Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 4, 2010 11:19:52 GMT -6
It took a long time for Marle to cross those large mountain walls, that by the time she got to the base of the mountain on the other side, it had become a few hours until the moon hung in the sky in place of the sun. The chill struck her almost immediately, too, by the time she reached the mountain's base as well, a shudder running up her spine from the cold as her armor became frosty within minutes. Clutching her arms, Marle looked around for the moment, trying to remember just where she was, and knew there should be a village somewhere close by this far south in Ilia, many were around Arphen, too.
With lance and shield on her back, she pushed forwards, nibbling at her lower lip as she pulled her hood up and began tying off her scarf around her neck and mouth to keep from the chill running any deeper. This was the best she could do, it was bearable, only just. Trudging forwards, she decided to head directly north, or what she thought as north from the mountains, hoping to stumble upon a village or town sometime before it got too dark.
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After a few hours of walking, the moon was in the sky, just as she was hoping it wouldn't be. Thankfully, she saw a few torch-lit houses and proceeded towards them as quickly as she could have done in the almost knee deep snow. Many times she had toppled over from the deep snow, raising a few choice curse words as snow sank ever deeper into her plated boots. Outside the village, however, there was little activity, most Ilianers knew best when weather was this cold, especially at night, and would stay inside when they could. Immediately, Marle began looking for an inn, if a village this small would have one. Most did, afterall, places in Ilia were pretty spread out, so it was good business...and hen she saw it, it was named The Dancing Girl. Eagerly, even for a dumb name, Marle went inside as quickly as she could, to get out of the cold.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 4, 2010 20:09:04 GMT -6
Inside the inn, it was more lively for an Ilian inn than she would have ever thought. Then again, She had little experience with such things...only being in a few as she did, and only one more bustling than this was in Eturia. Grinning to herself, she tugged on the leather strap of the shield that hung on her back, having had to move sideways to even get inside the door. In the common room, there was a young man plucking the strings of his lute, playing a soft tune, quite pleasing to her ears.
Around her were what seemed to be soldiers, but the look of them showed many a mercenary. It looked like a rag-tag group of people, as they stayed in their chairs, most gabling with dice or on cards, but Marle didn't have long to look, as a heavy-set woman came up to her, and stared down, with a mild frown.
"Ah! Oh, sorry...do you have rooms still available?"
The innkeeper opened her mouth to answer, but then there was the sound of scraping chair-legs and the clatter of an overturned table with the contents still atop it. Two men at the table had each others coat or armor in their hands, which brought a raised voice of the woman Marle had been addressing just a moment ago.
"Hey! Quit that you lugs! If you damage anything, I'll not just have you pay repair, but also have you doing work around here for a week!"
The two men, both around their middle ages, gave her a complexed stare, but then picked up their table and proceeded to play their game, with a few grumbles as to how the mood was ruined, and who owed who money...
Looking back to Marle, she gave a bit of a smirk and nodded her head, motioning to one of the last few doors on the second story building.
"Right up there hon, it's my last room, but it's pretty cramped...all full up these past few days."
Marle began thumbing around in her purse for the proper coin, when the innkeeper motioned to the amount of gold needed with her hand, and slipped it to her casually, but also frowned. The men and women in the room seemed a little...odd...to be out here all together.
"Is something going on?"
"Aye, riots in Bern, Ilia is sending some mercenaries to take care of it, I hear. The people in Bern are finally showing some guile over the occupation, not that that will help them."
The woman gave a small chuckle and shrugged her shoulders, before handing Marle the key from off the wall, and allowed Marle to get comfortable up in her room. Making a small bow as she accepted her key, Marle went slowly up the stairs, taking the heavy shield in hand, as well as lance, and proceeded to where her room was.
Once the doors were opened, there was no joke in the woman's words. it was pretty much just a bed, with a little bit of room off to the side, enough for a chair JUST to fit, but no where to put it. It was a servant's quarters, incase the wealthy came. Sighing, she shrugged and stripped off the armor from the belt up, and tossed it in the vacant space in the room, and propping up her shield, but her lance was set diagonally down, since it was too large to really fit inside.
Once her breastplate, shoulders, and gloves were off, she laid back on the bed, and put her arms behind her head, taking it easy for a moment before she would go downstairs for something to eat. Rebellion in Bern? It was just a matter of time, really..
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 5, 2010 21:23:01 GMT -6
It wasn't a long rest in her room, only about an hour, resting her arms and back, changing out of the heavy winter clothes into something more relaxing, though she still wore her armored boots, she removed the heavy sweaters and scarf, and wore the thin linen shirt with laces at the collar of her shirt, a pure white in colour. On her feet and off the bed, she wandered downstairs, and sat at one of the occupied tables. The two people sitting there, one, a rough looking fellow missing an eye, as she guessed, by the patch over his left eye, and the other, an older looking, stone-faced woman. The man wore two swords at his side, while the woman was with a bow.
They eyed Marle with suspicion, and then noticed the other tables were full, and gave a shrug. They didn't even ask her anything, nor did Marle say anything. They must have seen her before before she came downstairs in her armor.
"Sorry for sitting without-"
"Don't you worry about it." The woman said with she bit into the loaf of bread that was fresh from the oven in back. "So, you hired to go down and sort out the rebellion in Bern too?"
Marle shook her head, and rubbed her neck. It was still sore from being tossed around with such force, thanks to the wyvern. Raising a hand, she brought a barmaid over to take her order. It wouldn't be anything fancy today, just venison freshly caught and cooked. It sounded wonderful to her.
"No...no...just came over the mountains from Eturia. The local village had a hunt, and a friend of mine was carried off by a huge Wyvern. My friends and I, killed it, and then we departed while we were still on the mountain. I go back to Arphen to become a knight."
The man with the eye-patch listened only just, but still nodded and gave a small grunt of a reply, and continued with his meal, keeping his eye on the table, as well with the female mercenary. No real chatter continued between the three, nothing important, even, not even names. Sometimes it was best not to become acquainted with other mercenaries, just incase you had to fight one another.
After the meal, Marle gave a small bow of her head, and thanked them for the company, and proceeded to go back upstairs, but instead she stayed near the small stage to listen to the man with his instrument play a small, sad-sounding tune. It was something she had not heard before, so, she stayed to listen longer, and pulling up a chair between the other people.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 5, 2010 22:30:18 GMT -6
The man playing the lute called the song "Bodies down the River." The song was strange, and guessed it as an old song about a tragedy in some different country, because the man's clothes didn't look like they came from Ilia. Usually it's hard to tell, but atleast in Ilia, it was easy. Most people were usually poor, like her own family, that they wore simple clothes, usually in a bit of a tattered disarray, or they wore armor over rather regular clothes, being what is "regular" in Ilia, well, was just said, unless the mercenary was rich.
Smiling, she offered up a coin into the man's leather-bound case, and put the chair back against the wall, and went up back to her room, using a small stick, she lit it on the candle outside her room and lit the lantern sitting at the window. She let it's warm glow flicker about the cramped, narrow room, as she prepared for bed, taking off her boots and armored skirting that was attached to her belt, and slipped under the heavy wool covers, and went to bed.
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Hours passed with sleep undisturbed except by the shrill of the high pitched wind, screaming and rattling against the window. After awhile, the wind died down, but the shrieking kept on, and suddenly, the entire inn knew something was wrong. Boots scuffed along their way outside her door. Marle bolted upright and began fixing on her boots and armor skirting, tossing on a heavy coat, and picked up her lance and shield. She left her chest plate and shoulders in the room, because they were going to take a long time to put on. With scarf now wrapped around her neck, she exited her room. and was left all alone inside the inn.
Quickly, Marle moved outside, and could hear the ringing of metal before she could even reach the main door. Something was going on outside, and it wasn't good by the sounds of it. Once she was outside in the moonlit sky, she could see figures of men and women alike, fighting men clad in spiked armor of poor craftsmanship.
At first look, the men appeared brigands, lord knows there are many in Ilia, as odd as it was, people outcasted for poor mercenary work, men denounced, to a life of pillage and ransacking outlying villages. Marle had fought some before, with Saturos and Darion, but now was a different ball game, there were a lot, and a lot of mercenaries here as well.
"GET DOWN!"
Still gaining her bearings in the night, Marle was pushed down to the ground in time for a large axe to split into the wooden door she had just came through. The man who threw it wasn't too far behind, and was quickly run through with two short swords. The man with the patch over his eye gave her a determined look as Marle picked herself up off the ground, and readied herself.
"Thank you, sir..."
The gruff man said nothing more, and disappeared into the thick of the battle. Despite how cold the night was, it felt warm with the close proximity of the fighting, bodies boiling in the rush of battle. Marle felt it too, as another man with a sword came out of what seemed nowhere, and meant to swipe her in her unprotected body. Raising the heavy shield, she blocked the swing easily, and pushed the man with the sword back using the shield, and following through with a quick jab of her lance, as it pierced the ribcage of the evildoer.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 5, 2010 23:26:12 GMT -6
The fighting continued to surround her, the scrams and cries of the young and old, men and women alike battling the savage men who broke into the village surroundings easily. There was fighting through the streets and in the village center as well. It was dark, in the middle of the night, a perfect time to raid, with the only light coming from the moon, unhindered thanks to a cloudless sky.
Marle moved through the streets, looking at the buildings without their lights on, but knew they were not asleep, families lay inside praying, and defending their loved ones, ready for anyone unfriendly to step through those doors. The men continued to assault, and Marle was with three others in the back alley behind a few houses. The marauders threw themselves at the mercenaries, but Marle kept one at bay with her shield, blanketing the charge against her easily, and then brought her lance up, and staked the man in the eye, and continued to run her blade through until he fell over dead from the powerful thrust of her slim lance.
The others with her did much the same, the one at her left receiving a small wound on his arm from a sword that slipped through his clever sword technique. The other two more or less fared just as well, and five men fell at their feet, and continued to move through the village in search of others.
Eventually, there was a lull in the battle, where the bandits pulled back out of the village to re-group. This gave those still alive a chance to regroup themselves. The man with the patch over his eye, later, she would know his name as Cyrus, took the the proper defense of the village. In the snow, with a lantern overhead, he made a perimeter covering the entire village, which would be hard to maintain with only twenty-or-so still living mercenaries.
Marle watched with interest as this man took charge. He looked at her and eyed her up and down now, finding her a little...odd...and she knew why shortly. looking down at herself, she had no armor on. This gave Marle a small blush as she retreated back into the inn to retrieve her armor, fasten it, and return to the circle where everyone had gathered around a large fire.
"You four, move to cover the east side," The tall man issued with a heavy, deep voice, fingering out four amongst the circle, and motioned towards the east gate. "You three, cover the south, should they send men that far back, will not be many, so you should be alright with that many." Harrumphing softly as he watched the seven people go to their assigned stationing, he looked back at the rest gathered. Four men were currently roaming the streets, incase there were slackers that did not hear the retreat, and decided to stick around, checking homes and families.
"You four head to the west gate, and keep it secure, the rest of you, follow me, we guard the north."
Marle was the part of the "rest" that Cyrus had mentioned. with short-swords in hand, he lead Marle and four others she did not know or recognize. That wasn't too weird at all, really, since Marle didn't know all that many people, even in Ilia, nor at the training center for Mercenaries our Pegasus Knights. The families were all roused and awake, many of the townsfolk held tools as weapons, such as axes and long sticks, even saws as if they were swords. She felt sorry for them, but throughout the people she had listened to, there seemed to be one unifying theme to what this night was by name.
They all said the same words. Hell at Midnight.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 6, 2010 0:36:24 GMT -6
Half an hour passed and nothing was to report. Small fires had been made all around the village for better lighting, but it was all minor in the end. Everyone was cold and freezing, and if the brigands were still out there, they would be as well. Marle breathed into her cold hands, feeling like they were freezing to the lance in her hands through the leather gloves that ran along the inside of the plate covered glove.
Marle paced back and forth, trying to keep herself moving to keep warm, and to stay awake. She was truly exhausted, having just fought a tough wyvern, crossed a mountain, and running on little sleep this late into the night. A small yawn escaped her lips as she looked about, eying the others with her cuddled close by near a fire warming their palms, they too, were yawning. The only one who didn't seem affected by the cold and exhaustion was Cyrus, the band leader.
Slowly, she sauntered over towards him, tucking her shield in close as if to block against the wind, which it did quite well, with the large size of it. With green eyes piercing the dark, he looked down at her and gave a hard look, raising the eyebrow over the patch covered eye. Grinning a bit, she looked down and peered int the tree-line that surrounded the village close by, knowing they were still out there, everyone did. She asked no questions, not bothering to waste her breath on a man with so few words.
Muttering quietly, Marle spoke to herself nothing of importance, only continuing her pacing motions, only then, did she hear the raised alarms of the men at the east gate, followed by the ringing of iron on iron, bitter cries rose from the enemies at the gate to the east, urging the men forwards. The Gates were narrow, so it was easy to funnel them all through and to guard, without being overrun. Just as the alarm was raised, Marle turned to go help them, but Cyrus grabbed her by the shoulder, and when she looked at him, he gave a shake of his head.
"They're only a diversion, girl." he spoke low, almost a whisper, and peered around in the dark, motioning for a man with a bow at the fire to come near, and motioned with his head, and a subtle point of his finger in the direction he nodded to. "Tree directly to my back, about 50 meters, fire an arrow between them."
With a nod, a man, or more like a boy, possibly her age, if not a year younger, notched an arrow on his bow, and let loose between the trees to where he believed the man signaled. For a moment, the arrow flung at it's quick pace, but immediately halted, and a sharp, startled cry rose up from the man it struck. Marle opened her eyes in surprise as Cyrus grabbed his swords and held one upright, while the other was held downward in his grip.
"Guard the gate, this is the main force!"
The four who had been patrolling gathered near, but one went out to the east gate, which left the defenders with eight to guard the north. Huge, burly figures rushed through the trees to assault the gate, axes and swords raised with the shout of a war-cry. Those that came near were met with a quick fate. Charges were usually fatal when ill pre-pared for the defense. Marle dug her shield down to buffet the blow of the figures, digging her heels in defiance to the charge, catching a man blow for blow, and as he fell back, she stabbed down at him.
The rest of the force with her seemed to be countering the charge in their own manner. Figures dancing divinely in the night as they hacked and slashed at the forms which proceeded to come closer. This fight was just beginning.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 6, 2010 9:45:46 GMT -6
In the distance of the dark, sounded what was probably a horn. Marle hadn't noticed it before, but it rang as clear as day now. The fighting continued to rise, now all the gates had been assaulted, the south being with the lowest amount of people attacking, as Cyrus had predicted, with the north gate being the most. Another man rushed towards Marle, but he was more wary than the others, hefting his almost human-sized axe over his shoulder.
Marle kept her eyes upon the villain as others rushed past him to meet cruel fates by the allies to her left and right. With a small, defiant smile, she goaded the large axe-wielder on, taunting him with that smile of hers. Growling, the man jumped up, and brought his axe down as he fell, to which Marle jumped back to evade, the snow and dirt alike kicking up from the force of his impact.
Marle took a gulp of frozen air, and countered, leading with her shield, and swinging the lance in a wide arc like a sword, which was easily caught by the axe, her motions stopped cold as the mean with heavy eyebrows smirked down at her, and moved forwards, since she couldn't swing her lance very effectively once he got in close, and gave her shield a mighty kick, which retracted her arm, and made her topple over.
As Marle fell back, she saw one of the mercenaries go down with a sword through his stomach, and as the bandit who had done the deed, began removing his sword, he was pincushioned by a flurry of arrows which soon covered his chest. Marle shook her head and began to scramble back to her feet, but had to roll, as the axe came down over her, and sent her shield up to block it, and as the impact hit, her shield fell back into her body, eliciting a light groan from the blow. As the man kept his axe pressing down on her shield, Marle lunged desperately with her lance, unable to see the man's feet, but when he gave a sharp yowl of pain, she knew she had struck him, and soon pushed his axe off of her, and scrambled to her feet.
Apparently, she had given him a cut along his calf, which caused him to hobble back. Marle didn't bother with taunting, and was clearly serious now, she had to be, this man could kill her, and if not, one of his allies could do it while she was occupied solely with him. Hefting her lance up and it's tip just pointing out below her triangular shaped shield, she prepared herself for the next blow.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 6, 2010 10:19:43 GMT -6
There was little time to prepare herself as she was on her feet once again. The assault continued, but as the man swung his axe, Marle simply played to evading his attacks at first, wary of that heavy axe which could, possibly, cleave her in two at the waist. Grimacing, the other mercenaries didn't seem to be faring too well either, most were bloody and growing exhausted. The attack had to be letting up soon, how many did this group have a far as numbers? As her mind wandered, she saw the axe coming down to split her skull open, but two swords broke in over head and arms extended from behind her.
Cyrus moved in to deal with the fellow who she had been dealing with, the axe sitting comfortably between those two swords like it had been wedged inside. Cyrus wore a snarl as he pushed back the axe, and eventually tossed up his arms and broke the weapons lock. The number of bandits was beginning to thin out now, probably drawing to an end in the attacks. Some from around this large man had turned tail and ran, dropping their weapons at their feet, while others proceeded to cut down the number of mercenaries around the camp.
"Strike him!"
With the yell, Marle almost jumped, but she did as she was told, and pushed towards, as the figure of Cyrus began throwing attacks at the brigand. His swords seemed a fury, as one blade came down and crashed against the axe blade, he withdrew the sword, and immediately followed up by the second sword, and so on. He was trying to drive the man's attention towards himself, while Marle slipped in with her lance. Seeking out his upper body, Marle lunged with the lance, and caught him in the side.
The bandit doubled over in pain and missed a step, his axe lowering for a moment as a hand went to grasp his wounds, but Cyrus followed through and gave a heavy gash through his axe arm. To the bandit's left, a man fell with a sword wound to the stomach, and another fell to an arrow in the forehead. Things were turning more bleak by the second for the attackers, there was no way they could win now, not against more highly trained individuals who were forcing them through choke points.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 6, 2010 10:44:40 GMT -6
After a few more minutes of fighting, the outcome was understandable. The defenders were winning, and everyone by now had either turned-tail and ran, or had died in the cold, unforgiving Ilian snow. All that was left was the enemy who Cyrus and Marle had taken on, and he had, up to this point, effectively stayed out of the way of any more blows forced by the two, but his luck was running out, there was no more distractions, no more help, his life was ended, only he didn't know it yet.
As he turned to run, Marle pierced his back with her lance, until it protruded from his chest on the other side of his body. He turned back with a look of wonder and question, as if asking why he got stabbed in the back while he was running, but Marle gave him a stern, unforgiving look, and edged the lance further through him, until the killing of him stuck, and the man fell limp on the snow and dirt. Withdrawing her weapon, she wiped he blade off on the man's tattered clothes, and moved back to the rest of the group.
Normally in this circumstance, people would have been cheering for their success, but not this time. It took Marle a moment to understand why, as she noticed a few houses aflame. While they were fighting, some had broken through at other gates and torched houses to their delight, a good many of them were gone now, still aflame, but there was little use putting it out now, best to let it burn to the ground.
Marle wasn't so filled with hope as she had been a moment ago. Their numbers were considerably fewer now too, only seven of the fighters were left alive and standing, while four were alive, but seriously wounded that they had to be hauled in make-shift stretchers to the mercenary using staff magic. Suddenly, Marle didn't quite notice it, but her body burnt, and ached, she reached down towards her side, and touched it, to which Marle hissed with pain and withdrew her fingers as they were covered with blood.
When did I...
She was wounded and didn't even realize it until now, as adrenaline was finally ending it's course, and quickly, she took out a vulnerary and dabbled the salve over her own wound in her side and on her leg, which wasn't very serious, but could have developed into a limp before long. She had a few cuts on her face, but they were very thin, and could heal quickly on their own.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 6, 2010 13:11:02 GMT -6
"Are the villagers alright?"
Marle looked around, and saw a few here and there, most going into the inn, taking a stab in the dark that those were the villager's whose homes were lit on fire. Frowning towards them, her deepest sympathies were with them, but she was really too tired for much more. Her body still ached, bruises were welling up along her back and arms, and the cuts that were healed with the Vulnerary had closed, but that was only the skin that had closed, her flesh was still tender, and the would could re-open if she did anything too strenuous.
Her question went unanswered for a moment longer, as Cyrus looked at the dead, mercenaries gathering their own dead and wounded to set them apart, wit the aid of the villagers. He played supervisor to make sure they were honored to the end...this group of mercenaries seemed more honorable than some she had heard about. Looking with a sharp, cold blue eye, he gruffly muttered something and nodded to her, loosening his crossed arms as he proceeded towards the Inn, with Marle on his heels.
"Six houses burnt, two families unaccounted for, probably were trapped inside..." His voice trailed for a moment, and then opened the door to the inn, where the wounded were being tended to on the tables which were makeshift beds. "Four villagers dead beside the families caught in the fire." He cursed sourly at even speaking the words, one of the injured mercenaries was the woman with the bow she had seated with for evening's supper. The Bard tried to play music to lift the spirits of the villagers and mercenaries alike, it was good to keep faith in this bleak time.
"The attacks were spontaneous, I've been attacked by highwaymen before in Ilia, but it's like they sent a whole band at us tonight."
"Aye, Sima's Ice Picks."
The name sounded weird, of all the names...why that? Either way, Marle just gave a simple nod, and took a seat carefully at one of the chairs nearby. The gates around the village were closed, and the dead would be dealt with tomorrow when it was warmer. It was supposed to be warmer tomorrow. Taking out a pipe, Cyrus casually smoked it and blew a puff of smoke up towards the ceiling.
"Was that Sima we killed, right at the end of the battle?"
Shaking his head, Cyrus didn't even look at her as he set the pipe on the table, and tapped the mouthpiece on the table, and regarded her with a raised eyebrow.
"Hell no, that was a lieutenant, and only a fifth of their force. They're one of the largest group of criminals this south of Arphen."
"Oh...well...take satisfaction where you can get it, I suppose.."
Marle gathered her things and made a curt bow, heading back up to her rooms, where she would sleep until morning, or possibly later. She was exhausted.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 8, 2010 10:43:13 GMT -6
Morning came all too quick for Marle. Her body still ached from the night of battle, and her body just simply said "no" when she tried to get out of bed. Light had been creeping over the hill by the time she had woken p, but by the time she actually got out of the bed, the sun was well into the sky. Grumbling, Marle reached into one of her pouches and began to eat some dried beef and cheese, her rations she bought the day before that was meant to carry her towards Arphen. Fumbling on her feet, eyes bleary and clouded from the sleep still in her eyes. Giving them a rub, she proceeded to clothe herself and dress back into the armor which felt a thousand pounds on her tired body.
Once she finished with her preparations, she headed downstairs to an empty Inn, the mercenaries had all gone, probably to Bern, to continue with their contract. Sighing, she atleast wanted to say goodbye to Cyrus, but that was not meant to be at this point it would seem. Saying her goodbyes to the villagers she saw on her way out, Marle exited the northern gate to the village, and proceeded on her way.
As she walked through the ankle deep snow, Marle had begun to touch the spot on her cheek where she remembered a cut being, but was no longer there thanks to the effects of the vulnerary she used yesterday. Out here in the wilderness, nothing changed, atleast once Marle saw a deer and it's family searching for food underneath the snow, and on the low hanging branches. Smirking, she stayed wide of them, and went about her own business, a hand tightly gripped around the strap that held her shield to her back.
Arphen was a few hours walk now, and the landscape wasn't making the journey any quicker. Marle loved Ilia, but it was so drab and boring compared to...well...the only place she can use as an example would be Eturia, with its lush forests of green. Not to say that Ilia didn't have greenery, but she didn't quite find pine trees to be pretty. Sighing, Marle pushed on, and would soon be inside of Arphen's safe walls.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 8, 2010 21:34:25 GMT -6
Marle had been walking on a much walked-on road for the past few hours, the sun hanging much higher in the sky now by the looks of it. Carriages passed by now over the rocky, icey ground, lugging goods brought in from other countries, probably food, that was the biggest commodity ever bought in Ilia. A few horses and Pegasus passed her by, followed by commoners and mercenaries alike. She felt...at home...it'd been months since she was last in Arphen, and she was glad for the feeling that it brought up inside, a welling of pride.
The streets wound on for what seemed forever. This was the largest grouping of people in all of Ilia, everywhere else were small village or town communities. Bands of mercenaries went by, some looked gnarled as a tree, or as clean the day they were born. Marle wore a small smile on her lips as she slipped pasta few muscled men, about a foot taller than she was, and continued right on down the street, knowing it well.
At times, she stopped by a few merchants doing trade, peddling their wares unto the community who have come to see if anything needed to be done. Marle looked in at this one man's set. He had some nice silverware, something she would love to have bought if she owned a house, and had a family of her own. With a deep sigh of regret, she waved her goodbyes to the merchant, and proceeded towards the castle.
There were few guards stationed at the massive gate. All of which she didn't recognize, probably newly risen guards. Trotting forwards,s he was about to go through the gate, when lances came and barred her way, which rose a small 'meep' from Marle as the weapons came inches from her face. Taking a step back, she looked between the two men, who now eyed her suspiciously, until Marle gave a less-than-courteous bow to the two.
"My apologies, I am Marle Daviau, Knight Hopeful under Knight Commander Roy Bashere."
A few looks went between the two as they murmured between eachother, before letting her inside. Flashing a smile to the two, she rolled her shoulders and swaggered on inside, feeling all mighty in this brief and limited bout of power. Tracking down the knight commander, would be a task unto itself. For now, she headed to the training grounds.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 9, 2010 15:08:05 GMT -6
Once in the grounds, Marle took a small break from her walking, and went to sit on one of the benches, her back pressed against a large brick wall that encircled the academy entirely within the castle grounds. This was where commoners like her had come to train with some of the best in Ilia who taught the ropes to those willing to learn. She had a good time here, she remembered meeting a young Pegasus Knight just around here, somewhere. Originally, Marle had been training to become a Pegasus Knight herself, because they didn't think that a girl like her could become a knight. She was rather frail at the time that is.
Her name was Clair Feldsky. After her first few days of trying to even ride one of the winged horses showed her no promise. She was rather afraid of them, truth be told, and that was how she met Clair. She had been compassionate, and encouraging, trying her best so that Marle could preform well and not be left behind, but some things just weren't meant to be.
Eventually their paths differed wen she was switched out of training to become a Pegasus knight, and into the recruit program, to become a knight. All in all, it was for the better. Marle ended up getting what she wanted all along, and still, she had kept a friend.
Marle's attention was grabbed as students began forming up on the square, they were all so young, about 15 or 16 years old, which kind of made her blush, since she was the oldest out of all the recruits when she started, which was a touch embarrassing, but that was something she could not help at all, with her parent;s constrictions. Getting up out of her seat, she moved closer, propping her lance as a walking stick as she moved closer to watch from behind the ropes.
After the instructor had dismissed the students, a clatter of wooden practice swords clapped together continuously, as they each tried to work on their skills, working with the fighting styles and the forms to hold themselves together. They all had such determined faces. Children had to grow up quickly in this line of work, because the world was not kind to slackers in their job.
Marle's eyes picked out a large, armored shape among the instructors at the back, and rose her eyebrows as she went around the practice grounds. As fast as her feet could carry her in the brisk walk, she eventually got to where she was headed, and the group of men and women were breaking up, and she was left alone with the man who did not see her yet, until she called out.
"Knight Commander Bashere!"
Lazily, the man turned around and gave her a once over, eyebrow perking up at the shield, but he didn't seem to recognize her at the moment. Placing a hand to rest on the hilt of his sword at his side, he continued to study her over, as Marle made a gracious bow infront of him.
"I am Recruit Marle Daviau, I have just returned from traveling abroad as the last part of my training...I...I wish to continue through with the ending of my training, to become a Knight, Sir!"
"You do...do you?"
He spoke low, and dryly, rather unimpressed by her demeanor, but he didn't remember her very well, a few months have went by, and he sees new faces everyday, so why should hers be special among them?
"I will test you myself, to see how much you have learned. Depending on how well you do, will see if you are worthy to become a knight."
With a clap of his hands, the students stopped, and with a gesture of his hand, the boys and girls broke up and exited the square ring, making plenty of room for Marle and him. Gesturing to Marle, he told her to proceed on in open invitation, and walked herself into the ring, closely followed by the general.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 9, 2010 15:25:19 GMT -6
This was going to be a rather one sided fight in favor of Roy Bashere. The man was nearly unbeatable, but the point was not to win, though winning would be astounding, but to show him she had learnt, and show him she had grown stronger, and tougher, being able to fight to the best of her ability. She would not back down even knowing she would get trounced so easily. Marle took her large shield into grip, and laid her lance's tip just beyond it, resting the shaft of the lance overtop, and pointed towards the larger man.
"Lets see what you have recruit, give me your best. Anything less than that, and I will not accept you."
Marle curtly nodded her head, and wasted no time. She didn't necessarily dash at him, but her feet moved quickly, leading with lance and shield. The Knight Commander at this time took his sword out from it's scabbard, and held it out front with both hands, and when Marle grew close enough, he took a quick swipe with his blade to catch her off guard with attacking first.
Marle didn't even register the attack, it seemed casual for him to strike first, as he always does, even though he insist that others do it. The loud ringing of metal also sent a vibration through the shield as she caught the blade on it's broad surface. Pushing back his sword with a push of her shield, she thrusted forwards with the lance, which went wide as the Commander turned his body sideways and allowed it to pass easily.
The Knight Commander shook his head as he gave a small chuckle, and rushed with his shoulders forwards, catching Marle ff her guard, and allowed the impact to buffet on her shield, but still, the weight of the man came through, and ended up knocking Marle onto her back.
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Marle Daviau
General
The Lance of the North
One word of encouragement, One person believing in me, It's all I need to become stronger.
Posts: 436
Illia Fame: 2
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Marle
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Post by Marle Daviau on Mar 9, 2010 15:49:26 GMT -6
Marle gave a small grunt of pain as she had landed, but there was little time to revel in it, as that silver sword flashed quickly overhead, and Marle moved her slim lance up and into the way, but as the blade impacted on her lance, she wasn't nearly as strong, and so her arm gave way, and General closed the distance of the sword to her body with the lance being he only thing to obstruct it. Struggling, Marle tried to push back, but knew her strength was only so limited, and lashed out with a quick kick of her leg, catching the heel of the Knight Commander enough to make him lose balance, and began falling over.
Marle used this respite to pick herself up as quickly as she could, and once on her feet, she looked at Roy Bashere as he was on a knee, lifting himself up with his sword planted into the hard dirt. Marle didn't have time to lose, as she took advantage of him like he did with her. Letting out a loud yell, she took a step backwards, and threw her large triangular shield as if it were a Frisbee, and through with his free hand, the Knight Commander knocked it away, Marle came rushing in wit the lance in both hands and swung the lance like it were a large, long sword, and smacked him with the iron length at his side.
Though it hit his side, it caused no real damage, since neither the blade hit, nor did it hit flesh, only think steel armor plating. With a chuckle, Roy stood up and dusted himself off casually, allowing Marle to pull back her weapon into both hands.
"Good, good, using a distraction to gain an advantage, very good work."
Slowly, he stood back up and towered over Marle once again, and pressed the attack. His silver sword flashed like quick silver, and Marle needed both hands on her lance to catch the blades, using her lance much like a quarterstaff at this point. Instead of attacking, she parried his quick attacks sending them shy from striking her armored body. At this point, there seemed like no way to fit in a blow if all she did was defend herself, so, she caught his sword as it came from overhead in a downwards slash, and pressed a boot into his gut to kick him back to allow her the slight advantage.
Marle moved quick, her thrusts complete with with flowing grace, of course none of the attacks landed, but she was still impressed with herself, a bit too much so. She had been growing cocky as she kept on pushing him back further and further with continuous strike, trying not to allow him a moment to slip in and take advantage, but she did allow him just that. With a slow thrust of her lance, the man grappled it just below the sharp tip, and yanked her forwards, and took the lance right out of her hands.
Staring, a bit stunned as she was, she looked at her hands, and then to Roy, who easily spun the lance in his hand like it were a stick, and then thrust its tip at Marle, the blade coming shy of her neck, but Marle leaped back, and grabbed her shield at where it landed, and brought it up defensively, not ready to lose just because she had no weapon.
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