Daybreak:Volume 3 Chapter 10 - Revision history

Aorii at 14:29, 17 April 2017

2017-04-17T14:29:27Z

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	"Milord, please," Major Hans tried to intercede on Pascal's behalf. "After our heavy losses from the last battle, it is only natural that we disband the units that suffered the worst casualties and use their manpower to replenish other formations..."		"Milord, please," Major Hans tried to intercede on Pascal's behalf. "After our heavy losses from the last battle, it is only natural that we disband the units that suffered the worst casualties and use their manpower to replenish other formations..."

	"Shut up, you ~~pleb~~," the Count sent him another glare. "I don't care how it is in Weichsel, but you have no right to speak here!"		"Shut up, you peasant," the Count sent him another glare. "I don't care how it is in Weichsel, but you have no right to speak here!"

	Major Hans' face went red in an instant. But he nevertheless bit back his tongue, clearly realizing that anything he said would only make the situation worse.		Major Hans' face went red in an instant. But he nevertheless bit back his tongue, clearly realizing that anything he said would only make the situation worse.

Aorii at 14:03, 6 April 2017

2017-04-06T14:03:26Z

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	They were partially right. One of the kittens was a true stray, who stayed with the army thanks to the food that sympathetic soldiers would toss her way. However, the other had been carefully disguised with dirt and dyes, as well as intricately woven wards that concealed her magical aura as a familiar.		They were partially right. One of the kittens was a true stray, who stayed with the army thanks to the food that sympathetic soldiers would toss her way. However, the other had been carefully disguised with dirt and dyes, as well as intricately woven wards that concealed her magical aura as a familiar.

	The playtime was but a pretense, as she kept a keen eye and two ears on the Cataliyans' conversation at all times. Both sensory feedback relayed straight to her master -- prone and hidden among fallen leaves in a dense patch of trees nearly ~~four~~ kilopaces away.		The playtime was but a pretense, as she kept a keen eye and two ears on the Cataliyans' conversation at all times. Both sensory feedback relayed straight to her master -- prone and hidden among fallen leaves in a dense patch of trees nearly three kilopaces away.

	''So a new challenger appears,'' Cecylia Renata von Falkenhausen mused to herself as she stroked the largest body of her matryoshka cat. ''...And naval reinforcements are on their way.''		''So a new challenger appears,'' Cecylia Renata von Falkenhausen mused to herself as she stroked the largest body of her matryoshka cat. ''...And naval reinforcements are on their way.''
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	"Milord, please," Major Hans tried to intercede on Pascal's behalf. "After our heavy losses from the last battle, it is only natural that we disband the units that suffered the worst casualties and use their manpower to replenish other formations..."		"Milord, please," Major Hans tried to intercede on Pascal's behalf. "After our heavy losses from the last battle, it is only natural that we disband the units that suffered the worst casualties and use their manpower to replenish other formations..."

	"Shut up, you ~~commoner~~," the Count sent him another glare. "I don't care how it is in Weichsel, but you have no right to speak here!"		"Shut up, you pleb," the Count sent him another glare. "I don't care how it is in Weichsel, but you have no right to speak here!"

	Major Hans' face went red in an instant. But he nevertheless bit back his tongue, clearly realizing that anything he said would only make the situation worse.		Major Hans' face went red in an instant. But he nevertheless bit back his tongue, clearly realizing that anything he said would only make the situation worse.
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	With his tone slowly rising, the Colonel's explanation soon escalated into a shout as he stared down each and every one of the disgruntled Lotharins.		With his tone slowly rising, the Colonel's explanation soon escalated into a shout as he stared down each and every one of the disgruntled Lotharins.

	"Yet here you are... ~~babbling~~ away over who gets to command a few men! ''Your'' unit, ''his'' unit; are you not all nobles of Rhin-Lotharingie, charged to defend her borders using whatever means necessary in this great hour of need!? But you would rather pull the Princess out of her sickbed, just so she can soothe your bruised egos!?		"Yet here you are... squabbling away over who gets to command a few men! ''Your'' unit, ''his'' unit; are you not all nobles of Rhin-Lotharingie, charged to defend her borders using whatever means necessary in this great hour of need!? But you would rather pull the Princess out of her sickbed, just so she can soothe your bruised egos!?

	"''Have you no shame!''"		"''Have you no shame!''"

Aorii at 23:22, 17 September 2016

2016-09-17T23:22:17Z

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Aorii at 14:31, 2 August 2016

2016-08-02T14:31:14Z

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	As their eyes met, Cecylia stared into those turquoise orbs which showed barely a glimmer of their usual clarity. Instead, they were dulled by a tired, melancholic fog; both vision and purpose lost amidst the haze.		As their eyes met, Cecylia stared into those turquoise orbs which showed barely a glimmer of their usual clarity. Instead, they were dulled by a tired, melancholic fog; both vision and purpose lost amidst the haze.

	But before her ~~small~~ lips could open again, Cecylia's instincts warned: ''that's enough already.''		But before her lips could open again, Cecylia's instincts warned: ''that's enough already.''

	It had always been her personal policy not to get involved in a feud between two close relations.		It had always been her personal policy not to get involved in a feud between two close relations.

	Years of fighting between her siblings had taught her a crucial childhood lesson. She was better off staying on the sidelines, observing as the neutral third party. To intervene would not only add her bias as fuel to the conflict, but also place herself in ~~the line of fire~~ for no ~~benefit~~.		Years of fighting between her siblings had taught her a crucial childhood lesson. She was better off staying on the sidelines, observing as the neutral third party. To intervene would not only add her bias as fuel to the conflict, but also place herself in bitter struggle for no avail.

	Cecylia still remembered her ~~older~~ sister's ~~disdain~~ on that day she left for the front lines, never to return.		Cecylia still remembered her elder sister's gaze on that day she left for the front lines, never to return.

	''But is that fair?''		They weren't just angry or disappointed. They were the eyes of betrayal.

			For years, Eliza had been Cecylia's closest. She was like a mother to the younger sister, a nurturer of the sickly dhampir even more so than their busy parents. Yet on that final night, Cecylia's concern for her elder sister made her side against Eliza in heated argument.

			Years of smiles, of hugs, of laughter, all ended on such a painful note, all because of some stupid family row.

			Even to this day, Cecylia remembered those days of bitter tears and regret, when she swore never to directly involve herself again.

			''But... is that fair?''

	The last time two of her closest friends fell out, they had refused to acknowledge one another for years. Cecylia had been forced to choose a side between Pascal and Ariadne, hardly speaking to the other until a certain familiar finally pushed the lord of pricks to mend his ways.		The last time two of her closest friends fell out, they had refused to acknowledge one another for years. Cecylia had been forced to choose a side between Pascal and Ariadne, hardly speaking to the other until a certain familiar finally pushed the lord of pricks to mend his ways.

Aorii at 18:40, 28 July 2016

2016-07-28T18:40:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 28 July 2016
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	"I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim."		"I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim."

	Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the Caraliyyah Caliphate -- which the Trinitians somehow mumbled into 'Cataliya' -- western front army looked down the aisles of his field hospital. Rows upon rows of white tents bore the Red Crescent -- the crystal light red of Samaran 'Fluid of Life' that all healers shared in common. Thousands of sick, quarantined troops overflowed even their capacity, overwhelming the amply prepared medical battalions attached to the army.		Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the Caraliyyah Caliphate (which the Trinitians somehow mumbled into 'Cataliya') western front army looked down the aisles of his field hospital. Rows upon rows of white tents bore the Red Crescent -- the crystal light red of Samaran 'Fluid of Life' that all healers shared in common. Thousands of sick, quarantined troops overflowed even their capacity, overwhelming the amply prepared medical battalions attached to the army.

	Baha ad-Din Salim ibn Ziyad pulled at the hairs beneath his thickly-bearded chin. It was a bad habit he regressed to every time he felt frustrated, but he doubted any general worth his salt could feel more helpless than he did right now.		Baha ad-Din Salim ibn Ziyad pulled at the hairs beneath his thickly-bearded chin. It was a bad habit he regressed to every time he felt frustrated, but he doubted any general worth his salt could feel more helpless than he did right now.
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	"Sir, I..."		"Sir, I..."

	"Answer me, how do you know? How could you be sure of his insincerity?"		"Answer me, how do you know? How could you be sure of his insincerity?

	"''How do you know?''"		"''How do you know?''"
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	"By the way, what happened to your leg?" the dhampir then added.		"By the way, what happened to your leg?" the dhampir then added.

	With a ~~soft~~ sigh, Kaede ~~merely replied~~:		With a conflicted sigh, Kaede's expression clouded:

	"The Princess happened."		"The Princess happened."
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	"But what am I supposed to do when Her Highness..."		"But what am I supposed to do when Her Highness..."

	"Stop calling her that," Cecylia berated ~~before taking a deep breath~~. "You're opening up extra distance for no good reason."		"Stop calling her that," Cecylia berated. "You're opening up extra distance for no good reason."

	"She is the one who insisted upon the formality, not me."		"She is the one who insisted upon the formality, not me."
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	As gloom began to engulf Pascal, Cecylia realized that her pent-up frustrations were channeling ''too'' effectively. She closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself, feeling the ether disperse as intensity faded from her pupils.		As gloom began to engulf Pascal, Cecylia realized that her pent-up frustrations were channeling ''too'' effectively. She closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself, feeling the ether disperse as intensity faded from her pupils.

	A dhampir's gaze had the ability to drain concentration and resolve through ~~point-blank~~ eye contact. It wasn't a trait that Cecylia used on her friends often -- the last occurrence was when she had fun weakening Kaede for a tease back at the academy. But as many innate abilities go, it was hard to hold back once emotions flared.		A dhampir's gaze had the ability to drain concentration and resolve through close eye contact. It wasn't a trait that Cecylia used on her friends often -- the last occurrence was when she had fun weakening Kaede for a tease back at the academy. But as many innate abilities go, it was hard to hold back once emotions flared.

	It was yet another reason why she preferred to stay out of any personal drama.		It was yet another reason why she preferred to stay out of any personal drama.

Aorii at 12:51, 21 July 2016

2016-07-21T12:51:04Z

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	"I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim."		"I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim."

	Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the ~~Cataliyan~~ Caliphate's western front army looked down the aisles of his field hospital. Rows upon rows of white tents bore the Red Crescent -- the crystal light red of Samaran 'Fluid of Life' that all healers shared in common. Thousands of sick, quarantined troops overflowed even their capacity, overwhelming the amply prepared medical battalions attached to the army.		Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the Caraliyyah Caliphate -- which the Trinitians somehow mumbled into 'Cataliya' -- western front army looked down the aisles of his field hospital. Rows upon rows of white tents bore the Red Crescent -- the crystal light red of Samaran 'Fluid of Life' that all healers shared in common. Thousands of sick, quarantined troops overflowed even their capacity, overwhelming the amply prepared medical battalions attached to the army.

	Baha ad-Din Salim ibn Ziyad pulled at the hairs beneath his thickly-bearded chin. It was a bad habit he regressed to every time he felt frustrated, but he doubted any general worth his salt could feel more helpless than he did right now.		Baha ad-Din Salim ibn Ziyad pulled at the hairs beneath his thickly-bearded chin. It was a bad habit he regressed to every time he felt frustrated, but he doubted any general worth his salt could feel more helpless than he did right now.
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	"General!"		"General!"

	The newcomer leaped off his horse and scampered up the grassy knoll. Two dozen wary bodyguards squeezed the handles of their scimitars; they were on the edge of the ~~Cataliyan~~ encampment and well outside the inner wards. But the officer paid them no mind as he rushed up and took a deep bow.		The newcomer leaped off his horse and scampered up the grassy knoll. Two dozen wary bodyguards squeezed the handles of their scimitars; they were on the edge of the Caraliyyah encampment and well outside the inner wards. But the officer paid them no mind as he rushed up and took a deep bow.

	"Major Hamid," Salim addressed the youthful commander of the 86th Light Cavalry Battalion. "What brings you in such haste?"		"Major Hamid," Salim addressed the youthful commander of the 86th Light Cavalry Battalion. "What brings you in such haste?"

Aorii at 08:59, 19 July 2016

2016-07-19T08:59:00Z

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	"Cecylia!"		"Cecylia!"

	Her eyes soon fell upon the short and cute Samaran girl who walked up with a slight limp, arm waving in ~~good~~ cheer.		Her eyes soon fell upon the short and cute Samaran girl who walked up with a slight limp, arm waving in joyful, if tired cheer.

	"Is there a problem with her identification, Captain?" Kaede added in mild confusion as she came closer.		"Is there a problem with her identification, Captain?" Kaede added in mild confusion as she came closer.

Aorii at 22:24, 17 July 2016

2016-07-17T22:24:38Z

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	"Flu, typhus, and now even dysentery? How could this happen? So quickly?" Salim turned about to face his second-in-command.		"Flu, typhus, and now even dysentery? How could this happen? So quickly?" Salim turned about to face his second-in-command.

	"The problems have been present since the start, Your Eminence," Hakim answered, his countenance as blank as tranquil water. "We walk among a land and climate alien to our kinds. Our men grew up on the arid savanna and scorching deserts and tropical coasts, while they now trek beneath the gloom of a northwestern winter and its freezing rains."		"The problems have been present since the start, Your Eminence," Hakim answered, his countenance blank as tranquil water. "We walk among a land and climate alien to our kinds. Our men grew up on the arid savanna and scorching deserts and tropical coasts, while they now trek beneath the gloom of a northwestern winter and its freezing rains."

	"The human body is frail and slow to adapt," he added. "How could they not fall sick?"		"The human body is frail and slow to adapt," he added. "How could they not fall sick?"

	"But why now? Why the sudden surge?" Salim countered. "We entered Rhin-Lotharingie over a month ago. Our soldiers have been falling sick since week one, yet the healers have always managed to keep the illness contained. I even moderated our pace of advance to ~~keep~~ the troops from exhaustion."		"But why now? Why the sudden surge?" Salim countered. "We entered Rhin-Lotharingie over a month ago. Our soldiers have been falling sick since week one, yet the healers have always managed to keep the illness contained. I even moderated our pace of advance to stay the troops from exhaustion."

	"All resources have limitations, Your Eminence," replied the advisor. "The heavy casualties incurred in our last battle drained our healers' ether and expended their supply of Samaran blood. How could they cope with another disease outbreak immediately afterwards?"		"All resources have limitations, Your Eminence," replied the advisor. "The heavy casualties incurred in our last battle drained our healers' ether and expended their supply of Samaran blood. How could they cope with another disease outbreak immediately afterwards?"
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	But looks were also deceiving. Hakim... wasn't even human.		But looks were also deceiving. Hakim... wasn't even human.

	A close examination would reveal faded blue hues that seemed to billow across his very skin. Instead of supple human tissue, his 'flesh' was ~~almost~~ an illusion. They were embers condensed into layers to take on a tangible profile, blending in easily amidst humankind.		A close examination would reveal faded blue hues that seemed to billow across his very skin. Instead of supple human tissue, his 'flesh' was an illusion. They were embers condensed into layers to take on a tangible profile, blending in easily amidst humankind.

	Hakim was a jinni -- a race veiled in mystery, a creature of smokeless flames.		Hakim was a jinni -- a race veiled in mystery, a creature of smokeless flames.
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	The playtime was but a pretense, as she kept a keen eye and two ears on the Cataliyans' conversation at all times. Both sensory feedback relayed straight to her master -- prone and hidden among fallen leaves in a dense patch of trees nearly four kilopaces away.		The playtime was but a pretense, as she kept a keen eye and two ears on the Cataliyans' conversation at all times. Both sensory feedback relayed straight to her master -- prone and hidden among fallen leaves in a dense patch of trees nearly four kilopaces away.

	''So a new challenger appears,'' Cecylia Renata von Falkenhausen mused to herself as she stroked the largest body of her matryoshka cat.		''So a new challenger appears,'' Cecylia Renata von Falkenhausen mused to herself as she stroked the largest body of her matryoshka cat. ''...And naval reinforcements are on their way.''

	Three days of lying on the cold, hard ground had all been worth it. Her ceaseless observation had gained dividends on its own, but that was nothing compared to the treasure trove of insider information that she overheard now.		Three days of lying on the cold, hard ground had all been worth it. Her ceaseless observation had gained dividends on its own, but that was nothing compared to the treasure trove of insider information that she overheard now.
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	"...And that concludes my report," Cecylia finished as she faced the assembled commanders of the allied force, doing her best to ignore a dozen repellent stares.		"...And that concludes my report," Cecylia finished as she faced the assembled commanders of the allied force, doing her best to ignore a dozen repellent stares.

	"''Eight'' new battalions; that's over four thousand reinforcements..."		"Eight new battalions; that's over four thousand reinforcements..."

	"~~They~~'~~ll be advancing again in two, maybe three days," surmised~~ the ~~veteran Duke of Helveteu~~. ~~His eyes moved back to the map table, marking the river fords before the Avorican Capital~~.		"Another ''twelve thousand'' on the way by sea as well..."

	"~~With~~ their air cavalry this time; not surprising they're being transferred to this front, after the Knights Phantom gave their aerogyros a thrashing."		"They'll be advancing again in a day or two," surmised the veteran Duke of Helveteu. His eyes moved back to the map table, marking the river fords before the Avorican Capital.

			"I agree," nodded Major Hans, the Weichsel intelligence officer. "They'll force a river crossing and lay siege to Roazhon. Once those reinforcements arrive, they'll begin assaulting the city."

			"Supported by their air cavalry this time; not surprising they're being transferred to this front, after the Knights Phantom gave their aerogyros a thrashing."

	"Wasteland drakes..."		"Wasteland drakes..."
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	"Then you know why I want you to talk to her; you are one of her closest friends," Pascal uttered as he looked up to the late afternoon sun. "Her Highness has not emerged from her cabin since two nights ago, and the Lotharins are growing restless."		"Then you know why I want you to talk to her; you are one of her closest friends," Pascal uttered as he looked up to the late afternoon sun. "Her Highness has not emerged from her cabin since two nights ago, and the Lotharins are growing restless."

			In other words -- ''time was running out.''

			If the Caliphate forces attacked tomorrow, and Sylviane could not lead because she was still despondent in bed... she would lose all legitimacy as a crown heir before the eyes of her people.

	"She's depressed after fighting with you," Cecylia gave a sympathetic frown. "Sylv always gets gloomy after pushing away someone she cares about -- and she relies on you a great deal."		"She's depressed after fighting with you," Cecylia gave a sympathetic frown. "Sylv always gets gloomy after pushing away someone she cares about -- and she relies on you a great deal."
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	"Aren't you?" the dhampir's eyes darkened as she trampled right over his weakening retort. "I'm guessing you approached me because you haven't spoken to her at all since the fight -- am I right?"		"Aren't you?" the dhampir's eyes darkened as she trampled right over his weakening retort. "I'm guessing you approached me because you haven't spoken to her at all since the fight -- am I right?"

	"I have been busy ~~coordinating~~..." ~~he stressed.~~		"I have been busy organizing..."

	"Yes, bury yourself in work and call it 'duty' as an excuse," Cecylia locked her blood-red gaze onto him like an unrelenting snare, stopping even his attempts to look away.		"Yes, bury yourself in work and call it 'duty' as an excuse," Cecylia locked her blood-red gaze onto him like an unrelenting snare, stopping even his attempts to look away.

Aorii: Created page with "===Chapter 10 - Benign Interference=== "I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim." Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the Cataliyan Caliph..."

2016-07-01T13:54:08Z

Created page with "===Chapter 10 - Benign Interference=== "I never thought it would be this bad, Hakim." Standing at the crest of a shallow, grassy knoll, the commander of the Cataliyan Caliph..."

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