KaiserFranz

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

@13org
I don't think Aimeé and Jehan will be the best of friends any time soon. :P

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

Jehan de Challon

---

Jehan watched how the duel progressed, but decided quickly he had better things to do then stand there like complete fool. Whatever happened, it was better to be prepared rather then stand there and receive the worst of whatever was next if the orcs decided to have another go. He turned to follow his lance when he was, once again, confronted by Aimeé. The simmering anger was gone from his face, but his annoyance showed through well enough. He could not help but smirk as she closed the distance between them. "You again?"

"Never touch a rose without its consent, it doesn't matter how beautiful it may be. Don't EVER touch me again without my consent. Otherwise, I'll gladly make you understand why the Belleroses have this saying." she said, as she stepped in close.
Jehan was not the least concerned by her obvious anger or her close proximity. He could not help but wonder, was this an attempt to appear threatening or simply a side-effect of anger. "Don't flatter yourself" he said with a dismissive hand gesture. The smirk remained, making his word's double-meaning obvious.

"It wasn't pity, I was genuinely concerned, seeing how you looked a bit shaken by your friend's demise, and that's how you repay my kindness?! By acting like an idiot? You dress like a knight, but I cant tell the difference between you and those orcs..." she said, starting to turn away.

Jehan smiled, though it never reached his eyes. "An orc would tear you limb from limb." he said flatly, with a shrug of his shoulders. As she finally left him, he could not help the spiteful laugh. 'Education and courtesy' of which she had neither. He shook his head and started after his lance, leaving the duel and circle behind.

---

It did not take long for Charles to ready the horses. In fact, it was almost an instant thing compared to Johannes getting some extra armour on. Still, all in all it did not take long. As the archers remained, making the lance ready to move, Charles, Jehan and Johannes rode back towards the circle, lances pointing towards the sky. They stopped at some distance, meaning they would not appear as any major threat to the orcs watching the duels, but would not be too far away if things went south. Sure, three horsemen would never be able to stop the orcs, or even hold them. But hooves, lances, swords and maces all backed by the momentum of a warhorse and armoured rider would make it costly to follow the human force in any disorganized fashion and to organize would take time. Time that any retreating human force would need.

In the distance the duel came to an end. At first he was unsure of who had won, but in the end he could tell it was a human, not an orc standing as the victor. His gauntleted hand tightened on the lance as he waited to see what the orcs would do. To his surprise and relief they turned around. Johannes breathed an obvious sigh of relief. Charles gave of a short noise that was something between a chuckle and a laugh.

The three horsemen returned to the archers and dismounted. The archers were of course happy to hear there was no need to hurry with the packing as it seemed they would have time. Time to rest, help the wounded, and take care of the dead. Jehan was happy to remove his helm and gauntlets, giving the wind somewhere to cool his skin. Now there would be time to send Henri off to the afterlife properly. "Vincent, Adrian" Jehan began, "Go bring Henri. We'll clean him up and send him off tonight." he told them and as they went off to follow his order Jehan could not help but to be returned to sadness and the harsh feeling of loss once again. It is said that time is the great healer of all hurts. While Jehan wondered about the truth of such a saying, the grim irony was that it was time that would give him the answer; eventually.

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

@Lyla
I thought it would be more fun and interesting with some emotion, some anger, some conflict! So I'm glad you liked it :P

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

Jehan de Challon

---

Jehan was just about to turn when Aimée spoke up behind him. He did not recognize the voice. He half turned to see who it was and realized that nor did he recognize the person. He looked Aimée up and down and decided he could not quite tell what she was doing on a battlefield. He seemed to consider for a moment, then he inclined his head ever so slightly, "Me too." he said softly, turning back to his squire.

When she grabbed his hand, he half turned again to see what she was doing. With the barest hint of a frown he watched as she moved, then came to a quick stop with a slight tug at his arm, Jehan not having moved from where he stood. He simply looked at her until she let go of his hand. It fell back to his side with the clink of metal on metal.

Was that pity? Was this woman giving him pity? Her face, voice and words sure suggested it. Jehan could admit the loss, and the pain it caused him, but he would not have the pity of this woman who did not even fit in where she stood. "I can tell you his story in a single breath" Jehan said hotly and faced her fully. He took a new breath and took a step forward, "He was born, he squired" he began, voice rising with every word, "and died!" he finished with another step, forcing Aimée to either take a step back, or stand uncomfortably close. He glared down at her, his face an angry mask. He raised a finger at her, "Don't give me or Henri your pity" he hissed. Without another word, he shouldered past her, moving towards the ring of orcs and men, his anger clear in each step.

The short walk cooled his anger enough that by the time he reached his gathered lance who were watching the duel it was a slight annoyance. "Charles" he said flatly to his coutilier. Charles looked at him with knowing eyes, but did not say anything. "Ready the lance to move at a moments notice" Jehan ordered simply, knowing that even if his lance could move at once, the rest of the force would never be ready so quickly, even less so with all the wounded. Charles nodded, "As you command" he said easily. Charles waved to the rest of the lance, which got them moving. As Charles started moving away, Jehan spoke again, "And Charles, ready the horses... Just in case. You, me and Johannes." That made the man smile softly, "Gladly" was his only response, knowing exactly what was referred to.

Jehan did not follow the rest of the lance, but turned to watch the duel, if only for a bit.

@13org

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

There, something short for what Jehan is doing; when he should probably be somewhere else. :P

@Cuddle Pot I don't think anyone will mind to be honest xP

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

Jehan de Challon

---

Jehan's breath was heavy, his body tired, his mind troubled. His armour was a bloody and dirty mess and his visor remained open, giving him the ability to breath full breaths of air, filled with the stench of battle. He readied himself for the final waves, but no more waves came, no all out charge that would finish them once and for all. In truth, it was unexpected but he was thankful for it. Perhaps there was a chance to leave this hellish battlefield alive. He heard shouting down the line, from both sides of the battlefield. He couldn't make out the words but it quickly became apparent that it was going to end with a duel. Jehan was unsure of what he felt about that. On the one hand it was possible, and if what people said about orcs was true; it might even be worth the risk. Yet, on the other hand, it could be a trick to break apart their battleline. Or when the duel was finished, no matter the end result they could be charged, run over, killed.

As the militia finished the ring, Vincent and Adrian among them, Jehan moved back, to just behind where the line of battle had been. It was not difficult to find Henri's body. With a heavy sigh he went down to a knee next to Henri's body. The wound was mostly hidden by the aventail that the orc's brute strength had broken through. Though from what he could see, it seemed deep wound; deadly in fact. Johannes had tried to stop the bleeding but, as the corpse was proof of, failed. That such a young man could contain so much blood, and lose it all so quickly. Not only bled dry of life, but his future, ability, personality. In death, Henri's face looked calm, content, untroubled. Only the patches of drying blood on his face told another story if one could only see the face. His eyes also, told a story of death. They were open, glassy and empty were they had once contained life and energy. Jehan reached out and closed Henri's eyes with a gauntleted hand. He collected Henri's sword and returned it to the young man's scabbard, then stood, knowing he should probably watch the duel.

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

@13org I'll post something short to give you some context when you come over to Jehan.

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

<Snipped quote by Blubaron45>

<Snipped quote by KaiserFranz>

<Snipped quote by MonkeyBusiness>

Guys we've gone three days with just these and not one of you has made good on those promises. I get real life, and writers block and all that but inactivity kills these threads. I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just really enjoying this RP and I don't want it to shut down.

@Cuddle Pot

Don't give me that. I said, and I quote: "within a day or two".
Tell me, when did I post that? One day ago, hence I still have today until you can possibly say I'm doing not what I said or going back on my word. Do not misunderstand me here, I could not care less about you being rude or not, annoyed, understanding or anything else. But if you are going to call me out on something, do so correctly.

I realize I might sound harsh here. I can only say it sounds harsher then it is meant. However, my point is the same. If I say, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, then that is when you will find the post. That is, unless something unexpected happens (which goes without saying I guess).

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

Jehan de Challon

---

A new group of orcs came then, before much else could be said. Jehan turned to face them and lowered his visor once again, readying himself. One axeman, though it was to be said it was no small axe. One halberdier and one spearman with a shield. All of them were better armoured and moved in a manner that suggested it was more of a unit then the earlier wave had been. The spearmen moved in front, supported on his right by the axeman and left by the halberdier. That meant, if someone could get in close on their left and deal with the halberdier, which would be easier if you got close, the other two would be easier to deal with.

"Focus on the halberdier, press him, get close kill him. Henri and I will keep the axeman and spearmen busy." Jehan said, as he rotated the poleaxe. The hammer would be far better for the armoured orcs that were coming at them now.

The orcs came at them together, seemingly having a similar plan as the spearmen and axeman attacked together, forcing Jehan and Henri back. Blows were delivered by both sides as the melee continued, but none of them caused any real harm. The axeman swung again, aiming at Jehan's head, but Jehan knocked it aside and swung his poleaxe, but changed target to the spearman as Henri forced the spearman to defend his legs. The poleaxe's hammer connected with the side of the orc's helmet, sending the orc sprawling. If not dead, knocked out or stunned. The axeman was already swinging his weapon again as Jehan turned to him and was barely able to raise his weapon in time to deflect the blows. But he was unable to recover as the orc simply kept coming, swing after swing and Henri's spear not doing anything to deter him.

Jehan tried to attack once again, knowing he could not defend forever, only for the orc's axe to hit his breastplate and send him staggering backwards. He recovered to find he had dropped his poleaxe, or perhaps the orc had grabbed it, he was not sure, it all happened so quickly. On instinct he drew his sword from its scabbard and saw how Henri swung a sword at the orc, only to have it do nothing as the orc brought his axe up and then down in one quick movement. Henri went down with a scream. He heard the orc laughing, as he raised his axe again.

Before the axe fell, Jehan was back into the melee, gripping the blade of his longsword with his left hand. He feinted a stab to the right before he buried the point of his sword in the orc's throat. Though it must only have been a superficial wound as the orc kept going, forcefully pushing him back and raising his axe again. Jehan gripped his sword tighter, knowing Henri was either dead or slowly bleeding out just next to him. He wanted to turn and save him, to drag him back from this loud, smelly and tiring business that was a melee. But no, he could not do anything, not yet at least.

Adventures of the Blood Rose Irregulars

Sorry I haven't been posting. I'll try to get a post up within a day or two.