[IC] Fire Emblem: Light's End

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

The mercenary was unusually silent, glaring at the fanatic lines, waiting as the people got shuffled around and Jacob went to play the big damn hero. Following his path, he narrowed his eyes, one of them looked familiar. No, two of them did, the woman on horseback and crimson clad one, the latter by reputation, the former for his own reasons. He placed a title to the woman, and smirked, turning his look away from the apparent trouble they were in. Those horseman were in for far more than they bargained for, even with the others burdened down by what looked like some mage who overinflated her own bodily proportions. As soon as Marius gave his word to miss Lance a Lot, Jerod laughed and flourished his blade. "Ach, tha's enuff waitin' fer me. Le's do t'is."

Marius and the lady lancer, not in a literal meaning of course though that was a joke Jerod fully intended to save for later, started moving, and Jerod broke out into a charge, roaring out in an uncharacteristically loud and intimidating manner, even less intelligible than normal, to the degree that no one would have even understood him between the accent, roar of battle, and from general principal overall. But some of it was at least as close as the man got to intelligeable, which others would have caught a snippet of. "..YE DAMN'D 'EAT'ANS 'R GOIN' STRAI'T T' THE BURNIN' PITS O' 'ELL AND I AM T'E 'AMMER AND 'ARBINGER OF YER DEMISE!"

His roaring and spouting did not stop when he reached the first enemy, who looked like he was about ready to soil himself as he lunged his lance forward. The mail coat turned most of it away, but some of his side was punctured, blood running freely from his side. The soldier didn't have time to celebrate, because about that same moment Jerod buried his iron sword in the man's brain cavity, and he would not have had time to loose it before the next man, with an axe, charged him. With the weapon raised, he didn't expect the mercenary to step forward, grabbing him by the throat and clubbing him with something Jerod pulled from his bag. It was with enough force to send the man into dreamworld, as it were, and the bottle, while damaged, had not begun leaking. Wrenching his sword from the first dead man, he downed the contents of the bottle, which indeed happened to be King Booze, in one go and held it in his off hand, breaking the bottle into an improvised second weapon. He was still spouting obscenities, insults, and ultimatum's of some sort or another as he started sprinting towards the next closest solider, vaguely staying near where he was supposed to be by Marius.

"COME A' ME YE' DAMN'D PRANCIN' NINNIES!"

Niya

Niya quietly watched as the well endowed woman looked ill and tried to keep her footing under her. Mage was not one used to violence, it seemed, and she glanced at the Champion as he ran over, and rolled her eyes, remounting her horse and speaking quietly. "Help is welcome, attention is not. Your a target, rescue efforts are now, complicated. Stay back or use your hidden weapons, mage, if you have them."

Of course the Feroxian healer was proved right when the four horseman declared their rather crude intentions after being made heroes of the false church for slaying a young boy. Such pride these warriors had, the healer thought, that they sell their souls so cheaply. No matter, she thought, as she trotted forward and spoke with a rather forceful air and authority, no doubt inherited from years of dealing with some of the most ornery and fierce warriors in the frigid North.

"As envoy of the Healer's Guild of Ragna Ferox, these women and man are under my protection and authority. You will surrender or withdraw, or your bodies and souls are forfeit to the most infernal hells you could imagine, amplified. This is your only warning."

The one horseman, thinking that like any other healer this woman would be defenseless, rode forward with a sword raised. He got within staffs reach before Niya's arm shifted, and a sickening mixture of a crunch and squish echoed out as she lodged the staff head right in the man's groin, recoiling from the force of the blow on the horse's back. She had hit with the force of a Feroxian, and one who had to drag off battle mad men many times her size before they ran off and undid her hard work again, so she had a strength of arm well beyond what most would think from a healer. Of course she did not expect them to surrender, but she was providing a distraction for this Champion, and Solanne, to both do something clever.

"Did I mention your manhood is also forfeit? I did not? My apologies."

[TheWendil]

Finding herself surrounded by a multitude of enemy soldiers on horseback, Solanne cracked her knuckles and smirked. Adding to the fact that they had the Champion of Naga with them now-that was a nice surprise in her book-Solanne didn’t really see a challenge at this point.

“What’s up dude?” she greeted to him, hefting her sword on her shoulder, watching him torch a few baddies. “Pretty good spell skills you got there. Kinda reminds me of-”

She paused then, noticing the apprehensive look on the mage’s face, specifically looking at her. She was also muttering something about her killing the men…understanding dawned on Solanne, and she took the short time of distraction to be by the mage’s side. Given that Jacob was handling himself and Niya was being…well, Niya, she saw no fault in trying to calm the mage’s nerves.

“Hey there,” she said happily to Abra, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. “Sorry that you had to run into all this. Kinda sucks, ya know? Eheh…sorry about the whole bloodshed thing too. There wasn’t really a way to stop them without…well, I’ll just stop right there.”

She gave Abra, what she hoped to be, a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry about it. I can understand if you’re a bit shaken up, ya know? Just stick to us and-”

A soldier of the Church who had had his horse knocked away from him stumbled towards the two, spear in hand. Snarling, he launched forward for Abra, ready to strike. Solanne parried the blow with her blade, twisting around and delivering a solid punch to the man’s face, knocking him out on the spot. Cracking her knuckles, she turned back and gave Abra a thumbs up.

“No worries, right? I got your back.”

On the other end of the battlefield, Marianne continued to be…well, Marianne. Giggling madly and firing off dark spell after spell, she watched as the men before her quickly tried to back off due to her rather….deranged battle banter.

“Ahahha! Please die? I promise to kill you so S.L.O.W. and P.A.I.N.F.U.L.L.Y!”

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob launched himself towards the three remaining combatants diving under the first one's strike he jammed his blade in between his ribs pulled away letting him crumple off the horse. "Please stay behind Miss." He asked the healer as the other two advanced, Jacob released a flame's there path the horse bucking them off as fled the growing flames. He stared at both and flicked his blade the blood on it hitting the dirt. "Go, run back to the Church, tell them I am the Champion and I will see the peace restored to our world. You will not terrorize rape and pillage our homes under the pretense of killing heathens, now little mice run along." They two men raced away shedding armor and weapons, they had faced the Champion of Naga and lived, they feared the reprisal of there commander yet it seemed to be nothing compared to what that boy might do.

He turned back to the group with a sad look in his eyes as he looked over the destruction. "So much death... Why? I can't fathom the need for all this..." He said then looked at the other's gathered near him. "I'm sorry for bringing the extra trouble with me, but we should get you to safety." He looked back towards his forces advance, reinforcements and scavengers had clogged the battlefield. "Damn, we can't go back the way I came... No offense but it's to thick with enemies, we would be better off to take it slow and fight our way though." He looked the scared looking mage that had earlier called out his age. "I am still just a boy but I have misfortune of being told I have to fix all this, I know it's scary and I know you just want to run but please stay close if you run you could get captured or killed, I promise you'll all be fine." He said looking between the swords women, the healer, and the mage. "I'd give my life to keep any of you safe." With that he began to head back towards the fighting, his tightly gripping his sword.

[Eklispe]

Nephene ran along side the red horseman as best she could making sure that he wasn't outflanked by the fanatics. Luckily most of them appeared to think they had some skill with a sword, which she quickly proved wrong by inflicting grievous wounds upon them forcing them back. It seemed Jerod could cover Maruis well enough so Nephene quickly moved up to Jacob's group. "Looks like you could use a hand, where ya want me captain?" she asked dutifully eager to help in any way she could.

[Dedonus]

Marius

"COME A' ME YE' DAMN'D PRANCIN' NINNIES!"

Marius turned his head toward the drunken taunt, knowing well who had uttered those words. When he saw that there was a broken bottle, which no doubt use to contain some kind of alcohol, Marius was dismayed that his comrade-in-arms had turned to such a substance while fighting on the battlefield! While it seemed like Jerod was handling himself, in spite of his intoxication, Marius still felted worried, especially now that his right flank was protected by a drunk swordsman.

While he was occupied by his ally’s intoxication, an ax-wielding warrior lunged forward at Marius. Bucephalus side stepped the warriors attack, allowing its rider to turn his attention back to the fight at hand. Putting his spear aside, Marius drew his sword, knowing well that his opponent would have an advantage against him if he had still used the lance. With one swift swoop, Marius struck down the ax-warrior, spilling his blood onto the battlefield.

Suddenly, Marius felt a sharp pain in his side. Peering to his left, Marius saw a spearman shoving his spear point into his body. Over on the horizon, Marius could discern the spearwoman, who was supposed to protect his left flank, dashing over to Jacob, who was helping out three newcomers on the battlefield. What does she not understand about protecting his flank? That’s why you don’t allow children onto the battlefield.

Marius brought down his sword against the shaft of the warrior’s spear, lopping off the portion of the weapon that was lodged into his side. Then, with just as much swiftness as he had used against the last soldier, Marius lashed out at the spearman, making him tumble to his knees as the bronze blade. Once his second foe was dispatched, Marius turned back to his companions who held the rear of their position.

“Medic!”

---

Abra

It was one of those days, when you are at the wrong place and at the wrong time. If Abra had went by a different road, or had departed earlier or later than she actually did, she might not even be in this mess that she has found herself stuck in. She tried to give the swordswoman the most convincing ‘I’m okay’ smile that she could muster. While part of her thought that her feigned smile was not good enough, hopefully it sent the right message.

“Stay back or use your hidden weapons, mage, if you have them.

Abra looked down at herself and then looked back to the several peculiar characters around her. “I really hope that was not a veiled innuendo.” Abra kept these thoughts to herself because even if the mounted healer had intended to use a double entendre, she felt that giving such a response would not give the best impression to them.

"I am still just a boy but I have misfortune of being told I have to fix all this, I know it's scary and I know you just want to run but please stay close if you run you could get captured or killed, I promise you'll all be fine." He said looking between the swords women, the healer, and the mage. "I'd give my life to keep any of you safe."

“Well, I guess I’m stuck with you all. There’s no way I’m just walk away and wander this battlefield alone. I have better odds staying alive if I go along with this sixteen year old.” Abra pulled out a red-colored tome from her traveling bag. While she did not want to use it against actual humans, if push comes to shove, she would have to act, even if she did not like it.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

The cry for medic made Jerod glance back, seeing that Marius' left flank had been abandoned. Well, damn, that didn't make things any easier for them, did it. Parrying the next attacking man's attack, he lodged the broken bottle into his throat and booted him to the ground, to gurgle on his life blood as he backed up to help cover the horseman, speaking loudly over the combat so the man could hear him. Jerod had shifted his position to intercept the maximum number of enemies trying to head for the wounded cavalry, either uncaring or oblivious to his own injuries of a hauntingly similar variation, all to emphasize what he was saying to Marius now.

" Ah'll take th' frontline 'orseman. Git patched an' watc' m' sides, I'll gut all t'ese bastards wit' m' bare 'ands if ah 'ave to, savvy?"

The next man to try and take advantage of the wounded horseman was some lance wielder who was charging the drunken warrior. Jerod grinned ferally, grabbing the lance past its tip and driving the momentum into the ground rather than himself, and with a roar lopped off the head of the offending soldier, and there was enough spattered blood to no longer be able to tell what was his and what wasn't his. Jerod flicked the blade towards the ground, the blood on the blade mostly flying off as he squarely stood in the way of a fair number of anyone attempting to approach the wounded or the rear line. He figured cavalry would be better off defending the flanks rather than standing in the thickest part of the fighting. Well, shame for the enemy, he was most comfortable in a bloody and chaotic brawl rather than some grand sweeping advance across a plains or long ranged pissing contests.

Jerod frankly wasn't even remotely concerned with what was going on by the newcomers and the fact that one of the flank protectors had run off to play hero too. He scoffed at that, fending off several attacks meant to gauge his defenses and keep him occupied. Here was hoping the horseman could play flanker better than centerpoint in the line or this wouldn't last nearly as long as he would have liked. His focus right now was taking over being centerpoint in the line, letting Marius do what he needed to, whether that was patched up or blocking his flanks. Another man tried to get by Jerod, and his blade came back with blood as he lashed out and sent the offender stumbling back, not dead but he was sure going to think twice before trying that again. Jerod roared his challenge to the enemies, blade held in a sturdy two handed grip now.

"AH T'OUGHT I TOLD YE GITS! AH AM YER ENEMY NOW, NA' TH' BLOODY 'ORSEMAN! AIN' NONE OF YE GON' SURVIVE T'IS!"

Niya

Niya remounted her horse calmly as the young boy, far younger than she would have imagined, asked her to hang back instead of utterly crushing the hopes and dreams of another one of these crude thugs, and she shrugged idly. If the tactician wanted to play the game like that, then so be it, she would humor him. She had come to keep him alive, after all, and everything beyond that was up in the air really. He made his speech, and a rare smirk curled at the edge of her mouth as she glanced at the mage and Solanne, respectively, before making a comment, only loud enough for Jacob to barely hear.

"I thought he'd be taller, still cute though."

Niya was, of course, just giving the tactician mild razzing as she nudged her horse into a trot after the boy, all business now like nothing had happened at all. As she trotted after the tactician, she overlooked the battlefield, having so many fronts opened onto it now, and could have sworn she saw a familiar figure in the distance. If that drunken fool was really involved here, she would not be able to say she was really surprised. That man could never seem to avoid trouble. She asked her question though, falling in right behind the tactician as he marched grimly towards the fighting. If the fighting man in the distance was who she thought it was, then she was going to be sure to repay him back for their last crossing of paths.

"Any injuries, call them out. I can mend them. Secondly, do you employ a man named Jerod?"

[TheWendil]

“Ahahaha! Die, die, die, die, die you scum!”

Marianne made sure to keep by Caroline’s side, tossing spell after spell. Most of the enemy troops stayed a good distance away from the eye-patched Dark Mage, figuring that she was much too unstable to face directly on the battlefield. Sure, there was the mad drunk going around stabbing others with a broken bottle, but that was a quicker, more preferable death than having one’s insides magically turned inside out.

Needless to say, there were some of the enemy soldiers that stood firm and strong. Noting the warrior in red’s injuries, the lancer’s abandonment of her post, and everyone apparently following the Champion of Naga elsewhere, they saw the opportunity to take out the cleric: Caroline.

Charging forward, one of them sliced downwards at the princess with a sword. Seeing this, Marianne brought herself to stand in front of the other girl, putting her arm out and taking the blow. She hissed as blood was scattered onto the ground, the cut stinging painfully.

The enemy troops saw this as inspiration to continue their assault. Anything that bled could die. With this in mind, they charged full force in the hopes of swarming Marianne. However, they failed to hear the raspy giggle escaping from the Dark Mage’s lips.

“Eheh…you tried to hurt my friend. People that hurt my friends get B.R.O.K.E.N. Ahahaha, break for me! Break O.V.E.R. A.N.D O.V.E.R. A.G.A.I.N.”

With a flick of her hand, she began casting Nosferatu. The dark spell met the first troop point blank. At once, he fell to his knees, his strength fading away. To his horror, his body was collapsing on the inside, his internal organs shutting down, his bones liquidizing through the skin.

Marianne’s cut healed, and she hurled around the curse without concern for the enemy’s ranks. Soon enough, the sound of screams and howling became music to her ears, the squad of troops nothing more now than goops of flesh with the texture of mud.

“Wasn’t that F.U.N?” she asked Caroline.

On the other side of the battlefield, Solanne followed close to Abra, nodding in approval to her smile. At least the girl was trying to keep her cool throughout all of this. The red swordswoman sliced and hacked away at any who tried to approach them from the rear, keeping an eye out on the Champion of Naga.

“You really think he’s cute?” Solanne called out in response to Niya’s casual remark, twirling her blade. “Hmm, yeah I can see that. Ylisse sure doesn’t spare any expense to their leaders here, ya know?”

[Apollosarcher]

Caroline

The first thing she did was rush towards Marius offering a prayer and raising her staff the wound sealed as his pain eased away. Yet when she turned back to head toward Marianne who while scary was nice and protective she screamed, a soldier about end her life. She shut her eyes for a blow that never came. When she heard Marianne's cries she gasped then watched as she killed them all. As the enemy fell back to regroup Caroline hugged Marianne tightly. "Thank you! You saved my life!" Then blushing she pulled away and mumbled. "You'll make a great sister one day."

Caroline released her turning her attention back to the battle. "Marius perhaps we should regroup with my brother and then push for the long fort?" She spoke gently, looking him over once more for wounds.

Jacob

Jacob had just cut his way through the archer that had thought there rear was safe. He nearly back when he Nephene coming running asking for orders. "I told you to stay with the group!" He yelled as he watched in horror trying to move faster, his mind didn't even register the comments from his companions. He was quickly blocked by a couple of bandits whom he began to trade blows with watching as his friends in horror, as the line collapsed Marius was wounded then Jerod took over the front, his sister nearly killed as Marianne stepped up to take the blow.

That's when the leader stepped between them, a young women. She wore her hair back in ponytail as readied her blade. "You are not a true champion Naga will guide my hand!" The women was Chon'Sin her movements swift and fast. However an angry tactician is something no wishes to face.

He rolled out of the way grabbing a steel sword as he came up up. Just so each of them was in line one another. He had seen the move before it was difficult but not impossible. Charging he called out. "Here's how it's done!" And his blade found its mark in each, his short height let him push off each killing the two brigands as the women crumpled, looking up mumbling. He turned back. "Now that's strategy. Nephene back to your post."

He ordered walking over to the women he just cut down. "Niya! She's hurt. Can you help her?" He asked. He kicked her sword away crouching over her he gave her vulernary to drink. The enemy was gathering at the wall. It seemed they were trying to re-organize at the moment, a lapse in the violence. He knew his troops would catch up to them soon he only hoped they were all okay.

[Dedonus]

Marius

Once Caroline had used her healing staff on him, Marius could feel the pain melt away as his wound disappeared due to the princess’ curative magic. No longer was there any blood flowing from the horseman’s side. No longer was there a spearhead lodged into his flesh. Now that he had recovered from this little mishap, Marius knew that he had to refocus his mind toward the battle.

"Marius perhaps we should regroup with my brother and then push for the long fort?" The princess suggested.

“I second this plan of action. There is no need for us to split up our manpower (or womanpower since, if we are including only those who have entered the fray as of yet and if we are including the newcomers, there are only 3 guys here, while there are 6 women). However, we will have to inch our way over there since turning our backs to our enemies in order to rendezvous with our allies could give our enemies an advantage.”

“Jerod, take the left side and start making your way towards Jacob. I will protect your right flank. My advantage given by my mobility will hopefully keep soldiers off your flank. Everyone else who cannot stand in the front lines should stay behind us. Also, provide me and Jerod some support cover, if possible.”

Marius pulled out one of his javelins and hurled it toward one of the approaching warriors. Even though the horseman’s projectile found its mark, the swordsman still charged toward the group. Seeing that his javelin had not felled the man, Marius, with his Iron Lance in hand, charged forward against the wounded warrior, aiming his spear at the swordsman. With one strong blow, Marius caused the man to crumble to the ground.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

Jerod had been using as much showmanship with his sword and brazen yelling as he had doing real damage to keep the damn fanatics at bay. Meanwhile all the talking and fighting in the backranks showed that, not surprisingly, one man and a wounded horseman were not good line holding material in an open plain like this. Jerod would be having words with the lad after this, probably on better ways to imply to some that STAY PUT was as valid a way of telling someone to hold the line as anything else. The chatter on tactics and plans got a grunt from the mercenary, as he looked towards the best path to do just that, responding to the orders from the horseman.

"Aye, y' got it 'orseman. Alright, y' gits, le's get t'is movin', sooner we git t'ere..."

Jerod never finished that sentenace the way he intended, a whistling arrow embedding itself firmly in his right shoulder, causing him to step backwards, or risk being toppled by the force of the arrow stopping in his shoulder. The mercenary looked at the arrow, and offending archer who was in their way anyways, as several more soldiers poured over to try and stop their suspected advance. Jerod knew better than to break the arrow off, which would not be easy anyways as arrows are built to not break like that, or rip it out, barbs might make that problematic. Best bet would be pushing it through, if the scale he was wearing would not have prevented that on the other side. No, it would wait to come out, and with all this thought in a split second, he glared at the offending enemies and started charging towards Jacob and his newfound harem, roaring in rage again at the first known wound to the group, his cloak and armor helping hide the second. Nothing intelligeable or even worded this time, just one constant roar of rage and hate carrying the wounded but unshaken mercenary into their ranks, the ones separating Jerod and company from Jacob and company, trusting the horseman to do his damn job.

Jerod punched through the, albeit far thinner, ranks and cut the archer's bow clean in two, leaving a rather nasty wound from shoulder to hip across the man as well as he collapsed to the ground. Turning to his left, he fought the two on that side as he left the right flank to Marius, as was the plan. A straight kick sent the axe wielding warrior stumbling to the ground, out of wind, and he left that for the crazy dark mage girl to deal with. He locked blades with the other soldier, before twisting and headbutting the man, shattering his nose and followed up with a clean cut that left his throat open to the bone. A fatal injury, indeed, and he turned to aid Marius if he needed it before leading the group to Jacob, a grin on his face despite the injuries he had sustained, and once he saw Niya tending to the wounded woman he began laughing.

"Lad, w'ere in th' 'ell did ye dig yer up from? An' th' Crimson 'ound no less a' well, yer reputation precedes ye' lass! An' th' rest o' yer grand army, reportin' fer th' line breakin' push, savvy?"

Niya

Niya sat upon her horse, scanning her surroundings when she promptly ducked, an arrow narrowly missing the group and its intended target as it embedded itself in the dirt several feet behind Solanne, having missed Niya and Abra as well. Solanne's reply to her own small comment got a soft shrug before responding, speaking rather quietly as was her want.

"Quite, a tad bit on the soft side though. Mind the arrows."

Niya watched the fighting and struggle going on around her between friendly and not so friendly forces, the Feroxians seemed to be holding the Longfort still, catching glimpses of an old man in their ranks that she did not recognize as one of their own. Probably on loan from this group that were relieving the Feroxians, then, as she continued trotting after Jacob as he fought, noting his swordsmanship was, at worse, on par with his magic, which had proven sufficient so far. She noted that, after cutting the woman and her two friends down, promptly took concern for her being injured, and Niya sighed as she raised the healing staff, stabilizing the woman despite her better judgement. Orders were orders, after all, and after the emergency stabilizing, she hopped off her horse to further examine the injured woman, sighing quietly at the sound of that familiar mercenary bellowing across the field of battle once more.

"She is stable, although survival is not guaranteed right now. Jerod, I would say welcome home, but we're still far too south for that. Khan might not be pleased to see you here, one of them at any rate."

[TheWendil]

Marianne was caught off guard by the hug given to her. In hindsight, she was probably luckier than any guy that wanted to court of princess of Ylisse. Of course, those thoughts didn’t register to her at this moment…well, maybe just a little. Giggling, she hugged Caroline back before letting go.

“Aw, you’re welcome Miss Fearless Leader’s Sister. When you die in battle, I’ll be sure to stuff your killer’s head down their necks! It’ll take some twisting, but I’m sure I have a hex made just for that.”

As Marius led the Shepherds forward toward Jacob’s location, the Dark Mage skipped along happily while casting spells here and there. As they soon rendezvoused with Jacob’s group, Marianne paused suddenly. A presence she hadn’t felt since…

“Heheheh….”

Likewise, Solanne froze in place, a chill running down her spine. She had the odd feeling that someone was watching her. Looking around the battlefield, she finally matched gazes with her stalker. For once, the Crimson Hound wanted to bolt it out of there.

In the span perhaps five seconds, she had been tackled by something short and fast. Looking down, she saw her lower torso being clenched tightly by a certain Dark Mage.

“Big sister!”

Marianne hugged tighter, not really caring about the battle right now.

“E-Er, hey there Marianne. Uh, nice to see you, but we’re in the middle of war, ya know?”

It took all of the swordswoman’s will not to flinch away from the eye-patched girl.

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob

Took a moment to register everything that had happened, first Niya had said she knew Jerod which through him off. Jerod was a drunk and brute, a decent guy but still a drunk and a brute. How could a respectable women of the cloth like Niya... Never mind he thought as his brain remembered went back to the joke of him being cute and the other him being short. She wasn't a proper cleric at all, then again none of them were what you expected soldiers to be like, he kind of liked that.

Next of course came the blur that went past him and wrapped it's arms around Solanne. He slowly got up and walked over towards the two. The break in the combat wouldn't last long. "Marius take the prisoner back to the wagons and have her hands and feet tied. As for the rest of you regroup and rest. Drink vulernaries if you have them and pass them to other if they need them, lets not waste staff's in a non combat situation." He spoke in relaxed way as he went around even taking a moment to have a drink himself.

He stopped standing over Solanne and Marianne sighing. "Marianne would you mind making the introductions?" He asked as he cleaned his sword picking his tome back up and placing it in his robes. He looked back towards the crazed and beaten warriors near the wall, many of them falling to arrows and javelins, the Feroxi somehow having repaired the gaping hole in the wall. He hoped it wasn't with dead bodies, he shuddered at the thought. Still he sheathed his sword and offered a hand to help Marianne up. "So Solanne your Marianne's sister?" Asked the curious young tactician.

Caroline

Simply sighed, Marianne had a strange way of showing affection yet she was glad Jacob was going to marry a sweet girl like her. Wait, did mother know? She should right a letter and... Wait maybe she should first check with Jacob before letting Marianne get her hopes for a lovely wedding. Maybe she was just exaggerating the truth a little, still she would hang near her brother this time. Maybe she could a moment to talk to him before Marianne latched back on to his arm like a lost puppy.

Shrugging she walked over and leaned again Jacob looking at Solanne and Marianne. If Marianne had a sister that would be nice they could all talk and maybe help her understand Marianne better, also her strange obsession with Jacob.

[Dedonus]

Marius

Marius was now pressing the advantage given to him by being on horseback to the fullest. No longer having to stay rather stationary in the middle of the battle line, the red horseman galloped here and there, baiting the enemy soldiers to think it was safe to flank Marius’ allies. Once they had committed to their attack, Marius would rush back, cutting them down from behind. Not a single man reached the blind spot of Jerod and the others while Marius was protecting the right flank.

However, once the forces that were left under Marius’ command merged with Jacob and the new recruits (as Marius presumed), the cavalier was surprised that even with the battle still raging, most of his fellow warriors stopped and began greeting one another!

“Ladies!” Marius said, even though Jerod and Jacob were standing right there, “This isn’t a family reunion nor a meet and greet! We’re still in the middle of a battle!”

Before he directed his horse over toward their unconscious hostage, Marius felt he needed to throw in his two cents (or whatever the equivalence was in the currency of Ylisse).

“I would recommend that we should learn from our recent mistakes by not splitting our group up again. If we are going take this prisoner back to the convoy, we should probably do so as a group.”

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

Jerod grumbled and made a familiar, and highly offensive, gesture at Niya before finding a place to seat himself and check over himself, mopping away a lot of blood that, thankfully, was not his. Then he winced, finding the spearhead lodged in his left side, and grumbled under his breath as he looked about, seeing no vulneries or healers free at the moment. Well, that was inconvenient, to put it mildly. The other folk seemed busy with their own work, so he would have to patch himself up, as usual. Biting down on a piece of metal, he grimaced as he removed the metal spearhead from his midriff, ripping off a part of his cloak to tie off the wound, keeping anymore blood from pouring out. It wasn't a great patch, but he didn't have time to find a fire and sear it shut, or a sewing kit and stitch it shut. So he bound it to the point of being nearly unbearable, which was better than bleeding out. He would find a more permenant fix for it later, right now, he needed to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. Feroxians had the wall plugged, probably with the dead of both sides. That would reek before too long, he thought with a snort. Which hurt, and that meant he was going to be feeling the worst of it before too long. Great, one more thing on top of the whole situation so far, and he sounded off from his sitting position.

"'ow long d' ye plan t' 'ave us sittin' 'round fer, lad? B'tween t'em Feroxians an' th' stark ravin' mad cultists, sittin' out 'ere ain' the wisest o' plans."

---

Niya

Niya hauled herself back onto her horse, the prisoner stabilized and taken care of. She refused to spare Jerod a second look right now, although it was not because she was concerned about getting emotional. Well, emotional in the sense of spite, but that was neither here nor there. She kept a careful watch for anyone who was not them heading their way, friend, foe, unknown, or anything in between for that matter. The cavalryman spoke on not splitting up again, and she shrugged briefly before putting her two cents in on the matter, speaking little beyond that considering it was not her place to, nor was it to try to overrule the tactician's ideas and plans.

"If I may, if we must split, send cavalry to remove the prisoner. They will get there and back faster. Fighting near the wall, not a quick and dynamic front yet. Not cavalry territory normally."

[TheWendil]

"U-Uh, well, actually, I-”

“Of course she’s my sister silly! Don’t you see the resemblance? We look a lot alike, right, right, right?”

Solanne scratched her head nervously as Marianne continued to hug her leg tighter than before. Not the best way to make first impressions on the supposed Champion of Naga. But hey, whatever worked, right?

“We’re not related by blood,” Solanne finally got out. “I’m more of the spell spitter’s guardian, ya know? Kinda like a big sister, but not by parents. It’s a long story Champion, and I’ll explain the details after we’re through kicking ass here. Sound like a plan?”

The Crimson Hound caught Caroline staring at her and waved over a friendly greeting. She’d be getting some stares no doubt with having the Dark Mage clinging to her leg.

“Hey mount rider,” Solanne called out to Marius. “Doesn’t look like the enemy’s engaging us right now. Actually, I reckon they’re fleeing with their tails between their legs. Now’s the perfect time for a family reunion, ya know?”

Solanne grinned widely.


“And if not, then we’ll just kick some more Church ass.”

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob

"Relax Marius the enemy has fallen back. there regrouping and likewise so are we. The troops need a minute to relax I'll allow it. How about Niya and Marius head back to the caravan with thee prisoner, she's a church assassin sent here to hunt Shepherds." He said examining her attire and Naga pendant with a sword crossed behind it.

Sighing he looked back towards the remaining enemies and called out. "Your commander has been defeated, flee or surrender. You'll be crushed if you remain." He yelled out, that's when the line broke. Each of men on the losing side paused considering the words of the young man. However the Grandmaster was not one for mercy, with a simple order Feroxian knights surged forward crushing those who had paused at the Champions words. Survivors ran but warriors gave chase, axes quickly burying into the backs of those fleeing the fight.

Jacob watched in horror at the old mans strategy, cutting down those who no longer had the will to fight. He hoped he never ended up like that, no matter what. "Marius... If everyone is alright would you mind leading them back to the caravan... I need to talk with old bastard." He said hands clenched as stepped forward. Everyone could feel the tension, he planned to attack the old coot and scream like a child at how he was monster. They could see the sadness and rage burning in his eyes.

Caroline

Stepping over she cast a mending spell on Jerod looking him over for any wounds her magic may have missed. She gasped looking back at her brother, she'd never seen him so furious. She leaned over and whispered to Jerod. "Would you mind stopping him? He's going to get himself hurt like that, the old coot has years more experience and power over Jacob." She said in a worried tone, the exchange moments ago with Solanne forgotten in light of this new horrifying development.

[Dedonus]

Marius | Abra

"If I may, if we must split, send cavalry to remove the prisoner. They will get there and back faster. Fighting near the wall, not a quick and dynamic front yet. Not cavalry territory normally."

“You do realize that what you mean by ‘cavalry’ is only you and that guy named Marius over there, right?” Abra intruded into the conversation that had just started. “While I can see that you are quite, um, how should I put this, intense for a healer, would it really make much of a difference if only you went with him?”

There was a small moment of silence after Abra had made her opinion known. She wondered what the others were thinking, that she’s in no position to criticize anyone because Abra herself was the one freaking out about how desentualized they were to war and violence. Once Marius broke the since, Abra was relieved that he would making a response to what the others had said beforehand.

“You cannot be too careful on the battlefield. Once you have let your guard down, you are at your most vulnerable. Cannot be too sure about what tricks these men have up their sleeves.”

After Jacob had demanded the remaining ‘Church’ soldiers to surrender and Andre took advantage of the situation by pressing the defenders forward to cut down the remaining invaders, Jacob looked as if he was about ready to blow a gasket. Before he accepted the task of leading the Shepherds back to the caravan, Marius first wanted to get one final word in.

“If I say so myself, Sir Jacob, while you might not approve of Master Andre’s tactics, this is probably not the time and place to confront him about his wartime decisions. Would it not be better to do so in private after the battle has finally reached its conclusion? This is just my advice as a third party. Take it or leave it.”

Marius then turned Bucephalus around in order to lead the remaining Shepherds back in order to get everyone regrouped and rested before they had to reenter the fray, if such actions were even necessary.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

The mercenary quietly patted himself down as the crazy princess sister of the Lad himself cast her healing magic on him. That made things quite a bit easier, that much was certain. Standing up with a grunt, he cracked his knuckles with a grin. Good as new, well, good as he was going to get at any rate. Of course there was a string attached to her patching him up, which was certainly expected, and he shrugged as he looked over towards the lad as he stormed off in the general direction of the old Grandmaster fellow. Oh he saw a bad decision before the princess asked him to even intervene, and as the mounted knight fellow made his own comment towards Jacob, he doubted polite and hands off would stop the lad. Because words don't arrest momentum, after all. Jerod sighed and nodded towards the princess, muttering an aside to her as he utilized greater stride length and increased momentum to close their distance before the Lad himself could get into some real trouble.

"Aye lass, ah can stop th' champion o' naga from doin' somethin' stupid thi' time. Consider it on t'e 'ouse, savvy?"

Jerod wasted no time catching up with Jacob, resting a hand on his shoulder and stopping, his firm grip and heavy handed approach arresting the lads momentum, or at least intending to. He spoke quietly to the lad, the relatively older and wiser mercenary intending to impart some wisdom on the lad, especially considering what he intended to do. He didn't try to be subtle about it either, even if he wasn't yelling or being belligerent about it. Could he stop the lad by force? Possibly, especially considering the situation at hand he would have the drop on him, but that didn't mean he had any interest in sucker punching the Champion of Naga and hauling his unconscious ass off the battlefield. He would need collateral pay for that. The main goal was to get him to walk away, simmer down, and not do something stupid. He was too honest for his own good, dishonest ones you could trust in being dishonest. It was the honest ones that worried him, they tended to do stupid things in the name of honor and chivalry.

"Jacob, ah wouldn' advise goin' after th' Grandmaster, savvy? 'e 'as got years o' experience and trainin' in t'e very same field as ye, and yer blinded by rage and grief. 'e has the tactical advantage in both experience and state o' mind, aye? Ye really wan' t' butt 'eads with 'im, cool down and t'ink about yer approach, ah wouldn' go fer 'im w'en 'e is expectin' violence an combat. Drop 'im w'en 'e is womanizin', eh?"

It was a fair bit more direct and invasive than what the horseman attempted, but invasive was needed when emotions were rampant.

Niya

"You are correct, mage, I am technically unarmed as a healer. But I have faith our talented Ser Knight would be able to handle anything that came our way."

Of course, once Marius went about starting to head back towards the convoy of the Shepards, the healer decided right about then that she would be tagging along regardless of whether they wanted her or not, so she fell in trot alongside Marius, and spoke quietly to him, as she assumed he would be the second in command of this rag tag band of heroes, renegades, and mercenaries. Quite a colorful group, really, from what she had seen so far.

"Sir, assuming it is safe to consider you a second in command, I am volunteering my aid as a mounted healer toward your band of fighters. Any questions you might have, I can answer within reason."

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob

The tactician sighed and turned back slowly trudging back to the group and the caravan with a sigh. "I don't get it... They were about to give it up, that wasn't a fight they slaughtered them. I don't... I don't understand..." He spoke looking at the snow as he slowly crawled back up the hill and into a cart. He sat down and just looked out, he need to think and clear his mind. Jacob sighed staring at the snow still, here it was still fresh and white yet else it was coated in blood and death. He could hardly believe it, he just sat there letting his mind try to deal with the images before him.

Caroline

The Princess had set off for the caravan as well giving her brother a wide berth to deal with his problems. Slowly she took a seat at the rear most carriage with the crates of food and supplies. She felt bad for him and angry at his teacher. Sighing she laid back against a bag of rice shutting her eyes, sleep would help her to forgot these horrors... Right?

Andres

The Grandmaster traded words with the Knights and as thank you they quickly acknowledged his seal of the Exalt and opened the gate. The old mane picked up a stick and walked back, his pipe hanging out of his mouth his spell and blade lay at his side as the victorious old man walked back across the field inspecting his handy work and mumbling about it all. He reclaimed his seat at the front of the caravan silently as he puffed smoke pointing the driver onward the man nodded and they slowly rolled towards the gate of Regna Ferox.

[TheWendil]

With the battle seeming to come to a close, Solanne let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, facing off enemy troops was quite enough for her for one day. She looked down at the still clinging Marianne. She was about to comment when the Dark Mage suddenly let go of her and walked off. The regained balance almost made the swordswoman fall forward before catching herself.

“Where’s she heading to?” she asked to herself.

Marianne spotted the discouraged Jacob and slowly sat beside him. She could he was pretty shaken up from the Old Man’s cruelty shown in battle, though she didn’t have the first clue in trying to comfort him. So instead, she did what she did best.

“Fearless Leader? Are you upset about Mr. Pervert’s actions? You know he was only trying to win the battle, right? In war, people die all the time! This isn’t even the most disturbing thing I’ve seen!”

The girl reached into her dress pocket to reveal a bloody finger. Smiling still, she showed it off to Jacob happily.

“See? This man died because he chose to get himself slaughtered. Even though he was killed, he wanted to die in battle, I think. The same with those soldiers just now. They chose to die for their cause and the only way to respect that is to show them the same cruelty. It’s only fair Fearless Leader.”

The Dark Mage brought the severed finger closer to the Grand Champion in an attempt to give it to him. Not the most heart lifting speech, but it made a bit of sense. Solanne watched from afar, sighing as the younger girl was no doubt giving Jacob all sorts of nightmares.

Intentionally of course. She was only trying to help.