Swords and Lions

[Rhalius]

Thanks everyone, I had hoped to continue it for some days now, but things are a bit busy currently, I signed up for a writing education and have to do some reading and homework for that. Also working more this week than the last one. I'm hoping to post more before the weekend though!

[Rhalius]

As the three friends approach the Dread Baron, they see their friend Roland fighting a desperate struggle against him. He is the last one of their army.

They would want to rush in and help him, but they know they should be cautious.

Everyone else is defeated or captured, things are looking grim.

Sir William: "I am sorry it has come to this, you three fought bravely at the tournaments but you serve the wrong King. Now you will have to face the Dread Baron."

Roland is quickly defeated, and the three friends stand ready to take on the Dread Baron!

Dread Baron: "Muhahaha! just three more little knights to beat down! come fight me!"
Henry: "You will pay for what you did to my brother!"
Roderick: "Calm down Henry, we will fight him together."
Henry nods. "Right."
Frederick: "Charge!!"

Frederick and Henry attack him together from the front, doing their best to keep both his swords occupied while Roderick moves around to attack him in the back!


But the Dread Baron kicks Frederick away while he turns to fend off Roderick, and still fighting Henry at the same time!


He manages to really press the attack on the surprised Roderick, who did not see this comeing at all!

While Roderick fights for his life and Henry is unable to break through the Baron's defence, Frederick got back up and runs up to the Dread Baron, charging him with sword and flail in hand!

[Rhalius]

But while fighting Henry and Roderick, the Dread Baron bends his back, catches Frederick on it and tosses him over his back!


Quickly he uses his sword to keep Frederick down while he batters down on Henry's defence, and Roderick tries to get back up again.


He beats down Henry, and puts his sword over Roderick's, ensuring it remains lowered. He looks over his shoulder to look at Frederick, who is not getting up either.

Alas, the three young knights did their best, but even their combined teamwork was not enough to defeat the Dread Baron.
Dread Baron: "Muhahaha! Well fought for young runts, but no one can defeat me!"

As the Dread Baron is about to attack the three friends while they are down, he suddenly feels he is being watched.

Sir Nolan: "That is a bold claim to make, let's see if you can live up to it."
Dread Baron: "What the- Who are you people?! More knights of King Phillip? I crushed them all, what makes you think you three will do any better?!"

Sir Sigurd: "You should have done more research on your enemies before declaring war on the entire continent. As soon as we heard word that our brother in arms was not on his way home as planned, we took action. I assume it was you who defeated Sir Warren, the Golden knight of the West."

Sir Evander: "I am Sir Evander, the iron knight of the East. We have come to take you prisoner and bring you back to our Isle of Craftkeep for your crimes."
Sir Sigurd: "I am Sir Sigurd, the copper knight of the South. Since King Phillip asked us to send someone to join the discussion on how to stop the supposedly unbeatable Dread Baron, we have been looking forward to rise up to this challenge!"
Sir Nolan: "I am Sir Nolan, the silver knight of the North. I don't think it was easy for you to defeat Sir Warren. We all train together and are equally strong. We have fought warriors from all continents. While you may have defeated one Craftkeep knight, you will now face the three others."

In the meanwhile, the three friends crawled back to their feet and looked at each other. Without saying a word they where in agreement that it would be best to let these strangers fight. It would at least give them a chance to catch their breath and help them if need be.

Dread Baron: "Sounds like you are leaving everything exposed to fight me instead of trying to save your friend. Last I heard Craftkeep did not have much else than four knights to defend itself."

Sigurd is first to jump off his horse.

Sir Sigurd: "We trade with all continents, we have many allies. Including some you may only have heard rumors of. We will deal with you personally, and one of our allies is on his way to the castle where Sir Warren was going to attend that meeting. This way all three of us can be here to ensure your defeat."

Will these three knights indeed be up to the challenge, and defeat the Dread Baron? And what allies could they possibly have? It sure looks like Prince Edward and the Dread Baron may have made too many enemies! But will it be enough to stop them?

These answers will come soon. ((I promise it will this time be soon for real!))

[MandyJ]

That's some set up and battle, there's so much going on I don't know where to look   

I love the knights/soldiers with the unshaven faces, they really look the part 
Mandy

[DrDalek6]

Great photos that Dread Baron is unbelievable being able to sense and fend off all those attack from different angles even those 3 friends couldn't do it. Really good use of those new Torunament Knights they look impressive here's hoping together they can defeat the Dread Baron 

[Tiermann]

I certainly hope these three do better than the past opponents. The Dread Baron is getting a bit annoying with his winning all the time.

[Rhalius]

After the three Craftkeep knights have dismounted, they move around the Dread baron. They keep a safe distance for now.

Sir William: "Sir Nolan.. I see you use the Lion for your heraldry. Only those of Alion use the Lion as their symbol."
Sir Nolan: "I used to be one of King Richard's knights yes. But he ruined his own country and it seems his son allies himself with scum like this Dread Baron. I don't want any part in that."

Henry looks at the Iron knight when he steps close.

Henry: "Be carefull, he is dangerous. We also took him on with the three of us but we couldn't beat him."
Sir Evander: "Well I am sure you did your best, and seem to have fought bravely. But now it is time for you to leave this to more experienced knights."
While not happy about happy about Evander's arrogance, Henry remains silent and turns to his friends.


Henry: "I don't know if we can trust these guys.. we better be ready to step in and help since I don't think they will do better than us."
Frederick: "That's right! We already fought him twice so we have experience dealing with him! But let's just give them a chance too, they might at least tire him out a little."
Roderick: "But the Baron also has experience fighting us.. and fighting those who taught us how to fight. Craftkeep is pretty far away.. just look at some of the exotic weapons they carry. They must be getting all kinds of special materials and travelers at their island. Maybe they will fight differently."
Henry: "Fancy weapons and armor won't save them."

They quickly go silent when suddenly Sigurd the copper knight boldly attacks the Dread baron!

While the copper knight seems outmatched, he does hold his own against the Dread Baron's strong defence and is not making it easy. But its clear he wont last long. Why are the other two just watching the fight and not helping him?
Dread Baron: "Not bad, better than expected. But you are no match for me still!"
Sigurd: "We will see."

Suddenly the silver knight steps in to block one of the Baron's blades. It seems he had been waiting for just the right moment to step in.

Dread Baron: "Can't beat me on my own huh? Not so tough as you thought you are then. Hah!"
Sir Nolan: "When you are defeated, no one will come to help you. You are going to wish you had others as strong as yourself next to you."

While he talks big, the Dread Baron is forced on the defensive by these two knights. He struggles to keep them both at bay, Sigurd manages to hit his helmet from his head with one of his swords!

The iron knight still watches the fight, but by now the three friends suspect he will step in at some point as well.

[Rhalius]

And yes, the iron knight steps in to attack the Baron as well! he manages to surprise Sigurd with a kick to try and keep one off him at least, but he is soon forced to the ground as he desperatly tries to defend himself against the three knights!

The three friends can do nothing but look in surprise at what is happening here.

Quickly, the copper knight gets back on his feet and while the iron and silver knight push the Baron's swords away, Sigurd moves his curved swords to the Baron's neck.

And so the seemingly impossible has happened: The "unbeatable" Dread Baron has been defeated.
Sigurd: "Quick, disarm him and get the chains from the horses!"

The three Craftkeep knights are quick to disarm the Baron and pull his armor off, and while its a bit of a struggle they manage to put him in chains.

The baron screams and pulls at his chains, but he can't break them. "RHAAAH! You will all pay for this! I will have your heads!"
Evander: "We should have brought a cloth to gag him as well.."

Sir Nolan: "Looks like we defeated your Dread Baron who just defeated an army by himself."

Sir William: "Yes you did, But I dont think you three can take on our entire army."
Sir Sigurd: "Looks like there are six knights standing here who oppose you."
"Seven!" Christopher shouts while Frederick helps him back on his feet.


Sir Nolan: "There you have it. Seven knights. Three who just defeated the Dread Baron, I recognize knight Christopher as a reknowned tournament champion, and these three young knights probably did better against the Dread Baron than your knights could have done."
Sir Sigurd: "So the only question you have to ask yourself is: Do I feel lucky?"
Sir William glances around at his soldiers and the other knights. Some seem to be shaking in their boots, many seem doubtfull about why they are even fighting at all.
He has to admit that the Prince has hired some shady company to help them.. and now he feels bad for even having accepted it.
"No.. I don't feel lucky.. not at all. I've had a bad feeling about this for a long time.. I know the knights of Craftkeep won't leave their island without good reason. Perhaps I have blindly trusted my prince and never stopped to consider that it could be our Prince who is wrong, and not King Phillip. I hereby surrender my army, but to King Phillip's forces and not to Craftkeep. Is that acceptable?"

Sir Nolan: "Yes, that is acceptable. We only wanted the Dread Baron as our prisoner."
Roderick: "Please lay down your arms then, there is no need for further fighting."

Heinrich and Wolfgang are not too happy about this at all though!

Wolfgang: "What's this?! these cowards are surrendering? We can't defeat them with just our own forces!"
Heinrich: "They just took out the Dread Baron.. and these lion soldiers may be gullible enough to join them if we continue the fight."
Wolfgang: "I say we get out of here now, before we are put in prison."
Heinrich: "Our troops can cover our retreat."

It looks like the Dread Baron has finally been defeated and chained up, he won't be going anywhere and the Lion army seems to surrender as well. But what about the two cousins Wolfgang of Ravenstein and Heinrich Drachenfell? Will they manage to avoid getting captured? And where is their other cousin, Siegfried Rodich?

The conclusion to this chapter will come soon.

[Rhalius]

Wolfgang: "Soldiers! Attack!"

While their soldiers clash with the brave knights, their leaders flee to their horses.
Roderick sees that the copper and the silver knight stay with the dread baron and the Lion army, so he joins his friends.
"After them, don't let them get away!"

Heinrich: "That was close, we should leave right away."
Wolfgang: "What about Siegfried?"

Heinrich: "He's gone, now let's get out of here."

Henry: "Not so fast! You two are not getting away this time!"

Wolfgang: "Curses! them again! Get out of our way."
Frederick: "Not today."
Roderick: "Surrender, it's over!"

"Never!" They shout together, before attacking the three friends.

But the three friends stand as one, fighting together and defending each other. Working together as Cedric taught them to do, and they prevail!

With the two dark knights disarmed, they are forced to surrender.

Heinrich: "Fine, you won this battle.. but this is not over yet!"
Wolfgang: "Prince Edward has many hostages, he will trade some for us."

With all their enemies defeated, the three friends move their new prisoners back to the others, and it is quite a sight they get to see now.

The Lion army has been disarmed and taken prisoner, and all their own troops are back on their feet, guarding them. And the Dread Baron stands in chains before the three Craftkeep knights.

[Rhalius]

Herbert is back on his horse, safely surrounded by his veterans again.

Herbert smiles: "Ah you are back! good to see you managed to catch the last of them too! The guard captain already moved back to the castle with some prisoners and soldiers."

Sir William of the Lion army kept his word and surrendered, now he and his troops await judgement. They have many questions about their Prince, who they truly believed in.


As the three friends walk past the Dread Baron and the Craftkeep knights, it's such a strange sight to them to see the fearsome Dread Baron in chains.

Sir Evander: "It looks like our work here is done. We will head back to Craftkeep now with our new prisoner, as we agreed."
Henry: "Thanks for your help, just don't let him get away."
Sir Nolan: "We won't. He will pay for his crimes."
Frederick: "What about your friend the golden knight?"
Sir Sigurd: "He will join us in Craftkeep soon enough, don't worry about that."

As they walk past the Dread Baron, he seems quite angry and they are quite happy he is chained up.

Dread Baron: "These chains won't hold me forever, I will be free again. I would have gotten away with destroying your entire army if it where not for these meddling knights! One way or another, I will get my revenge!"
Frederick: "Enjoy the hospitality of Craftkeep, I am sure you will be staying there a while. Don't forget to send us a postcard with the holidays."

With all the prisoners gathered now, everyone stands ready.

Christopher: "Looks like that was all of them, shall we head back to the castle?"
Henry: "Yes, let's move out. After these prisoners are locked up we can take the fight to Prince Edward."
Frederick: "This went a lot better than expected. Looks like we have that arrogant prince beaten already."
Roderick: "Don't forget he holds many kings and queens prisoner, including our King Phillip. He might threaten to hurt them when we get close."
Sir Gareth: "You never know what he might do when he hears of this defeat.. a cornered man might be twice as dangerous."

As the army is ready to move out, the Craftkeep knights start their longer journey back home, with their prisoner walking behind them in chains.

Sir Evander: "Good thing we arrived in time or the Baron could have been gone already. Those knights didn't put up much of a fight."
Sir Nolan: "They have not seen as much battle as we did my friend."
Sir Sigurd: "We got what we came here for, so just let it rest."

It seems the battle is won, but will these Craftkeep Knights keep the Dread Baron prisoner? And what might Prince Edward have in store for them when they march to his castle? What fate awaits the many hostages he is holding? And did Cedric manage to keep their own castle safe with so few troops?

These answers will come in the final chapter of this story, to be released soon. But for now, this chapter draws to a close.