Ælnäthän

[BigIslandYU2]

Greetings, citizens of Mobotropolis!

Every week I will endeavor to post one chapter of my book here. If you chance to read it, please feel no trepidation in leaving your frank opinion of the piece. As long as it is ethical, harsh criticism will not be received with offense on my part, in fact I welcome it. Honestly, if you can survive the following wall of text, your deserve a medal! Of course, if you do happen to enjoy it, please let me know that as well! Once again, I crave your honest appraisal of my writing.

And now, your journey begins.
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Ælnäthän
by Ryan Robledo




ORNÄUEVÄS

(prelude)






WRÆST SUELIME
The Great Sullying




WHEN Uemievärs was empty, shapeless, and void of light,
there was Näquäsone, the Matchless One. He existed in
solitude, for he had created nothing. He desired that there
should be other beings, so that they could enjoy life, and
have fellowship with him, and love him.

Näquäsone therefore gave shape to Uemievärs, and set it
in order. He kindled stars, and set them in groups, and in
clusters, until Uemievärs was filled with the brilliance of
innumerable galaxies. He then formed other globes, and set
them to orbit certain stars. These are the Särtämds, the
Star Bands, for their orbits are like unto bands around stars.
Näquäsone then made moons, and placed them in the orbits
of many different särtämds. He was pleased with these works,
but his labors were not yet over.

For Näquäsone, when he had completed the physical lands,
created a spiritual region. He endowed it with beauty and light,
and called it Färæln, the Fair Realm, for the brilliance of that land
was greater than any other place in Uemievärs. Then Näquäsone
brought the Thiones, the High Ones, into being. He put these
spirits in Färæln, where they dwelt in joy and peace. This time is
known as the Faræzärä, the Fairest Era, for it was a period of
unsullied happiness, when evil had never existed, and all was good.

But this innocence did not last forever, for a great rebellion arose
among the Thiones. Triestem, the Bright Being, had been gifted with
great powers of leadership and persuasion, for Näquäsone had created
him to lead the Thiones in song. But after serving his maker for a brief
time, Triestem began to use his gifts for his own selfish desires, and
began to lead many Thiones into rebellion against Näquäsone. He
promised the Thiones that they would be able to rule Uemievärs, free
from any restraints, if they would follow him into war against Näquäsone,
and with these words he swayed nearly half of all Thiones to join his cause.

None of Triestem's devices were hidden from Näquäsone, however. All of
Uemievärs had been formed by Näquäsone's power, so all that had or would
ever occur in this creation was clearly visible to him, and Triestem's rebellion
was thus doomed before its conception. Great was Näquäsone's sorrow as he
beheld the evil that many of the Thiones cultivated in their hearts, for he knew
that their punishment and destiny would be terrible. But he would not allow evil
to overrule Uemievärs.

Therefore, when Triestem had gathered all of his followers, and was about to
strike, Näquäsone cast that traitor and his followers into the darkness surrounding
Färæln. Seeing that those rebels had corrupted themselves beyond repentance, so
that they were now cruel spirits of terror instead of kind beings of love, Näquäsone
cursed them, saying, "Ever shall thy purposes be confounded, and robbed of
absolute success, and shall be utterly futile at the end of time. For ye were formed
by my power, and thus ye can never evade my sight, for I see thy deeds and
thoughts before they occur. Ye have chosen rebellion, and brought evil into
existence, so ye have doomed thyselves to consuming darkness. Ye have twisted
thy talents into sinful powers, and have therefore forfeited the joy ye once possessed.
From henceforce thy wickedness shall become an end in itself, and shall be thy only
desire. Yet it shall vex thy spirits, as righteousness shall vex thy spirits, and ye shall
therefore find peace in neither evil nor good. Ye are now the Cursed Beings, ever to be
shunned by the righteous. And thou, Triestem, art now Uednuer, the Utterly Dark
Menace Unto Righteousness."

So fell Triestem, and his rebellious followers. These are the Cursäntems, which means
Cursed Beings, in the Thiesequä tongue, and the Ærtäns name them the Hiedäms,
Wicked Enemies. Many of these Hiedäms broke from their allegiance to Uednuer, and
served themselves, but most remained subject to their dark master, and followed
his commands.

When the rebels had been banished from Färæln, Näquäsone appointed Riequsfier, the
Righteous Fire, to the chief position of the Thiones. He is the one who leads the
Thiones in song unto Näquäsone, and he leads the Thiones into battle, when Näquäsone
commands him to do so. His wife is Ciemdthellär, the Kind Healer, and is the one that
Näquäsone often sends to comfort the creatures of Uemievärs.

























Here
ends
this
account
of
the




























Wræst
Suelime.
The
incorrupt




























joy
that
was
to
last
unbreached




























throughout
eternity
has
now




























been
lost,
and
life
is
thus
filled




























with
pain
and
evil.
Yet
all
hope




























is
not
gone,
for
Näquäsone
has




























promised
that
he
shall
renew
the



























purity
of
life,
when
Uednuer
is




























defeated,
and
sin
is
annihilated.




























But
that
time
is
not
yet
come,
and





























the
hour
of
that
victory
is
known




























only
to
Näquäsone.







The Completion of Uemievärs and Early Ært




There was Näquäsone, who was present throughout Uemievärs constantly; there
were the Thiones, who dwelt peaceably in Färæln; and there were the Hiedäms,
who roamed restlessly in the darkness. With the exception of these, however,
naught else lived, and the surfaces of the särtämds and moons were barren. It had
ever been Näquäsone's desire that creatures should inhabit and that plants should
cover many of these globes, so that Uemievärs would be filled with life.

Thus, after the Wræst Suelime had revealed which spirits would remain true to him,
Näquäsone formed animals and plants, and placed them on various särtämds and
moons. Näquäsone gave each world a unique language, to be spoken by the
animals that dwelt there. Each world differed from another, but all were beautiful,
and portrayed Näquäsone's love. These works pleased him greatly, but he was not
yet finished in his creation; he had one last work to fulfill.

There was a star system of seven särtämds, the star of which was named by
Näquäsone Sume. Näquäsone had put life on one of this system's moons, but the
rest of this system was void of life.

But Näquäsone did not leave this system in this condition, for on Ært ----the
second särtämd out from Sume---- he placed a form of life that differed from any
other of his creations. These are the Ærnäm, the Ært-people. He made them higher
than the animals, yet lower than the Thiones; they are unique among the creatures
of Uemievärs. The first man of this people was Fürslem, the First man, and the first
woman of this people was Nämnuestär, the People-Mother, wife unto Fürslem.

Näquäsone took these two people, and placed them on Æläntiel, the Innocent Isle,
fairest of all physical lands of Uemievärs. This was a land of rollicking green hills, and
of many clear streams and rivers. Great trees dotted the landscape, and the
Fälstärläs Älcs, the Falter-less Peaks, encircled the entire island; green were the
grassy bases and gray were the granite peaks of these enormous mountains. In the
center of the land was the Iernime Eltä, the Shining Mount, a mountain of white marble,
and the tallest of all peaks on Ært. In the shadow of the great mountain lay two
elliptical lakes of great size; one was the Älntolwul, the Pure Pool, and the other was
the Uenmoem Oelär, the Unknown Water.

The Älntolwul lay very near to the Iernime Eltä, and was fed by the Clerievär, the Clear
River, which upwelled from the heart of the great mount, and plunged over five thousand
rods down the mountainside into the lake below. Its waters brought refreshment to those
who drank from it, and were so limpid that one could clearly see all that was contained
in the lake.

The Uenmoem Oelär was set in front of the Älntolwul, and was stagnant, for no river
fed it . Yet its waters were not rank (as stagnant waters are wont to be), but were a
deep blue, and were mysterious, for it was impossible to see the bottom of the lake
from the surface of its waters.

Such was the lay of this beautiful land.

Now Näquäsone gave Fürslem and Nämnuestär but few commands. He told them to care
for Æläntiel, and tend it. He commanded them also to name the animals that had been
placed on Ært, and to discover the secrets of Uemievärs, using this knowledge for good.
He finally commanded them not to drink from the Uenmoem Oelär, warning them that
they would be banished from Æläntiel the day they drank of those waters, and eventually die.

Following the mandates of their maker, Fürslem and Namnuestar dwelt peacefully upon
the delectable island. Fürslem devised letters, and a naming system which he called
Mäslælm, meaning Naming Language in that code. He and Nämnuestär used these systems
to name and classify the animals and plants of their world, with Fürslem naming the great
land mammals, the reptiles, the fish, the tall trees, and the grainproducing plants (for he
favored these above all the other animals and plants), while Nämnuestär named the
mammals of lesser stature, the birds, the amphibious creatures, the mammals of the sea,
the flowering and fruit-bearing trees, the flowers, and the grasses (for these brought her
the greatest delight among the plants and the animals).

Time passed, and Fürslem and Nämnuestär begat many children, for the blessing of
Näquäsone was upon them. Their children in turn married, and begat more children,
until Æläntiel was filled with the goodly people. The Ærnäm had direct fellowship with their
maker, and they dwelt in peace, for they were oblivious to the existence of evil. But evil
was not ignorant of the innocence of Ært, however, for the joy of the Ærnäm was beheld
by Uednuer and the Hiedäms. Their hearts grew even darker with envy and hatred at the
sight of such peace, deeming it unfair that they should suffer while the Ærnäm enjoyed
life. Uednuer accordingly devised a plan to scar the purity of Ært, and take as many souls
as possible into evil. Yet he bided his time, until his deeds could bring him the greatest returns.

Thus, after 150 years had passed since the completion of Uemievärs ----when nearly seven
thousand people lived on Æläntiel---- Uednuer appeared unto the Ærnäm.

Now Uednuer is a spirit void of a physical body (as are all Hiedäms in their natural state), and
is therefore unable to perform physical actions. But he ----along with the Hiedäms---- can
make himself visible, and sway the minds of the unwary to act according to his wishes.

Uednuer came to Æläntiel in the likeness of one the Ærnam, and he conversed with the people
of the island. He claimed to have come from a land of greater beauty than Æläntiel. He also
said that he had drinken from a body of water that Näquäsone had forbidden, claiming to have
gained great powers and knowledge by doing so. All the while he spoke, he performed feats
that appeared miraculous, for he flew at times, and floated above the ground, and made blinding
flashes seem to appear.

But for all of Uednuer's deceptions, he could not cause the Ærnäm to sin against their maker, but
rather he gained their disdain. Therefore Uednuer left the people, his purpose defeated ----or
so it seemed.

Yet the truth was quite different from what appeared to be so, for when night had fallen, and
most of the Ærnäm slept, six hundred people drank from the Uenmoem Oelär in their thirst for
secret knowledge and power. Näquäsone then confronted these rebels, and he saw the
hardness of their hearts IIfor they had allowed the lies of Uednuer to take root in themselves.
Näquäsone consequently banished these renegades from Æläntiel, yet he offered them hope,
promising them that redemption would be provided for them, but the rebels rejected their
maker's words. When morning came, Näquäsone informed the remaining Ærnäm of the six
hundred's sin, warning them not to do the same.

So came about the first corruption of the Ærnäm. The rebellious people lost the peace and joy
that they had possessed while in obedience to Näquäsone, but all but a few did not repent of
their wickedness; rather, they reveled in it further, They had become enthralled by Uednuer's
cunning words, for he skillfully nurtured their darkest characteristics with his constant flattery.
He claimed that their initial misfortune was but a necessary step in the great path to
unlimited freedom and power, and he said that the people should congratulate themselves in
their intelligent and courageous move toward this goal. "We have suffered one setback, indeed,"
he said, "but we shall conquer in the end, and all who resisted us in the beginning shall
eventually cower before our power. Yea, even Näquäsone shall become our captive, and we
shall master Uemievärs! So come, let us unite together with all forces that seek to overthrow the
tyranny of Näquäsone, and pursue the common destination of boundless existence. Let us war
together against our enemies, with ceaseless hatred for the ways of restraint! Fearful shall the
day be for adherents to such ideals when the wrath of the Transcending Alliance comes upon them!
''Darkness is superior to the power of light,
And shall emerge the victor at the end of the fight!''

Such were the dark words of Uednuer, which spawned the formation of the evil league of
rebellious Ærnäm and Hiedäms. Uednuer officially named this coalition the Zruchväzchgmist
Uhpihuchv, Transcending Alliance, in Evstum, Uednuer's language. It consisted of the cooperation
of the evil people and spirits, thus transcending the bounds of the physical and the metaphysical.

When the apostate Ærnäm had become wholly united to Uednuer, Uednuer led the people to the
southernmost place on Ært. This land was an enormous valley at the bottom of the world, and since
that särtämd had a fixed axis of rotation, this land was immersed in continual twilight. Uednuer
named it Khichgm Gmuehrkchäzv, Kind Darkness, and it became a country of unrestrained
wickedness and violence.

Now this initial rebellion of the Ærnäm was but a single sector of the dark mosaic that Uednuer was
composing, for he planned to use these few rebels to execute the physical actions that he wished
to have done,but could not directly do himself. Thus, he encouraged the apostate Ærnäm to advance
further in technology, while he had his Hiedäms devout nearly all of their time to the study of the
physical realm, revealing to the rebellious people any secrets that were discovered. In this manner,
technology fostered by evil accelerated at an alarming rate, paving the path to a universe
menaced by a powerful wickedness.

Centuries passed, and the corrupt technology of Khichgm Gmuehrkchäzv increased exponentially.
The rebellious Ærnam eventually had flying machines, land and water vehicles powered by motors,
computing devices, and automated factories, to name but a few of the Alliance's inventions.
The chief cause for these implements ----in the minds of the people, at least---- sprang from
the yearning for a life free from manual labor, a burning desire that Uednuer consistently fanned
with his bellows of deceitful promises.

In spite of the multitude of machinery that the renegade people possessed, however, the
people's hunger for even more leisure was insatiable. The people began to construct robots,
until the occupations that once employed humans were completely overtaken by lifeless
mechanisms. This move displaced thousands of working people, and left them with no means
of sustaining existence. These destitutes began to instigate massive riots, demanding that
something be done for their welfare, and their cries were heard by the ruling factors of the
people. But the rulers did nothing to improve the conditions of the working people, but rather
exterminated this "unruly mob"(as the rulers called them), for the sanctity of human life was
no longer regarded by the people of Khichgm Gmuehrkchäzv. The rulers reasoned that the
working class had become an unnecessary burden upon society (which, with the ruler's
atrocious act, left only themselves to compose society), and therefore deserved to be
eliminated.

More time passed, and the apostate Ærnäm became dissatisfied with their robots. Robots
required maintenance, and were quite costly to manufacture, leading scientists to seek
out a more efficient solution ----a feat which they soon achieved.

This time, however, it was the genetic engineers who concocted the replacement for
manual labor. These geneticists manipulated and spliced genes obtained from the Ærnäm
and insects, forming a giant race of powerful, fast-maturing, longliving, quickly-healing,
adaptive body temperature arthropods, capable of numerous activities. Each one of
these insectlike slaves had an electronic computer connected to its brain; this computer
controlled every aspect of the creature's behavior.

The popularity of these new, biological slaves swiftly grew, until the people of Khichgm
Gmuehrkchäzv were outnumbered by the arthropods twenty-to-one. The apostate
Ærnäm now believed that they had finally achieved their goal of an existence free from
manual labor, for their new slaves were inexpensive and self-maintaining. Uednuer praised
the people's works, boasting that the Alliance had nearly achieved perfection, due the
intelligence and power of the Ærnäm. They had exterminated the weak of their race, and
now they had the power to launch an attack upon Näquäsone.

When the arthropod slaves had become numerous, however, Uednuer found cause for
complaint concerning them. He claimed that the electronic computers of the slaves were
an unnecessary cost, and instead proposed that the geneticists arrange the genes of
the creatures in such a way as to allow direct programming of the insect-like bodies
themselves ----thus negating the need for electronic regulators.

Upon hearing that their great work was lacking, the genetic engineers quickly remedied
the single shortcoming of the biological slaves. The arthropods became totally biological
creatures, and the long subdued doom of the apostate Ærnäm was released.

For Uednuer commanded many of his Hiedäms to enter into the new arthropods, and told
these embodied Hiedäms to remove the computers form the older slaves, until all of the
biological slaves were unfettered from electronics, and were instead possessed by
Uednuer's servants. These incarnate Hiedäms Uednuer then commanded to slaughter
every person of Khichgm Gmuehrkchäzv, and the arthropods quickly executed this order,
using the people's weaponry and technology that had been prepared for the attack upon
Näquäsone. Such are the dealings of Uednuer and his followers; he uses those who are
easily mastered by flattery, and then discards them, as worn tools, when they have
fulfilled his purposes. Uednuer had at last gained the object of his collaborations with the
Ærnäm, for the renegade people had provided the Hiedäms with a gateway to the
physical realm; he no longer needed to cater to the whims of the people.

Interestingly, Uednuer did not himself enter a biological body, for he feared that he might
suffer the same fate that other physical creatures did when they perished, and therefore
fail in his efforts. Rather than take this chance, he retained his natural form, standing a
commander of incarnate and bodiless Hiedäms, for he was just beginning his wars against
the servants of Näquäsone.

In the one thousandth year after the completion of Uemievärs, when over 200,000 of the
Ærnäm lived upon Æläntiel, Uednuer sent swarms of aircraft piloted by incarnate Hiedäms
into the peaceful land. The aircraft landed all over the great island, and the arthropods
aboard made themselves known to all dwelt upon the island.

Then began the foul creatures to converse with the Ærnäm, tempting them to
transgress against Näquäsone. "Why do ye live under the dominion of another?" they
inquired. "Why do ye not break away from the bondage of Näquäsone, and be free?"

Fürslem answered the arthropods, saying: "We live in peace, and our maker Näquäsone
provides for all of our needs. We are free to do what is right, which brings joy to all.
Why would we rebel against our creator? He has never given us reason to do so."

"So think ye," the incarnate Hiedäms replied," because ye have never experienced the
exhilaration of true liberty. What is the definition of good? Is not good relative to the
person's desires? We do not say that one should harm another, but why listen to
Näquäsone's view of right and wrong? Who is this Näquäsone, to make himself ruler over ye?"

"He is the maker of Uemievärs. He is kind to us, and loves us. What greater reasons do
ye require?" Fürslem replied.

"Oh, indeed." the arthropods answered. "Was his kindness shining when he banished thy
brethren from their kin, abandoning them without hope, all for the fact that they drank
some water that he deemed too great for them?"

"Näquäsone does not lie," Fürslem responded, "and he said that any who drank from the
Uenmoem Oelär would be banished from Æläntiel. They were given warning, and even
after their sin, Näquäsone gave them the promise of redemption. He showed them love
when they rejected him."

"Promises!" the creatures jeered. "Believe what ye may, it was us who saved thy
banished kin. They would have perished, had it not been for the aid we gave them.
As ye have most assuredly assumed, we are not of this särtämd, but of another,
deep in the stars. We had encamped in the southern portion of Ært on an exploration
mission, when we came upon the exiles. They were near death. We saved them."

"Näquäsone is the maker of Uemievärs, and he thus sees everything in it. Perhaps he
sent ye ----unknown to thyselves ---- to keep them from perishing," Nämnuestär said,
as she stood beside her husband.

"We were not motivated by any silent promptings of his," the incarnate Hiedäms
retorted, "and concerning Näquäsone, whom ye say is the maker of all, he is but a
farce, who has set himself ruler over thee by deceit."

"Ye lie!" Fürslem shouted in anger. "First ye question his authority, and now his power!
Ye have twice gone beyond thy place. Since ye have come with the desire to sully us,
despite what ye wish to call it, I tell thee to leave our island. Immediately."
Both Fürslem and Nämnuestär bore great love for Näquäsone, and thus were very
perceptive. They would not fall for Uednuer's strategies.

"Do ye now possess this power that ye claim Näquäsone bears?" the arthropods jeered.
"Shall ye now throw us out, like he threw out thy brethren?"

"I need not do anything." Fürslem replied. "Ye are only adding to the punishment that
Näquäsone shall mete unto thee!"

"If that be the greatest threat that awaits us, then we shall risk his wrath, and continue
----there may be others among thy kin who desire true knowledge." the arthropods
arrogantly answered. "Let us begin where we left off. We do not question the fact that
Näquäsone kindled the spark that began Uemievärs, but this has now grown into a flame
that he no longer can control. There is no single being responsible for the state that
Uemievärs is currently in, but rather a great evolutionary process, progressing to higher
and higher forms. There were simpler beings before ye came to be, and their children
steadily advanced, until thy time."

"Then why do I and Nämnuestär not remember our parents?" Fürslem asked.

"Näquäsone has tried to keep you ignorant of this process," the arthropods replied. "He
has erased your memories of that time."

"Then why do our children remember us? Why have they not advanced?" inquired Fürslem.

"Evolution takes so much longer than the duration of thy lifespan!" the creatures laughed.
"Is not this progress manifest in us? Behold our technology! The days of being governed
by another entity is over for us. We broke from Näquäsone's power long ago, and ye can
see how we have prospered! We offer thee a chance to reach a greater height in the
evolutionary process, like many other worlds have done. Yea, the very same ones of thy
kin that were banished now prosper, and are our brothers in study and achievements. One
of their descendents is here with us, come to tell thee of the splendor that awaits those
that form their own realities!"

At that moment, one that appeared to be one of the Ærnäm emerged form one of the
arthropod aircraft, and began to speak. "My brethren!" it shouted, "Listen to our voices!
We have come out of benevolence for all life, showing thee the way to true joy. I am a
descendent of those who left this isle hundreds of years ago. We now enjoy a life that is
far more glorious than ye could ever imagine, and we offer thee the possibility of enjoying
such! Come, drink of the Uenmoem Oelär, as a symbol of thy riddance of tyranny! Show all
that ye shall rule thyselves, by thy standards!"

Fürslem steadfastly attacked this onslaught of deceit, shouting: "Ye are liars, and live in
mockery of thy creator! Thy speach shows that ye are fools, for no system of such
precision as Uemievärs could be formed without design. Näquäsone conceived this universe's
structure from the first!"

Nämnuestär echoed her husband's words, as she exclaimed, "Indeed, it is impossible for unity
to arise from chaos! Ye of all creatures should understand this, for it required much planning
to construct such simple devices as thy technology. How foolish ye do make thyselves appear!"

"In truth, ye are indeed foolish!'" Fürslem proclaimed. "Ye may have some knowledge of the
workings of Uemievärs, but ye are wholly misfounded in thy beliefs concerning the origin of
all things. Leave us!"

But the incarnate Hiedäms would not yet cease from their lying, and instead taunted Fürslem
and Nämnuestär, saying: "Aha, we see. Ye prefer to remain ignorant of the tremendous might
and joy that could be gained if ye would open thy minds; ye would rather remain in the bliss
of ignorance. So may thy choice be, but it is not the choice of the wise, nor is it our choice."

"The foolish may deem their ways wise, and such is the case with thee." Fürslem said in
response to the arthropods' mockery. "Get thyselves hence from this land, before the wrath of
Näquäsone comes upon thee!" Fürslem bellowed.

"Tremble in fear, O mighty truth-seekers, for the wrath of the Great Imposter is nigh!" the
wicked creatures laughed. "Come, all ye who are wise and mighty, and drink from the Uenmoem
Oelär. Show Näquäsone, the world ----yea, the universe---- that ye are the rulers of thyselves,
and that no other being is thy master! Power is thine for the taking! Drink, and rid thyselves of
tyranny! Who shall come?"

"None shall, ye baseborn beasts!" Fürslem replied furiously. But to the horror of Fürslem and
Nämnuestär, the other Ærnäm ran to the forbidden pool, and dived into it.

The people then began to drink, and to babble about the pursuit of knowledge and power, for
the people had left their minds defenseless against the lies of the Hiedäms, and had become like
unto a people under spell. Fürslem and Nämnuestär put forth every effort to halt this madness,
but they only received the blows of the arthropods in response. Yet they did not cease in their
actions, but continued to plead with people.

"Do not doubt Näquäsone!" Fürslem begged. "Stop thy sin! Our maker has ever been kind to us,
never giving cause for this insurrection! These guileful creatures speak falsehood, and have
deceived thee! Why do ye trust the words of the wicked instead of the truth of Näquäsone?"

"Children!" Nämnuestär cried, "Offspring of our bodies! Abandon this evil, and return unto
righteousness! Näquäsone has given us life and joy; he would never deceive us!"

But the cries of Fürslem and Nämnuestär went unheeded by the people, and instead provoked
the arthropods to even greater violence. They beat them back to a place out of sight of the pool,
despite the valiant and strong resisting fight that the two put up, and them smote them furiously,
until blood flowed from Fürslem's and Nämnuestär's bodies and stained the exoskeletons of the
arthropods. Nigh unto death, both husband and wife finally fell to the ground. The arthropods then
stood back, and kept a watch on the two, while the other people filled themselves, ignorant of
the arthropods’ malicious actions.

Eventually, all of the ÆrnämIIsave Fürslem and Nämnuestär IIhad taken their fill of the Uenmoem
Oelär. Fürslem and Nämnuestär both looked up, no longer feeling the tears that fell from their eyes,
nor the pain of their wounds, for their hearts were crushed with pain. Amidst this anguish, Fürslem
breathed out words that the others somehow heard, and that the Ærnäm forever remembered.
He said, "How quickly have ye abandoned the unfailing truths of thy maker, in pursuit of evil's
flattering lies."

The others fell silent, and looked at what they had done.

"Shut up thy mouth, benighted dotard!" an arthropod yelled, as it smote the two to the ground with
a sweeping blow across their faces. "We have won! Ours is the----"

Suddenly, the sky above Æläntiel became a blinding white, for Näquäsone had made himself visible.
The incarnate Hiedäms and rebellious Ærnäm, in spite of all their recent boastings, fell prostrate before
the maker of Uemievärs. Even Fürslem and Nämnuestär, who had never before felt terror in
Näquäsone's presence, fell upon their faces out of reverence for him, for his presence was exceedingly
great and powerful.

Näquäsone then spoke, his voice filling the valleys and shaking the hills, saying:"What have ye done,
O Ærnäm?" All of their actions were known to him ----for nothing in Uemievärs can ever evade his
sight---- but he was testing the people's hearts.

"We have drinken of the Uenmoem Oelär." a small faction of the people replied.

"Why have ye distrusted me, and did what I forbade?' inquired Näquäsone.

A great clamor arose among the Ærnäm at this question, for the people began to rise from the ground,
blaming others (especially the arthropods) for the sin that was their own. Näquäsone was greatly
grieved at the sight of this uproar, for the people were adding more evil to their original transgression
with their attempts to evade the responsibility of their sin. Yet he also perceived some humility
amidst this pandemonium, for seven hundred people ----still prostrate before their maker---- confessed
their sin, and begged for forgiveness. No mortal ears could hear this streak of repentance, for the
cacophony of accusational cries bore the far greater volume. But Näquäsone heard them.

Näquäsone them silenced the chaos of the Ærnäm, and revealed the the falsity of the Hiedäms's words,
as he said, "Great is thy sin, O Ærnäm! Ye deemed the words of these newcomers to be more veracious
than mine, but behold! The actions of these creatures negate their own speech, for they said, 'We
broke away from Näquäsone's power long ago', but they now lay prostrate before me. And concerning
their claims about the people who first left Æläntiel, I shall have these foul creatures tell whether they
spoke in truth or falsity." Näquäsone turned to the incarnate Hiedäms upon saying this, and inquired,
"What hath become of those who first left Æläntiel, O Cursäntems, first of all traitors?"

"D-dead. They have died;" the arthropods replied, stammering in fear.

"How did this happen?" Näquäsone asked.

"They were killed." the Hiedäms replied.
"WHO killed them?' Näquäsone thundered, his face blazing with wrath.

"We did!" the arthropods squealed in fear.

"Then who is this, whom ye claimed to be an Ærnäm of thy friendship?" he asked, as he looked at the
human-like creature that had come from one the arthropod spacecraft.

"It is but a biological c-copy of a person, that i-instead houses a spirit loyal to Ue-ue-uednuer, lord."
said the arthropods.

"Behold the foundation for thy rebellion!" boomed Näquäsone, as he again turned toward the Ærnäm.
"The evil of these beings is of a depth more ponderable than what has been mentioned here. These
creatures used thy brethren to gain the physical bodies they now possess, and then exterminated those
people mercilessly. Ye have based thy future upon falsities, denouncing my love and truth in doing so.
Ye have exchanged thy former innocence and joy for pain and suffering. This choice was made by
thyselves, and thus the blame for thy sin is thine alone.

"Ye desired knowledge, and ye shall receive it. Ye shall know what it is to feel betrayal, pain, anguish,
regret, guilt, fear, despair, anger, hatred. Ye shall know the feeling of sorrow, when those dear to thee
perish, and indeed the feeling of death, for now ye are mortal.

"Ye shall die, as I warned thee. Thy life shall extend no more than 350 years, and when ye die, thy spirits
shall be held in waiting until my appointed time. Ye shall strive to sustain thy lives and the lives of thy
families, while the forces of evil antagonize thee.

"Ye have chosen to follow the counsels of Uednuer, and ye shall ever be haunted by him and his thralls
----though ye ever afterward rue the day ye followed them, and become their bitterest enemies---- until
Uemievärs is remade.

"But I shall not leave thee desolate, but shall always love thee and be with thee, and one shall come to
redeem thy spirits. Ye have rejected me, but I shall never reject thee." Näquäsone then faced the seven
hundred who confessed their sin, and he proclaimed, "Ye have admitted thy sin, and therfore have not
added more evil to thy transgression. Ye also shall suffer the same travails that thy brethren shall endure,
but ye shall have the greater strength to bear this grief, and thus be able to perceive the good that still
remains, while the other Ærnäm despair. Ye also shall perceive the wiles of evil more clearly, and thus be
able to confound the plots of Uednuer often. Ye shall suffer no illness, and ye shall heal quickly and surely
from most physical and spiritual wounds. Thy lives shall extend to a thousand years, if ye are not slain first,
and ye shall be the wisest of all physical creatures in Uemievärs.

"Thus, seeing that ye have been given these gifts, use them for the benefit and edification of others. Be
not haughty in thy powers, nor use them selfishly nor for ill, for I have given thee much, and shall mete out
a greater punishment to thee if ye revel in sin."

After declaring the fates of the Ærnäm, Näquäsone turned toward the embodied Hiedäms, his face filled with
indignation, and thundered furiously, "Woe unto thee, Cursäntems, original renegades! Ye had not yet finished
glutting thy foul spirits on evil, but have instead planted thy blemish on ÆrtIIyea, twice! Because ye have
taken my creation, and twisted it to produce bodies corrupt enough to accept thy deplorable spirits, ye
----and all Cursäntems who take on physical form---- shall be bound to these bodies until the day of thy
death, and then thy spirits shall be sent away, isolated from all others of my creation. There ye shall revel in
thy thoughts and deeds, though they torment thee; from thence ye shall never return!

"Any information concerning technology and the secrets of the Ærnäm must be discovered by physical means,
and not by bodiless Cursäntems. Any Cursäntem that attempts to violate this mandate shall be sent to the
darkness with the dead Cursäntems, before they ever utter a word. I shall not allow thee an advantage over
my children! Ye chose a physical state, and shall be limited to physical powers!

"A time shall come, when thy darkest anticipations are destroyed by one whom ye could not sully, nor destroy.
For I shall raise up one who shall redeem the Ærnäm, and destroy thy ultimate design! In the end, all of thy
efforts shall come to naught but greater torment for thyselves. Such is the doom that ye have chosen!"

Having finished speaking, Näquäsone sent the people ----save for Fürslem and Nämnuestär---- and the
incarnate Hiedams out of Æläntiel, transporting the Ærnäm to the eastern shore of the great ocean Oeshus,
and the Hiedäms back to Khichgm Gmuehrkchäzv. Näquäsone sent Ciemdthellär to Fürslem and Nämnuestär,
and she healed their wounds. But a white scar, from the last blow that the arthropods gave him, remained
on Fürslem's face. It looked like a blade, shooting forth from his mouth, and pointing to the right.

Mention must also be made here of the many hundreds of thousands of animals that chose to follow their
masters into exile. Some fell to evil, and joined Uednuer, but most have proven to be a great aid to the Ærnäm,
as friends and as allies in the many wars against Uednuer.

When the people and Hiedäms had been expelled from Æläntiel, Näquäsone barred entrance to the island. All
creatures that had left that wondrous land were severed from it forever. Only Fürslem and Nämnuestär
――along with the animals that remained on the island ――dwell there now, with hearts scarred with pain.
Their former joy has been lost, for who can endure what they have endured, and remain unchanged? They
indeed know suffering, and enjoy only fleeting moments of happiness. Never again did they bear children, for
fear that these would also fall into sin. But they live on, communing with their creator, awaiting the day of the
redemption of the Ærnäm.

Here
ends
the
ORNÄUEVÄS.

The
purity
of
Uemievärs
has

been
lost,
and
only
memories

remain
of
the
innocence
that

once
was.
The
wiles
of

Uednuer
are
found
in
every

region
of
Uemievärs,
and
much
is
destroyed by
his
wickedness.

But
those
faithful
to
Näquäsone

resist
this
evil,
forging
on
in

the
hope
that
their
maker
shall

save
them
in
the
end,
and

destroy
the
darkness
of
the
Enemy.

[Werekitty119]

I've got half-way through it, and I really like it (they just made the insect slaves), so I'll finish it tomorrow. I've gotta go now, but I am finding the weird spacing (enter every few words, ect.) a bit odd.

[BigIslandYU2]

Thanks to all who voted so far! A very special thanks for you, Werekitty ----you left a comment! A nice one, too! As for the spacing, I'm going to call that "formatting issues"! I'll see if I can more accurately replicate the printed page in this next installment. For example, instead of spacing out the paragraphs, I'll simply use the substitute for paragraph indentation ---- this (¶) little guy, the Pilcrow Sign! Also, when you see this: =========================================================================, that denotes a page end. It looks kind of silly, but it also seems necessary to me, otherwise the footnotes (of which there are far too many!) will become very confusing.

Well, folks, here comes the next installment. This is the revised edition that only I have in possession so far (yes, I really do tell myself that I "don't have the time to send it to the publisher!"). It is rather a bit different in pace and narrative structure, and probably the worse for it, but I still think some may find it interesting.

Here goes!

============================================================================================================================

A Word from the Translator

¶This version of the Ælnäthän has been translated out of the Thiesequä of its original writing,
and printed in the Common Tongue. I have done such so that other worlds may learn the
history of our own. In [book I am currently writing], which records much of the happenings in
these later years, I wrote very little of the events that preceded. Seeing this lack, I decided
to compile an edition of the Ælnäthän which would be beneficial to all worlds, which is how
[book I am currently writing] was written. Thus, I have inserted many notes throughout this
edition, explaining objects that are widely recognized in our world, but perhaps are unknown in
others.
¶Some mention of the history of these writings is quite due. The Ornäueväs, the book
that preceded this introduction, is the most ancient of all writings that we possess. Its
authorship is uncertain, though it is generally attributed to Somädäm, a warrior and historian
who had lived in the time described by that book. The Ælnäthän was written by perhaps the
most well-known historian of my lifetime, Välsär Thänäm. It has since become the most widely
read record of the Last Siege War.
¶Without further explanation, here follows the work proper.
=========================================================================


A Record of the Ancient Days

Here is given a brief chronicle of the eight wars that broke out after the Ærnäm’s
banishment from Æläntiel, and before the Ælnäthän.

OELÄRVÄR
1000-1001

¶Its name is Thiesequä for Water-war. It was given this name, because it was fought mostly
upon the shores of the great ocean Oeshus, and also because the Ærnäm were now banished
from Æläntiel, because they had drinken from forbidden waters. Somädäm, a Quænlor of great
strength and courage, led the Ærtäns in this conflict, and his zeal passed on to those around him.
But it was a terrible war of great death on the side of the Ærtäns, and they eventually had to
retreat into secret places, in woods and mountains and caves, praying that they would not be
found, and devising better forms of warfare.

RÄRNVIEH
1024

¶Its name is Mäslælm for Reversed victory. After years of searching, the Enemy finally
discovered the major refuge of the Ærtäns. It was in a mountain cavern where the Cäläscie now
is. The ecueds and Gruelies cut off all routes of escape, quietly and in one night, and then
attacked at the break of dawn. The warriors were roused, and Somädäm, who was present at the
refuge, ran into the midst of the invaders, heedless of their firearms. The warriors were
emboldened by his courage, and they too charged into the Enemy ranks. The invaders were not

=========================================================================

prepared nor trained for such a response (in almost all other cases, the people would flee or
surrender). The Ærnäm, with their swords and spears, and the animals, with their strength, crushed
the invaders, and sent them fleeing back to Kichgum Gmuerkchäzuv, which the Ærtäns had begun to
call Cruesväs (Mäslælm for Cruelty-valley). The Ærtäns retrieved thousands of the Enemy’s firearms,
and they used these, and soon reverse-engineered their own. Somädäm, who had fallen into general
reproach after the Oelärvär, was then made the leader of the people.

ÄMRÆSIME
1047-1051

¶Its name is Mäslælm for Enemy retreating. The Ærtäns, equipped with swords, shields, and
firearms, drove the Enemy out of all lands north of Cruesväs. Outposts, called the Ämäneh-Häkhors
(Thiesequä for Enemy-Watchers), were set at the borders of that dark valley. During this war,
Somädäm, now known as the Sordunfäl (Mäslælm for Sword-unfailing), met Därtäfier, a brave maiden
of the few surviving Härnäm people that had repented after their rebellion in the first sullying of Ært.
By the end of the war, Somädäm the Sordunfäl and Därtäfier the Mænvær (Mäslælm for Maiden-warrior)
had married each other. The Niesteh Thämneh (Thiesequä for Mighty Siege) had begun.

THÄMNEHVÄR: THE FIRST SIEGE WAR
1062-1067

¶Its name is Thiesequä for Siege-war. This war was spurred by the Enemy’s desire to escape the
hold the Ærtäns had them under. They met with limited initial success, and after a long and hard
struggle the Ærtäns finally drove them back even deeper into the polar valley.

=========================================================================

¶Somädäm then came home to Därtäfier, who was heavy with child and safe at the Cäläscie, after
eight months of absence, for he had his wife stop fighting and remain at the fortress once she had
conceived. Yet while they slept together, happy and confident that danger was far from them, a
traitor came, and stabbed Somädäm six times in his sleep. His name was Niestlem, and had
aforehand been a trusted warrior. How the Enemy turned him to its side remains unknown to this
day, for hearing the cries of her husband beside her, Därtäfier awoke and broke the traitor’s neck
upon instinct. She then turned to her husband, whose blood covered his body and filled his throat.
His dying words were, “Därtäfier, wonderful wife, thou hast been the greatest person and most
skilled warrior I ever have known. Take Clärähied [his sword of a rare, silver-colored form of sämträ,
its name being Mäslælm for Cleaver of the wicked] as thy own, and devastate the Enemy with it.
When thy time to join me has come, pass it to the next best warrior of the land ―regardless of rank
or lineage. Let this be so for as long as this blade lasts. I pass on to Näquäsoen’s keeping. My love
shall be with thee always; I shall watch thee upon Ært until thou cometh to me. Näquäsoen be with
thee.” He then kissed her, and died.
¶The Enemy then again attacked hard from Cruesväs, thinking that without the Sordunfäl, the
Ærtäns would fall. But this was not so, for the Ærtäns now were enraged at the assassination of their
leader, and destroyed the attackers from Cruesväs in a day. So ended the first Siege War.

____________________________________________________________
2 'säm-trä, Mäslælm for Strong-gray, the strongest substance known to the Ærnäm.

=========================================================================

SÄCOMD THÄMNEHVÄR: THE SECOND SIEGE WAR
1145-1148

¶Its name is Thiesequä for Second Siege-war. This conflict, like the Siege War before it, was
spurred by the Enemy’s attempt to escape the Niesteh Thämneh. Därtäfier and Somädäm’s son,
Ämfir, was grown up to be a strong warrior, and he proved his valor, skill, and wit in this war.
Därtäfier led the Ærtäns to victory, and Ämfir received the name Cemän, Thiesequä for Keen-aim,
from those who fought with him.

HÄVÄRIME VÄR: THE THIRD SIEGE WAR
1471-1496

¶Its name is Thiesequä for Wavering War, because victory seemed to waver between the two
sides constantly in this war. Unlike the previous two Siege Wars, this conflict was begun by an
Ærtän attack. Ämfir Cemän was now ruler over the Ærtäns, for Därtäfier the Mænvær had died of
natural causes, some years earlier. Ämfir believed that the Ærtäns could now not merely hold the
Enemy in one place, but that they could destroy it completely. By this time, the Ærtäns had
nearly matched the Enemy in technology, and were far bolder then before.
¶Thus, the Ærtäns attacked Cruesväs. But although the Enemy had been afraid to launch an
attack upon the Ærtäns, they were in no wise incapable of defending their stronghold. At times the
Ærtäns possessed less land than what they started with, and at times this could be said of the
Enemy.
¶But at the end of the twenty-five year war, the Enemy had been driven from Ært. They fled to
the moon, and stayed there for over a thousand years. The Ærtäns built fortresses to orbit Ært, so
that any attack from the moon could be destroyed in space.

=========================================================================


¶Soon after this war, Ämfir Cemän, who bore Clärähied as the finest Ærtän warrior, was crowned
the first king of the Ærtäns. Additionally, the people of Ært began to heavily explore the star system
in which they lived. In 1501, they made contact with the creatures of Ĭln , a moon which orbited the
Ræäl, the third särtämd from the sun. They proved a friendly race, and soon allied themselves
together in common aim to destroy the dark arthropods.

HUESVÄR: THE FOURTH SIEGE WAR
2526-2536

¶Its name is Mäslælm for Wondrous war. It was spurred by the Enemy’s attempt to re-take
Cruesväs. They were halted at the fortresses orbiting Ært, and the first space battle ensued.
¶King Ämfir II, grandson of King Ämfir, was king of Ärläson at the time (by now, Ært had divided into
the seven nations that exist to this day), but he been paralyzed during a crash in flight training. His
son, Sodrecärd Nievær Cemän, only forty years old at the time, was put in command of the war. He
had proven himself in several espionage missions to the moon, and had been given Clärähied in honor
of his skill.
¶The war was long and hard fought, but by the end of ten years, all but a few of the Enemy’s
moon-fortresses were destroyed, and several hundred of their space-fortresses were chased out of the
Solar System. The Ærtäns and Ĭlnōs built fortresses (the OBFs, or Oter Besemf Ftäshums, Conom for
Outer Defense Stations) on Färästär, the outermost särtämd of the Solar System, and set up a trielän
barrier on Färästär, for it never rotated on its axis and was thus the ideal särtämd for such a purpose.
To keep an even closer watch on the Enemy, the Ærtäns also built fortresses of their own upon the moon.
¶It was at this time that the present king of Sutärlä, Feldlem Sutnäm, began construction on the
Uemdärcowrs (Thiesequä for Under-course), a magnetically motivated transporter, began, using ancient
caverns and subterranean riverways as a route to Cruesväs. It was designed to allow rapid,

=========================================================================

invisible transport for warriors, so that if the Enemy ever did return to its former stronghold, the
Ærtäns could bring swift military response to repel them.

THÄNTREH: THE FIFTH SIEGE WAR
2998-3002

¶Its name is Mäslælm for Siege Breach. It too was spurred by the Enemy’s attempt to escape
from the Siege. The entirety of the Enemy’s strength on the moon was put forth, and it broke free
from the grasp the Ærtäns and Ĭlnōs held them with. Uednuer’s forces then completely abandoned
the moon. While Nievær Cemän, now king of Ärläson, defended the people’s moon-forts with most of
Ært’s strength, the Enemy fled from the other side of the moon to Cruesväs, and destroyed any
Ærtän holds there. The Ærtäns, and many thousands of Ĭlnōs also, returned to Ært, and attempted
to drive the Enemy from Cruesväs.
¶But the Enemy had come with thousands of Äfäs, and these, combined with secret, hidden
weapons and fortresses that the Ærtäns had failed to discover during their occupation of the valley,
made the Enemy virtually unassailable.
¶It was at this time that the Uemdärcowrs first came into actual use. King Tävävner Sutnäm,
but twenty years of age at the time, used the Uemdärcowrs to bring a thousand warriors to the
heart of the Enemy. He and the warriors he brought fought valiantly, and before they retreated to
Surnfors by the transporter they had come by, they left several fusion bombs, that detonated a few
minutes after the Sutärlän troops left. Hundreds of Uednuer’s finest Gruelie warriors and commanders
were lost in the blast, but most of the forces were located at the valley’s perimeter, and little actual
damage occurred to the Enemy. It rather excited their anger, and also a search for the mysterious
transporter that had permitted such a bold attack.

=========================================================================

¶To prevent discovery of their secret transporter, the Sutärläns destroyed and filled the portion
of the Uemdärcowrs that fell within the blast radius of the transporter’s first attack, so that when
the Enemy tunneled in search for the Uemdärcowrs, they would be left without a trace.
¶Eventually, the war ceased. Most of the orbiting Ærtän fortresses had been destroyed, and with
the strength of Ært concerned with containing the Enemy in Cruesväs, they were not rebuilt. The
Enemy was absent from the moon, yet present in the darkness of Ært’s south pole, waiting for
Uednuer’s next command of war.
















=========================================================================

Ælnäthän















=========================================================================





Chapter I
Sudden Assault


¶KING Nievær, Prince Välnäs of Sutärlä has sent a communication from Färästär, declaring that a
large Enemy host is approaching the Solar System boundaries from deep space.” reported the
ciensän¹ of the king of Ärläson. He was walking with his wife, Queen Læätrien, through the
gardens of the royal castle and capital of Ärläson ―the Cäläscie. It was the first day of the year
3200, 2,200 years after the Ærnäm had been banished from Æläntiel. The king and queen had left
the new year's celebration in the castle just moments before.
¶King Nievær removed the ciensän from his belt, alarmed yet composed, and inquired further
into the matter, asking: “The Enemy has verily been detected in deep space, Dämquil?”
¶“Most assuredly, sire.” replied the messenger. “The exact numbers of the host is not known,
but those at Färästär estimate that sixty thousand Esgäms, ² eight thousand Näväs, ³ and five
hundred Äfäs4 compose this Enemy force.”
¶“Transfer Prince Välnäs' message to me,” ordered the king, “and stand by.”

____________________________________________________________
¹ 'cīn-sän, Mäslælm for communication-system.
² 'Ĕs-gäm, derived from a Mäslælm acronym, Ev Sil Got Äld Mec; Evil Single Pilot Elevated Craft.
³ 'Nä-vä, derived from a Mäslælm acronym, Nul Äm Vel Älof; Multiple Enemy Vehicle Aloft.
4 'Ä-fä, a Mäslælm acronym, Äm Fors Älof; Enemy Fortress Aloft.

=========================================================================

¶“I will do so, sire.” replied Dämquil.
¶King Nievær looked down at his ciensän's information display, which declared, “Loading Data,”
and then he looked before him into his wife's gray eyes, and grimly said, “Now our speculations and
fears have become truth, and shall attack our outer defenses, because of my foolishness. Ah! Why
did we not destroy all of those wretched insects when we had the chance! Only a few hundred Äfäs
were left, and the Enemy moon-tunnels. We could have obliterated those Enemy fortresses, before
they fled the Solar System. But not I, indeed not! I called the men back, believing that those Enemy
stragglers would perish before they ever made a landing.”
¶“Nievær,” said Læätrien, “Thou and thy men were weary of war, and when only such little,
insignificant remnants were fleeing to deep space, to no-one knew where, and with the Enemy’s
moon-tunnels posing a greater threat, it was most logical to let those cowards flee to what seemed
destined to be a slow death. Do not berate thyself so!” And she embraced her husband.
¶Nievær smiled slightly, as he held Læätrien, and then declared, “Verily, many things are lacking in
Uemievärs, but no-one could ask for a better wife than the one I have been blessed with!” He then
held her at arm's length, and sadly stated, "But I should have blasted those Äfäs. This attack bodes
more ill than its mere size. If the Enemy has been stable for a sufficient amount of time to have the
capability of building such hosts, than there are only more of these attacks in our future. We do not
know where these numbers are coming from. The Huesvär does not deserve the name Wondrous War,
due to my incompetence."
¶Prince Välnäs' message began to run on the king's ciensän, and both king and queen stood
beside each other, and watched the display of the ciensän, as it changed from the sighted Enemy
forces, statistics, and Prince Välnäs' face.
¶The communication ran as follows:

=========================================================================

¶“King Nievær of Ärläson, we have detected a large Enemy host in deep space, approaching
Färästär. Estimates of the force's numbers are placed around sixty thousand Esgäms, eighteen
thousand Näväs, and five hundred Äfäs. The host is traveling at approximately one-tenth lightspeed,
and it is currently 440,000,000 disnärcs¹ away. With these statistics, we believe that this host will
have reached Färästär at 19:00 Ært time, assuming that the host retains its velocity. We have just
over thirty thousand fighter- and weapons-craft, but to make a substantial defense, at least twelve
thousand more spacecraft are needed. I ask that you come as chief commander of this battle, if
you so wish. I have forwarded similar messages to Ĭln and the other Ærtän nations. May Näquäsoen's
will be done. Farewell.”

¶The message ended. The screen displayed
“Message Completed: Year 3200, Day 1, 6:00.
Message Sent: Year 3200, Day 1, 6:01.
Message Received: Year 3200, Day1, 9:01”

¶Nievær looked up from the ciensän and upon the fair green hills that spread out before the
Ciemeltä, the mountain upon which the Cäläscie was built, and where Nievær and Læätrien stood.
Both King and Queen (Læätrien had now joined her husband in gazing over the hills) were silent. The
sky was gray and overcast, but the air was cool, still, and slightly moist, a lovely morning that
foretold a beautiful day. It was the first day of the three thousand two hundredth year, a day marking
new beginnings, a day of joy and celebration ―or perhaps might have been such. But a dual storm
was destined to break, with the dark purpleclouds swirling over the hills in the distance, and the black
swarms rushing toward Färästär.
¶"We have three hours to mobilize." the king grimly observed. "War has opened anew."
¶As if it forewarned of the danger to come, lightning began to flash in the horizon, and the wind
grew stronger. King and Queen returned indoors, bringing in trepidation where they had left with joy.

____________________________________________________________
¹ 'Dĭs-närc, Mäslælm for Distance Mark. One disnärc is equivalent to 1.97 miles.

=========================================================================

[Werekitty119]

Now that I've actually voted, I'll give you the best description of this that I can from an outsiders prospective.

People that speak another language similar to ours but speak like medieval people, who fly around in space fighting ghost baddies.

In other words, pure win.

You've made a few typos (unless they actually call them purpleclouds), but still a great thing!

[BigIslandYU2]

Now that I've actually voted, I'll give you the best description of this that I can from an outsiders prospective.

People that speak another language similar to ours but speak like medieval people, who fly around in space fighting ghost baddies.

In other words, pure win.

You've made a few typos (unless they actually call them purpleclouds), but still a great thing!

Thank you for the kind words! "Pure win", eh? I have never heard my work described in the manner you did. It made me laugh at once, both at its frank description and its accuracy.
As for the "purpleclouds" phenomenon, my explanation is, "No, they call them purple clouds. The reason it's written here as purpleclouds, is, uh..............human error formatting issues!"

Tomorrow, Lord-willing, I will try to read your story here.

[Werekitty119]

Aww, thanks! Oh, yeah, yesterday I finally found out where your username is from, you Sonic 1 fan you!

[BigIslandYU2]

Aww, thanks! Oh, yeah, yesterday I finally found out where your username is from, you Sonic 1 fan you!

Alas! My secret identity ----discovered!

Yes, I am very much a fan of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game for the SEGA Genesis (still have the console, still have the game, it all still works, and we still play it!). I jest that "I was born the same year as Sonic" with my family, because I, too, was born in 1991.

So here, folks, is the meaning of my name!

Big Island was an alias used by Naoto Oshima, the artist responsible for Sonic's design. It is a translation of his family name.

YU2 was an alias used by Yuji Naka, and everyone knows who he is, right? Oh. He was the lead programmer for the original game, and has since become a legend in the gaming world.

[Werekitty119]

I just saw the credits of S1 say 'YU2', which got me thinking, and then presto! Up popped 'Big Island'!

[BigIslandYU2]

Hey, why'd this thread pop back up again? Oh, because it's Next Chapter Time!
........

All right, citizens, first up ----apologies. Yes, I missed my own deadline by an hour. Ah, such is life.
.......

Here we go; chapter two!

=============================================================================
Chapter II
Combat on Edge







¶Five minutes remained of the mobilization period. Twelve thousand AFV Sciesords and four thousand AFV
Sciefors had been assembled in the Cärmäeln, the great cavern and Ärläson Scie Congämehs (ASC)¹ base.
Ärläson had gathered enough strength to completely satisfy Prince Välnäs' request, and King Nievær had
accordingly asked the other Ærtän nations to keep their forces on Ært, ready should the Enemy attack from
the South. The cave was all of granite, and had an enormous smooth floor. Its ceiling, however, was rough
and unshaped, echoing the noises within in strange fashion. Its size is hard to fathom outside of being
present there, but some measure of understanding may be gained in knowing that it spread out across the
greater part of the mountain’s width, a mountain which required several days walk around it on foot. Adding
to its sense of enormity was the fact that it was filled with a gray-and-white ocean of spacecraft. Middle-
aged boys, being too young to fight but old enough to prepare the vehicles for battle, finished
__________________________________________________________________________________________
¹The following refers to all Ärläson military terms mentioned on this page, in the order they appeared:
AFV, a Thiesequä acronym for Ärläson Flieime Vehiecls; Ärläson Flying Vehicles.
'Scī-sôrd, Thiesequä for Sky-sword. These are the single-pilot fighter-craft of Ärläson.
'Scī-fôrs, Thiesequä for Sky-force. These are the weapons-craft of Ärläson.
'Är-lä-sŏn Scī 'Cŏn-gä-mĕs, Thiesequä for Ärläson Sky Companies.

=============================================================================
fueling and polishing the spacecraft, and then began clearing the Cärmäeln of any obstructive objects.
Having finished the inspection of the vehicles they would enter battle in, the Scieværs¹ (a total of
52,000 had been summoned to fight) were now putting on their armor and weapons, the weapons
intended to allow the warriors to defend themselves, should they crash upon an Enemy spacecraft. All
inside the cavern worked like clockwork, filling the Cärmäeln with the din of the mechanism's operation.
Outside the cavern, the once young and distant storm had grown apace, hovering over the Ciemeltä. No
rain had yet fallen, and the air was still calm, save for the moments when the dark sky lit up, and thunder
shook the air and land ―an occurrence that seemed to feed itself, causing it to erupt more and more
rapidly as time passed.
¶But all of this failed to solicit the attention of Nievieh Cemän ―Sodrecärd²of ASC and the son of
King Nievær― as he ran through the fleets, intent upon reaching his family. They were waiting for him at
the Ronsuräld, which was a large semi-circular stadium, hollowed into the granite of a natural mountain
ledge at the western edge of the Cärmäeln. This stadium faced away from the mountain, for it was
constructed so that the families of the Scieværs could watch the spacecraft depart. It was a structure
of great antiquity, having been built over a thousand years previous, and various small amounts of
weathering were visible upon the structure. Moss covered much of the Ronsuräld, for no battle had been
fought for nearly two hundred years, and the structure had not been in use for an equal space of time.
¶Today was different from the previous two centuries, however. War had indeed opened anew, and
the Ronsuräld was nearly filled to its 400,000 person capacity. Yet unlike in the Cärmäeln, where necessity
_________________________________________________________________________________________
¹'Scī-vār, Mäslælm for Sky-warrior.
² 'Sŏd-rĕ-cärd, Mäslælm for Secondary-commander.

=============================================================================
demanded that messages be proclaimed from loudspeakers and that men
shout above the din of machinery, the Ronsuräld was as silent as the
stone it was hewn from, for the families, not knowing whether today would be the last day their loved
one dwelt in the physical realm (some families present indeed never had faced war, having been born
after the Thäntreh), were silent and sad. Such a sudden assault had not been expected.
¶Before the entrance to the Ronsuräld, Nievieh found his family, after he had run through the sky-
hosts of Ärläson. He immediately embraced his wife, dark-haired Trientus, and then began to speak
hurriedly, for the time to leave was drawing very nigh.
¶“I cannot linger here much longer than to say farewell,” he said, “so children! Come here!” And his
six children (who had stood back some distance as their parents embraced) came forward, and hugged
their father. Ämierähied, fourteen years old, was the eldest child and son. Särtrien was twelve, and was
the eldest daughter. Sämsom was a boy of ten years. Numwæn, a daughter, had turned nine on the
new year. Ädieärs was a six-year-old son. The youngest child, Trienärt, was three years of age, and
a daughter.
¶“Farewell, my wonderful family!” Nievieh said, after he had hugged his children. “I love thee all,
and shall see all of thee again!” He then embraced and kissed his wife, and softly said, “I love thee most
dearly of all things! Do not worry overmuch; I have not proven unfit for combat in the past, have I?”
He smiled.
¶“Thou hast certainly not.” Trientus replied assuredly. “I shall try my best, Nievieh, to remember
that. But be careful, and do come back!”
¶“I shall try my best!” he said, as he turned toward the Cärmäeln. “Fa-rewell, and may Näquäsoen
guide us all!” he shouted back to them.
¶When he had reached his fighter (which was located toward the center of the host), the time was
9:59, and all the Cärmäeln was silent. The king of Ärläson, in armor and full battle array, stood atop his
Sciesord at the mouth of the cavern, and began to address all who were present.

=============================================================================
¶“Today,” the king declared, “is the first day of the three thousand two hundredth year, and should
have been a day for joy and merriment. But things of peril have been this day discovered. For this day
also shall be marked as the first day that Färästär was at-tacked, the first day there was combat on
the Solar System's edge, and even the first day that the Enemy attacked since the Thäntreh. Yet
gravest of all things that this day shall be remembered for is the revelation that the Enemy indeed dwells
in deep space.
¶"But we shall not allow them to penetrate our outer defenses! They shall be halted in their advance,
and shall rather be destroyed! Remember thy families, and their freedom, and indeed the freedom of all
righteous creatures, for that is what ye fight for! Fight well, in the name of righteousness, and may
Näquäsoen protect us all!”

¶All who were present cheered, and then fell silent again, when the king entered his spacecraft and
closed its hatch. The other Scieværs did the same, and then the entire host activated its engines. The
sound inside the cavern rose sharply. The spacecraft began to hover. Sound grew steadily as the
engines produced more power.
¶With a piercing blast King Nievær rocketed out of the cave, the sixteen thousand spacecraft
following him into the dark sky, with their powerful screams combining into one great, deafening chorus.
Thunder and lightning joined the orchestra. The clouds rent, and their insides fell to Ært in torrents,
washing those in the Ronsuräld to the shelter of the Cärmäeln.
¶“All craft,” the king commanded, once they had reached an altitude of thirty thousand rods,
“activate primary engines.” The host followed his orders.

=============================================================================
¶“Sciesords of the Fifth and Sixth Congämehs,”¹ commanded Nievær, once outside the atmosphere,
“follow my Sciesord into Transporter Four. Of the Seventh and Eighth Sciesord Congämehs, into
Transporter Nine. Ninth and Tenth, into Transporter Ten. Eleventh and Twelfth, into Transporter Eleven.
Thirteenth and Fourteenth, into Transporter Fifteen. Fifteenth and Sixteenth, into Transporter Sixteen.
Sciefors of the Third and fourth Congämehs, enter Transporter Seventeen. Fifth and Sixth, into
Transporter Eighteen. Seventh and Eighth, into Transporter Nineteen. Ninth and Tenth, into Transporter
Twenty.”
¶These Transporters that King Nievær spoke of were immense vehicles, powered by nuclear-fission
motors. They were formed of a three-dimensional sämträ grid, with each cube of the grid able to contain
one Sciesord (two were necessary for a Sciefors). The vehicles could transport almost any military
spacecraft of Ært and Ĭln, and were used by both these worlds. Nothing covered the exterior of the grid,
except a magnetic shield used to deflect particles away from the Transporter when the vehicle was in
motion. Maximum speed approached four-tenths lightspeed. When multiple Transporters were used by one
commander (as they were now), they would dock into one large vehicle, sharing the same motors, shields,
and pilot. Before one was admitted into a Transporter, two passwords had to be remotely entered from
one's spacecraft.
¶When all of the above procedures had been completed, and as King Nievær was entering the
necessary passwords to activate the transporter motors, the voice of King Værädäm Eltärär filled King
Nievær's Sciesord with these words: “King Nievær, I have led two thousand EF-10s ¹ to the Transporters,
and we are just now entering one. I could not bear to be absent when ‘Äfä Crusher’ was to be used for
the first time.”

________________________________________________________________________________________
¹ A Congämeh of Sciesords is one thousand; of Sciefors, five hundred.
²EF-10s were the single seat fighter-craft of Elncowm at the time.

=============================================================================
¶Nievær smiled, and replied, “We are filled with gratitude to thee and thy men. Ye may join my son's
force, if you so wish.”
¶“Many thanks to you, King Nievær. I finally will be able to avenge my father's death.” replied the
king of Elncowm.
¶“Let us go into battle then!” Nievær said, and the Transporters shot off into the blackness of space.

¶There must be here some mention of King Værädäm's and Nievieh Cemän's earlier history. These two
had befriended each other when fighting in the Thäntreh, and had remained close friends ever since.
Regarding Værädäm's desire to avenge his father's death, it was an old score that Værädäm had held
against the Enemy’s Äfäs since childhood. His father, Elnfir II, was killed in 2965, while fighting an Äfä.
While Elnfir and his men were successfully destroying the defensive shields of the Enemy fortress, all
surrounding Äfäs and Enemy craft fled, and the king took this to be a retreat, and thus continued
wrecking the spacecraft. But this flee was more than just a retreat to safety, for once the Enemy host
had moved to a great distance from the failing Äfä, the retreated Enemy vehicles combined all of their
firepower and destroyed their own fortress, taking King Elnfir II and over three thousand warriors in the
resultant nuclear blast.
¶But Nievieh had devised a new plan since then, designed to use the Äfäs' defenses against them.
It had been code named "Äfä Crusher", and was known only to Nievieh Cemän, the rulers of Ært, and
the chief ruler of Ĭln.

¶The journey to Färästär lasted over eight hours, but seemed to endure just a few moments from
the perspective of the Transporters’ occupants, due to the effects of their high-speed travel.
¶The forces of Ärläson and Elncowm reached Färästär ―a brown and barren world of thin, toxic
atmosphere― around 18:57 Ært time, and found that the chief ruler of Ĭln, Rŭlĕr Rärpēsrfŭrt VII, had

=============================================================================
led five thousand Bräv Fēŭrtĕrs¹ to Färästär.
¶“Thy aid is much appreciated, great Ruler.” communicated King Nievær to the Ĭlnō ruler.
¶“It would be wrong for Ĭln to be absent in such a significant conflict.” replied Rŭlĕr Rärpēsrfŭrt VII
in his mellow, somewhat monotonous voice.
¶“We at Färästär are very thankful for the aid you have sent us,” Prince Välnäs communicated to
both rulers, “and it is an honor to serve under your command, King Nievær.”
¶“I thank thee.” the king replied. “I shall endeavor to make thy compliments fitting.”
¶The fleets were ordered, and taken one thousand disnärcs into deep space. Nievær was set on the
front of the host with ten thousand Sciesords and three thousand Sciefors; Rärpēsrfŭrt and his five
thousand Fēŭrtĕrs were set behind these; Prince Välnäs and his host of more than thirty thousand various
fighter-craft were behind these; behind these were Sodrecärd Nievieh Cemän, two thousand Sciesords and
one thousand Sciefors that King Nievær had put under his complete command, for execution of “Äfä
Crusher”; and lastly, King Værädäm and his two thousand EF-1Os, with all these being submitted to
Nievieh's orders, including King Værädäm himself.
¶Hardly had the fleets been organized, when the Enemy forces came into view. Färästär's estimates had
been quite accurate, erring only in being too modest. The Esgäms had released themselves from their own
transporters, and were arrayed in two layers of arc-shaped ranks. The Näväs (also free from their


____________________________________________________________________________________________
¹Bräv 'Fē-ŭr-'tĕrs, Ĭlnō for Brave Fighter. These are the single-seat fighter-craft of Ĭln.

=============================================================================
transporters) were encased between. Esgäms, piloted by ecueds ¹ (no more than biological robots),
were swiftly sacri-ficed by Uednuer when at war, but the Näväs were carefully defended, for their
Gruelie ² crew housed Hiedäms, which could never be replenished once depleted. Traveling slowly and
keeping a considerable distance behind were the Gruelie-crewed Äfäs, for the plan was to have the
major host clear away the defenders before the Äfäs had to fire a single shot.
¶With the Enemy before them, the battle had begun.
¶“Sciesords of the Seventh through Tenth Congämehs,” commanded King Nievær, “and Sciefors of
the Third through Eighth, proceed into battle now!” and the king and the specified forces charged
directly into the Enemy ranks. The moment that King Nievær’s Congämehs collided with the Enemy, the
King issued another command, saying: “Rärpēsrfŭrt, take your force above the Enemy. Prince Välnäs,
send him twelve thousand fighters, and you lead the remaining craft below the Enemy.” and the orders
were swiftly carried out. Thousands of fighters completely encased the Enemy and Nievær's force, and
the defenders gained the advantage in this section of the combat.
¶“All remaining forces,” commanded Sodrecärd Nievieh, “move on to the Äfäs!”
¶Obeying Nievieh's command, the remaining five thousand spacecraft sped past the trapped Enemy
host, traveling at five hundred disnärcs an hour. Upon reaching the Äfäs, Nievieh instantly initiated
“Äfä Crusher”.
¶“Sciefors,” he commanded, “divide into pairs, and disable a thirty-rod
________________________________________________________________________________________
¹ 'ĕ-cūd, a Thiesequä acronym for Eviel Crequärs Uednuer Däviezän; Evil Creatures Uednuer Devised.
These are arthropods controlled by a computer embedded into their foreheads. They are very like the
creatures designed by the apostate Ærnäm of old.
² 'Grū-lī, a Thiesequä acronym for Griens Räväränsime Uednuer Liffiem Iemcärmäst: Princes Reverencing
Uednuer Living Incarnate. These are the Hiedäm-possessed creatures described in the Ornäueväs.

=============================================================================
wide segment in the shields with WSNTs ¹. Sciesords and EF-1Os, divide into groups of eight, and use
Flocking Boards ² to choose a Sciefors pair. All craft, set all embedding bombs to fifty seconds
detonation and 250-rod embedding depth. Once the segment is disabled, all craft of a group shall enter
the gap, and then spread out into a single rank. When under the shields, fly at one hundred disnärcs an
hour and seven rods above the Äfä's surface, and disable communication systems with rearward weapons.
Sciefors, deploy the bombs every two hundred rods; fighters, every one thousand rods.”
¶Nievieh's host divided, and began to attack the Enemy fortresses. King Værädäm of Elncowm was
part of Nievieh's group, and they flew along-side each other.
¶“This will bring these smug roaches’ confidence in their fortresses low.” Værädäm communicated to
Nievieh.
¶“I hope so.” Nievieh replied. “I am glad that thou came to the battle. It is―” A defensive shot from
one of the Äfä’s defense ports flew past Nie-vieh's wing. “Be wary,” he warned his entire host, “and
watch for the Äfäs’ defensive shots and Enemy craft. Try to take out as many of the defensive ports
as possible from afar. Fly surely, and none of ye shall be lost. If we succeed, the victory shall be ours!”
¶The spacecraft skimmed over the surface of the Äfäs, imparting so much danger to those fortresses,
so close to their defensive weapons, and yet relatively safe, for at such speeds and close range, the Äfäs’
weapons were quite useless. With every Äfä in the fleet attacked at once, and with the attackers behind
the defensive shields of the fortresses, there was no place to retreat to.
________________________________________________________________________________________
¹ WSNT, a Thiesequä acronym for Wræst Sträms Nopl Trielän; Great Strength Mobile Laser.
² This system allowed precise “flocking” to specific vehicles or vehicle groups by way of displays inside
the spacecraft, and numerous other systems.

=============================================================================
¶“Ha!” Værädäm exclaimed, “You roaches! We are using your own defenses ag―"
¶All of the spacecraft slammed onto the Äfäs, due to no action of their own.
¶“The Äfäs are trying to shake us off.” Nievieh communicated to his forces, “We have almost finished.
Double thy speed and triple thy height from the Äfäs now! We have forty seconds! Father, blast comes
in thirty-seven seconds!”
¶“Men!” King Nievær communicated, “Retreat to Färästär!” and with that, they retreated, and the
Esgäms sped toward the Äfäs. The Näväs had been destroyed.
¶The Äfäs turned and somersaulted like dying whales, while Nievieh's host rushed to complete their
mission and stay alive.
¶“Fly straight. Ignore the rolling, but mind the flips.” Nievieh commanded, as the bombs were deployed
around the Äfäs in a spiraling fashion.
¶Suddenly a loud thudding noise shook Nievieh’s cockpit. Debris from the destruction of a nearby
Sciesord bashed into his canopy, and yellow-green light from the explosion filled his cockpit briefly.
¶“Gofäms!” ¹ Nievieh shouted in disgust, as he looked behind him. “Enemy craft!” Nievieh communicated
to his host.
¶Thirty seconds. The bombs had been deployed. The edges of the Äfäs were near.
¶“Round the nose of the Äfä, accelerate to fifteen hundred disnärcs an hour, then retreat to Färästär!”
Nievieh commanded.
¶Twenty seconds. The host circled around the tips of the fortresses, flew down and then toward
Färästär, losing the Gofäms’ pursuit. The Gofäms merely flew straight off the front of the Äfäs, fleeing for
survival. Ten seconds. Both forces kept on fleeing.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
¹ 'Gŏ-fäm, a Thiesequä acronym for Gruelie Ocuegieän Fiestime Älävätän Mec; Gruelie Occupied Fighting
Elevated Craft.

=============================================================================
¶Five seconds remained. Six disnärcs lay between Nievieh's host and the Äfäs.
¶One second ―
¶A brilliant white light filled the cockpits of the fleeing spacecraft, nearly overwhelming the
occupants’ sight. Communications between vehicles was made impossible by the blast’s electromagnetic
pulse, but they would have supported no conversation even if they had been operational, for the silent,
blinding destruction of the largest artificial explosion in Uemievärs' history struck all nearby quiet. It stood
in the midst of space, like a small white star, motionless save for its surface, which flexed and swirled as
if angry. The fireball itself spanned no more than three disnärcs, but several rapidly expanding, slightly
luminescent globes of gases and wreckage emanated from it. Nothing remained of the Äfäs.
¶Onward the Ærtän and Ĭlnō host fled to Färästär, with the expanding globes chasing them. Yet
these were no match for the hosts’ speed, and the globes dissipated as they expanded. Eventually, the
globes disappeared, and the white orb died.
¶“The victory is ours!” Nievieh shouted.
¶“We won!” Værädäm exclaimed. “Ha! You have many such defeats ahead, mutant scum!”
¶“The battle is won!” Nievær stated joyfully.
“Ă-Ă-ă-ă-Ō-ä! Ōwrz ēz ŭrtä vērcŭrtŏrē! Grräurtēŭrtŭsr ŭrtŭ Mäcrär älmsr hōēz sĕrvälmŭrts!” ¹
Rärpēsrfŭrt jubilantly declared, his voice buzzing and variating in his native to tongue.
¶Prince Välnäs, who had never before been informed of “Äfä Crusher”, was speechless.
¶Within seven minutes, the host had landed on Färästär, entering the underground defense base
OBF Nine.
___________________________________________________________________________________
¹ This is Ĭlnō. The first part is merely a cry of joy, and the rest translates as follows: “Ours is the
victory! Gratitude to Maker and his servants!”

=============================================================================
¶When all of the warriors had left their craft and entered the station, they were now able to
communicate with each other.
¶“Fine fighting, warriors!” King Nievær proclaimed to all of those who had fought in the battle.
“Näquäsoen be praised!”
¶“NÄQUÄSOEN BE PRAISED!” echoed the warriors.
¶“Wonderful planning, Sodrecärd Nievieh.” Prince Välnäs said, still in awe of the secret plot's success.
“How did you have the Esgäms return to the Äfäs?”
¶“Well,” Nievieh said, smiling slightly, “when the battle first started, the ecueds were programmed to
go forward and destroy you, and even when they were surrounded, their programs remained the same.
But when my force disabled some of the Äfä's shields, the Gruelies on board reprogrammed the ecueds to
aid the Enemy fortresses. A few seconds after disabling a segment of the shields, we destroyed the
communication towers, making it impossible for new programs to be transported to the ecueds. My father
and those under his command held the Esgäms, but the Esgäms’ one concern was to hew their way
through to the Äfäs. When we all retreated to Färästär, the Esgäms were released, and they sped on to
doom.”
¶The Prince of Sutärlä stared at Nievieh for a moment, and then said, “Stunning. It is an honor to
have fought with you. Your strategy has saved many lives. In all, about three hundred ―instead of the
projected thousand― casualties ensued.”
¶“And it is an honor to have fought with thee ―and with all of ye.” Nievieh replied, first speaking to
the prince, and then to the other commanders. “I wish the casualties could have been smaller.”
¶“So do I,” the prince continued, “but death is unavoidable in battle, and you have made it much less
than is common. I must go now, and continue my watch.” the prince continued. “You should rest. The
sleeping quarters are to your right; the ones for commanders are the first ones you encounter. Farewell
to you all.”

=============================================================================
¶“I shall join thee in the watch, Välnäs.” King Nievær declared. “Fine work, Nievieh.”
¶“Your company will be appreciated.” Välnäs said to the king of Ärläson. The two bowed to the
others, and walked to the observance room. Sodrecärd Nievieh, King Værädäm, and Rŭlĕr Rärpēsrfŭrt VII
remained for a few moments.
¶“I was sure that this battle we would win,” the Rŭlĕr of Ĭln began, "but no idea had I that such
swiftness would characterize it. Marvelous accomplishment, Sodrecärd Nievieh. I too am honored to have
fought with you.”
¶“I thank thee.” Nievieh replied, as he looked up to the tan-colored, fine-furred face of the seven-
foot-tall Ĭlnō. His race bore many resemblances to a kangaroo in general build, but rather more deer-like
in the face. His legs also bent backward like those of a human, and his tail was thick but only long
enough to just touch the ground.
¶“I will now send a message to Ĭln, and then rest.” said the Ruler.
¶"So shall we." Nievieh stated, and the three made for the communication booths, which were to
their left.
¶In the observance room, over fifty operators, Ærtän and Ĭlnō, watched for any sign of another
Enemy host. King Nievær was in the middle of sending a message to Queen Læätrien (using text to
avoid producing any distracting noise, the text being displayed on the very same screen that he was
observing deep space with), when flashing red letters appeared on the screen. The letters declared,
“LARGE UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT APPROACHING”, and were accompanied by a siren. The king halted his
message, and zoomed the screen in, which was displaying a contoured laser-scan image.
¶His jaw dropped at what he saw.
=============================================================================

Cliffhangers, people!

[Chris000]

Your keyboard must be crying after struggling to come up with all those symbols!

Excellent work! Deep Lore! Impressed, I am!

[Werekitty119]

DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUN!!!!!!

It's the TARDIS.

*trollface*

I love it!

[BigIslandYU2]

Oh, dear! I've missed my deadline again ----by a day, no less! I must beg your pardon for this ponderous misdeed, and that it should happen on the heels of such a cliffhanger! But weep no longer, my faithful readers, for the next chapter has arrived. More answers beget more questions, and horizons open wider. Blah blah blah [I wish I had someone as capable and caffeinated as Kaminski promoting my work] blah blah blah blah. Blah.



=====================================================================

Chapter III
Evil’s Ellipse


¶"All warriors, man the defensive trieläns.” King Nievær commanded over the station-wide
megaphone system. “A host of Gofäms and a large ship shall reach us in twenty minutes.” He
turned to Prince Välnäs on his left, and said, “Activate the Outer Walls now!”
¶Millions of red beams shot forth from the circumference of Färästär, making the Enemy’s
passage impossible. The front row of trieläns was stationary; behind that were two swiftly
oscillating rows of trieläns; and behind these were swiftly oscillating rows of beams angled
toward the sun. Together they made an impassible, cone-shaped barrier.
¶“Fire at will!” Nievær commanded from a trielän he was controlling.
¶The warriors watched their weapons’ displays, carefully keeping the Enemy in sight;
the slightest error could lose the target, due to the great distance between defender and
attacker.
¶No Enemy host had ever been like this one. Gofäms were never assembled in such
great numbers (nearly 300,000), and a craft like the one in the attacker's host had never
before been seen. Ever closer it came. Like a great elliptical asteroid with thousands of sub-
asteroids attracted to its gravity, so appeared the Enemy forces. The great ship spanned
nearly five disnärcs at its widest point, and was almost twenty disnärcs long. A reddish hue
surrounded it ―the only sign of the Gofäms (being the exhaust of the craft) that could have
been seen with the naked eye.
¶The warriors fired swiftly and accurately, but no damage seemed to be done to the Enemy.
Sections of the great ship's smooth outer shell were damaged, but that is where the wreckage
ended, for the Gofäms had retreated to the rear of the great ellipse. Soon, however, the host
would destroy itself in the Outer Walls, if it did not stop its wild speed.

=====================================================================

¶Which it did. All of a sudden, four enormous holes blasted outward from the front of the
great ellipse, with the holes blazing a brilliant yellow-white. The ship and host halted fifty
disnärcs away from the Outer Walls, and two hundred disnärcs above the surface of the
särtämd. The ellipse then jettisoned its outer shell, seven thousand rods thick, some of it
shooting into space, some falling to Färästär, some colliding with and disintegrating in the Walls.
An octagonal craft, with four jagged opposite sides, was revealed for a moment. Next moment,
the flat sides of the octagon shattered, and millions of Esgäms emerged, obscuring the view of
the great ship. The warriors fired, but the Enemy fighters took the damage themselves.
¶“I have never seen Esgäms sacrificed so freely!” King Nievær exclaimed. “What is that
craft's purpose?”
¶If he could have traveled to the far side of the Esgäm cloud, he would have known right
then what the ship's purpose was. Every spike on the four opposite sides revealed themselves
to be the nose of a spacecraft ―thus 2,160 ships for 2,160 spikes. The spacecraft came from
their transporter with great swiftness, spread out evenly, extended four wings, ignited their
engines, and then descended to the surface of Färästär, all with a wavelike sequence of events.
The new craft were one-and-a-half disnärcs long, and one-sixth disnärc wide and tall, excluding
the wings. These landed directly on the far side of the Outer Walls, retracted their wings, and
embedded themselves into the ground. Evenly spaced, the new craft encamped across the
entire circumference of the defense särtämd. The Esgäm cloud cleared, and the defenders beheld
what had been concealed from them.
¶Not wishing to be watched, the Gruelies aboard the new ships programmed the Esgäms to
destroy the defenders’ sensors that watched the far side of Färästär. The defenders’ observance
screens went blank. After this act, the Enemy ceased in its attack.

=====================================================================

¶In their current situation, the defenders were powerless. Nuclear bombs could not be used
against the Enemy, for the new craft were too close to the Outer Walls. An attack would be
suicidal with the defenders’ current numbers. For the time being, the Ærtäns and Ĭlnōs could do
nothing but watch the Enemy and send for more aid.
¶“We need at least 350,000 more fighters and 100,000 weapons-craft.” Prince Välnäs said
to King Nievær, as they stood beside the trieläns they had so recently been handling.
¶The king was silent for a few moments. “They are not tunneling under the Outer Walls!”
he suddenly blurted.
¶“No, sir, they aren't.” Välnäs replied, confused.
¶“Why do they wait?” Nievær continued. “They should be boring into the ground, coming
right underneath us, when we cannot withstand them ―forcing us to retreat. Yet no, they
wait until we fortify ourselves, drawing our strength away from Ært, and making an Enemy attack
upon Sutärlä exceedingly more effective.”
¶“Yes, indeed this seems their design,” agreed Rŭlĕr Rärpēsrfŭrt VII, as he walked from his trielän
to the prince and king, “and though we must comply, we do not need them satisfied completely.
Ĭln is in no great danger, unless the Outer Walls fail. Three hundred thousand Fēŭrtĕrs will be
ordered to defend Färästär, seventy thousand Flēbräsĕs,¹ and five

______________________________________________________________________________________
¹ 'Flē-bräs-ĕs, Ĭlnō for Fly-bases. They were the weapons-craft of Ĭln at the time.

=====================================================================

hundred thousand warriors aboard five thousand Crärĕrs.¹ We have no need for such strength
upon Ĭln, but here it is most necessary.”
¶The other two commanders looked up at the Ĭlnō, amazed at his words. He had just
offered four-fifths of his sky-forces.
¶“Your aid will be immensely valuable.” Prince Välnäs eventually said in gratitude. “I will
inform the Ærtäns of our current state, and the numbers Ĭln is sending. My father will be very
grateful to you, as are we all.”
¶“Ært defended the Solar System for years before we could, and gave us the knowledge
to build our own sky-force. It is only right we should defend when we are strong.” replied
the Ruler.
¶“Thou hast aided us in an enormous way.” said King Nievær. “I shall order eighty thousand
Sciesords and twenty thousand Sciecäns2 to aid us also.”
¶“Elncowm will send twenty thousand EF-1Os.” King Værädäm de-clared, as he and Nievieh
returned from the trieläns.
¶“Very well.” Prince Välnäs said. “I thank you all, and many others do also. With these
numbers, I believe we can destroy these attackers. May Näquäsoen's will be done.”
¶“May Näquäsoen's will be done.” the other four said in unison, then bowed to each other,
then divided. Nievær, Välnäs, and Rärpēsrfŭrt went to the observance room (where messages
of inter-särtämd import also were sent); Nievieh and Værädäm made their way to the
communication booths (where personal messages were generally sent).
¶“No need to accompany the others.” Nievieh said, referring to the other commanders. “It
is unlikely that we shall illuminate some great design that they shall not discover on their own.”

_________________________________________________________________________________
¹ 'Crär-ĕrs, Ĭlnō for Carriers. They were the troop transporters of Ĭln at the time.
2 'Scī-cän, Mäslælm for Sky-company. These were heavily armed wea-pons-craft that also carried
fifty ground troops per craft.

=====================================================================

¶Værädäm looked to his left at Nievieh, smiled, and said, “Of course, most would find
cause to argue that (including myself), seeing how well your ‘Äfä Crusher’ strategy carried out.”
¶Nievieh smiled slightly, watching his feet for a moment, and then looked forward,
answering, “I, as thou knowest, am a designer of small schemes ―”
¶“If that could be considered small!” Værädäm interrupted, laughing lightly.
¶“―Not a full-scale battle architect.” Nievieh continued, more grimness in his voice, and with
a sterner face. “This most recent design was the first that neared that level, and behold how
futile it proved to be! I never imagined that an assault this size was possible.”
¶“Well, here we are,” Værädäm said, himself more serious, “and I say farewell to you, for
tonight, and pray Näquäsoen guide us.”
¶“Yes, my thoughts are such. Farewell.” Nievieh replied, and the two entered separate
communication booths.
¶Such an interesting sight it was to see the two. Nievieh, 248 years old, was still quite young,
for he was a Quænlor,¹ and had not yet lived a fourth of his people’s expected lifespan. His hair
was still dark brown, his skin was scarred by battle but still strong, and his strength never before
greater. Værädäm, 245, however, was past the middle of his people's expected lifespan. His sandy
hair had grayed at the edges, and his skin had wrinkled and grown somewhat thinner. Yet he had
kept up his strength, and his keenness in combat had not dulled with age.
¶Looking at the large keypad, Nievieh pressed the buttons 1-4-7-7-8-5-2-9-7-2. The booth's
audio and video recording systems turned on, and Nievieh began as follows:


_________________________________________________________________________________
¹'kwān-lôr, Mäslælm for Chosen-leader.

=====================================================================

¶“Greetings, my family. I know that ye sleep now, even considering this message's travel
time, but whether you awake now to view this message or not is of no great consequence
―it shall say the same things whenever ye view it. I love thee all, and wish I had been there
to say goodnight in person. Howbeit, I can say good-morning, for it is so. Thus, I say ‘Good-
morning, and how be ye?’”

¶Nievieh smiled here, and then looked down, tears filling his eyes. He brushed them
away, looked up with a more serious face, and continued.

¶“We shall not have returned by tomorrow. The Enemy has fortified itself on the far
side of Färästär. We destroyed the detected Enemy forces, but then there came this, this
object, some asteroid-sized Enemy transport. Hundreds of thousands of Gofäms surrounded it.
And then this transport shed its outer shell, and over two thousand ships nearly four times
the size of an Äfä emerged from the object. Millions of Esgäms also came from the craft. By
the time ye receive this message, a full battle recording will be there for thy viewing. I am so
sorry that I could not relay better news to thee.”

¶“All warriors who engaged in combat tonight,” a speaker
inside the booth declared in Conom, “retire to sleeping quarters.”
¶Nievieh looked up to the source of the sound, looked back to the video recorder, and
finished his recording.

¶“I love thee all. Farewell, Trientus, my beautiful wife; do not worry overmuch. Farewell,
Ämierähied; watch over our garden, as its master while I am gone. Farewell, Särtrien; care
for my horse Välnfir, for I know that thou shalt tend him best. Farewell, Sämsom; aid thy
brother even more in his work, for he shall need thy help even more. Farewell, Numwæn;
continue to aid thy mother with the young särtluem.¹ Farewell, Ädieärs; make sure that
Ämierähied and Sämsom leave no worms on the plants. Farewell, Trienärt; keep thy lizard
Surscäl in good health. May Näquäsoen guide us!”

____________________________________________________________________________
¹ 'sär-tlūm, Mäslælm for Star-bloom. It is a flower that is the symbol of Ärläson.

=====================================================================

¶With his message ended, Nievieh looked at the communication booth's display.
“Message Duration: 2.1 minutes
Message Completed: 23:02 Ært/ 15:02 Ĭln
Message’s Anticipated Arrival at
Destination: 2:02/18:02 Ĭln”

¶He then left for the sleeping quarters.

¶Meanwhile, Værädäm compiled a similar message.

¶“Hello, Elnmæn, my wife, and Sämroc, my son! Things didn’t go exactly according to plan,
regrettably. I can't say much more than what you'll gather from the battle recordings.
However, Nievieh did definitely deliver sa-tisfaction with ‘Äfä Crusher’. You did not know of this
plot, Sämroc, but you do now, and wasn't it great? We all know how Nievieh views his designs,
and so it shouldn't surprise you that he called it a ‘little scheme’!”
¶Værädäm laughed here and then continued,
¶“Oh, and Sämroc, you'd better be managing military affairs competently, Sodrecärd,
because I really would've appreciated some help here! Speaking of which, send twenty thousand

=====================================================================

EF-1Os to Färästär under Nulcäncärd¹ Elnroc Nämäsär. Do not send any more, for an Enemy
attack from Cruesväs is expected to hit Sutärlä soon. According to King Nievær Cemän, the
Enemy is trying to drain Ært's strength to the Outer Walls, so that they can storm Surnfors
more easily. You've proven to be the most skilled individual in the lessons and simulations
―after myself, of course―”
¶He smiled here, placing his hand upon his chest in a jocosely proud gesture.
¶“But this will be different, your first true battle. King Tävävner Sutnäm will need our
Fieridors.² You will most likely want to ride Tusfier into battle (it would be her first battle
also, and I know you wouldn't want to disappoint her), but no matter. You will definitely
not ride Fieräeln! Yes, I know, you're groaning right now, aren't you, Fieräeln?”
¶He laughed.
“¶Well, my faithful nälnäfier, you won't miss the battle, and will fight riderless, with only
your own weapons and commands. I suggest, Sämroc, that you lead at least thirty
thousand Fieridors, though that is your decision. I do prohibit any outlandish hosts,
like leading all 550,000 Fieridors of Elncowm, unless they roll out some ground-troop
version of the ‘ellipse’ (doubtful) that you've heard of by now.
¶“And Sämroc, after the probable battle, don't leave your wife Ämtluem, nor us, a
plaque in the Roeäl Eltämän Stoen to stare at! We want to see a living hero! At any
rate, a living Sämroc. Farewell, my family, and Fieräeln! May Näquäsoen's will be done!”

_________________________________________________________________________
¹ Nŭl-'cän-cärd, Mäslælm for Multiple-company-commander.
² 'Fīr-ä-dôr, Mäslælm for Fire-rider.
3 'Näln-ä-f īr, a bipedal mammal capable of spewing fire.
'Rō-äl 'Ĕlt-ä-män Stōn, Mäslælm for Royal Mountain Tomb.

=====================================================================

Maybe next time I'll miss the deadline by a week!





____________________________________________________________

[Werekitty119]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice........

[BigIslandYU2]

10-Q.

[Werekitty119]

10-Q.