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Post by Aulius on Mar 4, 2006 0:55:12 GMT
Ok I thought what the hell and write some sort of story for this section. I'm not very good at english so don't expect it to be that great. Pending on our good this one turns out I may write a second chapter. Now to the story,
In the land of Arranor, ten races lived. Not in total harmony but there was yet to be a large war. Usually it is small things that started a little fighting but nothing major. No one expected something so little could have started the war that destroyed whole kingdoms and forming the great war that created the first Empire of the continent of Arranor.
The River Vie was between the Kingdom of the Elves and the Kingdom of Men. For centuries it was regarded as the border between the two kingdoms. Unusually there was only one spot where they could ford the river between the two kingdoms and so it was always busy with traders and travellers.
The Kingdom of Men was run by King Henri XI whose family had been inpower for over three-hundred years. Over time the treasery did not gain as much money as it had when Henri's reign started and so they needed a way to get money.
Being the rich people they did not care that much of how well off people below them were only that they were richer than them. Slowly that divide was getting smaller, so Henri's plan was to force people to pay to cross the river and into the kingdom.
This upset the elves and so they stuck their own collecter on their side of the river. The price to cross the river kept going up and up on bother sides. Eventually someone got sick of it, no one is sure who killed who first but it somehow made someone snap. Most people claim it was a man who started it and it is believed that he stabbed to death a Elf nobleman at the ford after laughing at him and claimed that he couldn't afford anything, that all of the human race was poor and useless. When other elves saw what happened they tried to kill the man. Other men tried to help defend the man and several elvish soldiers were killed, innocent people were killed while trying to flee however looking like they were going to attack the other side.
Two days past and no one dared to cross the river. On bother sides they had brought in more soldiers had been posted to watch the other side.
Months past and still no one dared to cross. The treasury was losing money and Henri needed to do something. He built up and army by the ford and at the same time Lord Rhendal build up his own army on the other side.
Henri did not have very much information on the size of the Elvish army and did not listen to his lords and dukes advice. He corssed the river at dawn and so, the battle of the River Vie had started.
The Elves opened up with thier arrows that rained down on the footmen who had crossed first. Out of the hundred who had crossed only twenty were still standing.
Henri ordered his archers and catapults to fire. The front ranks were devastated but the gaps were quickly filled up. Further down the river, boats carrying horses were landing on the human side of the river. They rode along the shore in an attempt to flank Henri.
Henri had anticapated this and already had his spearmen on his flank to block the horses. When they cavalry had almost reached Henri's line, the elves charged across and were slowed by the river. Many died before they had reached halfway but they still waded through.
The elf warriors were better trained than the men and slaughtered much of the first rows with ease. Henri sent in his elite gaurd into the battle and slowed down the Elves advance.
Henri was firing his bow from his horse into the Elves when he spotted a pure white horse with a Elf who had gold plate armour. Henri knew who this was and shot a few arrows at Rhendal. Two bounced off his armour but one went under the base of his helmet and into his neck. He fell of his horse and was trampled by the retreating and demoralised Elves.
Henri's archers picked off the stragglers while the footmen cheered and cried out 'Victory!'.
Our hero was not at this battle. He was a year too young to be taken into service of his local count, Count Keyes. Our heros name is Osrin. He was an average person and worked on his adoped fathers boat.
Osrin was promised to the church because he is an orphan and was therefore illigitamate to inherit any of his fathers belongings. Osrins father did love him but it was not a very good thing to have a bastard adopted son.
Osrin was lying on his bed trying to get some rest before he had to go back out again repair the deck of the boat. No one could do it better than he could.
His father walked in heavily when Osrin was almost asleep and said, "Something bad has happened."
Ok thats the end of it. Tell me what you think and well if it isn't that great then I won't bother with another chapter.
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Post by Ceri on Mar 4, 2006 11:49:34 GMT
I like it! Good prologue to a story involving this 'hero' Osrin mentioned. If you've got a storyline to follow it up it should be good
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Post by Aulius on Mar 4, 2006 18:20:46 GMT
Any other comments?
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Post by Stanic on Mar 4, 2006 18:39:49 GMT
Look's good. keep it up
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Post by Aulius on Mar 5, 2006 12:04:54 GMT
I have some spare time so I'm going to use it to continue the story. This is Chp 2...I think. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osrin groaned. It was the first chance to get some sleep after sailing through the storm the night before. He struggled to open his eyes and raise his head.
"Whats happened he asked?" "Lord Rhendal is dead." "How?!" "Shot by a human arrow at a battle on the River Vie." "But, he had no heirs!" "Exactly so this kingdom his going to desend into anarchy and become easy pickings for other nations wanting more land." "Are we leaving?" "No." "Then what are we going to do?" "Simple, we defend whats ours." "But I'm not old enough yet!" "Your birthday is next month, thats plenty of time to learn the basics of fighting with a sword" Osrins eyes lit up. He always wanted to have a sword and fight in battles for his Lord. "Won't I need armour?" "I don't have enough money to get you armour that could protect you well and you would probably be better without because of it. No we're just buying the best sword Axil can make."
Axil was the local blacksmith. He was getting old and fat but in his youth he was employed to make weapons and shields for the local armoury and we always, the finest quality.
"When are we going to see him?" "In an hour, first I need to find my sword" Denanal, Osrins adopted father, walked out leaving osrin to finally get the sleep he needed desperatly.
Half-an-hour later his sister came skipping in, she was only 8 and was rebelious as a 15 year old.
"Whatya doing big brother?" Liat asked. Osrin groaned again as he was so close to falling asleep again. "I was trying to sleep until you came in!" he shouted at her "No need to shout!" she replied laughing and cruely "I'm never going to get any sleep" Osrin said from under his pillow. She skipped back out and some time later Denanal came back in. "Right I found my sword now we're getting yours" "Five more minutes" Osrin moaned "You've been in bed for ages, thats plenty of sleep" Osrin eyed evily "Come on get up" he pulled the blanket off him
After ten minutes of trying to get Osrin out of bed, Osrin finnally stopped trying to stay in bed and followed his father out into the sunlight. It took him a moment to get used to the light.
His father came out with two horses and the climbed on them.
"To the blacksmiths then." They rode off down the road towards town.
I'm going to continue this one later.
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Post by Ceri on Mar 5, 2006 12:34:53 GMT
Lol. Liking the Serenity quote as well, hehe
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Post by Stanic on Mar 5, 2006 13:38:59 GMT
This story is getting better
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Post by Aulius on Mar 7, 2006 16:49:51 GMT
An hour passed. Osrin never bothered to ask why they lived so far away from town, he didn't care very much at the moment since he could now see the town walls in the distance.
"What kind of sword am I getting?" "Longsword."
The continued in silence. At the gate, the gaurd eyed them suspiciously. Hoping to get a chance to capture bandits and get a pay rise no doubt. They pushed through the crowds of people who were all scurrying around trying to find the cheapest price on things ranging from arrows to firewood.
They reached Axils forge and found the large man hammering metal into horse shoes.
"Here for horse shoes?" he asked with a rough voice when he saw the horses. "No, I need you to make a sword." Axil stopped and looked up at Osrins father "Denenal! Good to see you again! Have you broken your old one?" He turned back and continued to hammer the metal into shape before shoving it back into the fire. "No, it's fine. I need one for my son here" Axil eyed Osrin "This ones ye adopted one isn't he?" "Yes" "Wasn't he going to the church?" Axil said not completely acknowledging that Osrin was standing right there "You do know Lord Rhendal is dead?" "Yes of course I do, who doesn't?" "And you do know the place is going to fall into anarchy very soon?" "Ah...no, I see your reasons of wanting to train him up. You there!" Turning to Osrin "Pick up that book and choose your sword. Osrin walked over and picked up the book. He flicked through the pages.
Thats Chp 2 finished I think
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Post by Aulius on Mar 10, 2006 23:57:37 GMT
Ch3 Ok So far, the elvish kingdom will soon descend into anarchy because of the death of Lord Rhendal. Osrin, our hero, is getting a sword.
Osrin continued to flick through the pages. Pausing occasionally at what caught his eye. He closed the book and put it back down. "So what do you want?" Axil asked while working "Blade 93, sharpened both sides, Hilt 42 and Pommel 7" He answered, Axil wrote it down and paused when he said which pommel. "You better be careful with that pommel, quite a few poeple I heard about accidently pressing the switch and sticking there hands through the spike after forgetting to close it" "Would it hurt your consiunce if I did?" "No" "Then what are you worrying about?" "Your father, thats who" "I see, well it's my choice so my problem" "Well your the customer, comeback in two weeks. It will cost you 20 segests" "What?!" Osrins father called from behind. "I doubt we will be able to buy a decent scabbard" "Well if you but my old friend then it would be 17 segests, but not for anyone else" "Thats better. How much for a scabard for this sword?" "Oh, er,um" Axil thought long and hard and there was a long silence "4 segests" "There goes my savings." "Yes well your fault for letting your bastard choose!" "I know, well you get the scabbard maker to make on that goes with the sword not like what happened to my cousin!" Axil smiled and then laughed "You mean when he got the pink, green,orange striped one?" "Yes" Denanal laughed "Well see you in two weeks then."
They paid Axil half the money now, and then went about buying the odd useful things that they may need later. Money was now short and trinkets were now a waste of money.
They left for home so that they would get home before sundown. The trip was mostly in silence except for a small conversation. "So what am I going to do for two weeks?" "Borrow my sword" "And what will I do with that?" "Get used to the feel of using a sword. Don't you listen to me when I tell you things that may help you?" The obvious answer was no, Osrin looked back to the road.
An hour passed. Denenal signalled for them to stop. Silence except for the horses. They dismounted and looked around. "What are we looking for?" he whispered to his father "We'll find out in a moment" Still silence. Denenal relaxed a little then an arrow flew past him and imbedded in a tree. He ran over to his horse and pulled out his sword from his pack. "Pick up something to use" Osrin paniced, he couldn't see anything nearby. A bandit stood up and roared, he had a bear skin on him and short sword in one and and an axe in the other. Four more bandits stood up and charged at Denenal. Osrin still couldnt see anything he could use then another arrow flew past him.
Denenal swung out at the nearest bandit and cut off his arm then while still spinning parried another bandit. Osrin scrambled over to where the bandit was lying screaming in pain and shock of losing his arm. Osrin took his sword and raised it above his head. The man below him looked at him back in terror. Osrin stabbed and stabbed again. He got up and turned to help his father.
Denenal cut off another bandits head and then continued to block the leaders swings. Osrin saw the third bandit come from behind Denenal. He charged at the bandit screaming his head off and waving his sword like a mad man. The bandit stabbed at him but Osrin parried and blocked the other swing. He lunged at the bandit. His sword went through the bandit all the way to the hilt. He heard the dying breath of the man as he pushed him off the borrowed sword.
Denenal was still fighting the leader. His arm was cut while he wasn't looking. It was the elusive archer still shooting arrows at them. His aim was getting better. Osrin didnt need to worry about the archer for the moment. At that moment he had a chance to kill the leader. He ran upto the back of him and was about to stab him in the back but a fourth bandit blocked him and was much more agressive than the previous two.
While parrying he saw his father cut the back of the leaders knee, cutting the ligaments. He cried out in pain and fell onto one knee. His father swung and cut off his head. The bandit saw this and was about to run and then let his gaurd down. Osrin stabbed him. He screamed in pain and then crumpled to the floor. Now there was only the archer left. Denenal saw the archer running away. He jumped on the horse and charged after him. There was no chance he was going to get away. His father quickly caught up with him and cut him down.
Deneal rode back and dismounted, breathing heavily. "And that his how you deal with bandits." "Well atleast we can sell their weapons" "Yes and this roads a little more safer." They gathered the weapons and clean the blood off them and continued on the road home.
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Post by Aulius on Mar 13, 2006 20:17:08 GMT
4.*By the way Denanal is pronounced Denan-al not Den-anal, This will be a long story.*
Ten days had passed since the fight with the bandits happened and the coming anarchy that Denanal had said would come was showing the first signs.
In the nearby town of ul'shen three riots had happened and several had died. In the capital, Vengani a count called Askreth had proclaimed himself as ruler. According to rumors alot of people weren't happy about this. They stormed the palace and hung him. The palace gaurds had done nothing.
Osrin was moving some barrels onto his fathers boat. They were planing a quick two day sail to an island to trade some beer for money. Osrin had just finished moving all the barrels onto the boat when he heard horses hoofs. He walked to the front of the house where he saw a young elf dismount.
"Are you Denanal?" "No, I'm his son" "You'll do, tell him that the sword that was ordered will be finished tomorow. With all the riots everyone needs protection right?" "Very true" "Well, good day" He re-mounted his horse and rode away leaving a cloud of dust. Denanal appeared round the corner "Who was that?" "Messenger, the sword will be done tomomorow" Osrin smiled when he said that, Denanal looked a little annoyed. "I see, this trip can't wait. You stay here and get it tomorow. I'll give you the money later. Don't loose it." "You don't need to worr-" "I do need to, I'm leaving you with alot of money" Osrin rolled his eyes and walked back to the boat, to finish preperations.
Some time had passed and Osrin was trying to sleep by a tree. His father had left soon after the messanger had come by. Osrin was now stuck with his sister.
His sister hadn't bothered him yet but he was expecting something bad to happen.
Like a cursed word his sister had appeared when he thought his sisters name. Liat was playing with a flower in her hand when she strolled up to him.
"Where are you going?" Osrin asked. He cared for her even though he couldn't really stand her. "Up the hill" The hill was quite far away. "You can't" "Why?!" She moaned "Havn't you noticed? The number of bandits are growing in the area has increased dramatically, it's not safe!". Liat was rebelious but not stupid enough to head into an area of bandits. "Then what am I suppose to do?" "I don't know, but you can't drift that far away from the house!" "Fine" Liat turned around and went back to the house.
Since the bandit raids have increased so much in the last ten days, Osrin now carried one of the swords they had picked up. The blade was dull and wasn't very sharp. There wasn't anything to sharpen it nearby.
Osrin heard horse hoofs again. Someone was galloping towards the house. Osrin got up and ran to the road. It was the messenger going as fast as he could towards the house. The messenger kept looking behind his back and had his sword drawn. Osrin drew his.
The messenger slowed down and stopped by him, dust flew into Osrins face and he coughed hard when it got in his mouth. The messenger was white with fear and jumped off his horse.
"What happened?" Osrin asked in shock "Bandits, they attacked a trader and his family up the road not to far away, when I got there they were raping the traders wife and killing the trader. They saw me and started to chase me."the messenger collapsed, there was an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. "Liat" He shouted. Liat soon appeared and gasped at the wounded man. "Get some water, we need to get this arrow out of him!" She quickly ran off to the well.
Osrin threw the messenger over his shoulder and carried him into the house. He lay him on his side and started taking off or ripping some of the his clothes off. He had a clear view of the arrow. It had gone straight through his shoulder.
Liat staggered in with a bucket of water and set about putting it into a bowel. She then searched for a cloth.
Osrin took a deep breath and thought how he was going to do this. The man was deffinatley unconsious and he had lost some blood from his wound. Osrin gripped the back of the arrow and snapped it off, he threw it behind him. He then carefully pulled the front of the arrow forward out of his shoulder, careful not to hurt himself or the messenger. The arrow came out and threw that away.
Liat came up to him with a bowel and cloth. He dampened the cloth and gentley cleaned the wound. He turned to Liat and asked her to find something to bandage the wound. He continued cleaning the wound. Liat returned with an old shirt of Osrins. Osrin tore the shirt into strips and began bandaging the him.
He finished bandaging the messenger and layed him down on the bed and covered him in a blanket. Osrin got up and walked over to the bucket. He washed his hands and walked outside. Liat followed. "Will he be ok?" she asked worridly "I don't know" He wished he had better news for her. This now made it difficult for him to get the sword Axil had been making and leave Liat and the messenger on their own. He walked back over to the tree and began to think how he would fix this problem.
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Post by Ceri on Mar 14, 2006 19:03:16 GMT
Looking good ;D Don't worry about it being long, I know mine will be Is Liat pronounced "Lee-at" or "Lie-at"?
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Post by Aulius on Mar 14, 2006 19:21:57 GMT
Lie-at
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Post by Spawn on Mar 14, 2006 19:54:31 GMT
Looking good ;D Don't worry about it being long, I know mine will be Is Liat pronounced "Lee-at" or "Lie-at"? Do worry about it being long! Mine was long and nobody apart from Ahelos bothered reading it. Its really good by the way, I'm enjoying reading it.
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Post by Aulius on Mar 16, 2006 20:12:00 GMT
Short chapter to get abit more story than action into the it. 5.
Osrin could see from where he was sitting that a storm was happening out at sea, he hoped his father wasn't going to be inside it.
He looked out to the road over the hill, no sign of bandits at all. They may have given up chasing the messenger. Osrin noticed the messengers horse in a nearby field, it had strolled over there while he had been attending the messengers wound.
Osrin stood and walked over to the horse. He took its reigns and started to walk over to the stable and feed the horse. Liat met him half way and without saying anything took the reigns and led the horse back to the stable herself.
Osrin still could not work out what he was going to do. If he took Liat and the messenger on a cart theres an increased chance of getting attacked but Osrin didn't want to risk everyones lives. Leaving Liat with the messenger wouldn't be a good idea either, the bandits may attack while he is gone.
He heard groans coming from the house. He ran inside to see the messenger trying to sit up. Osrin walked over to the bed and helped him up. Osrin got a bowl of soup his sister had made earlier and offered it to him. "No, I just need to ow!" He had tried to get out of bed then realised how much his arm hurt "I think I'll stay still then" "Well good, now eat this" Osrin gave it to the messenger and started to eat "So who are you?" "Valen, I'm sixteen and has had an arrow sitcking out of his back" "Good so you do remember that part" Osrin paused "You have messed up my plan of picking up the sword tomorrow" "Would you prefer if I had died on the way?" "No but, by getting hurt you have made me want to get it very soon" "I could ride with you to town" "No, you need to stay where you are for the moment" Liat walked in and jumped when she saw Valen sitting up "This is my sister, Liat. Liat this is Valen" "You don't look like brother and sister" "No, I am an orphaned bastard. My real father was murdered and my mother was hung for murder after I was born. My father had raped her, she got pregnant. She was very angry and so stabbed him seven times. She gets caught. Gets arrested. Sentenced but kept alive until I was born. So thats the story of my parents" "Has anyone ever told you, you have a colourful history?" Valen asked sarcastically "No, but then I don't tell anyone my parents story" Valen finished his soup and then noticed his shirt and cloak were lying on the floor ripped. "Hey! Couldn't you have been more gentle with my clothes?" Osrin looked at them. "I suppose we could have but then you may not have been alive to say that if we spent ages on your clothes" Osrin turned to Liat "Could you mend them for him?" "I could try" "Thank you" Osrin replied. Valen looked around the room checking out his surroundings, he gave a little shurg and Osrin assumed he was happy with it. There was a long silence except for the odd bird singing outside. "So who are you then?" Valen finally asked "I'm Osrin, the previously mentioned bastard adopted son of a small time trader. In about two weeks I will be eightteen and maybe taken into the local counts service. Meanwhile I'm training with the long sword that I ordered which I can't get at the moment" Osrin wasn't pleased about Valen getting shot but then again, there wasn't much he could do.
Osrin got up and left the house. He walked over to the quey and looked out into the sea. The storm had seemed to have gotten worse. He looked out and on the horizon he thought he could spot a sail. He couldn't quite tell, it may just have been a cloud.
It was getting dark and so he decided to light two large fires in the fields infront of the house to help him see at night. This would help him if bandits wanted to prey on his house.
With the fires started he looked back out to sea. The white spot now deffiantly looked like a sail and it was coming towards him. It might have been Denanal coming back because of the storm, or pirates. Either way he sat himself next to the tree once again and watched the night begin.
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Post by Aulius on Mar 23, 2006 22:46:18 GMT
Yeah, I bet you noticed that there are alot of short chapters...meh
6.
The smoke from the fires made the night seem even darker than usual. Osrin stumbled more often than he usually had before the chaos started.
He tripped over a rope behind the house when he went to check on the sail that had been approaching earlier. He stood and dusted himself off and noticed he had cut himself on the axe that was there. He rubbed the cut over his sleeve to get rid of some of the blood so he could get a better look. He winced and clenched his teeth together from the pain.
Osrin remembered why he was there, he looked out to see but he couldn't see any sail, the stars or the moon because of the smoke from the fires. Groaning came from inside the house, Valen had woken back up for the third time that night. He walked back careful not to trip over the rope again and entered the house.
Valen's bandages were now very red and deffinatly needed changing. Valen looked over at Osrin and rubbed his eyes, he looked down at Osrins arm.
"Looks like I'm not the only one getting hurt here" Valen said cheerfully. In the short time Osrin had known Valen, he had noticed that Valen always looked on the brightside of things. Even when there wasn't a bright side. "Have you seen my sister?" he asked "Last time I saw she was going to bed" "I see, give me a minute while I tear up another shirt" Valen nodded and rolled over trying to rest in a position where his shoulder didn't hurt.
Osrin looked around, his sister had stolen his bed and was sleeping peacefully. It was almost impossible to wake her up with out throwing water on her when something important happened. He searched his chest of clothing, he didn't find any old shirts that he could use. He opened up his fathers.
It had been a long time ago since he had a look around in his fathers chest, last time he looked there wasn't much to look at. This time however there were various knives of all sorts of designs, he took one out and unsheathed it. The knife was shaped like a flame and had a strange smell about it. He quickly put it back incase it was poison. Osrin looked in the chest abit more before finding a old shirt that had several holes in.
Valen had moved and was now sitting on a stool next to the table. He smiled and started to gentle take off his bandages. The hole left by the arrow was relatively clean and had almost stopped bleeding. It was odd, he could see right through his shoulder, it wasn't everyday someone could do that.
Osrin cleaned the wound and soon had new bandaging on Valen. Valen started to get up and then Osrin pulled out his arm. He sat back down.
"Help me get this on" Osrin said handing him a strip of cloth. Valen did it perfectly, which was much better than could be said for Osrins work on his shoulder. "How come you can do that so well and yet you cant stay in the same position?" Valen thought for a moment "Well, my father was one of those people who get people to stick leeches on their bodies beleiving that they can fix any problem with the body. That also means he knows out to bandage people properly and so I learnt how to" "And do you believe that leeches are the cure for everything?" "Why do you think I'm a messenger?" "To see the world?" "No I'm not one of those fools who will believe anything that a doctor says will work, believe me I know that leeches don't work from first hand experience" He pointed to his arm where he had various marks were the leeches had bitten. He stood and walked back to where he had been sleeping "Well I need some rest and staying up talking to you won't help" He pulled the blanket over him and was soon asleep.
Osrin went back outside and went to check the sea again. He spotted instantly a boat very close and coming towards the house slowly. From where he stood he thought he recognised the boat. It would reach him very soon. He quickly ran back into the house and found the bow that they took off the bandits. He sat outside in cover waiting to see who it was. Pirates had been known to attack in the area but since the anarchy started it was alot more likely that smaller places would be ransacked for even the smallest amount of money.
More time had passed and the boat gentely glided into the jetty. There was just one man on board. He silently rolled up the torn sails and pushed down a gang plank. The man walked down and shouted, "It's alright Osrin, its only me" Denanal went back on the boat and began to unload. Osrin came out of his hiding place. "Why did you turn back?" he asked "I guessing you saw the storm clouds? Well this boat ain't going to get through that one, trust me. When you have sailed for as long as me you know when to turn back" "Well now that you are here alot of my problems will be solved" Denanal stopped and looked up, "What problems" He frowned "Well you remember that messenger?" "Yeah..." "Well he got chased by bandits and was shot in the back, he's alright now. He's inside" Osrin took a deep breath "My problem was that I-" "You couldn't leave him or your sister here incase the bandits came" he interuppted "Exactly" "Well if you can get to town on your own and not get killed" "You know I can take care of myself!" "I do, but I'm allowed to worry" he retorted "You will need to get up quite early, bandits in this area are quite lazy" "I know father" Osrin rolled his eyes and headed to the fields to keep the fires going.
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Post by Aulius on Apr 7, 2006 21:33:07 GMT
7. Osrin jumped awake as his father shook him. He wiped his eyes and got up from the tree he had fallen asleep by. The air was thick with smoke and the sky was cloudy yet the sun still managed to shine through in places. The fires were now smouldering piles of ashe. Osrin stood up and straightened his clothes. He suddenly noticed they were damp. A few drops of water fell down onto him from the leaves above. 'Great' he thought when he realised it had rained during the night. Osrin walked over to the house, the mud squelching beneath his feet. Denanal was picking up the axe he had fallen on the night before. He waved as Osrin walked inside. Valen was sitting at the table eating with one hand, trying not to move his arm to much. He was looking slightly pale. "Had fun in the rain last night then?" he asked cheerily, he was obviously a morning person Osrin thought to himself. "Oh you bet I did" He replied sarcastically as he walked into the other room to change his clothes. When Osrin came back out Valen had returned to his bed and getting back to sleep. Osrin tied the short sword around himself again and picked up the money to pay Axil. He looked around to see if he hadn't forgot anything. There was a bow leaning against the wall by the door. He couldn't really use a bow, he wondered if Denanal would teach him to use it aswell. He walked out and Denanal was coming back with a pile of wood. He dropped it by the house and walked over to Osrin and said, "Now listen carefully, as you know the bandits are getting much more organised now and are attacking in greater numbers. If you see any don't let them see you and run. Don't be a hero" "I know, do you think to young to handle this myself?" "Your carrying quite abit of money and any bandit would try as much as possible to get at it, you lose the money, you won't be able to get the sword" Denanal said in an annoyed tone. Osrin sighed and got on to the horse his father had already prepared for him "Don't wander about" "I know" Osrin nudged the horse and it began to walk down the road. *** Osrin found Axil hammering away at a sword. He looked up and said in his rough voice "Ah, so Valen did get you! I was worried that he had been killed on the way there" He went back to the sword and stuck it in the fire. "Yes Valen did get to us. On his way back he ran into bandits and while he was running he got shot in the should by an arrow" This really grabbed full attention now "You mean that my boys been hurt! How is he? Is he in pain? Tell me!" Axil grabbed Osrins shirt and pulled him up close "Ye...yes he's fine, I had to push the arrow through his should the get it out" "Was he awake?" Axil was pale now "The sword" Osrin said "The wha?" "The sword!" "Oh, its just over th-" "No the one in the fire!" Axil cursed loudly, he quickly pulled it back out and began to reshape it. "So was he awake?" He said between hammer strokes "No, he past out before we took him inside" "Oh good" He sighed in relief "Tell you what, since you helped my son I'll cut off some off the price" "Why er, thank you. How much?" "3 segests" Even though Axil was greatful for Osrin helping his son he was not the kind of person to sell something with a small profit. "Okay, where is the sword?" "Over there" He pointed his hammer to a room in the back of the building. Inside there were almost a hundred blades from knives to longswords. Each had a label with the name of the person it was to be sold to, or just a price tag with the name crossed off. He found his amongst the longswords. He picked it and unsheathed it. The blade was in the shape of a thin flame, the hilt was silver with dragons heads on either end. Just underneath there was a button. He pressed it and a spike shot out and stayed at the end of the pommel which was a cone without the spike sticking out from the end. He pressed the putton again and the spike went back inside the handle. Osrin walked out of the back room and found Axil talking to another customer. He was tall and looked rich. There were two bodygaurds at the entrance. The man didn't look to happy. "I have come here time and time again Axil, I need you to make weapons to equip my army!" "I'm sorry your lordship but the lack of materials getting here is making it hard to make enough for an army of that size!" "I don't care for excuses just get me what I want by the deadline!" The lord turned and left. Osrin walked over to Axil. "So your happy with it?" he said shakily "Yes it's exactly how I imagined it would be" "Good now hand over the segests" Osrin handed him the money and then remembered he still had a sword around his waist. "How much would you pay for this sword" He said pointing down at it. He took on look at it and replied. "Half a segest" He began counting out the money "Here" He took it off his belt and handed it to him, Axil in return gave him the money. Osrin attached the sword to his belt and walked to the door. "Don't you get killed anytime soon lad. Oh and bring back my son sometime soon?" "Don't worry he'll be back soon" Osrin walked out and found his horse and was soon on the way back to his home.
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Post by Ceri on Apr 9, 2006 10:04:45 GMT
Your idea of a *short* chapter is new to me But I'm still reading it, so keep posting
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Post by Aulius on Apr 9, 2006 10:54:06 GMT
I find it difficult to type constantly on one thing without getting bored
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Post by Ceri on Apr 9, 2006 14:25:37 GMT
Fair enough...
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Post by Phoenix on Apr 9, 2006 19:20:23 GMT
wow thats realy good!!! I really like the storyline.
write more! pls?! me wants to know what happens *nods*
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Post by Aulius on Apr 30, 2006 16:52:36 GMT
8. Time was passing slowly and Osrin was alone with his thoughts. His thoughts drifted to how Valen was doing, Sixteen and has already been shot. His thoughts now drifted to how his sister had stopped being so rebelious, before she would sit on the roof or on a cliff edge. She wouldn't listen to what he told her too yet now, she had changed. Looking ahead Osrin noticed faint red patches in various places in the road and the odd cart. Soon they were more common and some graves had been dug on the road side. He soon realised that bandits had attack while he was in town. He felt his hand reach for the hilt of his sword as he continued to trot down the blood stained road. Looking up ahead he could see a small group, their clothes tattered and their faces covered in dirt. One of them stood out more than the rest, he was wearing stolen jewlary and he has holding a sword that glistened in the sun. "Halt!" One of them cried, Osrin pulled the reigns gently and his horse stopped. "Either you give us all your money and valuables or I'll run you through!" Snarled the one that looked more important. "And if I don't have enough for your liking?" Osrin asked trying to sound noble "Then we've got a problem, If we've gots a problem then your not going to live!" Osrin got off the horse and took off his cloak. He drew his virgin blade which it may soon not be. "If thats your choice then! Boys watch how the mighty crush the ant" With that the leader swung at him, Osrin jumped out the way and gripped his sword tighter and swung back. The leader parried with such a force Osrin was flung back, the leaders minions laughed. He gritted his teeth and swung again and again, still he was getting parried by the man. Osrin charged forward but was again blocked, he pushed harder before then kicking the leader in the stomach. He coughed and wheezed but was still fighting just has hard. The leader lunged at him, Osrin jumped out of the way and flicked the switch the spike. In the same motion he drove the spike into the back the leaders skull. He kicked the body and it collapsed to the ground with blood oozing out of the whole. The bandits were in shock and knelt down as if he were a king. Their heads were bowed but one spoke. "You have killed Hathalri the Mighty! No other member of any of the bandit clans have defeated him! He was our leader yet you managed to kill him without a scratch!" "This makes you the leader of the bandits! What is your name?!" Another one spoke "Osrin but I-" "Then Osrin you can tell us what to say to our clans! What are your orders?" It seemed that there was no way of getting out becoming their 'king'. "Stop killing everyone, Stop raping the women, Stop torturing people like cutting out their eyes! Show everyone you are not blood thirsty barbarians" Osrin straightened his clothes "Is that all that you bid?" a third spoke. "Yes now follow my will or end up like Hathalri but first answer me these questions, why become bandits in the first place?" Osrin sheathed his sword and put his cloak back on "Because Lord Lithrandur has put such high taxes we have to steal from those who can pay so that our families don't get thrown into being his concubines and slaves!" "I heard that he was building up an army to wipe us all out in one go and then forming his own kingdom" The first Elf said "Can you prove to me that he is forcing people to be his concubines and slaves?" "I can" the fourth said "A year ago when we had't enough to pay our taxes I feared that they would come and take me for slave labour in the mines. I left my wife and my daughter hoping that he would leave them alone. No I returned when I had found money to find my daughter dead and raped, aswell as my house in ruins. After some asking around I found out that my wife had been taken to his castle. I managed to get a servant to send a message to her and bring one back, she wrote down exactly how she was being treated. Since then I have been helping people pay their taxes" A tear rolled out of his eye. "What is your name?" "Silvrin" "Do you have any former gaurds in your group?" "Yes there are a few there are some in the others aswell" "Good, get them to train the clans rabble into an army! Now go! If you wish to find me then head along this road until you see a house on the coast with a boat moored" They bowed and headed off in seperate directions. Osrin climbed on to the horse and galloped towards home. *** Osrin walked into his house, it was almost sunset and he found his father eating. Valen was sleeping still. "What took you so long?" he said and then slurped his drink. "Would you believe me I'm now the leader of the bandits?" "Yes" "Well I have" "I already know" "How?" "Because I'm one of them" This was a complete shock to him, he would have never suspected that his father was a bandit "While you were gone one I recieved a message that you had killed Hathalri and was now pronounced leader. It also had what your orders were" "Did you kill or rape anyone?" "No, Thats the Burning Ear clan who does that, I'm in the Noble Theives, we do it far more nicer than the others, now get some rest you need to inspect the clans". With that he headed into the next room and curled up and slept.
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Post by Ceri on May 1, 2006 9:47:12 GMT
I'm liking it. Do you have a story line already set out or is it spontaneous? Wanting to read more The writing style is good, as well as the plot. Keep it up
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Post by Aulius on May 19, 2006 20:15:39 GMT
9.
Denanal shook Osrin awake. He blinked and stretched. Looking around he could see it was still night time, the only light came from a small candle next to him. "Get something to eat and be ready in a very short while" Denanal said. He stood up and headed outside.
Osrin stretched again and stood up himself. He pulled on his tunic and boots then buckled his belt with his sword on it around his waist. He silently walked through to the main room and looked for something to eat. On the table was a small knife and an apple. He took them both and began cutting slices out of the apple, then sliding them into his mouth. Walking outside and still eating the apple he found Denanal preparing two horses. A torch burned nearby illuminating the area. Osrin saw Denanal look up noting his presence and continued to prepare the second horse. Osrin finished his apple and Denanal tapped him on the shoulder then nodded over to the horses. They climbed on and Denanal took the torch then led him to where he was going to meet his servants.
Hours had passed and the sun had risen enough for the torch to be put out. They were now inside a forest which was said to have spirts haunting them, at that point Osrin now doubted that since it was where most of the bandits were hidden. They rode in almost complete silence apart from the occasional comment about how cold it was. The frost was begining to melt around him, occasionally a drop would fall from a tree above him and land on the back of his neck which would then roll down his back.
The turned off the main road and through a dense patch of various plant life. When they got through they found two hundred or more men and even women armed, standing in rows. In front of them were the Silvrin the other leaders that he had seen the day before. They approached and greeted them. The other three were, Jadil who was a short Elf with a rough voice, Mazim who wore a long black cloak with a hood, he generally looked and sounded mysterious. He was also unarmed apart from a staff that looked like it would snap any second. Rigol was a tall, lean Elf who had large eyes and had good vision, he was armed with a bow which had been turned black with charcol.
They followed him as he looked at what equipment they were armed with. Most of their equipment had small areas that were going rusty. Some of them wore a little metal armour, mostly helmets and shields. A large amount were wearing leather or their normal clothing. He sighed, there was a lot of work to do in such a short time or so it seemed. He returned to the front and the leaders gathered round him.
"We need armour, lots of it. Ambush patrols or shipments to his lordship. They won't last long enough to make a dent in Lithrandur's numbers" Osrin had a grim expression on his face. Silvrin looked at the others and turned to Osrin. "One of our men said he may have an idea of avoiding a battle" "Bring him to me and I will talk to him...alone" They bowed slightly and left him then told their soldiers to disperse, soon the man they had talked about came up and sat down infront of him. "Tell me your plan" "I used to work as a servant their well, a spy really, it seems to me that he has one particular favourite amongst his concubines. She has been there for over eighteen years now and is the only one to become pregnant. You see, he wants an heir badly since his wife died while giving birth to her dead son. This concubine has never become pregnant again with him but he still brings her to his bed because she has the highest chance of her becoming pregnant again." "Get to the point" Osrin didn't have time for long stories. "Well I talked to her and she hates him completely, she would willingly murder him when the time is right. She won't do it unless the leader of the bandits, meaning you, will meet her and tell her to do it" "It sounds suspicious but I guess it is worth a try. If he has no heirs then maybe he has no relations then if he dies, his army dispands" "Thats the idea, I can arrange a meeting for you" "As soon as possible, now go and arrange it" The Elf stood and left, Osrin sat on a tree stump and picked his nails. He wondered what he was doing there.
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Post by Aulius on May 31, 2006 23:27:04 GMT
I wonder if people are reading this or not...
10.
Three days had passed and the bandits had a few successes ambushing carts carrying supplies and equipment which were heading to Lord Lithrandur. Osrin had managed to divide his army into groups for different jobs in the battlefield.
He had grouped his rabble, they couldn't really be classed as soldiers, by what they are skilled at. There were people who were good with bows and they formed his archers. Fifty of his elves could ride a horse well and could fight on one too, formed his cavalry. People who had spears were grouped together and formed his spearmen who would try to fend off and cavalry charge by Lithrandur. The rest, the elves who were armed with swords, axes, maces and even flails, became his main bulk of his army who would do the most fighting.
He had given the leaders particular sections to command. Silvrin would command the cavalry, Rigol was incharge of his archers which left Jadil and Mazim. He couldn't think of what to give them. Mazim was a wise person and could command in a controling way where as Jadil was an inspiring leader and an excellent fighter.
He saw Mazim walk by, he was carrying his slender staff. He had his hood covering his head even though it was day and there was no rain. He called out to him and Mazim approached.
"Why do you carry that staff Mazim? It looks like it will snap any second!" "It has it's uses my young friend, here" He put it in Osrins hands "Try and snap it" Osrin looked at him in confussion. "But I'll snap it" "Do it" Osrin stood and raised his knee. He slammed it down onto his thigh and screamed in pain then cursed at the top of his voice. He looked at it and realised it was still in on peice, there wasn't even a single sign that it had been weakened. "How in the holy gods name is that in one peice?" "Magic" he said in a low voice. Osrin took a step back and searched for his sword "Get away from me! You know that Magic is banned and all that use it should be slain as is proclaimed in the 'Book of the Gods'!" "For someone who was about to enter the gods serivice you didn't study hard enough!" He took back his staff and pulled Osrins sword from his hands "Sit lad and learn!" Osrin complied in fear. "I know this section by heart but I have a book here" He hadn't noticed Mazim carrying a bag. Mazim pulled out a copy of the book and shoved it into Osrins hands. "Page 298, pargraph 4 from line 3 onwards" Osrin turned and found what he was told and Mazim began quoting. "'And the almighty lord of the gods, Abracus the Defender, banished the evil the Mages had brought and proclaimed that any magic used against the good of the people were to be severed from the line that takes them to the heavens so their soul shall drift in the dark once their head his severed and crushed'" Osrin read it, Mazim was correct, he could quote it. "But then why is it when people find Magic users they are killed?" "Because people such as yourselves don't read the books written before the books that you have read! Books are copied by hand. People can change anything they want with it and throw it away. I was lucky enough to see the orginal book. Yes it is kept locked away but I was a young mage and I wanted to know if what I read was true" He handed Osrin his sword back. "You know how old I am?" "Looking at you I would say 40" "I am far older my young friend. I am 487 years. I have seen the land change in all the kingdoms in my journeys and I have learnt many things to do with magic. For example I can give your blade the power to be on fire rather than a stupid looking flame one" "What would the flame do?" "Oh nothing at all really. It's just an Illusion, it doesn't burn, it doesn't create heat however it does create light. The real useful part of it is that it scares any man to a ghost if they see it swinging near them!" He laughed which sounded slightly disturbing "So lad, do you want it or not" Osrin considered for a moment and thought about what it would do to the morale of an enemy. "Yes" "I will need your sword for a week for it to be pernament" Osrin unbuckled his sword and handed it to Mazim "I will give it back when it is finished" "Thank you" Mazim bowed and left. Osrin returned to his seat and the elf who told him of his idea appeared. He bowed slightly and sat. "What news?" he asked "The meeting is on for 2 days from now in the nearby town" "Good. I will need the best five archers" "They don't allow bows in town" "We will carry them in wood bundles. We will stay in a tavern. Where is the meeting place?" "In the square at mdnight" "Right then we will stay at the 'Mages Head' and have the archers over looking us. If there are only a few soldiers then they must defend me. If there are alot I need them to run" "I will go infrom Rigol" He stood and turned to leave "What is your name?" "Names are for friends, so far your not quite one yet" He left and Osrin search the camp for a sword to borrow. He found one from a recent raid, a small stirdy shortsword.
His thoughts trailed off while he relaxed in his tent. He wondered how Liat was taking care of Valen. He blinked and closed his eyes before opening again. He was tired and quickly fell asleep before he was woken by Rigol. "It's time for your journey" He said and left. He had left his five best archers, they stood their with bundles of wood ready to go. He smiled and began the slow journey on foot to town.
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Post by Phoenix on Jun 1, 2006 16:58:29 GMT
read it! wow thats really good1 keep it up!!
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Post by Aulius on Jun 9, 2006 16:37:07 GMT
Now heres something you havn't expected.
11.
She hadn't been outside in nearly a month. Her teacher insisted that she hid with her in her cave. She looked through notes and scribbled down what she could make of them. Her teacher, Parila was an old women but very wise and learned in the arts, had asked her to compile a list of potions that could cure some diseases. She hated potions. Having to remember a huge list of ingredients for different potions, from love to poisons, she hated it, She hated creating a potion without being allowed to look it up to remind herself how to do it or what ingredients. However she loved spells and had master alot but only a few of the advanced spells.
She put her quill down and lent back on her chair. She sighed staring up at the dark ceiling which was dimely lit by a few candels. She could just hear from where she was sitting the faint mutterings and cursing of her teacher. "Galaya!" Paril's shout echoed over to her. She sighed again and stood up then headed down the tunnel to the main room. Galaya was a half elf living on the border between kingdoms.
The room was surrounded my bookshelves as well as several desks with books, equipment and ingredients. Paril sat at her writing desk with a book on it she had never seen before. "You called" She said while keeping her eyes on the book "I'm not long for this world...I sense it" She turned a page of the book. The pages had symbols of an ancient language of a dead race known as the Aladia. She couldn't read what was on it since she hadn't been taught it. "What do you mean" She asked "I mean that I'm going to die very soon" She did not turn away from the book with an expression of slight sadness. "But your practically immortal" She began "There are soldiers coming. Human ones. You know how humans hate magic. One of them will kill me. I'm not immortal to physical attacks. In all my 1287 years of existance I have never had a student who mastered spells so quickly." This was new to Galaya, she had never complimented her. "You will need to take two books with you and I will make you invisible. Then you must leave. The spell lasts for about a day so get away from here. Take some of you things and come back here." Galaya obeyed and soon returned with a backpack with some clothes and food. Paril gave her the book she was reading and a book on translating it. "Everything in that book will help you on your journeys in the world. You need to take these books aswell" One was advanced spells the other advanced potions. She heard the clamouring of metal boots from the entrance. "Animadverto per" Paril spoke a small grey cloud came out of her hand when she said it and covered Galaya up. She was invisible.
The soldiers clambered through the entrance. Paril cried her spells and threw fireballs at them. A few died but one, who looked like a captain had gotten through and struck. Her voice didn't cry out in pain but she simply collapsed to the floor dead. "Captain Matthews" a soldier spoke "Should we search the cave for any others?" Matthews had removed his helemt revealing is rugged face. A scar went from the top left of his face to the bottom right. "Yes, kill any you find...and then we must burn down this place" Galaya tried not to gasp and slowly sneaked out of the cave. She ran over the hills heading to the nearest town.
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Post by Aulius on Jul 4, 2006 15:40:11 GMT
12.
The nearest town was a day’s walk from the cave Galaya had been living in. She rested occasionally in an area where no one would see her. She was still invisible but felt if passers-by seeing food or a book float would be scared.
Where she rested at that moment was at the top of the valley in which the town sat along to one side. She could see the faint trails of smoke and the occasional cart travelling along a road.
The sun was low in the sky and she knew she could not rest any longer if she was to reach the town before sunset. The light caused the whole valley to glow warmly.
Along the road she passed a group of six men. One was fairly younger than she and seemed to be the leader of the group.
“So run this plan by me again” One of the older men said. “We stay in the Mages Head and take rooms that over look the square. In the middle of the night we should see a woman standing alone by the fountain. I will leave the Inn and walk over to her. If any soldiers turn up and attempt to arrest me try and defend me. If there are more than five then let them” The youngest said. “Osrin… How don’t you know that it is a trap to capture you?” Another asked “It could be, but to end this problem straight away requires for him to die in his sleep” said the person who seemed to be known as Osrin who to her was fairly beautiful.
The conversation intrigued Galaya and she stopped to listen. The others had bundles of wood to one side and oddly, empty quivers on their backs. She decided to take a closer look at the bundles. Without touching them she peered over the top and noticed feathers and a thin cord. It seemed to her that they were hiding their weapons in the bundles.
She sat down and listened to their stories of their past. The oldest described a battle from ten years ago, how they slaughtered a legion from Windtallicus, another country of humans. Osrin described how he became the leader of the bandits.
She decided to follow them until she became visible again. Soon after she decided this, the men shouldered their wood bundles and continued along the road.
It was almost dark by the time they reached the gates of the town wall. The guards let them pass without giving a second look. Galaya just managed to get in before the closed the door on her. After a little more walking they came to the Inn.
The Inn was showing its age. The sign displaying a severed head had faded and was now hanging by one hook. The windows were covered by years of dirt. Upon entering, Osrin almost tripped over a bucket that was collecting water which was leaking from the roof.
The owner was not very tall and stood behind the bar just about getting his shoulders above it. His hair was greying and his clothes were stained with wine and beer.
“Can I help you sirs” He asked as Osrin came towards him. “Yes we need some rooms for the six of us. Preferably one looking over the square” He replied. The owner gave him an odd look and then checked his list. “Yes I can do that, how long are you planning to stay?” “Just tonight, we will leave early tomorrow morning” “Right that will be, oo…erm…2 Segests” Money exchanged hands and two keys were place in Osrins hand. “First two on the right as you leave the stairs.
Galaya stopped following and waited outside. Fortunately winter had not started so she was able to stay outside for awhile.
Osrin had his archers rearrange the room quietly to watch over the square. He went back to and fro making sure that they were fine. He went downstairs and drank a cup of wine slowly, waiting for one of them to tell him that this woman had appeared.
He was on the brink of sleep when one of his men came down to tell him. He pulled on a cloak and headed out of the Inn. He walked round to see a cloaked figure sitting on the edge of the fountain with the cloak rapped around them.
Galaya had spotted Osrin leaving the Inn and moved closer to listen to what was about to be said. Osrin approached the figure, who looked up.
“Are you Osrin?” A female voice asked “Yes” He replied “My you have grown tall. Strong as well!” “I’m sorry what?” Osrin was puzzled and could not help but think if this woman was half insane. “I see Denanal has taken good care of you” “Who are you?” “Osrin, I’m your mother” she said slowly, Sending Osrin into a deep shock and surprise. He sat down on the fountain edge.
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Post by Aulius on Jul 8, 2006 19:20:26 GMT
13. “Say that again, slowly” he said quietly while resting his hands on his knees and leaning forward slightly. “I am your mother” She replied slowly and quietly. “How is that possible?” “It is a long story Osrin; I have time to tell it now” She pulled back her hood revealing hear golden hair showing the signs of her age. She had small faint scars on her face and cheeks that seemed to have a natural rosiness to them. She sighed and rested her hands in her lap then looked at Osrin in the eye. “About twenty or so years ago I was once Lady Junilla of Nornsee. I had power, respect of the people. Many looked to me to sort out disputes in the area. There was one problem however” She sighed at the end of her sentence, thinking back to what happened long ago. “I hadn’t married and I was set to marry the Count of the time, Denanal” “What! Denanal was a count?” He cried “Very much so, a good one or so the people claimed. However one man did not like the arrangement. The current Lord realised if he married me he would get all the power he needed to take over the kingdom since Nornsee is the largest area owned by a family, He and his band of thugs and mercenaries stormed my manor, killed many of the staff and enslaved me when I refused to marry him since as I believe you well know, the book of the gods, any marriage that is made when one party is unwilling will cast the other party to the darkness” “Then…how am I your son?” He asked slowly, he knew what the answer would be. “You are the only child ever conceived by Lithrandur. When you were born I had paid off the people who were helping me to give birth to smuggle you out of the castle and taking you to Denanal. One of Lithrandurs thugs had been awarded the County of which Denanal had already been in charge of knowing that he would try to rebel against Lithrandur. At his farm he raised you and now you are here” “So that would make me?” “The last possible person to become heir to become Lord over Nornsee” “Tell me…mother, how do you plan on getting away with killing Lithrandur?” “A slow poison, placed in his wine his food taster would not be able to taste a thing. After he has drunk it some time later he will die” “It sounds too simple” “I know” Galaya had meanwhile sat down close to where Osrin was sitting on the fountain and using a special trick, that allows mages to remember a conversation without having to think about what is being said which allowed the mage to concentrate on other things. Galaya had taken out on of the spell books and searched for the inivisibility spell, hoping to find a way of ending the spell earlier. She found what she was looking for but it was unreadable at the crucial point. It read, “To allow ones self to be seen by any around him or her, one must spill ones own –“She couldn’t make any kind of progress in working out what it was. The ink had somehow smudged. Looking up while closing the book she noticed a reflection in the moon light and the faint sound of something tinging. Looking around she saw something she hoped Osrin would notice. However he didn’t, he was far too into his mothers story. Galaya stood and walked a few steps away from Osrin. The town guards charged out from the shadows and quickly surrounded them. Twenty spears were holding Osrin in his seat. A tall figure pushed through the guards. “Ah, Junilla” He said in a mocking tone “I thought I might have found you here. Ah but who is this then. Do not reply I already know. He is Osrin, the so called leader of the bandits” Osrin was stunned, he was surrounded by guards and this person knew who he was before anyone had said anything. He hadn’t even given his name to anyone in the town. “Wondering how we know who you are? Quite simple really” He chuckled then shouted “You can come out now” From the shadows to his right came a hooded figure. Coming to a few feet away from him the figure pulled back his hood, revealing himself. It was the nameless bandit who had organised the meeting. “You!” Osrin shouted “Yes me, you should have been more suspicious about who is in your camp, unfortunately it seems you won’t get that chance since I believe you are now captured” He cackled while the guards smirked. Osrin lashed out at him, flying into a guard with him. The guards elbow was flung backwards, smashing into Galaya’s nose. She didn’t cry out but crouched down and nursed her nose as blood poured out. “What’s this?” Lithrandur cried “Where did you come from” It dawned on Galaya what just happened. She had needed to spill her own blood to be seen again, and now she was in plain view of superstitious people. She didn’t reply but just stared at him fearfully. “Take her and him to the dungeon. As for you Junilla, I still need you. Lock her in her tower” He ordered. The guards swiftly did as they were told. They yanked Galaya up and chained her ankle to Osrins. They began their march to the dungeon below the manor. Sometime later their hands were chained to a wall of a dark cell, neither of them saying a word. Osrin kept cursing under his breath at how stupid he was to believe that he would be able to stop the battle by having his mother kill Lithrandur. It wouldn’t have worked now that Osrin knew that Count Keyes would most likely take Lithrandurs’ place. His arms were beginning to ache from being kept above his head. The wrist locks were digging into his wrists, chaffing them badly. He tried to sleep but the pain kept him awake and so he wondered who the girl was. A guard came in and left some food in the middle of the room, then chained Osrin’s and Galaya’s ankles to the floor. He then unlocked their wrists and left the cell, locking the door behind him. Osrin crawled over to the tray picking up some of the mouldy bread. He offered a piece to Galaya who slowly took it from him. They ate in silence occasionally looking at each other trying to think of something to break the silence between them. They finished what little food they had and retired back to their own corners of the cell. Osrin tried to sleep again and this time he was on the verge of sleep. The sun had risen by now and he was extremely tired, when he thought he heard a faint sound of and arrow being fired. He ignored it believe it was his mind play tricks or some of the guards practicing. The thought of it being something else quickly disappeared when there was a loud thunk sound from the door. He opened his eyes to see an arrow sticking out of it. He scrambled to the door but the chains held him back. He reached out and pulled it from the door. On the arrow there was a note tied round with a piece of string. He pulled the note free, unrolled it and began to read. Osrin, The archers that went with you snuck out of the town after you were captured. I have returned to the town after recovering from the arrow that went through my shoulder. I felt that I should repay my debt. Just wait, I will be there as soon as I can. Before I forget to write it, your execution will be in twenty days. If my plan goes right you should be out before then.
Valen “Valen? What does he think he’s doing?” He said quietly “Who…” Galaya finally spoke, startling Osrin “Who is Valen?” “He is the son of the blacksmith for this town. I thought he would still be recovering from his wound” He sighed “What wound?” she asked “He had an arrow straight through his shoulder. He was shot by bandits…rebels I would say now, when they were attacking everyone the saw on the roads” He sighed again then hid the arrow under some hay which had been strewn around the floor. “Who are you?” “My name is Galaya. I…well it doesn’t seem to matter now anyway since I’m probably going to die. I am a mage” She shifted where she was sitting expecting Osrin to shout to the guards or try to kill her. But he didn’t he thought for a moment and accepted it. “I thought that you were one anyway” he said “I see” she replied “I’m-“ “Osrin, yes I know” she interrupted “How did you know that?” surprising him again. “I have followed you for since about midday of yesterday” “I take it you know what my plan was and now part of my past that I had not heard of” “Yes” she nodded “I see. I guess we shall have to do something to pass the time” sighing once again. They talked and learned about one another as they waited for Valen to fulfil his promise to rescue him. Galaya moaned about how they must have burned her books that she needed to study from. Osrin told her about Mazim and said how he could teach her. They continued to wait after thirteen days had passed still no sign of Valen and both were beginning to lose hope.
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Post by Aulius on Jul 13, 2006 20:11:22 GMT
Yes I am still writing this!
14.
It was the eve of their execution and all hope was lost by then. Osrin and Galaya resigned themselves to their own corners of the cell, preparing themselves for what seemed to be there last few hours alive.
The jingle of keys in the dungeon door didn’t bring much hope. Their last meal was expected to be delivered at that time. The door creaked open and there was Valen, carrying a tray of hot food, grinning. Valen put the tray down to one side and unlocked their restraints. Osrin stood in front of Valen and smiled while he rubbed his sore wrists. “You took your damn time!” Osrin said sarcastically now full of hope. “It was a little more difficult that I thought it was going to be I assure you. Who is the girl?” he asked “Her name isn’t important right now just get me out of here!” “Follow me then” Valen sighed. Obediently they follow Valen out of the cell where a cloaked figure was waiting. The figure pulled down her cloak revealing his mothers head. Osrin smiled even greater and Junilla stood on her toes and kissed Osrin on the forehead then embraced her son. “Sorry to disturb this reunion but we have a castle to escape from” Valen whispered. “Get me a torch and follow me” Osrin’s mother commanded. Valen retrieved a torch and handed it to Junilla then they followed her deeper into the dungeon.
They continued in silence down the dark, dank passageway until Osrin asked something that had been at the back of his mind till now. “Mother, does Lithrandur know that I’m his son” He asked slowly then stumbled over what felt to be the remainders of some rope. She did not reply straight away until they reached a small room. “No he assumed were just a peasant who had managed to become in charge of some rabble” She replied at last looking around working out where she was “Follow me, we need to retrieve your items”.
After a short walk they came to a large room with most of it barred off. A guard sat sleeping in a chair they spotted him and stood rooted to the ground. After a short amount of time they slowly sneaked all into the room. “Valen, kill him” Junilla whispered hoarsely. Valen’s eyes widened and it slowly drew is sword then snuck over to the guard. He raised the sword above the sleeping guard. He paused then pulled the sword back and turned to them. “I can’t do it” He whispered looking down at the ground. “Give it here!” Osrin took the sword from Valen and raised it and aimed for the heart. He paused and whispered a small blessing for the safety of the elves soul and then stabbed him down to the hilt. The guard gasped then spasmed for a second then fell slack. Osrin pulled the blade out and handed it Valen. Valen took it in his shaking hands then returned it to its sheath. His hands still shaking he unlocked the gate to the rest of the room. Entering it they found themselves surrounded by items of the poor and the rich, a jewelled sword, pouches containing little or ready to burst with money.
Galaya was the first to find their possessions. Galaya sighed in relief to find her books not burnt and pulled on the rest of her robe. Osrin put on his tunic then his belt and returned to pick up the pouches, tying them to his belt.
He returned to find his mother looking at him disapproval but they left and headed even deeper into the dungeon. “There is one more thing that we need to do before we leave” Junilla whispered “What is that?” Osrin asked but she did not reply.
The passages walls closed in forcing them to pay more attention to where they were stepping. They soon entered a dimly lit chamber with doors leading to more cells. All were wide open except for one. They approached it and Junilla pulled out a key from her sleeve. She used it to open the door which squeaked and creaked open. Inside there was a frail elf whose arms where chained above him. His hair was wild and his beard stretching far down his chest. His hair was also covered in dirt, grease and lice.
“I am surprised to see you down here Junilla” he croaked with a parched voice. “I too am surprised that you are still alive after all this time” Junilla said with a slight smile “Is he finally going to kill me?” He asked “No, I am going to set you free” at the sound of this he looked up properly shaking the hair away from his eyes which were a deep blue. She walked over to him and unchained him. He slowly pulled himself to get up and tried to stand. His legs were frail and barely supporting him. He rested a hand on Junilla to steady himself. “Twenty years I have not been able to stand” He sighed with what seemed to be a tear coming out of his eye. “Now is not the time to be reminiscing, we still need to escape” Osrin commented “Yes he is right” Galaya finally speaking “Come with me” Junilla ordered. They crossed over to the cell opposite and Junilla tapped various stones. Nothing happened but a gentle shuddering started and the wall pulled to one side. Behind it was a long tunnel and in the distance they could see a tiny spec of light. They stumbled down the dark tunnel after Junilla sealed the door.
The air began to smell much fresher and clean compared to the damp smell, that Osrin and Galaya had to bear. Osrin ran the final steps leading out of the tunnel and he found himself blinking in the morning sunlight. He breathed in deeply and beamed knowing that he had just escaped from a certain death.
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Post by church on Jul 17, 2006 19:32:28 GMT
who is this guy? oh and csomthink keyes? halo nod aleart!!!! halo nod alert!!!!!!
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