A Land in Chaos 4

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Postby Killean » Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:34 am

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Written by Killean and Vaalic

The day passed quickly as the small group marched through the forest, and luckily it did so uneventfully. Dravven stood watch near a close grouping of trees pondering tactics, and keeping an eye on the ever increasing black that swallowed the forest. Vaalic, when finished ordering the sentry shifts and the other general duties for camp, walked over beside Dravven and leaned back on one of the trees. He waited a moment for Dravven to acknowledge his presence, but he was far too lost in his thoughts.
“Dravven.” Vaalic called him as he stood. After a short delay Dravven looked to his side and found Vaalic there. He wondered how long he had been there, and felt embarrassed that he was caught off guard.
“I apologize Vaalic. I have have much on my mind these days.” Vaalic nodded his head exonerating his unease. Folding his arms Vaalic walked beside Dravven, who in turn again looked blankly into space.
“Do you remember our discussion about the greater good?” Vaalic closed his eyes straining for the memories to resurface. It had been many years, and too many memories in that time. After a short pause Vaalic opened his eyes again, “Yeah. You seemed to have a problem with my philosophy then.” Dravven looked at Vaalic from the corner of his eye and chortled.
“Times were different then… Today, I find myself living for the greater good. But tell me Vaalic, when you do harm, will those you wrong forgive and understand it was for the greater good?” His last few words trailed off as he drifted off into thought. Vaalic barely heard, and he understood Dravven’s disarray. There were no good answers to his question however. When you wrong, bad feelings usually overrule common sense.
“The answer to that depends solely on those you wrong. You can only hope they understand, and have a forgiving heart.” Vaalic remained silent for a few minutes to let his answer sink in. Sure enough Dravven sighed and turned to face Vaalic after that moment passed.
“So, you wished to speak to me about something?” Vaalic gave Dravven a brief nod.
“Yes. How do you plan on proceeding tomorrow?” Dravven made a face saying ‘ah…’ and looked back at the camp.
“Slowly… Let them get used to the technical information first before we get to any fighting. This shouldn’t take any more than a few days I hope.” He began to rub the back of his neck and stretched a bit.
“We had best get some sleep. What watch am I on?” Vaalic smiled, “Last. I’ll be waking you up.” Vaalic waved Dravven goodnight and he was off.

Dravven’s shift ended fast and the group was again on the move, the final stretch for the training grounds was at last here. An uncomfortable feeling had been intensifying throughout the trip in Dravven, as to why Nuanni had accompanied them and why she was staying so far away from the main group. It got to be too much and instead of gradually strafing over, he turned directly towards Nuanni and marched forward. It was hard not to notice the giant mass of platinum moving directly for them. Vindao maneuvered accordingly between it and Nuanni. When Dravven got up to the two he stopped moving towards and began to walk in the right direction.
“You two have been making me nervous this entire trip. I hope your reasons for joining us are not to ensure my tongue stays.” Dravven tried to keep his paranoia quiet, but found it hard to do so under stress. Nuanni rolled her eyes and looked over at the warrior with the grim face.
“Your loyalty is not under question, but your knowledge on combat is.” A lot of stress was relieved, but not enough to alleviate his suspicions that Nuanni was lying.
“So your accompaniment is merely for your amusement at my expense? You should go back to camp if that truly is your goal.” Both picked up on the anger in his voice. Anger however explained by the conspiracy they all withheld from the whole.
“No sense in us leaving now even if that is so.” Nuanni picked up after Vindao, “We are here for your protection above anything else. After all, your number one concern with Vaalic is that Lenox and Theodore will show up to attack us. You can always use a little help eh Silver?” She said this at normal speaking volume so that those who would pry got their fill. Dravven snapped his head away expressing his displeasure with a loud humph.
“Stop being so far from the group. I want both of you front row center. Your making everyone and me nervous.” Vindao cut in before anything further could be said.
"You’re state of mind is none of our concern. If we make the soldiers nervous now, I assure you they are not fit to stand within bowshot of a dragon. Besides, they will not be any more accepting of us based on where we walk." Vindao spoke normally, easily within earshot of the other soldiers, and he could see them trying to listen without watching. The scowl on their face was proof enough, but he saw no reason to spare their feelings. Dravven, however, grew visibly angered. His eyebrow’s furrowed and he gave himself a moment to take a breath before speaking.
“You are a part of this army now. There are those that disagree with that decision, but the fact remains you are here. As a part of this army you will follow orders, and I am ordering you to march at the front of the column.” Dravven’s tone was unwavering, calm and collected. He had commanded men before, and this was no different. Nuanni stepped over a large rock before coming to walk in front of Vindao, getting closer to Dravven. Her jaw was set, and she waited until her eyes held his.
”Understand this, Silver. We are allies, not subordinates. We are free. No longer are we slaves to any country. We have chosen to join your cause, and for that you should be grateful. Do not presume to command us.”
”And for our cause I want these men to trust you, as much as I want you to trust us. These people are not afraid of the dragon, they are afraid of the questionable ally. I don’t want to order, but for the greater good I want you at the front!” Dravven’s shouted order was enough to draw glances from all around. Vindao, however saw only a challenge, and was about to speak when Nuanni put an arm on his shoulder. She smiled now, pleased to see the silver agitated.
“Silver’s have always been a bull headed breed. Perhaps diplomacy is truly a lost art.” she said sarcastically. “Still, I am comfortable traveling here. I am unaccustomed to traveling in this form and I prefer my space.” Her sarcasm turned to stubbornness. Dravven also refused to back down, but neither could he physically force them to move without the risk of violence.
“If you will not listen, then I will remain here, where I can keep an eye on you.” It was clear that Dravven was not thrilled about the idea, but it would ease the building tension between Nuanni and the other troops. Dravven was well known and trusted by the soldiers.
“Suit yourself.”

The group finally arrived at the perfect clearing around noon, and their temporary camp had been established quickly. They had come to a hillside clearing, a position open enough for their purpose. Vaalic had sent three scouts out into the forest for the purpose of scaling a tree and keeping watch for anything approaching from the sky. If Lenox was going to find them, Vaalic wanted everyone to be warned. Each man present knew their purpose here, and no words were wasted to remind them. When it came time for the lesson to begin, Nuanni could help but sidle over to Dravven to ‘wish him luck’.
“Remember to keep an eye out for Lenox Silver.” She said with a smile, but her voice did not show the signs of enjoyment. His gauntlets clenched and a barely audible growl hissed in his throat. Those who knew him well would know that he was close to his breaking point. Quietly Dravven walked alone into the field, yet nothing happened for a moment.
"Everything alright?” Vaalic called out starting to move into the field.
"Yes, just stay back! I seem to be having a little trouble transforming." Vaalic looked away before the nearly blinding flash overcame his friend as soon as he mentioned transforming. Within moments Dravven’s human form had been broken down, and mutated into the form of the adult silver dragon that now stood before them. It seemed that this transformation, though expected, had been enough to unnerve several men. No one ran, but neither did they appear as confident as before. The sight of a dragon standing in the field before them was enough to bring a primal fear back to most. Vaalic had grown used to this and ordered the men to approach. With the exception of Vaalic, Vindao and Nuanni were the first to follow. Vindao watched Silver carefully for a moment as Nuanni moved far enough away to transform into her natural form as well. The sight of the sleeker, younger blue dragon was enough to freeze everyone in their place. She was not trusted as Sil was, and this was enough to unsettle even the sturdiest of soldiers. When she did not move against them, the soldiers seemed to breathe a little easier. Vaalic could see that Nuanni was not comfortable in her human form around Sil, and he was confident that was what warranted her own change. Still, it could work in their benefit. They would have two war hardened dragons to learn from.

They began slowly, with Sil explaining how ground troops typically would come under attack. The men were ordered to always remain dispersed. Holding ranks while fighting a dragon was the quickest assurance of a swift death. Even Nuanni agreed with this statement. The men were not to stand near one another, coming in groups no greater than two. Vaalic and Dravven had discussed the lesson plan during their travel, and Vaalic proceeded to go over the vital areas of the dragon; where the armor was the thickest, and weakest. Flaming arrows with a particular head would help burn holes through a dragon’s bat like wings. Swords were not ideal weapons, but spears or lances were preferred. The barbed spear points could puncture the softer scales around the dragon’s joints. The trouble would come in bringing the beast to the ground. No matter how they began to strategize, this would be their greatest task. There was nothing stopping a dragon from keeping to the sky, scorching the earth from above. It was Sil that recommended fire, and smoke. If they could create a large enough blaze that they could hinder the beast’s view from the sky, encouraging it to land or come in closer. This idea depended greatly on the wind and the openness of the area they were in. Still, Vaalic continued on by explaining how Christopher currently had a group of men constructing several small ballistas. With these newly constructed weapons they would be able to attack a dragon with a spear large enough to do some damage, if the creature came in low enough for them to use. A few solid hits from a ballista would undoubtedly be enough to force it to land. Once on the ground, they would be able to assault it with arrows, spears and more ballista fire.

It had taken a day and a half to reach their destination, and the following days involved long lectures on dragon anatomy and combat style. Nuanni spoke to the group on several occasions, relating information about how dragon and rider’s work together. This good will gesture lessened the tension around the camp, and she gave them nothing she knew could affect her. It was basic information the silver had never been exposed to. The last days of the training brought mock battles. The soldiers worked to surround Sil, while they shot un-barbed arrows and attempted to close in. The mock battles began with the Sil already on the ground. Vaalic shouted commands and watched the battles play out. Vindao and Nuanni did not participate in any of these drills, but quickly pointed out openings on the dragon. During the training Sil acted as he would normally, keeping his wings close to his back, his head low. Jurrett was busy attending any slight wounds that were inevitable with this kind of training. Warren even joined in a few of the drills, providing magical walls when Dravven would try to push people over with his claws.

They remained in the clearing four days, working on strategy, as well as practical training. Their training was uninterrupted by Lenox or any other, for which they were all grateful. By the end of the days Vaalic could see a noticeable improvement in the teamwork the group showed and the way they approached different situations. There were always mock casualties in the battles, proving that should this confrontation truly happen, it would not be without a cost. Still, by the end of the fourth training day, Sil was beginning to have trouble keeping the soldier’s away from him. And when Warren helped, Dravven had to create his own tactics to move around any protections he provided. Vaalic wished they had months to hone these skills, but they had used all the time they could spare. Exhausted, the men prepared to break camp come the morning. They still had the attack on the mine to prepare. The skills they had learned this day made them a valuable asset. On the trip home Dravven did not bother with the pair he had been at war with on the way out. They quietly walked on the outskirts of the group like before, while Dravven and Vaalic walked at the front. The other soldiers did not seem to mind them out there as much now, which was good. Or as Dravven could not help but think, bad.
Those two are not team players. Non-team players are prone to betrayal. He thought staring at Nuanni. Although they had helped many times before, you just had to wonder.
-神恵「争い」癒す
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:30 am

Jasmine contently stared up at the trees and their branches, searching for the perfect branch to make Khell’s hunting bow. She was happy that they were having something to work on to pass the time, but she was also glad to be able to spend more time with Khell. The peaceful times when Jasmine wasn’t either traveling or fighting she always found to be boring, but it was nice to relax sometimes without having to look over your shoulder. Soon they would be heading to the mines to cut off the Flurin supply lines so they are enjoying these calm times, and it gave Khell a time to heal back to his full strength.

Words were still not exchanged during the time they walked through the forest, going no where in particular. Occasionally Jasmine would look over at Khell, smirking when she caught him looking determined to make his perfect bow. It seemed like hours had passed when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She walked off to the side, following her gaze to an old oak tree that was fallen over on the dirt ground. Khell stopped and followed Jasmine over; looking at the branch she was looking at.

”How about this branch? It is definitely long enough and it is thick all the way down. But this tree looked like it fell over from the weather or another act of nature. Would it be okay to still use even though the tree is dead?” she inquired, watching Khell judge the branch. He nodded and smiled,
”Yes, this will definitely work.” he kneeled next to it and brought out his knife and made a cut into the branch. ”This tree must have died not too long ago; it has moisture inside so it’s still hard and good to use.” He started cutting away the branch from the main stump and Jasmine got out her knife and joined in. It took a long time to cut the branch away without proper tools but eventually they ripped the branch away from the tree.
”Great, let’s head back to camp and grab some food. Afterwards I am going to work on constructing the bow. You can help.” he smiled, holding one end of the branch. Jasmine picked up the other end as they made their way back to the camp.

Jasmine and Khell got back to camp around dinner and quickly grabbed some more stew and sat off to the side by themselves and went to work on the bow. Khell ate while carving the bow, taking out any imperfections while Jasmine watched inquisitively.
”Do you need any help? What kind of string do you need?” she asked, wanting to help make the bow.
”Many different things can be used as a bowstring. Nylon cords, plant fibers, jacket lace, or even boot laces can be used. I’m sure we can find something around here that would be suitable for my bow. By the way, it should be about eight inches shorter than the bow to allow it to stretch.” he looked at Jasmine and then around the camp.
”No problem, I’ll find something; I’ll be back in a minute.” she got up and wondered towards one of the tents. The tent was filled with supplies and no one was inside at the moment. Jasmine looked around for a moment and saw a bundle of nylon cord in the corner of the tent near some heavy cloth. Jasmine quickly bent down and cut off enough cord and stuffed it in her pocket just before a guard came inside. She smiled at the guard as she walked past, walking quickly back to Khell.

She ran up with a huge grin on her face, ”I found some cord! I decided to use the nylon cord instead of stealing the guard’s boot laces, besides it will probably work better.” she smirked, pleased to help out, handing him the cord.
”I think he would notice his boot falling off during his hourly inspection of the camp. But thank you, this will work great.” Khell took the cord and continued on his bow. He made two shallow groves at each end of the branch to hold the string in place. He made a knot at one end of the bow as he stretched out the string and attached it at the end. Khell stood up and drew the bow a couple times to make sure the string isn’t too tight and the branch won’t break.

Satisfied, held it out to Jasmine to try it out. She accepted it and held it awkwardly, not sure what to do with it. Khell chucked and came up behind her, standing next to her side.
”Wait, I will quickly make some arrows that we can use for you practicing, no need for armor piercing yet we don’t want anyone to get hurt.” his eyes sparkled as he received an elbow in the side. Khell quickly ran into the forest and minutes later returned with some smaller branches, only about three feet long this time and skinny. He quickly skinned a couple branches and sharpened one point. He looked around the camp and ran off to the side and picked up some black feathers that were lying on the ground from passing birds. He attached the feathers and handed an arrow to Jasmine. He took ran over to the same tent that Jasmine went to earlier and took a couple tin cans out and placed it off to the side to use as targets. Khell finally took his place next to Jasmine and she held out the bow upright in front of her.

”Now, here is a makeshift arrow that hopefully will work well enough for you to practice. Put the arrow in front of you and have it lined up in the middle of the bow.” he said while placing his hands on top of Jasmine’s, their fingers entwined for a few brief moments. He steadied the arrow, having her two fingers wrap around the arrow. He pulled back on the string hard, throwing Jasmine slightly off guard. He stepped away, having Jasmine hold the stance, ”Now you have to pull back like his all the time to get enough momentum and distance. Let go with your two fingers but don’t get any other part of your body get close otherwise it will snap.” he said as Jasmine suddenly let go of the string, shooting off the arrow far off to the side and obviously off target. She yelped and held her arm, ”Ouch! The string got caught against the inside of my arm.” she said as she rubbed it, as it was starting to turn red. He chucked as he quickly made another couple arrows and gave one to Jasmine and she got in the same stance again. ”Now try it again but this time keep your arms further away and don’t release it so quickly, keep it controlled. he watched as she released the arrow, this time missing the can by a couple feet. Khell stepped up to the bow and took an arrow and slowly showed her his stance, he effortlessly struck dead center of one of the cans. He handed over the bow again to her as she tried again. She concentrated, staring at one of the cans. The arrow whizzed through the air and struck a can.
”I did it!” she excitedly shouted, jumping and giving Khell a hug. They stood there for a few moments, holding each other and ignoring everything else around them. They separated by a couple inches, staring into each others eyes. Jasmine became nervous and had butterflies in her stomach, not sure what to do as she was unsure of Khell’s feelings. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and smiled. She started to pull back slightly but Khell still held onto her tightly. His big brown eyes closely watched her as he slowly leaned forward. Jasmine starting shaking slightly as she leaned into him, their lips softly touching. He held her close as she could feel the warmth of his body against hers. They went into a deep embrace as time seemed to have slowed down around them. She put her fingers through his hair as he held her by the small of her back. Jasmine slowly leaned back, getting some air. He smiled as they just held each other there for some time.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Vaalic » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:21 am

Vaalic returned at the head of the column, with Dravven marching along side him. They reached the Faith camp earlier in the day than they had expected without fanfare, but not without drawing notice. They had been gone a full week, and though only four days had been spent working on grueling drills and tactics they had become a functional cohesive unit. One, Vaalic admitted, needed more time together if they would reach their full potential. Even Dravven had mentioned on the hike back that men are never fully ready for something like this. Vaalic gave the men their leave, giving them a chance to wash up and get some rest. Dravven accompanied him as they went to find Christopher. They eventually found the Faith General in his tent.
”Dravven, Vaalic, good. You’re back. How did it go?” He asked, looking up from a memo he had been writing. Christopher set the quill aside, giving the pair his full attention.
”They are fast learners and excellent soldiers, but we could have used more time.” Dravven answered honestly.
”They can do it, but I agree we could use more time to work with them.”
Christopher nodded, seemingly expecting as much.
”This group could be responsible for turning the tide of our struggle here. They certainly take some pressure from you Dravven, but we can not put all our faith in them. If you think they need more time, then take it. Dravven, would you be willing to command this group? Train them. Prepare them, and lead them. The men look up to you here, and your presence as a commander would do a great deal for us.”
Dravven hesitated a moment, until he found his voice.
”I thank you for the offer, but I must refuse, sir.” This had not been the answer Christopher had been expecting, but he hid his startled expression well. Still seeing the questioning look, Dravven went on to explain.
”Sir, it has been a good many years since I have had men under my command. There are those among us that would make excellent commanders.” Vaalic cut in before Christopher could answer.
”Dravven, you know there is nobody better suited for this position than you. These men know you and trust you. They will follow you if you lead them. There may be other men capable of taking this command, but we want the best. Besides, I have never known you to back down from a challenge, and this is a damn good one.” Vaalic argued, pushing the triggers he hoped would get a response. .
”Ultimately it is your decision. I will not force your hand, but consider it. Take a day or two if you need it.” Christopher offered. Dravven stood unblinking for a minute as he thought about the offer. Finally, he sighed with a smirk.
”Of course.” Christopher grinned, pleased to hear the good news.
”Great. When we assault the mines, we may need to rely on them.” Dravven didn’t say anything in response, which let Christopher move on.
”Vaalic, I have a message for you. It arrived by bird a few days ago from the city.” Christopher turned around and retrieved the small rolled paper. The knotted ribbon had yet to be undone, but it was clear the message was for him. His name was neatly etched on the outside of the parchment. Taking the note Vaalic wasted no time in pulling the ribbon free and unrolling the paper. The text was small, but written with a practiced hand. In a glance Vaalic recognized Master Kahre’s signature at the bottom of the brief message.

’She wanted me to tell you that the rumors are true, and that he is there and working with the Flurin.
Kahre’


It took him only a moment to read and he found himself crushing the paper in his fist. He knew his hands were tied. The confirmation of this news was enough to tempt him back to the city. He considered removing his wife by force, though he knew he would never escape with her unwilling to follow. Even with this information he was helpless to do anything about it.

”What did it say?” Christopher asked, speaking what Dravven was clearly about to say. The look he gave them caused Dravven to brush his sword. They had known each other long enough for Dravven to see the desire for a fight in Vaalic’s eyes.
”It is a message from Angel. Jake spoke the truth. ShadowRune is alive, in Freeport, and working for the Flurin. It says nothing else.”
A moment of silence passed as this information was absorbed.
”Angel is in the greatest danger, yet she does not ask me to come to her.” Vaalic wondered, speaking more to himself than to the others around him.
”You can not risk another visit. You must assume she is still well. If she had wanted help, she would have asked for it. ShadowRune might be in the city, but it is possible he is unaware of her presence there.” Dravven reasoned, trying to put Vaalic’s mind at ease.
”You’re right, I don’t have enough information. ShadowRune is our greatest threat, and until I can draw him out and take his head, none of us are safe. How is it possible he survived? I killed him myself.”
”There must be some explanation. Still, he is only one man.”
”Do not underestimate him.” Vaalic warned, knowing Christopher had only heard vague stories of the man they spoke of. The tenseness in Vaalic’s voice was unsettling even to himself.
”What will you do?” Dravven asked, drawing Vaalic’s attention. The scowl on his face was evidence enough that Vaalic’s mood had darkened.
”For now we must focus on the upcoming attack. It will require much of our resources and attention. My time with ShadowRune will come. I wish I could believe Angel would call me to her if she was truly in danger. The fact is, I don’t think she would. If that message does comes I would go, but I would go expecting an ambush.”
”The fewer messages you send between you, the less likely they will be intercepted and used against you. When this is all over, we will finally have a chance to bring our lives back into order. You will be with her again.”
Vaalic didn’t respond, but nodded absently. His imagination was running wild, trying to imagine where she was, and what she could be doing. He wanted to know without doubt that she was safe, but that was something he could never know. He knew Dravven was right, but he also knew that things could never go back to the way they were. Too much had happened to them all. They could find more peaceful times, but never would things return to they way they had been.
”I have come to a decision on another matter.”. Christopher said after the long silence. His comment gave him their full attention.
”Regarding the mobility of the army, I agree with what you suggested. To protect our soldiers and their families we are sending the women and children to assist and live with Princess Serah as they rebuild the destroyed city. This has been something the men have come to accept, though the parting has been difficult. Three groups have been sent already. We are moving them slowly, no more than thirty at a time, all with armed escorts. They are traveling in small enough numbers to avoid detection, and the escorts help to give the men peace of mind. Once they have been safely evacuated we will be a pure fighting force. There have been those women who have refused the order, and I have held some leniency for them. We still need those willing to tend the fires and food, and they understand the risk they are taking.”
Both Vaalic and Dravven nodded as Christopher finished informing them of the situation. It was then that Christopher unrolled his map.
”As for the mines, we have a great deal to discuss. Dravven, I want you to stay for this. As a commander, your knowledge and experience will do us a great deal of good.” The three men came to look closer at the map as Christopher began to relay his idea for a plan.
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Khellandros » Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:00 pm

The week that followed had everyone in the camp strained for time in preparation. The soldier’s did daily weapons training, polishing their skills, while those with the skill crafted arrows, and even smaller, portable ballistae. It was clear for everyone to see that something was happening. Most, however, were not given any details. Khell was amongst those that had been left in the dark. Still, he didn’t mind that fact. His time was occupied, and he found himself getting fewer hours of rest as the week pressed on. He spent much of his time with Jasmine, teaching her to fletch arrows, and shoot a bow. The experience was drawing them closer together, and Khell found himself feeling nervous around her. A feeling he was unaccustomed to. Still, he enjoyed the time they spent together.

Conversation around the camp had shifted to speculation on the reason for the activity. Christopher’s tent was never dark as there always seemed to be commanders coming or going. No one had seen Christopher or Somber at all during the week. Even Vaalic was a difficult man to find, with his time spilt almost equally between preparation with Christopher and his own personal training. The excitement and activity only helped to heighten curiosity. It wasn’t until the end of the week that news finally came. Orders came quietly, by the chosen commanders. The camp was split, with two large groups being chosen to go. Those chosen did not make up the bulk of the army, but they would certainly be able to move faster than the army as a whole. It was only shortly before they were ready to depart that they learned their destination. The Flurin had been using Faith citizens and soldiers as slaves in the mines. The larger of the two groups was being sent straight to the mines to await the rest of the force. This was where the main bulk of the fighting force was sent. Khell watched Dravven march out with the dragon hunters, as well as several other bands of soldiers. Once Khell learned they would be freeing slaves, he volunteered for the mission, as did Jasmine. He was feeling healthy and strong now, and eager for payback. With Khell’s knowledge and skill with a bow they were both taken into the smaller group. This was a quarter the size of the main body of their attacking force, and they were heading in a slightly different direction. It was Vaalic who led this band, gathering them together before they began their trip.

”As you have already heard, we are attacking the Flurin mines. We do this for two reasons. The first and most important is to remind the Flurin that we will not be enslaved. The men in those mines are not criminals, but merely men used like animals by the Flurin. It is our duty to set them free. The second reason we attack is to stop the Flurin from profiting. We can not have them funding this war with what they have plundered from our own land. The mines are in a remote area, well outside Freeport. It is one of the few places the Flurin have managed to establish a foothold. They have constructed a palisade around the encampment and fortified the position. Still, they are cut off from their main army. We have been chosen to attack their supply line first. The Flurin are organized, trained and dangerous. Their organization has made them predictable, and we will prey on that. There will be a supply caravan going to the mines later today. We will ambush the caravan, and plunder the supplies. Their loss will contribute to our cause. From there we will turn our attention on the mines, and join the other’s who will be waiting for our signal.”

With their mission’s purpose outlined, Vaalic ordered them to move out. Every member of the group was on foot, and armed with bow, arrows, and a sword if they had one. They moved quickly through the forest, having a clear idea which direction to go. As a smaller group they had less trouble on the rough terrain than the other would have. They reached the road shortly before mid day, and Vaalic ordered the unit split on either side of the road. The place they had chosen for the ambush had been established the week before. The hills rose up on either side of the road, giving the attackers the height advantage, as well as the thick forest for cover. Two trees had been cut down previously, and the logs had been concealed in the brush. These logs had been positioned in such a way to allow the attackers to topple them into the roadway, blocking the path forward as well as the retreat for any mounted riders or carriages. The plan was to trap the caravan in the tight pass of the road, and use the high ground to bombard the caravan with arrows. They would take prisoners if any surrendered; otherwise the plan was to kill them to a man.

Once in position, Khell waited patiently. Both he and Jasmine had been positioned on the far side of the road, near the center of the attackers. They were in a prime position, and Khell had helped Jasmine conceal herself. She was clearly less patient, and began to fidget soon after they were settled. No one spoke a word or hardly seemed to breathe. Within an hour the birds and wildlife had forgotten about the armed force lying in wait, and began to return. Khell remained motionless, his chest hardly moving as he drew breath. He was comfortable, and had executed similar ambushes waiting for animals near water. He could hear Jasmine shifting her weight uncomfortably beside him, making enough noise to have him wince. If they were hunting he knew she would have scared the quarry with that action, but he knew her human blood was responsible for her short attention span. Patience was something she could learn over time, and luckily they were hunting men. Creatures Khell knew were far less observant than the creatures of the wild.

Several more hours passed without a sign of anything passing through this road. Since the Flurin had taken control of Freeport, merchants and travelers were a rare sight. Still, no one spoke as they waited. Finally, the first sign of the caravan reached them. A large group of birds swarmed from the trees, scattering in all directions. Khell could see them easily from his concealed position, and figured they had been spooked by riders, or some other predator, though it suggested they were still a ways down the road. Khell was not the only one to read the sign, and the tension began to build. It took nearly ten minutes before they could hear the sounds of horses walking, and the wheels turning on the carriages. The attackers readied themselves, knocking arrows while moving as slowly as they could. Khell could see Vaalic giving the signal to get ready.

The caravan was larger than Khell had initially thought. There were four open topped carriages, each pulled by two horses. Crates and barrels filled each of them. The Flurin had not left these supplies unguarded, and the columns of men walked with the supplies. There were nearly fifty men in total split between two lines, walking on either side of the carts. Only two men rode horses, easily marking them as officers. Khell had been expecting a smaller force to be ambushing, as the Flurin numbers almost equaled their own. It was then that Khell saw prisoners trailing behind. Men and women both had been chained to one another and were attached to the back of the last cart. They were forced to keep up with the cart’s pace. It was a small number of Faith prisoners, ten or fifteen, but their heads were hung low as they marched.

Khell drew his bow, and at his move, the others around him silently did the same. He waited, his sights set on one of the officers. He watched the soldiers begin to march past them, their danger not yet known to them. Once the Flurin force was within the barriers, Vaalic gave the signal. In unison Khell and the other archers let their arrows fly, as the logs were launched down the hill to block either side of the road. Khell’s arrow caught the officer just above the collar bone and buried itself into his chest. The surprised cries from the soldiers were mixed with the screams of agony from the wounded. Khell’s officer fell from his horse, only to be trampled by a panicked and out of control horse looking for escape. The majority of the arrows had struck their targets, catching the Flurin by surprise. The horses pulling the carts were stopped by the logs blocking their way, long enough for the attackers to knock another arrow. The last Flurin officer began shouting orders and rallying his men. The Flurin soldiers were quick to respond, knocking arrows of their own. The second volley of arrows neutralized most of the Flurin soldiers that had drawn a bow, though some shots had been fired back into the forest. The Flurin knew the direction they were under attack, but most of the Faith soldiers remained concealed in the forest and underbrush. The soldier driving the last carriage whipped his horses forward, looking to drive them up the hill and around the long barrier. The sudden burst of speed from the horses made it impossible for the prisoners to keep their footing, and in a tangled mass they began to drag behind the carriage. Khell’s next arrow buried itself in the horse’s neck, dropping it quickly. The momentum of the carriage, and the force of the dying horse caused the wheel to snap as the carriage tipped over, sending the soldier on top flying. With the horse dead, the prisoners were able to get to their feet, though most stayed low, with their hands over their head trying to protect themselves.

The Flurin had finally taken defensive measures, and fired a volley back into the trees. Some enemy soldiers tried to use the carriages for cover, but with archers on either side of the road it proved to be a worthless effort. Within another volley from the Faith archers, the Flurin were all but decimated. The few that had survived threw their weapons down and begged for mercy. Before Vaalic could order a halt to the attack, four of the surrendering soldiers were pierced by arrows. Only three men remained on their knees alive. Vaalic ordered them to move in. After spending so many hours in wait, it seemed almost unnatural to use his legs again. The battle had been swift and concise. Not a single Flurin arrow had struck an attacker, and the fight had ended after mere minutes. Vaalic led the way into the aftermath of the battle. Arrows littered the ground, as did the bodies. The screams of the wounded dulled out any other sound. Within moments, Vaalic had ordered the surviving Flurin brought together, and the prisoners freed. Khell and Jasmine both chose to help the prisoners. While some soldier’s were dulling their axes trying to cut through the chains, Khell began to search the two officers. He found the key hanging around one man’s neck, an arrow protruding from his collar. Without waiting, Khell called to the Faith soldiers. They stopped trying to break the chains, and allowed Khell to unlock the manacles. The supplies were being documented. Only four horses survived the attack, and one of the carts was un-movable. After freeing the prisoners, Khell went back to see what else was happening. Only three Flurin soldiers were alive in well enough condition to surrender. There were a dozen more badly wounded.
“Sir, what are your orders?” One of the soldiers asked Vaalic as he surveyed the wounded. After a moment of thought, Vaalic answered.
”We will take the prisoners with us. They might be able to tell us something. We do not have a medic here, so do what you can for their wounded. If they are well enough to walk we will take them. Otherwise show them mercy and make it quick. Have the supplies loaded onto the good carts and get them off the road. We will come back later to transfer the supplies back to camp.”

With a salute the soldier turned and left, relaying the orders and going about the grisly task of finishing the wounded. It did not take long for the Faith soldiers to load the carts, and take any weapons or valuables from the fallen Flurin. They moved quickly, knowing the other force would be waiting for them when they reached the mines.
Until lions have their historians,
tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.
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Postby Vaalic » Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:43 pm

The first part of the plan had gone successfully. The slaughter of the supply convoy had been accomplished with little more than a few broken arrows and no Faith fatalities. It was as much as Vaalic had been expecting, though he had not expected quite so many soldiers, or the presence of slaves. That had been a recent development, but one that had made no difference. Vaalic had no love for the Flurin, but neither would he needlessly kill men that had surrendered. Their presence was a burden, but there was nothing to be done about it now. After the supplies had been transferred onto the remaining good carts, they were hidden off the road some distance. The horses were tied a short distance away to await the soldier’s return. Vaalic made his way to where the prisoners were being secured. The shackles used on the slaves had served a new purpose now. Vaalic surveyed the prisoners, studying them for a moment. The Flurin soldiers were chained and hopelessly outnumbered. The reactions of the prisoners were mixed when they saw him approach. Most would not meet his eyes, while some glared defiantly at him, as though their hate for him could cause harm. Finally, he singled out one of the unwounded men and approached him. Vaalic did not bother to ready his weapon, and the soldier tried to shrink away from him when he realized he had been singled out.
”Stand up.” Vaalic said simply, and reluctantly the soldier straightened his posture to stand at attention, though his head was still turned down.
”Tell me where this caravan was going.” A few of the Faith soldiers looked from one to the other, more than a little confused. They all knew where the supplies were destined, yet Vaalic patiently waited for an answer. It was another soldier that spoke up first.
”Don’t tell these savages anything. They’ll kill us either way.” The other soldier spat; only to find three sword points and more than a few drawn bows aimed near his throat before he could finish speaking. Vaalic turned to face the man who had spoken, the Faith soldiers waiting for the signal to finish him.
”You would call us savages? You come here and attack our cities and imprison our people. We defend what is by right ours. You are alive now only because we have shown you that mercy.”
”I don’t need your mercy. The General will have none for you. You are all dead men. You just haven’t realized it yet.” The soldier looked between his captors, the sword points still waiting a finger’s width from his throat.
”You and your soldiers have taken Freeport, but we still control the rest of this kingdom. You will have to fight us for every step of it, and believe me when I tell you we will not back down quietly. You are a long way from home, and at the rate you are going it is a home you will never see again. You would do well to keep your head down and your mouth closed. You may still survive this war.”
With that Vaalic waved his hand, giving his soldier’s the signal to stand down. The swords dropped from the soldier’s throat, and he was about to say something in response when a warning look from the other Flurin soldier’s caused him to hesitate. Satisfied that the outburst was over, Vaalic turned his attention back to the man he had initially begun to question.
”Now, as I was saying. Where is this caravan going?” The Flurin soldier looked to his fellow captives before stuttering his answer.
”We are taking these supplies to Torade.” The soldier answered, still not meeting the Faith general’s gaze. Vaalic knew the town the soldier spoke of. It was a small fishing village a full day’s ride down the road. He also knew the Flurin had no presence there, or any interest in the impossibly indefensible village. Letting out a sigh, Vaalic drew his sword slowly, letting the steel ring as it came free of the sheath. He leveled the polished blade against the side of the soldier’s neck.
”If you lie to me again you will learn just how sharp I like to keep my blade. I will not ask you again. Where is this caravan going?”
Vaalic had expected the soldier to lie, but it was the truth that he was most interested in. He would use this simple question to test the soldier. The Flurin soldier’s knee began to shake, and the fear in his eyes could not be mistaken.
”Mines... we were going to the mines.”
Satisfied, Vaalic nodded, and then continued.
”Tell me what you know of the mines. More specifically, tell me of the Flurin presence there.” Vaalic said, keeping his blade just touching the man’s skin.
”Th-there’s a palisade built… solid wood, maybe twelve feet high. It goes all the way around the mining camp.” Again, Vaalic nodded. This was information that he knew, so he continued.
”How many soldier’s are stationed there?”
”I don’t know.” Vaalic let the edge of his blade push harder against the skin. The soldier stiffened at the feeling, his eyes growing wide.
”I swear I don’t know. A hundred and fifty men, maybe… enough for these supplies here to last a week or two. They work in shifts. The General wanted a strong force there in case there were problems.”
This was the information the Faith scouts had been unable to account for. With a sizable part of the Flurin soldiers out of sight behind the wall or in the mines it was impossible to tell how many had been stationed there. It was certainly more than Vaalic had first expected, though he knew their combined force was large enough to overcome them.
”What other defenses do they have?” Vaalic moved the blade slightly; enough to remind the soldier his life depended on his answer. It was then that Vaalic was able to meet eyes with the terrified soldier.
”They have archers in the tower keeping watch and mages stationed within the mines.” Vaalic already knew of the archers, but knew nothing of mages.
”How many mages?” Vaalic asked, not pleased with this new development. Mages meant more casualties, and the threat of having a suicidal mage brining the mines down on them all.
”Five or six I think. I have only seen them once, and we have their supplies. They keep to themselves mostly.” Vaalic nodded and took his blade away from the man’s throat. There was a fine red line where the edge had slightly broken the skin, and the soldier brought a bound hand up to touch the cut. Vaalic cleaned his edge before returning it to its sheath. .
”If what you said is true, you may have just saved the lives of your comrades here. If not, each of you will regret that decision.”

With the Flurin prisoners secure, and the slaves freed, Vaalic gave the order for them to continue on. They would have to march quickly and inform the other group of the unexpected news. They were not far from the other force, and it would take them an hour, maybe two to reach. Vaalic had both the former slaves and the prisoners guarded. He could not afford to let anyone slip away. By the time they had reached their second position, his men were ready for a brief rest. Vaalic ordered a messenger sent to the unit commanders, informing them of his success with the supply convoy and informing them of the newly discovered information. They had all remained concealed in the forest, though the mine fort was easily within sight. The area immediately around the fortification had been cleared of forest or any cover, giving the Faith soldiers only limited options for surprise. It was a short time before the messenger returned, coming straight to Vaalic still out of breath.
”Sir, the other units are in position and awaiting the order. They have been brought up to speed. Commander Dravven wanted me to tell you that the Dragonsbane soldiers will remain outside the walls in preparation for Lenox, should he come.”
Vaalic nodded, and looked to his men. They all knew their orders now. There had been some men spared to guard the slaves and prisoners, but otherwise they remained a powerful force. Vaalic raised his hand to give the signal. Within moments the loud chirp of a bird call echoed through the forest, only to be repeated as each unit heard the command.

From out of the forest surged two small groups of men totaling only fifty men. The portable ballistae that Christopher had created were being pulled up with them. Almost instantly a bell began to ring within the fortification. They were quickly losing the element of surprise. The ballistae crew was hastily moving into position, getting close enough to launch the heavy spears at the wooden fortification. The second group of men all carried large tower shields; standing together they would protect the ballistae crew from the archer’s hail. As soon as these men began to move Vaalic ordered his own men forward. The archers made their way into the field, cloth tied arrows already knocked. The archers in the tower had the advantage of height and distance, but they were fewer in numbers. The first volley of arrows came down on the ballistae crew, with little success. The shield bearers had done well to protect themselves and the others, leaving only a few wounded. It was moments after the last arrow had fallen that the real threat showed itself. From the tower a streak of blue arced unsteadily, moving through the air almost as randomly as lightning, but with a clear destination. One of the balista's took the brunt of the blast, sending shattered wood and men in every direction. With a curse, Vaalic shouted the brief order to protect the balista. He knew they had to find a way to combat these mages. One of the Faith soldiers began to light the tips of the cloth covered arrows while Vaalic spotted Warren going to the seige crew's aide.He only hoped Warren was up to the challenge. In unison Vaalic gave the order and the archers fired. The majority of the arrows fell short of the tower, but struck the buildings behind the wall as well as the wall itself. Flurin soldiers rushed to put the fires out, but had little time before the first ballista spear struck the door. The sound of wood cracking could be heard clearly by the soldiers on the field, as they rushed to load another. More arrows rained down on the ballista crew followed by another arcing blast, this time several arrows managed to strike their targets, while the majority of arrows and blast alike seemed to divert from the men they had been targeted at. There was no visible wall stopping them, but rather it appeared as though they and been caught and turned in a wind that did not exist. The screams of those wounded mingled with the orders from the commanders.
”We need to draw their fire from the ballista’s. I don't know how long they will be able to hold out. Move in and take every shot at the tower.”
As ordered the archers began to move in. They came well into arrow range, spreading the line thinner. Another volley of fire arrows soared over the wall, this time with a large number striking the tall wooden tower. Vaalic cursed again when he saw every arrow directed at any man on the tower burst into flames and burn itself out well before striking its target. Several potentially lethal shots had never reached their destination, but those that had missed the men had still hit the tower itself. It was only a moment later that one of the ballista fired again. More Flurin soldiers had come to join the archers, making the volleys denser and far more dangerous. Arrows rained down on the Faith archers, and without shields there were a fair number that were wounded. Another blast from the mage was this time directed soley at Warren, who managed to ward it off with some difficulty. Still, the fires were beginning to catch hold of the tower, with more fires being started than able bodied soldier to put them out. Smoke had begun to billow from behind the walls, obscuring the view of the tower. Another volley from the Faith archers ensured the tower was doomed. Too many arrows had struck it, and it had ignited. The Flurin soldiers rushed to climb down from the inferno before it collapsed. Vaalic watched with satisfaction as the roof of the tower collapsed in on itself before the tower toppled over, taking several archers and the mage with it. Flurin archers still fired from the walls, but they were far fewer in number. The ballista’s fired again, this time caving in a section of the door. It was still not enough to enable entry, but they were getting close.

The Faith archers now outnumbered what few Flurin soldiers fired back. Most were concerned with keeping the walls and building from burning, or reinforcing the door before the ballista could strike again. It was clear to everyone that the door would not hold. It was inevitable, but the Flurin soldiers continued to try. A few more rounds from the ballistae proved enough. The door could not stand the punishment it was receiving, and a good number of burning arrows had helped the process. With the entry point open, Vaalic gave the signal.

The bulk of the Faith army had been laying in wait, anxious to get into the fray. At the signal their patience had paid off. From the forest the soldiers rushed forward, keeping in formation. There were still Flurin archers firing back, but they were nothing to stop the force that was now coming toward them. Vaalic ordered the archers to cease fire, as the first of the Faith soldiers reached the ruined palisade. As the front line of soldiers reached the palisade a small group managed to enter before the ground behind them ignited. Even from where he was standing Vaalic could hear the screams of those men that had been caught in the flash inferno. The mages were at work again, this time creating a wall more effective than any made of wood or stone. Not a man dared to cross the blazing ground, leaving those few men on the other side to fight for their lives against a hopeless number of enemy soldiers. Vaalic could see Warren already crossing the field to come to their aid, and Vaalic did the same. Those that were armed and able to fight joined him, as he too joined the surge of Faith soldiers rushing the palisade.

By the time Vaalic had reached the entrance Warren had extinguished the blaze and his soldiers had broken through. The melee had begun, and the soldiers battled in pockets around the encampment. Within the walls the mines looked more like a small village than a work camp. The tower had crumbled in ruins, and nearly a quarter of the buildings were fully engulfed in flames. The smoke burnt the eyes, but it was a hindrance both sides would face.

The battle was fierce, and Vaalic soon found his way to a group of Flurin soldiers that had managed to barricade themselves in one of the buildings. Several dead soldiers, both Flurin and Faith lay in the doorway. Vaalic rushed over, ready to do his part. As he approached one of his men saw and shouted their situation.
”Sir, there are six men inside, wielding axes and spears. We don’t have the reach to get in there.”
Vaalic nodded as he reached the building. Without a word, he signaled for his men to check the back for an alternate entrance. Stepping forward Vaalic peered into the doorway, only to have a spear tip lunged at him. He moved away easily, having been too far back to easily be threatened. With a shout, Vaalic stopped a shield bearer that had been running past. Taking the tower shield, Vaalic used it as a wall. Rushing in, he felt the spear point pierce the shield, their point sticking clear through. In the same motion Vaalic was through the door, with his men a step behind. As soon as he was through the opening he dropped the shield and cleared the way. The spears were pinned in the shield and the soldiers were forced to abandon them and draw shorter blades.

The smoke from the fires made the room hazy and difficult to navigate. Still, Vaalic parried an axe swing from the first soldier he came face to face with, running his blade down the handle to sever the soldier’s fingers. The axe dropped to the floor as Vaalic brought his blade around in a quick arc across the throat. The sound of the soldier sputtering for air that would never reach his lungs mixed with the clash of steel as the other soldiers found their targets. Vaalic turned when he spotted someone coming up his left flank. In the turn he used his sword to guild the Flurin blade away from him before lunging, burying the blade into the soldier’s stomach. The man collapsed, and with a twist he pulled the blade free and looked for the next soldier. His men had done quick work, and the other four had been quickly dispatched. Another Faith soldier had died in the struggle, an axe buried between his shoulder blades. Vaalic turned to leave, only to be stopped by the rasping voice of one of the Flurin soldiers.
”You are too late. We sent the messenger bird. The General will know what you have done.” Vaalic stopped and looked at the man lying on the floor, the blood flowing from a vicious stomach wound.
”Good. Let him know we will not stand down.”
With that, Vaalic pushed his sword into the man’s chest, hearing the crunch as it passed through his body and pierced his heart. A much swifter death than the one originally dealt to him. Pulling the blade free Vaalic turned to leave. They would have to secure the outside of the compound before they could deal with the mine. Coming back outside Vaalic surveyed the scene around him, pleased to see the battle was going in their favor.
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:48 pm

The attack on the supply convoy had been a success. Jasmine was grouped with the archers during the attack since she was doing some extensive training with the bow with Khell. She now had confidence in using the bow and actually quite enjoyed it. However, she noticed one of her weaknesses was that she couldn’t stay still in one place too long; she kept on shifting and getting restless while waiting for the caravan. She chuckled to herself, if she acted the same way while hunting, she would be very hungry since she would have scared away the animals. She made a mental note to herself to practice being more patient and being able to stand still.

Once Vaalic had finished his interrogation on one of the prisoners’, the group began their march to the mines. The view of the palisade guarding the mines came into view where they stopped to group themselves. Khell and Jasmine went off to the side with the main group of archers, waiting for a command. They were given arrows tied with cloth at the end, waiting for a soldier to come by and ignite it on fire. Arrows were hailing down on the ballistae crew when a strange blue streak flied through the air, hitting one of the ballistae, shattering it into little pieces and sending men flying everywhere. Jasmine looked at Khell bewildered, and all he gave was a shrug in return. Apparently mages were not all hiding down in the mines as what the army was led to believe. They definitely complicate the situation and will force the army to be more aware of spells and special abilities. Finally the archer’s arrows were lit and Vaalic gave the command to fire. Jasmine released her arrow, and a rain of fire arrows came down onto the buildings behind the wall, just barely missing the tower. The ballistae began the attack on the door when more arrows began penetrating the ballistae crew. A strange invisible wall was cast by Warren to protect the ballistae which made only a few arrows able to penetrate through and hit it while the rest appear to magically divert to another direction. Vaalic ordered the archers to move forward and spread out, trying to draw attention to them instead of the ballistae. Jasmine and Khell stepped forward, moving in unison and sticking close to each other. Their arrows were lit again and a volley of fire arrows came down in the camp again, this time striking the tower. Shockingly any arrows that they shot at a Flurin soldier were magically burnt from exsistance and only were able to hit the tower. Jasmine noticed that more soldiers were joining shooting arrows behind them, all aiming at the tower. This time Flurin arrows were directed to the group that Khell and Jasmine were in. One arrow came towards Jasmine’s direction, nearly missing her and striking the young man next to her. He screamed out in pain as the arrow was embedded into his left leg, and blood began running out. Two soldiers immediately came to the archer’s aid, dragging him off to the side to give him medical attention. Jasmine had to shake off the fear she briefly felt since she was in the line of fire and that could have been her with an arrow sticking out of her body. She had been cut, stabbed, and punched before but never shot with an arrow. It was an experience she hoped never to endure. Jasmine turned her attention to the tower and the fires inside the palisade began to grow as the group shot another cascade of arrows into the tower, this time engulfing it in flames. The Flurin soldiers were quickly moving around everywhere either trying to put out the fires or reinforce the door. More arrows were shot at the palisade, this time some hit the door aiding the ballistae with breaking down the door.

Finally, the door crumbled and Vaalic ordered the men to move in and for the archers to cease fire. The small first group of the Faith soldiers already reached the door, fighting their way through the crowds and made their way inside. Suddenly a wall made out of fire appeared blocking the entrance and separating the main group from the small group that was inside. Jasmine could hear the screams of agony from the soldiers which made her grow anxious since mages are able to kill you from long distances and there isn't any way to defend yourself them. Jasmine looked over at Khell who kept his guard up in case more arrows were coming their way or any potential spells. Jasmine stood up and attached her bow to her back and took out her dagger, ready for action.
”I’m going inside where all the fun is. Are you staying behind with the rest of the archers or coming?” she asked Khell because she knew he wasn’t a front line fighter and if he went inside he would face direct melee combat.
Khell shook his head, ”No, I said I would help free the prisoners so I am coming in as well. I will just stay hidden in the background, shooting from afar.” he seemed committed to staying in the fight which Jasmine admired. A few others followed them as they jogged over to where Vaalic and the group of Faith soldiers were running in towards the disintegrated door.

Warren had already extinguished the wall of fire when they reached inside the palisade. The fire from their arrows had spread throughout the camp and the smoke was thick and burned her eyes. Jasmine could still see through the smoke, but it became increasingly difficult over time. She looked over to her left and noticed a group of three Flurin soldiers were rushing their way. Khell took his place off to the side, hugging the walls as closely as possible away from the action. Three others followed Jasmine away from the large group, charging the Flurin soldiers. The groups met with blades clashing against each other, all attempting to take swipes at each other. Jasmine singled out one man who was shorter than her after he attempted to slice her across the stomach. An arrow whizzed by, nearly hitting the man. Jasmine quickly looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Khell off to the side, shooting at the Flurin soldiers. Jasmine ducked out of the way of the man’s attempt to go for her throat. Jasmine kicked and knocked the man down out of under his feet, landing hard on the dirt ground. He was stunned for a moment while Jasmine stood up and drew her dagger through his the middle of his rib cage. The man twitched for a moment before lying there completely still. Jasmine wiped off her blade before going for the next Flurin soldier. One more was already on the ground dead who left one soldier surrounded by Jasmine and three Faith soldiers. He panicked and began to back away from the other soldiers, leaving his back to Jasmine. Jasmine casually walked up and stabbed the blade in the middle of his back. His eyes were wide with surprise as he fell forward on the ground. She quickly knelt down and lifted the soldier’s head up, slicing his throat with one movement. She dropped the head and stood up to meet the other Faith soldiers. The look of both admiration and shock were on their faces, probably not expecting that a girl can fight like that she thought to herself silently chuckling.

They looked around the rest of the camp and saw numerous bodies lying on the ground, most of them were Flurin and some Faith soldiers. Only a few handfuls of Flurin groups were left, the rest either dead or escaped down into the mines. However, they don’t want to leave any Flurin behind so they don’t escape and call for backup, or decide to attack the group from behind.
”Let’s check the buildings to see if anyone is hiding out in there. Leave no survivors.” Jasmine suggested while walking towards the first building that wasn’t on fire yet. Before they could enter, an arrow zoomed by Jasmine’s head and embedded into the wooden door in front of her. She quickly turned around and saw two archers up on top of the palisade wall. While Jasmine was putting her dagger away, Khell came beside her and already shot an arrow up at one of the archers, impaling him in the chest. Jasmine grabbed her bow, knocked an arrow and shot at the last archer that was running away. The arrow hit in between his shoulders, knocking him to the ground. She was quite pleased with herself that she was able to hit a moving target. She put away her bow again and took out her dagger, wiping off the blood again. There has to be some reason why the archers are still guarding this one building instead of fleeing. she thought as he turned towards the building again and kicked down the door.

The door easily caved in as Jasmine took a step forward. Suddenly a shadow appeared behind the door and swung at Jasmine, slicing her left arm. She winced, watching the thin line of blood flowing down her arm. That cut would definitely need to be looked at as it kept bleeding profusely. Jasmine quickly went over to the wall, away from the door so the others can come inside as well. There were two men inside, the one that hit Jasmine with a sword, and the other held an axe. Jasmine stayed off to the side, holding her arm and trying to keep pressure on it while the three Faith soldiers came in and attacked the sword soldier. The tallest Faith soldier stabbed the soldier in the stomach, giving it a twist and having the torso fall on the ground. The last axe Flurin got backed into a corner and got his throat sliced open. Jasmine walked up and knelt next to the sword soldier and ripped off a piece of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it around her arm tightly. Something caught her eye as she looked closely at the corpse; there was a necklace around the man’s neck with a key dangling at the end of it. Jasmine ripped the key from the body and looked at it closely; it was a small silver key. Jasmine went to beside Khell and handed it to him,
”It might be a key to a prisoners cell. You’ll need this if you want to free them. she said as she faced the soldiers. Khell looked down at her arm and frowned.
”Is your arm okay?” he asked with genuine concern. Jasmine shrugged and tried to ignore the sharp shooting pain coming from it.
”It just needs to be looked at when we return to camp. Let’s finish scouting the camp and worry about this later.” she said as she walked out the door.

The camp now was very quiet with the exception of the crackling of the flames with Faith soldiers gathering together awaiting for orders. The soldiers already checked the rest of the buildings and there were no Flurin to be found anywhere. Vaalic emerged from the crowd, silencing the soldiers.
”The rest of the Flurin are inside the mines, cowering for their lives. Leave no survivors and one of the main priorities is the safety of the Faith prisoners. Be aware any more mages that may appear inside and show them no mercy.” he loudly spoke as Vaalic and the Faith army now made its way into the shaft of the tunnel. Jasmine and Khell joined the group, waiting to see who’s waiting for them down the tunnel.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:48 pm

Sorry, double post.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Killean » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:52 am

Image

Without much time for rest the remaining plans were made for the siege against the Censillia mines. Vaalic would lead a small force towards a convoy of supplies, while Dravven and several other commanders would move the remaining groups to the edge of the forest. The small group left swiftly and quietly in a different direction of the main convoy. Dravven’s group was leading the ballistae to their spot a hundred meters from the forest edge, and waited. The rest of the force waited a little deeper into the woods just in case.
The silence was killing him as it had been a while since Dravven was engaged in a large battle. Still, he wasn’t about to go nuts, and he had to wait a while before any word would come from Vaalic. Dravven began to think of ways he could calm his nerves but still get something beneficial done. He turned to his troops and knew that he should go over the plans with his group one last time.
“I want to go over the plan one last time, okay?” The men nodded in reply.
“Right.” Dravven began to quietly pace back and forth.
“We are to cover the ballista’s at all times. If anyone attempts to engage and destroy the ballistae up front, then only half of you are to defend. This will make sure the remaining half is there for backup or to take on a separate force. Once the gates are down, our job is not done however. We are to remain with the ballistae and move in once the camp is clear. Once the mine entrance is also clear, we are to remain above in watch for the green.” Mentioning the last remaining enemy dragon sent shivers down their spines. He alone has been responsible for many faith side deaths.
“If he does show his hide here, then you all know the plan. Stay clear of the ballistae and watch for his activity. If he attacks, you know the plan. And men, remember what I told you. Do not stop attacking, even if I fall. The dragon must be slain.” Everyone there knew what they had to do. Regardless of what may happen, their goal had to be met.

A few questions came after Dravven’s speech, and then more silence pursued. After another hour went by, activity was heard behind them in the shape of a messenger. Vaalic had done it, which meant the attack was nigh.
“Commander, signal will come with the sparrow. Half dozen bright lights are rumored and suggest painted red.” Dravven acknowledged the message.
“Understood. Inform that we are prepared to move and we will remain outside in wait for a possible dragon attack.” The messenger nodded his head and was off again to the south to inform Vaalic. One last time Dravven looked at each of the Dragonbane’s and received a nod from each. They were prepared to go, and all they needed was the call to move.

Image

The call was short but clear that it originated from the army. With a wave of the commanders arm the ballistae were on the road again, heading for the mining camp. Warren began to move just a little ahead of a ballista until he got out of the woods. Looking to either side, Warren found Vaalic and a smaller portion of his soldiers came out on the left, another small group to the right. Silence befell all on both sides as the first missile was hurled towards the fortifications door. It sounded with a sickening thud as the missile was thrust deep. Right away the alarm was set off, archers were placed on the towers along with a couple robed figures. Bingo. Those were the major targets that had to be removed right away. The mage on the right raised his hands into the air and pulled them apart, as he did an arc or bright blue light spanned the gap. On the left, the mage there held his hand up to a nearby torch and quite literally stole the flame into the hand, there is grew brighter and ready to destroy.
Warren moved up to the front of the ballistae and held his hands pointed toward the left side mage. Before anyone knew what had just went on, the mage and the wood edge he was standing on dropped a foot instantly. A loud crack was heard from there seconds after. The mage regurgitated a small bit of blood and dropped, life instantly vanished from his eyes. The right caster pointed a hand towards the ballistae and the bolt of lightning leapt forth ripping the entire construction apart. As the mage moved his hand towards Warren and the ballistae behind him, Warren waved his hands from the outside towards the center of his chest, there he held them with great difficulty.
The caster concentrated now on trying to break down the invisible wall Warren put up over two ballistae. The remaining ballista’s target was the tower the mage was on. Warren collapsed to his knees letting the wall drop when he saw the mage drop from sight. A couple soldiers ran up trying to help him back, but they settled to just give him shield coverage from the arrows.
When the wall and the major threats were gone, the ballistae opened fire again on the door. The third bolt was hurled into the fray, and the hole was large enough to move in. A third of the forces then charged out of the woods for the entrance. When several got inside a wall of fire grew in the doorway. The men who were unlucky enough to jump through it were burnt in a most unnatural way, almost as if acid was poured on them. Without having been ordered, Warren reached into thin air and pulled out a sword and shield, and charged for the entrance.
Deflecting a couple arrows with his shield as he ran up, he got to the fire wall and closed his eyes, hands pointed. A couple seconds went by, and nothing happened. Warren began to look around in disbelief for anything that would explain this. He saw it and narrowed his eyes, swearing to himself. He struck the side of the door making sure to run his sword down to the bottom. After the second time of doing it, the wall of flame wisped out in a puff of smoke, and a bunch of ruins suddenly showed up all scratched.

Soldiers began to pour into the camp, or rather the small village inside the palisades. Warren was caught in the rush and ran in as well. Two more mages were inside the compound, and each saw the Faith mage and targeted him. Warren quickly reacted to the jet of flame coming from his right by placing his hands in the air. The fire danced a few inches away from him, part of it spilling over the sides around him. Warren looked to where the other mage was and saw that his hands were stretched out, his eyes closed. Suddenly an unseen force crushed its way through the air, sending multiple people sprawling on the ground including Warren. Instinct hit and he rolled off to the side hiding from the mage and his flame.
Now that he had temporary shelter from anything, Warren winced from the pain in his chest. He knew that the kinetic spell had shattered a couple of his ribs, and they had to be healed, or at least dulled. He placed his hands on his chest and closed his eyes trying to concentrate. He dulled the pain some, but he had to be careful. He now had splinters of bone moving around inside his body.
Slowly Warren stood up and peeked around the edge of a cabin. One mage had already been taken care of. The second had a wall up stopping arrows from hitting him and the other archers. Warren held himself against the wall and tried to dispel the wall. It took a few seconds, but soon enough arrows from the faith soldiers went through and pierced the mages throat. Relieved, Warren dropped his hands and tried to take deep breaths. It was increasingly difficult, and the siege was far from over…
-神恵「争い」癒す
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Postby Vaalic » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:04 am

The mine tunnel itself was a tactical nightmare. Neither Vaalic nor Christopher had a blueprint of the layout, making it impossible to plan their attack any further. The soldiers were forced to crowd together and come through narrow passages. These were perfect opportunities for mages, archers, or simple soldiers to ambush them. Still, the Faith force had destroyed a good portion of the Flurin soldiers in the initial attack, leaving the survivors to hide in the catacombs. It was possible that more mages lingered inside, which did not help morale. One mage could bring the mines down on them all, dooming their allies as well as their enemies. Vaalic knew mages to be unpredictable enough for such actions. Standing near the entrance to the mines, Vaalic spoke now to the soldier’s gathered in front of him.

”We have them running scared and they have nowhere else to go. This is going to be dangerous. We will be at a disadvantage here, but we are a larger and more determined force. Our objective here is to rescue the Faith prisoners that have been held here. We will be collapsing the mines once our men are free, so do not linger unnecessarily. Now, let’s put the last of them to the sword.”

With a wave of his hand, soldiers carrying large tower shields made their way to the front of the ranks. These were the brave men that would go in first, using the shields for cover as they made way for the remaining force behind them. Together the soldiers charged, their axes cutting easily into the wooden doors that had been put in place to stop them. In moments the outer door was breached and the shield bearers forced their way through. They met with immediate resistance, as Flurin soldier did what they could to stop the onslaught. The shouts of battle echoed through the mines, as sword and axe dug into shield and flesh alike. Vaalic waited impatiently, as did most of the Faith force. They could not charge into action until an opening presented itself.

The skirmish to get through the door lasted several long minutes with few casualties on either side. Finally, the Flurin were unable to hold back the force, as the first of the Faith soldiers pushed through. With the breach of a single man, the remaining Faith soldiers began to funnel in. Vaalic was among those that forced the way through. The Flurin soldier’s had difficulty in the confined quarters, as Vaalic parried one axe aside, cutting the soldier across the thigh. The wound went to the bone, and the soldier collapsed, only to be quickly trampled by the streaming press of bodies. It became more hazardous with the fall of each soldier, making the ground around the fighting men unpredictable with the dead and dying laying below them. Vaalic stumbled once on a wounded Faith soldier, and the delay almost made him catch a mace in the ribs. He managed to stop the swing, though his arm rang from the vibration of the hit.

Vaalic stumbled back a step, giving him enough space to catch his balance before his sword stuck back, nicking the maceman’s arm. The wound was superficial, but the maceman overcompensated in his attempt to block, leaving his abdomen exposed, and awaiting a killing strike. In that one quick strike, it was likely the maceman never realized his error. Moments later the entrance was secured. The wounded Faith soldiers were taken away out of the mine to have their wounds bound, and the dead were left where they fell.

The Faith soldiers continued forward into the mines, breaking off into smaller independent groups. They would never be able to search the mines as a whole if they continued as one force. Vaalic lead a small group, going to the left at the first fork. He tried to remember the way they came, and he knew if he lost his way they would be as good as dead.

They walked cautiously, expecting ambushes around every corner, but one never came. After several tense minutes walking through the mines, Vaalic felt the earth shake, but they had gone too far to know exactly what had happened. The mages must have been found, and he shuddered to think what that tremor had meant for those unfortunate enough to be there. He was about to order the men back toward where he believed the tremor had originated but was given pause when he heard a trailing voice from deeper down the path. Vaalic motioned for the men to be silent, as they didn’t seem to have heard anything. They crept forward with their weapons drawn.
“…sir, that will be the death of us.” They heard a Flurin soldier protest.
”It is what must be done. The General didn’t leave us enough men to handle something like this. The last thing I want is for those bastards to gain more followers.”

Vaalic had managed to get close enough to look around the next corner. His view was partially blocked, but torches burned in sconces along the wall. He could see four Flurin soldiers, but not the man that had spoken.
”I understand sir, but we are trapped and outnumbered. If we slaughter the prisoners they will surely take our heads. We can use them as a bargaining chip to secure safe passage.”
”No. Execute every last one of them. Then we will fall back deeper into the mines. They’ll never be able to find us down there.”

Vaalic gave the order before the other man could reply. Without a word the Faith soldiers came around the corner and engaged the startled Flurin soldiers into action. There were more men here than Vaalic had counted. Their numbers matched his own, but three Flurin soldiers fell in the initial attack before their weapons could be drawn. The rest reacted fast enough to get their weapons free, though they were hard pressed to keep the Faith blades at bay. Vaalic engaged his fist opponent, a short heavy set man with a spear. The long reach of the weapon did little good for the novice soldier as Vaalic moved in close enough to render the weapon ineffectual. Vaalic brought his sword across, slashing the soldier’s face. At a first glance it looked as though Vaalic had struck his eyes, though it was impossible to tell under the thick flow of blood that had immediately come forth. As the man raised his hands to the painful wound, Vaalic took his edge down, into the now unexposed liver. The soldier’s cry of agony was enough to cause others to look in his direction. Vaalic left the fallen soldier to bleed the last of his life onto the stone ground before turning to his next opponent.

One of the Faith soldier’s had broken his sword, and was trying to fend off the swift attacks of a maceman. Vaalic could see it was a hopeless duel for the unarmed swordsman. Coming around in two steps, Vaalic came up behind the maceman and skewered him. The point of his blade came cleanly through the front of the man’s chest. In the same motion the swordsman stepped in and buried what remained of his blade into the man’s throat. Vaalic pulled his weapon free, while the other Faith soldier didn’t bother to remove his. They let the maceman fall to the ground. Before they went on, the swordsman retrieved a weapon from one of the fallen soldiers. The other Faith soldiers had finished the last of the Flurin here without casualty. Some were wounded, but they could all walk, and didn’t look serious enough to draw concern.

From where they now stood Vaalic could see the dungeon like bars that had been erected on the far side of the room. Half starved slaves stood behind them, their cloths little better than rags. There was a large number of men and women watching them, begging for help and freedom. Vaalic ordered the bodies searched, and one produced a key. Once the door was open the slaves made their way through the tunnels in haste. The taste of freedom made them a stampede. One man lingered, speaking to the soldier’s before he too followed the others.
”There are more soldier’s and prisoners down the other corridors. They keep us separate to keep us from coming together. My wife is among the others. Please find them.” The man pleaded as he continued to follow the others.
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Strife L. Leonhart » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:20 am

Strife made his way along the forest road and towards his destination. Many days had passed since Strife had gone off into the forest surrounding the Faith camp, or had it been weeks? He really couldn’t remember for all conception of time had been lost to him during his period of meditation. The fight alongside Vaalic in Freeport, the conjuring of the storm and the hasty escape to the Faith camp had all taken a toll on him and that was unacceptable. If he was going to be of any assistance to Vaalic, or the Faith army for that matter, he could not be weakened so quickly by such tasks, especially since he had yet to invoke his true strength.

He thought back to the period after Christopher had shown him to his camp residence and to the series of events that had followed after. Later that night, he had left the camp and made his way deeper into the heart of the forest until he had found a place secluded enough to fit his needs. There he sat, alone, crossed legged on the ground, eyes closed and breathed deeply. It was time to rejuvenate fully for the perils ahead and for that, he would need to call on the full powers of nature to be at one with him.

Strife sat quietly lost in his meditation for, to him, time stood still and it is very well possible that that was exactly what had happened. Days passed but still he did not stir. He did not speak, eat or drink. There was no need, for the earth itself provided him with her own energies. He was at one with nature and through her he was given a new insight.

The earth informed him of the blood that had been spilt on her soil. The creatures of the forest too informed him as to what they saw, of the convoy and of the events that followed.… … … Vaalic… … …where are you headed?

Strife allowed his consciousness, his awareness to take flight. He strengthened his bond with nature and connected with the awareness of a hawk that soared overhead. It was through this hawk’s eyes that he was able to see Vaalic and his companions. …The Mines!

Strife’s eyes shot open. He was once again aware of his surroundings, however, he had no idea how long he had been away. So much had happened in his absence and he could not detain himself any longer.

Thus Strife traveled along the forest road and towards his destination. He soon arrived to a clearing leading towards the mine’s entrance. Signs already showed of Vaalic’s presence and of that of his companions. He watched, puzzled at first, at the sight of numerous men and women hastily exiting the mines. From they condition of their clothing and dirty appearance, Strife drew to the conclusion that they had been imprisoned deep within the mines depths.

Taking in a deep breath Strife proceeded into the mines and towards the uncertainties that awaited him.
Strife's Thought of the Month:

If a missing person sees their picture on a milk carton that offers a reward, would they get the money?
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:26 pm

The Faith Army charged into the mines with the soldiers with large tower shields going in first, charging in making their way through into the mine tunnels. They met more Flurin soldiers and Jasmine and Khell waited until a path was clear. Minutes later, an opening presented itself and they took that opportunity and pushed their way through with the group. Bodies scattered throughout the ground, making it difficult to navigate through already close quarters. They made their way to a fork in the tunnels and the Faith Army broke into smaller groups so they can cover more ground quickly. Jasmine saw some groups go to the left, so she signaled to Khell to go to the right instead. They stood at the entrance of the right tunnel for a brief moment, looking at their surroundings.
”We need to remember which path we took so we can come out the same way we came in. We cannot afford to get lost in here.” Khell stated grimly while Jasmine nodded in return.

Jasmine and Khell walked carefully down the tunnel, watching every corner and occasionally up at the ceiling to make sure they wouldn’t get ambushed. A few groups of the Faith army followed them down there so there were around thirty men making their way down to the Flurin army. They rounded a long corner which opened up to a large room with around twenty soldiers and one mage. They greeted Jasmine’s group with a fireball that whizzed by their heads, striking the side of the mine shaft. The tunnels shook; making pieces of rock, stone, and dust fly everywhere. Jasmine and the group immediately backed up and hugged the wall of the tunnel, getting out of the mages range. Jasmine coughed from the dust, while brushing all the dirt off her. It was slightly difficult to see as she looked at the small army of men behind her,
”These walls cannot stand too much more damage without it collapsing and trapping us inside. These mages can be the death of us, so we have to be careful and focus on taking him out first.” she stated, contemplating on what to do in this situation. She knew nothing about magic other than to stay away from it. Khell drew his bow, knocked an arrow, ready to shoot around the corner. He ducked and crept along the side, poking his head around the corner and shot the arrow off. He quickly dodged back while another blast of energy struck the wall, having the tunnels tremble more this time, making large cracks in the wall.
”The mage hid behind the group of men now, we aren’t able to pick him off first as we initially planned. There appears to be a jail cell at the very far right corner of the room.” Khell reported, catching his breath.
”Dammit, we cannot wait much longer this area is going to crumble. We need to continue on though to rescue the Faith prisoners. We need a distraction before we charge in otherwise we will get pegged off by the mage. Do we have any cloth left? We might as well fight fire with fire. Any archers come forward; we need to shoot some fire arrows off. Be accurate; keep your arrows away from the jail cells in case there are any prisoners left alive.” Jasmine ordered as she took out her bow and took some cloth from a solider and wrapped it around hers and Khells’ arrows. Five other soldiers came forward with their bows, ready to shoot. They separated themselves from the group by being in front, with a soldier coming by and igniting the cloth. The group quickly went forward, with their arrows drawn and the rest of the group waiting behind. They rounded the corner and shot the arrows off. Jasmine aimed towards where the mage was hiding, striking the soldier standing in front of him. The soldier’s shirt quickly engulfed in flames as he screamed in agony and fell down on the ground with another soldier coming to stand in his place. She quickly got out of the way of the other archers, allowing the others to pass through while putting her bow away and drawing her dagger.

One Faith soldier already fell to the ground with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. The fire from the arrows had created enough fire and smoke to restrict the vision of all soldiers, including the mage. The room now was flooded with Faith soldiers as they all charged in, engaging the Flurin soldiers. Khell stayed off to the side, making his way to the cell while pegging off soldiers. Jasmine charged at a short pudgy Flurin soldier with an axe. He swung at her head, making Jasmine duck and slashing her blade across his stomach. He crouched over, holding his wound while attempting to swing at her again. She backed up and kicked out his knees, knocking him on the ground. He fell forward and she struck him in the back of the head, spilling out blood on the floor. She looked up to see a tall man right coming behind her, as he kicked her back while she was bent over the corpse. She was sent skidding face first cross the dirt floor, having her left arm and shoulder scratched by the rocks. She cringed as a shot of pain went up her arm; the wound was still fresh from before. She quickly turned over on her back to meet her attacker. He knelt over Jasmine, lifting his sword above his head aiming for her torso. She grabbed his arms and struggled to keep his sword away. She could feel her left arm starting to struggle, so she kicked him right in the stomach, throwing him off to the side. Jasmine quickly stood up and kicked the soldier’s sword off to the side. She stabbed him in the middle of his chest and twisted the dagger.

She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and looked over to see a blue streak flying through the air, striking three Faith soldiers. Jasmine cursed, the mage was still active but the Flurin soldiers’ numbers had greatly depleted. There were about eight left and most of them had engaged the main group of Faith soldiers. Jasmine went to attack the mage when she was stopped by two Flurin soldiers who were protecting the mage. One had a spear that lounged at Jasmine, having her dodge out of the way. She made herself face them so they couldn’t surround her so she had to be careful. Suddenly an arrow whizzed by and hit the spearman straight in the throat. Jasmine saw out of the corner of her eye that Khell was watching her back. Now she dealt with the last soldier who held a dagger by clashing blades with him. She attempted to swing at his knees but he blocked her attack again. She stepped around him quickly and sliced the side of his waist. He turned towards her and tried to swing at her injured arm, but she deflected his blade off to the side. She stabbed his other side in return and then finishing him with cutting his throat.

Jasmine turned her attention to the room and only two soldiers remained so she went after the mage again. His attention was to the large group of soldiers, as he managed to conjugate one last fireball before Jasmine came and stabbed him through the back. The fireball flew across the room, striking some soldiers and hitting the wall. The whole room shook as the walls collapsed in, closing off the way that they came in.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Khellandros » Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:00 am

Khell woke with his ears ringing and his sight blurry. It was dark, and every labored breath brought in dust filled air. For a moment he could not remember where he was. For a moment he sat in silence, listening. Then, he remembered everything that had happened; the attack on the mines, the skirmish and the mage. It did not take much for him to realize what had happened. The stone walls had collapsed around them. He had not seen the mage’s attack, but knew it was the only explanation. A sense of urgency filled him as he strained himself to crawl to his feet. They were still in enemy territory and not yet safe. He fumbled around in the stone debris, until his hand ran across the warm feel of blood. A Faith soldier lay crushed by the stone wall no less than three feet from where Khell had been knocked down. The unfortunate soldier was buried from his shoulders down under several tons of merciless stone. Khell’s ears were still ringing and his sight was beginning to focus now. Small fires burnt around the stone collapse, with the crushed and burnt remains of soldiers on both sides littering the ground. The smell of human flesh burning was enough to make the elven hunter feel bile rise in his throat. Still stunned by what had happened Khell felt as though he were moving in slow motion. Every action took more thought, and seemed to happen well after he thought it should. Absently his hand touched the side of his head, to feel the warm trickle of blood running down his cheek.

As his sight focused completely now, Khell also became more aware. He spotted his bow laying not far from where he hand landed and retrieved it quickly, knocking an arrow. He noticed with a grim demeanor that he was the first one to rise. Several others were beginning to show signs of movement, and several groaned in pain, but none rose to their feet.
”Jasmine… Jasmine?” Khell called out, his voice sounding hollow in his own ears. He could not see her in the tangle of bodies and rock. He spoke a silent prayer as he turned over bodies, trying to identify her. After a few minutes of searching he found her, laying next to the mage, her hand still gripping the dagger that had been embedded in the mage’s back. A section of the roof had collapsed here, and with a little strain, Khell was able to dig her out of the debris. Turning her over, he could see a gash across her hairline, letting blood run down her face and into her left eye. Her face was black from dust, and for a moment he thought she was not breathing. Brushing her hair out of her face with his hand, Khell looked her over, checking for broken bones or other injuries. With the exception of the wound on her head, she had a few minor cuts; evidence of her conflict here. With a worried look, Khell called out her name again, glancing briefly over his shoulder to see if anyone else was beginning to stir. Looking back to the wounded woman, he could see that she hadn’t stirred.
”Jasmine… wake up. You have to get up, we’re not safe here.” Khell said, shaking Jasmine slightly, trying to stir her from unconsciousness. When she didn’t respond, he began to grow frustrated. Putting his ear to her mouth he tried to listen for breath. It came faintly, but it was there. Again, Khell tried calling out to her, this time louder, and shaking her more strongly. He knew they couldn’t stay where they were, and he wasn’t about to leave her behind. From behind him he could see men pulling themselves to their feet. They were Faith soldiers, and they appeared to be just as disorientated as he had been. Looking back at Jasmine, Khell stopped. She had not responded to his attempts to rouse her. Instead he though he should bind her wounds. Lifting back her hair, he took a closer look at the gash on the top of her head. Her hair concealed it well, but the blood had begun to matt together in the long strands. It had collected a large amount of rock dust and dirt, which Khell knew couldn’t be left. Wiping his hands on the inside of his shirt, Khell tried to clean out some of the rock shards. The moment he touched the wound on her head Jasmine cried out, a sound that made Khell’s heart skip a beat. It wasn’t a cry of pain, but rather a battle cry, as she pulled her dagger free from the mage’s back, she lunged at him. The force of her weight caught Khell off guard, and sent him stumbling back. He brought his arms up in front of him in time to ward the blow. In that moment, Khell had been knocked on his back, with his leg pinned beneath him. Jasmine was on top of him, forcing the blade down at his chest. For a moment they struggled, with Khell using his strength to keep the blade hovering just above his skin.
”Jasmine, it’s me! It’s Khell!” he shouted, his voice strained as he tried to push her weight and the blade off of him. In that instant he could see recognition return to her eyes, and her force stopped. She looked almost terrified once she realized what she had almost done.
”Khell, I’m sorry, it’s just…” She didn’t have time to finish her though before Khell embraced her, wrapping his arms around her. For a moment they said nothing, before they parted, and Jasmine pushed herself to her feet. Khell followed suit, getting to his feet.
”Are you hurt?” Khell asked, clearly concerned.
”I’m fine, just a little light headed. I didn’t get to the mage in time. I could have stopped all this.” Jasmine said, not pleased with the way these events had played out.
”No, you were the only one that was able to reach him. He would have brought this all down upon us anyway. You were the one to make sure he wasn’t left standing after it all. You could very well have just saved us all.”

”We’ve got survivors over here.” One of the Faith soldier’s called out, pulling both of their attention. Most of the soldier’s that were now standing had sustained some form of injury; a broken arm, a crushed wrist, or just cuts and bruises. There were others that had been crushed by large stones or burnt, and though they still lived, they would find their rest within the hour. Those that could be helped were given what little aide the soldier’s could; binding wounds with scraps of clothing, or showing their hopeless comrades mercy by giving them a quick death. It was a grisly task, but soon the cries of agony had stopped, though most men in that mine tunnel would hear them again in their dreams. Two Flurin soldiers had survived, and had already been disarmed, and put on their knees. A large veteran stood behind them, sword in hand. He spat on the back of their heads before raising his blade, ready to finish the task.
”Stop!” Khell called out to him, causing the burly veteran to pause.
”Keep them alive. We can still use them.” The veteran narrowed his eyes at the elf, but let his sword lower to his waist.
”Why should we? They haven’t the right to live. They’ve killed our comrades, and our brothers. They have had this coming since the day they set foot on our shores.” The veteran’s eyes burned with a hatred Khell could hardly describe.
”As far as I can tell, we are all trapped here. If we need to dig our way out, we could use the extra hands, and if there is some other way, we will need a guide to return us to the top. Once we get back we can put them on trial and let their fate be decided then.”
The veteran looked between the other soldiers, then back to Khell.
”We might be trapped as you say, and if that’s the case we won’t be digging our way out of here. Who knows how many ton of stone fills this passage. I say we kill these two now, and save them from breathing our air.”
”I do not plan to die in this mine. If you have resigned yourself to that fate, then so be it, but if the only way out of here is to dig, then you had better believe that I will use my last remaining breath dragging stones from that passage. First, we should free the prisoners and see where the rest of this path leads us. It may lead us out, or it may be a dead end. If we use these prisoners and their knowledge of these mines, maybe we can all see the sun set tonight.”
There was a short silence, as the soldiers thought about the argument. Then finally, the veteran sheathed his sword.
”Alright. I’d rather see my wife tonight than the inside of my tomb.” Reaching forward, the veteran grabbed one of the Flurin soldiers by the hair and pulled his head back.
”If either of you so much as breath in my direction, or take a step out of line, I will take great pleasure skinning you both alive. Do you understand me?”
Both Flurin soldiers nodded, and kept their eyes to the ground.
”Good, now somebody light a torch, and let’s get these prisoners out of their shackles.” Khell said, ready to find the way home.
Until lions have their historians,
tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.
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Postby Khellandros » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:16 pm

It took longer than Khell had initially expected for the prisoners to be freed. He hadn’t realized just how many men and women had been shackled in the room. A quick head count called up nearly thirty in all. There were even two small children that could not have been older than twelve. Their dirty faces making them nearly invisible in the very dim torchlight. The bodies of the dead were searched and stripped of valuables. There were more than a few slaves that had been soldiers, or at least had some experience with the weapons they took off the bodies. Khell spoke with several of the slaves, trying to get their bearings inside the mines. The damage of the collapse was extensive, and the original entrance had been destroyed, though one slave insisted that the tunnel continued farther down and attached to the network of tunnels. Once the shackles had been removed, the party was ready to move. Khell held one torch as he led the way down the existing tunnel. As it was the only way to go he had no trouble going first.

Fifty meters ahead the tunnel curved to the right, and forked out into three different directions. The torch light could only penetrate the oppressive darkness by so much, and each tunnel looked as exactly nondescript as the next. They had to stumble over rocks and other debris, more evidence of the destruction the mage had caused. Though these paths were open, not a man there had any doubt that the walls were unstable from the mage’s last action.
”Which way now?” One of the soldiers asked looking to Khell. The elf looked at those around him just as uncertainly. He realized then that they were looking to him for guidance, and that was something he was not comfortable with. The soldier waited expectantly for a reply, and Khell felt his mouth go dry. It was one of the slaves that spoke up first.
”These tunnels are difficult to navigate, and we could spend days down here unless we know which way to go.” The lack of certainty showed on the slave’s face, and it was mirrored in the Flurin prisoner’s eyes.
”We do not have days. We have until our torches burn out, and then we will stumble around in the dark until we starve ourselves. Does anyone know the way back to the surface?” Khell asked, looking at each man and woman. No one spoke up, and the elven hunter cursed under his breath. They had no sun or stars to navigate with, and Khell soon realized that time would be measured by the consumption of the limited torches they carried.
”Maybe we could send a scout down each path, and see where it leads?” Jasmine suggested, to which Khell quickly agreed. A soldier was sent down each path with a torch in hand, while the remaining group waited for some comment. The Flurin soldier’s that had been taken prisoner claimed to know little about the layout of the mines and could not say for certain which path would lead out. It took several minutes, but one of the scouts returned, reporting that the path came to a dead end some distance down. The torchlight of the other scouts soon faded out of sight around the twisting tunnels, and the rest waited impatiently. There was no speaking as they waited for some hint of where to go. Finally after what seemed like hours, but in reality was only mere minutes both scouts returned at nearly the same time. The first scout to return came from the left passage.
“The path forks again a ways down the path. I came back once I reached it. I didn’t want to get myself turned around down there.”
The second scout had come from the center path, and spoke after the first.
”It’s almost the same down that way. It goes down a ways and branches off. If we take the wrong turn we’re going to be in for a long hike.”
The group stood in silence for a moment. Could they leave their fates to chance? Khell certainly didn’t want to, but how could they know if one path would be any better than another. After a moments though Khell turned to the look at the scouts.
”Did the paths lead up or down?”
”Down.” They both answered at once. Then the one scout from the right paused.
”Well, the path leads down, but at the fork one path continues down, and the other stays level. I didn’t follow them any further than I could see, so I don’t know how long that goes for.”
”The path I followed was much the same. It continues down, but where it branches off I could see no difference between one direction and the next. They both continue deeper into the earth.” The second scout commented. Khell knew it was little to go on, but he knew they could not stay here.
”Then we follow the path that doesn’t lead down. The farther we walk down the smaller our chance of making it to the top. I know it is not much to go on, but it is a chance we will have to take.”
There were mumbles of concern and doubt, but no one openly opposed the plan. Khell knew he would be blamed should they fail to escape, and he was not pleased to be put in that situation. He could only act as he thought best, but he knew the odds were so far against them that they ranged into the nearly impossible. He kept his thoughts to himself as they started down the left path, ready to see where it would lead them.
Until lions have their historians,
tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:06 pm

Jasmine followed behind Khell closely, watching his steps and mimicking his movement down the twisty tunnels of the mine shaft. She was feeling light headed and her head began to throb from the cave-in incident earlier. Her hand went up to touch her open wound on her head that was covered by matted bloody strands of hair. It was no longer bleeding but it was covered in dirt and debris. She was a bit unsteady on her feet, but she refused to give up and collapse on the cave floor. She felt sore all over and could feel numerous bruises begin to form all over her arms and legs. She hadn’t had a chance to fully examine herself yet and see the extent of her injuries was, but she knew she had some fresh cuts and battle scars all over. She was determined to get out of these caves alive and be able to see the sun again. She was still slightly embarrassed that she attacked Khell when she regained consciousness. She didn’t even remember what happened after she killed the mage. Khell glanced behind and noticed Jasmine tending to her wounds and frowned,
”Are you okay to walk down these tunnels? Or do you need a hand to steady yourself?” he asked with genuine concern. Jasmine shook her head,
”No, I’m fine. I’m just a bit light headed now, maybe if I walk it off it might get better.” she said while nearly tripping over a boulder. He frowned but said nothing and continued on ahead. Jasmine agreed with the decision to follow the path that doesn’t lead down further into the mines because she remembered they were already quite deep in the mines already. They cannot afford to get lost down here; otherwise they would be as good as dead.

Khell took the lead with Jasmine closely behind and then the freed prisoners behind them with the veteran in the very back, watching the Flurin captives closely. Occasionally Jasmine heard a cry of pain from one of the Flurin soldiers and when Jasmine looked behind, the veteran looked straight ahead with no expression on his face. She wouldn’t be surprised if he would occasionally hit them along the way to get them to move faster, or for his own pleasure. They continued walking down further deeper into the mines until they reached that fork in the road that the scout reported. The left path went level, while the right went down a slow incline. Khell waved the torch to the left as the group navigated together slowly. Khell quickly made a stack of rocks and debris in a large pile off to the side of the tunnel they just went down.
”This is just a marker for myself to indicate that we went down this path already in case we need to back track.” he commented to Jasmine before walking again. Jasmine was thankful that the tunnels didn’t get any narrower along the way so far, but it was still dark and dusty. She listened carefully to see if she could hear any fighting or shouting of the rest of the army but it was silent.

They rounded a long corner and came to another fork in the road. This time both paths were level and appeared to go on for miles. Khell called for the scouts to come forward again.
”Go ahead and report if you notice anything unusual about either of the paths. See if there are any roots that may indicate that we are getting close to the top, or even if it appears it might be getting lighter. Don’t go too far so you don’t get lost.” he said with the scouts quickly running ahead down their own paths. Jasmine looked over at Khell’s troubled face and gave his shoulder a slight squeeze. He gave a slight smile and looked straight forward again, concentrating on the problem that they were facing. Minutes later, the scout from the left returned and shook his head,
”The path just keeps going on for miles with more corners.” he paused as the other scout came back.
” I couldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary about the path; it looks like the same one we just came from.” he said solemnly. Khell cursed, it was another guess to which path was the one that would lead them to freedom.
”When we first started, we came down the right path which led us to the mage. I would suggest going to the left still to see if it might connect with the other paths from earlier.” Jasmine suggested, thinking of the possibilities that they could do in their situation. Khell thought about it for a minute and nodded his head.
”Very well, we can go down this path for a while longer and see if we notice anything different. Everyone keep your eyes open for anything that might help us out. Does anybody remember how to get out of here yet? he turned to face the prisoners and captive Flurin soldiers. No one answered; everyone just had worried looks on their faces. Khell sighed and built the rock pile marker and began walking ahead again.

More time passed through the tunnels and they took a variety of turns that just seemed to never end. Jasmine’s headache was beginning to get worse and her vision was beginning to get a bit blurry. The children began to whimper for walking so long so Khell stopped the group at a clearing at a fork in the road to rest. He started pacing and looked to be deep in thought. Jasmine stood next to him and gave a comforting hug.
”Whatever happens, no one will blame you for this. At least you’re the only one that’s trying to get us out of here. No one knows the layout of these lines, not even these Flurin captives.” she said as Khell looked up and back at the veteran who began yelling at the Flurin again. Khell quickly walked back to the veteran to calm him down.
”Tell us which way to get out of here now dammit or I’ll kill you!” he screamed at one of the soldiers as the veteran punched one of them in the stomach. He kneeled over in pain, struggling to breathe. Khell got in between them and tried to get the veteran off to the side.
”Stop it, if they knew anything they would have told us by now. They don’t want to be down here any more than we do. We can’t use them as scapegoats for being lost.” he said sternly, watching the veterans face slowly soften.
”We just have to let fate us guide us through these tunnels.. Otherwise..” Khell stopped suddenly and became alert.
”What is it Khell?” she asked as he put a finger up to his mouth and listened carefully.
”Do you hear that?” he asked as he began to walk away from the group.
”Hear what?” she asked as she tried to hear anything but it was muffled.
”It sounds like shouting off to the right; it might be the rest of the army.” he took off quickly to the right, following his ears. Jasmine began pursuit and prayed that there was something down there, and that his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Khellandros » Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:25 pm

They ran nearly blind down the claustrophobic stone cut tunnel, with the torches flickering dangerously close to extinction. Once Khell had mentioned he heard sounds the others began to pick up on it as well. His elven hearing had caught the faint trails of the noise before his less receptive companions. Now that the others had come to hear something similar they were almost in a stampede in their haste to find the exit. As they ran Khell noticed the path began to slope down again, going deeper into the earth. Although it seemed they were going the wrong way, the sound of men and battle grew louder, spurring them on. The thrill of escape was cut short when the path they followed suddenly dropped away. Khell was in the lead and lost his balance on the loose stone as his footing unexpectantly slipped away under him. He was not the only one to be caught by surprise. One of the slaves had found the energy and speed to keep up with him. Both men fell, as the ground seemed to disappear beneath them. Khell scrambled frantically to grab a hold of something as he felt his stomach rise in his throat. His hands skidded across stone and he could feel his skin tearing on the rough edges. Until after several painful and terrifying seconds, his blood slick hand managed to keep hold of a stone and stop his decent. His initial fall and impact on the stone had winded him, and kept him from crying out. The slave that had fallen at his side was not nearly as lucky, and Khell heard his terrified scream as the man fell, until the moment the sickening thud echoed up to them followed by silence. The blood covering his hand had already made gripping the stone a difficult task, and he could feel it slipping away. Khell’s grip was weak at best, but he did not have to hold it for more than a moment. He strained his muscles willing them to grip tighter, unit he felt several rough hands grab a hold of his arms and shirt. With a unified heave, they dragged him back up the side of the cliff face he had found himself falling down. Khell’s torch had been lost, falling to the stone floor far below. It was burning next to the body of the slave that had fallen. He was breathing heavily from the surprise and exertion he had used.

“What the hell was that?” Khell said between breaths, looking down the rough side of the cliff inside the mountain. The others followed his stare. Where the path had fallen away it plummeted a respectable distance to a cavern floor. The cavern was open, and the stone ceiling was too tall for the light of their torches to reach.
”It looks like a natural deadfall. No man cut this hole out. It looks like the original miners that found this drop were not as lucky as you.” One of the Faith soldiers said, pointing out what could hardly be distinguished as a body lying partially buried under several large boulders. It was covered in black dust, and was difficult to see in the fading torchlight so far below.
”It looks like the ground may have collapsed right from under them; the unlucky bastards. At least you had the chance for us to pull you back up.”
Khell shuddered at the thought of falling to the unforgiving rocks below. He would never have expected his days to end like that, and he was eternally thankful he had been given another chance.
”Thank you. All of you.”
No sooner had Khell finished speaking that they heard the sound of fighting once more. The cries of pain from the wounded and the sound of steel hitting steel brought them from their troubled thoughts. The cavern they faced echoed the noises, making them sound as though a battle was being fought right before them.
”Where is it coming from?” Jasmine asked, moving to stand beside Khell. This cavern was clearly a dead end, and they had no other choice but to go back, but they looked around trying to discover the source.
”There!” One of the soldiers said pointing up above them. It wasn’t until it had been pointed out that Khell could see it. There was a faint trickle of light coming from above them, just at the edge of their own torch light. It was not the uneven waver of torchlight from farther up in the mines, but rather the stead stream of sunlight.
”Is it a passage way out, or just a small hole in the wall?” It looked like a possible passage, but it was impossible to tell without following it. There was light coming from somewhere up there, which suggested the path would lead out. It went without saying that it was a very dangerous path to follow. They would each have to scale the stone wall up to the ledge, and should they slip they would fall farther than where they now stood to land with the bodies of those that had fallen before. Looking over the small group Khell was not sure they could all make the difficult climb. He was not sure himself if he could do it. His hand had been badly cut, and it was difficult to close it. Tearing his sleeve from his shirt he bound his hand tightly, letting the cloth act as a second skin.
”It appears that we have a decision to make. We could turn back and scour the other paths in hope of finding one that could lead us out. We have enough torches to last us a day at the most. Or we can scale this wall and make for a tunnel that could possibly lead us to fresh air.”
Khell left his words hanging in the silence, letting the others consider the options and the potential consequences of each. If they tried to scale the wall, Khell was certain many would not be strong enough to make the climb, and those would perish in the attempt. On the other hand, if they turned their back on this possibility they could wander the mines lost until the last of the torches burnt out. Then they would have no way to navigate and would surely starve to death in the dark pit of this mountain.
Until lions have their historians,
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Postby Killean » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:55 am

Image

For what seemed like an eternity, the time has come that I may at last exact the revenge denied to me. I can just see it now, as I stand over his body with my sword held high. Good bye Vaalic, I would say, enjoy the hell you had wrought upon me. The thought of him going through the tortures I experienced is comforting. Why is it though that such a long waited moment, makes me sick to my stomach? Why when I think of taking something away that she loves, do I feel wrong? I know I had once experienced this feeling, but too long have I been removed from it. ShadowRune sighed when he got to this point. I never have a choice. I never have control.
Shadow’s contemplation of discontent was interrupted as he felt the presence of others around him. He sat up on the stone bench and looked at the two men who were there, sure that they were part of his task force. Obviously because none of the soldiers here were stupid enough to approach Shadow, regardless of whom they worked for.
“And you are?” Shadow said raising an eyebrow, looking between the two.
“Kalco,” The one on the right pointed to himself, then to his friend, “Jermane.”
“And what of the others?”
“They should be arriving soon,” Kalco was quick to add after.
Shadow lied back down folding his arms and gazed up into the night sky, his mind began to wander listlessly on what had to be done for the next few days. Shadow’s mind had been active for so long, his personal thoughts were getting tired and slow. When he moved towards thinking of rest, the screams of his curse immediately brought itself to attention, which demanded no rest could be had. Shadow’s throat echoed quietly a moan of sorrow from his blight. He couldn’t help it, he wanted some rest, he wanted some peace.
The remaining soldiers approached the designated area, but they did not want to announce their arrival. Apparently the mission leader was under a lot of stress; lying on a stone bench, a frown planted across his face, his one arm covering his eyes from all, his other arm hanging over the side motionless. Under a lot of stress, or said stress had already broken him, and that was someone they did not want telling them what to do.
“What’s wrong with him?” One of the newcomers asked Jermane. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head in reply. “Who knows, and frankly who cares,” Kalco in turn replied.
“Well, I hope he isn’t suicidal or anything. I want to come home after this.” Shadow shifted his body away from everyone and continued the position he was in. This of course worried the soldiers a little, as they may have just offended the man that their lives were entrusted to. Which as most if not all knew was an extremely bad move if they valued their lives. Shadow closed his eyes, as though that action would make the world pause in its place and grant him a moment’s reprieve. He tried to drive the unbearable noise to the back of his mind where it belonged. It was an increasing difficulty, but at last he managed to do it and sighed.

Fate, why have you cursed me so? What did I do to deserve this and such a long line of punishment? Why?



I’m cold. The world of light I knew begins to grow dark. I feel strange inside. Why is there so much blood? It is on my hands, surrounding my feet, creeping ever closer threatening to swallow me whole. I dedicate my re-life to him, and he betrays me, demanding my soul be destroyed. I can’t, no more, go on. I feel… wrong. I feel… cold… alone now…



Shadow’s eyes snapped open and looked troubled, his head was swimming and his eyes were bobbing about in a stupor. This feeling was very disconcerting. Unfamiliar memories were being thrust on to him. It was too much to handle, so he let himself slip off the side of the bench. Shadow began to make raspy noises in his throat as it slowly inflated like a frogs. When the pressure was too much, he opened his mouth to expel foul smelling foam that started to eat away to stone walkway. Afterwards he collapsed to the side unaware of his surroundings.
The mage took this moment to arrive as Shadow lay prone on the ground semi-relieved. He stood a few paces away covering his nose waiting for him to respond.
“Excuse me sire. I am Nett… Netton of Drek’lin.. ‘lin’sen. I-am-the-last-of-your-team,” The mage had to be quick as even breathing through the mouth he could smell the foul substance. He and all the soldiers nearby wanted to gag, and move away, but they were paralyzed there. Once the remaining foam had disappeared into the half inch pit it burnt away, the people around Shadow managed to back off. Shadow slowly picked himself up and drearily walked away from the pit, far enough that the smell was no longer nauseating.

“The force is moving soon, which means we must be brief in our stealthy travels. I trust all of you know what is involved in stealth movements, as you were chosen for this particular job. If you don’t, it is fairly simple. We move at night only. Since our size is small, two men will guide the others path on ground that is silent. If any of you fails to follow the path set by the man in front, you will not live long enough to repeat that mistake.” Shadow turned around and grabbed Jermane by the collar, “You’re the second, get moving.” He said dragging Jermane for a foot or so towards the exit.
Shadow sat up against the wall of the palace waiting for his entire team to disappear into the shadows of the city. For the first in a very long time, he blinked his eyes changing to the ultraviolet spectrum. He surveyed the closest city wall location for a second, and then casually walked towards it. As he got close he reflexively executed with ease rebounding off the wall onto the roof of a warehouse, and continued to the top of the wall. A good side, if anything was to be found, to being a cursed demon.
Shadow remained crouched on the edge of the wall for a moment, trying to spot the location he told everyone to meet by. A blink and a little wait later, his eyes were again attuned to the dark world. He almost instantly found the slightly darker blotch of black amongst the sea of similar shapes and shades. His target was the very tip of a corner of the woods not too far away from the city. When everyone got there, for the rest of the night, they would travel around the forest to the Censillia mines.



And so with fresh determination, I vowed to myself that I would protect he who would grant me such a rare gift. My mother thought that I should just be happy with this gift, that I had no debt to repay. How I wish I had listened to her then, but instead I just threw it back in her face.
“I want to fight for you, and for dad. I want to fight for our lord because he has given me so much, and asks for so little.”
Just thinking about it makes me ill. When I woke in the fields of light, I should have been glad that my dying wish was granted. I could continue to live on, to breathe the air, and see all that there was to see. Instead I had to question, and it led me to this point. I now felt obligated to fight for him… to die for him… My goal was to become one of his guardian angels.




Shadow collapsed to his hands and knee’s, only taking slight notice that he was no longer on the wall of Freeport, but rather at the waiting spot just inside the forest. He felt like throwing up again as his mind was being assaulted by memories not his own. Breathing deeply he swallowed the raw emotions those thoughts brought to surface, with the blinding hate his curse had given him an over abundance of. As a sign that it was beginning to work, he stood up and continued breathing deep swallowing the bile in his throat.

His meditation was finished after five minutes of controlling the anger and feeling of unease. Opening his eyes anew to the world Shadow instantly went into predator mode, scanning the surrounding area for anything. In moments like these, his senses were sharper than his blades. He could hear the soft movements of tiny creatures, even the gentle flapping of birds or bats alike. Every variation of life in the forest was being selectively tracked waiting for the telltale signs of human interruption. The sign came with what sounded like the jerky movements of clothing being tugged by bushes. Whoever it was, was a hundred or so meters away and closing. Shadow climbed up the closest tree and waited for a visual on his prey. One of his assigned soldiers finally made it to the area, and looked like he was actually making an effort to keep quiet and an eye open. Shadow thought this a perfect time to play a little game called ‘know your place’.
Waiting for his prey to move a little ahead of him, he jumped across a small gap which made a slight rustling sound. The soldier began to look around nervously, his paranoia getting the best of him. The soldier’s neck wrenched to every possible angle looking for the noise. When he made the mistake of turning around, Shadow threw a nut from the tree he was in at the soldiers head. He instinctively snapped around and started to search for what was there. Shadow finished the game with a dramatic effect of letting the moonlight dance across his face, precisely when the soldier was looking in his direction. The look of terror was delicious, and should generate a few stories amongst him and his fellows. Not that Shadow required any more. Slaughtering two dozen soldiers and prisoners alike, decorating the dungeon with their entrails, is enough of a story for most.
Was that man ever glad Shadow did not wish to speak with him. He was quite content to just lean up against a tree, keeping his gaze averted from the animal sitting in the tree. To him and his fellows’ satisfaction, they did not have to feel apprehensive for long. The bulk of the group showed up almost at once, a little more then curious why the demon was not here. Of course they were pointed in the direction of where Shadow was perched. Shadow was now lying on the branch he took residence in, eyes closed, trying to find meaning to the memories imposed on him.
Jermane walked up to the tree and cleared his throat loudly to gain Shadow’s attention. In response Shadow threw his feet out and landed uncomfortably close to Jermane’s front. The size difference between the two was laughable when seen up close. One was a bit below six feet, while the other was just over six.
“Take point, Second.” Shadow warned, looking up to meet Jermane’s gaze. He in turn stood his place and challenged Shadow’s gaze for a moment, then backed away. An odd show of brevity, but the message was received. He knew Jermane was not a stupid man, he could see it in his eyes. That moment there told Shadow that Jermane had to be one of Vental’s trusted, therefore he could trust him.
Shadow and Jermane each designated half of the men to follow them in single file the entire trip to the mines. They had to be quick, and above all quiet. At this moment the rebels probably have spies around and about looking for just such a group moving. Of course the major advantage was the small size. The rebels would be expecting a large group to be moving for the mines. Regardless of this, a group being sent at all would be enough to cause major distress, possibly even the cancellation of the attack.
The new target was the forest edge just in sight of the mines. This trip took the better part of the morning to complete, the sun just rose by the time they arrived. The mines, or rather the village with palisades, were still standing with nary a disturbance.
We are early, Shadow thought surveying the horizon, and listening intently for any movements in the forest.
“Why are we just standing here? Let’s head for the fort!” The man named Kalco exclaimed getting nervous and eager to move. Shadow grabbed his neck and began to crush his throat, slowly pulling him down to his knees.
“Shut up or I will rip your throat out,” He snarled in a soft tone, releasing Kalco’s throat after he spoke. He naturally started a coughing storm, which really annoyed Shadow because of the noise they were making.
“We need to move from here…” Shadow began speaking to himself. He looked over at the mage with unfocused calculating eyes. “Can your magic hide us from sight and sound?” Shadow was unsure about his request. He had never worked with mages or magic beyond the memories of himself with their power. However those memories are now little more then still frame shots, headaches, and the howling of his sins.
“It can be done… But I have only tried it once, and that was many years ago.” He spoke slowly, a sign that he too was unsure. Shadow’s ear twitched as he heard the sounds of someone nearby coming closer.
“We have no time. Work your magic, and quickly.” Shadow whispered hastily. Netton gathered everyone close to him and begun by closing his eyes. After a couple seconds Shadow felt a cold chill run up his spine, then down his body. Looking around Shadow saw that everyone received the same treatment, which ended with the caster. Not entirely sure if it had worked, Shadow placed his finger to his mouth giving everyone there the no talking signal.



The timing could not have been more perfect. Shadow noticed from behind the group a strange man walking slowly, looking carefully around, and trying to avoid making any fast movements and loud noises. The expression on the scouts face suggested that we truly were invisible to him. And so he continued to move forward, right towards the group. Shadow urged the group to move away from the scout at all times. When they moved, the scout would stop briefly and look in their direction, but then he would continue. The temptation to tease him was high when Shadow realized this, but he told himself to grow up and leave it be.
They quickly moved out of the forest trying to stay as close as they could to the caster without hampering movement. This slowed their speed some, but this was much more desirable then announcing their presence to friend or foe. They moved for a thick grouping of trees behind the fort, and chose a spot where they could see their previous location, and the gate to the fort. And once Shadow gave the signal, the mage dropped his spell. Shadow noticed a warm feeling circle around him and then disappeared.
“We stay here until the attack. Stay quiet and don’t move much. Once the initial attack has finished and the main bulk of the forces move into the mines, we move in. Netton, I want you to try and put them to sleep if you can. If not, then prevent them from entering the mines. As for the rest of us, knock them out, or kill them. We must do this quick so don’t think about which to do.” Shadow gave his speech, everyone nodded their heads agreeing. It was time to wait, and this is exactly what Shadow feared most. He was all alone with his thoughts for that time, and they were becoming more vivid and disturbing. But on the good side he no longer heard the screaming, he no longer felt the pain of his current existence. All he felt was sadness, betrayal and angst.

Nothing happened however. For the remainder of the day and night he was blissfully unassaulted by memory or howl. Glad with this break he continued to scan over the mines and the forest line, formulating his plan of attack.
Vaalic… How I want you to suffer… But I cannot even bring myself to do that… I will give you the pleasure of a quick death and, Shadow’s thoughts were interrupted by pain streaking throughout his head. It passed quickly, leaving him dumbfounded as to why it came at all. Forgetting that, he suddenly felt himself awash in a sea of sadness and loneliness. The more he thought of death, the more he would drift away succumbing to the waves. Shadow tried shaking his head when things got bad, but that didn’t work. He also tried his technique he used with the howls to no avail. He simply had to drift, deeper and deeper.
The sound of cracking wood woke ShadowRune up from his self-induced trance, and brought his attention to the field between the forest and the mines. Soldiers began to pour out from the woods along with siege machines. The battle commenced within seconds and explosions of sound began.
Magic, he thought shaking his head, Such an awesome force that has no purpose in our world except to destroy. Sad.
Shadow began to scan the crowds looking for his friends. Sure enough he saw Vaalic huddled with a group of soldiers, Dravven also with another group, and… a dark elf? Besides trying to think why a dark elf would be with the rebel forces, Shadow strained his eyes to try get a better look at this mans face. It seems familiar to him, something from a time too long ago. A hunter of sorts who tried to bring, ShadowRune the assassin of Twin Peaks, in for heresy. Shadow smirked thinking of the encounter, which was fun albeit annoying. However that was just shy a hundred years ago, and he had to have improved since then.
Once the main forces had managed to enter the camp, Shadow took this time to go over some things with his group.
“Queue up your hiding magic Netton. I’m sure all of you managed to discern who the generals of this small army are. The over armored individual is Dravven. He will most likely be left outside to guard the entrance once the main force enters. Someone will assist me in knocking him out. He is a tough old man and can turn into a dragon at will,” Shadow paused for dramatic effect of the revelation, “Once he and anyone with him has been taken care of, we will use him as bait to bring the second general out from hiding. His name is Vaalic. NO ONE will touch him, or those who exit the mines. They will not leave without him, and I will have the pleasure of killing him in front of them all,” Pausing again, Shadow looked into each of there eyes with hate, expressing he was quite serious on that matter.
“All of you will hide after the sentry is taken care of, and you will not reveal yourselves until I give the signal. As a precautionary matter, the next targets we want taken out are their mage and the dark elf. I know only what I have seen regarding their mage, and the dark elf I believe I have faced before. I cannot be bothered to remember his name, but he has some skill with an elven blade, and has the ability to use magic that affects the body… Questions?”
“What if you decide to kill them all or leave and don’t call us?” Shadow rolled his eyes and shook his head at Kalco’s question.
“If I don’t call you, then you stand your ground and don’t move. If I leave, then you just stand there like an idiot and starve to death.” He tried his best to make the latter sentence dripping with sarcasm. That being said no more questions were to be had, and the wait for silence began, which didn’t take as long as Shadow thought. Only ten or so minutes passed and the sounds of combat shifted to one area, then slowly muffled as it went deeper into earth.

Netton hopped into action with Shadow’s signal, and the familiar feeling crept down everyone’s spine. They moved quickly for the entrance of the mines. Fires were blazing everywhere, and some wooden structures were shattered. This was a haunting reminder of the night Shadow fought those mages to recover the ring on his hand. Exactly why Shadow thought magic had no good purpose in the world. Regardless as expected, Dravven and the cadre of men he was with stood just a little outside the mine entrance.
Looking around for other sentries, Shadow spotted a couple hiding behind debris near the towers looking out. Shadow had a couple of his team move away and for those sentries. The rest moved for the large group and positioned them around, ready to charge in. With the command given by Shadow, Netton dropped his spell hiding everyone, and cast his sleep spell. Half of Dravven’s men dropped right away, the others went down after Shadow moved in.
“ShadowRune!” Dravven managed to spit out before being clubbed several times and sent sprawling to the ground. Shadow moved just a little further inside giving everyone behind him the no talking signal again. He knew they would keep someone close to the entrance in case there was activity outside, and Shadow was listening for him and if they may have heard any commotion. Satisfied with the silence, Shadow moved back out and began to whisper orders. The bodies were to be dragged into random buildings except for Dravven. He was dragged by Shadow a little further from the mine entrance and left prone. Afterwards Shadow moved back to the entrance and removed the drag marks and his soldier’s footprints. With that, Shadow and his group hid.

Come out and play Vaalic. I’m here and waiting for you.
-神恵「争い」癒す
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Postby Ruakha » Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:31 am

With bloodshot eyes the General of the Flurin army stood silently watching the small open field in front of him. His eight hand picked bodyguards stood around him protectively, each appearing to scan the surrounding area suspiciously. The sound of wood striking wood and the heavy breathing of battle held the General’s attention. His soldier’s were training, their wooden swords and maces clashing heavily in both attack and defense. It had not been the common soldier’s he had come down to watch, but rather his second in command. The Lady Vental trained vigorously with members of her own personal guard. Although a woman nearly half the size of her protectors, Ruakha watched as she stood toe to toe in free sparring. He knew she would not tolerate leniency from her men, and the General watched with an interested eye as Vental wiped a small trickle of blood from a cut above her left eye; proof that their competition was not merely for show.

A sizable number of soldiers had stopped to watch the entertainment. The presence of their general made many soldier’s uncomfortable, and that pleased him. If they feared him he knew he could control them. Vental’s guard pressed forward again with another high swing, which was easily pushed aside. The soldier overstepped, and turned to face his commander, only to catch the pommel of her wooden sword across the cheek. The blow was a powerful one that seemed to bruise and swell almost immediately. The force of the strike made several men cringe, and although it would have knocked out most men, her guard simply stopped and laughed. Her sword point had been leveled at his throat before he had a chance to recover.
“Well played m’lady. I fear you have bested me in this round.”
”You overstepped. I trust you won’t make the same mistake next time.” She said with a smirk. Unlike Ruakha, Vental was close with her personal guard and preferred to keep them active. She believed it kept their skills and mind sharp. The General disagreed, knowing it tired the men and that would make them poor protectors.

With her exercise finished Vental turned to Ruakha, wiping the trickle of blood from her brow again. Her protectors moved in to flank her, much as Ruakha’s had done for him. The General knew all of her protectors except one. The newcomer was a giant of a man, with a long beard and powerfully built arms. The look in his eyes told the General he was clearly a man of war, as a man of his stature would excel in such a field. Still, Ruakha was uncomfortable knowing so little about him; especially with the threat of conspiracy speaking in the back of his mind.
”Greetings General. Would you care to join us?” Vental asked, her question going hardly noticed as Ruakha studied her new protector. After a brief moment he replied.
”It would appear your men are well spent already.” Ruakha answered, his eyes finally meeting her cold gaze. He had always had trouble reading the thoughts behind those impenetrable green orbs.
”You know how it is. The more we sweat in the training field the less we bleed in battle.” She answered with a raised eyebrow. When the General didn’t answer right away Vental threw her wooden sword to him. One of his guards stepped forward and caught the weapon in one gauntleted hand before it could reach the General. With a crowd already gathered Ruakha cursed silently to himself. He could not refuse now without losing face. He knew Vental loved to play these games, but he was in no mood for it. Forcing a smile, the General nodded. He knew etiquette required him to accept such a challenge.
”Perhaps it is a beautiful day to watch some sport.” Ruakha’s comment made the distinction that he would be doing none of the fighting. Something Vental did not seem to mind.
”I am glad we could agree. Hector, do you feel ready for another round with one of the General’s men?” Vental asked, turning to one of the men to her left. Hector stepped forward immediately.
”Of course m’lady.” Hector stepped onto the field, swinging his wooden mace offhandedly, as if testing the weight. It was the General who stopped him.
”Ah, I like your enthusiasm soldier, and I know you to be a worthy opponent, but forgive me for saying I would prefer to see the Lady’s newest addition in action. I have yet to make his acquaintance. ” Hector paused, and looked back to his charge. Vental smiled pleasantly, and looked over to the towering man that stood at her right. ”Irish?”
Ruakha noted the man’s name, and tried to recall anyone by that name. This man was an unknown, yet somehow he had infiltrated his second in command’s inner circle. He would be witness to things reserved for only the most loyal of soldiers, and that thought bothered the General.

The large man showed little emotion as he answered her question with a brief nod. Hector stepped back as Irish stepped forward. The towering warrior carried a large two handed wooden training sword. He stroked his beard as he looked over the General’s men. This man was taller than any of Ruakha’s protectors, but not by much. Turning to his largest guard the General motioned him forward.
”Dallan should make a worthy opponent.” The General said confidently. The two combatants stood facing one another, their weapons at the ready. Dallan carried a smaller sword and buckler. He still wore his chain mail armor all Ruakha’s men wore while they were on duty. He was not quite as large as Irish, but his chest was nearly as wide as an oak barrel, and his arms were those of a honed soldier.

With a nod to each of the warriors the contest began. Dallan acted first with a wide swing to Irish’s side. The large man simply stepped back from the blade’s reach letting it glide past. Before the blade could finish its swing Irish lunged. The dulled point of his sword was barely deflected by the small buckler as the other sword came back in play. The force of the hard block sent Dallan a step back. Irish pushed his advantage with a high slash. Dallan blocked the attack skillfully and stepped in, closing the gap between the two. At the closer range, Dallan’s shorter weapon became more effective than Irish’s larger more encumbering weapon. To neutralize the smaller weapon, Irish stepped in and brought the men chest to chest. Irish was a half a head taller than Dallan but that did not stop Dallan from using his forehead to head butt Irish in the jaw. The strike sent Irish’s head snapping back with a dull thud. Ruakha smiled then, pleased at the intensity his bodyguard had taken into the fight. Both Ruakha and Dallan knew this was much more than a friendly contest. Trying to take advantage of the distraction Dallan attempted to slash at Irish’s leg from their near grapple. Before he could finish the slash at Irish’s leg, the pommel of Irish’s weapon came around and struck Dallan across the jaw. Blood began running down the soldier’s lip. Ruakha frowned at the development. The blow had been much harder than was normally justified in a training environment. In turn Dallan used his buckler to strike Irish in the ribs, followed by another strike of his sword. Irish’s sword was held tight to his chest, making it difficult to wield, but he had enough room to guide Dallan’s weapon to the side.

With a grunt of exertion Irish shoved Dallan back, nearly sending the man falling on his back, though the soldier recovered quickly. Irish tried to act before his opponent could regain his footing. With another heavy overhead strike Irish forced Dallan to step back as he blocked. One swing came after another, each powerful hit was skillfully blocked, but sent his opponent another step back. The strain of the blows was beginning to show on Dallan’s face as his recovery from each block became more labored. Irish did not seem to tire, and his eyes had grown wide, and he held a large grin with each strike. Then, unexpectantly after Irish finished a wide sweep, he did not bring his blade back to the center, but seemed to offer Dallan his back. Sensing an opportunity Dallan lunged, his blade aimed at the center of Irish’s thick chest. To the surprise of all that watched, Irish stepped to the side as gracefully as a cat, as though that action had been his intention from the beginning. His movement brought him beside Dallan, who was startled by the sudden action. Dallan was still in the middle of what he thought would be his final blow when he realized he had fallen for the bait. In that same instant Irish turned, his blade swinging with the weight of his body behind him. The wooden edge caught Dallan across his ribs. The force of the blow sent the seasoned veteran to his knees before he had even finished his lunge. Dallan groaned in pain as he dropped his sword to grab his ribs. Irish raised his sword again, as though he intended to decapitate the fallen soldier; with his eyes wide and his teeth clenched.

Ruakha had not spoken, yet two of his guards stepped forward in an attempt to protect their kneeling comrade. Irish’s attention turned to the two newcomers instantly. His decapitating stroke turned away from Dallan and instead found on of the other guards. The soldier stumbled back as he blocked the blow, unaccustomed to such strength. Ruakha was about to call a stop to it all when he realized an even larger crowd had gathered. It was not proper for his soldiers to step in on such a contest, even if his man had lost. Still, one look from Vental told him to let them continue. It was a confusing gesture, as Ruakha knew two of his bodyguards would outmatch any on man without question. His men worked together to try and surround Irish. The bearded man’s movements seemed too unpredictable and random. He would strike at one man, the step and strike the other. The General knew it was impossible for the man to keep up such a pace for long. Still, Irish held both bodyguards at bay, driving them back whenever they dared to come closer.

Finally, in a unified attack both of Ruakha’s men attacked from either side. Irish was caught between the two. He stepped to the left to avoid a wide slash, but one wooden point grazed his side as he avoided the other. The General smiled, knowing the end was near. It had been a grazing blow and not sufficient to end the contest, but it was quickly drawing to a close. Dallan had since moved off the field to try and stand, though with considerable difficulty. His ribs may have been cracked.

The grazing blow did not seem to concern Vental’s man, as he seemed comfortable in such a situation. Ruakha’s men attacked again, but Irish had moved so that he now faced both men. When they attacked, Irish simply directed the first blade into the second, obscuring both strikes and causing them to pass harmlessly. Both of Ruakha’s men were shoulder to shoulder now, and Irish used his force and weight to shove them both back. The men turned the moment they regained their balance to find Irish’s weapon already descending down upon them. Without a second to think the soldier brought his weapon up to block out of reflex alone. The wood clashed together and echoed as the force of the strike vibrated both weapons. Irish recovered first and struck again, this time his target was the second bodyguard. As the weapons clashed together, Irish watched his opponent’s wooden blade shatter into splinters. His strike had destroyed the weapon and continued though to strike the man across the chest. The cry of pain, and the awkward angle his shoulder now sloped at suggested a broken collar bone

The sight of his injured bodyguard was infuriating, though Ruakha knew his men were striking harder than simple training would allow as well. This had turned into a full fledge battle. With only one man remaining, Irish turned on him. The man had been shaken by the wound his fellow had taken, but he was a hardened soldier and those thoughts passed in a moment. Stepping forward the guard went on the offensive. Swinging and lunging with tight controlled movements. He left few opening for Irish to exploit. Irish offered a few such openings, which the soldier denied, having seen that lesson in action earlier. Both men exchanged attacks, parries, shoves and punches. Within a few minutes both men were breathing heavily. Their weapons were both badly dented and on the verge of breaking from the force and stress being applied to them. It was at this time, when both men had parted to catch their breath that Vental stepped forward.
”That’s enough.” She commanded with a sense of amusement in her voice. The soldier’s eyes were locked, then at the command Irish stood up, letting his weapon lower to his side, a large grin still clear across his face. Ruakha’s bodyguard did likewise, his expression was more vengeful. After a moment’s pause to be sure the combat had ended, Irish turned to step back in with Vental and her other guards. The moment Irish’s back was turned Ruakha’s bodyguard lunged. Vental’s eyes gave away the action and Irish turned and struck out blindly. His weapon connected with the side of the soldier’s head with a sickening thud. The dull wooden sword point of Ruakha’s man still struck Irish in the stomach, knocking the wind from his lungs, even as the bodyguard fell unconscious to the ground.

The melee was over, and Ruakha watched as a number of the on looking soldiers exchanged coins they had wagered when the battle was being fought. The General now had three useless bodyguards; two that could not wield a sword due to their injuries and one that could not even stand without aid. The loss felt like a physical blow to the General. It was humiliating having three of his elite guard defeated by one unknown man. He must know where she had found such a man.
”Quite the training session. I must admit I was a little concerned when your two men stepped in.” Vental said, her hand running absently down Irish’s sweat damp arm.
”Yes, that was quite the display. Your man seemed to fair well enough.” Ruakha said, his voice strained by the words he was being forced to say.
”Oh, you misunderstand. I was concerned for your men. I wasn’t sure two would be enough.” She said innocently, clearly enjoying this little victory over him. Ruakha’s teeth clenched as he held back the words he wanted to say. There were too many around, and he could not afford to publicly tear down his second in command. She was far too capable and valuable to him. She had a unique flare about her that the General found frustrating, but he could not deny that she could get results. She had earned her position as his second. Ruakha took a deep breath before he spoke.
”Now that the entertainment has ended, let us speak on official matters. Would you care to retire inside?” The General said eager to be away from the prying judgmental eyes of his soldiers. Vental could hear the cloaked order in his words and knew better than to do anything by agree. Ruakha sent his three wounded guards to the medics, and had his remaining five stay by his side. Both small groups of bodyguards followed their leaders indoors. Once inside the privacy of the small dinning room Ruakha dismissed the bodyguards, asking them to wait outside. Vental echoed his command and the two were finally alone.
”I hope you’re happy with that spectacle you put on out there.” The General said dryly.
”You know as well as I do the men enjoy a good competition. It’s good for morale, and it keeps them entertained and out of the ale houses.”
Ruakha didn’t bother to comment, but rather got to the point of their meeting.
”I wanted to speak with you about some pressing matters.”
”Is this about the report I sent this morning?” Vental asked as she took a seat on one of the chairs. Ruakha remained standing, but look confused.
”What report?”
”I sent you a report this morning. The progress I made with one of the prisoners. He’s finally come to his senses and decided to talk with us.”
This had not been what the General had brought her here for, but he could remember no such report and his curiosity got the better of him.
”Excellent. What news did he tell you?”
”He knows who has been leading the Faith forces within the city. Apparently we are dealing with two separate forces. The Queen has been controlling the Faith soldiers outside our walls, keeping us from expanding our influence.”
”I already have several plans in action. Soon she will not be a concern.” The General said, remembering the mission he had sent the young assassin Senken on. Along with his demon and dragon he was sure they would flush her out.
”Good. She is too large a figurehead. We do not want to let them rally behind her more than they already have. The prisoner also revealed the man responsible for leading the raids on our forces within the city. It is her son, Prince Aramis. From what I understand he is just a boy, hardly a man, yet soldiers have been willing to fight and die at his word. He is becoming a well known figurehead himself. He should be our next priority. I would like to have him flayed alive publicly. We must make an example of them.”
Ruakha’s mouth grew dry. He knew this boy. The boy that had stolen his signet symbol… his power of office. He wanted to see that thief suffer, and flaying seemed like an excruciating way to end his life.
”I agree. I want him found, and a public execution would be a suitable end for him and those that are taken with him. Try to find out what else you can about him or where he might be hiding.”
There was a short pause before Ruakha came to the original reason he had brought her here.
”I have something else to discuss. It has come to my attention that there may be Flurin soldiers plotting against me. A soldier came to me with a conversation he overheard. I can not afford an internal struggle right now. We must remain focused on the enemies set against us instead of fighting amongst ourselves. I need this problem taken care of discreetly. I believe a high ranking member of our circle may be involved in provoking these talks of treason. It could be almost anyone, but I suspect Caamar. He has been acting strangely and disagrees with many of my views on how this army is being run. Can I trust you to look into the matter? Investigate anything suspicious, and do not be afraid to use persuasive force if answers are not forthcoming. I need this situation remedied immediately.”
Vental was shocked at the news, and came to her feet.
”Are you certain? I will definitely look into the matter. You can trust that if there is someone plotting against us I will find them. I will begin with Caamar and go from there. I will discover the truth if I have to beat it out of every dim witted soldier that salutes the flag. How would you have me deal with them?” Vental’s seeming outrage was exactly the reaction the General had been expecting. He knew she would get the results no one else could.
”When you discover the one responsible I want him on the rack until he gives you every soldier involved. Kill the leader, and thirty lashing to each soldier involved. The punishment will put them in their place without diminishing our numbers. I do not want the Faith population to learn of this. They will draw strength from it, and I want them to remain fearful.”
”I understand.”
The General dismissed her, giving her leave to begin her investigation. He would know who was plotting against him and they would pay. Of that he would be sure.
True power does not come from wielding a sword.
Rather it comes from influencing those that do.
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Postby Jasmine_Eclipse » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:53 pm

Jasmine looked around the cavern, judging the situation that they were in and their surroundings. There was no way to get around the cliff, Khell was right either they would go back the way they came or tried to climb through the hole at the top of the cavern. Jasmine looked down at her numerous battle wounds, cuts and bruises and knew she wasn’t in the greatest shape to climb up the wall, but she could still try her hardest. Her left arm was still tender but it had stopped bleeding. However, the slight trickle of light and the possibility of escaping was tempting enough to strongly consider the option of going up there.
”Maybe someone might be by the hole that can hear us from down here. They might be able to help pull us out of here.” Jasmine considered, thinking out loud. Khell shook his head with a grim look on his face. Jasmine walked forward and looked up towards the hole,
”Hey! Is anyone up there? We need help down here!” she shouted, hearing the echo of her voice throughout the cavern. She kept quiet and heard nothing in return.
”Can anyone hear me up there?” she screamed again, only to hear battle cries from above and the sound of steel clashing with one another.
”No one can hear you Jasmine, we are probably too far away from the group above. They are too occupied with fighting with each other rather than the sounds coming from the mines.” Khell said quietly with a frown on his face.

Jasmine paced around and looked at the side of the cavern. It was jagged stone with many chunks of rock to hang onto, but scaling it would prove to be a difficult part. She had climbed the side of some mountains before, but nothing as steep as this.
”Well, my opinion is that we try and scale the wall and attempt to escape this way. I don’t want to go back through the endless paths in the mountain that seemed to never end. We already lost your torch Khell and we only have a couple left and that won’t last us long. I’d rather die trying than by than getting lost and starving. However, we need something to hang on to while we are climbing up there.” she observed, trying to motivate people to climb up there too.
”Me and my kids are not even close to being strong enough to climb up there. It’s too dangerous. I’d rather walk the paths until we find the exit.” the mother with the two small children stepped forward, obviously worried and concerned. Other prisoners nodded their head in agreement looking towards them for guidance.
”We can’t split up though we need to stick together. I would never forgive myself if the children die in the mountains and there was nothing they can do. I have some rope with me.” Jasmine took the rope out and stood beside Khell.
”Can we tie this to the end of one of your arrows and shoot it up to the hole? It can guide us up there but we can’t hang onto it yet until it’s securely embedded in the wall.” she asked, trying to think of various ways to get up there.
”It doesn’t hurt to try, but I’m not sure how well it will work.” Khell shrugged as he took out an arrow. They tied the rope to the end of the arrow and he knocked the arrow and shot it off to the hole. The arrow whizzed up to the slight trickle of light, bouncing off the stone rock and falling into the hole below. Jasmine frowned,
”How about you shoot through the hole instead? It might hit into ground or a tree that we can tie around instead.” she suggested. Khell tied the rope around another arrow and shot it through the hole. It whizzed through without any problems and stayed up there but any pressure couldn’t be put onto the rope yet until it was securely tied to something.
”Who wants to try the climb first?” she asked, looking towards the Faith soldiers in particular. Everyone turned and looked away, there were no volunteers. She sighed and stepped forward.
”Fine, I will go but I am going to tie a rope around my torso. I need someone else to be tied to the other end in case I fall so they can catch me.” she took the end of the rope that came from the arrow just below her ribs around her abdomen. She looped it around the top of both her legs and around her torso again and tied it in a tight double knot. She looked around Khell stepped forward with a small smile on his face.
”I would do it myself if my hand hadn’t been badly cut. The least I can do is help.” he offered, extending out his hand and reaching the rope. They unravelled the rest of the rope and Khell tied the end around him and left the rest on the ground. Jasmine nodded and walked towards the wall.

Jasmine looked up and towards the right of where the stream of light was. It was a good forty feet up, she took in a deep breath and placed her hands on some rocks above her head and her feet on the rocks below. She pushed herself up with her legs and started to scale the wall slowly. She reached for the studier larger rocks that were easy to grip, hugging the wall closely. Jasmine looked down and saw she climbed five feet already, and saw Khell giving her more rope with a bit of tension. She wasn’t afraid of heights, but she was just nervous of the pit below. She continued up the wall and went over more to the right. Over a quarter of the way up, Jasmine reached for a rock above with her right hand. The rock crumbled and gave out on her, scratching up her arm while she was sliding down the wall slowly. Her heart skipped a beat as she began to panic. She managed to cling onto a smaller rock and she pushed herself against the wall, resting for a moment.
”Are you okay?” Khell shouted from below. Jasmine didn’t turn to look down as she managed to catch her breath.
”I’m okay, just a little scraped up.” she shook her head and continued up.

Over three quarters of the way up, the ceiling started to arc towards her so she was hanging slightly upside down. She stopped briefly and brought her right leg up to her. She reached down and grabbed a small knife out of her boot. She stabbed the knife into the wall, wedging it between two stones. It was difficult because the wall was so hard, but she wanted more leverage while she was going up. She looked up and saw the ledge ahead with the arrow next to it. She took the knife out of the wall and put the blade between her teeth and began climbing again. Her arms began to ache and her forearms seized up, not wanting to cooperate. She began using her legs more, pushing her body first and giving her arms a bit of a break. More rocks started to crumble under her as she went up, but she managed to keep her balance and hop onto a more secure rock. She reached the ledge and reached up, pulling herself up. The hole was the size of a small window, enough to fit a medium sized person through. She climbed up onto the ledge and went on her knees to the hole. The blast of fresh air brushed against her face and she took a deep breath in. The sun shined in her face and she poked her head out of the hole. They were far away from the entrance of the caves, away from any buildings. She pulled herself through the hole followed to where the arrow went outside and it was stuck into a large oak tree. Jasmine tied the rope around the tree once and secured it with a double knot. The fighting was taking place at the front of the entrance. Jasmine peered back inside,
”We can fit through this hole, and we are far away from the entrance of the caves. We can escape this way. Who’s next?” she asked, looking down below, watching what Khell and the group down below wants to do.
There is little in this life that could be said about all things.
A way to view life: in the height of victory, or in the depths of defeat.
"This too shall pass"
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Postby Vaalic » Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:03 pm

With the prisoners freed Vaalic knew there was no stopping their sprint for freedom. Still, he wanted to keep them all together. He let them go, knowing that Dravven awaited them at the entrance, and he would be able to keep them together. If the slaves were left on their own, Vaalic knew their fear and sudden taste of freedom might send them scattering through the forest. There were several of the freed slaves that remained with Vaalic’s group. Four men remained, their bodies looking weak, beaten and malnourished. Still, they did not follow the rest of the freed slaves.
”Let us come with you. I can help you find your way through these mines and I can fight. These Flurin soldiers deserve everything they have coming, and I want to be the one that makes them pay for what they did.” The slave said even as he picked up a mace from a fallen soldier. Vaalic nodded, accepting their help if they would give it.
”Then let us go. There is still more blood to be shed, and friends to be freed. Collect the weapons from the fallen; we should not leave them to go to waste.”

The men quickly did what was asked of them, and then continued on. Vaalic’s group moved farther down the crudely cut paths within the mine with the slaves directing their way. They came to the next holding pen after several minutes of exploration. It seemed the slaves were not mistaken when they said the Flurin separated the slaves into smaller groups. What they found there made a few of the soldiers turn away. The slave pen was covered in blood and gore. Nearly thirty slaves had been slaughtered like cattle within their cage. The lock was still fastened, and with a quick look at the wounds, Vaalic knew the Flurin soldiers had used spears. The prisoners didn’t have a chance. Several men were shaken, and the other slaves that had joined them swore oaths of vengeance. Vaalic had little to say about this. He had expected more from his enemies. He had them running scared, and he wanted to catch up to them quickly. Vaalic was more than willing to fulfill those oaths of vengeance the others in his group had spoken.
”There will be time to grieve later. We must catch these butchers before they reach the next group. Let’s move.” Vaalic said with a calm voice; his mission was clear. He was not heartless, but rather he knew there was nothing more that could be done for those here. His group moved out at a fast jog. The slaves had trouble keeping up, but they did not speak a word of complaint as they raced through the tunnels. They made good time as they wound their way through the mining pits. The sounds of screaming both of pain and of terror echoed through the stone walls as they neared the next group.

Vaalic’s men burst into sight in an instant. The Flurin soldiers seemed to have rallied to this point, intending to make a stand here. Vaalic realized almost too late that they had rushed into a central vein of the mine. The large room they stood in had three separate slave pens, each holding more than any of the ones they saw before. Each pen held at least fifty to sixty slaves. Some had already been speared through the bars. Vaalic stopped his men as soon as they reached the torchlight. Four other corridors lead into this master room, and the Flurin soldiers rallied here to make their last stand. In an instant Vaalic could see his men were out numbered at least three to one. The Flurin soldiers held spears, swords and maces. Three men in the back had loaded crossbows aimed in their direction. For a terrifying instant neither group moved. The odds were strongly for the Flurin, with their superior numbers and crossbowmen. Vaalic knew that if his men decided to retreat they would be able to go back around the corner the way they came. If they did that Vaalic knew the Flurin would not pursue. The narrow corner would bottleneck the Flurin, stripping them of their advantage of numbers. They would want to lure Vaalic and his men to fight in the open where they could hold their advantage. At a glance to those beside him he knew the thought of retreat had crossed all their minds. If they chose to fall back it was certain that the slaves being held there would be slaughtered.

”Throw down your weapons and step forward.” One of the Flurin said. Vaalic noticed the commander’s insignia on his uniform. Vaalic’s men eyed the enemy anxiously. The Flurin soldiers were confident with their superior force.
”I have come for the prisoners. That is all. Release them to me and we will leave you with your lives.” Vaalic said with such confidence it sounded as though he held the advantage. One of the slaves that had joined his group was about to speak, but was quickly silence by a withering look from one of the Faith soldiers. The Flurin commander laughed, the sound was nervously mimicked by his men.
”You are in no place to be making demands. Come out now or another slave will die. Their blood will be on your hands then.” The commander said with a sneer. He raised his hand, and one of the spear wielding Flurin readied his spear at the cage, ready to find a target. Vaalic exchanged a quick glace with his men. There were no signals, just a strong penetrating look. It was a look that asked if they were with him. The unflinching eyes of the soldiers told him they were.
”Enough blood has been shed today. What do you have to gain by killing the weak and unarmed? We control the mines, and you are without a means of escape.” Vaalic said, watching the movement of the other Flurin soldiers as they slowly crept forward around the side walls. They were attempting to flank him, but were still too far away.
”You may control the mines, but I control this chamber.” The commander said as he let his arm drop. In the same moment the spearman plunged his weapon through the bars, striking a cowering woman that could not keep away. She cried out and fell.

Vaalic and his men surged into the room at that signal with a battle cry. The crossbowmen fired and with so many men coming through the small opening into the room the bolts could not miss. One of the slaves found a bolt buried in his stomach and another in his left shoulder. The man fell, even with the last of the soldiers stepping over him in an attempt to clear the narrow opening. The third bolt had been aimed at Vaalic, but his unexpected movement into the room made the shot more difficult. The bolt struck the stone wall, narrowly missing Vaalic’s hip. In the next moment, each of his men engaged the enemy. The Flurin made a wall, with men working to flank the smaller group while they were engaged.

Vaalic first engaged a spearman, using his razor sharp edge to cut the spearhead from the shaft. Before the soldier could think of what to do with the useless weapon Vaalic had already stepped in and with a quick lunge pierced the man’s armor and struck a lung. The soldier fell to the ground, gasping and drowning in blood. Vaalic left the man to his fate as he turned to the next. The Flurin had met the charge well, and Vaalic found his men held back, with soldiers beginning to flank them. One of the wounded Faith soldiers used one hand to hold a spear that had struck his side as he swung at the man on the other end. They were quickly being overwhelmed. Wounds became more evident as the Faith soldiers drew themselves into a circle, keeping their backs to one other. As one man would fall the circle would tighten in on itself. Two more slaves that had joined them fell early on. The crossbowmen waited anxiously around the outside, unable to shoot into the melee without the risk of striking their companions. Vaalic stood shoulder to shoulder with his men, his blade slashing out and lunging at those foolish enough to come close enough. Another soldier fell to his quick slash, the man’s hand had been severed and the counter slash had opened the side of his neck. A swordsman rushed Vaalic then, his arms raised for a powerful overhead blow. Before the weapon could begin its deadly decent, Vaalic’s point punctured the soft tissue of the man’s armpit. Vaalic knew the arteries there would be enough to finish the man, and with the wound his enemy could not complete his attack. In moments the man had fallen to the ground to finish bleeding out.

A small circle of Flurin bodies skirted the Faith circle, making the footing more treacherous for those that came after. It was a more difficult fight than the Flurin commander had been expecting, but as another Faith warrior fell it was clear the smaller group would not be able to hold out forever. Vaalic could see their inevitable fate as well.
”To the closest cage.” Vaalic shouted above the clash of combat. The soldiers began to move as one, each step was complete with a slash, parry or lunge. But they reached the cage with another of their member’s fallen to his numerous wounds. One of the soldiers stepped out and used his axe to strike at the chains. Vaalic ordered his men to protect the working soldier.

The slaves inside begged for freedom, even as each swing weakened the chain. More Flurin soldiers moved in and Vaalic stood to face them. He was at the head of the circle now, and he found himself fending off several blades. He didn’t have the room to move that he needed and felt a winding blow as a mace struck his side. The attack had left the man open, and Vaalic’s blade quickly found an opening to disembowel the soldier. It did not take long for Vaalic to recover. He would be bruised, but nothing had been broken. With another swing of the axe the chain broke and the prisoners were free. With a howl of anger, mixed with pain and revenge the slaves surged forward almost as one being. Those capable swarmed the soldiers or picked up the weapons from the dead. Soon Vaalic’s ranks swelled to more than what he had originally came with as they began to carve a path towards the next cage.

Crossbow bolts were fired again and more slaves fell. Seeing the threat, several unarmed slaves rushed the crossbowmen as the men hurried to reload. Those without weapons followed those that carried them, and with each Flurin death a Faith warrior would take up arms. Vaalic cut through two more soldiers before they had finished freeing the second cage. With the second cage of prisoners freed Vaalic’s force outnumbered the Flurin, even if they were unarmed. The tides had turned, and the Flurin commander had lost his confident arrogance. He shouted at his men to fight harder, but he himself had yet to take up arms. It was the armed slaves now that moved to free the last cage of prisoners, leaving Vaalic and his remaining soldiers to push against the Flurin force. Each soldier was covered in blood from the close combat, and it was difficult to tell which of it was their own and what belonged to their enemies. They all sported wounds from their cut and torn armor as the battle surged forward. Not a man was without some injury in the conflict, but their spirits rose as they saw the Flurin fall back. It was now the Flurin who drew themselves into a protective circle. The crossbowmen had been taken down by the unarmed slaves as they tried to reload.

”Move!”
The shout came from one of the slaves that had taken a crossbow. With haste the slaves and Faith soldiers made a path, giving a straight shot to the slave that had taken the range weapon. Even in their circle the Flurin soldiers could not defend against those short and deadly bolts. The Faith force had swelled in size, with the mob pressing in on the last of the Flurin soldiers. Seeing the impossibility of their situation several of the soldiers threw down their arms and surrendered. Vaalic and his battle worn soldiers stood back and let the events play out. Vaalic had since pulled back his soldiers and let the slaves finish what he had started. Those Flurin soldiers that had thrown down their weapons and begged for mercy had been slaughtered quickly, and soon the remaining force was overtaken. The Flurin commander had been disarmed and pulled down by the arms of the slaves. His arms were held by two slaves each, as the commander was forced to his knees.
”Please! Spare me! I surrender! My lord will pay a worthy ransom for me. It could help to fund your cause. Please!” The commander begged, tears coming to his eyes and he realized their intentions. His words fell on deaf ears as the slaves were consumed by hatred and revenge. Gold and silver did not motivate the slaves more than their thirst for blood and revenge. One of the slaves stepped forward and raised his sword. The commander screamed out one last plea before the blade came down, separating his head from his shoulders.

A cheer went up from the freed slaves, and Vaalic watched with grim satisfaction as the commander was unceremoniously dropped to the ground. The cost to them was high, but they were free. Several dozen slaves littered the ground around them, mixed with the Flurin dead and a few fallen Faith soldiers. There were not enough arms to equip every slave willing to fight, but they still rejoiced in their victory.

The bodies were stripped of weapons and valuables. Even the Flurin armor was taken and worn by the slaves, with the symbols and insignia cut off. Vaalic checked on each soldier with him, binding what wounds he could. They would all survive. Those that had been mortally wounded had already fallen. Even at the cost of those soldiers that had fallen, their attack on the mine had been a success. Once the slaves learned of Vaalic’s position in the Faith army nearly every man and woman capable and willing to fight swore their loyalty to him and his cause. He did not question their desire for revenge. He would have those too young or weak to join the army sent to the ruined capital of Faith. He knew Serah was working to rebuild the city, and the extra hands would serve her better than they would the army.

The mines had been cleared and the soldiers and slaves began to make their way back to the surface. Along the way the soldiers retrieved the bodies of their fallen comrades. They said they would give them an honorable burial. The slaves bent to help in the task without a word. Vaalic did not stop them, and allowed them to do what they must. He intended to collapse the mine entrance. It would be too easy for the General to just acquire more slaves to re-open it otherwise. He doubted the mines would ever be re-opened then. Instead it would be known as the Censillia tomb, a testament to Faith sacrifice and struggle over their oppressors. The mines were theirs, but they had come at a cost.

Vaalic had traveled in the middle of the group, surrounded by soldier and slave alike. He could hear his name being whispered amongst those behind and ahead of him, but he did not listen hard enough to learn what they were saying. His attention was drawn forward when a warning shout came to him. There was an unconscious man collapsed in the mine tunnel’s entrance. Word passed back that it was one of the Faith Commanders. Vaalic moved forward to get a look, and immediately recognized his friend Dravven. Running forward, Vaalic turned his old friend onto his back. His eyes were closed and the back of his head was bleeding, but he still drew breath.
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Killean » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:39 pm

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Post One of Five,
Created by Killean and Vaalic

The first of the Faith soldiers began to surface, they were instantly on guard once they saw Dravven lying on the ground unconscious. Vaalic after a moment or two showed up and kneeled beside the large armored man. Shadow grabbed a rock from the ground and stepped out from his hiding spot. With a quick flick of his wrist the stone purposefully skipped off Vaalic’s shoulder armor.
“Hello Vaalic,” Shadow began to purr, “I have returned, as I vowed to you I would.”
Alarmed and infuriated Vaalic snapped around his sword raised in defense.
“ShadowRune.” He sneered. With a brief nod to another commander, he confirmed to them that an ambush was near. The crowd was in a quiet uproar.
“I have been expecting you.” Vaalic started to move adjusting his placement, preparing for a tough battle ahead. Shadow returned a weak smile, moving only to face Vaalic.
“Indeed, as I you. How are things? Still fighting for your bitch queen?”
“As long as I am faced with people like you, I will be fighting.” His face suddenly took on the features of uncertainty, “I don’t understand how it is possible for you to be standing before me. I killed you myself. I watched you die.”

Shadow’s smile widens, a deadly glimmer shines in his eyes. Such an amusing topic that.
“Ah yes. Every moment that I breathe now, I feel your steel through my flesh. One of but a million other deaths I faced after that moment. I would suggest you think not of how or why I have returned, but on the cold chill that surrounds you.”
It was true, everyone there could feel it. Though they were surrounded by fires of multiple size and intensities, the moment Shadow turned his attention to them the temperature felt like it dropped.
“You will feel more than the memory of my blade Rune. I will end this here today, and send you back to the pit of hell where you belong.” Vaalic’s words struck a harsh chord with Shadow. The howls of his curse were now shouting, reminding him of where he belonged. But with every ounce of his being he tried to deny it. His figure grew dark, his eyes widen, and he started to clench his fist so hard that his nails dug into his flesh drawing blood.
“Be prepared to face what you wish upon me, Vaalic. Your hate will see you to the endless void of pain, suffering, and death.” His voice reflected his appearance well. Within the sadness a learned individual could find a hint of concern with his last message. His swords slowly dissolve from off his back into his waiting hands.

Seeing the swords, three soldiers began a charge to disarm him.
“No! Stop!” Vaalic shouted to the men. Shadow easily turned one blade aside, and then effortlessly ran his blade up the soldiers calf splitting his leg open. Before he could fall, or even scream from the grotesque wound, Shadow was already up to the next. The two locked blades for a second before Shadow pushed the soldier back, causing him to lose balance. Shadow started a spin that began by cleaving the soldiers forearm off, and then as his other arm came around Shadow lowered himself just enough to thrust his blade through his neck. The last man stopped in his charge and quickly scampered back to the rest of the group. Shadow, to these soldiers, looked every part of the creature he now was with a blood soaked face and clothing. Vaalic’s words had taken hold of the rest now, as they witnessed the quick and brutal executions of their friends.
-神恵「争い」癒す
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Written by Vaalic and Shadow

Postby Vaalic » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:52 am

Double post from an internet glitch.
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Written by Vaalic and Shadow

Postby Vaalic » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:53 am

Written by Vaalic and Shadow

Vaalic’s weapon was drawn and his soldiers stepped aside as he walked forward. They made a small path to let him pass, and soon he came to stand at the head of the column. He stood across from Shadow then, with only twenty feet between them. The soldier’s on both sides eyed one another nervously. Vaalic’s group had already fought hard today, and he knew they would need rest. Shadow’s men were still fresh, but fewer in numbers. Both Shadow and Vaalic studied one another for a moment, as though they would memorize every line and detail of their enemy.
"Your quarrel is with me ShadowRune, and no one else. Let these men go home to their families, and we can settle our business here." Vaalic said with his grip tightening. Shadow’s mere existence made it difficult for Vaalic to think. The questions on how or why he could still live was something Vaalic thought about for a moment. Then his thoughts turned back to the task at hand. It did not matter how Shadow had managed to return; only that he would finally be killed here today.

"That choice is up to them."
Shadow said as he moved into a low crouch. Vaalic readied himself, prepared for the ambush to commence. His eyes scanned the faces of the enemy soldiers and the surrounding area looking for some sign of further treachery. Shadow’s expression had changed from the hateful scowl to a deceptively calm demeanor.
"By the way Vaalic. Angel wants me to tell you that you are forever in her thoughts and prayers." Shadow’s eyes lowered to the ground for a moment. He whispered then, something that Vaalic could not quite catch.
"How such a kind spirit could ever take pity on a demon like me, is forever beyond any of us."
For an instant Vaalic could have sworn his enemy looked sad, though he knew it to be a trick. He did not hear the faint whisper that followed, though some Flurin soldiers around Shadow exchanged glances. Shadow’s words were like a physical blow, causing Vaalic to clench his teeth. His most hated enemy had found his wife. His beautiful Angel. That thought was painful and for all he knew she could be dead already. He would never be able to take Shadow at his word.

With pain heavy on his heart Vaalic moved in, about to charge forward when he suddenly stopped. Vaalic found himself in the middle of the no man’s land between the two forces with Shadow standing no more than ten feet away. He realized then that this was Shadow’s ambush. There were no archers hidden behind rocks, or mages concealed behind trees. Shadow intended to use the love Vaalic felt for his wife against him, and it had nearly succeeded. Vaalic let himself take a breath, his hands shaking in anger. Vaalic could feel his adrenaline spiking, and he knew he was ready to do this. When Vaalic spoke, his words held a venom he seldom let show.
"If you've harmed her in any way, I swear to you, the hell you've been through will seem like nothing "
Vaalic meant every word, wishing he could give ShadowRune a slow and painful death. He knew better however. This was not the first time they had faced one another across sword blades, and Vaalic knew ShadowRune to be a skilled and lethal swordsman. He could not afford to let their fight drag on, even if it would bring greater satisfaction. One false step or an over compensation on a block could prove fatal.

"She has suffered too much already. I will see to it that no one ever hurts her in mind, spirit or body so long as I breathe." The demon’s words seemed sincere, though Vaalic would not hear them. ShadowRune had been the one to cause her suffering. Vaalic agreed that she had suffered a great deal already, but he knew neither of them could do anything about that now. His death, at least, would be in reprisal for the wrongs he committed. It would never be enough to make things right, but it was a step forward.

"You are a plague Shadow. Pain and suffering follows you wherever you go. You have caused her enough pain already."
Vaalic’s words had hardly been uttered when Shadow launched himself forward, clearing that last ten feet with amazing speed. Vaalic had nearly been caught off guard, but was still ready to face the coming attack. Shadow’s sword slashed out, narrowly missing the flesh of Vaalic’s throat before his blade managed to deflect it. Vaalic stepped to the side and brought his blade down in a quick slash. Before the strike could be finished, Shadow stepped in close, catching Vaalic’s forearm. In that instant their arms entwined together and Shadow pulled Vaalic close, both warriors were now holding useless weapons at such close range. Vaalic stood face to face with his nemesis; he could feel the heat of his breath and the smell of blood that consumed them both. Shadow’s features had lost that unusually calm demeanor, and returned to an angry scowl.
"What I have done pales in comparison to what I have seen her go through. The man she loved turning his back on her and all she loves. Doing that to her makes you a worse man than I."
Vaalic knew that Shadow was trying to get in his head and form a distraction. Something that would lead to an error he could exploit. Still, his words did break through the wall Vaalic had constructed around his core. He noticed how Shadow used 'loved' instead of loves, and it was something that troubled him. Vaalic let out a growl of his own, pushing his doubting thoughts aside to focus on the situation at hand. He knew his life depended on his ability to remain focused.

With a swift action, Vaalic’s head thrusts forward with a head butt, sending Shadow stumbling back a step. With their arms now disengaged, Vaalic readied most lethal weapon. Without a word Vaalic swung, trying to catch his enemy off guard. Shadow was only disorientated for a moment, and easily parried the swing before stepping out of the way of a lunge. Vaalic did not let his anger control him, but rather he tried to harness it and use its strength to guide his arm. With another series of slashes he watched as Shadow parried each one. Vaalic stepped aside, expecting Shadow to counter, only to have them separate for a moment.
"I will never be anything like you. You are the destroyer of lives, and you have left your mark on her. For that, you deserve to die."
Vaalic says as he steps in and to the right, trying to force Shadow back toward the mine wall. He knew his enemy was skilled, fast and intelligent but by pinning Shadow’s back to the mine wall Vaalic hoped to take away at least some of his mobility. They move almost in unison, remaining just out of reach. Shadow moved as expected, hardly noticing he was slowly being forced into a corner.

All eyes were on the duel, and both Faith and Flurin soldiers alike had remained stationary to watch the outcome. They were still guarded, but the fast paced, deadly combat before them was something they needed to witness. The two combatants had maneuvered away from the soldiers, and there was a large radius around them that no one would enter. Shadow grew somber and listless as he whispers loud enough for only the two of them to hear.
"No Vaalic, for that we both deserve a worse fate than death. Proof of that stands before your eyes, broken."
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Killean » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:53 am

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Post 3 of 5 - Written by Killean and Vaalic

The combatant’s swords locked as Shadow was thrown against the rock wall hard. After a brief moment of gritted teeth trying to fight off Vaalic’s weight, Shadow braced himself with his foot and pushed every ounce of strength into throwing Vaalic off. This move was more than Shadow expected, and Vaalic flew a good fifteen feet away. Quickly he scrambled to his feet grabbing his sword before he stood. Shadow didn’t advance on Vaalic; he instead began to think of a way to demoralize him. When he thought of how, Shadow’s lips gave a subtle smile. He raised his swords high into the air, and then with a quick thrust the blades were several feet away in either direction dug deep into the ground.
With that done, Shadow held his arms out in a way that taunted his nemesis.
“Do it Vaalic. Strike me as you had before. Get the revenge you crave so much, yet again. Send me back to the…” And before Shadow could even finish, Vaalic snarled and charged, “Fine!” Vaalic’s worn sword, with a little effort, plunged deep into Shadow’s chest making a sickening crunching noise. Shadow flinched as the sword pierced him, and he started to quiver a little. Breathing heavy trying to fight the pain, Shadow slowly moved his hands to grab the sword. He held the steel so tight, he was cutting himself. Then with much satisfaction, Shadow pulled the sword out slowly so Vaalic could watch no blood spill out. All Vaalic saw was the wound that should have killed, quickly heal.
Shadow watched with morbid curiosity the horrid look on Vaalic’s face. This was exactly what he wanted, and maybe, Vaalic would just give up.
“Yes Vaalic, watch. See my flesh become whole and know that your death comes soon.” He whispered, flinching again when the blade was finally ejected from his body. Vaalic’s head snapped to look at Shadow, a hint of fear painted on his face. He pulled back as fast as he could, ripping more flesh from Shadow’s hands and watched them heal almost instantaneously.
“You have damned you soul Shadow. And though you may walk this land now, your reward shall be an eternity of torment. You are now, and will forever be, alone and forsaken.” Vaalic said calmly, readying his sword again. Any effort spent now almost seems futile, but Vaalic had nowhere left to go. It seemed almost certain he would die here today.
Walking forward casually, Shadow held his arms out. As he had shown before, the swords disintegrated from their place in the ground and into his waiting hands. There were no more dark moods for him now. Vaalic struck another nerve and now, he was right pissed off. A different fire began to reflect in his eyes, and the howling of his curse leapt out of his mind. Everyone in proximity really thought they were in some form of hell, so much so that the heat around them seemed to double. Vaalic backed off a bit trying to get some distance between the two.
“I have no illusions of absolution Vaalic, even as I stood there speaking of protection. My life is resigned to the torments of hell, but damned if I will ever return without the guiding star that is her happiness, and business long overdue to be resolved!” Shadow snarled with his teeth clenched tight.
“Take whatever solace my message from Angel you can. For it is a kindness and nobility you lack, that I share with you now before you die.”

Shadow found a nice spot to dig in his foot and flew at Vaalic, who was more than prepared for his attack. Shadow crossed his arms in flight and arcs both blades out in front of Vaalic, who managed to get his blade in the middle to stop Shadow’s swords from getting to him. Shadow continued his fast paced attacks, striking furiously with both arms at different heights. Vaalic was left trying to guess where and how to back up and dodge as the attacks relentlessly came one after another. Both armies watched in silent awe at the spectacle put on before them. With every passing moment both knew that Vaalic was tiring, and Shadow’s swords were getting closer. The two began to circle as Vaalic was dodging more then blocking. And then it came, Vaalic stopped one blade and the other sped for his throat. Doing the only thing he could, Vaalic found his footing and slammed into Shadow hard.
Stumbling backwards he didn’t even notice the smart maneuver Vaalic had done. When he pushed Shadow back, he took the spare moment to attack and cleaved a gash in Shadow’s arm that went to the bone. For his rebuttal, Shadow snapped his sword against Vaalic’s gloved hand, and then attempted to chop into his collar bone. He just missed a direct blow, and his shoulder armor managed to limit the damage that could have been done. Shadow and Vaalic both parted to blades length. Vaalic rubbed his shoulder to get a better idea of the damage done, while Shadow averted his gaze of Vaalic and watched the wound on his arm heal.
You are getting careless and chaotic. Focus. Shadow thought then charged in again, ignoring his own advice. He continued his barrage of sword strikes, leaving Vaalic to continue his random calculated movements and swinging his sword to the point where it was nearly invisible. Shadow stupidly continued his brash assaults without the fear of his own death. Vaalic managed to score superficial strikes against the assassin, but they healed quickly and Shadow was ever pressing forward. He finally got right into Vaalic’s defensive bubble and locked his blade. Vaalic attempted to push Shadow back as he had before, but he learned his lesson this time. Shadow braced himself for the push, then using his foot hold to a slight advantage brought his opposite knee into Vaalic’s stomach several times. After the second blow Vaalic tried to push himself away, but Shadow now grasped his sword arm and firmly had it pinned to his side.
Uncomfortably close to Vaalic, their blades mere inches away from their faces, Shadow stared into Vaalic’s eyes and moved his face even closer.
“Your time is coming soon Vaalic,” He started to whisper, “your life shall soon be forfeit. It is time for you to pay for the pain and death you have caused.” Before Vaalic could even manage to think of a response, Shadow quickly changed his holds positioning and pulled hard in an attempt to trip. With his foot hole, and Vaalic beginning to weaken, Shadow was able to perform his maneuver to near perfection. Vaalic was thrown into the air and then slammed hard into the ground, quickly pinned by Shadow via a knee to his throat. Shadow pressed hard against his voice box making it difficult for Vaalic to panic and breathe at the same time.
Shadow laughed as he watched Vaalic writhe under him. Every time he tried to squirm out of Shadow’s hold, Shadow gritted his teeth pressing down even more on his throat. Shadow in his deadly pleasure missed what it was Vaalic was doing behind him. From out of one of his boot sheaths, Vaalic grabbed a small knife he kept with him for such emergencies and stabbed it into the side of Shadow’s knee. The pressure on Vaalic’s throat was let up as he twisted the blade inside Shadow’s flesh, delighting in the sickening crunches heard from within. Pulling the blade out using the serrated edge to rip more flesh as he did, Vaalic pushed himself back gasping for fresh air. When he was free from the screaming man, he stood up and continued to retreat a little.
Grasping his knee in pain, Shadow looked up to Vaalic slowly, growling, his eye and head twitching ever so slightly. Vaalic readied himself for another attack from Shadow, armed with only the small knife. Shadow saw Vaalic look for his sword on the ground near him, and both saw it next to Shadow’s feet. Shouting as he did it, Shadow flicked Vaalic’s sword far into the crowd of onlookers with his foot. And then the elf stood, still growling, still twitching, and his knuckles white as he tightened his grip on his swords.
-神恵「争い」癒す
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Postby Vaalic » Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:45 pm

Written by Vaalic and Shadow


Vaalic watched as his blade was flicked into the pressing crowd of the two forces. It had been his best chance of survival, and he knew that with it gone he would be hard pressed to find a way out of this. Shadow still held his demonic blades, and Vaalic knew that he would never be able to disarm him. Shadow was too skilled a swordsman to allow an unarmed defender to take his weapons. Still, with nowhere to run, Vaalic readied his knife. He knew it was little good against the dual blades of the demon, but he intended to meet his end knowing full well that he had done everything possible. He refused to give Shadow the satisfaction of seeing him cower or run.

Shadow began to walk towards Vaalic throwing his swords carelessly to the side. Soldiers, both Faith and Flurin alike, tried to make way as the blades came dangerously close before embedding their point in the soft earth. Shadow’s tactics were a mystery, but Vaalic knew it was not compassion that compelled the demon to disarm himself. Shadow continued to step forward confidently, as Vaalic readied for the close quarter fight. As soon as his enemy was within range, Vaalic lunged forward, swinging the knife in a tight arc trying to slash at Shadow’s throat. To Vaalic’s surprise, Shadow did not make a move to ward off the attack. Instead he accepted the strike, and let the knife blade plunge into his flesh just below the jaw. Before Vaalic had time to twist and remove the blade, Shadow grabbed hold of his arm and pulled ripping the knife free, and stepping to the side with a slight turn to force Vaalic’s arm into a lock. With a considerable amount of force, Shadow focused the pressure on his enemy’s joint, causing Vaalic to drop to a knee with a brief and surprised cry of pain. Vaalic tried to keep hold of the knife, but was ultimately unable to. The knife fell at their feet and Shadow kicked it away quickly before releasing Vaalic and stepping back. Vaalic moved instantly to put a few feet between them. Shadow had not followed through with his attack, which told Vaalic that this fight could be drawn out. They were both interested in inflicting a great deal of pain on their nemesis, and that would not be ruined by ending things quickly.

Shadow continued to advance on him at his previous speed. Vaalic was ready for him when they met, beginning with some jabs to keep the distance and following with a cross or hook if Shadow came close enough. Each swing Shadow moved his head out of the way, or tried to deflect the force of the strike. It was after one such block that Vaalic stepped in and followed through with an uppercut. Shadow blocked and countered with a quick shot to the liver. The force of the blow was enough to wind Vaalic temporarily, and he grabbed Shadow quickly bringing his knees heavily into his stomach. The sudden grapple prevented Shadow from continuing with his attacks, and instead forced him to focus on the knees. On the third knee strike Shadow waited for Vaalic’s leg to lift from the ground before he spun them both, turning Vaalic to the side and following through with a crisp elbow to the kidney.

Released from the grapple, Vaalic turned back to face his enemy only to have Shadow move in the same direction. Vaalic could see him from his peripheral vision, and spun around to face him. Vaalic hardly had time to secure his footing before Shadow was upon him, charging forward tackling them both to the ground. Vaalic fell on his back heavily, with Shadow’s weight hitting his chest. Both men struggled on the ground for a brief moment before Shadow straddled him. With his hands free, Shadow began to rain down punches. Vaalic’s hands were up warding off the blows, reaching out trying to grab one of the arms as it descended down upon him. After a few attempts he managed to grab Shadow’s left arm, and in one motion he pulled him in and arched his back, lifting Shadow up before turning and rolling. The momentum on the action sent the pair rolling, with each man struggling to get the better position. At the first opportunity they found, both men released the other and scrambled back to their feet. A light trickle of blood had begun to flow from a small cut on Vaalic’s cheek. The men were only waiting until they felt the solid ground under their boots before charging again. As they clashed together Vaalic’s fist stuck Shadow full in the throat. In an ordinary man it would have broken his windpipe but Shadow was merely forced to stop and gasp. Although Shadow’s body would not allow him to sustain a wound, it was clear that he could still feel the pain of every strike.

His advantage lasted only a moment before the demon recovered. Vaalic managed to stop a hook directed at his jaw, but was not prepared for the shot to the ribs that soon followed. Vaalic doubled over in pain for a moment, leaving his head open to an elbow from Shadow. In the next instant Vaalic struck out, his fist striking the demon in the jaw with a powerful blow that caused Shadow to stumble back a step. Shadow’s rage gave him a speed Vaalic could not match, and he soon found himself overwhelmed by the strikes. Vaalic acted more defensively, striking when he had seen an opportunity and not wanting to waste his strength on false chances. The fast pace exchange lasted several minutes, with each man landing several powerful and clearly painful blows. To those that watched it appeared as though the two combatants would beat each other into a bloody pulp before they would relent. Vaalic’s wounds however did not recover, and he soon began to look the worse for this encounter.

Shadow sprang forward with a roundhouse kick to the ribs, and the instant pain Vaalic felt suggested they may have been cracked or broken. Vaalic returned Shadow’s strike in turn, aiming for vital areas in hopes of finding some weakness in his enemy. Vaalic used an instep kick to break the knee, though his advantage at that only lasted until Shadow could reset the bone to heal.

Every passing moment Vaalic could feel the weight of their fight pressing down on him. His breathing was labored, and he could taste the blood in his mouth. Shadow seemed unaffected by the length or brutality of their conflict and eagerly moved in to inflict more pain. Vaalic’s right eye had already swollen shut, and blood ran freely from several cuts on his cheek and forehead as well as his nose and mouth. Along with his ribs he was almost certain his left shoulder had been dislocated. Still, without a chance to catch his breath, they were forced together. Vaalic’s guard began to drop somewhat as fatigue took hold of him. Endlessly, he repeated to himself ‘You will never give up, never surrender. You will survive.’ It was those thoughts that echoed in his mind as his fatigue threatened to collapse him.

Vaalic could not see clearly, as blood ran from a gash across his forehead into his last good eye. His knuckles were skinned and swollen, and he was beginning to have trouble keeping a fist. Half blinded and seeing red, Vaalic tried to keep Shadow back long enough for him to catch his breath. A side kick from Shadow landed painfully, striking Vaalic in the stomach. He fell to the ground then, unable to breathe or hardly see. Shadow stopped then, looking at Vaalic bowed down before him.
“If only that bitch queen could see you now.”
Shadow’s voice was cold and calm. Vaalic hardly heard the words as his world seemed to be spinning around him. No sooner had Shadow finished speaking, than Vaalic struggled with a great effort to rise back to his feet. His shoulders were slumped, and he hardly had the strength left to raise his hands. Still, he stood hardly balanced in front of ShadowRune. The loss of blood and numerous wounds threatened to buckle his knees and send him sprawling to the ground, but he managed to hold firm in his resolve.
“Your victory is hollow ShadowRune. You are a slave, not a master and that will never change.” Vaalic said before coughing and spitting up blood. ShadowRune looked down on his opponent, and with a sneer he spat at Vaalic’s feet. Shadow remained silent and motionless in thought, staring beyond Vaalic for a moment. His victory was assured and Vaalic felt almost too weak to draw another breath. His ribs were certainly broken, and the weight of them made his lung’s ache.

ShadowRune stepped forward to finish his task, when Vaalic lashed out with the last of his strength. With a powerful blow Vaalic punched Shadow in the stomach, and as Shadow doubled over from the force of the unexpected blow Vaalic grabed his head and thrust his knee into Shadows face. A sickening crunch and a spray of blood was evidence enough that the nose was broken. Shadow stumbled back a step grabbing his nose. With a quick slide step Vaalic moved beside Shadow and grabbed firmly and deeply into Shadow’s eye sockets. The feel of his fingers pushing through the soft tissue of Shadow’s eyes gave the swordsman a small level of satisfaction. Shadow shrieked as his eyes were shredded within their sockets. He stumbled back, continuing to shriek horribly. Vaalic was weak from fatigue and lost his grip as Shadow stumbled away. The damage was done, and if the old teaching of demon lore had been correct, he knew that destroying the eyes of a demon would release his soul from the body.

“You god damned bastard! I’ll kill you! I’ll rip your heart out with my bare hands and feed it to everyone you love!”
As Shadow continues to spit insults, his growls seem to get louder and louder as his anger and hate increase exponentially. He began to curse in his dark elven, with his hands covering the grotesque gaping holes where his eyes had once been.
“I thought that would work.”
Vaalic whispers under his breath, stunned. It was clear that something had gone wrong, but Vaalic no longer had the strength or the will to continue. His last effort had failed. Shadows growls didn’t end, but he stopped stumbling. After a moment Shadow opened his eyelids with difficulty, clearing the blood from his new eyes that seemed to grow in seconds. He looked around with his new eyes until he spotted Vaalic. His growling stopped for a brief moment. His head began to wrench as it seems this battle had now taken a toll on his nerves.
“Enough! I am finished playing these games with you Vaalic. You are going to die NOW!”
Shadow’s words come through gritted teeth. He starts to growl again and gathers his strength and energy. The sight of the enraged demon causes every soldier watching both Faith and Flurin alike to step back. Now everyone, not just Vaalic, can hear the cries and wails that haunt the demon. Vaalic could see the futility of his situation, but there was little he could do.
When a Greater evil unites, the good must come together;
else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a useless struggle.
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Postby Killean » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:55 pm

Double post, sorry.
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