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Small Beginnings - Final Update 6/18/04, ITEOTWAWKI, AIFF!
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<blockquote data-quote="Enkhidu" data-source="post: 284559" data-attributes="member: 351"><p>Hi all!</p><p></p><p>I just wanted to say that I finally got caught up on a few story hours yesterday, and I really want to point some more of them out. Spider_Jeruselam, in his story hour, plugged a few lesser known story hours (including this one - thanks Spidey!), and it seemed like a good idea to do it here as well.</p><p></p><p>Please do yourself a favor and check out:</p><p></p><p><strong>Campaign of DM Cthulu Ftaghn</strong>: by Cthulu Ftaghn (who else?)</p><p><strong>ForceUser's Vietnamese Story Hour</strong>: by ForceUser (this one gives a really different take on the standard D&D milieu)</p><p>and, of course,</p><p><strong>Ice, Luck, and Honor</strong>: by Spider_Jeruselam</p><p></p><p>All three of these have been going on for a bit, and need your support (plus they're good too).</p><p></p><p>And, even though their anything but "lesser known" check out (contact)'s <strong>Liberation of Tenh</strong> and Sepulchrave II's <strong>Heretic of Wyre II</strong>. (contact) is one of the granddaddies of the whole story hour forum, and has some really well developed characters (and mucho buttkicking) and Sep's story hour(s) has(have) been, well, awesome (for lack of a better term).</p><p></p><p>Anyway, on with the show...</p><p></p><p></p><p>The previous post from dshai527 is the way a writing session goes between the two of us go, in all it's shameful glory. One of us writes something, the other polishes it, and we fold it all together. Usually we do it in person, but this time it worked out that we have a log of it - take a gander if you dare!</p><p></p><p>And it's time for another installment!</p><p></p><p>So here we go... And remember that these posts contain SPOILERS for the SUNLESS CITADEL.</p><p></p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p></p><p>Pack’s backside was on fire. From the time Aurora had pointed out Athena circling overhead, the companions had ridden hard and followed the white owl as closely as the thickets would allow. Ander had swung up behind Aurora on her horse and the two ranged out in front, Aurora setting the direction of travel, and Ander picking the trail. The cantering pace they set jarred Pack’s teeth, but the halfling had to admit that they covered a good deal of ground in that time. The sun was well into its downward arc when they reached a steep rise covered with a huge briar patch.</p><p></p><p>Ander called a halt to their ride, dismounting and motioning for Ashrem to do likewise. The feloine slid out of the saddle and sniffed the air. After a brief moment, he looked back at the woodsman and shook his head. As Pack looked on, the young man plunged into the thicket, opening a pathway up the rise large enough for the horses to follow: single file, the volunteers rode slowly behind.</p><p></p><p>Halfway up the low hill, Butter stopped to snack on a thistle, unconcerned with the halfling that wriggled in the saddle on her back. The other horses slipped past the pony as she finished eating, and only after she had let out a snort back toward her rider did the frustrated bard’s mount continue. When the pair finally began moving again, Pack looked toward the rise, where his companions sat and stood, gazing over the top of the short hill. Butter quickly caught up with the others, and Pack caught sight of what entranced his companions: a huge rift sat not more than a mile away like a scar in the earth.</p><p></p><p>The companions sat quietly for a few moments until the bard broke the silence. “So this is it.” Though he had tried to make is voice lighthearted, he had failed miserably; the words sounded ominous even to his small ears. </p><p></p><p>“Athena just landed near the edge,” said Aurora. “That’s definitely where she was leading us.”</p><p></p><p>“Then that’s where we go,” rumbled Theo. “Lead on, Ander.” The olive-skinned man grunted in what Pack assumed was agreement, and began trailblazing through the remaining thicket.</p><p></p><p>He watched the rift draw closer: it was not very long, but it was wide. If the group had decided to go around it, the trip would have taken them at least a full day, if not more, but Ander had aimed their course directly at the chasm. The bard looked around at his companions as they drew closer. Brother Theo gray-haired head was bowed in thought, while Aurora looked much braver than Pack had thought she would. When he looked more closely, however, he saw that her breathing seemed shallow and forced, as if she fought to control it. He then glanced at Ashrem, searching the feloine’s eyes for some sign of emotion, but the beggar’s feline features seemed made of stone. Ander moved ahead of the group purposefully, as if he carried a heavy burden, and Pack couldn’t help but think that if he was in charge of leading the way he would feel the same.</p><p></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><p>The group moved quickly, finally reaching the edge of the rift and dismounting to get a better view. Aurora’s snowy white owl had perched atop a large post that was jutting from the rocky ground out into the chasm. The post stood taller than the halfling even when atop his pony, and it was carved with strange symbols and figures that vaguely resembled dragons flying toward the post head. Peering out beyond the post, Pack could see down into the rift - the sight was spectacular and nauseating at the same time. Huge towers of rocks and caves lined the crevice walls but the bottom was shrouded in mists and shadows, leaving what lurked there to Pack’s active imagination. The halfling shook his head and chuckled, thanking the fates that he would not be going down there, but when the grateful bard moved to once again mount his pony he noticed that all eyes moved back and forth between the chasm and him.. </p><p></p><p>“Oh, no,” was all the hapless halfling could mutter.</p><p></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><p>Pack tested the knots one more time before looking back and nodding to Ander that he was ready to begin. The halfling twisted and pulled on each of the threaded ends that he was about to entrust his life to, but with a great sigh he casually stepped off the edge of the rift. The rope pulled tight immediately and Pack heard Ander and Theo grunt as his weight was suddenly shifted onto their arms. The halfling spun dizzyingly around as he was lowered into the crevice Aurora’s owl had located. It was darker down in the chasm than up top, as the rift walls blocked the light from the sun, but the bard could make out a small, grassy landing that, strangely, seemed to have a set stairs running down the sides. </p><p></p><p>Pack pushed of from the wall to angle his descent toward the landing and tugged on the rope twice to indicate to his companions that they needed to slow him down. With a great swing, the halfling planted his feet firmly on the soft grass of the plateau. Once he had gained his balance by waving his arm out wide, the bard began to walk slowly around the grass covered terrace, making his way toward the iron staircase. </p><p> </p><p> At the edge of the landing, Pack paused to look at the rusted iron steps leading down into the morning mists. The stairs themselves seemed to be in fairly good shape, aside from the rust, but the anchor points attaching to the plateau seemed worn and unsafe. The halfling bent over to examine further when a rustling noise behind him sent shivers up his spine and froze him solid. </p><p> </p><p> Knowing that he was supposed to be alone, Pack never even looked over his shoulder until he had clambered halfway up the rope. “Pull me up! Pull me up!” Once he was safely being hosted back toward the surface, the scared halfling chanced a glance over his shoulder. The halfling found two pairs of red glowing eyes staring back at him. The eyes belonged to two huge, at least from Pack's perspective, creatures about the size of a large dog. They had tufts of fur sticking out from weird angles all over their body and walked on all fours. Elongated snouts protruded from their face and ended with sharp flat teeth. The creatures almost resembled a pair of huge, misshapen, and bloated rats to the young bard, like from a black magic fairy tale or nightmare.</p><p></p><p>By the time Pack’s head crested the crevice wall, he was shaking. “There’s something down there! Something big! With big teeth and red eyes!” Once firmly back on solid ground, he began gesturing as he spoke. “They were this big!” He threw his arms out as wide as they could go. “And there’s no way I’m going back down there, because they look hungry!”</p><p></p><p>Aurora laid a hand on his shoulder and interrupted him. “Slow down, Pack,” she said soothingly. “What exactly was down there?” </p><p></p><p>“Rats. The biggest rats I’ve ever seen. Bigger than me, even.”</p><p></p><p>Ander broke in. “Rats, Pack? I never figured you to be afraid of rats.”</p><p></p><p>“You don’t understand, Ander, these aren’t normal rats.”</p><p></p><p>Pack saw Ander stifle a smirk. “Of course they’re not. Would it make you feel better if one of us went down first?”</p><p></p><p>“Please?”</p><p></p><p>Ander shrugged and looked at Ashrem, who nodded silently. Moments later, the feloine had secured himself with the rope and prepared to lower himself off the side, Ander and Theo holding the line steady as it quivered under his weight. Just before he disappeared over the side, he looked directly at Pack, licked his lips – much like a Lizon’s old Tom did before catching a mouse – and winked slowly at the still quivering halfling.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Next time....</p><p></p><p>Watch bad tactics cause great havoc!</p><p></p><p>See our heroes beset with danger on all sides!</p><p></p><p>and,</p><p></p><p>Find out why Ander really wishes he had Foe Hunter: Rat!</p><p></p><p>(Did I mention how much I hate rodents?)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Enkhidu, post: 284559, member: 351"] Hi all! I just wanted to say that I finally got caught up on a few story hours yesterday, and I really want to point some more of them out. Spider_Jeruselam, in his story hour, plugged a few lesser known story hours (including this one - thanks Spidey!), and it seemed like a good idea to do it here as well. Please do yourself a favor and check out: [B]Campaign of DM Cthulu Ftaghn[/B]: by Cthulu Ftaghn (who else?) [B]ForceUser's Vietnamese Story Hour[/B]: by ForceUser (this one gives a really different take on the standard D&D milieu) and, of course, [B]Ice, Luck, and Honor[/B]: by Spider_Jeruselam All three of these have been going on for a bit, and need your support (plus they're good too). And, even though their anything but "lesser known" check out (contact)'s [B]Liberation of Tenh[/B] and Sepulchrave II's [B]Heretic of Wyre II[/B]. (contact) is one of the granddaddies of the whole story hour forum, and has some really well developed characters (and mucho buttkicking) and Sep's story hour(s) has(have) been, well, awesome (for lack of a better term). Anyway, on with the show... The previous post from dshai527 is the way a writing session goes between the two of us go, in all it's shameful glory. One of us writes something, the other polishes it, and we fold it all together. Usually we do it in person, but this time it worked out that we have a log of it - take a gander if you dare! And it's time for another installment! So here we go... And remember that these posts contain SPOILERS for the SUNLESS CITADEL. ***** Pack’s backside was on fire. From the time Aurora had pointed out Athena circling overhead, the companions had ridden hard and followed the white owl as closely as the thickets would allow. Ander had swung up behind Aurora on her horse and the two ranged out in front, Aurora setting the direction of travel, and Ander picking the trail. The cantering pace they set jarred Pack’s teeth, but the halfling had to admit that they covered a good deal of ground in that time. The sun was well into its downward arc when they reached a steep rise covered with a huge briar patch. Ander called a halt to their ride, dismounting and motioning for Ashrem to do likewise. The feloine slid out of the saddle and sniffed the air. After a brief moment, he looked back at the woodsman and shook his head. As Pack looked on, the young man plunged into the thicket, opening a pathway up the rise large enough for the horses to follow: single file, the volunteers rode slowly behind. Halfway up the low hill, Butter stopped to snack on a thistle, unconcerned with the halfling that wriggled in the saddle on her back. The other horses slipped past the pony as she finished eating, and only after she had let out a snort back toward her rider did the frustrated bard’s mount continue. When the pair finally began moving again, Pack looked toward the rise, where his companions sat and stood, gazing over the top of the short hill. Butter quickly caught up with the others, and Pack caught sight of what entranced his companions: a huge rift sat not more than a mile away like a scar in the earth. The companions sat quietly for a few moments until the bard broke the silence. “So this is it.” Though he had tried to make is voice lighthearted, he had failed miserably; the words sounded ominous even to his small ears. “Athena just landed near the edge,” said Aurora. “That’s definitely where she was leading us.” “Then that’s where we go,” rumbled Theo. “Lead on, Ander.” The olive-skinned man grunted in what Pack assumed was agreement, and began trailblazing through the remaining thicket. He watched the rift draw closer: it was not very long, but it was wide. If the group had decided to go around it, the trip would have taken them at least a full day, if not more, but Ander had aimed their course directly at the chasm. The bard looked around at his companions as they drew closer. Brother Theo gray-haired head was bowed in thought, while Aurora looked much braver than Pack had thought she would. When he looked more closely, however, he saw that her breathing seemed shallow and forced, as if she fought to control it. He then glanced at Ashrem, searching the feloine’s eyes for some sign of emotion, but the beggar’s feline features seemed made of stone. Ander moved ahead of the group purposefully, as if he carried a heavy burden, and Pack couldn’t help but think that if he was in charge of leading the way he would feel the same. * * * * * The group moved quickly, finally reaching the edge of the rift and dismounting to get a better view. Aurora’s snowy white owl had perched atop a large post that was jutting from the rocky ground out into the chasm. The post stood taller than the halfling even when atop his pony, and it was carved with strange symbols and figures that vaguely resembled dragons flying toward the post head. Peering out beyond the post, Pack could see down into the rift - the sight was spectacular and nauseating at the same time. Huge towers of rocks and caves lined the crevice walls but the bottom was shrouded in mists and shadows, leaving what lurked there to Pack’s active imagination. The halfling shook his head and chuckled, thanking the fates that he would not be going down there, but when the grateful bard moved to once again mount his pony he noticed that all eyes moved back and forth between the chasm and him.. “Oh, no,” was all the hapless halfling could mutter. * * * * * Pack tested the knots one more time before looking back and nodding to Ander that he was ready to begin. The halfling twisted and pulled on each of the threaded ends that he was about to entrust his life to, but with a great sigh he casually stepped off the edge of the rift. The rope pulled tight immediately and Pack heard Ander and Theo grunt as his weight was suddenly shifted onto their arms. The halfling spun dizzyingly around as he was lowered into the crevice Aurora’s owl had located. It was darker down in the chasm than up top, as the rift walls blocked the light from the sun, but the bard could make out a small, grassy landing that, strangely, seemed to have a set stairs running down the sides. Pack pushed of from the wall to angle his descent toward the landing and tugged on the rope twice to indicate to his companions that they needed to slow him down. With a great swing, the halfling planted his feet firmly on the soft grass of the plateau. Once he had gained his balance by waving his arm out wide, the bard began to walk slowly around the grass covered terrace, making his way toward the iron staircase. At the edge of the landing, Pack paused to look at the rusted iron steps leading down into the morning mists. The stairs themselves seemed to be in fairly good shape, aside from the rust, but the anchor points attaching to the plateau seemed worn and unsafe. The halfling bent over to examine further when a rustling noise behind him sent shivers up his spine and froze him solid. Knowing that he was supposed to be alone, Pack never even looked over his shoulder until he had clambered halfway up the rope. “Pull me up! Pull me up!” Once he was safely being hosted back toward the surface, the scared halfling chanced a glance over his shoulder. The halfling found two pairs of red glowing eyes staring back at him. The eyes belonged to two huge, at least from Pack's perspective, creatures about the size of a large dog. They had tufts of fur sticking out from weird angles all over their body and walked on all fours. Elongated snouts protruded from their face and ended with sharp flat teeth. The creatures almost resembled a pair of huge, misshapen, and bloated rats to the young bard, like from a black magic fairy tale or nightmare. By the time Pack’s head crested the crevice wall, he was shaking. “There’s something down there! Something big! With big teeth and red eyes!” Once firmly back on solid ground, he began gesturing as he spoke. “They were this big!” He threw his arms out as wide as they could go. “And there’s no way I’m going back down there, because they look hungry!” Aurora laid a hand on his shoulder and interrupted him. “Slow down, Pack,” she said soothingly. “What exactly was down there?” “Rats. The biggest rats I’ve ever seen. Bigger than me, even.” Ander broke in. “Rats, Pack? I never figured you to be afraid of rats.” “You don’t understand, Ander, these aren’t normal rats.” Pack saw Ander stifle a smirk. “Of course they’re not. Would it make you feel better if one of us went down first?” “Please?” Ander shrugged and looked at Ashrem, who nodded silently. Moments later, the feloine had secured himself with the rope and prepared to lower himself off the side, Ander and Theo holding the line steady as it quivered under his weight. Just before he disappeared over the side, he looked directly at Pack, licked his lips – much like a Lizon’s old Tom did before catching a mouse – and winked slowly at the still quivering halfling. ***** Next time.... Watch bad tactics cause great havoc! See our heroes beset with danger on all sides! and, Find out why Ander really wishes he had Foe Hunter: Rat! (Did I mention how much I hate rodents?) [/QUOTE]
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