Hello again everyone and welcome back to the second chapter of Honor's Watch. I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the first chapter so here is the next one. As I said previously, this one will show them the little shorts for each of the knight heroes aside from the Warmongers to give them an idea of the faction. Anyway, I don't have much else to say beside feel free to leave a review and correct me if there's something wrong or bad so I can improve and fix it but keep it civil.
I write to bring entertainment and happiness to people.
Outsider 2.0: I understand what you mean and I aim to improve on the mistakes you pointed but as for Skuld's stuttering, it is not caused by her Tourette's, only the twitches are and the occasional hum. It will be explained later on about the two's story. I apologize for any confusion about such.
TenNoTorii: I'll add them absolutely now but it will be difficult but I'll try my best!
I do not own For Honor or RWBY in anyway, just the ocs I've made.
And with that, let's get started.
The large group had split up and now were mingling in the large lobby that had the same layout and aesthetic as the cinema room. There was a large concessions stand that had all sorts of drinks and snacks many hadn't heard of. But the thing that drew mostly everyone's attention was the large golden sculpture in the middle of the room depicting a man in armor with a sword raised high. Cinder and her two lackeys were going over what they knew but the real kicker was that Salem was just chatting away with Summer like there was no problem.
None of the Inner Circle could really believe it and of course the rest of team STRQ were cautious about the grimmified woman. Raven leaned on a wall far from everyone else and watched them, especially Salem.
Soon enough the two other mysterious women joined them and were soon occupied by the first years crowding them and asking them questions. "So…whatkindofweaponsdoyouhave?" Ruby asked out extremely fast and Furora tilted her head confused before Skuld hummed. "She…asked about…w-weapons."
Furora looked to her compatriot before shrugging and patting Ruby's head. "Easy there. You'll see the faction I fight for first so you'll see the type of fighter I am. A demonstration is better than a description." And Ruby deflated a little but still held excitement to see their weapons.
Meanwhile Weiss looked at them with a distrusting gaze, as did Blake, Ren, and Yang. They couldn't trust the women, not yet at least. Nearby Roman and Neo glanced around the room, metaphorical money signs in their eyes at some of the expensive items.
With the Ozluminati, Ironwood was glaring at Salem. "I don't get it Oz! How can Summer just return from the dead and be all friendly with Salem?!" Before Ozpin could reply, Spark cut in as he suddenly appeared next to them. "Why not ask her yourself instead of grouching in a corner like a bunch of children?" And with that the man turned away as the others gaped openly at him before Qrow chuckled and drank from his flask, "He's got a point."
Summer laughed again and smiled as Salem recounted another hilarious story. "And then when my father turned to leave he tripped over his own cape and the whole room struggled not to laugh." She burst out laughing again before a loud whistle caught everyone's attention.
Spark stood up and held his hands in the air, "Everyone, if you would please return to the cinema room, the next viewing is ready to start."
Once everyone was seated, Spark and the denizens from Heathmoore took their usual spot once again. "Now, as a reminder, this will show a brief explanation of the heroes of the Knight faction, which Furora here holds place in." They all nodded and mentally prepared themselves as the screen came to life once more.
The screen came to life and blazed through a series of shots, first showing another knight dressed similarly to the woman from the last viewing with other soldiers. Then it changed to show him swinging a long sword at a familiar samurai before transition high above a battlefield with a pile of corpses as foot soldiers fought in the middle. It showed the back of the knight before quickly showing the knight about to hack the samurai's head off before it blackened.
"Well that's one way to start." Ozpin said and took a sip of a new coffee flavor he'd seen at the concessions. "Indeed. They looked to be in the middle of a siege." Ironwood commented after seeing the bloody battlefield amidst a castle siege.
"How many were dead there?" Nore asked while holding onto Ren, who had paled a slight bit once again, whether that was from the screen or Nora was something even Spark was unsure of.
"Quite a lot. An unfortunate result of war." Spark said with sadness as those who knew of how bad war was nodded.
The screen came alive again as a shield fell into place with a white, green, and yellow background with two black towers to either side of a sword with a black sun to the left and a white crown to the right.
"That symbol looks pretty cool." Jaune said as he looked forward to seeing these knights and this symbol certainly embodied the Knights. Phyrra nodded and smiled at Jaune while Spark looked at them slyly and with a mischievous glint in his eyes though no one noticed. However, Ozpin's shipping sense tingled at that moment and he glanced at the two of team JNPR and smirked.
The screen changed again to show the castle from the battlefield as a man spoke, "The Wardens. Members of an ancient order." He said as the screen showed a standard Warden as he planted his longsword down and rested his arm and hand on it as the camera circled him, "Fallen into dust."
Ozpin, Oobleck, and Ironwood were saddened to hear that, especially Oobleck given his stance on history. "It is most certainly a shame such a large organization would have fallen, as did their records I assume?" He asked and Spark nodded.
Jaune, meanwhile was rubbing his chin before snapping his fingers. "It's like what happened to the Arc Knights." He said with realization and no small amount of sadness.
"The Arc Knights?" Weiss asked curiously, having never heard of such an organization.
Oobleck was happy to oblige in place of the young Arc. "The Arc Knights were a rather large military company in service to the King of Vale, Leon Arc."
The silence really spoke for itself now. Slowly, many of the heads in the room turned to the blushing Arc.
"Vomit Boy is royalty?!" Yang practically screeched out while Weiss seemed to have crashed.
Penny looked over to them and tilted her head, "Did none of you know the Arcs were a royal bloodline?"
Glynda sighed while Oobleck nodded, "It was supposed to be in our next reading of the Great War." He explained to the young girl.
Meanwhile, Nora was daydreaming of all the pancakes her fearless leader could get her before Ren noticed her look and shook his head in resignation.
Spark just chuckled and clapped his hands, "As fun as it is seeing your reactions to Jaune's family history, we still need to continue the viewing. Back to the point though, The Arc Knights were a military company before they were unfortunately split and forgotten of after the war, given they were the biggest fighters it's quite a shame."
Ozpin nodded, recalling the glorious days with the company in one of his previous lives.
The screen started up again and brought back everyone's attention, but many were still going over the news.
The scene showed a large ram-headed battering ram rearing back and crashing into a gate with a mighty crash before showing the Warden walk along with the foot soldiers, "Sworn to defend the weak." The man said as he sliced into a soldier and chopped across several others, even pinning one on his blade and throwing him off it, "Masters of the longsword." The man said as the Warden raised his sword in victory.
While the first years were still uncomfortable at the sight of the killing, the more idealistic ones like Ruby and Jaune had stars in their eyes, hearing the oaths of the Wardens.
Raven scoffed in the back though, "Why defend the weak? The strong will win anyway."
Spark had a comeback to her ideals however. "The weak may yield to the strong sure, but they birth the strong, and make the strong who they are. Your father is weak in your eyes given you killed him and that he was ill yet you would never be strong without him."
The Branwens grimaced at the mention of their father. The man was incredibly cruel and ruthless but had started dying of an illness when they had left for Beacon.
Raven didn't reply and Spark smirked while Furora looked to the bandit with an unreadable expression.
More foot soldiers charged to help the Warden before it cut to show the knight in as he held his sword in a Schlüssel stance, the light of the sun reflecting off the blade, "Their origins lost to history." The camera pulled away before showing the knight swinging a large overhead strike.
Jaune was looking at the knight in admiration, seeing the ideal knight he wanted to be. Pyrrha and Weiss saw the man's stance and were impressed, as was Ironwood and Ozpin, the immortal having used swords quite a bit in his lifetimes.
Oobleck however sighed and almost seemed depressed, "So much innocent history lost…" He said in a sad tone and Port furrowed his brow at the man while some of the others looked at him strangely.
Cinder was having her underlings take a few notes and looked to her mistress who was actually genuinely smiling with no malicious intent, what had happened to the woman she actually feared?
The Warden let down a quick strike across a samurais' shoulder before bashing him with his shoulder, "They fight for what is right." The knight followed up with two quick slashes across the man's abdomen before the man was kneeling on the ground and found the hilt of the sword buried into his collar.
Despite the brutal way the man was killed, Ozpin nodded impressed. "This Warden shows incredible skill with his blade."
Pyrrha smiled and looked to Jaune, "See Jaune, you can do as well as him as well. Even better is you have a shield to bash with instead of your shoulder." Jaune blushed a little and nodded to her, smiling.
The sun glared down on the camera from in front of the Warden as the camera circled and then backed away, giving them a rather nice shot of the knight in front of the castle, "Driven by duty. Devoted to their people." The Warden ran forward with the soldiers, killing some more of the enemy soldiers.
Ironwood and Winter felt pride in the man seeing what drove Wardens, both feeling the same way when they devoted themselves to Atlas.
Blake also felt a certain kinship with the Wardens, having devoted her life to equality for the faunus.
The Warden was seen stumbling in exhaustion before he stopped, pulling his sword close and bowing his head as a light green and blue glow covered his body, leaving him refreshed as he ran off towards somewhere else.
Ozpin narrowed his eyes, was that magic? It was reminiscent of some of the magics he knew.
Ruby however, beat him to asking about it, "Uhm…Mister Golden? You said they had no aura or semblances, so what was that?"
Everyone turned to Spark as he hummed and rubbed his chin, "How to explain….well, the best way to explain would be saying that it is magic."
Everyone, especially those familiar with magic on Remnant screamed out in confusion, "WHAT?!" The faunus groaned and rubbed their ears, as did Skuld.
Spark held up a hand, "Let me explain. After the Cataclysm, the world was left in devastation so many who were faithful prayed, and those prayers were answered. Benevolent spirits, druids, and gods alike tried to help restore and repair the damage best they could. Some could harness the power and pray to heal their wounds or keep fighting longer."
Jaune scratched his head, "So it's kinda like power ups from a video game?" He asked and Weiss was prepared to call him a dunce before Spark responded, "Yes actually. There are blessings and curses equally. One such curse is known as Fear Itself, in which you hex those around you, making them more susceptible to blows and easier to kill. However, prolonged or abuse of this power can result in death, hence why some wait before using it again, much like how you can't overuse your aura, or semblance, or dust."
Many nodded in understanding at the explanation while others were still curious about it, like Cinder, who wanted this power to herself immensely right now.
The knight ran before it cut to him bashing a familiar Viking against the head with his pommel before blocking a heavy side strike from the hefty axe. He kicked the man away and the man fell over as the Warden brought his sword down from overhead.
Some winced at the implication while Qrow took a sip from his flask. "Gotta hand it to the guy for taking that blow and not having jelly arms afterwards."
Jaune winced in sympathy, being used to just blocking against his opponents attacks head on instead of deflecting them. His arms still felt sore sometimes.
The camera showed the battlefield again from overhead as the Warden came into view and yelled out as he pointed ahead as a flaming ball of death rocketed through the air and crashed into the enemy soldiers with a massive boom and the camera shook before turning black.
Again, many winced at the quick death of those poor soldiers.
Glynda shook her head at the needless destruction, looking to see Nora was excited from the explosion, despite the deaths. "At least she's not afraid." The woman thought.
The man spoke once more as the screen showed the warden again, "But only a few may join their order." And thus the screen turned black once more.
The student sighed now that it was over. "So thoughts?" Spark asked.
The students were all quite excited seeing the ideal knight, especially Jaune given his knight complex.
Ironwood and Winter voiced their approval of the order and their devotion while others, including Glynda and Summer were interested in the magic and such.
Spark chuckled at their want to learn and nodded in understanding, "We can discuss it more one day, for now let us take a look at one of the more secretive orders." When he said that many wondered what he meant.
The screen slowly came to life and showed a person clad in leather armor running, before showing the same battlefield but at night as the warrior tripped and stabbed a man with a knife swiftly and then kick flipped off another unfamiliar samurai and landed, letting them see the person strapped in leather with a cloth hood and metal mask wielding a short-sword and dagger.
"They are certainly agile." Winter said in surprise seeing the warrior while others questioned what such a person did.
"Little armor, small weapons and they cover their face." Blake listed off and realization slowly set on her but she didn't say anything, but her ears did flatten considerably.
The same symbol appeared before showing a large cathedral with bells ringing in the distance as the man spoke again, "When wars end, it is the silent blade that keeps the peace." He finished as it showed the lithe warrior looking amongst the ruins.
"Silent blade?" Ruby asked innocently and Mercury answered her, having come to a conclusion. "It means they're assassins."
They looked to Spark and Furora and they nodded as Blake whined at the news. "So even the virtuous Knights resort to such." Raven said in a condescending tone while Furora seemed to burn with rage again.
"You'd know all about being a coward wouldn't you?" She said with disdain at the woman who stared at her in shock. "Who are you to say that? I survive because I'm strong!"
"No! You survive because you hide and run away from your problems!" The woman said as golden fire burned around her again while Raven seethed before Furora calmed down and gave a glare she hasn't seen since Summer gave her one. "You're a pathetic coward who abandons everyone. Feel grateful those you care for are still here."
And like that the argument ended and Spark winced before sighing, "Let's just keep watching."
The lithe warrior's mask was close as fire burned behind them in a large brazier, "But when wars rage, a Peacekeeper's work is never done." He finished as the Peacekeeper slid over the back of a soldier and slashed at another, twisting around one and stabbing another as the screen turned black.
"Peacekeepers huh?" Yang asked and then grinned a little, "Must not be very a-peace-ing. Eh? Eh?" She chuckled as no one laughed aside from Tai while Ruby shook her head and Summer almost cried.
"I can't believe you've tainted Yang like this Tai." She said with much exaggeration as Tai and Yang looked heartbroken to hear such from Summer. Others laughed at their expense and Ruby giggled while Yang grumbled.
The lithe woman stood before twirling her weapons and facing the behemoth of a Viking once more as he slammed his axe against the ground and roared at her. "Quick." She dodged an overhead swing and spun with her blades, slashing him. "Lethal." Her swords and his axe sparked before he was forced to his knees with her dagger in his collar as she pulled it out and sliced off his head. "They can win a fight before the enemy even knows they are there."
Almost everyone recoiled at the sight of such casual decapitation, all of the students throwing up while some of the adults looked green and Penny was being…Penny.
"She made a perfect cut exactly." While she didn't like the sight of blood, she couldn't be disgusted at it either.
Those who heard her, such as Raven and Cinder and those in the Ozluminati were impressed but also curious how Penny could tell and why she wasn't reacting much as Pietro, Winter, and Ironwood sweat a little nervously. Luckily the screen saved them for now.
The battlefield returned once more as the woman ran across the scaffolding above the ram. "Dancers of death. With dual blades for dancing partners." He said as she rolled over more soldiers, methodically killing them and kicked one and stabbed him, "Selected from the desperate…" She killed another soldier.
Cinder could appreciate the slow methodical killing the woman did, dancing with her enemies. After all, a fight between two enemies was in itself a dance.
Winter also held a certain respect for the Peacekeeper seeing as how she wielded a similar weapon though her fighting style was quite different.
Salem watched the woman with concealed happiness. Just because she was being friendly didn't mean she didn't still have her demented side.
"…the humble…" She deflected under a katana in a shower of sparks, grabbing her opponent by the chest piece and kicking off their chest and hitting their chin before landing, "…or the devoted." It came closer before changing again as she deflected under an axe from a dual wielding Viking and slashing him. "Sworn to secrecy…" She pulled the man close and stabbed him in the side with her dagger three times.
While some admired the beginnings listed for some of the order, other noticed they were sworn to secrecy, much like themselves on some matters.
Others didn't enjoy the brutal shanking of the man as he was practically stabbed multiple times in his kidneys. "What'd he do to piss her off?" Maria asked with some snark while Furora laughed and shook her head.
"Peacekeepers are just brutal in their work." She said matter of factly while Neo and Torchwick looked to see Skuld staring at the screen with an open mouth.
"Hey uh…Golden Girls? What's up with the midget?" He asked as Skuld's mouth was drooling a little and Spark nervously sweated before conjuring up a bottle of something and giving it to the Shaman, who drank it down.
"What was in that?" Ren asked seeing the woman twitch once and sigh happily. "You don't wanna know but you'll know eventually." Furora said and drank from her flask again.
Ironwood and Ozpin were both questioning what it was given it only happened at the sight of the man spilling a lot of…blood. It seemed they came to a similar conclusion as they looked at each other and wondered how to say anything.
Spark just started the screen again.
"…By unbreakable oaths." She finished and backed away as they continued to fight despite the injuries and the assassin threw out a slash with her sword, getting it in the man's chest before pulling him close, "What they know can destroy legends…" She bent him over her knee and held him there with dagger raised high and brought it down, "…or create them." She kicked off his body and stood again as the screen faded.
The students were still coming to terms with the fact that such a group they idealized as ideal knights in shining armor would have assassins. Furora glanced at them and sighed.
"They're not just assassins. Many of them actually hold government positions believe it or not. Some never see combat and are more interested in politics and information, being politicians and scouts." Spark nodded and picked up where she left off.
"They are incredibly secretive and never use their real names, opting for code names such as Peace, Tranquility, Mercy. Virtues and the like. Not to mention they are an exclusively female group." He said and Ironwood was actually rather impressed at this group given their coordination.
Salem and Cinder were also impressed as this organization sounded quite useful given they held a stake in politics and were quite informative.
Ozpin meanwhile was rather sober about it as he focused on the origins, seeing how they all came to be such from desperation or humble beginnings.
Blake and Mercury both thought mainly on the assassins and information, reminding them greatly of their own pasts.
Spark clapped his hands again and everyone gave him their attention, "Now we look at those who…many of you might not like. Especially you Ironwood." The General raised an eyebrow and wondered what would upset him so much.
The screen came to life and showed another soldier but this one had an enclosed helm with steel pauldrons and a large leather jerkin with various straps. On their forearms were chains and manacles and they hefted a kite shield and a footman's flail as a bonfire raged behind them.
Ironwood just raised an eyebrow, "I don't see much that could upset me. They look like a standard heavy infantry soldier." He said while Neo noticed the manacles and giggled silently as Torchwick looked at her.
"Just watch tin man." Spark said and the screen came on once more before anything could be said but Qrow and Torchwick did laugh.
The man shield bashed a katana wielding samurai before it transitioned as he brought his flail down towards another samurai and then smacked a soldier upward with his flail. It then showed him swing out wide and bludgeon a Viking across the cheek as the screen went black.
Some winced once again but not as much at before and Ruby nursed her jaw in sympathy. "I tried a flail before back at Sanctum. Those things hurt a lot! I can't imagine how painful it is without aura."
Others who knew the deadliness of flails nodded in sympathy and even Raven nodded along surprisingly. Having seen the deadliness of flails firsthand.
Ironwood was still confused but continued to watch.
The symbol showed again before changing as the camera went through a broken circle as the man spoke, "In desperate times…conscripted criminals refill our ranks." He finished as the camera circled around the man who lowered his flail fully.
"WHAT?!" Ironwood shouted out loud as Torchwick laughed out loudly at the revelation. "They conscript criminals just to fill ranks?!"
Furora looked to him and sighed, taking a drink, "Calm down there Irondick." She said as he glared at the woman. "One of my…best friends happened to be one and they're not that bad. Some turn out to be low tier criminals or innocent people who were prosecuted wrongly but they could do nothing about it."
He was still pretty pissed but calmed down and sat back in his chair while Ozpin hummed and looked at the criminals. "Does this also help their sentence?"
Spark shook his head, "No. Just lets them out on a leash. Some embrace their new roles and others go back to their old habits." He explained to the wizard.
The criminal shrugged and moved his shield arm, "Sometimes however…" He started twirling his flail expertly, "…you find a diamond in the rough." The man said as the scene showed the burning mine and village.
Ozpin nodded at that and looked at the students, as did Glynda while Torchwick looked at Neo and Salem looked at Cinder.
Ironwood had finally calmed down and looked at Spark and Furora as they chatted and Skuld was laying down asleep.
Ruby had a concern however, "Why is everything on fire?" She asked in slight fear.
Spark grimaced and shook his head, "Don't worry about it."
The criminal faced a dual axe wielding Viking and caught a strike with his shield, "The most elite earned their name." He grabbed the Viking and wrapped his flail around his neck before dragged the man backwards before wrapping his flail entirely around his neck and kicking out the viking's leg and cracked his neck, "Conquerors."
The students let out some gasps seeing the man's neck snapped so easily with several in the room rubbing their own necks.
Winter shuddered and looked at the now named Conqueror, "Such brutal tactics." Glynda and Port nodded to her sentiment as the screen continued.
The Conqueror stood there before standing amidst a large castle as soldiers charged him, "Strong as a battering ram." The conscript beat the foot soldiers back with his flail, brutally bludgeoning them. "Resilient as a fortress gate." The knight held his shield strong against the katana that attacked him repeatedly and grabbed the man before tossing him back and attacking him with his flail.
Jaune hummed and watched the man stand tall against his attacker, looking at himself and imaging himself like his father, standing tall and proud as he held against grimm to protect others.
Spark looked at him and caught his attention, "You can be like that Jaune. Like your grandfather and father, but stop putting yourself down so much. I've seen where that path leads, even walked it once feeling I could never be anything but you can Jaune."
Pyrrha nodded and patted his back before they yelled out as Nora piled on top of them in a fit of giggles. "Fearless leader will be the best huntsman ever!" They all smiled at Nora's antics and laughed before finally turning back to the screen while Jaune felt surer of himself but still had some doubt.
The conscript defended himself against a familiar samurai, "Their flail is as dangerous to the wielder as it is to the enemy. They two clashed before the samurai tried for an overhead strike and found his attack sidestepped and a shield bashed into his chest before the flail came down on his head, disorienting him. "But in the right hands it becomes…" The knight bashed the man across the face, forcing him to his knees before his head was separated from the sheer force of the upward strike. "Unstoppable." The criminal stood there in the castle as rain poured down and the screen faded.
The students were still getting used to the death and sight of blood they weren't as green this time around and none of them threw up so that was good. Ironwood breathes out and nodded his head to the ones who knew about the conscripts already.
"I can certainly see why you warned us…" He practically growled out at the thought of conscripting criminals to serve, he could never be that desperate.
"Yes well, Conquerors are an odd bunch anyway. But now we'll get to one you'll absolutely love. The Law." Spark said with an odd tone of voice, almost whimsical as the screen came to life once more.
The screen showed a raining castle before displaying a tall man in hulking full plate armor resting on a poleaxe, which turned to show him pinning a samurai on his pole and running them across the courtyard towards some spikes. It then displayed him killing a few foot soldiers, tossing them around with his strength and ended with him throwing a large overhead chop with the axe towards a samurai.
Ironwood hummed and nodded, impressed by what he had seen, "He's certainly an impressive figure. Tall and strong certainly." The General gave his thoughts on the figure from the short clips.
The symbol of the knights showed once again before cutting to the large castle from before as rain fell, "Where order has broken down." The camera showed two large statues behind two large lit braziers. "Where cruelty and lawlessness rule." It showed the large man once again. "Lawbringers are justice." The man stared up at the castle above him.
"Lawbringers Huh? So they just police or something?" Torchwick asked cockily and Spark seemed to smirk, "More like they follow justice so vehemently they often kill the criminals they are after." He explained and the criminals shuddered a little imagining the police like that, bloodthirsty justice dispensers.
Ironwood however had no such qualms, understanding their way of thinking, he had after all had his own times where he thought death was deserved for some criminals.
Ruby squeaked a little as Weiss rubbed her shoulder, "But they can't just kill them can they? They should be tried." Weiss tried to argue.
"Ashfeld. The home of the knights, is a lawless land for the most part so in areas where law enforcement cannot be established there are Lawbringers and their word is absolute law." Spark explained and Furora nodded, remembering some of those more vindictive members.
None of them really felt great about that. Thinking more and more that this place that Furora and Skuld came from was practically hell to them. Raven didn't seem to mind though, If only one lawbringer was dispensed typically to the towns it'd be no different than a single hunstman at a village during their raids.
The large armored man stepped forward without any fear as a Viking wielding a spear and shield backed away slowly, intimidated. "They go wherever they are needed…" The Lawbringer caught the spear with his shaft and pushed it away, unbalancing the woman. He parried another strike and then flipped the woman over his shoulder effortlessly, "…and they come prepared." The woman landed on her back with a thud and the screen turned black.
"Oum almighty…" Ren said as he watched the man easily dispatch the other woman without much effort.
Ironwood agreed with the ninja as he crossed his arms and watched the man dispense justice out, much like how Ironwood did, straight to the point with force. Glynda looked at him and could tell he was enjoying it and she shook her head but then blushed imagining Ironwood in such armor, coming to rescue her. Yep…the feared Glynda Goodwitch was a hopeless romantic.
The music kicked up as the man strode forward again, "Their armor has no equal." The knight began to kill several foot soldiers with ease, bashing and taking them out with his trusty weapon. "It's construction a secret of their order." He flipped a poor soldier over his shoulder and stabbed another, "And they carry the most versatile weapon ever invented..." The man marched down a stone corridor towards the camera.
"That was true until our mechashift weapons came around!" Ruby said happily but frowned again realizing her precious baby wasn't with her but before she started to cry some cookies appeared in her lap and she happily dug into them as Spark chuckled.
"…the Pole-axe." The man finished as the lawbringer slammed the butt of his weapon against the ground. A new samurai ran in his direction from the corridor carrying a naginata before he grabbed her shoulder, surprising her, "Pray..that you do not need them." He pushed her forward before cutting her with two wide swings before hooking his weapon around her ankle and tripping her, "When they arrive…" He stabbed down into her stomach, "…pray that you have done no wrong." He stood amongst the rain once more before the screen faded.
The criminals shuddered just slightly seeing the swift justice and brutal execution of those the lawbringer had fought.
Ironwood was rather happy with that and impressed by the order that called themselves Lawbringers.
"You know…in another universe you are a Lawbringer." Spark said and they looked at him confused while Pietro coughed and held up his hand, "Are you mentioning multiverse theory?" "Indeed I am Doctor Polendina, the multiverse does indeed exist but that's neither here nor there."
They all wondered what their other selves were like before filing that away for later as Furora stepped up and smiled, both happily and melancholy somehow. "Now we see the two types of fighters my homeland sent to help the knights."
Yang raised an eyebrow, "So you're not native to Ashfeld?" She asked and they woman shook her head. "No records of the original name exist but we've taken to calling my home Magna Imperii, which stands for Great Empire which it was before the Cataclysm." She answered rather sadly and other nodded their heads in sympathy.
"Regardless, this will give you a glimpse of my people and culture." Furora said and leaned against the wall again as the screen started.
The screen started off and showed the back of the person's helm and a tiger pelt around their neck before cutting to show the massive area and the forge which lit up before it cut inside and showed a peacekeeper standing across from the new person as they twirled their gladius. It then quickly cut outside as the newcomer held a samurai by their armor before plunging their sword down into them as the screen went black.
"Woah…" Ruby said as she watched, a bit of excitement replacing her earlier fear and disgust, not that she didn't still hate the killing.
Pyrrha looked at the person's weapon and noted the small similarities between her weapon and theirs, "What sword do they use?" She asked curiously as Spark answered this time.
"While you use what is considered a Xiphos they use a Gladius, which is a smaller more handheld version meant exclusively for close combat." He explained and she nodded while Penny catalogued all the information she could.
The symbol showed once more before backing out and showing the large town they were in. A large waterwheel was turning before the man spoke again, "Some fight for warlords." He said as massive hammer pistons slammed down in the forge. They heard metal clanking as the warrior walked forward and outside, "They fought for an empire." The warrior walked out and let the audience see them fully with their mask covered helmet and armor that had abs incorporated into it as they shrugged, the pelt and cape flowing behind them.
"Well he certainly looks cool." Blake said and looked at the abs on the chest-piece, imagining that as something Sun might do.
"Forget that! He's got abs on his chest piece!" Yang said out loud and Furora sighed, half expecting this.
"It's called a musculata. It's meant to show the person's physique almost as if their armor is part of them." She explained best she could while Jaune hummed as he looked at his own armor before the screen came back.
The warrior raised his sword up high with a battle scream as soldiers below the terrace fought. "Their might inspired generations of soldiers…" The warrior ran ahead of the foot soldiers before leaping high and coming down upon the enemy, stabbing and punching them with ferocity, even kicking one up and punching him down into the dirt.
"Damn he's got a mean punch." Tai said with some respect while Yang flipped her hair and cockily said, "I could beat him."
Furora chuckled and looked at the young woman, "And he'd grab you by the hair and bash your face in." She responded while Yang grew angry at the thought of anyone touching her hair.
"Alright alright. Don't get too feisty now." Spark defused the situation and the screen started again.
The warrior faced a Peacekeeper who stood low and ready, "…and struck fear in the hearts of their enemies." The man jumped forward, his sword catching the assassin's chest before he punched her off and she staggered back and onto the ground before he jumped up high and stabbed his sword deep in her sternum before getting back up and cockily telling her to come on with his hand. The assassin had miraculously stood only to find a gladius in her chest once more, "They are Centurions."
Everyone was rather surprised to see the woman still stand after such blows and Ozpin looked questionably at the man called Spark who chuckled. "Did I forget to mention as a result of the Cataclysm humanity went through basically forced evolution and became harder to kill than normal?"
They all looked at him like he was crazy before Pietro nodded and clicked his tongue in understanding, "Thanks to the near total extinction of them, the strongest genes were passed more often and humans adapted to survive their harsh world." Penny looked at her father with some admiration.
Spark nodded and gestures for Furora to come over, she did and he held out his hand, causing golden flames to dance on her stomach and reveal her body was far more heavily scarred than before, most notably the large scar at her side where it looked like she was impaled.
"What the hell happened there?" Qrow asked with zero tact and was smacked across the head by Summer while Furora sighed and leaned back. "Where to start..?"
"Well…it was a few years ago I was wandering across a forest between Ashfeld and Valkenhiem and was ambushed by a Valkyrie, the ones with spears and shields." She clarified to them and they nodded. "Well it was going well and I had managed to defeat her but as I turned to leave she had impales me with her spear…I killed her and managed to make it to a village where my wounds were treated though I was passed out for about three weeks and bedridden for a few more weeks."
Weiss and Blake didn't know why but they instinctively held their own stomachs, unable to imagine what that felt like while Ruby sniffled a little and cried, "I…I'm so sorry that happened…" "Don't be."
Now Ruby looked up confused to the woman who took another drink from her flask, "I've learned to accept my scars as proof I survived…and it helps keep me going at times." She said with a distant look as Skuld cane close and rubbed her arm gently, "You're…alright now.." She said and twitched a bit more and Furora nodded.
Meanwhile many were thinking of her story and while it wasn't gruesome or very detailed it did tell them plenty about her still. Qrow could see why she drank if it was because of all she's gone through while Ironwood held his own respect for her given he had to deal with his own horrific injuries before.
Raven nodded in respect at the woman who had seemed to survive plenty but was still pretty upset and solemn over their earlier argument.
Spark coughed and got their attention once more as Furora and Skuld day down and Furora chose to sleep now as the screen started again.
The Centurion kicked the assassin in the face, making her fall to the floor as he approached and held his free hand out, "Their confidence radiates out to all those who follow them." He teetered his hand between a thumbs up and a thumbs down before deciding down and slashing down at the assassin.
Cinder raised an eyebrow this time and finally spoke, startling those who forgot she was there, "What was that necessarily about?" She asked.
Spark nodded and smirked, "It's an old reference to how previous emperors in their homeland during the empire decided if a gladiator lived or died in their coliseum."
Blake looked at him oddly, "Wait…gladiators? Like that old Vacuoan and Mistralian idea?"
Spark nodded but hung his head, "Yes except most Gladiators are not voluntary, the only ones who were were noble and rich and were not allowed to be killed or defeated. Most were slaves." He explained and Blake and several others grit their teeth.
"They forced slaves to fight?" "Indeed. Still do actually. Slavery is still practiced quite freely within Heathmoore." He said and that made many mad that such evil practices could be in use.
Spark nodded sadly and gestured to the screen, "Please let us continue." He said and the screen started up but many were still fuming at the idea of slavery.
Fires billowed out from the large forge as the Centurion stood there and the screen showed a flag billowing in the wind before the man faced down a Viking with a large axe and one with a sword and round shield. He taunted the shielded one and caught their attack with his sword before grabbing them by the straps, "With their gladius as an extension of their arm…" The Centurion started to bash the viking's face with the pommel of his sword before the man dropped back, though no one knew if he was dead or unconscious.
Yang grimaced now, seeing what they meant when they said he'd pummel her face while Port grimaced at the sight, actually remembering he had done something similar to a Beowulf once.
"…and their fist as strong as their conviction." The man interrupted a swing from the Viking by cutting his unguarded arm then slashing his side before winding back and shoving his sword deep in the man's gut. "Once the pride of a glorious dynasty…their legend is soon to be rewritten." He pushes his gladius deeper in the man's chest who tried to pull it out as the man gestured as if to a crowd before pulling the sword free and cutting the man's head clean off. He stabbed his sword in the ground and grunted as the screen faded.
"Certainly an arrogant fighter…" Glynda said with distaste at the man's arrogance while Spark chuckled and nodded. "That is one thing most from their empire have in common is arrogance. But they can often back that arrogance up." He said.
Ozpin and Oobleck were rather interested in learning more of the empire and Spark suggested learning more from Furora later on.
Speaking of our Golden girl she had tears rolling down her eyes before she shot awake, grabbing at her right arm, the covered one as flames danced on her body before disappearing. Skuld and Spark held her close as she calmed down while sweat rolled down her body.
Ironwood closed his eyes in sadness, seeing another case of PTSD. He had his own occasionally but it tended to be just night terrors. Hers seemed a bit more severe given how she reacted.
Others watched, the students seeing their first case of how badly someone's mind could be affected by war as the ferocious woman calmed down as Skuld hummed a small tune, though no one knew what it was.
Eventually it subsided and Furora panted softly and wiped sweat from her face as she noticed the others staring at her, "Stop worrying about me…just watch the damn thing." She said aggressively and Spark walked back to his own place and everyone sat down, feeling rather morbid after that.
Cinder meanwhile wondered what could this woman have haunting her? What could haunt her? She had survived hadn't she? Proven herself stronger than others and held power? Why burden yourself like that?
Regardless of everyone's feelings, Spark clapped and the lights dimmed as the screen started to come on. "This is the second type of fighter from the empire…the one Furora is…"
The camera showed a large tower with flaming arrows soaring over and then showed a man bare chested with just a strap on his chest, with a angular helmet and wearing similar armor for his arms as Furora as he held a trident and buckled in front of him. One striking difference between him and Furora was the thick leather collar around the man's neck.
Realization seemed to dawn on some as they turned to look at the woman and now that they looked closer, they could see a slight discoloration around her neck.
Blake had some tears in her eyes and looked to the woman who sighed but didn't say anything.
"Furora...were you a...?" "I don't want to talk about it..." The woman replied and took a large swig from her flask.
The man swung out in a wide arc, killing multiple soldiers as it changed to show him adjusting his arm before a Viking fell to the ground and held his hand out as the man brought his trident down on him.
Those not thinking on the woman who sat away from them admired the talent the man on screen possessed as he dealt with his opponents but Glynda had to say something.
"Could he please put a shirt on or something? And maybe some armor." She asked with a small blush as many of the men sweatdropped and felt rather discouraged at their own physique.
Furora chuckled a little at the scene even as her arm unconsciously rubbed her armored one, not that she even noticed she was doing so.
The symbol appeared once more as soft music played in the background and showed a castle in the distance with a sunset as flags billowed close by.
"That looks beautiful." Nora said happily as she looked at the scene, wondering if she could be the queen of the castle. Then Renny could be her king and they'd have banquets of pancakes together as they watched the sunset.
Ren turned to his best friend and noticed she was in la la land given she didn't even react when he said her name. He sighed and tickled her neck which made her jump up and squeal before landing in a heaping pile of embarrassment.
All the other students and even Port and Oobleck started snickering or laughing at the sight as Nora blushed bright red and curled into a ball before slowly coming out of it as Ren patted her back.
With that ended the screen played once more.
The screen continued, shifting to a large area between battlements and a small fort, "The roar of the crowd can be intoxicating." The man said and as they focused, they did indeed hear a crowd cheering in the background. The screen flashed, showing the gladiator bouncing in excitement, "It can give you the edge you need."
Pyrrha sighed at the familiar noise and blushed a light pink, "It's true…hearing the crowd can excite you…but it also makes you nervous. I remember I was so afraid for my first match." She said nostalgically.
"To defeat an opponent." The gladiator faced the screen and kept bouncing on his feet before twirling his trident around quickly while watching it.
"Rather impressive." Ozpin commented and Pyrrha nodded, having tried doing the same with her javelin, with less than spectacular results.
The gladiator walked out onto a drawbridge, emerging into the light and beating his buckled against his chest in challenge. Walking past several spikes, "It can also seal your fate," The screen darkened with one last beat before backing to show a Viking in blue wielding dual axes standing to challenge the charging arena fighter.
"A rather foolhardy plan." Ozpin sighed and took a sip from his coffee as Furora laughed a little. "Hardly the worst plan out there though." She commented back and Ozpin had to concede that point.
"Should you lose favor." The gladiator quickly grabbed his trident and flipped it up into a good stance before jumping forward and stabbing his opponent in the shoulder with it. The Viking retaliated but the pit fighter dodged and bashed the man with his buckler, "The arena is not a battlefield." The gladiator poked the man quickly with his trident before pulling it back and skewering the man in the gut on the barbed spikes of the weapon.
"Ouch. That has to hurt." Qrow commented and swished his flask, finding it empty before Furora flashed him hers and he grabbed it with a nod of thanks before drinking some, finding hers to actually burn his throat. "Woo! What'd you put in this?" "You saw that bright red one with the weird symbols?" He nodded and she smirked.
"Apparently it's from some distant land called China and its called western Phoenix spirit.{1} Tastes pretty good in my opinion." She said and Qrow took another drink before nodding, enjoying the taste. The two new drinking buddies sat there and shared drinks during the screening while others stared at them.
Yang giggles and looked to Ruby, "Hey Rubes. Think we'll get an aunt?" She cheekily asked and Qrow sputtered and blushed while Furora shrugged and took another sip. "He's easy on the eyes but I don't know if he's my type. Rubs me for the one night stand kind of guy." Furora fires back and now Yang burst out laughing as did her family as Qrow sulked and took another swig, "Traitor."
She just shrugged and sat there as the screen resumed.
The gladiator turned and swung the man off his trident, the man's blood dripping on the ground, "The thrill of the fight has waned." The man threw a piercing strike into the viking's chest, kicking him away, "But how will they fare in all-out war?" The gladiator pulled the man on his trident and bashed his face as he passed, the man getting forcefully removed from the trident.
"That was pretty sweet honestly." Mercury said to Emerald who looked at him oddly before turning back to the screen as he kicked his feet up and leaned back.
"So you fight like that as well Miss Furora?" Ozpin asked and she chuckled and nodded, "With some small differences but basically. And my family name is Flavius if you want to know." She said with some pride and he nodded gratefully while Weiss raised an eyebrow.
Ruby saw and poked her best friend, "What's up Weiss?" "It's just…the way she seemed so proud of her name reminded me of some of the other notable families in Atlas." Ruby hummed and leaned over, "You thinking she's some sort of super cool fighting noble? That'd be so cool!"
Weiss sighed in exasperation and fondness at Ruby's attitude but didn't respond, since the thought actually had crossed her mind.
The gladiator was seen again from the front twirling his trident cockily, "Gladiators." He planted the trident down and the background changed to night as some foot soldiers charged him and he stabbed the ground in anticipation. He swiped out wide, killing an unfortunate soul as the man spoke again, "Have risen the ranks of fighters, and have run out of challengers."
"Seriously?" Raven asked as she looked at them and raised an eyebrow.
Furora flashed her the bird and took a swig again as Qrow cheered her for it while Raven shook her head at them.
The pit fighter pushed a soldier with the butt of his trident and then jumped forward into the fray again, killing more of the infantry, even pinning one man down into the ground before killing more, "With their trident and shield they charge into the fray!" The man suddenly faced one of the vikings with a sword and shield, ducking under a sword strike as sparks flew across his shield, "Their armor minimal.."
Some glanced at Furora, noting she had more armor then the other man but still quite a lot less than the other warriors as every other one had at least some covering for all their vital organs.
The gladiatrix let out a small belch and laughed a little as did Qrow as they shared in their drinks and others shook their heads at them.
The gladiator poked the man in the head this time before stabbing him in the toes and pushing him over, "…and their bravado staggering." He said as the man on the ground crawled back from the other man who closed in on him and pinned him underneath his sandal as they struggled, "It is now time for gladiators to fight…" They struggled before ultimately the pit fighter won and his trident shot down into the man's neck as the screen turned black.
"Damn that's a harsh way to go." Torchwick said and rubbed his neck, not wanting to imagine struggling under someone before ultimately you failed and had your neck speared.
Neo shared his sentiment as did some others while Furora leaned back and laughed rather solemnly, "Not the worst way to go at least."
That was a rather sobering thought actually. All this brutality they hated when in Remnant people could be eaten by Grimm. Most would rather choose a quick death from another person than being eaten alive by Grimm.
The screen came back as the gladiator gestured up into an imaginary crowd for approval, "…for something greater than themselves." It showed the man one last time before fading away.
"Well all that was certainly interesting." Winter said and popped her back.
Others nodded and made to stand before Spark whistled, "There is in fact one more. But lucky you it's rather short."
Nora groaned as did the other students and Spark chuckled before nodding, "I get it. It's just this one and then you can rest again."
They smiled at the thought of some rest and maybe they could find some fun games to play as well before Spark clapped and the screen started again.
The screen started by a large shockwave throughout the stone building, some of the structure falling by the doorway with sunlight pouring through. A man dressed in armor came over and fixed a large spiked kite shield to his left arm as he spoke, "Mala ultro adsunt." He finished as another shockwave hit.
Furora stared up at the screen for a few seconds before taking a long sip from her flask.
Blake, ever the curious one asked the million lien question, "What did he say?" "Mala ultro adsunt. It's Latin for "Misfortune comes uninvited." It's meant to symbolize when bad things happen." Furora explained and they nodded gratefully as the studious ones remembered that.
He finished and his hand danced gently upon a rather beautiful arming sword as candles were lit nearby and scrolls were rolled up, "Misfortune comes uninvited." He continued and now that they heard him speak common, his voice was rugged and had an accent none of them had heard before.
Jaune however found his accent pretty cool and said as such, others agreeing with him while Winter found herself blushing at the accent, but she quickly squashed it and acted normal.
"That's a beautiful sword." Ruby said with some small stars in her eyes. Even if it wasn't a mechashifting sword that split into more swords or shot plasma or anything it still looked cool.
"But who is this man?" Salem suddenly asked, startling those who forgot she was there. "All the others had very neutral and average looking people but this one seems special." She said and as she said that other noticed it too.
The man traced his gloved hand across the blade a few times before pulling away and rubbing three fingers together, "It hungers for blood."
"True to that." Qrow said bitterly, cursing his constant misfortune to those around him.
"Easy there Qrow. Your misfortune can't do anything here." Spark reassures the drunken man who cracked a small smile at that before grunting, "Alright alright! But don't get sappy with me…I like ladies first." Spark laughed as did Furora.
"Does that mean you like guys second or…?" Spark asked and a lot of the others laughed out as Qrow groaned at the mistake in his words and slammed his head against the seat before recoiling and nursing his forehead. "Damnit! No aura…right." He hung his head as some of the others stopped laughing but not Tai.
"He did wear a skirt that one day." He said slyly and Qrow growled out and tried to punch Tai who laughed, "It's not my fault you actually thought it was a kilt! Besides, all the ladies loved your legs!" He smirked as more people started laughing and Qrow groaned and sank into his chair.
Furora pat him on the back and offered him another flask which he nodded and they both took a swig before the screen started and stopped everyone's laughter.
The man stopped and grabbed the hilt, "Craving eternal darkness." He said and swung around, the light gleaming off his blade and onto his face as he stared at it, letting them see his rather aged face and the mascara around his eyes as he narrowed them while the music picked up and another explosion sounded off.
"What's with the makeup?" Coco asked. She didn't hate it since it fit with his aesthetic but it still seemed odd to her.
"Nobody knows. It's a secret to their order." Spark said and Furora nodded.
"And what order is that?" Weiss asked curiously as the two glanced at each other.
"The Black Priors." Was all Spark said before the viewing resumed.
The Black Prior looked out to the door and slammed his sword and shield together, dragging his sword back across the spiked shield and creating a shower of sparks, "The time to repent is over!" He suddenly said with rage as he walked out of the darkness and into the light.
"Okayyyy…suddenly he's got some edgy bad guy vibes." Yang said and Ruby giggled while Glynda sighed but didn't disagree with their statement.
"What would he have to repent for?" Ozpin asked curiously seeing as repent usually meant a sin was committed or at least a crime.
The camera followed behind him as he slowly walked further into the light, screams echoing in the background, "I will take up arms again, get out of the shadow…" He said as he walked further and got lower to the ground as he held his shield ahead of him as the camera moved ahead of him and he stepped out into the light, "…and teach them true darkness!" He yelled out as the camera faded and the lights brightened again.
"Who was that man?" Salem asked in slight curiosity with him praising about darkness, something she was familiar with.
"His name is Vortiger. Nobody knows if that's his real name but he is the leader and founder of the Black Priors but no one has seen him in years." Furora said seriously, her flask back at her side again.
"Indeed. Vortiger founded the Black Priors but they had a…falling out let's say. The group was disbanded and disorganized, scattered everywhere without their leader." Spark finished and they all wondered why that had happened before Spark nodded his head as if he forgot something.
"Furora. If you would please take Skuld for her…you know what." Spark said seriously and Furora sighed but did so, leading the humming and twitching woman away somewhere else.
"What are they doing?" Ruby asked innocently and Spark smiled. "Nothing bad. Just something that helps Skuld out. Now. As that is all for right now I'd ask you please leave orderly to the lobby and rest."
The others all filed out except for the Ozluminati who looked to Spark and he sighed, "You all want to know about Skuld right? Look. I can't tell you her story, that's up to Furora but what they're doing right now does help Skuld. It helps keep her sane."
"What do you mean?" Glynda asked almost paternally.
"Think of it like a therapeutic session that helps ease her mind alright?" They nodded and left but still held their doubts.
Once everyone was gone, Sparks sighed and sat down. "I hate keeping secrets but that can't know just yet…"
Woo! And that is this chapter done so firstly I want to say thank you all to you amazing people supporting this story so here is the second chapter for you wonderful people!
Secondly, thank you simply for just reading my work, it means a lot to me.
Now as for this:{1}: I was looking up some interesting and strong drinks and found this one from China. It's actual name is Xifengjiu so I decided I'd throw in a little reference to it here.
Also, I know I know. I did my best at explaining the feats and the resilience of the people in For Honor in a way that actually fits with how the story of for honor is currently.
I will be expanding bits and pieces of Furora and Skuld's story throughout but I doubt I'll do it all. I am planning on making another RWBYxForHonor fic in the future which will one from all factions so we'll see if I expand on their stories there.
If there is anything I missed, let me know and feel free to leave a review if you'd like.
GoldenSpark begone!