☤s є c u r є ♱ чσur ♱ f u t u r є☤

[CrimsonMoon]

. fσr . тнє . єи∂ . ιѕ . иιgн .
--
! !!Abzu only!! !
--
The barbarian tribes of the North threatened the Empire's colonies. And so the reknowned general was sent to quell the oncoming doom.

The forest was silent, mist tendrils curled into the air. Centurions and soldiers and archers marched through the forest. Behind the large host, the higher up commanders rode on their fine war horses, with them was the general.

" Be alert, Be wary," one officer calls out," They're here..." His white horse bucking and fidgeting uncomfortably

[abzu]

The General sighs and runs a hand through his dark brown hair. He wasn't wearing a helmet like everyone else. Many found that to be stupid but he had fast reflexes which were tested time and time again. He was rather young to be a general but everyone respected him. They knew what he was capable of. He wore modest armor, nothing fancy and expensive. His armor was practical and strong. His black war horse, Streaker, snorted and fidgeted but the General kept him under control. His sword was scabbed at his side and his boy at his other side. He had a dagger on him and carried a shield loosely. "Have the scouts returned?" he asked one of his captains. His green eyes watching the surrounding forest.

[CrimsonMoon]

" No," the old man replies bluntly yet drily," But we should run across their bodies soon enough... Smells of death."

From further up the column, a horse suddenly screams but there is no commotion... The animals knee something they didnt...

[CrimsonMoon]

" No," the old man replies bluntly yet drily," But we should run across their bodies soon enough... Smells of death."

From further up the column, a horse suddenly screams but there is no commotion... The animals knee something they didnt...

[abzu]

The General looks around and shouts "Halt!" he pulls his horse to a stop. "Everyone ride with with weapons drawn! Be ready for anything!" he looks around warily.

[CrimsonMoon]

" They want us at the battle field by sun set," The older commander reminds him," We cannot waste time waiting for ghosts that may never come."

[abzu]

"shhh" The General answered gesturing him to be quite. He spotted movement in the forest, people running away. "Forward." he commands. "They know we are here."

[CrimsonMoon]

Several legions mved foreward to persue and the commander immediatelt roars," DO NOT FOLLOW THEM!" Before glaring at the general," We KNOW tey know we are here, do NOT stir up more commotion then there need to be!" He snaps

[abzu]

The general rolls his eyes "I never gave the command to move pursue them. I was just curious as to what they looked like." He urged his horse forward. "Just wanted to see them before we have to slaughter them." He pulls ahead of the commander.

[CrimsonMoon]

"... Want to look them i the eye as you kill them," the old man mocks... Suddenly there was a thud and an arrow protrudes from the command'er's neck

[abzu]

The general tisked "Should of listened when I said be prepared." The General sighed and shouted out a command to defend themselves, continue moving and be on the overall defensive. The General and his army would attack if the they were attacked first. "Don't attack unless attacked first! Continue moving and do not engage, leave them alone unless they start killing." He glances at the dead commander he goes back and pushes him off his horse. "also mark Commander Montegue was the first of our deaths. Somebody grab his sword and emblem and burry him. As he said "we cannot waste time" The general pulled ahead glancing into the forest with a smile.

[CrimsonMoon]

Almost immediately a figure seems to appear and an arrow slashes past his cheek... the archer disappearing quickly again

[abzu]

He chuckles "Alright boys!" he shouts galloping into the crowd of his fighters and swinging off his horse. He grabs his shield, spear and sword. "I want shield walls along our flanks and archers at the ready. Those on horse dismount, you are easy targets. I want our rear and front secured, along with out sides. Archers you see a human enemy target you shoot. Do not break ranks again or you will be flogged. Protect the supplies and press on wards." he walked letting someone lead his horse. His bow was at the ready to shoot if he saw an enemy. There was not much they could do without making a stand.

[CrimsonMoon]

From the forest, a voice suddenly starts to sig... A female voice in accented latin...
" Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!!!"

The sillhouette of the archer that had shot at him appeared but was covered by the mist

[abzu]

He quickly takes aim at the silhouette and lets an arrow fly in succession of another one. He grew up shooting and was probably a better shot than his archers. "Onwards pay no mind." He shouts. His soldiers looked around uneasily but continued forward trusting in the general and believing they were safe. This was General Theoclis any army he had ever led never lost. His name was known all over. He silently commended the hidden archer. The enemy wouldn't be able to make a full stand right now so sending hit and run archers was a good strategy.

[CrimsonMoon]

" When the Gods strike you down
When the spirits force you to awaken,
Will you leave us?!"
The feminine voice howls like a wolf
" The old ones will destroy you!
And for my warning,
SUFFER FOR YOU INVASION!!"

Her voice echoes eerily, this was scaring te soldiers... No woman would be on the battle field... A ghost... No.. An angry spirit!!0

[abzu]

The general sighs sensing his men becoming scared. "Do not fear for she is just a women. This is not the first time we have faced something out of the ordinary. The veterans must remember the fierce female archers we face on our last campaign. Or the dogs they trained to fight. The gods look down on us and favor us, let these heathens pray to their gods but we all know they will lose. Do not fear men, we will be to the battle field soon where you can drink and eat and make merry before our battle." He sighed, he knew it wasn't his best speech but he hoped it would help a little as they walked through the forest pressing forward.

[CrimsonMoon]

The woman's high pitched laughter floats around them," Pay for your crimes... With your LIFE!!" Suddenly fire exploded in front of the legion and arrows suddenly hailed down, one well aimed arrow thudding into the Generals' steed's neck

[abzu]

The General cursed "the w**** shot my horse!" he exclaimed. Luckily the damage was as minimal as a hail of arrows could be due to the discipline and training drilled into the soldiers. The shield wall came up when the first few arrows were unleashed. Making the Legion look like a giant metal caterpillar. Spears jutted out of the breaks in the shield wall. They couldn't use heavy artillery here so they just marched on, shield wall up. They feared the enemy, but they feared the General more. The Generals archers returned fire constantly while men at the front worked on putting the fire out.

[CrimsonMoon]

There was a commotion ahead of the solumn and suddenly the offensive stopepd.. The barbarians were retreating.... But a single arrow suddenly slammed into the General's thigh, burying beneath the armor and into flesh...

Then the imperial commander from the battle field appeared with his own legions, the equestrians and centurions comin out of the mist like gods..