforcements
[1d6+15 = (4+15) = 19] <Gate-Takers
[1d6+11 = (3+11) = 14] <Dominion Potentates
[1d6 = 3] <Potentate Reinforcements
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11] <Dominion Plane Silentsong
[1d100 = 39] <Outcast Dominion Second Wareader
>Staring into the finally stabilized green tunnel atop the first sled, it takes the fiery pegasus... far too long in finally realizing the many, marely, fully blatant clues between the Baroness and King."Wait a minute, you two are in LOVE!? Is that why you came here and took over?"
"Indeed! And that was not the reason, no. I was furious at the hypocrisy most of my so-called kin held, thus I searched for a much calmer, forgiving place where we would not be treated as heretics.
My taking over was coincidental: the prior Lord was still aggrieved at his crimes and could no longer bear to think of various catastrophic results which might play out."
"Is that why you wouldn't let us anywhere near the big swamp on the 11th Ring?"
"No, that is one of the first Great Wells which, well, flooded. There are a host of stuck objects causing such, which I must add we have been unable to remove.
I blame the Half-Shades for it and they have done nothing save to snicker loudly, which does not disprove my assertions."
"Well.. I feel dumber than I did before."
>Taking off in a brisk walk and stepping inside the roiling tunnel, Avernus calls over her right shoulder, sleds dragging above partly physical, crunchy pseudomatter."Amy, take my side, left or right as you prefer. Lila, keep watch for annoyances if you would."
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6] <B.Scouting
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8][1d500 = 222] <Tunnel Pests