The Rise of True Rectitude

[Samson Option 9652]

The grunts and shouts are Sariants ring along the cold stone walls of the Duel Arena in Nuremburg, accompanied by the stretching sounds of arrows being nocked in place and the whirl of missiles plastering across various bullseye targets. The Brethren have made great strides to train for military campaigns, hopefully the training will finally pay off...

[Samson Option 9652]

Gaius enters a rustic tavern, noticing the cabaret entertaining the folks sitting upon wooden stools and along tables filled with food and drink. Scanning the faces are merriment and intrigue, Gaius finally finds who he is looking for and approaches in a nonchalant fashion. Reaching the tavernkeeper, Gaius and the tavernkeeper sit amongst the more populated side of the room, entranced by the musicians seducing their drunken minds with instrumental jubilee. Leaning into their own conversation, Gaius and the tavernkeeper trade many a word before heading their separate ways. Gaius shifts a parchment scroll from his left to right hand and back again, eyeing the contents contained little by little. Gaius walks carefully throughout the crowds gathered in the main square of AlKhazar and walks out the main gate to meet a few of his Sariants gathered on the King's Road.

[Samson Option 9652]

Sliding his hands against the grime riddled walls of the dimly lit sewers, Gaius steps ever so carefully through the briny liquids of waste and decay as he navigates the sewers. Upon reaching his destination, he wipes his hands upon the mail skirt to rid them of any residue and commences grappling onto a ladder and pushing himself up step by step. With the lift of the trapdoor, he peers around the edge of the opening and hoists himself up and out from the hole and crouches to belittle his figure in the city. Skipping along the paths intertwining within the city, Gaius climbs and moves amongst rooftops and picks a spot that gives him clarified view of a hooded man sitting in a shop, his hand gestures tell that he is awaiting a guest. Gaius whispers, 'Black Hand' and furrows his eyes to notice any other details in the shop that he is missing...

[Samson Option 9652]

As both men's breathe began to synchronize with each movement closer, Gaius tilts with his last step and leaps at the man he was trailing within the forests of Oren. Gaius's dagger thrusts into the figure, quick and serene is the process, but even quicker is the process to gather the limp body and orchestrate its defiling within a nearby cesspool. The lagoon blossoms and blooms with velvety red as the body begins to float ever so slightly along the surface of the water, Gaius sifts through the man's pockets for any parchment or maps, then looks around and starts to dart amongst the oak...

[Samson Option 9652]

The rustling of forest decay cloak the conversations amongst the group of men traversing the Tundras of the North. Hochmeister Gaius and his Teutons, making up the left column of the army peer silently across the landscape, now billowy white in soft snow in search of any lingering spies. Accompanied by the House of conDoin, Cataris and his nobles make up the right column and then citizens of Kramaroe filled in between. It was only hours before when Kramaroe was razed by what was perhaps an attack by the Black Hand, Gaius and Cataris answered the pleas of the residents misplaced by the disaster and mustered their men to the ready and marched forth from AlKhazar. Weary of any stragglers, Gaius and Cataris move through the woodlands to spot any possible heathens wishing to take count of the impending force moving through. Gaius, with information gathered from his tavernkeeper, speaks of a tower made of stone and obsidian, but then stares in stark surprise as the tower seemingly appears from within the fog as they move steadily forward. Ordering his men to spread looser and to find hiding places, he moves forward with Cataris and hear a faint whimper.

Upon closer examination, a woman lies upon a dirt mound near a destroyed home, with a creature of sorts crouched across her. Gaius and Cataris unsheathe their swords as quietly as possible, but the creature peers at the two approaching men and sneers, flesh dribbling from its mouth and flashes its blood caked teeth at them. Drawn back, the two stare in horror as the woman chuckles and sighs hysterically and beckons them with greetings, the creature lifts itself up and presents itself in a more humanlike form, a necromancer it calls itself. Gaius and Cataris glance at each other then call their men forward, the necromancer skips backwards from the mutilated woman and shrieks threats of death and dispair. Upon hearing a rush of yells and crunched leaves, Gaius turns about and attempts to yank a man by his linen shirt, but misses as the men of Kramaroe rush forward and scream curses and wishes to relinquish their revenge upon this necromancer. Cataris and Gaius both curse the ill disciplined and order their own Men to stand in rows behind them as they look around and notice new faces shifting about the grounds. The Sariants and men of conDoin assemble and brace themselves as Cataris and Gaius call out to the strangers newly arrived...

[Samson Option 9652]

After parrying another follower, Gaius kicks in the knee of an attacker from behind and maneuvers over the fallen attacker. His eyes moving about in calculating glances, he takes in the number of Black Hand and feels relief as he notices the numbers quickly dwindling. After swinging his sword into the shoulderblade of another follower, he notices his original targets escaping and fleeing back to the tower, striated of granite and obsidian; he then howls at Cataris of his intent and gives chase. Trailing behind the scrawny necromancers, flowing black robes nearly camouflaging them within the shadows casted by the imposing structure they entered, Gaius almost loses track of them before one curses and swings his hand in his direction. A burst of electricity surges from the mottled fingertips and travels in an arc towards Gaius. Narrowly escaping the bolt thrown, Gaius throws himself against the walls, knowing that stone would not conduct the electricity cast...

[Samson Option 9652]

Bitterly biting his tongue to subdue his body's reaction to the windy snows falling around him, Gaius glances for another cobble ledge to grab for as he scales the Black Hand's tower. Thankful for the blinding snow enveloping him from any men on the ground from sighting him, he pushes himself feet upon feet closer for the parapet of the tower. Upon clumsily hoisting himself up and over the parapet edges, he straightens up and enters the tower. Upon entering the interior, he looks in horror at what seems to be mottled flesh and charred bones adorning the obsidian walls of the tower. Upon his first few steps, he slips and stumbles down a few steps, gashing his hand used to balance himself as he reinforced his weight against the walls. Stepping more carefully, Gaius spots the draping robes behind a pillar and swiftly takes cover behind a worn door as he overhears talks of Scions being sent to AlKhazar...

[Samson Option 9652]

Upon arriving back to the town of Nuremberg, Gaius notices his OrdenMarschall standing upon a looming tower standing within the valley bowing close to the bosom of the Earth. Upon climbing the stairs within the spire, Gaius stands upon a stone ledge overlooking the town, along with his companion Glylith and gaze upon the magnificent progress they made. The clouds adorn their town in both a cloak of secrecy and a cloak of beauty, the true face of determination and courage veiled with the most beautiful cloth of pure calm. The many stoic buildings, the men, women, and children traversing the stone paths, the humility of being able to provide the safe haven for the races of Aegis, yet.. Gaius realizes that this can not come to last forever, that he must mobilize his forces and pursue military campaigns. After the skirmish North of AlKhazar alongside the House of conDoin, Gaius knows the attitudes of the Undead at the moment, and he knows he has the capability, manpower, and tactical knowledge capable of ensuring success in the North.

[Samson Option 9652]

Onlooking from his own home in the Inner Keep of Nuremburg, Gaius notices a figure running in the distance towards the town. Rubbing his eyes and blinking, Gaius observes the distant creature as it's image grows clearer the closer it gets. The image now completes itself in the identity of a woman, face worn with a reddening skin and tears as she flails her arms in a bizarre manner, long hair intertwining with the wind as twigs and leaves detach from the moving entity. Gaius's face distorts in confusion and disgust as the woman lets out a frightening wail and her movements become more erratic, prompting him to climb feverishly down the staircase and sprint out from the Inner Keep and into the streets. Upon noticing their Hochmeister's concerning entrance into the streets, they march to arrive at his side as Gaius stares down the street at the woman approaching.

Noticing all of the men lining the end of the street she is running down, she slows to a brisk walk, her neck contorting different possible angles and her mouth giving out a low hum mixed of distress and humoring. Faces of disbelief greet her as she inches closer and closer to the Hochmeister, laughing hysterically and muttering curses and otherworldly words. Gaius shouts for her to stop her blathering and to answer back, but she only responds to his demands by worsening her behaviors, shaking her head and twitching her eyes quicker and quicker. Putting a hand on the hilt of his sword and grasping it slowly, Gaius steps a few paces forward to the strange woman and addresses her as a witch, the woman only issues a earsplitting shriek and skitters backwards, falling onto the hard stone path and throwing her hands up in defense.

Staring at the woman in this pitiful position, he demands to know her problem and only gets a reply of utter nonsense. Calling his men to grapple with the woman and put her in bindings to keep her from escaping, the woman cries out for help from Gaius and claims that she was affected by a necromancer who had entered her mind. Furrowing his eyebrows and glancing at the woman, he lays a hand on the shoulder of one of the approaching Sariants and demands them to retreat back to their original business as he looks over the woman and asks her to lead him to her home...

[Samson Option 9652]

Noting the men traversing the streets in his direction, Gaius rests his shovel with the spade sliding into a crack on the stone path and he lies his head upon the handle. The Sariants, feverishly digging soon slow as they notice the numbers approaching and relax their bodies and ready for what these familiar people bring to them. Gaius gives them salutations and the men return greetings with a wavering tone. Wishing for a private word with the Hochmeister, Gaius confirms that he is the Hochmeister and one of the men step forward and gently grasps Gaius' shoulder and walks him towards his camaraderie and beckons his men to act with respect. Gaius looks at what seems to be the leader of the group and acquires the issue at hand, and grins as the man replies wishing to be able to put his village under the protection of the Teutonic Order. Ensuring the man that his question is respectfully asked, Gaius issues his declaration that he will inspect the nearby village and take the oaths of every villager to serve as Sariants of the Teutonic Order.

[Samson Option 9652]

Men wearing chainmail shirts scatter in array towards the impending scores of monstrosities wailing and barking in the midst. Swords raised, the men pick up speed before clashing in powerful awe with the opposition, sending some of the heathens flying backwards with a plume of dust enveloping much of the action from the battle. The cries of slaughter and screeches of cretins fill the air just as much, yet even still, the chants and hymns of the Teutonic Knights blasts the ears of the enemies with morose desperation as they try to fight off the superior force...

[Samson Option 9652]

The masonry of the walls and gatehouse of the castle stands pristine in stark contrast to the foreboding and sullen landscape that surrounds this establishment. The gatehouse is set in place made of stone riddled with moss and inscribed with the most solemn and grave sounding hymns and poems. As the mist dissipates and the fog fades, the walls stand tantamount to the impending power and gaining of the Teutonic Order's momentum. The Brethren have already seen complete military success in each campaign they've embarked on and a solidifying such as the walls around the capital of Nuremburg should show that the Order has independent interests outside the usual talk of the tavern and lonesome hero, the Teutonic Order has evolved from a crusade to a Military Order, calculating the need for their personal interests being sought even more than the wilting Undead and their miniscule threat.

[Elfen_ 232]

((Gaius, I wont be on for a while, since my house, street was flooded. Its a giant mess in my area.))

[Samson Option 9652]

(OOC: Glylith, I understand, take care, keep safe, and work with your family and hopefully you will be in better situation soon, were you in the area where Hurricane Katia struck?)

[Samson Option 9652]

Spitting on the ground, face grimacing in disgust at the ignorance he hears, Gaius stands with another man as he watches Princess Aliciana and her friend trade words. Looking at the current situation unfolding with further and further agitation, Gaius speaks up, cutting off Aliciana from her conversation with the deamon-possessed Schatten and curses them both for prolonging the inevitable. With Boiendl slowly agreeing more with him, Gaius urges the Princess to kill the man. Explaining that the body would see more peace and would be thankful to be put to its final rest than to be animated into agony, Gaius pulls out his sword and faces the man. Aliciana cries out words of command and Gaius looks back at the Princess, baffled at the arrogance she exudes, but she quickly apologizes and tells Gaius to leave the friend to her own to dispatch, after a quick exchange of sorrowful words, she cracks a whip and unhinges Schatten's head off from his shoulders.

With a wisp of smoke alike to steam from a stove, Schatten's demon dissipates and his body falls limp on the ground. With a gasp and shudder, both Aliciana and Boiendl flinch at the scene of gore, as Gaius looks solemnly at the body and grasps the handle of a shovel. Upon breaking the ground near the body, the body creaks with the reanimation of bone and flesh. Without a word, the body picks itself up and scrambles through the streets, Gaius attempts to throw the shovel awkwardly to stop the body from running, but misses terribly. Aliciana guffaws at the poor attempt and scorns Gaius for coming too late to her call for help. Coming face to face with the Princess, Gaius sticks his forefinger in her face and informs her that he had to get his men ready for he had thought the threat real and not one filled with nonsensical drama. After trading barbs at each other, the Princess takes out a yellow gem and swings it about to create a means to get back to AlKhazaar. Gaius urges her to heed one last bout of words from him, chastises her to never order him about, stating that he is the one of the land they stood on, not one of the Court jesters and to hold her tongue in respect when not in her palace. Aliciana curses him heavily and seemingly teleports from the location, leaving Boiendl and Gaius standing alongside Praxedis, Boiendl holds out a hand in a show of friendship, albeit in a nervous manner. Gaius takes the hand and thanks him for helping him earlier and tells Boiendl that he is welcome in Nuremburg whenever he wishes.