Monthly Archives: May 2011

The Boys are Back in Town

Friday, May 27th, 2011

“It’s bloody boring here.”

“We get to spar.”

“We’ve been sparring for four hundred years! Aren’t they going to get themselves sorted out any time soon?”

A cough sounded in the grey, and Locsyn and Gwyth looked up as Rhyfelwyr stood over them. He gestured, and the two soldiers went to spar once more.

“The time is close. I’ve been watching and talking. It will happen in less than a year.”

“I know, Taflen. That’s why I want them to spar more than ever.”

“You could let them rest. They won’t fail you on the battlefield. You know that.”

“They never have.” Rhy shook himself for a moment. “And I’ve never let them rest, either. Where’s Rhocas, by the way?”

“Practising with his group. He hasn’t changed his schedule in the fifty years since he knew this day was coming. So why are you suddenly worried?”

The sergeant gestured about. “Because of this. Because of everything that’s happening. Those idiots are trying to resurrect Hymerodraeth Heula by pissing on everything it stood for.”

“Why do you think the best of Glanhaol Fflamboethi chose the side they did? The rest of us know it just as much as you do.”

“And the others?”

“There’s only so many of us as can go. But our whole squad was picked. Even Rhocas and myself.”

“I’d be a damn poor sergeant if I couldn’t get my whole squad into this lottery.” Rhy spat on the ground.…
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The Hunter’s Prey Part 6

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Crouched in the last mangrove cluster on the swamp’s edge, Laurin stared at the dry land stretching before him. He had never seen so much grass-covered earth in his life, and the calming waving sea of green frightened him more than the deep blue waters he sometimes hunted. The dangers there were well known to him: barracudas, crocs, the occasional shark, and that carnivorous kelp that latched on to anything moving. But the next step would take him into the utterly unknown, and his gut told him there would be no turning back.

Drawing the swamp air deep into his lungs, Laurin tentatively planted a toe on the sandy shoal that led up to the spreading grass. It was not so unfamiliar, the coarse grit beneath his soft boots. Taking comfort in the thought, he moved gingerly forward, displeased with the tracks he left behind, but unable to avoid doing so. The grass was waist-high and it teased his bare skin to gooseflesh as the wind tossed it gently from side to side. In the distance, Laurin could make out smoke hanging in the air, a lazy pall that seemed unwilling to blow away. Thinking the smoke probably came from a village, he set his steps in that direction, hoping not to spend another night in the open, especially this under this vast expanse of sky.

Several hours of tramping through the grass, which was not always so gentle and had left him with shallowly-lacerated arms, Laurin stumbled onto a cart track leading into the small village.…
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Creating a Fantasy Race, Part 2

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Welcome, welcome back to the second instalment of Birthing the Breed. Last time around I showed you how to create the physical aspect of a fantasy race. This time around I’m going to focus on the behavioural. This is important for several reasons, for it dictates how the creature acts, how the society around it is built, and in some ways how the setting hangs together. Fantasy fiction, more than any other, hangs on the setting, and the aura that it creates.

Choice #2: Behaviour – Is the creature a hunter? A farmer? Does it like solitary occupations or tribal ones? As with the prior post, this single question is going to take up the rest of the article, and I’ll break it out into subheadings once more.

Predator or Prey – Is the creature a predator animal, or a prey animal? In more civilized terms, does it hunt, or does it farm? A good example of the prey animal as a civilization is the traditional, lord of the rings elves. They care for and nurture nature, they live in large clusters, and their racial tendencies are towards pacifism and “living with”, rather than “taking from”. Contrast that with a traditional predator, the half orc or orc. In almost every RPG or fantasy setting, from Eberron to the Wheel of Time (Trollocs), orcs and their cousins are aggressive, greedy, militaristic and evil.…
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Dangerous Journey

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Richane Harwood and his wife Corinne worked together stringing rope by hand. He loved working with his hands. Most of his life he’d spent his energy using magic for everyday things, but over the last few years he’d grown to love the physical aspect of things. He smiled at her. Her green eyes against her dark skin never failed to bring a smile to his lips even when he was anxious like he was now.

“I’m worried about you,” she said softly, her hands working swiftly from long practice. “It’s not safe to go north on this river as it cuts around the mounts. There are too many dangers.”

He was getting extra supplies ready because he and his crew were due to set sail in three weeks to the part of the lands he rarely saw. The river could only be travelled at peak times. The snowmelt runoff had started and the river was running near full.

“I know it’s dangerous. But I’m getting paid well by the Duke. Besides, if we run into real trouble, Erran Rosdayle’s a mage and we can do something.”

“What if you get caught? We barely survived last time the Knights came around. And I don’t like that one of your crew that came around last night. I don’t trust him.”

“We won’t get caught. As for the one you didn’t like last night,” he paused and looked around to make sure no one was watching or listening while they worked in their back yard.…
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Breaking an Empire #29

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Several times they were struck from the side or the front by opposing Lianese soldiers, but each time, the Lianese were repulsed, although one close encounter had hung in the balance until Rhocas had gathered himself and sent a jet of flame playing across the Lianese front lines. Their moral broken, the Lianese tried to flee, and were slain by the charging Veryan forces.

Each skirmish brought Rhocas, Rhyfelwyr and their forces closer to the warehouses, and now they could see the bulky shapes only a few streets away, the heavy forms promising food and sustenance for weeks to come. Calling to his troops to rally on, Rhyfelwyr trotted round a corner to find himself in a market square, still filled with the stands and stalls of the hawkers. Cautious for an ambush, he gestured left and right, sending Taflen and Gwyth to scout through the remains. The other soldiers tucked themselves in tightly, forming a small square of shields at the edge of the open area.

Taflen advanced cautiously, his sword and shield held at the ready, eyes as much on the roofs around him as they were on possible foes hidden behind the stalls. Gwyth strode forward, openly challenging any who would dare to come stand with him, using his shield to swipe the stands aside, knocking them to the ground. After both had passed through two-thirds of the square, they glanced at one another, and nodded at Rhyfelwyr.…
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