The mages prepared to loose their second volley on the Bull East, more than likely seeing the East Leader’s bold move to the frontlines as a good opportunity to take him down.
They flung their attacks towards the enemy with the beautiful and destructive harmony only magic can achieve.
Much to their surprise and dismay, however, no Bulls seemed to get killed, though some only just managed to remain on their feet. The leader’s shield emitted a hue that spread over the ranks of the warriors and seemed to grant them extra defence against the Guild’s onslaught.
The guardsmen on the other side attempted to stab down the phalanx in the frontlines, but the dark warriors were unimpressed.
Queen Lara was still the only caster that was turned towards the Bull West. Did she think she could stop their approach all by herself?
Fire flew forth from her hand, its target unknown at first glance, similar to the halberd.
The goal of her attack revealed itself quickly though, and it was the same as before, though now more successful. Wizard’s fire burns as no other, and it incinerated the wheels of the West’s wagon quicker than any other fire would have.
Thanks to their strongest casters, the Magus Guild’s second wave of attacks was more successful; the white mage’s blast took out the unfortunate sniper.
Bull West
The leader of the Bull West seemed to have a devious design in mind; the men that weren’t occupied with attacking the valley continued up the slope.
Crossbowmen took aim from their favourable position once more. Shooting at the nearest guardsmen, they hoped to clear those obstacles away and allow the advancing phalanx an easy slaughter.
However, they missed, and the guardsmen withstood the attacks of the phalanx as well in their turn, creating a deadlock… for the time being.
Dwellers
The clash of steel on steel and the whizzing of crossbow bolts hadn’t passed yet, or a volley of arrows whizzed past the tribe’s standard, managing no more than to nick it slightly. Who in the Bull God's name would dare to insult the Bulls in this manner?
Breaking from cover, two bow- and sword-armed figures revealed themselves.
Crossbowman: “Wolfpack rangers…! It’s the Dwellers!”
The shout passed over the battlefield, and, in an instant, the two crossbowmen on the other side of the battlefield were picked off by well-aimed shots. They slumped down, their weapons slipping from their grasp.
More rangers revealed themselves only moments after. The Dwellers had come to aid the Magus Guild in their struggle! Every tree and bush seemed like it could harbour a threat now to the enemy.
Bull East
Leader: “Forward!”
Having survived the onslaught of the mages unscathed, the Bull East charged into the valley, the leader giving the example for his faster axemen, who were more suited to this kind of thing.
The axeman on the slope had meanwhile equipped himself with the fallen archer’s bow, and he decided to take down one of the mages.
At the moment he loosed his bolt, the warriors' charge was halted by the guardsmen with the resulting accompanying noise.
So far the Magus Guild put up a good fight; the red mage who had been fired at summoned a shield and deflected the crossbowman’s shot away from him.
The East Leader wouldn’t accept this turn of events. He raised his weapons to the skies and muttered an incantation… again his intentions weren’t obvious, but just like with the shield, it couldn’t be anything good.
It wasn’t. A fallen phalanx rose from the ground slowly as new life began to fill him, his visage now that of an undead. How the leader had acquired them rather than the nature of these powers arose a lot of questions within the minds of all who put eyes on the warrior, perhaps even among his fellow tribesmen.
Imperials
The day's odds seemed less grim when a company of Starcapes arrived on the battlefield, the gun-armed soldiers led by an Imperial Bodyguard, the direct helpers of Sir Knight-Marshal Cales.
As the bitter and ancient enemies of the Bulls, the Imperials weren’t the ones to stand by and watch when a Bull threat was imminent, and their spies had noticed Queen Lara pass by Starkeep despite her best beliefs.
The Bodyguard failed to approach the Bull East with her men stealthily, but the division of soldiers were no doubt well on their way of becoming a thorn in the side of their enemies nevertheless as they started to move out.
The driver of the West cart wondered what to do with his life now that his wheels were gone.
Lots of really close rolls this round, mostly resulting in failures. The leader's heroic feat from the past turn only gave the troops behind him a +1 bonus to their defence against magic ranged attacks, but it did save a few of them. 4 days for turn 3 orders.
