A cool mist rose over the coastline as the sun began to peak over the horizon, as the waves crashed steadily against the shore. In the early morning light, the white sands looked gray. A small conch shell rolled across the fine grains as the force of the water released it from the oceans grasp. The sceen was tranquil, undisturbed.

Then a massive black hoof fell, shattering the shall into millions of pieces. A huge black minotaur snorted as he surved the beach. This did not look like a land ravaged by war, but his captain swore to him that this was indeed the land of Arda. Hefting his mace, the minotaur, signaled the men who had rowed him ashore. With a brisk salute, they pushed a small boat back into the ocean and headed back towards the sailing ship that had brought them across the great sea. In a deep baratone voice the minotaur shouted to the lands of Arda.

Thus I leave the service of the Tel'Andurin! I shall from this day forth be Midian!

He stood for a long moment listening to his echo as it bounced off the rocky cliffs. A sea bird screeching in protest at being disturbed so early in the day. Quickly, Midian bent down and picked up a rock the size of his fist. He hurled the heavy stone at the bird, which had been resting upon its nest. There was a high pitched shriek which was cut off abruptly. With a grin, the minotaur moved towards his first meal in these new lands....

Brendor walked slowly to the shore watching a act of an army.It was none of his concern if the people who shunned him were about to be invaded he watched carefuly;they seemed to be led by a minotaur maybe we 'monsters' will be treated better by these invaders he thought strangly.He stood and walked calmly up to the minotaur and asked"why have you come to Arda?"

Midian spun, quickly searching for the one who spoke to him. A strange wolf like creature stood before him, its large eyes studying him intently. The creature was much smaller than he, but then most things were. With an agressive snort, the black minotaur fell into a defensive stance, his great mace held at the ready.

I fail to see how my arrival should be of any concern to you, however, as I will soon be known through out the lands, I shall give you the honor of being the first to know me. I am the Warlord Midian, and if you must know, I have come here to offer my skills in the comming war.

With that, he turned to the three masted ship and watched for a moment as the crew prepared to disembark once more. He and the crew of that ship where now free to do as they saw fit. It was more than likely that they would become pirates and begin preying on the merchants of these lands. They had been sea faring men all their lives, and had often done such work for the order. It would be second nature to them by now. Just as it was in his nature to fight. Again he turned his gaze to the wolf-like creature before him.

Now, who exactly are you, and what manner of creature. Are you one of the were-kind?

As he spoke, he sized up the creature. He was probably quick, but he felt that he could more than a match if it came to battle. If the creature held any weapons, he kept them out of sight for the time being.

Berian grasped his mace hidden in the folds of his cloak and spoke defiantly "do you even know where the war is?Considering I doubt you do it's on the moon I will be fighting for the moon and it's brilliant gleem in the night sky so that it isin't turned into an enormus fortress.As for what I am,I am a Lupine and I have no human form so no.I am not of the were-kind.My name is Berian I am a mercenary and an outcast of all races."Berian showed off his agility by leaping into a tree and steadyed himslef before asking"now,are you to fight for lord Chimara or for the wicked Raku?I must know now in case I am to kill you so that you may not assist Raku."He said this calmly as if it meant nothing at all if he were to kill the minotaur when in trouth he knew that without a lucky killing first blow he would probably be the one to die.Of course nobody would care that he died if he indeed did.Licking his filed teeth he listened to the wolves howl strongly wishing to join them and waited for an answer.

Midian looked up at the creature in the tree. So it was neither wolf nor man, but a combination of the two who was shunned by both. A lupine he called it, most interesting. He had not heard of such beings in the old world. The creature seemed rather bold with his demands, which stirred the deep seeded competitive nature that was in all those of the minotaur race. It was the very reason that the Minotaurs did not come together to form an army, they could not remain in each others company for log without comming to blows.

I have offered my services to the dark god. I simply await his messanger before I take my place in his camp. So it would seem that we will be serving opposing masters. I look forward to meeting you on the glorious field of battle. I am a Warlord, and have trained all my life for battle. I have toppled more enemies then I have years. Pray that you do not come across me, for I do not show mercy.

He emphasised that statement with a heavy stomp of one of his hooved feet. His race loved war above all else, and indeed more than any other creature they were built for it. His great muscles could be used to crush the life out of a man, or to wield weapons of enourmous size. And their horns weren't just for looks either. For a creature their size they had incredible speed and agility, being more then a match for almost any foe.

Berian clenched his mace in antisipation"So why not strike me down as I stand?You truely think that you could beat me and we do serve differant masters I see no logic in letting me live."Berian was not by any means allowing this minotaur and his troops join the war even if it meant his life."As I said I am a mercenary I fight for my life and living every day and even though we Lupine are not known for being well liked we are known to fight and I have felled more foes than even my weeks and that is far more then simply my years.Do not expect to make it anywhere near the moon so long as I breath."Berian continued.

He leaped back to the ground and pulled out his hidden mace it was nothing great but it was sturdy and strong enough.He began to recite a poem writen by a Lupine long ago about battle.

"We Lupine fight not for money
nor bloodlust
nor power
we fight for that which we love
we fight to protect
And that makes us stronger
then elves
then men
then the mighty minotaur"

He lingered on the word minotaur.

Berian carefully asked"do you wish to fight me now or go home Midan the warlord?"He snapped his jaws loudly and howled out to the other wolves at the end of his question,Summoning help in the probable fight.

(Sorry if the poem sucks but it was thought up with no emotion and barely any thought)

Midian laughed in his rich baratone voice. He eyed the Lupine with cold calculating eyes. Then his mouth pulled into a horrific smile.

Ah, a warior and a scholar. Very well, Berain since you have a death wish, I shall gladly send you to the after life. I shall leave your bones to bleach upon the sun baked sands. I will leave the sea birds and the crabs to strip the flesh off your rotting corpse. But I shall take your hide as a cloak.

With a bellowed roar, Midian kicked up a shower of sand to blind his foe. He then charged the lupine, swinging his mace in a great downward slash that would crush his skull. At the same time, he hooked his massive horns attempting to gore his enemy in the same method as would a raging bull.

You shall soon find out that there are very few who are stronger than the mighty minotaur, and there are even fewer who are stronger than THIS minotaur! You have had the ill luck of interrupting my morning meal. That is very ill luck indeed.

At the sounds of battle, a great cry rang out from those on the ship. Quickly, landing craft began to fill, and lowered themselves to the convulsing ocean waves. The soldiers within bent behind there paddles, fighting the currents that tried to pull them away from the shore.

Berian moved swiftly watching the mace and smelling the minotaur.It was a normally well enough tactic but horns without blood on them at least are scentless.He moved to the side and avoided the mace but was hit on his arm by a horn.Howling in agony he thrust out his own mace to sandy battleground,forcing a cloud of sand to come between himself and Midan.Leaping back into the tree he heard the wolves reply that they would not come to his aid.Cursing softly he waited for Midan to make another move.

(I apologize for my writers block,I have no other things to say)

Midian let out a cry of triumph as the scent of blood filled the air. The sticky red liquid coated the time of his left horn. Leaping aside to avoid the grainy spray of sand, the minotaurs features twisted into a cruel grin. He toyed with the treed lupine, calling to him.

Come down Master Berain, do you not know that wolves do not climb trees? Are you not a wolf Master Berain, perhaps then you are a kitten. A naughty little kitten that puffs up and spits at the hunting dogs, but when the dog comes to bite it, the naughty little kitten always runs up a tree.

Taking a few steps back, Midian picked up a large stone, nearly twice the size of a human's head.

Or maybe you are a bird, sitting on its eggs in that tree. I know just what to do with a bird. I missed breakfast you know.

With a quiet grunt he hurled the large grey stone. With suprising speed, in hurtled towards the lupine. If the creature did not move, it would likely crack his ribs, not to mention what the fall might do. On the ground, Midian stood ready, expecting the creature to leap to the ground to avoid the boulders path. And when he did, the iron mace would do more damage then the stone ever could.

Berian did something unexpected he droped sightly but grasped the branch with his hand as the stone flew past and swung back up saying"Not true,I am close friends with a wolf who climbs trees.He gets very cranky when somebody tries to disturb his stay in the branches,normaly kills them."Berian grasped his mace one last time,remembering all the fights it had won him he made one quick howl of sorrow and hurled it at Midian's head with all his might.I don't care how fast minotaurs are in a charge.He thought.nobody will ever convince me that they are agile enough to dodge a mace thrown like that.With his bare hands as his only weapons he leaped from the tree and followed his mace.Claws extended he went for Midian's heart.

Reacting quickly, Midian struck the mace that flew at him with his own, knocking it aside. He then looked up once more just in time to be struck by the Lupine as it launched itself from the tree. He bellowed in pain as the creatures claws ripped through the tough hide on his chest. In a fit of rage, he disgarded his weapon, closing his arms around his adversary. He was several times larger than Berain, and his massive body rippled with muscle. Inwardly, he laughed despite the sharp pain of his wounds. With his arms locked into a death grip, slowly crushing the life from the lupines body as though he were an anaconda. As he felt the air draining from his victims lungs, he whispered into his ear.

Look Berain, I embrace thee as a friend. We shall be companions to the end of days. You have touched my heart, and I have surrounded thee. Forever, we shall remember this day.

With that, he lowered his massive horned head and sank his teeth into the lupines neck, tasting the salty hot blood that flowed from the wound. He then trumpeted a roar of victory in his rich baratone voice.

Berian howled one last time.This time his cries were answered by a pack of wolves who ran towards the minotaur and bit him clenching their jaws around the Midian in a desperate attempt to free Berian.They disliked Lupines allmost as much as they disliked humans but they knew the differance between good and evil.They fought for Berian for the same reason he fought.The moon.The wolves were relentless in their attack unwilling to let go until Midian was dead.Berian had one thought as he passed out.I belong with none but that which may allow me to belong.

(again I anger at my writers block to be here)

(no worries, it happens to the best of us)

Midian roared in pain as the wolves sank their dagger like teeth into his legs. He kicked out with a massive hooved foot and was rewarded with a yelp of pain as his blow connected. Holding Berian in one hand as though he were a plaything, the minotaur scooped up his great mace and began to lay about him. There was a dull cracking sound as blunt metal temporarily collided with bone, and then, grudgingly, the bone have way. This time the agonized yip was cut off as the hooved foot decended on the canine's skull. With their numbers rapidly diminishing, the wolves fell into a ring around the warlord, who in disgust flung the limp form he held as though it were a rag doll. There was a solid thunk as the body smashed against the tree.

Come then wolflings, I will take pleasure in thy passage. Your pack will vanish from the lands of Arda because you chose to defend this creature. The deer and elk shall praise me for years to come, and their numbers shall flourish. It is good, for the legions of darkness shall need the meat to supply them in the comming war. They wouldn't want to compete with the likes of you now would they?

And then the arrows came. The sailors that had been struggling with their landing craft had finally made it ashore, and with the accuracey of a trained war band, opened fire on the wolves. In the first volley, several of the beasts fell, slain or wounded by the barbed missiles. And then the minotuar let out a roar that could turn ones blood to ice, as he charged. Suprised and weary by the new threat of arrows, and paniced by Midian's fearsome display. He looked over his shoulder at the unconcious form of Berian and issued orders to the soldiers.

Bind his hands and feet, stake him to the ground out in the open. We will wait here until he wakes. Make a fire out on the beach, not too far from him. AND SOME BODY BRING ME BREAKFAST.

Berian awoke drowsely and did little but sniff the air,he smelled blood of wolves.At once he knew that the wolves that had protected him had been slain.He howled once more a warning to all wolves that men had come to the area and would not make even a flinch let alone a second thought before killing them.(In so many words).Beacuse he was tied to a post he did little but try to squirm out of his bonds.His troat was dry and he was hungy so he soon gave up and stood there,taking only shallow breathes.

At the sound of his prisoner's howl, Midian, who had been sitting in the shade and feasting on a combination of wolf meat and sea bird, arose and walked over to the lupine. He held out a large portion of wolf flesh to the bound captive.

Master Berian, you look hungry. I shall share my meal with you friend. Open your mouth so that I might feed you.

The war band gathered around to watch the warlord toy with his captive. They were all evil men, turned cruel by the harsh conditions of the Order's Hall. With anticipation they eyed the red hot brands that rested in the fire. The wolf would be howling much more soon.

(sorry its so short, gotta let the horses out)

Berian simply sniffed the meat to know that it was wolf flesh.He barked out painedly"Never will I consume the flesh of such a noble beast."Berian made one last tooth snap in defiance and showed that he was no longer bound,the ropes that bound him had been cut clear off by a claw.Buried in the sands beyond them were many animals.At least five wolf packs,several birds of all shapes and sizes and even a few bears.Each one with eyes flashing in defiance of these murderers.Many charged swiftly at only Midian but the birds went for his archers allmost as if it had been planned that way,and indeed it had,for gossip travels very quickly in the forest and each retelling had Midian and his men seem more and more cruel.Berian himself was still too weak to fight but his heart grew stronger with each passing moment and still he howled.Not a warning nor request for help but a cry of victory.Many of Midian's men fell but he was unsure of the warlord himself.

(Midian gets soldiers then Berian gets wild animals,simple as that.Don't worry I will kill them off or have them leave soon.)

In a frenzy of rage, Midian kicked at the prone figure of Berain. He then turned to face those animals that approached him. A great brown bear roared its challenge, and in return was struck in the mouth by the heavy iron mace that the warlord grasped. Fighting as though he were death itself, the minotaur waded amongst the creatures of this land. In his wake, he left pile upon pile of mangled bodies. His most of his soldiers were dead or dieing. A dangerous glint in the eye told all around him that he was caught up in a berserker's rage. In an crazed voice, he called to his enemies.

Come to me, I am death incarnate. My mace is the harbringer of doom, come to send you swiftly to the afterlife. Here, let it bring you eternal rest, so that you might never tire again.

His intimidating figure quickly inspired the animals to keep their distance from him, and instead they went about mauling the remainder of his small war band. The dangerous bloodlust retained its grip over him as he watched the slaughter. I shall avenge each man ten fold on the creatures of this land.

Berian awaoke in horrible pain but saw the massacre of beasts around him he made his way on all fours to the fallen body of one of Midian's soldiers still clutching his mace in death.Berian felf no sympathy for the man and tore his mace away savagly.

Ignoring all wounds and discomforts in rage he charged Midian from behind mace held tightly and sigle savage cry tore from his lips and he leaped into the air and slamed his mace towards Midian.The sand flew at him and covered him for a moment.Berian was entirly possitive that his attack could not fail to gain the warlord's attention.

Before Midian faced him Berian droped his mace and challanged"fight me with your bare hands Midian.Unless minotaurs truly are nothing behind their large weapons as I have been told all my life?"

Tossing his weapon aside, the minotaur stalked through the blood soaked sands. Already, carrion birds awaited above the field waiting for the departure of the combatants so that they might begin there feast. Midian eyed the lupine suspiciously. He was easily over twice the size of his adversary. The little creature could not stand a chance standing toe to toe with even the least of his species. Much less one who had been fully trained as a warlord.

Berian, what trickery do you seek to ensnare me with now. You know as well as I that nothing on this beach can truly match me in raw strength. Not even the bears can stand against me and hope to come out of it alive.

He crouched his hulking form into a defensive stance, watching his opponents waist, as that is where the first indication of movement shall appear. His keen ears focused on his surroundings, listening for one of the animals to try and circle behind him. He would not be taken off gaurd as his men had been.

(Midian would only be two feet taller than Berian,Lupine are generaly seven feet tall.)

Berian spoke gently but his voice still contained an edge of every emotion he felt,anger sorrow,pain and bloodlust."I ask you to lay down arms for the sake of fairness.You with a mace with a head twice the size of my head and I with one barely the size of my fist.By the way a bear is nowhere near as fast as I am."With those simple words Berian circled Midian and brought his claw down towards his arm.

(midian also weighs 850lbs, so unless Lupines weigh 425, I'm over twice your size.)

With a grunt, Midian watched the lupine as it circled. As the lupines blow fell, the warlord let out a bellow of rage, and lunged for his enemy, intent on knocking him to the ground. There he could easily be trappled by hooves and pummeled with fist. Bleeding form many places, the minotaur decided that the battle must end soon. If Berian insisted upon dieing this day, so be it. He prepared himself for a hook of his deadly horns should his opponent dodge the blow.

(sorry so short, dinner time)

(I don't really care I normally make posts about that legnth anyway,you should apply to be an advanced roleplayer)

Berian contined circling lest he play right into Midian's hand again and great luck Midian missed entirly Berian griped the minotaur's horn and swung up unto him with great luck for not driving himself right into the other horn he sat on the minotaur's head"I have allways wanted to do that!"He exclaimed like a child.

(You have permission to knock him off and possibly kill him if the story allows)

watching this battle from afar ar-pharazon decided to help the poor lupine. Charging towards the battle, spear in hand. The part dwarf lands into the middle of the brawl, and the lupine falls. Acting as a human sheild to protect the were-beast not knowing what the outcome of the battle hoping that his spear will be good enough to fight the minotaur.








(you may kill me here, if you chouse)

Berian half stood but his back was oddly bent forward as if he had sudinly beacome more wolf then man. He opened his jaws in a savage roar and pushed the dwarf aside. "This does not concern you dwarf!" He barked leaping over Midian and landed on his hands. Thrusting outward he managed to deliver a kick to Midian's back.

(I didn't say he hit and I know I am really close to godmodding so I will think up something stupid for him to do soon.)

"eep" said the dwarf and ran away to the northern tundra for no reason , well just to get out of the fight.