Open Chronicles Rising Red

[Leon Vargas]

Cortos - Tagre

The sea air slowly ran over the city of Tagre. Dozens of people milled about the open square, some carrying heavy woven baskets of goods, others holding purses of coins seeking to buy whatever they could. In the distance the harbor was flooded with ships from all over. Allirians, Elbion, Kality, and even an Anirian Vessel all sat moored.

These sights nor smells were not uncommon in the city of Tagre, one of the independent states of Cortos that had stood so proudly for thousands of years. Everywhere one looked they could see commerce, and all of it was accompanied with a healthy dose of greed.

At least that was how Leon saw it all.

The people of this city were steeped in sin, all of them more focused on their own well being than that of their neighbors of the ancient Cathedral that had long since fallen into disrepair. The fact of this became only more and more obvious as he and his Red Knights slowly rode through the city square and people did not part to make way.

Tagre had forgotten it's obligation, had forgotten their God.

Leon scowled as he and his men pushed their way through the crowd. Horses stomped forward irregardless of what may lay in their path, never stopping even for the young children that were attempting to play in the street.

Slowly they made their way to the central hilltop of Tagre. There they would find the Palace, and the Governor who resided within.

 

[Maximiliano Bergara]

From an outsiders look, they would guess that the island of Cortos held a strong sense of unity, and a common share of culture and nationality since it was a just an island compared to the land that separates from the flowing waters of the Twin Rivers.

That was a lie.

Not all of Cortos was united under one idea, the diversity could be noticed when one traveled inland from the coast of Cortos. Cortos was a coin, and like all coins had two different sides to it.

One were conjoined societies, once their own kingdoms (or still) and allowing peace to flourish in their lands in order to follow the light of their Holy Father and practice His ideals onto this mortal world that reeked of sin and blasphemy.

The other side were barbaric heathens, worshipping false idols or worse devoted their souls to the demons of purgatory in order to receive something in return: power, wealth, status, immortality?

Tagre was an example of the latter. Once they believed in the Bright Father, and now look at them. The sin of Greed ran about in this city, and when one fell to Greed they would allow the sins of Gluttony and Envy to corrupt their soul even further. It disgusted Maximiliano; even the commoners on the streets didn’t clear a path for him and his Brothers to trek with the horses.

May the Bright One have mercy on their souls.

Being impatient he grabbed his whip and began to strike at those in front of them, hoping to make an example for the other what happened when they were in their way. The work of God could no longer be delayed. Luckily it worked, but they would be feared and hated from the commoners because of Max’s act. He did not care, it only allowed them to travel faster with the sea of civilians parting for the Red Knights.

 

[Triam Akovin]

Some might consider it to be dangerous to be an army deserter and to remain within the country you've 'abandoned'. Triam didn't see it as abandonment, however, she was just finding a different use of her training, one which allowed her to reach what she felt was most important to her country. Like throwing off the yoke of magical elites abusing their power on the innocent, that she would not stand for.

Her face turned into a scowl as she watched from above a Red Knight whipping the populace. She was cloaked on a building rooftop overlooking the Red Knights, a crossbow in hand. At first, Triam had come to this part of town hearing about an Aniran Vessel docked here, which was something the young woman would not permit to be undisturbed, but seeing the people abused so, had caught her attention mid-transit. There was a crowd here though, and as much as she would like to send an arrow bolt directly through the neck of the whipper, the risk of civilians in the crossfire terrified her. So for now, she stalked them, waiting for an opportune moment to strike.

She kept her distance, and kept an eye on them with a spyglass, to keep as much distance from them as possible so as to not attract any attention. Additionally, she kept an eye for any city guard in high towers or otherwise walking the rooftops as well, avoiding their watch as much as possible while keeping a tail on the group of Red Knights. What she was doing obviously wasn't wise, but she felt compelled to do it anyway.

There would be justice today, or she would survive to enact it some other time. No sense in dying over every hill, figuratively and literally, despite her moral obligation to fight injustice when she saw it, her life was still her number one priority to protect. Couldn't kill the magocracies of the world if you were dead.

Maximiliano Bergara Leon Vargas

 

[Leon Vargas]

Leon said nothing as his fellow Inquisitor lashed some of the peasants in their way.

Why would he?

Had they not fallen from the grace of the Bright Lord they would know to step aside. The punishment they received from Maximilian's whip was only just. A fact that was quickly learned as the crowd began to part before them.

As the peasants learned their lessons the companies pace quickly increased. Within just a few moments they managed to ride through the upper reached of the city, slowly following the spiraling road that lead up to the hilltop.

There they were stopped at a gate, two men dressed in shabby leather armor holding spears. "Step aside in the name of the Radiant Church and the Bright Lord's light."

The two guards looked at each other, hands tightening on their spears.

"The Radiant Church ain't got no authority here. This is Governor Lafroic's Palace."​

Leon stared coldly at the two men, then raised one of his hands. Two of the Red Knights that had been riding behind him quickly slipped from their horses, stalking towards the Guards.

 

[Maximiliano Bergara]

Because of Max’s actions, just and true in the eyes of the Bright Father, was the company of Red Knights able to climb the hill with cobblestone leading to the Governor’s palace. The estate looked maintained and luxurious, but Max could identify the makings of this palace. It was full of sin and corruption, no worse than heathens that roamed the land with plague behind their steps as they boasted blasphemy. An honest man with values of hard work, yet devoting his soul to the Bright One has a worthy soul in comparison to this sack of sin of a city.

The guards refused the order of Leon, demonstrating how low they have fallen. Dare they refuse the Light of God, His work being done by his humble descendants?

“Wait, my brothers,” Max beckoned for Leon and the two Red Knights that approach the duo guards. Yes, Max shared the same feelings they had when they refused Holy Orders, but he was willing to give them a second chance.

“In the Holy Texts of the Church, unveiled to us by our Lord, it teches us to show mercy unto all even heathens and sinners who have turned their backs on the Light of the Bright Father,” Max lecturer for all of them to hear before continuing, his eyes focusing on the guards, “We know how corrupt this city has become with sins and vices running rampantly, being a mere shell of its former self; but it is not too late for you to repent and seek the wa-“

“Oh fuck off with your Holy Shits. Maybe your God can fit all of your damn texts in his arse,” the guard interrupted Max and laughed.

Eyes of disdain filled Max’s eyes, feeling stung when the man insulted his Lord.

Laughter turned into yelps and cries when Max grabbed his whip and struck at the guard, successfully landing it on his face. Before the other came to intervene he tripped as the whip wrapped around his ankle and pulled by Max’s arms. The two Red Knights had their longswords ready at the guard in order to keep him at bay.

For the former guard? Well, he wouldn’t die, he would just suffer the weight of his sins as Max lashed at him. After many whippings later Max stopped and knelt at the side of the afflicted guard who balled up in pain and lamented from his pain.

“Perhaps in humility you will know the ways of our Lord, and he will love and accept you once you’ve casted aside your sins.”

Standing up, he beckoned his brothers to the path now open to them.

 

[Triam Akovin]

Triam managed to keep pace with the fast-moving company, crossing over the rooftops of the city allowed her to short cut her way in ways someone traveling along the routes wouldn't be able to. It was difficult, however, still being on foot, and trying to avoid calling attention to herself from any standing guards. Eventually, she was able to catch up to witness them whipping a guard. Her face was a scowl once more and leveled her crossbow at Maximiliano Bergara.

Luckily for her, due to their actions, there were no longer as many civilians to worry about caught in her crossfire. She loosed an arrow bolt at the most egregious of the Red Knights.

Leon Vargas

 

[Leon Vargas]

Leon might never have seen the Bolt coming, he might not have had time to save his brother, but the Bright Lord's love was evident.

Just before Triam fired her weapon, within the last second, a glint of light passed over the tip of the bolt. It flashed directly in Leon's eye, his head turning in the direction of the weapon. Then he saw it, a hooded figured, cloaked and with a concealed weapon.

The crossbow bolt fired. "GET DOWN!"

Leon's voice boomed out before the walls, his hand reaching up and swiping to the left. A flare of light burst from his palm, and suddenly an explosion erupted just a few meters ahead of him within the air. The crossbow bolt flew to the side, pushed by the concussive force of the blast.

"Assassin on the walls!" He called out to his men.

 

[Maximiliano Bergara]

Had it not been for Leon’s actions at the last minute the bolt would have either penetrated the light steel plates of his armor or would have simply bounced off from the impact. Every knight here had different philosophies and personalities in combat; Max generally preferred mobility which was why the only plates of armor was worn across his body and the rest adorned in chainmail.

Many would hear the concussion force of the explosion, as it was meant to derail the trajectory of the bolt.

The assassin was a coward and his cowardice was related to the sins of this city. Only cowards would bend the knee to the Overlords of Hell for unholy wants. Quickly one of the Red Knights grabbed their longbow to ready an arrow before firing it at the assassin.

“We cannot entertain with the heathen, brothers. It’s bad manners to leave the governor waiting for us,” although the governor was not expecting the zealots of the Red Church at this time. There would be more guards stationed around palace, no doubt the explosion would alert them and move to know more about it while securing te governor in his quarters.

If the assassin was persistent, Max and his brothers would force him to abandon the high ground and shadows, and face them in the Light of God.

 

[Triam Akovin]

An explosion from nowhere rocketed her projectile away, the glare obstructing her view momentarily. When she could see again, it was clear exactly what she was dealing with. Damn mages! A longbowman had prepared an arrow of his own, and that informed her it was time to move. As she turned the Red Knight's arrow whistled through the air and cut across the outside of her thigh. She winced in pain as she took refuge out of sight behind a chimney.

She faced the Chimney and placed her buckler towards it, prepared for the possibility of another explosion. Not daring to move out into the open once again, she decided instead to bait them. Hollering as loud as she could manage, she said:

"So ye'have time ta'whip the defenseless but the moment she can bite back yer too busy fer her? Have you no manners?"

Maximiliano Bergara Leon Vargas

 

[Leon Vargas]

Leon stood on the soft dirt road, glancing back towards Max who was encouraging them to leave.

The Inquisitor was about to open his mouth when a heavily accented call rang out from behind a chimney atop the nearby building. His lips turned to a thin scowl, and he quickly motioned his fist in a quick point to one of the Red Knights.

In an instant the Soldier nodded, drawing his sword and heading down a nearby alleyway. "Remember what the priests taught us, brother."

His hand raised up.

"Suffer not the heretic." Leon scowled deep. "Nor the murder."

A loud snap rang out, a surge of magic lancing up his spine and out the arcs of his fingertips. The air would bend, and then suddenly explode outward just a few inches from the chimney. Rock and stone burst as fire exploded from seemingly nothing.

 

[Triam Akovin]

It was just as she expected and hoped would happen, as she braced for the coming impact behind the chimney, though perhaps she slightly over-estimated the capabilities of the Baron's equipment to protect her, or simply under-estimated the power of this mages explosion. Nonetheless, when the detonation came the sapphire capacitors on her buckler quickly absorbed some of the blast and glowed with power, and what it could not absorb washed over her Harpies Blood Runic Boiled Leather Vest. She could feel the heat but the fire that would have caught retarded on impact.

What she was not prepared for, though, was the flying shrapnel of former pieces of brick cutting across her cheek or impeding itself into her vest, or the shockwave knocking her on her back against the roof. Though her ears rang, and blood welled on her cheek and forehead, Triam instinctively reached for a special velvet container on her side, and pulled from it a glass tipped arrow, rubbing it against the edge of the sapphire capacitors on her buckler, the magic it collected flowing into the runic arrow.

With nimble fingers, Triam loaded it into her Crossbow expertly, and as she climbed to the opposite side of the roof, she aimed back with the crossbow for the mage, and this time when she loosed her arrow bolt, it was not mundane...

But a bolt of lightning.

Leon Vargas Maximiliano Bergara

 

[Maximiliano Bergara]

So it be.

The heretic would be a thorn on their side and they wouldn’t cease until Leon, Max, and their brothers neutralized the threat. The governor was still their main objective, but this assailant would only obstruct their goals until something was to be done.

And this was no ordinary heretic. It was a woman who possessed magic she hurled a thunderbolt from her crossbow.

“Witchcraft!”

What was so different from her magic and theirs? Theirs was rightfully given to them from the Bright Father. They were His agents of righteousness and justice. The assailant? A pawn of the devil, she most definitely sold her soul for such wickedness.

One of the Red Knights stepped in front and produced some kind of barrier with his magic, but it wasn’t strong enough to stand proud against the bolt. When the bolt came into contact an explosion happened, sending some of the Knights flying back and creating small craters in the cobblestone. The concussion wave incapacitated several of the Knights.

One of the Knights used the litter of small debris of the cobblestone with their telekinesis and shot it at Triam.

“Blast the heathen to the depths of Hell!”