Flowers of War (In Character Thread) (1 Viewer)

[SecretIdentity]

((Discussion Thread: Flowers of War (Discussion Thread)))

The Imperial Capital of Amarath was a splendid sight to behold, it's buildings stretching for miles in all directions.

Thatched roof houses, commonly with timber support structures and cob building material, were packed together near the outskirts of the city and held much of the poor and working class. Although dirty and crowded, the living conditions here were still better than what many small and poor kingdoms outside of the Empire could afford. Agriculture, the arts, sewer systems, and various medieval technology was at the peak within these city walls, allowing those closer to the center to live in great luxury. Various smaller walls and cobblestone roads crisscrossed the city, extending out through it's gates to the cities beyond.

Center City, the part of the capital holding the Holy Palace, was surrounded by a circular wall. Within this wall was like a second city able to hold it's own even if the rest of Amarath should fall around them. The palace was constructed out of marble and beautiful stained glass but was also heavily reinforced, retaining elegance and practicality. It had many large spires arching up towards the sky having a height dwarfing the rest of the buildings. Few outside of the capital would have seen anything like it before or since.

It was this majestic palace that a group of individuals were lurking towards within the shadows that torchlight didn't reach. They would not be intimidated. They had their sights set on the Empress held within the walls, wishing to end her life for the sake of the world. Luckily for them, the heavily armed and armored elite guards patrolling the grounds had not yet noticed their presence and the way was clear leading up to a secret back entryway given to them by a spy working as one of the many maids needing to upkeep the palace rooms.

A group of women patrolling in red and dark grey armor suddenly appeared along the path. They weren't of the standard royal guard. They didn't appear to be as experienced either.

"I swear, I thought I saw something," one of them, a girl with brown hair tied into a ponytail, said while looking around, her eyes straining in the dark. Two women with torches advanced forward to try and get a better look.

 

[Mentos]

Leila was perched at the top of a tree. Concealed by both nightfall and the tree's branches, she was practically invisible. For five years now she had been working with the Boatmen, a group of highly trained assassins for hire. Her work had helped to make her a number of enemies, but most never lived very long. Today though, her target was not the usual petty merchant or government official. It was the Empress herself. Leila was selected for this job because her proficiency among the Boatmen was the highest. However, at the moment that did nothing to put her at ease. She knew just how difficult things were about to get.

Staring down the tree, she noticed three imperial soldiers patrolling the path. There was not much cover along the road she planned to take. If she wanted to advance. She'd have to deal with the soldiers.

Standing up on the tree, Leila whispered to no one in particular, "Guess I'll get started..."

Two of the soldiers moved forward, ahead of their comrade in the back. Separated, Leila now had a perfect opportunity. In one fluid motion, Leila jumped off the tree and landed on the lone patrolwoman's shoulders. The woman, now bending forward, had Leila's lithe legs wrapped tightly around her neck. The imperial felt the briefest moment of panic but could not scream before Leila violently twisted, breaking the woman's neck and completely rotating it around. Leila jumped off the woman's shoulders before her corpse even hit the ground.

The other two soldiers were now quite a distance ahead. Leila could easily take care of them. She'd be working alone tonight.

 

[Jade1503]

Jade and Shi He looked up from their hiding spots, their comrades behind them. They were only six of them but were the best and experienced soldiers Xir had to offer: requested by Qour Olong himself. Jade was a daughter of one the greatest general of the empire while Shi He was a commoner who worked up through his ranks. These two were perfect to lead the commando unit.

The plan was simple. They were to cooperate with the other resistance faction from the other countries, get their way into the Capital City of Amarath and assassinate the Empress. For too long the Empires of Amarath and Xir had been locked in a deadly stalemate for too long. Now was the opportunity to end the conflict.

They waited for a moonless night before infiltrating Amarath, meeting no resistance. Now they spotted two Imperial soldiers on their patrol, looking wary and inexperience.

'Take them out.' Shi He ordered quiet.

Nodding, Jade hefted her spear and with deadly accuracy, thrust it into one of the guards-woman's mouth. The guard's eyes were opened in shock, blood gushing out from her mouth and the hole behind her neck. Taken by surprise, the other guard-woman jumped back but before she could screamed or pulled out her sword, one of the Xir soldier plunged her sword into her belly. The guard-woman gurgled on her own blood before falling silent.

Shi He stepped out and nodded, sheathing his sword back into his scabbard. 'Good. Hide the bodies.'

The four Xir soldiers nodded and dragged the two corpses to where nobody can find them. Jade strapped her spear onto her back and approached Shi He.

'Where are we suppose to meet the other Rebel Faction?' she asked.

Shi He gestured towards the palace. 'I'm sure they're waiting in the palace already. We better get going.'

'Right.' Jade nodded and gestured to her fellow soldiers.

Soon, they fell into formation and made their way towards the palace.

 

[MayaLazarus]

Maya was carefully treading the shadows of the area. She wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed attention but instead found a rather slight enjoyment from isolation. She was watching events unfold as she witnessed several guards already being killed by few people who seemed to have the same goal in mind. She figured they would all end up crossing paths eventually when it was time so she progressed along while keeping herself hidden unlike the other few who were already taking the route of killing. She prefered not wasting energy on anything but an actual target or obstacle. Those guards weren't worth it and she felt bad for the poor guards considering how their lives ended but she went on without a second thought.

 

[puca]

"The Goddess embrace you."

Altheira rose from her kneeling position by the two Imperials she'd slain, grabbing the handle of her flail as she stood. She gave it a hard tug, pulling its spiked head free from one of the guard's skulls with a wet sucking sound. She spared a quick glance downwards at the bloody crater where the woman's upper face used to be as she waved her squires forward. The two girls - a blonde, her hair in a high ponytail, and a brunette with a spiky bob - nodded and each took hold of a corpse's shoulders, dragging them off to be hidden.

Altheira turned suddenly, flail and shield at the ready as she spied several people making their way towards her position, but she soon relaxed when it was clear they were no Imperial guards.

She grinned. "The Goddess smiles on us. Looks like our allies are arriving."

 

[thesteedman]

"I fear there is no Goddess at work here..."

Yuri whispered, approaching the noble knight Altheira from her side.

"... tonight belongs to death."

The Kuniochi explained. It was a particularly dark night tonight, carrying a chill in the wind that could shake the weak of heart. It was as if the very earth itself was aware of a dark plan against the Empress, and thus cast a dark shadow near as black as pitch over the world, kept at bay only by the torchlight of the city they infiltrated. If the very earth had support for the Empress then its faith in her was gravely misplaced. Tonight, her life would be tested, and Yuri, last of the Shadow Clan would make sure she was there to see the final blade but through the soft and delicate throat of the Empress.

The ninja left Altheira to her Goddess and prayers, moving with impressive speed and a frightening amount of silence. The rest of the group had dispatched the remaining guard patrol or at least had them handled. Used to the company of her clan, Yuri was not acustomed to so much noise during a stealth approach. These new found allies did not have the trainined she had... yet what they lacked in careful step, they made up for in percision and sheer strength. Yes they made noise... but it was minute all things considered, and each member had professionally avoided detection and cause for alarm from nearby guards. Yuri accepted they were not Kuniochi like she, stealth was not the best quality of many of them, but their training made this approach less disastrous then the Kuniochi feared. Perhaps there was a chance for success after all, given the impossible nature of their task.

Yuri kept to the shadows, she let the more brutish members take the front. Given her ability to remain all but invisible in the shadows, Yuri would provide back up. She could throw daggers at the unseen enemy, prevent alarms from being raised should a guard who had not been seen witness their approach in the captial. Should they approach any obstacles, her gift of the flower would prove to be very resourceful. Yuri did not have to reveal that to her allies yet however. If she could help it, Yuri wanted to keep her abilities concealed. Though these people were her allies today, tomorrow they could be her enemy. Such was the unknown fate of this world and its politics.

 

[Jade1503]

Shi He, Jade and their four companions managed to sneak into the castle gates and entered the podium. As they entered, they saw two guards lying in the pool of their own blood. Standing before them was a knight in white armour and blonde hair, armed with flail and shield.

Knowing this knight as Altheira, the Xir soldiers bowed respectfully.

'Greeting Lady Altheira. We're honoured in your presence. I'm Commander Shi He of Xir and standing next to me is Jade. Qour Olong sent us to aid the rebellion against the empire.'

Jade nodded, studying the knight before her.

 

[puca]

Altheira was startled by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the kunoichi. Neither subterfuge nor stealth were her strong suits and she distrusted both, though she understood the need in this particular situation. She masked her surprise as she scanned the Xir contingent, her eyes locking briefly with Jade's and sweeping over the spearwoman's balanced poise and muscular physique.

Altheira inclined her head towards the Xir commander, a confident smile spreading. "Of course. We'll crush these Imperials together Commander." She smirked. "Let them come. They won't stand a chance against us."

She turned back towards the palace. Her squires returned, having hidden the bodies, and formed up behind her. "Let's go. The Empress has been in power long enough," she said, stepping forward.

 

[Jade1503]

Shi He nodded. 'As you wish. Lead on.'

Shi He and Jade joined Altheira as they led their following deeper into the palace. Jade kept glancing at the knight, already admiring her short brown hair. The way she walked no doubt told the spearwoman that the knight's armour was hiding a slim but muscular body. Whether by her training or by the blessing of her goddess Jade doesn't know but it be nice to have a spar with her.

Jade continued her musing until they reached the main gate, leading to the inner palace. The Xir soldiers pushed the door opened, allowing them into the palace. The empress was not far away.

 

[SecretIdentity]

Not many more patrols interfered with the group, and none of them were the elite guards that normally patrolled the palace grounds. The cautious and shy young woman followed the group of rebels, not doing much at the moment besides pondering this and other things. She had curly shoulder length brown hair and light skin. She was short, standing in at only five feet three inches tall. All in all this twenty year old was rather unassuming looking. Little would someone know from looking at her that she was actually supper strong in quick bursts, having ingested a maea. She also had a magical power, although she hadn’t gotten a chance to use it much.

Could this be a trap? But this was still their best chance to eliminate the queen without a long, drawn out war. Wasn’t it a good thing that they managed to avoid any strenuous fights until now? And they had assembled a powerful team. Perhaps they could do this after all! She had to think more positively, even if that wasn’t her strong suit. Not wanting to get left behind, she quickened her pace.

**********

A red headed imperial, Litty, had a large grin on her face as she did a stretch routine, bending over to nimbly touch her toes. She then bent backwards, arching her hands over her head while letting out a satisfied groan as her muscles relaxed. A slender silver colored sword hung at her waist.

“So…I finally get a chance to kick rebel butt?” She questioned a heavily armored and caped woman who was standing impatiently in front of her.

“Yes. Your new team of diviners will be key in eliminating them once and for all,” the armored woman, General Latra, explained. “My women will keep these infiltrators pinned down within the palace while you deliver the final blow.”

Why hadn’t Litty just properly listened to instructions the first time so she wouldn’t have to babysit her and explain the plan all over again? These diviners sure managed to get away with a whole lot. Had the girl been under Latra’s personal command she would have whipped her into shape ages ago.

“Okie dokie,” Litty replied, casually strolling past her before pausing. “Oh wait, are they here right now?”

Latra barely managed to refrain from facepalming. “Yes.”

“Ah. Got it.”

**********

As the rebels advanced into the room past the entryway, elite soldiers suddenly poured out of doorways on either side of them and those patrolling the grounds outside began to rush to fill the gap behind them in order to cut off their escape. Lightly armored ones were the first onto the scene to at least stall them before the more heavily armored women could get into position. The diviners themselves wouldn’t be long now.

 

[Jade1503]

Shi He, Jade, Altheira and their comrades were taken by surprise as they were surrounded by Elite soldiers, no way out. They were armed with sword and shield, closing the gaps.

Shi He cursed and pulled out his sword. 'Damn it! We're discovered! Defend yourself!'

The other Xir soldiers pulled their weapons and gave their battle-cry as they charged into the walls of shield. Jade growled and kicked the shield, throwing the soldiers hiding behind them off their feet. Jade slammed the end of Dragon Tail into a soldier's temple before impaling another. She pulled out her spear as the two Elite soldiers fell to the ground, blood spilling all over.

'Come at me Imperial bitches! Jade the Dragon shall face you!'

 

[Mentos]

Leila followed in the back as the rebels moved forward into the palace. Originally she had assumed she'd be working alone, but the addition of the rebels complicated things a bit. Thankfully, these people seemed stronger than average and shouldn't get in her way too much, but if worse came to worse they would serve as an excellent distraction while she slew the Empress.

They had made their way past the entrance when the ambush happened. With seemingly dozens of elite soldiers charging in, Leila suddenly found herself fortunate for hew new allies.

"Shit, if I can just slip my way through, they won't know what's coming."

As the soldiers and rebels began battling, Leila focused on three lightly armored footwomen who were closing in on her. Leila reached at the belt on her waist to reveal a bola. With expert precision and speed, she flung it at the middle soldier. The bola wrapped tightly around her throat and the woman fell to her knees, eyes bulging and desperately gasping for air trying to unravel the cord. The soldier's comrades immediately lost focus and tried helping the strangled woman, but Leila gave them no peace, charging with her daggers drawn.

One of the soldiers tried clumsily blocking Leila's onslaught with her shield, however could not keep up with the flurry. Leila slashed at her artery and the woman fell to the ground, clutching her wrist in agony.

The next soldier ceased trying to help her doomed friend and instead slashed at the Assassin. Leila expertly dodged the soldier's strikes before spinning into the woman and grabbing on to her chest. At this angle the soldier could not use her sword effectively. Leila then jabbed her dagger repeatedly into the soldier's kidney. The woman's agonized screams turned into garbled whimpers as she fell to the ground in a bloody heap.

Leila turned around to survey her work. The strangled woman was now laying still, her hands clawing frozenly at her throat and a puddle of urine slowly expanding beneath her. The second soldier was also in her final death throes, convulsing and frothing at the mouth from the quick acting poison on Leila's daggers.

More soldiers began to make their way into the room and Leila began to have a sinking feeling that this mission would not succeed.

 

[puca]

"Crossbows! Fire at will!" Altheira called out.

"Yes my lady!" the brunette squire replied. The blonde nodded in assent as they pulled out their crossbows and took aim at the oncoming horde.

Altheira turned to the nearest opponents - a trio of soldiers with short swords and shields, charging at her. She lowered her centre of gravity and met their charge head-on, slamming into the first woman shield-first, counting on her superior balance and the added bulk of her armor to win out. The soldier let out a breathless gasp of surprise as she was flung back.

Altheira turned and brought her flail around in a wide arc at the next soldier in line. The flail's head swung around the woman's shield, crunching into her shield arm. The shield dropped and Altheira whipped her flail over and around into the soldier's skull. The guard's head snapped to the side with an audible crack, her eyes and mouth wide, and her twitching corpse fell to the side bonelessly.

The third imperial soldier lunged forward with a low thrust but Altheira skipped to the side and slammed the edge of her shield into the woman's outstretched arm. She lost her grip on her sword then lost several teeth as Altheira kicked her with a metal-encased foot. The guard rolled away limply then lay still .

"Down already? Hmph," Altheira said, turning back to the first guard. But she was motionless in a pool of blood, a crossbow bolt protuding from her back.

Altheira swung back towards her squires. The brunette fired a bolt into an Imperial's chest, puncturing through her light armor, and the woman pitched backwards, grabbing futilely at the bolt, blood leaking from her mouth. The blonde had drawn her shield and mace and was engaged with a heavily-armored soldier.

Swinging her flail above her head, building momentum, Altheira lunged towards the armored imperial. Distracted, she never knew what hit her as Altheira's flail smashed into her skull from above, fracturing her neck bones and driving her head straight down into her torso. The soldier's arms flailed upwards as she was driven to her knees. The squire kicked the body onto its back contemptuously.

Altheira looked up. The Xir soldiers were holding for now, spearheaded by the warrior Jade while a new red-headed woman darted through the Imperial flanks, slashing away with twin daggers. Imperial troops continued to pour into the room, but they were falling quickly and Altheira still felt confident she could punch her way through the chaff and to the Empress.

"Is this the best you've got?" she called out, as she squared off towards the next clump of Imperials.

 

[MayaLazarus]

Maya looked around at the chaos going on. She knew she wouldn't be the strongest in this situation. She would have to slip out of the main fray and into the side lines. "Wonderful... Another mindless battle being waged." Gripping her dagger, she swiftly sliced a few guards down out of her way as she cut through the crowd. She found a spot a decent ways from the coming onslaught going on nearby as she prepped her bow. She began picking off guard after guard while keeping the attention off of her by shooting from different directions. She figured that the the two groups of soliders clashing against each other wouldn't end very well and simply awaited the elites that she figured would only show up afterthe main course of the battle had run it's way through. "This isn't gonna be an easy one... They must have known we were coming. They likely have some kind of plan to win."

 

[thesteedman]

Yuri frowned. Somehow the Imperial forces had known they were coming. But how? The Rebel assassins that had been formed to take on the Empress had infiltrated with near flawless perfection. No alarms had been sounded prior to this sudden ambush, patrols had been dispatched and hidden to avoid suspicion, there was no reason the Imperial forces should have been aware of their presence, not without the rebels knowing at the very least.

It was a trap, it had to be. Yuri's brow furrowed further with discontent. Suspicion became high. Yuri had been betrayed once by the Empress herself, and now she had reason to believe there was a mole within the ranks of those that wanted the woman dead. This force was waiting for them. Though they were being largely dispatched, Yuri suspected this was merely part of the trap. Building confidence, luring them deeper into the trap.

As such, Yuri remained hidden in the shadows, not letting her presence be known. The last of the Shadow Clan would be the groups trump card if need be. For now, her allies were handling the situation with relative ease. They had yet to require her assistance and thus, Yuri saw no reason to reveal herself just yet. The young warrior remained high, surveying the battle. Watching as ranks of Imperial soldiers splashed against the solid wall of Altheira's stoic defensive line, as would be warriors were decimated by sheer force of brutality and her flailing mace.

Leila made short work of those Imperial soldiers who found themselves isolated, as she took out several with deft precision, whilst Jade the Dragon held the ranks, taking out soldiers as if it were childsplay.

All whilst the more Elite of the soldiers stood back... and watched. No doubt taking note of how their enemies fought, getting what intel they needed before they would enter the fray themselves. Yuri knew the Empress had to have been notified of their presence by now... that is if she was not already aware all along. This mission was already critical... and retreat was slowly becoming a viable option given this discovery.

Yuri would not abandon her allies however... unless they did something foolish. For now she waited... if she was needed, she would appear.

 

[Jade1503]

Jade roared and as she skewered more of the Imperial soldiers, she and Altheira holding the lines. Despite their battle prowess, there were too many of the enemy and their elite soldiers. Sooner or later, they will be overwhelmed by sheer number. Their mission has failed.

Shi He and the other Xir soldiers were fighting too, desperate to hold the line. Shi He cut down an imperial soldier before shouting. 'There're too many of them! We've failed! We must retreat!'

Jade thrust her spear through another Imperial soldier's chest before turning to face momentarily. Retreat? But they were so close! Then she saw her other comrades and nodded. There no point if all her comrades died at a failed assassination attempt. Jade roared and clashed into another group of soldiers, making a way out for the rebels. 'Follow me!'

The Xir soldiers slowly retreated and Shi He turned to Altheira. 'Lady Altheira! We must retreat!'

 

[puca]

"No way! We're so close!" Altheira shouted at Shi He in dismay. She grunted as an Imperial sword clanged off her back, before she spun and whipped her flail into the soldier's midsection, sending her flying away with a wail. A scream drew Altheira's attention and she turned to see one of her squires stumble back, bleeding from a gash in her side. "My lady!" the squire cried.

Altheira let righteous rage fill her as she drew upon her Maea. Her eyes flickered with golden embers as stark golden flames ignited on her hand and flew along the length of her flail. She ran towards her squires, whirling the weapon above her head, a blazing star in orbit.

"Hyahhhhh!" she yelled, slamming the flail into the ground.

A shockwave of golden fire erupted around the impact, knocking nearby Imperials off their feet but passing safely around the squires. Altheira rushed forward and grabbed the injured girl, yanking her to her feet and shoving her towards the gap Jade had created. "Go! I'll be right behind you!"

The girl gave Altheira a quick nod and ran towards the clump of Xir soldiers. The other squire followed, crossbow raised, close behind. Altheira went next, the flames flickering away from her flail into golden embers. A blast of that size was taxing, and if this truly was a trap, she would need to preserve her strength for what was to come.

 

[Jade1503]

Jade held the line as Shi He led the Xir Soldiers and Altheira's squires to freedom. She plunged her spear into the mid-section if an imperial soldier, spilling blood everywhere. Jade kicked the body from her spear and turned to Altheira. She knew that the Maea was a powerful force but there was limit to it. Moreover, the enemies will sure have Maea users coming.

'Lady Altheira! We must go! Now!'

 

[puca]

Altheira gritted her teeth. The accursed empress was within their grasp! Each of the diviners in their group could have handled dozens of Imperials, she was sure of it! She fended off an over-eager soldier, deflecting a spear thrust to the side, then smashed the unfortunate woman into the ground.

But as Altheira looked around, she couldn't help but notice that the Imperial guards kept coming, growing in numbers and in quality, pouring in from seemingly every doorway. Now, even she had to admit that they could not hope to defeat so many.

She nodded curtly to Jade as she finally turned away and began retreating from the horde.

 

[Jade1503]

Jade waited for Altheira as she fought off the closing in Imperial soldier. Jade kicked one in the stomach, sending her crashing into three more while she deflected a blow from another: thrusting her spear in the face. Altheira was gone and Jade was about to follow her until a big form came out from the Imperial ranks.

She was taller and muscular than Jade with long blonde hair reaching her waist and blue eyes. Her muscular pale body was only covered in leather clothing that barely cover her at all On her shoulders was a blunt behemoth sword, almost bigger than her.

(Puca, do you want to come in as Fenria?)