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
The Chronicles of Essenon-Vengeance!
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="Tsillanabor" data-source="post: 3717222" data-attributes="member: 40432"><p>“Strong words,” Heorc said, “will you be able to fulfill them?” </p><p></p><p>Brock knew that Heorc was a proud man, and Garusha and Rigor’s sarcastic comments had stung him deeply. He was trying to think of how to defuse the situation when Garusha opened her mouth.</p><p></p><p>“Are you kidding me?” she asked as Brock tried to gesture for her to be silent, “we are the slayers of the infamous King of the Mountain. A large-sized troll will hardly be a problem for us.” </p><p></p><p>“I will not be mocked!” Heorc yelled at the group, “I have done the best I can against this creature!”</p><p></p><p>“Heorc! Be silent!” Hrothgar cried.</p><p></p><p>Garusha raised an eyebrow. She knew that Brock was rather short-tempered, but she didn’t know that it was a cultural trait.</p><p></p><p>“You have no right to be here!” Heorc continued, “I issue a Challenge!”</p><p></p><p>Now the entire room became still. The Challenge was an ancient custom designed to remove incompetent leadership. Brock considered. If he refused, it would undermine his authority. If he accepted, he could easily end up killing Hrothgar’s son. He would phrase his acceptance in a way that would allow Heorc to choose someone else to fight. He locked eyes with Heorc. </p><p></p><p>“We accept,” Brock said quietly, “Name your champion-I grant you the right to pick terms.”</p><p></p><p>The onlookers murmured at Brock’s generosity in giving up the right of the challenged to name terms. They saw it as it was-a direct insult. Brock hoped that his gamble would pay off and Heorc would not choose himself as champion.</p><p></p><p>Heorc was silent for a moment, then looked away from Brock. Finally he spoke, “I choose Herctheow as my champion.”</p><p></p><p>Brock turned to the group with relief, though he did not actually know who Heorc’s champion was. “I probably shouldn’t be our champion,” Brock said quietly to his companions, “I’m our sole link to these people.”</p><p></p><p>“Do any of us have anything to fear here?” Garusha asked, “I think any one of us could take anyone here.”</p><p></p><p>“I agree,” Brock said, “but to forestall further challenges I think we need an absolutely overwhelming victory. Fortunately we have an incredibly skilled killer who happens to appear to be a slim young woman.”</p><p></p><p>They all looked at Caeden. A wicked smile slowly spread across her face. </p><p></p><p>Brock turned to Heorc, “My companion Caeden will be my champion.”</p><p></p><p>Heorc looked at the tiny woman with shock. She nodded her head at him with her smile still in place.</p><p></p><p>The sun was near setting as everyone involved met before the walls of Heorot. Herctheow was a large man. Brock was somewhat surprised to find himself looking up at him. The man unsung a large battleaxe from his back and grinned at the petite woman standing before him. She pulled out her scimitars and smiled back.</p><p></p><p>“Have you decided on terms?” Brock asked.</p><p></p><p>Heorc looked at his champion, who gave a slight nod.</p><p></p><p>“Death!” he cried. The onlookers cheered-the Challenge had become a bloodsport. Caeden was still smiling. </p><p></p><p>Brock explained the terms to the combatants. It was pretty straightforward in this case. Stepping clear, he asked if they were ready. They both nodded. </p><p></p><p>“Very well-at Heorc’s call you may begin,” Brock said.</p><p></p><p>“Begin!” cried Heorc. The crowd roared.</p><p></p><p>Seconds later Caeden was pulling her twin swords from the carcass of her opponent. Her smile had never faded.</p><p></p><p>“I thought it would NEVER be over,” Wiglaf jokes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Next: Waiting for the Beast</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tsillanabor, post: 3717222, member: 40432"] “Strong words,” Heorc said, “will you be able to fulfill them?” Brock knew that Heorc was a proud man, and Garusha and Rigor’s sarcastic comments had stung him deeply. He was trying to think of how to defuse the situation when Garusha opened her mouth. “Are you kidding me?” she asked as Brock tried to gesture for her to be silent, “we are the slayers of the infamous King of the Mountain. A large-sized troll will hardly be a problem for us.” “I will not be mocked!” Heorc yelled at the group, “I have done the best I can against this creature!” “Heorc! Be silent!” Hrothgar cried. Garusha raised an eyebrow. She knew that Brock was rather short-tempered, but she didn’t know that it was a cultural trait. “You have no right to be here!” Heorc continued, “I issue a Challenge!” Now the entire room became still. The Challenge was an ancient custom designed to remove incompetent leadership. Brock considered. If he refused, it would undermine his authority. If he accepted, he could easily end up killing Hrothgar’s son. He would phrase his acceptance in a way that would allow Heorc to choose someone else to fight. He locked eyes with Heorc. “We accept,” Brock said quietly, “Name your champion-I grant you the right to pick terms.” The onlookers murmured at Brock’s generosity in giving up the right of the challenged to name terms. They saw it as it was-a direct insult. Brock hoped that his gamble would pay off and Heorc would not choose himself as champion. Heorc was silent for a moment, then looked away from Brock. Finally he spoke, “I choose Herctheow as my champion.” Brock turned to the group with relief, though he did not actually know who Heorc’s champion was. “I probably shouldn’t be our champion,” Brock said quietly to his companions, “I’m our sole link to these people.” “Do any of us have anything to fear here?” Garusha asked, “I think any one of us could take anyone here.” “I agree,” Brock said, “but to forestall further challenges I think we need an absolutely overwhelming victory. Fortunately we have an incredibly skilled killer who happens to appear to be a slim young woman.” They all looked at Caeden. A wicked smile slowly spread across her face. Brock turned to Heorc, “My companion Caeden will be my champion.” Heorc looked at the tiny woman with shock. She nodded her head at him with her smile still in place. The sun was near setting as everyone involved met before the walls of Heorot. Herctheow was a large man. Brock was somewhat surprised to find himself looking up at him. The man unsung a large battleaxe from his back and grinned at the petite woman standing before him. She pulled out her scimitars and smiled back. “Have you decided on terms?” Brock asked. Heorc looked at his champion, who gave a slight nod. “Death!” he cried. The onlookers cheered-the Challenge had become a bloodsport. Caeden was still smiling. Brock explained the terms to the combatants. It was pretty straightforward in this case. Stepping clear, he asked if they were ready. They both nodded. “Very well-at Heorc’s call you may begin,” Brock said. “Begin!” cried Heorc. The crowd roared. Seconds later Caeden was pulling her twin swords from the carcass of her opponent. Her smile had never faded. “I thought it would NEVER be over,” Wiglaf jokes. [B]Next: Waiting for the Beast[/B] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Chronicles of Essenon-Vengeance!
Top