Ignis watched as those around him recouped from the battle, as more and more of the prisoners joined their cause, and as some otherworldly allies turned to the resistance, with nowhere else to go. A hint of a smile crept across his face, for the first time in months Ignis was beginning to have faith in their cause.
Gather up your things... we move, if you don't want to fight or cannot continue on, find your own way. Ignis said to the group as he picked through the corpses, searching for the knives he expended during the fight.
Over the next several days, the group travelled back towards the encampment of Thull. Ragged tents and wagons greeted them, no permanent structures stood within the confines of the makeshift wooden walls. Everything here was designed for mobility, the ability to pack up and move at a moments notice valued far more than durability. The guards greeted them warmly, casting wary glances at the angels and demons that accompanied them. They travelled to the centre of the camp, taking a day to rest and recoup themselves from their exertions. The group lay and wait for their next assignment, and it came quicker than expected.
"Whuh... what?" was all Ignis could blurt out as he was shaken awake by a guard. A man clad in crimson robes entered the tent, dismissing the guards as he entered.
Ignis, men.. we've gotten word from one of the outlying posts that an advance scout has located them. They sent out runners to catch him, but he lost them in the woods, only two of the four returning to tell the tale of their encounter. It appears that the demons are mustering an offensive on our encampment, they will be hitting the camp I just mentioned in mere days time. You've been there before, it's the old mountain tavern, Jay they used to call it, half a days travel from here. You all have had rest, I'll expect you to depart within the hour. This camp will be relocating as well, as we speak we are packing up to flee westward. Delay the attackers and meet up with us with any survivors you should find."
Ignis grumbled as he crawled out of bed and buckled on his leather armor and cloak. He stood impatiently at the opening of the tent, waiting for the others to prepare.
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Quote from "Sixen" »
"One in every 10 million people can potentially have a headache from this pill." God forbid she is the 0.000000001% of having a headache.
As Ignis watched the last of the demons fall to their mighty onslaught, he bellowed a cry of victory, thanking whatever was left of heaven for their victory. He could not take time to relish their victory, for he knew the demons would come to check on their caravan if any of the demons managed to escape.
"Alright, humans and goatmen, you're hereby free. Come with us back to our encampment, we'll give you safe haven. Angels, you're free to do as you please, we do not expect anything from you, though know that we are fighting the hells and your assistance would be more than welcome. Demons, I don't know what it was you did to be imprisoned, but it's a safe bet to assume you're against the hells. I'll give you the same offer I gave to the angels." With that, Ignis addressed everything that needed addressing, and hoped they would get some able bodied fighters to join their resistance movement.
"Don't spend too much time here, the demons will no doubt be coming to check on their caravan. We leave within the hour, check for any survivors and get any equipment you need."
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Quote from "Sixen" »
"One in every 10 million people can potentially have a headache from this pill." God forbid she is the 0.000000001% of having a headache.
The minutes since their ambush could be described as nothing but chaos. Demons poured from the trees, prisoners joined the fight, and an Angel materialized to help them in their fight. As if the last remants of Heaven heard their plea, he appeared in a burst of light. Ignis knew he was not of the prisoners, no, this one has clean, polished steel armor. He shook one of the prisoners awake, which surprised even Ignis. Man must be important in the grand scheme of things, either that or he's the luckiest man I've ever known, Ignis thought to himself, wondering why the angel had singled out this man to assist.
His question would remain unanswered, as he was shaken back into action by screams for help, and of screams of pain. All around him the corpses piled up, both friend and foe fell in droves. Many prisoners had fallen already, the weak and malnourished having either served as fodder, or ran off into the bush. Some even tried to make a run for the houses before being overrun by the demonic beasts of burden, apparently they even knew how to fight.
As if in response, he felt a thunderous vibration on the ground, and leaped aside just as a pair of ebony horns carved the air where he once stood. The beast reared backwards, and stomped back down facing Ignis. It resembled a bull from some twisted nightmare, standing taller than Ignis and possessing more spikes than the chain he held in his hands. It charged again, horns down. Ignis lept aside once more, looping his chain around the beasts neck and pulling himself up onto its back. The spikes on his chain dug into the creatures throat, splattering blackened blood across the cobblestones. The beast screamed in pain, violently throwing Ignis off its back with a sudden jerk of its hind quarters. The chain did not give way, rending and tearing as the spikes loosed themselves from the creatures neck. It howled once more, charging but falling dead mere inches from Ignis.
Relieved he was not to die this day, Ignis set himself on helping the remaining prisoners. He heard a man screaming from the prisoners wagon, apparently his men had not freed them all of their bonds in time. He cursed their impotence, and rushed to the wagon.
Someone! Anyone! Help me out of my chains!
"Looks like somebody got to you before me, grab your equipment and fight if you can, or flee if you cannot. Ignis hoped the man would assist them, truly they needed all the survivors they could muster. Times were rough, but with demons eating others, angels wielding blessed swords, their bestial brethren aiding them, and their own human allies fighting alongside them, it seemed to Ignis the battle today would be won.
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Quote from "Sixen" »
"One in every 10 million people can potentially have a headache from this pill." God forbid she is the 0.000000001% of having a headache.
"Twelve guards... four on each end... two on each side... a lookout... possibly scouts in the woods, watch your backs." Ignis said to the 10 warriors grouped at the base of the tree he was in. They grunted and nodded in acknowledgment, before taking up positions along the dilapidated road. Ignis vaulted down from his vantage point, and jerked his chain loose from the greenish bark. He brought his spyglass back up to his eye, examining the prisoners in the ever nearing caravan.
"Mostly humans and Khazra, a Lacuni even.. though there are several demons, and an angel or two in the cages as well. They must be rounding up rebels and remnants of Heaven as well." Ignis said to Cang, his lifelong friend and comrade.
"Indeed, we are going to need to cause a distraction in order for us to free the captives. Perhaps some of you warriors could serve such a purpose." he replied, motioning to several of the nearby warriors. They nodded, and took bottles of a yellow liquid from their packs, and wrapped their arrows in cloth. Ignis knew what they had planned, and pointed out the three warriors to the rest of the group. They nodded silently, noting the coming distraction.
Ignis cursed his stomach for growling, he was not about to be given away by his growing hunger. He looked in his pack, and withdrew a slice of bread, downing it in seconds. He had barely eaten in the three days it took them to outstrip the caravan, the game was growing scarce and the cropland even more so. He plucked a strawberry from the ground below, popping it in his mouth and savoring the flavor it added to the bread. He plucked another from the shrub, and tossed it to Cang. He said nothing, merely offering a nonchalant glance. If they were to die, at least they would have a final meal.
Ignis could suddenly hear the sounds of the caravan, it was growing even closer. The bones that adorned the cages clattered, and the imp serving as a lookout chittered endlessly, tormenting the slaves in between glances at the woods. The guards stood taller than most of the men he accompanied, save Brent, the resident axe man. He shot a glance towards him, and pointed at the guards. Brent nodded, knowing he would have to go toe to toe with at least one of them. The guards fiddled with their thick armor, obviously bored from the trek through the countryside. Mere meters away, Ignis saw several bottles fly from the woods, and shatter on the road in front of the caravan. The guards immediately raised their heads in the air, noses sniffing for the scent of what threw the bottles. As if in response, several burning arrows shot from the woods, and set the ground aflame beneath the guards.
They were surprised, but hardly hurt. They stepped out of the fire just as the ambush party rushed up to greet them, Brent immediately taking one in the face with his axe. Ignis grinned, and whipped his chain around the legs of the nearest demon, bringing him to the ground with a sickening crack as his head hit the cobblestone pathway. Ignis curb stomped him for good measure, his steel boots grinding into the fiends skull. He saw Cang battling a demon as well, gaining the upper hand before dispating him. He looked to the nearby hill, and saw the archers rush down, firing arrows as they ran, taking the demon nearest the cage. They threw it open, yelling for the slaves to take arms if they could.
6 new demons burst from the bushes, obviously advance scouts who failed to spot their ambush. Ignis whipped his chain out towards one of them, the spikes burying deep into the flesh of its shoulder. The demon howled, and threw his axe at Ignis. He yanked the chain backwards, pulling him off balance before jerking his arm downwards, loosing the dagger in his sleeve and sending it straight into the creatures spine.
"OUR BACKS, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE WOODS!" Ignis yelled, and steeled himself for the oncoming onslaught.
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Quote from "Sixen" »
"One in every 10 million people can potentially have a headache from this pill." God forbid she is the 0.000000001% of having a headache.
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Gather up your things... we move, if you don't want to fight or cannot continue on, find your own way. Ignis said to the group as he picked through the corpses, searching for the knives he expended during the fight.
Over the next several days, the group travelled back towards the encampment of Thull. Ragged tents and wagons greeted them, no permanent structures stood within the confines of the makeshift wooden walls. Everything here was designed for mobility, the ability to pack up and move at a moments notice valued far more than durability. The guards greeted them warmly, casting wary glances at the angels and demons that accompanied them. They travelled to the centre of the camp, taking a day to rest and recoup themselves from their exertions. The group lay and wait for their next assignment, and it came quicker than expected.
"Whuh... what?" was all Ignis could blurt out as he was shaken awake by a guard. A man clad in crimson robes entered the tent, dismissing the guards as he entered.
Ignis, men.. we've gotten word from one of the outlying posts that an advance scout has located them. They sent out runners to catch him, but he lost them in the woods, only two of the four returning to tell the tale of their encounter. It appears that the demons are mustering an offensive on our encampment, they will be hitting the camp I just mentioned in mere days time. You've been there before, it's the old mountain tavern, Jay they used to call it, half a days travel from here. You all have had rest, I'll expect you to depart within the hour. This camp will be relocating as well, as we speak we are packing up to flee westward. Delay the attackers and meet up with us with any survivors you should find."
Ignis grumbled as he crawled out of bed and buckled on his leather armor and cloak. He stood impatiently at the opening of the tent, waiting for the others to prepare.
"Alright, humans and goatmen, you're hereby free. Come with us back to our encampment, we'll give you safe haven. Angels, you're free to do as you please, we do not expect anything from you, though know that we are fighting the hells and your assistance would be more than welcome. Demons, I don't know what it was you did to be imprisoned, but it's a safe bet to assume you're against the hells. I'll give you the same offer I gave to the angels." With that, Ignis addressed everything that needed addressing, and hoped they would get some able bodied fighters to join their resistance movement.
"Don't spend too much time here, the demons will no doubt be coming to check on their caravan. We leave within the hour, check for any survivors and get any equipment you need."
His question would remain unanswered, as he was shaken back into action by screams for help, and of screams of pain. All around him the corpses piled up, both friend and foe fell in droves. Many prisoners had fallen already, the weak and malnourished having either served as fodder, or ran off into the bush. Some even tried to make a run for the houses before being overrun by the demonic beasts of burden, apparently they even knew how to fight.
As if in response, he felt a thunderous vibration on the ground, and leaped aside just as a pair of ebony horns carved the air where he once stood. The beast reared backwards, and stomped back down facing Ignis. It resembled a bull from some twisted nightmare, standing taller than Ignis and possessing more spikes than the chain he held in his hands. It charged again, horns down. Ignis lept aside once more, looping his chain around the beasts neck and pulling himself up onto its back. The spikes on his chain dug into the creatures throat, splattering blackened blood across the cobblestones. The beast screamed in pain, violently throwing Ignis off its back with a sudden jerk of its hind quarters. The chain did not give way, rending and tearing as the spikes loosed themselves from the creatures neck. It howled once more, charging but falling dead mere inches from Ignis.
Relieved he was not to die this day, Ignis set himself on helping the remaining prisoners. He heard a man screaming from the prisoners wagon, apparently his men had not freed them all of their bonds in time. He cursed their impotence, and rushed to the wagon.
Someone! Anyone! Help me out of my chains!
"Looks like somebody got to you before me, grab your equipment and fight if you can, or flee if you cannot. Ignis hoped the man would assist them, truly they needed all the survivors they could muster. Times were rough, but with demons eating others, angels wielding blessed swords, their bestial brethren aiding them, and their own human allies fighting alongside them, it seemed to Ignis the battle today would be won.
"Mostly humans and Khazra, a Lacuni even.. though there are several demons, and an angel or two in the cages as well. They must be rounding up rebels and remnants of Heaven as well." Ignis said to Cang, his lifelong friend and comrade.
"Indeed, we are going to need to cause a distraction in order for us to free the captives. Perhaps some of you warriors could serve such a purpose." he replied, motioning to several of the nearby warriors. They nodded, and took bottles of a yellow liquid from their packs, and wrapped their arrows in cloth. Ignis knew what they had planned, and pointed out the three warriors to the rest of the group. They nodded silently, noting the coming distraction.
Ignis cursed his stomach for growling, he was not about to be given away by his growing hunger. He looked in his pack, and withdrew a slice of bread, downing it in seconds. He had barely eaten in the three days it took them to outstrip the caravan, the game was growing scarce and the cropland even more so. He plucked a strawberry from the ground below, popping it in his mouth and savoring the flavor it added to the bread. He plucked another from the shrub, and tossed it to Cang. He said nothing, merely offering a nonchalant glance. If they were to die, at least they would have a final meal.
Ignis could suddenly hear the sounds of the caravan, it was growing even closer. The bones that adorned the cages clattered, and the imp serving as a lookout chittered endlessly, tormenting the slaves in between glances at the woods. The guards stood taller than most of the men he accompanied, save Brent, the resident axe man. He shot a glance towards him, and pointed at the guards. Brent nodded, knowing he would have to go toe to toe with at least one of them. The guards fiddled with their thick armor, obviously bored from the trek through the countryside. Mere meters away, Ignis saw several bottles fly from the woods, and shatter on the road in front of the caravan. The guards immediately raised their heads in the air, noses sniffing for the scent of what threw the bottles. As if in response, several burning arrows shot from the woods, and set the ground aflame beneath the guards.
They were surprised, but hardly hurt. They stepped out of the fire just as the ambush party rushed up to greet them, Brent immediately taking one in the face with his axe. Ignis grinned, and whipped his chain around the legs of the nearest demon, bringing him to the ground with a sickening crack as his head hit the cobblestone pathway. Ignis curb stomped him for good measure, his steel boots grinding into the fiends skull. He saw Cang battling a demon as well, gaining the upper hand before dispating him. He looked to the nearby hill, and saw the archers rush down, firing arrows as they ran, taking the demon nearest the cage. They threw it open, yelling for the slaves to take arms if they could.
6 new demons burst from the bushes, obviously advance scouts who failed to spot their ambush. Ignis whipped his chain out towards one of them, the spikes burying deep into the flesh of its shoulder. The demon howled, and threw his axe at Ignis. He yanked the chain backwards, pulling him off balance before jerking his arm downwards, loosing the dagger in his sleeve and sending it straight into the creatures spine.
"OUR BACKS, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE WOODS!" Ignis yelled, and steeled himself for the oncoming onslaught.