eachdraidh | Video; Seelie-locked

[Poised on a stretch of snow-capped cliffs looking over Cothromach's strong-hold on one side, Cu Chulainn posted on his locket and gave it a wide grin. His spear was resting over his shoulder and he looked absolutely unbothered by the razor-sharp, freezing winds lashing at him. In the far distance, a plume of black smoke rose up from a camp that he had recently razed and destroyed. Lancer made his distance earlier, to avoid being scouted too easily]

Hey there. It's come to my attention that we've got some unwelcome Unseelie soldiers sticking around Cothromach. I think they figured their camps were pretty well-disguised, but after awhile--it gets tough to hide that many soldiers. So--

[With a grin, he stood up straight and began walking up the cliff-face, scaling the mountain on foot. At that point, the mangled and burning Unseelie camp could be seen more clearly in the opposite direction as Cothromach. The mountain face gave Lancer an eagle's view of that camp, though it was largely too difficult for most people to scale as quickly as he had.]

I'm usually the type to hog the glory, but I'm missing a few of my precious abilities, so I'll need some help rooting those folks out and running them out of these lands. Who's in for some raids?

[OOC: Plot planning is here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eh? Well, it's only been the one so far. I didn't feel like getting to work until I made a call for some allies.

[Even a guy as insane as Cu Chulainn wasn't eager to fight battles when he had a disadvantage.]

I spoke with my Master and she encouraged me to get at some work, actually.

Oh dear, is my childhood hero actually a lazy man?

[Diarmuid laughs and then grows more serious.]

How many encampments do there seem to be? Do you have any idea?

'Fraid your hero's just a touch less reckless than you might have thought.

[Never mind that he went one against an entire camp in deep snow and mountain-terrain.]

No clue about numbers. They're a bit scattered, likely because they couldn't possibly find enough ground for a massive camp.

It means they won't be able to band together to stop large assaults--but, it means our assaults can't be too big.

Well, I can't say I am too surprised. My father was well known for...embellishing stories.

[What is one camp to someone who has faced down a whole army really?]

From the looks of that terrain, you are probably right, but in addition it does make it hard for us to know just how many of them are. It's a good strategic choice especially if they have a magical way to keep the camps connected. Our attacks either need to be very fast so they don't have time to warn the other camps, or extremely well coordinated so we hit them all at almost the same time.

[That definitely solicited a look from Cu Chulainn. Embellishment? Damn--he thought he was being a good influence by not going mad with battle-lust. It turned out he was looking bad as a result. Definitely not good.]

Tcch.

[He'd leave it at that. Obviously, his next step would be obliterating a second camp and defiling the grounds--]

I didn't give their spell-casters a chance to do anything, so I couldn't say what level those folks are. I only know their protective spells were enough that when I broke through, the warning was obvious--but, that warning didn't go beyond the grounds.

[Easy, boy. No need to go all mad dog yet. Save it for the real fight.]

Could the person leading these attacks really be so foolish that they left the camps unlink by some means?

[It's hard for Diarmuid to believe. It's almost like they want to be defeated....

And that thought brings another one to Diarmuid's mind. One that makes him very uneasy.]

Have you see any signs that this might be a trap? That they have a few camps set up as easy targets just to make us think this will be 'a piece of pie' to borrow a modern phrase.

Are both of you planning on going out already?

[Grainne is quiet, but there is a certain hint of disgruntlement hidden behind her mild manner.]

[Cu Chulainn listened to Grainne intently, a smile heard in his voice.]

Well--after checking the terrain, I don't think their connections could possibly reach too far unless they're using familiars or channeling crystals.

[It would require at least one sorcerer on duty constantly maintaining a channel through that much magical interference in the air. There were too many nymphs and slyphs around to keep the air clear of thought.]

Doesn't help they have 'sisters' in the air, clogging up magical channels.

[At the very least, Cu Chulainn found himself pitying them.]

Though, if it's a trap, it's a shoddy one. They'd have to have the mountains and forests rigged for miles to make any use of a proper ambush. This is a force that's trying to gradually seal up the mountain and take few chances losing their territory. If they manage to close in, then they'll definitely have good footing for a real assault, but until then, if they try to advance too quickly in uneven sections, they'll easily be flanked and overrun.

So, it's more like they are testing to see if we are paying attention and if not, they are going to take advantage of that.

[Diarmuid takes in all the information Cu Chulainn has given him. It's very helpful since he hasn't been out that way yet and so isn't very familiar with the layout of the land.]

One of my spears can nullify magical barriers and such. If I did that long enough for our attackers to enter each camp, it could be possible for us to take them out one by one without any of the other camps being the wiser.

[He turns to Grainne and gives her a a gentle smile.]

Our new home is in danger. I cannot sit back and do nothing, Beloved.

[Any suggestions or help she may have offered, disappear right out the window when both men-- well no, thickheaded knights respond as they do. But Diarmuid's last sentence...]

Our...

[A flash of surprise crosses her face, right before it devolves into a mildly annoyed look; but Diarmuid should recognize it for what it is. She's actually furious and just barely keeping it from showing.]

Our new home?

[Grainne disappears from the locket suddenly. She had shut it without another word.]

...Well, you may jumped the gun a little bit, hawk. [Grainne's anger was understandable. Even Lancer was surprised that Diarmuid took such a stance on that matter.

Cu Chulainn, himself, could never imagine that sort of dedication to another ruler or having another home. The Queen was his partner, but she was only that.]

You might want to hear her out a bit, your wife.

[Diarmuid is startled when Grainne disappears like that, but he realizes--a few moments too late, naturally--why she is so upset.]

I chose my words poorly and she misunderstood me. This place is our new home, at least for the foreseeable future. Of course, we need to protect it. That doesn't mean I have given up on going home, but we won't be able to get home if this place is destroyed in the meantime.

[He sighs and then shakes his head.]

Don't worry. I will be sure to speak to her soon and straighten things out.

Best not to use the word 'home' at all. From what I heard of you, hawk--the Princess was likely made unhappy by that lifestyle you two lived. Once she got a home again, you could imagine the pride she must have felt when it was built up.

[Unfortunately, he realized the parallel with his own Princess, Emer. Had his wife been uprooted after she gave up her old life for him, she would have taken to violence right away.]

For soldiers, 'where we sleep' is something else entirely.

[Also, damn it, he was trying to score with Grainne. Why was he giving Diarmuid advice?]

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at the other Lancer.]

The lifestyle we lived made her unhappy? I am assuming you mean while we were on the run? I was not the one who chose that lifestyle. She did when she chose to run away.

[He did his best and he regrets none of it, including refusing to sleep with her until much time had passed.]

But, you are right about the fact I shouldn't have used 'home.' I forget sometimes how much that is different for people like us.

[Especially when the whole Servant thing is added in.]

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