Xenonight2

"Tylina, I don't hope. I expect those working under my command to do their best, as I expect my limbs to work to use my sword in a fight. I do not trust my men. Instead, I expect them to do. I expect you to fight well, despite your injuries, since we need your sword arm. Is that understood, Tylina?"

His face turned determined, the hard lines and ruddy complexion growing tighter in thought.

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Arri

Right then, Tylina's tone turned more serious, "Yes sir! I ment no disrespect..." She never liked having people "command" her to do certain things, but she knew that where she was now, she was going to have to live with it.

"Ready when you are, sir."

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Deselin

Jallas entered the tent to hear Commander Dolosus barking orders at everybody. Hearing his name called and receiving his own orders, he sprang right into action. His bow, laying against the canvas of the tent next to him, was picked right up in only a second. Jallas then made his way toward the pile of weapons and picked up a second quiver of arrows, about twenty in the stack. This made an estimated forty, enough to take out plenty of the Imperial Commanders.

He proceeded out of the tent to wait for his commander.

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Marineking

Jamas nodded to his commander a bit excitedly, though he kept his face smooth. One would think that, having experienced battle before, he would be reluctant, but he knew that the hardest part of battle was waiting, and sometimes it was best to simply get on with it. He walked briskly over to the pile of weapons and crouched down, shifting them around a little, searching for a good, light buckler that wouldn't restrict his movement too much. After a few moments, he found it. About a foot or so longer then his forearm, good solid wood with iron reinforcements, and covered with stretched rawhide. He picked it up, slipping his left forearm through the loop and grabbing the handle firmly with his callused hand.

He turned around and exited the tent, standing near Jallas. Staring out in the direction of their enemy, he breathed deeply, concentrating on readying his mind for combat. His grip on his spear tightened, his teeth clenched, and his heart began beating faster. When the time came, he would be ready to kill.

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Deselin

Jallas looked at the entrance of the tent when he heard the shuffling of the flap opening. His heart sank; it wasn't Dolosus. The man, whom he had not been formally introduced too, stood next to him. Obviously also waiting for the Commander. He looked tense, but excited. Like it was his first battle...but Jallas knew better, the man's eyes had that kind of lost look and his body was riddled with indications of the same.

"Calm down, your nerves are getting the better of you. Be emotionless and meditate, it helps before a battle." he said. The man probably knew this, but it was a good reminder. "And by the Gods, don't get killed out there. We all need to stay alive if we're to win this thing." Jallas exaggerated. He didn't know what else to say, so he redirected his attention to the approaching army once again. Their numbers were strong, but their soldiers were not...and that was their upper-hand.

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Xenonight2

((Hey guys, just so you know, I'm leaving on vacation March 16th, and the RP will be inactive for an entire month until I get back from vacation on April 16th. I'll make my actual post later today. Just needed to let you guys know this.))

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shadowsworn

Alyssa walked away, seeing that the commander was occupied with giving orders to the woman they had found here. With a look of relief on her face, she pushed aside the flap of the tent, hiding the dagger she had pulled from the pile of weapons on her person as she did so.

As she did so, she caught the last of Jallas's words to Jamas. She shook her head. "I don't know about you, soldier, but keeping why I'm here in mind all the time, knowing there is a purpose to all this bloodshed and senseless death... that's what keeps me sane. If you learn to forget your emotions, eventually you will not be able to recall them, and then where will you be?"

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Deselin

My apologies, but I was merely suggesting to him that he relax instead of being on edge. Being emotionless helps only before a fight, not during." Jallas replied. He looked the woman up and down, to judge her prowess as a soldier. She looked quick and deadly, but not very physically tough. "If you've seen as many battles as I have, then you'll know why I say as such." he finished.

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Marineking

Jamas spoke without turning his head. His voice was calm, despite his rising adrenaline. "Do not worry, I am in complete control. Emotion is something you should learn to use, and I am simply preparing myself for what will happen, instead of letting it all rush in an instant." He scanned the area in front of him as he spoke, his senses high then usual. He felt, as always when he was in this mood, as if he could see 360 degrees around himself, and was fully prepared. He had to admit, if only to himself, the feeling was addictive.

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Xenonight2

((Hey guys! Back from South America and Honduras!))

Dolosus pushed the tent flap with his gauntleted hand, and stepped outside. The storm was approaching quickly now, and in a few minutes the clouds would cover the sun. He figured that would be when the salvoes would released, when the soldiers could not see the arrows as well in the sky. And then the calvarly and infantry would charge, and there would be blood and carnage...

He shook the thought from his mind, and fixed the grip of his shield on his left hand. Dolosus took the crossbow from his side and knocked a bolt. He then approached Jamas and Jallas, his whole body hunched and tense, surveying the horizon on the dune.

"Any minute now," he whispered to himself.

Waiting for battle was never easy, even for a veteran like Dolosus. His leadership was gained from any ingenuity or prodigious gifts in warfare, only from an adulthood of fighting for survival and for freedom.

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