It was a fine sunny day in New Haven, lest a few fluffy clouds hurrying across the hemisphere above, I Havardur Vaski of the Nord was in this charming little town, just having arrived in my longboat a couple of hours earlier to see a fair lady by the name of Isabella Amarily.

I was all spruced up in my Vesperian militia armour, having shone the bronze pieces of my armour so fine that the very clouds reflected in it.

I was standing a bit of the main square, fixing my armour while awaiting her arrival. At that moment three figures appeared through the town gates, the reflection of their arms in the sun catching my eye. Not the regular travellers for such a slumbering little town I though and raised my head to see better.

As my eyes adjusted from the calm shadow I was standing in I saw to my displeasure, that these three men were Yewian militiamen. What could they be wanting here, I rested my hand on the handle of my blade, resting in its sheath. Currently bound in place with a peaceband. Though the feel of its steel and leather handle calmed me.

Soon enough the Yewians took note of me in my fine armour and outfit, their eyes narrowing, no wonder envious of my fine armour and uniform. They turned from the main square they had been headed for and approached me, one to my front and two on my flanks.

I bit my jaws hard together, readying for a conflict from my foes. Alas they just stood there, probably stooped by my fine appearance. I spoke slowly yet decidedly, “What ye want..”.
I was in little mood for warfare this day, as I was here after all on a mission of romance rather then one of war. And was in no mood to have foul Yewish blood on my coat of armour.

They kept their gaze on me, though the legends of the strength of our Vesperian militias men and women kept them at bay. I discarded them, telling them to “Carry on then fellas…” then walking off casually towards the bank to pick up some gold for drinks.

As I arrived back out I saw milady, waiting down by the bank steps. Across her I saw the Yewians again, this time they had spread cloth out across the street in the shape and colour of their flag. Shouting royalist propaganda to the poor people of New Haven.

I crossed the bank steps to milady, we greeted each other with a hug. I then mentioned to her to come and bring her horse with her, so as not to stand downwind of the Yewians, as I didn’t want the odour of Yewians to ruin the day.

As we crossed the square to an empty table in the square by the terrace down from the provisioner. I could hear some grumbled, yet fearfully uttered words about Vesper, coming over from where the Yewians were marching and lying to the people of the town. I let the words carry away with the smell of them in the wind blowing in from the harbour.

Us Isabella sat down and started talking of pleasant things. At which point I heard another snide remark, this time a little louder by the Yewians. I could not let it pass this time, to have scum like these dare utter words of insolence about us Vesperians. I commented back to them that they were unworthy men of being in the Vesperian militia, spewing out poison feed to them by spoon by the king. Unable to think for themselves, not seeing the truth around them, but then again this was the result of them being lesser men.

At this point one of our fine new members, Corbo arrived. Having overheard the last exchange of words he approached from across the square. I flicked him a smile and called out to him to come sit himself down with me and Isabella.

He passed by, grinned back and grabbed a chair. Alas he did not sit down with us, he took the chair with him and placed it right in front of the Yewians facing them. After a few exchanges of words the Yewians were getting even more agitated. At this point I got up and joined my brother in arms facing the Yewians. The conversation was getting quite heated when I heard Isabella shout “Down with the royalist scum!”. Their leader barked back to “..shut yer mouth wenche!”.

I was furious, no one dares insult Vesper in my presence and certainly no man is allowed to challenge miladies good name! I shouted back to their captain, “Ye best apologize to the lady!”. He arrogantly refused. I untied the peaceband tying my sword to the sheath, and losened the shield of my back. Looked him sternly in the eye and gave him a final warning.This frightened the men so much that they fled to the safety of the bank.

While I was staring at the bank doors, scolding and seeing red in my eyes. My good friend and brother in arms Casius Bronhold arrived in a flash of light as if he had read my mind. But then again such are the ways of the dabblers of the mystics, they always seem to know when they are needed.

Now we stood there three together, trampling the Yewians recruitmen flag. As I was explaining what had foregone to Casius the Yewians came charging down the bank steps, having no doubt drunk enough courage into their weak souls to do so.

We quickly brandished our arms, charging forth to meet them with our warcries drowning out their whimpered surprise! A great fight ensued, blades clashed on shields sending sparks flying, big crashes of what sounded like thunder filled the sky as Casius opened up his magery on these Yewians. The local townsfolk ran for shelter as noises of battle filled the towns square and nearby streets.

Soon enough the Vesperians superior strength and skill broke the royalists back bone, felling two and sending their cowardice captain running out of town with the tail between his legs.

In the peace that ensued after we gathered together, congratulating each others proves and fine Vesperian spirit. I approached milady and told her that her honour had now been restored. I was congratulated in a champions fashion by Isabella.

As we were gathering ourselves after the fight and cleaning up most of the blood of our uniforms and armour Phlebas arrived. He was warmly welcomed to the group as we were sure that the cowardly royalist captain would run whimpering to his superior and return later with a greater force.

Together we decided to colour and re-arrange the cloth left by the royalists in their feeble scurry and retreat. We coloured the pieces red and spread them out to form a great -V- in the middle of the town square.

That was when we encountered the formidable cloth thief of New Haven! Out of the shadows he would creep while we were not looking, darting in to steal one of our pillaged pieces of cloth. His greed became his downfall. At one point I saw him reaching in and grabbing the lowest part of our V, I dashed after the dastardly scoundrel. The bravery we had displayed earlier fighting the royalists had won over the local townsfolk who noticed the pursuit and got hold of him before he managed to escape into the narrow streets. I caught up with him and threatened him to return the cloth and dare not steal another, lest he feel the fury of my blade. The rogue handed over the sack he had been filling with our cloth. After checking it was all there, I looked the man up and down and decided to let him go as I was certain he would do us no more ill favours.

When we were happy with the results of our -V- we began spreading the word of freedom to the local townsfolk in a way only fine Vesper men and women can. A crowd gathered listening in, sitting on a close by bench or standing near, enthralled by our bravery and the wisdom in our words.









At one point a wielder of the arcane joined our rally, transformed himself into an Orc and started dancing around to amuse the listeners. I shouted out to the fine folk of New Haven “Join Vesper today, fine drinks under a free sky and the only place you can find dancing Orcs!”.

Casius quickly followed “Join Vesper today, fight the dancing Orcs!”

This sent gathered onlookers into a frenzy of laughs and amusement. Further gaining the loyalty of the people of New Haven.

I, Casius and Phlebes stayed in the square of the town for a good while gathering support for our cause. Corbo would have stayed but he had been badly injured in the prior fight due to a lucky strike by the royalists and had been in need to return to Vesper for medical care.

As the day began to draw nearer to an end a dark looming cloud appeared on the horizon and soon with it came the oppressors, this time in force!

They strode past the gate, pushing away the poor local town guards who dared mutter a protest. And across the square to face us. They were infuriated by what we had done to their flag and shouted out to us to that they demanded we left town immediately.





Their empty threats bounced of us like small pebbles skipped across a cool placid lake. I laughed out in a challenge “Ha! It be just the five of ye against us three! Each Vesper man is worth in the last three of ye royalists in battle!”

Us three stood our ground as any brave Vesperian comrade will do, even in the odds of superior numbers our fighting spirits could not be broken.

The eventual fight broke out, we brandished our weapons a second time this day and fought for freedom and the values of the righteous against the shackles of the royalists! We fought hard, we fought brave, even faced with superior numbers we fell our first royalist.

But unknowingly, waiting for the opportune moment in the shadows, a wizard under the sway of the king lurched out of the shadows and into the fray. Catching our already under numbered forces by surprise.

The added weight of his magi started to turn the tide. I raised my shield in defense of an oncoming bolt of crackling energy coming from the foul wizard, lighting him in a flash in the shadows. As the bolt hit my shield it cracked and shattered under the blast, into a thousand pieces. As I was defending against this new threat and fighting their captain once more, Phelbes was overcome by three other. I managed to slay the royalist captain but was now left without defense for the oncoming onslaught of the Yewians.

Though Casius magic was strong he could not keep me alive against all those foes now that I had no shield to defend against all the blades being swung at me. I felt cold steel enter my flesh on the right side of my back, as a blade managed to cut its way through my armour. The royalist coward had not dared face me from the front. I kneeled down and passed out as the blood seeped through my armour, colouring the shiny bronze armour red.

One more royalist fell to the combined injuries from our gallant stand and the magic of Casius.

At this point Caisus was left with no choice but to put one foot in front of the other and run for his life as he was seriously outnumbered and badly injured from the battle.

The three royalist militias that remained followed on a long chase towards the moongate, Casius pressing against a large wound caused by a sword on his side, to keep from bleeding to much, lest passing into the nethers before he could reach the gate.
Even in this shape Casius was nimble on his feet. The oppresionist militia becoming frustrated by his proves and the pain from their many wounds called out “Stop running you coward!”, at which point Casius wittily remarked back “Seeing as ye are three, you three are the cowards!” As he finished his last word Casius jumped through the shimmering blue and white moongate passing him into safety.

I and Phlebas, heavily injured, helped each other and with Isabellas aid managed to slink away on my longboat that I had originally arrived on in harbour in the confusion. To yet fight against the royalists another day, never to give ground, always to stand tall and proud in the face of the oppression!

Absolutely marvellous!!
Yes those yewians outnumbered us and with aid from an unknown conterpart doubled us in number in the final fight, although two of us fell, so did two of them..
A great feat considering the situation!

Im just glad Gia fed me well that morning at swaggers or perhaps my feet wouldnt have been so nimble!

Very nice report Havardur

Thanks guys.

Can I put this on the Stratics News Page in the near future please?

Great report. Only bad thing about it is how god-awful Beetles look in KR, mehehe.

I think they look cool

I'd have no problems with that at all Callumf, if anything I'm humbled that you would want to.