Alowca 10-21-1018
The Warlord looked at the assembled units of militia, and handed their captains each a bag of gold.
"Your services are no longer needed. Disband and go home." Aquila growled at the men, who gleefully counted out their shares of the gold. Grinning, almost... Cheerily, Aquila made her way towards the palace, outside of which her men were assembled. She nodded at her captain, and noted the presence of Sir Myles and Sir Usul.
"Where in the blazes is Idaho?" She barked at the two knights, who offered shrugs. "No matter. It is time."
She nodded at the messengers, who carried out her proclamations. The Khanate was dead. The Dominion was all that remained. Drawing her sword, Aquila addressed the assembled men.
"MAGGOTS!" She bellowed, and the men roared back in response. The Warlord was popular among the soldiers of Aren for fighting alongside them, as one of them.
"Today marks the last day of the Khanate. You will no longer suffer and bleed because our Khan is a doddering fool who cannot make up his mind. No more will we die on foreign soil for foreigners who won't do the same. Too long Aren has been confined to our peninsula, devoid of the respect that we deserve! NOW LET'S GO KILL THE BASTARDS! TAKE THEIR SKULLS FOR YOUR HARBINGER!" Aquila shouted, pointing her sword at the last two score of militia who had taken up positions in the palace, and were now nervously surveying the ranks of battle hardened men, lead by their General. They were to follow her orders, yet they were also to be loyal to the Khan. They chose the latter.
Aquila's forces threw themselves without mercy at their countrymen, showing the soft militia troops what it was to be a true warrior of Aren. Missiles rained down, and Aquila barely noticed the arrow that buried itself in abdomen. She let loose a blood curdling scream, as she sprinted at the palace guards, her men half a pace behind her, and she threw herself into their ranks. The mixed infantry and archers that composed the palace guards were inexperienced, and definitely not trained for melee combat, and swiftly broken. The Khan's Archers, derisively known as the 'pointy sticks' fled the courtyard and barricaded themselves inside the palace. Aquila stood before the palace's Legionaries, a cluster of green mixed infantry, holding their captain's head in one hand, her sword in the other. Covered in blood, and a maniac fire in her eyes, she was an imposing sight. In almost perfect unison, the men knelt before the Warlord.
"Our spears are yours Warlord." one of them spoke. Aquila grunted, and snapped off the length of the arrow buried in her abdomen. It was at this moment Lord Idaho arrived.
"Where you to bloody absorb all the wounds?" She snarled at the man, and grinned. "The last of the loyalists are barricaded in the palace. We'll dig them out on the morrow." She hissed through gritted teeth, the adrenaline of the fight wearing off and pain flooding back. The healers carted her off to remove the arrowhead.
10-22-18
The rebels, now bolstered by the arrival of Lord Idaho and his fusiliers, and the defection of the Legionaries, hauled up a battering ram to batter down the palace doors. The ram crashed into the doors, and after a few swings, the palace doors splintered and burst open. The men, absent the Warlord, flooded in and made quick work of the besieged archers. However, in the chaos, the fickle Legionaries slipped past the fighting, and barricaded themselves in the throne room, proclaiming themselves loyal to the Khan. Back in camp, Aquila heard the report of the treachery of the surviving Legionaries, and flew into a rage, kicking over cooking pots and stacks of weapons, before being restrained by the healers, lest she tear open her wound.
10-23-18
Axes were brought up, and the doors to the throne room being hacked down, the Warlord herself hacking at the door with an axe. No mercy, no survivors was the order of the day. As the door gave way, the fickle spears of the Legionaries began to thrust through gaps at the attacks. Aquila grabbed one by the shaft and pulled the man into the door. She shouted screamed something incomprehensible, while stabbing the man in the eye with a dagger. Suddenly the doors gave way, and the Warlord's forces pushed through, into the throne room, Usul, Idaho, Myles and Aquila leading the charge. They and their men made quick work of the last of the turn coats and piled their severed heads before the throne. Aquila walked up to the throne, and sat upon it. The Khanate was dead.
