- Joined
- Jun 29, 2012
- Messages
- 4,439
- Reaction score
- 34,443
- Points
- 663
- Age
- 33
Disclaimer: This is a world event post, probably the longest and most detailed I have ever written with Shayin as spelling check as I went along. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, in it's 4675 word counting length. I tried to do right by everyone who signed up. THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY IN EFFECT 24 HOURS AFTER IT'S BEEN POSTED. DO NOT REACT IN-GAME UNTIL THEN
_______________________________________________________________
The plan of the Emperor had been set in motion. The troops were assembled, and the ships sailed north to the shoreline of Torse, where the fields of Curag lay before them. The various columns set up camp and the preparations to draw the enemy nearby had begun. Arch Chancellor Ulric Typhonus oversaw the rows of mage prisoners being led out onto the fields in the middle of a valley, chained to the ground. They waited for several days until the mists appeared on the horizon. Up until this point, the Emperor had been correct about the predictions; the enemy was drawn to large groups of mages. Ulric gave the signal and the trumpeteers signalled the other lines to fall into position. The central columns took up rows of infantry with archers behind them. On the right, the horses trotted into wedge formations behind a hill to crash into the enemy when the signal was given. On the left, soldiers with pikes lined up into a tight, porcupine-like formation and sat down on the sidelines, awaiting the command to prevent any flanking.
Ulric stood atop the highest hill, next to the command tent. Next to him stood Marek Dredros and Kristoph Amsel, two Typhonus household guards, and Cedric Kade the Princely escort. Ulric held his hand on his sword, his mind was heavy with the opportunities and threats of this battlefield. A victory would secure his Chancellorship more strongly than his close election had. On the other hand, he did not even trust half the nobility charged with leading various parts of the armies. Furthermore, the assassination attempt on his life in the previous battle was still fresh on his mind. This thoughtful trance was broken only by Kristoph patting the horse as he muttered to Ulric "Don't worry, my Lord. We will be ready for them this time if they try something". Cedric scoffed at that, folding his behind his back as he idly kicked a pebble down the hill. The Chancellor turned to him. "Something the matter, your Highness?". The Prince shook his head and simply replied in short, "Let's get this battle started".
Ulric nodded and gave the second signal. This time, the tacticians moved forward, carrying various papers and boxes into the tent. Neil Black rolled out a chart of the area with height mappings while Earl Maximillian Typhonus put down the small clay figurines representing the various army units and commanders. Meanwhile, Piero di Orazio and Atilio Amaya discussed the various formations they could employ after the initial assault. The four of them would lead the tactical efforts from the military tent behind Ulric, relying on a large number of flag bearers and trumpeters to signal orders issued to the commanders down below. Maximillian put his hands in his sides as he looked at the other tacticians and then below to the map. He had faith in this battle; some of the brightest tactical minds were brought together, and the army was led by the battle hardened core of the military. He finally stepped forward, grabbing the pushing cane, raising it to the table. He then pushed forward the first three columns with an elegant yet confident thrust. At the same time, the flag bearers signalled to the troops down below, and as a well oiled machine, the columns started moving forward.
The mages who had been chained down as bait were quickly released, and much to the surprise of the soldiers around them, donned in various cloaks with a signal they had not recognized before. Rumors began to spread among the ranks that the Emperor had decreed a new order of mages and mage hunters to work together to strengthen the military arm just as Torse and Arlora had. There wasn't much time to discuss the ethics however, as battle was about to commence. The soldiers lowered their visors as the fog came ever closer, the semi-translucent creatures already visible within shooting range. The archers aimed their bows and immediately opened fire, raining down on the enemy lines.
One soldier in Lord Tristan Kade's column had a problem with his visor. His helmet was clearly made for Humans and he could not lower it down, trying to jam it over his Allar nose. How in Void's name had he landed up here. "Do your duty as a citizen of Regalia slime snake" was all he remembered. One moment he was cleaning the floor in the tavern, and the next he was standing with sword and shield in hand in a line of soldiers. The shield was so heavy he could barely lift it. Ztril's thoughts were cut short at the ever louder sounds of battle. He saw Tristan raise his claymore in the distance, yelling as the first lines touched the enemy's weapons. Ztril more nervously tried to jam the visor down as he was shaking in his boots, the noises of battle and death flinging all around him. Then all of a sudden, Selwynn Crassian stood next to him, pulled a little iron rivet on the side of his helmet, and it slid well into place around his head. Ztril looked up at Selwynn who was already looking at the enemy. Ztril tried to thank him, but the only sound he could produce was nervous muttering. Selwynn cut him short as he interrupted: "No time, stay behind me at all cost." Ztril nodded, almost hiding behind his own shield as he shoved behind Selwynn who was also flanked by Jared Silverhand. Then the first signs of battle hit him. A decapitated head rolled next to him, the expression frozen in agony as the screams around him were suddenly audible and loud. He panicked as the lines fell out and the creatures started rushing through, cutting their way through the Regalian troops. They were large, white and fearsome. Ztril dared not look one in the eye in fear of attracting its attention. Shayin suddenly reared, swinging his arms sideways as vines flung out from them towards the nearest fog creature, binding it and dropping it to the ground. He then pulled the vines back, dragging the creature closer until Jared jumped out of nowhere and plunged a scimitar into its back, killing it with some agonizing groan. Ztril just stood there shaking. Human blood. Everywhere. Dead Everywhere. Dead. Dead. Why was he there.
The battle had fully commenced and the central columns were getting the brunt of the damage. Tristan's line was losing a lot of troops very fast, while Lord William Coen and Duke Ludwig Fuchs's lines were sustaining heavy casualties as well. The archers repositioned themselves, though they had barely any time to pull back properly before the fog creatures had literally cut through the entire column and reached their behind lines. All of a sudden, the fog before them lit up with a series of intense lights, from which strings of lightning and fire came forth, flushing over the troops. Some caught fire, while others others were electrocuted in their armor on the spot. Magic was being flung all over the place, but Regalia replied in force. The mage order tried their best to redirect the magic flung at them from the fog back at it, defending the soldier lines from the elemental powers that they were helpless against.
Lord Commander William Coen was locked in battle with a number of the fog creatures while his sister fought behind him. He took several blows to the shield, eventually falling over until his sister shot a couple of well aimed arrows in the faces of the fog creatures. He was about to nod to her, until he saw a lightning bolt shoot towards Milahme in his peripherals. As by pure reflex, he threw his shield towards her. She had not noticed the bolt coming in time and could do nothing but stand there frozen. Just in time, the shield came between her and the magical flux, the metal of the shield working as a lightning rod, diverting the strike. Milahme exhaled in relief, but could not pause for long, as the battle was still raging around them. Ramone Diaz quickly rushed forward, pulling William up to his feet as Naushe Kearney also charged forth, standing guard with his halberd in front of him. William knocked on his helmet to see if it was still good until he bellowed: "Alright, forward lawn mower Naushe, just like in the Dwarven Hold!". Naushe nodded and immediately lowered his halberd, swinging it a foot above the ground to destabilize the ghastly beings. Milahme, meanwhile, fell in line behind them, and the group rushed through the enemy, cutting and shooting them down as they went.
Duke Ludwig Fuchs had less luck than William as his lines were being pushed back. The creatures severely outmatched him in martial skill and he should really not have been in the middle of that battlefield. Arend Alder and Daniel de Blouscheur tried to hold the fog creatures away, though both were cut multiple times by the long spears. Ludwig had to sacrifice a lot of soldiers to pull back behind the front line. Meanwhile, the tactical core at the base camp had realized the Fuchs' lines were breaking. They quickly bent over the table, scanning for a solution. Piero di Orazio looked at the horse formations before looking to Maximillian. "Ithanian circle movement? Maybe we can benefit from the Imperial wall?" Maximillian shook his head. "A thin Imperial wall will cause them to crash right through and attack the horsemen from the rear. Treat the enemy as horsemen, they seem to have equal speed and dexterity". Neil Black added, "How about a single line formation? I know this is usually a naval tactic, but why not fight fire with fire and crush through their lines to force them with their backs against the central columns?". Maximillian paced around the table, looking at the clay figurines. He raised his hand to his chin, rubbing it for a moment before he replied, "That might just work, excellent suggestion Black". He raced to the signaller before giving the order for the horsemen to fall in a single file.
March Aron Santorski received the orders, as did March Alistair Coen. They commanded their horsemen in line. Aron lowered his helmet visor as another horseman stepped up behind him. He could barely hear the horseman over the battle beyond the hill but he could certainly make out, "The Duke of Zastorzy sends his regards". Aron tried to turn around to look at the horseman, but was cut short with the trumpet signal for the charge. He shook the comment off and lowered his lance. The horse lines raced forward and were about to charge over the hill. Aron imagined a glorious charge down the hill into the enemy lines and a swift victory. Unfortunately, when he reached the top of the hill, he met the enemy at the edge. The statue was there, a terrifying stare looked back at the horsemen. They quickly stopped in their tracks. The horses became restless. The statue raised its arms and in that same moment, the horses suddenly shot into the sky. As if gravity was suddenly no longer a thing, the horsemen were raised up, the horses kicking their legs back and forth and the horsemen flailing their arms. Aron could just vaguely make out the statue's motionless and expressionless face before she started swinging her hands back and forth. The horsemen were flung into each other like puppets on a string, beast and man screaming as they were crushed into each other, the horsemen often stuck to their saddles with belts they could not remove. Aron managed to cut himself out of his saddle, falling down to the ground several meters below. Luckily the soft meadow cushioned the fall, but the terror was still happening all around him. Horses were falling down with their horsemen still attached to the saddle, dead, bloodied and twisted. He saw Luna Levine a couple of meters away badly bloodied and with what appeared to be a broken leg. He crawled towards her and checked if she was still breathing. "Good, she's still alive," he thought to himself before he wrapped his arms around her and then rolled down the hill together with her. "Shit shit shit" was all he could think as the entire cavalry line was just wiped out without managing to perform a single thing in the battle.
March Alistair Coen's line was in just as tough a spot as Aron's. Alistair managed to throw a glance left to see the horses flying in the air. His confusion made place for horror, as soon as his column ran around a giant boulder that was to be the place where the two horselines would link up. Behind the massive boulder was a giant monster. It looked almost apelike, as it was two stories tall, covered in white fur, finished with massive horns and great hands. "What in the living..." was all Alistair could bring out before the creature started swinging its arms at the horsemen, sending them flying as though they were made of paper. Earl Anton Ravenstad and William Walerius ran up next to Alistair as they pointed to the east. "Commander, two more are coming!". Alistair reared his horse as he saw the other two closing in with trees in their hands like massive clubs. Alistair immediately signalled his horsemen, "Men, javelins! Fuck it all, use the javelins!". The horsemen broke formation and started a circle line around the creatures, tossing javelins at it from all sides. One creature was killed by a javelin to the neck, thrown by William Walerius, though the others quickly went berserk and started rampaging through the horses without much direction or order. Alistair tried to command the horsemen above the screaming and yelling, "Bring them down! Down with the fucking apes! Down! Down! Down!" Then a tree trunk hit his horse, and everything went black.
"What?!" Maximillian yelled at the camp aide as Ulric dismounted from his horse and walked into the tent. "Everything is going to shit from left to right," he said. The tacticians rushed to the table, tapping feet, rushing over the details. "Without those horses we're quite in a pickle," Orazio said as Atilio nodded along. "Never trust a traitor," Cedric muttered as he walked behind Ulric. Ulric looked at the table for a moment before he looked confident and certain as ever. "Raise the retreat for the cavalry, and save what horses you can. If they do not retreat in time, open the cannons on their location. Best case scenario, we can disable whatever took down the March Coen's horses. Worst case, we will only hold down the enemy for a short time." Maximillian nodded and raced towards the artillery line that was right next to the command tent. The orders were passed on to Earl Christopher Black, his brother, Philip, and Rerik Ulster. They turned the cannons towards the east flank and waited for the signal. Maximillian stood with his hand raised, waiting to lower it. In that moment, doubt crossed his mind. If he lowered his hand, he could have Alistair Coen killed. William and Diane could never forgive him. On the other hand, if he waited too long, the entire line could be done for, and the battle lost. With a heavy heart, he eventually lowered his arm, the cannons roaring in response. His hair flung forwards and backwards from the shockwaves as he watched the explosions fill the horizon from afar.
The pike and shield columns were waiting in line, waiting for the battle to start. "What is happening? Why aren't we getting any orders from HQ?" Finley Walerius asked Linus Santorski. Linus shrugged until he saw a badly bloodied mage stumble closer. The mage fell to the ground before he yelled out, "It's a fucking hex you idiots! Look to the ground and close your eyes, then look again!" Linus scoffed, though Alea Ash did as the man said, curious to see what would happen. When she raised her head again and opened her eyes, the smell of corpses and burnt flesh, the screams of the soldiers and the carnage in the central columns suddenly ceased. She screamed out, "He's right! Do as he says!" The soldiers did so and suddenly morale crashed as they were confronted with the fact that a massive hex had bewitched them to believe the battle hadn't even started yet. They simply stood dozens of meters away from a battle that had been going on for nearly half an hour and they didn't even know. The lines almost wavered until Finley and Linus rallied the lines and commanded them to rush forward, lowering their spears to rush to the aid of the troops. Unfortunately, this was a huge tactical mistake as the HQ had issued no such order. The fog creatures reared their heads and started rushing towards the pike lines. The commanders ordered their troop wall at the ready, though what the fog creatures did next they could not predict. The creatures used their spears as a jumping stick. pushing them into the ground and then using them to vault over the Regalian pikemen into the back lines. Then while in mid-air, they grabbed half moon blades from their sides and started cutting through the pike lines like a hot knife through butter.
Elsewhere, In the central column, Lord Tristan Kade was being overwhelmed. Ook Ironmonger was clearly out of his element trying to wrestle with one of the fog creatures. Their size was simply too much, even for an Orc. Matthias Heinrich tried to force the fog creatures off of Ook, but to no avail the two were forced to the ground. Tristan was covered in blood from his enemies and allies alike. He saw William in the distance fighting but they just kept coming. Eventually one of them bullrushed Tristan, crashing its antlers into his stomach. He was knocked back by the force, the plate luckily preventing the horns from piercing him, but he was thrown to the ground away from his weapon. Then, all of a sudden, two figures paced past him. One was of a massive hulking size, Northerne with long blonde hair dressed in a large cloak, he recognized him, even if Tristan hadn't seen him in months. The other was a slender, yet imposing Nelfin Tristan did not recognize. dressed in the same black cloak. The Northerne one muttered to Tristan, "I told you to stay in the city," The two then raced forward kicking and punching the fog creatures out of the way as they went. Then both flung off their cloaks and used, what others could only assume was Soul Magic, to turn into hulking monstrosities that started crashing through the fog creatures. The Northerne became some large gold furred beast with horns and massive claws the size of a man's arm. The Elf changed into a tall creature with slender hands, arms covered in horns and razors. The fog creatures actually looked terrified of them and half started to retreat.
Near the cavalry, Alistair awoke, thinking it was all over. His horse was dead, and Anton Ravenstad was trying desperately to pull him away. All of a sudden, a small framed woman dressed like a gypsy with a colorful cloak, wearing rings and bells wandered by. Alistair was dumbfounded at what this woman was doing here. William Walerius even tried to stop her but she simply slid past him. "Worry not little ones, my children are here". She raised her fingers to her mouth and let out a loud whistle which was followed by a choir of blood curdling shrieks. Alistair yelled, "Oh fuck no, not vampires as well?!" Suddenly from the treeline to the left, Fallisma swarmed the field, vaulting and rolling around the horsemen and leaping towards the beasts that were killing the Regalian horsemen. Like ants swarming a predator near their queen, the Vampires started biting and tearing into the creatures. The beasts defended themselves, killing many of Vampires but the Fallisma kept jumping at them and eventually brought them down. The gypsy woman paced forward as she trailed her hand past the blood covered jawline of an enthralled Fallisma, "Feast my little ones, for today will be a feast of reckoning". She pulled out a tambourine and almost as if to mock the Regalian soldiers started rhythmically jingling it around while pacing forward with some sort of dance. The Fallisma that weren't engaged in eating the creatures followed on all fours, racing forward and latching onto whatever fog creature they could. Alistair managed to group up with what cavalry was left, and remount with them. They remained there to await orders, meanwhile looking in confusion at what was happening in front of them.
"What in the spirit's name!" Ulric yelled as he heard the news of the creatures in center and the Vampires on the right. "Someone pinch me if I am dreaming" Maximillian raised his hand to try and pinch Ulric in the arm before Ulric swatted it away, followed by him saying, "I wasn't being serious, you fool". The course of the battle had taken its toll on Ulric's appearance. His hair was no longer tightly combed and his moustache was no longer symmetrical. Neil Black and Piero di Orazio had retreated to the coastal batteries to try and rally the sailors while Atilio was bent over some written reports. "Tell the cannons to cease their fire, we will see where this battle takes us, one enemy at a time" Ulric commanded. As Maximillian walked out to pass on the command, he stopped in his tracks. All the artillery crews were sleeping. He saw Christopher Black bent over a cannon left, Rerik Ulster sleeping with his face down in the mud to the right. Then he heard the singing. A beautiful Elven women in a silken lilac cloak stood between the cannons playing a harp and singing the most angelic melody Maximillian had ever heard. And then he became sleepy. So incredibly sleepy. His vision blurred, then went black. All he could hear was that angelic melody until consciousness passed from him.
The pike lines meanwhile were surprised to see a Dwarf completely covered in golden armor with golden rings and necklaces all over and a poor looking man in rags who almost resembled a monk walk onto the field near them. The two started moving their arms and all of a sudden the ground underneath them started shifting. Whole plates of stone and dirt moved around, moving the Regalian lines side as the soldiers dropped to the ground, or at least what they thought was the ground as the soil underneath them shifted. The fog creatures turned on the two as a hail of stones assailed them. The monk looking man had a glee smile on his face, the Dwarf had an obsessed look on his face as he snatched at the small little trinkets the fog creatures wore, or, the dead ones that was. Najwa Al-Kovia, Vincet Dalamar and Maritin O'Coinaoith rallied the troops forward with spears in a spinning coil formation. What troops were not scared to death from the ground moving underneath them followed up and pushed the fog creatures back who were now being assailed by pebbles racing through the air and spears pitting them from behind.
Centrally, the statue suddenly appeared near the monstrosities that were cutting down the fog creatures. They suddenly shifted back to normal humanoid form as they looked up at her, panting from the battle and covered only in rags that used to be their pants. Selwynn and Jared looked at the two in wonder from afar with Ztril behind them, somehow still alive and completely unharmed. Selwynn's arm was hanging loose, badly cut by one of the creatures, and Jared had lost the tip of one of his ears, his face stained with its blood. The two before them were covered in tattoo's, the Elf in intricate Elven designs while the Northerne in typical Northerne style. They were suddenly flanked by two more, on the side of Northerne another that Selwynn recognized as the Northerne's twin brother. The other, an Orc, was not recognized by Selwynn. The two newcomers raised their massive swords and charged sideways at the fog creatures that were flocking behind. The Regalian troops, meanwhile, were reinvigorated to fight. Tristan raised himself up as his old claymore, the gift lost so long ago suddenly thudded next to him on the ground while his other weapon was damaged beyond repair.
The statue raised itself further into the sky and in some twisted motion opened its mouth as it shrieked loud for all to hear, "I am the soul of this world. I made you all. You forced me into this agony and I will end you all!" The voice was both ghastly and cold, as if eight women spoke in unison. The Elves present had their worst fears confirmed: It was indeed Estel. The two who had previously gone berserk in Beast Soul Magic now raised their arms and unleashed a barrage of magical powers at the statue, who did so in return. Another Elf came and flung essences of white missiles at the statue, while the Northerne man flung bolts of purple and black at it. The magic crashing into the statue and being deflected back caused a barrage of sounds and flashes like a lively fireworks display. A short, frail Qadir woman paced forward, creating a massive shadow magic portal sending the parties fighting with the statue into it along with the statue and herself. As the portal closed behind her, Regalian soldiers rushed past and crashed into the fog creatures who were now confused and clearly without their leader.
On the right, the Vampires rushed into the forests again, too fast for anyone to give chase as they carried the gypsy woman off. On the left, the Dwarf clapped his hands as stone enveloped himself and the monk before it sank into the ground like it had never been there. At the artillery site, everyone slowly woke up as Ulric and Cedric paced out of the tent. Ulric surveyed the field for a while before he raised the banner. Cedric said as he did so, "I don't know what in brother's name just happened or how you did it, but it seems the battle was won." The tacticians behind them cheered as the soldiers below started yelling. The last fog creatures ran off beyond the tree line. Any trace of those people who had come moments before had disappeared, leaving behind only the disturbed soil, dead creatures and slain fog creatures. The Regalians reformed their lines and officially retreated.
Many casualties had been sustained that day. Tristan Kade had a broken wrist, but got his old sword back. Selwynn Crassian had a badly cut arm, while Jared Silverhand had lost the tip of one of his ears. Matthias Heinrich and Ook Ironmonger were badly hit on the head with blunt objects and both had concussions. Daniel de Blouscheur had a broken leg, while Arend Alder had a nasty cut on his back. William Coen was not necessarily cut, but badly bruised all over and Milahme Coen had a bad gash on her hand. Aron Santorski had a broken arm while Luna Levine had a broken leg and a bad cut on her right arm. Vincet Dalamar suffered a blunt blow to the head. Regalia had lost hundreds of troops and thousands were wounded. Torse soldiers had been equally badly hurt, as were the Elves and the Orcs who joined the battle.
"The battle had been won." Kristoph Amsel thought to himself. He tried to pull the saddle off of Ulric's horse with a content smile on his face. At that moment however, the horse fainted from exhaustion, falling on his right foot, breaking his big toe.
"NOT AGAIN!"
_______________________________________________________________
The plan of the Emperor had been set in motion. The troops were assembled, and the ships sailed north to the shoreline of Torse, where the fields of Curag lay before them. The various columns set up camp and the preparations to draw the enemy nearby had begun. Arch Chancellor Ulric Typhonus oversaw the rows of mage prisoners being led out onto the fields in the middle of a valley, chained to the ground. They waited for several days until the mists appeared on the horizon. Up until this point, the Emperor had been correct about the predictions; the enemy was drawn to large groups of mages. Ulric gave the signal and the trumpeteers signalled the other lines to fall into position. The central columns took up rows of infantry with archers behind them. On the right, the horses trotted into wedge formations behind a hill to crash into the enemy when the signal was given. On the left, soldiers with pikes lined up into a tight, porcupine-like formation and sat down on the sidelines, awaiting the command to prevent any flanking.
Ulric stood atop the highest hill, next to the command tent. Next to him stood Marek Dredros and Kristoph Amsel, two Typhonus household guards, and Cedric Kade the Princely escort. Ulric held his hand on his sword, his mind was heavy with the opportunities and threats of this battlefield. A victory would secure his Chancellorship more strongly than his close election had. On the other hand, he did not even trust half the nobility charged with leading various parts of the armies. Furthermore, the assassination attempt on his life in the previous battle was still fresh on his mind. This thoughtful trance was broken only by Kristoph patting the horse as he muttered to Ulric "Don't worry, my Lord. We will be ready for them this time if they try something". Cedric scoffed at that, folding his behind his back as he idly kicked a pebble down the hill. The Chancellor turned to him. "Something the matter, your Highness?". The Prince shook his head and simply replied in short, "Let's get this battle started".
Ulric nodded and gave the second signal. This time, the tacticians moved forward, carrying various papers and boxes into the tent. Neil Black rolled out a chart of the area with height mappings while Earl Maximillian Typhonus put down the small clay figurines representing the various army units and commanders. Meanwhile, Piero di Orazio and Atilio Amaya discussed the various formations they could employ after the initial assault. The four of them would lead the tactical efforts from the military tent behind Ulric, relying on a large number of flag bearers and trumpeters to signal orders issued to the commanders down below. Maximillian put his hands in his sides as he looked at the other tacticians and then below to the map. He had faith in this battle; some of the brightest tactical minds were brought together, and the army was led by the battle hardened core of the military. He finally stepped forward, grabbing the pushing cane, raising it to the table. He then pushed forward the first three columns with an elegant yet confident thrust. At the same time, the flag bearers signalled to the troops down below, and as a well oiled machine, the columns started moving forward.
The mages who had been chained down as bait were quickly released, and much to the surprise of the soldiers around them, donned in various cloaks with a signal they had not recognized before. Rumors began to spread among the ranks that the Emperor had decreed a new order of mages and mage hunters to work together to strengthen the military arm just as Torse and Arlora had. There wasn't much time to discuss the ethics however, as battle was about to commence. The soldiers lowered their visors as the fog came ever closer, the semi-translucent creatures already visible within shooting range. The archers aimed their bows and immediately opened fire, raining down on the enemy lines.
One soldier in Lord Tristan Kade's column had a problem with his visor. His helmet was clearly made for Humans and he could not lower it down, trying to jam it over his Allar nose. How in Void's name had he landed up here. "Do your duty as a citizen of Regalia slime snake" was all he remembered. One moment he was cleaning the floor in the tavern, and the next he was standing with sword and shield in hand in a line of soldiers. The shield was so heavy he could barely lift it. Ztril's thoughts were cut short at the ever louder sounds of battle. He saw Tristan raise his claymore in the distance, yelling as the first lines touched the enemy's weapons. Ztril more nervously tried to jam the visor down as he was shaking in his boots, the noises of battle and death flinging all around him. Then all of a sudden, Selwynn Crassian stood next to him, pulled a little iron rivet on the side of his helmet, and it slid well into place around his head. Ztril looked up at Selwynn who was already looking at the enemy. Ztril tried to thank him, but the only sound he could produce was nervous muttering. Selwynn cut him short as he interrupted: "No time, stay behind me at all cost." Ztril nodded, almost hiding behind his own shield as he shoved behind Selwynn who was also flanked by Jared Silverhand. Then the first signs of battle hit him. A decapitated head rolled next to him, the expression frozen in agony as the screams around him were suddenly audible and loud. He panicked as the lines fell out and the creatures started rushing through, cutting their way through the Regalian troops. They were large, white and fearsome. Ztril dared not look one in the eye in fear of attracting its attention. Shayin suddenly reared, swinging his arms sideways as vines flung out from them towards the nearest fog creature, binding it and dropping it to the ground. He then pulled the vines back, dragging the creature closer until Jared jumped out of nowhere and plunged a scimitar into its back, killing it with some agonizing groan. Ztril just stood there shaking. Human blood. Everywhere. Dead Everywhere. Dead. Dead. Why was he there.
The battle had fully commenced and the central columns were getting the brunt of the damage. Tristan's line was losing a lot of troops very fast, while Lord William Coen and Duke Ludwig Fuchs's lines were sustaining heavy casualties as well. The archers repositioned themselves, though they had barely any time to pull back properly before the fog creatures had literally cut through the entire column and reached their behind lines. All of a sudden, the fog before them lit up with a series of intense lights, from which strings of lightning and fire came forth, flushing over the troops. Some caught fire, while others others were electrocuted in their armor on the spot. Magic was being flung all over the place, but Regalia replied in force. The mage order tried their best to redirect the magic flung at them from the fog back at it, defending the soldier lines from the elemental powers that they were helpless against.
Lord Commander William Coen was locked in battle with a number of the fog creatures while his sister fought behind him. He took several blows to the shield, eventually falling over until his sister shot a couple of well aimed arrows in the faces of the fog creatures. He was about to nod to her, until he saw a lightning bolt shoot towards Milahme in his peripherals. As by pure reflex, he threw his shield towards her. She had not noticed the bolt coming in time and could do nothing but stand there frozen. Just in time, the shield came between her and the magical flux, the metal of the shield working as a lightning rod, diverting the strike. Milahme exhaled in relief, but could not pause for long, as the battle was still raging around them. Ramone Diaz quickly rushed forward, pulling William up to his feet as Naushe Kearney also charged forth, standing guard with his halberd in front of him. William knocked on his helmet to see if it was still good until he bellowed: "Alright, forward lawn mower Naushe, just like in the Dwarven Hold!". Naushe nodded and immediately lowered his halberd, swinging it a foot above the ground to destabilize the ghastly beings. Milahme, meanwhile, fell in line behind them, and the group rushed through the enemy, cutting and shooting them down as they went.
Duke Ludwig Fuchs had less luck than William as his lines were being pushed back. The creatures severely outmatched him in martial skill and he should really not have been in the middle of that battlefield. Arend Alder and Daniel de Blouscheur tried to hold the fog creatures away, though both were cut multiple times by the long spears. Ludwig had to sacrifice a lot of soldiers to pull back behind the front line. Meanwhile, the tactical core at the base camp had realized the Fuchs' lines were breaking. They quickly bent over the table, scanning for a solution. Piero di Orazio looked at the horse formations before looking to Maximillian. "Ithanian circle movement? Maybe we can benefit from the Imperial wall?" Maximillian shook his head. "A thin Imperial wall will cause them to crash right through and attack the horsemen from the rear. Treat the enemy as horsemen, they seem to have equal speed and dexterity". Neil Black added, "How about a single line formation? I know this is usually a naval tactic, but why not fight fire with fire and crush through their lines to force them with their backs against the central columns?". Maximillian paced around the table, looking at the clay figurines. He raised his hand to his chin, rubbing it for a moment before he replied, "That might just work, excellent suggestion Black". He raced to the signaller before giving the order for the horsemen to fall in a single file.
March Aron Santorski received the orders, as did March Alistair Coen. They commanded their horsemen in line. Aron lowered his helmet visor as another horseman stepped up behind him. He could barely hear the horseman over the battle beyond the hill but he could certainly make out, "The Duke of Zastorzy sends his regards". Aron tried to turn around to look at the horseman, but was cut short with the trumpet signal for the charge. He shook the comment off and lowered his lance. The horse lines raced forward and were about to charge over the hill. Aron imagined a glorious charge down the hill into the enemy lines and a swift victory. Unfortunately, when he reached the top of the hill, he met the enemy at the edge. The statue was there, a terrifying stare looked back at the horsemen. They quickly stopped in their tracks. The horses became restless. The statue raised its arms and in that same moment, the horses suddenly shot into the sky. As if gravity was suddenly no longer a thing, the horsemen were raised up, the horses kicking their legs back and forth and the horsemen flailing their arms. Aron could just vaguely make out the statue's motionless and expressionless face before she started swinging her hands back and forth. The horsemen were flung into each other like puppets on a string, beast and man screaming as they were crushed into each other, the horsemen often stuck to their saddles with belts they could not remove. Aron managed to cut himself out of his saddle, falling down to the ground several meters below. Luckily the soft meadow cushioned the fall, but the terror was still happening all around him. Horses were falling down with their horsemen still attached to the saddle, dead, bloodied and twisted. He saw Luna Levine a couple of meters away badly bloodied and with what appeared to be a broken leg. He crawled towards her and checked if she was still breathing. "Good, she's still alive," he thought to himself before he wrapped his arms around her and then rolled down the hill together with her. "Shit shit shit" was all he could think as the entire cavalry line was just wiped out without managing to perform a single thing in the battle.
March Alistair Coen's line was in just as tough a spot as Aron's. Alistair managed to throw a glance left to see the horses flying in the air. His confusion made place for horror, as soon as his column ran around a giant boulder that was to be the place where the two horselines would link up. Behind the massive boulder was a giant monster. It looked almost apelike, as it was two stories tall, covered in white fur, finished with massive horns and great hands. "What in the living..." was all Alistair could bring out before the creature started swinging its arms at the horsemen, sending them flying as though they were made of paper. Earl Anton Ravenstad and William Walerius ran up next to Alistair as they pointed to the east. "Commander, two more are coming!". Alistair reared his horse as he saw the other two closing in with trees in their hands like massive clubs. Alistair immediately signalled his horsemen, "Men, javelins! Fuck it all, use the javelins!". The horsemen broke formation and started a circle line around the creatures, tossing javelins at it from all sides. One creature was killed by a javelin to the neck, thrown by William Walerius, though the others quickly went berserk and started rampaging through the horses without much direction or order. Alistair tried to command the horsemen above the screaming and yelling, "Bring them down! Down with the fucking apes! Down! Down! Down!" Then a tree trunk hit his horse, and everything went black.
"What?!" Maximillian yelled at the camp aide as Ulric dismounted from his horse and walked into the tent. "Everything is going to shit from left to right," he said. The tacticians rushed to the table, tapping feet, rushing over the details. "Without those horses we're quite in a pickle," Orazio said as Atilio nodded along. "Never trust a traitor," Cedric muttered as he walked behind Ulric. Ulric looked at the table for a moment before he looked confident and certain as ever. "Raise the retreat for the cavalry, and save what horses you can. If they do not retreat in time, open the cannons on their location. Best case scenario, we can disable whatever took down the March Coen's horses. Worst case, we will only hold down the enemy for a short time." Maximillian nodded and raced towards the artillery line that was right next to the command tent. The orders were passed on to Earl Christopher Black, his brother, Philip, and Rerik Ulster. They turned the cannons towards the east flank and waited for the signal. Maximillian stood with his hand raised, waiting to lower it. In that moment, doubt crossed his mind. If he lowered his hand, he could have Alistair Coen killed. William and Diane could never forgive him. On the other hand, if he waited too long, the entire line could be done for, and the battle lost. With a heavy heart, he eventually lowered his arm, the cannons roaring in response. His hair flung forwards and backwards from the shockwaves as he watched the explosions fill the horizon from afar.
The pike and shield columns were waiting in line, waiting for the battle to start. "What is happening? Why aren't we getting any orders from HQ?" Finley Walerius asked Linus Santorski. Linus shrugged until he saw a badly bloodied mage stumble closer. The mage fell to the ground before he yelled out, "It's a fucking hex you idiots! Look to the ground and close your eyes, then look again!" Linus scoffed, though Alea Ash did as the man said, curious to see what would happen. When she raised her head again and opened her eyes, the smell of corpses and burnt flesh, the screams of the soldiers and the carnage in the central columns suddenly ceased. She screamed out, "He's right! Do as he says!" The soldiers did so and suddenly morale crashed as they were confronted with the fact that a massive hex had bewitched them to believe the battle hadn't even started yet. They simply stood dozens of meters away from a battle that had been going on for nearly half an hour and they didn't even know. The lines almost wavered until Finley and Linus rallied the lines and commanded them to rush forward, lowering their spears to rush to the aid of the troops. Unfortunately, this was a huge tactical mistake as the HQ had issued no such order. The fog creatures reared their heads and started rushing towards the pike lines. The commanders ordered their troop wall at the ready, though what the fog creatures did next they could not predict. The creatures used their spears as a jumping stick. pushing them into the ground and then using them to vault over the Regalian pikemen into the back lines. Then while in mid-air, they grabbed half moon blades from their sides and started cutting through the pike lines like a hot knife through butter.
Elsewhere, In the central column, Lord Tristan Kade was being overwhelmed. Ook Ironmonger was clearly out of his element trying to wrestle with one of the fog creatures. Their size was simply too much, even for an Orc. Matthias Heinrich tried to force the fog creatures off of Ook, but to no avail the two were forced to the ground. Tristan was covered in blood from his enemies and allies alike. He saw William in the distance fighting but they just kept coming. Eventually one of them bullrushed Tristan, crashing its antlers into his stomach. He was knocked back by the force, the plate luckily preventing the horns from piercing him, but he was thrown to the ground away from his weapon. Then, all of a sudden, two figures paced past him. One was of a massive hulking size, Northerne with long blonde hair dressed in a large cloak, he recognized him, even if Tristan hadn't seen him in months. The other was a slender, yet imposing Nelfin Tristan did not recognize. dressed in the same black cloak. The Northerne one muttered to Tristan, "I told you to stay in the city," The two then raced forward kicking and punching the fog creatures out of the way as they went. Then both flung off their cloaks and used, what others could only assume was Soul Magic, to turn into hulking monstrosities that started crashing through the fog creatures. The Northerne became some large gold furred beast with horns and massive claws the size of a man's arm. The Elf changed into a tall creature with slender hands, arms covered in horns and razors. The fog creatures actually looked terrified of them and half started to retreat.
Near the cavalry, Alistair awoke, thinking it was all over. His horse was dead, and Anton Ravenstad was trying desperately to pull him away. All of a sudden, a small framed woman dressed like a gypsy with a colorful cloak, wearing rings and bells wandered by. Alistair was dumbfounded at what this woman was doing here. William Walerius even tried to stop her but she simply slid past him. "Worry not little ones, my children are here". She raised her fingers to her mouth and let out a loud whistle which was followed by a choir of blood curdling shrieks. Alistair yelled, "Oh fuck no, not vampires as well?!" Suddenly from the treeline to the left, Fallisma swarmed the field, vaulting and rolling around the horsemen and leaping towards the beasts that were killing the Regalian horsemen. Like ants swarming a predator near their queen, the Vampires started biting and tearing into the creatures. The beasts defended themselves, killing many of Vampires but the Fallisma kept jumping at them and eventually brought them down. The gypsy woman paced forward as she trailed her hand past the blood covered jawline of an enthralled Fallisma, "Feast my little ones, for today will be a feast of reckoning". She pulled out a tambourine and almost as if to mock the Regalian soldiers started rhythmically jingling it around while pacing forward with some sort of dance. The Fallisma that weren't engaged in eating the creatures followed on all fours, racing forward and latching onto whatever fog creature they could. Alistair managed to group up with what cavalry was left, and remount with them. They remained there to await orders, meanwhile looking in confusion at what was happening in front of them.
"What in the spirit's name!" Ulric yelled as he heard the news of the creatures in center and the Vampires on the right. "Someone pinch me if I am dreaming" Maximillian raised his hand to try and pinch Ulric in the arm before Ulric swatted it away, followed by him saying, "I wasn't being serious, you fool". The course of the battle had taken its toll on Ulric's appearance. His hair was no longer tightly combed and his moustache was no longer symmetrical. Neil Black and Piero di Orazio had retreated to the coastal batteries to try and rally the sailors while Atilio was bent over some written reports. "Tell the cannons to cease their fire, we will see where this battle takes us, one enemy at a time" Ulric commanded. As Maximillian walked out to pass on the command, he stopped in his tracks. All the artillery crews were sleeping. He saw Christopher Black bent over a cannon left, Rerik Ulster sleeping with his face down in the mud to the right. Then he heard the singing. A beautiful Elven women in a silken lilac cloak stood between the cannons playing a harp and singing the most angelic melody Maximillian had ever heard. And then he became sleepy. So incredibly sleepy. His vision blurred, then went black. All he could hear was that angelic melody until consciousness passed from him.
The pike lines meanwhile were surprised to see a Dwarf completely covered in golden armor with golden rings and necklaces all over and a poor looking man in rags who almost resembled a monk walk onto the field near them. The two started moving their arms and all of a sudden the ground underneath them started shifting. Whole plates of stone and dirt moved around, moving the Regalian lines side as the soldiers dropped to the ground, or at least what they thought was the ground as the soil underneath them shifted. The fog creatures turned on the two as a hail of stones assailed them. The monk looking man had a glee smile on his face, the Dwarf had an obsessed look on his face as he snatched at the small little trinkets the fog creatures wore, or, the dead ones that was. Najwa Al-Kovia, Vincet Dalamar and Maritin O'Coinaoith rallied the troops forward with spears in a spinning coil formation. What troops were not scared to death from the ground moving underneath them followed up and pushed the fog creatures back who were now being assailed by pebbles racing through the air and spears pitting them from behind.
Centrally, the statue suddenly appeared near the monstrosities that were cutting down the fog creatures. They suddenly shifted back to normal humanoid form as they looked up at her, panting from the battle and covered only in rags that used to be their pants. Selwynn and Jared looked at the two in wonder from afar with Ztril behind them, somehow still alive and completely unharmed. Selwynn's arm was hanging loose, badly cut by one of the creatures, and Jared had lost the tip of one of his ears, his face stained with its blood. The two before them were covered in tattoo's, the Elf in intricate Elven designs while the Northerne in typical Northerne style. They were suddenly flanked by two more, on the side of Northerne another that Selwynn recognized as the Northerne's twin brother. The other, an Orc, was not recognized by Selwynn. The two newcomers raised their massive swords and charged sideways at the fog creatures that were flocking behind. The Regalian troops, meanwhile, were reinvigorated to fight. Tristan raised himself up as his old claymore, the gift lost so long ago suddenly thudded next to him on the ground while his other weapon was damaged beyond repair.
The statue raised itself further into the sky and in some twisted motion opened its mouth as it shrieked loud for all to hear, "I am the soul of this world. I made you all. You forced me into this agony and I will end you all!" The voice was both ghastly and cold, as if eight women spoke in unison. The Elves present had their worst fears confirmed: It was indeed Estel. The two who had previously gone berserk in Beast Soul Magic now raised their arms and unleashed a barrage of magical powers at the statue, who did so in return. Another Elf came and flung essences of white missiles at the statue, while the Northerne man flung bolts of purple and black at it. The magic crashing into the statue and being deflected back caused a barrage of sounds and flashes like a lively fireworks display. A short, frail Qadir woman paced forward, creating a massive shadow magic portal sending the parties fighting with the statue into it along with the statue and herself. As the portal closed behind her, Regalian soldiers rushed past and crashed into the fog creatures who were now confused and clearly without their leader.
On the right, the Vampires rushed into the forests again, too fast for anyone to give chase as they carried the gypsy woman off. On the left, the Dwarf clapped his hands as stone enveloped himself and the monk before it sank into the ground like it had never been there. At the artillery site, everyone slowly woke up as Ulric and Cedric paced out of the tent. Ulric surveyed the field for a while before he raised the banner. Cedric said as he did so, "I don't know what in brother's name just happened or how you did it, but it seems the battle was won." The tacticians behind them cheered as the soldiers below started yelling. The last fog creatures ran off beyond the tree line. Any trace of those people who had come moments before had disappeared, leaving behind only the disturbed soil, dead creatures and slain fog creatures. The Regalians reformed their lines and officially retreated.
Many casualties had been sustained that day. Tristan Kade had a broken wrist, but got his old sword back. Selwynn Crassian had a badly cut arm, while Jared Silverhand had lost the tip of one of his ears. Matthias Heinrich and Ook Ironmonger were badly hit on the head with blunt objects and both had concussions. Daniel de Blouscheur had a broken leg, while Arend Alder had a nasty cut on his back. William Coen was not necessarily cut, but badly bruised all over and Milahme Coen had a bad gash on her hand. Aron Santorski had a broken arm while Luna Levine had a broken leg and a bad cut on her right arm. Vincet Dalamar suffered a blunt blow to the head. Regalia had lost hundreds of troops and thousands were wounded. Torse soldiers had been equally badly hurt, as were the Elves and the Orcs who joined the battle.
"The battle had been won." Kristoph Amsel thought to himself. He tried to pull the saddle off of Ulric's horse with a content smile on his face. At that moment however, the horse fainted from exhaustion, falling on his right foot, breaking his big toe.
"NOT AGAIN!"
Last edited by a moderator:
