Daybreak:Volume 3 Chapter 6 - Revision history

Aorii at 05:31, 27 January 2022

2022-01-27T05:31:17Z

Aorii at 03:35, 24 October 2021

2021-10-24T03:35:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:35, 24 October 2021
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	"<Who ye calling a madman, you twerp?>" The gruff voice of Colonel Hammerstein responded.		"<Who ye calling a madman, you twerp?>" The gruff voice of Colonel Hammerstein responded.

	"<Ah, sorry S...>" Pascal had almost called him 'Sir' before remembering they were now the same rank. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> did not realize Ariadne looped you in, Colonel.>"		"<Ah, sorry S...>" Pascal had almost called him 'Sir' before remembering they were now the same rank. Though Hammerstein still held seniority and was therefore the official commander of the expedition. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> did not realize Ariadne looped you in, Colonel.>"

	"<You think I'm gonna just leave you alone to build your harem?>" The Colonel snarled as he highlighted the fact that everyone else in chat was a young woman.		"<You think I'm gonna just leave you alone to build your harem?>" The Colonel snarled as he highlighted the fact that everyone else in chat was a young woman.
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	Ariadne had met the Princess once before during her time at Alisia Academy. However the reception back then had been... cold, to say the least. Ariadne never understood why Pascal courted her when he was already engaged. She only knew that her vanity had gotten the better of her at the time. It was a huge boost to her ego to think that even an intellectual like Pascal might prefer her over the Crown Princess of the Empire.		Ariadne had met the Princess once before during her time at Alisia Academy. However the reception back then had been... cold, to say the least. Ariadne never understood why Pascal courted her when he was already engaged. She only knew that her vanity had gotten the better of her at the time. It was a huge boost to her ego to think that even an intellectual like Pascal might prefer her over the Crown Princess of the Empire.

	"<~~Dame~~ Ariadne,>" Sylviane began in a polite, cordial voice as she looked upon Ariadne from a dozen paces away. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> never had a chance to thank you properly for your actions in helping Pascal and Kaede at Alisia. Perceval told me that you were instrumental in foiling the assassination.>"		"<Lady Ariadne,>" Sylviane began in a polite, cordial voice as she looked upon Ariadne from a dozen paces away. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> never had a chance to thank you properly for your actions in helping Pascal and Kaede at Alisia. Perceval told me that you were instrumental in foiling the assassination.>"

	Yet despite the warm tone, Ariadne couldn't help but feel more suspicious. The young lady knew from the first time their eyes met that Her Highness did not like her, and not just because of her short courtship with Pascal in the past.		Yet despite the warm tone, Ariadne couldn't help but feel more suspicious. The young lady knew from the first time their eyes met that Her Highness did not like her, and not just because of her short courtship with Pascal in the past.
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	"<Pascal represents the alliance between Weichsel and Rhin-Lotharingie. It was my duty as a knight of Weichsel to protect him. And I am thankful that Your Highness picked me for this campaign.>"		"<Pascal represents the alliance between Weichsel and Rhin-Lotharingie. It was my duty as a knight of Weichsel to protect him. And I am thankful that Your Highness picked me for this campaign.>"

	"<Much as I'd like to take credit, ~~Dame~~ Ariadne, I'm afraid your thanks are owed to General Wiktor,>" Sylviane replied. "<nowiki><I</nowiki>t was he who recommended you to lead the new Phantom company in Colonel Hammerstein's stead.>"		"<Much as I'd like to take credit, Lady Ariadne, I'm afraid your thanks are owed to General Wiktor,>" Sylviane replied. "<nowiki><I</nowiki>t was he who recommended you to lead the new Phantom company in Colonel Hammerstein's stead.>"

	''So it was Cecylia's father who granted me this opportunity,'' Ariadne thought.		''So it was Cecylia's father who granted me this opportunity,'' Ariadne thought.

Aorii at 03:20, 24 October 2021

2021-10-24T03:20:49Z

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	===Chapter 6 - Unquestioned Authority===		===Chapter 6 - Unquestioned Authority===

	Kaede ~~had read that according~~ to the official history of the Trinitian Church, the dragonlord Hyperion had been born on the 'day of the longest night' during year zero of the Dragon Age -- the year when the stellar-nomadic dragonkind made landfall upon this world. Twelve centuries later, this draconic messiah would 'save the world from its sins' by sacrificing his own life to shut down the Abyssal Rift, gateway to the demonic realm where all the evils of the universe manifested in physical form.		Kaede found herself departing Weichsel just as its people began preparations for a major holiday.

			According to the official history of the Trinitian Church, the dragonlord Hyperion had been born on the 'day of the longest night' during year zero of the Dragon Age -- the year when the stellar-nomadic dragonkind made landfall upon this world. Twelve centuries later, this draconic messiah would 'save the world from its sins' by sacrificing his own life to shut down the Abyssal Rift, gateway to the demonic realm where all the evils of the universe manifested in physical form.

	It came as no surprise that the image of Hyperion casting the unnamed ritual --later named the ''Ritual of the True Cross''-- would become the most pervasive symbol of the Trinitian belief. The timeline of how this spell came to be would also mark the holy days of the Trinitian Church: when it was approved, when Hyperion led his eleven other siblings to begin casting the spell, and when the dragonlord sacrificed his life to finish the ritual.		It came as no surprise that the image of Hyperion casting the unnamed ritual --later named the ''Ritual of the True Cross''-- would become the most pervasive symbol of the Trinitian belief. The timeline of how this spell came to be would also mark the holy days of the Trinitian Church: when it was approved, when Hyperion led his eleven other siblings to begin casting the spell, and when the dragonlord sacrificed his life to finish the ritual.

Aorii at 01:36, 20 June 2021

2021-06-20T01:36:03Z

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Aorii: REDUX STARTS, FULL CLEAR

2021-06-20T01:35:40Z

REDUX STARTS, FULL CLEAR

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Aorii at 13:45, 6 April 2017

2017-04-06T13:45:18Z

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Aorii at 12:41, 30 July 2016

2016-07-30T12:41:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:41, 30 July 2016
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	The Princess left unsaid that hundreds more men could lay waiting in ambush just ahead.		The Princess left unsaid that hundreds more men could lay waiting in ambush just ahead.

	"<u>He could also be covering all the likely routes,</u>" added Hans~~-Canaris Oster~~ after Pascal weaved the intelligence analyst into the telepathy web. "<u>Duke Gabriel's leading commander is Count van Coehoorn, a defensive theoretician who pays great attention to detail even in his everyday life. My guess is that he probably has all the likely routes covered. But Gabriel's main force -- his loyal troops from Fryslân -- would probably be kept as a reserve. Given his precarious hold on power, I doubt he'll deploy it until he ascertains Your Highness' intentions.</u>"		"<u>He could also be covering all the likely routes,</u>" added Hans Ostergalen after Pascal weaved the intelligence analyst into the telepathy web. "<u>Duke Gabriel's leading commander is Count van Coehoorn, a defensive theoretician who pays great attention to detail even in his everyday life. My guess is that he probably has all the likely routes covered. But Gabriel's main force -- his loyal troops from Fryslân -- would probably be kept as a reserve. Given his precarious hold on power, I doubt he'll deploy it until he ascertains Your Highness' intentions.</u>"

	"<u>So you think this is just a screening force then?</u>" Sylviane inquired.		"<u>So you think this is just a screening force then?</u>" Sylviane inquired.

Aorii at 19:01, 28 July 2016

2016-07-28T19:01:19Z

Aorii at 14:16, 1 July 2016

2016-07-01T14:16:55Z

Aorii: Created page with "===Chapter 6 - Unquestionable Authority=== According to Trinitian history, the dragonlord Hyperion had been born on the 'day of the longest night' during year one of the Drag..."

2016-01-30T23:47:43Z

Created page with "===Chapter 6 - Unquestionable Authority=== According to Trinitian history, the dragonlord Hyperion had been born on the 'day of the longest night' during year one of the Drag..."

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← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 28 July 2016
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	It came as no surprise that the image of Hyperion casting the unnamed ritual -- later named the ''True Cross'' -- would become the most pervasive symbol of the Trinitian Church, or that this historic birthday would mark the second holiest day of the year for its faithful.		It came as no surprise that the image of Hyperion casting the unnamed ritual -- later named the ''True Cross'' -- would become the most pervasive symbol of the Trinitian Church, or that this historic birthday would mark the second holiest day of the year for its faithful.

	That birthday was only three days away. Yet despite the holy time, Kaede found herself standing in an empty field eight kilopaces away from the city with the assembled Knights Phantom of the ''Ghost Riders''. It had taken ~~the two~~ days since meeting with King Leopold before Pascal could conclude his obligations in Nordkreuz. The landgrave had done what he could to kick off the recovery efforts, and Kaede had spent much of this time helping assess local talents to whom they could entrust the daunting ~~organizational~~ task of rebuilding.		That birthday was only three days away. Yet despite the holy time, Kaede found herself standing in an empty field eight kilopaces away from the city with the assembled Knights Phantom of the ''Ghost Riders''. It had taken both days since meeting with King Leopold before Pascal could conclude his obligations in Nordkreuz. The landgrave had done what he could to kick off the recovery efforts, and Kaede had spent much of this time helping assess local talents to whom they could entrust the daunting task of rebuilding.

	Now, a fresh cold front had arrived from the north. Amidst the light flurry of snow, a galloping mass of phantom steeds and wagons rode out of the sun in the east. But as Kaede stared at the distant dawn, she pondered just how exactly did soldiers celebrate a white Christmas in wartime.		Now, a fresh cold front had arrived from the north. Amidst the light flurry of snow, a galloping mass of phantom steeds and wagons rode out of the sun in the east. But as Kaede stared at the distant dawn, she pondered just how exactly did soldiers celebrate a white Christmas in wartime.
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	It was a blessing that speaking in telepathy did not require any movement from her jaws, as her teeth were clenched to endure the cramps that seized her abdomen. Kaede had turned up the heat through her enchanted undergarments' temperature controls to help relieve the pain. The cold front from the north might have brought low clouds that masked the expedition's movement into Rhin-Lotharingie. But the feel of freezing winds gusting past her thin body only seemed to worsen her agony.		It was a blessing that speaking in telepathy did not require any movement from her jaws, as her teeth were clenched to endure the cramps that seized her abdomen. Kaede had turned up the heat through her enchanted undergarments' temperature controls to help relieve the pain. The cold front from the north might have brought low clouds that masked the expedition's movement into Rhin-Lotharingie. But the feel of freezing winds gusting past her thin body only seemed to worsen her agony.

	''Why couldn't the past week have been 'that time of the month'? At least I could ~~have~~ stayed in bed,'' she complained bitterly in thought as she awaited the topic of distraction.		''Why couldn't the past week have been 'that time of the month'? At least I could've stayed in bed,'' she complained bitterly in thought as she awaited the topic of distraction.

	"<u>I believe I mentioned that elite and specialist troops used some black powder weapons,</u>" Cecylia's mental voice returned in her soft soprano. "<u>The mortars are considered 'specialist weapons', just like the Knights Phantom's grenades.</u>"		"<u>I believe I mentioned that elite and specialist troops used some black powder weapons,</u>" Cecylia's mental voice returned in her soft soprano. "<u>The mortars are considered 'specialist weapons', just like the Knights Phantom's grenades.</u>"
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	"<u>They took that idea from the eastern Dawn Imperium, actually,</u>" Cecylia clarified.		"<u>They took that idea from the eastern Dawn Imperium, actually,</u>" Cecylia clarified.

	"<u>It was impressive for about two battles</u>," Pascal commented in a voice that was anything but impressed. "<u>Before... I cannot remember the name, but she created a counterspell by adapting the self-guided ''Ether Seeker'', which simply destroyed the ~~visible~~ rockets in mid-flight.</u>"		"<u>It was impressive for about two battles</u>," Pascal commented in a voice that was anything but impressed. "<u>Before... I cannot remember the name, but she created a counterspell by adapting the self-guided ''Ether Seeker'', which simply destroyed the heat-propelled rockets in mid-flight.</u>"

	Once again, human ingenuity proved that magical and physical technology mixed in ways that would alter the development of both sciences.		Once again, human ingenuity proved that magical and physical technology mixed in ways that would alter the development of both sciences.
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	Lynette was raised under the cross. She upheld the Holy Father just like most of modern Ceredigion. But within their hearts and memories, there would always be a soft spot for the Old Faiths and the ancient Faerie Lords.		Lynette was raised under the cross. She upheld the Holy Father just like most of modern Ceredigion. But within their hearts and memories, there would always be a soft spot for the Old Faiths and the ancient Faerie Lords.

	It was an odd tradition. The Sidhe -- or 'Tylwyth', as they were called in Brython -- were anything but just. The Seelie Court proved impulsive and chaotic, while the Unseelie Court stood callous and demanding. The Faerie Lords were legendary in many aspects, but being good rulers was not one of them.		It was an odd tradition. The Sidhe -- or 'Tylwyth', as they were called in the Brython language -- were anything but just. The Seelie Court proved impulsive and chaotic, while the Unseelie Court stood callous and demanding. The Faerie Lords were legendary in many aspects, but being good rulers was not one of them.

	It certainly didn't help that they occasionally kidnapped human children to be raised among their own kind, leaving behind a changeling surprise for the poor mothers.		It certainly didn't help that they occasionally kidnapped human children to be raised among their own kind, leaving behind a changeling surprise for the poor mothers.

	Nevertheless, the common peasant would be ecstatic to have an empress of Sidhe blood, however diluted it became after countless generations. But Lynette was the educated daughter of an ~~earl~~; she had to ask herself the important question first:		Nevertheless, the common peasant would be ecstatic to have an empress of Sidhe blood, however diluted it became after countless generations. But Lynette was the educated daughter of an Count; she had to ask herself the important question first:

	''Would a Faekissed -- an immature, twenty-year-old at that -- truly be good for the present dilemmas facing Rhin-Lotharingie?''		''Would a Faekissed -- an immature, twenty-year-old at that -- truly be good for the present dilemmas facing Rhin-Lotharingie?''
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	The entire camp had fallen to an eerie silence. Even the birds of the nearby woods fell quiet, their attention enthralled by the burning figure in the skies.		The entire camp had fallen to an eerie silence. Even the birds of the nearby woods fell quiet, their attention enthralled by the burning figure in the skies.

	"Even as I speak before you now, the ~~heathen~~ hordes of Cataliya advances through our countryside," Princess Sylviane then made the first gesture, her finger pointed sharply to the southwest as she gradually built up her tone. "Those slaves of corrupt tyrants from the demon-tainted continent know no honor, no faith. They were trained from boyhood to obey, to submit as blindly to their immoral masters as they do to their false god. They follow orders without question -- whether they be to pillage the homes of our countrymen; to slit the throats of our sons and ravish the innocence of our daughters; even to desecrate the holiness of our faith and the grace of our Lord and Savior who died for the world's sins."		"Even as I speak before you now, the evil hordes of Cataliya advances through our countryside," Princess Sylviane then made the first gesture, her finger pointed sharply to the southwest as she gradually built up her tone. "Those slaves of corrupt tyrants from the demon-tainted continent know no honor, no faith. They were trained from boyhood to obey, to submit as blindly to their immoral masters as they do to their false god. They follow orders without question -- whether they be to pillage the homes of our countrymen; to slit the throats of our sons and ravish the innocence of our daughters; even to desecrate the holiness of our faith and the grace of our Lord and Savior who died for the world's sins."

	Lynette had yet to hear any tales of atrocities from the south. Unlike her simple-minded soldiers, she would not be so easily agitated by such an eloquent canvas of blood and debauchery.		Lynette had yet to hear any tales of atrocities from the south. Unlike her simple-minded soldiers, she would not be so easily agitated by such an eloquent canvas of blood and debauchery.
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	For a brief second, Lynette felt the air knocked out of her breathe as the intensity of the Princess' final words struck home. To notice her own swelling hopes and unmasked guilt, to realize that her command was on the brink of mutiny, to visualize the crowning halo of light surrounding that burning-blue hair...		For a brief second, Lynette felt the air knocked out of her breathe as the intensity of the Princess' final words struck home. To notice her own swelling hopes and unmasked guilt, to realize that her command was on the brink of mutiny, to visualize the crowning halo of light surrounding that burning-blue hair...

	The floating figure before them no ~~long~~ seemed a mere girl who happened to draw the straw of royalty.		The floating figure before them no longer seemed a mere girl who happened to draw the straw of royalty.

	''She is an Empress in the making.''		''She is an Empress in the making.''

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	''A faekissed Princess of the Empire,'' Lynette thought to herself. ''A true scion of the otherworld.''		''A faekissed Princess of the Empire,'' Lynette thought to herself. ''A true scion of the otherworld.''

	The late emperor Geoffroi had married the daughter of some obscure ~~earl~~, so it had gone unnoticed by most. Yet through her, the royal line of House de Gaetane acquired the lingering bloodlines of the ancient Sidhe~~. Given that the late empress had given birth in different seasons, she was the descendant of multiple faerie-kin as well~~.		The late emperor Geoffroi had married the daughter of some obscure Count, so it had gone unnoticed by most. Yet through her, the royal line of House de Gaetane acquired the lingering bloodlines of the ancient Sidhe.

	But the Princess? She was an Autumnborn. They tended to favor acumen, though not as logical as their cold and stoic winter brethren. They also leaned towards envy, though never as passionate as their summer kin.		But the Princess? She was an Autumnborn. They tended to favor acumen, though not as logical as their cold and stoic winter brethren. They also leaned towards envy, though never as passionate as their summer kin.
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	"FORM UP! AIR DEFENSE!"		"FORM UP! AIR DEFENSE!"

	She had no air cavalry, no rangers, only ~~her~~ archers led by a handful of ~~mages~~.		She had no air cavalry, no rangers, only archers led by a handful of her own armigers.

	She had accepted this mission because she had no intention of defying the capital. But now, she wasn't sure it was the right choice.		She had accepted this mission because she had no intention of defying the capital. But now, she wasn't sure it was the right choice.
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	"I ''am'' Crown Princess Sylviane Etiennette de Gaetane. But I come to you today, not as an aspirant for the throne, or royalty demanding of your obedience, or even a commandant calling upon your service. I stand before you, as a woman of the Lotharin plains, a daughter of her forests, a comrade to all who stand shoulder to shoulder on the front lines of our faith, and most of all -- a ''paladin'' sworn to uphold her duty to kingdom, empire, and the Holy Father."		"I ''am'' Crown Princess Sylviane Etiennette de Gaetane. But I come to you today, not as an aspirant for the throne, or royalty demanding of your obedience, or even a commandant calling upon your service. I stand before you, as a woman of the Lotharin plains, a daughter of her forests, a comrade to all who stand shoulder to shoulder on the front lines of our faith, and most of all -- a ''paladin'' sworn to uphold her duty to kingdom, empire, and the Holy Father."

	The entire camp had fallen to an eerie silence. Even the birds of the nearby woods fell ~~silent~~, their attention enthralled by the burning figure in the skies.		The entire camp had fallen to an eerie silence. Even the birds of the nearby woods fell quiet, their attention enthralled by the burning figure in the skies.

	"Even as I speak before you now, the heathen hordes of Cataliya advances through our countryside," Princess Sylviane then made the first gesture, her finger pointed sharply to the southwest as she gradually built up her tone. "Those slaves of corrupt tyrants from the demon-tainted continent know no honor, no faith. They were trained from boyhood to obey, to submit as blindly to their immoral masters as they do to their false god. They follow orders without question -- whether they be to pillage the homes of our countrymen; to slit the throats of our sons and ravish the innocence of our daughters; even to desecrate the holiness of our faith and the grace of our Lord and Savior who died for the world's sins."		"Even as I speak before you now, the heathen hordes of Cataliya advances through our countryside," Princess Sylviane then made the first gesture, her finger pointed sharply to the southwest as she gradually built up her tone. "Those slaves of corrupt tyrants from the demon-tainted continent know no honor, no faith. They were trained from boyhood to obey, to submit as blindly to their immoral masters as they do to their false god. They follow orders without question -- whether they be to pillage the homes of our countrymen; to slit the throats of our sons and ravish the innocence of our daughters; even to desecrate the holiness of our faith and the grace of our Lord and Savior who died for the world's sins."
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	From the corner of her eyes, Lynette could see that all but a small fraction of her soldiers had completely forgotten about their weapons; their bows now hung loosely to one side as their spellbound stares transfixed themselves upon the Oriflamme Princess. Many, like her, even nodded along in agreement, embers of patriotic zeal burning within their eyes.		From the corner of her eyes, Lynette could see that all but a small fraction of her soldiers had completely forgotten about their weapons; their bows now hung loosely to one side as their spellbound stares transfixed themselves upon the Oriflamme Princess. Many, like her, even nodded along in agreement, embers of patriotic zeal burning within their eyes.

	In the span of just ~~minutes~~, the charisma of this twenty-year-old girl had enraptured the thoughts of several hundred men.		In the span of just moments, the charisma of this twenty-year-old girl had enraptured the thoughts of several hundred men.

	"It is for this reason that I come before you," Her Highness continued on, her rising fervor working itself up into a shout once more. "Our ally, King Leopold of Weichsel, warden of the Trinitian March, has pledged his support in the name of the Holy Father! His first wave of men and supplies ride with me, to reinforce our southern lines which so desperately need all aid! We come before you for passage, to gate south for the salvation of our realm! I care not for whom your loyalties are sworn to. But ''if you have any pride left as a protector of Rhin-Lotharingie, YOU WILL STAY OUT OF OUR WAY!''"		"It is for this reason that I come before you," Her Highness continued on, her rising fervor working itself up into a shout once more. "Our ally, King Leopold of Weichsel, warden of the Trinitian March, has pledged his support in the name of the Holy Father! His first wave of men and supplies ride with me, to reinforce our southern lines which so desperately need all aid! We come before you for passage, to gate south for the salvation of our realm! I care not for whom your loyalties are sworn to. But ''if you have any pride left as a protector of Rhin-Lotharingie, YOU WILL STAY OUT OF OUR WAY!''"

	For a brief second, Lynette felt the air knocked out of her breathe as the ~~intensify~~ of the Princess' final words struck home. To notice her own swelling hopes and unmasked guilt, to realize that her command was on the brink of mutiny, to visualize the crowning halo of light surrounding that burning-blue hair...		For a brief second, Lynette felt the air knocked out of her breathe as the intensity of the Princess' final words struck home. To notice her own swelling hopes and unmasked guilt, to realize that her command was on the brink of mutiny, to visualize the crowning halo of light surrounding that burning-blue hair...

	The floating figure before them no long seemed a mere girl who happened to draw the straw of royalty.		The floating figure before them no long seemed a mere girl who happened to draw the straw of royalty.