[center][h3] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [/h3][/center] The Crimson Knights - an organization established centuries ago King Wulfric Angoril was even an itch in his father’s ballsack. An organization established as a means to maintain order throughout the island Kingdom of Aeneral. An organization that strikes fear in the heart of all of those who would oppose the King’s rule. Or at least, it had before the rise of the Children of Archimenon. Now, the Crimson Knights function as an iron fist striking first and asking questions later. Some more zealous than others, they hardly go out of their way to stir up trouble especially in areas where their numbers are sparse. The Crimson Knights are still noble, still honorable. But they are charged with doing things in a manner that seems hostile or unfair in the eyes of many. The Crimson Knights do not hassle the local shopkeep, shaking him down for money. The Crimson Knights do not steal from the roadside markets. They do their job with dignity. Even if the masses disagree with the why. Maddox Teldryn wasn’t any different. He was routed into the Crimson Knights upon arrival in Shae Cairdal. He had ventured from a small farm on the southern edge of Kathuran where his family was struggling to maintain a simple lifestyle on a consistent basis. It was his intention to arrive and seek out work as an itinerant hand at a tavern or perhaps become a journeyman to learn a trade. However, Shae Cairdal had worked slightly different than the other cities and towns on the island. With such a large number of people in the capital, in order to maintain order and keep the streets clean of the homeless jobs were not just sought after - they were assigned. Maddox Teldryn was one of the many who were enlisted as a squire to the Crimson Knights. A few years after he too would become a Knight, and now his family lives a little more comfortable with a valuable supplement to the income their farm produces. After a trial patrolling the realm around his home town of Kathuran, Maddox had proven to be loyal and trustworthy. He had proven to be a valuable addition to the knighthood. While Maddox had not been fond of the reassignment, Grand Master Telsek had insisted that he accept the reassignment with his head held high because success meant so many things for his progression. Because if he could find the means to gather a force of conscripts from the area larger enough to convince the freemen of the Sundering Peaks to fight in the name of King Angoril, Maddox would have the means to lay siege to Taer Kalindal and remove Lord Ector Flint from his seat of power regaining a powerful hold on the southern reaches of the island. Maddox could already taste the lordship. More importantly, he felt he could finally give his family the life he felt they deserved. This is what he fought for. He fought for the same thing that so many others that stood beside him and stood against him fought for. As it often was he wanted the same thing that everyone else wanted - the only problem is as it always was, no one could agree how to get there. That is why this particular encounter was so important. But his opponent would never know that. He would never get the opportunity to learn this information. For one of them was set to perish on this day, or be incapacitated to the point where talking was not an option. Maddox did not run to meet his opponent. That would have been foolish. Once the knight reached the bottom of the grassy knoll he maintained a slow but steady pace. The yards between them turned to feet. The distance drained swiftly - sixty...forty...twenty. It was not until that final ten feet that the knight would upgrade his determined march for a burst of speed. In unison with his movements, the Knight repositioned his body turning side face to transform into a small target. The shield that he held out in front was edge slightly toward his body. His charge culminated in an exploding shield bash, functioning as he swung his shield arm in a backhanded motion. But the initial onslaught would not stop there. As soon as the shield had opened up the stifled congestion in front of his chest he followed through with the bastard sword held down at his hip. In an upward motion that would slash across the opponent’s body. From his right hand the sword would angle a slash from the opponent’s left hip to his right shoulder in one smooth flourish. An exotic weapon, the blade would be cumbersome for someone typically accustomed to a longsword or other more agile weapons. However, in the hands of a trained Crimson Knight the hand and a half sword packed quite the wallop and it did so swiftly and efficiently. [center][h3] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [/h3][/center] [hider=Dice Roll Game Mechanics] [list] [*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/1187]Attack Roll, Shield Bash -[/url] 1D20 was rolled without modifiers (to represent the opponents active spells) resulting in a roll of 13. This is represents a 65% success rate. Historically, shield bashes were seen as a way to open a target’s defenses by pushing them off balance. [*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/1190]Damage Roll, Shield Bash -[/url] 1D3 was rolled using a plus two modifier representing half strength as an attack with an off-hand weapon resulting in a roll of five. This is a 100% damage roll for this bludgeoning attack. [*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/1188]Attack Roll, Bastard Sword -[/url] 1D20 was rolled using a plus four modifier (modifier was reduced to represent the opponent’s active spells) resulting in a roll of a non-natural 20. This represents an 83% success rate. [*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/1191]Damage Roll, Bastad Sword -[/url] 1d10 was rolled using a plus four strength bonus modifier resulting in a roll of five. This is a 33% damage roll for this slashing attack. [/List] [/hider] [@Shoryu Magami]