Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 10:24:28 PDT Subject: [ffml] [MW] Arrival From: "Aramarth Of Lomlorien" The path had been longer than anticipated, the thick undergrowth in the forest had quickly destroyed all the traces of the path as they traveled, but now they had arived... Aramarth looked at the keep. From this distance there was something odd about it. It didnt look quite human built, he decided, but not knowing anything about the history of the races of this world, he decided to let it pass. The Elf lord stepped up to the main gate, and saw that it had recently been closed. Someone had recently taken control of this fortress. "Hello?!" called Aramarth, wanting to know who, and on who's side in this conflict, held this keep. A lone soldier popped his head over the battlements. "Yes?" he called back, rather unenthused. "What is it you want?" Aramarth thought for a moment. "Be you the force of the one called 'Emperor Mog'?" "If you seek to join the moogles, I fear that you have made a grave mistake", the soldier waved to someone behind him, and several well armed archers took position around him."I think you'd better explain yourselves, before you wind up with a arrow through your necks." Bazt quivered with rage behind Aramarth, and started reaching for his twin longswords. Aramarth looked back, silently ordering Bazt to stand down. The warrior Drow stared back in defience for a few moments, and then slowly moved his hands away from his blades Aramarth addressed the soldiers on the battlements. "I am the Lord of Lomlorien, Aramarth", he began,"we have come to defeat the one called 'Dark Lord Eric' and apparently that means that we will have to go through this 'Mog' to do it," Aramarth paused for a moment, unsure of what to say next. The Soldier cut him off before he could continue. " We have heard of you and your people, If you are indeed Aramarth. But of this 'Dark Lord' we know little. Now that we know who you are, what are you doing here?" "We came, thinking that this keep was abandoned, to rest from the exertions of our travel. We already have lost one of our companions to a beast of Moogle, Chocobo, and metal, and all we seek is a few days to recover. If you will let us we would still apreciate to fulfill this goal." "I cannot let you in myself, but this beast that you speak of is surely of importance to our cause. As for resting here," he paused uncomfortable with this topic," there has been rumours of this fortress being haunted, and several of the heigher-ups are searching for it as we speak..." "Well perhaps you could find someone who could let us in, and get them to do so..?" Aramarth spoke, wondering if they would indeed have to go through the rest of the forest without any rest. But instead the soldier upon the battlements left, presumably to fetch someone, but the archers stayed where they were, making it clear not to cause any trouble. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hello? anyone?... Let us in :) END Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 14:08:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [ffml] Re: [MW] Arrival From: Sky H Ainsworth General Scotts was looking over a progress report from the Captain of the Engineer battalion. It had already been one week since the first group of soldiers arrived by airship to the ancient fortress. Work was begun at that time and proceeded at a rapid pace as the airships continued bringing in troops from the main army host. Twice a day, the corvettes would fly in and drop off a couple thousand troops. After they set up camp, the soldier were then directed to areas of the wall they could work on. Scotts was amazed at the way the fortress had stood up to time. Most of the ramparts at the top had fallen apart and were decayed. The walls, though, stood rather strong and solid. Kaitlin had said that a lingering magic was present in the fortress, but it was so faint that she could barely discern it's origins. Small trees grew on the inside of the fortress here and there, with mostly bushes filling the bailey and courtyard with the ruined keep. With the stone recovered from the bottoms of the walls, some fresh from a nearby quarry, the outer walls were nearing completion. The moat also was being dug up and it was discovered to be stone lined. Scotts then looked at the design for the gates. Already one had been erected. The gate opening was fifteen feet wide and twenty feet high. It had been built out of the oak from the forest and reinforced with a lot of metal. Steel bands literally covered the outer side of the foot thick gate. Scotts realized how lucky they were that the gate was not arched. Otherwise, how else could such an opening be efficiently closed. But there was a hidden space under the gate, where a small group could hide from arrow fire from the walls. Scotts had ordered the Engineers to figure out a way to open up a couple of spie holes to eliminate any threats there. "Sir!" called a man from outside. Scotts looked up from the gate design. "Yes?" A Lance Henriksen came running in. "There are a small group of strangers at the gate. They say they are travelers and desire a place to rest. They look like elves." "How many?" asked Scotts. He stood up and started walking out of the tent he was in. "About five, sir," said the messenger. "Okay." The two walked on, the messenger leading the way. Scotts muttered to himself. "First a ghost pops up, and now these elves show up. And to think, Bacca and I thought this place totally deserted." As Scotts reached the gate, he stopped, not wishing to climb the steps to the top of the forty foot high wall. A leiutenant came rushing down. "Did you speak with them?" asked Scotts. "Yes sir," said the Leitenant with a brief salute. "I don't think they pose too great a threat and really only seek a place to rest." Scotts thought a moment. "Okay. Tell them that they may enter, but they must surrender their arms till they leave." The lt. ran back up the steps and relayed the message. He then waved his arms down and Scotts ordered the gate open. The massive metal bar was slid back and into the wall. Ropes that were attached to the gate were pulled and the massive thing whined as it was opened. Coming forward, the elves strode. "Take their weapons," ordered Scotts to two soldiers. As they approached the elves, Scotts looked at the leader. "So who are you and why are you in the middle of this forest?" asked Scotts. The elves watched as the soldier approached, cautiously. The leader spoke. Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 07:07:30 -1000 From: Aramarth Of Lomlorien Aramarth watched the soldiers step forward with some hesititation, strangly appalled that, apon closer inspection, they all looked the same. He spoke up. "Well, not quite the welcome I expected, but I guess it'll do," Aramarth was stunned by the soldiers' audacity, trying to take their weapons... "I must warn you that I have placed an enchantment apon these weapons... Anyone who tries to do anything with them without consent from thier bearer will feel the wrath of Illuvitar. Belive me, taking our weapons does next to nothing for you, even without them we could easily bring this fortress down around your ears..." The soldier-clone obviously didn't like being threatened, but he still directed the others to take thier weapons, being careful not to touch them himself. This done, he motioned to the Elves that they were permitted to enter the fortress. Aramarth stepped forward first, as he passed onto the cobblestones under the archway he felt a strange presence. He stopped and closed his eyes, concentrating on the feeling. The guards looked alarmed, but decided not to do anything. The others in the group knew their lord's quirks and did nothing as well... Aramarth pushed his mind in the general direction that he felt the presence from. Suddenly he felt another presence, stronger then the first, and much darker, he decided that that was what the guards had been worried about. The Elf lord trusted that they had that situation under control and searched for the first presence again. He felt it coming from deep under the keep, like it had been there for untold centuries, perhaps from even before man had awoken on this world. Abruptly the power surged towards him, faster then he could erect a barrier, if he had been so inclined. A voice spoke in his head. He opened his eyes and saw that by the looks on the others faces that they did not hear it. Aramarth thought about what it had said as he moved farther into the keep. "... Alike, yet not.... Are you the One??..."