Darter
Ret. War Commander
Ret. Head Boundary Guardian
Posts: 1,337
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Post by Darter on Feb 21, 2007 20:33:28 GMT -5
OOC: I doubt it will be. Say there were a thousand enemy soldiers. If they could only come at you one at a time and you were more skilled than them you could technically take them all down.
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Feb 21, 2007 20:35:01 GMT -5
OOC: Thats very true. Darter, I like your logic.
IC Post coming STAT.
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Feb 21, 2007 21:25:34 GMT -5
*Rinafera turned back, looking to the vermin. His heart pounded fast, and the intensity of the moment scared him. He acted brave, but deep in his heart and his eyes he felt fear. Deafening, swallowing fear that consumed him and enveloped his emotions; and he was tense. But this was just the calm before the storm, and the hare listened to mouse as he reprimanded him on rank and such. The hare thought his life was at an end, but his heart told him to push through. Half of his emotions told him to flee or die, and half told him to be courageous. Remembering his Grandfather’s last words that had been carried down as a great tale through his family, he breathed a bit slower ‘Never back down, wot. Stay and fight, always. Be one you would consider admirable, but stay humble. Be brave and it will be that much easier.’ The old hare said as he was on his deathbed before Rinafera Woxwitty II. The Third stood on the brink of life and death, and turned back to Darter. The otter still stood there, and yet Raiden continued to stay for his death. He shook his head at the bravery of the Guardian and continued on. Looking back, the vermin were close.
There’s now way… We can’t win this… But don’t flee. Die honorably.
He turned back to Raiden, nodding his head. Not in agreement or saying that he will obey, but saying ‘I’m staying.’ The hare got ready, and the vermin were approaching fast.*
I’m staying, mouse. We fight together, to the end. May we rest peacefully in the Dark Forest together. I fear no death.
*Rinafera had no companion, and he had no one he loved to become that. No children or anybeast held him back from fighting, and this was it. The hare stood still, and he waited for the vermin.*
EULULIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
*A few vermin reached the litle path where Raiden and Rinafera were, and the hare threw himself upon the scum. Waving the blade with speed and precision he cut through a ferret easily, but got nicked a bit on the shoulder. Turning to face the culprit, he saw the weasel and ran him through. Archers were firing arrows from the back, and they were hitting a bit short of the path. Rinafera stayed a bit father back while the arrows were shot, but as a fox crossed him he jumped out and hacked the fox down. Raiden was still very wounded, and the hare was no healer.*
Raiden, hide!
*Rinafera continued on, the blows hurting his paws as steel met steel. It seemed they were enhancing in numbers, and shortly overcoming him. He retreated to regain his composure and balance, but there were too many. He hacked back, blocking and countering all the swords that were thrown his way. The hare and the mouse were alone, and their Commander was off scouting. If I had just warned Darter when Raiden told me too... Rinafera came to a spot where he could no longer retreat, and had his back against a tree. Vermin vere coming in more and more and way to fast for him to do anything. He parried a blow and knocked down a rat, but they pushed on. Rinafera charged, hacking as much and as fast as he could. Vermin were cut down, but fresh wounds were added to his old.*
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Darter
Ret. War Commander
Ret. Head Boundary Guardian
Posts: 1,337
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Post by Darter on Feb 25, 2007 7:56:45 GMT -5
All Darter could hear was the sound of his footpaws trudging through the snow as he plodded onward, headed back towards their makeshift camp. He peered out from underneath his hood at the night around him, and to his surprise the otter youth felt a rush of adrenaline and pride at being who he was and fighting in this war. A small, grim smile crept onto his features as he realized he was finally living out what he had always wanted to do. Fulfilling the call of duty.
A restless paw sought out the hilt of his partially rusted broadsword, finding comfort in the presence of the weapon. Just as the otter half-turned to glance behind him to make sure he wasn’t being followed, the shrill cry of a beast fatally wounded cut through the frigid air. Muffled sounds of fighting, the clash of steel on steel, reached his ears to accompany the shriek. Darter’s grip on the bound hilt of his blade tightened. Had it been day, his knuckles would’ve shown as white, a vivid contrast to his reddened and freezing skin and fur which covered his paws. Thoughts raced through his mind. Had there been an ambush back at camp? Or had his small patrol sought out the vermin and engaged them in combat? In his current state, unbearably cold and somewhat confused, the otter commander couldn’t make sense of it all.
The piercing sound of a trumpet call instantly set Darter’s fur on end. His force hadn’t been carrying any instruments. It must be the vermin rallying themselves for an attack. He cursed under his breath. This was partly his fault, leaving the rest of the group alone without even warning them about potential attacks. Or had he simply been too near-sighted in the first place, assuming the vermin force didn’t know where they were. As a wave of guilt washed over him, the otter overcame the nauseous feeling by letting rage build up inside of him. Nothing for it, now. He broke into a stumbling run through the knee-deep snow as he tore through the woods back towards camp.
Suddenly the dense trees parted as Darter found himself bursting into a clearing. Shafts of moonlight lit up the area eerily, sending long shadows to fall down on the unbroken surface of the snow. But the otter had no time to stop and admire the natural beauty which befell this location. Dark shapes moved on the opposite side of the open area, and as he drew even closer, throwing caution to the winds, he was relieved when he recognized the figures of Raiden and Rinafera. Both had weapons out and the mouse was crouched in a fighting stance. For a moment the commander was completely confused, but he quickly pieced it together when the warcries of the vermin horde reached his ears.
Drawing his broadsword in a fraction of a second, the ring of steel hung in the air for a moment before Darter let forth a warcry of his own. Clearly the enemy already knew where they were, so he figured he wasn’t betraying their position. It might even be beneficial if the three warriors made it seem as if there were more of them than there actually were. If their enemy knew that they were vastly outnumbered and could be easily surrounded and taken down, their chances of surviving the attack would diminish greatly. Their only hope for a decent counterattack would be to separate the vermin into smaller groups and confuse them.
“ Istra brul rhikka! Hris crel tal! ”
The otter commander’s warcry flowed easily from his lips, the language being one he had been taught at an early age. Roughly translated, he had shouted ‘Death to the enemy! Attack with strength!’ After, if he, Rinafera and Raiden somehow managed to fight back the vermin despite the overwhelming odds, he resolved to name them both boundary guardians and instruct them in the tongue of Rumarrien. It was exceptionally useful in the heat of battle as the enemy wouldn’t be able to understand what orders were being given. He knew that effective communication could make the difference between a win and a loss.
With a final bound, Darter closed the distance between him and Raiden. Both the mouse and Rinafera were under a fierce onslaught by the time he had managed to reach them. He offered a reassuring grin to his two comrades as he raised his voice above the din.
“Terday ain’t th’ day we’re goin’ down, mates. Let’s show these v’rmin whut we’re made o’, eh?” And then, more to himself than anyone else, he added in a whisper, “T’ th’ code an’ t’ the water.”
The world came crashing down around him as a snarling weasel tore through the frozen underbrush and leapt towards Darter, brandishing a short stabbing spear. The otter commander’s blade was a mere blur as it slashed upwards in a fluid motion, neatly severing his adversary’s spear head from the shaft. The weasel stood slack-jawed for a moment before Darter’s blade whipped back around and he dispatched his foe with a thrust to the chest. The otter youth pulled his spiked shield close to his body for protection as he yelled out orders to the two warriors fighting alongside him.
“Th’ trees are dense, mateys, they can’t cum at us with any reason’ble strength at all. Stay close so that we’re not separ’ted, an’ mebbe we’ll cum outta this alright.”
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Feb 25, 2007 16:19:46 GMT -5
*The hare turned, his head being stung by the incredible force of an enemy staff to the neck area. He continued on, looking back to where Darter was for comfort. The otter commander was not there. Rinafera thought for a moment it was a good thing and that he was on his way, but he soon realized it was a terrible thing if Darter had gone somewhere else and deeper into the woods. The snow under his boots made it cold, and a large pack of snow fell off a branch as the hare was knocked into it. Sounds resounded all around, and a strange yell came. It was in some strange language, but the Guardian did not pay attention.
A rat crossed Rinafera's body and the hare unleashed the scimitar. The blow came forward with precise aim, and the steel blade stabbed into the rat. A weasel then jumped from a little ledge covered by a rock and circled around a bit. His blade matched with Rinafera's. Ragfern, the weasel, was obviously an officer and trained for use with a blade. It was not easy fighting the weasel. Though his slight height advantage, the hare felt belittled by the weasel and his blade. Somehow, Ragfern had managed to reach with his blade and slip into the hare's cloak. Rinafera backed away and slid the scimitar down to block the cutlass as it tried to gut him.
The hare knew if he was to get out of this, Darter would scold him. Sandegar, Sapphire, Aster, Marie, and perhaps even Willem would give Raiden and he a firm scolding. Then came the comforting words of Darter. It seemed as though the Commander was happy with the two Privates, and Rinafera stood dumbfounded as he saw the otter cross into the woods. The Commander offered a challenge, and Rinafera would gladly accept it.
A new fire rose in the hare, a fire that resembled his earlier battle while trying to get Raiden and Mary to safety. Rinafera growled, and he aimed a stab to the weasel's torso. Ragfern blocked it with skill, but the hare retaliated with a deadly combination. He charged forward and they met head on. The hare swung left and was blocked so he spun and swung the sword down upon the weasel's hip. It hit flesh, but it was not a deep wound.
The fight carried on, neither one showing a clear advantage. Rinafera blocked a blow and parried to no avail. Then came a stab to the stomach in which he countered by flipping the sword upward and aimed the scimitar at Ragfern's face. Though the weasel blocked the blow, it made an incredible effect and knocked Ragfern over. The 'scum,' as Rinafera would call him, almost tripped and the advantage clearly went to the hare. The former Captain of the Long Patrol was now an established grown hare with a soon to be Boundary Guardian status at the Guardians of Mossflower. It was time.
Rinafera charged in with speed and precision, thrusting the blade deep into the weasel just in time to parry a blow from an incoming fox. The battled heated up, but the Guardians showed a sign of near victory. The hare began to gain the upper hand, and he fought alongside a great leader.*
It seems like we're flippin' winning, eh, wot? Eululiaaaaaaaaaaa!
Rinafera continued on, cold but sweating. He fought hard, and he fought for the freedom of many beasts. Raiden, and every other woodland creature in Mossflower.*
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Feb 26, 2007 10:24:58 GMT -5
Why do my plans fail? Doesn't matter... It's time to do as my destiny instructs me to do; Fight untill either I drop, of they do... Not sure how long I'll last on my leg, but if I gotta go, then I'm taking some of these SOB's with me.
**Kicking his foot up from beneath his re-forged claymore, he grasped the blade's hilt as it decended to chest hight. He was then ready to join Darter and Rina's charge.**
Ave addo of mortis! Ave nox noctic addo! (Hail the bringer of death! Hail the nightbringer!)
**Using his own personal battle cry, the mouse's sword sung it's death song as it scythed into the front ranks of the foe. Glancing around him, the mouse saw Darter's prowess with a sword.**
The rumours were true. Commander darter is a master with his sword.
Nice of you to back us up commander. I was ready to do something I wish I wouldn't have to do... But well... That's in the past...
**His long headfur had fallen from it's crest hours before, so Raiden had tied it back with a fadded navy blue tail bow. Though he had decided that the crest was more fear inspiring, he often felt that tying his headfur back gave him a link to happier times.**
This is for you, my lost twins of our triplet birthing... Always for you...
**As his mind snapped back to the here and now, Raiden ducked a clumsy cutlass slash at his headand his riposte counter left a weasel lying on the groung with a slit throat. Suddenly, as he stood up, the mouse thought he saw a familiar figure...**
Sunfire? No... She's dead... It can't be... It's impossible... But her body dissappeared while I was burying Zidane...
**As quick as the figure had appeared, it dissappeared. this left a very confused mouse vulnruble to the attacks of the fox now standing in front of him. As the scimitar decended, only time-honed reflexes saved Raiden. His sword blocked the fox's reflexively, while his right paw used the relitivly small spikes on the gauntlet to catch the fox in the throat.**
OOC: I shall leave the whole mysterious figure part at that... The figure pops up several times in Raiden's soon-to-be-rewriten history, and it turns out to be his little sister-who-he-thought-had-died-but-really-didn't-and-thinks-Raiden-left-her-for-dead. Also, my post's done.
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Post by Mary Narai on Feb 26, 2007 22:11:21 GMT -5
OOC: Yikes! Sorry for not posting earlier, i"m still here! BIC: * Mary fought, her bow going backwards and forwards, parrying a blow and attacking the next. Her sword was in it's sheath, and she cut off the paw of any beast who stuck a claw near it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Darter enter the fray. *
OOC: Its' short and awful, I know, but I have run out of time.
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Feb 27, 2007 16:03:17 GMT -5
OOC: Most of mine have been short, but I can go massive when I'm playing my MP3 player.
BIC: Glad to see you are still with us Mary. I was worried that you'd been captured, or worse...
**As the fox Raiden was fighting fell, Raiden kicked him in the chest. It was an interesting cracking sound as the platemail-armoured footpaw left a bloddied print in the fox's chest.**
Oh great... You just had to bleed all over my boot didn't you?
**The dead fox gave no reply, so Raiden found a fresh foe; a wolf with a Long Patrol hare's rapier, and a kite shield.**
How many did you kill to get that blade me bucko?
**The wolf didn't answer the odd mouse who apparently had knolwage of corsair accents, instead, he just stabbed at the mouse's chest. The venerable suit of platemail stood strong againt a blow that would have killed Raiden had it penertrated the white steel plating.**
Was that ment to hurt?
**Without another word, Raiden slashed low into the wolf's legs. With an over-head stab, Raiden finished off his foe.**
Soon be finished with this lot, then we can continue with our trek... Or we can then turn back... Uh-oh... I would think it's back-to-back time for us all... They have decided to come from all round now...
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Darter
Ret. War Commander
Ret. Head Boundary Guardian
Posts: 1,337
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Post by Darter on Feb 27, 2007 16:57:18 GMT -5
OOC: Hehe, sorry if you're trying to post during the time I locked it. I just want to make sure I get my post in before the plot changed yet again.
BIC: Just as he closed his mouth another weasel came at him, leaping over the still corpse of the one he had just slain. Darter ducked a wild cutlass slash aimed at his head and lunged forward under his opponent's blade, spiked shield held out in front of him in an attempt to knock the weasel backwards. However, his adversary managed to regain his balance lost by his reckless swing and dodged nimbly to the left, barely avoiding the round shield's sharpened wooden spikes. The otter in turn parried the weak attempt to gash open his knee and adeptly slid his blade up the one of his opponent to push it aside with a powerful flick, leaving the weasel's chest unprotected and vulnerable. Leaning his weight onto his left shoulder, Darter rammed his spiked shield into the weasel's body.
Stepping over the bloody corpse, the otter commander readied himself for another attack, expecting scores more of the vermin to come swarming out of the woods at any moment. Instead, only about ten vermin remained.
"It seems like we're flippin' winning, eh, wot?Eululiaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Rinafera was right! The tide of the battle had indeed turned in their favour. Though the vermi certainly had numbers on their side, they were no more than a ragtag mob, led most likely by a brute feared more for his physical strength than for his intellect. So far, none of his opponent's had showed any substancial skill in combat whatsoever. A good thing, too, he thought, or I think our souls would've already passed through the gates of Dark Forest. They were no longer fighting simply to survive. Now they were fighting to win; fighting to eradicate the vermin from Mossflower.
An unfortunate forx made the mistake of attempting to cut down Darter from behind with a one-handed axe while he thought the otter commander wasn't paying full attention. It was his last mistake. The otter youth whirled around at the last possible second and caught his new adversary by surprise, his broadsword whistling through the air to cut deeply into the fox's forearm. His opponent cried out in pain and instinctively released his grip on his weapon. The momentum still carried the fox's battleaxe to fly towards Darter, but now lacking the strength behind the attempted strike the weapon bounced harmlessly off the otter's iron breastplate, leaving only a small dent where it had struck. Darter didn't even notice as he finished off his opponent with a powerful slash to the shoulder.
As the otter commander turned back around this time, however, any onlooker would've noticed a change in his behaviour and appearance. Flecks of blood clung to his ruffled fur; his eyes had taken on the partially glazed look of a beast who was completely immersed in battle and loved every second of it. All he wanted, now, was to spill more vermin blood. Nothing else mattered, all thoughts of tactics and thoughtful planning vanished from his mind. In the heat of battle Darter's natural reckless nature was beginning to show through.
But this was no heroic blood frenzy, not one that would slay countless vermin and that would save the lives of countless other goodbeasts. Not one driven by righteous rage and intent. It was simply a thirst for battle, a dangerous state to be in and not one that any right-minded beast would want to be in. Darter was caught up in combat, and had become oblivious to anything else outside of battle.
He charged into a stoat head-on, knocking the unsuspecting vermin to the ground with a single strike from his spiked shield. His broadsword found it's target as a powerful sweep brought the weapon down to finish off the stoat. His opponent never had a chance. Darter grinned with the madness of it all as he turned to spy out another opponent to test his blade on. And that was when it happened.
A rogue arrow, miracously shot off in the skirmish without being intercepted, found a victim as it embedded itself deep in Darter's right shoulder. The otter spun withe the impace, the sudden shock of pain causing him to lose focus momentarily. His broadsword fell from his grasp, tumbling down to the snow. As he instinctively knelt to regain his weapon, he made up his mind to re-join the battle despite his injury. It would take more than one arrow, although impairing his sword arm, to take down a full grown muscular otter.
His paw finally brushed against the bound hilt of his broadsword and he sought to pick it up. By now the pain from his wounded shoulder had spread down to his forearm. Darter gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the pain but he knew it would be considerably more difficult to fight. He began to stand once more as his paw clasped the hilt of his recovered blade and took a step forward back towards where Raiden and Rinafera were finishing off the vermin.
"Going somewhere...?"
The sneering voice of a ferret came from behind him. But before he could turn to engage his newfound foe in combat, the ferret's knife buried itself in Darter's upper back. The otter fell forward with a grunt of shock and pain, but the ferret held him upright with his other free paw. At least it missed my spinal cord, he thought aimlessly, Not that it makes much difference... He closed his eyes. This was it. It was over. He had made a fatal mistake and now it was time to pay up.
The knife in his back twisted viciously before the ferret withdrew it, confident that he had slain the otter. Darter passed out with the pain and fell face first into the deep snow.
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Post by Mary Narai on Feb 27, 2007 22:44:48 GMT -5
Glad to see you are still with us Mary. I was worried that you'd been captured, or worse... Of course I'm still here!* The mousemaid said in an irritated voice. * What, you think I'd run and leave you all here to the vermin's mercy?* Mary held her bow up defensively against a cutlass, but bows only last so long agaisnt steel. With a loud crack, the bow split in half from the force of the almost blocked blow. The sword made a large cut in her ear, where crimson drops of blood started falling. Grabbing her sword from it's sheath she parried the next few blows, dropping the now useless stick and promising herself that she would pick it up later. She concentrated on not getting any more injuries than what she already had, which where scratches and a largely cut ear. The cut to the ear eveloped her the left side of her head in pain, but she pushed it to the back of her mind, but yet she still missed seeing the fall of her commander.*
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Feb 27, 2007 23:40:55 GMT -5
*Rinafera continued fighting, his blade crashing against flesh. As he swept the blade over to jab an enemy fox the steel met steel. The fox wore some type of armor that was apparently very strong. He whisped through quickly, dodging the trees and making a nice undercut with the hilt of his sword. Though the hare lost his balance a bit after, he still managed to block blow. The fox did not stop. He pressed onward, as did the hare. Blades crashed, paws wore down in a soreness that shook all the way up to his elbows. Spinning, the Guardian whipped the sword around, attempting to slice the back of his neck. But it left him in an open position. The fox exploied it. He stepped in avoided Rinafera's swipe, and did it just in time to rip a fist into the hare's chest.
Rinafera fell back, and heard Raiden speak in fear. The vermin had finally got smart and attacked from both sides. Also, the hare was in a sticky situation. The fox loomed over him, and thrusted a downward attack at the Guardian's stomach. Rinafera rolled, and the sword hit pure snow. It stuck in for a moment, too. That gave the hare just enough time to get back on his paws. The fox growled and whipped the blade with precision at his head. Rinafera deflected and parried. He spun around the corner of a tree, almost tripping in the deep snow. The hare aimed a strike at the fox's unprotected back and still had enough protection to avoid any blows the vermin tried to hit him with.
The strike hit home. It stuck deep into the fox's back, and that was it. It was all Rinafera needed for a boost in morale. Leaping from behind the trees, the hare took them head on. He remained smart and level-headed, but fought agressively. Swords crashed together, and the battle heated on. Rinafera breathed heavily; his paws were getting sweaty. Shortly after slaying a weasel, the hare took on another weasel. The sandy furred mustelid fired with many deadly combinations. But Rinafera had too much experience with the sword and simply was trained better. Due to his newly found speed, the hare defeated the other weasel quickly. But as Raiden had already pointed out, the vermin were coming in from both sides. As his paws rolled through the snow, he noticed the other vermin.
They were moving in quickly, but the trees still scattered them. Rinafera spun just in time to see a charging rat. He blocked the rapier decisively but the strength from the blade made the hare temporarily lose his balance. He fought on, using skill and precision to deflect many blows. The rodent pushed in, but Rinafera stayed strong and did not back down. Deciding not to retreat, the hare lifted the blade up and blocked another strike. The rat's sword was pushed back a bit, and Rinafera found his hole to explit. The offensive was his. Snow was knocked around as the hare charged, running the rat through. As the rat fell, he noticed a medallion on the rodent's neck. Rinafera reached forward at the corpse and grabbed it.
It was the medallion of a Captain of the Long Patrol that a newly promoted officer would recieve at a ceremony. Sneering, the hare thought of the brave captain that must have died. Rinafera looked up, his eyes burning. A stoat ran at him. He lifted a blade but did not deflect it. He simply sidestepped. Quickly moving to his left, he avoided the swipe and the stoat ran rampid past him. he hare turned and confronted the stoat. The vermin rushed it and threw a swipe out with no aim. Rinafera took another sidestep and unleashed his scimitar. He stuck it deep into the stoat's torso. Smiling, he looked back at the medallion. Well, I was a Captain... He slipped it onto his head, continued the fight. A rat came from behind, and Rinafera did not hear the steps until it was almost too late.
He turned quickly, just as the blade came down. But Rinafera had enough time to react and limit the blow to only a stab in the shoulder. The hare winced in pain, but the rat took the blade out quickly. In a smooth, experienced spin the Guardian unleashed a blow deep into the rat's chest. But then he saw something terrible.
It was unbelievable, almost impossible. Darter fell at the paws of a vermin who ran off, thinking he had slain the otter. Rinafera fell on his knees. He looked down in despair as the Commander fell. Though his own wounds were hurting, nothing ached him more than the loss of a leader. He could only hope. Feeling Darter's paw, he took a sigh of relief. The otter was breathing, but the breaths were unnaturally seperated. It took too long for the next breath, and Rinafera knew he did not have much more time. The hare turned to Raiden, seeing the mouse fighting some vermin off.*
Raiden! Raiden! Darter is down!
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Feb 28, 2007 16:59:54 GMT -5
WHAT?!?
**With one act, the ferret had done something terrible; Striking Darter down would prove to be the one deed that would condemn many of the horde that would cross the mouse's sword in the next few hours to death in battle. That one single deed caused something inside the mouse to snap. Memories of innocents dieing, their homes torched, valubles looted... All at the paws of one lone, angry figure; a eighteen year old mouse, now twenty-two... The name was Raiden Alexander Uriel Silversword VII... The same thing that caused him to do such acts four years before reared it's head in his mind and lashed tenticales of rage around. Normally, Raiden could control this primal urge, but this time... This time he let it claim him... The blood curse was in his clan's blood line. Few escaped it's touch, less survived. But he knew the risks; Either he'd die in battle, or win his mind back. If he failed to do either, he'd just be a mindless beast who would attack any who came near him... But still he let it claim him... As foes drew closer to him, he charged forward. Heedless of blows raining down on his armoured body, he struck out at the vermin. One lone bastion of his bloodline. The last bastion of the Raiden legacy... Seven times he stumbled, seven times the vermin threatend to pull him down and kill him. But each time saw him rise up, the blood curse seeming to give him boundless strength. Suddenly, he was through the press of bodies, and mere metres from War Commander Darter's prone body.**
RAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**His armour had accumulated blood as he had forced his way through, the gold-coloured trim now looked as brazen and tarnished as as dull bronze, while the white steel looked positively demonic in the rising sunlight. Without the helmet, Raiden's half left ear shone through clearly, as did every scar that decorated the bloodied features of the merciless warrior. He let loose another feral yell as his sword fell to the snow.**
AUGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**It was almost as if the curse's most insiduous effect was taking hold, but it wasn't. The energy was fading, and the primal instincts were being subdued as a more calculating, yet reckless personality took over.**
Who wants a piece of me? I'll take four of you one at once if I have to.
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Post by Mary Narai on Mar 1, 2007 21:48:23 GMT -5
* Mary looked to Rinafera as he called to Raiden. Darter, down? Not possible! But as she looked away from the battle, there he was, on the ground. As she turned, the rat the was fighting made a slash for the side of her head, hitting. Her head whirled back and she made a stab, making her blade sink in to the rat's stomach area., nto checking to see if he was well and truly dead(though he problaby was, ) she fought her way over to Rinafera and the commander.* Do you think he'll live?* Mary asked as she fended off some vermin.*
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Post by Aster & Sapphire Fleetpaw on Mar 3, 2007 16:38:46 GMT -5
**Sapphire had almost everything set up. Almost. The mousemaiden felt the surge of excitement prickling the fur along her back as she moved into position. She had taken her time to choose the best series of unstable ice and rocks along the side of the valley, and then had dedicated herself to creating a long snowdrift at the top. When the middle received a certain series of blows, it would create a domino effect, toppling a devastating avalanche into the valley where the vermin were currently situated.
However, Sapphire noted that a couple of campfires had closed down on the far end of the gorge. She hoped dearly that the vermin had not attacked the campsite while she was gone. Her red-and-silver overcoat was lying crumpled in a messy heap a couple of yards away; in the process of creating her avalanche, Sapphire had feared heatstroke. She was still sweating from the good workout as she crouched down at the beginning of the path that she had tamped down in the snow. A smirk appeared on the young mousemaiden's face as she now turned her dark amber eyes to the middle of the snowdrift, her gaze intensifying. Her right footpaw went back and she bent both knees, distributing her weight evenly across the supports in a horse stance. Sapphire turned her torso to face the snowdrift, then swayed back on her right footpaw, giving herself extra momentum that she needed in her powerful dash.
Suddenly, she pushed off, sprinting as hard and fast as she could, and with both forepaws out behind her to streamline and balance her position. The long red shirt now gave her a great advantage; she moved comfortably and efficiently in her dash to the goal. At the distance of two or three strides, she leaped high in the air, her jumping basics coming into play. With a half-turn, she windmilled her right footpaw in the air, and the lightweight steel-shod boot smashed heavily down into the middle of the pile, breaking the crusted ice.** Ha!
**The mousemaid let out a cry of effort as she brought her footpaw down on the heap. The hard kick had its intended effect. The wear lines broke, and chunks of ice and snow fell into others, knocking them down. Sapphire withdrew from the top of the valley, snatching up her coat as she went. Only when she heard the roar of the starting avalanche did she know her plan had succeeded, but Sapphire did not pause to watch the vermin fleeing. An ominous dread was growing in her mind; it had been obvious that there were over two score of vermin missing from the camp. Doubtless now they were attacking the Guardians. Once again, Sapphire thrust her forepaws behind her and took off running. Her shadow sped across the white snow, the moonlight glinting off her dark red shirt. The young mouse no longer bothered to conceal herself; spurred on by the wings of panic, she went sprinting across the snow at such a rate that she barely broke the ice-crust. Her ears were attuning themselves to the silence, and up ahead, she could hear the sounds of battle. The mousemaid drew stilettos out of both sleeves of her shirt, pinning the flighted throwing-ends of the weapons in her paws.
A crimson-decked figure suddenly emerged at an alarming pace onto the battleground. Without her coat on, Sapphire dashed out of the woods and onto the scene of the ruckus; drawing her footpaws into the same lopsided horse stance she had used before, she cast the stilettos held in her paws into the fray. Her main purpose was to distract part of the vermin from her comrades. Not bothering to stop, Sapphire launched yet another flying whirlwind kick. This time, her left footpaw came down hard on the helmet of an oversized weasel. He toppled like so many standing targets, disabled. As one of his comrades-in-arms rushed her holding a club, Sapphire swung her right footpaw inwards. The side of her boot battered the club out of his paw and left him wringing his limb, numbed from the vibrations. Another kick, this time directed lower and swinging outward, sent him snout-first into the snow as Sapphire strode purposefully into the battle.
Sapphire had relentlessly drilled herself through efficient usage of her footpaws in battle, as excessive upper-body movements could be hindered by any overcoats that she was wearing. However, this presented no problem, as she had discarded her crimson overcoat somewhere back in the woods. A rat attempted to counter her steady charge with his daggers. Sapphire ducked one swing, turned another away, and locked her right forepaw over his on the third attack. Swiftly, her partially-gloved left forepaw came up behind his weapons paw. Using his wrist as a pivot point, she swung him backwards and into an advancing stoat, hard. His own momentum furthered the impact of the two bodies colliding. Without bothering to look back, Sapphire executed a half-footpaw-sweep, tripping two opponents. She kicked them aside as she strode into the center of the teeming mob, a confident smile growing on her face. Certainly, her high-level paw-to-paw combat skills were giving her a great advantage in the close-range battle, and she had almost reached her friends.**
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Mar 3, 2007 17:24:10 GMT -5
*Rinafera knelt down before his leader. The otter wad down for the count and most likely dead. He grieved, but held himself from crying. Raiden had gone on a rampage of revenge, while the hare stayed subtle and calm. It seemed almost impossible. The white-furred Guardian had not been this emotional since Major Brandywick went down in battle on the shore of Salamandastron. But this... This was not war. It was not a battle. It was a cowardly repute from a large vermin army to four trainees. The hare sneered, looking at dead beasts all around. But he knew he needed to stand and fight; a vermin pack might be heading his way to finish him off while he was not paying attention. The hare stood, pushing off the cold snow with his numb paw.
Rinafera stood high and proud, for he was a seasoned veteran with much to live for. The battle would not end yet. He could feel the emotions rise in him as he felt the hilt of the sword clutched in his right paw. The hare looked at a fox in a blank stare, waiting for the fox to attack. Rinafera was getting to old for this; he had already retired from the Long Patrol and the Horde. It seemed as if his senses left once more. Private Woxwitty was not fighting the fox, as it seemed only normal reflexes and a sense of 'been there done that' remained in the hare. Private Rinafera Clysul Foxbane Woxwitty had taken a toll for all of his battles. His emotions were simply blank, and the only compassion he felt was for Daisyblade. He only wished Cragg was here; Cragg was always brave and supporting.
Rinafera felt as if war was not quite his thing anymore. Then the fox took the first move. The hare lifted the scimitar and deflected it, setting the fox off balance. Usually the white-furred ranger would take the offensive, but he hesitated. One moment of hesitation could cost a beast a fight, but Rinafera waited patiently. The fox whipped his blade around with a combination to be applauded for, but Rinafera had seen too many days of battle to fall for any trickery. To the hare, all he needed to do was parry. Finally, the lesser experienced fox made the first mistake. He slipped his blade to Rinafera's torso, so the hare sidestepped and swung the scimitar on a downward motion for the fox's back. It hit the fox in the spinal cord and went deep into his back. Blood was everywhere, and the fox fell down dead.
Rinafera felt a brief satisfaction as he approached the rest of the pack. He would confront on their side, but soon realized how dumb of a decision that was. Major Sapphire was a top a hill, setting of a load of snow to cover the vermin. The hare was cold enough, but could not back away because a weasel confronted him with an axe. The Guardian rolled his eyes and parried a blow, but this weasel had something about him. It was a confidence of a seasoned, experienced, well-trained, veteran. The hare breathed deep and took on the fellow master of the art of close-combat. The battle heated up. Then Sapphire released the snow.
It fell like a waterfall over a river, and Rinafera knew there was only one option. He flipped the scimitar up and countered the last blow from the weasel, and then straight on tackled him. The hare tackled the weasel and pushed them both out of the way of the snow. But it was too late; the snow covered the battlefield. It fell upon Rinafera and he was deep in it. His senses blanked out and snow covered his nostrils. The hare was buried. But one problem also did not help the situation, he was holding a living weasel. Rinafera struggled to free himself of the weasel while holding his breath.
Finally, he let go of the weasel. But his breath could not hold it any longer. Rinafera was suffocating. He kicked paws and dropped the scimitar. Feeling the weasel one more time, he realized the weasel was dead. Maybe vermin could not hold their breath long, but anyway, he assumed he was soon to enter the Dark Forest. Then he remembered her. Daisyblade was at the Fort, waiting for her husband's return. Kicking harder, he finally sprang free of the snow. His head peaked above the surface, and fresh air filled his lungs. Rinafera could feel the blood flowing easy again, but the hare was still cold.
Getting up, he looked at the battlefield. The vermin were covered and dead, with a few exceptions of those who were fleeing. Rinafera breathed easy again, and wiped the nervous sweat from his brow when he discovered Darter was not in the snow. He had just evaded the avalanche. But the hare could not see Raiden or Mary, but put up a paw to wave at Sapphire. It was just a sign to show that they were OK. Without further seeking Raiden or Mary, the hare ran to his Commander. Darter still lay on the snow with closed eyes, but it was improvement now that the vermin were gone. Hopefully Darter would live to decide who the future Boundary Guardians were. Rinafera would always remember this training.
The hare searched for the vermin, looking in all directions. He spotted a few fleeing, and a few looking for their companions amongst the dead. But Rinafera considered it no victory. Their Commander had fallen in battle, and Raiden and Mary had yet to be seen. He stood with a newly found confidence; that was the first battle Rinafera had ever fought with that much intensity. The hare rubbed his tunic and wiped the snow from his chest. Once more, Rinafera could sheathe his scimitar in the scabbard. But something was not right. Something was missing.
The hare felt his back, and felt pure fabric. The stiletto and its case were gone. It must have been buried under the snow. He sprang back to the area where he and the weasel had been plunged under the avalanche. Digging deep, Rinafera found no sword. Cursing under his breath, he kicked the snow. The hare needed to find a new secondary weapon. Ah, a claymore would be nice. Looking with squinted eyes at the battlefield, Rinafera rummaged through the snow. He had seen a rat with a claymore earlier... Aha! Rinafera grabbed the hilt of a buried claymore, yanking it from the paw of a vermin. The hare had always admired Raiden's claymore, and now he had one of his own. Now to find a saber like Cragg's...*
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