By Terrarian Pony
WARNING: Content of this story may include violence, gore, modest romance, and references to several other video games and TV shows. If anyone is offended by any of the content listed above, than please turn back now. You have been warned.
Author's note: This is an original story, that wouldn't be possible without the encouragement and inspiration of my art friends! Credit to Comicwing, Marbley, Enigmew, and Super Ferret, for supporting me at every turn!
Introduction: Welcome to Mythrolhia, land of the champions. People from every race, country, and culture come together to defend the weak, and challenge the strong. These are known as champions. These champions follow a creed to defend the rights of the innocent, but there those who would threaten the champion's creed for order, others for chaos. The champion's creed provides stability in Mythrolhia, and the champions will defend it at any cost, for those who impose their will upon the people, shall meet their fate at the end of a well-forged blade. Enjoy!
Story:
Terrarian Pony presents...
Creed of the Champions
Chapter 2
Welcome to Journeysville
...
The town was surrounded by a wall of cobblestone. A good defense, but goblins can easily exploit it. They send scouts, learn weak points. They don't even have to study up close. Goblins may be more brute than brains, but their ingenuity is impressive. The guards were all wearing iron armor. They patrolled the wall with dedication.
The ground was littered with recent corpses of goblins, and Terran wandered why they weren’t being picked up. He approached the wall cautiously. In his experience, a settlement that left bodies were either bandits, or slum communities. A single arrow struck the ground in front of him.
“Stay. Right. There." The guard who shot the arrow was holding back. He had orange cat ears poking up from his orange hair. Unlike the other guards, he was wearing silver armor, which came across to Terran that he was important. “Captain Richard Veil, Phoenix Guard. You're not one of them. Are your working with them?"
“I'm independent." Terran responded, almost offended that he would be seen as someone working with goblin raiders. He could tell they were raiders by their shoddy armor, and their makeshift weaponry. If they’d been a more civilized group of goblins, the armor would have been well-made, like the ones he’d fought at the fort to re-obtain the moon crystal.
“A freelancer, huh? I'm sorry. I can't let you in. Goblins have been invading in waves, and we've lost two men. Five injured. We're on lockdown until the invasion is over."
Oh, so that’s why the bodies were being left. They were expecting more. Raiders don’t usually have that kind of motivation towards one target. But of course, if he couldn't get in until the invasion was over...
"Captain! More raiders! From the west!" One of the lower guards yelled from a watch tower, holding a pair of binoculars! "And it looks like they've brought sorcerers!"
"Ready defense!" the Captain responded. "Soldiers, positions behind the gate! Marksmen, take aim! Send some troops to the east wall in case of a pincer attack!"
"I don't think they're going to, sir!"
"What's that soldier?"
"It looks like they're sending all they got at us in one fell swoop!"
Terran looked behind himself, up towards the bluff where he'd been not five minutes ago. What looked like two to three platoons, an entire company of goblin raiders, many of them wearing armor and wielding heavy blunt weapons, others wearing robes, and others in leathers or rags. Raiders often use untrained civilians in an attempt to cause hesitation. But Terran couldn't let himself fall victim their tactics, even if it meant badly, or even mortally wounding them.
"That's a lot of raiders, Captain." Terran said, nervously. "You sure you don't have time to open the gate, just a little?"
"Sorry." Captain Veil said. "Town's safety is priority. I wish you luck. We'll try to help you from up here. If you look like you're getting overwhelmed, I'll send some of my down there."
"I'll hold you to that. Winter, you ready?"
Winter nodded. "Ready!"
One of the goblins in the front row of the raider group pulled out a large horn, and blew into it, signaling they were about to start. At least they had the courtesy of allowing the Phoenix Guard to ready their defenses. Either that, or they were readying their own assault. It's not unusual for goblin raiders to be tactical, as well as brutish, about an assault. Human bandits don't usually have that kind of coordination, but Goblins, military or not, have a military-like training in defense and attack, depending on where they grew up. Not always, though. Other settlements, like Jewel Town, according to scout reports, are more versed in building profitable businesses, either selling expensive products that last a long time, or cheap products that last only long enough to keep repeat customers coming back.
The civilians ran out first. They didn't have armor, but they did have conviction. Civilian goblins raised in raider fortresses are known to be owned as property of the clan, but would volunteer their lives for freedom, or higher privileges within their clan. It was usually an optional thing. If they fought for the clan and survived, they get to have their freedom, and the raiders always kept their word on it if they survived, as to get other civilians to fight for them. If they stayed home, it was no loss for the raiders. Some goblins may be brutish, but even they take care of their lesser privileged. That being said, most goblin civilians would rather fight for their clan, regardless of their social status. Their entire worldview is built upon proving oneself, or dying in the dust of others who would. Rather than honor, loyalty is a goblin's standard, weather that loyalty be to clan, to money, or to a specific individual.