5th of Summer, 514 AV
They could see it from the docks, a dozen tiny tendrils in the distance, like black little fingers waving at them as they crested over the blur that was the lakeshore tree line. That had been hours ago. Now, as the boat slid unto shore, no grace or decorum in its muddy and rough docking with the beach, those tendrils had turned to plumes, and that “little fire out on the shore” like they had called it, was now an inferno.
Elias arrived at the forest only to find it engulfed in raging tongues of orange and red. In their crackling embrace, the flames licked hungrily at even the tallest of the trees. The heat was intense and blistering beyond words, enough to send waves of searing wind that slammed into his exposed skin and nearly sent him stumbling back. It was those very winds generated by the flames that made them all the more dangerous as they whipped wildly back and forth.
Thank Rhysol the Ebonstryfe were here. He had come in on a barge full of them, all armed to the teeth with swords and bows and all the ill will the iron fist of Ravok could bring to muster, but against the fires that now threatened Lakeshore, no sharp blade or tempered zealotry could help them now. Luckily, there were mages among troops, both on the boat and already on the shore as well. Those who were attuned to the earth flung sand and dirt into the heart of the blaze, their attempts to stifle it seemingly inconsequential as the blaze jumped, burst, and spread through the forest with a terrifying voracity. There were several reimancers who had managed combine their efforts and attack the fire with numerous and massive gouts of lake water, showering the flame with a steady downpour. He could practically see the res draining from their armored bodies, the amount of djed needed to maintain the downpour too great and too tiring, even for them. The wildfire was simply too much at this point.
Readying his own body for the toils of the monumental struggle that lay ahead, he was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. Flinching away from the unexpected thing, Elias twisted around to stare back at the face of a tall, young man glaring down at him. He had dark eyes, a dark, twirling mustache, and a gloomy expression that spoke volumes about the displeasure he felt at what was happening before them. "You’re not one of mine. Which company are you with? Who are you soldier?" His words were spoken in an explosive, thick accent that made Elias recognize the man’s apparent experience despite his apparent lack of years to accompany it. Piercing dark eyes stared into Elias's with an urgency that helped draw his response.
"Elias, Commander." He screamed back, struggling to be heard over the roar of the towering flames. He had noticed the pin and markings that went along with the rank, but had thought it best to not bother explaining the man error in judgement in thinking him a solider. The man gave the answer a condescendingly incredulous sneer, prompting the young mage to finish more quickly. “I was sent to help deal with the wildfire, sir.” How strange it was the ease in which he fell back into the old tedium of rank and file. ‘Sir’ this and ‘commander’ that, one would think so many years apart from it, instinct would have at least faded away by now.
A testament to how thoroughly the Stryfe drilled it into you, the ex apprentice mused sourly.
"Fire?" The commander’s eyes widened in surprise and annoyance, then he turned to glare at the various other soldiers about, his low opinion of them worn clearly on the frustrated grimace that marred his handsome features. "Son, this isn’t just some fire, you’ve just stepped ass backwards into a God’s damned battle!" Elias’s confusion was palpable, and he tried to shout something in return to be heard over the roiling inferno, but his words were as lost as the serenity of the lakeshore had been. An explosion rocked the very ground as if on cue, shaking the earth beneath Elias’s feet and nearly sending him toppling to the ground. He could feel his stiches from earlier that day tearing already.
Returning his attention to Elias with an agitated and impatient stare, Leonis continued, his thunderous barking the only voice he could make out amidst all the other distant screams and shouts. "They should have debriefed you at the docks. Petch it, listen up: There's a pissed off mage hiding somewhere behind that petching wall of hellfire, cutting us off from the rest of our men and launching all manner of death and dangerous bullshyke at us in the mean time. If you want to fight, I ain’t got time to stop yah, just find your commander stay the hell out of the way!" A gauntlet hand pounded against Elias chest as another explosion deafened him. He thought he saw the flash of lighting streaking overhead, but by the time he looked up, all he could see was a sky full of smoke and ashes.
He returned his attention to the commander as the man shook him back to his senses. Leonis pointed, and Elias, not knowing what it meant, what was there, or what he was meant to bloody well do, nodded his head and ran off at full speed towards where the commander had directed him.
What a day this was turning out to be.
Elias arrived at the forest only to find it engulfed in raging tongues of orange and red. In their crackling embrace, the flames licked hungrily at even the tallest of the trees. The heat was intense and blistering beyond words, enough to send waves of searing wind that slammed into his exposed skin and nearly sent him stumbling back. It was those very winds generated by the flames that made them all the more dangerous as they whipped wildly back and forth.
Thank Rhysol the Ebonstryfe were here. He had come in on a barge full of them, all armed to the teeth with swords and bows and all the ill will the iron fist of Ravok could bring to muster, but against the fires that now threatened Lakeshore, no sharp blade or tempered zealotry could help them now. Luckily, there were mages among troops, both on the boat and already on the shore as well. Those who were attuned to the earth flung sand and dirt into the heart of the blaze, their attempts to stifle it seemingly inconsequential as the blaze jumped, burst, and spread through the forest with a terrifying voracity. There were several reimancers who had managed combine their efforts and attack the fire with numerous and massive gouts of lake water, showering the flame with a steady downpour. He could practically see the res draining from their armored bodies, the amount of djed needed to maintain the downpour too great and too tiring, even for them. The wildfire was simply too much at this point.
Readying his own body for the toils of the monumental struggle that lay ahead, he was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. Flinching away from the unexpected thing, Elias twisted around to stare back at the face of a tall, young man glaring down at him. He had dark eyes, a dark, twirling mustache, and a gloomy expression that spoke volumes about the displeasure he felt at what was happening before them. "You’re not one of mine. Which company are you with? Who are you soldier?" His words were spoken in an explosive, thick accent that made Elias recognize the man’s apparent experience despite his apparent lack of years to accompany it. Piercing dark eyes stared into Elias's with an urgency that helped draw his response.
"Elias, Commander." He screamed back, struggling to be heard over the roar of the towering flames. He had noticed the pin and markings that went along with the rank, but had thought it best to not bother explaining the man error in judgement in thinking him a solider. The man gave the answer a condescendingly incredulous sneer, prompting the young mage to finish more quickly. “I was sent to help deal with the wildfire, sir.” How strange it was the ease in which he fell back into the old tedium of rank and file. ‘Sir’ this and ‘commander’ that, one would think so many years apart from it, instinct would have at least faded away by now.
A testament to how thoroughly the Stryfe drilled it into you, the ex apprentice mused sourly.
"Fire?" The commander’s eyes widened in surprise and annoyance, then he turned to glare at the various other soldiers about, his low opinion of them worn clearly on the frustrated grimace that marred his handsome features. "Son, this isn’t just some fire, you’ve just stepped ass backwards into a God’s damned battle!" Elias’s confusion was palpable, and he tried to shout something in return to be heard over the roiling inferno, but his words were as lost as the serenity of the lakeshore had been. An explosion rocked the very ground as if on cue, shaking the earth beneath Elias’s feet and nearly sending him toppling to the ground. He could feel his stiches from earlier that day tearing already.
Returning his attention to Elias with an agitated and impatient stare, Leonis continued, his thunderous barking the only voice he could make out amidst all the other distant screams and shouts. "They should have debriefed you at the docks. Petch it, listen up: There's a pissed off mage hiding somewhere behind that petching wall of hellfire, cutting us off from the rest of our men and launching all manner of death and dangerous bullshyke at us in the mean time. If you want to fight, I ain’t got time to stop yah, just find your commander stay the hell out of the way!" A gauntlet hand pounded against Elias chest as another explosion deafened him. He thought he saw the flash of lighting streaking overhead, but by the time he looked up, all he could see was a sky full of smoke and ashes.
He returned his attention to the commander as the man shook him back to his senses. Leonis pointed, and Elias, not knowing what it meant, what was there, or what he was meant to bloody well do, nodded his head and ran off at full speed towards where the commander had directed him.
What a day this was turning out to be.
Title Song :
Get back in the gosh darn ebonstryfe!