March of The Faithful

by **Voipray** Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:54 pm

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Post n°1

March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:54 pm

While Aleah was busy dealing with the heralded prophet Janeiro, Darius was away performing his duties. Unfortunately Darius had not been truthful about exactly what he was sent to do. He claimed he was being sent to train a local guardsman unit, but this was not the case; far from it.

The Lord General of the Ordo Equestri otherwise known as the Paladin Order had recently received dire news... the Paladin Order was split into many smaller chapters to be spread across the lands of Ither to secure peace and protect the followers of the Light, however... one such Paladin chapter had seceded from the order itself! This chapter was known as the Ordo Virtus, the Order of Might. Tasked with not only guarding the ecclesiarchs of the Light, but meting out judgement to all those deemed evil or heretical in the eyes of the light.

Having inexplicably cut all ties from their paladin brothers and taking many ecclesiarchs and monks captive, they seized the fabled monastery of the Sanctus Lumina as what appeared to be a base of operations. This senseless and sudden treason against the order and the light itself could not go unpunished.

March of The Faithful Ccdc20e34ffa80363a23a719ad48f8a6

March of The Faithful Ccdc20e34ffa80363a23a719ad48f8a6

And as a response, the Lord General sent his greatest and most loyal Paladin warriors to oppose the traitorous men of the Ordo Virtus. And thus Darius was sent along with many of his battle brothers on a march to reclaim the sacred monastery and bring their treasonous brethren to face judgement for their actions.

by **Voipray** Fri Jul 22, 2016 4:16 pm

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Post n°2

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Fri Jul 22, 2016 4:16 pm

Darius had arrived along with many others at the entrance to the Monastery, it was a treacherous path to begin with as it was designed only for pilgrims... but now there would be traitor paladins guarding it. Darius sighed, he and his brethren had set up camp in preparation to strike, but they did not feel confident enough to make the first move. "Brother captain!" a familiar voice said from behind Darius, he looked around and smiled "Dante!" he said happily. Darius and Dante walked towards one another, arms opened, and once they were close enough Darius enveloped his friend with his embrace, laughing and patting his back excitedly. Once they had exchanged welcomes they took a step back "Dante... I didn't expect to see you here. I thought there were only experienced paladins here?" Darius had known Dante from his training, he was by all means his brother... by title and bond. "Indeed, I've been promoted to knight captain as well you see." Dante and Darius were friends, but they certainly weren't the same... Dante would always challenge authority during his training, he would be penalized for insubordination, scolded for showing late to training, never pass room inspection, and always be caught stealing food from the larder. This caused his graduation process to slow.... substantially. "Knight captain? Hah... then well met-" But despite all this, there was no fiercer or devout guardian of the light and it's people "Knight captain!" Darius extended his hand, meeting and shaking Dante's.

by **Voipray** Sat Jul 23, 2016 5:28 pm

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Post n°3

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Sat Jul 23, 2016 5:28 pm

A few days had passed in the loyalist paladin camp as their scouts patrolled around the monastery and up the path of attack to survey the situation. The Monastery was nearly unassailable, with one main entrance and one long path open to ambushes and archer fire as well as walls thick enough to withstand battering rams. Darius sighed in frustration as he looked toward it from afar, he had been placed in command of this operation alongside Knight Captain Dante, every other Paladin with the title of Knight Captain was either too far away or too busy to lead. This was his first assignment where he was given control of other paladins, his peers... if he failed, their deaths would fall upon his head, and this weighed down heavy upon him. "Brother captain sir!" a voice said, Darius looked over to see... three scouts, two of which were restraining a man. "Sir, we've returned from our patrols-" "with a captive in tow... who is he." the captive grumbled "An enemy scout, sir. We found him spying our perimeter." Darius raised a brow looking at the man "Well done men, take him away and get him bound up." the two holding him saluted and marched off with the captive. The third scout began to leave, but Darius took his shoulder "Once he's bound up... get an interrogation underway. We're not about to let this chance go to waste." the scout paused for a moment, then nodded before hurrying off after the others. Paladins weren't supposed to interrogate or torture people for information, it was considered dishonorable... paladin scouts however did it anyway, but it was always... away from viewing eyes. Darius had been away from his brothers long enough to know that honor wasn't going to win this fight, he didn't care how many rules of the paladin codex he broke, he was going to leave this fight in victory.

by **Voipray** Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:33 pm

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Post n°4

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:33 pm

Some time had passed since the captive had been brought to camp, and away from the sight of the other Paladins the scouts had begun their interrogation. They soon had a full report ready for Darius and Dante, "Very good brother, I trust you will not speak of this." Darius spoke, the scout nodded and saluted before making his way out of the tent.

Darius swiftly began to sift through the interrogation report. A whole lot of nothing... a lot of rambling... a lot of non sense a whole lot of... "By the light..." Darius noticed something. "What the..." the scouts had a breakthrough, a secret passage! The captive knew another way inside the monastery! Darius smiled as he studied the report further.

Once he was finished he quickly made his way out of the camp, ordering the mobilization of all men... Now was the time to act, the echlesiarchy was counting on them and they simply could not let them down. "Dante! Are the troops ready?" "Yes brother, we're prepared to march on your orders." "Excellent... we will deliver the light's wrath personally today." Darius said with a smile and a furrowed brow.

by **Voipray** Sat Aug 06, 2016 12:44 am

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Post n°5

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Sat Aug 06, 2016 12:44 am

The paladins had mobilized, each following their orders to the letter. The plan was simple, Dante was to take a detachment of paladins and cause a distraction at the monastery bridge and draw the attention of the traitors. Meanwhile Darius was to lead a strike team through the hidden passage, besieging the monastery from within.

Darius and his men were already well on their way when the sounds of fighting on the bridge erupted. "sir, will captain Dante be alright?" one man asked, Darius turned "Be quiet brother, we cannot be noticed..." he said hushing the paladin. They made their way through the harsh terrain with a scout leading them in the front, they continued on for awhile until finally reaching a stone door... it had been broken open by what looked to be mining equipment. Clearly the traitors were using this tunnel. "Alright men... follow me, and let your steps be silent..." he said before leading his mean into the tunnel.

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:31 pm

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Post n°6

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:31 pm

Darius hurried forward with his cadre of paladins at his back through the dark tunnel, it had best lead inside... Then suddenly he saw a light, his eyes widened, he and all his brothers drew their weapons and prepared for the worst. Going toe to toe against other paladins... against his brothers... this idea didn't sit well with him, how could he do such a thing? He then remembered himself, thought to the paladins under his command, thought of the codex... one phrase in the codex stood out to him. He remembered it now as he and his paladins burst through the end of the tunnel into a room full of his treasonous brothers, it was the main entrance room, they were barricading it from the inside! Darius could not let this stand while Dante fought on the bridge. Every traitor in the room looked to Darius and drew arms "The fools have breached the monastery! CUT THEM DOWN!" one masked paladin said to his comrades. Darius' brow furrowed in anger as he thought more on the codex's words, he said them to himself under breath "Betrayal... can never be forgiven..." he then raised his blade into the air "Bestow upon them the judgement of the righteous!" Darius cried out as he led his men into battle.

Paladins crossing blades with paladins, such a thing hasn't been seen for years... and this will not be soon forgotten.

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:53 am

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Post n°7

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:53 am

By the end of the skirmish, it was Darius and his band of fearless loyal paladins who won out over their defective brothers. However there was still work to be done, this was not nearly all of the Ordo Virtus, their chapter master was no where to be seen, and the ecclesiarchs were still in captivity. "Brothers, open the gates. Captain Dante is awaiting us." Darius said.

The great monastery gates were opened and in poured Captain Dante and his band of paladins, thankfully they had survived their fight on the bridge long enough for Darius to let them in. "Well done brothers, but it is not over yet. Form up on me Paladins of the Ordo Aegis, Ordo Bellum behind us, and Ordo hospitallare keep the wounded safe. Now, advance Paladins! For the light!"

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:44 am

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Post n°8

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:44 am

As the noble paladins headed further into the Monastery they noted how vast it was... with sprawling halls and many doors, they'd be here forever if they checked them all. "Brother Captain, a word." Dante said. Darius gave the order to hold as he spoke with Dante "Speak freely brother." "If we travel as a group like this we aren't going to get anywhere, they'll likely slay the ecclesiarchs before we can reach them if we dally for too long." "Yes... I suppose that's true, what do you propose?" "We split our forces as we did before, I will search eastern halls, my apprentice shall lead a squad into the western halls, and you shall take your men forward." Darius thought silently for a moment. "Very well, fight honorably my brother." Darius said before the three companies of Paladins split up and went their ways.

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:08 pm

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Post n°9

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:08 pm

Darius made his way forward with a handful of his best men, each with drawn blades and wary eyes. The clattering of their armors and the marching of their greaves echoed through the stone walls of the Monastery. And eventually they came to the chapel... they hadn't found a single foe yet and that made them feel... off. As though something were on the verge of going horribly horribly wrong. "Hold here, and guard the door my brothers." Darius said as he walked forward between the empty pews towards the altar.

"Brother Captain... or can I even call you by such names?" A voice echoed out. The paladins snapped to attention and were on alert, they weren't alone in here... "Who are you, show yourself." Darius said as he scanned the chapel searching for this mysterious voice.

There he was... standing behind the altar with a holy tome and war mace in hand. "Chaplain Thule..." Darius said angrily as his free hand curled into a fist. "I must say Darius, I am amazed they sent fools like you to stand against us." Darius didn't speak as he then notice atleast ten of the traitor paladins around the room come out of hiding, it was a trap... but they hadn't sprung yet, no... Thule hadn't finished with his bravado yet. "What? Nothing to say? No clever words to dishearten me? No threats of death in the face of 'heresy'? Why are you silent, is it because you know the order has betrayed us?" "I won't listen to your lies traitor..." the room went silent.

"Then I won't lie to you brother...
You've been lied to enough..."

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:30 pm

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Post n°10

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:30 pm

Darius stared down Thule as he stood behind the altar looking down on him. "Don't be like that Darius, You know it to be true don't you? The order is corrupt, it is stagnant, they're content to just lay about and rest in it's accumulated power and prestige while Daera BURNS." "That is not true, the paladin order has always been the guardians of the innocent and the faithful-" "THEN TELL ME, why have there been ever increasing raider attacks across Daera? Why have the disgusting denizens of Saizah been permitted to live in their horrid ways? Why do we not ACT?!" Darius ground his teeth. "You are conflicted brother? Come... lay down your arms, join us brother." "You stopped being my brother when you betrayed the light, filth." "Brotherhood is not lessened when one brother is naive Darius, you can still be forgiven..."

Darius wouldn't hear a single word more and lashed out, sending a bolt of holy fire from his palm toward Thule. The paladins, loyalist and traitors alike gasped and tightened the grip on their weapons. The fire... withered and burnt out as it hit Thule's armor. Darius' eyes widened "What?!" he exclaimed, a paladin incantation... failing... this meant that his cause was not righteous, and thus would not cause harm to his foe. "Aaaah... surely you must see now..." Thule began to walk towards Darius "But it seems that I must teach you yet another lesson, as is my duty as Chaplain..."

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:44 pm

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Post n°11

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:44 pm

"Allow me to show you Darius... a technique passed down from Chaplain to Chaplain..." Thule said as he advanced on Darius, Darius stood still as he was still shocked by the revelation that he was unjust. "It allows the user to imbue their weapon with the powers of the holy light, allowing them to shatter anything it touched as though it were glass." he said as he lifted up his mace, it began to glow like a torch in holy flame. "Learn from the pain..." he said as he swung down at Darius. Instinctively Darius lifted up his sword to block the attack, but... it was to be of no use...

CLANG

"Wha..." Darius looked up "BY THE LIGHT!" Thule exclaimed. The sword had withstood the blow, and Darius was left unharmed. Darius couldn't believe it, but it made little sense to him... Neither side had the light's favor over the other. "How can this be-" Thule was cut off as Darius swung his blade at his side. He only barely noticed and was able to parry the blow. It was then that the chapel turned into a battlefield, the Loyal versus the Treasonous.

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:56 pm

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Post n°12

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:56 pm

The fighting was almost entirely even, ten paladins against ten paladins. All of whom were equally matched, all except for Darius and Thule... Darius was no match for the power and prowess of a Chaplain, and he knew that. There was no way he could best him, Darius had only recently become Knight Captain and Thule was a well known CHAPLAIN. His only hope for survival was to hold him off as long as he could until Dante arrived to support him.

It took all of his agility and maneuverability for Darius to dodge the merciless attacks Thule dished out, each one was near lethal, the mace would effortlessly dent his armor and crush his bones if it landed a solid hit. There was no room for failure here. "I SEE YOU HAVE LEARNED WELL... I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ATLEAST SOMEWHAT REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING." Thule shouted in the thick of the battle "Your bravado is boundless and TIRESOME!" "HAH, BOLD WORDS FROM ONE WHO IS AT HIS LIFE'S END."

by **Voipray** Thu Aug 25, 2016 6:24 pm

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Post n°13

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Thu Aug 25, 2016 6:24 pm

The battle burned on, and Darius was still fighting for his very life. "Go on! Cower! RUN! FOR I AM THE LIGHT'S WILL MADE MANIFEST!" Thule shouted in his furious state. Darius was getting downright annoyed now "Enough of your NON SENSE!" he shouted as he swung his sword, landing a blow on Thule's wrist. The swipe barely broke through the armor and cut through a good bit of his flesh. "AAARRGHG!!! YOU FOOL!" he cried out in anger as he continued to swing his mace wildly "WHY... WONT, YOU... DIE!!!"

Darius got an opening finally through the swarm of attacks, Thule wasn't fighting like a Chaplain... Darius would be dead by now if he was fighting seriously. Darius lunged his blade into Thule's chest, it did not pierce the armor but it sent him reeling back in the altar behind him. He crashed into the altar knocking it over. Thule got up and spoke "You tread in places for which you are unprepared Darius..." Darius exhaled "I am quite comfortable in a chapel of the holy light Thule... but perhaps you are not?" Thule slammed his fist onto the ground before getting up slowly "I serve the light in all things..." "Then surrender for the light's sake, there's been too much faithful blood spilled already!" "The Ordo Virtus... will NOT retreat..." "So be it then."

by **Voipray** Sun Aug 28, 2016 12:46 pm

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Post n°14

Re: March of The Faithful

Post by Voipray Sun Aug 28, 2016 12:46 pm

Meanwhile elsewhere in the Monastery, Dante had eventually caught on to the sounds of combat, Darius was in danger and he knew it. So he and his men ran as fast as they could in hopes to make it to Darius in time, Dante was not about to let one such as Darius fall in service of the light, not yet.

However Darius wasn't in as much danger as Dante believed. By this time Thule's chaplain strength was finally wavering, as was the resolve of his comrades. Thule made one last ferocious swing, but... with a counter swing from Darius' blade he disarmed the chaplain. Thule stepped back in hysteria "Wha... no, NO... I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS DEFEAT!" he said in a bewildered tone as he stepped away from Darius. "Surrender now traitor, your treasonous uprising is beaten, you only delay the inevitable." Darius said as he pointed his sword at Thule. "You naive child... I won't give up, don't you see?! THE ORDER WILL BETRAY YOU AS IT BETRAYED US!" "Oh for pities sake, obey me when I order you stand down!" "DEATH FIRST!"

SSSHHHLLIIINK

Thule looked down at his chest... a sword piercing straight through his breastplate armor... he could feel the blood dripping... he began to fade as the rest of the paladins watched in awe. It was by this time that Dante had reached the room, but he could only watch from the door way as he saw Darius cut down the Chaplain. Darius removed his blade and Thule's lifeless body went limp and fell to the ground. The traitors dropped their weapons and fell to their knees before their loyalist brothers, the fight was lost and they knew it. Dante slowly entered the room "Darius..." "What is it Dante." "We... we found the ecclesiarchs, you escort them out... I will deal with the carnage." Darius wanted to tear up for what he had done, but he pushed it out of his mind and nodded "I... yes, yes I'll be right there..."

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March of The Faithful