[5:06 PM] Kwakadoooooo: The town of Kyodai, 2612 ~ 23 Years Before Luna's Coronation
"Rebel scum!!"
These are the ninja's last words, as the solid iron club sends his body hurtling into the wall of a boarded-up shack - one of many in this rundown slum town, whose streets are silent...except for the battle raging between the Oligarchy and its subjects. His killer, an Oni Savage, slings the club over his fur-caped shoulder, plucking a shuriken from his abs with his burly fingers.(edited)
[5:25 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "THAT ALL YOU GOT, YA PANSY PIGS! I didn't feel a th---"
The goatee'd man, somewhere in his 30s, suddenly doubles over, feeling a burning sensation in his abdomen. Poison - nothing lethal, but just enough to give the spearmen time to close in. The oni keeps their attacks at bay with wild, heavy swings, but hardly has time for any counterattacks of his own. Further down the road, he sees a purple-armored Sky Knight charging his way with an ornate enchanted lance.
"On the honor of Lady Ziruki," the knight announces. "This district is--"
And a shuriken slices across his throat. From the rooftop, a figure in jet-black armor leaps down, kicking the rider off as he lands on the pegasus. It rushes ahead in a startled frenzy, while the armored warrior stands proudly atop its back, with a hand on the scabbard at his side. Then,as the spearmen look up at the charging flier, the surfing swordsman leaps down, letting his blade come out at last. In a set of slashes too fast to follow, he lands sheathing his sword - and the slain spearmen fall to the ground.
[5:35 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "W-where the hell've you been, Godfried!?" The Oni straightens up, rolling his shoulders. "Gods, I sure coulda used your help sooner'n the last second, you show-off..."
"Sorry about that." Godfried Stormblade, once a noble of Intetsu, turns back to his comrade. His expression is fierce, but there's an unmistakable softness in those blue eyes. "I had to scout ahead. The cavalry's moving in...How's the evacuation?"
The Oni huffs, accepting the brief apology. "We're regrouping with Troy's cell and heading south. Just need to hold them off a little."
"We're out of time." Godfried looks back the way he came. "Find some cover, Panshu. I'm gonna make a distraction."
"H-hold on, kid, what're you planning?! If you keep going out without any backup, you're--"
"And if you keep fighting without any armor, you're gonna keep getting hurt." Godfried gives a youthful smirk to the shirtless soldier. "I'll catch up, okay? Trust me."
[5:37 PM] Kwakadoooooo: And Godfried takes off sprinting, jumping onto a noodle stall, then to a rooftop, as he charges directly over the enemy lines. Panshu shrugs, swears to himself in Khlinese, then ducks into an alleyway to chug some Vulnerary.(edited)
[5:43 PM] bREWlager: Meanwhile, Intetsu’s cavalry was closing in. Leading the charge was none other than Erik Stormblade, twin brother to the infamous rebel Godfried. Riding atop his white stallion Edelweiss, he slashed at rebel soldiers as his horse rode through the streets.
[5:48 PM] bREWlager: Upon reaching a horde of Spear fighters, Erik stopped his mount and hopped of him. With a javelin in hand and a sword in it's sheath, he threw the weapon at the closest soldier, drew his weapon, and cut through the countless rebels charging at him. With one final swing, he beheads half a dozen soldiers, finishing that wave of enemies.
[5:50 PM] bREWlager: The noble turned back to his stallion before catching a glimpse of a warrior clad in black running along the rooftops. He immediately recognized his twin brother and mounted his horse.
[5:52 PM] bREWlager: "Edelweiss... Show me the meaning of haste." He said before kicking at the side of the horse, bringing him to a gallop. The chase was on, and Erik was determined to catch his brother.
[5:58 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Godfried lept to the edge of the next rooftop, diving out of the way of a barrage of arrows. As he stood, a Diviner's Snake Spirit charged at him, only to be sliced in two by his legendary sword. With a furrowed brow, he continued on towards the town square. The military was moving too fast, and he needed to disrupt them with a strike from behind - taking out their most valuable, most fragile units, he hoped, would slow their operation down for the others to make it out.
[6:01 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Inside the square, lined with untrimmed hedges, the Shrine Maiden Satomi Adachi stands by a blooming cherry tree. With a wave of her Festal, the Mage Flier is fully healed, and flies back out into the battle without a word of thanks. She scowled at the futility of it all - what meaning was there in this battle, chasing criminals around the country? Why did the Adachi family insist on sending their greatest minds just to die? There was no honor in such a stupid sacrifice...
[6:05 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Then he landed in front of her. Sword drawn, armor that seemed to blot out the morning sun. Godfried - the Rebellion's most famous fighter - walked towards the unarmed girl with conviction in his eyes. Yet her own reflected only fear as she backed up, knowing already that it was too late to run. This was it - she would die having nothing, accomplishing nothing, a pathetic daughter of short-sighted lapdogs.
"Sorry," the young man speaks coldly, "But I have to end this now." His knees bent as he raised his sword, lept at her, and....(edited)
[6:09 PM] bREWlager: Edelweiss rammed into Godfried’s side, knocking him down to the ground. Erik dismounted his stallion and looked his twin in the eye. "Hello there, brother."
[6:11 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Godfried rolled to the side, hopping up to his feat as he held his family's sword in front of him.
"Erik...What are you doing here?"
The elder brother frowns.
"Shouldn't you be in Intetsu?"
[6:13 PM] bREWlager: "And let your rebellion take Kyodai? Not a chance." He looks at the shrine maiden to make sure she's okay before turning back to his brother.
[6:15 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Her verdant eyes meet his for a moment, before she nods and steps further back, pulling down her healer's hood.
[6:18 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Hmph...you think I'll hold back just 'cause it's you?!"
Godfried closes the distance, raising Morderrand for an overhead blow.
"Out of my way!"
He slashes forcefully at his brother - yet a little slower than he'd been fighting before.(edited)
[6:20 PM] bREWlager: Erik raises his weapon to block the attack. "You even stole Angrim’s sword... you're a disgrace to the Stormblade name."
[6:22 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "You mean the sword of Khlin - of the people!" Keeping their blades locked, Godfried brings his foot up to kick Erik aside.
[6:25 PM] bREWlager: Erik takes a leap to the side, avoiding the kick. He slashes towards his brother's leg. "That blade never represented an uprising... it symbolizes order!"
[6:27 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Godfried pursues his foe rather than fall back, earning him a cut across the leg as the clash continues.
"This isn't order, brother...this is oppression!"
Wincing in pain, he positions himself so that the shrine maiden is behind him.(edited)
[6:30 PM] bREWlager: "And you think that this ragtag group of farmers and peasants is going to do anything? If you truly believe that, then you are lost brother." Erik follows up with a horizontal slash, putting all of his effort into defeating his older twin.
[6:35 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Gods, Erik, you're starting to sound like Father!" He brings his sword up vertically, creating a cross-shape between them. "Only caring about who's the strongest...who should be the winner. I won't stand for that!"(edited)
[6:39 PM] bREWlager: "That's real funny coming from you... He always liked you better!" Erik spins around and slashes towards Godfried’s other side.
[6:47 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Godfried pivots the other way, blocking each blow without retaliating.
"I know!" He hops back, further from Erik and closer to the healer, and tosses a shuriken at Erik's blind spot. "I don't want to kill you...but if you're going to fight for the Oligarchy I have no choice."(edited)
[6:51 PM] bREWlager: The shuriken grazes his arm and he winces from the pain. "And if you are going to support these revolutionaries, then I too have no choice." The cavalier charges as his brother with a yell, thrusting the blade at his chest.
[6:55 PM] Kwakadoooooo: With a sudden burst of speed, Godfried dodges forward - feeling the blade scrape against his armored chest - but lands behind his brother's charge. All Erik sees before him is the maiden, whose eyes are wide with horror....as she watches the blade of Morderrand plunge out of Erik's gut.
[6:58 PM] bREWlager: Erik takes a knee, and with the last of his stregth, plunges his weapon into Godfried’s leg. "You...you win this time brother..." the man coughs up blood as he strains to speak.
[7:01 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Hngh!" Godfried doubles over, putting a hand on Erik's back. Yet his expression shows even more pain as he wrenches the sword out of his brother. Hearing footsteps approaching, the rebels' hero hobbles away, departing from the battlefield.
I'm sorry....you deserved better than this, Erik. You were just too damn kind...for a life like this.(edited)
[7:05 PM] bREWlager: Erik scowls at his brother, but the expression has a hint of sadness in it. If only you had stayed...we could have been a family. before he can do anything else, he collapses to the ground unconscious.
[7:05 PM] Kwakadoooooo: =========
[7:09 PM] bREWlager: Three hours later, the cavalier wakes up underneath a cherry blossom tree in the center of the town square. As he opens his eyes, he sees Edelweiss, as well as a woman... the healer that was there with Godfried. He tries to sit up, but finds it very difficult, and just leans back against the tree.
[7:14 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Oh...you're alright." The young woman's face turns from astonishment to a tender smile. "Thank the gods...that was so frightening!"
[7:17 PM] bREWlager: "Huh? Ah, yes..." He looks down to see that his wounds are healing. "Th-thank you..."
[7:21 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Sorry I couldn't do more to help..." Satomi frowns slightly, keeping a hold of her staff as it heals him. "I simply can't stand fighting..."
[7:21 PM] bREWlager: "No, you did great..." He looks at her reassuringly.
[7:28 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Her eyes meet his....And linger there, for a few moments, until a falling cherry petal comes between them.
"... Pardon me." Satomi's eyelids flutter before him. "I can't help but see the resemblance...You really are Stormblade's brother."
[7:29 PM] bREWlager: "He is my twin, yes." He gives the woman a weak smile. "My name is Erik."
[7:32 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "A twin? Mm, should've known. Stormblades only have one heir at a time, don't they?" The fact comes to her attention immediately, without any sign of confusion or consideration.
[7:35 PM] bREWlager: "Correct. It's a tradition of sorts. It originated with the first Stormblade, and we've practiced it ever since."
[7:36 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "My, that must've been hard growing up. I'm assuming...this wasn't the first time you two had fought?"
[7:37 PM] bREWlager: "This is the first time we've met on the battlefield... he could have killed me if it weren't for you."
[7:40 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "No, that's not right at all." She shakes her head, brushing her black hair aside. "It's because of me that you got caught in all of this..." Satomi looks back down to the staff, then into his blue eyes. "It's the least I can do for the man who saved my life."(edited)
[7:45 PM] bREWlager: He smiles at her. "I guess we saved eachother then."
[7:47 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "My name is Satomi Adachi, of the Flamewing Clan." She gives a little bow of her head, still kneeling by him. "It's an honor to save you, sir Stormblade."(edited)
[7:49 PM] bREWlager: The man bows his head, not able to move the rest of his body. "And an honor to save you, Miss Adachi."
[7:53 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Satomi giggles coldly at his reponse. "You're not as fierce as I thought...Maybe I should call you Marcius."(edited)
[7:54 PM] bREWlager: "Well I have no need to be fierce with you..."
[7:55 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Really?" She leans in. "And what makes you so sure?"
[7:56 PM] bREWlager: "You saved my life for one." He leans forward, even though it still hurts.
[7:58 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Shhh!" A dainty hand pushes softly against his collarbone. "No need for that, just hold still."
[7:59 PM] bREWlager: He nods. "Of course."
[8:01 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Thank you...I can't save your life if you just get yourself hurt again!"
[8:02 PM] bREWlager: "But we'll need to get out of here at some point. Is the battle still going on?"
[8:05 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "No, they've secured Kyodai. The revolutionaries ran away again...but it's over for the time being." Satomi moves her staff to his wounded arm next, healing the shuriken wound on it.(edited)
[8:07 PM] bREWlager: Erik looks down at his arm. "My arm will be fine, why don't you go heal some of the other soldiers?"
[8:08 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Satomi smiles softly. "But you aren't like the other soldiers."
[8:11 PM] bREWlager: "Really? What makes me any different?" He returns the smile.
[8:13 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "You saved my life for one."
[8:14 PM] bREWlager: "Heh, I guess that's a good enough reason."
[8:19 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Simple, isn't it? Regardless, there's few men who can hold out against that traitor...he's already killed so many of Adachi's men..."
[8:21 PM] bREWlager: "I'm sorry... I should never have let him leave Stormblade Manor."
[8:21 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Oh?" She perks up, with an intruiged frown.
[8:22 PM] bREWlager: "If I had gone after him, maybe this would have never happened, but there was no way to find him."
[8:24 PM] Kwakadoooooo: She seems to shrug it off with a detached expression. "Well, no sense in blaming yourself if you couldn't find him."
[8:24 PM] bREWlager: "I suppose you're right. But I'm still sorry for your family."
[8:25 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Oh, yes, it's dreadful." Her frown deepens. "All this senseless fighting does no one any good...don't you agree?"
[8:32 PM] bREWlager: "Y-yeah... There's no point. The rebellion is fighting for a lost cause."
[8:42 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Exactly. The peasantry is in such a sorry state for a reason...If they could change that, it would have happened a long time ago."
[8:44 PM] bREWlager: Erik nods. "I agree. If they feel that they're mistreated, then they can work to make their lives better instead of fighting us."
[8:50 PM] Kwakadoooooo: She blinks, nodding amicably. "And...what do you think of our side, then?"
[9:05 PM] bREWlager: "I think we're trying to defend our way of life... the way Khlin has been for centuries."
[9:11 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Well, that's right, but..." Satomi looks away. "..No, that's what we're fighting for. Our way of life."
[9:13 PM] bREWlager: "Do you have a different opinion?"
[9:18 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Mm, not entirely." She gestures delicately in front of her. "I only wish there was a way to do it, without putting such brave men in danger like this..."
[9:19 PM] bREWlager: "That would be a great way to live... but unfortunately we don't have that luxury."
[9:20 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "Then..." She faces him directly, her green eyes looking down into his own. "What will you do?"
[9:21 PM] bREWlager: "I will stop my brother...without putting so many of our people in danger. There has to be another way."
[9:25 PM] Kwakadoooooo: A glint of recognition shines from her eyes, and a little smile creeps all the way up to her cheeks.
"You sound like a real hero, Erik....I believe you."(edited)
[9:27 PM] bREWlager: "Why...thank you, but I'm no hero. I just want this country to be safe."
[9:31 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Satomi brings a hand to her chin, her imagination beginning to bloom. "With men like you, I--"
The staff's glow cuts out suddenly with a tight crack, and its top half falls into Erik's lap.
"O-oh no!" Satomi recoils, started by the snapping staff. Then she holds back a giggle.
[9:33 PM] bREWlager: "Oh...? What does that mean? Is it broken?"
[9:42 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Satomi looks down at the half of the staff still in her hand. "Of course, Erik! You can see that, can't you?" She lets out an incredulous laugh. "That's all the healing I can give for now, sir Stormblade."
[9:43 PM] bREWlager: "That's quite alright. I'm doing better now, thanks to you."
[9:49 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "We should find the convoy before they leave." Satomi glances over at the horse, and the dingy, boarded-up windows around the square. "I don't suppose you could escort me there?"
[9:52 PM] bREWlager: "Of course." He does his best to stand up, the healing only able to do so much to fix him. "Would you care to ride Edelweiss?"
[9:55 PM] Kwakadoooooo: "I'd be honored." She stands up after him, taking care not to rise any faster than he did.
[9:57 PM] bREWlager: He walks Satomi over to his horse and helps her up, smiling at her. "Ready?"
[10:01 PM] Kwakadoooooo: Satomi nods, getting the sense that this battle hadn't been a net loss after all.
[10:05 PM] bREWlager: Erik leads them back to the convoy, still in pain. Perhaps this battle was a loss, but perhaps not. Only the future will tell.
[10:09 PM] bREWlager: ===END RP===(edited)
No comments:
Post a Comment