Now that the smoke has cleared and the Horde vanquished, the City of Duirt is left with a large cleanup operation. But that can wait. Today is a day of celebration and the telling of Tall Tales.

So, (for extra XP) this thread is for YOU to tell YOUR story of what happened that day from YOUR perspective. Your heroic acts, your valour, or just as a concerned bystander in the background (for those unable to make addies). What were YOU doing that day?

(( I'll post for my two PCs just as an example ))

"Hi" says a rather shy Aventi wizard. "I'm Melody and ..... well ... I'm not sure I can say I did anything really heroic. I mean I was supposed to be helping with the magical stuff at the Ivory Tower but ... well .... on my way there I ... sort of got caught in the evacuation and somehow ended up in the Ecclesian section, just before the bridges were blown up .... and ... not sure how to get back I ... erm ended up helping the healers in the Chapel of St Theris I think it's called. So, I'm really sorry to those who were expecting me at the Tower but ... that's what happened. Turned out Ray of Frost when applied non-lethally is good for cauterizing wounds. Plus my Wand of Cure Light got completely drained when I was there but it's all good. I think we only lost a few people. And I hope Captain Sovellus is okay. He came in rather badly hurt. I'm just off to see how he is actually."

"Anyway, I then swam the bay from the Ecclesian side to the Western Docks to help hold the line against the Horde while the refugees were getting on board ships. Oh the place was a mess. Blood and guts everywhere. But we managed to prevail and some of us got on the ships to help get them past the blockage."

"On the way out, the lead ship was attacked by the sea serpent and was immediately capsized, so we threw everything we had at it to kill it. Someone nrly got their arm bitten off but with a combination of spells and swords we killed it. The final blow actually cut it's head off. That was when I, and a few others, dived overboard to rescue survivours. The ship kept going but, fortunately someone had the sense of mind to drop a long board so I was able to herd those left behind into that boat and helped get it back into Duirt."

"By then, the SRR fleet had arrived, including the Doge's own flagship, and had busted the blockade. The Doge then stepped ashore and said something about "wanting suitable accommodation for a man of his status and not leaving until he got his compensation" - well something like that. I thought that was a bit rude given the circumstances, and it seemed others did too but I decided to shut up before I said anything that would take my MerMom weeks to fix with diplomacy and decorum. Landwalker politics are so strange. It actually seemed safer in the sea so I spent the night in a hidey hole under the docks until this morning. Now if you'll excuse me I have LOTS to do today."

She hurries off.

"Me? Oh .. all right. I guess I can spare a few minutes. Spent this morning taking potshots at orcs from the city wall this morning until some of them got on top and we had to go blade to blade with them. Had to fall back though as there were quite a lot of them."

"After that was making my way through the sewers to get to the Port Authority building where I work, to make sure everything is safe and secure, when I ran into some other defenders in the Under City. Well that was when the Purple Worm tunnelled it's way past under the nearby wall, knocking down a guard tower and leaving a rather large tunnel. Behind that was a bunch of orcs and their winter wargs. We managed to deal with them but decided that taking on the trolls etc behind them might have been suicide so we collapsed the tunnel between them and us and retreated back into the sewers. Dunno where the others went but I made it to the docks, made sure all the Embassy files etc were safe underground, then downed a potion of Water Breathing and went out sniping sahuagin for a few hours. I have to admit, quite a few of them didn't know what had hit them, and when there's blood in the water, their pet sharks can get .... well ... not so easily controlled. Plus I had to transport the last of the really important stuff to the Ambassador's underwater cave house she still uses from time to time."

"I think it was about somewhere between afternoon teaish and dinner when Mom picked me up on her broom and we flew around a bit keeping an eye on things below especially the locations of the blockading ships because the Port Authority and House Atianna were organising an evacuation by sea. We saw the ships leave the docks (yay), get attacked by the serpent (boo), the serpent being killed (yay) and the Doge's ships FINALLY arriving to beat up the blockade (boo ..... okay yay). I suppose better late than never but still .... I suppose you've heard what he was demanding. Trust me .. I was there .. and yes ... it was THAT bad. I hope there's an investigation into who was supplying the Horde ... better yet ... I'm going to START one, cause I have my suspicions .... but no proof ... yet."

There were some tall tales being told of Leigh, with shadowy cat ears and a cat tail climbing along viney bridges and dancing thru the shadows and combats. Killing enemy after enemy as he appeared here and there disorienting them. None could keep up and always the quiet whisper of his musical laugh changing tone as he went. The young urchin had never been much of a fighter. Just dancing, playing, laughing and enjoying life. But it had been noticed during the siege that he had become better and better at killing, and not so hesitant to do so either.

For the horde, the mismatched silver and gold cat eyes, and whispering musical laughter preceded death. His silvery flowing clothing graceful in following his dancing movements, shadowy black cat tail twisting and swaying to and fro were passed in stories from surviving horde warriors to others. But it never helped them. A killing, dancing shadow is all he was to them. And they were all his prey.

He did take joy in helping others out of tight spots and might have taken the liberty of stealing a kiss from time to time if he hadn't had a girlfriend that didn't like to share on his mind. Instead he'd give them a wave and a smile and disappeared to do more for the city...and boy would he be taking in the future to make up for all the work he was doing. Which brought out another of those shadowy musical laughs that resonated in all the dark places of the city.

Milo was taking a moment from digging people out of the Rubble to address the crowd. I was holed up in a building just there with Lady Sarina Starfire Atianna, Yaeko, Riley Fletcher & Alecto when a Purple Worm burst out of the ground and tried to crush us in the building. Thankfully one of our Soldiers summoned a Worm to battle it. The Horde attacked us at that moment; Orcs, Goblins and two Trolls. I decided to handle the Trolls and dropped a massive Flaming Sphere on them. I kept up the attack making the sphere follow and burn the trolls until they got within Melee of us. Then Alecto; an Oracle used her skill to put the Trolls down for the count. Shortly after a implosion happened that caused this... Motions to the massive hole in the city. And we made our escape. Now. We are working to dig out survivors and to organize the fallen.

Tall tales were spread fast as well of House Sterker, their soldiers in the thick of it, and their young lord Askaari was with them. He had lost his normal coat and shirts to tearing apart to help bind the wounds of those they came across. His blue dragon scales shining like jewels as he moved. His spear handed to one of his soldiers after they had broken their sword killing the horde. Then, then the young lord was never seen bare of the enemies blood upon his skin. His muscles worked as he litterally tore through any of the horde they came across. His dragon claws and teeth went through bone like butter it seemed.

He could be seen bringing people to the central quarter to the medical area and place for a last stand. Then wading back out into the city with others including some of his own soldiers. He had to order some of them to stay to protect the people. They wanted to be out their with him so much, but heeded his orders and knew the people needed the protection.

He could also be seen bringing people to the docks if they had chosen to run. He did not blame them, or shame them. His stoic nobility just reinforced the peoples knowledge that he would save them and protect them while he was there. And so it was through the whole day, more and more of the blood covering him became his own as he slowed from wounds and his inner power waning. And still he pressed on, a Stoic protective Noble, and a dangerous destructive to the horde dragon breathing lightning and acid combined into one man.

*Ven chewed on a piece of bone as people approached her for her tall. The massive Half-Orc blinked confused at the people asking for her recount. She said the most intelligent imparted wisdom she could muster*

"Ven swing axe. Kill many orcs. Ven win. No hurt Ven."

*With that, she walked away to the confused at the very brief summary. She looked happy with herself, holding her head up in the air proudly as if she was a scholar providing a tale to a bard.*

*Abelia held her arm, nearly out of its socket from the Serpent bite. She was getting it fixed as people approached her for her story. The young Paladin looked up with a tired smile*

"I owe everything I did this day to Ecclesia. Without her, I would not have been unable to perform anything. She provided me with the light to cure, and mend the wounds of those hurt. We worked as a team, triaging the wounded while the Noble assisted them in keeping order. Myself, and another worked tirelessly for hours to cure the nonstop line of injured. We did everything we could for them. We could not help others.." *she looks down sad at that, shaking her head* "We have lost so many. It saddens me to say so. I wish we could have done more for those lost. I will pray for them."

"The Sea Serpent?" *she was asked, and laughed softly looking to her arm* "If it was not for the others with me, Melody, Raven, and the Ferency, I would have lost an arm that day. We fought as a unit both on land with others, and off the land. The deck was stacked against us. Our footing unable to keep hold.. the constant stream of enemy forces. It was... a nightmare. We managed though. I just wish I could have been more useful. With my arcane depleted, I could do little more than swing my sword. Thankfully, my God was watching me that day, and I survived to sit here today."

*Abelia smiles to them* "Please, assist others if you can. They need help more than I do."

*Riley was leaned against a wall near the Maze, she was tending to the Urchins there. She provided them with food, shelter where she could, along with clothing from her winnings and pick pocket of the corpses*

"W'at? My story? Fuck off. It dun' matter w'at I did. Ask the others fer there side of their story. I'm a thief, that's all ya need to know. I took down some orcs, needed their gold for these Urchins." *she waved her hand to the children* "Now fuck off unless ya plan ta help."

*With her peace said, Riley goes back to work.*

I didn't see combat in this War, but I did help the Church with the wounded. It pained me greatly to see the suffering and the death this Horde of savages caused. I did my best using my magics to heal as many as possible and even helped bring New Life into this city. I can tell you, Lady Lora Winford successfully delivered Twins and possibly Triplets. I am certain House Winford will make an official proclamation soon.

eh? *blinks* whatd i do during the seige? *shakes her head* didnt do much of the seige, spent most of it working as a messenger running orders and messages to the various command points. *leaned against a shovel* missed most of the fighting, but found myself helping out in that church of theris or whatever ya call it. *nods* helped keep the wounded down by makin sure we got them treated fast as we could spent the rest of the night digging graves for the fallen. *spits to the side* got to get back to work. *thumbs over her shoulder* plenty of graves still to be dug

what did i do? *blinks* i did my job. *grunts* now piss off, i got work to do. *joins up with some of the bands hunting straggling horde forces*

*is found in the clean up crews of the docks, a few bandages with dried blood about her waist, thigh and left forearm. when asked what she did by curious soldiers or civilians she gives the one asking a long, hard glare* i did my job, defended citizens where i could, helped them reach whatever safe points i could get them to. *furrows her brows* had a few scraps, made it through okay. *glanced to the ruins of the port authority building* defended refugees while they loaded ships for running the blockade and tagged along on the admirals orders to give them some more defenders in case of boarding. *an amused smirk on her lips* slew that damned sea beast everyone was jawin about, with a bit of help mind, but was my steel what cleaved its head from its neck. *the look of amusement became one of annoyance* then the doge finally showed up and here we are, *the annoyed look returns* anything else you need or can i get back to work now?

Remains in the shadows supporting her family and the city from there where its quiet and where she can do whats best for all

Shrugs I fought...but its what I do. My master thinks Im impetuous and brass. A foolish young girl that looks for danger and true monks do not do such things right?? Who says you cant be a monk and have fun??? The city barely survived by the skin of its teeth. Nothing foolish or brass about that.

I'm of the blood of Beluvial...my grandmothers blood. I did what needed to be done

*Hiccup* What you say, the city is saved? What do you mean the city is saved, its a city, it saved us. *hiccup* What did I do you say, well I made sure everyone was healed, and I helped take care of the many wounded .. no you promised me some elven wine for this questioning.