The Safety of Wu [OPEN]

[Ma Chao]

Sun Ce had just finished sharpening his blades and putting on his armor. He could have had the blacksmith handle the weapons, but he found it relaxing. Stroking the rough stone down the sides of his swords was like petting an animal. The two blades were his friends.

Outside of his quarters, the two guards there were told to follow. They were also informed to keep their duties secret as to not allow Huang Gai to know.

Ce knew that it would be frowned upon by his elder comrade as a ruler usually did not go out, at night, to patrol. However, Ce was no typical ruler and he thirsted for combat on a daily basis. It killed him that the current times were peaceful, at least for now.

The three men moved out of the government office and into the streets of Jian An. They moved toward the market district where an informant was said to be. It was the main reason that Ce himself had come, because word of late night robberies and murders were happening recently.

"There, my lord, as you said."

One of the guards pointed to a robed individual ahead. They had both been informed of what Ce was told by a man earlier in the day. The man's wife had been raped and robbed the night prior, so Ce promised to see what he could do about it.

Both guards immediately moved in front of Ce when they were in speaking distance of the robed person. After an awkward moment of silence, the person withrew the hood from over their head and informed the lord of Wu.

"I come here tonight to protect the people I love. My brother in law is the man who approached you today, which makes his wife my sister" he said, clearly angered by the events that had unfolded in the near past. It was his sister that was molested and almost killed.

"I understand and would do the same if my sister had such things done to her" Ce said in response, speaking of his sister Sun Shang Xiang. Xiang though, probably could have held her own and would have possibly ended the lives of the said bandits. At least that kept Ce's mind at ease when thinking of his sister off on her own in the world.

Ce waived all three men forward and they all moved toward the main gates of Jian An. The informant, whose name was Lin, had taken the lead as he knew roughly where his sister was attacked.

The guards at the main gate were surprised to see their lord out at such a late time of night. They could see the other two guards, who were clearly in Wu attire, but they did not know the other man. As Ce and the group past, one of the guards grew suspicious and questioned the other if he should go inform one of the other generals.

"This way, I believe it was over here near this forested area."

The lights from near the city began to fade as the distance increased. The informant was leading them further in the darkness of night.

To Be Continued............

[Ma Chao]

The four men moved toward a small forested area just north of the city. Lin had told Ce that his sister was traveling on the road before she was abducted and taken into the woods.

"Here" he said, pointing to where she was taken. He then waved on the others toward the woods where in the near distance torchlight could be seen.

As they approached the light, Ce could make out two armed men with another bound and gagged. Both Wu guards immediately drew their weapons not knowing exactly what was transpiring.

"Ah, Lord Sun Ce. What an honor to finally meet you."

The taller of the two men was the one who addressed Ce. His comrade held a blade to the prisoner's neck while they exchanged words.

"Lin, good job. Do not spend all the money in one place" he said, laughing.

Lin turned away from Ce and the guards and drew a sword from his waist. He had deceived the young lord and had drawn him into a trap.

"To be honest, I did not think that it would be so easy" Lin said, with a grin upon his face. He walked over to the bound man and kicked him square in the stomach.

"My sister could have been rich if she charged money for everytime someone screwed her. Then, one clown says that he loves her and she marries him."

Lin walked over to a tree and from behind it produced the severed head of a woman, his sister. It seemed Lin had secretly loved his sister and was jealous when someone else married her. The situation was twisted and so was the brain of Lin.

"Well, I guess she could still be of some use" he said, holding the head near his crotch. The other two men laughed aloud while the bound husband weeped for his fallen wife.

Lin threw his sister's head onto the ground near her ex-husband and he moved back toward his two associates. The whole time Ce watched the events unfold with an expressionless face, though the same could not be said for his guards. They were disgusted at what transpired and only waited for the order to pounce.

"So, what say you two men, would you turn on your lord for more coin than you can imagine?"

The man who seemed to be the leader spoke up again, trying to sway Sun Ce's guards with offers of money. They both abused the man verbally and spat on the ground in front of them.

"Very well" the scoundel said.

He waived his hand and from behind the trees came three more men. It must have been some sort of gang in the region or just a group of bandit scum.

It was now six on three and things were not looking good for the young lord of Wu. However, it seemed he was unphased by the events. The fact six men wanted to kill him was not an issue, it was the innocent woman being slain that made his blood boil. Ce adored his mother and also his sister. He would annihilate anyone that would harm them and that was one of the reasons he came out to the woods.

Ce started to laugh aloud and both of his guards looked to one another in shock. Not only that, but the enemies looked to one another wondering if Ce was crazy.

"Do you really think that Sun Ce, son of the Tiger of Jiang Dong, fears the likes of you? You are the filth that I scrape off of my boots! Come, and I will send you to join your sibling!"

Before Lin could even respond, Ce had his blades drawn. The two guards with him quickly took up a defensive position and prepared for the attack.

[Boydie]

Gai entered the courtyard, only orange flames from the torch's and the luminescence from a full moon lid the courtyard canvas, In the distance he could see the eerie shadow's of three horse's, two of them with soldiers with long swords atop. Gai marched toward them and mounted his royal steed, he pirouetted his steed to face the two cavalrymen and spoke:

"We are to leave the safely of Jian An's walls to recover Lord Sun Ce." The two soldiers turned to each other in shock. "I want no word of this task to anyone." Both soldiers shock there head in agreement. "Okay, follow my lead."

The three men full galloped though the empty dark streets of Jian An towards the main gate's of the city and stopped to find out Sun Ce's last known position.

"Last reported position of Lord Sun Ce?, he was seen walking towards the woodland with two guards and one other man, general Huang Gai." The gate captain told Gai. The general nodded and moved out with the two cavalrymen at full galloped towards the woods, only the moonlight lid up the trees in the distance. Gai thought to himself:

"The woodland's are perfect for ambushes, especially in the obfuscous. How could Ce of been so foolish not to see such a obvious ambuscade! I do not want to lose another great Lord to such a deception!" Gai thought again "Maybe I'm overreacting and Ce is fine? NO! I must find him as quickly as possible!"

The three men galloped into the thick wood's, only flickers of moonlight entered the woods was they galloped past in search of there Lord....

[Ma Chao]

The flickering light from torches was all that illuminated the dark woodland area. The moon could be seen, but barely due to the surrounding trees. Visibility was not the best, but it was enough for a fight.

The six bandits were ready to attack, but one of them stood back and continued to watch the prisoner with a blade to his neck. It seemed he thought it unnecessary to take part in the the initial exchange. His mind would soon be changed as one of the men quickly fell to the ground, dead.

The lowly scum should have waited for another to aid him in simultaneously attacking Ce. Instead, he tried to be a hero and moved forward to attack all alone. He paid the price, with his life.

Ce had deflected the first attack by bringing one of his weapons up horizontally to block his face. The enemy quickly drew back his sword and lunged forward to stab, trying to catch the Wu leader off guard. What followed was a shooting pain from his right arm and the warm feeling of blood.

The bandit screamed out in agony after his arm was cleaved off at the elbow, but he was quickly silenced by a blade strike across the throat. Blood from the gaping wound in his neck splattered in the face of one of his comrades. The man was blinded momentarily and it was just enough time for one of the Wu guards to cut him down.

Only four enemies remained, but one of them ended the life of Ce's guard. He fought bravely and held his own, but he was stabbed from behind by Lin. It seemed that was the only way the coward could be victorious, either by killing unarmed women or stabbing men in the back.

Seeing his soldier fall in such a manner sent Ce into a rage. He rushed forward and slashed at Lin, leaving himself open to be attacked. One of the bandits saw his chance, but Ce's other guard deflected the attack and saved his lord. Unfortunately, he too was cut down from behind and now the lord of Wu was surrounded.

Lin launched his own attack after parrying Ce's, but he was blocked and kicked square in the chest. He was sent reeling backward in pain, trying to catch his breath.

Ce quickly turned and parried another attack, ramming his shoulder into the enemy and sending him onto the ground. The sound of a weapon hitting armor then rang out as one of the bandits connected with a blow to Ce's shoulder. It did not penetrate the armor, but the shock caused him to drop one of his swords.

The split second it took for the young leader to gather himself was enough for another enemy to attack. However, the strike was deflected and with Ce's now free hand he smashed the bandit in his face. As the one enemy held his jaw in pain, another was being lined up. Ce let fly his remaining blade and it turned end over end before plunging into the bandit; pinning him to the tree.

Ce immediately kicked up his other weapon from the ground to his hand and prepared for the remaining three foes. Lin had recovered from a steel boot to his chest and was now becoming increasingly annoyed.

"Kill him! Now!"

Shortly after the words left his mouth, the ground started to tremble. The unmistakable sounds of cavalry were approaching rapidly.

[Boydie]

Lin turned around as he heared the sound of the thunderous sound of the charging cavalry.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING WAITING FOR!" Lin screamed at the two bandits. "KILL HIM NOW!"

The bandit's launched cooperative attacks on Ce but no good, Ce had deflected both blow's and was holding his ground well as the deafening noise draw nearer and nearer.

(Slightly earlier)

One of the soldiers had seen a flame though the thick undergrowth and shouted at the top of his voice to overcome the thunderous noise of the galloping steeds. "General! Over there!" Gai fixed his eyes on the approaching burning flame.

Has they galloped closer and closer, nearer and nearer Gai could distinguish three men swinging there swords fronting one man, he was blocking every blow with his life.

Gai drew his dagger-axe spear pointing towards the fighting men, the cavalrymen followed suit, They got nearer....Gai recognize the defending man's armor as it sparkled in flame's of the burning torch, it was Ce, his lord! The great general temper boiled over as he swung his weapon in the the cold air and roared out:

"DIE YOU REBEL SCUM!"

The three bandit's started to flee as the general and his men were only fifty meter's away, as the two soldiers slowed to help Ce, Gai galloped past Ce and roared again.

"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE WITH YOUR LIFE'S!"

Gai entourage his royal steed to gallop to it's full potential, his steed was spurred on and rode even faster. As he approached the slowest bandit. Gai raised his dagger-axe spear high and swung it with a mighty force, his weapon cracked over the bandit's back, breaking his back as the axe head drove into his back.

One down, two to go. Has he approached the the second the bandit he drove the spear into his back with incredible accuracy, the spear head of weapon must of pierced and punctured his cold heart.

The final bandit was Lin, Gai grabbed his weapon with both hand's and swung it back for a final time, The generals vision slowed as he he swung for Lin's head, everything was in slow motion has Gai's dagger-axe spear swung closer and closer to Lin's head. It connected. His head slowly dismantled into a bloody mess as Gai watched closely. The great general was never proud to end the life of a fleeing human being, but these bandits wanted to kill his Lord and when duty calls, Gai will act appropriately and down evil-doers.

Gai trotted over to his injured Lord and panicked has he saw Ce's wound.

"My Lord are you okay?! We must return quickly to Jian An!" He looked towards his two soldier's "Collect our brave falling soldier's and please inform there family's when we return." He never liked to see any fallen Wu soldier, especially when they had died to careless leading in the heat of the moment. Both soldier's bowed and moved out to collect the dead Wu soldier's.

[Ma Chao]

Sun Ce fought five bouts each with the enemy, blocking and attacking in a series of moves to avoid death. His superior ability in single combat kept him alive and the three bandits could only inflict minor injuries. Ce's shoulder had been hurt by blunt force trama due to an enemy sword attack. He was also sliced along his abdomen which could have been fatal had he not dodged.

The bandits were out of time and they failed to kill the lord of Wu. Some are never aware of their death before it happens, but some can see it coming and can do nothing about it. That feeling, which must be dreadful, was shared by Lin and his two comrades who now faced a furious Huang Gai along with two more Wu soldiers.

Gai yelled out to Lin and his booming voice scared every woodland creature in the area. In a fit of pure panic and fright, the three bandits turned to flee. However, they would not get far.

The two guards who were with Gai quickly dismounted to tend to their lord. Ce was down resting on one knee, out of breath and wounded, but he could see his famed general, his father's elite, racing toward the enemy to hunt them down. A trail of crimson followed as Gai chased Lin.

"Please!" the bandit yelled, looking back to see the corpses of his remaining bandits.

He would receive no mercy and his end came when Gai's dagger-axe spear destroyed his head. The scene was not for the faint hearted and needless to say, Lin's friends would have to take him home in multiple bags.

Ce rose to his feet as Gai approached and he could sense the anger burning under the elder's calm exterior. Even slaying three bandits in the heat of the moment did not phase Gai, he had seen and experienced much more difficult situation than that.

Gai would not repremand the leader of Wu in front of his soldiers, but behind closed doors was a different story. Ce was only 21 years of age, but he was acting recklessy and would not live to see the ripe age of 30 if he kept it up.

The four men headed back to the city. The animals in the forest, that were disrupted, could now enjoy a feast for their inconvenience. The meal was so kindly provided by Lin and his men!

[Boydie]

Gai did not break his silence on the journey back to Jian An. He was disappointed with his Lord's recklessness. But he didn't let his appearance show it. He knew his Lord would only grow stronger from his life threatening experience.

---

The General of the Vanguard entered Ce's quarters and found his young Lord seated, receiving treatment on his open wound from an assistant who was adding his final touches to the bandage he had applied. Gai spoke.

"My Lord, I wish to talk to you in private."

Ce gestured for his assistant to leave. Once the assistant had departed, Gai spoke again.

"My Lord, I do not wish to offend or antagonize you." He bowed low to show his respects to the young Lord. "But the episode you just had could of been prevented if you hadn't acted so recklessy, you could of took a step back and thought over the situation."

Gai looked up and stared deeply into Ce's eye's

"But I know you will only grow stronger from this experience. Nevertheless Jian An will be a safer place without the six bandit's."

The General waited for a reply from his Lord.

[Ma Chao]

Sun Ce shook his head, knowing what he did was foolish. Sometimes he could not help it though, he just thirsted for an adrenalin rush, he thirsted for combat. Still, he had a lot of great officers, soldiers, and civilians relying on him.

"Gai, I am sorry for not informing you first. I just thought it to be an easy task, maybe one or two lowly scoundrels which I could have handled."

Ce thought back to the moment when Gai arrived to save his life. The elder's massive frame, able to swing a heavy weapon with ease, rumbling toward the enemy and cutting down three men like blades of grass.

"Anyway, thank you for aiding me. Your timing is better than ever."

Ce grabbed Gai's shoulder to help him to his feet and he grunted a little, holding his side, as he moved over toward a table.

The young lord shook his head, wondering, hoping that Ulayne was fairing well with Yuan Shu.

[Boydie]

Has Gai helped the young tiger to his feet, he could see his young Lord was disappointed with himself.

"My Lord don't be frustrated with yourself. As I said, experience in awful situation's will help you grow stronger as a leader of the people of Wu. You must remember we have just made the street's of Jian An free from danger from they lowly bandit's and no one can question you for wanting to safeguard the people."

Gai bowed at a low level. "If you haven't got anything else you want to say. I wish to return to my quarters."

[Ma Chao]

Sun Ce nodded to his elite in response to the comment of protecting the city. That is the main reason Ce went on the late night mission, but deep down the young lord knew it was to feel the rush of battle.

"Please, go and get some rest for you deserve it. My father will be at peace in the Nine Springs knowing that you watch over me."

Ce gestured for Gai to exit the room as it was requested.

[Boydie]

OOC: Task done for just now?

[Ma Chao]

Yeah, it is done.

[Mikey]

A nice little read. Started off quite nice, liked the development of the bandit character Lin, then it was just a hack-and-slash. Unfortunately, I can't really give any other rewards than reputation, however I do like that you rped together.

Rewards

Sun Ce and Huang Gai kill six bandits. This doesn't drastically affect Jian An's domestics.

Sun Ce: +40 Reputation Points.

Huang Gai: +30 Reputation Points