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(8.1) Twilight of the Journey
(8.1) Twilight of the Journey
The Payner Plains
29 Kilometers north of the city of Revers
Outer Rim World of Cyout
October 9th, 1938
The setting sun cast long shadows across the plains as the thick smoke clung to the earth like the dying across the battlefield clinging to life itself. The sounds of the dying filled the air as small pockets of fighting continued. Their cries for help, salvation or in some cases, death itself created an eerie sound. A lone women dressed in white moved from body to body. Her form appeared to be more like a ghost then anything else. At some points as she moved through the field, all that was seen was the orange glow of her torch. She walked up to a soldier dressed in the white uniform that symbolized his loyalty to the Church of the Light. She checked him and made sure that he was still alive. She pulled a large stick from her pack and drove it in to the ground next to the soldier. She lit the stick and yelled out for others. She leaned down over the man who was crying from his wounds. "shhh, We have found you. Help will be here" she softly whispered.
He begged her to stay with him, but she couldn't. A pair of men arrived and lifted the wounded soldier up and placed him in a wagon. She shook her head, "I can't. There are so many others to be found." She said as she gave him a soft kiss on his forehead, "you are in good hands. We will save you." She reassured him. On that she, continued to walk the field finding those soldiers who were still alive. She soon walked up to a soldier who had his leg blown off by a cannon shot. She knelled down next to him. He was long dead from blood loss. She lowered her head in a moment of silence as she reached up and closed his eyes. The battle of The Payner Plains was the first major stand off between the Rebels and the Church of the Light. The battle lasted for nearly two days as over fifty thousands soldiers squared off with the fate of Cyout in the balance. She lifted her head as she looked down at the young man who's name will be forgotten by history. She slowly rose up from the blood soaked mud. Her white gown covered in blood and mud from the number of times she had repeated her simply little prayer for the dead.
She turned at the sound of a horse moving through the battlefield. As her eyes scanned the smoke filled battlefield, she saw the others like her searching for survivors. Beyond them, she saw five horses moving through the field of dead and dying. It was easy to recognize General Reshosti, he was regimental commander of the garrison from the City of Revers. It was under his leadership that was able to organize the local garrisons and secure the City of Revers. His leadership proved to be critical to this battle. To his she recognize left Colonel Narishifsh, the local militia commander. He was able to rally nearly all nine thousand militiamen to help General Reshosti's troops in his hour of need. To General Reshosti's right is the mysterious Master Hearthman. While there is not much known of this foreigner, what is known, is that Master Heartman fought side by side with the Rebels and lead troops in the battle. She was the only female on the battlefield who actually helped in the fighting. Something that would surely go down in Cyout History for years to come. Or at least that is how the lone nurse saw how it should be. She looked with her wide eyes upon the woman who would change the role of women across Cyout.
Colonel Narishifsh looked out over the battlefield, "The day belongs to us, General."
"Indeed, it has been fought and won." General Reshosti said as he looked around. His eyes fell upon Master Heartman. Before this battle, he would have never allowed a woman on his battlefield. While women had their place in leadership and their roles in society, but on the battlefield that was something else. However if it was not for Master Heartman's involvement, they would not have been able to defeat the Children of the Light. "Master Heartman, our forces will rest tonight and then march north to the port city of Listoush. Will you and your followers be joining us?"
Master Heartman repositioned herself on her saddle as she looked around, "No General" she said plainly. "The Children of Xan have been slain on this day" she explained as she turned to face the two men, "Xan Zall, the dark lord of the Church of the Light has been slain. The Church's Iron walkers are no more. The path before you has been cleared. From this moment own, the fate of Cyout must be decided by the people of Cyout."
"Master Heartman you have proven to be vital to our plans. In one battle you and your followers have turned the tide of battle from certain defeat to sounding victory." Colonel Narishifsh looked around. It was clear that he didn't completely trust his former enemy commander turned ally yet. "Your involvement could end this war in half the time. Please reconsider."
Master Heartman turned to face the Colonel, "yes I agree. Our involvement could end this war in record time. And we would be no better than Xan Zall and what he did to your people. Colonel, If your people are to survive. Than you will have to learn to put the past behind you and learn to forge a future together. Colonel, General, before yesterday, your people were two different groups of people. yesterday, two groups fought side by side as one people. They fought for freedom and liberty. This is the truth of this battle. My followers and I did not make this happen. You two did. Both of you and those who support you two. There is more than enough to bind your two people together." She motioned out over the field that is covered with soldiers. Many wore white coats while others wore red coats. Even still there were plan clothes of the militiamen and those of the natives." she paused a moment and thought, "No I am mistaken. There are more than just two groups here." she turned back to the two men, "while the groups are diverse, you are still one people. It will take much more than just winning battles on the field of honor. Draw on what units your people and bridge the differences."
The General moved his horse closer to Master Heartman's, "Your words are very wise. Your leadership will be sorely missed. Still, I understand what you are saying." he said holding out his hand for her to shake.
"General, our agreement must be fulfilled." She said taking his hand. She turned her head to the Colonel. "IT is important that this be fulfilled if your path forward is to remain clear for your people."
The old General nodded his head, "I have made sure that the official record of your involvement has been written as per your request. Master Heartman, a land owner from the militia, would be wounded and during the battle and returned home with honor. Beyond that, nothing else of your involvement in this battle will be recorded. As per your request, you and your followers will have a very minor role in our history."
Colonel Narishifsh nodded, "Yes, my men have been told of Master Heartman and his brave charge up the enemies flank. And how he was wounded. The stories have already been passed by my officers. There will be no record of a woman in our ranks. And your own iron walkers. Well no one from my militia saw that battle on the other side of the ridge. So there is no fear of that getting out. Your people did a very good job of cleaning up the battlefield over there. There is no evidence of the Churches Iron walkers or your own." The Colonel turned and faced the General for a moment then looked back at Master Heartman. He could not deny her godlike powers or her forces that arrived just in time. "Though I have to ask. If your followers had not arrived in time, the Church would have hit our flanks with their Iron Walkers and this battle would have been completely lost. Why should we ease this from our history. Surely you would want your noble actions to be recorded?"
Master Heartman smiled, "Because for you to have a future, we must be forgotten. This is how it must be. I am sorry that I can not explain more but you must trust me on this."
It was clear that the two military leaders did not want to let Master Heartman leave. But it was something that they had no choice in the matter. Nor could they have fully understood her reasons for the deception regarding the party's involvement in this critical battle. The mission to Cyout was meant to be the defining moment for the party. Master Heartman smiled at the two men as she started to turn her horse and leave. However General Reshosti stopped her, "Please before you go," he said reaching out for her.
Master Heartman paused her departure, "Yes General," she questioned.
"While we as a people may forget you. I will never forget what I have seen here today. Nor should you forget what you have done for us," he explained. He reached in to his sidesaddle and pulled out a box, "one of my aids found these near where you had slain the children of the Son" he said handing her the box. He watched as she opened the box to reveal the pair of flintlock musket pistols. He made sure that the set was complete with powder, shot and cleaning rods. "I am told that you used one of those to end the life of the dark daughter of the Son. I can not imagine the power that you wield or the nature of that sword of light of ours. But the fates decided to put that in your hand in that moment, during your time of need. Through that, you brought victory to our cause." he explained, "I have had them cleaned and engraved with this date. So that you will never forget us. Maybe someday, we will join this world in the stars that you belong to. But, for now, you have given us a future." It was clear by his voice that he was sincerely chocked up by the emotions of the moment. "We as a people will never be able to repay you and your friends for what you have done for us here."
Master Heartman looked at the twin pistols that once belonged to Mikcalib, the twisted adopted son of Xan Zall. During the battle against the two darksiders, Angel had fought hard to put the pair down. The wounds from her recent battle with Sha had taken their toll on Angel. But Angel was not about to let these people down in their hour of need. She killed Mikcalib with a thrust of her lightsaber and was able to focus on Zentra'us. The dark daughter of Xan and clearly the more gifted of the two. While Angel might have had Zentra'us out matched in both experience and skill, her wounds from a few days ago and those received at the hands of Mikcalib were taking their toll. Zentra'us managed to disarm Angel and knocked her back. In that moment Zentra'us made that mistake that all darksiders tend to do. She paused to savor the moment just before she ended Angel's life. In that moment Angel reached out and took the pistol from Mikcalib's body and fired. She could have never known which one of the two had been fired just moments before his death. Angel placed her live in the hands of the Force and choose one. The pistol fired and filled the space between them with white smoke. As the smoke cleared, Angel saw the red hole in Zentra'us head. With Zentra'us dead, Angel took their hightech items from the bodies and left the bodies for the locals to hold as prove of the dead.
The official story would be that they were killed by a combined attack from both the militia and garrison troops. Angel never gave the pistols a second thought. However now that she held them, the memories flooded back of that duel between the two darksiders. She could smell the burnt gunpowder and hear the sounds of the larger battle raging around them. Angel got up and looked down at Zentra'us lifeless body looking back up at her. Angel wondered if this was what she saved Sha from becoming. Angel felt the darkness within Sha just like she had sensed it in Ubaah. It was the same darkness that she felt in Mikcalib, Zentra'us. That morning in the barn, Angel confronted Sha and Sha made it clear that the two of them should resolve their differences through duels. Angel had agreed and shortly there after the duel was over. Angel knew that Sha never once stood a chance against her in a stand up honorable duel. In that moment Sha demanded that Angel take her life as part of her culture. Angel shook her head telling their former combat leader, "Why should I honor your culture when you don't honor mine? No Sha, you have been defeated by an Azgardian. As such I own your life. After all, isn't that how you believe as well? Keep what you kill? No Sha, you will serve my House and earn your honor back." Angel for the first time in her life took a bondman's under Azgardian law. "I will claim your lightsaber as mine as well as your loyalty. This is our law and now it is yours. Rather you like it or not."
The act of taking bondsmen by Azgardians dated back to the Great Azgardian/Mandalorian War. A tradition that was uncommon to both cultures but took fast and deep roots in both. While there are massive disputes over the origins from outside both cultures, it become a time honored tradition that both held on to. During battle, a pair of opposing warriors would challenge each other in a duel. The victor of that duel would take the defeated warrior as a bondsman. The defeated warrior would serve his bonds as he regained his honor. At the end of the war, bondsmen were allowed to return home with their honor intact. It was an unforeseen cultural side effect that both warrior cultures grew from this tradition and became more enriched by the other through their bondsmen. When Mandalore fell victim to a natural disaster, it was the cultural experiences learned from bondsman tradition that allowed Azgard to take in millions of Mandalore Refugees. Azgard felt that the Refugees were more like distant relatives rather than enemies on the field of battle. A move that both confused and shocked the Republic Senate during that time in history. Once more, the tradition would be used to help bridge a cultural gap. Or at least that was Angel's plan.
Angel remembered that fateful moment as it flooded back. In that moment Angel had always thought Sha honorable. She never once thought Sha would act out of dishonor. Though she should have seen it coming. Angel turned to return to the party to let them know what happened. The sound of the shot rang in Angel's ears filled her with horror of her mistake. The pain that ripped through her body told her of the near fetal wound. Angel spun to see Sha holding her shotgun looking right in to Angel's eyes. It was a cowardly attack, that Angel knew she had left herself open for. Anyone else, they would have been killed from the sneak attack. However, Azgardians were designed to take allot of damage before succumbing to wounds. It was clear by the shock in Sha's eyes, that she had expected Angel to fall from the attack. Angel snatched the weapon from Sha's hands and shattered it through the Force. It's pieces flew past Angel as she ordered Makaw and the others to place Sha under arrest. "We will resolve this act of betrayal later" Angel declared. She added, "Till then, sleep on it Sha" she said using the Force to place Sha in a state of slumber.
The next issue the party had to deal with was Dia. Who held some sense of loyalty to Sha. Despite all that Angel and Makaw had done for her, the young teen attempted to flee with the sleeping Sha. Angel was forced to make a hard decision. She set Dia down and attempted to reason with the teen. However there was no getting through to her. While Dia accepted Angel's words, Angel knew that she was lying. It was a sad turn for the party as it turned from a party of unity to a party against its self. Neither Angel nor Makaw could have foresaw these events coming. With both Dia and Sha tended to by the being known as Night Side, it freed Angel and Makaw to do what they set out to do here on Cyout. Deal with Xan and his dark church of the light. It was time to put an end to both and Angel promised that Xan would not leave this world. With the help of the Sabbat on world and local Force Users, Angel and Makaw were able to local Xan. The group was able to sneak in to his inner sanctuary undetected. In an epic battle where the Force played a critical role, Angel and her group was able to put Xan and his group of Stalkers down. Still, the price was high. The ten local Force Users met their fate that night at the hands of the Stalkers. It was something that had to happen for Angel to do what she had to do. She knew that their fate was sealed, but it was their role in this coming battle. In the end, Xan was no more. She learned that Xan Zall had cloned himself weeks before his capture on Imaginous. Just like on Imaginous, he was ill prepared for a battle with Angel. However, it was the wound to her back dealt by Sha that affected the battle the most.
With the battle to kill Xan over, the prize was access to Xan's personal computer. Xan's fears of betrayal by his own troops gave the party the back doors that allowed them to gain control over the massive Citadel. Thanks to the computer specialist in the party, they were able to make the battle over the Citadel as limited as possible. The party locked out the weapon systems, the shields and the two power sources. They even were able to open the main gates and allow General Reshosti forces march in without a shot being fired. The battle of the Citadel started two hours before the sun rose, and was over by midday. Hardly any shots were fired as the troops of the Citadel simply gave up once their God failed to save them and their advanced systems failed to work. While few knew the truth of why the massive Citadel failed to protect its soldiers, the general line that was released to the public was something else. The story was that the defending soldiers saw what was going on and realized they the one known as the Son was evil and could not be followed anymore. It was the first crack in the walls of the Church of the Light. General Reshosti used this crack to his fullest advantage as he pushed for other garrisons to join the cause and support the Rebels. It was that defeat at the Citadel and the secret battle with Xan that allowed this victory on The Payner Plains.
Lead by the Children of the Son, commanded nearly thirty thousand troops of the Church as they marched on the City of Revers. While many wanted to use the city as a line of defense against the larger force, it was Colonel Narishifsh who pleaded General Reshosti to act. There were many under protected communities along the route of the Churches march that were in harms way. The General agreed and against his aides urging, he gave the order to march north to meet the Church's massive army. As the battle was being staged, Master Heartman received surprising news. The Marauder had not only survived the trap laid by Xan with two cloak ships, but had defeated both of them. Thanks to a young Lortian Marine Tech named Rena Strum. With the arrival of the Marauder, this gave Angel the ability to help General Reshosti to plan the coming battle. She was able to use the sensors of the Marauder to locate the 'Iron Walkers' of the Church and send the Marines to deal with them. Instead of sending any Force Users, she opted to let the Marines handle it alone. She cited her reasoning as being, "Shadow Stalkers are created and trained to beat Force Users. If I or anyone other Force User were to join this battle on our side, their benefit would turn against us. By keeping the Force out of this side battle we remove their only advantage against us." In the end, the Rebels would go and win the day. Largely the actions of the Marauder, her Marines, Angel and the party would go unnoticed by the vast population of Cyout. Those who do know the truth knew that this knowledge must never come to light.
Angel smiled as she lifted her eyes from the pair of pistols. It was a long journey to reach this point. The Marines had taken Sha and Dia back to the Marauder. The party's computer specialist has decided to remain behind with Mace to monitor the planet defenses from raiders and pirates. From that temple, a mission will be create and made by the Jedi Order to protect the world from slavers and ensure that they remain free. The Sabbat has decided to help man the mission and has even accepted Master Heartman as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Cyout had indeed become a defining moment for the party. Paths joined while others separated and still the party moved forward to accomplished their goals. "I will never forget Cyout. Trust me General. I can never forget what has happened here. Doors of the past have been forever closed. While doors of tomorrow have been opened." she closed the case and moved it under her arm, "I thank you for the gift. But now I must leave your company. I bid you all good will and hope only the best future for your people."
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