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Tessar
09-28-2001, 03:09 PM
hey don't forget me!!!!!!

Mathron
09-28-2001, 03:48 PM
Tal glanced at Dain, who drew out a short sword - though wicked looking - from his pack, and handed it to Steward.

The dwarf said, "I wouldn't have trusted this to the mad one, but I think you can do it honor and wield it well."

Tal, meanwhile, looked at the boy, and his face softened. "You are brave, to come with us this far. I warn you, this will be very dangerous indeed, and you may well wish to turn back now. We will not hold it against you - but any aid you give is welcome."

Looking back at the others, he draws his weapon, and spins it about before him. "The hour is upon us, and blackness fills the sky. Let us strike."


---


The man laughed at Arcon. "Join you? Fool!"

His voice made Arcon tremble again, and he felt power and pain rush through him, dropping him to his knees as a hoarse cry was ripped from his throat. Visions flashed before his eyes, visions of a dark and shadowy land - the land of death he had glimpsed before his soul had been forcibly brought back.

As the pain raged, he felt the stranger looking through his mind, as though a great eye pierced his thoughts and all he knew. Eventually, the eye withdrew, and he fell the the ground as the pain left him.

"So, it seems Malagar has finally turned. Finally will I be rid of him, though I am displeased it seems my Wolf has turned on me. I shall see to that - as well, you shall see to it for me."

Arcon staggered back to his feet, and stopped in shock. The pain that had been in his limbs before was gone, and indeed, he felt as though he had been reborn stronger and faster than before. What had this stranger done to him??

The man waved his hand and muttered an arcane word, and a dark mist began to appear before him, slowly coalescing into a massive and feral wolf with gleaming red eyes and snarling jaws.

"I know you now, Arcon the Orc-hater. Let Racamorn bear you to where your foes now go to fight, and your drake shall join you there. Serve me well, for I am the greatest Luitenant of the dark lord who shall soon rule over all."

Darkness seemed to wrap in upon the man, and he was suddenly no longer there. In the clearing, Arcon was left alone with the massive wolf, and his own newfound strength. His senses were greater to - he could see the dim shapes of wolves circling the clearing, but they now kept their distance, fearing the dark majesty of his new companion. He smiled in pleasure, and stepped forward, and the wolf, Racamorn, lowered its back as he climbed upon it. While it would be of great pleasure to now hunt the wolves around him, he knew his true enemies awaited him, and he could achieve his vengeance.

----

Shelina scurried through the darkness, knowing she was drawing closer to her goal, when a dark form appeared out of the shadows beside her. She spun, drawing her blade, before she recognized Sandor. Grim eyed, he raised an eyebrow at her drawn weapon, and nodded.

"If you wish my help, I am here. I believe the band you hunt is, in turn, hunting my men, so it is in my interests to certainly help you as well."

Tessar
09-28-2001, 04:18 PM
drawing his elvish dagger the boy said "i wont turn back. if i did i would think less of my self for leaving when my help was needed.
i have littel skill with this blade but i will use it as best i can"

still there was a slight trimmer in his voice and he didn't look as confident as he was trying to make him self look but still he was determined.

Tessar
09-28-2001, 04:20 PM
OCC* thanks mathron.

Selwythe
09-28-2001, 11:33 PM
Arcon rode the wolf and sped away in a direction he did not know. His heart burned with rage. His arm trembled with bloodlust. His eyes shone with a piercing glance. Yet in his fury, he thought a little of this man. He was just another Vardor, and he doubted his intentions, but the enemy of his enemy was a temporary ally. And deep in him, a flame of disgust burned.

He sped along the trees with unbelievable speed and stealth. He rose the horn once more to his lips and blew a long note and a speck appeared in the sky, sign of the drake which thought he was dead.

Racamorn suddenly stopped. He dismounted and stared long at the red eyes of the hell hound. This was not an ordinary wolf, he thought, not the wolves who were my hunting companions in the woods, not the wolves who attacked me, this was a bloodthirsty hound from the Hells of Iron deep in the north.

No, he closed his eyes, he had seen this wolf before.

Clashes of steel, men shouting in battle cries, women desperately running, many with infants clasped in their arms.

He heard the rustling of trees to his right and knew two people were hurrying along. He knew one weighed heavier than the other, presumably by heavy armour. Yes, this wolf had served him well, but did it always?

Wolves howled in the air as they smelled blood. A Wolf-Rider with a black cape was rampaging, killing civilians. Fire burned unquenchable, houses broke asunder. The Wolf-Rider suddenly stopped and stared, straight at...NO! Darkness radiated from him and his iron armour!

The wolf turned to leave.

The Wolf-Rider bore down on him, a black scimitar shining black in the twilight. His life was going to end, but a fair woman suddenly jumped on him and felled him from the wolf onto the ground, where she tussled uselessly with him. He slashed at her and she fell limp

But still the wolf bore down on...a knife! A knife! How do you use it? Who cares, just throw it! Throw it!

The wolf leaped, its mouth open, revealing its jaws in alarming distance, but a knife flew to meet it, more thrown from talent than luck. The wolf fell back, howling painedly at the knife wedged in its mouth.

"RUN!" the woman who sacrified herself screamed hoarsely at him. "Please, Valar, bless my son for his father was not..."

He gave a loud battle-cry, not caring if his two enemies heard him. He unsheathed his poison-tipped sword and drove it deep into Racamorn's hide. The wolf howled in pain in a familiar manner and kicked him away. It staggered a little before falling, giving the last chilling howl of its life.

Then Arcon picked himself up and went over. He withdrew his sword buried in the wolf's insides and examined the wolf.

At the roof of its mouth was a hole.

He stood up and ran noiselessly towards the footsteps. He did not care what his benefactor thought of this, he had grown to distrust servants of the Dark Lord, for they possessed his skill in stabbing the back. He had just stabbed the back of Racamorn

Lief Erikson
09-29-2001, 02:55 AM
*Seems all the wolves are here for is getting beaten up.*

Sandor turned his head slightly as he realized that the pair were not alone.

"Good to have you back," Shelina said, lowering the dagger, "But please don't creep up on me again, you startled me."

"Who is this?" Sandor asked, motioning to the lithe black form behind Shelina.

"Another assistant. It is a good tracker and will lead us directly to Orpholin, and the rest of the company. It is called a Nrake, although doubtless the name means nothing to you."

Sandor and the Nrake studied each other in silence for a moment before Sandor slowly shook his head. "No, no I don't believe I have ever heard of it. But it makes little difference. Lead on, Nrake."

The creature eyed Sandor for a moment longer before turning its scaly body and picking up the pace again deeper into the forest.

But as the wolf howls farther away grew louder, the Nrake began to slow, crouching and sniffling, checking the wind continuously before moving on. Its black armor plating did not glint from the moonlight and it crouched lower still into the tall grasses, one hand touching its sword hilt.

"Not far now," it rasped. "There," it pointed ahead.





Steward fingered the weapon. Yes, perhaps he could do it justice. He had been good, once, although he had used the bow more recently than he'd used one of these.

But no, he wouldn't go there. Painful memories still lurked whenever he went back to his past.

The battle at hand was what was important. He could help some, but he doubted he could take two at once anymore. Not unless much of his old training came back. Even though he'd been constantly travelling for years, he had grown more soft than he'd used to be. And weaker.

Still . . .

He swung the blade in the air, and the motion was precise. Yes, he could still do some harm. And perhaps it was his day to die. His last fight. Save Vardor the nuisance of having to track him down any longer, and possibly save himself a great deal of pain that would come if he was caught.

Perhaps that was the way it would go and perhaps not. But he would fight hard, when it came to it.





A shadow slipped over the ground, dodging nimbly to and fro among the tents, laughing silently to itself. "This is the place," it muttered. "Stupid sentries never will wake from this sleep. And things are not over yet, oh no, we still have much to do before all is over."

"Who are you, what's your rank?" asked an officer who stepped around a tent.

He gurgled in surprise as Erenfor's dagger found his throat. Erenfor laughed silently to himself again. "I am the angel of death come down on this camp. Revenge is mine. The One Again movement shall be revenged tonight."

Erenfor left the dagger in the man's throat and took his sword instead.

Madness clouded his brain, yet a part of it ticked again into motion. The madness leapt into the nearest tent and the elf slashed the inhabitant to pieces. Slicing a partition of the tent fabric away, the elf leapt out again and moved to the next tent. Screams rent the air, but the orcish guards that rushed Erenfor were quickly sliced apart, finding themselves outmatched by their opponent.

"I am a warrior of Doriath! None can stand against me!"

His insane screams of laughter was a strange accompanyment to the screams of pain coming from those who died at the end of his blade.

Selwythe
09-29-2001, 05:59 AM
The mad elf's screams were checked as he froze, glaring at the man who just stepped out of the next tent. He was stooped and wore a black cloak, and looked human but had an Orcish air around him. He unsheathed his black sword.

"Mad elf...I never thought you would come this far. I took flight from the inn to be near my allies, and yet you and your foolish companions come forth. BEGONE from the camp which I am temporarily in charge of!"

Then the man assumed a combat stance. He had seen this elf fight before, in a clearing in the woods days ago against a Dark Elf, and he was aware of his prowess, if the dead orcs and men around him were not already proof. And he had seen him too years ago, when his name was notorious and vile.

Erenfor stared at him, his madness suddenly pacified but flared again in anarchy.

"Folstan," he named the man and spat, "traitor of the One Again movement. Yes, I remember. You betrayed the location of the Edain resistance in Hisilome. This shall be blood well spilt."

Then Erenfor leapt at him with his sword and the clash of steel upon steel resounded throughout the clearing.

*Not too sure if I got Hisilome correct. It was used in HoME for the land near Dor-Lomin and was Elvish but I can't remember what they changed it to in Silmarillion.*

Irid al'Menie
09-29-2001, 10:09 AM
"He's here!" Irid hissed, her teeth visible in a snarl. She ordered the pack gathered around Arcon, always following him, to try and stop him from coming here. But if he tried to kill, they had to let him go. They only had to circle around him. The pack of wolves here with her ran forward the moment Tal gave the signal. One of the sentries died without knowing what happened. His last vision was that of wolves running towards him. Another sentrie had already drawn his sword, and wanted to call, but he didn't get a change to do so. Then they moved deeper into the camp.

Tessar
09-29-2001, 10:30 AM
tessar held back, he didnt want to fight but knew he had too. when suddenly from behined him he hurd a twig snap he wheld around and saw a hidden ork (OCC* it is orks right?) tessar was to scared to move for a moment but when the ork lept at him he jumpt up realy high in the air using some of his levitat skill. he ment to come down on the orks back and stab him but as soon as he landed he was swiped off and slamed in to a tree. he held back a screem of pain *why hasent the ork set up a cry yet?* he wanderd *well if hes not telling ehter am i* he got back up and after geting slamed around a bit he decided to throw caushen to the wind *if non of my freands can help me then i have to do sompthing brfor i get killed!* summoning up all of his strength eh tryed to make a fireball. but he couldent *IM ABOUT TO BE KILED BECAUS OF A LACK OF MAGIC EXPERENC* he thought in a panic

the orc grabbed him.

OCC* ok now tings are getting good! a littel help anyone?

Irid al'Menie
09-29-2001, 10:54 AM
Irid heard a scream and swirled around. The elvenboy was getting crushed by a very ugly orc. She lept forward, and cut on of the arms off from the orc. The orc was in pain, but didn't release the boy yet.

"Oh, come on. You're big, fat and ugly, and it's not nice to crush little boys!"

With these words she stabs her sword through his side. He falls down, dragging the boy with him. But he falls backwards, and the boy lands right on him.

"Well, lad. You might want to take some cover. It's very brave of you to be willing to fight, but i don't think you have enough experience with your little toy." She says, pointing to the dagger. "We can't save you every time one of these fellows comes out to get you."

She turns around and sees Tal surrounded by a bunch of orcs.

"Great, Operation Save number two."

She asks the wolves to take care of two of them, and attacks another one. Two orcs immediatly turn to her. She knows two fighters usually just are trouble for both eachother. She repels one of the attackers, who then stands right in front of the other one just striking with his sword. This means the end of one of them. The other is taken care of in a moment. Then a band of obscure looking men comes towards her.

"You know," she says to Tal, "They really don't know how to wash themselves."

She leaps in their middle, the wolves surround them. She starts decapitating some of them, but the others react almost immediatly, and she gets a cut in the arm.

Selwythe
09-29-2001, 11:56 AM
*Um, my "enemies" are Shelina and Grim, not Irid and Tal. The two-faced whore is Shelina, the iron man is Grim. And to make this briefer, let's just say Arcon followed them two and the Nrake after killing Ram.*

*Sorry about the confusion, thought it would be obvious if I said that the man was clad in iron but I guess the hint was too subtle.*

Irid al'Menie
09-29-2001, 12:03 PM
*ok, sure, but 'my' wolves still gonna hold you up a little. And you are my enemy, that's the reason i send those wolves.*

Tessar
09-29-2001, 12:05 PM
tessar was mad with him self. *im NOT going back. that was just a fluke*

Lief Erikson
09-29-2001, 02:59 PM
*Selwyth, I think you have some of your history a little mixed up. For one, Folstan had nothing at all to do with the One Again Movement, he probably doesn't even know of its existence. For two, Erenfor didn't show any prowess when fighting with Angar, he got beaten within seconds of his wild attack. Although it can be shown that he's a good fighter from the bodies, that is true. But I don't think Erenfor will even recognize Folstan.*


Erenfor dodged in and out, stabbing swiftly. He didn't know who this ogre of a man was, but frankly he hardly cared. The battle light flared in his eyes, but he was not so skilled now as he'd used to be. Occasionally the madness blotted out his moves, causing skillful strategy to turn into wild blows. But Folstan was no fighter, not at heart.

He turned suddenly and ran, and Erenfor didn't pursue. He simply stood among the corpses and laughed mockingly after the retreating figure.

He stood there for several long moments more, still laughing. The sounds of battle were increasing from behind, at the front of the action where the company was attacking. Company, what company? Whoever it was was on his side, he was sure of that much.

He took a few slow steps toward the action, then turned around again, frowning and shaking his head. No, let them fight their puny wars, it was for him to release the slaves.

The hint of a plan formed in his maddened brain. "How long has it been since I thought of a plan? Three years? Four?" He laughed insanely as he reached the cages in which the prisoners were kept. "No, it was yesterday. Yesterday, when I slew Grim Wolf and Vardor."

He laughed again as he undid the locks of the cage doors. "Strike them from behind, warriors of Doriath. They cannot fight an attack from both sides."

"We aren't warriors," one of the confused slaves told him.

"I know what you are," Erenfor snapped. "Now get to the front. Pick up whatever weapons you can find, but the battle's out there!"

Selwythe
09-29-2001, 11:31 PM
*Uh, copied this out of Tater's character bio.
History: Folstan's past is mysterious and shrouded, and will not be disclosed at the present time*

Lief Erikson
09-30-2001, 02:02 AM
*Okay, but I'd prefer it if you didn't make that history involve my characters too. Being drastically limited and having cut down my former cast of thousands, I've had to pack quite a bit into each of the ones I've been allowed. So to me, their histories are already written out.

The One Again Movement is also completely thought through, and Folstan wasn't involved in it. Unless he was a mere soldier at the time. In which case he certainly wasn't in any position to betray the movement, or even know of its existence until he was ordered to help put it down.*

Mathron
09-30-2001, 03:09 AM
Tal saw one of the orcs circling him fall to wolves, but the others drew closer, and two short, vicious fighters had joined them - dwarves whose hearts were only open to the gold given by the dark lord and his servants.

One of them took a low swipe with his weapon, a vicious scythe, and Tal barely jumped over it - leaving himself open to the others strike with a club that knocked him back.

Suddenly, though shouts rose in the distance, and he heard words to harden his heart. "The slaves are escaping!"

El'nela!

As the scythe swing back at him, he knocked the end of it aside, and slammed his blade home into its wielder. With his other hand, he flipped it up into the three orcs charging him, and spun into the other dwarf, cutting him down before he could recover from his partner's fall.

The orcs finally got through, but now Tal was raging, his soul burning with a cold determination and fire. Soon, all lay on the floor, and he drove farther into the camp.


----


(OOC: Assuming, as these are his enemies, that Arcon did not approach and speak with Sandor or Shelina, and is still stalking them.)


Sandor suddenly stopped, looking into the trees. They could see the camp, now, in the distance, and hear the sounds of battle ringing out. That was not why he paused - a bulky, looming shape stepped out of the trees.

Shelina froze, her hand dropping to her weapon. The figure was massive, nearly 8 feet tall, and had a leering, cruel face. One eye spun, looking at nothing in particular, while the other was cold and hard. In one hand, he held a large metal club.

"Kur," Sandor exclaimed, with both recognition and surprise, "What are you doing here? The camp is under attack, and I left you in charge."

Lowering his weapon, the half ogre stepped closer. "Well, suh, so it seems..."

Suddenly, with speed belying his strength, his club slammed into Sandor before the Wolf could draw his weapon, and knocked him backwards into a tree. Watching and hiding, Arcon frowned - he wanted revenge, but wanted to deliver it himself.

Kur's voice rang out. "Ya see, the bosses thought ye'd done enuf. Always leaving th' camp, and bein' careless. Some as think ye simply ignored that slave revolt a while back, if not for th' help of a boss man. And now we hear ya plannin' treason. Ye gone weak and soft, so I git to do ya in, and th' camp be Kur's band now!"

Sandor rose back to his feet, and spoke softly, "Girl, if ye wish to finish your business, see to it now. I'll deal with this one. As for you, Kur, I shall show you the meaning of strength."

Shelina glanced back and forth, and then took off towards the camp. She did not have the time for private affairs if she wished to please her master. In the darkness, Arcon followered her, aware of his own stalkers, the wolves of Irid's pack.

As they left, Grim Wolf grew cold and still, his blade gleaming in his hand. Kur, chuckling, stepped closer, swinging his club.

"Ah used t' fear ya, hur, but now Ah know ye just as much a weak 'ooman like t'others. Kur will show ya how strong he is!"

The club whistled at the Wolf, who easily flew under it. It slammed into a small tree, snapping the trunk and sending splinters flying. The Wolf, meanwhile, slid around Kur as the half-ogre quickly turned, his club sinking into the ground as Sandor jumped back.

"Do you know the first target a wolf goes for, Kur?"

The mercenary grunted, and charged forward - and dropped to the ground, bewildered, as his legs stopped supporting him. He glanced back to see the small cut along the back of his leg, and looked back at Grim Wolf - to see a blade hovering right above his head.

"I guess not." Kur barely had time to register the word's meanings before the blade sank deep, and ended his life.


---


Far to the north, beneath cold mountains and buried in dark shadows, in corridors lit by dank and musty torches that lined the walls, a man sauntered across the hallways.

Malagar planned to pick up the few items he left here, and quickly take himself away from this doomed dungeon. For one of the few times in his life, his plans would not go as he wished them.

As he walked down one slightly larger corridor - though with no real side doors or ways - he suddenly sensed two presences behind him. He glanced back, to see two large, bulky shapes filling the corridor behind him - shapes of darkness, lit only by the blades of flame held in their hands.

Instantly glancing back forward, two more appeared in front of him, leaving no doubt to his situation. He hurled himself into the shadows lining the wall - and, to his surprise, bounced back, as the darkness denied him entry. At the end of the corridor, a handsome figure materialized.

"Going somewhere, Malagar?"

Mal looked at the man with a smile, and responded calmly, "I go where I go on our lord's bidding, and he would be most upset if you detained me."

A chilling laugh left the other. "I think not. I told him of your treason, and he is most upset with you."

Mal began to feel slightly ill. "I know not what lies you speak of, though perhaps you merely misunderstood my ploys to deal with our foes..."

"Your silver tongue won't save you now. It will be to the pits with you, and we shall carve your power from you as we carve your flesh off your back. Enjoy being able to speak while you still can!"

Before the sentence finished, Mal dashed forward, a dark blade appearing in his hand almost faster than thought. One of the shapes before him lunger, and he flipped up and over its blade, his own weapon slicing along its side. As the Balrog gave a shriek, and dropped to the ground with a cry of pure pain, Mal almost felt he would get away.

Then two whips caught his back legs, dropping him to the ground. As he swiped at the balrog before him, another blade caught his own, and knocked it aside, where it fell to the floor beside the writhing body of the wounded balrog - which shriveled as shadows snaked across it and consumed its form.

Mal looked up into the face of the handsome man, who smiled darkly. "Killing one of our lord's great minions will cost you dearly, and only seals your fate, Shadowmaster."

As the balrogs grabbed him and lifted him to his feet, he smiled back, glaring darkly at the other man. "You may have me in your power now, Sauron, but you'll be a long time waiting if you expect to make me scream."

Sauron smiled back. "You'll be in our care for a long, long time, and, in the end, we will break even you. For now, I will make sure your little friend is dealt with."

The sorcerer turned his back, and vanished away as Mal tried to lunge forward and out of the balrog's grasp. As he vanished, Mal heard him recite the last words of a spell - and as he felt it settle on him, consciousness fled away into a long, silent, blackness.

Tessar
09-30-2001, 03:13 PM
tessar saw a dwarf *that must be dain* he thought the boy ran towards the evil dwarf not knowing it was not dain. "dani!" he called as he drew near. dain saw him running towards the evil dwarf "NO! THATS NOT ME!!" he yelled but it was to late the boy alredy stoode by the dwarf. he turned around confused at hearing dains voice behined him, "die thou evil elf!" yelled the dwarf swinging at him. tessar just maneged to get below the swing in time then as he came up he did a spining kick which cout the dwarf in the neck (it was a tall dwarf ;) ) and the dwarf was suprised at how hard it was. tessar maneged to get a bit of a fireball and threw it at the dwarf but all it did was make the dwarf madder. tessar quickly cast a simple thunder spell and zaped the dwarf who was rather shocked (get it? :D ) whill the dwarf was still to shocked to move (hehe) tessar unsheathed his blade and knoked the dwarf out with the handle. *IM not going to kill him* he thought *ill let the others do that*

OCC* you may have notesed that whill im making him do magic its not very powerful. is this ok?

Mathron
09-30-2001, 05:16 PM
OOC: Sure, it seems to be working fine. :)

Selwythe
10-01-2001, 05:29 AM
*Sorry if I interfered in your storylines in any way. Of course he will be a bit player, most likely a bad guy who was a spy in the movement. Me, I prefer to think of unclear and non-concrete storylines (drafts) so that I can twist them this way and that when they cannot be implemented due to others' postings and their interference in mine and my interference in others, and have done so numerous times earlier, so I apologise for the clash. I prefer to do this as the other way will seem to me more like writing a story on my own ;)*

*Don't worry, I'm sure Folstan won't affect what you plan. He's a bit player, extra. What I planned for my characters is jeopardised seriously too, I guess I'll have to change the rough sketch again, sigh.*

Selwythe
10-01-2001, 05:41 AM
Arcon crept noiselessly after Shelina, a blowpipe wedged in his mouth. He withdrew a dart from his pouch and loaded it. Its green tip showed that this dart, unlike the one he had shot her with days ago, was designed to kill.

---------------------------

Folstan ran into the woods, panting desperately for breath. Sandor had left Kur in charge and Kur in turn had temporarily entrusted the camp to his care to look for Sandor and within an hour, he had lost it. He needed reinforcements, he needed Kur, he needed Sandor.

"The slaves are escaping!"

He shuddered.

Lief Erikson
10-02-2001, 10:40 PM
Steward staggered backward, sweat running down his forehead. His bony hands ached as he held the sword hilt and he wished for the hundredth time that the thing had a better grip. It had an excellent blade and was well balanced, but the it slid around in sweaty hands. Maybe dwarvish hands had natural assets to holding such a weapon.

He snorted a ragged laugh through weazes. Or maybe this was simply the reason why they usually used axes.

He sat down on a fallen log to catch his breath. Tal, Angar and Irid seemed to be doing well enough without him anyway. Especially now that these slaves were throwing themselves at the enemy from behind. There was something else going on, further within the camp which was disrupting them and distracting their attention.






Something in the camp is certainly disrupting the old man's attention, the Nrake thought as it moved closer, else it would notice him if he was so good a tracker as Shelina claimed. Shelina and he were nearly reached their target, he could tell by the smell. Shelina was becoming more anxious, but she had little reason. The man was not the best of fighters, that was obvious. He was bone weary and old. The Nrake could have taken fifty of them himself.

But his keen senses soon detected the scent of orcish blood on the old man's weapon. Perhaps the man's appearance belied his actual skills.

Uncertainty filtered slowly into the Nrake, but it reached for a black cord looped around its belt and tied the end into a tight knot. A thick one too, about the size of a clenched fist.






Fool woman, staring at the camp, Arcon thought as he edged closer into the brush. Fool Vardor, to take such a person as an agent. I'll show them all.

Memory and hate twisted his mind as he raised the blowpipe.






The Nrake suddenly realized, and everything happened at once. The old man was a trap, and they'd walked into it like blind fools!

His sense of smell detected Arcon behind them, even up to the very scent of the poison on the weapon and the Nrake twisted his new weapon, flailing out with the cord at the scent.

The knotted cord caught Arcon full in the face, nearly causing him to choke on his own dart. He spat it out quickly, hoping not to have been infected by the poison. The blowpipe disappeared in the scrub of the bushes and Arcon raised his hand to his head, cursing.

Steward twisted around, his sword out again. What was going on? The mad elf, perhaps?

He just had time to see the shape of a figure leap aside from behind a tree and a muffled yelp. The moonlight glinted off of drawn metal and he raised his own blade. "Who are you!" he called out.





Arcon tasted blood running down from his lip. But for the most part, the blow would probably simply leave a bad bruise.

His sword was now in his hand and he was preparing to go out and butcher the woman. The cursed lass had hit him! With a rope!

He leapt out from behind the tree, rushing in the location he'd heard the yelp of fear come from. That voice however . . . that had not been Shelina. Must have been one of the company.

He leapt behind another tree, glaring through the darkness for the female. He would not announce his position with words, though, however much he wanted her to be aware of who it was who was killing her.

Tessar
10-03-2001, 12:08 AM
Liefffffffffff!!!! you ALWAYS forget me!!!:mad: :(
oh well (sniff) its not so bad (sniff sniff) im ust to it from you (sob)
lol but no really c'mon do you ignore me on perpuse or not?:confused:

Lief Erikson
10-03-2001, 02:19 AM
*(Looks down imperiously) I'm still mad at you for turning my favorite mad elf into a strangling villain. (Raises his nose into the air, where the birds fly and more exalted beings lurk)

I forget only those who do not concern me. :p *

Selwythe
10-03-2001, 07:04 AM
Folstan hurriedly shuffled, his head lowered to the ground. Therefore did he not see Steward until it was too late and when he did, he jumped back in horror. He knew right away that he was definitely not his servant, more probably one of the attackers.

But he saw the frail frame of this old man and his fatigue and his perverse mind was oiled again. He unsheathed his ferociously black sword, an unfitting weapon for him, and grinned sinisterly.

"Aye, old one. Pardon me for it is ever the sickly and old who are the casualties of war. Make way for the young and reckless to earn..."

The old man found a good grip of his sword in his anger and struck at Folstan. Folstan brought his sword up to parry it, but the sheer venom of that blow left him lying on the ground, with a cut and shocked eyes.

"Aye! Mercy mercy! I am naught but a servant in this uncouth camp, forced therein by threats and blackmail," he yelped shrilly like an injured wolf.

The old man looked disapprovingly at him. He turned around and walked towards the camp. Folstan, seeing his opportunity, got up and retrieved his sword which he had dropped. He ran at the old man. He saw the danger coming, but his reflexes had slowed along with age and he found himself unable to avoid the blow.

But it never hit him. A dart suddenly materialised from a tree and struck Folstan's arm, forcing him to drop his sword mid-stroke. A green-robed man, almost invisible in the foliage of the forest, jumped down and ran to Folstan. He grabbed his neck and withdrew the dart before pointing it threateningly at Folstan. A drop of poison trickled from the dart onto his skin, causing him searing pain.

"It's you," Arcon stared surprisedly at Folstan, the man with unfriendly motives whom he had chased away from the inn at Edlynn.

Arcon regained his composure and tightened his hold on his neck.

"Speak now, lest your life ends abrupt. Where is Shelina?"

"Who?!"

"Shelina! Do not deceive me, for you know her!"

"Who's Shelina? Him?"

Folstan pointed to a puzzled Steward. Arcon turned around and Folstan made a run for it.

Arcon glanced impatiently at the figure of Folstan. This meddler had taken up too much of his time. Shelina had to be putting more and more distance between him and her.

He turned to leave but Steward stopped him.

"May I know the name of he who saved me from a fatal blow?"

Arcon turned momentarily and stared coldly. He turned and sped into the forest and was quickly cloaked in its foliage. Shelina was the utmost hate in his mind and he had too an ally to counter her servant which had attacked him: a speck grew larger in the sky.

Tessar
10-03-2001, 09:09 AM
ohhhhhhh you liked that wacko sick-in-the-head-mad elf?

oh I'm sooooooooooo sorry:rolleyes: FINE!!! IGNORE ME!!!! SEE IF I CARE!!!!!!! (sob) lol

ok look I'm sorry i messed up you little elfy thing now will you please STOP IGNORING ME??????

Tesseract12

Lief Erikson
10-03-2001, 10:25 AM
*Hey, I wasn't 100% serious, and I haven't been ignoring you on purpose.

It's just that I usually create highly developed plots which take quite some time to unravel. Your character so far has avoided becoming seriously linked with them and he doesn't really concern my characters yet. Let's see, which characters have I shown so far?

Steward: Perhaps he could show the boy some interest, but right now hardly seems the time.
Vardor: Hardly likely to pay the boy any attention whatsoever.
Shelina: Also unlikely, she's too concerned with her mission to befriend an elf boy. Besides, at present she isn't even a member of the company.
Erenfor: He's only interested in two people right now, Vardor and El'nela.

Oh, Selwyth, could you remind me of something? I forget why Arcon is so angry at Shelina.*


He's after Shelina, Steward thought in surprise as he moved away from the forest. Another surprise . . . What would the woman be doing out here? Hunting him?

He touched his sword hilt. It was the most likely possibility.

He shook his head sadly as he returned to the camp. That it had come to this was grieving. She had been such a beautiful child, so friendly and cheerful. For all to have come to this.

This happens where the Dark Lord's hand stretches out to touch the weak.

He stepped over bodies and listened to the rage of the battle now taking place near the center of the camp. That was where it raged hottest, at any rate. There were at least half a dozen bodies strewn over the ground here, and he'd gladly wager there were more further in.

He wiped his own sword blade on the jerkin of a dead orc and hesitated. Reaching down, he pulled a black scarf from around the throat of the same orc and laid it out on his hand. Then, he closed it over the sword hilt. There, now that was one problem solved. Perhaps now it was time to return to the fray. He still had skill in these weary bones, if not the strength anymore, and he thought could well be a match for any one orc. Especially since his appearance was against him. He'd long learned to take any advantage he could in the battlefield. This one would strain all skill to its limits, however.






The Nrake stared off into the trees, looking for Arcon. He'd been careless enough to let his opponent see him; it would have been better if he thought himself against the girl alone.

He breathed in several long breaths, scenting the air carefully. Now that he'd already recieved a whiff of Arcon's scent, he could track the man anywhere. Right now, however, he wasn't using those skills to hunt but to evade.

"Come, it is safe now," he told Shelina. She crouched low in the bushes behind him, but she trusted his judgement. Both stood and he edged carefully through the wood, moving from tree to tree with graceful ease.

All was quiet, and Arcon still was far enough away.

Soon, they reached the edge of the camp. For a moment he considered going back into the forest to kill Arcon, it was never good to leave an enemy at your back, but he discarded the idea. They were closer now than they'd been in a long time to their quarry and the scent of him was too strong on his nostrils. We may live to pay for the mistake, he thought to himself grimly, but if we're going to make it we'd best take the momentary advantage it gives.

They ran across the open grass swiftly, ducking into the camp and hiding behind a tent. This would take the place of the trees, he decided as he continued his hunt. Which steadily drew closer to the battle's center, he realized worriedly.

Mathron
10-03-2001, 10:31 AM
"Where is she?" bellowed Tal through the camp, "By Melkor's black heart, where is El'nela!?" The mercenaries he screamed at scrambled to get out of his way, for in his fury, he fought like a man possessed, ignoring any wounds and ever charging the foe. He cornered one of them, a deep eyed short man, and slapped the man's weapon away. Tal's blade touched the man's throat, as the elf asked, "Where is my sister!?!?"

The man stuttered in fear and confusion, before losing his life.

Tal spun about, looking for more foes. He saw more running from him, trying to flee the camp, and Tal, and the wolves, and the disaster the mercenaries faced this day. Breathing heavily, eyes wide and filled with rage, he crashed through the camp, screaming his question as he ran.

"She isn't here, lad."

He turned at the voice, weapon raised, till he saw he faced only an old elven woman. He stared at for a moment, before he realized he knew her name - Shaerin, an elf from his village. Another captive. The elder elf stared back at him with calm eyes.

"What?"

"They took her away. She tried to get us free, but was caught, along with some others, and sent to prisons. I don't know where, Tal.... I'm sorry."


-----


Tessar ran through the village, clutching his knife, and trying to find orcs to fight. He could kill them without mercy, but he didn't want to have to strike down a human, or face one of the evil dwarves again. He saw wolves running amidst the tents, and then nearly stumbled over a short, burly form.

He lifted his knife before he recognized Dain. "There you be, boy," said the dwarf, "We be almost done with this lot. See if ye can find the others, and how they fare."

Tessar nodded, quickly, and ran off again.

Dain turned, and saw Erenfor staring at him with a strange grin on his face.

"I've won," said the mad elf, cackling, "I've freed the slaves!"

The dwarf slowly nodded, and said, "Our foes here have fallen... put down your blade, friend."

Erenfor stared back at him, looking almost as if he didn't understand, and Dain waited to see what he would do.


---


Sandor stalked through the bushes, angry and confused. He had, if not trusted Kur, trusted the position he had in the camp, and in his service to his superiors. He had never questioned his missions, nor failed at his tasks. So why had they, apparently, sided with Kur against him?

A commotion in the bush ahead cut off his stream of thought. Drawing his blade, he blended into the trees and crept closer. The girl, Shelina, was facing off the man... that Mal had left to die? Not only was it the same man, but he was healed, somehow, and crouched over another, fallen figure - Folstan, one of the band's captains. An old man stood in the clearing as well, a short sword in his hand, looking back and forth at the other two in puzzlement, and a strange lizard creature stood there, as well.

Sandor frowned. He didn't know who to trust anymore. The strangely healed man was surely his foe, after having been left to die. The girl and Folstan, he had worked with before - but it seemed he was no longer in the good graces of Melkor's forces, and that would set him against them, however much he didn't wish to fight them. And the other two were a mystery, though he didn't like the look of the strange creature.

He glanced up, on instinct, and saw a form circling above, and slowly drifting downward. A drake. A small one, but dangerous indeed. Had it been sent after him? As he wondered, his blade quivered, and he quickly ran up into the top of the tree he hid behind. When the drake came down searching for him, he would be waiting.

Tessar
10-03-2001, 10:45 AM
Oh you were kidding? :o

okeday yousa point well takin ;)

Lief Erikson
10-03-2001, 10:58 AM
"The blade never falls," Erenfor gibbered, "Not until the last of them is dead, and there is still one more to fall. Vardor. Kill him, and peace will take us all. He is the only one who knows where El'nela is, if she's alive, and we have to kill him now. As soon as we can. Question the slaves and find out which direction they were going. The hunt never ends!"

He pushed the blade under his belt and tapped the hilt with his hand. "There is much left to do," he said in a voice which sounded almost sane. "We are only people, yet it is upon ordinary people that the greatest tasks in the world come upon, more often then not."

Tessar
10-03-2001, 11:23 AM
The elf boy was looking for the others. he didnt see anyone exept some dead men, dwarfes, and an ork or two. he thought that he saw a man who looked like Tal sitting against a tree *finaly some one* he thought he ran up to the man and what he saw made him feel sick, the man had been sliced in the stomac and his insideds were spilled out on the ground. the elf boy could not help him self, he puked. as he stummbled away a few moments later he thought to him self *at least that wasent tal*
he saw Lief (i mean stewert):) lol and started walking twards him.

Selwythe
10-05-2001, 05:33 AM
*Hey hey wait a minute. In mine, I said that Shelina and Nrake cornered Orph...oops Steward and Arcon. In Lief's, he said Shelina and Nrake went off to find the camp. In Mathron's, he built on my version but he mentioned that Grim had not seen Nrake before when Lief stated earlier that Grim met Nrake and stayed to fight the 8-footer. And in Mathron's Folstan was still there while in mine, Folstan had already escaped.*

*Ahem, I think we need to link it together a bit.*

*And Lief, Arcon is angry at Shelina, Grim and Malagar because when he was dying, he remembered seeing them staring down at him, shaking their heads, spitting in his face (and infecting his wounds) and walking away.

Tessar
10-05-2001, 09:55 AM
OH MY GOSH!!!! LIEF IS A ELVIN LORD!!!!!!!! AAA!! WHY DIDNT ANYONE TELL ME?! (bows down)

hehe sorry about that. but im trying to suck-up to the peeps in power. lol im just being silly.

Lief Erikson
10-05-2001, 10:17 AM
*I don't remember the Nrake fighting anybody, although it's true Grim did see him earlier on. Although Grim might not have reckognized him in the darkness.

Hey, instead of going back and editing all these posts, let's just attribute any lacking of clarity to the extremely bad fighting conditions that everyone is working under.*

Steward glanced up as Tessar walked up to him. "What's up, boy?" he asked as he sharpened the sword. "Tal sounded a little angry and I didn't want to head in there and confront him. He's got this girl El'nela back, so what's troubling him now?"

Tessar
10-05-2001, 10:31 AM
"Your guess is as good as mine" said the elf boy "that was quite a bloody battel wasent it?" he asked stewart.

Mathron
10-05-2001, 11:03 AM
OOC: Ok, Sandor did see the Nrake (which I forgot), but the Nrake likely was cloaked, etc, so as to be unrecognizable. Folstan was making a run for it, but not definably gone. And part of the confusion seems to be that Lief edited his latest big post the same time I was posting mine, which seems to have thrown things off a bit. But it all seems cohesive now, if they have all just encountered each other in one big clearing.

Selwythe
10-05-2001, 01:23 PM
Arcon sped through the forest, its thick undergrowth unable to hinder him. His feet padded noiselessly on the ground as he ran towards the sounds of battle. Shelina had to be headed there, and if she did not, there was naught he could do to track her anyway.

He was sure now that of the footfalls he had heard earlier, that of Shelina and the iron-clad man who neglected him, none of their owners would possess the skill to flick that rope with such dexterity and accuracy at him. They had a helper, and his unawarness of its tracks nerved him a little.

He continued in that direction, careful to avoid participants of the battle. He finally came out into a large clearing full of tents and paused furtively. They could hide enemies. Then he froze. He heard the sound of a creeping sound, stealthy but failing in this purpose. He pricked his ears and caught the faint sound of clinking iron.

*I am afraid I have to stop here, too confused. The follower is Grim. If I understand correctly, Shelina and Nrake are hiding near the tents for...um?*

Mathron
10-05-2001, 04:12 PM
OOC: Ok... apparently we can't go the way I thought things were heading. Out of curiousity, if the group did all encounter each other (as, a couple of posts back, they did), why did they all split up? I will edit mine, if you guys wish it to, but think we should definably settle things before posting further stuff, as Arcon's last actions just confuse things more. :(

Lief Erikson
10-05-2001, 09:43 PM
*If we're going to discuss this thing, let's do it in the discussion forum then. Primarily I think we need to simply decide where everyone is now and what their motives are, although perhaps some discussion as to how everyone got there will help.*

Lief Erikson
10-09-2001, 10:40 AM
Steward went back to polishing the sword. "It was. Although there is something else going on behind the scenes, I have a feeling. And I just happened to stumble into it a moment ago." He raised two fingers and pointed in the direction of the wood. "Back there, I stumbled into a battle of sorts between two sides. Which side either one is on I know not, but I doubt that either of them are either on ours or the orcs'. Yet they still have to be connected somehow, or else they wouldn't be here."

And I well can guess what one of them is, he thought to himself dryly. But the other one?

Mathron
10-10-2001, 02:55 PM
Sandor rubbed the hilt of his blade as he stared down at Arcon through the trees. How was he alive again, and what was he doing here? Was he connected to Sandor's loss of authority?

Frowning, Sandor waited to see what Arcon did next.


---


Dain and the others look up as Tal stalked towards them, rage blazing across his face. He snarled, "She isn't here! They took her, and some others, away - including that mad elf! He will know where she is! Have you seen him?"

Mathron
10-10-2001, 02:59 PM
Pain. Pain and agony. Fires seemed to blaze across his skin, leaving it burnt and black and stretched tight across his beaten and broken bones. He felt the blood pouring out of him from the countless wounds across his flesh - and as the blood poured out, he felt his power draining out. He could barely recall who he was or what had happened to him. Soon, all too soon, he would be mortal, and then he would die. And every now and then, Malagar would hear Sauron laughing in the distance.

Lief Erikson
10-11-2001, 03:17 AM
Erenfor touched the handle of the orcish blade. Memory filtered into his crazed mind briefly. Memory of battering vainly at iron bars and a sense of hopelessness that wouldn't end. And the orcish whips that had slashed him also filtered through his memory, but only briefly. Mental blockages that had long since been erected to keep such memories at bay came up again in force and the insane elf laughed crazily. Laughter that went on even though he battered wildly in his mind. Battered at rusted iron bars, weathered with age but steel strong.

"We'll just have to pry them open," Erenfor cackled as he touched the edges. "No good. Then strangle the guards while I'm on the wall." He laughed again, louder this time. "That worked!"

He nearly ran into Tal, whom he snapped at as if he was a wild beast. Thunderclouds were barely hidden behind Tal's face, but Erenfor knew a menace when he saw one. His weapon was in his hand in a second, raised and held in the on guard position in front of him.

"What do you want with me now?" he growled. In his mind, he continued vainly to beat at the bars.

Mathron
10-11-2001, 03:23 AM
Tal snarls back at him, "The other slaves told me who you were. I care not who this foe you face is, but he took my sister as well! Where were you and El'nela imprisoned!?"

Selwythe
10-11-2001, 09:58 AM
Arcon crept silently around the camp, hiding in shadows and darting at the slightest sound. All the while, he was wary for a threat from the back. There were too many tents, he could not possibly search them all.

He sat down in the shadow of one tent and pondered his next move.

Lief Erikson
10-11-2001, 10:20 AM
"Nothing could have lasted there long," Erenfor muttered. "They increase the pressure. Day 1, they do all sorts of horrible things to you." A pasty grin crossed his face, but it was a pained one and unreal. "The next week, they intensify. Then every two days they intensify worse and worse.

"Most prisoners go mad before long in that place, if they aren't killed first. That place is a hidden shadow on the fringe of imagination, something people don't know about but where all their worst nightmares reside.

"They underestimated me," Erenfor whispered conspiratorially and gave a knowing wink. He drew a finger across his throat. "Took them by surprise, those two fool orcs as they were bringing me down to the torture chamber to resume. They considered me a baggage, not a threat." He burst out laughing once again. "Never underestimate of warrior of Doriath!"

But he kept the sword steady in his hands, keeping a space of three feet between the two elves.

Tessar
10-11-2001, 01:04 PM
The elf boy crept up behined the mad elf (good thing i decided to go look for tal) he thought and drew his dagger.

Irid al'Menie
10-11-2001, 03:39 PM
Irid held back and called the wolves. With one blink of an eye, she saw the scene. Tal stood there, the mad elf with an orcish dagger next to him, the boy behind the mad elf. She waited to see what would happen, stepped a little closer, the wolves surrounding her. She didn't think the boy would be able to harm the mad elf. Mad he could be, but skilled with weapons, she could see at least that.

Mathron
10-11-2001, 05:14 PM
Tal's eyes gleamed as darkly as Erenfor's as he started to advance, not even bothering to lift his blade.

"Then if they've killed her, I'll slay them all! I care not what tortures they think they deal out there, I will do unto them a hundred fold the pain. You will tell me where my sister is!"

Lief Erikson
10-13-2001, 03:04 AM
"Outdoing the masters will be hard," Erenfor told Tal. "But possible."

Tal simply stared at him for a moment before realizing what he meant.

"None escape that castle. Difficult to remember where it is. Always difficult when one is blindfolded," he said with a smile. "But the way back I got a good glimpse. A glimpse, for the whole way back?" he asked, laughing uproariously. "What do you think? Let's hang Vardor up to dry from his own walls. I'll lead you there myself. All must end there. Then we'll see who is alive and who is dead."

Erenfor took several steps forward before stopping and turning around, cocking his head at Tal. "You know, all we can do is hope they are dead by now." His voice decreased in volume to a whisper. "Any who still live will have wished themselves dead a hundred times over by now."





A figure walked down the stone passageway, heedless to the noise, his face impassive. The doors to prison cells on either side of him had different sorts of noises coming from them. Moans of pain from some, of despair from others, cries of defiance from a very few.

But his task this day took him to a different part of the castle. One that he almost wished did not exist. Better if the people had been executed then left alive, but Vardor was harsh at this point. Harsh and cruel, angry at something that all the rest of them were left in the dark about. He sometimes muttered about it as he paced the stone passages, muttering dark hatred for someone or something. None stayed close enough to him for any period of time to hear what he was angry about. None dared to. And Tamayron was not a fool.

Tamayron walked down the lower steps to a lower story. The sounds of jibbering madmen filled the air down here. People who had been tortured till they lost their sanity. He regretted this part of the castle to some extent, but he was in charge of it and it was his job to oversee these prisoners.

He walked past multiple dungeons as he approached the end of this part of the complex, the place where the food was kept. He had to have it distributed for their midday meal.

And he would keep his head low, away from Vardor. He would follow the most cruel of orders if it kept him away from threat. No, he thought to himself, smiling, this is the only way. I am most certainly not a fool.






"The man's a fool," a female voice whispered from the front of the prison cell.

Maykror opened his eyes and turned his head towards her crouching form, wincing as he did. Every movement was a pain to him, every breath he drew. And yet what he'd suffered was a lighter punishment than most here had suffered. He'd been smarter than they. And more cowardly. The bitter word was unpleasant on his tongue, yet he knew that there was a way to repay for it. How, insane, could he possibly take revenge on those who had done this to them?

"He is," Maykror agreed. He just hoped that they themselves weren't worse fools. But death by a sword cut would be a relief, at last.

"He doesn't suspect," the woman's tone was difficult to decipher. A mixture of emotions. Sympathy certainly wasn't among them. Anticipation and excitement were foremost among them. Hate was secondary, somehow this woman had managed to keep from being eaten up by it. No matter what they'd done to her. To all of them. Perhaps it was her elf blood refusing to be beaten down.

"It'll be a pleasure to kill him," Maykror said quite truthfully. He had long looked forward to slaying the man. And he wasn't the only one. "But most of the people here are gibbering madmen, now."

"Simply because they were braver than we are," she said flatly, turning her head towards him. Her eyes were faintly visible through the darkness, animal passion behind them. "But they will fight as hard as they can, despite their insanity," she finished decisively.

"Ever since Erenfor's execution strength among the survivors has faltered, El'nela," he told her. "More and more lose hope and are broken by the day. Erenfor was the strongest, the best of us."

The light in her eyes faltered and she looked at the floor. He hardly cared that it gave her pain to hear that again. Not any more. Some part of his mind still realized that bringing up the painful subject was wantonly cruel, but he was too weary and full of grief and woe to care any more. She had become . . . attached to Erenfor, somehow. Somehow the grim young elf had become her hero.

"I know he was," she said, her voice hoarse. She was looking at him again, and she continued doing so for a long moment. "It was my fault, but this is not over. I will repay them for every blow they gave each of us. We will. Together. You and I will succeed the day after tomorrow, at noon, as planned. Not all here are gibbering madmen, you know, and those that are still might be of some use once the battle starts. If not, there are still plenty down here who pretended insanity to avoid further torture. They will rally to us, if only to die death by the sword." She left her crouching position at the door and walked up to him, placing a hand gently, almost tenderly, upon his shoulder. "We mustn't lose hope, Maykror."

"The battle." Maykror sighed in expectation. "I can hardly wait." And now she would try reviving his spirit again. His will to live. She always did. She sometimes seemed to forget that he had no hope left in him. None for success in the battle. He knew better. What would come upon them would be death, but perhaps that really was something to look forward to. Victory in the battle was hopeless.




*Hope no one is too upset by my addition of new characters. But they're only minor, so no one rise up in panic please ;).*

Tessar
10-13-2001, 08:16 AM
ohhhhhh! very smoothe lief, VERY smoothe.

Mathron
10-14-2001, 02:26 AM
OOC: I think it's fine. It is only in the beginning of the story, really, when many characters can be confusing. By the end, I think, things are well developed enough to have more plot revealed with minor characters.


----


Tal slowly straightened, and sheathed his sword. He glanced back at the others, cold determination in his eyes - but the rage that had flickered there now gone.

"The camp is defeated, though I do not know where the captain is. And now I find, I no longer care. My quest seems farther from ended than I had imagined. And if my sister has survived, she may well be worse off than this one. The slaves we freed are fleeing, and the mercenaries unable to rally. I plan to go onward. To find my sister. And free her, in whatever way possible."

He stopped and stared into the darkness around them. Flames flickered around the camp, where fires had started in the fighting. Shouts and cries still arose, but few real sounds of battle still rang out. Wolves prowled among the bodies, looking for foes.

"Who is with me?"


----


Sandor drew his blade as he watched the scene below. The one fellow, Arcon, seemed to be revelling in his newfound physical prowess and stealth. He stalked the girl, Shelina, through the trees as they approached the camp. The fighting in the camp had died down, and Sandor doubted his men had won, from the sight of things.

Sandor glanced at those beneath him. The strange lizard creature was returning. It seemed familiar to something he had met before, another servant of a dark master... but he had met it only briefly. It paused as it drew closer. It likely knew of Arcon's following, and possibly even his own, if he guessed it's skills correctly. Whatever the case, he planned on seeing what occured. All of them, below, he suspected served the dark lords in some manner or another. If they fought it out, he could capture the survivor, and see if they knew anything connected to his situation.


---


Mal felt himself hit the floor. He felt it, because the sudden shock hurt more than the dull, constant pain he had felt since being imprisoned. His power was nearly drained, simply keeping him alive. Whatever sorcery Sauron had worked had left him nearly mortal. Yet as he fell, gentle hands caught him and brought him to the ground. A warmth seemed to flow through him, and he felt the pain, if not fade completely, draw back from him. Enough to let him open his eyes, and look up.

A face stared down at him, fine, beautiful elfin features. A woman's face, that he thought he may have glimpsed long ago when he lived among the Valar, though he could not put a name to it.

He opened his cracked and parched lips, and breathed out, "Who are you?"

A soft, sweet voice whispered back, "I've had many names. Silmian, Finare, Syntia, Celia are but a few of them."

Mal stared up, trying to rise, then let out a shudder. The healing continued to flow through him, but his body was still not whole. He knew what she was - an elven lady of ancient time and ancient power. Strong enough to penetrate Angband, though he knew not why.

"But who are you?"

"Call me Elenia."

Irid al'Menie
10-14-2001, 06:42 AM
Irid nodded. She stepped forward and said:

"I'm with you. I can be fast enough to follow a horse."

She had felt a strange being in this forest. Or more like strange beings. She knew it were wolves, but not the same wolves that were here with her now. Bigger... Fiercer, but they were good. She sent out a thought, and they came upon her call. The leader came to her, his withers almost as high as a big pony. She didn't see how the others stepped back a little, away from these animals. She was explaining the situation, and asked the leader if he could miss his best runner. He said that was ok, and another wolf came forward. His name was Flyer. The wolf Runner would come too, but the rest of the pack stayed in the forest. The leader just asked that she and the others wouldn't talk about their presence, for then they would be haunted by mankind. She agreed with that, and told the others of it, as the big and little wolves disappeared between the trees.

Lief Erikson
10-14-2001, 12:41 PM
"I'll come with you," Steward told him. Anything to get away from these pursuers. "And I suggest we leave soon, in a hidden direction. Erenfor says that he knows the way," he glanced at the elf doubtfully, "and I could contribute my skills as a tracker in finding the easiest routes."

Tessar
10-14-2001, 05:12 PM
The elf boy came out of hiding and sheathed his dagger saying "I'll come too. I really have no where else to go anyways" he said "also i can get more skilled at my magic powers doing this" he grined "I think that im alredy getting more powerful" he paused for a moment "hummmmm... i wonder just HOW powerful i have gotten" he closed his eyes and consintrated for a moment, then, he suddenly levitated about 2 inches above the ground. "cool!" he exclamed "to bad this is as high as i can go". "but anyways i'll come too!".

Lief Erikson
10-14-2001, 09:10 PM
"I think that that goes for all of us," Steward told Tal. "We set out on this goal, and we'll see it through to the end."

Mathron
10-14-2001, 11:00 PM
A cold wind stirred the camp, and Tal's hair was ruffled by the breeze as he lowered his head. Speaking softly, he said, "I thank you."

A moment passed, and the wind faded away. Tal looked up, and glanced to Erenfor. "Lead the way."

Tessar
10-14-2001, 11:11 PM
OCC* hey throny! n/p dude! happy to help man! need a tishue? lol sorry :D

Selwythe
10-17-2001, 11:38 AM
Arcon fell silent and his mind grew peaceful as he thought longingly for the tranquility of his home so far away. No, he could not think of times past. Shelina was his enemy, he knew that ever since she first threatened him with a knife.

His eyes grew piercing as he detected the slightest movement of the tents. His ears grew clear as he captured every billow of it, and he sub-consciously realised that one of these tents had an occupant. In a fit of anger, he caught up a burning stick in the fire and threw it at the tent. It burst in flames and he heard a shriek from within, but it was not of a woman but of a beast. He saw a shadow flit out.

"Shelina," he bellowed in rage before chasing after her, she now within his sight and he with the speed and ability to pace and catch up with her. He raised another burning stick, knowing that Glamdin could catch sight of it.

"Burn these tents, ALL OF THEM!"

Arcon screamed in bloodlust, despite knowing Glamdin knew the signal. Glamdin descended like a wraith of doom on the camp. In seconds, he would release a breath of fire and reduce the camp to a burning blaze, and all that would be left inside, far away from the sanctuary of the woods, were Arcon and Shelina.

Irid al'Menie
10-17-2001, 11:54 AM
Irid looked up as she saw the dragon fly nearer, and screamed: "No time for emotions now, get OUT!!!"

She jumped on Flyer, who allowed her on his back, and screamed a thought at Runner to honor his name and run. They flew away from the camp, and Irid hoped the others had found the time to get away. They reached the edge of the trees.

Lief Erikson
10-17-2001, 12:06 PM
*Joe, this Arcon is supposed to be turning good? Going insane looks more likely at present.*

Steward glanced back in surprise as the camp they'd just begun leaving started irrupting in flames. A wall of fire, bursting apart every tent was coming unrelentingly toward them.

"Run!" he shouted, unnecessarily. Everyone else was already running.

They scrambled into the trees, getting out second before the last tents irrupted in fire.

The flame bellied outward, catching to dozens of trees and bushes in every direction. Steward, Angar and Tal were crouched on the ground behind a fallen log and for a moment they simply stared at the blaze. "A forest fire will be certainly caused by this," Steward whispered after a moment, his voice nearly drowned out by the crackling fires. "We'll have to be well away before it begins in force."

"This isn't forceful enough?" Erenfor asked from the shadows behind them as he ran a finger along the length of his blade.

Steward glared in his direction once before turning back to the fire. "We'll have to be going. I'll see if I can find Irid or Dain, they're still out there somewhere. Hopefully not lost."

"We have little time," Erenfor hissed from the darkness. "The enemy are closing the trap on us; we've had nothing but fighting for too long. The next attack will be even fiercer, and that one we will not escape. Let us go now. Likely none of the slaves or other members of the company survived the blast anyhow. We cannot wait, or none of us shall escape."

"We cannot go without the others," Steward answered angrily, pausing a second later. That had sounded like an almost sane argument. He frowned in Erenfor's direction but saw only the gleam of his two eyes shining in the darkness like twin crystals. "Tal? Angar? What do you think?"

Irid al'Menie
10-17-2001, 12:16 PM
Irid heard the voices, and asked Flyer to go to them. As they came to them, she said: "Good argument, Erenfor, but I think we still need to find Dain. He would be good company. And lets not forget that elfboy...."

Mathron
10-17-2001, 01:50 PM
Sandor froze as he crept through the camp, looking for any survivors, and perhaps, any answers. Every few feet a patch of ground would be slick with blood, or a fallen body staring sightlessly into the sky.

A sudden scream filled the camp, and Sandor spun around, whipping out his long black sword and dropping into a crouch beside a tent - and grimacing as he saw the shape in the sky growing closer.


A drake, he thought, they must truly want me dead.

He still didn't know why, but he couldn't let them have him. He'd been a survivor all his life, and he would remain so. As the flames started to light up the camp, he clenched his sword tight, and began to dart between the tents, heading for the drake.


----

Dain grimaced as he felt his beard sizzle and singe. "Where are ye, boy?" he cried out, through the fire and smoke.

He heard a soft cry echo back, and began forging his way towards it, through the black smoke. He heard another sound, a few words chanting hesitantly, and broke out of the smoke just in time to see a stream of water fly from the boy's hands into the flames around him, letting him break free.

"Quickly, this way! We need to be getting to the others!"

Lief Erikson
10-17-2001, 04:06 PM
*Selwyth, I'm a little confused as to where Shelina and Arcon stand in all this. Is Arcon chasing her in the forest or what?

Also Mathron, I think Tal is the leader of this quest, as the rescue of his sister is its goal, so it's his cue to decide what is to be done.*

Mathron
10-17-2001, 08:02 PM
Tal clenched his fist, and took a step towards the flames, before freezing. He couldn't leave them behind, but he couldn't waste time now that he knew where his sister was!

His indecision was broken as two figures broke out of the ring of flame, Tessar coughing up smoke and being nearly carried by Dain, who was not in much better shape. Tal rushed to his side, and gently place the kid on his feet, as Dain stumbled to a stop.

"I can go a bit farther," muttered the dwarf, and Tal nodded to the rest. The boy, beside him, nodded his head fiercely as he got back to his feet.

"Then we have to move, and now," said Tal, "before the entire woods go up in flame."

Tessar
10-18-2001, 04:48 PM
Tessar wished that he had just tried to use one of his wind spells instead of trying the water spell I need to stop using spells that i haven't used before when I'm in trouble he thought I'm so tired i can hardly stand. but i cant let the others see that I'm tired if they do they might try to leave me some where "safe". but dont have anywhere to go now, by following them i can avoid to problem for a bit longer. he smiled for a moment thinking of his fathers favorite thing to say. he said it quietly to him self "besides, this is more fun!"

Selwythe
10-19-2001, 05:56 AM
Arcon dodged another burst of flame, Shelina still in his sights. She too was hampered by the wildly spreading fire and he was making ground on her. He quickly let loose an unpoisoned dart. She stumbled and fell. Yes! Within her grasp! He took another burst of speed and reached out.

He stared in horror as a piece of burning wood became detached from its scaffold and flew towards Shelina. The left hand he stretched to catch her went off course to deflect it, and it went aflame. He gritted his teeth and caught up Shelina, the pain from the unextinguished fire on his hand virtually burning him hollow. He stuck his hand in his mouth, extinguishing the fire with his breath.

He looked desperately up at the sky and called for Glamdin, only to see an expanse of blue. He turned and saw Glamdin flying low and behind him...

"NO!"

Arcon watched horrifiedly as an iron-clad man behind Glamdin crept up slowly and crouched, poised to slash and stab with his long black sword.

He turned away and caught up Shelina. It was too late and he had to escape. He could throw her to the fire but that was not good enough. Death would be a blessing to her. No, He would show her what it was to switch places, what it was to lie weak and defenceless, and to be stabbed in the back by he who could save her. If they got out alive.

---------------------------------------

Sandor swung the sword but he paused mid-stroke. Yes, he remembered this drake. It was once at his command. Yes, he was positive that he had worked with this drake before in deeds of evil many years ago, in the days after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, when he, like so many other servants of the Dark Lord, had been wearied of war and tempted by the havens of the Two Kindreds.

He blinked his eyes and left his mind blank. The memories still hurt, and he was forced to be numb to them. Nay, he now fought with the blessing of the North once more, that was past.

He slinked away. A dragon would never attack his master, past or present, and he did not feel inclined to reverse the tables, still emotionally attached to the drake despite the passing of years.

Lief Erikson
10-21-2001, 10:34 AM
"Let's go then," Steward said, turning and leading the way through the trees. Erenfor could take over soon enough, but the first goal was to escape this forest fire with their lives, and he wasn't willing to place his in the hands of a madman. If he led them on a wild goosechase later, there was always something afterward. But this would lead to a firey death.

He moved through the wood as quickly as his aged frame could carry him, the others following close behind. The trees around them were waving wildly and smoke filled the air, causing them to have to duck lower to avoid its fumes.

Irid al'Menie
10-21-2001, 10:47 AM
While they were running, Irid sent a thought out to all the wolves in the forest, to escape now, before it was too late. Then she concentrated on running.

Tessar
10-21-2001, 03:23 PM
:o :rolleyes: :confused: :eek:

Lief Erikson
10-22-2001, 12:19 AM
*(Lief Erikson graciously refrains from commenting)*

Steward coughed as he fought his way through the brambles, the others following him. "There!" he gasped as a light began to filter through the smoke ahead. "Fire and smoke can be very disorienting in a strange wood, but I think that we're finally through."

He finished pushing through the bushes and staggered out of the brush, emerging on the top of a tall but gently sloping hill. The others followed quickly after him, wiping the soot from their faces.

"None of the wolves died in the fire," Irid reported with a smile.

"Which means there'll be more for you to use in hunting Arcon," Erenfor said calmly, receiving startled glances from a few of the others. "Certainly all the better for you."

Irid's face reddened slightly, but with anger, not embarrassment. "You think I'd use these wolves in that way? They want to destroy him every bit as much as I do, but I will not use them!"

Erenfor didn't appear to hear, although that might have been his madness settling back in again. He was staring out down the hill, towards the point where the forest started again.

"You'll have to lead us from here," Steward told him, but Erenfor still seemed to be lacking eardrums. "But we can take a little rest first, if you like," Steward continued. "I need one myself somewhat; these old bones don't get much the younger by running full tilt through the forest, cut up by brambles and expecting to be caught between either an arrow in the heart or a wall of fire in the back."

"All right," Irid said with a smile in his direction. "We can take a rest."

"Thank-you," Steward said with a flourish before seating himself on a dead log.






Shelina staggered through the forest, her eyes tearing as she wiped soot away from her face and coughed as more smoke came up to blind and choke her. The red glow of fire was closer behind her, but it was off to the right and left now too, and it constantly seemed to be growing brighter no matter how she fled it. Farther away, there seemed to be an opening. A point where light broke through the smoke and trees. She made for that, even though she could see Sandor and some kind of a beast nearby. Perhaps Sandor was still on her side, but everyone she'd allied with so far seemed to be operating for their own ends exclusively, not concerning themselves with anyone else. But right now she simply had to get out of this forest alive.

She choked another mouthful of dust and ash and spat it out, scrambling desperately out of the forest.

Although she'd known she'd been that she was in danger and possibly might die a firey death, little did she know how narrowly she'd avoided recieving it from the hands of someone else entirely.

Mathron
10-22-2001, 04:39 PM
Tal slumped down on a rock, holding his heads in his hands. As the adrenaline drained out of him, weariness and a feeling of futility fell upon him, as much as he tried to throw them off. As the others talked around him, he sat by himself, and thought of happier times.

Dain glanced at the others, rubbing his beard, and said, gruffly, "Things keep looking darker, but you all seem to be good at handling yerselves. It won't get easier, but I think we can be pulling this off, if we keep strong." The others smiled at the compliment from the normally gruff dwarf, and gathered their strength to move on.


---

Sandor ran, and ran, and felt the flames licking behind him long after the fire had faded. Finally, he had stumbled by a tree, and brought himself to a stop. The camp was gone, burnt to the ground, and his men - loyal or not - dead or fled.

He'd known the drake, and had fled rather than deal with it or the fire any longer. It hadn't been after him. But someone surely was. If not the entirety of Melkor's servants, it must have been someone powerful and mighty nonetheless.

Tessar
10-27-2001, 02:06 AM
OCC* well im leaving this rpg. it was fun but i know that im just being a big fat pain in the fanny. leif im very sorry for the nast post i made about you (i took it down). i hope that when the next rpg starts that i can join because this is so much fun! ummmmm im not shur how to get ridd of him so if someone wants to they can have him or you can drop him off some where or what ever.

Selwythe
10-27-2001, 09:15 AM
*Don't leave! With me and Irid posting very little and you leaving, you'd leave poor Mathron and Lief squabbling in hell.

Tessar
10-27-2001, 12:11 PM
*you guys really want me to stay?*

Tessar
10-28-2001, 10:53 PM
welllllllllllllll ok i guess I'll stay.

Mathron
10-28-2001, 11:04 PM
OOC: Sounds good to me! Everyone we have will help this keep going. Why don't we try and get some posting going, again? :)

Tessar
10-28-2001, 11:48 PM
*ok heres my pathetic attempt to get the posting started again*

Sandor finaly made it out of the woods and stoped to rest. *I cant go on anyfurther now. I must rest*

"We need more wood" Tal said. "Who volenters to go get some?"

The elf boy had been feeling anctious and was glad for an excust to get away "I'll go!" he said quickly seeing Irid was abou to get up and go.

As he walked back twards the woods a bit, Tessar thought that he hurd hevy breathing. he froze for a moment and wonderd if he should just go back and get someone to go with him
*I'll go back and get Irid, she seems to be nice. or maybe Dain* the thought
"Oh get a grip" he wispered to himself "just go look"

The boy crept slowly towards the sound. he went over a small hill and saw Sandor lying on the ground asleep, and covered with brusses and cuts.

"It's that man i met who was with the lady" he shivered remembering the way the mad had looked at him.

he stood for a moment undesided, then he took a small case out off his belt and set about cleaning Sandors cuts and smering a hurb potion on them.

Sandor suddenly opened his eyes and saw a elf boy holding a small bottel filled with a purpul potion
*POISON!* he thought and before the elf boy knew what was happening the bottel had been kicked out of his hand. and he had been stabed in the shoulder with a small dagger.

the boy fell back with a look of surprise on his face. and before he could draw his short sword and defend him self he had been stabed again, this time in the ribs.

Sandor turned and ran. thinking that the elf migh thave freands somewhere weghting to jump him.

the elf fell to the ground, still bleeding.

OOC* ok im not trying to kill him off. im just trying to be dramatic and have an endding to my post that will (hopefuly) be easy to
reply to.

Mathron
10-29-2001, 02:24 AM
Red flashed before Sandor's eyes as he ran, breathing heavily, finally almost slamming into a tree in his exhaustion. Normally he could push himself through will alone, but he had been driven to his limits, and had his world crumble about him in the last few days.

He glanced down at the small empty sheathe by his waist, the dagger he usually carried there left in the clearing with the elf boy. How had he lost control like that? He barely even registered the action until he was fleeing, the boy left behind him, bleeding. Nothing made sense anymore. All he knew was that, despite his weariness, he couldn't stop moving...

Tessar
10-29-2001, 11:03 AM
OOC* yay! let the posting begin!!!

Tessar
10-29-2001, 11:23 PM
OOC* oh c'mon you guys (mathron excluded) its not THAT hard a post to reply to.

Tessar
11-01-2001, 02:49 AM
*c'mon....anyone please!!!!!!! I would do something but i cant. im lying on the ground stabed in the shoulder and in the ribs.

Mathron
11-01-2001, 03:39 AM
OOC: Peace! Some people take a little while to post, and can spend time busy with other, more important things. Let a bit more time pass...

Tessar
11-01-2001, 11:44 PM
Oh im sorry!
i didn't realise that it had only been 3 days!
I seem to be loosing all track of time. I'll think that something happened several days ago but then I'll realise that it was the other day.:confused:

Lief Erikson
11-02-2001, 01:08 AM
*I'm terribly sorry, I believe that I'm responsible for slugging everything down. Much has been happening at my house though as I memorize lines to recite as we do a Shakespeare play, as I fight my way through swamps of school work miles high and help prepare the place for a grandparent who is coming to stay tomorrow! (Pauses to catch a breath but then decides to leave it at that) etc.

So anyway, I still haven't much time but I'll try not to abandon the place so entirely as I did just recently.

Oh, and Tessar, it's nice having you in the game, we're not trying to throw you out. You want a hint on how to stay on my good side? (Lowers his voice, not that that does much good) simply allow me to keep charge of my own characters. In other words, although I don't entirely mind what you make them do in really minor affairs, I really like to make up my own mind about what my people do or say.

Now! Back to the game. (Rubs his hands briskly before setting them down lightly upon the keyboard again)*




Quickly Steward and the others knelt down around the injured Tessar. "Unhappily none of us are healers," Steward said, "But we can do the best we can."

"Time runs out," Erenfor said impatiently from behind them. "It drains and seeps away. Every minute brings the likelihood of our discovery by the servants of the enemy closer. We must go to the castle. To the castle. To the castle. That is where Vardor is, where we can wreak our revenge."

The rest of the company meanwhile finished bandaging up Tessar.

"Well, we must leave this place in any case," Steward agreed as he glanced up at the sky, as if expecting to see the drake make another circuit. It was nowhere to be seen though. This appeared to be little comfort to him however, and Steward shivered.

Dain meanwhile had been preparing several poles. "These'll serve as a stretcher, with a cloak tied in between," he said as he laid his own between the poles and tied it down.

They glanced down the slope to see their guide had already started without them.

"Dratted elf," Steward snarled as they hurried quickly after him, catching up quickly.

"We can cover many leagues yet before (Dark or dawn? I forget what time it is)," Tal said, glancing up at the sky as the company pressed onward, leaving the wooded slopes behind and heading out over the plains.

Selwythe
11-02-2001, 10:18 AM
*I must say I am out of ideas. Holidays now, though, maybe I'll think of something...been doing that since the last post and I have nothing to show for it.*

Mathron
11-03-2001, 04:31 AM
The day passed quickly, and Tessar took the time to focus what he remembered of healing magic within himself. They saw no signs of pursuit, despite constantly tracking back to make sure.

The land they went through grew darker and dimmer with each step, and their spirits struggled to stay strong. Silence seemed to reign, as the road Erenfor led them upon grew ever shorter, and any words the spoke or songs they sang quickly faded, seeming leaden and unsure even when uttered.

Eventually the sky was once more dark, and they paused, weary and worn from their walking. Tal looked up into the sky, seeing a gleaming golden star burning bright upon the horizon. "An omen," he muttered to himself, "though for good or ill, I know not... I pray to any who will here, let my quest end at last!"

Irid al'Menie
11-03-2001, 05:47 PM
*sorry for not posting, been to france for a week. Here goes!*

There seemed to be only one being in the group that didn't loose spirit. Flyer, though far from the pack, stayed as happy as ever, knowing he wasn't alone. Somewhere there were wolves like him, and he could talk to them. That was all he needed. From this mood, Irid and Runner got a little more comforted, though not much, seeing the dark sky with only that one bright star in it.

Tessar
11-03-2001, 06:59 PM
*ooooooooo! lucky dog! (get it? wolf girl? dog?...nevermined)
my parents went once and they loved it. did you enjoy your stay?

Tessar
11-04-2001, 10:38 AM
ummmm Mathron,
I want to make a post but I'm not sure how strong my guy is.
Is he still on the stretcher?
Or is he walking now?

Mathron
11-04-2001, 11:11 AM
That is for you to decide. :)

Irid al'Menie
11-07-2001, 04:55 PM
*duuh, i live about less then 3 hours driving from it's borders!*

Tessar
11-08-2001, 10:21 AM
*mathron! i can decide!!!! if i just have him walking around then it wouldn't be very (you know what i mean) realistic

but if i don have him walking then it will be like he has no magic powers of healing (witch would contradict your post!)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa what am i supost to do!?!?!?!?

Mathron
11-08-2001, 07:57 PM
OOC: Well, as for realism, I'm sure you could get away with him being somewhat active soon. Just follow from my post!

---


Tal looked up, sweat on his brow. He and the dark elf were carrying the stretcher Tessar was on, and the going was already at a rapid pace. But they could no more slow down than they could leave him behind.

Nightfall came soon, and they set the stretcher down for a bit. Tal glanced at Erenfor, and asked, "How much longer? He should be walking tommorow, but still weak and unable to keep a heavy pace. And he may have to leave us, if we go into a true fortress of one of Sauron's servants."

Mathron
11-08-2001, 08:01 PM
Mal looked up, hesitantly. The shadows cloaked him and Elenia, but only in the normal shade of night and darkness. No magic of Mal's lent greater stealth to them, as they crept through Angband. No magic could, anymore.

The alcove they hid in led out into a long, dark hallway. A few more moments passed, and no foes walked down it, so Mal started to rise - then twinged, pain still flooding through him. Elenia's hand rested upon his shoulder, and she said, "Calm, calm. Walk easy, Mal. The healing finishes slowly, fighting against the dark arts used on you."

He nodded, gritting his teeth, and then slunk down the hallway, through the shadows beside her.

Tessar
11-10-2001, 12:28 AM
oh crud, I just can't seem to make a post.

i can't come up with something good.:mad: its frustrating

Tessar
11-12-2001, 03:08 PM
Ok i dont have much school to do today so I will apply my self to making a post.

I will have one by tonight!!!!!!!!!!!

(and I will spell check it!):rolleyes:

Tessar
11-12-2001, 04:24 PM
Ok this is my post. i know that it isn't very good but here it is all the same.





True to Tals prediction, Tessar was able to walk the next day, but he was not able to walk for long.

He had suggested that they just leave him behind and let him catch up when he was feeling better, but Tal said that that was not a good idea, “We have no idea what might be ahead” Tal explained.

Tessar noticed that Dain would dissapeared for a half hour or so every now and then, Now where he is going? Tessar wondered.

“In an hour or so we should rest” Enfor said
“I second the idea!” Tessar chimed in, feeling not for the first time that day, a sharp pain where he had been stabbed.

“No” Dain said “We must keep going!”
The others looked at him questioningly
“I said naught of it before” Dain explained “but I think that someone of thing is following us”
“I would assume we are strong enough in numbers that a single enemy is not a problem?” Stewart asked

“I think so.” Said Dain “but I can not be certain.”

Tal looked at Dain for a moment and then said “yes, I think we can keep moving for a bit longer”

The silence that followed was sharply broken by a cry from the elf boy.

“My blade! Where is it?!”

The others looked uncomfortable for a moment and no one said anything,
Finally Stewart said
“we had not the time to stop and look for it. It must have fallen out when you were attacked”
“Here take this dagger” Tal said “It was lying beside you when we found you”
“Covered in your blood” Enfore added.

Tessar sighed and took the dagger just what I needed he thought the blade that almost killed me. Exactly what I wanted for my birthday.

However he couldn’t be too unhappy with the dagger for it was of fine make.

“A pretty little toy” Irid said with a grin as Tessar stuck it in his belt.


(I think my posts need something, but i dont know what. any ideas?)

Sakata
11-12-2001, 09:30 PM
Nice post tess! honestly I was expecting (considering some of your previous posts) that is wouldn't be very realistic, or well thought about, I havent read then rest of the rpg, so I dont know how it ties in, but that was a good post, try to make it a little more descriptive, and you would make a good writer.

Mathron
11-13-2001, 04:11 PM
OOC: I agree, that was well done. :)

Tessar
11-13-2001, 08:38 PM
I would be thrilled but your statements seem to imply that my other posts were not exactly top-of-the-list-absolutly-awsome. ;)

Irid al'Menie
11-14-2001, 08:40 AM
you can 'at least' say your spelling has improved :D

but it was a fine post!

Lief Erikson
11-15-2001, 11:45 AM
*Is this the same day Tal asked his question, or the day after that is coming to an end now?*

Mathron
11-15-2001, 11:58 AM
OOC: It looks like he has advanced the timeline to the next day, though I'm sure there are plenty of ways around this if it causes a problem.

Lief Erikson
11-15-2001, 07:32 PM
*No, I can understand his wanting his character walking on two legs again. But as this is going to be the day of the last battle, let's say that it's midday, not closing on nighttime, all right?*

Tessar
11-15-2001, 07:34 PM
it's WHAT?! the last battle?! says who?! lol but really,

this RPG is going to end soon?

Tessar
11-15-2001, 07:36 PM
OK! all eddited!

Lief Erikson
11-16-2001, 12:47 AM
*Well, El'nela and the others are planning to attack on that day, so it seems like that would be a proper time.*

Mouth of Sauron
11-18-2001, 04:38 PM
*I finally come back and the RPG is ending? Oh well. Sorry for my long absence. I haven't had much time to spend online because I was helping the Witchking move into his new domain. Request permission to resume playing Angar... assuming he still lives. Er... someone bring me up to speed, please. Are we in the middle of a burning forest or am I hopelessly confused?*

Tessar
11-18-2001, 04:43 PM
sorry dude, Angar got left behined. but when we go in you could be a slave that turns out to be a good fighter or something?.........

Irid al'Menie
11-18-2001, 04:55 PM
I think you must be about burned to death right now. Unless you escaped, but didn't find us in time before we moved. Our company is now moving to the place El'nela is being held. for details, ask Lief

Mouth of Sauron
11-18-2001, 05:11 PM
*Maybe I can show up badly burned but still perfectly able to annoy... what about my wolf? Did she survive?*

Mathron
11-18-2001, 09:58 PM
Feel free to jump back in! Angar is still keeping right along with the rest, even if a bit silent. I even included him in a recent post, helping to carry Tal's stretcher, and I am sure your wolf is still with you.
So, join back in!
Anyway, the current situation:
Tal and friend found the Slavers, and took them out. The head of the mercanaries, Sandor/Grim Wolf, is having his own troubles, and found that his employers (Melkor and Co.) have turned on him, so is running around a bit hectic. He also earned the emnity of Sauron, along with a friend of his, Malagar, who just was helped to escape the dungeons beneath Angband.
The party is now heading towards another stronghold, where Tal's sister is held, along with other slaves. They plan to attack and free her.

Irid al'Menie
11-19-2001, 12:05 PM
cool, then there are now 3 wolves in the company.

short wolf storie: i asked two packs of wolves to help me attack the slavers, then i feel another pack of wolves, but not ordinary ones, but extraordinary big once. one of them has come with me, and allows me on it's back when we have to move fast. All the wolves escaped from the fire because i let them know in time to run. so i guess yours survived too

Tessar
11-20-2001, 02:48 PM
Um Mathron,

As the starter of this RPG I think YOU need to make the next post and get us going again ;)

Mathron
11-20-2001, 04:21 PM
Sandor crept through the trees, keeping out of the heavy sun above in the sky. He didn't know where he was going, nor why he was still running, but he had no other options. Darkness filled his thoughts, and even the anger he briefly felt could not penetrate the dark cloud of despair hanging over him. He felt hunted, in a way he never had before, and saw dark omens everywhere he looked....


----


shiiiink

Tal drew his blade from his sheathe, sliding it out in one smooth, vicious motion. His eyes flashed red as he stared forward, at the dark shape rising in the distance, and swung his sword out to point at it. His voice, rough and hoarse and determined, rang out hard and clear.

"Is that it?"

Erenfor, beside him, nodded somberly. The sight of the dark castle ahead was a dismal sight, and chilled all their souls - and surely, for one tortured in its dark and hidden pits, it must truly echo with ancient pain.

Tal's sword flashed brightly in the sunlight, and he twirled it through the air, before slamming it into the ground. His grip on the sword handle tightened, his knuckles turning white, as he said coldly, "Then we do this. We go in, and find my sister, if she remains. And I will show our foes the vengeance of the Sindar!"

He turned his gaze on Erenfor, and a light danced in his eyes, dangerously close to madness. "Do you know a way in?"

Tessar
11-20-2001, 05:00 PM
Oh very nice, thank you.

but dang it! now we need to weght for erenfor to respond!

oh well.

Lief Erikson
11-20-2001, 05:13 PM
"None but the insane would try," Erenfor said with a laugh. "There is a lower entrance, less guarded but heavily locked which affords a higher likelihood of success to an invasion attempt. Only about two to one against us. I got out over the wall, and I doubt we could get in the same way I got out."

"We'll try it," Tal said, glancing around at the others.

Steward looked uncomfortable. "I doubt there'll be much chance of me being any help out there . . ."

"Any who wants to come, step forward," Tal said.

"I'll wait here," Steward stated. "Whoever stays with me, if anyone, can help me cover your retreat in case they try to circle around."

Erenfor simply started sharpening his sword, his eyes focused darkly on the castle. "This will be the end. The end of ends," he whispered. "At last, you'll be gone, Vardor. One of us will. Either way, I'll be free of you."






El'nela crouched at the door to her prison. It would begin very shortly. There last act before death found them all. Finally a stand, and a release. She could almost feel the hope behind the bars of the other prisons, in all directions. Prisoners about to spring forth and fight to the end.

She would never give up hope. Many elves out in Beleriand were losing hope, falling into a grimness which was completely different from the peaceful, joyful nature of elves. She herself certainly had reason to fall into that frame of mind, yet with so many around her suffering, it seemed that it simply drew out the compassionate side in her as well, protecting her from the gnawing hate that filled so many others. She was not brave, otherwise she wouldn't be down here, and what she and these others were about to do was not an act of bravery. Perhaps what they were going to do now would do some harm to their enemies, though.

Crouching, she listened intently, her keen elven ears detecting the thud of boots on the stone steps above. It was almost time.

Irid al'Menie
11-21-2001, 08:03 AM
Irid took a step forward.

"I will go along, but Flyer and Runner will stay here with Steward, they won't be of much use in the castle, and i doubt that they would want to go in..."

Lief Erikson
11-21-2001, 10:55 AM
Shelina glanced out again from her hiding place at where the company were. She had continued her pursuit of them this far only because she had stayed quite a ways behind them as they traveled, almost out of eyeshot. They were probably making some sort of decision, but she didn't know what. It was not one of their normal breaks, anyway, she could tell that both because of its length. She crouched lower in the undergrowth, hiding herself completely. She would just have to wait this out and keep undercover, she knew quite well how good those elven eyes were.

Tessar
11-21-2001, 11:28 AM
"I'll go too!" The elf boy said.
"I really don’t think..." Dain started to say but Tessar cut him off
"I'm going!"

Tal sighed, This was one thing he hade been afraid of, Tessar insisting to go.

"Very well" Tal said after a few tense moments of the elf boy staring at Dain and Dain staring back.
"But if you are hurt we will not slow down for you!"

The boy grinned "Ok! no problem seeing how I don’t plan to get hurt!"
the grin changed to a grimaced one of the wolves nosed him in the shoulder where he had been stabbed.

Erinfor raised a skeptic eye brow at the look of pain on the boys face "You still think you can go?"

This time Tessar didn't look so sure, but trying to grin again he said "yes, I'll go"

Steward rolled his eyes but said nothing, merely sitting down.


Then the boy turned on steward with a mischievous grin, "Since your not going in do you have a bow or something I could borrow? I just need something with a slightly longer reach than the dagger."

Slightly taken aback by the odd grin on the boys face Stewart didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Mathron
11-21-2001, 04:29 PM
Dain spoke up. "I don't think Steward has any extra bows, but doubt you'll need one. We'll be fighting close and dirty, in corridors, or so I'd think. What is your opinion, eh, Erenfor?"

Aragorn
11-21-2001, 10:21 PM
*Hey, I know you got a ton of characters, but room for two more? My characters are Aragorn(no, not Aragorn from LotR, Aragorn's son), and Duriel, both men, and both warriors, though Duriel is wise also. The only problem is I started reading this, and got up to page ten, but it was so long I decided to skip to this page, and have no idead where you are now. If you could fill me in, it'd be cool, I'll find a way to sneak my characters in. But, if you don't want anyone else joining I don't mind. :D*

Lief Erikson
11-22-2001, 10:52 AM
"There are two chambers and two locked doors, very lightly guarded. But it'll take noise to break through them, and by the time you do, there'll be plenty of reinforcements coming in for us to deal with. Beyond that there are corridors, certainly." Erenfor fingered the hilt of his weapon, apparently thinking, and Steward shook his head slightly in wonderment at the elf. Was he mad, or not? It hardly seemed so now. Ever since they'd left the hair raising forest fight, he'd seemed to be growing keener, losing the edge of insanity in his excitement.

Steward sat down on a log nearby. "Then I'll sit here and wait. Good luck."

Tessar
11-23-2001, 01:29 PM
"well as for the doors" Tessar said "I think I might know a unlocking spell that might work, unless......." he paused for a moment considering

"Unless what?" Irid asked

"Unless they are doors that can't be opened with magic. that or they have a sealing spell on them, which considering the kind of place this looks like I wouldn't doubt that they might even have BOTH" Tessar replied

"We will weight and see" Tal said. "Now let us go! we have tarried to long already! Come with me now or stay!"

Mathron
11-26-2001, 03:16 PM
Tal crept along the ground, a pale shadow in the deepening dusk. He glanced behind him, his gaze flickering over the rest of the party, each in turn. Dain had remained behind with Steward, ready to defend their retreat. The dwarf knew that, though quiet on his own, he could not compare to the elves' silence and stealth as they moved towards the castle.

Even Tal had trouble making out Angar, right behind him, appearing as no more than a slightly deeper shadow upon the ground. His wolf, despite its color, easily faded into dusk beside him, and the others followed just as easily, unseen and unheard.

Tal turned back forward, and looked to the one ahead of him. Erenfor kept his own counsel, but seemed to know exactly where he was heading, and Tal waited, almost eagerly, as they approached their goal.

Lief Erikson
11-26-2001, 04:41 PM
"They do have a sealing spell," Tessar muttered as he checked out the doors. "I can bypass it, I think, but it could be noisy . . ."

The doors suddenly were torn from their hinges with a Bang and collapsed inwards, the shards collapsing to the floor and the hinges ringing as they bounced and rolled along the stone floor within.

Orcish voices roared from within and there was the sound from inside of swords being drawn. Erenfor drew his sword and leapt into the snarling darkness, shouting out battle cries.

Tal was inside a second later, and the three elvish shadows dealt out quick death to the guardians. "The next door now," Erenfor ordered Tessar, "And hurry, we haven't much time. Guards are already collecting on the other end."

As Tessar turned with a frown to the next door, concentrating harder than last time, Erenfor tapped his foot anxiously. The three elves already could hear the voices of orcs collecting on the other side, and worse surely to come if Tessar didn't finish soon.

Tessar
11-26-2001, 05:56 PM
Tessar could hear the orcs coming Faster! he thought to himself, straining to smash the doors down with his spell.

Mathron
11-30-2001, 05:30 PM
Tal gripped his blade in both hands, ready to strike, when Tessar cried out in dismay.

"This one is locked too strong - I don't know if I can open it with my magic!" His voice quivered, but he shook himself and tried casting it again, to no effect.

From within, the voices rose, and Tal's ears could make out an orcish voice saying loudly in rough common, "Theres but few o' dem, we can get em!"

The voices seemed to rise, and Tal dodged back as the doors swung open to reveal a dozen orcs charging into their mist - and a large stone troll lumbering behind them, looming over the warriors like a massive boulder.

Tal jumped back, swinging his blade and eviscerating the orc reaching for him. However, he had to keep retreating from the other orcs spilling through, and the rest of the party seemed similarly set upon...

Lief Erikson
12-04-2001, 10:00 PM
A form leaping out of the trees in a blur startled Steward from his watchful silence as he stared after the company. Before he had had a chance to move it had collided with the two wolves Irid had left behind and tumbled with them into the tall grasses.

Steward stood, but the prick of a knife's tip on his back arrested his movement. "I wouldn't complete the thought," Shelina's voice spoke from behind him. The tone was menacing but . . . was it excited, distressed or agitated? Or a mixture of all three? It hardly mattered.

"So you've accomplished your goal at last, Shelina," he said, lowering his hands back down to his waist with a sigh. "I wondered when one of you would catch up to me."

"I have my duty."

"A duty brought upon you by fear," Steward said, not daring to turn or move a muscle, but feeling her tense up behind him. It was true, then. "You weren't always like this. Before they caught you . . ."

"I was a gullible child. But they did catch me, and they taught me . . . things. Just as they can teach you things, and they will teach you things. You will serve Morgoth, Steward, just as your brother does and your father did. However old you become, you will never find your destiny till you come to him."

"His destiny is one without rest, without peace. He can bring you to darkness and I have been tempted for years to take up the dark powers that come with my heritage. They have been with all my family."

"Until you. You may turn."

He turned around to face her, staring down at her youthful face. He felt a pang of sadness for her, for what had been done to her and what they'd made her into. "Don't you remember what they put you through? The torment, the agony? Must you follow those who did this to you? You live in fear, when you could live in peace!" He tried to ignore the snarling, tearing noises and grunts, the sound of clashing and combat coming from behind him, in the direction of the wolves and Nrake.

"You caused me to go through all of it!" Shelina spat at him fiercely. "You abandoned me to them! To misery! But there is no escape for one who has been part of them. None at all. Taking you to them also is the least I can do."

"We played together when you were a child and I was a young man. You can't forget the memories. They are what our relationship should be. Words can't describe the agony I felt when I lost you to them. I sought you for days, weeks. But when I heard you'd been taken to . . . Well, no one can be rescued from that place. And much to my shame, I gave up. It might be too late for us both, Shelina, but at least hear this now. I'm sorry."

A scream of pain came from behind him, and then the howl of a wolf, a yelp and yammering. A snarl and then a tumbling and thrusting back and forth of bushes.

A look of pain and cracking emotion appeared on Shelina's face. "I'm sorry too, Orpholin," she whispered. A moment later though, her face hardened. "I have horses for us in the glade yonder. Come," she ordered, motioning quickly with the dagger. He moved off in that direction, grieved in heart and soul.






The scent of the horses isn't old.

Flyer sniffed the air. Runner was probably right, even if he did have the Nrake's blood all over his snout to divert him. It had been a hard fight, the thing had attacked like a wild animal, but they were wilder and in the end, stronger. Runner had always had the keener nose, but it was Flyer who had the speed. Even with his injuries he could run as fast as any horse. Unfortunately, it appeared that every ounce of speed he could muster would have to be used if he was to complete a rescue operation for the scraggly old human.

We have an obligation to him . . .

I know, I know! The company don't have time for this, they're hard put to it as is. I'll run up, reach and delay them if I can. You follow up. But they must not reach the Nightrider. Our brothers in the deepest forest tells me it is one of those foulest of creatures, demons of the night which waits to take the old human. Apparently he is important. In any case, I must fly.

Flyer leapt forward and was gone amongst the trees, Runner close behind.

Irid al'Menie
12-05-2001, 08:08 AM
*ooc: i don't know if i didn't make it clear enough, but Flyer was the fastest, way faster then Runner...*

Mathron
12-05-2001, 03:07 PM
Dain walked back into the clearing just as the wolves ran off. Steward was nowhere to be seen, and a strange body lay on the ground.

"Hmph!" he drew his axe, scowling. "Just when I think my job is done..."

He trails off and gives a sigh. "By rock and stone, this ain't a good situation!" He glances down at the ground, looking over the body, and is prepared to take chase when he hears the sound of hoofbeats echoing through the wood. He was a dwarf, and a strong and old one, but he couldn't keep up with a horse's speed...

He turned back towards the castle. "The wolves will have to save the old one, and I think his fight may be his own to deal with. For now, I must finish my appointed task." The castle was busy with its own problems, and his companions were already causing a distraction through the back door - and while the front was still manned by dozens of orcs, the heavier forces would be dealing with the invasion on the lower level. The castle didn't need to fall, after all - Dain's job was only to keep Vardor occupied, while other events occured...


---


Sandor crept low across the ground, slinking over the broiling black plains before Angband, and looking up at the towering dark mountains. His teeth were bared in a vicious grin, and he felt madness stirring within him. A few coherent thoughts drifted across his mind...

Why am I here? What drives me back to this place?

He narrows his eyes, and shakes the thoughts aside. He has business within, even if he does not know what. And soon, he might understand exactly what is going on...


---


Two orcs patrolled the corridors of Angband, adorned in gleaming black plate, and secure in their master's power. They entered one of the hallways, and one of the orcs proved unusually smart - noticing that one of the torches, normally lit, was dark. His intelligence cost him his life.

As the orcs drew close to the darkened area, two shadows leapt out at them. The orcs were among Melkor's finest, skilled with their blades and armed and armored with the finest equipment. They had less than a second to respond before dropping to the ground, dead. Few orcs, no matter how trained, could stand long against an high elven lady and a maia, even a fallen one.

Malagar and Elenia dragged the bodies into the shadows, and then, silently, continued onwards. Working their way through the dark undertunnels of Angband, and heading for the gatehouse.

Lief Erikson
12-06-2001, 12:02 PM
*Sorry, Irid. A minor detail, but if you want me to change it, I will.*

"I looked after you as best I could, don't you think one of my status always would? Can you expect so much of me? What choice did I have? Could I better serve you in chains then out in the open, plotting your escape?"

"Your plotting didn't get you very far, Orpholin," Shelina snapped back.

"The castle the company is trying to break into now is one of the most dangerous and difficult to penetrate that there is."

"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter . . . now. Those are past events, but they have shaped where we both stand. From where I stand I cannot . . . will not, I mean, change."

"Will you be happy continuing your life in this manner, Shelina?" Steward glanced over at her head, his eyes peircing. "In a constant state of fear and pain, wondering if the next hour will be your last?"

"So now that you've found I'm free you decide to become my mentor again?" Shelina scoffed, giving the reins of her pony another slap for speed. "We're almost there now, Orpholin."

The ponies pranced into a clearing, and that was where the horror was waiting for them. Black with edges of blue, the Nightrider had dismounted from its massive flying bat and was walking toward them. A hole seared in reality, through it was infinite darkness, a dark and cold void.

Both Shelina and Orpholin were paralyzed with horror at the sight of the creature, but Orpholin's mind frantically considered options. There was the net he'd been considering, but he didn't want to try that unless as a last resort. The dark power beckoned him, but if he used it to destroy this . . . this thing, he would be truly lost. He would join Vardor after that. But wouldn't he be joining Vardor anyway, by force if he didn't?

The net was a way he'd invented of sifting out the dark magic but being able to use the raw effect. It was dangerous and untested.

"You will join us."

The voice froze his bones, but the creature had stopped ten paces from him. "Dismount."

He found himself dismounting, but he realized he had at least some control of his body now. Now, he had no choice. He dug into his magical power, tapping the raw strength of it and forming a net to sift the darkness which filled it. The sifting began . . . agonizingly slowly. But the rate was increasing. If he had a few more seconds . . .

The Nightrider reached out its hand and touched him, and then his world exploded around him.

Irid al'Menie
12-06-2001, 02:29 PM
*well, it's ok. i'll change it (in my mind ;)). Next post is from the point of view of Runner. Just for the record: wolves don't use I, if they're still part of a pack. They always think in 1st person plural or the 3rd person singular*

Running, have to keep running. We can't lose the two-legger. He has been good to us. We can't be too late now.

The wolf came to the glade where Shelina, Steward/Orpholin and the Nightrider were standing. He saw the old man lying on the ground with the Nightrider bowed over him. If a member of the pack is in danger, none of the wolves run intill that member is in safety, and for the wolf, Steward was a member of the pack. He sprinted, and knocked over the black rider, breaking his contact with the old man, but touching the Nightrider himself. He felt coldness spread whereever he touched him, but he didn't let go. His teeth sank in a place where he suspected to be the throat. He called to Flyer:

Save her. Save them all. Make sure the man doesn't get touched by No-Heart. And tell them this wolf died fighting for a member of the pack. Stay... Alive...
his heart stopped beating.

------------------------------

In the castle, Irid froze during the battle. She had been close to Runner, and now she was with him during his last moments. When he died, she started to fight twice as fierce as before, because the orcs she was battling here, served the same master as the one she now thought of as No-Heart, the Nightrider. It were only these servants that had caused the death of many of her beloved friends, no matter in what form the servants could come. They could be orcs, or humans, or something that didn't really live like No-Heart.
The orcs fell down one by one, every one that would have the guts to come too near would die. She hoped that her friends would not come too close, because she didn't know if she could stop her sword in time.

Irid al'Menie
12-06-2001, 02:32 PM
*ooc: i hope you did mean it was stewards' world that exploded, and not the Nighriders world. I just saw you could interprete it both ways. depends on weather the Nightrider his hand reached out fast enough so that the net wasn't finished. sorry if i mis-interpreted it*

Mathron
12-06-2001, 03:11 PM
Tal's blade burst through the chest of the last orc, and Angor and Irid were viciously tearing apart the last of the trolls. Erenfor looked about, almost amazed, at how thoroughly the defense had been defeated.

"We don't have long," he said, "and though we won this battle, many more will be on their way. Quickly now, follow me!"

Lief Erikson
12-07-2001, 01:16 PM
"How could you?" Shelina shouted accusingly at the Nightrider as she crouched over Orpholin. "The order wasn't to kill him!"

"He is not dead," it said in a flat, emotionless voice.

"He's hurt . . . what did you do to him?" She stood up, shaking with wrath. "How dare you . . . !"

"Vardor will see to his needs when we arrive. You were chosen for this mission because of your personal attachment to Orpholin. He saved you from the village when you were attacked by orcs and stayed with you through the forests and wilds. You developed a strong personal attachment to him as a girl, and he to you. You learned his ways. This knowledge has helped us in our search for him greatly, but you mustn't let that personal attachment get in our way now. If you do, I will kill you."

No emotion in that last statement. The creature, the demon was just stating a fact!

Shelina glanced down at the pale body of the wolf lying at the beast's feat. Never had she seen any kill a wolf in such a way. It simply had strangled the thing! Wrung its neck, ignoring the slashes and bites it recieved for its trouble, and its body showed no marks now either.

Shelina shivered, and glanced down at Orpholin. His eyelids fluttered and she closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. All that had happened so far in her life since she had been forced away from him was pain. Everything. But now, even after his abandoning her, she couldn't betray him to this creature and force him to become a being like Vardor. To make him go through everything she had and worse. All her determination that following through with this mission would simply be an act of revenge was falling apart. She didn't, and she couldn't hate this man. The Nightrider on the other hand . . . to her surprise, she found that hating it was easier than falling down into bed.

And so she walked past it as it bent down towards Orpholin, walked towards its enormous beast which perched on the grass nearby. She knew how to stop the Nightrider, even if she couldn't kill it.

Drawing her dagger, she stabbed it through the throat of the monstrous bat.

Mathron
12-07-2001, 06:17 PM
OOC: Lief, since you are the one sortof 'controlling' Vardor and his castle, I'll need you to do some of the hinting at exactly how good his defenses are, and how the party is proceeding. Unless, of course, you don't mind me putting that in, but I don't want to effectively mess with one of your characters without your permission.


IC:

As Dain came in sight of the gates, he began to run, in a feigned half limping stride. Breathing heavily, he collapsed against the gates, and called up in a weak voice, "Message for lord Vardor - enemies approach!"

Tessar
12-07-2001, 08:09 PM
I dont know what to do.

I want to make a post but I dont want to screw it up for everyone else.

Mathron
12-10-2001, 02:45 PM
Just try and not manipulate other characters much - so have your character fighting an enemy, or encountering a trap, etc.

Mathron
12-19-2001, 01:45 PM
OOC: I'm still alive! I've made it through finals, and though my computer still has denied me internet access, I have found other methods of getting online! Yet... this RPG seems to have hit a lull! Are you guys still around? I left a few things hanging, but I can continue the posting if that will get everyone else to start up. Are people still here?

Tessar
12-19-2001, 01:50 PM
Im still here!

Irid al'Menie
12-19-2001, 02:16 PM
I'm here but without any inspiration...

Selwythe
12-20-2001, 02:13 PM
The Nightrider swivelled around and stared coldly at Shelina, its eyes suddenly round and luminous in the growing darkness. It glanced slowly at the carcass of its mount before slowly advancing on Shelina.

"You fail our Lord, Shelina, you fail the Test" it began. "His wrath I will unleash with my pleasure."

It stretched out its hand and reached for her as she watched, paralyzed to the ground in the gripping spell of the Nightrider. It reached for her head.

Its hand recoiled in horror, a dart firmly embedded in it. Shelina, free from the spell, reacted from instinct and stabbed upwards with her dagger as the vile beast staggered back and drove forward its fist, sending her flying sideways and onto the forest floor in a sickening thud. Its roar filled the forest as it trudged beside its fallen opponent and raised its fist when a dark figure pounced from the trees on the blind side of it, wielding a broad green-tinted sword, flamed in the stealthy disguise of night.

Mathron
12-20-2001, 02:55 PM
The door slowly opened, and three orcs dragged the dwarf inside - weapons aimed on him the entire time. He was tossed into a corner, groaning, and then they said, in rough common, "I know of no dwarfs who serve Vardor!"

Dain coughed at him, "O' course not - I'm a spy! You aren't suppose to recognize spies!"

The orc captain called over his men, a dozen heavuly armed orcs, and crossed his arms beneath his tusks. "Think I'm stupid, do you, dwarf? Maybe you are a spy, maybe not - but you smell of elf!"

Dain dropped a hand into his coat, and tossed a small black pebble on the floor. A loud bang echoes through the room, and smoke began to fill the chamber. In almost no pause, he drew his blade, and drove forward, slicing into the captain, and then turning his axe on the orcs who stumbled through the smoke filled chamber. One orc, farther from the rest, managed to pull a bell cord before getting cut down.

---

Far beneath, Tal and the others were hard pressed, when sounding loud alarms rang out through the halls. Their foes glanced back in surprise - long enough for the heroes to regain the upper hand, and take out the orcs.

"We don't have long," Tal said, "Before more arrive. Quickly, lets find the slaves!"

Lief Erikson
12-20-2001, 11:00 PM
The Nightrider pulled the dart out of its hand and dropped it to the ground, turning towards its new opponent. "Then not all of you are at the castle," it said in a flat voice, it's shadow shifting as it stepped towards it enemy. Blue fire whipped and crackled from its hands, flashing out at the intruder.

Arcon dodged to the side as the flame struck the place where he'd been standing a moment before, burning the turf to ash.

"You'll find it quite hard to kill me with weapons of that sort," the Nightrider stated as it raised its hand again. "Quite hard indeed."

The flame flashed out, vaporizing bushes and plants as it glared out at Arcon with a blinding flash.






Orpholin raised a hand slowly and strained, pulling his body upwards. His mind was still running in crazed circles, but he was restablishing the net. With it, perhaps he could do something.

Shelina lay sprawled on the floor several paces away, near the body of the dead bat.

Tears leaked from Orpholin's eyes at the sight. No, this should not have happened. This should never have ended that way. Rage at Vardor, at the cruelty of the enemy almost made him reach for the magic without the net. But no, that would make matters worse. He had to leave this place, this earth. A boat could take him somewhere. Where didn't matter. Just out of Beleriand.

She'd died for him.

The net regained its strength and the dark magic was sucked out, leaving in his hands the raw power.





El'nela crept along the dungeon floor, the other slaves behind her. Some of the insane ones cackled to themselves; they'd be bad for keeping this cover. But she'd been disappointed. So few of the insane ones had still had the wits to help in this struggle, but at least some had. She should be grateful for the numbers she had.

She thrust open the door and leapt out, stabbing with her dagger at the orc outside. It glanced off an armored arm . . .

Oooff!

She sprawled on the floor, blackness flitting in her vision. An angry snarl sounded and a scream. A dying elf fell to the floor near her, blood coming from both back and stomach. He'd been stabbed through.

The clash of blades momentarily sounded and she saw one of the orcs falling to the ground, two armed elves on top of it stabbing between the armored plates with knives as it desperately tried to claw them off.

She picked herself up slowly, dizziness and nausea filling her again momentarily, causing her to stagger. But she'd only been hit, and there was much more to do. Picking a weapon up from the floor, she jumped up on the back of the second orc and began to stab.

Tessar
12-20-2001, 11:28 PM
Tessar was lost.

very simply lost.

he had been folowing the others but had some how lost them and so now he had no idea where he or they were.

Selwythe
12-21-2001, 08:55 AM
*Died already?!*

Arcon dodged sideways and picked himself up, his cloak burst into flames. Loosing a wild battle-cry, he ran forward, resembling an inferno as he leaped, narrowly dodging another burst of fire, and slashed with all his might at the Nightrider. The creature felt naught a feeling and twisted around, driving Arcon flying with a backhand swing of its hard arm.

The monster turned around in triumph but its victory bellow died in its throat. It crumbled onto its knees in horror as Orpholin stood shakily before it, entrancing it well into his will with his spell.

Arcon stood up again, his vision glazed over by a layer of red. He drew forth his sword once more and jumped onto the back of the Nightrider, driving his sword deep into its back.

"I wield not the weapon of commons but the bloodlust of revenge!"

Lief Erikson
12-21-2001, 11:19 AM
A flash of blue light irrupted between Steward and the Nightrider, and the Nightrider was released. Twisting, it backhanded and missed. Twisting sharply again, it seized him by the arm and struck, its fist a blaze of blue flame.

Arcon dodged, in the same movement drawing the blade from the Nightrider and staggering back. But it was like a void, an emptiness, a shadow. Not any monster, but something more precise, and cold. Oh, how cold it was. His arm was numbing from its grip, but it was not the hardness of the hand that caused this.

Arcon twisted with his blade and slashed the Nightrider across the face. The creature stepped back, noiselessly, but obviously only on reflex, and Arcon slashed again, this time at the hand that held him.

The creature kept its hold, regardless of the cuts given it by Arcon's sword and stabbed out with its other hand at Arcon's chest.

Its fingers were claws, burrowing in. Agonizing fire filled Arcon's veins and the world began to shut out.

He was on the leafy forest floor, the Nightrider on top, and killing him. A last movement, one only goal. Arcon brought the sword around and down.

There was a shriek and the agony diminished.






Orpholin was stunned by the backlash as his spell was viciously torn apart, physically thrusting him backwards. Momentarily he was stunned and lay there, gasping for breath.

He only had the raw power, it was so hard to form anything keen, sharp or cunning with it. Perhaps next time he should simply throw fistfuls of fire into it and hope that that had some effect.

He glanced around, his neck hurting and saw the Nightrider locked in combat with Arcon.

Trembling, Orpholin reestablished the net and began to draw in the magic.

Then Arcon was down. It had begun and ended so fast! The Nightrider was oblivious to the hurts given it by Arcon's sword, its features had already been instinguishable so it hardly seemed harmed.

It was reaching one hand . . . into Arcon!

Orpholin was so startled he nearly lost the magic, but managed to keep his hold on it. The barbarity!

Then, incredibly, Arcon brought his sword around and down in a move toward the hand which pierced him.

A shriek rent the air and the Nightrider stumbled backwards, flailing with its hands. A shriek from a Nightrider! Rare it was that they showed that much emotion, but Orpholin could see why. Arcon's blade had severed three of its fingers. Not that that would stop it.

He was right, it was already turning on its opponent, this time simply to kill, and kill quickly.

Something streaked out of the woods at lightning speed. It cleared the distance between itself and the Nightrider and in one incredible movement, leapt off the ground, soared through the air and landed on its back and shoulders.

The wolf had the Nightrider's head between its jaws, and the Nightrider was struggling again, wildly as it had trouble reaching the opponent. Its hands went up over its head and began to burn.

Then Orpholin struck. And the Nightrider disappeared in the blast of fire which seared it. It was no more. "Should have killed me first," he muttered.

The Nightrider was gone. The wolf lay on the ground nearby, getting up, singed but otherwise unharmed. Arcon had five gouges in his chest but appeared to be coming around, however he obviously needed some serious medical attention.

And Shelina . . . Blessed Shelina, she was recovering! She was already picking herself up, gazing about blankly.

A smile spread across Orpholin's face and he ran up to her, throwing his arms about her neck and beginning to laugh, a laugh that she joined.

"I've found you, my child," he said, tears leaking down his tanned, careworn face. "At last I've found you."

Tessar
12-21-2001, 11:29 AM
:sniff sniff: :teerful smile: that was so beautiful..... :sob:

;) more like mushy :)
__________________________________________________

Irid al'Menie
12-21-2001, 01:37 PM
*OOC: oh come on, get a life Tesser. That was a beautiful post. Little question: was that the big or the small wolf that is alive...*

Lief Erikson
12-21-2001, 10:51 PM
*Whichever one you didn't kill. Flyer, I think.*

Selwythe
12-22-2001, 11:04 AM
Arcon watched in the failing light as the old man and young woman embraced in tearful reunion, his hatred for Shelina temporarily sated. He knew, too well, the agony of separation, yet never the reunion which sweetens the longest wait.

His heart hardened as he turned around. He could watch no more without pondering his wretched fate.

He stood up as blinding pain filled his chest. He gritted his teeth and fell back, feeling the vitality of life slipping from him with the passing of every long second. He crawled towards the trees, his strength having failed him. Perhaps it was to end here, he thought, after avenging his mother. His eyes closed in pain as he recalled his childhood of time long past. To savour loveliness and to lose it all.

He snapped out of his trance. He had still his father in the wilderness, he whom he never saw, only heard. Heard of his disillusionment. Heard of his thralldom. Heard of his escape, and too many times clearly heard of his recall, and misery.

With a surge of energy, he stood up in a flash and bounded into the forest, before finally stumbling and hurtling into a bush. He lurched and put his hand to his mouth and was dismayed to find it covered in blood. He turned his eyes upward and saw in the distance the Sun's first rays, as it scarred his wounds. He clutched desperately onto life, and opened his mouth in a silent scream when he lost his grasp.

--------------------------------------

"Come, my child," Orpholin patted Shelina on the back, his mouth choking in his happiness. "Meet my godson, he whose father was my friend once when the sky was clear and all was merry. He whom I have not seen for twenty and more years."

Orpholin turned and was surprised to see a blank space where Arcon was. A trail of blood led into the forest.

***Shelina does not know that Arcon attacked the Nightrider.***

Lief Erikson
12-22-2001, 08:01 PM
*Hmmm, I see you've suddenly jumped another plot element on me. Perhaps in the discussion forum you could at least tell me what my relationship is to this wolfkiller? Even if he is the godson of Orpholin, so far he's hardly shown himself someone worthy of their concern. You know, Irid isn't going to forgive you so easily and I hardly think she should. Even if Arcon does need someone to care for him. Unless of course we simply never made him meet them again.*

Flyer led the way for Orpholin and Shelina as they hurried through the forest. Neither completely needed the wolf, but it helped their speed to follow it, for it could see . . . or smell the trail more easily than they.

The undergrowth was smashed down as if the person had been moving recklessly and incredibly fast.

"Here he is," Orpholin said as they reached the place of Arcon's fall.

"Him!" Shelina cried, her hands going to her mouth as she stared wide eyed from the body on the ground to Orpholin's serious gaze. "Surely not!"

"He may be ruthless and a villain, but I owe it to his father to help him now."

Shelina stared at him for a long moment. "You realize how this could end? When we revive him, he could kill us both."

"His heart is not wholly black. And this could be the turning point that brings him back to the light. We are not completely helpless anyway, and Shelina, I have to help him."

She grimaced and shook her head. "Then I'll have to go back for the horses so we can bring him to some place which is more safe, and where we can better bring him back to health." She turned her back and started back towards the glade.

"The main problem in his heart Shelina, which goes beyond his physical wounds," Orpholin said as he crouched over the figure, his face wrinkled in concern, "Is that he is loved by none. You know what that is like, Shelina, and surely can sympathize with it."

She hesitated a moment longer before continuing, as Orpholin disarmed the fallen man of all his weapons, secret or not.






Vardor stared out the window at the forest. It should have been done by now. Orpholin could have put up no resistance, and the Nightrider should be returning already with its charge. To begin the tiresome work of turning him over to their side. A long and arduous task, but one they could succeed in. The difficulty was rebuilding him in the necessary image once he was broken.

But apparently, that would never be a problem. He'd only seen the battle going on in the distance when it was too late. He'd even twisted the shadows and gone there, but it was already over. There was a blood trail in one direction and a dead bat. Nothing else.

His castle was under attack, so there was no time to follow the trail and see where its end lay. But if he couldn't get Orpholin now, he had all the years ahead to continue that. Morgoth's gift already was working to prolong his life, his only limit would be his brother's death by old age. Something he could not allow.

The battle still raged, but he had many more orcs to send. And orcs weren't the worst he had here.

He glanced behind him at his other Nightrider. It was a void simply waiting there for his command.

"They're after the prisoners," Vardor stated.

The Nightrider nodded.

"See that they don't reach them."

It nodded a second time, and vanished out the door, closing it behind.






"Come on, it's all clear!" an elf at the far doorway called.

"Why?" El'nela asked in surprise as she hurried up to join him. "I thought that group would be the group we ended up fighting our last fight with, if they closed in from that side. The only other option for us is retreat. We have too few here to have put up any substantial resistance to that kind of . . ."

"I think there's an attack from outside," the elf interrupted.

She frowned. "What makes you think that?"

"Can't you here it? Be quiet for a moment and listen."

And she did. And off in the distance, she could indeed vaguely make out the sounds of clashing weapons and orcish cries.

"Neat coincidence," she smiled.

"Very helpful," her comrade agreed. "And if we hit them from behind, we might just have a chance of actually pulling off this insane escape attempt."

An elf ran lightly up from the back door. "And you'd better hurry. Some creature just went back the way we came from. If it finds out whats happened, it'll sound the alarm. If it needs to do that."

"What do you mean? Why didn't you just kill it?" El'nela asked with a frown. "Nickbatar is certainly good enough with his knives."

"It's not an orc. I don't know what it was, but it was like a hole in the sky. Like a void, a black nothingness in human shape."

"Sounds like Vardor's doing," she agreed. "And we probably couldn't have fought it. Let's hurry then and try to join this new company."

And out they sped across the courtyard. And from behind, coming from the dungeons came a bellow that resounded through the air, echoing and bouncing off the walls, the shriek of the Nightrider that had failed in its task. And the creature lunged back up the dungeon steps after them, as angry as something like a Nightrider could possibly be.

Irid al'Menie
12-23-2001, 07:14 AM
Irid had just stabbed another orc,, and she was covered in blood, hers and orcish. It was a big group and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on. Then she heard something strange. Sounds of battle, but from the other side of the orcs. She shouted to Tal, who was fighting besides her.

"Tal, there are others fighting the orcs. I think we should fight towards them!"

She saw Tal nod, and started to fight her way through. At some point she was just surrounded by orcs, but judging from the sound of the battle she was near the other fighters. Then she stabbed the last orc and she was through. In front of the fighters was an elf that looked surprisingly a lot like Tal. She turned around and started fighting next to the girl.

*ooc: long time since i have posted, but here i am again :)*

Tessar
12-23-2001, 10:54 AM
Tessar was walking down a dimmly lit hallway when he felt a strong magic something coming twards him.

"halt!" he said using his magic powers to try to paralise the whatever it was.

It paused for a moment as if waundering if the little elf was worth the time and trouble that it might be to kill it.

Tessars stomach did a flip as the thing drew a long back sword and charged him.

(If you get too it first you can have my guy beet/get beeten by the guy. I need to leve for church in a sec. but if you dont get to it first then I will do the fight)

Lief Erikson
12-23-2001, 12:45 PM
*The Nightrider doesn't have a sword, Tessar. It doesn't need one ;).*

Tessar flung his magic at the creature, but it deadened and deflected before getting too close. And the Nightrider raised a hand, a casual guesture.

And Tessar was flung backwards, head over heels into the wall behind him.

He was not the target, here. It had reached the slaves.

And the Nightrider opened its mouth and yelled, a primevil shriek that echoed in the chamber. The orcs and elves quailed in fear at the approach of the creature, but it was too late already.

The Nightrider flung itself into the slaves.

Irid al'Menie
12-23-2001, 12:52 PM
*OOC: hey Lief, could you mail me back? I want to read a mail :D. I don't really have inspiration for a post right now ;)*

Lief Erikson
12-23-2001, 10:39 PM
"Here is the place," Orpholin said as he motioned to the small wood hut in front of them. "This is where he will remain while I help in the battle out there."

He glanced around the bare conditions for a moment. "I stayed here in hiding once before. Found it by chance, but it's well hidden and stood me in good stead. As it will keep you, now, Shelina."

She frowned, then grabbed his arm. "What do you mean? I'm coming with you!"

"There is nothing you could do there, Shelina. And he needs medical attention. Immediate medical attention I mean, and you can deliver that as well as I can. I took shelter in this company for my own safety, but now I have discovered the extent of my powers and they need my help. Vardor cannot possibly be dealt with by any of them."

"Of course," she said, letting go and taking several steps away, towards the hut. She stared, but she wasn't really looking.

He took a couple steps away, pausing by Arcon's unconscious form. He turned around then. "I will come back, Shelina. I promise."

She didn't respond, so he turned and hurried into the forest, stopping a moment later. He closed his eyes and concentrated, standing there in complete silence.

"Your name is Flyer," he stated.

The wolf stepped out from the trees, its tongue hanging out of its mouth as it stared up at him through its bright yellow eyes. "Shelina may need protection, Flyer. Look after her for me."

The wolf stared at him for a moment longer, but then suddenly pricked up its ears, as if recieving instruction from far away, another place. Orpholin smiled in understanding.

And the wolf darted off back to the hut.

And Orpholin wrapped himself in magic, brilliant white light, the power of an Istari. "The curse on my family," he muttered. "I will gain control, and I will abstain from using this. But after this there will be no need. But there is a duty now that I have gained some measure of control of this power, the duty of the Istari."

And the figure in faded gray robes flitted through the forest in perfect silence and stealth, approaching the castle with all possible speed.



*Selwyth, Shelina's not going to kill Arcon or anything; she is going to help him recover.*

Mathron
12-24-2001, 06:18 AM
*Gah, sorry for my absence, but I am home for break with slow and rare internet access...
By the way, Lief - just recall that the Istari, persay (Gandalf and other such wizards) don't exist in middle earth yet, or for quite a time to come. Anyway, all is looking rather cool in the meantime.*


IC:


Dain rushed through the hallways. Fell magic was in the air, and though he realized his actions here would have no true effect on the greater things at work, he could at least do his best to aid his friends.

He ran through a cluster of orcs, slicing them down before they noticed his presence. The orcs, and other normal guardians of the castle, were confused and disorganized, attacked on all sides and without leadership. They were not the true threat anymore.

The sound of fighting drew him, and he nearly stumbled over Tessar lying, injured, on the ground.

"Rest easy, lad, ye've done well," said Dain, and passed the young elf a flask. "This will heal you, and return strength to your limbs. Drink it slowly, whilst I battle."

Jumping up, Dain charged forward, seeing the distance the enemy that even now leapt upon fleeing slaves. He knew not what it was, save it was a monster of dark magic and dark power.

He gripped his axe tight. He might annoy the thing, even injure it, but he knew he was outmatched. Even should the others arrive, it might be beyond their power. But he had to do what he could, and buy time. With a smile, and eyes shining with determination, he lifted his weapon and charged.

---

Malagar looked out of the alcove and down on the room below. A score of orcs - fierce ones, armed with the finest armor of Melkor's forces, and all high ranking in his dark hordes - guarded the lever to the gateway. Hundreds more roamed the dark mountain fortress of Angband, about and nearby, and would come at a moment's call.

Elenia glanced at him, smiling. "We will succeed," she whispered. "You know my plan. All we must do is strike at the right moment, and all will be taken care of."

Malagar smiled back. "Then let us sit, and await victory."

Tessar
12-24-2001, 11:34 AM
OOC* Hey leif, don't you think its funny that the only time you said ANYTHING about my guy was to almost kill him?

Lief Erikson
12-25-2001, 02:22 AM
>) Funny indeed. :lol


Actually, I only bumped him against a wall. He'll live.

Tessar
12-25-2001, 10:06 AM
Yes, he will live.... but you may not. :starts to throtle Leif:

lol ;) Marry Christmass all.

Mathron
12-25-2001, 12:43 PM
Tal dodged back from the attacks of two orcs, and lifted his weapon to strike back - but before he could, they fell to the strikes of Erenfor and Angar.

"Well done," said Erenfor, "But many more orcs prowl this castle then we can finish off easily. We are closer now, to the prisons, let us-"

He was cut off as more sounds of combat rang throughout the corridor. The party exchanged glances, and then charged towards the sound of battle.


----

Sandor clutched his head as he ran away from the plains of Angband. He had barely been able to resist the compulsion to enter, and the pain that flooded through him was nearly unbearable. But he was strong, and drove himself away, towards the woods to the South. Something still, he knew, hunted him, but perhaps he could find safety before it caught him...

Selwythe
12-29-2001, 12:26 PM
The door slammed shut as the flimsy hut shook slightly. Shelina stared at the door, disbelieving that her father would leave her upon their reunion with a man who had tried to take her life on too many occasions. She looked at Arcon's limp form in distate, then confusion. She had never heard of her father having a godson, and if so, would never dream of him trying to murder her. Perhaps he too knew nothing about this.

She stared gravely as she remembered the past; when he took her captive, when he pursuited her numerous times and narrowly escaped death on each occasion, and on the final leg, when she was trapped in a blazing inferno as he finally caught up with her.

She shook her head and closed her eyes in horror as she recounted the struggle Arcon's dragon, as she attempted wildly to escape, eventually succeeding as she stabbed the dragon with her dagger and grounded it, before fleeing into the woods. All she knew later was that the forest lit in a blaze as flames shot in the sky and the dragon flew into the sky, without a rider.

She stirred from her trance when a trickle of blood dribbled from her patient's mouth. Her father had instructed her to nurse him. As much as the possibility of it sickened her, she would carry out her responsibility until he returned.

She inspected his blood-stained garments and recoiled in horror when she uncovered a deep gash inscribed into his chest. She averted her eyes and cautiously dabbed at the gash with a piece of cloth, but froze when Arcon stirred and murmured in a panicked slur.

No, no, quickly! Run, run!

Shelina shook her head as she took a bowl and a bundle of herbs from her waist.

Here! Out of this place! Hurry!

She started listening more intently, for it wakened something buried deep within her mind.

Step on my shoulder. Quick! Quick! They are coming!

Shelina dropped the bowl in shock and gaped, the sound of metal echoing throughout the house in a noisy din. There was a long silence before he stirred again.

Help me! Pull me up! Please! They are coming!

Her eyes filled with tears as she listened.

Please!

She closed her eyes and whispered shakingly the exact response, to that request for life twenty years ago.

Go away, Gorthang, you unhappy boy! Nobody likes you! Go home to where you belong!

She cupped her hand over Arcon's mouth before he could scream in agony, for that scream haunted her for years. He fell limp, his body cold and pale.


-----------------------------------------------

Sandor entered the woods, his mind freed again from the long reach of Vardor and Morgoth, but he knew not how long he would savour his liberty. He forayed quickly: the full moon was high, and this was the night of doom, the prophet said.

He crept cautiously upon hearing a strange rustle of the trees, and there in front of him, stood a wizened old man, his staff pointed against him.

"Tell me, Sandor, that you have defeated it in your heart."

"Only a temporary conquest."

The old man lowered his staff before coming forward and hugging Sandor.

"It's been a long time."

"Too true, Orpholin," Sandor choked. "Abel the Seer said it would be tonight."

"And part is fulfilled, for I have finally found your son. He is alive, barely."

"And Nore, my doomed love?"

"That too has been fulfilled."

Sandor smiled sadly.

Mathron
12-29-2001, 04:10 PM
"It is best," whispers Sandor, "that he not see me, nor know of me. My own doom, I feel, is close behind me, and I know not what terrible form it takes."

Orpholin nodded, gravely, and said, "You may not have another chance to undo your decision. His life has been hard, especially without a father. If you deprive him of that now, it may be set in stone forever."

"So be it. I will regret it, I know, but I will not have him - nor you, any longer, endangered by what hunts me. Nor by me... I feel myself losing control, as I seem to be losing control of everything, of late. I have only held on long enough to see this part of my life ended."

"And is that," said Orpholin softly, "your final decision?"

Sandor nodded. "It is the only one I can make. If you get the chance, tell him I did care for him, despite all of our history. And that I am sorry."

Turning away, he whispered to himself, "And for my crimes, I shall surely pay..."

As he turned and ran off, into the woods, he heard Orpholin's words floating after him, "Fare well, old friend, and let your heart be strong and pure despite all that comes against you."

Lief Erikson
12-30-2001, 12:19 PM
*Selwyth, would you mind explaining to me this personal relationship you're developing between Arcon, Shelina and Orpholin? I don't particularly like having the main characters in a scenario I don't know a thing about, you see ;).*

Irid al'Menie
01-06-2002, 04:07 PM
Irid looked at the girl fighting besides her. She was dressed in rags, and her face was dirty, but neverthe less she was obviously related to Tal. Then her attention was drawn back to the orc. They kept fighting, and eventually the line of orcs grew thin. Her daggers were slipping from her hands, from her blood and orcish blood. Another orc died with a throat cut. She was getting tired...

Then, finally, after what seemed like an eternity, there were no more orcs to fight. Irid sat down, leaning against a wall, and watched the others. Tal and the girl came eye to eye. Slowly, both of them reached out a hand and grabbed each other.

But they couldn't enjoy eachothers company for long, as the Nightrider came along, killing prisoners.

"Oh great... What's that???"

Then she had a vision...

A glade in a forest... Runner coming out of the bushes... Some people, of which one was the old man of their company... And with them a creature like this one. Runner jumping to it... Both of them flying... And runner dies.

Irid startles. Then she looks at the creature. A red shimmer comes across her eyes. Anger is taking over, Rage comes out. Arcon killing some of her friends was bad, but this creature had killed her best friend, the one she never wanted to lose. She takes her daggers, looks at them... They seem to be glowing with a redish light. She opens her mouth and starts to scream... A scream of pure rage, and none with any wits left should come across her path now. She stands up, and starts to walk towards the creature. It raises it's sword to strike at her... But she doesn't retreat... She doesn't care anymore whether she lives or dies...

This is something that surprises the creature, who isn't used to someone who isn't scared of it. Irid raises her daggers, and stabs the creature. It steps back, Irid follows. She puts all the Rage she feels into her weapons. For all the Wolves killed, by this one or another person. She keeps stabbing it, ignores the cold spreading in her arms. It fights back, but is weakened already. Blood streams down her arms, she gets a cut in her face, but ignores all. Eventually the creature falls. As the subject of her Rage is taken away, she faints. Her daggers fall next to her body....

Tessar
01-06-2002, 05:21 PM
uh oh, leif is gona be mad at you now for being able to kill his night rider :rolleyes:

that and for messing with one of his guys, infact KILLING one of his guys!

:rolleyes:

Irid al'Menie
01-07-2002, 12:48 PM
*i didn't say i killed it, I said it fell down... Besides, i didn't exactly mess with his guy... We were fighting, and i posted a copple of times that i was tired and that this creature was fighting back.*

Tessar
01-07-2002, 01:16 PM
You missunderstand, I have no problemo with you're post but I think that Leif will.:rolleyes:

Mathron
01-09-2002, 01:40 AM
Two dozen orcs sat in the small and silent room, watching out the front windows of Angband, and tossing uneasy glances at their commander. Guard duty at the gate was never pleasant, and though a few hundred more orcs and other various creatures of the dark were alongside the walls and ground below, they were still not permitted to speak or mutter amongst themselves, lest an example be made of them. And, worst of all, a prisoner was loose in the tower somewhere.
Their commander, a dark armored man from the elite warriors of the army, stood in a corner, hand on his sword, looking darkly at the orcs serving under him, and tossing glances at the doorways every few moments.
Outside the room, hidden in shadow, Malagar and Elenia prepared to make their assault.

Lief Erikson
01-09-2002, 09:34 PM
The Nightrider fell back to the floor, stunned by the onslaught. Who was this girl? It must be some personal revenge that was inspiring this. Perhaps he had killed a relation of hers in the past; those were the only times he'd known of when the weak could overstep the bounds of their strength to such an extent. But she could not resist him.

He was not too surprised, when he looked up, to see that she was already beaten though, swooning at his feet. This would take no effort.

Picking himself up, he was surprised to find that he'd had difficulty in doing so. She must have dealt his physical body some pretty severe wounds to get to that extent. He'd take a moment to recover.

He stepped back, lowered his hand towards her throat.

A hand that was sliced off a second later.

He stared up in shock as a boot took him in the stomach and an elf leapt for his chest. "FOR DORIATH!" he screamed, seizing the Nightrider by the throat, raising his sword and . . .

being thrown to the ground a second later by a backhanded blow from his adversary. The Nightrider snarled for an instant in pain and anger, but those emotions were sucked away a moment later.

Erenfor picked himself up, the cold a dead counter point to the wrath in his heart. An inferno of emotion much like that of the other woman's, the Nightrider realized belatedly. As a matter of a fact, it appeared that everyone was feeling that most of the slaves were fighting with that wrath and desperation now. Orcs were falling, the battle was already nearly lost. This was not his day.

Mathron
01-09-2002, 09:44 PM
Tal watched Erenfor, filled with a mad strength, running ahead of him into the midst of the slaves fighting orcs and fleeing something in terror. Moments later, Tal pushed past them two, slicing down two orcs in anger as he went by. And froze, staring in shock at the scene before him.

Erenfor stood facing a creature of darkness and midnight... of more than that, a shade darker than pitch, a shade of absent color. A creature that radiated malice as it advanced. Irid was nearly collapsed on the floor, shivering with an unnatural cold. And there, across the corridor, crouched one of the slaves, a vicous slash on one arm from the Nightrider's attack, but determination and willfullness still in her gaze as she watched the creature. El'nela.

The anger in Tal's heart finally faded, the bitterness went away. A smile danced, briefly, upon his lips. He raised his blade, eyes flashing, and stepped up beside Erenfor, ready to battle as he never had before.

Lief Erikson
01-09-2002, 10:00 PM
And this new opponent didn't appear to be the only one, the Nightrider reflected. Several other slaves were moving in on him, their eyes blazing. Ill placed wrath; he hadn't been the one responsible for all this. But the Nightrider knew that the battle was already lost. He was almost the only one left; there were only small knots of enemies in other places nearby, surrounded and being cut down.

Two other slaves stepped forward, and then five more, and then ten. Erenfor and Tal were on him, a host of others also attacking.

The Nightrider knew when he'd met his match. He could not face their fury, not now, not here.

Twisting around, he leapt out the other doorway, blasting blue fire back into them as a counterattack as he fled. Three fell from the fresh wounds scalded into them, but the others lunged, screaming with wrath.

The Nightrider twisted up a spiral staircase, thrust out flame at the roof and let it cave in.

The stones collapsed in the faces of the pursuers as the rock stair above caved in, blocks of rock covered in twisting, curling fire.

"Back!" Erenfor screamed. "Get back, everyone!"

The slaves fell back, the last of them dodging back into the hall just in front of the crumbling wall of rock and flame.

The tower crumbled, collapsing inwards upon itself and smashing to bits on the ground. As the long plume of gray smoke began to rise from the place of its destruction, Vardor looked at it from a field beyond and he knew that this was one stronghold that was finally defeated.

He'd fought hard to keep it, but what he had done had risen back in his face to threaten him. There was no way he could have anticipated that two different attacks would come at once at his secret location. The anger of underlings had risen up, and he'd have to be careful next time. This was one mistake he'd never make again.

Turning around, he suddenly saw someone he'd not expected. Striding across the field nearby, one lone figure. A brown speck on the golden field, the man walked towards him, stopping ten paces from him. "Vardor?" the man asked.

"Orpholin."

"I am here," Orpholin answered, and in his smile there was no warmth.

Irid al'Menie
01-10-2002, 12:07 PM
Rising... Ever rising. One everlasting moment long she felt no boundries... No past, no present, no future. Not even a name to keep her from going ever up. then it stopped. She didn't rise anymore, nor did she fall. A presence behind her. She turned around, an animal... She could not give it a name, all words were lost, forgotten. All she could do was observe. It turned around, and looked back as it wished to be followed... Sounds reflected, but had no meaning. Instincively she knew she had to follow. It went down, not up. No regret she felt, nor relief. The only feeling she had was an urge to follow the animal...
From up above she saw some stronghold... Though still no words came to her mind... Still they went down, the stronghold came nearer. They seemed to go through the wall, still going down. They came in a room, with some people in it. She saw some were dressed in rags, others were dressed better. Two resembled very much.
The animal stepped on firm ground, and walked towards a body lying on the ground. Somehow she knew what she had to do. She lied down too, next to the body. Then she seemed to be dragged in it.

Slowly Irid opens her golden eyes. She had the feeling a cold had been in her body, but now it was gone. She knew she was still connected with the animal, though she couldn't see it anymore. She sat up, let her eyes wander over the people.
Still she found no words. She heard others speaking, but the sounds coming out of their mouths were meaningless.
She shook her head, trying to tell the one that was speaking to her she couldn't understand him.

One presence she felt very clearly... It was very far, though coming nearer...

(OOC: that presence is Flyer who is coming to the stronghold. Whoever's talking to me, u guys decide...)

Mathron
01-10-2002, 02:51 PM
Dain leaned down beside Irid, making sure she was stable. He stood on a balcony outside the corridor the fight had finished in, and the light of the stars gleamed across his battle-weary features.

"It's ok, girl... the battle's over. We've won."

Blinking, she looked up at him, and shook her head, then winced at the sudden pain before lying down again.

Dain sat back, glad she was, at least, going to survive, and looked around. Slaves and orcs lay dead on the ground everywhere, and even his companions bore injuries. Tal, though, sat with peaceful eyes beside his El'nela, talking softly of both sadness and joy. The demons that plagued the elf were gone. Irid and Tessar were the worst off of them, and should both be able to walk and act, if with care, by the end of the day.

Angar, all but untouched, walked over beside the dwarf, looking concerned.

"We have bested the servants, but does not the master still remain?" asked the dark elf, and Dain shrugged.

"Another is battling with Vardor, and his fortress here is fallen. And that battle, I think, is a private one."

Angar replied coldly, "Yet should we not join in, to do all we can to end any part of Melkor's forces."

Dain looked away for a moment, and then said softly, "Did you know that this fortress was, among other things, a watchtower for Angband. Vardor's distance from his lord was to, among other things, serve to warn Morgoth of approaching enemies."

He paused, and then continued, "This tower is fallen. Vardor is occupied. That was my goal... and, I assure you, even if Vardor survives, Melkor's evil is soon to end. And if Vardor does rise up to do mischief again, it will be many years away, long after we all have perished or faded away..."

He turned and looked to the west, where the sky was brightening, though it still remained midnight. "They are coming," he whispered softly to himself, and then turned back to helping caring for the wounded.

Tessar
01-10-2002, 03:23 PM
Dang! you got to it first!

Irid al'Menie
01-10-2002, 04:58 PM
Words... Words came flowing in her mind. The first word she knew again was... Wolf. Then she remembered... Irid. And Runner... And Tal and Dain and Tessar and names kept coming, and then other words, fortress and room and family... After that Other things dropped back in. Images of her past, her parents being killed by orcs, the wolves that took care of her, the old man in the forest that thought her much of her skill with daggers. She remembered things that happened, things she normally had forgotten. But it all came back

With a sigh Irid wakes up again. She can now hear and understand everything being said. She looks at Dain.

"It's ok again, Dain. I can understand you again."

Her arms were hurting. She looked at them, saw they were covered in bandages, she knows Dain had done that, and she smiles at him.

"Thank you, my friend. I think i could use some rest now... But where..."

Lief Erikson
01-12-2002, 01:07 AM
"Of your own will," Vardor remarked as he looked more closely at Orpholin. "But you've come for a different purpose. To kill me; haven't you?"

Orpholin was silent, his face like stone. The wind whipped his tattered gray cloak about him, mingling with his long gray hair as it flowed out around his face.

"You have already crossed half the boundary then toward darkness. You'd kill your own brother." Vardor smiled; a small, sad smile. But a real one. He turned his head to the side, the black of his hood obscuring his face as he looked down, to the side, past Orpholin.

"My family existed in darkness for ages, ever since a curse from one of our fathers, I don't know how far back in lineage. I am the first who has ever resisted."

"You cannot go without the power," Vardor responded. "None ever could. And eventually your method for taking your strength but leaving the darkness will slip. Just once, moving too hastily, that's all it takes." He raised his head, staring the old man coldly in the eyes, his voice rough and hard. "You have no choice."

"Then I will abstain from using it."

Vardor laughed. "Will you now?" he asked in an amused voice.

He struck swiftly, like an adder, catching Orpholin under the chin and throwing him back several feet to hit the ground and roll.

"You have aged, brother," he said as he approached. "I have not. I will never age, not ever. The gift of an elf, Morgoth has given me. And he will give you that too; take it before it is too late."

Orpholin struggled up, crouching on the dried grass.

"Brother, you have lost, whatever you choose to do. I have sought you all this time, because you are my brother. You are my family."

"Then why do you fight me?" Orpholin snarled, standing completely on his feet. "Family? Paugh! I reject you, Vardor! I reject you forever!"

The dark shrouded figure shook his head slightly, as if weary with a silly child. The move enraged his opponent, and Orpholin seized magic through the net, tearing out the raw source and hurtling it at his adversary. The ground was blackened and the dried grass burnt completely away in the space of two seconds, and the inferno passed, Vardor standing in the middle of where it had struck.

Orpholin struck again, a roaring flame lifting up from the ground to surround the figure, whipping around and around him, and he strained to drive the flames inwards and crush the enemy. The brilliance flared in the darkness, casting away the shadows of night for a short time, but they rebounded off an invisible force, and Vardor laughed. A long, loud laugh, peeling into the trees.

Fire blazed and roared, clubs of it striking at the figure, pummeling it with a strength that should have torn it to pieces. Vardor's laugh rose higher and higher, and Orpholin could feel it through his bones.

The net . . . his mind feebly groped, and suddenly he realized what was happening. He thrust it all away, all of it. The dark power was almost in him. The net had grown threadbare with his tearing pull. He had nearly slipped away completely.

He raised his head, wincing in pain as light seemed to flare in his eyes. He looked out at the figure standing across from him on the field, the same ten pace distance still separating them. But he was no longer laughing.

"You nearly killed me there," Vardor said in a low voice. "Try again; perhaps you'll be more fortunate."

"No." Orpholin's voice was hoarse. "You'll never take me, Vardor."

"You'll never escape the power."

"I have passed the test." Orpholin stepped away from his adversary, sadness filling him for the creature that had been his brother. Turned and twisted in evil. Gone was all that had been good in him. "I am leaving."

There was a long silence, and finally Orpholin turned and walked away.

He was fourteen steps from his enemy, and he could feel Vardor's eyes on him. Eighteen steps. Twenty two. The enemy still had not struck. Orpholin did not look back. He was forty steps from his enemy now, and near the edge of the field, the boundary to the forest.

He continued walking, suddenly intensely aware of the strange light gleaming around him from far away, the crunch of the dry grass at his feet, the whistle of the wind across the open field.

He had reached the end, the treeline. Only then did he turn, and see the figure still standing in the center of the blackened spot, still watching him.

It hit him all of a sudden and emotion throbbed up in his throat, tears appearing in his eyes. He raised a hand, trying to speak but his words caught in his throat. "Goodbye," he whispered.

"Farewell," Vardor's voice whispered back, and despite the distance, both heard each other.

Orpholin twisted around and disappeared in the trees, his gray cloak fluttering around him.





Vardor fell to his knees on the blackened ground, his hands stretching out and his fingers clawing into the blackened earth. A rough sob burst from his throat, and he crouched in the dust, the folds of his black robes falling around his crouching figure.

In his heart he felt a loss. Something that he couldn't have imagined he would feel at such a time. Orpholin was gone; he had let him go. Why, he couldn't entirely understand, but the emptiness and feeling of being alone wouldn't lessen. Never had he felt so entirely alone.

A shiver wracked his figure and a few tears dropped from his eyes, hitting the blackened, hard ground beneath him and spattering on the ground.

"Lord Vardor?" asked a voice from behind him.

The Nightrider.

Vardor remained as he was for a moment longer, then forced down the emotion, the grief as hard as he'd ever forced anything down. He would be hard enough.

He stood and turned to the Nightrider, staring into its expressionless face. "You want me to return your brethren to you." he said, pulling himself to the matter at hand.

The Nightrider bowed its head.

"It will be seen to," Vardor answered. He still felt this accursed loss. It was weak, and he had to be strong to regain all that he'd lost today. It would indeed take many years, but it would happen. He had all the time in the world. He had to be strong enough.

He glanced to the side and saw the light off to his right, a light spawned by some strange devilry to shine in night and drown the darkness that was his friend. He walked away with the Nightrider, entering the forest, simply becoming two more shadows in the darkness of the trees. The shadows, his home.

Irid al'Menie
01-12-2002, 04:30 AM
*OOC: lief: it's midnight, just around... I thought so anyway...*

The presence Irid had felt earlier was coming nearer, but she now knew what and who it was. The wolf Flyer was running towards the fortress. She called him, led him through the different halls. Eventually he appeared in the room everyone was in. He ran towards her. She sat down and held her hand on his nose, sharing the grief of a loss...

*OOC: i'm done... This was my own little plot...*

Lief Erikson
01-12-2002, 01:40 PM
Arcon looked upwards as the blackness before his eyes filtered away. He was weak, weaker than he'd been at any time in his life. Pain was still throbbing from his chest, but dulled, it's keen sting gone. He glanced to the side and saw Shelina sitting next to his bedside, dozing.

Hatred shot through him again at the sight of her, but he could do nothing in this weakened state. In this weakened state . . . he looked down at myself. She had tended his wounds! His eyes narrowed in suspicion. Why? After all she'd done.

"Gorthang!" she said suddenly. "You're awake at last!"

He stared up at her coldly, silent.

"I hope my healing you now, keeping you from death will at least purge away part of the debt I owe you," she said as she looked down at him.

Still he didn't answer.

"I'm sorry, Gorthang," Shelina said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I was young, but a child, and you imposed upon me at an early age. I hated you more than I did anyone, but I did regreted that decision afterwards. I can't believe I'm saying this now, I wouldn't have yesterday. Oh, simply share forgiveness with me, Gorthang, and leave in peace."

"Forgiveness with one who left me to death?" he snapped angrily "Twice?"

"The first time, I'm sorry about. There was no escape had you gone with me anyway, my path immediately after that took a very dangerous turn . . ."


"Go away Gorthang, you unhappy boy! Nobody likes you! Go home to where you belong!"

The boy stepped back, stunned, his tear stained face staring up in shocked disbelief. Then his face hardened and he dashed out the way he'd come, running away, gone from her life. He had always been staring at her, lurking on the edges of her games, and he made her uncomfortable whenever he was near. Once when she had worked up the courage to talk to him, he had made it seem as if he was possessing her, ignoring her desire to leave and dragging her on and on in his excitement. What did he know about humans? She hardly felt any remorse that he was gone, but she knew that what she'd done was very likely bad. She'd have to ask her parents after this was all over, and the town defenders took down all the orcs.

The barn wall fell down with an explosive crash, boards, dust and hey falling everywhere. An orc dashed in, his rough armored figure moving quickly as he swung back his pronged axe and heaved it around, cutting sideways, the full strength of his broad shoulders behind the blow. The weapon took her horse in the throat, cutting through most of the neck. Shelina fell to the ground, her head in her hands, screaming.


"I did my best," Shelina stated as she looked back, "But even at that early age, before I knew what the enemy was like, I was a coward at heart. I knew you would slow me down, and I was bitter towards you. A grudge. One that could have ended your life in death. And I did send you the right way, believe it or not. I didn't want you coming with me, and my anger burst out, but in that anger was a key to your survival. Other children were collecting at Orpholin's house, with whom you were staying."


"I can show you where the family valuables are," she wept as another orc stormed in. The first orc merely leered at her. "I can, I promise! Please, just let me live!"

It strangely struck her that that was precisely what the other boy had said, and she felt remorse in her spur of the moment decision. But she wase too frightened by the situation at hand to give much thought to that. Tears fell from her eyes, for her poor, poor horse and for herself.

"Why should we?" one of the orcs snarled. "A girl wouldn't last two minutes in the work force at Angband. Valuables? Paugh!" The orc stepped forward, raising the axe again.

Shelina fell back against the boards, her back on the hey, screaming.

The orc's blow was suddenly blocked by a figure leaping through the doorway. A strong young man, his gray cloak swirling about him as he moved. One of the defenders; he must be. He sidestepped a blow from the orcish axe and moved forward, stabbing it in the left shoulder, a light wound, but one that caused the orc to go berserk. It lunged, roaring, it's companion close behind, and their target fought, shipping and snapping back and forth in fluid motions, blocking, blocking, blocking, and suddenly he attacked, striking through one of the orcs, dodging the first one's axe and hacking its head off.

He stood there for a moment, catching his breath, and then hurried back to Shelina. "You won't last two seconds out here," he said. "Why didn't you go with the other children who are collecting at my house?" It was Orpholin, one of the best of the defenders, and he intimidated her frightfully. But his hard, gray eyes demanded an answer.

"I sent Gorthang that way, but . . ."

"You sent Gorthang through the village?" Orpholin asked sharply, his face darkening with anger.

"What else could I do? I couldn't take him with me, you don't know what he's like!"

"Foolish girl, of course I know what he's like, he's my charge, my godson! Sending him out there now is little short of murder!"

Shelina burst into tears, sobbing hopelessly. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry! I just couldn't . . . I'm sorry . . ."

Orpholin sighed, closing his eyes for a moment and calming himself. Walking towards her, he put a firm hand on her shoulder. "What's done is done," he said in a heavy voice, "And Gorthang has a way of making himself live in impossible situations. It's still far from impossible out there, we've got a fair chance, so he'll probably make it. But let this be a lesson to you, Shelina."

He cupped her chin in one of his rough, calloused hands and lifted her head so she was looking him in the eye. "Don't ever do any such thing again. Ever. Never hold a grudge against someone for a suspended period of time, it's liable to hurt you both. Yourself probably more than the other person, for it contaminates you with darkness, Shelina. Never let it happen again."

"I won't." Reaching out, she grabbed him around the leg and hugged him close. "I'll do my best."

He smiled to himself for a moment and then lifted her up. "Come, I'll take you out and we'll see what's happening."


"My best wasn't good enough," she said sadly, "But I suppose I had little chance against the tortures Vardor has in store."

"You were tortured by Vardor?" Arcon asked in surprise.

She winced at the memory and shook her head. "It was horrible."


She screamed as the blades drew closer to rake across her body a second time, the burning heat searing her naked flesh. Agony exploded in her and she howled, her voice unstopping.

The orcs merely grinned, and proceeded with what they were doing. The torture continued, agonizing. "Stop, oh please stop!" she screamed.

Vardor's voice broke into her consciousness. "You will serve me, Fore Dog. One way or another, you will serve me."






She cringed as she looked up at the burly, bald man entering her chamber. She cringed now in fear whenever any came near. The cell she was in was completely white, without any adornement whatsoever. Nothing to focus her eyes on.

"What is your name?" the man asked.

"My name is Fore Dog," she whimpered.

"Whom do you serve?"

"Vardor, none other."

The man stared at her, and terror boiled up in her again. Terror that he wouldn't believe her, that he would take her down to the . . . the chamber for another time.

The man smiled unpleasantly and nodded in satisfaction, apparently pleased by what he saw. "How will you serve him?" he continued.


"I was hardened there," Shelina continued. "Weakened and hardened at the same time. Forced to witness things and to do things. I have lived in terror ever since. Terror of Vardor's displeasure, after being brainwashed." She looked him in the eye. "I honestly believe that even now I'd do anything, anything to avoid going through that again." She looked at him more closely. "Now do you see why I betrayed you in the forest for a second time?"

"I begin to," he admitted, unable to help being horrified by what she'd gone through.

"They're fighting Vardor now, out there," she said, glancing towards the back of the hut. "I long with all my being that they'll slay him, and set me free once and for all."

"Don't we all," Gorthang answered grimly.

"So won't you please exchange forgiveness with me?" she asked pleadingly, bending low over his bed. "Let it end here, and now. Let us both follow through with that lesson Orpholin gave me all those years ago, and let the darkness dissapate forever. I know it's a lesson from years long gone by, but it's just as important now as it was then." She bit her lip and turned toward him again. "More."


*Well, Selwyth, there's my best wrap up for their differences, and I personally think he'd better forgive her. Otherwise (Shrugs) otherwise I hardly think he's worth all this effort I'm putting into this :).*

Selwythe
01-15-2002, 07:05 AM
*Wow, I am 2 weeks busy with school and Lief has done all my work for me! Great job!*

Arcon smiled faintly, an alien feeling in his life that was long robbed of vitality and colour.

"I have toiled long, and lived in darkness, for the longest time, but never," he paused, exhausted by his efforts. "But never in the North, the shrine of my accursed line."

Arcon's breath came in ragged bursts as he struggled to speak coherently.

"It's not your fault. I had to be the heir of the accursed, ever the scourge of the Free Peoples, ever the hated of all the Houses of Elves and Men."

Arcon raised his hand shakingly as the sleeve fell back, and there clasped on his wrist was a bracelet of intricate craftsmanship, glazed in bright mithril.

"The heirloom of my house," Arcon explained softly as Shelina received it. "The treasure given to us by the Eldar before the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, before it fell into the foul touch of the devilry of Morgoth's trappings. Yet never was it tainted, for it is a work of Elven-smiths. On you it is pure."

Shelina clasped the braclet onto her wrist and held his hand as he spoke again with difficulty.

"Forgiveness I will never give, if I were somebody else, but I am...am, Gorthang," he paused, coming to terms with that long-forgotten name. "And Gorthang does not expect kindness or love from anybody, simply because nobody gives them to him, but even now you heal me, and slap me in the face with all I have ever known and experienced, all I have stared at in distate and coldness."

"The darkness lifts. Even now, I sense a battle won far away from here, and I know, I have a premonition, that Arda will once again be free, in our lifetime." Shelina reassured, her lip quivering as she sensed what was to come on a far earlier time than that.

"Nay, not in my lifetime. I am scarred forever. Before, my walled and cold heart spurred me on, distancing me from all emotions, everything beyond revenge, even when I was half-dead. Now I am wounded mortally, and no longer can I disregard the pain. I feel it overloading my senses, and empowering me. I feel it." Arcon lifted Shelina's hand to his mouth and kissed it, as his wounded chest began heaving.

"I will leave, as the last of my line, as I will suffer no heir to tread where I have been. Take my heirloom. Take my sword, and wield them when the envoy comes, as you foresee. My time is ended here, and my quest terminates. Take them, and if you never despised me, join the envoy when it comes forth, crush the North and all the history of my line. Only then can I rest."

Shelina nodded and kissed his forehead, a tear seeping down her cheek, as Arcon's eyes closed. She sat back and watched his form, which seemed suddenly tranquil and weary. She put her ear to his chest and smiled sadly. His bent yet unbroken spirit had finally departed, upon their reconcilliation. His quest, whatever its intended purpose might be, had far achieved its objective.

She closed her eyes in her position, hoping foolishly for a heartbeat, and slept soundly, something she was unable to do until today for a very long time.

Lief Erikson
01-15-2002, 01:35 PM
Orpholin entered the small hut where he'd left Shelina. He was weary and emotional, all his fatigue and sorrow on the surface. He had seen a glimmer of the brother he'd once known, so long ago. And he'd been released. He glanced through the open door and found Shelina sleeping. And from his appearance, Arcon was dead.

"So finally you've been released from the pain of this world," Orpholin said sadly as he looked at the young man, seeing again the poor boy who he had looked after in the village, so long ago. "You are at peace at last.

"Shelina?" he said, touching her shoulder and waking her up. "It is time for us to leave this place."

She yawned tiredly and looked up into his eyes with a small smile. "Where shall we go?" she asked, reaching up and touching his hand.

"Wherever the road leads," he answered softly.

"What of the others? Won't they want to know if we're simply going to disappear?"

"Flyer will give the message to the others that we are leaving, if they care. Come, let us leave this place, and this world of danger and darkness. We will find a new home, but here we are done. Forever."







And down the road two figures rode, a young woman and an old man. The leaves of the forest and the grass on the ground seemed somehow brighter than usual to both, and to all else who saw. But none could help but notice that the night of the sky was all but gone, regardless of the late hour.

And in the sky the brilliant light grew as it neared, spreading across Beleriand, and bringing with it the message of a changing world.

Tessar
01-16-2002, 10:35 PM
sorry I didn't know I was suposed to end.

thanks Leif.

but I have no idea what to do.....

Lief Erikson
01-17-2002, 12:56 AM
*You needn't write the ending of the RPG, if that's what you're thinking. I meant simply the ending of your own character's part in the adventure. That'll be the second to last post; after that Mathron can write the finishing one.

Or are you looking for ideas on how to dispose of your character? I've got plenty of them ;).*

Lief Erikson
01-17-2002, 01:03 AM
*You needn't write the ending of the RPG, if that's what you're thinking. I meant simply the ending of your own character's part in the adventure. That'll be the second to last post; after that Mathron can write the finishing one.

Or are you looking for ideas on how to dispose of your character? I've got plenty of them ;).*

Tessar
01-17-2002, 11:06 AM
(shivers at the look in Leifs eye) uhhhhhhh... well I really haven't got a clue as to what to wright, any ideas would be peachy.

Mathron
01-17-2002, 12:28 PM
All you need to do is sum up your characters actions. So, now that you've gone on this quest and helped rescue these slaves and defeat a great enemy, what would he do? Go off in search of more adventure, settle down, etc?
You don't have to have him do anything - he could well just sit there, thinking over what happened and what he wants to do next.

Tessar
01-17-2002, 07:17 PM
Ok, I'm sorry, but I can't think of ANYTHING.

If one of you wants to you can do it.

if not then it will take me a whyle to get something.

I'm really sorry but I really cant seem to think at all. :confused:

Lief Erikson
01-18-2002, 01:48 AM
*Well, strictly speaking you don't have to do it. Irid didn't put in a last post, for example.

You had mentioned early on some incident with his parents, and a magical rock. If you want to make him meditate on those things and decide to go out and do something about it you could.*

Tessar
01-18-2002, 11:34 AM
ok just give me a few hours and I will get my school done and try to get something together.

Irid al'Menie
01-18-2002, 01:35 PM
*OOC: LIEF, DID TOO!!! Didn't you read the post where flyer comes in and we share our grief? I wrote there that was my final post!*

Tessar
01-18-2002, 03:40 PM
Tessar was tired, but he kept climbing, he could have used his magic powers to help, summoned the wind to boost him up, a few weeks ago he would have, but now..... it was different *I'm different* he thought.

he looked up, still always to go but he could do it, he risked a look down and wished he hadn't, it was a long way down, he shuddered at a sudden image of himself loosing his grip and falling.

his wounds had healed quickly and he's only injury from the night rider had been a few bruises *no bigger than my ego at any rate* he though to himself, smiling at his own joke.

the wall was easy for him to climb for the most part, the castle had plenty of good foot and hand holds if you knew how to use them. and being the wood elf he was, he knew just how to use them.

Dane had told him to be careful how much he walked about for a while anyhow, "we have enough on our hands for now without you killing over again" he had said.

*well climbing isn't walking so I'm ok* he thought, actually laughing this time.

he looked up, not much farther to go.

he decided not to try looking down again.

soon he reached the top and sat down on the edge of the roof, noting with disappointment that the tower on the other side was actuly taller than his, even though he had tried to pick the tallest.

but his disappointment quickly turned to awe as he took a good look around him, he could see for miles! not that there was really much to see, but it was still impressive.

*they all look like little ants scurrying around down there* he thought.

he sighed, now that he had time to actually stop worrying about getting himself killed and think of other things, the pain of loosing his parents had all come back to him.

he hummed a tune that he only half remembered as he thought about his parents.

an hour or so later he realized that he had better go down now before Dane realized he had gone.

he started the long climb down absently thinking that maybe he would ask Tal to teach him how to use a sword properly, he would need to know since he planed to adventure more, and see everything he could!


(I hope that will do, sorry if it's not very good)

Lief Erikson
01-18-2002, 08:10 PM
*No, it's good. The ending particularly.

And now it's up to you, Mathron.*

Mathron
01-20-2002, 05:57 PM
Light streamed over the world, and Malagar smiled. He was resting, back against a dying oak tree, and watching as the dark fortress of Angband fell beneath the fury of the Valar.

Elenia stood beside him, and asked softly, "You served alongside Melkor's minions - do you think you will not be punished as well?"

Malagar shrugged. "What could they do to me worse than what I have already suffered from? I had the power of a god, and now am barely more than mortal."

"And yet, you seem happy."

"I am alive, and my enemies will trouble me no more. I think... I think this land will not be my home for a long time now. I think I should seek somewhere else to slowly regain my strength... slowly regain myself."

Elenia looked at him for a few momeents, before saying, "If you truly repented, you would be welcome back on the Blessed Isles."

Even before the words were out of her mouth, Malagar shook his head. He laughed with a bitter echo in his voice, and said, "No... I left that place long ago. Whatever future I have left is mine to make. And I will not go there and peacefully fade away, weak and living on their charity."

"Would you truly be so unhappy there?"

He grinned, and started to respond - and then stopped, the grin fading, replaced by a sad smile. "Maybe, maybe not. I don't know if I could live with who I would become there. Perhaps one day... but for now, I merely wish to live alone for a while. I could never stay in one place for long, and the world is a large place. I have a feeling I will be wandering for a long, long time before I ever find my way home..."

Elenia looked away, her eyes gleaming in the light shining bright through the sky. A gentle smile flickered over her lips, and she said softly, almost to herself, "We have all the ages to wait... One day...."

Around the two, the fires of war blazed as the Valar drove deeper into the earth and the minions of darkness fled, scurrying into deep forgotten holes, or fleeing across the oceans of the world for a haven. The light grew stronger, and as the two watched, life returned to the land, a spreading wave of green that washed over the dark and barren hills and plains. The tree Malagar rested against grew strong and filled with life once more, and at Elenia's feet, a small flower poked its head out of the ground, and a single purple leaf bloomed into this new world.

----

Sandor sat atop a large hill far from the fighting. The light of heaven burst forth in the North, driving off the dark minions, and for a moment, Sandor dared to hope for a peaceful end to his fate.

A dark, echoing footstep behind him crushed that hope.

Slowly he stood and turned around, to gaze upon a face that would have been beautiful had it not been twisted with anger and hatred.

He reached for his sword, but an invisible force grabbed him and froze his motion. With darkly glittering eyes, Sauron approached him.

"Betrayer. Traitor. Foul mercenary." Sauron's voice, as melodious as his features were handsome, was also filled with a dark and twisted echo.

Sandor tried to respond, but could not.

"You may have helped aid our downfall, but our power will rise again. The Valar will leave, and never return. Though it may take millenia, this land will be mine!"

Sandor's muscles strained against his bonds, agony flooding through him as he pushed himself to the limit - to no avail.

"And then, at the end, when my darkness covers all of Middle Earth, you will watch on in fear and terror, knowing your futility. Death will not take you, nor shall you again no love or hope. Let those who you saved cast you out, those you cared for flee from your presence!"

A scream burst forth from Sandor's mouth, an echoing cry that slowly turned into a vicious snarl as pain tore through him. A dark fire streamed through his blood, and the bindings holding him fell away to leave him writhing on the floor as his bones snapped and changed and his skin tore and twisted.

As the body on the ground stopped convulsing, it slowly lifted its head. Feral eyes looked over Sauron, and the large grey wolf that had been Sandor leapt forward, fangs reaching for his enemy's throat. Sauron's form faded into smoke, and an echoing laughter chased the wolf as it fled into the depths of the wild, still filled with pain, and agony, and only the slightest memory of a life left behind...

------

Tal sat with his sister, chatting merrily of times gone by and of times yet to come.

"I can scarce believe this is all over," she said, and he laughed in agreement.

"Neither can I, yet it is indeed over and done with. The evil of our times has passed, and all that is left for us is the rebuilding."

She nods, and looks away, gazing over the room. Erenfor stood looking out a window, his features at peace. His own quest was over, and the goal he had sought so long was more than completed. The demons in him still lurked, but had been buried deep, and he had the courage to face the tortures and torment of his past. His life would continue on whatever path he led it.

Angar also rested alone, sitting in a corner with his wolven companion. His own path would be a harder one, for he knew not where to go or what to do with himself. The missions he had led himself upon now seemed dull and pointless, and his people still remained lost. But yet... perhaps others had escaped the enemy's wrath. If he could find them, he would. And if not - he would live for them, and let them remain in his memories until he, too, passed away.

"We know, now, where we go, brother," said El'nela, "But what of these others?"

Tal'niel rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The girl, Irid, will leave soon, into the wilds. Her friends, her family - the wolves she traveled with - are all but gone, and she seems determined to not remember their sacrifices in her own way..."

He glanced over the two others in the room, Arcon and Erenfor. "Those two will find their own paths to travel. I've told them they are welcome to travel with us, but I think they have their own lives to lead. And, with all the former slaves returning with us, our village will be full enough as it is."

"And the child?"

"He will travel with us, for a while. I will train him as I can, though I think the skills he seeks may not be as needed in this changing world. And whether he stays with us, or travels onward, will be his own decision..."

He drifted off into thought, and heard the sound of a song rising up below him, from the rejoicing slaves who had congregated in the central chamber. Though they all wanted to leave the cursed place behind them, they were spending the night before they left in joy and festivy, celebrating their newfound freedom. The song was an ancient one, an elven tune of death and renewal, and the coming of the spring - something that seemed greatly fitting for this moment and this hour.

Outside, resting atop a small hill, Dain looked up at the tower, seeing Tal and El'nela through a window. A small form scurried up near the taller peaks, and Dain chuckled, recognizing Tessar.

"And they will go on," he whispered, "and live their lives, and know joy and happiness, something lost to this land for ages. And they will all find something to do with themselves, as the age passes."

He looks North, where the light remains, bright and unwavering, a sign of hope, a sign of victory, a sign of life. Another light was growing, as the sun itself rose as well, shining over and brightening the land even more.

"And...." he says, a smile growing on his face, "it will be said: They lived happily ever after."

His laughter, a deep and booming sound, echoed down the hillside and over the fields and into the woods. And the laughter, though rough and unrestrained, seemed somehow strangely fitting in the plains and forest, as the light of the dawn came and chased the shadows away.