JÉRÔME
The attack was going exactly as the countess had predicted. The living had been focused on fighting each other, and he and Beck had quickly taken the gate that they had been assigned to attack. He had not been informed of his lady's progress, but her attack would have easily been as successful. The gate had been very lightly defended. The distasteful weapons hadn't even been needed, although they had been prepared for use. The countess had said that they should only be revealed when needed. And that was not now. The walls had been in a state of ill repair, and lightly held at that. Mere ladders had been sufficient to take them, and then the army could march in.
They had been divided into four groups. Together with him Merten went through the central northern gate, the Old Gate according to the maps. He then turned to the west, to take the other gates in sequence, and allow more of his forces to enter. Jérôme himself had marched right to the south, under orders to avoid putting too many commoners to the sword. The countess said that she wanted living servants. He was directing his warriors to take a hill, the climb was steep, but it was where many of the defenders had fled to. There was a temple there, and it was his task to take it before continuing, to link up again with Beck at the southern part of the hill, where the countess expected the invaders to be concentrated.
The other two attacks had gone through a gate to the east of his, the Dragon Gate. From there, von Greif was leading an attack to take a ruin on top of the northernmost hill. From there he would continue to the south, to secure the so-called Mud Gate. The final force was the strongest, led by the countess herself, supported by von Lorenz. She would march directly to the south, securing first one more gate for another part of her force, and then taking the most important part of the city, the keep, by storm.
The only disappointment was the lack of true battle. He had met few enemies who would fight, most would run as soon as he emerged from the smoke. Thing were changing however. Now he got closer to the crest of the hill there were more enemies, and they were putting up a more spirited defense. Fighting through a burning city would be difficult for those who still drew breath, the smoke in their lungs, the lack of air, the heat in the air. But he had no such flaws, not since the countess had gifted him eternal war.
A man appeared, trying to stab him with a spear. He easily swatted it aside and then cut him down where he stood, his old sword glowing with witchfire. It has served him well through the ages, ever since he left his castle behind to look for the holy grail. Instead he found something better than any divinity could offer. Service and clarity. He never doubted, he followed. It was true, now he commanded, but only in deference to the countess.
Another man fell to his sword. These last few, the defenders of the hill, looked different from the others. They wore different colours, not the gold cloaks of the city's men, but the colours of various noble houses. They were better armed as well, true men at arms. Finally he reached the top, where he faced a knight, in white and red. He parried Jérôme's first blow, but the second fell soon thereafter, and the magic of his blade let it slip easily through his armour.
Soon thereafter the defense broke, and he was no longer slogging up the hill. He could now carry forwards at a slight pace, although his warriors were not nearly as fast as when they were directly commanded by the countess. They were easily outrun by the fleeing mortals, but it was no matter to him. Even if they survived today, the countess would hunt down all her enemies. But still, it would feel good to let the cowards feel his steel in their backs.
He headed down the hill on the other side. To his right he could see Beck's force in an intense battle, against an actually determined foe. And down below there were more of them. They must be the invaders, and they were fighting, unlike the previous scum. To his left he could see von Greif fighting his way through the city. He had had an easier battle, he was further than he should have been by now. He must have encountered little resistance. Jérôme's own march down was unopposed as well for the first part, the new enemy still had order.