Campout [Bellona]

[Vesperia]

Bandits were a common nuisance the world over. Roving marauders that struck at random and took whatever they possibly could. It wasn't any surprise when a small group had turned up around the outskirts of Port Cofanus. Just as bandits were won't to do, they raided the different merchant caravans that made trips in and out of the Port. However, perhaps a touch odd, the bandits showed a group mentality that left alot more survivors than one would expect. In the past couple of months, a good number of caravans had been taken, but very few if any fatalities ever occurred. Rather, the bandits focused on taking the goods with as few instances of violence as they could muster, sending the merchants along with empty palms, but healthy lives. From the accounts of the tales, they were dressed all in black and bore a white symbol upon black masks or cloaks. By all means, the group was more organized than any usual bandit gang had a right to be.

Their camp was deep into the surrounding woods, a simple affair of tents for the bandits and an ever growing pile of loot obtained from the caravans. A couple of wagons were loaded up, as if they were ready to be transported elsewhere. And given how many wagons they were reported to have attacked, it did seem like alot less than one would expect as well. A small fire pit was built at the center of the camp, a few logs spread around it in order to provide sitting places for the outlaws. But what stood out the most was a particularly large tent, a standard placed beside it with that same white emblem upon a field of black.

Two of the blackclad bandits sat around the fire pit, chatting back and forth. "I dunno. Boss has got some pretty lofty goals, y'know. But I'm worried we're gonna get some soldiers on us soon." A man spoke up, grimacing as he did so. The woman across from him shook her head, though. "Nah. If we haven't gotten soldiers on us by now, I doubt they're gonna show up anytime soon. Maybe we should get outta here though..." She rubbed the back of her head. "I'm not gonna question the boss though. I do not want to see her when she gets angry." The man groaned. "Ugh, agreed. Just the normal thing was scary."

"Hey guys!"

A new voice filled the air and the talkative duo looked over to spot another of their compatriots. The lean figure waved to them as he approached, a grin plastered on his face. "We've got another caravan inbound! Time to make a score!" The other two looked at eachother and nodded. After gathering up a few others, the bandit group set off for the caravan of their latest target.

[Bellona]

It was a strange sort of bandit that willingly spared the victims of their conquests. But here they were, following firsthand accounts of merchants who had been attacked without a single fatality. It was either a special kind of weakness that drove bandits to such tactics, or an attempt to send a message to their victims and associates. But whatever their mindset and intentions, they were still fools. The survivors of their raids had led Princess Bellona right to them.

It surprised her to see that the army of the 'rightful' empire had not yet responded. Another sign of their growing weakness, she supposed. Bandits were the lowest of the low, the opponents of a company just starting their expedition, when enemy armies and unknown threats lurked in the distance beyond. A proper army would have no trouble with them, even if they were more organized than usual. But neither Bellona's younger half-brother nor any military leader had yet done anything, and the stories of attacked caravans continued to trickle in.

"We're approaching the hunting grounds, Your Highness."

A light smirk crossed Bellona's face as the scout relayed the message. It was a sign of how little she thought of these bandits that she and her men both referred to the area of most frequent attacks on the caravans as 'hunting grounds'. She had concocted a fun little trap to finally deal with them, mostly to her own amusement. These bandits' preference for nonviolent raids would be their undoing. The latest 'caravan' running through their territory was full of her soldiers. And in the largest, most promising wagon was Bellona herself, sitting back and waiting for the fun to begin.

"Prepare yourselves, men," she said. "They may be simple bandits, but make no mistake, this is a battle." She flashed the soldiers in her wagon a malicious grin. "Show them no mercy."

[Vesperia]

The bandits weren't all that great in number. Around 15 of them were hunched down and hiding amongst the woods that surrounded either side of the trail. Their target was still a good distance off, but that meant more time to prepare their ambush. A couple of archers were already drawing out arrows from their quivers, drawing back bowstrings as they prepared to line up shots. The rest all began to go for whatever weapons they carried with them. From the sharpened blades of swords to the long reach of spears, and even the more simple but effective axes. They were prepared to put up a fight, but their new leader's orders were clear. They were to always take what they sought with as little actual violence as possible. As the horse of the first wagon wheeled into sight, the archers began to shift about in order to take shots.

They let the wagon train long along for a bit more before loosing their shots, the arrows striking true upon the horse that led the caravan. With a deathly whinnie the horse collapsed and the bandits began to flood out around the caravan. Blades were pointed at the couple of mercenaries that accompanied the wagons and one of the bandits, apparently their leader, stepped forward to look at the driver of the first wagon with another arrow ready to be loosed from the black bow he was using. "Alright, listen up! As long as no one moves, no one gets hurt! We're here for you goods and nothing more! No blood has to be spilled this day, so be smart and stay still!"

He briefly looked over at another of the bandits, nodding for him to step forward. Instantly the bandit began to make his way towards the largest of the wagons, eyeing the mercenaries warily before rounding to the back. He raised a hand to remove the covering and his eyes shot open in shock.

"FUCK! IT'S A TRA-"

[Bellona]

The scout re-took his position outside the covering of the wagon as the caravan approached the hunting grounds. He grasped the end of a wooden pole sticking out of the covering as he situated himself. Bellona, meanwhile, shifted positions towards the back of the wagon, gesturing for her soldiers to take up defensive position in case the bandits chose to defy all past trends and attack on sight. From there, they just had to wait until the bandits appeared and stopped them.

Sure enough, soon the sound of a harsh, dying whinny rang out from the wagon ahead, and the horse pulling Bellona's wagon came to a stop shortly ahead. Shuffling sounds met her ears from all around as the bandits poured out of the surrounding woods. One of them, presumably the leader, called out to the driver of the wagon ahead, but instead, Bellona listened to a sound much closer to her. Within seconds of the bandits' appearance, the wooden rod sticking out of the front of the wagon tapped against the wooden floor. Once, twice. Three times. Then even more, until she'd heard fifteen taps. Then a scrape. Fifteen targets, plus the possibility of one or two more out of sight. Bellona liked those odds. She already outnumbered them, her and twenty soldiers to fifteen bandits. And while they may have had the advantage of terrain, she had surprise on her side, and if the bandits were half as well trained as her men, they wouldn't be out here.

Moments later, the back flap of her wagon rustled as someone from outside grabbed it. Bellona lunged forward from her ready stance as it was pulled open, and the bandit was only able to get four words of a dawning realization out before being cut off as Bellona's saber met his throat. As if the cut-off cry of a trap had been a signal, the flaps of the other wagons opened and arrows flew out within at the surrounding bandits. The two 'mercenary guards', actually the cavaliers Bellona had brought along to ride outside so the caravan didn't look too suspicious by seeming unguarded, set to work clearing a path, and finally the soldiers poured out of the wagons to meet the bandits directly.

"Subdue their leader. I wish to deal with him myself," Bellona said as she slid out of the wagon, cutting a bandit, previously seeming lucky enough to get past the outpouring of soldiers, across the chest. "Kill the rest."

[Vesperia]

The blackclad bandit gurgled blood as he tried to finish the sentence, but it was never meant to be. His hands grabbed at his slit throat, but the blood did not stop flowing. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, dead. And the soldiers poured out over top of him. To the bandits' collective surprise, a great number of soldiers began to pour out, infact. The cavaliers that had posed as mercenaries began to move as well, striking out at a couple of the bandits before one of the cavaliers suddenly went tumbling from atop of his horse as the bandit leader loosed the arrow that he had nocked. What followed was chaos as a few of the bandits made to charge at the soldiers and a couple immeadietly turned and ran while still a couple more fell over crying out in pain as arrows pierced them. Another couple of arrows flew into the chaos from the bandits' side, one striking into the armor of a soldier ineffectively and one managing to stick one of the soldiers good. But the bandits' efforts were definitely on the losing side of things.

The archer leader began to realize this and what felt like after an almost immeadiete beginning, his voice carried over the din of weapons. "RETREAT! RETREAT, DAMNIT!" A couple of the brigands managed to disengage from their foes, fleeing into the woods. But still a couple more were cut down in their attempts. Eventually the leader himself began to turn and run, forgetting about the existence of the remaining cavalier that bore down hard upon him. Rearing his lance back, the cavalier stabbed downwards into the bandit leader's leg. The blackclad marauder gave an immense cry of pain before hitting the ground, screaming obscenities as he clutched his leg.

As the chaos died down, the troops quickly rounded up the far less trained brigands that remained. 2 remained alive while 8 were dead and the other 5 had managed to flee to safety. Compared to only two dead upon the soldiers' side, it was overwhelmingly clear who had won this battle. The bandit leader himself was dragged before Bellona, bound in a length of rope. His quiver and bow were long removed, as well as the black mask that he had worn while attacking. The face beneath was a grizzled man with a shaggy beard, a couple of scars upon his face. "Damnit... Who..." He grit his teeth, trying to demand an answer from the blue haired commander even in defeat.

[Bellona]

Despite Bellona's assertion before the fighting began, the engagement was barely even a battle. She would mourn the two fallen soldiers later, but they had otherwise completely overwhelmed the bandits. She allowed the fleeing bandits to escape - this was part of her plan - and waited for the leader to be brought to her. "Emil. See to it that the other survivor is dealt with," she said. "Haylen, send word back to the others that we may be expecting more trouble soon." The bandit group seemed too small to be all of them. Even if they really had seen the entire force, they could have friends, or mercenary contacts. It never hurt to be prepared. Once the two soldiers, an armored knight and the surviving cavalier, went to their tasks, she turned to the bandit leader as he was dragged before her and forced into a kneeling position.

Bellona sat on the edge of the back of the wagon, looking coldly down at the grizzled man. The soldier who had brought him to her forced him down as he tried to demand an answer, saying "You are in the presence of Her Highness, Princess Bellona. Show respect!" Bellona chuckled at the action. It was expected, but unnecessary. An ordinary brigand like this wasn't likely to know anything of respect. It would have to be taught, and if he survived the ordeal, she would be certain to do just that.

Meanwhile, she flashed a malicious grin at the bandit leader. "I must say, I'm actually disappointed. When I heard the stories of bandits actively trying to avoid violence, part of me hoped that there was something special about you. But I see that you're nothing but ordinary bandits after all. No, you're worse than that." Her original opinion, it seemed, held true. Fools, exhibiting a special kind of weakness. They didn't deserve the lives their survivors clung to. But Bellona was a fair princess, and she would give the leader an opportunity to speak for himself.

[Vesperia]

Meanwhile...

"Boss! Come quick!"

The bandit had managed to make it back to camp after a long sprint, sweat dripping from her brow as she panted. "There's... There's been a problem!"

---

Princess? Well, that was one hell of a surprise for the grizzled man. But in a show that proved what Bellona expected, the man spit at her feet. "Why should I respect some royal blowhard that can't even protect the people? Where the hell were you when my farm was burned down by the Solites?" If nothing else, the man was tenacious. And most definitely drawing the ire of Bellona's soldiers right about now. "You call us bandits, but we're a whole lot more than you know. This world's gonna change and there's nothing you can do to stop it." Defeat or not, he refused to bow his head now. "Beating me won't matter. I'll gladly die so that the Conqueror can change this world. I'm sick of you people in power always looking down on and abusing us. Mark my words, it's coming to an end."

With every word he spoke, the man's voice grew lower until he was practically growling at the blue haired Princess of Lunae.

[Bellona]

The soldier that had forced the bandit leader to the ground raised the butt of his spear to strike him when he spat, but Bellona held up a hand. Now that the bandit leader was in her presence, she would be the one to deal with him. He was right, of course, the leaders of this nation were unable to protect their people. Her father had cared more about expanding his influence, and now he and most of the rest of her siblings were dead. What did Aloysius do about it? Not much. What did she, Bellona, do about it? Plan for a revolution to reshape the world. Was it a failure on her part that she couldn't protect her people? Only partially. The soldiers that still followed her still numbered too few to march across the border and destroy every Solite in their wake, but it was the weakness and pacifism of the border settlements that sealed their fate.

"Conqueror? Don't make me laugh," Bellona said. She stood up and, with a vicious crescent kick, knocked the bandit leader flat on his back. "Do you think yourself great because your leader has given themselves a fancy title?" she asked. She pressed the sole of her boot against his chin and pushed his head back, so that the heel dug ever so slightly into his neck. "Make no mistake. This world is going to change. But I will be the one to do it. You, your bandits, and your so-called 'Conqueror' are nothing but a warm-up."

[Vesperia]

The bandit let out a hacking cough as Bellona knocked the taste right out of his mouth and then pressed the heel of her boot into his neck. After a moment though, he began to laugh. "Hahaha... You're the warm-up here." With these words of defiance spoken, he lapsed into silence. However, before Bellona had a chance to speak, another voice filled the air.

"BOOT OFF MY SOLDIER!"

Looking over to the source of the voice would reveal it's speaker. And fitting the youthful tone it carried, the speaker was... a little girl? She stood quite a bit shorter than the 10 bandits that stood behind her. And if one was being franked, she looked like she had raided her mom's wardrobe for clothing before coming to face Bellona. But the fact her own mask held the same white emblem and the odd cape-dress combination she wore also bore it, she obviously had something to do with these bandits. Some kind of ploy?

"I will not say it again! Remove your boot from my man's throat and give him here!"

The child crossed her arms and glared at Bellona.

[Bellona]

"Oh?"

This was different. The voice that called out the sudden demand couldn't be more than a child's. And sure enough, when Bellona turned to the source, that was exactly what she saw. A child stood before her, surrounded by more bandits and speaking as though she was in charge. More than that, she looked like she had taken her clothes from her mother's wardrobe...and that her mother was involved in performing arts. Either that or something...less savory, going by how much skin they exposed. It looked completely out of place on the child, to say nothing of her entourage.

But, nonetheless, she was here, and the other bandits seemed to recognize that she was in charge. "I can tell you're no ordinary child. No one of your age can command the respect of grown, armed men unless they are nobility or older than they look." With that, she took her boot off the man and flipped him back over with it. "Liam," she called to the soldier who had previously forced the bandit's head to the ground. He pulled the bandit up and shoved him towards the new arrivals. It would seem oddly cooperative from Bellona, but if this girl didn't impress her, she fully intended to have the girl take the tied up man's place. And this time, she'd probably finish her off.

"That said," she continued, coldly, "Do not call this man a soldier. He has neither the training nor the attitude for the name. He is a common bandit, nothing more."

[Vesperia]

The bandit man was quickly reeled up by the soldier and then shoved forward, the injury from the cavalier causing him to stumble before one of the bandits that had arrived with the little girl moved forward and helped him over. As he came back to her side, the little girl looked up at the grizzled man, who grimaced. Even as Bellona spoke, her focus was on the bandit man. "How many, Grant?" "...Everyone who didn't join back up with you, little lady." "I see." She nodded and the man was helped by his fellow bandit to disappear back into the woods.

The little girl focused her gaze once more on Bellona. "And what gives you the right to decide? Just because you have the "special" blood for it?" It seemed that the child leader recognized Bellona where the man now identified as Grant had not. "It is not blood that determines one's right to rulership or judgement! It is CONQUEST! The triumph of those fit to rule over the masses! The revolution of ideals and form! It is CONQUEST that determines the strong from the weak! The mighty from the meager! The land of Lunae, the continent of Jove, the entire world itself! THAT IS MY GOAL!" She raised a clawed finger to the sky and then dramatically pointed it at Bellona herself. "AND YOU ARE STANDING IN THE WAY OF IT! PRINCESS BELLONA OF LUNAE! I WILL CONQUER YOU!" The bandits behind the little girl began to cheer, picking up in volume as she went along and her own voice raised. The little girl strode forward away from the pack, signalling them to stop following her with a raised hand.

"NOW FACE ME! AND PAY FOR THE LIVES YOU'VE TAKEN THIS DAY! I WILL MAKE YOU DIG THEIR GRAVES AND MAKE THEIR HEADSTONES! YOU'LL REMEMBER THEIR NAMES AFTER I SEE YOU DRIVEN BEFORE ME!"

[Bellona]

"You dare challenge the War Goddess!" the soldier called Liam responded, leveling his spear at the girl.

"Liam." Bellona said firmly. The soldier backed away. Bellona raised a hand and waved back her soldiers, which had been taking positions around the new arrivals as they had talked. They all backed away, leaving open space around Bellona and the so-called Conqueror. Bellona stepped forward as well, raising her saber to point it at the child. "Blood, you say? I care nothing for it. My brother has the same blood, and I have never seen a man less fit to rule an empire. It is strength that determines the right to rule, and this world has lacked it for too long. I admire your goal and your ambition, but you are a fool for challenging me on the basis of my blood." She whipped her saber to the side in a slicing motion that could have been a flourish if not for the fact that it would have taken the head clean off of anyone standing in its way. "You are right about one thing. The truly strong in this world must be determined by conquest. But if you think you can achieve that ideal with bandits and bold words, I will show you the error of your ways here and now. As the leader of the world revolution to-be, I accept your challenge. But know this, if you are unworthy of your ideal, 'Conqueror', I will give you a more painful and humiliating defeat than you could ever imagine."

[Vesperia]

"It is not blood, but deed that I challenge you for." The child shook her head. "I will teach you one more thing as well before we begin. The strong are nothing without the weak."

Three streaks of black shot out from the girl's back before wrapping around her petite form. The same white emblem that was borne upon the clothing of the brigands stared at Bellona, six eyes upon the princess before light began to pour through the seams. The ball of black grew as the light began to grow brighter and pour forth even more. Then all at once the stips of black broke and ran straight up into the air before showing their real shape as great black wings that were each longer than Bellona was tall. A great black scaly form emerged as well, a lengthy tail slamming upon the ground and kicking up a ton of dust upon the trail. Four legs met the ground, the wicked claws upon them glinting in the sunlight. The disturbing eyes the Dragon bore looked into Bellona's as the 10 meter tall Dragon gazed down upon the now rather tiny seeming Princess.

"I." The Dragon's true voice was a far cry from the childish sounding one. "Am." It was deep and filled with a tone that commanded respect. "Vesperia Ludrenox, The Little Conqueror. And you." Emerald flames licked upon her lips before a brief goat of flame shot forth and torched the wagon that Bellona had just been near. Luckily, none of her men had been harmed. But the statement was made. "Will know me."

[Bellona]

Bellona stopped advancing towards the child as she started to transform. She didn't back away though, save to avoid being blown over as the girl dramatically increased in size, transforming into a massive black dragon. Indeed, the dragon completely dwarfed Bellona and all of her men, even on all fours. Its claws could easily tear a person apart. Its deep, booming voice shook the ground with its sheer power. And the flames that spread from its mouth easily incinerated the wagon behind her. This was strength, proper strength, like Bellona almost never saw.

And yet, she remained undeterred.

"A dragonkin," Bellona said. Rather than her usual cold, superior stare, she now wore one of defiance and determination. In the face of overwhelming power, she would stand firm. "Very well. If you're going to come, then come. I may be only human, but I will not falter. I am the on who will reshape this world."

[Vesperia]

Vesperia would give the battle princess her dues on remaining firm. But somtimes, it wiser to withdraw. And when faced with a Dragon, many would choose exactly that. "Very well." However, the Dragon did not move forwards. She did not lunge out with a claw like Bellona likely expected. Rather, she spun around with a sudden quickness. The long tail lashed out like a massive whip, with a far longer reach than her claws would ever manage. As she completed the turn, Vesperia's wings stretched outwards before beating down, a massive gust of wind issuing forth as the Dragon leapt into the air. A dust storm began to kick up as she did so, the wind generating gusts that blew it all about as well as whipping around clothing like the cloaks that the bandits wore or blowing hats off of heads for those that wore them.

Once more, green flames tickled at the edge of Vesperia's mouth and the mighty Dragon gazed down towards her foe.