Conscripts

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

⚘ Steffen Gravinir ⚘

---

Seems like the bait didn't work. The Barukstaedian was not as aggressive as he expected. And credits where its due, it was a smart move. Cooling down and not getting overly aggressive, even in what could be seen as a taunt, took certain mindsets to be drilled into them. But that left Steffen with having to break his usual fighting style and be aggressive. Normally, it wouldn't be too big of a deal, but his opponent was wearing this mystical runic armor of unknown properties. And he's also Barukstaedian...

"Hmmm." Steffen returned the nod with a faint smirk, acknowledging the return message, before his head tilted slightly. Despite the disadvantages that he had over the enemy, he still had several ideas, and he could test some of them right now.

The Ingvarr kept his distance from the axe man for a moment, clearly trying to wait for his moment. And when it came, he moved swiftly, trying to close the distance and get close enough so that the lengthy axe began to work against the warrior, delivering a flurry of straight punches, with occasional punches rounding from the sides, mostly aiming towards his exposed face. Any clashes colliding with the axe or the armor produced an earth-shattering sound. If the armor hadn't been runic, it likely would have been dented. But the commitment to attacking the upper half section of his opponent left Steffen somewhat open to being hit back.

@Rune_Alchemist@Creative Chaos@Crimson Paladin

Sky High Delivery Service!

@Periodity Hi there, I saw that the RP status is full but I wonder if it is still possible to join or put my name on the list for later if there is an opening? Thanks!

Dreaming Together With You - A Fading Memory Experiment - On Hiatus

David Liang

---

Rowan's refusal did put him in a little bit of a difficult spot, to either go with his classmate or stay with the group to play more balls. While neither probably would not mind if he picked one, David wanted to hang out with both. It's been a while since he had seen his friends, outside of classes...David fiddled with the ball for a moment, before the group headed over to him.

"Ya busy?" One of the group's kid asked.

"Umm, not really, but..."

"It's alright, we're gonna head to Suraj's house now for some games afterwards. You can always come around. Enjoy the festival man."

They didn't exactly pressure David, but they kinda just left without him really being able to pull their skirts, so they did make him a choice supposedly. Well, fine with him, hopefully...

"Well, uhh." He turned to Rowan. "I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together."
@Fading Memory@Jumbus

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

⚘ Steffen Gravinir ⚘

---

He did not expect anything less of Barukstaedians, but what he was a little taken aback of was his sudden aggression, not letting the Ingvarr regain his breathe and charged straight at him with his axe already gleaming for the kill. But the runic armor, the giant two-handed axe and a very committal overhead swing left a rather easy time guessing where that axe was going to go.

As the axe sped up to the point of no readjustment, Steffen jumped sideways away from the axe's blow, leaving it crashing through where his head had been half a second ago and into the ground, the explosion that came afterwards doing relatively little damage to him aside from a couple rocks flung towards him. As grateful as he is that the Flower of the North immediately took advantage of the moment, and the Sword Sage standing by, the axe-wielder was seemingly unfazed by Fleuri and the axe explosion, something which for any normal person would have maimed or killed. Granted it was likely the result of the runic armor, but this did make things a little tricky.

Standing up straight, the Ingvarr knight wrapped the hammer back to his waist, and the shield back behind him. Two more weapons made useless against this blessed northern warrior, for magic transcended the physical realm. However, it was not very hard to read between the lines. From that first moment when they both clashed, the magic running its courses through his metallic weapon was not always explosive. If that axe could explode on command, Steffen would have been dead the moment he attempted a contest of strength.

'That, or he's not a very combat-experienced individual.'

He wanted to know which one it is.

"I got the mass, I can hold him down." Steffen stepped up once again, standing ahead of his two fellow knights, knowing he was the only person capable of holding back this opponent's sheer strength. "Please be the hammer once the axe lays on the anvil."

Once again, the Ingvarr stepped closer to the Barukstaedian, but outside of his axe striking range. But unlike last time, he did not make any attempts to get the first strike in. He maintained his composure and waited for the northerner to make a move, but while also wordlessly conveying his message to him: both his hands raised to his chest level, one in front of the other, the hand closest to his opponent curled into a fist.

@Crimson Paladin@Creative Chaos@Rune_Alchemist@VitaVitaAR

Dreaming Together With You - A Fading Memory Experiment - On Hiatus

Alright, I moved David over to the festival.

@Jumbus It's a rather overly-elaborate transition to just say hi to Rowan, but I hope you don't mind me doing that lol. We can always do something else if she's not interested.

Dreaming Together With You - A Fading Memory Experiment - On Hiatus

David Liang

---

"He is, I'm glad to learn that he is doing well." David gave a warm smile and a nod to Enrique's fatherly, or grandfatherly, jokes. He hoped to see Will again at some point. Maybe he could ask if they could meet up for the festival or something, but David continued his work for now, not wanting to be distracted. As the work proceeded, the laptop disassembled then reassembled with new parts, that thought was forgotten as a new visitor came into the bakery. He did not immediately recognize the man, but Enrique quickly reminded him. It was Tom Springer, and with him came with some emotional baggage, something something about a woman, likely his wife?

"R-Right, haha...it's umm...I'll keep in mind." He laughed nervously, finding it really difficult to properly respond to the weird grumble. He did not want to offend Audrey's father, but he obviously did not share the ideal, and also it took quite a bit to actually process the word play, and when he did, it had diluted in his already tired brain for the day that he could barely give off an empty indecipherable sigh. The boy silent admired the elder Enrique, who was really keeping himself composed. This must not be the first time this happens.

Thankfully, Tom had nothing else to do with him and just left after getting his things. It was then that he saw the sunlight gleaming off the ground. It had gotten late, the festival was about to begin. He quickly wrapped up his work and returned the laptop to Mr Enrique. "There, the motherboard has been replaced, all your stuff should still be there." Quite a bad issue if he was being honest, but for that, the Mencia owner was grateful. The cupcake was a fresh cupcake, chocolate too, something he did order more than often. "Thank you very much Mr Enrique. Enjoy the festival as well!" He left the bakery with a big smile on his face.

Since the computer shop already closed for the day, David went back to his home to put away the tool. The house was still empty by the time he arrived; his father must've already left for the festival. He set the tool down on the table in the middle of the room, knowing he'd be picking it up later anyway - a trick so that he'd never forget anything is to just lay it out where he could not miss. In the middle of the room was a picture of Wong and David at the airport. It was before they left the country to come here. David reminiscently glanced at his younger-self. His face was rounder, his eyes were brighter, but he wore the same kind of shirt he is wearing at the present day. It felt...weird, but relieved. The kid that were eager but anxious of what's to come back then...he wished he could have told him what he had found in the journey.

And his dad too...

"Pa, hope you're enjoying yourself." David whispered into the picture, before taking his leave. He could change to something else, but he was in a hurry and his work attire kinda works for the less warm night.

---

"Hey, it's David!" He heard his name called. It was a couple of kids from up the streets, whom too were from immigrant families. It was relatively easy to get along because of that. "Wanna join us?"

"Sure, what are you guys doing?" David agreed without hesitation, looking at what one of them was holding. It seemed to be a soccer ball, but it's also a lot smaller and seemed to be made of thin bamboo layers wrapped into a sphere. It gave a rather...exotic feel to it.

"Come, you'll get it eventually." The one holding the ball had David by the arms and pulled him into the group. The others fanned out in a circle, then the one with the ball tossed it over to another, who caught the ball with his foot then kicked it over to another person in the circle, who'd deflect it to another, then another, then another, all the while the ball never touched the ground. Until the group felt like they had demonstrated enough, who'd kick it over to David.

Caught a bit off-guard, David tried imitating them, but the ball hit his foot at the wrong angle and it fell onto the ground instead. He shied a bit from the group at his mistake, but they didn't seem to care, just a laugh off before continuing.

"This feels familiar." He remarked after seeing it several more times. This is just like that game he always played with the school kids during break back then! Ah the memories. The next time the ball was sent his way, David tried remembering how he used to do it. Then his legs just moved on its own.

"Yeah! You got it!" The group cheered as David made a perfect pass with his ankle-side of his foot. A few more circulations before the ball bounced back to him, in which he caught, tossed backward with his foot before swinging the same foot over to his backside, intercepting and delivering the ball gracefully over his head to another player, earning him an awe from the group. A big grin appeared on David's face as well. He still got it!

The seemingly fun little 'unofficial game' soon drew a small crowd of curious onlookers. David continued his theatrical physical performance, looking excited and juxtaposing the seemingly serious impression one might have had earlier from him. It was only when he missed the pass that he was finally brought back to Earth. The ball rolled over to the crowd, and in particular to the feet of someone he knew.

"Hey Rowan!" He noticed her among the crowds. "How are you doing? Do you want to join us?"

@Jumbus@Fading Memory

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

⚘ Steffen Gravinir ⚘

---

More undeads fell, not few were as forgiving as the Knight Captain's clean and elegant swordplay. The Ingvarr felt little satisfaction as he smashed the joints of one of the last undeads who were willing to put up a fight for their wretched masters who forcefully disturbed their spirits, before brutally stomped on their skull, the bones cracked like corns to fire, the amethyst fire raging extinguished for good. They felt no pain, but the livings would feel no pleasure hearing this was the final end to their ancestors. But only this would guarantee their eternal rests.

However, the path forward was still not yet clear. Something within his sixth sense immediately stabbed at his heart the moment that gleaming light sliced through the darkness, perhaps just as fast as the Knight Captain's, but unlike her, he was too far away to act. Thankfully, it was the Knight Captain, and she managed to slip from danger by a hair's breadth. Twice.

Suspicions fired off the more this new enemy made himself known to him and his fellow knights. The titanic structure of a man, the large clunky axe, glowing mythical luminescence, the long beard, and most importantly the fancy armor. The hellish beast decoration were not just for intimidation. They looked unfamiliar to Thalnese inhabitants, but these patterns were more common sights for the northerners, especially for those familiar with Barukstaed.

A land older than time, harder than a serpent scale, untamed and hellish cold...

Fanilly wanted the new enemy to be at least kept occupied, as it was pretty instinctive that neutralizing this armoured hulk of an enemy was not going to be easy. As the man took a step forward, the Ingvarr too stepped a foot in front of the Knight Captain, his action conveyed just as much as his unspoken words of volunteers. He would take this fight. For the mission, but also for his curiosity. He wanted to confirm what he likely already knew.

Steffen stopped right outside of the axe strike range of his enemy, the only part of his body close enough would be his right foot, which he put down without a sound. Glaring straight at the steelclad conspirator for a brief second, the foot that seemed indecisive one moment earlier immediately dug into the stone. Within an eye-blink, Steffen was deep in his strike range, his war hammer already on a downward swing right towards him. However, his opponent read his palm, as both weapons slammed into one another with mighty reverberance, creating a lock. A titanic force against an unbowing mountain.

Steffen pushed his strength forward down, seemingly gaining the upper hand, but quickly realized his mistake. His opponent was trying to slide the hammer into an uncomfortable position before retaliating with his own immense strength. Thus, the Ingvarr very swiftly broke the lock on his own terms and quickly moved away from any counter attacks.

"This feels familiar..." Steffen mumbled. This strength...he'd be here for a while.

"I'd need a helping hand, to be certain." He turned to his knights. He could probably go neck in neck with him in a duel, but this is not supposed to be a duel. There is no honor to be had here, nor is there any that Steffen wanted. He wanted this person neutralized, the hostage rescued and the tomb cleansed. Nothing more. "Oh, and Captain, take these." He took out the vials from Sir Fleuri's and tossed it to Fanilly. "Knock them dead...again."

@VitaVitaAR@HereComesTheSnow@ERode@Crimson Paladin

Dreaming Together With You - A Fading Memory Experiment - On Hiatus

@Teyao I figured they'd be casual/study friends. David would appreciate his friend-to-all personality, and is willing to share his more outlander knowledge with him.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

⚘ Steffen Gravinir ⚘

---

Steffen quietly admired the mausoleum that Sir Fleuri showed him. It was not as grand as the best he had seen, but more of the rich history that laid the foundation to these structures. Mausoleums may be just as common as seeing grass for the residents of Thaln, but in the land the Ingvarr knight had come from, the dead would be cremated instead. The most prestigious would return to the earth on a boat with all their precious possession, symbolizing their return to the Grand Raegenhere. Some others would get cremated on a pyre and their ashes scattered from mountaintops. Most often is the case for the latter, due to costs and/or urgency. There were virtually no threats of necromancy because there were no bodies to work with. Their spirits belong to the Wolf Father and the Thunder Lord rather than some sacrilegious renegades. But it is their way of honoring the dead, and as an outlander, Steffen had no intention of disrespecting that. Besides, they were unique, dynamic, symbolic and made for interesting stories, and he was all for that. The chilly moist that accompanied these sort of places didn't unsettle Steffen much. After all, death shouldn't be something creepy, but more of proof of their existence, and even to the valorous fallen they would belong to the warm paradise of the sun if they were to belong to the Reon's. Given the description of his ancestors, he had the feeling they belonged there.

The weapons that Fleuri retrieved also were of great importance, as he requested its return. The history were as worthy of reading as any, but given their importance not just for the prestige of the Jodeau house, but also for the mausoleum's sake, Steffen was a little hesitant on taking on it. Steffen was known for breaking weapons, and yes these were magical weapons, but that didn't mean it wouldn't break. He had asked the Rose's blacksmith for a tougher weapon that isn't his family spear, but he hadn't gotten around to it yet. He would take several vials of holy water, and would carry both weapons back to the Knight Captain, but only would take on the weapon if no one else wanted it.

---

The stench was obviously different compared to the Jodeau's mausoleum. The tombs are being desecrated, and the smell of rotten flesh removed what remained of who it used to be. The war hammer was drawn way before the first undead fell, but he was not the first to charge in. Aside from the hotheaded Fleuri, it seemed to be coherence in battle plan, and for him, he had the mass and brute, he were to bear the brunt as Dame Serenity commanded.

Steffen nodded silently and quickly moved to the front with his shield and war hammer before the wind bolt by Dame Cecilia was fired. He felt his heartbeat getting louder, but at the same time slower. Any miscellaneous sounds around him began to fade out, as if the wind that carried it was sucked into the magical arrow.

'Feels just like yesterday...'

Everything seemed to fall instinctively to him. The moment that arrow hit the ground, Steffen rushed forward. He skipped any undeads that were incapacitated and on the ground as a result of the arrow, letting his fellow knights to take on the easy prey. Those who were still standing, in particular one with a shield and sword raised to meet the Ingvarr's towering approach, were his to take. He picked up the pace for the last few strides before planting one foot firmly on the ground, raising the other's knee as high as his shoulders, before delivering a vicious front kick into its shield, sending it flying, leaving a visible dent on the shield. Another undead charged at him with an axe, but both his hands were raised in response. One left hand with a shield block, and one right hand swung overhead to send the war hammer directly into the visible skull. He had no swords to cut off their heads with, but their bones are no longer the great warriors and nobles that embodied them: weak and crushable.

@ERode@Crimson Paladin@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist

Dreaming Together With You - A Fading Memory Experiment - On Hiatus

David Liang

---

The lure of the bakery was hard to resist. It was many times different from the contemporaries elsewhere that he knew of. Homely, warm and inviting. Just like the man standing in front of David, whom showed nothing but friendliness to him. David still hadn't forgotten the time he gave him free extra pastries just because he was new in town. He couldn't help but let out a smile as he stepped into the bakery.

"I am doing good, thank you Mr Enrique. How about you?" Instinctively he gave a slight bow as he neared the bakery owner. "I'd love to, but computers can be frustrating. I don't want you to be more of that than you already are. Don't worry, it is my last commission of the day, then I will go join the festival." David raised a thumbs-up in response, a little awkwardly but his enthusiasm was there.

When Enrique brought out the laptop as arranged, David wasted no time to unpack his tool, the replacement parts and got to work. He already corresponded with the man earlier back and forth, so he already knew what the problem was already. It just took a bit to figure out the tabs, as he hadn't opened many of these machines physically, and they were pretty tight. But he filled the silence by chatting with Enrique.

"Where is William today? I have not seen him in a while."
@Fading Memory