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B3 Chapter 35: Cleaning House
B3 Chapter 35: Cleaning HouseTiberius resisted the urge to shift on his throne. It was astonishingly uncomfortable. Not for lack of trying—the regal seat was positively piled with padding and elaborately stitched cushions that made him feel as though he were sinking into a cloud.But the sheer amount of the stuff was ...
B3 Chapter 34: Everyone Loves a Good Execution
B3 Chapter 34: Everyone Loves a Good ExecutionThe rocky expanse of Grund's home came into view as the orcs barreled down the pass like an avalanche. Their numbers were smaller than when they'd set out—significantly so. But that was no problem. If anything, it just made his current task a modicum easier.“For...
B3 Chapter 33: In a Flash
B3 Chapter 33: In a FlashMarcus was, but usually one to take cheap shots. Of course, he'd sung his share of crude and bawdy drinking songs with lyrics simple enough that a borderline catatonic man could follow along. But when it came to original compositions? He preferred subtlety and a layering of meaning that dem...
B3 Chapter 32: God Save the King
B3 Chapter 32: God Save the KingIt took astonishingly little time for the siege to take its toll on the castle’s defenders.In the first few hours, there had been a definite air of vigilance about the place. The castle guards marched along the walls with zeal, and while the assorted adventurers and mercenaries clearly...
B3 Chapter 31: No Strings Attached
B3 Chapter 31: No Strings AttachedQuintus was on his way back from his meeting with Gaius when he felt it. A strange compulsion, as though someone were tugging on his very soul. Not entirely dissimilar to the feeling when one of his brothers died, though this lacked the sting of cold dread.He could have ignored it. But...
B3 Chapter 30: The Executioner’s Axe
/// supper rare double post! Make sure you read 29 that was posted a few minutes ago first. With this to finally push us to 20 chapters ahead! It's only taken about 10 months to do so.... don't expect us to get to 25 ahead any time soon...B3 Chapter 30: The Executioner’s AxeMarcus darted between the tall buil...
B3 Chapter 29: Mythchaser
B3 Chapter 29: MythchaserMarcus was an impressive bard. That, few would dispute. With a single song, he could transform a room full of scowling adventurers on the verge of coming to blows into a site of bawdy merriment usually reserved for festivals and holidays. He could talk his way into any establishment worth visit...
B3 Chapter 28: Growth Spurts
B3 Chapter 28: Growth SpurtsDuring his pursuit of the orcs, Quintus and his men had neither the time nor the opportunity to visit a class stone—an oversight that he was eager to remedy upon his return. Tiberius’s promise that they’d soon strike at the castle only made it more pressing. Given the amount of resista...
B3 Chapter 27: Hail the Conquering Heroes
B3 Chapter 27: Hail the Conquering HeroesQuintus rode into Novara’s capital on the back of a borrowed horse. He would have much preferred to march, of course. But his mangled foot made that prospect even less appealing than the current situation.The fresh reinforcements had allowed them to relieve his men, but Quintu...
B3 Chapter 26: Turtling Up
B3 Chapter 26: Turtling UpOne of the Legion’s specialist units consisted of an entire century dedicated to one goal—defense.They were the largest group of specialists that Tiberius had approved to date, and for good reason. Their greater numbers ensured that the formation benefitted from the natural scaling of [Coo...
B3 Chapter 25: The Bigger Picture
B3 Chapter 25: The Bigger Picture"Father! What are you doing?"A young boy from the House Aridus crowd wriggled away from the group and darted toward the priests of Arashim. He grabbed at the robes of the eldest one, a bearded man who seemed to be the leader of the group."Out of the way, child," the prie...
B3 Chapter 24: Heroism and Heresy
B3 Chapter 24: Heroism and HeresyThe ominous chords of Marcus’s voice floated out over the city, drawing attention despite himself. The telltale twitching of curtains and signs of movement in windows revealed the hiding civilians within, curiosity at the situation momentarily winning against their fear.He put them to...
B3 Chapter 23: One Last Charge
B3 Chapter 23: One Last ChargeThe orcs' newfound ability to “strategize” had rather clear limitations. Rather than acting and adapting like men, this foe could be more accurately likened to horses with blinders on. Once they chose a target and began running it down, there was no changing their course. Nor was t...
B3 Chapter 22: Paratroopers
B3 Chapter 22: ParatroopersThak howled with glee as he sailed through the air, flying down toward the city below. He braced as his feet smashed through a thatched roof and a wooden table. He heard his knees crack at the impact. But he hardly cared. They'd probably be fine.Stretching, Thak grinned broadly and stood....
B3 Chapter 21: Door-to-Door Salesman of the End Times
B3 Chapter 21: Door-to-Door Salesman of the End TimesUnfortunately for Marcus, the front gate of Count Rollo’s estate was locked. But unfortunately for Rollo, Marcus had learned quite a few tricks during his exile.He flicked through his spell book to find one of the many unlocking spells stashed away in the middle. W...
B3 Chapter 20: A Lite Drink
B3 Chapter 20: A Lite DrinkMarcus had never in his life seen the streets of the capital so empty. Not in all his years. Even when there were major events taking place elsewhere, there always remained a steady stream of those who opted not to attend in favor of getting ahead on their work. But now? The city was practica...
B3 Chapter 19: Send in the Cavalry
B3 Chapter 19: Send in the CavalryDespite being designated as the ostensible leader of the Redcliffe cavalry, Quintus quickly realized there was a problem. He didn’t actually have a horse. Nor did any of the Legionnaires, for that matter.Luckily, he apparently didn’t need one.The thunder of hoofbeats cantered next ...
B3 Chapter 18: Into the Breach
B3 Chapter 18: Into the BreachThe commanders of the Roman forces gathered to watch the ongoing assault, keeping close tabs on the orcs' progress. The officers of both legions waited with anticipation, ready to act on their Legatus’ orders and begin their own attack. The few former Novarans with them wore tight ex...
B3 Chapter 17: The Waiting Game
B3 Chapter 17: The Waiting GameMarcus had developed a bad habit. At least, he was starting to. He'd begun to nibble at the corner of his nails.It was unsightly—both the act itself and its results. In fact, he'd always experienced the slightest revulsion when someone else did it. As such, he'd never been p...
B3 Chapter 16: A Rock and a Hard Place
B3 Chapter 16: A Rock and a Hard PlaceMarcus blinked in surprise at Tiberius's words. “Come again?”Tiberius gestured to the scene before them, the orcish tide continuing to rise against the humans’ wall. “My two enemies are fighting. They weaken each other as we speak. Why would I interrupt that?”Marcus w...
B3 Chapter 15: Eye on the Prize
I made a slight update to the end of chapter 14. Just to make the orc plan make a little more sense in context (or maybe less? its hard to tell with orcs)B3 Chapter 15: Eye on the PrizeIt wasn't long before Rome's forces were on the move once more. The very next day after their battle with Marquis Morozov’s f...
B3 Chapter 14: Thak’ugund of Clan Gormash
B3 Chapter 14: Thak’ugund of Clan GormashThak’ugund—Thak to his kinsmen—stared out over the pitiful human city. It's shiny towers stood tall, taller than the tallest trees of his homeland. The humans spent so much time making pretty things. Pretty things that Thak would take for himself.He and his brothers ...
B3 Chapter 13: Getting Ahead of the Problem
B3 Chapter 13: Getting Ahead of the ProblemMarcus was on his way back to the command post when Marquis Morozov lost his head. Literally.The resulting flurry of activity saw the surrounding Legionnaires spring into action like a nest of hornets had been kicked. Duke Redcliffe was surrounded by several Legionnaires and p...
B3 Chapter 12: Plan B
B3 Chapter 12: Plan BWhen Quintus finally made it through the lines and back towards the command post, he managed to find Gaius relatively quickly. But it seemed he wasn’t the only one aiming to have words with the young leader.Tiberius stood beside the new Legatus, his bearing as regal and confident as Gaius was ten...
B3 Chapter 11: Battering Ram
B3 Chapter 11: Battering RamQuintus frowned as the vanguard began to retreat, their rear harried by the duke’s cavalry. Though they’d managed to weaken the enemy significantly, he still didn’t feel satisfied with how the battle had gone.A quick survey of the battlefield showed that they would have a moment’s re...
B3 Chapter 10: Performance Review
B3 Chapter 10: Performance ReviewTiberius watched the approach of the enemy’s main force on horizon, his expression stony and implacable. They'd known to expect them, of course. But their arrival was ill-timed nonetheless.The dark cloud hanging above began to disperse. Blue skies above appeared once more as the h...
B3 Chapter 9: Assault and Battery
B3 Chapter 9: Assault and BatteryFrom atop the hill, Marcus had quite a decent vantage point as the battle unfolded. The marquis’s forces battered against the Legion neither their physical or magical assault able to make much discernable headway. But that didn't stop them from continuing the pressure.He watched t...
B3 Chapter 8: The Welcoming Party
B3 Chapter 8: The Welcoming PartyQuintus watched the incoming charge from behind the Legion’s newly erected fortifications. They were relatively simple work, not much beyond the standard defenses they had come to adopt whenever they made camp. There had been only a little time to alter the terrain before the attacker...
B3 Chapter 7: Shots Fired
B3 Chapter 7: Shots FiredQuintus ran through the camp toward the command tent. All around him, the sounds of shouted orders and clattering armor filled the air as the Legion prepared for battle. Already some of the cohorts were beginning to form up—a rather impressive response time, he had to admit.He noted those who...
B3 Chapter 6: Under New Management
B3 Chapter 6: Under New ManagementAt Tiberius’s words, the duke grimaced slightly. It was the briefest of expressions, a mere flash across the serious man’s face. Yet it spoke volumes.To some extent, it was understandable. Considering the treatment he’d received at the hands of his last liege, Tiberius rather dou...
