Romani Montclaire - Illburg War (CoI) (4/11)

[18:12] They feel Myllenoris before it descends upon them.

There is a strange, chilling wind. The stars out are bright. The desert well-illuminated from a full moon. In the midst of the cold, dry desert sands, the odd blade of grass or weed begins to sprout up. Single flowers blossom where there was once only dirt. Sand. Gravel.

Misty, black wraiths of war dance around the outskirts of Ilburg. The spirits have come here, anticipating a battle. Lusting for bloodshed and carnage.

Then, they see it.

About a hundred and fifty warriors, clad in brilliant, multicolored armor.

Teraphim wearing cloaks of grey. A few sprinkled warriors of the clergy amongst them.

The banners of Myllenoris raised high, above all.

Near the front of the formation, the High Lady of Myllenoris. Distinctly, not wearing her usual robes of black and white. Wearing armor of mythril. Practical. No room for style or aesthetic.

She wasn't here for that.



The raiding party reaches Ilburg's defenses in no time at all. If, and when, they are met? They stop abruptly, maintaining their formation.


The High Lady alone steps forward to speak.

"Holy War has been declared upon Ilburg for suspicion of harboring occult agents and witchcraft. Grant us passage through your defenses and your people will not fall here. We will scour your settlement, by force. We will set aflame any sign of darkness. Resist, and the spirits of war shall drink from the blood of our people."

She holds her strange, wooden staff firmly in her hands.

"I am certain they would love to drink from the blood of petty bandits, highwaymen. Rhoynur."
(Asta Hargrave)
[18:12] The Inquisition forces of the Celestial Church marched in tow, Behind the Myllorian armies, Side by side they carried the banner of the Golden wings behind the starry night sky. While the desert sand wasn't something the Faithful were used to traveling upon as the looked to the night sky they saw the stars of Leonaus burning bright.

Filling them with hope to continue on. The Stellus Salis and the High Keeper Perciles commanded their armies each taking command of a different wing of their forces. Splitting the about 600 Inquisition Keepers in half allowing for Myllenoris' Grey cloaks to handle the brunt of the force while they acted as vanguards and rear guards.

Inante would step towards his men Keepers, Trained Exorcists who had all came here with one goal in mind, To see the stars claim their justice. As Inante moved to speak he would mostly pray for those in battle this day.

Those who followed him within the rear guard would also pray holding their hands clasped tightly together their feelings transferring to the stars so they could be blessed on this day of battle.

"O' wondering stars we pledge to you this day we of the Inquisition will claim victory. Not for ourselves not for our vanity but for those who have been harmed by those selfish and greedy. To stop the sinful acts of those within this place we march. Our bodies and minds are conduits of the stars. May you bless us as we invoke your names."

Inante would shine with holy magic allowing for his words to carry not only his charisma but his passion.

"Holy star Alph guide us in battle, Bless us the wisdom of your judgment to excelled this day in battle. Vrona guide us in battle, Bless us with your strength to pierce through our opposition. Anos guide us in battle, Bless us with the fortitude to withstand the hardships that comes with war, and let us and our allies claim victory Under the eyes of the stars and those blessed by them We your children of Celestial faith give to you our solemn pledge. Osrona will be under threat no longer!"

As the Stellus finished his prayer he'd get up form the sand watching as the opposing armies came forth. The stars were shining and the reflected off each of his faiths eyes. Some would meet the stars far too soon. But they fought for a cause worthy enough to reach paradise.

"The Siege of the sandcastle begins now! Let us all begin!" The Stellus made strides. Alongside the Inquisitions those of the Holy War would make their marks.
(Inante arl Salis)

[18:17] The hypocrisy was almost sickening.

For where the Spark prepares itself amidst the dunes of the desert, waiting for the army to approach, the dark cloak covering their features under the night veil of the desert.. it is rather clear that this one would be on the opposition against the Myllenoris. If anything, this one was precisely waiting for an ambush.

"Speak of Holy War.."

"Yet immediately declare siege. Tch."

"The morons can't even follow their own script."


A mutter under its breath. Who else, at this point, actually thought that this is about the forces of the dark? It never was, to begin with, and the Spark knows that much. Though, the surprise element isn't wasted so easily, for while it clearly does not reveal itself as of yet, it is lying in wait.

Patient.

Until the sparks begin to gather quietly. A promise of fire that could overspill and roll down in cascading manner - for it knows that fire magi are most used in the sieges, intended to burn away legions of approaching soldiers. And while the main fight would be with the magi of Myllenoris..

Why not cause as much damage as possible, in the meantime?

"Steady.."

The aim is taken upon the armies of Myllenoris. Sitting high upon the dune rocks of the desert, and charging up the explosive shot, the Spark only had one purpose..

To burn everyone who marched with High Lady.
(Spark)

[18:18] The desert sands sting his eyes as he trails after the Keepers. The boy dressed in noble robes remains quiet. Around him, the building of power, the building of resolve, can be felt in the air, small breaths taken inwards. The different color eyes are both closed as his hands remain behind his back, no weapon to be seen on him.

His hand raises. But it is not an attack that comes first. Instead, holy magic gently cloaks the air around them, soothing, already trying to dull the pains of those around him. His breathing is ever constant.

They're here for an inquisition. They're here to check for occultism and do it peacefully. It is what he believes. And so, it is Asta's message that makes him nod. A small breath of relief. A hope for passage to be granted, and for the kingdom to be sought through for darkness. Not blood. Not...

Not the message that came moments later. A yell to charge forwards, prayers for victory, for battle, for piercing, and war.It is the gold and blue eyes that widen as the words of Inante yell out, declaring the siege and the charge forwards. Romani is dumbstruck.

And so, the Noble who has yet to see war wads in the back. Holy magic ever coming up, he goes towards the starting of brawls, going to heal and mend the bodies of the fallen instead of assault.
(Romani cos Montclaire)

[18:18] Slice.

A ceremonial dagger is pulled free from her belt. It's blade is dragged across her index finger, lacerating the tip of the digit. Rhoynish lifeblood is used to paint the symbol of the Dayndros clan upon her visage.

Together with the freed indentured servants, bandits, Kalvorians, freedom fighters and mercenaries, she marches. Lithe, heavily scarred digits curl around the hilt of her blade, pointing it directly at Asta.

"...we know their lies. Any who ain't blind can see right through em'. This ain't a Holy War, it's an unholy farce." The unnatural chill coupled with the lack of heat within the desert forces the Rhoynish to shudder.

Yet, she isn't deterred.

"This is an excuse. An excuse ta' return us to our shackles. Ta' weaken Osrona an' test their might before they try an' take tha' capital. Everyone here, has seen tha' proof.

All they want, is a war, an' I say? We give it to em'."

Infamy is coated in a thick miasma of her own lifeblood, and with a battlecry, she charges directly towards the one responsible for all this.

The High Lady of Mellanoris, Asta Hargrave.
(Penelope Dayndros)

[18:29] It seems, then. There would be no scouring of Ilburg's settlement. There will only be war. There will only be carnage. No peaceful alternative.

Just as well.

The High Lady steels herself. Readies her staff to meet the attack of the so-called 'High Lady'.

"Then so there will be blood!"

Crystals erupt all around her, shielding her army from the majority of the defender's onslaught. It kicks up sand in every direction. Brings about a cover that lets them charge forth and meet Ilburg in the field.

Things are going to get ugly.

Penelope and Asta. Which High Lady shall prevail?
(Asta Hargrave)

[18:30] {NARRATION} Cayden vs Barthalamew
Silvain vs Flotsam
Penelope vs Asta
Spark vs Romani
Khiora vs Inante
Dornar vs Bella
Basten vs Pericles
Osiris vs Sparrow
Tea vs Regulus
William vs Wei
Dinant vs Evergreen
Cymbal vs Elfred
Izak vs Bellona
Feuer vs Ella Graciar
Zion vs Dianna

(Cap 1 recommended)
Make sure to ahelp results!
[18:36] They engage.

And already, the cascading flames rain down all across the field of deserts, intending to burn away as many soldiers as possible. Truthfully, these are chaotic, and the general aim is only intended for the army itself, but.. where exactly it lands, or how many it wounds, how many it kills?

It doesn't matter.
The Spark isn't counting.

After it feels that enough shots of magic were fired, it is quick to roll down the hill and dunes, already seeking to engage the rest of the army. An unlikely combatant, for it seems like a force of chaos adorning a wooden mask with a wicked smile splayed across its expression. Yet..

Despite that sort of face, it speaks plainly.

"None of you belong here. Get out."

An address to the first magi that he encounters, which just happens to be Montclaire.

"Ya heard the High Lady. This is merely a cover-up, and your Stellus immediately declared siege happening. If you support this, you support expansionist murderers."

But.. there's no other words made to 'convince' another; truthfully, he didn't expect him to be convinced in the slightest. If anything, he knew that this would be a futile effort, so instead..

"I'll fulfil my duty."
"I won't let anyone die here today."

The spark of stardust with flames is generated. There's but a pause.. and it's already fired towards Romani.

He'll have to defend himself.
(Spark)
[18:38] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2u67JDNTEQ

It is war. The blood should be expected. Even still, he does not want it. The noble runs around the battle field, watching as Inquistion members draw their weapons and bloody them against the Illburg bandits. And yet.. he doesn't feel good about it.

"They were never given a chance, Inante." The Noble frowns, seeing a body drop near him. He runs to it. Holy magic fills the air. The body is not Inquisition, it is Illburg, but he mends the wounds quickly all the same.

"Run. Get out of here."

The words are whispered to the injured, sending them off once they can as he continues to move around the field. The gold and blue eyes only see pain, only see destruction here. It would be fine, if he believed in the holy war. It would be fine, if there was reason to believe in the cause given for this. But.. There was doubt.

So he doesn't. It is not the Illburg or anyone else that he attacks. Instead, the noble just wades through the battle field, stooping where he can to use his holy magic to heal those nearby. He doesn't strike. He doesn't attack. He only heals and waits.

Waits to be confronted. Waits to believe he's doing the right thing.

That is, until a voice rings out towards him. A voice that speaks plain.

"We don't." The mage said. "The Stellus ordered an attack I don't believe in. And I don't like seeing this battlefield." The boy says, rising from healing another fallen.

"So if you won't let anyone die today he-"

The spar of stardust and flames is generated. It is fired towards Romani and he moves.

"Right.."

He would have to defend himself. It was the way it was. "Ios help us all."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[18:43] {Lost Dangerous RPB against Spark}
[18:43] ** Spark has inflicted an injury upon Romani cos Montclaire. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[18:50] There is silent fury.

For as much as the flames seem to be unable to keep up with the speed of Romani at the very start, and the Spark is beaten back by the noble, it is evidently clear that the spirit of this young warrior wasn't so easily defeated. Quite on the contrary, the moment that it found itself rising once more, the mask only darted towards Romani.

"Ya don't see it, do you?"

"Your Stellus, your High Lady.. even Pericles admitted that Asta only manipulated Osrona - but now, they're too afraid to publicly admit that some Teraphim has had them."

"They're too afraid to publicly admit their incompetence."

Because it will ruin public image of Osrona. After all, if a High Keeper were to publicly reveal that Osrona was manipulated into this war by Teraphim.. then what else could they say about themselves? It would be a shame to last for decades, if not forever.

It would be a mark on the history which only shows just how futile all their efforts are.

But.. amidst such talk, there is combat- fierce and strong, for the Spark begins to evade from the hits intended by Romani far more often than not. Perhaps, it realized the mistake mid-combat, and it realized what to do against the noble - but one thing is clear, he's suddenly in a world of hurt.

Hurt and trouble.

Instead, the explosive stardust is sent his way, proving to be an obstacle he just cannot overcome. For while he beats upon the Spark time and time again, what responds back is a lot more hurt, intending to sear him away in excess- so much so that at some point..

It becomes too much, scarring him.

The burns spread, but thankfully, a single soldier interrupts the Spark before it could do too much; a shot of mana rifle is fired into its shoulder, and the mask quickly turns elsewhere to burn the soldier away - offering Romani a chance to escape.

Yet, there's but a glance given back to the noble.

"You're not welcome here."

"Your propaganda isn't welcome here either. Begone, and never come back - all we want is to be left alone, for there are no witches, no Demons, no Occultists." Something that holy magi and Teraphim themselves already confirmed, but..

"Or else.."

"You'll die here."
(Spark)
[18:57] Is it because he doesn't believe in it?

Because the fists rise at first, all that flashes through his mind is survival. All that flashed through his mind was going faster then those flames can sear him, to get away, to knock Spark back. It is then he is at his strongest.

But the words cut deeply. Because they're true, aren't they?

"I said you're right. I said that the Stellus is wrong. Asta was right, marching people here, checking them for occultism? That's the right thing to do. Check that people don't have it and move on." He insists. But thereafter, he shakes his head.

Flames sear at him, and he grits teeth. "That's why I wasn't fighting the people I passed. That's why I was trying to heal others. That's the right thing to do. To make sure people are ok. The way to do the right thing wasn't violence here. It was-"

But that's enough talk. Theviolent burns cover his body, and there is the hiss of pain as plasma imbues into him. Cosmic magic burns into him and eyes water filled with pain. The explosive stardust covers him, leaving behind scarring, not ones that won't heal, but certainly enough to drive him back.

"If you go after those trying to heal people,"

"More people are only going to die here." Romani said simply. With that, his feet speed up. He does not go further. He only falls back as Spark says as the screams of soilders fill his ear.

"This is no Holy war."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[19:03] But does knowing that matter,
when they all come here?

For as much as the Spark is quick to begin retreating, if only because it is more than certain that there would be more fighting to be had elsewhere, and the fact that the people of Ilburg are most likely going to be slaughtered in this manner.. there's but a brief remark.

"You say that I'm right."

"Yet you're here, wasting my time fighting you - when I could be killing someone who started such wars."

They had enough. There would be no peaceful resolution, that's for certain- for the fact that Asta simply marched people here, despite constant confirmations that there is absolutely nothing wrong here whatsoever.

"You say that they're wrong."

"Yet you come here, aiding them in war effort."

Could he not see his own hypocrisy? Or rather,the one that he's forced in... for as much as he may want to heal people - in the end, he's upon the battlefield, doing actual fighting rather than the role of a saviour alone. But to digress..

It is the heart of the Spark that speaks - perhaps, jaded so early by war.

"Countless times, Teraphim and Holy magi were allowed here, to check any traces of Occultism or Demons. Do you know what they found?"

"Nothing. They found nothing. The stench of holy magic permeates Ilburg with how many times they visited - yet Asta has the gut to claim dark forces are here."

"Does such blatant manipulation not make the bile rise in your throat? Are you not disgusted with the fact you're here, fighting for her cause?"

"That your people are here as well?"

But their time is running short. For this is battlefield - and it's not meant for conversations, and at most, brief exchanges. With the soldiers swarming, and perhaps coming in to rescue the noble, for he's no doubt a high-value to them..

The Spark is forced to flee - but it retreats back to Ilburg. Somewhere in the distance..

It is busy burning bright to save as many of Ilburg as possible.
(Spark)
[19:09] "I am here." Romani noted as Spark began to go their way. He knew not if the other were still in range to hear him.

"Because I didn't know that the Stellus would yell for blood instantly. I'm here because he spoke on checking for Occultists. I'm here because Asta spoke of a peaceful solution, of making sure there was no darkness."

"And Inante lied." The Stellus was the one who had yelled for the inquisition to attack. The Stellus was the one who had prayed for war and blood. The Stellus still filled his mind with anger. It reminded him of the talk in Theria, just a little.

"I didn't come here to help in a war effort. I came here hoping I could save lives." The boy said, staring towards Spark. "You were the one who attacked me."

"I don't know if people were here before. I came once and try tried to kidnap me. This is the only way I could really see it tried. And you know what happens? Calls for blood."

"You're right. The lies and manipulation, they do make me mad. I can't say I've seen Asta lie, not when things haven't been checked for certain, but the bells for war shouldn't have been wrong. It shouldn't have been a battle."

But again, the time was short. At most, there was time for these words. But he was already retreating. Already running..

And barely enough time to say more.
(Romani cos Montclaire)

[19:23] There is little attention paid to the warriors around her. Placing into them, something of a blind faith, knowing that they valued their freedoms and way of life above all else.

Nothing truly goes through her mind in the moment, not after a silent prayer offered to Njorun, in the event that she should fall here.

Bloodthirsty screams escape her, hacking and tearing at the flora and crystals when they impede her. Swinging until the image of Asta is within her line of sight. She rushes towards the apparition, swinging her blade as it's met with-

Nothingness.

Without time to lock her eyes upon the other warrior, she is ensnared. Instinctively fighting against the mana-enhanced plantlife. "I'll k-" Her words are cut short as the crystal kick lands against her chest, breaking a bone or two, sending her flying into a nearby squad of dagger wielding bandits.

Winded, unable to scream or shout, no words come from the woman. There is an attempt to follow Asta, mindlessly gripping her blade, marching forward. Yet, her movements are slow. Hindered, bloodied and bruised.

Where Ilburg had won, she had lost. Against one of the two people, whom she despised more than any other. The High Lady is offered only a glare, as Penelope's legs cramp up. Forced to stand still before the warriors of her home.

"...they'll regret wagin' war with us. They'll regret playin' their fuckin' games. With us."
(Penelope Dayndros)

[19:29] Asta sees her husband, alive. Mostly uninjured. The relief is extraordinary. She briefly turns her head to eye one Dornar, challenging her to a fight.

She'll not be baited. The Teraphim are a prideful people, but not a foolish people.

"It is time for us to return home," Asta says, forcefully grabbing Regulus' arm. The time to count their wounded and dead would be later. She begins running, and in turn, the warriors at her side follow. They retreat back to the safety of Myllenoris' woods.

Their domain.

"Retreat back to Myllenoris!" the High Lady calls out, projecting her voice with magic.

"We will not be gaining entry into Ilburg just yet."

Just yet.


And so, the Teraphim suffer their first defeat since the Invasion of Barsburg.
(Asta Hargrave)

[19:30] Izak says, "Cmon."
[19:32] The Inquisition forces were pushed back along side Myllenoris nothing they could to but force a retreat, Each person came back alive, Wounded beaten but alive. Inante could only do what he could to help those who suffered.

Healing any so they could make the distance of the long journey back home. They wouldn't enter Illburg this day but it only made certain that what happens next will be catastrophic for them.

Inante shook his head. "Underestimating them was a mistake. But we won't make the same mistake twice. The next time we come it will be with the wrath of the heavens and the stars."

He and his Keepers made the march back to Osrona, All in his shadow carried the hopes and dreams of those left behind. The Bloody bandits won this battle but the war? It still rages.



(Inante arl Salis)