Silver & Blood: A Kingdom's Currency (Rynn01 x Kami GearX)

[Kami GearX]

Many of us have heard of the heroics of war. Many of us have heard the inspiring words given to troops just before they sent off to battle. The celebrated return of heroes, or the spurned retreat of those whom failed their country. This is nothing new in a world where war is common place. A world where the stories of those who are weak and powerless are forgotten. Where exchanges of ideas and the changes of viewpoints are unwritten despite how important these situations in which these stories take place are important.

How or why the leaders of a country changed their views will never be written. Who inspired them will never be ascribed on the pages of history books. Even when such an event could possibly change the fate of two kingdoms entirely. Where even those of the highest discipline are inspired by those of the lowest and most modest of heritage. Where they hear wisdom when others speak of a continued ignorance.

One such story however, will be written. It will be passed down. Perhaps not in the historical records of the two kingdoms. But many will tell their children, and the children will tell their children a story that is fantastical in nature. Perhaps untrue in all accounts, but nonetheless explains why such acts were stopped, and why peace would one day take the land once more. It is not the best of tales from the kingdoms perhaps, but it is one of great importance. Not of heroes or villains, but of people. People whom made a difference.  

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

The caravan rolled down the poorly maintained dirt road at a snails pace, foot soldiers standing next to each cart as they moved along, keeping time with each other and the speed of their mission with rigorous training. A few men on horseback would ride up and then down the column, sending messages back and forth from the rear guard to those of the vanguard and any clump of soldiers in between. It was not a spectacular show of military might, but it was important. That was what Tousa was told anyways.

The prince sat on his horse in the front, flanked by a guard on each side, his spear being held lazily in one hand, his armor didn't even make a sound as he turned to speak with the guard on his right, an older man and much more experienced. "So tell me why we are not on the front lines Sir Varin?"

The grey bearded and wizened old man glanced first to the prince and then to their surroundings. "Reports of raids being commenced in the area have made this route to the front line in need of more security your highness. Your father, the king, ordered you here so that you would know that war isn't just about having glory on the front lines, but also about maneuvering and making sure you always know the logistics behind your strategy."

Tousa looked around with the old man after a moment with a sigh. "My father has a strange way of looking at war then. Crushing your opponent on the field of battle is the only way to secure a short and decisive victory."

Sir Varin gave a nod. "It is as you say Prince Tousa, I will not deny, but your father has his own way of doing things, and neither viewpoint is necessarily wrong. You must adapt to your surroundings and-."

A rider came flying up the caravan column. "Urgent report Prince Tousa! One of the scouts has reported back and found another scouts body! It was the one that went missing two days ago!"

Tousa smiled and looked to Sir Varin with a bit more enthusiasm for his job suddenly. "Seems like the reports were right. You did well to report this to me, warn the troops down the line and then rest in the wagon in the back.
You did well."

The scout gave a half-bow on the horse. "Thank you, your highness." The scout turned and began to make his way down the column of wagons and provisions, shouting for the soldiers to be on the lookout. Tousa himself was glancing around now, his horse stirring a bit at the idea as well, much like its rider. "Easy there Dolar. Easy."

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Rynn01

 

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Prince Tousa tensed as he heard the soft whistle of arrows, both of the knights that flanked him falling over as arrows securely lodged themselves in their skulls. "AMBUSH!" He cried as their attackers lunged from their surroundings. The spear was taken from a lazy grip to one of practice as he clenched his legs around his horse, one of the bandits lunging towards him,
easily tearing up the soft underbelly of the horse that he was riding as it reared back in surprise.

"Dammit-." The prince cried as his horse fell over, tossing him away a short distance. The attacker didn't even give pause, agile in his movements. Tousa stood as quickly as he could, using the haft of his weapon to deflect the blow as he did so. Now standing he squared off against his opponent with his spear pointed at his foe. "You dare attack a caravan under my protection thief?" He growled. What words were stated to him were drowned out as he clashed headlong with his opponent, thrusting and parrying as he danced the dance of death with his foe.

This wasn't going to be a simple fight, he would have to leave the rest of the caravan to his soldiers for now, he would help them when he was no longer engaged in combat against an opponent of his own. It did not take long however to find a weakness in his opponents guard and stance. A lancing blow to the leg was struck to his enemy as a nick to his arm was given back as payment. Then a slicing blow to his enemies shoulder. Another blow parried and then a thrust to the cheek, slicing skin from his opponent, but still his attacker pressed on. That was when Tousa heard the howls for the first time, it made him pause as he once more squared off with his foe.

"So, you are beastkin that stalk these woods. I should have known that such savages would take advantage of our people during a time of war." His gaze watched his opponent carefully, waiting for an opening. He couldn't use magic yet... It would be expected of him. For now, a tense standoff would suit his needs better. It would certainly stop this one from killing other soldiers at least.

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Rynn01

 

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

As the arrows were fired off, Tousa was nicked here and there as he dove for cover. He listened to the both of them and grinned, he had a chance. As soon as the order was given to retreat he took a few moments before darting out of cover and spinning the spear in hand, raising it above his head as he continued to run forward, watching as several of his men were laid low by arrow fire.

"Get the spare horses! If they get out of hearing range we're not going to be able to catch them in the forest! Hurry now!" The prince barked as he chased after those whom had gone after what he was sworn to protect. The running was throwing off his aim and he didn't want to kill the person he threw at, simply impale a leg to the ground so they wouldn't be able to escape. It made the throw a lot harder than a simple body shot. "Come on... You can do this..." He muttered. Spear throwing was not something he was taught thoroughly and he was taking a risk, but he needed to do so.

The horses galloped up next to him and he gave a simple shout. "After them! Capture as many as you can!" Then he hurled the spear at the bow user from earlier whom had shot at his guards and felled several of them. At the same time he released the spell he had been building up, quickly calling upon the earth to create the single thorny barrier a bit in front of her that would aim to stab her through the shoulder. He wanted one alive to question at least and she was the closest to his men.

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Rynn01

 

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa slowed his run to a walk as he saw his target get hit with both spear and earth spike. He glanced as a few guards moved towards the woods. "Get back to the caravan men, this is the only one we really need. I'm glad we caught her as well. I want a body count of those dead on both sides. Strip them of any gear they have and toss it into the wagons. We need all the equipment we can get."

He then motioned for a spear as few soldiers moved away from him and the captured target, though a fair amount of mounted riders stayed close, watching the woman cautiously as the Prince looked at her and examined her from a safe distance.

"So, your name is Anja if I heard correctly. And your precious to the one who went head to head with me... Who also gave the orders. Speak plainly and truthfully, I don't have a lot of time considering the damage you did to my caravan that was en route to resupply the fort at the end of this road. What are you filthy Beastkin doing raiding the kingdom's supply caravans during a time of war?"

He motioned to another soldier. "Look to see if we have any chains and manacles for her... And if we have someone that can identify what specific race this woman is. I need to know so I know how to appropriately consider how to deal with this thing."

The soldier bowed. "At once your highness." Then, took off in a trot while the caravan began to slowly recover and reorganize itself. Shouting here and there of various names and orders in the background. It was clear that the damage that her group had done was a lot more than what it had first seemed like, and while perhaps they hadn't killed as many as they would have liked,
a good amount were wounded or would be dead if not tended to.

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Rynn01

 

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa watched as the guards were dragged along with the woman as she moved to step closer and didn't even flinch when he was spit on. "You have a fire in you Anja. Even for a thing caught in a corner." He then stepped forward and first moved to backhand Anja across the face. "However you are not in your world at the moment. You are an enemy that has been captured. You do not have the privileges of speaking openly about me as you may have once thought you might have had."

It did not take until the end of the sentence for the soldier to come back, hauling chains and manacles with him. "Your highness we're going to have to wait till we reach the fort to find out what race she belongs to."

"Thank you soldier. Do you have the manacles that I asked for?" Tousa asked watching Anja carefully, eyes watching her movements carefully. With the blood and clothing in the way he couldn't tell how badly she was injured and if she was just putting up a front of defiance.

"I do your highness. Right here." The soldier offered them up as the prince reached for them. He narrowed his eyes for a moment and then grasped the chains and manacles again.

"Hold her down." He commanded. "We need to get this done quickly so we can reach the fort by nightfall. I will decide what to do with this thing once we reach safety."

The soldiers were clearly unsettled by that remark and were hesitant to try and force Anja into submitting, after all, they had just been dragged around by her, even if it was only for a few steps. They even glanced to Anja as if to wonder if they could even really hope to accomplish such a task.

Tousa sighed. "Are you going to allow us to put these chains and manacles on you without a fight?" He asked, clearly exasperated at the hesitation of the soldiers underneath him.  

[Kami GearX]

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa dropped the manacles and readied his spear as she knocked out the guards on her left and right. "Flirting with an enemy? I should have expected as much from a savage with no tact." He stated. The soldier behind him stepped up as well, drawing his sword only for Tousa to motion the soldier away.

"No need, I was trying to be somewhat kind to her, the least I can do is give her the last request of a duel." The sword that was drawing their sword slowly began to sheath it. "Check on the other soldiers. I will be there shortly."

"But your highness! I can't just leave you-." The prince glanced back and the soldier gave a salute and ran off to do as he was told. Though that did not stop the soldier from telling others of what was happening and have them ready to take action just in case the Prince was beaten or needed back up. It was known to happen after all.

Tousa's gaze fixated on Anja once more. It did not take the prince long to lunge forward, thrusting at his opponents uninjured leg with the spear's tip before shifting to swing the haft of the weapon at the Lycan's sternum to try and knock the air out of her lungs. They were simple movements but they were not meant to be a complicated thing. The simpler the move, the easier it was to chain to another maneuver, especially with a long reaching weapon like a spear.

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Rynn01