NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: Before anyone starts pointing fingers and giggling ‘newbie!’ I’d like to point out that this RP has been partially worked out with Menelmacar. Until Ms. Siri returns, feel free to interrogate me as you see fit, or comment on my first post here.]

Location: Orbb’n Tullus, Qu’ellar Zauafin Buat’leb, Seck’Sapeel (Spider’s Hall, House Zauafin’s Sphere, Seck’Sapeel)
Time: Day 1, -2.00hrs

“My Valsharess, the rebellion is becoming increasingly difficult to quell. This overpopulation problem is getting out of hand,” Yochol Maynda Zauafin spoke nervously as she gave her brief, yet direct report of the situation to her mother. Her leather storm coat added a lot of bulk on Maynda’s otherwise slight frame. Underneath, she wore a fine mesh shirt, and leather trousers. Light could just be seen reflecting off the barrel of her .50 cal sub-machine gun which was tucked inside the coat, held to her waist by a simple ring of leather attached to her belt.

“Send in more troops then. If it needs tank support, then roll in the tanks. If it means losing House Hlaneld’s Sphere in the process, so be it. I will not have my people trying to rise up against me.

“Our efforts to expand out of the barrier are making some progress. Lil Kulggen weakens. It won’t be long before we can break through and finally be free,” Valsharess Vailphi Zauafin explained to her daughter. The Queen knew that as soon as the magical barrier surrounding the city-state Seck’Sapeel falls, the people would settle down again. Long enough for her to organise a massive scale expansion. Vailphi smiled to herself at the thought as she sat upon her dark throne.

The dark-skinned elf continued to run through the expansion plan in her mind as her daughter muttered something short before leaving, not that Vailphi was paying attention. It was a simple three-step process. First, scouts would move out, staking out potential territory. Next, her soldiers would move out, and claim the new territory. While they move further away, the construction crews would move in and start.

The Valsharess didn’t know, or take into account of the close proximity to Menelmacar. Kivvilen. Surfacers. The Valsharess was, and still is, very young and has only heard the stories of how rivven, humans, had trapped her kind underground. As time has progressed, hatred for humans, and to some extent, all kivvil races has set in and brewed.


As the result of a cave in, many many years ago, embedded in the rock of one of the Menelmacari underground tunnels, a marble tablet has managed to stay somewhat intact, reading the following:

When the Dark-Ones escape their cage,
Hell will be brought into the surface world,
They will be out for revenge,
Led by one,
Their hordes will continually advance,
Stepping out into the sun.

[Taggity Tag Tag.]

[Tag.]

Cáno (Commander) Idhrindiel nos Fithurin of the Eighth Mornahossë Assault Group, two-time bearer of the Fëanor Medal of Valor, led her squad carefully through the caverns deep below the Hithaeglir Forniva, the northern extremity of the Hithaeglir, the craggy, near-impassable range that snaked all the way across Menelmacari territory and formed the backbone of the archipelago.

Here, they were very close to the EOTED border; a few kilometers at most, actually. And here... there were problems. Periodically Menelmacar sent troops into the tunnels under the mountains - a vast network of caves and caverns and abandoned mines - to sweep them for orcs; many years ago there had been infestations, long since cleaned out, but occasionally a few still cropped up. The troops, too, needed something to do, and stealth training was always helpful; hence, the sweeps, which solved multiple problems.

"Milady, this region does not match the survey scans taken in the last sweep," reported Ithilion, one of the soldiers in her squad.

Idhrindiel blinked. "How could it not match the scans?"

"The region is seismically active, milady."

"Hmm..." Idhrindiel pondered. "We'll have to check the satellite scans when we return, to see if there have been any quakes hereabouts recently. Begin a new scan."

"Already done, milady..." Ithilion reported.

"Excellent..." Idhrindiel swept the room they were in with her rifle, letting the beam of the attached flashlight pan across the rock-faces.... and something white shone in the darkness against the basalt. "Hello... what's this?"

She went over for a closer look; it was a tablet. White marble. Not native to this area. "Interesting... dark hordes, eh?" She eased the tablet into her pack.

"Milady!" came the voice of Ithilion again. "There is another cavern behind this wall. The barrier is very thin; less than a meter." Idhrindiel turned; Ithilion was standing at the northwest wall of the room. If the cavern back there was a large one, or part of a cave network, it would extend across into EOTED territory.

"Well well... what's back there?"

"Can't tell, the scanner's having trouble penetrating. Some sort of interference..."

"Well, there's only one way to find out, then," Idhrindiel mused. "We will open it. If there is anything hostile, surely we can handle it. Stand aside..." She raised her rifle.

The shot clear, Idhrindiel squeezed the trigger, and the scream of the bolt echoed in the cave, the crimson light of its passage shining on every surface. There was a horrible roar as the living rock was rent apart, and subsidiary slides continued for about a minute, subsiding to mere pebbles rolling down walls and then to nothing.

"Once more unto the breach, boys and girls," Idhrindiel muttered, shining her rifle's light into the dark new opening.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

The hole opened up into a larger, wet cavern, dimly lit by a purple glowing anomaly at the far end of the cavern. In the centre of the cavern, a pillar of limestone pierces the light, resulting in the entrance to the cavern to be pitched into darkness.

The dim light flashes momentarily, accompanied with the cacophony of the anomaly being struck by energy. The anomaly appears to be a shimmering shield of energy, cutting off the cavern to what one could only guess at this time to be a vast area beyond. In the centre, a little in front of the shield is a short, marble pillar, giving off a high output of energy, and seemingly powering the shield. Figures, not much taller than five feet, could be seen just beyond the shield. Some of them seemed to be casting spells on the shield.


Back at Spider’s Hall, another Handmaiden entered, and approached the Valsharess on her throne. “Vendui’, Valsharess,” she greeted, nodding courteously. She was dressed in a similar fashion as Maynda, but wore a row of earrings the length of her left ear.

“Vendui,” Vailphi replied, nodding back, “I presume you have made some progress on the barrier, Yochol Burtana’thrae?” She propped her head up with her right hand as she sat at her throne, her legs crossed.

“Not so much as progress… More of an unusual encounter. Some people have appeared on the opposite side,” the Handmaiden replied, knowing that it would interest her Queen. This confidence showed in the strength of her voice.

It seemed to be well placed confidence. Vailphi uncrossed her legs, and sat up. “Really, Yochol? I must see this for myself. Prepare the half-track,” she demanded. The Handmaiden didn’t falter in meeting demand.

It doesn’t take long for the Valsharess to start heading towards the barrier.

The Menelmacari would appear to the drow as amazingly tall people, all well over six feet in height, and a couple at seven or more. They were clad in shimmering black armor, forged of galvorn and full of all manner of technology. They carried a sword and a dagger each, and sleek rifles and pistols, among other equipment. Two stepped forward from the opening, while the others... eighteen of them, it seemed... swept and secured their side of the cavern.

OOC: the armor is styled very similarly to a modernized version of the Elven armor shown in LOTR: The Two Towers' Helm's Deep scenes.

Ithilion knelt beside the pillar-device. "This, milady, was undoubtedly the cause of our interference. The scans cannot penetrate beyond that field." He examined the pillar carefully, taking all manner of sweeps and tests.

Idhrindiel crept closer to the field. "My eyes, however, can... are these our dark hordes?" she asked. "They are like us," she continued. "Except much shorter. And silver-haired, with skin of navy blue, almost black."

Ithilion looked up. "And adept in sorcery, also. Fascinating..."

"Look over that device there; I imagine it generates this forcefield. If you can find a way to deactivate it, let me know, but don't actually do so as of yet."

"Yes, milady," Ithilion replied.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

The marble pillar, despite being perfectly shaped with runes etched into it seems to have no way of being deactivated. The people on the other side cease their attempts to wear out the shield when seeing the Menelmacari. One of the wizards recognised certain aspects of the armour, and started talking to one of the non-spellcasters. They traded words for a short while, before the non-spellcaster turns again, and walks towards the barrier.

The male, who could now be seen quite openly holding a gun, bluntly aimed a request at the Menelmacari visitors, “Elgg nindel ky’ov’aer ka dos ssinssrin dosst erg’lesen an’yui-na.” (Translation: Destroy that ward if you want your questions answered.) It seems as if he knows the Menelmacari are at least slightly confused.


Meanwhile, the Valsharess continues her journey through the city towards the shield. Having to travel through streets crowded with Drow. The driver obviously has no ethical sense, and doesn’t seem to care if a few of the rivvin are struck by the half-track. Vailphi sits patiently in the armoured personnel carrier with her daughter, Maynda, the other Handmaiden, Burtana’thrae, and seven well armed soldiers. All of the soldiers either had carbines or sub machine guns. However, two of the soldiers are dressed in long, black flame-resistant coats, and face masks. Sat in their laps were flamethrowers. One of the crewmen scanned the area with a top-mounted heavy machine gun. The Valsharess always liked to make an impression when dealing with people.

"What, this ward?" Idhrindiel asked, pointing her weapon at the pillar. She pulled the tablet from her pack and held it up to the field. "Any of you seen this before?"

OOC: Short post, I know. Not much else to do.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

[OOC: Yes, understandable. Until the Valsharess arrives, I think the posts will be shorter than before, which won't be long.]

“Destroy it, and it will drop this part of the barrier. We will be able to talk better after that,” the male replied, averting his eyes the moment he heard the female voice. The barrier, which was remarkably bright to a Drow, was stopping them from seeing past it as well as the Menelmacari.

The half-track finally reaches the city limit, and the driver and gunner could see the spot where they needed to be. Just a couple of minutes of driving.

"There is a vehicle approaching, milady," Ithilion reported. "It's not on sensors yet, with the field, but I do hear it."

Idhrindiel nodded. She glanced at the male behind the field, and at the pillar, and at the tunnel behind the field, from which she too could hear the sound of an approaching vehicle. Not gravitic, she could tell. Heavier than a truck, but certainly not a tank. Perhaps an APC of some kind.

"Make a report, Ithilion, and send it back to base. Inform them of a potential first-contact situation. And I... am going to open this."

She drew her pistol from its holster with one smooth motion, levelling it at the pillar. Again, she squeezed the trigger, filling the room with the crimson light of the plasma bolt, and the distinctive zzzzhrak! of its discharge.

The bolt impacted the pillar...

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

An impressively large chunk of the marble pillar was torn free, causing the barrier to fluctuate. The Drow male was surprised to see the barrier flickering. He was quick to react, and levelled his own weapon to the pillar, and starting shooting. At the same time, the wizard was quick to reach for his radio, and shouting orders to get more troops into the area. The Drow was able to take pieces of the pillar away himself when the shield was down. The other soldiers drew their weapons, and started shooting. Their eyes were animalistic, and their expressions showed that they were excited.

The combined effort finally tore through the pillar, destroying it sufficiently enough to bring the barrier down permanently. A cheer went up as the barrier came down. The half-track also arrived just in time to be there for the event. The gunner had his machine gun trained on the Menelmacari as the back hatch fell open, and the seven soldiers poured out from inside the APC. The soldiers with the flamethrowers quickly ignited their weapons, giving a quick blast as the remaining three personnel departed. The two Handmaidens, followed by the Valsharess herself.

The Honour Guard surrounded these three, who approached the Menelmacari Assault Group. The three women were dressed in a similar fashion to each other. They all wore black thigh high vinyl boots, a black item that covered the pelvis, waist, and some of their chest. Over this, was a very elaborate design of dark metal, made in a way that looked like a spider. They also wore black cloaks that flowed around them. The Valsharess also wore a headdress that created an elegant metal frame around the left side of her face. She stood a few inches taller than most of the others around her.

“Which one of you is in command?” Vailphi asks in a peaceful manner, stepping out of the formation of soldiers around her. The immediate reaction from her Honour Guard is to aim their weapons at the Menelmacari.

Idhrindiel too stepped forward, her own troops pointing their weapons at the drow in response; the barrels of their weapons glowed with an ominous red light emitted by the plasma in the vacuum chamber within.

"I am in command here," she said imperiously. "I am Idhrindiel nos Fithurin, Commander of the Menelmacari Imperial Mornahossë Eighth Assault Group. Yet even I am but a servant; I serve the Lady Sirithil nos Fëanor, Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar."

"And you would be?"

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

The Drow don’t flinch as the Assault Group react the same way to themselves. It was either through good training, or they were naturally expected it to happen. A couple move a little every so often so their arms don’t fall asleep, but they seem to be ready to fire if the word is given, or the Menelmacari provoke them into it.

Vailphi nods a simple greeting, but in her opinion it isn’t deserved. “My title may not be as long as yours, Idhrindiel, but it carries a lot more weight. I am Valsharess Vailphi Zauafin. I am the Queen of my people, the city-state of Seck’Sapeel. Your acts may have stopped my society from collapsing in on itself, hence my appearance here now.” It seems that this young Queen has been anxious to meet the potential saviours of Seck’Sapeel.

“I would like to talk to your leader, this Lady Sirithil nos Fëanor. This event has put my people in a rather awkward situation. One that I must discuss with your leader. She will understand what I speak of, I am sure,” she continues. Even for Valsharess Vailphi, this is unusually sudden, and almost considered weak by the two Handmaidens not too far behind her. If it wasn’t worded the way it was, they wouldn’t have been happy at all.

Idhrindiel thought quickly; 'we'll get back to you' just wasn't really acceptable in a diplomatic situation, so she made a judgement call. She removed her helmet, tucking it into the crook of one arm and shaking loose her auburn hair. "That can be arranged," she said with a nod. "Would you like her to come here, or would you prefer to visit our capital of Vinyatirion?"

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

Valsharess Vailphi smiled, and thought for a moment before responding. Every move she made had to be well planned. “I will visit your capital,” she stated her request clearly. “Maynda will accompany me. Yochol Burtana’thrae, you take care of things here until I return,” she added, turning to Burtana’thrae. At the same time, she made a gesture with one of her hands which prompted the soldiers to lower their weapons and stand at ease.

“Mother! I would be better suited staying with the troops, and organising things here,” Maynda protested.

“Burtana’thrae is capable of handling things. Don’t question my judgement!” Vailphi snapped at her daughter. There was a reason Vailphi wasn’t letting her daughter stay behind. Security of her position. Maynda had the ambition and drive to become the Valsharess, so Vailphi had to keep an eye on her at all times. It would’ve been simpler if she killed Maynda, but she had an important role in Vailphi’s administration, and did a good job of it too.

[OOC: A well disguised bump post :wink: ]

Platoons of tanks rolled through the streets of the House Hlaneld Sphere. The rioting in the district was getting intense. Precision driving skills were being tested, with the tanks almost stretching across some of the single-lane roads. Following behind each tank were scores of well drilled soldiers. Mostly-male warriors armed with carbines and submachine guns. The infamous Third ‘Orbb Sargtlinen’ Regiment had been called out elsewhere, their expertise needed to completely remove the barrier and to claim and purge newly opened areas of the Har'oloth – the Underdark. Instead, the lesser experienced companies of the Second Regiment had the honour of crushing the riots.

For the most part, the rioters simply fled the approaching hulking steel beasts. The tanks being used were Siasta. Medium tanks with no cannons, but three machine guns. One of the guns is placed on the front, the remaining two were mounted on a turret. They also have a smoke discharger on the right side of the two turret-mounted machine guns. These monstrous vehicles were perfect for crowd pacification, or at least in the eyes of the drow they were. If anyone stood in their path, they would simply run them over. If they were even attempting to damage the tank, they would open fire. Nothing the rioters had could seriously damage the Siasta tanks. If anyone made it past the tanks, they were mopped up by the following infantry. It was overkill, but the Valsharess wanted the situation to be resolved swiftly.

No one blamed the rioters for their acts, not even the Valsharess. Regardless of their stance towards the riot problem, Vailphi was forced to act with such brutal force. The crowd control also kept the number of people down. The riots were all because of the overcrowding.

It wasn’t longer than five hours, quite a long time for information to filter through the suppressed media, for the news about the breach in the barrier to reach the public. With that, the riots calmed a lot faster as people anticipated expansion into new regions of the Underdark.

[tag]

The message reached Sirithil; it didn't matter how, but it did. And Sirithil responded. She had no particular beef with the drow, really; the Noldor were not the same surface Elves most drow were accustomed to. She knew the drow respected strength; Sirithil would bring the Valsharess to her capital, and she would show her the strength of Menelmacar, yet also its hospitality. Friendships, of a sort, would be forged, and perhaps pacts would be signed.

To: Valsharess Vailphi Zauafin, Seck'Sapeel
From: Elentári Sirithil nos Fëanor, Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar

It was with some surprise that I learned of your realm, and that you came somewhat highly recommended by Cáno Idhrindiel nos Fithurin, Eight Mornahossë Assault Group. I have sent a vessel, designated Eldahossë Minë, which will land at the entrance to the Underdark nearest to the now-fallen barrier; this ship will conduct you to the Eternal City of Vinyatirion. I look forward to meeting you in person.

Sincerely,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
Regent of Lavenrunz
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

The Valsharess received the communiqué and didn’t waste more time than she needed in going to the surface. She was already accustomed to light, having studied in candlelight as she learnt her spells – as was the tradition of drow spellcasters. Vailphi certainly had a lot to discuss with this Lady Sirithil.

Vailphi made a slight alteration to her original plan. As well as bringing along Maynda, she was bringing two males along with her.

“Maynda, summon Bhintran and Quilgloth. I think we will be needing their expertise,” Valsharess Vailphi commanded her daughter.

“As you wish, Mother,” the younger girl replied as she dashed off to retrieve the brothers.


It wasn’t long before Maynda arrived with the males, “As you requested, the males.”

“Good,” Vailphi responded, “Now, tell me why you think I summoned you two here?”

“You want us as ‘ambassadors’ Valsharess Vailphi,” Bhintran, the smaller, lesser built of the two, as they both knelt before their queen in total submission. They knew their place well.

“Yes. I want you to be careful when you start feeding information back to us. You know I don’t care if you die in the attempt. However, if you are discovered handing sensitive information back to our glorious city-state, you will cause something of an incident between Seck’Sapeel, and these… Menelmacari,” she states clearly. Being underground and isolated for so long, these drow are curious as to what is outside.

Vailphi stood up, and started walking out. The others followed as they made their way to the Eldahossë Minë.

OOC: I'm going to gloss over the trip a bit to move things along.

IC:

The vessel was sleek, elegant, a bit under two hundred meters long, black and red and gold... inside was quite luxurious indeed. Eldahossë Minë carried them south, high over verdant forests and jagged mountains, over expanses of open sea, over grand cities... to the grandest of them all - Vinyatírion the Eternal, great city of the Noldor.

Sitting in a vast bowl-shaped valley, girded by the natural walls of the Pelóri, bisected by straits of the sea, the city shone in the sunlight, her slender towers and spires reaching up to a mile above the city itself, and the tallest of the lot, Fëanor Palace, in the center, overshadowing them all. It was to this palace that a shuttle from Eldahossë Minë carried the Valsharess.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
High Queen and Lady-Protector of Elvenkind
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

Vailphi averted her eyes quickly from the sight of the reflective city. Her eyes felt like they were burning. This is certainly something that Drow shouldn’t have to put up with quickly after leaving the Underdark. The Valsharess moved away from the window. “No doubt it’s beautiful… and it hurts too. Maybe these people have changed since their treachery?” Vailphi thought to herself.

She remains quiet for the entire journey.




Meanwhile, her subjects continue their work back at the city. Vailphi’s personal scientists, designers, and engineers, hand-picked to work on a project of hers. The worked for long hours on the project they had been assigned to.