Barbarians at the Gates

We join our fool as he listens in on the Amaranth War Council.

Resplendent in her gold plated armor, Queen Amanda turns her steely eyed gaze to the room of generals and advisors that had assembled to face an oncoming enemy. Barbarians from the north had descended across the land like a plague of locust, pillaging, looting, and generally making a mess of the blissful kingdom of Amaranthia.

A toad like man with beady eyes and skin oily enough to keep a lamp alit for days pipes up, "But sir, we're safe within our walls, we should wait for danger to pass before..." and his voice fades off as the stern attention of the Queen makes clear that cowardice will not be tolerated.

To war? To arms? Perhaps just to rescue the refugees of the nearby villages and lead them to the safety of the castle walls. The kingdom is but a pitstop for the barbarous horde on its way to grander conquest. Surely they'll not linger long.

As the room once again sinks into silence it is immediately shattered by the sound of a brief struggle outside and a resounding crash as the council chamber doors are flung wide, slamming into the wall behind them, and knocking one of the gilded doors off its very hinges.

With not but a quizzical eyebrow raised the queen turns her attention to the shadow now cast upon the floor by this belated entrant into their council chambers....

Continue our first newsletter chain-novelette! What happens next? YOU decide! The rules are simple: Two - three paragraphs maximum per post, feel free to include "yourselves" in the story! Will we fight the horde? Rescue the villages? Is our intruder good or evil and what news does he bare? Will it be serious or silly? Join us on the forum for this epic struggle!

PS: Sign up for the newsletter to enjoy more awesome The Fool labeled shenanigans. You don't have to be a member to post here though!

Stardale marched alone towards the dragon chamber, where his dragon stay on his stead. "Today, we fly valiantly across the skies." He climbed on his dragon, and pulled the rope. From the darkness of the chamber, he flew towards the light of the skies. Surprisingly, a storm was amidst. "Storms! This day is so good!" They flew towards the clouds, where lightning is present. He took a strand of lightning and played it across the skies. He made his descent from the skies and flew low through the mountains, until he reached the field of the flowers. To his surprise, the whole field was desecrated, and a base camp, bearing a black, unknown insignia at its entrance.

He descended to the forest nearby, tied his dragon on a solid cypress tree and left. He sneaked towards a huge rock nearby the entrance of the camp. Two guards stood still. Their bodies were bigger and stronger than his, considering a teen-age Dragon Lord is quite stronger, accompanied by his abilities as a Dragon Lord. The guard noticed his wings peeping out from the huge boulder. Stardale, noticed the deja vu ahead of him, took out his sword, Delacaranus, and valiantly, he faced the two guards. "Who are you! What brings you monsters here in our kingdom!", he asked. To his shock, he eliminated the two guards, and he sneaked towards the camp. Nobody seems to be around. He dashes back towards the forest, to where his dragon is, and flew back towards the capital. The reason of their stay was still unknown to him.

"I was there! They had a base camp at the fields, although I am not sure why they are there! M'lady, I suggest that you meet them for yourself, through the cultural way." he exclaimed, stressing what he saw in the fields as he sat on the hot seat, by the order of the minister of defense. "Any symbols from them? Crests?" Stardale remembered the black crests. "It is more like a black rafflesia, and the symbol of the wind inside it."

lol I could so easily post my guild video here, however

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to continue from Stardale's or TheFool's post, so I'll just do it from Stardale's. And I do hope this is fine... it's been a long time since I last wrote XD

Oh, and TheFool, I got the newsletter this time. Yay!

"Crest! Then that means they're most likely on a mission - far more than just pillaging and plundering. They are bent on leaving only death in their wake, until they are the only ones standing in this world, like a tornado's destruction! They will stop at nothing, my Queen!" The grim analysis broke forth a hive of speeches, all attempting to be heard. Some are of the opinion that if that be so, an emergency must be declared on the entire kingdom and all villagers called to the castle for protection. Others thought that with so many more mouths to feed but not enough farmland, they would starve to death if the barbarians chose to play a long game. The most radical of all said that if the barbarians are not stopped in their tracks now and destroyed to the last man, they never will be stopped, and more death and destruction will result. Could their Queen let that happen?

The Queen rose from her seat, and abruptly the babbling ceased. Her voice was clear and strong as she spoke, "I will not simply assume what the motives of these people are. This is not our way, even though they have been violent in my land. An ambassador party will be dispatched to the base camp Stardale spotted. On the other hand, I will not leave my people unprotected against such savagery. Generals!" Immediately, they all bowed before her. She continued, "I want half of you to organise the evacuation of the villages. Have them bring in as much food as possible and protect them as they make their way to the castle. The other half shall remain here at the castle and intensify the daily training. Start recruitment campaigns as well. We're going to need all the fighters, mages and healers on our side well trained if this should turn ugly."

"Yes, my Queen!" The Generals chorused, before jumping to do her bidding. The Queen returned to her seat, and started rubbing her temples. She needed to be strong to see this to the end, whether peacefully or otherwise. And that's why selecting the ambassador party is of the utmost importance. It must be comprised of people who can speak well, but will not be cowed by aggresion, and if need be, can fight back when threatened. There's no point sending in lambs to be slaughtered; she wanted all her people to make it out of this alive. So who...?

"Of course the Enchanters!" Piped a teenage girl with mousy brown hair known by the initials M.C (stands for Mii [bows down to] Cupcake) in a corner of the room, still hugging on to her Cain plushie happily. "We're the only one with the power to defeat the entire team at once with our indirect methods of berserking and confusing our enemies. It's the truth!"

"Preposterous nonsense!" yelled the black-haired younger girl in the other corner. She turns back to the Queen. "It is well-known that the Enchanters are the only ones with the ultimate power of summoning man-eating cupcakes. We're the only ones that can win, m'lady." She smiles innocently- "I can always demonstrate-" "-Now that would be quite unnecessary, Kirroha!" cried Stardale out in alarm, waving his arms about in the air.

"I-It's not like your opinion is any different from mine!" pouts M.C, hugging onto her plushie some more while tears welled up in her eyes. "Nyah nyuu..." she mumbled incoherently and fell asleep. In the distance, General Binx the militant squirrel watches the meeting with a glint of malice in his eyes...

Down in the training grounds of Amaranth Castle, a teenage boy grips his sword, Ragnarok, and attacks a group of knights. His snow white hair gleaming in the early morning and ruby-colored eyes fierce and determined, he defeats each knight with superior speed and acccuracy, knocking them to the ground. The boy gazes down on the grown men and smiles. "Come my fellow knightsmen, that cannot be all that your strength allows." Before the knights can respond, another knight rushes outside to the training grounds. "Captain Brimstone! Captain Brimstone! It's urgent!" The boy, Ethan Brimstone, turns and looks at the man, "yes what is it?" The man stops and says between breaths, "Captain, our Queen seeks an audience with you, sir. You are to go to her at once!"

Ethan strode into the War Room, the air filled with tension and anxiety. In the middle of the room was a giant map of Amaranthia fastened to a table. Two generals were debating on which area they should focus on incase of an ambush on the castle. Past the table, sat Queen Amanda, beautiful and fierce with flowing brown hair and wise, caring grey eyes. The kind of eyes that show love for her people. Ethan knelt before her. "M'lady, I have recieved news of your request to see me." The queen stood from her throne and smiled, "Arise, Sir Brimstone." He did and she continued. "Sir Ethan Brimstone, Captain of Squad nine of the Knights of Amaranthia, I am sure you have heard of the lastest news that plagues this land." Ethan nodded grimly, "Yes, M'lady, indeed I have, and I must say that action must be taken." Queen Amanda nodded her agreement. "That is why I have chosen you, Sir Ethan, to lead an Ambassador party to scout out the land, in search of this threat to observe and negotiate, hopefully, with the unknown enemey before this gets out of hand." Ethan kneels again before his queen. "My Queen, I thank you, I will do my best as a knight of Amaranthia to discover what plagues our land and I will fight to the last breath to protect Amaranthia if my strength is called upon!" The Queen smiled and nodded, "Then go, Captain Brimstone, take your squad and serve your queen and country well! Also, Stardale will accompany you, as he is the one who discovered an enemey base near the mountain fields."

Ethan dawns his white armor, the symbol of Amaranthia inscribed on the back, and a flourish number nine wrapped over the symbol. After securing Ragnarok to his side, Ethan climbs up on his steed, Cloud, and gazes upon all of his men in his squad. Even though Ethan is one of the youngest captains, his men respect him for his courage, strength, and heart, as well as his love for Amaranthia. Ethan as well trusts each of his men, knowing they will each fight to the last breath and die for their beloved country. Ethan raises his fist into the air, bellowing, "May our swords stay sharp and our wits stay about us! We fight on to protect this land, for Amaranthia!!" "Hazaah! hazaah!" His men cheered and they rode off down the dirt road into the countryside. Ethan notices Stardale atop his dragon in the sky and they follow him towards the camp. 'Rizadon,' Ethan thought to his own crimson dragon, following them up high in the skies. 'Yes, little one?' Rizadon answers. 'We shall see what plagues this beautiful land and put a stop to it,' Ethan states. Rizadon nods high in the skies, his golden eyes gleaming in the sunlight. 'indeed we shall, little one.' Knights and dragons traversed on, planning to unravel the mystery of these barbaric enemies, however no one knows how dangerous this mission will turn out to be.

The queen turned her gaze to her council. "Does anyone have a suggestion to make?"
One advisor, and, secretly, a Dark Mage, stepped forward. "Milady," began the mage, named Evylen. "I wonder... what if this bandit horde is not just a horde? What if they are acting upon the orders of another?"
The queen was silent. Then she said, "What do you mean, Evylen?"
"In the past, my queen... Ahriman plagued the lands of this fair kingdom. Mordred Darkthrop. Hepititus. Perhaps this is the work of another dark demon?"
"That is a serious possibility you bring up, Evylen." the queen said quietly. "Have you nothing to support it?"
Evylen said softly, "I do."
The room was in an instant uproar. Some shouted that this was impossible, such dark days were long gone. Others muttered quietly of some of the signs- no moon for seven days,stars not appearing where they should...
The queen swept a cold gaze upon the room and all was instantly silent.
"What do you mean, Evylen?" she asked quietly.
"I cannot tell you, my queen," Evylen replied.
"You cannot tell me?" the queen repeated."Why not?"
Evylen just shook her head quietly.
The queen grew angry. "I order you tell me!"
"I wish I could," Evylen said, "But it could bring danger to us all." She held the queen's angry gaze for a moment before drawing her cloak close to her and sweeping out of the room.
A long moment of silence left in her wake, as the councilmembers and the queen stared at the door in silence, until a gust of wind shut it with a slam.