Subj: [ffml] [MW] Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places Date: 00-04-08 17:41:31 EDT From: skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky Hall) Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com ("We're In This Together" by Nine Inch Nails) Tim, Martin, Wilma, and five volunteers rode their chocobos as quickly as they could through the night, circling around to the north of the Dark Lord’s Keep. As they rode, Tim secretly hoped that the mysterious woman, Wilma was right about the door and not leading them into a trap. The Dark Lord’s Keep was a large, black stone structure. The whole land seethed with shadows and light being swallowed by everything. The chocobos, nervous to an extreme, were barely managed to control as they hurried along. Reaching the northern side of the brush-line surrounding the Dark Lord’s keep, Tim halted his chocobo, the others waiting as well. Wilma began walking past Tim. "Wait! Don’t go yet!" said Tim in a loud whisper. The woman turned and looked at Tim. "I’ve gone this way countless times, there’s no trouble," she said, her eyes almost glowing in the darkness. A little unsettled, but maintaining his composure, Tim said, "For you, no. But what about us? Wait till the diversion starts." At his words, the sound of shouting and banging of swords and shields could be heard. The diversion was underway. The men made would make a lot of noise and fire several arrows, then feign assaulting the walls, pulling back before engaging and leading the Dark Lord’s protectors away, or at least distract them while Tim and his party entered the keep and found Martin’s woman, Angela. "Let’s go!" said Tim. They rushed up the hillside. As they neared the wall, Tim could see nothing that looked like an entrance. The outer wall of the keep formed a solid union with the ground. Closing the distance to the wall, Tim began to slow his chocobo. He then began surveying the surroundings, making sure they were not being watched. His chocobo slowed to a stop and when Tim looked back to where Wilma was supposed to be, discovered her gone. Tim then spotted the small stairway right at the base of the wall. It could not be seen at any distance and led to an iron banded door. This was a perfect secret entrance to this keep, not even requiring any guards, as the door would likely require much damage to be broken. Tim and his men dismounted and sent their chocobos back towards the forest. The animals seemed hesitant, but slowly made their way. Tim realized that the chocobos knew they would be safer with the humans then in this dark wilderness. Tim grabbed Martin by the shoulder, bringing him close and staring straight into his eyes. "Whatever happens, Martin. You and me. Were in this together now. Nothing can stop us now. We must make it through and find Angela." Martin returned the same hard look and grasped Tim by the shoulder as well. "Even if the world should break in two. Until the end of me or you. It will be done." Hurrying down the stairs, the Doman soldiers watched Wilma as she began pushing the door open. Tim did not see by what way she did this. Drawing his sword, he entered. The hallway was dimly lit and Tim called for no torches. He turned to Martin to lead the way. The young man knew nothing of the keep save stories. He turned to Wilma, who seemed in a hurry to leave. "Where would she be?" asked Martin. Wilma pointed to the left. "That way. And up the stairs. You’ll find her in a room somewhere. I would not know where." She then turned and ran to the right, hurrying away. "Wait!" called Tim in a strong whisper. Martin grabbed his arm. "Don’t worry. She has her own plans. Let’s go." Tim turned and saw the look on Martin’s face. There was no turning back. The men hurried down the hall. This hall connected to a large corridor and at one end they spotted a large flight of stairs. Tim and Martin led the way, their minds linked. The two men surveyed the room and seeing nothing to indicate guards, rushed to the stairs. The rest of the men followed. At the foot of the stairs, a shout was heard and the drawing of swords. Tim and Martin turned as one, swords at the ready, and saw some very dark figures hurrying down a hallway towards Tim and his men. "Quickly!" called Tim. They hurried up the stairs. At the top were statues of strange figures, beasts, goddesses, and ugly men. There was also some furniture. Tim grabbed a statue of a goddess, turned and flung it down the stairs, catching one of the dark figures in the chest. The beast flailed and fell back. The black robe it wore falling away to reveal scaly arms and muzzle. Martin also through down a statue of a Behemoth. Two of Tim’s men grabbed a large oaken table and dragged it to the stairs. With a heave, they sent it rolling down the flight of stairs, bowling over all the creatures there. Tim turned to Martin. "Which way?" Martin looked both ways and chose the right. "This way!" The men followed. Opening a door, Tim looked inside. A large man, covered head to toe in armor kneeled on the ground, a gigantic sword resting on the ground before him. At Tim opening the door, he lifted his eyes and stared. "I am called Nightmare. Are you to be my next challenger?" Tim gaped at the man, then collected himself. "No. Sorry. Wrong door." Tim shut the door quickly and hurried after. A warcry was heard from the room and the armored man soon came out of his room. Rushing down the hall, Tim was becomming frantic, he and his men were opening doors left and right. Ahead of his men, Tim opened a door and looked in. A very similar situation greeted him as before. A lone man, covered in armor, though not as bulky as the man before, kneeled on the ground. This time, he had a large, thick handled, double bladed axe before him. He looked up at Tim. "I am Mushimato. Are you my next challenger?" "No. This other is," Tim said quickly. He turned and indicated to his men to follow. They rushed into the room, the great figure of Nightmare nearing their position. In Mushimato’s room, Tim spotted a back door. And decided to chance it. He turned to the man still kneeling. "The next man that comes through that door has asked to challenge the best warrior available. You are that warrior. You would do great honor to defeat him in single combat." The man stared at Tim for a moment, then bowed his head slightly. Tim indicated for his men to go to the back door. They rushed across the stone floor and hurried through. As Tim brought up the rear and reached the door, Nightmare burst in. Tim yelled. "Here is your challenger, Nightmare! Here is the one that you must best!" He then closed the door as Mushimato picked up his axe and rushed at Nightmare, the other armor clad warrior bringing his sword to bear. Through the thick wood door, Tim could hear metal crash against metal and the shouts of both warriors. Tim found himself in another room, this one sparse, but it appeared to be a bedroom of some sort, a long, low wooden table serving as a bed. A door at the back opened to a small hallway. This, Tim and his men hurried down. As they raced along, checking doors, Tim muttered to himself, "I hope we find her soon." --Sky Subj: [ffml] [MW] A slight brush with Hell, Part 1 Date: 00-04-08 23:03:14 EDT From: darklord@compusmart.ab.ca (His Dark Lordship) They rushed down the hallway to find another carpetted room. Up a set of stairways stood another row of doors. Tim swore. This place didn't seem to end. Martin was frantic. "She could be anywhere!" he yelled. He ran forward, to the stairs. "Martin!" yelled Tim. "Get ahold of yourself!" "Angela!" bellowed Martin at the top of his lungs. Silence. "Angela!!" bellowed Martin again. This time, however, a wimper was heard. Martin's ears piqued. Tim, in spite of the grave situation at hand, had to chuckle. He had trained Martin well. Martin rushed up the stairs, and bellowed again. A louder wimper. Martin cocked his head. Then, he turned to Tim. "Hold up the back. I think I know where she is." Tim shook his head. "I just said before, we're in this together." Martin sighed. "We need guards though. We don't need that Nightmare character or that Mutowatuto-whatever the fuck he was called catching us from behind." Tim nodded. "Men, hold up the stairway. We shouldn't be far. Yell if anything suspicious is occuring." The soldiers nodded. Tim and Martin rushed back up the stairs. Martin quickly rushed to the farmost door on the right. "ANGELA!" A wimper was heard behind the door. Martin tried the handle. It was locked. Tim stood aside Martin. They looked at each other and nodded. "1..." said Martin. "2..." said Tim. "3!" they both yelled as they kicked the door simultaniously. The door bolted back, revealing a small.. dungeon? Tim and Martin strolled through. The room, unlike the other areas of rest they had seen, was cushioned and rather cheerful looking. A small vial of Opium sat on the floor, several scantly clad females gathered around it. There were several well taken care of beds around the chamber. More females sat around these. "So, Martin, which one of these is your girl." "I don't see her..." The women themselves seemed to not take notice of the two men. Martin blinked. His gaze met with a young redhead. Green eyes, long legs, skin smooth, like ivory, though a lot paler than he remembered her. "Angela!" he yelled. The woman looked up. "M.. Martin?" Martin rushed up to Angela and grasped her in a hug. She was trying to say something was her attempts were foiled by Martin embracing her in a long french kiss. Tim grinned, and focused his attention to the other women. "So, Ladies, how does it feel to have a bunch of strong, handsome men around for a change? I'd like to let you know that I have an entire army of single men." THe women looked at him, and giggled. "Of course, I could stand to keep you all for myself." A few more giggled. Martin finally let Angela speak. "Martin, dear, you have to get out of here..." she stammered. "Yes, and I'm taking you too." smiled Martin. "No.. no... that... that's not possible... y.. .you see, his Lordship-" Martin stepped back for a second. "I get it, you're all that Dark Fag's whores. But no matter, you're free now." A few more elderly women in the back chuckled. "No, Martin, you don't understand." A realization suddenly hit Tim. "All I understand, Angela, is my endless love for you." Martin grabbed her in another embrace. Something compelled Tim to stop this. He strolled over and pulled them apart. Martin looked at Tim agrily. "What the hell are you doing!?!" "She's trying to tell you something. Let her speak." Angela nodded. "Even if you could withstand his guards, you won't escape the castle. He has... total control over the layout." she explained. "Believe me, I've tried. And he's rather... protective of his girls." "We'll find a way." said Martin. "I've dealt with Imperial Soldiers, bloodthirsty Moogleboars, gigantic beings of metal and god knows what else, and I'm sure we can handle this too." Angela had a look of sadness. "Angela..." stammered MArtin, as if something had struck him. "What's wrong? Why can't you accept the fact you're saved?" Angela looked at Martin. "Martin... I love you. Or at least, I once did..." Martin stepped back again. Tim grabbed his shoulder. "Fucking..." thought Tim. "She's gonna ditch him. She likes it here. SOme-fucking-how she likes it here." "But... you... you can't support me. You never were devoted." "I went as far south as Vector to find help." said Martin gravely. Tim could tell that Martin wasn't quite aware of the situation yet. "But here... here I have... well... everything. His Lordship isn't as... chaotic as you like to think." "You're his fucking love slave!" yelled Martin. "You don't know that!" yelled Angela back. "You just barged in here somehow. You don't know shit." she grumbled. "I'm staying. I'm sorry." Martin dropped his head. Tim rubbed his shoulder. Tim himself would be rather pissed off right now, had Martin not done that for him. Martin turned around, as if to leave, and then turned back, and dealt a might backhand right to Angela's face. "SLut!" he yelled. He grabbed for his sword but Tim grabbed him. "Martin, fucking get a hold of yourself! You should've considered this ahead of time." "She's a... a.." stammered Martin. He was losing it. A collective group of screams from outside silenced the room. Angela held the spot where Martin had punched her. "I suggest you run. He might forgive you then." A slow set of footsteps crossed across the hall outside. Each footstep felt like the beating of a heart. Tim and Martin focused on the doorway, as the footsteps got louder and louder. A cold chill ran up Tim's spine. "Aye, we're in for it now..." he thought. Slowly, from the shadows of the hall emerged a snout. Slowly, through the doorway strolled not just a guard, or a warrior, but the very obvious Lord of Darkness himself. Tim had never actually gazed upon him, but he had been told anyone who did see him was not the same again. He understood why. The Dark Lord stood at least ten feet tall, and had a long tail that stood out. If length was a factor he easily was 20 feet in length. His skin was black as the void. Golden, piercing eyes fitted with a thick brow. A long, saurian snout filled with dagger like teeth. A small but deadly looking horn on top of his snout. His hands, dexterious and long, with more dagger like claws. Three fingers and a thumb. Although he wore black boots, out of his boots sprouted a sickle like claw, almost a foot long at first glance. The rest of his body was covered in a long, black, tattered cloak. A black breastplate covered his chest, and below that, equally black chain mail. He stared long and hard at Tim and Martin. "You..." he said in a raspy, deep voice. "You have immense courage. I can smell it." Martin stared at the Dark Lord, then broke his gaze and looked at Angela. Then back at the Dark Lord. "You!" he yelled. Tim tried to hold him but Martin broke his grasp in his rage. Pulling out his longsword, Martin charged forward at the Dark Lord, who stood motionless. Martin made a downward swing towards the Dark Lord's chest. The Dark Lord remained motionless until the blade prepared to connect, when, with sudden movement that shocked Tim, his arm swung down and his hand caught the blade. The blade snapped, and Martin held the remains of it, which was melting from his blood. The Dark Lord gazed into Martins eyes. "Fool." The next moment seemed to happen in slow motion for Tim. Martin staring at the melting blade, the Dark Lord crouching down, to about Martins height, and rearing one of his immense arms back. Tim hadn't realized how immense or long the Dark Lord's arms were. Then, the Dark Lord slowly swing the arm forward, and then connecting with the motionless Martin at the waist in a viscous, open clawed uppercut. He then saw Martin's head rear back with agony as the Dark Lord's immense arm rose. Martin's blood sprayed out around the room. Slowly, Martin's screams increasing, his hand emerged from in front of Martin, stained crimson with Martin's insides. Then, as Martin's knees slowly collapses and be prepared to fall to the floor, the Lord of Darkness' other arm swung forth, this time holding an immense broadsword. The sword connected with Martin's neck perfectly, and Tim saw Martin's head strike roll towards him. It hit his foot. On it was a look of Terror. Tim shook his head. "MARTIN!" he yelled finally. Slowly, some tentacles grew from the floor and dragged Martin's body to the abyss, while cleaning up the blood on the carpet. Angela stared. "Martin..." The Lord of Darkness blinked. "Ah, sorry ladies." he said with a slight grin." Tim stared at the head. It was all of Martin that remained. Thousands of thoughts flooded Tim's mind. All that he had done with Martin, how big of a bitch Angela was, the scene he had just saw, the fact Martin, a loyal, kind boy, who came here for his girl, was betrayed by her. How he was killed... "You!" he yelled finally. The Lord of Darkness stared at him grimly. "So, you wish to fight me? Ah, I know ye, child of the Warrior, he who came and challenged me centuries before." Tim, blood mad, produced his broadsword, and slowly advanced towards the Lord of Darkness. The Lord of Darkness chuckled. "So you wish to follow in the footsteps of your finest ancestor, hmm? Only then can you attone for the sins of your family?" Had Tim been paying attention to his surroundings, he'd have noticed that they no longer were in the chamber. They were on a great roof, overlooking the entire forsaken land. The roof of the keep, atop the black tower. "Then, little child, I shall awaken his spirit. His pride in you shall reach it's climax..." chuckled the Lord of Darkness. "I... I am Tim..." growled Tim. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a berserker rage. He hunched over, somewhat, holding his blade in two hands. His beard was soaked with sweat, his hair mottled. He was in the supreme frenzy. "You are..." chuckled the Lord of Darkness. A thunderbolt struck across the read sky, and then another, and then another. A piercing wind began to howl across the realm. The Dark Lord's cloak drifted in the immense with. Tim's hair covered his eyes, but he no longer saw with his eyes. "I am Tim... the High Lord of all that..." "That?" asked the Dark Lord, mocking. "I am... I am Tim, the High Lord of all that Kicks... Ass!" he bellowed. "Aye, hier to Bacca, come." chuckled the Dark Lord. "Come, enter the hell you were borne to love!" -- The eternal lord of darkness... Subj: [ffml] [MW] A slight brush with Hell, part 2. Date: 00-04-18 22:56:36 EDT From: darklord@compusmart.ab.ca (His Dark Lordship) Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com (ffml) Lightning stuck across the blood red skies. Bolts of heavenly flame crashed across the tower side. A circle of flames formed a barrier for seige, as if any fool was really stupid to attempt to climb it. Tim stood there, blade cocked to his knee, ready to slice upwards and gut any opponent. Any normal opponent. The Lord of Darkness, who stood motionless across from Tim, staring at him coldly, as if silently mocking him, however, was no ordinary opponent. Tim, had he been thinking clearly, would likely have realized the armour the Dark Lord wore was more likely close to impenetratable. But he was not thinking clearly. He was mad, mad with rage, mad from the death of his finest men, mad from the death of Martin, mad from the disloyalty of Angela, mad from the boiling blood in his viens. And, as a madman, he was filled with the courage of a dragon. It's flame burned in his heart. "Now, Tim, hier to Bacca, seeker of salvation from your family's horror, come and face your destiny." Tim really didn't know what the heck the Dark Lord was talking about, but he really didn't care at this time. Tim let out a bloodcurdling bellow and charged forth. The Lord of Darkness parried a sword swipe with his open hand and pushed Tim off. "Come on, child. You can do better than that." Tim muttered an unspeakable obscenity, and then cocked his blade back, facing to the ground. The Lord of Darkness stood there silently again. Tim charged forth again. THis time, somehow thinking more coherantly, he dropped and rolled, and swung upwards. The blade was caught by the Lord of Darkness, who read the move rather rediculously, and it was tossed to the side. Tim stared up at him for a split second before the Dark Lord's open hand swiped him across the chest as he flew back. "My, my, old Bacca would be ashamed at your performance." Tim stared at him coldly. Grabbing his sword, he circled around the Dark Lord. He was regaining his head again, finally. The Dark Lord, getting the idea of where Tim was going, began to circle as well. The Dark Lord raised his cloak, hiding his arms, and then when he lowered it, the Dark Lord's right hand held a terrible longsword, that, in it's full blackness, it still glinted in the red skylight. "Come then, lass." chuckled the Lord of Darkness. Tim made an advance. He swung his sword, which the Dark Lord parried. He brought his sword up again, which was knocked out of the way by the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord brought out his left hand and Tim felt a blade enter him. He started back. There was a long, steel blade portruded from between his ribs. Tim stared at it and then at the Dark Lord. "Well? Fight, fool. You knew what you were getting into, little man." chuckled the Dark Lord. Tim grabbed at the blade, but there was nothing to grab on to that didn't slice his fingers. He swore, and then another such blade was implanted into his femur. He swore and let out a ghastly moan of pain. The Dark Lord laughed. "Perhaps I was mistaken. You are not the hier of Bacca. You are merely a fool who was unfortunate enough to have an Ego that got him killed." Tim, realizing the Dark Lord was goading him, wanted to prove him wrong. He so wished to prove him wrong. But, the blades caused extruciating pain. He had fallen to his knee from the pain. The Dark Lord slowly walked towards him, almost as if he was savouring Tim's screams. Finally, a Tim felt a voice enter his head. "Rise, rise and give it your all. You are never beaten until you're dead and burned. Remember that." THe voice, the consoling, yet rough voice, made something click in Tim's head. He rose, the pain had no more meaning. He saw a beautiful maiden, clad in white. He felt his arms strengthen. He saw the Lord of Darkness, chuckling. "Hmmm? Hoping to prove me wrong? Let's see what ye has." Tim grasped his blade in two hands. The two warriors clashed immediately, both Tim and The Dark Lord snarling. THe Lord of Darkness rose the two blades up. Tim, with a sudden reaction he hadn't expected, lifted back and, throwing his entire body weight into it, drove his blade into the Dark Lord's breastplate. Slowly, Tim opened his eyes. There was nothing in front of him. The blades that had been inserted in him were gone. There were scars on his chest and leg, as far as he could tell, but no internal wounding. He was still on the tower. The ground in front of him, where the Dark Lord stood, was burned rock. The blood red sky was slowly fading to blue. The winds had subsided. Tim felt as if a great spirit had awakened within him. Despite the fact he was aching in various parts of his body, he felt fantastic. Then, he began to feel the ground shake. Looking around, he quickly realized that the tower was collapsing. He looked around the rooftop. No exit, except jumping. Tim slowly walked to the edge. The town of Shadowbrooke was empty. They had left. He had given them the courage to leave. Something about this intensified the flame inside of him. For a second, a feeling of invincibility struck him. The urge to.. fly. Dropping his broadsword, which itself saw dissolving away, he stepped back and gave a flying leap. The dust of the tower shaking behind him. Closing his eyes, he almost felt as if he indeed was flying. His brain filled with a rush of blood. Then, all was black. * * * * * * * Images flashed before him. A man, similar in stature to himself, blood mad with rage, battling the same Lord of Darkness on the same peak. His blade swings by the Dark Lord, and then he sees his heart. Then, he awakens shortly after, in a village. He has a beautiful bride, the same Tim saw during the last moments in his fight with the Dark Lord, and lives on a heavily fortified camp. The two live happily. Three children. One is killed in a hunting accident. Eventually, a great, burly Ork appears. Although he is chased out, the man becomes obsessed with him. The remaining two children grow up. Then, a horrible claw strikes. A drunked duel between them. The younger is slain. In grief, the beautiful maiden dies of sorrow, and the man sets off on a journey. The vision seemed to end there. He opened his eyes. He was under a lean-to. A fire, one of many, burned near him. A Rabbit stood on a spit, cooking. Jayel, his leautenant, sat there on a log, sharpening his longsword. "Ah, Tim, you're awake." Tim blinked. "Where... are we?" "Well, our distraction worked, somewhat. The troops decided to pursue us when they realized that the people of Shadowbrooke were taking advantage of the fact we were on some suicide mission to flee to greener pastures. Apparantly they had ideas before we came, but we gave them the means." Tim nodded. "So, we were pursued by these really tough Reptilian beasts. Fortunately, they don't seem to be taking killing us all as one of thier priorities. They seem to just be driving us away." Tim nodded again. "Anyway, while we were being chased westward, we found you, of all people, resting under a tree, covered in blood." Tim blinked. "But I was at the top of the Dark Lord's keep... fighting... I.. I beat him. I killed the son of a bitch." Jayel looked at Tim rather oddly. "That would explain why the keep collapsed while we were fleeing." Tim blinked. The keep had collapsed? Then.. was the reign of evil gone? Had he seriously managed to overcome the most powerful being alive? A scout ran up to Jayel and handed him a note. Jayel nodded. "They've sighted the Dark Lord's troops again. Your command, Sir?" Tim blinked. He heard another voice in his head. "West." he finally said. "I feel there's something awaiting us there." -- The eternal lord of darkness... Date: 00-04-19 21:33:53 EDT From: skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky Hall) Tim tried to sit up, but could not manage the effort. He grunted in exertion. Jayel frowned. "You really got a whalloping, sir." He stood, picked up a canteen and kneeled down next to Tim. He helped his senior officer to sit up and helped Tim drink. He turned his head to a few lieutenants who had come over to investigate Tim's state. "Prepare to march." The men moved. "And ready a chocobo to help carry the Captain," Jayel added. Tim sighed. What had happened, he thought. Jayel mused aloud. "These critters are tough little mothers, but at least we have enough chocobos to delay them. And a few well placed arrows can hurt them. But our supplies are running thin, and the forest is not providing all we need. Also, the fodder is not best for the chocobos and some are already beginning to show signs of sickness." Tim opened his eyes and looked at Jayel. He then peered out of the tent he was in. "Help me outside." Jayel did as he was instructed, placing Tim's arm over his shoulders and lifting him up and out. He then sat Tim on the same log he had just sat on. Tim steadied himself. Looking around, Tim saw the countryside was indeed rugged. No longer in the Dark Lord's domain, the "darkness" was not evident. Thick, green forests seemed to climb their way up the peaks which and ridges which surrounded Tim and his men. White, snow covered mountain tops were here and there. The blue sky shone well, as well as the bright sun, beginning to wester. "There is no real trail, just some animal paths, it seems," said Jayel. "I've had trailblazers working continuously and we are finding a good path to take." Tim nodded. "how are the men?" "Good," said Jayel. "They are surprised and mystified by what has happened in the past few days, but are only complaining about the cold nights and the big lizards chasing us." Jayel also looked about. "Beautiful countryside, better then I've seen in many years. But we are climbing higher into the mountains." Jayel paused. "Some of the men have mentioned that these are forbidden mountains, not only because of the Dark Lord, but for other reasons. They say something about mysterious men who inhabit the mountain valleys and slay all those who come near." Tim sighed. "I know we are journeying into an unknown place, but I do feel that we will find safety to the west. I just know it." Jayel nodded. "I hope it's soon." --Sky