User blog:Thebioniclelegend/Veterans of the Core War

I am a veteran of the Core War.

You may be wondering who I am. My name is Ackar, and I fought for the Element Lord of Fire in that planet-sprawling conflict.

I could tell you tales that would chill your bones...but I shall tone it down for this one, villager. If you want to know a little bit more, ask Raanu.

I'll begin with a tale that occurs directly after the Great Beings released the Baterra on us. We were some of the first to encounter it.

Ackar's Tale: The Silent Killers
"Why are we here?" Malum grumbled. "We should be fighting at the Ice Tribe border, not patroling on the Rock Tribe side!"

I took little notice. Perditus, our other companion, did likewise. "Malum, three more fighters, even ones as good as us, will make little difference there. But here, we could potentially stop a threat before it becomes one." He veered the Thornatus to the left and travelled into the Black Spikes. Sand was kicked up from the back wheel, only to fall on the ground a few meters back. It was evening, just growing dark, and we had been assigned on "monitor on the Rock Tribe side", a fancy way of saying "patrol in a Thornatus on the border until we tell you to stop." The Sand Tribe had repeatedly made encounters with the Rock Tribe near our border, and we had brought Crotesius, Kyry, and a few other villagers along. Kyry had left to deliver the "nothing is happening" news to Vulcanus. Crotesius was piloting another vehicle, a Cendox, back a ways.

We had brought thornax, blades, and other fancy-and mainly deadly-supplies. "Come on, guys." I said. "This is important." I was going to continue, but I saw a flicker of movement in the distance. "Stop it," I ordered Perditus, "Pass the word to Crotesius to weapon up." I grabbed my blade and a thornax launcher. Malum took his blade as well, and Perditus shifted the Thornatus into attack mode. Crotesius stopped a few meters behind and had the Agori grab shields and swords. He loaded the Cendox' thornax.

I edged forward behind a large rock. Our quarry was close. I waved Malum back- he'd probably just charge the being- and loaded my thornax. I could see now it was that scum Agori pretenders- Bone Hunters. There were three, two with rock steeds. Perditus and Crotesius signaled- they had moved to the back and were ready to go. The three Agori joined us. I cut sharply down, then left with my hand. It was the signal to go. Letting out a loud whoop, Malum thundered down, me hot on his heels. I fired my Thornax on the way down as the Agori joined us. The Cendox and Thornatus had emptied their weapons, and Crotesius and Perditus now used them as giant rams. The Bone Hunters tried to fight, but were to confused. I crossed blades with the mountless one, then cut him down. Malum had ripped one apart, and one had been blown to bits by the Thornatus. The Cendox knocked one of the steeds off its feet, and one of the Agori finished it off while Malum and I went after the other. I kept it busy while Malum ripped into its back, driving it into the ground where I slaughtered it. We looked around at the scene of destruction. Implants were scattered everywhere, and blood soaked the ground. After extracting through various painful ways all the information the only remaining living hunter knew, we threw him off a cliff. Malum counted how many times he bounced, and we moved on.

That night, we had made a camp near a large stream. Crotesius was telling a story about a one-eyed Agori who tap danced, and it was relatively funny. Crotesius entered a section where the Agori stood on his head. He did that. It was this that saved his life: The dagger that would have buried itself hilt-deep in his head buried itself in his thigh instead. He screamed and dropped to the ground. "Up! We have a fight on our hands!" I cried. Three strange, blue-white things moved themselves into our vision. Malum charged one, dropping with a thornax to the chest. Perditus made it to the Thornatus. Crotesius was still on the ground. One of the Agori charged the things, and then there was one less Agori in the world. I knew we had a fight on our hands.

The three...things....moved closer. Perditus blasted them with his Thornatus' launchers, then his thornax, but the creatures had amazing agility and leaped out of the way. One stabbed another Agori, and another moved on Malum. He almost stabbed him, but I blocked its blade at the last second. I found myself in a fight for my life as I parried, swung, parried again, the leapt, dodged, charged... one of us had to give. With a twisting move, the creature knocked my sword out of my hands. I tried to shoot it with my Thornax, but it destroyed the launcher first. And then... it just stopped. Malum was on the ground, half dead, his weapons strewn about. Perditus had been knocked out. Three of the Agori were dead. Crotesius was now out due, I guessed, to blood loss. But they were not attacking. Two of the Glatorian down, one Agori out and three dead, me weaponless....and yet they did not make a move. All three of them just got up and left. I went over, pouring some scalding water over Malum to wake him up. After he finished cursing me, he woke up Perditus while I bandaged Crotesius wound. The Cendox was wrecked, but with three less beings to carry, the Thornatus would fit us all. We got in, laying Crotesius in the back. Perditus asked the question on all our minds. "What were those things?" I had no answer. Later, I learned they were called Baterra, and that they were created by the Great Beings to kill all armed warriors. That was why me, Malum, and Perditus escaped relatively unharmed, and Crotesius alive.

What's that, villager? Another Glatorian is approaching?

Ah, yes, Vastus. Coming from Tesara on a visit, eh?

What, villager? Vastus, would you be willing to tell the villager a story of the Core War?

Good. How about when you and Certavus first met, right before the end of the war...?

Vastus' Tale: The Ambush
We had been traveling into Ice Tribe territory twice now, and been stopped both times. Gresh, a new, and young, trainee and I had been sent as an advance party into the skirmish area. "Come on, can't we move faster than this?" Gresh asked. I laughed. We were on foot, as a Thornatus would leave telltale signs we had been here.

"This isn't the jungle, Gresh. We have to be careful, or we'll be spotted." Just then, I saw a flash of white-movement, not just ice. I saw it again. "Gresh-an ice Agori. Over there." I whispered. His armor was whitish-green, not the pure white of most Ice Agori. I saw another Agori chasing it. This one had the pure white of an Ice Agori. Gresh loaded his Thornax. The first Agori tripped and fell. He had spikes over his shoulders, and claws for hands. The other Agori had a curved blade, and an Ice shield of a type now common in the Ice Tribe. "Take out the second one first," I said. Gresh fired his Thornax. The Ice Agori went down. I leaped and scraped him with my long talon weapon. Its numbing poison went to work right away, and the Agori drifted into dreamland. Gresh had arrived now. He grabbed the other Agori as I tied up the Ice one.

"Who are you?" He asked, his razor sharp shield edge at the Agori's throat. "Answer me!" The Agori just sputtered. I realized Gresh was choking him, though he didn't realize it. "Put Tarduk down." I said. "Tarduk, clean up your armor." Gresh lowered him, and the Agori scurried off. Minutes later he came back, his armor now green. "Thanks, Vastus," he said. He gave Gresh a wicked glare. We had to set up camp and wait for another Glatorian to come. Meanwhile, our prisoner woke up. "What is your name?" I asked him. "M-M-Metus," he answered. "Well, you're going to have to stay here until after the battle." I said. The other Glatorian finally came, and I tied Metus to a post and gagged him. I had no idea how long it would take for another Ice Agori to find him. Hopefully, a little while. We four trudged on, hiding a bit, and finally making it to the border. Gresh breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, well, well, three young Glatorian and an Agori from the Jungle Tribe." a voice rang out. I could tell he was a veteran already. "I am Certavus," he said. Certavus carried a large sword and a Thornax. "My two companions are Gelu and Strakk." Strakk had an axe, while Gelu carried an ice slicer. Both carried thornax launchers. Metus popped up behind them. "You little traitor and a Zesk dung..." Tarduk said, jumping on Metus. Both of them scuffled. It did not matter to me. I leapt at Certavus, while Gresh jumped Gelu. Our other friend attacked Strakk. I was in difficulty. Parry, attack, parry, parry. Certavus had me on the defensive soon. He had the strength to wield his sword and the agility to make it dance. Gresh was fighting bravely, but Gelu had already overwhelmed him. Our friend was faring about as well. Strakk dealt him a killing blow. "Gresh, Tarduk, let's get out of here!" I cried. Tarduk stopped pummeling Metus and joined us. I distracted Gelu long enough to free Gresh, and we bolted. Certavus waved off the other two-Metus was groaning in the snow. I will never know why Certavus allowed us to live. That was Gresh's only battle. I sent him back to training, and he did not get out until far after the Core War was over. But Certavus became my mentor, saying he saw great potential, and I in turn trained Gresh. So all in all, it worked out.

No, Vastus, call Gresh here. It's all right.

Meanwhile, villager, have you called Telluris to share his story?

Good. I have another Glatorian coming.

Tarix, you're here. Could you tell the villager your story? The one that happens right after war was declared?

Tarix' Tale: A Broken Promise
"I'm just saying, this war is completely useless!" Kirbraz said. "What can this stuff do anyway that's so special?" We were traveling in the Kaxium V-3 with Scodonius. We were heading across to the Sand Tribe border, hoping we didn't encounter Zesk or Vorox. "You know." I replied. "Still," he said, "I don't know why we're out here. We don't need to be." I laughed.

"Kiina is leading a small force of Glatorian to attack some Skrall patrols." I said. "When they do that, the Vorox will aid us. But we're supposed to betray them and kill their leader." Everyone knew the Vorox had a special place in their hearts for the hatred they had for the Skrall. We carried on our arguement. Suddenly, I grabbed something behind the Kaxium and lifted it up. "Hello, Berix. Trying to 'collect' some parts from the Kaxium?" He stuttered out "No, I, ah, was just, ah, looking at your, ah, engine to...make sure it worked! Yeah!" I held one of my blades to his throat. "Well, anyway, you're with us now." We made camp right across the Sand Tribe border. I knew they knew we were here. Now it was up to Kiina to pull through.

Obviously, she did. A few Zesk and one Vorox, carrying a halberd and a thornax, approached our camp. I stood up, grabbed my water blades, and reacted like I would any other intruder. "Stop! Move one more step, and you'll be a headless being." The Vorox laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "We come in peace. Your tribe attacked the Skrall. We are willing to work with you to ensure no Skrall lives." The Zesk padded forward, setting down barrels of Thornax, halberds, and other weaponry as a sign of friendship. "We promise not to hurt you." the Vorox said. That cemented it, Vorox were beings of honor. They would not break their promise.

I was no longer hostile. "Kirbraz, Scodonius, Berix, come out." I called. The three Agori padded out from our tent. "Would you like to walk or ride the Kaxium?" I asked the Vorox. So, in about two minutes, me, Kirbraz, and the Vorox were on the larger part of the Kaxium. Beside us rode Scodonius, Berix, and the two Zesk. We arrived in the village in a small bit. I realized we were not in the main village. The Vorox and the two Zesk got off to greet three more Vorox and some more Zesk. "This is your tent." one of the Vorox said. I walked inside followed by the three Agori. "Take your weapons," I told Berix. "Kirbraz, Scodonius, get the Kaxium." They silently left.

TO BE CONTINUED......