The Journey Ends

[Brian]

Karil wakes the next morning early, but feels oddly rested.  When he looks outside, he sees that most of the camp is still rousing, those unlucky fore-runners of the clan having awoken half an hour ago to start cooking.

A fragment of a fairy story of campsites that protect warriors flits through his mind, along with a vague recollection of a dream about....  But it's gone before Karil can pay attention to it.

Jaramine approaches Karil's tent once Karil has gotten dressed and woken up a bit more.  "Sir," he calls out.  "The men are prepared."

[Carthrat]

Grasping Twilight Echo, Karil sets his mind straight and maintains good posture.

A leader must always appear sure. He must always appear to be in control. He must always appear to know.

Echoes of the words his father spoke to him ring in his ears, reminding him of the value of appearance and presentation.

[Brian]

It doesn't take long for the clan to finish waking up, though they aren't moving anywhere today.  Since the desert has been cleared, the men and women are setting about maintaining the things they couldn't in the desert.  Some small bands are also hunting game or searching for edible plants near the periphery of the camp.

Most likely the noise and smell of people scared away most animals, but the plants are far less likely to flee.

Jeramine has set the fifty soldiers that Karil asked for aside, around a secondary campfire.  As Karil spots them, they're in the middle of their morning meal.

[Carthrat]

Karil starts towards the soldiers, glancing them over when he reaches them.

"Are you ready to die?" he asks them, out of custom. These words were spoken before every battle the Serpent Clan took part in- particularly those wars fought against the Dragon Clan.

Without waiting for an answer- (a wordless shout, typically), he goes on- "We hunt dangerous prey, my brethren. Trechery lies beneath the shade of the jungle, but to there we must go. No make can match the craftiness of a serpent- but a woman is no man.

Subtlety and trickery are what the Serpent was feared for. It will be once again. Divide yourselves into two equal groups, and be ready to leave at nightfall. Be ready with nets and tools for fire- we shall make good use of them. Do not burden yourselves with much food or water- after our prey is caught, there is plenty of time to hunt- but to be weighed down in this excursion will be death."

[Brian]

The men cheer, though somewhat somberly, and run off to do as instructed.  Jeramine remains behind, while the contigent gathers nets and unlit torches.  "Is this wise?" he asks.  "Battling them here?"

[Carthrat]

Karil pauses for a moment, and then speaks quietly.

"Karil and Farla or no, fifty men, myself, and proper execution will force them to flee or die.

If I do not face them now, they will continue to plauge me until I do. And they are not devoting their time to leading and organisation.. training and hunting is all that occupies them. They will grow stronger quicker than me, Jaramine.. the longer I wait, the more challenging they will be in the end.

No, better I fight them now. At the least, defeating them will remove a menace that has been around too long. We may even recover the blades that have been lost. Imagine it, Jaramine. We could abandon this wretched lifestyle..."

Karil holds Twilight Song aloft, perpendicular to himself. "What do you suggest, Jaramine? Waiting for the right moment is small option. I cannot help but feel that our options only get worse as time goes on..."

[Brian]

Jeramine scowls.  "I can't prove you wrong," he mutters.  "I just...."  He shakes his head.  "Be careful.  Even with fifty men, I think the twins dangerous to you."

[Carthrat]

"As they ever are," replies Karil. "Keep the clan safe whilst I am gone, Jaramine."

Clapping his friend on the shoulder, Karil walks off to make his own preperations for the excursion.

[Brian]

Jeramine gives Karil his space, as do the majority of the men.  A few of the soldiers that aren't in the attack group look unhappy, but more than fifty men wouldn't significantly shift the odds against only two others.  It's only the fact that Karil isn't certain who the balance is in favor of that's worrisome.

[Carthrat]

There must be two groups, and I must appaer to be alone. One group must hide, but in an obvious fashion, to deter any sight of the second group, which must be completely unseen...

Plans flip through Karil's mind as he prepares himself; by eating a hearty meal (for a change), packing his (small) pack, and going through his (complex) martial exercises.

Much of the Clan is not, in fact, preparing, but instead relaxing. With the camp essentially set up for the day, instead of training, packing, or otherwise working, many people are taking a well-earned rest.

Karil has Jaramine lead the fifty men through harsh exercises, but makes certain to, before they leave, have some time to spend with their families and sweethearts and the like.

And after some time, it is getting late in the afternoon, so Karil has his expedition party lined up in front of him, ready to set out his plan.

The premise is relatively simple- to trick his sisters into mistakes. He doubted they would expect him alone- after all, if he were them, he wouldn't.

Whilst any plan involving his sisters is sure to develop in new and unexpected ways, he nontheless thinks this one, fluid as it may be, has a chance of succeeding.

[code]Karil will set out on the path alone, a short distance ahead of his compatriats.

Half of his men will be a short distance behind him, making an effort to hide in the surrounding jungle and whatnot. Naturally, they will be spotted. However, Karil doubts they will be attacked until he reaches the 'killing zone' of his sisters. Upon reaching this place, they shall spread out around the place silently, and lie in wait for his sisters approach. When a suitable moment appears, they shall strike.

However, their real purpose is to at least partially mask the second group, who will hopefully go unnoticed. This group is to spread out in a second ring about the killing zone, setting up traps with the nets and fire to disorient and confuse his sisters.

When the fight starts, naturally, all hell with break loose. If his sisters have also prepared the battleground, there's no telling what sort of things might surprise them. If they have mercenaries of their own, then Karils own force will likely be too engaged to help him. And even if they come alone without any preperation, it is still an unsure thing.

Nonetheless, as Karil begins to set out, he feels confident that this can work.

[Brian]

The plan is set in motion, and Karil leads the way to the site of the duel.  The sun is setting, but his warriors are skilled, and manage to stick to the shadows even while the sun is up.  It's impossible to tell if the sisters are aware ... but even if they aren't, the men are committed to fight to the bitter end, regardless.

When Karil reaches the clearing, it's deserted.  Tall torches have been left scattered about, stuck deep into the ground, and not yet lit.  This is obviously their chosen battleground, though neither Karil nor his men find any traps set, and the sisters have not been found here, as their message said they would.

Getting to work setting up their own, the men take their positions, though the sun has not yet completely set.

[Carthrat]

His preperations complete, Karil retreats to one side of the arena, holding Twilight Song to one side.

The psychological tactic of making an opponent wait for a duel is not unknown to him. Nor is the concept of divide and conquer; perhaps in splitting him from the majority of the Serpent, they may mean to strike them instead of him. Jaramine is a capable leader, but Karil knows that he himself is better.

Either way, at this point, there's nothing to do but wait.[/i]

[Brian]

Karil's men take advantage of the lack of enemy to conceal themselves (or at least, half of themselves), and set up their traps before they wait, as instructed.

As the sun is setting, the torches light, seemingly of their own volition, and the twins emerge from the shadows at the far end of the clearing.  Perhaps they sparked the torches off somehow ... it's difficult to discern.  The two take a few steps forward, and then Karla says, "It's good to see that you have come."

"To give us what should be ours by right," Farel adds.

Together, they draw their swords, and ask, "Are you prepared?"

[Carthrat]

"Your pretenses never cease to amaze me," replies Karil, ignoring their previous question. "'By Right?' Your claim was lost ever since you left the clan."

Karil drifts slowly into a long, flowing stance, with his hands both grasping one end of Twilight Song, holding the other end apart from his body.

"Come, then, and be defeated."

[Brian]

As a pair, the twins glide forward, stances identical, and perfectly matched.  Their swords are smaller, but only slightly, and are held in offensive stances; point upward.

The twins movement is disturbing because of how well the two work together; it's almost like facing the same foe twice.  The two rush, and then the clansmen spring into action, throwing their power into the conflict.

Karla and Farel split paths, then, Karla (Karil thinks, anyway) deflecting the incoming nets and swordsmen, while Farel goes on to engage Karil directly.  Perhaps it's just Karil's imagination, but it seems almost like the twins don't fight as well when they aren't using the same moves....

Either way, Farel tests out Karil's defenses with an easily deflected over-hand blow, quickly reversing her blade and trying to spin the arc below Karil's guard.