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 Nov 10, 2012 12:13:18 GMT -5
The battle was surprisingly anti-climactic. All it took was a gem from Malachite to destroy the entire group of marble warriors, leaving Baxter relieved that that much was over with. But the generals probably wanted him dead after this, especially if he was going to keep unwittingly summoning marble warriors every night. The wolf looked nervously at the generals, waiting to see what would happen.
What Sharp said next, though, left Baxter greatly confused. Had he been... expecting the attack? And... he had activated the other chess set? Baxter listened to the wolfhound's explanation, almost unbelieving what he was hearing, and still greatly confused by every word of it. He did, though, get well enough the warlord's warning about messing with powerful magic again. The wolfhound had said it like it was nothing, but the look he gave Baxter indicated well enough its severity.
True to Sharp's word, a chest had appeared next to Baxter, holding a set of ring armor within it. The wolf looked back up at Sharp to hear the last of what he had to say, disliking his comment but knowing better than to show it. Instead, he quickly took the armor out of the chest, following Ice Fang out of the assembly area and back to the main portion of the city. Baxter waited until they were a good distance away before finally saying anything.
"You told Sharp about..." he said, trailing off but leaving the rest of the sentence easily discernible. "And that was why I was brought to the assembly?" It had been left more as a statement than a question. Baxter knew the reason why he was still alive was because he had been at the assembly. On his own, the marble warriors would have destroyed him. Ice Fang had saved his tail... again.
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 12:24:27 GMT -5
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Can't say it didn't cost much, but you're worth it I guess." Ice Fang shrugged. He didn't say much else other than that. Didn't really look at Baxter either. Whatever Sharp demanded of him, must have been a handful.
They were still far from the city proper, the camp had been outside the city, and they were now in the empty stretch of land between. A very desolate and unlit stretch of ground. If any Marble Warrior survived, he could probably ambush them easily. Ice Fang did not seem concerned in the least bit however. He just walked silently, emanating a certain... exasperation.
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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 Nov 10, 2012 12:54:07 GMT -5
Baxter looked up at the other wolf, unsettled by what he had said. He didn't think it was the right time or place to ask what it was, but whatever it had been that Ice Fang had given up, it was obviously big. The other wolf looked pretty down about it.
Baxter watched the ground in front of them as they continued, feeling like crud yet again. "I'm sorry," he said, unable to look his friend in the eye. "You've been taking blows for my mistakes. Big ones. If I had stayed in the North none of this would've happened." The entire incident with the chess pieces was just one huge regret, making him wish he had never accompanied Ice Fang to Equestria in the first place. They both would've been better off for it.
"And thanks for saving my rear-end, twice." The wolf finally looked back up at Ice Fang, looking to see how he'd respond. "If there's anything you want me to do, anything, let me know. I don't deserve someone like you looking out for me to begin with."
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 13:07:10 GMT -5
Ice Fang chuckled, "Ah well, actually there is something you can do for me. I'll show you when we get back." Ice Fang said, tapping the smaller wolf on the back, "But no backsies." And so the two went off. Like Sharp said, the Chess Board had indeed disappeared, reappearing elsewhere, waiting for another traveler to find a piece of its set...
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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 Nov 10, 2012 13:18:39 GMT -5
Baxter let out a sigh, beginning to think he might regret the offer he had just made. Regardless, the chess board was now long gone, and he was glad to finally have the stupid thing out of his life. It could terrorize someone else all it wanted, as long as it left him alone.
"Alright, alright, so what's after Fillydelphia?" Baxter asked, glad to at least see Ice Fang being less mopey. "I assume Sharp's plans don't involve you staying around an already-conquered city for very long."
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 13:25:41 GMT -5
"No we're heading out to Everfree ambushing patrols heading for Hoofington. I'd feel better if we were guarding the tunnels up top, but Sharp's sending that whacked blood bearer with his unit at them. So yeah, going to need to cut them off from reinforcements, or stop the ponies from running. Which ever happens first." Ice Fang explained.
"I don't really get his strategy, he seems to want us to make as much chaos as we can, but asides from the tunnels, he hasn't mentioned any strategy involving Canterlot yet. Nothing he's revealed anyway." The Winter Wolf General said, sighing, "I guess he has some sort of master plan. Also your breath smells of pony blood. You have a snack earlier?"
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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 Nov 10, 2012 13:37:57 GMT -5
"Yeah," Baxter said simply, answering Ice Fang's question about the pony. There really wasn't much else to explain beyond that.
Baxter looked behind him, just to confirm they weren't being followed, before commenting on Sharp's plan. "Chaos is good, but it doesn't get you anywhere without a motive. And so far, Sharp hasn't left me with any reason to trust his motives. He's still playing patty-cake with that emissary from the dragon council, not to mention letting changelings and sky-pirates do half the fighting. Sharp owns this war, and it isn't about the diamond dogs. That's what concerns me."
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 13:50:40 GMT -5
"I agree with you. But again, this isn't our war. However it ends, I get the feeling the Diamond Dogs will have a future after it. Even if they don't win. Ponies seeing them this desperate will finally try to negotiate some sort of peace. Also, nice going on beating Swift in Backgammon, even I wasn't able to do that." Before Baxter could even ask Ice Fang grinned, "One of my lieutenants was in that den. Too bad you got thrown out the window a second later for questioning her resolve. She's quite the Firebrand."
Ice Fang shrugged, "Don't mess with that council guy by the way." He said, flatly, "He's ... actually pretty powerful. I would know, he kicked our butts earlier at the staging area." He said, leaving it in the air. Hoping Baxter would ask more.
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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 Nov 10, 2012 14:09:20 GMT -5
Baxter nodded distantly at what Ice Fang said. He was right, it wasn't their war. When it ended they would return to the barrens, go back to doing mercenary work. The idea left Baxter feeling despondent. He had never liked the wolves' neutrality, their apathy. Just doing contract work day by day, never fighting for anything other than better equipment. These sentiments were what made him unpopular among his own pack, though. He had long learned to keep his mouth shut.
Ice Fang's comment about his game of backgammon with Swift quickly changed the focus of his attention. Baxter looked over at Ice Fang in astonishment, wondering how the other wolf had learned about the incident. Ice Fang answered before Baxter even got the chance to ask, and commented too about Baxter getting thrown out the window. The archer let out a groan. He hadn't wanted Ice Fang to find out about what had happened, but at least he seemed like he was going to let up on it.
Lastly, the wolf listened to what Ice Fang said about the dragon council emissary. What Baxter heard was puzzling, a stark contrast to the image he had created of the dog. "Kicked your butts? Does that guy actually fight? I thought he just creep-ed around watching people and whispering stuff to the higher-ups." Baxter had imagined the emissary being some skinny mutt that kept himself covered in robes and hood or something. Now he was beginning to reconsider.
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 14:15:49 GMT -5
"He's the High Justiciar, he can fight and he can fight well. He practically was able to redirect all our attacks and knock us all on our butts in one move each. Until Sharp came and broke it up. He's a Blood Bearer and a Gem Tender too. Redirected Malachite's gems right at her, and that's no small feet. Also made Tremor's armor catch fire. Apparently it really is made out of his blood." Ice Fang sighed.
"Bested in one move, man it's been ages since that happened to me. Anyway he's no one to tangle with. I'm pretty sure that if he wanted to he could stop this invasion. I think he's just making sure we can't frame this on the council. He does seem to have a problem with some of the things we do to the ponies. War crimes he calls them. Sharp told him it's none of his business though."
"I guess, so long as we don't get the Council against us we should be alright. As long as they're neutral we shouldn't have a lot of problems. I just hope that High Justiciar doesn't get them involved."
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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 Nov 10, 2012 14:48:38 GMT -5
"Sharp should just tell that rat to take a hike," Baxter said indignantly. "I don't see the point in letting him stick around, and I wouldn't trust any dog who's sold their skin to a dragon. Let alone one who's acting as their representative. He's probably looking for an excuse to get the dragons involved. That's what they'd want isn't it? A chance to put the dogs back in 'their place'. They just don't want to look bad in the process."
"Not that the ponies wouldn't be kissing their feet if they did get involved. Maybe that's their plan. They failed keeping one species enslaved, why not try another? Save their hides, try to look justified in the process, and then when the ponies are more than happy to repay their saviors, put 'em in chains." Baxter knew his theory was becoming more and more far-fetched the longer he talked, but thought it was worth throwing out regardless. "Anyways, how'd you manage to get him fighting you in the first place? That seems like the last sort of thing an emissary is supposed to be doing."
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Post by Red Charge on Nov 10, 2012 14:51:30 GMT -5
"Well, let's just say, Havoc and Tremor were having too much fun with the ponies around Fillydelphia and he didn't like it. So Tremor tried attacking it, but well, that didn't go well. Naturally we all got involved and that didn't end well either." Ice Fang explained.
"I don't think there are enough dragons to enslave anyone anymore. They only just barely got out of extinction. But I'll tell you one thing, I hope I don't die in this war. Not one that I have no stocks in."
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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 Nov 10, 2012 15:03:21 GMT -5
Baxter rolled his eyes at Ice Fang's explanation, finding the emissary's concern over the safety of ponies ridiculous. What was he, a referee? This entire war was none of his business, or the dragons'.
"I don't think anyone likes dying, under any circumstances. We don't really ever have a stock in anything, do we? It's always for a new piece of armor, or a weapon, or whatever." The wolf let out another sigh, again reminded him of what awaited him in the barrens. "Just do me a favor and don't die anytime soon," he said, nudging the other wolf. "Otherwise there's not going to be anyone to save my sorry butt."
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