26 Hours Prior to the fall of Aveless
Darkness. As far as the eye could see was shadow, a murky void, a deep soup that threatened to swallow everything. Then, a light, dim and weak. Above, far above. Swimming, but the waves of darkness were too strong. And then, the small candles light above, disappeared.
Arthur shot up. A dream, it was a dream. Curious, it had been a long time since Arthur had to face one of those. Perhaps he should have gotten more sleep, it was to be a busy day. It hardly mattered, he was now and thus his work began. Pulling away from the bed Arthur stretched before stepping over to the wooden dresser that sat in the corner of his private tent. Parting the wooden doors Arthur gazed over his meager collection of dressings. Much of it was plain and simple, though well made, just the way Arthur liked it.
Replacing his sleeping ware with linen shirt and sturdy pants Arthur felt a sudden pain as he pulled one of his legs through. It passed quickly enough, but it was there and Arthur knew what it was. He was getting too old for such a life, but nothing that could be done for that. Layering more cloth and then over that a thin layer of leather Arthur began the slow task of dressing his body in metal. It took the better part of an hour, but once it was done Arthur was a walking tower, an inspiration to the men around him. That mattered, because this siege would cost them all dearly and it was important that the soldiers had a figure to look to when all seemed lost. Arthur silently wished that he still had such a figure as he slid his horned helmet onto his head.
Now armored Arthur quickly departed his tent and across the avenue into a much larger tent. Within lived many crates, which housed weapons, rations, and the other supplies that kept the Legion alive. Marching though the stacks of crates to a paper laden table in the back that served as Arthur's desk. Diligently looking the top few pieces of paper Arthur nodded to himself, everything seemed to be in order. Of course, the odds of something going awry in the four hours since he last stood at the desk. Content with the reports Arthur took up his spear again and began to leave the storehouse when he felt a sudden redness ringing in his skull.
"Job to be done. Voice's orders. Meet at the Weeping-Gate within the hour. Pack light."
Arthur felt he would never get used to Tarkus' voice booming into his mind. At the very least over the years Arthur learned to at least outwardly appear unfazed, and after hearing the orders Arthur continued his exit from the supply tent. Planning for the hour ahead Arthur decided that he could managed to eat a morning meal, do some more basic stretches, and, with travel time, be at the gate with exactly five minutes to spare.
Returning to his tent Arthur went to the chest set against his bed. Taking a large sack held within it he carried it over to the table and chair in the corner and sitting down began to pull items from the bag. Setting on the table a meal of dried meat and fruit and a biscuit he silently pondered if that chef kid found the bag of sugared plums Arthur had left under his shield. Stifling a chuckle Arthur considered how Hanir would respond if he learned that Arthur had been secreting food items often reserved for officers and nobles to the common masses. It was important that the grunts on the front line ate well, no army survived long with poor morale.
Tearing through his food with haste Arthur save a shred of the meat, tossing it into a nearby brazer as he grumbled, "Honor in battle, always." As Arthur finished both his meal and his short prayer he stood and left his tent. The walk through the camp with simple enough, the Legion was an efficient machine and Arthur had little to concern him. Though from the hill below the sound of the Anthem was as ever an annoyance. Stopping for a moment Arthur looked into the distance, past the war camp of the Anthem and to the ruby red walls of the city of Aveless. The siege had so far been harsh, and it would only get worse. Many men would die taking those walls, men that would not be easily replaced. Hopefully they would be Anthem warriors, but Arthur knew better. Now nearing the Weeping-Gate Arthur wondered how many others would be working on this 'job' and if they would be able to work as an effective team.
23 Hours Post the Fall of Aveless
Arthur was standing in the gutted remains of what was once an armory built into the red walls of Centurion Keep. Stepping over broken weapon racks Arthur gave a sigh, the Anthem had yet again created a mess that the Legion would have to clean. The store room was barren, every weapon and piece of armor that once surely lined the room looted and gone. Arthur could understand a bit of looting, it kept morale up but there was a great difference between taking treasures and stealing weapons that the fighting men of the Legion required. "It could be worse." Arthur muttered to himself as he hefted up a discarded table in his way.
Meanwhile, still flush with the excitement of battle, Hanir strode through the ransacked halls of the keep. A large sack under his arm as he passed by the occasional Legionnaire securing the halls. Pickings had been terribly slim so far. The Anthem dogs had not only proved themselves cowards by hanging back during the assault but also opportunistic vermin. The Legion had done the lion's share of the fighting, as such the lion's share of the loot should be theirs. -And yet here I am, scrounging through the leftovers of those animals. Cursed be the day the Anthem was born! A man of my breeding should not be forced to sink to such lows-. That's not even starting on just how bloody the battle had been, if only the Anthem had done its job and acted as the cannon fodder they were created to be, the already thin ranks of the Legion wouldn't have been bled even whiter.
Hanir shook himself. There was no point in distracting himself now, there was loot to be found, glory to win and servants to find. Surely one or two peasants in this admittedly magnificent city would be willing to clean his clothes and polish his armor if the alternative is the Anthem. The nobleman then smiled as he saw a closed door on the red wall. Stepping over a gutted corpse he advanced, maybe the bastards had forgotten a room?
Arthur found nothing. If the Anthem was good at one thing, taking the spoils seemed to be it. No matter, Arthur wasn't here for loot at any rate. Before his line of thought could continue though the knight heard the sound of metal on stonework, it seemed to be coming from past the closed door behind him. Hefting up his spear Arthur moved to stand in the corner of the room away from the door, placing his free hand on the stonework as if examining it. The oncoming noise could be friend or foe, the city below was still in turmoil but it would be unseemly to be aggressing a friend if that was the fast coming noise. Arthur quietly waited.
Hanir opened the door with a kick, gingerly leaning inside with his shield at the ready. Cursing internally at the sight before him, he was about to leave the room to look for better prospects when he noticed the unmistakable armored form in the corner.
"Already hiding, Wick?" He chuckled. "I don't suppose the Anthem left anything worth taking here, did they?" "Seems not, intriguing how they were behind us most of the battle but still managed to get here first when it came time to loot." Arthur said as he stood again and took a step towards his friend.
"Rats and scum, the whole lot of them." Hanir spat. "The Undying have given them too much freedom already. They have forgotten their place."Setting his spear down against a table again Arthur removed his helmet and placed it alongside his weapon, "Even still, it seems you managed to find some items of value to be had. Anything interesting?"
Hanir held the sack open to Arthur: "A couple books I took from a dead scribe, an ankle collar from a bloodied leg, no idea where the rest of the body was, a couple purses filled with copper coins and a fake ruby. All in all, completely disappointing results. But the true disgrace is that a man of my station and breeding has been reduced to this low.""At least the defenders put up a good fight." Arthur said with a slight grin, "It would be a great pity if Zanthalia was a land of weaklings." Hanir grunted. "Strange times are these when our enemies are worthier than our supposed allies." He sighed. "How many do you think we lost today?" "Too many." Arthur said plainly. "It will only become harder to take the rest of the Old Continent now."
"Well..." Hanir replied, with a bit too much forced cheer. "It wouldn't be fair otherwise. Besides, I figure taking one of the Jeweled Cities by myself ought to be enough to convince my family to forget the little misunderstanding we had."
"With open arms no doubt. I wish you luck with that Saga-Hanir." Arthur said as he slowly returned his helm to his head, "Perhaps we should return to the rest of the troops, I've a feeling that this battle isn't quite done yet."
Hanir smiled beneath his helmet. "Yes, I doubt the Anthem will decide to take the initiative today. And who knows? Maybe I will finally find myself a couple slaves to do all that menial work that is below us." He turned his head to Arthur. "You should probably be looking into that too. A man of your rank and worth should have attendants and servants."
Stepping towards the door Arthur remarked, "Attendants perhaps, slaves no. The Saga clan may be content to reduce men to such things but I am not." Arthur stopped to hold the door open for his fellow, turning his helmeted head to his friend to see his response.
"Slaves, servants. What matters is that they know their place." Hanir shrugged. "But suit yourself, I'm making another sweep before returning to the main hall. There are supposed to be some stragglers close to the dungeons. Are you in?""It wouldn't hurt to get a closer look at the dungeon's layout, lead the way." Arthur said, still holding the door for Hanir. Hanir stepped out of the room without a word, awaiting for his fellow warrior outside as he tied the sack in his belt. Arthur, once Hanir was out, followed, closing the battered door behind them.
"Do you think they might send us into the Head?" Hanir asked as he took the morning star from its place in his belt. "I've no idea. It seems like a quite the kill box the native mages set up, frankly I've seen Aveless traps enough already getting through those tunnels." Arthur grumbled as he trailed behind, spear in hand.
"I'm never one to back down from honorable combat." Hanir replied as they walked. "But I doubt we will find much of that there. Besides, I also think it's time for the Anthem to bleed." He sneered. "It's not like they have a problem replacing their losses."
In reply Arthur spat at the ground, "Accepting broken enemies into their ranks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Aveless curs swelling their ranks come tomorrow. Damned animals."
"Still, as much as it may disgust me..." Hanir started. "It's surprisingly effective. At least compared to us." He sighed. "It was already hard replacing our losses when we fought on our own continent. How do you think we will do it now a world away from home?"
Stepping over a broken corpse Arthur said, "A fair question. One I haven't an answer for. Even after this battle though it's clear we're better than the Anthem, our newest counting for at least a hundred of theirs. We'll make it work somehow.""It won't matter much if there are a thousand of them for each one of us." Hanir replied, dejectedly. "That's not even considering the kind of opposition we will end up facing in the rest of the continent." "There is little to be done for it." Arthur stated, "Unless you've any ideas on how to solve our manpower issue?"
"Conscript the locals." Hanir suggested. "We won't go as far as the Anthem, of course. But I'm sure we could get some fresh blood out of it. Send them first every battle and the survivors get additional training and weapons."
"It is a worthy idea. We'll see where it goes at least. I think this an entrance to the dungeons here." Arthur said as he pointed out a gate leading below the fortress.
A few Legionnaires were milling around the area, standing guard. A pile of bodies, limbs and discarded equipment lay on the corner. Bloodstains and other fluids still stained the stone floor. The Avelessi banners had been torn down the walls and thrown carelessly on the ground.
The soldiers saluted once they saw Arthur approaching. "Some stragglers still holding out down there, m'lord." One of them spoke up. "Nothing we can't handle. The Anthem still got a few men down there, though." Turning to Hanir Arthur asked, "What do you think? Should we go yet again show those savages how to fight?"
"I suppose." Hanir turned to Arthur. "If only to stop the vermin from getting their hands on anything down there." He turned back and motioned for the soldiers to open the dungeon's gate. As the doors opened Arthur stepped through the passageway, turning to one of the soldiers as he did so to say, "Keep watch." Before descending down into the dungeon.
The pair walked down the stone steps into the depths beneath the keep. Blood and gore painted the walls even redder, and soon it became an effort to wade past the corpses. Clearly this group of resistance fighters had some skill, as many of the bodies belonged to the Anthem, not that there was anything uniform about the bodies aside from their lack of life.
Soon, the sound of battle could be heard clearly, and as Arthur and Hanir stepped through a doorway the source was clear, as they entered a large open room, where on the far end a small horde of Anthem warriors were combating several Aveless warriors, one of which wore long flowing robes and, from the lighning coursing across their arms was clearly a mage.
Hanir shifted into a battle stance. Shield raised and morning star at the ready. "I say we charge the mage first." "That one on the mages left seems to be guarding the mage, I'll keep him busy." Arthur shot back before taking his spear in both hands and rushing forwards.
Hanir advanced behind him, advancing slowly and gradually picking up speed as he chanted Ilanish war cries and prayers.
As the warrior Arthur advanced towards cut down another anthem soldier the tip of Arthur's weapon flew across the shield of the Avelessi before Arthur pulled his weapon back and shouted to his foe, "Ho there, don't think all your foes will be so easy. It would be simpler to surrender now and live."
Meanwhile, Hanir charged at the mage. Shoving away several of the Anthem scum that got in his way. The mage, distracted by several closer enemies, took a while to meet the new threat. Sending another bolt of lighting aimed at Hanir, who by then was too close. The nobleman threw himself at his foe. Tackling the mage and sending both tumbling towards the ground.
Meanwhile Arthur and his foe, who wielded a shield and sword and was armored almost as well as Arthur was, began a small back and forth, sending quick blows at one another to test each other's reactions and armor, and nearby Anthem forces either stepping back or moved to dogpile the second armored foe.
The dazed mage proved to be no match for Hanir once both had landed. Moving quickly, especially for a man of his size, the nobleman straddled the mage and used the rim of his shield to bash his foe's head until it was reduced to a pulp. As the mage died, the two remaining Avelessi turned to look, which was time enough for Arthur to jab forward, sending his spear into the neck of his distracted foe. "I told you it would be easier to surrender fool." Arthur said as he pulled out his spear and began to clean it on the dead man's clothes.
Turning to Hanir Arthur said, "Now wasn't that good for a few moments fun?"
"It was worth the walk." Hanir shrugged as he stood up from the mage's dead body. "My kill, my loot!" He called out as he picked up his morning star from the floor.
However it seemed the Anthem warriors were not listening, as they hefted up the final and still breathing Avelessi and, patting the warrior on the back led him up out of the dungeon.
"Well, seems they aren't so much interested in the spoils as new friends. Curious, but I guess that means you get your loot." Arthur pondered as he stared at the passage leading out of the dungeon. "I'm just starting here. These dungeons still go for a few levels lower." Hanir replied, eyeing the stairs on the opposite side of the room greedily. "And I'm pretty sure I can hear fighting further down." He turned towards Arthur. "Feel free to go back if you want, Arthur. I know you must have more pressing duties to attend to. I'm going to try my luck for a while more." Hanir patted the sack on his belt. "Meet you in the main hall in a couple hours?" With a nod Arthur replied, "Very well, good fortunes on you friend." Before making his way back up the stairs and towards the great hall of the keep where most of the Legion was staying.
Sky Blue