Open Chronicles A Different Plague

[Ademar Acero]

A simple nod at Talus’ words as he leaned in towards Ademar. In truth Talus was the only one he could trust on this task as both were assigned as partners to resolve this situation. The governor was a sack of fat that was good for nothing, only interested in his own benefit. Something he’d report to his superiors to see the man be punished for not committing to his duties. Ademar did not tolerate inefficiency or laziness, and the Governor didn’t offer anything to Vel Anir.

The Garrison Commander? Well, he was apparently friends with the witch and his command did not seem to be efficient at all. Apparently he also shared the same compassion for the wounded woman as the witch. Pathetic from both individuals. Worried for one life as opposed to thousands behind these walls.

“Let’s see if their...lack of vision will prove them wrong,” was all he offered to his comrade. They’ve gotten the garrison of the city, and now to witness the casualties they’d suffer for not agreeing to Talus’ plan. Sure, the soldiers were trained, but when compared to monsters that were rabid and held no sense of fear in legions?

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira stayed quiet for a moment. Obviously, she'd need to find a solution to convince Commander Markus. Just because she knew him did not mean that was going to be obliging to a person he hadn't seen in half a decade.

Zafira let the scene play out in front of her without a hint of protest, eyes thoughtful. The woman was healed - Zafira knew that for a fact. She also knew that the more aggressive of the two soldiers would throw hell before giving her up.

A calm that Zafira hadn't felt since she met the soldiers passed over her. "Commander," she called as Markus turned away from her, ready to call over more men. Voice low, she looked up at him. "The woman is healed which I understand doesn't mean much in the face of thousands of people, but she is not the answer you are looking for. Send her out with no protection, and they will definitely turn her. "

Markus' blue eyes met Zafira's roughly, no trace of laughter or the man she had seen moments ago in them. Zafira leveled her gaze, not moving them from the older man's. "Then, what would you suggest Zafira?"

"Send the woman," An uncomfortable pit lodged itself in Zafira's chest as she said it. She was trying to do everything to keep the woman away from going back out, but if the two soldiers were going to force her out, then Zafira was going to make sure the woman wasn't killed.

Plus, the Commander was the only one who knew about her half-blood status although he never addressed it.

"But send me with her for protection,"

 

[Talus]

Talus shrugged his shoulders to the suggestion.

The Dreadlord did not particularly care if the Witch was with them or not. He thought his own and Ademar's magics would be enough to conquer whatever wolves came at them, especially with soldiers at their backs.

Bait would only lay the trap, then they would have to spring it. "As long as she followed the chain of command."

Talus stated simply, his arms crossing over his chest.

His gaze fell over the Commander for a moment who looked between the figures standing before him. His eyes lingered on Ademar, clearly having taken a dislike of the other Apprentice. Talus stared at him, and then there was a curt nod.

"Do it."​

Good. "Ademar, let's go. Have your troops meet us at the gate in an hour."

They would take care of the rest.

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira breathed out a sigh of relief. She'd assumed that the Commander would say no due to her lack of experience. She could see the resistance on him even as she nodded to the blonde apprentice.

Zafira ignored the uncomfortable pit in her stomach at the thought of listening to everything he had to say.

To be frank, though, Zafira hated to listen to anyone.

She kept the thought to herself, dusting the front of her dress off and checking on the healed woman. She talked to her a bit. From the conversation, she learned that the woman's name was Harria. She'd become a soldier despite her father's protest, and had managed to win him over eventually. Zafira swallowed hard as the woman told her her story.

It would only make it that much harder for Zafira to see Harria die. Ademar, who's name she found out because of the blonde apprentice, had already sprung into action. Everyone around her seemed to be moving with action, working together to do...Stars, Zafira didn't even know. She couldn't find it in her to care much either. Instead, she went to the nearest herb shop and picked up a few elixirs, downing them to regain her strength.

 

[Ademar Acero]

He scoffed to himself, unimpressed to how the commander was conducting in this situation. Hell he was unimpressed by how the city handled itself in this dilemma. A good for nothing sack of shit of a governor, and a commander that became a dull sword. Perhaps these events wouldn’t have been too dire if they put into more thought and acted upon it.

Disgraceful.

The hulking Dreadlord followed his fellow apprentice to the gate of city, awaiting for the others to prepare themselves and gather whatever they needed for the battle to come.

Both were compatible as partners which was evident to how they’ve been carrying out this mission; however, there were many differences between the two. Talus remained calm for the most part and wished to resolve things diplomatically, while Ademar wasn’t afraid to approach in an honest, blunt manner.

“I have never come across such ineptitude and incompetence until this assignment. Damn shits the lot of them,” he voiced his thoughts to Talus as the two stood at the gate alone.

 

[Talus]

As the Garrison began to assemble in the square behind the gate Talus crossed his arms and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

He was not entirely too happy about having to venture into the forest. The Wolves had the upper-hand, and there was no doubt that many would die before the day was done. The woman would help, the wolves would be drawn to her scent, but...well it would still be hard fighting.

"We're far from Vel Anir." Talus told Ademar quietly.

The other Apprentice was right though. This Garrison was not the usual Guardsmen that would hold a city like this. Vel Ciruk was a border town, one sitting right on the edge of the Falwood. Why weren't there better soldiers?

Politics. Talus thought to himself grimly.

"We'll make due." He told his fellow Apprentice. "Then make our report. Perhaps someone better will take over after we break these Wolves."

He spat on the ground as the rest of the garrison assembled. The Commander walking over to the two Apprentices.

"I'll be keeping a skeleton force here to protect the city. My Lieutenant has orders to obey your commands."
​

Talus gave a curt nod followed by a hand signal. Horns blew, and then five hundred men began to march out of Vel Ciruk.

 

[ZafiraJade]

The air crackled with anticipatory tension. Not all of it was good. The man to the left of her was pulling at his armor, lips set in a thinned line. It was his eyes that gave away his fear. Everyone was quiet as they followed the Commander, including Zafira who was still with the woman. She had passed out in the middle of their walk, her strength depleting from the excitement of all that had happened.

Zafira bit her tongue hard enough to almost draw blood. It was being the physician's daughter in her that wanted to drug up the woman and send her to bed.

There had to be about 500 soldiers surrounding her, and more than half of them looked like they'd rather not be here. Zafira had told herself to be satiated by the fact that she'd be able to protect the woman, but at what cost? It's not just her life that was on the line now, rather all the soldiers who looked more like boys than hardened men. It was easy, too easy, to distinguish the difference between them and the two apprentices.

Quietly, Zafira walked up to the pair. "I don't mean this to come out offensively, but don't you think that these groups of men may not be equipped to handle a pack of wolves that can infect them with a single wound?"

Their entire mission was to save Vel Anir from the werewolves. But how would they save the people if all the ones aiding would turn into werewolves themselves? Zafira fingered the bottle of aconite in her pocket - more commonly known as Wolfsbane. In case the woman did turn. If she had more time, and if the herb shop in Vel Anir was much more advanced, maybe they could have laced at least two hundred of the soldiers with the poison. Time wasn't in their favor though.

 

[Ademar Acero]

And so five hundred men, two Dreadlords, and a witch walked out the gates of Vel Ciruk their feet crunching at the snow. They walked towards the forest where their enemies harbored and grew. Time to desist this threat or at least weaken them, weaken them enough for trade and travel to resume at a normal pace with supplies to nurture the city and soldiers to reinforce their defenses.

Again the witch approached Ademar and his partner, and spoke. Her words annoyed Ademar and opened his mouth before Talus could respond.

“Then how the hell they’ve managed this far, witch? I recommend you to mind your own task and leave the concern of the men to me and my comrade.”

He would not entertain her with more words from his mouth. He was curt and straightforward as he had always been. Question the adequate training these men were shown? A fool. Had they not been given the proper tools and taught the right skills, then Vel Ciruk would have fallen many moons ago and would demonstrate to the world how weak Vel Anir has become.

“Spread out! Keep close to your groups, we will encircle them and strike once we’ve drawn them out. Archers, make sure your aim is true; otherwise, I’ll throw you to the den myself.”

A tight formation was just the equivalent of cattle together and make it simple for the werewolves to overwhelm their ranks. They were beasts of no mind, not men that could think rationally and know fear to watch over their lives with careful caution. Platoons of men would spread out amongst the trees, their senses on high alert for any movement that was in their vicinity.

 

[Talus]

Talus watched Ademar and the Witch speak, his fellow Apprentice being short of no bile.

The other man did not understand diplomacy or tact, but that was perhaps for the best. Everyone had their uses, and Ademar was the hammer one could use to break down entire walls. In a battle, Talus would have been hard pressed to ask for anyone else by his side.

At least he would never hesitate. "The turn takes time."

Talus spoke to the Witch as he stepped alongside her. Two Anirian Guardsmen flanked them, Ademar walking just a few steps ahead. Talus had already drawn his blade, eyes wearily watching every corner of the thick forest. Snow crunched beneath his feet.

"They will get infected." He had no doubt about that. "But the change will not happen until the next full moon. Any who fall can be offered mercy before then."

It was the harsh reality of this situation. Something that had to be done, otherwise all of Vel Ciruk would end up like the woman Zafira had tried to save. "All we-"

His words were interrupted by the blast of a horn. The sound echoed through the forest, resounding and breaking among the trees. Talus' head whipped to the right, taking three steps forward and tapping Ademar on the shoulder.

"That's an Alarm, their settlement is that way." He had heard that Horn before. In the far north of the Tundra, where there were more monsters than men. Talus began to shout. The platoon turning and moving towards the encampment. Just a few minutes later it came into view, a wooden wall protecting canvas tents and loose wooden structures.

It was then that the first wolf struck.

From seemingly nowhere one of the beasts appeared far in the rear of the Anirian forces. It howled and pounced forward, shredding into two Guardsmen before they could even scream.

 

[Ademar Acero]

Impressive...most impressive. Ademar thought these beasts to have no intelligence, and the sound of the horn caught him by surprise. He only thought they breeder and act as monstrous savages one would think them to be. Talus tapped him on the shoulder, pointing towards their settlement. He gave a nod and move towards that direction along with the soldiers at their command.

A wooden wall could be seen from the trees they walked amongst, walls to protect whoever inhabited beyond them. Excellent, here they’d slaughter and burn it to the ground which would leave these beasts with a crippled population; and with a crippled population meant less attacks of Vel Ciruk.

Two guards cried out in agony as a werewolf from the rear attacked them. Their armor protected their vital organs, though there were gaps were the monster could pierce their skin with its claws and teeth. The Dreadlord moved and swung his mace at the monster’s head, mighty strength behind it as the creature fell into the snow dead with its skull and brain mortally damaged.

“Shit! No doubt wasn’t the last one from the rear,” he said to Talus as he now looked at the injured guards, moaning in pain. Their blood flew out from their pierced skin and painting the innocent white snow.

“We must advance, we’ve come this far. Everything will be in vain if we retreat.”

 

[Talus]

Talus nodded. "GO!"

Remarkably the Guardsmen Regiment somehow kept itself together. Their Commander might have been a coward, but it seemed that the men themselves at least retained their Anirian discipline. Some of them half turned back, their shields at the ready.

Talus motioned to his fellow apprentice. "Ademar!

He called.

"Over the wall, we pull down those gates!" A wooden wall wasn't much, but the regiment had no siege engines. That meant they would have to crawl over unless Ademar and he did something fast.

The two apprentices were the regiments best bet, and once they were inside of the Beast's settlement things would go quick.

Without waiting for Ademar to answer Talus charged forward, assuming his companion would get his back as he rushed towards the Wooden palisade.

 

[Ademar Acero]

Both apprentices charged at the palisade, Talus and Ademar the it’s head with their soldiers in tow. They had no siege weapons, but there was an optimal way in breaching through the walls of these fiends. Yes, they could crawl under but that was time consuming and even second wasted would influence the result of a battle.

“Get behind!” he called out to Talus and at full speed with his armor and weapons he charged for the wall, magic enhancing his body. He’d have to input a lot of his energy for what he had in mind.

A final sprint when nearing the wall increased his speed and yelled at the top of his lungs as his whole figure crashed into the wooden wall, splinters flying in the air before touching the white earth. A massive dent was found in the wall, with the wood weaken after the impact from Ademar. His made in both hands, he took a step back before stepping in and swinging at the wall with immense strength behind it.

A hole found itself in the wall with the giant of Ademar making it bigger as he struck around the breach he made. A grin of satisfaction on his lips as they’d now purge these beasts with no remorse.

 

[Talus]

Talus blinked.

He had not exactly known Ademar's capabilities, but to say he was impressed by the destructive force his compatriot showed was an understatement.

Few Apprentices would show their abilities to one another, but both he and Ademar were past the phase of such things. Their strengths were now just there to complement one another, to help end the mission, and that...that certainly helped.

Talus looked back towards the soldiers of the regiments. "FORWARD! THROUGH THE BREACH!"

His voice boomed out over the expanse of the battle, and then he dashed forward.

Three steps and Talus twisted into a ghostly illusion of himself. His blade found purchase in three of the wolves who attempted to step in the way. Each of them seemed to be torn, their spirits ripping with their flesh as Talus phase-walked into the makeshift fortress.

"There!" He called as he reformed himself and pointed towards a large tent at the center of the town.

 

[Ademar Acero]

Apprentices mostly shed their capabilities and what other skills they possessed, especially their magic. But that mattered little here as Talus showed his own magic was, what appeared to Ademar, phase walking. Somewhat turning into a ghost. It bizzared Ademar, never hearing such kind of magic before until witnessing it now. Most of the apprentices at the academy show common magic with a few minority having a rather unique magic skill they honed.

As they made through the village with their soldiers following behind and splitting up into squads to take control over areas that would in advancing forward as more troops began to enter through the breach. Ademar, his flesh strengthened and hardened like iron from areas on his upper body that wasn’t protected from the plates of his armor, trampled over any fiend that came his way; force in his attacks that either made them unconscious or critically injured.

Talus then pointed towards a large tent that was in the middle of the village, probably being the heads of this den of werewolves. The two Dreadlords charged, Ademar slightly in front of Talus to fend off any werewolf that dared to feast on their bones. Luckily their soldiers caught the attention of the other beasts that sought to defend their home. Already he could smell high densities of blood lingering in the air.

 

[Talus]

They cut their way through the wolves that approached.

Behind them Talus could hear fighting that equaled theirs. Men and women failed, butchered on the floor or left dying as their compatriots fought valiantly to keep themselves and others alive. The Wolves were relentless, yet the tide was slowly pressing towards those with more numbers.

Ademar and Talus charged forward through the village, cutting a swathe through their foes until they found themselves standing before the tent he had pointed towards. Without hesitation or talk, both of them moved inside.

There they found a Throne room, or a savage approximation of one.

A werewolf larger than any Talus had seen before sat upon a throne of butchered hides adorned with skulls. The Apprentice stared up at him, noting the creature to be three heads taller than him. A growl rolled from the creatures voice.

"You'll pay for this Anirian Scum. As all the others have."​

Slowly the great wolf rose from his throne.

 

[Ademar Acero]

A throne of skulls and flesh with a great werewolf on it, acting like the king of these miserable breeds. Only now did the beast act as he rose from his throne, being taller than either Ademar or Talus; probably seven feet in height or more than that.

No words would be spared for the creature, they came and infiltrated this village with full intent on killing everyone here. No quarter given at all. Maybe this werewolf king would act great as a hide or sell him off, if the market accepted such oddity; but he knew less of that, he wasn’t any merchant of any sorts.

Ademar made his move as he chambered in his mace for a heavy swing at the monster, but their foe was fast just like a regular wolf. The werewolf darted on his feet and tackled Ademar to the floor causing the Dreadlord to let go of his weapon and use his body to defend himself in close quarters. Naturally the beast was rabid and knew no technique, only seeking to sink his fangs in to infect and injure Ademar. Gauntlet hands went to catch the werewolf’s mouth and neck to prevent him from reaching Ademar’s own flesh while his arms infused with magic to increase his strength and iron his skin. Claws scratched at his armor plates and the monster’s mouth bit at his gauntlet hand, pressure from his teeth denting the gauntlet but not puncturing it yet.

A closed fist from the Apprentice came and two punches landed on the beast’s face, the latter yelping from the pain of such force from Ademar and retreating off to not suffer anymore blows on his head. The werewolf placed distance between the two Dreadlords, waiting to strike or counterstrike as Ademar got up on his feet and not bothering to retrieve his mace.

 

[Talus]

Talus watched as the wolf engaged with Ademar, closing the distance and moving in a blink before he quickly tore himself away.

The beast was remarkably fast, faster than Talus would have guessed a creature of that size could be. Ademar was a battering ram, but against this creature they would need more than brute force. Lips thinned, and he tightened the grip on his sword.

"Ademar." His voice was low.

The beast's ears twitched, and Talus realized that it probably had better hearing than him.

He thought back to the Academy, the tactics they learned there and everything that had been instilled in them. Fingers tightened, and then he called out to his companion. "Go left."

The words came as Talus dashed to the right.

The only way they would kill this thing was if they moved together.

 

[Ademar Acero]

And so he did act on Talus’ words, stepping out to his left which would make him be more on the werewolf’s right hemisphere of its body. This occurred as Talus went out towards his right. Single combat would not conquer the beast for either two, perhaps if they were much older and skillful than they are right now they’d be able to best it by themselves. But no, they were still apprentices whose magic still didn’t tap its potential.

For this they both would have to act simultaneously, making the fiend retreat from such strike or be foolish and engage one of them while the other continued with their attack.

With all intent Ademar sought to tackle the werewolf with the chance Talus would bring his sword and aim it true to end the soul of this foul, miserable beast.

 

[Talus]

Talus entire form seemed to shutter.

A wave of blue rushed over his fingers, arms, torso, and then his entire form. It happened to quickly that one might have missed the transformation all together. The blink of an eye passed, and in a single stuttered step Talus closed the distance between himself and the wolf.

The move was fast enough to land him besides the great Werewolf just as Ademar's tackle landed. There was a grunt from the creature, and then shock as it's eyes opened wide.

A massive maw of teeth pulled free as the Werewolf attempted to chomp down on the back of Ademar's neck, but before it's head could crane low Talus lashed out.

The blue ethereal blade in his hand jutted forward, and in a single swift motion stabbed through the Werewolves jaw and between his skull. A spray of blood landed on the carpet behind him, and with a single wrench of his blade Talus severed the creatures spine.