Riders of Scavenger Island

Outside of an arrow and wounded people? What are you smoking? They wouldn’t lie about what they saw! These people already broke you once, why the hells would they decide ‘oh, let’s talk to them now’.” Slode says incredulously, voice mocking as he explained to Theoc something he thought even children knew.

“We don’t have time to sit around debating. You need to at least muster the garrison, of militia, anything, so that when they attack whilst you sit around at least some people can be saved. I did not sign on to help you just to watch you shoot yourself in the foot.”
 
"Or," a voice rasped out, "You all could stop bickering and do something."
Garm sat up hand on the injured shoulder, he looked at Theoc, "They're right, sitting around talking isn't going on solve anything, actions need to be taken, at least preventative ones. A threat is coming whether you want to admit it or not."
He turned to Sloan and Ren, "But he has a point, the storm will ground most dragons, and even if an attacking dragon force made it here it'd be tiny if attacking by sky. So that leaves a ground attack as the only option."
He went to stand and shakily did so, "We have to work together if we are gonna survive. Enemies are coming, and that means cooperation is vital to both of our survivals. The arrow that was in my back says they are coming Theoc, and they are closer than you think. Have your meeting but at least send out sentries and a patrol, that way we can know if they're coming."
He asked as he reached the door, a purple snout nudged him from it, he smiled, "I'm alright girl," he said as he patted her.
 
Theoc was torn between doing what was needed and doing what was expected. He was the Chief Druid's Grandson! He needed to follow the rules and set an example for the people. He thinks about what Ren, Sloan and Garm had said and what they said is right. He wasn't one for politics and meetings. Gathering up a patrol and sending out some fliers wouldn't be the worst thing to do, but he needed to think of the risks. They already had sentries out, sentries that should bee returning right now due to the storm. If something was up, they would've reported it to him or someone else by that point. He run through the possible outcomes in his head several times, but luckily didn't need to decide as the lightning flashed to reveal the silhouette of a crashing dragon heading straight towards them.

"Dragon!" He shouts and pushes Sloan out of the way of the crashing dragon before jumping forward to tackle Ren, getting her out of the way as well. The crashing dragon flew down at high speeds and crashes right where the group was. The crash didn't destroy or damage anything but it left a trail of blood as the dragon, a large gronkle slid across the ground. The dragon was dead but the rider was not, being hit by several arrows of the same type that Ren had identified earlier.
 
Ren looked at Theoc with an incredulous gaze of fury. Was he kidding? They didn't have time to squabble. "Yeah, well I havent signed on at all and I'm still standing here trying to do something about it and I feel like I'm talking to a crazy man! You want to sit here and let Elders decide when you know what you have to do? Is that really what you think you should do?"

Slode was the only one talking any sort of real action on the issue, which was both surprising and slightly scary. Garm put in his two cents, diplomatic as ever and Ren sighed as she started to stomp away. She had enough of this nonsense and it was time to get the hell out of there, storm or no storm. Two paces away she glanced over the village and saw a few children scurrying inside a hut to wait out the storm. Children. There were actually kids here and they were going to die. Growling, she turned on her heels once and stopped back over then turned again pacing back and forth like a caged lion before letting out and absolutely enraged sigh then coming back to Theoc. "We don't have time to debate about debating! We need to do something-"

Her words were cut short at the sound of Theoc yelling and suddenly she found herself being tackled to the ground by the tall druid man. He landed hard on top of her in the dirt, knocking her head into the ground and sending a flare of pain from her ribs which caused her to yelp. "What in the hell are you doing?!" She groaned underneath him. It took her a moment to realize he had shoved her out of the way from getting mowed down by a crashing dragon. Seeing the collapsed Gronkle covered in blood and arrows, Ren looked to Theoc above her. "Now, do you think we have time for debate?"
 
As the dragon came crashing down, Blitz grabbed Garm and much to his displeasure, threw him onto her back and jumped out of the way.
Garm looked around for what ahd caused the dragon to come crashing down, it wouldn't be good by any means and meant they already were under attack.
Blitz growled and her mouth crackled with electricity ready to defend herself and her rider at any cost.
 
Theoc gets off of Ren and runs over to the crashed dragon. He first checked to see if the dragon was at least alive but quickly determined that it wasn't before checking on the rider, which luckily was alive. The Rider was greatly injured, with several arrows sticking out of him and made groans of pain as Theoc carefully pulls him down from the dragon. "Sentry, what happened? Who attacked you?" Asked Theoc, as he urged the Rider to stay awake and therefore alive.

"Theoc.....stormcutters....boats......dozens....." The Rider's trails off as he struggles to speak. Theoc was quickly putting the pieces together when he and the rest of the village hears a series of alarm horns coming form the coastal wall. The Village was under attack! The Horns were souned once....twice....three times. Once for an attack from the sea. Twice for an attack from the skies. Three times for a combined sky and sea assault. Theoc quickly calls some men to carry the wounded to the healers and orders some others to mobilize as many dragonriders and warriors as they can. After Theoc quickly jumps on Scarwing and turns to the riders. "I would appreciate if you were to come with me. I know I've waited to long to act, but now I need a squad to come with me and scout out the enemy and there isn't enough time to gather one."
 
Right. Slode had had enough of this moron and his hesitant stupidity and obvious delusions. Even now, when they were under attack, and given their approximate numbers, he thought a scouting party was the right idea.

It was enough to bring Slode to tears. Or, it would have been, if the anger didn’t take precedence. He looked towards Ren, a moment of understanding passing through their eyes and into their very souls. This same feeling had brought civilisation from the depths of mud and crushed them beneath their heel. It had been responsible for every single driving person in the world.

“Hold him while I knock this stupid fucker out.”

She flickered, practically materialising begins Theoc on his dragon and looping her arms under his, holding the back as Slode cracks his knuckles, brought a fist back, stepped forward and sent it crashing into the jaw of the man, sending shockwaves coursing through his head.

Instant K.O.

“Loot whatever identification he has, i’ll leave him under that dragon, and let’s actually help these people.” The man rumbles.
 
Slode's fist makes contact with Theoc face, knocking out the young druid. Around the group of Vikings, people screamed and pointed at how Theoc was suddenly assaulted by the outsiders. To them it seemed like a sudden invasion with the dead dragon and heavily wounded rider suddenly crashing into the road. An unnamed warrior draws her spear right when Slode knocked out Theoc. "Stand down viking!" She shouted at him and Scarwing didn't take kindly at what Slode did, with him immediately attempting to rush in for the attack, but was stopped by Snap and Snarl placing themselves in between Scarwing and Slode.
 
Storytelling Post. You guys wouldn't see this at all.

As the storm rolled in, from the sea, under the darkness of the clouds, dozens of warships carrying hundreds of Scavengers sailed towards the town's sea facing wall. The largest ship carrying the fleet's admiral, a great big man watches over his fleet as the waves push them towards the coast. He is a rugged man that easily stands 7ft tall with a large black beard that smells of salt and fish. He wears a heavy iron breastplate that would normally be too heavy for the average man to even carry and wields a two-handed sword in his right hand and in the other thick round metal shield with a black lambdas painted on the face. There was no flames or light coming from the ships, as that would give away their position. As the ships headed towards the town, a Stormcutter dragon carrying the masked figure that attacked Ren lands onto the deck of the flagship. The admiral smiles and walks up to the rider as she dismounts.

"Why hello there Gyda. Come to greet little ol' me aren't ya? Can't bare to stay away from a real man can you?" He teases her, but the women didn't much care for him as she removes her mask to reveal the face of a young women, probably round Ren's age.

"I rather take an Athenian scholar then a Spartan exile Admiral Colin." She snapped as she walked towards the bow of the ship. The admiral didn't take to her comments kindly as he grips his sword and was tempted to crush her pretty head in his hands for the insult but he wasn't a brute. He let the comment slide for now.

"I take it that you clearing the night sentries? Zena gave you a lot so I expect you did you job?" He asks her and the Guildhand simply looks back at Colin before back at the soon to be attacked walled town. She pitied the town a little, but she had much to do and little time. Feeling sorry for doomed druids was not one of the missions the Guildmaster gave her.

"The Owl's Eye are confident in our thieves' skill in stealth and archery. My Guildmaster was gracious enough to led me 20 of her finest thieves so you do not need to worry about a thing." She replied before walking back towards her Stormcutter mount. "Oh and Admiral?" She started and before the admiral fully turn around to look at Guildhand Gyda, an arrow flies by his face, just grazing the tip of his nose. "It's Guildhand to you." She said before mounting her Stormcutter and taking off. Admiral Colins simply watched as the Guildhand flew off and he can't help but smiles as the tip of his nose started to bleed just a little.

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In the forests near the walls opposite of the sea the one armed man was busy ordering his men to plant what looks to be large spherical rocks into the wall under the cover of the canopy.

"Work faster men! Dig harder! We have 3 more barrels of these eggs and we need to get them all in before the storm hits!" He shouts. A scavenger ran up to the man and does a respectful bow to the general.

"The Liutenent sends his progress. All 293 Grim Gnashers and their trainers are ready to move on your orders General Thais." Said the messenger and Thais smirks.

"Good, good. Make yourselves eager men! Time for loot and slaves will be soon! The dumb fool Colin will take most of the enemy, but we will show the druids the ingenuity of the Athenians yet!" He shouts to his men as they dug into the wall with pick and hammer before placing the rocky eggs into the wall.
 
Garm stepped up from behind the druid and used his bow to lower her spear tip, a quick, "I'll handle this."

He turned and in an instant his own fist caught Slode in his chin knocking the younger viking on his rear. "Are you insane?!" He yelled at him, "A dragon falls out of the sky dead with an injured rider, and when he proposes to go and figure out what exactly is goinn on, hou knock him out?! God's above, youre such and idiot, we shoudshou be fighting each other here, but here you are knocking out the people that helped you get you bloody dragon! "
Blitz came behind him growling lowly electric arcs crackling occasionally. "I'm going to do what he intended, and go scout things out, as I am probably the only one here who has a dragon that can ride in a storm. Now you can either help these people prepare, or you can sit while the rest of us work. Your choice."
 
Ren felt a slight sense of satisfaction when Theoc collapsed to the dirt. Not that she disliked the guy, rather the opposite, but he was acting like an idiot. She'd told them all at the wall. She'd repeated herself to Slode...to Theoc...and THAT was the only thing that got people's attention. No wonder these people were dying off. Before she knew it, the oh-so-injured Edguardo...Gucchi...Groucho...whatever..was across the room and knocking Slode on his butt too.

"Go on out there. It worked so well for you the first time," Ren snarled back, "I've been trying to help the entire time while you were off getting your ass kicked by an enemy you don't know, but I do. For the love of Odin's golden underpants, If I have to say it again, someone will be missing a few ears to give you an excuse not to hear me. The dragons are in the storm. The storm is hear and I'm fairly positive this move wouldn't be done alone. We need to raise the defenses on the wall here and now.I've said it for the last time. All of the walls."

With strength that was belied by her stature, she grabbed Slode by his collar, hauled him up to his feet, then marched out into the incoming rain to Freydim's side. "I'm going to do that, so unless you got a problem with it. Come over here and stop me." She mounted Friydem and took off, sweeping low over to the wall where a tower waited. Letting Friydem hook his wings into the tower, she scaled it quickly as the rain grew heavier and found a large horn inside. "I'm guessing this is your alarm. Good god's we need to get them a bell."

Shoving the attendant off to the side, she walked right up to the horn and set her mouth in it. This was going to hurt. A deep breath proved that her ribs were still very much bruised and fractured, but she blew into the horn as much as she could sending the deep sound into the night.
 
Slode dusts himself off, the big man nodding his thanks at Ren before turning towards Garm. “This will be the only time I let you get away with hitting me, Garsh. Do it again and i’ll rip your spine out. And your dragon’s.” He threatens the older man, jabbing him in the chest with a finger. “Now, you could do what you were going to do and be the cowardly moron you look and get yourself and your dragon killed, or you could actually listen to people who know what they’re doing.”

“That Skrill of yours is our only dragon that can fly in the storm. You need to get up there and keep an eye out for any sort of tricky business. You will be responsible for making sure no one gets hurt. It will be on your head if you let your own wants to look cool be responsible for the deaths of others.” He turns from Garm then, to look towards the woman who had threatened him with her spear.

“Congratulations! You’re in charge. You need to gather your forces and man the walls. Snap, Snarl and I are going to do our best to defend the port side. Get the civilians out of the village. They are the most important part. Do you hear me?” He orders, his voice taking on a powerful tone as he drew his axe and motioned for S&S to get out of Scarwing’s way.

“It may not look like it, but this is the only way to make sure people are saved. When Theoc wakes up, someone get him to the battle. We’ll need him.”

Not pausing to see if his orders had been accepted or not, Slode marches over to S&S’ back, clambering up and flying into the sky. A few minutes later, as a horn bellowed across the town, the duo landed atop the coastal wall. Looking down at the ports outside, Slode turns to Snap and Snarl.

“Alright guys. Mind flooding those ports with some gas?”
 
The women didn't know what to say when the viking told her that she was in charge. Theoc was knocked out and she was the most prestegious warrior in the townsguard in the immediate area so the responsibility of leadership came onto her. She began ordering "Grab Theoc and get him to Chief Druid Morga. Sound the alarms and get as 2 out of every 3 Townsguard onto the walls and the rest help escort the civilians into the Night Terror tunnels." She orders and the townsguard around her went off the rely the orders.

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The alarm horn was sound, causing a chain reaction where the horns were sounded in succession, causing the entire town to awaken. A few seconds after the horns was sound an arrow flies towards Ren, but Freydem immediately spots it and knocks the arrow from the air. It gets above Ren, an easy feat for the tall dragon and keeps an eye out for any enemy archers above them. Sure enough the two would have a clear sight of a single rider wearing an owl mask rider riding a Stormcutter dragon, a different rider from the one that attacked them before. The Rider kept their distance and stares at Ren and the dragon, considering to knock another arrow but decides against it as they fly out towards the storm.

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The port was deserted and small, maybe large enough for maybe 10 or so fishing boats. While devoided of human life, there were still some Night Terrors around eating the scraps of fish that the Druids have left for them. However then Snap and Snarl arrived, they immediately flew away giving Snap and Snarl the opportunity to let loose a thick fog of explosive gas. The entire port was now covered in a thick green fog, ready to ignite.
 
Garm had an even greater urge now to put an arrow into Slode, but he restrained himself, the had to work together. As Slode went off issuing orders like he ran the place, Garm sighed, he hopped on to Blitz back, he patted her calmingly, "Come on, let's go see if we can get a read on the situation."
Blitz who still wanted to fry both Slode and S&S, calmed a bit at his touch and words, she spread her wings and took to the skies like a ballista bolt.
High into the sky they went until Blitz stopped, both her and Garm could feel the storm coming, Garm though felt it because Blitz had small sparks arcing across her body, which occasionally touched him.
Garm looked around, he saw Slode ride out to the seaward wall, he saw a strange rider fly into the storm.
Blitz looked around too, but also kept her senses open in case an enemy tried to attack them.
 
Ren was satisfied to hear the rest of the horns sounding along the wall at the call of her stolen alarm and started to turn toward the attendant when Freydim suddenly moved over her. "What are you'" The snap of an arrow sounded and she opened her eyes just in time to see another Owl rider staring at her, bow drawn, before dipping back into the clouds. This was the second time she had been specifically targeted and there was no doubt in her mind who they were there for. They were goading her. Challening her. "Damnit."

Looking to Freydim she patted his teal hide with gritted teeth. He didnt look hurt this time at least. "Thanks, Frey."

Turning to the guard/ horn attendant, she snatched him up by his collar and gave him the fiercest of looks. "If you haven't figured it out by now we're under attack. And if there something else you need to do to get people moving towards safety. Do it."

She had to get the people moving toward safety and also avoid getting killed by her pursuers.
 
@aryamajor

"I...." The Attendent was rather confused. This was the first time he had seen a foreign dragon the entire time he has been up here. To see not only one but two foreign dragon riders here was a shock, but he didn't have enough time to say anything when the Viking grabbed him by the collar and ordered him to do something to get people moving safely.

"I...umm...I can relay a message to the town criers if you'd like." He tells her. "They're the ones who tell the civilians what's going on." He tells her. "What...what's going on here? Who are you? Who was that?"

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@Azathoth

As Blitz flew over the ocean and towards the storm, thunder and lightning began to pick up. It didn't seem to phase Blitz however as she seemed comfortable in the stormy weather. She instinctly went into the thickest part of the storm, causing the two to immediately become drenched in the rain caused by the storm. Around them now were dark clouds, keepin the Skrill and her rider hidden from all dragons who were not accustom to living in stormy weather, and below, Garm and Blitz can see a total of what seems to be around 45-60 ships, each one carrying at least 100 people on the deck, all armed and ready to fight. The only ones that had less were the ones that had dragons or catapults on them. From above it was hard to get an exact amount of which types of ships, but seems to be 9-13 ships carrying dragons, 4-8 ships carrying catapults and 12-16 ships carrying what looks to be lightly armored foot soldiers and 16-22 ships carrying well armored foot soldiers. They haven't spotted Blitz yet due to the Skrill's natural stealth within the storm, but if they decided to get closer or stay longer, it would risk them being spotted.

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@TheGreenerGrey

With the port cleared of life, Snap and Snarl flies down from the coastal walls to do what their rider had ordered. They did a quick fly by, and coated the entire port in green flammable gas. It took them a minute and a half, but when it was done the port was now rather spooky looking with the entire port being covered in a thick layer of green fog. With their job done, Snap and Snarl took this time to get a little snack with the two heads sniffing out and immediately digging into two half-eaten fish barrels.

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Story

The storm was nearly there, maybe two or three more minutes before it hits. The three leaders of the assault prepare their forces for battle. Gyda and 10 of her thieves, all mounted on Stormcutters, hid in the storm, waiting to strike. In the clouds they could not hear the horns blow, so they had no idea what was going on.

Admiral Colin kept his fleet going silent and dark towards the beaches of the coastal wall, but loaded up the catapult ships for the first volley once they were in range. The Stormcutter that saw Ren blow the horn landed on Admiral Colin's flagship and what the thief told the Admiral angered him. This day just got more interesting as somewhere they had slipped up. This might be more difficult, and now they had to speed up the attack. Colins throws caution to the wind and tells the ships to row at twice the speed and now the ships are moving faster towards the coastal walls. From the port, or on top of the coastal wall, one could easily make up the ships heading towards the beaches.

The General Thais waited for the signal to light the eggs, turned into natural bombs in order to breach the walls. When the horns blew however, he knew something was wrong. The Druids shouldn't have an knowledge of the attack. It might be something else, but he didn't have time to adjust the plan.

Behind the walls, the Townsguard, led by the spearwomen that threaten to attack Slode was slowly getting the civilians to the Night Terror tunnels and caves. Town criers were going around, ringing tambourines and bells, waking up everyone to get them into the tunnels.
 
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Garm looked to the ships below and swore, "how in the Hel did they get this close without anyone noticing." He muttered to himself. He needed to inform everyone of what he had seen and what was about to be a shit storm.
He patted Blitz, "Come on girl, charge up and get us out of here." He told her, not to mention the storm was aggravating his wound and he was in no shape to fight.
Blitz growled a confirmation, and the lightning from the storm began arcing to the dragons metallic spines as she began charging up.
 
The guard tower attendance seem to be just as lost as everyone else. These weren't Druids , they were sheep! "I'm someone whose trying to help you live. Get the people into safety, or do I have to repeat it again?!"

With that she let go of him to do his work and climbed aboard Friydem. "C'mon lets go, friend."

She took to the air and took off toward the bay where she spied a lightning storm brewing.
 
@aryamajor @Azathoth @TheGreenerGrey

The civilians were being herded into the tunnels with the upmost haste. They didn't know what had happen as news travel slowly, but they knew well enough to head to the tunnels when told as the tunnels were only used when the town was being attacked. The were rumors however, of a rider being killed, theoc being knocked out by a crazed viking and that the town was going to be under siege by the Scavengers. The Townsguard were quickly mustered, as they were trained to be summoned in a moment's notice and were gathered around the warning signal that Ren had signaled. The Coastal wall pointing towards the sea and storm. In but a minute around 2/3 of the Town's guard, almost over 1800 bow and spear armed warriors, are now stationed on the coastal walls. While looking out, one would have a hard time looking out at the dark sea as the combination of the night and the storm made it near impossible for one to see anything. That didn't hold true for long however as suddenly six large fires were lit, marking the position of the Scavenger Ships, being protected from dragon attacks due to the storm above.

With the catapults in range, the Admiral sounds the war horns, and 14 transport ships began to row triple time, attempting to get to the coast as quickly as possible. There was no need to secrecy now, and the catapults loose, with 6 large man sized fireballs flies across the sky and into the walls, just around a few meters near the top. The admiral calls for a reload as the siege weapons began to reload. The Townsguard on the walls had the height advantage on their wall and it allowed them to loose a volley of arrows towards the speeding boats, travelling just in front of the ships. The men on the boats raised their shields, keeping them relatively protected, but it wasn't enough cover as they were exposed while travelling towards the coast. The Townsguard knocked more arrows to ready for another volley, but before their arrows can fly, a dozen or more foreign arrows flew from the sky and began picking off the Townsguard one by one. Looking up one could see a dozen outlines of Stormcutter dragons mounted by riders carrying bows and wearing leather armor. They had the height advantage on the Townsguard as well as the mobility advantage, as they began to quickly loose arrow after arrow, picking off the townsguard one by one, making sure the wall defenders were unable to properly coordinate a volley line.

With the attack on the walls, the townsfolk were now sure of their attack and in the ensuing panic they began to rush towards the Night Terror tunnels dozens at a time with the remaining 1/3 of the Townsguard coordinating the civilians escape into the tunnels.
 
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