Day 3, Midday, Ravel Ironhand, outskirts of Alingas.
“Warriors, over this hill lays our home, our Alingas! The place where we all grew up, where we fought our first battles for, where we became true men ! Now the place where we grew up is under attack. These attackers are trying to destroy us, trying to claim these lands we call
our home. Fight for our right to survive, this is our home not theirs! Today we will be victorious, today will be your day! Today we will bathe in the blood of our enemies. We are Jättar! We are the pinnacle of the warrior society! Warriors… Attack!” The powerful voice of Ravel inspires five hundred men to charge over and down the hill into the rear enemy line.
The enemy assuming all the forces would be present at fortress Alingas, are taken by complete surprise. Jättar soldiers plunge into the enemy lines breaking enemy shields like twigs. Jättar Great-swords charged into enemy bodies ripping them open like it’s nothing.
Ravel as a true leader is in the middle of the fight. Dodging an incoming sword and replying with a quick thrust through the attackers chest. “Push on!” He roars. The Jättar as told, push on. In the wake of their advance is only death. With their superb stamina and power the Jättar keep on pushing. Crushing shields with their heavy blows and killing anyone in their sight. Only dead and mutilated bodies remain, bathing in a river of bloodied snow.
“Jättar hold!” A firm shout from the Jättar forces quickly sounds, immediately followed by the sound of shield interlocking for a shield wall. Having broken the enemy lines the frightened enemy soldiers are in full retreat while their general on his white stallion, is killing his own soldiers trying to stop the rout. “Cowards!” he shouts while riding trough the remains of the order of battle and cutting down his own men.
Ravel shouts with a deep and powerful voice “Human your fight is over!”
“Never! You filthy barbarian!” The general kicks his horse and charges over a distance of some twenty meters. Ravel as his son earlier, doesn’t hesitate and draws his sword. “Idiot” he mumbles before throwing his sword into the stallion. The General falls off and comes to a stop at Ravels feet. “Pathetic humans… Tell me who you are.”
Mumbling under the extreme pain the general says “Your worst nightmare.” Ravel grabs the general by his throat and lifts him from the ground. The general, a very short man looks like a mere child compared to Ravel. Now in even more pain the general tries to scream but can’t.
“You humans think you’re everything, while you clearly cannot see that not humans but Jättar are the only true warrior race. We are bred for war, designed for it. You have lost this battle and you will lose this war. I will find your village, I will burn your village, I will personally kill your family, and while your people suffer and ask them selfs ‘Why?’ your name will be uttered. You will be held responsible for the coming genocide.” With those words Ravel snaps the generals neck. Thinking mumbling to himself “Puny humans.”
“Droungar Vigill, I suppose you appreciated the change of setting. How many soldiers died?”
“Sure did Sir! I thank you for this opportunity. 82 killed during the battle with thirty-three severely injured. A further twenty-two received injuries but were able to continue fighting. Of the four severely injured warriors two are in critical state.”
“Arrange their burnings with full honors. You are in command. Wrap it up here, remember no prisoners. I’ll see if there is anyone in that burning heap they call a fortress.”
“Aye sir!”
Bodies litter the field… hundreds of corpses are being feasted upon by crows and other scavengers. The fields are drenched with red snow. Painful screams for help are being answered by swords. Fortress Alingas is reduced to a smoking pile of bricks. The walls surrounding the gate and those on the west side have all been reduced to rubble. Catapults had been a very effective force in this battle. Ravel walks towards the smoking remains of what once was a gate but still hears the sound of swords colliding. The enemy soldiers inside had not been aware of their commanders death and still are trying to take the fortress. As Ravel comes onto the courtyard he sees piles of dead bodies, Jättar and enemy alike but also multiple severely wounded warriors. On what remains of the center stage a sword fight is going on with three enemy soldiers.
One Jättar is fighting them, drenched in the blood of his enemies. His skin and armor are blood red, there are remains on his back of something that one day was a cape. It is Atticus who is the Jättar fighter. Unrecognizable because of his blood red color. Ravel, having gone unnoticed thrusts his sword through one of the enemy soldiers, splattering blood all over Atticus his face, who quickly stabs the enemy on his left with a secondary sword laying on the ground and quickly finishing of the remaining soldier. All while his father puts his sword back into his scabbard as if there was no threat at all.
“I didn’t need your help. I was doing fine old man. Do you not see I am the only one standing. I killed the most of
anyone here!” Atticus said irritated.
“You should have killed more. Tend to your wounded. You’ll need them. Prepare your dead for burning.”
“Who are these people?”
“They are the Bakufu, an ancient warrior tribe, but these people aren’t their elite soldiers. They’ll be here soon.” Ravel replies while making his way back to his own soldiers. “Meet me at Castle Vanquish as soon as you’re done. Bring everyone that can walk.”
“Even the children from the Agoge and the farmers?”
“No, Leave them.” Ravel shouts while passing the gates and leaving Atticus quite baffled.
“Lord Ravel, The wounded are cared for and our dead are being prepared for burning. All the enemy soldiers in the immediate area have been killed. The main bulk however has been routed and is still on the lose. My estimates are that there were some 1500 enemy soldiers. First numbers suggest that we killed about 700. We don’t have the manpower to pursue Sir.”
“Excellent. Let them be, We’ll deal with them later. Let the wounded guard the dead. Prepare the men to move. We’re going to castle Vanquish. Good work Vigill. It would seem that promoting you to a Droungar was a good idea.”
“Aye sir! Warriors! Prepare to move out!” Vigill screamed from the top of his lungs.
Atticus Ironhand, later that day, Castle Vanquish.
Back in the fortress a fading voice utters “Atticus, what are your father’s orders ?”
“Thedeus ? I was sure I saw you fell. What are you doing down there if you’re not dead?” Atticus replies with a distraught voice. Seemingly irritated that his friend wasn’t participating in the fight.
“They got me… It’s my leg… they got my leg Atticus.” As Atticus approaches his friend Thedeus raises his leg… Only his thy remains. Blood squirts out as Thedeus moves it. “Please kill me… I can’t live in our society like this… A cripple. Kill me !” Without hesitation Atticus thrusts his sword through Thedeus his head. “We don’t have room for the crippled.” Atticus mumbles.
While Atticus cleans his with blood tainted sword a door is being kicked in that leads to the armory.
“Atticus you’re alive ?” A stunned Alexios utters.
Never caught off guard Atticus moves only his head in the direction of the door seeing Alexios as well as Dvergar coming out it. “Well well well, you guys didn’t die did you…”
“Not only have we survived, we killed Dranan.” Dvergar quickly responds with a humorous tone.
“I presume he fled ?” Atticus replied uninterested. “Well, My father ordered me to come to his castle with the remaining survivors. I killed Thedeus over here. He lost his leg. Probably trying to be a
ing hero or something. There are some survivors, there are about 9 over in the kitchen. They’re from our year. I told them to go there early in the fight. Collect them so we can make our way to the castle. Droungar Vigill left multiple men outside tending to our wounded men out there, those who can’t walk will remain with them. The same will apply for the children and farmers” Atticus concludes.
Several minutes later the of energy depleted company arrives in the Castles shadow where they are greeted with salutes from soldiers on the wall. “Open the gate for Dekar Atticus!” a watch officer yells down. The large gate opens and the company of men make their way over victory-bridge onto the courtyard. The courtyard is filled with life, something that hasn’t happened in years. Soldiers running around with food, water, weaponry and armor. Fires are lit all over the courtyard keeping men around then warm and at the same time helps melt snow into drinkable water.
Vigill shouts from a distance “There you are Dekar Atticus. Your father requests your presence in the war room.”
“Droungar Vigill, I see that father promoted you. Well… you deserve it I suppose.” Atticus said with a rather cynical and jealous tone.
“Thank you young Dekar, I’ll get your men to a spot where they can rest and have their wounds checked by one of our Kyrios. Before you go to your father, could you tell me where Strato Dranan is ?”
Atticus agitated with the delay “He’s dead alright? he fled after the enemy forces broke through the walls and gate. He shamed us all. Alexios over there can help you sort out the detail. If that would be all I’d like to get going.”
“Very well Dekar.” Vigill replied in an equally agitated tone before moving off towards Alexios.”
Moving over the courtyard and making his way into the main building of the fortress Atticus takes the stairs up to the second floor. Nothing significant just a simple stairs. Usability over grandeur. Arriving on the second floor the war room is o the left. A nice and warm fire is burning under a large map of the known world. Since the Jättar communities are scattered over the north the map could be considered outdated. Since it states the Empire rules all lands in the cold northern region. Ravel is in deep conversation with a huge Jättar wearing the Domesti insignia. Both having their backs at the door and looking out over the courtyard from the balcony both men don’t notice Atticus coming in and taking a peak of the map.
“Father you asked for me?” Atticus finally says while turning to his father after examining the map.
Ravel turns and the mysterious Domesti come back inside “About time you arrived. Atticus this is ‘The Bear of the North’ Domesti Marius Faucan.” Ravel said while looking at some documents he was holding.
Rather stunned Atticus hesitates to shake the man’s hand. Always having been under the impression that there were no Domesti left among the Jättar. After several seconds pass Atticus does shake the hands man and introduces himself “Dekar Atticus Ironhand.”
“Well now we got that out of the way it’s time for a history lesson” Before Ravel can continue a deep and dark voice interrupts, it’s the voice of Marius. While he walks towards the map he continues ”Atticus, I am your uncle. My father… well your grandfather rules the lands towards the west. Our scouts spotted the Bakafu moving from their lands here in the eastern regions.” Marius says while pointing on the map.
“Tell him the rest as well.” Ravel replied quite angered.
Marius continues as asked “They passed through our lands after a unsuccessful raid into the, from here southern regions four days ago… We examined the threat and it didn’t seem to hurt anyone since they were turning away. Our scouts kept following them at a distance it wasn’t until yesterday morning they actually found a remnant of the old road system… As soon as the scouts reported back I was dispatched here with a small force of 500 men.”
“You just figured it wouldn’t hurt having a unidentified tribe on our lands ?” Atticus asked.
“Actually your father knew… He was informed last night.” Marius his face says more then a thousand words. Having been under the impression ravel would’ve shared such important information.
“Shut up Atticus” Ravel quickly utters when he sees Atticus’s lips moving. “Regardless if he knew or not we’re in this together now. I’ve dispatched messengers to fetch our own warriors. There should be about 350 scattered on our borders. Since I didn’t hear from our south-eastern patrol I expect some 300 men to return to us. Here’s where you come in Atticus, Marius inform him.”
“You’ll take 25 men and ride a day south. They left the elders, woman and children in a camp there. It should have minimum protection so you should be able to raid it. I will stay here until you return and your father’s forces have been amassed.”
Ravel with his usual skepticism continues “Because you did such a splendid job keeping your men alive Vigill outfitted a party for you with supplies which will be waiting for you. Marius brought horses for you to use. Try to do a better job keeping those alive.”
With a bitter face Atticus makes a small bow and says “Father, Domesti, I’ll get underway then.”
Frothy Goodness
Re: Jättar
The Flying Dutchman
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Praefectus
Originally Posted by Alwyn
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