Problems of Men

[Cen]

Cen and Felane walked into a small town of Bern. They had barely crossed the border of Lycia and Bern, and now they were stopping for a few nights. Cen liked the simplicity of the town. It was on top of a high hill with low fences between houses made of stone. The people of the village had built stepes into the sides of the hill to farm.It was a small village, with about forty five people. The thing that was the most simple was the name, the people called it village.

Cen and Felane were staying with an old farmer who was a part of the seemingly non-existent form of government. The people seemed almost indifferent to the rebelion. They were farmers and had a tax to pay, no matter who it was to. Itseemed to make sense to Cen, the nobles can whine all they want, when you can't ake a difference to your leaders, your leaders don't make a difference to you.

So for the first night in the small village, Cen slept soundly feeling athome with common folk.

[Cen]

Cen woke up as early as usual. He was used to getting up early as he was a simple farm/stable hand. He saw the farmers from the village getting up and leaving their houses. Cen had no rason to walk around and Felane wouldn't be up for a while, so he decided to shine his lance. It was By noon he had eaten breakfast and lunch, walked a mile, and done his calistenics.

Cen felt akward walking around doing nothing while work was being done. He was in such a familiar place, but under such different circumstances. He thought this small village would stay untouched by the rebellion. But as a unit of soldiers from Illia came towards the village, he knew, he was wrong.

[Cen]

Felane happened to be exiting the house as the Illians walked toward the town. The farmer he was staying with accompanied him. Felane motioned for Cen to follow. Cen guessed he wanted him to learn ways to handle diplomacy. So Cen set down his armor and made his way over.

"You know the drill old man, give the food we need. So we cand defend you and your neighbors at full strength." the Illian commander said to the villager, with a harsh tone.

The old man replied,"YEs your men defend us well, but you ask to much. You rob us as much as the bandits!"

The commander nodded saying,"Well hopefully you understand the importance of our occupation here."

The soldiers attached horses to carts of food, and left.

[Cen]

Felane turned to the old farmer, “What was that all about?” The farmer simply turned and said, “As long as we don’t try to stop them, the bandits will only take the amount of tax the soldiers still need tonight.” He left with tears forming in the corner of his eyes. Felane turned and said to Cen, “Well, we’ll be putting a stop to that tonight.”

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Cen waited in the small opening on the northern side of the wall. They had men stationed around all parts of the wall, right behind it. Cen and Felane had talked the villagers into fighting. And as the Squire stood next to the horse the man rode upon, they saw torch lights in the distance.

[Cen]

Cen planted the butt of his spear into the ground. Preparing for the onslaught that would come at him. And as he exhaled, the bandits surged forward. Cen rose his spear to one bandit as he got too close. The brigand had to top, as a group of farmers bombarded him with knives, pitchforks, and anything that could inflict pain. Cen couldn't believe this nature. The citizens had seemed so simple and caring, this was dishonorable, and just cruel. It didn't seem like it was just self defense.

Then another brigand ran towards him. Cen lifted his spear in defense, but the brigand just slapped it to the side with his axe. So Cen had to jump back. The Brigand tried to get into close quarters, and Cen kept losing fround. He looked over at Felane, who was taking several of the enemies at once. Cen eventually took a stab, and caught the man in the shoulder, but the man didn't give up. He swung and hit Cen in the leg. Cen fell to one knee. He stabbed the brigand again, in the stomach. Then the man decided to play wih him. He rapped the side of his axe against Cen's helmet. Cen took the oppurtunity and stabbed the man threw his black heart. The man fell.Cen stood. With a vulnerary to the leg he went back to the fray.

[Cen]

There was no tide of battle. It was as if two waves were meeting at one point, both refusing to give way. Both sides were untrained nd inexperienced. The bandits were better equiped. The villagers were fighting for their homes and families. It was a stalemate neither could win. But the villagers had Felane.

Felane was taking multiple bandits at a time. The bandits were coming in an all out onslaught, ignnoring the farmers, just wanting to kill the Paladin of Laus, who obviously had them beaten. At one point the battle seemed to stop as a sea of bandits covered him. Then Felane's giant axe came threw all the men. Felane fought the remainder of the bandits away. And they all retreated. Cen looked to him raising his Lance in salute, but then everything changed.

An arrow stuck itself in Felane's side. The knight fell from his horse, slowly. Cen and a group of farmers ran to him. The old knight looked at his Squire, "This is a grave wound. I wont be making it past this place." Felane grabbed the cloth under Cen's chin, "Laus, is not the place for you. Knighthood comes with nobility of spirit, not nobility of blood. I know your ambition, Cedidale. You cannot return to Cornwell now boy. But as a the man I see you becoming, you could restore your family to true honor. Go achieve knighthood threw your actions. Good luck boy."

Felane closed his eyes, and laid down his head, and died.

[Cen]

The rest of the twilight hours, seemed to go by in a haze. The farmers helped give Felane a decent burial. Cen went through the motions in a haze. He went straight to sleep after the burial. He dreamt of Felane fighting the very ocean. Cen stood on the beach, unable to move to help. Cen yelled to the man, knowing he would die. But the Vassal of Laus, would not falterin his faith. He wold defeat the tide, or die trying.

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When Cen awoke the villagers seemed to look to him to have an ida of how to stop the soldiers and bandits a second time. Cen had trouble coming up with a plan, but he finally pointed to a man about Felane's size. He said, "When the soldiers return, have that man wear Felane's armor. Ride his horse and hold his axe." Cen finished helping a few people in the village, then solemly left. NOt sure how to achieve Nobility of Character.