FF/D&D Chapter 1, Title Not Withstanding

[Krylo]

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?

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The holy banner of Lex Legim flew proudly above its troops, the brilliant gold of the holy symbol of the church of Maskari giving courage and strength to the faithful amongst its troops. Despite the loss of over half of their troops to guerrilla attacks, the army was still over fifteen hundred strong, and they moved with the determination of holy fire for the cowardly murderers of their comrades, the heathen guerilla warriors of Licentius were camped nearby. Their scouts had finally found the fortress which had been harboring the Licentius military presence in this area.

A fortress from ancient times, thought to have been abandoned centuries ago, yet as the army grew closer the lights of a living city, and the sounds of humanity were obvious. Alarm bells rang, and it became obvious that the holy military had been spotted.

Licentius troops flooded out of repaired ancient gates, while archers and mages lined up on the battlements, preparing their spells and drawing their bowstrings, waiting for their opponents.

When the forces met, the sun had not yet risen.

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OOC: It SHOULD be obvious where you people are--depending upon your faction, and who you're fighting... again depending upon your faction.

[gurusloth]

Kai had been travelling for about two weeks, walking in whichever direction the roads took him, but always to new locales. After a few weeks, he met one of the many Lex Legim forces traversing the countryside and was promptly questioned as to his identity and destination. Kai, sensing that he was about to be forcibly recruited into the military, offered his services instead as a medical assistant, since he had some training in bandaging wounds and setting bones. The officer, low on trained physicians, accepted.

Three more days travel led Kai's unit to a formerly abandoned fortress, where the soldiers quickly formed into units and began to prepare for battle. Kai had yet to see action, but was nervous and jittery in anticipation of the clash between the two armies. Kai had offered his services as a medic to avoid having to take arms against men that he had no quarrel with, but he knew the opposing army might possibly attack the medical tent during the battle. He set his quarterstaff in the corner, in case he was forced to defend himself or the wounded men under his care.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

It was a dark night, an ominous feeling was in the air. Many men on this battlefield would never again see daylight. Many would likely fall to the minotaur who now strode out of the ancient, crumbling fortress to take his position on the battlefield. Men were rushing past Ultar, rushing to get into formation before the opposing force, but Ultar simply walked. There was no need for haste, not yet anyway, that would come later.

He reached the front line of the Licentius army and looked out towards the men of Lex Legim. In the darkness it was hard to make out too much of them and perhaps that was better, he would not need to look into their eyes when he killed them.

It was a pity, these men were only doing what they thought was right. They were given orders and they obeyed. But that was the life of the warrior, to go forth into battle, and kill or be killed.

He sensed that there were many skilled and powerful beings assembled on both sides, and that was good. Perhaps one of them would be good enough to take him down. Perhaps today would be his day to die. Perhaps he was one of those who would not see another sunrise.

He hefted the great battleaxe in his hands and pushed all thought from his mind. The time had come for battle to commence.

"May our deaths be honourable and noble, and may we all find peace in the halls of our fathers."

[TheBlindMime]

Nearly an hour before the mounting of the battle, when the Lex were still breaking camp to begin making their move a lone rider sped towards this command center atop his trusty chocobo. As he grew closer to the camp his armor revealed his identity to the few posted guard’s, all of whom were quick to shout. “It’s Darian, he’s returned from the mission!”

As the troops wandered from their duties to see the spectacle they were slow to see something was amiss, his movements were stiff and unyielding. As he drew into the torchlight though they all saw it, his armor dyed a dark crimson and his back so littered with arrow shafts he looked more akin to a porcupine then a man. Many of the men were new recruits, looking away and returning to their jobs hoping to burn the image from their mind.

A captain moved forward to steady the incoming chocobo, he failed to do so, simply because the beast seeming did so of its own accord. The chocobo reared back roughly tossing the rider from its saddle unceremoniously. Only then could the remaining crowd see him, a small Moogle clad in a dark steel armor just atop the chocobo’s back. He raised a salute to the Captain, “News from the front, Kupo!”

The captain, obviously taken aback took a moment for himself before replying, “What news have you soldier?”
“Might we speak over a meal, kupo.” The Moogle replied in his sing-song voice, rubbing his stomach thoroughly to illustrate his point.

No more then a moment passed before the moogle found himself in front of a table laden with a fresh plate of steak and eggs, a mead and a plate of highly stacked Kupo seeds. He was quick to begin stuffing his face with the seeds and overlook the rest of his offering. As his rushed hands spilt some over the table the captain began to speak, he raised his voice just a hair to be heard over the moogles frantic munching. “So moogle what say you about the enemy?”

The Moogle replied, his mouth so full he looked quite akin to a squirrel, “Welch, ash oi seash eet ‘he mnage’sh rrr shthrong, kupo” He swallowed hard just in time to finish his sentence. “When he and I, your soldier and I that is, kupo, came under fire, not a single mage cast upon us kupo.”

“I’m not sure what you mean moogle.”

The moogle popped another seed before continuing, “When we got too close to the enemy fortress your man had spotted before finding me on his way back here the group fired on us, kupo. While there were many archers, mages and warriors only the archers attacked us, kupo. You see now, kupo.”

The captain nodded a yes with a definitive lack of understanding.

The moogle sighed, “The warriors stepping back for the archers makes sense, kupo. But mages stepping back for archers, I think not kupo.” Another seed found its way into his mouth, “Wait, kupo. You aren’t surprised about the fortress kupo.”
The captain smiled confidently towards the small moogle. “While Darian was a good man he was not our best, nor our only scout. Though your knowledge is beneficial, it would be best that you made your way home. War isn’t suited well for your people.”

“Hmph, kupo. I’m a dark knight, kupo. Not a war on this earth that isn’t suited for me, kupo!” With that the moogle stood up defiantly on the tables bench, opened a small sack stuffed it full of seeds and then made his was out of the tent.
After a moment of staring after the dark knight moogle he sidled over to the steak and eggs. No point in skipping breakfast before a battle.

Now just moment before the battle was about to begin an armored moogle stood amongst his fellow soldiers at the front lines, half a greatsword on his shoulder and a seed in his mouth.

[Mintaro]

Parn kept a swift pace through along the ground. His eyes piercing the weak starlight as though they were the sun. Parn laughed inwardly. "Stars being like the sun? That was silly." Off in the distance he heard the trumpeting sound of war horns. His ears shot up for a second and he'd have wagged his tail had it not been asleep on his back. Then he recognised it as a Lec horn. Then farther in the distance he heard an answering call. This time his tail did wag much to Shriek's hissing irritation. Parn apologized to his counterpart.

He picked up his pace. Finally after a week of wandering he would be reunited with his countrymen. Even better though, was the thrill of the battle that would await him on his arrival. Plus the satisfaction that he would come upon the rear of the Lic's. Soon many evil dogs would fall to his might.

He could make out the Ruins of a building that looked to have been made into a makeshift fort. In the distance he could hear the sounds of battle. Clearly this was the place. On the walls many archers and a few mages stood. Watching the rear. Parn crouched down in some brush. Sure it was dark but that wouldn't stop many races from seeing him. He slowly began creeping closer to the back wall. Moving from bush to bush.

[Tarrin]

Harlequin swept back into the air, his wings beating softly against the cooling air of the night.
The moon hid this night aonly the soft glow from the stars over head iluminated the battlefield, the Lex army had begun their advance their armour glinting from the stars giving away their position even if Harlequin's elven eyes couldnt see in the blackness of night.

Moving his attention from the incoming army he scanned the Lic's own lines, they were being drawn up warriors on the ground ranking up while mages and archers lined the ramparts, soon the battle would begin.

Something caught Harlequins attention, flying to the rear of the castle he could have swarn he had seen a movement, but now he was here he could see nothing only scrub and a few of the normal animals of the night.
"You men" Harlequin called to the guards on the rear ramparts "Keep ypur eyes peeled we do not wish to be wedged between two fronts of attack" Satisfied that the guards were doing their job he took flight again.

At this height he could see the battle lines approaching, soon the battle would be joined and then he hoped his training would keep him safe, He knew that some of his fathers men were amongst the Lex forces and that he was their main target his only real fear was how many of the men on his side of the fight were on his fathers pay role?

[Inbred Chocobo]

Ingram walked with a strange determination. The others around him walked that same determination, but looking into thier eyes, you could see a hint of fear of their deaths. Ingram however, only had focus. The forces were to meet within the minute as they marched closer, and soon everyone of these forces would meet.

However something bugged him. His logic dictated that he would be better suited somewhere in the farther regions, supporting with magic. Then when the forces managed to take out the front lines, he could move in with his blade. Yet here he was, skipping the whole magic support and going straight in with his blade.

Then he saw it. Hesitation of the kill. He saw it in everyone one the soldiers next to him. Not one of them wanted to throw the first blow to start this massive battle. No one wanted to pull a trigger which would end up killing thousands.

Ingram realized why he was stuck on the front lines. He held up his hand as the forces came closer. A ball of ice formed in front, and soon spikes came bursting out in one huge blast, sending the first attack at his foes.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Ultar saw the ice blast hurtling directly towards him and was unfazed. Men around him temporarily broke formation in order to avoid the sphere, but Ultar stood his ground.

At the very last second he raised his axe high above his head and struck downwards as the blast connected. His blade was a sharp as ever, and the frozen ball shattered into a million pieces. Ice shards scattered everywhere, some even stabbed into Ultars' chest, but they did not faze him either. Whoever had cast that spell was powerful. VERY powerful indeed. This pleased Ultar. There was at least one worthy foe on this field and Ultar hoped he could meet him in combat very soon.

For a second after the blast nothing happened. Absolute silence washed over the entire area. And then Ultar once again raised his weapon high in the air and let out a great roar in defiance of his enemies. The entire Licentius army followed suit as the line re-formed. The morale boost was all these men needed, because NOW they were psyched-up for battle. NOW they were ready and all fear left them. They would destroy the Lex scum, and they would do it with pleasure!

[TheBlindMime]

The sky was a clear deep black with the stars fading into a blue oblivion as the sun climbed ever higher, though it was still too low to shed light on the field far below the heavens, the one with electricity in the air and the thunder of battle roaring for miles around it.

Be it nerves or tactics, the mages had started early this battle, though their power was evident throughout. A blaze engulfed an entire wave of Lex soldiers, streaks of lightning cut down men of both sides all while blades of ice rained down from the heavens, or perhaps simply deflected from the axe of a minotaur.

Defensive lines were held, some were broken, chaos was wrapping itself around all the field’s inhabitants and those who were causing it reigned supreme. One of these overlords of chaos happened to be trudging through a freshly mage laid mound of snow and ice no taller then he, a petite three feet.

His sword was swung with great care, breaking bones and rending flesh as it did. Though his stature was small he found great ease in his attacks, striking points he found happily undefended. Their attention drawn forward to the threat in front of them and not to the one charging behind them with blade drawn. Furthermore, few men guard the backs of their thighs and ankles, his targets were open and welcoming to his blade.

Though his gambit was a risky one, many of the third and fourth filing Licentius soldiers had spotted the small form flitting back and forth down the line. As he made his way towards them they were ready, blades thrust down as the moogle leaped aside doing his best to keep the frantic pace he had built up running up and down the lines. Swords clamored down and around his head as he dived and ducked amongst, over and around them. His own blade’s swings stopped to quicken his pace, though it was set at the ready.

His job was done with these attempted assailants though, many of them finding they were cut down with their swords in the dirt and eyes on the escaping moogle. They all damned him, though it was not his sword that killed them, he was the one who had slain them.

Soon after the moogle slammed himself down, a small pocket free of fighting had formed their. Kneeling just behind a dying Licentius half-orc he took a moment to catch his breath, as it turned out the smell was atrocious. After killing him, he set his sword up against the corpse and pulled a waterskin from the it, “You won’t be needing this, kupo.” He took a large rewarding drink and wiped the dampness from his furry face with a smile. Tossing aside the still half-full skin, he surveyed the area next hoping to find his bearings and some more victims.

[Red Mage Black]

Naomi stood inside the encampment, watching outside as the battle commensed. She hoped that for some reason, she wouldn't need to be called out for extra help. It's not that she wasn't ready to help, but undecided that she wanted to risk certain death. Naomi smiled at those who remained inside. She enjoyed the company of extra people but didn't like what they may have been thinking.

The huge blast of ice came from the front of the Lex forces. Naomi drew back into the fort with the fear of being killed in the first attack. Yet, when she gazed out the window, one of the soldiers took charge and blasted away the ice, taking unflinching injury upon himself. His roar brought the troops together and once again Naomi was filled with hope.

Regaining her strength, she filtered out of the fort to watch the battle hoping that she may be able to help someone.