Chapitre 612: The Mammoth Anchors
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The Great Lift of Alftand descended slowly and with every gear rotation, the hearts of the men present in the lift began to squeeze like crazy.
Are we ready for what's about to unfold? Asked Ivar, a young Nord who had followed Jon Dare since the days of Neo Saarthal's establishment.
Ivar was just a young mason when the Battle of Winterhold occurred as he was one of the few who managed to get into the recruitment of the Dare Company Corps and become a Dare Trooper. While it was a hard road to climb, he became a Sergeant in House Dare's security detail and followed Jon and Alina Dare a few times so he was aware of their shenanigans as well as their absolute annihilation mode.
He was also one of the 100 Troopers who descended with Jon in the leading force which opened the road to the ancient Dwarven city of Blackreach. After that, Ivar was promoted to the head of the security in the Blackreach exploration site after slaying a score of Falmer and destroying many Dwemer Animunculi.
But today, Ivar was accompanying Jon and Wulfur along with many other sergeants down to Blackreach and everyone was just silent.
Today is the day after all.
As the lift stopped descending, the whole squad realized that they reached their destination and when the heavy Dwarven Gate was opened, the sight of Blackreach was not what greater them. Instead, it was the sight of a sturdy wall reinforced with Dwarven Metal that blacked their way.
The group walked out slowly throw a doorway in that sturdy wall and what they entered was a courtyard in the middle of a fortified hall filled with many Scholars and Researchers as well as Falmer Corpses that are laid on autopsy tables as well as other workshops working on barely-functional Dwarven Animunculi and a few labs studying minerals and flora.
Ivar always thought that those nerds in robes who would get paid twice his salary are nothing but worthless lab rats kept by the Dares to work on the magic stuff they don't want to waste their time with but after two weeks of establishing this Blackreach station, Ivar couldn't respect anyone as he respects those scholars.
Spending this much time underground made a Nord like Ivar miss the sight of the sky just by the first night thus he would always go above ground every couple of days and instructed his subordinates to do the same in order to keep some sanity in this senseless place.
However, some of those scholars were working here since day one and most of them haven't gone above ground not even once. Even Ivar felt horrible for them.
On the other hand, the construction of the Blackreach Hub was a tedious job that consumed half of his sanity trying to protect the masons from getting attacked by Falmer arrows while facing off whatever Blackreach may throw against them.
Among those horrors was one roaming the ancient city from afar and patrolling it extremely slowly. The thing, which is rumored to be a Mechanical Dwarven God, would make terrifying mechanical grunts and sometimes watch the people of Winterhold while constructing their small fortress without getting close at all.
Still, the horror was beyond anything anyone can take and if not for the emergency escape system which was used too many times during the first week, people would have died just from the sheer worry they were having. That worry made many insist that the secure stronghold should always be monitored from outside by a standing force of troopers in case anything undesirable comes close.
But today is the day where this tense peace was about to end. The one taking initiative is obviously Jon Dare who was putting on his new ebony armor and mysterious Dragon Priest mask before being presented with two sealed chests.
Wulfur, Jon's right hand, opened the first chest and took out two boots.
"Boots of the Apostle with Ebony Plating to fit the Lord's Mail." He described before handing them two Jon's servants who helped Jon to put them on.
"Lastly, the thing you ordered." Wulfur opened the other chests and showed it to Jon first, who had to put up his mask and whistle in surprise.
"This is just an overkill at this point." Jon said.
"I had fun designing it." Wulfur replied and carried out the first gauntlet helping Jon slide his hand into it.
The second was equipped as well and Jon raised them together as the servants tightened their straps.
"Can the chef explain what disaster he cooked this time?" Jon asked.
"I call them the Mammoth Anchors. Each of the gauntlets is made from an entire cold ebony plating and orichalcum mail. The plating covers a mechanism of enchanted slings made from the tempered mammoth tendons. On top of each gauntlet is a Convertible Anchor that you can release or keep suppressed. Each of the anchors is held by two chains of cold ebony that are enchanted to extend with range. Alteration at its best if you ask me. Finally, I added a little extra to the anchors. If you convert them on without releasing them at something, you can use the incredible tension of the mammoth tendons to make them incredibly tense then link their two ends with the chain and BAM… you have yourself an equipped crossbow over your arms."
Jon kept looking between Wulfur and the monster he made with a half funny face and a half confused one.
"Alright… that's too wild… even for me." Jon sighed.
"Keep up with the trend, man. You have a gauntlet that can launch projectiles, launch anchors, and extend with chains. Also, it is too heavy that it would back an incredible punch. And that's just the beta." Wulfur made excuses.
"Alright. Let's end it here. I feel like I am winning already." Jon said and put back his mask before playing with the gauntlets for a bit.
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[ Mammoth Anchors ] <Mammoth Tusk & Cold Ebony Gauntlets>
- Launch/Retract Anchors
- Artillery Mode
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"So, you never revealed what the Lord's Mail is actually capable of." Wulfur asked.
"Let's just say that one Divine Artifact can put all the Daedric Artifact we knew to shame." Jon replied.
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[ Lord's Mail ] <Ebony Muscle Armor>
- Health Regen
- Stamina Regen
- Resist Magic
- Resist Poison
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Four functions are just something so game-breaking that would normally surpass the Daedric Artifacts which usually come with up to 3 functions and even Jon fused artifacts which can be combined to make 3 functions at max.
Aside from that, Jon had his Krilon Mask which fortifies and resists all the Destruction Elements as well as the Boots of the Apostle which makes him fly effortlessly. Aside from the accessories, Jon was heading into battle with his new favorite toy in hand.
"Ivar." Jon finally called, "Bring it."
The sturdiest and heaviest weapon he had was to be used in this battle. A weapon made entirely of metal that two men had to carry just to get it to Jon.
Ivar and his lieutenant brought over an oversized polearm with a hammer on one side, an axe's blade on another, and a spearhead on top of them. Jon's Cliffhanger. A durable lump of metal shaped into a weapon just to give Jon the satisfaction of the weight.
Jon held it up without much bother and rested it on his shoulder while looking at the people around him.
"I know you guys have been tense the past few days and overworked as well but today is the final push. Everyone is getting a raise and a vacation after this so make sure not to die."
"""AYE!"""
"That's the spirit." Jon laughed and looked forward, "Open the gate."
Ivar and other sergeants ran to the gate of the Blackreach Hub and dragged them back to clear the way to the overgeared Jon. He slowly walked out with his armor making an incredible noise and his squad followed him like a pack of hungry wolves.
The outside was just to be expected, beautiful yet dark. While it is still morning on the surface, Blackreach was a place of an ever night that was only illuminated by an array of stars on the roof of this ginormous cave. Millions upon millions of illuminating plants filled the roof with an incredible color that felt beautiful and sickening at the same time.
On the ground was a city of marvelous craftsmanship. Marvelous yet abandoned and dead. What filled it were the cold machines, the hot steam pipes, and the warmongering Falmer.
At the doorstep of the Blackreach Hub which was stationed in front of Alftand's Great Lift was a barricade of vicious defenses which turned both the Falmer and the Dwarven Animunculi into shreds as the defenders obliterated whatever came near them.
Currently, the Force of the Dare Trooper followed Jon again to battle and their presence alerted all the machines and the Falmer in Blackreach.
The Invasion of the Dwarven City in Blackreach was about to unfold.
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[ Krilon ] <Ebony Dragon Priest mask>
- Fortify Flame, Frost, Shock
- Resist Flame, Frost, Shock
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[ Lord's Mail ] <Ebony Muscle Armor>
- Health Regen
- Stamina Regen
- Resist Magic
- Resist Poison
——————————
[ Mammoth Anchors ] <Mammoth Tusk & Cold Ebony Gauntlets>
- Launch/Retract Anchors
- Artillery Mode
——————————
[ Boots of the Apostle ] <Ebony Plated Leather boots>
- Fortify Speed
- Levitate
——————————
[ Cliffhanger ] <Ebony Halberd>
- Not Enchanted
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Chapitre 613: The War Beneath
A/n: it seems that I wrote two chapters and forgot to publish! Silly me!
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"Troopers!" Jon called, "Advance!"
For the first time in a thousand years, the dark and quiet Blackreach witnessed an all-out war that no one of its locals anticipated.
The humans who were invading through the Great Lift swarmed down the stone slope and started a slaughter never seen years. Almost a Thousand Dare Troopers were active in this operation.
The small army divided itself into 4 teams. The vanguard, led by Jon, headed towards the heart of the city where the Dwarven Colossus was stationed; they swarmed towards a location known as the Silent City. The right flank was led by Wulfur as they advanced westward at a location known as Reeking Tower in order to attract as many Dwarven Animunculi as possible and destroy them. The left flank was led by Jullanar and that group headed towards the forest of Glowing Mushrooms in order to root out and kill the Falmer. Finally, the Rearguard was a group consisting of magic casters and they were led by Alina who held the stone slope in front of the fortified hub.
"Advance to the first choke point! Secure it and wait for confirmation from the other team! GO!"
Jon's team were mostly Vanguard Troopers, a pack of brutal axemen carrying round shields, axes, and short and long spears, their specialty is crowd control. While this team was the slowest, it was systematic with its movement and had a basic knowledge of what to expect in a Dwarven Ruin.
Jon stood on a Storm Atronach Bear as led this party and pointed out all the places from which resistance shall come.
Meanwhile, Wulfur's team was fast-paced but lightly-armored. This team carried large weapons carrying simple Shock Damage enchantments which are going to play a pivotal role in their mission. This mission is to disable as many Dwarven Animunculi as possible and divert the attention of the Animunculi from Jon's party with their loud and fast movement.
The third team was the one Jullanar was leading, it headed south in the dark cavern area away from the Dwarven Ruins. While this team wasn't all that stealthy, they were completely silent as if they stopped breathing. The Troopers on that team were Archers and they were all wearing muffled boots and non-metallic armor. This team was to intercept the Falmer infestation in the outskirts of the Silent City.
The fourth team, which is Alina's, was the support squad. A role that Alina mastered too damn well.
The other side was a menacing enemy, a walking mechanical giant, a machine beyond what is sensible.
If it was the large Dwarven Centurion, which terrorized the Dungeon Delvers for years, it would have been a piece of cake to deal with if it was only 4 or 5 troopers. But this thing was gargantuan with lots of unknown abilities.
The mere sound of its dynamo core made the sheer idea of fighting it seem unrealistic. Who in their right minds would charge towards that thing.
Jon chose the moment to take action to be the moment when the Dwarven Colossus is at the farthest point it reaches during its patrols and the Troopers would have enough time to blast the number of the enemies around the Silent City and get a chance to retreat and regroup with the others.
The noise started to come from the western front as Wulfur pulled the right flank away from the Animunculi swarm and activated a chain of rune traps imprinted on the ground by Alina's team. The Animunculi are programmed to spot traps and neutralize them but it seems that during combat, this function seizes to take action as they focus on annihilating the enemy.
"Like a moth to the flame." Wulfur said as the blasts started echoing through Blackreach and hordes upon hordes of Dwarven Spiders started coming from every nook and cranny to compensate for the losses.
On the other side, Jullanar had a game of hide and seek with the Falmer. Those blind fiends had an outstanding sense of hearing which gives them an overwhelming advantage in the darkness. This advantage was eliminated by Jullanar's silent squad.
With their light steps, the troopers took down the Falmer patrols with ease before running into a camp full of Falmer Younglings and Chaurus Insects. To avoid an open battle, the team marked the perimeter of the camp and moved away.
A minute later, Fireballs descended on the camp and obliterated it to nothingness. This was Alina's squad as their support role was to bombard things from distance.
Every once in a while, a signal would be sent to Alina that a place had been marked and she would instruct the Destruction Mages to carpet the locations with fire. The long-range staff combined with the Marking spells proved to be outstandingly useful at creating this strategy.
Wulfur's team arrived at the Reeking Tower and scared the location by destroying all the hatches which the Dwarven Animunculi use to travel.
Jullanar quickly crossed the mushroom forest and secured part of the ruins in the shape of a bridge that was utilized to snipe the Falmer on both sides.
Lastly, Jon's team spread through the ruins and dismantled any form of Dwarven technology in their way until nothing was left standing between them and the Silent City.
"Steel your nerves, men." Jon called as his group was finally advancing towards the center of the ruin.
"Boss, we're too close to the thing. We can feel its footsteps." Officer Ivar called.
"Here goes the plan." Jon called, "There is something in this place we need to secure. Once we have it, you will retreat and I will stay to face the Colossus."
Initially, Jon spoke about something that he wanted to secure in the fort-like building in the middle of the ruins of the silent city. He didn't go in-depth about the nature of the subject but to those men, he made it feel like something important.
As he said, there was indeed something important for him to secure. Any player who went to the central area of the Silent City under the great fake sun of Blackreach has once encountered them.
"Trap Formation!" Jon called.
Instantly, the troopers started to separate into an array of small square formations carrying their shields and patiently waiting. This formation is basically used against enemy cavalry in order to trap them and annihilate them with long pikes.
However, this situation was not against cavalry and the spears were ordered down. The only thing to be used was the shields and the shields alone.
And here they came.
Confused expressions appeared on the faces of the Troopers as they saw what charged at them.
People… simple and normal people.
They were mad, screaming, grunting, acting like the Falmer, and charging at the Troopers with sticks and axes.
Those are Falmer Servants, what remains of those who are kidnapped by the Falmer and not eaten. Mindless crazed folk.
The Trap formation worked as it should. The enemy would charge at the first line but meet a heavy resistance with the unmovable shield wall. Once they think about entering the trap formation, which is inevitable in some cases, they would be met with chains and ropes.
The Falmer Servants screamed madly. Between them was a score of Nords, Imperials, Khajiit, Bosmer, and a lot of Dunmer.
Their origins may vary but the truth is that many Adventurers fall to the Falmer and many travelers who tend to camp beside the mountains get kidnapped at night. The tragic thing is that when the Falmer get too bold, they would get off their caves in winter and raid the villages they come across. A situation that happens around Dawnstar more than it should.
There was no hope for the Falmer Servants against the Troopers. Without using any lethal force, the Troopers started bashing the crazed folk with their shields and tightened the formation around those who charged between the array, chaining and tying them.
But the second round was already there.
"Incoming arrows! Raise your shields!" Jon called.
Immediately after that, arrows started to flow down from the top of the ruin as the Falmer started to shoot them at the humans.
Their plan was to send the servants in order to confuse the humans then pick them off with arrows. Despite their blindness, the cunning Falmer were good at this kind of play, and their hearing substituted for their sight with an exceptional echolocation-like ability which Gluttony absorbed.
"Alina." Jon spoke faintly and a second later, a barrage of Fireballs descended on the Falmer above the ruins and wiped them off.
"Take the prisoners and retreat."
And that was the last command Jon gave to his men before his battle.
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