Post by Phagetthree on Apr 22, 2010 1:12:08 GMT 8
Another report?
"Thanks, scout. Reliel, lead him for some food and water, he deserves the rest."
The scrolled parchment now in her hand probably held yet another piece of bad news, as they always were.
What is it now? Another rift? A demon commander?
Faranella unrolled it and began reading.
Oh, Goddess, no!
'The lands in the Tydon farming area has become extremely arid in the short span of a few days. Recounts from other nearby scouts and locals describe an enemy encampment not far from it, within the forests. Residents of the town have also been reported missing and a single wandering undead was found and dispatched. Recommend a skirmishing force to reveal the entire scope of the problem.'
Putting it down on the desk amongst other similar reports, Faranella considered the available information.
Not demons, but rather undead creatures, which probably means a demon commander of sorts, preferring to weaken us with our own people before sending in his actual forces. Clever.
Exiting her tent, she met her second in command, Frederick.
"Tell the men that we set off for the town of Tydon on the morrow, the mission is search and destroy."
Frederick stood to attention and saluted, before moving off to inform the others.
"Yes, ma'am!"
-------------------
Later that night, Faranella could not sleep.
Hallucinations or visions, she could not tell, clouded her mind. Wild, distorted imagery flitted about before her eyes, a mindless ghoul, the deep, dark, foreboding forest, a skeletal caster, an orb...
Unable to be rid of them, she got up to plan the next day's skirmish.
Better to save the men some time.
Hours passed like minutes as she absorbed herself fully in the task, the illusions gradually faded as she completed her work.
Returning to bed with but an hour to spare, the sleep of the dead took her. Dreamless, dark and completely devoid of any form of consciousness, real or imaginary.
-------------------
Dawn came too soon as she awoke exactly an hour later. A quick peek outside her tent proved that her men had done the same.
A quick washup later, Faranella and Frederick helped each other put on their heavy armor. Modesty was unimportant, and hardly thought of in a world constantly besieged by malicious elements and beings. The armor, 'Retribution's Vessel', as it was called, emanated a soft, soothing golden glow. Frederick's armor was of the more common variety, a sturdy hauberk, headpiece, and legplates over chainmail was all that served to protect the steadfast soldier.
Helmet tucked under her arm, Faranella strode into the courtyard, where most of the squad was already formed up and ready for inspection. With practiced efficiency, Faranella and Frederick checked every soldier, and once satisfied, Faranella began her briefing.
"Today, we are to head to the town of Tydon, where there is a suspected demonic commander and necromancer hiding in the woods, turning our citizens and corrupting our land. This is both a scouting mission and a search and destroy mission, the forest is not well explored beyond a hundred metres of its border, hence proceed with caution, and stay in your ranks."
"Yes, ma'am!" Came the single, unified response.
Faranella allowed herself a smile, these men and women were some of the best within the Order, utterly devout, strong, and experienced.
No foolhardy demon necromancer is going to corrupt my land and get away with it.
She punched her right fist into the air, and the rest followed.
"We swear to the Holy Mother,
by our lives we will uphold.
Justice and conviction,
by the light of day.
The purity of our lands,
by the noble cross.
The salvation of our people."
The Oath complete, they donned their helmets. Fully armored, Faranella looked neither male nor female, the contours of the armor made it impossible to tell. Even her voice was changed by the helmet she wore, where when her voice emerged, it would not betray her gender, nor her emotions. In her armor, she was a bastion of holy strength to her comrades, and an unstoppable, fearsome juggernaut to her enemies.
"The Holy Mother's blessings upon our mission!" She cried.
A blessing fell upon every soldier, including herself. Weapons weighed like feathers in their hands, and armor was hardly a burden under the effects of the blessing.
"Move out!"
Armored warhorses galloping, the squad raced out of the encampment in perfect formation, leading a cloud of dust in their wake as they sped towards the town of Tydon.
-------------------
A scout materialized from a nearby bush as the squad had arrived at the outskirts of the town.
"Scout, report!"
"Captain! The situation is dire! Almost all the townfolk has been converted, and the enemy grows bolder! Those who remain are being evacuated discreetly by the other scouts, and are waiting at a safe clearing for permission to take refuge in your camp."
"Of course they may, scout. Do you have any other news?"
"Yes... There is a lich in the vicinity, I saw it myself. It has in it's hand a foul orb with which it is opening rifts to summon forth demons. He also uses it to create undead en masse. I also saw him combining the rifts, but for my own safety I had to leave as one of the demons almost spotted me. That is all of my report, ma'am."
Combining rifts? Summoning a demon army? He may even be summoning a doomlord!
"My thanks, scout. Continue in your duties, dismissed."
The scout gave her a salute and vanished into the surrounding vegetation.
"You heard him, men. A lich is in the vicinity, and is the prime source of the problem in the area. He will be our main target. Destroy him at all costs!"
With that, they continued their charge.
-------------------
Faranella pushed her way through the undergrowth as the squad proceeded through the forest. Forced to dismount, they had left their warhorses tethered outside the forest, with a couple of guards remaining behind to guard them.
Her sword, the Soul Keeper, still dripped with slightly congealed blood from groups of undead they had come across. Those were easily dispatched, but demons were smarter, faster, and more coordinated. Her next battle would not be so easy, plus the lich would know they were coming.
The undergrowth was nearly pitch black, but thanks to her incandescent armor, and special glowing stones on the fore of the helmets worn by her soldiers, they were able to peer a fair distance ahead.
Shouldn't be too far now...
It wasn't long then, that they came upon a clearing, and within it was a horde of demonic soldiers with their backs turned towards the little skirmishing party. Before the gigantic rift stood the said lich, orb in hand, no doubt in the process of a larger summoning ritual.
She raised her claymore with a single arm, and led the charge.
"For the Order! Slay the lich and all who stand in our way!"
The squad, numbering not more than thirteen in number, moved as one against the numerically superior horde of hundreds of demonic warriors. Both forces collided with a spectacular clash of steel and cries, holy warriors fighting as if taking part in a macabre dance, decapitating, dismembering, disemboweling, in a deadly whirl of blessed steel and flashes of holy light.
The lich no doubt hastened his summoning, but dared not cast a spell toward the fray lest he interrupt the summoning.
"Innin-ko shakresh! Pshkhra yvon!"
"Oh no you don't!"
The squad had finally slaughtered their way past the demonic army, leaving a veritable mountain of viscera and entrails behind them. Faranella leapt towards the lich and cleaved him in half with a single blow from the Soul Keeper.
The lich's body burned with holy fire as he fell apart, ensuring he would never get up again, but the rift refused to collapse.
One giant, clawed foot stepped forth, and Faranella could hear demonic laughter emanating from within the great darkness of the rift.
The summoning! We're too late!
It was then that she saw the orb lying on the ground, a sickly yellow aura hung around it like a drape. She grabbed it with her free hand.
"At all costs!"
And crushed it.
-------------------
Faranella felt her gut wrench as she was yanked into the rift as it collapsed upon itself, and she was thrown into the nothingness surrounding each universe, but yet also connected them.
She sped in seemingly random directions, her ears were filled with a meaningless cacophony of noises, and her eyes gave her no meaningful images either. But most important of all, was that she was running out of air as she held her breath for as long as she could.
Mother... Father... I come.
But the great darkness would not claim her, as she was thrust right into yet another universe unlike her own.
"Thanks, scout. Reliel, lead him for some food and water, he deserves the rest."
The scrolled parchment now in her hand probably held yet another piece of bad news, as they always were.
What is it now? Another rift? A demon commander?
Faranella unrolled it and began reading.
Oh, Goddess, no!
'The lands in the Tydon farming area has become extremely arid in the short span of a few days. Recounts from other nearby scouts and locals describe an enemy encampment not far from it, within the forests. Residents of the town have also been reported missing and a single wandering undead was found and dispatched. Recommend a skirmishing force to reveal the entire scope of the problem.'
Putting it down on the desk amongst other similar reports, Faranella considered the available information.
Not demons, but rather undead creatures, which probably means a demon commander of sorts, preferring to weaken us with our own people before sending in his actual forces. Clever.
Exiting her tent, she met her second in command, Frederick.
"Tell the men that we set off for the town of Tydon on the morrow, the mission is search and destroy."
Frederick stood to attention and saluted, before moving off to inform the others.
"Yes, ma'am!"
-------------------
Later that night, Faranella could not sleep.
Hallucinations or visions, she could not tell, clouded her mind. Wild, distorted imagery flitted about before her eyes, a mindless ghoul, the deep, dark, foreboding forest, a skeletal caster, an orb...
Unable to be rid of them, she got up to plan the next day's skirmish.
Better to save the men some time.
Hours passed like minutes as she absorbed herself fully in the task, the illusions gradually faded as she completed her work.
Returning to bed with but an hour to spare, the sleep of the dead took her. Dreamless, dark and completely devoid of any form of consciousness, real or imaginary.
-------------------
Dawn came too soon as she awoke exactly an hour later. A quick peek outside her tent proved that her men had done the same.
A quick washup later, Faranella and Frederick helped each other put on their heavy armor. Modesty was unimportant, and hardly thought of in a world constantly besieged by malicious elements and beings. The armor, 'Retribution's Vessel', as it was called, emanated a soft, soothing golden glow. Frederick's armor was of the more common variety, a sturdy hauberk, headpiece, and legplates over chainmail was all that served to protect the steadfast soldier.
Helmet tucked under her arm, Faranella strode into the courtyard, where most of the squad was already formed up and ready for inspection. With practiced efficiency, Faranella and Frederick checked every soldier, and once satisfied, Faranella began her briefing.
"Today, we are to head to the town of Tydon, where there is a suspected demonic commander and necromancer hiding in the woods, turning our citizens and corrupting our land. This is both a scouting mission and a search and destroy mission, the forest is not well explored beyond a hundred metres of its border, hence proceed with caution, and stay in your ranks."
"Yes, ma'am!" Came the single, unified response.
Faranella allowed herself a smile, these men and women were some of the best within the Order, utterly devout, strong, and experienced.
No foolhardy demon necromancer is going to corrupt my land and get away with it.
She punched her right fist into the air, and the rest followed.
"We swear to the Holy Mother,
by our lives we will uphold.
Justice and conviction,
by the light of day.
The purity of our lands,
by the noble cross.
The salvation of our people."
The Oath complete, they donned their helmets. Fully armored, Faranella looked neither male nor female, the contours of the armor made it impossible to tell. Even her voice was changed by the helmet she wore, where when her voice emerged, it would not betray her gender, nor her emotions. In her armor, she was a bastion of holy strength to her comrades, and an unstoppable, fearsome juggernaut to her enemies.
"The Holy Mother's blessings upon our mission!" She cried.
A blessing fell upon every soldier, including herself. Weapons weighed like feathers in their hands, and armor was hardly a burden under the effects of the blessing.
"Move out!"
Armored warhorses galloping, the squad raced out of the encampment in perfect formation, leading a cloud of dust in their wake as they sped towards the town of Tydon.
-------------------
A scout materialized from a nearby bush as the squad had arrived at the outskirts of the town.
"Scout, report!"
"Captain! The situation is dire! Almost all the townfolk has been converted, and the enemy grows bolder! Those who remain are being evacuated discreetly by the other scouts, and are waiting at a safe clearing for permission to take refuge in your camp."
"Of course they may, scout. Do you have any other news?"
"Yes... There is a lich in the vicinity, I saw it myself. It has in it's hand a foul orb with which it is opening rifts to summon forth demons. He also uses it to create undead en masse. I also saw him combining the rifts, but for my own safety I had to leave as one of the demons almost spotted me. That is all of my report, ma'am."
Combining rifts? Summoning a demon army? He may even be summoning a doomlord!
"My thanks, scout. Continue in your duties, dismissed."
The scout gave her a salute and vanished into the surrounding vegetation.
"You heard him, men. A lich is in the vicinity, and is the prime source of the problem in the area. He will be our main target. Destroy him at all costs!"
With that, they continued their charge.
-------------------
Faranella pushed her way through the undergrowth as the squad proceeded through the forest. Forced to dismount, they had left their warhorses tethered outside the forest, with a couple of guards remaining behind to guard them.
Her sword, the Soul Keeper, still dripped with slightly congealed blood from groups of undead they had come across. Those were easily dispatched, but demons were smarter, faster, and more coordinated. Her next battle would not be so easy, plus the lich would know they were coming.
The undergrowth was nearly pitch black, but thanks to her incandescent armor, and special glowing stones on the fore of the helmets worn by her soldiers, they were able to peer a fair distance ahead.
Shouldn't be too far now...
It wasn't long then, that they came upon a clearing, and within it was a horde of demonic soldiers with their backs turned towards the little skirmishing party. Before the gigantic rift stood the said lich, orb in hand, no doubt in the process of a larger summoning ritual.
She raised her claymore with a single arm, and led the charge.
"For the Order! Slay the lich and all who stand in our way!"
The squad, numbering not more than thirteen in number, moved as one against the numerically superior horde of hundreds of demonic warriors. Both forces collided with a spectacular clash of steel and cries, holy warriors fighting as if taking part in a macabre dance, decapitating, dismembering, disemboweling, in a deadly whirl of blessed steel and flashes of holy light.
The lich no doubt hastened his summoning, but dared not cast a spell toward the fray lest he interrupt the summoning.
"Innin-ko shakresh! Pshkhra yvon!"
"Oh no you don't!"
The squad had finally slaughtered their way past the demonic army, leaving a veritable mountain of viscera and entrails behind them. Faranella leapt towards the lich and cleaved him in half with a single blow from the Soul Keeper.
The lich's body burned with holy fire as he fell apart, ensuring he would never get up again, but the rift refused to collapse.
One giant, clawed foot stepped forth, and Faranella could hear demonic laughter emanating from within the great darkness of the rift.
The summoning! We're too late!
It was then that she saw the orb lying on the ground, a sickly yellow aura hung around it like a drape. She grabbed it with her free hand.
"At all costs!"
And crushed it.
-------------------
Faranella felt her gut wrench as she was yanked into the rift as it collapsed upon itself, and she was thrown into the nothingness surrounding each universe, but yet also connected them.
She sped in seemingly random directions, her ears were filled with a meaningless cacophony of noises, and her eyes gave her no meaningful images either. But most important of all, was that she was running out of air as she held her breath for as long as she could.
Mother... Father... I come.
But the great darkness would not claim her, as she was thrust right into yet another universe unlike her own.