Warpost #7 : Endgame: Charge
[Day 14, 18:00]
War never changes.
If I look out along the lines of battle, I could be looking at the armies of old. Even the flags proclaiming the origin of the regiments have not changed significantly since my time. The futility of the whole exercise leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as I wait for the last of the troops to move into position. von-Khrennikov-san and the handful of soldiers who attend me. They are silent, their thoughts focused on the battle and tinges of dread as they wonder how I mean to begin.
I take a deep breath and turn my focus inward. Another familiar ritual: seeking out the surges of emotion and lingering traces of sentiment. I can already sense the faint traces of Houseki-use among the humans and I already know that the various commanders lack the resources to counter them. Leaving the whole sorry mess squarely in my lap. I cannot afford distractions. It is surprisingly easy to shunt away emotion and feeling, closing them away behind flexible shields. I can afford no mercy, no distraction. The faint irritation dissipates, leaving me time to watch the final preparations.
We stand on a small hill, watching as the nearest Dai Shimeron troops rally into some semblance of a line. One of the soldiers surrounding me spurs his horse a little closer. "Heika? We are too close - they may have arche-...."
An arrow flies up from the rabble of men below us. The archer is evidentially more enthusiastic than skilled as the arrow flies well wide. The soldiers draw their swords and move to surround me.
I lift a hand to stop them. ::Time to begin. Stay back.::
There is just enough of a breeze to ruffle my hair as I look up. Four more arrows hiss through the air and this time I have to actually deflect the arrows. There is a barely perceptible ripple and I gesture for the soldiers to stay behind me. There are Maryoku users making their way towards us, I can feel the prickle of their power as they begin to muster it. Three....no, four of them to every ten of the regular troops. We must be the only target available to have drawn such a concentration. I can feel the anger, the frustration at our change of tactics. They are confident. Overly so.
Fools.
Nacht steps forward, just enough to put the soldiers and von-Khrennikov-san behind me. I can see the individual humans now as the houjutsu-tsukai bull their way through the lines. I keep one hand raised and the soldiers remain where they are. The houjutsu-tsukai are urging the other soldiers on, even as their pretty little trinkets start to glow like a swarm of coloured fireflies. The men are wary, but as I keep the soldiers with me from moving or lifting their weapons, the humans' confidence grows.
The air takes on a sharp, metallic tang as the houjutsu-tsukai concentrate their powers ...and release. The men howl what is probably meant to be an intimidating battle cry as they start to charge.
Uphill.
Unsupported.
Without accurate information about the enemy.
Fates, but the humans' indoctrination seems to have been sorely lacking in common sense. I wait, watching the unnatural glow condense and sharpen into a point. The houjutsu-tsukai release their magic all at once. Evidentially finesse is....was another un-patriotic skill in this army. Time to teach them a lesson in the theories of magic. Maryoku and Horyouku are pretty names and if you are strong enough and knowledgeable enough, that is all they are. Go deep enough and the differences do not matter.
Power is power.
The fireball roars up the hill; torching a few 'friendly' troops on the way, I see. One of the soldiers behind me opens his mouth to shout a warning as the humans cheer. Waiting for the last possible second, I hold out my hand and concentrate. What I find is hardly awe-inspiring. The ball is crude, relying on brute strength to shatter an enemy's defences. Unfortunately for the humans, the mishmash of energy means that a mere snap of my fingers is sufficient to snap the already over-taxed bonds holding it together.
The charge falters, the humans stumbling to a halt and those closer to the rear starting to edge backwards. Too late.
::I promised a sign::
I check the 'breakwaters' I added to the shields this morning and nod to myself. Nothing should get through to perturb my double or the Sages. A deep breath to focus and I stretch out my arms at shoulder height, calling up the power I need. Fire, gold and veined with sooty red, blossoms in each palm, curling up to form towering dragon-shapes. The humans are breaking, some running, others staring with blank expressions and empty eyes. In the stark light of the two pillars of flame, they look like puppets with the strings cut. Waiting for orders that will never come.
That this bitter cup should come to my lips once more.
No mercy. I snap my fingers and unleash the dragons. Living, serpentine coils of flame that scorch through the humans' line. Most of those within my line of sight are dead before they have a chance to scream. Those beyond are not so lucky and their screams echo back as the dragons vanish in the direction of the main forces. From behind me, trumpets sing out and the Maou's troops charge past me.
Another flare of Horyouku from lines and I tap Nacht's side with my heels. My own small troop falls in a respectful distance behind me and we make our way forward.
War never changes.
If I look out along the lines of battle, I could be looking at the armies of old. Even the flags proclaiming the origin of the regiments have not changed significantly since my time. The futility of the whole exercise leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as I wait for the last of the troops to move into position. von-Khrennikov-san and the handful of soldiers who attend me. They are silent, their thoughts focused on the battle and tinges of dread as they wonder how I mean to begin.
I take a deep breath and turn my focus inward. Another familiar ritual: seeking out the surges of emotion and lingering traces of sentiment. I can already sense the faint traces of Houseki-use among the humans and I already know that the various commanders lack the resources to counter them. Leaving the whole sorry mess squarely in my lap. I cannot afford distractions. It is surprisingly easy to shunt away emotion and feeling, closing them away behind flexible shields. I can afford no mercy, no distraction. The faint irritation dissipates, leaving me time to watch the final preparations.
We stand on a small hill, watching as the nearest Dai Shimeron troops rally into some semblance of a line. One of the soldiers surrounding me spurs his horse a little closer. "Heika? We are too close - they may have arche-...."
An arrow flies up from the rabble of men below us. The archer is evidentially more enthusiastic than skilled as the arrow flies well wide. The soldiers draw their swords and move to surround me.
I lift a hand to stop them. ::Time to begin. Stay back.::
There is just enough of a breeze to ruffle my hair as I look up. Four more arrows hiss through the air and this time I have to actually deflect the arrows. There is a barely perceptible ripple and I gesture for the soldiers to stay behind me. There are Maryoku users making their way towards us, I can feel the prickle of their power as they begin to muster it. Three....no, four of them to every ten of the regular troops. We must be the only target available to have drawn such a concentration. I can feel the anger, the frustration at our change of tactics. They are confident. Overly so.
Fools.
Nacht steps forward, just enough to put the soldiers and von-Khrennikov-san behind me. I can see the individual humans now as the houjutsu-tsukai bull their way through the lines. I keep one hand raised and the soldiers remain where they are. The houjutsu-tsukai are urging the other soldiers on, even as their pretty little trinkets start to glow like a swarm of coloured fireflies. The men are wary, but as I keep the soldiers with me from moving or lifting their weapons, the humans' confidence grows.
The air takes on a sharp, metallic tang as the houjutsu-tsukai concentrate their powers ...and release. The men howl what is probably meant to be an intimidating battle cry as they start to charge.
Uphill.
Unsupported.
Without accurate information about the enemy.
Fates, but the humans' indoctrination seems to have been sorely lacking in common sense. I wait, watching the unnatural glow condense and sharpen into a point. The houjutsu-tsukai release their magic all at once. Evidentially finesse is....was another un-patriotic skill in this army. Time to teach them a lesson in the theories of magic. Maryoku and Horyouku are pretty names and if you are strong enough and knowledgeable enough, that is all they are. Go deep enough and the differences do not matter.
Power is power.
The fireball roars up the hill; torching a few 'friendly' troops on the way, I see. One of the soldiers behind me opens his mouth to shout a warning as the humans cheer. Waiting for the last possible second, I hold out my hand and concentrate. What I find is hardly awe-inspiring. The ball is crude, relying on brute strength to shatter an enemy's defences. Unfortunately for the humans, the mishmash of energy means that a mere snap of my fingers is sufficient to snap the already over-taxed bonds holding it together.
The charge falters, the humans stumbling to a halt and those closer to the rear starting to edge backwards. Too late.
::I promised a sign::
I check the 'breakwaters' I added to the shields this morning and nod to myself. Nothing should get through to perturb my double or the Sages. A deep breath to focus and I stretch out my arms at shoulder height, calling up the power I need. Fire, gold and veined with sooty red, blossoms in each palm, curling up to form towering dragon-shapes. The humans are breaking, some running, others staring with blank expressions and empty eyes. In the stark light of the two pillars of flame, they look like puppets with the strings cut. Waiting for orders that will never come.
That this bitter cup should come to my lips once more.
No mercy. I snap my fingers and unleash the dragons. Living, serpentine coils of flame that scorch through the humans' line. Most of those within my line of sight are dead before they have a chance to scream. Those beyond are not so lucky and their screams echo back as the dragons vanish in the direction of the main forces. From behind me, trumpets sing out and the Maou's troops charge past me.
Another flare of Horyouku from lines and I tap Nacht's side with my heels. My own small troop falls in a respectful distance behind me and we make our way forward.