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Post by Anna Evanovich on Jan 3, 2013 10:12:43 GMT -5
Anna Evanovich guided her hearty steed skillfully through thick, jagged underbrush. The farther north of Britain she traveled the wilder and more dangerous the land became. She had already dispatched a number of Gargoyles that were hell-bent on her destruction. They had fallen easily enough under her blade, but their unholy screams could be heard for miles. Fearing their screams might attract more of their kind, Anna chose to weave her way through the heavy underbrush thus making it more difficult for any more of them to track her. She knew the small hamlet could not be much further for she could see the high walls of the cliffs that that rose well above the forest canopy. She would follow the cliffs north until she reached the small settlement that had been carved out of the forest by a number of brave families. It was here the families hoped to set down roots, establish a lumber mill and clear some of the forest in order to farm. Their struggle was beginning to have some success. Once they finished constructing a palisade, several buildings, and a few houses, they sent word to the Holy Order asking for a monk to be assigned to their hamlet so they might have spiritual guidance. The monk, a Friar Norcross, had eagerly accepted the assignment and arrived in the hamlet six months ago. Everything seemed to be progressing very well for the hamlet and its citizens. Their tiny plots of land for farming had been consecrated. A small lumber mill constructed and was already producing a quality product. They had even begun building a small chapel which was near completion. The hamlet was well on its way to becoming a village when, suddenly and without warning; a dark and unspeakable evil descended upon them.
From somewhere northwest of the hamlet, out of some unseen pit or cave or ruined castle, a small group of wild, savage vampires had discovered the hamlet and was now threatening to undo everything the good folk had accomplished. Several of the hamlet’s lumbermen had already been taken. Their desiccated bodies were found half a league from the hamlet sending a wave of panic and fear through the hearts of the citizens. Precautions were taken to insure no one ventured out after sunset and those who hunted the darker parts of the forest were not to go alone. Still, the nights became a time of tense watchfulness as the citizens did their best to protect themselves from this unspeakable evil. For week the small hamlet came under siege by the foul creatures of the night. They seemed more like wild animals than anything else. They had no organization, no apparent plan, but acted purely on instinct and blood lust. Each night they would descend upon the hamlet, howling, and hissing as they circled the palisades seeking some weakness by which to gain entry. Each morning the citizens would venture out into the bright sunlight but could find no trace or track that showed where the bloodsuckers had gone. No one wished to search the broad forests for the den of these creatures for fear of being caught outside after sundown. That is when Friar Norcross sent word to the Holy Order of Trinsic seeking aid and that is when the Patriarch of the Order summoned Anna Evanovich to Trinsic.
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Anna arrived at the hamlet at mid-day near the end of December, around the time of the Winter Solstice or Yule as it is called in her faith. She was greeted warmly by Friar Norcross and the citizens. A feast was planned for that evening to celebrate her arrival and the possible eradication of the evil ones. For Anna, it was a time of reflection and a chance to uphold the virtues to which she was sworn. The children of the hamlet marveled at her plate mail armor and begged her to relate tales of heroism and honor. A request she most humbly obliged, for the ranks of the Order was steeped in history and such tales of the great Knights and Paladins of old were committed to memory by all who took the Oath. It was not long before the children were sitting wide-eyed and open mouthed as Anna related the tales of Sir Muldirck and the Dragon and Good Sir Baldwin and the Witch of Coos. As darkness descended the children were whisked off to bed with visions of brave Knights and great deeds of honor floating in their heads. With the children safely away, the adults began the long wait for the evil denizens of hate and foul practices to make their nightly visit. And, as darkness settled and the forest grew silent, Anna and the townsfolk did not have long to wait.
… to be cont.
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Post by Anna Evanovich on Jan 14, 2013 9:12:42 GMT -5
Night. The silence of the forest hung over the small hamlet like a threat or a promise that the enemy would indeed arrive whether they were ready or not. There was no wind to rustle the leaves of the trees. No sound to indicate movement beyond the twenty-foot-high palisades. Anna stood near the gates, listening and waiting. A few of the others were with her. One carried a bow, another a pitchfork, another wielded a club fashioned from a lump of heavy oak and yet another had a sickle. One young family man even had an old, chipped and rusting sword. Anna looked each of them in the eye. They were afraid, but they were not cowards. For most of them this night would be a turning point in their lives. A warrior’s first battle was a rite of passage. A ceremony of bonding that would never be forgotten. And, if they survived, this night would be a source of inspiration for their future actions, both on and off the battlefield. Anna gave each of them a nod letting them know without words that she was with them and would do her utmost to see they did survive. This unspoken assurance seemed to calm them and they ceased their fidgeting and found their battle face. Anna smiled; now they were ready.
When they came it was sudden. There was no sound to indicate their approach. No breaking of twigs or shuffling of feet. No sound like that made by an approaching army. There was nothing. No wind, no noise at all. But, suddenly they were there as if materialized out of the air itself. A weird sniffing at the gate. Then a hiss that sent cold fingers up the spine of even the bravest of them. Anna shivered. A couple of the men backed away from the chilling sound. They looked ready to bolt in fear and hide themselves somewhere deep and safe. A few others took a step towards the icy hiss. A fierceness in their eyes that told Anna they might just be ready to face the horror after all. But she held her hand out stopping them from committing a fatal mistake. Go outside too soon and it would bring disaster down upon them all. No, they must wait a bit and see how the enemy proceeded.
Disorganized and without plan these wild vampires would not present a unified front and that would be the advantage the citizens needed. Anna motioned two of the men to stand ready to fling open the gates at her command. The lone archer would stand fifteen paces back and, when the time came, he would let fly. Anna pressed her shoulder against the gate and listened. From the sound of the scratching and hissing she estimated there might be no more than five or six of the foul creatures. But, if they were not stopped now, the forest would, in a matter of a few short months, be overrun with the hell-born spawn. Time held its breath as she listened. Then, several of the creatures broke away and scurried off to search the sides and rear of the palisades for weaknesses. She motioned to the archer to stand ready. Another moment and one more of the vampires broke off. Anna drew her blade and took two steps back from the gate. One second, then two, then a third passed before she nodded for the gates to be flung open. With a heave the two men shoved open the gates and the archer let fly. The two vampires still scratching at the gate were caught completely off guard and, as they stood up, in that brief second before they realized what had happened, the bowman’s arrow caught one full in the throat. Staggering backward it clutched at the arrow attempting to rip it from its body. Anna rushed forward and separated its head from its body with a single swing of her sanctified blade. Instantly the vampire burst into flame and sparks that drifted slowly to the forest floor as nothing more than ash. The second creature snarled, hissed and howled a warning to its mates. Pale, putrid flesh, razor sharp teeth and fangs, eyes burning with blood-lust and rage it rushed through the open gates with unnatural speed, its arms reaching out to grab the first human it could. Anna had only enough time to rush inside the gates and order them closed. With one now trapped inside the palisades the gates were closed and barred just seconds before the other creatures gathered in response to the howl of their mate. As the trapped vampire rushed forward, one of the men bravely stood his ground and shoved a pitchfork into the onrushing vampire’s body. Seemingly unaffected, it broke the stout wood shaft of the pitchfork in two as though it were straw. The man leaped aside and the bowman struck again. The arrow pierced the chest of the vampire and it staggered only a second before turning on the next human in its blood-crazed view. The citizen swordsman lunged forward and thrust his sword into its ribs. The thing paused, looked down at the sword in its side then backhanded the human, flinging him ten paces through the air before he landed in a crumpled mass. Anna shouted her battle cry and the beast turned upon her. Never had she seen such rage and unbridled hatred in a creatures eyes. Its blood-lust was beyond understanding. Its mouth twisted in a rectus snarl as it flexed its claw-like fingers and hissed at the woman Knight.
“Come, foul creature. Come feel the burning flame of my blade as it relinquishes you from your torment and sin. Come, for there are others who await my justice.”
The creature snarled and rushed forward, its arms outstretched to grab the Knight. Anna had only enough time to swing her blade across her body as she spun away from the onrushing beast. The motion severed the vampire’s hands at the wrist and, as it rushed past, it howled in agony and tumbled to the ground where it writhed in pain. Seeing this, the other human’s descended upon it with club and knife, sword and arrow. A moment later it lay unmoving upon the ground. But Anna knew it was not yet destroyed. The others stepped aside as she walked towards the fallen creature and, with a single blow; severed its head from its body. It too burst into flame and spark and then into nothingness.
The other foul creatures, now gathered outside, rushed the gates and fling themselves against them in an effort to break them down. But the citizen warriors had found new confidence and strength and held fast the gates. Over and over the powerful creatures flung themselves against the barrier howling and hissing their rage. But still the humans held. Then, as nature herself intervened, the forest outside the palisades fell silent. Dawn was moments away.
This night belonged to the just and the brave. This night belonged to the humans.
To be cont …
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Post by Anna Evanovich on Feb 25, 2013 8:39:21 GMT -5
Daylight.
After a few hours rest, Anna met once more with the men of the village. Over a light meal consisting of brown bread, cheese and watered wine, they spoke in hushed tones of the need to find the lair of the unholy creatures that have plagued their lives for these past months. Anna knew enough about the subject to understand that it would not be enough to just eliminate the remaining vampires; it would be necessary to find and destroy that which made them. For until their maker was found and destroyed; more of the undead would rise to threaten the lives of these good folk.
“What know you of these lands?” She asked, dipping a crust of bread in the watered wine. “Are there any abandoned castles or deep hidden caves nearby?” Her heavy Trinsic accent added more weight to the question.
Each man looked to the other, but their knowledge of the outer reaches of the forest and hills beyond their small hamlet was slim. Anna nodded.
“Very vell. I shall take a day’s provisions and travel north along the cliff vall to see vhat I might find. These creatures must hold up during the daylight. I do not believe they vould hunt far from their lair unless the land immediately surrounding that lair vas depleted and could no longer sustain their numbers. Quite often in such cases, they vill turn upon their own in such difficult times. I vill leave immediately.”
Several of the men volunteered to accompany her, but she refused their offer. “I could be gone overnight and I vould not vish to have your lives needlessly put at risk. If I haf not returned by sunset set guards as ve did last night. And stay vigilant.”
Her war-horse, Balthazar, was saddled and waiting for her outside the small stable that housed the only two plow-horses owned by the village. He was a noble creature. Specially trained to stand fast during mounted combat or respond quickly to the slightest pressure of the knees while moving, making it unnecessary to hold the reins during a charge. This was particularly important when Anna used the heavier two-handed sword while mounted. The war-horses of the Oder were also famous for their loyalty. Many tales were told of a Knight or Paladin, unhorsed during combat, how their steeds stood over them using their powerful bodies or hooves as weapons to keep would-be attackers at bay. And they were known, on occasion, to use their teeth and jaws to pull enemy riders from their saddles. It was a fearful sight indeed to witness a fully armored Knight, charging with Great Sword held overhead, as their armored war-horse thundered down upon a terrified enemy.
Anna patted Balthazar on the neck and double checked the cinches on his barding. She then went to the small chapel to pray. Kneeling at the altar upon which sat the Ankh, she prayed that the Avatar would grant her the strength to face the coming challenges. She prayed that her father and mother had found peace in Her arms. She prayed that she would find redemption for her sins and that, one day, she would find peace. She had served an evil one. A spawn of the Daemon. The fact that she had been duped or that she was once ignorant of such creatures was no excuse, for she had willingly served to expand the creature’s hold over other innocent men and women. Because of this, she took the vows. Because of this she became well versed on the subject and was looked upon by the Order as an authority on vampires. She was trained to destroy evil. To redeem the fallen. And, in doing so, redeem herself.
Leaving the small chapel she found several of the towns-women had prepared a small meal for her travels. She humbly accepted the gift, placed it in her saddle-bag. She did not look back as she guided Balthazar through the open gates of the village, but paused just outside the palisades to let her instincts play out. The sky was overcast. The wind calm. She could hear the report of an axe on wood as the men began their work day. She bowed her head and listened to the calm then tugged the reins and headed northeast towards the cliff wall.
To be cont …
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Post by Anna Evanovich on Mar 8, 2013 9:30:39 GMT -5
Tatiana Vesuli Evanovich, Knight Paladin of the Holy Order of Trinsic, Protector of the Virtues and Holy Instrument of the Patriarch, carefully guided her armored steed through the dense forest northeast of the small hamlet of Norwood. The forest here was thick with Pine, Fur, Beech and various other deciduous trees now barren of leaves. The tall, heavily branched Pines made it difficult to travel in a straight line, but Anna could still see the thousand foot cliffs to the east and it was towards these that she kept maneuvering. Occasionally she would stop to listen, for there was neither wind nor slightest breeze to distort sound. Every chirp and rattle of a Chickadee or tiny honk of a Nuthatch could be clearly heard. The crack of a frozen limb as it separated itself from its parent tree was sharp and clear, its direction and distance easily determined. She could hear, in the distance, the strong echo of rock-fall as it careened off the cliff followed by the sharp report as it broke against the boulders below. Her breath and that of Balthazar lingered in the chilled air like a cloud of mist that slowly disperse then vanished only to be replaced by another. There was, she thought, a quiet peacefulness here in the wilderness that resembled the same feeling she had when kneeling before the great golden Ankh in the Chapel of Heroes in Trinisc. The calm of righteousness and clear action swept over her as she straightened her spine and sat proudly in the saddle. Furrowing her brow with determined purpose she urged Balthazar forward and the two continued their search just as a light snow began falling.
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, where the rock-fall from the cliffs had smashed trees and cleared the ground of all growth, the snow had blanketed the earth which further muffled sound. The base of the cliff was impassable as it was littered with massive boulders, smashed and broken trees. Rock-fall was an ever present danger, so Anna kept well within the edge of the forest as she followed the cliff-face. She was looking for any sign that the vile creatures had been feeding here. The desiccated corpse of a deer, elk, or even rabbit. Anything that would point her in the right direction. She scanned the base of the cliff for any large crevasse that might show her a cave entrance or other shadowed retreat. But nothing revealed itself, save for the fact that she saw no wildlife larger than a small songbird for several leagues. This, in and of itself, told her that the creatures must have drained the land of life thus causing any remaining wildlife to flee. As she continued north she finally came across the sign she was looking for; the dried out, desiccated corpse of a brown bear. The once proud, powerful beast was nothing more than a shriveled mass of sun-hardened fir and skeletal bone. Dismounting, she examined the remains closer. From what she saw she could tell no bones had been broken as might be expected had the bear been killed by rock-fall. No hunter’s arrow protruded from the body. Nor were there any slash marks of a sword or spear. Examining the skull, teeth and fangs she knew this bear was too young to have died of natural causes. That and the fact she found no blood stained rock or earth surrounding the body told her clearly that this majestic animal had been felled by vampires; starving vampires. Standing, Anna looked about in all directions and, holding her head high, nodded with a tight smile, for now she knew she was close to finding her quarry.
Not far from the bear carcass, Anna discovered a depression in the snow. A trail of sorts that, had the snow not fallen, would have been virtually invisible to the untrained eye. The trail was narrow, wound to the west, and deeper into the gloom of the forest. It could have been a simple animal trail used by deer or elk. But, when Anna dismounted and swept away the snow she found the trail was worn to the bare earth and smooth indicating that it was used regularly. She would be able to follow it with little trouble. Mounting, she urged Balthazar forward and the two continued their search. Looking behind her, towards the high cliffs, Anna determined from the brightness of the light against the smooth rock face, that sunset was still a good many hours away. If her luck held, she would finish her task before nightfall. If not, she would be forced to find some shelter that she and Balthazar could easily defend. For once night fell, it was she who would become the hunted.
To be cont…
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