Post by Sir Nichtmar on Sept 23, 2009 14:27:01 GMT -5
The rain had been falling all day as Nichtmar walked through the Greatwood. The Jovians haven’t attacked Mittelmarch since they took it back. He’s not sure why, but he knows Anvil has been pushing Thrawn to attack Dunland. A fierce battle will be coming soon and much more death. Nichtmar decided this may be the last time he gets to explore and have some peace for awhile. Who knows how long this War with the Jovians will be…
Screams pierced through the rain. Nichtmar took off towards it. He came upon a meadow. He stayed hidden, surveying what was going on. A man was falling to his knees, he was bloody. There was a squad of Jovians and a mother and daughter crying over the father. The Jovians were taking their cattle. The man must’ve tried to stop them, got in the way. Blood boiled in Nichtmar.
He made his way unseen behind the house. The Captain was threatening the woman and child as three other Jovian men on horses rounded up the cattle. Nichtmar questioned his tactic at first, but he was outnumbered and the lives of the innocent were more important than his own honor. He took out his knife and crept up behind the captain and shoved it under his ribs into his lungs to keep him from yelling. The mother almost screamed. Nichtmar motioned they head for woods and hide, until it was over.
The Jovian soldiers had the herd ready about 200 yards out from the barn. Nichtmar waited. One of the men noticed they couldn’t see the captain. He motioned the other 2 to stay as he started riding towards the barn. As he turned the corner he saw his captain’s body.
“Jovian,” Nichtmar coldly said, standing on the roof of the barn.
The Jovian looked up and before he could scream, move or block, a javelin drove through his face and his limp body fell off the horse. The horse reared and started running. The other 2 noticed and started running for the barn, swords drawn. He leapt down to the ground and tore his javelin from the dead Jovian. He launched it at one of the riders, but missed and he took off around the barn. The Jovians turned the corner and Nichtmar threw his shoulder into the barn door. The wood exploded as the horse tumbled through it. The rider crashed into the ground. Nichtmar was knocked down hard. The ogre and the man were dazed. The other still on his horse was circling back. The ogre pulled out his sword and swung for the dazed man. He barely moved out of the way and unsheathed his own sword. By then the rider had reached them and swung down, slashed the ogre’s left arm. He grabbed it in pain. The other Jovian came at him with his sword and Nichtmar blocked and put his foot in his groin and shoved his pommel in his nose. The rider was circling back. Nichtmar grabbed the hunched over man and threw him into the legs of the horse. The horse tripped, the Jovian was thrown, and other was now broken.
One left.
Nichtmar let the last one get to his feet. He charged with his sword over his head. Nichtmar swung under it but was blocked down. They spun around each other and started to attack. The clang of the swords rang. Nichtmar could feel his heartbeat in his arm. He had to end this soon before he passed out. The Jovian shoulder checked Nichtmar into the side of the barn and slapped him with his gauntlet. Nichtmar dropped to his butt. His eyes stopped working for a second. The Jovian had his sword about to swing and then the sound of sharp steal through chainmail. The ogre’s eyes fluttered open. He saw 4 points coming through the chest of the Jovian and then the body fall and reveal the mother with her tear filled eyes. He gave her a comforting smile. She helped him up.
Later after she had tended to his arm and they buried the father.
“What will you do?”
The mother replied, “I don’t know, I think we’ll go to the city. Though I don’t know how we will pay to live there."
Nichtmar thought for a moment. “How about I buy your home and cattle? Should be enough gold to get you through the next few winters, by then I’m sure you’ll have found work.”
“That would be great, Sir. I thank you.”
Nichtmar escorted the mother and child back to Mittelmarch and paid her for the place in the meadow. It pretty much wiped him out, but now he had a place. He decided he’d name it Silver Meadow and use it as a place to train new recruits of the Silver Order. Also it could be a safe haven for travelers and his Dragoon brothers.