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originally posted in:The New Dojo
1/19/2018 1:00:26 AM
1
"Forty men.. got it."
[i]In an hour, Elina would return with several horses and forty of "the men and women that she trusted most" - Alric would recognize them as some of the older of the soldiers there. Those whom had served in past wars.[/i]
English
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[i]Alric had done the same. Forty men and women had followed Alric on horseback as he arrived to meet Elina. The host was a small one, though Elina would understand that if things went wrong, the small group would be able to inflict the most possible damage. [/i] "You must lead the way, Elina. I do not know where this fortress lies..." [i]Alric looked off into the distance, squinting his eyes due to the sun. [/i]
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"I can handle it. I think.." [spoiler]Timeskip![/spoiler] [url=https://youtu.be/ZdTneDCikgQ]Fort Argentum Theme - Blackfish[/url] [i]Argentum was.. impressive.[/i] [i]The towering fortress, for what was supposedly a garrison according to scouts, made the Trayven encampment within the Dojo look like a shack. Mighty stone walls and great towers loomed overhead, with several walls making up the castle and it's surroundings. No flags were upon the walls as the Trayvens entered, Elina and Alric in the lead.[/i] "I didn't think.. gods. They'd destroy us in a siege.."
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"A siege... Quite a tale." [i]Alric actually chuckled at that, pulling at the reigns of his horse and stopping for a few moments. His eyes darted across the architecture as if looking for weaknesses or strengths. [/i] "If the river runs true, this will be an ultimate between our forces. Life or death..."
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[i]Strength was everywhere, whereas weakness was hidden away. Perhaps the Tribune purposefully prepared their fortress for the Trayvens.[/i] [i]At the courtyard before the castle itself, centered right in the middle, there stood several guards and.. the Knight-Commander, balancing his longsword upon the earth. His face was still hidden away by that same shining helmet, though he acknowledged the approach of Elina and Alric, bowing his head.[/i] "Welcome, friends. Sir Alric. I believe I remember you, from Khalosh?"
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"Yes. It was an honourable battle, ser." [i]Alric gave a similar nod to the knight Commander, swinging one foot over his horse and dropping to the ground. He took a few steps toward the Commander before speaking again. [/i] "Though, I don't believe I caught your name."
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"I didn't think that you did. Sirius." [i]He nodded his head, still hidden by his helmet, though it was clear that Elina didn't buy it at all. She seemed concerned. Worried.[/i] "Now.." [i]Sirius spoke, his voice still muffled.[/i] "We should retreat to the interior of the fort. Xander is waiting, inside."
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"Of course." [i]Alric turned his head away, whispering something to one of the dojo warriors. The knight nodded in response and the dojo group split into two. 30 of them broke off, spreading out across the courtyard. [/i] "Lead the way." [i]Alric started towards the inner doors of the fortress, the remaining 10 warriors following their Commander inside. [/i]
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"This is bullshit.." [i]Elina murmured, underneath her breath and out of earshot of the Tribune.[/i] "All of it. These bаstards, that.. "Sirius". Gods, this isn't right." [i]Perhaps it was paranoia, or just a gut feeling.[/i] [i]The Trayvens would soon pass through a few hallways, before finding themselves upon the top floor, and what appeared to be a council room for strategic advances and warfare. A large rock map of Rivelria was centered in the middle, with ivory castles showing Tribune encampments and yellow lions, almost golden, showing Trayven encampments, with flags next to the headquarters in the regions. Xander was there, while he nodded towards Alric as he entered.[/i]
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"Xander, good to see you again." [i]Alric smiled brightly, walking toward the table as the dojo warriors spread out through the room. They took positions here and there, hands on their weapons and ready if anything were to go wrong. [/i] "You must excuse the... Precautions that my men are taking. You can never be too certain of something." [i]Alric gestured around, before extending a hand to Xander himself. [/i]
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"I trust that they still have good intentions. I know that you do, though." [i]Xander gripped Alric's hand after removing his glove, as Knight-Commander Sirius would take a seat at the end of the council's stone table. Elina would only nod her head towards Xander, who after breaking his handshake with Alric, would bow his head towards her.[/i] "Elina. I never thought.." "[i]Yep[/i]." [i]She blushed a little, only to smile.[/i] "Alric, didn't mention this, but.. served under Xander. Xander the Slayer." "Ugh, that stupid nickname.."
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"You two have some sort of... history?" [i]Alric asked with a soft chuckle, looking between the two of them.[/i] "Ah no matter, I'm more concerned about what you slew. What did you kill that earned you the name?"
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"Men." [i]Both spoke at the same time, while Xander said it in a nonchalant, almost saddened manner. He understood war's loss, it seemed.[/i] "Not my proudest achievement," [i]He murmured.[/i]
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"I understand where you're coming from, Xander. I earned the name of Bloody Witcher for killing my fellow Witchers..." [i]Alric shook his head sadly, spacing out. [/i]
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[i]Understanding that sort of trouble, Xander would bow his head towards Alric yet, sighing a little.[/i] "No matter. The past is left within the past. Come, we should sit down, so that the Knight-Commander may begin."
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"Oh, he's beginning is he?" [i]Alric chuckled, taking a seat in one of the chairs around the table.[/i] "I meant no offense, of course." [i]Alric nodded his head at the Knight Commander apologetically. [/i]
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"Don't think he heard you still," [i]Xander would then murmur, though he would sit down as the commanding officer at the end of the table would continue to stand, waiting for a few others to sit as well.[/i]
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[i]Alric drummed his fingers against the table, whistling a tune. How often did he do that? It seemed as though when whenever he could, he drummed his fingers against something... [/i]
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[i]Sirius would direct his attention to Alric, then, to start off.[/i] "Sir Alric, before we begin - if you had any operations set, in order to counter the enemy.. please, speak now."
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"Indeed, I did have an idea. It would require the bulk of your forces to draw the Sand Warriors attention. While the Trayvern forces, and my own dojo forces, ride around from their flank and assault from behind." [i]The maneuver was a rather simple one, though it would certainly be a costly one if the Sand Warriors became entrenched in the Tribune lines. [/i]
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"A scissor. Very well." [i]Sirius manually moved the Tribune pieces of the map, representing the host of the Tribune, into a large canyon.[/i] "This is where we believe their forces to be meeting. The Black Valley. Their encampment appears to be underground, but you will have enough time to circle around, once the enemy's scouts are safely eliminated."
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"Are there any side entrances into these caves? Perhaps an area where we could dispatch a small amount of troops to assault through the tunnels?" [i]Alric traced his finger across the map of the Black Valley. [/i]
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"There are, though the tunnels are rather deep. We haven't planned to infiltrate the tunnels for that sole reason: whatever lies underneath, should remain undisturbed." "Whatever lies underneath?" [i]Elina murmured, in a slightly confused manner.[/i]
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"You mean to tell me that there is some kind of beast in those tunnels?" [i]Alric looked to Sirius, clearly stunned by what the man had said. [/i] "Perhaps... Perhaps it would be best if we drew them away from the Black Valley entirely. So as not to rile up whatever this beast is."
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"...There are labyrinths. Dark tunnels that lead into the corrupted past of Rivelria's people. Witchcraft, sacrifices, and worse still. I would not send you to your graves." [i]Sirius stated, in a clearly stern manner. Yet a fearing one, too. Alric could offer to take the chance, still..[/i]
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"No, no. Do not misunderstood me, ser. I realize what you are saying, and what I wish to say is perhaps we should not fight them in the Valley at all. We draw them away from the valley, and those caves entirely. [i]Alric defended himself, closing his hand into a fist and looking at the Knight Commander. [/i] "If we have any reason to be concerned for witchcraft that could tip the battle into their favour, we should not give them that advantage."
