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[h3][b][color=9e0b0f]VS[/color][/b][/h3]
[h1][color=004b80][b]Eltariel[/b][/color][/h1]

[b][color=a9a9a9]Collab Participants:[/color][/b] 
| [@Lmpkio] | [@Zoey Boey] |
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[center][hider=Towering Tension]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLzcnOG54-4[/youtube]
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Eltariel’s eyes went wide as she felt herself suddenly stop. So close to severing this armored one’s neck. What happened? She was flung through the air with an indignant look on her face. The primitive landed in a graceful three point landing, rotating in the air and dispersing the weight of the impact on the snowy ground without issue. 

She hated being out in the open like this. This man could track her ruthlessly. Without stealth, her biggest advantage was gone. Normally this was when she would retreat and come back to fight another day, but there was nowhere to run. Eltariel was never on the defensive, only ever on the attack. An infiltrator and assassin, never guardian. The Uruks rudimentary weapons couldn’t bring down her Silver Towers, and they weren’t even aware of their purpose. But were these advanced beings to claim her Tower for themselves, she would be doomed. If they destroyed the four foot tall artifact on the roof of this tower, the New Ring would not be able to resurrect her.

The invaders seemed to have stopped their assault. Eltariel however, did not respond to Kylo’s question. While she could avoid a reasonable amount of fire just by being hard to hit, if the white one’s ranged weapons hit nearly as hard or fast as the black one’s sword, she would be shredded. 

She had five arrows left, and some of her focusing power had returned to her. Eltariel, with supernatural agility, dove backwards and rushed back into the treeline, finding a heavy boulder to crouch down behind. It was nothing more than cover against their ranged fire. As long as they were within her line of sight she could instantly close the gap.

If a truce was possible, she would much rather have that. But Eltariel was much less willing to negotiate for such a thing than one might imagine.

[color=004b80]”I live here, you stuffy-tongued oaf. Leave this place at once, while you still have your lives.”[/color] She spoke with an accent that was similar to Rey’s, one unknown by either of them to be called in some places a British accent. Though there was a sophistication and spitefulness in her voice towards those who levelled their guns at her.

Indeed, did the girl’s voice seem to resemble the very scavenger girl Ren sought back in his world. It had the same fiery spirit she had as well. However, he knew fully well that she was someone else, especially with the skills she brought to the table. She had magical powers that vaguely were akin to the force, but not quite. And her arsenal didn’t reveal a lightsaber either, just regular metal blades and supposedly a bow and a few arrows. Plus, if it was her she would be quite familiar with him already.

She would’ve known of the Supreme Leader’s true name… the one before he called himself Kylo Ren.
He would find himself flashbacking to several various events in rapid succession; from their introduction on Takodana, to their duel on Starkiller Base, and even as recent as their battle onboard the Supremacy. He could hear the various derogatories being thrown at him, as well as the pleads to head back to the light. All of this would’ve happened within seconds before Ren returned to the premise at hand.

He then proceeded to take another few steps forward, but he didn’t sheath his own lightsaber quite yet. [b][color=ed1c24]"Do you really?"[/color][/b] the Supreme Leader asked in a calm and assured manner, before taking a quick glance back at the tower, [b][color=ed1c24]"The tower may be yours yes, but the land that you walk upon is not. Quite frankly, none of us are supposed to be here in the first place."[/color][/b]

The elf wobbled her head in disdain. No doubt this one was some kind of warlord. They all carried the same stench of tyranny. [color=004b80]”Obviously. It’s fortunate that we speak the same language. Still… go away. This Tower is mine to protect. If you want to keep your tokens, and your life, you’ll leave.”[/color] Eltariel threatened, staying hidden behind the boulder. This was bad. She was outnumbered, and potentially even overpowered by the red sabered warrior. More importantly, the environment she was summoned in was terrible. There was a clearing around her Tower. Perhaps if she could have engaged them in the woods it would be a different story, but right now they had the advantage. Her only move would be to target the caped one and try to disable him before he could toss her away again. But for now, she waited for a reply.

Unfortunately for Eltariel, the Supreme Leader was not nearly as intimidated by her words as she may have thought, especially for someone who had just unknowingly been catapulted away by the force, and killed one of his men. It was not really a good look for her either. And considering all this, Ren was not going to leave just yet. He looked back at his men for further confirmation. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"Troopers."[/color][/b] he boomed as he looked at FN-602 and FN-149,  [b][color=ed1c24]"What is your officer’s status?"[/color][/b] 

602 was about to go check, before 149 stopped him. The latter then revealed the Officer’s loose orange pauldron to Ren.

[b]”He’s gone sir.”[/b] he reported, abit with less emotion than one would’ve expected.

The other troopers were silent at this revelation, as several found themselves looking at the ground in silent mourning. That settled it then. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"Grab his items,"[/color][/b] the masked warrior ordered as 149 proceeded to collect what was left from the officer.

The Supreme Leader then looked to Eltariel’s position once more. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"Considering you killed one of my troopers,"[/color][/b] he replied to her initial statement with a hint of anger in his voice, [b][color=ed1c24]"I’m afraid that I won’t leave the premises until I get something of equal payment. I would normally kill you, but considering your refusal to show yourself, perhaps your Tower will harbor something of use instead."[/color][/b] 

The Supreme Leader would then use the force to create a spiral staircase up to the top of the tower out of snow and dirt. Looking back, he would cock his head to have two of his men to check the crow’s nest.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Search it."[/color][/b] he ordered as FN-453 and FN-602 would be the two to investigate.

As they did so, Ren began to issue a warning towards the girl.

[b][color=ed1c24]"If your tower contains something useful to us,"[/color][/b] the masked warrior explained, [b][color=ed1c24]"We will leave you and everything else unharmed. If you attempt to kill anymore of my men as they search the premises, then you will die. And if there’s nothing useful for us in the tower… then you will also die."[/color][/b]

Eltariel narrowed her eyes. So be it. She would just have to fight. Ending a life had been action she had committed so many times it had lost all meaning and impact on her. Add one more lackey to the pile.  She did not respond to Kylo, talking was getting her nowhere.

It became apparent to her that the leading man had some kind of telekinesis, a rare gift on Middle Earth. He bent the earth itself to his will and created a staircase. Eltariel would wait until 453 and 602 were about halfway up the fifty foot tower, by a series of small handholds she could use. All Silver Towers were identical, she knew the placement of every nook and cranny on it’s nearly smooth surface.

Then, she reappeared from behind her boulder, and Kylo would see that she did indeed have a spectral bow that matched her incorporeal arrows. He attempted to get the first move on her as he rose his lightsaber, but then she quickly vanished, with only the sound of wind filling the space she had left behind, as well as a barely perceptible flash of light. 

Unaware of the events that had been transpiring, FN-453 and FN-602 began to quickly jog up the newly erected staircase. While the former was relatively confident about the situation, 602 felt a dark wave of despair flow through him, as if he believed something terrible was about to happen. He was about to say something before Eltariel reappeared halfway up the Tower, standing on top of Kylo’s dirt staircase. 

[b]”Watch out!”[/b] 453 shouted as she drew her blaster and began shooting at her opponent.

Unfortunately, for being the closest person towards her, she would find herself to get hit first. 

[b]”Gah!”[/b] the female trooper groaned as a blade would slice through her armor and into her lower side, slamming her up against the brick wall of the Tower. 

[b]”No!”[/b] 602 paused in terror as he stared at the event taking place.

Eltariel reversed the grip on the blade lodged inside the trooper and span around her side to come face to face with 602. Yanking the curved blade free would cause a spatter of blood and a little pull to convince 453 to fall off several meters into the snowy ground below. Still pointing his blaster, 602 made the grave mistake in hesitating to fire out of pure intimidation. By the time, he did try to fire however, it would be too late. Bringing her hand to bear, Eltariel fired a small bright orb of light at 602, hitting him with the force of a well aimed kick to the chest.

[b]”Aiee!”[/b] the trooper yelped as he collided with the wall. And as soon as he did, he started hearing an obnoxious ringing surging through his ears while being blinded by an extremely bright light. Screaming in utter pain, he found himself against the tower wall as he tried to regain his senses with everything he had within him. He could even feel his skin as if it was gradually getting hotter and hotter. For a brief moment, he truly believed as if he was going to die, being cooked alive, while experiencing the sensory depredation of being both blind and deaf.

It would truly be a terrible and pathetic way for him to die now.

Now the elven woman was going straight for his throat, as if she was about to spare the poor trooper of his suffering. Perhaps his death would be a blessing in disguise. Yet fortunately, or unfortunately for him, the blade would stop just inches from his throat. Once again Eltariel would be robbed from causing another death as she would find herself stuck in place and unable to move. The staircase below her began to dissipate, with 602 falling back down towards the ground. Only the girl would find herself still suspended in mid-air.

But this time, she would feel as if someone was choking her. [color=004b80]”Auck…”[/color] Eltariel grimaced, gritting her teeth and watching as the trooper fell to the ground. Frozen. She dropped her dagg and tried to reach out for the Tower.

From the ground, Kylo Ren’s anger began to surge as he turned the girl to face him. His arm was reaching towards his target, yet his fingers was not splayed out like before. They were curving into his hand, as if he was about to grip onto something. In reality, he was using the force to choke Eltariel for her failure to comply. He didn’t truly know as to why she was defending her tower this audaciously. What was it that she was hiding that allowed her to risk her own life to protect? Was it a precious artifact? A weapon? Perhaps her stache of tokens if she left them up there? Whatever was the case, it would all culminate in her undoing. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"How bold,"[/color][/b] the dark warrior malevolently mocked towards the helpless elf, [b][color=ed1c24]"You’ve had a chance in being spared, had you only allowed us to inspect your tower."[/color][/b]

Slowly Ren began to reel Eltariel in using the force, with his grip tightening for every inch he gained. Eltariel gasped, bring her hands to her throat by habit, trying to pry off the invisible force that constricted her breathing. For the first time in a long, long time, Eltariel felt fear. Her eyes were wide and her mouth opened and closed like a fish on a dry dock, her hands and fingers forming desperate claws at her neck. This shouldn’t happen. Eltariel wasn’t supposed to die here. They would destroy her Tower. [color=004b80]”Gggck…!”l[/color] Eltariel squeaked. She was going to die, and she wouldn’t even die on her homeland. Her afterlife would be stolen away from her, her soul disconnected from Galadriel. All these years...all these years! All of her suffering! It meant nothing! The Uruks would destroy everyone and everything she cared about and she wouldn’t even get to see it burn! Tears sprung to the Elven warrior’s eyes. For much deeper and far reaching reasons than just a dying woman fearing for her life. She would die unredeemed, her mistake on Middle Earth dooming all of the good people. It was all her fault.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Yet you chose once more to defy the First Order,"[/color][/b] he continued, his voice becoming sharper in tone, [b][color=ed1c24]"Whatever is in there surely meant something far more to you than your own life. And if that’s the case..."[/color][/b]

[center][hider=Reeled Unto Death (0:12)]
[youtube]https://youtu.be/IUs88IY1A00?t=12s[/youtube]
[/hider][/center]

Suddenly, he rapidly proceeded to pull his victim in, causing her to lurch forward due to the sudden acceleration. And the next thing she’d know, she found herself impaled by her aggressor’s plasma saber as a sickening screech emerged from her stomach region. [color=004b80][i]”Augchk!”[/i][/color] The woman wordlessly articulated the sensation of her innards being cauterized.

Ren would jam his saber in one more time before he gently caressed the elf’s neck.

Eltariel’s eyes widened to two saucers, her mouth a gaping hole. [color=004b80]”Aah..”[/color] He then lowered his helmeted head and whispered in her ear: The elf placed a trembling hand against his helmet. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"Allow me to aleve you of that burden."[/color][/b]

With that said, Ren would swiftly lower his blade and sheath it, allowing the fallen elven warrior to fall to the ground. With a quiet, breathy release of air her hand dragged down the man’s helm and cloak and she flopped limply onto the snowy dirt, staring at Kylo Ren’s boots. The fear had left her face, and she merely began to twitch and writhe. The agony was unbearable, her abdomen and back were splintered open with two cavernous black holes. Trying to muster the energy to stand only resulted in a hand digging at the dirt in a futile attempt to cling to life.

[color=004b80]”Lothlórien will burn...”[/color] Eltariel admitted quietly to herself with something between a hollow inhalation and a sob.

As his opponent laid helplessly beneath his feet, Ren shed not a single tear regarding her demise as he looked down at her cold, near-death corpse. The only sort of compassionate emotion he gave was merely a shed of pity. Afterall, he gave her a chance to live and she ignored it. And for her defiance, she paid the price for her futile efforts. Otherwise, she was nothing but an obstacle, as simply someone who got in the way of his goals. 

Then, at the corner of his eye, he noticed a shiny object that laid in the snow. Bending down, Ren picked up what he soon recognized as a token. He said not a word, only smirking to himself underneath his faceless helmet before putting it in his pocket. Still standing over the elven woman, he called out towards FN-149 who was tending to FN-453.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Status report."[/color][/b] he ordered towards the standing trooper.

He looked up as the injured female trooper tried to cover her wounded side. [b]”FN-453 has been injured. The enemy managed to stab through the armor protecting her abdomen. It’s a deep but clean cut; nothing that a bacta shot can’t fix.”[/b]

149 then proceeded to inject a bacta shot into the wound, causing 453 to groan in pain before her breathing slowly began to stabilize. Ren would then move his glance slightly to the left to see a fallen FN-602 whimpering by the base of the tower. The trooper’s senses were still fairly compromised, although he could feel the ringing and the blindness slowly going away, but he was still in shock. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"And FN-602?"[/color][/b] he asked curiously.

149 would proceed to inspect the smaller trooper’s form, giving various signals as to confirm his consciousness. He gently shook him, already getting a light groan in response. He then proceeded to lift 4 of his fingers up to him.

[b]"How many fingers am I holding up?"[/b] he asked 602.

The fallen trooper then weakly rose the correct amount of fingers. [b]”I’m… I’m fine… Stop giving me math problems.“[/b]

149 nodded before turning back to the Supreme Leader. [b]”Conscious sir. A little dazed but he’ll walk it off.“[/b]

[b][color=ed1c24]"Bring them away from the tower."[/color][/b] Ren ordered as 149 and 768, respectively, carried the two troopers towards the edge of the clearing and sat them against a large boulder. He then proceeded to crouch over Eltariel, staring her directly at her red, swollen-looking face.

[b][color=ed1c24]"You’re still alive..."[/color][/b] he mentioned casually before pausing to give one good glance at her tower, [b][color=ed1c24]"No matter. I don’t care for taking whatever is in there anymore."[/color][/b]

He then cocked his head back to glare straight into the elf’s pale blue eyes. She returned the gaze, searching the dark visor for something. Anything.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Nor do I care what happens to it."[/color][/b] he would coldly finish as he stood to face his mean. [b][color=ed1c24]"Troopers."[/color][/b] he called, gathering their attention as he pointed towards the structure, [b][color=ed1c24]"Plant some charges on the tower base. I want to see that petty eyesore topple to the ground."[/color][/b]

Eltariel gasped, both from pain and from shock as she tried to muster up the strength to speak.[color=004b80]"No!...No...don’t do it, please.”[/color] She reached a hand out towards him.

Ren paused just as he was about to step forward as he looked to see his victim’s mortified face.

[color=004b80]”...M-more lives than mine are at stake. If..y-you destroy that T-tower…”[/color] She rasped, her face having turned a ghastly shade of white. [color=004b80]”M-millions will die. Please.”[/color] She begged, before coughing and taking in her shallowest breath yet.

The dark warrior paused, but only for a moment. He had absolutely no clue as to what she meant by millions dying. Was it of her own people? Was it regarding the people here? No… that couldn’t be. For a tower of that size, with little defenses to protect it outside of a smooth wall and a mere girl, he couldn’t help but to believe that she was deeply exaggerating the situation. And even if what she said was true, then she did a terrible job in preventing it. He jerked his boot away from Eltariel’s grasp, as he stared deep into her fragile face one last time before leaving her to die.

Eltariel tried to crawl but groaned as the pain in her abdomen shut down any movement. [color=004b80]”Pl-please! It m-means more than you know! They did nothing wrong!”[/color] Eltariel was pleading for the lives of those of Middle-Earth. Without her, Sauron’s forces would organize and march on Gondor. They were not ready. Worst of all, the previous protector had died because of her. She took his duty upon herself and already she had failed. Already was a relative term, for it had indeed been sixty years since that day in Gorgoroth, but that hardly mattered now.

Meanwhile, the troopers were already searching their armor’s components for any explosives they had on board. While they didn’t have any proper charges that they could just plant on the wall, they did have thermal detonators that they could activate. Each stormtrooper had at maximum 2 to 3 detonators within their designated case on their utility belt. In total the squad of six should have up to 12 or 18 maximum or a mere 6 at minimum. 

After gathering the troopers’ detonators, they would have a total of 8 charges on hand. They were a little on the short side, but nonetheless even the minimum amount would be enough to blow one side of the tower open, allowing it to topple over with ease. Of course, if that didn’t work, Ren would have had to resort in using the force in order to topple it manually. 

Scorch chuckled mischievously as he grabbed two in his hand. [color=f26522][b]”Alright,”[/b][/color] he spoke lowly, [color=f26522][b]”Let’s tear it down boys!”[/b][/color]

Eltariel rolled with a groan over to her back, placing a hand on the two cavernous tunnels in her torso. Through gritted teeth she watched as they went about placing the devices necessary to destroying her tower. Her pleading had fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps she could have handled this situation better. After all, it was her who struck the first blow, killing the officer of their group instantly. When was the last time she had tried to negotiate with anyone? It had been so long. Only used to fighting Nazghul and Uruks. A fatal mistake, There was no blood on her. The wound was instantly burnt to a crisp. Eltariel sputtered and then let her head fall back, staring up at the blue sky and waited for her final, ultimate death.

Both 768 and 149 collected their share - holding three each - as they began to walk towards the tower. Ren watched with anticipation, his gaze set directly on the structure, as he awaited its imminent destruction. Victory was his, and there would be nothing that would stop him...

But then they heard a faint bellowing noise emanating in the distance. It was an ominous noise that started with a sharp screeching noise before ending in a low, echoing growl.

The sound lasted for several long seconds, resonating throughout the trees as bird began to flock from the tree tops. The advancing stormtroopers paused in place, visibly shook by what had just transpired. They looked at the trees, then each other, and then dared to look directly back at the Supreme Leader who also paused to address the disturbance.

602 groaned as he would be the first to address the situation. [b]”Uh…”[/b] he paused as he began looking around him, [b]”W-What in death’s name was that?”[/b]

No one seemed to be sure on what it was. Eltariel blinked and glanced around. Something was happening.

[b]”I...”[/b] 768 paused as he too looked around in absolute confusion, [b]”I don’t know… it sounded like~”[/b]

But before he could put a finger on what could’ve made that sound, they would find the local fauna - made up of a collection of various woodland-based animals such as deer, rabbits, birds, and other creatures - stampeding towards them in a mass gathering. However, they did not seem to bother, or perhaps even recognize their presence, as they ran past them in a mass panic. 

The troopers were stunned by such an odd sight and said nothing until the wave of fauna ceased. Scorch made a loud hissing sound as he took a few steps back in utter bafflement.

[color=f26522][b]”Feeeeech,”[/b][/color] the flametrooper cursed, [color=f26522][b]”Whatever it was, it sent the entire forest packin’ to the hills.”[/b][/color]

768 quickly jerked his head towards Scorch’s direction.

[b]”You do realize what must’ve caused that right?”[/b] the trooper asked him concerningly with a subtle rise of fear in his voice, [b]”That sounded like it came from some kind of massive beast just lurking in the woods!”[/b]

Scorch simply shrugged, almost as if he didn’t quite buy it. But then they felt something ripple through their feet, as if they had detected a faint seismic tremor. Then they felt it again, this time a little stronger. Then again, even stronger… and again.

And again… repeatedly.

[b]”And I think we just woke it up...”[/b] 768 finished worryingly.

[center][hider=An Approaching God]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGqeBGQs_fs[/youtube]
[/hider][/center]

Now the stormtroopers were beginning to panic, already having dropped their detonators in their fright. As they backed towards their Supreme Leader, they could now hear the faint sound of rustling foliage and falling trees. This too got louder to the point where they could now see the very trees moving. By now the ground was shaking violently with every step this thing took and the troopers were raising their blasters in a cowardly excuse of courage. Ren stepped in front to greet whoever would emerge from the forest, igniting his lightsaber once more.

Then the great beast showed itself at last. 

A large blocky head emerged from the trees revealing an ancient saurian design with golden-amber eyes and sharp jagged teeth. Bony scales and osteoderms covered his entire face, and as it revealed more of itself, a row of sharp spines ran down his neck and down his back. These spines got larger and larger the further back it went, with the largest ones gaining outwardly portrustions that made them look almost like leaves. A few of these spines even looked as if they’d been broken off. 

Its overall form was massive, being bulky yet muscular, and covered in various scars as it wielded powerful arms that ended with four black claws. Even with his hunchbacked stance, the monster was nearly as tall as the tower itself. It’s feet resembled those of elephants - thick and trunk-like - with four sharp toe claws protruding out of them. And ending his gargantuan form was a long crocodile-like tail that swerved through the snow like a serpentine. 

The stormtroopers were shaking in their boots as they marveled in awe and terror underneath the giant beast’s presence. The elf on the ground stared incredulously at the beast. She would have believed it to be a dying hallucination were it not for the fact that the soldiers were seeing it, too. All the fear had already left her, she had been resigned to her fate. Now she just stared on with a curious but ultimately removed apathy. Though...would this interrupt the destruction of her Tower? Suddenly she found herself rooting for this gigantic creature to scare off the soldiers and hopefully leave the Tower alone. That was all she needed. Eltariel’s eyes widened and she propped herself up on an elbow.

[color=f26522][b]”Sir....”[/b][/color] Scorch mentioned as he attempted to close his gaping jaw, [color=f26522][b]”Permission to label that as one GIANT-ASS monster?”[/b][/color]

As soon as he mentioned it, the beast took a deep breath in and unleashed an ear-splitting roar towards the heavens that rocked the entire vicinity. It was so loud in fact, it could be heard for several miles. Anyone within that range would at the very least feel its very vibrations travel through the ground and up their very bones. And for those at ground zero, it would be a miracle for anyone to not have their eardrums blown by such a deafening noise.

And yet, the fearsome Kylo Ren was not intimidated by this territorial gesture. As his men continued backing up, Ren would stay put as he rose his hand towards his men.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Return to my ship."[/color][/b] his voice resonated as he continued to glare at his monstrous opponent [b][color=ed1c24]"I will deal with this beast..."[/color][/b] 

[i][b][color=ed1c24]"PERSONALLY."[/color][/b][/i]