Subj:	 [ffml] [MW] The Fall of Southvale
Date:	00-02-12 20:39:28 EST
From:	darklord@compusmart.ab.ca (His Dark Lordship)
Reply-to:	ffml@onelist.com
To:	ffml@onelist.com (ffml)

From: His Dark Lordship <darklord@compusmart.ab.ca>

Apologies to the other writers for the 1 day delay. My internet access ran
out due to some miscommunication.

Without futher ado;

Magnus sighed as he observed the citadel of Southvale. He himself was a tad
spooked, but due to his sudden increase in rank, he had to keep it hidden.

The night before he and several other officers discovered a Moogleboar's
head with a Bastard Sword implanted in it. Not wanting any of the other
troops to see it, they quickly tossed it into the Southvale river. They
informed one of the Generals present and he said he'd relay the event to
Mog.

He decided to laugh it off. Today would be a glorious day for Vector.

The eastern force had camped just out of view from the Southvale towers, and
had established contact with the Magitek regiment to the south. The plan
was simple. A full out assault, make it in and pillage the place.

The assault was about to begin. Magnus observed his soldiers. Curtus sat
there, nervous as always, fingering his longsword and trying not to think
about the last few days. Fernendez, a tall, eager fighter, looking bored
out of his mind. Kuruku, a Moogle Sniper cautiously fingering his crossbow.
Lucas, a medium built swordsman, ready to go. And Yuja, a gigantic black
man that rivaled Magnus himself in size. He looked ready for anything. Upon
seeing Magnus looking him over, he smiled and put his hand on the gigantic
bastard sword he had on his back.

Magnus turned to look towards the General. A Moogleboar, he had a gigantic
cutlass. Keeping his eye towards the Magitek Camp, he saw a slight flicker.
He lowered the cutlass down and the army charged.

It didn't take long for them to reach the fortress. Magnus roared,
brandishing his battle axe, and bellowed to his followers to join him.
Magnus looked ahead. Several regiments were throwing grappeling hooks onto
the wall. He saw one Moogle throw one up. It hit it's mark, but in that
same instant a bolt sprouted from the Moogle's skull and it fell to the
ground with a thud. Soldiers pounced on the ropes where their fellows had
fallen, only again to be met by a nasty surprise. The Domans poured a vat
of boiling oil over. Magnus saw eight soldiers fall off their ropes,
screaming as they awaited the gates of hell. Explosives were flung off the
walls. Fernendez, beside Magnus, was struck with an explosive bolt, and
Magnus was covered in blood and muscles. He swore about losing one of his
men and quickly began climbing a rope. His entire regiment was on one rope,
and a vial of Greek fire barely missed them, striking the lieutenant of the
regiment behind Magnus's. His skin slowly caught fire as he screamed and
his unit broke, only to be cut down by the ones behind them.

Magnus bolted over the rooftop. Moogles were already in the city but not
enough to hold off the inner troops. Grabbing his battle axe, he swung at a
soldier attempting to snipe off people climbing the wall. The connected
with the soldier's head and gore sprayed everywhere, as Magnus swung the
axe attempting to get the soldier off of it. A second soldier rushed up,
brandishing a longsword. Magnus swung his axe with the corpse on it at this
new enemy, knocking both of them over and into a falling vial of greek
fire. THe burning mass landed onto the ground below.

Magnus saw Yuja slice one defender in two, in a clean slice to the soldier's
stomache. Both parts fell into the city, inciting a scream and encouraging
the Moogles further.

More soldiers were getting over the walls. Magnus yelled for his remaining
troops to follow him and hopped down into the city, landing on two soldiers
who he quickly broke the necks of. His regiment hopped down. He looked them
over. Both Fernendez and Lucas were dead. Yuja had killed six men, Curt had
taken two, and Kuruku was in the tower shooting at various people in the
city.

Magnus and his two soldiers quickly moved out. Forming a barrier of three
sets of razor sharp blades, they simultaniously chopped down three
soldiers, spraying blood in their faces. Yuja was bellowing much like
Magnus was, and Curt seemed to be losing his grip on reality.

From the north, the gates shattered. The Magitek regiment had broken
through. The regiment, lead by Junior, quickly strolled in, using thier
giant battle claws to tear soldier and citizen alike into itsy bitsy gory
pieces.

From the crowd before Magnus a lone figure emerged.

He was a fairly tall man. He had a gruff beard and a bastard sword that a
Moogleboar would normally use. Marks on his armour counted him as a
Lieutenant.

The soldiers began to form a circle. 

"Your name?" asked Magnus, knowing he was being challenged.

"Tim..." said the opposing soldier.

The soldiers of either side had formed a barrier. Neither would get out
alive.

Tim and Magnus circled each other. Tim certainly was the more experienced
warrior, but Magnus made up for that in sheer strength.

Magnus took a swing, which Tim quickly dodged. Tim took a sidestroke but
Magnus managed to parry it with his axe handle.

They circled about again. This time it was Tim who took the offensive. His
sword strike hit Magnus' axe handle again. Magnus replied with a strike to
the head from it, which sent Tim reeling. Magnus oddly felt chivalrous and
decided to let him regain his senses. They circled around again.

Magnus took another swing. Tim jumped back to avoid the cut to his torso.
His then spun back and slashed at Magnus. The blade hit him weakly and only
cut his flesh. Blood dripped down Magnus's arm from the gash in his
shoulder.

Magnus roared. He swung his axe down on Tim's blade. The sheer size of the
axe and the force behind Magnus caused the blade to snap. Magnus threw his
axe to the size and threw a punch at Tim. The fist hit home into Tim's
chest. Tim fell back, but remembering his martial arts training, countered
with a roundhouse kick to Magnus's head. Magnus stumbled back.

A Doman soldier was calling to Tim. Tim took this time to acknowlege the
soldier. He swore something and looked at Magnus. Magnus stared back with
bloodthirsty eyes. He sighed and rushed off. THe Domans were pulling out.

Magnus had not noticed, but during his fight with Tim the circle of Domans
had lessened, and now was gone. Southvale was theirs.

The soldiers present for the fight let out a heartful cheer. Magnus wiped
some blood out of his eyes. The roundhouse kick must've cut him, he
figured. He pulled his axe out of the ground. The two pieces of the bastard
sword were there. With a gutteral instinct. he grasped the hilt of the
blade, and with it in one hand and the axe in the other, he held them up to
the sky and let out a bellow, in which the soldiers followed.

* * * * * * * *

Junior and his elite magitek unit stormed through the back gates. He hadn't
tasted enough blood. The Domans were retreating. Now they were in a full
out flee. The suits were much too slow to catch up with the actual host,
but there were injured he could enjoy the screams of. He bolted forward and
the piloted host behind him quickly followed. To get to Doma they had to
cross a great bridge over the southvale river valley. He could certainly
catch someone there.

Slowly moving forward, he already saw that the Domans were holding out at
the bridge. Fools. Although there was certainly enough women, men and
livestock still in the town to keep the Moogles and Vectorians busy for
sometime, all Junior desired was blood. Sweet tasting blood, absorbed
through the claws.

The Domans didn't see his retinue coming. Finally, his speakers bellowed for
the soldiers to leave him here. Although there was severe discontent, they
left, knowing Junior's armour body could handle things.

Junior trotted to the bridge. He knew the other troops were watching.
Something he rather enjoyed in fact. The back guard didn't see him coming,
oddly. He grabbed the first of them and ripped him from either end, dumping
the soldier's intestines onto the pearly bridge. The alarm was sound, but
the Domans were without their artilery. The soldiers began a second retreat
while the especially brave/stupid came forth to hold Junior back, and
Archers threw missiles at him.

Junior continued his little slaughterhouse. He figured he was halfway across
the bridge when all activity stopped.

In front of him, on a great black horse, was a warrior. He was middle aged,
definately. His greying black hair was tied back in a ponytail. It was King
Cyan V.

"This would be fun." thought Junior. The King pulled out a fantastic Katana,
and charged the horse towards him. Junior swung his claw at him but the
King had the better agility. A slice from his Masamune nicked a dent in
Junior's leg. Rushing back out of Junior's reach, Cyan waited for Junior to
come to him. Junior lunged forward, unable to move as well with his
"injured" leg. Cyan pointed the Masamune at him, and nodded his head.
Junior pulled his arm back, ready to lop Cyan off the bridge. Cyan suddenly
lunged forward, and the Masamune struck home. Through Junior's torso,
though not through it's Moogle resident. Fluids poured out continually. The
Masamune itself began to dissolve.

Cyan rode back, out of Junior's range again.

Junior was frustrated. He wanted to kill....no, wait, he didn't. This man
was simply defending his host. He had... he had killed...

Not knowing what to do anymore, Junior lunged forward at Cyan. He struck
Cyan's horse, which whined one last time and collapsed into a bleeding
heap. Cyan however managed to desattle himself before contact was made. He
stood there. Junior himself had fallen over.

Suddenly, behind him he heard explosions. The Domans had bombed the bridge.
Cyan was just biding time until the fuse hit home. They were... going to
kill him?

NO! That wasn't him! That was Mog's... son? But he... no! He couldn't...

His mech head stared up at Cyan, the light from thier eyes those of one in
pleading. He saw Cyan grinned cruelly, and refer to him as a bloodthirsty
Moogle. He wasn't that!

He saw Cyan stroll off to his host. He felt the ground disapear from below
him. He saw the remaining underside of the bridge. He saw a bird's nest
kept in the rocks. He saw the shoals of a once thriving seaway. He saw blue
water covering him. He saw sand.

And there he rested, waiting to drown but inable since he needed not oxygen
to live so long as he was the machine....

* * * * * *

Back at Southvale, the Vectorian flage had been hung. General Turan stood
there, in front of cheering soldiers. Cartman stood beside him, silent.

"Doma will be next..." he stated coldly.
-- 
The eternal lord of darkness...


Date:	00-02-13 16:58:19 EST
From: "Sky Hall" <skyhall@hotmail.com>


  Between the bridge and Southvale, the land was filled with men, some 
running, some standing and watching, others fighting for survival.
  Junior's mech, having charged on ahead of the rest, had out ran the rear 
guard and slaughtered several people before and on the bridge. But Lord Cyan 
had deftly defeated the great metal monster. Tim was sure that there was 
enough stone debris to cover up the metal monster and leave it immobilized 
for some time.
  But Tim was only able to give that a fleeting thought. He was now in 
command of a rough defensive action.
  Realizing that the bridge might be overrun at any time, several boats had 
been prepared to move troops. Indeed, they had been in action already before 
the bridge had blown up.
  Tim rode on his chocobo, running back and forth in a circle that was ever 
shrinking. A few ballistaes had been left behind and these were being used 
to keep the mechs at bay.
  "Keep it up, men!" shouted Tim to his soldiers. "Just a little while 
longer and we can hop in the boats and go home."
  Moogles and humans were clashing together in stronger numbers. Tim wasn't 
sure if he'd make it out of this fight alive.
  But an explosion sounded and Tim turned to look out on the water.
  A Figaroan warship had fired a cannon from the seaway. The resulting 
cannonball took a mech square in the body chasis, causing the mechanical 
contraption explode. The explosion caught everyone's attention, and the 
Doman defenders cheered.
  "That should slow them down," said Jayel. He was at Tim's side, holding a 
spear with both hands.
  "Aye," said Tim. "And hopefully they can give us some boats for the final 
extraction."
  The fighting continued.
  The Figaroans managed to slow the reinforcements coming to press the 
attack against the Domans. The boats continued to ferry troops and civilians 
to the north side of the river.
  After close to an hour, Tim and a few dozen men remained.
  Tim had abandoned his chocobo, letting the bird board a boat for safety.
  The magitek armors had pulled back and only small units were fighting the 
Domans.
  "Okay men!" cried Tim. "We are leaving together. So keep the moogles back 
till I give the signal to run for the boats."
  Tim had his sword out and was running behind the line of his troops, 
dealing with moogles that broke through and giving aid and encouragement to 
his men.
  Five boats, each manned by three men, were on the shore. Tim saw that four 
more where coming, but realized that his men had to get out. He then spotted 
the Figaroan battleship lowering some boats, one already heading for Tim's 
position.
  "Okay, this is what we are going to do," Jim shouted. There were a little 
over thirty men there. "Those who can't fight any more, run for the boats 
and get out of here. Those who can, rally around me. We'll make a run for it 
along the shore to the other boats."
  Tim could see from the looks of a few men that this plan did not thrill a 
lot of them.
  A soldier fell, clutching his chest where a spear point had jabbed him.
  "Alright, run for it!" shouted Tim. He stooped down and picked up the man. 
He began making his way for the boats, the man at his side slowing him down 
considerably.
  Tim looked behind him and spotted a moogle closing on him.
  Dropping the man to the ground, Tim turned and deflected the moogle's 
spear, then countered with a strike. This was blocked by the moogle and he 
returned a sweep.
  Tim jumped to avoid the low swing and as he came down, swung down, 
catching the moogles arm and slicing it half way through. The white creature 
screamed and backed away.
  The fight had delayed them, and Tim picked up the man again. He grunted 
and Tim was glad that the man was not that weak. The two made good progress 
to the press of men that were scrambling to get aboard the boats.
  A soldier turned, saw Tim, and dropped his sword, reaching for the soldier 
and hauling him to the boat side.
  Tim sighed, taking a breath and allowing his strained muslces from 
carrying the man relax a moment, then looked about. The boats were full.
  "Shove off! The rest of you men with me," said Tim.
  The boats, laiden with men, weakly made progress through the water. The 
other three boats were near and could hopefully help relieve some of the 
burdens.
  Tim realized that only five men were still with him.
  "Okay," said Tim. "Let's make a run for it to those boats." Tim pointed 
downstream, to where the boats from the Figaroan warships were heading.
  Each man held his weapon ready and nodded. Tim led the run and each man 
followed.
  The moogles and Vector soldiers that had chased after the Domans, saw the 
direction that Tim and his men were heading and shouted. Tim and his men 
paid no heed, but hurried their pace.
  Tim felt his feet sink in the soft sand along the shoreline. A moogle came 
charging at him through the light foliage of the shore and Tim slowed down 
enough to meet the spear and run through the moogle creature. Tim's 
longsword sliced into the guts of the moogle and the creature fell back.
  Tim continued his run, falling in beside his men. Another moogle came 
forward and one man ahead slowed to engage. Tim ran behind the moogle, 
slicing along it's back. Tim didn't miss a step and continued running.
  The boats ahead neared and Tim saw what there were rowing towards some 
peasants and soldiers that had manage to hide themselves in small stand of 
trees along the river line. Someone from that group waved at Tim's men.
  Tim waved back, then collided with a human soldier that had stepped out 
from a bush. Both men rolled over, Tim dropping his sword. His hand went to 
the dagger on his belt and as rolled out and ended up on his knees, drew his 
weapon and had it to the soldiers throat.
  Tim didn't wait, but sliced the throat of the Vector soldier. He stared 
straight into Tim's eyes as the light went away. Tim tried not to look at 
him, but was enthralled by the painful, horrible look.
  Tim picked up his sword, holding the dagger in his left hand, and followed 
after the men who had passed him. One looked behind him to see how Tim was 
doing, but Tim waved the man on.
  The Doman soldiers neared the spot where the boats were just now landing 
and picking up survivors. As Tim and his men neared, the last of the people 
were just climing on. Another boat was waiting for Tim and his men. Tim 
sheathed his dagger and sword as he neared the boat, and set his hands to 
push the launch out. Tim was waist deep in water when he finally climbed 
into the boat and collapsed between the gunwales.
  Tim looked up, panting and feeling every muscle in his body burning.
  The ensign, manning the tiller, looked down at Tim and smiled. "Glad that 
we were able to save you fellows."
  "Thank you kindly," said Tim. "I offer my respects and thanks to you and 
your captain. You have saved our collective asses."
  The ensign laughed. "You sound like a sailor, not a soldier," said the 
man. "Sure you are in the right line of work?"
  Tim chuckled back. "Be on a ship for weeks at a time, being yelled at and 
sleeping in a hammock? Being away from women for months at a time? I don't 
think so."
  The ensign laughed.
  Tim looked at his men. They were soldiers from his brigade, and all looked 
tired and dejected. Tim then looked back at the shore. A few moogles had 
come to check on where the Domans had just been, but quickly cleared out 
when the Figaro warship fired a volley at them.
  Tim thought about the battlefield situation.
  With the bridge gone, the moogles would have to ferry troops over the 
river, or even send forces through the Veldt Forest.
  "Remember men," said Tim. "We may have lost Southvale, but it served it's 
purpose. We stopped the advance of the moogles. And the bridge blowing up 
has limited their magitek. Even if they were to send the magitek armor 
through the Veldt Forest, it would take them a week or two. And we can stop 
them from forming a beach-heads along the river."
  The men nodded.
  "I hope," thought Tim to himself.


--Sky