Contracts of War (Soldier please)

[Vincent Stefan]

1st day of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

The preparations had gone well, at least they appeared to have anyway. Now the men and women of the Raven's Wing, there blue uniforms strait, black cloaks moving in the breeze. Stood ready to march. The contract was for the removal of undead and that was what they intended to do. As there Commander Migeria Silverblade walked the lines, he found himself filled with a pride he never new before. These peaple where more then just mercenary's they where a well trained army, a army he now commanded. Turing a about face, Migeria made his way back to the head of the formed columns. The time was upon them to move out, to face there destiny and the destiny of Archadoon itself.

Raising one of his blades the Acting commander was about to get the march underway when a voice called out to those assembled from the upper walls, a voice belonging to Lrass Halberd the Raven's Wing acting second in command. "Commander Midgeria, if I many address the men." Asked the elf druid, in response the acting commander bowed his head. Taking in a quick breath, and popping one of his pain relief pills, the elf druid began, his voice carrying across the courtyard with a power all it's own."Today...Today is not about the Raven's Wing, or About payment or Glory. Today you march out to take on what we Mercenary's always have, the peoples perspective. This will not be just any battle you face, this will be a battle for survival...our survival. The People of Archadoon are watching, they are waiting, wondering if we will be able to perform out duties as we always have. So, Now is the time to prove to them that we have accomplished much more then that, we have become much more then we where. WE ARE THE RAVEN'S WING....NOTHING STANDS IN OUR WAY."

A cheer rose up from the assembled men and women, even Midgeria himself felt a thrill at the words. It was a sad thing indeed that, Lrass could not join them on this campaign. The druid had a way with words that the Acting Commander never could fathom. In truth it still made the elf, wonder why Vincent had chosen him to lead. Lrass would have been the best choice by far. looking up Midgeria's eyes fell on the elf druid as Lrass began to hobble his way back down from the upper walls, his wooden cane clicking as it hit the wood planks of the walkway. A reminder to all, that though good at some things, Lrass was also held back by others. A reminder of why Midgeria was given command and the druid was not.

With a sigh Midgeria again raised his sword and with a quick movement lead the men in rows of 5 out of the main gates of the fortress and in the direction of the disturbance and waiting undead. There would be 45 men in all going, 5 including Lrass stayed behind to watch the fortress and to make certain that should no survivors return, the Raven's Wing would go on.

[Soldier]

As agreed, the Fiannas didn’t let the Ravens’ Wings go alone. A few blocks from the gates to the ruins stood a group of fifty Warriors, each armed with a huge claymore or war axe, a longsword, a dagger, a heavy crossbow and spear. Each was also dressed in the blue and silver kilt and chain mail vest over the long sleeved shirt. An iron cap covered each head. “Halt!” came the familiar voice of Ryan, standing at their head. The Subchieftain marched to the front and beckoned over Lrass. “I assume you will remain behind. As such, I will give you the remainder of your payment.” A pair of parchments was handed over, then Ryan stepped back so the pair could see what they had received.

The first deed was to an abandoned compound, once belonging to the Crimson Lions. It contained a barracks large enough to house fifty men, and was equipped with bunks and a small officer’s quarters. Also in the compound was a mess hall equipped with food and water, a stable containing twenty war horses, and an armory containing spears, long swords, daggers, longbows and maces, fifty of each. A training field in the courtyard and a quartermaster’s office packed with equipment rounded out the compound. The second parchment was a note granting a tract of land outside the city to the Wings.

“As you can see, the Fianna keep their promises. I belive this will be a good down payment on a contract to remain in the city when we are victorious. And seeing your soldiers and my Warriors, we will be victorious!” There was a deafening roar as the Barbarians clashed their spears on their shields and bellowed, and Ryan was quiet as they roared, then spoke again as the quiet surrounded them. “Through that gate, you will find creatures most foul! They murdered your brothers, your sons and your fathers! We have heard the naysayers, saying the Undead will leave us be if they are left alone! I ask you… Who will go back? And who will go with me?”

The roar of the Barbarians was louder than the first as they formed more-or-less neat ranks, ready to pass into the gates. From the stairs came the haunting melody and rhythm of a bagpipe, the piper setting a rhythm as he walked down the steps to take up a spot in the second row. A pair of spearmen set themselves beside him, prepared to defend their unarmed comrade. Ryan then turned to Midgeria. “The piper will escort us to the gates. The music helps bolster my Warriors. I am ready to admit that I know nothing of urban warfare, as my people prefer the wilderness. I am prepared to offer you command over all troops, including my own.” The subchieftain bowed. “When you are, ready, sir, we can begin.”

[Dartalion]

Dartalion stood amoung the men asmbled with the Ravens Wing he would do as he said and complet the mission while protecting his comrads when called for.This would not be an easy battle but it was one that must be fought. He looked to Feniox this would settle all between them at least that was his hope. Once they had asurred that Darkcron truely slept and the matter of his death was resolved he did not know were they would go or if there paths were to seperate. but all that mattered was the hear and now. he said nothing as they began to march forward.

[Vincent Stefan]

Lrass excepted the parchments with a bow, and after a quick exchange with Midgeria existed the area, on his way to inspect the new facility. His cane clicking on the street, with each step that he took, his hands already reaching into the pouch at his side, the one with his pills. The Barbarians soon yelled there readiness, The elf commander himself was glad when he heard a similar yell rise up from the ranks of the Raven's Wing. "The piper will escort us to the gates. The music helps bolster my Warriors. I am ready to admit that I know nothing of urban warfare, as my people prefer the wilderness. I am prepared to offer you command over all troops, including my own." This took Midgeria back a bit. Mostly because he was uncertain if the me of the barbarians would really listen to a person outside there ranks. But in the ideals of good relations decided it best to let time be the tell.

"When you are, ready, sir, we can begin." contiued Ryan, "Then let us begin." Responded Midgeria seconds later. Moving foreword the elf commander indicated the open doors with his sword to a group of 5 Raven's Wing men each with bows, and dark Grey cloaks. The men quietly moved off from the main group traveling to the front of all men assembled and soon vanished into nothingness. "Scouts" elaborated Midgeria to Ryan. Who was probably by now wondering what The elf commander was doing. "No use in not being prepared, Vould rather not be surprised or ambushed..... Now then Let us begin the march." With that the commander signaled ahead and for all present to begin to move.

[Soldier]

It was time. The Fiannas manning the gates to the city pulled the doors open, the soldiers and Warriors moving through. The gates closed behind them with a clash, the bolt sliding into place. Ryan’s eyes moved about, taking in the finest detail before he motioned his Warriors on. Each Barbarian either gripped his spear or fastened them to their backs in favor of the crossbow. A squeeze of a hand sparker, and the crossbow bolts lit brightly, the magnesium bolts smoking slightly. Ryan gestured to the front rank, and half went one way, half the other. “They will watch our flanks,” Ryan said to Midgeria. “Each group has a Thaumaturgist with them. They’ll be alright.” He gripped his own claymore in his hands, his eyes roaming under his iron helmet.

As the group advanced slowly into the ruins, there was a stir as a girl, about five years old, suddenly appeared in front of Midgeria himself. The young lass held a stuffed bear in her arms, and her eyes were huge, her skin gaunt, pale and stretched over the bones of her face. “Please,” she asked quietly, standing there in the tattered remains of her nightgown and bare feet. “Please… I lost my mommy and daddy. Please help me find them.”

[Vincent Stefan]

There are many things peaple come up with in there minds when they consider the term Enemy. None of those however fit the category of what Midgeria found standing in front of him. A Child, or at least what might have been a child. In truth, the elf commander had no idea what to make of this. A child suddenly appearing, was odd in and of itself. Even before one considered where they where, and in what state. "Please… I lost my mommy and daddy. Please help me find them." A child's voice, so simple, added to what was now standing there helped to lesson some of Midgeria's confusion. Yet, still the elf commander found his other sword in his hands....

"Everyone, back off for a moment." Remarked the commander as he contiued to regard the child. There was really only two ways in which he could do this.. One treat the situation as thought the child was alive and use her to find the other, dead....or treat her as what he thought she was and do something a bit more drastic.... IN the end, the option to find more of the dead thew the child won out. If anything else, the situation posed the possibility to solve the wondering undead problem.

"Shore little one...Ve Vill help you, Vhere did you last see them..." With his sword the elf commander indicated to those present to give the child a wide birth. "Ve Vill follow you to that location...lead on."

[Soldier]

The girl reached up to grip the Elf’s hand, the small fingers icy cold. She sniffled slightly and clutched her bear even closer, the grip on Midgeria’s hand surprisingly firm. The girl practically dragged the Commander down a dark alley and across a street. Ryan stayed close behind, and the soldiers with them kept an eye out as they watched where their respective commanders went. They were led up one street and down another, until they came to the shattered remains of a long, private street. The heat of the fire had warped the iron fence flanking it, the metal bars twisted and melted. The iron gate lay in a useless heap on the shattered cobblestones. More chilling were the two armored corpses that lay in charred piles by the opening. The skin had literally been boiled off them, the armor melted to their bare bones.

The girl didn’t even glance down as she passed them, dragging Midgeria up the road to the remains of the large manor. Amazingly, the house remained in fairly good condition, only a few scorch marks showing it had felt the heat of the flames. The girl stopped just in front of the porch and let Midgeria’s hand go, the pins and needles telling him blood was refilling his appendage. She pointed to the solid oak doors. “They’re in there, burning. I saw them burning, oh, Gods! Save my mommy and daddy!” She ran up onto the porch and started to pound on the door, screaming for her parents. Ryan ran up to drag her off, another Fianna trying the door. It took only a second before he gestured back to Midgeria. The door was bolted from the inside. It was then that a woman’s scream sounded from inside the house, mixing with the voice of the sobbing child, followed by the screaming voice of a man.

[Vincent Stefan]

As the child complied with the elf commanders request. A shiver ran threw Midgeria's body, as a chill much akin to immersing one's hand in frozen water, ran threw him. To add to things the Commander was literally being dragged half running half free air, by a child of 5years. dragged across several streets and back areas, At last much to the relief of the mercenary, the trip ended in front of a half burnt out manner. "They’re in there, burning. I saw them burning, oh, Gods! Save my mommy and daddy!". This was odd, as the building had not appeared to have suffered that much in the fire. One of the Barbarian's ran up to check the door and with a nod confirmed that it was indeed bolted shut. Anyone wanting to get out, or in would have a heard time indeed. A tragedy to be certain.

Then the woman began to scream, Followed by the sound of a man and the crying of the child. Each peace falling into place to explain exactly what was going on. A play...if such a thing could be compared to one, morbid to be certain. A play, who's ending was already created back when the fires burned with there great heat. Yet, what to do now was the question. The parents would be dead, However was that really important now. They had come to help relive, and remove the dead, if the child was as such...something the elf was still on the fence about...Perhaps helping the parents would have some kind of a effect. Running back to the dead military men, those ravaged by the fire. The elf gave a quick bow of reverence, and another by way of apologies, as he picked up the heaviest peace of one of there armors and ran back to the mansion.

"Stand clear." Yelled Midgeria as he arrived at the building again. Curling back his right arm the elf threw the armor with as much power as he could for the nearest window, hoping upon hope that the glass would shatter...opening a way inside.

[Soldier]

The armor was rather disgusting, the fused body of the owner still inside. Even so, Midgeria was able to tear off one of the arm guards, the bones still inside. With a clank and a crash, the armor sailed through the brittle glass, sending it to the floor in shards. One of the Barbarians ran up, and using his sword, cleared the shards from the window. He dove in, followed by a second, and a few moments later, the door was opened, allowing them entrance. The girl didn’t even wait for any word or motion from the Commander, just plowing through, sending the two stout Warriors by the door flying into the walls. With a groaning wail, the child vanished through the door at the back of the room.

The soft groaning of the two dazed Warriors told Midgeria they were fine, though they could barely be heard over the continuing screams. But it was moot… at the sound of the racket, two creatures came from the doorway that led into the kitchen. One wore the fine uniform of a footman, the other the tattered dress of a housemaid. Though they were once Human, they were not any longer. Gaunt flesh stretched over their skulls, tattered and dried in death. Their fingers had been twisted into wicked, filthy claws, and their teeth were sharp enough to tear and eat flesh. Their red, glowing eyes fastened on the newcomers and they drooled, long tongues snaking out to lick dried, rotting lips. Ryan had seen these creatures before, and drew his claymore. “Ghouls,” was the only word to pass his lips before the creatures charged, powerful legs sending them flying towards their prey.

[Vincent Stefan]

It was only as the moment passed and the item left his hands that Midgeria felt the sickening feeling of human fat, and burnt flesh on his fingers. Mercifully the mercenary's, attention was soon grabbed by the child who ran off into the building, throwing two large barbarians out of the way as though they where paper. With a nod the elf commander was able to close the book on that one..the child was indeed a undead.

Withdrawing his other blade, Midgeria was just able to get in view of the entry way when the creatures exited the back of the house. As a calling went up yelling “Ghouls,” The elf command already had a feeling these things where not friendly. There long teeth and even worse facial features where all that was needed to say as much. "Protect the men on the ground.." Yelled the elf commander in reply, even as he chose one of the creatures to take on himself.

Charging in, Midgeria brought his left hand blade inwards in a ark for the creatures legs, even as he kept the other blade in his right hand on quick reserve for defense if any where needed.

[Dartalion]

Dartalion quickly responded to his comanders order and stood in front of one of the two men holding both of the long swords he had aquired shortly before ariveing in the city both blades turned edge out and crossed in an X in front of him. ready to strike if the beasts got to close to him and the man on the ground. "Here quicky get up there may be more of the foul beasts about." he shouted to the man.

[Soldier]

The Ghouls simply charged in, unheedful of the fact they were outnumbered badly, as well as outclassed. Midgeria found himself facing the footman, the Undead thing grinning as it brought its claws around in a sharp swipe that barely missed the Elf’s face, his own blade sinking into the thing’s thigh. Undead are tough, however, and the thing merely brought its claws up into an uppercut, tearing a shallow gash along the side of Midgeria’s face. A second slash was batted aside with the blade designated for defense. Two Fianna stepped up to assist him, claymores making heavy sounds as they came down. Unfortunately, Ghouls are quick, and the creature was out of range too quickly for the powerful blows to do any damage. “On my order!” bellowed Ryan, and several Barbarians aimed their crossbows at the beasts. “FIRE!” The bows clicked, the bolts flying unerringly. The Ghouls twitched as the bolts hit, the disgusting things merely pulling them out and tossing them aside before charging back in.

The Barbarian near Dartalion’s feet groaned and stirred, getting unsteadily to his feet. The two Fianna near the pair helped him stand, while two more, along with a small force of the Raven’s Wing, surrounded them. The sound of fighting came to the Dracon’s ears, along with a gurgling scream as the maid tore the throat from a Fianna who had not brought his blade down fast enough to stop her. A Raven’s Wing trooper fell across him, his face opened to the bone. From the door they came from, the sounds of more of the beasts were approaching.

[Vincent Stefan]

The blade hit had done what he thought it would, or at least the elf thought so. The feeling of a cut on his face and a forced swipe in defense told the commander a different story. Midgeria found himself backing up to reassess the situation, even as he watched crossbow bolts fly into the creatures chests only to have no effect. A gurgling cry said someone was dead, even as the flutter of a raven's wing Cloak said one of his had also fallen. This mansion was no place for a fight.

Keeping his eye on his attacker, Midgeria heard the cry from outside, there where more cumming. Yelling back outside The elf commander began giving orders. "Loretta, Send up the call." down the line of men the order was repeated, until it reached the ear of the long bow specialist. Fitting a flaming arrow to her bow, the mercenary pulled back and fired, sending it high into the air. The scouts where looking for such things...it would be up to them to get the rest of the group here to the mansion, to assemble those covering the flank as reinforcements. Yet, a defense for those already here was also needed. "Ryan!! Form the men up in a half circle, placing the mansion at there backs...have the archers go on the inside of the circle, the arms men on the outside, and have the Thaumaturgist's do there jobs... Leave the things in here to me and those men already inside."

All his commands given while still keeping the creature at bay, Midgeria moved inwards on his Opponent once again on the Attack. Bringing his left blade up against his right, to form a sort of T formation. The elf commander intended to do a quick slash with his left hand blade we he was close enough, a slash strait for the creatures neck. If it dodged, he would use the right hand side blade to compensate. The creatures have shown they could withstand Arrow, and cut. So then that left only one option, decapitation. Remove the head and the body stops or at lest the commander hoped so.

[Feniox Ghost]

OOC: sorry, ive been distracted

IC: the day had stared off nicely. though he wore the uniform and cloak he didn't think dark blue went with his skin very well, made him feel as though his head was a mark. he marched near his brother in formation. he felt some what at ease when the local barbarians joined ranks...though he had fought one undead before their numbers still gave him a pause. when the fighting broke out he made sure and keep on the defensive. Though once he heared the order to form a semi-circle he ducked and picked up a blade from off the ground to batter at the gouls so that the archers would have a chance to form ranks. Only defend, not attack, use their momentum against them and pray that they fall was his thought as he backed into the ranks.

[Soldier]

“Aye, sir!” called Ryan as he headed out the door. The Fianna and Ravens Wing troops inside gathered closer together as they prepared for the worse, the footsteps outside the door stopping. With a burst of speed, two more Ghouls entered, their long, slobbering tongues licking their leathery lips as they grinned evilly at the Mercenaries. Even though the Warriors felt a chill down their spines, they stood their ground beside the Elf commander. Five Ravens Wings and five Fianna remained after their two comrades had fallen, including Midgeria, Feniox and Dartalion. The fifth Ravens Wing and two of the Fianna moved to place themselves between the two fallen Warriors while a third Fianna checked the bodies for life.

“They are both dead,” he said simply, getting to his feet and pulling his claymore from its back-sheath. The Ghouls launched themselves at the soldiers, Midgeria’s blades taking the head of the footman-Ghoul clean off. The dead thing tittered, then collapsed onto the floor, black blood pouring out in a thick, syrupy mass. Four Barbarians then charged, bringing two of the Ghouls down in an unrelenting wall of muscle. The fifth lit the bolt in his crossbow, aimed and fired. The result was spectacular.