In the preceding days to the party, Micky had been called up to the siege many times. While the supports were not well respected, often given working roles such as moving supplies, they were still in demand, and many commanders requested one.

Micky was currently mounted on a strange yellow bird creature. It was unique mount from some nobles stock. He hadn’t had too much time for practice with mounted, well anything being that he was just a village boy, and now he was on a temperamental warmount on loan from a noble house. However the bird wasn’t bucking, if a bit stubborn so Micky thought he was doing a good job so far.

Micky was kind of nervous. Every time he charged out of the walls to sally forth and harass the enemy he would get uncomfortable amounts of butterflies in his stomach. He wasn’t normally like this in combat, but this wasn’t combat, this was war.

Micky grabbed his staff tighter his knuckles turning white, as the gates slowly rose. The guards with pikes started to stab at the monsters that had gathered on the other side of the gate. Monsters started to flood in through the gate only to be met by the pikemen line. The horses of the mounted unit could feel the nervous energy of their riders. These were no grass fed farm horses. These were warhorses, many fed nothing but rich barley and beer.

The energy was in the are, even if it was routine and nothing special. They would soon be surrounded by monsters. This was where the most casualties, or really any casualties would come from. But it was necessary to mop up around the walls and keep the monsters in position. Even now there were monsters around the gates and should the bodies pile up they would cause problems and even allow the monsters to penetrate the defenses no matter how secure.

So with the stamping of hooves and the rally cries and stabbing pikemen the warriors waited the moment when the gates were finally open. And when they did…

“Pikemen break!” Screamed the captain of the pikemen. And the levie broke to either side. The monsters soon started charging down the opening corridor, right to the mounted unit on their anxious chargers.

“Patrol, CHARGE!” Yelled the captain of the mounted patrol. And charge they did. Many of the scattered melee were all focused in these patrols. And they were all anxious to gain credits and glory, not to mention more tangible rewards. The pounding of hooves marched forwards, crushing all that laid in their path. Soon sand turned to monster flesh and any of these weaklings were crushed under hoof.

Micky of course, took a few potshots with his thrown weapons, since he would not have the chance shortly. He would have a guard retrieve them for him later.

The XP of battle started rolling in shortly, with a significant reduction do to the size of his [Party]. However, with the numbers that were rolling in from even this short charge he knew he would be gaining a large amount of levels from this siege. But right now he needed to focus. So he continued to buff up the lead and the flanks with [Accelerate]. He would soon need to clear it after they finished the charge so as not to unduly stress the soldiers or the horses.

The patrol charged through the hole like a needle pierced into cloth. They charged through anything in their way coming out the other side. Micky quickly took stock of what was before him as they came out on the other side of the wall.

Fire, fire was on the other side, and acid. Any and all magic of elements that could get rid of the monsters flooding bodies fast enough to keep them from making a pile that would allow the monsters to climb the walls. He looked back to see the pikemen form behind them as the gates slowly slammed shut. Only their cruel pike tips were pointed towards them now. Of course Micky new that they were not meant for the patrol, but that did not stop the killing intent that had built up on those weapons.

Micky looked out to the monsters this time. He saw them simply flooding out from the trees. They were an endless horde that knew not but to charge and consume. A black flood that took all flesh in its way and left nothing as it receded. He could see that the monsters would be scattered into vague lines as the left the forest, then slowly build up into units, that would soon join the grand melee at the foot of the wall.

The monsters would be picked off by the directives of the commanders at the top of the walls. With strategic spellcast extending the range of spells as giant fireballs and other spells landed in the midst of monsters. Arrows and other such weapons were falling like rain. All the while patrols on their mounts would be chasing down monsters all across the lines, performing clean up and executions on the monsters.

He could make out who was what in the battle lines of the patrols. The standing army had glorious armored mounts. The soldiers had beefy chargers. The adventurers had a hodgepodge of disparate but still sturdy looking mounts. And the supports had whatever was left. Of course, the farmer’s sickly plowhorse wasn’t used. The town was not that desperate as to throw out their soldiers on mounts that were clearly not fit for them. Though as always, mounts were in high demand.

Micky’s patrol took a turn and Micky took the time to clear the [Accelerated] buffs. He would soon be casting mass [Enrage] buffs when the patrol charged another group, but he simply prepared them and waited for the moment the patrol turned. Using speed to keep the monsters off of their tale and control the engagement. As the patrol slowly veered into a loose pocket of monsters Micky buffed up the patrol.

The adrenaline in their veins pumping all the harder the patrol smashed through the loosely packed monsters. They were loose enough not to attract the ranged ire. Soon they were [Dead] enough not to attract the mounted unit’s either. As another group of monsters were crushed under hoof the patrol veered off again. They could never stay in one area for long or the monsters would build up. If they built up too much they would attract of even require, friendly fire to destroy the monsters around them. This in turn was one of the most likely places to accrue casualties. And if you were dismounted out here, there was really no hope of rescue.

Micky prepared for another turn, another clash, and clearing the buff again. The captain was glad that they had a buffer that both had the capability and knew to clear the buff when the clash was finished. This would extend the time that they could stay on patrol and in turn increase the numbers they could personally slay. Of course that was that and this was this, and he became almost irate at the fact his blood was turning cold as the [Enraged] left them. They decided it was time to turn towards another monster pack that was surrounding the walls. they could feel his bloodlust and the thrill of speed running through them…

The patrol was back inside the walls a mere half hour later. The mounts could not keep up the speed constantly and they would almost constantly be charging in and out of the gates. The captain walked over to Micky taking off their helm and letting their long golden hair flow down to their lithe waist. They walked elegantly over to where Micky was resting. “Thank you for your contribution. I’m aware that you will likely not receiving the glory that you deserve and will gladly grant you the extra contributions as is custom. I just hope that you shall ride with me again. It is rare to find talented young supports and they are always in demand, if not appreciated.” Said the captain in a pleasing light baritone. He extended his hand and helped Micky up.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” replied Micky. He had to be on the walls now, until he was called for another mounted crusade outside the walls.

Micky and Prin both spent time in and out of combat, life moving on despite, or in spite, of being locked inside a cage. And the day of the party soon came upon them. Micky enjoyed the happy young faces of his girls. Even Prin was in a good mood. And both Merry the alchemist and Yolanda had shown up to help set up for the small event. Micky was expecting a lot from his neighbors, many of them were lesser nobles like himself or prominent business men and woman in the area. Although none of the true movers and shakers would be coming, in no way should this crowd be looked down upon by a commoner. And throughout Mrs. Doderson looked to be in her element, even bossing around Yolanda, which forced the two to butt heads a lot.

Micky could not wait, as the guests started to arrive. It had been so long since he had a real celebration!