tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28062455374902375382024-02-18T23:48:36.416-05:00The Adventures of Dark FrancisFollow the exploits, trials, triumphs and failures of Dark Francis, the sorcerer, and his trusty henchman Hump as they try to unravel the secrets of the universe through the study of the dark arts in this farcical fantasy serial.Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-91222897741026690272013-02-22T05:41:00.000-05:002013-02-22T05:41:13.305-05:00Friends like these: Part Two<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The caravan marched off at first
light. It consisted off five knights dressed in bright yellow armor leading the
way on horseback followed by a platoon of eighteen spearmen with two men out
front bearing the banner of their patron lord, a crow alongside a burning sun, replete
with military streamers signifying the campaigns of the knights and spearmen. A
large supply wagon followed them lumbering along pulled by a team of workhorses.
Dark Francis followed in his coach driven by two hired villagers. Hump rode
next to them on his own horse. He wore head to toe chainmail, which showed some
signs of pitting from old rust that had been scrubbed away. A large horned and
dented battle helm sat on his head, which was framed by his broadsword and
double bitted axe slung across his back. An evil row of daggers hung around his
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The lead brightly colored Knight
broke off from his position and rode to the rear where he took up a position
beside Dark Francis’s coach. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’ll go as far as the ferry
crossing and then we’ll camp for the night before going across,” the Knight informed
Dark Francis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s your name good sir knight?”
Dark Francis asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kendrick, sir,” the knight replied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sir Kendrick, I would advise that
we take the ferry crossing before we decide to stop for the night. We’ve had a
walking scourge in the forest. One of my villages was even attacked. No doubt
the work of some evil black magic. I’d advise that we get to the other side of
the river for safety purposes,” Dark Francis said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I wouldn’t worry about your safety
sir,” Sir Kendrick replied. “We have a platoon of our crack spearmen and five
of the bravest knights in service to our lord. We can protect you sir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s not me I’m worried about. If
all of you die how can I find your lord to help him?” Dark Francis asked
without sarcasm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I think we’ll be able to handle
ourselves sir,” Sir Kendrick said. “We’re no strangers to ghouls and demons.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure you’re not,” Dark Francis
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The trip to the ferry crossing was
uneventful. They reached it in time to set up a camp of two canvas tents in the
light of a purple dusk. The spearmen set up a large canvas tent for the knights
and then pitched a second for all of them to use collectively. It was more of a
large lean-to, and they built a few fires along one edge of it to cook and keep
warm. Three men were to remain awake at all times each taking a shift during
the night. Dark Francis decided to keep to the relative safety of his coach. He
knew that at least nothing could come creeping up on him in the middle of the
night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump decided to bunk with the
spearmen. Not only for the shelter, but also for the grog, this was issued to the
men from a barrel carried on their supply wagon. It was a vial green alcohol,
which kept up their morale and could also be used to remove paint from wagons.
Hump decided to take the second and third watch for two their share of grog,
which he took full advantage. The night was cool and pleasant and lit by a moon
that had just begun to wane. Hump drank and listened to the two soldiers
converse around a fire they kept to just the red coals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“…I had the best tavern wench ever
on that campaign,” remarked a tipsy spearman who leaned heavily on his spear
while sipping his grog. “She had a nice meaty ass and tits the size of your
head. I stayed nice and warm that night fellas I tell ya.” He then broke out in
a giant laugh. “I tell ya I would have asked her to marry me if we weren’t
marching off the very next day.” His next laugh was cut short by cold dead
hands wrapping around his face pulling his neck toward opening biting jaws. The
soldier let out a blood-curdling yell before the walking corpse tore out his
throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“To arms!” yelled the second soldier
on watch before two of the dead dragged him to the ground and began to devour
his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump full of grog did not fully
grasp the situation at first. He only chuckled to himself at the foolishness of
the two soldiers and then tipped up his mug to chug the rest of its contents,
while chaos broke out all around him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Kendrick emerged from the knight’s
tent in only his trousers and boots bare chested with his sword and shield in
hand. He quickly dispatched the three creatures already in the camp severing
their heads from their shoulders. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The scourge,” he muttered to
himself. “It’s the scourge boys! You know what to do!” Kendrick then severed
the heads of the fallen soldiers, preventing their imminent reanimation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The spearmen jumped into action immediately
forming a square in the center of the camp. The four other knights burst from
their tent fully armored with shields and swords ready. Their faces covered by
the ornate visors of their helmets. Each took a position at the corners of the
formation with Kendrick calling out orders in the middle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump threw his now empty mug into
the fire, the residue of the grog bursting into a blue flame. He unslung his
axe from his back and readied himself his back to one of the sides of the
formation just in front of soldiers’ spears, which they held level to the
ground. Evil iron pointed things ready to seek out soft flesh. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sound of dead leaves and twigs crunched
under foot from their shuffling steps was the only noise the horde made. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hold fast men!” called Kendrick. “Don’t
break formation. Keep your head and these monstrosities won’t be able to touch
us!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump charged forward by himself into
the thick of them. He did not know the meaning of restraint and would rather
fight an enemy by charging full on into their midst instead of hanging back
like a coward. He would prefer to die how all of his kin had done in the past,
by charging into battle and letting the gods decide the victor in the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump’s axe was a blur of activity as
it sliced through one skull after another spraying rotten brain all over the
forest floor. The spearmen behind him quickly dispatched any of the dead that made
it past Him. Hump was in a berserker rampage. The dead fell before him like
blades of grass none of them making it close enough to touch him let alone bite
him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The each spearman stabbed efficiently
with his spear, making sure to line up each strike perfectly without hurry
sending the iron tip of their spear through a fiend’s head and then back out
again only to line up another strike with the same result, with a steady even
tempo. The knights protected the corners, severing heads with their swords and
using their shields as bludgeons smashing the heads of the dead. They were a
perfect square of efficient death, slaughtering the walking dead like sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The entire affair only lasted about
fifteen minutes, but by the end, they were all panting heavily surrounded by a
pile of bodies and waiting for another wave. The only thing that came walking
up to them was Hump, who was covered from head to toe with bloody mess, who headed
to the supply wagon and poured himself another tall mug of grog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I think that’s the last of them
men. One squad of men fan out and make a perimeter guard. The rest of you
gather up these bodies to burn, and someone wake up that damn ferryman!” yelled
Sir Kendrick.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s going on out here?” asked
Dark Francis, dressed in an ankle length nightshirt, slippers and nightcap.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You were right sir,” Sir Kendrick
said approaching him. His armor covered in blood and gore. “We lost three of
the horses, two of our men and one of your hired villagers. The other one ran
off.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s so hard to find good serfs
these days,” Dark Francis remarked. “What about my man Hump?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He’s fine sir. It looked like he
took on half of the creatures by himself. We’re letting him help himself to the
rest of the grog we have,” Sir Kendrick said. “If I didn’t know better I would
swear he was a demon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Unfortunately not. I probably
wouldn’t have to pay him if that were the case,” Dark Francis said. “Well I’ll
be in my carriage. Let me know when we’re across the river.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To be continued…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-64841731169572933782013-02-03T05:06:00.002-05:002013-02-03T05:06:25.030-05:00Friends like these: Part One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sir we have traveled for many miles
to seek your legendary knowledge of medicine to ask you for a request,” said a
Knight dressed in bright yellow armor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m listening, but I warn you I can
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purring softly in his lap as he absentmindedly rubbed her ears. “Be quick
about it, or Molly here will roast you where you stand.” The cat gave a
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We ask that you journey with us to
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What plagues him?” asked Dark
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A witch angered by my Lords ruling
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why don’t you get the witch to
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We hanged her sir,” replied the
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ah, now you want me to fix the
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes sir,” said the Knight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well as much as I’d like to hang
out with a bunch of knights pretending to be the sun to help out your lord, but
I think I’m going to have to pass,” Dark Francis said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Won’t you reconsider our request,”
the knight said, as a squire produced a small chest from his knapsack and
opened it to reveal that it was full of precious stones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When can we leave,” Dark Francis
replied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To be continued…</span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-9350192646964937352013-02-02T05:19:00.000-05:002013-02-02T05:19:28.072-05:00I'm Terribly Sorry: Part Four<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis stood on a hill to with
the sun behind them staring down into the main road to the village. The morning
sun glinted off their mail and armor. Dark Francis wore his light mail. He didn’t
like cumbersome armor. Hump however was covered from head to toe in cruel
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The cold pale villagers milled
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Look at them down there Hump.
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Die you filthy thing. Die, die,
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huzzah.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huzzah.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huzzah.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To which Dark Francis replied “I'm terribly sorry. Did you say undead?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
End.</span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-48687928249668898852013-01-30T00:31:00.002-05:002013-01-30T00:33:30.429-05:00I’m Terribly Sorry: Part Three<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump,
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump!
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off an old woman’s head. The next took two men through the neck at the same
time, their heads made a dull thud as they hit the stone floor. The last three
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skimming the blade through water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In
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the broadside of his axe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right
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through the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Truly
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well
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can’t get rid of me so easily. Hump prepare my war horse. We’re going to teach
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To be
continued…</span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-22540068440376213402013-01-18T04:06:00.001-05:002013-01-18T04:06:13.586-05:00I’m Terribly Sorry: Part Two<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “This one
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It was an accident.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well it’s not so easy to just grab
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let go of me! Let go of me! I
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Calm yourself stranger. Hump was
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What kind of proposition?” the man
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What is it?” said the man eying it
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The three of them waited a minute,
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How do you feel?” asked Dark
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A little sick to tell you the truth
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Very well here’s a few coppers,”
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey! Now wait just a damn minute! You
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh did I? I sometimes exaggerate,
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man took one look at Hump and
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man left the keep clutching his
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The collapsed man’s pale milky eyes caught
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Back at the Tower Keep, Dark Francis
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Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-40406777081593703602013-01-15T22:11:00.000-05:002013-01-15T22:14:01.371-05:00I’m Terribly Sorry: Part One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “I’m sure you’re wondering why I have you chained to a chair
in my keep. You may be wondering why I had my trusty man Hump here crack you
over the head as you left the inn and bring you here. I assure you I am not
here to harm you. I am going to make you an offer that is so crazy that you
would not listen to me if I did not have you chained to a chair.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “I don’t
know about that. I usually try to keep an open mind about things,” said the
traveler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Trust
me you wouldn’t believe this,” Dark Francis coolly replied. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “And
what’s that?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Eternal
life.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Not
possible,” said the traveler rolling his eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “But it
is true. I’ve studied all the texts of the great minds of Ramora. They had the
secret, but their civilization was destroyed and the secrets of their texts
lost to the ages, until now. I’ve translated the texts and uncovered the secret
of eternal life.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Preposterous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “This
is my offer. You can say yes and drink this potion,” Dark Francis said removing
a small green vial he held concealed in his cloak. “Or, you can say no thank
you and we’ll send you on your way with a few coins in your pocket for your
troubles.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “No
thank you then,” said the traveler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Think
of it eternal life just as you are, walking the world for thousands of years,
amassing the knowledge of generations. You would be like a god.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “I’m
still saying no. Now let me go and give me the money you promised.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Are
you sure?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Yes, I
am sure.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Hump.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Yes,
sir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Open
his mouth.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> Hump
grabbed the poor traveler’s face forcing his mouth open, while Dark Francis poured
the contents of the vial down his throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “You
should feel the effects momentarily,” Dark Francis said taking a step back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> Hump
released the traveler, who coughed loudly and then started to convulse. They
watched him shake violently in his restraints for a minute and then the man
went limp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “How do
you feel?” Dark Francis asked, but there was no reply. Dark Francis approached
the man and shook him gently, but the man could not be woken. “That’s strange I
was sure I had everything correct in the recipe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> As he
spoke, he more closely examined the vial in his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> “Silly
me this is the poison I was looking for earlier. You know it’s never where you
expect it. Hump could you do me a favor and bring me someone else to test the
potion on.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> Hump
sighed loudly and began his trip to the village. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-59069180129882842742012-11-25T02:24:00.001-05:002012-11-25T02:24:29.268-05:00Help Wanted: Only Reliable Good Natured Fellows Need Apply<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two
haggard weather beaten villagers stood beneath the tavern awning to escape the
glare of the noonday sun and argued loudly about, which village maiden had the
lustiest bosom. They swayed gently back and forth with mugs of cheap liquor in
their hands trying their best to keep their inebriated bodies upright, but the
pair’s friendly bickering immediately ceased upon sight of a familiar yet
sinister silhouette in the distance. The pair silently watched as the hunchback
lumbered into the village on his donkey being careful to remain unnoticed by the
hulking disfigured lout. They observed with curiosity as the hunchback nailed a
piece of parchment to one of the common hall doors, contributing to the thick layer
of parchment, which already adorned it, and then followed the creature with
their eyes as he rode out of the village toward the tower, which loomed
oppressively over the horizon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
two men waited, and when they were satisfied the hunchback would not return,
they staggered up to the common hall door’s to see what the fiend had posted. Most
of the town’s folk never bother with the parchments nailed to the door, ‘they was
covered with rich men’s letters,’ and most figured it wasn’t worth the bother to
decipher them. The town crier was a better source of information anyway. But,
this wasn’t the usual circumstance. The villagers rarely saw the hunchback from
the tower post anything on the common hall doors, at least not while the sun
was still shining high in the sky.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s
it say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can’t
you read?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
can’t read neither.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’s
can read just fine thank ya.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Proves
it. What them curly letters say?” the man said pointing to the parchment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
says,” the man said with a confident smile. “Five gold pieces to a good able
bodied fellow who’s wants to help at the keep for one day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Five
gold pieces for one day of work,” the man whistled. “Them letters really spell
that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yep,
them’s what they says.” The man however could only confidently recognize the
word for ‘work’ and the word for ‘gold,’ which was all he thought a man really
needed to know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
take that gimp up on his offer. I could use five gold pieces.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well
than you’s as empty headed as you’s ugly. Nobody go up to the keep, and ifs they
do, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they don’t come back</i>,” the
peasant said adding some menace to the end of his warning by running an
invisible knife across his throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’s
just a yellow coward, who believes anything those old crazy coots say at the
tavern. I don’t believes anything that come out of those geezers mouths.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m not a coward,” the other
peasant protested.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then
come with me and prove it. Two and a half gold pieces is still worth it for
half the work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’d
go, but I gots things to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Like
what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
just got stuff to do. You’re not my keeper.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Good.
More money for me. I wouldn’t want to share that kind of money with you anyway.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
braver villager tore down the parchment, rolled it up, shoved it into the waist
of his mead stained pants, and took off for the tower keep thinking of what he
would do with his five gold pieces all along the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
peasant emboldened by alcohol knocked loudly on the tower’s great door but
there was no answer. The time stretched on with no sign of anyone and he was
beginning to think about leaving when Hump answered the door with his great axe
in hand. The peasant took a few steps back, summoned his remaining drunken
courage and produced the now wrinkled parchment from his trousers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ve
come about the work sir,” he said meekly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump
looked the peasant up and down, and then moved his gaze to behind the man to
scour the area for others who might be lying in wait to ambush him. When he was
satisfied there was no immediate threat, he pushed the door open fully and
muttered in a soft gruff tone “Come this way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
sobering peasant nervously trailed Hump through a winding maze of dark
corridors and locked doors to find Dark Francis sequestered in his chamber absorbed
in study. The gray haired wizard sat hunched over a large wooden table, which
supported a large array of books, scrolls and jars filled indiscernible
contents, carefully counting off drops as they fell from a long glass pipette
into a small cast iron cauldron held aloft above a candle flame, which licked
at its soot blacked bottom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“53…
54… 55,” Dark Francis counted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon
the utterance of fifty-five, an extra drop escaped from the long glass tube,
fell into the cauldron and caused a large multi-colored cloud to explode up
into Dark Francis’s face, the result of which turned patches of his beard a
bright iridescent purple. The wizard coughed, sputtered, and collapsed onto the
stone floor motionless. After several moments passed, he regained consciousness
and noticed the pair for the first time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
I didn’t see you there. Please, come in,” Dark Francis said making his way to
his feet and brushing himself off. “Are you here for the job? Fantastic. Let me
show you where you’ll be working.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
villager found himself at the mouth of a cavern closed off by an enormous
barred gate and secured by an iron lock the size of a man’s head. The cavern
opened up below the tower at the end of a valley and looked to the poor man
like the tower’s wicked tooth filled mouth waiting to swallow him whole. He then
began seriously scrutinize his life’s choice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
a very simple job I assure you,” Dark Francis said with his arm around the
quaking peasant, half to reassure him and half to keep him from running.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“All
you need to do is clean out her cave and replace the straw bedding. It should
only take the rest of the day to do a proper job, and if you do well, you can return
each month to perform the task.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
exactly…” stuttered the peasant, but Dark Francis interrupted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
worry,” Dark Francis said with what he thought was a comforting tone. “She’s as
gentle as a lamb, unfortunately. She’s just for show now I guess, but she’s
very shy, which is more than a little annoying. I mean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> is the point in having one if you can’t show it off occasionally.
You know what I mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I…
guess… so… sir,” stuttered the peasant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
another thing. To <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make</i> sure she
doesn’t bother you, You need to smear the contents of that barrel all over you.
If you stay in there long enough without it on, she’ll get comfortable enough
to come out and then she’ll never leave you alone. This will make sure she
stays away so you can work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
peasant removed the lid from the barrel and immediately jerked a hand up to his
face to cover his nose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
just some rotten fish guts. She hates the smell. Don’t worry you can’t put too
much on. Just apply generously, and you won’t even know she’s there,” Dark
Francis said while he unlocked the gate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
peasant hesitated at the barrel with his hand still clamped firmly over his
nose frantically contemplating whether he could out run the hunchback if he wanted
to make a hasty retreat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump
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grabbed the man by the shirt and trousers, and lifted the man with ease head
first down into the barrel until only the man’s legs were sticking out above
the rim kicking wildly at the air. A few seconds later, Hump withdrew the man,
who gasped and sputtered frantically trying to expel fish ooze from his nasal
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There
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progress in a few hours,” Dark Francis said before he and Hump departed for the
tower.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Five
gold pieces, five gold pieces, five gold pieces,” the man said repeatedly as if
it were a protective spell meant to fend off the odor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
peasant found a wheelbarrow, shovel, pitchfork and broom propped up on one side
of the gate. He stacked the tools inside the barrow and crouched down behind it
to use as a shield to protect himself from whatever unspeakable horror he might
find inside. The villager wheeled everything cautiously into the fissure
expecting a huge one eyed giant to grab him the moment he entered to bite his
head off and roast his limbs, but he only found a large heap of dung and a
larger mound of compressed dirty straw both illuminated by the light that
filtered in from outside. The cavern continued farther than he could see in the
dim light, but from what he saw there was no monster, beast or animal within
the hollow waiting to gobble him up. He breathed a sigh of relief followed by a
gag caused by the muck that covered him. He vomited a bit into his mouth,
swallowed it back down and got to work.</span></div>
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the stink of the rotting fish guts that clung to his skin. He could even taste
it in the air with each shallow breath, so after a few unbearable hours of
sporadic dry heaving and retching, he marched off to a creek to wash off the sludge.
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nothing but empty space and shadows, so he told himself it was the sound of the
broom and reminded himself not to let his fancy run away with his sense. He continued
to sweep, but stopped cold at the feeling of hot breath beating out a slow
cadence on the back of his neck. It’s probably just my mind playing tricks on
me, he told himself. He closed his eyes took a few large deep breaths to try to
calm down and slowly turned around. When he opened his eyes, he was staring
into a pair of great shimmering eyes. A female dragon stood before him, her
flame colored eyes stared right back into the villagers framed by an aggressively
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legs to puddle on the floor, his hands clenched the handle of the broom so
tightly that it drove splinters into his hands, but he was scarcely aware of
these sensations. His full focus was squarely on the menacing looking beast in
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peasant opened his mouth to yell but found it replaced by the high-pitched
scream of a thirteen-year-old girl. The dragon startled by the sudden noise beat
a frantic retreat back into the cavern, and the peasant returning to his senses
turned without hesitation to make a hasty flight for the exit. He exploded through
the gate with a speed he had never known. The shrubbery and leaves were only a
blur in his periphery as he hurtled past Dark Francis and Hump and on into the
forest screaming hysterically the entire way.</span></div>
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faint by the time Dark Francis yelled after him “Are you coming back?!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
unfortunate. I thought he was the one,” Dark Francis said sullenly. The dragon
now out of confinement rested its head on Dark Francis’s shoulder and began
nuzzling him affectionately while propagating a deep rumbling purr. “I wonder
what spooked him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump
just shrugged his massive shoulders and began to stroke the dragon’s long neck.
</span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-19265975925772733702012-11-12T03:00:00.000-05:002012-11-12T03:00:07.714-05:00You Get What You Pay For<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ve ridden many miles and lost
many men to attain from you this magic article wizard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis and Hump stood with two
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m confident that this is what you
have traveled so long and far to receive sir,” Dark Francis spoke handing the
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fine or as powerful as this one before you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It better be,” said the green
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It is guaranteed to make the wearer
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Truly amazing wizard, but I will
require a demonstration.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Certainly, sir. I can arrange
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nonsense, I’d never allow another
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claiming it for himself? No, I will keep the belt on. Sir Donnis.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The accompanying knight stepped
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes sir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If I am struck dead, kill the
wizard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes, sir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“As you wish sir, but I can assure
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wizard you will provide the axe
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My pleasure Sir. Hump step
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sir,” Hump said as he stepped
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Behead this man Hump,” ordered Dark
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump stepped forward and without
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and fast that the head didn’t even jump.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was a sudden surprised look on
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sending his head rolling across the floor to Dark Francis’s feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Rise Sir Knight and reclaim your
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The body remained motionless and for
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It just takes a few moments for the
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They waited a few moments more and
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feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Donnis drew his sword and took a
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wait Sir, I forgot that in the case
of a beheading someone else has to reunite the head with the body.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis scooped up the head and
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wait there are a few magic words
that need to be spoken,” Dark Francis said trying to stall the imposing Sir
Donnis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis knelt over the body to
block it from Sir Donnis’s view and began to mumble a long rambling speech in
the tongue of the ancients loosely translated meant, “Get up you piece of crap.
Get up already. I said get up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yes, I believe it worked. Yes, he’s trying
to tell us something.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis lowered his voice to try
to mimic the green knight’s voice, but it came out strained and high. “I’m okay
good Sir Donnis. I just need a little wine. Could you go fetch me a skin?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sir?” Sir Donnis leaned forward to
inspect the headless corpse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wine he said!” Dark Francis
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes sir. Sorry Sir.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Donnis hopped to attention
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Quick Hump we need to get rid of
this body before he comes back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis grabbed the head, and
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where did the Lord go?” asked Sir
Donnis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Uh, he left of course,” Dark
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lord?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Left? Why didn’t I pass him on the
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He left by the window of course,”
Dark Francis said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The window?” Sir Donnis repeated
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He’s impervious to any injury you
fool. Why would he bother with the stairs when he can more quickly jump down
from the window? Now after him quickly before he leaves you behind. He won’t
wait forever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Donnis did a sharp about-face,
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Don’t leave without me!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump! Quickly! Go lock the gate
behind him. I doubt he’ll be very happy once he gets outside.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes sir.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dark Francis retired to his great
stone chair slumping down into it and let out a loud exasperated sigh. “I need
to stop letting these fools test my magic talismans themselves.” </span></div>
Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-17275527279591299892012-11-05T03:00:00.000-05:002012-11-12T12:41:10.721-05:00The Hero<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSyxMMXGPvkWMb5AirVo2GyTHsTkmx48Rv3wlxkspzwaBPjMw-_WW9nUUNsX3rYkkBpfRXR1jModImBC4BJHGMWZcPiRdK4L0cMLtDPuNC0BROaDqeKaWXehfddfuV5oysgoEQ9J22S8/s1600/Hump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSyxMMXGPvkWMb5AirVo2GyTHsTkmx48Rv3wlxkspzwaBPjMw-_WW9nUUNsX3rYkkBpfRXR1jModImBC4BJHGMWZcPiRdK4L0cMLtDPuNC0BROaDqeKaWXehfddfuV5oysgoEQ9J22S8/s1600/Hump.jpg" height="303" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “I
Julian eighth of my name, knight of Lord Steven the Strong, bravest of his
knights, keeper of the holy flame, slayer of monsters and demons, protector of
the truth, guardian of the weak and benefactor to the poor am here, in the name
of the peoples of the Southern Realms, tasked with the duty of putting an end
to your evil over the Northern Lands!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The knight stood boldly in Dark
Francis’s great room clad in ornate shining armor as he pointed his heavy two
handed bastard sword with ease at Dark Francis with one hand and holding a
great red and white stripped shield in his other. Upon finishing his speech,
the knight poised himself to do battle with the sorcerer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What business is it of yours what I
do in my own realm knight?” Dark Francis said coolly from his stone throne
comfortably dressed in one of his finest blue robes decorated with
constellations and wearing his favorite pointed wizard’s hat on his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What business is it of mine? How dare you ask
me such a question, I am Julian, destroyer of evil, slayer of demons, protector
of the truth…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We heard you the first time
‘knight,’ but it still doesn’t answer my question. What business is it of yours,
a knight of the southern lands, what I do in the North?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I seek to destroy all evil.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who says I’m evil? I accomplish
important work here unlocking the secrets of life and death themselves. Who are
you to tell me that my efforts are evil or just?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I am Julian eighth of my name…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sorry have you been drinking or
something? Have you had some moldy bread recently or…?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Silence foul fiend. I seek to rid
your pestilence from this place and bring prosperity back to this land. Prepare
yourself for death sorcerer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wait just a moment. Do you really
think that if you kill me you will bring peace to the land?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes. Without your shadow hanging
over this noble land these poor peasants will live in prosperity once again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who said they lived in prosperity
before?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why my Lord Steven the Strong,
protector of the realm, light to the world, keeper of the peace…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And this ‘Lord’ Steven is from the
North?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I think not. He is from the
honorable Southern Lands like myself Julian eighth of my name, knight to Lord
Steven the Strong…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So how does he know again that this
land was once prosperous?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well… we hear stories from passing
travelers escaping your tyranny.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why are you really here Sir
Julian?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“To bring justice to the land…”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No really, why are you here? No one
rides hundreds of miles from where ever you are from in the south just to bring
‘justice’ to the land. So really, why are you here Sir Julian?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“After I slay you evil thing, I will
be famous throughout the realms. My name will be inscribed in stone, poems will
be written of my heroism, songs will be sung of my feats, my image will be
women into tapestries and tales will be told to each passing generation of my
deeds, and having defeated you, I will rule this realm with a gentle yet firm
hand.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ah, now we have the truth of it.
Vanity and greed,” Dark Francis stated flatly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I have come for glory and riches
sir. I do none of these things for anything so petty as vanity or greed. I am
Julian eighth of my name benefactor to the poor, protector of the truth, and
you sorcerer will die by my mighty sword.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes master?” Hump answered stepping
forth from the shadows behind Dark Francis’s stone chair with an enormous
double bitted axe in his hands. The edge of one blade rested on the floor,
while the other stood waist high with Dark Francis’s loyal servant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m not afraid of your minions.
Call forth as many demons as you like. They will all fall to the point of my
blade.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kill him Hump,” Dark Francis
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Clean this mess up Hump would you.
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes master. I’ll get a mop and
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Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13770920613547288367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806245537490237538.post-78236233871127854312012-10-30T13:48:00.000-04:002012-10-30T13:48:33.111-04:00The Origin of Dark Francis and A Screaming Good Drink<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Isaac Bartholomew Esquire
Francis the Third peered through a bubbling vile of green liquid, which
distorted his one bloated red eye. He was the third of his name, but belonged
to a longer line of large imposing warriors, who drank heavily, plundered,
raped and conquered the realms of the great Northern Lands. To his father’s
great dismay, Isaac had none of these qualities. He was tall yes, but he grew
into a skinny wispy thing of a man with long flowing blond hair the color of
dull straw, which soon turned to gray and white once he reached middle age.
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny’s father, Sir Isaac Bartholomew
Esquire Francis the Second also known as Francis the Great but not as great as
Sir Isaac Bartholomew Esquire Francis the first the great great, encouraged Franny
from a very young age to take up the spear, sword and shield and go out
adventuring like he had done in his own youth. Francis the Great used to talk with
great fondness of his youth riding from village to village, slaughtering at
will, taking the women as he pleased and having busty tavern wenches fill him
full of the best rotgut mead before dragging them by the hair up to his straw
mattress. Franny did none of these things. Instead, he used his significant
allowance to buy the old books peddled by old men with hunched backs. They
promised to sell him the secrets of eternal youth, alchemy and other strange
powers contained in their books. Francis the Great tolerated his son’s purchases
but always had a soldier run the old codger through with a sword once the old
man had left the village to recuperate his squandered gold. Franny never discovered
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny was sent away for one year by
his father, as was the custom, to hone his skills as a warrior as his descendants
had done before him, but instead he traveled to the Council of Wise Men in the
next realm. Franny was turned away upon arrival, but after much begging outside
of their doors and a hefty bribe of all the money on his person, they admitted
him into their hallowed chambers to scrub pots and pans. He was promised that
if he fulfilled his duties with great success for one year that he would be
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came up to well after it sank scrubbing the dishes that piled up from the
scholars several meals. At night, he crept silently through the drafty stone
corridors to their great library to read by candle light and try to decipher
the ancient scripts. He did so hoping to uncover the secrets of the sun, moon
and stars, but did so with little accomplishment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After a grueling year of having
continually soaked and puckered hands, he was escorted to their large imposing
doors and physically kicked out on his ass. This did not weaken his resolve of
becoming the premier sorcerer in the land. It only strengthened his dedication
to prove the old fools wrong. The wise men had spent all their time mapping the
movement of the stars repeatedly, scribbling on pieces of parchment and
dissecting flies and small animals to figure out where they came from only to
conclude that they sprang from sacks of grain like fairies. They also spent
their time trying to cure such ailments as pimples, foot corns and baldness
with a variety of vile smelling pastes. None of these endeavors seemed like the
kind of work a true man of wisdom would pursue, Franny thought to himself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny shook his fist at the sealed
doors and vowed to show them all what a truly powerful sorcerer he would become,
so he threw his sack of meager possessions over his shoulder and headed for
home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great did not receive Franny
warmly. His father had expected his son to return battle scarred with a spear carried
casually over a shoulder and a necklace of noses hanging around his neck,
trophies taken from fallen warriors who had fallen to his expert blade. Instead,
Franny was a scrawnier thing than his father had sent away only gaining a thick
layer of pot scrubber callouses over his weak hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great still however chose
to believe that his son could change. He was under the delusion that there must
be something that would awaken the man in his son. A land dispute with a
neighboring lord seemed like the perfect thing to raise the blood lust in
Franny. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They rode side by side to the edge
of the rival lord’s village, which contained the rival’s keep. Francis the
Great rode upright and strong covered in black battered armor on his massive
war horse with Franny beside him in his own shining virgin armor, which looked
to threaten to crush him to death at any moment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ride to the keep and tell that
bastard our terms, and if he don’t agree then set fire to a barn or house on
your ride out to show him we mean business. That will light a fire under him!”
he yelled out. The faithful men that flanked him laughed heartily and pounded
their chests. Franny cringed and rode off as instructed, but as soon as he was
out of sight, he stripped off his armor, tied his horse to a tree and casually
walked into the village. He then promptly poisoned the village’s water supply
with a technique he had learned in the dark library at the Council of Wise Men.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When Franny didn’t return for a day,
Francis the Great and entourage rode into the village expecting to find
Franny’s head on a spike in front of the keep’s gate. What they found instead
were bloated bodies littering the village avenues, their faces twisted in blue
agony from the poison.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny had thought his father would
be proud of him. He had not only saved them the trouble of fighting but had
achieved victory single handedly with knowledge garnered from his studies.
Francis the Great however was furious. He slide of his mount with expert ease
and gave Franny a sharp smack across the face with his giant armored fist,
which sent Franny rolling across the ground and knocking loose a few teeth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You robbed these men of an
honorable death in battle with sword in hand facing down their enemy bravely!”
Francis the Great roared. He raised his arms in appeal to the heavens. “God
should have been the decider of this battle favoring the righteous and striking
down the unjust.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny’s actions however, did not
stop his father from claiming the victory for himself and helping himself to
the keep and its riches. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There soon came a day though when
Francis the Great lost all hope of his son becoming a great warrior like
himself. Franny had not lived up to any of his expectations, and it was time to
dispose of the rotten seed and claim one of his many bastards as his legitimate
son and heir. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great invited Franny out
for a “hunt” with the full intention of leaving his son’s corpse in a ditch
with a gaping wound in his belly from his broad sword. The wolves and rats
would pick his bones and clean, and one day he would not even remember that he
had a son he called Franny.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Great and Franny rode out early
in the morning with the mist still heavy on the ground riding deep into the
woods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’ll stop here son.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes father.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You know you have been a constant
source of aggravation and disappointment to me your entire life. I’d like to
blame the absence of great warriors on your mother’s side for your lack of any
good qualities, God rest her soul, and try as I might I wasn’t able to turn you
into a son that I could be proud…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before Francis the Great could
finish his sentence, Franny had uncorked a large beaker he retrieved from his
saddle bag and thrown the bubbling contents into his father’s face. The liquid
splashed across the large man’s features and instantly began eating away his
flesh. His father fell off his horse with a loud thud and rolled back and forth
across the ground with his hands pressed to his face screaming as his world
turned to black pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sorry you feel that way father.
I really do. I had hoped you would one day come to appreciate me for who I was
and what I was capable, but I knew when you invited me on this so called ‘hunting’
trip that it wasn’t to be. Really father do you think so little of me that you
would believe I would fall for your little ruse. You despise hunting with me. I
scare the animals away remember. You might as well have come to me last night
and confessed your plan to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great continued to roll
back and forth across the ground as Fanny dismounted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure this is not how you would
have preferred me to kill you. I’m sure you would have rather me fight you man
to man with a sword in each of our hands, but we both know how that would have
turned out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny pulled his sword from its
scabbard. It was a long skinny thing like him that curved back and forth like a
slithering snake. His father had laughed at him when he had it made saying it was
completely impractical for battle, but Franny thought it suited him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great’s screams turned
to whimpering sobs. The nerve endings had burned away, and he now lay
motionless and blubbering like a child with a skinned knee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Please son, show mercy to your poor
father. Undo this spell, and I swear I will treat you like the son I always
wished you were. Please son, please. Show mercy.” He began to weep, and the
tears turned to steam on his cheeks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Really father, begging. I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You</i> were the tall strong warrior who
faced down death with his head held high. But of course, you never knew real
pain. You had always been strong and surrounded by your men, who kept you safe
in the thick of battle. They made you feel like an untouchable king. Do
yourself a favor and die with some dignity.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny shoved the tip of his evil
looking blade into his father’s throat and silencing his father’s pitiful sobs
forever. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Such a barbaric business killing a
man with a sword, Franny thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When he returned to the keep, he
conjured up some distressed tears and articulated a dramatic story of how a
huge beast the size of an oak came at them in the woods spewing fire. He told
how his father had battled with the beast and how they died locked in a deadly
embrace, a giant claw through his father’s throat and his sword piercing the beast’s
heart. He also described how after the beast was slain, it melted away back to the
depths of the devil’s lair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis the Great’s men gasped in
astonishment at the story. They had always heard of strange beasts lurking in
the forest, but had never seen one. They immediately formed a party to search
out the woods for any more agents of the devil lying in wait to do the realm
harm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Franny inherited his father’s land
and wealth, much to the dismay of his father’s closest advisors and commanders.
It was only out of respect for Franny’s father that they didn’t kill him on the
spot, but they decided they would be neither obedient or loyal. They still
spoke of him as Franny out of earshot even though he had instructed them to
call him Sir Francis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Francis quickly became weary of
their disrespect and called on his vassals to attend a great feast in honor of
his father and to announce the beginning of a new campaign of conquest to
create a lasting monument to his father’s greatness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A toast to my father,” Sir Francis
said. He raised a gold cup high to the echoing roar of “To Francis the Great.”
They all drank together and half of the assembled company fell dead into their
mutton. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let that be a lesson to all that
oppose me. You now see what happens to those that don’t give me their complete
undying loyalty!” Sir Francis boomed. “Another toast to me. Sir Francis the
Magnificent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“To Sir Francis the Magnificent!”
yelled the remaining men nervously looking into their cups.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The name Sir Francis the Magnificent
didn’t stick however. To many of the men, he was known only as Sir Francis the
Magnificent cocksucker. They were however careful to say this only in hushed
tones in small groups away from spying ears.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Francis over time began to tire
of petty politics and turned his attentions toward his larger goal of expanding
his knowledge of the mysterious arts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis put one of his few reliable
men in charge of the realm and rode off with a few trusted bodyguards.
Opportunity seekers really, casting their dice for the long bet with Sir
Francis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Immediately upon their departure,
Francis’s trusted advisor was murdered and then dumped in a trash heap outside
of town. The business of the realm then finally returned to normal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis traveled far to the East
with his small band of bodyguards across wind swept landscapes of sand, through
dense swamps and over mountains searching out the secrets of the dark arts. He
spent time with the twisted holy men of the gray mountain, who claimed to gain
their power by bathing in the blood of young virgin women, who prayed all
through starless nights and ate sacred plants transporting them to the sacred
realms between man and beyond. He spent a year bent over the ancient parchments
at the great library of Gall learning the ancient languages and conversing with
the scholars and philosophers on the steps of the temple squares. He learned
the dark rites of the men of smoke, who could cast fire spells from their
fingertips, with the help of a tube made from animal intestines and a dark
earthy liquid that bubbled up from the depths of the earth, which burned with
the intensity of a thousand candles. And, he learned the secrets of the
elements from the ancient order of alchemists, who lived in the remnants of an
extinct volcano. Francis consumed all of this knowledge as a man dying of
thirst attacks a river, which cannot slack his desire. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His bodyguards perished one by one
succumbing to strange diseases, attacks from wild primitive people who still
used stone spears and from their hard travels. One by one, they died until it
was just Francis alone on his journey. He no longer required them though. He
had already become deadlier than any mere man. When Francis returned to his
homeland, he was a stranger amongst strangers. He floated through villages like
a mist listening to gossip at the inns and learning everything he could about
what had happened to the realm in his absence. The once mighty mass of land,
which his father had ruled with a mighty fist, had turned into a multitude of
small territories where a hundred lords competing violently for each scrap of
land with no unifying ruler or cause to make them whole again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis had returned to his homeland
for only one reason, to carry on his study of the dark arts. He wanted to explore
the knowledge he had accumulated over the years and put it to the test, to
unlock the mysteries of life and death themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The tall tower keep of his father’s
was now a crumbling ruin. Francis shook his head at the sight of it. It seemed
to be occupied by a medley of slack-jawed thugs their hands rubbing their rusty
sword hilt obscenely with dirty gloved hands. He walked boldly through them to
his father’s throne room to find a twelve-year-old sitting lazily on his
father’s great stone chair, a leg draped over one of the thick arms. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who comes before the Mighty Calvin!”
the boy said, his voice cracking with each syllable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis stood tall in his simple
gray cloak. He squared his body to the boy and said in a booming voice “Sir
Isaac Bartholomew Esquire Francis the Third, son of Sir Isaac Bartholomew
Esquire Francis the Great and grandson to Sir Isaac Bartholomew Esquire Francis
the Greater!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who?” cracked the boy’s voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis fumed and clenched his hands
into fists, his long nails digging into his palms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sir Francis the Magnificent, the
rightful ruler to this land and the owner of this keep!” Francis repeated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You must be mistaken. This was my
father’s keep. Won fair and square in the War of the Red Tide and upon his
tragic passing was passed to me Calvin the Mighty,” cracked Calvin. “You’re
obviously mad to believe otherwise. Guards seize him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two guards approached Francis each
unsheathing a pitted rusty sword. Francis covered his mouth with his robe and
with a wave of his other hand sent out a cloud of crystalline dust, which instantly
began to asphyxiate both attackers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I said seize him!” screeched the
boy, but the remaining men in the room didn’t dare to get any closer to
Francis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“An enchanter,” they whispered to
each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I said seize him!” screeched Calvin
again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Pledge your devotion and your lives
to me, your rightful ruler, and I will spare you!” Francis boomed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The guards said nothing but only
backed away lowering their weapons in a sign of submission.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Good choice,” Francis said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If you won’t kill him I will,”
cried Calvin, who leapt from the stone chair and unsheathed a long sword, which
gave him the aspect of a child playing with his father’s things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My father would have really liked
this boy, Francis thought, just before he raised his hand and sent a jet of
unnatural green flame from a tube concealed in his sleeve. The flame engulfed
the boy instantly turning him into a pile of brittle ash. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Someone clean this up and bring me
something to eat,” Francis commanded, walking past the blackened heap of a boy
ruler and sitting down in the stone chair, as if the boy had just been keeping
it warm for him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This was at least how Francis had
remembered it happening. All of it was just a fog in his mind an indistinct
dream, which faded more with each passing moment. No one knew whether the
stories were true of his great reign upon his return. All anyone knew now was
that only the cruelest and dim witted of his soldiers had remained loyal, the
majority had defected pledging allegiance to neighboring lords. His realm had deteriorated
over the years into a desolate thing, where the villagers couldn’t even
remember who lived in the tall tower keep. They only know to stay away from it
and not to get too curious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These memories were only dim shadows
in the back of Francis’s mind, which retreated from his thoughts as he focused on
the container of green translucent fluid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hump come quickly. I think I’ve
done it. Finally a potion that will increase my power tenfold. The serum of
hidden power that I have been struggling to perfect these past three months.
Hump? Hump! Where are you? I’m talking to you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump came shuffling into the room
dragging one leg and doubled over from the weight of his giant hunch of a back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes master?” Hump said as he
entered the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump hadn’t always been his way.
Even though he could never have been described as an attractive man, he had
been blessed with above average intelligence for a guard in Dark Francis’s
employ. He had been the brightest of all of his cronies, which put his
intelligence a little above a gold fish, but still he had been a moderate sized
gold fish in a pond of gnats. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An
unfortunate accident in the stables had crippled poor Hump’s meager
intelligence years earlier. One of Hump’s mounts had accidently eaten a few
gold coins that he had carelessly dropped on the ground. Hump spent the day
sitting behind the horse sifting through its feces when the banging of the
stable door spooked the horse, and it kicked poor Hump square in the forehead.
Needless to say, Hump was never the same again, but he was still strong as an
ox, and he remained Francis’s most loyal henchman. If it had been anyone else,
Francis would have gotten rid of him after an accident like that, but he pitied
Hump, so he kept him in his employ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have you heard a word I said Hump?”
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The master has perfected his serum.
Very good master.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s right. Now I need someone to
test it on. Go to the village and find a suitable volunteer to try it on. Try
not to find anyone too extraordinary. I don’t want to create a formidable opponent
if this works. One of the poor drunks down at the tavern should do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes master, very good master.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Away with you and quickly. I cannot
bear to wait any longer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“At once master,” Hump said with a
small bow and shuffled out of the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As luck would have it for Hump, it
was the dead of night and one of the tavern regulars was staggering his way
down one of the lonely deserted avenues of the village having just left the
tavern. The poor drunken fool could barely keep his balance as he slowly put
one foot in front of the other unsure of his footing with each step.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump saw the man staggering down the
road as he slowly made his way to the village on the back of his now trusty
mule.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Excuse me sir,” Hump said politely
to the drunk. “I seem to have lost my way in the dark. Could you point me the
way to the tavern?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It took a moment for the words to
sink into the man’s mead pickled brain, but when they did, he let out a loud
belch, hiccupped, farted and then pointed the way to the tavern before falling
backward on his ass as if his bones had turned to jelly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you kind sir,” Hump said, and
he continued on his way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The drunk tipped his hat in a little
salute, picked himself up, dusted himself off and continued his way home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump took up a post near the door to
the tavern and clubbed the first wobbly drunk that made his way through the
door to take a piss. He slung unconscious heap over his mule’s back and
returned to the keep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s about time Hump!” Francis
scolded as Hump entered the dark chamber of bubbling vials, steaming beakers
and shelves upon shelves of decaying books and jars filled with dried herbs,
picked lizard tails, crow eyes, dove hearts and all the essential supplies for
a man in Francis’s profession.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What is this all about,” cried the
poor drunk in a slurred half moan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t be frightened kind gentle
peasant. I’ve not brought you here to harm you. I’ve brought you here to see if
you would like to earn a little bit of money by doing me a favor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What kind of money and what kind of
favor?” asked the man. “Just so you know I’m not a fairy nancy boy or whatever
Trevor has been spreading around the village. It’s a lie. He’s the one who
touched my cock. I can’t help it if I liked it a little. I was drunk.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Just a simple task that will only
take a few moments and for your trouble you’ll earn yourself a gold piece.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Francis held up a small gold coin,
which glinted in the light of the candles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man considered this for a moment
rubbing his chin and weighing his options before answering.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I guess it’s okay, but make it
quick,” the man said while untying the knot to his pants and slipping them to
the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stop you fool, I don’t require <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> from you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why didn’t you just say so in the
first place? Now I feel embarrassed,” the drunk said as he hitched up his
pants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I just want you to drink this and
tell me how you feel,” Francis said through a bitter screen of frustration. He handed
the vial of green liquid to the man who took it and looked at it in the dim
light suspiciously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s uh…a new kind of mead I’m
experimenting with. It’s twice as potent. I just need an unbiased opinion from
a man with your experience pallet,” Francis answered rubbing his hands together
fiendishly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well, I’ve never turned down a free
drink,” said the man and with a quick gulp, he drank the contents in a single
swallow and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The three men stood there in
silence. Francis waited impatiently as he watched the man for any sign of an
increase in power or mystical knowledge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not bad. Tastes a little funny
though,” said the man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes that’s to be expected with
boiled toad as an ingredient,” Francis said. “But how do you feel?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I feel…AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” The
man let out a blood-curdling scream, which came so suddenly and violently that
it made Francis leap back and almost sent the man up in flames.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man didn’t move. He just stood
there paralyzed like a human statue involuntarily screaming.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Damn, I must have miscalculated
somewhere in the formula,” Francis said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What should I do with this one
master?” Hump asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Put him with the other failures,”
Francis said dismissively as he turned his attention to a fragile looking
parchment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump took the man by the hand, who
continued to scream, but followed him docilely down to the lower levels of the
keep. Hump opened a large heavy door and pushed the poor unfortunate man into
the cell. Half a dozen other men occupied the room. All were haggard looking fellows
hoarsely screaming and staring off into space.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hump secured the door behind him as
he left and let the cries of the poor unfortunate men fade in his ears as he
returned to his master.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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