Mund Clansbreath's Story

Mund, the towering warrior clad in chain-mail and bear skins stood on the front of the airship. He looked down at the north of Afukira pass under him. Snow began to fall and Mund felt more at home. A flash of orange and red passed through his memory as he saw the flames destroy his island. Mund held back tears as the ship stopped and began to hover over a small coastal town. Too high for the human eye to see. Mund felt like crying and letting out his emotions. "Damn you Guy." He cursed his brother instead. Mund felt a hand clasp his shoulder, he looked around to see a bull-beast-man. Rasbar was his first mate, his most loyal crew member. Mund couldn't help but smile seeing the face of the small boy he had rescued from slavery flash in Rasbar's face. He had been a slave on a farm and Mund had killed his "lord" and freed his people.

"It's time captain." Rasbar stated plainly.

Mund threw back his hide cloak and revealed the chain mail armor he wore, it glinted in the moon light. "Prepare to descend!" Mund called. He heard some whirring from below deck. He strapped himself to a side rail and smiled. This was his favorite part. A siren sounded for a few minutes, then it sounded quickly three times. Then it started. The ship's boosters shut off. The ship began a fast, break neck, descent to the ground thousands of feet below. The wind from beneath threatened to rip off Mund's face. Mund let out a sort of joyful, yet crazy sounding laugh. Death was so possible it made Mund feel more alive than ever. Mund let go of the rail and let his straps keep him on the ship as his feet lifted off the deck. His cloak beat like a furry set of wings behind him. The ship's thrusters began again and the ship came to a slow stop only about thirty feet above the ground.

Mund grabbed a cord and attached his harness, he then jumped over the side of the ship like many other of his crew, beast men, humans, few elves all followed his order though action. The cords slowed their descent, when they reached the ground many of the towns people ran in terror. "Raiders! Save yourselves!" A woman shouted running in horror.

Mund removed his harness and looked around. He re-adjusted his helmet which had been slightly jostled during the descent. "Too the armory." Mund yelled out. His men automatically responded and began running towards what looked like a barracks. Mund followed. Few of the villagers resited, those that did were quickly dispatched by Mund's raiders, the crew only received minor cuts, noting major. A few stitches when they went back aboard, and good as new.

The crew reached the barracks and found the door barred from the inside. Mund put a look of distaste on his face. "How much blood will need to be spilled on this night? Surrender and we'll be on our way with some of your goods. Resist and die." Mund declared to the huge steel supported, wooden door. No answer. "Have it your way." Mund waved his men towards the door and they waved lights to the airship. The airship quickly lowered a battling ram. The men manned it and stood by the doors waiting for Mund's signal. "Last chance." Mund issued.

No answer.

Mund waved to the men and they began smashing the doors with the battling ram. The others waited with their axes, swords, hammers, and shields at the ready. Mund did the same standing in the middle of the crew. "Be ready for anything." Mund said, waiting.

While the raiders were waiting for a respond, tunnels were quietly but quickly dug by mole beastmans from underground, connecting the interior of the barrack to the outside. A multiple points on the ground suddenly burst, spreading dusts everywhere; creating mists which meant to cloud the visions. Exit tunnels were made when the explosion occurred where a dozen soldiers spread and collapse the tunnels to prevent the enemies from getting in. They added a barrier as extra protection around them. The soldiers hid themselves around the town’s buildings, placing camouflaged remote triggered thunder bombs where they went. A couple of them shot arrows towards the raider’s airship’s wall with the use of bows to produce minimal sound. On the arrows were also remote triggered thunder bombs.

“You should know that we Afukirans are not cowards!” an exclamation from the air was heard. The leader of the soldiers used a spell to speak so not to reveal their locations. “We already have you surrounded and your airship under our mercy! Surrender yourselves and we will prosecute you according to the law!”

Mund laughed. The rest of the crew laughed. "We've fought off warriors of Venash!" Mund exclaimed. "You don't scare us." He said. He watched as the airship began to ascend higher to avoid projectiles. Mund looked around for Rasbar. When he found him, he came running. Rasbar was one of Mund's mages. He knew what to do.

"Action seventeen!" Mund yelled to the airship, Rasbars Magic amplifying his voice so it could be heard even hundreds of feet in the air in windy conditions. The airship started firing down bombs. The shells were filled with acid, made to corrode away walls, armor, and even mana barriers. Mund made sure he and his men were away from the building so they weren't hit with acid. It would easily burn through flesh, and eventually bone.

The airship ascended away quick enough that only a few arrows managed to attach itself on to it. Seeing the airship was too far away, the Afukiran's soldiers stopped wasting arrows.

"Action seventeen!" Mund yelled to the airship, Rasbars Magic amplifying his voice so it could be heard even hundreds of feet in the air in windy conditions. The airship started firing down bombs. The shells were filled with acid, made to corrode away walls, armor, and even mana barriers. Mund made sure he and his men were away from the building so they weren't hit with acid. It would easily burn through flesh, and eventually bone.

When the raider's airship shot blindly at the ground with its turrets through the sand mists, the bullets first hit the earth. The loud sound of the turrets warned the Afukirans. Reflexively, the ones in the open took shelter within the buildings. Slowly the bullets from the raider's airship's turrets corroded through the ceiling and walls. They will have to change hiding place soon. But for the time being, they were safe

Through the windows, the Afukirans soldiers redirected their aims towards Mund's exclamation voice. Their eyes could not see him properly in the sand mists but their ears could hear perfectly. This time, they were using impact bomb arrows which would explode on impact; not mattering whether on flesh, ground, or barrier. It would explode once it hit anything, killing any creature within its radius of shard blast.

Three beastmans suddenly burst up from the sand mists. The wings revealed that they were flying type beastmans , two eagles and one owl. These avian beastmans are adept in controlling Ki. Carefully taking the safest route away from the line of fire, they flew up to the raider's airship and attempted to rip the turrets along with the ones manning them apart with their bare winged hands.

Some of the crew stayed back on the ship to defend it. They took their guns and others their swords and all in their armor. Using the guns in hand, they shot at the eagle-beast-men. The ones that did not shoot quickly ran to the aid of their comrades, blades in hand, swinging at the wings of the eagle beast men, attempting to sever them.

Mund saw an arrow fly past from above the mists and explode on the ground nearby. More arrows were coming. Quickly, he spread his hands, a signal for his men to take cover quickly. He then attempted to run to a half melted building for cover.

The Avian Beastman warriors of the town could only tore some pieces from the turrets and did not stop it from working. Before they could do more, the raider’s shot at them. They attempted to evade the bullets by strafing to the sides. Two of them succeeded. One of the avian beastman was cornered by a raider with swords drawn. The raider swung his swords down, aiming at the eagle’s wing. The avian beastman quickly attempted to protect himself by covering his wing’s feathers with Ki energy which would harden it and minimalize the damage. He wasn’t able to cover the wing’s feather properly enough; causing the sword to scratch a wing and blood came out of the wound, soaking the eagle’s feathers. The other avian beastman came to help their comrade. With amazing speed, they flew up. While maneuvering in the air, they spiralled and from their wings released a flurry of Ki sharpened feathers at the raider attacking their comrade.

As the arrow whizzed towards the ground raiders, they quickly darted away. Only a single raider did not get away quick enough, causing the shrapnel from the explosion of the bomb arrows to hit him on the back.

Mund watched as on of his men fell. Blood came form his back. Mund cursed and looked around. He tried to think. He imagined the town from above. He remembered the coast. The sea. The cavalry would be coming in a while. Mund cursed again. They would need to grab what they could and get out. Mund gave the men a quick signal with a bit of mana. Mund couldn't uyse much, but he shot a little ball of flames into the air. that was about the limit of his abilities. With fire anyway. All men of the Northern tribes could use water mana with some amount of skill.

"Mund! Watch!" Guy yelled with excitement. Mund went running to his older brother. Guy took a wide warriors stance then he put his hand out to the water and a small snake of water floated out of the icy pond. Guy smiled as he released it. Mund laughed with his brother. "Don't worry bro, you'll get it next year, we all do at nine." guy said patting his little brother on the shoulder. Mund smiled. He was sure his brother would teach him how to bend the water to his will. Mund tried to do as his brother, but as the water floated out of the pond it froze in the cold wind. Mund slouched. "Don't give up Mund." Guy said.

Guy's words echoed in his head. Mund cursed himself this time. He still loved his brother that he hated. Mund made a dash for the water. He held his shield up to hopefully block any arrows. The flames were a signal of retreat to his men and they were likely doing the same. The humans and elves were the first, being the smartest. Then the beast-men keyed in and followed Mund's suit. they grabbed what they could on their way. They didn't get anything too heavy so they didn't weigh themselves down.

The men on the airship abandoned the fight and attempted to run into the ship. They put their shields up and ran for dear life. As they did so the turrets began to lower into the ship so the attackers couldn't attack their weapons. The airship began to sail towards the coast where Mund and the crew were headed.

Mund saw the ship overhead "Don't let them get into the food stores!" Mund yelled. mund looked out to sea and saw his brothers ship coasting away. "Traitor.... TRAITOR! Come back Guy! help us!" Mund yelled as the ships sail faded away. The image of Guys sail flashed in his eyes for a moment on his airship. for a moment he thought he saw Guy standing on the ship, but then it vanished.

Seeing that their comrade was injured, the avian beastman did not persue the raiders. Instead, they helped the owl beastman and flew back down to town.

While running towards the edge of town where the sea is, high voltage electricity struck from the grounds, incapacitating the raider’s leader. A lightning bomb has just been triggered where Mund was.

Mund felt a massive pain spark through his entire back and he closed his eyes. When they opened, Clanwind was sailing on the northern wind, abandoning him. Maybe Mund did see Guy on the ship. And he was abandoning him again. Mund once again saw the sail flash onto the ship. that evil sail that Mund despised. Mund tried to shake his fist at the ship, but he couldn't move.

Mund felt his ax being taken from his hand, his shield too. Mund was going to rip the mole man apart who took his helm. his family helm. The curse was still in effect though and Mund only issued a threatening growl of protest as he was lifted by multiple beast-men. Mund was carried through the town, but everything seemed to move as a blur.

Mund felt his armor being taken. They left him with his bear-skin cloak as a blanket in a cell in what must've been a dungeon. Mund imagined his brother in a cell like this and a somewhat evil smile touched his lips. Mund felt his face move, the effect was wearing off.

Mund cursed his crew. Rasbar, all of them. They had left him to die, but now, even worse. Captured. Mund leaned back and let himself fall asleep. The effect would probably be gone by the time he woke up.

Mund stood again on his home island. His sister in his arms, dead. He stared off in the distance in the direction Guy had sailed, and Mund cried. His father was dead. His mother taken as a slave, his sister dead. And what did Guy do? abandon them. Their greatest Water Mage. He fled, the heir of the throne. To pursue his petty dream.

Mund cried and a few men came by him. Finally he felt a helm placed on his head. His father's helm. The Clansbreath family helm. The survivors all bowed to him. "Hail Lord Mund Clansbreath! Master of the North!" they declared.

Mund woke up with tears in his eyes. He had rag pants on and was wrapped in his bearskin cloak on the floor. The walls of the cell was brown, made from clay, but it was already enchanted so that no spells could be casted within the cell. A bed of hay underneath of his smelled of rat, but it was soft and Mund didn't mind too much. Around Mund's neck was a prison collar to prevent the withdrawal of mana from the surroundings and disrupt the flow of Ki in his body, rendering him weak.

Mund heard the clink of armor and he sat up waiting for whoever it was to come. It was yet another beastman. This time, a wolf. Following from behind the lead wolf was two more beastman, also wolves kind.

"Mund Clansbreath, you are hereby prosecuted in leading a raid against the town of Pakupa, destroying properties, murdering the inhabitants, and robbing the them of their belongings" stated the wolf leader with a frown. He then walked a step closer to the cell and glared at Mund. "Let's be honest. We have video footage and the police themselves caught you in the act. Every Afukiran in Pakupa are ready to kill you with their bare hands" he told Mund. "I'll make you a deal" said the wolf, crossing his arms "in exchange for your life, tell us the location of your raid crew"

"I don't know where they are exactly." Mund said standing up. he actually took a look around. There was a chamberpot in the corner. Mund left big foot prints in the dirt floor, the walls were clay and so was the ceiling. He didn't see any windows or ways of escape other than that cell door.

"But I have an idea." Mund said. He had a smirk on his face. "They're probably in Fishan now, raiding the southern shore. They travel quickly. Clanwind in one of the fastest battle crafts in all of Daughtris. We have a route we follow." Mund told them. he would have not told them. But his men abandoned him. they deserved the same fate he would give Guy. Death, or life in chains.

Mund also looked at the wolf-kinds. They were the usual wolf kinds. He knew a few. They were filthy raiders, his best friends. Mund laughed thinking of them. He saw them in irons and the laugh turned slightly evil sounding. Mund looked at them again. "Have a good day sirs." Mund said trying to get on good with the guards.

"Remember, your tongue is one of your greatest weapons. Use it well" Guy told Mund. "Even when you've been disarmed, you still have a weapon." Guy's words came back to him.

The lead wolf sighed. “Well that was unexpectedly easy” he said, hinting disappointment in his words. He then turned to one of the wolf behind him and whispered something, carefully so that Mund does not accidentally hear it. After hearing his leader’s words, the wolf turned and walked forth, heading out of the prison. Clearing his throat, Once more the lead wolf turned his attention to Mund. “You shall be transferred to the Capital of Afukira right away” he said as moved away from the cell’s door. The other wolf took a key which was hung on his belt and opened the door. “Turn around” he ordered “I will bind your hands with shackles behind your back”

Mund smirked. He was surprised the beastman believed him on the first go. It was true what he said. They should be headed for Fishan. But when they fled they went North. Probably home to drop off the goods first. They wouldn't be in Fishan for another couple weeks. "Sandsummer. Too hot for me. No matter." Mund said. He turned for the wolf kind and put his hand behind his back. He watched for a shimmer as the wolf kind got the shackles and key. He remembered where the key was for later use. He was sure in Sandsummer the guards would be better protected, but Mund only had to take one and his armor. Mund would miss Clanskin, his family helm. He would get it back if it took him his entire life.

The wolf placed the shackles on Mund's hands and lead him through the hallways of the prison. The prison was small, just as expected in the small town of Pakupa. There were few prisoners. Most of them glared at the wolf beastmans and Mund but none of them spoke. Outside, the buildings was already being repaired by the towns men and women. Some chanted spells and raised the earth, creating new buildings. Some that weren't proficient with mana used old looking machineries. The machineries aren't advanced like Brunoma's or Demotia's but it was better than nothing. Parked beside the prison building was the transport for Mund. It was only a small aircraft, meant to carry ten people the most. Inside was a male human, an female elf, and a lion beastman. In a couple of steel container was locked below their seats. One of the wolf escort suddenly tugged on the collar attached to Mund's neck. He examined the collar carefully. "Seems secured enough" he stated with a frown "don't want you to be using mana or Ki while in custody. That would be bad." He then climbed onto the aircraft. "Are you ready to go, prisoner?" queried the human in the aircraft.

"Not really. I'm a prisoner, don't really want to be here..." Mund joked even in his current state he tried to lighten the mood. ",But yeah, what the hell." he finished. Mund was happy to see another Human, there weren't as many as beast-men in Afukira. Mund sat and waited for his fate. Life in shackles... Hell, maybe death was better.

"Alright men!" rasbar called to the crew on the Clan wind. "They're transporting our captain somewhere, probably Sandsummer. They have a small ship. It's time to strike." Rasbar called to the crew. They had waited, Clanwind floated in the sea while there were a few spies in town who acted as travellers passing through who ended up helping with the rebuilding efforts. They would bring back news every few hours. "We wait until they're in the air. Then we'll need to secure Captain mund." Rasbar finished. They rarely dealt with live cargo, but there was a first for everything. Many of the men cheered, the beast-men snorted and roared. Mund was a good, and caring captain. they couldn't let him go.

"Just get in" the wolf beastman pushed Mund from the back and went in the aircraft after. They started securing Mund to a seat.

"There he is!" A beast exclaimed and pointed towards Mund in the aircraft, causing everyone to turn reflexively to him. "Get him!" another townsman exclaimed. Everyone roared and rampaged towards the aircraft. Before they could get inside, the lion beastman got up from his seat and unleashed a deafening roar, intimidating the towns man and women. Everyone stopped in their path and fell silent.

"We will take the raider's leader away for trial according to the law of Afukira" the lion stated with his deep voice. "I advice everyone please be calm. Justice will be served to the ones that had fallen victim to this man. Do not worry"

The aircraft was started and the engine started humming. The police will have to depart right away or the towns men and women will start a ruckus once more. One of the wolfman from before came scurrying back to the lead wolf. "It's done sir" he told the lead wolf and quickly seated himself inside the aircraft. With that, the hatch of the aircraft closed and they took off. They headed south towards Sandsummer.

Mund laughed. He wouldn't give anyone that kind of mercy. He would have thrown him to the people. "Is Sandsummer nice this time of year?" Mund asked.

Rasbar stood in the control room, a big screen showed them in front of them. As they came through a flock of clouds a small airship came into sight. Rasbar called through the PA system of the ship "Get ready for battle."

Mund looked all around the sky, this may be the last time he was on an aircraft or an airship. So he took it all in. The aircraft had no windows, but instead, holographic screens replace them. From the holographic screen showing the outer view, he could see the clouds, the sun, Clanwind... Wait... What? Mund looked again. it wasn't his eyes playing tricks, it was really there. Clanwind and it's crew had come to save them. Mund smiled, but he didn't say a word.

Clanwind boosted it's thrusters under Rasbar's hand and quickly speeded beside the small airship. "Surrender and give up the prisoner! Or pay with blood." rasbar threatened through the outside loudspeaker.

"what the fuck?!" The human pilot exclaimed surprised and reflexively steered the aircraft away from the large airship. Everyone else in the aircraft was also surprised. Quickly, they turned their attention to the holographic screen, wondering who it was. "That's the raider's airship" one of the wolves informed. Everyone was silent, awaiting orders from their leader the wolf. No fear or panic could be seen in their expression. They have been trained to handle these kind of situations. A moment later, the lead wolf sighed then spoke. "From their words, it seems that they know that their leader is here with us. They will not attempt to shoot us down". Without turning away from the holographic screen, the wolf directed an orders to his men. "Inform the base. Ask for support. While waiting for backup to arrive, whenever the raider's airship gets too close, quickly maneuver away." he turned to the female elf "Eámanë, I want you to prepare an escape spell and a counter spell. If ever the aircraft gets caught by the raider's hooks, wires, spells, or anything, use our supply of mana filled vials to teleport us away a few meter off of their grasp. If ever they try to cast a spell nullifying spell on us, counter it. But remember, conserve energy"

Rasbar smirked. They would never expect his tactic. The men manned Clanwind's plasma cannons, but rather then shooting bombs, acid, or even grappling hooks, some of the men hopped in the cannons, wooden planks beneath them to protect their feet from the blast. "Fire!" Shouted Rasbar. The men shot strait towards the aircraft, they were armed with ice axes to grab onto the sides of the ship if they missed slightly.

Mund laughed. Those fools had not abandoned him. They were plotting to save his sorry-excuse-for-a-captain self. "You can't best them." Mund said with a slight smirk.

When the plasma cannon of the raider's airship was shot, a loud boom was produced. It shocked the prisoner escorts since they did not expect the raiders to attack so sudden. "Shit!" The human pilot quickly strengthen the aircraft's barrier and maneuver away from the course of the shots. At first, they didn't saw that there were people used as bullets. Only when the man bullets passed beside the aircraft and missed that the police escorts saw them for what they really were. "That was reckless" commented the pilot "they would've crashed into the barriers like bugs on a windshield." He then quickly contacted the base.

"Calling Pakupa's police base"

At first, there was no respond. Then a crackle was heard from the speakers. "This is Pakupa's police. What's the situation?"

"We have a problem here. We are currently under attack by the recent raiders that attacked Pakupa. They are on an armed and dangerous airship. Please send backup and capturing squad to arrest these scoundrels"

"Roger that. We have your location. Back up will be there in five minutes"