Fate - First Reply Time to blow something up.

A 1x1 Roleplay where the first writer to respond can join
Thraah

Thraah

Fire Kitten
Member
Can't Stop! Sir Dabsalot You dabbed :| Orcsorcsorcs
Messages
407
Character Biography
Link
The sun was setting over the hills and cast long shadows over the Cortos Fort.

Thraah climbed out of the tunnel, face of dirt and looked at her timepiece.
The watch was a prized possession, she'd purchased it from requisition when she took command of the Fire-cats.

"Six... five..."
The others climbed out behind her, smoke followed.
"four... three..."
Pigfat burned hotter than all the hells and there was a few gallons of it right under the forts foundations.
"two... one!"

The wall came down in a crumbling crash of earth, dust and smoke. Right on time too, Thraah was getting better at timing the exact moment a wall would collapse. She did not always get it right but tonight she was right on the money.

"Good job troops. A bottle of brandy on me tonight."
Her crew gave a cheer even as the rest of the Anirian forces rushed past them to overrun the gap and take the fort.

Soldiers with Dreadlord commanders hurled all manner of death while College Initiates secured interference along the remaining sides of the wall to draw attention from the defenders.

Turning her back on the attack Thraah led her team out of the battle zone and back to the Anirian camp. Their job was done and she had campaigned for her sappers to be deemed too valuable for the assault, most were shattered from the dig still.

Her tent was set up as she liked it, her desk and cot assembled and made. There was even a cup of water with tea leaves soaking in a pouch on top.
The crew looked after her too.

Sitting down her hand reached for a cloth that she might wipe her face and feel a bit cleaner then she went for the cup and heated it in her hands, before long it was steaming pleasantly but just before she could bring it to her lips a voice came from outside the tent.

"Captain Thraah, Sir?"
She liked Sir, it made her feel macho.

"Yes Hatter, what is it?"
Not mad sounding, just tired.

"Sorry to disturb you, someone to see you Sir!"

"I'll be right out!"
A quick look in the mirror she kept under her cot let her pat down a stray braid of hair but that was all she could do before going outside to meet her mysterious visitor.
 
  • Bless
Reactions: Faustina

Faustina del Morevo awaited patiently in camp, draped in the grey and gold robes of a monja: one ungifted in magic, but blessed in other areas. Her braided hair formed a thick halo about her head, the rest spilling down behind her in cresting, dark-brown waves, almost as long as her cloak. Multiple bronze bells hung about her neck and waist, clinking ever so softly with each movement. Each inscribed with a verse of St. Elian on the inside. Each one warding her against a particular evil.

And evil was rampant.

She found herself surrounded by enemies on all flanks. By Anirians. No one but the Sunfather and His blessed saints stood by her side now, and even His touch seemed distant and faint in the dying sunlight.

She closed her eyes and weathered the raucous laughter and shouted insults from soldiers.

"Reckon if you shake her, the priestess will play us a little tune?"

"Nah, not much music comin' out of that one. I mean look at the Cortosi wench! I've known harlots with better taste. Or looks for that matter."

They do not know better, the Saint whispered softly in her ear, comforting her, even in the very pits of evil. Ignorance and pride are their sins, not wilful blindness. Vel Anir has corrupted them. Forgive them.

She opened her eyes again when the tent flap rustled and the captain emerged. Faustina's bronze eyes widened, almost reminsicent of a cat's in the size of her irises, giving a perculiar glint to her gaze in the half-lit dusk. The captain looked nothing like what she had anticipated. Like a ball of fire giddily moving with brisk energy, barely wrapped up in the guise of a human, stocky and compact, bull-heading through her own tent like she was ready to tear someone apart.

Faustina's bejeweled hands, gaudily covered in multiple bracelets and rings, folded before her, and she offered the slightest bow.

"Captain. I come to negotiate terms of peace, on behalf of Fort Stauchio."

Thraah
 
Last edited:
  • Wonder
Reactions: Thraah
Well she didn't expect this.

The Cortosi had envoys of course, people of words and learning. Big words, much learning too. Nobles and this woman held herself like that. Stood up tall among her enemies, faith gave people that.

A look went to the Fort and the battle that seemed to be getting started, they had toppled the wall but not breached it... yet. Which explained why the woman had been shown to her, like it or no she was in charge until the others got back.
Thraah knew that once that happened few, perhaps none at all, might be spared. The fighting would soon turn to slaughter and while she relished beating an opponent worth her measure she had no love for butchery dressed in a uniform. With a nod she dismissed Hatter, who went back to the others.

"Peace eh?"

It was almost too late for that she thought.

"Cutting it close but alright, I'll hear your terms."

Thraah stood up straight and still only came to the other woman's chin then cleared her throat.

"I'm Dreadlord of the third class, Thraah and I um..."
There was a thing, a thing you said at times like this. Brass got pissy when you forgot it but she was tired and could not be assed remembering.

"... okay, yeah what's your name and what are your terms?"

She'd have to reheat her tea.

Faustina
 
  • Yay
Reactions: Faustina
Faustina swallowed. In all her young life, she had never engaged in something like this before. By the captain's informal demeanour, it seemed her counterpart rarely engaged in diplomacy either.

But when the boulder of a trebuchet had ended the commander's tale as a bloody smear against the battlements, the defenders had looked to her for support. For guidance, even.

She had attempted to warn the commander the day before. The Saint had told her of his fate. But the commander wouldn't listen. And inevitably, his story had ended before the siege engines of Vel Anir. As the highest ranking clergy in the fort, she had preceded over his rushed funeral. Spoken the words, looked upon his improvised grave - of which there hadn't been much to bury - and mulled about her Saint's warning.

But why was the Saint silent now? Where was her guidance?

It was a test, she decided. The Sunfather would see if she could instill mercy into these bloodthirsty warriors.

"Our terms . . ." Faustina began, forcing her voice to be steady, despite the cacophony of the camp and the stares ogling her, feeling like needles in her acnestis. She worked hard to concentrate on her message, even when words nearly failed her. "You--you must allow for,"-she had to close her eyes again to ignore the intense look of Thraah-"safe passage for all - for all the remaining defenders. Safe passage past your front lines and b-back to -- back to Cortos. Then we . . ." she took a gulp of air in-between this, aligning herself with the defenders, as if she had any martial prowess to speak of. "We will surrender unconditionally. The proper conduct of chilvalry and warfare demands--"

She didn't get much further through her staggered terms before she was interrupted.

Thraah
 
"Yeah yeah okay."
Thraah often felt like that kind of thing was a given you know, the lives of the people in the fort.
Honestly she felt a bit bad for the other woman. She seemed a bit... absolutely terrified so she was at least sane.

"Look I don't usually deal with this so how about I give you the list yeah?"
On her fingers she began to count as she spoke.

"Civies, that's elderly, sick, wounded, kids and all that can go right? High ranking military will be kept for ransom and bargaining. Valuables are to be abandoned as spoils for troops and to help fund the campaign but eh, between you and me we have to leave you food for your journey wherever so like, stuff your wedding bands and whatever into bread that's how my parents did it. You may request aid, healers and the like before you go so be sure to include that too. Soldiers and all can take their weapons but they must be sheathed and unstrung until they clear the valley pass and eh..."
She was forgetting something, she was always forgetting something. Pets? No that wasn't it...

"OH...!"
Her whole body sent a wave of heat out at her excitement.

"You need to ask for the..."
Closing her eyes she summoned the words.
"...Respectful, treatment of all, holy sights, texts aaaand ARTIFACTS! Artifacts you need to ask for that or they will just melt that down for scrap."

Thraah only learned it to dent certain Dreadlord's who rejoiced in fucking over other cultures a hard time. Anirian's had rules of war and they did obey them but only when asked to and Thraah never saw the point in squeezing the already defeated.
"Don't forget that part so um... want to try that again?"

Her smile cut her face almost in half.

Faustina
 
The monja's head swam with Thraah's instruction. Could it be this enemy captain was . . . helping her?

Inconceivable. Unless, of course, she had in fact managed to pull some sway of mercy from Thraah. But a knot in her stomach told her the captain might well be negotiating terms in her own favour, whereas Faustina's lacking experience robbed her of any counter propositions.

But at least, they were negotiating.

She nodded slowly, trying again.

"Yes, of course," she began quietly, before her voice took strength. "All civilians must be granted safety, food and basic healing on departure. I promise their weapons will be sheathed." She prayed she could fulfill this promise, but she didn't see any other way than attempting to guarantee it. "We will grant you what is left in the treasury and other stores, if you allow our soldiers to keep their weaponry, and for us to keep our most sacred relics. Relics which I can point out for you," this she said with more confidence, gaining stride in her barter for their lives. "In turn, we shall offer no more resistance."

Thraah
 
  • Yay
Reactions: Thraah
It took a moment but Thraah repeated the woman's words in her mind and nodded, satisfied.

"Okay... okay"
With her hands she shoo'd the other woman back.

"Right, CAWLDER!"
Her voice cut like a horn through the night and in a few seconds a large woman with bare arms and wearing a thick apron came up to them.

"Sir?"

Thraah looked up at Cawlder and saw as she often did, the grateful soul who was forced to use her geomancy to dig graves instead of being put to real use. Now she took three hours to dig trenches and tunnels it would take whole teams days to finish.

"Roll over to the Fort, find Commander Lasher, big tash, wears glasses. Tell him a representative of the Fort has offered terms of surrender, got it? We've won and he needs to call off the attack immediately. Understand?"

"Yessir!"
Cawlder snapped a salute then set off in a run travelling on moving earth that pulled her forward, making her speed much faster than normal.

Thraah watched and smiled.
"She didn't know she could do that three months ago."
Her demeanor eased and she realized that in all the great importance of what was happening she missed something.

"What was your name again and would you like something to drink, you know, take the edge off?"

Faustina
 
Thraah said:
"What was your name again and would you like something to drink, you know, take the edge off?"
Click to expand...
Faustina let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if she had held her breath throughout this exchange. Could she truly have done it? It almost seemed too good to be true.

And yet, Captain Thraah held such an easy assurance about her, that it would simply be done by her willing it. Faustina allowed herself a tremulous smile, ringed fingers netting together before her with a gentle metallic clinking.

"I am Sister Faustina del Morevo, at your service. Oh, I-- I do not . . ." she almost slipped into the trap of overexplaining her vow of abstinence, but managed to steer away from such circuitous conversation. It was often too laborious to explain to those of the secular persuasion the inner workings of the Radiant Church. "I do not drink, I am afraid." Realising she might have made a social faux pas, she hastily added: "I will take any milk or water you can spare?"

Thraah
 
  • Yay
Reactions: Thraah
"Alright then."

Thraah gave a shrug at Faustina's refusal. It was odd but folk did as they did and there was milk available if memory served.

She had Hatter warm some up and bring it while she invited Faustina into her tent and out of the wind. Offered her the only chair while she sat on her cot and pulled a box out from underneath it that held a bottle of rum she had been saving.

"It will take a while to call everything off, you're better off sticking about until we can pull everyone back."
With that she opened the bottle and took a long swig before commenting.

"A whole town of people, soldiers, leaders and all that and they send one timid sister who doesn't know her arse from her elbows about negotiating terms. It's almost like they wanted you to fuck it up."
Thraah knew people and people often sucked eggs even on good days. Especially when scared or if they felt they had something to lose. Nor would it be the first time she'd seen a lamb sent to pacify wolves.

"No offense meant, you did fine and all. I only mean that they sent you out here alone, while we are winning. They clearly don't know the Anirian ways of war. You're lucky you found me and not one of the others."

Faustina
 
Thraah said:
"It will take a while to call everything off, you're better off sticking about until we can pull everyone back."
With that she opened the bottle and took a long swig before commenting.
Click to expand...
Having followed Thraah with a pensive frown into the tent, Faustina looked positively horrified at the blase drinking. She bit her lower lip and nodded, still with a frown of worry painted on her otherwise smooth face.
Thraah said:
"A whole town of people, soldiers, leaders and all that and they send one timid sister who doesn't know her arse from her elbows about negotiating terms. It's almost like they wanted you to fuck it up."
Click to expand...
A flush built up in her cheeks at the comment, anger and humiliation scaling ladders against the walls of her patience. The sharp criticism coupled with her liberal swearing all but tore rags in Faustina's careful courtesy, but she knew better than to speak in such a state, holding her tongue. Lest she ruin all that she had achieved so far.
Thraah said:
"No offense meant, you did fine and all. I only mean that they sent you out here alone, while we are winning. They clearly don't know the Anirian ways of war. You're lucky you found me and not one of the others."
Click to expand...
Some of her visible fluster abated. It was instead transmuted into the very real worry of dishonourable soldiers. She couldn't shake the comments she had heard uttered brazenly behind her back, and knew the captain to be right. It would indeed seem luck had favoured her in finding an officer amenable to terms.

More accurately, the Sunfather had guided her to this meeting. She reminded herself of this fact. Faustina knew intimately that there was no such thing as luck, only the benediction and ultimate will of His blazing glory.

When she felt more confident she could keep her emotions under sway, Faustina took word:

"It is indeed fortuitous. One might even say destined." She knew better than to enlighten Captain Thraah on the mysterious ways of the Sunfather. The Anirians were resistant to the Radiant Church, at best. No sense in building animosity through predictable resistance.

This captain is a behemoth of blasphemy, the Saint whispered softly in her ear, striking out from the ether with little warning. Wrath and pride her particular sins. But, through you, my child, she may find repentance.

Faustina's mouth dropped, taken aback by the voice of her celestial guide. Her bronze eyes gained a vacant and distracted look.

Thraah
 
"Oh yeah, destiny eh, well I don't know about that."

It felt a bit like a lie. She did know something of it. The gemstone that fueled her powers, which was now sewn into her chest, was just a massive ruby until she touched it and it started to beat like a heart.

Her Momni had said they found it in an old place of worship. Time and sand had worn away the names but it belonged to someone once and now it gave her the power over fire.

"But I do know how to look out for people. Been doing that a fair bit and believe me..."

It was about this time that Thraah had noticed that Faustina was not listening. If she didn't know any better she'd say she was drunk.

"Hey, you good?"
Snapping her fingers before the priests eyes she hoped to get a response.
"Please don't be dead, all the medics are asleep!"

Faustina
 

A bell struck her mind. Visions rushed past. She saw Captain Thraah engaged in an act of unbridled lust with a tall, dark gentleman, holding his hand, their foreheads touching in the night. Another of Thraah making a leap for the heavens, arms fanned out, reaching for a disembarking ship. A third, striking upon foreign shores, bellowing out some wordless cry, sword pointed forward, and scores and scores of soldiers rushing past like an inexorable tide . . . towards a falling flag of Cortos, like a dying swan drowning in churned-up earth.

"Yes, I am well, fret not. Excuse me, I . . ." A small white lie might be the better choice, rather than explain the true cause of her distraction. A tiny sin for a greater good. She held a hand to her head, affecting a headache with a gentle smile and dip of her chin. "It must be circumstances getting to me. As you rightly say, I have, ah, little experience in this field. My prayers more often reach for the seat of the Sunfather than for earthbound souls."

The visions still rung within her, resonating. What had she seen? It had been a while the Saint had gifted her with such vivid sights.

She looked on Thraah with new eyes. This rough-and-tumble captain . . . the Saint had a divine plan for her, that much Faustina could tell.

Thraah
 
  • Peek
Reactions: Thraah
"Huh."
Religions were funny, Thraah sometimes found herself thinking of her parents gods, the little shrine they sung to.
She didn't remember the names and thinking about it now she didn't know if she ever asked.

"So you're a priest who sings to your uh sun... dad? Does he ever like..."
It was hard to believe she was asking the question.

"Ahem... does he ever, reply ya know like... speak... in words or something?"
Despite he parents faith Thraah had adopted the Anirian attitudes strongly. To them all gods were a crutch but lately she'd been missing home and that made her curious.

Faustina
 
  • Yay
Reactions: Faustina
"He does."

Her words filled the air in the tent with a perculiarly charged energy. Wind rustled through the flaps, fluting through every crevice and hole. Faustina's declaration lingered like a persistent aroma, such as might be found with the smell of incense lingering long after the candles had been lit. The utmost certainty in her tone and the speed of her reply flew in the face of all her previous tip-toing and halting courtesy, intent, bronze eyes lingering on Thraah for longer than what could be considered normal.

She turned her head away and the spell broke - but whether it had been a curse or blessing, who could say? She stepped aside the main table, bejeweled fingers running along its edge, tentative again as if she desired for some kind of support.

"Not directly, you understand. His word is too pure and blinding for us mortals to fathom. Only when we will rest in his realm can we hear them, see Him in His full glory. But in the interrim . . . He speaks to us through his chosen saints. And," her voice caught briefly here, having to swallow, "some of us are fortunate enough to hear them."

Thraah
 
  • Gasp
Reactions: Thraah
That was creepy so she kicked up the heat in herself to radiate a bit of warmth and chase the chill out again.
Thraah leaned back a bit as Faustina locked eyes with her. This was sounding a bit beyond her and this level of devotion was a bit upsetting to witness.

"Uh right."
She was beginning to regret asking.

"And that's you right? Are you one of these Saints?"
Was is wrong to ask that? Thraah had no idea what the rules were but she'd started this so she might as well keep going and ask the weird stuff too.

"Do you like, throw light from your mouth and eyes?"
Or the REALLY weird ones.
"If you have sex will your God fire you?"

She hadn't gotten that way in a while but she was getting excited about it now.

Faustina
 
  • Gasp
Reactions: Faustina
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back