Chapter 10: The General
So, as the story progresses, more and more names and characters will pop up, many of whom have made up names, with no true origin whatsoever. A few, like Kephra and Micah have names rooted in our terminology, but others, like Tamar Imasu, do not. They're just fake words. Because of this, I have decided to post a pronunciation guide at the beginning of each chapter of the names that will pop up.
Tamar Imasu: Tah-mahr, Ii-mah-sue (the pronunciation is based in the Japanese language, even if the words are fake)
Rei: Ray
Rain led him outside, to be greeted with the multicolored tents dotting the landscape like mushrooms after a storm and the rain that happened to be pouring down in a soft drizzle, not enough to make mud out of the earth, but enough to dampen everything it touches, including Kephra. Rain, the lucario, had been smart enough to put the coal up on her cloak, driving the rain out. The blaziken scratched at his arm, which was now in a sling, as he watched the tent dwellers scurry about, in some sort of hurry. None of the soldiers wore the distinctive green tunic that was part of the Sky soldier uniform, Kephra noted. Either they were the mysterious rebels he had heard about in rumors and half truths during his time in the Mine Shafts, or they were hiding their true identity if they were to end up captured by the enemy. They were moving supplies from one area to another and cleaning up debris and detritus that happened to be on the earth.
"What is going on?" he asked her, curious.
"We're making the move to Ft. Karydos."
"Ft. Karydos, I thought that was abandoned."
"It was, until now." Rain replied curtly, even more so when two guards materialized on her left, Absalom in between them. Micah could not make it, for he was still recovering from his injuries. The charmeleon looked dejected and defeated, his tail nothing more than a burning cinder. The members of the charizard line hated rain, for the rain could threaten to extinguish the fire on their tail, killing them. For most fire types, the rain was a nuisance, for the charizard line, it was deadly. Thankfully, the guards had allowed Absalom to wear a sort of cloak, made of fire resistant fabric, on the inside and rain proof fabric on the outside to wear, effectively blocking out the rain. Kephra had a cloak as well, but since he could turn on and shut off the fire of his wrists, he had no need for a cloak that would shut out the rain and be fire proof simultaneously. He actually enjoyed the rain, for it was the first time he felt it, truly felt it and could enjoy it in over two years.
"Where?" Absalom asked.
"Why should I tell you, Tao?" she practically sneered.
"Hey!" Kephra shouted. "Leave him be!"
Rain stopped and spun around, her hands glowing blue. Kephra, despite his wounded arm, fired up his good wrist. The pair stared each other down, the guards and Absalom stand-offish as they waited. Eventually, Kephra allowed the fires to die down on his wrist and brought it back down to his side. "We should be fighting the real enemy, not each other."
Rain held her pose for a heartbeat longer. She relaxed, but only slightly and turned away from Kephra, silent. "This way."
They wove their way through the sea of tents and supplies, until they came across a large red tent the color of fresh blood, making it stand out against the other nearby tents. Outside the tent were two standards. The first was a banner with the legion insignia Kephra did not recognize. The second, he did. It was the standard that all legions were required to bear: The bronze statue of the Skyking Rayquaza, coiled around the haft if the standard. Two guards, a gallade and a skarmory, hovered at the entrance, the skarmory clad in razor sharp steel plating, the gallade wearing metallic extensions on his arms, in addition to his armor.
The flap opened to reveal a samurott, clad in Oriental style armor, wearing not the shell helm that was unique the the species, but instead, he wore an open face helm, made of gently sloping "scales of lacquered metal, flaring outward at each level. The lacquering was a pale blue, made to look like the waves of an ocean. Affixed to the top of the helmet was a pair of horns arcing upwards in a crescent moon shape. These were the color of pearl and had mother-of-pearl inlay. If Kephra recalled from his father's lessons and tales, this style was called a kabuto helmet, the traditional helm of the samurott line. Different families though, would have slight variations in the design and shape.
"General Tamar Imasu," Kephra whispered in awe. So this was Rain's father, the infamous general who successfully and swiftly ended the corsair army that had threatened the Sky Kingdom's coasts nearly fifteen years ago. He was a little gray around his muzzle, and wrinkles lined his eyes and mouth, but he was still as spry and intelligent as ever, judging by his gait and the way his eyes gleamed in the rain.
"So, these are the slaves that my soldiers rescued," he sniffed, not derisively though. His eyes, a pale sea green, studied Kephra for a moment, an odd look going over his face. "I know you from somewhere." General Imasu said softly. "But where?"
"Well General," Kephra began hesitantly. "My father served in the Corsair Campaign fifteen years ago."
Recognition sparked in General Imasu's eyes and he continued."What is your last name, boy?"
"Vulkanus."
"I knew your father," Imasu said with wonder. "He served under me for a while, but got transferred shortly after that. Good man, he was."
"Yes, was," Kephra emphasized. The general's face fell at this, but said nothing.
"Well, bring them in. They look rather upset, standing in the rain like this," General Imasu harrumphed and went back inside. Rain led both Absalom and Kephra inside the tent, leaving Absalom's escorts to sit unhappily in the rain.
General Imasu urged them to be seated and he had a server, an wigglytuff, to bring mugs of steaming tea. Absalom had since taken off his water proof cloak, folding ot up and placing it across his lap. A large table dominated the center of the table while low lying seats and cushions lined the sides. A large perch was off to one side, where a fearsome fearow perched, clad in matte black and flexible armor. A hatchet was strapped to a belt, oriented in such a way that the bird could pull it and use it in combat. This was Commander Kratch, Imasu's second-in-command and leader of the flying types that made up the army. He remained silent, his eyes furtively scanning the room, "Now, how exactly, did you end up here, of all places?"
Kephra, holding the hot ceramic cup in his hands, launched into his tale. Ever now and then, General Imasu would interject, asking for details. When Kephra began to regale his tale of the revolt of Black Pit Mines, General Imasu seemed to lean forward in his seat, his expression equal parts intrigued and amazed. General Imasu's tea was all but forgotten as Kephra told of the day of the collapse of the Mines and the battle at the shale hill. The blaziken made sure to emphasize Absalom's role in the incident, to make sure that they did not think of him as a spy or worse.
Kephra finished his tale, his tea now lukewarm, but relaxing nonetheless. Absalom was quiet the entire time, looking down at his tea the entire time, taking sudden interest of the leaves that floated on the top of the pale brown liquid.
General Imasu whistled. "Simply incredible. I have been wanting to take out Black Pit Mines for some time, the only problem being the massive Tao Army sitting on my doorstep. It was not very high on my list of priorities; however, you seemed to solve what was growing to be a huge problem for me, and for that I thank you sincerely. If this campaign had medals, I would hand all three of you one, bureaucrats be demned."
"Absalom helped. Without him, I would probably still be at the Mines." Kephra insisted.
"Yes yes." General Imasu turned his attention to Absalom. "It would seem you were the whole lynchpin of the entire operation," Imasu said to him, garnering the charmeleon's attention. "Tell me a little about yourself."
"Well, there isn't much to tell, General," Absalom coughed. "Kephra pretty much said everything-"
"No no," General Imasu waved a hand, dismissing Absalom's statement. "I meant about yourself, your personal life."
"Oh, I apologize, General." Absalom muttered, chagrined that he hadn't been paying attention. "Well, I was born and raised in the city of Oam, just outside the Sylph pass on the Tao side. I didn't want to be a soldier, I wanted to be an architect, an engineer, like my father. I was apprenticed under an architect by the name of Nikos, when the war came.
"The Tao army demanded that all the male—and some of the females—of a certain age enlist. Those that didn't enlist right away were then conscripted into the Tao Army. I was one of those conscripted. My family, they had some connections within the Tao Army and they tried pleading and pulling strings to keep me from becoming a soldier. It didn't work, unfortunately; they did however, manage to find a place in the army that did not involve combat: The Black Pit Mines. I was assigned to be a guard in the complex, to watch over the slaves and guard the place. It didn't involve fighting, that was until I saw Micah, my neighbor, a slave and then everything changed."
"Tell me," Rain interjected. "Did you ever strike the slaves of the Black Pit Mines?" Absalom hesitated, and Rain pressed on. "Tell me."
"Mind your tongue girl," Kratch finally spoke, clacking his beak sharply at her comment. He swung his head around to Absalom. "Continue, if you can."
He took a deep breath. " Well, to answer Rain's question, I never did like the idea of hitting a slave and I didn't, unless another guard was watching me. Then I only brushed the whip across their shoulders, pretending to hit them hard. It's not difficult to to, pretending to hit someone with the whip. You just have to do it a certain way. It comes with practice unfortunately." Rain scowled, clearly not satisfied with his answer. "I was never a fighter, I never wanted to fight," Absalom said, sounding upset. "But when you're forced to, well. . .it's more difficult to avoid fighting then, huh?" he chuckled weakly.
General Imasu settled back into his seat, one hand fiddling with the hilt of one of his scimitar. The tent fell into an uneasy silence. "He can stay," he finally spoke, ushering in a wave of protests, mainly from Rain.
"How can you? He is a Tao! He is the enemy!" she snarled, punctuating her last sentence through gritted teeth, her canines flashing.
"Not all Taos are cut from the same cloth," Imasu stated firmly. Absalom and Kephra shrank back from the confrontation, Kratch a silent watchman. "And he has proven himself, in my eyes. Should he misstep, I will be the first to bring down punishment." Absalom swallowed nervously as Imasu said that. Rain, however, was not satisfied with her father's decision. She swept upright from her seat, her cloak swirling around her, and stormed out of the tent, a dark look marring her face. A saddened expression crossed General Imasu's face.
"I wish she weren't so bitter," he bemoaned, recalling the childhood memories he had with her, a happy little riolu, full of life and spunk. "The war has changed her."
"The war has changed us all," Kephra said, hands in his lap. "General."
"Yes it has." Imasu got up from his chair, his figure towering over them. He turned to Absalom. "I fully expect you to give your utmost to our army. If I believe that you are otherwise, then I will have you swiftly punished. I believe in second chances, do not let me think otherwise." He then turned Kephra. "I expect you to follow the policies and commands of my commanders and you superiors. You are now a soldier of the Sky Army. Report to the supplies commandant and receive your tent and weapons. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir," Absalom promptly exited the tent, wrapping the fire-proof cloak around him to brave the chill and rain. Kephra began to do likewise, when General Imasu reached out, grabbing the blaziken's uninjured arm.
Imasu looked reminiscent when he began. "Your father was a good man and a good soldier to boot. I'm sorry to hear of his passing and the destruction of home. I can only hope that we can return the favor a thousand times over, only to hand their beaten and bloody corpses to The Judge."
Kephra gave the general a wan smile, his face wreathed in shadows and plagued by self-doubt. "Thank you General." Kephra released his arm from General Imasu's grip and plodded out of the tent, using his well hand to pull up the hood over his face.
"The boy is destined for great things, whether he realizes it or not." Imasu remarked, going back to the map.
Absalom greeted Kephra as the blaziken made his way out of the tent. "Well? Did the General say something else to you?"
"Just something about my family. Nothing important really. Come on, let's get our tent and weapons, before somebody has a fit."
"Indeed. I don't feel like getting hanged just yet."
They wove their way through the veritable sea of tents, splashes of color in the drab landscape, the glade and forest around included. They eventually found the tent General Imasu had ordered them to report to The tent was large in comparison to the other tents around, like an oak surrounded by saplings. It was more of a pavilion than a tent, filled nearly to the brim with foodstuffs, medical supplies and whatever else these sky rebels could scrounge up. Kephra smirked to himself as he saw the official symbol of the Tao Empire, stylized patterns of the three dragons arranged artfully so that Kyurem hovered over both of them, stamped in black on many of the crates and barrels The supplies tent was currently void of soldiers, serviced by only a persian. A sableye sat perched on a barrel toward the back, his black leather boots clicking against the wood. He was currently fiddling with a dagger, the same one that Kephra recalled seeing, the hilt which was encrusted with gems.
"Wait," Kephra pointed to him. "You're the one who led us through the woods."
"Indeed I am." the sableye gave a half bow from his seated position. "And you're welcome, by the way, for saving your lives."
"Then why did you abandon us?" Kephra accused him.
"Kephra!" Absalom hissed.
"I have no problem answering that," The sableye sunk the dagger into the wood lid of the barrel twiddling it idly. "If I had not, then you and I would be dead. I merely used my abilities to slip away and warn the nearest party of Sky soldiers of your presence." Kephra remained silent and the sableye continued. "I do admit though, that you put up quite a fight, despite your erm, hindrance." The sableye jabbed at Kephra's bandaged arm. "You fight with the spirit of ten purruglies trapped in a room full of chairs. We could use soldiers like you, or spies. Rei's always looking for spies."
"Um, thank you?"
"The name is Kurai, and should you need me, I will be off, terrifying some poor hapless Tao soldiers." Kurai seemed to melt into the shadows of the pavilion.
"That, was unusual," Absalom admitted.
"That would be Kurai, one of the Sky Kingdom's best spies," the persian explained, moving some inventory around. "He is though, a bit of an unusual one, with a wicked sense of humor."
"Indeed," Kephra turned to the persian. "May we get our supplies?"
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Supplies in hand, Kephra and Absalom decided to make a visit to the weapons tent next, then visit Micah, who was still recovering from his injury, from what Absalom told Kephra. The weapons tent was located on the edge of the camp, in an open area, the earth nothing more than muddy slush as warriors battled and clashed, honing their skill, should they need to apply them on the battlefield. A trio of archery dummies stood forlornly at the edge of the muddy field, alone save for a an arrow here and there, the fletching protruding form the burlap sack dummies. Kephra watched one warrior in particular, a zangoose, clad in leather armor, and a metal jagged gauntlet covering the length of hi left arm.
"I've heard of those," Absalom remarked, studying the massive gauntlet. The zangoose did not seemed hampered by the heaviness of the metal; rather, the zangoose danced and moved across the training field with no hindrance, slashing and hacking away. "Some pokemon wear them to enhance their natural weaponry."
"Aye, those are bone-shredders," the weapons master, a flygon, snorted, his head gesturing towards the zangoose. The flygon weapons master sat underneath an awning that jutted from the tent, to keep the rain out as he worked on repairing various weapons and armor pieces that came his way. He spoke with a heavy accent, almost twangy, indicating that he was from the southern regions of the Sky Kingdom. A leather apron was tied around his waist. "They're Tao inventions, made for fighting in the Corsair Campaign, because they were easier to use in close quarters. While we took the idea, the Black and Whites took them to a whole new level." The flygon shifted to his right as he repaired a piece of breastplate, pulling out an arrowhead from the metal, revealing a heavily scarred side, with thick angry scars crisscrossing his thick hide. "One of the Tao officers, a bloody, thrice-demned nidoking got a hold of me at the battle of Sylph Pass with a set of bone shredder armor, if that can be believed. I got out of there alive, but barely. I'll take any soldier with a bone shredder that we can get." the flygon placed the pair of pliers back into his apron. "Now, what can I get for you two?"
"A sword, if you can," Absalom said.
Kephra's eyes caught a long rack resting just inside the tent, where a long row of spears and polearms rested. "What do you have for spears?" his previous spear, the one he wielded at the battle on the shale hill, must have gotten lost in the skirmish, or the Sky soldiers decided to scrap it, seeing how poorly he had fashioned it. The thought brought a pang to the blaziken; he had clearly gotten attached to the weapon.
The flygon's ruby red eyes glinted with eagerness. "I have plenty, young master. I will be more than happy to show them both to you." the weapons master placed the breastplate aside, guiding both of them inside.
The tent was long and rectangular in shaped, filled to the brim with weapons of varying typesand shapes, some unrecognizable to the blaziken and charmeleon. They could only guess the unusual weapons were one brought in by different species of pokemon, for many races of pokemon bore weapons that were unique to their culture and lifestyle, like the curved blade Rain carried, or the armor General Imasu wore.
As the weapons master showed Absalom the vast collections of swords and other bladed implements, Kephra browsed the rack of polearms and spears, fingertips lightly brushing the shafts of each pole. His wounded arm throbbed with every gesture Kephra made, but the blaziken paid it no mind; he just wanted a weapon.
His eyes fell to a spear, about six feet long in the haft, made of a dark stained wood. The spear head was a broad leaf shape a little more than a foot long and six inches wide at the broadest part of the spearhead. The head was made of an unusual silver hued metal, with small veins of a darker coppery colored running through them like rivers of dried blood. The weapon looked ancient somehow, out of place sitting on the racks with the other weapons. Fascinated, Kephra reached out and pulled the spear off the rack, hefting it in his free hand. The spear shaft fitted comfortably in the contours of his grip and he eyed the spear head closer. The veins of coppery metal ran through the metal, not dried blood on the head, as he first suspected.
"Ah, that is an interesting tool," the flygon hovered nearby. "One of our Sky soldiers uncovered it during our first incursion into Ft. Karydos. That spear is clearly old, but there was no sign of rust or aging. It was serviceable, so the Sky soldiers brought it back as a curious trinket. I cleaned it up and put it on the racks. Any fixable weapon is a good weapon to have. Only odd thing was that no one would use it. You're the first to pick it up."
"Really?" Kephra turned the spear in his hands. "I'll take it."
"Good. I think it is a good weapon, myself," the flygon nodded sagely, then fluttered off, to help Absalom find a suitable sword for his needs. Kephra, seeing that he had no need to linger in the tent any longer, wandered outside, where the rain was turning into a faint drizzle, relieving on his feathers and face.
The training field was mostly empty. The zangoose was still going through the motions of a seasoned warrior, earning a glimmer of admiration from Kephra. The drizzle proved no bother for the zangoose, who at last took a break from his training, his eyes glancing over to Kephra.
"Need something?" the zangoose grunted.
"No, just watching." Kephra admitted.
"Well, I don't like an audience, usually." the zangoose reached around his neck, with his ungauntleted hand, adjusting a black bandana around his face.
"Sorry."
The zangoose pointed to the spear. "Are you going to test the weapon out?"
"Well, I won't be able to do too much," Kephra shrugged his injured shoulder, sending a wave of pain down the length of his arm and back. "I might do a couple of things with it."
"Be my guest," the zangoose moved off the field, giving Kephra free rein. Since he could not do nearly as much as he would if he had both arms free, Kephra opted to give the spear a few experimental throws with the weapon, to study its balance and weight. He focused on the centermost target dummy, looking shabby and gloomy in the drizzly weather. Kephra hefted the spear over his left shoulder, holding it straight. He grunted as he tossed it, his other arm burning in agony. The spear wobbled in the air, only to thud into the ground just short of the target. Kephra rumbled in mild disappointment as he sloshed through the muddy field to retrieve the weapon. The spear head gleamed in the rain. The zangoose had found a seat on a pile of crates, arms across his legs, watching Kephra with a keen interest.
"I don't like an audience, usually," Kephra retorted, eliciting a mild bemused expression from the warrior.
Kephra tried throwing the weapon once more, but once again, it landed short of the desired target. He was growing more and more frustrated with himself.
"Your balance is off," the zangoose spoke. "Since you can't use your other arm as a counter balance when you throw, you're going to be off balance and therefore, can't hit your target."
"Well frankly, I can't use this arm, period." Kephra snapped.
"Then I can't help you." the zangoose began to walk away, leaving Kephra standing in the rain, wet, chilled and frustrated. His claws tightened their grip around the haft of the spear. In a sudden impulsive move, Kephra dropped the spear to the earth. Using his free arm, he tore the arm sling off, allowing the white linens to become muddied as they fell to the earth. He flexed and stretched his arm a few times, shrugging off the intense pain that seemed to be growing by the heartbeat, until his whole arm was pounding to the beat of his fluttering heart.
The zangoose caught the flutter of the sling form the corner of his eye and he paused, half turning back around, head over one shoulder. Kephra held the spear in his injured hand and lofted it over his shoulder. The tight muscles clenched together in an angry knot. He steadied his aim, holding his left arm out, the counter weight ad the zangoose had suggested. He jogged forward a few steps and flung it out, his arm screaming in protest. The pain was now so unbearable at this point he sunk to his knees in the muddy field, tears springing to his eyes, clutching his shoulder.
The spear flew straight and true, thudding itself deep into the dummy's chest, the head jutting out the back, sending straw and stuffing to the ground.
Kephra did not hear the congratulatory remarks of the Zangoose, for he had blacked out from the pain.
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Kephra found himself, once again, in a tent, this one looking much smaller than the one previous. He sat upright in the cot, taking note that his arm had been bandaged again and placed in a fresh sling. A small lantern burned in the corner of the tent.
"What the?. . ." he trailed off.
"You blacked out," Absalom explained, running his sword blade along a whetstone, the scrapping sound of metal across stone filling the small tent. "Right after you threw your spear. Why do you have to be so impulsive? Who knows what you could have done to your arm."
"I had to prove someone wrong."
"You had to be macho about it, that's what. I brought your spear back too, why I don't know." Absalom said in an exasperated sigh. "Probably since that I heard from one of the soldiers that we'll be moving out to Ft. Karydos soon."
"Sounds like fun." Kephra massaged his injured shoulder, feeling the bundle of muscles just underneath the skin and feathers. He was unsure whether that was scar tissue or just the muscles bundled in a tight knot around the injury. "How's Micah?"
"Doing much better. While you were out, I went by and checked on him. He's doing better, but he's growing restless from having to stay in bed all the time. I heard from him that some soldiers found about his skill with jewelry and are starting to come to him for repairs, so that's good. I think it makes him happy, aside from clubbing pokemon with maces."
"Yes, but if we're going to Ft. Karydos, then he'll have his dose of fighting. Angry little munchkin. Who knew a simple jeweler could be so vicious?"
"Indeed. How could we all be so vicious?"
"That, I do not have an answer to."
"Interesting, considering that you're the most vicious of us. Tell me, what did we do to you?"
"We? Are you talking about the Tao?"
"I may not be one of the bloodthirsty Taos that haunt the nightmares of the Sky citizens, but I am still one, nonetheless."
"I thought you knew."
"I know that they stole your home, your family, but that is it."
"That is all I need. And I'm making sure that they're paying for their deeds a thousand times over, to drag their corpses before the Lord of the Distortion World."
"Is that your reason, your purpose, then? To appear before your enemies as some sort of fiery god of Yengeance, deciding who lives and who dies on your spear?"
"you wouldn't understand. I never had a purpose in life. Not now, not ever."
"Then why not start now? Why not try to find a way to end the war, rather than continuing a one-soldier war against them."
"Because I will not have take away everything in some singular treaty because our Steward is too much of a coward to stand up for himself!" Kephra inhaled deeply, to clear himself. "And besides, until I can put down my spear in peace and reclaim my ancestral home, there will be no peace.
"Not for myself, not for you, and I'm sure not for our two countries."
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Kurai the Sableye, introduced in the previous chapter, belongs to FirebirdXoX. Edge the Zangoose belongs to Shaydrall. Thank you to you to for allowing me to use your characters!
The Corsair Campaign is a minor war that took place about fifteen years before the events of "Skyking". Corsairs from a island chain west of the Sky Kingdom were plaguing the coasts of the Sky Kingdom, The Tao Empire and The Twin Monarchies of Kanjo. The situation had gotten to be so bad that many of the corsairs were forming "armies" of privateer ships to raid the coastlines. The three kingdoms agreed to form an alliance to stop the pirates and they did so, in a year long campaign that sealed General Imasu's fate as the Sky Kingdom's most famous and successful sea faring general.
Ironically now, both the Sky Kingdom and The Tao Empire are journeying to the island chain to recruit these corsairs and pirates, offering immunity against war crimes in exchange for captaining privateer ships to be used against their enemies.
Bone shredders are the common term for a new weapon. Basically they are armor, made into weapons, to enhance a pokemon natural weaponry. They're usually jagged, made of many joints to promote as much flexibility as possible with many spikes and heavy claw/horn sheaths on them as well. They are very expensive to manufacture, for they have to conform to the pokemon's shape and size, so no two sets of bone shredder armor/weapons are alike.
I really like the dynamics Kephra, Absalom and Micah have, so far. Brothers in war, from three different nations. Kephra is the impulsive and vengeful one, Micah, the dreamer and creative one, and Absalom, the level headed one and peace maker.