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CHAPTER 224
295 AC
POV THIRD PERSON
The Sistermen found themselves in a dire predicament, their ships adrift at sea with dwindling rations. Two long days had passed, and the hopeful crew now grappled with the harsh reality of their situation. Fear and despair weighed heavily upon them, and the rationed food supply only prolonged their suffering.
Homes and loved ones left behind on the Three Sisters occupied their thoughts, and they felt powerless to protect them from the impending threat. As time dragged on, a sense of helplessness permeated the stranded fleet. They knew their homes might be under attack even at this moment, but there was nothing they could do.
They tried to hunt the orcas, but the beast only came out to the surface so far away that their scorpions and ballistaes couldn't reach them. This was their last desperate attempt at killing them. They had poisoned meat and were getting ready to throw them into the sea. They couldn't use the precious dried meat they had, so they used the bodies of dead crews on the ship. Poe was perched on one of the masts and said,
-Repun, do not eat the bodies they are going to throw into the sea.-
He asked with a voice filled with curiosity,
-Why? Humans don't taste as good as seals and fish, but they are still good.-
-You know Father doesn't like it when we eat humans, so you should do that. If we eat them, even our own people will start to fear us, and they put poison on the bodies, so you will die if you eat them.-
This was Repun's first time hearing about poisoning a meat, so he innocently asked,
-Silly, humans are not bad for you like balloon fishes or jellyfish. How did they make them like that?-
Poe sighed and lamented,
-Why do we have another muscle brain like my brother?-
-What is a muscle brain? Is it tasty?-
-Haa, it is what we call people like you and my brother.-
At this moment, the sailors started throwing the bodies into the sea,
-Can we not eat them?-
Poe got angry and said,
-Go on, eat them; I don't care anymore. Go on, eat them, and die, you overgrown fish!-
-I am not a fish. I am an orca. What did Master call us?-
He thought for a second and proudly said,
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-I am a murderous Oreo. I don't know what that is, but if Master said it, it must be a good thing.-
Repun started hitting the bodies with his tail and sending them back to the ships.
...
Under the shroud of night, Erebus and his Murder of crows returned to the ships with a haul of mice. They deposited the mice onto the decks and left to bring another haul of mice. And now, it was Nin's turn to play his part; the tiny mice scurried about, poised to carry out their assigned tasks under the cover of darkness. Nin Stood among his dominated mice and said,
"Fear not, my fellow ninjas! Our noble lord has charged me with a mission of utmost importance! We must embark on a quest to uncover every morsel of sustenance and every droplet of water hidden within those vessels and defecate in them! Everything depends on our stealthy and diligent efforts!"
...
Aermir and his army had finally reached Longsister. On this island, there was one town, three castles, and some small villages dotted the landscape. The town stood adjacent to the imposing stronghold of House Longthrope, the island's ruling house. However, the other two castles on the island paled in comparison to the Stormhold, the seat of House Longthrope. These smaller castles were held by Houses Stormcliff and Ironcrest, appearing more like fortified holdfasts than true castles.
As the army under Aermir's command prepared to assault the castle of House Stormcliff, he took flight as the Druid. He soared towards the castle. Observing the transformation, they knew the eagle was the Druid. The archers on top of the walls began to fire a barrage of arrows in his direction. To their astonishment, each arrow subtly altered its course, consistently missing the Druid. Even as he maintained an unchanging flight path, none of the arrows found its mark. The jelmio sumby (wind shield) spell at Aermir's disposal deflected the incoming projectiles, ensuring his safety as he approached the castle.
Aermir descended gracefully onto the gatehouse of House Stormcliff's castle, his human form seamlessly taking shape. All the while, arrows rained down from the nervous archers, yet not one found its mark as though an invisible shield enveloped him. In a low voice, he whispered the incantation, "Kelio rugiet (Lion's roar)," and then, his voice reverberating through the castle like an earthquake, he inquired, "Who is the lord of this castle?"
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, and no one dared to respond. But eventually, a young boy stepped forward from the midst of the onlookers.
"I am the son of Lord Stromcliff, Oswell Stormcliff. In the absence of my father, I am the lord of the castle," he declared. Though the boy attempted to project bravery, his trembling voice and anxious demeanor betrayed his true feelings in the presence of the Druid. With a cold tone, Aermir said,
"Not in his absence, boy, you are the new lord of this castle. Every one of your men and lords is resting in their new watery grave. As you can see, we are here, and your men are not. You have lost the sea battle."
Protests, screams of sadness, and shock began to rise from the soldiers and the small folks behind them.
"I, the priest of the Old Gods, command you to drop your weapons and bow down in front of the new lord of this island, Lord Aermir Drasil. If not, I will have no other choice but to destroy this castle. I do not want a needless bloodbath, but the unprovoked attack of the Sistermen must be punished."
Druid Emrys' voice resonated within the hearts of all within the castle, leaving them profoundly shaken. The boy collected all his courage and said,
"We serve only the Arryns; the Stormcliff do not bow down in front of invaders."
Aermir released a hearty laughter,
"The pirates are acting like they are the victim and honorable while you and your people are the scourge upon this waters and the aggressor of this conflict. I have given you a peaceful solution, but you have refused to accept your punishment. So, today, winter will come for House Stormcliff."
Aermir, reasuming his eagle form, soared back to his awaiting army. From above, he observed his stand-in, gallantly adorned in his own knight armor, firmly grasping his Valyrian steel halberd, Moonreaver. Swiftly, he plunged back into the formation of paladins and Knights of Drasil, becoming one with his troops. There, he buffed 200 of them to serve as the vanguard, turning them into juggernauts.
With unwavering determination, Aermir stepped to the forefront, harnessing the might of his druidic powers. First, he summoned a minor wind elemental and the ever-fiery wildfire spirit that looked like a wolf. With this potent combination at his disposal, his magical prowess was amplified. The winds and fire intermingled as he cast a mighty, combined spell.
"CRIMSON FIREBALL (Rubeus Perzys)!"
Aermir conjured a colossal crimson fireball that hung ominously before him, growing in size and intensity. When it reached its zenith, he launched it with unyielding resolve toward the steel-reinforced wooden doors guarding the castle. A blinding, searing light burst forth upon impact, followed by a thunderous explosion that shattered the doors into oblivion.
While smoke started to settle, Sith surged forward, and Aermir's stand-in, who was riding her, cried out, "CHARGE!" With an indomitable spirit, they launched themselves into the heart of the castle through the obliterated doors, poised to take the fight to the defenders within.