The Prelude of War

[ABYSS]

DATE & TIME: Dawn of June 6
CHARACTERS INVOLVED: All Interested
PREVIOUS THREADS? First Signs of Trouble

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Asther stood on the edge of an overlooking cliff into the valley. She and the rest of the people in her village that were actually able to fight seemed to be burning with the urge to simply leap out and attack. They were smarter than that, though, for one thing. For another, she had not yet commanded them to do such. She was surprised that on the relatively short trip here she hadn’t heard many complaints about what she had commanded them so far. Her orders had been simple, though. Get to the top of the cliff overlooking the valley where they would make sure the valley took place, then wait for further instructions after observation. The light blue eyes of the Leader of Berk closed slightly as the sun broke through the dark clouds for a brief moment before it faded from sight again. What a day for a fight. It had been looking like a storm was coming for days.

Ironic… Asther thought, a small smirk pulling at her lips despite the tension that could practically be smelled, much less felt in the air. The Hysteria Vikings on their shores below were milling about. Their paces seemed to be picking up since the appearance of the Berk Vikings and their dragons at the edge of the cliff. From what Asther could make out, they were positioning their catapults and trebuchets correctly to take aim at the cliff. She made a mental note to mention that to others that may not have observed that. They were also ripping branches off of trees, and slashing the ends off in a manner that made the large chunks of wood spiked on both ends, driving them into the ground as a defensive wall, behind some stones.

….it’s calm before the storm…

The Hysteria Vikings had been there long enough to actually set up a small, stone wall of defenses both between and in front of the wooden spikets that had been driven into the ground. They were defensive already, what would they be like when war actually broke out? Clearly they were focused on protecting the assets they were able to bring to the island by ship like their cannons, and probably anything else they had laying in their ships. Asther crossed her arms and leaned forward, stopped only by Puff, her ebony black Night Fury taking her arm lightly between his gums, having retracted his teeth. He looked at her with worry.

Smiling slightly, Asther rested her hand between the two big, blue-green eyes of her dragon. ”It’s alright, Puff…I won’t fall.” she told him re-assuringly. Not yet, anyway….

She turned on her heel to look at her assembled Vikings. This was the first time in her history as their village leader that she would lead them to war. Who would have thought that Hysterians would attack them on their home soil? She surely hadn’t. Not to mention, they had been crazy enough to come across the Rath of Thor with all of the natural calamities taking place?! There had been three mild typhoons within the last two weeks alone, and strange earth rumblings that caused small tsunamis. What was going on, she still didn’t have the faintest idea, nor did any Viking in her village. They had decided it best to go along with everything that was happening until it got out of hand. Only then would they start searching –more intensely than they were- for the causes of these strange happenings. Hysteria must be set on attacking us for one reason or another… she thought, biting her lip.

She knew that her father would have scolded her for not appointing a Viking that was second-in-command to her in case something went very, very wrong in the battle. However, she felt confident that there would be no need for something like that. She could hear his voice ringing in her head as though he were standing beside her and looking down on her for being thoughtless and potentially arrogant in that place of her leadership skills. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and stepped closer towards both her Vikings and the Outsiders and few Wild Dragons that had developed the intelligence in such a short time to side with Berk in this fight.

It seemed the changes in the natural world had driven the wild dragons to be more in-tune to what was going on with the Villagers.

”Berk!” she shouted, loud enough for those even in the back to hear her. She hoped it wasn’t too loud, but due to her failing hearing she couldn’t truly judge how loud her rules truly were. She had called their attention, but now it was just to wait to see and what anybody else would do or say before she continued with what she had in mind.

[PMG3E]

Pickle was itching to fight. He hadn't seen a fight like this for... well, for as long as he can remember. Fighting mostly occurred during scuffles between villagers, or exiles trying to re-enter the village.

In fact, he was at the front line, favourite battle axe in hand. He had just got it spruced up by Kenna during the preparation phrase. It was all nice and shiny, no scratches or chips in it at all. Even the handle was re-crafted - some of the finest wood on the island was used. The burly Viking was eager for battle.

The only think that irked him was the presence of the Night Fury at Asther's side. From old stories read to him as a child, the Night Fury was deemed something to feared with utmost fear. Well, Pickle shouldn't be complaining, as this dreaded beast of the night was actually on their side instead. Unfortunately the Viking's nature demanded complaint.

He watched the leader of Berk observing the Hysterians down below. She appeared so powerful, in control, but there was an aura of doubt surrounding her as well. He wondered how she learnt of the Hysterians coming, long before they were even in sight of the island itself. Rumour had it that an outsider - yes, an outsider of all people - had warned the Asther of the incoming attack. Pickle blatantly dismissed the fact - an outsider wouldn't be taken seriously in his eyes.

Suddenly Asther turned to face the army. Pickle stopped slouching, standing up straight and puffing out his chest to look as beastly and manly as possible. Despite the brink of warfare, Pickle was still a man who fell easily into submission in front of females.

Asther addresed the entire village, her spontaneous cry almost made the fearless viking jump. Being on the front row, her voice was very loud. Raising his battle axe, Pickle replied with a huge roar, followed by many eager warriors in the vicinity. Their war cries were definitely a morale booster, and it was probably loud enough for the Hysterian Vikings below to hear them. Intimidation, always a good strategy, after all. The roar spread like a mexican wave until those at the back were roaring and raising their weapons. Even some of the dragons were taking part, blasting bursts of red flame into the air.

Running out of breath, Pickle stopped, wiping a little drool off his beard. He beamed. He couldn't believe he was actually going to war! It was something he had been waiting for his entire life! Well, he would have preferred to be fighting against dragons, but this would have to do.

"At yer orders, Asther!" Pickle bellowed, giving some sort of salute.

[Chad & Nappy & Dagger]

there's blood on my hands

Once Chad had heard about the war that was going to happen, he jumped out of his chair at his house. He gathered everything that he would need to fight. His helmet, Nappy’s saddle, the harness that he put on his to hold on tighter, the stirrups, his own sword, gloves, and of course better clothes than the thin clothes he was wearing then. With all those items ready, he ran outside and whistled for Nappy. The huge BoneKnapper landed in front of him gracefully and obliged when he felt all the leather going on him. He looked at Chad worriedly as if knowing that something big was going to happen. Chad patted the dragon on the nose and gave a grim smile. ”We are going to be fighting for what we have needed to fight for, for a long time buddy.”

As Chad started putting his feet in the stirrups to hop up easier, he paused. He dropped back down and ran inside the house. He arose Dagger from his sleep which the Terrible terror didn’t like at first but realized was fine once he fed off of Chad’s emotions. The terror slinked through some armor that Chad had had made for him as a just in case. With that, he flew out one of Chad’s windows and landed on Nappy’s head in between the horns of the great dragon. Chad grabbed the last thing he would need in case he lost his sword. Luckily, the dagger fit perfectly inside his boot enough to where it wouldn’t scratch him.

With everything perfect now, Chad ran back outside and with his running was able to hop up onto Nappy with ease. He turned Nappy to his old house and after a quick flight they were there. He jumped off the dragon’s back and told the two to stay while he ran inside. When he got inside the house, he looked to his mom, dad, and sister, who looked like was about to burst into tears. ”I suppose you all heard.” His expression grew grim as they shook their heads yes. When he was about to speak his dad stepped forward. ”Don’t son. We know what you have to do. Just know that we love you and hope you do your best.” Chad nodded and gave his mom and dad a hug and kiss before picking up his sister and giving her the same. ”It will be over before you guys know it.” He said as he walked out of the house.

When he got back to Nappy he flung himself back in the saddle and waved to his parents and sister as the dragon lurched into the air. When they got to where the battle was going to take place, Nappy roared. A terrible fearsome roar that could deafen the whole area, but they were far enough away in which that wouldn’t happen. When they landed at the back of the pack, mainly because of their size, Nappy shook himself rattling the bones that held his armor into place. A couple people stared in awe and shock at the size of the dragon, besides the fact that it was also rare. Chad just looked straight ahead at Asther and waited her command.

When he heard Asther yell Berk, he raised his sword high in the air and let the sun hit it as he yelled Berk back. Nappy blew fire into the air along with Dagger. Chad and his dragons were pumped and ready for this battle to begin.

like the blood in you.

words_589 tagged_open notes_let's kick some butt
Credits_Kalyn.Alexis of CAUTION2.0

[Sven & Hermes]

Sven and Hermes were up in the air, surveying the battlefield. He had previously given strategical information of the landscape to Asther before this assembly of Vikings had grown to such a rate. It was true that Hysterians had no dragons whatsoever - the Hooligans had the upper advantage. But Hermes seemed distraught.

"What's up Herms?" He asked, patting her neck. He knew they were both not very good fighters at all, which was a reason they would be aiding Luna at the back, tending to wounded warriors.

"It's going to rain." She stated simply. Sven was confused - Hermes had no problem flying through rain, but then it struck him. Leathery wings don't fly well in rain, nor can dragons produce fire when wet. Maybe they wouldn't have an advantage after all. Sven frowned.

A piercing scream from a Boneknapper below raised his spirits a little - a dragon huge like that would probably make the fight a little easier, even in the rain. "Let's go see Luna. We gotta prepare." Hermes agreed, and they made their way back down, to where the medics were gathered. Above the wind, Sven could hear the cry of Asther, adressing Berk.

Landed, he soon found Luna and was at her side, preparing pastes and ointments in advance for quick and easy use. Hermes was still very agitated. Sven turned around, leaning on the tablet someone had brought out. "I've never seen you so frightened, Hermes." He said, mashing some leaves in a pestle and mortar. Hermes grunted, as if the answer was evident.

"We're on the brink of warfare, Sven! I'm not built to fight! We're more than likely gonna die out there Sven."

"I'm not built to fight either. That's why we're taking role of medic. Do you think I'm not scared too?" He looked down at his hands, he was trembling a bit; well, he had been trembling ever since the arrival of war had been declared officially. "If we die," He blurted, the thought making him tremble more, the pestle clinking against the stone bowl. Sven gulped. "Then we die. There's not much we can really do." Sven's eyes appeared sullen, even his voice was quavering. "We've lived a good life, right? Nothing to lose."

He tried to appear confident, but it was waning. Hermes could tell as well, reading him like a book. Only the Viking warriors around them seemed unafraid. The duo wished so much for their bravery, but they weren't raised as Vikings, well, Sven anyway. Hermes had a story of her own.