Subject: A little story, Part 4
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 14:40:12 -0500
From: mark.spano@fiserv.com
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

Part 4:  Urza's House

Whoa, this place was pretty big.  It wasn't just a house though, it was
more of a small city.  4 HUGE (Urza's) towers guarded the edges, with a
wall in between each of them.  Grapeshot Catapults could be seen around the
edges of the walls, just waiting to attack.  Yotian Soldiers began
appearing, almost out of no where, lining up the outsides of the walls.  A
few would rush off somewhere, but moments later they would return, a little
damaged, but just as quickly as they had left.

I began thinking, if I walk up there, these guys are going to just murder
me.  How can I get them to let me in.  Oh, oh, I know!  Urza is good
friends with Aladdin (I mean, they both love artifacts so much), I will
make a duplicate of Aladdin's Ring and show it to the Soldiers.  That
should let me atleast talk to them, so I can convince them to let me take
this Ornithopter to Urza.  I sat down my injured buddy, and began summoning
every bit of mana I had to duplicate such a rare artifact.  After what
seemed like ages, the ring was constructed.

Just as I finished, and sat down after the big drain of power, 4 Soldiers
were in my face, ready to attack me.  Not having anymore power available,
all I could do is show them my new ring, point to the Ornithopter beside
me, and hope they buy the trick.  In what seemed like a language of their
own (more like gears just grinding), one spoke up, "Why for are you here?
You should be in home.  Phyrexian's come tommorrow.....big war."  Everyone
was correct, they are comming to destroy all of Dominia (atleast I knew
they wouldn't succeed).  "I am a friend of Aladdin's, " showing the
soldiers my new 'ring', "and this poor Ornithopter scout got shot down.  I
wantd to bring him to Urza's so that he could possibly fix his friend."
After more talking (in their own language), the same soldier told me to
follow him, but if I try anything, not only will they attack me, but the
other soldiers will be over to kill me very quickly.

My little bird, myself, and the poor ornithopter began walking towards the
gigantic wall.  My escorts, in their own language, spoke a while, and then
finally openend the door.  It took 9 soldiers to move this door!  Wow.  How
could anything possibly get in or out of that!

After entering the complex, I almost became overwhelmed with energy.  I had
never felt this much raw energy before in my entire life!  Towers, Mines,
Power Plants, they all worked in synergy to achieve one goal, raw power.
How could the Phyrexians possibly think they could conquer such a massive
stronghold!  After regaining my senses from the energy overload, the
soldiers began leading to the center of the complex.  Every living thing
was working, preparing for the next days battle.  Some kind of Hopping
Automation was moving things from the ground to the second and third level
battlements, Onulets were pulling battlements from one building to another,
even Tretravi were flying around, grouping, seperating, and regrouping in
preparation.

This was the most amazing thing I had ever seen!  I couldn't believe all of
the creatures preparing.  Finally, we were taken to the front of the center
building.  It was beautiful.  The entire building appeared to be alive, yet
made of stone.  Stone Opal Gargoyles lined the top of the citadel, while
Living Walls lined the middle of the structure.  Finally, the entire first
three levels were guarded by 5 Colossus of Sardias!  Oh my god!  I couldn't
even begin to imagine the amount of power it would take to create one of
these monstrosities, let alone 5!!  I don't think the Phyrexians have any
idea what they are trying to do!

I was escorted inside.  The entire building was lined with artifacts, just
waiting to be used.  Anhks, Tablets, Candelabras, Canes, Carpets, Statues,
even Bells were hanging on the walls.  Urza has been busy!  Just then, I
actually saw a human being.  Finally, something of flesh and blood.  He
noticed me at the same time, and began walking towards my escorts, with an
extremely angry look on his face.

"Who is this?" he yelled at one of the soldiers.  "Ring of Aladdin on his
hand.  Hurt Ornithopter he carries.  We thought it better to bring him
inside and let Urza decide fate."  He seemed like a little guy, but the way
he spoke made me realize that he had to be Urza's pupil, probably Tawnos.
He looked at me, and then began chanting, before I could even react, I
began glowing White.  "You have visited our friend Serra, I see.  If I find
out that you were the one that killed her, I will stretch you over The Rack
and drain your spells from your head, one at a time, and then kill you."

"Whoa, hey, let's not over-react here.  I brought you one of your scouts.
I have posed not threat.   I understand that you are preparing for a great
war, one that I know you will win, and..."  "How do you know we will win,
stranger?"  Tawnos interrupted.  "Because, I am from....umm, I am friends
with Gaea, and I was sent by her for a mission.  She said if I wanted to, I
could help you, but I must retrieve a book for her, something that she had
taken away from her.  ARGH, that was what I forgot!  Damn it!  Barrin has
the book, I could have gotten it.  Boy am I stupid!"

"Gaea, you say?  She said that she only wants to defend the land.  That we
Strip Mined her forests attempting to get the materials we needed to build
our Towers, Mines and Power Plants!  Why would she send a little shit like
you to help?"  Tawnos chided.  "I didn't say she sent me to help you, I
said she said I COULD help if I wanted to, but I must retrieve something
for her in the process.  Barrin has it, I need it.  On the way, this
Ornithopter fell into the woods near me.  I decided to bring it here.  I
thought that maybe I could meet Urza himself, " I replied  (well, it was
MOSTLY true atleast  :)  ).  "No One may see the master, while he works.
Not even I am permited into his Arcane Laboratory.  The power in there is
so great that he may only concentrate on one thing at a time.  His other
students from the Tolarian Academy were so bothersome that he had to create
this Laboratory to keep them away.  None of them have enough patience to be
in there with him.  The Academy students go mad inside.  I wouldn't dare
enter that Laboratory unless it was a last resort.  (thinking to himself)
Maybe that is why he created it, as a sort of last resort incase the
Phyrexians break the defenses.  Hmm, sometimes I cannot follow the thoughts
of that old man.  Anyways, thank you for returning our Ornithopter, you may
be on your way now."

"But I want to stay and help.  I am very versatile, and I can defend
myself,"  I replied.  "What do you know of war!  You could not even fix
this Ornithopter!"  "Perhaps not, but I could take you on, you little
Gnome!"  Hey, this guy maybe Tawnos, but I am no Portal playing newbie!  I
know my shit, and with the kind of power that this place can create, I can
do anything!

Looking a little eager, Tawnos spoke one final time, "Very well, I accept
your challenge.  We will enter the Arena and duel.  If you can even last 1
hour with me, you will be permitted to stay.  Else, I will kill you myself,
and hang your corpse on the front walls for the Phyrexians to see as they
too die!"

-------
Mark R. Spano  --  The Sniper
sniper_mtg@hotmail.com