The Great Quest [Archive] - Page 2

Lief Erikson

03-30-2001, 08:40 PM

*Grasshopper! Well! I wouldn't have normally, but you posted last night without saying anything in the story. Gave me the impression that you were undecided. Apparently I was mistaken, and perhaps a little impatient.*

Lord Thaldsan's face showed his dislike of that idea, but he decided it would be wisest to follow through. "If you will follow me," he said stiffly, moving sideways through an open door. "My connection with him is rather one sided, as I told you. I have been recently given the job of looking for Dania as well. That one thought seems to be his obsession at present. He has assigned multiple spies and other even higher up officials to look for her. I don't know any of their names," he said hastily. "My other work has been mainly building up my own position in King Theoden's court. Mine and a couple other people who he also has. These people I think are also under his command, perhaps in a more direct link than me. He wants strength and officials in just about every country. And has it to, in most, I expect."

He soon passed through the courtyard and entered a tall tower beside the Golden Hall. After climbing a spiral staircase, he reached a door on the side of the hall. "This is his quarters. Locked, I'm afraid. Sethris has the key." He squinted at the broodlord. "Or had it."

The broodlord smiled slightly, a smile completely lacking in warmth. He made short work of the door, and stepped inside, followed by his men and Lord Thaldsan.

The room was made of dark wood, although one wall was made of stone. In this wall was a window looking out over the rest of the city. A very good point of view to watch for uninvited guests, the broodlord noted. There was a desk at the back, with ink and several sheets of blank paper lying on its surface. One smooth black stone was inside one of the drawers, but all the others were empty.

There was a bed at the back and a black robe and cloak slung over it, without pockets or any contents.

Lord Thaldsan shuffled his feet uncomfortably and waited for them to finish.

Mathron

03-30-2001, 09:24 PM

*heh, yes, last night I was just in a bit of a rush, with not much time for more than a small post. Don't worry, I'll stay posting constantly.*

The broodlord walked over to the desk, looking through the papers and other items. He picked up the stone, and looked it over carefully, for any markings, and then put it away within his (still slightly singed) cloak, along with the papers.

He gestured for his men to look through the other contents of the room, as well as search it, and the walls, for any secrets. He turned back to Thaldsan, and stared at the man for a few moments without speaking, while the lord shifted uncomfortably.

Finally he spoke, and said, "I doubt you can tell uss anymore, so will let you go. But you had best think carefully of where you go from here - I doubt thiss Vardor will be pleased with you." Another wicked smile lit the broodlord's face, as Thaldsan stepped backwards, fear in his eyes, and then fled from the room.

Lief Erikson

03-30-2001, 10:57 PM

*Don't worry, I'm not concerned. You've been keeping up on this as well as I have, and I think this is quite possibly the fastest moving RPG in existence. Or one of them, anyway, not meaning to brag.*

As Lord Thaldsan fled, amazed that he had escaped with his life, *And so am I, by the way ;) * the broodlord was just about finished up his search.

"Nothing more," one of his men said. "He kept his chambers quite empty, probably for in case someone like us decided to take over. Or if King Theoden discovered about his little rat hole."

The broodlord nodded absently.

"I think we've exhausted all of our leads, sir. Sethris apparently had more than he was letting on, but he was killed before any of that could be let out. Lord Thaldsan I think . . ."

"Surely you know your place," the broodlord said harshly. "You're a soldier, not a councilor. Unless you want to feed my sword, behave like what you are."

The creature fell silent and stepped back with a bow.

The broodlord turned around in disgust. Surely there was more available than this!

Roland

03-31-2001, 05:57 AM

Ulrog looked at Seetoo in amazment. Clearly the creature didn't know what an orc was. Nobody asked an orc his name. They were treated cruelly, even by other orcs. He was about to sneer at Seetoo's ignorance, but had a quick change of mind as something occured to him.
"I'm Ulrog."
The two chatted inanely for so long that the others soon tired of it and started to ignore them. Seetoo was glad of the conversation. Later, when they camped for the night, the two continued to chat, in hushed tones. A sly look came over Ulrog's face. This was the oppurtunity he had been waiting for.
"Seetoo, do you like games?"

Mathron

03-31-2001, 05:58 AM

The broodlord gave a sigh, and turned away, his men following. As he headed out of the tower, and into the streets of the city, pondering his next move, a shadow passed briefly overhead.

An uncanny feeling entered into him, and he narrowed his eyes, placing a hand upon his sword. As he heard his men gasp behind him, he spun about, seeing out of the corner of his eye a form practically appear from nowhere behind him. His sword flashed out, lightning fast, in a defensive pose. Before his eyes could even make out the form behind him, his blade was snatched from his hand and hurled aside, and another hand shot forward and slapped his face twice, brutally, sending him staggering back.

As he regained himself, he looked up to see a figure standing there, a figure he knew. A form of beauty - elven in stature and image, but to a degree of glory rivalling the greatest of elves. The form had one betraying difference, for feathers abounded upon the creatures arms, though they shrank completely into its flesh even as the broodlord watched. As the broodlord looked up into the figures face, seeing an amused smirk upon the visage, his breath caught.

He dropped to one knee, and said, "Aetoo, we are honored by your pressence."

The figure laughed, not a harsh laugh like those of the broodlord, but a light and melodious sound, full of amusement. "Indeed, you are, aren't you? You dropped your sword, ugly man."

The broodlord calmly stood up and retrieved his weapon, and then turned back to Aetoo, eyes lowered. "I regret to say we find ourselvess at a loss."

"You seem very lost indeed..." came the sly reply. "Well then, tell me what you can, and I shall see what I can do."

The broodlord nodded, thankful, and began to tell all they had learned.

Lief Erikson

03-31-2001, 08:51 AM

Perhaps it is time to end this once and for all, Vardor thought. The key must be taken, and soon. My servants who have been sent have betrayed me or been destroyed. Now it is time to send one of the greater ones. One who will not take any more time. Already they approach Lothlorien, and if I cannot stop them before they reach there, they may well be beyond my reach. Lady Galadriel might find a way to deal with the key so that it is never found, and the castle will be warned of its impending danger.

Who knows? Perhaps then maybe even one of the Valar will think it important enough to be worth his attention. Then I will truly be stopped. Not even I can face a Valar in personal combat.

Vardor put a hand to his face in silent thought. Then he lowered it. Yes, it was time indeed to put an end to this. He would summon both of his Nightriders. No matter how determined they were, they would fall to that. And his next questioning of Dania would not be as slow moving as his previous one.

Mathron

03-31-2001, 11:03 PM

Seetoo paused at Ulrogs question, tilted his head back and forth, and then said, puzzlement in his tone, "What is games?"

Mathron

04-01-2001, 01:55 AM

As night fell, the broodlord and his men were following Aetoo, having left the city behind, and were now a bit into the open plains.

"So, from what you've said," gaily said Aetoo, to the broodlord, "this Vardor is hunting those who were once companions of the shadow man, right?"

The broodlord nodded.

"Well, it serves to reason that he will still be after them, so all we need do is catch up with them, and we shall likely have Vardor come to us!"

"Aye, but we losst track of the companions, and even if we knew where they were, they are easily weeks ahead of us."

Aetoo laughed. "Silly man, you underestimate us! I know exactly where they are! And as for reaching them - well, I will take you to them."

A shudder went through the broodlord but he nodded.

Aetoo looked about, his eyes glowing a faint blue in the night, despite the near total darkness caused by clouds overhead.

"I think we shall go now, in fact. Have your men stand back, and I shall ready myself."

The broodlord quickly backed away from Aetoo, hurriedly signaling his men to do the same. In moments, a large space had cleared around the figure, who stretched as if tired.

And kept on stretching. Feathers lined along his arms, and then the rest of his form, which began to grow and expand. Soon, his arms were instead wings, long and broad, clipped with talons on the ends. The feathers were a deep black, and monstrously sized, as well as nearly as hard as scales. When Aetoo finished his "readying" he was the size of a small house, and a sleek and blacklined thing, a darkling bird of the night, with beauty near as much as in his humanoid form.

He turned his broad head towards the broodlord, a deadly beak at the fore letting out a soft cry, and the broodlord stepped forward, with iron will, and clambered onto its back, his men following. With another soft cry, the creature took off, and soon was airborne, and heading north - toward Lothlorien.

Lief Erikson

04-01-2001, 03:03 AM

Faradin stood and fingered his sword hilt uneasily as he stared upwards into the sky.

"What is it?" Ayna asked sleepily.

"I thought I saw . . . wait! There it is again!"

He stretched out his hand and pointed upwards into the sky as three winged creatures swooped in, moving closer and closer to the campsite. They were separate, however. One moved apart from the other two. They seemed to suck in the darkness, being of a deeper dark.

Suddenly a brilliant beam of blue light leapt from one of the two creatures, lancing out and disintegrating as it hit the farther away creature.

Ayna stood up, her blanket wrapped close around her, and stared in amazement at the spectacle unfolding in the air.

Blasts of blue light hurtled from the twin creatures, countered by unseen magic and exploding, lighting up the night sky in an incredible display.

The creatures clawed at each other as they got closer, the smaller pair harrying their larger opponent.

Explosions flickered in the sky, beams of energy striking through the larger creature's apparently weakening defense. The creature sweapt at them, claws tearing vainly at what had been there a moment before.

The creature leapt around it and hurtled another blue bolt in, shattering the larger beast's wings and tearing at its hide. Another brilliant flash, and it was over, the maimed creature spiraling slowly towards the forest floor. But its two adversaries didn't waste any time finishing it off. Instead, they swooped in closer to the forest, mingling with its shadows and disappearing from view.

Aetoo finally landed bumpily, without any of the grace of his take off. Pain racked his form as the broodlord and his men dismounted. Caught by surprise, and those two beings on their winged mounts had had surprising power.

Perhaps Vardor had been one of them, and perhaps not. Danger was not yet ended, and it had taken a great deal to put an end to those creatures. His power of defense had only just barely protected his life, and that of his charges.

And he had a feeling that this was far from over.

Mathron

04-01-2001, 05:00 AM

*Um... er, that doesn't quite fit... Aetoo has no magical power to speak of.. and wasn't exactly seeking a fight... and would NOT have been taken by surprise. oh well, I will work with it.*

Aetoo, landing, dumped the broodlord and his companions upon the ground, as he resumed his elfin shape. Rage lit his eyes as he looked on his skin, and the red marks where he had been burnt.

He glanced, as well, to his palm, where the shattered remnant of a golden stone now lay, no longer affixed within his skin. He clenched his hand, ignoring the pain as the now jagged edges of the stone dug in deep. He had been born with it, lived with it, made with it, and now it was gone - but it had served its purpose.

He had seen the creatures coming in the sky, but had not expected the attack, and his own arrogance and shock had let them lace him with energy the stone only barely turned back.

He turned about, seeing the broodlord and his men staring at him from a dozen feet away, as though awaiting orders. One of the warriors glanced down at Aetoo's hand, and the glance brought Aetoo's mind back upon his pain. Rage flared within him once more, and before the warrior even realized he had offended, his head was snapped and his broken body was flying across the clearing, to slam into - and knock down - a tree over a hundred yards away. The rest of the broodlord's men froze, at the figure suddenly amidst them, and breathing heavily with hatred, the once beautiful features now distorted with anger and outrage.

Aetoo's thoughts whirled through a range of areas, still angered at the beings that had approached him. If one of them was Vardor, so be it - father's plans aside, he would have vengeance upon it! If it was only a minion, however, he might go through with his plans, if only because he knew what fate would await father's "guests"....

Suddenly, Aetoo straightened, and composed himself. "Things go differently than planned. Make contact with the group we pursue. Now that the shadow man is no longer among them, we have no need to struggle with them - try and ally with them, against this Vardor. If they ask why you pursued their friend, make up some reason - say he was an old enemy or somesuch. Yes, that should work. Oh, and when among them, pay no heed to the little one, just in case."

His voice was now settled, and he seemed pleased with himself and his new plan. Already, the burns and marks on his skin had begun to heal, and the pain fade, as his accelerated healing systems had kicked in. Stretching his arms, which had born the brunt of the damage as wings, he was happy to find them limber and strong again.

"And where shall you be?" replied the broodlord, voice cold, yet respectful.

"I shall be hunting whatever that was that attacked us." Aetoo's words were followed by light laughter, and then, before any of the others could respond, he shot out of their at full speed, vanishing from sight before the others had even started to register his departure.

The broodlord stood there, and then looked around, glancing at the body lying across the clearing against a tree. He looked back at his remaining warriors. Only three left, though he had started with more than forty... things had not gone well, not at all.

And yet, if they succeeded in furthering the master's goals in any way, than all was worth it. Anything was worth it, for the master.

Without a sound, he headed out, his men falling into line behind him, as they headed in search of the companions.

Lief Erikson

04-01-2001, 05:22 AM

*Oh well. Aetoo seemed to have magical powers to me, what with the transformation and the lightning movement. I wasn't sure how high of a scale to put him on, but I thought he would be pretty high.

I'll edit my post. I don't want one of Vardor's only two Nightriders dying for nothing.*

The company hadn't remained encamped there for long. The fight had given them fair warning, and although they didn't know who was good and who was one of their attackers, Slythre couldn't believe that their meeting was coincidence. They had another guardian and he had intercepted their enemies. She only prayed that he managed to hold them off long enough for them to lose themselves in the forest.

Roland

04-01-2001, 06:15 AM

Ulrog hushed Seetoo with a quick quick gesture before he was able to repeat his question. The lights in the sky and these newcomers meant that his plan would have to wait. Ulrog tugged gently at Slythre's sleeve to get her attention.
"Don't trust them! Alliances mean nothing to this lot," he whispered to her.
These men (if that was what they were) had obviously betrayed Vardor. Only two sorts of people betrayed Vardor: the very strong and the very stupid. Ulrog sighed as he realised which category he fitted into.

Mathron

04-01-2001, 06:26 AM

*Aetoo's powers are purely physical, and natural. They are still incredibly effective, and boosted by things that put them on the level of high magic, but they are not magic themselves - almost's its opposite. (As with all these creatures, actually.) In any case, while he probably wouldn't have taken out the Nightriders in the sky, he will likely be on their level when he is initiating the combat.*

The broodlord walked cautiously through the woods, heading back towards where they had spotted the camp of the party, before flying past it and landing after the aerial battle.

A small noise, nearly imperceptible, put him on guard, and he gestured for his men to hold, and stand aside, awaiting for whatever might approach.

---

Faradin led the group through the woods, heading farther towards Lothlorien, more anxious than ever to reach its safety. Suddenly, from by his side, Harnauro called a halt. "There is a presence ahead," he whispered to the ranger.

Indeed, his words proved true a moment later, as a figure walked out of the trees ahead of them, a figure wearing black, obsidian armor, and with a face shrouded in shadow, that they knew would undoubtedly prove to be a disfigured visage should they see it.

Faradin's blade slipped to his hand almost immediately, and the rest of the party rapidly drew weapons, until noting that the figure did not have its own weapon drawn, and was accompanied only by three others, all with weapons still sheathed.

Faradin let no caution down, eyes still narrowed, and said, "What business have you here?"

"We may have a common foe," came the reply from the figure in front.

Glances were exhanged in the party, and Harnauro barked, "You have proven to be our foes already - why should we trust you?"

"Though we were at oddss before, we no longer need be at such. We attacked you before for two reasons, both of which we no longer have."

"And what reasons would those be?" Harnauro's growl rumbled back at them.

"We had our own conflict with the one you called Malagar, for he had earned our emnity in the passt." At these words, Harnauro nodded slightly, for he had known Mal well for making enemies easily. The broodlord continued, "But Malagar is no longer among you. Our other business was in sservice to the one called Vardor, who claimed the elf maiden was his own enemy. We since learned that he spoke falsely, and intended to use her for ssome other, dire, purpose that we have not yet divined. We now seek to find and sstop him, however we can." The broodlord's words were low and sibilant, but sounded nearly plausible to some of the party's members.

Slythre spoke, anger in her voice. "The fact still remains, nonetheless, that you attacked us a number of times!"

The eyes of the broodlord, seen as mere glints in the darkness, seemed to harden, and he responded, harshly, "And do any of your number lie dead? No! The only casualtiess of that were my brothers! And yet, we put that behind uss - Vardor must be caught, even should we need ally with you."

Faradin rocked backwards on his feet, obviously unsettled. Slythre and Harnauro seemed to greatly distrust them, but some of the others behind him seemed somewhat swayed by their words. And, surely, having them at his side was better than open battle where they stood, especially as other enemies plagued their every step. With the others split, it seemed the decision was up to him. He gave an inward sigh, thinking over all very carefully.

---

Seetoo, at the back of the group, craned his head, looking towards the newcomers. He hadn't gotten the chance to learn what "games" was, since the lights in the sky. Looking at these creatures, he wondered why they smelled of the caves, and then shrugged, his curiousity going back to Ulrog, and "games".

Lief Erikson

04-01-2001, 02:26 PM

*:lol:

And I acknowledge about Aetoo. Even if he initiated the attack, without either magic or that jewel I can't quite believe that he'd be capable of beating a Nightrider, but perhaps wounding him.*

Slythre shook his hand off in disgust, but believed him. "I don't intend for them to join, but I don't know if the rest agree."

She already had decided this, but the vote was not entirely in her hands.

Ayna's face was hard, and she was fingering the jewel on her necklace absently.

Narsh and Faradin appeared undecided, while Gungar and Dania seemed more openly in the favor of accepting them. An extra few blades would help, Gungar said, and they had already shown good proofs as to why they were willing to join. Dania thought that it was better to keep an enemy where you could see him, or else he would slip up and stab you in the back, not that Slythre thought that logic was very sound.

Elrov's expression when he looked at the broodlord and his companions was much like Slythre's, which showed plainly his thoughts about the idea. He glanced over at Ayna nervously, but her expression seemed to hearten him.

The broodlord and his men didn't much like the way this was turning out, the prominent ones in the company, (those who made decisions) all seemed to be saying no. But at least they were discussing it. That was something. Perhaps.

Mathron

04-01-2001, 05:34 PM

*Aetoo probably couldn't take both, but might easily take out a Nightrider one on one... think of him as on the scale of a dragon. No magic, but simply sheer physical might.*

The broodlord crossed his arms, awaiting the party's decision.

While the rest debated, Harnauro approached them, eyes narrowed. "Begone. Thought the others still talk, I doubt you will be welcome in our company."

The broodlord's gleaming eyes narrowed, and he responded harshly, "What foolss are you? Would you have us openly battle here, while another enemy plagues you? Had it not been for our alliess, you would already have faced powerful forces tonight, unprepared. Is it wisse to face two enemies, or ally with one against a greater threat?"

Harnauro let loose a low growl, and then turned back to the group. He had joined with strange allies before, and in worse situations than this one.

Lief Erikson

04-01-2001, 09:41 PM

"No, you may not join with us," Slythre said, her voice hard. "The majority of the company think it too great a risk. Your recent attacks on us could never make you trustworthy, and you can't even prove that it was you who helped defend us against that enemy creature. Even if you could, we cannot know that you won't betray us."

Farther away in the forest, a wind blew eerily in the trees, the smell of death tinging its scent with evil.

The cause of it was the creature that flew through the air above the forest, a dark rider atop a black creature. Its wings were long, its body scaled and it had razor sharp claws. But the rider was the true danger. Its shape almost impossible to make out, it was a dark hole, blacker than the night.

It moved at a smooth speed, gliding silently and slowly over the trees, not looking down and not needing to. It simply felt, and it knew.

The Nightrider continued on its lazy course, arrowing in on its target, ever nearing the company. From farther away, on the other side, its companion also moved in, silently gliding over the trees, the smell of death the only herald of its coming.

But the scent wasn't long in approaching before it was noticed by Harnauro and Ulrog, their noses twitching as they realized that the danger was far from over.

Mathron

04-01-2001, 10:36 PM

The broodlord eyes burned with anger, and then he gave a short barking laugh.

"Very well. But we shall accompany you nonetheless, and follow in your stepss. If you wish to prevent us, you shall have to cut uss down, unarmed and unresisting - will you do that, or stand by as your companions do so?"

Elbreth of Carhouth

04-02-2001, 12:27 AM

*You guys move too fast! lol :) I wasn't gone that long, and you wrote 2 more pages for me! Who are Aetoo and Seetoo? Sounds like Artoo and See-Threepio... ;) *

Dania looked down uncomfortably at this challenge, but as her face was downcast, a new determination took her. Her eyes glittered, her jaw clenched, her face stoney. She'd made up her mind, it was up to the others. Her postion on the matter remained the same, she would rather have them where she could keep an eye on them. Better in control than blind any day.

Lief Erikson

04-02-2001, 02:38 AM

*Mathron, perhaps you had best explain who they are, as you're their creator.*

Slythre smiled coldly, as icy a look as ever Unvar could have given. "If you wish to travel in the same direction as us, so be it. But you cannot believe that one who was once a corsair would hesitate from killing. You have fair warning to stay away from us, unless we are under attack, but you must keep your distance and always stay away outside of arrow range. That should give us enough room to deal with any hostile movement from you and your . . ." she guestured at his warriors, " . . . companions."

Mathron

04-02-2001, 03:52 AM

*Aetoo joined up with the broodlord and his companions, and was sent to aid them by their master. He has two forms - one, that of a monstrous and powerful bird, and the other as a humanoid being, similar to elves in appearance, save even more beautiful in appearance. Aetoo is rather vain, and unlike the broodlord, seems driven by some measure of whimsy and personal goals. Seetoo is a strange figure that mysteriously joined the companions - he also resembles a gorgeous elf. As well, he has wings instead of arms. His intelligence is seemingly childlike, and he seems to know little of his surroundings.*

The broodlord nodded to Slythre, saying, "You might kill us, but would some of your companionss simply stand by and watch? In any case, we shall remain near - we care little for you and yourss, and only accompany you to sstop Vardor."

With that, he turned, and walked a bit away into the woods, he and his remaining men mere shadows in the gloom, awaiting the companions next moves.

Lief Erikson

04-02-2001, 05:20 AM

Slythre turned back at the others and Elrov shrugged in response. There was some truth in what the broodlord said, unfortunately. Although Harnauro might stand aside and watch them die, she couldn't count on any of the others to do likewise. But it didn't truly matter, they had agreed to her terms. Sort of.

Harnauro was sniffing the air strangely, and a look of concern was beginning to cover his face.

"Is something wrong, other than the broodlord and his friends?" she asked, stepping nearer.

"The scent . . . something evil is approaching." He pointed his hands, one to the north and one to the west. "There are two of them, coming from that way and that way."

"What are they?"

Harnauro concentrated. "I've never smelled their like before, but I can tell that they are dangerous."

"Then we'd better not remain here like sitting ducks," she said, quickly calling the others together. She glanced over at the broodlord. "It appears that we might need your assistance after all, at least for a little while. If you want to join us until this threat is over, you may do so."

They wordlessly joined them, drawing weapons as they did.

And as well that they did, for at that moment the Nightriders swept out overhead, circling the campsite like grim specters, striking chill into every heart.

Faradin and Harnauro both yanked their bows out, shooting arrows up over the groups heads. The first two arrows swooped up at their target and disappeared from sight. The second flight also sped up, dead on target, and a third.

All the arrows appeared swallowed up in the black nothingness, and the riders continued to circle in silence.

But not for long. One of them suddenly swept downwards, lunging towards them viciously, the second right behind it. Harnauro (In wolf form) leapt at the first one and went flying backwards with a yelp. He landed on his feet but looked up warily. He had received little more than a shock, but it still sent tingles through him.

The group lay low and the creatures swept backwards into the sky. The Nightriders moved in again, barely giving them time to get to their feet.

Swords were drawn this time, and the broodlord leapt forward in the front, swinging his sword and cleaving into the first creature.

Instantly both broke off, the hit one giving a shriek that echoed over the hills. It quivered silently on its steed, every now and then small spurts of magic spitting from it to curl around itself and disappear. A little bit later this disappeared too, and they hovered momentarily.

Then Harnauro realized what they were doing. They were simply testing them, probing to see how capable they were and what kind of a fight they would put up when they gave their real attack.

"Run! We have no chance now, run!"

And they ran, their attackers suddenly lunging in pursuit, moving with terrifying speed and sweeping downwards. The trees offered a little protection, and soon the Nightriders were forced to move up over them instead of dodging in and out among them.

A moment later, a giant shadow leapt from among the trees and crashed into one of the Nightriders, throwing it off course and they went spinning off into the trees, locked in combat and tearing viciously.

Aetoo doing his work. That means one less on our backs, and with luck, I'll be able to take him, the broodlord thought grimly. He never liked having to rely on luck, but he was unsure how well either he or Aetoo would survive without much protection from their warding stones.

Then the Nightrider was among them. It crashed through the branches and leaves like a thunderbolt, splintering them as he came, slashing in every direction. A beam of blue fire flashed out from him, burning the hair off his back and singing him badly, but luckily causing him no other harm.

A claw whipping out was severed by Gungar's axe, but a clean blow from another sliced his chest open. He fell back, but his ragged groans showed that he still lived yet. One of the broodlord's troops was hit next, a wound carved across his side even as he dug into one of the mount's two wings.

Then the broodlord moved in, cutting the wing off. The creature gave a shriek and rolled over on its side, throwing its dark rider. Another blow severed its head, and the broodlord was up again, his sword spinning in his hand as he prepared to feed it again.

The Nightrider picked itself up smoothly from the blood dampened ground and then struck, a beam of blue energy striking and deflecting neatly into its owner. It screamed as a spiderweb of energy formed around it, cutting it with burning edges as it closed and disappeared.

But the broodlord gave it no time to revive. He jumped forward and stabbed, piercing its chest and thrusting its skewered body back against a rock.

The sword shriveled up in flame and shattered, the pieces falling smoking on the grass as the shadow dissipated and the Nightrider died.

Lief Erikson

04-02-2001, 05:26 AM

Farther away, the other Nightrider lifted up into the sky, circling spiraling upwards as it stared down at the company regrouping from the attack. Wounds covered the Nightrider's steed, and his own body was rather torn as well. Not that he noticed such things unless he thought about them. The creature had fought fiercly, especially in the beginning. Although it had gotten away, unless it healed far better than even a Nrake, it would be a long time before it could fly again. He himself was rather shaken at the ferocity of the attack, especially considering that it was a non-magic being.

But the next move would have to wait until the next night. And then Dania would be his. The Nrakes hadn't been wrong about their position, however inferior their fighting skills, their tracking abilities were now impossible to question.

Tomorrow night, this would be ended.

Roland

04-02-2001, 08:05 AM

Ulrog looked in suprise at the dead nightrider. He had heard rumours of these strange servants of Vardor, but had never expected to see one killed. Their scent was greatly distressing and, as Ulrog had just discovered, even worse after they had died. These mercenaries were clearly even stronger than he had first thought. With enemies like these, things weren't looking good for his old master.
Ulrog had considered escaping in the confusion of the attack, but had thought better of it when he had caught the scent of the surviving nightrider on the wind. It was still in flight, and would easily be able to pick him off if he split from the main group. For the time being, there was definetly safety in numbers.

Mathron

04-02-2001, 04:54 PM

Some miles away from the group, a figure huddled on the forest floor, wrapping its arms around itself and shaking its body, low moans arising from it every few minutes.

A thousand thoughts flitted through its crumpled, bleeding form, thoughts of pain and of the future. Aetoo had never felt such pain, such agony - had never in his life been bested or so injured. It hadn't been that the being was stronger or faster than he was... it was that the beings very substance was anathema to Aetoo. As his surely was to it. It was a creature of the times of magic and darkness... he was the product of the growing future...

Words hissed out between its lips, low and harsh, a far cry from its melodious voice before. "Your time is passing, whatever ye may be..." As he spoke, tears from the pain traced paths down his cheeks. "Your age shall soon be over. Magic shall be lost... Father has seen even the greatest of you left here, hurled down... and those remaining, depart... It will be our age, then, our time of triumph... Your time is done.... and we shall reign!" His voice raised up at the end, a cracked cry into the night, as the creature curled up again, rocking itself in agony.

Aetoo had never been so hurt before - his heart had been pierced, and a large hole remained where his lower left torso had been... blood leaked out, and his wounds gaped, more than a normal man could have survived for even minutes with. Aetoo had never been so hurt before - it would take nearly a day for him to heal...

Lief Erikson

04-02-2001, 06:31 PM

Vardor looked down at his feet. One of the Nightriders gone. Not exactly dead, but lost and dwindled in strength and being. It would be very difficult to find and build back up to its former strength. Perhaps not worth the effort at this point. He still had one more, and the Nrakes. That group should be enough to finish them, especially if they had indeed lost all of their magic. Then they would be no difficulty whatsoever.

The key would fit into the lock, the door opened, and darkness would swamp the world such as never had been seen before since Beleriand.

Elbreth of Carhouth

04-03-2001, 01:24 AM

Dania huddled low in the thicket, unsure of what exactly had happened back there. Everything came up so quickly, she'd hardly managed to locate thier attacker before she'd heard the order to run. Run she did, and now wasn't entirely sure where everyone else was...

Mathron

04-03-2001, 02:03 AM

Harnauro circled around the woods twice more, to make sure that the attack was truly left off. It was, he assured himself, but not for long. They were still two days from safety, and the being would likely strike when darkness came again, or when the sky was at its darkest, upon midnight.

With a low growl, he quickly set out, planning to round up the others before dawn. The first he found easily, by the long trail of blood - Gungar, lying by the side of Narsh, who was treating his injury. Harnauro appeared by their side, in human form, and said in a low rumble, "We have little time. Do what you can, then hurry out and carry him along." One look at Gungar's pale face showed the dwarf would not be any help in a fight, or along the way.

He quickly left them behind, moving in search of the others, and hoping the task would not take long.

Lief Erikson

04-03-2001, 04:10 AM

There were still two hours left before dawn by the time the group had finished regathering. But they also decided to get a little bit of sleep, Gungar and one of the broodlord's men were still severely wounded and it would be better to at least give them a little rest before continuing. The rest were also tired from their fight and sleepless night, although adrenaline was still high.

*Sorry for not sending a more interesting post; perhaps I will later.*

Mathron

04-04-2001, 03:15 AM

*Hope my concept of the Nightriders fits to how you imagine them.*

As the day passed by, silence ran over the path of the party. Whatever they had faced the night before had been beyond their strength, and beyond the experiences of nearly all of them.

Harnauro moved along, near the front of the group, worrisome thoughts in his mind. He recognized the beings that had attacked them, or at least their kind - ancient and powerful beings, not quite fallen Maia, as Balrogs where, but rather beings similar to Maia whose very nature was already to be of the nothingness left in the wake of Eru's song. Dangerous, always, and there had been two of them.

More worrying, though, was that one had been felled, or bested. The broodlord now moved along closer to the group - after saving them, they felt more indebted to him - and whenever Harnauro glanced at him, he could read nothing of his emotions. Yet now Harnauro understood, somewhat more, the peculiar taste their scent had. An utter lack of magic.

All creatures were touched by magic. Elves radiated it, dwarves were clothed by the solid magic of the earth, and even humans were touched by it. But these beings, the broodlord and his men - were utterly out of sync with it. Now that Harnauro saw it, it was completely apparent. The very fabric of the land around them seemed to scream in anger at them.

And the blade the broodlord had wielded, that had struck down the Nightrider... it had been even greater. It wasn't merely the absence of magic, but nearly its opposite... it had fed off of magic around it, creating a black hole for those able to see such things. Should they actually reach Lothlorien, these creatures must never be allowed within... their very presence could tear that kingdom apart.

Of course, Harnauro thought with a bitter laugh inside, he himself must not enter the kingdom for similar reasons. But he would deal with that when they got there. Though he was not a match for a Nightrider, he could stand a chance at holding it off long enough for others to escape. And if it did kill him... perhaps he would welcome that.

A sigh nearly escaped him, but he stalked on, through the woods. Looking up, he saw the sun was beginning its descent. A few more hours, and it would be night. And, in all likelihood, they would have to fend off another assault.

Lief Erikson

04-04-2001, 02:02 PM

*Yes, that concept is pretty close to what I envisioned. By the way, sorry for not keeping this up at a very great speed like I was earlier, and it is likely to keep up at not that great of a speed for a while, although I will still be posting here. The computer I usually work on has been breaking down regularly and its connection to Remote Access has been severed for the time being. I've got a story I'm writing and a person I'm doing a VERY regular email correspondance with, and Dad likes to use this computer a lot, so as you can see, I won't have much time.*

One of the Nrakes looked up at the glaring sun, testing the scent again. Still quite close. No more than a mile away. When nighfall came, they would make their second attempt.

Where the Nightrider retreated to to spend the night was beyond their imagining, but he would be there also, directly according to their previous plan and probably directly on time as well. Incredible how fast those creatures could move.

*Sorry for not sending a more interesting post; I'm a little bit at a loss until nightfall.*

Mathron

04-04-2001, 06:52 PM

*No problem - I think going at a slower pace a good idea, in any case, and might lure more people.*

Lief Erikson

04-04-2001, 08:13 PM

*I'll pick the speed up again when I'm done with my book. If this RPG isn't ended by then, that is. Of course after this one, we'll most likely start another, so I guess whether or not it is finished doesn't make much difference.*

"My lord, we've found it!" shouted a man as he dashed into Vardor's apartments.

Shadows darted around him, slashing him across the back in three places before releasing his body and dropping it to the ground.

"Such behavior will not be tolerated, and you will get a worse punishment if you do it again," came Vardor's cold voice. "Now what is it you have found?"

The body on the ground whimpered slightly as it got up, but the pain was beginning to fade, unlike the memory of it. "We found the clasp, just as you asked us too. It was indeed among the eagles, and if it hadn't been for your secret alliance, we would never have known of its existance."

Vardor breathed in sharply. "At last. In that case all we need is Dania, and the key."

He raised a hand and dismissed the guard, who staggered out.

Everything was going according to plan, and they actually had had some success in one area. They still hadn't gained the clasp, and it would be very difficult, as well as dangerous. It was a very powerful magical item, and it surely was well guarded. If the Valar had left a Maia . . . well, there was nothing he could do about it with the information he had now. At least he knew it was there. Perhaps when his other Nightrider returned, they would have enough strength to deal with whatever guarded there.

Secrecy and brute strength were two things the Valar had left to guard against what he was doing now. The secrecy had failed, and the brute strength was possible to overcome.

He looked up at the sky. Tonight was one of the key moments, and he waited for it with both anticipation and . . . was it fear?

Elbreth of Carhouth

04-05-2001, 02:32 AM

Dania slept lightly, as was her wont during wary times, and uneasily, which was not usual. A subconsious nagging continued to speak to her, ever since agreeing to allow the others to travel with them. A coldness rested at the back of her mind, something that seemed glaringly obvious, but overlooked all the same. As the night deepened, troubled dreams o'er took her.

Lief Erikson

04-05-2001, 03:27 AM

*This post has been edited. I wasn't particularly pleased at having to delete so much of the beginning of it, but it is now done. This battle is now officially linked.*

Mathron

04-05-2001, 03:33 AM

Shadow and darkness and flames burned through the minds of the party, as they let their wounded and tired rest, and the rest stood at a wary watch. Fears and worries surrounded them like thick mud, slowing their movement and their thoughts.

Slythre sidled near to Harnauro. "Can you sense anything?"

"Not yet. But I think we were watched through the last few hours of the day. It will not be long now, but I don't sense anything." This last line was coated with frustration - Harnauro did not like being caught unawares.

Meanwhile, Faradin rested with his back against a hard oak tree, bow in hand, speaking softly with Narsh. "You have known Dania for ages, have you not, friend? Do you know aught of why you two were taken?"

Narsh shook his head. They had been over this before. His voice rumbled out, soft and low. "No. I could tell they were concerned with her, not I, but more than that, I know not."

Faradin nodded, sighing, but his breath froze in his throat as a dark shadow flitted through the night. He resumed breathing normally, but whispered out of his mouth, "They are here, prepare."

As Narsh's hand slipped down to his weapon, Faradin sprang up, releasing a powerful arrow shot as he did. He heard a cry among the trees, as one of the silhouettes he had glimpsed staggered, and then the Nrakes burst forth from all about them, encircling the camp.

Harnauro shot towards them, form blurring into that of something furred and fanged, and his own claws met theirs, and won through, slashing one down in the first moments of the fight, even as the rest were entering into action.

Slythre lashed as many spare daggers as she could through the air, catching one Nrake in a shoulder, another through the leg, before she was forced to draw her sword and defend up close.

Faradin, as well, let loose as much as he could at range, before the Nrakes closed the distance and he and Narsh were fighting, side to side, against a group of them. Another Nrake bounded towards him, but met with a sword in midair, as the wounded obsidian armored warrior burst from the ground, knocking back the Nrake, though falling himself.

Of the rest of that company, the broodlord and his two remaining unwounded fought against a circle of foes, in a line that kept retreating towards the center of the campsite, their skill all going into fending off attacks, and they were unable to get any in themselves.

The rest of the party woke to see the fighting, and quickly grabbed bows and weapons. A Nrake dodged towards three small forms, Gungar, Ulrog, and Seetoo. The goblin shrieked and ducked down, scurrying towards safety, while Gungar tryed to lift his axe, but dropped it in his weak state. The Nrake, expecting an easy kill, was altogether surprised when the small birdlike creature jumped forward with blinding speed and snapped its neck.

As Harnauro tore another one aside, and Faradin found himself seperated from Narsh in the melee, the true danger arrived.

---

The Nightrider surveyed the battle, its senses not so much seeing images as stealing them into itself. Its head slowly turned, and though it never knew pleasure or joy, it took a deep sense of accomplishment in that the battle already went well. The one who had drawn it from the oblivion would be pleased, if all went according to plan. And the longer he was pleased, the longer the Nightrider could stay in this world, and feed off of the sights and sounds and delicious essences it offered.

An eyeless void of a face looked down, glimpsing a wolf tearing through some of the beings in its surface, and with a thought, its steed hurtled downward, into the fight. As it closed, however, arrows from those who had just risen, at the center of the group, slammed into its steeds face, which seemed to suddenly sprout barbs of wood. If the Nightrider had been capable of such thing, it would have felt anger towards the living forms that now trained bows on his form. It did not have the ability, though, nor the time, for a moment later its steed, somehow still alive, if blinded, slammed into a tree, shattering the solid oak and sliding to the ground in a crumpled heap.

The Nightrider rose from the pile, ignoring the arrows that vanished within him, mearly sustaining his hunger longer. Instead, he leapt towards the wolf, which still radiated of another's force, and was the greater threat.

The being turned, and the Nightrider would have smiled if it could, for it could see the beast clearly, as it was fully wolf in both mortal and immortal planes. Its claw slashed at him, but the Nightrider stole from time itself, and easily caught the claw and twisted, feeling an immortal scream echo into its own form. Not hearing, however, for the Nightrider knew only silence as it hurled the wolf backwards.

Despite the broken arm, the wolf limped up again, eyes flashing red, and preparing to leap upon the Nightrider itself. The lizard behind it disabused it of that notion, with a swipe that the wolf barely avoided. The Nightrider saw a form leap up at him from behind, and lashed out, letting some its stolen force back into the world, and blue light sheared through the side of the creatures neck, dropping it instantly.

A blur slammed into the Nightrider, somehow finding solid holds upon it and hurling it a dozen feet from the fight, and into a tree, which groaned under the impact.

The Nightrider rose, disturbed by being surprised, and then was able to make out the form of its attackers. The bird from the other night. Once again, the Nightrider had to deal with this thing he could barely see, so far from the realm he was part of. And, despite having been nearly reduced to death, it was now back again, seemingly unharmed. With an inaudible howl, the Nightrider turned to face its foe.

---

Aetoo stared into the pulsating void that had so injured him. He was not unharmed, in fact, and his arms both still flared with pain - but he had risen far from deaths door, his enhanced systems healing him quickly. Now he was ready to fight again.

The darkness jumped at him, and Aetoo pushed metabolic systems into overdrive, dodging its grip and snapping it backward with a blow of his own. The thing felt like almost solid flesh to him, yet he had seen other things go into it. Although flesh could not describe the cold and smooth surface he felt when he hit it. He had no more time for such thoughts, for it was up again, moving as though it owned time itself, and Aetoo pushed himself to the limits avoiding its strike.

---

Elrov watched the personal battle in shock. Narsh lay on the ground a few feet a way, blood all over him. He lay there, obviously in agony, but his twitching showed he was still alive. But that spectacle was as nothing to the one unfounding in the woods outside of the battle.

Both beings seemed to move with unnatural speed, speed so fast he couldn't follow their strikes and parries. Good and evil lost meaning as he watched their dance, back and forth, two gods at war.

---

The Nightrider was beginning to feel emotions. It could not recognize them, but it felt... uncertainty. Worry. It faced the unknown. The bird struck at it again, slamming it backwards, but for all its strength and speed, its strikes were little more than bee-stings to the Nightrider, while his flayed the very skin from its bones.

A burst of blue light flashed, and like all the other strikes, the bird dodged from it - but right into the path of more pulsating energy, which staggered him backwards.

The opportunity having come, and the Nightrider struck, snapping hands up and catching both of the birds wrists in his hands. Staring into its face with emotionless flames, its clenched its hands, feeling wrists shatter and bones pop.

A kick from the creatures foot slammed the Nightriders own forms backwards and broke his grip. Nevertheless, he stood back up unharmed, while his foe shuddered in pain.

---

We are above pain. Aetoo recalled the words and the mantra, and banished the agony. Looking upwards, it saw the Nightrider staring at it with triumph, though no expression would ever have conveyed such a thing.

Suddenly, Aetoo began to laugh, as they circled each other.

"You can't win!" He whispered, his words surely falling only on the foe, or only on himself. "You've lost already."

Breaths fell between his sentences, as the interminable circling continued, but he kept speaking. "Your time is over." Pain, ignore it. "We come into our own."

The Nightrider gave no indication of hearing, darting at him and rolling aside from his attack back. "You are nothing!"

With a flash, words came to Aetoo, the teachings of his father, though he had never taken them seriously before. he knew now what to say, and what to do.

"You are the echo's between the notes in Eru's song."
"You came before even the notes themselves."
"But even the notes are fading now, and you should have passed long ago."
"Another song is rising."
"And not one sung by Eru."
"A song sung by mortals themselves... written by mortals..."
"I am the song that ends you."
"I drown you out, I fill you."
"You are emptiness, and I am form."

The Nightrider sprang darting again toward Aetoo as it had already countless times before. Its grasp reached for the wounded creature, which suddenly wasn't there, vanishing into the woods, falling back from a battle it couldn't win. Dissatisfied, but resolute, the Nightrider turned back to the battle.

---

Elrov watched in awe and wonder, somehow following the last moves of the fight, the fight that had taken mere seconds as the battle around Elrov continued to rage. But as he watched the white, pale skinned creature dart away from the abyssal nightmare, he shook his head, realizing a battle needed to be fought. The dark creature met his gaze, and as he scrabbled for his weapon, he felt its dark mind sapping his will and catching his eyes.

As the Nightrider turned towards Elrov, he shook himself from his stupor - though, in truth, he had only watched the fight for seconds - and stumbled backwards, away from the Nightrider.

A form blurred through the air, as Harnauro broke from his foes and crashed into the Nightrider, bowling him backwards into the woods.

As Elrov heard Ayna scream behind him, he spun about, blade ready.

Mathron

04-05-2001, 03:38 AM

How did I know that would happen??
Erg.. well, you got your post in first, Lief... want me to kill mine?
Sigh, spent a bunch of time on mine.. could we tie them together? Have your wrap it up, with them capturing Ayna?
(Ironically, in both of our posts, Elrov got taken out with a blow to the head from behind, and Narsh fell casualty...)

Lief Erikson

04-05-2001, 03:56 AM

*By the way, Elrov is SEVERELY wounded. As in . . . skull broken and near death. But still capable of getting out a few last words.*

The battle raged, the men appearing to be even better trained then their adversaries. However, it was soon apparent that they were using a coordinated strategy, and a group of eight Nrakes soon managed to slide through the warriors and the odd birdlike creature, moving with silky deadliness in on their real target.

Dania hurtled her dagger through the air, hearing a satisying crunch as it slid through one of the Nrakes' chest. Slythre didn't throw, she moved in the way for hand to hand combat, matching the Nrake for skill and nearly matching it in combat ability, but the fact that her weapon was only about a fourth as long hindered her greatly, and she was pressed back.

Elrov dashed in, blocking their path and separating out with two more against him. The two Nrakes pressed Elrov back and away from the main part of the battle, which left four more for the unarmed trio, Ayna, Dania and Gungar to deal with.

The Nrakes were already lunging, and Ayna barely had time to scream before one of them was on her.

Dania was stunned as they simply passed her up, ignoring their target, and disabled the other woman, pushing her back into the darkness.

Elrov had already sliced the arm off of one of his two opponents, and was just about to deal with the other when he heard Ayna's cries. He instantly dropped his fight with that Nrake, leaping past it and after the ones targeting Ayna.

Two turned around and drew their weapons, the others backing off into the darkness. Elrov plunged forward, ignoring his own safety utterly as he simply struggled to get past them and to Ayna. One slashed him across the side and swerved away, but the other barred his way. That one, Elrov stabbed clean through, all the way up to the hilt of his weapon. Leaving him incapable of blocking the blow from behind as it caught him in the head, throwing him aside onto the grass.

The Nrakes vanished into the night, and Ayna had gone silent.

Shortly after, the battle was over. The dead bodies of at least a dozen Nrakes lay on the ground, and the enemy were fleeing in retreat. The Nightrider was also gone, and Narsh's body had disappeared as well. But considering some of the blasts from blue fire which had been thrown in the area he had last been seen, there was little chance that he was still alive.

In the sky, three dark shapes lifted off from the ground and disappeared into the night.

"Those would be the fleeing enemies," Faradin muttered as he wiped his blade.

Narsh was looking at a hole of blackness, darker than night and seeming to suck even light into its depths. Strength had long since left his arms and legs, even though they were unbound. The icy fingers were strong as steel and cold as death, having sucked all warmth from his body long ago. How long ago? Hours ago? Days? But that wasn't possible. It must have been about fifteen minutes. The arm of the Nightrider never tired, never even flinched in fatigue at having held the full grown elf in the air, by the neck, for that amount of time. Never changing hands, never holding on too tight. The killing squeeze could come at any moment, but frankly Narsh didn't care anymore. Nothing mattered, and nothing was. The hole into emptiness was in the vague figure of a man, although Narsh had stopped realizing that hours ago. Or was it days? He was being foolish, although he was beginning to forget even that. He was not able to think, not able to act, and not able to even be. Self was draining, and the blackness seemed to be even attempting to take him into it, the more he looked into those depths.

"You have taken the girl?" came a voice, sharp and icy cold, a shock to Narsh's numbed senses.

The beating of wings was faintly heard over the . . . what was it? His elvish ears should be able to hear better than this! Or was it simply that they had been blinded as well as the rest of his sinking body. Sinking into that dark pit . . .

"We have her right here," came the responding voice, cracking across Narsh's bewildered senses once again with harsh ferocity.

If only he could sink into the welcoming embrace of death. If only they would be quiet so he could be still, so that he might be able to lose some of this sense of evil. And the overwhelming darkness . . .

"It was a fight, but it is ended now. They killed four of our number, but the great bats were on schedule, and when we escaped we were able to reach . . ."

Narsh clung back onto life, and his eyes opened slightly, a tinge of pain felt through him now, peircing the endless cold. But any relief was welcome, and he felt now a burning sensation in his entire body, his fingers, his chest, legs, everything was beginning to feel a burning pain.

Through his eyes, he could now faintly see three great shapes, ridden by creatures hidden in the darkness. Another figure was slumped over the back of one of the mounts, which appeared to be in the shape of a gigantic bat.

"You have done well," the voice knived across consciousness, bringing back the cold, quenching his feeling, his nerves, his very being dropping away into it.

"You have done well . . . well . . . well . . ." the words echoed across the void of darkness that had formed in his mind.

Lief Erikson

04-05-2001, 04:25 AM

*Hmmm, we do appear to have a bit of a problem. I had a bad feeling something like this would happen. You usually end up posting about two or three hours after my post comes, so I saw that I was right on top of your normal time.

All right, we can go with both. Although I think that will take a bit of editing on both of our parts. Particularly yours, if my Nightrider is going to survive like it does in my second post, which was also sent before I saw yours. So, shall we come up with a satisfactory battle storyline? Perhaps we should have this discussion in the discussion forum.

I was going to kill Narsh, but decided against it. Hence the second post. And I felt like writing something like that at the time. It was fun. Although I'm not sure that is a very warmhearted sentiment to feel when it means such an unpleasant time for poor Narsh.

I thought it would be nicer to have a happy reunion between him and Dania later on, then her mourning his death through the remainder of the story. Up to the end, of course, when she'd start to get over it. That's how stories often go, when they have a tragic death like that. Unless it's a series, that is. In series of books they get over it a lot quicker.

But it is ironic how that happened, indeed. Both of us writing the same thing happening to the same people in the same way. Is it that we are similar in writing styles in some way, or that those particular things happening to those particular characters is only natural? Perhaps there are elements of both.*

Lief Erikson

04-07-2001, 04:56 AM

*Just two more things that need to be altered in your post now. Narsh and Elrov's deaths. Or near deaths. The Nightrider wouldn't pick up a dead body, and Elrov died trying to protect Ayna, not gazing at a battle until he got hit in the head.*

"They captured Ayna as well," Slythre said softly.

"Narsh and Elrov dead, and a couple of the broodlord's men as well," Faradin said. "At last it seems that we have begun to suffer losses."

"Elrov isn't dead," called a soft voice from further along the battlefield.

They quickly headed over to the site. Dania held Elrov's head on her lap, his head was bloody and his eyes wide, but he was still alive.

"How badly is he hurt?" Slythre asked sharply. "We haven't much time."

Dania turned his head slightly and winced. The back of his skull was slightly visible through the blood, and it had been cracked.

"He hasn't long, I'm afraid."

Elrov's mouth opened slightly and he licked his lips. "Ayna . . . is she alive?"

Slythre glanced at Harnauro momentarily before turning her head back to the elf. "Yes."

"But she is captured? They have the key?"

"I don't know anything about any key, but if Ayna had it, they surely do now."

Dania looked up at Slythre in exasperation. "If he is dying, there is no need to trouble his heart with difficult knews. We should let him go in as much peace as we can give him . . ."

Elrov reached up toward Slythre and Harnauro. "You must rescue her." He winced in pain and was racked with convulsions. He seemed to gain control with an effort and turned his head back to them. "The fate of the world . . . They are trying to bring back the darkness. Only a gate of magic stands between the world and terrible evil. Ayna holds the key. Even if you don't do it for me or her . . ." he broke off again, pain filling him. "Do it for the rest of the world . . ."

"Why do they want Dania, though?" asked Slythre in confusion.

"A trick, Ayna managed to pull off," he said with a feeble grin. "You were never meant to be involved . . . any of you. Not even her." He pointed up at Dania. "Ayna changed her name to Dania early on in the chase, managing to convince them that that was who they were after. A mix up, a strange shift in coincidence brought you into the hunt that was unfolding. The Nrakes however knew her scent, and nothing could put them off the track. Useless after all."

Pain filled Elrov and they saw that a small pool of blood had begun to collect around his head. "Ayna knows more about what it is about. Rescue her, before it is too late. Please . . . you must be in time."

He reached up towards them again, a pleeding guesture which never got very far. For at that moment, his eyes glazed over and his hand fell backwards onto the ground with a slight thump.

Roland

04-09-2001, 12:55 AM

Ulrog smiled to himself as the others crowded around their fallen comrade. They had completely forgotten about him. Ulrog slowly slunk away into the shadows, but he didn't get very far. He was grabbed by the arm and easily lifted off the ground. Twisting to see who his captor was, Ulrog looked into the inquisitive face of Seetoo.
"Is this games?", the strange creature said in a loud clear voice.
Ulrog was about to yell abuse, but then he noticed something. He had caught sight of the battle with the nightrider, and had noticed the strange scent of the creature that had opposed it. Now that he was close to Seetoo, Ulrog noticed that his scent was very similar.
"That fast thing, that fought the dark one, is he a friend of yours?"

Mathron

04-09-2001, 01:48 PM

Seetoo blinked, and looked about as though wondering what Ulrog was referring to. Then, turning back, his eyes seemed to widen in recognition of the question, and he nodded his head, saying, "Saw him in the caves!"

Elbreth of Carhouth

04-10-2001, 08:23 PM

*Ok, now where are we? It seems I can't take a few days off for midterms without getting lost again. :) *

Mathron

04-10-2001, 08:56 PM

*Well, it looks as though things have slowed down. The following has occured: The last Nightrider attacked the camp with some Nrakes. Many of the Nrakes fell, but so did some companions. Ayna was captured, as was Narsh (though the party thinks him dead). Elrov is dead, after delivering a message that it was Ayna the enemy was after all along. I think it is my turn to post, which I will do so today or tommorow - I have been busy as well.*

Lief Erikson

04-10-2001, 10:27 PM

*Good. I've been waiting for it.*

Mathron

04-11-2001, 03:16 AM

*Sorry for keeping you waiting! Also sorry for the short post, I will have some more tommorow.*

As the light fell from Elrov's eyes, Harnauro stood up, a dread look upon his face.

"I don't like being involved in such events against my will, but I've been attack far too much for my liking. I'll go after the girl," said he, turning away from the group and looking over the dead Nrake bodies.

The others met gazes, and with grim resolution amongst them all, stood. "I think we all shall go after her," said Faradin. "If it is as dire a situation as Elrov said, then far more is at stake than we think."

"Aye, I'll go," said Slythre, "but they are long gone ahead of us. How are we to find their lair, and how are we to follow them?"

A form from the back of the clearing shifted, and they turned to see the broodlord, leaning against a tree, clearly exhausted, though without outward sign of injury. His men's corpses lay about the ground near him, along with nearly triple their number of Nrakes. He spoke, soft and deadly, "I may be able to help with that. As the foes fled, I saw an ally pursuing them, unnoticed. If he returns, as well, he can help transport you all there. If, of course, you will trust me," he finished with a wicked, pain-filled cough.

Lief Erikson

04-11-2001, 04:09 AM

"We appear to have little choice. If what you say is true, you're our only lead, and you're the only one who can help us to find them." Slythre cocked her head slightly. "So I assume we'll have to wait until this . . . creature returns?"

Lief Erikson

04-11-2001, 04:28 AM

The Nightrider swept to a landing, the Nrake's bats also landing quickly behind him. He could have outdistanced them with ease, sweeping along the shades of night and reaching this place within a matter of minutes, while instead it had taken seven hours. But he had to stay behind and guard Dania. She was the truly important one in all this, not the fool elf. And if the eagles or the creature he'd fought earlier were willing to attack them, they'd have little ability for defense and could easily be slaughtered.

Thus, he had stayed with them. And now dismounted from his mount, which was folded into the darkness and faded from sight.

He released Narsh, only just then realizing that he still held him by the neck, and let his body drop to the ground.

He motioned to a couple orc guards. "Take Dania to the master's chamber, and move fast."

"What about the elf?" one of the Nrakes asked as he dismounted from a bat.

"Take him to the prisons under heavy guard. His escaping abilities were shown to us quite plainly in Edoras."

The Nightrider felt the sky, carressing its source and in moments detected the non-magic of his pursuer. He snarled slightly, as it was already moving away at high speeds, but the Nightrider didn't have time to deal with him now.

Instead, he folded the darkness, pulling himself across its expanse and seeping through its depths, reappearing a few moments later in Vardor's chamber in the eagle kingdom.

"Master . . ." he said, bowing to the ground. "The one named Dania has been captured, and awaits questioning at your stronghold."

"Then I shall see to it," Vardor responded with a bare trace of eagerness piercing the mask over his emotions which normally covered his face.

He then disintegrated into the shadows, followed quickly by the Nightrider, but not nearly as fast as Vardor had moved. Even though Vardor wasn't a creature of the night, he still somehow manipulated it to his advantage even better than the Nightrider. Impressive. But that emotion too was sucked away into the void before it even had time to be. When the Nightrider reappeared next to Vardor shortly after, the interrogation was already underway. How she withstood it so well, the Nightrider didn't know. But after a time even she had endured enough pain and could stand no more. Then she answered to their questions, and the key was theirs.

Mathron

04-11-2001, 07:08 PM

Malagar blinked his eyes open, feeling light burning brightly against the back of his skull. With a groan, he lifted himself up, and nearly fell over, his body filled with weakness. It was a moment before his eyes widened in realization he was not longer bound into the form of whatever had captured him.

He rolled over, and looked at his surroundings. A dimly lit stone chamber, with one bound oaken door opposite him. Standing up, and cursing the weakness of his legs, he staggered over to the door and opened it.

What he saw on the other side surprised him, and his hand instinctively grabbed for the dagger he carried at his side, closing on air as he realized it was no longer with him. As the dark, hulking form leaning against the stone wall opposite the door stood up and stepped towards him, Mal grabbed for his powers and lashed at it with shadow magic - or, at least, intended to do so. No visible effect occured.

"That would not be advisable, shadow man." The rumbling voice was, nevertheless, well cultured and with the undertone of intelligence and knowledge.

Breathing heavily, and feeling less than in charge of the situation, Mal looked over the form that faced him. Obsidian armor resembled that of those he had fought before, but it was exceedingly well made, and radiated strength and power. It also covered his entire body, seeming almost molded to the flesh, all the way up to an intricate helmet that revealed only glowing slits that were his eyes.

When Mal gave no response, the man continued. "Perhaps you are wondering about your situation?"

Mal grudgingly spoke, "Aye."

A touch of amusement entered the others voice, as he said, "You are a guest of my father, who has of the powers of your kind. I am afraid that your powers are our for the time being... you may regain them one day."

As Mal stared at him in shock, the man continued, "You are free to wander his citadel, though I would not advise attempting to escape - after all, you are now simply mortal, and can die just as easily as any other man."

Mathron

04-11-2001, 07:11 PM

Aetoo skimmed along the ground, heading for his home. It wouldn't take long to reach the mountains, at the speed he traveled, and the information he had learned had stayed his quest for vengeance, temporarily. He had felt the power from within the lair, of the one called Vardor, and his father would be able to deal with him directly once he had learned of Vardor's lair.

Lief Erikson

04-12-2001, 01:50 AM

*Do your creatures have any means of long range communication?*

Vardor folded the shadows again, stepping out of their darkness and appearing inside the eagle's kingdom again. Or rather, their gathering of muddy nests.

His lip curled in disdain as he walked, unseen and unheard, towards the hidden building that had been discovered by his spies, not long since.

He entered into the shadows and seized hold of his magic, now prepared to face this guardian the Valar would surely have set over the clasp.

"Who desires entry?" came a deep, rough voice from inside.

"A friend of the eagles," he answered as he used his magic to seek out the speaker.

Quickly he located him, leaning casually against the wall. But the guardian had sensed his magical probing as soon as he sent it, and was put partially on his guard. Probably he assumed that he was an Istari or a messenger from the Valar.

"We shall see," he said, with equal casual arrogance walking forward towards him, stopping with a good ways still to go. "Who exactly are you, and why have you come? You must have some proof . . ."

Vardor gave him no time to continue with his questioning, hitting him fast and hard with a boiling fire which lit up the entire cavern, destroying everything . . . except his opponent.

The man instead laughed. Then he stretched out his own hands and sent out boiling streams of light, slashing outwards at him and pressing hard at every shield Vardor had set up.

Vardor heaved extra strength into his attack, beating away the first two of his opponent's shields and melting away the cavern top over his head.

The guardian had to divert some of his power away immediately to strengthening the walls, an instant of time that Vardor snatched to put his full power into attack, vaporizing his opponent's shields and throwing him back into the wall.

The guardian picked himself up from the wall, a large grin still positioned on his face.

It was disconcerting, fighting a man who laughed at him as he fought, even though Vardor could tell that the man was straining to his utmost ability to hold Vardor off. And was succeeding, although it could not last long.

Suddenly the smile faded from the man's face, and he stepped back into the inner chamber. Then his magic diverted entirely, hitting the roof which Vardor had been earlier attempting to collapse upon his enemy. It fell, crushing the opening to the cave and blocking Vardor off.

He manipulated the shadows and stepped out of their hold inside the inner cave. The clasp was on a stone block, lying in the center of the room.

The guardian leapt forward with incredible speed, a beam of energy appearing in his hand, slashing at Vardor. But at that moment, a shadow from behind the wall leapt up and cut through his defenses, slashing the guardian's throat open.

He looked surprised, and his shields faltered. His weapon disintegrated entirely, and he looked at Vardor again, with a shrug.

Vardor hit him again with everything he had, completely vaporizing the odd, smiling guardian, blasting his atoms to oblivion.

"Fool," he muttered. "Overconfident fool." Then he stepped forward, and had just reached out his hand for the clasp when a beam of light struck for his chest, deflected only just in time to keep from piercing Vardor through and through.

Vardor fell back with an angry shout of surprise, and looked up to see another man stepping up out of the shadows toward him, all casual ease.

Fire poured from both of the man's hands, melting the stone where Vardor had been standing an instant ago. Vardor struck again, fury boiling through him as he struck with everything he had. There was a tenuous moment as the balance shifted back and forth, falling backwards and forwards as both attempted to destroy the other. Then, finally, the man fell backwards, and was boiled away in a raging furnace of fire.

Vardor stood again, a look of puzzlement on his face. But he kept his shields prepared this time, and therefore came not quite so near to death when he was hit again.

Mathron

04-12-2001, 05:19 PM

*Yes, but it is rare and not often used. Aetoo wouldn't have any, as his speed in the air could get him halfway across middle-earth without trouble.*

In a cold, stone room, am old man pulled at his beard while looking over several strange metallic devices. A noise behind him caused him to spin about, shoving the devices aside like a child caught stealing cookies.

In the doorway, the fully armored warrior bowed to him, saying only, "Father, Aetoo has returned. And has news of much interest, such that I thought to confer with you before any action is taken."

The old man's eyes widen, and a delighted grin splits his face. "Well then, yes, yes, take me to him, let's talk!"

The armored man bowed, and turned and led his master down the corridors to where Aetoo waited..

Lief Erikson

04-12-2001, 11:02 PM

*I saw your post almost immediately after it came, but I've been unable to post until now. I've been diverted by school work. (Shrugs) You surely know what that's like.

Does your broodlord have access to that type of communication?*

Vardor strained hard, barely managing to keep his attacker at bay. Each of them was as strong as he, yet each of them attacked at different times. Two together could have overwhelmed him in the beginning. What was this? The guardians were erratic and insane. Was it some code of honor that only allowed one to fight him at a time?

Vardor strained his attack, but he was becoming tired now, and his attacks and defenses were becoming more and more feeble. This was now the fifth opponent who had leapt from the shadows to attack him, and Vardor sensed that he was being outwitted as well as outfought.

Suddenly, the darkness in the cave seemed to have a hole bored in its depths, vaguely recognizable as the shape of a man. Blue firebolts flashed from his fingers, striking his Vardor's opponent.

The surprise attack was enough, and the being Vardor fought changed its attack to the newcomer, giving Vardor time to lash out with the shadow magic, tearing ruthlessly at the shields the man had built around himself. The combined strength of the two attacks shattered their opponent, and what was left of his body fell to the floor.

Vardor sent out a magical probing of the chamber, scrutinizing the whole thing. If it hadn't been for his close up check, he wouldn't have noticed the slight magical shield blocking him from detecting the different presences in the room. With a slight effort, he pierced it. It was then that he noticed that there were eight beings in the room. Himself, the Nightrider, and six others. Four of them were leaning casually against the walls, hidden in the shadows and without a trace of magic in their bodies.

One of the other two was empowered with it, and he was the one stepping out of the shadows now. But it was the other magic controlling being that caught Vardor's attention. This man was, like the other four, leaned casually against the wall in the shadows. He was clad in robes of grey, and was holding a faint, invisible beam of magic, connecting his magic source to the other man's.

And then Vardor knew. As ruthlessly clever a strategy as he himself had ever thought up. Incredibly simple for a clever and knowledgable Maia. This was the true guardian, standing there in the corner. He had linked his magical source to the other man, and was spitting out his magic through him. This man was probably an innocent civilian, brainwashed and completely under the control of the guardian. He through his magic at Vardor through the different beings, but was only able to support one if they were to have any chance of survival. Still, as he lost one, he sent his link to another, attacking Vardor through him. A strategy clever enough to defeat almost anyone. Any Maia would eventually get worn down and defeated by the multiple opponents and unceasing battle.

Vardor certainly would have been to, if not for the intervention of the Nightrider, which had given him the time to really see what was happening.

Fury flared through Vardor, and he seized the shadows that the guardian hid among, twisting them upon him and slicing him open.

A smile drifted across Vardor's face and he finally felt real pleasure at destroying an opponent once again. A clever opponent, and a valiant one as well. The Valar had chosen their guardian well.

As the guardian's broken body finally slumped to the ground, the magic faded from the man the Nightrider had just been fighting, and a single blow burnt him away. The Nightrider's head lifted in what might have been surprise, but it faded quickly.

Then, Vardor stepped up to the platform and seized the clasp.

Mathron

04-13-2001, 02:28 AM

*Yes, the broodlord has items that will let his master contact them, but he only has two left, and they only operate once each. (he used one of them a while back, to see how it works, if you have time to search. ;) )*

Lief Erikson

04-13-2001, 03:03 AM

*Okay, good. That makes my plan fit a bit better. You messed it up a little bit by changing the direction Aetoo was going, but this makes everything likely to be fine.*

Mathron

04-16-2001, 01:16 AM

*Well, I was planning on changing it yet again, having him return to the others... would that seriously affect your plans?*

Lief Erikson

04-16-2001, 01:44 PM

*Aetoo returning to the company will solve a problem, it won't hinder me.*

Mathron

04-16-2001, 06:29 PM

Darkness was beginning to fall again. Nearly a day had passed since the disastrous fight, and though they had waited on the Broodlord's advice, distrust of him was arising again, as his companion failed to return.

A flash of darkness in the skies above drew their attention, however, and moments later, Aetoo was standing in their midst. The only other glimpses the party had had of him had been brief, and only now could they look him over. Any marks he had gained in the battle were once again gone, and his figure showed only a perfection that even elves could envy. As well, none could look upon him and fail to note the resemblance to Seetoo.

Aetoo looked about, taking the measure of the party slowly, and then approached the Broodlord, gesturing him to the side, while the others waited impatiently.

Once they were out of earshot of the others, Aetoo explained, "I have both tracked those we fought, and reported the information to our Father."

The Broodlord nodded, saying only, "And his responsse?"

"He seemed to take more interest than usual - and, even more, has gained back a measure of his old self for a bit. He seems to believe the final Move may soon be upon us."

The Broodlord's eyes widened, amazement coursing through him, and after a breathless movement, he said, "Praise Father, and all is worth it, if our brotherss shall live in peace - even if we may not make it."

Aetoo nodded, seemingly much more somber than normal. "We are to go to the fortress of this Vardor, and see what more we can learn. Apparently, whatever is at stake is more than the power of a mere Maia."

The Broodlord, calm once more, said slowly, "Thosse I am with wish to seek out Vardor's lair as well, but will likely not follow our plan."

Aetoo laughed. "Their goals and ours are close enough, at this time. A distraction is needed, and they shall provide it. I shall transport them, if they agree."

The Broodlord nodded, and returned to the group. Looking them over, he said shortly, "My companion has located Vardor's lair, and is willing to transport you there, if you feel you can travel with us. The decision is yours."

Lief Erikson

04-16-2001, 08:26 PM

Slythre stepped forward. "Do you believe that that is where Ayna has been taken?"

Aetoo nodded. "I followed them there."

"In that case, we agree to your offer."

The others looked at each other, but shrugged in agreement. This was their only chance to get her back and get to the bottom of this mystery, however dangerous this chance was.

Lief Erikson

04-16-2001, 08:37 PM

*This took place during the previous night, shortly after Vardor's battle with the guardian.*

Vardor materialized out of the shadows, his robes torn and blackened, and his power weakened from overuse. He had never over exerted himself so much in years and years. The guardian had been cunning, but every opponent Vardor had fought had always been overcome. This one was no exception.

Quickly walking down the steps from his chamber, he entered the hall and summoned his generals. "Marshal the troops and bring them towards the eastern checkpoint with all speed. You may leave a guard of about a hundred men here, but this place is no longer important."

"It isn't?" asked one of his generals, his jaw dropping at the sudden and stunning news.

"All of our work here is irrelevant now. The darkness is coming, and all is ending. Prepare for a journey to Ethrilien. All of the bat steeds must be mounted and ridden there in all haste. They will be mounted by only the best and the strongest. The footsoldiers will have to catch up as best they can. How long will it take for a flight to Ethrilien at maximum speed?"

"A day or two for the warriors on bats. The footsoldiers would get there in about a week and a half."

"Too long. Any with speedy mounts must be sent out, but all which cannot I suppose we'll have to leave behind."

"Yes sir," he said, sounding relieved.

"You are all dismissed to begin your separate tasks."

They quickly bowed and left him, scurrying out to get their jobs done at as fast a pace as possible.

Elbreth of Carhouth

04-18-2001, 02:59 AM

*Ok, I'm caught again, right? (confused look) If not, disregard this post and I'll delete it next time I'm back.:) *

Dania's tongue was thick, and her mouth dry from the cotton gag they'd shoved in her mouth. She could feel the dried blood around her lips from where she'd been beaten nearly senseless. She'd not made a sound, which infuriated her tormenter all the more. She'd never been able to see who it was, they were in silhouette the throughout the ordeal. She wasn't even sure what it was they wanted from her.
To exhausted with pain and loss of blood to do anything more, she fell back against the tree trunk. She wouldn't let herself sleep, she had to gather as much information as she could. She had to know, she had to listen to the distant voices by the small campfire. Had to... Don't let.. Sleep...
Within moments her mind succumbed to the pleadings of her weary body, and she slept fitfully.

Lief Erikson

04-18-2001, 03:54 AM

*I'm afraid I don't quite understand that post. It's Ayna that they've captured and beat up, but she wasn't around any tree trunks or campfire either. Right now they are preparing to take off on Aetoo's back to rescue Ayna.*

Mathron

04-20-2001, 01:37 AM

Slythre and the others followed warily as Aetoo turned and walked deeper into the woods. Fortunately no treachery occured, and moments later they stepped into a large clearing, dimly lit by the cloud-shrouded moon overhead.

Aetoo stepped into the center, and shook his head, his long hair flying out behind him.

"Sstep back," rasped the broodlord, as the others started towards the center of the clearing, and they did as he said, though exchanging cautious glances as they did so.

Aetoo seemed to fold together, and then sretched, and kept stretching, his form expanding and bursting outword, skin turning to dark, jetblack scales, arms to outstretched wings - and moments later, he was there, in his monstrous beauty.

A small gasp of recognition emitted from Seetoo, but he shook his head as the others glanced at him.

The broodlord strode forward, and then glanced back, as the others hesitated.

"If you wish to ssave your friend, this is your only hope."

Lief Erikson

04-20-2001, 01:49 PM

"Come," Slythre said firmly.

Stepping forward, she put one leather boot on the creature's back and then the other. Hurrying smoothly to its long backbone, she took her seat. Rather unconfortable and quite bony, but not the worst traveling arrangements she'd ever had. Especially if you counted the time she'd been a prisoner of the Taldrelan Pirates.

Jerking her head away from thoughts of the past, she beckoned to the others. "Come on, we don't have all night."

They climbed on too, Faradin first and then the others, one after another. There was room for all, although Seetoo didn't mount. Rather, he spread his own wings and flew up. Soon, Aetoo had launched himself into the air and the ground dropped away under them.

He couldn't go at his full speed with his back loaded, especially if he didn't want them all to fall off, but he could still go quite fast. The others held on tightly to whatever they could grip, and it wasn't long before they began to close the distance between themselves and Vardor's Lair.

Mathron

04-23-2001, 02:56 AM

As they took flight, the experience was heartshaking - even though they had flown upon eagles before, they now found themselves moving through the air at impossible speeds, not even sure how they remained upon the great form beneath them despite the buffeting force of the wind.

The time passed quickly, though, and soon a place rose before them, a cliffside dwelling that none would have found on their own.

Aetoo circled overhead, and prepared to land, and force entrance.

****
Sorry for the short post, I am rather busy with numerous papers (including a 20 paper) and some other stuff coming do this week...

Lief Erikson

04-24-2001, 04:50 AM

The instant they landed, orc guards rushed out from their places of concealment and a tall man in a red cloak walked out from the door of the dark keep.

"What is your purpose in coming here?" he asked in a harsh voice, his cold eyes darting from one to another of them.

They did not give him time to say anymore.

Seetoo and Aetoo began dispatching of the orcs as Slythre pulled her dagger from the man's throat.

All of the bodies crumpled to the ground at once, and then they moved to the doorway. Orcs with daggers and blades leapt out, shouting their warcries only to face death on the other side. But as the door slammed shut and bolts drew, Aetoo reached it and tore it off its hinges, throwing it inside on top of the guardians.

Moving swiftly, they cut down all opponents, cold steel flickering in the torchlight as they made short work of all who dared oppose them.

Ayna's eyes fluttered open and she looked around the dank cell she had been thrown into. It was completely bare of furniture and made of cold stone. After they had stripped her naked and bound her to the chair, it had become worse than she had believed possible. Everything was gone, hope included. After they had finished with her, they had thrown her aside, one more piece of now useless baggage to be cast aside while they completed their plans.

Misery and pain both flooded her, and she looked down at the dozens of bloody streaks that criss crossed her arms, legs, sides and back.

Every movement was pain. But deeper than all the physical injuries that tore at her body was the shame that she had given in in the end. She couldn't have helped it, and she doubted that anyone else could have done better. But she should have somehow been stronger. And now the entire world would have to pay the price.

Unless she could escape and warn them, that is.

She struggled to stand but failed miserably as her legs screamed in protest at the slightest movement.

With a cry, she sank back to the floor, a thousand cuts and wounds in her flesh burning like fire. Her eyes misted with tears as she looked up again at the prison door.

Was that sounds from outside? Angry shouts and the clashing of swords. Orcish yowls and battlecries.

"Ayna!" came a call from the hallway outside.

"I'm here!" she managed to respond, crawling towards the door.

More clashing steel and two more orcish cries. Than the sounds of running feet crossed the hallway.

In an instant, the door was rent to pieces which were thrown down in shreds. Slythre and Harnauro entered, weapons drawn.

At the sight of Ayna, Slythre gaped for a moment in horrified silence.

Flashbacks filled Slythre's mind for a moment. Burning fire and cruel hands filled her vision. But what she had endured might not be as great as what Ayna had gone through, and she struggled back to the present.

"Ayna?" she asked, taking a step closer.

Then, she pulled herself together. "Harnauro, go and find something to bind the worst of those injuries. And something for her to wear. But hurry, we don't have much time before they send something else after us. Something that Aetoo cannot eliminate so easily."

Quickly, she strode up to Ayna and lowered herself to one knee beside her, taking note of the injuries.

After her wounds had been looked to, she was clad in the rough orcish clothes and supported by Seetoo and Faradin as they hurried out the corridor and away from the place.

"As soon as we are away from here," Slythre said grimly to Harnauro, "she'll have a lot of explaining to do."

Mathron

04-24-2001, 01:26 PM

As they were leaving, the noises of clashing and conflict began to die down in the distance and fade away, and in moments, Aetoo was suddenly before them, eyes sparkling dangerously.

"They aren't here!" He cried, his voice, normally melodic, catching up into a snarl.

His eyes light upon Ayna, and he steps forward, snatching her from Slythre's grasp, lifting her, and shaking her violently, ignoring her gasps of pain.

"Where are they??" His face, contorted with rage, screamed into her own.

Harnauro grabbed one of Aetoo's hands, intended to pull him off of her, but was rewarded with a backhand slap, sending him hurling down the corridor into the wall.

"You won't get any answers that way!" Slythre cried out in desperation, her dagger drawn just in case. Fortunately, her words seemed to penetrate Aetoo's ears, and he realized Ayna had fainted under the pain.

Dropping her, he turned to Slythre and said, "Have her ready to tell us what she knows as soon as possible!" Then he was gone.

Roland

04-25-2001, 11:05 AM

Ulrog sighed his relief at the news that Vardor wasn't in his lair. When Seetoo had ruined his attempted escape he'd had no option but to go along with his captors, and hadn't been looking forward to a confrontation with his old master.
He looked around, and sniffed the air. There was something else here. Something nasty. It made sense. Vardor would leave more for them than a few orcs. Ulrog picked up a curved orcish sword from the ground and looked up, just in time to see a giant spider drop from the ceiling. He could see others dropping to the ground behind it. Ulrog swung quickly, hitting the creature in its revolting multi-eyed head, which served only to make it angry. Screeching, he ran amoung the others, the spider charging after him.

Lief Erikson

04-26-2001, 04:27 AM

*By the way, Vardor left no magical creatures here to guard, or anything else which is highly dangerous. But he didn't leave anything worth saving in his keep either. Sorry to not be able to post sooner, but our computer has not been functioning properly at all lately.*

Seetoo dashed around the corner, and being the last of the company to pass through there, he slammed the door and slid the bolt shut, blocking off the spiders. The fight had been quick and efficient, him and Harnauro alone being more than a match for their multilegged adversaries.

And the spiders were cowards at heart. Perhaps even more so than these orcs.

Faradin sheathed his sword and stepped over to help Slythre with Ayna while Gungar and Harnauro took the lead.

"We have what we're after," Slythre said. "Anyone remember the way out?"

"That way," Gungar pointed as they reached a hall.

Quickly crossing to the far end of the hall, they dispatched of a couple more orc soldiers before rushing out upon the platform they'd landed upon.

"Where did Aetoo get off to?" Faradin murmured in anger as he lowered Ayna gently to the floor. "I may not like the rogue any more than the . . ." he choked back what he'd been about to say. "Anyway, he's our only way out of here, unless we want to climb."

Lief Erikson

04-26-2001, 04:37 AM

Narsh was being dragged across a stone, slimy floor when he first heard the shouts begin to ring throughout the keep. The orcs holding his arms paused and turned their heads, worried expressions on their faces.

"Come on," one of them said in his guttural voice. "Let's dump him in the nearest cell and get out. I don't like the way those noises are sounding."

The others couldn't drop the opportunity to sneer at him, even if they felt the same way.

"Why you cowardly scum!" the nearest one to him snarled. "The master said where we put him, and that's where he'll go. We'll not have the snot faced likes of you changing his orders now, shall we?"

The orc piped up defensively and Narsh was dropped to the ground. Several of the others had joined in, sneering derisively at each other. Until one of them drew a dagger and was promptly hit in the face.

And that was how the dagger slid within reach of the bound elf. At least that was the account given by the only two orcs to survive the incident, shortly before their execution.

Mathron

04-26-2001, 01:27 PM

As they looked about the platform, a shadow shifting behind them caused Faradin to spin about, sword in hand. The form of the Broodlord stepped away from the alcove he had come out of, and Faradin - slowly - lowered his blade.

"My companion shall be joining uss shortly - he is searching the keep. Hass the girl regained her senses, yet?"

Lief Erikson

04-26-2001, 02:13 PM

"She's coming to," Slythre said quietly. "It won't be too long, now."

Ayna's eyes fluttered and she let out a low moan.

"I'm afraid we don't have the time to allow her to recover properly before answering us," Slythre said.

Ayna's eyes opened and she looked up at them, vaguely as if not seeing. "Who was that? Was it the . . ."

"It was a person called Aetoo," Slythre said impatiently. "He is one of our traveling companions, and he appears to have a temper we didn't know existed. But is imperative that you tell us everything you can about these enemies."

The broodlord took a step closer, his face revealing his excitement.

"Yes," Ayna said, her face suddenly filling with concern and realization. "I will tell you everything I can. Our people were given a safekeeping to take care of by the Valar, my family in particular. When the Valar left after the War of Wrath, they entrusted us with this secret and told us to bury it well and deep, hiding it so that none could find it but the owner. Our people traveled a long time until they found out of the way places to settle down, places where they could watch the progress of the world and not be a part of it. That was the best method they knew of to do as we were told. Our kingdom split into three shortly after that, one third traveling to the eagle kingdom, one traveling to the valley of Ethrilien, and another traveling to a hill country not far from there. Whoever decided that we should encamp in Ethrilien did so out of an arrogant opinion that we can best watch over what we were told to protect by being almost directly at its location."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "When the War of Wrath ended, the Valar locked Morgoth away from this world using an unbreakable barrier, the center of which is a certain castle. It is a castle in the clouds, and its occupants are the ones who watch over this prison. A clasp was made, its magic keeping the castle invisible, and a key. So that no one would be able to find the clasp and then be able to use it to capture both the castle and the key in one blow, they entrusted the key to a certain family. My family. We didn't know for a long time until it was too late that Vardor was hunting us down and attempting to find a way to release his master. He has hunted me for months, and he has killed every other member of my family, as well as everyone in the hill country. Anyone who was given this information would be put in mortal danger, as they would immediately be named on his list of people he must kill. He has never that I know of failed to kill any of those. I was hoping to take the key to Saruman or Elrond. Or maybe Galadriel, one of those who is powerful in magic and wisdom and will know how to take care of this properly."

"Why didn't the Valar take these things with them?" Slythre asked.

"I am not sure. I don't think anyone truly knows, but it is my personal opinion that they didn't want magical items which contained such evil in their kingdom. Morgoth had done enough to them already without having his stench constantly pervading their magical realm in the Blessed Lands."

"In that case our next destination is certain," Faradin said as he looked up. "We must go to Ethrilien, get there before them if we can and do everything in our power to hinder them from accomplishing their goal."

"The different Maiar who defend the castle will do their best to fight back," Ayna said. "Therefore we have a little bit of time."

"Not enough to warn one of those really powerful people you mentioned," Gungar muttered.

"We have little time," said the broodlord in excitement. He was already dashing towards the castle, but he didn't get very far before being tackled to the ground from behind.

Harnauro and Faradin held him pinned for a moment, the wolfman breathing fast and hard. "You won't leave us and tell Aetoo. Then you will go and leave us behind, I have no doubt. You may be able to do something about this and you may not, but it would be best for all if we could face it together, not apart."

Mathron

04-26-2001, 05:47 PM

The broodlord breathed lightly, his breath hissing out, but said nothing for a long moment, then finally, "You undersstand me little - I have every reason for you and your companionss to join us in this battle. More hinges on it than you may know!"

The others looked doubtful, but before any more was said, Harnauro and Faradin suddenly found themselves in the air, being held by a very angry looking Aetoo. "Treachery!" he cried out, as the broodlord slowly got to his feet.

As it seemed violence was on the verge of breaking out, as Slythre and the others laid hands to weapons, and Faradin and Harnauro prepared to free themselves bodily, the broodlord said to his companion, respectfully, "Let them be - they know now where our goal iss. Let uss take them there, as per the plan."

Aetoo scowled, then nodded, and lowered the two figures in his grasp. "Very well. We will leave as soon as possible."

Lief Erikson

04-26-2001, 06:15 PM

"What remains to be done?" Slythre asked as she doubtfully fingered the hilt of her weapon.

She trusted these beings less and less, but if they didn't intend to simply dispose of them now that they had what they needed, perhaps they were worth continuing with. But only as long as it was absolutely necessary; she didn't intend to take risks. She had no doubt these creatures would not blanch at killing them should it fit their purposes, and she did not intend to leave that as an option for too long.

Mathron

04-29-2001, 02:03 AM

"If you know where our goal lies, then nothing," barks Aetoo back at her, his harsh tone contrasting greatly with his melodious voice. "Let us be off!"

Lief Erikson

04-29-2001, 04:12 AM

Slythre sighed and scrambled onto Aetoo's back, as his wings spread. He stretched them briefly before pulling them back in.

The rest of the company pulled up onto the creature as well, and a moment later they were airborn.

Narsh dashed out onto the platform just in time to see the monstrous animal take off, soaring upwards into the night sky and disappearing in the darkness.

He waited a moment, watching the place where it had disappeared. Then, he walked to the edge of the platform, looking down the cliff edge. Suddenly, he noticed something and squinted off into the distance, his keen elvish vision picking up a thin line of black specks moving along the ground below, leaving some sort of underground cavern.

Narsh waited only a moment to be certain before sliding his sword back into his sheath. Then, he flattened at the cliff edge and slung his legs over it, quickly beginning to climb down.

When he dropped to the bottom, he could see most of the last of the troops leaving. Sliding into the back of the line, he pulled his cloak more tightly around himself and continued along with them.

Mathron

04-29-2001, 05:31 PM

*Um, not quite. Aetoo and the broodlord wouldn't really have mentioned anything about their master to the companions - but don't worry, he'll know where to go. But their destination would be directly to the goal.*

Mathron

04-29-2001, 05:37 PM

Mal sighed.

He had been trapped in the stone lair for days, now, and still had found little to encourage him - his power seemed gone, and he seemed to be contained in a completely enclosed stone cave. None of the passages he had followed had lead to any exits he had seen, and the dark warrior that was his captor seemed to appear and vanish at whim, as did the meals Mal found in one of the rooms, on a cold stone table.

Even as he thought this, he felt the black armored man's presence behind him, and slowly turned around.

"How is our guest feeling today?" the man asked, and Mal swore he detected a note of mocking in the tone.

"Somewhat ill, but nothing some fresh air cannot cure," Mal tossed back, managing to lean back in the stiff-backed stone chair he was in.

THe man said nothing in response, and then bowed grimly, and said, "You may find yourself gaining that wish before long - my master may have need of your services shortly."

Lief Erikson

04-29-2001, 06:27 PM

The wind whistled by and Slythre squinted down at the ground moving past far below. The sun had just started its rise into the sky, and they could see the land for acre upon acre in every direction.

"How long?" she asked wearily. It had been a tiring night's work and the two long rides had left them exhausted.

"Not long, I expect," the broodlord answered. A moment later he pointed out at the ground far below. "Look! There it is."

Slythre squinted down and Harnauro looked as well. What had seemed a patch of greenery in the scenery was now increasing in size as they swept downwards to meet it, Aetoo gliding in for a careful landing. Careful, as he did not want any of those on his back to fall.

"We've arrived," the broodlord said, a smile creasing his face.

Lief Erikson

04-29-2001, 06:41 PM

Arnon paced for a moment longer and then stopped, kicking at the rubble absently with the toe of his boot.

It appeared that whoever had done this had done their job quite efficiently. This place had been kept a closely guarded secret, the reason for which he had not known. And he had been told not to let anyone know of its existence. He had followed their instructions loyally, partially because it was from the family he had discussed with Harnauro, and partly because of the great service he knew it would give Middle Earth. All of his line had kept the secret loyally, but somehow, someone had discovered it. The only possibility was that one of those family members had told it themselves, thus betraying the long kept secret.

Either that or someone else had discovered on their own. In this case, there was only one thing he could do about it. He must go himself and inform the surviving family members as to what had happened.

"Ask Ofaton for me if he will agree to carry me a relatively long distance," he told one of his guards, who stood nearby.

"Where should I say you desire to go?"

"To Ethrilien." His cold gaze willed the guard to go, and he quickly did their bidding. As they usually did.

He fingered his sword hilt with one hand. Perhaps the time was coming where he would actually have to use this once again. All he could do was hope not.

Mathron

04-29-2001, 11:36 PM

*Um, I don't think you understand, Lief. The broodlord would take any of them to his home... number one, there is no reason to, and number two, it is too far away (Aetoo could fly there quickly, but not with them on his back). They are just going straight from Vardor's lair to wherever he headed to...*

Lief Erikson

04-30-2001, 01:04 AM

*Righto, I can live with that. In that case, we're landing in Ethrilien.*

Aetoo landed at the valley floor with a gentle thud.

Quickly, Slythre and the others dismounted, Faradin helping Ayna.

"Come on," Ayna gasped through her weakened voice. "We must get to them and warn them of Vardor's coming."

Gungar began to object. "You're in no state to . . ."

"I'm the only one here that they would know and trust. Will you help me?"

Faradin took one of her arms and brought it carefully around his neck, supporting her as they moved across the clearing to the buildings nearby. Aetoo seemed to sniff the air anxiously. He smelled the magic of the valley, as did the broodlord. But there was much more to come. His master's greatest test.

Mathron

04-30-2001, 06:38 PM

*You might want to edit your earlier post so they all are in synch.*

Aetoo moved along cautiously, but also with a bit of excitement - from what he already sensed of this place, it may mean the end to his father's search...

Mathron

04-30-2001, 06:42 PM

Mal looked down in astonishment at the pane of glass in front of him, that shimmered and showed the scenes of his companions - walking side by side with the warrior that had plagued them! - entering the valley.

He looked up at the armored figure by his side. "So what is it you wish of me?"

"My master has great plans approaching, plans that require a good deal of ... fueling. In any case, we need distractions upon this Vardor's plans. The group you see before you is one. You shall be another."

Mal paused, thinking. Finally, he said, "Who is this mysterious master of yours?"

"It matters not - I speak for him in all things. Think not of us, but on your own situation. Ponder well this offer, Malagar D'Orthand, Lord of Shadows, for it may be your last chance to return to your old self."

Lief Erikson

04-30-2001, 07:02 PM

*Something every villain seems to be offering him. :D *

The Nightrider watched balefully as the company contacted the villagers and began speaking animatedly, with many guestures of hands.

The one called Aetoo was with them, unaware of him, of course. Who could be aware with him when he was not entirely here? He was on the verge of reality, and the small strand of magic that allowed him to see into the world of light was easily lost amongst all of the other magic of this place. The valley practically tingled with it, almost to the extent of Elrond's valley at Rivendell. Only an elf would sense the difference between the two magics, the one of the valley and the one which allowed him to be here, an unseen phantom.

Although he was hardly that. When in this way, he was unsure what he was. Or where.

And the elf maiden who had come would have to walk practically right past him to really sense him when it was all that small.

He felt the others of Vardor's evil army, fast approaching across the skies and over and under the ground, making use of every goblin hole or forest to maintain their secrecy.

Mathron

05-01-2001, 08:14 PM

As they entered the village, Aetoo gazed about, a strange look upon his face. The broodlord turned to Ayna, and said, "Well, where is our goal? Where is the center of this dark force you spoke of?"

Lief Erikson

05-02-2001, 12:31 AM

She looked up at the clouds and motioned vaguely with her hand. "Up there, somewhere. Invisible, until the clasp is used to reveal its presence. We must muster every force we have to this point, now, if we are to stop Vardor once he begins his attack on it."

Roland

05-02-2001, 09:54 AM

Ulrog sniffed the air nervously. There was an all too familiar scent on the wind. A large host of orcs was heading this way. He was destracted by another twinge over his entire body. The magic of this place stung him regularly; this was clearly not a place for his kind. Still, that wouldn't matter when the host arrived. Together, under a strong cruel master, the orcs would be able to withstand the discomfort. He looked at the others, and could see from their expressions that there was no need to warn them of the approaching troops. They knew. A large battle wasn't far away. Ulrog had a feeling it was important but, as usual, he had no idea why. He rested his hand on the hilt of the sword he had picked up earlier. Suprisingly they had let him keep it.

Mathron

05-03-2001, 12:03 AM

Aetoo nodded at Slythre words, and said, "Let my companion and I make our preperations in private. Meanwhile, see to your own defenses."

So saying, he and the broodlord turned and walked up to see the layout of the area.

After they had gone, Harnauro turned to Ayna and said, "Are there any allies here that could aid us?"

Lief Erikson

05-03-2001, 01:10 AM

"Not that I know of. Our people aren't very well armed or prepared in case of military crisis. Only the watchers have any training in that area."

"The watchers?"

"They are elves who watch over the valley and protect it from all outside foes. Each bears a little magic, and they are all highly skilled with blade and arrow. I think that there are twenty in guardian positions currently around Ethrilien. Elrov was one, but he saw it as his personal duty to protect me, and left Ethrilien for this reason.

"What I hope is that we can muster them and get the villagers into safety. And we must find a way to notify one of the great powers which is nearest here as to the danger. If we could get their help, we might be able to block off this threat before it overwhelms us."

Ayna glanced at Aetoo and the broodlord. "I think they might be some help in this case, if they are willing."

She shifted uncomfortably. "But I myself am afraid to approach them. I would much prefer it if you would."

Mathron

05-03-2001, 02:36 AM

Harnauro turned silently, and strode towards the pair in the distance. As he approached, Aeto turned to face him, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"We would know what aid you can lend to the defense," said Harnauro, coldly meeting Aetoo's gaze.

Aetoo shifted, slightly, and looked past Aetoo's head with a strange gaze, and then said, "We shall stand by you. Other aid may come, but no forces shall be commited until the extent of the foe's power and army is apparent."

Harnauro narrowed his eyes, and then returned to the others to relay the information.

Lief Erikson

05-03-2001, 03:42 AM

Ayna walked up to Aetoo and the Broodlord, followed closely by Harnauro. "Listen. This will indeed take every s**** of your army that you have, and possibly more. Vardor must be dealt with, and his army is most likely much smaller than yours. But if he does succeed in this goal, he will unleash a being as strong as a Valar. Possibly more strong. The castle in the clouds is the point from which the magical barrier which separates Morgoth fromt this world is centered at. Vardor will use the clasp to bring the world out of its invisibility and then after attacking the castle, he'll use the key to unlock the opening in the barrier and let his former master out upon the world. Can I spell out the danger more plainly?"

Mathron

05-03-2001, 04:39 AM

Aetoo meets her gaze, and gives a shrug, and turns and walks away, alongside the broodlord. As she stares in shock at his retreating form, Harnauro snarls, "I don't know what game those two are playing, or their master... if they even have a master, and aren't simply toying with us..."

Lief Erikson

05-03-2001, 01:33 PM

*Strange. If I have the whole scope of your part of the plot already, then this is totally out of character. We're talking about the powerfulest magical being in ages coming, and they know the spot it's likely to come to as well.*

"Then we'll have to operate without them." She glared at their backs for a second longer before turning and limping back towards the others. "Look, the watchers are beginning to return."

The Nightrider scoffed at them from his hiding place. The utter fools. Already Vardor's army was almost on top of their heads, and they had done nothing so far. An hour, maybe a little more, and this place would be a swamp of orcs and stronger beings. Much stronger beings. Some of the greatest of them almost reached his own power. Some had fled to Vardor when the War of Wrath had caused Morgoth's destruction, and others he had personally overseen the creation of, through experiments or other things. This puny group truly did not know what was coming their way. They had resisted excellently up to this point, but now it would take a miracle to save them.

He would have laughed at the puny mortals, but dry humor was sucked back into the void along with every other emotion. He remained their, emotionless and cold, waiting for his time to strike.

Mathron

05-04-2001, 04:17 AM

In a deep, dark cave, a important discussion was taking place.

"My lord, are you ready for this act? To risk so much on an outcome not yet known?"

The first figure to speak was named One, and wore armor of gleaming black metal from head to toe.

"Aye. The longer my plans take, the farther I fade. This event could let me put a finish to the gathering of power, and end things once and for all. And even now, I am not sure how long my lucidity will last. We must act while I am able."

The second figure was an elderly man, currently dressed in fine robes, if one ignored the dust upon them.

One asked, "And you will still refuse to send any forces?"

The other responded, "I cannot risk anymore of my children at this task. If we succeed, we must be as strong as we can - even the losses already have been hard. As well...we do not wish for this Vardor to fail at his task."

"Do you not fear the being called Morgoth?"

"Perhaps. I have doubts as to whether Vardor could even free him."

"Why is that? If he could not be freed, why would the Valar take such measures to lock him away?"

"I suspect they did not lock him away, but rather, sealed off his prison itself. He was cast into the endless void... all that is known of that place indicates nothing can escape from its vortex. The Valar, having created an entrance to it in order to cast Morgoth into it, likely found they could not unmake the entrance. So they sealed it."

The man paused, gave a small chuckle, and said, "Or so I imagine. I could be wrong. If the power unleashed by this Vardor truly does prove capable of bringing forth Morgoth, then it will be enough. A simple redirection of it will serve as well as anything else."

"And if it works as you think it does?"

"That will be harder. But we must try. It may be our last hope."

Lief Erikson

05-08-2001, 02:04 PM

Angbald raised his hand slowly, watching his prey with eyes like those of a hawk. The group was settled in easy sight within the valley, as well as the people of Ethrilien. The utter fools. There was not a single guard, and he doubted that the strength of the company Vardor had fought could be strong enough to hold him off for long.

"Archers . . . FIRE!" He swung the hand down with a guesture of finality and the arrows soared out of the trees, hailing down on the company and the people of Ethrilien. Cries and shouts of alarm instantly filled the air as at least a dozen fell wounded and two or three dead. Even some of those among the company had been injured by the arrows.

Dania winced as she felt at the arrow which was stuck through her leg. Slythre had a gash on her shoulder which she was holding grimly with one hand as she shouted instructions at the fleeing villagers.

Faradin had an arrow in his side, but that did not appear to inhibit is abilities much at all. He had already pulled the thing out and was drawing his blade.

Gungar pulled out his axe and Harnauro his great bow. He sent several shafts into the trees at the slight movements he saw there, and was rewarded by a couple cries of pain.

"That's where some of them are," he said, pointing two fingers at the trees.

"Come, we'll take them," Gungar said, fingering his axe. "Arrows aren't as nice as solid weapons where you can fight back."

"Expect your enemies to be nice and you will not live long," Faradin said with a slight smile. "Now come on, we must cover the retreat of the last of these villagers."

"And see to the wounded," Slythre said, pointing at five villagers who had not stood up again.

"Two of them are dead," Faradin stated after a brief inspection. "The others we'll have to carry. Harnauro?"

Harnauro stepped forward, and soon they were dragging the injured away into the relative safety of the village.

Angbald was not far behind. His men already had moved through the trees and lower regions of the valley to reach the edges of the village, and there was some rather vicious fighting going on at two points over there. The company staying behind made his job that much easier.

His orcs were better trained than most, and their muscles were tensed, ready to leap out into combat.

"Soon, my soldiers," Angbald whispered as he fingered his battleaxe's edge. "Soon."

Mathron

05-09-2001, 05:45 PM

As the first of them fell, Harnauro snarled, and looked about for the broodlord or Aetoo - both of whom had vanished. Giving a growl, he turned to Slythre and said harshly, "I'll scout out how many of them we face. Prepare for defending the village."

She nodded, and nearby Gungar called out, "Save some of the fun for us!"

Harnauro gave a grim grin as slipped from the village and into the nearby trees, and slipped from his human shape and into the form of a shadow grey wolf.

Lief Erikson

05-10-2001, 02:30 AM

Harnauro slid from tree to tree, dashing between bushes with a stealthy grace. His sharp vision quickly picked out the dozens of orcs that lay hidden. And also the rough, scaled creatures who stood even farther back, fingering sword hilts. He was more wary as he passed them. Perhaps it was their stance, but he thought they would be much more dangerous of opponents than the orcs.

He soon had a rough estimate and decided to start back. A rough estimate was all he needed. There were about two hundred as he saw, although reinforcements were surely going to be here soon. He took a step to the side, and that was all that kept him from getting his skull split by an arrow that thunked into the tree directly where his head had been.

He was startled at how close that had been. The arrow could very well have killed him being as perfectly aimed as he was. Unusual indeed. Nonmagic weapons had rarely been a threat.

A second arrow slapped into his back leg as he leapt forward, and he grimaced. This archer was good.

Quickly, he clawed the arrow out and ducked under the brush as the wound healed.

Two figures ahead were carrying arrows at the strings of their bows. One of them stretched out a hand and pointed in his direction.

"There," he said quietly to his companion, although Harnauro's hearing picked up every word. "The warg was over there."

Mathron

05-10-2001, 03:12 AM

Harnauro thought quickly. Judging from the archer's skill, a direct rush could rish some injury. If they thought him merely a warg, he could make use of their assumption. Hiding in the bushes, he decided he could use human hands for the moment. Slinking back a bit, he reverted to his normal shape, and felt around for a rock. Finding a heavy one, he hurled it into a bush a dozen feet to his side, immediately returning to wolf shape - and as the archers loosed arrows directly into the rustling bush, Harnauro burst out of his hiding place and rushed towards them.

Lief Erikson

05-10-2001, 01:22 PM

The men were clad in light green clothing. They were fair haired and had light blue eyes. Already they were bringing up new arrows. In perfect unison, they crouched on one knee and let loose.

He dodged and both arrows struck his shoulder, one of them sliding neatly off of him and the other jabbing to the bone.

The two archers were on their feet again, drawing swords. But suddenly, another arrow sped out from the trees behind Harnauro. A black arrow, and it slammed into the leafy floor just behind the two figures.

Three figures were crouched in the bushes behind Hanauro now, and they were easily recognizable as orcs.

"Look!" one of the two men said as he pointed at them.

Quickly, they slid from tree to tree, neatly avoiding the arrows that the orcs attempted to pin them down with.

Angbald peered out through the bushes. Not long now at all. Already he could hear the sounds of fighting off in the distance, and he knew that everything was probably well underway. But he had to be sure that the enemy was pinned down by his fighters from those sides before he could sweep his men out across the valley and hit both groups from behind.

He could barely distinguish the figures that thrashed and fought in the trees, but they might still be capable of sending out the men it would take to repel him.

Suddenly he glanced to the side in irritation as a young orc tugged at his arm.

"Captain! We're being hit from behind!"

Angbald cursed and swung his arm to point at a commander who was standing nearby. "You, take thirty men and go and destroy whoever is out there. If thirty is not enough, send someone back to ask for more."

"Yes sir."

Angbald turned his face back to the valley in front of him, struggling to discern how the battle went. Nothing was going to spoil his glory today. Nothing.

Mathron

05-10-2001, 03:19 PM

Realization flashed through Harnauro's mind, and he altered his course, leaping towards a tree beside the two archers instead of at them, and using it to rebound - towards the orcs.

Lief Erikson

05-10-2001, 06:29 PM

The archers looked at each other in puzzlement as the wolf suddenly changed targets and hit the orcs, quickly savaging them.

"It must be insane," one of them muttered.

"We did attack it," the other pointed out.

"It's a warg, what else could we do? Whoever heard of a friendly warg?"

The other did not laugh, but raised himself up from the brush as the wolf approached. He kept his ready bow in hand, his arrow ready to pierce the wolf's heart.

His companion followed suit, standing up as well. But although he put his bow away, he drew his sword instead.

"Who are you?" the first one asked, taking a wary step forward, his string ready to release. "We understand the tongue of wolves, among other creatures, so you can speak with us."

Mathron

05-10-2001, 08:10 PM

"That shall.. not be necesarry," growled Harnauro as the pain of transformation quickly flowed through his form, and he rose onto two human feet.

"You seem to be a foe to the orcs, which makes you an ally of mine. Who be you?"

Lief Erikson

05-11-2001, 01:43 AM

One of them looked at his comrade, a wry expression on his face. "All things change, brother."

Then he turned back to Harnauro. "My name is Iavan and this is Tohaer. We are watchers of the valley Ethrilien, and when we discovered the danger we have proceeded as swiftly sa we could to overcome it. More of us are also approaching, but we were the closest ones, so we decided to come ahead of the others and do what we could."

Tohaer nodded but did not lower his bow by much. "And before this can continue, we need to have some proof that you truly are on our side. And who are you?"

Mathron

05-11-2001, 06:36 AM

Harnauro replies sparsely and swiftly, "My name is Harnauro. I've been scouting for those of us defending. If you return with me, the others of your kind can vouch for me and mine."

He turns and heads to go, and the archers lift bows, saying, "We shall need more than words before following. It would be all too easy for you to lure us into an ambush if we blindly trusted you."

Harnauro turns, gives a small rumbling sigh, and says, "I can offer no proof for you. I am not even sure how I became involved in all of this, but suffice to say that Vardor, who is the one seeking to break your seal, is my foe. Know, as well, that if I wished you dead, you would be dead. Such weapons as yours would avail you for naught against me. You may trust me, or not, but I return now to the defenders in the village."

Having finished his long speech - whose length would undoubtedly have shocked his companions had they heard it - he turned to go, letting the archers decide their actions for themselves.

Lief Erikson

05-11-2001, 01:33 PM

"I will go with you," Iavan said after a hurried discussion with his comrade. "But Tohaer will stay to gather any other watchers who arrive into a unified force. Then they will begin an attack at the enemy's flanks and rear once they have more men. You have seen for yourself that us watchers know how to fight better than these orcs, and with greater numbers we could cause havoc among their ranks and sidetrack the attention of their leader from you."

Mathron

05-13-2001, 04:41 AM

"Then come. Time is short, and any help we have the others will be glad to know of."

---
Sorry for short post - things will get a bit slow, as I now am back on a modem for a while, and my comp is being evil on me.

Lief Erikson

05-13-2001, 06:38 PM

*The things are prone to error. I sympathize completely.*

Angbald finally motioned his hand forward. "Charge!"

His troops lunged out of the forest, swords being pulled from sheaths strapped either across their backs or buckled to their belts.

Screams and warlike battle cries pierced the air as the orcs lunged into battle, attacking the villagers of Ethrilien with fierce deadliness. The villagers had armed themselves with spikes and knives, anything which could be used as a weapon or shield was called into play as they fought desperately against the onslaught of attackers.

Harnauro and Iavan suddenly broke from the woods. Iavan's first two arrows pierced their targets' hearts. Then, he lowered his bow as they were too close for proper use of it now, and he drew his long sword. Then, he lunged in, dodging in and out as he stabbed his opponents, wounding half a dozen and killing one.

Harnauro on the other hand attacked their center, tearing them apart with his claws, their weapons leaving no lasting damage on his hide.

When he noticed two of the darker figures approaching, he turned to face them. Now was time to discover what they had, and if his guess had been correct.

He dove for the first one's throat and a moment later found himself smacked into the grass by the creature's sword blade. The wound that had slashed his shoulder open closed, and he was up again, moving with incredible speed as he dodged in and out, wary of the creatures. But they owned no magic. They were armed and well trained, but it would take a very well aimed blow indeed to cause Harnauro any harm.

He finally saw the opening he'd been looking for and dove in, his claws ripping the creature to shreds. His companion leapt forward, digging his sword blade into Harnauro's back leg, but the wolf twisted over completely, his jaws fastening onto its throat and digging in.

With a cry, the creature fell back, dropping his sword and struggling in vain to rip Harnauro's teath away from his throat. But Harnauro only let go of the creature's neck in his own time, and by then his adversary had gone limp.

The people of Ethrilien were being pushed into a smaller and smaller circle, pressed into the middle of their own village by at least two hundred orcs and ten of the darker creatures.

But then, out of the trees suddenly swarmed several men in green. The same types of fighters as Iavan, Harnauro realized. And the archers quickly began harrying the back of the enemy force, no arrow missing.

Even as the larger enemy force began to break apart in confusion, the group in the center gave an extra surged outwards. Combined by the double pressure, the orcish fighters broke, fleeing into the woods and running for all they were worth (Which wasn't much) to save their own skins.

Angbald looked up as his defeated army fled in all directions. He felt no pity for the fighters out there that died, only disappointment that he had failed to defeat them all himself. The cornered villagers fought harder when pinned, even if they were untrained. But all would have gone well for him if not for these archers that had destroyed his second force. The one that he had intended to mop the remainder up with. They had even killed his Cyfras. True, they didn't have magic. But they were some of the best hand to hand fighters his master had.

Irritating that his vision was beginning to blur and grow red at the edges. Although perhaps that was not too unexpected.

He glanced down again at the arrow that protruded from his chest. Ah well. Even if he and his entire command had died, Vardor still had many more troops at his disposal, and they were nearby. The second attack would wipe them all out, no matter how they resisted. And that would leave three other attack forces to defeat the Castle in the Clouds.

Mathron

05-16-2001, 02:28 AM

The image of the battle faded from the misty stone where Mal had watched it. He looked up from the blank stone to the cloaked face of the wizard, or whatever being this warrior served - despite the appearance, he had sensed no magic in the scrying. Perhaps his own lack of magic had left him unable to feel it, but he sensed things were otherwise.

"My companions seem to be doing well for themselves."

"So they do," responded the figure, laying his hands atop each other on the table, "But they have many forces to send. They repelled this one, but we must keep them off balance."

"And that is where I come in?" Mal asked, cautiously, still not trusting this figure.

"You are a thief, an assassin, a figure of the night. Even without your birthright, you have walked the darkness under the stars unseen for far longer than any mortal. These armies seem to place much in their commanders. When the next force arrives, I shall send you there - albeit still only as a mortal - and leave it to you to remove the head of that force and leave confusion when they least expect it."

Mal nodded, for he had played the role of assassin before. Ironically, his last assignment had been serving the being these new foes sought to release. His lips twisted into a slight smile, but then faded, as he asked, "And what of the other forces, surely they will be prepared."

"Aye. And we will have other surprises."

Lief Erikson

05-16-2001, 02:27 PM

Iavan limped up to where the other people of Ethrilien were. "If the watchers had not arrived right when they did, things would have gone poorly indeed. Listen, I know you all might hate to hear this, but the enemy surely have more attack forces to send. I fear that we will be incapable of repelling the second attack. The women and children must all leave the valley, along with all of the wounded. And I think that all of the men should too, except for the ones who are absolutely determined to stay."

Low murmers arose among the people at this, but they eventually saw the wisdom of this. The people of Ethrilien were peaceful in general, and few desired to stay and fight. Finally, only five of them were left in the place where the village had once stood, and they picked up weapons left on the field by dead enemies.

Slythre glanced over their small fighting force. "All right, we've got these and a handful of watchers, along with the company. Minus Ayna, who went with the other wounded. So what do we do? Stand a rear guard action for the villagers or wait here and fight whatever they send?"

Mathron

05-17-2001, 03:05 AM

Harnauro looked about - few others seemed to be voluntering any words. Finally, he growled out, "Well then, let us find a place to fortify, such as deep woods. If we can prevent them from fighting us more than one or two at a time, we can keep their forces back longer. You people know this area - are their any good defensive places near here?"

Lief Erikson

05-17-2001, 04:11 AM

Iavan nodded. "Two places which are defensible enough." He motioned with his fingers. "There and there. One a hill, and the other a nest of brambles and broken logs that it would be a tremendous effort to break through. A natural defense for those lucky enough to be inside it."

"We'll take the hill," Slythre said after looking it over. "There are several bushes we could be positioned in there, too. And we could also have a far better view of everything else that is happening."

Quickly, the company climbed the hill and did their best in the short time they had to make it defensible.

The Nightrider looked at them, amusement fluttering along the edges of the void. The fools really had no inkling of his master's plan. He did not care whether they lived or died, he simply wanted them out of the way so that they would not hinder him. And they were getting out of the way right now. How convenient. They seemed to think that in the vast scheme of things, they really were important. Already he could see in the distance the winged bats swooping out of the sky, a cloud of mounted steeds ready for the assault on the Castle in the Clouds.

In the distance, the sky filled with great bats and other creatures, a large force of mounted sky warriors.

Slythre's jaw dropped as they swooped out of the evening sky. "We cannot face them."

A lone figure materialized in the darkening valley and walked across the green meadow. He was robed in black, and his hand was pressed tight around something.

Gungar pointed. "Vardor."

The figure raised both hands and clasped the object in them both. A beam of golden light swept up from it and the sky shimmered. Then with a brilliant flash of golden light, a white castle appeared in the sky, outlined in gold. Up and around it the creatures swirled, dropping their riders into the castle to begin the fierce surprise attack and then swooping down into the valley for more riders. The hosts of evil were coming out of the woods in droves, and Vardor had disappeared.

Flashes of magic irrupted around the castle and explosions lit up the air. The battle had begun.

Lief Erikson

05-17-2001, 04:17 AM

Vardor let the shadows unfold around himself, and he stood alone on a blank stone platform, nearby all else. His senses were built up to their maximum, and he smelled the magic around himself. Behind him, two Nightriders emerged from the shadows, one on each side of him. They were reunited as he had deemed it worthwhile to expend the power it had taken to bring back its companion from the darkness of the empty void on the verge of reality.

He let the shadows enfold him into their embrace again, and the Nightriders with him. The cold emptiness of complete dark surrounded him, and he floated with them above the castle, watching the battle and considering when best to make their move.

Lief Erikson

05-17-2001, 04:23 AM

Arnon stared in amazement at the scene that faced him. It seemed a new star had been born in the sky. A glowing castle, surrounded by flying warriors of darkness. It was unbelievable.

"Look!" said one of his followers, pointing down at the small fortifications which protected a small hill, far below. "They are not under attack, but I know that they are the people who we granted shelter to."

"They will have a lot of explaining to do, as well," Arnon said. Then, glancing up at the castle, "Although by the looks of that, I doubt that they'll be in any mood to give it at present."

He leaned forward and whispered something into the eagle's ear. It nodded sharply and dove downwards towards the hill, the other riders close behind him.

Mathron

05-18-2001, 02:40 AM

Mal stared through the air at Vardor and his Nightriders. Before him, a wall of what he had thought was stone shimmered and flickered. Like before, it showed the battlefield, but this one, according to his host, would also let one go there. When he saw the time to strike...
He looked down at the blade in his hand. Of black obsidian, it supposedly would be a bane to any being with the touch of magic - the more powerful the magic, the greater the damage from the blade. If he had not had his own power gone, its very touch would likely have killed him.

He sighed, and looked at Vardor again. The maia sat cloaked in shadows, surveying the area with a grim smile. But the shadow magic was no bar to the sight of its creator.

Lief Erikson

05-18-2001, 02:16 PM

Flowing with the wind, the bat dropped its master who landed easily on his feet, sword in hand and ready to do battle. The elves who had so far guarded this castle were well trained and armed, but they had been caught completely off guard. Already other orcs, Cyfras and a couple Nrakes had plunged into the deeper sections of the castle and were fighting in the halls. Everything was indeed going according to plan. Now all they had to do was wait for Vardor and his Nightriders to do their part.

Lief Erikson

05-18-2001, 02:28 PM

Mal took a step closer and Vardor turned to glance over, seeing him. "Have you accepted my offer, Malagar? You have been long in responding."

One of the Nightriders reached a cold hand down and gripped Vardor's shoulder. He looked up in annoyance, and then back at Mal, who had the Nightrider's complete attention.

"You bear the sister blade of the one that nearly unmade me," the Nightrider intoned in a deep, rasping voice. "He is devoid of the life of magic."

Vardor looked back at Mal, his features hardening. "You have joined the broodlord and his cohorts. Might one ask why?"

"It is not our affair," the Nightrider told Vardor. "His path is set, and there is no point in trying to change his mind or discover what reasons he has."

"But we shall at least deprive him of that," Vardor said, pointing at the sword.

A shadow leapt from the darkness. Mal twisted the sword blade and blocked it just in time. Another hurtled out. And another. They swarmed around him and the sword grew to a flaring beam of light in his hand. All of the shadows that curved around his body disintegrated into nothingness.

But when the attack stopped, Vardor and the Nightriders were gone.

Lief Erikson

05-18-2001, 02:35 PM

Ayna looked down in amazement as the battle unfolded below. Squadrons of troops still covered the ground, but their numbers were thinning as more and more of them were picked up and thrown into the castle. On the hill where her friends were positioned, she saw one or two figures in sight, watching in amazement as the battle proceeded. But then, out of the night sky appeared several white specks. They hovered above for a moment before soaring down, landing on the edge of the hill. A couple figures dismounted from the white animals and walked forward, soon entering into conversation with the people from the hill.

They were fairly obviously not sent by Vardor, and they were very possibly friends. What was happening down there, she dearly wanted to know.

She winced slightly as the woman who was working to heal her wounds dabbed in a more painful spot. Whatever was going on down there, they were certainly better off without her being there to hinder them any further. But she would be here to welcome them when they returned, having defeated their enemies. And knowing them, she had no doubt that they would.

Lief Erikson

05-18-2001, 02:42 PM

Arnon landed his eagle gently on the edge of the hill and dismounted.

Two figures materialized out of the darkness on the hill, each of them aiming a bow at him and his comrades. One he quickly recognized as Harnauro, and the other he did not recognize. Probably a native of this land.

"I come in peace," Arnon said, raising a hand and stepping closer.

"None who are here now come in peace," the man beside Harnauro answered as he raised his bow a little further, pointing it at Arnon's head.

"I will ammend my statement," Arnon said, but his look at the other man was ice. Although in this light, the man probably didn't notice. "I am coming here in peace for the time being, but we are ready to fight these orcs and help you purge them from the face of the earth."

Mathron

05-19-2001, 03:13 AM

Mal isn't actually at the battle yet. He is watching Vardor through a portal, that he hasn't yet gone through. Sorry. :)

---

Harnauro held up his hand, halting the archer next to him. "This one... this one, he may be our ally."

Harnauro's face seemed carved from stone as he looked over Arnon, and he said, "You are welcome among us, for you have brought much needed aid. But more will be needed, I think, before this is over."

Lief Erikson

05-19-2001, 01:15 PM

*Simply edit the end of your post and make him go through.*

Iavan lowered his bow, but slowly. He didn't know how far either this man or any of the others were to be trusted.

And the wolfman had helped them back there, but the enemy had proved in the past that they considered the loss of a few orcs a small price to pay in exchange for the trust of a spy. And he had never known any good to come from the wolves. But for now, it was best to accept them all. Because if the wolfman and these others were indeed enemies, then the rest of his watchers would most likely perish very quickly indeed. They had to trust them.

Arnon took a step closer. His back was ramrod straight and his face cold, but it was easy to see a hidden strength that made him dangerous. "In that case you must tell me at least what all of this," he motioned his hand at the castle and the attackers that swarmed around it, "Is about."

Mathron

05-22-2001, 01:55 AM

*Mal isn't actually going through just yet, though.*

Blac Luitenant - feel free to join the story! It is very close to ending, though, so you likely will not get much to do. :(

---

Harnauro said softly, in a low rumble, "I know only a little of this situation. But there is one above trying to break free the darkness that once scoured this world. If you come with me, for a moment, while the battle lulls, I can take you to one who can explain more."

With that, Harnauro turns, and heads back to the others, to both have all explained to Arnon, and to have all there confer on strategies.

Lief Erikson

05-22-2001, 02:29 AM

"We can't take him to Ayna now," Slythre said as she walked alongside Harnauro. "She's gone from this place, along with the other villagers. They will probably return when the battle is over, but until then . . ."

"Then you could explain it to him."

"I think I already know enough," Arnon said as he took a step closer. He then pointed his finger upwards. "Is it your desire to get into that castle?"

They looked at each other for a moment before turning back to him. "That would help," Slythre admitted.

"I think we can help you there. These eagles are perfectly capable of carrying you as well as us up and dropping us off within the building."

"It'll have to be planned carefully," Faradin said as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So that the inhabitants of the castle won't take us also for enemies and kill us."

"It can be arranged. We could drop you off deeper into the city. I think that at this point most of their fighters will be at the walls."

"That'll be fine," Slythre said after a moment's thought. "In that case we'd best get started."

Lief Erikson

05-22-2001, 01:54 PM

*If you're still at the remains of the village, you're not far. I'm sure you can get off in time to get to the others before the battle is entirely over, but it'll most likely be coming to a close.

By the way, I suggest that you don't kill off your character. It just seems like it would be rather like a Darth Maul appearance and disappearance, if you know what I mean. If your character had been added in further back, this would probably be the perfect time to do as you thought. But adding him in and then taking him out again in such a short space of time doesn't exactly strike me as especially cool.*

Mathron

05-25-2001, 12:57 PM

Harnauro grudingly nods agreement to Arnon's proposal, and says, "We have little time left, so let us be off as soon as we can."

---

Sorry for short post, again. :( But, soon, should be more active again.

Lief Erikson

05-25-2001, 01:15 PM

*Okay, although now that we are approaching the climax, I would appreciate it if you posted more frequently.*

Arnon turned around swiftly and walked over to the eagles. After talking to them for a little while, he returned, the eagle looking slightly disgruntled, but still willing enough.

"They are ready to take us up now."

Soon, the watchers and members of the company had mounted the eagles. Swiftly, they launched into the air, white specks moving swiftly towards the awesome structure of the castle.

Vardor unfurled the shadows and they swiftly dissapated.

There were too few shadows here, in this bright castle, for his magic in that area to be of much use. But he still had other things. The Nightriders' powers were also probably effected somewhat by this.

Walking along the bright halls, it was some time before they actually found an inhabitant. But when Vardor did, he seized the elf girl by the hair and dragged her to himself. It did not take much convincing before she told them the directions they needed. After that she was useless, and he did not bother to use magic when he snapped her neck. Better to save up everything he had for the upcoming battle. He doubted that they would leave the link itself completely unguarded.

Mathron

05-27-2001, 02:53 AM

Harnauro looked about as the air whirled past him, the eagle he was on hurtling up into the sky. Near him, most of his companions rode upon other grand masters of the sky. The castle in the sky, that had before seemed merely a small, dark cloud, now grew as they drew closer, revealing soaring towers and dark walls of stone.

A eery cry was the only warning before a dozen bat-winged beasts burst out of the clouds about them, charging screaming towards the eagles. Harnauro snarled, and clutched to the eagle with his legs as he drew out his massive bow, and loosed a shot that impaled one of the beasts. Meanwhile, the others were engaged by rider-less eagles, serving as 'escort' for the party and Arnon's best warriors.

Harnauro managed to loose another arrow, when his eagle twisted about beneath him, evading a foe, and Harnauro cursed as his bow fell from his grip, and soon dropped into no more than a speck dropping towards the ground. The beast chased after them for a moment, then was torn aside by two eagles. Harnauro glanced about, but the rest of the batwings were falling lifeless to the earth.

Looking back up, he saw the castle approaching - they would be upon it in only moments.

Lief Erikson

05-27-2001, 11:51 PM

The eagles swept over the buildings and the interior of the castle, finally gliding down near the heart of the city and dismounting their riders. Getting past the arrows and flaming darts that had protected this section of the city from attack had been difficult, but now they were through.

Arnon quickly motioned them to follow him. "I've seen a castle rather similar to this before, and I think I roughly know which direction we should pursue."

He drew his sword from its sheath and led them at a quick pace down into the maze of passageways and halls.

Mathron

05-28-2001, 03:45 AM

Mal watched through the transparent wall, following the path of Vardor and his Nightriders. The blade in his hands seemed to pulse, eager to fight - but Mal realized it was his own feelings, and nothing belonging to the blade.

He turned to his side, where the black armored figure stood, also watching. "Why do we not go through - I thought your plan was to stop him?"

From behind the man, the cloaked man said, "You would stand little chance against Vardor, in your state. He shall no doubts send his Nightriders off to deal with your companions at some point, and we shall send you then to aid him, while we ... deal with Vardor ourself, shall we say."

Mal sighed, and turned back to watch.

Lief Erikson

05-28-2001, 09:03 PM

Vardor glanced over his shoulder for the third time, certain he felt someone watching him. But just as before, there was no one. Too many strange things in this strange place. But it was only a short time before his master was free, and then this castle and this battle would no longer trouble him. Everything was drawn to a point, and the end of all this was just beyond his sight. Although perhaps it should not be called the end, more like the beginning. Sauron would have to be forced to acknowledge his former master, and so would all the others of his scattered followers. Then they would summon the Balrogs back from hiding, and have to deal with the humans, dwarves and elves that populated Middle Earth . . .

But that was all for his master to do. All he himself had to do was rescue him, and give him the chance.

Just a little further to go.

Vardor felt outwards with his magical senses, feeling the halls ahead and searching for some other protection he might not have thought of. But there was none. Only a couple well sealed doors.

The Nightrider leaped forward at his command and the door was splintered to shreds.

Vardor looked up at the nearest Nightrider. "Watch our backs. This is the only way in or out, I think, so if anyone pursues us, they'll come this way. Don't spare any that do."

Mathron

05-29-2001, 01:18 AM

The Nightrider took up its position by the door, feeling already the building energy in the place. Sounds of fighting drifted down the corridor, and it waited, impassive, neither eager nor fearful of any fights. Simply... emotionless.

A sound formed behind it, and it spun about with the speed of a striking adder, and found itself facing a man. Despite the oddity - that a being had sprung forth where none should be - it felt no surprise, and simply sent a dark flame spinning towards the foe. The man raised a sword, which seemed to radiate of... wrongness, unnaturalness, strangeness... and the flame hit the sword and simply vanished.

If the Nightrider could have felt emotion, a flicker of fear would have crossed its void of thought. Yet it didn't, and simply raised its own dark blade to fight.

Lief Erikson

05-29-2001, 02:11 PM

The Nightrider dodged backward, avoiding a well aimed sweep of his opponent's sword and then meeting steel with steel. His own blade scythed sideways at his opponent, striking sparks against the deadly metal his opponent weilded. A blade that he sensed was even more dangerous than the one that had once devoured his companion.

He met steel with steel again, and the blades flickered, darting in and out as the Nightrider's superior speed forced Mal back across the hall.

Blue mist surrounded them, blinding all sight inside the hall.

Swiftly twirling the sword, Mal quickly began to make it dissapate. But suddenly, out of the darkness stretched a shape, yawning out to greet him in its wide embrace. His steel was knocked aside, but he managed to compress and heave his opponent away from him.

Suddenly pain stabbed downwards from his shoulder into the rest of his body. An icy cold, where the Nightrider's fingers had stabbed into his shoulder.

It was possible to keep on the fight in spite of the wound, but now Mal sensed that death was a certainty, unless the Nightrider became overconfident and made some mistake. But overconfidence he doubted the Nightrider would feel. Or even could feel.

The Nightrider moved forward, blade slicing inwards, cutting apart defenses and slashing for the kill.

Suddenly it jerked back from its opponent, staring over Mal's shoulder.

An arrow hissed out from behind him, striking the Nightrider and disintegrating harmlessly. Then Faradin leapt past him, sword flashing, and the other members of the company attacked.

Mathron

05-29-2001, 03:32 PM

Harnauro soured over Mal's head, his form grey and vicious, and put aside thoughts and questions - why was Mal here, and how - and instead focused on the foe.
He slammed into the side of the foe as it parried Faradin's attack, and spun it about, though it sent him flying, and sent icy cold racing through his form.
Spinning around, he saw Mal staggering back up - another question to ask later, for the Mal he had known would have hardly been taken down by such a blow, even from such as being as this - and Harnauro surged at the Nightrider's back.
The enemy struck Faradin's blade aside, and prepared to strike, but had to put its attention to Harnauro, as he sank teeth into the darkness of its body. It, again, knocked him aside, and raised its blade, but two arrows and a dagger soared into its chest, knocking it back - at least one of the barbs had been enchanted. Faradin struck again, and it blocked it, only to be forced to turn aside an attack from Mal, who was back in the fight. It sent blue fire staggering them back, but another blow struck its back from the wolf, and as it spun about, more arrows struck it. It could have easily handled any one of them, or held off two, but pressed as it was, and alone...
Even as the thought crossed its mind, Faradin sunk his blade past its guard, and into its chest. The blade glowed green, and the Nightrider let out a whispered breath in pain, before striking back, ignoring the wolf clawing its back, and sliced Faradin along the arm.
But even as he staggered back, another blade sank in - Mal's pulsing weapon. The Nightrider lifted his blade to strike him down - and then, simply Ceased.

The companions stared at the empty space where the Nightrider had been, and at the faint afterimage that seemed to be all that was left of it. They then turned to look at Mal, who smiled faintly, and then leaned against a wall, rubbing his injured side.

He spoke first. "Well, then, glad to see you all here. As to the questions I see you asking... well, it is a rather long tale. Let us say that I am now here aiding you... though 'gainst what, I know not. Could someone inform me as to what Vardor is seeking here?"

Lief Erikson

05-29-2001, 06:47 PM

"Morgoth," Slythre said as she picked up her dagger from the floor. "He is seeking his dark master, who is imprisoned in the void. The link to that void appears to be here, and we have to find a way to stop him.

"But where did you get this blade? With it, combined with the other powers you possess, we can surely defeat him."

Mathron

05-30-2001, 01:37 AM

Mal frowned, and mutters to himself, "Ah, that explains some things..."

Looking back up at the rest, he says, "Well, I have bad news, good news, and bad news. The first bad news - my 'other powers', aren't. So aside from this blade, and my wits, I can't offer much else. The good news is that, from what I've heard, Vardor might not even be able to release his Master, which matches what I know, myself, of his imprisonment. Even if he is able to, I doubt he will get the chance unhindered. The bad news is, all the power he focuses into releasing it might well be taken by another foe, and for all I know, he could use that power to make himself even greater than Morgoth was."

Lief Erikson

05-30-2001, 04:44 AM

"Who would do such a thing?" Gungar muttered in astonishment. "And how?"

"That is entirely theory," Slythre said, brushing the matter aside. "And I do not believe Vardor would have enough magic to bring such a thing about, anyway. Now come, we have bloody work yet ahead of us. Vardor must be stopped, and we must use every resource available to us to do this."

Vardor continued to hurry down a marble hallway and splintered the next door to shards in front of him. He was nearly there. He could feel it. The Nightrider beside him also moved at a steady, quick pace. But he showed none of the agitation that he himself felt. The Nightrider probably completely calm.

"Ready yourself for what lies ahead. Whoever guards the door, if there is someone, will likely be powerful.
You must hold that person off long enough for me to get to the door itself."

"I am to be a sacrifice, in other words?"

Vardor was silent.

"I will do as you command."

"Thank-you. I thought you would." Vardor peered more closely at what lay ahead. They passed out of the corridor into a large hall. It was lit as if by some inner source, filled with golden light. At the other end of the hall was a great door. It was made of neither wood nor iron, but of a material as straight and smooth as the walls of Orthanc.

Hurriedly, he moved across the floor and to the great doors.

Pulling the jewel from within his robes, he pressed it into the lock on the door. It fitted exactly.

There was a blinding flash of light and the door was illuminated in brilliance, bedazzling his eyes.

"Stop!"

He dimmly heard the shout from across the hall, and he felt the Nightrider slip away from beside him.

His hand closed around the door handle, and he tugged it open.

The blackness beyond it was overwhelming, similar to the Nightriders and yet so much more. Its ferocity and sucking emptiness was straining to devour him. And deep within the darkness, he heard his master, and knew he was there.

An opening pierced the dismal, unending dark. A flicker of light, and the voice of a loyal servant. One of the few who remained so, but he did not know if he could reach him.

He strained muscles which were long unused. His density and being had become separate as time passed, and it was only with great effort that he began to pull himself together and press at the opening in the barrier of empty night.

A star swept across the sea of darkness towards him, and he inwardly groaned. But the tormenter would not stop him now. He was together enough to resist, at last, and release some of the biting hatred that had long filled him. There was a chance yet, even if it only was a small one.

He struck at the star, but it grew to a brilliance, the white ship filled with a light emenating from itself. On its deck, a man stood, clothed in white and silver. He stepped down from the steering wheel and struck downwards, his whip a white lash that tore at his being, pushing him back into the darkness, replacing bitter anger with fear and pain.

But he had been wrapped up too long, and this was the closest he had ever gotten. So long as that light remained, that opening, all was not lost.

Pulling himself together, he plunged from his lair, attacking the ship. His attack was weak, slothful, and laughing, Earendil drove him back.

But Morgoth's next attack was even feircer, and Earendil's smile faded. His ship backed, and for the first time he began to pay attention to the white light in the distance that filled Morgoth with hope.

He must keep him from paying attention to that! Distracting him was the only chance to keep him from realizing what was giving Morgoth the ability to pull back together his old strength.

He was not yet strong enough to reach the doorway.

Earendil was thrust back from the side of his ship, into the center of it as his next attack struck with even greater vigor.

But Earendil had had enough. He ceased his defense along the rim of the void, his ship turning and moving towards the opening.

Vardor's eyes widened at the sight of the approaching star. He flailed with magic, attempting to obliterate it, but the magic faded as it struck a stronger one.

Mathron

05-30-2001, 11:22 AM

Harnauro, still in the form of a wolf, gave a snarl, and hurried down the corridor. Mal nodded, and said, "We have little time, and whatever may be befalling will be ill no matter the outcome, if we do not get there to halt it."

The others exchanged grim glances, and hurried down the corridor, weapons at the ready as they went onward.

Mathron

05-30-2001, 11:34 AM

As Vardor opened the gateway into the Void, another watched him. Through a shining portal upon an obsidian wall, the man watched, standing alone. Malagar had gone through, and his son had left his side.

As he watched Vardor's work, he was struck by how very old he had become. He had once had a name, had he not? His thoughts were jumbled and scattered, and, for a moment, his name drifted on the brink of his mind... Alatar? The thought immediately was gone again, and his head became filled with so many things...

He sighed, and put all aside, focusing on the scene he watched. Even then, he could see the portal widen to completeness, and he began his own preperations. Reaching down to the ground, he lifted up an object that had lain at his feet - a crystal matrix with numerous gleaming stones placed in various of its intersections.

A sound rustled behind him, and he knew it was his child returned. "They are ready?" he asked softly.

"Yes, father."

The old man bowed his head, and then lifted up the crystal matrix - his masterwork, aside from his children, but something that, if one knew the keys, could tap into the Song directly.

As he looked through the portal, he sighed softly, and then began to move the stone upon the matrix - and as he did, it began to hum, softly at first, and then with resounding power.

Lief Erikson

05-30-2001, 01:59 PM

The company again was involved in battle with a Nightrider, but this time the battle seemed less important. It was shoved to the side, irrelevant to the outcome of the climactic conflict of the powers.

Morgoth strained from the void, squeezing from the emptiness now that his tormenter was no longer there to stop him.

Pulling himself most of the way out of it, he seized the back of the ship, shaking it wildly.

The whip lashed his fingers and he screamed, but he held on and pulled. The ship sank closer towards the void.

Earendil lashed fiercely, but Morgoth continued to pull, his strength growing still.

Mathron

05-31-2001, 12:43 PM

Mal dipped and dunged under the Nightrider's magic, but wasn't able to land a blow with his blade - which the foe was much more wary of, having sensed the death of the other Nightrider.
Meanwhile, the others pressed at the foe, but the Nightrider was defending a doorway in a slim hall, and only a few could get at him at once.
In time, they had enough to defeat him. But now, more than ever, time was not something they had readily available...

Mathron

05-31-2001, 12:51 PM

Swaet ran down the old man's face, and a deep, vibrant chord was ringing out throughout the vast chamber. Many stood behind him, but had no time to think on them, all his attention absorbed by the device he worked with. The strain was growing, but he had no time to rest.

Slowly, the image shown in the viewing portal before him overlaid that of the entrance to the void, until one could step directly through, passing straight into that prison.

As it locked into place, the old man let loose a deep breath, for the first part was accomplished. As the two portals overlaid each other, he could feel the power welling out from the place, the power holding the other portal open, and myraid other minor powers flitting about the area.

The old man took another breath, and began to concetrate deeply - now was the difficult part. Now, must he alter the void's portal itself, so that it led elsewhere, to escape for his people...

Lief Erikson

05-31-2001, 01:17 PM

A smile creased Vardor's face as he saw his master, almost fully revived, and now fighting to get out. He had no doubt that the Dark Lord would succeed; he was far stronger than his adversary, who had at one time been a mere mortal.

Vardor glanced behind him at the battle in the hall. The Nightrider was doing well, and at this rate, the Dark Lord would surely succeed and enter by the time his last Nightrider fell.

Earendil struck feircely, his whip coiling and lashing, striking as if it meant to sear Morgoth's fingers clean off. Morgoth's now visible face showed his pain, but the shadow was going too strong. Soon he would be capable of wrestling the ship out of the seas and tossing it into the void, in his place. How he could gain control of it then, he knew not.

Quickly hurrying to his cabin, he seized a gleaming white sword from the table. He had sensed Morgoth stirring of late, but had never thought that this would truly be necessary.

Running back up the stairs, he faced Morgoth on the deck.

"You cannot escape, tyrant!"

Morgoth made no answer, but his bleeding fingers pulled Earendil closer to the void.

Suddenly, Earendil struck. His blade cut through flesh, slicing through everything it touched with little effort.

Morgoth screamed and released his hold on the ship, holding his maimed hand in agony. But he was almost entirely out of his prison now. Only one swift leap would then carry him straight to the doorway, and then out into Middle Earth.

Which would become another Beleriand, if not worse.

Earendil sheathed the sword and seized the steering wheel of the ship, pulling his vessel away from the edge of the void. The star flew across the darkness of space, reaching the open doorway in the time it took a few heartbeats to pass.

Morgoth pulled himself entirely free and struck like lightening, gaining on the ship like a towering dark wave of evil.

Earendil's whip lashed out, the end of it flicking around Vardor's middle.

Searing pain filled him, blinding him to all else.

But then it suddenly released him, and he found himself floating in black emptiness. He could not breathe, but in this place it was not necessary to breathe. Was he dead?

He turned his head with a great effort and saw his master, the ship and the open doorway all floating away from him in the darkness.

"NO!" he screamed in desperation.

But he could not move.

Suddenly, a great emptiness filled him. He felt his magic sealed away from his body, and all sight left him. He knew that he had entered the void.

Mathron

05-31-2001, 04:37 PM

The old man gave a gasp, as Vardor entered the void - and the primary source of power fueling the open gateway was cut off. His hands blurred as they moved orbs upon the crystal matrix, and the sound filling the room resonated with power. He had to draw in more strength - it was too late to turn back now, too much committed to give up now...

A grim look grew upon his face, a look he had not worn for centuries. Banishing all shadows from his mind, all cobwebs from his thoughts, he set to gathering magic. That which he had once had was long given up - but there were other sources of magic nearby the portal...

---

The Nightrider hurled Mal backwards with a blow, and blue flames flickered before Harnauro, driving him back. Faradin dived into the gap, sword flashing - and was parried by the Nightrider's own black blade.

Suddenly, a figure flashed down the corridor, slamming the Nightrider against the wall as it passed. As the Nightrider turned to follow it into the room, another figure slammed into it from behind. A familiar figure - the Broodlord.

The Nightrider through him back, but the time bought let the others prepare themselves, and the moved forward, beside the Broodlord - and now it was the Nightrider who found himself struggling.

---

The old man gasped, as power began to flood in, and the crystal in his hands grew brighter. His hands still move acrossed it, almost by themselves, as he moved them more by feel than anything else. Which was good, for soon the bright glow was blindlingly so - enough to prevent him from seeing anything at all.

---

As the Nightrider was forced, slowly, backward, the room behind him suddenly filled with light. A figure was outlined standing before it in a pose filled with... waiting, it seemed. The Nightrider took a step towards the light, and then something seemed to pulse, to echo through the corridors. The Nightrider's form seemed to fade out of visibility for a moment, and then back in... a second pulse, and the Nightrider shuddered. The rest of them felt it, as well, as though something was tearing at them, and staggered back at the aura radiating outwards from the room.

The Nightrider convulsed, and simply ceased to be. Harnauro let out a jagged scream, as his body forcibly reverted to human form. The Broodlord gave a cry, and hurled himself down the corridor, into the glowing light, followed by the other figure standing there.

---

"Now!" cried the old man. "It will not last long, and I know what will happen when it stops."

The armored figure by his side nodded, and suddenly hordes of strange and varied beings were streaming through the portal. The old man looked blankly as they streamed by, breathing heavily, but knowing he and his children were going to a safe place - if a place he would never see. For him, the blindness of the light would never end.

As the last went through, he, and the figure by his side, went through the portal, which shimmered and closed behind them.

---

After a long moment, the light died down. Mal slowly rose up, as did the others. Harnauro was lying on the ground, unconscious, and all felt weakened, but things seemed to have quieted. Mal looked down the corridor, and saw what they had come here to find - the portal to the void, shimmering and open. He had seen it once before, and liked looking at it even less now. But it was what they had come here to find, and it seemed that they were not too late after all, and whatever chaos had just occured had ended.

Then, the magic that had sustained it for centuried drained dry, the castle began to fall.

Lief Erikson

06-01-2001, 03:54 AM

Slythre's heart leapt in her flesh as the castle began to tilt crazily.

The company was flung to the side as the castle began to waver, its magic disintegrating.

"Come! We must get to the eagles!" Arnon shouted, running for the doorway.

"Wait!" Faradin cried, scrambling at the floor which now was where a wall should have been. "The portal is still open! The battle is not yet over!"

"It'll crumble as the castle does!" Slythre snarled. "No time now, if you don't want to lose your own life."

"He'll get out before then! He is too strong yet!"

"No time for a discussion," she said, seizing his arm.

Easily, he twisted it off and began climbing up the slanted floor, climbing towards the portal and the doors which still swung, open.

"He'll die!" Dania cried.

"It's his life to lose," Harnauro said roughly, seizing her by the arm and dragging her through the open doorway.

Slythre climbed out of the open doorway and skidded down the floor of the next room, stopping her mad fall by grabbing the doorway of the next room.

The castle tilted back right as the fading magic surged again in an attempt to even out.

Quickly the group broke into a run, dashing through the hallways towards where they remembered the courtyard to be. Just as they reached it, the castle tore loose of the last of its holdings and began a sickening drop. The clouds which had surrounded the castle began to quickly recede up into the sky.

Slythre's stomach lurched, but she could not scream; no sound would come out.

Far above, several white specks descended towards the collapsing castle. Walls began to wrench apart from the castle, falling away into the darkness along with their towers.

The flagstones under their feet trembled, and the roaring of wind filled their ears.

Morgoth sent a smashing blow into the hull of the ship, pouring deadly magic into its foundations and forcing it away, a broken star.

Earendil strained his own strength to bring the vessel about, but it was no longer possible for him to man. He would succeed in time, but he was out of the fight at last.

Morgoth scooped up the broken body of his servant, and Vardor looked up into his eyes.

Then Morgoth flung him away; he was useless now.

Vardor's body floated away into the endless darkness, a dead and burned thing, its hopes and dreams having come to naught, and its loyalty in vain.

Morgoth then moved to the doorway, which he noted was flickering. Whoever was on the other side must be giving considerable resistance to whoever Vardor had left to guard. Too great of resistance for comfort.

Morgoth lunged for it, but suddenly, half of the light from it was cut off, as one of the double doors slammed shut.

Morgoth doubled his effort, his face contorting in rage and desperation. He flung black magic ahead of him, its destructive waves striking through the open doorway at whoever was on the other side. But even so, the last door slammed shut.

One last howl of rage and despair passed through Morgoth's lips as he reached the place where the door should have been and passed the empty spot. His muscles began to lurch apart as he began to dissapate once more, the binding spells again beginning to take effect now that his hope and strength were failing. He could resist and hold against it for some time longer, but eventually he would again be a weak shadow, blocked in the void from the world which he had once almost entirely ruled.

Narsh's jaw dropped in horror as he saw the castle begin to fall towards the earth. After all of this effort, he had remained alive and had returned among Vardor's own legions to help them, but now the hope of his life was falling with that castle, and there was no way he could protect her. His dearest heart was falling to a doom in the rubble, and his last reason for living would die with it.

The swarms of black warriors which had circled it dissipated in disorder, strategy and attack forgotten as what they had attacked fell away from them.

Finally, the castle hit the ground and folded inwards on itself, a massive dust cloud filling the air as every part of the castle collapsed.

There was no way anything could have survived that.

He crumpled to his knees, his heart near breaking.

The eagles picked up the last of their charges from the courtyard, talons finally locking around Mal's arms, and they lifted off. An instant later, the castle struck down.

Towers and sparkling walls fell, defenders and attackers all slain in one instant of total destruction.

The eagles slowly glided down and landed on the green meadow, away from the fallen castle.

The army of Vardor was drifting apart, dismayed at the death of their leader. Slowly it began to dissipate into the woods. Some of the orcs and men still stood quite near the bedraggled company, but neither side made any move towards their weapons. All was ended, and both sides knew it.

Gradually, all that was left of Vardor's army vanished into the woods.

Mathron

06-01-2001, 12:52 PM

"Well," said Mal, "It seems it's over."

The companions sat on a hill, overlooking the valley, where the rubble of the castle was being cleared away by many bustling workers. Just as many were set to building - or rather, re-building - the village. The workers consisted both of the previous inhabitants, and many of Arnon's fellows - for now that they had met their pledge of service, more and more it looked as though it was time for some of them to leave the aerie and to change to a different style of life.

Morgoth had not escaped, and the portal had been closed - ere it shattered on the ground and was destroyed. Faradin's body was found nearby - at the last, it had been him who had sealed the doors shut. If the portal had been open when it shattered... who could say what would have happened? As it were, that menace was ended, to the best of their knowledge.

As for the Broodlord and Aetoo, and whoever they worked with... Mal had not spoken of his encounters with them, though it was obvious he was changed. Their fates were unknown - but, it seemed, no longer a concern of theirs.

Dania suddenly rose up, and as the others looked at her, blushed slightly. "We... have to go, now. There are those who must here of this, especially those of the White Council. I fear to wait any longer."

As the other nodded, Narsh slowly rose by her side - and though injuries and bruises adorned his body, he seemed truly glad to be alive. Soon, all of them were standing and saying goodbyes, as the rest also has places to go, and others to inform. Hugs and farewells were exchanged, and soon they were on their way, while light remained.

Arnon, too, bid them all farewell, for he had to return to inform the rest of his people of these climactics events. In moments, only Slythre, Mal, and Harnauro remained.

Slythre looked at the others, and raised an eyebrow. "Well, where do the winds take you two?"

Harnauro laughed - a strange and deep sound, so different from the bitter laughter that was all she had heard from him before. "I.. I have been given a second chance. Whatever magic was unleashed in their freed me from the curse left on me. And now... I fear I have missed many things, and spent far too much time in the company of only animals. I had forgotten much until my time with all of you..."

"So what paths lie before you?" asked Mal softly.

The smile faded from Harnauro's face, as he said, "There have been many rumors from the East, that Sauron is stirring again. With the binding he laid upon me gone... I plan to do what I can, to repay him and his for my long years of suffering. I have never known much more than how to fight, and I am sure he will have many armies for me to aid against. I fear, whatever we have accomplished here, the world is still entering a dark and dire time."

Slythre nodded, sadly. "The world is changing, whether for better or worse I do not know..." She trailed off, then looked up at Mal. "And what plans do you have?"

A shrug. "I was stripped of... what I was, in a way. But not completely. I still have many trinkets scattered about the land, things that were once relics of my power, and I may be able to regain some measure of what I was. So I plan to simply wander, I suppose... and for now, east is as good a direction as any," he finished, glancing at Harnauro, who nodded. Looking back at her, he asked, "And you?"

She sighed, saying, "Like you, I seem to have no real direction or goal. I have been caught up in this quest, and it has let me forget that my previous life among the corsairs is done." A smile tugged at her mouth, though, and her eyes twinkled, as she said, "Still, life around you has been interesting, to say the least. As much as I don't consider myself a hero, I have been witness to great things. I think, perhaps, I shall accompany you a little longer."

Harnauro clapped her on the back, saying gravely, "You will be greatly welcome." Shortly thereafter, the companions headed off - towards the east - amid laughter and smiles.

---

Ulrog watched them go from the bushes, and after they left, wiped sweat from his forehead. It was hot, inside the suit of golden armor he was wearing. He still wasn't quite sure what had happened, but had somehow been dragged along with them into the flying castle, where he had finally crept away from them - for all the good it had done him, trapped hundreds of feet above the ground.

Still, he thought his luck might be running good for once. He had somehow wandered into a gleaming room filled with weapons and gold and jewels - and somehow, when the castle's remains had slammed into the ground, that room had survived mostly intact, and he had come out of the wreck with only a twisted arm - along with a suit of gold, a gleaming silver blade set with rubies, and a sack of as many gems as he could carry.

He had heard the heroes conversing, and from what he had heard, things were happening in the east, dangerous things - so that direction was right out. To the south was Rohan, and he hardly wanted to return there, to where his clan had been all but wiped out in the fighting. Or the north, to the elven woods - at the very thought, he shuddered. So that left the west.

Tossing his sack over his shoulder - and nearly collapsing at the weight - he began creeping through the bushes and along the road, towards the mountains. With what he had found, he'd be a king among goblins! So many opportunities had opened up to him, Ulrog thought, as he continued staggering onward - so maybe this adventure had been worth it, after all.