City of IF

[Lebrenth]

All right, so far we have these options:

Answer "Enemy Ammunition"
Answer "Victoria Cross"
OR, try to bluff your way through
OR, give up and get out


And I understand that the first two options are close to the same answer. Does anyone have any other answers before I put up the poll?

[Smee]

*sigh* No - I tried, but found nothing more to add.

Good work from DF and Stoat.

[Sorrow_A]

Alright, so I finally dragged myself over to the SGOTM (like I do every month, although whether I post or not varies) and now I'm impressed. You may have just introduced me to a new genre, Lebrenth.

I'm doing homework right now, but later I may just research this bell question...although as of yet I agree with . . . whoever posted about the enemy's weaponry answer. . .

[Sorrow_A]

Idea! Idea! Even though IM usually is the master of those. Why not just give a small background on the bell? Man, that guy will be impressed. Or annoyed. Take your pick.

[Lebrenth]

Looks like I'm moving! ... I'm not sure how it's going to work, but I want to sneak in another chapter before I do.

Thank you to everyone who voted! And thanks to everyone who has contributed to this story, especially those who researched the riddle!

[Lebrenth]

Chapter Eight of "Heroes Never Panic"




"Are you talking about Major General Edward William Derrington Bell?" you ask, but 'the Admiral' just smiles. "He was awarded the Victoria Cross... it was made from something captured from the enemy."

The others laugh. James nods,

"Well done. I heard it was made from the bronze cascabels of enemy cannons, but it might have been a rumor. Anyway, I've never met a man who knew his full name and rank. Did you know him?"

"No, I just heard it once."

"Once?"

"I have a good memory for names...."

"Well, yours will be one to remember, Captain John Taggert, and I'm sure yours as well, Gregory Manning. Let me introduce you to some of your new best friends."

With enthusiasm, Haymen introduces the ruddy faced man as Sergeant Elden Callahan, who shakes your hand very firmly, but seemingly without malice. Then the tall trim dark haired man with the thin mustache as Private Steven Billings, who nods his head as he shakes your hand.

Upstairs, there is a large room with many beds, many of them full. There are several staircases to platforms built on the rafters, where you can hear more snoring. By the windows at opposite ends, a man whose face is considerably younger than his grey hair and the red haired man you met before with the thick mustache keep close watch. The red is introduced as 'Bootless' Jerrik Dagmar, or 'Boots'. 'Boots' looks at you severely, as though daring you to ask why they call him that. Otherwise he says and does nothing, and eventually goes back to watching the street through the slats of the shutters.

The grey-haired man is Rob Davison, but before making much of an introduction, the sound of groaning wood attracts everyone's attention.

"What's going on here, Haymen?" says the large man from the dark corner. He stands out of bed and stretches his considerable muscle. His hair, beard and eyebrows are thick and black. He looks like an old pagan god with his wild and wrathful face perched upon a titanic body. He has so much hair on his body you may as well call it fur, it covers the elaborate pictorial tattoos on his chest to the extent that they are indiscernible. In fact, the only hairless area on him is the enormous scar over his stomach. The floor creaks with every step he takes. He stands a head and a half taller than you, and you consider yourself tall.

Under his breath, James says to you, "Stand your ground," before introductions. "Stanimir, these are two new recruits, Captain John Taggert and Gregory Manning."

You offer your hand, and with the slightest effort on his part, his pushes you backward, forcing you to trip on the seated Rob Davison's leg and onto the floor. Manning and Davison help you up immediately.

"Doesn't look like much to me. Your stupid riddles are worthless, Haymen."

Then he goes back to bed. Haymen takes you back downstairs before explaining Stanimir's position.

"I'm sure you can tell he's Gorgothen. He was the strongest man the Crossbones had, and stronger than any of the Skulls too, but his toll has already been paid."

"What do you mean?" you ask. You've heard the term 'toll has been paid', but never heard what it meant.

"It means he's already dead, if you buy the superstition. It's a slayer term for the last survivor. Some of them believe that the only way a man can survive alone is if he made a deal with Death. They call them 'tainted' or other such things. Basically they consider him a sort of agent of death, kept alive to lure the living to an early grave or at least a source of great misfortune. Even those who don't believe in it have to respect the effect it has on a group's morale. If ours weren't soldiers more than slayers, he wouldn't be with us either. He has nowhere else to go and he's a powerful slayer. Don't trust him and don't get in his way. He's become especially bitter from being cast out."

"Why would you let a monster like that join?" you say openly. Even with a floor between you, the Admiral spoke in a lowered voice.

"We need his help. We wouldn't be here now if not for him."

You hold you tongue, for now at least. Experience has shown that elements like him in a company of men can be far more trouble than they're worth, whether they're titans or not. But you're still new, and you still haven't seen him in combat. It could just be a front, after all, if he has saved the company....


"Now," Haymen says, "let's get you properly armed. We need your help as soon as you can give it. Tonight if possible."

"Night? You fight them at night!?"

"There's a lot you need to get used to if you want to join us. We'll have you stay in the back tonight just so you can see what it's like the first time. Then we'll rotate you the same as the others."

Haymen opens a rather inconspicuous cabinet with a key on his necklace. Inside there is a fine assortment of weapons, all of them clean and still glistening with oil. He hands you two very fine rifles, yours with a copper cap on the butt of the rifle (copper being a precious metal with potency against the undead, though to a lesser degree as silver and gold).

"Those are yours to keep. The rules of the Warders are simple:

"You are here of your free will, and so you may leave whenever you wish provided we are not in present danger.

"In times of danger, you will obey all commands of the assigned commander.

"You will not break any of the common laws or we will turn you over to the nearest authorities.

"You will not hide bounty from other Warders and all bounty is separated equally with all members.

"And should you betray any of us, we will deal with you in the cruelest way our minds can devise.

"Are these terms acceptable to you?"


'And are you ready to go slaying tonight?' you think to yourself.

[Shady Stoat]

Oooh, a new chapter. Great stuff, Lebby!

Accept the terms. They seem far more reasonable than the other two gangs you've encountered. And you're going to have to fight sooner or later, so you might as well get used to it.

And keep an eye on that Stanimir. Try not to get in his way... although I have a feeling that will become increasingly difficult :D

[Ingrothechundyer]

I agree with Shady :biggrin:

Great chapter.

[jnmrcs]

Nice chapter.

Also, I agree to what Chinaren said.

[Chinaren]

Quote: Also, I agree to what Chinaren said.

What did I say? :?

Anyway, nice. I f5 the others, this outfit seems fairer and more orderly.

Let's go do some slaying!

[LordoftheNight]

you obviously telepathically spoke to him beforehand

or maybe he took a trip to the future and saw you would F5, and therefore F5'd you before you did it

or something

anyways, F5

[dragon_fire372]

I must have missed the poll... but oh well, nice new chapter. Reasonable terms, prospect of action...F5 everyone, keep it up! :biggrin:

[Chinaren]

Woah! Creepy picture man!! Kool! *he says with his hand over his eyes*

Nice place you have here! When's the parteeeee? :D

[Shady Stoat]

Yeah, love the pic!

*straightens a few pictures and nicks orf with some of the silverware*

Great new place you got too :D

[Lebrenth]

Shady Stoat wrote: *straightens a few pictures and nicks off with some of the silverware*

Hey! I need those for the werewolf steak! I had a pair of werewolves flown in fresh for dinner, but they're impenetrable without silverware! Oh well, I can't figure out where the second one went to anyway and I have plenty of other dubious delectables.

So please come in! We've been expecting you!

[Smee]

*Wanders around*

Very nice Lebby. :D

Good chapter too.

I'm agreeing as well - seems a perfectly reasonable company to join.

Keep it coming.

Happy Writing. :)

[Lebrenth]

dragon_fire372 wrote: I must have missed the poll... but oh well, nice new chapter. Reasonable terms, prospect of action...F5 everyone, keep it up! :biggrin:

No, you didn't miss it. I didn't think it was necessary after you and Stoat submitted such compelling answers. Good job!

I'm still getting my bearings. I'm trying to decide how to arrange things! I got used to keeping everything in one pile, so I might just keep it this way! I'll figure it out soon.

[Sorrow_A]

You're going to slay at night anyways. Get accustomed to it.

I F5 with everybody else, yeah.

[Smee]

I've voted for slaying tonight.

You may be tired, but showing some enthusiasm is going to be the quickest way of earning any trust from the other men. The sooner you learn the ropes the sooner other options may reveal themselves.

Happy Writing. :)

[jnmrcs]

Yep, smee is right...

[LordoftheNight]

voted with the majority

and therefore winning

[Chinaren]

Yep.

[Warmaster Daizo]

Those sound like the precise terms that would attract an military man; now it's time to get to slaying.

[dragon_fire372]

YES! Hehe, guess which option is winning. It's gonna be close, Lebrenth - real close ;)