Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 24, 2012 23:16:48 GMT -5
The invasion of Ponyville had all but decimated the once quaint little building, leaving behind mostly rubble and what was left of a brick and mortar wall. It was here that Baxter was sitting, idling himself by carving at a long piece of wood with a knife. Thin strips would curl and fall as he brought the blade against the wood in long, measured strokes. They would land on the ground next to their compatriots as he repeated the motion, looking around at what was left of the Pony settlement.
Nearby, a couple of diamond dogs were scrounging around the ruins of another building. Occasionally they would find a moldy pastry or rotten piece of cake, promptly throwing it to the side. Probably a bakery, not that it mattered. Baxter sneered at the group before looking back at the wood he was carving. "Mindless dogs," he thought to himself, bringing down the next few strokes with extra force. "Nothing better to do than dig around through the rubble of some stupid pastry shop. Nothing of more importance to be doing than sifting through debris and rotten breadcrumbs." Pulling the knife back, he held the wood up to examine the impact of his last few seconds of carving.
He had dug in too deep. The wood was now rough, uneven, and irreparable. Growling under his breath, the winter wolf cast the ruined wood aside, standing up and walking off towards another part of the former settlement. It wasn't long until he had reached his destination: a large tree standing tall above the ruined buildings surrounding it. The tree had taken a beating, but it was still standing. Leaning slightly, its roots sticking out near the back, but still standing. Baxter had overheard someone saying it had been the town library. Now it was just timber.
The winter wolf grabbed one of the low-hanging branches, snapping it off and carrying it with him back to his previous location. Sitting back down on what was left of the wall, he looked over towards the bakery. The diamond dogs were still there, though they were now arguing over something one of them had found. Baxter growled under his breath again, propping the branch upright as he did so. "Mindless dogs..." he muttered, turning his attention back to the branch as he hacked at its twigs.
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 28, 2012 20:30:49 GMT -5
"You know they can hear you when you say that." a mildly amused voice commented, as a fellow Winter Wolf sat down next to Baxter. He was slim, tall and athletic, wearing studded leather, as always with one of his blades twirling in his hands. It was Ice Fang, the Winter Wolf mercenary currently training and leading the Diamond Dog elites and one of Sharp's generals.
"They might not be Wolves, but they still have the hearing." He said with a grin, illustrating the point by gesturing at a Diamond Dog some distance away who was staring, the subject quickly turning about to his business as he noticed he was spotted. Ice Fang lift one of his daggers, Icingdeath and pretended to aim a throw at the Diamond Dog, who quickly scurried out of sight.
"But don't worry, I'll make these mutts into proper warriors yet. My elite are already shaping up to be truly horror inspiring." Of course, he was referring to the elite of the Diamond Dogs, what he called the battlefield assassins. "I took the idea from the Equiterian Arcani. Those would just blend in to their surroundings, appear out of nowhere, and drive terror into the hearts of their enemies, only to disappear again when they routed, striking elsewhere, taking down the enemy captains and generals and leaving a massive disorganized mess where an army once stood." Ice Fang said with admiration, adoring the ancient Equites for their ruthless combat tactics and their efficient management.
"What got you so down anyway?" He finally turned back to Baxter, one arm draped over his shoulder and shaking him about, "Some Diamond Dog legs turned you down?"
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 28, 2012 23:46:33 GMT -5
Baxter looked over at Ice Fang as the fellow winter wolf sat down next to him, pausing his work with the branch. The archer’s eyes followed his gesture towards another diamond dog, glaring as it scurried away. He soon went back to looking down at the branch, listening carefully to the other winter wolf while cutting away what was left of the twigs.
Hearing about Ice Fang’s progress with the elites was able to lift Baxter’s mood quite a bit. At least something was being done to make competent soldiers out of these cowardly mutts. And the way he described what the elite were being modeled after... it sounded like something Baxter could have said himself, his entire doctrine summed up perfectly. If the dogs were only a fraction of the caliber Ice Fang was describing, this war would have been finished before it started. And they most definitely wouldn’t have been the trash heap of an authority they were now.
Ice Fang’s shaking him gave Baxter a small startle back into reality. He looked up at the Winter Wolf before responding. "As if I’m one to consort with dirt like this," he answered, nonchalantly brushing Ice Fang’s hand off his shoulder. He returned to working with the branch as he continued, carving the bark off in thin slices. "In any case, your words are... reassuring. The dogs are idiots, but they have potential. They just need training. And someone to tell them what to do."
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 0:16:58 GMT -5
"They were shaped from dogs, it is in their nature to serve. Just as it is in ours to be self sufficient. Sharp did do an impressive job sorting out all those packs and mashing them in together like this. I have to claw it to him. With the Changelings, the Terragons and the Drakes on our side we make a very considerable force." Ice Fang began tossing Icingdeath in the air, catching it each time between two different claws.
The canine's brow furrowed in thought as he stated a suspicion he's been having. "I think Sharp's endgame has little to do with it, or us. I also don't think he's calling all of the shots. Otherwise the Dragon Council wouldn't send their inspector." The Winter Wolf was talking of the tall hooded dog that appeared mysteriously one day, following Sharp around. None of the generals saw what he looked like beneath his hood and his armor, but Sharp said he was an emissary from the Dragon Council.
"I've been snooping around about Blackmane too, he doesn't sound like someone who's likely to take orders from anyone, let alone a Diamond Dog. Especially since Sharp was never in direct contact with him." This much at least he knew was true. No messenger was sent to Blackmane, nor did Blackmane ever come to Sharp, or Ice Fang would have known. The way Blackmane's renegade airship fleet suddenly fell into place in Sharp's plan was indeed brow-raising, Ice Fang suspected that there was someone far more powerful than Sharp pulling the strings. "And you know what, Bax? Seeing what Sharp really is, I really don't want to imagine what could give him orders."
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 10:37:50 GMT -5
Baxter nodded as Ice Fang responded. Again, more words out of Baxter’s own mouth. Being servile was in a diamond dog’s blood. The cowardice could be eliminated with thorough training, but the dogs would always need someone to tell them what to do. It just needed to be the right people.
His good mood instantly vanished, however, when Ice Fang mentioned the other forces Sharp had coerced into fighting with them. And as he continued, Baxter could feel his teeth tighten together, especially when he was reminded of the Dragon Council’s emissary. The archer had already been aggravated enough with Sharp bringing in outside forces, especially the dragon, but the hooded diamond dog’s visit had raised his suspicion of the warlord tenfold. It was easy to assume the worst.
"So at the end of the day, even Sharp still wants to bow down to someone," Baxter spoke. His fingers curled tighter around his knife as he shaved off another slice off wood. "Probably the bloody Dragon Council itself. Eons of enslavement and they still want to go crawling back. They’re idiots, all of them. Mindless dogs." He shaved another two strips off the branch in silence before pausing. "And I don’t care how many of them hear that."
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 10:55:42 GMT -5
"Not the council, no." Said Ice Fang, "They're not happy with any of us at all. In fact, they're completely against this entire thing. Emissary is here to make sure we don't cause how did Sharp call it... "permanent damage to the already strained Pony - Dragon relationship. Basically the reason no one's allowed to have any fun with the prisoners." the Winter Wolf drew a circle in the sand. "That's us." He said, illustrating what he was trying to get across, "Here, is Sharp." He said, connecting a circle on top of the first circle. Then drawing a line on the bottom left of the first circle, "That's the Emmisary." He then placed another circle to the immediate right of Sharp's, "That's Blackmane."
The diagram looked rather simple, the emmisary was to the side of the circle, unconnected, just someone who's "around", Sharp was above the circle, as the Warlord and Blackmane was also seperate from the circle but above it, and beneath him Ice Fang drew another circle signifying the Griffon Fleet. "So like you see, we have two armies and two commanders unconnected but working for the same cause. What I want to know, is who's here." He drew another circle above and between Blackmane and Sharp's circle. "This guy, the coordinator, he's the one I'm worried about. Either way, Sharp will stand by his word, I train his men, he'll give me his sword. Winter's Breath. The same sword Silverback himself wielded, back when he was in the pack, that is."
"But enough about that stuff, you and I have nothing to worry about regarding Sharp's plan. We'll be back in our pack any day now as heroes with many dragon enchanted relics. I say we go find a pair of legs and some good cider and just have fun." He nudged his companion on the shoulder, "Then we can go taunt the pony prisoners a bit more if you still have some energy."
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 11:43:40 GMT -5
Baxter gave Ice Fang a look of disbelief as he explained the Dragon Council’s concern. "Permanent damage to the Pony – Dragon relationship"? Was that a joke? And did they really expect the Diamond Dogs to care about the dragons' relationship with the ponies? Baxter watched as Ice Fang drew his diagram in the sand, but his mind was still running over what he had said before. He waited until the other winter wolf had finished before speaking.
"...The dragons want us... to keep Pony-Dragon relations from deteriorating? If they’re so concerned about it, they should just pull their own kind from the invasion. Then there’s no blood on their claws and the only thing being strained is the already broken Pony-Diamond Dog relations." Baxter let out a frustrated sigh before continuing. "Too bad Sharp’s already doing whatever they’ll tell him to. Ugh…" The archer closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his snout at the stupidity of the situation.
"Maybe I do need a break. If I think too much more about this I’ll probably pop a blood vessel." Huh, that was great. Now thinking was starting to become painful. The stupid was probably rubbing off on him. Baxter stood up from the wall, being careful not to step on Ice Fang’s diagram. "Silverback’s sword huh?" he said, changing the subject as he sheathed his knife and put away the unfinished branch. "Not a bad trade." Not bad at all, actually. Just that sword legitimized putting up with all of these idiots, then some.
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 12:18:21 GMT -5
"I'll say, that sword is supposedly Prismatic enchanted. Definitely a good trade." Ice said, pulling Baxter up and then leading him through the rubble towards the makeshift tavern their forces turned one of the pony cider bars into. Luckily, none of the cider was hurt in the attack and was all theirs for drinking. Entering and approaching the counter he ordered a couple of cider mugs. The barkeep, a rather tall Diamond Dog, slid the mugs over to Ice and Baxter, trying not to catch their eyes as he did so.
"Now what you need is just to relax. You're too tense." Ice fang said, bumping mugs with Baxter and taking a large gulp, "You can drive fear into your subordinates and enemies without being angry all of the time, you know. We're moving to Fillydelphia tomorrow anyway for the General gathering Sharp has going on. Luckily Equestria's going to be mighty busy with Blackmane's fleet so it gives us the freedom to move about."
The barkeep in the meanwhile went down to the cellar, to refill the small keg on the counter. The cider wasn't bad, for pony drink. Of course they'd have hot honey nectar back at the Northern Barrens. Now THAT was the stuff. Ice began looking around, checking out the patrons. He didn't expect to find anyone from his unit, as they were all stationed elsewhere. He was just here to supervise the turning of the village into a Diamond Dog outpost. But it never hurt to be sure.
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 13:26:16 GMT -5
"It’s hard not to be angry," Baxter replied after taking a drink from his mug. "Coming down here only reminds me of how incompetent these mutts really are. Everywhere I look I see cowardice and stupidity. It makes me want to tear my fur out." The archer looked around at the few other diamond dogs in the tavern. "I may hold them to high expectations, but only because I know they’re capable of reaching them. Maybe that’s what gets to me. They can be great, but their lack of spine and intellect holds them back."
Baxter turned back around towards the bar, placing his mug on the counter before continuing. "I don’t suppose Sharp will be addressing that catastrophe on the mountain side at his little pow-wow." Baxter was of course referring to the entire vanguard that had been wiped out while advancing to Canterlot, all by a single pony. When he had gotten word of the incident, he nearly boiled over with rage. No lone pony should have been able to withstand an attack by that many diamond dogs. But of course, rather than rushing him, the entire unit had frozen in fear like startled woodland creatures, waiting to be slaughtered.
Baxter could feel his temper rising from just thinking about it, though he quickly doused it with a long gulp from his cider. "The sooner the dogs grow a backbone, the better."
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 13:35:02 GMT -5
Ice Fang's face darkened as Baxter mentioned that incident. "Do you want to know who it was? It was the Iron Shoes, and more than that, he was the Pony Field Marshal in the Prism Wars. He's got millenia of combat training." At that several Diamond Dog ears perked up, listening in, "He can cause earthquakes by just punching the ground, Bax. Even you and I would probably not fare much better under a surprise attack from that monster." Sharp has already debriefed him on the incident after it happened. He didn't want to guess exactly how Iron Shoes was able to live for over a thousand years, nor did he want to guess what had to become of him to gain so much power. But Equestria had him on their side, and he was extremely dangerous.
Sharp did not seem too worried.
"As for the Dogs, why do you even care? When it's all over we'll be back home and they'll be just a memory. Although they could be a good memory, judging by that foxy one over there." He commented, nudging Baxter to gesture with his head at a brunnette husky sitting with several other "legs" as Ice Fang called them.
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 14:43:24 GMT -5
"That doesn’t change what happened,” Baxter said sulkily. "They stood there like cowards and they died like cowards. Even if they were ill-matched, not a one of them even tried attacking him. How’s that for bravery?" Baxter wrapped his other hand around his mug, tapping the fingers against the edge in quick succession. "As for why I care…" The archer paused, trying to find a good way to put his thoughts into words. "It’s complicated. But look at what the diamond dogs once were. They were a force to be reckoned with. And now? A rag-tag organization of spineless idiots."
"I want to see them like they were before: powerful, feared. But they’re too stupid to see it for themselves. Maybe I care because no one else does. The dogs don’t care. None of our kind cares. Maybe I’m not supposed to care! I just don’t know if I can stop." Baxter looked over at Ice Fang, feeling like he was having trouble expressing his thoughts. "I mean, I can’t stop thinking that the dogs have a purpose. And that maybe the winter wolves have a purpose too, a purpose that’s not performing mercenary work." The archer let out a sigh, letting his forehead rest on the bar top. "I don’t know. I really don’t know. Sometimes it’s like my gut is telling me one thing and everything else is telling me my gut is wrong."
He opened his eyes after a few seconds, looking over at the female diamond dogs. "Go ahead if you want," he said, keeping his head on the table. "I’m perfectly fine over here."
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 14:55:30 GMT -5
"Diamond Dogs and Winter Wolves do have a purpose, to serve Dragons. That's why we were created, that's our destiny. Both of our civilizations chose to make our own destinies instead, us in our own way, they in theirs. If you want to take that choice away from them and make them do what you think is right, how are you better than the dragons?" Ice Fang asked reasonably. Sending a wink to the husky he was checking out earlier, she smiled coyly at him and chattering erupted at their table, with glances occasionally thrown his way.
"They'll find their way much better if we don't try to force it on them. Besides, before the ponies stole their gems, they had a pretty stable piece going around their territories." The Winter Wolf reasoned, referring to the incident a little over a year ago where several ponies robbed a pack of Diamond Dogs of their hard-earned gems.
"I find it funny, though," Ice Fang commented slyly, "That you see in them such a great and powerful civilization, but you won't even consider that nice wolf hound that's been looking at you." He gestured to one of the chattering females, a very busty German Shepard who's been eyeing Baxter for a while now.
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 15:23:07 GMT -5
Baxter’s eyes shot open as Ice Fang finished his rebuttal. He played the response in his head over and over, trying to find where it fit into the logic of his ideas. This continued for several seconds before he sat up, looking directly at Ice Fang. "It’s different," he said irritably. "The dragons created the dogs to enslave them, to keep them as low as they could. I want to see them as the best they can be, even if they’re too stupid to see it for themselves!"
"And no, they won’t find their way better on their own. They’ve had several thousand years to do that and they’re still worthless. They’re servantile, I get that. They need someone to boss them around, but it sure as heck isn’t the dragons." Baxter glanced over at the female diamond dog Ice Fang had mentioned, examining her carefully before turning back to the bar. "And she’s got nothing to do with it," he said, picking up his glass. "Dogs and wolves are different. Different purposes, different places."
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 29, 2012 15:33:42 GMT -5
"L-et's see..." Ice Fang replied, running his finger on the rim of his mug, "Both of our races were created by Dragons, both of them rebelled against dragons. Both are now independent. Sure, it took them a thousand years or so more to do it. But then, don't forget that they're only in the state they are because the ponies and griffons won't let them rise up again. Even with our help, do you really think they could stand against pony battle-mages and the Griffon Armada? And yet here we are again, marshaled into a war for the Diamond Dog's freedom by none other than another Diamond Dog. You give them little credit. Far as their packs were concerned, they were happy about how things were running until the ponies got in the middle of it all. And yet again, they're fighting back against oppression. And that one checking you out would definitely want to show you her inner strength, all she and her friend are waiting for is for us to call them here."
"Not everyone dreams of greatness and conquest Bax. Some are just happy the way they are. But we'll see how this war ends, and we'll see what they do then. Considering we live in exactly the same way, with the only difference being that we sell ourselves for money, I wouldn't be quick to judge. But then again with you, I think it's more, as the saying goes, Dum canem caedimus, corrosisse dicitur corrium."
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Baxter
Diamond Dogs
High Templar Winter Wolf
"Wars are not won by the weak-willed."
Posts: 238
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Post by Baxter on Sept 29, 2012 16:05:43 GMT -5
"I’d rather find something to be angry about than fall into apathy," Baxter said, taking a gulp from his mug. "As for the dogs, complacency is not something to be lauded. Those who don’t strive to become their best will always fail. And like I’ve said, the dogs are too stupid to know what their best is. That’s what annoys me."
"And as for the ponies and the griffins, you’re right. The dogs can’t become powerful because the ponies and griffins won’t let them. However, they can’t oppose the ponies and griffins because they aren’t powerful. It’s a pathetic cycle that’s left them nowhere in a hurry. The only thing that’s going to stop it is intervention. I admire Sharp’s decision to take a stand, but so far he’s done little to change the caliber of his people. If anything, he’s kept them down by bringing in outside forces."
Baxter raised his mug to his lips again but stopped to lower it and look back at Ice Fang. "And if you’re so smitten with those girls than you can call them over. It’s not like you haven’t been holding back on it since we got here."
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