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Knights of Logres
Topic Started: September 1, 2012, 6:40 pm (5,630 Views)
Onime No Ryu
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
A knight is sworn to valour.
His heart knows only virtue.
His blade defends the helpless.
His might upholds the weak.
His word speaks only truth.
His wrath undoes the wicked.

--The Old Code of the First Knights

I here swear fealty and do homage to my lord;
to ever be a good knight and true,
reverent and generous,
shield of the weak,
obedient to my liege-lord,
foremost in battle,
courteous at all times,
champion of the right and the good.
Thus swear I...

--The Oath of all Knights of Logres


In the southern lands of civilized men, far from the barbaric wilderness of the North, lies the great kingdom of Logres. For many an age has Logres prospered and flourished, and its kings ruled with a strong and just hand. So it was until the time of King Tristain. Though Tristain was a fair ruler and did the kingdom no great injustice compared to his predecessors, it was during his reign that the North became much agitated. The Barbarian tribes came together as one under Sverir Fydar and stormed down the Throttle, that narrow strip of land connecting our world to theirs.

Logres's armies had slowly begun to dwindle and the days had grown long since their cities and towns repaired and maintained their walls and towers; the last two-score years had been so peaceful that, for a time, the Knights of Logres feared their order might cease to exist. In its weakened state the kingdom was slow to halt the charge of the Northmen. The wild hordes swept across the Broadback Mountains, and though the wedge that was the Aegis divided their forces it did not stop them. The men of Bristel were caught unprepared, and only when the guard of Eastbridge marched to their defense did the Northerners cease a relentless assault.

But while an uneasy stalemate persisted on one side of the mountains, King Tristain and his sons, brilliant younger Rhys and strong elder Conall, drove the barbarians back across the mountains. From the Hilt that had not seen battle in half a century and the depths of Nightwood came their armies, and even the strange, swift longboats from Yamajima hassled any northmen who thought to slink along the sloping shores below the Broadback. Landing at Eastbridge, the islanders added their forces to the other half of the army, while the King and his sons reinforced the Aegis. The Logermen drove their foes back in a matter of months, and once again peace reigned; however, unlike the lazy days of before, these were days filled with activity such as the hive of bees at the onset of spring.

The King gave his sons leave to separate tasks--Rhys was to oversee the gathering of resources and make plans for reconstruction, while Conall was tasked with strengthening the armies and repairing what damage had been done to the great fortress Aegis, for it was a cornerstone of their victory and all felt that they would have sore need of it in the future. Tristain himself took a host to Waveguard to lay plans for naval warfare and consider the possibilities of raiding the north to further cement their victory. Because the war had turned so many boys to men and men to soldiers, and soldiers had performed deeds that earned them lands and titles, the Knights of Logres found their ranks swelling like never before, and set about hosting great tournaments and games and breaking in their new castles.

But soon Logres faced a new crisis. Whether his age began to catch up with him, or as a result of the stress of the war, or because of the exposure to the harsh northern elements...perhaps for all of these reasons, the King fell ill. He was quickly rushed back to Kingsport to receive proper treatment, but the trip proved too much for him. Frail and fragile, he died in the arms of his youngest son Rhys, and both brothers wept from the bottom to the top of the mountains.

As the kingdom was still in the midst of reconstruction, it was agreed that Rhys would take over the management of the kingdom while Conall continued strengthening the defensive lines and making plans for the northern invasion. At this time, both were sure that Conall, as the eldest, would naturally inherit the crown. But as weeks turned to months, Rhys became more and more convinced that his brother was not the ruler that the people of Logres needed. Whether lust for power or simple logic dominated his thoughts, none can say. But Rhys soon declared his intentions to his brother, and after a flurry of angry letters between them, Logres found itself divided down the middle. Conall, entrenched in the impenetrable Aegis, demanded the crown by the right of eldest son and head of the family line, as well as by right of strength, for their father had left him in charge of the military. He had been raised and groomed for this moment for years before his brother had even been born, and to have his birthright snatched away was nothing short of treason. Rhys denied this on the grounds that Logres needed proper guidance, and its people needed a king that Conall could not become. He placed the crown upon his own head and claimed that for the common good and for the betterment of all he would take upon himself all responsibility.

The Knights of Logres were divided between these two according to those whose lands and banners belonged to the different territories each brother claimed, with the exception of those who chose one side or the other for their own personal reasons. Now, what will surely become a bloody civil war begins...


RULES


GENERAL STUFF


WORLD INFO AND MAP


KNIGHT STUFF


YOU CAN POST NOW
Edited by Onime No Ryu, September 1, 2012, 9:28 pm.
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Replies:
Kazemitsu
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Assassin
Aegis

"I was brought up to not lie." Drogo replied before raising an eyebrow. "I may fight like a beast, but I'm not a beast. I surrendered because there was nothing to be gained through my death. Also if I died there there wouldn't have been any glory in it. Maybe if I brought down the veteran knight that was there." He explained. "As for running? Where would I go? I'm not a hunter or a gatherer, your lands are still foreign to me so I lack the knowledge of your plant-life here." he continued. "My only option was to surrender and hope your knights actually acted like knights, granting mercy and imprisonment, instead of merciless killers. I know there are still hard feelings floating around the south for what my people did." He rumbled, finishing his rather long-winded explanation.
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Perascamin
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A Legendary Ocean
The Aegis

William smiled warmly, placing one hand on Trent's shoulder. His grip was strong and firm, if not a little fatherly feeling. "If you would like to learn from either me or my brother, then we would be happy to teach you. Right, Austin?" The elder brother asked, glancing towards the crimson soldier. Rubbing the back of his neck, he responded in an uneasy sort of tone. "I've never really considered myself to be a good teacher, but I'm willing to give it a try."
In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice.

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Onime No Ryu
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"In other words, you wanted to save your own skin." Conall smiled, and a few chuckles spread through the hall as the knights and soldiers laughed at this northerner who, in their eyes, was nothing more than a coward. But what Conall said next quickly shut them up.

"In that case, why not join me?" Immediately there were protests, but Conall silenced them with a glare at the table. Then he looked back at Drogo. "A northerner who has any sort of sense is rare. I am a just man, and will not forget your crimes...but rather than execute you now and waste your muscle, I would rather throw you on the front lines to my enemies. And if you happen to survive this whole war affair, we'll consider you to have atoned for all the evil you've done my people and my lands. What do you think, Drogo of the north? An indentured soldier, or a prisoner awaiting execution. The choice is yours."

"Thank you, sir!" Trent said, his grin threatening to tear his cheeks off. "Then, maybe tomorrow, during the morning training exercises? I don't know much about spears, but I could practice them too; although," he mimicked Austin's gesture, "I guess I should really work on my swordsmanship before I try to pick up anything else, eh?"
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Perascamin
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A Legendary Ocean
The Aegis

William and Austin both gave Trent a heartfelt chuckle. He definitely committed to the cause, and certainly had the spunk for it. Then, they happened to hear about the Northerner's fate. While it caused the two brothers to be visibly displeased, they'd simply have to accept it. Returning to Trent, the younger brother responded to his comment about lances. "The thing about a lance is, it's really a weapon designed for shield-man such as myself or cavalry units. It's a horrible weapon to use in close quarters. So if you don't know a board or horse very well, you'd want to learn those if you really want to use a lance."

"In fact, I probably should get a sword as my backup weapon..." He said to himself more than anyone. "William though, he can surely teach you plenty about being a swordsman." Will cleared his throat then, nudging his brother ever so lightly. "As if I'm not even here, you made my introduction and all!" "Oh I f-" Austin began before being cut off.

"I have a few ideas myself if you want to train with us more than once. I can teach you a few sword techniques, such as the quickest way to retract a sword from the flesh of your enemy and a couple of pointers on forms of attack and different stances...." He scratched his beard in thought. "Austin could give you advice on how to defeat a heavily armored foe like himself...if he agrees to it." "Gladly. We need to help each other to the best of our ability."
In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice.

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Kazemitsu
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Assassin
Aegis

Drogo simply raised an eyebrow when Conall said he wanted to save his own skin. He didn't reply to it since he was on dangerous grounds just because he came from the north. His eyes drifted to the laughing soldiers. He memorized their faces, their insignias, and vowed to never help them unless under direct orders. You do not laugh at a warrior, especially one just offered to become one of the rank.

"I don't see why not, the battlefield is my home." He rumbled. "Although I have to wonder, aside from not dying at a chopping block, what do I gain from this?" He questioned.
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NTNP
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The Knights of Rhys:
Yama


For simplicities sake and since everyone essentially agreed they would follow before, Carth and Dion traveled with mister Gensai to the palace with Owen and Tyrion in tow. They would basically follow any orders issued to them during the duration of the traveling process and will rejoin the narrative when they are given a prompt such as a speech from the Emperor, an assassination attempt or some other form of meaningful communication that can't be answered by having Owen explain like two sentences. Thus, the knights of Rhys got on the railroad until the next stop...
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Pontiac1532
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Allison Norfrost
Bighorn Inn





"The biggest problem with that would have to be how to deal with them if they do survive, and there's nothing stopping them from betraying us or fighting amongst themselves. If we let hundreds of bandits into the city, we risk losing it. As you said, we have no fighting force strong enough to repel them, or even control them. Plus there would always be that shadow looming over us, that we would never be able to break. We would be seen as bandits, rather than revolutionaries." Allison said, trying not to sound too critical of his plan.

"There are plenty of people here in Westbridge who can fight. There are no doubt a few foresters and hunters in the village who know how to use a bow or an ax. Why not try to enlist them?" She eyed him cautiously. She knew she was treading a dangerous path now, and that at least for the time being she would have to do as Vincent said. The gears in her mind were already turning. "Besides, what happens when the revolution is over. We will need to begin establishing a military, and 'reformed' bandits would be a poor base for any military. Sooner or later, we will have to train the people how to fight."

Then a thought sprung into Allison's head. "I'm not saying we shouldn't use the bandits, but eventually we'll need something to replace them. With your permission, I'd like to recruit some volunteers from among the peasantry to learn how to properly handle a sword. They wouldn't need to know the fancier techniques, just the basic principles. A few weeks would be plenty of time for them to learn that aspect, and as we move further on, they'll only keep getting better. A force like that, given a few months, would be an apt replacement. And they would be a perfect base for a new military."

She shrugged at Vincent. "Or we could just go with the bandits."
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Matttheman89
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Yamajima

Like everyone else, Tyrion followed along after the men who'd been sent to greet them and escort them to their destination. Owen had seemed surprised that they were being taken to the Governor/Emperor so quickly, but Tyrion hoped it was a good sign. Things would go smoother on this mission if the natives decided to be friendly. "So this is Yamajima..." he said to no one in particular, continuing to look around at the buildings and the people in examination.

One thing that caught his eye, was the strange attire the men who were escorting them were wearing, such as the one called Gensai. The masks, the strange fur attached to the back of the helms, even that large staff on the man's back with the ring on the end stood out. It wasn't like any weapons they had back in the mainland, but he still had a rough idea of the kind of damage it could probably do. Definetely not home anymore...

He would continue looking around, trying to discreetly examine anything that caught his eye as they made their way to wherever it was they were going.
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Onime No Ryu
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Westbridge

"I understand your argument, but we can't afford to start training the populace right now." Vincent replied. "For one thing, we don't have the time at the moment. The taking of the city is supposed to begin within a week or so, it's not enough time to turn peasants into competent fighters. And for another thing, it's going to be very hard to keep something like that under wraps." He gestured around the lobby, to the rest of his band. "We've been stockpiling weapons and armor, but we'd still need more to arm every fighting farmer. Some folks would start to question where the money is coming from, why so many weapons are being bought in such a short time-span, and where those weapons are going. If the military isn't ordering them to supply the soldiers, and then someone catches sight of whatever late night training sessions you had in mind, the whole thing blows up in our faces." He returned to the wanted posters, spreading out several of them before Allison.

"But I agree, trusting cutthroats is in general a very bad idea. That's why this plan of mine has two phases. Remember the bounties?" He leaned back on his stool and crossed his arms. "Whomever we can't convince to join us, or whoever presents too much of a threat, we either kill or turn in for their bounties. In fact, I'm considering capturing the whole lot of them and throwing them in the prison--and then, once we've got the money, only breaking out the ones that might actually do some good for our cause. The problem with that is, of course, breaking into and getting out of the prison, and keeping their mouths shut about the whole operation."
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The Best
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Red
THE AEGIS
Unlike the majority of the assembled knights, Red was unsurprised by Conall's offer for the barbarian to join his forces. A warrior is a terrible thing to waste. Red stood slightly off to the side, arms crossed and posture rigid. He watched with mild interest as some of the king's men protested, curious as to why they were so opposed to the notion. If he can fight, why not give him a chance to? Worst case scenario, he takes down a few of them and dies. The alternative is to kill him now, so I don't see any harm in it. As long as everyone keeps an eye on him... Conall and the barbarian exchanged words, and the pugilist kept his silence for the most part. When Drogo asked a question however, Red had to interject.

"Strength." The man spoke low, but the single word was clearly audible. "If you live long enough."
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Pontiac1532
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Allison Noir
Bighorn Inn





Allison nodded as Vincent spoke. "Well, that's fine with me. I guess it would be too much to expect peasants who have never fought before to learn so quickly. Perhaps later, when it won't be so suspicious. As for the bandits.... I prefer the idea of throwing them in the prison for the bounties, but it might be hard to convince them to fight for us after that. If it's just a matter of getting into the prison though...." Allison thought for a moment. She hadn't seen the prison when she came into town, but she knew she could scale most walls easily without her armor. She was just worried there would be too many guards for her to take care of alone. Unless...

"Later, I think I'll stop by the prison and see if i can't find a way in. In the meantime, I suppose we should start finding these bandits. It'll be hard to capture and lock up all of them, but the money might be good for hiring freelancers or purchasing supplies. How many men do you think we'll need to take the town when the time comes?"
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Onime No Ryu
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YAMAJIMA

The sights of the island nation held great wonder for some of the knights, and as they moved further up the streets they again marveled at the smells. The cuisine of the Yamans was as appetizing as it was foreign, especially after having their noses filled with nothing but the salty winds of the sea for a week. The odors of boiling white rice, different kinds of fish, and an assortment of noodles and buns and other sorts of dishes wafted to them from market stalls and open windows. The sounds, however, were not so amicable...in fact, they were not there at all.

On second glance, the knights found that despite their guide's manners, they were not welcome here at all. The common folk glared at them as they passed, only to turn their heads or hurry away if the knights tried to return their stares. The doors of every shop and inn and tavern slammed before and behind them, and even the dogs in the street barked and howled as they approached. A few times they caught sight of other Bushi, like Gensai, watching from the tops of their manor walls or disappearing into an alleyway. To an outsider, the Logermen seemed prisoners, not diplomats.

"They have always been...somewhat wary." Owen whispered to his compatriots. "The grudges of the conquest have not yet died away. But if we are successful, we may finally nail the coffin shut."

If the palace had seemed grand from the sea, it was ten times more so up close. Great wooden gates opened outward to admit the party, and as they entered they were allowed a full view of the courtyard. The path from the gate to the castle doors was paved with smooth gray stone bricks, bordered with a series of bright red posts with ornate tops stretching between them. Rather than hedges and flowers, both sides of the path were covered in sand, meticulously raked in such a way that it seemed to ripple like water. Large stones were artfully placed here and there, and a stone bedded stream only the width of one's hands meandered through the sand gardens around the corner of the great wooden porch. Patches of bamboo had been grown here and there, their hollow tops catching the sounds of the wind and water and spreading their echoes over the grounds like soft music. But the tension did not abate in the slightest.

They dismounted, and before they entered Gensai bade them leave their weapons with the servants. Then they were led through another pair of gates and into the main building of the castle itself. From here they passed through a long corridor, with rows of rooms on either side, and entered into a large square stairwell. Up, up, up they walked, to the very top of the structure. Every landing seemed deserted, the white paper sliding doors shut and the rooms behind them dark and silent. But at the top, in the single, smaller square room where the Island Governor held his private councils, they found the warm light of many paper lanterns awaiting them, along with smells of incense.

Clad in robes of night black and hemmed in deep ocean blue, the Island Governor--or, to his people, the Emperor--looked more like a man just out of bed rather than one about to engage in international negotiations. He sipped tea from a small cup and sat cross legged, though somewhat sprawling, watching the group. His eyes were half lidded, but bright nonetheless, and his dark, lustrous hair fell halfway down his back. Though his eyes bore the wrinkles of a man who has seen many a sleepless night, he was clean shaven and his skin was almost womanly white. And he bore such a strong resemblance to his son, the Faraway Knight, that for a moment some of the knights blinked in confusion. Twined about his shoulders, a serpentine creature with scales of glazy black growled low in its half-sleep; a wyrm, in the flesh. It had four legs, short but tipped with long, manicured claws, and a great mane of fur erupted from the top of its forehead and spread down between its shoulder blades. On either side of its head, great antlers of dark colored bone, more like forked tree branches, erupted. Its eyes were closed, and from its long snout poked pearly white fangs. The lord stroked its back absently with one hand, between two folded wings that would likely be just as long as the creature's body and twice as wide if they were unfurled.

"My lord," said Gensai, falling to one knee. "Sir Owen has come to visit us again, and brought companions along. Their business is urgent." As his liege nodded, the man stood and turned to the knights. He gestured for them to step forward, and his own entourage moved backwards, but they did not go back down the stairs. "Sir Knights of Logres, you stand before the Lord of Ishi-Ou and the Emperor of Yamajima, Seijiryuu-No-Oyama Tenchi Ryuushin! May his blessings be upon you!"

"Thank you, Gensai-dono." said Ryuushin, speaking in Loger for the benefit of his audience. He smiled, rising to a more formal sitting position. His dragon protested the movement, and irritably jumped to the floor in a manner reminiscent of a cat. It curled up in the corner, still growling in the depths of its throat. "Sir Owen, it is good to see you once more. Tell me, how is my son?"

Owen motioned for the other knights to follow his lead as he sat, with both knees folded beneath him. "He was well the last time I saw him. However, currently, he and I find ourselves in an unfortunate situation...one that I am hoping you will remedy after our discussions today." The knight looked intently as the small table before the governor, the one upon which only one empty cup of tea sat. Ryuushin noticed his gaze, but only smiled brighter.

"Would this have anything to do with the matter of honorable King Tristain's passing? It was a dark day indeed when I received the message." He controlled his inflections and expressions well, but still the man did not seem genuine. Owen frowned.

"Yes. The kingdom is currently in the thralls of civil war. And I fear if it is not stopped soon, there may not be a country left when it is done." The Knight glanced away again, this time at Gensai, who stood against the wall looking impassive...and then towards the entourage, who still had not left the room.

"Ah well...it is the nature of siblings to fight, I suppose." Owen visibly tensed, but the emperor kept smiling. "So, what terms does Rhys-dono wish me to consider?"

"That is the very thing we have come to discuss." Owen said. "But, my lord, you must excuse my rudeness..." the knight coughed into one hand, "My throat is somewhat dry."

"Ah." The emperor chuckled now, folding his hands into his robes. "I am truly sorry good sir...but I have no tea for you."

The next moment it seemed the room erupted.

"KNIGHTS!"

"Sorera o tsukamu!" Seize them.

Owen was first to his feet, and surprisingly--or maybe not, considering his nerves--Cadoc of Dyfent was the second. Steel rasped as Gensai and his men drew their weapons and surrounded the group, blocking off both the stairs and the emperor.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Owen roared. Some of the bushi quaked in the face of his fury, but again the emperor only chuckled.

"Again, I am sorry, Sir Owen. But you must understand..." Those bright, half-lidded eyes peeked over a wall of armor and swords. "You were always my son's friend, but never mine."

The bushi moved in...
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Onime No Ryu
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
THE AEGIS


"Aside from not going to the chopping block?" Conall repeated, grinning at the northman. "Not a damn thing!" The king, and the rest of his hall, laughed loudly, at least until he shot them a glare. Red's own answer, however, made the king rest his chin upon the knuckles of one hand and sigh.

"Well, perhaps...It will all depend upon you, Drogo of the North." he conceded. "From this moment on, you are only another soldier. Whether you rise beyond that is up to you." He waved a hand to summon the guards. "Take Mr. Drogo to the barracks, and give him a spare set of clothes more befitting of my soldiers."

As Drogo was led from the room, the king turned his attention towards Red. "As for you, Waveborn, again I congratulate you on your performance. Consider yourself accepted into my ranks--and there shall be a bonus for you when the coin comes in as well. Please, eat and be merry."

And merry they were, for some hours afterward. The victory, though small, had a great effect on the soldiers' spirits. Boys in training had become soldiers in truth, and peasants who had never held a blade now had a battle under their belt. Much still remained, however--their new-found confidence would have to be tempered with training and experience, and they had yet to fight a true battle. Northmen were fierce, but they were not a disciplined army. They wore little armor, and their weapons were only as good as what they could scavenge or steal. They were wild and unpredictable, but chaotic and self-destructive. Rhys's armies would not be so. They would march, row upon row and column upon column, beating the drums of war and clanging their swords upon shields. They would likely match Conall man for man, as the country had been divided neatly in two betwixt them. Only time would tell, however, if their worth was one and the same.

The next morning, Trent and the brothers of Idlewood trained with the rest of the soldiers. Before Red could join them, however, he found himself stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Again Sir Ishen appeared as if from nowhere and spoke.

"They say you use the empty handed arts of my people." The knight removed his hand and crossed his arms. "How did you come by it? Who was your master?"

Meanwhile, Trent looked at the brothers, hardly able to contain himself.

"What should I do to begin with, sirs? Calisthenics? Sparring? Strategy discussion?"
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Onime No Ryu
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
WESTBRIDGE

"Slow down there, missy. Let's not put the cart before the horse." Vincent said. "We won't make any moves until at least a week from now. And tomorrow, we're going after this fellow." He removed a particular poster from the pile and laid it before her. The sketch depicted a man with a thick neck, an auburn head of hair, and a scraggly beard. "He's called Chopping Tom. Likes to hack women into pieces after he's had his fun." The revolutionary pulled a dagger from his belt and slammed it in the middle of the man's face. "He's one of the ones we can't trust at all, and he's well known among the underground. We're going to kill him and all his boys, send a message out there to the others. They'll listen better if we put fear in them first."

He stood, leaving the poster and the dagger where they sat. Turning on his heel he strode towards the door, calling over his shoulder.

"Take any room you like up above, it's free. We ride out early tomorrow; get what sleep you can."
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Perascamin
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A Legendary Ocean
Brothers of Idlewood

Strength, Honor, Valor

The morning dew wafted through the air as the soldiers arose bright and early that morning. As the sun rose o'er the horizon, shades of purple began to die and be replaced with the warm embrace of orange and blue. Thin clouds stretched across the heavens revealing small pockets of emptiness revealing the somewhat dusky sky above. Somewhere, running water could be heard in the distance along with the chirping of several songbirds. Minute amounts of chatter began to fill the exalted halls of the Aegis and the echo of footsteps grew louder with every waking moment.

William and Austin rose a couple of minutes later than everyone else, leaving them as the only two left in bed in their room. After equipping everything needed for the day, the two brothers headed out into the training field with all of the others. Not forgetting their promise to help Trent the best they could, they joined him. Just as he was yesterday, Trent was full of energy and eager to learn. He had pep at least, and that's what Will found so refreshing about him.

"It would be best for us all if we limbered up first. We wouldn't want to risk anyone not being stretched out enough to work their hardest now would we?" Austin asked rhetorically, beginning his own routine. "Not only do such routines improve your flexibility, the more flexible you are, the less likely you are to get hurt." So then they would begin warm-ups, including anything from high-knees to lunges, and stretches aimed to loosen every muscle in the body.

William handed Trent a trainer sword after all was said and done. "Now, try to break my guard." He said, taking stance.
In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice.

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Matttheman89
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Assassin
Yamajima

It didn't take long for Tyrion to notice how the citizens of Yamajima were reacting to their presence as their procession made it's way through the city, and he found himself sighing as the streets began to empty of any and all signs of life besides their own, aside from other bushi watching them from the shadows. "Looks like the Sea isn't the only thing that's unfriendly in Yamajima..." he remarked as Owen explained that hostilies were still simmering in this area following the war. He was starting to have a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach...

He forgot this feeling momentarily however, when they arrived at the palace. Looking up at it with a look of wonder on his face, he again marveled at the athestics of this country, and how it was so different from back home. It looked almost nothing like the castle back in the Capital city, but it was no less grand.

That mood soured a little though, when he was relinquished of his sword. He knew he had no choice, so he handed it over without making a fuss. But as he turned to walk away, he was stopped and forced to give up his shield as well. He gave the man a look of annoyance, but after a long moment, reached over his shoulder and shoved the shield into the servant's hands. Rolling his eyes as the servant walked away with his gear, he entered the palace, following along the group on the long climb up to the Emperor's quarters.

Having known Sir Ishen for some time, Tyrion wasn't all that surprised that he should resemble his father, but he had to admit, for a man likely as old as the Emperor was, he had managed to hold onto his youth pretty well. In some ways he reminded Tyrion of the late King Tristan, in that he had an...air...about him that spoke of the authority he commanded. But something about him felt...off, he didn't like the look in his eyes as he spoke to the Knights.

It didn't take a genius to feel the tension growing in the room, and Tyrion glanced over his shoulder, noting that the men who had brought them here hadn't left the room...and still had their weapons. I wonder how dangerous that Wyrm is...

At Owen's loud shout and the Emperor's command in his native tongue, Tyrion instictivily leapt to his feet and reached for his sword, his hand passing through the air where he usually kept it. He looked down at his waist with a frown, and let out a soft groan. "Whatever happened to peaceful negotations...?"

Realizing that they were quickly being boxed in, Tyrion made a quick decision. Stepping forward, he booted the table that had been between himself and the Emperor as hard as he could, shooting it over to crash into the group of bushi making their way towards them from that angle. Not wanting to lose whatever element of surprise that had given him, he dived to the side, towards the closest bushi to himself. His hand reached out, and he grabbed the man by his sword arm, hoping to keep him off-balance, he pulled him forward sharply, and attempted to strike him on the wrist to make him lose his grip, if it worked, he would try to wrestle the katana away from him, so at least he'd be armed.
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NTNP
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It always seemed like Carth was right more often than he was wrong. Thus far things had gone just about as badly as he could possibly imagine and now it was time for the coup de grace, the killing blow. With the group surrounded, there wasn't much of an option left. Thankfully the group was encased in armor, more for the ceremony of the greeting than anything else but that would provide them a bit of protection against attacks. But more than anything, it was a moral boost to feel surrounded by steel. But without a weapon, there was little chance of a successful battle.

As Tyrion charged into the fray, Carth slowly raised to his feet. He glared, straight toward the Emperor with little malice or hatred, only a sense of tranquil fury that had been buried deep down inside. Slowly a smile came across the older man's face as he spoke even as all hell erupted around him. "I'd always imagined it would have gone the other way. That I would end up killing the half-blood king of the barbarians... I'd imagined that was my fate. But I suppose I can't turn down this offer. World, remember this day well... this is the day that a Silvis took the head of the Emperor of YAMA!"

Instantly a brutal looking green aura erupted around Carth. It was as large and imposing as the mountains themselves, and every bit as treacherous. Slowly the giant of steel pointed toward the Bushin standing in front of the Emperor as he cracked his neck. Flipping down his helm, the Juggernaut stomped toward the foreign soldier just waiting for the moment to strike. If the swordsman attempt to attack using any traditional method (and who wouldn't) Carth intended to lunge forward and try the same tactic as Tyrion, grabbed the man's blade arm and wrestle away the weapon. Hopefully the fact that somehow had just erupted into a massive aura and filled the room with a killing intent would be enough of a distraction on face value for it to work as well.

Meanwhile Dion backed away from the scene and started fumbling through the various little hidden places in his armor as he knelled down, trying desperately to unlodge something so carefully placed between the layers of leather, cloth and steel near his left kidney. With the other hand the boy knight pulled on a little piece of metal that seemed vaguely shaped like the butt of a knife. Just about the point where the nearest Bushin had gotten close enough to make an attack, the poor soul would figure out just what was hidden inside his boot and behind his back.
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Onime No Ryu
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YAMAJIMA


Carth's aura and sudden leap into action surprised some of his attackers, giving the knight the advantage he needed. As he and Tyrion both stole weapons the Emperor moved around the edges of the room, keeping his wall of flesh and steel before him. His dragon leaped up with a sharp hiss, digging its claws into the wall and flapping its wings. Another flash suffused the room as the tree of thorns sprouted behind the mountain, and Owen lashed out with a fury.

"We are guests! Is this Yaman honor!?" the knight roared. One bushi brought down his sword, only to have the elder man spin to the outside of his strike and slam his elbow into the side of the man's neck, dropping him like a stone. "The code of hospitality--"

"--says I am only honorbound to protect guests who have shared my tea." The Emperor raised his hand, and his dragon flew to his shoulder. "And I do not serve tea to my enemies."

Owen threw his unconscious attacker into the others, clearing some space. "KNIGHTS, WE MUST ESCAPE!"

As one of the bushi loomed over Dion, the boy's knife came free with a sudden jerk. As he spun and planted the poisoned blade between the gaps in the man's armor his opponent gasped and fell back, stumbling into the others behind him. But then the boy felt a tremendous force looming over him. A great ogre of a creature, with bright red skin wearing a tiger print loincloth, stood behind him.

Gensai let out a battlecry as he hefted the long club over his head, bringing it straight down at the boy.

Another warrior stepped between Carth and his son, wielding a pair of weapons known as jutte--rods of steel with blunt hooks meant for blocking and breaking blades as well as using baton style strikes. The man struck out rapidly, thrusting one forward in an attempt to hook Carth's stolen blade while the other came smashing down towards the older man's head.

Tyrion found himself attacked by a man who wore no armor, only the loose clothing of the Bushi swordmasters. His blade was still in its sheath--but as he placed a hand upon its hilt the weapon seemed to leap of its own accord. Iaido, the same lightning fast striking style of the Faraway Knight. Once, twice, three times the blade lashed out, coming first from diagonal and below, then from above, then across.


THE AEGIS


Trent followed along with the exercises, feeling his body creak and strain. He was used to hard labor at the farm, but this kind of stretching was new to him. But he did it diligently, and always tried to reach out a little bit further than he had before, to make his lunges a little bit longer every step. Then William handed him a tourney blade and their training began in earnest. Trent thought back to what Red had shown him before. At first he and William just circled each other--and then, with a shout, Trent used his back foot just like he had before. Only this time instead of a simple push, it was an explosive lunge.

He didn't have the power of his hips into it, like the punch, but he brought the sword down at William with both hands, like chopping firewood.
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Matttheman89
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Yamajima

Tyrion's ploy to steal the bushi's katana worked, and as he pulled it out of the man's hand, he made a fist and swung as hard as he could at the man's face. His blow struck home, but with a metallic clang as his fist struck the man's mask, and as he stumbled backwards, Tyrion wished he'd taken a second to think that one through. His knuckles were going to be sore for awhile. Tyrion took a step back to get some space from their attackers, and shifted his grip and stance into a very crude imitation of those he'd seen Ishen using during the War. He knew that if he tried to use the katana as he would his own blade, he likely wouldn't be very effective. But he didn't have much experience with this particular kind of weapon, so it was a gamble either way...

The others had jumped into action along with Tyrion, and he was surprised to see that Carth too could use the strange skill that Owen possessed. Seeing them both summon them together was quite a sight, and seemed to unnerve a few of the bushi facing them, but it would take more than that to stop this fight, so everyone quickly found themselves under attack, including Tyrion.

As soon as his attacker approached him though, Tyrion knew he was in trouble. That stance...that style...it was exactly the same as the one Ishen used. Iaido. As the lightning fast strikes rained down on him, he managed to clumsily block the first, shooting out a few sparks as he tried to mimic the way he'd seen Ishen guard using the katana, then stumbled backwards, just barely avoiding the second as it passed inches from his face. He wasn't as lucky the 3rd time though, and the man's blade nicked him on the chest, cutting his shirt open slightly and exposing the light chain mail he wore underneath.

If Tyrion hadn't already had experience fighting this style, he'd have likely been struck down on the first blow.

"Anyone got a plan!? Cause I'm all ears!" he exclaimed as he surged forward, drawing back his pilfered katana and swinging it at a diagonal angle, aiming to cut his opponent from shoulder to waist.
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Perascamin
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Strength, Honor, Valor


In a single motion William used his incredible reflexes to plant his feet into the ground and bend his knees. As he slightly lowered his body, the duelist raised his sword overhead-- placing one palm against the flat of the blade for support. It would've been to late for the lad to change direction now, especially with such a powerful swing. The swordsman exploded upwards, countering Trent's assault with the combined force of his lower and upper body.

Unless Trent was well prepared for this kind of counter, it would be likely that such high recoil would cause the new recruit to stumble backwards. He's powerful for sure, but I don't think he has very good agility yet... William thought as he readied himself.

The elder brother pointed his blade at Trent. "Imagine there's only one thing that stands between you and your goal! I am the wall that stops you from going forward! Now, charge me once more!"
In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice.

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Onime No Ryu
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THE AEGIS


Trent fell back on his ass as William's block pushed him away. The younger boy shook his head and took up another stance. Red said to flow like water to get stronger...how? He lunged forward again, but this time he turned his hips and torso just like throwing the punch, and flung out his entire arm. His other hand instinctively flew out behind him to restore his balance, and his sword thrust forward, all of his body's power and speed concentrated at its tip. But his balance was overextended, and his torso was wide open...


WESTBRIDGE


The next day found them out in the field after a short breakfast. Allison and Vincent were the only two who had horses, and so they lead while the little band of sellswords followed. They were headed towards the Furwood and staying far away from the main roads, in the shadows of trees where they could. Vincent seemed to be trying to get information out of her, to take better stock of her abilities.

"Have you ever been part of a company, or do you work on your own? It's much harder working as a solo mercenary. Did you fight in the North war? Ever been part of a town guard?" He waited for her answers between each query, but they came one after the other. He seemed friendly enough, but cautious as well--he kept the pace just slow enough that they wouldn't be left alone together, and some of the meanest looking of his compatriots followed them the closest.
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Instinctively Dion threw himself to the right and rolled out of the way of the club's ground shaking assault. Quickly the young man righted himself and glanced around at his surroundings, looking for anything of worth. While having an emergency dagger was better than nothing, there must still have been other things around them that might provide an advantage in this overwhelmingly negative situation. Heck if nothing else knowing how many attackers and what they might use for an impromptu weapon couldn't hurt. Once that was completed, Dion's attention would shift over to Gensai, the brutish man with the club. The boy's beady little eyes were looking for any chinks in the man's armor, a weakness in his stance. Something to be taken advantage of. All the while, the junior knight still held something behind his back...

Meanwhile Carth had an uniquely different way of dealing with the situation. The senior knight jerked forward with his free hand, attempting to grab hold of the blunted hook coming toward his head. As far as the sword went, if it hooked on all the better. If his plate mail was as good as he remembered, the damage from the blunt hooks to the gauntlets and forearms would be negligible. If he did manage to grab hold with either hand or blade, the knight would yank on the chain with all his might attempting to either disarm his opponent or yank him forward. Assuming that both the grab and the yank worked, the giant of steel would either stomp the bushi if he had been pulled to the ground or slash with that pitiful little piece of metal that they called a katana with all the force of a rock slide. Either way, if Carth managed to take advantage of the enemy Bushi's grappling attack he intended to make sure his enemy wouldn't stand in his way again.
Edited by NTNP, September 30, 2012, 6:09 am.
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Onime No Ryu
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YAMAJIMA


"We'll break through!" Owen shouted to Tyrion. "Gather round! Form a wedge, drive towards the stairs!"

"You think we'll let you!?" growled a Bushi in imperfect Loger, raising his sword high as he charged the knight.

Owen's expression grew fierce, and he held his hands loosely before him. His arms tensed, and his fingers tightened together, becoming a spearhead of flesh.

"GUNGNIR!"

One hand was drawn back to Owen's hip, and a strange wind blew behind him, billowing the hem of his cloak. The bushi knew something was coming, and tried to move to the side--but it was if something pulled him, he was too slow. Owen's hand shot out, a phantasmal aura of a single golden spear, mounted atop a pair of winged blades surrounding it. Without the slightest waver it struck its target, and the Holy Lance's fingertips sank into the soft flesh of the man's throat, crushing his windpipe instantly, sending a spasm up the twin arteries on either side. This was one of the knight's Divine Skills--a spear thrust that rumors said never missed.

As Carth allowed his opponent to catch his sword and similarly entangled the second jutte, his opponent tried for a headbutt--only to have the older knight's heavy boot smash into his gut in a vicious push-kick, dislodging the two from their grapple. The man tumbled back, getting in the way of his allies--if the knights had one advantage, it was that their enemies had packed the room too closely, and were having trouble moving around themselves.

Tyrion's opponent moved aside as lightly as a falling leaf, turning his body for a high thrust, towards the knight's unprotected throat and face.

Dion could see only his enemies, and his allies fighting so fiercely around him. There was no time to grab a fallen weapon as Gensai came towards him once more, still bristling with the image of a monstrous demon. The man's armor had the usual weaknesses...under the arms, in the joints...but he was so large, and his aura so fierce. If Dion messed up, even once, in close quarters...

He saw it in his mind's eye for a moment. His bones, broken. His flesh, pulped like rotten fruit. His eyes bursting like grapes, his brains spilling out of a shattered skull.

Gensai's roar brought him from one hell into another, as the large man came at him once more...
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Pontiac1532
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It was easy to see that Vincent still didn't entirely trust her, and she understood why. She answered his questions with an easy smile, trying to set him at ease. It would be better for her if he trusted her, especially when the time came for her to decide whether or not she would continue to follow him.

"For most of my journey, I've been a solo mercenary. Most companies wouldn't allow me to join, mainly because I'm a women but also because at the time I wasn't exactly as skilled as I am now. However, in about the third year after I left how, I did serve under the Silvis family as a foot soldier. I had successfully convinced them that I was a man by cutting my hair short and refusing to remove my armor. Unfortunately, when Carth Silvis found out, he made a show of kicking me out. I'd only served on his guard for about 2 months. Since then, I've been on my own. Which was probably for the best, considering I was able to build a reputation for myself. Merchants began to hire me to lead the guards that protected their caravans, so for a time, about a year and a half, I was employed as part of a team. Eventually, Jeremus came to me, and I had been working for him for about a year."

Her answers came as he asked his questions, and soon she felt the conversation begin to lull. She turned back to him, and continued. In fact, Silvis hadn't kicked her out because she was a woman. Rather, she had left of her own accord because she suspected he, and others, were beginning to learn of her roots in nobility. That's not to say she liked the Silvis family, but it was an important distinction that might bite her in the butt later. Still, she couldn''t exactly tell Vincent the truth without running into the same problem she had faced with the Silvis family. And she couldn't leave that part out because she wanted Vincent to trust her, and she figured the more she was willing to tell him, the better it would reflect on her.
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Perascamin
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Brothers of Idlewood

Strength, Honor, Valor

Reversing his grip, William changed stances so that he would be able to react at any given moment. I know you can do it Trent. Surprise me with a new tactic. Learn from my movements! The swordsman thought, handing the blade off behind his back to his off-hand. Now the recruit was on his feet again, a sort of bewildered look coming across his face.

Will darted forward, winding his left arm back and extending his right for leverage. When faced with an impaling attack you have to upset the balance! Just before the two met, the duelist spun his body into a vicious twirl. If his timing was right, then his foot would meet the flat of Trent's weapon and knock it to the side. With the rest of his momentum, he's put all of his body weight into a punch aimed at his torso.
In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice.

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