Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 8 From: rwallace@cs.tcd.ie (Russell Wallace) Date: Mon, 31 May 1993 09:12:31 +0000 Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 8 --------------------------------- Rules change: As of next turn, QUIT orders will be processed after ATTACK orders. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= **************************************************************************** * And God touch me with His hand and I understand the only way: Jihad, the * * wind that brings fire and death troughout the Universe. * **************************************************************************** * Eternal life to the Fedaykin, and may Shai-Hulud guide your steps * **************************************************************************** I can be reached at jmota@draco.lnec.pt | RISE AND REVERBERATE | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Kahar, Lord of the Reaching Moon, strode out onto the battlements of Valga; and looked down upon the mountainside. There, as far as the eye could see were hordes of soldiers; so many that they blackened the valley. The sun was just rising; when the day was fully begun the final assault would come. The Black Hordes of the North Kingdoms with their barbarian dupes would attack soon; and that would be the end. He breathed in the cold air, drawing it deep into his lungs. It was going to be a fine day; a shame he would not live to see it. Behind him emerged Halcyon Enkorth; his Chamberlain. The old man was wearing battlearmour, and hefting a pole-arm. He smiled grimly "We'll take a few of them with us, eh Kahar?" A few moments passed. Kahar spoke; "Yes indeed, Friend. And we shall return to the Goddess. I have done my part in the War of the Moon, and now it is my sister's turn. It was my job to find the Avatar; and She is safe now, Thank the Goddess! The Red Moon Wanes to Wax again! The Black Empire cannot conquer for ever; always the Moon returns! We die today, but The Reaching Moon will conquer yet...but see! The enemy approach! To Arms! To Arms, Men of the Steel Moon Legion!" For the great mass of besiegers had arisen, and were making their way like so many cockroaches to the foot of the wall. They carried siege-ladders fashioned of wood culled from the dark and fetid forests of the North. Each rung had its own tale of whip-numbed savagery to tell. And as they approached; each of the vile marauders chanted in a low mumbling monotone "All shall be enchained by the Shackles of Wocnir the DoomSpider. All who defy us shall feed the Crawlers Underneath. If we outnumber them three-to-one, anyway. All shall be enchained..." They paused just out of bowshot of the walls. Their sonorous chanting ceased. They raised their shields; each of which was crudely daubed with the Sign of the Spider, in the blood of some luckless peon of Duncansby. And their master "Leader of the Garden" came out from amongst them, riding a huge black Goort-Beetle. From beneath his Iron Mask came his harsh voice. "Minions of the Dark Powers that Secretly Strive to Control Atlantis! Prepare to attack! Put all within the walls to the sword - except the one known as Kahar - he is to meet our grim suzerain personally...hahahahahahar!". But then came a disturbance. From out of the ranks of blood-smeared soldiery stepped a frail woman; her classic good looks glowed in the first blush of the Dawn. "No!" she cried, in an impassioned voice. "The Red Moon is fine, and good! More wonderful than you can imagine! Put down your arms and submit to the Glorious Power of the Reaching Moon!" "And whom might you be?" said the plate-clad Lord of the Death Legion from the North, in a VERY nasty voice; you had to be there really; you just can't imagine just how unpleasant he sounded, honestly. But the raven-haired beauty before him didn't cower or blench; but lifted up her head and looked the Doom-Lord straight in the visor. "I am Rosalinda y Hidalgo, daughter of one of the Masked OverLords who sit like bloated spiders in the webs of the North. But I would not listen to the lying tongues of those who serve the BlackSpider; I stole away from my father's camp and have become a priestess of the Glorious Moon! My father now claims that I was kidnapped by the Lunars; stuff and nonsense! I am one of very many who refuse to serve the Dire Barons any longer! Long live the Red Moon! Long Live the Glorious Lunar Empire!! Long live - " But this brave daughter of the North spoke no more. The Leader of the Death Horde signalled, and Rosalinde fell dead with a dozen arrows in her. "Hahahahaha!" He chortled," so perish all who defy our Evil Empire! Now onwards to victory my minions! Let the Power of the Northern Lands be shown to all!!" And so passed the First Wane of the Reaching Moon. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The young half elf looked over the swamp from his position while the Ruffians brought from the plains of Alghero looked on. How fortunate it was that the corporation had gotten word to Treehugger in time to proceed Caserta before the battle was joined as the young elf was none too thrilled to be told that he would be only a scout. Now came the time for battle against the Dark Rangers, defilers of the forest, and the lizard men, abominations against everything that was good. Yet as the battle line formed and the mages readied their spells, young Treehugger wondered, what would the battle bring and who would survive this first battle of light against dark in the Atlantean north........... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= O======================================================================O | O==O==O * C O M P A N H I A A T L A N T I D A * O==O==O | | \___/ * * \___/ | | ||| * INVITES YOU TO * ||| | | ||| * * ||| | | /---\ * THE BEST LITTLE WHORE-HOUSE IN DUNCANSBY * /---\ | O======================================================================O This fine institution is the first of a series of Palaces of Sin that Companhia Atlantida intends to build throughout our fair island. Our fun palace is open to all, conquerors and conquered, male and female, human and beast, mystics and materialists, etcetera, etcetera... Remember, all you have to do is include this in your orders for next month (and every month there after): PAY UNIT 710 10 and the lovliest, nastiest creatures of Duncansby will delight you with all their charms. DON'T BE THE LAST UNIT ON OUR ISLAND TO VISIT OUR TENT! FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE A NICE BIG BUILDING FOR OUR ENTERTAINERS! TREAT YOUR WARRIORS TO A MAGNIFICENT REWARD AFTER A BLOODY BATTLE! WEAPONS AND STONE WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTED AS PAYMENT FOR A LIFETIME PASS! O======================================================================O | O==O==O * | | * IS THAT A CROSSBOW IN YOUR POCKET, OR ARE YOU JUST | | < M B > * HAPPY TO SEE ME? | | * | | O==O==O * MOVES WEST (famous entertainer) | O======================================================================O =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The three leaders of The Lesser Mortals were gathered for their usual midday meal sharing food and drink round a table in their tent when a messenger puffed up and thrust a package of reports into A'Non's hands. A'Non shook his head as he studied the reports. Worry ploughed a furrow across his brow as he slapped the reports into Nym's hands. "Death and destruction! Read this and weep, Nym. What is to become of us?" Impassively Nym glanced through the pile of messages. "Hmmm," was all he said. "Is that all you can say? Our erstwhile allies, Creight Lersing and the Iconians, have cold bloodedly murdered two of our men, not to mention several others of the Duncansby Alliance, and your only comment is hmmm?" A'Non slammed his fist on the table causing their tankards of ale to jump in the air. "Now calm down A'Non," Ous attempted to soothe his friend. "Nym has more experience of warfare than either of us, remember." "In a game of chess one must often be prepared to sacrifice one or two pawns to pave the way to victory," said Nym, handing the reports back to A'Non. "Pawns?? They weren't pawns. They were living, breathing men like you or me, viciously slaughtered for no reason! This is treachery! Betrayal! Murder most foul!" "Nevertheless, to the likes of Lersing they were pawns. Warfare is just a game to him. I fear, for his sake, it is a game at which he has little skill. Brute force and treachery may triumph for a time but it usually proves vain in the end." Nym calmly took a large bite from a loaf of bread. A'Non was not to be calmed by Nym's nonchalance and strode off angrily muttering to himself. Ous belched. "You know, Nym, I sometimes fear for our friend's stability but there's no denying his heart's in the right place." He grabbed a leg of mutton and gnawed heartily at the meat. Nym nodded. "Yes. And when he calms down I have no doubt that A'Non will come up with some plan to show Lersing that his head is in the right place, too." Ous nodded agreement and made his best attempt at a grim smile to mirror Nym's as he chewed noisily at his meal. "And if that fails, we could always try moving to Glenanane..." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dominic, proprietor of the Hidalgo Trading Company, stood shaking in the tent of his apparently abducted daughter. "Those Red Moon bastards! They won't get away with this." "Boss --" "We'll fall upon them without warning, stabbing them where they lie, besotted by wine and whores. We'll --" "Boss, Boss -- hold up. The Lunars, they're . . . well, they're dead." "Dead?" "Well, mostly dead. That's what the leader of the Barbarian Horde says. So they couldn't have stolen Rosalinda. They were too busy dying. Besides, Valga is months away from here." "Oh. But there's still some of them alive, right? So it could have been them." "Well, yeah, _could_ have been. But we haven't even started looking for Rosa yet. She could be anywhere. Maybe she's stuck in the latrine tent. Been that nasty grippe going around. I sat on the pot myself most of last week." "Oh well, anything's possible. But speaking of lost causes, I surely hope that the holy Ecallaw llessur is with our boys this month. Many brave men are going to die in those fetid swamps this month, fighting for freedom, and for the safety of innocents. Let's all give them a moment of silence right now. Won't you join me please?" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= And those that live by the sword shall die by the sword. The destroyers of innocents will themselves be destroyed as the people rise up in vengance. The fruit of their loins will be twisted and stunted unto the seventh generation. The coins, still red with the blood of those unjustly killed, will return to the hands of the righteous, and peace will again reign on the land, until at long last Atlantis settles to her rest under the sea. All this will come to pass. The Prophet in the Wasteland =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- "To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem" Russell Wallace, Trinity College, Dublin rwallace@cs.tcd.ie Up