quote:
Originally posted by Armok:
<STRONG>The story is fairly good, but A Kobolds Quest most notably but also various other stories (Stonemane cronacles, Nist Akath, one dwarf against the world, etc. etc. ) raises the bar quite ridiculously high.</STRONG>
I know not to try to compete with such great works. I think the first part of Medi Eggamazes' tale was quite poorly written, which is to be expected as this is the first story I've written. I believe that I'm getting better at this, however.
Journal of Medi Eggamazes
22th of Granite, 1050
In my days spent loitering in the tavern, many a tale had been told by the itinerant bards that frequented the place. The stories that were most popular and gathered the largest audiences were those about brave heroes and foolish glory-seekers who had descended into a cave, never again to see the light of day. Better men than I had been claimed by those that lurk below our feet, so it was with great apprehension that I descended into the depths of Cryhells.
We were met mostly by antmen and ratmen, and easily felled many in our search for the giant. The relative ease with which we wound through these dark and blood-soaked corridors comforted me little, for I knew that things could go horribly wrong just as easily. Each corner and bend could hold an agonising and disgraceful death in the webs of a giant cave spider, the bane of all adventurers.
The presence of my party gave me some solace, but not much. Nozeri is on a quest for vengeance, that much is certain, but if it is against the beasts who ate him alive or the man who led him to such a terrible death, I know not. Imp suffers some unseen torment that I cannot dispel, that cold and lonely stare he wears shows his pain all too well. I would end his suffering with my blade, that is all I can do for him, but I dare not. Murderers are killed on sight by all, even peasants and children know no tolerance. If he is to die, it cannot be by my hand.
As we wandered the corridors in search of our quarry, I often had to wait for my comrades to return to my side. They would dawdle some distance behind me, beyond my sight, or worse, they would abandon me entirely to explore other paths through the cave. In this way I lost track of much of my party and found myself on the third level down, alone with the the most disquieting members of the group, Nozeri and Imp. As I looked upon my company with dismay, Nozeri must have noticed the concern upon my face, for he grinned and chuckled a little.
I turned and walked eastward with my two followers behind me. This level had been carved out of a layer of red sand, which crunched beneath my heels as I walked. It was quite pretty, even in the dim light, but that was furthest from my mind. At the time it appeared to me that the walls were soaked in blood, the blood Armok craved, the blood he had sent me to spill.
We soon came upon an intersection, with twisting passages leading in all directions. I stopped a moment to ponder which path to take, but it was unnecessary. From one of the passages a deep voice cried out, echoing through the cave until it seemed as though it came from all directions. It announced itself as the giant we had come to slay, who's name has faded from my memory already.
The unsuspecting creature stepped into view and roared with laughter at the pitiful assembly before him. I hesitated, but neither Nozeri nor Imp waited another second. Catching him off guard, they fell upon the giant. It was then that I fully understood what Nozeri had meant when he described his profession. He hacked and slashed at our prey, pouring his rage into every blow. Imp fought with equal ferocity, driven by forces unknown.
I joined the fight stabbing ineffectively at the bewildered giant, who I almost came to pity. He had not sought to fight with us. Imp tackled him, and continued to bludgeon him. More and more of our party caught up with us, and joined in the slaughter that could no longer be called a fight. After many of my shots had bounced off his thick skin, I gathered all my strength for one great blow. My sword cut through flesh and bone, cleaving the once great creature asunder, and driving him back into Imp. Yet another being had died at the whim of a noble and by the sword of those who serve them.
My band and I returned to the town of Framedglosses and reported our hollow victory to the mayor, who was, of course, delighted. We received no reward for our efforts, and this caused much anger amongst my party. Nozeri and Imp didn't seem to mind.
[ January 14, 2008: Message edited by: Fenrir ]
Author
Topic: Medi Eggamazes, Adventurer (Read 2970 times)