Jager
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« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2009, 06:28:33 PM » |
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He rushed from his small shop and across the camp to Phoenix’s tent. “Phoenix,” Jager addressed him as he came into the command tent. Phoenix sat at the back of the tent with Knossos standing to one side both examining a map and some other documents. “Yes Jager?” Phoenix looked up and replied. Jager began, “The people are exhausted and some are badly wounded, we need to rest and restore our ranks before moving on. I also need more time to repair the armor and weapons. These battles have taken a terrible toll on us, and not even I can keep up with all the repair work and medic work to be done. We need at least two or three days to build back enough to fight.” “Jager,” Phoenix sighed slightly with impatience, “leave the healing to the medics and stay busy on the armor and weapons. Repair them up at least half way and then go to the next, and I need twenty-five thousand more arrows made before the day after tomorrow.” “I’ve already completed the arrows,” Jager told him, “and I’ve already been doing that with the armor, but I can’t take much more of this pace and neither can the men. Even if I could keep the gear in repair, the medics can hardly keep the men in repair.” “Jager,” Phoenix said again now beginning to sound more annoyed, “We will be moving out and that is final. I will finish this war and soon.” “Sire,” Knossos interrupted, “We have actually already used most of the last quivers of arrows that were made. We do need more before our next encounter.” Phoenix clenched his teeth with rising annoyance, “Jager, you have today. Finish the arrows and what you can of the armor and we will move out tomorrow. Knossos,” he then turned to his side, “take a party and scout here,” he pointed to an area of the map ahead of them, “Now both of you go, now!” ------------------ Later that night, Phoenix visited Jager’s small shop. Jager was hard at work as usual. Piles upon piles of armor and weapons lay stacked against the walls leaving barely enough room for Jager to swing his hammer above the anvil. ------------------- Wednesday 22nd, Verisum 352 “Good evening Jager,” Phoenix said as he entered the shop and gazed around at the clutter. “Good evening my friend,” Jager greeted him warmly, “About this morning… I’m sorry, I’m doing everything I can to keep up.” “Yes, yes…” Phoenix brushed aside the comment, “I need you to look at something for me. What do you make of this? I think it has some enchantment, but what can you tell?” he asked handing Jager the War Hammer that he had found in the dungeon all those months before. Jager frowned slightly and shook his head taking the hammer. He examined it for a few minutes and ran a few basic metal tests on it before sharing his analysis. “Well,” he began, “It is indeed well crafted. Its base is runic in nature… but it is most certainly more than the sum of its metal. It most certainly does have some enchantment on it, but unlike any I’ve seen before. I don’t fully understand it and so cannot fully explain it, but it has great power within it, and I sense a terrible darkness as well. I would beware using it my Lord.” “Well, you’ve told me not much more than I couldn’t tell myself,” Phoenix frowned and grasped the handle, “I already felt the darkness, but I think I must have suppressed it because it seems much less dark to me now.” “I suppose that’s good, but just the same I’d advise against using it further,” Jager cautioned. “Nonsense Jager, you worry too much,” Phoenix replied ignoring his friend’s warning and turning to leave, “Well, I will see you in the morning, you’d best get some sleep. We will move out early.” “Sleep?” Jager grumbled to himself, “I’ve got fifteen thousand more arrows to make…”
--------------- Monday 10th, Sero-Verisum 352 It has now come to the close of the fifth month of fighting. Despite our heavy casualties, we’ve taken over the Woodland people’s main castle and driven out the Necromancers. The war was hard won though. Fully a third of my regiments have fallen to enemy blades, only to be resurrected and slain by their former friends. I have lost many friends and companions. The tragic loss of Kithra was just the first, since then Jazmyn and Brianne have both fallen. With each tragic loss, the emotional scars have formed a patchwork armor around my heart and soul. Each loss hurting less than the one before it, until I barely feel anything at all. Somehow, in a way I know not, I know that the Hammer has helped me get through it all. I draw a lot of comfort and power from it when I hold it, and here recently it has began to emit a faint pink Aura whenever I grasp its smooth wooden handle. I have had the Mages examine it many a time, but they can tell me nothing except that it is a weapon of exceptional magical quality that seems to feed off of my energy even as it returns the favor. With the ouster of the last remnants of the Dark Crusade’s Leaders, the people of the woodlands have appointed me as their leader, naturally. Thusly, I’ve taken this land as a new extension of the Empire of Sosaria. As my first act as leader, I will further our fight against the Necromancers. The tables have turned, and now they are the ones running! We will hunt them down in every village and city. I will have none who would stand against my new empire! ---------------
Thursday 30th, Sero-Verisum 352 “Nasdurche,” Phoenix addressed him. “Yes my lord?” he replied. “Take your troops and destroy the south east city of Woodard. My sources tell me the enemy has a stronghold there.” “What are your orders concerning the terms of their surrender?” he asked. Phoenix’s gaze narrowed and he took a deep breath, “I accept no surrender. I want them dead.” Nasdurche’s gaze also narrowed and he nodded a bow, “Yes, my lord,” he replied with a cold indifference, “as you command.” He then turned to leave. “Wait,” Phoenix called back after him, “If they surrender, take them captive. They may have useful information. See what you can get from them. Use whatever methods of persuasion you need and report the information back to me. Also, bring me any who are of High Rank for further questioning and kill the rest when you are done.” Nasdurche nodded again with the same look of cool impassiveness as before and replied in like manner but added the slightest but most unsettling hint of displeasure, “at once my liege.” ---------------
Friday 72nd, Sero-Verisum 352 After some weeks of hunting them down, the remaining Necromancers holding the outer cities have surrendered or fled. I’ve “hired” a few of their own to help hunt down the remaining renegades. The necromancers have few scruples and no qualms about hunting each other to save their own necks. While I have no intention of sparing them, they are useful for now. I’ve also captured a few who would not be hired, so I have thusly encouraged the ones I “hired” with displays of violence begat upon their brethren. However, one thing I initially overlooked is that most necromancers seem to have little fear of death. I have since found that the old methods of torture still work well enough. I’ve also found a new way to make them useful. If they will not serve me in life, then they will serve me in death! Those necromancers I was able to “hire”; I’ve used their skills to resurrect the ones I kill. It is a cruel perhaps, but I think it justice to now turn their own spells against them. They will never again fight against this Empire.
Sunday 4th, Aestas Estas 352 I’ve grown tired of using the Necromancers and had them all killed. It was time they die for their crimes anyways, and I have no more need of them. However, I found their skills so useful that I’ve watched and studied some of their spells, and I believe I understand enough now on my own. I’ve also continued my fight against the renegades and have pressed them completely from the woods and into the eastern mountains, but they can only hide so long. One troubling matter is that my people are ready for peace… they are weak stomached peasants. They don’t understand that there will be no peace until I have finished my conquest! I will rule not only the woods but the mountains and the plains as well. I will drive out the evil that lurks and bring the order and peace of the Empire to these people, only then may there may be peace.
--------------- Tuesday 6th, Aestas Estas 352 “Lord Phoenix,” Jager addressed him as he came into the hallway. Phoenix groaned and narrowed his eyes, “What is it Jager?” he answered with a slightly annoyed tone. “This isn’t our way,” Jager began, “hiring Necromancers as mercenaries, torturing captives, and even using the Dark Arts against them… what has come over you?” Phoenix gritted his teeth and clinched his fist, “What do you mean OUR way? This is MY Empire. I have rebuilt it from the ashes that Icemere left; I won the wars to make it what it is! I freed these people, and I know what is needed and will do what I see is necessary.” “You think using Necromancy to raise the dead is necessary? You’re using the very thing you’ve fought against!” Jager shouted. Phoenix relaxed a bit and chuckled, “It’s called a cruel irony, and it serves them right.” “Since when have we been in the business of making irony and ‘serving people right’,” Jager further argued, “I thought we served Justice and Compassion and Honor…” “Silence! That is enough; I will hear no more of this!” Phoenix’s outcry of rage echoed in the vast chambers of the Throne room, “I am the ruler, and my Law IS Justice! Don’t you ever again dare suggest that I have no Honor. If you dispute me any further, I may try you on charges of treason… Now leave me!”
--------------- Thursday 27th, Aestas Estas 352 Today I write of an upsetting thing. There was a rebellion in the main city. Certain of my own comrades were among those revolting! The ungrateful, disloyal, filth! I saved these people and they had the nerve to rebel against me! The rebellion was short lived however, and I had them all taken prisoner. I do not yet wish to have war with my own people, so I will simply kill the leaders, beat the rest, and release them for now. I will not bend to them. My rule must be absolute. I must display my power to keep them in line. Still, I will spare them mercy this time, but should they do it again I shall have no mercy to spare.
Sunday 30th, Aestas Estas 352 This didn’t seem to warn them sufficiently though. Once again, rebellions in several of the major cities have broken out like wild fires. The peasants have even joined forces with some of the Necromancers from the hills! What kind of fools are these people? I’ve taken more of the rebellion leaders prisoner and had planned to have them all killed. This offers me a chance to try out my new spells though. If they will not give me their loyalty in life, then I will have it in their death! I will accept nothing less than total loyalty. I will do anything possible to maintain the order and the peace. Hopefully these few sacrifices will serve as examples to the rest.
--------------- Tuesday 32nd, Aestas Estas 352 “Phoenix!” Jager burst into the room, “This is madness! What have you done to them?” “They brought it on themselves, Jager,” I began coldly, “They joined with the necromancers and rebelled against me! They seem to have forgotten that I rescued them from this fate. Maybe now they will remember! I used my power to free them, and I can use it to bind them too. They will serve me alive or dead, it is their choice.” “Phoenix,” Jager began, “We won that long ago, if you stop this pointless war and rule in peace and put away these dark arts, then the people wouldn’t rebel. You’re bringing to pass the very things we fought to free them from! Can’t you see that?!” “So, you would rebel with them against me? You chose their side?” I questioned in anger. “My Lord, I have always been on your side, as am I now,” Jager began. Explaining, “I do not wish for these rebellions any more than you do, but this is not the way to stop them. Please listen to me.” “And since when do you know how to rule an empire?” I quipped. “If you remember, friend, the Empire was left in my name. I was not strong enough though to face the horrors that you have. I only wished to be left to my crafting.” “I remember,” I said between clenched teeth, “I also remember that you were too weak, as you said. It is obvious that I know what is best for these people. They appointed me as ruler, just as you had asked of me back in Sylvan. I will rule as I see fit, and unless you wish to join these,” he said pointing to the mindless skeletal remains of the rebel leaders with his Hammer, “Then I will not hear you question and insult me again.” I said, motioning the guards to escort Jager from my presence. It is only because of the long history we shared that I tolerated his repeated insults. Jager was once my best friend, and could be again. If only he would shed his narrow outlook on life.
--------------- Friday 12th, Aestas Sero 352 It has been some time since I have written, but I’ve found occasion now record my thoughts. The rebellions have ceased for the time. They had claimed a city and made it their stronghold. It was a foolish move on their part: it made their extermination much easier having them gathered into once place. I’ve destroyed that city and everyone in it. I burnt it to the ground and salted the Earth as an example to any others wishing to follow in their rebellion. My Empire can not stand divided and therefore I have brought it once again into unity. After the display of my power, none will now dare to challenge me. Something else though has come back to the fore front of my mind. As I once again wield my Hammer in battle, the feeling of that powerful presence becomes stronger. I feel it still slowly drawing closer, and its power is immense! The feeling never leaves me, and I’ve often felt it during the day, but it seems strongest in the night just before I would sleep.
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