You close with the nearest soldier and separate his sword arm from his body, and he falls to the ground clutching the stump and screaming, only to be cut off when one of your footmen plunges a spear into his chest. The battle continues and you fell many a foe. The barbarians are on the back foot and their casualties are slowly mounting despite the cost to your own forces.
You suddenly realise that your squire is not at your side, and it occurs to you that she likely fell behind when you made your charge. You wade amongst the mass of writhing bodies, carving through any barbarians that stand in your way in your increasingly frantic search for Mavro.
You hear a deafening
CHUNKA - CHUNKA - CHUNKA, and in the very next instant all you can see through the thick red mist thrown up is the lower halves of your men, bits of guts and bone protruding from them where their upper bodies would have been attached. The clamour of battle dies and all attention focuses on the hulking metal giant striding toward you from the centre of camp. A hoarse cry goes up as a single man shouts,
Argo-o-os! The sound of shouting and struggle floods back as your foot soldiers fight to escape. They slash and stab barbarians and fellow mercenaries alike as they break and run for the trees. You hear the automaton's triple-barreled howitzer whir as it slowly spins, sending round after round flying after your retreating forces. The shells burst among the fleeing men, slaughtering all but a few lucky survivors. In but seconds all that remains of your army is the scattered groups of knights that survived the first volley. They stare at the looming beast of steel, bristling with weaponry, and slowly stepping away from its menacing profile. The moment is made all the more dramatic as it is silhouetted against the horizon by the setting sun, and light gleams dully off of its pocked and scarred armoured plates.
Player CharacterName: Nerev "Kell" Kelarn
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Home Region: Kiltrar
Affiliation: The Gray Blades
Armour: Full Reinforced Gantinite Plate - impervious to piercing damage, high slashing defence, average crushing defence; heavy - jumping, dodging and sprinting is impossible; become tired more quickly
Weapons:
Black Iron Kite Shield,
Light Silver Long SwordEquipment: None.
For stored gear see the Extra Character Details subject line at the bottom of the OP.Wealth: 1040 Silver Coins
Health:
WellStatus: Gray Blade Mercenary
Main Non-Player CharacterName: Alexendria "Mav" Mavro
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Age: 14
Personality: Intelligent and eager to learn. Brave of heart, brazen and chivalrous. Honour is a huge inspiration, being the type of person that would throw her entire self into a conflict, even when faced against tough odds. Prideful, especially when challenged but when broken has a tendency of temporarily assuming a defeatist attitude. Well versed in hand fighting and weapon combat, but tends to favour a spear.
Appearance: Lean and athletic, her height is above-average for her age. Long brown-blonde hair surrounds her smooth, sharp features and lightly freckled cheeks and accents her jet black irises well.
Armour: Training Leathers
Weapons: Polished Steel Spear, Light Banded Buckler
Equipment: None.
Wealth: 10 Silver Coins
Health:
WellStatus: Sir Kelarn's Squire
Locale: Oceania, Bané Bané Peninsula - Hiketo Wood
Contractor: The Republic of Oceania
Mission: By the Hand of the Official Emissary to the Mainland - Despite our efforts to eradicate the encroaching Litelachian forces, they still maintain a token force on our borders, and they constantly harry our vanguard companies patrolling the area. We will allow enough silver to satisfy a hundred mercenaries and their company in order for them to wipe out all trace of these interlopers. Our estimates indicate a small standing force. It should not be a problem for the Gray Blades.
Compensation: 500 Silvers + 200 Silvers if the Litelachians are "wiped out"
Conditions: The invading force must be reduced by at least half their original numbers in order to receive pay. If the attacking party is reduced to below 10% of their original strength upon conducting their first assault, the remaining members will be given a 100 Silver consolation bonus, regardless of whether the original condition was fulfilled or not.
Estimated Duration: Less than one week
Deadline: The band must set out by [tonight].
Locale: Varen Confederation, West Fesil Region - Borma Peak
Contractor: Borma Garrison
Mission: Defeat the Jet-Steel Knights visiting the region.
Compensation: 1000 Silvers + 100 Silvers per Knight killed
Conditions: The knights must leave the immediate area and the garrison cannot be harmed. There is no compensation pay should the applicant fail, though all medical expenses will be covered in either case.
Estimated Duration: Two days of travel time.
Deadline: [one month from now]- Former Kiltran Noble - no standing amongst the court
- Survived the Battle of Hiketo Swamp
- Defeated Hokuta Vvoric in single combat
Duncan the Contractor - Affiliated - Unfriendly
Kippa the Blacksmith - Friend
Senator Hokuta Vvoric - Amicable
Located on a low knoll just outside Bané-Bané Peninsula's castle.
- Main Hall: Meet with officials and hire professional troops
- Smithy: Improve and apppraise weapons and equipment
- Contract Office: Obtain Gray Blade contracts and collect payment for completed ones
- Carrier Stable: Rent a carrier to take you somewhere
- Apothecary: Rest and heal your wounds
- Officer's Mess: Speak to knights you know and purchase information
- Chapel: Bless items and gear and banish unholy forces
The Kingdom of Oceania's only territory on the mainland. There is a single castle with a pitifully small village outlying it where some of the poorer merchants reside. It houses one of Oceania's three Legions, a massive standing army made up of their mightiest troops, as well as one of the most expansive ports in the known world. The Oceanian Queen allows the Gray Blades to have a fortress in the area, as all Oceanians loathe setting foot beyond the sandy coast and take advantage of their services often.
- Keep: Meet with the court
- Tavern: Hear local news and hire unprofessional individuals
- Market: Purchase and sell items
Hires
1 Armoured Car - 1 Driver, 2 Guards
Allies
41 Knights