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malakai
06-07-2010, 06:37 PM
A tale of the Killer Siafu

A battle scarred warrior and an ancheint sorcerer looked out from their hiding place in a small copse of woods. A thousand yards away they could see the castle sized anthill city of the killer siafu.
"Why they are nothing so much as giant ants, and see the way they mill about so. Whatever are they looking for?" Asked the warrior.
"There is a tree of life in this region, they search for it's fruit. The fruit will grant robust health to any creature which consumes it. But the tree will magically relocate every time one of it's fruits drops from it's boughs, thus they must continually search anew. Sometimes they can be waylaid and the fruit taken from them."
"But I hear that many must be fought before such fruit is obtained."
"Yes, well angels and mages have a knack for finding them, but us more usual mortals must work harder for them."
"It seems as if it is not worth the effort." Sighed the warrior.
"Oh no, my freind, their flesh is worth up to 100,000 in the coin of the realm."
"That sounds like a lot, but in town it costs 300 just for a chicken leg."
"That is true, but let me tell you another trick. If you are careful not to damage their mandibles while you fight them, then their mouth parts make a fine set of throwing knives."

malakai
06-07-2010, 06:43 PM
The Lost Wars


The Wars were fought with ardent might
and Clan atreides won the fight
The Brothers in arms were humiliated
first of all was our clan rated
Then came ambush by the Bene Gesserit Witches
but we trounced those sons of snitches

Alas the gods played us not fair
of ancheint laws we were not aware
they tried to steal our hard won vic'try
but annulled were records both honorable and tawdry

Now although the annals are clean
no longer do the banners gleam
But soon we shall again prove our right
to boast and roar of our awesome might

Hail Atreides! Always Atreides! Long Live the Fighters!!!

Belarion
06-08-2010, 03:43 AM
Simply loveable :) I am not good at making short stories like these meself, but if i were i'd submit one.
I like the Atreides rhyme alot aswell! Although you could have gone without adding how awesome you guys are, and how little awesome others are :O

malakai
06-08-2010, 10:36 PM
You see me now, dressed in the finery of a court minstrel, scrubbed clean. ( as clean as an orc can be scrubbed, at least) You hear me speaking eloquent words without the typical guttural accent of my kind, and you feel only the slightest shudder of revulsion, which you are easily able to supress. You can swallow your skepticism as you hear my rhymes and listen to me strum the lyre. But it was not always this way.
I was born in a cavern beyond the sea caves, in the mountainous region north of the realm, far away from Algadon City. I was brought into the world in a lean year, and was the only one of five brothers and three sisters in my litter not to be eaten by our parents. And that was only because I escaped the shoddily built pen they kept us in.
I wandered down from the mountains and hid on the fringes of human civilization, and I learned much watching them from the shadows. I grew fast and strong stealing chickens and eating stray dogs. The first time a human actually witnessed my skulking crimes I caught the most wonderful scent coming from him. It was the smell of fear. That day I learned to savor the taste of manflesh. I thought there was no going back.
I learned to control my impulses in time, because I grew weary of being chased from hither to yon by mobs of villagers with pitchforks and flaming brands. I learned how much humans value the pretty metal which you call gold.
Soon I learned that there was a particular class of humans who wandered far and wide along the roads of Algadon, carrying wagonloads of goods and foodstuffs, as well as pouches of the yellow gold coins. They were easy to recognize. Many were careless, all called themselves merchants.
I remember the first one I took. I could smell his fear as he could smell my hide. He fell after two swift blows. I ate his flesh raw and cracked his bones with my thick molars so that I could suck out the marrow. Then I blinded the donkey which drew his little cart so that the wolves who had taken to following me about would be well fed and leave me be while I rested. I next smashed his little cart to splinters, laid his remains atop them, and used the red robes he wore as a mark of his trade as kindling. Then I sat down to warm myself by the blaze.
I remember thinking---I could get used to this.

malakai
06-09-2010, 09:30 PM
His name was One Rune, which is two words in our language, but one in his.
It was written with a single rune, of course, and meant literaly, the number
one. It also meant unity, solidarity, and well beginnings. I guess words
and runes have to take a lot of jobs in the language of the northmen, but in
any case, One Rune certainly had well beginnings.
He was the first born son of a cheiftain, strong of limb and long of bone.
His hair was golden and fell across his shoulders in loose curls. His ruddy
face seemed chiseled of granite, and was adorned with a close cropped beard
and a luxurious mustaich which drooped down around his hard set mouth.
his mail and arms were of the finest make I had seen, outside of the work of
legendary mages. He bore a horn trimmed with bronze which would sound out a
clarion call fit to summon an entire flight of angels.
We met at the northern border, along the cliffs by the coast. He approached
me solenmly, and I was surprised with his mastery of our tongue and of the
fair words of diplomacy. Not all northmen are barbarians.
One Rune had a message for the king, and he desired an escort to his palace,
and assistance in obtaining an audience. I think he assumed I was of the
upper class because of my sorcerer's robe, which would be rare and expensive
in his country. In any case, I saw a rare opportunity to gain the aid which
I had been seeking in my quest. We struck a bargain.
He followed me to the rough cut path which led down the precarious cliff
towards the sea caves. The crash of waves gradually became louder as we made
our way down the narrow, steep ledge. In one spot the ledge had broken away,
forcing me to leap across. I was not sure he could make it in all that mail,
but he scoffed at me and cleared the gap easily, his powerful legs bunching
and stretching out like the strike of a cobra.
The path let out on a small sheltered beach, a mere crescent of sand bounded
by shear cliffs on either side. We walked out into the surf a few yards and
I bid him to gaze up and down along the cliff face which we had just descended.
A myriad of dark caves pock marked the rock face.
"Behold, the caves of the sea creatures. Pick one, my comrade." Said I.
"If they are otherwise all the same, we should choose the easiest one. I
would rather wade into one of those black holes at sea level, than to have
to weary myself with a dangerous climb before a fight."
So we waded through hip deep surf into a dark cave. The roar of the crashing
waves was amplified within. We would not have heard it coming in any case, for
it swam through the dark waters until it was almost upon us, and burst up out of
the turbulent foam spraying salt water and roaring like a devil.
I raised my arms and began to channel the magic power through me, speaking
the words of power which I had learned from the ancheint scroll. The burst of
flame broke across its scaly skin, evaporating liquid into steam. Over and over
I pulsed the magic fireball into it's vicious visage, trying not to succumb to
the fear I felt under it's inimical gaze. One Rune flanked the beast, and cut
a deep score into it's scaly green hide with his blade, which he referred to as
a scaramasak, although it looked like a basic sword to me.
When it turned it's long razor sharp talons on him, and lashed
out at him with it's long spaded tail he retreated, and I once again gave the
creature a blast of arcane fire. Distracted, it turned towards me again, but
One Rune dashed forward through the dark water again, and cut it deep.
We went on thus for some time, both of us depleted in energy and leaving blood
to fall into the equally salty sea. But in the end it fell.
We drug its corpse out of the cave and carved it up on the beach. I knew
which organs would bear a high price at the spell shop back in Algadon city. The
hard and sharp tail blade I left for One Rune to take, knowing the weaponsmith
would either craft it into a formidible battleaxe for him or take it in trade, all at a
fair price.
We rested and built a small fire of driftwood, and cooked some of the creature's flesh for a quick meal, but we dared not tarry the night in that place. So, it was a hard climb in failing light back to the top of the cliff, Where we camped and talked long into the night over some fine Algadon wine and northmen's mead.
In the morning We packed up and turned south. I upheld my bargain and got him his audience. I never found out what it was that he had to say to the King. When I asked him, all he would respond was; "It's a private message"

Belarion
06-10-2010, 04:44 AM
Yoo, malakai? Ever thought about becoming a writer? That last one did indeed remind me of reading an actual book page.

malakai
06-10-2010, 06:35 PM
I actually did write a scifi manuscript once. it needed revision, and was still a work in progress when I lost it along with just about everything else in Katrina. (Swam out of mid-city in new orleans with five bucks and some cut-offs)
These little shorts are easy and fun. Co-ordinating an entire book is a lengthy, soul sucking process which consumes loads of ones life and has very little promise of any return.
Still, one day I might try it again. For now I hope everyone is enjoying reading these as much as I am writin them. I like taking context cues from the game and incorporating them into the tales. It helps the game take on life for me, and maybe for other players too.
Thanks for you interest, all any of us really have is time, if you think about it. So I appreciate you spending some of that most precious of things following my work.

malakai
06-10-2010, 07:06 PM
The wary shpkeeper took my coins and handed me a wheel of aged cheese. He was getting accustomed to seeing my grey pebbly hide, but I could tell he was still very much on gaurd.
I could understand, Orcs were rare in these parts, and they usually did not pay for the things they took. It was getting better though, the first time I walked into his shop he grabbed a cleaver and went into a combat stance. He was smart enough not to make the first move, though. He would not have survived my wrath.
It was like that all over the little towns which were scattered across the plain around Algadon City. People were slowly getting used to having me around. I still spent most of my time in the wilderness, hunting lone merchants and monsters. My companions were the wolves and buzzards which followed in my wake, feeding on the carrion, human or otherwise which I left behind.
I always behaved myself when in a town. I had learned better. Commerce with people had its advantages, it certainly was better than the hard life in the wilderness. When winter storms came, I could hike into a town, find an inn and hand over a few stolen coins so that I could sleep in warmth and comfort. When hunting was lean, I could buy cheese or sausages to sustain me. I had even taken to wearing clothes, although they generally stank, and were covered with dirt and dried splattered blood.
Coming out of the shop I was struck by a vision.
She stood there, tall, luminous and beautiful. Her hair was pale gold and her skin alabaster. A golden battle harness was set snug between her perfectly formed shoulders. Her features held a symmetry which was both hypnotic and terrifying.
I felt most curiously. A hunger which was not hunger, an aggression which was not violent consumed me. I wanted to both posess and worship her. I stood struck dumfounded, my gaze working slowly down her long frame as if I was reading a book. My eyes fell upon her legs at mid thigh, where the gentle snow white skin met the blue black of her tall boots. The boots were made of the skin of some large reptile, and I was fantasizing about sticking my long forked tongue down into the dark crease between her skin and that supple leather which encased them when my trance was broken by her slight, musical laughter.
"See something you like?" She said.
All I could do was bow my head humbly, and wipe the drool from my chin.
"It's alright, Malakai." She spoke again, somehow knowing my name even though I had not been able to utter a word in her presence. "I'm kinda used to it."
She reaced into a tiny pouch at her waist, pulled something out of it and flipped it at me. It was an emerald, small but flawless, and brilliant in the noonday sun.
"Go to the barbers and get a hot bath and a shave. Then go buy yourself some clean clothes. And put them on. When you've done that, contact a man in town who is staying at the Royal Inn. His name is Hotfire. Tell him Princess sent you. I think you may be a good addition to our clan.
And that was the beginning of when I became truly civilized.

Belarion
06-13-2010, 08:55 AM
Starting to look like an entire little story here. I should add something meself some time, whenever i randomly have the time :O

malakai
06-18-2010, 05:48 PM
My real name is Sam, but at the tiny Academy of Magic near the southern swamps where I learned sorcery they bid me take "a proper name". I chose one off of the gravestone of an old soldier of the long dead Padishah Empeorer, Shaddam IV. I changed the spelling a little, because I don't like the idea of restless spirits following me about seeking vengeance.
So Saudaukar it was, and I sit here now telling my story to a fabled scribe of the mighty clan Atreides, an orc no less. Who would have thought?
Now, I am a literate and well educated man, coming from a wealthy merchant family from Algadon city. I had the best tutors growing up. I was not the most eager student, but they pounded all that knowledge into me, and did it well enough that I was accepted to the Academy. The background was definitly needed to master sorcery, but I knew I was not cut out to be a full fledged mage.
A little aside here, and indulge me, dear reader while I explain the difference betwen mages and sorcerers. See, Mages bind magic into their very beings, becoming somewhat super-human, or in the case a a rare few, definitley super-human. A mage can write spells, create their own runes, and speak the secret arcane language fluently. We sorcerers know just enough to channel magic, rather than become mgical ourselves. We speak runes written by others, use ancheint tried and true spells and dare not modify them, lest we lose control of that energy and fry out either our bodies or our minds, if not both
In any case, although I am reasonably educated, there are some things that I just don't know. Being a city boy, hunting is one of them.
It was last winter, just two days after the solstice, and the snows had set in in the mountains. That was when the great wolf came down onto the plains and began to plague the little village where One Rune, my warrior companion, and I had holed up for the season. The villagers came to us, naturally, for aid. They knew we had slain sea creatures and siafu-ants a plenty, and they were confident in our ability to tackle the ravening wolf. More confident than we were, but then they weren't the ones risking their hides.
One Rune and I discussed it, and he thought that it would be worth the risk. We decided to get underway as soon as possible. One Rune told me that he had to go by the blacksmiths shop, and gave me a short list of supplies we would need to face the wolf.
"A crossbow, ok. A rapier, hmm, never seen you use one of those. and a bushel of potatoes?" Are you sure you know what you are doing?"
"Just get them for me, Saud, you'll see how it works out later, ok."
So we did what we had to do, bundled up in extra furs and struck out towards the goat farmer's land where the wolf had last been seen, carrying off two live kids in its jaws.
The goat farmer had a compost pile near his ramshackle old barn. One Rune nodded to himself with pleasure when he saw it, and he threw his heavy pack down and dropped to one knee by the edge of the compost pile. He drew out a handful of potatoes and scattered them about. Then he had me go speak to the goat farmer and obtain permission for us to camp out on the property that night.
By the time I got back he had set up a little campsite about twenty yards from the compost pile and begun to build a fire.
"What if the farmer had said no?" I asked
"He wouldn't."
"That tent only looks like its big enough for one to sleep in."
"I won't be sleeping, city boy, that's so you won't be cranky in the morning."
We sat by the fire and had a meal as darkness set in. It started getting prety cold, so I trundled off to bed, noticing that One Rune was staring at the compost pile with a loaded crossbow.
In the morning he had a string of about seven rats skewered on the rapier, and he was cleaning off spent crossbow bolts he had retreived from their bodies at dawn.
He slung the rapier over his shoulder and we began to march again. Mystified, I just followed along with him. We marched all day, One Rune appeared to be testing the wind repeatedly, and looking for something. He found that, a large tree, about half way through the day, and he lay down to catch some rest while I stood gaurd and made a meal for us.
"Don't use any potatoes, we need them all."
One Rune awoke at dusk. He ate in silence, then got up and tied a long cord from his pack around a crossbow bolt, and fired that over a branch high in the tree. The bolt came down and he detached it from the rope, and tied the rope to the still mostly full bushel of potatoes. Then he hauled the taters up into the tree, shimmyed up there himself and tied a loop-knot to secure it. The sun was fading and he bid me stoke the fire while he climbed back down.
I watched then as he slipped the now stinkyier than usual rat corpses off of the rapier blade and into the fire. Then he reloaded the crossbow, bid me climb up the tree to the knot of rope and the sack of potatoes, and he took up a post at the base of the tree with his back to the trunk.
It did not take the wolf long to find us. The fire and the scent of burning flesh must have called him. He came loping out of the darkness, solitary, growling, and massive. It was at least six foot at the shoulder, with a head like a cask and yellow fangs like daggers. One Rune shot it in the front shoulder with the crossbow as it charged him, then dropped the bow and drew the rapier. He needed it. The wolves jaws snapped about so fast that the lightweight fencing weapon was needed to fend them off. If One Rune had used his axe, the wolf would have had him after his first blow, because the slower axe would not have had time to recover. Now I began dropping a poison rain onto the wolf. I could see how it burned him, but the beast was tough, and multiple blows were only very slowly wearing him down.
One Rune was mostly fighting defensively, allow my spells to hurt the beast. Time and again its jaws barley missed his thoat, but then pulled away, lightning fast, as the rapier threatened its eyes. At last It began to weaken, and slow.
"The rope, pull the rope!" He creid, and I yanked on the knot, allowing the potatoes to fall free, down ten fathoms or so, and strike the wolf on its back, causing a loud snap as it cracked it's spine.
One Rune stepped back away from the wolf to the semi darkness at the edge of the firelight, retreived his battle axe, and struck the wolves head from its shoulders.
"You can come down now, city boy. It's over"

malakai
06-22-2010, 07:03 PM
Draco Gules Also known as the Common Red Dragon, is a creature native to the low desert and sandy wastes east of the kingdom of Algadon. It is the smallest species of Dragon known on the continent, usually reaching a length of about 15 feet, although specimens of up to 22 feet have been known to exist.
The Red Dragon is a ferocious fighter and an apex predator in its natural habitat. The sparse vegetation in this environment allow the Dragon to use its flaming breath weapon with alarming frequency without fear of destroying the local ecosystem. It hunts small desert creatures such as sidewinders, gila monsters, jackrabbits, kangaroo mice, buzzards, coyotes and roadrunners. It also supplements its diet with flora such as barrel cactus, saguaro and prickly pear cactus. The Red Dragon does not go out of its way to hunt humans and their ilk, but it will kill and devour them if they stray into it's terratory. Although after such a large meal they will become sedentary and hibernate in a cave or under the sand until the meal is digested.
The Red Dragon is highly agile and swift, and is capable of natural flight. (Unlike the much larger black dragon which stays aloft assisted by the presence of a magical organ in it's brain. See the entries under Draco Sable and Pegasus Wing Talisman. The extract from this organ is used in the manufacture of these magical items.)
The functioning of the breath weapon is thought to have a magical basis, or be a magically assisted biological function. There seems to be no limit to it's use of the flaming breath technique, and the highly irascable beast will aggressivley attack anything which moves with flames, talons and sharp teeth. The breath flames have low pressure, as if they are mostly composed of a lighter than air gas.
The Red Dragon is known to seek caves to lair in. The low desert and sandy waste region are thought to once have been a sea bed in the remote past, and there are limestone cave formations scaterred liberally thoughout the region. These creatures are possesed of an abnormally long life span, and are known hoarders of gold and other trophy items which they keep from hapless humans who wander into their turf. Their flesh makes an excellent meal and is considered a delicacy by the desert dwelling tribes of the area. It is usually eaten quite rare, as the flesh is highly resistant to heat and takes a long time to cook.
-From Liber Taxonomica Algadonesis by Malakai of Atreides.

malakai
06-22-2010, 08:59 PM
Excepted from the extended entry on Draco Sable from Liber Taxonomica Algadonensis by Malakai of Atreides.

-At the time i was sitting in my little workroom in the Keep of Castle Atreides, deep in the heart of Caladan province, southwest of Algadon City, along the rocky western coast. I was soothed by the crash of the surf against the base of the cliff far below, and I would occasionally clear my mind by gazing out the window at the marvellous ocean view.
My humble yet comfortable quarters were reward for faithful service in the Clan Wars, and, in accordance with my new title as Royal Scribe of the Atreides, I had been provided with them for the furtherance of my duties.
I was engrossed in my work, which was, at the moment, quite tedious; cataloging the dead and wounded of our clan, and penning letters of condolences to their widows and families, and the recording of disbursements of rewards, and pensions due.
He came into my study as he usually does, suddenly and utterly silently. I was rubbing my eyes and looked up to gaze out the window at the setting sun over the dark blue ocean once again, and there he was, doing that damn glowing thing, and holding his wings folded back behind him in an uncannily intimidating manner. I jumped a little and gasped. I do it every time, cant help myself.
"Dammit Hotfire, I asked you to quit sneaking up on me like that!"
"I've been watching you for a while."
"You're always watching, dammit, even in my nightmares."
"I mean over time. I have decided I have a special task for you."
This made me cringe, as boring as the secretary work was, I did not relish the idea of going out on another one of Hotfire's tasks. The last one had almost killed me.
"How may I be of service, My Lord," I said.
"First, you could sound a little more enthusiastic, but don't strain yourself."
"Yes my Lord." Humbly.
"I wish you to document the hunting of the Black Dragon. You will not need to fight it, for that you are not ready. Still, it will be dangerous. So you must not be reckless."
"I shall stridently endevour to preserve my grey orcish arse, sire."
"Good. Now, you will rise on the morrow, and meet with the Princess of Cyz. You will travel as part of her entourage, and witness her in personal combat with the beast. You will record what you see for posterity, and for the glory of the Clan."
"As you wish, sire."
"And Malakai, the documents before you must be complete by morning, for the journey will be long, and the wounded and the greived must be served promptly, lest our honour suffer."
"As you wish, sire." The last through gritted teeth.
I did mange to finish that work, and even get a little sleep. The next day I was woken by a page with a silver bell, and an empty bucket of water, as the bell had failed to rouse me. I reported to the great hall and took my meal alongside the company which was preparing for the Black Dragon expedition. I caught a glimpse of the Princess, and suddenly my task did not seem such a burden.
It took about a week of long marches to reach the mountain where the dragon was known to lair. Then there was the treacherous climb to the yawning cavern mouth near the peak. We were near my homeland, and I felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Only a few of us had made the climb. The cooks and ladies in waiting, the servants and their ilk, had remained at the base camp. Only I, the Princess and six gaurdsmen followed the guide up the steep path.
The guide halted at the cave mouth. The gaurdsmen were visibly nervous. The Princess, however, seemed unafraid. She respected this opponent, and was alert and ready. But she was also dead calm, seemingly unaware or unperturbed by the fearsome reputation of this dragon.
we proceeded down into the darkness, and right away a foul stench struck us. Princess muttered a few words of some minor, obscure spell and the stench faded. Then she drew out a blade crackling with bluish energy and the darkness was banished as well.
We heard a growl from deep within the cavern, but the light she bore did not penetrate that far. Suddenly, the dragon burst into flames all along its sinous back and it roared a mighty roar. Princess was upon it, and the gaurdsmen sought cover behind rocks, taking careful aim with their crossbows and reloading steadily as the mystic warrior Princess held the mighty beast at bay. She was a silluoette against the blazing animal, like a gazelle brazenly facing a flaming lion. The monster was fearsome. But she was fearless, and her magic and her weapons beat down the dragon mercilessly, until it fell back crooning in pain. At last she took its head in a mighty swipe of her magical Blade.
She wooped in triumph, and then cracked its skull open deflty with a special hammer which had dangled by her waist. Moving quickly, she drew out of its brain a small purplish organ, still pulsing with life, and waved to the gaurdsmen. Their leader stepped forward with a glass jar and a pair of special gloves. The Princess of Cyz donned the gloves and crushed the arcane organ with both hands, squeezing a purplish glowing juice into the jar, which the gaurdsman sealed and put away. It would later be used to make a magical energy talisman which could be worn on a garment, or around ones neck.
She strutted past me, back towards to mouth of the cavern, grinning broadly.
"Looks like I got me another pair of wings!"

malakai
06-24-2010, 09:22 PM
Draco Or

-Excerpts from the extended entry from Liber Taxonomica Algadonensis by Malakai of Atreides

Draco Or Magnus also known as the great golden dragon, is the largest and most powerful Draconic species on the continent of Algadon. The Golden Dragon dwells cheifly on mountain peaks or upon cloud islands. It is beleived that they sometimes seize the cloud islands from Sky Giants, and dwell in their castles thereon, for the Golden Dragon does not itself engage in construction or architecture. Golden Dragons' diet consists mostly of Sky Giants, giant mountain goats, young Rocs, gems and precious metals. They collect vast hoards of precious metals which serve as both beds and emergency food sources. Minerals and gold deposits find their way into the diamond hard scales of the creatures, which accounts for their color and the tremendous value of their hide. The highly magical nature of the golden dragon allow several magical items to be made from harvested parts, most notably the renowned Mask of Courage. Golden dragons can float like balloons or dart about like swallows. They are exceedingly intelligent, and many speak the tongues of man. They are capable of charming with their words, or even with their gaze alone. Only very powerful beings survive encounters with them, and even some of those end up enslaved, cursed, or insane.

--- I had only recently returned from the expedition hunting the Black Dragon,gotten a little rest and thenrecorded my experience on smooth vellum sheets. Just as I put the finishing seal upon the document, and rose from my chair to bring the scroll to the library vault, Our illustrious leader made another appearence. Once again I was startled at his sudden arrival, I swear I think he does it on purpose. It must amuse him.
"Well done, Malakai, Now prepare yourself for the next mission."
"Where am I off to this time Sire?"
"Both of us are going to visit the venerable Mage Masokis. Then you will act as an observer while he takes posession of a cloud castle that I desire as a summer retreat from its current resident."
"And whom, may I ask, is the current resident?" I said, knowing that I would not like the answer.
"A golden dragon. A most foul old wyrm. Its time has come, and Mage Masokis is just the hand for the deed."
"When will we be leaving?" I asked.
"Now." He said and gestured at the window. The great glass panes unbolted themselves and swung open. As I starred wide eyed at the window I felt strong hands grasp me by the elbows and lift me up. I felt myself lurch forward and I heard the rush of air under Hotfire's powerful wings as we surged through the open window out over the castle walls and the rocky sea cliffs far below. within seconds we were far out over the sea hurtling upwards towrds a string of puffy aclouds. Before too long we were amongst those clouds and I discovered that nestled between them was a smaller cloud fixed with a castle atop it. The castle had tall thin towers with arched bridges connecting them. Flying buttresses held up tall walls of great halls. It was a fairy tale castle, but built of cyclopean dimensions. I had learned from my recent studies that such huge castles in the clouds were the work of sky giants, but were coveted by both golden dragons and mages alike for their security and comfort.
We approached a balcony of a large tower which dominated the lesser structure around it. There was an entrace to the interior and we landed and passed through it. Some arcane rune etched secretly in the doorway glowed as we passed through, but Hotfire muttered a password and the rune did not fry us.
We entered a massive hall. It was sparsely furnished, yet what their was was all of excellent make and rare quality. There were tapestries with moving scenes of ancheint battles and hunts of mysterious monsters, a whale fur rug, and a number of gilt divans clustered around a huge fireplace. Only cold ashes were in the hearth, however, as the weather was fair.
Some yards off towards the center of the floor sat an ordinary looking man lazing in a golden throne. He had his feet propped up upon a jade coffer topped by a silken silver pillow. He wore a yellow silken tunic and blue denim pantaloons. On his feet were pink bunny slippers. I thought them mundane items until one of them blinked. He was smoking a fat cigar which gave off a delicious aroma, and I suspected that it contained some other rare herb in addition to tobacco. Before him was an enormous crystal ball, some four feet in diameter. Within its glass played a most curious scene. There was a stone arena of sorts, with a long rectangular field. Seated within the arena were hundreds of bronze skinned, scantily clothed people watching others run about the field below chasing a head sized ball. The people on the feild wore feathery costumes and would bounce the ball about with their hips and feet, trying to cause the ball to fly through stone hoops affixed to the narrow sides of the rectangular field. Some small groups of persons in very elaborate dress sat in boxes at these ends. watching the game with great enthusiasm.

"Malakai, Meet the esteemed Mage Sir Masokis of Atreides." Said Hotfire.
"My pleasure and honour, Sir Mage. May I ask . . . ?"
"Oh, I was just catching a game. Sacred Indian Football. Don't get too attached to a favorite team, though, they turn the losers into human sacrifices. "
"I have never seen people like that, their skin, their dress . . ."
"Oh, yeah. Aztecs. Live on a continent across the geat ocean. If you ever go to face a monster called Quetzalcoatl, you will find yourself in their land. Dont ask them for assistance though, they worship them."
"Thank you, I will remember that ."
"Allright them. Lets get down to business." He waved his hand and the crystal ball went blank. Then he kicked off the bunny slippers and they ran off to their closet.
"Me and Hotfire have to discuss some clan business, Hot here is gonna be away for a while. I'll have Dontello show you to your quarters and we will begin our little quest tommorow."
I just stood nodding in aknowledgement. This plain looking fellow had just referred to hunting a gold dragon as alittle quest.
"Where is that darn Imp? Dontello! DONATELLO!"
There was a puff of smoke and a two foot tall, devilish looking, bat winged, green skinned, fanged, drooling imp appeared before us
"You called Master" It said.
"Escort Malakai here safely to his assigned quarters, and have the kitchen send him up a suitable meal."
"Ah, the convert. We meet at last." Said the Imp
"Donatello, mind your manners. not all Orcs need be evil."
"Yes master"
I followed the Imp as the two powerful beings remained behind. As I left the room Hotfire was drawing out some map scroll and laying it out on a recently conjured table.
We went down a winding stair, each step three feet high. The Imp flew, appearing amused at my difficulty. We arrived in a long trophy hall with many solid doors along its lenghth. Passing many doors and many things, I saw there arks and chalices of gold, glittering robes hung on pegs, rare books and weapons of myriad kind. There was an old staff of the magi, left in the corner like it was a tattered, disused umbrella.
"Dontatello, Why do they call your master Masokis.?
"Tis not his true name, sure." The imp mused. "Dangerous it would be to let that out. But when he is wounded in battle, he laughs with glee, licks the blood and whatnot, and then redoubles his attack. He seems to enjoy the pain."
"Oh." Said I, still not understanding the reference. I decided to let it be.
Presently we came to a door, and the Imp let me in with a key. I was glad to be rid of him and closed the door behind me. The chamber was comfortable and the meal came quick. It was manflesh. I had not had it in some time. It was delicious, of course. Some one had scared this human good before slaying him, I could taste the fear. I appreciated the Imps joke. His master had said a "suitable" meal. But perhaps he should have been more specific. I just hoped it was a condemned criminal or something.

malakai
06-24-2010, 09:25 PM
Donatello fetched me back in the morning, luckily I did not have to climb that colossal stair again, but was led to a broad semicicular balconyon the east side of the castle overlooking a stunningly beautiful sunrise.
Masokis was there, looking quite different than he had the day before. He was clean shaven and had that disturbing glowy effect that the warrior angels like Hotfire and others have when they are angered or ready for battle. He wore magnificent robes and a myriad of various amulets and talismans. He was dripping with magic. He nodded at me breifly, gave a conspiratorial smile, turned towards the rising sun, raised his arms, and called a storm.
It came on fast, boiling up out of the sea borne upon a strong and steady wind out of the east. The clouds about us blew away and I could see the winds were carrying us further out to sea as the shoreline of Algadon's west coast faded into a limb and was gone.
It was several hours later when the winds died and we slowed. There was only our cloud alone in a vast blue sky. Masokis bid me to rise from the cyclopean chamber where we lounged as we waited and ate fine foods and sipped a blue wine. We went to the western balcony this time. Masokis worked another spell, calling the words out loudly, repeatedly, and there before my eyes, a veil of sorts parted, and another cloud island appeared. Its invisibility cloak dispelled, a hundred yards across a gaping divide which led all the way down to the tiny ripples of the waters below.
"Wait here, and keep your head low"
The dragon had roused itself when the invisibility spell went down. It was BIG. Its slow sinous roll and sudden flowing dashes through the air were mesmerizing. Masokis sprouted demon wings and engaged in aerial combat with it. He hit it with a spell called ice needle, which is not a fair description, for it should be called 'surging waves of thousands of five inch long ice daggers which can pierce a dragons scales and melt into acidic pain', but I guess that would be too windy. It was like watching a cockfight in a little village, but on a much grander scale. The Dragon was damaging the mage, it seemed like no human frame could withstand so much, but Masokis, true to the Imp Donatello's description, seemed to thrive on the hits he was taking. He crafitly led the beast back over its own cloud island. A couple of times as it swooped at him, and he would dart aside in a quick wingover manuever, and the dragon slammed into its own castle, damaging both itself and the castle. When it finally fell, it fell into the courtyard, rather than far below to be lost in the sea. In this way, the mighty mage insured that he could harvest its parts for valuable magical ingredients.
I was satisfied. I looked forward to another night in this comfortable castle and perhaps a little more manflesh for dinner. I would have to ask Donatello about it later.

Belarion
07-01-2010, 07:01 AM
A lone traveller, an ageless woman clad in flowing green and blue robes and carrying a walking staff, could be seen walking down an endless road, the landscape around her and the road changing from plains, to hills and even forests farther down. The road was straight as an arrow, going in a line though the landscape, and at the end of it, the sun could be seen rising up - it was dawn. The traveller looked towards that horizon as she walked forward determinedly, with the sun shining brightly down at her from above. There appeared to be noone else on the road but the woman, or in the surroundings for that matter. All of a sudden, she stopped up and smiled brightly, and looked up towards the cloudless sky instead, holding her staff in one hand upwards as well. For one moment, there was a flash of the brightest light around her. When it faded, the same woman stood in the same spot, in the same posture, but instead clad in armor of the purest gold, a white, flowing cloak and holding a spear in place of her staff. An aura of what looked roughly like fine golden dust radiating from her, falling downwards but never ceasing, not too unlike dust motes caught in the light.
She smiled and nodded, then changed position and began walking again, satisfied and maybe a little amused aswell, looking towards the horizon again, the sun now clear and well above it.

'Ever onwards.'

malakai
07-01-2010, 09:18 PM
Thanks for adding some content Bel! I'm guessing you went premium recently?

Belarion
07-04-2010, 09:08 AM
Yup! :)
Other people dont seem to be interested in your fan fiction though :S I read it and like it, however! :)

malakai
07-07-2010, 09:41 PM
I have a handful of readers in my clan. 525+ views and a dozen posts adds up to about four dozen readers or so . . . in my rough guess.
I am stewing on a story about a contest boss, now. And maybe something about the quests.

batdan13
07-12-2010, 08:04 AM
WOW, that is some excellent writing... I love your fan fiction and was totally engrossed in the story. if you ever publish a book, which i believe you are a good enough writer to do, let me know I will get in line to buy it!

Bat

malakai
07-12-2010, 07:26 PM
I still gotta do a little editing. Stay tuned for more.

malakai
07-12-2010, 08:20 PM
The Sorcerer known as Saudaukar and his hulking barbarian companion known as One Rune were in the great atrium of the Palace in Algadon city. One Rune had just carried a message to the King from the leader of the people of the Northern Reaches, and he found himself in a faraway land with nothing to do.
After exploring the (vast) gardens and wondering at the ornate fountain at the center of the hedge maze, One Rune drank of its healing waters and stared up at the statue of Algadon, the ancheint King and founder of the dynasty which ruled to this day. He wanderred around but found he could not remeber the way out. He did find a sewer hatch and heard faint noises coming out of it. After prying open the hatch with his sword and descending within, he battled a pack of 20 lb rats and found the long straight passages underground much preferable the the winding paths of the labyrinth above. Soon it was evident that he within the legendary dungeons beneath Algadon City. There were more vile creatures down there, but none were very threatining. Huge spiders and were-rats, two foot long stinging centipedes and evem a goblin or two which gave some credence to the legend that there were connections to the deep underworld somewhere within.
At length, One Rune found another sewer hatch out of the dungeon and emerged into a seedy part of the city. He made his way back towards the gleaming towers of the palace which rose far above the skyline of the squalid theives quarter like a beacon back towards wholesomeness.
In an open square along the way there was a public bulletin board advertising for stout warriors to be paid in gold for assuming duty patrolling the castle gates. One Rune took the post and followed its instructions, a little bit of comfortable garrison duty was just what he needed to earn a little sppending monet and take time getting to know the city and its people better. He found Algadon a very pleasant, yet complicated place, and was happy to live there.

malakai
07-13-2010, 09:43 AM
Rise Atreides, rise in pride
Let the banners proclaim
10000 have died
by the blood on our blades
and the banners which fly
Rise Atreides, Rise in Pride
Sing loud, chorus of what has
befallen
this time around our deeds shall not be forgotten
Rise Atreides, And claim your reward
vengeance and glory at the tip of a sword
Rise Atreides and drink till besotten
For none can deny;
The Rissen have fallen.

malakai
07-15-2010, 06:09 PM
One Rune spent several months on the patrol squad at the castle gates. He made many freinds, the best of which was the Sargeant at Arms in charge of the gatehouse. One day the Sargeant and he were having an ale at their favorite tavern, and the Sargeant asked One Rune about his future plans.
"You seem to be getting bored of the patrol duty, Rune. And I know that you are capable of much greater things. I hate to say it because I don't want to lose a good gaurdsman and a loyal freind, but I think you should think about moving on."
"I have been thinking much the same thing, Sarge. It's just that I am very comfortable here, and I don't know where to go after this. I am not ready to return home. I have many years before my father will pass his crown to me, and I need to learn much about the world before I can step into his shoes."
"I may have a few ideas. There are many deeds which need doing, in the name of the King of Algadon. Many carry rich rewards. I have in mind a little charity work for you, to get you out of the barracks and into the world, but soon there are some very special missions which have your name written all over them."
The sargeant sent One Rune to a little border village which had been ravaged by repeated goblin strikes. The local clans were constantly engaged in petty wars, which left them disunited and vulnerable to the goblins depradations.
One Rune brought his official gaurdsman's helet with him, as that would identify him to the locals as a representative of the King. First he gathered leaders from the several little villages in the area, which was far from the capitol city, and difficult for the King to protect directly. He pled with the clans leaders to make peace, so that they could unite to fend off the goblins, and he promised a retributive strike from the kings men to support them if they would.
At length, they swore upon the helmet, which bore the King's badge, to make peace with each other. Then they organized a teams to patrol the outlaying lands near their villages, and another team to rebuild the damaged graineries of the last village which had been raided by the goblins. By working together with the folk of various villages, the people became freinds and the peace between them strengthened.
The work on the graineries was almost done, and the villagers were gathering in their crops to store within it, when a new goblin strike came out of the dense forest. One Rune rallied the troopers and stood at the front of the battle line, bellowing orders and encouragement to the men. He sucessfully fended off the goblin strike, and then true to his word, he left for the capitol city, and told the King's Chamberlain that the time was ripe for a counterattack.
The king sent in a company of light horsemen, along with a powerful mage. The goblins were not only driven back into the depths of the forest, but back to the dark cave which was their egress from the underworld. There, the Kings men would go no further, but the Mage used a mighty spell to seal the mouth of the cave forever.
One Rune returned to the capitol city, leaving the grateful villagers behind. He told his tale to the Sageant at arms at the gate, and resumed his duty there for a little while, waiting for the next important quest to fall upon him.

DoomAx
07-20-2010, 08:32 AM
As a sci-fi/fantasy writer myself, i can only encourage this kind of initiative ( even if you didn't trounced us, we won :cool: ).

malakai
02-10-2011, 07:32 PM
I, Saudaukar the Sorcerer, spent five years working for the Overlord's Alchemist, gathering rare ingredients and racking up credit in the royal treasury. Not those hyper-inflated gold certificates they issue for monster parts and used weaponry, but real coin, made of precious metals, and proofed with the royal seal. When I had enough, I brought them all to the Royal Academy in Algadon City and began taking instuction for becoming Saudaukar the Mage.
First were the runes. I had to learn their meanings and the mystic energy formations that they respresented. Then were the combinations, the ones to avoid, the ones which could be used as building blocks for complex spells, and the ones meant to be used alone. At last, when my mind wa bent and twisted by these arcane undrstandings, I was ready for the transformation. My body was prepared with a balm,I was lain naked on a stone table under the moonlight, and the ceremony was begun. My body was infused with arcane energy. It burned with an indescribable pain, I felt reduced to an island of agony for what seemed like an eterity. At length, I passed out from the pain.
I awoke with the sun shining down on me. An apprentice was sitting nearby, waiting for me to come around. He had covred me with a blanket, and he had a pitcher of water, a loaf of bread and some cheese. I knew the apprentice by sight, but could not recall his name. I saw the look in his eyes and I could tell he had become afraid. He was formal and subservient. I did not really like it, but I had been warned that the transformation would cause this effect on those around me. I had to do with a magical aura, as well as plain old mundane superstition.
My next plan was to explore the dragon claw cave to gather energy crystals. I used my new skills to write my first unique spell. ( as a sorcerer I had only been able to use spells written by others) This magicked a sturdy backpack made of red dragon skin into being several times larger on the inside than on the outside. I crammed a hundred days worth of provisions into it and descended into the mammoth underground cavern.
My sojourn there was largely boring, and I did not encouter anything more interesting than a few curious bats. It was when I emerged that things became interesting. It was a three day journey back to the Keep of Clan Atreides, so I devised a haste spell and made it in one long day. I was too late to reach the gatehouse by nightfall, however, and since both the gaurd and the passwords had been changed during my absence, I was stuck staying in the inn in the little village outside.
I awoke to an alarm and the smell of smoke. I hastily threw my clothes on and ran outside. The keep was burning. The gate was open and soldiers and servants were streaming out. Even the stones appeared to be on fire when I looked more closely, and then I knew that the Clan arcane energy bank had been spilled and set afire via magic.
Who would do such a thing? I ran toward the keep, Frightened commoners running in the opposite direction parted before me like a stream around a boulder. I realized that my magic aura had begun to glow with my own fury. Inside in the courtyard I could see a dozen broken and collapsed bodies. There, badly bunrt and with at least one wing broken, lay the semi-conscious body of Hotfire, our clan leader. I held his head and checked his breathing. He would survive, but had much healing before him. I asked him what had happened.
"Traitors from within," he coughed and spat. "They blew the energy vats. We are undone." Then he lost consciousness and I thought that it was best to let him rest. Several Warrior Angels loyal to the now destroyed clan came for him and bore him away to the healers on high. I rummaged through the burning ruins after protecting myself from fire with a hastily comprised spell. In the corner of the courtyard I found the broken body of our former scribe, Malakai the Orc. There were blade marks on him, so I now knew that there had been a raid in the predawn hours. Some one must have let in a raiding party which attacked any resistors and fought their way to the energy supply so that they could destroy us. I summoned a small swarm of sprites and a skullcrusher ogre with my new powers. I bade the sprites lift Malakai and follow me, The Ogre went before me, clearing the way of debris and anyone who might have delayed us. I knew that no Angels would come to save Malakai, and that I would have to do something myself.
In the village was a old healer who was able to stabilize his condition, but he warned me that Malakai would be crippled and possibly blind. There would be little hope for him, being an orc, even with his eloquence and reputation as a civilized being.
I arranged to bring him to Algadon City and brought him to the Overlord. I did not know what else to do. I was surprised at the Overlord's answer, for his answer is usually "NO!"
The overlord suggested that we go through with a transformation into a Warior Angel. I would have thought the process too strenous for his damaged body, but the Overlord corrected me.
"You are thinking of the process which converted you into a mage. This is different. He will need no special training, and will feel no pain. In fact his broken body will be discarded and will turn to ashes. A new spirit body will be formed of sterner stuff than mortal flesh. I am in a way of knowing he will make it. And he has all the Royal Credits he needs anyway in our vaults, It is not as if he is getting special treatment."
I bade the Overlord to approve the process forthwith, and began at last to contemplate where I would go from here. Alas, for all my skills and powers, I had no answers.

mailmeharry2008
02-11-2011, 07:52 AM
What is all this bro? But i like the poems in the beginning by you......
Were those self made?

malakai
02-11-2011, 12:35 PM
thank you H,
These are all original works of Fantasy and Rhyme set in the world of Algadon which we all share. The monsters and equipment and quests are taken from the game and used to help tell a tale. The characters and some events also are based on game events and accounts.
I hope you enjoy them.
R

mailmeharry2008
02-12-2011, 01:10 AM
Not really though, bro, as i didn't get the time to read so many big big posts of yours, but i read few in the beginnings. And that make me feel you are poetic. And you have the talent of writing poems :)

Greg1923
03-19-2011, 04:39 PM
and you do not know that the games can cause attachment and, therefore, not all games are allowed in the list, but I want to tell you that he personally checked and nothing wrong with that found freelance writer (http://www.asiawriters.com) no

mailmeharry2008
03-21-2011, 02:52 AM
Ooooo, since my last visit no post, i expected more of your stories/poems malakai. But make them short so i can read them with ease. LOL.

crewman
04-21-2011, 12:27 AM
I learned to control my impulses in time, because I grew weary of being chased from hither to yon by mobs of villagers with pitchforks and flaming brands. I learned how much humans value the pretty metal which you call gold.
Soon I learned that there was a particular class of humans who wandered far and wide along the roads of Algadon, carrying wagonloads of goods and foodstuffs, as well as pouches of the yellow gold coins. They were easy to recognize. Many were careless, all called themselves merchants.

mailmeharry2008
04-21-2011, 01:36 AM
Hmmm.....:eek: