Subj: [ffml] [MW] Touching a Spiderweb Date: 00-08-07 11:22:24 EDT From: larathia@mcs.net (Larathia) Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com Nighthawk took the two bards that looked to be most knowledgable of the three Tim offered. She sent one to sing to the priests and the troops, and brought the other to her personal flet; she wished no distractions. When she asked the bard to tell her the legends of this world, he seemed surprised; apparently they were so well known, they weren't asked for much except on state occasions. Pleased to be the artist chosen to render the ancient sagas to a completely new and rapt audience, the bard launched into the historical legends of the first and second moogle wars. As Nighthawk listened to the bard's songs and tales, realization followed by creeping horror stole over her. And for the first time in many centuries, she realized she had made a terrible mistake; one that would probably cost the lives of every one of her people, and might even claim her own. She knew, now, why the avariel Goddess, Aerdrie Faenya, the Lady of Wind and Weather, was taking a personal interest in the proceedings. She had entered a world that was still in its Age of Legends; listening to the tales, she recognized as only an outsider could that the tales were incomplete: unfinished. The moogle race was to this world what the dark elves, the Drow, were to her own; a plague that came without warning and needed complete banishment. But in her own world, only the oldest world-walkers remembered the Elfwar first hand; here the struggle was immediate. The bard's tales told of gods and mighty powers, not as distant past events, but as beings *still walking the world*. Heroes occurred frequently, and just as frequently were degraded or defeated, with only a small few emerging victorious. Now she understood why Lord Tim was such a bother to deal with; he was in the process of becoming a Hero, that most stubborn breed of mortals. When the bard got to the tales of Bacca, Nighthawk began to know real fear, as she had not known in a millenia. She knew, now, that there was no way short of divine intervention that she could truly influence Lord Tim, and that the gods and soul of this world would probably make him victorious should he attack her or her people. Fate would contrive that her arrows would miss, her sword would shatter. The most the Lady could do would be to allow her to survive, if of course the Lady chose to act at all. She and her people were aliens to this world. They would not be permitted to interfere in the creation of myth. She could not even be sure that Lord Tim would emerge victorious; Heroes often died tragically, and usually before completing their great quests. Her presence either way was probably superfluous, unless this world's gods took a liking to the stance her people made. Her people would not be able to leave the world either; it is never written that when the Hero faces the Army of Darkness, his friends turn around and say 'so long, bub'. For good or ill, the dice were thrown - all that remained was to see the resulting numbers. A voice from her communications ring alerted her: "Captain, Lord Tim seeks entry to the camp. He wishes us to 'fetch' you, to hear his orders." Nighthawk raised a hand to silence the bard. "I will hear you finish the tales later, when I have learned what he wants," she said. "Meanwhile, you have but to wear your bard's cap to enjoy the hospitality of the camp. I ask only that you tell no tales of Bacca to the soldiers, and that if you should meet your fellow bard, ask him to do the same - excepting only a request of the priests." The bard seemed surprised at the request, but nodded and began climbing down from her flet - probably in search of a drink, as he'd been speaking or singing for hours without a break. Nighthawk spoke to her ring: "Hold him at the camp perimiter, and for your soul's sake don't make any threatening moves. Things are volatile enough that it's dangerous to risk him meeting the flight captains and I don't want trouble. I will be there shortly." Whatever he wanted, Nighthawk knew she'd have to go along with it. And smile about it. For good or ill, she'd gotten snared into the fate of a Hero, or a Hero-to-be, and when one is tangled in a web struggling only pulls the strands tighter. The best, the very best she could hope for, would be that her people's probable sacrafice would not be forgotten. With a sensation akin to dread, she moved as quickly as was dignified to the camp perimiter. -- Larathia Subj: Re: [ffml] [MW] Touching a Spiderweb Date: 00-08-10 10:40:48 EDT From: skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky Hall) Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com Tim stood milling about, the visor on his helmet raised, the map in one hand, and the reigns to Fluffy in the other. He stood, surveying the woods and picking out the details of the perch from which the sentry was. Peering into the darkness, Tim was slowly able to look through the leaves and discern the blind that hte sentry had erected to hide himself. It was most ingenious, making use of the branches and still appearing almost natural. Movement caught his eye and Tim saw Nighthawk hurrying through the trees to his position. As she approached, Tim bowed slightly to her, "Captain Nighthawk. It is good to see you." Nighthawk saluted Tim. "As it is to see you, Lord Tim." "It is a bit dark, and I need light to show you my plans," said Tim, indicating the map he held. Nighthawk looked to the sentry and ordered him to fetch a latern. He quickly ran to do so. When she turned back to Tim, she saw him standing there, studying her. "You seem a bit distracted, Captain Nighthawk," said Tim. "Are you okay?" Nighthawk stared back at Tim, not betraying any emotion. But Tim could discern a bit of tension in her. "I am fine, Tim." Tim nodded. "Very well. Here is the situation, to bring you up to speed. "The moogles, as you may have noticed, have been cleared from all of Doma. There was an attack against Hiel Keep, but that beaten off. And all that remains are the moogle forces at Doma City. Almost the entire Doman army is there now, laying siege to the city. "My division is being ordered to the bridge before Southvale. There we will erect a wall within bow shot of the bridge and shoreline, and keep the cavalry hidden for any major assaults across the bridge." The sentry returned and handed a non-flame lantern to Nighthawk. Tim unrolled the map and indicated to Nighthawk his plans. "My orders for you are to move with us south and to use hit and run attacks against the moogles to the south. You will stay based on the north side of the river and fly across to keep the moogles from launching any amphibious assaults. So your first priority will be to destroy all boats you find to the south, as well as all boat building capabilities. "Once you have done that, you may penetrate deeper into moogle held territory and harass their supply lines. However, I want to know where your base is, and I want it close to the defensive position I am taking at the bridge-head. If the moogles launch a major assault across the bridge, I will need to call upon you to aid our defense. Is that understood?" "Yes sir." "Good. Now, try to keep a surveliance of the riverside going and report into the cavalry positions any major crossings. I want them there when the moogles touch land. We'll be using dragons to patrol as well as your avariel. "You understand that I will need all my foot soldiers at the wall, so that is why I want the cavalry and air borne units patrolling. Your avariel will not have to patrol with the dragons. And since your people's night vision is so good, try night attacks as best as you can. "Now Nighthawk, the end is in sight. And I think the victory shall be ours. I do not want you to put your soldiers at any great risk. Therefore do not attempt anything rash or difficult. If Southvale is unoccupied, we will move to take it, and I'll need your avariel to act as aid in defending Southvale. Otherwise, you will just make sorties into moogle-held land. "If there is nothing else, I will go." Tim rolled up his map. --Sky