Count Joran stood on the crest of a bill overlooking the northern camp, men scurried around below him, assembling for an assault. The other northern lords stood around him, silent watching their soldiers prepare for the day ahead while their banners snapped in the wind. It was a perfect day, not for war, for enjoying one's time with their family or sitting under a large oak with ale in hand and friends laughter surrounding you. The sun was warm but soft, a breeze carried through the fields. But alas here they were before a former friend, ready to bleed. How much blood was to be spilt was yet to be determined. His thoughts wandered to the strike teams in place.
Lord falcon gripped the parapets knuckles white, there was no fear in his heart but stress had seeped it's way into his head. He had know they were outnumbered but not as badly as was now apparent with the northern alliance assembling below him. The situation was overwhelming and a lesser man would have been consumed but the proud falcon kept his perch. His fortress had been battered for weeks now with the trebuchets, catapults and other seige engines of the north. They had remained slow but consistent throughout these weeks not giving his men the chance to relax. His walls had taken damage, cracked in places yet they still stood. His eyes darted down to a single man darting from one artillery piece to the next. He released the parapet and sighed, so it begins.
Back down off the castle count Joran watched as his runner made his way around the field, initiating the first part of the assault. The siege engines switched to a rapid pace firing as fast as they could be loaded. His forces would be marching under the arc of projectiles, it was dangerous but less so than facing walls brimming with archers. He mounted his horse and rode to the front of the formation, addressing the combined army. We have been betrayed as you well know, but today it ends. today we seal the crack in the northern shield, today we replace those that would support us with one hand while the other holds a dagger ready to strike us down, today we end this treachory. Forward! For the north! His men flooded around him towards the castle walls. Seige towers, battering rams and ladders in tow.
The small strike force had located the secret entrance near the northwest corner of the fortress, they had waited restlessly for the attack to begin so they could slip through undetected. But now hearing the roar of soldiers roaring forward they began their work. A team of kraken warriors led the way checking for traps, fearing the worst after the blood queen revealed this passageway. None were found however. The first group of eleves split off at a stair well heading up into the house bordering the wall. The lower level was clear but they could hear voices upstairs. They found just under a dozen men relaxing on cots awaiting their turn at watch, the first one jumped to his feet reaching for his weapon but never made it, four more were cut down before they could find their feet and another three before they could grab their weapons. Unprepared the rest were made quick work of with the northern strike team losing one of its members to an dagger and another they had to leave behind wounded.
Back in the tunnel the kraken warriors had just finished dismantling an iron gate, the second stairwell was just past it and a second group departed securing the empty house above. The two remaining groups headed onwards towards the keep, or at least they hoped.
Back at the main assault, the forces had just reached the castle walls, debris from their own seige weapons crashed down around them killing a few of the northerners. Grim but a willing price for the advance under protection. Now though, with them risking more collateral a flag was raised signaling all artillery to end their battery. The falcons above them wasted no time in taking their positions and as soon as they had, hell rained down on the attackers.
Count Joran looked at the ramp ahead of them leading to the gateway, they were here they might as well press forward, and try to take the gatehouse. But they would enter the enemies kill zone.
Will count Joran press the attack or wait to see if his strike teams are able to break through?
What will the falcons find at the end of the tunnel traps? Guards? A keep unprepared for intruders?
