The Fallen Citadel pt 4

FC 4

Irisia, the capital of Journagen stood before us and I was unimpressed. Their wall was meager, and it was hard to believe that this was the mighty magic city I heard about in my travels. Then again, no one was stupid enough to attack the kingdom of magic and shadow beasts head on. Yet, there we were a party of what had to be the dumbest and bravest group of individuals of our kingdom. Their security was very relaxed and only a handful of patrols roamed the walls.

It seemed their focus was elsewhere, and thanks to us they were scouring the countryside for ghosts. With the help of Borgan we managed to slip into the city undetected. The city was a little more impressive than its walls portrayed. Large towers, academies and workshops scattered the city. Beautiful architecture and spacial planning, but it was a shame we would have to burn it to the ground.

Borgan went off on a special mission while in the city, to spread news of an elven uprising and put fear into the citizens. That little goblin worked quickly and before you know it the rumor had spread. I watched the locals hurry out of pubs and taverns, and I could smell the fear on them; good they should be scared for what's to come.

While our army marched across the kingdom, we began spreading chaos. We started off small, poisoning their water supply first followed by burning grain depots. They weren't going to survive a siege very long. Borgan went off at night with a list of targets to assassinate and dispose of the bodies. He would come back successful with a new story to tell us. His first target “squealed like a baby pig as he was gutted’ and another one “crapped themselves after they died”. Borgan was really proud of that one, he couldn’t help but laugh. Hell, even Freya had a good time, she crushed a man's skull right in front of Borgan. He stopped making jokes about her stench after that.

Eventually our Army made it to the capital Irisia, and Journagen mobilized inside and outside the city. Our king besieged them at nightfall, paying tit for tat, firing siege weapons and arrows lighting up the night sky with flames. We quickly moved into action as their soldiers scrambled around the city. Something however felt off, this was too easy, it's almost like they let us reach them. There was very little resistance along the way, and I couldn’t help but worry. They made such a bold move on our capital why would they leave theirs mostly undefended. I went along with the plan anyway, and we cleared our way to the gatehouse, and sent out a signal as we opened the gate.

Our army stormed the capital killing anyone and anything in their path with our King leading the charge. We made it through to the inner gates and up to the royal palace only to find it abandoned. They had caught us in a trap. In an instant their King Julianus had appeared outside the gates with his army, they must have hidden themselves and waited.

They abandoned their city, their people and began firing into the city. Firebolts cascading in the night sky, embers flickering around us and licking at our feet as we tried to escape the onslaught. They sent their demon beasts into the city followed by the other creatures of the night. Harold forged a path for us cutting down any foe in his way, while Freya went into a frenzy wielding her axes in melee combat, a true berserker. Jonah and Minerva covered our rear, and Elindresh and Borgan guided our eyes.

We reached the gates once again and were swept up in the clashing of weapons, claws and teeth. We regrouped with our King and his soldiers rallied around him. He stood above all men in that moment, a true warrior king, his sword dancing like the wind. Slashing through the creatures, and plunging into the hearts of demons. His golden armor had become bloodstained but it still shined to us. But he was no match for Julianus, the possessed. A dark arrow flew through the night and found its mark in our King. The soldiers stood horrified as our king was slain, but me, I became enraged. I rallied my unit and we broke through the enemy's lines. I had but one target in my focus, we were going to kill Julianus or die trying.