Altmere Sentry Attacked!

[Marcus Kobra]

In attendance:

Kelly Sanderson, Sergeant
Marcus Kobra, Officer Cadet, Baron's Own
Cailin Keres, Officer Cadet, Baron's Own
Sergio Jarrett, Regular Scout
Leanne Melior, Regular Scout {Second Half)
Avalynn Vale, Junior Grenadier (Leading)
Saerandir, Junior Guardsman
John Trent, Junior Scout (Second Half)

     Junior Grenadier Vale rallied the men at the barracks to announce a sentry to be built in the Altmere, a known undead hot spot of late. Vale, Sanderson, Myself, Keres, Jarret, and Saerandir set out at a forced march into the Altmere. Upon reaching the outpost we found it beset by guardian spawn both large and small, several headless horrors and hulking ogres were subdued before we could begin gathering materials to construct our sentry. The gathering of materials went without incident and we soon had plenty to build with.

     The construction was done well, the Sergeant's trainings had paid off it seemed and the men had it up in no time, however, just before completion we spotted the first of the undead lurking in the shadows nearby. Vale sent out Regular Scout Jarrett to get a feel for their number whilst we redoubled our efforts to finish. We waited silently, grimly staring into the shadows. We strained both eyes and ears for any signs of them but it was the return of Jarrett who announced their imminent approach. Jarrett quickly slipped into the shadows of the nearby tree line as they approached, and good Avatar did they approach!

     With the undead, orcs, and even Arathrax himself came an even more fearsome duo. . . A blue deamon two stories tall and as wide as a small shack came leading a winged skeleton in its wake. A formidable force was arrayed against us as they crashed into our fortifications and the Winged Beast screeched unholy call that chilled us to our bones and made old injuries ache. Only the veterancy of our men allowed them to hold their ground in the face of such terrible and fearsome horrors.

     Bones rattled, weapons clashed with flesh and noxious clouds sprouted amongst the ranks, the men chocking and spitting. Our foes exulted in the carnage as we cried out in the name of Cove and The Baron, The Winged Beast wailed like nails upon the board. Jarret mostly caught outside the walls was left running and eventually fell to superior numbers, he vanished it a wall of swinging blades and noxious spells, obscured by writhing undead bodies and tattered burial robes. We put him out of our minds as we fought on, no time to stop and think of one man whilst the world came down around us.

     At last! The Winged Beast cried one final ear splitting screech and fell, returned to its eternal rest. The enemy fought on, the defenders now weary against a foe both eternal and implacable. Despair gripped our hearts, we no longer shouted battle cries, no further orders were issued save "Form" and "Hold" If the defenders prayed they did so in silence, when suddenly Melior and Trent came from the shadows, whirling blades and flying arrows. The enemy now fell or scattered incapable of adjusting to an evolving battlefield. Their timing could not have been more perfect.

     Jarrett was found alive and dragged within the sentry to recover, the men redressed their wounds and the scouts took up positions within the nearby trees. We determined to not be surprised a second time. The Sergeant volunteered to make the dangerous sprint to Cove to warn the town people and rally anyone else to battle. We saluted her grimly as she started that sprint and did not take our eyes from her whilst she remained in sight. I think we all expected her to drop to mud dead at any moment yet, she made it to the bend in the road and minutes later the echo of the bell tolled in the distance.

    The tolling of the bells came as the clarion call to battle as the enemy redoubled its effort quite literally on cue bringing not just one but two of The Winged Beasts! The men faltered at the ferocity, and one by one we fell to blade, and spell, and Winged Beast, until but three of our number could endure to continue the fight. Melior, Keres and Saerandir skirmished the enemy, chasing foe as often as falling back from them. The battle raged back and forth, through trench and thicket and field it raged. Saerandir eventually fell exhausted, his wounds too great the enemy too numerous and too ferocious for our scattered men to deal with them.

    Then as though Avatar Himself had sent down a smiting flame Arathrax their leader, taunting our men to "Flee" was smote by one of Kere's feathered missiles. With a gasp and cry that gurgled with mortal pain he turned and himself fled the field his minions soon to fall or follow in the confusion. The day had been won on Grenadier and Scout teamwork. Our injures mostly tended, our wounded gathered we marched home, head high for we had snatched victory from defeat. Cries of "For Cove" and "For The Baron" rose up as we marched in lock step home, the sound of boots crunching gravel and sloshing in mud to be heard for miles. Covians tentatively opened doors or shutters and let up the cry "The lads have returned! Welcome home!"

It had not been total victory, it would not end the war in Vesper, nor would it end our fight with the undead or Arathrax. . . but for the rough and tumble men and women of Cove, for a night, their hopes were lifted, and they would celebrate and revel and dance then sleep in peace as they had not in weeks.
I was willing to call it a damned good victory for that. A damned good victory indeed.

*Signed*

Marcus Kobra, Officer Cadet, Medic, Baron's Own, Army of Cove

[Marcus Kobra]

Covian Command has noted the bravery and tenacity of the following for acts of combat with an avowed enemy of the Covian people:

Kelly Sanderson, Sergeant
Marcus Kobra, Officer Cadet, Baron's Own
Cailin Keres, Officer Cadet, Baron's Own
Sergio Jarrett, Regular Scout
Leanne Melior, Regular Scout
Avalynn Vale, Junior Grenadier
Saerandir, Junior Guardsman
John Trent, Junior Scout

*Signed and Sealed*

By direction of The Baron,
    Marcus Kobra, Officer Cadet, Baron's Own, Army of Cove

*One Battle Point Awarded to the above.*