Longer post than usual, I know. But an epic battle for the power of Arquenia ain't a normal day event.
Part LXIII: Stab in the Back
Date: Yippah 16th, 114 A.U.
Rider loped down the corridor, ears attentive to the sounds of battle raging up ahead. He readied his gun as he rounded to the corner, thinking he was ready to see whoever was fighting up ahead. He wasn’t.
Before him, Reynyagn and Jaigran were fighting. Reynyagn—who was supposed to be dead if the orcs were to be trusted—which they weren’t—but that was besides the point. Jaigran—the Emperor of Arquenia—fighting there and well within his grasp. Rider pointed his gun, having prepared himself years before for the day when he would be able to end the life of a tyrant. And, with Jaigran in his sights, Rider fired.
Number 994 batted the chain lightning away with a flick of his hand, sending another current to send off the lightning of the attackers before striking with his own. They were nearly all gone by this point. Just a couple more and he’d be able to make his move.
Beside him, Orglan grunted as he absorbed the brute force of an attack before sending out with his own, a curious wave of lightning that crackled and leapt around the sides of the walls before zooming in on its targets. Screaming in pain, the orcs fell. Number 994 looked around to make sure they were gone, and then stepped closer to Orglan.
“Nice work!” Number 994 said. “We’ve got ‘em.”
“Aye,” Orglan said. “Now to figure out where Reynyagn and Monty got.”
“Aye,” Number 994 said, sending an electric shock into the back of Orglan’s head at the most vulnerable pressure point. “But not for the reasons that you might suggest.”
Orglan collapsed, rolling to look back up at Number 994 as his lips moved. “Why-”
“Because I’m Number 994, an Imperial orc,” Number 994 said. “And I am going to protect the rightful Emperor of Arquenia.”
“I… I knew-“ Orglan began as a spasm rolled through his body.
“You know nothing,” Number 994 spat. “Rest in peace, traitor.” A thread of lightning moved from his fingers to Orglan’s forehead. And then Orglan was still. Number 994 looked up, and then quickly took a couple steps away from Orglan’s body. If any of his “allies” asked, the other orcs had killed Orglan. Number 994 looked around a bit before quickly moving forward. The life of the Emperor was in danger. And, if he had to, he would do nearly anything he could to preserve the life of the Emperor.
“It appears that you haven’t lost your touch,” Emperor Jaigran snapped as he blocked Reynyagn’s swinging attack with his spear, shooting out a beam of lightning from his gauntlet to temporarily askew Reynyagn’s vision. Bringing his spear around, Jaigran thrust it at Reynyagn’s abdomen. Reynyagn bent around, swinging himself down to the ground and rolling up back on his feet to block Jaigran’s next attack.
“If I only had my corsha rezquiert as well, you would be all but beat,” Reynyagn snapped. He blocked a few more attacks before trying to press again to make some of his own. “Unfortunately, your goons took it from me when they kidnapped me last month.”
“Ah, so the great Sla’ad is powerless without his whip, is he?” Jaigran asked. “And here I thought you didn’t like our slaves in the labor camps while you’re all around here complaining that you don’t have your battle whip, though you might frame it in more professional-sounding names like rezquierts.”
“Don’t try to twist the facts,” Reynyagn snapped. “I’m not falling for them.”
“And I’m not falling for yours,” Jaigran said, narrowing his eyes. He leapt up, moving faster than Reynyagn brought possible as he brought down his spear.
Suddenly, the sound of a gun blared, and Jaigran whirled around, moving his spear as if reflexively to stop the bullet in its path, incinerating it instantly as it touched the hot corsha end of the spear. Reynyagn looked to see Rider moving forward, and then swung his sword up to attack Jaigran.
Jaigran quickly blocked, moving around as he sent a barrage of lightning toward Rider. Rider flung himself to the side, letting the lightning passed as he dropped to his knees. Rider yelled something that Reynyagn couldn’t understand and then fired several more gun shots, which Jaigran easily blocked.
“I don’t know how he can shoot lightning!” Reynyagn yelled as he battled Jaigran. “But he can!” Rider drew his corsha sword as he moved forward, trying to use it to deflect some of the lightning. Reynyagn quickly nodded. Together with Rider, they should be able to hem Jaigran in. There was only so much one could do when he was outnumbered two to one.
Jaigran swore and flicked his palm while blocking with his other hand. A stream of fire poured out, but Rider was ready. Throwing himself away from the flame and forward, he rolled past the wall of flame that Jaigran had attempted to make and brought up his sword to attack the Emperor.
Moving fast, Jaigran flew to the side of their attacks, blocking with his spear as he shot lightning out at Rider. Rider ducked and blocked with his sword as Jaigran swung at Reynyagn, using his body to try and force him into a corner. Reynyagn evaded him.
“Cortna’s sister?!” Zarien asked, bewildered. “But, but-”
“We’re twins,” Sereth said. “And, well, just trust me on this. You don’t want to meet Cortna.”
“She’s still alive?!”
“She might as well be dead,” Sereth snapped, still feeling a bit awkward after Zarien’s reaction when he thought she was Cortna. “Now listen—if you’re going to go kill the Emperor, you’re going to have to go now.”
“But-“ Zarien began.
“She isn’t here,” Sereth lied. “Now go!”
Zarien paused, and then ran out the door, the brown-cloaked man following him. Sereth bit her lip and then rushed back to the chamber, hoping and praying that Cortna was not among the dead. She had just met an elf who loved her sister, the Emperor was being attacked, and her sister might be dead. What else could frazzle her?
Number 994 crept softly up to the battle and edged around the wall, paying close attention to the burning flames that almost formed a solid wall between him and the fighting, the flames that were on either side, closing in the battle and slowly lessening the playing field between Rider, Reynyagn, and the Emperor. So Rider was still alive… But it mattered not. Not in the long run—as long as he kept them from killing the Emperor.
The Emperor was moving at speeds above the natural abilities of an elf, constantly blocking and using his lightning powers and weaving through the battle to try and overcome the two-on-one weakness. Number 994 didn’t know how Jaigran could use lightning. But he also didn’t care. All that mattered was that now it would be two-on-two. Except he had the element of surprise. Number 994 narrowed his eyes on Rider. The Sla’ad would resist the lightning. That meant he had one go to take out Rider before he was discovered. The elf would die.
Jaigran moved his spear from side to side to block the attacks as every alarm bell in his head gone off. Because of his walls of flame, he had cut off all possible exits. And now the two “Xavier Team” members had him cornered—one on either side. He had to get out of there. Jaigran brought up his spear, moving it to block each of the attacks as he moved back against the wall. They attacked again and Jaigran moved to the center, moving his wings below him as he already began to duck, Reynyagn and Rider swinging at him.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for Jaigran. The two swords, swinging above his head. His hands moving as they thrust the spear up toward Rider’s unprotected chest. Rider already moving to avoid the spear. The splash of lightning, as, from some other source, an attack hit Rider dead on, stunning him. The look on Reynyagn’s face as he tried to figure out who had just paralyzed his friend. And the upwards motion as Jaigran thrust the corsha spear into Rider’s chest.
Rider fell back, his head thrown back as blood gushed out of his wound. Jaigran was already moving to block Reynyagn’s attack, but he had already lossed it. From out of the corner of his eye, Jaigran saw Reynyagn’s sword fall. He felt it as it began with a scratch on his shoulder—a scratch which widened and deepened as Reynyagn slashed him across his body. As excruciating pain filled his senses, Jaigran flew back, flying through the wall of flames as he tried to remember where the room with the window was.
He hit the ground, brushing past the Imperial orc as his gaze flashed across his chest and at the blood. IT was too deep. The blood was too much. He couldn’t survive. Jaigran tore past the door into the room and threw himself out the window as the rest of his body fainted. Jaigran gripped the corsha spears hard as darkness descended upon him. Was this how it was to all end? The mists of darkness slowly closing in? Jaigran’s wings beat upward as the darkness descended. And he knew no more.
Question of the Day:The reponsres won't be graded for pts (if you have a comment, it'll still be 2 pts), but I'm interested to hear your feedback. What do you think of all that's been going on in the Citadel?
Part LXIII: Stab in the Back
Date: Yippah 16th, 114 A.U.
Rider loped down the corridor, ears attentive to the sounds of battle raging up ahead. He readied his gun as he rounded to the corner, thinking he was ready to see whoever was fighting up ahead. He wasn’t.
Before him, Reynyagn and Jaigran were fighting. Reynyagn—who was supposed to be dead if the orcs were to be trusted—which they weren’t—but that was besides the point. Jaigran—the Emperor of Arquenia—fighting there and well within his grasp. Rider pointed his gun, having prepared himself years before for the day when he would be able to end the life of a tyrant. And, with Jaigran in his sights, Rider fired.
Number 994 batted the chain lightning away with a flick of his hand, sending another current to send off the lightning of the attackers before striking with his own. They were nearly all gone by this point. Just a couple more and he’d be able to make his move.
Beside him, Orglan grunted as he absorbed the brute force of an attack before sending out with his own, a curious wave of lightning that crackled and leapt around the sides of the walls before zooming in on its targets. Screaming in pain, the orcs fell. Number 994 looked around to make sure they were gone, and then stepped closer to Orglan.
“Nice work!” Number 994 said. “We’ve got ‘em.”
“Aye,” Orglan said. “Now to figure out where Reynyagn and Monty got.”
“Aye,” Number 994 said, sending an electric shock into the back of Orglan’s head at the most vulnerable pressure point. “But not for the reasons that you might suggest.”
Orglan collapsed, rolling to look back up at Number 994 as his lips moved. “Why-”
“Because I’m Number 994, an Imperial orc,” Number 994 said. “And I am going to protect the rightful Emperor of Arquenia.”
“I… I knew-“ Orglan began as a spasm rolled through his body.
“You know nothing,” Number 994 spat. “Rest in peace, traitor.” A thread of lightning moved from his fingers to Orglan’s forehead. And then Orglan was still. Number 994 looked up, and then quickly took a couple steps away from Orglan’s body. If any of his “allies” asked, the other orcs had killed Orglan. Number 994 looked around a bit before quickly moving forward. The life of the Emperor was in danger. And, if he had to, he would do nearly anything he could to preserve the life of the Emperor.
“It appears that you haven’t lost your touch,” Emperor Jaigran snapped as he blocked Reynyagn’s swinging attack with his spear, shooting out a beam of lightning from his gauntlet to temporarily askew Reynyagn’s vision. Bringing his spear around, Jaigran thrust it at Reynyagn’s abdomen. Reynyagn bent around, swinging himself down to the ground and rolling up back on his feet to block Jaigran’s next attack.
“If I only had my corsha rezquiert as well, you would be all but beat,” Reynyagn snapped. He blocked a few more attacks before trying to press again to make some of his own. “Unfortunately, your goons took it from me when they kidnapped me last month.”
“Ah, so the great Sla’ad is powerless without his whip, is he?” Jaigran asked. “And here I thought you didn’t like our slaves in the labor camps while you’re all around here complaining that you don’t have your battle whip, though you might frame it in more professional-sounding names like rezquierts.”
“Don’t try to twist the facts,” Reynyagn snapped. “I’m not falling for them.”
“And I’m not falling for yours,” Jaigran said, narrowing his eyes. He leapt up, moving faster than Reynyagn brought possible as he brought down his spear.
Suddenly, the sound of a gun blared, and Jaigran whirled around, moving his spear as if reflexively to stop the bullet in its path, incinerating it instantly as it touched the hot corsha end of the spear. Reynyagn looked to see Rider moving forward, and then swung his sword up to attack Jaigran.
Jaigran quickly blocked, moving around as he sent a barrage of lightning toward Rider. Rider flung himself to the side, letting the lightning passed as he dropped to his knees. Rider yelled something that Reynyagn couldn’t understand and then fired several more gun shots, which Jaigran easily blocked.
“I don’t know how he can shoot lightning!” Reynyagn yelled as he battled Jaigran. “But he can!” Rider drew his corsha sword as he moved forward, trying to use it to deflect some of the lightning. Reynyagn quickly nodded. Together with Rider, they should be able to hem Jaigran in. There was only so much one could do when he was outnumbered two to one.
Jaigran swore and flicked his palm while blocking with his other hand. A stream of fire poured out, but Rider was ready. Throwing himself away from the flame and forward, he rolled past the wall of flame that Jaigran had attempted to make and brought up his sword to attack the Emperor.
Moving fast, Jaigran flew to the side of their attacks, blocking with his spear as he shot lightning out at Rider. Rider ducked and blocked with his sword as Jaigran swung at Reynyagn, using his body to try and force him into a corner. Reynyagn evaded him.
“Cortna’s sister?!” Zarien asked, bewildered. “But, but-”
“We’re twins,” Sereth said. “And, well, just trust me on this. You don’t want to meet Cortna.”
“She’s still alive?!”
“She might as well be dead,” Sereth snapped, still feeling a bit awkward after Zarien’s reaction when he thought she was Cortna. “Now listen—if you’re going to go kill the Emperor, you’re going to have to go now.”
“But-“ Zarien began.
“She isn’t here,” Sereth lied. “Now go!”
Zarien paused, and then ran out the door, the brown-cloaked man following him. Sereth bit her lip and then rushed back to the chamber, hoping and praying that Cortna was not among the dead. She had just met an elf who loved her sister, the Emperor was being attacked, and her sister might be dead. What else could frazzle her?
Number 994 crept softly up to the battle and edged around the wall, paying close attention to the burning flames that almost formed a solid wall between him and the fighting, the flames that were on either side, closing in the battle and slowly lessening the playing field between Rider, Reynyagn, and the Emperor. So Rider was still alive… But it mattered not. Not in the long run—as long as he kept them from killing the Emperor.
The Emperor was moving at speeds above the natural abilities of an elf, constantly blocking and using his lightning powers and weaving through the battle to try and overcome the two-on-one weakness. Number 994 didn’t know how Jaigran could use lightning. But he also didn’t care. All that mattered was that now it would be two-on-two. Except he had the element of surprise. Number 994 narrowed his eyes on Rider. The Sla’ad would resist the lightning. That meant he had one go to take out Rider before he was discovered. The elf would die.
Jaigran moved his spear from side to side to block the attacks as every alarm bell in his head gone off. Because of his walls of flame, he had cut off all possible exits. And now the two “Xavier Team” members had him cornered—one on either side. He had to get out of there. Jaigran brought up his spear, moving it to block each of the attacks as he moved back against the wall. They attacked again and Jaigran moved to the center, moving his wings below him as he already began to duck, Reynyagn and Rider swinging at him.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for Jaigran. The two swords, swinging above his head. His hands moving as they thrust the spear up toward Rider’s unprotected chest. Rider already moving to avoid the spear. The splash of lightning, as, from some other source, an attack hit Rider dead on, stunning him. The look on Reynyagn’s face as he tried to figure out who had just paralyzed his friend. And the upwards motion as Jaigran thrust the corsha spear into Rider’s chest.
Rider fell back, his head thrown back as blood gushed out of his wound. Jaigran was already moving to block Reynyagn’s attack, but he had already lossed it. From out of the corner of his eye, Jaigran saw Reynyagn’s sword fall. He felt it as it began with a scratch on his shoulder—a scratch which widened and deepened as Reynyagn slashed him across his body. As excruciating pain filled his senses, Jaigran flew back, flying through the wall of flames as he tried to remember where the room with the window was.
He hit the ground, brushing past the Imperial orc as his gaze flashed across his chest and at the blood. IT was too deep. The blood was too much. He couldn’t survive. Jaigran tore past the door into the room and threw himself out the window as the rest of his body fainted. Jaigran gripped the corsha spears hard as darkness descended upon him. Was this how it was to all end? The mists of darkness slowly closing in? Jaigran’s wings beat upward as the darkness descended. And he knew no more.
Question of the Day:The reponsres won't be graded for pts (if you have a comment, it'll still be 2 pts), but I'm interested to hear your feedback. What do you think of all that's been going on in the Citadel?
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