A New Power

[MDRud216]

okay, at last A New Power continued. This thread will cover all events that happen after and during the meeting that is going up to the end of this epic story, unless of course I decide to make a sequel.

 

Pre Rp history

 

The peaceful Galoric Emperor was overthrown by a merciless invading force, but before the year and a half long war was over the defense had reduced the invaders army by half. Unfortunately, that was not enough, with a final decisive action Tarnisus Darel (the prime military adviser for Adtonius Horus, the monarch of a Northern Kingdom led his last armada of over 70,000 soldiers into Rakatal, the capital province of the Galoric Empire and crushed the capital city. Shortly after his victory Darel declared himself emperor and separated himself from Horus.

 

A New Power part one picks up about two years after these events, and tells of an invading force come to take advantage of the fledgling empire trying to rebuild itself after war, their fist attempt failed at the cost of hundreds of lives. Quarian and the rest of the allocated players lead this defense. Now it is your turn to decide the fate of the Galoric Empire. In a yet further weakened state the Empire is open for the taking, but undoubtedly you will not be the only one who seeks this.

 

read this, but don't worry about its details, as it was wrote for part one and could confuse you if you try to match it to part two

Pre Part One Info

 

-Rules: No one post kills of another player, I will judge on this. As for killing an enemy, do what you like but be realistic, in other words don't charge into a battalion of ten Imperial soldiers and explain how you killed them all. You start with nothing but the clothes on your back, and your first post must be meeting me at the location specified, assume that your character is expected to arrive and knows where to find 'my letter' as if they were informed earlier. You are allowed to defect to the enemy, however I control the enemy soldiers around you (other than when you say that you are attacked or the reaction of a soldier after you attack him). I will act as a game controler, however you can decide to search a body and decide whether you find what you are looking for or not, just keep it realistic, don't kill a farmer then find an imperial broadsword on him. Try not to alter the basic storyline that I will be setting up throughout the RPG, however as I said, you can choose your characters actions and defect if you like, but if have stated that an enemy army is headed towards us then don't say that you ran ahead and found out that there was nothing. -NO MAGIC- Well that's it.

 

-Setting: My home lies deep within the eastern foothills of the Rakatal Mountains, which mark the extent of the empire in that direction. From them flows the icy cold, Rakatal River, it continues down through the valley and through the Imperial City before dissapearing into the dense forests beyond.

The Imperial City itself is vast, dangerous and the center of everything, I visited there often to sell my produsebefore Emperor Denilk was overthrown by the invaders. The new Emperor who has claimed the throne there rules cruely and viciously. My family was murdered as an example to others when his great army swept across the land. The Imperial City is walled on all sides by a paliside wall, within that there are packed streets with houses until they brush up against the enormous stone walls of the Imperial Fortress. Within those the nobles live with there families and there are the stables and barrackses for his armys. The inner most part of the city is the Keep, it is a single structure shaped like a rectangle, towering up above the entire city. It is visible even from my former home with the new Flag being flown as a symbol of his power.

Outside the city's paliside walls the farmers live, in fact all that is to be seen between that paliside wall and the foothills is one huge expance of farmland, interupted only by the Rakatal River itself. In which the tower Belanser on a small island, it serves as a watch tower, and I know that it is heavily armed, once I saw great flaming objects fly from it's top and land with an explosion right in the center of a rebellious mob. We will be much more secretive... until the time is right.

 

a summary of the events in part one

what has happened so far...

My A New power RPG is nearing the end of its Exposition, throwing the people into an all-out war for cntrol of the Empire. We desperatly need members, sign up here. If you join feel free to play as the leader of a nearby province, willing to try to take over the Empire yourself with YOUR army. I ask that you start out reletively non-powerful and progress in the game.

 

basically, Quarian has established his alliance and they have hired mercanaries and/or brought peasants to their side. IT was the night before their planned attack when they found that someone else had beat them to it. I placed various clues and forshadowing to that plot twist that I don't need to mention. Now my character is injured and trapped in the Imperial city as the invaders begin their sweep through the streets. But a defence has arrived and a battle for the city itself is imminent, if not happening.

 

 

Back in the intro thread...

 

Evening, Emperors Council Chambers

 

Quarian looks across the oaken table at Aseir, waiting for him to speak. Thrin had found his way to the table also, forming a strange melting pot of people.

 

Vengul, a traveling foreigner, Thrin, a freelancer seeking revenge upon his enemies, Aseir, A Habassan general, Kataiyo, a dojo student, Akechi, the young man who had saved Quarians own life.

 

"Where is Alenee B'Elen?" Quarian directied this question to Aseir, "Has she fallen?"

 

Not knowing who Alenee was, much less if she was alive or not, Thrin said nothing. And while he sympathized for them should their close ally be lost, he frankly didn't feel any emotion for or against the person. Had he known them maybe he would feel different, but he had other things on his mind.

 

He dimly remembered passing out, and then being moved from the courtyard in broken flashes. He remembered seeing a lot of blood, but wether it was his or someone elses he didn't remember. Everything then seemed so different.

 

But he clearly remembered the voice. Unlike the dream, which he had forgotten when he woke, the voice then stayed with him.. He only knew one of the words, surrender. The fact that he only knew that one word was not only perplexing, but frightening. He dared not think of what may have happened had he surrendered.

 

None the less, he had been bandaged in short order, and had a moderate rest, but was still weary. A medic had told him that it was from loosing so much blood in the battle, and he hardly doubted that, but it was more then just weakness. It was the fatigue of the battle, and the adrenaline letdown.

 

It was a wonder that he had made it up to the Emporer's council hall, by all standards he probably should have been dead in that battle.. It was more of a wonder that he was even alive. True, it would take a bit to recover from the battle, but the mere fact that he had an opportunity to recover amazed him.

 

He knew why he never liked open combat, this only proved his resoning. He'd much rather harrass an army with a small group of men than fight them in an all out meat grinder. He could accomplish much more using his tactics, he figured, even a much larger army would fall if you were careful and conservative. Dead was dead, and that ment that you had to use your head in war. If you didn't, by one means or another you would find yourself dead.

 

As he thought about all this, Thrin leaned back in his chair, resting his head on his cloak which he had draped over his chair. He was mildly comfortable, save for his left arm, which throbbed painfully underneath the layers of bandages. He had some around his chest and abdomen as well where he had been grazed by weapons and hadn't noticed. They weren't as bad, but still required tending lest they become infected.

 

Because of all the bandages, and because it reeked of blood, he no longer was wearing his shirt, revealing his musculature between bandages and on his right arm. He wasn't brawny or overly bulky, but sturdily built and well conditioned for speed. In combat, speed was life.

 

He had on a pair of slacks though, a fresh pair that had been provided by a soldier that had helped Akechi and Armenia move Thrin. The help was more out of courtesy then nessesity, but when he saw the condition of Thrin's body and clothing, he had readily offered anything that he could to help. Thrin silently prayed a thank you for the man, it wasn't much, but the pants were more protection against the weather then bandages, and they were rather comfortable.

 

Thrin drummed his fingers lightly on the table while he waited for the conversation to progress to something more interesting. It wasn't that he didnt care, but he was bored, like a child in church waiting for the bell to toll and for the people to shuffle out of the building, though the preacher continued to drone on. A child often had difficulty keeping still in such situations, and this was the case with Thrin now.

 

His mind was again brought out of the room, he thought about how he came to be in the room. He had originally been looking for the soldier he had borrowed his sword from. The man was dead. He had taken an arrow to the chest, and by the look on the corpses face, one of the mercinaries said, it had been a total surprise. Thrin had returned the sword then by burying it. Again, Thrin found he could only symapthize in thought, but was numb in heart.

 

The two other blades he had kept for himself, seeing as they belonged to dead men. After he had awoken - and gained some of his strength back from a herbal tea one of the doctors had provided - Thrin had inspected and cleaned the weapons. The hunting knife was a brilliant weapon. More finely crafted then he had thought. And the longsword was decent. The blade was sharp and even, well balanced but not perfect, and it was sound. While Thrin admired the work on the knife, the sword was his best freind in the past battle, and he had become accustomed to it.

 

Thinking of the blades though.. He remembered how gruesome the battle had been. He remembered the dance with death, the danger, he reveled in the thought. Combat was exquisite, pain, pleasure, fury, anger, it was a swirling vortex of emotion, of action and reaction. Of death.

 

A cold shiver of dread ran down his spine as he remembered the voice again. The cold deathlike sound. Worse though, was when it had seemed like he was saying the words. An icy chill ripped through him.

 

He heard it again.

 

Ish garrahd neen faalt. Noshukahn derinve harra. Jensu khelhon nefarthu.

 

He blocked the voice out of his mind and immediatly began to think of other things. He attempted to drown the voice with his other thoughts. It seemed to work for the moment and he focused on the task at hand. The icy chill hadn't left, but at least the voice was not bothering him at the moment.

 

ooc: alright, characters continue with this meeting, most likely following me and peregrines lead, only because things turned out that way in part one. empires: begin mobalizing your troops, get yourselves introduced by messengers on horseback or ships up the rakatal river or whatever. It won't be too long until the next attack!!

 

 

edit:fixed quote tags

-Peregrine

[Shadow of the Fallen]

OOC: Seems like I haven't posted in an age. I was on vaction last week in the Smokey Mountains. For an entire week I was locked up in a log cabin, miles (1) away from the nearest sign of civilization (Pigeon Forge, TN) and without any modern conveinences (save cable TV and a can opener).

 

At least I have received word that MY computer has been fixed, and I should be able to pick it up this afternoon. The man on the phone mentioned something about multiple viruses and craploads of spyware. Go figure.

 

And without delay, let the meeting resume!!!

 

IC:

 

No sooner had Thrin banished the wave of icy dread then another swept over him. But this time it was not the voice that caused it, but the distant sound of horns that pricked his ears to attention. It was almost as if an illusion of the sound had been playing over his ears rather than the real thing, a sound conjured from his imagination and the fear of the inevitable. The second trumpet, closer this time, dispelled the notion with reality as Thrin realized he was not the only one who heard it.

 

He could catch only a wild glimpse of fear in those still seated as he lept to his feet, spinning on his heel to face a door to the northern ramparts. Wordlessly, he left the others, dashing out the door with less concern for his wounds then he'd had since the last battle. Fear clutched at him with every step as he bounded a flight of stairs three at a time. Before he reached the top he could feel the cold stone shake and the rumble that echoed over the fortress with each foot fall of an advancing army on march.

 

A stolen glance downward at the courtyard yeilded a view of the massing forces as the poured out of buildings and into the small grassy feild, behind the main gate. The sight was little comfort, the men were still weary, many were still injured. The would be little they could do if the army was as large as it sounded. Every beat of their march drove pain, fear, and adrenaline deeper into Thrin's veins as he struggled to reach the summit of the steps and gain sight of the advancing army.

 

When he did, the sight drove him to he knees.

 

(If you would like, jump up there with him, but don't describe the sight of the army, thats my job for now. ;) )

[ensis]

(OOC: Don't mind if I do jump in with ya. :D)

 

Akechi remembered back to when he and Alenee first met, and what a finely crafted bow she had with her. He remembered that night around the campfire, when a patrol investigated it and they took cover. Akechi silently hoped she would be okay. He then looked at Aseir expecting a response soon from him.

 

As quickly as he looked at Aseir, Akechi's eyes were immediately redirected to the sound of a distant blast of a horn. After a second, closer response from the horn, Akechi looked over to see Thrin leap from his seat, seemingly coming alive and forgetting his wounds. Akechi followed suit and chased after him to the outer ramparts.

 

Akechi ran to help Thrin as he fell to his knees, but once he saw why Thrin dropped he almost did himself. Akechi put his hand in the crook of Thrin's shoulder and helped him up. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked up again. Then he drew his bow.

[Peregrine]

(a few minuites earlier)

 

"Where is Alenee B'Elen? Has she fallen?"

 

The question, and the sign that the meeting had finally begun, brought Aseir's attention back to the table. He held his response a moment, considering how to reply without giving away any potentially damaging information. If these men learned of the full extent of Habassan involvement in the Empire.... he shook his head slightly, burrying the thought. They were allies, and his paranoia was most likely unnecessary. Finally, he looked back to Quarian.

 

"No, not fallen... just needed elsewhere. Alenee's job here is done. She was a scout, and as you can see," he waved a hand in the direction of the two well armed and armored pikemen behind his chair, "the present business is one of armies not scouts. Forgive me if I say no more, but her present activities are not public knowledge."

 

Any reply that the others might have made was cut off by Thrin's sudden departure. Then Aseir realized the full significance of the trumpets: they definitely weren't from his men, and if the army he had come to aid didn't recognize them.....

 

The chair had barely hit the floor when Aseir and his guards disappeared out the door, close behind Akechi.

[Shadow of the Fallen]

OOC: At this point, don't kill what I am doing yet MDRud216. You know me, just play it out until things fall into place.

 

The view from the ramparts was at once horrific and glorious. For beyond the outer city walls was a force of uncomprehensible size. Were it a flock of birds, the sky would have been shrouded for miles, just as they shrouded the northern country as far as the eye could see.

 

Another resounding trumpet split the silence with a sound of such magnitude that it shook the foundations of the city as they began to pour in. They filled the streets in a matter of moments, flowing into every crevice like a rush of water. They waved blood-stained banners in triumph, and blasted their horns in defiance. Every footfall shook the earth in its passing, ever closer and ever louder. The shear force of numbers far outweighed what forces were left alive within the fortress, the army was as a vast populace of a thriving nation.

 

But Thrin, supported by Akechi, was not looking at the vastness of the army. And he hadn't fallen at the power of the sound. His eyes remained steadily locked on a small contingent of armored calvary comprised of less then fifty men. Each carried a banner, either green or yellow or orange, and all stained in blood. They were surrounded by a legion of maybe twice their number on foot, each with a pike.

 

"Akechi, stow away your bow," he whispered dryly, as if too deep in wonder to raise his voice, "give the order to stand down. The men of Ganuros would slaughter us to a man if we were to fight them." He shifted his weight and leaned against the crenilation (sp?) as the men below surrounded the fortress on all sides, keeping a safe distance. Most were unarmed with real weapons, rather, they had farm tools. Pickaxes, hoes, pitchforks, and crude clubs were in abundance, though they were less than underequiped. Their numbers, however, spread beyond sight in all directions.

 

Those who were armed formed a solid line at the Northern section of the circle that had encased the complex. As if by the gods' command, every horn in the army was blown. What was produced was a deafening sound beyond comprehension, and in the searing clarity of that single, crystal clear note the forward line moved ahead. First the armored calvary, and then their acompaining foot soldiers.

 

When the noise died out and people began to hear once more, a stocky, armorclad horseman stepped forward from the line of calvary, and with a gesture over his shoulder, he said, "Thrin Arigante, for so long, you have struggled for a revolution in Ganuros. Now, the old goverment is dead at the hands of those who shared your vision. The seeds of your rebellion have blossomed, and now your countrymen have come to embrace their true leader!"

 

With the words "true leader" the entire countryside burst into a joyous shout that drove Thrin once more to his knees. And in that moment one could see the shimmer of tears on his face.

[MDRud216]

'that is understood, Aseir..."was the reply that trailed off with the sounds of an army's horns. Quarian followed Aseir and Akechi through the oaken door and soon what would have been a coucil was empty, its participants running for the battlements.

 

Quarian burst outside behing aseir as a man spoke words of acknoledgement to Thrin and the army erupted in cheer moments afterward. Quarian aproaches the kneeling thrin from behind and lowers himself to his level beside him, "It seems as though you have come to my country to bestow the same that you had given to your own... I would like to hear your story." Even as he said this he looked in awe out over Galor's surrounding farmland, most of it a charred black before all sight of it had been veiled by the arrival of this army from the (ooc: insert direction, north, east, west all are mountainous, but passible, south is the river valley). Quarian turned to aseir, trying to catch his expression.

[Shadow of the Fallen]

OOC: If it helps, MDRud, they came from the north and pretty much just swarmed around the place, where ever there is a random scrap of land, there is a soldier standing upon it.

 

IC:

 

Thrin forced himself to his feet, aided by the short, crenilated (again, sp) wall. His left hand clutched his stomach, over one of the bandages, and he used the other to hold himself upright as he peered over the side of the fortress to the small gathering below. Already, he was trying to remember where he had seen them before exactly, but he couldn't tell who was who underneath the platemail helmets.

 

"You bring me an army you say?" he called down, "It looks more as though you have brought the entire country to me!"

 

While the remark was sarcastic, the man that had stepped forward slid off his horse with a smile. "I brought you three."

 

The voice was unmistakable that time, Thrin knew for sure it had to be his friend Altarus. An old smuggler with a mind for axes. Sure enough he bore a large waraxe over his shoulder, and a shortsword at his hip. If Thrin ever had any friends, this was the one.

 

"I thought you were dead. Just as the rest of my countrymen. What changed your mind?"

 

Again, the man below smiled with satisfaction, gesturing once more behind himself with a sweeping arc of his hand. "The coals needed time to warm up the steel. And as for my being dead, we shall speak of that later."

 

"Fair enough, will those three countries be alright by themselves or are you babysitting again?" Thrin's tone was mocking, the conversation had quickly become a reunion between old friends and some hidden meaning was in his words. He looked over his shoulder at the others, gathered behind him, and let the broad smile he was wearing wilt. His dark mood seemed to return quickly, as usual. "We have business to discuss, right now there is no time for this," he signaled a nearby soldier, which rushed over to him quickly sensing a renewed urgency in his voice, "I want the main gate opened and the ones in charge let in, leave it opened to allow runners from the forces outside. Make the commanders are at ease, but post guards to watch them. Be plain about it, Altarus will know if anyone is sneaking around, so keep everything in the open or they'll think the worst. The army must stay outside the gates, let only the runners pass." He dismissed the soldier then, but caught him just before he was out of earshot, "post an extra round of guards at all entrances to the council chambers and do be secretive with that."

 

At last he turned to the others, "let us return to our meeting. You have my apologies for the interuption, though I am glad my homeland will be joining our cause.. Do not get comfortable with their numbers, they will not all remain." And with that, he stalked back toward the council chambers, but with slightly more care for his wounds.

[MDRud216]

Quarian leaves the battlements, taking another, longer route, as he was fairly sure that the important part of the council would be delayed. He walked left, opposite thrin who had disapeared quickly trough a nearby that led off the wall to their right. Quarain followed the ramparts until he had turned the corner onto the western ramparts, farthest from the eastern facing main gate into the castle complex.

 

looking southeast over the intact section of Golar he saw the Rakatal River gleaming orange with the light of the setting sun. The same light shrowded all the city and the rooftops to the south and east glowed beutifully. He paused a moment in the flooding orange light of the western sun, nestled in the mountains beyond the Rakatal forest which sloped up into the foothills of the range itself and peared out over the city and the blackened feilds beyond its palaside wall. To the south the path of the invaders was clear, he traced it from te breach in the outer wall through the still smoking sections of city and below veiw to the very southern walls of the fortress. To the northeast he could see an outer regiment of the force that had arrived. Quarain took a deep breath.

[ObsidianKnight]

"With duty, honor. With honor, glory."

 

One of the generals of the Galoric empire draws his sword, and lays it to rest on Armiena's shoulder. She was dressed in full armor, immaculately polished. The plate mail was gleaming like a beacon. The general lifts his sword and lays it to rest on Armiena's right shoulder. It clinks slightly as it meets the pauldron.

 

"Here do I swear fealty and service to Galor, and to the Emperor of the Realm, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plenty, in peace and war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, until my Emperor release me, or death take me, or the world end. So say I, Armiena son of Ravel." The speech was just memorized BS, stuff Armiena had memorized years ago when she had joined the Legions for the first time.

 

The look of surprise on many of the Galoric troops she had fought alongside with was priceless. Despite her "death", a murderer that was wanted throughout the Galoric Empire had risen from the ashes to fight for the empire she had shamed with her crimes. A few minutes after the battle, she was forcibly brought before one of her former commanders for what she had assumed to be judgement.

 

Instead, it was to thank her and reinstate her to her post as a Captain in the Legions. The ceremony began as soon as she could get dressed in full armor. Apparently they knew that this was an offer she wouldn't refuse.

 

"Welcome back, Captain Ravel," the general said, deviating slightly from tradition. He lifted his sword, and offered it to her, letting it hang. Armiena gazed at the symbol of a lion engraved into its hilt for a moment, then rose to take the sword.

 

"I will not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given: fealty with love, valor with honor, oath-breaking," he paused dramatically, thinking the obvious, "with vengeance." Armiena slid the sword back into her sheathe.

 

"Your unit is marching with all possible speed from the East. Your immediate orders..." he hands her a scroll, and she leaves the hall to read them.

 

Defend the Imperial City at all costs..., the scroll reads simply.

 

 

OOC: Yes, this is an (altered) copy of the conversation between Peregrin and Denethor. I edited the post to make it a better read. Thanks Tolkien.

[ensis]

Akechi remained silent throughout the whole affair, from finding out that this mass of people were loyal to Thirin, to returning to the council table. Such a large number of people had come, in battle they would overpower that of Aesir's and Quarain's small armies.

 

(OOC: Sorry for the small post, I'm kind of at a loss for words.)