Crusader's Legacy

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Good luck with the interview SKI, Ill pop over to CFC in the next couple of days and check it out

[SKILORD]

Actually it went quite well (for those of you who wonder) And I'm taking a drug test tomorrow .

Actually it should be rather easy, i'm a pretty clean kid....

[vovan]

Is that drug test also job-related? Good luck on that one.

Oh, and get writing.

[SKILORD]

I will, not today or tomorrow maybe, but I will.

The drug test is because they don't especially want people like that... god alone knows why, they've always been decent towards me.

If I pass the drug test i will have a jobin the Entertainment sectorably selling tickets at the little boothy for moviegoers. (A pretty kickass job actually, compared to stuff like baggin groceries ) The funds are going towards a particular summer program that i received an invite to today, something at Cambridge....

The next chapter is in the works, i want to have some fun with Gen. Octavian in it, and I probably will, he seems like a fun guy (As the villains go) His counterpart will also be introduced, but i need some Indian names.

The battle between the gods is going to be great, I'm working on refining it night and day (The mind never does rest) and it will be the best one yet.

It will be, all in all,m a long chapter. It will also take a while to compose.

It will be worth it.

[vovan]

Hey, like I said, if the next chapter is going to be as cool as the last one, I would be willing to wait, as long as I know you aren't forgetting us.

And you are right - they don't want druggies selling tickets to little kids coming to the movies now do they?

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Take it from me SKILORD if you want to get on in life then you dont need things such as drugs getting in your way and holding you back, and the best high ever is the pure adrenaline of LIFE.

Ive always found I can get my kicks etc from energetic activity ie Hiking, Climbing, and generally having real fun not a synthetic form of it. Good Luck

[SKILORD]

I understand chris :

I'm not so much of an anyway, i took the test, and I gotta be in on Friday night to get to work.

Before then you should have a chapter.

[SKILORD]

This afternoon i was dragged back into the CFC demogame, I didn't have the time to do that stuff half right, and I have no story yet, and it may take till the weekend (I'm still trying to get my car back too, which consumed much of the day) I will have another chapter soon.... I hope.

[SKILORD]

I got away from CFC, I'd write a chapter tonight but mustt..... work.

:sorry: It's half done right now, I just need a little inspiration to finish it.

[SKILORD]

Chapter will be up today, it seems I have lost my following, but I shall regain them with the following chapter.

[SKILORD]

well it just didn't happen.

I've had a tough day, gimme a break (Noone else has... and it was supposed to be my day off )

sorry.

[SKILORD]

Chapter 7: Of Gods, Generals, and Greatness

The three dieties eyed each other as rival wolves, pacing sideways in a circle, their eyes never faltered, never blinking.

Blood dripped from Shiva's sword, curved in the eastern style, the blood of Mars had yet to finish dripping. Bruises had already begun to cover him, but he didn't care now, Samaharamuti was above pain.

Blood matted Mars' hairy sides, his well used arms were red, but the blood had stopped flowing, and he walked, holding his gladius low, ready to stab at any who would approach him.

Cerrnunnos was unharmed, his long broadsword bared to the world as he held it before him with both mighty hands. Sweat had already graced his brow, but that was all that had come from his pores, his blood was unshed. Cthconic hissed as it spiraled madly about his arm, avoiding the mighty sword.

A sick, pregnant silence hung between the three, mutual hatred long hardened, a respectful disgust.

Tension mounted against it. Like a dam preparing to break it's final stand was heroic, but doomed to failure. A hateful glance shot out from Cernunnos to the Destroyer. A broadsword lifted to the sky as a war scream escaped.

-

The Army was here at long last, any stranger ould have felkt it in the air, and even if he couldn't any villager would tell him. They were screaming it from the pitifully short rooftops as things were.

Brave men with virgin arquibuses (sp?) trudged through the snow laden streets. Their muskets hung loosley at their side, great respect held them there, even as the villagers begged for demonstrations, these men had seen what the muskets, primitive though they were, could do.

The sun sat frozen in it's distant realm, it's burning rays rendered useless, it's great might dwindled to nothing by that icy dress that the earth had cloaked herself in, a wedding garment as the planet hurtled into destiny.

-

The sword fell with a collasal crash, it slippped away from the god it had missed, and watched as Shiva's blade shattered slowly, like glass feebly attempting to rally another minute from it's long dead parts, as they scattered on the ground, silvery fragments of greatness, reflections of the god that had once held them.

Shiva looked down to the scattered blade, realising his weakness he moved sharply out of the path of Cernunnos's blade. Mars hung back, watching the bgattle proceed, biding his time.

The broadsword laid Shiva on the defense, his own reflexes barlely a match for the mighty blows that swung constantly.

A blow landed to his shoulder, and a sickening crunch informed him that he was in dire straits, he didn't have time to look at his wounded arm as the next blows began to land.

There was no help in sight.

-

Gahndi's bow hung limply, impotent at his side, he held it now at all times even as he prepared to speak with his men, men who had long granted him every confidence, even as he lucked his way through his early years of war.

He turned and opened his mouth, as words prepared to come. A sick feeling suddenly took him. Shiva was somehow endangered. He could feel the immortallity of his breath slipping away, he could feel the strength of his own sides falter, and droop, his head hung low a prophecy came.

The room fell silent as the men watched him in his trance. Gahndi fell to his knees as they watched, entranced.

Suddenly, minutes after he had begun Gahndi rose up, placing a hand before him to steady the rise, a look of utmost confidence and hope in his eyes he looked to the men, seeming to adress each one in the eye, as an individual and not as a member of the army.

"Let us pray." he intoned, drooping again before the people.

-

Shiva was laying down again, swords edge lashed his side mercilessly as his shoulder screamed in the unforgettable pain of a badly broken bone.

And then it stopped.

Shiva didn't know how it came to an end, how the healing overtook him, dominating him as Cernunnos had only moments before. The blows felt light, futile. They fell, soft as raindrops as Samaharamuti found himself no longer humbled, but brought high before the perplexed Celtic god.

He picked up his blade as it reformed itself faithfully. He looked up to Cernunnos.

A hand extended calmly, immune to the flurry of blows that Cernunnos offered. The sword at it's tip glimmered the reflection of light eternal, that of a God in full control of his powers. The battle would begin again. Shiva swung the sword back and lashed down on the broadsword.

-

The battlefield had long since been veteraned. Knighted by those who bore that cross of war, baptised in the blood of those who deemed her worthy to be their final grounds of rest. Honor and Disgrace, glory and pain, all were hers to remember, the scars sat beside those wounds which still bore infection, where soldiers presently lay in wait for his foe across her dark expanse.

Celts hated. They knew not why, but deep within their souls they bore some indeterminable marking which dissociated them from that world which desired peace. Celtia had first brought forth war on this scale, war for total victory, rather than limited means of peace treaties. War was for conquest, war was for hate. War was lifesblood itself.

Arrows shot desperatly to fulfill their fleeting lives as they darted across the field. Neither side could get a grip[ on the other, through that murky mist which settled ominously above that ancient field. Flames sat idly atop torches, waiting with an infinite patience for that time at which they would be loosed.

Bows were strung on the Indian side of the field.

Gahndi peered into that murky light, the grey veil hid those enemies from him who would hide. His scout drew near to wisper in secret tones.

"The Celts draw near, They hide between the hills. The are like a snake slithering across the field."

"A snake? We shall simple have to take the hoe to them then," Gahndi frowned," where do you think they shall arrive?"

The scout pointed, the days final rays lead to a spot upon a hill where a defense could be mounted to drive itself into the very heart of an attacking force.

Yes, India would stand or fall there. He would stand alongside her.

-

The officer's sword whipped it's blunt side upon the desk.

"Are you listening, Legatus? Your position is not so high as to render you immobile."

The laid back man ignored the threat to his position. He was a brilliant officer, soon to approach Centurion's ranks. This idiot could knock him down, but he would simply rise back.

"Yeah, I guess I did hear. But it's a stupid plan."

"WHAT!" The General was enraged. He would have slapped the other man sharply for impudence with the sword in a nother nation, but this was Rome. "You shall follow my orders."

The Legatus sighed, pulling himself up and leaning over the batllefield map.

"You see the reserves here, they are unharmed as of yet. Our Catapaults cannot find their barracks. Intelligence asserts that there are reinforcements on the way for the enemy, we have none to offer," save you, the young officer thought, but he held his tongue. It was the same in his eyes anyway," We cannot, at this point, faorce a retreat upon them, I have missed nights of sleep pondering how to deliver the final strike. It cannot be done. I reccomend simply pulling back to Pompeii, taking solace in her walls and pounding them from there."

"Surrender, Retreat, these are not options for men such as us!"

He had had enough. He rose to his feet, looking Octavian in the eyes firmly, his teeth bared his words were spoken on the edge of biting.

"We, are not men of the same sort... You are a fool, and a fancy one at that. I am a realist, and a militarry Genius. You may reprimand me for not being humble. i dare you to. Because I quit. I know exactly what I am worth, and it is more than the whole Legion you brought here. I bid thee, I bid Rome, farewell."

Octavian sputtered.... "Judas.... don't...."

"I shall, I must. Fools are not for men such as I to tolerate."

Watching victory ride, it's white flag held high proudly, to the enemy camp, struck Octavian with a profound sense of defeat. Things had not yet played out. But the day was lost.

-

The swords clashed wihth thundrous sound and electric power. The two gods faced each other with utmost rage and hate, all tempering respect was lost. Mars watched in amazement as the two parried and swung faster than he could folllow. His sword was hanging low.

Blood had found it's way to Cernunnos. His hip was split open and every swing was pain to him. Blood pulsed only through Shiva's veins, he healed as he was harmed.

Suddenly they were atop Mars, the third god was caught amongst the raging fight, his gladius swiftly seeking his protection.

The Thunder raged on above.

-

The Celts had ended the prayers of the Indians. The positions had been unexpected, and the Celts had been as surprised as their opponents. Army had met army in awkward battles, arrows were slung confusedly across the lines.

Supplications, praise, all ended their journey heavenward as the battle began, as the sword rose to the hand, and the armies marched across the field towards each other. A false sense of finality pervading the air.

-

The broadsword fell upon Shiva, who began to laugh, as he had begun doing when the futile blows landed. A red streak marked it's landing. A pool of blood formed atop the skin. The curved blade began it's assault once more, unfettered by the failing of the invincibility.

Cernunnos noticed, though, and so did Mars.

As did the stag, which bounded towards the finally wounded god....

[SKILORD]

:sob:

readers... all .... gone.....

[Space05us]

That didnt keep me occupied long. GREAT story. Quit that "job" of yours and get back to writing!!!

[Centauri18]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. THis is a very interesting story.