The low moons, hanging on the inky-black sky of Slatvia cast an eerie shadow upon the battlefield that the town's front gates had become. A fierce warrior with a gleaming sword of runic steel could be seen battling the Ape Men on top of the Northern town's walled gates. A maddened determination struck all who stood before her.

It was Alana who stood heroically against them, left hand wielding her runic blade in expert form that the common guards of the town marveled over. The flesh she would cut into reeked of a decay that bothered the sense of smell overtly. A much unnatural and unpleasant scent when compared to the natural scent these enemies would give off in her youth.

They would claw and gnash at her with their strikes, less natural and more mechanical in their fashion. Against her, however, their attacks became useless. She was a whirlwind of steel and maddened fury, her movements a dance of survival that took advantage of their recklessness. Her every move was filled with the poise and regalness of the beast she so sought to emulate in its grandeur.

Once an enemy of hers fell from the walls she would shift to the nearest station to her, which held the bestial savages back. Her confidence soared as she sent her unintelligent foes down to the ground. One Ape man took advantage of an opening she had left after he had managed to climb the wall. He struck when she was busy locked in a contest of strength with another beast, blocking their strike with her blade. The beast sacrificed its hand to dig into her equally expressive and bestial glare of madness.

The blow of the other ape was countered by Vesteger's spear, who had flanked the beast expertly. He was a seasoned fighter with eyes that held the enlightened wisdom, Alana sought through countless battles. Just like her, he had rushed to the gates after Barnas had announced the call to arms. As a more free-form civilian expert on his martial path, he too would defend his home from enemy invasion.

The two warriors gave each other a nod of recognition, and together, they fought back the relentless horde. It seemed to keep growing as their enemies now numbered past the forty-eight mark. For some reason, despite dealing crushing blows through the multiple mortal wounds inflicted onto their bodies, the Ape men continued fighting with their marred and disfigured forms.

As their weapons clashed with the grotesque creatures, Alana spoke excitedly at the battle through gritted teeth.

"Ay mate hahaha, this is quite a battle no? Something awful wicked courses through these beastmen. My blood boils hotter at the struggles hahaha!" Another swing of her sword and the limb of her interlocked assailant became useless, she promptly sent the ape flying from the wall with a kick of inhuman strength.

Vesteger nodded, his blade slicing through the air. "The guardsmen are struggling. We are strong, but we need them to stay put. My eyes and yours can see their wickedness but the guards cannot." He said as he landed a blow on the head of one of the ape savages with his spear. The head flew into pieces instantly and the unseen strings of mana that controlled it allowed it to fall as they severed in connection. This did not go unnoticed by the perceptive warriors' enhanced eyesight.

"We have to buy the guards time! Whatever forces keep them moving after such mortal blows, works not against their heads! Aim high or cripple them, that is our only way to buy time till the rest of the vanguard arrives!" Despite the odd situation Vesteger was experienced enough to not fall into a battle of psychological attrition.

When the situation became hopeless, a distant horn followed the sounds of drums and the strumming of strings echoed through the night. The torches carried by the reinforcing vanguard flared the hope of desperate defenders to life. Godrick and Barnas arrived with the ragtag group of townsfolk, wielding whatever weapons they could find along the way. The citizens, fueled by the burning pride for their beloved hometown, joined the battle with the unwavering determination of those whose loved ones stood behind them.

Vesteger excused himself from the wall to head to the chieftain once he saw the gates of the town open to meet the encroaching horde of beasts. The vanguard brought the Ape men down from the walls locking them in a ground melee of animalistic snarls and battlecries. The wall defenders were now free to support the advancing vanguard attacking with bows or spears that seemed to only mildly distract the unnatural apes.

"My chief a report on the situation must be heard." Down on one knee, Vesteger reported his findings in the earlier battle.

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"Undying ya say," Barnas replied spreading his endless aura across the field of battle.

The surprise on his face spoke volumes about the supernatural elements that were currently at play.

"Hells! Foul magics runs through these beasts unlike any I've ever seen."

"Attention mine Clansmens and citizens, the enemies run amok with dark magics. Attack their heads and disarm them of their limbs, Slatvia shall not falter to mere magic."

Barnas turned to Godrick, as a scholar on this subject his council was to be heeded.

"Godrick I ask ye, my warrior an' me are not keen to the plays of the mystic. These magics are closer to yer own, although fouler in their aspect. I sense their severance upon their heads destruction as mine kin says Is there no help ye can aid with."

With an air of seriousness, Godrick responded " Chief I am not so skillful as to be able to sense the magics at play but if what you say is correct then the darker aspects of mana can only be summoned with the language of the En'Oamantes. This is the language of the devils, a contract of a ritual would be in play from what I can surmise. And these are all the works of another being of magic whether devil or demon both are the only beings that embrace these foul tongues further from the Egypsiei Pharaohs of the South."

"Demons and Devils ya say, haha. Alright then are yer past ties sufficient to deal them a blow?" Barnas asked expectantly.

"My skills are not what they once were as a Priest my chief, but know that my knowledge remains unhindered should an exorcism be required. I would most likely be able to exorcise the being so long as their physical manifestation be held back from assaulting me."

With the knowledge and understanding of his enemy Barnas's mirth grew with his smile, the glint of madness creeping through his eyes.

"We can make a real man out ya yet out here in the north Pilgrim. Know that with mine steel none shall near onto ya ahahahaha!" The maddened laughter of Barnas emboldened his warriors as they heard its mightiness across the gates. The warriors were emboldened and empowered by it rousing their morale as if they were already on the winning side. Their fighting spirit grew as the laughter kindled their wills and steel.

His laughter also attracted the attention of the equally insane red-haired berserker on top of the walls. Alana sliced off the head of another Ape and sent it flying over to her uncle's feet as the beast's body fell over the boundaries of the town's side gate.

Her unhinged behavior could not help but tease her uncle Barnas from high up on the battlements. "Uncle o' chief of mine, the chieftain of all hahaha! The townsfolk down under are braver than ya! They're fighting while yer still pondering strategy! I thought, ya were still a warrior or was our slight tussle more than ye could bare for the night ahahaha!" Finishing her statement she jumped down to join in on the melee that continued down the walls.

In it, multiple warriors of the militia vanguard took on four to six men and women to one Ape. The red-haired warrior lightened their struggles by joining in their fights and slaughtering the distracted Apes.

After her statement, Barnas's pride had been stung so badly that it was as if the venomous wasp of the north had insulted his skin personally. Unhooking his oversized and intimidating runic axe from his back he looked at Godrick with a helpless smile, and shrugged as he charged into the fray. His leadership on the battlefield was impressive. He may not have been a strategist, but he was a formidable field leader and most importantly the most intimidating warrior to have superseded the strength of a huscarl, no more than forty-two winters past.

Despite the replenishment in numbers the beasts received from the dead Northenders joining the melee on their side. The battle-hardened citizens of the north did not falter once they had been joined by their mythical Chieftain, the mightiest warrior of their town. All Apes who opposed him found their usual advantage over men and women in strength and size, outclassed by his own exaggerated human proportions. Their numbers would fly limblessly or be crushed to the point of immobility; not from their true death but by the sheer violence he could inflict with the simplest of his attacks.

So true was the legendary strength of the Skrol that despite the difference in size, his own niece; a rightfully Pathed Berserker would almost, equal him in feats of violence, if not strength.

"They are all insane I must say but they are warriors the likes of which not seen in the Aquila" Godrick mentioned to the weary Vesteger who smiled grimly at the onslaught the two warriors unleashed onto the horde of invaders.

"Indeed, the path of the martial is only for those most suited. I may be an enlightened but they themselves hold their own form of enlightenment on the battlefield." He added with a bit of jealousy in his tone.

"Unparalleled." He added with a mutter, proudly running to fight alongside them.

Godrick, in his blue robes, decided to get into action himself. While he was no more skillful than peasants with steel. The Staff he had received offered him an ease of use he would not squander. So he moved among the wounded, his hands glowing with the healing magic he had developed on his travels. No closer to the perfect system he once held access to when he was a priest but more useful than not to have. He mended broken bones and closed grievous wounds, his focus unbreakable even with the night's exhaustion mixing with the fruits corrupting insights. The marvel he beheld at the resilience of the Northend warriors inspired him to try harder. Their aura incited a purpose-filled courage that beat back the influences of the night.

He looked up at Alana, Vesteger, and Barnas, admiration filling his brown eyes. "You are all true champions of the north. Not a single soul under my care shall perish tonight!"