I really had nothing to blog about today, so I thought I would post some of my old fiction. I think in some ways gamers, especially DMs, etc. are frustrated writers. I know I am. This is the first issue that was actually on one of those "pay to read" websites. The first chapter was free of course, but then you pay a fee for every chapter you wanted to read after that.
The Ivorythorn Chronicles was in the fantasy genre, but it was a fantasy world without magic. However, over the course of time this would change, and change quickly. I'm really thinking I want to do a major rewrite, and turn this into something better. It was never intended as a novel, because it was supposed to be an ongoing story. ( That's how the person running the website wanted it... ) Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
The Ivorythorn Chronicles ~ The Tower
Strange dreams had been keeping Luke Ivorythorn from getting a good nights rest. Each dream seemed more vivid than the last, and they were getting more and more unusual. Most of his dreams he didn't remember once he was awake, but his dreams from the last few weeks were different. He could remember every little detail, and each dream seemed to be giving him clues, or ideas about something he was supposed to accomplish. He considered it a quest of sorts.
Lying in bed, Luke recalled the dream he had just awoken from. He was standing before a large and strange tower. It seemed insubstantial, hazy, almost like it wasn't even there. In his dream he tried to walk closer to the tower, but the more he walked towards it; the farther away it seemed to get. In his dream he was frustrated, and felt out of sorts. Then he remembered that he had felt something when he looked at the tower. He had felt a presence. Thinking about that made his skin crawl, and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Luke knew he needed to find that tower.
Luke's stomach growled with hunger, and he hopped out of bed. He decided to go downstairs to the common room of the inn for breakfast. On the way out of his room; he stopped at the small table with the wash basin on it. After splashing cold water on his face, he looked into the mirror hanging on the wall above the table. He looked and felt exhausted, and needed a shave. He had once again fallen asleep in his clothes; which were also in dire need of washing. He decided to get himself and his clothes cleaned up after breakfast. He thought he should at least look better than he felt.
Half way out the door, Luke heard a noise coming from behind him. It sounded like a swarm of bees. Turning around he saw the mirror on the wall glowing and sparkling. The sound seemed to be coming from the mirror. He walked towards it, and as he got closer; he saw an image appear in the mirror. It was an image of the tower from his dream.
Slowly reaching out to touch the mirror; Luke felt a tingling as his hand got close. Suddenly there was aloud pop, and he was knocked to the floor. The sound and image was gone, and the mirror had returned to normal. Feeling a little dizzy, Luke headed down to breakfast. His mind was reeling as he thought about what had just happened with the mirror.
***
Commander Greskin Drako stood in the watch tower's balcony; which faced what he and his men had called "the Emperor's Folly". At times the tower they had been assigned to observe; didn't even seem real. There had been days when he could barely make it out with the spyglass, and at times it seemed to disappear altogether. Today the tower seemed all too real.
The wind had increased in strength, and Drako had to brace himself as he looked through his spyglass. He could see the dark storm clouds that had formed above the tower, and the flashes of lightning that struck it. Cursing to himself, he remembered the Emperor's exact orders. "Watch the tower, and report anything unusual or strange that happens directly to me, and only to me." Drake had wondered what the Emperor had meant by unusual or strange, but he had the feeling that today he would find that out.
As he observed the storm with the spyglass, Drako saw the clouds boiling and swirling around the tower. The lighting seemed alive as it struck the tower, dancing over the surface, and then back into the clouds. Drako decided this qualified as strange. He and his men would have to ride to the tower to investigate further. As he turned away to go down the stairs, the tower shook, and he almost fell down the stairs. Steadying himself on the railing Drako hurried to muster his men.
On the third floor of the watch tower, Drake found Fenris, his second in command, in the main living quarters. Looking only a little unnerved; he was trying to keep his bunk from sliding across the floor as the shaking continued. Drako chuckled.
"Drako, what's going on?" Fenris dodged a falling lantern, and then jumped to the side as his bunk narrowly missed crashing into him. Rushing past Fenris, Drako bellowed, "No time to explain, we have to get to the tower!" Of course Drako didn't really know what was happening, but he didn't want Fenris to know that.
Taking the steps two at a time, he made his way to the second floor. Jenkins, Baldy, and Twilight were there, and they had been playing cards, or at least they had been until the watch tower had started shaking. They looked up at Drako, but before they could say anything he bellowed out another order, "Gather your gear and weapons! We ride to the tower! If we do this right the Emperor will pay us enough gold to last the rest of ours lives!" The cards flew threw the air as the men jumped out of the chairs.
On the first floor, Drako found Leo sharpening his sword in the armory. "Let's go! We ride to the tower!" Leo sheathed his sword, and grinned. Grabbing the rest of his gear he quickly followed behind the other men who were members of Drako's mercenary group.
On the ground floor; as everyone prepared themselves for the journey, the large main door opened, and the last member of their group; Mankle walked in. A very large and muscular man, Mankle appeared worried. "Uh...boss...there's a storm coming....lot's of wind....and the horses are spooked....and...."
Drako looked at the man, and wondered how he had let his sister talk him into letting Mankle join his group. He was large and strong, and had come in handy a couple of times, but he wasn't too smart. That had turned him into a liability for him and the other men a couple of times in the past. He growled at the large man, "Mankle I want you to stay here, and guard this tower. That's all! Don't do anything else, don't touch anything, just guard the watch tower! The rest of us are riding to the Emperor's Folly." Mankle looked a little disappointed, but Drako had more important things on his mind than Mankle's feelings.
Once outside the men quickly calmed the horses, and rode towards the tower, and the ever increasing storm.
***
Emperor Falroden stood before the ancient vault, and admired the craftsmanship that went into it's construction. He grabbed the handle to the large metal door, and with very little effort swung it open. He marveled that it made no sound as he pulled it open, and that he stopped it with ease; despite the fact that the metal doors were immense in size. This never ceased to amaze him.
Entering the vault, the Emperor noticed the large round crystal in the ceiling began glowing brightly enough to see by. Just a week before he needed a lantern once inside the vault. He walked to the center of the vault, which contained a large, ancient book sitting on a stone pedestal. As he ran his hands along the edges and over the ornate leather cover; his father's words came flooding back to him.
"Son, this is our families greatest legacy. Guard it with your very life! Of all of our great treasures this is the most important of all." After his father had shown him the vault, and the book inside; he had died within a week. Every day since his father died he would visit the vault, and inspect, and in an odd sort of way; admire the book. At first he was afraid to touch it; almost fearful that the ancient book would crumble into dust, and be lost forever. Now the book appeared to be in perfect shape; a flawless example of some long forgotten bookbinder's craft.
The book was closed and secured with some kind of circular clasp; but with no visible lock or means to open it. On the cover the metal circle was engraved with runes, or markings. None of his scholars could decipher the writing, and none of his engineers,or metalsmiths could open the clasp. He had given up trying to open it years ago, and was never really sure he should open it if he could. However, everything changed a week ago when he noticed that the metal circle had slowly started spinning, and every day he noticed it was spinning a little faster. Today it was spinning so fast the markings were a blur, and the circle appeared to give off a slight glow.
Emperor Falroden stood still and reached to touch the spinning circle. A spark flew from the clasp, and struck his hand. He felt his arm go numb, and watched as the circle stopped spinning. He heard a click, and saw the clasp open. At long last he could finally open the book.
***
Luke packed some supplies he had purchased in preparation for his upcoming journey to find the mysterious tower. He looked outside the window, and noticed it had gotten darker, and he thought he had heard thunder. Walking over to the window he had to pass the mirror, but he avoided looking at it. He leaned out the window, and looked up into the sky, and shuddered. He had never seen such dark and ominous storm clouds in his life. A loud boom startled him, and he saw a flaming ball fly out of the clouds, and towards the ground. Then there was another loud boom and flaming ball, and another....and another....
To be continued...
Well, that's the first "episode". I'll look over the other chapters, and post another one in a week or so.
