The Farm Boy (Templars Thread)

This is sort of an add on to the Farm Boy thread, which is mainly used for the Assassin's. This section, however, will be used for the posting of people who side their OCs with the Templars, so we can keep speed and order high. Have fun, my Templar buddies. And hopefully Red wont make you his first kill...

Crack. Thump. Smack.

One solid blow after another hit the training dummy. Solid hooves sent chips off of the wood as Aero threw punches towards it. Spinning on his forelegs, he sent one last powerful buck that split the mannequin in half, sending splinters flying everywhere.

"That's enough for one day," Aero said to himself, taking a cloth and wiping sweat from his brow.

His weapons and light armour lay neatly piled on a nearby bench of the hall. Around him stood many different training and exercising devices; training dummies, archery targets, weights and more. Aero Dynamic felt strongly about being healthy and fit, seeing it as key to being successful. After all, what good is a Templar leader who cannot fight effectively? Giving orders would only take one so far, but to lead others yourself was the path to greatness.

Aero wandered over to a window sill, looking out over the city from his elevated position in the fort.

"The pieces of Eden are out there somewhere..."

This was not a war of Good versus Evil.

It was Discord versus Harmony. Chaos versus Order. Death versus Life.

For OzyManedias, the choice was simple: Ponies were meant to be led, if not by him then somepony. The Assassins could preach and wail their doctrines of freedom all they liked, OzyManedias knew what happened when freedom ran unchecked.


"For the Love of Celestia, We are trying to save the Equine race! Not have a sleepover!"

OzyManedias scolded a couple of new recruits for loafing around.

"The Assassins never rest so neither can we." He pointed to one of the recruits. "You. I've heard report that a couple of Assassin informants are on the way through this district. Gather a couple of your fellows and kill them."

He thought for a moment.

"Scratch that, keep as many alive as you can, but keep them alive for questioning. And kill any escorts." He waved a hoof to dismiss the recruit. OzyManedias sat down and inspected the note.

'Lunch?' was all the piece of paper said.

OzyManedias chuckled. His little friend enjoyed making impromptu meal plans. He need not respond, They both knew where to meet up.

But first, to write the report to Dynamic.

"No luck finding Paradise, but the Boys in White are being taken care of. Recruitment is going well." He sent it off with a runner, and didn't seal it with his sign. It was concise and didn't have enough information to give away anything too important. If anything it would even help them if an Assassin caught it.


==============

"Hm." Momento Mori read the note with curiosity. She didn't particularly like working for the Templars, but it definitely was safer than working for the Assassins.

She swing up the side of a building on her way to the castle of Aero Dynamic. Its not like she wanted to betray her 'friends,' but it was too... strict?

definitely.

No boozing it up with a bunch of stuck up stallions in their little clubhouse in their pearly whites.

The blade was pretty cool though. She kept that when she defected. Could never figure out how it worked though...


She finally made it to the door of Aero Dynamic and tapped on the door.

"Sir? report from OzyManedias, the head of the Eastern District."

"Hm.

Aero had started to put on his gear again. The majority of his armour was sturdy leather with red highlights; light for manoeuvrability and flight but strong and protective. However, the chest piece was a shiny silver metal, engraved with the outline of his cutie mark. His hooves also had metal guards on to serve as both protection in battles but also to shield against blows. His left guard even held a small, concealed dagger for emergencies.

Before he could fit himself with his weapons, the knock came at the door. A message from Ozymandias? Out of all the Templars he knew, Aero found Ozymandias to be the most mysterious, although he had no doubt of his loyalties to the cause.

"Enter," he called to the messenger.

"Sir." Momento Mori opened the door and hooved the letter to Aero Dynamic.

"Its fairly sparse. our district is pretty quiet of late, but there was some informant's that should be coming in any second for interrogation." The mare waited quietly to be dismissed.



OzyManedias sat down on a bench. A very familiar bench.

Vassago sat down next to him and hooved him a bit of a carrot to munch on. "Afternoon."

"Afternoon. I caught wind of those informants you were trying to move through my district." OzyManedias patted the worn down seat next to him as he sipped a cup of tea.

Vassago groaned and facehoofed. "I told them to keep it between me and the informants! stupid... If anything, Your Side is more disciplined and structured."

OzyManedias laughed. "That is sort of the point! Well if your so frustrated, come over to My Side, your talents would not go unrewarded."

Vassago watched the world go by. "You know I can't do that. Have you forgotten what I told you?"

OzyManedias sighed. "Yes yes yes. I understand. Its just your always so ambiguous about these things."

It took only moments for Aero to put a name to the mare's face. Momento Mori. Not the oldest member of the Order but she had proven herself loyal for now, if his reports were to be believed. He silently took the letter from her and briefly skimmed over it. He passed it back when he had finished it but do not yet dismiss her.

"Very good. I shall go see to them immediately," he replied, picking up his sheathed sword and fitting it to himself. "Tell me Mori, what do you see out of the Templars? Order? Discipline? Or perhaps tyranny? Injustice?"

Momento Mori nodded respectfully.

"Tell me Mori, what do you see out of the Templars? Order? Discipline? Or perhaps tyranny? Injustice?"

Mori was taken a little off guard by her superior's question. She was a servant, not some philosopher!

"I... er... I think your asking the wrong pony, Sire." She blushed, embarassed. "Its just that..."

"Well to be perfectly honest I just don't want to die. As I hope you are aware I once was an Assassin you see. They were too dangerous. Too laissez faire. There came a point where my chief interest (not dying) came directly into conflict with theirs and they wanted me to go on some suicide mission." Momento Mori explained.

"I think they underestimated my capacity for life. I saw a problem, so that I fixed it." Mori scratched the pack of her ear for a moment to think.

"I like being a Templar, sir. There is structure, and I know that somepony somewhere is looking out for me. I know I'm a part of some grand plan, rather than one pony versus the world." She smiled at the thought.

"I-I'm sorry." She stammered an apology as she started to inch out the door. "I really should report back to OzyManedias. I'm sure that those informants are being brought in as we speak."

Aero Dynamic couldn't help but help smile a little at Mori's words. While a little incompetent, she appeared to have an idea about what she was doing, rather than blindly following orders. In just that short speech, he could already see some of her strengths and weaknesses and how they could affect the cause.

"Indeed, part of a grand plan," he repeated, once more looking out of the window. He waved a hoof in her direction. "Very well, you are dismissed."

After a moment longer, Aero followed her lead, down to see the informants.

"Of course, Sire. Right away." Mori nodded and backed out of her master's chamber.

Momento Mori ran along the rooftops, flashing her cross bracelet to guards on the rooftops to allow her to pass.

On one, she noticed a guard sleeping on the job. Skidding to a halt, she stooped to inspect the sleeping Templar. Upon putting a hoof to his neck, she found it wet, withdrawing her hoof revealed a red stain on her hoof.

"Traitorous whore!" The Assassin leaped on top of Mori and held his blade to her throat.

Mori gasped in surprise. "No!" She screamed as her own hidden blade slid in between the Assassin's ribcage.

The Assassin's face convulsed in pain, before he groaned and fell over onto the ground next to her, entering his death throes.

Momento Mori lay on the rooftop and stared at the sky for a while. One less Assassin populated the world.




OzyManedias had returned from his lunch.
"I will not repeat myself." OzyManedias rinsed the blood from a pair of pliers. "You saw what happened to your friend, didn't you?"

"MMMMMPH."

OzyManedias leaned in close to the informant. "Are you ready to talk slowly and coherently?" The terrified pony nodded. OzyManedias motioned to an assisstant. "Take off the gag."


"I swear we don't know anything I just want to get home safe and sound to my-"

OzyManedias stuffed the rag down the Assassin's throat, chocking the mare. "Just tell me what i want to know, please."

He took the rag out before the informant had a chance to asphyxiate.

"The Piece of Eden!" The mare screamed, snot and tears streaming down her face. "They think they know where it is!"


As if on cue, OzyManedias heard a knock on the door. "Announcing Head Master Dynamic." A lowly recruit spoke through the door.

"Master, We are making headway." OzyManedias washed the blood off his hooves with a towel and bowed to his lord. "Would you like to take things from here?"

Aero Dynamic entered the room, flaring his wings as he did. He surveyed the scene; two informants, a mare and stallion. Both were bond, one was gagged, and each were tied to a wooden chair. He turned his attention to Ozymandias.

As the pegasus bowed to him, Aero waved dismissively at his actions.

"Please, brother. There's no need for such formalities here," he told him. "I shall take command. You're welcome to stay."

He stood before the two Assassins. He removed the stallion's gag and gave them both a sinister glare. "I shall make this simple. You know what we want to know. Only tell us and you shall immediately be released from your captivity. Clear?

"Thank you Dynamic. I think I will." OzyManedias slunk back to the shadows and watched respectfully.


The stallion did not respond at first, only make the occasional grunt. He opened his mouth wide enough to reveal he was missing a majority of his teeth.

"I apologize." OzyManedias interrupted for a moment. "I got a little ahead of myself." He nodded apologetically.

The mare was in hysterics. "A-a-a shipment! from the New World! T-the Assassins t-t-think its something sp-p-pecial..." The mare started to break into sobs before whispering.

"Aboard the Semper Libero."

OzyManedias snorted. "'Always Free.'" he translated. "How fitful."

The sight of the stallion's missing teeth only made Aero chuckle. As the mare spoke up, he leant in towards her. He could feel her every panicked breath in his muzzle and the fear in her eyes.

"That wasn't so hard was it?" whispered Aero. With that, he spun around and addressed Ozymandias. "Find out when and where the Semper Libero is docking. Have a patrol commandeer it the moment it arrives and notify me. I want to be there personally to inspect the shipment.

Aero then signalled to the guards. "The Assassins are of no more use to us. Remove them from the castle." He once again observed their captive's bonds before saying, "Throw them from the battlements. Assassins are known for their leaps of faith. Let us see how fearless they are as they fall into the depths of Tartarus."

"Of course." OzyManedias motioned to the two guards, who dragged the silent stallion and the sobbing mare with them.


Momento Mori finally made it back to her small private room in the barracks. She was lucky that she had the privacy.

She hauled herself onto her bed and started to sob uncontrollably. It didn't matter, Assassin or Templar. At anytime, her life was in danger.

For somepony who craved a life of adventure, this would be paradise. For Momento Mori, this was hell. But she had made her decision, and she saw what happened to those who crossed the Templars.


OzyManedias sat on the parapets of the Templar stronghold that was under his control. the river slowly swept by deep down under him.

"You understand that I am not an evil pony, right?" He asked his two victims. The mare's loud sobbing was reduced to silent heaves and the stallion remained in stoic suffering, too dazed to answer.

"I said I would set you free after you answered my questions, which is true enough. My superior also ordered you be thrown from the battlements. I do not want to compromise my own promises nor my superior's orders. That being said, this is the next best thing."

The two Assassin's stood on planks extended over the river. OzyManedias held two swords in each wing, one pointed at both of them.

"Now remember: keep yourself in a vertical line, hooves straight, and let the current carry you down to the ocean."

He tapped the pommel of a rapier to his chin. "Oh, and If I even hear that you are still in this city after this..." He shook his head sadly. "Then I would just have to kill the both of you. Very creatively. Over an extended period of time. Publicly."

He pushed them off the planks and watched them fall down. They both hit the water with mixed results. The stallion belly flopped and lay still, while the mare dived in and came up a further downstream, desperately trying to stay afloat and help her friend.


"Now." OzyManedias dusted his hooves off and sheathed the swords. "To see about this Semper Libero."

Having dealt with the informants, Aero had returned to his chambers. He sat at his desk, reading through various military reports (Templar strength was dwindling, unacceptably so).

The light sound of hooves was suddenly at his door and along with it came a knock.

"Enter."

"I didn't think you were one for dramatics Dynamic."

Aero's eyes widened slightly as he placed his papers down. He looked around to see Rosette Allure standing in the doorway. The pink mare had on her a fashionable dress of gold and red, an indication of her wealth.

"Only when the job calls for it," he replied, "Sometimes it's best to do things in a manner that gains attention. Something you would know a lot about..."

Rose laughed, shaking her head as she briefly looked away. "You know, flattery will get you no where."

Aero rose from his seat and stepped over to her, gently brushing the end of her forelock. "Nevertheless, we have a meal to attend." His hoof held the door open. "Shall we?"

"Momento Mori?" OzyManedias rapped on her door twice. "I have need of you."

He was greeted with a frightened squeak, then the sound of a body falling off a bed and hitting the floor, following with a stream of curses and swears.

"Are... are you alright?" He asked hesitantly. Momento Mori opened the door a crack, revealing a sliver of her face, stained by tears.

"What is your will?" She whispered quietly, using all of her will not to betray the quaver in her voice.

"Er... We think... Are you sure you're alrigh- Nevermind. Sorry I... ah... There's this ship called the..." OzyManedias scratched the back of his head and sighed. He knew something was wrong with Mori. His more business side said to send her on the mission anyway, to let her prove her worth. But OzyManedias' conscious (Which rarely spoke.) told him to go himself. She would compromise the mission.

"You know what?"

Mori eyed OzyManedias through the slit.

"I'll handle it myself." He smiled uneasily. "You get some rest. I will have more jobs tomorrow."

Mori licked her chapped lips and sniffed a little. She nodded. "thank you, milord." She quickly closed the door and held herself against it. OzyManedias was not a bad pony, but his conscious sometimes got in the way of decisions.


OzyManedias walked towards the armory. He was no slouch with a blade, but he couldn't do anything with his decorative robes on.

Two ponies sat face to face across a dining table, eating and discussing. A full banquet was laid out in front of them on the finest cloth, complete with fine crockery and cutlery. However, the two ponies found the scenario rather different. Rosette admired the effort and luxury of the presentation, while Aero found it adequate, if not overdone and time consuming. He was sure servants could find better things to do than line up forks and knives.

"You know it's such a shame you don't wish to join the Order. I'm sure there is much we can offer you, and vice versa of course."

Rose smiled with a knowing look. "But if I did that, I would be surrendering my ability to serve my own personal needs. Business wouldn't just be business anymore," she replied, "Besides, we both benefit well from our current arrangements, and I find it gives me a certain..."

As she paused to find the right word, Aero chipped in. "Safety. In the eyes of the Templar's enemies, you are no threat. Or at least, no more than any other business pony, from Note Roll to Shining Light."

A violet glow surrounded Rose's wine glass as she raised it in a toast. "And I drink to that."

OzyManedias spent a majority of his time information gathering. The Semper Libero was docked on the northern side of the harbor, rather deep into Assassin territory. He mentally noted how cautious they were being. The only reason why it wasnt already safe was that the assassins had not had the time to move it from the boat.

OzyManedias stalked the streets. The first folly of the Assassins was that they didnt concern themselves with a constant vigil of the streets. Crime practically flourished under Assassin control. Ever so often, he would spy a white hood running along the roofs.

OzyManedias grabbed the brim of his feathered hat and lowered it. The ship came into view ahead, filled with nondescript guards. A few spots of white stood out.

OzyManedias gripped his Prized Possession tightly. It had been a while since he had ran a mission alone. Potentially too long.

After a pleasant meal, the two ponies had taken to walking together through the grounds of the fort, conversing until they reached the gatehouse, and subsequently, the end of their time together.

"Well my dear, it seems our day is up," announced Aero, "May I say it has been a pleasure."

Rosette nodded, allowing him to give her a departing kiss on the cheek. "As always. Rest assured that my businesses will still be working in your interests."

To Rosette, the meeting had been a formality. She had many important plans to keep in motion, both for or against the Templars.

They bid farewell to each other and head in separate directions. As Rose trotted to her carriage, Aero marched towards the barracks to gather a patrol.

To Aero, the meeting had been a formality. Now that business had been established, he had work to do, mostly involving hunting down Assassins.

A common misconception is that the Assassins are the only side in this hidden war that use stealth.

OzyManedias had already killed half of the guards on the deck, and was searching the hold for the artifact.

He found a large box, with an easily broken padlock. OzyManedias slowly opened the top and looked inside.

It was like the peice of a spherical puzzle. The non-Euclidean shapes caused his eyes to hurt, but there was an undoubtable beauty in the ivory colored metal that the thing was made of, a rather hypnotizing quality that almost left OzyManedias awestruck, but not quite.

"Stop! what do you think your doing?" an assassin cried out.

"Damn! Guards! Guards!" The assassin yelled out.

OzyManedias wheeled about and thrust the piece of the Apple towards his assailant. Any moment it would kick in and he would walk Scott free. Nothing could resist the power of the Apple of Eden.

"I'll take you, Templar!" The assassin drew a rapier and advanced. Ozy backed up.

Any second...

"Prepare to die!" The assassin growled and lunged.

Any-

OzyManedias cursed his rotten luck as he parried the blow and jumped out of a porthole and onto the side of the ship. He kicked a mercenary out of the way and rolled over another before scrambling up the rigging.

"Got to get back..." OzyManedias thought. This enigmatic piece arose Three questions:

1) Where are the other four pieces?

2)How does one cut a Apple of Eden in half?

3) What good is it on its own?

He was interrupted by the bullet of an arquebus whizzing past his body. He spat onto his enemies below as he jumped onto the bowsprit, ran along it, and jumped into the street.

Although both Assassins and Templars can preform feats of stealth, the Assassins to have much better luck when it comes to high places.

OzyManedias fell on top of a carriage holding a certain rosy noblemare, rolling near the edge, he hung on for dear life.

He breathed heavily as he stared at Rose Allure in the cabin.

"Ha... Ha... Ha... Good evening... Ha..."

"Driver, how much longer?" Rosette asked, noting the time appeared later than she had hoped to have finished their meal.

"'Bout another ten minutes, m'lady," came the reply.

Letting out a sigh, Rose leant back in her seat and looked outside. They were passing by a section of the docks when there was a sudden thud, with thumps that followed before a sandy coloured pegasus appeared, hanging right beside her.

Rose's eyes widened in complete shock as she jerked away in her seat from instinct. A scream mustered in her throat which she let out, making her driver stop almost instantly.

OzyManedias held on tightly as the carriage screeched to a halt. He looked back at the ship, where a mass of white hoods and miscellaneous mercenaries started to amass.

"Madam, I would strongly advise against this course of action!" He rapped the driver on the leg, getting his attention. "Drive!"

His cross necklace jingled against a metal stud in his leather armor as the carriage started to move again.

He opened the door of the carriage and got inside, awkwardly sitting across form rose. he checked that the piece of the Apple of Eden was still on his person. "I apologize for the inconvenience. I assure you that you will be recompensed very well for your troubles." As he removed his hat, he looked at the mare more closely. "Do I know you?" He asked as he leaned back, still exhausted from his stunt.

After the initial shock of the pegasus suddenly dropping in on her, Rose managed to compose herself and inspect him more thoroughly. When she spotted the Templar cross around his neck, she couldn't help but sigh in aggravation.

"Do as he said," she confirmed to her driver, who had already reached for his sword. The stallion nodded before continuing to pull at a more hurried pace.

Rosette took a look in the direction that the pegasus had, seeing a collection of armed ponies, and quickly connected the dots. Great, now she was in danger.

"I wasn't aware that by associating myself with your kind, I was offering taxi services," she remarked bitterly, "And yes, you probably do. Miss Rosette Allure. And who might you be?

OzyManedias sighed with relief as the carriage started to roll again.

"Ah! I think I've seen you conversing with Sir Dynamic!" He scratched the back of his head bashfully at her remark. "And... I apologize. I must admit my... er... impromptu arrival in your carriage was somewhat of a split second decision." He extended a hoof polity and respectfully. "I am OzyManedias."

He glanced out of the window, they were back in his home district.

"Again, I apologize for my intrusion. If you like, come visit sometime and I will be sure to repay you properly." He waved for the driver to stop and started to get out of the carriage.

Rose somewhat reluctantly shook the pegasus' hoof. She could see he was not as arrogant as she first thought. Besides, she wished to stay on good terms with the Templars, so aiding them like this was really to her benefit. However, Rose hoped not to make it a regular occurrence. 

"I accept your apology, as you seem severally sorry for your commandeering of my carriage," dryly joked Rose, before raising an eyebrow at him in an enticing manner, "I would be very interested to see how you wish to repay me..."

"Er... right... yes... thank you." OzyManedias nodded respectfully and watched Rose Allure drive off down the street.

Something about the way she said: "I would be very interested to see how you wish to repay me..." stuck in his mind.

After a few seconds, he had an epiphany.

"Oh."

He said.

"Oh."

He said

"Ooooooh." He nodded a little, taking in the realization step by step as he slowly walked back to his base of operations.