Thread: Another Life {Cheshire Smirk & Blinkk}

Clarion calls sounded from afar followed by the staccato pounding of hooves on cobbled stone. Apparently the Baarskor ships had been spotted a fortnight ago by a fishing vessel smart enough to evade observation. As fast as two men could row the vessel had made it ashore. From there word had spread to any ear that would listen, warning of the coming horde. Unfortunately pleas for help to the nobility fell on deaf ears, The stronghold of Trept was simply too far for any duke, baron or lord to spare any of his men for assistance of an unconfirmed raid. After all, nobody even knew what Baarskor ships truly looked like! However, there had been those among the common folk who remembered the raids and knew just how true those two fishermen's words really were. Deep, resounding blasts from Baarskor horns bellowed out their answer and the Baarskor rallied, tearing themselves away from their looting. Two hundred men on horseback had been sent to aid Trept...And two hundred men were two hours too late. Cavalry met infantry in a vicious, swirling melee that engulfed the town. Unfortunately sparsely trained militia men were no match for the ruthless, war-hardened Baarskor. With surprisingly precise teamwork and long chains worked into their battlegear the Baarskor worked defensive lines and plucked the oncoming cavalrymen from their mounts. Swiftly the militia men were rounded up and taken prisoner, their horses reined in and fasted into long, pacified trains. A small detachment of militia managed to break through the Baarskor defenses. Valiantly they charged the temple, hurling themselves from their steeds to charge fearlessly up the steps of the temple 3 at a time. Both marauders turned and hurled their boarding axes at the oncoming resistance. Two men went down with skulls cleaved nearly in half, dead before they hit the ground. Halberd and swordbreaker worked together in terrifying unison, putting a swift end to the valiant rescue attempt. One lone archer managed to loose an arrow before he was eviscerated by a particularly wicked halberd swipe. For the halberd-wielder time seemed to move in slow motion as he saw the arrow slip free of the string. Topaz eyes widened in genuine fear as the man realized the projectile's intended course. That one arrow flew true, it's barbed head slipping between banded plates of steel to bite deep into the woman's chest. With a clatter shield and sword fell to the stone steps below. There was no shriek of pain, no tears, not even surprise on the woman's face as she reached up and tore the arrow from her chest. One step forward she managed before collapsing against the brutalized doors of the temple with enough force to knock the doors wide open. Even in the arms of death the Shield-maiden remained stoic, silently coughing out her bloody last breaths on knee and elbow. The man laid his halberd down and rushed to his companion's side, picking her up with surprising speed and tenderness. Into the temple the woman was carried and then gently she was set down. Desperately he looked up at the gathered, fearful masses. When the man spoke his voice held the command of a royal guardsman, his eyes falling directly upon Lea. Help me save Mjarrla and your flock will pass unharmed. As a gesture of assurance the man pulled the scabbard-belt that held a heavy falchion and a long, slender dirk off of his hips. The weapons were set just out of arms reach, but far enough for him to retrieve should somebody decide to try to be a hero.