The Capture Of Kaineng Hills Keep [Fin's Chaos Squad June 26th 2014]
By: Findan
The war had been raging on for hours. Our valiant Squadron of Chaos, numbering around fifteen or so, had won many battles that day. Kaineng Borderlands - affectionately referred to by our Chaos Squad as "Sanctum of Rall, Extension 1" - had been painted a beautiful shade of red. The enemy was on the back foot, their heads spinning, frantically treading water just trying to keep themselves afloat.
With all the enemy supply cut off, their watchtowers razed to the ground and both their Bay Keep and Garrison under allied control, the final objective was the recapture of Kaineng Hills Keep - a valuable resource and strategic location from which to ensure decisive victory over our enemy. Scouts were dispatched to assess the objective, and scan for vulnerabilities. The reports came in, the weakness identified and the decision was made: Our Chaos Squad would lay siege to Kaineng Hills with catapults.
Our squadron of heroes rallied up behind the cliff face in front of Kaineng Hills main entrance. Silently, under cover of cliff and darkness, the patrols' movements were observed. The timing had to be perfect. Our squad had to get in, lay waste to the patrols and get out to the catapult site before the alarms could be raised. With a swift, clean strike our squadron launched their attack on the patrols. One by one the guards were cut down before they even knew our heroes were there. In a desperate attempt to sound the alarm, one of the guards tried to escape but was stopped dead in his tracks by one of our valiant soldiers. The ambush was successful and our heroes rendezvoused at the catapult site.
The catapults were laid down and built in a flash. The siege on the keep had began. Thanks to the expert proficiency in catapults of several of the squadron, the keep walls were melting fast. A handful of brave Kaineng soldiers, who must have overheard the din from nearby within the keep, came to investigate. Upon seeing our catapults they immediately launched a counter offensive on our heroes, attempting to delay their progress.
Suddenly the shout rang out above the din of catapult rocks crashing into the wall. The enemy superior arrow cart build site had been spotted! It was now a race against time. The walls were dropping fast, thanks to the superb efforts of our catapult masters, but it was imperative that our heroes break through the outer walls before the enemy could finish that arrow cart. Failing to do so would have almost certainly signaled destruction of our squad's catapults and put a halt our heroes' plans to capture the keep.
The arrow cart was nearly completed when the outer wall came crashing down! The order was given immediately. There was no time to lose. Our valiant heroes charged in, veering to the left, dodging past enemy patrols and rushing the stairs to the wall above. The number one priority was to destroy that arrow cart at all costs, to preserve the catapults that had begun sieging the inner walls of Kaineng Hills Keep. Success! The enemy troops offered little resistance as our heroes stormed the wall, cutting down enemy troops and arrow cart alike. Upon completion of the primary task our heroes swiftly cleared the courtyard of patrols and the catapulting of the inner walls continued - the inner wall was melting as well.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The inner walls were moments away from coming down when suddenly, out of nowhere, Devona's Rest troops appeared right on top of our catapults. Unbeknownst to our squadron of heroes, Devona's Rest had quietly arrived on Kaineng's Borderlands and, having spotted our squadron laying siege to Kaineng Hills, had decided to take advantage of our heroes' efforts for their own gains. The alarm was sounded, and our heroes immediately responded. Thanks to coordinated efforts, an arrow cart was built in the courtyard in the blink of an eye. Death rained down upon our enemy around the catapults. The Devona's Rest troops, however, were growing in numbers by the minute, desperately putting pressure on the catapults in an attempt to destroy them and our troops. In the mean time, several Kaineng soldiers had managed to sneak past into the inner keep to make a stand outside the lords room.
Finally the inner walls came crashing down. The decision was made, all available allied troops were ordered to charge the lord room immediately. A third of the squad volunteered to stay behind on the arrow cart and in the courtyard to delay the masses of DR troops for as long as possible and then attempt to fall back before they were overrun. The remaining nine or ten heroes charged across the bridge toward the lords room. Screams sounded out behind our squad of heroes as they rushed the bridge, the clashing of sword on sword, the sound of destructive magic raining down in the courtyard. There was no time to hesitate, no time to look back. If these brave soldiers in the courtyard were to fall in battle this day, their deaths would not be in vain! Kaineng Keep would belong to SoR!
Our heroes dealt with the handful of Kaineng soldiers swiftly and charged into the lords room, with Devona's Rest now hot on their heels. Having seen our heroes charging toward the lords room, Devona's Rest made the call to send a large part of their forces directly to the lords room in an attempt to stop our heroes from taking the keep. They expected our squad to go straight into the middle to take down the Keep Lord and were already preparing to launch an assault from behind.
Instead of rushing the middle the order was given to circle around to the upper platforms, which took the enemy by surprise. The enemy forces were split and sent into disarray. Some of them kept running down into the middle, while others tried to react to the surprise tactic. Our heroes took advantage of the enemy's confusion, spun around and launched a counter attack of their own. Chaos erupted in the lords room. Twisting and turning, unpredictably changing directions, moving in and out of combat our heroes kept the enemy off guard, kept them guessing, unsure of how to react or where to go. Circling around the upper platforms, cutting down the enemy one by one our heroes fought them off with fervour. Downed enemies were swiftly and decisively spiked, allies were immediately rallied to and revived. Cleanses and heals were well-timed and effectively placed ensuring our heroes' continued survival.
A seemingly never-ending tide of enemy troops swarmed into the lords room. All in all, they outnumbered our small squad of heroes by at least three to one. Our heroes' greatest advantage was being where the enemy least expected it, their greatest ally the valiant heroes out in the courtyard who had managed to slow the enemy soliders enough for them to get into position. After what seemed an eternity, allied forces were spotted charging into the lords room tunnel. Our wily band of heroes from the courtyard had survived the onslaught! Having managed to fall back to a more strategic location and regrouped, they launched an assault of their own on our enemy from behind, in an attempt to cause more confusion within the enemy ranks and rally to the squad trapped inside the lords room. Our enemy finally crumpled under the combined pressure from both fronts. The keep lord was vanquished and the keep fell under allied control. Mission: Accomplished!