dreamdancer |
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holodrum |
RE: KEEP: Renegades (Free for all, Men, Elves, Sauron Spawn, whoever!) on: May 07, 2006 07:18
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Holodrum swung hard at his opponent, and with a visceral shout, reversed the direction of his strike. Just enough so that as his opponent blocked, Holodrum was able to disarm him without trouble. "Flow with my strike, don't just stand there!"
His opponent jumped out of the way as Holodrum aimed a downward stroke at his head.
Armill, for that was the name of Holodrum's opponent, had been only recently added to Holodrums troops. When Holo's forces had attacked the waterfall fortress, several men had tryed to surrender, but Holo had said that no prisoners be taken untill the treasure room was plundered. Armill had been one of the lucky ones that had surrendered in the face of Astins force, right after they got done in the treasure room.
Holodrum smiled as Armill rolled, and was able to grab his weapon again. This one showed great promise, Holodrum noted, as Armill threw a quick string of attacks together and Holodrum was forced to give ground as he blocked and parried.
With a quick shout Holodrum reversed his angle again, and caught Armill off guard by attacking. Holodrum laughed deeply as he got Armill cornered again in his attacks. Holodrum ended it then.
Kicking forward, Holodrum knocked Armill off balance. With a flourish Holodrum disarmed Armill again, and pointed his blade at Armills throught. "DONE!!" said a voice outside the ring. Holodrum smirked with one side of his mouth, and sheathed his sword. Martone and Astin watched from the outside of the ring.
Armill walked over and retrieved his sword. once it was sheathed Holodrum walked over and clapped him on the shoulder, "You did good Armill."
"Not good enough," Armill said as he looked Holodrum over. Holodrum still hadn't recovered fully from the day before. a few bandages were now little more then rags hanging loosly from some times when Armills sword came alittle too close. Holodrum had managed to avoid any more serious wounds though. "If I had known that the leader of our forces would be my opponent today," Armill continued, "I would have thought the messenger crazy. Surely Holodrum could not have recovered already. I would have thought."
Clearing his throught Holodrum looked around, and wispered to Armill, "Well actually, I would appreciate you not telling my doctor about this. He would not approve, and I'd get something of a talking too."
Astin and Martone had been walking over to the two combatants and were now beside Holodrum and waiting for him to finish with Armill. Holodrum laughed again, "Dismissed Armill." Armill saluted and walked away. When he was out of earshot Holodrum turned to Astin and Martone. "And you two better not tell Doc about this either."
Astin was used to this sort of thing, so he didn't reply other then to nod, "Sir you had called us?"
"Yes indeed, but the matters I wish to disscus are best talked about elsewhere."
Martone looked around at the other men getting back to their fights once holodrum had finished. "Sir," he said as they walked out, "Why do you insist on sparing with the new men? You should be resting after after yesterday."
Holodrum started walking backward so he could look at Martones face. He saw only mild concern, nothing to berade him about. "It gives me a deep conection with my men," Holodrum said walking forward again leading them toward his room, "You may want to concider sparing with your company Martone, see if their overall attitude shifts and they follow you better." Holodrum gave him a moment to respond, then changed the subject, "Something big is about to happen. The men need not be concerned yet."
Astin had a feeling he knew what Holodrum was going to do. Despite Holodrum's assurences Astin knew that he hadn't been the same since leaving the waterfall fortress. Holodum hadn't spoken much about what went on in there, and Astin knew enough not to ask.
Holodrum opened his door when they reached his room and beckoned the other men into seats. Holodrum couldn't sit down though. "I was a fool to say that it was over before," Holodrum paced, "We were victorious in nearly every way, but for me," Holodrum paused in his pacing then, and looked up, "It can't be over. I failed in what I first set out to do. and that memory shall follow me all my life."
Astin couldn't keep quite any longer, he had to know, "Sir, we went to pillage and remove a powerfull rival from these lands. We succeeded. I know that you found your brother. and defeated him. Why is your heart heavy?"
Holodrum looked at him, showing a second of saddness and weakness, that seemed to nearly crush all the fight left in him. Recovering, Holodrum did sit down and looked at them, "I did not intend to defeat him. I wanted to save him."
Astin was alittle surprised, but Martone was motified, "Why would you save him?" Martone asked. "He was a rival leader and surly no love was shared between you two."
Holodrum sighed, "You're right, there wasn't. At the end of the day Grorthen was still my brother." Holodrum looked back to the past, for what must seem like the millionth time. "And then there's our parents. They were always a guiding light, but I was always their brightest star. Grorthen hated me for that. He always tryed to outdo me. So when we were called out here for the great war Grorhten and I almost emediatly were at eachothers throughts for the best positions, equipment, you name it. In a way then, I blame myself for him starting his group in the fortress. He couldn't stand me being a leader and him in a position to be under my command." Holodrum cleared his throught, as Astin and Martone stared at him incredulously. "Then when the war was over," Holodrum continued, "I was asked to bring him home safely. I thought that if I crushed his holdings and his fortress he would lose the will to fight, but I was wrong. I had no choice then. I couldn't make him leave and there was too much hate in him to come home anyway. I had to send him to the halls of our fathers. We will meet again, and maby then his hate will have cooled."
Holodrum came back to the present, "So there is much work to be done."
Astin looked saddned for his commander, "It seems like it is all done. All that is left is to move on."
Holodrum smiled then, sadly, "Yes you're right Astin, I have nothing left but to continue and move on. I can't move on here though."
Astin was surprised, "Where else is there? Surly you won't return home now? and miss all the adventures left here?"
Holodrum laughed, "Yes you're right Astin, I won't be going home. I won't be staying here either." Looking at Martone Holodrum smirked as if there was some great joke Holodrum only got, "Martone do you remember the promise I made you? When Trifgul died and I was staring to lead y'all here?"
Martone didn't have to think long about it, he had been dreaming of it since befre Holodrum had beaten Trifgul, "You promised me command of Trifguls men."
Holodrum chuckled, "Indeed I did, but you my new friend are going to recieve more then that." Sitting back Holodrum looked at them both, "I will be leaving soon. There is a place I can go, I hope, where I can move on from this time. My command," Holodrum said looking at the door to indicate his whole head quarters, "has grown larger then I had ever hoped for. As far as I know there is no other Haradrim force that comes close to us. I am on the top of the world and find it not as fulfilling as I had imagined. So I'm going back. My vast holding will be split between the two of you." Astin and Martone were truely surprised then. Holodrum went on, "You two are the only ones that know this, and I want nothing said. I have taken the time to split my holdings, with a moderate holding of treasure left for me. You will find all the instructions in my chest with the maps Astin. Now so long as you two are still under my command, I want y'all to know that I expect you two to continue the friendships that have been formed. Don't let amnesties split you like they split my brother and me."
Astin and Martone could hardly say anything to this. Recovering, Astin sort of meekly bowed to Holodrum, "I thank you sir, for this opportunity." Martone just couldn't believe the news he had just recieved.
Holodrum stood up then and walked over to them. "Gentlemen, in the days ahead I wish you luck. I shall be here for maby two more days." Holodrum sat down again and turned to recent events, "Astin I believe that you sent out the messenger I had requested."
Astin, putting aside his newfound pride and exitment, nodded "Yes I did. We recieved word that he had indeed found tracks leaving the fortress. They couldn't have been moving to quickly, but they were determined. He estimates 3-4 horses and a few men on foot."
"Yes," Holodrum said, "they'd have wounded, but tell him to be alert. He probably could tell, but they do have elves with them. When you send him the next update tell him of the elves, but also tell him not to be afraid. When he feels he's getting close tell him to unarm and hide his weapons. Tell him to help them if he can, but report back to us first."
Astin saluted gave a quick, "Yes, sir." and left. Martone and Holodrum looked at eachother for a long moment. Martone was still dumbfounded at what Holodrum was doing, but exited at the prospect of recieving nearly half of what Holo had. Holodrum broke the silence first, "Martone, you are a gifted leader. However you need to know your men better then you do." Holodrum smiled then, "I suggest you get down to the sparing rings and the mess halls that you rarely frequent. Take some time off. We've all had some hard times recently. Relax while you can."
Martone also saluted then, and standing up shook holo's hand with fervor, "Thank you sir," he said, "I will not forget the debt I now owe you."
Laughing Holodrum gripped Martones shoulder, "See that you don't."
Martone stept out, a new spring in his step, and desided to take Holo's advise and learn more about the men he would soon command.
ooc:*whew* another marathon post. sry if it's alittle long, but it just comes out this way. When I get back to you guys I'll probably have shorter postes as I'll need to actually interact. Ok as soon as you guys are ready have my messenger find y'all. Holo will be waiting for his message.
[Edited on 8/5/2006 by holodrum]
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Galenfea |
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dreamdancer |
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Galenfea |
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dreamdancer |
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holodrum |
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Galenfea |
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Galenfea |
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dreamdancer |
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Galenfea |
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dreamdancer |
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Galenfea |
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dreamdancer |
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Galenfea |
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BerethEdhellen |
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