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Post by Virgil von Visconti on Aug 16, 2011 0:31:51 GMT -6
Virgil stared at the Laus man his hands shaking. He looked at his blade and let his eyes drift to the skies. He saw the shapes and the shadows dancing on the forest, knowing the pegasus knights still patrolled, with what few still remained. They would arriv. But could his opponent reach him before they got their, maybe. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply; letting his adrenaline flow out of him. "Ya, I suppose I am going to do something like that."
Virgil opened his eyes meeting the stare of his opponent. In that moment he tried to do what his heroes had done. He tried to judge every muscle; every piece of armor; every weapon; every weakness trying to find out if he could survive. At the end of it, he saw nothing but a Laus man with a spear and free arms to use them; And that was as bad as death himself. Virgil sighed deeply, feeling the stiffness in his arrow-stricken arm for the first time. Virgil just hoped the Lausian really was a good man. He decided he had to gamble.
"Fellow Lycian; I am aware of what atrocities the Ilian's have committed. I am aware of how they treat their subjects and I'm aware of their stubborn methods of leadership.
Personally I don't care. I fight for my survival. I ended up in this battlefield with my arms tied in the chains of the Ilians. I should have decided then to fight them, but I decided I wanted to live, so I chose the winning side. Because of this I posses no love of Ilia. But I will not abandon those men who have risked their lives fighting for me no matter the country. I will not waste the lives of the men who have fought and died to keep me alive!
If you truly fight for what is right. My men need a medic and those Pegasus Knights overhead might be able to save their lives. They won't be able to fight for months with their injuries and have no chance of joining this battle again.
As for myself; I am a starving, chained up man with no money and a terrible suit of armor who no one knows is from Santaruz! Get these chains off me, give me food, pay me enough to get in the gate of Bern to hire a blacksmith and you will worry about me no longer.
But, if you do not accept my fellow Lycian you will see the steel of the desperate. And you may live long enough to skewer me, but as I die the sky will descend upon you. If we choose that route we will see if your death manages to be more then one nameless fool who fights for values he doesn't understand in a nation that does not bear him."
Virgil took a step into the firelight, allowing his bloodshot, insane baggy eyes to show under the fire. his armor fell in chunks onto the ground with his pierced shoulder. His stomach, which had appeared inaccurately full underneath his protective clothing, was extremely emaciated. Blood dripped from several cuts and one arrow. The fire danced off his raggedy hair, his pale skin and his clenched teeth; making him look more monster then man.
"CHOOSE!"
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Post by Virgil von Visconti on Aug 22, 2011 3:22:04 GMT -6
Virgil's command rang out with an ominous hum; he had been too loud. Gotten too much attention with that one mistake. Luckily overheard he heard the neigh of horses, and the shouts of riders; apparently he had attracted the right sort of attention. He looked over to the Lausian and mouthed the words GO! GO! Hoping that a war wouldn't be fought over this soul's choice in sides.
Virgil turned back to his angels in the sky; bending his stiff and uptight muscles upwards to gaze awkwardly skyward at the knights. He felt so weak the flapping of their wings nearly knocked him to the ground. Still, despite everything the sight filled him with a naive hope. "Thank fortune you are here. Each one of you grab one of the solider we're in desperate ne-"[/color] "I am not accustomed to being told what to do by a prisoner. Ladies; surround this impostor." "Yes Maam" Echoed a dark chorus of nightmares that dances in the flickering lights of the burning forest. Virgil fell to the ground; tears streaming from his eyes. Wondering if he would see his life flash before hie eyes. Looks like you picked the wrong side. He tried to speak but either hot air or bumbling seemed to be all that he could mutter. He knew he breathed deep and with trouble, but couldn't hear himself over the sounds of combat, fire and war.
The officer pointed her spear at Virgil, then made a clicking noise with her teeth. in response her horse bit down hard on his chain, hands and broken sword; like a dog grabbing a bone. She smiled "There's a first time for everything. Ladies get those troops to the medic double time. After that assist the others in gaining control of the walls. They got us with an ambush; but lets see if they can conquer their own walls!" With that she took off. dragging the prisoners arms with her horse into the sky.
Not many people realize that being dragged through the air by your hands is a painful affair. Especially if there's an arrow lodged in one of your shoulders. Before Virgil could find the time to lose consciousness the Pegasus Knight started speaking. "Don't worry; I saw you fighting on the battlefield. You got our lines in a good position to fight after an ambush. I don't care if you are a Bern spy; at that point you've helped us out enough to deserve a medal." Wait; they think I'm a what now!? Oh! Oh right! The armor was forged in Bern... and it looks like old Ilian style. Ah! Ah... ah. that explains a lot. Instantly it was proved to Virgil why he had been taken into captivity "I'm only a First Class Knight though. So that's a bit outta my jurisdiction. Tell you what I decided though. You get first stop to the healer and I'll put in a good word for you to the captain. If you want Jarda and I can give you a ride to wherever the cap' sends ya."
Time was not on the side of his conversation partner. as Virgil's vision turned hazy and darkness started to creep into the corners of his eyes. He wasn't sure if he could feel the right side of his body. No, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Was he on fire?
Somehow he managed to obtain formalities for a moment. "Why... are you being.... so... kind?"[/color] She smiled "Heh, it might of been by accident, but you saved my boyfriend down there. As far as I'm concerned that makes us friends by my book. So Call me Bas-" Consciousness decided it was done dealing with these trifles. And quickly numbed Virgil's senses to the world. At least until the healers came around to him. He was awake long enough to see the flaps of a tent, the bandages around him and the healer treating him. Then came the feeling of true peaceful sleep.
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Post by Virgil von Visconti on Aug 22, 2011 18:08:06 GMT -6
The rolling sounds of the ocean. The vibrant echo of thunder and the lights of all the sages of Laus danced in Virgil's head. Yelling and whispering words like "spy" though they seemed to have a color like"traitor" and some even had a feeling like "...If he's alright sir I would like to take him off your hands. He's been cleared of all suspicion and earned himself a reward."
It took awhile before Virgil realized he was awake. He started stirring and making jerking movements to get back up. His shoulder was still stiff, but the rest of him was fine. He looked to the left, noticed a basket of food, and was even better. In front of him stood a cute red head girl. Gazing at him with a stern expression and the armor of a Pegasus knight. For a second he wondered if he was dreaming again. "Oh! You're The First Class Knight, Maam Bas... Bas." "Basaria. FPK Basaria Klemp, sir. And I believe you have me at a disadvantage. For no one seems to know your name." "Name's Virgil." "We have cleared you of all charges Virgil. For what it's worth you are now considered a friend of Ilia. And have a letter authenticating your trustworthiness if you get pulled over again. Might I ask what you were doing in the area Virgil?" Virgil took a large swallow of the food he had been eating while she talked. Banged on his chest for awhile, then smiled as though ready to laugh. "I was looking for a fighting teacher. I wanted to learn how to use a blade and heard Commander Wedner was a good teacher in Bern. I was going to see if he could take me as a student." The medic and the Pegasus knight looked at him with one stone-faced glare. He kept eating trying to judge their reaction. "You hadn't fought before?" "Well I have now." "I...I...Okay then. Well then... Wedner is usually in Bern. So you've gone to the right place." The doctor nodded his head "I heard he was taking one of his regular trips to the mountains this weekend. As usual he had his full retinue of students following him; fully equipped for whatever training they were going to perform. If you hurry you can probably follow them and get more advanced training in the mountains." Virgil nodded, attempting to stand. He strained himself heavily getting out of bed and standing made his legs shake. "How long was I out?" "Not long, an Hour or two, long enough to take the walls but not the town. These villagers are tenacious I'll give em that. Ah, the good news though is we have a few spare horses captured from the enemy. If you want I can drop the standard mercenary rate to compensate for the horse." "Throw in food and a chain and a sword and you have yourself a deal." "A chain?" "The only way I have fought is with a chain buckling my hands together. if I am attacked by bandits I would like to know I can fight at my best." "...Whatever weirdo." Basaria said as she through him a slightly rusty sword.
Before the hour was up Virgil was saddled on the horse with his armor mangled and himself bandaged. Seeing a clear path in the battlefield for him to ride, he set off towards Bern.
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Cen
Cavalier
Cowards die many deaths, the valiant taste of death but once.
Posts: 196
Profession: Bodyguard
Affinity: Light
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Cen on Aug 25, 2011 20:37:44 GMT -6
In the chaos of stuff happening, Cen made a quick route around the Illian mass. Cen decided he needed to make it into the town somehow, and quickly. However, he saw a few of the Bern men struggling into the town. Cen ran to one man and helped him forward, the two of them being the last to make it past the gate. Cen placed the soldier on a table that was being cleared near a collection of clerics doing there work. The man who yelled, "Hold 'im down!" was clearly not a cleric or priest however. He slammed down a box of medical supplies and cen grabbed the mans shoulders, firmly holding him again the table.
The man had a piece of wood from a splintered javelin in his stomach, and it was lodged under the wound opening sideways. The Medic shoved a leather disk in the mans mouth, then took out a large knife. Cen got a large amount of blood splashed in his right eye. The medic cut across the wound opposite from the splintered wood. He poured some alcohal from a flask on a rag, then drank a little when he smashed the rag onto the mans wound. The medic grabbed a strange metal device that seemed to hold the skin apart as he reached inside and pulled out a peice of wood with a strange substance on it.
"S**t! Poison" The man reached in the box and pulled out a strange cloth bag, then rubbed a spore like thing on the mans stomach. He quickly stitched the mans wound together, then ran off to work on others. Cen slumped down, and heard the chaos envelope him. Dieing screams, pegassus wings, orders being shouted, the scent of blood, and the emotion of rage. So is war, a bystander can understand it.
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Post by Kelvin H. Calderon on Nov 4, 2011 22:29:00 GMT -6
The sun was just beginning to rise in the horizon as Kelvin's cavalry line reached the battle. They washed over the Ilian troops like a river flowing over its banks in a flood. The Ilian foot soldiers were caught completely off guard, as they had been highly engaged in the ambush they were trying to repel. As the line continued forward many of the men began to dismount and fight on foot, their horses continuing on and trampling any in their way. Kelvin kept going however. He had an important task to complete. The Ilian army was already confused and disorientated, but Kelvin need to cut the head off of the snake. He was busy searching for his target when he was sweeped off his horse by the shaft of a large lance. He was thrown to the ground and landed face-down on the ground. He quickly recovered and turned to face his assailant, lance in hand. His opponent was exactly the man he was looking for. He was clad in very heavy armor and bore the crest of an Ilian general, a low ranking one at that. He twirled his lance at Kelvin and beckoned him forth, goading him to attack.
Kelvin made the first move, dashing forward to make as quick stab at an exposed area around the general's thigh, then rolling away from the general's counter-attack, a low sweep with his lance. Kelvin moved in for another attack, but his lance bounced clumsily off the man's armor, and he was barely able to awkwardly dive out of the way of the man's powerful lunge. He needed to get an advantage on the man, perhaps remove some of his armor if he could. He charged once more, aiming to find some sort of strap or buckle that could cause some of the armor to drop off. It was a careless charge, however, and the general sent another powerful lunge at Kelvin. It pierced the side of his thigh, causing him to stumble and collide with the man, knocking both of them over and sending the general's helmet rolling away. Kelvin rolled aside and slowly got to his feet clutching his thigh. The general was still attempting to stand when Kelvin realized this was his only chance. If he wanted to end this battle, he'd have to do it now. He spun his lance over his head, and shouting, charged at the man. Half way, he leapt into the air and landed on the man's back, forcing him back to the ground. Grasping his lance with both hands, he thrust it into the back of the man's head, impaling him. The cavalier let a out a feral roar and ripped his lance back out. Several Ilian soldiers, seeing this, dropped their weapons and fled. "Our leader is dead!" One cried out. Hearing this the remaining Ilian's fell into a retreat, fleeing into the forests.
The battle had ended, with the rebel's victorious and what few Ilians remained fleeing in terror. Kelvin found Nasir on the battle and patted him proudly on the back.
"We did it," Kelvin cheered, "Those cowards won't stop running 'till they hit Odessa."
"Aye. And it' all thanks to you!
"Me? They're your men. I just gave them a little shove in the right direction. No, sir, this victory belongs to you, and the people of Linz. Now, where's that armor you promised me?"
"It's back at the forge. Shall I go with you to get it?"
"Nay. Stay here with your men and celebrate. I'll fetch it myself." With that, Kelvin mounted his horse and headed back to the town. Entering the forge, he found his armor on one of the tables. It looked magnificent, yet something inside him told him he wasn't quite ready for it. Instead he neatly collected it and placed it inside a bag. He stepped outside and tied to Kashmir's saddle. He was about to head back to where the men were, when, all of a sudden, a bird landed near him with a message tied to its leg. Curious, Kelvin removed the note and scanned it quickly. It was from Chelsea! She needed him! Kelvin was overcome with joy. And as much as the rebellion still needed him, Chelsea was more important. Kelvin scrawled a quick note to Nasir explaining the circumstances and then hopped onto Kashmir. With a quick kick, he was off, headed toward Sacae as fast as he could muster his horse.
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Nasir
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Posts: 13
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Post by Nasir on Dec 27, 2011 10:26:26 GMT -6
A light rain began to drizzle down over the wooded hill that had served as their battlefield. The water felt cool and refreshing as it washed the grimy mixture of sweat and opponent's blood from Nasir and his men. The battle was over and Linz's meager militia had somehow yet again managed to defeat the mighty army of Ilia. The wave of adrenaline left over from the fighting was fueling the men's cheering, and Nasir couldn't help but crack a smirk. He watched Sir Kelvin riding off into the distance and took a moment to thank the Divines that he had crossed their paths. What a help he had been.
Then he took a moment to reflect on the Lycian knight's words. "Me? They're your men. I just gave them a little shove in the right direction. No, sir, this victory belongs to you, and the people of Linz." Nasir shivered at the thought, he had an army now. Sure it was a ragtag group of re-purposed farmers and carpenters, but they had a common goal and this victory belonged to the people of Bern. His smirk turned into a full-blown grin, and then he belted out to the crowd, "People of Bern! This victory belongs to you! No matter what happens from this day forth, no one can ever take this victory from you! Remember how it feels, that you might compare this feeling today to the feelings you have when we one day free all of Bern from the weight of Ilian oppression! For Bern!"
The crowd shouted back, "For Bern!" and the chanting continued in a fervor and chased the Ilians all the way back to their fort.
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Nasir
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Posts: 13
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Post by Nasir on Dec 27, 2011 13:14:58 GMT -6
Later that night, after a spirited party and several casks of mead and ale were drained, Nasir and his two trusted compatriots Porter and Tomas gathered around an oak table with a map of Elibe sprawled out in front of them. Their grave faces were lit by the dancing warm light given off by the roaring fireplace in the corner of Tomas' inn. Now that the battle was over, the three men in charge of this rebellion needed to plan their next move. There was an unshakeable feeling of uneasiness amongst them; true this victory belonged to the Bern Liberation Army, but the Ilians would surely have a response and Ser Kelvin's temporary departure from their company reminded them that this was their fight. Kelvin had helped form them into a respectable army, but now the responsibility fell to their shoulders and they would have to find a way to continue on.
Nasir leaned in closer to his companions and said in a hushed tone, "We need a stronger foothold. Something to give us more staying power. We can't count on Ilia not taking us seriously for much longer, we need to prepare for full on war."
Porter nodded gravely, "Aye, we can't continue to get lucky like we did today. Parlour tricks and traps may do well against small forces like the ones we fought today, but what happens when Ilia sends in her Legions? Sooner or later, Ilia is going to respond and we can't hope to retreat behind Linz's walls and attempt to hold off the horde forever."
Tomas gazed pensively at the map and then his eyes gleamed for a moment and he looked up at his two companions with a fevered look of discovery in his eyes. "Larguz," he said simply.
Nasir and Porter turned wide-eyed to their friend, trying to decide whether to take this suggestion seriously. There was a short tense silence, which Nasir finally broke by saying, "Surely... surely you don't mean the village of Larguz? The village that plays host to the Wyvern Knight Academy for this region?"
Tomas nodded eagerly. "The same. Think about it, what is the Ilian forces main advantage over us?"
Porter's eyes gleamed with understanding, "Pegasi."
"Exactly," Tomas said, "If we could manage to take Larguz we will tip the scales and balance them out more evenly. We need a fort to strike out from and to consolidate our forces. The Wyvern Knight Academy in Larguz is a formidable fortress, it would do nicely."
Nasir nodded in skeptical agreement, "I agree, but how can we hope to take Larguz with such a small force? We've barely two hundred souls to our name. That won't be enough to take Larguz and the Academy."
Tomas smirked and replied, "That's the best part! My cousin runs a general store up in Larguz, he's been writing me for months now. Apparently the Viceroy in charge of Larguz has been abusing his powers more and more lately. Curfews at night, soldiers garrisoned in homes, eating their food, sleeping in their beds, and not to mention the ridiculous taxes he's been imposing on them lately. If they caught wind of our rebellion here in Linz they would join forces with us for sure! Even the squires at the Wyvern Knight Academy would be sure to join our cause. Wyvern Knighthood is a Bernese tradition, why would they support those Ilian pigs over their brothers? Think about it, what hope did we villagers of Linz have to overthrow Viceroy Farquahar and Lance-General Laroque? Next to none, but with the element of surprise we struck at them from within their defenses, and tore them apart from their insides out. We could do the same in Larguz!"
Porter's eyes gleamed with excitement. "It's risky, but to gain Wyverns and Castle Larguz, it will certainly give us the foundation we're seeking. What do you think Nasir?"
Nasir tugged at his beard anxiously, considering his friend's plan very carefully. He had rushed headlong into battle once before, and it had held consequences he could have never foreseen. He wanted to think this plan through completely before deciding on anything. But he had to admit, it was too good to pass up. Adding wyverns to their cause would cancel out the Ilian's dominance of the skies, and it would give them the stronghold they would need to build their forces and have a serious chance to contest the Ilians head-on. "Very well, we take Larguz. But we must be careful, if we don't do this right, it could end disastrously. Now, what's the plan?" And with that the three men planned their invasion in earnest, and sat talking at that oak table into the late hours of the night.
CONTINUED IN BERN THREAD: FANNING THE FLAMES.
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