'1356'
Chapter 10: The Ways of War
The Kingdom of Aquila and the Kingdom of Falcão are famous for their crafting of tools, weapons and armor of the very highest quality. The famous 'Calota' style helmet that is popular among Griffon and Mountain Hippogriff knights was invented in Aquila. In times of war, a mere tool can turn into a vicious weapon. Such is the case of the 'Aquilian Axe'
Like the 'Talabot Axe', the 'Aquilian Axe' is an improvised weapon. An elegant but at the same time an intimidating axe, it features a 34.375in handle with a counter-bend in the neck. The 9.25in steel axe head weighs 2.86lbs and has an 8.5in cutting edge. Weighing 4lbs and 4.1oz, this axe is made to chop down trees, but in war it can chop down Ponies
Lady Angelina was watching the training going on at 'The Roost'. She came upon a young Mountain Hippogriff, likely from Falcão, named Henrique. He wore chainmail as well as a brigandine and steel plate armor for the elbows, forearms, and shins. A kettle helmet crowned his head. Henrique has the white head of a gyrfalcon with a silver stallion's half.
"Give me your weapon" she asked of him
He nodded lightly "What is your name?"
"Henrique...Henrique of Gerifalte" he replied
"They say there is no hope" said the youngling
"They say that Equestria will crush us" he added
The soldier had a white brigandine with the blue cross. The symbol of the kingdom he fights for "This is a very good axe, now watch me" Angelina went up to the wooden log being hanged by a rope and taught the young soldier on how to use his weapon "follow through with every attack, if you work well with the axe, then the axe will work with you"
"Every weapon has a spirit my young friend" she said and ruffled his chainmail covered head before giving him back his helmet "there is always hope" she also helped him fix his armor to make sure it was fitted properly. As Angelina departed, she heard a clean strike into the wooden target. She looked back and smiled warmly in a big sisterly way to him
As Angelina looked out at the troops training with their weapons both made for battle and improvised, Ghislaine the big Northern Griffon hugged Angelina from behind and gently nuzzled the feathers on the back of her head. She was also joined by Wilhelmina and Geneve. They looked on at the troops at the camp. This is the largest army ever assembled
"Together we stand strong" said Ghislaine
"Together we stand in just cause" said Wilhelmina
"Together regardless of social status" said Geneve
"This is our land, we will not surrender" said Angelina
"And we will prove to all that Equestria can bleed"
Lady Irontalon picked up all three of her friends in a big group hug. That is just how she is around her friends and how fitting that a two-handed great sword is her weapon of choice on the battlefield with a longsword as a side weapon "I appreciate what you did for that youngling soldier, some of our soldiers are just now becoming hens and tercels"
"For many of them it will be their first taste of battle and their first war for that matter" said Wilhelmina, the 'Northland War' has raged for years now. Many a Pony, Griffon, and Mountain Hippogriff had bled the ground red with their blood at places like Foalkirk, Hawksbill, Kestrel Hill, Great Grey Pass, The Siege of Griffonstone, Eagletown, and Kingstown
In victory and defeat, they learned and adapted. When going through the Everfree Forest in their regions, Griffon and Mountain Hippogriff archers and crossbow-griffs had made it dangerous to travel though the 'Grunwald' as the guerrilla tactics kept the Ponies on their hooves. This as well as lightning fast raids on Pony supply trains made travel difficult.
A guard entered the tent "Somebirdy's coming"
It was a group of hippogriffs "Falcão Hippogriffs"
"Please allow us to join you" said a big tercel
"Go home" Ghislaine commanded, seeing their youth
"We have no homes, the Ponies burned us out" he replied
"Come, help yourselves to food and shelter, tomorrow at first light, we will train you for war" said Lady Angelina observing the small handful of Mountain Hippogriffs socializing and helping themselves to a black bean stew called 'Feijoada' "nothing to call their own but their names on top of their fur and feathers, soon the Ponies might take those away"
"Then let us give them the means to defend themselves and this sacred land" said Lady Ghislaine, at first light the training began. The biggest of the Mountain Hippogriffs from the south was named Horacio. He was trained with the pole axe. The other hens and tercels in the handful of fifty were all trained with swords, glaives, war hammers, and maces
The archers and crossbow-griffs even got their numbers increased by twenty. From coming to 'The Roost' with just their names and their fur and feathers, they completed their training in clothing and armor. With coifs of chainmail and clad in plate armor and brigandine, the new soldier-griffs had joined the ranks wearing kettle helms and celata helmets
"Will they fight, my lady?" asked Angelina
"We all must fight" said Ghislaine looking at the vista
"To our enemy, I say let them come" said Wilhelmina
Geneve nodded "Let Celestia come with the fury of her armies"
"This is our time to stand our ground and we will fight"
They knew that will not be long before Equestria sends another army into their lands. Equestria has strength in numbers and in magical power, but the Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs have strength in their stamina and their will to fight. Even if it was just a handful of volunteers, the Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs will need all the help they can get