Comments:
A note: Well, with the mood I'm in now and since it doesn't matter anymore, I'm gonna have some fun. Twisted, sadistic, maniacle fun, but fun. This post need not be taken seriously in the storyline, which is pretty much moot now anyway. So, the Nameless One is sitting around chanting gibberish while Philo's men, when he suddenly get an odd twinle in his eye. Without warning, he punches Zappo in the nose, sending him sprawling. We laughs and begins to wade his way trough the crowd. Nobody pays much attention as he makes his way to the stairwell leading up to Philo's balcony. The guards mean to sop him at first, but realizing he's one of theirs, and a pretty loyal one in fact, they let him pass. He makes it up to the balcony and stands behind Philo and coughs. Philo turns around first in anger, but soon a smile comes over his face. "Ah, it's just you Frank. How was the fight for you?" "Oh, great fun," the Nameless One said. "Dammed Morrowind people can't fight anyway." They both have a good laugh as the crowd continues to shout. 'Frank' leans down and seems to itch his sock. "Just thought I'd come up to congradulate you myself," 'Frank' says and give Philo a good pat on the back. However, he had actually pulled a small throwing dagger from his ankle and has now placed it in Philo's back, causing him to drop Deristative Repower. 'Frank' grabs it and goes on his merry way, beheading people. Finding a secret door, he makes his way out of the castle and to the nearest small town. There, he begins to disembowel the citizentry for fun... Reminder: This post is not to be taken seriously.

01/28/98 18:12:50

Name: Alex

State: Amused and Torqued

Country: Strikehaven

Comments:
Alex is awakened from his meditative and restorative trance by a lot of petty bickering. He stands up, looks at his sword once again... and leaves his room to get some food. "Boy, meditation sure makes me hungry!" Alex thinks. While passing through the great hall, he notices a figure hanging on the wall... "Gungadin, just hanging around? You know, I should leave you up there for how you treated me earlier, but I'm feeling generous." Alex pulls out his spellbook, and proceeds to cast a telekinesi spell. All of the knives are removed, and Gungadin drops rather abruptly to the floor. Alex then proceeds to cast a few further spells to heal all of the injuries."You caught me in a good mood. It should take about 10 days at most to heal everything, in the mean time I suggest you don't do anything to further torq off Arinia. She seems to have a great aim with those knives of hers." Alex wanders into the kitchen and grabs something to eat. Afterwards he returns to his room to continue his meditatio , especially now that he's cast a few more spells.

Comments:
"Might I suggest that nobody post until JoAnn hears what's going on and gets the chance to attack this? Overall, I feel that a reset is both unavoidable and necessary. Oh, well. Such is life, eh? Either way, we'd all do best if we refrain from any action. JoAnn, when you read this, please do send me some mail with your questions. I'll try to explain it to the best of my ability..." Gungadin spits out some teeth and waves his stumps around wildly. "Uh... someone want to let me down from h re?"

01/28/98 06:56:32

Name: The Other Josh

Comments:
Alright, I may not have the almighty editing power of Poca here, but I can say one thing. EVERYONE KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF OR I'LL KNOCK IT OFF FOR YOU!! I'm serious. Take your pissing and moaning elsewhere (e-mail) and just deal with the story at hand. Everybody jumps to conclusions about what everybody else is gonna do and everything goes to hell. If we all don't knock it off soon this place is gonna get reset yet again and ruin everyone's stories. Now that I've had my word, good day. And, and sorry about the minor expletives.

01/28/98 06:22:36

Name: Zappo

City: The new Gaultheria coastline

State: Amused

Comments:
Zappo, noticing a large chunk of the continent silently fall into the sea, simply shrugs his shoulders. "Huh, must be el nino," he comments.

01/28/98 05:05:55

Name: Johan

Comments:
Watches the troops go...looks shocked for a few long minutes, then turns to Lucien. You do, of course, realize that we're in really big trouble now, right?

01/28/98 05:04:50

Name: Arina

Comments:
Comes back and nails Gungadin to the wall with about sixty throwing knives, then shifts to wolf form and bites off his arms and legs. Could you have been any more rude to Josh? And to think my character was going to hit on you. She kicks him n the teeth and vanishes--and not coming back until someone apologises.

01/28/98 04:59:20

Name: A very irate group of Morrowind Residents

State: Ticked.

Comments:
The entire Morrowind contingent, with all the associated troops and characters, goes back home and kicks Philo out, leaving him dazed and confused, with his entire army, on the wastes-Gaultheria border. The entire country then proceeds to sink into th sea, to remain there until a certain person gets over themself and open s their eyes.

01/28/98 04:27:29

Name: The aforementioned Josh Sholes

State: Confused, and half-dead from codiene cough syrup.

Comments:
Okay. I've posted quite a bit in the past few hours, true. But are you aware that Johan is NOT Josh Sholes, but in fact John Raymond? Not to mention that Arina is Erina Olson.
Now then, also according to the rules I'm allowed to post each character once. Each of the scattered groups of my army pretty much has to be considered a character for this to work. And my other characters (Mastermind and Loranar) didn't post twice...th re were four postings since my last posts. Running though, just to make sure I didn't double post with one character...I was reasonably sure I was staying within the letter of the law.
Loranar...
Then Mastermind...
Then a logical continuation of Mastermind's post, in a different post for clarity.(the letter to Philo)
Then the army.
Then John posted from my computer as usual.
Then the army again.
Please do try to remember that I'm posting for the entire Morrowind army (or the remnants thereof), and therefore I'll be scattering events that happened simultaneously or nearly so in the same day. Do you have a specific incident you want to complain ab ut? Is there a flaw in my reasoning? The only quibble I can see is the letter immediately following Mastermind's little speech.

01/28/98 04:26:57

Name: Dark Relm	My URL: Visit Me
My Email: Email Me	City: New Thalos
State: Ghanchet	Country: Pangaea

Comments:
A monk with a shrowded past, Dark Relm looks for a new beginning and an escape from the past that has haunted him for 10 years. A mage well-taught in the teachings of all magics, he uses his powers for good and evil.

01/28/98 04:03:21

Name: Question, (Answer as an OOC to your character.)

Comments:
I wouldn't ask this as a post if I didn't think it was important. As it stands there's about 8,000 troops defending Gaultheria, and we're about to be attacked by whole lot more than that. If at any point it would be deemed necessary, would Alex casting th Gate spell be considered a form of teleporting? I mean, he isn't going anywhere, he's just bringing a real big critter from elsewhere. If enough people view this as a form of teleportation, I won't do it. Again, it will only be done if it seems necessary (I doubt that it will. Historically, Hannibal was outnumbered 4:1 (??? I may be wrong...) at the battle of Cannae, and when it was over, he defeated 8 Roman Legions with minimal losses. Cavalry, cavalry, cavalry...)

01/28/98 03:36:47

Name: Voice of Reason

Comments:
It has become apparent that SOMEONE hasn't been following the rules of posting that our good Lady Poca has set forth. It distinctly says that you are NOT to post more than once in a row. However, it appears that someone is intent on ignoring this rule. Should it continue, appropriate actions WILL be taken. I'm sure that you all know who I mean, and for those who don't, his initials are JOSH SHOLES. Let this be a warning...

01/28/98 02:45:17

City: Near Stormwind

State: Suprising...

Comments:
During the hours after twilight, with most of Philo's army asleep in their tents, a glimmer is seen in the rocks...as a few men are sent to investigate, a volley of arrows with flaming rags tied to them flies over their heads, impacting several tents a d piles of supplies...a second volley follows that one, and a third aimed at the men distracts pursuit for a short time as the group of two dozen aging veteran archers takes off down the mountain...they know they aren't going to survive, but they hope the gave a bit better than they're going to get. None of them survive the pursuit that follows, but while many of the awake guards are chasing them, a second group duplicates the stunt...and a third...and finally a fourth...burning a respectable quantity of both men and, more importantly, food stores...Philo's camp is by then in a pretty good state of uproar, insomnia, and fear, and none of the troops get much sleep that night...

01/28/98 02:38:28

Name: Johan

Comments:
I still say we need to get a group into Stormwind--and we need to do it BEFORE Philo moves. If we can take him down...
So who's going?

01/28/98 02:21:49

Name: More Morrowind Forces

Comments:
A company of a hundred cavalry rides out of Gaultheria, headed west. They carry signed contracts from Sir Mastermind, and they are searching for any mercenaries within a day's march of Gaultheria Castle.
Another two groups, of eight paladins each, ead for the capital of Silverwynd, to request the assistance of THEIR army...

01/28/98 02:18:40

Name: Stormwind Keep...

Comments:
Hey, what's that?
It looks like a pigeon or som'pin'.
Well, shoot it! I'm starved! An arrow flies, and a pigeon falls...the two of Philo's troops find a letter in a capsule on it's leg, addressed to Philo. They get it to him...

My dearest Lord Philo,
How are you enjoying my hospitality? I'm sorry I wasn't there to properly welcome you, but I'm sure you'd love to sample Gaultheria's hospitality next. I would advise asking first this time, though. Are your unseasoned troops enjoying the air at 14 000 feet altitude? I admit it does take some getting used to, but I'm sure you thought of that before you left your poor soldiers out freezing and wheezing in their camps. But no matter. What should be concerning you is how much you've lost, and how li tle you've gained. I'm sure that your almighty brain can tell that my token defenses took out quite a few more of your troops than there were of them. I'm also sure you know that any fields within a day of any of your forces were already burned to the g ound...Harvest being pretty much over anyway, it doesn't hurt the folks much, but to your hungry troops away from home and having to do all this fighting at high altitudes they're ill-prepared for...I'm frankly concerned for their welfare. As a matter of fact, I'm so concerned I make this offer: You lay down your weapons and remove yourselves from my home, and I let you leave. That's it. Simple, easy, and painless. The alternative is not so. I do hope you like my frigid mountain air and my spartan qu rters, Lord, I really do. Until we meet again.
Cordially,
Lord Sir Joshua Meholick, Mastermind.

01/28/98 02:12:39

Name: Stormwind Keep...

Comments:
Hey, what's that?
It looks like a pigeon or som'pin'.
Well, shoot it! I'm starved! An arrow flies, and a pigeon falls...the two of Philo's troops find a letter in a capsule on it's leg, addressed to Philo. They get it to him...

My dearest Lord Philo,

01/28/98 02:10:27

Name: The other narrator

Comments:
Yeah! 8,000 capable of fighting, 5,000 wounded enough that they weren't counted. I AM having a nice day. =)

01/28/98 02:08:07

Name: Sir Mastermind

State: Radiating confidence...

Comments:
The Paladin stands atop a tower of Gaultheria, Loranar and Daniel at his sides. The troops see him, and fall silent shortly. He clears his throat, and shouts stridently. Today, I have tidings that will worry you. But they should also grant hope You've won a great fight, my comrades-at-arms. You took on a superior army, and came away the victors, quite possibly saving Gaultheria in the process.
He pauses. But, as you all already know, that wasn't the main branch of the army. Ther 's twice as many as you defeated still out there. And they've taken Stormwind Keep.

A hush falls over the crowd, and the morale drops almost perceptibly...but Mastermind picks back up again.

That isn't a concern. He's not killed an of your leaders. We're here. Many of your comrades died in his assualt, which was carried out by cowardly means. But they took six for every one of them, and now Philo's army is now only half of it's former size. Consider that it began almost quadrup e our size.

Further, you know as well as I do, that this will not help him. Your comrades set fire to the stores of food in the fortresses before letting Philo have it. Your wives will not give his soldiers food or shelter, and they'll kill tho e who try to take that most evil "spoil of war". Your husbands will not till the land for them, and will take up their own swords to cut his supply lines at the proper time. Your children and elders will not sit idly by--everyone old enough to carry a b ade will fight to defend their homes--YOUR homes...and everyone too old to fight will succor the wounded and pass messages to our fighting men in the hills. We aren't defeated yet, not by a long shot. Lightfall still stands. Kalinka still stands. Dawn right still stands. Oh, they'll fall, but only if Philo's a fool. And then he'll be all the weaker. And the fleet still roams the high seas--he's not getting any more outside help. We've still the dragons, and their power. And you can no doubt feel t e very power from the soil here--The Lady Poca and her friends, and the people of this land, have infused the very ground with a hatred and pity for evil to rival yours.

You all knew the risks when you signed up, and it breaks my heart to see your ranks so thin...but you're here because you saw the need to help rid the world of evil in its most violent forms. And you're succeeding. By the time that fool Philo gets here, we'll be so dug in that he'll need four times his number to crack our lines.< r>
He grins ferally. And he doesn't have them. And he can't get them. So I guess that puts him in a bind, anyway. Now, then, go to it. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and food, and keep yourselves strong for the coming fight. And fight fo the Glory of the Most High!

The troops immediately respond with a great shout: For His glory! For His glory!...

Mastermind grins as the troops resume work on the defenses with an even greater fervor...even while taking better car of themselves and their wounded. He then goes to his tent out with the troops and writes a letter, and sends out a carrier pigeon.

01/28/98 01:58:46

Name: Narrator

Comments:
The narrator quickly points out that only 8000 troops remain, not 14000. Thank you, and have a nice day! :)

01/28/98 01:48:40

Name: Sir Loranar and the remnants of the Morrowind regular army...

State: breathless

Comments:
He rides up to Gaultheria atop his dragon, the tattered remnants of his forces following...intact units of the remaining divisions have united under his banner, and now the remaining forces array themselves...it's a grim sight. Although the attack on aultheria has been crushed, the losses were horrid. While most of the heavy weapons and cavalry are still intact, the ranks of foot soldiers have been decimated...as the stragglers and wounded pour in, it's apparent that there are actually slightly less han fourteen thousand left, with more than five thousand of them wounded in some way.
Several of the mages move among the troops and heal what they can...the strongest and most able-bodied men of the troops and any willing civilians, including a trick e of Morrowind refugees, begin to dig and build extensive fortifications around the castle, in concentric circles...all thought of subtlety is abandoned, as an area for almost three leagues around Gaultheria is turned into a layered maze of bunkers, trenc es, and boobytraps, magical or not... As the troops rest and heal, they join the work...when they tire, they keep on until they can't go any longer...
The unspoken thought among the men and leaders alike is for the militia...if they can keep Philo con erned enough to hold fast for a time, there's still a slim hope. If not...

Meanwhile, dragons have been trickling in...until the full thirty dragonriders are present at Gaultheria--a few of the dragons are ones that Mastermind and Loranar don't kn w, though...and that worries them even more.

01/28/98 01:25:27

Name: The Nameless One

Comments:
He glowers under his hood as he stands amongst the groups in the courtyard. "Melenkurion..." he mutters under his breath as the men begin to chant Philo's name. Whilst he had no choice other than to go along with the invasion, he made sure not to cause ny of the Morrowind troops any more pain in death than possible. If it had been possible, he would have let them go, but aside from getting himself killed by his own 'comrades' it would have only served to let someone else kill the soldier instead. His ind wanders back to the current scene... He begins getting a few odd stares from those around him for his silence, he begins to shout nonsense. "Golden flatulence monkey mucus! Girders n hot saucy buckets! Turkey melt on rye!" Frankly, through the di no one can hear his exact words and it sounds enough like "Philo!" for the people around him to leave him alone. During a particularly loud cheer, an over zealous soldier manages to elbow him in the gut, at which point his voice cracks momentarily. How ver, within the stutter he recognizes the low sound of his own voice emerging. He looks at Zappo under his hood, wondering...

01/28/98 00:33:41

Name: Kenshiro

City: Gautheria Castle

State: distraction

Comments:
Suddenly, with an audible gasp, the small monk wakes from the strange and unexpected trance that came upon him while Poca was attempting to discuss strategy. He looks about him in with confusion at first, giving way to alarm. He bolts from the room w th astonishing speed and is in the Lady's chambers within seconds. Ignoring all else, he runs to her side and checks her pulse, her breathing, and the state of her wounds. Reassured that she has suffered no further damage, though her body is completely xhausted, he relaxes slightly and proceeds to change her bandages with great care. Making sure that she is arranged comfortably and sleeping more or less peacefully, he searches the castle until he finds Lucien. Upon finding him, he politely but insiste tly draws him aside for private conference. "First, allow me to offer my apologies for my lapse earlier. My lack of attention was unforgiveable." He bows deeply with sincere regret. "Please convey these sincerest apologies to the Lady. I h pe that one day, i will be able to explain to her my... distraction. I also must tell you that she is sleeping now in her rooms. You MUST let her rest. She must perform no taxing tasks, mental or physical, for at least two days. If the situation becom s truly desperate, she may take this." He reaches into his bag and removes a vial of thick liquid and hands it to Lucien. "She must never take more than five drops at one time, or ten within one day. It will give her temporary strength and wakef lness, but after it wears off, she will sleep very deeply for at least a full day - maybe two. Use it only as a last resort. Tell her that i would be with her if i could, but right now i must attend... other matters. I will return, if and when i am abl . It may be long before i see any of you again. Care for the Lady - she needs help and support now - and especially rest. Remember - she MUST NOT be disturbed!" With this statement, he gathers his few belongings and walks out the front of the castl . As he is leaving, he bumps into (not literally) the healer who is finally arriving from the village. The two pause in a brief but intense conversation about the Lady's condition, which would make no sense to anyone overhearing who did not have extensi e knowledge of medicine, anatomy, and herbalism. After this, Kenshiro sets off at a fast trot towards the west - his small figure can be seen maintaining a constant pace until it diisappears below the horizon.

01/28/98 00:10:20

Name: Zappo

City: Stormwind Keep

Country: Morrowind

Comments:
Zappo can still feel the adrenaline flowing through his veins. Luckily for him, the battle wasn't entirely over when Lord Philo's group had arrived, and he was still able to ferrot out small groups of Paladins and soldiers in the mountain. It had bee a glorious victory for Lord Philo, and the fighting gave him a chance to rid the world of a few more of Sir Mastermind's forces. His only regret is that he can't see the look on Sir Mastermind's face when he's informed of the loss of his country. He qu ckly puts such thoughts aside, and picks up the chant around him, "Lord Philo! Lord Philo!..."