DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR

[Ryanark 2738]

Spoiler

 

  

 

DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR

A recollection in three chapters of the events on the 13th of Harren’s Folly, 1882.

 

 

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CHAPTER ONE, CAT AND MOUSE

Chilling air shrouds Acre on the frigid morning of the 13th. Men of trade and craft just begin a laborious day in the slow, creeping morning sun. Out of the mist from the edge of Acre comes a behemoth of an Iron Man, slowly but surely with no rush entering the ivory walls of Castle Vilain, met by Sir Hannes on the battlements…

 

"Greetings, ACRE resident. Caution. Vienne, Military Presence, exceeds previously observed parameters.”

The Iron Man blared out to the freezing Hannes, simply replying;

"Thank you, Iron Man.”

 

Thus with no time to waste, the Patriarch sauntered off to muster the men once again.. Worry grew, as he anticipated a potential incursion into the Holy lands of Acre, yet a few moments later a fearful scout also appeared on horseback, further endorsing the Iron Man’s word.

 

Around twenty-nine men gathered within the castle’s courtyard with full arms, well-kept chain and mail alike. The rally consisted of mainly faithful levymen, who stood grand in stature and teeming with need of liberty. Joining them were volunteers from the village, mainly diligent serfs and farmers with no fear but to GOD within them. The men of Acre rode out from the Castle, making haste to the tall gates of Vienne to meet this military presence head-on.

 

So they were met as the levy trotted up the long stairs, worried eyes dashing to meet them all from beyond the shut gates of Vienne. Inside, a few men mustered, counted to eleven men, when distinguished from the commoners who also flocked to the gates. Harsh, foreboding words were exchanged from both sides, hostile in nature. The men in charge, those recounted to be Sir Hannes de Vilain, Bailiff Otto, and Sergeant Robynn of the levy, attempted to parlay for a skirmish outside the city’s confines, if they are so inclined to muster men within their city to repel innocent riders of Acre. To which, was met with no reply.

 

The men horsed around for a little longer, before the men of Acre finally turned, setting off to find a way into the shut-off city of Vienne, to which they so did. Twenty-nine men rushed into the city, already from the square they could spot the surprised levy of Oren, retreating inside of the handy bastion in utter panic. They were closely followed, yet they were too swift, as they retreated deeper inside the Bastion into the Legion’s Armory to which no man could enter, despite attempts. Deep down, as the boys of Oren cowered in the Armory, they knew it was a tight corner, whence no one could escape. 

 

Caught like a thieving mouse, trapped by the big cat of Acre.

 

CHAPTER TWO, PITY

The men of Acre offered parlay, attempting to offer terms of surrender to the cowards. To this, there was no response, and so the rally walked freely through the city’s corners, abandoned as it always was, helping themselves to any goods and vegetables they found along the way. Unbothered, wholly unhindered by the levy of Vienne. Men laughed and felt almost a pity for the cowards, as they made their way throughout the city with no one to stop them, Sir Hannes himself, the Baron turned Fugitive of Oren, wanted by the Crown for a meager three-thousand, now walked a free man through the very city he was wanted in.

 

Words of slander were thrown from the cornered cowards, accusations, insults, and whatnot. Perhaps intimidated by the men of Acre’s strong statues, chiseled by hard labor. In an attempt for a final battle, Sir Hannes shouted out:

 

"Faithful men of Oren, agree to come and face us, and we shall exit your city in peace. No bloodshed will come to the citizens of Vienne, whom we have no qualms with!”

To which, an Orenian boy sheepishly replied:

"GET YOUR REAL RALLY THEN, NOT THE FERRYMEN, SHUT YOUR GOOFY ASS UP!”

The boy’s words were strange, and incoherent. Sir Hannes, albeit in certain confusion, replied harshly:

"Come and show me these Ferrymen, I am only surrounded by GOD-fearing men who wish only for freedom.”

 

He replied, looking around to the eager men of Acre who stood around him, cornering the cowards. The men were clearly growing quite restless, wandering about and waiting on the Orenians to make any attempt at parlay or any such honorable final stand. But they waited and waited. At one point, men grumbled and considered maybe letting the poor bastards go. One could almost hear them shiver. It went on, one night passed as the men of Acre sat patiently and eagerly awaiting the Orenian’s word or blade, but none came.

 

Amidst the waiting, a young girl walked into the Bastion, a certain Mathilde, recognized by many ex-Orenians within the levy. Looks were thrown, unsure if their eyes had fooled them. A little girl of Guise, daughter of Conrad. She was swiftly taken prisoner and rushed to Acre with an escort. There, she was provided accommodation within the castle, treated fairly, unchained, and ensured comfort for the young girl.

 

CHAPTER THREE, COURAGE

The men were just packing up, breaking their makeshift camp, and leaving the Bastion as they spotted a lone Adunian, clad in the Legion’s armor, no higher rank than a Footman caught outside the Bastion’s gatehouse. He seemed lost and confused as the men quickly dropped all they carried, swiftly hurrying over to draw their swords on the man.

 

The confused young soldier was overwhelmed, yet he stood his ground as he too drew his sword, albeit in a certain panic, as he looked around to face the men of Acre who had come to claim his life. All of whom were taken by certain surprise as the young legionnaire refused to surrender, opting to fight an uphill battle.

 

There was not a fight to be had, as the legionnaire was overwhelmed by at least six men of Acre, and perished honorably, fighting for not only what he believed in, but for his life.

 

He was struck, and so fell. The Adunian’s armor was not stripped. He fought honorably, and yet was the only life which was taken that evening. Later in the day, the fallen Orenian was read his last rites, in fond admiration of his courage.

 

The Legionnaire’s death only inflated the pity and pure cowardice displayed by the men of Oren. A man of low rank and esteem fought harder than the high-ranking lackbeards that cowered within the armory. Acre’s levy sang insulting songs, only deserved by cowards, loud enough for the boys of Oren to hear as they marched out of the city in glee…

 

No Soldiers But Us.

 

Spoiler

 

(Thanks to all who participated on both sides and to those who were good sports, and an extra shoutout goes out to _R3D4CT3D_ for being a good sport and taking an outnumbered fight alone. Finally, let us all remember that this is at the end of the day Minecraft, and we should all be kind to each other OOC =D)

 

Signed,

 

Sir Hannes de Vilain

Patriarch of de Vilain, Father Of All, Esteemed Knight of the Aurelian Brotherhood

 

The Bearer of the Stache, Otto

Bailiff of Acre, Constable of Castle de Vilain

 

[Spindle 655]

Netzhal does a funny little dance.

[Tide1 4535]

Willem 'The Foe' laughs at the lack of resistance as he promptly loots all that he can from the Vienne barracks.

[NouveauChateau 248]

Seaxburh of Arichsdorf wishes he could've rang their bell a second time after they'd walked into the barracks.

[Smmer 2441]

Petra would note that we did not need to rally the ferrymen in order to scare the Viennes. 

[ibiou 2397]

The Margravine-consort of Grodno simply wondered why Acrean men wanted her husband so badly that they needed to come to Grodno every five minutes before their pillage on Vienne. 

[CabbageLord 5]

Arijoutsi was disappointed by the fact that neither the Orenians or the marauding band of fugitives had not bought a single cabbage from him. Their loss, but at least the Canonite Church in its wisdom had acquired cabbages. 

[Nord 346]

Spoiler

I wonder how their numbers doubled with pvpers oh.. right hmmm good old ping the bvale discord!

 

Spoiler

 

[pkdon 1978]

38 minutes ago, Nord said:

I wonder how their numbers doubled with pvpers oh.. right hmmm good old ping the bvale discord!

Spoiler

 

 

[Olox_ 4318]

Maciej Jazloviecki sat in his office, somewhere within the walls of Eagle's Retreat. He asked himself "Why does it come to the point where my peasant brothers mock me and my people, while there has been no incident of aggression on the part of Grodno?" He paused to take a deep breath "Hard times." The Margrave muttered under his breath

[kuerbis 3802]

1 hour ago, Olox_ said:

Maciej Jazloviecki sat in his office, somewhere within the walls of Eagle's Retreat. He asked himself "Why does it come to the point where my peasant brothers mock me and my people, while there has been no incident of aggression on the part of Grodno?" He paused to take a deep breath "Hard times." The Margrave muttered under his breath

"Why does the man that betrayed his supposed brothers complain all the time?" asked Aloisia as she was polishing her blade.

[Olox_ 4318]

Just now, Fie said:

"Why does the man that betrayed his supposed brothers complain all the time?" asked Aloisia as she was polishing her blade.

"How did I betray my brothers if my oath bonds me to the Kingdom?" asked Maciej "Sometimes I feel like those who wanted to be equal, now wish to be more equal than others." Said the Margrave with a huff in response

[Smmer 2441]

4 hours ago, Nord said:

  Reveal hidden contents

I wonder how their numbers doubled with pvpers oh.. right hmmm good old ping the bvale discord!

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Spoiler

wonders what a ping and discord is, having never come across such foreign words. To her they Sounded heretical.. probably an Azdrazi thing.

 

[Franczhiz 4437]

11 hours ago, Ryanark said:

"GET YOUR REAL RALLY THEN, NOT THE FERRYMEN, SHUT YOUR GOOFY ASS UP!”

 

Spoiler

 

Owain calmly sits in the glorious fields of Acre, smoking his cigar; recalling the words from a different dimension and world that was heard from the basement of the Orenian barracks; for he did not see any green colored rags of those called 'The Ferrymen'. He was also thinking about how an army that is to defend a Kingdom is hiding for a group of farmers with swords. "What has Oren come to?!"