Siege on the City of Heroes - North, Part 1(EVENT)

[Vincent]

Vincent had been fighting a ferocious battle. After all his fights and all his triumphs he never once thought he would be brought into the war. He was battered and bruised and very tired. Sweat poured from his face and body falling in a shower around him. His senses were on high alert and he feared losing his grip more than anything. Of all the people to bring him in, it was the Ilian chief that had banished him, if he wasn't so focused on the fight he would laugh. Forgiveness is a hard won fight after all. He knew Neil would have been here right alongside him if he could. The dynamic duo taking the world by storm.

A bandit came charging at him with a lance. Since the explosion in the wall things had been turning sour but, just maybe it was beginning to look up. He had been just another face in the crowd but now he was one of the main forces holding back those that slipped by the main front. The bandit lashed out with his lance and Vincent caught the shaft in his lancereaver, redirecting it and pulling himself in close to the opponent. With a swift spin he locked his second blade into the nape of his neck rendering chain mail and flesh alike relieving the man of his head. Burt was right, killing really did get easier each time you did it.

Freeing his blade he knocked the headless body over. He was covered in his opponents gore as well as his allies and own. His energy was draining in this fight and fast. Two more slipped past! He rushed the first ducking under an axe blow and blocking a sword swing. Thankfully he wasn't alone in the fighting and was able to deal with the swordsman one on one. He struck out with both blades in a spinning dance of death. His opponent was a master however and he needed to resort to a new plan. Unleashing the new found strength he had honed over his months of traveling he swung down on the man from above. The swordsman blocked and two blades became as four. The energy pierced through the steel and sliced into his opponent stunning him and wounding him gravely. Vincent merely stabbed him and stole his blade.

He had used up a number of swords in the fighting. One shattered under a shaman's spell and others gained too many notches blocking and cutting through steel. Somehow that lancereaver retained its sheen. "Hey Phoenix Heart! Think you'll let me use you anytime soon? I'd really appreciate it." He thought to the blade expecting the usual snide remarks about being unworthy but perhaps things would be different here.

"You can certainly use my help boy, but not this day. This day of fighting will come to an end eventually." The sword was encouraging? That was certainly new. Vincent smiled to himself before regaining a steely composure.

He decided now, it was time to head to the front lines. Rushing forward he ran past an enemy lashing out at his leg. To his pleasure the man felt it and soon collapsed to the ground. He didn't think he had much left in him. Certainly not enough to wield his new powers again. He made it relatively unscathed. "Hold the lines!!!" Vincent shouted. The bandits were receiving a few dangerous blows. If they held the line firm for a bit longer the bandits would be forced to retreat.

That is when he saw HER. The mage from the gang of extortionists. If he were still a novice he would have rushed out to slay her but now. Now he held back. Perhaps he'd get his opportunity to take her down and her partner later but not now. He had a hard emotionless look on his face. He would stay behind and with the line but now was the time to advance. The advantage was theirs. The mages were killed and a great deal of damage done.

[Zerachiel]

As the coin flipped and turned in the air, Zera snatched it from it's fall in a single swing on the arm. His hands were just as deft as they always been, the memories engraved into his very muscles themselves. He smirked to his self, even if he wasn't entirely sure how it worked, he was grateful to have this chance. He looked at the coin in his hand with an inquisitive look. For luck was it? Well Zera definitely could use some of that, all of his luck was used up by now. It might help to have someone else's for a change. "Don't get dead." He replied to the man who teased him over his formerly missing arm, the assassin could do nothing but laugh. He made a small wave of the arm as he pocketed the coin while the man ran off, no doubt to that crazed mage from the over day. He'd be lying if he said it didn't make him frown at least a little bit, but he was simply so ecstatic to having his arm once again that anything else was unimportant in comparison. A sudden thought creeped into his mind, how would he 'explain' how he got his arm back to his superiors? He was a clever man, he was sure he could find some reason, but one wasn't coming to him just yet.

Worst comes to worst he'll just chop the damn thing off again.

His back was turned to the battlefield, ignoring whatever chaos was happening behind him. The bandits strewn across the field in a bloody mess, the holes in the wall that appear to be a deathtrap to any who dare to make the journey, instead he gathered tools. He grabbed a new set of lockpicks, his old pair were specifically designed for him to do sans one arm, it took much longer than he needed now however. Also less of a pain in the ass in general. Some flint, that was always good... Rope, yes he could use that. Not too much though, he didn't want to overburden himself. Enough to be useful, but not so much to hinder him, that was the best way. A few utility tools, his knives, his blades, he couldn't get everything he wanted however. That was to be expected it was a bandit supply camp, why would they have the sort of thing he needs? It was irritating in the end not matter what, but once again he was too busy being happy to waste time being annoyed.

He looked at the field and shook his head with a chuckle. Foolish, both sides were. He would wait, and find the right moment to strike... He just needed to bide his time.

[Edrick]

Perfect, his tactic worked perfectly, however it seemed to have much more of an effect then he thought it would. He failed to see how the one exploded barrel could create such a long, straight, line of fire. And all of the fireballs stopped too. he thought it would have killed some of the mages, not all of them, were they huddling in a small group or something? Either way, the enemy mages were out of commission and the defending ones could focus on stopping the barrels from hitting the lines or the wall. Then for some reason the enemy archers started to launch their arrows in volleys, similar to the was he had the defenders doing. Did they realize the advantages to it? It seemed a bit late for order, and they must have realized that too as they began to retreat. Some troops in their battle frenzy began to chase them down, but the ones able to catch the bandits fell fast when they realized that they weren't supported by any other troops. Most people were smart enough not to give chase. "Men, don't give chase! Use this moment to rest and steel yourself against their projectiles! The day is almost over!" He shouted to the men around him, and people shouted back, the bandits retreating was a huge morale booster for them it looked like, and sounded like.

He wouldn't be surprised if the bandits stayed away as well, it was getting quite late in the day, hopefully the other sides of the battle fared well, the city didn't seem to be on fire so it seems as though they were successful so far, that was good. The ragtag defenses were holding up, but with any lull in battle, like this one, people were running around trying to fix the walls as best as possible and the walls needed as much help as they could get.

Since there was a lull with the bandits retreating and everything there was time to tend to the troops, he started pulling anyone off the line who looked over exerted, although many didn't want to leave, the other men around them talked them into it for it was better for the whole fighting force here. More or less fresh troops replaced those that left the line. HE also helped carry wounded men and women back into the city for medical treatment. It was sad seeing this many people in agony from their wounds, a few tears began to run down his face because of it. Seeing men in pain was never the easiest thing to do.

[Gabe]

Gabe had been firing his trust bow non stop this whole fight praying this fight would end soon as long as his side won the day. "I swear if anymore bandits appear I'm Gianna be pissed of!" Yelled Gabe as he kept firing. The bodies were piling high and the bandits seemed relentless but suddenly Gabe heard the most welcome news of the day.

[Vincent]

The bandits were in retreat at long last. They were pulling out and that meant the day was successful. Vincent let out a cheer of a battle cry. He longed to give chase and offer incentive to run faster at the tip of his blade but alas he would be shot from the volleys of arrows. The commander was yelling to keep the defensive up and not give chase. Vincent managed to stop one man from going but in turn another to his right ran out and was mowed down by arrows.

The shield wall held for the moment the pelting arrows could not penetrate the shields. Vincent stood close as to avoid the far flying arrows that could sneak into his head if not careful. After several minutes that felt like hours the arrows were less and it was relatively safe to move. Vincent rushed out constantly scanning the fields for enemies as he made his way to aid in the medical evacuations.

Vincent scanned the field and saw one soldier with an arrow just below his breast. It must have narrowly missed his heart but it could still cause death even if rescued, but guaranteed if unaided. "You! Provide me cover! I'm going to get him back!" Vincent shouted to a man carrying a tower shield. The man hesitated but nodded in acknowledgement.

The two moved as one closing in on the casualty. Arrows deflected off the shield roughly twice before reaching the man. "Don't worry! I have you!" Vincent did his best to lift the man without agitating the wound or shifting the arrow. He carried him princess style as they hurried back retreating to the line once more."We are going to get you healing, I swear it!" Vincent listened to the man breath with a slight gurgle. He feared blood was entering his lungs.

"I d-don't want to die," the wounded soldier managed. Vincent desperately ran. The fighting was ending now. They would be safe till the morrow.

"Just hang on a little while longer!" Rushing through the city Vincent kept trying to talk the man through it. "We're almost there, we are going to make it!" Vincent always worried more for others than himself and now he needed this. It was a chance to rescue the man, and an ally in arms. He did not understand the military well having spent his time as a mercenary without ties to any allegiance or commanders but he did understand brotherhood and felt strongly for it.

"Just drop me! I am worm food!" the man cried coughing blood. He had given up but Vincent would not. En route Vincent rushed passed Edrick and finally got to the medics.

"Quick! He needs healing!" Vincent laid the man on one of the few remaining free racks. The man moved limply. He made no effort to act or seek attention, he just freely laid there... head lolling to the side... eyes...unblinking. Vincent fell to his knees. "DANG IT!!!" Vincent slammed his fist into the floor with an audible crack. He used his full force and beneath the gauntlets the flooring slightly cracked.

Vincent stifled his tears as he walked out to go back to the battlefield. He did not even know this man, and yet he was affected so. He had already seen others fall beside him. Even men he had previously held talks full of laughter and thoughts of home and the ones they loved. This man was the same as them but... he had chance to help him. Vincent began to pick up his pace ready to run back into the battle, if there was any fighting left.

[Gabe]

The bandits were retreating which would have made Gabe happy if didn't know they would probably be back with more numbers and more siege weapons. "Hmmm my quiver is nearly empty, I better use this time to restock." Thought Gabe. Gabe left his post and quickly restocked his quiver then returned ready to fight again