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 ^{(it's beta!)}

A ruff path broke through the sea of emerald green grass, the tall blades swayed in the wind and butterflies danced around them, to the right the grass started to turn into a forest of huge, dark trees, and to the left the grass was broken by giant boulders and smaller rocks, coloured a dark grey.

To the front and back the grass stretched out past the horizon, pocked with small mounds and hills. The sun stood tall in the sky shining down and lighting everything bellow it, and the occasional cloud cast shadows on the land. In the endless, blue sky birds played, singing songs and chasing each other, oblivious to the hell soon to be unleashed on their little piece of heaven.

On the path a weary band of warriors headed west. Heading the band was a tall muscular man, dressed in a mix of leather and metallic armour, a long sword hung sheathed from his waist and a tower shield was slung over his back and over his pack. He had tanned skin and long brown hair that draped over his face, he was called Ban and was the leader of the group.

Slightly behind him and to the left paced twin spell-casters, wearing little in the way of armour but instead sported Magi gowns, each coloured and covered in symbols from their respective collages. The male twin, Rik wore a red and purple gown, with symbols stitched in with gold thread glowing slightly as magica pulsed through them. From his belt hung a Small dagger and in a pouch was his codex of spells and lore's of his collage, he was schooled in the art of destruction, he had cropped black hair, gaunt cheeks and a noble nose

Next to him his twin stood, Ren, a beautiful Magi, with a pleasant figure brought out by her fitted gown of dark turquoise and light green, the symbols on this again stitched in but in silver, like her brother she had a small dagger and her collages codex concealed in a pouch, she was trained in the skill of defence and healing spells.

Flanking her was the elfin archer, arb'or, tall and thin, he was dressed in a leaf-green shirt and trousers, with light metal grieves and spaulders protecting him, his longbow, wooden with rune's, was hanging on his back next to his arrow filled quiver. He was also armed with a short sword. His long blond hair lay about his shoulder but held out of his face by a top knot.

Bringing up the rear was the giant warrior, Sol, with muscles fighting against the bounds of his skin and standing nearly 7ft tall he made people run away on the battle field. He wore only leather trousers and had two large straps crossing over his chest and round onto his back holding in place his great sword tactition second only to his leader Ban.

The group kept walking as the sun was setting, not a word past between them as the grim knowledge of what was to come echoed in their heads.

Just up ahead of the Gladius was a clearing of grass that had been burnt away, the path was widened by the charred earth that remained.

Night was closing in and as Ban reached the centre of the circle he stopped, raising a hand to signal the rest of The Gladius to stop as well. Ban turned round and drew a line with the tip of his blade," This is were we make out stand, i know it's not perfect but the sun i slow and we will need to rest before tomorrow's undertaking." Said Ban, his usually reassuring voice croaky and stuttered with fear.

No one spoke but the res of The Gladius just nodded, with no need to speak. Ban broke the silence.

"We will be in the usual stance, me and Sol up front with Arb'or behind us, and Ren at the back casting an OverSheil spell and Rik covering her and us, and questions?"

Again silence, Sol shook his head and with that the group broke up and started building camp. The silence didn't worry Ban, he had seen it many a time as an army commander and he knew that soon noise would be restored as ale and singing drowned out the fear.

After he finished pitching his tent Sol wondered to the edge of the circle and looked up at the stars, wondering is his ancestors were looking down from their resting place, and also wondering if they were proud of him.

Seeing Sol alone Arb'or walked over to him, a tankard of ale in his hand and tapped the huge warrior on one muscular shoulder. Startled Sol looked round but eased up as he saw Arb'or's friendly face, taking the tankard Sol walked with him to the camp fire, the night had truly began!

The fire had been blazing for hours now and it had passed midnight, the stars and the nearly full moon cast an unnatural light, and anything outside the illuminated area created by the fire had a disturbing glow to it, slightly unsettling the general sense of wellbeing.

All of The gladius bar Arb'or were gathered around the fire, drinking. Arb'or was just out of the circle, painting the surrounding landscape, although he loved to drink he suffered from crippling hangovers, and found painting far more relaxing than drinking. Sol was the most sober of them all, it taking a ridiculous amount of alcohol to effect him, the rest were equally as drunk as each other and all other noises were drowned out buy the mixed versus of random drunken songs.

As the fire died out The gladius returned to their beds, soon only Ban and Arb'or remained, Arb'or finished his painting and retied, leaving Ban, illuminated on his own by the dieing embers or the fire, running through the battle plan in his head.

The Sun rose, glistening off 10,000 weapons and Shields of the enemies mane fighting force, chanting from the gnarled old Magis could be heard amongst the sounds of birds and orders being barked. The Gladius stood proud on their little patch of ground, ready to do what needed to be done. Each member lost in their own private world, mentally preparing for the fight.

The once green grass now seemed dark and dying, the earth cracked and broken. Mud now baked with giant crevasses and creators scaring it, moisture gone. Even the sun seemed to be hiding behind the clouds. Ban didn't need to give a war speech, he just tapped his blade on the ground three time, signaling the rest of them to form up, magica shields to be cast and weapons made ready.

Barley had the group formed up when the enemy charged, shaking the ground, and causing the rest of the wildlife to run. Only The Gladius stayed, weapons ready. The first wave was ten metres away. The face of each man now visible. Five metres and they were on them, in a fury of stabbing and fighting that lasted 20 seconds The Gladius were destroyed, the battle lost and won. Only one man from the vast army had been killed, and that was buy on of his fellow soldiers, as a chance of revenge for a lost card game.

That should teach them for being so fucking poncy and having a name like that