The Suk Chae glowed in alternating colors of cream, blue, red, and green. The sphere sat in the middle of a miniature reproduction of the city of Dong Tochi. It's pulsing stream of colors radiating outwards. The Suk Chae was the sole source of power for the city-state of Dong Tochi and allowed it to cling to the harbor surrounded by wilderness and hostile enemies. Large stone walls surrounded the city and the outer fortified staging area, Du Beon Jae Dosi, where the beast attacks were held at bay.
The beasts, Chim Sung Saram, mounted offensives against Dong Tochi periodically to try and steal the Suk Chae. They believed by capturing the Suk Chae they could drive the Aventyrare out of the city and stop further encroachment into their territory. So far, they had not succeeded.
Anarchy reigned in Dong Tochi until the bells warned of an impending Chim Sung Saram attack.
The peal of the alarm bells rocked the air. Four generals: Ahm Rahis the Elyun, Tomutan Okuz the Kertenkele, Nwa Chapo Le Sel the Asistan Ti, Jikutokushikazu the Mikachiari were in charge of defending Dong Tochi. The bellowing voice of Tomutan Okuz with the aid of a bull horn rang throughout Du Beon Jae Dosi, "It is time! Non-combatants need to leave the area immediately."
A mad scrabble ensued while anyone not equipped or able to fight fled through a series of large gates into Dong Tochi. Merchants wrapped up their wares in large rugs and joined the hasty retreat leaving behind permanent vending stalls made out of stone.
Nwa Chapo Le Sel sent up a magic burst into the sky from the top of the gate between Dong Tochi and Du Beon Jae Dosi signaling the impending invasion. Jikutokushikazo and Ahm Rahis shouted into their horns while they strode through Dong Tochi cajoling Aventyrare to exit the bars, tea houses, and market places. "It's time to fight for the life you've enjoyed in Dong Tochi. The only home you have as Aventyrare. Grab your armor and weapons! Damage dealers to the front, magic users to the back!" There was no use trying to issue instructions any more complicated than that to the mostly drunken rabble assembling in the main square of Du Beon Jae Dosi.
Captains with a small contingent were assigned to guard the Suk Chae. If the enemy breached Du Beon Jae Dosi, they would remove the orb and head to the second harbor to catch a boat to Seo Jog Mo Seo Li, the second city the Aventyrare were attempting to build in the Far West Wilderness. Despite the lack of organization a full retreat to the outpost had never happened since the Chim Sung Saram began attacking.
Ahm Rahis spoke through the Skal used by the Generals and Captains. "Who is it this time?"
"By the size of the dust cloud, Chim, the giants," said Tomutan Okuz.
"How much time do we have?" asked Jikutokushikazo.
"Ten minutes till they breach the outer gates."
"Are the archers in position?"
"A few."
"Do I need to round up more?"
"No, Chim can knock them off the top of the stone walls. A few archers are just there to aggravate them on the way in. Nwa Chapo Le Sel seal the gates!"
A gust of air and a blue ball of light flashed in front of the gate. The doors creeped shut inch by inch. Aventyrare squeezed through the gate from Dong Tochi at the last second. Those stragglers that didn't make it in time to use the main gate broke off to use much smaller side gates.
When the massive main gate clanged shut a light blue glow sealed it's outer edges separating Dong Tochi and Du Beon Jae Dosi. If Nwa Chapo Le Sel fell in battle the magic he'd cast on the gate would be lost. His magic also held the seal around the doors to the Suk Chae. A personal guard followed to protect him during battle.
The bells doubled the pace of their ringing as the Chim drew closer. Those that were not fighting climbed the high walls to watch the battle from the Dong Tochi side. An air of festive merriment and wild excitement ran through Dong Tochi. There was no where else to go. Either the Aventyrare held the gates or there would be a mass slaughter as they fell into the sea. Private and commercial ships pulled out from the harbor to await the outcome. The doors to the eateries, bars, and tea houses were flung open to cash in on the possible apocalypse. Those that had permanent shops closed and locked massive doors optimistic the battle would be won in their favor.
Kirmizi Gunes and Mavi Ay made their way toward the staging area. Gumus Ay had not stirred since Mina left. Kirmizi didn't think he would make it another week. Nwa Chapo Yon Sel had recovered and floated by Mavi's side while Nwa Chapo Fo Dife floated next to him. Jikutokushikazu waved at the familiar figures as they entered Du Beon Jae Dosi through one of the side gates.
"They're here, the party can start now!"
A festive atmosphere of dancing, singing, and talking Aventyrare gathered in Du Beon Jae Dosi. They would win or die trying. Some still swung tankards of drink or finished gnawing what was left of their dinner. Friends who hadn't seen each other since the last attempted invasion waved and formed parties. The Generals tossed medical supplies and magic enhancers down to the Aventyrare. "Don't use them all at once! I can't guarantee when you'll get more," the Generals warned. Cheers rang out as Aventyrare caught and applied the various potions and ointments ignoring the warnings.
The bells stopped and the sudden lack of sound hushed the Aventyrare. It was almost time.
"Aventyrare," roared Tomutan Okuz. "You're finest hour is at hand! We fight for our way of life in Dong Tochi. We do not invade the Chim Sung Saram. They invade us. We want only our little piece of freedom from all in Varlid. Drive them back from our home!"
A roar went up from most in the crowd, while others laughed and booed.
"Bah! I don't know why we bother sometimes," said Tomutan Okuz into his Skal. "We should just find a nice beach and settle there."
"This used to be a nice beach," said Ahm Rahis.
The ground started to tremble. From their positions at the top of the walls the Generals could see a group of Mikachiari slinging arrows at the Chim as they approached. As Tomutan Okuz had warned the Chim swatted at the Mikachiari who easily dodged out of the way. The arrows were scratched off without slowing them down one step.
The Aventyrare started to split up into parties. Some of the more adventurous ones headed toward the main gate into Du Beon Jae Dosi to be the first to attack the Chim as they entered. Other, less experienced Aventyrare, hung back and used the stone stalls, stairs and low walls for cover.
Chim were three times as large as the largest Kertenkele. The leader's voice growled as the first Chim clashed with the Aventyrare. "Pitiful vermin. Wreckers of the land. Meet the wrath of Goddess Yu Shi!"
The massive horde of Chim, their half-tamed battle animals and mechanized automatons forced their way through the entrance and scattered into the Du Beon Jae Dosi. The action was a blur of flying weapons and bursts of magic. The Generals yelled out weak points they saw from their perches above. The Aventyrare for all their faults knew how to fight.
The tide of the haphazard battle flowed back and forth. Badly hurt Chim withdrew. Their automatons fell in pieces. Chim took the time to throw the parts on the backs of their animals to be salvaged for another time.
Tomutan Okuz yelled above the din, "Who in Goddess Gudina's name is that?"
All eyes swiveled to the main gate as a blur cut through the Chim and their automatons. Aventyrare cheered. A break in the fighting showed a lone Kertenkele wielding a massive axe. He mowed a path through Chim as Aventyrare came together in his wake to clean up.
Kirmizi's party noticed the lone Kertenkele and the Generals saw them swing around to intercept. He refused their help and continued on his lone path through the Chim. Asistan Ti launched spells to assist him as best they could. The Kertenkele continued on oblivious to the support.
Tomutan Okuz caught Kirmizi's troubled eye across the battlefield.
A single horn blew and the Chim retreated. The lone Kertenkele followed them past the outer gate while a cheer went up from the rest of the Aventyrare. The drunk ones who where still standing chased after him laughing and cursing. "Our hero!" became the rallying cry along the walls were the spectators had watched the battle unfold.
Kirmizi made his way to Tomutan Okuz's perch. "Brother, we have a problem."
"We always have problems. What makes this problem so special to try and talk to me in the middle of defending Dong Tochi?" Tomutan Okuz asked as he directed Aventyrare to pick off Chim stragglers not retreating fast enough.
"That Kertenkele is Gumus Ay. He was far gone in the Cinsel Iliski when he arrived here because of Onyx Ay."
"I don't have time for religious fanatics. I'm busy repelling a hoard at the moment."
"Ofkelenmek."
"Lanet tanri!" General Tomutan Okuz cursed. "How do we stop it?"
"Other than killing him, I don't know."