Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Vendictacus: Seventh Circle (closed)

Heavy footsteps rattled the serenity of the forest as explosions lit up the small grove. A Ulkhamer, or Forest Golem, pounded the Earth beneath it, crunching the armor of the men who dared to linger in its grove. Muskets erupted, black smoke spewing from its barrels as balls of iron struck the Golem, tearing chunks from its intertwined root body. It roared, spewing green sludge that lathered onto the mens' bodies, and clogging the weaponry. Liam lingered in the back brush, watching the battle between nature and man unfold. Two white-steel blades hung tightly to his hips, along with two flintlocks kept in their covers resting in his vest. A fedora slung of his head, covering half of his face, covering one of his vibrant gold eyes. A cigar was in his left hand as he puffed out rings of smoke. Tossing the cigar aside he stepped on it, grinning, then ran out, ambushing the men.

Tattoos that covered Liam's body glowed as he neared the men. Having to cover two flanks, the men were spread thin. Although the Golem was much larger, it was no more deadly than the quickly advancing man that was about to overcome the men. With two quick actions Liam unsheathed one of his blades and beheaded one of the Hunters with only three strides. Dodging, ducking, and rolling, Liam grinned wildly as the blood of his foes soaked his clothing.

After a few more minutes, the battle was finished, and the Stonehart stood victorious. Stabbing his blade into the ground, he put his hands together, he chanted an unknown language. His tattoos glowed brighter and brighter, until the erupted into a flurry of green energy encircled the Golem. Quickly the roots grew themselves back and flowers of all wild colors dotted themselves on the hulking beast. "That's a good Ulkhamer." Eli traveled in a quick blur and was suddenly right next to the Golem patting its massive leg.

A stirring in the bushes alerted the two and they froze, listening. "Who's there." He spoke commandingly.

There was silence, followed by more rustling in the woods before a sharp female voice answers,"Who I am does not concern you." She keeps a low profile in the shadows of the woods. "The question is, Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Liam ears perked when he heard the female voice. At her own question, he bellowed and doubled over in laughter. "You, don't, know who I am?" Retrieving his blade from the Earth, his wild-eyed smile fled over his face as if possessed by some kind of supernatural force. "I am but a mere soul wallowing in the sea life. Fighting formidable foes that dare to question my, nature's, authority." Swinging the blade loosely, but concisely, he began to approach the source of the noise. "I will ask you again," his crimson soaked leather boots padded against the ground as he stepped over the mass of mutilated hunters, "who," he gripped his sword with intent to kill, "are", he hesitated before wiping his blade clean with the silk of his vest, "you."

The girl stepped out of the shadows revealing herself. Whatever emotions she was feeling was unreadable by her face as she kept her distance from Liam. "The names Liz," she answered, crossing her arms, "My full name does not concern you."

"Liam!" Eli held a stone gaze as he eyed his blood-festering foe. Glancing at the men that's entrails splattered against the cold dirt of the grove. "You tainted your own territory." Picking up one of the Hunter's helmets, Eli's gaze turned from cold, to furious. "You slaughtered my men!" Reaching up and past his shoulder, the crimson knight wrapped his steely fingers around the grip of his black-steel sword. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."

Liz watched the two men in disbelief as she gripped her small blade tighter. She dared not move but waited hastily for Liam's reply.

"Well well," he spat to the side grinning at the girl seductively, "what do we have here? A girl with a little fire." Liam twirled the blade in his hand until it was held shifted in his grip to a dagger-like position. "You know," with a few quick strides, he moved like lightning, standing behind the girl, "I'd love to see your pretty head," he spat on her foot, "on a pike." Before Liam could do anything more, he heard an all-to-familiar voice. The Blood King. Whirling around, he rushed at him without a word hopping in the air and striking down on him.

Eli awaited patiently, he expected this type of behavior for a clinically insane, 'Defender of the Forest'. He always heard different stories about the, 'Golden Eyed Fanatic', or, 'Defender of the Red River', but he never thought he would be like this. Wild eyed and sloppy. Quickly he unsheathed his Greatsword, and parry against the hot, white blade. Stumbling backwards, he cursed beneath his breathe. "Stronger than I thought." His attention was averted to the girl, nodding his head over to one of the men's muskets. He mouthed the word, 'Shoot', to her in hopes she'd understand.

She knew what she had to do. With breif hesitation she reached for one of the fallen men's muskets and grasped it tightly in her hands. The two men continued to struggle as she pointed it twords the one that had once threatened her. She took a deep breath before thinking, 1-2-3 and pulling the trigger.

Liam had seen the word Eli had muttered. His instincts went sharp and his movements turned snake-like and fluid. Mid-sweep, and stepped backwards watching the iron mass go shooting past him and lodge itself into the crimson knight's bulky armor. Muscles and tendons shortened and lengthened visibly as Liam ducked and swung his leg toward the temple of his foe. The wild look was masked by calm, stern eyes. Which was, in turn, more frightening.

Being struck by the iron ball sent Eli stumbling backward. Trying to avoid Liam's kick, he just wasn't quick enough, it hit the knight in the jaw. In quick retaliation he swung his great sword upward clipping the chin of his opponent. His left shoulder ached in pain by the impact of the shot. 'My armor is weighing me down.' With that thought in mind, he tore the bulk of his armor off revealing the light chain mail and mesh he wore. Looking at the girl again he swore beneath his breathe. "Get on my horse and run! Find my men!"

Liz hadn't expected this. When Liam doged the bullet she couldn't help but feel that it would not have happened if she was just a little quicker, but she didn't have time for these thoughts as she hopped onto Eli's horse at his command. Liz began to ride rapidly twords the direction at which she believed Eli's men were, if her instincts were wrong it would be failure not only for her but for the boy also. The one that was depending so fluently on a girl he knew nothing about. Luckily for him, she wasn't just some girl.

Liam swung, scathing the chain mail of Eli. Out of frustration, he continued to swing, with more ferocity at each burst. "Just die already!" After taking off the bulk of his armor, Eli was able to move much faster. The duo just couldn't hit each other no matter how hard the other tried. No matter what tactic. But Liam was just waiting for an opening. Just waiting.

A group of footmen tredded on the loose gravel path, the Captain, with the insignia of a bloody Eagle, stepped forward from the group to meet the stranger traveling with intent. "Halt." He commanded, unsheathing his guilded sword. "Who goes there?" The rest of the footmen were equipped with halberds and long swords. All the men took defensive positions behind their Captain. The Order of the Crimson Kings weren't taken lightly too. They were a brutal force that took what they wanted, when they wanted it, and they did it harshly.