Tiberius' Torment:

[All knowledge in this post is OOC unless disclosed in character.]

Nostalgia. They say the word comes from the pain you feel in an old wound. Well, Tiberius was certainly starting to feel old - and he had more than his share of wounds.

Back in the Baron's service, yet again. Outwardly things were the same as they always had been: troubles with Vesper; the Baron's excesses; drinking and drilling. Even many of the old faces were back - Ahmed, Kas, Gimbly, it was just like old times. Old times?

Internally, something had shifted. Another stint in the Colonies had given him time to reflect - maybe too much time. It wasn't the old faces that concerned him anymore. It was the new faces. He was surrounded by the up and coming, the newly minted, the bright eyed and bushy tailed. But how could they know what a life time of soldiering was really about? For years Cove had been in relative peace. Would they really have it in them when their mettle was tested? A strange uneasiness began to follow him wherever he went, as much as he tried to push it to the back of his mind he couldn't quite shake it.

***

It was a Sunday much like any other. Cove and Yew were once again moving towards alliance; it made sense really. The bonds of the Avatarian Church were hard to break, even if the royalist question could sometimes fray them. It wasn't Tiberius' first time back in Yew since he returned, but the location of the joint training exercise inexplicably set him on edge. The East Post. He closed his eyes for a second, and the world faded away. In his mind's eye he was transported to the top of the East Post, overlooking the surrounding lands. A lone Samurai worked the rice fields in the near distance to the north east. To the south, a small plume of smoke indicated that the Shirefolk were lighting the gentle fires of their hearths. Dead north in a idyllic meadow was Tel'mar, home to the Tel'marian Mercenary Company - a tight band of the finest mercenaries around, who Tiberius was proud to call his brothers. And further north still, in the crypts not far from the Justice Shrine the restless dead roamed endlessly. They were the very embodiment of terror and evil, conspiring with their allies who dwelt deep in the mountains to the south of the Shirefolk: the Orcs of Tologal. Reports had been filed. They were on there way. It was up to the Tel'marian mercenaries to stop them...

He jolted back to reality, his eyes flitting open. "Everyone understand the rules!?" Radek barked as the assembled Covians and Yewish stood crowded in Stonekeep. Must have dozed off for a second. Without hesitation, he followed his team to the East Post, and swiftly the war games got underway. A large team of Covians and Yewians attacked the hastily assembled barricades as Tiberius defended the front of the post, knocking one of the attackers quickly off his feet. "Heh. Still got it!" he mused to himself, but others stepped over their downed teammate, and a Corsair caught his helmeted head with a hammer pick. The noise of steel hitting his helmet disorientated him, ringing in his ears as his vision blurred again. The scene before him melted away - a different scene entirely replaced it.

***

"HERE THEY COME LADS!" The war cries of Orcs intermingled with the creaking and chittering of bones as the alliance of evil broke from the inky treeline, charging straight at the defenders of the East Post. Tiberius gripped his sword and shield tightly, grimacing at what was to come. All around was screaming and the clash of steel on steel. Samurai fought Orc, mercenaries went toe to toe with the living dead. An Orc attempted to enter the post, and in one well practised movement Tiberius cut him down. It was probably just a Snaga - a newly birthed one. But behind the Orc was a flutter of a cloak, a darting shadow who took the opportunity to make his way into the outpost. Before he knew it, the figure had made its way half up the stairs with inhumane speed and launched itself onto the unprepared mercenary, bowling Tiberius straight over. His heart raced as he grasped for his sword, which had flung itself far across the room. Above him were the glowing red eye sockets of the darkly dressed skeleton, its blade tipped with the deadliest poison, its movements unnatural and jarring. Tiberius recognised the skinless face - it was Valas Do'Urden, legendary skeletal assassin, and he had come to claim another victim.

Tiberius raised his shield more in vain hope than with any expectation that he'd survive this. "Foolissshh mortal!" the skeleton announced in a disembodied voice, preparing for the final blow. As it moved into strike, its ribcage suddenly exploded outwards, shards of bone showering Tiberius as an axe burst through. The skeleton attempted to turn, but simply came crashing to the ground as a piercing demonic shriek emitted from its skull, which fell promptly to the ground and shattered. Unhelmed and grinning was the welcoming face of Ryan Greystone, offering Tib a hand. "Got him!" he announced jovially. In the distance shouts could be heard. "Victorrrryyyy! VICTORRRRRY!" Tel'mar had thwarted the forces of evil once again.

***

"Victorrrryyyy! VICTORRRRRY!" Tiberius was pulled to his feet. "We've won the training, sah!!" a recruit stared somewhat concernedly at Tiberius. The Senior took his helmet off and mopped his brow, nodding. "Aye, good show Greystone.."

"Eh?" replied the bemused recruit.

"Oh ah.. nothing recruit. Good job."

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