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

[altusimperius]

How is that,

[hyperventilating,]

possible...?

[He's already heard the names, or is about to. It's not easy to believe, either way.]

[overharrowed]

[Under the circumstances, the shock is understandable, but it's not kinder (in Julius's opinion) to let uncertainty stand.]

A massive mismatch in firepower. Literally, given the dragon. They expected us.

[altusimperius]

[It would sound incredulous, if his voice weren't so strained:]

No.

[Tell me something else, please.]

[overharrowed]

[He would love to have something else to tell.]

It is not something I would joke about.