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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2012 17:16:06 GMT -6
[This takes place in a village in Khathelet, one of the smaller territories of Lycia. Specifically started for Lilly, Alicia, Erica, and Laertes, but any other low-level folks are welcome to join]
"I'll take it from here." Her tone was friendly but dismissive, about as close to a subtle suggestion that the villager leave her to her thoughts as she was likely to get. Helping coordinate the response to the recent bandit attacks had seemed like a great publicity grab at the time, but this was politics all over again - trying to raise enough money to actually be worth offering adventurers from already-poor villagers had been difficult, though no one here was really to blame. As much as the villagers wanted the threat removed, if they'd had the money to hire a proper mercenary brigade, they would ave done so long ago.
Even removing herself from the reward pool, Lillianne didn't fancy the odds of too many people taking the offer. Not enough money to attract any of the real bigshots, so she was left hoping that the idea of a noble cause, a valiant struggle in the hallowed name of justice would spur an entire army of valiant warriors. Or... at least a couple people. There had been some vague reports from villagers about people showing up, possibly interested; her encounter with the man a few moments ago had been to confirm that and set up the interview.
Not that she really had a lot of options in terms of denying anyone, but if she was to lead a couple people into the jaws of death, it would be nice to at least know what they were capable of and hopefully forestall personality issues that might develop on the field. That she had very little actual experience as anything resembling a squad leader didn't particularly bother Lilly; she knew tactics, and one way or another this would all work out. That was what she was here for, after all - solving problems.
...And trying out some of her new ideas. A thin smile passed her lips as she looked at her arm, that look the only indication of the bubbling glee within as her inner mad scientist struggled for freedom. That had been a very productive evening, and she was convinced that some more experimentation with Destruction and Change runes - admittedly, basically just going in the other direction of her first set of alterations - might lead to further excellence.
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Erica Winters
Pegasus Knight
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem.
Posts: 39
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Post by Erica Winters on Mar 25, 2012 18:07:37 GMT -6
A lot had happened since Erica left home at Rosewell not long ago. After helping that traitor Michelle, and then failing to enter Etruria because of that unusual shaman boy, Erica was becoming a tad disheartened. It was quite surprising how she escaped both of the situations. She wasn’t giving up yet though, her journey was just beginning. What would her husband thought if she just gave up like this, she was going to keep trying until the very end. Her efforts paid off, after searching for work in Lycia she heard of the recent problems of the small village “Khathelet”. Even if the job involved fighting at this point Erica was desperate for work, no matter the pay, no matter the job.
Erica entered the town slowly; her hands wrapped gently through the reins of Kiki her Pegasus, slowly clopping alongside her as they made their way into the Lycian village. As of today, things were finally looking up for her. She was anxious to get started into her work as soon as possible, she needed something to focus on.
Confidently Erica made her way through the street, her long platted hair flowed naturally behind her, mere inches above the floor. Even after riding her tight braid always kept her hair in good condition. Erica watched as the silver haired woman took command and waited for an opportunity to approach the girl. After the villagers had cleared Erica stepped forward.
“Excuse me, Erica Winters Pegasus rider, are you in charge?”
((OOC: Lazy post is Lazy, but I didn’t want to go to bed without leaving you guys a post))
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Alicia
Knight
In Saint Elimine's name!
Posts: 33
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Post by Alicia on Mar 25, 2012 18:34:07 GMT -6
Alicia sighed as a light breeze blew by, stirring up the hot day's stagnant air. Gazing upwards, she directed a silent thanks to Saint Elimine, a small smile blossoming as her thoughts dwelled on her goddess for an instant, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. She schooled her expression a moment later, gripping the lance at her side tightly before letting her eyes wander over her surroundings once more.
The village was small; had it not been for the bandits, it'd be just like any of the dozens of sleepy farming hamlets that dotted the landscape. Her expression darkened as she scowled. Bandits. Deviants, all of them; she'd bring them before Saint Elimine's justice. They all ought to be exterminated. And, she was here to do just that, she thought to herself, pleased. Dozens of knights had been dispatched to deal with the threats that attacked Etruria's border villages, and she had traveled south, following the trail of ravaged homes and tearful commoners. Honest, hard working people whose luck had taken a turn for the worse...just like the children that filled Delfia's streets.
Her eyes caught the figure of the teenager that had greeted her earlier as he approached hurriedly; she straightened her back, her expression blank as she stepped away from the tree's shade, carefully devoid of emotion. It wouldn't do to scare the poor child away. The sun's heat was uncomfortable in heavy armor, but no true knight of Saint Elimine would balk at something as simple. She listened attentively as the boy spoke, his voice tremulous and fearful. She'd never understood why everyone looked so nervous when encountering knights of Etruria. As long as they were of sound faith, keeping up the precepts of the church, they had nothing to fear, after all. It was simple.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise at the boy's words. The elders had a response team already assembled? That was surprising organization for a village so small. Perhaps she ought to mention it to her superiors; it would be helpful if villages in Etruria could to respond to threats more quickly. Yes, a committee in every town. She thanked the boy with a small piece of silver, giving him a small smile. "Thank you. The church does not forget those who help her cause." Surely, Saint Elimine would reward him herself. "May you and your family find yourselves blessed by her."
She walked away briskly towards the center of town, following the boy's directions down the beaten dirt path. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a pegasus; curious, her gaze followed the reins to the hands of a woman with braided hair. A fellow knight, she noted with satisfaction; that would make everything easier. A pegasus meant she hailed from Illia; a country that embraced Saint Elimine's beliefs. Surely, she'd help drive the bandits away. The woman, however, did not seem to be in charge; the figure she talked to was dressed in clothes too fine to belong to a village of farmers. No, the woman was an outsider, like the pegasus knight and herself. No matter; she'd assess the nature of their response team, and take charge if needed. She approached the two of them, eyes silently seeking those of the blue-haired woman before speaking up decisively, her tone neither friendly nor antagonistic.
"I have been sent to deal with the bandit threat. Would you happen to be the village's response team?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2012 20:47:43 GMT -6
-And she wasn't likely to get any alone time to start practicing setting people on fire, apparently. Lilly held back a homicidal glint in her eyes when she heard the first voice, composing herself before looking up from her arm with a light smile. "Liaison for Bandit Affairs. Or Lillianne - I respond to either, though the latter may be easier on the tongue." Her tone was conversational, friendly, as much an attempt to set any listening villagers at ease as the newcomers. Bids for fame and recognition aside, she was happy to be doing something for these people - no one deserved to live in constant fear of their lives, whether it be Etrurian raiders, Bernese armies, or bandit looters. Being able to turn the situation into their mutual benefit had been quite a coup, one that she was proud of herself for. It felt good to be able to help.
All of which was ruined by Etrurians, as usual. Lilly's smile turned from light to thin, cracks appearing in her facade as the newcomer introduced herself. It was less that there was an Etrurian here - it wasn't illegal or anything - so much as that a very obviously armed and armored Etrurian knight had apparently been sent on a mission into Lycia, which raised about as many warning bells as was humanly possible. Still, at least there was no stabbing and screaming about a dead woman just yet, and meatshields were always useful. Even if they would probably have to be tuned out eventually when they started talking about faith.
The self-styled Liaison for Bandit Affairs kept the thin smile on her face, though it no longer reached her eyes as she surveyed the knight. "Let us hope that you represent your country well, then." Her words were innocent enough, but there was a barbed undercurrent if one looked for it, the suggestion that the Etrurian behaved herself buried within it. There was no explicit threat to it so much as a vague sense of warning, wrapped up in a flawlessly neat package that would go over the head of anyone unfamiliar with Lycia and Etruria's strained relationship after the latter sacked Ostia. Lillianne considered herself a patriot first and foremost, and while she did not hold a specific dislike for Etruria as a country, its leadership certainly seemed intent on portraying themselves as the greatest possible threat to the loosely-coherent territory as any mention of the walking dead.
"I'll hold off on a proper briefing for a few minutes to give everyone a chance to arrive - we may have a few more incoming. Reports vary." Which translated to she knew at least one other person was supposed to be coming, and the villagers were worthless in terms of providing further information. "In the meantime, why don't we all introduce ourselves properly, since we'll be working together?" The Ryerden mage crossed her arms under her chest, her jacket taut across her body under the sudden pressure. She didn't intend to give them more than was necessary, but was certainly curious to see how the two would respond and what they would offer in return. "Lillianne. Licensed Magus. Tactical training in small unit maneuvers. As the unofficial liaison for the villagers, you will essentially be working for me for the duration of our work." A businesslike nod, little more than acknowledging both. "It's a pleasure."
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Alicia
Knight
In Saint Elimine's name!
Posts: 33
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Post by Alicia on Mar 25, 2012 21:31:05 GMT -6
Alicia's shoulders stiffened under her pauldrons at the Lycian woman's words, her eyes narrowing for a moment before she schooled her expression carefully. "Yes, Etruria is a proud nation. We stand united in our faith." More than could be said for the squabbling kingdoms to the south, she thought to herself with a small measure of satisfaction. She didn't like the woman's tone, but she sounded like a capable leader. She could...tolerate her.
Her last phrase made it hard to like her, though. "For now." She answered to her new superior's words, nodding back politely, the movement brisk and short, her tone guarded. Should she prove unsuited for command, though, she'd gladly take her place. Whoever the villagers appointed as their commander was not something she particularly cared for, and she would not report back a failure at the church.
Perhaps she ought to follow her example for now, though, before the silence grew too heavy. "My name is Alicia, holy knight of Saint Elimine." She spoke curtly, her words clipped, devoid of emotion, though she couldn't help the hint of pride that seeped into her tone at the last bit. For six years, she had trained before taking her vows and being anointed with the church's sacred oils. Could a magus' license really compare to that? She thought not, carefully locking away her derision and sweeping it under a mental rug. "The pleasure is mine." The answer was but a canned phrase, one that had been drilled into her mind throughout her training, and she delivered it as such. This was strictly a temporary alliance, she told herself, until the bandits were dealt with.
For the greater good, and the glory of Saint Elimine.
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Erica Winters
Pegasus Knight
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem.
Posts: 39
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Post by Erica Winters on Mar 26, 2012 15:52:15 GMT -6
Erica faced the silver haired maiden, a somewhat stern official expression planted on her delicate face. She stood upright, maintaining a firm grasp on the reigns of her Pegasus. Kiki followed a similar pattern, her head held high and her wings folded gently. Erica’s expression did lighten a small amount when the girl offered a light smile and she offered a gentle nod in return. Kiki also leaned forward an inch and bowed her head formally. It was the kind of introduction you might expect of a noble, polite, and quite formal. While Erica was quite poor she had the etiquette fit to be a noble. If this woman was to be in charge Erica only saw it fit to address her appropriately. They had no personal connection Erica would feel somewhat impolite calling her anything but Liaison.
“Pleasure.”
Erica said in her usual delicate and refined voice. She scanned the village, her long braid dangling and bobbing ever so slightly as her head turned. It was a small village, obviously the bandits had a decent effect but it resembled many other farming hamlets that Erica had visited in search of work. It didn’t seem like they had much money to offer but a small town like this usually had a strong sense of community. It reminded her somewhat of her home in Rosewell. She was happy to do everything she could to help the village; she understood how difficult it must be for them. The reward for this job was pretty low and there probably wouldn’t be many other people willing to help. Maybe some good hearted Samaritans would be willing to help a hand, Erica wasn’t very educated on the bandit problem in this village but she was sure any help would be good.
She turned her head back to face the silver haired maiden once again. A light breeze rolled by, it was calm and refreshing. It was discomforting to know that people out there, people like bandits were willing to destroy the simple peace of places like this. Erica felt a growing determination to help. Erica then heard the voice of another woman, her head making a swift turn to the source, her long plat whipping along behind her. A soldier? No, an Etrurian knight. Erica could clearly tell by the armor she wore. Erica gazed delicately at the woman, in the back of the mind she was surprised to see a female knight, it wasn’t unheard of but from her experience men were more commonly soldiers. She let not her mind linger on the issue, rather appreciating the fact this woman was here to help! Having an trained soldier would certainly benefit the team. Erica let Liaison speak, sensing something a little different in her voice. She simply ignored it seeing no need in nitpicking such trivial things.
“We appreciate your assistance.”
It looked like Erica had gotten her first job at least. It was good to know there were some good people out there willing to help fight against the bandits. She still wondered if many other people were going to bother coming along. There was a clear atmosphere of formality in the air. At this moment in time, they were just employers and employees, in order for them to do a satisfactory job they would have to work more as team mates. Erica had faith everything would work out, they were just introduced after all. She bowed her head gently to the new girl and her Pegasus very delicately bowed downwards her front left hoof pointed gently across her right as she bowed. Erica’s long braid brushed over her shoulder and as she rose once again now lay over her shoulder and down the front of her.
“Erica Winters, Pegasus rider.”
She turned slightly towards her Pegasus. While her right hand still held a now lightened grasp on the reigns, her open palmed left hand raised towards the feathered horse.
“Kiki.”
Kiki shook its head in a sort of snort greeting as her wings half extended and retracted back to her side.
“I do hope we can gather more allies. Returning this town to, its former self, a peaceful, hardworking community. That would be nice.”
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Linius
Knight
I am your shield and I am your sword.
Posts: 14
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Post by Linius on Mar 28, 2012 0:28:39 GMT -6
"Hmm, I see..." The knight hummed, stroking his goatee in thought as he took in the information fed to him by the baker. "Thank you for your help, my good man. This information should prove some use to us. Please excuse me." Linius gave the man a short nod before turning his back to the bakery, making his way back to the inn.
He noticed that many were watching him, some blatantly staring, but he payed it little mind. A knight in full plate armor; More so, a knight in full black plate armor of an obviously fine quality, walking around a quaint little village like this and asking questions? It would have been strange if people hadn't started looking.
Linius could see from where he was that her Ladyship had managed to attract some willing, and more importantly able, bodies. The first he could tell was competent by merely glancing at her steed. A Pegasus Knight from the homeland. If it was not for his strong sense of military bearing, Linius would have smiled, but none the less, he allowed himself a subtle grin. A former Ilian mercenary himself, he was more than familiar with the advantages of such an ally.
The latter did not have anything as blatant as a winged horse, but he only needed to see her bearing to know that, if nothing else, that the woman was trained. He had learned many years ago that one could not be judged by their armor or sword, but by the way they held themselves.
Approaching her Ladyship, Linius set his right arm across his breast and gave a half waist bow. Returning to his proper standing position, he then began to speak. "Lady Lillianne, I have spoken with the villagers. It seems that the bandits we seek have taken shelter to the east, in a temporary military encampment that had been set up during the Bandit War and abandoned shortly thereafter." Linius explained.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2012 1:10:06 GMT -6
Yup, she still had it. After a decade dealing with noblemen and entrenched interests opposed to the unification of Worde and Ryerde, some backwater Etrurian fanatic was no challenge at all. Lilly supposed that she should feel a little guilty for winding the girl up, but it was as much a test of character as admittedly an excuse to get back at Etruria a little for what they had done to her country. Alicia's response held its own venom, but the deposed marquess was willing to hold back her own razor-edged words if it would serve her interests to do so. If nothing else, the girl seemed a competent knight, trained well enough to not collapse in on herself instantly at the first hint of stress.
Lillianne opted to simply smile, vague and disingenuous. She wasn't actually fond of the girl, but simple logic dictated her moves; having a solid front line would be tactically advantageous, and the bandits were likely ill-equipped to deal with heavy armor. Raiders and scavengers, they tended to favor lighter weapons - effective against the flesh and cloth of villagers, and cocky mages she reminded herself, but ill-suited to penetrate the durable armor of a knight or general. She could deal with a bit of moodiness in return for that. "And now we stand united in order to protect these people. Your aid is appreciated." Getting into the spirit of the moment a bit more, Lilly turned to the pegasus knight, equally relieved to have an Ilian mercenary on her side. Exactly how useful the woman would be in frontline combat against axe-wielding brutes was questionable, but a pegasus knight's extreme mobility and ability to engage only when advantageous for her was a potent tactical tool as well.
"Well then, Alicia, Erica, it seems that we are fortunate to have two capable women such as yourselves. When my -" She paused momentarily, almost imperceptibly, but there was a momentary hitch in her words that betrayed the pause as Lilly searched for the proper word to replace vassal. There was no harm in the word itself, but there were meanings attached to it that might provoke thought down paths she did not want her companions exploring. "-companion returns, I will brief you on the constraints of our... ah, there he is now." Speak of the devil! She made a conscious effort not to show too much of it, but it was impossible to mistake the quirk at the edges of her lips hinting at a more genuine smile, a momentary light in her eyes that belied the truth. Linius had proven himself time and time again to be eminently reliable, as well as a pillar in some of her less shining moments. No one, marquess or empress, could ask for a better vassal - or friend.
His briefing was brief and to the point, exactly the information she needed to hear. Her earlier interrogations had provided less solid information, but in fairness she had been busy enough trying to coordinate the issue of the reward as well as spreading the word that it had fallen primarily on him to solve that issue. "Prompt and effective as ever, Linius - thank you." For the report and for his continued service alike. She was curious to see how Alicia would react to the shift in the balance of power, but focused primarily on the mission. "Any further word of recruits, or is it to be the four of us? We must strike soon, precluding the possibility of our foe having time to fortify and prepare."
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Alicia
Knight
In Saint Elimine's name!
Posts: 33
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Post by Alicia on Mar 28, 2012 3:33:31 GMT -6
Alicia nodded her head at the rider's introduction, her stern expression softening slightly, the tightness of her jaw lessening as she shifted her focus away from the irritating Lycian woman. The older woman, Erica, moved gracefully; as a knight should, she noted with approval. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around her pegasus, though, eyeing the beast with suspicion. She had never particularly liked horses, and a winged one was just odd. Still, nothing in the scriptures said anything wrong about the creatures, so she forced herself to place such thoughts aside. Erica's words were courageous and true, and she nodded once more in assent; she would have smiled, had they been spoken in a different place. Not here, however; she could not allow herself to show any weaknesses, particularly not in front of the mage. "That is a noble goal. Let us work together to return peace to the village, then. The pleasure is mine."
She composed herself after a few seconds while Lillianne spoke, drawing up a cold facade around herself once more, face carefully sculpted into perfect neutrality before looking at the woman's eyes. Lillianne's smile held no warmth, but as much as she hated to admit it, she was right. "Yes. Protection of these people should be our first priority." She paused for an instant, hesitating for a moment before ploughing on. "I thank you for your help protecting this town, as well." Her words were honest; Saint Elimine would not look kindly upon someone who abandoned innocent people in need, and she was not yet deluded enough to believe she could take on an entire clan of bandits by herself. She could not bring herself to change her tone, however, an undercurrent of hostility still lying in wait beneath the surface of her words. Being right did not make Lillianne any more pleasant.
The young woman's eyes widened in surprise as another knight approached, clad in full armor. Despite not being particularly short, the man towered over her, the armor adding to his figure, a giant forged out of steel. His poise, the way he carried himself, his speech, all screamed perfection. A small spark of fear lit up inside her, which she quashed ruthlessly. Anger rose up within her; had she really been intimidated by another knight? She had been the best of her class, the best among her fellow recruits, and she would not act like a coward before the first foreigner in heavy armor she met outside Etruria's borders. The knight's words only aggravated her further, though.
Lady Lillianne?
If the mage was a noblewoman, that complicated everything. She barely held back a scowl; frustrated at how quickly everything seemed to be falling apart. No, it was probably just a form of address. She shouldn't chase after phantoms. Besides, why would someone of noble birth be chasing after bandits? No, the notion was just ridiculous, and she discarded it as such. He was her friend, however. That made taking control of their little group all but impossible, even if Erica remained neutral.
The other knight...she studied him carefully, taking note of his every movement. No, she would surpass him, and demonstrate the superiority of a holy knight of the church. He couldn't possibly be that good. Her opinion of him, admittedly, was somewhat tinged by his friendliness with Lady Lillianne, though. She sighed, nearly imperceptibly. No, it wouldn't do to let her opinions get in the way of her job. She had a holy duty. If Saint Elimine wanted these bandits gone, then she would show them the error of their ways. And if that meant working together with Lillianne, then so be it. "Good day." Her greeting was polite, if short and tinged with a slight sullenness that surprised her. No, she should focus; the battlefield was no place for emotions. She turned towards her commander, at least for the time being. "I...agree. Should they be given time to entrench themselves solidly, it will be difficult to force them out by ourselves."
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Erica Winters
Pegasus Knight
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem.
Posts: 39
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Post by Erica Winters on Mar 28, 2012 10:01:11 GMT -6
Erica stood with a delicate but presentable posture, Kiki standing loyally alongside her, her hands wrapped gently between the reigns to keep a safe hold if anything happens. She distributed her gazes equally between the two other girls, facing primarily whoever was speaking. Both women were beautiful but very different. Alicia had long braided hair somewhat similar to Erica. She also presented herself in a similar manner of etiquette, but she was dressed in heavier armor. She was quite obviously a knight of Etruria. Liaison on the other hand, dressed somewhat a bit more promiscuous, but not quite erotic. She had long silverfish hair with obviously custom cut stylish clothing. It was a little more difficult to establish what she did but her defenseless choice of attire suggested she didn’t deal a lot with weaponry.
While Erica analyzed her allies she maintained a stable smile of formality at all times. She was sure both girls were up to the task, but she was a little worried for herself. This was her first line of work she had little experience in fighting. While she was skilled in riding, and had been trained to wield a lance she had never actually battled someone before. She kept it to herself, refusing to give the others an opportunity to doubt her. She never saw fighting as a justifiable form of resolution, but the village needed help, and with bandits this was the only realistic solution, barbaric thought it be.
Erica could feel the brewing tension between the other two girls, it was clear from their attitudes and faces they weren’t exactly hitting it off as best friends, but they thankfully maintained a professional attitude. Everyone understood helping the village was what was truly important. Things were starting to pick up however. Erica bowed her head at Liaisons comment. Really, everyone’s aid was appreciated in this situation but Erica was just happy to find some work and help someone in the process. Erica was pleased to hear that Liaison had another companion. So there was yet another besides the three girls? Excellent, the more allies made defeating the bandits a much more achievable objective. Erica was growing a mild fondness towards the Etrurian knight. She was obviously concerned for the safety of the villagers, seemingly more so than Liaison which was no big deal it was just something Erica seemed to be picking up on. They were just getting acquainted so making an accurate judgment on either of the girls was pointless now.
Erica’s head turned towards the new arrival, sliding her braid up her shoulder a minor amount as she turned against it. A new man approached the group, he was tall, rugged and well built. He too dressed in the heavy armor of a knight, a deep black trimmed with gold. He certainly looked somewhat important. Erica noticed the subtle grin on his face when he saw Kiki, and she smiled politely offering a simple nod in return. She knew who he was once he approached Liaison, obviously the companion she spoke of earlier. As her gaze followed him toward Liaison her braid slid down her shoulder once again, still remaining over the front of her. She was surprised by the way in which he addresses Liaison, Lady. It was formal, very official, as if he was not Liaison’s companion but rather her knight, working under her rather than with. It was equally as possible he was just being polite, and while it was not the first thought to cross Erica’s mind once it did she ignored any trivial thoughts of their relationship. Taking in the fact his name was Linius, she listened intently to his report. It seemed like the group were going to have to invade the Bandit shelter. It sounded dangerous but Erica understood the risks when she accepted the job.
“Liaison, this Linius is the companion you spoke of? Good evening, I am Erica Winters. I hope we may work well together.”
It was always important to introduce yourself to a new Ally. Erica would give Ally the opportunity to introduce herself; she was a perfectly capable woman.
“So we are all in agreement? There is still time we should give ourselves the opportunity to gather as many allies as a possible. A stable force and well balanced team should further ensure a safe victory.
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Linius
Knight
I am your shield and I am your sword.
Posts: 14
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Post by Linius on Mar 28, 2012 11:55:20 GMT -6
"I can not say. There is the possibility that more may wish to aid us, but in the end, nothing about this situation is absolute." Linius admitted. "You must choose whether we stay or go. Whatever your decision, I will support it." He assured her, as he had ever since they'd first departed from Worde. No matter the hardships, no matter the risks, he would always be at Lillianne's side, just as he always had. That was the oath he had sworn, on his knee, to her and her husband ten years ago.
Linius took a brief moment to more closely examine the two women speaking with her Ladyship. The armored girl's expression, however slight, did not go unnoticed, and frankly, it was irritating him. It didn't matter how skilled she was, arrogance was a quality that would earn any soldier his complete and utter disapproval. "To you as well." he replied with a very brief nod. He had a feeling they'd have problems with this one, though he hoped he was wrong. The last thing he needed was to go into conflict with an unreasonable ally.
The Ilian woman, at least, seemed to be meeting a better standard as far as her attitude. She spoke politely, even if she was addressing her Ladyship by a rather strange title, and had the courtesy to actually introduce herself. "Linius Rothschild. I have a distinct feeling that we will." Linius assured her, giving her a brief nod as well. She certainly seemed to be a much better individual than the armored girl, on top of an undoubtedly very efficient military training, something he knew from personal experience.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2012 16:08:13 GMT -6
Huh. Liaison? Lilly was caught somewhat off guard for a moment, not having expected any of the group to actually call her by her self-appointed title. She had been joking! Sort of. Well, yes, it was technically an accurate title, but being referred to by her title rather than as a human being reminded her too much of days long past. She recovered with as much poise as she could muster, waving her right hand as though it would blow away the pegasus rider's address. "Erica, please, call me Lillianne. Fancy titles aside, I'm here for the same reason the two of you are - we're in this together. There is no need to create unnecessary distance between us, is there? Ilian, Etrurian, Lycian - nationality and background matter little when matters of greater importance rear their head, and I for one would rather focus on the problem at hand than exactly what titles we should be appending to each others' names!"Her tone was conversational, somewhat breezy, but there was a hint of finality to her words that suggested Lillianne was not interested in continuing the subject. It was less irritation as a slight undercurrent of awkwardness that she was doing her best to hide; being reminded of titles by necessity reminded her of things better left in the past, as well as one man she would very much have preferred to not leave behind. There were more pressing concerns anyways; she would have to plan out their actual assault after reconnaissance, probably discussed with Linius, and in the meantime she would see what she could do mentally in terms of tentative battle plans based on their group's composition. A little more frontline-heavy than she had expected, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing; an extra fast fighter or two to capitalize on the unbreakable wall would have been useful, but she and Erica would have to focus on striking quickly and effectively. Still, two knights did not equate to an entire army. Even if the bandit group wasn't that large, the fight could easily turn into a slaughter if even one of them went down. "I would prefer to stock our force with as many combatants as possible, but time is not on our side; our success hinges as much on our having the element of surprise as on tactical superiority. If we wait for one or two more, but the scavengers have time to prepare, we will be far worse off. I will leave word with the villagers in case anyone shows up immediately after we depart, but it would be wise to not expect reinforcements."SOUNDTRACK BEGINS: youtu.be/L4-4M3IqtegIt was done. She knew that she could no longer back out of this, either the task as a whole or her decision to move now. Despite her comment about tactical training, Lilly knew damn well that her knowledge was strictly theoretical - studying past battles was no replacement for actually taking part in them. She would have to focus on avoiding errors, but it was important that she show no more weakness than absolutely necessary; each episode thereof would only compound tactical errors in the fight, crushing any chance she had at retaining control as well as crippling morale. For these people's sake, as well as her own, she had to act as though she was prepared for everything - even if she wanted to back down and hide. Her dream would not be served by throwing aside opportunities, though, nor would ignoring the plight of the people make her any more suited to rule. Caelan, lend me strength. It was as close as she would ever get to praying to any god, as intensely atheistic as she was, but the idea of an afterlife was admittedly pleasing when she considered a few of the people that had once been in her life. Business first, though. Lilly straightened, her arms still crossed, drawing on the posture she knew. Businesslike tones, no hesitation, no weakness. "Initial reports claim that there are somewhere around a dozen bandits in total, but they are not generally encountered as a single entity - they often split into smaller groups, preying on different villages and isolated farmsteads to make it all the more difficult to actually stop them. That will be our best chance; in a pitched battle they outnumber us, but given that we can take advantage of superior tactics and overwhelming directed force, we have our own significant advantages. We will endeavor to take a smaller group off guard; if possible we will claim the fortress as our own to mount a defense against returning squads."Assuming that not all of the bandits were home when they came knocking, assuming that there weren't actually an extra thirty bandits secretly in reserve, assuming that they weren't actually ex-Bern military with decades of combat experience each and accustomed to working as a cohesive unit. There were a lot of assumptions there, but then since when did any battle plan ever survive an actual fight? Lilly smiled again, something she seemed to be doing a lot of lately, but this one was a bit different; thin, intense, closer to a grim smile than a look of girlish glee. "When we have up to date information on the exact situation we can discuss exact battle plans, but those are my general goals. Tactically, Alicia, Linius, you two will be the frontline, I will fill the role of magical artillery, Erica, I will be relying on you as a striker, hitting targets of opportunity and harrying key targets. The specifics will again depend on the precise situation. Any questions?"
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Post by Valclaud on Mar 28, 2012 17:12:32 GMT -6
(OoC: Hey, since this is open and at the beginning, I'm joining if thats okay.)
[white]"Huh, never thought I would be in this situation."[/white] was all Valclaud could think of at the moment. He was lost, downright lost. ever since he went separate paths then that pegasus rider, Valclaud kept on get more and more lost. [white]"Well, there's no use crying over burn corpses, are there? I'll just keep on wandering through these woods till I find something!"[/white] he shouted to himself as he continued to walk in the hilly woods, completely oblivious to the path that went down to a small town a couple yards away.
As the sun started to dip from the sky, Valclaud got more and more frustrated. [white]"Ugh! this is getting me nowhere!"[/white] he complained before slumping down in the dirt. [white]This sucks. Why did I have to leave that nice pegasus lady when I did? I could be somewhere less woodsy and dirty. Wait, what's that?[/white] he thought as he peered through the trees to see what looked like ruins with smoke coming out of it. [white]"HORRAY! I'm out of this place!"[/white] he wooped as he started to run off in the direction of the ruined fortress.
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Alicia
Knight
In Saint Elimine's name!
Posts: 33
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Post by Alicia on Mar 29, 2012 12:54:39 GMT -6
Alicia shifted her gaze away from Lillianne's friend, oblivious to his irritation, but the spark of competitiveness the older knight had ignited within her would not vanish as easily. He was not of the church. How could he ever compare to a holy knight? No, she'd show him the strength of her faith. Calm as midsummer's breeze. She breathed in deeply, then let the air out slowly, subtly, letting it carry away the stress and tension that seemed to have accumulated over her body in mere minutes. Steady as an iron wall. Lillianne was her commander now, and until this mission was over, she would not disgrace herself by rebelling against her.
"Understood." She nodded her head once more, fiercely this time, her expression focused, her tone impersonal. She could not bring herself to salute the woman, but at least she could keep from scowling at her every time she spoke. "I do have a suggestion, though." She turned towards Erica. "Your mobility is unmatched in our group. I believe," the Etrurian knight said, turning towards Lillianne once more. "That we could benefit from having eyes in the sky." She moderated her voice, bleaching all emotion from it, focusing on the task at hand.
"Lillianne, if your information is correct, the bandits have not yet reinforced their position, no? Erica can spot their weakest points from the sky, and warn us of incoming reinforcements as well." She turned towards Linius, dipping her head in acknowledgement. "Linius and I can strike at those locations." She paused before facing Lillianne once more, staring at her meaningfully. "I believe it would be wasteful to not take advantage of her abilities. Whichever tactic you settle on, however, I shall comply." The challenge was left unsaid. It was but a suggestion, after all.
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Erica Winters
Pegasus Knight
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem.
Posts: 39
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Post by Erica Winters on Mar 30, 2012 10:47:33 GMT -6
Erica’s gaze shifted to the ebony plated man. He showed distinct loyalty towards Lillianne, Erica would be lying if she had not been somewhat curious as to how the two knew each other. He clearly had more experience in these situations than Erica did, while it would be nice to have more allies time was actually not on their side. Erica maintained a serious expression while Linius corrected Alicia, thinking to heself about the situation trying to get a better analysis. The bandits would be able to gather much easier than Lillianne could recruit. They had to strike while time was still working to their advantage. If these bandits had been terrorizing this village, they were no weaklings. Thinking about it more only made Erica get nervous, she clung to the thought of helping the villagers as an attempt to keep her spirits up.
Her gentle face lightened into more of a dazed look when Lillianne spoke. Erica was somewhat confused when Lillianne corrected her. Earlier she had stated Liaison was a suitable title. Erica shrugged off the issue not seeing much point in babbling on about it, but simultaneously agreeing with Lillianne. She didn’t see herself as higher or more important than Erica or the others, at least she wasn’t making it seem that way. They were all here to help the villagers, everyone was equal.
“I apologize. Whatever is most Comfortable, Lillianne.”
She offered an apologetic smile towards Lillianne before moving on and getting back to business. This heavy armored knight seemed thankfully professional, he seemed to have a positive attitude to the chemistry of the team, a relieving thing to hear for steadily growing nervous Erica. She allowed a lighthearted smile to emerge to calm herself. Then things started getting serious. At all times Erica kept a concerned face, showing no signs of nerve or disagreement. Lillianne also seemed to be thinking the same as Erica, time was of utmost importance. A surprise attack, it was a good idea, nerving for Erica’s first mission, but certainly a probability Erica would have to cope with. She offered a simple nod.
“It sounds like a viable plan, the element of surprise could certainly work to our advantage.”
Erica was prepared to move forward unquestionably. Prepared to head into battle, just like her father had done, just like her husband. It hadn’t even started yet but Erica could already feel the passionate pounding of her heart. She couldn’t explain the feeling, even with the cruelty of battle, the thought of fighting for the good of others, even for the peace of this humble town. Erica couldn’t deny the confusing thoughts entering her head, the ideas she had rejected long ago. She confidently flicked her braid back over and behind her shoulder. What was she thinking, this was just a job, Erica was just doing her job, none of her morals were in question right now. She zoned back into reality and continued listening to the reports from Lillianne.
A dozen bandits…
There were so many, with only four of them to protect this whole village. Looking around and analyzing her Allies, Erica had an unexplained faith. Perhaps fighting for a just cause had given her hope. Everything in theory sounded perfect, attack with surprise and take them out in smaller numbers, claim the fortress and defend. Erica knew it wasn’t going to be easy, her father died fighting, as did her husband. Tactics were only half the job, in the end it will come down to fighting… Something Erica was un experienced in, and strongly against. She maintained an un disturbed expression. This Lillianne woman, she was a mage? That would explain her lack of weapon and armor. Heavily plated Alicia and Linius would take the dangerous front lines, Erica from above and Lillianne from a distance. No matter where they were positioned all of them would face some danger. Working together was a key, if one of them went down… Then the others stood little to no chance. Erica was no longer concerned about her safety, but the safety of her allies, and the future of this village. They mustn’t fail. Erica nodded alongside Alicia.
“I understand.”
Erica curiously turned to Alicia noticing that she too had turned towards Erica.
A suggestion?
Erica’s right hand rested against her breastplate, her face lightened with a mild form of surprise. The girl was right. She turned her gaze to Kiki, who stood proudly with her head held high. Erica could get an view from above, that way they could confirm the bandits positioning, if they were indeed split into smaller groups! This would make their plan more likely to succeed, and make the mission a little safer. While Erica still had much to learn in fighting, she was undoubtedly confident in her flying skills the skills she had perfected over the years. It felt like a lot of pressure, but Erica was never going to complain, she knew what she signed up for.
“It’s true, I take pride in my flying skills. I feel safe to say I could accomplish this task, I’m willing to help however I can.”
Erica understood where Linius was coming from. She too could sense some form of chemistry within the team. Everyone was confident in their respective fields, they had the skills the maturity and the mind power to succeed.
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