|
Post by Kraft on Nov 11, 2009 8:11:14 GMT -6
Before the sword struck Yurau had the time to yell "GUAR--" but then the sword nicked the vain in his neck. His sword fell to the ground and with both hands he tried to stop the bleeding. With wild eyes he looked at Richter. This boy had hit him! Him! Yurau the mighty! The favoured one!
Yurau stumbled backwards into his own desk, throwing it over. He was bleeding badly and needed attention soon. Just then, the alerted guards entered the tent. They looked at Yurau and then at Richter. Some men assaulted Richter, with the meaning to capture him, not to kill him. Others ushered the young Bishop in, asking him if it was not late to heal their commander.
The word spread and in no time the entire camp was in chaos. Many men flocked to the tent of commander Yurau. How would the Region Officer get out of this one?
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Nov 11, 2009 8:28:45 GMT -6
Valorian was surprised to be pushed in so quickly, but that didn't mean he wasn't paying attention. He noticed, away from the mess, a single discarded piece of parchment that he placed his foot on as he knelt down at the man's side.
This man is evil...he tried to kill another man under his command...probably for power or to rise in the organization...he'll likely kill scores more just to feed his own ego...he deserves death...
Valorian sighed as he pulled the staff from his back. "St. Elimine shall decide to keep this one or not..." He announced, holding the staff to the wound. "Oh Lady, may your will be done through your humble servant." He said, closing his eyes as he focused his thoughts.
Even he wasn't really sure how this staff worked, but he'd found a while ago it didn't work like normal staves. Almost as if it had a will of it's own. And so he waited, knowing that the answer would make itself known in a short amount of time.
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Nov 11, 2009 10:21:32 GMT -6
Yurau thrashed about and Richter got to his feet. He had meant to kill him, but all he could manage was this. For all the things he wasn't, Richter would have to admit, he was quite the fighter. As Richter sheathed his sword, the guards came barreling in with the young blond monk from earlier in tow. "Took them long enough," thought Richter to himself. "Worst personal guards I've ever seen." Two of the guards made a beeline straight towards Richter. One of them rapped him punched him in the stomach, causing Richter to lurch forward, then they each grabbed one of his arms.
Spitting on the ground, Richter looked at the blond child who was now kneeling next to Yurau holding his staff over the inept officer. Richter's mind was racing. How would he convince the soldiers of his relative innocence? He looked around the tent. There was nothing to convince them that Yurau had attacked first. He needed that letter. Richter's eyes darted around the room. Where was it? It should be right next to Yurau's desk...Was it under Yurau? Was the boy standing on it? He'd have to wait until the healing was done because that was the first thing on everyone's mind.
|
|
|
Post by Kraft on Nov 11, 2009 10:39:12 GMT -6
The staff healed Yurau. While dieing, he had seen things in his head. He had feared death so much that he had been engulfed in vision. Now that he was healed, but weak, he felt immense remorse. The staff... it had been judging him. He had felt it. It was as if strings of energy had been crawling through his memories, his brain, his body. Judging him. He had almost died, but then he had felt this remorse. This unstoppable desire to make up for things.
He opened his eyes at Valorian and smiled at him. He then saw Richter being questioned by his men. His old anger came back, but he struggled with himself and forced away his rage. With tremendous control of his rage, he stood up and looked at Richter Abend. With a weak voice he uttered; "Let him go." The men were flabbergasted and looked their commander. There was something broken in his eyes. He had lost the infamous fire that burnt in his eyes. It was just a little candlelight now.
"Forgive me, Richter Abend. I am not worthy. I am not worthy." After saying that, Yurau felt his wound once again. It had started bleeding again. It was the staff. It had only healed the wound temporarily. It had given him just enough time to make up with himself. He didn't deserve a second chance. He had been cruel and hard on his men. He had killed. And now he had been about to do it again. Out of jealousy. In his heart he knew the letter was real. Of course. But he had been stepped over by a youngling. It had hurt him. His killing had been for nothing.
"Forgive me, men."
He sighed.
He died.
But noone cried. Some of his veteran soldiers took up Yurau's body and silently carried it outside. Some of the old veterans had respect for Yurau. Most were relieved. They had done Yurau's bidding because they had feared him. But, more importantly, they had all seen the hand of Elimine in this. Yurau had lived long enough to show his remorse and to ask forgiveness. They all had known that Yurau had been evil. He didn't deserve another chance. But in his death he had found forgiveness and hopefully peace. It was quiet for a long time.
The man that had been punching Richter looked at him for a long time and silently said;
“The commander is dead. Long live the commander.”
(OoC: Sorry for this, I was going somewhere with Yurau, but it was a little waste of time and I want to get to Ostia before Kenshin is near the fort.)
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Nov 11, 2009 11:14:22 GMT -6
Any thoughts of the letter escaped from Richter's mind. It was unimportant to him now. As the soldiers removed Yurau's body, Richter could only stand and watch. There was something unsettling about the way Yurau had looked at him. As much as he despised the man, Richter had felt an intense pity welling up inside of him. Yurau had been a violent, evil man, but even he could show remorse. He had put aside his hate and his anger so that his men might be able to move on. His faith had overcome his own rage. Was this the power of faith? The power to stop even the greatest of evils? If that was true, Richter could believe. Not in the Prophet, not even in St. Elimine, but in something more. Something greater than any man that had walked Elibe.
Yurau's unnerving serenity at his moment of death made Richter's hate of Yurau seem so unnecessary. He felt almost bad that Yurau had to die... ...but it had to happen.
It had to happen because Richter had a goal. A goal greater than himself, Yurau, or any of the soldiers in this tent. It was greater than Sacae, Etruria, or any of the kingdoms. His goal was peace for Elibe itself.
"The commander is dead. Long live the commander.”
Those were the words. Those were words of victory. Richter was in charge now. Now it wasn't about him anymore. It was about the soldiers. It was about the civilians. It was so that no more swords would be necessary. The words of the Herald echoing in his head, Richter nodded to the soldier who had heralded him and walked out of the tent to the faces of many soldiers. Visages of hate, anger, sadness, acceptance, joy, and happiness were scattered about the crowd. Raising his hand up in the air, Richter shouted his commands. "Prepare yourselves, men! We march to Ostia! For St. Elimine, and for Etruria!"
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Nov 11, 2009 14:30:43 GMT -6
Valorian watched everyone walk away from the tent and remained behind, ensuring he was quite alone before he moved his foot and picked up the letter, slipping it into his book for now. He looked about the room for a moment or two before he spoke in a hushed whisper.
"Jya? Are you here?"
The entire scene had been a little odd for him, but there was only one death. And he died a better person then he would have without the staff. He had a chance to make amends, most people never get that kind of closure.
Maybe sometimes...we can save everyone...Save them from others and save them from themselves...
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Nov 11, 2009 15:14:13 GMT -6
Jya had listened and watched the fight, barely understanding what was going on. She was absolutely mortified at the chaos, the best thing she had done was to keep out of it. After Valorian had entered, she waited till everyone left before approaching his friend, knowing perfectly well that it wasn't time for her entrance. When everyone, but his friend had left, did she dare creep out from behind the crates.
"Uh, yeah, I couldn't really how much...sorry," that was the only thing she managed to say after witnessing the attempted murder.
|
|
|
Post by Clair Feldsky on Nov 11, 2009 15:26:49 GMT -6
Clair had been unable to slip into the tent at first, as some of the guards were blocking her path, but once the High Officer had begun speaking all attention had been directed at him. She made it in just in time to hear Yurau's words before he died. That was surprising to her. She didn't see what could have changed him so...
And then Richter was proclaimed Commander of the army. Wow! All these events were confusing. He was moving up. A Region Officer lifted into the position of high command just that quick. She was glad to be serving under one so skilled and favored by St. Elimine.
She joined up with her Commander and followed him. "Ostia Sir? How long will it take to get this army moving?"
There would be plenty of reorganizing to do now that the army was under new leadership. She wondered where Kynlis and Morgoth had gotten to in all this mess. It had been kind of nice Clair realized, to have found another girl around her age in the army.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Nov 11, 2009 16:39:48 GMT -6
Valorian patted Jya on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it, if I realized I was sending you into a power struggle, I wouldn't have done it. I hope you can forgive me for that." He looked about the tent. "It sounds like they are going to march on Ostia...perhaps we should tag along with them? It'll be easier then traveling alone, plus I think there is hope for that man...Abend they called him. This might still be doable. Plus, you still have to look for your 'family' right?"
He looked at her with a smile. "I wouldn't leave you on your own after we came this far. You were willing to risk your life for a mission that didn't concern you at all, it'd be poor manners to desert you here." He looked around the destroyed tent. "Well, I am going to catch up with that Abend fellow. I think you should sneak out, after all you aren't supposed to be here right now. There should be very few prying eyes."
|
|
|
Post by Kynlis on Nov 11, 2009 16:53:55 GMT -6
Kynlis, despite her distance from the tent, heard the cut off shout for the guards. She was worried for her new commander. That didn't sound like him, and he probably wouldn't shout for the guards, but still...
When Richter was shown alive, if captive, the girl felt a mixture of relief and worry. He was alive, and the High Officer dead or dieing. Too far to hear the words, she saw the monk heal the High Officer, who proceeded to stand up, say something, then...die. Her Commander was then released, and, by St. Elimine's grace, accepted by the rest of the army.
Now that all that commotion was over, Kynlis decided to find out where her commander and Clair went. She lost sight of them in the crowd of soldiers. Ducking in between the tents and around the other soldiers, she finally glimpsed the two ahead of her. She hurried to catch up to them, and shot Clair a quick smile before asking, " And how long will it take us to get to Ostia once we do get moving?"
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Nov 11, 2009 17:08:42 GMT -6
While the rest of the soldiers hurried off to spread the command, Richter turned to Clair and Kynlis. "If I have my way, not long," said Richter. "These soldiers are disciplined enough to do what they're told, when they're told." He looked up at the sky. "It's still early, and I want to start marching today. I have no idea how long Yurau has been withholding that letter from me, so I don't know how bad the situation in Ostia is."
As he spoke to Clair, to soldiers approached with a uniform in their hands. They saluted and Richter saluted back. "What is it?" "Sir, as our new High Officer, we thought you should look the part, so we scavenged one of Yurau's uniforms. He was just about as big as you so the uniform should fit." The soldier held out the uniform to Richter, and Richter took it in kind. "Thank you, men. Dismissed," he responded, saluting. The soldiers saluted and left in a hurry, probably getting ready to leave.
Richter turned back to Clair. "Clair, I'm going to go get changed. I'll meet you in the courtyard an a half hour. Until then, I'd like you to get on your pegasus and make sure there aren't any problems with the soldiers." He nodded towards Kynlis. "Take Kynlis with you."
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Nov 11, 2009 17:19:22 GMT -6
"Sounds like a plan to me," Jya responded before moving out of her way back around the crates. She crawled through the same way she ended up witnessing the mess. Valorian was right, whatever happened seemed to be big enough to attract other people or were most of them still resting in their tents? Still a careful person, she made her way back, careful to avoid the views of others.
"Halt!" came a soldier's order, instinctively she did as was told. "You're the girl traveling with that priest, am I clear?" a man with a gruff and disgruntled voice asked. The only thing Jya could do was nod and act as though the whole situation was confusing.
"Weren't you supposed to be resting?"
"I was thirsty and still trying to find some water," she responded, noticing that her voice was indeed raspy. All this time her body was neglected from the basic need to keep it running for days. The soldier still seemed cautious simply told her where she could get some before moving on to whatever he was doing.
That was a real relief, before rushing out back towards the general direction of Valorian.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Nov 11, 2009 17:36:42 GMT -6
Valorian saw this Abend fellow vanish into his own tent with a new uniform in his hands, a shame. Well, if he couldn't talk to him, he should start reading this letter he recovered, to see just what was going on.
He returned to his own tent, sitting down in a corner and opening his book as he began to read the piece of parchment. His face began to pale as he read it, an attack on Ostia? Full on invasion?
Just like that time...the calamity would be...
Somehow he needed to get word to the Lycian League, or what was left of it. He didn't know of anyone in Ostia that would listen to a random person, but he could think of a few people in Lycia who might listen, if he could get close enough.
He hid the letter and lowered his head into his hands, this was all spiraling out of control. There had to be something he could do to stop it, to prevent this disaster.
|
|
|
Post by Clair Feldsky on Nov 11, 2009 17:48:52 GMT -6
"Yes sir." Clair said moving off towards where the animals were stabled.
"Let's go Kynlis. The stables are this way."
Clair made her way to where Corona was kept and started the frequent ritual of getting him ready for flight. It appeared that he had weathered the battle of a few days before better than Clair had. His wings stretched out to their full, glorious size, several times higher than Clair. "Hey Corona, have a nice rest?"
There's that. She thought, grabbing her lance from the rack nearby. You won't be leaving my hand for a while.
Clair climbed aboard the pegasus before glancing back at Kynlis. How would the girl react. "Ready to get on?"
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Nov 11, 2009 17:51:08 GMT -6
Richter finished strapping on his pauldrons and looked in the mirror. He had to say, the uniform did fit him very well. He looked nice too. Much better than his Region Officer uniform. Strapping his sword back to his belt, Richter opened the flap to see the young monk with his face in his hands. Slightly concerned, Richter walked up to him.
"Something wrong? You look a bit upset," he said with mild concern in his voice.
|
|