Subj: [ffml] [MW] The End of the Beginning, Part II Date: 98-09-03 02:10:21 EDT From: ebowling@compusmart.ab.ca (His Dark Lordship) Reply-to: ffml@onelist.com To: ffml@onelist.com (ffml) From: His Dark Lordship Bacca had never had this much trouble in a fight. Normally, the other armies had done a "get in and kill" tactic, which was easy to take out. This time, their brute strength was coupled with what seemed to be the ultimate morale. He dove under the shot and stabbed the moogleboar in the gut. * * * * * * * The Dark Lord seemed to relax. He slowly floated down, those archers that aimed at him suddenly gasping for air and adding to the bridge of bodies. After landing on the draw bridge, he caught his breath for a moment. Then, with an amazing leap he cleared the wall, landing on a soldier. He slit the soldier's throat and pulled out his pair of scimitars. He dove under a sword swipe and sliced off a warrior's legs, then somersaulted as the warrior tried to impale him on his way down. He barely escaped. Standing up, his cloak still resting below his brow, he was relying on his other senses. He began to try and find a means in opening the gate. * * * * * * * Bacca dove down and jabbed the ork in the nutz. It belowed and fell on him. He rolled off but the thing went on his sword, and, still alive, refused to move. He got a soldier to help him turn the massive ork over. It snarled at him as he pulled his sword free. It then got up and walked away. Bacca sliced off it's head and it began snarling at him again. "Damn effective metabolism." he said. He then saw another troop go down near the wall. "What the.." he had instructed his troops protect THAT wall at all costs. Who was in there? He saw a flash of a black cloak in the crowd. His heart roared. Swords drawn, he leaped off a passing reptite and landed gracefully on the shields of his soldiers in their turtle formation. The Dark Lord saw this, and scrawled onto the wall ledge. He kicked an archer over. Bacca roared and jumped straight onto the wall, in front of the dark lord. "Sorry to ruin your party, asshole." said Bacca. "But I have a people to save, and a woman to love." "Ah yes." said the Dark Lord coldly. "I forgot you had yourself a little bitch." "You dare to insult her?" said Bacca, reddening more as his eyes widened. "And that horse too. He seems to dwell on her. I figure they'll make a cute couple." Bacca pointed his swords at the Dark Lord. "You betrayed me, and now mock me." he began. "And now you die." Bacca swung a wild shot at the Dark Lord's head. The Dark Lord saw this coming and ducked, followed by a backwards somersault. He stood up. "At least let me unlash my cloak." said the Dark Lord, pulling the serpenting clasp off. The immense wind set it flying in the wind. Without his cloak, he was a fearsome sight. His skin was thicker than a normal member of his species. He wore a custom suit of chainmail, covered by a pitch black breastplate. A breetchcloth, with a ruby clasped to it, donned his loins. A Pair of leggings, made from dragonskin, covered his legs. He wore a partial set of boots, revealing his claws. He pulled off his Gauntletlet of slaying and threw it to the wind, the ferocity of a hundred generations showing in his eyes, apparantly unfazed by the horn portruding from his snout. He had a scimitar in each hand. They locked blades. The Dark Lord seemed to match Bacca's every move, waiting for a foul up. Bacca thrusted and parried, and fought on hard, his intense rage having changed to calm soldiership. He parried the two blades at once, then kicked the Dark Lord in the head. He fell back. As he sprung up Bacca's rage flowed in again. He slashed the Dark Lord once, twice, three times across the chest, cleaving the mail and breastplace in a swing of divine strength. Another blow to the chest, then an impale. He didn't even give the Dark Lord a chance to move. The DL fell back, breathing heavily. "You are bested." smiled Bacca. "And your head will be mine." He began to draw his sword back. "You are mistaken, for, I was just warming up." said the Dark Lord. "Now the real thing." Almost disregarding his wounds, the Dark Lord dove back as Bacca's sword nicked his snout. As Bacca was off balance he stood up. Bacca advanced and the Dark Lord prepared. Bacca took a swing to the head. This had worked before. The Dark Lord had seen this before. He ducked and then slashed Bacca's arm as he drew his second sword to the DL's head. Bacca roared in pain. The Dark Lord dropped his scimitars and rose up right in Bacca's face. Bacca groaned at the breath that was coming at him. "Now, this should determine the battle." he spoke coldly. With Bacca's swords unable to slashed him except for weak chops at the back, the Dark Lord dug his claws deep into Bacca's shoulders, right through the Chain mail Bacca donned. Bacca felt a sharp feeling against his chest, and looked down as the Dark Lord held his rasor sharp footclaw at his chest. And then he watched it penetrate the skin. He screamed a bloodchilling scream as the Dark Lord slashed him repetedly. He felt his innards fall out and spill onto the turtle formation below. Bacca fell over, wimpering in his last moments. The Dark Lord looked at him coldly. "You shall not fall.. yet. We have much still planned for you." The Dark Lord waved his hand, and the huge hole Bacca had grasped was suddenly flesh. He was against the tower with two young white mages looking over him. He was amazed, especially when he pushed on his stomache and felt everything in it's right place. "Alright men!" he said, standing up, then a dizzy spell overtook him and he fell back down. "You are still rather hazy." said one of the white mages. "Sit for a second." "No!" Bacca said. "The alliance is about to-" As soon as he said it, the Lizar's Triceritops galloped towards the gate. The two steel hard objects collided, and the gate was run through. The Triceritops Bellowed and it examined the three soldiers impaled on it's horn. "Hold the gate! Hold the gate!" yelled Bacca, though nobody seemed to hear him. And he was right, for every soldier had stopped fighting, on either side, to watch the battle. And when Bacca's troops saw him fall, they didn't start fighting again. Bacca looked at the spot he fought at and saw a body.. his body, laying there, bleeding onto the stone. The Dark Lord was nowhere to be seen. The remaining Trolls charged through the gate first, their huge axes cleaving the soldier's armour like butter. The remaining troops outside went full throttle to charge, scale the wall and do whatnot. The soldiers were screaming girlfriend's names as they fell under the frenzy. Bacca looked at his army. He sighed, then yelled. "RETREAT!!!!" "Captain?" asked a soldier, who was taken down by a moogle. The other troops bought into this and formed another turtle formation with teh mages in the middle. Bacca was moved into the centre. More people made their way into the defensive group as they moved back against the mountain. They filed into a small cave, the most likely to die holding the entrance while the others moved back into the cave. Bacca swore. He knew what he had to do. "Pull the cord." he said. "Captain?" asked the responsible soldier. "DO IT!" snapped Bacca. The soldier jumped and yanked the cord, sticking out of the wall, to the floor. The mountain rumbled as the dynamyte set in the rock closely above errupted. Just enough to cause a small rumble, it covered the entrance, forever burying the few noble soldiers that held. * * * * * * * Kaitlin swore from teh corner she possessed. The throng's main attention was towards the troopers escape, which she was desperatly trying to get to. She was constantly getting blocked by orks trying to take out "that last soldier". She rushed to the opposite corner, and swore as the mountain began to crumble over the entrance. They had forgotten her. With Bacca having escaped, the army turned to the exit. ..except for the moogles. There were many soldiers who's legs got decapitated and some that were unable to move. This, of course, was the moogle's favorite part of a war. Kaitlin, fearing being targetted, dove behind a pile of flourbags. Curiousity got the best of her as she peered over the top. She saw several soldiers, male, female, the moogles didn't seem to discriminate, all spending their last few minutes in ecstacy. Not a very desirable ecstacy, but she was certain it was better than some other prisoner disposal means she had heard of, and even seen Bacca demonstrait at times. There was also a rather rediculous ratio of moogles to victim. One female soldier was being gangbanged by about five moogles. She grimaced and dove back when she thought she saw a moogle looking in her direction. She pulled out her DCOAS, and stood ready. She heard the pitter patter of little feet, and then several moogles stood in front of her. She pointed her spear in the lead one's direction. "Don't come near me." she said grimly. The Moogle stepped forward and she ran him through. The other moogles began to close in on her. She ran another one through then felt something hit her on the shoulder as a moogle dived onto her from above. She struggled but was detained. The moogles were walking around her, smiling. "Alright, you look rather imporant." said one Moogle. "So we'll just screw you, then leave you to Mog." The whole group of moogles chuckled. Kaitlin swore at them. "You have a foul mouth. Maybe I should clean it up" chuckled a moogle as he pulled off his loincloth and stepped closer. "Get away from her!" yelled a grim voice. The moogles turned. "Get away from her NOW!" yelled the voice. One of the moogles did. The others started grumbling. "We were about to-" Kaitlin saw thunderbolts send the moogles flying against the wall. There stood the Dark Lord, with his entire outfit back on. He seemed undamaged. He sliced her bonds and helped her up. She didn't really know what to say. She opened her mouth. "Y.. you..." was all that came out. "Let's just go." he said angrily. He turned for the gate. She sighed. What did he want? It surely had to be better than THIS place. She followed him. * * * * * * * * * Bacca did his count. So far, he had lost some 40000 men. He continued the count. Finally, he went to the wounded section. "How are LP, Schala and Kaitlin doing?" he asked the main white mage. "Excuse me?" she asked. "I said, How are LP, Schala and Kaitlin doing?" "I'm sorry, but they never were here." she said. Golden Melody's head shot up from close by. Bacca could feel his steely eyed glare burning through his back. "WHAT!?!" yelled Bacca. "They were never brought in for healing." said the old mage. "Is there a problem?" Bacca rushed back to the entrance. It took four soldiers to push him down. "Sir!" "You can't go there. You'll blow our escape." "Please. Sir." Bacca gasped heavily. He had lost them. He had lost all of them. * * * * * * * * * The Dark Lord lead the now cloaked Kaitlin to his tent. Shadow and Aeris were waiting at the entrance. Aeris was examining Shadow's broken hand, much to Shadow's reluctance. "What is the meaning of this?" asked the Dark Lord. "We have some people we thought you should see." said Aeris, somewhat reluctantly. She heading inside. Shadow just headed off to his tent. The Dark Lord and Kaitlin entered. Inside, on different chairs, was a gagged and bound Schala, squirming. The Dark Lord pulled the gag out of her mouth. "No! I won't submit to the moogles! I WON'T I WON'T I WON'T!" "Apparantly." grumbled the Dark Lord. "Thank you Aeris, you may leave now." "Shadow needs to see you too." said Aeris. She ran off. The Dark Lord untied Schala and sat Kaitlin down beside her. He sat down across from them. "I have to get you out of here." he said. He saw the shadow of a person against the entrance flap. He went out to meet it. The shadow ran off and he poked his head into the room. "Wait here, and don't make a sound!" The Dark Lord left. OOC: Alright Schala, your move. Date: 98-09-03 16:32:14 EDT From: Schala Schala slumped in her chair. "Do you know what he's planning to do with us?" she asked Kaitlin in a low voice. "I don't know," the druidess replied. "Maybe he wants to convert us to Mog's side." "And with the way I resisted, they'll probably try to brainwash us somehow," Schala muttered grimly. "You think they'll let us go free?" "Fat chance. I think Mog would rather like to have some fun with us before HE lets us go anywhere." Schala remembered what she had thought when Chaos and Lorak had come to camp. She giggled involuntarily. Kaitlin's eyes narrowed. "What's so funny?" she asked the Mystic. "I just remembered once that I thought I could help by pretending to be one of Mog's queens, and then get at the Moogles from the inside," Schala answered. Kaitlin laughed too, then slowly sobered. "You know...it *might* work..." she said slowly. Schala sat up at the serious tone in her friend's voice. "Are you serious?!" she exclaimed. "I am not gonna get anywhere NEAR that...that..." But Kaitlin's mind was working rapidly. "No, you could make a clone of yourself somehow...and animate it...and while Mog and your clone are, uh, having their fun, we could sneak up on them..." "You have GOT to be kidding. I would need Relm to paint me, and she's one of Mog's queens!" Kaitlin said nothing. She sat still, figuring out her plan. If it worked, they'd not only be free, but Bacca would win!... The Mystic glanced at Kaitlin. She shivered, and she hugged herself for warmth. In doing so, she felt the armlet that contained the Dreamstone around her forearm. She blinked in surprise. I forgot about that... Another kind of plan was working in *her* mind. Maybe together, we can beat this, she thought... If only she knew what the Darklord planned to do with them. Date: 98-09-03 23:34:20 EDT From: LeeJoeMc@aol.com Kaitlin tried struggling against the bonds once again. She just couldn't get loose. Not one single loose knot. This was terrible. Voice: "Why don't you try the druid fire?" Kaitlin: "What Schalla?" Schalla: "What?" Kaitlin: "Diddn't you just tell me to use my druid fire?" Schalla looked perplexed. "Uh, No. Why?" Kaitlin looked at Schalla in suprise. "Someone just told me to use the druid fire-" Voice: "Yeah me." Kaitlin jumped in her chair. "Ahh. WHere are you." In front of Kaitlin, the air shimered and then split like the tides of the sea. Lorinan stepped in front of her. Lorinan: "I told you only you could see or hear me right now. Why don't you use the druid fire?" Kaitlin: "LORINAN! I thought you were in a coma. What are you doing here?" Lorinan: "I told you. You and I have an affinity with the elfstones. That, plus you are the one chosen to help me return. Not my choosing though.. But the Lady of the Word. You are my only hope. As well as the hope of the rest of the army. I have been keeping the prophesy at bay,. but I can only prevent it for so long... We need to notify the army and have them evacuate. Now why don't you use the druid fire on your ropes?" Kaitlin: "what are you talking about? I can't use the fire with my hands tied." Lorinan: "Try this." Kaitlin followed Lorinan's directions, and soon had her hands loose enough to use the fire. In no time, both she and Schalla were free. ooc: Take it girls... Lorinan Subj: [ffml] [MW] The Darklord's Proposal Date: 98-09-09 22:07:49 EDT From: Schala Before they could do anything, the Darklord entered. Seeing them free, he frowned. "I should have guessed nothing could keep you two for long," he grumbled. "No matter, I trust you will both stay to listen to what I have to say to you." Schala gazed at him. "Why should we listen?" He shrugged. "Kaitlin will probably have no objection, but you, I know, do not understand everything..." The Mystic bowed her head. "That is true. But how can you trust us?" The Darklord showed a ghost of a smile. "I had a magic barrier put up around this tent and for some distance beyond. You can't use your magic...but apparently you *can* use something else." He glanced at Kaitlin, then shrugged again. "In any case, this tent is being heavily guarded, and, well, no offense, but I don't think you could overcome a horde of Moogleboars and what-not using solely your hands." The women glanced at each other, and Schala raised a brow. "Looks like you've got us," she capitulated. "What is it you wish to tell us?" From: His Dark Lordship He walked over to a counter and pulled out a bottle. He poured two tankards and handed them to each of the ladies. Then, he turned to the door. "If you don't want to be the next queens of Mog, stay here." As he left, he already saw Mog making his way to shadow's tent. With a quick twitch, he was at Shadow's tent and inside. The Lady Paladin was just sitting, silent. Shadow was sitting across the room, annoyed. The Dark Lord let out a sly grin. "You do realize, Lady, that you're not here for ransom." She sat motionless. Mog came in. He saw LP and looked overjoyed. "All right! At last, I can humiliate Bacca in the ultimate way!" "Keep you pants on, Mog." grumbled the Dark Lord. "What pants?" asked Mog, confused. The Dark Lord sighed. "Anyway, this is the plan. We're setting up a relay. This relay will carry the lady here across the continent. We will pass this information here towards Bacca, and get him to chase after her. He obviously won't take the army, so in the mean time we can set a "Rasputan" figure up as the human army's leader." "Alright." said Mog. "Sounds reasonable. Take her away!" Two Trolls came, picked her up and threw her in a cell. DL and Mog left Shadow's tent. DL turned to his tent but Mog grabbed him for chat. "Y'know, DL, I have a few new battle formations we could try the next time we meet Bacca's force." "Really.." groaned the Dark Lord. "Let me see." Mog pulled out a few photos and handed them to him. "PHOTOS!?!" thought the Dark Lord. He examined them. "You see, the bowneck formation will allow us to surround his calvalry-" "Ummm.. Mog.." "So we can lanch him from the back and take Bacca out-" "Mog.." "And then slaughter them and end the paranoia-" "MOG!" "Huh?" asked Mog suddenly. "What?" "These are pictures of your penis." said the Dark Lord angrily. "Not all of them! Look at that one." "Alright, I'll admit that's not your penis, it's Aeris' spread." "Right! And what about that one?" "Uhh.. what the hell is that? All those spikey hair's and-" the Dark Lord stopped, handed Mog the pictures and headed for his tent. "Go plan your strategy." Mog wandered off. DL neared his tent. When no one could hear, he said to himself, "I always wondered if Cloud's pubes were as Spikey as his hair..." The Dark Lord headed across the camp. There in front of him stood a tent with a black chocobo waiting outside valiantly. He went in. "What did you need to see me about?" asked the Dark Lord. "Her" said Shadow as he sharpened his katana. The Dark Lord turned. "You managed to capture LP?" he asked. "Yep." said Shadow. The Dark Lord approached her. She was silent. "So then, the whore of Bacca has come to join our ranks." he chuckled. "Bastard." was all she said. The Dark Lord held her chin and smiled, to the best he could. "I'm sure Mr. Ed there is running Bacca into the dirt as we speak." She said nothing. The Dark Lord turned to Shadow. "Keep her here. I have plans for her. I'll arrange a meeting here at 9 sharp." Shadow nodded. The Dark Lord left. -- The eternal lord of darkness... Date: 98-09-03 05:54:08 EDT From: "Beth Davis" Bacca wearily leaned against the wall, and slid down to the floor. A numbness filled his chest. He brought his trembling fists up against his head, and simply stared at nothing. The soldiers around him quietly let him be. The slight clip-clop of hooves did not stir the defeated warrior. "So, it has happened," commented Golden Melody, a tone of resignation in his voice. Bacca did not move. "You know I have disliked your immensely, High Lord, but I have always guarded my mistress. And I have faithfully followed her demands since she was a lonely and scared child. And so, now that she has been torn from me, I will follow the last command she placed upon me." A slight shuffling noise and a cloud of dust caused Bacca to raise his head. Before him, the proud palomino stallion kneeled forward on his bent forelegs. It was a position of complete vulnerability, and his intent to serve was clear. Bacca blinked to clear the dust and grime from his eyes. Golden Melody stared at him intensely, and Bacca realized that the horse was mirroring what his own expression must be; a look of dull, piercing loss. "She knew this would happen?" asked the High Lord in a small voice. "Oh, of course, her dreams," he answered himself. "But, since it was 'by no means certain' as she always says, she didn't tell me. Damn." He sighed, leaning his forward against a blood-smattered fist. "And these past few days I barely even saw her, with her healing 48 hours straight and me trying to keep our defenses up against the bloody moogles. Damn." The Paso fino stallion moved closer to the warrior to speak with more privacy, even though everyone else was tending to their own wounds. "She understood the responsibilities war brings upon a man. She knew not to ask too much of you, or me. But in your grief, do not forget the gifts she has given you, even though you are accustomed to them." Bacca reached to his neck and pulled forth the platinum medallion that Lady Paladin has presented to him months before. "You're right. Sometimes I do take them for granted. Gods know how many enchantments she's placed on this thing, what it cost her." He gently brushed his thumb along the shimmering surface, as though he were stroking the softness of her skin. "But damn it, if Mog hurts her...." He squeezed the medallion, and it brilliantly lit up in response of his agony. With a mournful whinny, Golden Melody said, "God have mercy on our gentle Lady." Bacca released his strangle-hold on the artifact, and let it fall back against his chest. The metals clinked, and then the medallion was still. "In any case, Mog will soon let us know what his demands are." The warrior heavily sighed. "And then there is Schala. And Kait. Why did we have to lose all of them? Why?" He then buried his face in his hands, and said no more. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Lady Paladin struggled against her restraints and grunted. Shadow smirked at her, and lazily played with a tanto in his hands. "Now, now, what's the point of struggling and making all that noise? You aren't supposed to do that until you're kupo'ed, you know." Shadow grinned, seeing a bead of sweat glide down along her cheek. "But then, you are a pretty little thing. Mog likes the voluptuous type. Maybe you'll be fortunate enough to become a Queen." The healer shot him a glare that would have made a lesser assassin balk in his steps. "Well, I hear that the Assassin's guilds are still applauding that hentai centerfold you did with some Doberman mutt." Shadow icily stepped forward and slapped her across the face. She fell to the floor of the tent with a ragged moan, a thin trail of blood dripping to the floor. "If you value that unscarred face of yours, it would be wise for you to shut your mouth." With her legs, she pushed herself back to an upright-sitting position. The white wizard spit out a tooth, and groggily turned to face the ninja again. Licking some blood from her lips, she asked, "As it is, you're being awfully cocky by not gagging me in the first place. Haven't you heard that I am the best white wizard on this planet?" There was no pride in her voice; it was stated as a fact. Shadow nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, you are good. But if you tried casting anything, I'd have your tongue cut out before you could finish reciting the simplest of cantrips. I would like to see you heal THAT, Archmage." She leaned back, and silently accepted his words. Lady Paladin could already sense a sort of nullification field blocking the communication powers of her medallion. For the first time in many years, the part of her mind that always communicated with Golden Melody was quiet. She wondered if Bacca knew what happened to her yet. Her heart lurched painfully with the thought of her lover. She prayed that this ordeal would soon be over, the ransom or whatever price paid, so they could be together again. In her mind, she prepared herself for the coming battle. The white wizardess recalled the knowledge of Sun Tzu's Art of War, and knew very well the position she was in. "Wild beasts, when at bay, fight desperately. How much more is this true of men! If they know there is no alternative, they will fight to the death. . . " ~Lady Paladin