Post by Cassius Ado Virtus on Jan 8, 2006 18:00:55 GMT -5
"PARADE, ATTEN- TION!"
Thousands of well trained feet came down on the paved square in unison, swords and armour jingled, playing to the thunderous sound of many boots striking the hard floor.
It never got old, much like the General. Cassius never tired of military life, ceremonies, and the thrill of combat, the art of strategy.
"PARADE, TO THE FRONT- SALUTE!"
Cassius stood upon an elevated podium at the front of the parade square. The paved floor was more than 200 paces by 125 paces, and didn't even cover a quarter of the space within the walls of the Karadorian armies compound in the centre of the keep.
The space within the walls was filled with all manner of buildings and odd looking items. Rows upon rows of barracks, training grounds for sword fighting, unarmed combat, mounted combat, archery, siege engineers, study halls, officers quarters, mess tent, the list was seemingly endless - and Cassius was immensely proud of his men, the army his family had built and maintained down the eons to serve mighty Karador. There was no higher honour.
"PARADE, STAND AT- EASE!"
The parade master's voice rang out like a thunderclap, followed by the familiar sound of thousands of footfalls. The parade master then turned swiftly and smartly on his heel, and saluted the general, "Sir." He said, his hand snapping back to his side.
Cassius surveyed the scene. Not one tenth of the grand army of Karador stood before him. The army that was the lifeblood of this land, the army that bled to keep Karador whole. It was time for them to do the bleeding, and for the aristocracy and assorted pompous nobles to sit about and do nothing. These were worth more to a man, than thousands of the overfed, pampered lady-boys that lounged in their mansions and followed the queen like the plague.
Suppressing his momentary anger, Cassius raised his head to address his men,
"Soldiers of mighty Karador!" He began, his voice thundering throughout the assembled ranks "I offer you now words of comfort, nor of false hope. Nay, I offer you the truth of my word."
"This day dawns dark and dismal. A shadow hangs in the air, and in the hearts of men this day, blotting out the sun and the courage of many. But you, my honourable friends, shall not falter. WE shall stand tall in the face of death, We shall stand proud in the face of fear, we shall stand stolid, implacable in our resolve and as always, you - the lifeblood of mighty Karador, will emerge victorious!"
The assembled soldiers cheered, but an eerie quiet drew over them as Cassius raised his hand,
"Today, we go to war, we go to find and slay an ancient enemy. We go to make war, to do right, to stand for all that is good in this world, and we go to finish the task our ancestors started generations ago. We will go to hell mighty warriors of Karador, We will kick down the burning gates and we shall not be denied! We shall silence the darkness once and for all, and we shall give all that we have to give for our loved ones, our mighty homeland, and our Queen. Our sweat, our tears, our blood, even our very lives, but not in vain proud warriors of Karador, we go to war, and I assure you, we go to victory"
The assembled ranks exploded in cheers and thunderous roars. Steel glinted in the sun as swords were drawn and raised in salute to the general, to the kingdom, and to the Queen.
Cassius smiled inside, but his face remained set, serious, but glowing pride was clearly visible in his features. "Good men. Fine men." Cassius thought to himself as the parade master stepped up to prepare the army to march out of the safety of the keep, to link up with the rest of Cassius's army, and to protect their great lands, to give their lives, so that others may live.
They were truly honourable warriors to a man, and there were none better to be found across the civilised world.
Thousands of well trained feet came down on the paved square in unison, swords and armour jingled, playing to the thunderous sound of many boots striking the hard floor.
It never got old, much like the General. Cassius never tired of military life, ceremonies, and the thrill of combat, the art of strategy.
"PARADE, TO THE FRONT- SALUTE!"
Cassius stood upon an elevated podium at the front of the parade square. The paved floor was more than 200 paces by 125 paces, and didn't even cover a quarter of the space within the walls of the Karadorian armies compound in the centre of the keep.
The space within the walls was filled with all manner of buildings and odd looking items. Rows upon rows of barracks, training grounds for sword fighting, unarmed combat, mounted combat, archery, siege engineers, study halls, officers quarters, mess tent, the list was seemingly endless - and Cassius was immensely proud of his men, the army his family had built and maintained down the eons to serve mighty Karador. There was no higher honour.
"PARADE, STAND AT- EASE!"
The parade master's voice rang out like a thunderclap, followed by the familiar sound of thousands of footfalls. The parade master then turned swiftly and smartly on his heel, and saluted the general, "Sir." He said, his hand snapping back to his side.
Cassius surveyed the scene. Not one tenth of the grand army of Karador stood before him. The army that was the lifeblood of this land, the army that bled to keep Karador whole. It was time for them to do the bleeding, and for the aristocracy and assorted pompous nobles to sit about and do nothing. These were worth more to a man, than thousands of the overfed, pampered lady-boys that lounged in their mansions and followed the queen like the plague.
Suppressing his momentary anger, Cassius raised his head to address his men,
"Soldiers of mighty Karador!" He began, his voice thundering throughout the assembled ranks "I offer you now words of comfort, nor of false hope. Nay, I offer you the truth of my word."
"This day dawns dark and dismal. A shadow hangs in the air, and in the hearts of men this day, blotting out the sun and the courage of many. But you, my honourable friends, shall not falter. WE shall stand tall in the face of death, We shall stand proud in the face of fear, we shall stand stolid, implacable in our resolve and as always, you - the lifeblood of mighty Karador, will emerge victorious!"
The assembled soldiers cheered, but an eerie quiet drew over them as Cassius raised his hand,
"Today, we go to war, we go to find and slay an ancient enemy. We go to make war, to do right, to stand for all that is good in this world, and we go to finish the task our ancestors started generations ago. We will go to hell mighty warriors of Karador, We will kick down the burning gates and we shall not be denied! We shall silence the darkness once and for all, and we shall give all that we have to give for our loved ones, our mighty homeland, and our Queen. Our sweat, our tears, our blood, even our very lives, but not in vain proud warriors of Karador, we go to war, and I assure you, we go to victory"
The assembled ranks exploded in cheers and thunderous roars. Steel glinted in the sun as swords were drawn and raised in salute to the general, to the kingdom, and to the Queen.
Cassius smiled inside, but his face remained set, serious, but glowing pride was clearly visible in his features. "Good men. Fine men." Cassius thought to himself as the parade master stepped up to prepare the army to march out of the safety of the keep, to link up with the rest of Cassius's army, and to protect their great lands, to give their lives, so that others may live.
They were truly honourable warriors to a man, and there were none better to be found across the civilised world.