(1875-09-11) Dax Redeux
Dax Redeux.
Summary: Eosphora attacks Dax. Again. Poor Dax.
Date: 2019-09-11
Related: Butcher Digs In & In Defense of Dax
NPCs: None.
Players:
Elian  Ivo  Augustin  

Dax, fields outside.
A town surrounded by fields.
1875-09-11

map.png

Life by the blockade is never dull, well it is, its pretty much the usual thing for the peasants. Farming. Sewing. Doing peasanty things that are completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things, at least to Augustin who for once stands on the town's edge overseeing the construction of a protective wall about the city, constructed form the hundreds upon hundreds of logs they've chopped down to ensure Eosphora never gets to sail the rivers ever again. As for overseeing, it is the Captain's own second-in-command who ensures the drudgery of log placement is perfect, while the old Duke eyes the surrounding land as if indeed it was the high seas. That and undoubtedly daydreaming about being back aboard his own vessel, for being on land was an unnatural thing. The soothing creaks of the ship are now replaced by the aching creaks of his own limbs. And so there he stands, watching, biding his ever more fleeting time, and listening to his second shout commands to labourers, and peasants. Filthy peasants. Living this close to a river. Ugh.

Ivo, or whatever that name that was given last time, has already been invited to the Town, mostly to gather supplies, and receive that promised list of supplies needed by the Royal Navy here at Dax. Elian, likely in the area, would have heard of Dax, and likely has more than a few reasons to be present! There's good supplies for one! And a decent enough market, protected as the town and its lands are by Royal Marines.

Ivo has to remember to get his aliases straight, he might be using Luca for the Guild, but here he'd given his half brother's name, so he's Ravio for the day. He'd rather let one of his siblings or cousins handle the supplies, so as not to risk being identified in daylight, but needs must and so he finds himsel fback up river again with a handful of his marines. Just in case. Riding from the river into the town he's protecting his ribs a little, but seems to be mostly mobile as he dismounts and hands his borrowed horse over to one of the soldiers on stabling duty. Looking for the quartermaster he's trying to avoid a direct encounter with the Captain, but also doing his best to do so discreetly.

Elian does indeed have a bunch of reasons to want to be involved in the blockade here on the river. None of which he's done much to share. Luckily a man in the officers uniform for the Argent doesn't generally need to do much explaining when he offers assistance in Aequorian affairs. Especially in this era of the airship. Sadly his cohort, is somewhere in transit still, with destination kept vague. Like Ivo he finds reason to make his way to the quartermaster.

The Quartermaster eyes both Ivo and Elian as they arrive at just the right moment, "Right you are… oh…" That look. His eyes almost widen as he stares at a spot behind both Elian and Ivo, and indeed he stands a little straighter. His eyes darting between to the two new arrivals, with Ivo being the slightly less new arrival, what with the earlier bloodshed and all. But even so, he coughs, and doffs his forelock… somewhat after the fact of their standing before him. And a moment later, one can almost imagine why, "Captain… Rrrrravio, wasn't it?" The name mulled like gravel beads being ground underfoot. While the uniform that Elian wears ensures a faint arching of an ancient brow, "And who might you be?" The question left hanging there for a good few moments, the old Duke eying both men beneath a furrowed brow, which is rather the norm, all things considered.

There's enough time to answer, enough time to squirm if need be, enough time to realise that the old Duke's charm is as stories foretold. Practically nonexistent. At least until a cry rises from the edge of town nearby, "MOVEMENT IN THE TREES! FORM RANKS! THEY AIN'T OURS! And send for His Grace!"

Ivo knows that look on the Quatermater's face and redies himself, shooting Elian a quick look as if to say 'please play along' before he turns to great Augustin. "That's right Your Grace, back up river again to discuss supplies with your quartermaster here." Look, see, all good, nothing wrong here, kindly move alo…

At the warning call though he unslings his longarm and looks for a reasonable firing position. "Excuse me," he offers to the three of them in as polite a manner as he can, before he's off running to take up a firing position in the blacksmith's. There's a lovely open view of the treeline, and an even lovelier anvil to crouch by and use as cover. What more could a marksman want?

Elian responds to the brusque question with a very aequorian bow and the words "Tribune Elian al'Callenta of Coalscore." He casts a sideways look across at Ravio before going back to his somewhat flowery greeting "At your service Capitane." As the alarm is called he straightens with a mild frown. Not having intended to literally be of service in all probability. Ah well. Ravio can explain later. Whilst the gunners and archers scurry about to find good positions Elian just moves a little to find a nice solid roof to stand under. No need to get shot.

"Tribune. Well it seems you're going to meet our enemy! They are persistent." Augustin offers as the call for arms rises, and a bell begins to ring once more, thankfully not the Church bell, merely one nearby. Not quite as tinny and annoying, "Just kill as many as you can, they seem intent on throwing themselves upon Aequorian steel… Master Connings! My musket!" And the Duke strides towards his gathered detachment of Royal Marines, musket passed to him by his Second the moment he arrives. The old Duke grimaces and takes a moment to eye Ravio's spot, and then look for Elian, "I need not remind everyone here…" His voice rises, "These traitors seek to kill our families, and destroy our way of life with their heresy and sorcery… no quarter! No retreat. Once they are within range… pick your targets! And put them down like the rabid dogs they are!" The growl rumbles at the end, as he stands beside his men, levelling his musket, and eying the approaching troops.

The approaching troops charge, soldiers lead from behind by a guiding trio of officers, while emerging from the forest behind them, a small force of archers. The charging force storms through the fields, seeking to close the gap, for their enemies wield muskets. Such is the way of the Royal Navy. While their archers take their aim, and fire.

Augustin's voice rises, "FIRE! FIRE AT WILL!" And a veritable fusilade of shot pours into the approaching enemy.

While he waits for the enemy to close within range Ivo, sorry, Ravio, takes the time to load his pistols, then double check the loading of his longarm. How much cover the anvil and it's stand will give him is unclear, but he's happy that it's a damnsight more than if he were out in the open, and he doesn't have time to hunt for a better spot. Once he's sure that all his weapons are ready he sets the stock into his shoudler and waits for the opportunity to shoot.

Elian stays under cover as much as possible during the ranged exchange. Its not that he's afraid (who would be afraid of a few dozen arrows dinging by) but more that he has nothing to offer the fight yet.

And so it begins, more slaughter of Aequor's enemies. The fusilade from the Royal Marine's and the old Duke himself sees a good few fall, while the gnarly Duke manages to send one soldier spinning with a hole in the head, and wing another, sending him off balance and stumbling. But onward the winged runs. Smoke billows towards the enemy, acrid and bitter, rolling from the muskets that fire, as the Eosphoran archers fire back in an arc, sending more than a few Aequorian forces to the floor, and peppering the nearby buildings with arrows thunking deep into the woodwork. Pausing to reload, there's clearly enough time for another volley, and His Grace roars, "Another shot! And then draw steel! They're almost upon us! For Aequor!"

Having taken the time to aim Ivo fires at one of the groupf of onrushing soldiers. He'd wanted to take down an archer, to ease the threat against the marines, but they're too far away for him to be confident of the shot, and so he goes for one of those about halfway towards crashing into the ranks. It's a solid shot, the man spins a little as he goes down and lies still, making no attempt to rise again. Setting his musket aside as he doesn't have time to reload it he draws his pistols next and takes aim once more, hoping to cut down a few more of the attackers before they reach the defences.

Ivo isn't quite as lucky with his pistols. He doesn't have the time to aid, so while his first shot wings a man it takes his second to actually finish him off, by which time he doesn't have time to reload for any more. Stuffing his pistols back into place on his belt he draws cutlass and main gouche as he steps out from the blacksmith's work area and moves to engage a trio of men running past to try and get into the town. "Have you considered going back across the river and staying at home?" he asks as he starts testing their skills, "it's much better for your life expectancy, especially if the Duke catches you."

Elian moves out of cover as the charging attackers finally come close enough that its worth risking an arrow to take up his position in the lineup. He chooses a place on Ivo's right and gives the d'Armaz a quick glance as his sword and dagger clear their sheaths. "So you're Ravio huh?"

Another roar of musketry sends the Aequorian traitors tumbling into the fields, scattering the crops beneath them as they fall, while equally a few good Aequorian Loyalists fall to the treachery of those arrows. But the arrows fall silent, for there's a risk of hitting their own. And so the archers wait and watch… as the melee is joined. Augustin manages to send a further two to their graves, the bullet punching through one head, and shattering another, such as it was when the soldiers lined up so close. It was like shooting Eosphoran's in a barrel. Augustin snarls and tosses his musket aside, after all it isn't him who cleans and maintains it, and draws his cutlass. The vicious weapon drawn swiftly and in a wide arc as if to clear the immediate field, "Steel!" And all throughout, cutlasses and blades are drawn, a few bayonets affixed, but either way the two forces clash hard, "And I will!" He snarls, having caught Ravio's comment on the wind. The snarl says it all as the ancient Duke lays into the enemy, hacking and slashing with abandon.

With sword and dagger in hand and confidence that his left side will be mostly secure thanks to Ravio-Ivo's presence, Elian meets the attack with an almost vicious grace. It takes him moments to cut the first man down as the willingness of the argent to lunge into the fray is completely misunderstood and soon after takes first blood from a second man.

The ragged soldiers that pour against the unfinished defences are perhaps rightly angered, or perhaps the fact they have the Butcher of the Rhoadan River to hand aids their focus. But either way, the Old Duke is forced back a step as he takes a slash to his upper arm, the old oilskin coat he wears stained with the trickle of blood down his arm. But even so, he wheels about and roars, lashing out at those about him. Snarling. Ancient. And to the Eosphoran's, likely evil incarnate.

Talk of the Duke seems to give the men facing Ivo pause, or possibly it's Augie's booming voice in reply, but the trio seem skittish. Taking full advantage the d'Armaz taps the tip of his cutlass against all three fo their sowrds, as if he's taking his time to pick which one to attack first, then launches himself forward towards the one of the right. The man shies back instinctively and that creates the opening needed to cut him open and it's only seconds before the central man meets the same fate. The final attacker ahs time to see the swing thats coming for him though, and steps back out of the worst of it, taking a blow to their sword arm that will inconvenience them, but isn't fatal. "Ravio," he agress across to Elian as he dances with his remaining attacker, "I'll introduce myself properly later."

For a moment the man that Elian wounded rallies, inspired by the sight of his own lifeblood and the sudden attack of one of his colleagues. For a brief moment it looks as if Elian might be beaten back by the combination of attacks but then, just like that, he pulls out a riposte that turns him from defender to attacker in a single deadly move. The wounded man is impaled on the narrow length of the side-sword and then luckily, falls off the blade. Elian turns to the remaining foes.

Augustin redoubles his attack, turning about to face the one that dared assail his Ducal self. A vicious slash across the face of the Aequorian Traitor sees that man fall, though Augustin is nothing if not prepared for the next, for stepping over that body without a thought, he approaches the next as the battle rages all about. Marines hack and slash and brawl, the eastern edge of the town is a battlefield, with blood spilling across the dirt, and trickling down the faint incline into the fields. The unfinished wall especially seems to have taken a good brunt of the attack, with its harsh surface being used to smash heads against or pin the enemy before they are run through. The shouts and screams of the dying and the injured, mingled with the warcries of the still living.

The last man out of Ivo's initial trio turns to run, leaving the cavalier with ample time to cut him down as he turns his back. He starts to move towards Elian, to give the Argent a hand with those attacking him, when another contingent of rebels tries to use the blacksmith's yard as a shortcut to the town square and the quatermaster's supplies, leaving him forced to engage them instead. Like their predecessors though they're in too much of a hurry to take too much notice of a lone swordsman in their way, and one of them pays for that with their life, while another earns himself what will likely be a fetching scar if he lives long enough for it to heal.

Augustin runs through a traitor and snarls at the female who seems rather surprised to have been skewered by one as ancient as him. Surely the old should just get on with dying, not be cutting down the flower of youth on the fields of Dax. For her revenge, she fumbles against her hip and draws forth a dagger that she rams against the old Duke's side, forcing him to push her away and snarl as he clutches at his side, bloodied but most certainly unbeaten. With blood trickling through his fingers, the ancient Duke grimaces and glowers at the next, how many more enemies… this Kingdom has far too many traitors within its midst!

Sadly for whatever future sweethearts might have admired that Eosphorian's scar, he doesn't live to go home and tell the tale of how he acquired it. Instead he ends up bleeding to death in the mud of Dax, alongside his former comrades. It's said that everyone dies alone, but not so these attackers, as one of his fellows joins him in very short order, their blood mingling together before yet another body joins them, although that third is very definitely dead before she hit's the ground, the massive hole where her throat used to be gives that away. And after all that? Well, Ivo still has a soldier facing him, so he contiues to fight.

Elian flows through the remainder of his group, steadily inflicting wounds on the last three of the attacking foes until two of them have fallen away, wounded enough that they are no longer Elian's concern, and he's down to a single foe. Things slow a little here as the two circle each other, looking for openings, until Elian finally spots one. He doesn't even smile, giving little away, as he moves a little more, finding that perfect position to exploit that now obvious weakspot and then, just like that, lunges. For a moment he's exosed himself to a terrible counteract through that all-out-attack but the counter attack never comes as his judgement about that weakpoint was spot on. The sword slides right through the mans attempted parry and right through a gap in his armor to puncture a lung and send the man down as his breath will no longer come. He has time to glance around, assessing the field, and then another group flows into the blacksmith's yard and the fight once more gets to busy for sightseeing.

Augustin manages to slash another traitor, though the man isn't done for. Not by a long shot. But the injury is bloody and vicious all the same when delivered by a good blow from a cutlass, even when delivered by a bloody Duke. The ancient Duke grits his teeth and snarls, could this well be the day his enemies finally claim him? Treacherous Aequorians! Oh the shame! To see his Kingdom riven so. His bloody hand flexes upon the grip of his cutlass, and with a narrowed glare he approaches his enemy with a quiet and grim determination, and a spritely step for one of his truly advanced years.

Elian greets the new opponents in much the same way he did the last - with aggression. Sadly this group are not quite as arrogant as the last and that moments vulnerability during his first attack earns Elian a cut to the jaw. After that Elian settles into a less aggressive pattern. Still looking for attacks but theres no more lunging to be seen. Not whilst there are still a full five of them at least. Instead he's focused on trying to riposte.

Ivo's last opponent from this group seems to be made of sterner stuff than her colleagues had been, and it takes a lot of manouvering around their bodies before he can open her up enough to, well, open her up. His first strike that lands leave sher limping but very definitely still swinging, and it isn't until another minute or so of exchanging blows has happened that he finally finds the gap he needs and is able to dispatch her as well. With a moment to breathe he calls to Elian, "how are you doing?" before he spots what can only be the raid's leader heading his way. The man has that haughty bearing of someone who knows they're both right and superiour, leaving Ivo to mutter a quick prayer to The One to aid in knocking that smug look off the guy's face.

And yet despite those advancing years, and the bloody wounds that adorn his frame, Augustin manages to hack down his opponent and lay into another, fending off the attack with a wide arc and a vicious snarl. He is no knight, no armoured brute, merely an ancient sea captain clad in an oilskin longcoat, and a rather battered and blood-smeared breastplate. His tricorn was lost a good few enemies ago, and so his liver-spotted head is merely adorned with wisps of greying hair, wild and free! Finding but a moment to breathe, Augustin surveys all about him, for the melee is all, and bodies scatter the fields and the edge of town. The townsfolk having fled into the Church yet again, their sanctuary of sanctuaries. Exhaling raggedly, the odl Duke roars a touch breathlessly, "For Aequor! We fall here! The traitors will see our Kingdom fall entirely to their barbarism and heresy!"

Elian grimaces as the group presses him hard but he's mostly, mostly, doing alright. "Holding my" he starts to reply to Ivo but doesn't get to finish the answer because he has to grit his teeth to cut off a not terribly knightly OW when one of his opponents kicks him hard in the leg. He staggers, taking a couple of other minor strikes that probably did nothing but bruise as he recovers, but is quickly back on solid footing again. Who's idea was it to fight so many again?!

As the officer approaches Ivo he makes an offer, "turn, fight with us! You will be handsomely rewarded but the Queen." The d'Armaz is having none of it though and replies with what is really a bit of a cheap shot to the man's off arm, but in war everything counts. "Having carefully considered your offer," he states as they start to circle each other, "I'm afraid I must respectfully decline."

Something about Elian's new position post-stagger is clearly better although it could just be the coursing of adrenalin through his blood that makes the difference. Almost immediately after he's recovered he flows into a chain of attacks that leave two dead and another wounded. With his opponents nearly halved so to does his briefly diminished confidence recover and his style flows from defensive and back into the more offensive style that seems to be doing so well for him today.

Just where are those damned Aequorian Knights, the flowers of Errantry? Augustin spits upon the corpse of another he sends to the ground, "We are Aequor's protectors, I see no gallavanting knights playing at war here…" And down goes another, courtesy of an attack from Ivo. The fact that Augustin comes face to face with Ivo is indeed a surprise, and Augustin's brows arch wildly, "… Ravio!" The name snarled, though a nod is offered. A startled thanks, and a chance to breath, "There's more. There's always more! The King will hear of your service!"

With the Officer injured Ivo takes his time to wear the man down, there's no point in rushing in and being caught off-guard. It quickly becomes apparent though that his opponant is actually quite badly injured, but good at bluffing, so the shorter Aequorian moves to take advantage, forcing his way past the other's guard with a swift and brital attack before finishing the job with his main gouche through the man's gut. As he drops Ivo is already turning to go aid Elian, but the blood seeping from the Duke grabs his attention away and he runs to offer what aid he can. Fortunately, a couple of the attackers are blindsided by his arrival and he makes short work of them before checking breathlessly with Augustin, "you got this last one? The Argent could do with a hand."

Augustin nods to Ravio, "By all means! Send my regards!" And with that said, there's killing to be done…

Hey! Theres a damned Aequorian knight fighting right here thank you! Its debateable if this particular one counts as a flower of errantry though. Also. He's a bit busy not dying to ride to anyones rescue. "Is it always like this here?" he finds a moment to call over when Ivo moves to join him. Even though he really should be saving his breath for the multiple men and women trying to murder him back. His own sword scores a number of small strikes that may or may not result in the death of one or two of his foes. Its rather hard to tell given the Reaping Ravio's delivering.

Ivo is also an Aequorian knight, but equally not exactly a flower of.. well.. anything really. "Seems to be," he replies to Elian's question, "but then I'm not here often, so maybe it's just me? This is the second attack on this town that I know of though, and they've tried to attack the blaockade directly a few times as well." Enough talking though as he lays into the attacks, killing one who Elian had previously injured, then dropping another in short succession. Finding no one else to fight in the immediate vacinity he turns back towards the front, hoping that for one the enemy has seen sense and decided to withdraw.

Augustin hacks at one stunned Traitor, and then turns about and finishes him off with a neat slash across the throat, which given the Duke's less than nimble side-stepping ensures a healthy gout of blood lashing across his breastplate and long coat. But either way the traitor is dead, and Augustin snarls as he steps forward, watching the tide turn as Traitors are cut down and sent scattering into the fields. The three remaining groups of Eosphoran archers pause for a moment, but they are fresh, and ready, and eager to cover those who seek to escape. They can do this. And even as they step forward, nock their arrows and raise their bows, they are soon firing upon the enemy within, the True Aequorians.

Augustin steps forward, knowing there's enough to bellow commands at, enough to make a difference, "Form lines! Those with ammunition… ready to fire, those who want at the enemy, feel free to charge and give them some Aequorian steel. Let them send a message home that by the One, this is our land!" And Marines gather, regroup, finish their scuffles, and gather their weapons. Muskets are loaded as arrows whistle by, thudding, piercing, adding a sense of urgency. And even Augustin's own is offered up once more.

Ivo has ammunition, but he's a distance away from his longarm now, and it'd take time to reload. Glancing across to Elian he tilts his head in the direction of the archers and asks with a grin, "shall we?" Without waiting for an answer he turns and runs, charging straight into the middle of a group of archers with teh battle cry of "for Aequor!" He's tired though, and his opponants are fresh, meaning it's hard work, and it's all he can do to keep five of them at bay.

Augustin watches a group charge, and the enemy charges to meet them in the field. Brave. But expected of them. To die for King and Country, it is simply the thing. Though Augustin does pine for going down with his ship, and given how his body aches, and trickles with blood, it's been a bloody encounter. Augustin's Marines turn their fire upon a certain group who seem intent on engaging the Argent fellow, and more than a few others, and so they take aim, alongside their Duke and open a blistering volley of fire upon those charging, punching into a couple and sending them hurtling to the ground hard, and quite dead. More smoke, more bellowed commands from mid-ranking Officers, and Augustin turns his attention to those standing at the treeline, "Them! There!" And as if directing such attention caught there, Augustin is sent a pace or two backwards as an arrow thunks into his thigh, giving the Duke cause to snarl and spit a few spit-flecked words towards the enemy, "KILL THEM!" And aided by another, the old Duke also takes aim, before shrugging off the assistance with a snarl, "I'm not dead yet, get away from me man!"

Elian has no ranged options at all. So when a group of dangerous individuals with ranged weapons come into view he really has only one choice. (Well two but hiding doesnt really count). So when Ivo asks that question he just grins, raises his sword and echoes the battle cry before charging! He moves, fast, to cover the distance as quickly as possible, before he gets turned into a gunners target. Nothing worse than taking a musket ball to ruin your month.

To start with it goes really quite well. The first man he impacts with taking an injury in his efforts to stop the Argent's deadly impact but, after that, things really dont go so well. Elian takes a couple of nasty strikes bad enough to knock him into a retreat and steal his wind. He'd be in terrible, terrible, trouble in fact if a musket ball didnt drop one of the most deadly warriors moving to finish him off.

The glorious crackle of musketry sends a couple to the ground hard, sent spinning under the weight of those damned projectiles, and washing the bloodied and trampled crops with further plumes of acrid smoke. Shouts erupt from amidst the enemy, they are successfully covering the retreat of those few who escaped the bloodshed in Dax, and taking losses in their stead. The constant refrain of, "RELOAD!", "AIM!", "FIRRRRRE!" echoing across the field as muskets crackle, and the smoke grows ever thicker.

Elian recovers well, springing out of his retreat and into a whirlwind of vicious strikes that leaves one of his foes dead and another injured before that lack of wind again catches up to him. He slows, trying to recover, and silently swearing to himself about having miscalculated, and shifts to the defense. The dagger comes up to parry a blow and shove the opponents sword away before the other one catches him hard with a slash to the side that probably would have gutted him if he wasn't wearing that heavy lorrica. It hurts anyway, forcing him to lose more air in an involuntary huff, and once more ruining his footing for a few moments.

"You can surrender you know," Ivo notes to the soldiers attacking him, "any time you like." He knows precisely what Augustin will do to any who do mind, but it's worth a try just to give him a hand with the numbers. Despite being tired though he is starting to gain the upper hand, as the archers are not particularly skilled in melee combat. He manages to get a hit in on another one, staggering her, and as the wounded man comes to her aid he takes them both our with one savage swing, leaving him to face only three.

"Surrender?" The Aequorian Traitor snarls, eyes widening at Ivo, "I think not…" Knowing all too well the fate of his brothers and sisters in arms… though what happens next, well…

And down go those last remaining few at the treeline, a few vanish into the woods, but a good portion are sent down hard by a vicious volley of musketry. A horrible weapon that maims as much as it kills, though in Aequorian hands today, it killed. A bellowed order to halt is barked by a young officer, and as is only proper, the injured Aequorians are soon aided and taken into the Church for healing or last rites. The dead of Eosphora have a far more grisly fate awaiting them, as indeed the living.

Augustin bloodied and unbowed passes off his musket and stalks, well… limps given the broken shaft in his leg, towards Ivo and Elian. A slow process, but one that is perhaps aided in joviality as he draws his hand cannon and puts down a traitor that was still breathing far too well on the way to the other two. A sharp crack, and then nothing, no movement, no life. And onward Augustin stalks, "I shall be sure to send your names to the King, he will wish to hear of this latest incursion by the Traitor Queen to the north." He does not say her name, his nose however wrinkles faintly, "Captain Ravio, Tribune al'Callenta." A nod to each in turn, "Find lodgings in Dax if you have need, they'll see to your wounds."

"Good," Ivo replies with a wink to the Esophorian, "cos I'd hate to ahve to explain to the Duke why I went against his orders. It's easier all round to just kill you where you stand." And that's precisely what he does. With two left he attacks one and parries the other until the odds are finally even once more. "Run," Ivo remarks as he takes a breath, "just run." The man opposite him stays steadfast though and he's forced to fight once more. It's not a long fight though, and the archer comes off worst leaving him to bend over slightly and take some deep breaths before straightning again and looking for anyone else who might not be fleeing. Thye're all gone though, or far enough away that he can't chage them doen, so he heads over to Elian, cleaning his blade on the trousers of one of the dead as he passes.

As Augustin announces his appraoch with that pistol shot he turns, frowning slightly at the state of the man's injuries. "Do you have enough healers?" he asks, eyeing that arrow shaft in the old man's leg, "I have a limited skill and can assist if required."

Elian sheathes his off-hand dagger before leaning to find a convenient cloak or tunic to clean off the steel blade of his sword with. Once thats reasonably clean it to goes into its scabbard. "Thank you your Grace." he says to Augustin. "I'll be grateful for it." He lifts a hand to rub the trickle of blood running down his jaw and neck with the flat of his thumb and then looks to Ivo. "We need to talk Ravio."

"I shan't trouble you… I'm sure you've enough to deal with and the Tribune apparently requires your assistance." Augustin rasps hoarsely, before standing still and tilting his head to the sound of footsteps behind him, "The Doctor's flunkies from aboard the Redoubt, they'll see me back to the ship… I've had my fill of the land, the sooner we put down the Rebellion in so-called Eosphora the better!" His voice a sharp bark, still as sharp as ever despite the injuries and the blood trickling down his his left arm, puddling about his twitching fingers, "Get yourselves seen to, there'll be more of this, mark my words. They do not learn."

The dead and the living of Eosphora learn the hard way, the dead perhaps less so. For on the approach in the forest, the path taken by Eosphoran troops before them, the dead bodies are strung up by the Royal Marines, the living and the dead set to sway and haunt that forest like grim sentinels. The screams of the living are soon cut short, while the dead have few arguments as they are set swaying, ripe for carrion, and other such cadaverous beasties. Such is the way of the Duke.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License