Crisis of Kismet (Final Hour)

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

The magus stood before his troops staring at them as he looked like he was going to say something only to hear a gasp as the two military leaders fell to the ground dead. The magus looked horrified at first before growing angry.
"...Slaughter those fools! SLAUGHTER THEM ALL!" growled the magus as the Empire immediantly cheered as they loved to go to a more primitive side.

Zeffer seemed not even worried as he walked over. He looked at his soldiers yelling to them. "V'AK'AMA! V'AK'AMA!" he shouted. Instantly his Merrito yelled in response and stood as they heard him. Instantly they formed up quickly. The assassin turned to look at Ashstripe.
"Well Stripe-dog... You have my soldiers at your side... I shall go to the first Outlook post, and infultrate the fortress that way... When you finish with the magus, they should run... Azurrian shall take care of the Dam, and you stripe dogs shall be the ones to keep those WARR beasts in there hole until we can wash them away... I will hopefully kill his lordship Rosethorn...and rescue our Darky friend...Farra'Ka'Baû, Ashstripe... Ansestors Guid you. "

[RakingClaw]

Sarak saw the hare and the massive white badger approach with ready cautious steps "they are afraid of me" he growled inwardly "time to make the foxes pay." He smiled the best he was able and said "To hares i hold no malice friend, even the foxes here I will spare my blade till we meet again on some distant field." He leaned in his eyes shining with feral hunger "Don't we have bigger problems?" He followed after the hare all the wile feeling the eyes of the giant albino badger behind him watching for any sign of treachery. Till at last he stood before the badger lord Ashstripe and knew for the first time in his life he had found an equal in swordplay. "this is the moment i redeem the stain on my soul" he thought. Their eyes staring at his hideous appearance, he took a deep breath and said " Lord Ashstripe I offer my services till i die or such a time you deem me unfit to serve."

[Ashstripe]

The Lord of Salamandastron twisted suddenly, his brow furrowed as much as the muscle could possibly strain itself, he gave a quick snarl at the unexpected attack. Someone had lashed out, they had barely established a camp but they had something to eat. The Merrito were moving out quickly, his hare's had yet to come to terms with the situation. Breaking free from Luna's grasp he grabbed his sword and released it from it's leather container, holding it steady in his paw he roared out the order.
"To arms! Eullliiiiiiiiaaaaaa!" It had been far too long since he had unleashed Salamandastron's legendary war cry, indeed he had been in many a conflict before now but none had felt as important as this. He glanced over at the wildcat that had presented himself, another willing ally, perhaps these negotiations weren't a complete waste of time after all.
"And I'll gladly accept it." He replied abruptly to Sarak, as he turned and ran out in front of the flooding hare's,
"We will return victorious! Or we will not return at all!" He boomed out to the Long Patrol, not that they needed such a reminder, they were all willing to die in the name of freedom. After all, if they lost and survived, the horde would be certain to make them envy the dead.


_________________
Breeze was still within his chosen flank at his Lord's cry his officers were to expected to follow;
"Y'head 'im chaps! Chapesses'! Blood'n'vinegar!" He raised his thin rapier triumphantly, his lost meal forgotten and the cold shrugged off with a grin, he pushed forward in the ranks, urging his fellow soldiers on and dodging questions as to why he wouldn't wear any armour at a time like this.

Kenzie charged alongside Breeze, undeterred by the significant difference in the size of their strides, her halberd was held down and forward, threatening the hare in front of her.
"Yore an idiot y'know that?" She muttered with a slight smile, she had berated him many times before the journey to the north about his minimal protection; most of his energy was devoted to bringing food.
Breeze grinned right back, still not regretting his decision in the slightest,
"Wells m'dear, if I come back dead, I owe you a scone, wot wot!" He chuckled lightly, putting on another burst of speed to further challenge the small Colonel.

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

"Ike Ready the warrior!" yelled Freya to her second. Instantly the warrior responded bashing his weapon to his sheild. all the Freelancers and Vermin that had come to aid the good-beasts stood together, weapons at the ready. Freya was before her soldiers. She was the heir to the throne of her father who had once united the tribes together
"To the last! Kill each and everyone, for I promise you, they will not hesitate to kill each of you. Forward!" Freya shouted as she lifted her lance. The vermin soldiers did the same gesture as the held there spears up. The spearmen were in the farthest up ranks while the archures remained back, equipted with the New Azurrian's improved bows, and razor sharp steel tipped arrows.

Naja stood before he warriors. She whisled loudly, an order to her swordsmen to form up with the other soldiers. They wore black colored armor, with chainmail on them, there black steel swords at their sides.
"Those murderous killers will not rest to all is under them... You have seen what the Empire is capible of, the atrocities they have comitted. Show the true justice for the crimes they are responsible of... If we are victorious today... victory in the Hundred year war will finally be before us. For generations you have fought against the empire, your fourfathers dying for the hope of freedom... Now is our time to end this, and bring about an age of peace. They so lovingly worship Vulpuz the Destroyer... Let us send them to him." said Naja as she turned toward where the front was, her bow by her side.
"Archures, stay back, everyone else, follow the orders of the Badger Lord... There numbers mean nothing in the Mountain pass. To Victory!" The New Azurrians cheered as the looked forward moving with the badger Lord forward. The could see the WARR army moving forward as well, in there normal formation. There Spears forward and swords behind them.

[Rocky]

"C'mon chaps and chappesses! Fall in formation and march!" Captain Jacksaw said. "Oi, Snowpaw, mah son! C'mere! You will march beside me!" Jacksaw said. "Snowpaw, if this is the last time I see you... I just wanted to say... I'll miss you." Jacksaw hugged his son. "I love, you da'" Said Snowpaw. "C'mon chaps! Fall in! Follow the ole' skin an' bones, eh?" "Chaaaarge! Eulaliaaaaaa!" Jacksaw unsheathed his sword and held it aloft. Jacksaw trudges next to Ash. "If Ah die, it was a pleasure servin' under ye... M'laird." He gave Ash a wink.

Axe charged next to Jacksaw and Snowpaw. "Eulaliaaaa!" That was Axe's first time shouting the warcry, and he felt proud. He felt accepted by these goodbeasts. He was happy. He felt in his right place. Jacksaw shouted. "If we die, we shall take as many as 'em as we can, ye ken?!"

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Lieutenant Colonel Greenburrow yelled orders to his troops as he readied his axes. "This is what we've been waiting for! Get into position, like I ordered you before! Advance as one, no laggers! Charge!" Greenburrow spoke to the trusty captain, Jorthrus, he had left in charge of the long-range missiles. "As soon as the enemy is within range, give the order to fire!" The young rabbit soldier ran to the front of his troops, ready for war, yelling, "Charge!"

[RakingClaw]

"I will not disappoint lord" he yelled over the roaring din. The rhythmic tempo of blood lust rose high in Sarak' s breast. He stared at the goodbeasts surrounding him marching to death, freedom, and victory. Years of pain, memories of searing heat and cutting steel flooded his mind, his lips pulled back into a twisted snarl. "I will Kill you all! or die drowning in blood! Eulaliaaaaaa!" he roared and charged. "Friend Hare" he said to the one who had led him to purpose "What am i to call you should we live" he laughed, drawing his broadsword holding the gleaming blade high, while continuing his loping gate toward blood battle and death.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna cursed fluently letting go of Ashstripe's arm as he went for his sword. She was off running toward the place where her horde stood, ready for action. She smiled at her second, knowing he had something to do with the army's readiness. He stepped out of rank, and saluted her, an impish grin on his face. She nodded back, and looked over the horde.
"I know you were all lookin' forward to some sorta grand speech, but seein' as the party has been started, I'll just say somethin' brief. Yer the best fighter's I know an' I wouldn't want to fight this battle beside anyone else. You know the stakes, what happens to the beasts that lose... Let's show these WARR beasts what it feels like to be ground into the mud." The horde drew their weapons and Luna smiled. She drew her weapon, and turned. "Let’s go." She said, taking her helmet from one of her captains and putting it on in one swift motion. Her eyes were pink with the beginnings of bloodlust as she began the march.

[Ashstripe]

"The pleasure is mine." Ashstripe replied quickly as he flourished his sword dangerously, all too willing to flaunt his strength and size in the face of many.
"Secure the pass! Do not let them gain one step!" He roared out whilst clinging onto his sanity, each step he took, each time he narrowed the distance between the enemy and his weapon did his grip loosen. It was all too much, the cries of war, weapons banging against armour and other weapons and the sound of flesh being pierced. But he stubbornly held on, he could not afford to abandon reason this time round.

The distance was closed quickly, as the next chapter in the battle opened and Ashstripe was all too willing to read on as he swung his mammoth weapon almost gleefully through the leather of armour into the flesh of a foe. He smiled sadistically as arrows bounced off his armour, the whites of his eyes diminishing more and more quickly, as if the blood staining his hands had coursed through his system and into his eyes. Yes, there was nothing quite like the first kill, sure there would be many probably more greater foes to confront, but the first kill of every fight was special, it was the plunge into the freezing lake so the body would adapt.

___________

The jovial Captain shook his head slowly as if finding this all distasteful as he almost whipped the a rat with his sword, cutting through the air and then leaving a thin cut, which quickly fulfilled its desired purpose.
"Lookit 'im," He spoke to Kenzie casually, "It's like 'e's on vacation and wants to do everythin' afore 'e gets 'ome. He beat down another with the handle of his rapier clenched tightly in his fist and tutted disapprovingly,
"Sheesh, y'lot aren't very good hosts y'know? Bloomin' startin' when y'can see we're all flamin' tired from th' flamin' march eh? Blighters! Th' lot of ye!" He cried out as if he was annoyed, "Why if this were at ol' Sala-thing, we'd even feed yers wot! Pah! Ingrates!" It was a wonder that he continued his complaints even when the beasts on the receiving end were not too concerned with what he had to say. But with Breeze it didn't matter if they cared what he said, he had to say it.

Kenzie half smiled and half scowled at Breeze's remarks, he was one of the few hares who could get away with bad mouthing Ashstripe and not get tossed out of the Long Patrol, though extra sentry duty and dishes usually held his tongue; briefly.
She twirled neatly with her blade at the tip of the halberd outstretched, cutting down a few who had flanked her. Muttering inwardly all the same, she had pushed herself too far forward with that loud mouth Breeze and now a lot of the horde had taken his words personally.
"Well done Captain." She cried out, "The entrance was that ways!" The small Colonel waved in the general direction of their allies, whom were not as far as she made them out to be. But her words fell on deaf ears, Breeze still continued his complaints about the general state of things from his view.

______________

Sarge smiled sagely, adjusting his spectacles confidently as he stood near a small group he had found himself leading;
"Well then, no time like the present eh?" He turned and winked to the archers whom had stationed themselves with him, no hare had yet to fire an arrow since no order had been given, Sarge was going to change that.
"Steady..." He adjusted his bow and aimed towards the sky, he didn't really care if he hit his mark, given their general position they should hit someone likely to be the enemy if his eyes were still useful. "Aim..." The old hunched hare drew the string on his bow back slowly, the wood creaking from its seasons of use, "Fire!" He roared as a small flurry of arrows flew into the sky, followed by a much thicker cloud from the hare's following suit. He smiled to himself, his string had yet to fail him, yet.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Lieutenant Colonel Greenburrow and his officers met the enemy with a clash, blood spattering as their owners cried out in pain.

Hugh's axe smashed into the first vermin's armor, knocking the wind out of him, then the young rabbit used his other axe to behead his foebeast. Hugh turned to his left, noticing a rat viciously brandishing his weapon. Greenburrow killed the rat with a blow from the axe-handle. As Hugh fought his next enemy, he swiftly glanced at Lord Ashstripe, grimly smiling with admiration.

[RakingClaw]

The Fighting was bitter as Sarak waded into the fray. He split the first foxes head open then cut the sword arm off another. Then he drove the point of his sword deep into yet a third sending his falling to the ground a fountain of blood gushing from his mouth, the sword still lodged into the beasts ribcage. He yanked the morning star off his belt, parrying a clumsy slash he caved in the head of a forth. Wrenching the weapon from the creatures destroyed cranium, he thrust his trident into the neck of a fifth ripping it out sending the beast to the ground its life blood pooling around it. Sweat pored down his face mixing with the splattered gore painting bright crimson streaks on his hairless flesh, he had to struggle so hard for air he nearly gagged in the stink of his own breath. But he forced himself onward, into the thickest part of the melee paying no attention to safety or strategy; his features locked into a wordless roar, as he mowed down his opponents like a scythe on wheat.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Hugh got surrounded by a group of vermin, he had broke past some huge and strong vermin who had killed a hare right before Hugh impaled him, but not before Hugh was cut on his left ear. A hare sergeant to Hugh's right slew the next big vermin. Hugh lunged past the dead vermin bodies into the next group, but realized he was alone in that immediate section of the battle and there was no way to turn back.

The young rabbit officer fought on bravely, pushing past back out to his own troops. Hugh led a charge.

[Rocky]

Jacksaw met the battle with his son and Axe on either side. Jacksaw jumped on a fox, knocked it down, and stabbed it. Axe had his broadsword out and he de-capitated another. Snowpaw was having some difficulties, but just because he was young. He was shaping out pretty good for his first battle. He slayed a fox, and stabbed another.... with the help of his father, of course. ()

~~~~~

Jacksaw was fighting and fighting. He fought his way over to the wildcat. "Oi! Mah name is Jacksaw... Capt. jacksaw Swiftfire of the Long Patrol. Mah son over yonder is Snowpaw... And the Albino beastie is Axe... Believe me, the only reason our Albino beasties was so... in a word.... hostile, is 'cause 'e don't like.... vermin... Pardon mah use of the word 'vermin'" Jacksaw said. "Ah hope ye survive this battle... And believe me, when this battle is over, there may not be many songs to sing aboot, ye ken?" He said.

~~~~~

Snowpaw was fighting pretty well for a young warrior. He was hacking, parrying, stabbing, all that warrior stuff... He had some scratches on him, but nothing too serious. He was busy attacking a wolf, that he didn't see the archer zoning in on him..... But Axe did. Axe couldn't reach the archer in time, so he bulled into Snowpaw... Axe took the arrow through the shoulder. He ripped it out and turned at the archer. His eyes were ablaze. He was coming down with the bloodwrath. He charged the archer and the archer dropped his bow and unsheathed his sword.... Too late! Axe got there, grabbed the sword, through it and heard an anguished cry, than slayed the archer with a big arrow the size of a short spear.

Jacksaw was going into a rage. He was hacking and slashing, when a sword grazed his arm. He turned around and slew the fox that did it instantly. Jacksaw started to laugh like a mniac, but hey! Its war and who loves war more than Jacksaw?

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Lieutenant Colonel Greenburrow's charge broke into the ranks of the big group of vermin that had surrounded Hugh. After all those vermin were slain or forced to retreat, Hugh took advantage of the slight pause in the battle to make sure the trusty Captain Jorthrus had the long-range weaponsbeasts under control. He did.

[RakingClaw]

"Sarak RakingClaw I am called" he told the hare " Now friend Jacksaw lets show these fox bastards what a mistake they made waking this morning." he laughed. He then hung the still gore dripping mace on his belt and wrenched forth his broadsword from the foxes bloody corpse. So strong was his blood lust he did not see four foxes begin to circle him. Now Sarak found himself confronting two swords, an axe and a wickedly barbed spear. Sarak feinted at one and he stumbled back. Taking advantage the beasts hesitation he swing his blade is a wide arc, caught completely by surprise the fox could only muster a feeble defense with his sword and was felled by a slice that cut him almost completely in two. However Sarak underestimated the one with the spear. After his wide and deadly swing the beast lunged in under his guard and thrust the tip deep into the meat of his shoulder. The upper barbs hooked his flesh and for a moment Sarak was certain that his arm would be pulled off. His hold on his blade weakened but he knew its loss would be the death of him, so ignoring blinding pain he rolled sharply to his left. The fox tore the spear away taking with it a good portion of Sarak's shoulder. The pain of his wound coursed through his entire body, and he almost blacked out. He snarled and managed to hold off the three foxes with a mad swing that left his dangerously exposed. The spear beast thinking this would be the finishing thrust pressed forward with a stab that was aimed for Sarak's heart. Sarak twisted sharply to dodge as the spear tip grazed the chain on his chest. He slammed the trident down catching the barbs in between it's prongs. The fox realized what was happening but it was to late. Summoning a strength no fox could match Sarak ripped the weapon from the beasts hands wile slicing down with his sword. The swing caught the beast in the neck and split him to the navel. The other twos hesitation cost them their lives as Sarak slammed into them his sword running cleanly through the firsts throat, wile his trident slid under the others arm and into its heart. Both were dead before they hit the ground. Sarak looked around feral hunger burning in his yellow eyes, and he lept back into the fray.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Greenburrow II and the group of hares that participated in the charge he led were losing soldiers too quickly for the young rabbit officer. He expected to lose soldiers, but not at this quantity and rate.

Hugh just finished slaying a rat when he turned and gazed right into the crazed face of a small fat fox who wielded a double-bladed axe that was covered in blood. Hugh tried a quick lunge at the creature's stomach but the rabbit's blow was blocked by the vermin warrior. Then the fox did a wide swipe with his axe, slashing Hugh's left arm. Hugh cried out and, now enraged by the wound he got from the vermin, hacked the fox four times in the chest and stomach. After he killed the fox, the young lieutenant colonel stood, spattered with blood, standing in the midst of total carnage, grabbing his wounded and bloodied arm. There was a slight lull in the battle, at least from where Hugh could see, but the rabbit knew it wasn't over, so he staggered onward, rallying the remains of the group he had charged with.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna's forces crashed into WARR's ranks like a second wave. Luna herself quickly cut a path into the enemy's ranks, apparently oblivious to the danger of the move. Her sword gleamed as it flickered under spears and tilting them upwards so Luna could reach the beast wielding them. She loved battle, because it was the only time she felt right. The sword was like a part of her, and moved with effortless grace. She saw a spear come out of nowhere, and with a simple motion she grabbed it with a free paw, and turned, whipping it out of her enemy's paw and into another foebeast. Her motion let her next blow gain momentum and she decapitated the original wielder of the spear. It was like one of the dances her mother had always tried to teach her. Luna grinned under her helmet, knowing how angry her mother would be at her actions these last seasons. Her thoughts turned to her horde. She was worried that the Long Patrol and all their allies would mistake them for WARR beasts; despite the fact they'd dressed in light colors to be more identifiable as allies. She could only hope as she cut away at the WARR soldiers, that the hares would remember despite being in the battle and that her horde members would be careful. Luna blocked a sword stroke aimed at her head, and was promptly reminded that she had best follow her own line of thinking, her mind dragged back to her current predicament.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Greenburrow II led another charge, this time attacking a group of vermin archers.

As the rabbit and hares sped toward the vermin, brandishing weapons and yelling out battle cries, a skillful rat archer let a shaft loose that tore into one of the lead hare's chest. Then the rat archer fired another shaft that took a hare through the neck. Hugh Greenburrow sped towards the archers, trying to lose as few creatures as possible. As the rabbit and hares came closer to the archers, they began retreating, firing arrows as they ran, though only a couple killed or wounded the Long Patrol soldiers.

Soon Lieutenant Colonel Greenburrow and the hares, naturally fast, caught up with the vermin archers and swiftly killed them without any casualties; the vermin archers couldn't use their bows or arrows to wound or kill the rabbit or any of the hares, and the vermin archers couldn't get out their other weapons quickly enough also.

[Ashstripe]

((I'm tired...And probably cranky. Horrible post zone has been declared.))

The sound of battle amplified as Luna's horde crashed along the coast of the battle, though it made little difference to those in the thick of it. Sound wasn't really their greatest concern at the current moment, given that the only audible din was undecipherable to say the least. But to Ashstripe it wouldn't have made a difference one way or the other, he could hear what was going on well enough; but he wasn't listening. Truth be told, he saw no point, he had no real objective in mind other then to kill as many as he possibly could before the battle ended. He slammed his mailed paw into another hapless victim, propelling the young fox into the rock wall of the mountain pass, instantly going limp without giving a chance to cry his death cry. Not that it would've mattered.

The Badger cleaved in every direction conceivable, taking a step every so often to lay claim to the ground that was previously occupied by his victim. These soldiers weren't rookies, he mused as he closed the distance between the ground and his sword, eliminating the ferret that stood in the way. He was fortunate to not have met any of their elite, yet. Despite his current state of teetering on the edge of utter insanity he couldn't beat a group of well trained soldiers, no matter how big he was.

At last he had reached his self proposed destination, the centre of the pass, here the hares and their allies could mount a formidable defence. Ashstripe smiled lightly as he ripped another arrow from his bare shoulder, wincing only so slightly he gave out another roar;
"Not one step further! Stationary!" He rose a free paw, for what little good it would do then add another potential target for the archers.

To push any further was imprudent, despite the pass acting like a funnel, there was still a lot of flow left in the current.

___________________

Despite their best efforts, the hare's had not moved as one as their drills had often taught them to, despite their best efforts they had taken substantial losses. Although the ratio of kills to losses was favourable, they were being spread thinly, with some flanks moving further then others and others being halted completely. Only the centre was moving at a consistent speed, namely due to the efforts of the Badgers present.

Breeze and Kenzie were some of the more unfortunate of the aforementioned, their flank had taken significant losses and were not gaining as much ground as they had hoped to.
"Lookit this! Too many bloomin' arrers, flingin' from left, right'n centre! Wot wot!" Breeze groaned half-heartedly, it didn't matter who fired them, it mattered if it hit them or not.
"Kenzie, be a dear and watch m'back fer a sec' eh?" Without waiting for a response, Breeze shaded his eyes(As if he needed to.) and analysed what he could find. Ha! Good ol' Greenburrow, takin' out those arrer flingers...Hoho lookit th' wildcat, I'll make sure t'give 'im some good stew...Badgers runnin' 'roun- He was knocked off balance for a second, he wasn't sure if Kenzie had denied his request violently or had failed to do so.
"I say! Bad show eh?" He cried loudly as he massaged his cut arm whilst simultaneously stabbing the offending fox.

The Colonel furrowed her brow, "Colonel Kenzie, there's a protocol y'know?" But her words had fallen on deaf ears once more, she sighed again with resentment. Despite the constant threat of death, Breeze still managed to be Breeze. She faced the opposite direction to which the Captain gazed, taking note of her surroundings; Ashstripe had halted the charge, they were to defend now... Kenzie was knocked from her brief lapse of concentration as Breeze cried out indigently. She spun quickly, her halberd leering dangerously close to the one she intended to protect. But she shouldn't of bothered, Breeze had finished already.
"Pikemen! To Lord Ashstripe!" She bellowed quickly as she blocked another attack whilst shrugging off another arrow.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Makoce Coldpaw viewed the scene from behind a tree. Normally he would have been right in there fighting, but this was different. They would kill him for being a vermin creature. The former corsair stoat sucked in his breath at the sight of a Badger Lord. A dagger lay by his footpaw. The lean stoat picked it up and threw it. The flying blade hit a fox in the chest and Makoce spat on his paws, rubbing them together. One less vermin to fight. He picked up his cutlass and dashed into the fight, slaying a fox with one swipe.
He looked up at Ltc. Greenburrow and took another fox with a swipe. 'Ye' don't mind if I drop in, longears?' He thwacked a fox between the ears. It fell senseless, and the corsair stabbed it in the heart. He spun around and slew another fox. A sword met his arm and he swung his cutlass, taking the fox's head. He laughed, well aware that the hares could kill him if they had a mind to.
His paw moved with blurring speed, taking a fox through the neck with the cutlass, he punched a fox in the throat and killed it. He stood there and picked up the dagger he had thrown. Stabbing with the dagger and slashing with the cutlass madly, foxes fell to his onslaught. A fox sword was within an inch of his throat when he brushed it aside and slew the creature. Looked up at the Badger Lord. 'I hope ye' don't object to stoats, sir.'