Dawn of War! Chapter one; The Gathering.

[Oscar Lotus]

Verhz Verhz, a rotund man, in his late forties stood watch at the Northern Gate. He had seen the party of travelers coming toward Strata from afar off. One figure stood head and shoulders above the rest.  At first Verhz thought that the man was riding an Aj, but as they came nearer he saw that it was no man at all, but a troll. By Bavaros's Trident, a troll!  What is a troll doing with elves and humans and what.. what is this?  A brownie!  He stood there, jaw dropped open like some fish caught out of water.  He heard one of them, dressed in a cloak of some sort ask for admittance.

Verhz yelled down. "What be your buisness?"  Then he looked up and saw the sun turn black.  He became scared as he looked and saw a huge cloud heading their way.  A sandstorm.  He quickly ran to the city's bell and began pulling on the rope.  The huge bell began to ring out its loud, bass tone.

Citizens inside the city suddenly were plunged into total darkness and then they heard the alarm bell ring.  Total bedlam ensued as people ran toward their homes.  Verhz kept on ringing the bell as if his life depended upon it.  Then when the sand and wind began to pelt him he stopped.  He waddled as quick as he could toward the stairs to get down from the wall when he remembered the travelers.  He quickly waddled over to the gate opening, yelled for some men to remove the bar closing the gate.  They came opened it up.  Verhz said to those standing outside the gate.  "Enter in quickly.  Or else you will be left outside until this sandstorm is over."

Troas Troas was in his upper chamber inside of his house trying to contact Malok through the crystal ball Malok had given him.  He was getting no answer, when all of a sudden it grew dark as night, and then he heard the cities alarm bell ring.  What is this?  A trick of the Tristin? I did not know he had magicians working for him?

There was a knock upon his door. "Enter." he said.  One of his elite guards quickly entered and bowed to one knee.  "Sire, the sun has been blocked out by a gigantic sandstorm.  There have been reports of the ground shaking in some areas of the city."

"We have been through sandstorms before.  Why the panic?" Troas asked.

"Sire, this sandstorm is different.  Look out your window."

Troas went to his window and looked out.  It was like looking into a sand time piece.  Suddenly his window burst in sending shards of glass his way.  He put up his hands but not before several pieces of glass embedded themselves in his arms.  He swore and was tackled by his guard.  They both fell to the floor as sand piled up inside his room.  He coughed as sand entered his mouth.  He followed his guard out of the room, The floor was already filled and he crawled out slowly.  His mind reeling. What in Coor's name happened?  

Soon he was out of his room and safely behind closed doors.  But sand could be seen blown through the cracks of the door jamb and under the door itself.  This room had no window but his house shook violently and torches fell upon the floor.  Servants were running around trying to put out the fires.

Troas stood up, dusted himself off.  He was angry and confused. His house shook again and he almost was knocked off of his feet.  Fortunately he fell into a chair and then just sat there.  His face a mask.

Oscar Lotus
A beer in the belly is never a bad thing.

[Gararion]

As Gararion waited for a response from the gate keeper he could sense the winds picking up in the distances behind him.  He slowly titled his head and then saw what he had sensed.

The skies quickly fell into darkness as the sun turned black before them.  Dark clouds came rolling towards the city of Strata and them.

As Gararion stared into the darkness that seemed to come nearer every minute, growing thicker with every thought that ran through his head, he could here the words of the guard.  These words were shortly followed by harsh and madening ringing of a warning bell.  Soon they were asked to quickly come inside if not they would remain outside of the cities walls.

"LET US TAKE THIS MANS OFFER AND ENTER THE CITY WITH HASTE MY COMPAINIONS!"

Gararion now yelled over the hissing winds and pelting sands of the sandstorm.  He made his way inside taking cover within the city but still looking out past the gates into the vast sandstorm.  His eyes then begun to fight to see but with his last bit of cleared vision he took a last glance at the sun which was shrouded in darkness.

He stood there now, trying to sense if this storm was only a very harsh sandstorm or if it something ese was behind it.  Was there magic behind this storm?

Gararion
Active Characters: Gararion, Jerardomas, Thriondir Rilmarion, Barendd Holderhek, Birennor
Character Mod at ~Santharia~ Live the Dream

[Atrii Redwood]

Atrii nodded to Gararion in agreement, he followed Gararion into the city trying to take cover from the fierce sandstorm. He fell to his knees and observed the surroundings of Strata. Even in the fierceness of a sandstorm it was a most astounding city.

[Lucirina Telor Vevan]

Lucirina was indeed inside the tent, collecting the two knives known as "twins" and strapping them to her calves, when the sandstorm hit with full force. The trembling ground sendt her out of balance and falling back on the ground.
All tears dried on her face in an instant as the air suddenly was filled with sand, blinding her as she crawled to her feet and tried to find the exit of the tent.
She thought she heard someone call her name but another shake of the ground sendt her on her back once more, knocking the air out of her lungs as she hit the ground rather hard.

"Since when did the desert want to play ocean?"

She muttered to herself as she once more crawled to her feet and started running her hand over the fabric of the tent seeking an exit.
A loud snapping sound was heard as the ropes holding the tent was ripped apart by the wind and the hapless elf was covered with the fabric of the tent itself.
Lucirina tried to keep calm and free herself of the tent, but the fabric now covered with sand was way to heavy for her, in panic she noticed how it was growing heavier by the second... she was slowly being burried in the sand.
She curled up into a tight ball, feeling hopelessnes move over her once more, she would most certainly drown in the sand.
But as she was about to loose hope she heard a voice calling her name and movements in the sand that was covering the tent.

"One hears you! One hears you!
In sweet Avá's name get One out of here!"

Remembering the knives she still had strapped to her tighs she reached for one and cut open the fabric of the tent, sand falling over her as a river and she started digging her way out of it, hot sand entering her eyes, nose, ears and mouth.
Just when she thought she would really drown in that horrible, horrible sand she felt a hand brush against hers. Placing the dagger between her teeth and clenching them hard on the cold metal before letting both her hands lash out to grab that hand as hard as she could while she kept both her eyes and mouth closed to not swallow more sand.

From sunrise to sundown I live my life as a song.
Listen to the songbird, don't ignore it.

Edited by: Lucirina Telor Vevan at: 2/21/03 1:05:07 am

[Bobbo the Beggar]

Bobbo had been about to follow the Tristin, when the tent suddenly collapsed on him and Oscar. He was quickly forced to the ground as the sand piled up over the already heavy tent. He heard voices from above and waited. But the tent was getting heavier. Looking around for Oscar, he could not see him in the gloom of the collapsed tent.

Drawing his sword was out of the question. The blade would be too big to be able to move it. He managed to move his hand and reach for his boot. Finding it, he removed from its side a small piece of glass, carefully wrapped and placed in his boot. He unwrapped it and managed to cut a small opening in the tent. Sand poured in like a jet because of the smallness of the cut. Bobbo noticed it was getting harder and harder to breath, the oxygen running out.

Dropping the piece of glass with a pang of regret (for it was his last remnant of his Stratanian blade that had sustained him for so many years, it being the piece of glass he had scraped the rust off his sword with), Bobbo grapped the cut and tore it open further. Sand began to pour in. Bobbo tore his shirt sleeve off and wrapped it around his face. With one final gasp of air, he forced himself into the sand.

Bobbo was in pitch blackness and was covered in sand. He kicked and tore with his legs. His arms tried to get to the surface to pull him up, but they only felt unsolid sand. Bobbo was beginning to run out of air. He frantically forced his body upward, until with a rush of sand, he spurted out of the ground near the Tristin.

A few men saw him and pulled him up out of the sand. He lay there for a moment, breathing through his sleeve. Then he got himself to his feet.

The air was not much better than the ground to Bobbo's mind. Coughing, he bent down and tried to help get the sand off the tent to save Oscar without a word.

Then a thought occurred to him. Lucirina! he thought.

"Where is Lucirina?!" he asked the Tristin, very much worried.

'... Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.' (Gandalf)

'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.

'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us . . .'

The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past)
The Tales of Middle Earth RPG (I'm the owner)
The Lords of Middle Earth (I'm the ent mod)
Adventures of Sorren (I'm just a player)
The Fellowship of the Ring (I'm just a member)

Edited by: Bobbo the Beggar at: 2/21/03 1:41:31 am

[KeelinElf]

Lovely... more sand, Keelin though as she spurred her Aj through the gates. Did I mention that I hate sand?

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

[Shaint]

Shaint waited outside as the sky started to darken quickly it was starting to get very grainy and thick in the air soon sand was rushing at them and the gate opend up Gararion shouted and he coul donly hear him slightly Shaint opend his mouth and shouted to the extent of his lungs "IN AND FIND A COVERING!!!!!" Shaint started to run inside the city when he noticed not everyone had come in the gate,

Shaint stopped and ran back his head started racing if any of them died it was the blood on his hands after all he was the leader of the party and responsible for everyone in it he stopped in the center where the gate would close and looked to his right where they entered from, an AJ ran past him and into the city he noticed the figure of Keelin on-top of it his eyes hot open as the sand heavily hit his body not all of his companions where in yet....,

his head turned left and right trying to decide Keelin was riding into the town and there was no chance an AJ could survive this...he gritted his teeth and sprinted to his left after the running AJ,

"KEELIN!!!!" Shaint slowly caught up with the AJ and looked up at her jumping he wrapped his arm around her stomach and fell to the other side of the AJ taking the full impact of falling onto the ground with Keelin ontop of him "GRUH!" his body said as he impacted with the ground Shaint looked around he was outside of a small building the door was tightly shut, picking up Keelin he slowly stood and walked inside of the building it was a Tavern.

Tables scattered about the building shook various men where under tabled and in corners, behind the bar and what-not Shaint sat Keelin in a chair he was in pain but wasn't going to express it he had allready experienced the blood being on his hands before and he didn't want that feeling again, approaching the door he saw Atrii laying in the sand Shaint tried to take another step, but failed and collapsed right near the doorway.

He who lives by the sword Lives with Pain Anger and Sorrow
But he who lives by the sword lives not with regret for he who lives by the sword lives with Redemtion

[Oscar Lotus]

Oscar Oscar watched the Tristin walk out of the tent.  Blowing sand entered the tent and then the flaps were closed.  He saw Lord Bobbo heading out when suddenly the tent collapsed.  A pole knocked Oscar on the head, put a gash upon his forehead and Oscar fell down like a sack of grain.  He was barely concious as he watched Lord Bobbo take something from his boot and cut a small hole in the fabric of the tent.  A stream of sand began pouring into the tent.

Oscar could feel the sand on top of him, pressing the fabric of the tent against him.  It was hard to breathe.  He coughed.  Then Lord Bobbo ripped the tent with his bare hands.  The larger opening sending down a rushing river of sand upon him.  Lord Bobbo covered his mouth and then began clawing his way upward.  Oscar began crawling toward the opening as well but the heavy sand on top, his injury, and the sand rushing in blocked his way.  The sand soon covered him.  He tried to keep his mouth above the pouring sand.  Taking in labored breaths.  He tried clawing his way but he was too weak and his wound to his head was making him dizzy.  Soon he fell into the sand and it covered his head.  His last thoughts before he died were.  I have lived a full and good life.  I did what I thought was right.  Yes, Quepruer I have not been always good.  I deserve whatever punishment you decree.  Then as he took his last breath he prayed. I pray Ava that you will forgive me and watch over my friends.  Then his eyes closed peacefully having made his peace with his God.

Tristin The Tristin and Qui's men were frantically digging away the sand.  The sand was falling faster than they could dig.  When suddenly Lord Bobbo burst through the sand.  Several of Qui's men pulled him out.  The Tristin was about to ask about Oscar when Lord Bobbo began digging at the sand.  Then Lord Bobbo raised up and asked the Tristin. "What about Lucirina.  Where is she?"

The Tristin replied. "Qui came back and warned us.  He is trying to find Lady Lucirina as we speak.  You must do as your heart desires, M'lord.  I and the other men will continue to dig and see if we can get Oscar out."

Qui Qui was digging furiously but the sand kept on filling up faster than he could sweep it away.  He heard Lucirnia's voice.  He began digging more using his arms to brush the sand away.  Then he heard a ripping tearing sound. And he could see sand disappearing into a hole.  He reached down with his hands and then wonder upon wonder he felt a hand.  He grasped it as it grasped him.  He pulled and tugged until Lucirinas hand, then arm, shoulder and then her head appeared.  She had a knife clenched between her teeth.  Qui was so relieved.  He pulled her completely out of the sand and covered her body with his.  He asked her as he brushed sand out of her eyes, hair, ears and from the corners of her mouth. "Are you ok, Lucirina?  Say you are ok?  My soul would depart from me if you are not alive."   Qui could not tell if she was breathing or not.  He took the knife away from her mouth and lowered his lips to hers and began to breathe into her open mouth.  When he saw her chest move up and down, the life saving breath became a passionate kiss.  A kiss of relief that she was alive.  He stopped kissing her but still covered her body to keep the sand away from her.  He asked again. "Lucirina are you ok?"  He slowly caressed her face and hair keeping the sand from her.

Oscar Lotus
A beer in the belly is never a bad thing.

Edited by: Oscar Lotus at: 2/21/03 7:41:00 pm

[Bobbo the Beggar]

Bobbo was torn. He wanted to help save Oscar, but he felt Lucirina needed him. He debated among himself until he finally decided.

"My lord," said Bobbo to the Tristin, "Oscar is in your hands. I saw him coming after me. He should not be far below. I trust your men will be able to save him. I will not abandon Lucirina to the help of only one."

Bobbo silently whispered the first prayer he had ever prayed for Oscar's life. He did not think that it would do much good, but it was the most he could do for a friend who had helped change his life.

Bobbo rushed off in the direction of his tent in the darkness of the sandfilled air. "Lucirina!" he cried in the sand, "Where are you?!"

Bobbo finally was able to see the outline of a shape lying on the ground. Terror filled his heart as he thought that Lucirina was dead. He ran with renewed effort to the figure on the ground.

Looking down he saw Qui laying on Lucirina. He also saw that Qui was kissing her!

Anger filled Bobbo's heart. He furiously kneeled picked Qui up off of Lucirina. He forced the man to his feet and screamed at him, "What in Coor's name are you doing with her?"

'... Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.' (Gandalf)

'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.

'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us . . .'

The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past)
The Tales of Middle Earth RPG (I'm the owner)
The Lords of Middle Earth (I'm the ent mod)
Adventures of Sorren (I'm just a player)
The Fellowship of the Ring (I'm just a member)

[Radaroc]

Sand again??!! Radaroc groaned to himself.
The sandstorm had risen up suddenly, the swirling sands pelting the companions.  Barely seeing the dim forms of the others make for the main gates he began to follow them.  But spun around and called out in the blinding sand and confusion. "Derm get the brownie and be quick about it!"  In moments a wolf dashed passed him, a dazed Raoneth held by his cloak in the creature's mouth.  

Following closely behind Derm he made it into the gate, just in time to see Keelin and Shaint go into a tavern.  Hell, I barely made it out of this city when I came in.  Leaning up against the wall out of the sand and wind he caught his breath.

Setting his pack down he rumaged through it picking out a bandage wraped it around the lower part of his face.  Then pulling the hood of his cloak over his head he headed after Gararion and Atrii, hopefully one of them would know what to do.  

In the begining I was weak.  Now I have purpose.  Stay me from my path and the Gods themselves cannot save you.

[KeelinElf]

Keelin was busy trying to decide whether to be angry or amused at Shaint's antics. She settled for somewhere in between. That boy is the damndest creature...

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

[Lucirina Telor Vevan]

Lucirina felt a strong hand grab her arm and start pulling her out to the lifegiving air once more, her lung feeling like they were on fire and she felt herself fall into the darkness of unconciousness, she didn't even feel when the knife was pulled free from her clenched teeth.
Her eyes was closed, both from the fainting and from the sand, and as Qui brushed over her she stayed motionless, barely breathing, her mouth filled with sand.
As he placed his lips upon hers she could feel a breath of air entering her empty lungs, as he did this once mroe the spark of life inside her soul flamed up and she gasped for air.
The soft lips on hers did not abandon them as she once more started breathing, they just became more soft and caressing as Qui kissed her, and she was amazed to find herself not able to stop him once more.
As he broke the kiss and asked her if she was ok all she managed to do was nod slowly, her thoat parched with the flying sand in the air.
She heard Bobbo's voice as from far away and slowly turned her head toward the sound, her eyes still shut close tightly.

From sunrise to sundown I live my life as a song.
Listen to the songbird, don't ignore it.

[Atrii Redwood]

Atrii slowly rose to his feet, he looked over to the Inn that Keelin and Shaint went into. Radaroc was approaching him and Atrii walked to meet him. "Let us take refuge in that Inn over there Radaroc," Atrii suggested pointing to the Inn before slowly turning and making his way to the Inn.

[Gararion]

Gararion remained within the empty sand filled streets.  His robe flapping within the harsh desert sands as the wind caring the sand flew by him with incredable force.

But his eyes remained opened, his face now seem as if the sand stayed nailsbreaths away from his face.  His eyes still directed in the direction where he last saw the sun, the black sun.  

The others must not have seen it before the skies were filled with sand and darkness.  What magic is this?

With a wave of his hand the winds seemed to avoid his body, the sand blowing harshly around him a ped away from any point of his body and not a nailbreath closer.

Gararion remained outside within his protective shield staring in the direction of te sun, trying to catch a glimpse of it once more.  Seeing if he could sense some magical answer to this storm.

Gararion
Active Characters: Gararion, Jerardomas, Thriondir Rilmarion, Barendd Holderhek, Birennor
Character Mod at ~Santharia~ Live the Dream

[Raoneth]

He thought he heard someone offer him a lift, but he kept walking, thinking slowly.
Right, then. Why am I so tired? I've slept badly, I was tired when I went to sleep and I... should still not be this tired. Maybe it's that elf who's done some strange magic on me. It's allmost as if I've been drained.
He stopped thinking, his legs moved allmost automatically and after what seemed as many eternities, Raoneth found himself inside the gates of Strata, held by the top of his cloak by some kind of... dog.
Beautiful... lots of "smells like old meat drivel" on my only cloak.
After a while, the storm ended, Raoneth, still hanging by his neck, yawned. "sleep now, maybe?"
Smelly, teethy thing let me go now, maybe?

Raoneth - Me

Edited by: Raoneth at: 2/26/03 9:22:18 am

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