Goddammit Imperial Saga why can't I quit you

[no_heroism]

-1-

[The legion marches through friendly territory, and so gets cheers from crowds of peasants as they pass. While passing through one such village, a young boy ran up to Gaius and asked him if a soldier's life was the grandest life of all. You didn't catch what Gaius's response was, but it left the kid in tears as he ran away.]

Kids get into this business with all KINDS of stupid ideas.

-2-

[Everyone's celebrating coming back from campaign by spending their weeks of back pay and plunder at a tavern. Good drink and good food are everywhere. Just as it seemed like it was going to be an entirely pleasant evening, Gaius decided he was going to sing a popular marching song in the army.]

LIttle bird with a yellow bill
SAT upon my window sill...

[The song has fifty-two verses of varying levels of creativity and dirtyness, and Gaius doesn't hit notes or even scare them as he goes by. Someone better stop him.]

-3-

[In the thick of battle, there's one of those weird little lulls in the combat. The push and pull of war has resulted in the enemy line being about twenty feet back from yours, and both sides are taking advantage to crush flies, catch their breath, or grab a quick drink from their canteen. Across from you, Gaius wipes his forehead clear of sweat and blood (from a little cut on his scalp.) and makes brief eye contact.]

You're too much bloody work to fight. Sure you don't want to surrender?

Comments

1

[greyerrant]

So you told him the truth.

[no_heroism]

Better someone crushes his dreams than his skull. He'll get over it.

[greyerrant]

Far be it from me to stop you. The choice to become a warrior is not one undertaken lightly.

[no_heroism]

Aye, well too many children are all too happy to make it anyways. That why there're people like us. To keep them alive until they know better.

[greyerrant]

That, I can heartily agree with.

[no_heroism]

Speaking of which...

Scout reports are saying the enemy is close. This town's got a good defensible position, so it might be worth it to hole up in here for the night and get ready for the fight.

[captainofthe10th]

I'll defer to your advice, general. You've been fighting wars for Rome for a long time, I know you'll make the right call.

Do what you need to do. [ Garviel, for his part, will stand guard, bolter in hand. He doesn't need much sleep.]

[no_heroism]

[Gaius reflects briefly that while Garviel creeps him the hell out, he's glad they're on the same side.]

I'll...get on that then.

3

[dependently_independent]

*Gaius' opponent couldn't be stranger. Alternating between a blade that should be entirely too thin for real battlefield use and a whip, but mixing spells in to make both disturbingly effective. Dressed like a witch, with no armor. And entirely too unscarred for someone who obviously knew what she was doing.*

I could say the same in your direction, you know.

But I have my orders, and by the Crystal King, I will carry them out. If that means facing your entire group down, then so be it.

[no_heroism]

If you say so. Not going easy on you just because you're a girl, or because you serve a god.

[The retreat of a unit a ways down the line shifts everything, bringing the two units here back together. Gaius's unit draws their weapons again and forms up into a tight shield wall, with short swords and long spears poking out between them as they march back towards Megaera with businesslike expressions.]

[dependently_independent]

*Megaera's own team - all church knights of much more standard dress than she - advance similarly. Most of them carry swords similar to her own, though she alone uses a whip. While they are not maintaining a shield wall, they've proven to be very good at deflecting strikes.*

Of course not.

*And then, her whip cracks, with a shockwave of force, centered on Gaius.*

Good thing I'm not a normal example of either.

[no_heroism]

[He caught the shockwave on his heavy shield, staggering back a step. Then the lines crashed into each other with a sound like an earthquake in an armory. Here, in the tightest quarters, the roman shortswords and stabbing spears were at their best. Megaera found Gaius right in her face, with his sword whipping out like an adder's tongue from around his shield at Meg's stomach.]

2

[thirdtenkaistar]

[Thomas had stopped by to speak with a trader when he hears the raucous music. His face starts turning redder and redder with each verse]

Oh. Goddess...

[no_heroism]

[The second verse is about a baker's daughter and her huge round loaves of bread.]

1

[mach_n_roll]

Well... it's not hard to imagine why.

[Where the hell did that little blue guy come from? He wasn't next to Gaius a minute ago. He apparently hasn't been there long, either, because none of the humans have had time to react to a beastman in their midst.]

For these little guys, a life as a soldier is always gonna be better than that of a farmer or a blacksmith. After all, no one ever sang songs about the world's best farmer.

[no_heroism]

[This sudden arrival is met by a dagger suddenly finding it's tip an inch from Sonic's throat. Fortunately for Sonic, Gaius has met him before.]

Venus' tits, don't sneak up on my like that! It's a good way to get yourself hurt.

[mach_n_roll]

[Which is why he doesn't flinch from the blade. He knows Gaius is just jumpy like that, and he can get out of the way if he has to.]

Nah, you wouldn't hurt me last time, why wouldya now?

[He does shift away a bit more slowly, however...]

Well met, by the way! Where'd you and your company hail from this time?

[no_heroism]

Niraid. Peasant uprising. Lots of dead children playing soldiers who might have grown up to be farmers and blacksmiths.

But I'm sure they'll sing songs about them.

I need to stop posting with the wrong account. XP

[kungfuhedgehog]

That's the problem. You never hear about the ones that fall, except when they number in the thousands. Trust me, I know why you wouldn't wish a glorious war on your best friend OR your worst enemy.

[Part of the reason he likes him... a much of a drag as he is sometimes.]

It's a major personality flaw of yours.

[no_heroism]

Well maybe on my worst enemy...