RP:Warnings Against Devils

From HollowWiki

Part of the The Ice Plague Cometh Arc



Snowless Training Yard

Eliason : Moves around the yard, supervising the training of his recently arrived troops. Each one has paired off with a frost giant to hone their skills with larger opponents. "Remember, your strength is insignificant against a larger opponent like this... You're not going to be wearing plate or carrying tower shields this time. They won't protect you from the greater strength of the enemy. You have to be light on your feet and move faster..." His words carry easily across the field, and the garrison responds with a loud, unified, "Yes, Sir!" Eli settles back as he watches the sparring partners engage, his thoughts wandering to his latest batch of dreams.


Satoshi arrives flanked with guards fully armored and with weapons in hand. After the massacre at the lumber camp nearby, followed by Hildegarde and Satoshi being ambushed, the Frost Giants are not taking any risks. Even Satoshi is more thoughtfully garbed than usual, the single bracer on her left forearm having been added to so that the icy metal layers extend to protect her upper arm and shoulder. There's a certain cautious, prowling grace to the foxkin's movements, all senses clearly on alert yet without an obvious signs of anxiety. She's prepared for an attack, not frightened of one. When Satoshi reaches the perimeter of the yard, she stops to watch the training, although her quartet of guards do not cease their vigilance in surveying the surrounding snows. "Are these members of your Desert Legion, Aetius? Fine warriors they look~."


Eliason is startled from his thoughts by the approach of the heavily armed Frost Giants. Pushing himself to his feet, the big man lowers himself into a low bow before the queen. Taking his cue, the men that have been training break away and form up into two equal lines of ten. As one, they also lower themselves into a low bow. Eli smiles at the efficiency of their movements and gives them an approving nod before addressing the queen again. "Your Majesty, these are the best that the Legion has to offer. We are not many, but you will not find a more courageous, dedicated team in all of Hollow. Each of us stands ready to give our life for the people of these lands." Sapphire eyes quickly take in the sight of the queen. "It would appear that things have advanced somewhat. I have had more dreams, if you'd like to hear of them..."


Satoshi regards the gathered men with an approving eye. Their training and skill is evident, and while Satoshi has unending faith in the strength of her Frost Giants, she cannot object to warriors of a different style and stature. She herself knows the advantage smaller size can offer, especially against giants unused to combat against such foes. At Eliason's words, the magus frowns slightly before nodding. "I would, although firstly, I'm here to deliver a warning. Be on your guard at all times. There was a lumber camp mere miles from here, manned by strong and skilled giants, yet they were massacred in a matter of moments by a pack of Ice Devils. These creatures until now have never ventured from the territory of the ruins, and never in large groups. This academy sits on the ruins' borders, it is at risk of an attack. Jorbik here," she gestures to one of the guards, who steps forward and sheathes his broadsword to bow, "has fought the creatures before. He'll be staying here, to give out instructions and tips for combatting them."


Eliason returns the giant's bow with one of his own. Rising, he turns his eyes to Jorbik. "My men and I will be eager to learn whatever you have to teach." A strange look passes over the legionnaire's face, one that almost could pass for excitement. "I have heard of these creatures, though I have never seen one. I shall look forward to testing myself against one." He turns to look in the direction of the camp indicated by the queen as if he hopes to see them approaching already. Quickly however, the man composes himself and his features return to a stoic gaze. "As for my dreams, your Majesty... None have them have been as specific as the first. I have seen a monument of some kind, a female sentinel standing against the ocean's raging waves. I see her fall under the waves and get swept away..." He pauses, his features growing pensive for a moment. "This Lady, she is armored like a Legionnaire and her fighting is futile as if she is fighting something other than a physical attack." Raising his gaze, he meets Satoshi's eyes. "I don't think that you are this Lady... I can't explain why, but it just doesn't feel right."


Satoshi listens to the description, expression thoughtful. As she'd told Svilfon concerning the prior premonition by the Legionnaire, she does not normally put much stock in foretelling. And yet, there's a certain honesty to Eliason that can't be denied, along with his arrival from Chartsend before she'd even considered calling for aid. Satoshi is certain that whatever looms on Frostmaw's horizon is no simple trouble, a feeling that urges her to take any hint or clue she can get. The gods do not send messages idly. When Satoshi draws herself from her thoughts, she blinks once and nods to Eliason. "Then we shall find this Legionnaire lady, and ensure she does not fight alone."


Eliason offers a shrug, his lips lifting into a light smile. "I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. I wish that the Gods were more direct in their telling. These latest dreams could be something else altogether, but I do feel that they are connected somehow." He pauses, drawing his lips into a thin line. "Personally, I feel that the best I can do is prepare myself and my men for battle the best that I can. Each has training as a paladin of their god and will be able to stand as a wall against evil forces. I've found that the more I struggle against premonitions, the more likely I am to force them into fruition. All will be revealed upon its time, I'm sure." Unexpectedly, the paladin grins. "Take heart, your Majesty, your land is now under the protection of the Desert Legion. We have never failed, never been defeated!" At these words, the Legion lifts a hearty cheer into the air.


Satoshi's guards respond to the Legion's cheer with one of their own, roaring out, "Frostmaw will not fail!" The voices of giants shouting is enough to nearly knock Satoshi flat however, leaving her to brace herself against the wall until the noise subsides, after which she's grinning in a lopsided fashion. . "Whatever lurks in the shadows out of our sight, it will find us ready nonetheless when it strikes. And I do not envy the agony it will suffer on that day." Her grin might have been an appealing, almost cute, expression, were it not made predatory by the keen gleam in Satoshi's eyes. Beneath the mask of amiable, fluffy fox kit ever lies the calculating beast that came to rule over the City of War. She intends to remind Frostmaw's mystery threat of this fact, through fangs, claws, and ice alike. And yet, as quickly as the glimpse of that predator is seen, it vanishes, once more concealed behind Satoshi's many masks as she composes herself. A nod is given to Eliason then, and to his men as well, "I thank you, again, for your words and deeds. And I thank you all for traveling to a land far from your home with the willingness to defend it with your lives. It speaks much about you, along with Chartsend."


Eliason waves a dismissive hand and nods to his men who return to their training. The predatory glint to the queen's eye is not lost on the man. An imperceptible shiver moves up his spine at the sight, making the legionnaire glad that he is not against the queen in this battle. Just as quickly, the look disappears however and Eli is able to dismiss the thought easily enough. "I'm sure that Lady Alicia would be here herself had she been able. But we are happy to call Frostmaw our friend and it would be a terrible start to the friendship if we were to ignore your plight." He lowers his voice conspiratorially. "Besides, it gives me a reason to get away from the daily paperwork and actually fight..." A smile is offered to the queen with these words.


Satoshi doesn't need to lower her voice much to be unheard by the surrounding Frost Giants, for they're three times her tiny height as it is. Still, she matches Eliason's conspiratorial tones with her own, "Never go into politics in Vailkrin then. City of the Undying means they never sleep, and spend all their time filing self-righteous complaints, grievances, demands, and proposals. You could keep a bonfire burning a year through, with the amount of letters my husband deals with daily. I much prefer Frostmaw, where our problems are handled with honest combat~."


Eliason smiles, lowering his head in a nod and turning his eyes up to Jorbik. "So, tell us about these Ice Devils... I hear they are wicked hard to kill..." The excitement in the legionnaire's voice is barely contained and his eyes sparkle in excitement. Hopefully his quick changing of the subject does not insult the queen.


Satoshi isn't insulted, instead using the shift in conversation partners to take her leave. She does, of course, pause to salute Eliason and Jorbik, whether or not they notice. For the Frost Giant is already plunging into the discussion, as eager as the Legionnaire. "They're a bit taller than you human lot. Great horned heads an' spines all over their hide. The more spines an' the darker the hide, the older the Devil. They've got legs like mountain goats an' just as strong, with a spiked tail like a dragon or snake. Mouth fulla sharp teeth, an' claws ta match. Don't ever touch 'em if you can avoid it, can give even us Frostmawian's frostbite on contact. That's not the worst part about 'em, though, it's their way of attacking that gets most folks. See, they have this 'bility to teleport through snow, so's they always, -always- strike wherever your eyes ain't looking. If you're gonna fight 'em, fight 'em with a friend at your back. Wicked creatures they are, smart too, although they can't use witchcraft. Only way to kill 'em is to destroy their core, which is sorta like our hearts. Not even cutting 'em to pieces kills 'em, only the core. An' that's when they try to take you to the grave with 'em, for they burst inta this Aramoth-awful explosion of sharp ice that'll rip through most armor." Onward the Frost Giant rambles, giving further detail on the Ice Devils along with tales of his own encounters with them, including how he'd lost four fingers and an ear to the beasts. Satoshi can only hope Eliason and his men benefit from the training Jorbik has to offer, lest they be torn through should another pack of Devils come calling.