Post by toddio on Feb 10, 2003 18:56:37 GMT -5
Errr.. Well, i know i'm new, but i was hoping i could post the first part of my series entitled, Road to nowhere..
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The light shining between the leaves on the trees which stretched out far overhead, were just barely enough to see the attackers coming into the clearing. With a swift motion, _Paladin, silently unsheathed his sword, and went to wake Giraudia. In a blink of the eye, she had an arrow nocked and was prepared to fire. It was two years that day, since _Paladin and Giraudia had set out on their quest. _Paladin remembered that morning, as if it were just yesterday.
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After returning from tea with Giraudia the forest Scochio, _Paladin returned to the castle. Castle Glenn was filled with the smell of wildflowers blooming in the fields, and fresh bread baking in the kitchens.
He had walked up the marble steps leading to the Royal Chamber only to be taken under arrest and brought to the king in chains.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this?” He cried. “I’ll have the King told about this abominable outrage!”
One of the guards, a gnarled old Techo, gave him an unreadable look. “It’s the King’s orders.”
_Paladin horrified, was shoved brutally into the Chamber and fell into kneeling position. His first knight, and archrival, Kain*, the fire moehog , spoke in a loud booming voice.
“_Paladin, Knight of the Kingdom of Glenn, you are here-by charged with treason to the throne. You are to be exiled and striped of rank immediately.”
The king looked down at the Gelert, a distant look in his eyes. “Guards, take him out of my sight! I never want to see you in Glenn ever again! Now, BEGONE!”
_Paladin was exiled with only the clothes he wore on his back, and his trusty long sword. As he was left on the border, he looked at the riders returning to the castle; the fields, knowing he would never smell the sweet smells of home, ever again.
-----
The assassins who approached were dressed all in black, and bore the seal of Kain, first knight. They were not the first, and probably not the last to attempt to dispose of _Paladin and Giraudia. Her arrow sang as it flew through the air, and at the same time, _Paladin flew through the air bearing his great long sword, Greatfang, over his head, preparing a mighty swing.
An arrow struck the first of the five assassins, and he was dead before he even touched the ground. The second assassin’s skill with a sword was not nearly as great as _Paladin’s, and after a few trivial attacks, he too was lying lifeless on the ground.
A second and third arrow flew, with speed and accuracy, taking out two more of the attackers. _Paladin approached the last with caution, for he was obviously the leader of the group, after 3 mighty swings of Greatfang, the leader no longer posed a threat. As he fell to the ground a piece of parchment flew out of the fold of his cloak, to float in the wind. _Paladin grabbed hold of it and read it silently to himself. He returned to his watch and pondered what he had just read.
-----
Later the next day, the two adventurers silently made their way through the underbrush. Finally, Giraudia spoke. “_Paladin, what was written on the parchment you took from the leader after the battle last night?”
“Not much, that I could decipher, for you see it was written in a complex code. If I am correct, I believe we are only half a day from the glade of the lady of the forest, one such as she, would most surely be able to decipher the code, and aid us in our search for the truth.”
“Well, then let us make haste” she said quickly, and decisively “For we have not much time, till darkness falls, and then, the journey to the glade will be near impossible”.
-------
The sun was just setting when the glade came into the view of _Paladin and Giraudia. The tiny cottage was barely noticeable through the thick brush that they passed through. A faint light was barely visible through the small window. There was a heavy scent of herbs, and of wildflowers.
_Paladin went up the walk, and softly knocked on the door of the cottage. There was no response from inside. After a few more knocks, they pushed open the door, and went inside to investigate. The lady of the forest was not there.
“Be warned!” Came the cry of a woman from the direction of the forest, followed by many voices laughing, and animals growling. Before they knew what was happening, they were beset upon by beast and man alike. They exited the house.
_Paladin dove into the heat of battle, while Giraudia jumped onto the roof of the house, so she would have a vantagepoint of the battle. There was a great ring of sound as Greatfang was unsheathed, and Giraudia’s bow sang with every arrow that was unleashed. Eilvere the green Ganuthor protected Giraudia from arrows with the mighty strength of his magical shield, which stretched around the two of them. With a roar Lionheart jumped into the fray after _Paladin, and attacked the closet beast he could find, which happened to be a gray wolf, twice his size. With ease, he knocked away the wolf, and made his way to his master’s side.
“_Paladin, Come and face your doom” came a call from the edge of the woods, _Paladin turned, and there on a great shadowed Uni, sat Kain.
With extreme grace, _Paladin fought his way towards Kain, who held the Eyrie of the forest hostage.
“Set her free” he said. “For your quarrel is with me, not this defenseless old eyrie, free her, and we shall duel!”
“A fair trade, your life, for hers” said Kain, followed by an evil laugh. He dismounted and drew a shining long sword, Greatfang’s twin, Wolfclaw. He moved in with a speed, and grace unknown to _Paladin, for he had always been better than Kain and knew his style well.
In response to the first move, _Paladin came in with a quick stab, narrowly missing his rival. Wolfclaw sang, and was suddenly overhead. Greatfang was put quickly in the way to parry the blow. “Your strength and your speed, Kain… What have you done to yourself?”
“Why, _Paladin, I thought it would be obvious. I have always known that the dark arts are the magic of power, not the puny white magic, who you and your friends wield and protect.”
“About two years ago I met up with the sorcerer, Balron. In exchange for a few ... favours, mainly, your removal from the Country of Glenn, he granted me superhuman strength and speed, surpassing even your skills.”
_Paladin was horrified.
“No, Kain, no! The Dark arts are not that of power, but that of death. You have sacrificed your life in service of the arts. Never will you be free, never will you find peace!”
“I do not seek peace, but revenge! I wish to hear your scream as you die; feel your blood on my hands, knowing finally—finally! —That I am your better, that I can beat the mighty _Paladin!”
Suddenly, there came a strong white light from the edge of trees. There stood the lady of the forest, the white eyrie ,revealed for who she really is, a Priestess of The Light, Royanna*.
“You! Servant of the one named Balron! Begone from my glade, and never return!” With those words, the beasts and men fled, and there were only Giraudia, _Paladin, Kain, and Royanna.
“I’ll never forget this _Paladin,” Kain shouted. “Your day will come, and you will pay… with your life!” And then he fled, mounted on his black steed and rode off into the dark
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To Be Continued
-----
*All names besides, _Paladin, Giraudia, Lionheart, and Eilvere, were either created out of the imgaination of the writer or that of friends of the writer. Pet’s with similar,or the same names are in no way related to this story.
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Anyway, if this is too long, admins totally feel free to delete, or whatever. Anyway, any help, ideas, or help with mistakes i missed, would be greatly appreciates
Thanks, Todd
------
The light shining between the leaves on the trees which stretched out far overhead, were just barely enough to see the attackers coming into the clearing. With a swift motion, _Paladin, silently unsheathed his sword, and went to wake Giraudia. In a blink of the eye, she had an arrow nocked and was prepared to fire. It was two years that day, since _Paladin and Giraudia had set out on their quest. _Paladin remembered that morning, as if it were just yesterday.
--------
After returning from tea with Giraudia the forest Scochio, _Paladin returned to the castle. Castle Glenn was filled with the smell of wildflowers blooming in the fields, and fresh bread baking in the kitchens.
He had walked up the marble steps leading to the Royal Chamber only to be taken under arrest and brought to the king in chains.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this?” He cried. “I’ll have the King told about this abominable outrage!”
One of the guards, a gnarled old Techo, gave him an unreadable look. “It’s the King’s orders.”
_Paladin horrified, was shoved brutally into the Chamber and fell into kneeling position. His first knight, and archrival, Kain*, the fire moehog , spoke in a loud booming voice.
“_Paladin, Knight of the Kingdom of Glenn, you are here-by charged with treason to the throne. You are to be exiled and striped of rank immediately.”
The king looked down at the Gelert, a distant look in his eyes. “Guards, take him out of my sight! I never want to see you in Glenn ever again! Now, BEGONE!”
_Paladin was exiled with only the clothes he wore on his back, and his trusty long sword. As he was left on the border, he looked at the riders returning to the castle; the fields, knowing he would never smell the sweet smells of home, ever again.
-----
The assassins who approached were dressed all in black, and bore the seal of Kain, first knight. They were not the first, and probably not the last to attempt to dispose of _Paladin and Giraudia. Her arrow sang as it flew through the air, and at the same time, _Paladin flew through the air bearing his great long sword, Greatfang, over his head, preparing a mighty swing.
An arrow struck the first of the five assassins, and he was dead before he even touched the ground. The second assassin’s skill with a sword was not nearly as great as _Paladin’s, and after a few trivial attacks, he too was lying lifeless on the ground.
A second and third arrow flew, with speed and accuracy, taking out two more of the attackers. _Paladin approached the last with caution, for he was obviously the leader of the group, after 3 mighty swings of Greatfang, the leader no longer posed a threat. As he fell to the ground a piece of parchment flew out of the fold of his cloak, to float in the wind. _Paladin grabbed hold of it and read it silently to himself. He returned to his watch and pondered what he had just read.
-----
Later the next day, the two adventurers silently made their way through the underbrush. Finally, Giraudia spoke. “_Paladin, what was written on the parchment you took from the leader after the battle last night?”
“Not much, that I could decipher, for you see it was written in a complex code. If I am correct, I believe we are only half a day from the glade of the lady of the forest, one such as she, would most surely be able to decipher the code, and aid us in our search for the truth.”
“Well, then let us make haste” she said quickly, and decisively “For we have not much time, till darkness falls, and then, the journey to the glade will be near impossible”.
-------
The sun was just setting when the glade came into the view of _Paladin and Giraudia. The tiny cottage was barely noticeable through the thick brush that they passed through. A faint light was barely visible through the small window. There was a heavy scent of herbs, and of wildflowers.
_Paladin went up the walk, and softly knocked on the door of the cottage. There was no response from inside. After a few more knocks, they pushed open the door, and went inside to investigate. The lady of the forest was not there.
“Be warned!” Came the cry of a woman from the direction of the forest, followed by many voices laughing, and animals growling. Before they knew what was happening, they were beset upon by beast and man alike. They exited the house.
_Paladin dove into the heat of battle, while Giraudia jumped onto the roof of the house, so she would have a vantagepoint of the battle. There was a great ring of sound as Greatfang was unsheathed, and Giraudia’s bow sang with every arrow that was unleashed. Eilvere the green Ganuthor protected Giraudia from arrows with the mighty strength of his magical shield, which stretched around the two of them. With a roar Lionheart jumped into the fray after _Paladin, and attacked the closet beast he could find, which happened to be a gray wolf, twice his size. With ease, he knocked away the wolf, and made his way to his master’s side.
“_Paladin, Come and face your doom” came a call from the edge of the woods, _Paladin turned, and there on a great shadowed Uni, sat Kain.
With extreme grace, _Paladin fought his way towards Kain, who held the Eyrie of the forest hostage.
“Set her free” he said. “For your quarrel is with me, not this defenseless old eyrie, free her, and we shall duel!”
“A fair trade, your life, for hers” said Kain, followed by an evil laugh. He dismounted and drew a shining long sword, Greatfang’s twin, Wolfclaw. He moved in with a speed, and grace unknown to _Paladin, for he had always been better than Kain and knew his style well.
In response to the first move, _Paladin came in with a quick stab, narrowly missing his rival. Wolfclaw sang, and was suddenly overhead. Greatfang was put quickly in the way to parry the blow. “Your strength and your speed, Kain… What have you done to yourself?”
“Why, _Paladin, I thought it would be obvious. I have always known that the dark arts are the magic of power, not the puny white magic, who you and your friends wield and protect.”
“About two years ago I met up with the sorcerer, Balron. In exchange for a few ... favours, mainly, your removal from the Country of Glenn, he granted me superhuman strength and speed, surpassing even your skills.”
_Paladin was horrified.
“No, Kain, no! The Dark arts are not that of power, but that of death. You have sacrificed your life in service of the arts. Never will you be free, never will you find peace!”
“I do not seek peace, but revenge! I wish to hear your scream as you die; feel your blood on my hands, knowing finally—finally! —That I am your better, that I can beat the mighty _Paladin!”
Suddenly, there came a strong white light from the edge of trees. There stood the lady of the forest, the white eyrie ,revealed for who she really is, a Priestess of The Light, Royanna*.
“You! Servant of the one named Balron! Begone from my glade, and never return!” With those words, the beasts and men fled, and there were only Giraudia, _Paladin, Kain, and Royanna.
“I’ll never forget this _Paladin,” Kain shouted. “Your day will come, and you will pay… with your life!” And then he fled, mounted on his black steed and rode off into the dark
-----
To Be Continued
-----
*All names besides, _Paladin, Giraudia, Lionheart, and Eilvere, were either created out of the imgaination of the writer or that of friends of the writer. Pet’s with similar,or the same names are in no way related to this story.
--------
Anyway, if this is too long, admins totally feel free to delete, or whatever. Anyway, any help, ideas, or help with mistakes i missed, would be greatly appreciates
Thanks, Todd
has time
My only gripes would be that there are a few editing mistakes and that the characters aren't really introduced before you leap into the action - (Treason? What? Why? How does _Paladin FEEL about this?) 
. It's all straightened out now, though.