Murder Of Crows

[Raptorious 1899]

The men of Renatus gathered in the courtyard of Kaer Angren, awaiting the coming Storm. It was not a storm of wind, or rain, or furious thunder. Rather, it was a storm that had been built for many years, upon the vapor of tyranny and the breeze of resistance that had now risen into a furious tempest. The Storm King had unleashed a reckoning upon the men of the Empire, and today is when the first thunderclap would resound.

It was in the heat of the afternoon when the Knights and Bannermen conglomerated, sweltering in their bulky armor. They stood, shoulders straight, back upright, swords sheathed and quivers full. They were  Varodyr, Horen, Briarwood, Valois, Silverblade and many others. Heartlanders, all of them, allied against the great ravenous hunger for rot that was the Carrion. With the beating of drums, fingers tightened against sword pommels. Thoughts raced across the minds of nervous squires, who knew not the signals of warfare. The more experienced veterans smiled, with a chuckle here and there. The Rex of the Orcs, Rusk Dom the Liberator and his Iron Horde marched up the hill to the bridge of Angren. Allies had arrived. With the clinking and stomping of a great force the Northerners came across the bridge into Kaer Angren, shouting a chant of battle in the Waldenian tongue. At their head was the mighty Konig, Voron Rovin the Hammer, veteran of the Great War, and the Wars of the Faith. For most of his life he had fought the Carrions and the enemies of humanity.

The Konig gave a firm nod to General Ocran as he entered, which the good General returned. It was a stern, yet welcoming nod. With the permission granted, the Konig formed up his men and awaited the Storm King, Maric Varodyr. There was a sudden murmuring in the crowd as King Maric appeared. It was the hush that falls before a great hurricane, when the entire world holds its breath. The Storm King placed a gentle hand on his wife’s arm, a reassuring touch. He would not die this day. His wife, Queen Ayana, ever dutiful, kissed him and then stepped away.

King Maric Varodyr, Lord of Storms and paragon of the Heartlanders, approached the gathered legions of rebels at a brisk pace, adorned in his garments of war. A jagged crown upon his helm, the Stormlord casted a formidable shadow, his cloak waving in the wind akin to the feathers of a falcon. Inspiring, powerful words escaped his lips.

“Renatians, Waldenians, Sons of Horen alike… We gather here, our blades sharp and our wits sharper, to defy the Ruskan invaders their victory. Here, at the foot of Angren, our home, we gather to slaughter the enemies of our Heartlander ways and the utopia we seek to create.”

Pivoting on his heel, the Stormlord marched, studying the gathered warriors with his right fist raised. The legions before him raised their fists in unison, chanting hymns of valor and the victory to come. General Ocran, the Justiciar Gawain Briarwood, and the Storm Queen herself approached King Maric, standing tall at his side. As he spoke once more, the warriors quieted down to hear their King.

“Steel yourselves, men of Renatus, Aesterwald. Ready your blades and your bows. The bloodshed this day will prove testament to the inferiority of the Carrion dynasty. This day, the Falcon and the Eagle will decimate the Crow.”

Maric paused, unsheathing Fragarach, the Hurricane's Fist. He studied the divine weapon, before raising it skyward. A subtle, parting comment escaped him.

“Let’s kill some crows!”

Shouts and cheers rose in a cacophany from the army, their numbers were legion, their skill was honed. They had a truly righteous leader. Nothing could stop them. With a great stamping of feet, the glittering sea of iron and steel poured from the mouth of Angren.

“Archers, take positions along the bridge!” shouted Maric, leading the infantry to the hill, (dubbed Crow’s Death Mountain after the battle) and positioning them in accordance with what was required. The Konig gave a nod to the King of Renatus and took his own men to the bottom of the bridge to the mighty fortress. He would hold the lower line against the Raevir forces. The Waldenians nocked arrows, arranged in a line straight and true as their hearts. Scouts were sent out. Some returned, others did not. One, panting and out of breath, ran up to the Storm King.

“Majesty, they have set up an ambush in the trees.”

King Maric laughed. “They think to set a trap for us? Think they that we be so foolish as to abandon our own home to attack them? We are no rabid dogs such as they are. We wait.” And wait they did. Proving their arrogance once more, the Empire soon came charging down the road.

“Loose arrows!” roared Voron the Hammer. The whistle of a thousand bolts shrieked through the sky, cutting down the front rank of the Raevirs. Learning quickly that frontal assault was not wise, the Raevir retreated and regrouped, dividing into two separate forces. Each attempted to take the hills on either side, and each attempt was utterly dismantled. Once more the Imperials attempted to change their tactics. Thinking themselves cunning, they climbed up the western escarpment of Crow’s Death Mountain, and poured like a flowing river down the eastern side. They fired volley after volley of arrows at the Storm King and his forces, but to no avail. Proving themselves the most hearty of warriors, the Renatians and Waldenians did not run. Nay! They showed themselves true sons of Horen, and charged up the cold and bitter stone of the mountain with fury in their eyes! Though they lacked all uphill advantaged, the Imperials were shoved from the mountain like a speck of ash brushed aside from a coat, not once, but twice! So utterly defeated were the Imperial forces that they ran all the way back to Petrus, not stopping once for fear of the Stormland forces. The day was won by the Storm King, and his men.

 

Written by Watyll and Mthdominator (speech)

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

"Deus Magnus!"

[Zhulik 3559]

"Deus Magnus!"

[Aetosion 2062]

Ser Edward, Lord Korrektor of Aesterwald, smiles as the news is brought back to his accommodations in Ayr. He glances up at the tatters of his Flaming Rose tabard that are hung on the wall in a place of honor, and smiles, his aged face crinkling with the joy of victory. He files away the letter and begins to pen several more.

[SodaiKamikaze 652]

Allen Steelwall panics horribly, unsure who or where to turn to, and instead utters a single phrase, passing out on the road.

"Bruh."

[monkeypoacher 8055]

Marvin Valentiné is forced back in retreat after staining his sword with the blood of a heartlander. Bitter and sullen, he sulks through the capital, shouting violent things.

[Watyll 1104]

Alexander Valois nods, the day won.

[Snoop 365]

David Campos, Sergeant of the Waldenian military and veteran soldier of various militaries such as the Salvus Shields and the Imperial Army smiled along with his comrades as they all celebrated in a local tavern. Although the horrors of war had failed to allude the old Salvian, the once peaceful traits of his peaceful people had diminished in the world. It seemed freedom was only obtainable through bloodshed. What was there left for him?

 

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Frederick tallies 37 kills to the Goatsquad record

[Zhulik 3559]

Voron tallies 37 kills to the Goatsquad record

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Quinlan cleans the blood of several Raevirs off his blade, then carves into his hilt an additional 6 lines. The number he slew today.

[Rivk Zavadsky 700]

Victor tallies 23 or 18 kills for the Felder Blitz squad

[Samson Option 9652]

 

I went from plucking myrrh from the bushes of an oasis to farming the rain shadows on the northern banks of Angren. A mighty trek I have gone through and may my feet be bereft of the calluses that have been worn into them on my thousand-more steps. I have fought for this Storm King and we have won, being one of the few brave enough to actually sally forth while most of these alien men chose to stay upon a bridge. However, it is those same men that feasted after the sally I participated in actually forced away the Petrine soldiers. I? I merely returned to my farms. Such is the life of an ascetic, may not I sing praises to stricken my heart.

[Mouse 324]

Ayana Varodyr sits down on her chair after ascending the throne. She lifts her left leg, resting her calve across her right knee. Ayana's silver eyes scan across the celebrating Heartlanders, a smile spreading across her face. She rests her war axe across her lap, still painted with the blood of crows. Unscathed, and victorious, she would spend the rest of the evening in rest.

[Ricky 321]

("Valois" Yes Large houses and one man...)

 

Sebastian looks over Werdenberg, the smithy is active the bridge patroled by militia men. He looks over plans and feels proud of his workers, it takes true bravery to back your friends even when the odds are against you. No matter the outcome this is a test Stafyr have passed. they ahve proven they will do waht is best for the people not bent the knee to a power hungry Tyrant and dreams of a crown. A letter still lays on his desk, he still has not sent it he sighs to himself "The day I send this letter this conflict will end but so will the innocence of Stafyr for our enemies will not suvive."