Charging up the slope as best he can, Thesis faces barrage after barrage. After the third wave his horse seems to get even heavier. Thesis looks back over his shoulder and sees that he’s dragging a dead horse up the slope.
Letting go of the reigns, Thesis pushes onwards. Two more rock falls tumble down before Thesis has even got halfway up the mountain. He is smashed in the chest and legs and he screams in rage and curses his new armour. Without it he would have been over the crest by now!
Then Thesis notices something. The rocks have stopped rolling down towards him. He looks up and sees the reason why. There are no more rocks!
Thesis’ laughter is cut short however by the sound of rock grinding on rock behind him. The boulders have all been caught by the strange rock lip at the bottom of the slope. Worse, several of the rocks and boulders are rolling back uphill, as if being pulled by an invisible force!
Thesis starts to run again as best he can. He can move up the incline at about the same speed as the rocks seem to be rolling. He finally manages to get to the top and then curses again. The route down is a mirror of the route up, including the river running the other side of the mountain.
He sprints down it and is able to go much faster this way. He almost loses his footing a couple of times but manages to stay upright.
He is nearing the bottom when a group of boulders reach the summit and begin to thunder down towards him. They’re almost on him when Thesis leaps the remaining distance into the water. The rocks smashing into the ridge behind him.
Thesis breathes a sigh of relief and heals himself as best as he can while wading through the river towards the safety of the bank.
One more impact would surely have been the death of him.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Age of Responsibility
Tao is one of Mendez’s oldest brothers. He’s already well into his thirties and had looked out for the mischievious Mendez when they had both been much younger.
Riding two of their Father’s best horses, Tao leads Mendez to the area where he thinks the bandits must be hiding.
Mendez dismounts and starts to look around.
“Your very good at that.” Tao comments from astride his horse. “Father says your probably a greater swordsman than Uncle Mendoza too.”
Mendez looks up at his brother.
Tao’s still handsome, but the lines of responsibility are already showing on his face. Tao had taken over responsibility for several of their Father’s enterprises many years ago and has run them wisely, but Mendez can see the look of regret in his eyes.
“I’m pretty good now it’s true, but you know I only left because I knew you’d be here to keep our family safe.”
Just then Mendez hears the sound of thundering hooves.
Riding two of their Father’s best horses, Tao leads Mendez to the area where he thinks the bandits must be hiding.
Mendez dismounts and starts to look around.
“Your very good at that.” Tao comments from astride his horse. “Father says your probably a greater swordsman than Uncle Mendoza too.”
Mendez looks up at his brother.
Tao’s still handsome, but the lines of responsibility are already showing on his face. Tao had taken over responsibility for several of their Father’s enterprises many years ago and has run them wisely, but Mendez can see the look of regret in his eyes.
“I’m pretty good now it’s true, but you know I only left because I knew you’d be here to keep our family safe.”
Just then Mendez hears the sound of thundering hooves.
Get out of my (Mountain) Face!
Thesis takes a long look at the route ahead. ‘Why a river? Why a mountain?’ he thinks. ‘Give me a Giant or a Dragon instead!’.
Still leading his horse through the icey waters, Thesis trudges onwards in his oddly quiet but heavy, magical full plate armour. It had cost him a small fortune and it had halved his formally impressive speed, but the added protection it had given him more then made up for it.
Struggling out of the water, Thesis notices the strange rock formation. It seems to be an upward jutting lip. Looking up the path he can see it’s only about 300 feet to the top but very steep; Maybe one feet up for every one foot along. The path lies between two seperate peaks and at the edge of the path is an almost sheer rise either side. Weirdly, at the top are several piles of boulders. Aside from these features, the mountain is devoid of any vegetation or signs of animal life.
Dragging his unwilling horse behind him, Thesis heaves himself upwards.
The ground begins to shake and when he’s just 30 feet up the path, the first set of boulders, unbidden, start to roll down the slope. They gather speed as they go and despite his best efforts several crash into him. His magical armour does little to protect him and although he keeps his footing, he’s hurt.
Thesis has only two choices: Run back down the 30 feet or slog up the remaining 270 feet. As usual, Thesis chooses the confrontational option.
Still leading his horse through the icey waters, Thesis trudges onwards in his oddly quiet but heavy, magical full plate armour. It had cost him a small fortune and it had halved his formally impressive speed, but the added protection it had given him more then made up for it.
Struggling out of the water, Thesis notices the strange rock formation. It seems to be an upward jutting lip. Looking up the path he can see it’s only about 300 feet to the top but very steep; Maybe one feet up for every one foot along. The path lies between two seperate peaks and at the edge of the path is an almost sheer rise either side. Weirdly, at the top are several piles of boulders. Aside from these features, the mountain is devoid of any vegetation or signs of animal life.
Dragging his unwilling horse behind him, Thesis heaves himself upwards.
The ground begins to shake and when he’s just 30 feet up the path, the first set of boulders, unbidden, start to roll down the slope. They gather speed as they go and despite his best efforts several crash into him. His magical armour does little to protect him and although he keeps his footing, he’s hurt.
Thesis has only two choices: Run back down the 30 feet or slog up the remaining 270 feet. As usual, Thesis chooses the confrontational option.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Kiss my Ring
The fantastic sky ship closes in on Mendez’s family home and starts it’s spiraling descent. It’s still 300 feet above the ground when Mendez dives from it’s starboard side.
The people's gasps of horror turn to cheers of amazement when Mendez spins in the air and lands light as a feather in their midst.
Kissing Telfis’ ring, Mendez instructs the servants to take him directly to his Father. Mendez is straight to busines.
“My Son, I’m so very glad to see you. The bandits have struck again. They’ve burnt some of our crops and they’ve raided some of the outer lying farms.”
Requesting his brother Tao’s help, Mendez decides to track these villains down.
“I’ll show you where we think their camp should be little brother, but we can find no sign of it.”
After an exquisite evening meal at home with his Mother, Father and all his family, the two brothers set off.
The people's gasps of horror turn to cheers of amazement when Mendez spins in the air and lands light as a feather in their midst.
Kissing Telfis’ ring, Mendez instructs the servants to take him directly to his Father. Mendez is straight to busines.
“My Son, I’m so very glad to see you. The bandits have struck again. They’ve burnt some of our crops and they’ve raided some of the outer lying farms.”
Requesting his brother Tao’s help, Mendez decides to track these villains down.
“I’ll show you where we think their camp should be little brother, but we can find no sign of it.”
After an exquisite evening meal at home with his Mother, Father and all his family, the two brothers set off.
Orc with a Sore Head
Leaving the forest far behind him, Thesis continues to travel North.
Riding again, now out in the open, he makes good time and he half expects to catch up with his friends any hour now.
Instead though, he sees the mountains surrounding this side of the Forbidden lands loom up in the distance.
He rides on and then to his amazement he sees a small settlement. Several log cabins beside a wide stretch of the river.
Slowing to a trot, Thesis takes in as much information as he can before closing. There are four log cabins and they seem to have been there for several years. He can see two men wading in the river. (It must be fordable in this part.) He can see another two working near a semi-permanent fire in the centre of the four cabins. They are all dressed in appropriate fur and leather clothing for this environment.
Then Thesis sees a much larger figure dressed in studded leather armour. An Orc warrior.
Still, it’s only one Orc. Possible using the Humans as slave workers? Thesis feels confident that he can handle just one Orc and continues to ride on.
As soon as one of the human prospectors sees him though, they call out to the Orc. It becomes apparent that he’s not the boss but rather a hired guard.
“Hail stranger!” comes the call from the lead prospector. “What are you doing all the way out here?”
Thesis notices one of the Humans rushing off to one of the cabins and shuting the door behind him. He also notices the Orc draw a large Falchion.
On explaining that he is searching for his friends, the group visibly relax. Only the Orc continues to growl.
“Don’t mind him. He’s just hungover after being out drunk by a Dwarven Barbarian. Could that be one of the friends you’re looking for?”
Thesis rests for a while and enjoys some of the fresh fish broth, cooking over the open fire.
After a few hours rest, he’s ready to set off again.
Optimistically Thesis turns to the camp leader,“Which way?”
His heart falls though when the man points to both the river and mountain path.
“Careful my friend. Although the river’s fordable, the mountain doesn’t like trespassers.”
Riding again, now out in the open, he makes good time and he half expects to catch up with his friends any hour now.
Instead though, he sees the mountains surrounding this side of the Forbidden lands loom up in the distance.
He rides on and then to his amazement he sees a small settlement. Several log cabins beside a wide stretch of the river.
Slowing to a trot, Thesis takes in as much information as he can before closing. There are four log cabins and they seem to have been there for several years. He can see two men wading in the river. (It must be fordable in this part.) He can see another two working near a semi-permanent fire in the centre of the four cabins. They are all dressed in appropriate fur and leather clothing for this environment.
Then Thesis sees a much larger figure dressed in studded leather armour. An Orc warrior.
Still, it’s only one Orc. Possible using the Humans as slave workers? Thesis feels confident that he can handle just one Orc and continues to ride on.
As soon as one of the human prospectors sees him though, they call out to the Orc. It becomes apparent that he’s not the boss but rather a hired guard.
“Hail stranger!” comes the call from the lead prospector. “What are you doing all the way out here?”
Thesis notices one of the Humans rushing off to one of the cabins and shuting the door behind him. He also notices the Orc draw a large Falchion.
On explaining that he is searching for his friends, the group visibly relax. Only the Orc continues to growl.
“Don’t mind him. He’s just hungover after being out drunk by a Dwarven Barbarian. Could that be one of the friends you’re looking for?”
Thesis rests for a while and enjoys some of the fresh fish broth, cooking over the open fire.
After a few hours rest, he’s ready to set off again.
Optimistically Thesis turns to the camp leader,“Which way?”
His heart falls though when the man points to both the river and mountain path.
“Careful my friend. Although the river’s fordable, the mountain doesn’t like trespassers.”
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Mendez: Playboy, Starship Skipper
On seeing the massive Sky ship floating in the waters of the harbour, Mendez, with Razor on his shoulder, quickly dismounts and leads his horse up the gangplank.
After a quick embrace of Sinbad the Hampster, Mendez takes command and they’re off.
There are audible gasps from the spectators, but they’re quickly lost in the wind and the distance.
The sky ship crew is now about half and half Human and Hampster-men. They have obviously been practicing and make good time. Mendez should be home within the week.
A question flits around the back of his mind; Will it be soon enough?
After a quick embrace of Sinbad the Hampster, Mendez takes command and they’re off.
There are audible gasps from the spectators, but they’re quickly lost in the wind and the distance.
The sky ship crew is now about half and half Human and Hampster-men. They have obviously been practicing and make good time. Mendez should be home within the week.
A question flits around the back of his mind; Will it be soon enough?
Who let the Dogs out?
Despite Thesis’ poor tracking skills, the signs left by the wolf pack are impossible to miss. There’s a large pack hunting through these woods. One night he hears baying a few miles ahead, but the fierce barking and snarling soon makes way to whines and whimpers.
The next day Thesis discovers what had happened the night before.
There are signs of a camp and all around the bodies of bloodied wolves. There must be over a dozen. One of them though is monumental. Probably the pack leader, this wolf must have stood over six feet tall at the shoulder.
Thesis takes heart in the fact that there are no human bodies amongst the wolf corpses. He also finds strength in the notion that this camp is recent and was probably made by his friends.
He’s less than a day behind them.
The next day Thesis discovers what had happened the night before.
There are signs of a camp and all around the bodies of bloodied wolves. There must be over a dozen. One of them though is monumental. Probably the pack leader, this wolf must have stood over six feet tall at the shoulder.
Thesis takes heart in the fact that there are no human bodies amongst the wolf corpses. He also finds strength in the notion that this camp is recent and was probably made by his friends.
He’s less than a day behind them.
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