The Night Watch [Mission][COMPLETE]

Gareth Evershield wrote:Mission Name: Night Watch on the Eastern Wall
Mission Rank: Amateur
Location: Hyrule Caste Town
Description: Gareth is tasked with watching the walls of the Eastern Gate.
Requirements: Keep watch, and alert the nearby barracks of soldiers if anything is amiss.
Player Count: 1
Reward: 70k rupees, 75 exp
Word Count: 1,100 words
Mission Boss: Yes (Gareth's first encounter with an enemy will be considered a boss fight. This boss will not die, and be controlled by myself amidst this long post.)

Gareth stood dutifully upon the ramparts, observing the distance, dark fields of Hyrule, over the eastern castle's walls. He had been assigned something other than mediocre work for the first time, taking this job with absolute seriousness as he walked along the walls at periodic intervals, turning his head this way and that, looking about. Behind him, on the ground, a small barracks was erected for the guardsmen to rest and eat between duties, so they wouldn't have to return to the castle and back out to the wall every shift. Outside of the barracks, a bell was hanging from a rope, the alarm system for the barracks, should trouble arise. Though nothing has happened in months, no one was expecting trouble. The candle light of the barracks shined through and underneath the cracks of the door, illuminating Gareth's side as he occasionally passed them. For the first hour, he cared little. The men had worked hard, and they deserved their rest. However, the closest man to him was shouting distance away, and every time Gareth's patrol went his way, the other soldier would be farther from him. The laughter and merriment within the barracks began to sadden Gareth, as his loneliness began creeping up once more. At least when he was in the castle, he was forced to interact with people. Yet even after going from commoners to castle staff and soldiers, he was still regarded as something of a stranger, because of his eyes. He sighed, looking across the field once more, his eyes skimming the distance sparse trees and the flickering lamps upon the distance bridge crossing the river that ran through the castle. He sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Beyond Gareth's vision, Bulblins began chattering amongst themselves nervously. They knew what they were sent for. Their small party of about 20 short goblin like creatures, all equipped with leather and rusted chainmail, and near broken weapons, were sent out to gauge the castle's true defenses, in the middle of the night. The leader of the group, a taller, more muscular Bulblin, said to beone of King Bulblin's "royal" guards, would utter guttural instructions to the Bulblins, pointing to a harsh looking battering ram, attached to two Bullbos, the riding boar-like creatures of the Bulblins. One of the Bulblin spoke up, against the plan, and this whole mission, but the king's guard would not hear it. His large form, bringing him head to head with most humans, was neither lanky nor fat, but almost humanoid, stared down at the outspoken Bulblin. With the moonlight's glow upon them, the Bulblins could see the king's guard was missing an eye, keeping the empty socket out for fear invoking purposes. As the outspoken Bulblin cowered before him, there was no longer any doubt in the face of their mission. It was either go forward, or be skewered on the guard's massive butcher sword. He let out a small grunt, before they all mounted up, moving their Bollbos slowly, to stay hidden for as long as possible. Any watchmen on the walls... would get an arrow to the head.

Back on the wall, Gareth sat down for a moment, his legs hurting from standing for so long. He sighed, rubbing his face as he looked down the wall at the other soldier. His shift would almost be up, and he'd get to sit in a chair and eat food and enjoy company, while Gareth sat out here, bored and lonely. He shook his head. He was complaining to much. He put a hand on the ground to push himself up, when a sudden feeling of dread came over him. He heard a distant sound, almost too far away to discern. Was it.... A bow string? Before he could finish processing it, an arrow protruded from his patrol mates head, his lifeless body falling backwards off the rampart with a sickening clamor of steel and stone. Gareth's mind wouldn't function, his body sat still as he stared in horror at the man's corpse, blood beginning to seep onto the walkway. His corpse landed near something... the bell! He needed to alert the men! He stayed low on the rampart's stone, duck walking to the stairs leading down to the walkway. He leapt down the side of them, landing a quarter of the way down the wall. He swung his arms to hold his balance, as the rest of the way down was about 30 feet. He moved down the stairs, before leaping the rest of the 10 feet to the ground, landing roughly and stumbling to the bell, grabbing the rope attached it with both hands. He lifted his arms, and with a great heave, rung the bell, again, and again, it's piercing, low ring vibrating through his body as suddenly the barracks was a chicken coop. Men running to and fro, as orders were called and men flooded out. Some were hesitant at first, seeing as how a recruit was ringing it, but as Gareth wordlessly pointed to the corpse nearby, the men took the call seriously.
The nearest townsfolk opened their windows, though none of them lived parallel to the wall. From their sights, they only saw men clamoring about the ramparts and the gate observing with curiosity. Fortunately, none of their vantage points allowed them to see the fallen patrolman.

Beyond the walls, the Bulbins let out a series of war cries as the bell rang, charging their Bullbos swiftly towards the gate. The gate's bridge was lowered, hough doors still covered the entrance. Some of the soldiers rushed to the lever to attempt to begin raising the bridge, but as the Bullbos stepped their hooves upon the bridge, the additional weight put enough resistant on the bridge that the level would no longer turn. The soldiers clamored together, forming a tight wall of tower shields and spears before the gate, as the Bullbos carrying the battering ram approached the gate. The team charged forward, before their riders stopped them short, the siege ram continuing on it's railing, and slammed harshly into the gate, wood splintering and shattering as it plunged into the gate, bending it inward. The Bulbin leader raised his vicious carver sword in the air, crying out for another slam, and for the attackers to prepare themselves.

On the Town side of the gate, Gareth took a position behind the shield wall, gripping his sword and shield nervously. He could die tonight. He couldn't even tell how many were out there, and this could mean the end of this cit- No! He couldn't think like that. As the gate shuddered, and some of the senior guards began backing up in hesitation, Gareth raised his sword into the air, crying out valiantly. "FOR THE PRINCESS! FOR HYRULE!" The men let out a uniform shout of approval, as the gates gave way, Bullbos charging into the stolid wall of steel and spears.

Within the first few moments, 3 of the 10 Bullbos were skewered upon the wall's spears, their riders falling off to the ground, where knights behind the wall charged forth, stabbing and slashing at every enemy before them, already turning the battle in their favor. 2 of the Bullbos were hooked up to the siege ram, which was slowly being back up and turned around for departure from the raid. Upon a larger Bullbos road the King's Guard, his Carver Sword swinging viciously and splitting spear and shield alike, putting the wall on it's heels. Many of the tower shield guards had dropped their weapons, brandishing their long swords now, as the knights charged forth. Gareth was amidst these knights, swinging his sword to and fro at the Bulbins, though as he blocked their vicious maces and rusted swords, they would easily dodge his swings and stabs. As more of the Bulbin fell, they realized they would be slaughtered easily, turning to retreat. All but the King's guard. His Large Sword would keep the men in place, as the Bulbin escaped, preventing chasing after them.

One of the knights got too impulsive, charging into the King's Guard Bulbin after he swung, to attempt to cut him. The Bulbin champion simply dodged the thrust, swinging his Carver sword into the Knight's chest. The Knight's eye widen, as he fell to the ground, his chest opened wide. As the Bulbin rose his blade to swing down at the injured Knight, Gareth rushed forward, his shield raised to catch the blade. As the blow struck him, his knees buckled into a kneeling position, but he stood resolute in defending the downed Knight. His shield bent inwards, his left arm beginning to bleed, but through that, he managed to swing his sword underneath the clash of his shield and sword, the blade digging into the King's Guard's armor and his muscular chest, blood seeping from the wound. He let out a yell, backhanding Gareth backwards with his free hand, before he turned on his heel, his large strides keeping pace with the smaller Bulbins.

"GET THE FOCKIN' GATE CLOSED!" The Gate-Sergeant yelled, ordering men to and fro to clean up and recuperate from the raid. "This was just a scouting party! I want twenty men lining this wall, and reinforcements on every other gate until we see that one-eyed bastard's head ON A PIKE!" Gareth had landed against the wall of the buildings closest to the gate. He groaned, his vision returning as a man went up to him. Gareth waved him off, his bleeding arm stinging, but dull as he stumbled forward. By the Goddesses, that Bulbin(if he could be called that) launched him twenty feet back! Gareth went to the fallen knight, who was breathing shallowly as others attempt to keep him awake and alive, a gurney being gathered for him. Gareth let out a frustrated groan, before the Gate-Sergeant yelled: "Recruit!" Gareth stood swiftly, standing at attention. "Yes, Gate-Sergeant?" The Sergeant would place a hand on his arm, nodding solemnly. "You did good, soldier. Get some rest." Gareth shook his head. "Let me help you clean up, Sergeant." The man shook his head. "Nay, boy. You need to get that arm checked out..." He mused for a moment, as a pair of knights returned with a gurney, placing the wounded man upon it. "Recruit go with Knight Verith. I think he'd like to thank his savior." Gareth eye'd the injured man for a moment, nodding back to his superior. "Aye... Sergeant." Gareth would stumble off behind the knights carrying their injured brother, the one deemed Verith, to the infirmary, inside the castle.

Total Word Count: 1766

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