For a moment, the two women looked at each other... Sofia's face flushed - was it alcohol, or something else? The feeling she had as she looked towards her destination... it was... yes, it was like that time. 1367 - Spain The battlefield was chaotic. The English Prince made a mistake, and during the last retreat, they managed to counter-attack. They tore into the enemy's camp, and were on their best way to route the islanders back across the sea... but... Renka stopped. Yes, there was an immortal in their camp. She looked around before she finally found who she was looking for. He held the line, fighting numerous opponents at the same time. Then he looked at her - as if feeling the tension, the soldiers made a place for the two of them. The man removed his helmet. "I am ser Cuthbert Lestrange." he introduced himself, as he saluted with his bastard sword.
It had been a difficult battle. Even being basically invulnerable didn’t change the fact the she was only one with a few thousand enemy soldiers left to deal with and didn’t have the ability to be everywhere at once. Even as it was, it would be a bad idea to get reckless or too confident about her invincibility and let her technique start to slack. Part of her duty however, was as long and as bloody as the battle was, to hold fast and stand tall as a chosen knight. “Hold fast, men! Whatever they can do, we can do worse!”
Seeing Sofia's reaction to a simple gaze, Reka leans forward, planting her mouth on her companion's. Reka stared at the man from atop her horse while she waited for her squad to give them room. Another challenger. Another of these "noble" knights. She didn't need to remove a helm. They never felt comfortable enough to wear in battle. Her scarred visage and fury intimidated most men enough to make up for it anyway. "Reka Katona." She didn't bow or salute in kind-- never in the midst of combat. She held her trusted langseax down beside her chainmailed leg, not putting up a guard just yet to avoid giving her intentions away. With a wide grin, she charged the knight, seeking to slice through his sword arm.
The French crashed against the shield wall made by the English - it quickly dissolved and changed into a melee. It was chaotic. It was not a battle - it was free for all. Thea clashed with one man after the other, until she was pushed to the ground. A man raised his sword, ready to strike her down- Swish! And then... he collapsed on the ground, his head rolling away. Over her, stood one of the eastern mercenaries on the side of english - a woman.
Spoiler: Bout 1 Reak +14 + 62- success Cuthbert +1 + 28 - fail Reka's win Reak Health 5 Cuthbert Health 4 The man was a young immortal - she could see it with a glance. The wide position he made as he prepared for strike, and the swing he took - she easily moved below his sword, her blade slicing his armour. Spoiler: Bout 2 Reak +14 +5 - fail Cuthbert +1 + 4 - fail Draw Reak Health 5 Cuthbert Health 4 Reka moved behind the man, but he managed to block her attack. He was not fast as her, but did manage to parry her strikes. Spoiler: Bout 3 Reak +14 +88 - success Cuthbert +1 +84 - success Reka > Cuthbert Reka's win Reak Health 5 Cuthbert Health 3 The boy attacked with a thrust - that was a good attack - but she was better. She ducked under his swing and quickly stepped behind him. Before he knew it, her sword cut the back of his knees, making him fall. Spoiler: Bout 4 Reak +14 +29 - fail Cuthbert +1 +6 - fail Reak Health 5 Cuthbert Health 3 He rolled forward, and quickly got up and turned around, swinging his sword widely. Reka easily parried the wild strikes, pushing the man... boy, back. Spoiler: Bout 5 Reak +14 +8 - fail Cuthbert +1 +94 - success Cuthbert's win Reak Health 4 Cuthbert Health 3 He lunged forward, surprising Reka - he used his advantage in hight, pushing Reka back - one strike at the time.
[A system like this seem fine for PvP combat too. Less freedom, but it's probably better than trying to resolve each individual action/attack.] Through gritted teeth, Reka shouts "You aren't bad, kid! You got the instincts but not the skill to use them!" Loosing a wordless scream, she redoubles the offensive. Show him what a real thrust looks like! She lunges into Cuthbert, aiming her langseax's needlepoint tip at his torso, more than willing to take a blow to the back to drive her sword through his chest.
[Start with the basic PvP system and make it work - then try developing something more complicated ] Spoiler: Bout 6 Reak +14 +64 Cuthbert +1 +50 Reka's win Reak Health 4 Cuthbert Health 2 Reka thrust forward, making young knight, step back and slap the blade away, only for Reka to aim it at his breast again, forcing Lestrange to back even more. Spoiler: Bout 7 Reak +14 +85 Cuthbert +1 +35 Reka's win Reak Health 4 Cuthbert Health 1 He suddenly stopped and pushed forward, aiming his sword to pierce her - Reka easily spun around, and track the back of the islander's head, making him stumble forward. Spoiler: Bout 8 Reak +14 +42 Cuthbert +1 +79 Cuthbert's win Reak Health 3 Cuthbert Health 1 As Reka stepped behind him, she had to take a step back as he swung his sword widely. She felt hot blood dripping from the cut left on her cheek Spoiler: Bout 9 Reak +14 +6 Cuthbert +1 +6 Draw Reak Health 3 Cuthbert Health 1 Reka made a step to the right, then left fainting, before moving forward - Cuthbert was ready - swords clashed in a fast exchange. Before two combatants paused - their swords grinding against each other as they took a step back. Swish! Reka spun her sword, raising it to the level of her head, in parallel to the ground. Spoiler: Bout 10 Reak +14 +77 Cuthbert +1 +77 Reka's win Reak Health 3 Cuthbert Health 0 Cuthbert attacked. His sword ready to cut her. Reka stilled herself, blocking the blade with her own, right before her face. As their blades were locked, she stepped to the side, and quickly moved her blade above Lestranges, hitting it - making it move lower, opening the window she needed. Swish! Her blade moved, cutting the younger man's neck. He fell to the ground, his head rolling away. A cheer raised among the french as they charged forward. With the death of their champion, the English started panicking. Thunder rocked the skies... Reka could fill it - in the chaos of battle barely anyone looked at the dead body or took care to look at thunder- they were fighting for their lives. Reka gripped her sword, as she felt the quickening...
"A good fight. Especially for one so young." Panting and sore from the exertion, Reka stood above the knight's body. As the thunderclap sounds the English retreat, her strength returned to her. Her aches disappeared and her new wounds closed. Euphoria washed over her, as if congratulating her kill. She wanted to revel in the victory, but she had soldiers to lead. She mounted her warhorse and shouted orders to her squad as she rode behind them. Not a cur. They aren't clan. "They're broken, men! Drive them all the way to the sea! Capture any who give up their arms!"
As Reka rod forward - she frowned. She could feel more immortals in the ranks of Islanders. She stopped just as she came into view of one - a woman of Eastern descent... she reminded Reka of Han... or was it Jin? A little different... The woman also radiated power. Next to her stood an immortal - no, a potential immortal. Still a mortal, but should she die, she would join their ranks... unless Reka took her head. @Arachna As Thea was helped by the mercenary woman, both of them turned to face the thunderous waves of French... they froze at the sight of a Barbaric mercenary... calmly walking toward them, holding by hair a decapitated head of - it was one of the commanders! Ser Cuthbert Lestrange!
Thea had cursed at her own carelessness. A battle like this was incredibly difficult. It was her job to be the example for other soldiers and she was failing at that. As tough as the situation was, she had to keep pulling through. Thankfully, there was a lot of gifted swordsmen. She had never seen people from this land before, but that woman's skill with a blade was undeniable. She gave a nod and a smile of a thank you, but the circumstances didn't really lend itself for time to properly focus as the battle raged. With or without the head, this woman was undoubtedly fierce and a capable enough warrior. But Thea was better. With the commander slain, the honor of enforcing retribution had fallen to her. "Duel me, and allow me to impart upon you the might of nobility against common savagery!" Her tones were haughty and the smile she threw was intentionally arrogant, seeking to get a rise out of the challenger. Showing fear had no place on the battlefield. She had to throw her opponent off mentally.
Sensing the new immortals, Reka sent her men forward to continue their pursuit, leaving the task to her second in command. A display of strength will make them hesitate. Soldiers don't like seeing their commander's head rolling at their feet. She rode back to the corpse of Cuthbert, retrieved his severed head, and returned to approach the pair on foot. She tossed the head onto the ground, watching it roll towards them before speaking. "Your commander is dead! Surrender and you will live!" Pointing her langseax at the probably-Han woman, she continued, speaking in fluent Mandarin taken from another immortal. "You're far from home. Does the Yuan throne finally want me back?" Reka didn't look to the English nigh-immortal, despite her challenge. The quiet one is the greater threat, but can't just ignore the other woman. Back in English, she threatens "My 'savagery' is far from common, proud one. I am Reka, the last successor to King Attila and former general to the Great Yuan. You will die if you do not flee. My interest is in your companion. She is far more skilled than you."
"Why do you think I kept you around so long?" The redhead rolls her eyes. "Come here, you handsome bastard." Gripping his collar, she pulls him toward her, capturing his mouth with her own, tongue tasting the liquor on his lips. Finally, she forces him back. "Now lead me to those 'wenches' of yours."
"Apologies. The feud of foreign mercenaries 'tis no concern of mine. Unfortunately, you've slain our commander. And I, dame Thea, loyal knight of the crown, and daughter of house Eldwyin, must demand satisfaction." Poised and royally British, the knight had a certain grace even if still sounding haughty, as she pointed her blade declaring her opponent. Her face hardened as she struck her pose with dramatic flair. "Avenge the commander!" She shouted as loud as she could to be heard over the battle, attempting to turn the tables on demoralizing her forces by redoubling it into ferocity.
"Sure~" Edward laughed as he leads Karolina to the bedroom. There she saw three sleeping women. "They might not look like it, but the two are sisters, the third one is a daughter." He waved his fingers pointing at one of the elder women then to the other, then back. "Of one of them." He chuckled. "Take your pic captain~ They are kinda... liberated, about incest~"
"Hmm... On second thought..." Karolina looks at the trio. "Out." She gestures with her thumb toward the door. "Today, I want you to myself." She smirks at her former subordinate.
So Naka nodded to Reka. "I am not in service of the Empire, at this time." She answered freely, as she slowly, with blade pointed to ground, faced the old immortal. As the two faced each other, Thea's cry seemed to be left without answer... until the trio turned at the sound of thunder... It was a sound of cavalry charging - the Black Prince lead a counter attack, smashing the French and making the route. It seemed that the outcome of the battle was decided....
"Ah~ That's sweet..." He chuckled, as he lead Karolina to the main room. "Let them sleep captain. I might have tired them out~" Edward chuckled as he moved his hands along the sides of the redhead. "Did not know you would be so eager to have a right with me~"
"What can I say?" Karolina slides her hands down to the rim of her dress, pulling the fabric upwards. "I don't like to share." Getting it to her shoulders, she reclines back on the couch, showing Edward her body. "So, tell me... Has old age taken my looks?" She smirks.
Edward sat down, and for a moment admired her body. "Not'a all Kal~ Even as an immortal, you did not get crankier~" He chuckled as he brought Karolina to kneel on couch with him between her legs. His hands slowly moved alongside her sides, teasing her skin lightly. They moved up, brushing her breasts, gently teasing her, rediscovering her lines...
Karolina rolls her eyes, enjoying his eyes on her body - even after so long, it's nice to be admired. "Pretty pathetic - I've had poems and ballads written about my beauty, by men who would have sold their own mothers for a night with me. But...I'll accept it for now." She exhales a little, as the first hints of dew start to wetten the front of her panties, enjoying his well trained touch. "Tell me, what was it you said, the day I shot you?" She smirks. "When you were planning your little mutiny, I couldn't help but overhear you bragging to your friends about some things you were going to do to me..."
