The Herald
Herald
Voice of the Heavens Tyrannical Mouthpiece
"PEACE THROUGH WAR."
Posts: 105
|
Post by The Herald on Dec 2, 2009 5:51:23 GMT -6
The Herald and his generals were gathered in a tent. The only tent standing in the forest. Outside, men were deployed in the woods, warming theirselves with very small fires and liquor. They had gotten the message of one of Gregory's men. Tonight, a group of Assassins will work together with Hiro to take out the leader of Ostia. A huge fireball will be the signal. Hopefully they will manage to get a gate open.
That night, the Ostian forces that resided outside the wall had already been destroyed. Inside the city, the knew of nothing yet. The Inquisitional Army would wait for the signal and then attack from all side. Battering rams, ladders and pure manpower would be deployed. The city will be barraged by catapults, ballistas, mages, scores of archers and monks. The clergy will sing. They will sign their most majestic songs, and fear will drench the city of Ostia. They will see the power of the Prophet. Ostia will be an example. If other cities don't surrender, they will meet the same fate.
The Herald and the Generals were discussing the battle plans inside the tent when one of the remarked that three extra reinforcements hadn't arrived yet; the detachement of Ezin, the detachement of Yurau and the garrison of Richter. The Herald felt a slighty dissappointed but decided to ignore it. They had more than enough men to win this battle. "DISPATCH SOME MESSENGERS TO TELL THEM TO GET HERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE." The generals nodded and barked orders. And then, the flap of the tent was opened. A High Officer peered in.
"Sirs, it has begun."
The Herald nodded. "ORDER THE ATTACK." The Generals left the tent, jumped on horses and rode to their armies. Horns were blown and war drums were heard. In a few minutes, the fields trembled under the rhytmic marching of thousands and thousands of men, all wearing that one symbol; the Prophet's symbol. Over the heads of the marching men, hundreds of catapults and ballistas fired their deadly projectiles and thousands of fire balls, fire arrows and Light spells were unleashed on the city of Ostia. The men on the walls got knocked off by so many projectiles and many of the men fleed. Then, the news reached their ears, their leader had been killed. Inside the town, Gregory's assassins were wreaking havoc, burning houses at random and killing fleeing guards. Meanwhile, one of Gregory's attack groups managed to open one of the gates.
Etrurian soldiers poured in, but were met by Ostians that had rushed to defend the gate. The Etrurians were halted, but only for a moment. The massive use of Light spells and fireballs had illuminated the sky, almost making it as light as day. After the initial suprise, the Ostian officers had rallied their men back to the walls and the gates. Ladders were put against the walls, battering rams started to bring the gates down. The Ostians didn't have the time to boil water or oil to bring down on the rams, and throwing rocks was futile. On the walls they managed to halt the Inquisitional army, but it was only for a moment. The second wave punched the Ostian lines, and after a few, long minutes, the walls were taken.
Ostian soldiers ran back to the castle, only to find it burning. In the meanwhile, the barrage of catapults and arrows had stopped. The monks and the third waved marched towards the city, singing their psalms so loudly, that it made the city shudder. Fear drenched the city. Citizens bolted their doors, only to find them kicked down moments later. Soldiers poured in, killing the husbands, and taking the women. The city was getting plundered. The castle managed to stand till dawn, but after a combined attack of all monks, mages and Etrurian soldiers and mercenaries, it was finally conquered. None of the last Ostian defenders survived. They were brutally slaughtered.
Some of the Ostian men were promised safety if they surrendered, and when those men left their hiding places, they were executed by the dozens. At noon, Ostia was a city filled with dead bodies. The fires had been put out, but smoke was still everywhere. Except for the loud, often drunken, laughter of the victors, the city was silent. Only the scream of a child or woman could be heard now and then. Ostia had payed the price of losing the battle. Flags of the Prophet were raised everywhere, and the monks blessed the most valiant soldiers who had been baptised in blood.
The Herald overlooked the city. He smiled. Peace through war. This would certainly be a strong message to the rest of Elibe. Noone would mock Etruria once again.
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Dec 2, 2009 16:59:03 GMT -6
As the army reached the end of the pass, around noon the next morning, Richter could see smoke in the distance. Had the battle already occurred? Had he missed the fighting? Richter's thoughts grew dark. Ostia would have had no chance resisting the Etrurian assault without some sort of reinforcement army, which Richter had planned on providing. He had no love for the Prophet. The Herald's words had always sounded good to him, but the actions of Etruria, the Etruria which he was the voice of, did not. It was not Richter's goal to destroy Etruria, though, for the people were good. It was the leadership which was corrupt and evil.
A small group of Etrurian soldiers arrived at the front of the army, saluting Richter. "Sir, your presence is requested at the front," the soldier said. "Has the fighting begun?" asked Richter. The soldier nodded. "Yes sir. The Herald initiated the attack early," he said. Richter frowned. The black cloud rising above Ostia was a cloud of death. Etruria had won, and Richter had failed. Ironic, considering Richter was, by title, a Officer of the Inquisitional Army. This victory went to the Prophet. "I guess I missed out on all of the fun," said Richter dourly. The soldier just grinned. "There should still be plenty of plunder left over for you and your troops when we get there, sir," the soldier replied. Richter shook his head. "No, I will have none of that," he said with a tone of command in his voice. "Our goal isn't to destroy, but to convert. What good will it do us to destroy everything we conquer? Etrurian can't populate Elibe alone. I want my soldiers to be put on relief duty; to help the survivors." The man was slightly taken aback, then bowed his head. "As you wish sir, I will pass the message on," said the soldier, saluting once more and leaving to spread the word.
Richter looked back to the smoke. Perhaps the weak would never prevail. Was there no way to topple strong? Peace through war...he still believed in those words, but this is not the war he wanted to fight; this was not the peace he wanted. A war of liberation, not oppression. He tried to push his thoughts to the back of his head. For now, he would do what he was told. There was work to be done.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Dec 2, 2009 23:58:36 GMT -6
Valorian had been silent since he'd first seen the smoke hours ago, not even to Jya did he speak.
And then seeing the destruction, those infernal flags flying freely over the city, and the familiar smell of fire...it caused a familiar but foreign feeling to rise in him. Hate. It had been a long time since he'd felt this kind of unbridled hatred, the desire to make someone pay...he felt the fire rising from within himself and snapped himself out of it.
"The wounded must be tended to." He said, to nobody in particular. "Any injured will be treated, ally or enemy." He then started moving into the city, avoiding the hateful glares from the few remaining citizens who had not fled or been murdered outright. Of course, he appeared as another of those who killed them, what else would he expect?
I failed...I couldn't stop it...and from here...will all of Elibe follow? What can possibly be done?
Something had to be done, the mountain of corpses in St Elimine's name would only continue to grow if left unchecked.
|
|
Hiro
Rogue
I love stealing, I love taking things.
Posts: 216
Profession: Professional ladies man
OoC Alias: Hal
|
Post by Hiro on Dec 3, 2009 8:07:08 GMT -6
Hiro and Hand of death walked into the room to see multiple armed men. Elise was there along with doppelganger, both in shekels. The guy who chickened out was there too. "You two are under arrest for the highest level of treason. Assassination of the leader is punishable by death." As the man spoke four men approached Hiro and HoD and started to place shekels on them as well. Neither man could do anything, the tools that could provide an escape were in the bags they now carried. "What the hell are you talking about. We just got back from a midnight stroll. You have no pr-" "BULL crap! There was information leaked yesterday about a duo planning an assassination but we couldn't find out where that came from and who it was talking. Then about 10 minutes before the marquess was killed this man showed up promising us who they were."
Hiro's eyes scanned the Inn, he saw Jessica standing in the crowd of people watching this even unfold. The men were now digging in HoD and Hiro's bags, finding their equipment that was used for killing. "How do you explain the things in your bags? If you didn't assassinate the marquess why do you have such belongings?" Hiro laughed. "I'm a thief by trade, the difference between a good thief and a bad one is the ability to get away without being seen, that stuff makes it so nobody can see me easily." The leader of the group walked over and decked Hiro.
"Enough talking from you bustard. Take them in boys. by this point a loud hum of a song could be heard, nobody from Ostia knew what it was. Jessica, James, Jill, Karl, and Hiro all knew the hum. James and Jill made their way to Hiro and the guards. "That's the sound of psalms. Am I right you old couple?" They had nodded as Hiro spoke. The sounds of battle soon filled the air around them. "We'll hold up in here, defend this building from within. Move the prisoners to a safe room in the building" "Sir, can we sit along the prisoners to attempt to have them repent for their sins before you kill them?" 'What ever will make you happy.' the man barked back.
Doppelganger Elise, Hand of Death, and Hiro all were moved into the kitchen with two guards standing there. James and Jill started to pray with the small group while Jessica and Karl stood near by. Kraft's army had made their way to that inn slaying any man that was around. They came busting into the kitchen with numbers slaying the guards. James stood praising them and Elimine for saving them. "It's about time you got here. Unbind us you fools. I am Hiro, I stay in the shadows but I'm Lord Kraft's right hand thief. Everybody in handcuffs is in league with me, the men who didn't fight as you entered are in serves to Elimine.
I took part in the assassination that lead to this as well as the others in handcuffs. I do not have the documentation with me to prove this, it is in my room. Now, give us something to wear that will alert the others of who's side we're on. If you need proof get the brown sack in room number 112." one of the soldiers ran off and ransacked the bag Hiro spoke of returning with paper in hand. They stayed in that in for the night, Hiro couldn't sleep due to the adrenaline rush wearing off and the wound he had received hurting like hell. Half way through the rest of the night Hiro noticed one man fighting four others in front of the door.
Opening it he noticed he it was. "Stand down, this man is with us." One of the four fighting the Iron Wall was there the first time. Iron Wall picked up Brawling Bear's dead body and entered the inn and the door was locked. "It looks like Brawling Bear's time came to an end a little too soon. He would of loved this night." "Haha yea, he must of fought hard because I saw the final blow. Four guys stabbing him at the same time on all sides, but blood and dead bodies were scattered all around. He went out the way he wanted, wrecking some faces."
The sun started to rise and most of the fighting had stopped. Hiro started to wonder around the town, after letting the others know of what he was doing. He saw a blond kid healing people's wounds. "Great, just what I needed." Hiro had walked up to the man healing the wounded.
"When you're done there would you be able to heal my wound?" He wasn't sure who's side this person was on so he was going to hide the cause. But then again there was a major battle going on anything could of happened.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Dec 3, 2009 23:42:35 GMT -6
Valorian looked to Hiro, and from a glance at the wound and his casual demeanor, he knew it wasn't serious. Not serious enough to be life threatening anyway.
"I'm sorry, I am trying to save lives first and foremost. There is a small makeshift healers camp just outside to the north. I am sure they will have the time to patch that up."
As he spoke this, he touched his staff to the man he was looking over. The staff glowed faintly...so another with a sinful conscience. But at least a man deserving of a second chance. The gaping wound in his chest slowly knit itself back together, and the man groaned as he lay there on the ground.
Without wasting any more time, Valorian moved on to the next person...this one was already dead. And so it continued as he moved up and down the infinite streets of the city.
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Dec 4, 2009 2:08:40 GMT -6
Richter walked the streets of Ostia, taking in all that had happened as his soldiers helped the wounded and the injured. A battle hadn't taken place here; it was a massacre, a bloodbath. Etruria's might had fallen with full force upon Ostia, and this is all that was left: a smoldering ruin of corpses, smoke, and death. It reminded Richter far too much of home. It disturbed him.
As he wandered, a young boy, no older than 10, ran out in front of Richter and hurled a rock at him. The rock struck Richter in the head, breaking the skin. Richter clutched at his injury as blood dripped down his forehead. "I hate you!" he yelled furiously, tears in his eyes. "Everyone's dead and it's all your fault! Why did you have to come here?" The boy bent down to pick up another piece of rubble to throw when a woman ran out and grabbed him. "I-I-I'm sorry, sir. H-He's just a boy. He didn't know what he was doing. Don't hurt him," she pleaded. Stone faced, Richter walked up to the boy and the woman, both of them flinching as he walked closer, then walked right past.
Richter found a soldier dressed in an officer's uniform and approached him. "Where would I be able to find the Herald?" he asked the soldier. The officer, whose attention was focused on a group of soldiers, didn't turn to face him. "What makes you think The Herald wants to see you?" said the officer. "Get out of my face, can't you see I'm busy?" Richter, put off, didn't move. "I think The Herald wants to see me because The Herald wants to see me. Now I order you to tell me where The Herald is," replied Richter. The man began to turn to look at the impertinent young upstart who was addressing him with such disrespect. "Who do you think..." he started, the paused as he saw Richter's uniform. "O-Oh, my ap-p-pologies High Officer!" The officer raised his hands in a dissuading manner. "I meant no disrespect. Your voice it was...I didn't know..." Richter silenced the man with a raised hand. "Where's The Herald?" as Richter again. The man swallowed and pointed to the Ostian castle. "Over there, sir!" he spouted. Richter nodded, patted the soldier on the shoulder, and walked in the direction of the soldier's finger. As Richter walked off, the soldier sighed with relief. Most higher ranked officers would have had him whipped or even killed for that disrespect. Who was that man? He looked like he was in his mid twenties. How did someone become High Officer at that age?
|
|
The Herald
Herald
Voice of the Heavens Tyrannical Mouthpiece
"PEACE THROUGH WAR."
Posts: 105
|
Post by The Herald on Dec 4, 2009 6:33:11 GMT -6
The HQ was located in a big villa, with a small wall around it. It was in the centre of the city and hadn't been destroyed by fire or by soldiers. The owner had been a spy for Etruria. He too had played a small role in capturing Ostia. He had been born in Etruria, as the son of a rich Merchant. His father had moved to Ostia, but had never forgotten where his heart was and the son, the current owner, had not forgotten his father's teachings.
The Herald was discussing further battle plans and dictating orders to his secretaries. He was surrounded by heavily armoured men and guards, some of them had splatters of blood on them. While talking, he suddenly noticed Richter. Richter had to give his sword to some guards before entering; only the Herald and his personal guards were armed. The Herald was also discussing things with a man with a weasel-like face and greasy, long, blond hair. The man was dressed in black.
"...GOOD JOB, GREGORY. THE PROPHET WILL BE PLEASED. GATHER YOUR MEN AND FIND THIS... HIRO. I'M SURE HE WILL SUCCUMB TO THE HEAVY PAYMENTS WE SHALL OFFER HIM." The Herald patted Gregory on the shoulder. Gregory bowed and left the room. While doing so, he bumped into Richter. The Herald then noticed him.
"AH, MASTER ABEND. YOU ARE LATE, THE BATTLE IS OVER." The Herald smiled at Richter, and showed his charismatic smile. "HOW WAS SACAE?" While saying this, a secretary opened another map on the table, a map of Sacae. In the corner of the map, a small fort was drawn, with 'SALVATION POINT' written next to it. "WHERE IS YURAU?" The Herald smiled once again, as if Richter could do no wrong. With a gesture of his hands, tea was brought once again and a chair was brought for Richter, who was seated next to one of the general and another High Officer.
The Herald stared out of the window and sighed. "SO MANY DEAD MEN. WHAT A PITY."
|
|
|
Post by Clair Feldsky on Dec 4, 2009 12:33:14 GMT -6
The skies were dark as Clair flew through them. She was gliding over the area surrounding High Officer Abend's forces. The upper airs were choked with the smoke of destruction, so she was maintaining a height of about sixty feet, only a short span above the castle walls off in the distance. The city was mostly in smoldering, blackened ruins. The scale of destruction was beyond anything she could have imagined. Beyond even what she had seen of the burning village in Sacae. She hadn't realized that there was a group of mages in the main force of Etruria's army. The forces of the magic bore fearsome results from the invasion.
The army below seemed to be arriving in an orderly fasion, setting up a temporary camp until they received more orders from their superiors.
As she looked down, the saw a small group of captives being held, they looked forlorn, like they'd given up the hope of life. She didn't know what to feel. Last time it had been so much simpler. They had been attacked and had defended themselves and the people with them. Now, she was part of the army that had invaded another land, and made captives of the people there. True they may be set free later on... as long as they abided by the new rule. Or would they be simply used up and then thrown aside as garbage before this was all over? Surely the Inquisitorial Army wouldn't behave like a savage mob of brutish bandits...
Clair flew on before landing in the Salvation Point detachment of the army. The resource stocker had set up and was already beginning to dole out things that would be needed. As she was the Assistant Officer, he'd grown used to seeing her recently.
"Hello Provisioner, good to see that the travel hasn't proved to difficult for your job." She was walking up to him with a purpose now that she had landed, putting the other thoughts aside for now. "I've come to get your report on what we'll need to restock on while we're here."
"The work doesn't stop for us Officer. Give me a minute to get the list put together." He went about his business, gathering up sheets haphazardly and then putting them in their proper order. "Here you are. It's a good thing we can restock here. The salt stores were were getting too low for comfort, without that, we wouldn't be able to preserve the food the army runs on."
Clair took the list and thanked him before turning to go but he spoke up once more.
"Actually,Officer Feldsky, there was one more matter. The smith finished a set of armor for you, and a uniform has been sent here for you." He rubbed his mustache and set a bundle on a crate for her before going back to work.
She walked over and tucked the bundle under her arm. It felt slightly heavier than her current set, but not problematically so.
She set off through the camp to deliver the supply request, Corona following at her heels.
OoC: Long post...but hey, everyone else is doing it. Besides I had to RP the new uniform in eventually.
|
|
Morgoth Animus
Shaman
DEAD
"Save the world? You know not what you say."
Posts: 155
|
Post by Morgoth Animus on Dec 4, 2009 12:49:09 GMT -6
Morgoth walked with the rest of the army, not knowing what to do.He saw the burning and smiled about the destruction.That smile quickly turned to a scowl as he relized the fighting was over.What?! The fightings over!That can't be. Why, Why, Why! No killing? Suffering that I had no part in causing? He took out his tome and was going to send random orbs in diferent directions when he thought of something.I can still kill. The wounded, I could kill them.It wouldn't be as fun as killing them after a nice fight but it will do.
OoC:Would I get xp for killing the wounded people(even if I don't, can I still kill them?)
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Dec 4, 2009 12:54:04 GMT -6
Gave a quick bow of his head as The Herald addressed him and took a seat. The other two Officers looked at Richter with confusion and disfavor. Who was this punk who had the audacity of wearing the uniform of the High Officer? They were some of the Prophet's best men and they hadn't even heard of an Abend, much less a High Officer Abend. "I apologize for my lateness, sir. Sacae was quite the experience," he replied casually, which only made the other generals even more angry. "We were assaulted by a large force of Sacaens which, I am sorry to say, killed about eighty five percent of the garrisoned soldiers before being rebuffed and forced to retreat. I myself barely escaped with my life. I never thought Sacaens would assemble en masse like they did." Richter paused, thinking of what next to say. "Yurau arrived later, much to my surprise and pleasure, as he was able to provide much needed relief to the Salvation Point survivors..." Richter stroked his mustache and squeezed his lip as he figured out how to break the news of Yurau's death. "It was when I went to go claim the...uh...letter that you had sent with Yurau that things took a turn for the worse. Yurau had taken the liberty upon himself of reading the letter before had and didn't take my promotion to High Officer to favorably," said Richter, before sighing. "Yurau attempted to kill me, and it was only through some luck and quick thinking that I managed to survive. Unfortunately, though, I had to kill Yurau in the process. From there I took command of the remaining garrison and Yurau's forces and marched here as quickly as possible." Richter stared back at The Herald, wondering how he would reply.
|
|
The Herald
Herald
Voice of the Heavens Tyrannical Mouthpiece
"PEACE THROUGH WAR."
Posts: 105
|
Post by The Herald on Dec 4, 2009 15:32:48 GMT -6
(OoC: Haha, yes, Morgoth, you may do that. It's inhumane and the other soldiers stopped the pointless killing, but if you can find a group of wounded, then it's okay for me. Don't kill official prisoners, otherwise the guards will have to kill you.)
It was silent for a long time. The Herald did not answer Richter's staring and turned his head, sighing. He slowly put down his tea. He did it gently and made sure it didn't touch the precious maps. He gestured a secretary to come closer and took some pieces of paper of him. He seemed to erase a number and replaced it by a number that was much lower. He shook his head.
"WHAT A SHAME."
It was quiet once again and some generals sent ugly looks at Richter. Shooking their heads or they stared in a menacing way. The Herald gently lifted his tea again, after giving the papers back. He seemed to be thinking about the situation.
"YURAU HAD BECOME SLIGHTLY MAD, I ADMIT. BUT HE WAS A LOYAL OFFICER. HARSH, THAT'S TRUE. AND SOMETIMES CRUEL, SOMETHING I DO NOT APPROVE." He sighed again and seemed to be pondering what to say next. "THIS MADNESS... WE MUST STOP IT, RICHTER. I HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT OUR GOALS. WE CAME IN PEACE, TO SACAE, BUT THEY SLAUGHTERED YOUR MEN. HOW MANY HAVE YOU SEEN DIEING, RICHTER? AND IT'S SAD, BECAUSE ONE WOULD LIKE TO AVENGE THEM, BUT HE CAN'T. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER QUARREL, WE NEED PEACE..."
The Herald wandered off to the window and looked at the destruction outside. He did not dare opening them, because the smoke was still heavy and he didn't want to hear the crying of children.
"I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW, HIGH OFFICER RICHTER. IT MAY BE TRUE THAT YOU DID YOUR BEST IN DEFENDING SALVATION POINT. BUT KILLING ANOTHER HIGH OFFICER... I ADMIRED YOUR SENSE OF JUSTICE. YOU GRASPED WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IN THIS MAD, MAD WORLD." And he looked at all the other generals, officers and soldiers. They all nodded, some of them mumbled phrases as 'Saint Elimine wills it'.
"I MUST INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER. FOR NOW, YOU WILL KEEP YOUR CURRENT RANK, BUT YOU ARE NOT TO LEAVE THIS CITY. ORDERS WILL BE GIVEN..." The Herald looked at Richter as if he had pained him deeply. The look of a father that was saddened by his child's wrong decisions. But the tone was soft, compassionate. The Herald seemed to be a very loving man, and the destruction, the dead men and children, the raping, the looting... It seemed as if he didn't have it under control. He cared for the people. For the well-being of Ostia. But he understood that sacrifices were to be made.
"DO YOU STILL BELIEVE, RICHTER? DO YOU STILL HAVE CONVICTION TO THIS CAUSE?" The Herald wasn't done with Richter just yet.
|
|
|
Post by Kynlis on Dec 4, 2009 17:19:30 GMT -6
As the army had drawn close to Ostia, the scouts had noticed the smoke and sent a report in. The return report told them to continue as normal until the army arrived at Ostia.
Upon reaching the ravaged city, the Salvation Point troops joined up with the main army and began to set up a camp. Looking toward the smoking ruins, Kynlis' face was blank. It was just like what happened to her home town. The death, the destruction. Was it really necessary?
On the march, Kynlis had been thinking about what Commander Richter had said during her brief break back at the main body. Seeing Ostia only solidified her thoughts. She had joined the army to prevent things like this from happening, not to perpetuate them. She repressed a sigh.
The hunter had quickly set up the tent that she and Clair shared seeing as Clair was an officer and had other duties. After that, she was about to leave and go search for the pegasus rider when she saw her and her pegasus, walking with a bundle under her arm and a sheaf of papers in hand. Threading her way around soldiers, she quickly caught up with Clair.
"Hi. Tent's set up. What's in the package?"
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Dec 4, 2009 18:39:32 GMT -6
The air had a distant vibe within it, as if grasping for whatever it can take hold and strangles. The peace that had once been in people’s mind was not present In Jya’s, not now and probably for a whole lot longer. Before the group had even reached their destination, she had felt awfully horrible, but it wasn’t as from her sickness. The oppressing air became for suffocating to the point that she felt as though her very body was being compressed till the point of explosion.The walls of the city were close to that of the ruins she had survived not so long ago. The splatter and scent of blood was oh too familiar to her, she couldn’t help, but flinch at the site. A fight…no something more like the ending effects of a bandit’s rampage had caused this. How could this be the doing of a mere group of bandits? No this was war; this was what happens in wars. Valorian had worked so hard to prevent something like this to happen, yet this sort of chaotic thing had occurred. Now her friend was down, he had refused any sort of encouragement she had attempted to give. It wasn’t his fault, none of it was, yet why, why did it feel like she could have done so much more?
Jya had questions running through her mind, but knew the only true answer was: This Is War. Her hands touched one of the ruined walls of the city, but quickly withdrew. It was colder, time had done its worst and it now had the same sensation that a dead body would. This place, which was once home to families, was as good as dead. Death had stumbled across the lands to here, where it had wrecked the same havoc that was ravaging her body. It has given the disease that spread to the former residents of this land. Infertile was this place as that of the a wasteland, swamp, the end.
The girl continued to walk through the uncomfortable gaze of survivors. Their eyes pierced through her nonchalant veil, so fragile were her condition that she had almost began to wallow into the greedy hands of grief itself. Grief was a creature she had known for long, but it had not bothered her until this point. She was a bystander, one that could have done something about the situation, yet had executed no form of protection for these. The glares and such were that of accusers, to them she was the enemy and indeed would be if ordered. She would be ruthless and indulge in the massacre if she was allowed to do so, but then she would be right back to the same position. Did the soldiers care what they had done? Did they not have the thought of their own consequences? If all things were paid back in full, just as the belief of karma said, would everyone be suffering in the world like this? For the world had gone through war many times it seems, there was always a balance between the ones who get the advantages and those who do suffer the extent of lost loved ones.
She looked on of the injured, her eyes meeting with the man’s. The man’s eyes were shallow, limp without any consideration. It appeared to have been deprived of everything, no hate, no love, no joy. Yet this was not the only eyes that gazed upon the all the soldiers. There were those that had nothing but the grip of resentment upon them. No one should care for an enemy at this time, for love was never an aspect of war. Influential people can talk all they want about war saving lives and junk, but there was nothing to gain. Someone will lose, the loss affects their family, spreading…feeding the fires of hell itself. Did the prophet want the world to go to hell? She twisted her head away, when a single tear streamed down the right side of her eye. Only one thought ran through her meager little mind… This IS WAR.
|
|
|
Post by Richter Abend on Dec 4, 2009 19:41:50 GMT -6
Richter sighed. He thought about the pain that Etruria had caused to Ostia. He thought about the boy with the rock. He thought about the rubble in the streets. The stench of death hung in the air. It was a smell he had grown familiar with. That had always been his job: to fight and to kill. This was different, though. This was senseless, and this was cruel. This was oppression at its very worst. Richter knew in his mind that what Etruria was doing wasn't good, but in his heart he wanted to believe in The Herald's words, and he believed in a war for peace. A sense of hopelessness washed of Richter. There was no point in rejecting Etruria now; no good could come from it, only more war. The best he could do now was continue his service under the Prophet, fighting in his army and perhaps changing it from within. He could inspire his soldiers to do good, and maybe, if the time became right, he could make his move.
Richter looked up at The Herald, whose sadness was blazoned across his face. Just what was the cause of his sadness? Was he sad about Yurau's death? Was he sad about what Richter had done? Was it the death and destruction all around them? With a long sigh, Richter nodded. "Yes, Herald, I believe in the cause. I believe in war for peace, as long as peace really is the ultimate goal. This city of Ostia; I see no peace here. I want to bring peace, and that's why I continue to serve you. That's why Yurau died: he was not able to find peace in life. That is why he is not with us here today."
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Dec 4, 2009 23:47:09 GMT -6
Valorian lost count of how many he healed, of how many still remained, and of how much time had passed. In truth, it was inconsequential. He would heal until he couldn't, or there was no one left to heal. These people needed life, but more then physical recovery, they needed hope.
Hope that he could not provide...just one man could only do so much.
The despair was palpable in the air. As the day went on, and then sun grew darker in the sky, the feeling of dread and despair grew more and more oppressive.
As the sun slowly set a chill wind ripped through the battlefield, and Valorian felt his hand shaking. No...not his hand but...
"Something horrible is going to happen..." He said out loud, as he had just finished healing a woman. She looked at him confused, but he paid her no mind. He was so sure...something terrible would happen here, even worse then the battle before.
"I've got to...do something..but I don't know what..." So instead he stood in the middle of the road as a frozen wind was accompanied by the setting sun blocked by the soot and smoke.
|
|