WHY WE FIGHT

[Eryane 3698]

Spoiler

 

 

WHY WE FIGHT

 

The battle began after an elongated silence.

 

Men of the empire, allies and all alike came together as one in the name of a common cause, against a common enemy. Among them, Sir Jarad Munnel manned a trebuchet. He shouted back to his crew, “Load the trebuchet! We take out one of theirs before we destroy the wall!” The boulder was loaded. Together, Dame Diana Vuiller and Dame Amelia Hughes were at the ready, waiting for what was to come. Would it be death, alongside their companions, in the name of their empire? “Ave Orenia,” someone said as if it were a prayer. Princess Catherine of Furnestock and Varon Draskovic loaded the trebuchet in preparation.

 

“FIRE!” General Erik var Ruthern shouted as the trebs loosed a volley into the air. The flaming balls crashed against the walls of Sedan. The siege camp of Oren was filled with activity as crews maned their trebs. The entire 1st regiment of the Imperial State Army had set camp alongside the Free Companies of Oren, Blackvale and Ferrymen. 

 

Behind Sir Jarad stood Chloe de Rosius, an Orenian noblewoman — at the ready to die for taking the lands stolen from her and her fellow imperials. The Fidei Defensor, who had sided with the heathen dwarves, demanded answers. Now they would receive them. It was a rather gruesome scene watching trebuchet after trebuchet fall to the oncoming battery of their enemies. 

 

Across the field, another Orenian yelled out. “narn'acaele!” cried Minuvas Melphestaus, as a wave of arrows poured from the quivers of the Mali of the Ebonwood as their arrows plucked out the Valah and Bortu from atop their walls. A single row of Bortu fell from the walls as the arrows struck them between their armor. The purple velvet of the Princep's robes would flutter as he was handed a missive from an Imperial runner bearing orders from the ISA Headquarters.

 

“Breach - on the right. All forces, attack!” The Princeps would tighten his hand, he might be sending some immortals to their deaths. Yet he would not forget the crimes of the Bortu King, allowing the Irehearts to come for his niece's ears - surely the Empire greater had more to the list of crimes, but to Minuvas - the King under the mountain was a criminal against Elvendom. 

 

For one, this was the first siege in the young imperial’s life. Cesar Komnenos saw the arrows fly, the sound of boulders smashing and crashing. There was nothing but the sound of pure rage of men fighting for their home land. He charged on, through the thick of the bloodshed. Nearby, Sir Mohammad Hassan cut into the dwarves with a singular arc of his longsword side by side with another knight of the empire and a doctor, Sir Arthur Komnenos and Doctor Primrose Gendik, who swung their swords valiantly into enemies of the empire. Amidst the fighting did one Hugo van Aert stand out with refined swordsmanship, unquestionable skill, that sliced through the heathen coalition forces as if they were mere butter whilst leading forces. 

 

After hours of bombardment the orders spread for a charge, General Erik held his arming sword which he had carried in so many fights before. “FOR THE EMPIRE!” The aged General shouted as he climbed the walls into the burning city. Another man only feet away from the general stared up at the ladders before him, hundreds of Orenians storming up them as the sounds of fighting rang out across the walls as smoke and soot raised into the sky from the fires already started within the city. The Archchancellor, Joseph d’Azor, had been here before, standing on the precipice of battle, decades ago when he had stood beside Iskander Basrid as the Orenian forces marched forth to dismantle the Nordling host which sought to invade Imperial lands. 

 

The Prince of Providence, Peter Augustus, ran alongside the first waves of men and women as they climbed the ladders towards the wall. Arrows jolted across the battlefield as the screams echoed across the battlefield. Once upon the wall, the mind was focused upon one thing and one thing alone – victory for the people of the Empire, her allies, and his family.  He would charge towards a Haeseni soldier that had eyed him – his own blade striking first as blood would paint the Chestplate of the Prince. “FOR OREN!” He screamed as his own voice joined the hundreds of thousands. 

 

“FOR OREN! FOR OREN! FOR OREN!”

 

Chloe de Rosius ran with the rest of them, some covered in sweat, some beaming from ear to ear proud they were fighting for their country, perhaps some of them for glory. With a glimpse to her left, she could see Princess Amelia of Renzfeld pursuing onwards with the others. It was a blur, difficult to distinguish one imperial from the other. Arrows whizzed to the walls of Sedan as people climbed to the top to fight in glorious blobs. Chloe had never felt more alive, or more fear of death, "OREN AUT MORTEM!" She shouted with the crowd.

 

Imperials ranging from all backgrounds –all races, positions, ethnicities, statuses, cultures, and much more– had come together under one cause. A coalition had formed against them, stolen their land. And together, as one, they had taken it back. The medics rushed in, among them being the Lady Chamberlain Odessa MacPherson and a flurry of others, to swiftly assist the few injured. Yet even as the injured were gathered and the wounds were patched, a simple saying kept ringing:
 

“AVE ORENIA! AVE ORENIA! AVE ORENIA!”

 

 

Spoiler

A little RP post with varying perspectives of the fight - thank you to everyone who contributed with their own paragraphs. Please feel free to comment your character's perspective, for a little bit of fun with creative writing. This can be from either side, so it doesn't matter either way so long as you have some enjoyment out of writing your character's perspective. o7

 

[Taketheshot 3834]

Joseph d'Azor took a step forth grasping the rungs of the latter with a long breath as he began to climb, armour plates clanking as his gloved hands climbed each rung slowly and with purpose. He was older now, slower, and yet he knew what must be done, doubt ran through his mind, the same as any man that day but the Archchancellor climbed anyhow. Whereas before he was just a boy, now he had a wife, children, grandchildren, so much had changed. Joseph d’Azor reached the final rung pulling himself up as the enemy closed in towards the Orenian forces on the wall, the man drew his sword, steel biting leather as it escaped from its sheath. “And yet we push on…” He muttered towards his own internal thoughts, charging forth into the horde.

[annabanana1014 2084]

Diana Vuiller would of kept reloading the trebuchets, her armor weighing the aging woman down. Every so often, she looked over to Dame Amelia, a small smile on her face as the duo worked so well together. Their pace unmatchable... 

 

As their trebuchet exploded into pieces, the Viscountess would quickly join her friends of Oren in battle. Her sword raised as they charged up to the enemy fort. "For the late Duke. For my family. For my home that keeps being intruded on. . ." Her words quiet to herself as she climbed the ladder into the enemy fort.

 

"AVE ORENIA!" The woman shouted as she joined her comrades in the battle of their lives. Each swing and each clash- a life taken; a life safe. She assisted in many kills with her mind on her family and her friends. She was fighting for Oren, the one place that she knew would be her home forever. The home she put her blood, sweat, and tears in. For every enemy down, there would be a future for the upcoming generations to be.

 

"Oren aut mortem, shall Oren continue to prosper and shine." Her final words were as she heard that they won. A smile resting on her face as she held up her sword.

 

[MailC3p 2404]

Arthur would run around the battlefield after the fighting had  ceased and victory was  assured, he removed his helmet as he looked around for his free company men, sweat dripping from the mans  face as he attempted to catch his breath, after a moment he had realized he hadn't seen his wife in a while, as worry grew on him  he would begin to shout as he ran around the city.

 

"Primrose? Primrose?"  The old baron ran through the entire city, he would check every body he could find "Tripartite, Tripartite, Orenian, Tripartite" After hours of him not being able to find his wife Arthur would hear an ISA Private yell out "Dr. Primrose!  We got another Injured!" coming from the siege camp, Arthur's eyes would immediately look over to the siege camp and would run over to it, the blood on his  blade and armor now dry and  crusted from the battle, as he entered the siege  camp he  would see a make-shift clinic surrounded by men all getting  treated for there wounds, Orenian hero's  and Tripartite Prisoners alike,  as he entered his eyes would immediately lay on that of his wife and he would let out a sigh of relief  "There you are"

 

Spoiler

@MapleSunflower

 

[SapphirePool 1360]

The evening after the battle, Dame Amelia Hughes sat in her bedroom, a book and charcoal pencil in hand. It was dark save for a single candle flame at her bedside. She wrote in her journal to try and ease he mind of the images it held.

 

When the General came to me asking that I take lead on one of the Trebuchet, I of course accepted. It was a task I carried out, with the Dame Diana Vuiller and an unnamed recruit at my side. As our forces readied to push, we continuously loaded the boulders into the Trebuchet and launched them into the enemy's walls. Over and over, the sweat caking our armor as we lifted those boulders. It crossed my mind only once- Did we just kill one, two maybe even five enemies with that last shot? I chastised myself for becoming so unfocused. Once the main force pushed, we rallied to join them. Climbing up the beaten and destroyed walls to the battle cries above. I did not know what was in store for us at the top, I only knew that the only thing between myself and death were the swords I held so firmly in our grasp. Slam. I was knocked from the wall, but caught the rungs of the ladder and continued upwards. Slash. Metal on bloody metal, the sounds rang out amidst the cries of those wounded. Crack. The helms of those who met their fate to a Warhammer caving in. On and on, the sounds grew and grew, until they didn't anymore. Almost all at once, it was silent. No enemies in sight, I trekked into the city. A stray dwarf running from a bloodied spear, an ally dueling a Haenseni BSK, their numbers dwindled. I heard the sound of running behind me, turning. There, the Dwed who I first made eye contact with at the beginning of the war stood. The Leader of those within the mountains. We had captured this same dwarf many years back the night the missive about the declaration was sent out. Despite our different points of view, he was honorable. But this is war. Crunch. My longsword came down onto the aging dweds shoulder. They faltered but kept running. I joined the masses of men chasing him down. It felt like a group of hunting dogs chasing a fleeing fox. Grand King Ulfric had nowhere left to run. He turned and faced his death finally, with the same honor he showed those many years ago. The battle was over, the enemy dwindled to the single digits. We gathered, claiming our territory back from the mountain dwellers. “This is war” rang in my ears in the following days, during the times I ate, slept, hugged my twin children who were the same age as several of the enemy troops. This is war.

 

[Shmeepicus 4213]

Ivan var Ruthern wiped his sword clean at the conclusion of the battle- having killed five enemies himself. He turned towards Eastfleet at the end of it all- riding his steed to where Southbridge stood and gazed across the water. "Soon.. soon they will understand what it's like to have their land befouled and taken from them. They will soon know how true Imperial vengeance is, and how deeply it will strike each and every one of their accursed, stunted selves." He quipped, stepping towards a nearby tree to rest for a few moments.

[MapleSunflower 1889]

1 minute ago, MailC3p said:

Arthur would run around the battlefield after the fighting had  ceased and victory was  assured, he removed his helmet as he looked around for his free company men, sweat dripping from the mans  face as he attempted to catch his breath, after a moment he had realized he hadn't seen his wife in a while, as worry grew on him  he would begin to shout as he ran around the city.

 

"Primrose? Primrose?"  The old baron ran through the entire city, he would check every body he could find "Tripartite, Tripartite, Orenian, Tripartite" After hours of him not being able to find his wife Arthur would hear an ISA Private yell out "Dr. Primrose!  We got another Injured!" coming from the siege camp, Arthur's eyes would immediately look over to the siege camp and would run over to it, the blood on his  blade and armor now dry and  crusted from the battle, as he entered the siege  camp he  would see a make-shift clinic surrounded by men all getting  treated for there wounds, Orenian hero's  and Tripartite Prisoners alike,  as he entered his eyes would immediately lay on that of his wife and he would let out a sigh of relief  "There you are"

 

  Reveal hidden contents

@MapleSunflower

 

 

The battle had been long and hard. Sweat soaked her hair and dripped down her face, and yet her work was nowhere near done. A woman first, a soldier next, and a doctor last - Dr. Primrose Gendik-Komnenos quickly changed into her medical uniform and pulled on a pair of gloves as she would start the hardest of her work. 

 

It had been hours since the battle was over - the woman had her mind on her patients - both Orenian and Triparte alike, it mattered not to her at the end of the bloodshed. The Lieutenant Physician oversaw each and every patient that came in and out of the medical tents - keeping an inventory of what supplies had been used, those injured, and those who died if identifiable. Like every battle, anxiety turmoiled her thoughts. She had not seen her husband here, thank God - but what if he was amongst the unidentifiable dead or had gone missing in action? 

 

"Dr. Primrose! We got another injured!" A voice called to her, rousing her from the heartbreaking thoughts. Prim glanced up from the chart she was supposed to be examining, setting it on a table as she exchanged her gloves for clean ones.

 

"There you are" Primrose turned upon hearing her husband Sir Arthur Komnenos -  a sigh of relief coming from the Baroness. "Arthur..." Tears welled in her eyes, though she quickly blinked them away. "You're safe - Thank the stars above." Prim quickly ran to his side to kiss him, "Meet me here when I'm done. Don't you dare leave my sight again..."

 

With that, the Doctor returned to her work with a pep in her step. Her husband was alright, her work could go on with ease.

[Tiresiam 462]

 

 

Adrian Marcellus looked down upon his growing son Paul Gustave with an incredulous look of pure patriotism. He was nearly five years old, why does he not have his own personal armaments? Where did his son hide the crossbow he'd given him for his fourth birthday? Or the arrows that came with them? The Count of Temesch now fully disgusted with his unpatriotic spawn left the room, immediately returning with the large sword he had been given by his Emperor Philly II, essentially shoving the heavy blade into his son's stubby and small hands

 

"Fight" he insisted staring down with beady eyes, confident he would raise a soldier someday. 

 

[HIGH_FIRE 5490]

Standing by the large Trebuchets, Sir Duncan Vuiller would scream "FIREEEEEE" as he finished adjusting the trajectory of the large wooden mechanism. He and his team would watch as the trebuchet threw another massive projectile that would immediately collide with the wall, causing it to begin to crack. As this occured he would chuckle with a smirk under his helm "Time the potbellied hairballs receive some retribution I think"

 

Once his trebuchet was broken from having been worked too hard in such a short time, Sir Duncan Vuiller would draw his prized longsword and place it on his right shoulder as he grabs his handaxe and place it in his left beginning to chant with the rest of the Orenian main rally. Then the gates of the camp were opened.

 

From Duncan's perspective he was one of the first into the city, watching the Tripartite coaliton, fearful for the lives, run away from the approaching army. The places they could flee were few in number so without a moments hesitation, he ran and chased them throughout the city, slicing and chopping any enemy he saw without prejudice. As he did this a laugh would be heard from his helmet, Duncan knew he shouldn't enjoy it, but he gave up surpressing his love for violence years ago.

 

While the city was being destroyed and corpses littered everywhere, between the screams and cries, a singular laugh would be heard.

[XOCO 502]

The trebuchet creaked... and creaked... and creaked... and suddenly, with a brief shout from Captain Ezekiel Moores, lurched to life, launching a grey mass that bashed through the tall trees of Haverlock and into its walls, ripping through brick and flesh alike. "Reload, reload!" The man cried, as his soldiers Lieutenant Obedia and Corporal de Murat toiled away at the great machine. 

 

~

 

The air atop the wall reeked of sweat, blood and death as the men of the trebuchet poured through with the vanguard, clambering up the ladders to put Haverlock's defenders to the blade. The Captain, though brittle in his old age, brought down man after man atop the wall, before barreling into a small side room to slaughter the Sedanites who had run from the battle. Fueled by adrenaline, he continued his march with the rest of the rally, his white enameled plate stained a deep crimson.

[Franczhiz 4437]

Lord Corporal Sir Joseph Clement de Sarkozy who was standing at the trebuchets to bombard the city of Haverlock exclaimed "FIRE! NOW! NOW!" As the walls of Haverlock began to turn into rubble, he marched forth with the army to move the ladders upon the wall and to battle the enemies off of the wall. The young Corporal himself launched himself at those who manned the walls with his longsword in his hand - and to batter consistently in the enemy shields. The battle on the walls began to be a slaughter of those who have been a longtime enemy of the Empire - and so the young Corporal continued to fight until there was none left to breathe the air that found itself in on the land of the Holy Orenian Empire.

 

As the enemy found themselves into a wooden box later on, Joseph moved to grab his warhammer and swung it against the enemy who was crowded within the wooden box itself; delivering deadly blows to each who was trying to hide from the victorious Imperial State Army. When the battle was over and when the surviving bit of the Tripartite Coalition fled. He held his sword up high - His armor being covered in blood as he exclaimed. "AVE ORENIA, ORENIA INVICTA, OREN AUT MORTEM!"