An Ashlanders Tale Chapter 3 Options

[jonajosa]

She has never been fond of the nords since the time when they captured her. But you will see later how she will hesitate before killing a fellow nord from the village she grew up in.

[minque]

Ok..then I missed something here, i just read the first parts once again, but couldn´t find what race Johannis is....I have always thought she´s a Nord but maybe you can enlighten me?


Anyway it was great reading through the story once again....... :lickinglips:

[jonajosa]

[quote=jonajosa] This character’s name is Johannes. She is a young female nord who grew up in the new settlement of Dagon Fel. [/quote]

There you go. Second paragraph, first update for this chapter. Read more carefully.

[minque]

But Jona!!! I did.....I said she was a nord then she woukd have to fight her own ppl....but you said this:

[quote]She has never been fond of the nords since the time when they captured her. But you will see later how she will hesitate before killing a fellow nord from the village she grew up in.[/quote]


then i thought she was NOT a nord.....

I do read thoroughly you know.....

[MerGirl]

So, wait, she is a Nord, right? Just not raised with the other Nords, right? So is that why she's not fond of Nords? *is confuzzled* :embarrassed2:

[jonajosa]

There are people you hate the way their own race act. Sorta like the people in real life around here who are constantly yelling "Look at us Human pigs! I hate humans!"

I tried to make her life more... how do i put this? More confusing and hard.

Lets try to put it this way... Some things that may seem confusing now will reveal themselves later on and become clear.

[minque]

Woaahhh.....erhhmm..sorry usually don´t scream...erhhmm but i just became excited of the possibility of......well an update.....



It´s more clear now...

[MerGirl]

Oh, okay. Kind of like a Dunmer raised in Cyrodiil (or somewhere other than Morrowind) would not like the native Dunmer in Morrowind. Right?

[jonajosa]

I was not screaming Minque. I was imatateing the people who do that. You know? The protester are usally yelling their statements. You don't see them whispering "We want more of this and that." Do you?

But yes like Mergirl said, It is like that. Besides... She did grow up in Morrowind you know. That might be why.....

[minque]

Jona! I screamed..not you.... i was just hoping for an update, see...and i know how the situation is now, so....

[jonajosa]

Wells its only been two days since my last update. Tell you what, Ill realease a (premature)update just for you and your demands. Ok?

I just started my work shift so it may be awhile before you see it. I have get all this paperwork done and then i have to go across to the other side of the green zone just to pick up some more new workers.

[minque]

oh don´t get me wrong....i don´t force you i just love the story.......and be careful out there! :ashamed:

[jonajosa]

I looked at Galos and saw his hand caressing the hilt of his sword. This man is just waiting to kill something isn’t he? I wondered to myself. Subconsciously I took a small step away from him and directed my attention to a more threatening problem. There were easily a thousand ships rowing towards the beach with mad half naked men screaming at us from the decks. The sight was enough to make even the bravest man shiver with fear. Some of the “less brave” men slowly started to step backwards away from their posts when they saw their enemy. As the boats got close those slow steps turned into a frantic run towards the city behind us and soon easily a fourth of the force was I flight.

“Galos! Look, your men are running!” I shouted while pointing at the running men. Galos turned around and drew his sword and began running after the men that were fleeing.

“Stop you cowards! Either you die by my hand or you die by the enemy’s! For I will hunt you down when this battle is over with and kill all of you!” Most of the fleeing men stopped dead in their tracks and turned back to their commander bowing and asking to be forgiven. More loyal soldiers ran up behind Galos and began herding the deserters back to the lines. Some went willingly and some had to be pushed back to their positions. It was not a very encouraging sight for the others that were to fight this day. I only hope that didn’t affect their moral that much…

When the men were back in their positions the order to draw weapons was given. The Nord ships were almost at the coast and I knew the time for battle had begun. When the ships were almost within bow range the orders for archers began.



* * *
“Lay your arrows,” the Fletcher commanded. Quickly and expertly the ranks of archers took out one arrow each and laid it across their bows. The Fletcher stood and watched the coming wave of ships and when he saw they were within range he gave the next order, “Draw!” The Fletcher shouted, taking his won advice and pulling back his own arrow. They held onto the arrows for a little while longer while the Fletcher guessed the range.

“Two hundred and fifty yards men!” He shouted again. “Put them there!” Again putting his words into action he loosed his arrow and watched it arc across the dark gray sky towards the ships. He lost sight of it as it blended into he mass cloud that swarmed out to fall upon the waiting Nords.

“Loose!” He shouted, and the second volley of arrows sped away with the sound of huge whirling whistles. Standing on his tiptoes the Fletcher could see the impact on the nord army. The sound of screaming from the wounded and dying nords could be heard from the shore as it echoed across the beach.

“One hundred and fifty yards men! Loose!” More arrows lifted into to the air and impacted into the ships with a satisfying result. More screams came to our ears and some of the archers cheered. But the Fletcher didn’t have enough time to order another volley because the ships were already too close to shore.

“Draw swords!” He shouted and watched as half the archers dropped their bows and pulled out their iron long swords, “Form up!” They fell into line and waited the next command.



* * *
“Sir!” A nord sailor said when as he came to a stop in front of the nord invasion commander, “The landings have begun on the eastern and northern beaches. There is some resistance but it poses to threat.”

“Never under estimate your enemy Captain. Just to be sure that this… resistance wont be too much a problem I’m sending the second and third waves to follow you up on the beach as soon as your entire first wave lands. That should make the invasion much easier.” The commander turned to an aid with a grin on his face, “Tell the other captains to begin their attack.” The aid nodded and ran up to the front of the ship were he could send flag signals.

“This island and its defenders will be crushed into dust. Soon we will have control of all the Zafirbel bay will be ours.” He laughed and returned his attention to watching the battle.



* * *
“Fire!” The Fletcher shouted and the second half of his archers fired into the mass of nords running up the beach. The impact was devastating to the nord army as the first two rows of pikemen fell to the volley. “Charge!” Fletcher yelled and led the run down the beach into the nords. The nord axes weren’t devised to be defensive weapons so when the Chimer army collided with the nord army they were able to quickly cut through several rows of swordsmen and pikemen in just a few seconds.

However once the Chimer lost their speed from the charge and began fighting close quarters with the nords many fell to the nords favorite weapon. More men rushed up behind the already fighting chimer and helped push the nords back their boats. All seemed fine and victory was certain when all of a sudden dozens of more nord ships landed on the beach and hundreds of nords came spilling out of the sides.

The Fletcher saw no other choice but to fall back and regroup at the hill to the west. “Fall back! Fall back.” He looked around and saw many of his men running towards the hill behind him. He was about to run after them when a axe slammed down into his back and killed him instantly.

[jonajosa]

“Faster! Faster!” A young sub commander shouted at his men as they ran towards the second line of defenses. The nord army was right behind them screaming for fresh blood. “Faster! We must make it to that hill and fight them off from there!” He looked in front of him and saw the reserve archers firing volley after volley of fire arrows over them and into the nords behind them.

He looked back in front of him when he felt the incline in his step as he began to run up the hill. Almost there he thought and turned to urge his men up the hill. But he stopped when he saw the coming mass of soldiers chasing him and his men. He smiled, “Come on… just a little farther.”

I watched with Galos as the remaining archers ran up the hill to the defenses. “I think now would be a good time to unleash that trap you had in plan.”

He looked at me and nodded. “Yes, I believe you are right.” He turned to his second in command, “Give the order.” The man nodded and raised his hand and brought it back down sharply. A horn blared and suddenly over the top of the mountain came hundreds of fresh Chimer soldiers just waiting to meet the enemy. The sudden sight of this new force made the nord army falter but the bloodlust was with them. Their commanders cried for the army to move forward and soon the entire front was moving up the hill.

The real battle for Sadrith Mora was about to commence.

[minque]

Magnificent battle-scenes! And the multiple approach is really intriguing, this is getting more and more fascinating........and our Johannis...in the middle of it all, will she survive? Well she ought to, being the heroin..but still a young girl in the bunch of hard-headed soldiers..my my...

You also introduce some lead-charachter in every fight-scene that is very good and make it really vivid, even if that charachter accidently is getting himself killed.....

So "Pease Sir I want some more" as the man said


:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

[treydog]

An exciting battle taking place, with tactical surprises and the ebb and flow that are always interesting. Nord battle-madness and numbers against Chimer cunning- all the ingredients for a great addition.

[Fuzzy Knight]

Nice Jona... Like the battle-scene, very very good!

[Burnt Sierra]

[quote=Fuzzy Knight]Nice Jona... Like the battle-scene, very very good! [/quote]

Indeed, the resident expert on them is our Jona. Excellent, as always. I know how you feel now by the way, seeing as Minque has nicked ( ) what I usually say these days. Cant use that, can't use :goodjob: as someone else who shall remain nameless uses that. Fuzzy uses :lickinglips2: . Running out of catchphrases here. Ach, I'll just say its great, and I'm looking forward to reading more.

[jonajosa]

“Sire, all forces are advancing upon the city. The island should be ours by nightfall. We just now await your order to slay all on the island.” A nord subordinate said to the young prince beside him. The prince wore a complete set of Nordic steel plate armor with a red cape draped around his shoulders. Gold trimming ran up the sides of his gauntlets and greaves while swirling in circles around the joints in his armor. A large claymore hung from his right hip by a bright leather belt and pure silver sheath.

The other men around the subordinate and prince suddenly stopped their conversations and moved their attention to the two. They all waited eagerly for the final order to be given so the island could be conquered. But all the prince did was stare out over the ocean towards the fighting. The other nords on the boat did the same and soon the entire ships crew was watching the battle on the mainland.

*****************
The young captain watched as the nords ran up the hill below him and screamed for his blood. He frowned as he lifted up his sword above his head, “Charge!!” He brought it back down sharply and the hundreds of chimmer behind him shouted a battle cry and started running past him down the hill towards the enemy.

They both collided with such a force that the first rows of men on both sides were quickly knocked down and trampled by the others behind them. Several chimer jumped over the men in front of them and landed within the lines of nords. Red sprays of bloods lashed out into the air all along the front as the nord axe men swung their weapons back and forth. The commander could tell that his men wouldn’t last long against the well trained Nordic axe men. He had to do something and fast before his entire force was fleeing for the city behind them. He looked around him for some ideas. The archers were firing, the spearmen were maneuvering to the felt flank to attack, and more columns of swordsmen were marching to join the center of the battle. It seemed all choices were exhausted at the moment. He turned back towards the battle and made the only choice he could think of. He drew his sword and ushered his command staff to come close.

“Draw your weapons and follow me.” He said. They looked at him in a shocked manner. Most of them had no idea even how to wield a weapon. They were but simple villagers gathered from the town to help send messages back and forth. They shifted around and drew their swords and daggers nervously and began putting on their helmets. The commander saw that they were ready and began trotting towards the front.

Sweat ran down his face as he drew closer to the mass of soldiers pushing back and forth across the hill. His grip on the sword got tighter and his walk became more quickly paced. A sense of exhilaration came over him and a rush of strength and power came over him. He found himself… wanting to fight. He raised his sword into the air and shouted encouragement to the men around him. Several men caught sight of their commander on the front with them and took encouragement from it. The nord lines started to fall back.

The commander lowered his sword and began running strait at the chimer in front of him shouting like a mad man trying to encourage other to follow. His command staff followed him in his charge and tried to user a few more men into this attack. The commander ran up behind his men fight at the front and told the back ranks to get down on their hands and knees. The looked at him like he was crazy but they obeyed. He nodded and ran back a few steps to the rest of his men.

“Lets go!” He shouted and ran forward and launching himself off one of the soldiers back and sailing through the air into the nord ranks. Others followed and soon a large hole opened up in the nord lines. The commander swung left and right cutting through the thick leather and steel armor and piercing through flesh. Several nords tried to fight him but they fell quickly to his mad swinging and slashing. He had killed about a dozen nords when the nord commander saw him killing his men. He began fighting his way towards him so he could engage this unworthy chimer.

The commander saw the nord officer coming at him and charged him. They collided together and both staggered back a few feet before regaining their balance. “Get off my island you nord scum!” The commander shouted as he swung his sword at the nords head. The nord officer blocked it easily and laughed launching his won series of blows with his huge war hammer. The commander dodged all but one when the last blow came in slamming into his chest sending him flying backwards into the dirt. He blinked hard and scrambled about looking for his sword. The blow seemed to have knocked his weapon somewhere. He got to his feet and was about to run in the direction where he thought it was when another blow from the hammer came in and struck him in the back. He fell face first into the ground on top a dead chimer.

“Not so tough now stupid Chimer?” The nord officer laughed and brought his hammer over his head preparing for a death blow. The commander rolled over quickly with the dead chimers sword in hand and stabbed the nord officer in the chest. The nord took a step forward and brought his hammer down on the chimers shoulder crushing it completely. The commander cried out in pain and let go of his own weapon and collapsed down to the bloody ground. The nord officer fell right on top of him cursing the chimer before he died.

The commander laid there for some time before dying under his foe. The battle raged on still around them.

General Galos stood and shouted orders to the men around him while I sat there on a rock watching the battle in front of me. It seemed no side had gained an advantage yet. They still fought in the same place the both had collided. Would this battle ever end? I asked myself. What can be done to save this land?

“What can we possibly do?” I said quietly not knowing Galos had heard me. He turned to his second in command and told him to take over for awhile. He then walked over to me and sat down.

“Why don’t you head back into the city and try to board a boat for Tel Branora? I don’t know what I would do if you were killed because I allowed you to stay here.” He smiled and looked at me, “Marit would have my head for that.” I smiled back but said nothing. I had decided long before the nords even came that I would stay with Marit here until the battle ended. Seeing that I was not going to leave Galos stood up and grasped my hand.

“Well there’s no sense for you to just be sitting here then huh? Come with me.” He pulled me behind him as we started walking away from his command post.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked wondering what I could possibly other than sit there.

“We, my lady, are going to the armory.” He laughed and sped up his pace. “I can’t have you just sitting around while people are dieing out there. You are going to be an archer.” He stopped and turned around, “You do know how to shoot a bow don’t you?”

When I was little I had always gone hunting in the mountains with my father for nix hound. He had taught me how to use a bow and dagger on those weekly trips. “I do know how.” However it had been some time since I had last held a bow in my hands. But I was sure I would be able to adapt quickly. As we got to the armory I saw dozens of bows and swords hanging up against the wall and it seemed that all were in fair condition too. I started walking towards the weapon rack when Galos tugged at my arm.

“We don’t get a weapon yet. First we must grab you some light armor. What would you prefer? Leather, Chitin, or some of our rare glass armor?”

The leather looked fine so I grabbed that but when I put it on it was real stiff and I could hardly move my arms in it. I shook my head. “This won’t do. No movement in it at all.” I slipped those off and grabbed the chitin armor. It looked strong and durable so I started putting some of that on. It fit fine and it hardly weighed anything at all. I was about to say this one was a go when I noticed that all the men around me had dirty steel armor on. If walked out onto the battlefield with a white suit of armor on in the middle of all those dark suits then I would be a prime target for any archer out there. So I turned to the last suit, It was green and had pieces of glass sticking out of it everywhere. It didn’t look very comfortable but when I tried it on I found out that the inside was layered with netch leather. It was soft and to my surprise the armor was very loose and easy to move in. I looked at it and saw that some of the armor under the glass was black. It seemed my problem with the last suit of armor wouldn’t be a bother with this one.

Galos looked at me and saw my expression of satisfaction with the glass armor. “Glass it is then?” He asked relieved that I had finally not found anything wrong with this suit.

I nodded. “Glass it is.”

“Now then lets go get your bow.” We walked out of the armor room and into the weapons gallery. I went strait past all the hand weapons and to the bow section. I looked around at all of them and saw that most were either chitin or bonemold. But at the far end I saw what I was looking for. A glass bow was gently laid against the wall just ready to be picked up and strung. I walked towards it and grabbed it. Just like the armor It was light and it bent very easily. Beside the bow was a pouch full of glass arrows also. It seemed my luck was going good. Now all I had to find was a-. I stopped and couldn’t believe my eyes. Right on the table beside me was a glass dagger and It also was glowing… green! Before I could reach for it Galos came up and grabbed my arm.

“Be careful when wielding this weapon Johannes. It has a poison enchantment on it. We don’t need you accidentally cutting your self with it.” I nodded and turned around slowly, grabbed the enchanted dagger and quickly stuffed it into my greaves. I acted like I didn’t care and walked towards the next table.

“I guess I’ll take this one then.” I reached for a silver dagger laying on the table. It was well balanced it shone brightly showing that it had been made recently. “Do I have all my stuff now Galos?” I asked when I had put the silver dagger in its sheath and latched it to me belt.

“I think so. Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes. Lets go.” We walked out of the building and towards the ruined village to the right of us. On the way I took out the silver dagger and threw it into some bushes. I smiled and sheathed the enchanted dagger. This one would be able to take more lives anyway.

“Take your post up in that tower right there.” Galos said pointing. The “Tower” was actually the lower half of a granary with the top half scattered around it in shatters. “From there I want you to wait until that man,” He pointed at an archer in glass armor like standing by a wall. “gives the order to fire. There should be a Nordic pike column coming down this road at any moment.”

“I’ll do fine. But what do I do when we finish up with these nords?”

“Just find that guy and follow his orders and you’ll do fine.” With that Galos trotted off back to his command post. I looked around and spotted archers hidden all over this road in buildings and behind walls. It seemed like this would be an easy ambush. I started walking towards the tower when I heard a shout from the road up ahead. I turned and readied my bow. A chimer came running over the hill with a sword in his hand and blood all over him. “RUN!!” He shouted over and over again. He passed our positions and kept going over the hill and back to the city. I ran towards my position and found another archer there waiting to fire. I crouched down beside her and pulled an arrow from my pouch.

“How soon do you think they’ll get here?” I asked her when I had finished readying my bow. She looked at me and turned back to the window.

“I’d say right about now.” She ducked below the window and pulled an arrow out of her own use. I peeked around the corner and saw about two hundred nord pike men and swords men marching down the road. I stood and ran up the stairs to the top of the tower. When I reached the top I looked down the road only to see more columns of nord soldiers marching down the road. How on Nirn did they expect us to defeat all of these nords? I never got a chance to answer that because right at that moment I heard someone from behind me shout open fire.

I stood up quickly and drew my bow back aiming at the commander to the right of the column. I let the string go and my arrow flew strait into the commanders chest killing him instantly. Dozens of other arrows smashed into the ranks of the nords and the entire first unit was on the ground dead. I crouched back down and readied another arrow. “This is going to be a long day…”

[minque]

Beautifully written, touching, oh and i liked the scene when Johannis had to choose armor for herself, just like a woman trying on different robes....it mede me really smile, I sort of saw myself in the situation


Really great Jona......


have some: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: