Empires of Ashes Reboot

LI is forced to take a single step back from the impact. Arrows shatter, her plate is scratched. That is all.

The archers have nocked another volley. "Shall we keep going until you are dead or we run dry of arrows?" Yenn asks nonplussed from the side.

LI: You don't have enough arrows to kill me.

Yenn: "I think we do." She gestures to the four thousand men with bows, and full quivers. "Mail, and your eyes. An arrow in your armpit, or knee, or through that slit, and you will die like any man stuck with an arrow."

LI: You think this is the first time I have faced such a barrage? You don't have enough arrows.

“At most a day, in reality? A few hours, we will requisition food and water enough to see us through the journey incase the harvests have already been collected and sold. And I will have my scouts ride for the nearest village within the hour.”

Looking up from the map Mord smiles and nods. “We shall strike the eastmmost village first, make like we’re coastal raiders using the rivers to travel.” The man explains as he points to a small hamlet.
“From there I can strike out and raze everything between the grand army and here, the constant flow of refugees will guide my men toward more settlements. Provided I split my forces I should easily be able to cover upward of 200 miles of land inside the first week.”

Yenn: "This is the first time you have faced us. So many armies relegate their archery to slaves or levies, this is not what you face now. Each man is as skilled as one can be, with a bow. Afoot or astride."

LI: the Cymrai do not. *rolls her shoulders again*Voldamians do not. Didn't matter then. Doesn't matter now.

Trajan: you leave at sunrise.

Yenn: "Then charge my men, by all means, I imagine the spikes are not poisoned, but i would not risk it myself."

LI simply starts walking towards them at a brisk pace

Yenn barks a few words in kelthrovi, and the archers begin to fire a steady barrage, specifically aiming for her head now.

the moment they loose the first volley, while the arrows are still in flight, she leaps, clearing the caltrops and landing between two of the men in the first rank

Mord: “As you say Uncle.” He replies with a nod before looking to his Mother-in-law. “Akari, will you and your men be joining me?”

Akari: It may be best. I am here to protect you, afterall.

Yenn: "Halt! Your point is made Clavae. Kill one of my men, and i shall find the nearest crossbow, and kill you myself."

To their credit, the men do not run, they do not draw their swords either however, rather simply staring at her in surprise.

LI silently looks at the men she is now amongst

The leader is the first to draw his blade and drop his bow. The blade is a gently curved scimitar, he rolls his wrist, the blade hissing through the air, he raises his buckler. His men follow suit after a half second.

LI doesn't say anything. She just turns and walks back away.

Yenn nods her approval at the man, he nods back, the mail veil hung from his helm jingling.

"Next."

Yenn: "Next? What do you want now, Aagannniti? A lance?"

she nods, rolling her shoulders again

She turns, snaps her fingers, and gestures, barks a command. The first man of the closest diamond of mamluks lowers his lance, and spurs his mount forwards. He is armoured the same as Yenn, though his is less adorned, but wears a helm. It is connical, with a small spike, and a noseguard, and cheekguards. from this, a veil of mail is draped, covering his face, with only his eyes visible.

He holds his lance in both hands, a small shield, though larger than the bucklers of the footmen, hangs from a strap at his hip.

LI takes a wide stance, locking eyes with the lancer

The tip of his lance jumps and falls with the gallop of the stallion. The horse is barded, a coat of sandy linen across its whole body, and bright mail and scale over its forequarters, and a solid helm of steel over its head.

LI waits, standing there, refusing to budge. At the last possible moment, with impossible speed, she steps to the left so as to allow the horse to simply ride past her. As she does, she grabs the shaft of the lance with both hands and wrenches the rider from his seat.

He lets go of the lance, and tucks and rolls as he hits hard earth, more from muscle memory, than from any consious thought most likely. He rises quickly, only taking the briefest moment to collect himself. He is up, and with a mace in hand.

Yenn watches, interested.

LI is stood ready, still holding the lance in both hands.

The mamluk glances at yenn, then back to Li. He takes a slow step forwards.

LI also steps forwards, switching to a one handed grip on the lance

The mamluk crouches, presenting his shield, and slowly swinging his mace back and forth in his grip.

she suddenly, without warning, hurls the lance at him like a javelin, before breaking into a charge

The mamluk anticipates the lances strike, moving his shield up to its height, but when the strike does not come, and he sees the charge approach, he turns his back foot side on. Preparing a strike with his mace, he stares down the charging clavae.

she's too fast for him. before he can lower his shield, she's on top of him, delivering a mighty boot to his shield with enough force to knock him down

On his back, the weight of mail slows his rise, but his shield is still up.

she kicks the side of the shield hard enough that it leaves his grasp and clatters to the ground nearby.

He eyes her through the small eyeholes between the solid steel of his helm, and the veil of thick mail hung from it. He adjusts his grip upon the mace.

she puts her foot against his chest

He opens his fingers and lets the mace roll from his hand

she looks him right in the eye, the leering skull visage looming over him like an angel of death

He points a finger at the foot on his chest, and looks at yenn, somewhat nervously. "āhuni lik’ek’u newi?" (Can you make it move?)

he cannot see it but she smiles a little at that. she steps away from him.

Yenn: "Satisfied?"

she turns to the other mamluks and holds her arms out in a sort of 'come and get me' posture
"Anyone else?"

Yenn cocks her head a little, thumb and forefinger playing with the hilt of one of her swords. "It has been a long time since i matched blades with somone who could rival me... Too long perhaps."

LI: you are confident.
Yenn's eyes catch LI's dragonscale cloak as it shimmers in the sun

Yenn: "I am curious. I have never fought a clavae, i had made a point of it, in fact."

"I will try not to harm you too greatly."

"I shall make great pains to ensure it."

LI widens her stance, rolling her shoulders

Yenn draws both the scimitars at her hips. She draws them from the oposite side to her hand, the blades crossing her breast as she does so, the steel ringing true. The blades shimmer in the light, the sun dancing as it does upon a still sea, highlighting the patterning upon the sword.

While Li widens her stance, Yenn stands tall, the scimitars hanging loose in her grip. The hilts hook at the pommel, over yenn's little finger, she is barely holding them.