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Colostle: The Adventures of October O'Leary
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<blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 8956765" data-attributes="member: 11760"><p>Snow melt trickled in rivulets along the path as Noble Steed and October O’Leary descended the Mountain together.</p><p></p><p>October gave a friendly wave to the sentry at Reception Tower, who scanned the Mountain and the forest beyond with long binoculars long ago salvaged from a Rook.</p><p></p><p>The air was fresh and clean, the smell of new-fallen snow turning into crystal clear water and of wet earth preparing to burst forth with new green life in spring. And there was something else — smoke.</p><p></p><p>Smoke poured from the great chimney of Furnace. October nudged Noble Steed onto a narrow side path, well trodden despite the “FORBIDDEN — KEEP OUT” sign.</p><p></p><p>Mount and rider paused inside a small knot of trees along the path and October looked down at Furnace. The walls, battlements and gate were made from the head of a long-ago Rook, giving the outpost a threatening air. Only a select few were allowed inside Furnace, on direct orders from the senior clerks.</p><p></p><p>“Take a wrong turn, October O’Leary?” A large man stepped out of the shadows, holding a loaded crossbow.</p><p></p><p>“Nergal Jones,” October said, smiling, despite noticing Nergal did not point the crossbow at the ground. “No, I’m heading down the Mountain on a heroic quest and just thought I’d take in the sights on the way down. It might be a while before I come back this way again.”</p><p></p><p>Nergal scowled.</p><p></p><p>“Heroic quest? Where did you get …”</p><p></p><p>October held out the Requisition.</p><p></p><p>“We received this earlier this morning. I’ve met with the senior clerks. I’m going to find Red Rook and MacKenzie Guffin.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s impossible!” Nergal burst out, reaching for the Requisition with meaty fingers.</p><p></p><p>“This is just a copy, of course. The senior clerks have the original in Upper Filing.”</p><p></p><p>Nergal’s hand dropped, his expression now neutral.</p><p></p><p>“Of course.”</p><p></p><p>October glanced toward Furnace, watching the white smoke rise from the chimney. Nergal’s wife, Persephone, had stepped out onto the ramparts, with a loaded crossbow of her own. Their enormous son, Chernobog, stood before the gate, hands resting on the crosspiece of a sword longer than October was tall and wider than his torso.</p><p></p><p>“Be careful out there,” Nergal said quietly. “Anything could happen to you.”</p><p></p><p>“When I come back,” October O’Leary said, backing Noble Steed slowly away. “Maybe I could get a tour of Furnace and discuss all of this further.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe so,” Nergal said, stepping back into the shadows of the trees, his voice taking on a strange tone. “Say hello to your father for me.”</p><p></p><p>October made sure to keep Noble Steed moving slowly and calmly away from Furnace, despite an unbearable itching between his shoulder blades screamed at him to do otherwise.</p><p></p><p>About an hour later, he reached the bottom of the Mountain, where the melting snow had turned into icy streams that Noble Steed’s wide feet splashed through. October O’Leary had been down this far before, once or twice, but not for a long time, and he paused to get his bearings when the wall of greenery before him began to sway. Birds exploded from the trees as the sound of wood splintering cut through the air.</p><p></p><p>A Rook, taller than the tallest building in Upper Filing, shouldered its way out of the Forest, with feet as big as the O’Leary home crushing bushes underfoot and sending boulders flying.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, oh, it’s coming this way!”</p><p></p><p>October raced Noble Steed out of the Rook’s path. Craning his head around to see where the Rook was going — not up the mountain, but along its base, now in the same direction October was traveling, although it seemed to have taken no notice of him — he almost missed the</p><p></p><p>PIT!”</p><p></p><p>October pulled with his knees to the left, barely avoiding a pit big enough to swallow a herd of cows. He and Noble Steed stumbled into a nearby cave, watching as the Rook’s massive foot just missed the pit, not even slowing in its progress along the forest’s edge for a moment more before disappearing once more into the greenery.</p><p></p><p>“So close!” The voice so close to October’s ear made him yelp in fear.</p><p></p><p>A grinning young woman, whose a mechanical third arm casually twirled a spear, stepped out of the cave beside him.</p><p></p><p>“I was hoping he’d stumble and we could run up inside him.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, you’re a Rook Hunter,” October said, feeling foolish the moment the words were out. Of course she was.</p><p></p><p>“Ruby Cash’s the name,” she said, grinning, sticking out one of the two hands she was born with. “That one was big enough for both of us to share.”</p><p></p><p>“October O’Leary. I’m not actually a Rook Hunter, I’m a junior assistant hero from Annex.”</p><p></p><p>Now it was Ruby’s turn to gape in amazement.</p><p></p><p>“One of the madmen of the mountain?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, I …”</p><p></p><p>“I heard you all worship pieces of paper that fall out of the sky.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s not exactly …”</p><p></p><p>“Sorry, what are you doing here?”</p><p></p><p>“I have this piece of paper …” October froze, the copy of the Requisition in his hand. “I’m on a quest. Have you ever heard of Red Rook? Or MacKenzie Guffin?”</p><p></p><p>Ruby gently took the paper and read it over, examining both sides of it in fascination.</p><p></p><p>“I can’t say that I have. And this came out of the sky?”</p><p></p><p>“From one of the Slots in the wall.”</p><p></p><p>“Amazing,” Ruby said, handing the Requisition back. “I would ask at the Hunter’s Guild in one of the cities. They’d probably know what this Red Rook is and where you could find it.”</p><p></p><p>“Thank you, that’s good advice.”</p><p></p><p>“I’d go with you, but I spent too long digging that pit. I just need to make it a little wider and I think I can trip that big boy and get inside him.”</p><p></p><p>“You’ve given me plenty of help already,” October said, climbing back aboard Noble Steed. “Good luck with the Rook.”</p><p></p><p>“Good luck on your quest.”</p><p></p><p>And October and Noble Steed rode along a stream and into the woods, avoiding the path of destruction left behind by the giant Rook.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Whizbang Dustyboots, post: 8956765, member: 11760"] Snow melt trickled in rivulets along the path as Noble Steed and October O’Leary descended the Mountain together. October gave a friendly wave to the sentry at Reception Tower, who scanned the Mountain and the forest beyond with long binoculars long ago salvaged from a Rook. The air was fresh and clean, the smell of new-fallen snow turning into crystal clear water and of wet earth preparing to burst forth with new green life in spring. And there was something else — smoke. Smoke poured from the great chimney of Furnace. October nudged Noble Steed onto a narrow side path, well trodden despite the “FORBIDDEN — KEEP OUT” sign. Mount and rider paused inside a small knot of trees along the path and October looked down at Furnace. The walls, battlements and gate were made from the head of a long-ago Rook, giving the outpost a threatening air. Only a select few were allowed inside Furnace, on direct orders from the senior clerks. “Take a wrong turn, October O’Leary?” A large man stepped out of the shadows, holding a loaded crossbow. “Nergal Jones,” October said, smiling, despite noticing Nergal did not point the crossbow at the ground. “No, I’m heading down the Mountain on a heroic quest and just thought I’d take in the sights on the way down. It might be a while before I come back this way again.” Nergal scowled. “Heroic quest? Where did you get …” October held out the Requisition. “We received this earlier this morning. I’ve met with the senior clerks. I’m going to find Red Rook and MacKenzie Guffin.” “That’s impossible!” Nergal burst out, reaching for the Requisition with meaty fingers. “This is just a copy, of course. The senior clerks have the original in Upper Filing.” Nergal’s hand dropped, his expression now neutral. “Of course.” October glanced toward Furnace, watching the white smoke rise from the chimney. Nergal’s wife, Persephone, had stepped out onto the ramparts, with a loaded crossbow of her own. Their enormous son, Chernobog, stood before the gate, hands resting on the crosspiece of a sword longer than October was tall and wider than his torso. “Be careful out there,” Nergal said quietly. “Anything could happen to you.” “When I come back,” October O’Leary said, backing Noble Steed slowly away. “Maybe I could get a tour of Furnace and discuss all of this further.” “Maybe so,” Nergal said, stepping back into the shadows of the trees, his voice taking on a strange tone. “Say hello to your father for me.” October made sure to keep Noble Steed moving slowly and calmly away from Furnace, despite an unbearable itching between his shoulder blades screamed at him to do otherwise. About an hour later, he reached the bottom of the Mountain, where the melting snow had turned into icy streams that Noble Steed’s wide feet splashed through. October O’Leary had been down this far before, once or twice, but not for a long time, and he paused to get his bearings when the wall of greenery before him began to sway. Birds exploded from the trees as the sound of wood splintering cut through the air. A Rook, taller than the tallest building in Upper Filing, shouldered its way out of the Forest, with feet as big as the O’Leary home crushing bushes underfoot and sending boulders flying. “Oh, oh, it’s coming this way!” October raced Noble Steed out of the Rook’s path. Craning his head around to see where the Rook was going — not up the mountain, but along its base, now in the same direction October was traveling, although it seemed to have taken no notice of him — he almost missed the PIT!” October pulled with his knees to the left, barely avoiding a pit big enough to swallow a herd of cows. He and Noble Steed stumbled into a nearby cave, watching as the Rook’s massive foot just missed the pit, not even slowing in its progress along the forest’s edge for a moment more before disappearing once more into the greenery. “So close!” The voice so close to October’s ear made him yelp in fear. A grinning young woman, whose a mechanical third arm casually twirled a spear, stepped out of the cave beside him. “I was hoping he’d stumble and we could run up inside him.” “Oh, you’re a Rook Hunter,” October said, feeling foolish the moment the words were out. Of course she was. “Ruby Cash’s the name,” she said, grinning, sticking out one of the two hands she was born with. “That one was big enough for both of us to share.” “October O’Leary. I’m not actually a Rook Hunter, I’m a junior assistant hero from Annex.” Now it was Ruby’s turn to gape in amazement. “One of the madmen of the mountain?” “Well, I …” “I heard you all worship pieces of paper that fall out of the sky.” “That’s not exactly …” “Sorry, what are you doing here?” “I have this piece of paper …” October froze, the copy of the Requisition in his hand. “I’m on a quest. Have you ever heard of Red Rook? Or MacKenzie Guffin?” Ruby gently took the paper and read it over, examining both sides of it in fascination. “I can’t say that I have. And this came out of the sky?” “From one of the Slots in the wall.” “Amazing,” Ruby said, handing the Requisition back. “I would ask at the Hunter’s Guild in one of the cities. They’d probably know what this Red Rook is and where you could find it.” “Thank you, that’s good advice.” “I’d go with you, but I spent too long digging that pit. I just need to make it a little wider and I think I can trip that big boy and get inside him.” “You’ve given me plenty of help already,” October said, climbing back aboard Noble Steed. “Good luck with the Rook.” “Good luck on your quest.” And October and Noble Steed rode along a stream and into the woods, avoiding the path of destruction left behind by the giant Rook. [/QUOTE]
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