ReveredOwl 5338 Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2022 (edited) THE WALL CRUMBLES Spoiler Howling winds and bitter snow wafted down from the harsh climate of the Rimevald, battering the streets of Karosgrad as shopkeepers began to nail wooden boards to their fragile glass windows and homeowners relocated their valuable possessions outside of the city. The main street of Karosgrad that usually held many merchants and bustling market stalls, was slowly beginning to resemble that of a warzone. The sound of hammer on nail resounded throughout the pinnacle city of Haense as its residences prepared their homes for war and soldiers shored up the cities defences. The tension in the air was as thick as soup, retinues from all over Haense began pouring in during the late hours. The veteran knight, Ser Walton, was amongst those who hastily erected palisades and defences throughout the city, working until the early hours of the morning to ensure all was prepared. Walton had hoped to get enough rest for the upcoming battle, but sleep eluded him as he anxiously tossed and turned throughout what little remained of the night. For hours Walton lay awake, staring at the ceiling with many thoughts running through his mind until finally the sun arose on another peaceful morning. Birds chirped and people chatted within the barracks courtyard, all seemed normal and for a moment he could forget about the death and destruction that were on their way. The Knight sought solace in the basilica, and sat in the pews for little less than an hour, praying for a swift victory and salvation for those who would inevitably fall in the line of duty; never did it cross his mind he would be praying for his own salvation. Inevitably, his quiet prayer was interrupted by the chiming of bells that echoed for miles, oh those bells. Suddenly, chaos spread throughout the city as residents and children ran from their houses with what little possessions they could gather, Analiesa gathering them up to take refuge within the royal palace. After assuring the Princess that he would return to them, should the walls be breached, he set off on his fateful mission. Soldiers ran through the streets towards the barracks where the bulk of the forces were gathering and the Grand Prince was organizing the defensive parties. The clang of steel and rattling platemail was all too familiar to the veteran so he simply stood back and listened to where he would be stationed. The Eastern Front, the wall with the least defences but that mattered little to the men and women who were sent to hold it. The large party headed to the Eastern gatehouse, passing many cannons and palisades on their route; he had prayed they would not be put to use. A row of valiant soldiers formed a line just outside of the east gate when a large runic symbol appeared over the royal palace where the princess and citizenry took shelter; that's not good. Then came the blood rain, staining all with its crimson liquid with a taste of iron filling the mouths of all, surely an omen. The inferi beasts then reared their monstrous heads over the hills, a sizable force of ghastly beings that would shake the heart and resolve of most - not us. They advanced forth and so did the valiant defenders of the Eastern Front - The battle had begun. The two forces met with a flash of steel and guttural grunts and roars from the ferocious demons that came to slay. Booms of cannonfire shook the very earth that they stood upon, walls began to crumble and the fighting went on for hours. After a runner from the Northern defense announced that the northern wall had been breached, morale began to slowly slip away. Comets then rained down from the sky and over the intense fighting. Those not engaged in combat watched helplessly and in horror as two comets shot across the blackened sky and smashed into the royal palace. Ser Walton, who had found himself behind the line of soldiers, retreated back inside of the city to check upon the status of those who took refuge in the palace - thankfully the comets hit the empty residence and not the citizenry. After checking on their status, he informed them of the state of the northern wall and ordered them to be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice, should he return. Walton then returned to the eastern front where Prince Marius ordered him, and a few others, to operate the large ballista in the city's park. A bolt shot out with an audible ‘ZING’ towards a giant insect which melted the palace walls with its acid, and then a giant ape leapt from the fallen northern wall and onto the palace. ZING, another bolt shot out from the ballista and it made its mark upon the ape which soon fell to its death. But it was not over, for more giant insectoids flew over the breached wall and spat fire upon the palace. After receiving the order from the royal heir, the bloodied veteran descended back down into the Knight’s Crypt, unaware that the next time he would be there it would be in a tomb and not to pay respects. Those taking refuge had prepared themselves for the inevitable evacuation and at the sight of the grizzled soldier returning, they reluctantly and fearfully ascended the flight of stairs where the taste of iron grew thicker and the clash of swords grew louder. Entering the palace’s main hall, those evacuating were told to cover their skin with whatever they could and so the frantic tearing began. Clothes were torn to cover faces, curtains ripped from the windows and carpets torn from the floors. The group departed out of the palace's small door to be greeted with malflame that rained down from the sky, blood soaked streets and the sound of intense fighting urther up in the palace. Walton led the group to Reinmar, along with a handful of soldiers to ensure their safe passage. After ensuring all had made it safely to their new sanctuary, he ran back to Karosgrad to assist in its defence once more. Slipping a few times in the soaked streets, he ran past the palace to see that the Grand Prince was still leading a group of soldiers defending the palace from the giant bugs, trusting the prince’s wisdom he headed back to the eastern defence. Walton joined a handful of soldiers as the King dueled the pretender Prince just outside of the eastern gate. The Knight instinctively joined his comrade, Atilan Bishop, in battling one of the pretender prince’s personal retinue - a ghastly and monstrous foe. A few blows from Atilan proved ineffective and the Knight had been disarmed by the beast, however in a quick bout of ingenuity he grabbed Atilan’s spare aurum blade and thrust it through the demon's armpit into its chest. At that same moment, horns blared out as the Grand Prince returned to the eastern gate, atop Vanhart’s flying carpet, with his group of soldiers declaring that the northern attackers had been vanquished. Hope and morale had been restored in the tiring and weary soldiers, their strength renewed as much needed reinforcements arrived. The last of the inferi had been encircled and the soldiers made good progress cutting through their lines, victory was near. But, in a last ditch attempt to save its own life, the demonguard that Walton and Atilan had been battling, used the Knight’s disarmed blade and thrust it through his upper torso. With eyes and wide as the moon, he fell backwards into squelching dirt below. The Knight’s eyes fluttered as the reinforcements plowed up the hill and his foe became overwhelmed with a flurry of blades. With the knowledge that victory was assured and Karosgrad would still stand, he took his last breath and fell limp into a pool of his own blood. Ser Walton Kranz died during the Siege of Karosgrad fighting alongside his King and countrymen. The Wall had crumbled. SER WALTON KRANZ KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE CROW FOURTEENTH KNIGHT PARAMOUNT OF HANSETI-RUSKA ‘THE WALL’ 385 E.S - 454 E.S. | 1832 A.H. - 1901 A.H. Edited December 5, 2022 by ReveredOwl 61 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazedpudding 2125 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Klara Elizaveta bowed her head for the man who had faithfully guarded her family, and who granted her father his final wish. The old princess had no more tears to shed. Josefina Barclay offered up a prayer for Ser Walton's soul. "Spasiba for protecting us, Ser." Spoiler was i the only one who didn't know Walton had a last name? ._. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Chief26 1205 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Reserved 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
argonian 12842 Share Posted December 5, 2022 "How could the Fidei Defensor allow this?" Stanimar weeps. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupaSaMM 257 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Atilan Bishop sits there on a bench near the fountain in his new home, Ostervik. His body recovering from the wounds of battle, a vodka in hand. He sighs and thinks of the battle. A small tear drops down his face, guilty that he hadn't done enough to kill the Inferi guard. He quietly says "Ser Walton, I failed you. You saved my life and yet I couldn't do the same to you. Why couldn't I have just plunged that blade into his neck!", quietly relaying the events of that battle in his head. In frustration at himself, he throws the bottle over the wall where the breaking of a glass bottle could be heard. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandhi 2708 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Ser August prays for Ser Walton’s soul in his chambers. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn__TWG 2616 Share Posted December 5, 2022 "Very few leaders will ever have the privilege of ein man as loyal as du, Ser Walton." Tylos III greeted the man who had guarded him on so many occasions as he joined the other fallen of the siege in the Seven Skies. "Ich feel GOTT himself will struggle to recreate such ein man as ihrself. The world shall miss ihr presence, though it was blessed to have it to begin with." 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdestPepsi 1034 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Conrad had made his way up to the hill too late, the medics had made it too late. He managed to get out something personal to the man, unknowing if he could have still even heard it or if it were too late. He'd have thanked him for everything if he had enough time yet he didn't. He gave some truthful, painful words and had to move on. Later he'd be told that people were sorry for his losses, they weren't just his though, they were everyone's losses, especially Ser Walton. The man had done much for not just the Order of the Crow but also the entire kingdom. He was the model knight in Conrad's eyes, a wall of morality which never truly broke, which served faithfully until unlike his morals his body broke. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolcod77 586 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Sergei Aleksandr bid his farewell to Ser Walton in the hospital, he returned the knight his sword and remembered how the Knight had protected him, his father, his brother and the rest of their family for all of his life. He would not forget this sacrifice. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMRO 5251 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Karl III glanced to his side in the battle, finding the man that had protected him since his youth by his side, yet he was also the man that killed his father. Ser Walton had been the wall always standing by the side of Barbanov, and he did so even in death. Upon hearing of his death in the hospital, he offered a solemn prayer. Knights after him would struggle to be so loyal. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea_ 331 Share Posted December 5, 2022 "Will be strange without him there. . ." Dame Tavisha pondered, perching down upon a cooled meteorite that struck the outskirts of the city amidst the scorched fields reeking of sulphur and bloody iron of both mortal men and foul fiends. Unbeknowsnt to the fallen Ser, Tavisha had much to thank him for: his ascension to Paramount in her stead in truth freed her, allowing the old adunian to gaze new horizons, keeping past ambitions behind her, as the man fulfilled the role well. Unlike him, she wouldn't settle for being a wall, nor to being locked within them. But even if she did, in truth none could stand as firm and loyal to the very end as Ser Walton did. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoamingRonin 619 Share Posted December 6, 2022 "Was a good fella. Watched him beat up an old man who spat on de princess. Made for good fun, no?" The reputable businessman, Roland LeGrand, would say upon finding out the poor knight's passing. "Well, dat and he warned of skeletal horsemen. Got t' close up de casino a bit early." He'd snicker, passing cards to each player on a streetside table in Karosgrad. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuziee 3223 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Maya Ceciliya would shed a tear upon meeting Walton in the skies. Blissfully, she'd recall the few comforting memories of her childhood that included the stern, yet protecting, wall. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbarah 5022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Viorica wept as she sensed Ser Walton's departure from this earthly realm. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garentoft 8353 Share Posted December 6, 2022 "The greatest Knight this Kingdom has ever known," muttered the Grand Prince of Kusoraev, "Yet, we must persist without the Wall to protect us." 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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