Registered: Mar 2001
Location: St. John's Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 1813

OOC: This takes place on the western edge of the new map (on a plain, not with all those dumb hills)

Scene: Two armies are encamped a days march away from each other. The tents are up and the guards are out. Perfect time for assassins on both sides.

Purpose: To show how to use a Hero character

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Marius had sat up late with the scouts. One hadn't come back, and two were reported captured. They were the ones getting information on the enemy formations, and the numbers. The numbers were crucial, as these barbarian lords and their slaves weren't like Jaten or Ethren, announcing how many they had before the fight. Marius sighed as he lowered himself into his cot, staring at the roof of the tent. It seems as if these fights are wearing me farther and farther down, he thought. By the time they are over, I shall be nothing more then skin and bones. He offered a small prayer to Shotek, then turned on his side and tried vainly to sleep.

The night passed, and the enemy had risen quite early to surprise them. It hadn't worked, and Marius judged that the hill his army stood upon would greatly hinder the enemy approach as the long bowmen shot them down. Marius peered into the eyeglass an aide had given him.
The column of slaves approached. Sitting upon a chariot was one of the white barbarian lords. He was holding a whip and tassel, and seemed to be making a deal about the battle being already won. The other half of the barbarian army approached from the other side of the forest. Marius was so engrossed in the sight of a working slave army that he failed to notice the insistent tapping of a young man at his shoulder. A mage, judging from the robe and necklace. What was his name? Aroteh? Something along those lines, anyway. Marius had always despised mage stand-off tactics, but they were useful in a fight, especially with these barbarians, who loved to halt outside arrow range and taunt the defenders.
"General Marius, we are at your command," said the mage with a deep bow. "But the quickness of the enemy has caught us unprepared."
Marius sighed. The implications of an unprepared mage guild was on par with having no bowmen, because it limited the army's range. "Get prepared, and do it quickly," he told the young boy, who seemed to be only about 15 or 16. "We need spells, aye, we need them quickly."
The young one scurried off and Marius turned back to the tide of armor approaching him. He threw his sable cloak over his shoulder and knelt. After a quick prayer, he signalled the bowmen to light their arrows. The barbarians drew ever closer.
"Sire, why light the arrows?" inquired an advisor from behind him. "Let them be bathed in the burning oil, as to scatter their army."
Marius waved him quiet. "A surprise I had some of the soldiers do in the night, Krysh. We no longer have any oil. It's all out there."
The aides eyes widened. "You coated the field in oil?"
"Well, not all of it. Just the part I expect them to form their core. Sure enough, they are forming their swordsmen right in the stuff, Krysh, look!"
On a hill about a fathom away, a solid core of infantry had formed. Glittering in mail, these were the white elite of the army. "When ready, archers, fire on the core!" yelled Marius to behind the lines.
"Archers, DRAW!" yelled the bowmaster. "Archers... FIRE!" The bowmen released their arrows and the sky was filled with black lines. The whistling was horrendous. The tips of the arrows burned orange and red. The core of the opposing army raised their shields.
Marius held his breath as the arrows struck. It seemed forever before the field lit. All down his line, soldiers yelled in triumph as the confused barbarians burned. The slaves scattered and the chariots of the barbarian lords reared forward. The slaves turned again to the Keldrinian army. "First lines, advance!" Marius yelled. "Reserves, hold!"

A sight it was to the commander of the slave army. He had brought his chariot back just in time to see his infantry core burning. He screamed orders in a foreign language as the slaves attempted to escape. Whips and tallons brought them back. The defenders began a quick march across the field to the disorganized army,

Marius let the army pull ahead of him. "Now, send in the knights." He said to his aide. An arrow arched into the sky and the forest around the barbarians erupted with glittering calvary. They had no chance. They were cut down quickly and effciently. Marius closed his eyes, which felt suddenly heavy. "Gentlemen," he began to the astounded councilmen from Keldrin. "That... is how you win a war."

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Nice.

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The battle wearied army arrived in Keldrin. Of the original 4000 soldiers, 500 calvary, and 800 bowmen, they had 2500 soldiers, 300 calvary and 700 bowmen. These 'approximate' numbers had been given to him by one of the most resolute men he had ever known, an aide hopping around with only one leg and two crutches.

A crowd had gathered at the Arch to see the army home, after it's 5 month campaign against the barbarians. Coredon's army hadn't returned, and the town seemed small and deserted before the soldiers broke up and started heading for their homes.

Marius walked home, feeling miserable and tired. He rubbed at his face with both hands. The weariness was catching up to him. He saw H'Dero the blacksmith in his shop, punding away at some new object. He started in, wanting to ask him about how he could go about fixing his broken blade.

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A bead of sweat dripped off of H'Dero's head. He was forging together chunks of steel, to form a set of scale mail armor for one of the soldiers. He stopped as a man walked in. He recognized him immediately. "Marius!" he exclaimed. "What can I do for you today?".

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Marius smiled as he clapped the smith on the shoulder, "It's good to see you again, H'Dero! After five months, even your sooty old face is welcome!" he said with a hearty laugh. "But on a serious note, my blade broke in battle. One of the slaves was wearing an iron collar about his neck, and my blade is notched." He showed him the blade H'Dero had forged especially for him. A large indentation was visible on the cutting edge. "He almost turned the blade, too!" said Marius, giving H'Dero another whack ont he back.

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H'Dero inspected Marius' blade. He sighed, and chuckled softly. "Alright, I'll take a look at it." he said. He moved the scale mail clutter out of the way and started banging and welding the sword. Within minutes he returned the sword to Marius. "Good as new" he said with a grin on his face. Marius nodded and turned to leave. "Oh yeah," H'Dero said "that's 3 silvers"

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Marius chuckled. "Nothing for free, H'Dero. Even for a weary soldier on his leave." He pulled out his coin purse and withdrew a gold. "This will make your toil worthwhile."

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H'Dero grinned and accepted the coin. My favourite customer indeed he thought slyly. "Thanks, Marius." he said, pocketing the gold. "Will you be staying in town for a few days now? Or will you be off denting your swords on slave drivers?"

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Last edited by Rumble on 03-27-2001 at 09:16 PM

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Marius chuckled, "Ah, nothing like that, old friend. I'll be discussing politics in the Keldrin house." He hefted the sword. It felt somewhat lighter, even with the coating H'Dero had put on it.

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H'Dero raised an eyebrow. "As yes, you and your Phen damned politics." he said with a touch of humour. "Well, perhaps I could come and observe your meeting, pick up a few new offensive words." H'Dero produced a huge grin and, for a change, he layed a firm smack on the tired back of Marius.

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Marius almost fell as the brawny smith slapped his back. "Well, why don't you come? I bet you could learn a thing or two..." Marius grinned and hauled H'Dero out the door in the direction of the House of Keldrin...


OOC: Thread discontinued for now

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Registered: Mar 2001
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I ran this through MS Word and gramatically corrected it and fixed speeling mistakes...cool story...

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"You all stare, but you'll never see, there's something inside me.
You all stare, but you'll never see, there's something in you i despise."

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Registered: Mar 2001
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sorry, it didn't attach the file...

Attachment: keldrinwars.txt
This has been downloaded 12 time(s).

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"You all stare, but you'll never see, there's something inside me.
You all stare, but you'll never see, there's something in you i despise."

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