Gamygyn's Escape

The rescue of Gamygyn

The handgunners of Gunther's company looked out from the old tower, it was cold on the open top, but the stench from their prisoner was so foul that this was still better than being inside. The elf mage Calarion had joined them and it was he who first spotted movement in the forest. Slowly in a great curve, the figures of the northmen and their terrible hounds emerged from the forest, they had come for their master.

The marauders advanced through the forest, nearing the watchtower before the defenders could react. One group of warhounds and one group of horsemen went around the tower to try and cut off the stradiots who were arriving from their patrol. Some axes thrown by the horsemen clattered harmlessly off the brickwork of the tower.

Inside the tower Calarion tried to gather the magical power to unleash a fireball on the horsemen, but felt the power drain away as Gamygyn cackled madly, it seemed that the bindings which prevented him for exercising his magical powers did not stop him from interfering with Calarion's.

However, Gamygyn could do nothing to stop the handgunners guarding the tower and they unleashed a terrific volley at the marauder infantry. At this close range the damage was great and as the smoked cleared only 2 of the 10 marauders remained,still wildly swinging their flails. However, they did not run, such was their determination to rescue their master.

The stradiots, seeing the tower in danger rushed towards it, missing with their bows such was their haste.

Now the marauders pressed their charge, horsemen, warhounds and the 2 remaining marauders on foot all rushing the tower's entrance while the other unit of horsemen charged the stradiots avoiding a volley of arrows as they charged.

There was carnage in the tower as the forces of chaos struck down many of the hand gunners even as the final 2 marauders were felled. The handgunners could not hold under such an assault and fled out from the tower, Calarion among them. The marauder horsemen quickly found and opened the cell. Gamygyn was now free, but he still had to escape.

The stradiots fighting the other marauders outside the tower lost 2 of their number, but were able to strike down 2 of the horsemen and held their position.

Outside the tower the hand gunners and Calarion rallied and turned to face some of the warhounds who had made their way around the tower. Meanwhile the stradiots struck down another marauder and chased the rest down as they fled.

Now the warhouds slammed into the hand gunners, and though Calarion slew one, 3 hand gunners fell and the units nerve broke and they fled. The warhouds amongst them they unit broke and scattered, with Calarion lost in the panic. The 4 warhounds then crashed into the side of the stradiots, who were regrouping after their chase of the marauders.

By now Gamygyn was out of the tower and making his escape, free from his magical bindings he tried to cast a mighty spell aiding all his allied around him, but maybe he was out of practice as even though he cast the spell it escaped from his control and the feedback blasted through him so that he could barely stay on his feet.

The other unit of warhounds and the last marauder horsemen came around the tower to face the stadiots who were still fighting the warhounds. 1 stradiot fell, as did 2 warhounds and the melee continued. Though neither side could inflict a noticeable wound as the armour of the stradiots and the spell of Gamygyn absorbed the blows.

Now the remaining warhounds and horsemen charged into the front of the stradiots and a brutal combat erupted, eventually all the warhounds would be wiped out and 3 of the horsemen would fall, but all the time Gamygyn was making his escape, though he avoided casting any spells due to his injury. Eventually the remaining 2 horsemen fled, and rather than chase them the stradiots started after Gamygyn. He was too far for them to catch, but they still had their bows. As arrows thudded into the trees around him Gamygyn and the 2 marauders disappear into the trees, he had escaped.

(Calarion's injury roll gave him hatred of chaos)

Calarion had changed. Almost everybody present at the council had regularly in the past and so the effect of the last week's events was easy to see. Where he had been light and lyrical, always quick with a joke or poem, even in the languages of men, now he was dark and dour, He face a grimace set in stone.

The discussion of the council was party to find someone to blame for the escape of the chaos sorcerer. Some blamed the guards, other the choice of location and yet more blamed the choice to not burn the sorcerer as soon as he was captured. No one dared blame Calarion though.

“But what should we do now, yet more northmen may arrive and cultists from our own city are sneaking out to join them in the forests.” The only answer came from Calarion. “Kill them, kill them all.”