“From our lord and Emperor Caesar Randall Tiberius, Supreme Leader of Remas and Recipient of the People’s Senate. ‘I hereby Declare a State of the War in the Remanian Empire. Our War with Persiais over, but we face another foe. A massive rebel force that seeks to raise anarchy, death and to ensure Destruction of all that we have fought for. They have assaulted the cities of Londana, Stantum, Barcelos, New Capua, Rendra and the Capital herself. They have slaughtered many good Remanian citizens and are robbing us of our hard earned peace. Let us remind these fools of the Might of Remas. Glory to the Legions, Strength and Honor and Roma Eterna’ “
After finishing Captain Gilderscrowns ordered us to be ready to mobilize in two hours. Just like that, we were officially bac
After forming up, a group of officers led us to a set of habitation tents near the perimeter of the Southern walls of the fort, from which we were split up and assigned to the tents by squad. “Get some rest, you’re moving out before dawn and meeting up with the rest of the legion at the main fortress.” Says one of the Officers, we salute in response and begin unpacking. Trosdig had again released me as scribe after remembering my bad arm and took in Frederick this time. Once we settled by the tents, Cub passes by and I strike up a conversation with me “I thought there was a meeting?” I ask him “
“Death Death Death to all” Sung Frederick as we threw a body into the pile “I honestly don’t know if this is better, or worse” Said Quintus as he wiped off some barbarian blood on his sleeve. “A lot better than fighting I guess” I say, hopefully slightly raising the spirits of my squad mates. I continue to look for more bodies until one suddenly rises up and tries to attack us. He begins by screaming and swinging his spear wildly. An arrow stuck out from both his knee and belly while his left shoulder had a large bleeding bullet hole, and his skin was as pale as snow. This man was on his last drop of blood. “Stay back! TRUTH!” he screams then he stumbles and tries to balance himself with his spear. “You’re done now, drop your weapon.” I tell him as I keep my distance
I had faced disrespect in the past, disrespect from my brothers, and disrespect from strangers, from officers, prisoners, enemies and so forth. The irritation that follows is something I have never outgrown so what followed next was a flurry of fists, curses and more spit as I wrestled the tattooed legionnaire to the ground. My opponent fought back as hard as any Remanian soldier was expected to and so did I. He struck back by punching at my ribs as I tried to land an elbow strike to his face, I clinch through the pain and go through with the attack as I feel his nose crack under my elbow. But despite that attack he is able to flip me over and then begins to deliver strike down on my face with a series of quick punches. I block with arms and catch one arm and use it
I pick up some mud from the ground and let it run through my fingers, allowing the descending mud to calm me down. “Gravlin Valley was not a simple stride. You think it was easy? I lost friends there too, people like you and I. Soldiers” I tell him “We faced the metal men and the hordes, I know what it feels like when the creaking of their gears echo across the field. And don’t forget we all fought in the Long War before all this? I mean for love of Providence, we all fought here against the Persians in the Long War didn’t we? Even if Captain Gilderscrowns did betray the principles, are we not all still part of the 17th Legion” I stare him in the eye hoping to bring my
“Retreat! Fall back!” echoed the all the other Legionnaires running towards us down the hill. Despite the confusion, Trosdig’s defiant orders could be heard amidst the deafening screams of fear. “Hold you cowards!” He screamed as he drew his sword and lifted it up into the sky. A shiver begins to crawl throughout my entire body. My fingers begin to uneasily shake. “Forward” Screamed our Centurion, and so we marched up the hill through the throng of our fear stricken comrades, some who were covered by terrifyingly large splatters of blood adorning their gear. We continued to mutter prayers and hum songs of encouragement until it became terrifyingly clear that we were not facing an enemy of the usual sort as the ring of its engine and the whirl of its blade
It didn’t take too long for us to react and soon enough I had plunged my sword into the belly of a charging barbarian, I turn to face another but find none standing as the Captain’s bodyguard had quickly finished the last ones “Just a bunch of fast ones” Trosdig says as he hands me a shield, “We have to join the others” Exclaims one of the Centurions, who then begins our return back to our posts at the Eastern Wall. The crackle of gunfire forms an irregular but uplifting beat as the Gunners on the towers and the walls fire at will on our attackers. I look around and see glimpses of small groups of barbarians engaging Remanian soldiers or getting cut down by bullets and arrows, we later then passed one of the outer walls where the General’s bodyguard could be seen holding in the breach. But soon after navigating the twists and turns of the Encampment we had finally reached
Though the distance between me and the Cohort was only a few short paces, my sprint to close that distance felt like a day’s worth of marching, and the howling growls of the charging barbarians did very little to satiate my panic. Once I joined my comrades, Varis immediately slaps me in the head and garbles some angry words at me; I couldn’t hear any, thanks to the rumble of guns and the bashing of shields. I stay in the back ranks for a while, watching the barbarians slam wildly into our well packed ranks. So far, no casualties, though the breach in the wall was still flooding with our rag armored opponents. Miraculously, the fighting seemed to die down for a moment, that’s when Trosdig finally found some time to berate me. “By Loki’s Children! What is your job here Mallic?” “I I I am A Soldier of Remas!” I stammer, but with enough of the vigor and passion that I once ha
I was expecting the weather to turn dire and shower us all with some unneeded freezing rain, but surprisingly the weather stayed calm the whole day though, nothing wilder than a strong wind passed by. Varkii and I stayed at that supply tent till the next morning. I expected Trosdig to wake us up for the sake of Cohort solidarity but it seemed that he couldn’t care less, or perhaps he thought we were dead. … It wasn’t too long till I was awaken by a disturbing bright light shining brightening our resting spot, I expected it to be the Sunrise but instead it was just the one of the squads lighting up a massive bonfire for warmth. I look up into the sky and see the Moon shining brightly down upon us. “Serene isn’t it” I look behind me and see a woman standing behi
It was a sound that men of the 3rd Company rarely heard. The Company’s forces were meant for heavy infantry and slow attacks but that didn’t mean we had no idea what an arrow sounded like when it descended on its target. And that’s what happened, the barbarians had seemingly launched every arrow they could find at us. “Damn it” was the word in every soldier’s mouth now. “TESTUDO!” screamed every single officer; we immediately locked down our shields in place in anticipation of the terrifying onset of fear and anxiety that was already writhing and crawling in our bo
I was expecting the weather to turn dire and shower us all with some unneeded freezing rain, but surprisingly the weather stayed calm the whole day though, nothing wilder than a strong wind passed by. Varkii and I stayed at that supply tent till the next morning. I expected Trosdig to wake us up for the sake of Cohort solidarity but it seemed that he couldn’t care less, or perhaps he thought we were dead. … It wasn’t too long till I was awaken by a disturbing bright light shining brightening our resting spot, I expected it to be the Sunrise but instead it was just the one of the squads lighting up a massive bonfire for warmth. I look up into the sky and see the Moon shining brightly down upon us. “Serene isn’t it” I look behind me and see a woman standing behi
Though the distance between me and the Cohort was only a few short paces, my sprint to close that distance felt like a day’s worth of marching, and the howling growls of the charging barbarians did very little to satiate my panic. Once I joined my comrades, Varis immediately slaps me in the head and garbles some angry words at me; I couldn’t hear any, thanks to the rumble of guns and the bashing of shields. I stay in the back ranks for a while, watching the barbarians slam wildly into our well packed ranks. So far, no casualties, though the breach in the wall was still flooding with our rag armored opponents. Miraculously, the fighting seemed to die down for a moment, that’s when Trosdig finally found some time to berate me. “By Loki’s Children! What is your job here Mallic?” “I I I am A Soldier of Remas!” I stammer, but with enough of the vigor and passion that I once ha
It didn’t take too long for us to react and soon enough I had plunged my sword into the belly of a charging barbarian, I turn to face another but find none standing as the Captain’s bodyguard had quickly finished the last ones “Just a bunch of fast ones” Trosdig says as he hands me a shield, “We have to join the others” Exclaims one of the Centurions, who then begins our return back to our posts at the Eastern Wall. The crackle of gunfire forms an irregular but uplifting beat as the Gunners on the towers and the walls fire at will on our attackers. I look around and see glimpses of small groups of barbarians engaging Remanian soldiers or getting cut down by bullets and arrows, we later then passed one of the outer walls where the General’s bodyguard could be seen holding in the breach. But soon after navigating the twists and turns of the Encampment we had finally reached
“Retreat! Fall back!” echoed the all the other Legionnaires running towards us down the hill. Despite the confusion, Trosdig’s defiant orders could be heard amidst the deafening screams of fear. “Hold you cowards!” He screamed as he drew his sword and lifted it up into the sky. A shiver begins to crawl throughout my entire body. My fingers begin to uneasily shake. “Forward” Screamed our Centurion, and so we marched up the hill through the throng of our fear stricken comrades, some who were covered by terrifyingly large splatters of blood adorning their gear. We continued to mutter prayers and hum songs of encouragement until it became terrifyingly clear that we were not facing an enemy of the usual sort as the ring of its engine and the whirl of its blade
I pick up some mud from the ground and let it run through my fingers, allowing the descending mud to calm me down. “Gravlin Valley was not a simple stride. You think it was easy? I lost friends there too, people like you and I. Soldiers” I tell him “We faced the metal men and the hordes, I know what it feels like when the creaking of their gears echo across the field. And don’t forget we all fought in the Long War before all this? I mean for love of Providence, we all fought here against the Persians in the Long War didn’t we? Even if Captain Gilderscrowns did betray the principles, are we not all still part of the 17th Legion” I stare him in the eye hoping to bring my
I had faced disrespect in the past, disrespect from my brothers, and disrespect from strangers, from officers, prisoners, enemies and so forth. The irritation that follows is something I have never outgrown so what followed next was a flurry of fists, curses and more spit as I wrestled the tattooed legionnaire to the ground. My opponent fought back as hard as any Remanian soldier was expected to and so did I. He struck back by punching at my ribs as I tried to land an elbow strike to his face, I clinch through the pain and go through with the attack as I feel his nose crack under my elbow. But despite that attack he is able to flip me over and then begins to deliver strike down on my face with a series of quick punches. I block with arms and catch one arm and use it
“Death Death Death to all” Sung Frederick as we threw a body into the pile “I honestly don’t know if this is better, or worse” Said Quintus as he wiped off some barbarian blood on his sleeve. “A lot better than fighting I guess” I say, hopefully slightly raising the spirits of my squad mates. I continue to look for more bodies until one suddenly rises up and tries to attack us. He begins by screaming and swinging his spear wildly. An arrow stuck out from both his knee and belly while his left shoulder had a large bleeding bullet hole, and his skin was as pale as snow. This man was on his last drop of blood. “Stay back! TRUTH!” he screams then he stumbles and tries to balance himself with his spear. “You’re done now, drop your weapon.” I tell him as I keep my distance
After forming up, a group of officers led us to a set of habitation tents near the perimeter of the Southern walls of the fort, from which we were split up and assigned to the tents by squad. “Get some rest, you’re moving out before dawn and meeting up with the rest of the legion at the main fortress.” Says one of the Officers, we salute in response and begin unpacking. Trosdig had again released me as scribe after remembering my bad arm and took in Frederick this time. Once we settled by the tents, Cub passes by and I strike up a conversation with me “I thought there was a meeting?” I ask him “