The Phoenix War: Chapter V

[Destructionator XV]

The approaching primates were of no concern to the aging A'millian who set his phaser on wide-beam maximum stun and fired.

"Surely, we all can discuss this, like civilized men?"

[Destructionator XV]

Captian's log, ASV Argo, stardate 15435.4. Since we can safely move probes through the disturbance, we have decided to take the ship through the disturbance for further investigation, We went through safely, and are beginning full scans.

"Captian, the disturbance is stable, however we have detected a massive decrease in energy inside it. The loss is consistant with the energy needed to transport a ship of this size."

"Scan for ships or nearby planets."

"No starships in sensor range. The nearest planet is 5.2 lightyears away; the planet PWE-306, which was an industruial, indepedent world we scanned on our side of the disturbance."

"Helm, set a course for PWE-306, warp 8. Engage."

"Course plotted and laid in, sir."

****

"Now approaching planet PWE-306."

"Standard orbit, begin scans of the surface."

"We're scanning a primitive society. A population of only millions, mostly concentrated on one continent. No signs of industrialization; this is quite different then the PWE-306 we scanned on the other side."

"Send a cloaked recon droid to the surface. I want to know what is going on in the population centres."

"Yes, sir."

[Destructionator XV]

Captian's log, ASV Argo, stardate 15435.8. We have moved to investigate the nearest planet to the disturbance, PWE-306, and found it to be a primitive society, very different than the society on the other side. We have dispatched a ground probe to learn more.

"2 way control link established."

The probe's sensor data is displayed on the main screen and its sound is played through the ship speakers. It is being controlled by an officer on the bridge. It is cloaked, so the locals will never know it was there.

"Nothing remarkable, captian. This simply looks like a primitive society."

"Move in closer to that large building."

"The writing on the wall looks like ancient A'millian!"

"Go inside."

Inside, there is a huge statue of a humanoid male, with water flowing all around it.

"That statue is of Lord Adam with a goatee! Why wou-"

"Incoming starship! Bearing 143 mark 002, 25 lightyears, closing at warp 8."

"It is an A'millian design; Falcon-class destroyer, maintaing speed. She seems to be in no rush."

"What would a light destroyer be doing this far out on her own?"

"Maybe this is not so far out, afterall, we did just see a statue of an A'millian monarch."

"Move to intercept."

***

"Captian! We are scanning 81 A'millian lifesigns on that ship."

"A'millians! Are you certain?"

"Yes sir, no doubt."

"They are hailing us."

"On screen."

"This is Captian Roland Barr of the Imperial A'millian Warship Lightbringer. Identify yourself."

"I am Captian Harrison of the science vessel Argo."

"What are you doing here? To what fleet do you belong?"

"Our assignment was to investigate the locals of this world, from the Imperial Science Ministry. Why are you here?"

"It is tax collection time, of course. How long have you been out? Of what port?"

"8 Sectons, from Lander III. Surely you received the order to leave this planet alone while we finish our investigation?"

"We received no such order. We'll have to clear it. In the mean time, I want to station one of my officers and a man aboard your ship."

"Permission granted, Captian Barr. Now, we would like to get back to our mission."

"Of course. Out."

"Channel closed."

"Damn. This is strange."

"Imperial Warships. Biological A'millians. Statues of them on a primitive planet. This does not look pretty, and now two of them will be on this ship."

"Don't jump to conclusions. We don't have the full story, and having an officer here should prove to be quite helpful. In the meantime, lets play along with our 'mission'. Set a course back for PWE-306."

[Ra]

It had been days since the Fearless made her last blind jump. The Star Destroyer was now wandering in deep space, alone and lost. Lieutenant Celtru leaned over her paper charts, exhausted. Her eyes were blood red, and her hair was messed up. Her uniform tunic was even hanging open. But she didn't care.

"Were the hell are we?" another officer asked.

"Shit if I know, Ensign," came Celtru's moaned reply. "Until I get my damn nav sensors back, and my coffee, and a hot shower, we're lost."

The younger officer rubbed his eyes, and yawned loudly. He was literally knocked out of the way by a weary Captain Mesoth, who muttered curses under his breath as he strode to the front of the bridge.

"Celtru!" he grunted.

"Right here, Captain," Celtru sighed.

"The repair crews are a bunch of fucking asshats. They couldn't fix the damned sensor array if I sicked an interrogation droid on them."

"Can't fix the array when it's been blown off the ship, sir," Celtru griped. "And the fucking ordinance people won't stow an extra sensor array aboard. I mean, the damn government will put a fucking prefab army base on the damn shit-bucket Imperator-class, but won't put a spare sensor array aboard a top of the line cruiser! What the fuck, man?"

Mesoth didn't answer. He was too tired to care. He then wiped his face, and said, "Any contacts?"

"Not even space dust this far out."

"Launch some probe droids. I mean, lots of the little fuckers. If that's the only way we can get our bearings, then that's what we'll do."

"Long range comms-"

"Fuck the long-range comms! If they have to deliver paper messages, then at least we'll know where we are! Do it!"

Celtru giggled. "Aye, aye, sir!"

Moments later, about a thousand Probe Droids departed from the Fearless' hangar bay.

[Ra]

Major Grace stepped rather intentionally on one of the stunned cultists as she raced over to the woman lying on the rock alter, generating a grunt from the man. She then looked over the woman's injuries, and grimaced.

"I need a damn medic! This girl's been hurt pretty bad."

Galadriel, while no medic, walked over, and helped Major Grace in removing the woman from the alter.

"What the fuck is this?" Ra muttered. He then looked down at one of the cultists, whose stun was wearing off. As he looked up at the Goa'uld, he flashed his eyes menacingly. The man yelped in fear, and bowed down. Ra smirked ever so slightly at being recognized as a god once more.

"Your god commands you to get up!" Ra said in his Goa'uldish voice.

The man rose, keeping his head low.

"What are you doing here?"

"S-s-sacrificing to Sdenna, my lord," he studdered.

"Why?"

"Please do not take offense, but Sdenna is the most powerful of the gods, is he not?"

"No," Ra spat. "I am! And my commandment is that you will never sacrifice a girl to any god. There are far better uses for them."

Galadriel, using the Force, slapped Ra as hard as she could without knocking his head off. He stumbled, and threw the Elf a look.

"Geez, this dude sure knows how to handle primitive cultures," Grace muttered, as she got out another cigar. She then got out her lighter. It wouldn't light.

Grace sighed, and looked over at Galadriel, who was comforting the 'sacrifice'. "Frack me... you gotta light ma'am?"

Galadriel raised an eyebrow. Just then, Destructionator XIII got out his phaser, and toned it down, firing at the cigar. It lit up happily.

"Thanks, man! This android comes in handy," Grace smirked. "Hey, let's get her back to the ship or something."

"That would be the best course of action," the android agreed.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

"Thanks, man! This android comes in handy," Grace smirked. "Hey, let's get her back to the ship or something."

"That would be the best course of action," the android agreed.

While they're having the conversation, one of the Stormtroopers approaches Darth Kreshna and speaks in low tone. The Sith Inquisitor listens for a moment, then his face becomes very concerned.

He then concentrates with the Force, trying to confirm what he has been told about. After some moments, his eyes open wide while his face betrays signs of worry. Kreshna then speaks to other leaders, "gentlemen, I think bringing her to the ship won't be an easy task."

"What do you mean?" Galadriel asks.

"The ship is not there." Kreshna turns to Lord Adam, "better check with your tri-corder."

Lord Adam then orders one of his Ensigns to confirm. After punching several buttons, the Ensign confirms panickly, "Sir! We are not on this planet anymore!"

"What are you talking about!" Ra barks, "we're in still the forest on the same planet!"

"No," Darth Kreshna interjects, "the tricorder was right. The Force also told me that we are, somehow, are not on the place we believe to be. I'm not sure why or how, but there's simply something wrong with this place."

Now, as the party has found the Chieftain's daughter so finding her is not a concern anymore, they slowly realizes the peculiarity of the surrounding forest. It is not the trees, which shapes and formation betrays an eerie impression that they are menacingly alive. It is not the darkness of the night, which human's superstition tend to associate with horror and death. It is not even the ambient noises made by the indigenous creatures of the nights, which oddly sounds like a blasphemeous funeral dirge.

It is an unknown, unexplainable sense of peculiarity that crawls into the their deepest fear.

The silence is suddenly broken by a Stormtrooper who is howling and screaming while firing blindly at his comrades. A Stormtrooper falls after being hit on the chest, while an A'millan Ensign is being grazed on the shoulder.

Darth Kreshna quickly draws his lightsaber and deflects the remaining blaster bolts while the party takes cover. Using the Force, he then snatches the blaster out of the Stormtrooper's hand. Instead of retreating, the Stormtrooper goes berserk and assaults the Sith Inquisitor with his commando knife. He is no match for the Sith, though, as soon he is getting knocked down and subdued. The terrified Stormtrooper, though, is still struggling while his comrades try to restraint him. An A'millan Medic suddenly rushes in and opens the Stormtrooper's helmet to inject sedatives to his neck.

The Stormtrooper's face betrays the signs of considerable fear and insanity as his mouth mutters strange words in unknown, peculiar, blasphemeous language.

"Ia! Iaa!! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Sdenna Archmagus wgah'nagl fhtagn!"

And before the Medic has any chance to inject the sedative, the Stormtrooper dies.




OOC: think about a twisted version of Alice in Wonderland, only this time the border between dimensions is not clearly defined. And I also wonder what kind of Lovecraftian horror Dark Silver is preparing for us.

[Ra]

"Uh, what was that?" Ra asked.

"Frack if I know," Grace commented.

Out of knowhere, a bolt of some kind streaked toward Galadriel. She saw it, and held up her hand, causing the magical orb to dissipate.

"Eba nekorb rednusa, S'citereh!" shouted a voice.

The Alliance leaders began to curl up in pain, looking up to see a dark figure standing menacingly in the woods. He was a hideous creature, seemingly humanoid in appearance, but with strange tentacles coming from his bluish head. He wore simple brown robes, glared at them mockingly.

Galadriel held up her hands. The ring of Nenya glittered brightly.

She then suddenly boomed in her Elvish tongue, "Lin rhach Im caro gwedhi!"

The creature squealed in an unnatural, hideous tone that seemed to echo inside each person's head. He then turned and fled.

"What the fuck?" Ra muttered, still in pain from the creature's spell.

"A servant of the Archmage," Amiwen said.

"He will return. And return quickly," Galadriel said. "Come, we must take the young maiden, and leave this place!"

[Destructionator XV]

The Lord and Lady of the A'millians realized that they were in a situation where their technical abilities would not be their greatest asset.

They put away their phasers, undo the protective strap around their swords, and begin to focus their magical powers.

"Yes, staying here is not a good idea," the Lord says as he reaches out with his magical sense, "I suggest we go this way."

"I sense a great evil in that direction."

"In all my yahren of dealing with such threats, getting to the heart of the corruption is the answer. Make your decision; we must move quickly!"

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

"I sense a great evil in that direction."

"In all my yahren of dealing with such threats, getting to the heart of the corruption is the answer. Make your decision; we must move quickly!"

Meanwhile, the Stormtrooper squad have finished burying the corpse of their fallen comrade. The burial ceremony is short, yet with honor, as TF-381 was innocent for his berserking rage. The commander hands out the dog tag to Darth Kreshna, as he is the most senior officer present. The Sith Inquisitor pockets the identification tag with respecting gesture, then gives the tomb his salute.

Darth Kreshna then turns to Galadriel and inquiries, "milady, I trust thy wise judgement concerning our next move. Shall we agree with the respected A'millan Lord, or shall we encamp and wait until sunrise?"

[Ra]

OOC: We stood there long enough to bury a Stormy? Sheeaaat.
===================

"No, we will leave at once," the Elf answered.

The group ran on, leaving the altar and cultists behind. The village leader's daughter had been healed enough by Amiwen and Galadriel to walk on her own, and did so, keeping near Galadriel.

"Thank you for finding me in time," she said quietly. Her voice was still heavy with fright.

"Think nothing of it, friend," Galadriel smiled. "Who were those men that took you?"

"Cultists," she answered. "There are... things in the woods. We call them Elders. The cultists worship them, and kidnap people for their sacrifices. Many of them have gone completely insane. And their numbers are growing.

She then sighed, and continued, "The Elders have long terrorized us. That creature that attacked us, it is one of the ancient spirits of the forest. No man dares to confront them, let alone try to comprehend them, for such an attempt will drive a man insane. Legends say they are here to do the Elders' bidding, although what purpose that is, no man dares to know..."

Galadriel looked curious.

"We are enemies of the Elders," Amiwen reassured.

"How can any mortal resist their power?" she said solemnly.

"Neither Galadriel or myself are mortals," Amiwen chimed. "But even mortals have been able to resist their power, given enough effort. What is your name?"

"Mela," she answered.

"We will take you back to your parents, Mela," Galadriel said.

"And find a way off this rock," Ra muttered.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

OOC: We stood there long enough to bury a Stormy? Sheeaaat.
===================

I'll think of some ret-cons. I guess there were plenty of time after the Stormy fell dead and before the squid-faced creature showed up. Remember one of A'millan Ensigns got grazed on the shoulder, maybe the A'millans would have treated him while the Stormies burying their comrade?

"Mela," she answered.

"We will take you back to your parents, Mela," Galadriel said.

"And find a way off this rock," Ra muttered.

"Not that easy", Darth Kreshna interjects. Signs of worriness are still shown on his face, "we are not on the place we believe we are, remember? How will we return to the village, let alone returning to the ship?"

Everyone become silenced. Indeed, they are still in the forest, but in which dimension? Or to borrow a more sophisticated terms, in which plane of existence? The forest looks the same, but no matter how unbelievable it seems; they're not on the same place anymore. The fact that the Aurora is not in orbit anymore is not because the ship has left. No, it is because the party is somewhere else.

And the fact is confirmed further by both Imperial GPS and the A'millan Tri-corder. The village, for instance, is not appeared anymore in the Imperial portable long-range sensor. In fact, the said sensor perfectly shows a great lake on the spot which was originally the village. The geographical landscape is simply not the same anymore.

But the more horrible thing is; none of the party realized until a Stormtrooper came up with the problem. The more horrible thing is that it looks like the very same forest they are in before subduing the mysterious cultists. Nobody knows when or where exactly they were 'transported' to this new 'dimension'.


And when the Chieftain's daughter is aware of Darth Kreshna's explanations, she starts to cry, "oh no! This is what we got for harming the cultists. We are not in the place we believe we are anymore. We have angered the Elders, and now we have been 'moved on'. There's no way we could go back. We'll be trapped in this forest for eternity!"

She continues to sob until the party notices a villager approaching them. The Alliance leaders starts hailing the person, but he just passes through, as if completely oblivious to the party.

And, when the villager is getting closer, then the party notices something peculiar about the villager, as if he has some eerie, intangible quality in his physical form. In fact, it seems the walking villager, in some blasphemeous way, is not opaque at all.

The villager seems to notice the stone altar. In a peculiar way, it seems that the altar is the only object seen by the ghastly villager. He then mourns over the altar, calling the name 'Mela' repeatedly, prays for a moment, then retreats and heading back to the direction which is supposed to be the village.

The party is, of course, baffled by the strange act of the villager; for he is completely oblivious to the people who's there. Darth Kreshna even approaches the person, trying to greet him, but it is like he doesn't notice the Sith Inquisitor at all.

But the ultimate shock comes when the villager just walk passing through one of the Stormtroopers. The commander, while is still on the baffled state, tries to confirm his worst fear and grabs the villager's arm, but his hand too, merely passes through the arm as if they are intangible to each other. They can only watch helplessly when the villager merely walks through a giant tree and appears again at the other side. Even the villager is intangible to the trees.

"What was THAT?" Darth Kreshna asks while trying to recover from his shock, "a ghost??"

"No", said Mela, the Chieftain's daughter amidst her sobbing. She then wishpered with a horrendous tone, "we are the ghost."

















OOC: Like I said, folks, think Alice in Wonderland but with no clear boundaries between dimensions. I also remember reading something about Randolph Carter's adventure, where IIRC he travelled through time by simply going into a forest; with NO visible change of the surrounding, no tangible gates

[Ra]

"Bah, why don't we follow the villager, or activate the emergency transponder?" Ra muttered. "This fucking sucks."

"Yeah, we should follow the fracking villager," Grace said, taking a puff of her cigar.

Leia rolled her eyes. "Will SOMEBODY do something besides sitting on their ass?"

"If you would all be quiet," Amiwen boomed, "I could try and remember that phase-shifting spell. Damn it, even my memory is getting bad these days. Of course, if that doesn't work, we also have the plane-shifting spell. But it's hard to pull off demensional portals like that, and god knows what lies behind them."

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

OOC: come on, Jon. Play along. This place is supposed to be eerie, isn't it?

"Bah, why don't we follow the villager, or activate the emergency transponder?" Ra muttered. "This fucking sucks."

"Um, so much for that idea.... " Darth Kreshna points out as the villager starts disappearing.

"If you would all be quiet," Amiwen boomed, "I could try and remember that phase-shifting spell. Damn it, even my memory is getting bad these days. Of course, if that doesn't work, we also have the plane-shifting spell. But it's hard to pull off demensional portals like that, and god knows what lies behind them."

"I'm not sure," Darth Kreshna says, "I ain't no superstitious person but... I just don't feel right. The Force... it is all wrong here. And my Phoenix side... it is... I don't know, it feels burn since we arrived on this place and now it starts getting uncomfortable." Everyone now notices that the Sith Inquisitor is sweating despite the cool air of the night.


Suddenly a Stormtrooper approaches, "Sir, we got hailing call from Aurora!"

"Answer them!" Darth Kreshna is getting excited, "if they can contact us, then there's hope anyway. Probably all of this merely an illusion and maybe they can pinpoint our location and drop a shuttle to pick us up."

"Sir, we have replied the radio call repeatedly but it seems they can't hear us back. And... Well, the hailing is sure from Aurora. I mean, the designation is right but... maybe you should listen yourself"

The Stormtroopers turns on the speakerphone so everybody can listen. But instead of getting relieved, the party feels a chill running down the spine as they listen to the radio calling.

Not because the thing being said. In fact, the radio call is perfectly in Basic Language understood by everyone. The designations are, after all, correct, as the callsign for Aurora is 'Home' and the away team is 'Odyssey'.

But because of the voice itself.

An unnatural voice that does not sound like Aurora communication officer at all. A deep, booming, peculiarly gelatinous voice that sounds like coming from the deepest hell itself.

"Home calling Odyssey.... Home calling Odyssey... can you hear us...."



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Meanwhile, aboard the Aurora.....

A scan officer is getting anxious; the away team has been disappearing from their sensors since few hours ago, and the comm. officer hasn't got any replies either. The sleek ship now start skimming the surface based on the party's last coordinates, sweeping the forest with its powerful sensors.

"No sign of them."

"Damn, try to hail them again."

The communication officer nods and tries to hail again, ""Home calling Odyssey. Home calling Odyssey. Can you hear us?"

[Destructionator XV]

"Gentlemen, I would much prefer a straight fight to all this sitting around. In that direction," he points towards the lake where the village should be, "I can sense a power. Whatever vile corruption which brought us to this realm is in that direction. Once we pulverize it, we can surely leave behind this wretched place. Amiwen, your powers are great, but portals of that kind are difficult to control, for anyone. Destroying the source of this shall be safer and of a more permanent nature. If you do bring us back, what is to stop them from simply grabbing us again? We must attack."

[Destructionator XV]

The Argo...

Captian's log, supplemental. We just encountered an A'millian destroyer, crewed entirely by biological A'millians - a nearly extinct species in our universe. After a close call with thier captian's questions, we were allowed to continue our exploration, with two of thier men brought aboard.


The transporter pad swirls with light, and moments later two men appear, and snap to a salute.

"Captian Harrison, sir. Lieutanant Ulteer, and Corporal Sir Ericson of the Lightbringer reporting."

"Welcome aboard, gentlemen. We have prepared quarters for you."

"Actually, we should go right to the bridge and get underway."

"This way, gentlemen."

***

"Standard orbit established around PWE-306."

"Sir," the A'millian lieuteanent addresses Captian Harrison, "what is so interesting about this planet to warrant a starship to watch it?"

"The Ministry thinks there is something of historic interest to be dug up here. Our job is to find out the details."

Lt. Ulteer merely raises an eyebrow.

[Ra]

The Maiar then took up her staff.

"Agreed," she answered.

Thus, the group made their way on. Ra looked over to Galadriel, and posed a question.

"So, I'm still wondering how they did this? A transporter mixed with their damned interphasing tech?"

"Perhaps," Galadriel said, not caring to debate technology. "There is another possibility."

The cryticness of Galadriel's answer got Ra worried.

"And what is that, Galadriel?"

"Though I have not seen everything clearly as of yet, there is the distinct possibility that we are inside the Guardian nexus."

Major Grace's blood went cold.

"Oh my gods," she muttered. This entire trip was getting so strange that even she was frightened.

[Dark Silver]

In the "space" between Dimensional Realities, in that ever turbulent flux between the weavings of Reality, The Archmage sat upon his cold throne, the dull metal seeming to absorb any energy that neared it, light, or heat.

The glowing form of what was once Khardem groveled before the dark robed figure, the once beautiful Miar form was a pathetic shell of it's former self, yet it was silenced with a raising of the hand.

It was true he had killed Khardem, back on the Allience's battlestation, but so great was his power, he tore the Soul from the depths of the NetherRealm, and crafted it a new Miar form.

He did, after all, desire to teach his former associate the true meanings of pain. Here, within the Tapestry, his rule was nearly supreme, only a handful of others would be able to challenge he, and fortunetly for him, all of them were busy with thier own pursuits.

"Khardem...you are a fool. I agreed to assist your people, as long as they served me, I would give them aid in the search for the Pheonix Entity, as long as it was udnerstood, the Pheonix belonged to me when it was all done. "

The Miar-form bowed his head, cowed by the power steadily rolling off the Exemplar's form.

"But...m'lord Steele, I thought....we thought you wanted the same as we!"

"FOOL! I do not wish to see the Pheonix destroyed! It's power is as great as my own, greater perhaps! It requires a proper host in order to realieze it's full power!" Khardem's miar form twisted in anguish as energy crackled from the ground, into the body, slowly turning the glowing form into a sickened black.

"I spare you from Death...Khardem...for a simple reason. I have associates who require a emissary...you, shall be that emissary. I know your entire species is telepathically linked, so they hear and feel all I do to you. You serve me, when I call. You aid me in the search for the Pheonix...and you canhave a those few paltry worlds...."

Khardem disappeared from before the Archmage, even as he raised a hand, opening a viewing portal. The scene appearing upon it, was upon the dimensional nexus point the Allience Leaders were upon, the home of the Mindflayers and the Great Old Ones.

"These pests are getting annoying...they keep me from my goal." he said slowly, "Smaug, I have business for you..." The voice echoed through the Realities, and into even the dimensional Nexus, clearly vocal to even the party leaders, as in the distance, the roar of a great dragon followed.

Within the forests, hundreds of yellowish eyes appeared surronding the party, keeping to the shadows. Fading sunlight flashed upon one of the creatures - small it was, it's yellow flesh was like old leather, pulled tight over oddly shaped body, it's eyes were beedy and vile, and small mandibles clacked from it's mouth, It's lower half wasn't human, but instead, resembled that of a large spider.

A stormtrooper raised it's blaster rifle to put a bolt into it's head, when a massive wooden stake smashed through the armor, likeit was so much paper, and impaled the trooper through the chest.

The chattering, clicking language of the Spider Gnomes filled the clearing, as they began to move towards the group.

[Ra]

Mela backed away from the strange creatures, fading into the rear of the group as she watched the creatures in terror. Combined with the roar of the distant dragon, no one could help but feel terrified, save the immortals of the group, who, always above all odds, kept confident and level-headed about things.

"What are these things?"

"Hideous blends of gnome and spider, an product of the Archmage's foul craft," Galadriel said.

"Spider-Gnomes!" Mela cried. "I thought they were a myth! Gods help us if they have brought a Drider as well!"

Ra grunted, "Do I even want to know-"

"Dark Elf blended with spider," Galadriel said sharply. "Now, be on your guard!"

Amiwen's staff glittered, and she gazed dead at one of the spider-gnomes as it came to challenge her.

"What are we waiting for, just frag the things," Grace muttered. She fired a blaster at the creature, only for the crimson bolt to fade harmlessly away. Her blaster then bent in half, and she threw it down.

One of the creatures charged at Amiwen, and took a swing with his wooden pole. It clattered against the Maiar's black staff, magical energies colliding in a flash. With several more fast moves, she caught the creature off-guard, and it began to retreat, before charging again.

Meanwhile, Galadriel had ignited her lightsabre, but rather as a last defense. She instead relied on her supernatural abilities, casting a lightning bolt at one of the creatures. It cried out, but charged again, its pole swinging down at the Elf.

Galadriel parried the blow with her 'sabre; the pole remained intact. It was at that moment that Galadriel wished she hadn't left her own Elvish sword in Valinor, as it would have been at least at parity with these creatures, quite unlike the lightsabre she now posessed.

As two more charged, the Lady of A'millian also ignited her lightsabre. Ra, Leia, Mela, and Major Grace, being nowhere near the others in supernatural ability, hung back behind their defensive screen.

And deep in the woods, another one of the gnome-spiders walked lazily up to a spotting position, the hideous Mind Flayer riding on its back as he cackled in delight. The foul mount responded with its own chattering laugh, as both watched the fight begin to unfold.

[Ra]

Aboard the HIMS Fearless, spirits were finally raising. Using a massed deployment of probe droids, the lost Star Destroyer was able to get a general idea of where she was.

"We're somewhere in the Goa'uld's galaxy," Celtru reported. "Somewhere outside the ruins of Ra's empire."

Captain Mesoth didn't look very content with that prospect. "What have you been able to pick up?"

"Apparently, our campaign against them must have been a success. Much of Ra's planets have been heavily damaged, and are out of his control. Several 'droids did identify at least twenty systems under his control, but it's a mere shadow of its former self. We should be able to locate Imperial forces, least get a message out to a mopup fleet."

Mesoth nodded. "Have there been any planets BDZ'ed?"

"None that I can see, sir," Celtru answered.

"We should-"

The Captain was interrupted when a console beeped.

"Sir, another droid has returned from hyperspace," a technician stated.

"Very well, get its telemetry, and place it on the holopad."

A hologram of the probe's data then appeared before the two officers. Something immediately caught Mesoth's attention.

"Lieutenant?"

"It's a Trollish battlecruiser, Captain," Celtru explained. "It's apparently alone."

"And no match for our vessel," Mesoth smirked. "We might be able to find out some information, or at least steal a navcomp from the ship. Begin plotting a course, Lieutenant."

"Aye, sir."

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Galadriel parried the blow with her 'sabre; the pole remained intact. It was at that moment that Galadriel wished she hadn't left her own Elvish sword in Valinor, as it would have been at least at parity with these creatures, quite unlike the lightsabre she now posessed.

As two more charged, the Lady of A'millian also ignited her lightsabre. Ra, Leia, Mela, and Major Grace, being nowhere near the others in supernatural ability, hung back behind their defensive screen.

And deep in the woods, another one of the gnome-spiders walked lazily up to a spotting position, the hideous Mind Flayer riding on its back as he cackled in delight. The foul mount responded with its own chattering laugh, as both watched the fight begin to unfold.

Darth Kreshna is actually the one who scores the first kill; his Lightsaber strikes true as it slashes through the neck of a gnome spider, instantly separating the head from the torso.

Kreshna is a Dark Lord of the Sith and a Dark Phoenix Incarnate. Naturally, each and every death on the battlefield satisfies him, as his ravenous Phoenix essence feeds upon the life-force of the fallen. That is also, sub-consciously, the very same reason he became a TIE Pilot on the first place; to inadvertently feed upon the death of foes and comrades alike.

But this time, something has definitely gone wrong.

As the spider's head rolls to the ground, the Sith Inquisitor -beyond his will- receives a horrendous feeling of sorrow, fear, and pain so unimaginable that no words can ever describe. Instead of nourishing life-force, now Darth Kreshna feels like being force-fed with the most venomous, unholy essence of decay while totally powerless to 'vomit' it back. He clutches his head and screaming in agony while he feels as if being dragged into the deepest abyss of insanity.

When Kreshna finally regain his stance -after a sensation of pain that feels like eternity, he notices that Galadriel starts to cast another round of Lightning Bolt to the one of the peculiar, blasphemous, unspeakable half-spider. He watches in horror with full realization of what will happen if another of those arachnid abominations get killed. "NO!!" he screams at Galadriel, "Don't kill them!! It's hurting me if one of them is-"

Too late.

The said half-spider has been struck by the Lightning Bolt spell twice, and when the third strikes, the target was instantly killed with a foul stench of burning flesh.


Darth Kreshna falls to the ground, screaming.

[Ra]

Ra looked over at Leia.

"It hurt him," he muttered.

Leia grimaced, and looked at the fallen Sith. She couldn't help the fact that she wasn't sad at all about the entire event, or his misfortune.

"If more of them die, can it be killed?" she whispered. Leia refused to call Darth Kreshna 'he'.

"I don't know," the Goa'uld answered. "But if this is true, we may yet have a chance."

"Ra, what if-"

A deep roar went through the trees. It seemed to be high up in the air. Galadriel paused, looking gravely at the sky.

"What is that?" Grace remarked.

Galadriel solemnly answered, "It is something I have not heard since the Elder Days, long ago," she then looked to the Rebel, and said, "A dragon."

"We must find a way out of here, and now!" Amiwen said.

Suddenly a dark, winged form swooped low overhead, calling once more. The dragon rose high into the sky, and looked menacingly at the group as it breathed a jet of flame.

"That's the problem," Grace spat. "HOW do we leave?"

Ra, ever the pessimist, answered, "We can't."

Grace threw up her arms in dismay. "OK, so that's just it? We're fracked?!"

==================
OOC 1: It was Glads that threw the lightning, but whatever.

OOC 2: Adam should post next. Perhaps he has a way out of this mess? *hopes*

[Destructionator XV]

With a wave of Lord Adam's hand, a mighty wall of stone and wood is erected between the party and the gnomes.

"MOVE! That won't hold them for long! To the lake, it is our only hope!"

Troopers pick up Darth Kreshna and start running away, but the wall could not possibly hold the Dragon.

The Lord and Lady look up at the dragon.

"Go go go! We'll hold it and then be right behind you!!"

The two of them lift off the ground with their magical flight powers, and move around the dragon, using their small size and fast agility to dodge it's ferocious breath.

Throwing small bolts of mana at the dragon would not truely harm it, but it might annoy it emough to make it focus on them instead on the retreating party.

[Dark Silver]

Smaug was a old Dragon, ancient even by Elven standards, but young still by dragon standards, yet he had grown fat off the Treasure he once horded.

The race of Man thought they had defeated him at the Lonely Mountain, when the man's arrow bit into his flesh, yet he had learned much since then.

The pests flying around him, expelling thier magickal energies was gnats to him, his armor to strong for thier bolts of mana.

annoying pests he spoke in that booming voice, his red scales glittering in what was becoming rapidly dimming light I have snakced upon far larger and more powerful creatures than you...

Smaug's tail flicked out as he flew past the Lord and Lady, moving towards the party.

[Ra]

The party ran as hard as they could. Amiwen and Galadriel took up the rear, but Mera and Ra were slowing the group down. Major Grace, being a hardened soldier and in prime condition, was running at the front.

Galadriel pondered the situation as Smaug roared overhead, and the Lord and Lady chased it. She began to sense something, and foresaw it.

"Go to the right," she ordered.

Ra blurted, "It'll catch-"

"Do it!"

The party ran to the right. Smaug cruised overhead, scorching the trees with his fiery breath. Grace ran hard, soon falling right into a narrow cave entrance. Galadriel and Amiwen got everyone inside, and waited.

"This fight cannot be won," Galadriel told the Lord and Lady telepathically.

With inhuman speed, the two A'millians zoomed toward the cave's narrow maw, flying inside. The Elf and finally, the Maia sorceress entered. Smaug landed with a thud, and charged toward the cave, shooting another flame, and casting a lightning bolt.

The party dodged the attack, but no one came out with their clothes or faces uncinged. Galadriel, Amiwen, and the Lord and Lady motioned to the entrance, collapsing it suddenly. Smaug roared in anger, and attempted his best to break through. Rock already crumbled.

"We have little time," Galadriel warned solemnly.
While the dragon of the Lonely Mountain cannot fit through, our other foes will. Go with all your haste!"

They ran, going deeper. Grace lit a flashlight, while Amiwen's staff ignited with a bright, soothing light.

"And where will this take us?" Ra muttered. "You don't know where we're going."

"It will at least take us away from our foes," Galadriel fired back. "Even in all this time, you have learned not patience, young one! There is something that beckons in these dark caves, I cannot see what as of yet. Follow our guide, and we shall not fail."

Ra nodded skeptically, and followed the Elf as she led everyone deeper into the unknown dark.

====================
*Galadriel ignites Nenya*

A world of Darkness....

*Something that looks like Cthulhu*

An unspeakable horror...

*A dark city of some kind*

Who dwells in the deepest places of the world?

*A dark, elegant face with red eyes*

What secrets lie ahead?

*Illithids chattering; the companions under attack in the dark*

Will our heroes and heroines survive?

*The Archmage, blowing fire out of his nose for dramatic effect*

OR BE EATEN LAST?

DUN DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

FIND OUT!

on...

THE PHOENIX WAR

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Ra nodded skeptically, and followed the Elf as she led everyone deeper into the unknown dark.

A Stormtrooper flanks the lady while holding a motion sensor, while the others are carrying the unconscious Darth Kreshna. "Milady," the lead Stormtrooper says, "the motion sensor shows several lifeforms ahead. I suggest we proceed with caution."