Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Knightfall's World of Kulan: Tales of the Companions Story Hour (Final Update: Sep 20, 2014)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 287712" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p><strong>Journey South (cont.)</strong></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Forest clearing, just past midnight:</strong></em></p><p>The clearing was fairly nondescript for such a beautiful forest. Several large stones sat near its center providing a natural campsite. Shoots of tall grass covered the entire clearing providing natural cover for the adventurers and anything else that tried to ambush them.</p><p></p><p>While comfortable, it was an odd choice. Normally, Bactra would have objected to such a spot but Mesik had never been wrong before.</p><p></p><p>The cool night air was relaxing after the harsh heat of the last few days. They didn't even consider making a fire. They still had more than enough rations and easy access to a water source. Plus, Dabuk wouldn't have let them even if they had wanted to. A fire would have given their location away to every creature within miles.</p><p></p><p>Dvalin was soon fast asleep snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Dabuk rolled him over to silence him. Mesik leaned against a small, low boulder throwing his cloak over his head. Jeddar said he'd take the first watch. Dabuk insisted Jeddar sleep. Dabuk always had to take the first watch and would stay up for hours before waking Dvalin to relieve him.</p><p></p><p>Jeddar reluctantly agreed. He found a spot close to me and was soon fast asleep.</p><p></p><p>“You too.”</p><p></p><p>“You know I don't sleep.” It was the same every time they made camp.</p><p></p><p>“Well, then meditate or something.” Dabuk liked the first watch because it gave him time to himself.</p><p></p><p>“All right.” I learned a long time ago not to deny him his moments of peace.</p><p></p><p>Bactra sat on one of the larger stones, one with a fairly flat top. Crossing his legs, with his hands on his knees. He took himself into the Reverie.</p><p></p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p></p><p><em><strong>From the Journal of Bactra Redwind, son of Minonus</strong></em></p><p></p><p><em><strong>About the Reverie:</strong></em></p><p><em>Forest elves don't dream, at least not the way other races do. We do see images but these are always events of our past, present and sometimes even the future. However, that is rare for even the oldest of my kind.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>That night I saw my father and my mother as when I was I was still just an infant. I saw my siblings being born and meeting my cousin for first time. I saw all of Woodknot then, as if I saw it from highest point of my family’s treehome.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Soon I was on the streets of Fruen, Dabuk's second home. I could smell the people, hear the sounds of work being done, and taste the salt of the sea in the air. The Tiger Guild, the Baker's Dozen, the Middle Well Inn, the…</em></p><p></p><p>"Snap out of it lad." Dvalin was shaking me something fierce. "We have company."</p><p></p><p>"W-what?" Being forcefully pulled out of the Reverie was hard on him and Bactra knew that if Dvalin needed to bring him out then it had to be important. It was like being torn away from life towards death, for just a moment.</p><p></p><p>Bactra’s vision cleared and he noticed he was lying on the ground behind the largest boulder in the clearing. Everyone else was already awake their attention fixed upon something behind Bactra. Dabuk had that look on his face and his cousin instantly knew what it was.</p><p></p><p>“Ogres.”</p><p></p><p>“Quiet.” Dabuk fumed.</p><p></p><p>The elven wizard peered over the boulder; he saw them instantly. Two of the large brutes were on the other side of the clearing walking towards the group. They hadn't seen the companions otherwise they'd be charging at them, howling the whole way.</p><p></p><p>They moved in silence. Well, silent for an ogre that is. Bactra thought for a moment that they would simply pass them by. He knew that even if they did, Dabuk wouldn't let them live. In fact, he was counting on them missing the group in the darkness so that he could surprise them from behind.</p><p></p><p>“Everyone remain completely still.” Dabuk's voice was barely a whisper.</p><p></p><p>The two ogres were close now. Bactra could smell them, putting a hand over his mouth and nose to keep from gagging. How could anything want to smell that bad?</p><p></p><p>They walked right through the camp passing mere inches by Dabuk, Dvalin, and Bactra. The elven wizard couldn't believe how much restraint his cousin was showing. He hated ogres more then anything else in the world.</p><p></p><p>Ogres had killed Dabuk’s mother. Killed his aunt. He had watched it happen as a child. He had never been the same after that. He was shaking uncontrollably his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword so hard it was bleeding.</p><p></p><p>Still he waited until the ogres had passed out of the clearing towards the lake.</p><p></p><p>“Everyone else stay here!” Dabuk commanded.</p><p></p><p>“I don't think so.” Bactra stepped in front of his cousin.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk shot his cousin a look cold as the Heart of Ice. He didn't like to share his kills when it came to ogres.</p><p></p><p>“You can kill them both if you want but I'm going to guard your back. There could be more of them.”</p><p></p><p>With the ogres beyond his sight he had calmed down a little. He knew it was logical. He'd be so engrossed with the kill that he wouldn't see anything else until it was to late.</p><p></p><p>“All right, but be careful cousin.”</p><p></p><p>“I'm coming with you too.” Jeddar grabbed his blades strapping his belt on.</p><p></p><p>“No.” Dabuk would not have everyone traipsing through the trees with him. “You, Dvalin, and Mesik stay here and guard the camp.”</p><p></p><p>“Sorry, you don't speak for me. Mesik and Dvalin can guard the camp just fine by themselves. But if there are more of them out there, then who is going to protect Bactra while your busy slaughtering those things.”</p><p></p><p>“Killing ogres isn't slaughter, it's cleansing the world.”</p><p></p><p>Dabuk started to run and Bactra knew it was either keep up or be left behind. Soon Jeddar was beside the elven wizard with Dabuk a good ten paces ahead of them. Dabuk had strung his bow notching an arrow. The lake came into view just as Dabuk turned to the left in front of Bactra and Jeddar. They followed, as Dabuk skimmed the tree line following the tracks of the ogres.</p><p></p><p>Then they saw the brutes. They were no more than 30 paces away when Dabuk shot the first arrow. The second arrow was aimed and fired before the first one thunked into the back of the first brute’s head. The ogre roared in pain clutching at his skull like it was on fire. It slumped over in a heap, not moving.</p><p></p><p>The second ogre turned just in time for Dabuk's second shot to go whistling past its nose. Dabuk drew his sword as the brute raised its club. His sword flashed in the moonlight once, twice, then again and again. The ogre howled swinging its club down to try and crush Dabuk's skull. Bactra’s cousin deftly dodged the blow hamstringing the smelly giant with one fluid motion.</p><p></p><p>Bactra turned away, as Dabuk drove his sword into its heart. The other ogre was still alive but the elven wizard knew Dabuk wouldn't show mercy. He hadn't made a sound since he started running. All he did was grit his teeth his eyes wide with rage. It was always the same when it came to these ugly brutes. Bactra didn't even have to see his face.</p><p></p><p>“He's going to get himself killed one day because of his hate. I just hope he doesn't get the rest of us killed too.” Jeddar walked away shaking his head.</p><p></p><p>The brute's raspy breathing stopped with a gurgle behind Bactra. Dabuk had slit its throat.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 287712, member: 2012"] [b]Journey South (cont.)[/b] [I][B]Forest clearing, just past midnight:[/B][/I] The clearing was fairly nondescript for such a beautiful forest. Several large stones sat near its center providing a natural campsite. Shoots of tall grass covered the entire clearing providing natural cover for the adventurers and anything else that tried to ambush them. While comfortable, it was an odd choice. Normally, Bactra would have objected to such a spot but Mesik had never been wrong before. The cool night air was relaxing after the harsh heat of the last few days. They didn't even consider making a fire. They still had more than enough rations and easy access to a water source. Plus, Dabuk wouldn't have let them even if they had wanted to. A fire would have given their location away to every creature within miles. Dvalin was soon fast asleep snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Dabuk rolled him over to silence him. Mesik leaned against a small, low boulder throwing his cloak over his head. Jeddar said he'd take the first watch. Dabuk insisted Jeddar sleep. Dabuk always had to take the first watch and would stay up for hours before waking Dvalin to relieve him. Jeddar reluctantly agreed. He found a spot close to me and was soon fast asleep. “You too.” “You know I don't sleep.” It was the same every time they made camp. “Well, then meditate or something.” Dabuk liked the first watch because it gave him time to himself. “All right.” I learned a long time ago not to deny him his moments of peace. Bactra sat on one of the larger stones, one with a fairly flat top. Crossing his legs, with his hands on his knees. He took himself into the Reverie. * * * [I][B]From the Journal of Bactra Redwind, son of Minonus[/B][/I] [I][B]About the Reverie:[/B] Forest elves don't dream, at least not the way other races do. We do see images but these are always events of our past, present and sometimes even the future. However, that is rare for even the oldest of my kind. That night I saw my father and my mother as when I was I was still just an infant. I saw my siblings being born and meeting my cousin for first time. I saw all of Woodknot then, as if I saw it from highest point of my family’s treehome. Soon I was on the streets of Fruen, Dabuk's second home. I could smell the people, hear the sounds of work being done, and taste the salt of the sea in the air. The Tiger Guild, the Baker's Dozen, the Middle Well Inn, the…[/I] "Snap out of it lad." Dvalin was shaking me something fierce. "We have company." "W-what?" Being forcefully pulled out of the Reverie was hard on him and Bactra knew that if Dvalin needed to bring him out then it had to be important. It was like being torn away from life towards death, for just a moment. Bactra’s vision cleared and he noticed he was lying on the ground behind the largest boulder in the clearing. Everyone else was already awake their attention fixed upon something behind Bactra. Dabuk had that look on his face and his cousin instantly knew what it was. “Ogres.” “Quiet.” Dabuk fumed. The elven wizard peered over the boulder; he saw them instantly. Two of the large brutes were on the other side of the clearing walking towards the group. They hadn't seen the companions otherwise they'd be charging at them, howling the whole way. They moved in silence. Well, silent for an ogre that is. Bactra thought for a moment that they would simply pass them by. He knew that even if they did, Dabuk wouldn't let them live. In fact, he was counting on them missing the group in the darkness so that he could surprise them from behind. “Everyone remain completely still.” Dabuk's voice was barely a whisper. The two ogres were close now. Bactra could smell them, putting a hand over his mouth and nose to keep from gagging. How could anything want to smell that bad? They walked right through the camp passing mere inches by Dabuk, Dvalin, and Bactra. The elven wizard couldn't believe how much restraint his cousin was showing. He hated ogres more then anything else in the world. Ogres had killed Dabuk’s mother. Killed his aunt. He had watched it happen as a child. He had never been the same after that. He was shaking uncontrollably his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword so hard it was bleeding. Still he waited until the ogres had passed out of the clearing towards the lake. “Everyone else stay here!” Dabuk commanded. “I don't think so.” Bactra stepped in front of his cousin. Dabuk shot his cousin a look cold as the Heart of Ice. He didn't like to share his kills when it came to ogres. “You can kill them both if you want but I'm going to guard your back. There could be more of them.” With the ogres beyond his sight he had calmed down a little. He knew it was logical. He'd be so engrossed with the kill that he wouldn't see anything else until it was to late. “All right, but be careful cousin.” “I'm coming with you too.” Jeddar grabbed his blades strapping his belt on. “No.” Dabuk would not have everyone traipsing through the trees with him. “You, Dvalin, and Mesik stay here and guard the camp.” “Sorry, you don't speak for me. Mesik and Dvalin can guard the camp just fine by themselves. But if there are more of them out there, then who is going to protect Bactra while your busy slaughtering those things.” “Killing ogres isn't slaughter, it's cleansing the world.” Dabuk started to run and Bactra knew it was either keep up or be left behind. Soon Jeddar was beside the elven wizard with Dabuk a good ten paces ahead of them. Dabuk had strung his bow notching an arrow. The lake came into view just as Dabuk turned to the left in front of Bactra and Jeddar. They followed, as Dabuk skimmed the tree line following the tracks of the ogres. Then they saw the brutes. They were no more than 30 paces away when Dabuk shot the first arrow. The second arrow was aimed and fired before the first one thunked into the back of the first brute’s head. The ogre roared in pain clutching at his skull like it was on fire. It slumped over in a heap, not moving. The second ogre turned just in time for Dabuk's second shot to go whistling past its nose. Dabuk drew his sword as the brute raised its club. His sword flashed in the moonlight once, twice, then again and again. The ogre howled swinging its club down to try and crush Dabuk's skull. Bactra’s cousin deftly dodged the blow hamstringing the smelly giant with one fluid motion. Bactra turned away, as Dabuk drove his sword into its heart. The other ogre was still alive but the elven wizard knew Dabuk wouldn't show mercy. He hadn't made a sound since he started running. All he did was grit his teeth his eyes wide with rage. It was always the same when it came to these ugly brutes. Bactra didn't even have to see his face. “He's going to get himself killed one day because of his hate. I just hope he doesn't get the rest of us killed too.” Jeddar walked away shaking his head. The brute's raspy breathing stopped with a gurgle behind Bactra. Dabuk had slit its throat. * * * [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Knightfall's World of Kulan: Tales of the Companions Story Hour (Final Update: Sep 20, 2014)
Top