Chapter 3: The Fight for Freedom

[Phiona Whitefire]

Phiona closed the door behind her as quietly as she could... no need to alert any guards who might be hanging about.  She glanced up and down the empty hall and decided to go to her left.  She passed two more closed doors in the bare hallway before reaching a t-intersection.  Phiona turned left again, guessing the door at the end of the hall would lead outdoors.  She was right.  The unguarded door led out onto a small platform with three steps leading to the ground.  There were a few soldiers still rushing about, but none seemed to pay her any mind... which was fine with her.  

Walking as if she belonged there, Phiona went straight toward the closest barracks and found it empty.  She searched the place until she located a pair of trousers that would reasonably fit her.  She changed into them fast and then left to find the armory.  Phiona knew she needed to find a weapon, the sooner the better!

 

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"

- Maximus Decimus Meridius

[SeverineHalo]

Severine watched as the calvary began to circle around him and his allies. He knew that this was going to be a fight to the death. If he was going to die today, he was going to make sure he was taking Marlus Blackwine with him. Severine's anger began to rise as he swung his sword, which connected with the sword of the first attacker. Another calvary man came from behind on his horse, thinking that the Shendar's life was his. Severine looked over his shoulder, and quickly did a handspring with one hand, using his adrenaline to boost his agility.

The first wave of arrows came out, along with a flying beer bottle. This was enough to knock most of the surrounding troops. That's when Severine went for the kill. Without hesitation, his blade went across the neck of one of the fallen calvary men. The smell of blood reached the warrior's nose and became fuel for his now violent soul. Even though the voices going through his mind tried to calm his soul...it was now starting to become a little too late...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

[Luca the Thief]

Luca eyed the crowd of warriors and the even the half-elf could sense the battle lust of every fighter below. The thief let fly bottle after bottle, knocking people unconcious and, to their short-lived joy, showering them spirits until the flying shards of glass waltzed with their skin.

Running out of amunition, the half-elf succumbed to her natural instincts and did the only thing a street-raised theif could do.

Without a thought of the concequences, Luca leapt through the window and found herself sitting on the shoulders of a rather surprised soldier. But his surprise soon ended as the precious sleep of unconciousness took him. Luca's hands flashed, and seemingly by magic, held two finely crafted twin daggers in hand.

Moments of dodging, hacking, tripping and biting went by until a few rather pathetic collection of unconcious or wanting-to-be-unconcious men surrounded the thief.

Sweating, panting and tiring, Luca looked around desperatly for a rebel or familiar face. "I should have stayed in the inn," Luca muttered as she punched a soldier in the face "Sat back," she continued, pulling his long greasy hair. "Had a few drinks," the half-elf finished, finally making the man wish he'd been born female.

"But no...I had to play hero of the world," Luca finished, admiring her grand total of three victims, the rest having gotten away with minor cuts, bruises or teeth marks.

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

[Phiona Whitefire]

Hagitha and her Death Riders, the bulk of them at least, were hidden beyond the buildings to the east of the village center.  They all concentrated on the faint sounds of distant battle, awaiting the signal to join the fight.  Hagitha did not look behind her to her loyal riders, she knew her people would follow her to the ultimate end and they would fight valiantly in doing so.  A horse stomped impatiently.  Another snorted in anticipation.  She knew that the animals only reflected their riders' desire to action.  She knew that desire to crush her enemies under hoof... and she had a clear picture in her mind's eye of her enemy.

Then the horn sounded.  A half-breath later, the Death Riders' mounts leaped forward as one and they began their run toward the center square.  Their running was a work of dark beauty- colorful feathers flew in the wind, powerful beasts ran in unison, shining beads reflected the sun's blazing fire, and their sharpened spears, lances and arrow-tips fairly dripped with ink-black death... it was their device- poison- and for which they took their name.

As one, the Death Riders descended upon the battle, thundering their intent of destruction and doom upon their enemies... yet at the last moment before engaging, they split in two groups and skirted around the center of the fight only to flank the calvary who were already engaged in fighting the rebels on the far side of the battle.  Ignoring the rebels completely, the Death riders, speared, lanced and shot poison-tipped missles at the soldiers under Blackwine's command, devastating the majority of the front line horse warriors in their renegade attack.   Blackwine's calvary were forced to turn their attention to the Death Riders, allowing the rebels a brief respite.  It didn't take long for the rebels to regroup and, taking advantage of their new allies, they began to first harry and then slaughter the enemy soldiers with unbounded enthusiasm.


From his vantage, Marlus sat and watched the treachery, stunned.  With a shout he ordered the remaining calvary into the fray and he leaned forward as he spurred his own mount to carry him forward.  In his  hand, Iniquitus hummed loudly, anticipating a feast of souls...

[Dray Ducroix]

*Dray followed the others outside the inn and saw the massacre of the innocent villagers and the fighting of the rebels and a familar energy welled up inside him and he felt himself becomming very cold on the inside but very heated on the outside. Dray did not hesitate a second after Severine lept into action he immediatly followed suit and lunged swords first into a soldier knocking him back. Dray fell atop the man and a rider was standing above and went to swing at Dray who rolled aside and thrust his swords into the underside of the horse. The horse reered and fell to the ground taking its rider with it and the riders leg is pinned under the animal. Dray can feel his battle lust grow as well as the energy inside him as he engages another soldier*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

[SeverineHalo]

Ripp led his men around the left side of the inn. He had advised that they give out their best and loudest war cry to sound more intimidating. Even though it might not have work, just maybe it'll make the opposition just a tad bit nervous. As the fight began, Ripp noticed that most of the soldiers were distracted by something else. When he took a closer look, he saw that the calvary that Severine and the others were fighting before was now attacking the rebels. Being an experienced leader, Ripp knew that this was a mutiny led by this calvary's leader against the man known as Marlus Blackwine. He would consider them allies for now.

As Ripp and his men began pushing the soldiers back, he heard cries of war, and turned around. He saw a small army of rebels rushing in battle, led by a young man he saw ealier and someone else he never saw before.

Interesting, he thought to himself.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

[Luca the Thief]

Luca's slightly pointed ears pricked at the thundering sound of hooves. "Hmm...deja vu" she thought, recognizing the stampede of horses as the all-too-familiar charge of the toxin-happy riders.

The half-elf, street instincts in full gear, whirled suddenly as a lance armed Death Rider stomped up behind her. The soldier lunged, his poison laced lance coming straight Luca. About ready to dodge, the thief was stunned as the shimmering black weapon shot past her and impaled an approaching enemy soldier through the gut. Slack jawed, the half-elf turned and saluted the rider.

From within his helmet, Luca saw him scowl and turn away to ride into the busier areas of battle.

"Ungrateful bastard," the thief muttered, her voice dripping with venom, as Luca smashed another soldier on foot in the face with a dagger hilt.

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

[Elraralia Horfiwiel]

Arrow after arrow flew from Elraralia and her small army of archer's bows, and for a short time, it seemed to be working, or at least it appeared that way to the unexperianced.  Elra  knew though that it was only a short time that they ran out of arrows, and that was going to be the point that they would realize the mess they had truly gotten themselves into.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of hooves, and swore as the calvary came charging in, just in time for the last of her arrows to slowly disapear.

"I just had to go and find adventure, didn't I.  The moment of peace was just not good enough for me, I had to go and find a group of trouble starters, that seem to hunt for fights that are impossible to win..." She said under her breath, so that only the archer next to her heard.  Giving her a look, the man shook his head, and continued fighting, muttering something about crazy elves.

"Well I don't know where you are from, but when I am fighting with a bunch of inexperianced ningcompoops, in a battle that no thing alive would bet against, I do believe I am entitled to a bit of whining, don't you?" she asked the man scathigly, the last bit of her patience wearing out.

"Well, it looks as if you can stop complaining, help has finally arrived" the man shot back, and  went back to his shooting.

Not sure what the man meant, she looked out, and was about to remark that all she saw was big brutes on horses, when she realized that the big brutes weren't fighting them...they were fighting with them...

"Well I'll be damned..." she said to herself, and taking aim, continued the volley.

[fflewdur]

Fflewdur snapped awake, looking around stupidly. He had dozed without noticing and got some much needed rest.

Just as he was getting up he heard noises. I know those noises from somewhere... But where?

The noise of a battle!

This is just great! Another battle to get involved in! I suppose I should help my "friends".

He set off, drawing his axe. He was following the noises to the center of the city. He turned a corner and walked straight into an enemy soldier who was, at the moment, ducking the sword of a burly cavalry soldier.
Before the man recovered from the shock the dwarf knocked him unconcious.

He then put him into an infinite sleep with a snap of the neck. Then Fflewdur whipped around and charged an "unoccupied" soldier. He swung his axe and the man parried. Before Fflewdur could react the man performed a fancy twist and jarred the axe from his hand. He ducked a swipe of the mans sword and removed the mans right hand with his dagger. The man dropped his sword and fled, screaming. He would be healed, and would forever hunt the dwarf who had stolen his hand. Unknowing of this, Fflewdur spun and made a break to where his axe lay.

[SeverineHalo]

As Severine deafeated the last soldier the was in his way, stood still for a moment, trying to call himself out of his bloodlust. There was no mistaking it now...there was something inside of him...something that was bringing out his rage ten fold. He could hear various voices in his mind, telling him to keep under control. When he realized that it was coming from his sword which was glowing slightly, Severine slowly began becoming more like his normal self. He was shocked that he was finally seeing the hidden secret of the Halo family at work. A loud sound of hooves interrupted Severine's train of thought. As he looked past the fighting that was going on, Severine could see the death riders in the distance. At first he got on is guard, but as he looked closely, he could see that they weren't fighting them...but rather those whom they worked for...

Looks like there's a little mutiny going on here...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

[Dray Ducroix]

*Dray and Ardan were fighting back to back more defending than attacking anybody. Dray and Ardan were tiring and their adversaries seemed to be gaining the upperhand when Dray heard Hooves appraoching*

Adran eath Riders!

*Dray curses under his breath if those riders reached them before they got on the offensive they were dead no question about it. Dray deflected a blow and blocked another aimed as Ardan's exposed side as Ardan blocked another blow. Dray swung in a wide arc and moved his advarsaries back a few paces. Just then the riders were upon them. Dray braced himself to block the spears covered with poison, but instead of attacking him or Ardan the spears from the 2 riders drove into 2 of the soldiers instead. Dray looked up at the rider and the rider just nodded at him and kept attacking the soldiers*

Dray:Well who would have thought that...the riders turned against Blackwine!

*Dray bellows out a loud war cry his energy renewed with the arrival of unexpected allies. Ardan joins him in his cry as both men start to fight back against the soliders alongside the deathriders pushing the surprised soliders back*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

[fflewdur]

Fflewdur battled, his strength waning. He'd only been fighting for a short while but it seemed liked hours.

I need t get to the Inn. Then I can have something secure at my back. I can do more damage if I dont need to defend myself all the time.

The dwarf started pushing through the battle,always headed toward the inn.

This is much easier said than done!

[Phiona Whitefire]

After the initial surprise of the Death Riders' betrayal, Blackwine's troops rallied and concentrated on bringing down the horsemen... even at the risk of ignoring the rebels' maneuvers.  Blackwine called in his calvary with three short bursts from his signal horn, before sending his own contingent of horsemen into the fray.  

The commander was readying to follow his men when, above the din of battle, Marlus heard a woman's voice calling to him.  He looked around to see Phiona galloping toward him at full speed.  She was calling his name.  His breath caught at the sight of her... she was so beautiful!  He waited for her to draw alongside.

~

Phiona was desperate.  She could see the rebels were sorely outnumbered and, somehow, she knew that Severine and the others were in the thick of it all.  She needed to do whatever she could to help them.  At any cost!

So she called to Marlus as she approached, hoping to distract him, even if only for a moment!  

It worked, he turned and stayed his mount.  She road up along side and looked into his deep blue eyes a moment before leaning in to kiss him.  He returned the kiss with fervor.  She said, "I traveled with them, for awhile... Marlus... it would be a mistake to kill them all. "  Her head whipped around as she searched the battle, until her eyes fell on Severine himself.  She pointed.  "There, that one, do you see?  He has information, as do all his crew."

Marlus looked around the battle and saw that, despite their energetic front, the rebels would lose.  "Very well, my darling.  It will be as you wish."  

He turned and called to the nearest men, "Those rebels in the center of the fray..., I want them alive!  See that it is done!"  He looked back at Phiona and winked.  She smiled in relief.  Now, if only her friends can avoid inadvertently getting killed...

Word spread quickly among the commander's men and soon the rebels found they were being surrounded by men who were trying to capture, instead of kill...

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"

- Maximus Decimus Meridius

[SeverineHalo]

In the midst of battle, Severine's mind relaxed a bit for he was not doing as much fighting as he thought he would have done. Attacking with a strong elbow to the face of one of soldiers he encountered, Severine then continued forward, becoming more and more cautious with each step. His eyes were mainly on Blackwine, who was surveying the battle. What came next...nothing could prepare him. He spotted Phiona riding up next to Blackwine. The two started talking to each other for a moment, and right before Severine's eyes, she kissed him. She kissed him. Phiona kissed him.

Slowly backing away, Severine's mind began to recap what happened. He might have been standing far away, but it was obvious that Phiona kissed his cheek.

She is probably just acting Sev, thought the Shendar warrior. Get a grip on yourtself!

“Severine!”

Looking to his left, Severine saw angry soldier running towards him with a spear. Dodging the thrust, Severine grabbed the spear, held it, and slashed the man across the face with his sword. Tossing the spear aside, Severine then ran through the fighting crowds to get towards his one destination.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

[Luca the Thief]

Luca narrowly dodged a rather perturbed soldier as the half-elf dove, head first, under a horse. Her dramatic escape was cut to a rather unceremonial stop as Luca didn't quite slide across the ground as planned. Picking herself up and dusting off the dusty skirt, Luca looked around.

People were fighting. Lots of people were doing lots of fighting, actually. And Luca wasn't interested in it one bit. "Slash slash, punch punch. Is that all you people think about?" she muttered as the thief slunk, relatively unnoticed, towards Severine.

Stepping over a dead body, Luca finally came in arms reach to Severine when suddenly he took off. "Oh bloody hell!" she screamed, causing a man to turn towards her and receive the blunt end of a spear in the eye. Swearing profusely, Luca started off after Severine, ignoring the chaos around her.

"Life moves pretty fast. And if you don't stop and look around sometimes, you just might miss it."

-Ferris Bueller

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