Gunpowder Knight
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Gunpowder Knight
I'm a hurrying.
Side note:
Stardock is awesome. Look at what's on their website.
10 New Years Resolution for the Gaming Industry:
1. Stop with the obnoxious DRM. If people are going to pirate your game, they're going to pirate it. Reward the people who buy your games. Make it more convenient to be a customer than to be a thief.
2. Don't release games until they're finished. People will forgive you for moving a date back for quality, they don't forgive you for rushing out an unfinished game.
3. Don't forget that not everyone has brand-new hardware. Make sure your games will work on the hardware that people have today.
4. Fun trumps graphics. Nintendo is doing well because they remember that games are supposed to be fun. The latest blood spatter particle effect won't beat out a fun game.
5. Expansion packs should not be glorified patches. This is like #2. If your game does have bugs, fix them in an update, don't charge for them in the form of an expansion pack.
6. Help Jack Thompson find a real hobby.
7. Please make a sequel to Planetscape: Torment.
8. Make better user manuals.
9. We don't need every movie to have a game tie-in.
10. Don't make me be on-line to play your game if it's a single player game.
Side note:
Stardock is awesome. Look at what's on their website.
10 New Years Resolution for the Gaming Industry:
1. Stop with the obnoxious DRM. If people are going to pirate your game, they're going to pirate it. Reward the people who buy your games. Make it more convenient to be a customer than to be a thief.
2. Don't release games until they're finished. People will forgive you for moving a date back for quality, they don't forgive you for rushing out an unfinished game.
3. Don't forget that not everyone has brand-new hardware. Make sure your games will work on the hardware that people have today.
4. Fun trumps graphics. Nintendo is doing well because they remember that games are supposed to be fun. The latest blood spatter particle effect won't beat out a fun game.
5. Expansion packs should not be glorified patches. This is like #2. If your game does have bugs, fix them in an update, don't charge for them in the form of an expansion pack.
6. Help Jack Thompson find a real hobby.
7. Please make a sequel to Planetscape: Torment.
8. Make better user manuals.
9. We don't need every movie to have a game tie-in.
10. Don't make me be on-line to play your game if it's a single player game.
Re: Gunpowder Knight
WOOT! another top 10 list!
*run off to post ir on Digg...*
*run off to post ir on Digg...*
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Seven is the most important topic.
So, as a preview for the next Gunpowder Knight episode:
Alex is recalled to Capital city, where the League of the Source seem to be out for his head. Something strange is still wrapped around his destiny, and Alex is tired of not knowing what.
Will he survive?
Yes.
So, as a preview for the next Gunpowder Knight episode:
Alex is recalled to Capital city, where the League of the Source seem to be out for his head. Something strange is still wrapped around his destiny, and Alex is tired of not knowing what.
Will he survive?
Yes.
-
Forboding Angel
- Evolution RTS Developer
- Posts: 14673
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43
Re: Gunpowder Knight
I hate you :/
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Uh-oh...
If Forb hates me, then I can't do any work on his project, which means all those characters I thought up will have to go into Limbo, and character's really hate it when I put them in limbo. It's always, "I don't want to go into Limbo, Zoombie, please put us in a new story!"
Well, lets just say Pyra has a high spot on the list for getting out of Limbo. I'm sure it'll annoy Lizzy, Amber, Ashly and Tanaka (who were all right up there on the list).
I'll have to imagine those guys some poker...maybe strip poker!
That'll keep all of us entertained, right Prime?
(wanders off, talking to himself)
If Forb hates me, then I can't do any work on his project, which means all those characters I thought up will have to go into Limbo, and character's really hate it when I put them in limbo. It's always, "I don't want to go into Limbo, Zoombie, please put us in a new story!"
Well, lets just say Pyra has a high spot on the list for getting out of Limbo. I'm sure it'll annoy Lizzy, Amber, Ashly and Tanaka (who were all right up there on the list).
I'll have to imagine those guys some poker...maybe strip poker!
That'll keep all of us entertained, right Prime?
(wanders off, talking to himself)
-
Forboding Angel
- Evolution RTS Developer
- Posts: 14673
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Need... moar... story....
I'm dying inside :/
I'm dying inside :/
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Re: Gunpowder Knight
If've proofread the next piece.
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Alex stepped off the wagon and stretched his back. Fort Bronze was...pretty much the same as the last time he had been here. Dirty, crammed full of wounded Knights, and surrounded by a stiff blockade. The cannons looked different, the walls were slowly turning from wood to reinforced stone, and the flints were all bolt-flints...but underneath, it was still the same Fort Bronze.
Alex sighed and stood around with the other Knights who weren't wounded.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did you do?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them asked. Alex cocked his head.
The other Knight sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI stabbed a man in a fight. Getting court martialed.├óÔé¼┬Ø He twitched slightly.
Alex edged away from him.
An hour later, another wagon showed up and Alex, two other Knights and a single unassuming servant got onto it. It trundled out of Fort Bronze, and into Imperial territory.
Alex watched the servant, who was a blocky fellow with flinty eyes and gray hair. He couldn't place why, but the servant bothered him. Alex edged away from him.
###
Two more stops later, and the wagon reached Capital City. Alex got off and watched the servant, who hadn't said a thing for the entire trip, walk off. The other Knights were lead away by guards.
And Alex was left alone, standing next to the wagon.
He tapped his foot, looking around. Something prickled along his neck, his hair sticking up into the air. He glanced around, trying to hide his nerves and-
DUCK! His hind brain shouted at him. Alex ducked and a sizzling bolt of Ghost Light flashed overhead. The Ghost Light sliced through a wall, leaving a glowing red line through the stonework. The wall struck crumbled and the rattling of police bells started to chime. Alex rolled to his feet and looked around for whoever was attacking him.
A Source stood across the street, her blindfolded eyes watching him. She nodded slightly, as if assuring herself that something had happened. Her hand, a twisted around a sphere of violently pulsating Ghost Light, slowly retracted into her robes. The Source turned and vanished into an alleyway.
Alex thought about it for a moment, then followed.
Alex paused, standing at the entrance of the Alleyway. What the hells is going on? He thought, reaching into his pocket for his bayonet. He'd been relived of his flint before entering the city, but going unarmed was so against his instincts by now. The bayonet hadn't been too hard to hide in his pocket...he started running down the alley way.
And ducked when a sword whistled over his head. He skidded to a stop as a red robed figure swung her sword at him again. He rolled away, knowing better than to parry a sword with a puny bayonet. The figure nodded at him, then vanished.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is getting mildly annoying,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, wiping his forehead off with his arm. He saw a flash of red at the corner of his eye. He spun and saw, predictably enough, another red figure. This one ducked into another alley way.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex spat. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey want me to follow them...so I won't.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned on his heel and walked down the street. He passed by a crowded tavern and ducked into the main lobby. Sound and heat smote him in the face. The people in the tavern didn't look old enough to be drinking. Beardless faces and rounded faces all laughed and talked to one another. A few glanced at Alex.
Then the laughter slowly died. The men looked at Alex with distinctly unfriendly looks. He looked around.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnight,├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I was just...looking for a drink.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, why don't you go back to the war you love so much.├óÔé¼┬Ø A earnest, redheaded young man walked out of the crowd.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hells is going on here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snarled, suddenly angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôI walk into a inn, and now you're all ribbing me because I got drafted!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redhead blinked as Alex advanced on him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone who says they love war is an idiot. And anyone who thinks we want to fight is an idiot as well. And if I knew that this was the welcome I would receive, I would have told the messenger to shove my recall order up his own ass!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redheaded man backed away from Alex.
Alex glared around at everyone. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou owe your Knights some respect.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned around and walked out of the inn. He closed the door, and saw five red robed figures standing in a semi-circle around him. They held wicked knives in their hands.
Alex hurriedly turned around, opened the door and slammed it behind him before five knives thunked into it. He saw the surly young men glaring at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou back to lecture us some more?├óÔé¼┬Ø The redhead asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...yes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight after I handle this one thing.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He opened the door and peeked out. The red robes were gone, but their knives were left behind. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, yanking two knives out of the door and slipping them under his belt.
He stepped out and gritted his teeth. So the League wanted him dead. They weren't' trying very hard: No flints, no bombs, no disguises to get close to him. He'd faced worse from Silverback infiltrators. Not many, mind you, but worse.
He looked around the street. No red robes. Not that that meant much. He tapped his fingers against the hilts of the throwing daggers, then started to jog down the street. He stopped at random intervals, to throw off the aim of any flints, crossbows, regular bows, magical bolts of energy, throwing knives or plain old rocks. He stopped right when a flint went off- it was an older model, with lots of flash and boom.
And it missed by a good margin, the flint shot sparking off the cobble stones. Alex turned to face the alleyway from which it had been fired. The red robe snarled, her brow furrowing behind her blindfold.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are touched,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, lowering her archaic flint-pistol.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you're a shitty assassin.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, drawing his bayonet. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy does the League want me dead?├óÔé¼┬Ø
But the red robe was gone. Alex sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is getting old.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
He kept walking, heading in a huge loop around the Capital City. The constabulary had almost finished investigating the destroyed building by the time Alex walked past it again. And yet, no more red robes appeared and tried to kill or maim Alex.
He paused by the constable's that had cordoned off the area. When he asked what had happened, they just said ├óÔé¼┼ôStructure collapsed, possibly due to sabotage.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex sighed. Then he hear feet running up behind him. He spun around, hand going to his knives.
Key ran up to him and hugged him around the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank the gods I found you!├óÔé¼┬Ø She breathed, dragging him away from the rather envious looking constable.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex hissed the instant they were out of earshot. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour co-workers have been trying to poke me full of holes all evening!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not sure...they sent me off on a cock-and-bull assignment too, but Tessa warned me they were going to try and kill you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key paused, looking at Alex through her blindfold. At night, Alex could see two faintly glowing spots behind the red cloth.
├óÔé¼┼ôTessa?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Source who healed you and spouted the prophecy. She got some of what I...feel channeled through her and, well, it's made her like you a bit more than she normally would.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôLove saves me once again-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, run!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at what Key was looking at. Five redrobes, holding balls of Ghost light in their hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not running and leaving you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex growled.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh, gods, don't be a styero-├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redrobes brought their hands up. The Ghost light flashed.
Alex squeezed Key's hand.
The redrobes hurled the balls of ghost light forward. They hissed through the air like angry snakes. Alex felt one sear along his arm, another singing the hair on his head. Others burst into the buildings around and behind him and key, blasting apart pavement. Chunks of rock whizzed by, catching at his clothes like plucking fingers.
Then it was over. The five redrobes stared at the cratered ground that surrounded Key and Alex.
Alex felt his arm, which had most of the cloth ripped away, and hissed as his fingers probed burnt flesh.
Another redrobe appeared even as the five others vanished. This one was different. She wore a very exquisites red robe, with gold lining and no hood. Her hair, which was pure white, spilled down her back, while her serene, ageless face looked down her nose at Alex and Key.
├óÔé¼┼ôSource Eternal,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key breathed.
Eternal nodded slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, it is true.├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, her voice sounding conspicuously like Alex's mother in an echoy chamber. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have been touched by prophecy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bristled. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo that whole trying to kill me thing...that was just to see if I'm actually protected by prophecy! You could have-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe had to be sure.├óÔé¼┬Ø Eternal bowed her head slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is very good for you, Alexander of Tervarthen. It is also very bad for you, Keyandria of Holden.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked, looking at Key. She blushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...much like my full name.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCasting prophecy on one who is not foretold in the Scrolls is against stricture,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eternal said, stepping forward. She held out one of her hands. Her fingers were incredibly long, almost insect like.
├óÔé¼┼ôB-but...├óÔé¼┬Ø Key bit her lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will love him...├óÔé¼┬Ø She blushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI already do, actually.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't matter why you did. Only that you went against Scripture. ├óÔé¼┼ôEternal sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemove your blindfold.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key trembled, but did as she was asked. Alex winced as Key stepped forward. He couldn't see her eyes...only the bright, incredibly bright light that shone from them, throwing Eternal's face into an white glare.
Eternal reached forward and...the light vanished. Key crumpled and Eternal vanished.
Alex ran forward, skidded to a stop, and knelt by Key. She moaned as he gently rolled her over. She had her eyes jammed tight.
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, open your eyes,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can't,├óÔé¼┬Ø She moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need my blindfold-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKey...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex felt a bit queasy. If he was wrong...├óÔé¼┬ØI don't think you need your blindfold anymore...open your eyes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key slowly opened her eyelids. Two gray orbs stared out.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex...I can't see you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key whimpered, her hand reaching up. Her fingertips brushed against Alex's shirt, then grabbed it and pulled him closer. Her hands slid around his chest and to his arms. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm blind...oh gods, I'm blind!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hugged her, biting his lip.
Key buried her face in his shoulder and stifled a sob.
Alex sighed and stood around with the other Knights who weren't wounded.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did you do?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them asked. Alex cocked his head.
The other Knight sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI stabbed a man in a fight. Getting court martialed.├óÔé¼┬Ø He twitched slightly.
Alex edged away from him.
An hour later, another wagon showed up and Alex, two other Knights and a single unassuming servant got onto it. It trundled out of Fort Bronze, and into Imperial territory.
Alex watched the servant, who was a blocky fellow with flinty eyes and gray hair. He couldn't place why, but the servant bothered him. Alex edged away from him.
###
Two more stops later, and the wagon reached Capital City. Alex got off and watched the servant, who hadn't said a thing for the entire trip, walk off. The other Knights were lead away by guards.
And Alex was left alone, standing next to the wagon.
He tapped his foot, looking around. Something prickled along his neck, his hair sticking up into the air. He glanced around, trying to hide his nerves and-
DUCK! His hind brain shouted at him. Alex ducked and a sizzling bolt of Ghost Light flashed overhead. The Ghost Light sliced through a wall, leaving a glowing red line through the stonework. The wall struck crumbled and the rattling of police bells started to chime. Alex rolled to his feet and looked around for whoever was attacking him.
A Source stood across the street, her blindfolded eyes watching him. She nodded slightly, as if assuring herself that something had happened. Her hand, a twisted around a sphere of violently pulsating Ghost Light, slowly retracted into her robes. The Source turned and vanished into an alleyway.
Alex thought about it for a moment, then followed.
Alex paused, standing at the entrance of the Alleyway. What the hells is going on? He thought, reaching into his pocket for his bayonet. He'd been relived of his flint before entering the city, but going unarmed was so against his instincts by now. The bayonet hadn't been too hard to hide in his pocket...he started running down the alley way.
And ducked when a sword whistled over his head. He skidded to a stop as a red robed figure swung her sword at him again. He rolled away, knowing better than to parry a sword with a puny bayonet. The figure nodded at him, then vanished.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is getting mildly annoying,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, wiping his forehead off with his arm. He saw a flash of red at the corner of his eye. He spun and saw, predictably enough, another red figure. This one ducked into another alley way.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex spat. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey want me to follow them...so I won't.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned on his heel and walked down the street. He passed by a crowded tavern and ducked into the main lobby. Sound and heat smote him in the face. The people in the tavern didn't look old enough to be drinking. Beardless faces and rounded faces all laughed and talked to one another. A few glanced at Alex.
Then the laughter slowly died. The men looked at Alex with distinctly unfriendly looks. He looked around.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnight,├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I was just...looking for a drink.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, why don't you go back to the war you love so much.├óÔé¼┬Ø A earnest, redheaded young man walked out of the crowd.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hells is going on here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snarled, suddenly angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôI walk into a inn, and now you're all ribbing me because I got drafted!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redhead blinked as Alex advanced on him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone who says they love war is an idiot. And anyone who thinks we want to fight is an idiot as well. And if I knew that this was the welcome I would receive, I would have told the messenger to shove my recall order up his own ass!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redheaded man backed away from Alex.
Alex glared around at everyone. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou owe your Knights some respect.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned around and walked out of the inn. He closed the door, and saw five red robed figures standing in a semi-circle around him. They held wicked knives in their hands.
Alex hurriedly turned around, opened the door and slammed it behind him before five knives thunked into it. He saw the surly young men glaring at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou back to lecture us some more?├óÔé¼┬Ø The redhead asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...yes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight after I handle this one thing.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He opened the door and peeked out. The red robes were gone, but their knives were left behind. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, yanking two knives out of the door and slipping them under his belt.
He stepped out and gritted his teeth. So the League wanted him dead. They weren't' trying very hard: No flints, no bombs, no disguises to get close to him. He'd faced worse from Silverback infiltrators. Not many, mind you, but worse.
He looked around the street. No red robes. Not that that meant much. He tapped his fingers against the hilts of the throwing daggers, then started to jog down the street. He stopped at random intervals, to throw off the aim of any flints, crossbows, regular bows, magical bolts of energy, throwing knives or plain old rocks. He stopped right when a flint went off- it was an older model, with lots of flash and boom.
And it missed by a good margin, the flint shot sparking off the cobble stones. Alex turned to face the alleyway from which it had been fired. The red robe snarled, her brow furrowing behind her blindfold.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are touched,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, lowering her archaic flint-pistol.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you're a shitty assassin.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, drawing his bayonet. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy does the League want me dead?├óÔé¼┬Ø
But the red robe was gone. Alex sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is getting old.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
He kept walking, heading in a huge loop around the Capital City. The constabulary had almost finished investigating the destroyed building by the time Alex walked past it again. And yet, no more red robes appeared and tried to kill or maim Alex.
He paused by the constable's that had cordoned off the area. When he asked what had happened, they just said ├óÔé¼┼ôStructure collapsed, possibly due to sabotage.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex sighed. Then he hear feet running up behind him. He spun around, hand going to his knives.
Key ran up to him and hugged him around the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank the gods I found you!├óÔé¼┬Ø She breathed, dragging him away from the rather envious looking constable.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex hissed the instant they were out of earshot. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour co-workers have been trying to poke me full of holes all evening!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not sure...they sent me off on a cock-and-bull assignment too, but Tessa warned me they were going to try and kill you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key paused, looking at Alex through her blindfold. At night, Alex could see two faintly glowing spots behind the red cloth.
├óÔé¼┼ôTessa?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Source who healed you and spouted the prophecy. She got some of what I...feel channeled through her and, well, it's made her like you a bit more than she normally would.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôLove saves me once again-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, run!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at what Key was looking at. Five redrobes, holding balls of Ghost light in their hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not running and leaving you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex growled.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh, gods, don't be a styero-├óÔé¼┬Ø
The redrobes brought their hands up. The Ghost light flashed.
Alex squeezed Key's hand.
The redrobes hurled the balls of ghost light forward. They hissed through the air like angry snakes. Alex felt one sear along his arm, another singing the hair on his head. Others burst into the buildings around and behind him and key, blasting apart pavement. Chunks of rock whizzed by, catching at his clothes like plucking fingers.
Then it was over. The five redrobes stared at the cratered ground that surrounded Key and Alex.
Alex felt his arm, which had most of the cloth ripped away, and hissed as his fingers probed burnt flesh.
Another redrobe appeared even as the five others vanished. This one was different. She wore a very exquisites red robe, with gold lining and no hood. Her hair, which was pure white, spilled down her back, while her serene, ageless face looked down her nose at Alex and Key.
├óÔé¼┼ôSource Eternal,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key breathed.
Eternal nodded slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, it is true.├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, her voice sounding conspicuously like Alex's mother in an echoy chamber. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have been touched by prophecy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bristled. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo that whole trying to kill me thing...that was just to see if I'm actually protected by prophecy! You could have-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe had to be sure.├óÔé¼┬Ø Eternal bowed her head slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is very good for you, Alexander of Tervarthen. It is also very bad for you, Keyandria of Holden.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked, looking at Key. She blushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...much like my full name.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCasting prophecy on one who is not foretold in the Scrolls is against stricture,├óÔé¼┬Ø Eternal said, stepping forward. She held out one of her hands. Her fingers were incredibly long, almost insect like.
├óÔé¼┼ôB-but...├óÔé¼┬Ø Key bit her lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will love him...├óÔé¼┬Ø She blushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI already do, actually.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't matter why you did. Only that you went against Scripture. ├óÔé¼┼ôEternal sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemove your blindfold.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key trembled, but did as she was asked. Alex winced as Key stepped forward. He couldn't see her eyes...only the bright, incredibly bright light that shone from them, throwing Eternal's face into an white glare.
Eternal reached forward and...the light vanished. Key crumpled and Eternal vanished.
Alex ran forward, skidded to a stop, and knelt by Key. She moaned as he gently rolled her over. She had her eyes jammed tight.
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, open your eyes,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI can't,├óÔé¼┬Ø She moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need my blindfold-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKey...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex felt a bit queasy. If he was wrong...├óÔé¼┬ØI don't think you need your blindfold anymore...open your eyes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key slowly opened her eyelids. Two gray orbs stared out.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex...I can't see you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key whimpered, her hand reaching up. Her fingertips brushed against Alex's shirt, then grabbed it and pulled him closer. Her hands slid around his chest and to his arms. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm blind...oh gods, I'm blind!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hugged her, biting his lip.
Key buried her face in his shoulder and stifled a sob.
.
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Sorry.Zoombie wrote:Key.
Poor Key
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Forboding Angel
- Evolution RTS Developer
- Posts: 14673
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Epic Bump... Must not fall to 2nd page.
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Foxomaniac
- Posts: 691
- Joined: 18 Jan 2006, 16:59
Re: Gunpowder Knight
You there, needs moar TASClient.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Re: Gunpowder Knight
Fun fact! Bureaucrat is not spelt Bearucat!
Carefulling is not a word either
Carefulling is not a word either
Re: Gunpowder Knight
I was in a hurry and didn't get to spell check...
###
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry sir, we can't help you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex slammed his fist down on the countertop that separated people waiting to ask questions and the Bureaucrats that took them.
The bureaucrat in question, a mousy young man with spectacles and not time spent shaving, jumped.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't help me?├óÔé¼┬Ø He growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe League brought me from the war, a war we need every man for, and then tried their damndest to kill me. Failing that, they BLINDED my...love!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex reached over the countertop and grabbed the bureaucrat's shirt, yanking him forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø He growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me if there is anything you can do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI-I-I-I-I-├óÔé¼┬Ø The bureaucrat quivered. ├óÔé¼┼ôD-d-don't have the a-atho-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen GET someone who DOES!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex threw him back. The bureaucrat staggered backwards, almost falling over. Other people in the lines actually clapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou show him,├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted.
The Bureaucrat turned on his heel and ran for his life. Alex stood and glared at nothing in particular until...
A rather slim, deadly looking man with a leather jacket and a strange badge over his right breast walked out of the back rooms, followed by the mousy man.
Alex's brow furrowed and he snapped his fingers at the deadly man. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh, you recognize me...I guess the disguise needs be more complex.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you'd have to rip out your eyes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glanced around. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey give you away.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man nodded, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome,├óÔé¼┬Ø He gestured to a small door between the countertop and the backrooms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll handle your problem.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex slipped through the door as the rattled bureaucrat stared at him. He grinned at the bespectacled man, and the bureaucrat flinched.
Alex followed the dangerous man into the back rooms of the Administration Complex, passing by rooms filled with shelves, crammed to overflowing with records, books, and, behind locked doors, forbidden texts. The dangerous man stopped, took a right turn, and lead Alex to a small office. He stepped behind the scrupulously clean desk and sat down.
├óÔé¼┼ôSit,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, gesturing Alex to a very uncomfortable wooden chair. Alex sat down and gritted his teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø The dangerous man looked Alex over. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen...I must ask, why have you suddenly become so interesting?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex scowled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean, sir?├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man laughed.├óÔé¼┬ØAnd how do you know I outrank you?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex pointed at the desk. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor one thing, your desk is clean. Only someone high ranking could have a servant high ranking enough to sort through your papers and get it that clean. I'm guessing you have a retainer, possibly a Knight Lieutenant with rich parents.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man smiled even wider. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if I'm just neat.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, sir. Anyone who can spend time disguised as a servant doing Gods know what outside of our country doesn't have the time to keep their desk clean, and is high ranking enough to get enough paperwork.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are a sharp one,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man's smile faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôImaginative.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex simply glared at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôSource Eternal and her Sources are vital to our war effort. You disturb them. We gave them free reign to deal with you. We let them recall you, then try to kill you.├óÔé¼┬Ø The man shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey said the problem was solved, and we were happy because a Knight with a rather heroic record like you-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked. Heroic record?
├óÔé¼┼ôOh, don't look so surprised. You...challenged Prince Lewis and defeated the fat prick-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex blinked again. ├óÔé¼┼ô-You survived several assassination attempts from the Silverback underground AND our own League of the Source. You've successfully commanded a squadron through some of the toughest fights in the war, to this date, and are well on track to getting your own platoon.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...sounds more heroic when you put it that way.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're glad to not lose you. Now, does that answer your question?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to grab control of the conversation. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, not at all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugged again.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want my love's sight to be returned. If they want to punish anyone, they should punish me!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugged a third time. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid the Source Eternal was quite final on that matter. However, I believe I could be convinced to ask her again...├óÔé¼┬Ø His eyes became cold and mean. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the way, you're re-call orders are being drafted, Alexander. Do you want to go back to the front tomorrow or in a week.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex gritted his teeth. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou son of a bitch...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll head back tomorrow, if I can meet with Eternal today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can arrange that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stood up, glad to be out of the chair and away from this odious, mysterious man. He walked out of the office.
###
Key lay in the Tervarthen manor's guest room, staring at the ceiling. She wore her blindfold, but she was really blind now. No longer did she see the Ghost Light that swam underneath the skin of the real world.
She started to cry again, her hands going to her face, eyelids closed. Her eyes felt big and uncomfortable compared to the empty sockets that had been there before. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't like her,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father muttered, turning away from the guest bedroom. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is she? Why would Alex fall for a blind girl? Why hasn't he told us about her before!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mother sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôBoys are secretive.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father scowled and jumped when the door to the guest room opened and Key walked out. She put her hand to the wall to keep herself on track. But she still looked right at Father.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex and I,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her voice soft. ├óÔé¼┼ôMet at Shrillbore...it is a city in the Southlands.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father sniffed. Mother looked shocked. Key went on, ignoring them (not that she could see Mother).
├óÔé¼┼ôI was working with regimental command as a lie detector.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key stepped closer, her hand trailing on the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I didn't like him at first. Too uptight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father said something along the lines of, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe nerve!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut then...I watched him and you know what? He's a hero.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key stepped forward and reached forward. Her fingers brushed Father's chest, then found his shoulder and clasped it. ├óÔé¼┼ôA good man.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôT-thank you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key nodded. Then- ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you get me a cane?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mother left, and came back with one of Father's walking sticks. Key took it and smiled bitterly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She started to tap her way around the house, carefully going up and down stair. She was busy exploring the lobby when Alex opened the front door.
She looked up, holding out the cane when Alex sweeped her up into his arms and kissed her. She tried to say something, but it came out as ├óÔé¼┼ôMmmph!├óÔé¼┬Ø, and dropped the walking stick.
Father and Mother cooed, holding each other and remembering their first kisses.
Then Alex kissed Key again...and again...
Father coughed and Mother blushed. They left, leaving their son alone with Key. Alex broke one last kiss and sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow...you can do that all the rest of the week,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key said, her voice breathy and her face flushed. If this is love, I think I can get used to it, she thought.
Alex's face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I have something to tell you, Key...├óÔé¼┬Ø He picked her up and she yelped. He kissed her. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn a bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He carried her up to the guest room, closed the door and...
Key trailed her fingers over Alex's chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can get used to this,├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôAbout...that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing Key's head with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been recalled...I have to head back to the Front tomorrow.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key breathed, hugging him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gently pushed her away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I have to meet with some officials tonight.├óÔé¼┬Ø He rubbed her cheeks, clearing up tears that had started to trickle down Key's face.
He kissed her on the forehead. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will survive. Remember? I'll just hold back at Redbroke-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôStroke. Redstroke,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key said, her voice stuffy. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you die, Alex, I'll never forgive you. Because,├óÔé¼┬Ø She sat up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've stated to make me fall in love with you...├óÔé¼┬Ø She sniffled. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually, you've succeeded. A-and if you die, then I'll...never forgive you!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hugged her and whispered endearing somethings into Key's ear.
Then he slid out of bed and got dressed, resolutely keeping his back straight. He bit his lip, and looked back at Key one last time. Key didn't look at him.
He patted her on the shoulder, then left.
###
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry sir, we can't help you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex slammed his fist down on the countertop that separated people waiting to ask questions and the Bureaucrats that took them.
The bureaucrat in question, a mousy young man with spectacles and not time spent shaving, jumped.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't help me?├óÔé¼┬Ø He growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe League brought me from the war, a war we need every man for, and then tried their damndest to kill me. Failing that, they BLINDED my...love!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex reached over the countertop and grabbed the bureaucrat's shirt, yanking him forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø He growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me if there is anything you can do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI-I-I-I-I-├óÔé¼┬Ø The bureaucrat quivered. ├óÔé¼┼ôD-d-don't have the a-atho-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen GET someone who DOES!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex threw him back. The bureaucrat staggered backwards, almost falling over. Other people in the lines actually clapped.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou show him,├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted.
The Bureaucrat turned on his heel and ran for his life. Alex stood and glared at nothing in particular until...
A rather slim, deadly looking man with a leather jacket and a strange badge over his right breast walked out of the back rooms, followed by the mousy man.
Alex's brow furrowed and he snapped his fingers at the deadly man. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh, you recognize me...I guess the disguise needs be more complex.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you'd have to rip out your eyes.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glanced around. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey give you away.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man nodded, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome,├óÔé¼┬Ø He gestured to a small door between the countertop and the backrooms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll handle your problem.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex slipped through the door as the rattled bureaucrat stared at him. He grinned at the bespectacled man, and the bureaucrat flinched.
Alex followed the dangerous man into the back rooms of the Administration Complex, passing by rooms filled with shelves, crammed to overflowing with records, books, and, behind locked doors, forbidden texts. The dangerous man stopped, took a right turn, and lead Alex to a small office. He stepped behind the scrupulously clean desk and sat down.
├óÔé¼┼ôSit,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, gesturing Alex to a very uncomfortable wooden chair. Alex sat down and gritted his teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø The dangerous man looked Alex over. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthen...I must ask, why have you suddenly become so interesting?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex scowled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean, sir?├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man laughed.├óÔé¼┬ØAnd how do you know I outrank you?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex pointed at the desk. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor one thing, your desk is clean. Only someone high ranking could have a servant high ranking enough to sort through your papers and get it that clean. I'm guessing you have a retainer, possibly a Knight Lieutenant with rich parents.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man smiled even wider. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if I'm just neat.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, sir. Anyone who can spend time disguised as a servant doing Gods know what outside of our country doesn't have the time to keep their desk clean, and is high ranking enough to get enough paperwork.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are a sharp one,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man's smile faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôImaginative.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex simply glared at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôSource Eternal and her Sources are vital to our war effort. You disturb them. We gave them free reign to deal with you. We let them recall you, then try to kill you.├óÔé¼┬Ø The man shrugged. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey said the problem was solved, and we were happy because a Knight with a rather heroic record like you-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked. Heroic record?
├óÔé¼┼ôOh, don't look so surprised. You...challenged Prince Lewis and defeated the fat prick-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex blinked again. ├óÔé¼┼ô-You survived several assassination attempts from the Silverback underground AND our own League of the Source. You've successfully commanded a squadron through some of the toughest fights in the war, to this date, and are well on track to getting your own platoon.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...sounds more heroic when you put it that way.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're glad to not lose you. Now, does that answer your question?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tried to grab control of the conversation. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, not at all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugged again.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want my love's sight to be returned. If they want to punish anyone, they should punish me!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man shrugged a third time. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid the Source Eternal was quite final on that matter. However, I believe I could be convinced to ask her again...├óÔé¼┬Ø His eyes became cold and mean. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the way, you're re-call orders are being drafted, Alexander. Do you want to go back to the front tomorrow or in a week.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex gritted his teeth. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou son of a bitch...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll head back tomorrow, if I can meet with Eternal today.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can arrange that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stood up, glad to be out of the chair and away from this odious, mysterious man. He walked out of the office.
###
Key lay in the Tervarthen manor's guest room, staring at the ceiling. She wore her blindfold, but she was really blind now. No longer did she see the Ghost Light that swam underneath the skin of the real world.
She started to cry again, her hands going to her face, eyelids closed. Her eyes felt big and uncomfortable compared to the empty sockets that had been there before. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't like her,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father muttered, turning away from the guest bedroom. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is she? Why would Alex fall for a blind girl? Why hasn't he told us about her before!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mother sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôBoys are secretive.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father scowled and jumped when the door to the guest room opened and Key walked out. She put her hand to the wall to keep herself on track. But she still looked right at Father.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex and I,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her voice soft. ├óÔé¼┼ôMet at Shrillbore...it is a city in the Southlands.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father sniffed. Mother looked shocked. Key went on, ignoring them (not that she could see Mother).
├óÔé¼┼ôI was working with regimental command as a lie detector.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key stepped closer, her hand trailing on the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I didn't like him at first. Too uptight.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father said something along the lines of, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe nerve!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut then...I watched him and you know what? He's a hero.├óÔé¼┬Ø Key stepped forward and reached forward. Her fingers brushed Father's chest, then found his shoulder and clasped it. ├óÔé¼┼ôA good man.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Father blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôT-thank you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Key nodded. Then- ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you get me a cane?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mother left, and came back with one of Father's walking sticks. Key took it and smiled bitterly. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She started to tap her way around the house, carefully going up and down stair. She was busy exploring the lobby when Alex opened the front door.
She looked up, holding out the cane when Alex sweeped her up into his arms and kissed her. She tried to say something, but it came out as ├óÔé¼┼ôMmmph!├óÔé¼┬Ø, and dropped the walking stick.
Father and Mother cooed, holding each other and remembering their first kisses.
Then Alex kissed Key again...and again...
Father coughed and Mother blushed. They left, leaving their son alone with Key. Alex broke one last kiss and sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow...you can do that all the rest of the week,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key said, her voice breathy and her face flushed. If this is love, I think I can get used to it, she thought.
Alex's face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh, I have something to tell you, Key...├óÔé¼┬Ø He picked her up and she yelped. He kissed her. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn a bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He carried her up to the guest room, closed the door and...
Key trailed her fingers over Alex's chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can get used to this,├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured.
├óÔé¼┼ôAbout...that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing Key's head with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been recalled...I have to head back to the Front tomorrow.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key breathed, hugging him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gently pushed her away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I have to meet with some officials tonight.├óÔé¼┬Ø He rubbed her cheeks, clearing up tears that had started to trickle down Key's face.
He kissed her on the forehead. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will survive. Remember? I'll just hold back at Redbroke-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôStroke. Redstroke,├óÔé¼┬Ø Key said, her voice stuffy. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you die, Alex, I'll never forgive you. Because,├óÔé¼┬Ø She sat up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've stated to make me fall in love with you...├óÔé¼┬Ø She sniffled. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually, you've succeeded. A-and if you die, then I'll...never forgive you!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hugged her and whispered endearing somethings into Key's ear.
Then he slid out of bed and got dressed, resolutely keeping his back straight. He bit his lip, and looked back at Key one last time. Key didn't look at him.
He patted her on the shoulder, then left.