"No," says a voice from behind Eudoxa. They turn to see Alpida, who is pushing aside the Kristina tending to her and carefully getting to her feet. "Karthon is in my employ and Kestrel is a fellow servant of the Black Knight. They are under my protection."
Kestrel sighs gratefully and wipes his forehead.
Eudoxa stares at her for a moment, and then says, "You understand what you are doing?"
Alpida looks back at her defiantly. "I do."
Eudoxa nods. "Very well. Then I, Eudoxa, Stretigo Numos, hereby declare you Orato ki Anikost. You are stripped of all rights and holdings under our law and are no longer welcome in our lands. Any possessions granted to you by our people must be abandoned and any personal possessions must be collected within twenty-four hours, or they will be confiscated. Your name will be removed from all records and any titles you hold may be reassigned."
On the hill overlooking the fields of battle, the forces of the Black Unicorn form up under their banners. The force consists of 100 Blackstone Knights atop their powerful Unicorns, 50 trained mercenaries, and 100 ill-equipped peasant folk. The mercenaries are told to form up with the peasants, and each mercenary is tasked with making sure two peasants stay in ranks and use their weapons correctly. Sir Alister Madel rides at the head of the infantry. The Knights form a wedge in front of them with Lord Ulrich von Zweihand at the head.
Lord Ulrich rides back to the mercenaries and the peasants and addresses them, "Men of the south! You march under my banner but you do not march for me; you march for yourselves! For your own freedom! We are in the business of liberation! First, we liberate the south from the accursed invaders, then we liberate Sylvania from those who would use it ill, then we liberate your lands in the north where you will live, farm and prosper! No oaths you have taken to serve under me, for I do not compel you to stay; rather your dream of a better life shall compel you! Now go! Fulfill your dreams, fulfill your desires! Fight for the Black Unicorn, fight for your Freedom!"
The lord rides back to the head of his cavalry and bids his bannerman to sound the horn. The unicorns lower their heads, and the knights ride forth, thundering down the hill towards the Xain army. Sir Alister bids the infantry forth as well, and the footmen charge down the hill in pursuit of the knights. The Black Unicorn has gone to war.
The Xains, unprepared for this new attack, initially have trouble holding the line, but they slowly begin to regain their form. Before they can fully recover, however, one of the dragons flies over to help the attackers, again causing the Xain formation to weaken.
The wedge of knights powers through the front lines like a knife through butter; none can withstand a unicorn and a knight on its back. Once several ranks deep in the formation, however, the knights turn sharply left and then back out of the Xain line to prevent getting bogged down in the close-quarters fighting.
Then, the infantry line strikes; not nearly as effective as the Zweihand Knights, the infantry only strikes areas that the riders have already been, mopping up the broken formations with their crude pikes and swords. The mercenaries earn their pay, serving both as commanders and deadly warriors. However, the small infantry will be vulnerable to a concentrated Xain counterattack.
The Xains, unprepared for this new attack, initially have trouble holding the line, but they slowly begin to regain their form. Before they can fully recover, however, one of the dragons flies over to help the attackers, again causing the Xain formation to weaken.
The wedge of knights powers through the front lines like a knife through butter; none can withstand a unicorn and a knight on its back. Once several ranks deep in the formation, however, the knights turn sharply left and then back out of the Xain line to prevent getting bogged down in the close-quarters fighting.
Then, the infantry line strikes; not nearly as effective as the Zweihand Knights, the infantry only strikes areas that the riders have already been, mopping up the broken formations with their crude pikes and swords. The mercenaries earn their pay, serving both as commanders and deadly warriors. However, the small infantry will be vulnerable to a concentrated Xain counterattack.
The Xains seem to lack the organization to mount a strong counterattack. Some make attempts, but it is not enough to pose a serious threat.
OOC: I'll just assume Amion keeps fighting until something new happens.
The arrival of new allies causes some of the Xains' attention to turn away from their other enemies, providing an opportunity for Amion, Darthraxx, and the Kriatoma to gain some ground.
The wedge of knights powers through the front lines like a knife through butter; none can withstand a unicorn and a knight on its back. Once several ranks deep in the formation, however, the knights turn sharply left and then back out of the Xain line to prevent getting bogged down in the close-quarters fighting.
Then, the infantry line strikes; not nearly as effective as the Zweihand Knights, the infantry only strikes areas that the riders have already been, mopping up the broken formations with their crude pikes and swords. The mercenaries earn their pay, serving both as commanders and deadly warriors. However, the small infantry will be vulnerable to a concentrated Xain counterattack.
The Xains seem to lack the organization to mount a strong counterattack. Some make attempts, but it is not enough to pose a serious threat.
After the infantry meets the main body if the Xain force, Sir Alister calls for them to hold a line with their pikes. A few moments later, Lord Ulrich leads his cavalry back into the Xain force on the very left flank of his infantry, and forming a wedge, weakening a whole new section of the Xain force, and opening it up for the infantry to advance and deal with the disorganized left-overs. The Knights, once again, retreat back from the battle and form up behind their infantry.
It is using these cyclical tactics that Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister plan to make the most of their untrained infantry; the peasants and mercenaries are only making advances on companies of Xains softened and scattered by the cavalry charge. Likewise, the cavalry charges are always short-lived and retreat quickly, allowing the Knights to contract few casualties and allowing the most to be made of their small numbers.
Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister have their Black Unicorn banners raised high so show any Lion Knights, Dragon Knights or others that their force is not adversarial.
The arrival of new allies causes some of the Xains' attention to turn away from their other enemies, providing an opportunity for Amion, Darthraxx, and the Kriatoma to gain some ground.
The Xains seem to lack the organization to mount a strong counterattack. Some make attempts, but it is not enough to pose a serious threat.
After the infantry meets the main body if the Xain force, Sir Alister calls for them to hold a line with their pikes. A few moments later, Lord Ulrich leads his cavalry back into the Xain force on the very left flank of his infantry, and forming a wedge, weakening a whole new section of the Xain force, and opening it up for the infantry to advance and deal with the disorganized left-overs. The Knights, once again, retreat back from the battle and form up behind their infantry.
It is using these cyclical tactics that Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister plan to make the most of their untrained infantry; the peasants and mercenaries are only making advances on companies of Xains softened and scattered by the cavalry charge. Likewise, the cavalry charges are always short-lived and retreat quickly, allowing the Knights to contract few casualties and allowing the most to be made of their small numbers.
Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister have their Black Unicorn banners raised high so show any Lion Knights, Dragon Knights or others that their force is not adversarial.
The dragons focus their attacks on Xains just behind the front lines to prevent them from aiding those in the front.
After the infantry meets the main body if the Xain force, Sir Alister calls for them to hold a line with their pikes. A few moments later, Lord Ulrich leads his cavalry back into the Xain force on the very left flank of his infantry, and forming a wedge, weakening a whole new section of the Xain force, and opening it up for the infantry to advance and deal with the disorganized left-overs. The Knights, once again, retreat back from the battle and form up behind their infantry.
It is using these cyclical tactics that Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister plan to make the most of their untrained infantry; the peasants and mercenaries are only making advances on companies of Xains softened and scattered by the cavalry charge. Likewise, the cavalry charges are always short-lived and retreat quickly, allowing the Knights to contract few casualties and allowing the most to be made of their small numbers.
Lord Ulrich and Sir Alister have their Black Unicorn banners raised high so show any Lion Knights, Dragon Knights or others that their force is not adversarial.
The dragons focus their attacks on Xains just behind the front lines to prevent them from aiding those in the front.
The Zweihand army continues this cycle aided by the dragons trying to break through the Xains surrounding the forest band (?)
Eudoxa stares at her for a moment, and then says, "You understand what you are doing?"
Alpida looks back at her defiantly. "I do."
Eudoxa nods. "Very well. Then I, Eudoxa, Stretigo Numos, hereby declare you Orato ki Anikost. You are stripped of all rights and holdings under our law and are no longer welcome in our lands. Any possessions granted to you by our people must be abandoned and any personal possessions must be collected within twenty-four hours, or they will be confiscated. Your name will be removed from all records and any titles you hold may be reassigned."
Eudoxa stares at her for a moment, and then says, "You understand what you are doing?"
Alpida looks back at her defiantly. "I do."
Eudoxa nods. "Very well. Then I, Eudoxa, Stretigo Numos, hereby declare you Orato ki Anikost. You are stripped of all rights and holdings under our law and are no longer welcome in our lands. Any possessions granted to you by our people must be abandoned and any personal possessions must be collected within twenty-four hours, or they will be confiscated. Your name will be removed from all records and any titles you hold may be reassigned."
"That's a bit... harsh. Isn't it?"
"That is the law. I stood against my people, so I can no longer be one of them."
"That is the law. I stood against my people, so I can no longer be one of them."
Kestrel nods, "Well, if you'll stand against your people... how do I know you won't stand against me some time during our companionship?" The elf places his hands on his hips, staring intently with his abnormal emerald-green eyes.
"That is the law. I stood against my people, so I can no longer be one of them."
Kestrel nods, "Well, if you'll stand against your people... how do I know you won't stand against me some time during our companionship?" The elf places his hands on his hips, staring intently with his abnormal emerald-green eyes.
"I am not one of them. I have not been one of them for some time. It is time I embraced the person who I have become. That means deciding who I stand with. I chose to stand with Valithor, and that means I chose to stand with you." Alpida returns his stare with her unbandaged eye, meeting its intensity. "I have just given up everything I was. If you attempt to jeopardize what I am now, I will destroy you. Otherwise, as long as you stand with Valithor, the Shadow Kingdom, and the kingdoms of the South, I stand with you."
Sig by Sam