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Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum The house belonged to a certain blind seer of the City of Lavonia, Cassia, who was known for her skills in soothsaying and prediction in both large and small-scale matters. Although her father was originally not of noble birth or significance, when the potential of his daughter surfaced, he quickly rose in both prestige and wealth alongside the rest of his family. Looked upon as a person of great wisdom and foresight, she was consulted by anyone wealthy enough to afford her services. Her father and older brother joined the other soldiers of the city, dying alongside their kinsmen shortly after the Arx Bellum soldiers broke through the lines. When the City fell to the might of Arx Bellum, the thoughts of the survivors turned to saving their own skins rather than speaking to a seer, so Cassia was left with only herself and the few remaining men left to safeguard the fortress-like house. When he peered inside the door, he was met with the thick scent of incense which wafted through the main entry way. The thick stone walls were adorned with elegant murals, while the floors were decorated with fine rugs of needlework and colored beads. Majestic purple and red curtains hung across the entryways while light streamed in through the narrow windows along the exterior walls. Whoever lived in this place had to be someone important, wealthy, or both, that much was certain, to be able to afford such a decadent house. When the men entered the main hall, however, four armed men clad in light armor filed out of the side passages, standing firmly between them and the inner room where the master or mistress of the house resided. They did not have long to wonder who this might be, however, as she stepped out from behind the curtain at the far side of the hallway, her form somewhat shrouded. She wore a gold embroidered robe fastened with a belt around her middle, while her silky black hair flowed down her back and across her shoulders. Her petite frame was somewhat masked by her flowing robe. Her eyes remained gently shut, as they were of no use to her, but even so she seemed to meet her attacker's eyes as they stood before her across the hall. Her men drew their swords, two on her right and two on her left, and widened their stances, holding their hardened leather shields before them, and prepared to die alongside their mistress. Considering the circumstances, it was unlikely that any of them would see another day. The seer herself stepped forward in time with her men's footsteps, drawing out a simple gladius from the scabbard hidden in her robe. Apparently she intended to fight alongside her men in their effort to stage a last-ditch effort to protect themselves. The men on the right rushed in first. The first man swung his sword toward Michael, aiming for his neck while his companion stepped in behind him, blocking his back in case any of his men decided to surround him and finish him with a swift thrust to his side. The seer stepped forward as well, behind the first two men, while the two on her left followed up after her. -----------------
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum The choking scent of incense filled his lungs as he pushed open the door, causing him to cough violently. This nearly cost him his life as his watering eyes lifted into the gloom, his first sight being a shadowy figure. Years of fighting had honed his instincts, and that alone saved his life as he leaped to one side. Her guard's blade struck his armor with an unmusical screech, leaving a brilliant steel line in the red enamel, and staggering him momentarily. Ware! He cried, even as he gathered himself, just in time to bring his square shield up against another attack. He thrust that shield forward with a hunh! of effort, aided by a firm step that opened up just enough room behind him for more of his men to plunge into the room. One, two, three, four, they filed into either side of him, imitating the shield wall that was so effective outside of the city, slightly modified. Indeed, Michael stood as the point of a chevron shaped formation that filled the entryway and gave his men a moment to orient themselves in the darkness. Deuce, Hangman, ready lawn darts! He cried, even as the two men on the outer ranks set their shields before them, taking one knee to more effectively hide behind the shields and detach the small, lead weighted darts from behind their shields. Originally designed from the roman Plumbata, small darts designed to be thrown just before the fight closed to melee range, but excellent for use in this kind of close in fighting. Though they were unlikely to pierce the leather shields that her men used, they were still a deadly distraction. Michael struck forward again with his shield, in unison with his two men yet standing beside him, and drove back the defenders another step, only to withdraw himself, leaving a long step between the two groups of men...and one woman. He slowly lowered his shield, ready to snatch it back up at an instant's notice, and spoke over the rim to the men. You are dead thrice over. Once when you chose to join with the cities that make a mockery of their title, the free cities. Once when you chose not to flee in the face of the armies of Arx Bellum, and once when you stood firm in the face of the Band of the Black Hand. I give you one chance to kneel, and accept the death that you have twice delayed. The reaper comes for you, and the only choice yet given to you is if you wish to die quickly or slowly. There was no gloating in his words, no overt malice. What he said was simply the truth in his mind. Soon enough, their intentions would be revealed.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum We die today as men of our word, for we would rather die by our own hands than submit to being butchered like dogs! one of the men shouted in reply to Michael's speech. The men before him did not hesitate for even a moment as they rushed toward the opposing group of men, equal in number but unequal in terms of training and equipment. They knew well the fate that awaited them, but they charged toward it with steeled resolve. They had sworn their lives and honor upon defending that house, and the seer which resided within. With single cry they rushed forward, attempting to close the distance between them as they held their leather shields in front of their bodies, a temporary barrier between them and their impending doom. The woman as well followed after her men, her body shielded by their bodies as two more men took up guard positions by her side as they advanced. Their hands gripped their swords firmly, the resolve of their bodies matching their minds. The men swore within themselves to not live to see the seer raped, and the seer swore not to let herself be raped without putting up a struggle. To her eyes, Michael was but an ominous shadow, his face veiled by darkness but his spoken words resounding clearly in her attuned ears. She could see each movement of her men as they made it. A step here, and swing there, as the five of them marched toward their opponents. They were outmatched, that much she knew without having to peer into the future. She held a brief glimmer of hope, however, that she might be able to break through these men, but the city was filled with the dead and dying, the army of the enemy looting, raping, and pillaging as they pleased. There was no happy resolve to this entanglement, nor would she be delivered by some stroke of luck or miracle. Instead, she looked with her other eyes toward the man who stood in command of the men at her front door, the man shrouded in darkness and ambiguity. The first two men approached Michael's, swords at the ready to stab and slash at any opening they afforded. They had already witnessed first-hand what the sharp darts the enemy had used to disrupt the ranks of the defenders, and how both deadly and effective they would be if their shields did not hold against them.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum So be it. He half turned away for a moment, his eyes scanning his men, before turning back to observe the men approaching. Closing his eyes ever so briefly, he spoke. We are the point... The words seemed like a talisman to the men, who joined with his words as he continued to speak, their voices joining into a chorus of shouts that gradually increased in volume. ...We are the edge! We are the wolves that Hectate fed! By the time the last word emerged from them they were darting forward, their hobnailed boots finding more than adequate footing in the rugs beneath them. The three men who charged spread out as they approached the two men who had been sent to meet them. They did not attack these men with their swords unless the men left themselves wide open, instead buffeting them with their heavy shields, fist one way and then another, simply to get them from their way. Before the men could recover their wits, the attackers were past them, and charging on the secondary line of defenders. The first line was now left in a bad position...attack the armored backs of the attackers, and face relentless, deadly hail from behind that would not be stopped by their light armor, or charge the two kneeling men and abandon their charge. They would not have much time to make up their mind, as the first of the lawn darts flew as soon as they were buffeted to the wall, thrown with accuracy that befitted the elite rangers carrying them. A far cry in terms of power from their more usual long bows, but powerful enough to pummel household guards. With any luck, their end would come before they could even recover. The three men that had bulled their way through were not idle in the exchange either. Indeed, their bullish rush carried them straight into the second line of defenders, with a quick rush meant to disorient the men. The Seeress was ignored for the briefest first moment of the assault, Michael's two men's shields striking her men's shields and driving them back even as Michael thrusts ahead and to his right, aiming for the gut of the man to his right while he was distracted by the man before him. Only after that first deceptive attack would he turn his attention toward the Seeress, his lip quirking up slightly as he saw her. Put down the blade. I don't wish to hurt you.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum The two men in front where knocked back with the force of their shield-strikes, their sweat wetting their foreheads as they were swept aside from the raw strength and force of the men before them. Their sandal-shod feet stumbled backward as they were slammed and hammered, trying in vein to hold their footing against the superior form, training, and discipline that these men afforded over their own. Even if they could break through and force an opening past their broad, thick shields, their armor was just as impermeable to their attacks. The neck was an obvious weak point that they could exploit if given the opportunity, but they had a more immediate threat to consider as the sharp barbs hurled at them pierced through their shields, pinning them to the wall like insects. They cried out with pain and dismay as their blood gushed out of the harsh wound, their lives slowly fading as they sunk to their knees, the crimson fluid poured out like spilled wine. When Michael stabbed at the defender to the Seeress's side, her sword flashed swiftly and deflected the blow, knocking his sword away before it could pierce his lightly-armed torso. Her attention locked on the man before her fully, her blade held up high by her head as she gripped the handle with one hand, while the other she held by her side for balance. I will not submit myself to you willingly, she said simply, And I have no such qualm against harming you. She dove forward, aiming a forceful stab toward his neck, blade held sideways to maximize the cutting potential of the strike, while her men continued to press against his, holding them back for now against giving their leader and commander any assistance in disarming her. If he wished to claim her for his own, he would have to fight her first. Given that she lacked a shield with which to block blows, she had to rely on her foresight and speed to land any significant blow. She also had to be quick about it, as two of her men had already fallen and the last two showed little capacity to hold off the attackers for long.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum He laughed as she drove him back, stepping back and allowing her to follow him. His men, though, were not idle. The two men that had knelt, Deuce and Hangman, were standing, lifting poles from their backs. One was made of soft iron, pointed with a prominent, rear facing spiked hook perhaps six inches back from the blade, and the other was heavy wood. The two pieces were fitted together in a matter of seconds and pre-change bolts and wing nuts quickly fastened them together, forming the throwing spears that the legionnaires favored. They advanced on the fights already happening in the far corners of the entryway, thrusting over the shoulders of their comrades toward her remaining men. Though a killing stab would be quicker for her men, their true purpose was to suddenly withdraw the spear, driving the spiked hook into the heavy leather of their shields. Once the spear was firmly embedded, it was a simple matter to wrench it to one side, giving the swordsmen time to deliver killing thrusts to the suddenly unprotected men. Michael had been trained in several forms of fighting pre-change. He had been an expert shot with a bow, a killer on the dojo floor with his bare hands and feet, as well as an expert shot. The skill that won him the most accolades, however, was his skill with a sword. Mockingly, he smiled to the blind Seeress and tossed his shield toward her feet, trying to trip her up. His sword slashed wide even as his shield flew, attempting to strike her sword wide and follow up with a shoulder to her chest to knock her down and ease her capture.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum The two remaining guards had little recourse as they watched in awe and horror as the enemy soldiers swiftly and effectively unsettled their footing and exposed them to their stabbing blades. One was caught in the side, piercing his lung like an overfilled balloon and leaving him to die a slow and painful death by drowning in his own blood. The other was stabbed in the lower abdomen, the tip of the blade sinking deep into his gut as he let out a cry of anguish and pain. He could feel the cold steel lodged within him, cutting at his vital organs without remorse. His fellow spat up blood, his eyes slowly shutting as his life was snuffed out. Neither of them felt guilt... Only sorrow that they could not afford a more resilient defense for her. The Seeress had not been idle in the intervening moments, as she jumped to the side, avoiding both his thrown shield and shoulder charge, swinging her sword toward his back purely out of desperation. The sharp blade met the impermeable surface of his back armor, the sword resounding with a loud clang as it vibrated within her hand. She could feel her entire body shaking, her visions growing dim as she was filled with a sudden panic upon hearing the death cries of her men. She couldn't fight five men by herself! She swung her sword at the man before him, in a futile attempt to inflict some form of injury on him as she stumbled backward, her hand searching for something to anchor herself to, something to guide her as she was suddenly left in the dark. She had to calm down, think of something other than her impending capture...
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

RE The Rise of Arx Bellum He merely chuckled at her ineffective strikes, the four men, free of their former foes, turning almost as one to watch the spectacle. Michael did not allow her the freedom to catch her breath, gathering himself in a leonine leap in an attempt to drag her to the ground for one final time, before he called on his men to assist him. There was something odd about this one, and he had no intention of letting her slip through his fingers, no matter what blade she might swing about. Were he successful in pouncing upon her, there was little doubt he could disarm her in a heartbeat and pin her wrists to the ground, using his superior strength and leverage. Were she to somehow evade his pounce, his men would crowd forward with shields on his command, hedging her back into a corner until Michael could recover his feet and pin her down while she had no options to dodge. Regardless, the effects were the same. She would quickly find herself on the floor, a length of rope binding her wrists to the opposite elbows behind her back. This had the triple benefit of making her feel helpless, preventing her from reaching the knot that bound her, making escape harder, and forcing her to thrust her chest out to gain any kind of comfort for her shoulder blades in the uncomfortable position. Only once she was bound and disarmed did Michael stand himself, drawing her to her feet before him. Your name, girl. Now.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

The other men turned, with full discipline and order, with one accord and purpose as their feet stood firmly the one beside the other. Not one of them had suffered casualty nor even a minor strain or scrape from her own men. No, they were both deadly and effective in their disposal of them, with little doubt left in her mind as to her own fate had they wished for her demise. They were as of yet unseen by the Seeress, for she had more pressing matters to attend to as Michael leaped forward, grasping her wrists and slamming her down against the ground with force and purpose. He struck her wrist, the sharp blow causing her to drop her sword which clattered and resounded against the hard stone floor, bringing with it any hope of putting up any significant resistance to his purposes that he already devised within his mind. With little room to struggle or protest, she could only strike her knees against his lower chest armor in a desperate yet ultimately futile attempt to dissuade him from binding her. She could feel the rough rope slide across her soft skin, biting into her like hundreds of tiny teeth lined up to devour her. He bound her swiftly despite her struggling, wrist to elbow, her back arching forward as the tightness of the rope demanded some form of escape from the sharp pain of the tight knot. She managed to ease herself up into a seated position on the floor, both to reduce the strain on her arms and to properly reply to the man that had bested her, her legs folded below the edge of her robe skirt in an effort to retain at least a semblance of modesty. When the man stood, however, he pulled her to her feet before him, demanding that she give him her name. With her arms restrained and chest thrust forward, the humiliation and distaste of her condition began to fully set in as her brow furrowed with unspoken defiance, I am Cassia, a seer. Even as she stood, she tried to pull away from him, unwilling to simply resign herself to becoming this man's war trophy. Although he had triumphed over her strength, her heart and mind remained far from him, locked away within the fortified recesses of her consciousness. This shrouded, unnamed man was doubtless someone of importance, a man whose favor was desired from those who followed him, and whose disdain was feared by many. Even as she stared at him with her unseen eyes, she could not break through the darkness that surrounded him to study his features... This was not the first time this had occurred, but it was certainly the most frustrating as it denied her the opportunity to glean any sort of hint as to his purpose concerning her. Instead, all she could do was return his unseen gaze with one of her own.
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

A Seer, hmm? He said, pausing for just a moment to take this in. In the world since the event, it was well known that some...magic had returned to the world. Nothing overt, nothing that was flashy or exploding, but minor feats that were often more useful than anticipated when they first exposed themselves. Yes, she was more valuable than he had at first thought. His lip curled up in a small smile as he spoke. Very well then, Cassia, I offer you a choice. You are now my property, but how you leave the city is entirely up to you. My men and I are looking for loot...gold, silver, precious gems, objects of art. If you are willing to help us locate them, and give your word on your powers not to run from me, I will allow you to keep your modesty and at least some of your dignity. If, however, you choose not to aid me, or, choose to try to foil my attempts, I will strip you and march you bound as you are past the army for every victorious man to see your defeat. Judging by the hoots of his men, it was clear that they preferred the second option, but Michael had often found a simple threat like the one he had used, one that he could follow through on, produced incredible results. His hand came up, cupping her chin with sword calloused fingers as he spoke. Well, M'lady, which shall it be?
Thread: The Rise of Arx Bellum (LangschwertxWingshadow)

To run from you would be to simply throw myself into the arms of danger itself... It it neither advisable nor wise to oppose the might and wit of one stronger than yourself. If I give you my word, then it would be done without trickery or falsehood, for a seer's honor is more valuable than her dignity or modesty... That being said, willingly giving myself to your service after you have led your men into this city, slaughtered both my father and brother as you broke through the wall, I find no reason to do such a thing, such an overt betrayal of the people of this city who provided me shelter in my time of need, Cassia replied calmly, I am blind and of no great stature, so I am of little use for labor, toil, or household tasks... My only means of sight is through my foresight. But even with the gifts that I have been bestowed upon me, I refuse to aid those who would take me captive and lead me through the streets like a prostitute. She turned her face away from him, as if she wished to prevent her delicate skin from being stained by the mere touch of his rough, battle-stained hands. Her resolve remained firm even in the face of his threat. She knew he could follow through with it, and that he probably would in light of her reply... The public shame of being stripped and led through the streets before the victorious armies of the enemy was a steep price to pay for her refusal, but what other course did she have available? Could she betray the very people she had lived among and sheltered her for so many years? Could she jump into the arms of the invaders who had slain her family, forcing upon her destitution and bindings? Surely he valued her as a tool, a means to his own purposes, but if she refused to act as a seer for him, he would doubtless find other ways to satisfy himself.