Imperials: Civil War Journals Part 1. ((Closed))

[Lexxum_Vordic]

((Closed to any members of the Imperials who wish to participate in this thing, its time to get the ball rolling ladies and gentlemen.))

Takes places approximately a year after
here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=9041)




December 13th, CP 1805,

Mother,

Things are rough with the Civil War in Corone. I've now become a Soldier First Class for Radasanth's militia. Things are in dire straights. The assassination of several key members of Corone's leadership put Corone in a
complete mess. Now normally I don't care much about politics but these assassinations brought about the Corone Empire. Funny how things change huh? I'm writing you this letter because its cold on the front line. Separatists claiming to be the Republic of the Corone Rangers openly defy the will of the Corone Empire. Factions like the Syndicate are running wild and taking advantage of the perpetual lawlessness that threatened to rip Corone apart. In a historical time period of World War Althanas, Radasanth needs a new generation of heroes to fight for the people. This is the situation soldiers like myself have to deal with. The Inquisition is busy going on witch hunts whilst
the Empire attempts to force its will upon those declared to be enemies of the state. Which happens a lot lately. I still can't sleep at night with the thoughts of what Radasanth did at Gisela. The lines of the battle are drawn and many sides take up the sword without really knowing why. I wonder who will stand for the many innocents who are suffering? I'll write to you the next time I get a chance to.

Love always,
Derrick Balgers Soldier First Class




Prologue


I am a Blood Lizard. The Son of my Father, Vexxum Vordic of the house of Vordic. I hail from Fallien. My people are eternally drawn to conflict, war, and strife. You should have seen the battle at Valinatal. I fought with all the skills my scales could muster against my enemy, Netha'Tu. My body got heavily scarred during that battle but my resolve strengthened. I left Raiaera to return to Corone where more war was happening. I was a mercenary by nature and hired out my claws to the highest bidder. And right now, that was Corone.

Torn by a state of unending warfare, the pickings were ripe for a warrior like me to enter the fray. I stepped off the ship that took me from Raiaera's port cities to Corone. The trip lasted a few days and was primarily uneventful. The sapiens kept staring at me the entire ride so I pretty much kept myself isolated from the rest of the populace. I am a warrior so I had nothing to say to the populace in the ship. I noticed a few other warriors heading back to Corone as well. Some were members of Raiaera's army that were fleeing Xem'Zund's forces. I couldn't say I blamed them. Though I wanted to be in the front lines of the war in Raiaera fighting against Xem'Zund, I knew better than that. I wasn't stupid. Netha'Tu defeated a full battalion of soldiers trained in Raiaera with the army of undead he commanded.

I was included in that battalion. Through the battle I got burned by a powerful blast of energy summoned from the Eternal Tap. Netha'Tu commanded a great deal of power but I knew we could injure him. My partner, Typheus, used strategy and tactics against the superior Magus and I used my brawn and muscle against him. Together we were able to greatly injure Netha'Tu. In the end though, Netha'Tu's forces proved our superior and defeated us in open conflict. The casualties were high, and even I met my destiny. The Mother of Fallien, Suravani and Lord Mitra intervened on my behalf to protect me from the coils of death.

I observed a great deal of people working around the port in Corone's major port city. A city calling itself Serenti. It was apparently a famous city I would soon discover for it held the Serenti Invitational every year. Stepping off of the ship, I walked down the lowered plank. A crowd of people got off at Serenti with me. Walking for a time, I decided that I would go look for work. After all, I'd heard the rumors that Corone was locked in a state of Civil War. Different organizations were taking sides in the ravaging conflict and the economy was in a state of chaos. Inflation rose. My lips turned upwards in a Saurian grin. Walking with the crowd, I soon parted ways with the people of the ship. I found myself staring at a building calling itself the Serenti Employment Offices. I figured this was a good place to start as any.

The building was a recently constructed work. I observed its placement in relationship to the other buildings in this neighborhood. A castle sat in the center of Serenti. All around the city was a large fortress wall meant to barricade against invading enemies. People had weary looks on their faces as I examined them. Hands were constantly kept near the hilts of all sorts of weapons. The general mood of the populace was tense, as if a battle could break out at any moment. The local police guard was out in force. I'd recently attempted to join the Te'Algrim and the Bladesingers' Guild in Raiaera to start making money off tactical warfare. I walked inside the building and noticed immediately that I was the tallest individual in the small group of people gathered inside the building's business center. A main gathering hall was connected to several large hallways in every direction and I could see a staircase that lead to higher and lower floors. The building seemed pretty modest on the outside but had a great capacity to hold people on the inside. I was impressed by the architectural talents of the people of Serenti.

Walking through the crowd, I noticed a group of people sitting down in some sort of waiting area. Chairs were set up in carefully organized rows and columns. I observed the people there. Then I turned my attention to a large line of people that were also looking for work. A group of guards were present in the building as well wearing dangerous looking armor and weapons at their disposal. I shifted myself for a moment as I looked upon them for a moment and then walked over to one of the nearest guards. He was a native member of Serenti's populace. I looked down to him whilst he was working on some sort of documentation. Another group of people entered the building a a line was starting to form behind me. I rubbed the back of my head, unsure what to do next.



"State your business here, Saurian." The man said without looking at me. He continued to scribble on the document he was working on. The distinct smell of ink touched my nostrils. I frowned for a moment. "This is my first time here at Serenti. I'm looking for work on the front lines hopefully." I replied unsure of what to say. "Interested in joining the Academy huh? Very well. Wait in the line there and fill out an application. The process is fairly easy understand? You just join the Academy with your application and get your training into the militia started. The General is looking for new recruits right now understand? So just wait in line like everybody else. Pay rate will be the same until you start to get higher in ranks." Ranks huh? Very well. "Thank you for the information, I'll go to the line." I walked towards the line noticing that I was the last one and a group of at least fifty heads was before my turn. I sighed at that prospect. What was a warrior to do? Either way it went, I was waiting for my turn to fight on the front lines of the Civil War in Corone. I was ready to write my own tale of heroism.

Sometime later, many hours passed. My patience was tried and I wanted to start killing the people in front of me when I suddenly noticed that I was the next one to go. In front of me was a Peasant girl who was there trying to get a mundane job at one of the local businesses. I sighed. When my turn came I took care of the business at hand and filled out a document to the best of my knowledge. The woman behind the counter and glass wall was surprised to find out I was from Fallien. I showed interest in joining the military of Serenti and was asked to fill out a long application. Many of the questions were hard but I tried to answer them the best that I could. Once I was done with the application process I was told to take the application towards a building known as the [i]Recruitment Center. I was given explicit directions thanked the girl calmly. Walking once again outside, I stepped outside into Serenti's street and walked towards the new building I was required to go to. I placed the application in my travel packs and kept it safe from harm. I didn't want to have to go through that process again. And so, I made my way towards the Recruitment Center. I wanted to start on active duty right away and the best way to earn money was through war.


Enter here^

[Melancor]

Melancor had just passed the checkpoint at the great gate; it was a marvelous city. Buildings rose in the horizon throughout the twisted streets, from which in the epicenter there stood the proud fortress the city was so well known for. It was inevitable to feel tension in the air, there had been news spreading across the Althanian regions about Corone’s political instability. The killing of some important people here and there, people fearing for the worst and so many other leaving their homes in the pursuit of escaping civil the slow movement of the civil war. In the eve of such pandemonium he made some changes on his travel plans and headed to the armored city of Sereneti.

Nevertheless, for his disappointment, the city was not nearly as chaotic as he would have imagined.
“There is nothing interesting to do with these humans” he murmured expecting for plumes of smoke, patrolling soldiers, abandoned business and all that disaster paraphernalia he enjoyed so much. With his hands behind his head and his gaze up to the blue heavens he walked through the gray streets. The sun had just passed its apex and had now begun its decent under the horizon. Melancor was suffering of the only human poison, that which corrupts determination and defiles long set goals, boredom.

He had been staying at the Dirks estate for some time now, living a luxurious life in the affluent headquarters. But he had long grown weary of such unexciting existence, reading books and getting fancy with the wines. why stay there when he could be amused by the barbarity and the bold actions of human conflict?

This brought him to a more troubling question:
“What to do as a mortal, behind city walls” Sereneti was far more boring than any other cities he had visited, its pale walls and dark floors gave the already grim city an even duller appearance. It was not until that during his tour of the city he stumbled upon the Employment Offices of Sereneti.

Maybe It was time for him to experiment how human life was like. Which an Aegean he enjoyed watching them struggle at sea, never thinking about them more than simple pathetic parasites that lack the intelligence to stir a boat. What was with these humans that which killing them was such a sin? The Aegean had always had the privilege to decimate such parasites, with storm and hail, even some whirlpools if their vessel was worthy of it.

“I wonder how human go about this…” And so, without hesitation, he entered the offices. Melancor was ready to do the unthinkable, lower himself to a mortal “job”. Against everything he believed in, against his once-was status or his pride as a Demy-god he would get a job.

You cannot blame me Am’aleh, boredom is a toxic…


After entering the building he would find large lines of people, people requesting for jobs, he would have to dead with obnoxious workers, forms he would barely be able to fill, and lines, lines and more lines. Never had he been so humiliated by a human bureaucracy, never had they treated him like cattle, at least not quite like this, but he was far to exhausted to make a big deal out of it. It was not until hours later that had finally been able to acquire a job, which would carry in the center of conflict, the military.

He had been instructed to carry a form to a new building, the Recruitment Center. Melancor again made his outside; the sky had lost some of its color by now, as the star was soon to dye. However, it was not late to get to the recruitment center. Swiftly he crossed Sereneti through the twisted streets. Just to arrive to an old building, after having to ask obnoxious pedestrians; The building laid mute, as a testament of many years of service under the military’s hand. he had gone there to find another crowd, a much smaller one, non-the less. Inside where the people, man from across the city, those who lives alone, some other young enthusiastic and the occasional veteran returning for more.

But from among the crowd there was one individual which claimed his attention. He was a wall of scales, and toppled from above the people, it was a blood lizard. Melancor had not seen a blood lizard in years, not since Suravani had placed judgment upon the mystic land of Fallien, quite fierce creatures. A crafter creation of Suravani, but followers of the lord of the sun, Mitra, who the Aegean despised above all other divinities. He loathed Mitra followers and his prejudice would not even allow forgive one of their beloved Suravani’s creation.

He walked toward the rare blood lizard, his mind storming with madness and he stood besides him, not pretending to pay any particular attention to the reptile.

“Hmh” he snorted “I though blood lizard didn’t leave their island of scorn” In an indifferent tone he whispered discretely to the lizard, not willing to create a great commotion, not willing to risking being denied his entry for disruption, and sacrifice his new mundane adventure.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

Another damned line. I was getting tired of waiting but I knew that it needed to get done in order to get back on the battlefield. I wanted to quickly rise the ranks and become a successful general of Serenti. Looking around, I observed the unique architecture of Serenti realizing that the buildings looked very different from those in my native homeland. Suddenly, someone came up to me in a most suspicious fashion and whispered to me. I looked down at the Sapien noticing that the lad had an application in his hand as well. So, he is looking to join the Academy also huh? Very well. I shall have to treat him as an ally for the time being.

"Is there something you wanted to ask?"

The man said some lines that were a bit insulting about Fallien, but true nonetheless. Fallien was a nation torn by warfare and constant battles. It was not a place for the weak. Very few had ever seen a Blood Lizard in their lives so I could see how it might be strange to see one such as me wandering about Serenti out in the open. I looked the stranger up and down. Sensing that he could potentially be an enemy, I ignored my instincts for the time being. The soldiers of Serenti seemed like a violent lot and I didn't want to upset them.

Letting the lad's comments go, I turned my gaze away from him and continued to focus on the line. There was at least ten people ahead of the two of us and a large crowd gathered inside the main gathering hall of the academy. The academy itself was an ancient building that stood like a proud structure. It had several floors and two wings. I could see the columns that held the structure up, and several statues of famous Serenti warriors gathered around the lot outside the building. Statues of the warriors who won the Serenti Invitational were visible upon the lot as well. I observed those for a while and dreamed of having my likeness grace those marvelous heroic collections one day. For now though, I was to become a successful Soldier, First Class.

Like all rookies, I would start at the bottom. Class F. Working my way up would take many months, but I would work at it and succeed. I was determined to gain glory for the people of Fallien. More importantly, I wanted to do battle in the name of Lord Mitra and Lady Suravani. People kept staring at me as I waited on the line with them. I could see the looks of surprise in those eyes as they stared at a Saurian, many of them staring at one for the first time.

After sometime passed, it was soon to be our turn. The lad (Melancor) was behind me on the line and we were pretty much next. Once it was my turn, and I dealt with the line inside of the building, I handed in my application. A quick review process took place and I answered a bunch of questions that were standard procedure. When my application was approved I was told to head over to the Barracks area and get my first assignment. I waved towards Melancor's person before I headed off in the general direction of the Barracks...

[Melancor]

He had walked through the room just to cause some irritation of the freakishly large lizard in vain, he would have expected blood lizard to be more volatile, but apparently, this one was more cool-headed than the rest. He had grown curious, the response, or lack of it, had made him immediately more interested in this strange being.

After being besides him for some time, the lizard was called up to the desk. And after talking to the man he was dismissed into the barracks. Not It was Melancor’s turn like everyone else in the long line he walked up to the desk, and began answering some rather unorthodox questions, some of which he did not knew the answer too but he got by, after some scrutinizing looks and some lying about his pass he was instructed to enter the barracks.

He was sent to cross a hall and a big wooden door ‘to the left’. There he found the barracks, men had gathered and some had already settled, in here laid the future of Sereneti, the human force that would protect the city. The loud commotion of their voices bothered him, he had always though that humans lacked modesty, some of them where already bragging about their strength, their skills with weapons and other pathetic human paraphernalia. The room was almost monotonous, depressing, lacking of any kind of decorations that may transmit a sense of personality. Two rows of gray wooden beds stood across the room. And only four small windows illuminated the place.

He had just placed his bow and arrows on the farthest bed in the room, when he overheard a conversation.

“I’ve heard that the general has been through many battles and came from them victorious”

“HA!” the man laughed “well they say he is nothing more than an old man who’s gone astray with desires of greatness”

“Nay you’ve heard wrong, he is a great man, they say, an imposing figure- you can call it that”

“Hah, we’ll see”

He had laid in the bed for a few seconds while listening to the conversation, until the great door cracked, and the tumult of the room ceased. He sat up and looked at the entrance expectantly, just to realize that all other men had stoped their conversation now waited for what was about to meet them.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

With my bed situated next to Melancor's own bed, I found the current accommodations very disheartening. My bulky form barely fit into the bed at all, and even then, I had to crunch my body against the wall in an extremely uncomfortable position. I was better off sleeping on the floor. Soldiers were talking about various battles that they'd been in. Most of the talk was about the front lines of the Civil War. Many of them were unseasoned rookies. I looked at them as they turned their eyes upon me. Whispers touched their lips and then I saw Melancor enter the room. I nodded towards him, my face was its usual grim expression. It seemed clear to me that the Serenti national guard just got it's share of new recruits, fresh from boot camp. I was lucky that I was spared that process and applied directly to the application. As the door suddenly swung open, several more recruits entered the barracks room. It was a dull gray room with harsh lighting. The beds were all bunks situated opposite one another in rows and columns. There were hundreds of bunks, not all of them were occupied. When the door swung open a new group of cadets walked into the room. Some were wearing the uniform of Serenti, others wore street clothes.

I wondered if they could tailor fit a uniform to my person. Blood Lizards didn't like to wear clothing or armor, but I could adjust that philosophy of my people if it would help me to survive better. After all, I'd already received many serious injuries in my battles against various enemies. We were a battle hardened species. I took what few personal belongings I had to my name and placed them in one of two regular sized chests. The chests were a simple steel gray color. I opened the metallic box and placed what few personal belongings I had in it. I noticed that there was a freshly tailored suit of the National guard made large enough for someone like. I sighed at such a revelation. These National guard types were apparently very serious about their craft of war. This made glad that I joined up with them. Placing my suit on, I asked a nearby soldier to help me out. The large sails on my massive back made things slightly difficult. It took two other men to help me place my uniform on. I was glad that the members of my unit were so willing to help out.

Once I was suited properly with the soldier's uniform, I felt a little bit better about the situation. I didn't even mind the stares much. A few of the soldiers were curious and started to ask me some strange questions. I indulged their line of questioning. Mostly they wondered why one like myself was in the military with them. After all, most of them had never seen a Saurian in their lives. Dragon kind were the stuff of legends. Answering the questions calmly, I tried to be as honest and forthcoming to them as I possibly could. There were at least six soldiers around me, all with different physiques and physical descriptions. Some were blond, some were brunettes, and others were red headed. The red headed ones reminded me of various people I'd seen that were native to Corone. We talked gingerly about my life's tales. I recalled the battle of Valinatal and I told them about my enemy, Netha'Tu. They were eager to hear of a battle from another country. Apparently, the Serenti National guard was dispatched all over the world as an autonomous organization. Training in Serenti was harsh and lasted several seasons. But there were those that could get by much faster than others who were exceptionally skilled Soldiers.

"Officer on deck!" Someone suddenly yelled. Immediately, years of training kicked in and the soldiers went to their at ease position. I did the same and stood up straight as our currently assigned commanding officer entered the large barracks room. "All at attention!" The same officer yelled to remind the troops to be ready and waiting for war at any moment. A new individual entered the room, along with several others. "Inspection time gentlemen!" A lengthy process took place as the old general investigated each of the bunks in order. When the man arrived at my position, his eyes went wide for the briefest of moments and then settled back to their normal state. The man was a tall human, standing at seven heads high. He had long, platinum colored hair which was braided. His hair ended mid-back range. The suit he wore was green with many medals and insignias attached to his chest at the left side of his body. Some ranking symbols were attached to either side of his shoulders as well. He wore a long, flowing Vlince cloak that was dyed blue. Our Soldier uniforms were blue. Cadets were required to wear them at all times.

The old man had blue eyes and scars on his face. Bushy blond eyebrows, and well formed Coronian cheekbones. They reminded me of the Dagger Fall Mountains. His nose was slender and defined at the nostrils. He wore a finely combed beard on his face that was also platinum. The general was well built and stocky. He had a fierce intelligence in his eyes that I noticed burned like a fire. He was armed with a single visible sword strapped across his back. The scabbard was ornate. I couldn't see any armor on his person, but that didn't mean that he didn't have one on. A stern look of concern etched the features of his face. "What the hell are you doing in my Barracks son?" One of the members of his entourage answered for me before I had the audacity to reply. "Sir that's the Saurian everybody's been talking about." The old man continued to scrutinize me. "You huh, you're a lot smaller than I thought you'd be. Very well. Welcome to the Serenti National Guard. Your name is Lexxum Vordic right? Here are your tags. You're expected to wear them at all times." In this fashion, they went up to every new recruit (Including Melancor) and and handed them their Silver dog tags. The tags showed information related to rank and file. It seemed clear that the general had orders for them all but wanted to take care of this "cremony" first. I stood up straight the entire time and waited. All this waiting was getting on my nerves but I decided I would take it out on the battlefield. I placed my tags on and my uniform was complete.

[Melancor]

After several more recruits had entered the barracks and settled on their beds, the Officer entered the room. He was an mature man, tall, his hair was coloring silver now, blue eyed and well dressed with all of the commemoration of War. Immediately as he set foot in the barracks the men hurried to assume their honoring position. Melancor reluctantly followed, now he realized how painful it would be to mingle in this military paradise, now he would be forced to pay tribute to man well below him. He began to question if all of this was really worth the little fun he was having.

The man moved through the ranks, entrusting the men their tags. A few minutes later he had made his way into the pleasantly blue uniform, and placed his other garments into the metal chest. Leaving his ancient chest plate under his shirt, using a uniform was unusual for him, so far his heavy cape had offered a sense of security, but such light uniforms had Melancor feel more vulnerable than he already secretly felt.

The man began talking to the Saurian; with quite amusement he examined him, and it was mentioned that he had been expected. Apparently he was a war legend of some sort, having battled in other nations and become a walking legend. After causing much tumult the Saurian was given his tags and the officer moved on; now it was Melancor’s turn. The man looked at him not nearly as impressed as he was with the lizard, but he seemed puzzled.

“Now, where might you be from?” he questioned “there are not many silver eyed people in Sereneti, much less silver-haired, no as young as you seem to be, only old men like me”

Melancor certainly did not have an answer, what would he say, ‘Oh yeah I am an evicted sea demy-god, human eater and bearer of storms’ so he made up the most anticipated answer.

“From Salvar”

“Salvar!” The man frowned, “we don’t have many people for there, are you some sort of traveler?”

“I guess you could call me that”

“You’ll address me a ‘Sir’, boy”

Melancor frowned discretely, who did he think he was?

“Sir…” he replied hesitantly.

“We’ll then I certainly expect much different from you Salverian”

The man gave Melancor his tags and kept moving through the lines in the same fashion, questioning who ever looked suspicious or amused him, this was a really curious man, and not one how would fall on Melancor’s grace, he would have to deal with this guy.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

After the long ordeal was completed, every man who needed their tags had them taken care of. This whole process was starting to become quite tedious but I respected their intense regimen. I served in Raiaera's military already, so I was used to military life. Silently, I observed the transaction between Melancor and the General. It was an interesting interaction and I could sense quite a bit of tension between the two men. Once the ordeal was completed and the barrack passed inspection, the General walked, very slowly, to the front of the huge room. He gave everyone a glance over. A few men were forced to do 100 push-ups for having their bed sheets improperly made, or having their suits not straightened properly.

Taking his position at the front of the room, the General introduced himself to the gathered force. "My Name is General Ankars Sullivan. There are some of you who already know me, and a lot of you who don't. This is Serenti ladies and gentlemen. We are a proud service built across hundreds of years of fighting tradition. Corone has many militias but none as well organized as us. With the sole exception of Radasanth's Militia. I look forward to seeing which of you young cadets makes Soldier First Class. There are a bunch of interesting ones amongst you this year. And for those of you doing push-ups, make sure you do them with pride. And do them well. Your first assignment is to get over to the Training Center and make sure you are properly training in the Arts of Tactical warfare. You will have a training partner with you everyday. Your training partner is like your best friend, your brother. You will work together to complete the various parts of your training. Once you are done with the Academy's training you will be F-Class Soldiers. From there you shall work your ways up on the field. We are at war right now gentlemen. Corone needs a new generation of Heroes to save her from the forces of the Empire. Remember that. We are currently in a state of Civil War. As soon as you all complete your training you will be eligible to go on the front lines. That is all Soldiers. At ease! Make Serenti proud. Make ME proud." [i]After that grandiose speech, General Sullivan left the Barracks. One member of his Entourage stayed behind with a document in his hand.

"All right men. Listen up, these are your current assignments!"

And so it went. I was assigned, by some twist of fate, to partner up with Melancor. We would bunk together and train together. Also, we would fight together and die together if need be. We would be brothers. Once the list was read, Soldiers were moved to where there partners were. They shook hands, made introductions, and worked to familiarize themselves with one another. I walked over to Melancor with my stuff, and placed my belongings in the empty chest near the bunk bed. "I'll take up top if you want me to. My name is Lexxum Vordic. Its an honor to meet you." [i]I said calmly extended my hand towards Melancor so that the other might shake my hand. "Looks like we'll be working together."

[Melancor]

After all the tags where given the men where called up to hear, what was supposed to be, a motivational speech, it had failed to take effect on Melancor, he was not the nationalistic kind, of course, he had no nation to pledge alliance too, other than Salvar, the nation where he was supposedly born.

After the general was done speaking, he was assigned to work with the Blood Lizard. It was not the outcome he would have expected, but he had signed his name into the form, and he had to compile to what ever they hold him to do, the other option was to commit treason and leave the militia, but such silly consideration was quickly erased from his mind. They where dismissed back again. There he met up with the lizard who introduced himself to him, extending a hand for him to salute. He would have to work with him for the rest of his enlistment, there was no need for him to keep a hostile attitude against him, they might as well kill each other before he had a chance to have some fun.

He accepted the hand and embraced it.

“My name is Melancor, pleased to meet your acquaitance” he spoke solemnly without showing any particular feeling. “I don’t think you will be comfortable on either places, but I will take the bottom if you don’t mind”

[Lexxum_Vordic]

Melancor seemed uncomfortable in this strange situation that we were finding ourselves in. But, I didn't want to bother him much about it. I recall the General saying that we needed to start our training right away. There was an Operations Area that we needed to attend to that I heard some of the guards talking about. I decided that it was time to head out and begin training with the rest of the Soldiers. Strangely, I found myself liking life in the Barracks. There weren't many that felt inclined to join the military considering the current state of affairs in Corone, but, those that did were often rewarded with the success of a Soldier's life.

"Hey Melancor, let's go check out this training area all right? Seems like we were given the orders to go there to me. What do you think? I need to get fixed up with a proper set of weapons and armor myself."

[Melancor]

It was not long after they had the short conversation that a voice rose for the tumult, calling for the men to assemble in the training field for their first instruction. Melancor would finally find out about human affairs; how their military worked, and what specifically made a human ‘better” than before.

In a strict row they marched almost impeccably, besides the usual sloppy Joes that where not swift to make their beds.

It was usuall how such median-sized building would hold this large field, but after traveling through some halls, and rooms, apparently underground, they resurfaced at the acclaimed training field. Obstacle courses adorned its parameters; some with hanging ropes, deep puddles of mud, high walls, and such. Some people had already reached the training field before them, and where not practicing their archery skills, aiming at big, red targets mounted on hay stacks.

Melancor had not to worry about the mud puddle, or being forced into learning archery skills. But the rest of this threatening field was intimidating. Maybe only because now he knew his mortal limitations. He was sure, however, that he would master it, he had not lived 14,000-some years for a mere human obstacle course to defeat him.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

Time passed. Clearing the course for the one millionth time, I felt my body changing. By now, Melancor and I had both reached the position of Squad Captain. It was several years into our training. A day like any other when we hit the training barracks in the AM hours. I was getting myself ready for a long and hard day's work. By now, we'd earned the respect of our fellow Soldiers and even made many friends in the process of our education.

I was revered because of my size and experience. Melancor was revered because of his almost cruel cunning and tactical expertise. Together we'd become an unstoppable duo. I used my hatred of Netha'Tu to guide me to my goals of becoming a Soldier First Class. My military experience in Raiaera proved invaluable to my success. Everyday became a new lesson to my life as I trained. I missed the harsh deserts of Suravani's bosom. But I worked hard so that one day I could return to my people with stories of many victories. I wanted to help educate the young in my tribe. The arts of tactical warfare would be useful back home against the Arta.

Clearing the obstacle course for the umpteenth time, I caught my breath as I stood in place. I was waiting for Melancor to catch up. I was just slightly faster than the Demi-God thanks to my Saurian heritage. I gasped for a long moment as I waited for the archer to catch up.

Taking this time to look around me, I observed various groups of Soldiers attending different tasks and errands on the makeshift combat field. There were some working with specialty weapons. Others training their physical body to handle the stress of skirmish battles. There were still groups of others locked in sparring training. Wrestling techniques, fencing, swordplay, and advanced judo techniques. I studied them all and excelled at them all.

I saw the General overlooking his training field with pride. He stood upon a separate building built into the large field. This entire area was below the ground and constructed into the Underdark. The general nodded his approval towards me and I nodded back, showing my respect towards the experienced warrior. I turned around, collecting myself, and waited for Melancor to catch up. We were the two fastest and strongest warriors this generation of Serenti National Guard had ever seen. And we were damned proud of it.

"Let's do some more Archery training Melancor. I want our education here to be as well-rounded as possible. We haven't been focusing as much on our Archery skills as we should. The physical combat arts are great, but it's better to be a versatile unit. Plus you're better with the bow than I am."

I found myself becoming fast friends with Melancor and gaining a deep sense of respect for him.

[Melancor]

Melancor did not realize how much time he had passed under the Sereneti militia, the days had gone faster than he would have imagined; Keeping contact with the Imperial council, writing to them once in a while, receiving news about its movements, which he helped lead with ink and paper.

He had been de-toxicated from such ‘human poison’ but that of War and comflic began to settle deep inside him, as he began to topple over many of his peers, but never Lexxum. They both had trained together, and a casual interaction between them changed into a fellowship; Melancor could only undermine that Lexxum was a follower of the divine scorn. However, that was another issue concerning his late status.

He found himself one day, running up a small hill, far behind him, the rest of his group, and far before him, Lexxum. Lexxum had always been faster than him, and Melancor wasn’t satisfied about that, would it be true that a creation of a moon goddess would be superior to the son of a god? Probably not, in his former state he had controlled incredible power over the waters of the sea and the tempest of the skies, but that wasn’t of any comfort, Melancor would always push himself until achieving the position that Lexxum now enjoyed. But there was one thing Melancor knew better than Lexxum, Archery.

After reaching Lexxum at the top of the small hill, where a modest building stood they decided now to train in such art. Only in rare occasions would Melancor ever use archery, infact he found the inconvenience of carrying a long bow and a heavy bag of arrows much unconventional, but it had served him well to prove himself at least.

“I am still not exhausted I could run some more, standing there shooding at targets that are already oversized seems like a waste of time,” he spoke with the same ironic, and cold tone that his voice was, “But we might aswell just do so, its not like any other kind of training here offers a challenge”

And so, swiftly they moved down to the shootying range, there stood a long fence which served as point line for the archers in question. They had to use the simple bows and arrows that the training offered, these where heavier that the usual bow, but at the same time It lacked all of the metal formalities or the refined wood finish that a real bow offered.

And there they stayed, practicing for a few hours, above ground, the sun had just reached its apex in the sky.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

The archery practice lasted several hours. Though I'd gained some experience with the longbow during the battle at Valinatal, Melancor was my superior in that department and we all knew that to be true. Still, I nailed the center spot a few times using patience rather than any sort of skill. I took my time carefully aiming at the small target in the center of the proper area. I'd nailed the target a few times already, but it was hit or miss. Some of my arrows wandered off to inappropriate areas, or missed all together. I wasn't disheartened by my failures. It simply meant that I needed to work that much harder with each following endeavor. After target practice, I'd scored a decent rating of 60% out of 100% shooting. Not bad, but I knew I could do better.

And so it went. The overall practice lasted several hours all together. Days went by and turned into months, months turned into years. Soon, both of us were F-Class Soldiers as we completed our training. Five long years passed all together. With the basic training completed, Lexxum and Melancor graduated at the head of their class. To become Soldier First Class, they needed to complete some actual on-field battles. By now, the Civil War was many years old. Battles in the streets were common place as rebels rallied against the newly formed Empire. Those that took sides usurped their power and influence for often negative ends. Corone was no longer a place for heroes. The age of heroes had come to end.

Corone was now a place of vagrants and brigands. Radasanth had transformed from its heralded home of heroes to a home of sell swords and mercenaries. There was no place for the idealistic heroes of olden times anymore in Corone. Torn by war and conflict, I studied current events as news came through the wire. One day, we were all sitting in the barracks area preparing to start early drills when something happened. News of a major battle between rival factions; The Syndicate and an organization calling itself the Flag of Radasanth started happening in an area of Corone Northeast of Gisela. The General suddenly appeared within the Barracks.

"Officer on deck!"

"Oooh wah!"

The response was now automatic. I'd changed in the many years as a soldier for Serenti. I wasn't the young lizard that lead Valinatal down a path of destruction. With the training I've obtained at my disposal now, I'd grown into a capable and ready leader. I'd obtained the hard earned title of a Soldier of Sserenti. The graduation ceremony was months prior to that date and I'd enjoyed it. Graduating at the top of our class was a huge honor and earned the respect of fellow soldiers. Even the goof balls. The general approached all of us.

"Gather around men. There is some important news. As of this morning, war has officially broken out on the hills of Gisela. A faction of rebels calling themselves the Flag of Radasanth has declared open warfare against the Syndicate. This is serious business gentlemen. As of last night, the Corone Empire has officially hired the Serenti National Guard to contain the situation before it gets out of hand. Street fighting is inevitable. For many of you, this will be your first actual battle. For some of you, this will be just one of many you've already had." The general looked over at my position with a partial nod of respect. "The situation will be simple. Contain the battle so non-hostiles are not hurt by the situation at hand. The Syndicate will attempt to negotiate. Anybody who can be arrested by the Serenti National Guard will earn our organization extra pay. We are expected to capture these upstarts alive if possible. Use of lethal force is permitted. You will all disembark tonight once preparations are complete. That is all gentlemen, good luck and may the Thaynes protect us."

I turned towards Melancor with a grin on my face once the General left the barracks.

"You hear that Melancor, our first job as Serenti Soldiers. We get to do some real fighting now. What do you think of that?"

[Melancor]

Melancor internally laughed at the question. ”Hmph,” He snorted “fighting humans cant be that hard at all, if our training is the most they can ever master then It wont be a tedious work”

Melancor had had the most violent one on one battles that have ever been witnessed in Althanas. All of them with his brothers in the open sea, thunder in one hand, a wave of salty water in the other. He wasn’t too exited about hunting down these humans, as he considered such thing lowering himself from his status, but then again he had already epically fallen from it after joining a mortal militia.

But now he knew he could rise in human ranks, not only as a forgotten divinity, but maybe as someone worth admiration, instead of the usual fear. He would not leave the place of his training and put his skills to the test.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

Chapter 1: The battle at Gisela

January 5th, CP 1810
1:00PM




Mother,

The General was furious today! I haven't seem him like that in a very long time. Intelligence reports were coming in that the Syndicate was making a big move against all of Corone. An army marching under the Syndicate's banner was said to be sighted near Gisela. I fear for my family members there. How are you Mother? How is the home? I heard that things back in Jadet are more or less stable. The war still hasn't touched Jadet as much as it's touched places like Radasanth and Gisela. Its nice to know there are still some safe places where people can run away to. Well this letter will be short because the General just gave us our marching orders...


Love always,
Derrick Balgers Soldier First Class


Meanwhile...

A powerful Syndicate Agent known only as Dark worked directly with an Agent named Ottocar. Taking advantage of the current disarray in Corone, The Syndicate suddenly became excessively active and abused their power hold in Corone. Moving upon the unsuspecting populace of Corone, The Syndicate planned a heist of the local government at Gisela. On the heels of the Gisela Massacre, the Syndicate's circle of power gave the order to march on Gisela and that's when it happened. A group of loyalists to Gisela gathered an army and met up against the forces of the Syndicate.

All chaos broke loose as two separate banners within Corone fought for supremacy.

******************************************

I was a Squad Captain. Looking over the hill, I stared through the pair of observation globes carefully. They were instruments that allowed me to observe the battlefield from a safe distance. Already, the two armies were marching upon one another. Melancor, another Squad Captain, was to guide his forces in from the East. I would come in from the West. We both commanded a size able number of troops. This wasn't my first such battle and I knew it wouldn't be my last. By now, I was a Soldier F-Class. There was plenty of opportunity to rise to Soldier First-Class after I completed all of the requirements for such an honor.

Looking over the notes set up by the scouting parties, I studied the map of the area. With my eyes narrowing into thin slits, I felt a breeze touched the battleground. I shivered with excitement as I waited for our orders to march. Right now we were gathered en masse, but had no set of marching orders from the higher ups. I wasn't in an authority position to give such orders...yet. My best men surrounded at me all times. A Man named Roth Gongers stole a glance towards me. He was a big man with an even bigger appetite for destruction.

"When do we march?" He asked me impatiently.

"When we get the orders to. We must wait like everybody else. Only the scouts have their orders."

A long hour passed. I was feeling frustration mixed with excitement. The battle was already being waged, and I couldn't wait to participate in it. I was eager to shed blood. Our orders were explicit however, we needed to prevent casualties where ever such a thing was possible. Finally, there was movement in the ranks. A single group of soldiers, scouts, passed through the rank and file. They saluted me when they came within close enough range.

"Captain Vordic! Hail!" I nodded a simple greeting in return. "We bring marching orders from the General. He apologizes for the delay." I nodded in his direction. "Let me hear it." The man removed a series of documents. He was certain that Melancor would be receiving similar documents. "You're to march on Sector 7 of the Gisela field. Keep the battle isolated. No casualties. You're to march immediately."

"Very well then. You heard the man Soldiers! Not a single casualty is to be recorded. There's been enough blood shed already. We move on the enemy now." The orders quickly spread through the ranks of my army. Soon, we were on the move. There was a large amount of ground we had to cover...

[Melancor]

Melancor has passed an hour in expectation, stalking the battlefield like a hawk, He yearned to clash his forces against the enemies on the battlefield and strip them from any possible hope of victory. From a hill overlooking the great spectacle they stood, a great army at his disposition. Preparing for battle, fastening their swords and other weapons, from south they have traveled through the land, provoking tremor amongst the expectant men. They where ready to crush any opposing enemy, but there was none more anxious then Melancor, finally he would have a taste of war and one more sweet, that of victory.

Above a rock he rested, waiting for the direct order to march against the enemy. Lexxum’s forces would act simultaneously with his, rampaging across the fields from east and west.

He had kept his army impeccable, all in position for a sudden attack, not sitting, not speaking, not distracted, but in line. Melancor had acquired a reputation for being strict with the people under his command; but it served him well, the troops respected him and he felt conceded.

”Damn it, where are those scouts?!” he broke an arrow in his hands, snapping it in two. He had waited all day for those scoyuts to come aroud and deliver the orders, but he could wait no longer. Lexxum’s forces had began to mobilize in the horizon

“I can’t wait no longer! Troops, men, its time to march on the enemy” and with a roar the men answered and began to move into the field, from another clifd he saw the squalid figure of the scout coming his way, but he dismissed him with a nod, he already knew the orders that had been given.

And so both armies decended over the battle ground with the clash of shields.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

The battle began. Already, the Syndicate was fighting against the Flag of Radasanth. I remembered reading the description of the Incident Report that our spies gathered so far. The Syndicate Agents wore black suits with various hidden implements on their persons. Their numbers were in the hundreds. It was rumored that members of the Flag of Radasanth wore commoner's outfits that range from cloth to heavy leather. They were well supplied as a mysterious, third party benefactor was supplying them with support. Reading my specific orders, I was told that I needed to reveal the identity of the third party benefactor using interrogation methods. Marching forward, I kept a steady pace so that my men could keep up with me.

Our shields bore the markings of Serenti. So did our cloaks. Though our people hated to wear armor, I was an exception to that. Having been in many battles, I saw the usefulness of wearing battle armor to cover my dense scales. I wore a basic set of steel battle armor decorated with the insignia of a Serenti commanding officer.

The march towards our destination took some time but we finally arrived on the scene after about two hours on foot. The soldiers who were on horseback arrived in about an hour and were told to wait for the rest of the forces to arrive. Patiently, they did so whilst our scouts gathered intelligence reports to provide us with needed information. Such as the location of enemy units and troop strengths. My forces arrived in conjunction with the horseback units. My commanding horseback officer walked trotted over to me as soon as I arrived. Our position was atop a hill that overlooked the chaos of the battle ahead. We were within a couple of feet of the battle and I could taste blood in the air.

"Commander Vordic, we're awaiting orders from you." The man told me calmly as I looked upon him. When we arrived, my men prepared their weapons as they readied themselves for imminent combat. "Flank them from the SouthWest. We'll march directly ahead. You know your orders. There are to be no casualties on this day if such a fate can be avoided. Capture these men alive." I turned my attention to the fighting ahead of us. Our orders came directly from the general himself. "Understood, Sir." The horse rider never dismounted from his unit. Instead, he moved his horse back to the squadron that awaited his command. He relayed the orders. I gave hand signals to my troops and prepared for battle myself. Crawling on all fours, this increased my speed drastically as I leaped forward with powerful muscles. I stared in the direction of the field that I knew Melancor's position was going to be. I studied that locale for a moment and then returned my gaze to the battle ahead as the wind rushed past me. My men kept silent as they marched forward behind me. I would be the first to draw blood. And I would be the last to leave the field.

Almost immediately, I saw a skirmish up ahead of me. A group of about ten units all together were locked in combat. I landed nearby and ran the rest of the way, drawing my weapon. My men caught up and we descended upon the battle. The fighting was imminent now...

[Melancor]

They marched down, with no expression on their faces. They where prepared to die if necessary, but he know that only but those who had showed under determination on their stif training will be in danger of falling.

“You men are not to kill anyone. We want these people alive”

Melancor had instructed his army to march directly into the battle field. He drew the two of his swords he had readied for his battle. And with a swift move sunk one of the blades on his thigh. It did not penetrate his leg but it ruptured a medium-sized leather canteen, and the liquid was spilled in the ground. But leaving all impurities behind it elevated into the air, forming a halo around Melancor’s head. His med blinded the enemy with the sun reflecting on its metal armors.

The enemy had long seen them coming, they had already positioned itself on a defensive formation. And with a shout of rage from Melancor his army was upon them. The men reached for the protection of their large wooden shields, But those who where not fast enough launched horrible shouts of agony. Deep red liquid emerged from the bodies and they fell to the ground. The sound of marching feet ruptured the nature of the valley; Melancor could feel the moral of the enemy washing down deep into their soul.

Lexxum’s forces would be here in short. And a group of cavalry would proceed from the southwest as it had been planned. The enemy was proving of not being a force to be recon with, their n umbers where inferior, their weapons as well. The sound of clashing metal, desperate shouts and gushing wounds reached his ears.

Melancor had just wounded a few men when in the corner of his eye he saw Lexxum descend from a hill, and his men followed. The battle continued for some more minutes when a group of five men enganged in a brawl with Melancor. A blade drew though his arm and his sword fell to the ground, with a forward movement he managed to slash a man with his sword, but a sharp pain in his back made him release the second weapon.

Melancor had not used water when it came to the army's business, but in such situation he would break this routine. He tightened his hands and from them grew two large ice shards, as sharp as any other sword but much more brittle than metal. When one of the man rose his sword, ready to strike him mortally, Melancor rose from the grown, thrusting himself up he slit the man’s open mouth open. The man released a horrible shout and then fell to the floor before staining Melancor’s chest with his thick, red blood.

He looked around, his men where under control, and the cavalry had already arrived. The enemy troops where rapidly being silenced, and the battle slowly quieted down to a nostalgic murmur..

[Lexxum_Vordic]

The Bradbury River flowed eternally through an area to the East of Gisela's fields. Right now, the fields of Gisela were ripe for open warfare. Lurking nearby was the port city towards Scara Brae and the behemoth that was Gisela itself. Lexxum's devision was coming in from the West. The ground shook from the march of the dual armies from Serenti. The cavalry forces waited as a last ditch effort should Serenti's police force fail in the day. Which was an unlikely possibility.

On my first real field mission, I observed the environment around me. Marching forward at a steady pace I soon was upon the enemy. Catching a glance out the corner of my eyes, I could see Melancor's forces approaching from the East and our plan to surround our rival forces was succeeding so far without a hitch. Assuming that the Syndicate didn't have any large numbers hidden in the hills and that the group calling itself Radasanth's Flag didn't have additional reinforces as well. I grabbed my sword in my hand preparing for the imminent battles ahead. I had cards I could play, but was waiting to play them just in case the enemy proved to be much more powerful than our spies indicated.

I saw that there were men in black fighting men wearing commoner's clothing. The sounds of weapons clashing and men dying filled my senses as I saw the Syndicate Agents fighting fiercely. I moved forward and prepared myself to engage the nearest of the enemy units, which was everybody that wasn't wearing a uniform of Serenti. I looked upon my companion Soldiers and saw that they were following my marching movements with equal training and ferocity as me. They prepared their weapons depending on their position along the marching line. Snipers in the rear guard of the squadron prepared their line of skirmish whilst they loaded beautiful arrows upon well formed Serenti longbows. An entire line of fully trained Archers, prepared their arrows and launched hundreds of arrows into the sky. A cloud of death, carefully aimed and trained with the orders of "no casualties". So, the arrows were specially outfitted with hard blunt bolts meant to knock a target out from the impact versus maiming or killing. All of the snipers in the armies of Serenti were given such specialty arrows.

Bolts were outfitted in a similar fashion as well. A line of crossbow men prepared their bolts and stood several yards behind the infantry. The crossbows were outfitted to be accurate up to two hundred yards, but especially accurate within twenty yards. The bolts were fitted with the special tip as well and the mechanisms in the crossbows were specially designed Serenti army spec ops equipment. Missions such as these often came with a heavy price and demanded no casualties for Serenti had a reputation to consider as the elite soldiers of Althanas.

Drawing my weapon, the line of infantry accompanied me as I felt all fifty men's pair of feet hit the ground hard beneath me. I could feel the rush of my own heart beating in my throat as the mission was underway. I saw that the nearest of the infantrymen was approximately several feet behind me running at a full sprint attempting to keep up with me. We were all armed with special combat sticks, but I preferred using my sword. I knew how to fight using the flat end of my weapon. From observation, I could tell that Melancor's forces already engaged the enemy as the first series of enemy casualties started to get reported.

Now it was time. The first set of arrows hit various targets, including missing completely. Some arrows jutted themselves into the ground with tremendous force. Once the two armies were attacked, confusion quickly spread through the ranks. A third party force was now invading their battle and unwilling to tell apart friend or foe. All were the enemy. Ahead of my position I saw a squadron of several infantry engaging one another. Some of them wore the black suits of the Syndicate whilst others wore the uniforms of the Flag of Radasanth. Letting out a war cry, I prepared myself to engage this outfit. Remembering the orders I'd read earlier, I knew that commanding officers took highest priority of capture.

And so, the Gisela Battle began.

[Melancor]

The murmur did not last. More enemies began to flow into the field. The clashing sound of metal and the sweet smell of blood invaded his senses. Melancor’s army kept pushing forward, and their territory

This is a feisty bunch of humans, He thought to himself They are putting more of a struggle than I was anticipating.
With the cover of his men, Melancor was fast to position himself atop a large rock toppling the field and their contenders. Melancor reached for his pocket and pulled the small scope he had been carrying.

It seemed as if the enemy forces where grouping across the other side of the field, congregations of men, most of them in black and some in peasant clothes. The commoner numbers where decreasing, most of them where being carried away deeper into the field. But the great numbers of dark soldiers worried him.

“hmp” he snorted “it appears I am not the only one making calculations.” Across the mass of men he saw one that stood from the multitude. He wore a white uniform, much different from its peers, and was engaged in the same activity as Melancor. His scope flashed with the sun as he placed his gaze on him. Melancor lowered his scope, he had been spotted but he couldn’t really care less. Soon that person would be captured and interrogated properly.

He should get down from there and head near the center of their commands. A fast sound of metal and braking wood impacted besides him, and splinters shot up into his face.
“Not even at war can they aim right”

[Lexxum_Vordic]

I saw units of various types unfold before me. My expertise dealt with dispatching the undead in all their fell forms. Fighting against more intelligent opponents was an entirely different matter. During the battle at Valinatal, I was forced to deal with zombies that were of an extremely intellectual lot. They were creatures created through the vile forces of necromancy. I hoped that I wouldn't have to face such foul beings on the battlefield today. Instead, I was forced to do battle against a more dangerous opponent. Humans. The very reason that my homeland, Fallien, fell in the first place. I would get a chance to avenge my people just a little bit. I found myself strangely thinking about my tribe just then. Even as the battle started, I missed home. Arrows specially retro fitted with the proper bolts for usage crashed into the enemy. I heard loud grunts and cries of pain as the blunt objects struck soldiers in various locations of the bodies. Those that were hit in the head, instantly fell to be scooped up by my soldiers. As I descended upon the battlefield I could see quivering lips that shivered with terror, and eyes filled with fear.

My presence caused the humans to hesitate. Most of them had never actually seen a saurian before, for we were the stuff of legends. I moved upon the nearest soldier, a man wearing a black suit. Getting over his moment of fear, the Syndicate Agent reacted to my advance and brought his sword to bear. In the distance, I could see men in white engaging specific units of the opposing party. We were there as a policing force. Trying to prevent casualties in a war like this was an extremely difficult task. The sun shone brightly overhead and made it seem almost like I was back home in Fallien. But the biting cold of Winter reminded me why the lands of men were harsh indeed. They weren't like the dune sea. My saurian physique was meant to better handle the terrain of the sands. However, I'd grown used to traveling the lands of Corone and Raiaera. It was a chore adapting to the new types of terrain I was coming across. The Red Forest had been a harsh endeavor to travel through and served as an ideal training ground for one like myself. I thought of this as I moved across the fields at Gisela.

Preparing for my first real battle as a soldier of Serenti, I thought about where my loyalties might lay. My first real set of actions as a soldier was during the battle at Valinatal. I gave my all to protect that city against the terrifying forces of the Necromancer Netha'Tu. My memories were coming back to haunt me as I thought about my short and pitiful life. How the Serenti National Guard ended up seeing skill in me was beyond me. I snarled as I approached the warrior before me. Holding up my Serenti built sword, the steel reflected light for a shining and brilliant moment. The sword was a masterwork quality sword given to commanding officers of Serenti's army. I swung the weapon around. The Syndicate agent reacted to my assault and skillfully countered with his sword. There was a clang of steel against steel and the agent looked me dead in the eye. His face was twisted with anger as I observed him. He had an air around him of arrogance. All of the agents in black did. He looked upon my uniform with a scowl of disgust. As we traded blows for a bit, he addressed me.

"Serenti huh?" The man started. "They sent their police first to try to squash the violence and keep the peace? How trifle. How pathetic. You're on the wrong side lizard boy." Then something strange happened. A matter I had not expected before. I saw the man pull back from fighting against me. I gave him a momentary pause to hear his case. After all, the Serenti National Guard was a force that primarily functioned as keepers of the peace. Relaxing his guard for a moment the agent reached into his long jacket and removed an item of interest. It was a pouch. I saw him toss the pouch at my feet forcing the small bag open. Gold coins spilled out of the pouch and the thing seemed to be heavy with gold. The shiny gold reflected light and were like hundreds of shining Lord Mitra's winking at me. For a brief moment I was reminded of the time I stared at the undead dragon in the eyes and pondered joining forces with him. That moment of potential betrayal sat heavily in my heart as I was forced to make such a decision again. I thought of all my hard work at Valinatal and now, again, a chance to redeem myself at Serenti. I looked at the agent in his eyes. Then, with my decision firm, kicking the gold sack back right at the agent. The bag spilled open in mid air and released its shining contents on the ground to taunt me. I growled and moved back into my fighting stance.

"My blade is not for sale! I'm no lousy sellsword!" And I lunged to my enemy, catching him off guard.

[Melancor]

Melancor had just abandoned the large rock when a second arrow hit. This one landed not far from his left for, lifting up many golden particles that glistened in the sun, and emitting a long and resonating sound.

“Those arrows are coming too close to comfort, they are pissing me off”

Accompanied by some of his men, Melancor lunged an attack against the position of such threatening figure. Racing across masses of man, tearing them down one by one in the best manner the Sereneti forces had trained them. Now Melancor wondered when he had become so agile on the ground, His years on training went by so fast, and for the first time he saw slight signs of aging, the mortal curse of humans. For long, he had taken a hundred years for granite, and now he had less than fifty to regain his position. Human lifespan was pathetic.

They broke the fallible; black dressed, wall that had been imposed between then and their prey. They had reached atop a small monticule of dirt, not far away from the peculiar man’s position. And with a forward thrust, Melancor lunged like a snake, releasing an attack in the form of an arrow against the enemy.

But the peculiar men, had for-sought the attack, and like a mirage of the human raze abilities, his long-sword deflected the projectile without a flinch. Like a ripple in the water, the black outfitted men broke their positions and retaliated against Melancor’s squadron.

One by one, his men count began to descend, as they engaged with the man’s minions.
However, Melancor’s trajectory stayed the same, as he approached the white figure, avoiding the fast crackling shadows of enemy soldiers. Without any hesitation Melancor drew the two slim swords that had been entrusted to him by the arsenal division. Made of iron and holding the golden seal of the Sereneti forces.

As his regal image gave to expect the man was impeccable to avoid many of the blows Melancor had tried to impose upon him. His face did not show more sign of life other than a slight frown and an almost unnoticeable smirk.

When from his mouth emerged the words that would make Melancor question his own abilities.

“Bold, rash, and dominated mostly by anger, it must be no other than Melancor. Interesting bundle Sereneti acquired, but not less obstinate than a children.”

Melancor could no more than reply with an anguished smile. As the three swords had embroiled in a tug of war. Now that Melancor was close to his precence he could identify the malignant wrinkles on his face. This man was much older than he would have expected.

“There is not much that can be done, boy. Believe me, we have been watching you and that lizard since this small battle began, I am sure that Fallien reptile is getting skinned at the moment, you and him have no business at stopping us.”

From the tumult of the shattering crowds, it emerged like a thunder, a roar that for second silenced the valley for those who there orchestrated the clashing struggle.

“What the?... that Fallien”

As he murmured, the man frowned and his sight was lost in the distance. A dim light projected upon the man’s face, his eyes vacillated, but once they had posed their view upon the silver arrow, setting course upon his head, held by a long strain of water, they shook by the drive of panic.

“Guess again”

[Lexxum_Vordic]

****

On the fields of Gisela; blood stained as they were, the soldiers representing the Flag of Radasanth fought to the death against the Syndicate. A perpetual gang war broke out between the two factions. The ground shook from the weight of the two fighting armies; now flanked by a third. A man named Grant Shooks lead the feeble forces of the Radasanthian Flag. The so-called group kept the Syndicate at bay; but were rapidly being outnumbered and overrun by the better trained forces. The Radasanth Flag was primarily composed of a group of commoners dedicated to the singular cause of bringing down the Syndicate.

However; they were rapidly loosing their cause. Grant was a man of average height; standing at approximately six heads tall. He wore a breast plate composed entirely of the material known as plynt. The glowing green metal was an ideally crafted substance and affordable to even the common man. Grant heard a roar as he fought against the Syndicate agents he was fighting and cut the man down. His comrades were fairing equally as well; driven by the passion of a warrior poet.

The Thaynes were on the side of Grant and his companions. Grant stole a look across the battlefield and saw that the forces of Serenti were rapidly engaging the Syndicate's masses. Three different, fully armed squadrons descended upon the battlefield. "The Thaynes guide us! Victory is ours!" The old warrior bellowed to his men. They rallied around Grant and continued to push the Syndicate forces back; or at least attempt to. Suddenly, a powerful roar danced across the wind.

Grant's eyes widened with terror as he saw the giant of a man leading the forces of Serenti upon the Syndicate. I would hate to fight that thing. The old warrior thought to himself. Grant lead a charge against a Syndicate group standing several feet away from him and engaging his men. The line of skirmishing was drawn. Wind crossed the fields of Gisela and carried with it; the scent of death. Grant proceeded to engage the Syndicate agents rallied by the perceived reinforcements sent from Serenti...

**********

I let out a mighty roar as I charged headfirst into battle. My duel with the man in black looked like it would be a fierce battle. My weapon; made of steel and of masterwork quality, flashed in the sunlight. Wearing the suit; the man before me held his ground and looked at me with an expression of pity across his face. "You are an idiot Saurian. You will have the Syndicate hunting you down forevermore; die foolish lizard!" The arrogant man engaged me without fear. He was a young man in his mid thirties; I quickly ascertained that much by the wrinkles in his face. He had black hair and deep blue eyes. The man was an attractive specimen and probably had many women lined up given his position as a Syndicate agent.

I felt the resonating vibration of my sword clash against his own. Steel clashed against Steel. I moved in close to the warrior and looked dead into his eyes. Then; I did something he wasn't expecting at all. As we moved in close to one another; I quickly leaned my upper body forward and opened my powerful maw. Taking a quick snap with my jaws at his trapezius region; I made a solid attempt at biting the warrior. With a look of shock; he reacted with pain and a yell of agony. I felt the breaking of metal underneath my maxilla as I reached into his flesh. His steel armor broke underneath the pressure I bit him with; with the force of a shark. The man dropped his sword with sudden finality behind it. I clamped down upon his shoulder region; biting down hard and drawing blood. The sanguine fluids flowed into my mouth filling me with a predator's hunger. His suit was stained with the crimson substance. I imposed my full height and weight against the man and brought him down to his knees. "Hahahah. Urgh. You bastard; I wasn't expecting that one...good move. You would have made a fine Syndicate agent."

I saw the blood loss settling into his face now; he was growing pale. I kept my jaws clamped even as other Syndicate agents reacted to the fall of their brother. I stood up and kept the man in my mouth, easily able to lift him with my saurian might. I grabbed the man and threw him off to the side like a rag doll. There; when the man landed, other Serenti soldiers picked the man off and let him meet their blades. Blood dripped down my jaws and I could taste steel in my mouth. I quickly moved towards a nearby Syndicate agent who reacted to my approach. He was engaging a member of the Radasanth Flag who took advantage of the distraction and impaled the man with the sword. So far; we were having little success with our initial orders.

With the first Syndicate agent captured by our forces; I prepared to engage another unit. The man was already injured and I took the steel in mouth and prepared it quickly. A moment later; I spat the chunks of steel and blood directly at the man's face. Distracted; the man attempted to shake the blood out of his eyes. I leaned forward and stabbed the man in the opposite shoulder with my sword. He screamed. When I was close enough; I reached with a mighty backhand and prepared to knock the man out. A moment later I did so. I knew my orders well; but I was a warrior at heart and had a sense of honor. I looked at the member of the Radasanthian Flag. Utterly defying orders; I looked towards him and nodded.

"We are reinforcements from Serenti. We are here to stop the Syndicate."

One of my men nearby heard the direct breach of orders. "Sir! Our mission...!" I heard the man said. "Relay my new orders to the men. We are to assist the Flag of Radasanth in capturing the Syndicate. We are to obtain their superior officers and find out their business here. Capture any alive that you can. Casualties are to be reported as accidents. Understood?" The man nodded. "Aye Sir. I'll relay the new orders at once." Acting as a messenger; the man ran back to the field commanders in order to relay the new orders assigned by myself. I was one of the main commanding officers. Fighting alongside the Flag of Radasanth warrior; we engaged several more Syndicate warriors. We were trying to capture alive every Syndicate agent we could.

[Melancor]

A simple smirk rose on Melancor’s face with sheer satisfaction that it would be over. He finally saw materialized in his enemy’s expression the horror of defeat and uncertainty. His lips hanged loose, his eyes; wide open and shivering with the wind. Only but the slightest palpitation arose from his mouth as a modest breath.

kill him, his mind ordered, but his body halted in response. Melancor was remembered that he had been given orders: No causalities where to be expected, specially when it came to high-ranking officers as the one he had now on his hands. They should be interrogated and then maybe disposed of or kept as political prisoners. killing was not under his jurisdiction. Melancor was driven to tackle this man’s position only by the sole and subconscious desire to kill off one of the heads. His bold nature had already been recognized one too many times, and yet he had never learned.

“Drop your weapon!” Melancor exclaimed, pressing the blade against the hostage's body.The obvious dread in the man’s face was slightly reduced when he confirmed that he would not die in the spot, though he did not relax. The light reflected by the malignant weapon behind him flickered a second time. And his heavy sword fell to the floor, emitting a wavy cry.

Melancor’s blades retracted to a more comfortable position, and the slim arm of water collapsed into the ground, releasing the arrow. At this sign the syndicate soldiers that had so far pretended to reckon with his army ignored their current struggles without any impediment and charged against Melancor and his hostage.

At the sign of this retaliation Melancor kicked the long sword away and trusted the man into the ground, head down, holding a blade to his neck as four of the syndicate able forces approached him.

And soon they where upon him. swinging their weapons without any hesitance. They where skilled individuals, soldiers that Melancor staggered to keep at bay. What made him think that he could handle such a task, to battle people much more able than those he was used to train with, was unknown.

He had just exchanged a flew blows when the man below made the sudden attempt to rise and reach for his weapon. Melancor was fast to burry his blade unto the man’s leg. and again he fell with a horrid scream. But this sharp attack proved his disadvantage, as one of the syndicate soldiers had managed to drive its agile blade on the side of his chest. The chest plate that Melancor had always carried underneath all of his clothing had avoided most of the attack, but it had failed to protect a small section on his upper thigh.His ability to deflect the attacks was swiftly decreasing and where becoming sluggish. But fortunately a few of his men came in his help.

Many blows where exchanged until one by one the black-clothed men fell to the ground, taking a few of Melancor’s with them. Melancor’s hostage was still breathing, his white garments where stained with a scarlet stain of blood.

“Take his man away,” he instructed “But do not let him out of your sight, he is still to dangerous.”
Melancor was incredibly exhausted after the fast and wearing battle. And his wound, though small was bleeding profusely.

"How's the situation?" Melancor vocifered.

" We are still holding sir, the number of our causalities is moderate, but the syndicate is putting up a struggle.”

Melancor gazed beyond the battle field, a squadron of men under his uniform guarded a small group of prisoners, while a similar one was pulling the lifeless bodies from the ground into a pile. But where the battle was most fiercely fought, existed no such organization. As men under three different orders wrestled in the field. The battle was plunging into complete chaos.

[Lexxum_Vordic]

The afternoon sun was a warm tribute to Lord Mitra's beauty. I stared up at the sun for a brief moment whilst the battle grounded me in the reality of the moment. Thinking ahead about the strategies and tactics I would have to employ to secure victory; I knew that further ahead in the hilly terrain, Melancor fought his own battles. Messengers and couriers ran back and forth delivering parcels to commanding officers from either side. I observed the battlefield with the senses of a lizard folk.

All around me; warriors fought with honor and some without. I realized quickly that I didn't like these Syndicate bastards. War was a dirty business; but they reflected the more shameless side of it. A most grievous loss indeed! My concern was for my men and the warriors at my side. I stole a glance to my companions as they fought alongside me. We were rapidly gaining yards across the vast field. Tall blades of grass were waist high and strategically hid the corpses of the day. I was careful to avoid the fallen where my senses could detect them. An intense smell of death laced the air causing my nostrils to flare. I felt my scales harden with the touch of combat and preparing for the battles that lay ahead. Another swordsman made his way to my position. Narrowing my eyes; I saw the brave warrior hold his ground steady even as I ran down the hill towards his position. We took another hill after squashing several more groups of Syndicate warriors.

I was worried about my egregious breach of command. I was already attempting to prepare my excuses for my commanding officers when an arrow was launched dead at my position. I barely moved to the side and managed to avoid a dead-on impact. The steel arrow's tip managed to slice open my scaly hide. Lizard blood trickled down my flesh in rivulets. I touched the wound for a moment and frowned angrily. Looking for the archer; my search was hastily caught off guard when the swordsman was upon me. I reacted quickly and let my blade intercept his own. This was another one of the Syndicate warriors. By now the Flag of Radasanth knew that we were their ally.

Blades of grass were stained with blood. Creatures of the plain field moved about all around us. I could feel things like large insects moving about underneath my boots. I was a rarity. I represented a Blood Lizard that actually enjoyed wearing armor atop his bloody scales. My tail provided the extra support I needed to keep balance in the uneven field. Rocks were all around; many jutting out from beneath the highest level of the grass blades and standing at several stories high. Some of the rocks were intricate in design, arching around in strange angles. I noticed some of those rocks that were much closer to my position than the ones that were farther away. They caught my attention. The quick distraction served as an opening for my opponent as they moved against my temporarily half assed movements. My foe saw the opening and to his credit; took full advantage of it. It was not everyday that one faught a creature such as myself and lived to tell about it after all! I couldn't adjust my body weight quickly enough to evade the incoming attack. His well formed plynt longsword reflected my face as he slashed at my shoulder region.

I saw my reflection in the clean blade. My face looked back at me as the reflection became parallel with my real face. I stared back at my own crimson eyes for a brief moment. I noticed the intricate scales of my face; my well formed neck, my muzzle. Teeth were revealed from beneath my lips as my face was seemingly locked in a snarl. The hideous scar on my face from the battle with the Arta warrior named Lorenor was a mar upon my handsome lizard's visage. The moment seemed to last an eternity.

Feeling the impact of the blow against my masterwork steel armor; I was forced backwards. I lost some of the ground I covered even against the weight of the smaller warrior before me. My size mattered for very little against his swordsmanship. I felt a bruise develop where the impact of the sword caught against my armor. My armor was finely made; it was able to withstand the blow from the finely crafted weapon. I flinched for a brief second when the weapon forcibly connected with my armor. I stared at the warrior for a moment and grinned viciously. His weapon was now completely parallel to the ground as he held it against my figure trying to cause a break against the armor. I turned quickly towards the warrior and kindly repaid the favor for my earlier mistakes. My sword moved quickly with one hand. It was plynt as well; but was a weapon that was flowing with the powers of the Tap. My eyes intensified with concentration. I felt the impact of my weapon against his own. I managed to slam the impact of my blade with a full connection.

There was a loud clanging of swords. I pressed my full weight against the attack and managed to rip the weapon from out of the hand of my opponent's grip. The blade moved pommel over weapon tip and spun until it hit the ground several paces away. Looking towards the position of his weapon; it was clear that my enemy wanted his blade back! I pressed my advantage and stabbed the warrior right across his trapezius region. I pushed my weight on the maneuver; form was flawless, training was engraved into my very person. I was a soldier. The man screamed with agony as he made an attempt to grab the sword. His hands were suddenly burned by the power within the blade. His eyes watered and he screamed once more as his hands were completely singed off at the wrists. Smoke flowed from the injuries; he fell to his knees, defeated. I stared down upon him; removed the weapon from his body and moved on. Several of my men that were behind me fighting made it to my position and captured the Agent alive. I ran towards the next battle...

It was a good start.

[Melancor]

It was difficult to feel sympathy toward the Syndicate agents; they blades dug into Melancor's men anatomy in a mechanized pace. A good number of them had perished, taking their fair share from Sereneti. The battle was moving in a direction not desired by Melancor's superiors. In his side of the field, an untrained eye could say that nearly the same amount of people had died as the army had captured, this deception made no vain impression in Melancor who immediately reminded his men to retain a defensive stand, even when the siege was of their own making.

His men slowly regrouped as they fought against the bold enemies. A slight smile of satisfaction illuminated Melancor's face, though his body told otherwise. The training he had received in Sereneti was by no means hollow; the cuts that crawled through his skin made his appearance seem more gaunt that whatever feeling their host experienced. Bruised, burn or inured Melancor was as strong as a bull though equally stubborn, for them incisions meant nothing, it was just the scarlet line in his leg that worried him; it slightly restrained his movement.

His maneuvers never did stop, however. And before he realized it, he and his men where already upon another small group of agents. The ground before them quaked at the stop of their boots, blood rushed as waterfalls through their veins, these men where made for battle and able did they handled it, even upon the difference of the beautifully polished skills of the agents. Melancor must have been only a few meters away when he halted, lunging his arms against his victim. A sleek body of water rose violently in a move against his opponent that broke the earth before him, grasping his by his lower limb and thrusting him to the ground. A solider utilized the opportunity to steal the weapon from the agent, under the cover of his comrades who had set out for a similar goal against two other enemies.

Melancor kept moving, the rest, those who had not been bothered by the nuisance of securing the arrest of the agents, followed close behind. Such bold move could not be repeated, not against these keen enemies. The large group continued moving into the valley; he knew that across the hills at the north he would find Lexxum and his army, though he did not have the intention of meeting him just now, something else was bothering the Sereneti commander. Through the sea of battling men he could see that across the field, at the foot of the hill, his men where being thwarted. A place where only the feet of white-branded men stood, from which partial of the enemy number congregated, to swiftly deploy.

'Mine'

Another hasting body emerged from the crowd, a cross expression shaded his dark frown, an agent who had dared to address Melancor directly. Melancor's fist thought was that this man was an agile fellow, to be able to hack through the barricade of men that had been established around Melancor once the forces had once more clashed, it was his pure prowess. He struck, once, twice, thrice, though Melancor was able to deflect his blows from his blade, barely, with his very own. With a steady hand his sword pivoted as did his body, and once he was behind Melancor he trusted with an attack. More by sheer luck that Melancor's cat reflexes, he managed to lunge himself away. The man's attempt was not in vain , however. The metal hacked it's sharp edge against his chest, though after the movement, it missed it, scratching Melancor's side, opening a gate in his flesh for blood, and releasing him from the canteen; the dry earth below grew damp.

Seeing his attempt fail vexed the man beyond comprehension, it drove him wild, and made him launch another bold attack. Melancor had only but a fraction of a second to consider his means of defense. his blade was too heavy, in other instances it he would have been able to deflect an attack with the simple flicker of his sword, but this was an admirable foe. He could not rely on another spontaneous movement to dodge the attack, specially since the damned creature had inflicted on him such a blow. A sudden burst of adrenaline set him off, however; his body lunged away from the aggressor. And then he relied on the most natural method at his disposition, his affinity. his mind crackled as it ordered any body of water to emerge and protect it's lord, and one responded, though the source came from a very unlikely place.

A tail of scarlet liquid sprouted from Melancor's injury, with a sudden ferocity Melancor had yet to appreciate in water. He felt as his heart itself throttled in agony, and his lungs contracted when his blood itself was extracted from his injury, dragging the liquid in his veins with it. His recoil had produced enough lag in the attack that the scarlet lash had no problem impacting it's enemy. It shot hard against the man's eyes, his vile blood mingled with the holy one in a move that splattered the golden grasses, and tore a piece of flesh from his gaunt physiognomy. The man fell head first into the ground, Melancor followed behind. It a bed of grasses the demigod fed his holy essence to the parched land. Placing a hand over his abdominal, Melancor stopped the fleeting liquid; the vicious tail fell to the earth engulfing the golden bassinet with blood. A horrible scene, even in middle of a rushing battle.

His men immediately took notice of his fall, and although they could not help him,l they kept at bay the enemy forces, as he began to mend, for the first time, his flesh with the sleek threads of gore. Melancor had been startled by the sudden and unexpected extraction of his own blood, and although the rouge painted with a horrid brush the image, no real major damage had been inflicted on him, neither by the man, or his own flagellation.

Melancor hurried to rise, though with a vertigo that would disappear within seconds, and slowly moved to the daring man, who's life quickly fled from his face. Melancor took his weapon into his grasp, and stripped the man from his sword. He did not usher a word, not one of gratification or or boating victory, but stared into the agent, whose countenance had been deformed, and indicated from him to be removed. Now it was time for things-people who really mattered.

[Taskmienster]

JUDGING!
Imperials: Civil War Journal Part 1

Since this thread was not complete I’m going to use very little commentary and mostly just numbers. I will comment up here however, and say that from the beginning of this thread to the first battle was extremely unrealistic. You started with the civil war raging, and 5 years later are just starting to fight? 5 years in 3 posts, and expecting to see the war still going? Not realistic. On top of that, it was a rather bland thread.

Characters Involved:

~Melancor

~Lexxum_Vordic

STORY (14/30)

~ Continuity ~ 6

Both of you did well to show your background and where you came from.

~ Setting ~ 5

~ Pacing ~ 3

Short choppy posts detract from the pacing. The passing of ‘years’ is a rather ridiculous notion for the span of a few posts.



CHARACTER (13/30)

~ Dialogue ~ 5

~ Action~ 5

~ Persona ~ 3

It just felt unrealistic on more than just the time line front. Lexxum’s personality from beginning to end was on and off, but just felt wrong.



WRITING STYLE (17/30)

~ Technique ~ 4

~ Mechanics ~ 8

~ Clarity ~ 5


WILD CARD! 4
Due to the unfinished nature…




TOTAL

(48/100)


GAINS/REWARDS!

~Melancor gains 525 exp and 190 gold

~Lexxum_Vordic gains 1275 exp and 185 gold

[Witchblade]

EXP and GP added!