Fate - First Reply Time to blow something up.

[Thraah]

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.

 

[Faustina]

Spoiler: Music

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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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