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The final march of Jakabol (Wrathsputin & Kuziya)

Wrathsputin

Wrathsputin

Planetoid
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
The winter breeze had a demonic chill and mutilated corpses were strewn across the valley. The bodies were eviscerated, quartered, and impaled on massive, burning pikes. There was a single man in this massacre sight, a hulking goliath in a loin cloth and fur boots with a halberd as his weapon. The brute scanned the valley, looking for anything he had missed in his slaughter of this demon's lair. Nothing caught his eye, but a shout caught his ear. "KOTH, COME QUICK!! THE STRONGHOLD!!" A man shouted from the top of a nearby ridge, clearly speaking to the man in the valley. Koth's head snapped into the direction of the scout, and then quickly charged up the steep cliff face, climbing it with ease. Once he reached the top, he was pointed to the north where he saw the smoke rising. Koth's heart dropped, smoke billowed into the sky. The only thing north of them to burn was the stronghold of Jakabol, the last place a barbarian could call home. But the soldiers of West Deum sought the destruction of the uncivilized filth and mysticism of the barbarian. "Send the call, gather anyone who can carry a sword. We march at dawn" Koth's voice was deep and seething with hatred, but he forced composure onto himself. He'd unleash this fury in due time
 
A man stood sword swinging angrily. He knew the barbarians would be coming and he needed to protect this land. He turned as his name was shoutted. "Alexio come quick!" Alexio turned and followed the frantic waving of one of the soldiers. He ran over.
"What's going on?"
"Everyone dead been massacred!" Alexio hissed angrily then turned to stare at the distant land beyond. "They'll be coming i'm sure of it! Make haste and rally the troops. We must fight to stay alive!"
"Yes sir!" the soldier ran off and Alexio cursed angrily before following the soldier.
 
Koth did not sleep that night, he only stoked the flames of fury in his quickly growing army as more and more barbarians arrived by horseback every hour. As dawn broke, he lead the march on West Deum, a five day trek that would end with West Deum in ruins if Koth had his way. His ties to the magics of fire were strong and his runic tattoos glowed a crimson red as his rage only grew. The winter air's chill was great, but the seething hatred of his army was greater and steam rose from them as they marched.
 
Alexio paced a sword swinging from his belt. He had been like this since last night. He hadn't been able to sleep instead practicing well into the night trying physically and mentally to prepare for what was to come. He had finally given up the training and now paced back and forth a cup of strong coffee in his hand. He couldn't allow for this city to fall. He felt like it could be his responsibility if it did.

He paced occasionally sipping watching the dawn rise and feeling the dread thicken and contrast. "Alexio." came the soft word by his side. He looked up. The general was standing there also looking worried.
"Have you got any idea of their numbers?" the general shook his head and Alexio snorted. He was usually patient, but now that his life was on the line he couldn't seem to control his temper or nerves anymore. He paced for a little while longer biting at his lip now. He swung around and stared at the general. "Then what is it?"
"We're ready for the position." the general said simply.
"Very well. Before they get here rouse the men and--"
"There's no need."
"What do you mean?"

"All the soldiers are just as worried as you are Alexio! Stop trying to feel responsible! Your shouldering too much!" Alexio just stared out the window. He knew of course that he was right, but then he always had a hard time of admitting or in fact accepting any kind of wrong or help.
 
As the barbarians marched, Koth knew they would need a plan. It was a fact, if the soldiers of West Deum defeated the horde in Jakabol, their numbers must be incredible. The last count of the barbarian army was just over 10,000 strong, but Jakabol had over 25,000 easy and they were destroyed. Koth would need to find a way to take on West Deum in a manner that put them at the advantage. West Deum was too large for 10,000 to properly siege, and a full scale invasion would likely be stopped at the gate, so what to do? Koth's mind pondered and pondered until an idea began to creep into his thoughts. What if it was a siege, but a different kind of siege? A seige they not only wouldn't be able to see coming, but do nothing about? If batallions were stationed along the major roads in and out of West Deum just far enough out, they would be able to cut off most supplies and then strike at the walls while the soldiers and citizens starved inside. It Could work, but they'd need more plans for different contingencies.
 
Alexio just stood staring blankly out at the city. He wasn't sure what he should do or how to go about it. He did know that the barbarians were clever and sneaky. He whirled and slipped out. "Alexio where are you going??" the general yelled as the man stepped out.
"I'll be back in time!" he yelled back then left. He walked around the city. No one was up at dawn except those few early risers. He walked through the streets to the gates. He stared at the gates then turned and stared around at all the roads in and out of this city. No they wouldn't do that would they? Maybe at the gates where they can easily breach the city. He whirled around and moved quickly back to where he had come from. "General!"
"Yes Alexio!"
"Round up some men and guard those gates! Make sure no one gets in!"
"Yes!" the general scrambled off. A second later he heard hthe footsteps of men. He watched some men move towards the gates. They held swords, and knives. They marched toward the gates and Alexio sighed. Well now that was taken care of now what? Dawn was almost dawn and he could think a bit ahead.
 
Koth gave the word and soon large battalions of troops marched through the woodlands surrounding West Deum, finding roads and setting up along their sides. Any kind of supplies would be taken by force and then the people told to go back from where they came. This would cripple the massive city in a few days time as they depended on most of their food from other locations. It also meant no new weapons for them to defend themselves with. Koth was trying to keep himself calm, but it was getting harder.
 
Alexio knew dawn had broken. He unsheathed his sword ready for battle. No matter what happened he would not repeat would not let this city fall. He stepped out seeing men ordering their troops. He waited for the opposing army, but then he still noticed the men by the gate still waiting. He walked over. "Report!"
"They haven't come this way!" one of the generals said. Alexio looked around then it hit him He swore angrily. "Of course they're going to make us starve!" he was angry with himself for not knowing.
"We can't let this happen! We have to survive! We'll find some way to get food in along with weapons!" Alexio nodded walking along the roads he glared angrily at the other army. He hoped that they just didn't expect them to just wait. He and his men were going to fight back and fight back hard.
 
Koth's forces all but sealed the roads, building walls and obstacles with Geomancy spells. Koth sat down in their main camp and began to focus and channel his energy, using his rage as an extra fuel source for the barrage he was about to unleash. Small troop detachments roamed the woodlands looking for favorable positions to ambush the enemy. Barbarian general started enchanting their battalions with fiery magic, they were going to burn everything the soldier of West Deum loved. The barbarians knew they weren't going to win, West Deum's army was enormous, and their citizens also would not go down lightly, but as punishment for destroying Jakabol, Koth was going to do everything in his power to burn their beloved city to the ground. The sky began to darken as Koth's magics took a hold of the clouds. A light drizzle began over the city, but something was wrong. Instead of rain, sharp pellets of salt began to pelt everything.
 
Alexio studied the sky then cursed. More anger slammed into him. "Magic!" he hissed tapping his sword angrily. He spread his troops out making sure to cover every entrance including the hidden ones. He saw the citizens gathering already armed. "Alex?" a man asked coming over.
"I know! I know! They're using magic!"
"What should we do!"
"If any soldiers come give the order to kill on sight!" the man nodded. Alexio groaned angrily twirling his sword in anger. He slammed the tip through a peice of salt.
 
Koth gathered more Arcane energy. The salt pellet soon became the size of shot glasses and bore an unnatural heat, steaming as they struck the ground. The steam became a fog, light at first, but thicker as more salt rained from the sky. Koth's barbarian readied themselves to charge on the city
 
Alexio hissed in rage storming and dodging the salt shards. He slammed through some angrily looking around for anyone who didn't belong to his city. He walked over to one general who had one hundred troops at his back. "You get the order?!"
"Yes Alexio!" he said nodding while the troops stood at attention.
"Good!" Alexio said hitting another salt peice which when hit with the whole of Alexio's rage shattered. His eyes had gone black in anger and he was ready to kill if need be. Citizens were coming over looking to Alexio the leader of this city. "Fan out!" he yelled. "Anyone who sees another soldier who doesn't belong to us kill! This city will not fall!" he was screaming now his eyes showing that he would do whatever it took to stop them. Everyone disparsed and Alexio took up his position with another two hundred surrounding and in back of him.
 
Once the fog was so thick that visibility was only for a few feet in front of one's face, the barbarians marched on the walls of the city. Koth's Arcane energies were depleted for the time being, but he did enough for now. He picked up his ax and lead the charge. A thunderous roar ripped into the sky as the savages unleashed their fury and dashed forward, their weapons on fire. A large boulder was hurled at the gates, but they didn't budge. West Deum Smith's were renowned for their sturdy work and this gate was no exception. A flaming dagger was launched, hitting the door and catching it alight.
 
"General move back!!" Alexio screamed angrily. He saw the troops move back a few feet, but did not move. He led his troops anger and a mix of hatred probably in his eyes. He crouched his sword ready to kill or be killed.
 
With the gate now engulfed, stones were hurled at it with a more astounding force and volume than before. THe wood began to creak and buckle while the surrounding wall began to crumble from the barrage. Flaming weapons were launched over the wall and into the crowds below, striking houses, people, market stands, and some just plain missed anything, but it were still on fire which would create a berth around it. Koth roared into the sky, his rage echoing into the Deum as massive footfalls could suddenly be heard. With each, earth shaking stomp, the sound of a giant approaching became clearer and clearer
 
Alexio had had enough. He bent his knees. "Alexio Nooo!!!!" a general screamed. He leapt snarling in pure rage. He saw the giant, but he was plummeting down toward the army. "You.... will ..... not ..... take .... this .... city!!!!" he was screaming his eyes glaring. His sword swung out as he flipped and tried to land so he wouldn't get hurt. He growled in fury trying to stab and kill the opposite army.
 
Koth heared the screams of a man getting closer, but couldn't see him through the fog he created. It mattered not to Koth as the assault continued. Alexio was met by two barbarian who were all but foaming at the mouth, one wielding a hammer, the other wielding a broad sword. They charged Alexio just as he managed too stand, THe hammer swinging from the side and the broad sword coming overhead. The pounding footfalls became louder and louder as the giant approached
 
Alexio stood and saw the hammer and axe. At the last moment he dodged the hammer then swung his sword avoiding the axe. He plunged sword trying to kill. He felt the blade sink through flesh and heard the crunch of bone. He ripped the blade out fresh blood dripping down from his sword. He whirled ready for more fighting.
 
The hammer wielding barbarian fell to Alexio's sword, but the ax wielding barbarian was still up and swinging. Koth began to walk through the fog along the road, heading for the main gate. It was high time in his mind to pick the world up and drop it on the heads of Deum. The barbarians had never done anything to deserve their extinction, but because their ways were not the same as those of Deum, they were hunted and slaughtered like calves. Koth bore upon his shoulders the weight of an entire civilization, an entire way of life, and he would damned if he let if fall in vain.
 
Alexio managed barely to dodge the axe and tried to calculate his opponents next move. He brought his sword up to block the axe swing and swung high aiming for the head. He would not go down without a fight. Above him archers were firing arrow after arrow into the opposite army. He saw soldiers and citizens alike fighting for their lives.
 
The axe swing was blocked and the sword sank into the head of the barbarian. Koth launched an assault of more salt, pelting down on the entire city. More barbarians assaulted the walls and suddenly the gate began to crash down. Barbarians swarmed the city, using their flaming weapons to inflict massive damage and light anything they could on fire. Most of them were cut down, but the few survivors were able to overcome the guards at the gate and attack the city.
 
Alexio laughed nastily and yanked his sword out grinning at the blood. He ran to where the men lay. "General! General!"
"Alexio forget about me!" the general screamed and Alexio dived after the barbarians instantly ingaging in battle. He dodged quickly and deftly. This is where his taunts come out. "Oh the barbarians must train weak spiniless men!" he said stabbing an opening in the barbarian's defenses. "We men here are trained for months on end! So what makes you think that you can take this city?" he started laughing wildly.

OOC Sorry this is Alexio's worst. He prays on someone's weaknesses during war and battle.
 
A barbarian dodged Alexio's attacked and grabbed him by the throat hoisting him off the ground and choke slamming him into the cobblestone. The barbarian raised his hammer for a swing as the flames in the burning city grew brighter. Suddenly, a tremendous earthquake ripped through the ground, throwing the barbarian off balance and away from Alexio. A thunderous roar broke into the sky as the giant finally arrived. He was a giant made from the beating heart of the Valoshurk mountain, living lava that stood 40' tall. The giant lashed out at the wall, turning it to slag before another terrible roar broke out. The barbarian fell silent and looked to the sky as the wing beats of something monstrous echoed over head.

OOC: Something wicked this way comes . . .
 
As Alexio was lifted and slammed down he gasped in pain. He instantly jumped up though. "General! General!" a hand was raised and lowered three time then twice which meant everyone or well most of everyone was still alive. As the giant arrived Alexio cursed and moved to finish the barbarian off grabbing his sword. However he stopped and looked up at the sky when he heard the wings beating.
 
Koth roared. "FALL BACK!!!! DRAGON!!!!" The barbarians retreated from the city, all but one. They fled back past the woodland and into caves in the nearby mountain side. The giant let himself fall into a pile of slag and melted into the ground. Another terrible roar broke out as a jet of flame scorched the sky and lit more buildings on fire. Loat scrambled to try and find safety under something made of stone, but her injuries made it hard to move. She had been ambushed in a cowardly fashion, and even though her assailants were now mutilated corpses, she was badly hurt and bleeding out. Her long, disheveled brown hair was caked to her back by blood. She was small for a barbarian who traditionally had tall woman with shoulders broader than most regular men, standing under 5' and not weighing anything more than 90 lbs. Loat was extremely toned, the definition in her muscles showed incredible detail and her eyes were a flaming crimson. Her skin was a dark, olive color with out a single blemish and she wore hide armor with five daggers acting as her weapons. Her knowledge of Pyromancy and Geomancy made her a force to be reckoned with, but right now she wouldn't be able to cast a thing. Loat barely hide herself under some rubble before she blacked out.
 
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