Title: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 06, 2012, 11:05:26 PM Sometimes I jot down little notes about some example player characters. The idea is to try to tell a story from a player character's perspective, ie: the character a player creates to play the game... what would the world look like through their eyes. Maybe these provide some insight into the way I view the world. Maybe they describe stuff that will manifest in the game. Maybe some are just an interesting story I have fun writing.
Eventually the plan is that these will become part of the main site with little character bios. In the mean time, I'm considering posting bits and pieces here and there for others to read. You may have already seen the one about Fayd Tallwin buried in some other thread. I may also repost it here for posterity. Some nights, creativity outstrips coding discipline and these little short stories are what results. Last night was one such night. So without further ado, I bring you the first installment (roughest of rough drafts) of "The Tales of Shasour Soong", an avian, outcast for losing his ability to fly. I'm not a great writer or anything but maybe you find it interesting. Quote From The Tales of Shasour Soong He was a man of few words and his story was too bitter to share, anyway. Shasour Soong preferred it up here in the rigging, away from the other crew, wearing his solitude like a warm cloak. On days like today, where the morning mist hung low and the breeze was cool, he could almost feel like he was flying again. He heard motion nearby and below. Pallon, the only other avian crew member aboard the Dragonfish, was climbing up behind him. Nine months into this job and the two were still awkward in the rigging but their movements were light-footed. It was easy to tell the difference from the rest of the crew. While the seasoned sailors were able to deflty climb the ropes and ladders with ease, they also made the wood and rigging creak heavily under their weight. "The storms will hold off for another few hours at least", Shasour offered unasked as his friend perched beside him. Pallon nodded, "And probably pass to the west if my itch is right." Shasour agreed. Something was still odd about this weather but he chose to keep his speculations to himself. Without another word, he climbed down, leaving Pallon to his watch. He wished he could just jump and float down lazily on the breeze but his left wing's ball joint was still healing and there were still rips and sprains in the right-side flights. His wings were kept bundled and tied behind him, strapped to his back like a rolled up sail. Gravity hung around his neck like a stone anchor. But he was the lucky one. His wounds would heal. Pallon was to be forever a ground-walker now. Neither would ever be welcomed home again. That was the way. That was always the way. In the first few months aboard ship, he and Pallon had nearly killed themselves a dozen times attempting to step lightly off the rigging as confident as a bird. The crew had some experience with avian outcasts and had insisted on safety tethers. It was the only thing that had saved their lives. Slowly the lessons sunk in and now they were both constantly aware of "down". A brief pang of sadness passed through Shasour at the thought. He missed the naivety of his own past. "Falling" was an entirely new concept and, in a way, a loss of innocence. The sun was beginning to cut through the mist as he caught up with the captain. The man stood rigid behind the helmsman, grogginess about his eyes, and a steaming mug of tea cupped in his hands. The ship moved and rocked beneath his worn boots but it was as if he was a fixed point in space, about which the ship tilted. "How goes, Mr. Soong?", the captain asked lightly. He never looked at Shasour directly. The older man's eyes were ever fixed on the horizon, never stopping in one place for long. "Hits in a few hours. Likely to pass west", there was an unsaid "but" and captain Martin picked up on it. The seasoned captain of the Dragonfish caught Shasour's gaze. It was friendly and dangerously serious at the same time. The captain had a way of getting to the point quickly without uttering a word. Shasour respected that. This man surely had his own stories to tell, he thought. Shasour shifted uncomfortably on the heaving deck. He slightly cowered under the captains hard gaze and relented. "There is something odd about this weather", Shasour started, "Pallon would never have smelled it but there is a magic in it..." The captain didn't even let him finish. The lingering sleep cleared from his head instantly, as if a fog was lifted. He jumped to the railing, hanging onto a thick support line overhead. "Hoy!", he shouted down to the crew, "Eyes about and prepare to hold fast. Tie down anything ya' care about." He started to jump down but fluidly spun around again as if remembering an afterthought, "And wake the big boys and have them bring their finest cutlery. If Mr. Soong's nose is right, we're gonna have guests soon." ... Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Tsuku on October 07, 2012, 02:18:26 AM Haha cool, maybe you should put this in some ingame books. Pt 1, 2, 3 etc. haha
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on October 07, 2012, 05:00:52 AM Very nice
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: ap0r on October 07, 2012, 07:46:48 AM Ingame books, so skyrim-ish :D
I should write a character story about a wizard :D Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 07, 2012, 07:56:13 AM Ingame books, so skyrim-ish :D I should write a character story about a wizard :D Or that creepy old guy across the street ;) (lol had to say that!) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 07, 2012, 10:33:21 AM Ingame books, so skyrim-ish :D I should write a character story about a wizard :D I think it's kind of an RPG staple. Bioware games as far back as Baldur's Gate have had in game books so numerous you just stopped reading them after a while. It's tougher to include in-game books in Mythruna since I either have to not have them refer to any real cities or places or I have to somehow adapt the stories to the current world. But maybe. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on October 07, 2012, 10:39:13 AM Maybe have the stories be small back stories of before the shattering.
And maybe a few of the first to cross into mythruna, you said we eventually forgot the reasons for why we have started traveling, maybe these stories can help. Maybe have dragons keep them hidden and they must be decyphered Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 07, 2012, 10:51:30 AM Maybe have the stories be small back stories of before the shattering. And maybe a few of the first to cross into mythruna, you said we eventually forgot the reasons for why we have started traveling, maybe these stories can help. Maybe have dragons keep them hidden and they must be decyphered The purpose is obscured for a reason as a) there really isn't one, and b) being purposeless lets the player decide what their purpose is. Maybe it's to enslave as many worlds as possible. Maybe it's to put the wrongs right.... up to you to decide and I don't want to push that on anyone. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: BenKenobiWan on October 07, 2012, 01:50:24 PM Nice story! There are some awkward points, but overall, well written. Especially if it's as rough a draft as you say.
On a side note, I enjoy writing. If you for some reason want a story written, maybe I could help. I do understand that you do it for fun, though. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 07, 2012, 02:02:28 PM Nice story! There are some awkward points, but overall, well written. Especially if it's as rough a draft as you say. Thanks. I did nothing more "editing-wise" than read it out loud to see if there were any "hard to narrate" parts and fixed some of the wording based on that. I have another part half-written that I will work on sometime. Each new part may require corrections to the previous parts so I avoid trying to edit too much. Plus, that's less fun. :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 07, 2012, 02:20:35 PM Paul trade me brains...
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on October 07, 2012, 04:27:38 PM Some nights, creativity outstrips coding discipline and these little short stories are what results. Last night was one such night. The balance is what makes you perfect for the job ;)Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: ap0r on October 07, 2012, 04:46:12 PM Rofl unn
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 09, 2012, 12:29:20 AM Part two... very rough but I should leave it alone now that the cold medicine is kicking in:
Quote The decks below them were a flutter of activity as the crew made ready, tying off lines and clearing loose cargo. Half a dozen fully armed men emerged from below-decks, the pillow still heavy on their brow. They spread out and took up positions as if looking for ideal picnic spots. No one knew for sure the danger approaching and any haste was forced at best. Shasour begin to feel a deep sense of foreboding. Their trips on the Dragonfish had all been peaceful up until now. Cargo trips from the western isles to the mainland keys, south to the desert towns of Jal, and back along the coast north up as far as Kingsford and the tri-cities. Cargo, the occasional passenger, and Shasour and Pallon keeping them around the weather. It had been pretty boring so far. With the impending battle, he was suddenly facing memories he had kept buried. "Why do these things always happen at dawn?", he wondered. The golden rays of morning bounced cheerfully on the waves and it vaguely reminded him of home. From the upper heights of Wizard's Watch, he remembered standing on the crumbling ramparts and seeing the sun play off the mountains. Waves of earth pushing up with sun kissed tips of snow. When he closed his eyes, he could still hear the snarls and screams. Still smell the sweet stench of avian blood all around him... on him. The crying. The children. He hadn't known Pallon very well back then. Pallon Windrider was the second son of the chief, second in line for ascension, and trained as battle leader. Whenever his brother would have ascended to chieftain, Pallon would have commanded the warrior captains. Shasour, on the other hand, always kept to the fringe. He was different. His magic sense set him apart from the others and he preferred not to draw attention. Outsiders were not normally viewed with compassion and there had not been an adept in the tribe for over 200 years. That was the way. Effectively, that was always the way. As fate had it, they were both together when the attack on the aerie began all those months ago. Relieving the gargoyle watch as they returned to stony slumber with the sunrise, the first line avian warriors were slammed by a superior force. The early part of the battle was brutal and decisive. It was rare for an aerie to be attacked by ground-walkers. Rarer still to be attacked by such a swift and coordinated multiracial force. For reptilian and pantherian mercenaries to have been working together would have seemed impossible had Shasour not seen it with his own eyes. But it was a blow from the club of reptilian dreadhulk that threw him over the wall, slamming into the ground. And it was a pack of pantherian infantry that finally pushed Pallon and his men through the gates. It was the wanton slaughter of the young avians that still puzzled him. Over half of the groundlings were cut down in their beds before the camp even knew what was happening. The young avians, too young yet to fly, were felled like cordwood and dragged off before enough strong flyers were rallied to help the rest escape. Shasour still doesn't know how many were saved as no young bodies had been left behind. The other dead, wounded, and crippled were left where they fell by the tribe when they escaped. It was the way. It was always the way. He had laid buried in a heap for the rest of the day. His entire left side was broken and he hadn't the strength to move the bodies stacked on top of him. It hurt to breath. In that early morning light, he could hear the moans and cries of other survivors. He could not help them. He concentrated on his own breathing. By midday the sun had risen high in the sky and was baking the corpses. Pools of blood became thick and sticky and the air was a fog of rotting death. The sounds from the other survivors faded and gave way to the buzzing of flies and other insects. He slept. His sun parched eyes cracked open in time to see the last trails of sunset disappear over the walls. Several of the gargoyles had been smashed to rocky chunks by the attack but the remaining sentries began to stir and regain mobility in the fading daylight. With large strong hands they began picking through the bodies, gently sorting the living from the dead as one might pick the meaty nuts from a smashed shell. They tossed aside the dead like refuse and gingerly helped the living to beds. Only five survivors had made it to sunrise. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on October 09, 2012, 04:08:12 AM Part two... very rough but I should leave it alone now that the cold medicine is kicking in: your sick ?! :( FEEL BETTER SOON PAUL!... on a side note, i can't wait for the final part, these are good! Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 09, 2012, 10:57:31 AM Part two... very rough but I should leave it alone now that the cold medicine is kicking in: your sick ?! :( FEEL BETTER SOON PAUL!... on a side note, i can't wait for the final part, these are good! The story is only just beginning... :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: ayoriceball on October 09, 2012, 12:16:26 PM Damn, this is good! I need to learn how to write like this. :P
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: BenKenobiWan on October 09, 2012, 03:35:19 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories?
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 09, 2012, 04:30:37 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 09, 2012, 05:37:09 PM May we get a category in "general category" called "off-topic" or "non-related"
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 09, 2012, 06:09:03 PM May we get a category in "general category" called "off-topic" or "non-related" Why did you post this question here?!? There seems to be no off-topic topics in general. That's what "general discussion" is for. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Teknonick on October 09, 2012, 07:09:11 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 09, 2012, 07:17:41 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. I deleted the topic... Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 09, 2012, 09:44:10 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Unn deletes topics all the time. Not sure why he posts them just to delete them but that's the way it is. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on October 09, 2012, 09:57:37 PM Awesome read. The life on a ship really gets me excited.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on October 10, 2012, 04:09:46 AM Awesome read. The life on a ship really gets me excited. I'm excited to see how Paul will pull off the "live on the sea" thingTitle: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 10, 2012, 01:20:47 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Unn deletes topics all the time. Not sure why he posts them just to delete them but that's the way it is. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: BenKenobiWan on October 10, 2012, 07:16:51 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Unn deletes topics all the time. Not sure why he posts them just to delete them but that's the way it is. You shouldn't do that, especially if someone else has posted. If you do, you're deleting other people's work. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 10, 2012, 08:29:46 PM Are we allowed to ask questions about the content of these stories? I may not answer. :) But you are free to ask. Unn deletes topics all the time. Not sure why he posts them just to delete them but that's the way it is. You shouldn't do that, especially if someone else has posted. If you do, you're deleting other people's work. Yeah. Even better is for Unn to just think really hard about whether he wants to post something before he posts it... then maybe he wouldn't feel the need to delete it after. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on October 12, 2012, 01:13:30 AM *sighs* Nothing greater than picking on the little kids in Mythruna. *nudges Paul and rest*
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on October 12, 2012, 02:55:38 PM Yea, my brain cells are Rage Quitting life because they are crying from not being smarter than Paul. At best i say I am 1/100th as smart as Paul :)
If it was up to me, I would actually say I am 1/16th as smart as Paul. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on October 12, 2012, 08:10:32 PM Yea, my brain cells are Rage Quitting life because they are crying from not being smarter than Paul. At best i say I am 1/100th as smart as Paul :) It would go down to 1/32th since you don't know the fundamentals of physics.If it was up to me, I would actually say I am 1/16th as smart as Paul. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on October 14, 2012, 02:34:21 AM Another unedited installment in "The Tales of Shasour Soong"... I'm sure it's chock full of typos.
Quote The captain's voice snapped him out of his daydream like cold water. "They'd cast long shadows comin' from that direction", he chided. Shasour started to explain but realized quickly that it was a joke at his expense. He refocused his attention. To the west, the sea was dark and the sky a deep purple-gray. The storm clouds billowed above it all like thick roiling smoke. Shasour had the feeling of a tiny sparrow before the hawk strikes. "You'd better get back up an' help Pallon", said the captain. And with a wink, "Let me know the moment you sense a change in the weather." Before Shasour could move, Captain Martin clamped his hand on Shasour's shoulder. Leaning in close and at a whisper, "And my gut says that you should keep an eye on the sky." With that, the captain turned to shout some orders at another unsuspecting crewman and Shasour quickly made his way up into the rigging to join Pallon. They both lashed safety lines to the upper spars and waited, scanning the horizon, lingering only on the coming darkness. The winds were steady and the crew sat nearly motionless, transfixed for an hour or more as they attempted to skirt the edge of the storm. The only sound was the creaks of the ropes and the lapping of the waves against the wooden hull. It grew closer with each passing minute and the leading calm brought a dry chill. Cold darkness covered the coming dawn as they were enveloped. It began quietly, at first. Like seeds slowly dropped into a bucket, the drops came pock-pock on the decks and brass fixtures. Then with the sound of waves crashing against a shore the rain fell like sheets, drowning out all other sound. Within minutes every surface was slick and the men were soaked to the bone. The Dragonfish began to rock violently. Crack! Lightening arced high in the clouds above them, casting a colorless light all around. Pallon and Shasour could see the men below scurrying silently like small animals trying to gather in the sails and tie down anything that came loose. The two avians did their best to watch the skies while holding on for dear life. Crack! Shasour was blinded for a second by an electric bolt in the sky. Bright white dots obscured his vision as he tried to blink them away. In the blueish-yellow after-image burned into his eyes, he could clearly see the dark silhouette of a winged ship. He tried to shout down to the captain, to warn them, but the storm swallowed all sound. Trying to decide what to do next, he paused and scanned the decks and rigging. Almost without thinking, he jumped off his perch. Pallon tried to grab him but missed by inches. Shasour hit the end of his safety tether with a jolt and started to swing towards the stern. In a flash, he had his dagger out and sliced the line cleanly through. Momentum carried him further towards the back of the ship and for a second he was flying. His wind was knocked out of him as he caught one of the lower spars in his stomach, doubling over it. Barely able to breathe, he slid slowly off the slick rounded wood, bouncing off the spar below before landing in a heap on the deck. The captain and one of the other men were beside him in an instant, trying to help him to his feet. Shasour grabbed the collar of the captain's rain slick and pulled himself up close. Gnashing his teeth through the pain, he pointed to the sky and said "airships" before his knees buckled again. He fell back to the deck. Captain Martin laid his hand gently on the top of Shasour's head before heading off, leaving him lying on the damp boards. The avian watched through blurred vision as the captain personally delivered the information around to the crew. All eyes were on the sky now. Moments passed. Shasour tried to catch his breath. They saw the light first. An eery blue glow barely visible through the clouds, faint lightning bolts in the deep murk. As the sky vessels got closer, the crew could clearly see the magic electrical energies shooting out from the thrust pods of three large airships, occasionally arcing underneath and between the vessels. The aura of power gave the crew goosebumps as the static electricity charged the air. Thin black lines cut across the night sky and attached to the Dragonfish. Tiny harpoon tethers snaring their prey. The crew scrambled to cut through the lines as quickly as they appeared but it was futile. The ropes began to tangle in the ship's rigging, pinning the Dragonfish to its attackers like a fly in a web. The ship listed sharply to port as the lines grew taut. Shasour frantically grabbed onto a knotted rope as he slid across the deck. Two other crewmen were not lucky enough to find handholds and were swept over the rail into the ink-black sea. The airships were clearly visible now. Three black hulks, not unlike the Dragonfish, floating in the sky on a magic aura. The sails were configured all around like the fins of a fish. Shasour felt the decks heave as the ship was raised several feet under the pull of the webbing. The center mast snapped like a twig and the ship crashed back down with a shudder. In the lightning streaked sky, Shasour saw his fellow avian plunge into the sea, tethered helplessly to the smashed timber. The crew fell to panic as the captain attempted to rally whomever he could. The larger fighters were at his side readying for a last stand and Shasour pulled himself over to them. With all the strength he could muster, he bit through his pain and stood with them, dagger drawn. He suddenly felt like one of the crew in a way he never had before. He couldn't save Pallon, or the long-dead avian children, but he would defend these men to the death. Some of the panicked crew were shamed into action by his display; The fragile and broken avian rallying to their captain. They picked up whatever weapons they could find among the heaving decks and formed ranks beside the other men. The attack came like rain but they were ready. Dark-clad swordsmen came sliding down the tethers, dropping and rolling into a crouch on the decks. One in each hand, their curved swords moved like some kind of circular slicing death machine as the attackers danced ever closer. They hit the Dragonfish crew with a clanging crash and were temporarily repelled. The crew fought tenaciously, occasionally clustering into groups, defending each other back to back. They felled three attackers in the first wave before being enveloped again. The pain had left Shasour now and was replaced with a general numbness. Adrenaline was making his blood rush through his ears like a throbbing battle drum. His light-footedness allowed him to dart through the battle like a small bird, his dagger lashing out and drawing blood wherever it struck. Slicing the jugular of a distracted attacker here or ducking under an attack to plunge his dagger under another's rib cage there. Through skill, bravery, and a lot of luck, the crew had managed to decimate the sword-wielding attackers while only sustaining injuries. The worst was yet to come. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on October 14, 2012, 11:24:42 AM Nothing like reading a story when you get up in the morning. Good work Paul. :)
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on November 08, 2012, 03:20:41 AM The next rough installment...
Quote Ropes and splintered timber came crashing down to the decks, scattering the crew. Shasour looked up to see a handful of looming shadows descending towards them. Large creatures were being lowered down from the airships above and they were using their giant clubs to knock masts and rigging out of their way. "Dreadhulks!", he shouted. The avian began to hear his own breathing as he fought down panic. He looked around and found the captain attempting to rally his men back to order. A few of the fighters and several of the regular crew had managed to reorganize. Shasour caught up to them just as the first giant lizard hit the deck with an echoing thud. The lizard men moved slowly and deliberately towards them, smashing bits of ship and rigging out of the way like twigs. Ten foot tall at the shoulders, these lumbering hulks would make quick work of the crew. Even one of these beasts would have been too much to handle. Captain Martin wiped the rain from his face with his sleeve as he contemplated their situation. Shasour recognized the look of a man defeated but cornered. Dangerous and desperate plans played across the captain's eyes. "Everyone down below", he shouted, "use their size against them!" Even in the din of the pouring rain, enough men heard the orders that they began to quickly find whatever hatch or stairway was closest. The large lizard beastmen were too large to follow. The crew that made it below regrouped in the dark ahead of the powder room and listened. The rain was quieter down here, a dull roar on the aching deck timbers. Creaks and groans echoed through the beams as the giant hulks moved above. The even tempoed plodding was only punctuated by the occasional scream or crunch of flesh and bones as the less lucky of the crew met their fate. The survivors hid and waited. The captain rubbed the joist above his head, looking around as if saying good-bye to an old friend. "This was a good ship", he said to no one in particular. Shasour thought the other man might have stifled a sob but it was too dark to know for sure. He looked right at Shasour and asked a question that took the avian by surprise. "Mr. Soong", he asked calmly, "Do you think you could find our location on a map?" Shasour was confused for a moment but reached out his senses anyway. He tried to remember the last landmarks, the currents in the air and sea, the position of the stars the night before. He formed a picture in his mind. "Yessir", Shasour responded, "within a few leagues at least." "That'll have to do then", said the captain. "Alright lads, if we're going to get out of this alive I need you ta' listen close. And it's a threadbare plan, to be sure, so say a prayer as well." He pulled a hatchet from a hook on the wall and handed it to the largest of the fighting men. With whatever cheer the captain could muster, he order, "Go below and cut us an exit, Mr. Folger. The rest of you find whatever you can carry that floats. We'll be disembarking at Mr. Folger's pleasure." With mock seriousness he added, "Above the water line, please, Mr. Folger." Captain Martin turned to the rest and continued, "I'll be needing three volunteers to stay and slow those things down." Shasour started to sidle over but the captain stopped him, "Not you Mr. Soong. We need your head firmly attached to your neck this time." Three of the remaining fighting men quickly volunteered. The rest followed in the footsteps of Jolin Folger and headed below. The large fighter was already smashing into the boards as hard and fast as his strength would allow. The old wood gave slowly under his blows. The rest of them grabbed whatever boards and empty casks were handy and waited. Above them they could hear the captain and his men lead the giant lizards on a wild chase through the gun decks. The frustrated screams of the dreadhulks were both chilling and satisfying. From the sounds of smashing wood, there wouldn't be much deck left for hiding before long. The back end of a cannon broke through the ceiling near them with a smash. It hung precariously before breaking through and embedding itself in the floor beside the men. They looked at each other grimly but were unaffected. Still they waited. Jolin Folger was making headway. He had broken through to the outside and a small rough-hewn hole began to grow larger. The huddling men could feel the cool breeze of the night air and blown-in rain started to splash in around them. Shasour hung tightly to his barrel, hoping it would keep him afloat when the time came. In all his time aboard ship, he'd never learned to swim. The hole was getting large enough for the smaller of them to fit through. Jolin rested as some of the smaller men picked their way over the splinters to lower themselves quietly into the water. They swam away silently in the choppy sea, occasionally looking over their shoulder to see the battle above them. Shasour hung back. Jolin shrugged and continued his work. There were now less than half a dozen crew awaiting escape. The battle above them grew less frantic. No more shouting was heard from the captain and his meager fighting force. The only sound was the lumbering of the death hulks. The pit of Shasour's stomach felt bottomless. The chopping stopped and the axe fell to the floor. Shasour looked up to see a hole big enough for Jolin to fit through and the larger man was already lowering himself into the water. The few remaining crew members gathered in a loose line, wind and rain pelting them as they waited. When the last of them fled through the hole, Shasour timidly made his way over and stood at the edge. He could no longer hear the noise above, only the pounding of blood in his ears. The cold rain cut him like tiny knives and the sea looked as if it would swallow him whole. He wanted to run back into the ship and die fighting, to find the captain and make a stand. It had to be better than drowning, he thought. Memories of being broken against a dreadhulk's club and thrown through the air flooded his memory. Old pains reawakened and he was suddenly frozen stiff in indecision. The world moved in slow motion. There was a noise behind him and he mustered the courage to turn. It was the captain. Bloodied, beaten, and broken, the captain came running up and pushed Shasour out of the hole without a word. The cold rain hit him like ice as he smashed ungracefully into the warmer sea. His breath left him and he struggled to hold onto his wet and slippery barrel. Finally getting one arm draped over the barrel he stopped to look back. Captain Martin was right behind him, swimming with one arm, the other trailing him limply. "Swim away like your life depends on it, Mr. Soong!", shouted the captain, "Because it does!" Edit: replaced Deathhulks with Dreadhulks because I consistently typed it wrong in this part of the story. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: FutureB on November 08, 2012, 04:25:22 AM Pfft Paul just start writing books as a job.... that was amazing for me. Captivated me the whole way through and i imagined it all in my head, it reminded me on a tintin book i had read long ago just because of the captain :] if you end up puting 20 books this detailed into mythruna it will be amazing yet alone more books like i expect you plan :P
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on November 08, 2012, 05:27:03 AM Very nice :) now they just need to wash up on a small island with a nice little town....full of secrets lol
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on November 08, 2012, 06:18:06 AM wow. maybe you really should put some of these out as books. after Mythruna is released of course ;)
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on November 08, 2012, 12:25:04 PM wow. maybe you really should put some of these out as books. after Mythruna is released of course ;) Yeah, it's always in the back of my head to maybe do that if they ever amount to much. Self publishing on Amazon is really easy... so presuming I can get them edited into shape someday then there's really no reason not to do it. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on November 08, 2012, 12:26:00 PM Oh, and thanks for the kind words, everyone. :) It makes it more likely to get another installment.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on November 08, 2012, 12:33:30 PM wow. maybe you really should put some of these out as books. after Mythruna is released of course ;) Yeah, it's always in the back of my head to maybe do that if they ever amount to much. Self publishing on Amazon is really easy... so presuming I can get them edited into shape someday then there's really no reason not to do it. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 08, 2012, 01:20:15 PM well if you ever want help with editing, i'm told i'm very good at english/writing ;) Same here. I stopped programming in year 8 of school (I was about 12) and have since lost any knack for coding I once had but I'd love to find any way to be a part of this project. I'm quite proud of my own writings and a lot of people who've seen my work have enjoyed it. I'd be Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on December 08, 2012, 01:34:41 PM well if you ever want help with editing, i'm told i'm very good at english/writing ;) Same here. I stopped programming in year 8 of school (I was about 12) and have since lost any knack for coding I once had but I'd love to find any way to be a part of this project. I'm quite proud of my own writings and a lot of people who've seen my work have enjoyed it. I'd be Go ahead and call me confused, but you said you stopped programming when you were 12? How old are you now Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 08, 2012, 01:38:04 PM I'm 19.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on December 08, 2012, 01:42:10 PM I'm 19. lol random, im 12 :)Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 08, 2012, 02:11:07 PM Aye, I read that elsewhere in the forums. You also wanna become a programmer one day if I'm not mistaken?
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on December 08, 2012, 02:13:25 PM yes! :D
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 08, 2012, 02:24:21 PM You started learning or anything yet?
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 08, 2012, 03:03:06 PM I'm 19. In many ways, your brain is still developing. The programming bug could come back later. There was a wide swath of my young life where I was more interested in hanging out with friends and chasing girls or whatever to concentrate on sitting in front of a computer. :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: nh_99 on December 08, 2012, 03:17:58 PM I want to be a programmer. Oh wait, I kind of am... ;)
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 08, 2012, 03:50:46 PM In many ways, you're brain is still developing. The programming bug could come back later. I don't think it is coming back, unfortunately. I think when you lose 3 months of work and roughly 384,000 lines of hand-typed code when an older brother wipes your computer and your first ever game along with it that bug kinda... dies. :LThere was a wide swath of my young life where I was more interested in hanging out with friends and chasing girls or whatever to concentrate on sitting in front of a computer. :) The thing that really annoys me is that I was, when I was 12, making a 2 dimensional mmorpg kinda like an unevolved Mythruna. I had the game set up so that an admin or moderator could alter the world at will without interrupting gameplay for the players by placing things around the world a block at a time. A Mod or Admin could "under construction" tape off an area (players in the area are automatically teleported to the nearest safe area) to build in and then open it up. When it was wiped I was halfway through setting up the ability for mods and admins to put quests in-game and had started working on setting up properties and "free" areas where the regular players could build. Dropped it after that, have many other hobbies. ANYWAY; back to the topic; Mr Speed, have you any other works for us? Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on December 08, 2012, 05:37:56 PM Paul used "You're" instead of "Your" *giggle*. Anyway, Mr.Speed Racer anyone? Sorry for the random spam hahahaha.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 08, 2012, 06:29:22 PM Paul used "You're" instead of "Your" *giggle*. Anyway, Mr.Speed Racer anyone? Sorry for the random spam hahahaha. Heheh... fixed. ;) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 08, 2012, 06:31:17 PM In many ways, you're brain is still developing. The programming bug could come back later. I don't think it is coming back, unfortunately. I think when you lose 3 months of work and roughly 384,000 lines of hand-typed code when an older brother wipes your computer and your first ever game along with it that bug kinda... dies. :LThere was a wide swath of my young life where I was more interested in hanging out with friends and chasing girls or whatever to concentrate on sitting in front of a computer. :) The thing that really annoys me is that I was, when I was 12, making a 2 dimensional mmorpg kinda like an unevolved Mythruna. I had the game set up so that an admin or moderator could alter the world at will without interrupting gameplay for the players by placing things around the world a block at a time. A Mod or Admin could "under construction" tape off an area (players in the area are automatically teleported to the nearest safe area) to build in and then open it up. When it was wiped I was halfway through setting up the ability for mods and admins to put quests in-game and had started working on setting up properties and "free" areas where the regular players could build. Dropped it after that, have many other hobbies. ANYWAY; back to the topic; Mr Speed, have you any other works for us? Well, I lost plenty of code in the old days. You get over, learn to use a version control system, make frequent backups, and move on. :) There was a period of time in high school that I didn't do much at all on the computer... then I got a job where I could program on the side and that was way more interesting than the regular work. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 09, 2012, 01:59:11 PM Hmmmm, might consider getting back into it but I don't really get onto a computer often. :/
Mebbe. ANYWAY!!!!! Any new writings for us to read or a response to me and Belgariad's offers to help you with writing? Please? ;) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 09, 2012, 02:09:03 PM Not yet. Been trying to get physics networked which takes lot of undivided attention... so poor Shasour is still stuck face down on a beach at the moment.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 09, 2012, 02:46:33 PM Awww, poor Shasour. :(
Any idea how long he'll be face down in the sand for? Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 09, 2012, 02:52:09 PM Awww, poor Shasour. :( Any idea how long he'll be face down in the sand for? No... but it's nice to know that people are waiting for updates. :) I'm really trying to focus on the networking stuff right now and avoid excuses to procrastinate. :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on December 09, 2012, 05:27:47 PM Awww, poor Shasour. :( Any idea how long he'll be face down in the sand for? No... but it's nice to know that people are waiting for updates. :) I'm really trying to focus on the networking stuff right now and avoid excuses to procrastinate. :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 15, 2012, 08:28:58 AM Hey, The Speedmeister can read his own forums if he wants.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on December 15, 2012, 01:36:10 PM I haven't heard procrastinate in a while..
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 16, 2012, 12:37:43 PM It's a good word.
People need to use it more often. :L Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 16, 2012, 12:47:48 PM It's a good word. People need to use it more often. :L Maybe later. ;) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on December 16, 2012, 12:52:47 PM It's a good word. People need to use it more often. :L Maybe later. ;) +1 Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Blackslash on December 16, 2012, 05:50:53 PM Yea, my brain cells are Rage Quitting life because they are crying from not being smarter than Paul. At best i say I am 1/100th as smart as Paul :) If it was up to me, I would actually say I am 1/16th as smart as Paul. yeah but, im 10 so most of u are smarter then me Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on December 17, 2012, 12:32:59 AM I was going to comment... But then I got sleepy. G'night all. *fluffs pillow*
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 17, 2012, 03:51:04 AM So, Paul....
Shasour still face down in the sand? Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 17, 2012, 09:00:25 AM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Iggyjeckel on December 17, 2012, 11:22:27 AM Im partial to blame, but arent about 75% or more topics off topic by the second page lol
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on December 17, 2012, 01:09:44 PM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 17, 2012, 02:08:08 PM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. Your wish is my command. ;) New blog post on the networking progress. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: belgariad87 on December 17, 2012, 04:29:47 PM Your wish is my command. ;) New blog post on the networking progress. well would you look at that. now thats service! :)Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: JKybett on December 17, 2012, 06:27:16 PM You should lock the new thread for Shasour when you make it. :L
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on December 17, 2012, 06:51:14 PM You should lock the new thread for Shasour when you make it. :L Except I like on topic discussions about it, related game elements, etc.. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Blackslash on December 17, 2012, 07:33:03 PM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. i thought thats what the second page was for Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: BenKenobiWan on December 17, 2012, 08:07:13 PM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. i thought thats what the second page was for Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Blackslash on December 23, 2012, 12:58:36 PM So, Paul.... Shasour still face down in the sand? Yeah, and this thread is so far off topic that I have to start a new thread for it anyway. i thought thats what the second page was for it was a joke Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 19, 2013, 11:11:32 AM Every now and then I still poke at this story, prodding it along a bit. There is more to Shasour's tale that I'm not ready to post yet but the following chapter shifts characters for a bit.
Here is that chapter introducing a new character. Quote Kyra smoothed down the black fur on her forearms and dabbed the blood at the corner of her mouth with her thumb. She spat a short stream of red-tinted saliva onto the pantherian male laying unconscious in a heap at her feet. The adrenaline rush was waning and she surveyed the damage she had inflicted. Tam's short cropped mane was sticky with blood and his face was covered in scratches. His wide nose was broken and bleeding. She hadn't intended to make it personal but her emotions had gotten the better of her. Tam would be scarred but he would live. Maybe even be wiser for it. She nudged him onto his back with her toe. "Drag this cur to his bedroll", she ordered without taking her eyes from him. It would be a while before he slept in hers again, she thought. She knew familiarity always led to this sort of insubordination. Though mistakes had clearly been made, it was not his place to call them out or assign her the blame, and certainly not in the middle of a meeting. She could kick herself now for fraternizing with Tam so frequently. Still, he had been the most handsome option among a group of poor choices. Mercenaries were not known for their good looks, after all. She shook off the thought. More than ever, discipline and strategy had to trump carnal needs. Kyra watched as Mara and one of the other males dragged Tam out of the circle. All other eyes waited patiently for Kyra to speak but she waited for Mara to return and sit down at her right side before continuing. "As I was saying", and she spat again for effect. "We made the decision to come here based on good information. All of the pack leaders were in agreement at the time that this was a good opportunity to get paid. Maybe the gold was even a little too good but it was still worth checking out." She looked around at the other females for agreement. They all nodded and stiffened a little as if to ward off further argument from the rest of the group. "Now that we are stuck here there is no longer any use arguing about the hows", she continued. "I'm tired of hiding in a cave like a lizard man. Or sitting around by the fire just thinking all day like some fat old monkey!" "Here! Here!", shouted Mara amongst a chorus of vocal agreement from the pack. When the noise abated Kyra continued, "We only have bad options but at least they are clear enough." Her tongue played with the tips of her fangs as if counting them and recounting them while she let that idea sink into the group. She walked toward the mouth of the cave and pointed in the rough direction of town, dark rain obscuring the view beyond a few feet. Kyra chose her words carefully, "We can stay here, safe and snug in our little cave, hoping the Whispers don't find us and waiting for some other air ship to make port with the tower in town." She looked around the room making sure everyone was bristling appropriately at the thought of further hiding. "Or", she continued and pointed in roughly the opposite direction, "we can take matters into our own hands and head overland to one of the other towns." And hope the Whispers haven't made it there yet, she thought to herself. "Either we find another transport off of this lump or we improve our options in some other way", she said with a shrug. "Maybe we even find out what happened to our contact." She walked back to the center of the circle near the fire, admiring the tall shadow her body cast on the wall. She looked over towards Tam still unconscious in a lump on his bedroll. "Now", she emphasized the first word as if speaking directly to Tam, "is the time for discussion if there is any to be had." She stood waiting. Mara stood without hesitation and walked to Kyra's side. Soon, the rest of the commanders joined her by the fire. No further discussion would be necessary. "Get your things in order and get some rest. We leave when the dawn mist is still fresh on the grass", she said before heading to her own bedroll. Sleep came quickly despite the bruises Tam had inflicted. Soon her head filled with dreams haunted by thoughts of the Whispers, a nightmare having somehow returned to the world from legend. ******************* The rain had stopped but the morning mists hung thick in the air. The shadowy trees stood as dark sentinels around the mercenaries and the fog swallowed the sounds of their passing. The squish of boots in mud was all that could be heard as the armed panther-men made their way through the fields. Pants and boots were the only consistent clothing among them but each male carried a wide array of weaponry of different shapes and sizes. Knives were strapped along their midriffs or in belts and at least two swords at each waist, sometimes three or four. A very few even carried longbows. All of them had shields strapped over their backs. Their fur colors also varied. More than half of the men had thick black coats, some with manes down to their waist. Others were various shades of gray or brown. Only two of the men had spotted patterns over their bodies. These two had no mane to speak of and the spots stopped short of their head and chest. Despite the differences in their appearance, there was a uniformity to them. They moved as one unit, a well trained column of fifty fighters marching double-file through the underbrush. Kyra and the other women were not among them. She and the ten other female commanders were scouting the flanks in a long staggered V formation. They ran silently through the trees, running serpentine through the growth, not even leaving footprints behind. Fanning out behind the V were the other fifty female warriors. Ghosts in the mist, the pantherian women covered sixty or more paces to either side of the column and another twenty or so paces bringing up the rear. Counter to the variety of the males, each woman wore one of two uniforms depending on her status. The regular warriors and lieutenants wore brown-green leather pants with a black leather vest. Instead of boots or shoes, their feet were strapped with leather around the toes and calf, leaving the majority of the hairless foot and heel exposed. Over one shoulder, each warrior sheathed a curved sword strapped carefully to their backs. Holstered on either side of their abdomens were pantherian fighting daggers. The curved razor sharp knives were distinct with a serrated section guarding the handle. In the hands of a trained panther-female, the blades were swift and deadly. The commanders each wore black cloth pants and a minimal armless black shirt with a wide open neck. The weapons complement was the same except that half the women had a second sword and the other half had a short bow and copse of arrows strapped over the other shoulder. So it was that this cloud of barely checked death-in-waiting passed silently over the island of Martoc. Hours passed with no other sign of civilization or wildlife. Kyra waved to her right, pointed at her eyes with two fingers and then to an outcropping ahead and to the right. She repeated this signal to her left and then took off at a double run. The straight run felt good and her muscles were aching for more when she reached the top of the bluff. Constantly keeping apace with the column in slow zigzagging sprints always made her antsy. She thought about taking a small scouting party ahead but knew it was just an excuse to run flat-out for a while. Sacrificing tactical advantage for personal desires would have to wait for another time. It seemed to be a recurring theme, lately. From a pocket on her thigh, she pulled a small spyglass and surveyed the surrounding area. The sun was high in the sky now and had long ago burned off the fog. To the west, the valley they had traveled stretched away to the mountain pass. Farther than she could see would be the now-deserted town of Goldpoint. There were no signs that they had been followed but that was not particularly surprising. If the legends are to be believed then the Whispers don't travel during the day anyway. To the east, the rolling hills continued, punctuated by stands of trees and cut with the occasional stream. This grassland ended abruptly at some jagged cliffs another half days travel away. She frowned and then started poking the tip of her left fang with her tongue. Mara crept up silently behind her commander. Kyra handed back her spyglass without even looking over her shoulder. Mara looked a little dejected at the lack of surprise but Kyra's second-in-command took the spyglass just the same. "Hmmm...", Mara said while scanning the horizon, "I suppose it would be too much to ask for a stairway?" She hissed a small chuckle before continuing, "Or at least a pass." "There should be a break a bit to the north", said Kyra. "According to the maps, Fairlyn should be up there somewhere and there should be a cut in the cliffs." Mara interjected, "Though, it wouldn't be the first information we've gotten wrong on this trip." Kyra nodded shortly. "I'm still betting that what happened at Goldpoint is responsible for our missed meeting." Mara handed her back the spyglass and Kyra smoothly slipped it back into its pocket before adding, "Something about this makes my teeth twitch." Mara nodded and said, "Anyway, the muscle-heads are catching up to us." Kyra stretched her legs and smiled, "Hmmm, if we pick up the pace then we can hopefully make Fairlyn before dusk." She smiled at Mara and took off at a full run, leaving her friend to fall in behind her. A dozen seconds later, Kyra and Mara returned to formation and signaled the other commanders to change pace. Within minutes the orders were passed down the line and the column began to move at a quick-march. Kyra hoped her map was correct. If not, there would be a long and dangerous night ahead of them. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 20, 2013, 04:17:25 PM Since the above seems to have gone unnoticed...
In case it is a tl;dr situation, Kyra is a female pantherian and leader of a band of mercenaries. She kicks butt. She will play a part in Shasour's story eventually. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 20, 2013, 04:17:43 PM ...if the Whispers don't get her first.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Teknonick on May 20, 2013, 04:28:44 PM WOH WOH WOH, HOLD UP! Who's the Whispers!? O.O
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Teknonick on May 20, 2013, 04:36:33 PM Just had to point this out:
"Their fur colors also varied. More than half of the men had thick black coats, some with manes down to their waist." :3 Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 20, 2013, 04:49:25 PM Just had to point this out: "Their fur colors also varied. More than half of the men had thick black coats, some with manes down to their waist." :3 Though in this case the manes actually grow out of their backs... it's not just long hair. :) Are you serious about asking about "The Whispers"? Remember, there is no eighth race. heheh. Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Teknonick on May 21, 2013, 11:42:07 AM Just had to point this out: "Their fur colors also varied. More than half of the men had thick black coats, some with manes down to their waist." :3 Though in this case the manes actually grow out of their backs... it's not just long hair. :) Are you serious about asking about "The Whispers"? SNIP Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Moonkey on May 21, 2013, 05:20:58 PM Unless you're already played into a trap in the first place
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 21, 2013, 06:03:04 PM I'm having trouble following along now.
All I know is that my wife really liked the story so far. :) Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Teknonick on May 21, 2013, 06:49:23 PM Unless you're already played into a trap in the first place That's why it's a reverse of the not so reverse reversed backwards then forwards twice over. Makes perfect sense if you look at it m way.And glad to hear she likes it :3. I hope you have some sort of copy-right otherwise someone else might steal it and then your'll get in trouble for posting it in your game :O. I hate copy-right thieves... steal your ideas and make money off of them.... Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 21, 2013, 08:06:35 PM Everything a person makes is automatically copyrighted to them. If someone steals it without attribution then they are already violating copyright and I need only point here for proof of where the story came from.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 21, 2013, 08:07:24 PM Note: that being said, eventually the story will evolve to the point where posting it would be full of game-spoilers. At that point, I'll stop posting until the book is done and I put it up on Amazon.
Title: Re: Character Stories... Post by: Michael on May 21, 2013, 09:30:25 PM Note: that being said, eventually the story will evolve to the point where posting it would be full of game-spoilers. At that point, I'll stop posting until the book is done and I put it up on Amazon. And then I would want to buy it, but my grandmother won't let me :PTitle: Re: Character Stories... Post by: pspeed on May 22, 2013, 12:21:59 AM It will be an e-book and I may do promotional weekends where it will be free. Or it could be available in the lending library, also.
The Amazon route has options, at least. |