[center][h2][color=fff200]⚜[/color] [color=0072bc]Camille de la Saumure[/color] [color=fff200]⚜[/color][/h2][img]https://i.ibb.co/10ZC8wb/Profile.png[/img][/center][hr][i]Interaction: None[/i] [i]2.1: Siege of Relouse / Let them Come[/i] [hr] The enemy forces dwindled Trickled, Then stopped coming. This was just the beginning. Claude had told her to stay, and she would. His instincts were too reliable to persuade her otherwise. Even among the shouts and orders of those around her, she held her ground as Claude clasped a hand around her arm. [color=00a651]"Girl, we are going to lose a lot of people in this confusion. Try to do what you can."[/color] He sounded steady despite the commotion, Camille thought as she glanced to the raining sky. If only she could be like him then maybe she'd be worth all the admiration, praise and handshakes she has had to endure these past few days. She closed her eyes and let a familiar prayer come to mind. [center][color=fff200][i]Dami, guide your flock and steel their hearts for what is to come. May they stand firm.[/i][/color][/center]There so much noise. People shouting in triumph but others in confusion. Orders being barked by superiors and mummers of hesitation in response. [center][color=fff200][i]May they stand firm.[/i][/color][/center]The voices around her quieted. Enough to hear the rain bouncing off of metal and sand. Grips tightened on weapons. [center][color=fff200][i]May they stand firm.[/i][/color][/center]Boots dug into the sand and despite the calls and cries around them, those close enough to feel Camille's influence felt their hearts bolster. They didn't have to be told they were in the right spot. They felt like they were. Let the Eskandr come. They were ready to meet them. Camille felt a squeeze on her arm, Claude letting her know that he approved. [color=00a651]"Good. We'll need their help but if we all stick together, there is no Eskandr that can break us."[/color] He always sounded so sure, Camille mused with amazement. She might have been the one with Dami's Gift but he acted like he didn't even need that to be strong. It made her think he should have been chosen because who was she? [color=fff200]"You're sure we will all make it out okay?"[/color] She muttered but Claude's attention shifted. [color=00a651]"Armand, what news are you hearing?"[/color] Camille turned to see Claude clasping his hand around the leather of Armand's shoulder. The younger of the two, shook his shoulder free. [color=f7941d]"Riders from Cap are returning. I couldn't hear why but they aren't dead so. Take that for what it is worth."[/color] Claude let out a laugh though Camille thought it sounded fake. [color=00a651]"Ha. Coming back from sniping King Hrothgar, no doubt. Wouldn't that be a sight, eh?"[/color] Camille and Armand both exchange a look. Claude had a habit of noticing that from them. [color=00a651]"Oh come on you two. Have a little faith."[/color] He reached out and wrapped his arms around the both of them. [color=00a651]"You'll see. We'll be back in [i]Au Diable Roux[/i], wondering what Alain put in his stew again. I'm already betting potatoes and pork to celebrate."[/color] [color=fff200]"Oysters."[/color] Camille chimed in, her mouthwatering at the memory. [color=f7941d]"Carrots."[/color] Armand spat like he was disgusted by the very word. [color=00a651]"Heh. If you go and order the stew, you'll doom the three of us to that. Every time."[/color] The three shared a laugh, however brief that might have been. The clap of thunder from a bolt striking the wall had sounded for the next phase to begin. [hr][i]Interaction: None 2.2: Siege of Relouse / The Storm Arrives[/i] [hr] Camille had raised her arm, ducking her head to try and better weather the howling storm. Wherever this storm was coming from, she now knew it wasn’t natural. The town of Relouse was being battered by commanded lightning while she and the rest of the Grand Armee were battered by the winds and rain. The darkening sky was lit up by the occasional glow of magic which was an impressive array by itself. The storm worsened as rain turned to hail and clanged off of her armor. Ships, real ships, were now appearing along the beach and landing. [color=00a651]”This is it! This will be the battle!”[/color] She heard Claude yell behind her. [color=00aeef][b]"Hommes et femmes de Parrence, tenez ferme contre l'ennemi! Les dieux sont avec nous!"[/b][/color] [color=fff200]”Je n'ai pas peur! Dami, mon Seigneur, c'est pour cela que je suis née![sub]1[/sub]”[/color] Maybe it was hearing the King but Camille felt steadfast all of a sudden. She wasn’t going to turn back. She couldn’t do that and let others die needlessly in her stead. This was going to be a fight and if this was a predestined path that she had to walk, so be it. She was going to embrace it because right now, her devotion would be the only thing to see her through! The line of charging Eskandr closed and she shouted, joining the shouts of her comrades in arms as the battlelines met once again. Camille moved effortlessly, her sword cleaving an overly zealous warrior in two. A crackling wave of lightning slipped across her right side and arced into the raised weapon of an unlucky Eskandr. He dropped his axe only to be met with a greatsword being brought back around. A third warrior approached, more measured as she raised his shield to meet Camille’s blade. He knew better to take the force of her blade and ducked under the swing to advance suddenly. It would seem that she was left open but removing one hand from her greatsword, Camille reached for her shortsword and drew it in a swift draw to thrust into the warrior’s leg, halting him. She twisted and rammed her shoulder into his shield, knocking him clean off of his feet as she withdrew her shortsword, cutting effortlessly across any flesh the blade touched, half severing his leg by the thigh. A whirl of her greatsword with one hand kept others, daring to take her on at bay. A crossbow bolt fired and caught one of them who had been more focused on Camille’s blade and got his neck, entering a coughing fit of blood as he collapsed. Her team was well versed in working together and would give any opposing force real pause, Claude always boasted. Camille never wanted to test their limit but they would have to eventually against the Eskandr. She had a bad feeling in the pit of stomach. Destiny was calling. [sub]1: I am not afraid! Dami, my Lord, I was born to do this!”[/sub] [hr][i]Interaction: Hrolf Bloodaxe 2.3: Siege of Relouse / A Blood Price[/i] [hr] A break in the Eskandr waves had given Camille the opportunity to glance down the Perrench battle line to see how her allies were fairing. They were holding but around twenty meters down their line, a brute of an Eskandr creature was cleaving through Perrench soldiers with frightening efficiency. Bodies of full soldiers sent flying with a single axe swing, half bodies sent even further. The violence that monster caused was becoming a cacophony to the shaking wills of her people. If they survived encountering them. Her feet moved without a thought. [color=fff200][i]Dami, lend me your strength.[/i][/color] [color=00a651]”Girl! Wait”[/color] She heard Claude holler from behind her but she was already committed, closing the line towards the Eskandr brute swiftly. A circular area around the man existed where Perrench soldiers were too fearful to approach the whirling orbits of crude axes. One Perrench man in particular had Hrolf’s full attention, his panicked jabs with his spear doing little to deter the giant of a man. He didn’t even spare a gesture as a floating axe came and shattered the spear just beyond the man’s grip, leaving him defenseless as the Eskandr raised his axe like an executioner. He brought it down.. [i]Clung, Clink[/i] Camille’s upward slash of her greatsword met the axe before it could fall on the Perrench man. Her strength was enough to deflect the blow but an axe came around. [color=fff200][i]Dami, protect![/i][/color] Her shield, strapped to her back swung around, pulled towards the incoming axe to deflect the blade from hitting Camille. She holds herself firm, realizing that she had saved the poor man who was threatened but she was now in this monster’s sights. His great leap coming to bear down, she didn’t think of anything other than to trust in Dami’s protection, leaping back herself however to try and keep him at a distance. She swung her sword again, trying to catch the Eskandr before he could land. She watched her sword bounced off the metal of his axe but the tip of her blade catching his stomach enough to make Hrolf howl. He draws from a nearby corpse to pull material to close his wound in an obvious scar. Now faced with the man, Camille was sure she had his full attention for that and quietly cursed under her breath. She keeps an eye on Hrolf but she catches the movement in her peripherals. Whirling axes were coming around from all sides to try and cut her. She dove, instinctively to the Eskandr’s side, letting her greatsword lash out striking one axe away as she moved. That was one but she was watching the nearest axe follow her, set up to cleave her across her neck. She didn’t even have time for the full prayer. [color=fff200]”Dami!”[/color] She pleaded, begging for her God’s intercession. She wasn’t sure how she was going to escape with her life but then the obvious sign of Dami’s favor was bestowed. The axe in her sight was blown away suddenly. Dami protects! She praised, rising to her feet catching the movement of her companions in the corner of her eye. She knew they would follow and with the Eskandr focused on her, she hoped their surprise would be enough. — [color=00a651]’Damn that girl! Taking on the biggest Eskandr she could find. Take your shot and slip away. We’ll have to catch him not looking, I think.”[/color] Claude commanded as he ran with Armand, given only a silent nod in return. His sword began to spark with Thunder Magic as she let out a downward slash, sending a crackling wave towards the back of Hrolf. Armand slid to a stop and hastily aimed for the brute’s spine before firing his crossbow. He moved after firing, trying to duck back into the Perrench lines… — Camille hoped quietly but those hopes were dashed quickly as the lightning was scooped up in the invisible vortex of Hrolf’s axes and the crossbow was deflected by a wayward axe. The brute turned his head to catch Armand before he sank back into the Perrench battle lines and felt himself halted as the pull of Hrolf’s drawing began to decimate his armor, clothing before starting to dissolve his flesh. His cries of anguish were obvious enough to Camille who screamed in a panic as she brought her greatsword up and attempted to thrust it into the Eskandr’s side. Hrolf wasn’t a fool and attempted to dodge out of the way but desperately, she pursued leaping with her thrust to catch his flesh. Her blade sank up into his abdomen, the brute of a man giving a very human howl of anguish. Yet he didn’t relent. Armand’s screams grew louder and Camille found herself joining the chorus of desperate cries. She wailed in a desperate rage as only one thought came to her mind. [color=fff200]”Dami! Kill him!”[/color] Her sword began to glow as if showered in a golden light. There was intensifying pain in Hrolf as his wailed. It was over almost immediately but the moment felt long in her head. Hrolf’s center mass burst in a shower of blood and gore and the once great man of the Æresvaktr fell in two, his last words something that Camille couldn’t understand. She kept her sword elevated, its golden glow illuminating the darkened battlefield for a moment before it faded as her mind focused on the only thing that mattered. Armand. She turned and ran to where she thought she had last saw him. Where was he? Was he alright? Maybe she could ask Dami to heal him and then… An tight grip caught her arm. Camille turned to try and slug whoever it was but found Claude was holding her. [color=00a651]”He’s gone! He’s gone!”[/color] He shouted at her. She thrashed in his grip. [color=fff200]”Let go! No!”[/color] She rasped, her voice already showing signs of strain. The resolution to her struggle was put on hold as the area just ahead of her flashed and banged with the force of a thunder spell. It wasn’t just the one. It was a barrage of bolts, igniting the beach around them. Camille could barely hear Claude’s voice above it all. [color=00a651]”We have to go! Come on!”[/color] Camille felt herself being tucked under his arm and pulled along. The lightning artillery battered the area. She caught a glimpse of a few Perrench soldiers too grouped up being blown apart by the sudden crash of a bolt. The flashes made it difficult to see and the percussion of thunder made it difficult to hear. Wherever Claude was going, she couldn’t tell, feeling the sting of something pierce the back of her leg. She hobbled slightly along, feeling like she was barely keeping up with Claude. Again, it was a few seconds of real time that seemed to drag out but they had managed to retreat far enough away. Claude kept them going, however, towards the back lines of the Grand Armee.