Libertatis Imperium (Gate)

[charclone]

Richard inspected the armour.

It was black, as dark as he could make it when he had helped forged it. Steel formed most of its composition, with a few joints and delicate pieces made from aluminium. The pauldrons had long been repaired from the wear they had been put through, though Richard still winced at finding the damage from when they had apparently taken a blow meant for his neck. It had taken him longer than he would have liked to repair the flare of the left pauldron.

The segmented fauld and tasses that protected the hip and upper legs had been largely untouched, aside from the wear and tear of movement. Scratches had been repaired, restoring the black surface. Same with the greaves and sabatons.

Richard touched a spot on the helmet.

The pointed faced armet helm had been restored, retaining the slits through which he could breath and see. Visibility was not ideal, but such was the price of medieval protection. Yet, one spot in specific attracted Richard's focus.

He was fortunate, that the design of the helmet left a gap between the armet faceplate and his head. A Saderan mace had mangled the helmet's temple. Richard had escaped a direct blow, but the kinetic energy had still transferred. His skin had healed, but he still was plagued by the fact that most of the fighting in the camp as he and the escaped slaves with him tried to fight through to the gate, under JTF2 cover, was a blur to him. He could barely remember the first frantic charge, the fighting and killing once they were past the walls, and then, just a haze after seeing the mace armed Saderan.

According to others, such as Tara, and a report from a JTF2 operator, he had led a charge into a second camp, routing the enemy forces, and slaying the enemy commander, a mage. Yet, he could remember none of it. Just a red haze.

Richard caught himself rubbing the temple that had been injured by the rent metal.

"Right. All ready to suit up?"

Richard blinked and glanced at Major Edgar Johnston. The Canadian officer grinned as he walked into the small unit being used as Richard's quarters in Alnus.

"Haven't been the one to help you suit up since we made that thing." Edgar looked over the armour on its stand. "Held up pretty good, for something we'd never made before, just for a tournament."

"I thickened it a couple times, based on what others suggested." Richard glanced at his older friend. "And then thickened it a little more after… well. Anyway, I'm already wearing the aketon."

Edgar looked at the padded jacket Richard wore, that stretched down to his thighs.

"And a Star Wars shirt underneath, I bet." He shook his head with a grin.

"Actually, I thought Star Trek would be more appropriate."

Edgar snorted.

The sabatons went on first. Richard stood still as the metal boots were fasted to his lower legs and feet, both front and back halves pulled tight. Then came the thigh armour, secured by small bolts. The gorget went on before the cuirass, sitting around his neck and on his shoulders. Then the arms. Finally, the chestplate, also known as a cuirass, when it has the tasses and fauld attached to it, went on, pinning the gorget into place, and acting as an anchor for the straps from the arms.

Richard waited as the final buckles were secured, before picking up the gauntlets and helm, intending to carry them.

"So, once more." Major Johnston said. "I'm in command, so shit goes south, listen to what I say. I don't want a repeat of you charging into a combat zone. You are a translator, but are presenting the image of a noble, you know what we are looking for, and know math, so I'll leave the market stuff to you, but military and diplomacy run by me first. We are going to stop overnight at a supply base, about halfway to Italica. If something goes wrong, there are helicopters to evac us, and a backup assault force that can beline it to the city if need be."

"The general doesn't think the bandits or Saderans are going to attack a well defended city, so it's just in case. Keep the bodyguards you have close, including Tara." Richard rolled his eyes at the look Edgar gave him. "You've got the radio in your pack, keep that on your person before we leave. Finally, don't antagonise Rory. I know you don't like her; she creeps out most people. I think the Marines like her because she looks to be about their mental age, but still, she is a serious religious figure, we do not want a riot. I think that's it. What did you do to antagonise her the first time?"

"Not sure. She made an accusation about me hiding from something, explained that as the reason she didn't like me, some sort of lie about and too myself, but that was it." Richard shrugged beneath his armour. "Now, on the topic of the 'murder loli', as I've heard the marines call her, can I ride in a separate vehicle from her? And any idea why she wants to come along?"

"Religious duties apparently. Yeah, I was going to get you, Tara, and that elf druid to ride with me in the lead Oshkosh." Edgar motioned to the door. "C'mon. Grab your stuff and sword, the others should start assembling to go in about fifteen."

 

[charclone]

"The Queen is missing!"

Tara ran, long-bladed spear in hand. The Imperials had surrounded the city with a massive army, easily three times the size of the army they had clashed against months ago.

Arrows hissed through the air, people screaming as they were impaled.

The walls burned.

Tara dashed between two buildings, the sound of Saderan soldiers brutalising the occupants assaulting her ears.

She knew this was a nightmare, that she was asleep, but it still bothered her to see it.

An iron and leather collar squeezed her throat.

Tara awoke with a start.

She crawled out of the tent.

The convoy had stopped at the supply base. It had been less that what Tara had expected, being several storage buildings, tents, and earth filled barricades.

The sun was only just peaking over the horizon.

With a sigh, Tara gave up on getting any more sleep. Instead, she headed over to where several people were preparing a meal. The idea of a kitchen being put into a covered wagon, or trailer as NATO called them, seemed odd to Tara, but they clearly worked.

She paused as she heard Richard's voice near the fire.

"… So, magic has no physical connection to the body?"

Lelei responded in her usual emotionless tone.

"Not according to the scholar and healer Regamon. His work suggested that the body was a mechanism that used blood and muscle, instead of wood cogs. He received a great deal of criticism for that comparison. Do your people agree with his theory?"

"There was a physician and scientist called… Andreas Vesalius, I believe, who dissected dead bodies, addressing the controversy surrounding the idea that the heart was connected, or stored, the human soul."

"I see."

Part of Tara was worried. She was not afraid of 'sharing', as it was sometimes called, but she understood that Richard's culture frowned on such relationships. It was a new concern for her, jealousy. The rest of her however gave that one part a look and reminded it that Richard had showed no interest in the much younger mage. He had an interest in history and science, of course he would discuss it with the prodigal mage.

"You aren't as interested in biology as you are in physics, are you?" Richard drawled.

"It has a greater relevance to my magic." Was the girl's curt reply.

Richard snorted.

"Well, as long as you don't try and experiment with E=MC2."

"'An object's energy is equal to its mass times the square of the speed of light in a vacuum'. A physicist studying the Gate discussed it with me, but I am unsure how I could apply it. The theory relies on ideas I have no understand of, in order to apply it to magic."

"Well, I suggest you consider the consequences of that energy. Last thing anyone needs is a nuke going off. I assume that there are other disciplines of magic that focus on biology and healing?"

There was something almost… longing, hopeful even, in Richard's voice.

"I believe that some forms of spirit and druidic magic cover that."

"Just going to stand around?"

Tara leapt at the unexpected voice.

Major Johnston looked at her, looked at how high she had leapt, and then back at her. He made a 'huh' sound.

Tara glared at him.

"Sleep well?"

"No." Tara growled. "Nightmare… of when I was captured."

Edgar nodded sympathetically.

"That happen often?"

"No… just…" Tara shook her head. "Happens occasionally."

"Tara, Edgar!" They both heard Richard shout. "Breakfast is about ready, come and get some."

Several other voices in the camp shouted back.

"Shut up!"

"Trying to fucking sleep!"

"Had late night watch shift, so get fucked!"

Richard smiled and shook his head.

Tara sighed and took a seat next to him.

"So, what is being cooked?" She asked.

"Breakfast burritos." Richard grinned as he took a plate from the kitchen trailer. "Eggs, beans, sausage, cheese. Yum."

 

[ATP]

Not... quite sure what you mean.

Sorry,i mean that more marines should go after local girls.And no @AmosTrask ,not rape them,but marry and have kids.

 

[charclone]

Pina had initially been ecstatic when her father named her Praetor Peregrinus, telling her before the senate to go through Italica, and make diplomatic contact with the invading army from beyond the Gate.

Her knights, the Order of the Rose, were inexperienced, barring the occasional running down of small groups bandits on their own initiative. They had been founded partly on a childish whim by Pina, though she had kept to it. She had trained alongside the children of nobility, even a handful of senator's children. It had been seen as nothing more than an honour guard, one that could lend both minor prestige to families, and to Pina.

But that had not been the initial intent.

Porphyrogenita Pina Co Lada had formed her Order of Rose Knights because of the ideals she had been raised by. Her mother had been of the nobility, the class of upper citizens who were not prestigious enough to be appointed seats on the senate, yet rich and powerful enough to be above the common citizens. It was the nobility, led by patrician commanders, that had formed the Saderan Empire, leading and protecting the common peoples to victory in war, guiding them to the culture of art and poetry in times of peace.

These stories had moulded young Pina into an individual who held virtue to a high standard.

Thus, it was so that Pina formed her order of knights, to uphold these virtues and high ideals. Ideals seen as childish among the patricians of the senate. Yet, they had permitted many of their children to join her order, under the assumption that the training, provided by retiring legionaries, and the friendships created would benefit them later in life.

The majority of the male members had been sent to the army by their families, when news of the defeat at Alnus came. Fortunately, none had so far been sent into combat, being in legions still being raised.

So it was, that Pina's knights were mostly women, supported by some old veterans past their prime, and that Pina had motivation to ensure that the war ended.

While not a military victory, that would make her knights seen as a legitimate order, it would lend credence to their position. Besides, there was the chance of seeing some combat against deserters and bandits along the way, as was the case in times of war.

Pina regretted harbouring that hope.

Now, she was trapped in Italica, forced to take a side in a succession crisis.

Worse, she had split her forces in an attempt to arrive at Italica faster. The other two sections had a pair of messengers sent to them, before the enemy could blockade the roads, but it was up to the gods if they arrived in time with the warning.

Ultimately, Pina could only pray for a miracle, and hope that Vefeater would be able to group the rest of the Order and break the siege.

Until then, Pina would need to hold out. One hundred knights, a third veterans barely still young enough to fight, the rest unbloodied, alongside a poorly trained and underequipped militia. The rest of the militia was either dead at the hands of the enemy, dead with the late Count Formal of Italica, or outside the city under the late Count's eldest daughters.

The idiots had, due to being unable to inherit the title directly under Imperial and Italican law, chosen to instead conquer the city in the name of the Empire, blatantly ignoring ancient treaties, and Pina's own presence. They had amassed a large army of mercenaries, troops from their husband's households, and co-opted militia. Pina was also certain, despite the lack of proof, that they had also enlisted the aid of the remnants of the destroyed legions, sent to crush the invaders from the Gate.

There was a bright spot.

The idiots hated each other and were not cooperating. Their assaults were disorganised, uncoordinated, and sloppy. In addition, there was fighting between the two sister's troops.

The late Count's maids may or may not have had something to do with that. Pina was quite glad that they had remained loyal to the only descendant of the Count who was acting in a sane and rational manner. Unfortunately, the eleven-year-old was hardly capable of ending things. While she could order the maids to kill her sisters, and Pina suspected that they would gladly follow such an order, the assassins trained and disguised as maids were demi-human, a fact that would make them stick out like a fire in the night, as the sisters made no use of them in their forces. There was also the issue of the sisters' households. They may have political backing further up the Empire's nobility than just their own ambitions and machinations.

"Your highness?" The young Countess Formal looked at Pina.

"Yes, Countess?" Pina plastered on a slight smile, to hide her worry. The eleven-year-old's face darkened.

"You seem… I mean, forgive my impertinence, your highness," she said, carefully enunciating the words in a formal tone. "But you seem… disturbed."

"I am only thinking, your Excellency." Pina responded in the same tones. An idea occurred to her. "Your father accepted demi-humans into his lands as labourers and serfs, did he not?"

The question was voiced and worded to the young Countess Myui Formal, but directed to the head maid, the countess' majordomo. Yet, it was the countess that answered.

"That is correct, though most are yeomen or free tenants." The countess frowned. "But why do you ask?"

"I believe, your Excellency," The head maid began. "That her highness is thinking of the beliefs that demi-humans are warrior cultures. My apologies, your highness, but these are false. While it is true that we have some among the militia, many of those are scattered across the fiefs. The remainder are here in the city, but the rest of the demi-humans have lived here for generations, and have little skill with weapons. They are much like humans, such as ourselves."

Pina nodded.

"Is there any chance of rallying those militia to join with my knights when they attempt to break the siege?"

"We sent messengers to several nearby villages, your highness." The head maid answered. "Your highness, it is late, and the enemy appears to be resting for the night. May I suggest you rest, and conserve your strength? We shall awake you should something arise worthy of your attention."

"That… yes." Pina said, with a glance at her page, Hamilton. She was nodding asleep even as Pina watched. "Should you need to wake me in an emergency, use water."

Pina quoted an old play as a joke. The head maid smiled.

"Of course, your highness."

Coaxing Hamilton out of her seat, the two of them found their quarters.

Once Pina was sure that Hamilton wouldn't simply fall asleep on the floor, she rested in her own bed. She was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

She was awake the next, early dawn light trickling in through the curtains, and water dripping down her face.

Perhaps she should watch her choice of words around the head maid.

 

[ATP]

Logical.Both sisters vanished from Gate story,here they are doing what they should try in canon.

 

[charclone]

Logical.Both sisters vanished from Gate story,here they are doing what they should try in canon.

Yup. Realised I had a golden opportunity with them to make the attack on Italica make sense, without the Empire looking like idiots, while I was trying to make them a bit more sane. Sanity of individuals not guaranteed.

 

[charclone]

"So, Elmorna," Major Johnston asked from the front of the vehicle. "Why did you and Kenwen choose to stay? Isn't your family near here?"

"No, we lived much further north, on the other side of the Dumas mountains, near the Row River, as the Saderans call it." The elf druidess shifted in her seat, partly out of embarrassment, as she answered in accented English. "There were some… issues with our love. Certain families did not agree with our union, our own didn't care… but they were allied to others, who opposed any political shakeups. We elves plan things in advance. We like things to go… smoothly."

"Part of being long lived?" The driver, a Canadian soldier that looked markedly different from Richard to Tara's eyes, asked.

"Yes."

Richard watched out the window as the two asked, watching trees and fields passed by, disinterested in the conversation.

"Hey, we got a roadblock up ahead." The driver announced. "Couple of soldiers in armour, but they are scrambling to clear it."

"Richard, your thoughts?" Johnston asked. "Tara, Elmorna, know anything about the local nobility?"

"I think that is house Formal banners." Tara said. "But I'm not sure."

"They don't look interested in stopping us, maybe local troops set up to keep bandits under control?" Richard leaned around to look at the soldiers. "Should we ask them?"

Edgar chewed his lip as the driver slowed the vehicle, radioing the rest of the convoy to follow suit.

"How confident are you that they are House Formal?"

"Fairly. It matches the description of their crest I heard." Tara frowned and rubbed the tip of one of her ears. "I can't think of any reason a bandit would try and fake being a house soldier, only to let carriages through."

"Fine. Doesn't look like they want us to stop anyway." The Major shrugged. "We head through."

The Formal soldiers watched nervously as the convoy went through. They knew that it would spell trouble for the two sisters, but that had no loyalty to them. They had been on patrol and forced to take sides while outside the city.

A runner would inform the noble ex-Formal sisters… tomorrow. It was quite walk on foot, after all, and the last person to disturb either of the sisters late in the day, according to a rumour, was whipped. None of the soldiers cared if it was true. Some had defected for money, others due to circumstance. Such rumours were common, and all feared the sisters, and the fanatical mercenaries they had hired.




"…shit. Smoke." The driver swore. "Bandit attack?"

"Looks like its coming from outside the city, on the east side." Johnston noted. "Let's find out what is going on. I don't want to be sitting outside the city when night falls."

He turned to look into the back of the vehicle.

"Richard, helmet on." A quick radio message had several soldiers out of one of the following vehicles. "Let's knock on the front door…"

Richard's armour clicked as he stepped out of the vehicle, Tara sticking near him. Beneath his helmet, he frowned, seeing Rory walk out of the vehicle she had been riding in, alongside a handful of Alnus community members.

"Your god tell you there was fighting here?" Richard joking asker her.

"Emroy did not, though he did tell me to come with you." The short demigod looked in the direction of the smoke and grinned a feral grin. Lelei edged away from her.

Richard snorted and shook his head. He was still on the fence if something like a god existed here, but something was letting Rory wield a pole-axe over twice her height with a blade that weight as much as she did, as it if was made of paper mache.

"Hello the wall!" He cried out. Silence reigned for several moments before a response came over.

"Hello, strangers!" A guard yelled back. "Are you under the employ of any of Formal's daughters?"

"We are not! We are here for trade!"

"From where do you hail?"

"Alnus!"

The sound of arguments were easily audible from the top of the wall.

"Please wait strangers, while Lady Pina is informed."

"Guess we wait?" Richard looked at Major Johnston, who nodded.

After only a few minutes, the gate was opened.

A guard, in the same colours as the soldiers they had seen earlier that day, greeted them and welcomed them in.

"Lady Pina and Countess Formal will greet you at the manor." Other guards watched them, dressed in what Richard quickly realised was ill fitting gear. Many weapons were wood axes, rather than battle axes, or pitchforks.

"They aren't professional soldiers." One of the Canadian soldiers with them commented. "Ask them what happened."

The guard winced when Richard translated the question.

"You are better of asking Lady Pina." He didn't meet Richard's gaze, and it wasn't due to the helmet.

As they walked through the city streets, they noted signs of fear among the population. Shops were shuttered, everyone had a cautious look in their eyes.

Tara leaned over to Richard and spoke in English.

"Pina was the name of an Imperial Princess. Italica is supposed to be independent, but…" She trailed off. "…but the Empire doesn't always keep to its treaties."

"Well, I guess we will find out." Richard replied.




"Presenting her Imperial Highness, Porphyrogenita Pina Co Lada, Praetor Peregrinus, Grandmaster Equites Ordo Rosa, Master Equites Cohort Rosa Rubra, Countess…"

Richard swore quietly under his breath as the Saderan Princesses' titles were listed off.

 

[ATP]

Poor girl.How many americans would ask if they could drink her?

 

[charclone]

Poor girl.How many americans would ask if they could drink her?

Probably more than a few, especially if drunk.

Funnily enough, 'Pina' is actually a believable name, as a descent from the Roman Goddess Proserpina's name, that over time was shortened, or a shortened version of Agrippina, that became an actual name.

 

[ATP]

Probably more than a few, especially if drunk.

Funnily enough, 'Pina' is actually a believable name, as a descent from the Roman Goddess Proserpina's name, that over time was shortened, or a shortened version of Agrippina, that became an actual name.

Good to knew - but it not help her,becouse average Joe would think about alcochol.
And i do not blame them,i thought about alcochol too,not Agrypina.

 

[charclone]

As young Hamilton read Pina's titles from memory, the princess herself studied these strange newcomers. The apparent leaders were a noble dressed in a plate, darker in colour than any she had seen before, and a soldier of some sort, dressed in clothing made up of squares in shades of green and black.

The noble was attended to by a strangely familiar Warrior Bunny clad in their traditional Royal Guard armour, wielding one of their long-bladed spears. In addition, there were another nine, including five elves, four with bows, there was another Warrior Bunny, with only a sword, and a pair of humans with swords and shields, dressed in what looked like modified legionary gear.

The soldier, an officer of some sort to Pina's eyes, based on the look on his face, had some thirty troops at his command, all dressed in what was apparently their people's uniform, the same green and black squares.

Most of the soldiers were back with their horseless carriages and carts, as well as some peasants.

The two other individuals of note however were alarming, in the presence of these otherworlders. A mage, with a staff from the Lindon school, and a young-looking girl with a halberd far too large for a mortal to carry. With the rumours that the Archmage Cato El Altestan had taken a student and residence in the area, it left little doubt in Pina's mind who the mage's teacher was.

The dress of the young-looking girl, combined with the halberd, made it abundantly clear that she was Rory, demigod of the War god Emroy. A good or ill portent, Pina wasn't sure.

In hindsight, Pina should have expected something like this, it was common for demigods and powerful mages to gravitate towards Alnus. Regardless of why they travelled with such company, these strangers were now trapped in a besieged city with her, her knights, and the townsfolk.

She noted that the mage was translating for the officer. Pina wondered if he even knew how powerful, or important, a student of the most powerful warmage to have ever lived was. Having allied herself with the otherworlders, the Empire was likely no longer a haven for her. No one wanted someone like Cato against them, part of the reason there were so few mages capable of more than what a siege engine could accomplish.

Pina internally winced, realising her mind was wandering. She internally winced again, when she realised Hamilton had started using childhood titles, likely in an attempt to impress the strangers with a long list of titles. She gave Hamilton a warning look.

The ghost of an amused smirk flickered across Tara's face, unseen by anyone.

"Perhaps, Page Hamilton, for the sake of brevity, and considering the circumstances, we leave out such… minor and unimportant titles." Pina failed to keep ice out of her tone. Hamilton coughed gently.

"Ah, of course, your highness, forgive me."

The officer whispered something in his own tongue to the noble, who nodded.

Pina wished he wasn't wearing the helmet; it would be much easier to read his face. As it was, the bulk of his armour made body language difficult to read.

"Speaking of the situation, your highness, the town appears to be in a state of alert. Given its urgency, perhaps it would be best if we skipped the formalities?" The noble spoke. The accent was strangely eastern yet retained the tones of upper class.

Pina's eyes flickered to the white-haired Warrior Bunny, as several pieces fell into place. She wasn't simply dressed as one of the Royal Guard, she was a surviving member of it. She had likely taught the noble how to speak Saderan, resulting in the Eastern accent. And if that was the case, then this black plate-clad noble was likely the black knight she had heard rumours of, that personally broke the camps around Alnus, opening the way for his forces, with nothing but slaves and deserters he had brought to his cause.

Pina forced herself to remain calm.

Yes, given the situation, the formalities were unnecessary. She had erred there. But just how dangerous was this political foe?

"If you would take no offence, then I agree." Pina said in measured tones. "As for the situation, we are besieged. My father sent me here in the hopes to open lines of diplomacy with your people, however, my arrival threw a tense situation into chaos. The previous count was slain, and his succession has been thrown into question. The current, legal, claimant is young. Her elder sisters, no longer under their father's house, have rallied armies and turned part of the remaining militia against us. They are camped outside the city and have made several breaching attempts."

While Pina didn't know the words used, she recognised the tone, as one of the soldiers with the Officer swore, upon hearing her translated words.

There was a brief discussion amongst the otherworlders, in their strange tongue. The Officer, after a moment, turned to face her.

"I'll see how fast reinforcements can arrive." The Officer spoke through the mage. "I'm Major Edgar Johnston."

"I am Lelei La Lalena." The mage introduced herself.

"Richard." The noble was brief, almost to the point of rudeness.

"I am Tara, of the Forest-on-the-Hill Clan." The Warrior Bunny introduced herself.

Pina revaluated her again, noting she was considered important enough to introduce herself, rather than as a subordinate.

"Well," Pina began. "Your reinforcements will be appreciated. This is Grey, an experienced soldier and one of my teachers, and this is my page, Hamilton. The rest of my officers are out drilling the militia or overseeing the defences."

Countess Myui Formal blinked, realising she was expected to introduce herself.

"Ah, I- I am Countess Formal… Countess Myui Formal." She stuttered. "A pleasure to meet you, and thank you, for being willing to defend the city."

"Our pleasure, Countess." The noble, Richard, said, with an inclination of his head at the eleven year old countess.

"My own Rose knights, the orders of the Yellow and Blue Roses, are on route. I expect them to arrive soon. If we can coordinate our allies, we may be able to crush both of the camps, and prevent either of the daughters from escaping." Pina said. "Ah, how many troops do you expect, and how will you contact them? The sisters have set up blockades on the roads."

"Ah, so that is what we ran into." The 'Major' said, still through Lelei's translations. "Well, there is an armoured regiment, roughly analogous to knights, I suppose, and some airborne units. I should have a good count in an hour or so. As for how…"

The major smiled mysteriously.

"They have strange magic boxes voices can travel through." The mage stated in a flat tone. "But I do not know what an 'armoured regiment' is."

"I see." Pina muttered. Did they have troops so close? Surely the voice-boxes couldn't travel very far, and cavalry would need to be rather close, if they wanted to still fight the same day they arrived.

"So, uh, forgive me if this is rude but… is such artwork common?"

All present looked at the black clad Richard.

Countess Myui put her face in her hands, embarrassed.

"N-no. Father had the whole palace done in this style, after he became Count."

"I take it the, ah, nude…demi-humans aren't a common feature of architecture." Richard noted. "Well, I'll go check on the convoy, and leave the strategy to you, Major."

Major Johnston snorted, knowing that Richard was blushing under his helmet. The sight of the nude and rather detailed statues, all around the palace's exterior had been what had prompted him to put it on in the first place.

"Heh, I'm a bit to old to be struggling through strategy. Mind if I join you, Sir Richard?" Grey said.

Pina silently thanked the old veteran. He had seen her issue, and was likely going to see what information he could get from the noble.

"Not at all, Grey, was it?"

"Aye, sir. So, I noticed that strange blade you carry. What is it called?"

"Flamberge Zweihander, or two-handed flamesword, due to the wavy blade."

Pina watched the two depart, followed by the other strangers. The ones dressed in green apparently chose to stay with their officer. A division of some sort, that she could exploit? Or was it simply a matter of duties?

"So, what is the situation?" The Major said, gesturing to a map that a pair of maids were in the process of laying on a table.

"The two camps are here and here, best we can tell…" Pina began to explain, hoping that their help would not hurt the Empire.

 

[Bear Ribs]

I'm moderately surprised she doesn't know what a regiment is, given the term dates to around the late 15th century so around the timeline for other side of the gate. But it's possible the Mage is the one who's not familiar with the terminology so not really a dealbreaker at all.

 

[charclone]

I'm moderately surprised she doesn't know what a regiment is, given the term dates to around the late 15th century so around the timeline for other side of the gate. But it's possible the Mage is the one who's not familiar with the terminology so not really a dealbreaker at all.

The Saderan culture dates back to Rome, with some Greek Byzantium elements coming through later and being incorporated.

Plus, due to a infinite multiverse, not all of the human cultures are from Earth.

But no, Lelei has no understanding of the word Regiment, her focus has mostly been on the scientific and practical side, besides it being a military unit. Most people today, who live on Earth, can't really give a good definition of what a regiment is.

 

[ATP]

Well,maybe sisters would be smart enough to surrender.They do not look like like Emroy fanatics.
And,we certainly do not have problems with Pina vice beating anybody.

 

[charclone]

Well,maybe sisters would be smart enough to surrender.They do not look like like Emroy fanatics.
And,we certainly do not have problems with Pina vice beating anybody.

Yeah, not going for the insanity of canon here. Part of the reason I chose to use the sisters rather than 'bandits'. Fact is, unless you had at least a 2:1 advantage, ideally a 4:1 advantage, sieges weren't really viable. Here, they have roughly a 3:1 advantage, mostly due to house troops and mercenaries, and defecting or otherwise neutral militia members.

Not sure what you mean by 'vice beating'.

 

[ATP]

Yeah, not going for the insanity of canon here. Part of the reason I chose to use the sisters rather than 'bandits'. Fact is, unless you had at least a 2:1 advantage, ideally a 4:1 advantage, sieges weren't really viable. Here, they have roughly a 3:1 advantage, mostly due to house troops and mercenaries, and defecting or otherwise neutral militia members.

Not sure what you mean by 'vice beating'.

in canon,vice commander of Pina order captured and beaten Itami,who let her go later,not even wanting fuck her/althought Pina ordered her gave herself to Itami as recompensation/
Fairy stupid,if you ask me.

P.S in canon one of maids,catgirl Persia,get japaneese husband.I hope,that you could gave her american one!

 

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in canon,vice commander of Pina order captured and beaten Itami,who let her go later,not even wanting fuck her/althought Pina ordered her gave herself to Itami as recompensation/
Fairy stupid,if you ask me.

P.S in canon one of maids,catgirl Persia,get japaneese husband.I hope,that you could gave her american one!

Ah, beating her Vice commander.

That sort of thing is... sort of accurate to Roman and medieval politics. Stupid to modern sensibilities, yes, but not to theirs. Logic being that Itami would be positively predisposed to her, thus reducing his thoughts of any sort of revenge. The more 'historically accurate' logic would be to use her seduction attempt to tie her to him, making it hard for him to angle any sort of political revenge, as she would be part of his household, more or less. Depends on the culture and time period.

Mind you, the situation where she mistreated a prisoner, that she knew was an officer, isn't likely to happen. Officers were usually nobility, who were generally well treated, in part so that they could be ransomed. One that has been beaten, well, you'd get a much smaller ransom, and they may return the favour should they capture you.

I'm not going to copy that canon stupidity, though Bozes is still going to be a... short sighted and hot headed individual.

 

[charclone]

Okay, hope this doesn't count as double posting, but there was a missing line from the chapter. I have added it back in.

 

[ATP]

Okay, hope this doesn't count as double posting, but there was a missing line from the chapter. I have added it back in.

No problem for me .And Bozes in canon ended wit affair os some japaneese officer,so here probably it would be the same.

 

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Rory left the meeting, bored.

It was clear to her that it would come down to NATO reaching the city first. Pina didn't even know where her knights were, or if they were coming. The Canadian Major more focused on keeping the denizens of Italica safe, than any sort of political gain, besides what that would give. They had been discussing placement of the NATO troops currently in the city, in case of attack.

The sound of metal on metal caught her ear.

She could tell it was sparring, based on the voices calling out pointers, but it at least seamed more interesting than wandering around the city aimlessly.

Richard, with a blunted two-handed sword, parried Tara's blows, herself using a long knife.

The Saderan soldier, Grey if Rory remembered his name correctly, complimented Richard on his use of the hilt and pommel to keep the Warrior Bunny from getting inside his reach.

The spar was taking place inside one of the militia's mustering fields.

Above, a platform meant to allow the Count to inspect his troops, or make a speech from, was being cleaned by one of the Formal maids.

To Rory's aged eye, it was clear that the maid, a Warrior Bunny herself, was using it as an excuse to watch, and glare at, Tara.

"How curious." Rory muttered, bemused.

With a crash, Tara stopped going easy on Richard, and flipped him over her shoulder, using the hilt of his sword as a lever. The young man laid on the dusty ground, laughing.

With a grunt of boredom, the demigod walked elsewhere. Richard was no fun to tease, his skin was too thick, and what few areas she could poke him in, well, Rory was not one to make fun of someone's love, even if both parties were being idiots about it.

She was tempted to give Richard and Tara a nudge. Their feelings were obvious, yet concerns about each other's cultures held them back, even if they weren't going to admit it.

"Down the street, that alley. Blood is about to be spilled… and there is someone interesting you should meet." Rory blinked in surprise, even as she followed the directions. It was extremely rare for Emroy to make such a blatant request of her. He mostly left her to her own decisions, as long as his general will was done.

The blood that would have been spilled was apparently of ill repute. The two would be muggers froze as she entered their alley. Their victim, an old and twisted form, shrouded by an old and stained cloak, a gnarled walking staff lay nearby.

"My. Aren't you bold." Rory snorted. "Mugging someone, so close to the Formal palace?"

She wrinkled her nose as one soiled themselves. Sometimes the greater abilities of being a demigod were a curse.

They took off running.

She almost set off in pursuit. It would have made a fine temporary distraction.

The twisted form carefully pulling themselves up stopped her.

"Ah, so, old Emroy sent his servant to my rescue, eh?" The old sounding creature remarked, before breaking into a body shacking cough. "Fitting given the situation, I suppose, though I serve Palapon. How often that their domains overlap."

The priest of Palapon, god of revenge, broke into another fit of coughs.

Rory offered him his staff.

"So, what is a priest of the god of revenge doing in a normally peaceful place like Italica?"

"What else? Seeking vengeance." The priest broke into another series of coughs midway through his joke. "Ah, my apologies. In truth, I am here for my own hobby. Seeking the past. An old elfs research. I stumbled across rumours of it being around here, but I have found nothing but dust and long abandoned elven settlements, buried by time."

The wizened fool sat and leaned against the alley wall.

"Palapon supports this. Apparently, the elf sought a greater revenge than him, you, or even I, but what happened is obscured, even from his vision." Another coughing fit slowed their speech. "As for what I am doing in Italica, well, there were many people outside the city, many people hurt, or murdered. Those mercenaries are brutes. Raping and pillaging the countryside. What else would I do, oh would be goddess of love, but bless people's vengeance?"

"Are you sure that cough won't cause others to seek revenge on you, should it spread?" Rory bit back. "You seem to be rather well informed."

"The cough is," The priest paused again, as a coughing fit made their form bouncing away from the wall. "Not contagious. I curse of my ill fortuned birth. As for my information, well… Palapon is a gossip. The gods are powerful, but they were all once mortal. Even Emroy and Hardy, though the whore's origins are as cloudy, and ancient, as that elf I am looking into."

"Oh? And what was Emroy?"

"What other people love war as much as he does? A Warrior Bunny. A man, rather than a woman, not that means anything." The priest paused to drink something foul smelling from a flask at his hip. "Tell me, the vengeance that Emroy gave you, it was satisfactory?"

"It is long in the past. I barely remember it."

"Heh, but he gave you a choice. The elf, well, apparently her lover had been forced to become a demigod. She sought some form of vengeance against the gods."

"You… have a love for history then?" Rory thought an idea over. "Would you be interested in meeting a… scholar from another world, who focuses on history?"

"Love? Bah. Its an obsession. My obsession, and revenge. Palapon promised me that I would live to see my revenge through, by seeking that elf's story. That is all I live for." The priest spat to the side. "Still… these otherworlders, I have heard many things about them. Might they have tools to help my quest?"

Rory shrugged.

"Maybe. Maybe they won't want to help you, they are fighting the Empire after all."

"Hah. Then a small vengeance come true either way." The priest coughed again. He adjusted his robe. "Well, I suppose if I want their help, I need to have something for them, and I can't approach looking like this. If you are willing to make the introduction at a later date, then I suppose I shall take you up on your offer. Heh, seems I will owe you twice over, oh demigod of love."

The old priest got up and limped away with his staff.

Rory shook her head.

"Old fool. What does Palapon care for an ancient elf?"




A.N. So... this is probably the only Rory centric chapter I will write. I... really don't like her. Not in the sense I hate her character, but rather, considering what the Gate author does with her... I am rather uncomfortable writing her.