OOC NOTE - Has violence. This is me test-running aesthetics on the forums and writing the start of my character! :) I'm new to the server, so any kind of lore that I got wrong or anything- contact me on discord and I'll fix it asap! ══- ‹ •◦ THEMATIC ◦• › -══ In the distant northern frontiers of the Empire, there did Riftan Dragic begin. Born in Krainivaya- the city of Kyizamok, Riftan’s early life was defined by his family’s warrior lineage. House Dragic, forged in the Skagger Wars and through that earned; Riftan had a mantle of the sword that he must live up to. Cousin to Aleksandra, he was of lesser distinct notability within the family. The mantle would fall to the head of Household, and the next. Thus, he had to make a name for himself. Thus, at an early age, Riftan was sent to the Castle Blücherwald- and from there, to the distant border forts of the Empire. For Riftan, it seemed like the edge of the world. How interesting did he come to rise through the Bloodcast’s ranks under the support of his tutoring Knight- from Squire to a Knight himself. If only Riftan knew then what would happen. 2 months ago. The time was night; In a small, isolated village- for the best few days, they have been harassed and harassed by bandits. Innocents put to the torch for simply wanting to survive, hiding food. It was on Riftan’s small band of Bloodcast Knights to see them brought to justice- and, rather than a court and jail, the only justice they would find is steel. To prepare, Riftan and his fellow Knights were always quiet before the battle. Before it was time. A calm before the storm, they say. But for Riftan and Elizabeth, their time was far different. Elizabeth; an Ailor Knight of blackened hair and beautiful brown eyes. Being from the same city as Riftan, it came as no surprise that they became lovers. It was pure, and it was wholesome. But Riftan knew their job at hand- no matter what feelings they had, they were Knights; who must abide by a code, and so, nothing progressed. Elizabeth knew well what would come of it if they did, and so, before battle, they simply spent time together. “The villagers said there could be thirty of them,” Elizabeth said, “We’ve faced worse,” Riftan said, “Together- twelve knights are worth five bandits,” Elizabeth said, And that was all that mattered. But their conversation was halted by their designated leader of this Knightly Party- “Lord Riftan, Elizabeth- pick up, we’re initiating the attack.” The storm started to sprinkle. The Knights, all adorned in blacksteel plate; with flowing red cloaks, approached the Bandit’s stronghold. It was a dilapidated fort, abandoned by the Empire’s Military long ago. Riftan has served in the Military before, and every time, the Forts were all the same. A few veterans were within their group of Knights too- twelve strong. This was easy, they could handle it. But something was wrong- only Riftan noticed, the Guards weren’t stationed at their towers. But the torches were still lit, and the smell of food and its many tents were still around. Something was wrong, Riftan felt it. But they had to keep going; for the village-folk, for the Code. The Knights started their assault by silently moving across the stretch of open land, utilizing the tall grass and rocks to conceal them until the very last moment. There was a front gate and a back gate. They took the back-gate, which was smaller; but, least protected. Riftan had a Thunder Lance with him, so he was always last. He was the breacher- all the Knights pushed in and he pushed in last. Little did Riftan know- this would save his life. The Knights prepared at the back-gate, and still no sight of the Bandits. But they were there, somewhere. Riftan, raising the Thunder-Lance, -BOOM!-; firing it straight at the back gate, blowing it off its hinges, and sending shrapnel spraying to everything and anything behind. Then, in the dust, the Knights pushed in- “HERE THEY COME! FIRE! FIRE!” The Bandits knew they were coming. Suddenly, a hail of crossbow bolts burst out from makeshift fortifications the Bandits made in preparation. Someone sold the Bloodcast Knights, and so Riftan, out. The first few Knights absorbed most of the volley, falling down as now corpses littered in projectiles that smashed through their plate; with the ones that were deflected shattering, sending sparks in all directions. The ones that were able to get through were able to punch through their barricades- but were surrounded on all sides, isolated and pulled away from the other Knights. Thus, the once courageous and gallant Bloodcast Knights were cut down as if they were dogs. But, as Elizabeth said- one knight for every five bandits. Twelve Knights turned to Seven within minutes. Riftan came in last, and he was to bear witness to the carnage that came out of nowhere. Quickly, he pointed his Thunderlance to the furthest most right barricade- firing off a shot, sending it into explosive rubble that caused several to stumble back. Out of shots, Riftan stowed it away; withdrawing a greatsword. He loved the greatsword- a terrifying weapon against bandits, and the like who were rarely armored. He made quick work of them; who were still recovering from the Thunderlance. Yet, the battle raged in- the bandits were numerous, and already the Knights were taking casualties. Seven Knights turned to four. The Bandits kept on fighting, knowing that it was a live-or-die situation. One of the Bandits withdrew a Donderbus, and fired it point-blank at one of the Knights- the scattered small rounded bullets piercing the Knight’s plate, causing yet another Bloodcast Knight to fall. The other Knight that was next to the now fallen one was able to thrust his sword straight into the Bandit’s chest- only for the Bandit to let off one final shot, causing the other to fall as well. Only five or so bandits remained, some wounded and some not; but only two Knights were left out of their original twelve. There was no staredown; springing into action, Riftan picked up a fallen Bandit’s sword and threw it straight at one of the Bandits- while, his fellow Knight charged them; wielding a halberd. He cut down one, and then another- only for a crossbow bolt to pierce straight into the Knight’s visor. Three to one now, Riftan threw down his greatsword and unhooked his mace. Wielding his thunderlance in the other hand, Riftan charged at the final three. One of them holding a Crossbow, Riftan fired off a shot with his thunderlance- causing the Bandit to fall with a gaping bullet hole. The two others charged- Riftan letting one get a hit it, the Bandit’s sword colliding straight with his gorget, piercing it only slightly. The sword dug into Riftan’s neck, but not enough to cause lethal damage, but a scar. Riftan, using this opportunity, used his final shot to kill the Bandit that struck his neck- and, slam his mace into the leg of the other; breaking it. One Bandit, One Knight. Riftan quickly got atop of the Bandit, and raised his mace into the sky. “WHO TOLD YOU WE WERE COMING?” Riftan shouted out, “TELL ME, AND I WON’T BASH YOUR SKULL IN!” The Bandit raised both his hands, “I-it was the villagers! We said we’d pay them well, and they t-told us you were coming!” Riftan stared. The very villagers they were wanting to help sold them out. Thus, Riftan buried his mace into the bandit’s face. Riftan looked around after that, covered in blood. He looked for Elizabeth. He found her- her form covered in crossbow bolts; she was one of the first in, and she was one of the first to die. Riftan stared at that sight, having not even been able to say goodbye. And so, Riftan buried all of the Knights he once called his friends. His lover. He made sure to hide their gear, so that no looters would take it. Then, Riftan returned back to the village- the village that sold them out, and killed them all. Justice to the Bandits, Justice to the Villagers, Justice for his fellow Knights of Bloodcast. Leaving behind only a burning village, and the bloodsoaked banner of Bloodcast- Riftan rode for Regalia. Not only to see his family once more, not only because his time in the Regalian Military and as a hedgeknight throughout the distant Empire’s lands was at an end, but to get away. To escape. Little did he know- this story was just the beginning for him.
