I'll crawl home (open)

[overharrowed]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Julius
RECIPIENT: All of Riftwatch
NOTES: It's not going great, y'all. CW for grief and discussion of death, as well as potential discussion of specific violence depending on how things go.

[The (remaining) division heads have already been alerted privately, he knows. Julius didn't ask Yseult what, specifically, she said, but he assumes he's not going to say anything she hadn't included.

His voice is quiet and grave, and if he had to practice this a few times before actively sending it, only four people in Riftwatch will ever know for sure.]

This is Julius. I regret to inform you all that Granitefell was hit with a secondary attack, which has all the earmarks of a planned ambush. We were badly outnumbered, and we took. [A pause, though when he resumes, his voice is still even.] We took incredibly heavy causalities. The few of us who survived will require assistance as quickly as you can manage, as will the few local survivors.

I know you will have questions, and I will try to answer what I can. The others can answer too if they are up to it, of course, but I ask your understanding if they don't as we've all had. [Pause.] A very long night.

Comments

[overharrowed]

[Julius doesn't want to say it either, particularly, but he also knew he would probably have to when he sent the message. After a pause:]

You've heard from myself, Yseult and Peter. Vascarelle and the Lady Seeker are also still with us.

[The weight of how many names he doesn't say feels, for a moment, as if it might be too much for him. But delaying the news won't make it easier for anyone.]

[sprent]

(But—

Shock blankets her.

She pushes through; they probably haven't looked again. Gela stops herself from asking them to and tells herself that it's because she doesn't want to burden poor Julius and the others, not because she is afraid of his answer.)

I'm glad you're safe, (she tells him, truthfully.) I'm so glad.

We'll be there as soon as possible. The griffons are being saddled.

[overharrowed]

Thank you. And I'm sorry.

[For being the bearer of bad news. For not winning the fight, or saving anyone else, maybe. Unclear.]

[sprent]

(She releases a short, shivery breath.)

Don't be sorry.

We'll be there soon.

[favoriteanalyst]

No. That's it? Everyone else--

[That's too many people. Riftwatch is not on the whole that big. And there are good fighters that went, damn good fighters. Even fucking Rowntree? Surely some got captured, some are hiding out trying to heal themselves, trying to get help, otherwise unaccounted for. Right? It's shocked disbelief, and part of him wants to be angry, because that can't be right. But he doesn't know what more to say, and helplessly he reiterates:]

Everyone else?

[overharrowed]

Everyone else, [he confirms, quiet but even. If he could hear Mobius's thoughts, he might add that he's surer of Marcus than anyone, considering. As it is:] If anyone were unaccounted for, we'd say so.

[It's not irritated or scolding, just an observation. If there was any way to not make this as bad as it is, they'd have found it.]

[favoriteanalyst]

[For as good as Jude is, slick and powerful wolf and all, he lets himself get truly and tremendously hurt. He's had to help the limping man back after Starkhaven, but Jude heals at a truly miraculous rate. Abby and Barrow are solid, hard hitters, harder to knock down, and experienced enough in fights to not make amateur mistakes.

Consider the logic, instead. Overwhelming forces, more resistance than expected, pulling back. It means something, surely.]

Your opposition retreated? Why?

[overharrowed]

They didn't confide their reasoning, but I suspect we cost them more men and injuries than they were expecting. Diminishing returns, at some point, perhaps.

[It's not exactly pointed, but he's also aware of the fact that someone could still be coming back to mop up the rest of them. How little they could do about it, if it came to that.]