Open Snarlwings Attack

[Riaris Dovukalis]

58th Of Winter -Midnight

It was a normal night for those in the Kuvay'Nas. The lodge was somewhat busy as was normal in the late hours. It was time again for the shift changes, and Riaris was one of the men coming in from his post and retiring for the day. The Akalak entered the main hall, the icy chill of winter still fresh on him, and the warmth from his breath puffed out into the air. He came inside to warm himself, and found himself a guest to a manly game of arm wrestling. There were two men seated at a small table that they had brought from the basement. It was an old wooden piece, and nothing fancy enough to want to keep clean any longer. Each man was leaning over on the opposite side of the other, their elbows resting against the table and their hands locked.

Riairs looked on, eyes as cool and ominous as Leth's light watched the men closely. He knew both men well enough, and already knew that their strengths were close to equal. What would win out in the end was their will and determination, perhaps even a bit of luck if they believed in such things. The other Akalak stood around the men, forming a half circle as they cheered and roared. Riaris removed his coat, hanging it by the door and headed further inside to join the lot. Though he was a bit disappointed when the match was suddenly over, as a quick upset ended in one man's favor.

The lodge exploded, both from surprised as much as excitement. Testosterone ran rampant this night, and the men inside became even more rowdy, even bumping their chests against each other. Riaris wasn't as excitement as the rest and moved in to take the stance on one side of the table and awaited his opponent. The crowd settled down then, everyone turning their attention back to the table to see who would step in to face him. The Akalak wasn't the strongest in the group by far, nor was he the weakest. It made for a good chance that he'd win, and a good chance that he'd lose also.

He didn't have to wait long before someone stepped up. A husky Akalak about the same age as him. The Akalak was larger in size than Riaris, but he was more meaty where as Riaris was more muscular. The men both brought an elbow to the table and locked hands tightly. Riaris stared into the eyes of his opponent and waited for another to say win. Once the word was given, both men started. It was a hustle at first, neither man willing to show his full strength as of yet, and only wanted to test the others. The husky Akalak decided to push first, thinking a quick show of brute strength would catch Riaris off guard and deliver a victory.

Riaris hadn't been fooled however, he had anticipated such a move. It was a dirty move to attempt but nothing new. The Akalak curled his lips upward, his gaze pouring into the husk fellow as he pushed back against his arm. The crowd started to cheer again, some for Riaris and others favoring the bigger Akalak. Riaris kept his elbow steady, his arm bending and his wrist straight. The table began to trembled beneath them as the husky man gripped the edge firmly, trying to use it to gain strength. Riaris grinned and grabbed the side of the table on his end and continued to push downward on the man's arm.

There was a win, a triumphant thud as Riaris slammed the man's arm flat onto the table. The group roared, cheering, faces of shock mixed with disbelief swam over them. The husky Akalak turned away, a pout on his face as he waved the on-lookers off. Riaris stood proud, a smirk on his face as he rained in the praises. Suddenly a figure stepped into the room and caused all others to settle down and look. Nodorus, the leader of the Kuvay'Nas stepped inside and looked about. His gaze fell upon Riaris, and his eyes met with that of their fearless leader. The Akalak didn't say a word, only moving to the table where he placed his elbow down, lifted his arm and glanced up at RIaris.

The group fell silent, almost in disbelief, before a sudden war-like cry erupted in unison. Riaris smiled, rotating his arm at the shoulders, before moving back to the table and leaning down. The men locked arms, their eyes pouring into the each as they awaited the word. However there was none, as it had been interrupted by something else. A loud gurgling noise cold be heard in the distance, along with it came the odd sound fluttering. Silence fell over the group once more as each Akalak listened and tried to discern what the sound was.

"Snarlwings!" Nodorus called out as he released Riaris' hand and darted from the table. The group moved along as well, each member taking a weapon from the predator control cabinet and a large net. Once they were geared up with Nodorus in the lead, the group hurried out onto the street. Snarlwings were a common, and nothing that the Kuvay'Nas hadn't dealt with before. This time, they were ready.

[Namorin Xalvratos]

Namorin sat at the table looking over a design his master had drawn for him. It was one that they would be working on the next day, but he had want Nam to come back to work with ideas and questions. Currently sitting at a table in his parents house waiting for dinner, Namorin regularly visited for dinner. His mother was a better cook then he was and besides he didn't have anyone waiting for him at home.

His mother had just walked into the dinning room with food when she saw the paper on the table. She scowled and Namorin pulled the paper off the table and smiled at her. She shock her head and set the tray down. Namorin looked at his father who shook his head and turned his attention to the dinner.

They paused as heard a commotion outside. The two men looked at each other before standing up to look out the window. They booth blinked as they saw whie creatures resending upon the city. Both instantly recognized a horde of snarlwings. A nasty creature they were bad enough by themselves but their great danger lay in groups. They were also flesh eaters.

"The winter must have made them desperate.". Namorin said as he retrieved hislakan and coat. He wondered were he might find a bonot that he was any good. He then remembered he might have something else that would work. He paused after stepping out the door and offered up a simple prayer. "Please bless me and Riverfall with your winds this day.".

[Kavala]

Kavala was hanging out at The Sanctuary in the veranda working on a client. The problem was simple. The horse had a bad abscess in its hoof and it needed drained so all she was doing was paring away the frog wall where the abscess was to release the infection. The limping mare would be fixed up in no time with a few Epson salts soak and some rest off the hoof. The mare, however, was restless and was really unwilling to hold still for Kavala and her knife. The Healer soothed her, tried to keep her calm, but the sense of danger washing off the mare was tangible.

She'd called for Aweston and the kelvics, and had them secure all the livestock inside. Once that'd happened, and she'd got the abscess to start draining then Kavala had felt better. The mare had relaxed a little under so much activity going on. But once things had settled, the horse had grown restless again, refusing to let her newly drained hoof rest in the bucket of salted water. She kept stamping, tossing her head, and looking at the sky.

Kavala started to do the same.

And when the snarlwings flew overhead in mass, Kavala knew they were headed for Riverfall. Easily mistaken for bats, except for their pale luminous color, the creatures were in numbers so massive there was no mistaking their intent. When she realized just what she was seeing and what was going on, Kavala dragged the patient into the nearest hospital stall in the barn closest to the clinic, left the bucket to cool in the courtyard, and sprang into action.

"Open the armory. We'll need crossbolts, arrows, anything... netting too if we have it. I hope to gods Vanator stocked netting!" Kavala screamed to the denizens of The Sanctuary, rushing to get not only into her armor but to raid the armory of anything that would work against snarlwings. She also grabbed her healing kit, hoisted it upon her back over her weapons harness and took off out the front gates with anyone who wanted to join her. She left horses behind, though they would take her to Riverfall faster. The combat with the snarlwings would only make the animals nervous and they would not be an asset to the battle.

The Imperial Watchers would. Five incredibly large dogs flanked Kavala and whomever decided to join her charging into the fight. She had Ink, Intense, Incense, Inavi and Indigo with her. The dogs were all fitted with collars that were thick enough and spiked that kept anything from tearing out their throats. They would fight, for sure, and be agile enough to help rather than cause more worry for the Konti joining the fray.

Kavala just hoped some of the people from The Sanctuary would help out as well.

[Vanator]

Vanator lay in bed, awake. He was restless, his sleep still plagued from time to time with nightmares. He centered his focus for a moment, until the strands of djed that tied him to the Sanctuary web appeared in an eerie luminance. He had detected nothing out of the ordinary. Earlier he had sensed Kavala up top, working late on something. The Drykas slipped further into his awareness of the web. She was with one of the animals. Suddenly there was a lot of motion, strands being crossed in rapid succession, Kavala was moving quickly, the twins and Aweston joining in the frantic movement. Drawing himself up, Van sensed something was wrong, he left the bed and began to tug on his pants when he heard commotion Within and Cadra's panicked voice echoing her aunt's warning.

Quickly donning a light tunic and padded vest, Vanator slipped into his mail shirt and donned his boots. Retrieving his cloak from a hook and wrapping it around himself, he moved to his weapon rack where he shoved the hand ax through his belt, shoved a dagger through at the back, stapped on his quiver and seized his bow and battle ax. Running out the door and down towards the armory, Cadra passed him in the hall. "Kav said Snarlwings are heading to Riverfall. We are getting the animals in!" The young kelvic hurried off and her father headed to the armory.

The weapons and armor were neatly stored and the Denusk easily found what he was looking for. Snagging up a small wooden shield, he slung it over his shoulder by the strap and ran full sprint through the tunnels up top. Vanator saw Kavala in the dim moonlight throwing open the gates, the Imperial Hounds on her heels. The Drykas ran up to his sister. The Denusks were ready to aid Riverfall again, just eight days after they had faced the Bone Dogs in the city. Vanator gave the Konti a grim glance.

"Yeah...I know...we need nets."

A dark gaze looked back over the courtyard for companions, before the Sanctuarians disappeared through the gate into the night.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Stepping outside the Kuvay'Nas was met with the familiar sight of the swarm. The weasel-like creatures moved in a group by most parts, their striking fur of many colors rolling in waves as they darted about and around. Nodorus led his group onto the streets, and the men readied themselves, all of them armed with nets and a few with flamethrowers (Alcohol atomizer). The leader of the group called out to his men, and lifting up his arm to point out directions.

"Spread out! I want flames to either side of us, but be careful and watch the buildings and anything that could possibly catch fire."

Riairs moved with a few other Akalak and headed further into the city. The snarlwings were upon them now and entering the city, but there was more to come. The Kuvay'Nas split into two groups and one ventured just outside the gates to separate the incoming numbers of the snarlwings and make them easier to deal with.

Riaris hurried through the streets until he came into an opening where more of the weaselly creatures were flying about. He gripped the handle that carried the net firmly and turning his body as he swung it into the air against the growing flock. The Net expanded, taking in a dozen of the small pest and tangling them up. A gleam rose into his pale eyes and he quickly took the handle and swung it down and against the nearest wall as hard as he could.

splat!

It took only a tick, and the violet Akalak pulled the crumbled net from the wall and then slammed it into the ground just as hard. Most of the snarlwings had been crushed to death from the first slam into the wall and the rest by the second impact against the ground. However there were a few stubborn ones that refused to die, and for those Riaris stumped his boot down and crushed their skulls.

[Kavala]

It felt good running into battle with Vanator at her side. Kavala was fit enough to jog the whole way armored to Riverfall, dogs and denizens in tow wearing a fully stocked weapons harness. She hadn't planned on using much of the weapons though. Snarlwings relied on the winds to fight and attack, and Kavala having come into her second Reimancy element was going to use that to her advantage.

It was their duty, as citizens, to protect the city and then be there to assist the healers when the flocks receded or were brought down. Kavala took the fork in the road that lead them to the city gates rather than the ford on The Bluevein and together the group pounded across the threshold of Riverfall. Chaos met them. There was nothing orderly about Snarlwings nor how to fight them, and the creatures were all over the city. They weren't exactly hunting people, for that sort of prey was dangerous and couldn't be taken down by them individually. Instead they were targeting children, pets, livestock, anything that would jeopardize Riverfall's continued ease of existence throughout the winter.

A common housecat screamed as snarlwings converged on it in the streets. Farther down the street the bleating of a goat in full panic could be heard. Howlwings, noted for their presence in Riverfall, where fleeing in droves trying to avoid the ariel hunters. Blue gulls died in droves, having no defense against the flying predators. The same too with pigeons and other birds that frequented Riverfall. Even as Kavala raced into action, a headless ribbit flopped onto the ground. The sight startled Kavala almost as much as the snarlwing did that dropped to retrieve the fallen corpse. She stomped on it with her heavy riding boot, then tipped her head to the sky.

Kavala poured forth res out of her body, creating a gust of wind that was sharp and deadly. It swirled around, driving the creatures in a twenty foot radius around her downward due to its huge updraft in the middle. The wind swirled upwards then arched, fell, and slammed into the ground. The wind was res crafted and controlled, attuned to Kavala utterly. Her face was alight with the pleasure of using her magic, its seductive call powerful on it. Her hands, not idle, pulled out her tamo daggers. And as she forced to control the wind she created, her hands were ready to defend her if necessary.

[Vanator]

The Denusks rushed into the city, finding themselves immediately in the cacophonous fray. From their position, they could see several citizens moving about, Akalak mostly, gathered in twos or threes attempting to down the winged creatures with bows or crossbows, or fending them off with torches. Others were slamming shut shutters and doors, sealing their dwellings from the invasive flying swarm. The air was filled with the screech and squeals of the snarlwings, all but drowning out the cries of animals caught out in the open, or those fleeing the mass of ravenous beasts. The undulating waves of the creatures were ever moving, seeking prey, and Vanator immediately decided to leave his battle ax slung on his back. The weapon was too unwieldy to bring to bear against the agile vermin. As he drew the hand ax from his belt, his tawny mane was whipped about as Kavala crafted her blast of wind, capturing a number of the snarlwing in its gale, foundering their stability before the down draft brought them crashing down and dashing many against the stone street.

Vanator moved out of the perimeter of his sister's wind trap as it snarled the creatures and cast them about wildly. Swinging the hand ax and hacking at several snarls that fumbled out of the rushing air, his gaze lifted up the to air around them, the snarls not caught in the draft moving at the level of the rooftops. Pooling his own res into the palm of his left hand, the Drykas formed the sphere he had been practicing, looking for a target close enough to hit and far enough from the buildings not to risk setting them on fire. Igniting the outer layer of the res globe, Vanator flung it at a mass of snarlwing tearing apart a pair of magpie above the middle of the street. Just as the burning ball left his hand, Vanator willed the center to ignite, and the flaming missile streaked towards the mass, impacting with a flash of flre, scattering the shrieking creatures and sending many of them dropping to the ground, scorched.

The novice reimancer tasted the thrill of his fire again, and with exhilaration Van pooled more res, preparing another firebolt. A confused snarlwing dove past him, headed for Kavala, and the Drykas' light ax caught the creature at the neck, sending its head one direction and its body spiraling off in another.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

The swarm was never ending it seemed and no matter how many they put down there were always more. The men had scattered from their post and hurried off in different directions as things grew even more violent. There were flame throwers going, a lone archer with a master in his craft, picked them off with his bow. The others had nets and whatever else they could get their hands on. It wasn't the best of nights, and the screams of the snarlwings combined with that of the small animals they attack was insane.

Riaris swatted at them continuously, catching them in his net and then slanging them into the walls and grounds. He moved through the streets as the swarm seemed to rush away to other parts of the city where they could attack more animals. The Kuvay'Nas continued to fight them off, leaving the streets filled with burned weasel bodies and a raw stench wafting into the streets. Riaris suddenly heard the cries of children and saw too Konti kids running for their lives.

He ran as fast as his muscular legs would carry him and scooped up the kids and darted into the nearest opened door. The older woman that stood in front of him looked on in shock at the display. Either she was surprised by the whole ordeal or hadn't even realized that there was a problem. The Akalak stood tall, the young kids still clutching at his legs as they looked out through tear-full eyes at the woman.

"Keep them here for now, and don't come outside until I tell you that it is clear. If you have a net, fire, or even a pan use if you need to but keep these children safe!" He glanced back down to the two at his feet and smiled kindly before gently pushing them away. "You'll both be safe here, I will return you to your homes very soon."

[Kavala]

Fire. Vanator had fire. Kavala knew her brother was gifted and she'd seen him in action, but in that moment she got behind him then let him start casting and knew immediately that by applying her res-controlled wind to the fire, she could fan the flames hotter and expand out their range. He was definitely the spark, but still new to his power, and that gave Kavala a chance to be the power behind his flame.

Staying clear of his swinging axe and using her boots just as effectively to stomp anything that landed within range, she bent and dipped cutting throats and stabbing skulls as between her and Vanator, they knocked snarlwings to the ground. There were unfortunately people running everywhere. And with them, fortunately, were members of the Kuvay'Nas. Kavala, staying at Van's side or behind him kept an eye out for Riaris, hoping she'd see him and that he could make some sense of what was happening. She'd never head of Snarlwings coming into town like this before, and certainly not in these numbers. She felt bad killing them, but by the looks of the ones they were knocking down, the colony looked in poor health to begin with.

Almost all the individuals were thin, starved even, and showed some loss of fur and a decided lack of muscle tone and fitness. They weren't the usual colors as well. Instead most of them were dirty looking, pest infested, and looked generally in poor health. This wasn't a normal swarm at all and it concerned her greatly..

"Van, this isn't normal!" Kavala shouted over the din of battle. He cast another fireball that she augmented with wind causing her to pause her speech as she expelled djed through her lungs. "Look at their condition! I've never seen worse snarlwings!" She said, stomping on another one that was still burning, and then twisting to slash first one with her right hand tamo then another wiht her left hand tamo. She knocked a third out of the sky by reversing her grip on her dagger and smashing it with the hilt when it dove for her face. The things were sickly, and decidedly not doing well at all.

[Vanator]

The djed was almost tangible in his body as it followed his will and pooled into his hand as res. It was an alluring sensation, and there was a secret delight it its employment. Another firebolt was created, even as he sensed Kavala move behind him. The flaming sphere was cast again at a mass of snarlwing, and over his shoulder Vanator felt the gust of Kavala's own power, a rush of air that fueled his small fireball into a wave of roiling flames that engulfed the mangy invaders and forced them out of the air.

The Denusk siblings fell into sync, feeling one another's actions so that Vanator's novice flames were fanned by Kavala into deadly blasts of fire, the Konti and Drykas then culling the downed snarlwings with blades and boots. Vanator guided their barrage, avoiding citizens and structures. One of the creatures had slammed into the back of Vanator's neck, maddenly gnawing at the mail that protected his flesh. All he saw was the end of Kavala's blades from the corner of his eye as she slashed at the thing, and he felt it fall away.

The stunned snarls were easy to knock out of the air after each blast, and his smaller, swifter ax sent the small winged bodies flinging away broken. He heard Kavala speak as they fired another blast, completing her thought as they moved to dispatch their latest victims.

For the first time, at Kavala's insistence, The Drykas looked at the fallen snarlwings. She was right, it was not a few that were sickly, it was nearly all of them. With a darting glance at his sister, Van raised his voice. "We may have a bigger problem after they are gone, if they carry some contagious disease."

Kavala, above anyone, knew the dangers of such a threat. Riverfall itself was locked down to prevent the plague suffered by the Drykas from infecting its population. It was entirely likely that, in the aftermath of the djed storm, other species suffered pestilence. It may even be related to the sickness ravaging the horseclans.