Chapter 2
Final Crescendo
Helltanz's
Notes: The way the cross is set up:
Alpha HP Buffy Winx Club
(though technically I think the last should be in its own world were
you can pretty much access the others, but then again its mostly for
shits and giggles in the current draft) Underworld as it'll be with
Buffy supplying the Vampire problem of the Home Verse
Beta World The present world the story is set in Warhammer and Soul Calibur later on
Delta World will be Oblivion or some other fantasy verse
Gamma World DC… maybe Read or Die but probably a DC verse, JLU more than likely, pitting Sir Justin against a Bretonnian Knight like our main character however would be kind of curbstombing.
Adverse to forcing Harry into any worlds that are to technological to early, though it would get him into guns… Warhammer 40k? Have to think about that. Suggestions are welcome as always
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Do
you I really have to do a disclaimer? You all are aware of the facts.
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Chapter begin
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Mousillion the cursed duchy was truly proving to be a depressing place.
The fields seemed quite uncooperative and the peasants lived in horrible decay, even worse squalor than was normal for Bretonnian peasants.
Though they toiled endlessly against the ground they loudly bemoaned their lot in this life.
Maurice snorted derisively at the complaints stemming from the native peasants as they worked the fields in the burning hot weather.
It would seem that nature had conspired to make them, and any one else in the land, miserable despite the dark sky, within their present range of travel, it was blisteringly hot, forcing them to repeatedly stop to refill their water canteens.
The Knights were ill suite for the frequent shifts between the ragged heat and torrential rain, which afflicted the land.
Beyond that night was to fall soon and who knew what foul creatures roamed this damned land once the sun lowered beneath the hills.
On the back of his war horse the Subject withdrew from his saddle pouch his Father's Journal of the Cursed Duchy, with in the leather bound tome penned in the Duke's somewhat ragged, some of the pages even having blood stains, script, was a detailed account of what had been encountered on the road through Mousillion, as well as detailed maps of the surroundings, all this had been recorded on the quest to stoop the Necromancer who had entered the land more than sixteen years ago.
The Journal was accurate to a degree however some features such as a bridge had fallen into disarray and one village, or where it should have been, was naught but ruins, though according to Philippe, the tallest of the young knights after Maurice who followed after his cousin and Corentin, the destruction was recent, only a couple of months at the oldest, someone, he, Philippe, stated, had thoroughly sacked the village.
Rene, a willowy teen much like his Baron of a Father, lowered the observation glass, a magical artifact which allow him to scry the surroundings, "It would seem the Lady blesses us there is what appears an abandoned manner a short ways off from here if we hurry we can make it." He announced
Jacques, was built in a more sturdy, broad shouldered, manner than Rene, and a bit shorter, with brown hair, which he kept cropped, and eyes, eyed the magical device with no small bit of wonder, his own magical abilities were rather meager of course he had kept it a closely guarded secret, as it was in most cases quite useless, in his opinion, it involved plants of all things, like Soleil he longed to march on Stephen's keep unlike Soleil his desire was to confront the duke and run the bastard through.
The other agreed and followed Rene's instructions.
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Abandoned, judging from the blood stains it would seem a battle had taken place but some one had cleaned away the bodies.
"I do not like this," Philippe remarked eyes sweeping the area, "We should be wary," He remarked undoing his saddle bags,
"Are ye scared," taunted Maurice, he was not tall enough to force the other boy to have to look up to him though he still made himself seem larger.
"No
something is off with this place, we shall hold guard," He
remarked,
"You expect us to take part in the watch or did you
some how manage to smuggle peasants with you?" Demanded his cousin
outraged, he considered it beneath him to have to participate in such
a thing as carrying out guard duty, more than that only a filthy
peasant or a beast would attack at night.
"You'll do what your told Maurice," Stated the Subject coldly in a level voice, which was more frightening than any bellowing would have been. "you'll take the first watch, and you'll enjoy it or I'll stick with the deadman's watch and the Lady help you if you blunder it,"
Maurice backed down Henri was the leader he'd wait and settle this once they got back to civilized territory.
The young knights spread their gear and prepared their food for the evening.
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Off with the place indeed.
His long sword bit deep in the creature's shoulder and with great force managed to make the creature fall back.
Corentin was facing three of the creatures, though out numbers had managed to hold his own.
"That useless bastard," Snarled Claude, as hot headed as ever, in reference to the person who was supposed to be on watch; Maurice.
"How dare you insinuate this is my fault," Roared Baldwyn's nephew furiously hacking at one of the corpse like beasts.
The creatures moaned as if in perpetual anguish, "Undead filth," The knight snarled raising his weapon, "Taste virtuous steel," Philippe shouted charging at the creatures recklessly in hopes of drawing them away from the largest of their group.
Soleil knocked him down just in time as another corpse lunged from the shadows of the room.
"Undead,
flame." Announced the Subject
"Don't have any," Maurice
shouted furiously in response slicing another of the beasts in half.
Jacques rustled through their supplies looking to comply with the Duke's son's command.
A long whistle broke the air, Henri's steed, armor covered in blood cantered up, clearly the horses had had better luck than their masters at dispatching the evil host.
The Heir of Baldwyn had spent years studying his lance.
"What are you doing?" Demanded his cousin outraged.
He gripped the sand colored metal, the weapon glowed, and sun beams swept from the tip setting the undead beasts ablaze.
"By the Grail," Murmured Soleil, "Holy in origin indeed," He whispered mystified as the horde of beasts recoiled at the stored sunlight, "Thank the Lady," The young knight whispered. The son of Sir Francis breathing heavily checked to make sure the beasts were not moving to attack again.
It seemed they were loath to try against a prepared foe.
"Can on you scavengers," Challenged Maurice boldly, "Come and face us if you dare, cursed abominations," He spat; it was as if he thought it was his doing alone the creatures had withdrawn.
"Start a flame," Commanded the Subject, his weapon was almost tired feeling… perhaps it had a limit to what it could do, this was the first time he had used it in battle for its magical abilities.
"Got it," The massive form of Corentin responded.
When he had suggested a fire be built he had meant like in the fire place not for there comrade to cover his mace in pitch and set is alight.
Though as he suspected the corpse like creatures recoiled in fear of the flames, even more so when the large knight had swung his arm in a fierce arc into one of the groups of moaning piles of flesh.
They burned faster than one would expect, turning to ash in a matter of seconds when exposed to the burning weapon.
"Come one, press forward," Shouted the hazel eyed noble waving his sword,
Rene and even the generally rash, quick to action, Claude looked at Maurice incredulously.
"This reeks of sorcery," Breathed Henri, stating the obvious, "We ride at first light," He declared.
His
cousin and rival rounded on him in a flash, "We make to retreat,"
Maurice roared angrily, "We have them beaten,"
"Retreat?"
Questioned the Heir of Baldwyn, "No nothing of the sort," He
replied, "We condemn to flame set the manor alight." The younger
Knight stated, "That is our course of action,"
The month older boy reluctantly made no move to disagree.
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A month had passed as they continued to rove having to deal with varying bothersome attack from a mix of creatures and bandits.
The Subject gripped the Lance and kneed his warhorse into action, this proved the rumors had not been exaggerating the situation but indeed they were worse than they were.
"Tarfurs," Roared Soleil in rage charging down the road at the black cross marked criminals, "I am Soleil son of Francis prepare yourselves for death rebel filth." He decreed, his lance raked the first slamming the fallen knight and catching underneath the plate armor, casting him from his steed. The move cost Soleil his lance.
The blue eyed knight drew his sword hacking angrily at one of the bandits.
"Come on," Roared Claude kneeing his horse, as he began his own charge towards the traitorous unlawful ilk.
Rene joined his side.
Maurice scowled at the display.
Philippe
glanced at the Subject after Corentin had looked to him. Jacques
looked to Baldwyn's heir as well for instruction.
Henri looked
at them and ordered the assuming of the signature triangular
formation of the Bretonnian Knights, his lance gleamed in the
sunlight.
They charged the rogues splintering their bandits before their archers could take aim, Soleil had been forcibly dismounted and was now amongst the hordes of the bandit company.
Rene was attempting to make his way towards their childhood study mate when the formation closed and plowed through the Tarfur main rank.
Lances collided scattering poorly armored troops like dust in the wind.
This was not a tourney so the lances were not wood, which admittedly did lower the Tourney's fatality but wooden lances could still be lethal, but rather high quality steel lances the Knights were carrying.
Rene turned his steed and pushed the bandits back.
Corentin dismounted from his equally colossal horse when he lost his lance to the falling corpse and drew his great mace. His first swing crunched wetly and the blow crushed one of the Tarfurs's skulls.
The large knight swung again sending the small peasant levies flying.
Rene's lithe form danced about agilely, even with his heavy plate armor on he moved quickly, his long sword was edgier than most of his compatriots as he preferred flowing slashes. His training with his weapon showed he split many of the rogues leaving pools of blood and corpses about the area where he had dismounted.
Maurice had reluctantly accepted the order from Henri to assist him, despite his protests that not only was he doing fine against the peasants rabble on his own.
The subject's warhorse partially reared up and slamming its hooves down on the Tarfur filth, as Henri, himself lanced another through the stomach.
They were to the breaking point now their fallen knight overlord's death, and the Bretonnian knights pressing them harshly.
Claude clambered down pushing to reinforce Rene and Soleil's flank while Corentin continued to advance steadfastly through the ranks of the enemy force.
Jacques and Philippe supported the Subject and the trio continued to push onwards into the Tarfur.
"Cowards stand and fight," Spat Maurice as the enemy finally succumbed and bolted running from the fight as fast as their legs would carry them. He made to convince his steed to prepare to follow after him.
"Hold, we can't press further," Henri stated, even Soleil understood, they had a mission vengeance and personal desires had their time and place.
Soleil sheathed his sword and remounted his steed, though it was clear in his blue eyes though he understood the need to continue their mission assigned by Baldwyn he would prefer to hunt down the Tarfur.
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Apparently their objective to find the cause of the disturbing reports emanating from the cursed Duchy of Mousillion. With the fact the Tarfur were here it leant credence to the previously dismissed as laughable theory that there was something more to the rogues, but beyond that these undead were proving to be quite resurgent as well as the other beasties which ran about.
In the neighboring county to which they were heading, should the tales be true, were home to a number of ill repute characters, even a Vampire was rumored to frequent the town from time to time. Hopefully they could from the town gather the necessary information and be on their way.
There was the issue of the disapproving looks from the inhabitants, the Rogues watched them with a suspicious look, and more than one looked eager to draw weapons on the young Bretonnian Knights.
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Indeed it talking with the rogues had been somewhat of an experience, but more so than that it yielded that Mousillion was even more divided than was initially believed.
North of their present location was the fortress of some wannabe necromancer who was going about raising an army, report was that he sought to reach the First Necromancer's old laboratory.
This was ill news Nagash was… well if half of it was true half of the stories only the fact Nagash's Laboratory had been filled to the brim with all manner of foul traps and the low number of remaining troops had prevented Baldwyn, already injured from his battle with the ancient liche from sacking the fortress properly.
"We should ride for it, if this wizard were to gain even a small inkling of that monsters research he could endanger the whole of the nation." Jacques announced
Claude nodded in agreement,
"We cant we lack the resources to launch an assault," Bemoaned Soleil to the others of the group.
"He is correct," Philippe agreed, "The fortress while damaged is also still probably heavily resistant to siege." The teen would know he had focused in that particular field of study.
"As I understand," Maurice remarked haphazardly tossing Baldwyn's record journal up in the air, "The path is narrow and on a hill meaning limited is the key word, large forces would only slow us down. If we set out now we can prepare our attack."
This was unlike him then again Maurice could have his own ideas going through his head.
"Fine we'll ride at dawn tomorrow," Agreed the Subject, "but only to scout out the surroundings," He stated resolutely.
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The trek had been arduous taking for days to reach the mountain and another two to reach the fortress proper.
"We are being followed," Corentin remarked early into the trip, their pursuers Philippe had managed to devise to loose them with out tacking any additional time onto their journey.
Apparently they had made it to the mountain and were beginning the trek.
Maurice and Henri both were grimacing.
Philippe had returned earlier and informed them that those following them were not the only ones approaching the Necromancer was approaching under the guard of a champion, and what appeared to be a vampire, and what he presumed was a witch.
Corentin had managed to find a wild hippogriff while he had been exploring with Claude, the beast seemed to have taken a liking to the group.
Baldwyn, his father, he remembered had possessed a Hippogriff a noble creature befitting of the highborn, his father's own had been Slain in battle against the First Necromancer on this very mountain.
It would seem that Nagash had been up to something more than just foul magic, the laboratory more resembled the court Alchemists workplace, or one of the guilds in the Empire, which toiled with things like black powder.
It worried the Subject.
It would seem the majority of Nagash's written work had been removed, likely by the necromancer after the initial defeat.
However there were more than a few errant books, which almost seemed to have intentionally left behind.
But why did… had the first necromancer seek to spread his foul creation, that wretch of an arcane art to more people for what purpose to cause death, perhaps.
Although perhaps then the necromancer had some unknowable object, old as he was mayhaps mortal lives were viewed as of little value, the Latter Henri decided was likely not matter what the meaning.
What use did the necromancer have for treasure and why de he pen a tome in what appeared to be not only normal ink on his activites but mores so than that detailed objectively his defeats it made little sense.
"Are we wrong, perhaps we misjudged the wizard," Jacques remarked pushing aside one of the more positive books, Nagash's studies on the medicine, the research in to healing was simply astounding.
Maurice snarled, "And perhaps the lack of air is affecting your thinking," He bellowed from across the table
"I found it," announced Corentin,
"We can activate the auto Defenses?" questioned Rene.
Philippe
shook his head as he emerged from trailing after their larger
comrade, "No Nagash disengaged the defenses in order to meet our
father's," at this Henri noticed his cousin scowled, "and the
host in battle."
It would seem that of all the information the
necromancer had left had been amongst the retinue of knowledge what
they gravely sought was not present.
"His
numbers," speaking of the enemy necromancer who was approaching,
"are limited we fight," Maurice put forth, "He brought no
army-"
Baldwyn's nephew found himself interrupted, "He is a
necromancer you battle eager fool, lest you've forgotten their
advantage in that regard,"
Claude shook his head, "No we must
attack before he raises such a horde," The blonde stated. "We can
charge them if need be, but we must stop them,"
They at last
broke from the table they had gathered to resume survey of the castle
and account for supplies that were within its walls.
OF course they had little under a day and a half to prepare and their was also the issue of the ones who had been following them from the rogue town.
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The arrival of the foe proved sooner than the pursuers. The Vampire they had identified was a strigoi, and currently engaging Corentin and the Hippogriff.
The witch as it turned out to be the case was Lahmia vampire, and quite the alluring figure, even more so than was expected.
Soleil had gotten the raw end of the start, the damned woman hurled into one of the stone walls, of course his armor shielded him to a degree, but it seemed he would be out for a bit. She was currently toying with Philippe and Rene.
The mortal champion who accompanied them proved to be skilled easily holding his own against Maurice, so much so he was making even against the nephew of Baldwyn and Claude.
The necromancer gritted his skeletal teeth, he was truly a decrepit thing. The Loathsome wretch raised his staff.
The subject cursed angrily, hastily shoving Jacques out of the way of the incoming spell...
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Chapter Conclusion
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Helltanz's Notes: Well then our Part I main cast have begun their first quest firmly in the cursed Duchy anyway from here on it will proceed to about chapter five after which more on I'll focus on Bretonnia and eventually the war with Stephen.
Of course once five starts that focus will should have introduced the main knights and the setting and then I'll move along to dealing with the conflict and the building up.
After chapter five as I mentioned will deal with the issues in Bretonnia which borders the sea, hint, and as well our protagonists own forays into magic among other things.
One thing to clarify Subject is referring to Harry/Henri its Nagash's name for him since he's the only naturally not subject to death.
Any questions?
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