Frostnova Family/Rhathar/Accounts of Rhathar's Death

In a large ceremony, your family commemorates the dead Rhathar, a legend known all over the world. For days, the family graveyard swarms with his friends and admirers. Artists compose songs and poems about him, and young maidens cry in their chambers.

Out-of-Character from Galiard (10 hours, 18 minutes ago)

It could hardly be called a battle, and so Septimus Scarlett felt no particular honor in leading the vanguard of the charge towards the small, palisade walls. That the chief banner behind the wall was that of Lord Rhathar was responsible for the unusual knot in Septimus' gut as he covered the distance on the field between himself and the large siege tower his men had pulled up to the wall.

Though not a sentimental man, the usual thrill and joy of battle was nowhere to be seen. Partially it was because Septimus' own prowess in battle had suffered considerably over the last two years he had been away, but largely it was that his first engagement as Ethiala's High Marshal had been neither a glorious battle nor one against his enemies. It was a necessity, this small skirmish, and one the Arcaeans had chosen not to contest. There was injustice in it somewhere, but such was for the likes of better men than Septimus to distinguish.

"Squire," called Septimus to Uldred Dodd, a burly, mountain of a man who trailed his master in battle and usually came out with as many scars. "Keep my axes. Today I fight with a sword. This is really more of a duel than a battle, at any rate."

"M'lud is not as accomplished with a sword as m'lud used to be," observed Dodd.

"Don't remind me," answered Scarlett, "but I am a Hero of the crown, just as Lord Rhathar was, and one does not do battle with such a man with an axe."

"As m'lud wishes," agreed Dodd, handing a scabbard to Septimus as he started up the ladder to the walls. "May I have m'lud's axes if m'lud doesn't survive?"

Septimus ignored his squire and clambered up the ladder. The situation on the walls would have pleased most any General, but Septimus found little gratification in it.

Only two Arcaean banners fought for Lantzas, and only one of those two by choice. It had been clear even before the armies of Ethiala and Lasanar approached the walls that Rhathar would stay behind to defend the land he had ruled for so many years, even in light of an obvious Arcaean order to withdraw. Neither was Rhathar, in Septimus' estimation at least, the sort to stay behind and pray for a miracle, that perhaps Ethiala's army might be washed away by a sudden typhoon; no, he knew full well what he was getting into and the likelihood that he would be spending some time in the very Ethialan dungeons he had formerly populated with enemies of the crown.

Though Septimus was one of the first groups over the wall, the battle was over almost before it began. The Lantzas garrison fought valiantly, and Septimus saw one of his soldiers expertly run through in time to tell that it had been Rhathar who'd done it.

"Baron," Septimus called out, drawing his sword and approaching the Lord of Lantzas. A few men on both sides made way, recognizing without needing to be told what was about to happen.

Rhathar said nothing, for anything he had to say had been said, either hours or else months before the battle. Neither was Septimus a man to whom Rhathar could acquit himself even had he wanted to, which surely he did not; Septimus was a soldier, just as Rhathar had been, and an inferior one, at that.

The subsequent duel between the two men would not have songs written of it. It was methodical, businesslike, devoid of passion or flair, but not of skill. Most of that was on Rhathar's end; Septimus was an accomplished swordsman, but too many months at the horse track before he'd emerged from retirement had dulled his edge, and that became obvious very quickly.

It was right around the point in the fight between the two men that Rhathar might have pressed his advantage and put down Ethiala's High Marshal that, at least according to some of the men who would tel the story later, he seemed to lose interest in victory, as if suddenly becoming aware that even defeating his opponent would mean certain imprisonment and perhaps worse, depending on the inclinations of Ethiala's King and Arch Priest. The whole of Ethiala's army was laid out before both men, either on the walls or else climbing upon them as fast as they could. Lantzas had already fallen; that any Arcaean noble yet remained standing was a formality. The day had ended before it began.

Though Septimus himself would not speak of the duel for quite some time afterwards, his squire had no such reservations. "Much as I wish I might attribute it to m'lud's martial skills," Uldred Dodd would say that evening to several other squires, "M'lud had just barely avoided being skewered himself and had readied his sword to begin another round. Lord Rhathar seemed to simply walk right onto m'lud's blade, as if he were embracing death itself rather than accept the alternative."

Septimus wept as a cheer went up among some of the Ethialan and Lasanarian forces. Samuel Knowlton

Roleplay from Galiard (8 hours, 12 minutes ago) And some more:

Keffer stood below the battlements directing the Crimson Men in battle. Each man under his command had been guilty of some crime, oath breaking or other dishonor that could only be removed by their service and sacrifice on the battlefield. The battle was indeed short and did not require Keffer to do any fighting himself though equipped with his sword just the same. The Crimson Men had gone into mopping up the enemy and Keffer was there to reign in his men to prevent any wholesale slaughter as a noble is charged to do. As towards the end of every battle certain pockets of peace break out where the combatants have either disengaged or the enemy has either fallen or fled and all that are left are friends and allies. It is a strange moment in any battle and Keffer and his Crimson Men seemed to find themselves in it. It was a time to check on friends and withdraw oneself mentally from the recent bloodshed. Keffer's men began to gather round him when one of his men called for his attention.

"Duke Keffer up there on the battlements." A footman cried out.

Keffer tilted his head in the direction his footman cried out. There he found to his horror Rhathar Frostnova, Baron of Lantzas was engaged in mortal combat with the newly minted High Marshal Septimus.

"Oh bloody Hell if Rhathar lays Septimus low this will be the shortest Marshal Career next to my own!" Keffer worried.

"Its been sometime since Septimus had to wield a sword properly, if only this were a racetrack." A green recruit mentioned.

"We'd rather bet on his swordsmanship skills than his ability to pick the ponnies." A few Veterans chimed in.

Then inexplicably Rhathar used his sword to raise the tip of Septimus's blade and walked right into it. Keffer's men recognized the act for what is was and bowed their heads. Keffer stood their with a grimace, neither not knowing what to make of Rhathar's final act or Rhathar's legacy to the realm. Keffer called for his chief healer to come forward.

"Medias, go to Septimus and tend to his wounds." Keffer slipped him a flask of brandy. "Give this to him to steady his nerves."

"But sir Septimus is a veteran of combat himself." Wondering why brandy was needed for such a man.

"Yes, but I doubt he has ever had to kill a friend before. See to it a priest is brought for Rhathar if Septimus has not already seen to it." Keffer said sending Medias off on his appointed task.

Sir Keffer Leonidas Duke of Topenah

Roleplay from Argos (1 hour, 20 minutes ago) Message sent to everyone in your realm (29 recipients)

Argos himself climbed over the palisades with the aid of the tightly packed siege engines. Instinctualy the men braced for chaos that was not to happen as the door swung downwards on top of the palisades. As fast as the siege engines were packed they were unpacked as units broke off from formations running through the defenses clearing out the last bastions of the tiny defensive forces that had remained behind within the region.

He knew in his bones that there would be no honor gained from this field. Argos had fought a similar battle, ages ago. But then his role was reversed...And he himself had died.

There was silence. Even among the bustling of the many men as they carried out their orders he watched the duel between High Marshal Septimus, and Lord Rathar. Argos was new to the realm; but he knew enough of both men dueling to realize that they had fought along side each other before. Their manuvers were similiar, and any with a trained eye could see it. He watched until the duels end, knowing that regardless of outcome no bards would ever speak tales of this fight.

The duel was finished, and as High Marshal Septimus wept afterwards. Argos waited a few moments after its finishing, and finally gathering himself and his thoughts he proceeded past the High Marshal, "He died a heroes death, my lord. With his honor in tact. Duty bound, till the end." Patting the man on the back he continued on, there was still work to be done, and Argos had duties of his own to fullfill. Galiard Scarlett Duke of Anacan