username: deimar

[jatharin]

( On this occasion, King Deimar in silvered splendor: tussled, armour scratched and drenched in blood and soot, surrounded each way by his men or Rathakku's creatures. He screams, just as harpies swing in: )

Fall back — fall back, fall back — ( An infantryman politely keels over, arrow driving through his ribs. Deimar stops to stare — ) ...maybe with less enthusiasm than that.

( But then, he's led to take cover off the field, and he can mutter into his pendant: )

Greetings, greetings. Your king speaks. Deimar. ( As if, perhaps, some need the reminder. ) Let's cut through pretence: Alem is lost. The merchants are offering their... obscenely costly help with evacuation. If we had any alternative or dignity, we would decline. It won't surprise you that I've agreed, gratefully. Go to Hassir. Yes, it's a monastery old and true. No, you cannot bring your wine.

( And gentler, firmer: ) It will have you. All of you who go, Hassir will have you, and it will save you. Make a new life, away from this mountain. Away from our blood's burden, away from Hell.

( Then lighter, in this breezy tone: )

...which, I regret to inform you, is opening nice, creaky and wide beneath our floorboard. You've heard the old stories: the Motherless Children beget their devastation, bolstered by whatever souls they consume in their putrid wasteland. They're breaking through. Terrible creatures. Filthy. Ugly, too.

To all men and women of Alem who are strong, gifted and able: I won't tell you to take up your weapons and join me below in glory. If you die there, no one will mourn you, no one will weep over your bones. No one will even remember you. No, they'll live peacefully, happily and oblivious to your sacrifice. But they'll live.

So. You have your choices: Hassir or Hell below. What say you?

( ooc: brainstorming post if you want to ICly figure out where characters are headed. Hell officially starts to open on March 18, but feel free to forward-date responses & threadjack at will. Good luck saving humanity! )

Comments

[jatharin]

( He stills, as if he has been slapped with a hard truth he had not considered. Worse, one that had not even entered his horizon. A bitter herb. )

If I don't lead them in, they won't trust me after. Would you? A king who only orders? A coward? I give up my life in hell, or I do it above ground, when I have to surrender my crown. I'm no better than my brother, if I can't fight with them.

[inferus]

I did not say you should not fight with them. I believe it is what sets you apart not only from your brother but from many mortal leaders.

However, you should not run into battle believing you will lose, believing you will die. Your men can sense it, and they will believe the same which weakens your fight Hell pounces and twists and uses fears, temptations, beliefs in what ways it sees fit. You will die if you believe you will - Hell is more than happy to welcome a willing soul.

[jatharin]

( This gives him pause, enough of it to gaze, to stare. To understand. )

What do you know of hell? You are a paladin?

[inferus]

No, and I cannot say I have experience with your specific version of Hell.

However, I do have experience with Hell, and I have closed its gates before. These gates will close as well. ( if he has anything to say about it - ) Which means you need to survive - go with your men into battle, but from the most defended spot within their ranks, strategize for them, show them you believe that their sacrifice will save this world because it will. Lead them.

[jatharin]

This isn't my first war. ( Light, but firm. ) I've been fighting this siege for a year. And hell for a lifetime.

( A young one, but all the same. )

But I'll see what I can do to see this isn't my last war, either.

[inferus]

Then act like it.

( If he is so accustomed to fighting hell, he should know entering it with a death wish on his mind will only lead to that - death. )

That is all any of your people can ask of you. You have the support of my group. We will ensure the gates of Hell close - you focus on ensuring you do not succumb to Hell.

( and hopefully they all appear on the other side of all of this )