Fleeing from ruin

[Suihaden]

Sweat trickled into Suihaden's eyes as he ran through the woods. Every muscle in his body burned and the wounds in his back and shoulder throbbed with unspeakable pain. At last he staggered into a small clearing next to a hill.

In the side of the hill was a small cave, blocked off by a rude palisade with a gate. Inside were the few tools and possessions Sui owned, and the wood he split for his living.

Pushing open the gate, Sui looked into the cave. All looked well.

"The thieves guild hasn't found my place yet it looks, or Jovians."

A few minutes later he had a fire lit, and was changed into a plain, brown robe. Wincing in pain he applied salve to his wounds he could reach. Feeling for the wound in his back he scented a noxious smell.

"Oh, no"

Gangrene, the curse of all wounds had set in. Without help, he would die in a matter of days. Unable to reach the wound in his back his medical skill was useless. Cupping his hands under his chin he stared into the dancing flames. He could surrender to the Jovians and get help, but no, they were killers, foes of freedom and God's Law. He could try and make it to Dunland but he doubted he had the strength to go through the mountains. His best choice was to try to make it to the Shogunate, hopefully they would still be unconquered and not traitorous.

Slowly sleep overtook the novitiates tired body and the brown clad figure lay still and resting by the fire.

In his dreams figures swirled, his rescue from the camp, the battle at the gate, fighting in the town, then fleeing in the woods. And slowly overwhelming all was Beathor's face as he clashed swords with him.

"It is useless to resist......give in to the inevitable Sui."

Give in, or resist. The choice is yours.

(OOC) This is a thread to post your characters story if you are fleeing from the Jovians or if you want to add plot to my story. ie if you are jovians hunting me.

[Kotaro]

Stooped over and leaning on a cane, the figure was obviously a simple peasant wandering the roads. Some would hassle the old man, while the rest simply ignored him. He was beneath their interest.

He had been traveling in the bitter cold for hours, and he was exhausted. His resolve was flagging. Soon enough, however, the tall pagodas of Kyuden Tatsumura revealed themselves to him. He looked at the gates, very quickly approaching his strength's end.

"Home..."

He approached the guards. "I must speak with the Shogun. Immediately." Then, exhaustion took him, and he collapsed.

[Anvil]

Looking down upon the city of Mittelmarch, Anvil smashes his fist into a nearby tree. The combined forces of the free peoples of the LBTL had been unable to repel the Jovians from the city walls. Anvil finds little comfort in the fact that more widows will be wailing in the Jovian capitol than in Dunland. The battle at the city gates was extremely fierce, the Jovians were repelled again and again but finally their numbers swayed the battle. As the defenders of the city slipped in the river of blood at their feet the Jovians continued to come on, even having to climb over the pile of dead that had collected in front of the gates. As the gate finally fell to the enemy the cities defenders and their allies fought a running retreat, scooping up crying and shaken civilians along their way to the docks. Anvil watched as the last of Mittelmarch's fighters fell holding back the invading army from the docks so the ships could pull away with the civilians and remaining warriors from the former city's allies.

From his vantage point overlooking the city after disembarking from the ship, Anvil watched the banners of Mittelmarch lowered and the Jovian emblem raised. In the distance several small bands can be seen retreating from the city. One group carries the banner of Dragonspire and Anvil hopes his friends from the neighboring realm are able to get home unmolested as they threw themselves into the gaping holes that formed at the gate and lost many a fine warrior this day.

Anvil scans the groups in hopes of spotting the other Dunland banner and his king. He knows several others of Dunland escaped the city, even with the horrific losses at the gate, but he has not seen them yet and the group with him are from the Gladden Fields area mostly. Plebian was with Sir Brogas so Anvil feels a little better about that but still he can't locate any more of his people.

Finally he notices he is the last still looking down at the bloody plains and turns to follow the rest of the group home. It will be a long winter with many plans for the defense of Dunland needing to be laid. Hopefully the Jovians will find their resources stretched to thin to plan any major assaults next spring. But Dunland will return to make right what was wrought this day.

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune wiped his katana down. The blood of the Jovians was thick on it. How could he be so stupid. The Jovian attack on the Kyuden was meant to be a deterant, to prevent the Shogunate forces from helping Mittelmarch. And it worked beautifully. The Jovians had sent there force, an army that still was several times larger then the Shogun's army. Whether by order or unable to do so, the Jovians failed to take the kyuden, or even manage to escape. Every Jovian that attacked, died. The Shogunate left no survivers, no prisoners. They would be made an example of. The heads of the dead jovians wre severed from their bodies, and placed on pikes at the forest edge, to serve as a warning to some, and a sign of hope to others.

Masamune stood on the signal tower, looking to the distance, seeing the smoke arising from Mittelmarch, and the Jovian flags, raised above the city. He looked down into the once village, but now town full of refugees and wounded. His anger rose, his fury untold at what had transpired. If only he had been at Mittelmarch, perhaps something could have happened. perhaps things would have been different.

He pondered what had become of his friends. What had happened to King Isen, Baethor, Oof, Nichtmar, and the others. He watched the retreating flags of Dunland, and Dragonspire. He hoped that Istevan, Anvil, and Brogas had all survived.

Snowflakes landed on his face....the first snows were now coming. He made quick to inform all that suitable shelters must be raised, and quickly, or else the freezing cold would kill the already wounded, and scared refugees. Luckily, the harvest had been plentiful, and they had more then enough supplies to take care of the refugees...for now.

A messenger comes running to Masamune, informing him of the visitor at the gate.

"Take me to him."

Masamune waste no time arriving in the sea of people now trying to find a spot. He makes his way to the gate, and sees the collasped man.

((I was unable to attend, but from other post, the Jovian attack plan included a diversion to Kyuden Tatsumura, so I have gone with it as my reason for my absence.))

[Kotaro]

"My lord..." the old man wheezed out. "I have failed you..."

A sudden gust of wind tore the hat from the man's head, revealing the bloodied and wounded face of Fuuma Kotaro. "My shinobi are either dead or in hiding... Only by disguising myself... could I make it back alive..." He coughed and spat out blood. "Please... I need... a healer..."

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

Cathán had just barely made it to the Shogunate, to inform them of the Jovian's coming. By doing so though had trapped him there to defend the Kyuden instead of being at Mittelmarch's front gates.

Cathán walks along the many corpses laying around the Kyuden. Anger and rage flare in his eyes. Blood of the Jovians still drip from his two maces that he carries in his hands. Cathán has seen many bloody battles before, but nothing has touched him so much as this one, where his home and the people he cared for were in danger.

o O (Because of this attack Mittelmarch might be gone... my home might be gone. I cannot let this be.)

" The Jovians shall pay for what they have done." Cathán wispers to himself.

After helping the Shogunate sever the heads of the Jovians Cathán goes in search of Masamune, to discuss plans for retaliation.

((I also was unfortunate and couldn't make it to this fight, but i will go along with what Masamune said and me helping out the shogunate will be my reason for absence.))

[Baethor]

Baethor stood silent on the ramparts of mittelmarch, Staring out into the greatwood. Looking down ha placed his hands on the stone wall before him, remembering the trials he went through to dig out the stone required for this wall. The stone walls of mittelmarch stand strong still at his hands.
He thought of his pledge made long ago to protect her from any who would threaten it...He just never imagined the greatest threat would come from inside the halls of its own castle...
But now a new ruler has taken the throne, and Baethor holds his oath to defend his home in the best way possible...
The new crimson tabard draping down him shakes off some of the cold chill as Baethor stares into the great wood, wondering when he will be forced to face the former defenders of Mittelmarch once more...

"Baethor..."

A deep voice rumbled as Baethors new captain approached. Baethor turned and gave a salute as Kain Elverez dismissed it and ordered him at ease...

[Tatsumura Masamune]

"Kotaro-san!!"

Masamune quickly grabbed the wounded and tired shinobi.

"Quick, take him to his room, and find a shugenja to heal him."

Several people picked Kotaro up and made their way to the kyuden. Masamune watched as the group disappeared into the sea of people. He made his way out of the village gate, onto what had been a battlefield not to long ago. He looks out and sees a figure wielding two maces coming towards him. He recognizes him as Cathan, member of the Fang, and friend to Masamune. If it hadn't been for him arriving as early as he had, the Jovians may not have been slaughtered as they were.

"Cathan-san, it is good to see you made it."

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

Cathán finally puts his maces away, looking at Masamune " Yes, it is. I don't know what would have become of the Kyuden if i hadn't." Cathán looks around at the battle field one last time, " There is much to do and little time. These Jovians cannot get away with what they have done. I can only hope that Mittelmarch is still standing strong. Let us go and make plans for retaliation, I cannot stand around much longer with knowing that the Jovians were headed for Mittelmarch."

[kain]

Kain walked down the rampart toward the dwarf.

"And so pride once again damns a people to a worse fate."

The Jovian captain turned to face the Greatwood with Baethor, placing his hands on the rampart next to him.

"It's sad, really. I understand people's attachment to their homeland. I think it's good to be proud of where one comes from, but is it not the charge of a king to defend his people? Is it not his duty to make their lives better in peacetime? These men who refuse to acknowledge the ineptitude of their ruler do not see the world in a correct light. To them it is black and white, either you're with them or against them, and those that are against them stand as evil to them. They do not care to listen to reason, they do not care to understand what their enemy believes in. They do not care to understand the similarities between all people, regardless of their race or their creed or their culture. No, to them there remains only the black and the white."

Kain paused and turned to the city, soldiers now marched down the streets in small formations, showing the might of the Jovians to the citizens who remained.

"What they fail to realize is that it's all an illusion. That which is black is the same as that which is white. It's all just a matter of perspective. All that remains is a great world of gray."

Kain turned back to Baethor with a somber look on his face, "I understand too well how hard your decision was, Baethor. I promise you, it was not made in vain."

[Sir Nichtmar]

OOC: This is just excellent. I love the tragedy and the perspectives being shown. Sui, great idea…


The night is cold and quiet as the ship full of the Mittelmarch refugees glides down the River of Flame, all except for a goblin.

“Sir? Sir? Come on! Nichtmar! Wake up!”

“What!? Wait…where are we? Why are we moving?”

Nichtmar looks around, “Why are we on a ship?”

“Shh…Doc said you lost a lot of blood, you been asleep the whole battle.”

“Battle?” Nichtmar asks.

“Yeah…the Jovians took Mittelmarch…They kicked the…”

Nichtmar finds it difficult but he gets to his feet, looking back.

“Damnit!” Nichtmar slams a fist on the stern railing. He looks around seeing the few Guard that are left.

“Goblin, where’s the rest of the Guard?”

He hangs his head, “Dead, missing, gone, traders?”

“Traders?”

Goblin hesitant, “ Umm…uh…Baethor joined them… ooh hey look the Big Dipper!”

“What!?”

Nichtmar turns to the captain.

“Captain, you got a raft on this boat?!”







Hours later…

“Sir, why are we walking back towards Mittelmarch? Where’s everyone else going?”

Nichtmar doesn’t look back, they hike along the East bank of the river.

“The rest will go to Fangorn, or near there anyway, find some place to be safe. ‘We’ are gonna find the others and get our home back, but first I’m gonna need some armor?”

“Sir…?”

“Yes, Goblin?”

“I stepped in poop.”

[Rook]

/ooc This is creative and cool. I've nvr read any of this stuff and you have managed to even suck me into it. Pretty neat idea.

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune drops his head for a moment at Cathan's words.

"Follow me."

Masamune lead Cathan through the vilage, up to the kyuden, through the winding passageways, and out onto the top of the signal tower. In the distance, the smoke still rose from Mittelmarch, and the distinctive flags of the Jovians could be seen flying over the city.

"Mittelmarch has already fallen my friend....and there is nothing that we can do at this time."

Masamune points down at the village. From the ground, it may just seem like a lot of people, but from this vantage point, every scream of pain and lost could be heard. The small village was quickly becoming a town of tents that were being set up. And in the view of the woodline, scattered groups of civilians and soldiers alike continued to pour into the area.

"If we leave to attack now, these people will be left defenseless. As much as it hurts to say so, Mittelmarch is lost...for the time. We must do what we can to help those that are coming in. They need shelter, and care."

Masamune looks out over the forest, back at Mittelmarch.

"We will get your home back Cathan....I promise you!!"

[Suihaden]

The next morning Sui woke, the weakness in his body told him time was running out. Abandoning his weapons and using a staff he set off through the woods.

Quickly, Sui realized how weak he really was. A walk that would have been thoughtless a few days ago was agonizing effort. His wounds no longer pained him as much, they just oozed as the deadly infection marched on, rotting his body.

As he staggered on, he thought over his short life. What had he lived for, and what would remain when he died.

"For me to live is Christ, and die gain."

His purpose, and desire was to bring glory to God by his life. Had he made the right choice? Did it bring God glory, did it obey God's law to fight the Jovians? His mind drifted back to Jovian arrows hissing into the bodies of the wounded, the dying face of Maynard, the proud Shatar. He had made the right choice. To side with such ruthless, pragmatic murderers was to destroy his testimony forever.

Slowly, the woods parted and his thoughts died in dismay. In his delirium, he had walked a full circle.

In front of him, was Mittelmarch.

(OOC) Wow, my post really took off quick.

[Baethor]

Baethor stares unblinkingly into the greatwood, taking a deep sighing breath, watching it turn to fog in front of him before being carried off in the wind.

"Ai captain...It was hard, but long ago ah pledged meself to the protection of this city, my home...The greatest threat did not come from a marching army, but rather a deteriorating leadership...It is a shame tha' ah could convince so few young soldiers of that..."

Baethor turns and looks up at Kain, staring the man dead in the eye.

"Your people have the best intentions...but i cannot promise that i can hunt down those who i once stood beside in battle, those who have saved my life before...It would not feel right, my honor would nay allow it..."

[kain]

Kain nodded in agreement, "I have no interest in hunting those that fought us either, but our Generals do. Our unit has orders to move out as soon as possible in search of those still trying to flee. Now that we're back up to eighty percent, they will be expecting us to leave on our mission."

Kain smiled a bit before continuing, "the difference is that when we're out in the field, there will be no general to oversee us, and I will have the final say in the fate of anyone we may encounter."

Kain paused, "Do you think you can handle that, Sergeant?"

[Baethor]

The word echoed in his mind...sergeant...words failed him as he comprehended that the weight of those words, and the trust that must come with them. "I...me..sergeant? Are ye sure captain?" "Your a good man Baethor. You hold the lives of those you lead higher then your own, and i would be a fool to turn a blind eye to the experience leading men that you have obtained. You'll make a fine sergeant."
Baethor blinked a few times and took another deep breath before clicking his heels together and saluting his captain. "Ai sah, ah'll meet ye by the gates, after i have armed meself. Thank you, Captain."

The dwarf walked stoically, passing gaurds with a salute as they clicked to attention as he passed, making his way to his home. His fire and forge still smoldering as he shook off the cold winds that followed him.
He strode to a small stand by the fireplace and looked over the armor resting on it. Slowly he wrapped himself in his armor, feeling whole again as each piece slid and moved as only dwarven craftsmanship can.
Walking to his crafting table he lifted a circular shield, unadorned, plain and freshly crafted, it was to be given to a young recruit who fled the battle. His own shield having been destroyed by Oof in the last battle, he strapped it to his back.
Wrapping a thick belt around his waist he slides his dwarven broadsword into the hilt hanging on his left, and his war axe Doric into the frog on his right.
The dwarf turned to his forge and bowed his head, saying a quick prayer to his ancestors in old dwarvish. he turned to face the cold with his helm under his arm to go and meet his captain by the gates.

[kain]

The ice clung in sheets to the walls near the gate. A platoon of Jovian soldiers marched in formation to the cold iron gates that had so recently seen a decisive battle, heavy cloaks draping their armor. The whole are was stained brown, unable to be cleaned yet due to the weather. Kain called his men to a halt and ordered them to check their supplies.

Moments later, Baethor arrived, armed and armored. Kain called over his other sergeants and introduced them to their new comrade before showing Baethor to his sqaudron. "Third squadron, Atten-HUT!"

Eight men snapped to attention, facing directly forward. "Men, this is Sergeant Baethor, your new commander. He knows these lands better than anyone else in the forces of the Emperor. Stay with him, pay attention to him, and you will certainly learn something and live through this winter."

Baethor stepped forward and spoke with his men while Kain organized the rest of his squadrons for a few minutes.

"Alright! Soldiers of the Emperor! We have been given the duty to go out into the lands nearby and search for survivors of the recent battles. We are to treat all those needing aid as if they were our own men and bring them into the safety of the keep to receive medical attention. Stay with your squadrons, we will sweep the area in wide formation, each squad must stay within eyesight of their neighboring squads. There may also be rebels in hiding in the surrounding area. Keep your eyes sharp and your shields up, I do not want to carry your corpses back here, but I will if I must."

Kain motioned to the guard at the gate to raise the portcullis, "Alright men, let's move out." The captain placed his helmet on his head and strode through the gate, a company of men in tow.

[ziglerrobertson]

The fighting at the bridge was fierce and both the Jovian’s dead and the dead of MittelMarch were piled high on it. Zigler hadn’t been one of the first to rally to his new homes defense, but he wasn’t the last and he fought with all his heart and skill. However, no matter how brave his intentions, Zigler was knocked out by a Jovian flail within the first few clashes of the battle.

I awake with the smell of death in my nose and the sounds of battle in my ears. Something heavy is pinning me to the ground as I try to worm my way free. Looking back towards the center of town I see that I was trapped by the dead bodies of people I had only barely begun to know, and the flags of the Empire I had tried to help fight.

The stench reaches my nose again as I look at the Jovian Empires flag being raised high over MittelMarch’s walls. Not knowing what to do or where to turn I run aimlessly towards the woods and try to escape my memories of the slaughter. After what seems like hours of running I finally see the ground in front of my face and I wonder, “Will it catch me?”
________________________________________________________
"For me to live is Christ, and die again."

The first words I hear in what seems like days awaken me. Looking up from where I had fallen the night before, I see a man dressed in brown and holding onto a staff for support. Attaining a sitting position I ruffle some fallen leaves, thus announcing my presence.

[Kaida NyteClaw]

Turning from the mighty city of Mittelmarch, Denendir knew it was only a matter of time before things would get better. Off towards Kanthea he rode, his followers behind him. What grave news he had to tell the others of what had happened.

He thought to himself, "Aye, many a comrade and friend I did lose, for now I shall be neutral. Let us see what the mortal race of Man does with his new victory before we lend a hand. If he perceives to be evil, he will fall. But if indeed he prevails as good, I shall be there to greet him."

Off into the distant he rode, not turning back to see the almighty city burning and smoke flying in the sky. One could only hope it took for the better.

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

Anger and fury rises in Cathán has he looks out at Mittelmarch and the distruction the Jovians have delt. He gets the urge to run, just run from all of this. Act like it didn't happen and hope that it was just a dream, but he knew it wasn't and that running away right now wouldn't help anyone. Not even himself.

"Yes, we will get my home back and there will be much retaliation." Cathán says to Masamune, trying to control his anger. "Besides, winter is fast approaching and there isn't much we can do till it starts to warm up. Where would you like me to help Masamune, for that's all I can do for now?"

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune places a hand on Cathans shoulder.

"Thank you Onee-san. We could use your help. For starters, we need wood, and stone. Shelter is the first priority right now. When you are tired, I will find a room for you in the kyuden if you would like."

With that, Masamune walked down the hall to Kotaro's room. He entered, and the shugenja had just finished her attempts to heal him. She collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.

"He will be fine, but there is nothing more I can do for him right now. If I may leave to rest Tatsumura-dono?"

Masamune nods his head to her, and she gathers her things and leaves. Masamune sits down next to Kotaro.

"Kotaro-san...what happened"?

[Kotaro]

Kotaro was still in considerable pain, but the shugenja's magic had at least lessened it. He would have to thank her personally when he could. Kotaro looked up at his Shogun. He had lost a lot of blood in his travel to the kyuden, and he could hardly focus.

"We were overwhelmed... Their army was massive. We saved some civilians and wounded, but I wonder if it was worth the cost in lives. And I could hardly believe it, but Baethor and Oof have defected to the Jovians."

He looked down in shame. "Is this the way it will end? With the Jovians laying claim to the entire Lands, and forcing the defenders to attack what they once called home?"

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune was taken aback by the words of his loyal vassal. The shock of the things said to him seemed to drill a visable hole in his very being. Oof had changed sides before, once said to have served dark masters. It was not unknown for those as such to switch sides when it best suited the. But Baethor, a powerful and faithful dwarf to Mittelmarch. A being that Masamune had come to call onee-san....brother.

Masamune found himself back on the signal tower, staring at the city in the distance. The smoke had finally ceased rising, but the flags still remained. He had learned the fates of two of his friends...fates that he found hard to except.

"Onee-san....why...why join them...."

Masamune clencthed his fist, and in anger, swiped his arm at the air, sending forth several large shards of ice. In the distance, where the shards landed, you could see the trees fall around the impact points.

"What is to become of this world now....will I be forced to stand against those I called friends...to attack their city....?"

These words weighed heavily on Masamune. He simply stood there, like a statue, even as the sun began to set on this terrible day. Then the movement of his head, a focused look in his eyes.

He made his way to his room, grabbing an unopened package. He returned to the tower, lowering the flag. From the package, he pulled out a green banner. A gift from his friends in Mittelmarch to himself. As he raised the flags back up, the emblem Masamune rose first, then below it, the green banner unfirled, the black and gold M that stood for Mittelmarch caught by the wind, began flapping about.

Kyuden Tatsumura would be a safe haven for those that would see Mittelmarch returned to it's rightful owners. A free people that would not be kneeled by the Jovians. Those in the village looked up to see the banner.

For some, this was their first sign of hope, the first sign that all was not lost.....the first sign of defiance!!

[Suihaden]

The stirring of leaves announced the presence of another being. Sui whipped around, holding his staff in the guard position, his legs did not turn with him however, and he fell on his back. Franticly he struggled to his knees and looked for the attacker. A quick look relieved his fears.

"Zig! I'm so glad to see you. Are you alright? Wounded?"

Together the two sat and Sui listened in silence to his fellow Mittelmarcher's story. As was all it was filled with death, horror, anger and confusion. But, the reoccurring theme, why were we fighting the Jovians? That was the question.

Slowly Sui's eyes drifted toward Mittelmarch, tears blurred in his eyes as he faintly made out through the mists of gangrene clouding his senses the Jovian flag. This town meant so much, its people had been so friendly, so willing to take in the wandering and help them. Nichtmar, Zaron, Beathor, Kotaro and others, they were all gone. One way or another.

It would take something soon to revive the dying embers of his body. Something now.