|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:48 pm
((prep for the future! -hinthint-))
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:18 pm
A Shiro's Wyvern officer stepped over a corpse. The soldier kneeled down, examined it and shook his head. Another soldier stepped up behind him.
"Too late?" The second soldier said quietly.
The first grunted.
"Right. Tell Captain Veseti that this floor has been swept."
"Yes ma'am." The first stood up, pulled his spear out of the corpse of a demon nailed to the wall, shouldered it, and jogged down the hall.
------------
Captain Veseti nodded to the corporal's report, and took a breath and focused.
Sir, we're too late. Demons scrubbed the castle clean of all non-daemonic life. Except for a few... playthings, I guess you could say, the castle of Inthe is devoid of all life.
Auren nodded to this information. Let me know when the rightful rulers show up. I trust you have the intelligence report?
Yes sir. We'll await your orders and assist whoever we can.
Good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:38 pm
Tsuki exited the shadows in the front courtyard of her castle. She could tell that something was off from the start and so when her daughter Ankhe exited the shadows moments later she said, "Ankhe, something is off here....there is blood in the courtyard and on the walls..." She trailed off as she spied a body lying partly concealed in a bush.
((Since faith isn't on, Nadira will just be pulled along.))
She gestured for Nadira and Ankhe to follow her and together they entered into the castle, looking for anyone alive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:53 pm
Three Shiro's Wyverns soldiers patrolled the courtyard, and had just started going down the steps into the yard, before seeing the three step from the shadows.
One whispered to the other two, of which one nodded, and spun around calmly, to march back up into the palace, while the two soldiers remaining step forward, marching in perfect lock-step.
"Identify yourself, please." The one on the right said with the utmost politeness and courtesy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:04 pm
Tsuki was half tempted to demand they indentify themselves first since this was her castle, but she sensed that it wouldn't be the best thing to do. So instead she replied, "I am Tsuki. Queen of this castle, this is my daughter Princess Ankhe, and this is Lady Nadira sister of Queen Jadira of Esperanza. Now who may I ask, are you?"
Ankhe watched the ones in front of her very closely, she'd only just gotten her mother back and she'd be damned if she lost her again so soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:18 pm
"I am Private Vanessa, my Lady." She said with a bow. "I am part of the Shiro's Wyverns, Air Wing. We were wondering when you were going to arrive. General Shiro has something for you. Unfortunately, I don't have it. If you will please follow me...?" She said with grace and a hint of humility.
The woman had daemonic features as well. Fingernails that looked like claws poked out of her fingerless gloves, and her eyes had that cat-slit, though it was fiery in color. Her cohort had the same thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:43 pm
"Shiro...you don't mean Auren do you?" Tsuki sighed, "Well, regardless. Lead the way I suppose...and it's nice to meet you both."
Tsuki looked around once again and noticed more blood and bodies, "Before we go however, how many were found here? Were there any survivors...and for that matter, why are you here and not attacking us?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:01 am
"Yes, my lady, the very one. As for the survivors, we found... I think twenty seven. They weren't... well, human anymore. Their poor minds have been shattered by these things." Vanessa said quietly.
"The reason why we are not attacking you is because General Shiro ordered it. You see, he resurrected us, like how Laos resurrected him. Unlike what happened to him though, is that he did not bind us to Laos or himself. He then ordered us to Inthe, under the guise of reinforcing the palace in case of an assault which Auren had sensed was coming."
"Obviously, a three man assault just won't cut it against us. We are also help you as best we can. But I personally can't do that. Our captain, can."
This converstation continued as she led them to the Captain, whose only difference from the others in terms of armor was that he had a white band on his left bicep. Two other soldiers were in there, along with a desk with a stack of documents.
"Sir. May I present Queen Tsuki, Princess Ankhe, and Nadira, Sister of Jadira."
The captain bowed. "I am Captain Veseti. Do you wish for me to alert General Shiro that you are here? He has much to discuss with you. And if you don't... I have this for you." He said with mild curiosity. He turned to the desk that he was standing by, and picked up a book.
"Here are all of Laos' gaurds patrol schedules, sources of food, defenses, defensive ready times, and complete schematics of the Citadel. He also would like you to know that the Shiro's Wyverns units stationed in the Citadel, along with General Shiro, would strike the defenses from behind."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:44 pm
Tsuki had a pained look on her face at the thought of the people that had attempted to guard her castle. They should not have had to suffer this, she thought.
As she was led into a room containing three other soldiers, the one in the middle presumably the Captain. Upon closer inspection, she saw a white band on his upper arm and nodded to herself, definitely an authority figure at least.
Tsuki listened as they were introduced to...Captain Veseti. Her eyes opened a fraction wider and she looked at the book hungrily.
"If you would permit it, I would have my daughter take that book back to our base of resistance immediately...provided you can prove that it isn't a forgery of some sort. Last I checked Auren Shiro was helping Laos. How do I know this isn't a trap and that Laos' forces wont ambush us straightaway if we follow any of the data in that book?" Tsuki glared at them all suspiciously.
Ankhe and Nadira looked on to see what the soldiers would do, both poised for action if the need arose.
((Meh. Nothing for them to do. I should just...put Ankhe away for another time. Or give her to an eventual new member. -nods- That is what I shall do! I digress.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:51 pm
"An honest question, my Lady, but here is the thing. he died killing Laos. Why would he want the gift of life from the very one who killed him? If you must, you can talk to him if you wish to do so."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:08 pm
Tsuki thought about that for a few moments, her brow creased in thought. On one hand, the Captain was right. Auren had been a good friend in the little time she'd known him and she knew he would never willingly side with Laos. On the other hand, Tsuki had first hand knowledge of what it was like to be under Laos' control. It was not an easy thing to break, of that both herself and Shavas knew well.
After a few more moments of silent deliberation, she looked to her daughter for her opinion. Ankhe nodded to her mother and said, "I believe that we can trust what he says. From the little I have been told about the previous war Auren sounded like an alright guy."
"I know...and I agree," looking away from Ankhe, Tsuki refocused her attention on the Captain, "I agree with my daughter. I will extend a tentative thread of trust and accept what you say as Truth.
"I have heard from your subordinates that there were many deaths. As for the ones who survived, they were mentally damaged? At any rate, I would like to know the exact number of dead found. Some may have gone into hiding at some point...I shall explain after I receive the death toll."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:11 pm
Captain Veseti looked up at the ceiling. "What was the population of your castle? Subtract 27 from that. The rest are all dead. Unless you can find them in places we didn't look...? As for the survivors. They are not mentally damaged, they've been shattered. They all act like animals. As for counting bodies? Why don't you walk around and pick up pieces of corpses? It's nearly impossible to get an accurate count."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:20 pm
Tsuki shook her head sadly, "Last time I checked on them, there was a total population somewhere in the 300's residing in this castle. A majority of them were guards and the like, but some were civilians with minimal combat training. I guess the only thing to do is to check the hiding places laid out for this kind of scenario.
"There are two such places in the castle itself, three others in the surrounding lands. In the event of such an attack, everyone left alive and relatively sane was to go into hiding. Stocks of food and water were kept updated in my stint as ruler, but the one who acted as regent let these shelters rot. Luckily those still loyal, which was a majority, kept them up. You'll find that most all of the Kingdoms have an escape system of some sort.
Anyway, in the event that they were stuck there for more than five days, all within the shelters would be automatically transported to the White Mage Tower. Do you know at least how many days it has been since this attack?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:22 pm
"When Laos invaded? More then three weeks ago... I think. Don't hold me on that, but I know its been at least two and a half weeks. I'm sorry about your loss. We're cleaning the mess up. Would you care for some pack rations or tea or something?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:29 pm
Tsuki shook her head, "No time. If it's been that long then anyone that may have survived would be locked in the White Mage tower. I believe the tower to be under siege, or at least suffering from something as all the defenses are up. Although...that could be explained by there being refugees within!"
Tsuki smiled at the hope of some of the castle residence still being alive.
"Give Auren my best when he comes in, but I've got to take these two and go. Ah, while I'm doing that Ankhe can take that book back to our base. Is there anything else you'd like to say before we have to leave? I suppose if you must you can send someone to come with us to report back to you at a later time."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
