Alae Ardentes (PK)

[Spellblades 749]

 

(ALAE ARDENTES)

 

---

 

Warrin knew it was time as he got a letter on a freezing morning. He knew that he was walking into a trap and that he was outmatched in every way, but he didn't care. 

 

---

Warrin was tired, so very tired as he rode to the location that was in the letter, he couldn’t help but think back to his past, remembering how he ran away from home when he was 19 with nothing but an axe and a week’s worth of supplies - not knowing if he would survive the journey. 

 

Upon arrival at the giant dragon skeleton, he noticed Seth sitting on his horse, waiting for him. Warrin dismounted from his horse, sending it away as he went to speak to his former guild-mate.

 

 

---

 

“Isn’t this a weird place to arrange a blacksmithing job?” 

 

“Would you have rather done this in a war-torn realm?” 

 

As Warrin described the type  of blade he wanted, Seth raised his hand, calling upon two strange-looking figures to attack him. One made of ice, and the other  strange and armored, sitting upon on a horse.

 

 

---

 

Warrin drew his sword for the last time, throwing away the scabbard into the warm grass. If he were to die, he would die fighting.

 

---

 

Soon did the armor clad person throw a javelin at him from where they sat on their horse, thwarted by a well timed dodge. Warrin, managing to pick up the thrown javelin and sending it back at the armored figure as it approached him, would begin to feel an icy cold pain in his knees.

 

The Ice Sculpture, standing at his left, had been quiet, a forgotten presence in Warrin’s mind. The pain in his knees forced him to fall onto them, his weight settling on his metal leg for support. 

 

 

---

 

“Do you surrender?” 

 

 

---

Warrin, seeing no logical way out of this, dropped his sword to the ground with raised hands in surrender. Tied up and thrown upon a horse, they’d end up en route to the capital, Haelun’or. 

 

Upon arrival, Seth’s servants put him on a clinic bed, a watchful eye on him as they treated his wounds. Soon enough, a questioning would ensue. Questions of his former home, Balian. Yet even now, having moved away from the war, Warrin would remain steadfast in his loyalties to King John II.

 

 

---

 

Refusing to answer any of their questions, jokes were the only means of stalling his could muster. All exits unreachable, Warrin would only find himself calming upon the two familiar voices just outside the clinic. A young girl who he had met just two years prior, and an elf - one who had helped him flee from his former home.

 

Even as Seth set him free from his binds, gaining no useful secrets or information from his questions, something would bubble in Warrin’s chest. He was free to go, and yet…

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

Rage. Rage that had been brewing inside him from the war - the countless losses he had faced while fighting side by side with those of the Horenic Covenant. The loss of his friends, the crumbling of nations at the hands of the Holy League. The death of his parents… it all came rushing to him at this moment. A moment that would seal his fate.

 

This bubbling rage, now overflowing, would be channeled into one last attack. A slam of his heel, a blade popping out from his toes of the metal leg he was bound to. Yet just as he had once dodged that javelin, so too would Seth dodge this.

 

The panther which prowled at Seth’s side, now commanded to pounce, leapt upon Warrin as a whip of conjured water and icy spikes came down upon Warrin’s face. His good eye opening, he would gaze up at Seth, two final words escaping him as he prepared for the inevitable.

 

 

---

 

“Do it.”

 

“Attempted murder of Malaurir.”

 

 

---

In his final moments, he thought of home as the only relic he had to remind him of it slipped from his forehead, lying on the floor covered in blood and pieces.

 

 

To Aurellius, Mons, Rylee, and Johanna.

Spoiler

If you are reading this then i am dead, i would like to thank you for all the memories you helped me make when i was in Balian. I do wish one thing of you all do not seek revenge for my murder i brought this upon myself, i wish you all the best of luck going forward. -Warrin Kolbeck

To Achillius D'arkent

Spoiler

You helped train me into a great soldier which in turn helped me survive to this point no matter what happens to Balian in the future i hope that you will continue to be the best Strategos and person that you can be. -Warrin Kolbeck

To Edvard Kervallen

Spoiler

I know this isn't what you expected to see today in the mail but i hope you can forgive me for not finishing your lessons. -Warrin Kolbeck

To Yelena Vuiller

Spoiler

You welcomed me into Balian when i had nobody to turn too and i thank you for that. -Warrin Kolbeck

To my daughter

Spoiler

I'm sorry I broke our pinky promise hopefully some day someone else can take you to the beach, stay out of trouble -Dad

To Navalic and Arianwen of White-River

Spoiler

I hereby appoint Navalic as head of the Monstrum Venatorum. Navalic i hope that you can carry on the dream that i could not see finished and forgive me for dropping this responsibility on you. and Arianwen make sure your husband doesn't get himself killed. -Warrin

To Estevot Heymor.

Spoiler

Thank you for giving me a chance when i didnt have anyone to turn too and forgive me for dying on you. -Warrin

To Theodore Arthur de Lyons

Spoiler

I know this isn't what you expected to see from me especially after the last time we talked, but believe me i hold no ill will towards you. I thought about what you said and i was a coward i see that now, but i did what i had too and i hope you'll see that someday.

To Aurus and Aedric Greye.

Spoiler

Hello boys. The last time i saw you I saw that you both have grown into honest young men and by now i'm sure you've heard that i am dead, forgive me for that shocking news but not much i can do about it now. Take care of yourselves and your father. Live fully and without regrets dont end up like i did. -David

 

OOC SECTION:

Thank you to @OwlofMiraclesfor helping with formatting and finding the pictures; this post wouldn't have been possible without them

 

And I would like to thank every single person for interacting with me and making my first experience on LOTC a fantastic one, even if you aren't mentioned in this post, I still am grateful.

 

Edited May 17, 2025 by ShadowSlashYT
Forgot about a few people i wanted to add in the original draft sorry for the confusion :)

[Monty Cobra 921]

The letter found Mons as he sat upon a bench in Numendil, a quiet spot with only the wind as company. His hands curled around the note. "Oh, Warrin... my friend." He curled the letter tightly and stared at nothing. He had just seen the man... and now another of his dear friends was gone.

[TaraJess 2848]

Johanna sat in a new house, half moved in, and several bottles were shattered as a result of the news. The already grieving woman wept herself to sleep on the floor of her kitchen.

[Navigator 4260]

In his delusion of Heaven, Owyn watched Warrin ascend pearly stairs.

He smiled, arms outstretched, welcoming;

"You were strong, Warrin. Tales will be written of you."

[Monty Cobra 921]

59 minutes ago, TaraJess said:

Johanna sat in a new house, half moved in, and several bottles were shattered as a result of the news. The already grieving woman wept herself to sleep on the floor of her kitchen.

Upon finding his mother asleep on the kitchen floor, Lucien carried a blanket downstairs and draped it over her. He then cleaned the glass and sat faithfully beside her, stroking her hair, watching the stars in the night sky through the window.

[Arianthe22 242]

Thalis sat hunched over in her little reading corner back in her home in Cerulia, echoes of the battle still ringing in her ears. Athin and Gelune laid beside her, their presence providing a comforting warmth. 

 

Her eyes, still red from crying, looked over the sword, laying on a cloth in front of her. Its dark blade was sharp, with silver and crimson veins running through it. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather… Warrin's sword. She had carried the sword with her on the way back while her teacher took care of the body. Together they'd made the trek back to Cerulia. 

 

She knew too little of the man, she realised. She didn’t know where his daughter was, or who to pass the blade to. She remembered Warrin learning magic from Edvard. She would pass the blade onto him and see to it that Warrin got a proper burial.

 

Thalis didn’t move from her seat. Athin moved to lay his head on her lap, allowing the girl to pet him, providing a momentary distraction. Thalis closed her eyes, slipping into restless dreams.

 

Edited May 4, 2025 by Arianthe22
didn't pay close attention to the rping and missed Gwen getting the body, now I'm paying for it by editing

[xDisarray 552]

Sir Aurellius Greye found himself riding around Norland before a bird flew overhead. He knew that it could be some sort of letter or missive so he decided to bring his steed to a slow stop. He removed his gloves as the bird approached, snowflakes fell, thousands, if not millions, were falling around him. His breath was visible as if he were smoking a cigarette. The bird made its way to him. Attached to the bird was a letter with a red ribbon tied around it. The Balianese Knight unravelled it and unfurled the yellowed parchment. Upon the paper read Warrins words,”If you are reading this then I am dead.”. Aurellius’ expression had changed to a quite serious one only after reading the first sentence. His eyes scanned the rest of the words and it seemed like the world had gone quiet around him. First Rylee, one of his closest friends and someone he basically grew up with in Balian, now Warrin, another close friend of Aurellius.

 

“How many must die?” He said as the paper was crumpled in his tightened fist. Anger, sadness and hopelessness filled the man as he wanted to honour his friends wish of not avenging his death. He knew he had to honour his friends somehow. Another one of many friends to add to the list…

[Andustar 4143]

"I see you all. Loyal soldiers - friends one and all. You chose to stand by me until the end." John II sighed as yet another name was scribed upon a growing list. "Take heart in this, Warrin, and all others who made the ultimate sacrifice... None of you will be forgotten."