Fantasy The Art of War

[Icerex]

(Let's get the story moving people.)


Legio IX, Helcar


Unbeknownst to the small group of travelers, the camp gate in front of them was just moments from being opened, a squad of soldiers gathered behind it, swords at the ready. They moved in silence as they took their positions, all under the watchful eyes of the stern centurion at the head of the group. Once the legionnaires were in place, the centurion signaled for two men to draw back the great wooden beams barring the doors letting them swing open. The squad of twenty burst out from the now opened gate, taking positions and quickly surrounding the small party in a ring of steel.


The commanding centurion stepped forward and addressed the group. "State your names and intentions, and do so peacefully, otherwise I shall order you cut down."

 

[ARSENIC]

Dez shrugged lightly as Elondra seemed to regard his idea with a shocked abhorrence. "Just a theory. Not like there's much to go on." He responded, still eyeing the gate as his plan for surmounting it formed.


It was at that moment that the gates flew open, eliciting a thin, hidden smirk from the barbarian. The irony of their timing was incredibly amusing.


Dez raised an eyebrow at the sheer number of men that poured out of the gate to "greet" them, swarming around them threateningly.


"That's one hell of an intereviewing committe you've got, commander." Dez quipped towards the man who spoke - obviously the leader. "I assure you, ser, if I wanted to take a fortress down with the numbers so obviously against my favor I would use anything but the front gate."


The massive barbarian slipped out the flier bearing the notice that brought him here, bearing it openly for the commander to see. "I am Dez Kurast, of the Tears of Helcarian." he said. It was not uncommon for people to assume the dense, swampy jungles and wide, shattering rivers of the Tears were uninhabited, so it gave him a further aura of mystery. "I rode here under the preconception that you were hiring. I do not know the names of those beside me, as our acquaintance is still fresh, but I know enough to know their intentions parallel my own."

 

[Shadow]

Elora watched the gates open and quickly reached for her short sword, more out of habit than anything. She dropped the short sword back in its sheath and opened her hands in a gesture of peace. She stayed quiet while one of the guys did the talking. "I agree with everything he said. And I am Elora of the Romanov clan." She said, stepping sideways so she could see the leader. She glanced over at her horse, who had not been included in the ring of soldiers. It was grazing peacefully, completely ignoring the humans. She turned back to the leader and waited patiently for him to decide what to do with them.

 

[Soviet Panda]

Svenhad ietly kelt up with the group, but hadn't actually joined it. Guess that didn't matter to the soldiers, for just like the rest he was surrounded. That didn't help his mood in the slightest. But, he resisted. "I am Sven." he shouted, his Magë accent heavy. "I'll fight for you." he continued, subconciously adjusting his shield, claymore, and axe.

 

[TheStoicist]

Hain wouldn't lie to himself, the sudden appearance of the men surrounding them had frazzled him a bit. He blamed it partially on his hunger and partially on his pure lack of awareness. Which he had speculated before-hand, probably wasn't all that great.


Thankfully though, Hain found himself the least conspicuous of the group so attentions were turned away from him whilst the circling men were preoccupied by the intimidating barbarian and the previously kind girl, so he had time to regain his composure before he said, refusing to allow for his voice to break in anyway, he gazed hardened, though there was still some of the softness of an average farmer there,


"I am Mathghamhain Drest of the Free Cities, I as well 'ave come to fight." Hain pulled the worn ad from his belt and though he did not offer it to the soldiers, it was clearly visible to anyone in the circle.

 

[Three Clubs]

Andrack nearly dropped the firewood he had gathered, completely taken off guard by the sudden appearance and the hostility of the camps defenders. He quickly regained composure whilst the others were announcing themselves and joined in the introductions


"Andrack of House Thelmar, engineer and mercenary for hire." He kept his voice clear as he could as he hid the fear that wracked him.

 

[MysticPisces]

North of the Rivan border, Helcar:





Rika~


The wind tugged at the cloaks draped over the shoulders of the travelers crossing the border into Helcar making the long line look like the retiring of banners in the night. Rika mused that it looked to be considerably easier to cross into Helcarian territory than into the Duchy. Perhaps the many years that had passed since Rivan liberation had no effect on the Duchy's trust with its neighboring empire. It seemed a shame that the two countries regulated their borders so much. With a sigh, Rika dismissed the thought and urged her horse into a trot, her cloak streaming behind her in the wind. The sun had long since retreated past the horizon, but Rika's journey was just beginning. With little more than a letter left behind for her family, she had embarked on a journey to find her place in the world, for surely she would never find what inspired her by keeping her nose in books and out of the real world.


Rika's heart fluttered as she basked in the warm night air, drinking in the smells around her. It smelled like adventure. It smelled like freedom. As she crested the top of a hill, she looked out across the great expanse of rolling plains that spread out before her. There, off in the distance, she spotted the flickering lights of a city going to sleep for the night. With no real destination for her journey, she left the comfort of the road and directed her mount down the hill and towards the city on the distant edge of the sea of grass. For a while, she pressed her horse faster and faster, losing herself in the exhilaration of it all. For once in her life, Rika had no plans or expectations thrust upon her.


And, oh, was it wonderful.

 

[Icerex]

Legio IX, Helcar


The centurion was silent for a moment, staring at the newly introduced party. Then she threw back her head and laughed. "Fish! We've caught ourselves a batch of fresh fish men!" The announcement was met with a few low chuckles from the legionaries, most not willing to face the wrath of their commander for speaking out of rank. "Well, you say you're here to join up eh? I'm more than happy to oblige, seeing as we can never have too many meat-shields," the centurion continued, an evil smile on her face. "Well, bring 'em in boys."


The squad of legionaries formed up on either side of the group, indicating that they should proceed through the gate, followed closely by the strict centurion.


@Three Clubs


@TheStoicist


@Beowulf


@Shadow


@ARSENIC

 

[Soviet Panda]

Sven went through, not happy with what was said, but not able to do anything. So forward he went, into the camp. There was much grumbling from him, and he often needlessly adjusted his weapons. This, along with his facial expression, showed that he was not happy. But, he kept a civil tongue and didn't do anything beyond giving almost everyone a nasty glare. This included the other of his kind, the one riding the giant boar. How she had gotten one of those he would have liked to know.