From nowhere, a paladin had come, stood in the way of capturing Andrew and had the nerve to threaten him with relief of command? This was highly unexpected and in a way funny to him, were it not for the fact the fool was hindering his men from getting their hard earned loot and the capture of lord Andrew.
-"I am Claus Rotstein, commander of the Steel Fist, second son of Adolf Rotstein, general of the concord forces in the east... who are you to take away command from me?" Claus boomed out.
-"I am Eclipse, sir Eclipse Kornova, Justicar, The Merciful, The Brave, Oathbreaker, Rider of Unicorns, Lightmaker, Favored of Leplo, Tideturner, Defender of Legon Pass, The Patient, Battlefield Redeemer. Knight of the order of st Elenor." The paladin voiced with power, seeing this was a good delaying tactic.
Claus rather annoyed right now added in.
-"You forgot massive twat!... Get out of the way or it's you who will need the blessing of Leplo!" It was here he noticed a bunch of his men had stopped to watch the exchange, furious Claus roared.
-"What are you doing!!? Don't listen to him, Andrew is getting away!" His troops were already moving but it seemed that the fool might have halted them long enough so Manshrew would get away.
Especially as this Eclipse fellow was moving to intercept one of his corps-men. Claus had quite enough of this guy.
-"What do you think you are doing?" Claus had jogged forth and with his right hand put his greatsword between his soldier and Eclipse, he was almost fuming with anger. Now there was no chance he himself would get it even with Andrew.
-"You know full well what i'm doing general." Eclipse voice was far calmer than Claus liked.
-"That's it, you have halted the capture of important materiel and personnel in combat. I'm apprehending your ass!" Claus roared out as he finished by twisting his torso and brought his sword at Eclipse in a large horizontal slash aimed at his midsection.
Seeing the massively telegraphed blow, Eclipse jumped back and as such easily dodged the blow.
Eclipse realized he probably made Claus a bit more angry than planned, seeing he was attacking him with a greatsword. But having a fight with their captain, Eclipse thought that the lack of orders would let even more escape. Eclipse brought his sword into guard position.
He didn't have even a split second to defend himself as Claus had quickly spun his sword above his head, grabbed it with his other hand and brought it down hard towards Eclipses left shoulder.
Being a proficient swordsman, the paladin saw it best to push the blade away from him, letting Claus's momentum work against him. It worked, the greatsword was pushed enough so only its tip skidded slightly upon Eclipses armour and then it swung so its tip pointed behind Claus left side.
What Eclipse didn't expect however was that Claus had mid swing changed his grip, moved both his hands so he was now in a half swording stance and immediately swung the blade at Eclipses right arm. The strike was strong and jarred the holy knight slightly but he was mostly unharmed, even if it would probably leave a nasty bruise.
Claus kept up his speed and ferocity, he followed up with a pommel thrust, an upward slash with the blade tip and a downward stroke after that. Which Eclipse dodged parried and narrowly avoided in turn.
Eclipse felt he was outmatched, but had a trick up his sleeve. Claus did probably not know of his swords origins.
As Claus made another hefty strike from his left, Eclipse struck with an elegant upward stroke at the middle of his greatsword, which promptly broke in half under the might of the dwarven metal.
Claus was slightly taken aback with this but didn't falter, he tossed the guard and handle of the sword at Eclipses face which struck hard, in the same motion Claus also dropped his sword blade and picked up his mace with his left hand, brought it to bear on Eclipses helmet and struck the knight to the ground.
As he fell Claus jumped after, launching himself so that when Eclipse slammed into the ground, Claus was sitting on his torso and pinning Eclipses arms with his legs. Roaring he brought the mace down, then drew the misericord stiletto and slammed it down. Then Claus gave Eclipse a good right hook in his face.
The mace had left an indentation in the ground where it was struck, the stiletto sticking out of the ground near Eclipses throat. The punch however had stung really good.
After a few heavy breaths, Claus screamed out.
-"Why!?... WHY! He was that close!" Claus figuratively made some arbitrary measurement between his fingers.
Rather battered, but very much alive, Eclipse said with a slight wheeze.
-"It was the honorable thing to do." He even smiled a little.
Claus was almost done with his anger, he yelled.
-"May you take a sniff of Hizreus hairy balls for that one you damn chivalrous twat!" Followed with spitting the good knight in the face.
He then stood up and ordered some of his men to apprehend Eclipse. Damn paladins, always so honorable.
He just wanted to get even after the first skirmish with Andrew, then this heroic oaf just had to get in the way and save him.
Claus watched Andrew get away, his corps-men had taken many prisoners and several wagons. But Eclipses brave ploy had allowed several wagons and many people to get away.
The captain shook his head. He didn't even care much for the ransom. He wasn't greedy.
-"Well sir knight, be happy i got a good amount of loot before your little trick there." Claus had walked up to the hand tied Eclipse who had been seated next to the pile of boxes being gathered from the alliance baggage train, overseen by Katrina and a few corps-men.
-"Otherwise i think my men would have you flogged for that one." Claus was trying to calm himself, even managing one of his smirks.
-"You be happy i also respect lord Manshrew, i can have a fight with him some other day..." Claus added in. Tired after a long march and the brief battle and the duel, the adrenaline was not pumping any more and he was getting rather tired.
After a couple of breaths, Claus sounded his horn. To order his men to return and begin forming up.
The steelhead would need to talk to Patrik after this whole affair. The man owed him a bunch of drinks. There was also this knight character that needed evaluation.
Claus sat down next to Eclipse, mostly since it was the closest.
-"You have some guts to stare down the entire fist. You are stupid, but have guts. I'll give 'ya that." Claus was now drinking some water. Shaking his head. Bloody paladins he thought.
