Gathering in Defense of Darkshire

[Hiro Protagonist]

Hiro and Kelly entered the old baroque style building, faded oak beams rough with splinter above their heads as they walked inside. It was a scene of...well, not chaos, but definitely a flurry of activity. People were crossing the hallway to and from different offices, stacks of paperwork and crinkled parchment exchanging hands as they navigated around the bureaucrats and garrison commanders until they reached the front desk.

A harried bureaucrat looked up from stacks of books and eyed the approaching Primes, their manner of dress just esoteric enough to mark them as outsiders. Hiro's glowing kimono coat was a bit more flashy than Kelly's more subdued manner of dress, but before the telepath could finish opening his mouth to address the clerk, he was cut off. "You two Primes here to assist with the defense?" The man asked them hurriedly. He waved them around the desk and pointed up a large wooden staircase towards a larger office door, clearly marked "Burgomeister".

Shrugging, the Hacker and the "accountant" ascended the stairs and knocked on the office door. Hiro leaned to Kelly and whispered, perhaps slurring his words just enough. "They seem a bit more panicked than outside...I guess the soldiers are more used to this." Kelly nodded in agreement. "Governmental employees are not typically enthusiastic about conflict on their doorstep. Further away for other means, perhaps, but not when it's about their own survival."

A strong commanding voice came from inside the office that made the two Primes look up sharply although the effect was slightly marred by the addition of a reedier voice about a second later.

"Enter."

The scene inside the office was simple, but grim. They could feel the weight of the coming battle bleeding through the walls. Two men stood around a table, one wringing a Tyrolean hat between his hands as he poured over maps and troop listings on the large circular table. The other was nearly a foot taller than the nervous man, dressed in gleaming bronze shoulderpads and a flowing red cloak. The man wore an intimidating helmet on his head that left most of his face uncovered, and Hiro felt the same feeling he'd experienced the first time he met Okor's gaze. Like he'd been pinned to the wall with the large spear the ancient warrior was carrying.

"You are here to aid in the defense." The Spartan said in an even tone, not a question so much as a statement of fact. Hiro nodded blearily and began his introduction. "Yeah, uh, I'm Hiro Protagonist and this is....uh...Kelly, righ-" He was cut off again by the Spartan, although Hiro didn't mind much. Talking like a drunk surfer would not immure himself to the warrior. 

"I am Commander Atelos, leader of the Garrison. If you are here to help, then know this. The dead march. The city is in peril. I hope you come in good faith and with brave souls. If you break and flee in cowardice, your names will be remembered here, for all the wrong reasons. But if you stand tall and succeed, or die standing on the line, you will also be remembered."

Hiro blinked blearily behind his goggles, secretly thankful the mirrored lenses hid his bloodshot and tired eyes. He just nodded in agreement to Atelos' speech, while Kelly looked at the table and memorized the troop listings and topographical maps. Atelos turned back to the other man and pointed at the map. "Dracula's forces approach rimward, opposite the direction of the Nexus gate. The bulk of the militia is being stationed at intervals between the city walls and the outlying barricades, 100 yards out. Archers will be stationed on the battlements, reinforced with the battlemage unit."

He turned to Hiro and Kelly once more. "What are your capabilities? I would expect you to focus on other Primes when they appear, but when you are not actively countering enemy Primes, you will be stationed in the midst of an infantry unit"

Hiro gestured to his blades. "I can do that." Kelly nodded in agreement. "As can I." The Spartan nodded in acknowledgement, and pointed out the door. "Meet with the sergeant outside the gates. He will assign you to your outer defensive units." The garrison commander gave them both a steely look that made the straighten their spines and filled them with the urge to salute. "For Darskhire."