×1. Method of Presentation

You can tell us verbally or in writing, or you can even build a hold. Be creative. The idea is to keep us interested. Visitors come and go. Your job is to get them to stick around and hear (read or see) the whole story. If you can think of another medium for your yarn-weaving then ask me for approval. I will probably give it.


2. About the Story

Your story should be based on the Eighth and if you want to earn the most potatoes you should be very entertaining and follow all the rules.

The story should take no longer that 30 minutes to either hear, read, play or see the whole thing but it must be long enough to make the guest feel you really told them a story. If you can do that in 5 minutes, great.

For holds that have puzzles in addition to scripts or in-game video, please keep this 30 minute time limit in mind. You will want the story to be the main attraction not the puzzles.

Definition:

"spin a yarn":
"Tell a story, especially a long drawn-out or totally fanciful one, as in 'This author really knows how to spin a yarn', or 'Whenever he's late he spins some yarn about a crisis'. Originally a nautical term dating from about 1800, this expression probably owes its life to the fact that it embodies a double meaning, yarn signifying both 'spun fiber' and 'a tale.'" (From Answers.com)


3. Posting and Voting

All the entries need to be posted in this thread by no later than 05-15-2008 5:00AM. Guest can vote at anytime until 05-19-2008 5:00AM or they run out of potatoes. That means there are 4 days between when the last story can be entered and all the judges can vote.

The winners for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be submitted to the grand counsel before the 05-21-2008 5:00AM deadline and posted here as well. See below for the list of prizes.

Each judge is given 10 potatoes in a bucket and can vote them all to you or spread them around. As a Storyteller you get 10 potatoes just for entering and an additional 10 potatoes to vote with, but you can not give those potatoes to yourself or make any deals with other Storytellers about distributions of your votes. Deal-makers will be kicked out of the contest and the inn and notices will sent to all the other inns warning them of your behavior.

4. Official Notice

Each entry must have one of these required official notices:

"This is the Yarn [Name of Story].
Told in the written tradition by [Name of Storyteller]."

"This is the Yarn [Name of Story].
Told in the oral tradition by [Name of Storyteller]."

"This is the Yarn [Name of Story].
Told in the hold tradition by [Name of Storyteller]."

The notice must appear as the first line in the post or at the top if it is the only text. It must be formatted in '+1' and 'blue' text. The notice must match the method you, the storyteller, have chosen to tell your yarn in. If you have been given special permission to use a method not listed then I will give you an approved notice upon your approval.

5. Entry Information

You can have up to 3 entries, but as with another contest, you must wait until someone else posts an entry before you can post your next entry. This means we will not have your entries in a row.

If your entry is audio then use the following format: WAV, OGG, or MP3 files. It is recommended to use settings of 16bit, 44.1 khz, mono, but it isn't required. If you choose to put your offering in a WAV file, put the WAV file into a ZIP or RAR file. Watch your file size.

You can also post the text of your story if you like. Use a secret tag so if someone wants to follow along or if they can not play your file for some reason (like they do not have speakers) they can still enjoy the story.

If your entry is in writing then you must write it in your posting. You can use all the features of the forum in your storytelling but it can not be an attached file. It can be in a secret tag, but that is not required.

If you build a hold then you will need to attach it to a post here, in this thread.

Do not forget to place the required notice in the post.

6. Special Instructions:

If English is not your strongest language then place the phrase: "Please, excuse my accent" at the beginning of your story. It is my hope that no one will mark you down for errors that come from a lack of knowledge of English, but we can not guarantee it.

7. Prizes

Grand Prize: For the Storyteller who got the most potatoes. All the potatoes awarded, 15 Mod points, plus a one year contract as the Head Storyteller with the Fireside Inn of Grensworthy. The contract requires only weekend storytelling times and includes room and board as well as a new Padded Chair by Stuffel placed right next to the fire, something every Storyteller desires.

Second Prize: All the potatoes awarded, 10 Mod points plus a one year contract at second Storyteller with the Fireside Inn of Grensworthy. The contract requires weekday storytelling times and includes room but not board. You can use the old Padded Chair by Stuffel placed right next to the fire."

Third Prize: All the potatoes awarded, 5 Mod points plus a one year contract at third Storyteller with the Fireside Inn of Grensworthy. The contract requires weekday and weekend storytelling times and includes room but not board. You supply the chair.

Any entry that gets at least 1 potato: 1 Mod point and a free jug of leaf juice at the bar.

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×Gather round.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer!

All right. My tale begins last... Wait... is the door shut? Make sure it’s closed tight. If anyone overhears… Yes, yes, you can get up to close the door. But come right back.

Okay, listen carefully. Forget what you’ve heard up until now. Here’s the real story. The story they don’t want you to know about. The story behind the story. I swear it’s true. I got it from a fellow guard who knows the guard whose brother heard the story from a friend of the person who saw it all. I’ve been afraid for my life ever since I heard about it, and the only way to be safe is to spread the truth. Once it’s out there, they won’t be able keep it quiet.

Have any of you ever wondered why so many guards are killed in the dungeons? Why are we down there in the first place? What are we guarding against? Monsters? Stinking dungers? It never made sense to me. Until now.

You’ve probably all heard of the Rooted Empire and the City Beneath. Some of you have even been there. But most don’t come back. And now everyone will know why. But I believe it all started right here -- in Dugandy.

Ouch! Hey, no potato throwing. Fine. I’m just going to add this to my pot, smarty pants.

Ahem. Okay, where was I? Ah yes. Remember how that dunger Beethro Budkin snuck out of King Dugan’s dungeons and disappeared into the Rooted Empire? Well, little did he know that a guard named Tonesh Tonlarch was tracking him the whole way. Tonesh is one of the Guards in Black. I know. I know. Most of us don’t believe they exist. I didn’t. But then I heard this story. So wait until I finish, and then you can decide what’s true and what’s not.

After tracking him for months, Tonesh finally caught up to Budkin last Quarsuary. It was on a high narrow road. He followed that sneaky delver all the way down to the City Beneath. The journey was long and dangerous. Only his quick reflexes, his tenacious cunning, kept his presence hidden. Tonesh’s adventures make great stories all on their own … hundreds of monsters, roaring rapids, frozen wastelands, hiding from gossipy negotiators… but those stories will keep for another day. The truth I’m gonna reveal starts when they got to a place called… the Holding Vats.

After weeks of hair-raising adventures, Tonesh arrives at the Holding Vats. He spots Budkin duck into a room. Tonesh peeks around the doorway. There’s Budkin walking down a corridor after some fat bureaucrat. Now there must have been ten guards in that room, but Tonesh knows he can’t lose Budkin now. He has a feeling here’s a chance to finally learn what that dunger is really up to. So he recklessly strides into the room and raises his sword. The guards rush him. The odds are terrible, but Tonesh – and remember, he’s a Guard in Black – Tonesh manages to win the fight and he’s free to run down the corridor into the next room.

Now imagine a huge room. Filled with row upon row of bubbling… brewing… stinking… vats. As far as the eye can see. Vat after vat after vat.

Sneaking as close as he dares to Budkin and the bureaucrat, Tonesh overhears the man identify himself as an archivist. They’re whispering, but he catches the words “plans” and “goals” and “slaves” and “vat born.” Something is definitely up. And it was starting to look like Budkin was in on it. Tonesh was going to find out what, even if it killed him.

He wants to stay and investigate the vats, but Budkin is on the move again. Tonesh dogs that delver’s footsteps through torture chambers, battlegrounds, monster infested lands and catacombs. And finally, they reach… the Pirate Hideout!

Tonesh misses most of the action there. He’d been delayed in a place called the Rasarus Archipelago. But he arrives in time to see Budkin killing a roomful of guards. Guys just like us. It was awful. After the criminal delver leaves the room, Tonesh takes the time to look around for wounded. He’s thinking, “These are fellow guards after all. I’ve got to help if I can.”

And that’s when an odd thought occurs to him. One that no one has ever thought before. When you hear it, you’ll think it’s odder that no one has.

This is the thought, “Why are there no bodies? Where did they go?”

Doesn’t it seem strange, now that you think about it, that all you get is a splat of blood and then… nothing? Shouldn’t there be something left behind? Where do the bodies go?

So there’s Tonesh. Standing, almost paralyzed by this troubling thought, when he hears voices heading his way. He’s too far from the exit Budkin took, and the voices are coming from the door nearest to him. Luckily there’s a barrel nearby. He lowers himself into one and waits. And this is what he overhears:

“How many this time?”

“…thirty-nine, forty, forty-one. Ooh, forty one more. First Archivist will be pleased.”

“You are certain of the count?”

“Absolutely. Though, of course, we must cross-reference records at Processing Station 316.”

“Very well. You know, someone should build a statue to Budkin.”

“Tee hee hee. Why don’t you suggest it? ”

“Very amusing. Come. We must return to vat level for the cross-reference.”

Now Tonesh has a dilemma. His mission is to follow Budkin… to discover his true purpose. But these two archivists, minor figures as they might be, sound like they could lead him to an important revelation. There was more, much more, going on here. So he tells himself, “I’ve caught up with Budkin before, and if I need to, I will again.” But for now, he’s going to follow this new thread to see if it leads to some answers.

The two archivists lead him back to the Holding Vats, bickering oddly the whole way. Tonesh follows them into a room and almost misses seeing them slip through a secret passageway, but he manages to jump through just as the wall closes behind him. There’s nowhere to hide, but there’s an archivist robe hanging on a hook by the entrance. He slips it on quickly while their backs are turned, grabs a clipboard from a nearby desk and tries to look officious.

“Who are you?” the shorter one asks him as Tonesh walks up.

“Uh, new transfer. Just waiting for instructions.”

“I’m 313th Archivist. This is 312th. You can help us while you wait. We’ve got to do a cross-reference, and, frankly, since you’re obviously of lower seniority, you can do the count. Better that way anyway… you don’t know what the number should be. Right through there.” 313th Archivist gestures to an open doorway.

Tonesh figures he’d better do as he’s asked. It’s the only way he’s going to get more information. So he walks through the doorway. When he sees what's in there... it takes everything he's got to keep from screaming. Remember how Tonesh wondered about where the bodies go? Well, now he knows. And it’s horrible.

The room is walled with transparent cylinders. Each cylinder has a hose attached to the top and another at the bottom. And inside some of those containers are the bodies of the guards that were killed in the Pirate Hideout.

We’ve never seen dead bodies before, but Tonesh described them later to his friend, who told his brother, who told his friend, who told my friend, who told me. He said their flesh was torn open where they’d been stabbed. There was dried blood and fluids everywhere. He could even see their insides. It was awful. I can only imagine. I don’t want to ever see it myself.

But the worst thing was that it appeared the bodies were melting. I don’t know how he got control of himself – I don’t think I could have done it and I’ve seen some pretty horrible things, we all have – but Tonesh knew he had to regain his calm and go back into the other room to give those ghouls their “count.”

So he takes a deep breath, closes his eyes to the horror surrounding him, and waits a few minutes. He isn’t going to actually count the bodies and he doesn’t give a roach’s rump if that messes up their despicable experiment. As long as he finds out what it is.

Tonesh goes back into the main room and says, “Forty-one.”

313th Archivist nods and turns to the 312th, “See?”

Tonesh decides to take a chance. “Look,” he says, “uh, I really haven’t been briefed at all. So what’s all that about anyway? Looks interesting.”

The 312th Archivist’s eyebrows shoot up. “Good grief! They’re sending us complete ignoramuses. Are we that under-staffed? Come with me.”

The 313th stays behind while Tonesh is led back into the main holding vat area. “See up there?” the 312th asks him, pointing at the tubes running along the ceiling. Tonesh nods. “Well, you know we hatch monsters here right? You at least know that?” he asked sarcastically. Tonesh answers, “Of course.”

“Well, what did you think monsters are made of? Roach dust? Um, okay, there is a bit of that in there, but only for the first iteration. Anyway, we need an infusion of something that knows how to fight and what better material than guards? Especially since the DAA Arrangement. Once the bodies melt in the processing room, the fluid is delivered through those tubes down into the vats. It’s building material for the monsters. Haven’t you ever wondered why there are so many guards when everyone here knows there’s no real “enemy” to guard against?”

Before Tonesh can really process what he’s just been told, the 312th looks at him a bit more closely. “Wait a second. Why are you carrying a sword? And what’s that sticking out from the top of your robe? Hey you’re a--”

Overcome by disgust, and fearing he’s about to exposed, Tonesh thrust his sword into the archivist’s chest. As the body winks out of existence, he thinks, “Good. Maybe he’ll end as monster material. Hmph. That’s one monster that won't make friends easily.”

“What am I going to do?” he wonders. He knows he’s got to get back to Dugandy. Maybe he doesn’t have the whole story, but he’s got enough to raise alarms. He’s certain the delvers have made some despicable arrangement with the DAA and the City Beneath to use guards for building monsters. At this point he doesn’t care why. He just needs to get back and report. But he’s got to clean up a loose end and maybe get some more information in the process.

Now I never knew Tonesh myself, but I have a feeling that, for all his fighting skills, he wasn’t the sharpest sword in the armoury. No disrespect. Because upon seeing Tonesh, bloody sword in hand, menacingly approaching, the 313th Archivist immediately hits an orb. Alarms start ringing. “A guard? Here? Aumtlichs to me!” And aumtlichs, monsters whose very gaze will burn you where you stand, start pouring out from the now open southern wall.

Tonesh is completely outnumbered, and, for once, he knew he didn’t have a chance. He can’t risk dying now – especially knowing that all he can hope for is to become monster material. He’s got to get back and report. So he swallows his pride and makes for the exit.

I won’t go into the details of his escape, but eventually, bloody, hungry and exhausted, he makes it back to Dugandy.

Safely home, he knows he’s got to clean up a bit before heading to the castle. He thinks he’ll probably have to speak to the King and he should look presentable. Not wanting to upset his family with his sudden, and bloodied, appearance, Tonesh decides to sneak into town after dark and go to a friend’s house.

His friend – I won’t reveal his name – is shocked. Not only does Tonesh look awful, he’s been gone over a year. While Tonesh cleans himself up and dresses in a borrowed uniform, he tells his story. It’s very late by this point, so his friend suggests waiting until morning to report. As vital as the information is, Tonesh’s captain won’t appreciate being woken up in the middle of night. Besides, they’ve waited this long, one more night won’t make a big difference. And Tonesh could certainly use the rest.

Next morning, Tonesh leaves his friend’s house for the castle, promising to return as soon as he can get away. His friend wasn’t a guard, but he was ready to enlist if there was going to be a war.

So what do you think happened next? You’d imagine that alarms were raised. Forces gathered. Maybe an invasion planned? There should have been lots of activity at the castle. Messengers rushing to and fro. Shouting. Advisors with worried looks rushing about. You’d think. But no, there was nothing. And no Tonesh.

When Tonesh still hadn’t turned up a week later, and not noticing any unusual activity at the castle, his friend started to worry. And wonder. Luckily, he was a little brighter than Tonesh.

Next day at the market, he casually asked a guard how he’d go about finding out what had happened to a friend who’d gone missing. “Speak to the archivist at the guard house” he was told.

So that’s what he did. He said he was there on behalf of the family, who were worried that their son had been gone on a mission for over a year and they hadn’t heard from him since. When he mentioned Tonesh’s name, the archivist looked at him sharply and then started to flip through some scrolls. “Tonesh Tonlarch... Tonesh… ah yes. Here it is. Well this is unfortunate. The family should have been notified months ago.”

“About what?” the friend asked.

“Well, it appears that Tonesh Tonlarch was killed almost a year ago in a dungeon raid. I’m so sorry. I have no idea how this was overlooked. Please give my condolences to the family. They will be sent a personal message from the Captain. What did you say your name was? So I can note it down for our records.”

His friend gave a fake name and quickly left, hoping he hadn’t raised any suspicions. Something was definitely wrong. He was started to realize this conspiracy might go deeper, or shallower as it were, than the Rooted Empire and the City Beneath. Worried for his own life now, he decided he’d better leave town and quickly. But first, he needed to make sure the story wouldn’t die if he was captured, or worse. So before leaving he told his brother the entire story and told his brother to tell anyone else he trusted. The truth had to be exposed.

And that’s how I eventually came to hear the story. And that’s why I’m here tonight. To share it with my fellow guardsmen, so that together we can do something about it.

Why are you all looking at me like that? Don’t you see what this means? Don't you understand? It’s not just the City Beneath. It’s not just the Empire. It must have started right here. And they’re all in on the plot. The King, the DAA, the Archivists, the Patronage… the delvers! The delvers are behind it all.

It’s the only thing that makes sense. We guards have to stick together. We have to fight back! We have to spread the truth! The people won’t stand for it if they knew--

Hey! How did you get in here? Who called the King’s Personal Guard?

No! No! You can’t silence the truth. You can’t! It’s down there! Dungeon monsters are guards!!! – mmph!

-- Ahem. Sorry about that folks. Now that the crazy guard has been gagged and taken away, let’s take a short break. We’ll reconvene back here in ten minutes. Ha ha ha! Oh, my. Tsk, tsk. Conspiracy theorists… they’re everywhere these days, aren’t they? Some people will believe just about anything. All right peoples. *clap, clap* Back in ten sharp. And keep an eye on those potatoes.

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×Everybody already knows about the aboveground and the Beneath. What they don't know is what lies above. Nobody likes a squealer, but the many people who supposedly died in the above gave their lives to tell the truth. I have devoted my life to giving the truth, and I shall take down any who oppose it and wish to spread lies.

Not all birds can fly high in the sky. Those who can... are unlucky. Those birds can be taken, by a creature so terrible and unfathomable, that they truly wish to die. The great god above grants them the wish, before they are destroyed, both body and soul, and left to wander the planet for all of eternity.

However, not all the creatures finding It are birds. Even though most are, there were recently Mellenfral scholars who decided to take a trip to the Above. What they found did surprise them. What they found was...

"Was? What was it?"

Hush! Do you want to delay?

Umm...

Good. Let's continue.

Anyways, what they found was... nothing. They found nothing but open sky. The scholars noticed it was getting hard to breath (they were flying on giants birds they had tamed) so they headed back down to the great planet below. However, there was something down there even more surprising.

They found a great desert. There was no water, but it was not too warm nor too cool. Just a great desert-like plain spreading out for what seemed like eternity. Worse still, there was no food anywhere in site. Even worse then that was that there were no great desert-like plains anywhere on the Eighth. One of the scholars feared they were no longer within the Eighth anymore.

This event of the scholars was completely true. The one scholar was right. They were no longer in the Eighth, I'll bet you could guess where they were.

And no, it was not Mars.

If you had the answer correct, then you would be able to guess that they were in the belly of that terrible monster. Doomed to very slowly dissolve in great pain and discomfort. Poor scholars.

Here is the story of a man who is currently riding into Sky Above. Here is his yarn:

Wait, wait, wait. So you're telling me, that you're telling yourself and us like, three stories in one?

Yes, yes I am. This way, it explains more.

Oh. But isn't that like, cheating?

No. Why would you ask?

'Cause.

Fine. Can I resume the story? No? Good.

"Man, Bill. What kinds of birds are these?

Jack and Bill happened to also be flying birds up to Sky Above. Strange how common that mode of travel is used.

"Uh."

"No matter. As long as we get up to our destination. That destination will always be at least three meters above us. That destination will never be reachable."

Continuing for several minutes in silence, although with the wind rushing by them, it would have been impossible for conversation, nothing happened until the air got harder and harder to breath in. Jack, always being the most sensible person around, stopped, while Bill kept rocketing skywards.

"Oh well," Jack remarked, "poor fellow. Hope he gets out okay. Meanwhile, I have my own problems to contend with."

On that, Jack looked at a diary one of the scholars dropped while they were flying through Sky Above itself. He skipped most of the journal until the part where they were stopped in the highest of sky.

Twisuary 24th, 137: "We will not go any farther. The air is too thin. However, something strange is going on. Some of the scholars say... like they feel a presence, as if someone, or, as they are more worried about, something, is watching them. I like to think it is all a pack of lies, but some of the crew is getting restless. Some say, "It is coming" and "Watch out, Beware!" and the most frightening one of them all, "It is here...".

Twisuary 25th, 137: "I'm getting worried. The crew is getting even more restless. Some are even becoming what seems like crazy, demented, even. I don't trust this place anymore. I think we should head back soon."

Twisuary 27th, 137: "I'm really worried now. I'm starting to feel the effects like the crew has. Everyone else is totally out-of-wack. Worse still, I'm getting the creeps. There's this strange face that pops in my thoughts and makes me lose my track of what I'm doing. The face is like the guy from the movie The Mummy when the mummy wakes up from his slumber and it's all unrestored and..."

Sir, are you actually telling the story or just describing an unmumified mummy?

Oh! You're right. I'm just describing an "unmumified mummy", or whatever you so please to call it. I'm going to resume.

Twisuary 27th, 137: The appearing faces are getting more frequent, I'm going crazy. I don't like this at all. There's an eerie silence that is screaming so penetratively that our minds are becoming fizzled."

Twisuary 28th, 137: I saw it. I saw death, straight in the eye. But it wasn't death as most people perceive, a skeleton wielding a massive scythe in black robes, but this was a massive 6 armed Kraken-like creature, with it's open, bloody mouth pointing it's terrible teeth at me. With it's huge six arms spread all the way out, it grappled itself through invisible targets to reel itself closer to us. Too frightened, I looked away... and fell asleep. When I woke up in the morning, everything was fine."

Creepy.

I'll say.

Oh fine, I'll tell a bit more. If you wanted me to.

Yeah! Tell more!

Ok, here goes.

Jack had seen enough. He closed the book and his eyes and started thinking. After several minutes of thought, he opened his eyes. He was still flying high in the sky, he saw nor felt nothing unusual. He was still deep in thought, even though he had his eyes open, when there was a scream nearby and Jack was suddenly snapped out of thought. Looking into the direction he saw nothing. Then, he looked below. There was Bill, doing some pretty cool stunts. When he noticed Jack, he went up to him and asked how he was doing.

"Fine. I've been catching up on some of this diary. A lot of strange things are in here."

"Cool. So, what are we going to do?"

"I dunno. Now that we're here, I don't know what next."

"We could go exploring."

"That's true. Now, let's look around! I see sky, sky, sky, cloud, sky, cloud, sky, sky. There's really not much of interest up here. Wait, Bill, are you okay?"

"I don't know." He was looking at something wide eyed with an almost horrified look on his face.

"Remember when you said there wasn't much of interest up here?"

"Yeah, what about?"

"I think I found something."

Following his finger, I slowly turned around. What we looked at... was the Kraken itself.

×
While this extendsion is planned -

I confess I got the until time 'thingy ma gigget' wrong. I wanted the contest to end on my May 15, 2008 5am PST. And that is what shows up on my screen. But, when I use the coding that noma had on her site

|localtime|May 15, 2008 5:00am |/localtime|, in |untiltime| May 15, 2008 5:00am |/untiltime|.

With my dates and times I get:


05-14-2008 10:00PM, in negative 3 hours, 40 minutes.


After looking things over at( belive it or not I have never seen this page before):
http://forum.caravelgames.com/help.php

This is the part I missed:

*Must use GMT times. Check profile for your time difference.

Well I am not sorry if this messed anyone up besides me. According to my calculations everyone should still have about 2hrs and 30 minutes. Still I feel I should stick to the original deadline.
With the planned allowance for late entries.

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

דFrack!”

His name was Cantus and he was one of the only competent delvers to ever come from Gronce, a settlement known for it's lack of appreciation for any occupation other than cabbage farming.

“...”

He had even managed to clear out a dungeon or two, more than the other short lived delvers from Gronce could put to their names.”

“Frack! Frack!! FRACK!!!”

Currently, Cantus was stuck.

“IF I COULD GET TO YOU MUD MOTHER, MARK MY WORDS I'D MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!”

Cantus felt the mud press in on all sides, trying to grow over him.

“YEAH! I'M TALKING TO YOU YOU GREAT GOB OF FRACKING FEGUNDO FEATHERS!!”

For what seemed like the thousandth time, he plunged his sword deep into the sides of the viscous liquid and spun around, trying to make some sort of indent, but it was fruitless.

“DIE YOU MISERable... blob.. of.....”

Exhausted Cantus slumped to the floor.

“Okay, next time I'll do it.”

The mud pulsed.

“Really I will.”

Silence.

“I'll just lay here and do it.”

His stomach growled.

“You can do this.”

His stomach growled again.

“You're strong Cantus, you have control over your own body.”
His stomach growled again, it had been two days since he had eaten last.

“So hungry...”

His hand slowly reached toward the mud.

“I can do it... I have to...”

He poked it with his finger, feeling the sliminess of it.

“I can't take this torture anymore.”

Shaking, he took a handful of the stuff and brought it toward his mouth.

“Please, no!”

Retching, he let the hunger overtake him and choked down the protein filled mud.

“Urghhh...”

Suddenly a wave of nausea and depression washed over him.

“Why?”

Inside himself he knew the answer.

“WHY?”

He wasn't strong enough.

“WHY?!!”

He wasn't strong enough to end his torture.

“FRACK!”

He could neither starve himself or stab himself.

“Sob...”

All he could do was wait.

“FRACK FRACK FRACK!!!”

His name was Cantus and he had been stuck in a patch of mud for nigh on 30 years.

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×#4365

Progress in game:
DROD:AE - Complete
DROD:JtRH - Mastered
DROD:TCB - Mastered

DROD:SS - Perfection - Perfection 4
DROD:SS - Smitemastery 101 - Mastered
DROD:SS - Master Locks - Mastered
DROD:SS - DDDD - Conquered (67%)
DROD:SS - Suit Pursuit - Mastered

DRPG:TT - Conquered (62%)

×
I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "Lady". And one with a very sharp sword, too.

I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.

Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.

It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry: http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html

Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....

I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83

×I am Thufinat, a traveller. I bring news of far off lands, along with Glorthorred novelties, for your enjoyment tonight. What's that, you say? You feel that the nation of Dugandy already has understanding of the lands of the Eighth? That may be so. It has been nearly one hundred fifty years since Benedat's Discovery, and since that time our merchants have spent ample time establishing the Singled traderoutes. This has led to the clarifying of the topography of our neighboring countries, the continents, and the strangelands to the south and north. However, I'm certain I am the first to tell you of new transformations occurring within those lands.

You see, this has everything to do with the seasons. As you know, our tradition is to hold the storytelling at this time each year. This fact is well known and has continued for generations. Summer has arrived, and the floods hold us captive on the mountains of the wealthy. We share our stories to bide the time. We wait and prepare while the floods recede, after which time we sow our Fallcrops, and the rains inevitably come.

And that is why I am certain that I, Thufinat, am the first to bring news. As you have doubtless heard, I no longer have a home in Dugandy. So, rather than desiring to be pent up here, I travel. I have spent much time studying the charts of the Singled ways and know the schedules of the Receding. I have inquired of northern sources and been taught how to navigate the ever-changing banks. I can avoid the treacherous whirlpools and 'neather-sinks. I know the safe spots where no wraithwings lurk. So, I can bring news and wares well ahead of the trade season.

And it is because of these rare skills that these summer months I can bring news that no other abiding in Dugandy has seen nor heard. For instance, there are kingdoms to the north where no one lives.

Eh? What's that? No, I don't mean Sun Island, and I don't mean the Rasarus archipelago. Of course no one would be daft enough to attempt establishing a landship there, but we all know its coasts, islands and coves are quite inhabited. No, I'm talking about right here, in our own Ephelna. There are cities and towns where no one stirs, even though people lived and worked, were born, played, grew old, and died there until very recently. These locales may not be on the main routes, but there were sufficient folk in them that they are not unknown. Tormel, for instance. I'm sure you know someone who has travelled there. I myself had a cousin who went to live there after the misfortune that struck my family. But these days, you won't likely be hearing from him again.

Why not, you wonder? Well, I know and will tell all. It's because no one lives there now. They're gone. Vanished. There are no signs of seige or plague. No fire or neatherquake has devoured the city. Every wall and tower stands in its place, but there's nary an inhabitant to be found. They say it has become a haunt for goblins, who gather up the crafts of the city and fight for ownership amongst themselves. That, and infestations of ravenous swarms who eat not grain nor harvest for sustenance, but ore out of the very bedrock. Entire cities, stripped of metal, and goblins gathering the wooden wares.

And there have been similar rumors from other, more distant locales, across the seas. No place I could travel to and verify with my own eyes last winter, but I am sure it is true, for my connections need not lie. Something is happening to change the land, and no one is left to tell about it. Where have they all gone? Why do they leave their cities to crumble to dust? This is something I cannot tell, but will not deny.

Yes, you are quite right in voicing that you've not heard breath of such events before. I, Thufinat, accede it does seem inconceivable, but mark my words. As soon as tradeseason starts, you will hear rumors. Discount them if you will, but do not forget. There are signs of something unknown and vast blowing on the mist that must not be ignored.

Now, come and take a look at these exquisite puzzle boxes from Glorthorred. Expert minds concoct these, and if my tales have not excited your minds, then these fine pieces surely will.

×Hilp Hanmart - 6 potatoes
Olze - 3 potatoes
Thunifat - 1 potato