The First Great War
Chapter 1: The Start of a Legend
Kvatch, Last Seed, 17th, 4E 176
Four Colovian warriors stared at the moons Masser and Secunda, both at half light. A rare specatcle.
"The moons are beautiful this night." Admired one. A young man no older than nineteen asked. Who wore a furred, steel helm of his people as customized by him as he relaxed in the light of the two moons.
"It is an ill omen." Said one with bright blonde hair as his youthful countenance. As he looked at the two brothers to his and his friend's left.
"Isn't that the case Mars? With you holding Masser." He asked.
"And my dear brother Andred holding Secunda, when both are present like this, it is a grim sign." Mars replied as he and his brother Andred von Kessel held their amulets as they stared.
The red gems around the symbol of the respective moons seemed to glow to the two brothers.
"A grim sign for the Dominion's mercenaries!" Exclaimed the young lord with the furred helm.
"We have them trapped, and my father shall aid us in time if we do not get them before!" The young lord added.
The blonde man with the short hair smiled.
"Yes, but we shall wage it with great care." The blonde stated with a calculated tone.
"And here I thought that you, Reinhard. Would have broken before the battle even began at home with my brother here!" Laughed Mars von Kessel as he teased at the both of them.
Reinhard von Drach, who bore the Imperial-Heartlander name "Tullius".
"Tch! Your first battle before we begin the next campaign and you already are chiding at each other!" Joked the furred-helm lord, Oliver von Berlin; the fourth son of the great and current Warlord Siegward von Berlin.
"And to think the start of our ill-fated journey begins with a mercenary company embarrassing our peerless reputation." Replied Mars light-heartedly as he stretched.
"Say brother." Stated Mars at he looked at his black-haired brother who stared back at him with a small smile.
"Let's say, that with those two moons we take down the commander of these mercenaries as Reinhard planned for us too eh?" He stated with a wink and a punch to his brother's shoulder.
"If we do not die ourselves." Andred replied simply.
Reinhard turned to gaze at them.
"Andred if you want no part in the fighting, you can stay out of it." Reinhard suggested, concerned.
"No, I will fight." Replied Andred. Who unlike the rest of those that stood was a more simple, civilian man who had wanted to stray away from war. But nonetheless took it up in the name of his brother, family, his friendship to Reinhard, and to Colovia.
"Thank you, Andred." Said Reinhard as he continued to gaze at the moons.
"Ah…..Reinhard when we will begin?" Asked Oliver as he yawned.
"Soon, we'll meet with my father and Lord Kessel and prepare the attack, Lord Kessel's agents should have already infiltrated them by now. They'll be in good positions soon." Stated Reinhard as the three gave him acknoledgement.
"Very well then. I was prepared to waste my kindness on all three of you. But you are worthy of what my father entrusts in you and me." Oliver replied.
"My lord." The three said in unison.
Oliver stood alone as the three departed to go down to meet Lord Drach and Lord Kessel at the cathedral of the nine divines.
"Oliver has the spirits of his father." Stated Mars.
"Indeed, he has a long way to go. It's humorous to think of all that we've done in comparison by just two years." Replied Reinhard.
"The blood of dead elves and khajiits has given us much. I guess the Warlord and the others would say it would be preferable to killing each other, like how it used to be." Mars remarked, shifting the topic somewhat.
"Do you think, that when this is all over we shall be fighting our Empire next Reinhard?" Mars then questioned.
"It cannot be certain until the Dominion has been rendered incapable of fighting us anywhere on our lands." Reinhard replied.
"If only our overlord wasn't so bad at fighting in the first place we had to pick up their slack!" Laughed Mars.
"They're in a pathetic state, I bet in the next few battles we'll still have to save them." He added with another howling laughter.
"Overconfidence will be the death of us just like with Mede." Stated Reinhard.
"Aye, we are backed with great skill that is for certain though your caution is well warranted as always Reinhard." Mars replied as his brother still remained rather silent as he walked with the two of them.
Andred had always felt like an outsider within the large circle of the warlord, something he took to himself. Yet he was still somewhat liked by all of them.
Turning his gaze back to the road in front of them, lined with civilians silently cheering and blessing on the Colovian soldiers as they marched to the Cathedral.
"A lot of us out in the streets tonight, how many are going again?" Mars asked.
"Our fathers have said about nine-hundred, not counting those of us embedded with the mercenaries. Everyone else is on watch of course." Reinhard replied.
"Good enough, we'll have them all dead by morning with that many." Nodded Mars.
"Don't let the excitement overtake you." Reinhard stated cooly.
"As though it ever has." The great warrior of Colovia replied light-heartedly.
"Although I may be tempted to, I have to keep up my record alongside Erich for the best warrior in the land." He added with a smile.
"Your days in the arena have paid off for you brother." Said Andred quietly, who stood a good two inches taller than that of Mars.
"And tonight I'll show it once again as always dear brother! I cannot wait to face off against the mercenary commander and send that vagabond to hell." Mars beamed as the drew closer to the church.
"I'll be fighting as well this time. For Berlin's sake." Stated Reinhard.
"Oh? Some pressure to not give masterfully issued orders in the back now eh Reinhard?" Mars joked.
Reinhard smirked.
"Afraid not, I've merely decided to use both brain and brawn to win this one." He stated.
"That's a change, are you trying to surpass Numerius?" Mars asked.
"I am not looking to compete with the others in this family we've built. Numerius is a greater tactician than I." Said Reinhard.
"I don't know, you've made even my father jealous at times." Confided Mars.
"Him jealous? I shall keep that in mind." He replied with a mischievous smirk of his own, one commonly seen by his best friend and his brother.
"I'm most certain you will. You two are like foxes I swear." Stated Mars as he shook his head.
"But...Without my father's schemes where would both of our families be then?" He then asked, expecting no answer to which he did not receive.
He imagined they still would have been struggling families with no future under the reign of their old count.
When Warlord Berlin came along at the time when he was King of Skingrad, the Fathers of the von Kessels and von Drachs were the first to come to him, offering the city, and extension the kingdom, on a golden platter if they had his help. Being a man that looked for talent; he gratefully accepted, and went on to make them one of the many pillars of the land he was building up from decades of internal conflict.
And now here was he and Reinhard and his brother and many others like Oliver Berlin himself, all part of the next generation of Colovia's 50 great generals that would have all their hopes and dreams handed down to them as well as their skills along with their burdens.
There was a bright, endless future laid out for them, but as ever with the history of Colovia it would be made with bloodshed.
He mentally steeled himself to prepare for the fight with the Dominion's mercenaries as the trio entered the square.
Two very well armored colovian men stood at the front of the Cathedral.
The two 'old men' of the families, Lord Kessel and Lord Drach themselves. As they had now become, with white in their hairs. And being no longer close to their prime.
Their bodyguards regarded them warmly as they approached.
Lord Kessel's and by extension Mars and Andred's guards were more ragtag in comparison to the more professional ones of Drach's befitting their nature.
The Kessel family loyalist Helmut, a simple but kind and dependable man known for his ferocity and toughness. The forcefully taken Secantius, a heartlander scribe that was forced into fight by them, but started doing so out of his own will not long into it. There was Christof, a towering quiet miner that had once worked for them originally that had almost led a revolt against them as well. And then there was the colovian born bosmer, Tirza whom was a renegade Blades agent. With others that Lord Kessel unexpectedly cobbled together.
Personal protection was something the likes of the Colovian 50 Generals had not worried too much of in the past, as they were all formidable warriors. Yet, as they aged the necessity became a most unavoidable matter.
All of them were outfitted in the best colovian steel armor they could have gotten, with the signature large protective jacket that all men and women of the Colovian State Armies wore.
And now they saluted them as they walked up, placing their hands to their heads.
"Warriors of Kvatch, tonight we punish the Mercenaries for taking advantage of us." Spoke Lord Drach as he and Lord Kessel regarded all of them, their sons, their bodyguards, and the volunteers for this task as they stood silently with rapt, disciplined attention.
"Our agents shall give us a signal soon, but for now we ask that you get into formations with for your leaders of this mission being Mars von Kessel and Reinhard von Drach. You know your positions, may the wolf grant you protection." Stated Lord Kessel as he invoked the title of an old colovian hero.
It was an unceremonious event, the two lords merely wished to see off their warriors before the fight began. Namely, a short conversation with their sons.
"Are you all ready?" Asked Lord Drach, who held a stern expression but who's eyes were caring.
"As we are needed to be." Replied his son.
"Excellent, Lord Berlin and his kin have high hopes for you three, you must strive to meet them." Stated Lord Drach.
"It starts now young lords, this will make a good first battle for our campaign into Elsweyr. Tonight is one of chaos, fight as you see fit and enjoy while it lasts. Out there you will follow all of us." Said Lord Kessel, with a mischievous look among him.
"It's hardly any different from before!" Chuckled Mars.
"Hardly, you have a greater responsibility upon your shoulders. Don't waste what's been given to you like the Imperials." Lord Kessel replied with a smirk as he finished.
"You'll get no embarrassment from us. Now what are we to expect of these mercenaries?" Asked Mars.
"They're a young and inexperienced group, easy pickings. Especially when Lord Kessel's agents spread their half lies about. They are overconfident, but shall easily break when that happens." Stated Lord Drach as he gave Lord Kessel visible approval.
"And we are to just waltz in through the main gate or are we to take the secondary route?" Asked Mars once more.
"The agents have been told to secure the gate controls first and foremost, we have men at the hidden passage in the event they try to escape through it if they ever do locate it. Do not worry about it." Stated Lord Kessel, as his hand stroked his white beard.
"You talk of it all as though it is but an afterthought, do enemies right next to our city not worry you?" Reinhard thought as he admired the confidence of his father and that of Mars and Andred's father.
Confidence that Reinhard himself had adopted. All that was needed was to further sharpen his mind, he had to.
"Stroll in and slaughter. They won't stand a chance." Declared Mars.
His father smiled humorously.
"Mars, Andred, watch each other's backs." Said Lord Kessel, his usual carefree look was replaced by seriousness.
"Understood." Spoke up Andred.
"Show no mercy, and do whatever it takes to rid our keep of them." Lord Kessel added.
"Now check your portable lamps and get with your men, let us welcome Siegward with the flags of Colovia over that keep in the morning." Dismissed Drach.
The three bowed, and walked off together.
Lord Drach and Lord Kessel stood silent.
"Alwin, is our future in good hands?" Asked Lord Drach in a whisper.
"There is no doubt in my mind. Oliver shall have the bright mind that may surpass even mine and the strength of the arm and spirit that is Mars who shall surpass even Erich someday Isebrand." Stated Alwin von Kessel.
"….What of Andred?" Asked Isebrand von Drach.
"I wish only a peaceful life for him, I just fear that the times may take it differently on him than I wish." Said Alwin, as he smiled at the disappearing three forms.
"I like to think that all of our plotting has worked for the best in the end and was not for nothing, I can only blame Mede for all of this." He then sighed.
"You're speaking as though Siegward doesn't exist." Said Isebrand.
"One day he won't, and neither will we." Replied Alwin.
"Sorry, I ramble." Alwin said once more, letting out a sad chuckle.
"You're acting not like yourself tonight, you are being too genuine." Noticed Isebrand as he carried a light expression.
"As an old man, I speak in riddles when I decide to now." Alwin replied dryly.
"Of which I may speak of to Oliver, let us go see him and ensure that we men of Kvatch treat our guests and friends well." He said as slowly walked away.
Isebrand smiled.
He missed the days when they were all a bunch of young upstarts. But felt content with the flow of Akatosh's time.
Kvatch, Mercenary held western keep
"We've been abandoned! The Colovians are going to surround us and kill us all!" Cried a Mercenary as he announced a report loudly in a best fit of despair as he could manage.
The leader of the mercenaries, a rather stout breton looking man walked up to the doomsayer.
"W-What?" He stammered.
"A Colovian army is coming, no less than 40,000!" The man stated. What the Colovian infiltrator said was no lie.
The Breton man stood in horror, such large numbers from Colovia of all the Imperial nations had not been seen yet.
"You, you cannot be serious! Where in Akatosh's name has the Khajiit backup gone to!?" He questioned. And then another Mercenary sprinted towards him.
"They-They're attacking!" He panted.
"Through where!?" He demanded.
"They've already taken the gatehouse, they're swarming through!" He stated. He was panting because he had been there to open the gates for his countrymen.
The mercenary commander's entourage seemed shaken as the commander stood wordlessly
"F-Fight back! Fight back! Charge them and counterattack!" He ordered to all of them.
Shakily, the mercenaries followed the objective.
The infiltrators had accomplished their objective, now all that was left for them to do was to block them from escaping when they inevitably made the attempt.
The two that had reported to the 3rd rate mercenary leader gave each other a humored expression, and ran off to block their escape.
"Forwads men! Death to the sellsword swine!" Rang the voice of Mars as they breached through the gate.
Already dead mercenaries were laid about in part to both the infiltrators and the newly arrived soldiers.
The Colovians were on mad rush as they aggressively engaged the disheartened and disorganized mercenaries of the Dominion, the skilled swords and spearmen quickly cut through the cheaply armed sellswords.
"Let us keep attacking like mad dogs Mars, we're already off to a great start." Stated Reinhard, whose face was now hidden under a wooden appearing mask attached to his helm, the type of which Mars and Andred themselves now affixed, hiding all but their mouths and eyes to the front. It was noteworthy that their masks came with a metal protection to the throat.
"Hunt down their commander, I shall work towards cleaning them up over on my end." He then ordered.
"Understood! Come Andred, we've a most evil animal to hunt!" Declared Mars as he readied his spear.
Andred quietly readied his as well, and the two ran off with their men following behind them.
They were reckless, and Reinhard decided that he would be as well.
Charging with his greatsword, he and his group began to cutdown a reformed group of mercenaries, young, and in total fear of them.
One, armed with a spear thrusted it towards his head, Reinhard swung his greatsword under it to send it higher, and loosened the mercenaries grip on it before he could pull the spear back.
He followed through with cutting through the mercenaries's chest, nearly slicing the man in half as he had panicked trying to grab his spear.
"No mercy, do not forget that, Tullius." Thought Reinhard as he referred to himself in his Imperial name, something that strangely comforted him from time to time in battle.
As he took his group to enter and secure the main structure of the keep itself, a tall warrior appeared.
An orc growled at them, his hands were tight around a menacing large warhammer that he held with both of his hands.
"Colovian dog! I shall slaughter you all like pigs!" He taunted with the full confidence of an orc as he spoke in the language of his enemy.
"Hmm." Pondered Reinhard as he studied the orc.
He patted the shoulder of one of his entourage.
"Elmer, go face him." He issued as he looked at him.
The man seemed rather nervous but nodded.
"Are you all so cowardly to send only one man to face me!?" He laughed and then regarded the young soldier Reinhard had put to the front of him.
"Hey kid, you've got some balls, but you're gonna regret it! When pretty little face is smashed into bits with my maul!" He taunted Reinhard's warrior, spreading his arms out as though to insult all of the Colovians that stared at him.
Reinhard smirked. And threw a black ball at the orc, it had a fuse, which was already half burnt.
"What the?" The Orc looked down at it, and realized it.
The explosion blew the mercenary into bits.
Elmer turned around, grateful but his mouth was open.
"You sure you needed to use that? I think I would have had him handled." He stated.
"I don't like taking chances." Dryly replied Reinhard.
"Haha that's our commander! You always think ahead Reinhard!" Praised one of troops.
"Too smart, too strong." He mentally complimented himself as he held a most smug expression.
"Nice cover for me there Elmer, everyone let's advance!" He declared as he raised his greatsword.
The soldiers, elated and amazed ran with him with all the recklessness they could have.
Mars and his group were plowing their way through as their target grew ever closer, as he clawed uselessly at the gates.
The two brothers worked together as they speared each of the foes that lined their path as they reached the man, now sobbing heavily.
The two teamed up on the last man, who could barely register the two spearpoints that took his life in an instant.
"Hey, Merc!" Laughed Mars as he spoke in tamrielic to the leader.
The breton slowly turned around as he faced Mars, who held a most humored expression in comparison to his more serious appearing brother.
"Say, do you want to surrender?" Asked Mars as he approached casually whilst covered in blood, with one arm holding his spear on his back as though he were stretching it.
"P-P-P-Please do-don't kill me!" He begged whilst tears fell from his eyes.
The colovians behind the two lords laughed at the mercenary.
"I am not planning on it, just answer some question of mine and you'll live I promise." He replied genuinely.
"What….What do you want to know!?" He cried.
"Just want to know which lord hired your group." Shrugged Mars.
"The Phoenix, it was the Phoenix! Lord Falcrion-uhh Lord Falcrion Salingorin!" He stated.
Andred von Kessel felt most disturbed as he recognized the name, whilst not knowing the language the man spoke. Mars gave an 'O' expression as the name was stated.
"Well then, looks like father and lord Numerius were quite right! Old Falcrion is looking for yet another fight again!" He announced.
Andred's expression soured.
"Hey don't look so down Andred, it's all in good sportsmanship in war. We'll fight another battle that we might lose quite soon! He's good at keeping us on our toes, especially after the last three times he nearly got us killed." Mars said with all the light heartedness he could muster.
"I need to fight harder." Thought Andred as stared at his brother.
Mars detected some trouble in his brother, held a sad expression before he faced the breton once more.
"Tirza! Christof! Take him to my father, he'll have a use for him." Stated Mars as he gave the man a wink.
He'd most likely end up working in the estate until he learned some backbone and strength if he wished to lead a band of mercenaries again, such a thing was unlikely but not impossible.
At any rate, it seemed the battle was coming to a quick end as colovian voices were heard throughout the whole keep.
Cheering and laughing commenced, and the masks were taken off.
"Hey Helmut! I'm leaving you in charge of the boys and girls, make sure they don't get too wild eh?" Mars ordered, smiling.
The Kessel family loyalist smiled widely.
"Anything for you, sir Mars!" He grinned as he gave a fist pump to the sky.
"It was a great battle, I'll do my part!" He stated.
Mars smiled.
"You've always been a man of great enthusiasm, we'll take off now. Thank you Helmut; if anything happens don't hesitate to send a runner." Dismissed Mars as he parted with his brother to go inside the keep.
"Are we going somewhere in particular in here?" Asked Andred as Mars led him aimlessly.
"Eh just want to get to the roof, want to enjoy the night sky some more is all." He replied.
Andred felt rather wordless as the pair walked up towards the roof. The signs of battle all around them but at this point the battle was over and no longer mattered to them.
They were cheered at as they walked along the way by the patrolling colovian troops as they searched the keep for anything of value that the mercenaries would have left.
"Hey Andred!" One yelled with a massive grin.
"Drinks are on them tonight!" He cackled as he held out a bottle of bravil made mead that he had just looted from them.
"Good repossession of our dear products! We'll have to join you all in that later." He smiled to the man as the two walked by.
Taking the final set of stairs they reached the roof of the keep, and immediately Mars laid down on the ground and put his hands behind his head.
"What a night it's been brother." He said.
"I suppose." Replied Andred.
Mars sighed softly.
"Something's been plaguing you lately and I know what, tell me brother did you see Hildeguard before you joined up with me?" The older brother asked.
"…..I did, she went off to the estate." He informed Mars.
"I wanted to spend some more time with her before I joined you." Andred stated as he sat down and hugged his spear.
"Rather would be with her huh?" Mars asked with a devilish smile, and then chuckled.
"I want to help you and dad." Andred stated, the cheering and merriment could still be heard below them.
Mars's countenance depressed.
"Oh come on Andred, you don't owe us anything." He replied.
"I don't want to let you fight alone, especially after your days in the Arena." Replied Andred.
"And I know father did a lot for me, it doesn't sit right with me." Added the younger brother.
"Going through the arena was my own decision brother, I did it for the family so that we could continue. I know that you never wanted to quite deal with all of this political-war nonsense that father and I have dedicated our lives to and we never expected or demanded you to join it, we love you, do you understand? If you don't want to fight you don't have to Andred. I understand you, me and our father, Reinhard, Oliver, and so on are all evil people. We're killers and looters, merciless and insane. You don't have to hurt your own-self with us."
Andred was silent as Andred's reply danced in his head.
Mars kept staring up at the sky, a pained half-smile on his lips.
"I'll stay. I don't want to hide away and let you all suffer." Responded Andred.
A tear fell down Mars's cheek.
"Alright Andred. I just wanted to make sure you were all sure of this."
Mars's lips then curled upwards again.
"I'll tell you what, you're almost as good as me though!" He laughed to which Andred looked confused.
"I don't think I am." He stated.
"'Almost', still some ways but even without going to the arena like I did I gotta say you got quite a powerful swing. Pretty soon you may be able to teach some of the new kids we'll be getting." He said.
"Or perhaps Reinhard can, I know you're there you sneaky little fox. Listening on Kessel family secrets now aren't you?"
Reinhard emerged out of the doorway.
"You are both still alive, I'm happy." He smiled.
Mars snorted.
"Save it for the real battle to come. We're gonna be fighting that Trinimac fanatic again." He informed.
Reinhard's expression grew grim.
"That shall be a most daunting battle." Reinhard calmly stated.
"I'm certain it will be fun, for that crazed elf anyways." Chuckled Mars.
"Though I will say, that omen was quite telling in any case." He added as he sat up and lightly cupped his face with a hand as he pondered.
"Right." Came Reinhard as he stared up at the two moons as they still glowed brightly.
"Anyways we did a great workload, I say we get a drink after we report to our fathers yes?" Stood Mars as he checked his mask.
"….Won't the warlord be here in the morning?" He pointed, to which Mars pouted.
"Hey not to the point of drunken stupor, do you take me for a light drinker?" He chided jokingly.
"Your brother would know, perhaps you could be as responsible as he is." Reinhard smirked.
Andred's expression grew slightly humorous.
"You're damnably right."
Soon the Colovian flags (The shape of two spears pointing in towards a diamond shape containing a horse inside of the diamond) were mounted all across the retaken keep in a near overuse of it.
Morning did not come long after the victory, giving the Kvatchians only so little time to rest after their celebration as they prepared another one.
Their great Warlord would soon arrive.
Outskirts of Kvatch, Last Seed, 18th
Four lords rode under the shadow of Kvatch's great keep as a massive amount of soldiers and bodyguards followed them.
They were the great Colovian lords.
The first among them was the great tactician of the kingdom Numerius Ercolani, the nibenean who was most favored and respected as one, owing a long history with the Warlord.
The second was the land's strongest warrior, Erich von Model. Also considered to be among the greatest in terms of strategic and tactical skill alongside the Warlord himself, he had been a longstanding loyalist to the warlord since his youth. He was the leader of the legendary colovian cavalry unit he had created they were called 'Alduin's Despoilers' as they were called, holding a name to a god that had been largely forgotten or feared by many.
The next was the 2nd, and only living brother of the warlord. Wolf 'Ruigus' von Berlin. Who had been at his brother's side since the day he had exiled their father back when they were just in the rule of the singular Skingrad kingdom. He was a most accomplished man, though he was known for holding a more simple demeanor that was not afraid of brutality.
Finally, the man who wore the helm and mask of the wooden-metal lion adorned with hair from one was none other than Warlord Siegward 'Constantine' von Berlin. Colovia's last breath for hope in the last few centuries. Rutheless, and known as a dread lord to all those that dared to oppose him. A most terrifying man to face on the field, but to those who followed him. He was almost a divine being.
The cheering to them as they entered the city was frenzied and totally unanimous among the populace of Kvatch.
Many fell to their knees as the Warlord and his generals trotted past them, basking in the glory of it all. The Warlord spread out his arms as he rode to regard their praise.
The cavalry unit known as the Sturmreiters were among those chosen to go along with them, a notorious group that wore metal masks incorporated into their helms, to many they looked terrifying. To their people they were seen as inspiring, and were praised as heroes, a common thing among the new bloodied and proud face of the land.
"Even in his age he still seems as young as ever." Opened Mars as he spoke aloud with Reinhard and Andred at his sides as their fathers stood in front of them to greet a dismounting warlord, who removed his mask.
His son, Oliver walked up to join him, the warlord smiled at the boy.
The Warlord held a most pressured countenance from all of his years in rule however, he was a man that possessed the same fiery, if not desperate spirit in his eyes and disposition that gave the man life among his near fatherly appearance.
"We are most thankful to join you on your campaign once again my warlord." Greeted Lord Drach.
The Warlord regarded him with a serious expression.
"You are welcome as always, good friends." He stated.
"We shall march to the province of Dune and head south into Verkarth to put the Eagle King into check. He believes himself to be a capable leader, we shall go to show him now, old friends that he is outclassed in the end, and cannot take the world for himself." Announced the Warlord.
Reinhard felt the drums of war beat in his thoughts.
"We shall meet up with reinforcements in eastern Skingrad and make our march through the Dominion's Khajiit and Thalmor armies. I expect Bosmer to try and stop us as well, they're more active than ever seen before now, and I have to thank it to that one mer."
"Warlord, The Phoenix, Falcrion. He is in Arenthia fighting the Legion garrison, we've learned it from a mercenary leader he was sent by." Stated Lord Kessel.
The faces of the four great lords grew grim and weighted.
"So….He wishes for another battle." Paled the Warlord as his beard bristled.
"Ha! This time he may end up dead with what we'll be bringing to face him, my oldest enemy shall find what he wanted no doubt. If we ignore him he will continue on into our lands to harass me for one." He then stated.
"My lord, if I may ask, why does he fixate on you for fights?" Asked Mars. A question some among them had long wanted to ask themselves.
"Haha." He chuckled.
"See, he thinks I am the greatest of all living persons to exist in this world as it stands."
"Ever since the Dominion had taken an interest in southern Hammerfell and especially after they won the unification war in Valenwood, that man has strode dangerously close to us." He recalled as best he could.
"Funnily enough Mars, he helped us in the border conflict with the Forebears. Ten years ago."
"And since the start of this war we've battled again and again in southern Nibenay and here as you've seen a couple of times for yourself."
"So I can imagine, that with the overall worthless commanders of the Imperial Legion and Nibenay he has come for what he considers a challenge, a refreshment." He finished.
"I'm surprised he's quite the obsessive one." Said Mars, with a rather nervous grin.
"Only for battle, of that I am sure. After all, he is called after the likes of Trinimac. That Altmer or shall I say Aldmer, god of war." Replied Siegward as he regained a more pressured expression.
"So that's why he's called the Phoenix." Stated Erich von Model.
"Well that certainly throws a fire into the field with that." Stated Reinhard.
"Indeed, we shall need a plan for facing him as this will hurt our efforts for a confrontation with that Eagle King Orndacil Venril. Which is why I am thankful I have Kilian and Benedict to meet us." The Warlord assured, and then Numerius spoke.
"I know the land well, I have no doubt he would intend to fight us at a river and use it to flood us. If we are to send a massive number of cavalry men to push around and secure whichever dam there is whilst our main line would hold against his own main force we could beat down on him like a hammer hitting an anvil." The tactician stated, knowing full well of the God of War's intentions.
Reinhard looked up at the man.
"Ha! A great plan already Numerius!" Laughed Siegward's brother.
"If it is to go that way." The warlord said slowly.
"But I will consider it heavily Numerius, we'll speak of it tonight and shall finalize as we draw closer to him." He added, speaking more clearly. His old Tactician had never once failed him.
"Of course, one must not overthink it." The man responded.
"Yet….." A feeling of dread flowed it's way into the tactician's clear mind.
The Warlord then faced his son.
"Oliver, I pray you have taken good pages from Lord Drach and Kessel. You shall be assisting Wulfhard in northern Woodroot against the main Bosmer contigents, you shall rejoin us once our first fights are over as per to Wulfhard's plan." He informed. To which his son's eyes widened.
"But I was I not to follow you father?" He asked.
"To a point, you shall rejoin us quickly." Waved the Warlord.
Siegward von Berlin had thought of it on the moment, it was insurance in the case that if his worst, none too distant fears were possible.
"Talos, Shor. Please let us keep true and forwards." He silently prayed.
"In any case. Lords of Kvatch, let us eat and dream of the battles to come." He stated once more, as a smile cracked across his wearied face.
Border of Arenthia province and Ohmes province, several days later
The Imperial Legion was facing off against a contingent of the Aldermi Dominion army in across a large river.
Troops were up to shins in water as the two sides brutally clashed against the other in this fight as the Imperial Legion desperately pressed into the Aldmeri lines as the black armored elves were most stalwart as their spearline again and again held off legionary attack.
On a hill overlooking the Dominion side of the river was a black robed and armored Altmer on a horse surrounded by much more soldierly individuals, he who looked much like a warrior priest.
Lightly toned and a much more sharp look among him, the man stared at the battleground fiercely as his eyes picked every detail from the fighting.
An Altmer on a horse rode up.
"Uncle! We are prepared to drown the Imperial rats!" His cousin reported with a most hateful excitement.
He only saw the horrible, ineffectual leaders of this legion as such.
"Break the dam. Have them fall back now." The robed Altmer instructed, his nephew turned and rode off.
"He buys too much into the Thalmor's words." He thought to himself.
One of his officers kneeled.
"Of course, Falcrion." He said and took it to ride off to carry the message.
Falcrion sipped water from his glass bowl as he watched the fighting below, this time he would not exert himself, not yet.
"Captain Enriellor, send my thanks to your adjutant for this plan." He said to one as his eyes still scanned at the battle in front.
"Who? Serdan Permaer?" He questioned, he saw his head nod as he did not directly face him.
Captain Enriellor felt a pang of jealousy, his adjutant was in no place to make a suggestion to above his station.
"Alright." The Captain replied.
Soon, the Dominion soldiers started to fall back from the river.
The Imperials cheered, despite that they had taken the higher share of the losses.
A massive wave of water rushed downwards towards them.
It was far too late for them to have any chance of a safe escape.
Hundreds were taken by the fierce rush of it all, decimating the strongest force they could have thrown at him.
The rest would be pathetic pickings.
The warrior of Trinimac was bored.
A panting scout approached one of his entourage, who then approached him.
"My lord, the scouts report that a massive Colovian army is heading our way to aim for the Eagle King led by none other than the Warlord himself! What shall we do!?" She asked.
Falcrion Salingorin looked out into the far lands beyond those of the Imperial Dragon and saw the thousands of horses riding their way.
He downed the water in his glass bowl and smiled.
"Nemesis, you have come!" He stated openly.
A feeling of unparalleled excitement and fervor entered him.
He then looked down at the reeling legionaries.
"Battle is ecstasy. I await for ours, nemesis!"
The Phoenix burned brightly.
And the Lion marched to meet it.
End of the first chapter of the First Great War.
I hope you enjoyed it! It's a story I've been somewhat alluding to over quite a few of the chapters as this is something I've quite wanted to have my own representation of as well.
This one I'm somewhat considering moving to it's own seperate story and not inside along with Vahlok's Tale but I consider this ulitmately important to the overall story as well.
Two more chapters of this shall be released for now, Vahlok's tale will be coming out very very soon along with this but at the moment I will be focusing on working on the Vahlok's Tale sidestory which will last a few more chapters and then I will work on this one again after it is all done as to not pull myself in twenty different directions, would be pretty bad for release schedule, just saying.
In any case, this will end up being a longer ongoing thing than Vahlok's Tale overall and it will be receiving it's own Intermission considering how much will be gone through in it.
I consider this and Vahlok's Tale something you can read at anytime in the story as I want them to help build up the main one as well.
Thanks for checking it out as always.
