Jay009

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

The shield wall held tight in a fierce clash against the orc and goblins. Shields against orc swords and goblin daggers was a dangerous dance. The whirlwind of impact on the shields was tiring and fatiguing the arms and legs of The Bats. This was not good as the legs of Barrackers soldiers were crumbling underneath the shield, he did not know how much his shield wall could take, and that was when things got way more complicated.

“Barracker! The wall is going to break soon, we need the front rank to refresh again” Warren shouted among war cries of the enemy. Barracker looked back and saw his men and women were panting away. Before he could give the signal, spheres of darkness began popping up on the walls and then disappearing and reappearing. Barracker wondered what dreadful development had caused this. He dropped his tower shield to stand against the battlements and glanced at Warren, giving his second in command a signed signal with his free hand. Warren returned a reassuring nod and so the Paladin broke away from the shield wall to investigate where the source of the dark-spheres was coming from.

Another glimmer of hope came forth when some of the soldiers' weapons illuminated with a faint glow, which Barracker was unaware of as his vision was suddenly engulfed by the darkness. Warren cried out with a war cry, he knew that the mages on the support platforms gave him and some of the others a small boost of damage to their spears. This gave more sting to their stabs at the enemy.

Barracker was unable to see and walked along the edge of the wall, feeling along the stone battlements. He could hear noises coming from below and that's when he felt it. A ladder. He was blind to what happened next but reacted as swift and quick as his body allowed. A machete plunged into his arm. As soon as this happened, Barracker responded with a powerful lunging kick which pushed the ladder off the wall.

He walked out of the pitch black towards his comrades, holding the machete’s handle. Screams from tribesmen rang out as the ladder slowly tipped away from the wall and then came crashing down. The vampire withdrew the weapon from his arm and flung it blindly to his side and killed a goblin.

“Ladders!” Some of The Bats reacted startled by this and the blood dripping down Barracker’s arm. The notion of seeing their captain hurt might have hurt morale of the troops in other circumstances, but this had a different response. A surge of angry roars, kickstarted by Warren and the Bats followed suit.

“Let’s make sure that these bastards remember our faces, the ones who sent them to Hades. Regroup.” Warren shouted and used his spear to puncture and inflict wounds onto the orcs.

Morale was still high but for how long, Barracker knew it would not hold once more pressure came down onto his block and the first proper casualty came. He craftily jumped up onto the battlements and attacked the flank of the crowd of orcs and goblins that were pushing against the shield wall. A flanking attack of sorts. Evil humans, elves and dwarves swarmed in, refreshing the attackers with new energy and leaving The Bats taken back by the crazy amount of endless waves.

Barracker attention was filled with enemies popping off the siege tower and the ladders. He fought on the battlements, all around him. His speed increased without his tower shield and he constantly rotated to fight on all sides. The shield wall was being pushed back and the enemy was making way, gaining more room to squeeze more troops onto the wall. The shield wall was going to break, and now the soldiers from the first rank and the second rank switched with the third and fourth ranks of soldiers. This was to conserve energy and give the previous soldiers time to rest.

Barracker was surrounded, he had fallen away from his shield wall, fighting the enemy everywhere, elves, humans, orcs, goblins. Then he spotted something very bad. Trolls and a battering ram, just to make things worse had reached the gate. “Wulrick!” he bellowed as hard his lungs would shout. Wulrick the captain of The Bulls glanced over, “The gate!” Wulrick looked. Barracker shouted again. “We need cover to get down there!” Wulrick nodded.

The hard part was retreating his soldiers carefully. Gradually pulling out, their space was filled with Wulrick’s block, The Bull’s. That’s when some of The Bats received fatal injuries, losing the shield walls strength as well as their lives. Retreating and keeping the wall strong while doing so was always one of the trickier parts and something they didn’t get to practice much in the short days up to the battle. “Hades damn my enemies”. He said quietly underneath his breath.

They finally were out of danger and rushed down the stairs to form up the shield wall again at the North Gate.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Barracker watched as units of archers and mages contributed in taking down the battering ram. Cheers flooded the air as the mental pressure on the left side flank was relieved for now. The gate would remain sealed shut against the enemy. One of the siege towers had come to a halt, before collapsing into ruin. It was hard to notice why but Barracker put it down to the magical assault team of Mages.

“Bats, The Quinity is smiling down upon us!” Among the singing and cheers, the blocks of fighters were hit with a wave of excitement, an eagerness to give it their all. Siege towers were closing in on the wall, “Keep that spirit, this is where it all counts”.

Just before the siege tower met the wall, Barracker said a prayer for his friends.

May the Quinity protect my friends and thank you all for putting your lives on the line for Valhiem and Mytheria. I shall never forget this and will never abandon you all getting back home again.

Thud.

The siege tower gates crashed on the wall. Barracker rapped his tower shield with his claymore. With morale high, he initiated his block to shuffle forward a few steps and to start the attack first. He wanted to minimise the space in which the enemy had footing to fight on and also maximise the space in which his block could retreat back too. If overwhelmed this would allow the Bats to find their footing and gather themselves to fight back and push the opponent onto their backfoot, aiming to squeeze them off the wall. “Bats forward… Keep the line.”

Goblins came rushing at the shield wall, crashing bodies into the shields, their skulls bouncing off the shields with ease due to the weight and size advantage of the Bats, but it did disrupt the shield wall's solidness. This was leaving small but visible gaps, small enough to be grabbed through by stronger opponents. “Bats, Shield bash together, on my command… Now!... Now!”

Even through all the hissing noises and snarling, the Bats were focused and adjusted to the orders shouted, but then that's when the real problem arrived next. Orc warriors in full plated armour. “Brace for impact”.

As the orcs in full metal armour charged towards the wall, they brought the full force of all their weight crashing down on the defence, dual wielding jagged two handed swords in a flurry of blows hammering at the shield wall. The shield wall stayed surprisingly strong, but was crumbling lower and lower in height, The Bats struggling to stay on their feet, upright. The second line had to bring their shields high as roofs to protect the front line from the tal, monstrous enemy. As soon as more orcs pushed forward toward the weak points of the shield wall, Barracker knew it was getting a bit on the dangerous side that the wall would crumble.

“First line shield bash and break. Second line, get ready.”

The first line bashed as hard as they could, stabbed through the gaps created with intention, then as soon as the enemy fell back an inch, the front line split and broke away. A space was created for the second line to move in, replacing the front to bring fresh strength to the shield wall. Barracker stayed at the front, keeping an eye on his block as well as the enemy. “Very good Bats.”

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

What is that noise, his mind wandered for a moment. His body was too late to react, and then he realised it was the alarm. “No… Not now,” he told himself, but he knew deep down inside that there would have never been a good time for the battle to start. There would have always been more they could have done to prepare for the siege.

He donned his equipment and armed himself with his tower shield and claymore. He rushed out towards the tavern door and ran towards the chaos near the NorthEast section.

A whole swarm of ghouls, running and toppling over roofs and knocking over garbage bins and chairs, stands crashing to the floor. Hissing filled the surrounding space. They were everywhere. As he closed in on the enemy, a ghoul jumped onto his back from a crossing alleyway, marking the first combat of the day. The magelight brightened up the streets, making it visually as if daylight struck from the sun.

Barracker felt for a grip of an arm of the ghoul and swung the ghoul full pelt towards another ghoul attacking a party member of Silver Arrow from his rear. It was the tiefling, Gordon Watson, Silver Arrow’s archer. As they slayed the ghouls that they both were occupied with, they exchanged a nod and then set off in opposite directions both covering different areas of fighting in the streets.

Barracker’s goal was to get to his men and start the shield wall.

As Barracker got to the NorthGate, he was met by his second in command of ‘The Bats,’ Warren Burns. “Fuck, finally, lets get this started.” A loud confidence from Warren bolstered The Bats.

“Indeed, we shall ready ourselves,” he replied and everyone ran up the stairs to take position on the wall. Once they were in a tight formation, Barracker began shouting loud for everyone to hear. “Stick to the fundamentals and play your part.” The Bats switched into shield wall stance. Barracker stood, filling in the very end, right position of the shield wall, a position he could give tactical instructions from and as well get stuck into the action, making sure of the strength and health of the wall also. He gave Warren the same position on the second row and then bashed the hilt of his claymore against his shield. “I have faith in you all! Your training has come a long way, now for the real test. Keep in mind your loved ones! Keep in mind your neighbours! Keep in mind your priest, your councilmen and shopkeepers! This makes us strong, we are not forgotten in all this. We are the wall between them and this horde!”

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Hi everyone, I had a good time, I hope everyone did too. I'm back and ready to write. I will be on tomorrow to catch up on all the posts xenon

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Barracker lay on the grass inside the terrain of Green Glow Woods. He was enjoying the company of a beautiful young lady, Evelyne. Eveylne sat up, her bum shuffled into the curvature of a hollowed part of the trunk of the tree. Taking deep breaths of the air in his lungs, Barracker told Evelyne about his day, about meeting his new mentor Odis Visigni and being accepted by the Paladin order.

Jasmine with amber notes. Her scent. I can smell it now.

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It was an upgrade he felt from being a soldier and took pride in his first steps of becoming a worthy apostle, on the path Hades set out for himself. He was becoming devoted to the way of Hades these days and attended the classes to learn more about the cycle of nature, creation and destruction. This was something he always pondered to himself and felt at this time of his life, he could help prevent the darkness from growing ever stronger, to become a beacon of light people could rely on. A protector of sorts, for the people and his loved ones, one that would take the responsibility for the safety of everyone, just like the mythic heroes themselves. Earn a place on the council one day and be hailed a hero by his people and turn up to Valhiem recognised. Recognition is what he got, but he did not know under what gravity the situation would be and what it would unfold to be.

Looked down for being a horror.

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He was so happy on his first assignment, he talked loads about it to Evelyne that day. So proud. He felt a high almost equal to the butterflies Evelyne gave him. He felt that his adult life was taking shape and most of all, he felt like a warrior. The training was gruelling and he had nearly fallen out as a failure, unable to rise to the occasion of having the chance to pass with a breeze.

Training never became any easier, as soon as I became stronger, the next challenge was far harder.

It was always demanding on the body and mind. He remembered being at breaking point so many times. He even snapped at his late master Odis and let off his worries and complicated thought process about wanting to become the very best Paladin Mytheria had ever seen.

He taught me from the ground up and built on my strengths. He was an incredible teacher with a proficient prowess to his lessons and teachings. But would he turn his back on me now that I am this…

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An inner voice flickered inside his head and then the scenery changed from Evelyne and the calm tranquil forest to ashes.

Where is Evelyne, where has she gone?

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“I told you I would take everything from you.”
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Viktor.

My blood rages when thinking of the name.

In the darkness, his senses might have been enhanced but it was still darkness, it was handicapping not being able to see anything. His blood at boiling point, his rage seething, then quietness followed.

“What is going on, where are you? Show yourself!”

“You are like me Barracker, and the curse you speak, you will succumb. Giggling followed, I miss my precious pet, my thrall. The thirst for blood will overcome you and can’t wait to see you become the very thing you hate.”

From a soft tone to sharp speaking, those poisonous words, his voice he cannot seem to forget.

And why would I forget?

“YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME!”

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Barracker decided to have a silent walk along the walls of the north gate of Valhiem. So this is where the Bats will be placed and fight for our future. Barracker stood leaning against the battlements, thinking about a range of different things that came to mind. The impossible feat that he and his friends would be fighting to achieve. The future of Valhiem and the rest of Mytheria. The safety of his loved ones at the orphanage. Lastly and most prevalently there was the desire to embrace Evelyne in his arms one last time.

He felt overwhelmed by the odds set against him in this battle for Valhiem. Mytherias best parties were scattered elsewhere and the Witchqueen had already proven a match for The Empire’s best at the beginning of the war and since then had been winning territory slowly, so many lesser known towns and villages had been wiped out with many lives lost in the process. Barracker felt the nerves he would not allow anyone to notice. He stood alone with a view and smell of the bombardment, the attack on the shield protecting Valhiem from the roaring artillery fire. The unsettling smokiness creeping through the air. Thoughts of war always brought on a different notion of feelings, since that day. That day when the battle on the plains had been lost and he had held off the enemy so his squad could retreat. That day when Viktor Battousi, Hades damn his soul, had gotten his hands on him and made him into a monster. What it would mean for others living elsewhere, if they lost to the WitchQueen here? There had been a pause in the war for a short time now, with the WitchQueen holding the east and The Empire holding the West. Barracker closed his eyes, clenching both fists. Valhiem was the new frontline for his people. He was the vanguard of the resistance. Always a frontliner.

His mind split into two, chaos, anger and revenge clashing with the things most important to him, order, protection and justice. The importance of preserving the lives of everyone in Valhiem was his mental temple, but the chaos was knocking on every door, directly from all sides. And behind the mist of chaos shone through a dim light of hope, goodness and beauty. His eternal love.

Evelyne…

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

In room 103 at the academy, it had been a long session of practice and repeat. Two things which Barracker was used to with his training at ‘Paladin’s Respite’. He didn’t realise how stressful it could be. Neebs could tell how much progress he was making but from someone in the midst of it, it was hard to tell the progress. Neebs had told him to clear his mind and use his focus into an outlet to guide him in controlling the water. So neebs on one seat, sat reading a book. While Barracker sat on his seat, trying the principles taught by Neebs, which was increasing his time of synchronicity with the water. Neebs kept quiet, if called, he would place his book down and have a better look but he stayed seated as he could sense the water changing form. Barracker took a deep breath, his eyes stayed open, staring into the eye of the bowl. The water started separating, a whirlpool beginning. Then suddenly Neebs was standing next to him, the whirlpool faded, the water splashing together.

Neebs cocked an eyebrow. “Well, look at you friend, you’re coming along nicely. We have more lessons we need to go over, to help bring a bit more balance and give you more control.”

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@TeyaoI hope things start to pick up soon. Stay strong friend. Well written post and under stressful circumstances that's hard to do.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

It's always a pleasure to hear more about MacKensie and her personality. She has a lot of depth.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

The man introduced himself as Harold, he stood to attention before Mother Anne and the workers. This was the soldier who would let them know that it was time to evacuate up the hill. Tyrion and the other children, especially some of the older ones, gave their full attention to this man. This was a crucial moment. The man’s instructions were announced to everyone and projected with a loud but calm boom to his voice.

The younger kids knew that there would be a battle soon and nearby, but they were unaware of the true gravity of the situation. Their smiles were met with a solemn response from the orphanage workers but behind the brave faces of the adults, Tyrion could tell that they were scared. The eyes never lied. He wanted to reach out to the other older kids and let everyone know that he felt vulnerable and sick just as they must, but he did not dare to blurt out all to see. Tyrion remained strong with an inner voice saying one thing.

What would Barracker do?

The kids must come first. He looked at them and wondered what to say. He imagined that Mother Anne would say something playful to distract them as they did not understand. They would just miss the orphanage, and their wonderland of a playground to play on, even the skateboard, his own little constructed project he had made for the kids to play on. To be honest, even he wanted to just go back to the temple and try out the skateboard. Sixteen years old and responsible with a job but he was still a kid too. His stomach did somersaults, a nauseated feeling overcame him. His mind went on the horrors of war, and not just war but what would happen if they lost the battle for Valhiem. It was unthinkable. His mind tried to stay on the now, in the moment he thought back on doing his paper round, his side job where he could be part of the community. He felt like he could escape any worry by daydreaming about mythic warriors of history, saving all of Mytheria from any threat. Now was the realisation, that the threat was knocking on the door of Valhiem, for real this time. He had heard mutters of the likes of Eredge and Dantuin being taken over and lost to the witchQueen, from the gossip he got on his paper round. This notion of thoughts that came after were riddled with bits of fear, but naivety that the war would not reach where he was living. This was the thinking from the young mind of someone whose life was focused purely on Valhiem and not beyond these walls. Maybe there was the rare thought of seeing the big city one day, Capitol City, the stuff made by legends. The residence of the ‘Council Of Heroes’ and the likes of Dante Valeron, Rufus Fletcher and other Diamond Tier legends.

He wished to fade into the background like a shadow just so he could compose himself, as his breathing was becoming erratic. He felt his heart beating as loud as the church's bells.

What Barracker would do?

He would not fear this moment, help Mother Anne and anyone struggling. Of course the young ones and even the workers needed attending too, he thought. Life was not standing still for him on this one. Barracker always told him that in a dangerous situation, if you lose your head then you lose your life and it was always important to stop yourself from holding your breath. Breath, breath, in and out, slowly so no one can see.

Tyrion was the first to stand and salute, “Sir it will be done, I will make sure everyone is alright heading up the mountain.”

Harold smiled and gave a salute of his own, with his arms hitting his sides with a clap, his chest pushing out.

“Very well young master,” Harold turned to Mother Anne and the rest of the workers. “I can see you are in capable hands, I will let you all be off, I have others I need to direct my orders too. I will be back later to see if help is needed, after.”

Tyrion saluted him and bid the man farewell, his body now running on autopilot, mirroring Barracker Kassel’s movements and even the words he would say. Every person is faced with challenges, every person has to act, sometimes that is the only answer in overcoming the challenge. Sometimes making a bad decision is better than freezing up and doing nothing. You must have the courage to act. Tyrion inhaled a sharp breath this time, he felt his words less quivering with every word spoken, an illusion of composure, his posture became stable and calm. He went to one knee and spoke to the kids as one, his words marked for everyone to hear. “Everyone go and get your favourite thing. You have five quick minutes before we all have to leave.” Once again he thought that Mother Anne would make it a fun distraction. “Kids, I need you all to help pack up for this adventure, this time we all will go to the top of Citadel mountain and we will participate in a sleepover with the Mayor and the whole city, telling of stories, a big game but I cannot say anymore, we must take what we will need for the adventure.” He was paranoid that he slipped up with his words or body language and brought on confusion and panic, but Eren and Isabella rose up, battling for the first words.

“I’m taking the skateboard!”

“I’ve not had a turn yet, the skateboard’s my pick. Eren you pick something else.”

Then Tyrion raised his hand, grateful for their arguing for once. “Everyone can have the skateboard, I made it for everyone,” he smiled at this moment, it was a warm one, the first of the day under the pressing circumstances. “Kids, help each other. Whoever is last smells as foul as Barrackers feet.” It was a risky call hanging around for any minute longer but the workers went off, making sure no kid was lost among the chaos and they all worked in harmony so that no one would be last. This was the selfless plan of Isabella too as she went to help others, Eren on the other hand ran to get the skateboard and was first to stand to attention in front of Tyrion. Tyrion gave a friendly wink. After just fifteen minutes all kids were counted and workers stood before Mother Anne.

“The children's clothes are packed and we are all ready to go, Tyrion,” Mother Anne said, playing into Tyrion being the leader. “We will follow you to the Mountain.” She gave a smile of her own, all workers followed in suit even the caretaker of the Temple gave a thumbs up with a tear in his eye, the first one to show any watery eyes, he was sure it wasn't due to the war brewing but maybe some respect growing for the kid. Tyrion would normally rub the back of his head with slight embarrassment, a habit he got from Barracker, but there was no embarrassment. This was his duty right now. Everyone needed him at his best, and they needed caring for as usual and directed to the top of Citadel Mountain.

He realised in advance that the journey would be a nightmare for mother Anne to get to the top of the mountain road. He stopped everyone as they were ready to go and ran off to get his hands on a wheelchair. He gave himself the task of pushing the old elf lady, who had lived twenty times his life and four or five times the average age of any non-elf senior living in Valhiem. Pushing the wheelchair up the steep road would be a tough, physical task, but he thought of the much tougher task that the soldiers, conscripts and adventurers would have to do. With a determined look on his face, he wheeled Mother Anne out, leading everyone to the mountain.

“...But before that, he was your age,” Mother finished her story about Barracker. There was a pause amongst them until out of nowhere she reached over her shoulder and grabbed his hand. Warm and loving hands, he thought, mother to the community of Valhiem, he thought. Our Mother. “You show signs of a Paladin, Tyrion, and I am sure you have made Barracker proud today.”

The second tear of today, now shed by himself, one of adrenaline, stress, but joy and also sorrow, for many more would be shed by the end of all this.