| Subject: Magma Fortress: Chapter 1 |
Author:
Conder (NK)
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Date Posted: 13:54:32 06/25/06 Sun
The name of Magma Fortress came from the fact that it had been built from stone gathered off of an active volcano, endless seasons of journeying southeast of Salamandastron. The walls were black and reflected the light, as they were made from basalt and plated with obsidian. The fortress itself covered over 50,000 square meters, dwarfing most of its surroundings. It was a kingpin of defense, keeping tropical vermin from making their way up to Mossflower Woods, where a few trade links and alliances were established. Inside was an army of over 5,000 elite fighters, trained for their entire lives in the art of war. The fortress was shaped like an oblong rectangle from above, and a great square keep towered in the center. Numerous turrets were liberally placed into the walls, and even if a mere quarter of Magma Fortress's army was on the ramparts at one given point, any approaching force wouldn't survive any closer than ballista range. At this time, Commander Quel, the first “vermin” (In fact, a ferret as jet-black as the fortress itself) to lead the fort, was being informed by a small scout group that a gargantuan force was approaching to wipe out Magma Fortress, in order to gain easy access to Mossflower from the south.
“There are about 10,000 of them, Quel, sir…”
“And who are these attackers? I’m interested, it seems like something one of our pine marten ‘friends’ would do.”
“That’s correct; it’s being lead by Mago, sir, better known as Priority Level #2. But that’s not the problem… Sir, they’re of all creatures. There were mice, shrews, otters, standing alongside foxes and stoats, all wearing silver-plated armor. They’ve got over ten catapults, at least five ballistae, and I think there was a portable trebuchet as well. Mago really wants this place to fall; they’ll be here in six days.”
“But… Good animals are fighting alongside vermin? Nevertheless, we need to prepare. Call the reserves into the defenses, and send for help. Go to Salamandastron, Guosim, even Redwall, just… Get some beasts for the defense!”
Later that night, Commander Quel consulted the fortress library for intelligence records on Mago’s army. At one point, Quel stopped and checked a small section on what Mago had been doing for the past few seasons, and them only. It read, “Mago has brought many to his cause, as he eloquently convinces potential recruits that he is doing the right thing. In order to maintain this idea amongst his army, Mago makes sure he is taking care of his forces at all times, feeding them well, medically caring for any wounded and giving even the most lowly field soldier a good say in what goes on in the army. This is one of the most civilized vermin rulers ever known and is on the brink of joining our side.”
Quel closed the parchment book he had just read from. This was impossible, Mago was one of their enemies from day one, when they had found his castle and attacked… Wait! Of course he’s attacking now, Mago is retaliating! But why would he have good beasts on his side then, if they know Magma Fortress is just as hospitable and friendly as Redwall Abbey? Unless… He’s not coming to attack, then… He’s coming to help us defend. But defend against what?
The next morning, Commander Quel ordered a second scouting party of sparrows and wrens to go out and comb the forests, look for anyone other than the reinforcements that had been sent for. It was odd that Quel had chosen birds to scout out the area, because it wouldn’t have taken long even for a bumbling hedgehog to notice that Priority Level #1, Cavero, was approaching from the east with an army in the tens of thousands as well as siege items never seen by the rest of civilization. They were all wearing blood-red armor plating, fitted with helmets that resembled horned monsters of old, and carried exactly 20 trebuchets in their wake. Mago was good after all…
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