Fourth Movement: Battlefield
2nd of Hakim 242 AC
As we finished our brief respite, the fact that each of us had their own unique strengths and talents became abundantly clear once more. In the time it had taken me to rest my aching body and briefly summarize the day’s events, Alizée had apparently liberated everything that had not been nailed down from the remains of our slain foes – and, in the case of the wooden constructs, quite a few things thad had, in fact, been nailed down. I suppose when one is born into fame and fortune, acting on opportunities wherever and whenever they may arise quickly becomes second nature.
Speaking of resource-oriented division of labour: Yuri, Siham and Oro’thion utilized their combined brains and brawn to open the needlessly enormous central door by activating hourglass-like structures scattered across this level of the tower. Thank the gods that they did, for if it had been up to me, we would still be sitting there. Like I have mentioned previously, I am profoundly useless at riddles. They are annoying, obnoxious, detract from the main narrative (but not in the flowery, elegant way a bardic hymn does) and, worst of all, they hardly ever rhyme properly.
If you, constant listener, have been following my accounts for any appreciable amount of time, you might have inferred by now that I am stalling for time again. You are, of course, correct.
I would love to tell you that I joined the ensuing battle with a war cry on my lips and an eruption of valor bursting from my heart. That I delved into the darkness of the sanctum in which Dibarra was expecting us, illuminated only by my trusty bullseye lantern, with fierce determination to save the seven abducted children being imprisoned therein. That I used all my cunning and strength, utilizing magic and weaponry and even my bare hands to fight off Dibarra and his shadowy minions, all the while encouraging my allies and healing my fallen comrades.
All of those things could be construed as true from an outside perspective. Any bard worth their salt would consider such an account a fair, if not downright mandatory, enhancement of the truth. A mere week ago, I might have been among their number; and in regards to anyone other than myself, I still might be. Alas, the truth of the matter is this: I found myself, woefully unprepared, thrust into a battle which, in all honesty, I was not sure we could win; the capabilities of my mighty allies notwithstanding.
The darkness and the terror, the screams and the shadows, the wounded and the slain.
Alizée recklessly charging into the fray with her elementally charged acrobatics.
Siham’s fists, flickering too fast for my eyes to follow.
Oro’thion doing… something to his own face, allowing him to charge at our foes with renewed vigor.
Yuri summoning a trident-like weapon from Gods-know-where to drive the enemy back.
Aurelie casually constructing a cannon out of whatever materials were around – and, anyway, she started blasting.
On the flipside: the shadowy things, tearing at our very essence and sapping our strength; the children in desperate need of (but, sadly, sometimes beyond) saving; Dibarra bearing down on us with waves upon waves of magical destruction.
What was I, a lowly bard, to do, faced with such a rondo of death? I had fought battles alongside my compatriots before, of course, but this made everything I had encountered before look like mere child’s play. As I stood there, frozen to the spot for what seemed like an eternity (yet which could, realistically, not have been much more than eighteen or twenty-four seconds), a sudden thought flashed through my paralyzed brain: a quote from one of the B’n’B characters Aeris had once played for a one-shot, “Do, or do not. There is no try.”
On the one hand, that had been an off-the-cuff remark from a silly make-believe role-playing game.
On the other hand, why the fuck not?
So, I finally got my (as a reference for any other bards singing of this: rather handsome) posterior into gear and, as one of my Dramatics 201 instructors would have put it, got busy livin’.
We did, in fact, get busy livin’; successfully banishing Dibarra into the pompously ominous hourglass dominating the sanctuarium – although we did not manage to save all of the imprisoned children. While all of us were, naturally, saddened by this suboptimal turn of events, Oro’thion seemed to have been affected by it the most. Apart from some lip service to Gond in my youth, I have never been a particularly religious man, but while I am a part of this particular group, it does occassionally occur to me how difficult it must be to continuously align one’s own beliefs with the harshness of reality.
At any rate, after we successfully banished Dibarra into that weird (and, as an aside, not particularly stable looking) hourglass device, we got our lay of the land (i.e. looted everything) before returning home, following the rescued children’s example (i.e. remembering where we ought to be).
Awash with relief and happiness and joy to be alive, several background facts were shared within the as-of-yet unnamed group. None of which, dear constant listener, should be of concern to you for the time being. I will sing of all my companions, according to their respective permissions, in due time.
I will, however, point out the fact that Yuri is spending the night in my humble abode. I think he would do fantastically in any BnB session; but I would never try to persuade him into joining me in such hopeless an endeavor.
I think.
I realize that I am, once again, rambling, but I do beg your, constant listener’s, forgiveness – it has been a very long day indeed.
Frederick's Journal Ordered oldest to newest
-
Ouverture: Nessun dorma
23rd of Basir, 242 AC
-
Dramatis Personae
23rd of Basir, 242 AC
-
First Movement: Murder on the Dancefloor
24th of Basir, 242 AC
-
Second Movement: Distant Memories
1st of Hakim 242 AC
-
Interlude: Remembrance
1st of Hakim 242 AC
-
Third Movement: Imaginations from the other side
2nd of Hakim 242 AC
-
Fourth Movement: Battlefield
2nd of Hakim 242 AC
23rd of Basir, 242 AC
23rd of Basir, 242 AC
24th of Basir, 242 AC
1st of Hakim 242 AC
1st of Hakim 242 AC
2nd of Hakim 242 AC
2nd of Hakim 242 AC
The major events and journals in Frederick's history, from the beginning to today.
Session 16 - Shal'Azura
05:57 pm - 16.12.2025Session 16 - Shal'Azura
04:01 pm - 14.12.2025Session 15 - Shal'Azura
08:58 pm - 07.12.2025Session 15 - Shal'Azura
03:51 pm - 07.12.2025Session 14 - Shal'Azura
05:29 pm - 01.12.2025Session 14 - Shal'Azura
05:29 pm - 01.12.2025Session 13 - Shal'Azura
10:05 am - 24.11.2025Session 13 - Shal'Azura
10:05 am - 24.11.2025Fourth Movement: Battlefield
2nd of Hakim 242 AC As we finished our brief respite, the fact that each of us had their own unique strengths and talents became abundantly clear once more. In the time it had taken me to rest my aching body and briefly summarize the day’s events, ...
08:14 am - 23.11.2025Session 12 - Shal'Azura
05:24 pm - 17.11.2025Session 12 - Shal'Azura
04:14 pm - 16.11.2025Session 11 - Shal'Azura
04:58 pm - 11.11.2025Session 11 - Shal'Azura
03:33 pm - 09.11.2025Interlude - Invitation to a Dream of the Blue Veil
08:58 am - 03.11.2025Interlude - Invitation to a Dream of the Blue Veil
04:08 pm - 02.11.2025Session 10 - Shal'Azura
08:11 pm - 26.10.2025Session 10 - Shal'Azura
04:17 pm - 26.10.2025Session 9 - Shal'Azura
06:14 pm - 20.10.2025Session 9 - Shal'Azura
04:04 pm - 19.10.2025Session 8 - Dibarra the Collector (mebbi)
10:23 pm - 12.10.2025Session 8 - Dibarra the Collector (mebbi)
10:23 pm - 12.10.2025Third Movement: Imaginations from the other side
2nd of Hakim 242 AC It is truly remarkable how invigorating a good night’s sleep can be – if it is spent among family and friends within a safe and cosy environment. Yesterday’s tumultuous events still weighed on my mind, of course, but I was loo...
07:12 am - 12.10.2025Session 7 - Dibarra the Collector
08:39 pm - 05.10.2025Session 7 - Dibarra the Collector
04:16 pm - 05.10.2025Session 6 - The 6th Princes Tower
07:54 pm - 28.09.2025Session 6 - The 6th Princes Tower
04:28 pm - 28.09.2025Session 5 - Unknown Palace
07:52 pm - 22.09.2025Session 5 - Unknown Palace
04:24 pm - 21.09.2025Session 4 - Shal'Azura
08:48 pm - 08.09.2025Session 4 - Shal'Azura
08:48 pm - 08.09.2025Second Movement: Distant Memories
To describe today’s events as tumultous would be an understatement akin to “death is a mild inconvenience” or “Yuri is a bit reluctant to talk about his past”. It started off innocently enough, with a hearty breakfast and an only moderately ear...
04:46 pm - 06.09.2025Interlude: Remembrance
This music sings of Ann, who will never let you down, a loving wife and mother, and a seamstress of renown. This music sings of Fritz, both strong of body and of will, whose gentle soul and loving heart are even stronger still. This music sings of...
12:52 pm - 06.09.2025Second Movement: Distant Memories
To describe today’s events as tumultous would be an understatement akin to “death is a mild inconvenience” or “Yuri is a bit reluctant to talk about his past”. It started off innocently enough, with a hearty breakfast and an only moderately ear...
12:51 pm - 06.09.2025Session 3 - Shal'Azura
09:12 pm - 31.08.2025Session 3 - Shal'Azura
09:12 pm - 31.08.2025First Movement: Murder on the Dancefloor
The good thing about being accused of committing a capital crime first thing in the morning is the fact that things can only go uphill from there. (Or is it downhill? Which is the positive one again? This is precisely why I am a dancer first, a musician s...
10:40 pm - 22.08.2025Dramatis Personae
Alizée Aella Zephyr has already been known to me both by name and by reputation; a distinction I presumably share with each and every citizen of Shal’Azura. Getting to know her on a more personal level, however, has been rewarding indeed: She is a kind...
10:37 pm - 22.08.2025Ouverture: Nessun dorma
As I made my way to the Market of Melodies this fateful day, I kept checking my pocket for that ominous vellum card time and time again. A supremely useless gesture, of course - I did not need to see or feel it to be sure of its continued presence. I coul...
08:54 pm - 21.08.2025The list of amazing people following the adventures of Frederick.
Social
Birthplace
Shal'Azura
Current Residence
Shal'Azura
Contacts & Relations
Leonardo Koneko, friend and fellow alumnus of Bahar Amphitheater
Aeris Koneko, Leonardo's sister and fellow participant of their weekly role-playing sessions
Wealth & Financial state
Modest. Any surplus income goes to his family as soon as can be arranged.
Family Ties
Fritz Austerlitz (father)
Ann Austerlitz (mother)
Ginger Rogers, née Austerlitz (aunt, deceased)
Hobbies & Pets
While most certainly not a pet, Frederick's familiar is always by his side, either physically or in spirit. While the name might sound a bit off if she ever were to change shape, the tiny (and adorable) fey creature is, for the time being, quite content to be known as Countess Elisabeth "Betty" Báthory.