THE FINAL BATTLE

[Tide1 4535]

 

Vast armies conjoined by the forces of the Kingdom of Númendil and the Kingdom of Burgundy took up arms towards the siege’s northern walls. A retinue of Koyo-Kuni samurai hailed the ladders onto the palisades, and started to climb up towards the tower-breaches, followed by the forces of Haelun’or and Caurost. A small levy of Burgundian and Haelunorian soldiers cranked the siege-weapons, cascading fire across the sky, burning deep into their stone, trembling their castle walls, as the Balianite soldiers wormed in their labyrinth of walls and traps. 

 

“Again!” screamed Sir Calias Mareno from the siege-works, and the soldiers began to crank their machinery. The large ballista rolled its limb forth, and hurled a fiery scorching pit of stone into the wall's surface. At the forfeiture of the tower’s peak, the King of Numendil, Tar-Anorhil, the King of Burgundy, Tiberias  I, and the King of Norland, Haakon stood expectantly. 

 

“BREACH! WE HAVE BREACHED THE WALL!” It could be heard across the battlefield; 

 Anorhil, Tiberias, Haakon understood this call, and in tow with the Shugo Atsuko, they led their forces through the gap into the wall, and entered the breach. By the time they flooded the castle, the smell of blood and iron twitched in the air, and the clashing of blades grew silent – it did not last long, but to the soldiers, it felt like hours.

 

Silence – crows flocked where death found it, and there was nothing more to be spoken. As it was the duty of the Balian soldiers to fight for their country, it was the role of the opposing fighters to do the same; flags were dug into the dirt, bodies of fallen comrades were stowed away in bulk, and prayers sprung out from the grail-knights and other holy-priests who took to arms.

 

The war has been tiresome.

 

Their bones ached, their blades were blunt and jagged from overuse, their plates scorned from treatment.

 

In the midst of all this, they all understood. Peace is in reach. The end of a journey that had begun over seventy years ago. How long would it take? How many battles were left?

 

One more.

 

In times past had Burgundy blood been spilled here, at the fateful eve of Ruben van Aert's duel. Do not attend, brother - had he said to me, and in doing so assured the inevitability of our Kingdom. For the lives of Ruben, Aelfred, and every Midlander slaughtered for their attendance, may they be forever remembered where you shall be forgotten.

I raze the 'Kingdom' of Balian in their name.

- Tiberias I

 

Warpath:

 

 

[Morigung-oog 5697]

“One more.” The Sohaer affirmed, scraping dried Balianite blood off of her blade, which she then tossed into the volcano for adequate cleansing. 

[Monty Cobra 921]

Aurus Edmond Greye sat atop Balian's walls. His leg dangled over the side, a saltwater breeze blowing through his hair as his fingers ghosted over the rough stone beneath him. The rest of Balian spread below him—his home. His childhood. His family.  He dared not move nor take his eyes off of it, lest he miss a single moment savoring what would soon be taken from him.

 

But Aurus could not remain forever. In time he lifted his aching, war-worn body to descend into the city square. As he gazed upon the children running through the streets, his friends chatting amongst themselves, his superiors making preparations for the coming battle—this Aurus knew:

 

What Burgundy sought to take was only a capital. The spirit of the Balianese people—that, Burgundy could never conquer.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[ArgentEra 459]

A dark furred musin stood in the trenches below the ballistae line, resting a moment as he watched the his fellow Urguan Legionnaires charge into the crumbling castle in hopes of sating their own desire for battle. His sensitive ears rang from the canon fire, muscles ached from aiding loading of the ballistae. 
As the cry of victory rose, he breathed a sigh of relief. 

It was almost over. 

[Yeetboy0206 1574]

Estevot Heymor, branded and forcibly conscripted for Burgundy to protect his family from harm, and currently in convalescence for a previously untreated brain injury, lays in the clinic with his youngest daughter near him, reading this. He couldn't think of a more unfair end to his part to play in all of this. He is now, unfortunately, unable to do anything for either side in this final battle. Frankly, at this point, he didn't want to. His family was torn apart, his second wife dead now as well, and it appeared he might never be able to fight again given the damage he's suffered throughout the years. So he did the only thing he could, and prayed to GOD that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, that humanity, and all of Aevos, would have the chance to atone for its sins in this unholy, despicable conflict that has served only Iblees and the dark. 

 

"May GOD have mercy on us, and forgive us for our trespasses, for no sin unatoned for shall go unpunished, and the Lord's eyes know all, no matter how much they may seek to deny it."

[D3F4LT 1026]

Tharkun Ulfarsson Starbreaker plants his steel sword into the muddy earth, from the allies encampment his eyes scanned the distant smoke rising from the battered enemy castle. His gaze bears the weight of thought. "they are outmatched... yet remain defiant to the end..." he mutters, brow furrowed beneath his netherite helm. He wonders aloud "Is this Yemekar's balance... or vengeance unchecked?" 

[Josh3738 3137]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or another moderator.