(Note: Not all posts are expected to be this long; this is just an intro... heh. If you want to join, post on the sign up topic.)
Silence. Dead silence.
The soldiers stared at the large wooden gate in front of them. Really, it was a poor defense. It was rotting and nearly off of its hinges. Much the same for the rest of the old stone wall that surrounded the town. If only they had more time?
Seeing that it was clearly a waste of time to defend such a wall, Iduran and his troops would meet them just as they came over it. The town was likely to be severely damaged, but the people themselves, crammed into the much sturdier castle would at least be safe.
Iduran glanced back at the castle far behind. The huge door was open-- just slightly. In case the troops could not repel the invaders, they were ordered to retreat back into the castle. Iduran knew this was dangerous, since the invaders could take advantage of the slow shutting door, but he knew better than to question the orders of the benevolent king.
The last rays of the setting sun disappeared and dusk began to fade into darkness. In the light of the touches that lined the streets, the soldiers leaned on their spears.
The only break in the silence was the monotonous crackling of the torches. Iduran thought he could hear the sea behind him. That and? something else? something repetitive? slowly growing louder and louder? like a stampede, only well ordered?
?It?s THEM!!!!? an archer exclaimed, standing on the wall. ?Dear god! They moved in without any light! I couldn?t even see them!?
?Get down from there!? Iduran barked. If he had enough archers, he would position them on the wall. But with only a dozen, they would quickly be overrun. It was best to position them on the two buildings on each side of the gate where the invaders would inevitably break through.
Iduran did not have to give the order for the men to prepare themselves, but he did anyway. A monotonous sound of scraping metal was heard as hundreds of swords were unsheathed at once. In response, a similar sound was heard on the other side of the wall.
Two of Iduran?s three personal guards, huge men in full armor, removed their huge broadswords from their backs and stepped in front of the aging knight, as if to protect him. They were ready to die for their mentor. Iduran would have none of it. Moving in-between, he pushed them aside slightly and stood even with them.
?Don?t insult me.?
Nick and Alfred bit their tongue. The old knight was a tough one, but it had been 10 years since his last real battle. Santos, the third guard, approached from behind.
?Sir, I don?t think--?
?I said SHUT UP!?
From the other side of the wall, someone began yelling, although the words were unclear. An officer, no doubt. Suddenly, the gate quaked with a huge SMASH. It was a battering ram.
Iduran drew his blade. It was a little smaller and thinner than his guards? but much more beautifully decorated. It almost seemed to glow in the light of the torches.
In just the second strike the door collapsed, revealing the somewhat grotesque skull of a dragon that was stuck on the end of the ram. Clever.
Suddenly, soldier upon soldier rushed though the opening like madmen. Their armor was pitch black, and they brandished long thin swords. The archers unleashed their fury, but the result largely ineffective, saving a few lucky shots on some of the invaders? necks, the only poorly armored area. Iduran and his forces met them aggressively. They were well matched, but the Rommes outnumbered this first wave and the invaders were driven back slightly.
But after only a brief pause, more dark warriors poured though the opening. This time they were ordered in two single file lines, one following each edge of the door. In between the two lines, a menacing figure appeared, walking rather calmly. His cape flickered in the cool night breeze?
After passing the doorway, Draven calmly looked up at the night sky. His face wore a sinister smile.
?I say, it?s a little chilly tonight...? he remarked, casually. This pompous remark of course could not be heard among the din of battle.
One of the archers atop a building next to the busted door saw this excellent opportunity, and took aim for the madman?s head. He released and the arrow whirred though the air... but it stopped, suspended in mid air a few inches away from Draven?s temple. Draven, who had been pretending not to be paying any attention, looked at the arrow without moving his head.
?Tch! How rude...?
The arrow harmlessly fell to the ground. Draven extended his left palm, and angled it in the archer?s direction. An orb of red energy appeared before his hand. First the size of a baseball, it swelled to a foot in diameter. He winked at the archer, who at this sight clumsily dropped his bow. The other archers finally noticed what was happening. Only one was wise enough to jump off of the building. Like a cannon, the orb fired from Draven?s palm, the recoil pushing him back several inches, although his stance remained unchanged. The explosion from the inpact with the side of the building rocked the battlefield and lit up the night sky. Tiny fireballs flew in all directions, many igniting nearby buildings. When the smoke cleared, the entire second floor had been destroyed and three of the six archers were no where to be seen. Draven folded his arms and let out a billowing laugh.
