The Battle at the Crossing of Cale

[Marr Survant]

Rain beat down on the second heir to the Achaians throne's face. His horn bow was high quality, and fired farther than his old wooden ones. He had a quiver of Iron arrows, he'd counted them several times always reaching forty five sets. Sets was a frequent archery term, used for five arrows. Marr was an archer from Achaia, and he had no accomplishments to call his own. But as he began counting his arrows again, he decided singers would write songs for his deeds this day. He'd wanted to ride with the Pheraen Cavalry, ride down on the cowards and loose shafts into the enemies. He'd known he wouldn't be able so he didn't ask.

The Cavalry had left two days ago, to circle through a small safe passage across the river, the only way across other than the crossing of Cale, so that they could split and take the Ostian forces on both sides as they were focused on the bridge. The bridge was one-hundred and twenty yards long, with a Giant statue of Cale, the first Lord of Caelin who'd held of a horde of bandits for nine straight days on the original wooden bridge, took up much of the space in the very middle. The bandits had burned the bridge down while Cale stood his ground, too weak to leave and live past the flames.

The soldiers waited behind a tall barricade on either side of the statue, for the Ostians to come. Marr and his men waited on the ally bank to volley the other side of the river.

[Marr Survant]

The Ostians broke through the wall as rain hit the water. Marr heard the command to raise. He pointed his bow at the air with what seemed like a thousand other men. Shaft. He stuck the arrow to his string. Pull. He pulled back the bow, readying its power. Steady. He could hear his own heartbeat. Steady. He heard the clash of steel from the bridge, and the screams. Men were already dying. The stench of blod drifted through the wind. He heard a below for Ostia, met with a shout for Caelin. He could see many men tremble with anticipation on the bridge. Knowing it would soon be them fighting for their lives.

LOOSE! Marr let his arrow fly and tried to watch it go. It was lost in the sea of dark talons, but he succesfully saw many of the Ostians fall. Then the commander saw a response from the enemy archers. Shields. Marr remembered his large shield behind him. He quickly picked it up and hid behind it. He heard several arrows hit the ox-hide surface, and the screams of the men around him. Then he heard the commander once more. Ready. He lifted the shield of of himself, and stood clutching the next arrow.

[Dante]

Dante had foresaken knighthood, though he could still claim it if captured, to become a mercenary. Which was why he stood behind the first line on the bridge of Cale. He had his axes by his side. As the barricade broke, a collection of Ostian Knights was at the head of the mass coming upon the men. In an open battlefield, cavalry would meet cavalry, men at arms would meet men at arms, mercenaries would meet mercenaries. In a strategic battle of these times, the mercenaries faced the armored Men-At-Arms, whereas they'd be captured by those on his side, they'd simply be killed here. The young mercenary in front of Dante died, and the Privateer stepped forward.

The man was using his lance in a very knightly way, thrust, thrust, stabby, stabby. Dante fought dirty, and it was a quick fight. He sidled away from a jab, and cut the point of the lance clean off with one blow. He then turned and began beating the mans chest plate in with his axes. The man was tough, and caught his left wrist, Dante responded by taking off the hand completely. Then, Dante swung for the mans head, taking off his visor. It was a young boy, maybe fourteen. Dante was disgusted with himself as he layed a blunt blow on the boys face. He was immediately stepped in front of by several ranks, allowing him to rest and be healed.

[Luster]

Luster walked briskly trough castle Caelin. He had already picked up a few supplies and, now that the Ostians were on their doorstep, was ready to bail. He had known of the attack for some time, and also knew this day would be when he needed to move on. As he slipped past the empty gate he was sure no one would be concerned with him. Everyone would be focused on the battle. Looking back at the castle there was a jab of pain knowing he was partly responsible for how informed the Ostians were about Caelin defenses.

Unfortunately neither side could be his own anymore. Once Ostia found he had deserted, his days were numbered. He was sure Caelin would also not be happy to discover a spy among their ranks either, especially one that had remained hidden for so long.

He pushed the thoughts aside as he threw his hood up and ran towards the bridge. He knew the battle would rage there. Something inside tugged at him however - maybe he had some information that would help the defenses. Either way, he could not leave without a single look back. He was drawn to the battle, and wanted to see with his own eyes what would happen here today.

He took off running towards the crossing, the rain pouring over him. He knew he stood no chance in the battle - but with the chaos he hoped to slip away if the enemy did notice him.

[Marr Survant]

Ooc: The bridge is about 20 mls away from the castle.

Ic: Marr Raised his bow to the command, notched his arrow, and let it loose. He repeated this process twice more, then pt up his shield, despit not hearing the command. He couldn't of said why he put up his shield, he simply did. He heard men die around him, and smelled a mixture of blood and shit. He waited for what seemed like hours under the large wood and ox hide surface. He moved it off of himself, looking around. At least two-thirds of the archers had been killed by a storm of arrows noticed too late.

He was theson of a lord. The men looked at the boy, andwanted for him to lead. He raised his arm and shouted, "To the other side of the bridge." And all the men began to move, save him, he waited near the mouth of the bridge, knowing he might not be strong enough to ake it across the river, but skilled enough o hit someone. He grabbed a grizzled old sergeant named Turnjel, and told him, "Command the man the same as what they know." The man nodded and Marr looked through the rampaging mas of men fghting, right as a man with a hood ran past him.

[Luster]

The battle was picking up and Luster knew he was way too close. Running quickly trough the corpses he tried to find someone still standing - the men up ahead were already crossing the bridge. He would stand no chance against the Ostian arrows, and now that he was well in their range he tried to keep an eye to the sky in case of another round. He saw a soldier up ahead and yelled after him trying to catch up. The man turned around as Luster ran closer, out of breath tried to get the words out properly.

"They... th.. they have balistae, to.. the south east. They are hidden, but are very close" Finally catching his breath he added "At this range they will slaughter us" He spoke as if he was part of the battle and looking up he hoped the man wouldn't question the sources. Years of practice had taught him to drop hints like that, it could be the difference between life and death.

[Dante]

Dante saw an opening, and his adreniline began to flow. He jumped forward, taking the mans spot. He was facing a young soldier. Well, a fresh recruit was a bit more likely. He had the luck to only face men close to his experience so far. He raised his axe towards the boys chest, ready to kill him with a few quick blows. The boy was better than he'd expected, and moved out of the way, stabbing his lance into Dante's shoulder. Dante grunted but kept fighting, pushing the boy back for a second, yet the boy tricked him by feinting at his face, but then sweeping his feet out from under him. Dante fell, and looked into the eyes of the boy standing over him, drawing his lance back for a lethal strike. The world seemed to slow as they made eye contact. Dante could hear his heart beat, and seemed concious of every ounce of blood he lost there on the ground. He saw the boy tighten his grip, and then fall with an arrow in his throat.

He'd lost a lot of blood, but a troubadour came to his rescue, he was hauled onto a horse, and heard galloping as the ground bounced, and his shoulder healed as a burst of light illuminated his mind, and his shoulder felt better. He nearly blacked out but found himself in the main camp soon. He heard a female voice as he felt someone tending more diligintly to his wounds, "You're lucky you got out when you did. The enemy just fired a balistae.The cavalry should be coming home soon." Dante leaned back and blacked out, he wasn't powerful enough for his ego.

[Marr Survant]

Marr was missing far too much to be proud of. He was landing maybe half his shots, and none of them were very life ending. He heard the thwang of his bowstring as he sent arrows upon the Ostians. He was about to give up and retreat when he saw a soldier taxe down a robust axeman. He notched an arrow. The soldier tightened his grip, and Marr pulled back his arrow. He let the arrow fly, and it soon sprouted out of the soldiers throat. He was happy to see that the axemen was soon off of the ground, and being taken to the camp, the rider grabbing the fallen mans weapons. He started to retreat, staying close to the left side of the bridge. Then however, there was the sound of a horn being blown, and many Ostians retreated. The men at arms of Caelin charged aftter them.

THWAAAAAAANNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!! A balistae ripped through the heavily armored knights, stopping once it's bolt had three men impaled through the chest, and many less well protected men dead on the ground. Marr knew the archers would need to take care of this Balistae, and he went to find the few archers left, and defeat that balistae.

[Luster]

Dang Luster cursed as he heard a crash up ahead. He could see the Ostians had pulled back and Caelin taking to the offensive - he had been too late to make a difference. The soldier was yelling now and didn't pay attention to the thief as he ran across the bridge. No wonder the Ostians pulled back, in this rain visibility was limited and the likelihood they would hit their own men was high.

Reaching the far end of the bridge Luster jumped the wall aiming his fall for the river bank. Sliding down he rolled trough the mud but deftly managed to stop himself before the water. Quickly checking his pack he was glad the torches he picked up from the castle were still dry, otherwise this might just be a waste of time. Sliding the flint into his pocket he took off south along the river as quickly as his feet would carry him while trying to keep out of sight. Luckily the river was low enough right now to give him some cover. He peeked up periodically looking for the balistae - as flat as it was it would be plain as day out here. There were only a few clumps of trees where they could have hidden it anyway. He was quite a distance away from the bridge now and again ran up the bank looking for the enemy.

[Dante]

Dante was awoken by one of house Badon's stewards. He was an elderly man, who'd made the foolish decision of coming with the young ex-knight. He had a very strict belief of how men should act so he said, "Are you going to let it be said that you, a son of the black ship, sat on your bloody arse whilst real men fought a hundred yards away?" Dante got up slowly, grabbed his axes, and walked out of the tent to his death. He walked toward the bridge slowly. He hefted his axes onto his shoulders, fighting through the pain. Despite what people seemed to think of him, he did have both pride ad honor.

Dante was surprised to see how much of the ground Pherae had held earlier that day had been lost. The bridge no longer seemed to hold ranks, as all became chaos. Men of Ostia stood almost back to back with Perren's as it became simple strength of numbers and arms, men forgetting all Military training save their skills in weaponry. Dante saw a Mercenary running to-wards him. He swung his axes back then up to gain momentum. He side stepped a blow from the Mercenary,, then swung down. The man fell, still alive. Dante said, "I'm sorry you're not worth more alive." and killed him.