Merendinoemilano: Glad you enjoyed the beginning.
PersonLatinoAmericaComun: Yep, I am bringing back this series, at least until I can get finished with RWBY Season 3. I might do more afterwards, I might not.
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The sky shined blue with the glow of the scorching sun. Far through the sky, three airships descended to distribute their gifts to Beacon and the nearby city. Aboard these ships, stood a man, mostly, deeply concerned. He was one of the few blessed and cursed with the knowledge of the second world that lurked below the surface of their beautiful fantasy.
James was awaiting the sky-ships to landing. He had come on the word of Qrow, who was… rather unreliable in James' opinion. Ozpin was the leader in this… silent war that they fought, however, and James was far less experienced in this world than he would like to be.
The ship landed, and James stepped out, leading the first brigades of Atlesian infantry out. The press began to take pictures and comment on the arrival of James. He was handsome, he knew it, and that had resulted in some rather… flattering groups who emerged on the web. He smiled and waved, giving the most friendly of appearances, and re-enforcing the image of Atlesian strength. If Qrow was correct, then, he would not allow the external powers to come without a fight.
After doing a typical press round, James moved away and allowed his sergeants to do their job, while he went up to see his… mentor? Friend? James would like to consider Ozpin both.
He found the elevator and rose up the structure to Ozpin's room, which overlooked his parade. James pressed the doorbell button. A few seconds passed before James heard the statement, "Come in."
The door opened as James entered into the room, and saw three figures. Ozpin, grey haired and spectacles as usual. Glynda, the blonde bun with a very fine dress. And a third figure. A Saxon, easily from height, and build, but had a strangely shortened beard, like barely prickling out.
James trusted Ozpin knew who to trust, and spread his arms out with open intent, "Ozpin!" he exclaimed, still happy to see his old mentor.
"General." The older, grey haired gentleman smiled.
James held up a hand ever so slightly, "Please, no formalities…" he turned to their guest, who was still watching the deployment of men. James continued, "No formalities when it is just us… and Glynda, always a pleasure to see you." He did his best to give a friendly smile.
"Oh James," Glynda mocked, with a voice dripping of Sarcasm, "It's so wonderful to see you, now if you don't mind, I have somewhere I need to be." She pushed past him, showing that she had still not yet forgiven him.
"She's still the same as always." James sighed, trying not to look annoyed by her presence, before turning to face their guest who sat in the corner, "And who is our guest here?"
"Horsa, Pale Horse of the Dar-Kunnor invasion. I take many of your kingdom's skulls." The Saxon boasted, but honestly did not sound terribly excited.
"I see." James simply wished to move on. Arguing with a Saxon or getting into a verbal disagreement with a Saxon was a lot like getting in a verbal disagreement with a train. At best you were wasting your time, and at worst you'd get plowed over and your opinion would have done a whole lot of nothing, "So… are you here about some extortion or?" James tried to figure out.
"He is here because he knows." Ozpin stated in his ever knowing, sometimes frustratingly calm, voice.
He knew, did he really? Did this "Horsa" really understand the enemy that was coming? The threat she posed?
"Is that right?" James smiled as Ozpin turned back around to go back to his seat. The grey haired immortal poured himself some tea, and then another into a cup, before passing it to James, "Then if you know about this-"
"You bastards hide secrets." Horsa growled angrily, balling a fist, "Speak plainly."
"Rest patiently, dear Pale Horse, we will address these things when the time comes. There is a tact which we must maintain." Ozpin spoke, ever so wisely and calmly.
"There no time." Horsa growled, slamming his fist onto Ozpin's table, producing a crack. In a strange moment that would have been more humorous, Ozpin's mask cracked with his table, showing a bit of surprise and fear for a moment. Horsa, however, couldn't appreciate the sentiment, "The Enemy is near." He slammed his fist onto the table.
James instinctively reached for his pistol, but Ozpin raised his hand, sharing in James' surprise, "Now James, Calm yourself. Do you think he would attack us without proper warning. That would be cowardly, and the Saxons pride themselves on honorable combat."
"Yes, I suppose-" James started, feeling a little confident and perhaps an uncharacteristic feeling of pride that he had beaten the Saxon's stoicism… by wasting time.
"Enough! Time is not infinite, for all of us here!" The Saxon Horsa barked angrily.
"Right… We've brought the troops to deter any potential infiltrators from-" James started, glancing at Ozpin only to be cut off by his mentor.
"In case of a possibility, not a guarantee." Ozpin scolded, once again.
"But if Qrow's report is to be believed-" James tried to reason.
Ozpin did respect James' caution, but he also acknowledged the danger of igniting fear with a hoard of soldiers, "If Qrow's information is to be believed, then we will act thoroughly. But if this show of force is just going to invite unwanted feelings and thoughts."
James frowned at this, but he quickly found an excuse to give the public if need be, "We are here to protect the upcoming Vital Festival."
"The coming arena battles?" Horsa grumbled in a distant voice, asking for assurances on what he knew.
"Yes, and a festival to celebrate life, and success, and peace. Things your people wouldn't understand." James growled at the Saxon. He felt an unreasonable hatred, which even he acknowledged. It was more a distrust made manifest.
"You celebrate life by fighting to the death? I like your people." He seemed to laugh in a mockery, before growing serious once more, "You are right to raise men. The city will be attacked. You will be overran by steel, soulless men."
He meant machines? James was a bit… horrified at how he knew. Saxons weren't known for spies, "How do you know this?"
"I have been shown runes, and visions." Horsa replied, "You shall fight on all sides, but you will not fight alone. The Pale Horse's army will fight on your behalf, as will the allies I muster."
"Runes? Visions?" James was utterly dumbfounded, but Ozpin kept a serious tone, "You can't seriously believe these drunkards."
"How are these drunkards any worse than our drunkard." Ozpin remarked with a humorous tone he found in James' hypocrisy. The hypocrisy was lost on Mister Ironwood.
"Because Qrow is good at gather intel, evidence." James insisted, hoping Ozpin would see the light of this insane proposition. In the back of Ironwood's mind, there was the question: any more insane than what we already know?
"You are the son of the old warlord? Are you not?" Horsa asked cocking his head, "Was your bloodline not cursed by the crucified god with his mark? Was he not mocked for his… visions?"
James scowled and glared at the warrior.
"You people are stupid." Horsa, the short bearded Saxon laughed, clearly mocking James. James was not too concerned however, and he was a general. He was no stranger to people mocking him to get a rise out of him. So he was not going to play into the trap.
That did not stop Horsa from continuing, "You like to trust your own visions but deny anyone else's? You trust your "scientists" who you chose, but not the visions of the gods." Horsa continued his obnoxious laugh.
"Let's assume our Saxon friend is right." Ozpin started, drawing James attention back to the focus at hand, "We also must assume Qrow's intelligence is also true, and the enemy is trying to infiltrate Beacon."
"No Sir, they're already here." James allowed that sobering tune to strike the two. The room grew dark.
Horsa, seeming to not understand that this was not the time for gun-ho bluster, decided to call out, "Let them come, Their attack will fall against our strength."
"We are not risking the lives of my students when we can avoid it. I am going to keep a close eye out for suspicious behavior, and then we will act accordingly." Ozpin stated firmly, where James was mostly aggravated by such a posture.
"We can't simply. Sit around. If they are here-" James insisted, feeling a strain of pressure on his shoulder as the Atlesian lives tallied up in his head.
"Then a show of tact will be better than a show of force." Ozpin interrupted with correction.
"Why wait for them to attack you? Your people are soft and weak, so the death of the weakest will make you stronger, but I know the first blow goes to the one who strikes first!" Horsa snarled, with the idea of patience being a clearly foreign concept to the Saxon.
Yet James was in partial agreement, "I don't think it's a good idea to be at the mercy of our enemy." He glanced at the Saxon, who's fists were clenched in an eager tone. James' hand went to his side once again in case their guest decided that it was time for a blood to flow.
"Yet, if we start ruffling through every students' equipment, then we create panic and fear. Then our enemy truly has won. This place is a safe place of learning, and until we are proven otherwise we will act as such." Ozpin continued in his firm stubbornness.
But James had not been led astray before, Ozpin would not start now. James sighed, "Fine, but Let me ask you something: Do you think those Children of yours can win a war?"
Ozpin's eyes grew sad and quiet. For a moment, James felt bad.
Then Horsa decided to speak up, "You will not fight alone. I can promise 400 swords, and more if my brothers head my warnings. Our enemy will tremble before the might of the Saxon People! All we require is the food and beds to ready ourselves."
"No, You are not bringing an army into our neutral city. The Govern and the Atlesian Military will be enough." James growled at the Saxon. Bringing several Saxons was asking for a pyrrhic victory, surrounded by devastation and a burning city.
"Yet your armies may come and go as they please? Regardless, I ask nothing. We are coming, you may fight us or join us." Horsa growled back, glaring at the commander.
Ozpin had enough of this dispute. There was nothing to be gained, both of these men were too stubborn to back down. Ozpin knew James for a long time, and he had come to know Horsa.
"Gentlemen, We will see what will happen. If the Saxons are offering their support, then I think we should be grateful. However, we do not have any current need of such a show of force, from either side." Ozpin stated calmly, reminding the two that he was ultimately in charge of the Vital Festival.
Horsa stomped softly in place, before growling, "I have nothing left to speak of. You are in a war against demons and sorcerers, and you have no experience fighting them. You are fools." He snarled, and walked off.
James had to agree, "I have to say the same. I don't like."
"I don't either, but I am making the best choice I can with the information I have." Ozpin stated in his usual calm demeanor.
James frowned, but gave a conceding smile, "Very well, I trust your judgement." He lied, but it was a necessary once.
After he left, Ozpin, left alone in his room found the weight of all of the information finally be allowed to sit on his shoulders, and he sighed, "I wish I could say the same."
In the Library, Wortikur and Noryc sat on opposite sides of the table. Small wooden huts, wooden soldiers and wooden markers were placed around the table, with teams RWBY and JNPR watching.
Wortikur rolled his dice, a solid eleven, and began to move the small squad of wooden soldiers forward to a they had little pointed sticks with clear hand sharpened points, a notion of pride for Wortikur. The little spears for his wooden soldiers could stab a real person and probably prick them. He proclaimed, "I activate my banner, 'furious charge' on my Saxon Tribal Spears, which gives me five more inches, and another attack for each member of the platoon."
He pushed the small ten wooden figures towards five taller wooden figures, which had two pieces: rugged, poorly carbed horse, and jagged footmen who sat on top of the wooden stallions.
"Come on, FACE ME!" Noryc proclaimed, throwing his arms out to show how ready he was for the event.
The faunus Huskarl moved more wooden pieces, some with little wooden axes and some with swords.
Wortikur grabbed thirty dice, and began to rock his hands forward and back, rolling them in preparation, "Spears, Landing on fours or higher."
He rolled the dice. Twelve were four or five, four were six.
"Rolling protection, five or higher." Noryc snorted, and grabbed twelve dice, before removing a piece, and pulling out a small coin and placed it next to one of the other pieces. He rolled the dice, and four were higher than five.
He removed three of the horsemen.
Blake watched all of this unfold as more dice began to be thrown for the axes and swords.
Jaune was settling in nicely, although she was very surprised by his appearance. He was very different. Chubbier described him well, although it wasn't really grotesque. It was just… fuller. Fuller was a better term.
She heard him talk with his team about how difficult the climb was, "The mountain was crazy. They just pointed me to there, and didn't really mention that he was at the very top." Jaune laughed, chuckling to himself as if remembering a funny joke.
"Wow, That sounds like an awesome workout. I'd love to run up it with some big rocks!" Nora exclaimed in a jittery, blazing mess that made the world stand still by comparision.
"No, it was really cold, and hot. The daytime you'd sweat all the way up there, and then night rolls around and makes you ice cold. But, I will say I got some nice hospitality on the way up." Jaune laughed again, seeming to enjoy the memory.
He was acting strange. Jaune would have whined and complained before.
Pyrrha watched Jaune with open interest, a genuine concern, and her attempt to appear normal, or as normal as she could be without revealing that she wanted the blonde boy like a man in the desert wanted water.
"And I finally got to the top of this mountain… after being given some nice stew along the way, and I knocked on this big temple door." Jaune laughed a bit, his smile tensed up and some muscles shown through the layer of fat around his arms.
Pyrrha smiled, trying not focus on his arms, although his body's change was bit… repulsive. He looked better before, but he wasn't bad now… just a little pudgier.
"Then you got the super-big-mega training?" Nora proclaimed loudly, jumping up and down, excited about… probably anything. She was just a happy person with easy outlook on life. As far as Pyrrha and Jaune were concerned, that was an admirable outlook on life. Blake and Weiss saw it as a pretty similar, less controlled version of Ruby which made them realize how controlled their leader was by comparison. Ren was the only one who knew the truth.
"Well, no, he told me to leave. He wasn't really in the mood till I told him Horsa sent me." Jaune laughed a bit, and scratched his head lightly, "I uh… Get the feeling he wasn't really in the mood for company." Jaune giggled a bit, "I uh… Stayed outside his temple for… a few nights." Jaune cringed at that statement, as if he realized how desperate he must have looked.
"Oh my, please tell me you had some clothes for the weather." Pyrrha asked in horror.
Noryc smashed the table, before standing up and growling, only have two pieces on the board with Wortikur grinning playful.
Jaune stared out into space, "I did… in my bag…" Jaune realized his stupidity as he was recounting the story… covering himself in his bag when he was up there… not a great idea.
"Well did you-" Nora started in an excited tone.
"Nora, we both know he didn't." Ren muttered, sitting down to play some cards with Ruby and Yang.
Nora, frowned, "I wanted to give him the chance…" She playfully pouted, and faking being sad at his scolding.
"Bu- But-" Jaune started quickly, trying to move on to his great success, "But, He did come out, and asked me why I was there… and I told him, "I want to be useful"."
Pyrrha could help but feel really bad for him, "Oh Jaune…" She reached out to comfort him while the board was being set up with Wortikur and Dougal getting their little wooden armies out.
"So he agreed to take me." Jaune smiled and pounded his chest with his fist to show how not bothered he was, and definitely not feeling awkward recounting the story, "And he put me in a little cot, and had me chop wood… for like a week."
"Ah, muscle building." Yang grinned, leaning back in her chair and setting her hand face down, "I know a good routine to get your arms pumped up."
"ooh, ooh, I got one too!" Nora proclaimed, spinning around Ren's chair, before looking at Ren's hand intently, before reaching out to grab one of Ren's cards, before Ren tapped her hand away.
"Yeah, and I kept at it for a few weeks, along the water boiling, and the hunting and… uh well." Jaune started, feeling a bit of weight behind what he was talking about.
"You were boiling water as part of your training?" Pyrrha asked, suspicious of the idea. She had heard of unorthodox training methods, but this sounded rather… laborious.
"I was carrying the water, up the mountain with empty seven gallon pots, down the mountain with full pots of snow. Then I'd boil it, and carry it back up the mountain. I was also… hunting and skinning animals, cooking… and Uh… a little bit of building…" Jaune laughed a bit at that.
"He used you for menial labor." Wiess commented with both contempt and humor in her tone. It wasn't her fault the dope was gullible.
"I mean, I had to get everything to build my own room up…" Jaune laughed, trying to sound mature and laugh it off. Jaune tried to not get offended while they all played their little card game.
Then, Horsa showed up in the doorway, looking rather upset, even by his usual standards.
"Greetings, Chieftain Horsa." Dougal lowered his head in respect.
"Pale Horse." Horsa growled, clearly agitated at something.
Yang looked over at her… boyfriend? Mildly intimate friend? Yang believed he fit the bill of a courtesan, if her dictionary knowledge was anything to go off of, "Well, you sound about as happy as a horse." Yang let the pun lay there, but no one laughed.
Horsa growled simply, "I am troubled, but I can not explain why." He turned to Wortikur, and gave the Faunus boy a look, "Humor me for a time."
Jaune looked over at Horsa, with more intensity, and a bit more scarred for the warlord. Jaune seemed to recognize that something that disturbed Horsa was something to be noted of.
"What is it? Come on, tell us? Is it Atlas, I bet It's Atlas!" Nora Jumped up and down in excitement, desperately trying to be right despite not knowing anything about Horsa's ails.
"I will not speak of it." Horsa snarled harshly, before turning to Dougal, "Play a Saxon army, six Hundred points."
An order given was a sign of seriousness, which Dougal found questionable considering the order was about playing a tactics game, but Dougal knew enough about Horsa to know he wasn't a worrywart. He might have been a fool at times, but a worrywart he was not. So Dougal began to place his wooden pieces on the board, while Horsa began to rearrange the structures to have a great circular structure on Dougal's side.
He then turned to Wortikur, "Play a beastman army. Three thousand points." Horsa's words left his lips, and Wortikur laughed a bit at the easy victory he would be handed, setting up several pieces on his own side, as four paths were set up by Horsa who prepared to watch the game play out.
"You are joking, surely?" Noryc scoffed, at the thought of the easy defeat and how shameful Dougal's defeat would be. But Horsa was adamant in his statement.
They began to roll, with Dougal running his forces, and the battle was over very quickly… too quickly. Noryc and Dougal's games lasted way longer.
Pyrrha placed her cards down on the table. Jaune felt awkward, and decided to continue on his statement, " So anyway-"
Ren sighed, "We've moved on."
Jaune looked down, "Oh…" He really wanted to share his story. He thought it was cool, but instead, Things got tense.
"I'll listen to your story. It's very interesting." Pyrrha smiled at Jaune.
Jaune looked at her bleakly, "Really? Be honest."
Pyrrha stumbled over her own words, "I mean, it sounds like you had a lot of trouble and challenges." She was very clever in dodging the question.
Jaune didn't seem to notice how she did not confirm that she wanted to hear more, and went off, "So anyways, I got tired of cutting wood, and so I intentionally hid the axe. My master came out, and brought a stone axe, like a cave man tool, and gave it to me, before he ripped a log open and told me to keep up with it or I'd be using my hands."
Pyrrha recoiled at that and scrunched her eyebrows. Was it possible, technically, she supposed. But that was still crazy to ask of someone. Then again, his master was a Saxon, so perhaps they could do it easier.
Horsa continued to watch the game with intensity. As the pieces continued to move, Horsa continued to snarl until the defeat was certain.
"Do with nine hundred points." Horsa growled in Saxon to Dougal, "Try again."
Dougal set up with better troops, and the two began to play…
Roughly thirty miles into the continent of Yorvigslan, the Dragon Continent, hundreds of lights burned bright. A city, a city forged from the only people truly insane enough to try and settle a land of darkness, with the effort to purify it, and not succumb to the temptations of the darker powers which lurked. This city, with its Saxons huts and wild life, combined with the large house which held the High Chief Yorvig, leader of the expedition. Among the settlers were Saxons yes, but also Langi and smaller tribes which had come to lay their claim. The city of Yorvigsfor was strange, as it was one of the few Saxon Settlements which held walls AND gates.
This was not the only settlement, however, as many smaller tribal settlements had set up along the coast, and set up ports for new settles. Konigundr and White Horse Gewis had given the permission to settle, and his full support behind it.
Yet, there were other powers as well on the island. Three Faunus lurked in the woodlands surrounding the city. They watched the gate, and began to take note of all the weakness. They watched from the shadows, believing themselves to be hidden from any who would stop their campaign. Perhaps from the Saxons, yes.
"I hate it here." Growled Cobalt, watching from his shadowy post, swatting a mosquito which had landed on his cheek.
Scarlet growled, "Shut it, I don't want another word out of you. Can I go a single day without your complaining?" She removed her mask and wiped the sweat from her face. It wasn't like it was hot out, but they were certainly without much help if anyone found them. Save for some grim, they were on their own.
Ivory groaned, "It's my turn to sleep." He grumbled softly, resting his head.
Small ruts and squeaks could be heard as a squirrel scampered down a tree, glancing at Scarlet with his little head cocked.
"Urg, move along, please." She was going to be polite to the little guy. Clearly, he wasn't in the mood to listen, and he chirred a bit, and seemed to massage a nut on his belly.
"Piss off." Growled Cobalt, very much hating the wildlife here, as he swatted another mosquito on his face. The squirrel again, seemed to pay them no mind.
"I said-" Cobalt started to shout, why this squirrel made him so nervous was beyond him, but he sure as hell was nervous and that was all that mattered.
Ivory threw his knife into the squirrel, skewering the creature on the tree with a sickening thud.
"That wasn't necessary!" Scarlet snarled, before glaring at Cobalt, "Are you trying to get us killed?"
Ivory groaned, "You all wouldn't shut up. Just let me take my nap before my shift."
Cobalt was less calm, "I hate it here, I hate it so much."
"Then Leave, you aren't welcome here anyway, nature killer." Spoke a voice from above them.
The three immediately sprang into action aiming their weapons at the treeline. They did not have to look hard, as a tall figure sat on the branch of a withered tree, its leaves slowly swaying in the wind.
He held long, blonde hair which was braided even by his beard. He looked like a blonde Saxon, Which immediate put the three on their guard.
"We've been spotted! Shoot him!" Barked Cobalt, a little loud, before he jerked his head back to the walls.
Two Saxon gaurds seemed to acknowledge them, before turning around, presumably to come down and turn all of their records into past-tense.
"We have to go!" Scarlet barked, panicked at the idea that they would be caught.
"Leave my forest now!" The Saxon Boomed, before ivory shot him in the chest, square in his heart. The Saxon fell backwards before… disappearing?
A corpse didn't hit the ground, the wind didn't seem to disrupt the leaves on the ground, or any wooded areas.
They were so shocked, they had to wait a full moment before they remembered they were about to be attacked.
"We need to move." Ivory mumbled calmly, and they picked up whatever they could carry, and ran deeper into the forest.
AS they ran they avoided the bodies which hung from the trees. As they ran deeper into the forest, they noticed something that demanded their attention.
A clearing, of sorts, which had a rock which stood erect in front of a massive tree. The rock had carvings on it, which were carved carefully with every stroke seeming to be intentional, with no mistakes seeming to be allowed.
They were so struck in awe by the giant rock, that the only thing that shook them from their lock was the sound of trees swaying back forth so angrily behind them.
They turned around, With Scarlet watching their right, Ivory watching the front and Cobalt watching their left. The sound of wood snapping and crumbling grew closer, but no image emerged in front of them.
Still, the malice and anger grew closer, the wind shook their clothing as the ground rumbled and shook. Still, nothing was there-
Shadows began to seep from the ground, rising to form a foot like that of man, with toe nails that resembled bear claws. Rising, up dark grey flesh which could be seen through took the form of a man's legs, gigantic in size and stretching just over Ivory's head. Then the waist, which seemed form brown cloth of an elk or deer, held up by the bones of a large snake belt, being held together by the skull of a…very large man.
From the waist up, the humanoid features began to be replaced by fur, as the form took on that of a man's chest with wolf's hide over it. The arms stretching out seemed to spread the fur over humanoid arms and hands, with claws that stretched out like that of eagles'.
Then the head emerged, contrasting the black fur with the skull of an Elk, but no flesh forming over it. Instead, antlers shot out of the top of skull.
Cobalt was stunned right there, frozen.
The large form's chest then began to glow at the center, pulsing like a heartbeat as blue fires glowed in the eye Sockets.
Ivory's chest began to beat heavily, before Scarlet let out a scream. They fired as the form charged them, ignoring the bullets.
In the Saxon City, Yorvig listened to the guards, intently, before a loud roar of triumph came from the forest. He stood up, "Ah Glory to Frij, He takes his rage out on the unworthy dogs." The Saxon laughed, before he reclined back. They were secured by the god's power. Even the dark beasts of this world were powerless before a Spirit of Frey.
The Saxon warlord would sit comfortably, and give offerings in the morning to his patron god. He dare not entire while the spirit's rage was fresh.
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Alright, that might be the only chapter I upload for a while. I have other stories I don't want to neglect. Anyways, Please enjoy and review, and check out the previous works in this series, or check out my other stuff. Thank you