Snippet #2485448

Marius's shield met a sword. The strength behind the swing insufficient to dent the fine Imperial Steel used in creating it, the swing ricochetted and Marius saw an openning for a counter attack. He lunged forward, giving his Thalmor opponent a belly full of steel, and then pulled back. The High elf knew that this wound he had received would be the end of him and he lashed out in a flurry of wild and desperate swings in hopes of slaying or harming that man who had slain him. Marius merely backed off and then bashed the elf down to the ground with his shield. He advanced but a few paces before two more challengers made at him. Knowing they had the numerical advantage, they went on the offense and kept swinging at the Legate. Marius met each blow with his sheild or his sword. Unfortunately their strategy was flawed in that it underestimated his endurance. Their relentless onslaught of attacks would have tired a lesser soldier but Legate was not yet winded by the time that they begun to tire. Their attacks slowed and it was then that Marius made the transition from defense to offense. As one raised and brought his sword down on his shield, Marius intercepted the strike with his sword, forcing it through his wrist. He screamed in agony and reached for a dagger with his free hand but Marius gave him no chance to make use of it. He moved the blade into position, thus twisting the mans arm as his steel was still going through his wrist, and then forced it through his chest plate and into his heart. With his shield arm he pushed the man off his blade and gave his attention to the startled and shocked Aldmeri soldier.

He came out of his stunned state and quickly grabbed another sword than made at Marius who in turn swung at him. In this engagement Marius's sword did not connect, he pulled back mid swing and raised his shield to block the second swing for the first had cut through his chestplate and into his chest a bit. Encouraged from his initial blow doing harm to the high ranking Officer, he pressed on and went for another blow. Marius however punished him for doing so by bashing him with his shield, giving him a bloody nose and causing him to stumble back. The Legate pressed on and sliced into the Aldmeri soldier's thigh, bringing him to his knees. He attempt to strike back but Marius blocked once more and then jabbed his sword down into his left shoulder and through his heart.

Marius stood back a bit examining the battle around him. Despite his men's best efforts they were beginning to falter under the pressure of the Aldmeri forces. Frustrated, he gave the order to fall back behind the barricade. But he was interrupted by a legionnaire shouting "Marius, behind you!". Marius turned, raising his shield , to face whatever foe had snuck up behind him but he was not fast enough. The war-hammer wielding opponent hit Marius right in the head, knocking to the side and to the ground easily. His helmet rolled off, Marius laid on the ground dazed by the sheer force of the blow. His vision blurred, he saw a large figure stand over him. It was the Aldmeri, an Officer, and the same one who had just struck him. He raised the hammer high, no doubt intending to then smash it down on Marius's face, but a javelin peirced his chest and he fell forward. Marius felt a hand grab his collar and his body being dragged back behind the barricades.