Red Wizard

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Aaand there you go, post's up.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Kinnisvara

The town was in a state of complete turmoil, and Paavo was in the midst of it. It shouldn't have come as a big surprise that news of an approaching enemy host of great proportions would send people into panic, but seeing it first hand could shock even the most hardened soul. He had spent the last few hours desperately trying to direct warriors and commoners to their appropriate places, but the fact of the matter was that things were in quite a sorry state. The other veterans did the best they could too, but without the authority that Kadri held over the populace things were looking grim.

"No, forget that!" he yelled at a passing man who for some reason had decided to try and bring a ridiculously large chest with him, "Leave it! Take only what you need and head towards the fort! There's no time!"

The man stopped in his tracks and stared at Paavo, his tunic turned dark from sweat, trying to find the right words to excuse his actions but looking more like a fish gulping for air. "But" he ventured, "My clothes... they're made from southern silk and-"

"By the dead, man!" Paavo interrupted, "Would you rather look poor alive or fancy as a corpse? There are warriors coming, and they won't care two shits about any of your-"

"Paavo!" Someone called, breaking Paavos rant off mid-sentence. He turned and saw Heino rushing towards him. Oh great. Just great. In the confusion, the man attempted to slip away with his oversized trunk. Paavo was just about to call out to him again when Heino reached him.

"Paavo." Heino wheezed, breathing hard, "I just got word; the sentries have spotted people coming this way. From the coast."

Shit. "How many? Were they mounted?"

"A company, the messenger wasn't specific. And aye, they were."

Well that's something, at least. "It must be the Jarl, then."

Heino looked more than releaved at that. "What do you reckon we should do?"

"Same as we're doing right now." Paavo said, "But better gather some warriors to meet her once she arrives. You go ahead and do that, Heino. I'll stay here and keep things moving."

"Good man." Henino replied and put a strong hand on Paavos shoulder, "Good man. I can see why Kadri likes you."

You don't know the half of it, Paavo thought and patted Kadris husband on the shoulder in return.

---

Kadri gritted her teeth and cursed under her breath as she came into her hold. The cut in her leg shot spikes of pain through her body at every bump in the saddle, but all things considered she'd been lucky. The charge and the following battle had been rightous but bloody. It had gone smooth in the beginning, but once the invaders'd had time to form up properly the situation had changed. They had managed to kill a whole lot of them, sure, but they had lost a good few too. More than half, as it were. Still, they got a few survivors with them and, best of all, one of the enemy commanders. She hadn't been able to get much out of him on the way back, but he'd talk before long. Heated steel had that effect on men.

Kinnisvara was in a possibly even worse condition than her band. People were running to and fro, openly ignoring commands from the few veterans trying to organize them. She would have to do everything herself, it seemed. But I suppose that's the way of things. If you want something done right... A group of warriors came to meet them as they entered the square. She spotted Heino among them.

"I'm so glad you're safe!" he said as she dismounted, "When Paavo said he'd left you there alone, I thought-"

"He didn't leave me," she forced out through clenched teeth as pain shot through her leg when she tried to put weight on it, "I ordered him to. Where is he?"

"Paavo?" her husband replied, looking somewhat taken aback, "He's over there, but I-"

"I need to see him. Take care of the horses and the wounded, and get people going. We need to reach the fort before sundown."

"Yes, of course, but-"

"I will speak with you later."

She left him there and hobbled as fast as she could towards where Heino had pointed. It didn't take long before she spotted the bald veteran through the crowd, waving his arms shouting furiously at a man trying desperately to pick up what looked like a large quantity of fine clothing from an overturned trunk. She went up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What now?" he shouted while turning, "Can't you see I'm- oh, it's you!"

"Indeed," she grunted, still struggling to speak properly through the haze of pain. "We need to speak, and quick. We hit them hard on the beach, but they're coming."

"That's what I reckoned." Paavo replied, "I got everyone working on getting to the fort as soon as I returned."

"Good, but that won't be enough. We can probably hold them there for some time, but we'll need reinforcement. I need you to go upriver and warn the Istung. Make them come here and fight these bastards off."

"What? I'm not going anywhere!" Paavo exclaimed, that same sickening worrying look that he'd had on the ridge above Külake, "Send someone else, send Heino! I'm staying with you."

"No." she began, slowly, "No, you're not. I need someone I can trust to do this. Do you understand? I need you to do this. Pick a handful of warriors and get moving. Every moment counts."

She looked him in the eyes, trying to get the message across. His face was filled with doubt and uncertainty, and she could see his mind was working furiously to find an excuse for him to stay. But she held his gaze, refused to let go, and slowly his resolve began to melt away. He sighed all of a sudden, shoulders going limp. "I suppose you're right." he conceded.

"I usually am. Now go."

But he didn't. Instead he kept looking at her, something else in his face now. She furred her brows. "What is it?"

"I just..." he croaked, "I suppose this is goodbye, then. I..." His voice trailed off.

She took hold of his collar then, as she had on the beach, and pulled him close.

"Aye, it is," she whispered, "But only for now." Then she kissed him. It wasn't deep or long, but hard and passionate. "Now do as I told you and go. We're depending on you. I'm depending on you."

He looked as though he was going to add something to that, but thought better of it. He turned and hurried off without looking back. That shut him up. And now, to clean up this mess... She turned to get back to her warriors so they could start organizing this debacle properly, and instantly met Heinos gaze. He had a strange expression on his face. She sighed. I guess I'll have to clean that mess up too, then. But first things first.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

I got a surprise vivist from an old friend over the weekend, so my post will be delayed until Sunday or Monday. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Isn't Celand like an old imperial remnant? Maybe the suits of plate are very rare heirlooms or something. Anyway, I'm thinking that since this game isn't about statistics (and thus not about arms-races or OP militaries), maybe the plate isn't that important. It doesn't really fit the setting, but to me it's ok as long as it's the exception that confirms the rule.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Flagg I can easily see how the Childer would want to team up with the Red fleet to get back at the Maod. Then maybe mutual mistrust and conflicting personal agendas could complicate that relationship at a later point :P

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Flagg What did you have in mind?

Also,

@Kassarock Waiting for you, buddy.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Me neither, so no problem. I need preparation or inspiration to produce.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Hope this last post gives you something to work with :)

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Külake

"By the dead."

Kadri was sometimes irritated by the favorite expression of her secret lover, but this was no time to point it out. Sitting on her horse at the top of a ridge, she was just as shocked as Paavo and the rest of the warriors were, stunned by the surprise before them. They had expected a raiding party. Bandits, or Pale-men, or even Seolhi. But this, this was different. This was-

"That's an army." Paavo said, like if he'd had the same thought as her.

"You don't say." she replied, finding a little bit of snarkiness somewhere beneath all the terror she was currently experiencing.

He continued as if he hadn't heard her, eyes wide open. "But they said there'd been a raid, not that a fucking invasion was in the making!"

"Another brilliant observation." she retorted. biting her lip and wearing a worried look in spite of the cynical tone in her voice.

Paavo turned to her, all furrowed brows, an angry expression on his face. "This is no time for witticisms, Kadri! This is serious! We're in terrible danger here, in the field against this many."

"I know." she said, still sounding calm in spite of her speeding heartbeat, but having dropped the cynicism for the time being, "I can see that."

"I'm glad you agree with me! You go ahead and order the retreat, and I'll organize a rearg-"

But Kadri didn't hear him. She was busy observing the devastation before her. On another hill, not too far away, a group of invaders had become separated from the rest of the hoard. There were two banners there which Kadri had never seen before, although she knew perfectly well what they meant. Standards, much like her own. Leaders. Scanning the hill, she could see a man dragging a girl by her hair up the slope. She could not determine wether he was smiling or not, but she imagined he was. And she knew why. An attack on my people is an attack on me. If he takes that girl and I do nothing, he might as well have taken me instead.

"No." she barked, interrupting Paavo. "No, we're not going anywhere."

"What?"

"We cannot let them go unpunished. Send word down the column; riders are to remain with me, foot will return to Kinnisvara to warn the populace and prepare defenses. We are going to teach these mongrels about Maods and their honor." Her voice had started trembling by the end, terror having been replaced by fury.

"Kadri! Please!" Paavo begged, "You can't endanger yourself so, and what would be the point? Look, they have already spotted us! Soon they'll be forming ranks!"

She dared a peek towards the beach. He was right, they were already forming ranks. Shit, shit, shit. An attack now would be risky. Perhaps too-

"You can't do this!"

It might've been the insolence of his claim, or the whining tone of his voice. It might've been the situation as a whole, but at those words Kadri snapped. She turned in her sadle, slapped Paavo across his face and grabbed hold of his collar, pulling him close.

"I can't?" she roared, spit flying, "I can't what? Avenge my people? Reclaim my honor? Defend my lands? You sniveling coward! You dare slander your betters in their absence, yet you yourself cover like a beat dog in the face of an adversary! Retreat, then, if you're so unwilling to fight for what is right! Take the foot and go prepare Kinnisvara for my return. I insist!"

She let him go and turned from him with such finality that further argument was impossible. Instead she was staring straight ahead at that little group on the hill, only just now beginning to scramble to attention. Baring her teeth, she ripped her sword from its scabbard.

"Riders, to me! Let's show these shitstains what real warriors look like! Charge!"

And with a thunderous roar, the Maod did just that.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Well, the warriors of Tinnisvara are certainly not prepared for nearly 2000 enemies. That changes the situation. I'll rethink my post. Will probably have something up by midday tomorrow (I'm from northern europe and it's 1AM here).