The Dragon Prince

[Chaos Creator]

*Shadow moved around the armory slowly, taking in the gleam from all manner of weaponry and armor. There a couple of pieces even his age-wizened eyes had never before beheld. He hefted one of these now as he listened to the details of the men allotted and the preparations for battle. He replaced the weapon he held and moved down the rack, finding a pair of hand-claws that looked rather interesting. He slipped them on over his leather gloves, testing the fit.
He turned, facing the rest of the assembled group. He knew several of these men would lay dead at the feet of the black dragon before the end of the coming day. His own brush with mortality had lead his thoughts down a dark path, and now all he saw around him was death. Death in the faces of the soldiers that glanced at him. Death gleaming in the weapons stacked around them. Death in the way the shadows danced in the torch-light.
He, for one of the few times in his nearly 5 century existance, felt fear building inside him. The Dragon Prince would not be easy to defeat once he was borne into this world. Their only hope was to destroy the seeding dragons before the ritual could be completed.
Shadow took a long, steady, deep breath to steady his nerves, looking around again at the soldiers.*

[SForce]

*SForce looks at Raistlin deeply as the mage looks intranced into his studies. He stands up and without saying a word walks out of the door, calmly and under control. He puts his hood over his head, hiding his identity from no one; just trying to keep his emotions to himself. SForce walks down the hallway and on his way to the armory.*

*Along the way he passes a few citizens and townsfolk. A few kids run by him on either side, having him pause for a moment. He cracks a smile.*

"Ah such innocence, if only the world were like them, fun and carefree. Let them have fun as they can, come tomarrow they will be in a world of terror. Poor kids, i guess i'm fighting for not just me, but for the future of this stronghold i must." SForce murmers to himself

*He walks further across town, looking at everyone along the way. Studying them and what they do. He knows everyone, he isn't the founder of this land for nothing. However they don't know him. His hood covers anything everyone would need to know about him. Some may think he's a theif, but he posses no threat of course.*

*SForce reaches the armory and opens the door in a calm manner. He see's his friend and head of the armory, Morge. He gives him a look, but says nothing. Then he finds the person he followed to near doom. He grabs him and turns him so they face each other.*

"Tell me what happened. Why did I almost die? You made a fool of me in front of the leaders. Tell me what happened and tell me what we are to do!" SForce shouted to him

[Chaos Creator]

*Shadow, spun to face SForce, a brow arching upward at his words. He listened for a moment before allowing a smile to slowly form on his face.*

My friend, if ye were called a fool, then it is because the one that spoke the word was a fool himself. What happened back there was nothing more than bad luck. We expected to find our people in Lassick, not a great black wyrm. Could we have been prepared to face that dragon? Possibly.
But how could we have known that we rode into the middle of the village's demise? Did you know we would be ambushed? Did JC? Did Raist? If any of us did, then yes, I would say you... all of us... are fools. But we did not know.
Now all that we can do is plan from what we do now know.
We know that Lassick is gone. We know that we face a black dragon. We know that there are several other types of drakes in the area.
We also know that they work toward the end goal of bringing about the existance of the Dragon Prince. And that they do not take intruders to what they've claimed as their base of operations lightly.
Now, tell me, Elf, do you not fear for your life? Because if you don't you are a fool. And anyone that does not take this threat seriously is a fool, as well.

*Shadow glanced around the room again, realizing that many of the assembled soldiers were watching this exchange. He grasped SF's shoulder, leading him aside a bit so that the others could not hear.*

I fear many will lose their lives before this is over. And I'm not exactly sure there will not be some damage and losses here within our very own stronghold. These beasts know that we know of their existance at the very least. That they've already guessed that we know their motives as well should be our next assumption. Dragons are not stupid.
We must co-ordinate and plan well, for I fear the time of the Prince draws nigh. It is said that there will be a complete lunar eclipse the night before his coming. And all the next day will be black with a continuing solar eclipse. ((Don't ask how that works... lol))
If that comes to pass, we are lost, my friend...

[AntonyJC]

*JC heeds the wrmings of shadow and yet still brings up he formation*

"Okay, from this information we need all of the archers on one side"

*SForce leads them over to one side of the walkway*

"Sforce, you will lead them. Now all the foot sollders go into the opposite corner, and i will lead them. Now all of the rest of you are under the command of Shadow. Shadow you have the most important role your the head genreal with me and SF backing you up. You must tell us what to do and whee to go because of your expertise in the area of Dragons."

"We all will go out in the Name of the Demon Guardians and for the sake of all the good people that inhabit it."

*JC motions for Shadow to move out and start thier trek*

[Chaos Creator]

How many archers and swordsmen do we have? I agree that we should have the archers on one side... possibly in the crags of the rocks above the village. It would require a wide flanking maneuver around the far side of the town, and there's a possibility that there are also hill or rock giants in those caves...

*Shadow glanced around at the men in the room again, sizing up their statures. Well-trained, seasoned warriors all of them... but still Shadow sighed, knowing that death awaited many of those present. He looked back to SF and JC.*

We should bring a force in from behind where we saw the dragon. In through copse of trees shielding the rear of the village. The other force should be a small decoy troop coming in upon the main road after the other two squads are in place.

*He looked at his two companions each in turn.*

SF, do you think you can back yourselves into a somewhat shielded outcropping against the wall? It will leave you slightly exposed, but its the only way I can think of avoiding caves while still being cautious about giants.

JC, would you want to lead the team on the road, or the one coming in from behind?

[Morge]

<The door to the armory opens and a heavily armored knight steps in. He looks over the inhabitants and grunts.>

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was assembling the guards at their respective posts for the coming troubles. SForce, AntonyJC and Shadow. Raistlin told me you three would be the commanders of this suicide mission. He has ordered me to dispatch my best with you though. I'll have you understand that this is completely against my better judgment though. None the less my orders are to give you 20 men for your trek."

<The trio didn't seem satisfied with the announcement of 20 soldiers for them.>

"I assure you these men are the most adept and skillful warriors you'll ever meet. I have 7 spear men that are equipped with new extending javelins that can reach lengths of over ten feet. Long enough to pierce any beast in the heart. Then 7 stealthy assassins that use not only blades, but explosives and all sorts of unique toys. Then 6 archers. The added feature for these guys is their crossbows have the ability to attach a grappling hook arrow with an auto retracting real. The arrow can pierce the beast and pull them to it's belly for assault, or if secured to a solid surface it might even be able to bring the monster crashing to the ground."

<All the while Morge showed off the gear that would accompany them. It wasn't a large group, but they were the most skilled and best equipped he could offer.>

"I just want you to know if you march a group of a hundred men down any road you are likely to be seen from overhead by another dragon. Then it swoops down and gobbles up a whole flank. Twenty men can hide and slip through to any area unseen if properly trained. Believe me these men can do it. You give them the orders and they will oblige."

<Morge waves his hand behind him to indicate the twenty men still in the armory. They looked the part of veteran warriors who have been run through a gauntlet of trials and experience.>

[SForce]

*SForce looked at the men assembled. At Morge and then back to the men.*

"Ah Raist you smart mage you. Very well planned." He thought to himself.

*SForce took one of the crossbows and fired it against the wall. It submerged in the brick and held on tightly. He examined the crossbow further, pulling it towards him gently, then more and more tightly until he convinced himself it was good.*

"Very good stuff you have here Morge. I like what you've come up with." SForce says in satisfaction.

*He looks over to his commrads, then to the men assembled.*

"Well my friends, looks like you guys will have 8 in your party while I have 7. Of course I'd be a man down" SForce said with a grin. "What are we waiting for, let's head out, dragon's strike in days, as swift as I am we still must get a move on" SForce said sarcastically. He turned and started to head out the door.

"SERVENT!" SForce shouted. A little boy came running to him. He was mearly 15 years of age. He was a squire, learning the teachings of the greater warrior, twas his job to learn by being the apprentice and gaining all knowledge possible.

"Yes sir?" The boy replied

"Get me someone to fix this wall"

[Chaos Creator]

*He moved out of the armory and toward the stable, saddled his horse again and mounted up. He looked again at the group. This would either be a shining moment in the history of the clan, or a bitter defeat...*

[AntonyJC]

*JC gets onto his horse and leads his group out. He signals for them to stop*

"Shadow I will take thr back route through the trees. I need a signal to attack"

JC ponders for a little and then says*

"The signal will be one of the men will say 'Prince'. But if you guys , SF and Shadow, want a different one then we can devise of another one."

*JC goes over and talks to his men*

[zeke]

-Sitting in one of the trees above them was a young elvin lad, looking down at the with the worst attitude on his face. His bow was slung arcoss his back and his sword was in his hand, still in the holster, but easy to grab if something started-

"well that little code wont be noticeable will it"

-And with that short statement, he jumped down from the tree, infront of all the warriors-

"This is a cute and neat little gathering you have going on here Antony"

[Chaos Creator]

*Shadow eyed the young elf for a moment, smirking to himself.*

He is right. We need a visual signal, or possibly a natural bird call or something of the like to signal the attack.
We need two signals to be precise.
Once SF's group is in position in the rocks, and your squad hidden amongst the undergrowth of the woods around the village, there must be a signal to bring in my men on the main road. Once we gains the attention of the dragon, we will issue a second signal for the strike.

[AntonyJC]

*JC thinks agian*

"Each general should have a bird caller, the same one maybe a cardinal or something. I believe we have them on sale at the tavern for avid bird expersts"

*JC tells one of his men to get over to the taern and grab three bird callers, tell the bartender to put it on SForces tab*

*The man reurns with 3 cardinal callers*

"So once we are all in position we blow it three times, understood? Oh and Zeke you will be in SFs group. SO we are all even with 8 men in each group lets head out."

*JC calls his men to line up in 2 lines of 4*

[Chaos Creator]

*He nodded and glanced over his shoulder at the group of spearmen behind him.*
We will stop short of the village and await three calls of the cardinal, twice. Once that sounds, we will advance down the road and into the village proper, where we last saw the dragon. Once the dragon's full attention is upon us, I will sound the return bird call, and the attack will commence.
Aim for cracks between the scales. We want to weaken it as much as possible from underneath, but if you can reach the eyes at any point, do not hesitate to blind the creature.

*He then proceeded to break his group into regiment behind him. Upon the last call, the one he would issue, his men would break their ranks and flank him, then moving to flank the dragon. This would leave him directly in front of the beast. He must do all he could to keep the drake's attention...*

[AntonyJC]

*JC, Shadow and SF are trotting infront of thier men in the sequence of SF, and then his men, then Shadow, and his men behind him, ad JC and his men behind him. The day is beautiful, not to hot and not to cold, but he knows as well as SF and Shadow that this day is going ot get brutal and thier men will die*

*Once they reach where they split up, JC motions for his men to go into the woods and wait for him."

"Good Luck Shadow, and that goes for you too SF. The call is the cardinal caller 3 times twice, right?

I pray that we may see each other agian after fight"

*JC walks over to his men*

[SForce]

*SForce notices the young elvan lad in front of him. He scans him for a mearly a moment and then notices exactly who it is.*

"Well zeke, it's been awhile hasn't it, glad you can make it in our time of need." SForce says to him. "Come! You will be my final piece to our group. I will need your bow for this one. Oo, seems like I've got 8 now too...." SForce grins at his own statement than looks at the other two.

"I do not need a bird for my calling. They'll be burnt in a heartbeat by the dragon. Do I care? No not really, but why waste my tab on such useless toys. I will fire one arrow across the sky, either above or below the dragon. I am in possition, as i will take longer than all of you to get ready. Next I will fire an arrow across the rocks, high in the air. It will land in front of Shadow's group, signaling him to attack. When the arrow goes down and it passes your site, JC, you will start your attack. Once it passes your visual horizon you must go, or we have missed a timely step. Am i foolish in my plan, or do we agree?"