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Post by Ribitta on Aug 3, 2011 12:34:44 GMT -5
Smoothly removing the bloodied axe from the Korin's skull, Khordus redirected his focus to the man that was still a threat, though much less of one, it seemed. He was young and quite foolish, to say the least; a shame -- a chase was always thrilling. Tightening his squeeze around the axes, he planted a foot behind him as the other man made to charge. With practiced ease, the Korin Harbinger glided forward to meet the man, the axe in his left hand swinging from below his belt, and the other falling in a downward stroke from above his shoulder. To anyone but him, though, the double strike would have looked much too early as the opposing man was still over a meter away. If this action caught the Stamarian off-guard, though, it would likely be the last surprise he would experience as Khordus released the blade portion of each axe, sending them flying off their ends and straight for the man's torso.
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Post by Steinerman on Aug 3, 2011 14:03:28 GMT -5
Vran almost laughed as his opponent swung too early, far too early. This was going to be so easy, he thought with amusement. And then the blades detached from the axes and hurtled towards him. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that, his skill in combat enabled him to knock one of the blades out of the way, slapping it aside even as the impact jarred and stunned his hand, causing him to drop his knife. But the other blade buried itself deep into his stomach.
For a few moments he rocked back and forth slowly, fighting the pain, trying to will his arms to move, to attack, to do anything. But his body wasn't obeying his wishes at the moment. He wasn't sure quite what all the axe-blade had damaged, but it was incredibly painful.
"I'll not scream." He whispered, crumpling to his knees. "Won't give you . . ." he coughed harshly, spitting up blood, "the satisfaction of me screaming."
Inwardly, he wondered where his partner was. Kevin will save you, his brain told him. His partner wouldn't leave him to die to some Korin dog.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Aug 4, 2011 15:03:02 GMT -5
"There he is!" came another voice at the entryway to the alley. "Get down, kid!"
"Open fire!" shouted a second voice, gruffer and older-sounding than the first.
Gunfire erupted, deafeningly loud in the tight corridor, as two Stamarian soldiers opened fire over Vran's head at the Korin assailant.
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Post by Ribitta on Aug 11, 2011 21:52:41 GMT -5
Khordus either could not suppress his laugh at their foolishness or he simply did not want to, but he was prepared to move long before they fired thanks to their verbal cue. Unfortunately, they were still within the light of the street as they fired into the shadowed alley, and Khordus could not leap directly behind them, though he did his best with what he could. Spinning on the spot to face the Stamarians, he once more vanished from one shadow and reappeared in another, this one located mid-air almost right above the Stamarian soldiers.
Still slightly in front of them, Khordus crashed down hard from a steep angle into the Stamarians, the knives that had been axes a moment ago viciously slashing toward the throat of each soldier, attempting to slay them in one surprising, deft motion.
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Post by Steinerman on Aug 15, 2011 12:22:21 GMT -5
Fortunately for the two soldiers, Kevin Rivers had been slowed in the street and took a few extra moments to enter the alley, though he made it just in time to see what had transpired, he quickly caught sight of their opponent and realized exactly who it was they were facing.
"Bloody bloody bloody . . . " He muttered, his tone stuck somewhere between annoyance and worry. He only had an instant to react as the Korin Harbinger disappeared and then reappeared above the two soldiers, his knives aimed to cut their throats as he descended. But for the veteran commando, a second was just enough time for Kevin to do what he was best at, he mucked things up. With a swift shove he pushed one of the Stamarians out of the Harbinger's reach and then swiftly interposed his own knife between the other soldier's throat and Khordus' descending weapon.
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Post by Ribitta on Aug 18, 2011 11:59:58 GMT -5
A third? Well played, though it would only extend this fight a few more moments. With quick calculation he performed several actions both in sequence at an unnatural speed, first using his elemental power to raise a large stone wall in the street the Stamarians had come from. Towering several stories high and shielding the street from the sun, it blanketed the exit to the alley in shadows. Now caught off balance by missing with one blade and having the other deflected, Khordus leapt behind the soldiers into his newly made shadow conveniently located at their rear. With a roar, he dropped his blades and let fire fume in front of his hands, bathing his enemies, and the alley itself, in searing flame.
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Post by Steinerman on Aug 20, 2011 22:02:43 GMT -5
Kevin reacted as speedily as he could, which wasn't nearly fast enough for his liking. The Korin Harbinger was hellishly fast, and quite intent on ending their lives. Those two facts didn't not a happy combination make.
Realizing that their closest exit was blocked and the Harbinger was about to do something extremely painful to them via magic, Kevin slammed himself into a small alley entrance to one of the houses, shattering the cheap lock and bursting inside, dragging the nearest Stamarian soldier with him to safety even as he felt the flames licking towards him.
What would happen to the other soldier or his partner, he could only guess at. Perhaps the other soldier could find a way into one of the other houses, but Vran had looked three-quarters dead and probably wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time. Kevin pushed those thoughts away though, he had a duty to protect the soldier he was with, and to stop the Harbinger if he could. He knew that he couldn't beat the Harbinger on his own, and so his first thought was to get out into the light somewhere, away from the man and his shadows.
With a coughing roar he pushed the spearman ahead, urging him onwards, trying to find an exit out of the dimly-lit house before the Harbinger gave chase.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 2, 2011 18:57:18 GMT -5
The soldier staggered as he was forced on ahead, catching himself on a table with his free hand, allowing him to get back up. The two of them pushed on through the house, slamming down a door and back into the light as other personnel appeared.
"Trooper Cromwell!" a female voice shouted, causing the soldier to look up just in time to see Kalia and Amatlan stop in front of him. "What happened, where's Burke and the other operative?"
"We got attacked, ma'am!" he exclaimed. "It was him, the Harbinger! He attacked us and we barely got away!"
Kalia bit off a curse and shouted orders to secure the area. "Surround the area! I want no one leaving and no one but Stamaria entering!"
There was a loud groaning coming from the nearby alleyway, causing the other soldiers to bring up their weapons--they lowered when they saw Cromwell's partner Burke in scorched armor, dragging a badly burned man out of the alley. He dropped him to the street roughly and beat some lingering flames off the man's clothing, revealing the axe wound in his stomach and the impromptu cauterizing the inferno had caused.
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Post by Steinerman on Sept 3, 2011 12:14:05 GMT -5
Kevin was already moving even as the other Stamarian soldier started beating out the flames on his partner. He dodged to Vran's side in a flurry of dust and surveyed the wound. "Vran my young friend," he whispered quietly, "you had to go and get yourself messed up right good."
He glanced around, looking for anyone with a medical look to them, his partner was convulsing and occasionally spitting up blood, it wasn't looking good.
It was then that he heard the sound of running feet and turned to behold the welcome sight of Order Hospitallers running towards them. He raised his hand in greeting, standing shakily to meet them. He was greatly relieved to see Knight-Commander Saint in the lead, "Michael." He called out wearily, "you have impeccable timing."
Michael jogged up to him and they clasped hands, "It's good to see you, my friend." Michael said with a worried smile. Behind him a pair of Hospitaller medics were unpacking their gear in an attempt to stabilize Vran.
Michael glanced around the area, trying to survey the situation. "Knight-Commander Lightshield is coordinating her Templars from HQ, I'm in charge of Order personnel elsewhere, who's in command here?" He questioned of the surrounding Stamarians.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 3, 2011 16:17:40 GMT -5
Kalia quickly ordered the squad medic to look over the burned Orderman as the others went about securing the city block. Amatlan trotted over to the two Hospitallers at Kalia's urging, and she gave them a quick salute after dismounting, knowing now was no time for propriety. "I am, my lord," she said quickly. "We were ordered to scour the area after His Majesty the Emperor identified the Harbinger within Teradia. He just attacked four of our men and he's getting away. I need to mobilize immediately and pursue him or Lord DuValle will have my head."
Amatlan suddenly screeched, spreading his wings wide before leaping, slamming his claws into the stone wall of the building. His tail thrashed wildly as his talons scrambled for purchase, and within moments the beast had reached the rooftop and was running. Ignoring the two Ordermen, Kalia whirled around. "Follow after him, he's caught his scent! Don't let him get away and for the gods' sake, be careful!"
"Yes ma'am!" three of her soldiers shouted, saluting before ducking into the alleyway, blade rifles at the ready.
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Post by Steinerman on Sept 5, 2011 1:59:41 GMT -5
Kevin shook his head, he doubted the soldiers would be able to keep up with the Wyvern, and even if they could, the Harbinger would most likely tear through them without even breaking a sweat. "Michael," he warned quietly, his eyes speaking volumes.
But though Michael silently agreed with the commando, he also knew that he technically had no jurisdiction over Knight Dragonheart or her troops, and not following the Harbinger wasn't exactly an option either.
Already his mind was flashing and dancing with tactics, strategy and battleplans. Though Knight-Commander Lightshield may have headed the more militant arm of the Order, Michael was a capable and fearsome battlefield commander, and was completely at ease here in the chaos as he decided on the best course of action.
Chasing the Harbinger would only lead to more death and destruction, yet he had to at least make an effort while he put other plans into motion. So with a quick nod of his head, he sent Sergeant Adams and a squad of seven Hospitallers after the Wyvern and Knight Dragonheart's troops.
A moment later he conversed quickly over the secure Order channels with Knight-Commander Lightshield, obtaining authorization to use several Order Templar FRT's (Fast-Response-Teams) to support surgical strikes not on the Harbinger, but on any confirmed locations of Korin personnel. The Harbinger may have been a force to be reckoned with, but his lessers would find themselves hard-put to defend themselves against the fearsome onslaught of Order Templars.
"Get the wounded to headquarters," he ordered a second squad of Hospitallers before turning to Knight Dragonheart. "Knight, I have no authority to command you, but we'll give you our communications protocols, it seems regular channels may have been compromised. Keep in regular contact and don't hesitate to request assistance. I must see if I can bring order to the field, get communications back up and running properly. I'd rather not have the Korin dogs listening in to the Emperor's every order." He backed up a few steps and began turning, his Hospitallers fanning out as their squad commanders barked orders. "Good Hunting, Knight Dragonheart." He ended with a broad grin.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 8, 2011 17:19:49 GMT -5
"Yes, my lord!" Kalia exclaimed, saluting with hand over heart before drawing her sword and taking off into the alley after the others. As she ran, her free hand snatched up a radio and she quickly input the Order of the Blade communication protocols that she had already learned by heart, as had been recommended by Knight-Commander Lightshield years ago. She quickly did the same over the magic network currently utilized by the Stamarian military.
As the Ordermen filtered in and took up position, the remainder of Kalia's squad retreated and followed after their commanding officer, quickly leaving the members of the Order alone.
As soon as they had departed, another communication screen appeared in the air in front of Knight-Commander Saint. It briefly displayed the House Stamarin emblem and quickly encoded itself before switching to the appearance of a man clad entirely in white and black armor. His face was obscured entirely by the closed visor of his helmet, but there was no mistaking Lord DuValle's armor.
"Knight-Commander," the man said briefly over the window, nodding once to the Orderman.
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Post by Steinerman on Sept 8, 2011 22:24:50 GMT -5
Michael inclined his head absentmindedly, waving different Hospitallers to positions along the street. "Lord DuValle." He greeted calmly. "I trust the Emperor is safe?"
As he spoke, he waved a communications specialist over. The soldier opened a viewing screen of the known disposition of Stamarian and Korin forces in the city. While he waited for DuValle to respond, he started coordinating reinforcements for wayward Stamarian patrols, ensuring that if a true battle did commence, no units would be left stranded.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 8, 2011 22:28:44 GMT -5
"As he always is," DuValle replied crisply. "I have received several reports about sightings of Khordus Jorin. From no less than six different squads--they can't all be him. We know you arrived to back up one of the squads who reported him. Can you confirm this?"
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Post by Steinerman on Sept 8, 2011 22:34:41 GMT -5
Standing to Michael's right, operative Rivers took a swig from a water canteen and then nodded once in answer to Michael's questioning glance. "Aye, we saw him, Michael. Blasted man put some sort of blade in my partner's stomach."
Michael turned his gaze back to the viewscreen. "The operatives who I reinforced assure me it was the Harbinger they encountered. Regular ground-forces and Order Hospitallers are pursuing him at this moment, though I fear with little effect."
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