Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: January 15th; Word Limit: 8K
If there is promise of competition I can wait. More time to fiddle with this one wouldn't hurt anyway. But beware, Elven Lord! Giving ol' TAF time to fine tune is a dangerous game
~TAF
TAF was the Storyteller...
in THE ENEMY'S LAST RETREAT
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
Sooo, does it have to be original content or can I pull it out of a not yet published fanfic, which I am also struggling to get finished and published?
Feeling like an old lurker. 15 years, wow. That's half as long as I've lived. Love y'all like family.
I know exactly what I'd want a story on this topic to be about. I also have no idea if I'd be able to write it out anytime soon. I've been a veritable ghost on this site recently.
~Dysole, who's had a stressful last couple of months
I know exactly what I'd want a story on this topic to be about. I also have no idea if I'd be able to write it out anytime soon. I've been a veritable ghost on this site recently.
~Dysole, who's had a stressful last couple of months
I'm sorry you've been having a rough time! If everyone's okay with making this one prompt last a quarter of a year, I'm down.
~EL who suggests this only mildly selfishly as he manages to write only about one page a week.
Feeling like an old lurker. 15 years, wow. That's half as long as I've lived. Love y'all like family.
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
This prompt seems to be inspiring some extensive head-scratching, so I think moving on wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Then again, as long as there is interest and people are writing, I don't see much reason to put a deadline on things. Unless a new prompt would produce more interest and more writing. The main goal here is just to keep the contest alive.
And EL, if it's from an unpublished fan fic, then the only one who knows it isn't original is you. And since you're ripping off yourself, it was clearly original at some point. So have at it.
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
I was planning to start publishing this months ago, but I just keep wanting to make improvements and flesh out the story more. Here is a snippet. Bear in mind this is subject to revision before the final release.
If it feels like you're stepping into the middle of a story, it's because you are ;P
The Reunion of Wolf and Raven
Spoiler Alert!
King Amel dismounted his charger. His knights followed suit, and his squire came forward to take the reins of his king’s horse. He walked to where Kaya knelt, her head still covered by her full-helm. He removed his helmet. The helmet had disguised strong features. The man’s skin was a light brown, his hair dirty blonde, and his eyes pale blue. He looked upon the kneeling figure before him with keen interest.
“Rise,” he told her, not so much as an order but a request. A note of gratitude was in his voice.
Both Kaya and the lord, who had also been kneeling, rose.
“You have my deepest thanks for coming to the aid of my vassal Lord Baindry. I came as soon as my scouts alerted me. Please, remove your helmet that I may thank you properly.”
Kaya reached up, and slowly removed her helmet, bracing herself for the inevitable reaction. A cascade of black hair fell unimpeded from beneath it. The black raven’s feathers constant companions to her ears. Her blue eyes studied the king’s face resignedly for the typical reaction, but it never came. The king did not flinch. She was pleased to see that he was sizing her up, as he would any other warrior upon first meeting them.
She met his gaze, and he held it. A broad smile crossed his face.
Finally, she broke the silence, “Your Grace, I only did what any honorable
and decent commander would do.”
“Not against those odds,” he said simply, “Do not downplay your valor, ummm—”
“Kaya,” she answered.
“Lady Kaya,” Alayen corrected her, riding up to the group. He bowed deeply to King Amel, “Her name is Lady Kaya of the Order of the
Thousand Sleepless Knights.”
King Amel smiled broadly, “I would expect nothing less from one so honorable and valiant.”
Kaya smiled at this.
There was silence, then Kaya asked, “Your Grace, if I may ask?”
“Of course, my lady, what is it?”
“Those bandits,” she said shaking her head in disbelief, “I have never seen so many in one place!”
“There are many more where that lot came from,” he replied, “My forces, and those of King Harlaus of Swadia are spread so thin fighting each other that no one is left to keep safe the roads. Except for a few of your order that come around from time to time. It is not enough. A bandit named Roan escaped from a slaver in Tihr, and began tracking down and bullying all the bandit clans to follow him. He’s probably got another two thousand men besides these, and more refugees from the war join them every day.” He shook his head.
Kaya was speechless for a moment before saying, “I’m afraid I may have brought this calamity to you.”
“What do you mean?” King Amel replied, a note of surprise entering his voice.
“I captured the one they call Roan near Yruma Castle in the Vaegir river mark east of Curaw—”
“Rescuing me in the process,” Valdyr said.
Amel looked at him briefly, and gave him a curt nod of acknowledgement, before returning his attention to Kaya.
Kaya breezed past the interruption, “I had him in custody, but had one of my lieutenants bring him to the slave markets in Tihr. I thought it might be a fitting end to his tenure as ‘ruler of the roads,’ but it appears I was wrong to do so.”
“Nonsense,” Amel replied, waving away the suggestion, “You did what you thought was right, and you were right, that would have been a fitting end. You are not responsible for the actions of this bandit.”
With that he turned his attention away from the subject, and addressed the lord standing to Kaya’s right, “My Lord Baindry,” King Amel said, “I believe some thanks are in order.”’
“Thank you sire,” Lord Baindry said, avoiding Kaya’s gaze, and that of his king.
“Not to me, buffoon!” King Amel shot back, a note of displeasure entering his voice.
A long moment passed before Lord Baindry looked up and faced Lady Kaya. Finally, he bowed deeply and said sullenly, “Thank you for your assistance, my lady.”
Kaya disguised her disgusted look with a forced smile, “You are most welcome, my lord.”
“I am, and don’t you forget it,” he shot back before he could stop himself, and received a glare from his king.
Just then a knight rode up to the company and began to address his king,
“Majesty we should make for Ryibelet Castle. It will be—”
His next words were cut off when he saw the figure Amel was speaking to in the twilight. He dismounted his steed, and made his way slowly toward Kaya. “It…it can’t be,” he said, removing his helmet to see better. “Kaya?”
“Seamus!” She cried, and flung herself unceremoniously into his arms.
“I thought you were dead,” Seamus said, his eyes filling with tears.
“I might have been had you swung your sword a little more skillfully at
the tournament of Veluca last year.” She felt Seamus jolt at this revelation and smiled to herself. It was good to have her easily teased brother back.
“You too know each other, I take it?” King Amel said, addressing his vassal.
“Yes, Majesty. This woman is my sister,” Seamus replied when he had recovered himself enough to speak.
A hint of relief flashed across his face momentarily then disappeared. “Then she is doubly welcome in my lands.” He turned, and mounting his
horse, said, “Perhaps it is time you found a king worthy of your virtues, just as your brother has done.”
Kaya noticed the look, and merely bowed, saying nothing. Kaya raised her head in time to catch a flicker of respect cross King Amel’s face before he donned his helmet.
“You are welcome to join my company. We are on our way to Tihr. We received a bird this morning bearing a message containing a disturbing rumor about a town official being thrown into the sea by a band of marauders who, it seems, came ashore yesterday morning.”
The King almost missed a flicker of amusement that crossed Kaya’s face.
She bowed, “Your Grace, I am here for only one reason, and that is to solicit your aid in a matter of personal interest to myself and my brother. I will be honored to remain in your company until such time as you can hear me out.”
“As you see fit, my lady,” King Amel replied, hiding his curiosity about her apparent amusement at the prospect of a band of marauders wandering the streets of Tihr. “We will rest the night at Ryibelet Castle, and make our way to Tihr in the morning.” This last was addressed to Seamus. “In the meantime, I’m sure the two of you have much to catch up on.”
“Yes majesty,” Seamus replied warmly.
Amel gave Kaya one last look, which Kaya held, before he turned his
horse south toward Ryibelet Castle. By this time, the rest of Kaya’s force had joined them, and they all set off after the King.
Kaya and Seamus rode side by side. Alayen, Valdyr, and Harald rode not
far behind. The brother and sister rode in silence for a time before
Seamus broke it, “I can’t believe you are Raven. I fought you in so many contests, and always there was something familiar about you, yet I never once guessed!”
Kaya took his hand, “If you had stuck around, Solitarius Lupus,” she replied with a playful smile, “I would have come to your tent to congratulate you on your victories. You never did.”
“So now it’s my fault!?” Seamus cried, feigning offense, “How know you it was not fate that our meeting should wait for today?”
She grinned at him.
Seamus couldn’t resist prodding her a little bit, “And how about my king? Handsome find you him?”
Taking on airs, Kaya replied, “Forsooth, I hadn’t noticed!”
Seamus grinned, and Kaya knew a smart retort was on its way, “Ye take on airs well. It won’t be long before you’re taking on his heirs as well!”
Kaya feigned a look of shock, placing her hand over her heart, “You’re awful! What’s gotten into you?”
Seamus grinned.
Up ahead King Amel heard their laughter, and smiled to himself and thought how they were like children. Then the shadow of loss crossed his face, but he shook it off. There was something about the young warrior maiden. He noticed how Valdyr looked at her, and knew he thought the same way. A strength of character, that was it, character, integrity. Before becoming distracted by one of his men, the last thought to cross his mind was mere idle curiosity, “Who was that young man anyway? Valdyr sounds familiar for some reason.”
They rode in silence for a time. It stretched on into the evening, until at last Seamus gathered the courage to ask about the years they had been apart. “How did you come to command a warband?” Her brother asked, “We have so much to catch up on. It seems that is a good place to start.”
Kaya paused, and her eyes took on a far-off look, “I searched for you,” she told him, squeezing his hand tighter. “I travelled all across Calradia searching for you, or even just a tiny hint or rumor that you might still draw breath.” She paused, “On my way, I encountered a small party of bandits. I had little more than a leather jacket, a sword, and not the slightest idea how to use it. The guards I hired to protect me, and who I foolishly paid up front, fled when they saw them—”
“The cowards,” Seamus commented angrily, “Tell me who they are, and I will hunt them down myself!”
“What makes you think they aren’t already dead?” Kaya replied coldly.
Seamus looked at his sister like he was seeing her for the first time. She was an innocent girl once. He remembered her playing by the Jelkalla seashore when she was much younger, the waves crashing against the rocky shoal some few hundred feet out. He had found her hunched over something and pleading gently under her breath, and when he asked to see it she refused, shaking her head furiously. Eventually, he managed to get her to give up her prize. It was a small crab, and she was begging it to go back under the sand where it was safe. He had seen a hint of her old self just moments before when they bantered, but it was gone now. He had always seen himself as her protector. He was her brother after all, but now…now he wondered if it wasn’t he who could do with having her around in a pinch.
“Seamus?”
Seamus shook himself, “Yes, sorry, you were saying.”
She touched his hand, and gave him an understanding smile, “I want you to know that this is not the story of my death; it is the story about how I became truly alive.”
Seamus met her gaze, and saw the fire in her eyes. He nodded.
“The bandits closed in on me. They were grinning, and laughing amongst themselves, seeing such easy prey. When they were almost upon me, I lunged suddenly. I was desperate, and lucky. I managed to stab one up through the neck killing him instantly. The others were furious, grabbing me and hurling me on the ground. They gathered around leering, and brandishing their weapons. I begged and pleaded with them, ‘Just kill me,’ I told them, but that was not their intention.
“Then an arrow sprouted from one of their mouths. He keeled over dead, and his three remaining companions turned to protect themselves. I blacked out.
“When I awoke I was wrapped in a warm blanket, and found myself in a large cave. A man was sitting on the other side of a large fire that lay between us. His hair was dark brown like his complexion and cut in soldierly fashion. He looked up when I stirred, and smiled and asked if I was alright. I was still a little shaken, but replied that I was fine. I asked his name, and he told me it was Baron Rolf. I asked what a baron was doing living in a cave, and he laughed saying that was just what his men called him, ‘The Baron,’ as a mark of respect. Then he confessed to being a bandit, or rather he professed it, as though it were a good and honorable trade to him.”
Seamus pondered this for a moment, but at last only managed, “Well, that’s interesting. What happened then?”
Kaya smiled, it was a strange tale. She continued, “In the coming months, he taught me to swing a sword and shoot a bow. We had grand old time waylaying travelers, and soon it became my life, and,” she paused, a faraway look entered her eyes, “he became my life. Such that I almost forgot about all else.”
Seamus nodded his understanding. He too had known something like that; becoming so overwhelmed with his life as a free gladiator, and all the many pleasures that the life of a celebrated warrior offered him, he too had forgotten for a time. He told Kaya as much, and it warmed her heart to know he did not blame her.
She continued her story, “We prowled this region for months, preying on travelers by night, and reveling in our cave by day. It was in this happy time, that we had a son.”
Seamus jolted in surprise, “You had a baby?”
Kaya smiled and shook her head, “No,” she replied, “we hit a caravan bound for the oasis city of Shariz, and among its cargo we found an orphan boy, about fifteen years old, bound for the slave markets. He was hardy and strong and Rolf wanted to sell him to a slaver, but I prevailed upon him to keep him. We adopted him, named him Alastair, and made him our son.
“We were very happy, but it could not last forever. One night we heard rumors that another band had moved into our stomping grounds, and we moved out at once to deal with them. It wasn’t uncommon for smaller bands to unwittingly cross into our territory. We always dropped a few of them from afar, and the others would scatter. That was not the case this time. This time the hunter became the hunted, and we found ourselves out matched. Rolf was killed in the fighting and—” she cut herself off, fighting back the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes.
Seamus reached an arm around her, “It’s ok Kaya, you need not say more.”
Kaya recovered herself, and pushed his arm away, “No,” she said with determination, “there is more to tell.”
“Though I had lost my lover, I was not about to give up. The freedom of the road was all I knew, so I took up leading Rolf’s band. They followed me freely, and, after burying Rolf in his cave, we retreated to another area. There we recruited more men, and returned. We caught the other band by surprise and…and slew them all in their sleep, without giving them a chance to defend themselves. I don’t regret it.” She said this last bit furiously, “They killed Rolf.”
Seamus was just staring at her with his mouth open. She really had changed.
“From then on, no other bandits dared to come near our area again, and it wasn’t hard to find criminals fleeing justice to join our band. We were stronger than ever before, and all the wealthiest caravans were ripe for plunder.
“I was so lost in the thrill and the riches that I forgot who I was. But everything changed about two years ago. I hadn’t heard reports of any large caravans going through our region for some days, and the men were getting jumpy. To ease their bloodlust, I sent out several parties to attack smaller fish like farmers and travelers. I took one band of no more than a dozen men on one such mission, but while we were relieving the farmers of what little they had, a party of four knights showed up carrying a banner with the insignia of a ghostly knight on it. The insignia was also emblazoned on their surcoats, and I only recently learned that this was the banner carried by active-duty knights of the Order of the Thousand Sleepless Knights. They slew my men and took me captive.”
Seamus sat calmly on his horse taking all this in. His sister had been through much, much more than he had imagined. He wanted to hear her story to the end, so he said nothing.
“I expected to be raped by my captors as that is the way in Calradia, but not one of them accosted me. They took me to a fortress on the southern sea. They treated me with respect. I was a guest to them. One of the knights was my dear friend, Sir Alayen. He visited me in my room often. He would not suffer a servant to bring my food, but brought it himself every day. I used to ask him why, and he would just say that I wasn’t the first lady he had encountered swinging a sword, and that such stories intrigued him. He asked me why I had taken up arms, and I obliged him by telling our story.”
“And what did Sir Alayen think of it?”
“He was furious, and surprised me with a strange oath. He said, ‘By the oath I swore as a knight, I will see this lord brought low. He will face justice, or may I perish by the sword of Marocsson.’ I asked myself what oath could possibly include helping a stranger from the other side of the continent find justice? Not only that, but I had never-before encountered a knight who would so readily claim authority over a lord!”
Seamus looked behind him, and briefly locked eyes with Alayen. Alayen simply nodded, as though understanding what was passing between them.
“One thing led to another, and I found myself leading a warband,” she finished.
Seamus was still trying to take all this in, when they rounded a bend in the road, and the large hill that had blocked their view fell away to reveal a large castle.
“What happened to your son, my nephew?” He managed to get out before Kaya began moving to the head of the column.
She turned in her saddle, a strange sadness in her eyes, “Harmir,” she replied glancing over her shoulder briefly at one of her companions, before riding ahead.
“Ah,” Kaya said, “at last, Ryibelet Castle,” she said to herself. The castle appeared to be built by the Old Calradic Empire, and had the four towers surrounding a central keep that was characteristic of the Empire’s architecture.
They reached the gates just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. The party clattered through the wide-open portcullis. The great iron grate slammed closed behind them, and the drawbridge raised to secure the castle for the night.
Several servants, squires, waifs, and some household staff looked on as the lord of the castle, a man named, “Duke Marcus Grainwad,” Alayen said striving forward and clasping the old lord’s hand in greeting. “It warms my heart we can now meet as friends.”
“Alayen, ye were but a youngster when I knighted ye. Good to see ye have made something of yourself.” Just then the king, who had been giving some orders to his men, made his way toward them. The duke immediately turned his attention away from Alayen, and bent down on one knee.
“Please, my lord duke, rise. I know it must be getting difficult for you to do that,” King Amel said, genuine care in his voice.
The duke only laughed, “Majesty, I am never too old to bend the knee to the rightful king of Calradia, and besides, I’m not that old.” The duke chuckled heartily through his long graying beard. “Please, come and make yourselves at home in my hall.”
The hall was large and spacious and tastefully decorated. A middle-aged woman dressed in splendid blue muslin stood poised by the large banquet table in the center of the room. One hand rested on the table.
When the king entered the hall, she came forward and stooped in a deep curtsey. Amel stepped forward and embraced her, “Mother.” He said.
Kaya turned to Seamus and asked quietly, “Is that his mother?”
Seamus shook his head, “She’s his mother-in-law.”
“His mother-in-law,” she hissed angrily at him, “and you were teasing me about having his babies earlier!”
Seamus paused, then said in a somber tone, “The king’s first wife, Queen
Sonadel died in child birth. Her daughter, lady Phoebe, survived but suffers from a terrible ailment which keeps her confined to the rooms in Praven.”
Kaya was quieted by this. She looked on the King now with pity. He did not notice, but was engaged in a quiet conversation with his mother-in-law.
"All families have suffered in these dark times," she said under her breath, "what dark power grips these lands?"
Feeling like an old lurker. 15 years, wow. That's half as long as I've lived. Love y'all like family.
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elven Lord
I was planning to start publishing this months ago, but I just keep wanting to make improvements and flesh out the story more. Here is a snippet. Bear in mind this is subject to revision before the final release.
If it feels like you're stepping into the middle of a story, it's because you are ;P
I know exactly what I'd want a story on this topic to be about. I also have no idea if I'd be able to write it out anytime soon. I've been a veritable ghost on this site recently.
~Dysole, who's had a stressful last couple of months
So now that EL has his entry in, and I assume TAF is virtually good to post any time, do you think you could pull it off in the next month or so, Dysole? I'd like to see your story, but remember you would need to be around to judge too. Think you could pull it off? Or should we proceed?
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elven Lord
This is my entry AND it is a snippet of the larger story which I will publish...anon...at some point...
If you give me a title I can go ahead and put it in the Index as 'coming soon'. Not really any reason not to. If the title isn't set, just give me a placeholder. Like before I thought up Horizon in Sight, it was 'Dan's Tale'.
Re: Fan Fic Contest - Deadline: February 1st; Word Limit: 8K
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper's Friend
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elven Lord
This is my entry AND it is a snippet of the larger story which I will publish...anon...at some point...
If you give me a title I can go ahead and put it in the Index as 'coming soon'. Not really any reason not to. If the title isn't set, just give me a placeholder. Like before I thought up Horizon in Sight, it was 'Dan's Tale'.
~TGRF.
Kaya: Vendetta
Feeling like an old lurker. 15 years, wow. That's half as long as I've lived. Love y'all like family.
January 15th, 2018, 05:31 PM
TAF was the Storyteller... 
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