RPG Role-Playing Writing - Round 1

[Mnemolth]

[b][color=red]STOP! Please read the following before you do ANYTHING in this thread!![/color][/b]


[b]So it begins...[/b]

We are all about to embark upon an ambitious adventure. There are just a few very simple rules to ensure everything runs smoothly. Please abide by them. Good luck everyone! :)


[i]For non-players:[/i]

1. If you are not one of the registered players, DO NOT post here. Period. If you wish to make a comment, laud praise or offer some criticism, please do so in the "For Everyone - RPW General Thread" which should also be in this forum.

2. In an ideal world, I would ask that you read each story by each player BEFORE voting in the poll. But I understand this is not an ideal world so I would strongly you read at least a few stories before making you decision and to NEVER vote for someone before you have read their story! Please extend the players, who have spent time and effort in crafting their submissions, this small courtesy. ;)

3. Vote for the person whose story you like the most.

Thanks for dropping by. Everyone at RPW appreciates your support. :D


[i]For the players:[/i]

Now we'll see what you're made of. ;)

Round 1 is now open for submissions. Please start working on them right away. [b][i]The deadline is midnight, Friday, 17th Jan, AEST time, ie GMT +10:00 hrs. This will be STRICTLY enforced.[/i][/b]

As usual, the word limit is 300 to 3000. And yes, I will be counting the words (or at least my word processor will be).

The Objectives for Round, if you did not check the RPW website and know already, is [url=http://users.tpg.com.au/jackly/rpw/Stories/objectives.html]here[/url]. Read it carefully. If you have questions or queries, post them in "For Everyone - RPW General Thread". It may be other players are also unsure. If you're a little shy, or if its personal, email or PM me.

The [url=http://users.tpg.com.au/jackly/rpw/faq.html]FAQ[/url] has been updated with some writing tips for RPW. They are just my suggestions but they are worth a look.

Please, PLEASE, ask questions. Even if its just to confirm some things. Don't write 3000 words of brilliant prose only to have it scraped cos it didn't fit with the Objectives or were outside the rules. I really hate having to send submission back to have players edit them. Chances are players will often be too disappointed to make the necessary changes or do not have enough time. In any case, that just robs us of a submission and we need every single one.

[Lady Asphyxia]

[color=darkred]First. I have to say thank you. And I give up. Bleh. My brain hurts. I thought too much. (Brilliant speech just there, I know. I had to finish this before I left.)

~~~

[size=1]2 years, 3 months and 16 days of travelling, and all Tylenia had learnt was that people were the same the world over. Well, that and the fact that, with careful rationing, two loaves of bread and clean water could provide food for a person for around two weeks. There were several other things that she?d learnt, but lethargy prevented her from naming them.

Calling her horse to a halt, Tylenia slipped off the poor thing. It was a nag, bought for just over the price of a month?s food. It couldn?t gallop, and would probably die if Tylenia even tried to make it canter. However, it was all she could afford, and even a trot was quicker than walking.

The horse ? which was referred to as simply horse unless in times of extreme frustration ? was laden down with weapons and provisions. No sane traveller would move around without protection, and Tylenia considered herself to be very sane indeed.

She puttered around for a few minutes, gathering the herbs and flowers that she could find in the bushes. They always tasted nice, and added flavour to the bread, which had, unfortunately, started to go stale. Mixed with clean water to drink from the stream, and it was a feast fit for, well, Tylenia. Having never known a king - or any nobility, in fact - she wasn?t going to make assumptions about their preferences. She?d heard about royalty, of course. They people of her village had whispered the kingdom?s rumours to each other as they worked. Her mother had told her of the feasts and pheasants that nobility consumed.

As Tylenia surveyed her meal, a voice spoke out from the forest. ?I suggest that you don?t eat that one.? The woman moved forward, pointing to a flower. It had a darker stem than the others, with yellow flowers. To Tylenia, who had rationed her food for almost 2 years, it seemed like it would be particularly tasty. She looked from the herb to the woman, and back again, quite obviously deciding who to trust ? her stomach, or the stranger. The woman went on. ?It?s a type of poison. I?ve seen it before. It tends only to grow around this area.? Tylenia nodded, trusting the woman. After all, why would she lie?

?Thank you,? Tylenia said softly. She didn?t look at the woman as she spoke. ?You?re welcome to share my feast. It probably isn?t much, but?? She paused and started a new train of thought. ?My name?s Tylenia.?

There was silence, and then the woman walked over and sat down opposite her. ?Celestine.?

They ate quietly. Tylenia, for her part, was uncomfortable. Meeting strangers was always nerve racking. She always felt like she needed to impress them. They finished, and parted company. Tylenia pulled the horse away from the stream, and mounted it. ?It was nice to meet you.? She called as the nag plodded in the wrong direction. She wheeled her around and continued on, waving to Celestine.

The horse moved nervously underneath her, and Tylenia shushed it by stroking its neck with her right hand. A half hour later, and Tylenia had to stop. The nag had to rest. Deciding to pass the time somehow, Tylenia pulled out the message she?d been given. She couldn?t actually read it ? she?d never been schooled ? but she knew what it said. The village she was heading towards needed help, and wanted her assistance. That they?d asked [I]her[/I] seemed a might strange, but the messenger has explained, saying that she had been mentioned to the mayor. Tylenia chose to take this as truth.

She trudged on, deciding to walk instead of ride. Hearing the footsteps of a cantering horse, Tylenia squeezed herself closer to the edge of the path. She turned around and watched as a knight rode by, splendid in all his glory. She sighed, remembering the villager?s gossip whenever a knight passed anywhere near their town. As a child, she?d loved to listen to the tales of battles told by the elders. As an adult, she realised that half those battles were just that; tales. The elders had made it seem that there was a battle every other year. It was a ploy, of course, to get the children to behave for their parents. ?You be good,? the parents? would say, ?or I?ll let the Elders send you off to battle.?

Tylenia was too deeply immersed in her thoughts to notice much about her surroundings, and was staring vaguely at a bush when a head popped out of it. Tylenia started, then smiled at the girl. The face grinned and stepped out from the vegetation. Green hair surrounded the girl?s face. ?Hello,? the girl said quietly. ?I?m Xii Endelin. Sorry to give you a fright.?

Blinking slowly once or twice, Tylenia replied. ?That?s all right. I deserved it anyway. I wasn?t concentrating.? She looked around. ?Do you know how far it is to the village??

?Oh. Are you going there too?? She nodded slightly. ?Well, I think it?s a few minutes. Can you hear the noise?? As Xii said that, a chicken squawk was suddenly heard. Smiling sheepishly, Tylenia started ambling down the road again, Xii at her side. The village they came across was a mess.

The people hurried about, hunched over, as if they were afraid to look anyone in the eyes. Xii wondered off on her own, and Tylenia moved towards the most familiar place she?d ever seen ? the stables. Every town and village had the stables the passers-by could use. She led the nag into the stables. There were a few chortles, and one boy spoke up. ?The stall?d be worth more ?n that.?

She glared at him, and led the horse into a stall. Three stalls down there was the knight?s horse, a beautiful thing. It almost made Tylenia ashamed of the nag. ?Who owns the other horses??

There was a hush, and then a woman spoke up. ?There strangers ?bout. Saw three of ?em, excepting you. A demon, a knight, and wolf. They aren?t, o?course, but us here fancy ?em to be.? She pulled a thread through the shirt she was mending, finished it off, cut it, and continued. ?Lots of strangers comin? around here. Good for us, o?course, but I can?t help but wonder what they be doin?. Not like strangers to come here. Tend to pass us by, they do.? Her voice was deep, but slightly hoarse, as if she was recovering from a cold. The other three ? all men ? stood silently, as the stable boy gave feed and water to Tylenia?s horse.

?How much is it?? Tylenia inquired.

?A silver piece a night, plus two coppers for food and water.? It was the tallest man that spoke. His weathered face was almost expressionless, and Tylenia looked him in the eye as she paid him the money from her precious stash. She?d learnt that by looking people in the eye, they respected you more. For some reason, it also meant that they most likely wouldn?t send out people to rob you.

?Is there an inn or tavern of some kind??

?Yes,? the woman said. ?Down the road, to the left. It?s the one with the sign hanging o?er head.?

Tylenia nodded, and picked up her weapons. The other provisions she left in her horse?s stall. The tavern was easily spotted. It was the only one with a sign over head. She couldn?t read the sign, but knew it was just the tavern?s name. As Tylenia entered the room, the unmistakeable smell of ale and unwashed bodies assailed her. Her Mama had always believe that it was healthy to be clean ? one of few women who did. Tylenia had adopted that way of thinking and washed every day, if possible. Often it wasn?t.

Skirting around the chairs and wandering hands, she moved towards an empty table. It wasn?t in the corner - it was almost the middle of the room ? but it seemed safe enough. A barmaid quickly walked over, slapping jugs of ale down on tables as she went. ?What do you want ta drink??

?Ale.? Tylenia wasn?t certain of how to go about ordering such a drink. She was even less sure of what it tasted like. Despite the fact that it was usually all the taverns had, she?d never had ale before. Her financial position hadn?t allowed it. But now, with the pay that the mayor had offered, she could afford to buy something for herself.

The barmaid rolled her eyes. ?You want it in a jug or a cup??

?Er?? Tylenia fidgeted nervously with her strawberry blonde hair. ?Cup please.? The girl nodded and moved on to the next table, while Tylenia looked around. Her eyes were caught by a man sitting in a corner. He obviously came from wealth, and appeared very educated. He wasn?t talking to anyone, unlike most in the tavern. Villagers didn?t talk to strangers, and Tylenia surmised that he was just that.

When the barmaid returned, Tylenia questioned her about the man identity. The girl shrugged. ?He came in ?ere, an? said his name was Percy. He?s a right good catch tho?, leastways, looks like it. Got a good ?mount of money, too. Saw it when he paid for his drink.?

?Thank you.? She was starting to get the idea that the mayor had asked more people than just her to help the town. It wasn?t an idea she liked. Her shyness with strangers was almost crippling. For some reason, it also gave people the impression that she was carrying her weapons for no reason. Her looks were the bane of her existence. People played on the weak and innocence. They always thought she was weak and innocent. The barmaid turned to leave, and Tylenia called out to her quickly. ?Do you know anything about the other strangers that are here??

She turned back to Tylenia. ?Only the Demon. The others haven?t been in here. He?s tall. Black hair, and black clothes. Pale skin. But that ain?t what led me to believe he was a demon. Oh no. ?Twas ?is eyes. Them eyes, they ain?t natural. Got nothin? in them. Empty, ?e is. As empty as a dried up well, and that?s the truth.? She nodded to emphasise her point and walked away.

A drunk leaned over from the table next to her. ?I know the Knight. He?s famous. The Rosary Knight. Only seen every so often. All the soldiers who go to war want to meet him. They even say he?s good luck.?

?Well?thank you.?

?No problem. There are more, though. The Fairy. She has green hair. The others talk about the Wolf. Then there?s the Queen. She isn?t really. But there?s a way she holds herself. All?Queenly. She carries a satchel with herbs and things. There?s also the Scholar. He can read. That?s him, the one you were askin? about before. There?s also you, o?course.?

?Oh? You seem to have nicknames for all of us.?

He grinned, showing his blackened teeth. ?We do. The Fairy and the Queen came today. Just a few minutes before you walked in here. Word travel?s fast, you know.?

?I do know. What is my name??

?The man took a sip of his ale and licked his lips. ?Well now, we?ve named you the Innocent.?

Tylenia glowered at this information, then set her money on the table and left. After the smell and lighting of the tavern, the sunshine and fresh air came as a big shock. She took a gasp of air that wasn?t defiled by bodies packed together, and walked along the side of the road. Xii popped up beside her, and Tylenia smiled warmly. ?They?re calling you the Fairy, you know. The villagers. What are you doing here, anyway??

?I was given a message. I?m supposed to come here to help with something. I don?t actually know what its about. It was all very mysterious, you know.?

?Yes. I?m here for the same reason. I suspect the others are too.?

?The others??

Tylenia nodded and sat down. ?The villagers have named all of us. The Demon, The Wolf, The Queen, The Fairy, The Scholar, The Knight, and myself. I?m not altogether sure when we?re supposed to meet. Perhaps we can find the mayor??

Xii shook her head. ?We don?t need to. The caravan is just along here. I found it when I was exploring. I?m sure that?s where we need to be.?

She was right. The villagers shied away from the caravan, looking at it as if it were from the devil. There were others there. Tylenia was glad to see that she knew some of the people. Celestine was there, holding herself proudly. She?d have to be the Queen. Scanning the others, Tylenia placed each with their nicknames. There was the knight, obvious in all his glory. The Scholar was back at the tavern. The Demon was there, looking the slightest bit uncomfortable in the sun. She could see why. He [I]was[/I] pale. She looked up at him, understanding the barmaid?s description of ?empty?. There was nothing in his eyes. She shivered and looked down. The last person was obviously the Wolf. His hair was totally untamed, and his height and build were menacing.

The party stood in uneasy silence. Tylenia swayed from leg to leg, trying to find a way to break the harsh atmosphere. Finally, looking in the vague direction of the Demon and the Wolf, she asked lamely, ?So what are you doing here??

The Demon looked at her briefly, and then replied. ?I suspect the same thing as you.?

?What?? she began hoarsely. Her courage was deserting her, and shyness was crippling her natural warmth. ?What are your names??

The Wolf answered this time. ?Alex McNeill.?

?Lacroix s'Xalerian.?

?Calonice.? The Knight spoke, and Tylenia jumped. She hadn?t expected the Knight to speak.

?I?I?m Tylenia.? Tylenia nodded eagerly to show she was telling the truth. They didn?t say anymore, and the strange silence swept over them again. She almost cried out with relief as the Scholar broke it. He?d walked up to the caravan without her noticing.

?Well, I?m Miles Cooper, although I prefer to be called Percy.?

Xii sent a quick smile at Percy. It seemed she already knew him from her exploring. ?I?m Xii Endelin.?

Celestine nodded at all of them in general and introduced herself, then asked the question they?d all been thinking. ?What happens now??[/color][/size]

[Charles]

Thin rays of sunlight poured over the landscape and flooded the earth, instilling vigor and warmth into every object, animal and man. Yesterday had been erased, along with its troubles and responsibilities. The world had been born again, had begun anew with a clean slate.

Morning breathed new life into farmer David as well, soothed the pain residing in his old bones. His stone blue eyes were pearls of wisdom; he was the oldest man in town; [i]but not in the morning[/i]. With dawn's early light, everything and everyone had been brushed with the heavenliest coat of paint, a mosaic of colors a man could only hope to describe.

Chill rose from the ground, and a yawning sun gazed down on the whole expanse of Briggstown. The old farmer trundled a wagon, old reliable. Its rickety joints were a lot like his. They were tired, slow to start, and made noises, but once they got going, there was no quit in them. The wagon's finish was old and worn, but it was bolted tightly with a big wicker cradle strapped across its frame.

As he lifted off its hook for the mules, he noticed for the first time that the stable door had been left ajar. A soft breeze rustled up from the hay and whistled between the boards. David scratched the stubble on his chin thoughtfully--he was certain that he had secured and fastened the door.

He cupped his hand to his brow and titled his head upwards, peering into his bedroom. Everything was still; the missus hadn't been disturbed. Once again, his eyes met the door, loose and insecure, tapping against the stable rhythmically. David crouched slowly, bending his knees carefully and seized the closest object his hands could grasp, a shovel.

His fingers gripped the rough wood, working their way into a groove. His heart fluttered, he could hear it's hollow thump beating against his chest and jumping into his throat. David crept up on the stable as if it were an unwitting sow. With much trepidation, he inhaled deeply and passed through the doors, slid in like a cunning serpent.

The farmer's mouth could form no words, he could not react to what he saw. His limbs became burdened with gaunt and grief. He stood, like a statue before his horses as the old doors closed behind him. No one ever saw farmer David again; he disappeared like yesterday.

Sigmund scribbled in his notebook diligently, only pausing briefly to dip a tattered feather into a nearby bottle of ink. The ground was speckled with small, orange embers and cinders of ash; they radiated faintly until they ceased to glow. The fire had long starved, faded like the villagers when the sun retreated behind the surrounding hills. But, Sigmund hadn't noticed, he was entranced with his duties.

He wasn't sure if his hands were trembling because of the cold, or because of the excitement surging through his body. His fingers were pink and numb, but his hands worked feverishly, as if possessed or guided by the magic strings of Heaven. Sitting against the edge of town square, adjacent from the window sill he once finagled baked treats from as a boy, Sigmund daintily dabbed the dulled feather tip into the depleting jar of ink once more.

[center][I]"Sigmond, lad, you are most clever. No, wait, exceptional is what you are. I can tell just by looking at you. [b]You've[/b] got gumption; you remind me of myself when I was your age. Mark that, my boy."[/I][/center]

The mayor wrapped one of his massive, grizzly bear arms around the young man's shoulders and invited him into his quarters. Sigmund?s father once told him that only the most important people receive such an invitation.

"One day my son," he once assured Sigmund, pointing a long, bony finger towards the mayor's eloquently carved door, "the mayor will look your way, and you'll know--you'll know that you've made it."

It turned out that his father was correct. Unfortunately, he was never able to witness his revelation come into fruition. Mysterious circumstances had swept him away like a passing storm. That's why Sigmund was so quick to accept the mayor's proposal to join the efforts of the official town investigation and reporting team. If only his father had been able to bear witness to the estate?s royalty laden interiors. He would have been very proud.

It should have been a quiet night; everyone had been accounted for--all the villagers were safe. But, the emergence of exotic strangers, hired mercenaries and bleak souls masked by suspicion, sparked apprehension. Feelings of distrust and incrimination spread like a brush fire, leaving behind a trail of ruin...[I]and the mayor was keeping his lips sealed.[/i]

[i]She had disgraced the royal family on numerous occasions with her outlandish behavior and mischievous adventures, adventures unworthy of her heritage. Calonice frowned upon the increased protection forced upon her. At first, she rebelled, but her protests fell upon deaf ears. Princess Lysistrata was restricted to serving mead and ale to thanes and warriors. She was not to leave the castle or visit the grounds; not even for recreational purposes such as horseback riding or archery.

The sudden circumstances surrounding Briggstown were like a cursed blessing. The town's mayor had been falling out of King Charles' favor, suspected of hoarding treasure and not paying his proper respects to the royal family. The unexplained disappearances of the town's people and stock animals not only furthered the king's dissatisfaction, but forced his hand. Supervision was required.

It wasn't easy getting in her father's good graces. It certainly wasn't often that he trusted Calonice's judgement enough to allow her to undertake an unsupervised expedition. Because Briggstown was in the breadth of his power and influence, the king granted his daughter an opportunity to prove herself; he didn't see any harm in sending her to his Kingdom's closest territory with a team of trusted knights. Word was sent to Mayor Hullman, that Princess Lysistrata would be arriving shortly.

Fate was kind to Calonice; she was able to sneak out and harbor her secret battle gear.[/I]


Anticipation and anxiety only simmered in times of peace. The dry retch of death ran rampant, shrouding people up to their necks. Even the tavern's fair walls seemed to drip with crimson blood. Yet, underneath the hollow clanking of wooden cups, men at drink, and uneasy chatter, the establishment's ambiance was subtly soothing...almost pleasing.

Idle chitchat reverberated off the walls in time to the smarmy instrumental band hired for the evening. Occasionally, judging eyes would peer over the brim of their cups, prying about for alien faces. The impending arrival of new warriors and thanes conceived a flare of prosperity.....and paranoia.

Evening chatter gave way to muffled whispers and forced silence every so often. Everyone tried to avoid discussing the state of their beloved town, although it rested heavily on their minds and on the tips of their tongues.

It was difficult to make small talk for fear of accidentally stumbling into troubling affairs. Simple questions became daring inquiries. Polite interrogation, such as "How's the missus," could yield quivering lips and trembling hands. "Missing," was the answer they feared to receive, "gone without a trace."

The tavern's heavy door screeched open, its creek fell upon the town's folk like a howling banshee. The inhabitants stirred like rams moving for pasture, when a woman spread her slender, mocha finger tips, around the doorway and sauntered in like a mountain lion, rain-drenched, wind-buffeted, but in her might at ease.

Her brown tunic was brushed with raw foliage. Vines and branches clung to both cloth and flesh, refusing to let go. She faced them with burning eyes, waiting. Streaked with brine, she terrified them. Had she risen up from the earth itself, a product of the elements?

Beneath the smoky haze, a rickety-looking spiral of stairs, painted with layers of dust, twisted about and disappeared underneath a veil of darkness.

"Up there," a soft voice spoke from behind, "the man you seek rests up there, waiting for you with the others."

She spun around, her golden eyes meeting the owner of the voice. His legs were wrapped in well-made greaves, fastened behind his heels with silver ankle-clasps. A bronze breastplate was strapped around his chest.

His red hair blazing, he spoke, "Make haste, you're the last to arrive. The mayor is awaiting you with handsome robes and cloaks, unlined and shimmering, as payment for your journey."

As she disappeared up the staircase, many were left wondering if she was mortal or divine...if she dwelled in Heaven or earth. Her guide's armor sang, lit up the dingy halls and musky corridors. She was the last to arrive, and was now immersed in her thoughts; they were thicker than the commingling odors of mead and ale that flooded her mouth. [i]There were others?[/i]

"Mistress, do me a kindness and stay with me," the red-haired man scolded hoarsely.

For thirty days and thirty nights she braved sea and land, endured the everlasting swell of salty waves and gale winds. After much weary toil, she found the town of Olivia. At last, he directed her past two heavy doors and into the presence of the mayor, a large, portly man draped in fine cloth. Surrounding him were five others. There was no quirk or evil in them that she could see.

Removing a golden flask from his lips, and resting it beside him, the mayor remarked, "You must be Xii! Splendid work Sigmund."

With that, he waved away the son of Haemon. The young, red-haired man, Sigmond, bowed obediently and backed out of the room, pulling the doors shut behind him.

Xii would later learn that his father was either dead or far away, which left Sigmund?s services in the mayor's hands. For, Sigmund believed that powers of light would requite the loss of Haemon, if he served his town well.

The room was large and lavish. Its occupants were draped in mysterious garbs, cloths the likes of which she had never seen. Fabulous works of art hung from the walls, and thick carpet felt soothing underneath her feet.

"Mistress," the mayor said eagerly, "you look as if you have suffered many grievances on your long journey. Allow me to give you some new rags to throw around yourself, some cloth or wrapping."

"Who are these people," Xii asked impatiently, dismissing his offer. She was usually quiet and friendly, but the trials of travel had left her temporarily withdrawn and restless.

Xii's eyes fixed themselves on what appeared to be another female. The mysterious figure's head lie on a crimson pillow, her face guarded behind locks of red and golden hair that seemed to spill forth from every direction.

Mayor Hullman introduced himself and paid homage to his guests.

"The woman lying before you," he said, rousing the woman with a gentle touch, "is Madam Tylenia. Her milky skin and innocent complexion merely disguise what lies underneath. Much the same can be said of our current crisis, I assure you."

The band of travelers leaned forward as the young woman peeled open her garments, revealing a scarred midriff. Small wounds, ghostly white, fleshed over, dotted her body, even more so pale than her normal flesh.

The woman blessed with a small frame, seemed to disappear in the soft material in which she was seated. It seemed to swallow her, made her appear even more fragile than her youthful overtones.

"You're all here today," the mayor explained, because of a series of occurrences that have swept through our humble town."

He detailed the horrific slaughter of the town's cattle, the supernatural disappearances of town's folk of all classes and gender. Occasionally, he would rise from his seat, eclipsing the room in his shadow, a marvelous sight. His eyes seemed to reflect every syllable accordingly, growing in terror or searching about the room wildly with panic-stricken awe, as the story progressed.

Cooper marked the mayor's verbal prowess.....the passion welling in his voice. It seemed to him, as if the mayor knew too well, the nature of the crimes.

Hullman believed that hardship had sent tragedy in fleshly guise. Harmonious converse had given way to suspecting eyes and idle threats. No one was free from the shackles of suspicion. So, it was necessary to go outside the town for help. Such was the only assistance that could be trusted. Even Hector, bless his father's soul, could be the culprit.

Lacroix s'Xalerian of the far east (tutored by nearly a score of arch mages), Cellestine Kittana (born of royal blood) hailing from curse Platina, Alex McNeill of the Faraday Kingdom, Miles "Percy" Cooper of Britain (dressed in the most peculiar garb of all), Tylenia, and Xii, were summoned to ward off the venomous curse, to liberate the town of disaster.

"May the gods accomplish your desires," Hullman bellowed, dabbing at the beads of sweat forming on his brow, "woe to your enemies and joy to your friends. Yes, hardship has sent this wicked force to my beloved people, but it has also sent you--and you must bear it. "

They stood up now and called to one another. Following the night's rest, they would be led under the river bank, as they were bidden. The mayor raised the splendidly carved lids of his chest and lifted out handsome, rich brocades, cloaks, as many white blankets as his arms could carry, and weighed fifteen full bars of gold.

If they lifted his heavy burden, he would bestow upon them the town's fattest remaining sheep, cheese, burnished tripods, shirts, and fine cauldrons. The student of the mages, Lacroix s'Xalerian, shot a sharp glance at his newfound companions. He wondered how a town so ill-stricken, could bear to part with such treasures, even if they were being laid upon the strongest mortals ever bred on earth. In fact, he wondered how the town of Aden had acquired such splendors.

[I]The next morning....[/I]

When they found him, his scepter was dashed to the ground. He lie on the river bank deprived of all life, the mayor's closest associate. Mr. Jacobs had been hunted down gorges, down narrow glens and back around again, hunted down until he fall where he now lie.

The Gods were not with this one, on that fateful, starry night. The heavens did not glisten in his favor. With flashing hoofs, a magnificent beast crashed through brush and vine, found no corner too sharp.

Mr. Jacob's finger nails were crusted with soil, black where he clutched and scrambled on the moist earth. The mayor paced back and forth, flustered and panicked. Again and again, he dabbed at his forehead.

The small band of hired mercenaries eyed one another sharply. It was not the corpse's expressionless gaze that frightened them so. Nor, was it the tragedy that followed their arrival so closely. But, of one thing they were sure; the crimson rosary the victim clutched tightly, had infinitely complicated matters.

Worse yet, princess Calonice Lysistrata, would be arriving shortly on behalf of the royal family to oversee the town's troubling situation.

[I]They hadn't noticed her brief departure from camp, hadn't heard her steed's hooves trampling off into the frosty night.

Calonice wiped her blade clean, renewing its lost splendor until there was no trace of blood remaining on its fine edge. She didn't care for her father's knights. Princess Lysistrata brought with her, her own brand of justice, The Rosary Knight.

Her informant had been correct; Mayor Hullman had indeed been embezzling treasures and goods that rightfully belonged to her father. Mister Jacobs had served as a martyr and her official arrival and town inspection would reinforce the hand of justice. Calonice was confident that the mayor would buckled under his own conscience.

She was wary of the mercenaries said to be wandering the town, however. The princess speculated that Mayor Hullman was trying to piece together his own rag tag army to defy the kingdom. Calonice's informant deducted that great, unexplainable forces were at work. One of the mercenaries, Cooper, was said to have been pulled from space and time.

Of course, such rumors were rubbish, but the disappearance of so many coupled with strange acts of mutilation, were yet to be explained through purpose or means.

Clanking armor and horses being stirred from their rest sounded nearby, along with the low murmur of knights being roused from their own slumber. Calonice tucked a handful of rosaries away with her belongings. Although the sun was rising, once again providing morning light, it was beginning to set for a certain mayor.[/i]

[Mnemolth]

CWB, thanks for submitting so early. Its great but there is one major problem with it. Please check your PMs. (anyone wishing to query or comment please do it in the RPW General Thread)

[Sara]

[size=1]Xii grinned as she caught her first glimpse of the villagers' trail through the forest. "Almost there," she whispered, her voice ripe with anticipation. It had been a long week's journey alone through the forest, and she was eager for the companionship of the villagers. She moved quietly and quickly through the trees.

Finally reaching the path itself, she smiled at a sign the villagers had placed along the trail. [I]Stay on the Path?.[/I] ?I don?t think I could get lost if I tried,? she thought absently. She?d lived in these woods all her life?how could one get lost in her own home? You might find yourself in a room you?d never seen before, but it?s still your house.

Still, she always followed this stretch of the path. It was not the fastest route to the town, but it lead, in its own meandering way, to the city gate. Beside that, there were always villagers walking along the length of it. Since she had left home, Xii had hardly seen a soul. It would be nice for company again.

After a short time on the path, she heard hoofbeats further ahead and moved to the side of the trail. The path was wide enough so that any rider could avoid her, but it was safest not to take the chance. People on horseback were always in a hurry and tended not to look out for anyone but themselves.

A large brown horse came into view....and the rider, to her great surprise, did not pass by but slowed to a stop a meter or so in front of her. He was a young man, tall, dirty, and a little scared. "You!" he called. Her heart skipped a beat as he pointed at her. "Endelin!"

Xii looked at him evenly. "What is it?"

He nudged his horse closer and pulled a rolled paper from a leather pouch. "Here! Take this."

Xii blinked. A message? "Who is it for?" she asked, reaching for it. The paper was rolled tightly and sealed with a wax acorn--the symbol of Aiken, the nearby town.

"I don't know," the young man said gruffly. "Read it, take it to someone, keep it for yourself, I don't care." He turned his horse back in the direction he'd come, leaving her with the paper in hand.

"Wait!" Xii cried. "Why are you giving it to me?"

The man turned to look at her. "I'm just a messenger; my job was to give this to the first Endelin I saw. You're it. I'm going back to the village."

"But I'm not going back into the forest, I'm going the same place you are!" Xii argued.

"My job's done," he said, kneeing his horse. "I don't care what you do." The horse whinnied and broke into a gallop. A moment later the pair had gone the same way they had come.

Xii stared after him for a moment before shaking her head. Whatever the message was, it wasn't getting back to her clan--she'd been on her way to Aiken for close to a week, now. With only a day left, she wasn't going to turn back just because some town boy was too lazy to properly deliver a message.

By late afternoon, however, Xii was ill at ease. She hadn?t seen anyone since the messenger had abruptly appeared?and disappeared?that morning. Now only an hour or so away from Aiken, she had fully expected to see children playing games in the forest or picking blackberries along the trail. Her own hands were stained purple from the tempting fruit, and the bushes were heavy with overripe berries. No one had been through here in several days.

A noise on the path ahead?was there actually someone else about? Xii walked quietly up to the curve in the trail, not wanting to be seen. Something around here was wrong, and she had no intentions of falling prey to the problem. She peered through the foliage and gave an involuntary sound of surprise at the sight of the person there.

The man she had snuck up on whirled around, startled. ?I?Yaah!? he choked back a cry when he saw her. ?What are you??

Xii was wondering the same of him. The man was wearing the most ridiculous clothes? ?You don?t have to be afraid--? she started to say?but the man wasn?t listening. Nor, she realized a moment later, was he frightened.

?No, wait, don?t tell me!? he was saying. ?Elf? No?Tree Spirit? Possibly? Oh, wait?You?re Endelin! Of course you are! How could I miss it, the hair, the eyes?? The man continued to exclaim to himself.

?Sir?? Xii ventured uncertainly. The man blinked at her, jerked back out of what Xii would later term ?Scholar Mode.?

?Oh! Terribly sorry, I?m Percy Cooper. Ever so pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss?? Percy faltered.

?Xii Endelin,? Xii supplied. ?Percy?? She tried out the new word. ?What kind of a name is that??

?British. It?s actually not?? He looked as though he might be gearing up for a long explanation.

?Never mind,? Xii said quickly, ?I didn?t mean it.?

?Oh..? Percy looked faintly disappointed, but that only lasted a moment. Xii made a mental note not to ask any questions she didn?t want answered.

?You?re not from around here,? she said curiously.

?No,? Percy admitted. ?How ever did you know??

?You look ridiculous,? she smiled. ?Are you headed to Aiken??

?Yes, actually, I received a letter from the mayor of the very town in question,? he replied.

?Oh, you read??

?Well, yes,? He looked at her. ?Why do you ask?

Xii was digging that morning?s message out of her bag. ?Here,? she said finally, handing him the rolled paper, ?can you tell me what this says??

Percy?s eyes flicked to the seal. ?Do you wish me to open it??

Xii rolled her eyes. ?If such would be beneficial to the reading of said document,? she mocked, ? then by all means, yes.?

Percy cast her a wounded look and broke open the seal, scanning the letter. "Mmm," he murmured, faint surprise visible on his face. ?You?ve been summoned to Aiken by Mayor Burman?says there?s a problem he?d like some aid in. Doesn?t say what. I received a similar summoning, virtually identical,? he added in answer to her questioning glance.

"I wonder what's going on," Xii said, "?but the letter wasn't for me."

Percy blinked. "It wasn't?"

"Well, no--the man just gave it to me. Does it say who it's for?"

"[i]To the receiver of this letter[/i]," Percy quoted. He glanced at her. "Intended or not, it would appear that the summoning now belongs to you."

"Mmph," Xii said. "Well, I was going there, anyway. Want to walk with me??

Percy agreed, and the remainder of the hour?s walk was spent in quiet, or the occasional trivial conversation.

Some time later, the pair crested a hill, and the forest fell away beneath them. This part of the land had been cleared hundreds of years ago for farming, and the town had now stretched almost to the forest edge.

At the foot of the hill lay the town itself, walled away from the outside world. A few scattered houses lay just outside the walls, but the land was mostly occupied by fields and farmhouses.

Xii grinned mischievously at Percy. ?Race you to the bottom??

Percy looked at her, somewhat taken aback. ?[I]What?[/I]? But Xii was already skidding down the hill. Percy sighed heavily, and set off after her.

Xii reached the bottom of the hill a few moments later, and began to look around. Like the forest had been, the road and few houses outside the town wall were quiet and deserted. This was strange?she?d come here many times before, and she had never seen so few people.

She knocked tentatively on one door. There was a rustling noise inside, but no one came to answer. ?Hello?? she called. ?Is anyone home?? She craned her neck to peer into the front window, but the curtains were drawn.

She slipped past the houses to the city wall, and felt her heart sink. The gate was closed. She had expected it, but still? Xii tilted her head. Voices? Was there someone else around? She walked closer to the gate. There [I]was[/I] someone outside the wall?two someones. She hadn?t noticed their brown-clad figures against the greys and browns of the gate. They were arguing with the gatekeeper. As she moved closer, she caught snatches of the conversation.

?And I tell you that no one passes this gate on my watch,? the guard said gruffly.

Xii couldn?t catch the man?s response.

?I don?t care if the Queen of Persia sent you,? the guard replied, ?you can?t come through after sunset.?

?It?s not sunset yet,? the man said acidly.

The guard shifted uncomfortably. ?Well, that?s not my problem,? he said. ?You?ll just have to wait till morning.?

?Alex, it?s not worth it,? the woman said. ?We?ll stay in one of the empty houses tonight.?

Percy appeared behind Xii. ?What?s going on?? he asked.

The man at the gate looked up. ?The gatekeeper won?t let us in,? he said dryly, ?because it?s after sunset.?

Percy glanced at the late-afternoon sun, and raised his eyebrows. ?And what time is sunset around here??

The woman smiled. ?I?m Relee, and this is Alex,? she said, gesturing to the man.

Xii nodded. ?Xii, and Percy. Where are you from?? Her question was met with uncomfortable silence. ??Or not.?

Relee?s smile looked almost sad. ?I?m from far away, and many different places,? she said. ?Originally, Platina.? Percy looked at her curiously, but said nothing.

?I?m a wanderer,? Alex said simply. ?Although I?d [I]hoped[/I] to sleep in Aiken tonight,? he added, just loud enough to be heard by the gatekeeper.

Xii bit back a grin. ?I live in the forest,? she offered, tilting her head back towards the top of the hill. ?Erienthe.? She paused, but Percy was engaging quietly with the gatekeeper. ?And I believe Percy said he was from Britain.?

Alex nodded. ?That would explain the clothes.?

Percy turned towards the unusual group. ?He says most of these houses are empty, and we?re free to stay in one of them.?

Relee nodded, and surveyed the buildings around them. ?Well, Xii, what do you say?? she asked. ?Which one??

?Someone?s in that one,? Xii said, nodding towards the house she had knocked at before. "They won't answer."

"Alright..." Relee walked up to another house and tried the door. It opened at her touch. Xii followed her in. It was a small house, but cozy...or would have been, if it weren't deserted. "Looks like this is it," Relee said, and set down her bag. She glanced at Xii. "Do you have any things?"

Xii slung a small bag off her shoulders. It contained a blanket, a change of clothes, and some assorted odds and ends. She'd spent [i]her[/i] traveling in the summer-time forest, and hadn't needed to bring along many things.

Alex looked in. ?Mind if I stick around? Percy?s still talking with the guard.?

?Not at all,? Relee said. She looked in a cupboard, blinked, and pulled out a loaf of bread and, from another, a jar of jam. ?Someone left in a hurry?.Dinner, anyone??

Alex got a fire started in the fireplace, and the house was soon as cozy as Xii had first imagined it could be. The sun had just set?for real?when they heard someone at the door.

Xii walked over to let Percy in, and was surprised to see another person with him. ?This is Tylenia,? Percy explained. ?Another waylaid traveler.?

The five sat in various corners of the living room, some eating, others relaxing. Xii took the opportunity to study the characters she had met that day. Alec was a bear of a man, tall and strong, with wild hair. She hadn?t noticed one earlier, but she imagined she glimpsed a weapon at his side.

Now that she saw Relee with her hood down, Xii realized she was actually very beautiful, with dark hair and elegant features. What she was doing wandering around this part of the world, Xii had no idea.

Their newest arrival, Tylenia, was also very pretty, in an innocent way rather than an exotic one. She seemed young, with large eyes and a soft voice. Her hair was the color of autumn, and pulled back with a bone ornament.

?Why are these houses empty?? Tylenia asked, startling Xii out of her silent reverie.

?The people are inside the city walls,? Percy answered. ?The gatekeeper informed me that everyone in the area is scared? There have been disappearances around the area, and animals slaughtered. Almost everyone is residing inside the city at this time.?

Four pairs of eyes looked at him in wonder. ?No wonder they wouldn?t let us in,? Relee murmured.

Another sound at the door. This time, no one moved to answer it.

Tylenia stood. ?I?ll get it,? she said finally.

?No,? Alex said, ?You stay here.?

Tylenia looked at him evenly. ?Trust me. I?ll be fine. She walked out of the room, with Alex close after her. The others waited, calmly or anxiously, in silence.

In the next room, Tylenia thrust open the door to see?A large man, well dressed, and looking rather pleased with himself. The guard from the gate stood at his side.

?This is the house, Mayor Burman,? the gatekeeper said.

The mayor nodded at him before looking at Tylenia. ?Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing??

?Tylenia,? she said simply, standing in the way of the door.

Burman peered behind her at Alex. ?May we come in?? he prompted.

?Not after sunset,? Alex said dryly, but he moved aside.

Tylenia, however, stood firmly in the door. ?Who?s ?we??? she asked.

Burman gestured behind him. There were two other figures there. ?Friends,? he explained briefly.

Tylenia turned to let them through, and the four of them?the gatekeeper having returned to his post?followed Alex back to the room with the others.

Burman introduced the latest arrivals to the group. ?This is Lacroix s'Xalerian,? he said, nodding towards the taller of the two, a man with skin even the warm firelight left pale. Xii looked at his eyes, and her blood ran cold.

The second figure was clearly a noble of some sort, but stayed in the shadowed corner by the doorway. ?This,? Burman nodded in that direction, ?is the Rosary Knight.? There was scattered interest, a few in the room had heard things of this character.

?I?ve asked you to come here,? the mayor went on, ?and you have graciously accepted, although, perhaps, you were not received with the warmest welcome.?

Someone laughed darkly.

?I believe you all now have some idea of the?ah?[I]issues[/I] that need to be handled here,? he continued delicately. ?The townsfolk are rather jumpy right now, and you understand it was not in our best interest to have half a dozen strangers appear in town at this time.?

He received no response from the group at large, but smiled. ?I assure you that your arrival was far warmer here than it would have been inside the gates.?

Xii glanced at the others, not sure what to think. Relee?s eyes were narrow, and she watched the mayor carefully. Percy looked intrigued, although that was hardly the reaction she had expected of him. Tylenia seemed impassive, and Alex watched Burman, listening, but not trusting. It was impossible to tell what Lacroix was thinking, and the Knight looked?satisfied?

The mayor surveyed the room of travelers. ?So?? he smiled wryly, ?welcome to Aiken.?[/size]

[Gavin]

[Color=royalblue]Alex walked along the dusty road that would eventually lead his to his destination, he stooped down and picked up some of the dirt in his hand and smelt it, someone or something had passed along this road not long before him. He rubbed it into his hands and stood up and began to walk again. He came to a winding turn which lead his path across a shallow river, it was a long time since he had had a drink and so sat down against the bank and quenched his thirst, the water was cool and refreshing and invigorated his entire body.

He sat up again and began to lament on the years that have passed. "Long ago I was a prince of a mighty kingdom, my family was loved and respected. I remember feasting at the banquets held in their honor, playing with the other children, training in the ways of battle and learning of a scholar. Yet those days are long gone and chances are I'll not see the likes of them again. I hate him, he took my life and my family, he spared me and my sisters, I as a messenger and them as his... wives, I lament every day on the fate which has befallen them and I will someday rescue them and restore my birthright".

He heard a sudden rustling in the bushes and drawing his sword he went to investigate, he saw a strange creature almost soulless by the look of him, there was and evil air to him and Alex approached with caution. He had dealt with many foes in his days but none like this. "Who are you and what is your business here" he called to the stranger. The mysterious man looked at him his eyes were cold and dead, he spoke and Alex twitched "I am Lacroix s'Xalerian of the Vishaki and who are you, you have the look of a ranger, but I sense more noble history to you".

Alex was taken aback by the Mages description but simply replied "I am a traveler on my way to a village not far from here, there are reports of a monster attacking both beast and man and a reward for the one who kills him. I am taking my leave now for I must reach the village before nightfall and meet with the mayor. Fare thee well Lacriox and I shall see you there I think."

Alex rose from his spot and began his journey towards the village, he raced and he was sweating, he began to wonder "What if that creature was the beast I am meant to slay ?. He looked like a man but there was something unnatural about him, something evil, soulless. I should pick up my pace the sun is starting to go down and I have dawdled long enough, he took out his flask and took a long draft from it. It refreshed him and soon he had reached the outskirts of the village.

It was an unwelcoming looking place as though it had been raviged by a plague of sorts, it looked murky and sorrowful sights Alex was all to well accustomed to seeing in his life. He saw what appeared to be a tavern not far from where he was and entered. It was dirty and dank and he felt very much worse than he had already, he walked up to the bar and sat down, he looked around the room and saw several strange people, some warriors others scholars and other still stranger. He asked for a pint of mead and began his contemplations once again.

Sever people came up to him and enquired about him "Be you that one they call the Wolf." asked one, or "Are you here like the rest of those fools. Ha, you'll never catch the beast, they say he cannot be killed by any mere man, and you don't look like anything special to me". Alex drew his sword and placed it against the imbecile's neck "It would be wise not to insult one who can decapitate you if you offend him, now would it. As you say, yes I am the one they call the Wolf, it is a name I have been given as long I have dwelt in this land. I have come on a matter on urgency to the people of this village and will not be way laid by a mere fool such as you."

He turned and saw that Lacroix, the one whom he had met on his way had entered. The bar went quiet as he ordered a drink and sat at a table. Alex took his pint of ale and sat down, however he was not the only one to do so, several other joined them including one dressed in quite strange attire by comparison to his surroundings. The group began to talk and each introduced themselves, and soon talk turned to the beast.[/color]

[Mnemolth]

Thanks to all those who have made a submission. For the others, I guess I'll see your talents next round, eh? ;)

[b]Round 1 Submissions are now closed.

This also means Round 1 Voting commences and runs from now until midnight, Mon 20 Jan, AEST time or GMT +10 hrs.[/b]

1. A reminder that all players are entitled to vote, even if you did not make a submission. To vote, simply just make a post, along with any accompanying comments/suggestions.

2. Players are NOT to participate in the thread poll, that is exclusively for NON-PLAYER OB members.

3. Comments on submissions are welcome and recommended, though not mandatory. Please be constructive and if you have nothing to say, or can't think of anything at the moment, just post your vote anyway. You can always edit it latter on. Otherwise you might not make it within the deadline.

4. You have 4 options: 1 general vote for best submission and 1 for each of the 3 special categories (this is only for exceptional work so you need not vote if you feel it is not warranted). The 'general' vote is ESSENTIAL, the others are just optional.

5. Finally, non-players CANNOT vote, though you can participate in poll on this thread. Also you are always welcome to make comments/suggestions on the General Thread. :D

Go luck all! :)

[Lady Asphyxia]

[color=darkred] Alright, then, I'll be the first to vote, too. (Unless you guys PMed your votes in o.o) In the ego-stroking part, I'll vote for myself ^.^

Eh, I vote for Sara. I liked hers. It was well done and presented the characters in a non-repeditive way. (Unlike mine). Same with the others too.

And, one last question. Its this the right place? [/color]

[Sara]

[size=1]I honestly like mine the best, but that's probably because of all the time I spent messing with it [i]until[/i] I liked it, heh.

I liked the titles for each of the characters, that was pretty spiffy.

It was really weird/cool reading a whole bunch about Xii at the beginning of CWB's.

My vote goes to Lady A..the others just seem too formal for me to work with. [/size]

[Mnemolth]

Yes this is the right place to vote. :D

And no, there has been no PM on votes, so again I have to say I'm somewhat disheartened by the lack of votes being cast by the players. On a brighter side, I see several people have voted in the 'poll' at the beginning of the thread. That is for OB members who are NOT players. So you guys shouldn't be casting your votes there. Sorry if there has been any confusion.

In any case, its past the deadline for voting, but since I've only got 2 posts, I'm going to extend it for a bit. How long? Just long enough until the rest of the votes come in. But this is already disrupting the timeflow, so PLEASE get your vote in ASAP. Thanks. I guess you can probably guess my patience is wearing somewhat thin about now ....

Sara: Am I reading this correctly? You vote for Lady A as the best submission? (you CAN vote for yourself if you think yours is best)

Lady A: You vote for yourself or Sara for submission? Its a little unclear in your post.

And to both of you, I assume neither of you made any votes for any of the 3 special categories (just making sure, it is quite normal for no votes in those categories as they are exceptional ones).

[Lady Asphyxia]

[color=darkred] Sara. No specials.[/color]

[Charles]

I will vote for my own because it took forever and I want it to get at least one player vote, lol. I think that mine was the most atmospheric anyway. Oh well. They all have their strengths.

I knew not to in the poll, but I was confused which is why I am late.

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]I'd go for CWBs as well. But anyway, what I really want to know is...what the hell is that poll up the top doing with one for me in there? I didn't even write anything for Christ's sake...[/font][/color]

[Juu]

[color=ff66ff] [size=1]My vote goes to Sara... ^_^
All of yours were great, but I think hers was my favorite. ^^[/color] [/size]

[Mnemolth]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by The Harlequin [/i]
[B][font=gothic][color=crimson]I'd go for CWBs as well. But anyway, what I really want to know is...what the hell is that poll up the top doing with one for me in there? I didn't even write anything for Christ's sake...[/font][/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

Yes, well maybe some people don't read instructions and maybe they are so impressed by you they don't even to read your work.

Your reputation precedes you ... ;)

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue]I would read these stories....and such stuff, and what not. But I know that if I reveal who I voted for....at least two of the guys who are in this thing would not only jump me.....but also rip me in several different peices and then scatter me around the globe. *grimace*

So anyways, I voted for.......*crackle crackle* *fade to white*[/COLOR]

[Shy]

[size=1]Even though the poll seems to be closed, I vote for Sara. She did the best job at writing for Percy, and I'm biased.

-Shy[/size]

[Mnemolth]

Well the 'poll' was for non-player OB members ONLY. It decides the Popularity category. I guess you've got some hassles at the moment on your end dude so I'll forgive you for not paying attention. :)

The player votes are just normal posts and I tally them up as I will do now.

Thanks for submitting and voting everyone! :D


[b]Results are as follows:[/b]

Sara - 3 votes, Lady Asphyxia (I think I'll just call you LA now for short if you don't mind ;)), Juuthena and Shyguy

CWB: - 2 votes, CWB and Harlequin.

Congratulations go to Sara, Winner of Round 1! :)

Also it seems CWB has many fans, he far exceeds anyone else by popular votes! :) Great job.


[b]So here are the updates for Round 1:[/b]

Lady Asphyxia: 2 XP (1 for prompt submission, 1 for satisfying objectives)

Sara: 12 XP (10 for winning, 2 for same as above)

CWB: 7 XP (5 for Popularity, 2 for same as above)

Red XIII: Although technically your submission was too late for it to be 'prompt' according to the rules, and although you didn't actually satisfy the objectives of the Round (you did not interact with all the player characters), I'm inclined to award you the 2 XPs anyway. :)
I'm doing so because you've honestly given it a shot and it is the first round and all, and I'm very appreciative. :D (if anyone doesn't think this to be fair or appropriate, please let me know)

Everyone else XP levels remain the same.

Round 2 objectives will be up in a couple of hours.