Lotr castle the seat of power house Zalbaag, its defenses long abandoned by Barnabeth to face Larg in an open field battle.
What remains is the few maids and elderly which have no relations to Larg, and Delita.
This castle once filled with life, now eerily desolate.
Unbeknownst to the residents in the castle, the goblins which had been on the run before now focused their attention on the undefended barony.
With the goblin chief occupied in Hatr, they were given a time to breathe. Their hunger from running for a long time, causes the goblins to drool.
A massive structure is in their path. Lotr Castle, this ginormous structure which is home to humans wearing armor, should have attacked them a long time ago. But now it remains silent.
Perhaps their hunger and desperation bolstered their courage.
The goblins approached the castle wall. It's empty, no guards nor anyone watching the gates were seen.
The short stature creatures soon surround the castle. Their eyes stared at the tall walls.
They can smell it. They're beings living beyond these walls. Their mouth salivates as the thought of meat.
With their claws, they began to climb the steep wall. As some goblins were able to climb, a few of them slipped because of the smooth texture of the stone.
"AHHHHHH!"
*thud*
Screaming as they fell. The fallen goblins screamed and wailed in pain, eventually their noise turned silent as their body were unable to produce any more sound.
The peaceful castle now rattled by the noise which echoed around them.
Alex, the bronze knight, was first to the wall. His expression turned ugly, seeing the thousands of goblins right outside the walls.
"Damn it! Just when the castle is empty." Rushing back inside, he rushed towards Orlando's side. Kneeling before his Lord, he reported the situation outside.
The pale and thin old man nodded in a daze. Before hoarsely speaking to his lone knight. "Go… take those that remain away… cough cough…"
"You can't… cough… defend the castle… cough cough… alone my knight…" Orlando spoke as he covered his mouth with his wrist as he began coughing out blood.
"My lord…" Alex stared at Orlando with complicated eyes. This old man, a failed father to his three sons. But a great lord to his people.
Thinking back to when he was first accepted into the castle as one of its guard. His training under his Lord Orlando, back when he was at his peak.
Bowing his head. Alex's voice swore solemnly just like when he first swore to his Lord.
"I, Alex Kaley, hereby swore in my honor and in my blade that I will serve, Orlando Zalbaag, till the very end."
Orlando's aging face stared at his knight… till the very end, this lone knight of his, no older than Larg chose to stay with him.
The unfocused eyes tried their best to burn this kneeling knight's figure into his mind. This loyal knight, which stood by his side despite the fate that awaits him.
"Cough… cough… rise Ser Alex… as the… cough… Baron of Zalbaag I hereby order you to evacuate the resident of the Castle… A hidden path can be found by pulling a lever, across the corridor leading to the side door of the Great Hall.
After leading them there, halt the advancing enemies before they enter Hall."
Kneeling as, he bowed deeper. Words full of conviction came out of Alex's mouth, as he rose and turned for the door. "As you wish, my liege!"
Whatever happens from this point on doesn't matter anymore. For he Alex receives his Lords command, as a proud knight, he will see to it that his mission is accomplished.
As Orlando lay by the bed, he stared at Alex's back. "If only… sigh…"
Trembling as he tried to stand. Leaning by the bedside table as he makes his way out.
He Orlando Zalbaag the lord of Lotr, Lorat, Gascon, and Numberg, will see to it that the inhabitants of this castle will leave safe and sound. He will guard this castle to the very end.
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Lotr Castle
Infront of the Great Hall
"Ugh!" Alex, groaned as waved his sword to kill another goblin.
'157...' Gasping for air, he dodged another goblin claw attack.
Alone defending the double doors which lead to the inner part of the castle. Alex, the loyal knight of Orlando, stands his ground as he buys time for the people left in the castle to use the hidden passages to leave.
As a goblin jumped to attack him from his right, he dodged to his left. Waving his sword for the kill towards the attacking goblin. After killing his foe, he once more dodge but this time his took a step back, as a goblin slashed its claw to where he was a moment a go. Then with a thrust of his sword he neutralized the enemy.
'159...' Gasping continued as more and more goblins poured out from nowhere.
Gathering his bearing as the goblins halted their attack for a moment. Alex once again took a defensive stance as he watched the goblins with alert eyes.
He, Alex the Knight of house Zalbaag, will defend this place as his Lord intended, even to the bitter end.
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"Cough... cough... Go my people, do not turn back..." Orlando mumbled as he watch the last of resident of the castle leave through the hidden path. Pulling the lever on the wall the door once more, watching the wall rotate as it closes. Orlando stood there for a moment before turning towards the direction of the Castle's Great Hall.
He dragged his weak body across the corridor as he reached the side entrance of the Great Hall.
Entering the door as he sat in his chair in the great hall, from here he can hear the sound of Alex fighting.
Just beyond the great hall's double doors, his lone knight stands his ground.
His loyal knight, which remained with him to see the end of this Old Castle.
'Sigh...' A desolate sigh came out of his mouth. As he stares at the door.
"Alex, enough... cough... cough... leave now..." His hoarse voice receives no reply from his loyal knight. The sound of fighting intensifying by the moment, as the door shakes and goblin's cry and scream of pain sounded beyond the closed door.
*Bang*
The door spread open as a goblin slammed through it.
*Swoosh*
Swiftly appearing before Orlando, Alex thrust his blood covered sword at the incoming goblin.
"I will stay with you until the end, my liege." Alex, gasping as he spoke. His exhaustion can be seen from his state.
This loyal knight, despite his disheveled hair, wounded arms, and left leg with a claw mark, still defends his Liege to the end.
"Gahhhh!" "Kikiki!" "SHAAAAH!"
Goblins now entered this hall, which once shows the power and glory of house Zalbaag. Their disgusting appearance and wretched smell, now destroy this once picturesque hall.
The knight and his Lord trapped in the castle now face this unending horde of goblins by themselves.
*Swooosh* Alex began his offensive. Attacking the goblin's at the front as he makes sure that their focus is all on him.
The rushing goblins hit the standing torches in the corridor. As it fell to its side, it began to burn the red carpet on the ground. Starting a fire, with no one to stop it.
A stinging burning smell wafted through the air. As the Lord and the Knight held their enemies at bay.
Twice the knight took a step back, twice did he rush back once again. From scratches to deep lacerations, from bite marks to chunks of missing flesh. The knight fought as the fire rages, his figure dancing through the flames as the number of foes he has slain reaches 300.
Step back then thrust the sword. Pull the sword back, wave it towards the tight. Dodge to the right and slash towards the left.
His dance of blood and death, now about to reach it crescendo.
As the lone audience watches at the dance, his knight is performing for him. His young and heroic figure, dancing in the tango of death.
One wrong step and his life will be forfeited.
His blurred eyes watch as his knight fulfill his oath. His honor and his words, his knight… 'Does he deserve such a knight? One that stayed with him til the end.' 'His parental negligence led to the barony's current situation, yet why does this glorious knight accompany him.'
The bronze slowly turns silver.
A small smile appeared on the Old man's face at what he was seeing.
"Silver Knight…" Pride, Happiness and gratification…
Orlando's shoulder slacked and with his back leaning against his chair…
He can feel it, his time is coming. The smoke and the heat are causing him to shortness of breath.
As the time goes on, he finds it more and more difficult to breathe.
He is suffocating…
'Just a while longer…' Trying to reach to the silhouette fighting, he hoped to watch just a bit more.
Soon…
His blurred vision darkened…
His raised arm trying to reach for something… slowly fell to his side…
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Alex, with his sword sheated made his way towards Orlando…
His left leg bloodied and his dominant arm mangled. An open wound on his forehead cause blood to drip down to his chin, down to the ground.
Around the hall, goblin's torn body littered, as the smell of metal and burning, wafted through the air.
Alex Kaleye, fended off the horde of goblin. His body leaned upon his sword as he used it as a cane.
*step* *step* *step*
Reaching before Orlando, he knelt. His body ached, it screamed for attention. But his sole focus at the moment is accompanying his Liege.
His once mighty Lord now in his eternal sleep. So peaceful and serene is his image, something which contradicts this blood filled hall.
"Your will has been accomplished, my Lord." Bowing before his sleeping lord. As he closed his eyes… his body couldn't move anymore. His final duty has been accomplished, and now it's time to accompany his liege.
Alex Kaley
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*Cracked* *Cracked*
"GAHHHHH!" "AHHHH!"
Gone was their hunger for burns now cause them pain. They rolled on the ground as they tried to rub the fire off their bodies.
The goblins ran as fire consumed this once glorious castle. What remains of the goblin horde now running in all directions.
Peace soon returned to the Castle. As what happened, this night will soon reach the ears of many.