forums.rs

Forums

† World 103 POC Community T6 † Thread is locked

Quick find code: 90-91-518-65861682

of 152
Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The massive army composed of Kharidian, Menaphosi and Sophenamese soldiers surrounded the city of Menaphos. At the head of the grand force stood politicians of the three cities, sporting smug smiles. The three cities had assembled their militias to confront the power of The Silver Vigil, which had been undermining their power in the region. The Menaphosi general stepped forward, about-faced and gave a speech he clearly rehearsed since first light,

“Too long have these vigilantes wrought havoc on our streets. Too long have they undermined the natural order of things in our glorious desert. Too long have they thwarted the agendas of our nobles. It is time we take our cities back; it is time we stomp on these insects and burn their dead bodies to a crisp.”

Roars of men and the clamor of swords banging on shields spread throughout the air like wild fire. The politicians, with their silver tongues, managed to sway public opinion in their favor; painting the Vigil as a guild of lawless thugs during the past few weeks. They were able to mask their own selfish agendas under the guise of tradition; vowing to return the desert to its primitive and secluded state where slaves knew their place and served corrupted nobles.

From the city walls, Astrazak, Tenzou and Martha watched the army approach with widened eyes. The triple-militia they stared down at was far greater than the fifty men the Vigil had in this city. Swiftly, Tenzou turned to Astra.

“If that army breaches our walls … we are dead-men,” he said with a look of horror covering his face.

15-Mar-2017 04:25:35 - Last edited on 15-Mar-2017 04:26:01 by Astrazak

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“He’s right,” Marath added.

Astrazak placed his hands on his temples and closed his eyes. The roar of the army and clamor was lost to his ears; the counsel of his fellow harbingers was as well. All he could hear were thunderous thoughts of doubt and shock in his own head.

Was this all a hopeless dream? Will the nobles always rise above? Was this Brandon’s betrayal at work? Who will defend the people should we fall?

“Hey! Snap out of it,” Martha yelled into the blank stare on Astra’s face.
“This is no time to be lost in your thoughts, Astra. We need to act,” Tenzou said with expression.

Astra shook his head and glanced at his two closest friends. They were right. This was no time to be lost in doubt; this was the time for action. The Vigil needed to defend the city. He gave them a nod.

“You’re right. It looks grim, but we will rise to the occasion—we will defeat these corrupt politicians and save …”

In that instant, an arrow flew between the trio causing them to instinctively duck for cover. A moment later, a barrage of flaming arrows painted the sky orange before raining down on the city below. Tenzou grabbed his bow and fired a few shots back at the army, no doubt killing a few. But there was too many of them. The order was given for the men to march on the city and the battle ram was brought forth to smash through the front gate.
The trio ran down the steps, and rounded the city gathering all of the Vigil members they could. Trebuchets launched stones into the city, crushing buildings and causing destruction in every direction. Arrows continued to fall from the sky, at times blocking out the sunlight. The Vigil gathered at the front gate.

15-Mar-2017 04:26:49

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“Barricade the gate. Don’t let a single man through. You seven,” Tenzou ordered as he pointed to a group of Vigil members, “hold the gate with your bodies, push back when they push forth.”

“You lot,” Martha yelled to the archers, “Grab your bows and come with me.”

The small platoon of archers—only 15 in number—loosed their bows and follow Martha back up the stairs to provide response fire on the army. They scurried quickly and began firing their arrows on the approaching army.

“The rest of you, gather round and draw your blades,” Astrazak said as he raised his rapiers.

The group of thirty-sum-odd silver hoods obeys and prepared themselves for battle. The clamor of armor from the men marching on the gate was now audible; the army had reached the gate. All of a sudden there was silence beyond the gate. The whole scene was mute. Astra looked around; he saw Marath and the archers with their arrows nocked, he saw Tenzou and the foot soldiers around him preparing for what he knew would be their deaths. The uncanny stillness was almost peaceful—the calm before the st—

BOOM!

The gate neigh-opened from the impact of the ram. The men on the gate were forced back but then they took up their post again and held the door.

BOOM!

Another hit smashed into the gate, chipping the wood and causing the outline of a hole to be forming.

“Aim for the soldiers around the ram,” Martha ordered, “And… loose!”

A salvo of arrows rained down on the soldiers guiding the ram. However, this was to little avail, as most of them had raised their shields in time to block the arrows. The desert archers fired back, piercing a few members of the Vigil who couldn’t duck in time.

BOOM!

Martha peeked at the massive army’s approach and was awestruck; there were too many. However, this didn’t stop him.

“Draw, nock, loose! Draw… nock. Loose,” he yelled to his platoon.

15-Mar-2017 04:28:07

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
This time there was a greater success and the group was able to take a few soldiers out. Martha was ecstatic and turn to Astra, Tenz and the group below.

“We got a few that ti—”

Just at that moment, an arrow pierced Martha’s throat causing him to clutch his neck. His eyes widened and blood leaked out of his mouth whilst gushing from the wound. His eyes welded with tears and he fell to his knees. Astrazak stared up at him in horror; his eyes met Martha’s and subsequently matched the overcoat of salty water.

“Nooooooo,” Astrazak roared, tears streaming down his face, “Martha! No! You can’t! No!!!”

Martha, clutching his throat, tried to mouth some words but no sound came out. His eyes shut for the last time and his body fell forward into the courtyard where Astrazak and Tenzou were with the group of Vigil members.

Tenzou rushed to Martha’s body, but the life was drained from it; only the stream of blood pouring out of his throat showed any indication of movement.

“Martha, you can’t go like this,” Tenz said with tears in his eyes.

“Medic! Medic!,” Astrazak yelled but there was no answer. “We have to save him, Tenzou,” he shouted as he dashed toward the group.

BOOM!

Just then, the ram broke through the gate and flung the men guarding it backward. Kicks displaced the wood and opened up a hole to the inner courtyard. With no time afforded to the vigil to mourn, the desert army rushed through the gate in a file of two men arm-to-arm.

Astrazak closed Martha’s eyelids and whispered, “rest in peace,” before jumping to his feet to prepare for battle.

15-Mar-2017 04:28:52

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Tenzou exclaimed, “On me!”

In an instant, the group surrounded Tenzou, Astrazak and Martha’s lifeless body. Tenzou darted forward at the advancing army and began swinging his great two-handed sword. Astrazak, with vengeance in his heart dashed forward after him, raising his rapiers stabbing them into the closest soldier. The men of the Vigil ran in right after and the battle ensued.

Tenzou, the mightiest warrior in the Vigil, easily cut through groups of men; dismembering them and even cutting a few in half. Soldiers were dropping. Vigil members were dropping as well. Astrazak, unleashed a flurry of stabs at the soldiers, impaling several at a fast pace. Things were looking up for the vigil; they were clearly better warriors than the Menaphosi, Kharidian and Sophanemese. But this all proved trivial when the next wave of men broke down the gate and rushed into battle.

Dozens of men poured through the gate, and fought the Vigil. Minute by minute, Vigil members were falling until there was but twenty left. The archers from the wall fired down on the invading men but in an instant a large rock from a trebuchet reduced their post to rubble, killing them all in one well-aimed shot. Twenty hoods against now seventy men, with more pouring in. The Vigil’s remaining force fought on but soon found themselves encircled.

It was clear now that the Desert politicians had also hired mercenaries to add in the
siege. The Quick Sand Saviors, as they were called, surrounded Tenzou. They were fierce foes, and Tenz would’ve been able to take three or four of them on a good day. But here, there were six and Tenzou had been fighting for what felt like ages.

15-Mar-2017 04:29:46

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
He dashed forward blocking some sword strikes with his 2h, and swung back in response. A QSS snuck up behind Tenz and swung with a strike that would’ve ended Tenz’s life, but Astra’s rapier pierced the mercenaries head before he could complete it. The duo was able to fend them off. However, the rest of the Vigil wasn’t so lucky. Their number were dwindling from the battle, and then found themselves with only seven people left: Astrazak, Tenzou, Damakos, Mimring, Neptune, Astelia, and Pomsz.

“We have to retreat,” Damakos sounded as his great Warhammer smashed down on the chest of a nearby foe.

“He’s right,” Mimring added as his smoke magic strangled six men at once.

Astrazak knew they needed to escape but there was no sign of where they could go. Astelia and Pomsz, were encircled and fired upon with crossbows, meeting their end. The remaining five members grouped together, all with their backs to each other defender themselves from the soldiers. But this was proving fatal. Neptune dropped once a battle axe kissed his chest.

“Astra, you have to get out of here! The Vigil must live on,” Tenzou shouted.

At that moment, he dashed forward and swung his sword, decapitating a few men closing in on the group.

“I won’t leave you to die here, Tenz, you fool,” Astrazak responded.
“Mimring, Damakos, take Astrazak and get out of here,” Tenzou shouted.
Before the group could protest, Tenz ran into a thick group of the soldiers and killed most of them, leaving an opening for the group to escape. They realized protesting was futile and grabbed Astra and made for the opening. Astra tried to resist, but to no good. He was too weak to fight off Mimring and Damakos who carried him from the front courtyard.

15-Mar-2017 04:30:34

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“You are my brothers. And I will gladly give my life so that you can make it out alive,” Tenzou screamed in between slashes of his sword.

However, he was now encircled by way too many man—even for him. They all attacked him and sliced up his body, but he fought on. But this was it for him. A Menaphosi elite warrior found the opening he had been waiting for and thrusted his short-sword through Tenzou’s skull.

The skilled harbinger’s eyes closed for the last time and his body fell inertly to the floor. Blood leaked down his eye sockets where the point of the blade came out. But it wasn’t all for nothing; he died to others could live. His diversion here kept the soldiers from pursuing Astrazak, Mimring and Damakos.

The trio had made it to the dock, and hoped to board one of their vessels. But they were broken inside, they watched their brothers fall; even those who had been there from the beginning, Martha and Tenzou. Arrows rained down on the group as they made way for the ship; two of which pierced Astra’s back and caused him to cry out in pain. But the group carried him on their shoulders and boarded the ship. They were able to escape the city by the narrowest margins and evaded the grasp of the corrupt nobles.

15-Mar-2017 04:31:01

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Or so they thought. Flaming arrows bombarded the wooden craft and set it afire. Astrazak laid on his stomach on the craft and the other two tried to fight the fires. However, this did not go well and after a few more salvos of flaming arrows, the ship was now fully ablaze.

They tried with all of their might to put out these flames with buckets of water, but it proved futile. The ship was now engulfed completely and began to sink.

In Astrazak’s mind, he thought of the failure of the vigil. But more importantly he thought of his brothers…. Images and sounds danced before him: he saw Tenzou’s cool smile that always raised the spirits of the Vigil, he heard Martha’s laugh which was contagious and lighthearted, he thought of even Brandon, the deserter, and his strange elf ears. They had all been his brothers. But he had failed them. He had failed them and his people. He had failed himself. As the flaming ship sank into the bay, so too did Astra’s heart—he was unable to be what he wanted to be most: a leader who stood up for his people.

15-Mar-2017 04:31:19

Astrazak
Apr Member 2020

Astrazak

Posts: 1,026 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
And so The Silver Vigil was subsequently ousted from the Kharidian desert. Perhaps a few Vigil memebrs still exist, but in secret. The Desert returned to its roots and each region restored their autonomy. The silver banners that once flew above several settlements in the desert were burned.

Hopefully, the sentiment of the Vigil can live on through those in the realm. Continue the path of justice and fairness -- demand that kings, elders, and nobles treat those under them justly; for it is they who serve you, not the other way around.

15-Mar-2017 04:34:58

Quick find code: 90-91-518-65861682 Back to Top