Mas Bagus

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place [Closed]

<Snipped quote by Mas Bagus>

Hello! Thanks for your interest! Feel free to register by submitting a character sheet~

@spiral origin

Understood, but I think I need to see what other players have first before deploying mine.

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place [Closed]

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Absolved Will Be the Saviors

The next obelisk emerged, further fortifying the belief that those intruders were not all talk, but before it could jut itself out completely Amaris managed to reined her impulse (thank God) and the escalation stopped with the soldiers raising their weapons in anticipation.

"Unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, that man is the one that holds my 'leash'. One word from him and I will gladly continue. One of the three obelisks is already up and I was just about to invoke the second one~"

Whether her words could grant some sense of relief, the soldiers, particularly those at the front did not show it, although there was no hiding it that behind them the common grunts and enlisted alike were hunkering in fear.

The retreating process went along slowly and tight, with Carmen walking cautiously to the gate while looking back occasionally to ensure nobody made a misstep in this already tense situation. Tretagorians tended to do whatever they could to keep their dignity, but they were not unreasonable. Hopefully.

After that long walk, the party retreated back to the woods, thankfully without any accident. Osric was there, and the gun was still pointing at the gate, who remained clear of any soldiers. The fire was still burning and the smoke was still high.

Carmen did not speak much, his eyes were half on her teammates and the wrecked garrison far north as if fearing a company of soldiers emerged to storm them when they were unguarded. Lynx whimpered when he brought her up onto his horse, and even at that, he did not say anything but a few stoic words.

"Keep still, we will look at your wound when we are at a safe distance."

Leading the group, the captain rode forth toward the road.

***

It was unfortunate that Ludvig left his horse with the group. It could at least minimize the loss they suffered after that chaotic assault, allowing the party to travel at a reliable speed without fearing the pursuit of the enemies they just made. After some galloping and much cantering in and out of the beaten path, the party made their camp inside a suitable clearing in the woods, six leagues east of the Kardag outpost. It was almost midnight, the sky was clear, tranquil even, and they hoped the peace would be reflected in the spot they chose.

After helping Lynx get off his horse and instructing the party to check on her, the Captain fell to the damp, leafy forest floor. Tired and pained, he unstrapped the shield from his arm, inspecting it as he gradually lost in his thoughts. What should they do now?

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

The screaming from that one-armed soldier distorts all the warnings, yelling, and commands. Hurriedly he turned his back, all the courage had been sapped away from him. Well, looking at what happened to his comrades, it wasn't surprising. The bleeding soldier also took a tactical retreat upon seeing how those ragtag nobles culled their numbers in an instant. However, he should be worried more about his own injuries.

On the other hand, the mass of soldiers in the West seemed to need more convincing. Confusion and uncertainty had shadowed the battalion. When Mireille charged forth, her light was as dreadful as the darkest magic. Though some were still eager to hold their ground, others weren't as resolute and could barely raise their weapon as they reluctantly took steps back.

They were smart enough to keep their distance from Amaris, who had been busy making her prowess known to the survivors. Chains clinked, and the wind whirls. The danger was clear for all eyes to behold. The obelisk remained tall and menacing, abhorred and avoided. Carnathia has arrived, ready to join the fray, she and eight of her copies to be exact.

"Captain, please go and assist Lady Linceleste to move, I have an idea to secure an escape route!"

Carmen nodded to acknowledge it, but the Captain had his own plan. After Carnathia shouted her command at Amaris, he spoke to her. "Do not press further!"

Carmen had his reason for that, as far as the situation was concerned, there was no avenue for the soldiers to escape. Hence they were fighting for the same exit. For now, the red stripes were hanging their hopes on their number and safe spaces, but push them more or kill more of them and they would be fighting a cornered beast that had nothing to lose, and a bite from such a desperate beast could prove fatal.

Carmen briskly walked toward Lynx, shield raised, and eyes scanning for potential marksman among the soldiers.

"Hey! You godless bastard!!!" he roared, pointing his blade at the startled soldier nearby, and then to the ranks of soldiers in front of them. "Cease your mindlesaness and Listen UP!! Your commander is dead! You can fight us, and you will die like him! Or let us leave in peace!"

There was silence. All manner of weapons and magics were still on standby from both sides. A moment ago the battalion was pushed and seemed to regrouping to mount a desperate counterattack, but now with Cramen's shouting all of their eyes were on the inquisitor, standing steadily like a stalwart defender surrounded by a frightening aura.

Peace. Carmen trembled, realizing that his wrath had now turned tepid, he grunted. Part of him yearned for this fight to continue, to give this heathen divine judgment, but he still acknowledged that such extreme zeal was counterproductive. As both parties finally stopped their advance and aggression, Carmen walked forth to assist Lynx, he paused to see his adversaries watching him in steady trepidation as the flying chains and Mirielle's light prevented them from unneeded carnage. However, the spark of resistance could still be seen among their rank, but the Lack of cohesiveness prevented anyone from doing anything stupid as the sergeants looked at each other pondering about their choices in a tense silence.

"Soldiers! You Know what we are capable of! One bolt flying toward ANY of us, and I swear in the Creator's name I shall bury you all!"

Time seemed to slow down when he, without nary a word secured Lynx in his arm and backed away slowly.

"Rezello! Get a shield out, we are leaving!"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

A flash of blue lightning washed over the east part of the garrison when Rezello called upon the power from heaven and channeled it into his greatsword. Seeing the energy crackling in their opponent's weapon. The soldiers stopped their advance and seemed to reconsider their plan, but it was too late when Rezello sprung into action and launched his attack, blasting them with an electric wave. It hit them both, knocking them unconscious.

Turning, Rezello threw out two daggers toward the soldiers, one hit a soldier on his neck, while the second dagger bounced off a sergeant's hauberk.
___

"What is the plan now, Captain?"

____

There were a lot of things happening. It was so overwhelming Carmen could not hear Carnathia's question. The blood was still staining his mentor shield when he charged back into the crowd of soldiers. It was the moment when Lynx fell and her pursuers gathered around her like hungry wolves.

He saw the chain punched through a man's back with cruel effectiveness, then an eldrich-looking obelisk shot out from the ground, stained by blood, and black mist engulfed it. It knocked some soldiers nearby, and immediately cuts started to appear on their skin, blood spilled profusely, staining their clothes.

Most looked in confusion, one outright ran in mad fear.

"With! Witch! Woe to us! It's the terrible crone!" he cried before dashing frenziedly into the fire.

Carmen too, despite years of expertise, was almost taken aback. But he quickly shook it off by convincing himself that the so-called witch was on their side, and he still had Lynx to worry about.

That one soldier, who seemed undistracted by the uproar around him was next to her. He was the one who speared Lynx's horse, and he watched exuberantly how the beast was down with its rider. Now he lingered next to the fallen princess, delightfully watching when Lynx tried to inch away from him, and then with a hunger for revenge, he thrust his spear. Lynx tried to defend herself with her sword, but in this angle, a sword was barely an effective tool to block an incoming jab.

The spear bit her shoulder, but before it could go deep, a semi-transparent spider tackled him from his side, and either filled by the desire to protect its master or simply Lynx's control, it wrestled with the spearman and directed the end of its anterior to shot the spearman's face with its icy bolt.

Carmen felt his blood freeze, but still able to compose himself to shout out an order.

"Amaris! Swing your chains! Keep them away from Lynx!"

There was a soldier trying to intercept him from the side, but then a bullet suddenly hit him on the side of his stomach. The soldier slumped with stomach bursted open. Another shot could be faintly heard, and a distant soldier on his way to surround Lynx stumbled sideways with half of his arm flung off.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"Are you quick on your feet, Carmen? Keep up! Either very close to me or behind me!"

"I am on it, but Carnathia and Mirielle might be a bit late. We need to defend this position!"

Carmen repeatedly glanced between the gate and the commander's tent, where Mirielle was still helping Carnathia out of the burning debris. This was bad. They shouldn't have gone there. Why would she go there and waste the small, precious time to escape? What was she thinking? How would the two catch up with so many enemies approaching them?

Were we going to kill them all?

As Carmen moved forth to stab the downed soldier, his sense numbed, his judgment hardened, and all he thought was they deserved this. The reconstruction of the death of his fellow priests repeatedly played in his head, instinctively, as if the dead one whispered to him to avenge their suffering.

A bolt swished near the Captain's ear when he sprinted toward the patrolling arbalest. With shield still raised, he bashed the soldier before he could reload, and slashed his neck.

----

Lenceleste Lynx looked at the fire, and felt the heat, but seemed to fail to fully grasp the consequences of her action. In another reckless of bravado, she steered her horse back to the south side of the garrison, leaving her newly summoned construct that couldn't catch up with her galloping steed. As she gained her speed, the noble unsheathed a sword, and in a final mad dash, charged toward the lining musketeers.

One of them shifted their aim at her, but the horse trampled him first, the second musketeer fated a lot worse; the blade from the blonde noble cleaved his head.

Despite the relatively successful charge, the miscalculation was apparent. The speed needed for that charge had led the horse toward the line of soldiers. One of them failed to anticipate and collided with the beast. The others who fared better moved out of the way and sprinted to intercept the passing riders who were forced to slow down to accommodate a sudden turn to the right.

A soldier managed to stab the front horse's neck, and the beast pranced and neighed in fear. Taking advantage of the panicking beast, two other soldiers moved forth to surround the rider, one hacked the horse's front leg with a halberd, and the other slashed Lynx's calf with his sword, the horse flailed in a futile attempt to shake off the attacker, frantically trying to balance itself before collapsing to the side.
____
Rezello, who had been following Lynx's lead, exerted all of his expertise to parry the incoming attack with his spadone, all while trying to steer his horse to get away from the crowd. The mercenary skillfully drove off the attacker from the front, received some hits, returned some, and while his armor protected him from cuts and arrows, his horse wasn't as armored.

As he tried to control his horse to the left, a spear, thrown by some unknown soldier suddenly embedded deep into the beast's hind. It jolted, neighed in pain, and galloped a few distances before limping. Attacks seemed to cease as Rezello managed to gain more distance, but when he looked forth, his arrival had already been welcomed by the two soldiers.
----

A new chaos unfolding in the north. Suddenly an obsidian, chain-ridden obelisk shot out from the ground, knocking a soldier who hadn't engaged the stalled rider. A woman in black rushed afterward, shooting out a thorny chain from her sleeve and impaling one of the soldiers on the back.

The other soldiers had surrounded Lynx, their shouting and cursing cut through her stupor, and they were ready to do all manner of cruelty toward her.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Amaris propelled herself forward like a shadow of death, swinging her thorny chains in a wide sweep to welcome the returning patrollers.

The monstrous iron snapped and tore the first three legs they caught. Crushing the bone and shredding anything that was not protected with a horrifying crisp. Three patrollers were incapacitated in one sweep. Two foot-patrollers, the ones who impacted the least flung to the side and fell when the chains dented their graves.

____

Carmen felt a sense of relief when he saw Carnathia emerge from the falling tent. As much as he was eager to get out of this damned garrison, no one would be left behind.

The won on his forehead throbbed again.

It somehow reminded him of the falling priests. Their suffering and their demise in this hostile foreign land. The yellings and threats from the approaching soldiers did little to ease his burning nerves. There was suspicion, and now it turned out to be a strong realization, that these soldiers were responsible for the death of his brethren.

Carmen rushed toward the tower, composing himself as he saw the first three patrollers get incapacitated by Amaris' chains. The other two were knocked, still combat-effective, but they were the least of his concern.

The ranged unit had positioned themselves behind the downed patroller, aiming their weapons at Amaris. The arbalest shot first, and the Sarkazian deftly swung her chain to swat the incoming bolt. Carmen quickly picked up the rifle from the falling sharpshooter, shouldered it, and fired at the patroller's musketeer before he could fire first.

The recoil punched his shoulder stronger than anticipated, and the smoke was thicker and more acrid. The enemy musketeer fell with a bullet in his chest. But there was more.

Dropping the rifle, Carmen rushed to the Amaris' side. At least ten soldiers were approaching them, and at least two musketeers were on a stand-by next to the dwindling fire from the explosion earlier.

As he reached the fireplace between the tower and the gate, The captain brought up his shield and shouted.

"Amaris! Get out of the firing zone!"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Carmen accepted the bundle of white linen, pinched the end, and let the rest roll down to the grass. Placing his hat on a wheel, he noticed a conflagration formed in the middle of the garrison. Thankfully the spreading flames would delay the approaching soldiers, giving him and Mirielle enough time to roll the bandage on his forehead, tie a knot, and let some good portion of it dangle on the back of his head.

"I wish it was that easy." Carmen gritted his teeth when Mirielle helped him stand straight. "There is no magic at play here. But one thing for sure it is no less vile!"

Grimacing when wearing his hat again, the captain looked around. His eyes darted at the gate, that was suddenly breached open by the patrolling soldiers from the outside. At first, their attention was on the fire, broken wall, and burning tents, but their sergeants, (bless his sharp perception) quickly pointed out the main culprit.

Still fighting against dizziness and pain, Carmen readied his blade and turned at Carnathia, unaware that it was a mirror image. "Senorita De Valmont, we are leaving! Mirielle. Amaris! Double time!"

He thought it was a most sensible option, and without waiting, The Captain fished out the compass as he jogged forth, eyes fixed at the unlocked gate, now guarded by at least six soldiers. As far as his limited observation was concerned, they were the only thing that stood between him and his escape. "This is Carmen. Ready our horses, we are escaping from the main gate! Senorita Lynx, do you---"

Suddenly an explosion blasted the wall near the commander's tent.

___

With the rest of her illusionary copies spreading around the group, trying to draw any incoming attacks, Carnatia started to shift through the commander's tent, looking for the familiar sensation prompted by her Golden Prerogative skill.

Sill inside the tent, Carnathia managed to obtain several parchments likely containing important information about the occupation and limited intelligence about their enemies. However, one particular keg seemed to be the most striking object in that humble dwelling. It was no bigger than a lager barrel commonly found in rural taverns, but strangely this one was painted red, had no tap, but it had a valve secured by a metal seal. If one tried to take it from its holder, they would realize that it was surprisingly light for its size, like filled with sand rather than anything liquid.

When Carnathia busied herself rummaging through important documents or valuables, suddenly an explosion shocked the earth and it looked like there was an avalanche bulldozing from the outside. The canvas partition gave in, buckling under the sudden weight of dislodged logs, and the beam that supported the tent broke and fell. Some of the debris wedged the exit but thankfully Carnathia was on the west side of that large tent, knocked down by the falling tent yet unharmed by falling logs.

Not far from her, the lamps had been knocked down and snuffed out under the falling canvas.

Outside, fire from the bomb started to consume the woods, and soon the tent itself. The falling logs, and probably the explosion had crushed the two earthware vates nearby, spilling their contents onto the grass and nearby tent. The liquid was clear, and reeks of strong fish odor. Right now it was just a few inches away from the flames, and both were still spreading with alarming speed.

___

The last sharpshooter on the east tower looked up from his hideout. The flashes from the explosion had deterred him from taking any action, thinking that it could be another burning light from that foreign inquisitor.

Now he braved himself to observe. The commander was dead. Killed by those intruders. The fire was burning the garrison, and half of his friends were in complete disarray. He checked the gunpowder in his musket and aimed. While his friends warned him about the raid, he raised the barrel of his gun, trying to take a bead on the incoming invader. Staying low, he tried to scan the surroundings, from the explosion site to outside of the garrison. In a sense, It was impossible to assemble an army on the north side, so it had to be coming from the east or west.

And while observing, he caught a glimpse of two riders, just when the east wall was suddenly torn apart by another explosion.

With no other distractions coming his way from the fort, Osric focused on the first of the two men still perched on the east tower. There was already enough trouble on the ground for those inside as it were. Having to not worry about what was above them would help increase their odds of victory, or escape. Once he was sure his shot was lined, he pulled the trigger. With a flash and boom, the drum rifle pushed back into his shoulder, his hands keeping it in place. Osric chambered the next round.

Steadying his breath, a female blonde was already in his sight when suddenly a bullet plowed through his lower cheek. Red mist sprayed out from his destroyed jaws. Couldn't scream and in the process of a slow and painful death, nobody could help him now, nor he could call for any.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

The commander would indeed reset and adjust his stance. Still gripping the spear, he extended his right foot forward, pushing the polearm toward Mirielle so her arm would no longer be outstretched. All to gain some distance, and he did; with one hand his hammer dived diagonally before returning up and brought down to smash Mireille's shoulder.

But the inquisitor disengaged her hold on the spear, leaving an enchantment so the contested weapon would emit a golden light. The searing light caused Melnik to drop the spear to the grass. Hammerhead landed harmlessly on the ground. As he bent forth, the spear turned upward and orbited for a second before coming down.

Melnik tried to dodge by taking a step backward but was unable to sufficiently predict the strike because of the spear's blinding light. The glowing lance impaled him on his left thigh.

____

Meanwhile, Amaris made her move, leaving the injured soldier at frightening speed after outstretching her chains to intimidate the incoming and surviving foes. But they were still far and would take a while to get here, and we had the carriage lined up between us and them.

So, taking down the commander would be the first priority. Amaris made a turn to attack the commander from behind. Chains fired when a holy lance struck him from above, but while the lance managed to pierce through his lightly protected leg, Amaris's chains could only dent the commander's steel breastplate.

___

Melnik turned, his wound was starting to sizzle but he still managed to muster a will to stand on his ground. Realizing that he had been flanked, his attention turned to Amaris and Carnathia. A lot of Carnathia, because what he saw now was nine carrotheads charging forth. He readied his hammer and swung at the incoming octuplets but his attack was for naught. Staggered as the seemingly invincible enemies were just a hair's breadth away from overpowering him, his fear was short-lived when the real Carnathia emerged from her mirror image and lunged forth, thrusting her rapier into the Commander's neck and cutting it sideways.

Blood sprayed the young baron's face when the commander stumbled backward, his hammer dropped, and his right hand pointed at Carnathia, eyes bulging as he looked at her in the eyes. After spinning and failing to keep his balance he fell, expiring on the ground.

____

Meanwhile, Carmen managed to stand upright. Either because of his fellow's inquisitor miracle or adrenaline, the captain could see the world clearer now; the rows of tents by the north had started burning and the closest path to reach them was by walking through a narrow passage between the fire and parked wagon.

He walked forth, unholstered his gun, and at the end of the front carriage, he aimed and shot. A soldier dead. Holstering his pistol back, he slid the shield back into his grip. The following soldier tried to attack him, but he deflected with his shield and buried his sword deep into the soldier's stomach.

"Stop forcing our hands, you heathens!"

In front of him, beside the wagons, two soldiers with a crossbow, and two with muskets aimed at him. The arbalests fired and Carmen raised his shield. Bolts bounced, and he spun to the side and leaned against the carriage. His sabre was ready, and the next bastard who tried to walk through this chokepoint would have his head cut open.

They had to get out of here, and when he was thinking about it, he witnessed the commander of the garrison fall with his throat sliced open.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

And with that she lunged forward, her fading divine armor scattering glimmering gold in her wake, spearpoint poised to impale the commander's face clean through. Yet all was a feint, for at the last moment the broad spearhead pivoted to cleave along the shaft of his warhammer and take off his fingers in one clean sweep.

The Commander, surprisingly agile for his size bent his neck to dodge the incoming jab. He was astounded when the spear veered downward and slithered along the shaft, which seemed to be intended to injure his gripping fingers. The blade of Mireille's spear crowbarred into his grip, but rather than move his hands away, he smiled at the shallow tear on his palm, and the opportunity to clutch the spear with his iron grip.

He would not let go. The Captain tightened his grip, both on his adversary's weapon and on the shaft of his war hammer. The blade of the spear bit the skin, but barely blood could be seen, as if under that normal-looking epidermis were bones made of steel and sinews made of metal. With a rowdy strength, he yanked the spear toward him and at the same time shoved the protruding end of his Warhammer toward Mirielle's midsection.

"Uraaaahhh!"

****

Carmen was still desperately trying to overcome the excruciating pain on his forehead. To him, the world was upside down and drowned in the ringing noise that added to the burning sensation in his brain. He tried to breathe, and only by then he could get rid of the ringing and start hearing something else.

"Carmen! Get ahold of yourself, your work is not done yet!"

Ah yes, Mirielle. He could sense her presence and sense her zeal radiating in the air. Carmen still couldn't open both of his eyes, it was unnaturally warm, and felt like his own blood could sear his eyeballs.

Gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, Carmen reached for his sword, trying with all of his might to open his eyes again. He raised his shield, trying to make sense of where the shot was fired from, he could see a glint of fire, broken walls, and panicking soldiers.

"Mirielle! We have to get out of here!"