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Arcavis
Sept 15, 2012 1:13:11 GMT -5
Post by Skadaddle09 on Sept 15, 2012 1:13:11 GMT -5
"Lead half these men back to the east gate and have Akkadyan meet me at the south-east wall. Try to block off the enemy and protect the citizens as best you can, but it's important we do this as swiftly as possible."
Ivan nodded, acknowledging the order, and turned his horse back toward the east gate. With a shout, he rallied a portion of the men, and with their commander's approval, they followed him. He tapped Taima's side with his heels and she responded quickly, dashing back to the east, the men trailing behind her on foot.
Ivan sounded a battle cry, raising his sword above his head. He drew the attention of a few nearby Heildat, but before they could react, he cut down the nearest one, slicing a massive gash across his ribcage. The man fell, and when the others saw their fallen comrade, they charged Ivan. They didn't get far as his small platoon collided with the enemy, and a short cheer rose from the weary townspeople. They were relieved to have some military back up, but their celebration was cut short as they returned their attention to the battle.
Ivan tore through enemy after enemy, ignoring the cuts and bruises he was receiving on his legs. Once his immediate vicinity was clear, he stood up in the stirrups and scanned the area, looking for Akkadyan. He spotted the knight, and it didn't take long for Ivan to realize that he was in trouble. He had seen that tired stance far too often in battle, and it never led to anything good.
"HIYAH!" He spurred Taima forward, her agile feet easily maneuvering through the bloodied battlefield. Ivan hunched low over her back, urging her forward as Kade was now fighting off multiple enemies. He saw the Bishop struck down, and was unable to tel if the blow was fatal. He didn't slow, and was glad he didn't when he saw one of the Heildans approach Kade with a pistol drawn. They wouldn't bother a move like that with a dead man.
Taima thundered toward the Heildan who glanced up just in time to witness Ivan's sword come down onto his wrist, causing the pistol to drop to the ground. Ivan pulled back on the reins, and before she had stopped completely, he jumped to the ground. The first man was easily disposed of with a quick swing across the throat. With two hands on the hilt, he rammed the sword into the other man's gut, then yanked it back out with a twist. When the Heildan collapsed, Ivan turned his attention to the fallen knight.
He knelt beside him, looking around every so often tomake sure no one else decided to attack. "My lord..." Ivan offered his hand to help Kade to a sitting position. He noted the blood pooling around the knight's back. "Sir, we'll have to get that wound taken care of." He also noticed the color had drained from Kade's face, "You look tired. Your father wants you at the southeast wall, but I'm afraid he may have to wait..."
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Ambassador
Full Member
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidance of things not seen.
Posts: 130
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Arcavis
Sept 15, 2012 13:37:55 GMT -5
Post by Ambassador on Sept 15, 2012 13:37:55 GMT -5
Maerwynn-Noreve
"Y-yes, Milady," Cianha said, fumbling her curtsy. "You are very generous, Milady," she said, head bowed. "I would never wish to give insult to your kindness. But I would not dream of delaying your preparations for supper." Cianha's stomach growled ferociously at that moment. "Would it be alright if the doorman partook? I am sure he would be very grateful."
Maerwynn's eyebrow raised. Initiative? She liked that trait on Cianha as well. Her eyes twinkled at Cianha's dutiful heart, yet selfish stomach. "Very well." Maerwynn decided. She had a sudden urge to stretch her stiff spine. "However do not feel the need for haste--In truth, I have no desire to enter the great hall soon." A shadow crossed her face. True, her words had two meanings: that she did not want to rush, for the sake of giving her more time to loosen her stiff limbs; and because she knew how tense her family would be at meals, as they had been since Finn's* disappearance. Particularly her mother. Maerwynn shook off her thoughts and stepped down from the dais, ready to make the walk to her chambers.
OT: *Finn is Maerwynn's 18 year old brother who was fighting in the war and went missing reciently. I havn't gotten around to making a profile for him--yet.
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Arcavis
Sept 17, 2012 12:18:57 GMT -5
Post by atlantis on Sept 17, 2012 12:18:57 GMT -5
Kade
He accepted the extended hands of both the Arcyan man and Elliot's soldier with a solemn 'thank you'. "You look tired," Roranson said, "Your father wants you at the southeast wall, but I'm afraid he may have to wait..."
Tired was an understatement. He felt at times so completely exhausted he didn't think he could move. The stinging wound on his back didn't help matters, either. Still, he shook his head. "If my father wants me at the wall, then I'll be there," he insisted stubbornly and exerted his energy pulling himself to his feet, leaning more heavily than he meant to on the Arcyan man who had helped save his life. "I just need a horse," he added dizzily. He knew it would be next to impossible for him to fight any longer, but if Karryhs had called him back, knowing the state he was in, then it was of dire importance that he obey.
Karryhs
As the men reached their destination, they formed a line, once again resuming their battle. As Karryhs had hoped, almost half the original imperialist forces had rushed into the city instead of following the Arcavians. But there was little sign of the other groups heading their way. In the center of the city, a wail of despair rose into the air and a pang of guilt grew in his chest-- the Malacionites that had entered the city must have found their way to some of the citizens. Surely soon, though, Lord Gaunt and his men will enter to defend them....
Ionas
"Of course I'll help, My good Sir," the old man replied. "But I demand maternity leave. And that today be known as 'Cabbage appreciation day'." The old traveler began on towards Ionas with a bizarre and curious expression. "Of course, I'll need compensation. I want it in Sweet Rolls! Glorious, Yummy Sweet Rolls!"
Ionas opened his mouth to speak but the Tengan eccentric put his own index finger over the man's lips. "We don't have time for talking! We have people to Save!" he spoke before charging into the city with an avian familiar following behind.
Ionas picked up his sword with a shrug. You can have whatever you want if we make it out of this city alive.... He rounded on the remaining men. "Lord Bishop calls us to the southeast!" he shouted. "Follow me into the city for the defense of Gullsforde and her people!"
He led the charge toward the center of town, unsure of what awaited him. As they made their way through the city streets, they at last came across the town square where Malacionites were raining havoc on innocent citizens. It looked as though at least a third of the remaining population had been killed*; his mind went numb at the sight of the corpses covering the street, the bodies of women and children trampled under foot. Then he saw the Lord General Isevka and he exploded with rage, running blindly into combat with the Malacionic commander. Isevka glanced back at him, saw Ionas charging for him, and shouted something in Helvotic, leading his men westward, into the Gullsforde markets.
"Come back and fight, you coward!" Ionas was left shouting after him, running after him in vain. Behind, however, some of the imperialists had remained to challenge his lord's men and the sound of their warring reminded him of his duty to Audan and Lord Bishop. He turned and shouted for the citizens to head southeast, Gaunt's men ushering them on like sheep. He didn't have time to comprehend Karryhs's plan, he just had to trust it.
*this is the population of those who didn't escape either before or during the battle already.
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Arcavis
Sept 21, 2012 11:14:08 GMT -5
Post by atlantis on Sept 21, 2012 11:14:08 GMT -5
OT: well, it's not much but at least they're out in the open now. Let's try and re-group at the camp Karryhs sends Kade to at the end?
Kade and Karryhs
He stumbled toward a horse nearby, resting on its side for a moment to catch his breath. The poison from the Malacionite's cable gun was really affecting him now, but he managed somehow to crawl onto the horse's back.
"Fall back," he tried to shout. "FALL BACK!" He urged the newly arrived soldiers to guard the citizens as they made their way back into the city, toward the place where his father had asked him to meet. Soon, his father's plan was well underway, as Kade found his route to the front of the line next to the wall.
The Son of Bishop's entire body was growing numb but he spotted his father easily in the crowd, his towering head of peppered black hair standing out among the rest.
His son came riding toward him from the east, pale and drained. "You sent for me?" Kade asked, barely audible over the battle.
Karryhs came to the side of his horse. "Tell me you have an explosive," he said, praying for a yes.
Kade nodded quietly. "Here, in my supply bag."
His father pulled out three of the tiny, round devices. They were small and foreign, black and deadly, bearing all kinds of heathen symbology. "Stand clear of the wall!" he yelled before tossing one of them, two of them, all three of them, until the dust cleared to reveal an open passage.
The Arcavian soldiers moved without being ordered, forward and out the hole, spreading out in the open fields on the other side as the citizens escaped around them, slipping into the forests several yards away. "Now," Karryhs said, turning to his son, "head for the camp outside Alneford. I'll meet you there when this is over." Kade nodded again, charging away without argument.
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Logos
Full Member
Posts: 172
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Arcavis
Sept 22, 2012 12:21:15 GMT -5
Post by Logos on Sept 22, 2012 12:21:15 GMT -5
Meryth:
While the man who appeared to be the Arcavan leader ordered different bodies of troops in different directions, Meryth tried to decide which group to join: where would she be most helpful? A flash of fire in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she turned to see a strange old man hurling fireballs, literally burning his way through the ranks of the invaders.
The Sarivandi and Malacians are focused on their assault on the city. If I could get the Arcavans to cover him with a squad of men, and circle around behind their gunners, he could wreak incredible havoc among them, and perhaps delay the assault!
Meryth ran toward the man with the metal arm, but before she could reach him, an Arcavan did, with a plan of his own. Meryth thought she had a fairly good command of the Arcavan tongue, but clearly not: the old wizard's reply made no sense whatsoever. Then, he was gone with the Arcavan into the city.
A cruel laugh. Meryth spun to face a Saravandi soldier who was looking her over hungrily. "You're not gonna beat me with that cute little sword," he said, hefting his big two-hander. "Surrender now, and I'll go easy on you," he said with a leer. Meryth flowed into a combat stance, the tip of her sword aimed toward him, her other arm stretched out behind her as a graceful counterbalance, her hand held flat, fingers aimed toward the sky. "You want it rough, eh?" the soldier snarled, pulling his greatsword back for a disarming strike against Meryth's blade.
Meryth lifted her front foot in a snap-kick toward his face, pouring Ka into the movement. A translucent image of her foot haloed in a nimbus of blue light shot across the distance, smashing into the soldier's face. Meryth continued her motion, stepping forward in a long, swift stride, spinning to step inside the man's defense. With her free hand, she grabbed the ricasso of his sword, stepped in closer with another half-turn and brought her blade in to his throat in a beheading strike, all before the soldier could recover from the knockback of her kick.
Spots of color flashed across her vision, and she felt her knees start to buckle. The maneuver had taken more Ka than she had to give. With blurry, spotted vision, she could see more enemy soldiers closing in...
Strong arms caught her under the armpits before she could collapse. A voice said something in a strangely calming tone, then...blackness descended.
...
Meryth awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright and looking frantically around. She'd been covered with a blanket...and her pack and sword were both left within arm's reach. A strange thing for her captors to do. Then, her eyes took in the colors of battered soldiers' surcoats, the cut of the civilians' clothes. Arcavans? Finally, her fogged mind pieced the details together. She was in the Arcavan camp, among the refugees from the fall of Gullsforde. I don't even know who to thank for saving me...
Cianha:
"As you wish, Milady," Cianha replied. Even if she would not get to taste the scrumptious roast goose, the mouthwatering scent of which had wafted straight to her nose all the way from the kitchens, it would at least bring joy to another. "Would you like me to do your hair, Milady?" 'Doing hair' was not a skill Cianha's previous life had required of her, especially not the elaborate styles befitting the Royal Court. By the time Cianha finally got each braid and curl right, her Lady would surely have had as much delay as she desired...if not more.
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Ambassador
Full Member
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidance of things not seen.
Posts: 130
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Arcavis
Sept 24, 2012 16:21:57 GMT -5
Post by Ambassador on Sept 24, 2012 16:21:57 GMT -5
Maerwynn-Noreve
Maerwynn couldn't stop herself. She let out a choke of laughter, but managed to pass it off as a cough. Ah, Cianha. Even when Maerwynn ha hinted strongly that she was in no hurry at all, Cianha was still so eager to please that she completely missed Maerwynn's invitation to partake of the food.
Well, if she couldn't afford to speak plainly to her most trusted servant, she might as well be shrouded in mystery and riddles for the rest of her life. "Cianha," she spoke calmly and evenly, with a hint of amusement. "When I say that I am in no hurry to go down to supper, I also mean that there is plenty of time for you to sup now." She raised her eyebrows, giving the girl permission to read between the lines, then let her amusement show through with a smile. "So yes, you may eat the goose." her tone became more like one speaking to a friend. "You have done well today, Cianha--your service refreshes me not only in body but also in mind." Maerwynn smiled again.
***
When they arrived at her chambers, Maerwynn stood stiffly as Cianha dressed her in more appropriate dinner cloths--her wardrobe and hair on court days, though still elegant and royal, were usually plain to reflect the status of most of her subjects. Today it had been a cream-colored satin gown, with a simple braid weaved on her scalp and down her back.
She instructed Cianha to re-garp her in a bell sleeved, Arcavian blue, velvet gown with a slight train, but only to redo the simple braid.
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