MOD PLOT ↠ BLAZING LIKE STAR-SHINE

[faderifting]

WHO: All characters signed up to participate in the Battle of Ghislain
WHAT: The Inquisition faces off against the armies of Corypheus
WHEN: Covers most of the day on 11.28 (forward-dated)
WHERE: The Fields of Ghislain, Orlais
NOTES: This is Post #1, covering the battle itself and the retreat. It contains top-levels for each of the teams and an open prompt for the retreat. The OOC post with more information/explanation is HERE. If you're not sure which team your character is on, there's a LIST. POST #2 covers the aftermath of the battle.

Scouts accurately report the enemy's movements: after a slight slow-down believed to indicate that word reached the of the Allies' sudden appearance in their path, they have elected to remain on-course, and arrive almost precisely when and where they were expected. By sunset the night before they are making camp just over the rise to the northeast, easily visible from the hill, and as night falls their fires can be seen winking along the horizon, a close-packed glow.

The mood in the camp is tense, openly jittery rather than the tightly-wound nerves of the past month, but with a sense almost of relief that after so much preparation and so many weeks of anticipation, the day has finally arrived. Some corners of the camp, particularly the greener recruits and the Antivan veterans, are raucous around their campfires, singing and drinking, playful brawls breaking out, but commanders are strict about the wine rations, and even those who choose to take the edge of this way make an early night of it. A scattered handful of men attempt to quietly slip away during the night, mostly Orlesian conscripts, but a few Inquisition agents as well. Some succeed, but others are caught and imprisoned--the Inquisition's few held to be returned to Skyhold where it can be determined if they are traitors or merely cowards, the Orlesians only as long as it takes to find a tree and an audience to watch them hang and spread the cautionary tale.

It is expected that the enemy, hoping to make up for its surprise at finding the Allies prepared for their arrival, will attempt to catch them off-guard by attacking before dawn instead of waiting, as is traditional, for first light. They are all roused from their beds to form up in the dim grey as quietly as possible, moving into formation in the wet grass, a heavy morning fog lingering on the field ahead. It's cool and raw, the air still. But the ground moves: the shudder and rumble of hooves striking earth, felt before it is heard. The Orlesians raise their pikes, the front line braces, and it begins.

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TEAMS 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • RETREAT
Team members can break off into smaller groups within their top-level prompts—it doesn’t need to be one 13-character thread—and the retreat is an open free-for-all.

Comments

II

[onlyhymns]

It would have been the killing blow, no doubt: Cade is already prone, a bloody spot on his hip from where the axe hit him once, and bracing for the end. But it doesn't come, and his eyes snap open in surprise, meet Ilias'-- a silent breath as one arm shoots out to point behind the Nevarran at the encroaching enemy.

Though it hurts, Cade can tell his hip isn't destroyed; he stumbles to his feet and shakily readies his bow, his only weapon. His eyes are glassy and distant, but he recognizes Ilias as an ally, and is ready to defend him.

[libratus]

The gesture should be sign enough, but Ilias isn't accustomed to the chaos of this, the importance of swift reactions when part of him is struggling just to stay in the present moment; it takes just a beat too long for Cade's pointing hand to translate into meaning. When Ilias turns, it's in time to bring his staff up in charge for another attack — not fast enough to discharge it before a flash of white neatly severs his connection to the Fade altogether.

Which isn't great.

But on the plus side, Ilias has the sense to duck down as he scrambles from the Red Templar's blade. It's not the cleanest shot, between the brush and the armor and the very moving target, but at least (or unfortunately) the both of them are now moving Cade's direction.

[onlyhymns]

Cade is on his feet by now, regardless of how one leg threatens to give out: an arrow is loosed into their assailant, and then, quickly, another, his face white and his eyes focused. He's fought red Templars before, and takes a particular offense to their existence as... well, something like one of them, not that either could claim to be a Templar these days.

He manages to stagger the enemy, taking a limping step backward as he glances to Ilias, hoping he recognizes they're not done fighting yet.