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The patrol report that probably got Valtameri that promotion up to Corporal.
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This day, the Day of Freedom, the Month of the Grand Struggle, the city of
Verminasia seems to be calm, aside from a few interlopers quickly dealt
with. However, there was some... Difficulty to the south of the city where
my patrols run. Riding through the forests surrounding our walls, I came
across a group of soldiers moving away from the Siege. From their dressings
it was obvious they were Paladins and a single Sorceress of the Castle
Ravencrest. As it appeared odd that the four of them would leave the
battlefield and be so far west of their castle, I addressed them, demanding
their names and what they were about so near our gates. The two leading,
one a burly blond, the other shorter and fairer of face shared a glance
before charging, blades drawn.
I had a moment of surprise before the Sorceress let loose a blast of magic,
hitting the thick armor on my left shoulder. The strength of the blow was
surprisingly immense and left me barely a second of time to draw my own
blades before the pair of Paladins met me. The first swung wide, my mount
sidling out of the way an allowing me to catch him in the back with my
longsword, nicely slicing open his already worn armor. A sharp pain just
below my ribs pulled my attention to my other side where the shorter man had
struck me beneath my breast-plate, piercing my flesh. A sharp pain just below my ribs pulled my attention to my other side where the shorter man had
struck me beneath my breast-plate, piercing my flesh. I growled softly, my
blood trailing down his broadsword as I raised my sabre to strike him in his
light blinded eye. Another blast from the woman struck my chest, throwing
my arm back and thrusting my breath from my chest. It was moments or
seconds before I could force my lungs to draw it back in. My horse took it
upon herself to throw her head over and sink her jaws into the man's
shoulder. He yelped, ripping his weapon from my side to arch it at her
neck. Unfortunately, he met my sabre instead and my boot met his face.
I felt another puncture blossomed on my right thigh, planted by the first
Paladin. My longsword quickly moved to respond, cutting his chest from
hipbone to clavicle. He blinked in surprise, blood dying his white doublet
maroon as another stroke rended his head from his neck. Heat burst across
my arm, searing the draped chainmail into my skin. Pain rushed across my
flesh, scorching through my nerves. I groaned, throwing my focus to the
Sorceress, stygian pools seeking her cerulean ones. I saw her, shoving at
the third Paladin who shook his head, spittle dribbling from his lips as he
trembled. The sound of someone climbing to their feet snatched my
attention, forcing me to swing my horse to face the second man once more.
He froze, his half raised blade already dripping with my blood as fear clouded his eyes. It was an understandable fear for I soon sent his
lifeblood to join his companion's in the dirt.
A final blast of power thundered into my back, thrusting a yowl and a
mist of crimson from my lips. I pressed my knee into the charger's side and
she pivoted around to face the remaining two. The woman gasped at the sight
of my face, her hand lowering. The final man whimpered softly, raising his
bastard sword. I hissed through my teeth, blood flowing out with my breath
in a cloud of red. The woman, fear crawling over her face, grasped the
Paladin once more, shoving him forward with more strength than she had used
before. He stumbled, then, seeming to find some strength in whatever depth
of his mind he retreated to, rushed forward with a hollow cry. Sadly, his
new-found courage was pointless. With a subtle cue, the horse beneath me
reared up, flashing out her steel-shod hooves to crush his skull in a burst
of scarlet liquid. With a shrill whiny, the animal bounded forward, over
the still falling corpse as my blades rose once more. The Sorceress was
left enough time to scream before I sent her from this world to face the
judgement that awaited her in the next.
Before I returned to the city, I made a point of crucifying their corpses on
emblems of Necrucifer. They would be a message, a declaration to the rest
of their breed. Light cannot hide from Darkness. It cannot escape it. And
it can never defeat it.
It will take some time for my wounds to heal, but I shall return to my watch as soon as I am fit for the service. And, I shall return to my training,
for the next time this happens, I will not allow myself to be so easily
damaged.
May the Darkness bless you and protect you from the Blinding Light.
Servant Soldier Valtameri Turael
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© LKW
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