Agent Griff
Apr 20 2006, 10:32 AM
Sorry for not writing again in some time. It's been hard for me to get in the mood for writing, I don't know what the heck is wrong with me. Well, I'll try to be a more active member from now on.
~~~
After waiting a little for the soldier to hide the wounded we were soon off to the palace. Taking the palace with just 32 men would be quite a task, even with the help of captain Thassad. A blood red light soon started covering the city as the sun was setting and the moon was rising. The palace entered view, its massive spires were no longer holding the banner of king Lhotun but the moon of Lord Vhosek.
"That arrogant cur. He replaced my banners. He'll see what happens when I find him." the King said with anger.
"Don't worry Sire, we'll find him and he'll be punished for his treachery." I said, calming the King.
"Yes of course. But I wonder what drove him to do this?" the King asked.
"Greed probably. Who knows? You can ask him when we find him though." I said.
Soon enough, we were standing in front of the palace gates. Strangely there were no guards at the front gates. The palace seemed abandoned so we approached. Before we could reach the main door to the great hall we heard a sound. Deciding that it was better to hide than to risk a clash I ordered the men to hide among some ruins. Good thing I did. After a few moments a few hundred men emmerged from a street, all walking in a column. Judging from their direction they were probably coming from the docks. Most of the soldiers had a moon on their chests so I could judge them to be Vhosek's men. Most of them also looked wounded so they had probably been in a battle.
"The docks have been conquered." one of the soldiers said in a sad voice.
"How can you be sure?" I asked the soldier.
"I just feel it. Now they own more than half of the city and our forces are the ones that are trapped now. I fear we will have to leave the city." the soldier said.
I left him to his troubling thoughts and looked more carefuly at the men. Could we take them on? From the looks of it there seemed to be at least 400 of them and some of them were wounded. I decided to wait and see what they would do. Before I could do just that, the men saw a ball of fire coming from the sky.
"Fireball!!!" one of the soldiers shouted revealing our position to Vhosek's men.
"You idiot!" I shouted back at the scared soldier in anger.
Before I could do anything else the fireball hit the palace, destroying the gates to the great hall. Another fireball soon fell and it destroyed one of the palace's spires.
"My library!" the King shouted as he saw the great spire crumble.
Soon enough a voice made itself heard.
"For the King!!!" the voice shouted.
An army soon charged towards the palace plaza. The were carrying the banner of the King and the banner of my order. They were reinforcements!
"It's grandmaster K'avar!" I shouted out loud.
"Let's kill those scum!" one of the soldiers shouted as he drew his sword.
"No! They've given us the chance to infiltrate the palace and slay Lord Vhosek!" I said, stopping the soldier.
"He's right. To the palace my soldiers!" the King shouted as he started running towards the ruined palace gates.
"Follow the King!" I shouted as I ran after him. The men soon followed.
As we left Grandmaster K'avar's army to fight Lord Vhosek's men we entered the palace. It was empty and there was no activity on the lower floors.
"He must be in the upper throne room!" the King said.
"The upper throne room? Where's that?" I asked, not having heard of this throne room before.
"At the very last floor of the palace. We'll have to pass through the treasury to reach it though." the King said.
"The treasury. Mmmm..." one of the Redguard pirates said, licking his fingers.
"Shut it you scurvy dog. We're fighting for our King now." captain Thassad said.
After a few minutes of climbing to reach the throne room we were soon there. In front of us lay Lord Vhosek, standing on the King's throne with his guards beside him. He had a sad look in his eyes. The King approached Lord Vhosek.
"Welcome Lhotun. It grieves me to meet you like this." Lord Vhosek said.
"Grieves you Vhosek? Didn't you bring yourself in this shameful position?" the King asked Vhosek with an ironical voice.
"Alas, there was a time when I thought my deeds were good. I was fooled by another though." Lord Vhosek said.
"And who might that be?" King Lhotun asked.
"My... Imperial advisor." Lord Vhosek said.
"What did he do to you?" the King asked.
"He convinced me, to act against you. All his advice consisted of attacking the King or weakening his hold on the Kingdom. At a time I thought this was good. But now I see that all the advisor wanted was to weaken the Kingdom and allow the Empire to take it and to rule Hammerfell with an iron fist. I have now realised what this advisor has been doing to me." Lord Vhosek said, with a slight tear in his eye.
"Very impressive Vhosek, but you're lying." the King said with no emotion in his voice.
"How so my King?" Lord Vhosek asked.
"You don't even have an advisor." the King simply said.
"Well, you caught me there Lhotun. I thought I could get out of this whitout fighting but it seems I have no choice.' Lord Vhosek said.
"Then let us do battle friend!" the King said with some happyness in his voice.
"Yes! Let us fight like when we were both younger!" Lord Vhosek said.
"Then what are we waiting for? To the armoury friend!" the King said.
So let me get this straight. They were going to kill eachother but they were quite happy about it, as if they were going to a tavern and have an ale together like friends. Well it was simillar, the thing was they weren't going to a tavern, they were going to an armoury, and they weren't going for some ale, they were going for each other's throats. Quite simple really. It would also be great to watch a battle for a change...
~~~
That was it folks. Bottom line is, the Griff is back!
jack cloudy
Apr 20 2006, 04:21 PM
Ah, Arthago is back in action. Now I'll never understand kings and their men. At least Arthago will get the opportunity to watch a battle, rather than fight it. (Unless someone interupts.)
minque
Apr 20 2006, 11:15 PM
Nice! an update.....itīs getting more and more interesting now! Good work!
Agent Griff
Apr 24 2006, 08:30 PM
Sorry for not showing my face on this fine forum for three days, Easter has taken its toll on me. Anyway, here's the final part of this chapter!
~~~
Soon enough, we descended down to the lower floors of the royal palace where the armoury was located. The narrow hall-ways leading to the armoury made the large group of men I was with huddle together. I could see that some of my soldiers were grasping their swords, ready to slay Vhosek.
"I don't want bloodshed, release your swords!" I shouted as my voice echoed through the hall.
The men aknowledged my order and laid their hands off their sword-hilts. The King seemed at peace with himself, so did Lord Vhosek. At one point in the journey, he turned back to me, sizing me up. His eyes looked right through me. He then turned to King Lhotun and asked him something in a low voice.
"So this is your new watchdog eh?" Vhosek asked in his cunning voice.
"He slayed Bridwell." King Lhotun said, smilling as Lord Vhosek went pale.
"Bridwell? It can't be. You're just trying to demoralize me before the duel, I can see right through your tricks." Lord Vhosek hissed.
"Believe it if you will. He can go right through you if he so wishes it, old friend." King Lhotun said as he kept looking forward.
"I have my own men my old friend, you don't scare me with your rabble!" Lord Vhosek said as he looked back at me with one eye.
"In case you haven't heard, your treacherous men are being slaughtered in this very moment by Lord K'avar." the King said as he smilled at Vhosek.
"K'avar? He's in the city?" Lord Vhosek asked in a confused and slightly scared voice.
"Oh yes, he had taken the army to deal with some rebels in Na-Totambu, that is why the city didn't have an adequate defence force. That is why your men managed to seize it, temporarily. You shall all die shortly though." King Lhotun said in a cold voice.
I almost felt sory for Vhosek as I saw him getting scared beyond means. His doom approached and he knew it quite well. I could see the wide, iron doors of the Royal Armoury in front of us. Once we reached the door, I ordered one of the men to open it. A bright light, coming from the open balcony in front of us, burst through the dark hall-way. King Lhotun looked to Lord Vhosek in a pleased way as he showed him to the balcony. The screams from the clashing armies outside could be heard.
"Go outside and see for yourself as your men are slain and you are left alone." the King said as he went for a chamber.
"By the name of Satakaal, you're right. What have I done?" Lord Vhosek said as he saw his men retreating to a corner of the bloody plaza.
"You'd better go into a chamber and equip your armour of choice." the King said.
"Luck to you Lhotun, as it has certainly left me." Lord Vhosek said with a slight tear in his left eye as he went into another chamber.
While the 2 men equiped their armour, I chose to go to the balcony and look at the carnage outside. The men of Sentinel and the Candle Knights were surrounding Vhosek's men into a bloody corner of the plaza. Many of Vhosek's men had already fled into the surrounding buildings, trying to escape the carnage. I could see their bodies hanging on the bloody balconies and open windows, all pierced by arrows. Lord K'avar was fighting bravely, right at the middle of the bloody plaza, swinging his claymore around wildly forming a circle of death as he went. Blodied bodies and cracked shields were left in his wake, all belonging to Vhosek.
Before the battle could end, the two men emmerged from the chambers. One of them, King Lhotun, was armoured lightly in comparison to his rival. The upper part of his body was protected by merely a fine cloak without a hood. The lower part of his body was better armoured, he was wearing a tanned-leather skirt lined with fine chainmail at either side. The chainmail was glistening in the rays of the sun. At his hand, the King held a spear with a steel tip. At his waist, tied to his belt, was a golden shortsword the kind of which I had never seen. I had seen tapestries which featured men clad in golden armour before, the Rourken clan. Mythical dwarves who came all the way from the land of Morrowind, the ancestral home of the Dark Elves. Could this be a shortsword made by Dwarven smiths? At his other hand, the King held a round shield made of fine iron. With this armour, the King would be quick but lethal, just the kind of combination that I also appreciated.
On the other side, Lord Vhosek stood silent. He was far more heavily armoured than the King. On his head he wore an iron helmet. On his chest lay a leather vest, lined with bronze scales that gave Lord Vhosek the appearance of an Argonian or some other scaly beast. His hands were protected by chainmail and he wore leather gloves. The lower part of Vhosek's body was just as well armoured, with iron greaves and fine leather boots. In Vhosek's hand stood an exotic blade of Akaviri origin, a katana they called it. It was a fine blade with razor-sharp edges, perfect for slicing and slashing away at the enemy. Lord Vhosek however had no shield. All in all, Lord Vhosek was wearing the traditional battlegear of a Redguard warrior, a type of armour neglected by many warriors these days.
The two fighters lined up and looked at each other. Each gave a nod to the other then took distance. I took the honour of signaling the begininng of the duel. Once I shouted that they may fight King Lhotun began the fight by swinging his spear in a wide arc, aiming for Vhosek's feet. Lord Vhosek senses this and backed off, evading the blow. He then began his counter-attack by swinging his sword diagonally to his right, aiming for the King's shield. The King blocked with the shield then thrusted his spear upwards, towards lord Vhosek's neck. Vhosek evaded the spear by moving his head to the side. He then ducked and advanced below the spear towards the King. After he closed in enough, he rose. The King swinged his spear in a wide arc again, aiming for Lord Vhosek's head but Vhosek ducked the blow. He then rose again and slashed his blade towards the King. The King managed to block the blow with his shield then push Vhosek away with it.
"Getting tired Vhosek?" the King taunted Lord Vhosek.
"Not at all, old friend!" Vhosek said as he stood his ground.
The King then thrusted his spear towards Vhosek's chest but pulled the spear back at the last moment, then turning it aside and thrusting the blunt end of the spear in Vhosek's stomach. Vhosek staggered back, in pain then prepared for a counter-attack. Vhosek approached the King then struck at his shoulder with his blade. The King blocked the blow with his shield, then pulled it to the side for a thrust of his spear. Vhosek dodged the spear then struck at the King's shield once again. The King managed to block the blow then swung his spear, trying to hit Vhosek over his unarmoured neck. Vhosek ducked then slashed at the King's leg. The King wasn't able to block the strike and he got badly cut at the leg. Blood started flowing.
"You seem wounded old friend! Are you getting tired?" Vhosek said with a savage smile.
"You seem ready to die Vhosek! Are you getting cocky?" the King said, trying to reply to Vhosek's taunt.
Vhosek started looking at the King as a weakling. He approached to give the killer blow. His slash came close to the King's neck, to far for the shield to block so the King blocked with his spear. The wooden shaft of the spear broke under the power of the blade into two smaller pieces. The piece with the blunt edge remained in the King's hand and the sharp edge fell to the ground. The King then tried a feint strike with his broken spear. Vhosek went for it and raised his sword, the King pushed him away with his shield. He then threw the part of the spear with the blunt edge towards Vhosek. The King then grabbed the shorter part of the spear with the sharp edge and went for Vhosek. Vhosek was in anger because of the King's feinted strike. He came at the King with a terrible blow. The King raised his shield then ducked. The blade became stuck in the shield and Vhosek was trying to extract it. The King saw his chance then struck. He thrusted his spear hard between the scales of Vhosek's vest. The spear went through and pierced Vhosek's stomach. He soon fell.
All gathered near Vhosek. He was dying and there was no one to save him. Good riddance I say. Everyone started getting emotional about it though, including the King.
"Vhosek! Vhosek! Are you alright? Are you alright friend?" the King franticly asked.
"Leave me to die, Majesty. You have proven why I am the vassal and not the King. I am proud to be a Redguard, knowing that the Kingdom of Sentinel has such a fine King. May you rule in prosperity, my King." Lord Vhosek said, coughing up with blood that came from his pierced organs.
"But what is a King whitout a great friend and rival?" King Lhotun asked in tears.
"You have earned the right to rule in peace. I am proud to have served under such a King and to have fought such an oponent." Lord Vhosek said, with an ever bloodier mouth.
"But you don't need to die Vhosek! I forgive you! I spare all your men!" the King said.
"Spare them, rule well, and defeat all those who oppose you. That shall ease my passing and make me proud when I join my ancestors. Names, you see, exist just that we can point in history and say that's mine. If you really want to save me, don't erase me from the records of your rule. Once we are forgotten, we really cease to exist." Vhosek said, as almost all men in the room gained tears in their eyes. Even I, who considered Vhosek to be a treacherous scum now respected him and his memory.
"In life or death, none shall forget you old friend. You will be remembered, not as a traitor to the Kingdom but as the man who saved the Kingdom from utter destruction. You have awakened all with this revolt. The Emperor will be aware of the situation and he will, in fear of a much bigger revolt, give Hammerfell more freedom. For that you shall be eternally remembered my friend." the King said as Vhosek's life force was draining out of him.
"I would be....proud if the young man who avenged the Great King Camaron received...my estate in Sentinel. He has fought for it and he has earned my respect in...doing so. I have done my duty to the Kingdom my King. I can now...die....in...p-peace...." Lord Vhosek said as he died.
It goes without saying that most men in the room started weeping as soon as the great Redguard hero, former leader of the knights of Sentinel, Lord Vhosek passed from this world. Even I, hardly stopped myself from weeping for the great man. He had fought well and he deserved it. The King then stepped to the balcony to stop the carnage outside. Vhosek's men had just surrendered and they were ready to be executed. The King stopped it all. Vhosek's men, grateful of the King's decision joined the ranks of the army, ready to defend Sentinel at all times.
Such was the bloody end of the Rebellion...
~~~
That's it for this chapter! I hope you can get through to reading this IMMENSE update, all courtesy of the Griff. That fight scene is probably one of the better I've written thus far and I hope you like it.
minque
Apr 24 2006, 10:21 PM
oh aye.....this story continues to enjoy...really nice battle-scene!
But if I may be honest it was a bit hard to read! So much dialogue and no space between lines makes it somewhat difficult to follow! Apart from that.......
Excellent work!
Kiln
Apr 25 2006, 01:05 AM
As Minque said, great battle scene and story you have here.
The only thing I found wrong with it was the fact that it needed spaces between the dialogue. Other than that it was great. Please continue.
Agent Griff
Apr 25 2006, 05:54 AM
If I would have wrote it like that then I would have considered it too long and pretty boring to read since I've done that kind of thing before. But I'll try it if you don't like my "no-spaces" policy.
Tellie
Apr 25 2006, 08:50 AM
Yes, finally more of Arhtago...I enjoyed it greatly. Thanks for giving us a spectacular update and finish to this second chapter...it was a great end of the chapter...and a great warrior...
Agent Griff
Apr 25 2006, 02:51 PM
I thought you were upset with me Tellie, don't know exactly why though

anyway, I'll write the begining of chapter 4 today.
Tellie
Apr 25 2006, 03:39 PM
Me upset with you...why, you have been one of my greatest fans...and you have given constructieve critisism...as well as advice, and I welcome both...

Thanks pal...
jack cloudy
Apr 25 2006, 03:58 PM
I loved the battle. All hail the king (and Arthago)!
Agent Griff
Apr 25 2006, 04:11 PM
I haven't been one of your greatest fans. I think I'm one of your newest fans actually since I've started posting after everyone else did. I'm glad you consider me like that though, thanks alot! And Jack, I'm glad you liked the battle. I think it's one of my best big battles. I'm not sure if it's better than my first battle, Arthago's clash with Raccan but it's sure better than the battle with Lord Bridwell. I'm glad you liked it anyway.