Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 2151246" data-attributes="member: 99">Marcus could see the column of Legionnaires stretching out behind the banners that were in the vanguard.  There were doubtlessly Imperial Scouts scattered out in front of the Legions but they were not as easily visible as the mass of men that stretched over the next hilltop in front of them.  Still, something looked…odd about the Emorian soldiers.  It was impossible to tell what it was from this distance but the way they moved and the colors worn were just a bit off.Rhys slowed the Carpet and Marcus asked him to descend.  They landed behind a copse of trees and climbed off the magical conveyance, stretching their legs from the hours they’d spent in the air, hunched together on the small rug.  Scar stepped to the edge of the trees and, no evil altars being handy, relieved himself on an unsuspecting shrub.The Elf addressed the Human, “So it looked like maybe a couple of thousand men down there.  What if they decide that they don’t like us?”Marcus unstrapped the Shield from his back and affixed it to his arm where it glittered in the sunlight, impossibly unblemished from hard fighting.  “I’m going to appeal to Brother Lucius’s sense of honor and duty as a long serving devotee to St. Cuthbert.  I know that you’ve had some bad experiences with him in the past but he is a man dedicated to the Law and I believe that he will relent when he sees the injustice of his actions.”Rhys cocked an eyebrow, “Yeah…but what about when that doesn’t work?”Marcus gave the irreverent Elf a sidelong glance that was impressive in its ability to convey that, while he did not appreciate the lack of faith, Marcus too shared some doubts about whether Capito would halt his march on the tribes of the Fodor.Rhys, who was no slouch in the sidelong glance department, appreciated the effort.  He nodded, “I’ll keep the Carpet handy.”With the Elf’s reservations stated, the Human’s Shield strapped on and the Half-Orc’s bladder empty, there seemed little else to do but stroll down the hill and confront the army of thousands that awaited them.They paused just inside the far edge of the copse to look at the oncoming troops.  The column was moving very quickly given the lack of roads.  And it appeared that the troops were spread out across a wider rank than was standard.  Marcus figured that this was to keep from muddying the ground so badly for the troops behind.At the head of the column, right next to the Imperial Crest and the Legionary Insignia was the banner depicting the Cross of St. Cuthbert.  Marcus swore inwardly that if Capito had been corrupted by Bane that he would not carry that banner another step into the Northlands.  He strode forth out of the trees to cover the last few hundred paces to the vanguard.  Rhys and Scar followed a few steps behind, tense and ready for danger.Hands went up from those on horseback at the head of the column and the troops behind halted.  This process continued back along the line of troops as the column contracted like a spring.Marcus could see as he drew closer that those at the head of the column held their pila and wore their gladii at their belts.  But they wore no armor.  And they looked tired from their march.Lucius Capito was wearing his armor and as he broke from the vanguard to ride over and meet Marcus, his hand held the Mace.  It held a certain radiance similar to the Shield but every angle on it spoke of its purpose:  To smite.“Hail, Brother,” called Marcus though his voice held little brotherly love.“Hail, Brother,” Capito said in return.  He reined his horse in some dozen paces from Marcus.  Close enough to hear him speak but not without speaking loudly.Marcus decided that he would rather have Capito react to his words than the other way around, “Brother Lucius, as we speak a great Evil walks the earth to the north.  It is the reborn brother of Bane.  His name is Bale and he is destruction incarnate.Even now, he moves south toward the valiant peoples of the Fodor Valley.  They intend to oppose him and they do not need the Imperial Legions seizing their homelands as they provide a bulwark between Bale and the lands of the Empire.In the name of Justice, I ask that you order these Legions to cease their march upon these proud people and return to their fortifications on the shores of the Crescent Sea.  And if you would do the will of our Lord then come with me and stand against Bale.”  Marcus braced himself for the Inquisitor’s response.“Your words strike hard upon my faith, Brother Marcus.  I will not ask these men to return to their fortress in the south.  Look upon their faces.  They are tired and hungry and footsore.  They have come far, fast and it shall not be for nothing.  Our destiny lies here, in the Fodor Valley.But we do not come as conquerors as your words rudely suggest.  You forget that I too serve as a Hand of our Lord.  I am guided by him and it was he who showed me that I must take those men who would follow me and march north.We have come to fight alongside the warriors of the Fodor, not against them.  We come to fight Bale.”</blockquote>

Verification