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Summer, 1424
“We’ve found one of our scout’s horses!”
The welcome news came from one of the riders after a half day of riding as Murray’s strike force followed the trail marks left by the lost scouts. Interestingly, one way or another the missing had all disappeared in and around a strange valley: the vale was narrow, hemmed on all sides by steep mountains, and mysterious stone ruins seemingly set in some ritualistic fashion were scattered throughout the landscape. All the trails Price’s troops followed abruptly ended in this area, and so the Arcadians had spent the rest of the day looking for further evidence of their whereabouts, fanning out in a single massive search. Several hours later the horse had been found wandering aimlessly in a small rock field, still wearing a saddle and bridle, and Jayna and Murray had quickly called their forces to regroup around the field of discovery.
As the Arcadian commanders approached the location, they heard the casual playing of a shepherd’s harp from a large pile of stones immediately adjacent.
Murray immediately drew his sword while Jayna directed her troops to slowly fan out and surround the formation, before loading her gonne and following her bodyguard. Approaching on horseback, they came across a black-haired Aquelian calmly playing his harp, seemingly without a care in the world.
“What is the meaning of this?” Barked Murray. “What have you done to our people?”
The Aquelian casually looked up from his strumming and smiled at the Arcadian officers.
“Ah. Maybe you’ve caught me. Or maybe I’ve caught you!”
Suddenly two hundred figures materialized out of the rocks and surrounded the entire strike force. It was a diverse force, including humans and Sabines and duregaren and even a few cynos. By far most of the opponents were however minotaurs, massive, hairy bull peoples eight feet tall.
“I thought the minotaurs had disappeared after the Miscabbards.” Murray whispered to Jayna.
“I guess not.” She replied.
Armed with slightly dated cast-off equipment and ad-hoc arms and armor assembled from scrounged metal components, the force surrounding the Arcadians were not the most advanced opponents. Still this was more than compensated for by the minotaur’s sheer strength. War clubs and battleaxes and flails were held in firm grip by the bull people, while the shine of arrowheads suggested ranged support fire on the part of the other peoples.
Jayna’s forces had already arranged themselves in a defensive circle, swordsmen expertly guarding archers and gonners in front of their commanders. However Jayna's hand was up, holding off a response. These ambushers were not yet attacking, and likewise the Arcadians would refrain from action. Perhaps the Arcadians could fight their way out, but regardless of outcome the fight would be bloody.
Better to wait to see what their opponents wanted first.
The musician leaped to his feet, and made an exaggerated, almost mocking bow.
“Welcome to the Valley of the Labyrinths. This is my family, the Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths. We’ve been expecting you to show up.”
“And you’re the head of this family?” Jayna asked. The musician laughed aloud.
“Me? No, I’m just a poor humble soul.” The Aquelian pointed to a figure approaching out from the rocks. “She is however.”
An armored female minotaur calmly walked up to the encircled Arcadians, casually swinging a pair of solid chui hammers in her hands. She wore a salvaged plume helm with lamellar plate neck guard and plate paldrons dating to the Freeland Brother Revolt, as well as a crudely hammered metal chestplate and a homemade brigandine legwear, exposing a lithe greyish-brown midriff and a brunette belly with a golden stud. Blazing blue eyes gazed at Jayna and Murray from behind a brown muzzle topped by a nose hoop.
“My name is Galib.” The minotaur casually announced. “I lead this family of warriors. These are my roads and trees. I call for a toll for the use of my lands.”
“Where are my forty scouts that disappeared in this valley?” Jayna replied with some iciness.
The minotaur leader shrugged as though she didn't really care.
“They are safe for now, as will you, if you pay for all of the fare you owe us.”
“Do all other creatures of the Wilds speak Auxian now?” Price muttered aloud.
The young minotaur shot the colonel a look. “I’ve learned quite enough of your language in my encounters with your people.”
“And what is this toll?”
Galib laughed.
“Why, gold of course. Seeing as you are young and naive, I will be generous. I know you have about 10000 troops behind you, so all I ask for is 100000 gold pieces.”
Jayna breathed in. That amount was highway robbery, which she guessed this indeed was.
“If we give you that much, we won’t be able to purchase any supplies we need in Alba.” She finally replied.
“That is not my problem.”
“We would rather fight you bandits!” Murray suddenly roared, raised his longsword, and charged.
"Murray-" Jayna yelled.
Galib snorted and held up her hand, stopping her own archers from responding, and then with a single fluid motion slammed the Walkerite down with one of her chuis. Though Murray had quickly parried the blow with his longsword, the force of the impact sent him falling to the ground.
The minotaur bandit laughed. “You guys don’t know much about fighting in this world. Perhaps it would be best for you all to go home after your payment.”
Jayna wasn’t listening, while Price helped Murray back onto his feet, the Arcadian commander was staring at Galib’s ax, strapped to her back and shining in the sun when the minotaur hit Murray. The weapon was fan shaped, and gold plated, and ornately inlaid with blue lapis lazuli.
That seemed like something Jayna had heard about before.
“That is a fan-axe.” She muttered.
The minotaur smiled, glancing back at the weapon. “It was my mother’s.”
“My grandfather once told me a story about a blue and gold fan-axe, wielded by a powerful minotaur warrior. She fell helping defend my grandfather’s home from enemies and he brought the ax back to her daughter when he helped them rebuild a home.”
Galib was silent. “Your grandfather ruled the Town of Stanton.”
“In a way.”
“He was a friend of my mother’s.”
“I believe so.”
The minotaur glared at the Arcadian commander.“Well your grandfather led my mother to her death! I suppose you think I should be appreciative of that?”
Jayna was shocked into silence.
A few awkward minutes passed, before the Arcadian replied to the seething minotaur, choosing her words with care.
“I’m very sorry for your loss. But that also means the two of us have a blood debt. The rest of my army will soon come looking for me, and it’ll be difficult for all of us if things aren’t resolved. Come and join us, and I’ll make sure my people will protect your family, much as your people once protected mine.”
Galib snorted.
“You’ll have to do better than that. For your blood debt, you could just pay us. As for your empty threat, my family have defeated trespassers twice your strength before. We do not need allies who could betray us.”
“I urge you to reconsider. We cannot pay that toll, and my forces will try to rescue me.”
Galib hefted her chuis and grinned.
“Well then, I guess you two and me have some trouble.”
The two opposing lines tensed, ready for action. Jayna thought about the match in her coat pocket, and how long she would wait before she drew, and how quickly she could ignite her gonne.
Then came a familiar roar.
The Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths muttered among themselves in confusion, while instantly the surrounded Arcadians relaxed.
Jayna smiled. Mera saw good at knowing when she was in trouble.
“And what about a dragon?” She taunted the minotaur leader, who looked up in shock as a large draconic shadow covered the figures below.
“The Stanton Dragon!” Price yelled, and the Arcadian strikeforce cheered.
The bandit leader was also saying something, watching in dismay as the shadow hovered above her. Jayna did not know the minotaur language, but she imagined that Galib was cursing aloud. The Family members were already wavering at the approaching threat, and some had already disappeared into the trees and boulders. The Aquelian harpist's annoying smile had disappeared and he looked at his commander for direction.
Mera hovered directly above Jayna’s forces, silently daring the bandits to attack or flee.
Finally, the minotaur collected herself.
“Well I suppose I could let you guys through this one time.” She announced with a sigh, as her remaining soldiers lowered their weapons.
“Thank you, Galib.” Jayna nodded to the minotaur, and also to the dragon overhead, who snorted and landed with an earth-shaking descent.
And with that, most of the remaining Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths promptly dispersed. Shaking her head, the bandit leader turned and was about to disappear as well, before Jayna called out to her.
“Wait! Galib! You should join us and leave this place.”
Price and Murray looked at their commander with shock, but neither said anything in response. The minotaur warily turned back to face the Arcadian leader.
“Why?”
“The Imperial Army is on our heels. If you stay, you will be crushed like an egg before a rock.”
Galib shook her head. “And why should I believe you?”
“My army, with a dragon, is fleeing. Tell me you don’t trust your own instincts.”
“Okay, fine. But my people can blend back into the hills, and wait for them to pass.”
Jayna pushed further. “Will that be enough? Auxians will continue pushing into this valley. You know sooner or later you’ll get overwhelmed by settlers.”
“And where do we run to?” The minotaur sarcastically asked.
“A new home. We could use your skills and knowledge of the Back Valley, and we can provide strength for you to find this Arcadia.”
Galib stood silently, slowly gazing at Jayna Durham, then Meratezatgh, then Murray, then Price. Finally the minotaur sighed and removed her helm, running her hands over her dreadlocks.
“Very well. But note, Jayna Durham that my people are the Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths. We are not Arcadians, nor do we intend to be.”
Jayna smiled. “Galib of the Labyrinth Family, we will honor your wishes. Hopefully our alliance will be mutually beneficial to the both of our peoples.”
Galib gave Jayna a look as though the minotaur did not believe a single word of that comment.
“Hopefully.” Was all she responded with.
50 Cent - Places To Go
Courtesy of
OldOldMan!
Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/40641936/
“We’ve found one of our scout’s horses!”
The welcome news came from one of the riders after a half day of riding as Murray’s strike force followed the trail marks left by the lost scouts. Interestingly, one way or another the missing had all disappeared in and around a strange valley: the vale was narrow, hemmed on all sides by steep mountains, and mysterious stone ruins seemingly set in some ritualistic fashion were scattered throughout the landscape. All the trails Price’s troops followed abruptly ended in this area, and so the Arcadians had spent the rest of the day looking for further evidence of their whereabouts, fanning out in a single massive search. Several hours later the horse had been found wandering aimlessly in a small rock field, still wearing a saddle and bridle, and Jayna and Murray had quickly called their forces to regroup around the field of discovery.
As the Arcadian commanders approached the location, they heard the casual playing of a shepherd’s harp from a large pile of stones immediately adjacent.
Murray immediately drew his sword while Jayna directed her troops to slowly fan out and surround the formation, before loading her gonne and following her bodyguard. Approaching on horseback, they came across a black-haired Aquelian calmly playing his harp, seemingly without a care in the world.
“What is the meaning of this?” Barked Murray. “What have you done to our people?”
The Aquelian casually looked up from his strumming and smiled at the Arcadian officers.
“Ah. Maybe you’ve caught me. Or maybe I’ve caught you!”
Suddenly two hundred figures materialized out of the rocks and surrounded the entire strike force. It was a diverse force, including humans and Sabines and duregaren and even a few cynos. By far most of the opponents were however minotaurs, massive, hairy bull peoples eight feet tall.
“I thought the minotaurs had disappeared after the Miscabbards.” Murray whispered to Jayna.
“I guess not.” She replied.
Armed with slightly dated cast-off equipment and ad-hoc arms and armor assembled from scrounged metal components, the force surrounding the Arcadians were not the most advanced opponents. Still this was more than compensated for by the minotaur’s sheer strength. War clubs and battleaxes and flails were held in firm grip by the bull people, while the shine of arrowheads suggested ranged support fire on the part of the other peoples.
Jayna’s forces had already arranged themselves in a defensive circle, swordsmen expertly guarding archers and gonners in front of their commanders. However Jayna's hand was up, holding off a response. These ambushers were not yet attacking, and likewise the Arcadians would refrain from action. Perhaps the Arcadians could fight their way out, but regardless of outcome the fight would be bloody.
Better to wait to see what their opponents wanted first.
The musician leaped to his feet, and made an exaggerated, almost mocking bow.
“Welcome to the Valley of the Labyrinths. This is my family, the Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths. We’ve been expecting you to show up.”
“And you’re the head of this family?” Jayna asked. The musician laughed aloud.
“Me? No, I’m just a poor humble soul.” The Aquelian pointed to a figure approaching out from the rocks. “She is however.”
An armored female minotaur calmly walked up to the encircled Arcadians, casually swinging a pair of solid chui hammers in her hands. She wore a salvaged plume helm with lamellar plate neck guard and plate paldrons dating to the Freeland Brother Revolt, as well as a crudely hammered metal chestplate and a homemade brigandine legwear, exposing a lithe greyish-brown midriff and a brunette belly with a golden stud. Blazing blue eyes gazed at Jayna and Murray from behind a brown muzzle topped by a nose hoop.
“My name is Galib.” The minotaur casually announced. “I lead this family of warriors. These are my roads and trees. I call for a toll for the use of my lands.”
“Where are my forty scouts that disappeared in this valley?” Jayna replied with some iciness.
The minotaur leader shrugged as though she didn't really care.
“They are safe for now, as will you, if you pay for all of the fare you owe us.”
“Do all other creatures of the Wilds speak Auxian now?” Price muttered aloud.
The young minotaur shot the colonel a look. “I’ve learned quite enough of your language in my encounters with your people.”
“And what is this toll?”
Galib laughed.
“Why, gold of course. Seeing as you are young and naive, I will be generous. I know you have about 10000 troops behind you, so all I ask for is 100000 gold pieces.”
Jayna breathed in. That amount was highway robbery, which she guessed this indeed was.
“If we give you that much, we won’t be able to purchase any supplies we need in Alba.” She finally replied.
“That is not my problem.”
“We would rather fight you bandits!” Murray suddenly roared, raised his longsword, and charged.
"Murray-" Jayna yelled.
Galib snorted and held up her hand, stopping her own archers from responding, and then with a single fluid motion slammed the Walkerite down with one of her chuis. Though Murray had quickly parried the blow with his longsword, the force of the impact sent him falling to the ground.
The minotaur bandit laughed. “You guys don’t know much about fighting in this world. Perhaps it would be best for you all to go home after your payment.”
Jayna wasn’t listening, while Price helped Murray back onto his feet, the Arcadian commander was staring at Galib’s ax, strapped to her back and shining in the sun when the minotaur hit Murray. The weapon was fan shaped, and gold plated, and ornately inlaid with blue lapis lazuli.
That seemed like something Jayna had heard about before.
“That is a fan-axe.” She muttered.
The minotaur smiled, glancing back at the weapon. “It was my mother’s.”
“My grandfather once told me a story about a blue and gold fan-axe, wielded by a powerful minotaur warrior. She fell helping defend my grandfather’s home from enemies and he brought the ax back to her daughter when he helped them rebuild a home.”
Galib was silent. “Your grandfather ruled the Town of Stanton.”
“In a way.”
“He was a friend of my mother’s.”
“I believe so.”
The minotaur glared at the Arcadian commander.“Well your grandfather led my mother to her death! I suppose you think I should be appreciative of that?”
Jayna was shocked into silence.
A few awkward minutes passed, before the Arcadian replied to the seething minotaur, choosing her words with care.
“I’m very sorry for your loss. But that also means the two of us have a blood debt. The rest of my army will soon come looking for me, and it’ll be difficult for all of us if things aren’t resolved. Come and join us, and I’ll make sure my people will protect your family, much as your people once protected mine.”
Galib snorted.
“You’ll have to do better than that. For your blood debt, you could just pay us. As for your empty threat, my family have defeated trespassers twice your strength before. We do not need allies who could betray us.”
“I urge you to reconsider. We cannot pay that toll, and my forces will try to rescue me.”
Galib hefted her chuis and grinned.
“Well then, I guess you two and me have some trouble.”
The two opposing lines tensed, ready for action. Jayna thought about the match in her coat pocket, and how long she would wait before she drew, and how quickly she could ignite her gonne.
Then came a familiar roar.
The Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths muttered among themselves in confusion, while instantly the surrounded Arcadians relaxed.
Jayna smiled. Mera saw good at knowing when she was in trouble.
“And what about a dragon?” She taunted the minotaur leader, who looked up in shock as a large draconic shadow covered the figures below.
“The Stanton Dragon!” Price yelled, and the Arcadian strikeforce cheered.
The bandit leader was also saying something, watching in dismay as the shadow hovered above her. Jayna did not know the minotaur language, but she imagined that Galib was cursing aloud. The Family members were already wavering at the approaching threat, and some had already disappeared into the trees and boulders. The Aquelian harpist's annoying smile had disappeared and he looked at his commander for direction.
Mera hovered directly above Jayna’s forces, silently daring the bandits to attack or flee.
Finally, the minotaur collected herself.
“Well I suppose I could let you guys through this one time.” She announced with a sigh, as her remaining soldiers lowered their weapons.
“Thank you, Galib.” Jayna nodded to the minotaur, and also to the dragon overhead, who snorted and landed with an earth-shaking descent.
And with that, most of the remaining Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths promptly dispersed. Shaking her head, the bandit leader turned and was about to disappear as well, before Jayna called out to her.
“Wait! Galib! You should join us and leave this place.”
Price and Murray looked at their commander with shock, but neither said anything in response. The minotaur warily turned back to face the Arcadian leader.
“Why?”
“The Imperial Army is on our heels. If you stay, you will be crushed like an egg before a rock.”
Galib shook her head. “And why should I believe you?”
“My army, with a dragon, is fleeing. Tell me you don’t trust your own instincts.”
“Okay, fine. But my people can blend back into the hills, and wait for them to pass.”
Jayna pushed further. “Will that be enough? Auxians will continue pushing into this valley. You know sooner or later you’ll get overwhelmed by settlers.”
“And where do we run to?” The minotaur sarcastically asked.
“A new home. We could use your skills and knowledge of the Back Valley, and we can provide strength for you to find this Arcadia.”
Galib stood silently, slowly gazing at Jayna Durham, then Meratezatgh, then Murray, then Price. Finally the minotaur sighed and removed her helm, running her hands over her dreadlocks.
“Very well. But note, Jayna Durham that my people are the Family of the Valley of the Labyrinths. We are not Arcadians, nor do we intend to be.”
Jayna smiled. “Galib of the Labyrinth Family, we will honor your wishes. Hopefully our alliance will be mutually beneficial to the both of our peoples.”
Galib gave Jayna a look as though the minotaur did not believe a single word of that comment.
“Hopefully.” Was all she responded with.
50 Cent - Places To Go
Courtesy of
OldOldMan!Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/40641936/
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Cow
Size 1280 x 960px
File Size 196.9 kB
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