Avatar of Kalmar

Status

User has no status, yet

Bio

User has no bio, yet

Most Recent Posts


You know your city is screwed when you've started creating designated "Poverty Regions." :P
Lord Captain Leofric

The walls and towers of Syrome soon came into view, as the Storm's Herald glided toward the harbour. They had made a brief stop at an island to the north, to rendezvous with six of their ships. Thankfully, they had not been delayed for long, and could continue onward to their destination. The rest of the fleet was to meet them at Syrome, and Leofric could already make out at least three more of his own ships moored next to each other.

They had taken another vessel on their way south, a trading ship which contained salt and spices. They would be able to sell its cargo here for a hefty profit. Unfortunately, it had not been Eodaen. the entire reason Leofric had gone so far north in the first place was to try and get an update on his homeland's political situation. Sadly, neither vessel had a clue.

The ship slid into an empty space at the dock, and the gangplank was lowered. A custom official was waiting. Leofric crossed over to meet him, cursing internally. Damn these Syromeans and their draconian security measures. Why couldn't they be more like Eodaeland?

And then he remembered the state his homeland had come to, and begrudgingly retracted that thought. Belisar may be just as sleazy as Badastan, but at least he wasn't filling his people's heads with nonsense.

Fortunately, Leofric had an arrangement with this particular official. They exchanged a few words, and Leofric handed him a pouch that was perhaps a bit too heavy to simply cover the standard docking fee. And with that, Leofric walked back onto his ship, pleased to have avoided the usual inspection and series of questions.

"Alicia," Leofric gestured to two of his officers, "see to it that our recently acquired goods are sold."

"Yes, my lord," Alicia said with a quick bow and a slight smile. With that, she began gathering crewmembers and sending them below deck.

"Aella," Leofric turned to his first mate. "Go pay a visit to those three ships. I want an update on their crew sizes, cargo, how many ships they have taken, and anything they've learned."

Aella nodded wordlessly, and saw to her duty.

"Aewick and Ecbert, with me," Leofric said, pointing to two of his more loyal crew members who were currently armed. Both men nodded, and came to his side.

Then, he turned to his Oarmaster. "Peric, keep order on the ship until I get back."

Peric nodded seriously. "Yes sir." Then, there was a moment of hesitation, before he added, "might I ask where you are going?"

Leofric forced a smile. "To pay a visit to our good friend in the palace, of course."
I've been holding off because I wanted to give the other people in my character's group a chance to post.
Currently awaiting a response from you, @Mokley
Beric Vendal

Beric continued shooting arrows from his perch atop the horse, helping out where he could, while the rest of the party fought on. Most of them appeared to be highly skilled, with or without magic, while others had taken less direct roles. Either way, the skirmish had ended, and they had been triumphant.

The mask vanished from his face, and he dismounted. Well fought, Cassius remarked. So, as you can see, you are not the only one with abilities. I trust I don't need to remind-

Yes, yes, be on my guard! Beric growled in his head, as he led his newly acquired horse to a nearby tree and began to tie it. Why did this fop of an actor insist on reminding him of the obvious? Once his horse was tied, he looked down at the ground and spat.

Your manners need some work... you do know some of those currently present are nobility, right? They tend to be easily provoked.

And now they're outlaws just like me. I don't get a rat's ass if they don't like my 'manners'. He walked to the nearest corpse, pulled out his knife, and slit the fallen man's throat, just to be certain the soldier was dead. Then he quickly and methodically patted him down, taking anything of value. Once he was done, he moved on to the next body and did the same. I'll be a noble myself one day. Maybe even a King.

A king need friends, soldiers, allies, and subjects. Unless you have those, you can't just kill a King and take his place. Cassius pointed out, while Beric was looting a third body. But who needs Kings anyways? Why not a different system, one where-

Enough, Beric thought as he slit yet another throat, and pocketed another small handful of coin. I'm the one with the body, not you. I choose what happens. Then as he knelt down next to the fourth body he briefly glanced at his allies. I've already proved my strength in battle. If they're too weak to handle some rude words, why should I even work with them? Besides, that girl there has the look of a noble, but I heard her swearing like a common thug.

Cassius chuckled. True enough. Still, manners are important.

Beric didn't respond to that. After his sixth body, he stopped looting, and instead focused solely on cutting throats.
The Lord Captain

The Sea of Tears, east of Eodaland and north of Syrome

The Storm's Herald collided with the much smaller Eodaen ship, their hulls noisily grinding together. An exchange of crossbow bolts quickly ensued, but the men of the smaller ship took far more injuries than they delivered. Grappling hooks were thrown, pulling the two ships together.

"Crew, prepare to board! Aella! The Herald is yours!"

And with those words, Lord Captain Leofric, pirate Earl in self-imposed exile, strode forward, clad in full chainmail with longsword in hand. "With me, men!" He shouted, vaulting over the railing and landing on the enemy deck below.

He slashed out with his sword, cutting a diagonal slash across the chest of his first combatant. A woman lunged at him, but he merely sidestepped the thrust and delivered a horizontal slash across her belly, before parrying yet another strike and plunging his blade through the foe's chest. While his blade was stuck in the enemy's torso, a fourth attacker attempted to rush him, only to be felled by a crossbow bolt to the neck.

Then Leofric's own men joined him on the deck, cutting their way through the ranks of the enemy crew with vicious determination, beating back the foes that had begun to surround their captain. Leofric pulled his blade free and continued fighting, never relenting. Somehow, he managed to cut his way out of the melee and came face to face with the enemy Captain and First Mate, both of whom had hung back from the fighting.

Together, they rushed him.

Leofric sidestepped a thrust, and parried a slash, before feinting towards the captain. The captain instinctively stepped back, and the first mate struck again, attempting to take advantage of the opening. Suddenly, Leofric's blade changed direction and moved to bat aside the strike. Leofric then followed up with a strong kick to the stomach, sending the First Mate stumbling backwards against the railing, gasping. A crossbow bolt lodged itself in the man's chest a mere moment later, finishing him.

Meanwhile, the enemy Captain charged in once again, and the two locked blades. Leofric had been about to bring his knee up into his foe's unprotected groin, but the captain acted first and spat in his eye. With a twist of the wrist, the Captain then disarmed him, sending Leofric's blade skittering to the deck. Leofric then ducked under the Captain's swing, before bringing his fist up in an uppercut, striking the captain in the chin.

As the captain staggered backward, Leofric rushed to his sword and picked it up by the blade. As the captain came at him once again, Leofric swung the crossguard of his weapon into his opponent's face, sending bloody teeth skittering across the deck. A kick in the knee brought the captain to the floor, and then Leofric's sword was at the man's throat.

"Yield," Leofric ordered through grit teeth.

The captain opened his ruined mouth and spat out blood, as well as another tooth. "I... I surrender..." he managed to gasp out. "I surrender!"

Some of the enemy sailors heard him, and began to throw down their weapons, which caused the remaining sailors to throw down their weapons as well. Cheers rang out. Leofric wiped his sword off on the railing, and smiled.

---

"Captain, we found this one hiding below deck."

Leofric glanced at the man who had been brought before him, and immediately scowled when he took note of the robes. A Squirrel Priest.

His crew was already in the process of transferring their ill-gotten goods onto the herald, while the survivors of the enemy crew lay facedown on the deck, with some of Leofric's men watching over them. Any religious symbols dedicated to the Squirrel-Demon had already been thrown overboard. Save for this priest.

Leofric turned to the Captain, who stood next to him, disarmed with his hands tied behind his back. "You might have mentioned him," Leofric stated calmly, pulling out his dirk and turning the weapon over in his hand.

"He's... he's just a priest..." The Captain muttered, blood dribbling from his mouth. "He won't fight you, he's no threat..."

Leofric frowned. "And yet you still felt the need to hide his presence. So quick to protect him... I'd say you've forgotten your God."

"Heathen. Your God is a lie, nothing m-" the Squirrel Priest began, before Leofric's gauntleted fist slammed into his face.

"You have all forgotten your God," Leofric declared to the captured crew, raising his voice so that all could hear. "I would say you need a reminder." He pointed his knife at the enemy Captain. "Hold him down."

The Captain's eyes widened, and he sputtered out a protest, drops of blood falling onto his jacket as two of Leofric's men pinned him to the deck. Leofric pointed his knife at the priest, who lay on the ground covering his head. "Hold him up." Two more of Leofric's men complied, turning the priest so that he would be forced to watch what was about to happen.

Leofric knelt beside the Captain and pressed the tip of his knife against the man's forehead. The Captain began to pray, and then the prayers turned to screams as Leofric began to carve. There was neither joy nor satisfaction on his face as he went about the deed; merely grim resignation.

Half a minute later, Leofric stood, looking down at his grisly work. A holy symbol of God had been carved into the Captain's head.

"As for you," Leofric pointed his bloody knife back toward the priest, who appeared both sick and sweaty, "you led them down this path. I would say a more severe punishment is in order." He pointed to the two men who had held the Captain down. "You two. Fetch a long coil of rope.

---

The transfer of goods was finished. Every weapon as well as anything of value had been looted, save for enough food to bring the surviving enemy crew into the nearest port.

A rope was wrapped around the captured ship, with the priest acting as the 'knot' that held it together; one end was tied to his ankles, while the other end was tied to his shoulders. Several men held onto the rope, while the remainder stood in observation. Leofric and Aella had grim expressions on their face. Peric's eyes were downcast. Alicia tried not to betray any emotion at all.

"Begin!" Leofric shouted.

The men pulled on the rope. Slowly, the priest inched across the deck, then over the side, and finally under the water, vocally praying the entire way.

By the time they pulled him up from the other end, he was no longer capable of praying.

Leofric walked up to the priest and examined him closely, noting that he was still breathing. He pulled out his knife once again, and cut both ends of the rope, taking care not to damage the priest any further. "Right then, that's done." Leofric declared as blood pooled beneath the priest's unconscious body. "Back to the ship. We sail for Syrome."
So when am I good to intro Leofric? I'm thinking about doing a thing where he takes down a ship.
Nah. Gunna be special friends. Like in this song...



Just. Like. In. This. Song.

Special Frieeeeeeeeeeeeends...


Why did he fade into nothingness in the end? Was he a ghost? Is he your 'special friend' because he will haunt you forever after his death, eventually driving you to suicide so you will join him in the afterlife? Is that the implication of this song? I need to know.
Don't really plan to join, but I'm just popping in to acknowledge another Choice of Games fan.

<Snipped quote by Avanhelsing>

Choice of Deathless. Always.


Wrong. Guns of Infinity.
© 2007-2024
BBCode Cheatsheet