I'm actually a plant from an anti-spring initiative. I try to distract Springers from doing what they should be doing by writing zunky stories for them to read.
Muhahahahahah!
Gunpowder Knight
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Gunpowder Knight
I'm waiting for Alex to slug that "piano teacher" 
.
.Re: Gunpowder Knight
So, I'm heading back from Gorgia today. I'll be home by midnight, then actually start writing some time next week. Sorry for the delay.
But if it makes you feel better, I've re-written a 4,600 short story into something vaugely publishable and will be mailing it off to a magazine soon.
But if it makes you feel better, I've re-written a 4,600 short story into something vaugely publishable and will be mailing it off to a magazine soon.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Re: Gunpowder Knight
*pod x infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^
infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^
infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity*
EDIT: Erk! I though the forum had wordwrap or something!?!
EDIT: Fixed...
infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^
infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity^infinity*
EDIT: Erk! I though the forum had wordwrap or something!?!
EDIT: Fixed...
Re: Gunpowder Knight
I totally PMmed you, Guess.
With like...the new...thing.
With like...the new...thing.
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Thank you Zoombie, I started covolsing a week ago .
.-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Re: Gunpowder Knight
(*is proofreading now*)
Zoombie, repeat after me...
"mechanism is not spelt 'mechnizem' "...
EDIT: Done proofreading
Zoombie, repeat after me...
"mechanism is not spelt 'mechnizem' "...
EDIT: Done proofreading
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Mechinizem...
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how did you escape again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan grinned, pausing between bites. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh, it was easy when I got right down to it. They're only Silverbacks after all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The months of imprisonment had been hard on Jonathan. He'd been lean before, but now his ribs could be counted through his shirt. He ate like a man possessed, shoveling away at his meal with an abandon that was surely unhealthy.
Jonathan looked up at his benefactor, smiling happily. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd have died if it wasn't for you finding me, uh...sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man, who's face was slightly hazy, nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, soldier, there is only one problem.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan's brow furrowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôSoldier? I'm a knight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExactly.├óÔé¼┬Ø The hazy man shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a dream.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan was about to say something when a boot to his stomach snapped him out of his dream. He curled up as the Silverback guard shouted something in his barbarous language at him. Jonathan had gotten good at picking those words out over the last two months, good enough to know that ├óÔé¼┼ôkazak ur kusk├óÔé¼┬Ø meant ├óÔé¼┼ôget up or die.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He got up and the Silverback threw a musty smelling Silverback army coat at him. Jonathan tugged it on, enjoying the warmth that started to collect under the coat. A hat was passed to him and he put that on too. But when the boots, gloves and a flint were handed to him, Jonathan started to feel an uneasy lump in his stomach.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...master,├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked in slow, stuttering Silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôW-what...these for?├óÔé¼┬Ø He held up the flint. It looked old, even for Silverback standards. The metal barrel was rusty and calling the firing mechanizem basic was being overly charitable.
├óÔé¼┼ôDisguise.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback guard grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they see, you in that, then they, shoot you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan felt the uneasy lump turn into an uneasy boulder. Once before, the front had pushed forward enough to push the prison camp, or whoever he was, back. But this disguise was a first.
Jonathan fell in with the other Silverbacks. Silverback Army regulars mixed with Silverback irregulars fairly evenly. Most army types wore whatever they could find, the only thing distinguishing them from the irregulars being their badges and their hats...like the hat Jonathan wore right now.
The sounds of distant flint shot and artillery fire drifted through the scattered forests and plains of the Southlands. Snow drifted down as well, but the Silverback boots were amazingly good at going through over miles and miles of snow and leaving your feet warm.
And then the Imperials caught up with the Silverbacks.
A sudden crack crack crack of flint shot broke into the steady marching of Silverback feet. Most of them dropped, some from wounds and others from the very serious desire to avoid getting shot. Jonathan was one of them. Flint shot started to slap into the snow and mud. Jonathan dug himself into cover with his bare hands, his useless faux-flint laying uselessly by his side.
Silverbacks shot back at the Imperials. Artillery started to land nearby, sending up fountains of mud and dirt. Jonathan started looking around for a way to retreat, but the Silverbacks had people that ducked near the back of the lines just to shoot people who tried to run.
Imperials started to advance by squads, firing and advancing and firing and advancing. Some of them fell. Lots of them ducked. A few ran like madmen and managed to avoid the flint shot that filled the air.
Then one of them jumped into the Silverback trench next to Jonathan and his keeper. The Imperial bayoneted the Silverback guard who had kept watch on Jonathan the whole march. He turned to Jonathan.
Jonathan grabbed his flint and batted away the bayonet. He looked up at the snarling Imperial above him and...
├óÔé¼┼ôHank!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank blinked.
Jonathan knocked Hank over as a flint shot cracked overhead.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank snarled.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time for this!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan tore his hat off, grabbed Hank's flint and turned around. He pulled the trigger. A Silverback's head exploded. The Silverback line was falling apart.
Jonathan tried to spin the R-flint's chamber to swap bullets and...he stopped. Instead of a four chambered cylinder, it had a odd...bolt mechanism. A small box sat under the bolt mechanism, which Jonathan presumed had bullets.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted at Hank.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's...Jonathan!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm Jonathan!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan shouted at him. The din of battle was slowly dying down. Silverbacks were starting to surrender in droves. He picked up his hat and put it on. It was still cold out.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Knight Lieutenant!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank called as Jonathan clambered out of the trench.
├óÔé¼┼ôSilverback!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. Jonathan put his hands up. A flint shot cracked through his heart.
Everything became dark before he hit the bottom of the trench.
###
Alex wasn't sure what was making him go crazy faster: His sister's piano player, her piano teaching or his injury.
But at least his injury was getting better. He could hobble around fairly well on a cane, could make it up and down the stairs, and threaten small children who pestered him as he went for his daily walk.
The kids were a source of strange amusement to Alex. They were part of a new generation, a new generation that didn't quite respect their nobles like they used to.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how did you get wounded again?├óÔé¼┬Ø A sandy haired youth asked, easily out pacing and running circles around Alex as he hobbled along.
├óÔé¼┼ôDid you kill any Silverbacks?├óÔé¼┬Ø A girl asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear they breath fire.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou kids!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex waved his cane at them. They laughed and started to pester him with more questions.
After his walk, he came back home and did some more exercises. And, week by week, he got better and better. Eventually, he kept his cane around more for a way to wave it at kids than to support his walking.
And then...
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're getting married.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis said, her arm slipped around Yeller's arm.
Alex suddenly wished he was in his wheel chair again. It made falling over from shock and disgust a lot less likely. He managed to keep his feet and say, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou heard her.├óÔé¼┬Ø Yeller said. His voice struck Alex as even more faintly whiny than before, now that he was preening. ├óÔé¼┼ôSis and I are in love, and we are going to get married.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, Father-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHas already signed consent.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis smiled at Yeller. When he smiled back...his entire face lit up and he suddenly looked a lot handsomer. Alex coughed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I...uh,├óÔé¼┬Ø He blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what did Mother say?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe said she was proud to have a new son in her family.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially such a successful one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. His sister looked happy, and Yeller looked happy and...
Alex sighed, sticking out his hand. Yeller took it. ├óÔé¼┼ôMay your union be a happy one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
A week later, they were married. Alex was the best man, and managed to walk down the isle without a cane. The best man held the rings, so Alex had to be very careful to not drop the two cushions on which the rings sat. Sis brought in one of her friends to be the Maid of honor. She held the trailing dress hem off the ground.
A priest intoned the wedding rites, dating back to the founding of the Empire. It sounded a bit like the questionnaire that the priest asked Alex when he joined the army. Had it already been...a year and a half since then?
Alex felt a tear prick at his eye when the wedding vows were completed. Yeller and Sis kissed.
The next day, a messenger came with a letter. Alex opened the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen, Knight Sergent?├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger asked. Alex nodded. The messenger handed him the letter, did an about face and left.
Alex opened the letter. He sighed, then went up stairs and told his parents. His father hugged him. His mother cried.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Syble?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother asked. She was the only one in the family who stuck to the long version of Sis' name.
├óÔé¼┼ôLet her have her...happy night.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to not feel sick when he thought of that. Tried and failed.
Father nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds right.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you two are wrong.├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother shook her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôFinding out later will make her feel betrayed. I'll tell her.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, wait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe and her love are most likely going...well...it'll be a real shame to interrupt them now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex held up his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...why don't I just leave tomorrow?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the letter says immediately.├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think they won't mind waiting a day.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
The next day, Alex got on a wagon, his shirt flecked with tears after Mother and Sis hugged him again and again, and spent a good half the day watching the countryside trundle by. Winter was ending, slowly. He wondered how it was like up in the Southlands.
War news said the war was going well. The front was pushing forward towards several vital cities in the Silverback republic.
Alex slung his pack onto his back and picked up a large duffel that held his painting as the wagon reached the Imperial Fort Baker, which was one of the many place knights could be sent off to the front. Another wagon ride, this one longer, set him in the Southlands.
The snow was starting to melt, and with it came mud. Alex's new platoon got mired in it for the better part of three days, till someone came up with an ingenious kind of Silverback wagon that was part boat, part wagon and perfectly suited to this season of the Southlands. The platoon moved forward.
The platoon joined up with another platoon that had seen serious action. There were wounded and...Hank.
Alex stopped dead in his tracks. He grinned wide and waved at Hank. ├óÔé¼┼ôHank!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank looked up, eyes wide. He grinned at Alex, and jogged over.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a lieutenant now...sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex saluted. Hank saluted back.
├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease. Yeah, yeah. It's been a hellstorm out here.├óÔé¼┬Ø His face faltered.
├óÔé¼┼ôYour platoon looks like it's been through a lot. Did Jonathan get the Deadeyes position?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank's face fell.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôShot dead, about a week ago.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked down, closing his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFriendly fire.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how did you escape again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan grinned, pausing between bites. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh, it was easy when I got right down to it. They're only Silverbacks after all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The months of imprisonment had been hard on Jonathan. He'd been lean before, but now his ribs could be counted through his shirt. He ate like a man possessed, shoveling away at his meal with an abandon that was surely unhealthy.
Jonathan looked up at his benefactor, smiling happily. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd have died if it wasn't for you finding me, uh...sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man, who's face was slightly hazy, nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, soldier, there is only one problem.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan's brow furrowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôSoldier? I'm a knight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExactly.├óÔé¼┬Ø The hazy man shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a dream.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan was about to say something when a boot to his stomach snapped him out of his dream. He curled up as the Silverback guard shouted something in his barbarous language at him. Jonathan had gotten good at picking those words out over the last two months, good enough to know that ├óÔé¼┼ôkazak ur kusk├óÔé¼┬Ø meant ├óÔé¼┼ôget up or die.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He got up and the Silverback threw a musty smelling Silverback army coat at him. Jonathan tugged it on, enjoying the warmth that started to collect under the coat. A hat was passed to him and he put that on too. But when the boots, gloves and a flint were handed to him, Jonathan started to feel an uneasy lump in his stomach.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...master,├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked in slow, stuttering Silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôW-what...these for?├óÔé¼┬Ø He held up the flint. It looked old, even for Silverback standards. The metal barrel was rusty and calling the firing mechanizem basic was being overly charitable.
├óÔé¼┼ôDisguise.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback guard grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they see, you in that, then they, shoot you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan felt the uneasy lump turn into an uneasy boulder. Once before, the front had pushed forward enough to push the prison camp, or whoever he was, back. But this disguise was a first.
Jonathan fell in with the other Silverbacks. Silverback Army regulars mixed with Silverback irregulars fairly evenly. Most army types wore whatever they could find, the only thing distinguishing them from the irregulars being their badges and their hats...like the hat Jonathan wore right now.
The sounds of distant flint shot and artillery fire drifted through the scattered forests and plains of the Southlands. Snow drifted down as well, but the Silverback boots were amazingly good at going through over miles and miles of snow and leaving your feet warm.
And then the Imperials caught up with the Silverbacks.
A sudden crack crack crack of flint shot broke into the steady marching of Silverback feet. Most of them dropped, some from wounds and others from the very serious desire to avoid getting shot. Jonathan was one of them. Flint shot started to slap into the snow and mud. Jonathan dug himself into cover with his bare hands, his useless faux-flint laying uselessly by his side.
Silverbacks shot back at the Imperials. Artillery started to land nearby, sending up fountains of mud and dirt. Jonathan started looking around for a way to retreat, but the Silverbacks had people that ducked near the back of the lines just to shoot people who tried to run.
Imperials started to advance by squads, firing and advancing and firing and advancing. Some of them fell. Lots of them ducked. A few ran like madmen and managed to avoid the flint shot that filled the air.
Then one of them jumped into the Silverback trench next to Jonathan and his keeper. The Imperial bayoneted the Silverback guard who had kept watch on Jonathan the whole march. He turned to Jonathan.
Jonathan grabbed his flint and batted away the bayonet. He looked up at the snarling Imperial above him and...
├óÔé¼┼ôHank!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank blinked.
Jonathan knocked Hank over as a flint shot cracked overhead.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank snarled.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time for this!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan tore his hat off, grabbed Hank's flint and turned around. He pulled the trigger. A Silverback's head exploded. The Silverback line was falling apart.
Jonathan tried to spin the R-flint's chamber to swap bullets and...he stopped. Instead of a four chambered cylinder, it had a odd...bolt mechanism. A small box sat under the bolt mechanism, which Jonathan presumed had bullets.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted at Hank.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's...Jonathan!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm Jonathan!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan shouted at him. The din of battle was slowly dying down. Silverbacks were starting to surrender in droves. He picked up his hat and put it on. It was still cold out.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Knight Lieutenant!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank called as Jonathan clambered out of the trench.
├óÔé¼┼ôSilverback!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. Jonathan put his hands up. A flint shot cracked through his heart.
Everything became dark before he hit the bottom of the trench.
###
Alex wasn't sure what was making him go crazy faster: His sister's piano player, her piano teaching or his injury.
But at least his injury was getting better. He could hobble around fairly well on a cane, could make it up and down the stairs, and threaten small children who pestered him as he went for his daily walk.
The kids were a source of strange amusement to Alex. They were part of a new generation, a new generation that didn't quite respect their nobles like they used to.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how did you get wounded again?├óÔé¼┬Ø A sandy haired youth asked, easily out pacing and running circles around Alex as he hobbled along.
├óÔé¼┼ôDid you kill any Silverbacks?├óÔé¼┬Ø A girl asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear they breath fire.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou kids!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex waved his cane at them. They laughed and started to pester him with more questions.
After his walk, he came back home and did some more exercises. And, week by week, he got better and better. Eventually, he kept his cane around more for a way to wave it at kids than to support his walking.
And then...
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're getting married.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis said, her arm slipped around Yeller's arm.
Alex suddenly wished he was in his wheel chair again. It made falling over from shock and disgust a lot less likely. He managed to keep his feet and say, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou heard her.├óÔé¼┬Ø Yeller said. His voice struck Alex as even more faintly whiny than before, now that he was preening. ├óÔé¼┼ôSis and I are in love, and we are going to get married.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, Father-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHas already signed consent.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis smiled at Yeller. When he smiled back...his entire face lit up and he suddenly looked a lot handsomer. Alex coughed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...I...uh,├óÔé¼┬Ø He blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what did Mother say?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôShe said she was proud to have a new son in her family.├óÔé¼┬Ø Sis smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially such a successful one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. His sister looked happy, and Yeller looked happy and...
Alex sighed, sticking out his hand. Yeller took it. ├óÔé¼┼ôMay your union be a happy one.├óÔé¼┬Ø
A week later, they were married. Alex was the best man, and managed to walk down the isle without a cane. The best man held the rings, so Alex had to be very careful to not drop the two cushions on which the rings sat. Sis brought in one of her friends to be the Maid of honor. She held the trailing dress hem off the ground.
A priest intoned the wedding rites, dating back to the founding of the Empire. It sounded a bit like the questionnaire that the priest asked Alex when he joined the army. Had it already been...a year and a half since then?
Alex felt a tear prick at his eye when the wedding vows were completed. Yeller and Sis kissed.
The next day, a messenger came with a letter. Alex opened the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen, Knight Sergent?├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger asked. Alex nodded. The messenger handed him the letter, did an about face and left.
Alex opened the letter. He sighed, then went up stairs and told his parents. His father hugged him. His mother cried.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Syble?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother asked. She was the only one in the family who stuck to the long version of Sis' name.
├óÔé¼┼ôLet her have her...happy night.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to not feel sick when he thought of that. Tried and failed.
Father nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds right.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you two are wrong.├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother shook her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôFinding out later will make her feel betrayed. I'll tell her.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, wait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe and her love are most likely going...well...it'll be a real shame to interrupt them now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex held up his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...why don't I just leave tomorrow?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the letter says immediately.├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think they won't mind waiting a day.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
The next day, Alex got on a wagon, his shirt flecked with tears after Mother and Sis hugged him again and again, and spent a good half the day watching the countryside trundle by. Winter was ending, slowly. He wondered how it was like up in the Southlands.
War news said the war was going well. The front was pushing forward towards several vital cities in the Silverback republic.
Alex slung his pack onto his back and picked up a large duffel that held his painting as the wagon reached the Imperial Fort Baker, which was one of the many place knights could be sent off to the front. Another wagon ride, this one longer, set him in the Southlands.
The snow was starting to melt, and with it came mud. Alex's new platoon got mired in it for the better part of three days, till someone came up with an ingenious kind of Silverback wagon that was part boat, part wagon and perfectly suited to this season of the Southlands. The platoon moved forward.
The platoon joined up with another platoon that had seen serious action. There were wounded and...Hank.
Alex stopped dead in his tracks. He grinned wide and waved at Hank. ├óÔé¼┼ôHank!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank looked up, eyes wide. He grinned at Alex, and jogged over.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a lieutenant now...sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex saluted. Hank saluted back.
├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease. Yeah, yeah. It's been a hellstorm out here.├óÔé¼┬Ø His face faltered.
├óÔé¼┼ôYour platoon looks like it's been through a lot. Did Jonathan get the Deadeyes position?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank's face fell.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Hank sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôShot dead, about a week ago.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked down, closing his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFriendly fire.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Re: Gunpowder Knight
.nac I sa tsaf sa ti gnitirw m'I
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Alex crouched behind some rubble and reloaded. War, in his few months of absence, had changed even more. Artillery was more important. The new bolt-flints could put out shot after shot after shot without reloading and now reloading was as simple as slapping in a new box of flint shot. It was more accurate, faster firing, and an all around more effective weapon.
This was all great, until Alex remembered that Silverbacks had them too now.
Flintshot cracked against the rubble. Bits of stone chipped off. An Imperial to the right of Alex popped out of cover and fired twice, working the bolt with frantic speed. The Silverback's shot back, but the Imperial was back under cover before their bullets started zipping overhead.
Alex worked his bolt, popped up and fired. A Silverback pitched over. A scream from Alex's side of the battle told him that not all the Silverback's were missing.
The Imperial army had bludgeoned into Thrill a week ago and the Silverbacks had made them pay for every single block. The city was gargantuan, stretching from one end of the valley to the other. Buildings stood five stories tall through most of it, and Silverbacks seemed to infest every inch. But the city also had some of the largest factories of the Southlands inside it.
Artillery creped forward, slowly turning the city into rubble. Alex was told the supply situation was getting increasingly frantic for the crews, but to him it seemed like every artillery shell in the world was coming out of the Imperial batteries.
And, as if the Gods had to counter balance everything, every Silverback in the world was right on the other side of the city, shooting at him. He popped up and fired off a shot, then ducked down.
Artillery came down, and with it a new messenger. He looked like a man close to death, his uniformed blackened by soot, his eyes wild. He skidded to a halt behind Alex's cover.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnight Lieutenant!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôOrders from the Commander!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are they!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted back as the artillery fire slackened.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey're going to push in the center of Thrill!├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger flinched as a flint shot ruffled his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou and your squads need to make a diversion!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A Silverback grenade, a small clockwork monstrosity that had replaced Bottles in terms of sheer lethality, came down behind the Messenger. He half turned before it exploded.
He took most of the blast, his mutilated body falling to the ground with a plop that made itself heard over the din of battle. Alex turned his face away from the sight, then shouted to his men. ├óÔé¼┼ôAffix bayonets!├óÔé¼┬Ø
He put his on, tightened it, then shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôOver the top!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Some of his men stayed back and shot at the Silverbacks to break up their fire. A few tossed Bottles, to add even more smoke and flames to the blazing city. Alex charged, leaped over the Silverback cover and threw himself into the maelstrom of melee combat.
The battle ebbed and flowed. The push into Thrill failed, of course, and the distraction took a heavy toll. But Alex survived and he got to pick up the pieces of his men. A few of them were in pieces. It seemed as the farther back the Silverback fell, the more inventive their technicians back at their capital, the increasingly close Morcoban, got.
Their latest toy, grenades, had left several men gored from one side, others with limbs blown clear off. And, Alex thought as he patted his bolt-flint, the Imperials weren't sleeping on the job when it came to new and more inventive ways of slaughtering people.
He sighed. Flint shots cracked off in the distance and the occasional explosion would shake the ground. City fighting alway struck him as... well... He leaned his back against some rubble, double checked his flint, pulled out his rations and started to eat. His men, all crouched around various destroyed buildings, were eating too. Many made do with Silverback rations, but even those were running dry.
Alex wished he had time to paint, but time had been swallowed up by war and moving forward and trying to avoid flint shot.
He sighed. Where was Hank? Probably on the other side of Thrill, fighting for his life. Alex closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the wight of the war slamming down. As his eyes closed, his mind floated back, to a week ago... Key... He opened them the instant a messenger ran to this particular area of battered city.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's me.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex raised his hand. The messenger scuttled closer.
├óÔé¼┼ôMessage from the Commander,├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger looked around, checking for snipers. A flint shot rang out and someone screamed.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet him a medic!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted. The local medic nodded and rushed over to help the wounded man.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo good,├óÔé¼┬Ø the medic called, looking at Alex and shaking his head.
Alex sighed, looking back at the messenger. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped, a bit too harshly.
The messenger bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've been recalled.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to not shout too loud. He failed. Several of the troops looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôI just carry the message.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine...take me to the him.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He paused, then called over his next in command. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou keep a handle on things here, Knight Sergent.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Knight Sergent Julius nodded and Alex turned to follow the messenger. Their passage through the city was slow and cautious, but safer than most. Nighttime had fallen by the time they reached the H.Q near the center of the Imperial lines. Pickets and snipers kept watch all around the bombed out factory that Imperial H.Q had set up in. No Imperial flags were flying from the top of the building, for which Alex was heartily great full. It meant no Silverback artillery would come crashing down on purpose.
Then again, artillery could still land on them completely by accident. That fact served to dampen Alex's great fullness.
He ducked under a partially collapsed door way and was stopped by a guard, who checked his identification. Alex sighed and gritted his teeth and endured the other security measures. The taking off his cap and feeling in his hair for strapped down ears, then patted his behind for a strapped down tail.
Once he was sure Alex wasn't a Silverback spy, the guard ushered him into the H.Q. He was met by none other than Knight General Porter.
├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral, sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex saluted. Porter shook his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease.├óÔé¼┬Ø Porter looked Alex over. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen, you have been recalled to Shrillbore.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bit his lip and forced his voice to be calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôBegging your permission, but... why?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know. The League of the source doesn't tell people much.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stiffened, eyes widening. A week ago, he had been pulled out of the caravan by Key...
She had looked up when he walked into her tent. Her hair had been cut recently, giving her a slightly boyish look, but she retained her exotic femininity that had kept her in Alex's dreams.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, good.├óÔé¼┬Ø She sighed, gesturing to her cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôSit down.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex did so, looking at her. He hadn't been with a woman for so long, he thought. Key looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôTell me if this sounds...familiar.├óÔé¼┬Ø She says. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I have a theory, about this... it's a theory that's been growing ever since you told me about the... message.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked as Key sat down next to Alex. She looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAll right... tell me if this is familiar.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, please, whatever you do-├óÔé¼┬Ø Key's voice became soft, an urgent whisper. ├óÔé¼┼ô-Don't, don't lead the charge at Redstroke. And, Alex...I love you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She leaned forward and kissed him. He kissed her back, but unlike the last time this had happened, he did more. He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her closer, his lips locked with hers. And... and for a moment, she kissed him back. He could feel a heat from her skin through her robes and he wanted her so badly it hurt.
Then she pulled away, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen... I was right.├óÔé¼┬Ø She said softly, looking away.
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, I-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no, it explains why it's been so hard to get you out of my head.├óÔé¼┬Ø She grinned, still looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you think this is all a bit crazy and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex turned her cheek with his hand and kissed her again.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the message didn't give any other specifications.├óÔé¼┬Ø General Porter's voice broke into the dreamlike memory. Alex shook himself and tried to remember what Porter had been saying. Directions to the staging area that would get Alex back to wherever the League wanted him to go.
He nodded, feeling slightly better about the recall. But only slightly. If Key had pushed through some paperwork to get him out of the front lines, he'd have a very stern talk with her. Soldiers don't abandon their posts for their love lives.
And, he thought as he got on the wagon that would take him home, he wasn't sure if it was love yet. Yes... they had kissed a few times, and there had been that moment where his hand had fallen over her breast and she had made a soft, mewling sound at the back of her throat...
Alex was glad he was sitting down as his knees felt a bit weak. The other soldiers in the wagon all looked at him with signs of resentment. They weren't heading home because someone pulled strings or the League said so. They were going home with missing limbs and battle wounds.
Alex sat back in the wagon and looked at the passing country side as the horses lumbered into motion. Behind them, the burning city of Thrill continued to fall, inch by bloody inch.
This was all great, until Alex remembered that Silverbacks had them too now.
Flintshot cracked against the rubble. Bits of stone chipped off. An Imperial to the right of Alex popped out of cover and fired twice, working the bolt with frantic speed. The Silverback's shot back, but the Imperial was back under cover before their bullets started zipping overhead.
Alex worked his bolt, popped up and fired. A Silverback pitched over. A scream from Alex's side of the battle told him that not all the Silverback's were missing.
The Imperial army had bludgeoned into Thrill a week ago and the Silverbacks had made them pay for every single block. The city was gargantuan, stretching from one end of the valley to the other. Buildings stood five stories tall through most of it, and Silverbacks seemed to infest every inch. But the city also had some of the largest factories of the Southlands inside it.
Artillery creped forward, slowly turning the city into rubble. Alex was told the supply situation was getting increasingly frantic for the crews, but to him it seemed like every artillery shell in the world was coming out of the Imperial batteries.
And, as if the Gods had to counter balance everything, every Silverback in the world was right on the other side of the city, shooting at him. He popped up and fired off a shot, then ducked down.
Artillery came down, and with it a new messenger. He looked like a man close to death, his uniformed blackened by soot, his eyes wild. He skidded to a halt behind Alex's cover.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnight Lieutenant!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôOrders from the Commander!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are they!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted back as the artillery fire slackened.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey're going to push in the center of Thrill!├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger flinched as a flint shot ruffled his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou and your squads need to make a diversion!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A Silverback grenade, a small clockwork monstrosity that had replaced Bottles in terms of sheer lethality, came down behind the Messenger. He half turned before it exploded.
He took most of the blast, his mutilated body falling to the ground with a plop that made itself heard over the din of battle. Alex turned his face away from the sight, then shouted to his men. ├óÔé¼┼ôAffix bayonets!├óÔé¼┬Ø
He put his on, tightened it, then shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôOver the top!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Some of his men stayed back and shot at the Silverbacks to break up their fire. A few tossed Bottles, to add even more smoke and flames to the blazing city. Alex charged, leaped over the Silverback cover and threw himself into the maelstrom of melee combat.
The battle ebbed and flowed. The push into Thrill failed, of course, and the distraction took a heavy toll. But Alex survived and he got to pick up the pieces of his men. A few of them were in pieces. It seemed as the farther back the Silverback fell, the more inventive their technicians back at their capital, the increasingly close Morcoban, got.
Their latest toy, grenades, had left several men gored from one side, others with limbs blown clear off. And, Alex thought as he patted his bolt-flint, the Imperials weren't sleeping on the job when it came to new and more inventive ways of slaughtering people.
He sighed. Flint shots cracked off in the distance and the occasional explosion would shake the ground. City fighting alway struck him as... well... He leaned his back against some rubble, double checked his flint, pulled out his rations and started to eat. His men, all crouched around various destroyed buildings, were eating too. Many made do with Silverback rations, but even those were running dry.
Alex wished he had time to paint, but time had been swallowed up by war and moving forward and trying to avoid flint shot.
He sighed. Where was Hank? Probably on the other side of Thrill, fighting for his life. Alex closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the wight of the war slamming down. As his eyes closed, his mind floated back, to a week ago... Key... He opened them the instant a messenger ran to this particular area of battered city.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat's me.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex raised his hand. The messenger scuttled closer.
├óÔé¼┼ôMessage from the Commander,├óÔé¼┬Ø The messenger looked around, checking for snipers. A flint shot rang out and someone screamed.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet him a medic!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted. The local medic nodded and rushed over to help the wounded man.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo good,├óÔé¼┬Ø the medic called, looking at Alex and shaking his head.
Alex sighed, looking back at the messenger. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped, a bit too harshly.
The messenger bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've been recalled.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to not shout too loud. He failed. Several of the troops looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôI just carry the message.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine...take me to the him.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He paused, then called over his next in command. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou keep a handle on things here, Knight Sergent.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Knight Sergent Julius nodded and Alex turned to follow the messenger. Their passage through the city was slow and cautious, but safer than most. Nighttime had fallen by the time they reached the H.Q near the center of the Imperial lines. Pickets and snipers kept watch all around the bombed out factory that Imperial H.Q had set up in. No Imperial flags were flying from the top of the building, for which Alex was heartily great full. It meant no Silverback artillery would come crashing down on purpose.
Then again, artillery could still land on them completely by accident. That fact served to dampen Alex's great fullness.
He ducked under a partially collapsed door way and was stopped by a guard, who checked his identification. Alex sighed and gritted his teeth and endured the other security measures. The taking off his cap and feeling in his hair for strapped down ears, then patted his behind for a strapped down tail.
Once he was sure Alex wasn't a Silverback spy, the guard ushered him into the H.Q. He was met by none other than Knight General Porter.
├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral, sir.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex saluted. Porter shook his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease.├óÔé¼┬Ø Porter looked Alex over. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen, you have been recalled to Shrillbore.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bit his lip and forced his voice to be calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôBegging your permission, but... why?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know. The League of the source doesn't tell people much.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stiffened, eyes widening. A week ago, he had been pulled out of the caravan by Key...
She had looked up when he walked into her tent. Her hair had been cut recently, giving her a slightly boyish look, but she retained her exotic femininity that had kept her in Alex's dreams.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, good.├óÔé¼┬Ø She sighed, gesturing to her cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôSit down.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex did so, looking at her. He hadn't been with a woman for so long, he thought. Key looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôTell me if this sounds...familiar.├óÔé¼┬Ø She says. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I have a theory, about this... it's a theory that's been growing ever since you told me about the... message.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked as Key sat down next to Alex. She looked at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAll right... tell me if this is familiar.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, please, whatever you do-├óÔé¼┬Ø Key's voice became soft, an urgent whisper. ├óÔé¼┼ô-Don't, don't lead the charge at Redstroke. And, Alex...I love you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She leaned forward and kissed him. He kissed her back, but unlike the last time this had happened, he did more. He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her closer, his lips locked with hers. And... and for a moment, she kissed him back. He could feel a heat from her skin through her robes and he wanted her so badly it hurt.
Then she pulled away, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen... I was right.├óÔé¼┬Ø She said softly, looking away.
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, I-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no, it explains why it's been so hard to get you out of my head.├óÔé¼┬Ø She grinned, still looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you think this is all a bit crazy and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex turned her cheek with his hand and kissed her again.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the message didn't give any other specifications.├óÔé¼┬Ø General Porter's voice broke into the dreamlike memory. Alex shook himself and tried to remember what Porter had been saying. Directions to the staging area that would get Alex back to wherever the League wanted him to go.
He nodded, feeling slightly better about the recall. But only slightly. If Key had pushed through some paperwork to get him out of the front lines, he'd have a very stern talk with her. Soldiers don't abandon their posts for their love lives.
And, he thought as he got on the wagon that would take him home, he wasn't sure if it was love yet. Yes... they had kissed a few times, and there had been that moment where his hand had fallen over her breast and she had made a soft, mewling sound at the back of her throat...
Alex was glad he was sitting down as his knees felt a bit weak. The other soldiers in the wagon all looked at him with signs of resentment. They weren't heading home because someone pulled strings or the League said so. They were going home with missing limbs and battle wounds.
Alex sat back in the wagon and looked at the passing country side as the horses lumbered into motion. Behind them, the burning city of Thrill continued to fall, inch by bloody inch.
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-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Re: Gunpowder Knight
'thgir' ton ,'etirw'ianmac wrote:.retsaf thgir neht
(Wait, why am I proofreading other people's posts now? Damn you Zoombie!)