Mady 3037 Rep Farm Share Posted January 6 Spoiler “Along the stepstones, senora. The hippo season.” The Amiratus Rosemoor’s young attendant pointed a lone finger out along the outline of the peninsula, where dozens of the great gray beasts lounged in pools and inlets along the coast. As they’d submerge into the sea and propel up in graceful arcs, Elena let loose a fleeting smile, bittersweet toward her squire’s naivety. Throughout her life, the Balianese Princess Elena Casimira had seen her father, the King Alexander, struggle against brutal raids on Atrus, her brother, King Adrian, mocked and derided by foes foreign for his Balianese pride and pedigree, and now, her niece, the reigning queen Sybille captured days after her coronation. As Amiratus, she never forgot each slight with time and time again, the same bands of brigands coming to infringe on her kingdom’s due majesty for little more than perceived slights long settled centuries ago. But on this day in the hippo’s grazing season, an army of ten-thousand and a hundred lancers slithered from the pits of Veletz and their acrimonious allies, set to soil Balian with a slight so deep it could only be met with pitched battle. This was an attempt to slip a dagger into the Balianese nation and seize its capital. It could not go unanswered. Balian’s worthy allies in the Covenant - the mighty dwarves of Urguan, storied Haeseni troopers, Petran infantrymen, Numendil riders, the resilient Hyspians, the fierce Aaunish cavalry and the fearsome warriors of Norland all stood to reinforce the interception of the enemy march, but this was no simple battle ahead of them, with the Veletzian coalition’s forces swelling to new heights after their prior victory. The Amiratus reined in her horse and looked proudly at the Balianese army assembled in its rich red and royal purples. Commanding their host was the new Fleet Admiral Ruthern, backed by the veteran Admiral DeNurem, with dozens of battalions standing at the ready to meet the riding horde. She could spot them now, packs of Veletzians rushing down the mountains like some avalanche of steel and flesh. With one sharp breath, clearing her mind before the Admirals and Covenant Generals rose the standard for battle, she thought last of the dishonor these armies brought to Balian by sacking Portoregno during its first queen’s coronation. She remembered her Queen’s response - a vow to remain united in face of their terror, and a promise that their blood would mix with the fresh brine of Balian’s coast before Balian would ever be broken. Hard words, strong words. The only sort of words that would make sense in the face of such adversity. “Ai, ai, pecherocito. The hipopatam have come for a show. Let’s give it to them.” Elena, assured to her squire, as the vanguard of the Covenant army charged forward. Three times, the Veletzians and their allies attempt to barrel in from the west, with Covenant armies crashing into them and pinning them fixed in place. With every push came a returning shove - every melee met with Covenant arms. Elena maintained her position along the left flank of the battlefield, fighting aside the troops to avoid a counter-flank and having a keen eye on the captains of the field in pitched battle. Her heart soared seeing the grizzled DeNurem cut through an Uruk warband like a Sariant reborn, and Captain Banjo order the forces to crash again and again into their ranks. She saw Ser Garen, fearlessly charging into their lines and cutting down many foes, and marveled at the dwarven regent Sigrun Stonehammer, who rode with Dungrimm’s fury as he led the cavalry battalions. By the third crash of armies, the Veletzians were forced to route - with their coalition banners trampled underfoot by roaring Covenant forces chasing down stragglers. But in some display of the land’s own will, Elena gaped as the hippos of Balian, which had first fled at the sight and sound of warhorns and stampede, now began to frenzy in the chaos. The colossal watchers of Balian’s waterways started to chase and maul the fleeing Veletz and Orc soldiers foolish enough to try and escape via the freshwaters. BATTLE OF HIPPO’S GORGE 10th of Peter’s Glory 91 BA The latent might of these hippos was now unleashed as they defended the lands alongside the Balianese that they lived aside. Elena watched with horror as she even saw one great corpulent hippo kicking along in the still waters of the stepstones, with a lifeless Stassion bannerman dragged by his great maw. However grotesque that sight was, she took some solace knowing that this was the fate of any who came to trample upon Balian’s shores. As the soldiers of the Covenant rejoiced at their decisive victory, the Amiratus herself stood proud, doing her duty as penultimate force of her country - keeping the promise of her Queen, that Balian would not yield, and remain FOREVER GOLDEN. Spoiler Huge thank you for @Crackerand @Shmeepicusfor writing and helping with this post and another HUGE shoutout to everyone who fought today in Balian and helped defend the Kingdom. Great job to all who participated and we will see you next week! :)) 106 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilly 3672 Popular Post Share Posted January 6 "So good." The Queen-Emeritus of the Petra stood among the citizens of the Commonwealth, bearing the minor wounds endured from a less-than-eventful, decisive battle. "They mother ****ing thought. You Veletzians can raid us, you can bandit us, hold us for ransom - but you cannot win on the field of battle. You do not learn, and that shall be your downfall." 31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGH_FIRE 4118 Share Posted January 6 The Queen of Balian would gaze over the missive, proud that her people, and her allies had pulled through. Their land was safe and the Coalition was back on the offensive, perhaps soon their enemies would see their folly 24 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToodIes 1188 Share Posted January 6 "Glorious retribution for the holiday raids," observes Faeryel as she secures the armor of the fallen on her horse. 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuziee 3219 Share Posted January 6 Ludvika of Kvasz waved her family homewards from Isaakev "You look tanner! That Balian sun did wonders for the Hussars." she'd jest, beaming proudly at the win. 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xMuted 2459 Share Posted January 6 "Now THES es Dwoggers!'' Grand Regent Sigrun 'Undeadslayer' Stonehammer said with great enthousiasm. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmeepicus 3942 Share Posted January 6 Percy drove his sword into a Cossack neck- then glanced up and watched in awe as a hippo threw an Orc around like a dog does a chew toy. "Holy shit..!" He shouted, "YEAH GET HIM! GET HIM," he cheered the hippo on! 24 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikAzog 3313 Share Posted January 6 "LET'S ******* GOOO!" EXCLAIMED ACOLYTE BELISARIOS, GOD SAVE BALIAN!" he'd shout throughout the streets of Balian 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpleglitchbro 295 Share Posted January 6 Váli Freysson Ruric takes a moment to wipe clean the blood and guts from his blade. He smiles, glancing over to the captured Krug banner, and the gobs of loot he gathered. "I said justice will be done. And I'm not a liar." A smirk then grows on his face "I even snagged a little trophy from the Rex. Guess it's my lucky day." 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin_ 1834 Share Posted January 6 The Royal Procurator, Lucian Alexander d'Viuva returns home to Portoregne covered in blood and sweat, a hard fought battle, but a well fought battle. The Son of a Vintner had now become a Warrior, fighting for the land he loved. He no longer dreaded the battlefield, but instead had come to accept that in order to see the land and Kingdom he loved flourish, the enemies of Balian would have to return to GOD for judgement. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Nolan 636 Share Posted January 6 Angr, drenched in human blood and horse guts, slid off of the shoulders of Grogg. The golem was similarly painted bright red as viscera was trapped between masterfully carved joints. "Tudey wus ah gud dey, ahnd now t'ey know dah' t'ey cannot hide anehw'ere, daht victoreh does not wait fer t'em on dah fields, nor does et wait fer t'em en ah keep." 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlemishSupremacy 4930 Share Posted January 6 Flemius cheers mechanically after the victory! "Onwaaaaaaaaaaards!" He'd rage in his grating voice. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramon 3965 Share Posted January 6 "Their days were numbered the day they provoked GOD by attacking that monastery,"Reasoned the enraged zealot King John of Aaun as he returned from the battle bloodied though largely uninjured, a horse he had taken from an enemy as a prize and renamed Auspice in honor of the fourth Exalted, Exalted Sigismund, in tow."May the Lord grant that they shall repent, do penance and bow before the Cross. Then, perhaps, they may yet be spared His wrath." 25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olox_ 3380 Share Posted January 6 "THE LORD IS OUR SHIELD, KING JOHN IS OUR SWORD!" Charles Alstion proclaimed as he stood surrounded by his fellow Aaunites 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LithiumSedai 4837 Share Posted January 6 "THE LORD IS OUR SHIELD, KING JOHN IS OUR SWORD! TANDEM TRIUMPHANS! TANDEM TRIUMPHANS!"Jean de Rennes, mailed and belted, shouted at the top of his lungs and atop his knightly steed as he rode up and down the Road of Harvest with the knights of John of Aaun, trampling down any savage orc or godless Stassie unfortunate enough to stray in their path. At Balian, the tide was once again turned and soldiers of the Lord knew victory. 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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