The War of Lilacs

[sam4books]

As Valantin walked out from across the desecrated lands he would see a vast plain full of trenches being dug by infected from the cities. Identical to an old war of the past. These trenches reeked of the smell of oil. Dark and powerful. Pools of Filth filled each one as tiny tendrils licked the sky. The fauna of the land breathed in this stench. As though it were an addicting fragrance. Inhale, exhale. It was a maddening rhythm.

If he looked far ahead into the distance towards the north he would see devilish red lights, signifying that a vast and wicked church service was being held indefinitely. Churning out newly infected like a vile factory. Dedicated to the name of his beloved's father---and by extension. His beloved.

Maria would feel at home in this land. A great idol to the glory of the Queen. It encouraged her to press on. Move forward in a glorious charge of death and destruction. Above her filthy birds sang in chorus the ever-present lullaby of Egle. "Vous sur ton chemin"

'I got to get moving...' thought Egle, back in the war room. 'But before I do...I need to do one thing...'

She invited Lilith up to the war room. "We need to talk." She told her.

Meanwhile, Egle would also speak to both Erik and Riggans through the Nexus. "My brother, and my huntress. I suspect we may be at an impasse soon." The hunters from the city by the desecrated land too would begin to build trenches, filled to the brim with filth.

"Peter, Maria, both of you take your forces to the west. We need to be prepared for a frontal assault from the enemy."

She switched to the Soviet channel.

"Val, my love, I trust you know what you're doing yes? Any plans?"

 

[Pattern-Weld]

Riggans hollow voice would buzz into the radio. "I am calling my hunters out of Jena[14] and into Weimar[12]. Our forces must be ready for the battle to come."

 

[SpringNixie]

Maria collected Peter as she and their troop of knights made their way through the infested lands of the west. The Magus grinned with pleasure as she saw the state of this once bright place, the seething potential within the corruption driving her urge to spread that glory across all of the world. She found purpose in this place. This was truly the land in which she belonged.

"My Goddess, your knights hear your will and shall not fail you. By your will, your enemies shall be undone."

 

[Velvet Silk]

Jinnra continues without much contact - flying on strangely functional wings further east, making her way towards the south-eastern most city. [22->25->26]

 

[Svetovid]

"Of course," Desdemona thought, knowing full well that the Filth would carry the message to her leader. The hunger that made the infected nanomachines wrestle in delight knew very well what was about to happen and they nearly audibly rejoiced as Desdemona raised her hand into the air and then brought it back down.

With a thunderous boom, she'd begin to desecrate the land with the aid of the T-55. Large swaths of fire would sweep over the land and lap at the sky until it was black with smoke. Ash would saturate the air until Desdemona was forced to clean the filter on her air purifier several times over. Her soldiers, disciplined as they were bloodthirsty, would not let a single living thing escape. From the fauna that quickly burst alight with torturous fire to the woodland animals that were shot, stabbed and ran over, nothing would survive.

As it should be. Desdemona knew that the Fae were capable of utilizing their environment and while she wanted a worthy battle, she was no fool. She'd watch until the land was completely purged of life and only then would she send word of it to Egle:

"All is destroyed. We are preparing to move to Sonneberg (25). We will continue razing the forests to the ground as we advance."

 

[Pattern-Weld]

"I wish to make a fortress in our Fathers blood." Riggans would say. "I march deeper into Weimar."[13]

 

[sam4books]

"I suggest we focus on desecrating the cities for now..."

Egle would note through the airwaves, mentally nodding along with Riggans's thinking.

"That way we will have units to fight with when it is time. And save whatever resources we have for a tactical retreat...Just in case."

 

[Achlad]

Valantin could not help but repress a shiver as he looked over the desecrated soil. Even beneath his trench coat and gloves, he could feel the prickling sensation of goosebumps that began to form up and down his skin. His eyes widened, and then narrowed into small slits beneath the lenses of his gas mask. He took a deep breath, the stale taste of the filtered air comforting. It was much more tolerable than what he saw all around him.

When the radio buzzed however, he answered, his escorting 'super soldiers' halting as they watched the surroundings for sign of an ambush.

"Yes, love. I am fine. Thank you for your concern. As for plans? Simple. I'm attempting to catch up with Desdemon and the tank unit. From there? Improvisation." He switched off, chuckling as he continued along his way.

-------

The filth corrupted knight turned his helmeted head in the direction of the Magus, chuckling at her enthusiasm. He was less enthusiastic, but Maria's own enthusiasm was infectious.

"That's the spirit I suppose.." His voice hissed out from behind his helmet, and he brushed aside the black cloak that he wore over the desecrated Templar heavy armor. "My Queen, we are the executors of your will. We are advancing." He turned in the saddle towards Maria again, "Maria, approach. We never had the chance to do this formally."

He drew his sword, the blade of their commander now corrupted from when it had fallen from the old mans dead hands. Around them, the other Knights in the troop followed suit, raising them in front of their faces, hilts held at chest level. If she approached, he'd have lightly tapped her shoulder with the flat of it. "I name you my Second, in the Name Of Our Queen. Should I fall, you will be tasked with the role of her champion and the leader of her Guardians. In the name of the Queen!" This last was a roar, and he punctuated it with a stab towards the air, the savageness of the infection quenching his conscious for the moment.

The circle of their fellows was silent, though they lowered their own blades in respect to Maria.

Peter whipped his blade away, sliding it back into the scabbard. "Fitting, that we use the old orders oath of command in a corrupted form, much like we use these bodies.." He turned away silently, the cloak falling back behind him as he continued to ride.

 

[SpringNixie]

Maria bowed deeply to Peter, showing her Captain of the Knights the respect which he deserved. Whether she would admit to it or not, she still cared for the man who rode alongside her and gave him a grateful smile at the gesture. It felt good to move up the ranks. No wonder so many people ripped and tore apart their competition in the past to move up the steps of the ladder. She wouldn't kill the man who she rode with... but she now found herself much more willing to step in when he fell. Second in war only to the Goddess, what an enviable position to be in.

((END TURN 4))

 

[Achlad]

Valantin hit the ground with a cough, dusting himself off as he straightened himself up and examined his surroundings. Him and his escort of super soldiers had been following in the wake of the two filth infected Templars even before this, but Avery's messages had spurred him forward.

He was a man of his word after all, it wouldn't do to break it.

Stopping however, suddenly made him aware of just how fatigued he was. He stumbled a bit, the boots of his uniform suddenly feeling very heavy on his feet. He slumped against a tree, waving his arm at the four super soldiers, gesturing for them to keep an eye out as he rested for the moment.

He had made a hard trip into the Saale-Holzland Region [15], but he was there at last.

If only I could reach Erfurt -tonight-...

 

[Pattern-Weld]

Riggans would drone over the comms. "I will be taking our new subjects out of the city [into 12] and attempt to extract our bretheren who went into Erfurt [11]." (request tactical retreat)

 

[Svetovid]

'The Enemy.'

Yes, it seemed that they had already exchanged blows. If Desdemona listened closely, she could swear that she heard the battle cries, but she could not be sure. Yet, it still made her blood boil in excitement. Her only regret was that she had not been there to see the enemy first. Oh well, despite the Filth whispering its excitement into her mind, she managed to quell her bloodthirsty hallucinations long enough to continue her mission to take the city and give her leader the update that she required.

"If you want, we can desecrate this land [25] and then take the city within [26]. If the others wish to join us, then so be it. This land will not be able to provide a safe haven for the fae, so it should work to our advantage."

 

[SpringNixie]

((END TURN 5))

Duel in the House of God [The Battle for Erfurt]
Avery Wounded || Erik Deceased

Pregnant Ladies Fight [Gwen Vs. Queen Karaliene]

A Soldier to Cry On

The Writers Office

 

[sam4books]

Eglė had morphed herself up for her role in war. Her self inflicted role of a commander, a leader....'A hero' she thought with conviction. Glistening black armor with jagged spikes. In some places it would look like thorns were piercing her. Her man of teeth, like a spiked snake whipping its way about her. Her blue eyes shining brighter than ever.

She road on top something odd. Something new. A large and proud stallion that reeked of filth. In place of its stomach was a gapping maw. One with many crocodilian teeth. A tongue draping out on the side. Lulling. Instead of hooves it walked on feet. And instead of hair it had a great Maine of filth. Fire singing the tips. Red eyes dotting along its back and one huge frog like eye on either side of the hides. It was by all means an ugly demonic beast. One she had summoned from the depths of her own body. From her own stomach. She had pulled it from the depths of her memories and imagination and reformed with care.

Behind her walked Victoria Val Dame. Her accomplice and comrade for this march. Her eyes set on the desecrated land. She could see trenches dug up and letting off an oily reek in the distance. Polluting the a airwaves...and her mind. She could hear the sounds of the infected singing in the distance. And she reaffirmed to herself. 'You're not a villain, you are a hero. And you're going to protect your loved ones.' She thought to herself as she rode.

"My allies" her voice rang through the Nexus that Erik left behind through Christoph. "Your Queen is on the march. En route to Erfurt." she announced. Her voice ringing a GREAT unmistakable determination. "I am bringing the infected we gathered from Gera along with me. Our armies will be a true and united force of support. No one else shall die while I am on this battlefield. From this time on we will ALL SURVIVE." There was so much passion in her voice. So much dignity. She sounded like an actual commander, like a Queen.

"Riggans. Maria! Peter! Take your forces and travel northwest into Sommerda[6]! We're going to surround these scum dogs where they stand!"

"Desdemona. Convert the denizens of Sonnerburg to the endless night! Take them northwest as well Towards Suhl[20], and take Ilm-Kreis[21] after."

"Val!...."

A pause. One that seemed to last a lifetime.

"I am NOT letting you do this alone."

 

[sam4books]

((Can't edit in mobile and can't be on laptop until later this week but Eglė was meant to tell Jinnra to go with Des that turn. Apologies ><))

 

[Achlad]

((Short post just to describe Valantin moving into the next territory 15==>12))

Valantin and his escorts had crossed the river, heading into the desecrated lands outside of Erfurt. The man changed his gas masks filter out of reflex, knowing that it'd be virtually useless if the Filth -did- attempt to corrupt him, bur preferring it to running through the shooting gallery naked.

 

[Svetovid]

Desdemona had known about Egle's plan to join them on the battlefield, so when she sounded off her deceleration, she felt a swell of pride within her chest. The trek across the territories had been a long and tedious one, but now that they were within the city and their commander was set to defiantly fight against the Fate, it seemed the journey seemed like nothing.

"Very well," she spoke back through the Filth. She turned to her men and pointed at the city. With nowhere to escape since the surrounding area had been decimated into nothing but smoke and ash, the citizens, unarmed, were easy to force out of their homes. Desdemona led them to the city square where she stood; a monument to military might.

"Listen well!" she roared. "You will be afraid, but I will not care. You will try to escape, but I will not let you. Your lives are now forfeit to our cause!"

On and on, the speech went as the Filth inside of her leaked out like a heavy miasma and drenched the air in a thick fog. It permeated the clothing and the skin before leaving a thick, stagnant stench. The ones closest to her were the first to transform into a filth construct. By the time word got to the outer edges, though, Desdemona's soldiers stood as a barrier from their escape. The screams that day rang high until they were snuffed out by the black gargle and pop. Tendrils now stood out from their bodies and their eyes, deathly cold still burned an angry red. Desdemona stood with her new filth unit; a legion of the consuming black.

 

[SpringNixie]

((END TURN 6))

 

[Achlad]

Suddenly, as if there had been an explosion and the light had been snuffed out, Peters connection from the Nexus...dropped. Disappeared. Vanished. He was gone.

----

On Desdemona's end, Valantin's radio signal would also suddenly bleep out, a confused series of Red Hand broadcasts greeting the disappearance. The tank operators in the T-55 meanwhile, looked at eachother nervously. They had come here to aid Valantin. But they were all shaken by what they had seen the Filth do.

 

[Pattern-Weld]

News in the Nexus would spread of Riggans disappearance.