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Post by Mana on Aug 25, 2010 22:21:34 GMT -6
"Wow, Cebrail have a good talent in cooking." Mana enjoyed the soup, it was delicious, and she liked the flavour. The other seemed like it too, Reylan already finished his. She looked around and saw everyone, she liked when the group sat together like this, sitting and eating together with her friends. "Ceb, I want more." She gave her empty bowl to Cebrail.
Then she turned and looked at the carefree mage. "I was mad, really. But I will forgive this time, you are lucky that I am in good mood now. But next time...Who knows?" She gave him a scary glare.
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 26, 2010 4:42:41 GMT -6
"Hmph," He said, and smiled at the myrmidon. "Well I blame you," He mused, chuckling at her. "you should have been there when I left. I told the others goodbye, but..." He stopped, and scratched his neck.
"You were with that Selibas fellow, weren't you?" Balthier looked at her quizzically, then shook his head. "Anyways... It's good to see you again Mana." He playfully messed up her hair with a hand, then turned to return to his rock. "If you ever need me, I'll be here."
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Post by reylan on Aug 27, 2010 21:53:33 GMT -6
OoC: After this post, the timeskip to morning will ensue.
IC:
Amidst the glory of seeing his comrades again, Reylan crawled into his tent and quietly closed his eyes. He unfastened his armor, which was soaked in sweat. Setting the pieces down next to him, he began to drift away into slumber.
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 28, 2010 5:20:07 GMT -6
OOC: Short post too, I may be gone most of today. Balthier awoke quickly. Even his own waking startled him, and he gasped, dripping in a cold sweat. His vision was frayed, and he hadn't realized how heavily he was breathing. He shouldn't have slept on the damn rock again, but added to that misfortune... "Another dream..." He said quietly, but aloud to himself. He jumped off the rock and 'brushed' his hair over his his hands, messily fixing it. He put his cape around his arm, and watched the sun shoot rays through the trees... and early morning scene, with dew still on the grass. He smiled to himself. As it would seem, no one else was awake. He yawned heavily, stretching his entire body to fully awake himself, and walked over to where the fire had been. He stared down into the pit full of ashes and burnt logs, and he was displeased with himself. The dream helped him realize how helpless the mage truly was. Not only had the group saved his life, but then waited for him upon his return. What have I done to aid these people? Balthier thought to himself. Gah, I can't stop being a good-for-nothing smartass, and it's not getting me anywhere...Surrendering to his thoughts, he took a dull seat on the ground next to the fire remains. He frowned into them, and poked them with a stick like a little kid. He sighed heavily and groaned to himself, and fell back onto the ground, staring into the morning sky.
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Cebrail
Soldier
There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.
Posts: 64
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Post by Cebrail on Aug 28, 2010 14:14:55 GMT -6
Cebrail had been sitting in his tent for some time. After everyone had some of the soup, they all departed to their various tents. He had gotten some sleep but woke up early. He had began to write. He hadn't written since his return to Ostia even though he intended to write something before his trip to Caelin. Either way, he'd write now and bring it with him next time.
He couldn't think of anything. It had come so easily before, when he was subjected to his emotions, when his sister was alive. Lilah.... It had been a long time since he thought about his sister. He shook his head and sighed as his tears welled up. We have to decide our next course of action. He got up off the bed and equipped his armor, the steel weighing down on his torso.
Stepping outside, the sun was already peeking over the trees. He walked over to the command tent, or what could be called a command tent. There were no officers in their group, they had no Marquess or king to follow. They were soldiers thrust aside and left behind. The command tent was were meetings would take place between what they called "leaders." These were soldiers who represented each different group amongst themselves.
The divisions among the men were few but great. There were those who wished to flee to other cities, others who wanted to rebuild Ostia and those who wished to move the fight to Etruria. Cebrail sat down in one of the seats around the table. He himself subscribed to the second choice. He represented no body of men but himself. He and Reylan both helped bring about the survival of their group and were allowed seats at the meetings. There was an extra seat at the table, attributed to Balthier's return.
Flashback
"He's not even Ostian! What has he done for us to earn a seat at the table? That is where all our decisions are made now. He doesn't deserve to have a voice." One representative yelled.
"He helped us in our fight with the Night Crawlers and he tried to gain support from Santaruz. He has helped as much as he could. He would also be neutral voice in this council. He isn't Ostian and will have an outside perspective. Not only that, but he is a good man and I trust him. All I'm asking is that he be allowed a seat if he wanted."
End Flashback
Cebrail had forgotten to ask him. He rested his head on his hand as he leaned down onto the table and sighed. He stepped outside of the tent and went to find the mage.
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 28, 2010 18:44:39 GMT -6
Balthier lay, listening to the soldier's footsteps, and staring into the sky with a grin on his face. He was an odd mage indeed, but unconventional, and he adored himself because of it.
For that reason alone, he had been neglected as a child. Not by his parents, but by peers: Balthier didn't have many friends growing up; no one liked him. It was as simple as that. He disregarded the thought and sighed, listening to the ever-approaching footsteps.
Without looking away from the sky at all, Balthier called out. "Hello, Cebrail. Good morning."
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Post by Mana on Aug 28, 2010 20:57:45 GMT -6
Mana yawned as she left the tent. It was morning already, her friends might have been awake now. She walked around the camp looking for her friends. But then she changed her mind and headed to the river.
She sat and leaned her back against a tree. Sighing, she thought about her tribe. Am I the only survivor? My brother and my mother, where are they? She took a little stone and threw it far away to the river.
Mana looked up to the sky, she had decided to stay with this group, but she didn't know if that was a right or wrong choice. That nightmare, the memory when her tribe was attacked, always haunted her in her dream.
She was unconsciously thinking about Cebrail, he helped her twice and she had to pay that debt. She also found him as a good friend and companion. They didn't have a chance to talk since he left to pick up Balthier although she wanted to say something to him. "What should I do, Rein? Please tell me." She spoke to her missing brother.
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Post by reylan on Aug 28, 2010 22:06:44 GMT -6
Reylan awoke with a jolt. Although he had slept peacefully, he hadn't gotten very much sleep. Still, he had sufficient energy. The sun was already shining through the tall oak trees, illuminating the ground with patches of sunlight. The temperature was warm, but not necessarily hot. The atmosphere wasn't very humid, either. Typical late summer weather.
Bridget was still sound asleep next to him. Reylan contemplated staying with her, but decided against it. She would awaken shortly, anyway. Besides, he already heard Cebrail and Balthier outside. Reylan quietly emerged from his tent, taking his armor with him. Taking a seat on a nearby tree stump, he put on his armor, which had dried off overnight. The steel contents were cold to the touch, but they would warm up as they day progressed.
Reylan extended his body into a stretch as he stood up, yawning slightly. Before he greeted Cebrail and Balthier, he retrieved a small bucket from the dining tent and walked to an adjacent stream. Reylan filled the bucket halfway, then returned to the encampment.
Reylan's horse gave a small whinny as he approached with the bucket of water. Although Reylan treated the horse like a friend, he hadn't bothered to name it yet. He could never seem to formulate a name that suited the young warhorse. As he set the bucket down on the ground, the horse immediately began lapping up the water.
After giving the horse a few reassuring pats, Reylan headed back to the camp's center, where Balthier and Cebrail were located. Smiling at them, Reylan submitted his greeting.
"Good morning. Are you both well?"
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 28, 2010 22:10:41 GMT -6
"Yeh?" Balthier scratched his eye strangely, as it was still full of sleep, and noted the cavalier nearing his position. He smiled with contentment at his new discovery... but said nothing of it; he just winked at Reylan and hoped he understood when Balthier 'accidentally' glanced back at the tent, then to Reylan.
He was quiet for a moment, then responded. "I'm fine. Slept pretty damn well on my rock over there." He nodded his head in the direction of his sleeping quarters. "Although there's nothing better than the nighttime sky, I must admit, the comfortability is... lacking." He chuckled.
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Post by reylan on Aug 29, 2010 14:48:33 GMT -6
Reylan chuckled at Balthier's statement. The young mage always seemed to enjoy sleeping on a rock. This puzzled Reylan, but he couldn't deny Balthier's satisfaction.
As several other soldiers began emerging from their tents, Reylan turned to Cebrail and Balthier. "I actually have a request. Well, more of a strategy. I think we should call a war council meeting and discuss our next move. Since we're technically a mobile division now, it'd be in our best interest to do a briefing."
The young knight hoped that his request would appeal to Cebrail and Balthier. The small battalion needed a set plan. Although Reylan was merely a knight, he had knowledge of battle strategies. Still, his critical thinking skills were still developing.
Last night had marked a turning point in Reylan's self-confidence. Instead of feeling like a burden to his group, he decided that he needed to accept the fact that he was destined to improve. Therefore, he would rise to the challenge as Commander of this newly formed battalion.
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Cebrail
Soldier
There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.
Posts: 64
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Post by Cebrail on Aug 29, 2010 15:12:15 GMT -6
Cebrail nodded and led the two men to the Command Tent. There was going to be a meeting anyways and if Reylan wanted to bring something up, Cebrail had no problems with it. As the three were walking, he began to speak to Balthier.
"I requested that you be allowed a seat at the council if you wanted. If not, feel free not to attend." He smiled at the mage. He wondered why exactly he slept on a rock instead of in a tent but now was neither the right time nor place to bring it up anymore.
The three entered the tent where the representatives sat waiting already. Cebrail took his seat and crossed his arms. "We all know why we're here. What are we going to do? Divide and move to other cities, rebuild Ostia or attack Etruria." There were whispers amongst the attendees. He knew their group didn't have the manpower to fight Etruria in an open battlefield, but it was still an option.
"If we were to go to battle, who would lead us? We have no commanders, no generals." The whispers turned louder in agreement.
"We could easily divide the men into three groups: cavalry, magic and soldiers. The three of us can handle leading the men." A part of him hoped they would agree, another part didn't. He wanted to make up for his lost sister and save lives. At the same time, he felt he couldn't handle it.
"All in favor to attack Etruria." All the representatives sat quietly. "The majority votes not to attack. We have not the numbers to fight against the numerous armies of the Etrurian nobles. "
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Post by reylan on Aug 29, 2010 15:30:55 GMT -6
Reylan listened intently as Cebrail presented his request to attack Etruria. The council voted against his decision, just as Reylan suspected. Their forces were far too small.
Just as the meeting as about to adjourn, Reylan spoke up. "If I may, I'd like to present a strategy of my creation."
The representatives thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Explain."
Reylan nodded in response. "It's true, our forces are not strong enough to conduct a full assault on Etruria. However..." Reylan paused for a moment, then continued his explanation.
"The Etrurian border is not very heavily guarded. How do I know this? Our ex-captain told me a while back." As he uttered the words 'ex-captain', Reylan silently cursed at the foul man who sided with the Night Crawlers a few weeks prior.
"Anyway, leading an attack against central Etruria would be foolish, especially with our small forces. The Inquistional Army is highly trained. Therefore, I suggest that we lead an assault against the Etrurian border. That way, if things go wrong for us, we can retreat back into Lycian territory. Their forces are weaker at the borders."
The representatives listened intently to the young knight's strategy. However, he was not finished speaking just yet.
"If we are victorious, we can request additional forces from another source. I don't know who could provide for us, but maybe one of you could name someone who could give us more soldiers. That's my strategy."
Reylan finished his statement breathlessly. He couldn't believe he was speaking like an officer, especially since he was a relatively inexperienced knight. However, he knew that he had to improve. His lance skills were rapidly developing. He now felt no resistance in his lance arm whenever he lunged with the weapon. Also, he was learning the basics of swordplay, and grasping them rather quickly. The time was nigh for him to improve.
Satisfied with his request, Reylan awaited the response of the representatives. If they were to attack Etruria, they would need far more than 40 men. Perhaps more than ten times that amount.
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 29, 2010 16:09:00 GMT -6
Balthier sat, smiling, and arms folded for all of Cebrail's opening speech and Reylan's plan. Although meaning no distaste or offense, Balthier then rolled his eyes and spoke, cutting off the representatives. Oh, how Balthier loved to be rude to nobles.
Finally, after much silence, he spoke up. "And you don't think that if we attack a border and retreat, they won't pursue?" He unfolded his arms and sat forward. "If we attacked a border, and then retreated, Etruria wouldn't pass it by, saying 'Oh that's okay, just a misunderstanding'. No, I think they'd counterattack. And with powerful force."
Balthier cleared his throat, then continued. "It would be a waste of men, time, and effort if we cannot successfully attack the border. A brilliant plan, yes, but only provided it works."
He glanced among the men. "And we do not have a 100% guarantee of success. I'm all for taking chances, but not in such a serious matter." Balthier rested his arms on the table, and his chin on his hands.
"I think, personally, that we should send a small scouting team into the border before we make assumptions. A small enough unit to not cause any hostility and to simply observe their border defenses." He contemplated, giving a 'hmmm', and then was silent as he thought.
He piped up not too quickly, however. "We must play this like a game of chess. We have to think a few steps ahead."
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Post by reylan on Aug 29, 2010 16:52:02 GMT -6
Reylan nodded in agreement with Balthier. Clearing his throat, he spoke again.
"This plan is set to fail if we act rashly. Therefore, I ask that we pick a certain location to scout out first. There is one area I want to survey. It's a forest pass, which isn't used very much. The path leads into the Etrurian border. If we had higher numbers, we could mount a defense in the forest, but for now, we can send a small squad to scout out the area. Think about it. It gives us an advantage. However, Balthier is clearly the better tactician. He could give some more input."
Reylan nodded at Balthier. The mage was clearly a good strategist, and would make a good advisor as well.
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Balthier
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Everything you think you are that puts you above others is a lie.
Posts: 68
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Post by Balthier on Aug 29, 2010 17:03:01 GMT -6
Balthier smiled with contentment, and stood, nodding to the representatives. "I believe I should be allowed to take a small unit - and by small, I mean 3 to 4 men, through this pass." He paced the tent and folded his arms.
"By sending in a small group such as that, Etruria would essentially have no idea that we are planning any sort of attack. In fact, they would probably assume us commoners coming to see the capital." He coughed a bit, and brushed himself off.
"I suggest I take the small group through the pass to, literally speaking, spy on the border defenses. If we can remain completely unseen, they will suspect nothing suspicious. We can observe and take note of what we see, then silently return."
He smiled, content with himself. "And the whole time, Etruria will have no idea what's happening."
"Your plan seems rash, B-" The representative started to say, when Balthier purposefully and rudely cut him off.
"Rash? It has more wisdom than anything you fools could decide." Balthier smiled nicely at them, then waved his hand. He turned to Reylan, winking. "I would request to take your girlfriend."
He turned back to the rest of the council. "If it so pleases our new captain, Reylan..." Balthier started, annunciating the word captain to please Reylan's ears. "I would like to take just two soldiers. Mana, due to her quick thinking, witts, and her speed. And Bridget, because she can remain quiet and unseen quite well."
He bowed to the council. "That's my plan. I would, upon acceptation, take on full responsibility of the lives that would be traveling with me." He awaited the council's reply.
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