Shadows wrote: |
The church was no wider within than it had seemed on first appearance. It was surprisingly long, though. Close to two hundred people were seated and there was still the odd gap here and there. It had two large and ornate windows, front and back. With evening closing in, though, they failed to illuminate the room at all. It was oppressively dark, despite the candles that fluttered their flames at regular intervals around the perimeter.
Her eyes tracked the front portion of the church. That, at least, was a change from the barren starkness of the pews. There was a curved section of wood-planked platform, raised like a stage and lit with lanterns instead of candle-flames. The wood was silver-edged, ornate patterns having been painted into the grain. They glittered mystically in the stronger light. Another lectern stood at the front-right of the stage. This one was either stained in black or made of ebony, she couldn’t tell. A plinth filled with water, made from the same wood, stood at the opposite side of the stage. Great sections of tree had been sculpted into the cross sections of hideously misshapen creatures. Then they had been set back against the walls. The overall impression was of animal-gargoyles, frozen into the very structure of the building. And there, right at the back was another stand of black wood. It lay in the shadows, barely noticeable even to someone drinking as deeply of the details as Keli was. Her eyes found it, almost as if they had known it would be there. It stood about four feet tall; a vertical construction of wood, ending in a simple horizontal square. On top of the ledge was a cushion of dark velvet. Almost invisible, dimpling the cushion with its weight, lay a dull red stone run through with thin black veins. Keli felt as if an invisible weight was pressing down on her. For three nights, now, she had been spared her usual visions of the sacrifice and the stone. Nevertheless, it still lay embedded, with horrific clarity, in her mind. |
Garden wrote: |
He walked steadily uphill through the day. The air grew warmer as the altitude increased and swarms of Brubills buzzed through the air, causing it to swirl with their passing. A group of the small creatures came over to inspect Rike as he strode past, and he felt his body rise slightly as they swept him up in their aerial field. Deciding he was not a strange ambulatory rock they buzzed off, receding until they were nothing more than a haze of pink dots.
The air grew thicker, and Rike panted as he pushed his way through dense patches, keeping a careful eye out for thick clusters that could render him immobile whilst they leeched away his life forces. By the time the lights of the day started to lose their luster Rike had entered a truly mountainous area. Sharp spires rose into the sky, forcing the lights to detour around them. A fresh wind blew through canyons, sweeping the thicker patches of air away and cooling Rike at the same time. Trees were sparse here, but he managed to find an overhang to rest for the night, that also shielded him from the worst of the wind. He gathered some grass and made a small hollow in the ground. |
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He walked steadily uphill through the day. The air grew warmer as the altitude increased and swarms of Brubills buzzed through the air, causing it to swirl with their passing. A group of the small creatures came over to inspect Rike as he strode past, and he felt his body rise slightly as they swept him up in their aerial field. Deciding he was not a strange ambulatory rock they buzzed off, receding until they were nothing more than a haze of pink dots. |
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It was sparkling gold Chamber Pot, gleaming even in the low sunlight around Phangs Dark Fortress. It had two large handles, which looked strangely like ears somehow, and four wire-thin legs with which it traversed the ground nimbly.
“This” Phang pointed at the pot, “is one of the wonders of the magical world. Made by the greatest mage that ever lived it is called: ‘Key the magical and dignified chamber pot of kings’ and has been shit in by royalty for generations.” She addressed the pot directly. “Key, you are to ensure that this wheeled thing does not do its mess on the floor. You may use any force needed to ensure this is the case. Do you understand?” |
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But why am I thinking so hard about how to live? All my options lead to the same fate. I will be very lucky if I live a month in the army and I have no choice but to fight.
Or do I? Who says that I have to fight? I could escape tonight and try to avoid the army patrols in the morning. Everyone should be asleep and I am not yet confined to the barracks. To be caught tomorrow means certain death but what do my other choices lead too? |
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Time slowed, and I looked quickly from the fireball to Srune's face. I noticed the Captain shouting out orders everywhere. Roah was looking in horror at the fireball, his own hands partially raised as well. What was I going to do? |
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Wiping away the crimson mask, he raised the hatchet again. It was frustrating, really. He’d been hacking and chopping away for some time and the bastard’s head just refused to leave his shoulders. He could have left long ago if the stipulation for this contract was that he had to present the duke with his brother’s severed cranium. |
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As the creature spoke he dipped his long tail into a seething pool of lava behind him and curling it around a brightly glowing rock brought it back out again. He stopped as if he where pondering, popping the red hot nugget into his mouth as he did so. Oren now knew why its teeth where the way they were. These creatures lived off the volcanic matter itself. |
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Shannon was fast and cast the wall as the first arrow sailed through. Mulim was a second behind and the glowing shield caught the rest of the arrows. With horror I stare at the black-feathered arrow as it plunged through the back of Karak's head, his smile at my compliment still on his face. As he crumpled to the floor time caught up with me and I screamed to my squad.
"THEY HAVE A MAGE...." |
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For a moment, she was not in a temple at all. She was in a dark place, with a smell of filth cloying in from all sides. The floor was ridged into a ‘V’ shape around her feet. Remnants of stone tiles still lingered in place, although many were cracked and smashed to fragments. Green fungus grew on the walls, seeming almost black in the shadows. It was as if a giant had taken the place and smashed it with a hammer, repeatedly. The air felt rotten and dead, as if no-one had been there for years. There was an overwhelming sense, though, that she was not alone. There was a far-off tapping sound, but something was closer. Something… |
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