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Fiction The best Lustria short Stories - a complete collection

Discussion in 'Fluff and Stories' started by Killer Angel, May 30, 2021.

  1. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    The only thing now is to name is July-August 2022 as well ;)

    Grrr, !mrahil
     
  2. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    Done.
    For future reference, if anyone notices mistakes i think it's better if you just pm me so we don't clog the thread with various messages. :)
     
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  3. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    33th competition
    Jan-Feb 2023: Theme is "Dinosaurs".

    Winning story by @Killer Angel, after a tie-break with @Imrahil

    The Dinosaur


    The Knight Errant Roland was eager to prove himself, but he was aware of the danger.

    He had already found the corpses of two other knights… better equipped than himself and more experienced, judging from their insignia, but even their ability had proved to be no match for a horde of ghouls in Mousillon (the former) and the arrows of wood elves near Artois (the latter).

    Unsurprisingly, large numbers of the knights of Aquitaine were heading East… someone had kidnapped (through the use of dark magic) the beautiful Lady Charlotte, Duke Armand’s daughter. The Lady’s Prophetesses, led by their holy power, had been able to point the research toward a specific place: Uzkulak, in the Dark Lands.

    Many knights had chosen the most direct route, heading toward the land of the Chaos Dwarfs by passing through the friendly realms of the Empire and Kislev… but not Roland. He was convinced that it would have been more worthy to take a riskier route, through the Sea of Chaos and the River Ruin. Legends are forged by courage.

    So he sailed with a ship from l’Anguille, braving the dangerous, northern sea.

    And dangerous it was, indeed: twice the ship was attacked… firstly by a Chimera, that tore many sailors before Roland was able to take it down, then some Norscan pirates, that fled when the knight beheaded their champion.

    Roland was saluted as a hero by the crew, but all these extraordinary feats were not completely satisfying, as there was something indefinite that was worrying him… surely the fact that Lady Charlotte was still in danger.

    When the ship docked in Erengrad, Roland followed a land route alongside the River Ruin, facing once again many threats… a feral great bear in the frozen plains of Kislev, then (more to the south) a black ork riding an armored war boar.

    With each step Roland’s strength was growing… and so his discomfort, always with the feeling that something was out of place.

    Finally, when the northern cold was only a distant memory, Roland’s goal was there: the tower of the Chaos Dwarf Sorcerer, where Lady Charlotte was kept captive.

    Roland shook off his anxiety and went for the tower: many hobgoblins were slew that day, and finally he bravely faced the horrors of the tower: a bull centaur fell by his sword and lastly even the Dark Sorcerer was killed, despite his foul magic.

    The day was Roland’s… and yet, while he was setting free Lady Charlotte, there was still something that he wasn’t able to explain to himself.

    Then, the road to home: Kislev, the Empire… it was a long journey, during which Roland was still forced to fight a chaos giant. Inevitably, Lady Charlotte fell in love with this brave, gallant knight, and Roland loved her too, but he wasn’t happy, not completely.

    When they returned to the Capital, escorted by a group of Grail Knights, all the kingdom of Aquitaine celebrated them, and the Duke, who knew how to recognize valor, granted Roland the title of Paladin and (reading his daughter's heart) also granted the knight to marry Charlotte.

    That day would be long sung by the bards, with bretonnian and elven guests on their magnificent griffins and dragons, and flocks of pegasi flying over the city… the ceremony was stupendous, but all the while, even on what should have been his finest day, Roland was not left with the feeling that something was wrong.

    After the wedding dinner, the knight and the princess left the city gates and strolled near the wood of lovers. The knight embraced his beautiful bride and suddenly managed to understand what had been tormenting him for all these months: "But shouldn't there also be a dinosaur in this story?".

    Indeed, sorry for being late, here I am!”, said the Carnosaur, coming out from the wood.

    And ate them.

    You can find the rest of the stories HERE
     
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  4. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    34th competition
    April-may 2023: Theme is "War and Peace".

    Winning story by @Y'ttar Scaletail , after a tie-break with @Imrahil

    Purpose


    The moons gazed down over the Temple City, the lighter moon in dominance bathed the city in its white glow. The night was humid, filled with the croaks of night birds and the buzzing and clicks of Lustria’s many nocturnal insects. Atop the main temple pyramid an elderly Skink sat cross-legged. His scaled skin was gnarled and weathered like an ancient twisted tree covered in part by a faded feather cloak inlaid with golden charms and jewels. His staff of office lay silently to his side.

    Iluikakonetl’s eyes were closed as he sifted through his memories and braced himself for the visits he was to make with the prisoners as decreed by the Slann, Lord Tamasolli.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    It had been a time of peace for many turnings of the sun. No raids had come from the realm of the Dark Elves to the North, there had been no incursion by the ratfolk in generations, and the wards maintained by the Slann had held strong and so many had forgotten the terror of a daemonic incursion.

    In this period the Skinks had worked tirelessly with the Sauri and Kroxigor to repair and maintain areas of the city that time and forgotten war had sought to ruin. The fruit harvests were bountiful and the stars showed good omens for a long time to come.

    It was at the height of this era of peace that a strange cohort of Sauri emerged from the spawning pools. They were aggressive and prepared for war, their minds feral and maddened.

    At first it was seen as an omen, that war would soon come to the temple city. The other Sauri prepared for imminent battle whilst the priests scryed the stars and consulted the sacred tablets. But no enemy came. The days stretched into weeks, weeks into months, but still peace reigned.

    The aggressive spawned Sauri were restless and barely kept under control. Letting them loose in the jungle surrounding the city only served to reduce the local wildlife population, to the effect of even greater peace. What made matters worse was the Sauri had seemed to become more and more aggressive for all their decimation of Lustria’s wildlife.

    Finally, something gave and the aggressive spawned Sauri in their maddened frenzy broke the bonds of brotherhood and duty and descended into murdering their kin. Many were slain before the maddened Sauri were killed or subdued.

    As Iluikakonetl was about to give the order to slay the mad Sauri the momentarily roused voice of Mage Priest Tamasolli echoed in their minds ordering them to stop and bind the Sauri instead.

    For there was purpose for them in the Plan.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Several enchanted gems of great antiquity embedded within carved stone walls bathed the chamber with a dim blue light. Chains of starmetal were pulled taut as the prisoner’s body lurched towards the elderly Skink Priest. Iluikakonetl looked at the Saurus with eyes filled with deep sorrow and regret.

    Ignoring the prisoner’s hisses and snarls, he slowly eased himself to the stone floor and sat before the chained Saurus. He was quiet for a long time as if waiting to see if the madness consuming the prisoner would fade.

    It did not.

    If Iluikakonetl was surprised by this, he gave no sign.

    At last he spoke.

    “There is purpose for you. The Mage Priest knows it.”

    Iluikakonetl’s voice echoed from the chamber walls, repeating the words ‘knows it’ like a mantra.

    The Saurus gave no reply and continued to strain at the chains.

    “Often, I have wondered how much the Old Ones designed us for war. I do not believe it was their original intention, but a product of necessity...maybe a contingency...”

    He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

    “But what use is a thing solely of war when there is peace? Where do you fit in the Plan where there seems to be no purpose or place at this time? Are we to keep you and your surviving spawn brothers in chains until war does come?”

    The Saurus snarled, ropy drool dripping down to splatter on the stone floor below.

    “Maybe if you kill enough the madness will leave you, that you will no longer be driven to kill and kill and kill.”

    The Skink Priest opened his eyes.

    “But we both know that will not happen. The lust for death, the lust for bloodshed...it will only grow. Were it not for the Mage Priest’s foresight of the Plan, you would already have been granted the peace of death. No, there is purpose for you and your spawn brothers.”

    For the briefest of moments the maddened rage-filled eyes of the Saurus seemed to clear.

    Iluikakonetl tilted his head slightly, the fins of his head crest catching the glow of the light giving gems and deepening the shadows across his face.

    “You are wondering why I am here.”

    The Saurus gave a half snarl that ended with a hissing grunt.

    The Skink Priest narrowed his eyes and was quiet for a long moment.

    “There are two reasons. The first as decreed by Lord Tamasolli was to gauge how much of you and your brothers were more than just maddened beasts. The second was to let you know, whether you can comprehend it or not, that you are still our kin. If it becomes necessary to grant you death it will be with a heavy heart. Despite the madness afflicting you, despite the blood of our kin you have shed, despite the sorrow and shame you bring to our hearts...you are still our brother.”

    The Saurus was oddly quiet as Iluikakonetl rose to his feet and left the chamber. Whether the elderly priest acknowledged this change as he left, he gave no indication.

    In the dim glow of the chamber the prisoner sat alone with his madness and his thoughts. Sometime later a pair of Skinks would appear and thrust a piece of meat on a long pole for him to consume. He would snarl and pull at the chains and they would quail and hurry away once their duties were complete.

    The Saurus looked up to where the Skink Priest had departed. For the moment the bloodlust and the anger drained from him. He tried to speak, tongue and jaw trying to make sound.

    Alone in his prison he managed to speak a single word.

    “...Brother...”

    You can find the rest of the stories HERE
     
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  5. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    @Killer Angel : I think it is time for THE NIGHTBRINGER to be added to the hall of champions!
     
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  6. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    35th competition
    July-august 2023: Theme is "Hidden in plain sight".

    Winning story by @Killer Angel

    THE NIGHTBRINGER


    The Teacher
    "Chaos is our enemy. Every threat we face is driven by a single thing…. Chaos."
    The skink priest looked at the class. Almost fifty skinks had their eyes fixed on him… acolyte priests, scouts, scribes. Every one of them was giving him full attention. It's always satisfying when no student lets itself be distracted by flies or the pleasant rays of the sun.
    "On a certain level you all know the four Gods of Chaos, their fields of influence and the danger of their corruption."
    Many skinks' heads nodded in acknowledgment.
    "But these daemons are not the first chaotic threat to the Great Plan. Before Chaos manifested in its true form, even before we were created, there were different entities… sworn enemies of the Slanns. They were called the C'Tan."
    "These creatures were not made of Chaos, but derived their powers from it. They wanted to feed from the energies of the stars and the souls of the living beings. They held a strength capable of erasing entire planets, but their weapons were also deception, treachery and subterfuge. As the Chaos daemons, each one of them was a master in a particular field of expertise… and the most dangerous of them was called The Nightbringer."
    A hand was raised.
    "But Teacher Qui-Chin… I've heard that these so called C'tan are no more since millennia. Is that true? and if so, why should we study them?".
    "That's a good question. Are they no more? They are mentioned in the ancient plaques… and time is fickle when you mess with chaos. I think it's better to know our enemies, even the ones that we think are dead. Now, to talk about the Nightbringer, it is said it was cloaked in shadows, and that it was the one with the greater connection to chaos…"

    The Acolyte
    When the lesson ended, the terradons already stopped chasing the morning ascending air currents. Time literally flew, while listening to the passionate exposition of Qui-Chin.
    The acolyte was impressed "I never saw Qui-Chin so involved in an argument, not even during the lessons on the daemons of plague…"
    The other students were chattering about the C'Tan, their ancient machinations, their tactics of corruption. Every one of them was clearly left impressed by the lesson.
    "Yes, he was very passionate about it…"

    The Teacher
    The lessons about the C'Tan had been a success, from a professional point of view. Every student had been actively involved, every one of them questioned him.
    An inquisitive mind is a mind eager for knowledge. Knowledge is power. They need to know what Chaos is capable of…
    "Teacher Qui-Chin? May I have a word with you?"
    Qui-Chin stopped his lucubration. In front of him there was a young skink, with the ornamental feathers that qualified him as an acolyte priest, destined to future service in the Vaults of the Ancient Knowledge.
    "Acolyte Fren-Shui… what can I do for you?"
    "Your lessons are very interesting, but I would like to delve into the topic. Is there some text I could refer to?"
    "Again? it's not the first time you're asking me something more. You already have what's needed… further details could be redundant. After all, the C'Tan are only a very hypothetical threat."
    "Yes but… please?".
    An inquisitive mind is a mind eager for knowledge.
    "mmm… I could grant you access to a couple of books I've used as references. After all, one day you will have to guard our Vaults. I will prepare a letter".

    The Acolyte
    Fren-Shui was finally in the Vaults. Yes, he could not have accessed the Vaults, the request was for the books, a consecrated priest should have given them to Fren-Shui.
    It had been necessary to forge the permit a little. It had been risky, but it was the only way.
    Fren-Shui looked at the two useless books in front of him. Then he looked at the corridors that gave the access at the most secret volumes and artefacts.
    Now, my teacher, let's see what you real references are, and why you're so enamoured with these C'Tan…

    The Teacher
    "…and this is why the warmbloods are so susceptible to the lures by the deamons of pleasure. Now, I hope you will study your notes, because the next time you will be questioned."
    The students rose and begun to leave the hall, discussing the lesson.
    A brilliant class. The next leaders will know Chaos, and all its fascinating promises.
    Qui-Chin moved toward the exit. Maybe he didn't noticed the pair of eyes fixed on his back.

    The Acolyte
    Fren-Shui looked at the teacher that was going away.
    Teacher? yes, maybe you are a teacher… but what kind of teaching you're insinuating in us? I've read some of the ancient text, and not even all of them. Not the most obscure ones, the ones that you've learned. You were right… the Nightbringer cloaks itself in shadows, so that no one can see it.
    Fren-Shui was filled by frustration and bitterness.
    I've tried to talk with a couple of friends, the ones more open minded. I was forced to mimic irony, but nonetheless they refuses to see it… they don't correlate the passion when you were talking about the C'Tan and your indifference when you treat the chaos gods. They don't see behind your mask, even when I show them all the clues. What did you say? "creatures born from chaos always reveal themselves, but creatures that embraced it can hide its influence".
    Fren-Shui was alone, and the rays of the sun were not able to warm his soul.
    You are a prominent skink in our temple city. I'm just an acolyte. Dear Old Ones, what can I do?

    The Teacher and the Acolyte
    Qui-Chin was used to receive students in his chambers, especially the most brilliant ones; the saurus guards were used to this behavior, so they paid no particular attention to this particular student.
    Qui-Chin was very surprised when Fren-Shui drew a dagger that was hidden in his vest, stabbing him… again, and again, and again.
    Unable to cast a spell, all he could do was cry for help, gurgling in his own blood while the student raised the dagger for another furious stab.
    Fren-Shui did not stop when his teacher was clearly dead, nor when the guards broke into the chamber. He knew the shards of the C’Tan could live after the apparent dead of the C’Tan itself, so he could not take a risk with one of their servants.
    Old Ones, I will be killed for this. But at least You know… please accept my spirit and let me swim again in the spawning pools.
    The weapons of the guards descended on him.

    The High Priest and the Keeper of the Vaults
    The high ranking skinks were in one of the inner chambers of the Temple. What happened had had dramatic repercussions on the daily life of the city, and the planning of the activities had been upset. It was vital to keep things quiet as much as possible, and give a… tranquilizing explanation to what happened, something that would allow the muddy waters to clear.
    “So, this is it?”
    “Yes. The acolyte entered the Vaults thanks to an altered request, apparently bribed by himself. The guardian failed to notice it”
    “…and he put his eyes on forbidden texts. The ones capable to alter a weak mind.”
    “It won’t happen no more, revered High Priest. From now on, any access to the Vaults will be granted only by me.”
    “Yes. But now we’ll have to mourn the loss of a great Priest and a promising student. Because we weren’t paying enough attention.”
    “He was just a student among many other ones… who would have thought that something was eroding its sanity? Who could have knew?”
    The High Priest gave a bitter smile.
    “It is said that in those books still lies a spark of the ancient C’Tan. If that’s true, the Nightbringer knew”


    You can find the rest of the stories HERE
     
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  7. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    36th competition
    Oct-Nov 2023: Theme was "Stranger in a Strange Land."

    it was a tie between 2 stories (after a tie-break!), so there are TWO winning stories, made by @Llinyn Tathrenlir (with his first piece, nonetheless!) and @Imrahil


    @Llinyn Tathrenlir
    Of Wood and Whispers

    “Be careful out there,” Hilya implored her twin brother, her hands firmly gripping his wrists, “don’t get yourself into trouble like you always do.”

    “I won’t. I promise! I’ll be back before you know it,” Yestril replied. “Sir Liadon said it’ll only be a day’s journey. A quick scout if you will. Besides, we will be having Quaru’uul and Yax’keldan with us.”

    Hilya let go of Yestril’s arms to turn and look at the two lizardmen sitting on a few crates behind her while they were sharpening their great axes. She put a lock of hair behind her pointed ear and let out a worrisome sigh.

    “They know their way around woodlands like these,” Yestril added. “I’ve heard Quaru say Yax has slain owlbears before.”

    Hilya chuckled as a loud voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

    “All who agreed upon joining me on today’s journey gather your necessary equipment. I want to be leaving at a moment’s notice!” Sir Liadon's voice echoed through the campsite as he tugged on the straps of his knee-high leather boots.

    Both lizardmen stood up and made their way to the waiting elven man. A stout and muscular human in his late forties joined the group shortly after, as he secured the last piece of equipment to his backpack. Yestril sharply inhaled and started striding through the still-dewy grass toward the scouting party. He stopped halfway to look back at Hilya, who smiled at him.

    “Don’t go around bothering owlbears, Yestril! I want you back in one piece preferably!” she exclaimed.

    “No promises!” He replied with a smirk.

    Yestril swiftly joined the group as it had already begun walking towards the tree line of the imposing forest.

    “You ready, kid?” The human asked with a grin on his face.

    “Ready as can be, Ralm.”


    _____________________________________________________________________


    For the first moments of their trek, the group walked in a straight line through the woods. Yestril happily took advantage of the fact that he could still see their campsite as he took turns looking at his boots and back over his shoulder every couple of steps, causing him to trip over several tree roots. After losing his balance for the seventh time in ten minutes the group halted and looked back at Yestril. Liadon sighed as he turned around and continued walking. Ralm got to one knee and helped Yestril to his feet.

    “You ought to be more careful, kid. These woods can be dangerous. We don’t want ya trippin’ over the edge of some cliffside and breaking y’ neck.”

    “Yeah… I’m sorry Ralm.” Yestril groaned as he dusted the dirt off his trousers. He stood upright and looked back one more time before he continued following alongside the group. He frowned. He took another glance to his left and right. He could not see the campsite anymore nor did he recognize any sign of a beaten path in his vicinity.

    “I could have sworn we had been walking in a straight line all this time…” he whispered to himself. “I… I must have missed a turn or two,” he added, shaking his head and waving away his thoughts, before joining the rest of the group once again.

    The further inwards the group travelled the more grandiose the scenery around them became. Where at first the lizardmen had to regularly duck to evade low-hanging branches, the canopy now raised several tens of metres above their heads. Their path through the dense ferns and low-growing foliage was accompanied by sporadic and faint rays of sunlight peeking through the canopy. Yestril tried estimating their time spent walking since they had left their campsite by trying to observe the altitude of the sun. However, he couldn’t see the sun through the abundant branches and leaves. What’s more, every part of the sky above him that met his gaze never seemed blue like he would expect it to be. Its colours varied from orange hues to deep set indigo as if the forest was encompassed in an everlasting twilight.

    “Gods, Hilya, I wish you were here to see this,” He thought to himself.

    Yestril looked ahead at the two lizardmen walking side by side, talking amongst themselves, occasionally pointing at a piece of flora. He smiled and continued his journey in silent awe for all the spectacles around him.


    _____________________________________________________________________


    It was not long before the densely-covered forest floor made way for what looked to be an open field. The grassland went on for at least hundreds of metres before finally meeting the treeline again on the other side of the hilly field. The group drew up to the border of this opening in the canopy and seemingly awaited some sort of verdict from Sir Liadon.

    “This scenery here is called a glade, gentlemen,” He explained, leading the group onto the grass field. “Perhaps this is a fitting place to take a halt and rest a bit.”

    Yestril followed Liadon onto the glade looking down at the ground covered in mesmerising white flowers. As he kneeled to take a closer look, a cold sensation hit his neck. He shuddered and wiped the wetness from his neck while looking at the sky. As if mirroring the glade below his feet, the sky above his head was filled with thousands upon thousands of snowflakes.

    “Is that… is that snow..?” He caught himself saying it out loud.

    “This is rarer than a lizard in a library..!” Ralm blurted out. “Isn’t it supposed to be another five full moons before this shite comes falling from the skies again?” He muttered, rubbing his hands across his arms.

    Quaru’uul and Yax’keldan gave each other a silent look before deciding it was best to stay silent and make it back to camp without unnecessary casualties.

    “I suppose we could rest underneath the surrounding trees instead of here on the open glade,” Sir Liadon stated, also looking caught off guard by the sudden snowfall during this time of year.

    They all gathered underneath the trees again and sought out a rock formation that allowed them to take a seat comfortably for just long enough to finish a short meal. Ralm set down his backpack and opened it. He was about elbow-deep in his bag before rapidly pulling his hand out again, letting out a shout and walking two steps backward before falling on his backside. The rest of the group looked at Ralm and slowly traced his glance back to the bag, which was lying on its side now. It was the stench that hit Yestril’s senses before anything else. The strong odour of spoiled meats mixed with a fume that could only be described as malignant penetrated his nostrils as he saw mouldy bread and rotten fruits roll out of the bag, covered in what looked to be maggots and grubs. Yestril gagged.

    “Leave the sack here. It is of no use to us now. We’ll hunt something down along the way,” Liadon commanded, already having stood up and walked away from the mess.

    Ralm looked at Quaru'uul and Yax’keldan in confusion before standing up, quickly dusting off his hands and following the elf.


    _____________________________________________________________________


    In the following hours, the peaceful woodlands gradually made way for more treacherous swamplands. Unlike in the glade - which seemed to be in a permanent state of cold - the air surrounding the travellers in these swamplands was hot and dense and filled with an ever-present mist dancing around their boots, seemingly knowing every next footfall. Soon after the group found themselves wading through murky water reaching Yestril’s and Ralm’s waistline. With every step they made, the muddy floor seemed to grasp at their ankles trying to drag them under the water’s surface.

    “Ow! Daggers! I think something bit me..!” Ralm shouted.

    “Are you alright?” Yestril asked, trying to turn around to face him but unable due to the muddy swamp floor.

    “I’m fine. I’m fine. Just keep walkin’. The sooner we’re out of this shitehole the better.”

    It wasn’t very long after they had left the murky waters behind them before Ralm suddenly sat down against a tree.

    “Are you alright Ralmavir?” Liadon asked.

    “Barkin’ spiders man, my legs are crampin’. Feels like whatever stung me down there is makin’ my joints lock up or somethin’,” he groaned.

    The group looked at him with concern.

    “Well don’t just stand there! Help me get my boots off! I can’t bend my knees!” he shouted.

    Quaru’uul handed his axe to Yax’keldan and rushed over to release Ralm from his footwear revealing his foot underneath. To everyone’s shock, his entire leg was covered in bark and fungi as if it had been part of the surrounding forest for years. Silence filled the air for what felt like an eternity.

    “Go on without me,” Ralm whispered with his eyes closed, breaking the silence. “In hopes you find your damned acorns!” He shouted, slamming his fist to the ground. Sir Liadon sighed.

    “Stay with him Quaru’uul. Tend to his wounds as best you can. We’ll foregather on our return to camp.”

    The lizardmen shared a glance before Quaru’uul nodded and started lifting the legs of Ralm’s trousers.

    “Will you be okay, Ralm?” Yestril quietly asked.

    “Just make sure it's not all for nil, kid. Maybe those dumb artefacts Liadon wants to find in this forsaken forest can save whatever the hell this is.” He grunted, pointing at his legs.


    _____________________________________________________________________


    The following part of the journey was quiet. Not the comfortable kind. Since Ralm’s incident, Yestril had become extremely suspicious of every thorny branch he encountered. The remaining three travellers stopped for a second as Sir Liadon gestured to do so. He frowned at his compass - which had been spinning in circles for a while now - trying to discern where to go next. Yestril heard the rustling of leaves in front of him and skittishly looked up. He stayed perfectly still with his eyes darting around from the canopy to the forest floor. Nothing. No movement among the trees. No beast nor man in sight. However, the winds had picked up. Making the whole forest seem to dance and sway.

    “It must’ve been the wind then, right?” he tried explaining to himself.

    He turned around to check the surroundings behind him. He looked at the ground as he saw that the swamp’s mist had caught up with them, crawling ever so slowly over the dirt below their feet. He kneeled to try and feel the dampness of the swamp in the mist. It was cold to the touch. He watched as the mist slowly trailed up his arms. The winds picked up again, stronger this time. Yestril kept his gaze to the branches above trying to ascertain whether the howling came from the trees or a creature in the distance. The mist had wrapped itself around his arm, all the way up to his shoulder as Yestril heard a whisper.

    “Yesss… stril…”

    Yestril shot straight up to his feet and looked at Yax’keldan in fear. The lizardman looked back seemingly not having heard the same thing Yestril had. Yax’keldan carried a stern look on his face Yestril has always known him to have. A chill went down Yestril’s spine.

    “Gods, Hilya, I wish you were here,” he whispered.

    After Liadon had given up on his compass and had chosen a direction out of pure desperation, the three walked in silence through the howling winds. The forest around grew denser with every step they set forth.

    “Yax, would you mind clearing the way for us? I do not want us getting caught up in venomous vines or constricting roots.” Liandon pointed at the flora in front of them.

    Yax’keldan tightened his grip around his axe and started slashing away at the greenery. Until he suddenly stopped. He stood upright with his scaly nostrils in the air.

    “Is there a creature nearby? Yax?! What did you s-”

    Yax'keldan abruptly put his hand up gesturing to Liandon to stop talking. Yax'keldan then slowly made his way through the greenery to his right until he was no longer in Yestril’s sight.

    “Should we-”

    “Stay here,” Liandon quietly interrupted Yestril.

    Moments passed. A few twigs snapped in the distance. Then silence. Yestril had never really heard Yax’keldan speak before, which made the following that much more terrifying.

    “RUN!”

    Yax’keldan’s voice echoed through the woods followed by the sound of bones breaking and a painful roar. Yestril looked fearfully at Liadon in hopes of hearing the next logical steps to pursue. Liandon stood up, looking as distraught as Yestril, frantically looking for a way to escape the green maze, as an arrow dug itself perfectly into his left eye socket. Liandon hit the ground with a dull thud before Yestril’s eyes. He had to cover his mouth to not let out a yelp of horror. Yestril started crawling as fast as he could, back the way they came. Only to discover that the ground he was crawling on was littered with skulls and bones.

    After crawling for what must have been an hour he found the courage to get on his feet and ran for what felt like another hour. He stopped to lean against a tree and looked back at the forest behind him. The trees were swaying more than he remembered. The winds howled.

    “Gods… Hilya…” he muttered, right before passing out.


    _____________________________________________________________________


    Woken up by the warmth of sunlight hitting his face, Yestril sat himself straight up against the tree. He rubbed his eyes and the back of his head. He looked at his surroundings. This was not the tree he passed out next to.

    “This… this is where Ralm helped me on my feet. This very morning!” he thought to himself.

    He hastily hoisted himself up on two feet as quickly as he could while not passing out again. He quickly glanced around looking for any other surrounding details his memory could cling to. And there it was. In a straight line through the leaves and branches. Within eyeshot. The campsite.

    There she sat. Close to the tree line. Almost exactly in the same place, Yestril had seen her last.

    “Hilya!” he shouted, running straight out of the woods. She looked up with a confused expression on her face.

    “Yestril? Did you forget s-?”

    “Gods, Hilya, I’m happy to see you. I thought I’d never see you again.” A tear rolled down Yestril’s cheek.

    “Yestril…






    You’ve been gone for 5 minutes.”

    @Imrahil
    A different place and time

    Aetheric void, Temple ship Oyxl, Before the ages
    Darkness, without end.
    Nothingness all around. No light, no life. Only what was, and has been, between these walls. Yuq'al-takuil searched the surroundings with his mind. Nothing penetrated the thick dark void around the Temple city turned Temple ship, not even his magical perceptive abilities.
    Within the ship magic was roaming freely. The best example of it was the stasis that all Sauri and the non magic wielding Skinks were being kept in. Yuq'al-takuil, together with the other Priests, was taking turns keeping the stasis going in order to preserve the troops and keep the impact on the provisions to a very minimum.

    Beside the Skink Priests only the Slann Lord Xruzi’o-Ila was left out of stasis. He was in control of the ship, keeping it afloat in the void, with his mental powers. Simultaneously he scanned the horizons to pick up a glimpse of something, just a single thing that was not dark nothingness.

    Since they had escaped the catastrophic events in Lustria, and the world it was a part of, there hadn’t been contact with any other Lizardmen refugees. Neither had there been signs of other Temple ships even making the escape.
    Yuq'al-takuil stared in the distance as the chaotic events played out in front of him again.

    Footfall behind him pulled him back to the present. “Yuq'al-takuil, your presence is required.” It was Skink Priest Tak’ek Muntoc, he was of the same spawning as him. Although slightly smaller they both saw and treated each other as equals. “I would better not leave him waiting.” he resumed hastily with a smirk.
    Yuq’al-takuil turned around with a clearly fake worryful expression on his face before he started laughing: “You are always the punctual lizard, aren’t you? However, I will honor his request.” Both amusingly went their way.

    Yuq’al-takuil headed to the Eternity Chamber, the quarters of Lord Xruzi’o-Ila. He walked through the entrance with a little hesitation. Back in Lustria the doors to these quarters were sealed for years on end and heavily guarded from the inside as well. Nowadays the doors stood open and no guards were to be found. Like all other Sauri the Guards were dismissed from their posts and put in stasis, because there was not the slightest disturbance in the years of their voyage.

    The inside of the chamber was dark; the only light was a dim blue-ish green hue emanating from the palanquin in the middle of the far wall. On top of the palanquin sat Slann Lord Xruzi’o-Ila, cross-legged, his arms up, elbows out, with his fingertips spread touching either side of his face and eyes closed.
    “Please enter, no need to hesitate.” The words sounded without any movement of the lips, like they appeared out of thin air or they welled up in the skinks head itself.
    No matter how often the priest experienced this it still felt like an invasion of privacy.

    Yuq’al-takuil walked calmly forward with a bowing gesture: “You sent for me, my Lord?”

    "Do you feel it?"

    "I am not sure what you mean, my Lord."

    "I know you feel it too. You can smell it in the air, you can taste it in the water.
    The absence of magic on the other side of these walls. The nothingness that surrounds us. It exhausts me, all attempts to reach beyond it are fruitless.
    The Geomantic web is no more, no web means no nodes, no nodes mean no connection, no connection means no information, no inform...."

    The smashing of rock against stone interrupted the conversation loudly paired with heavy trembling of the whole chamber.
    In an instant the Slann Lord moved his hands from his head in front of his mouth, fingertips touching each other. A bright orange radiant orb grew in between his hands as he moved them apart and now his lips did move: "Warning to all priests! Collision in progress. Be prepared to repair hull damage!"

    Another slam shocked the Temple ship with an even louder grinding of stone and rock. Yuq'al-takuil looked above him in the chamber as a crack formed and widened across the ceiling. Glimmering black shards of rock shot through the cracks raining down upon Yuq'al-takuil and Xruzi’o-Ila. In a reflex the skink priest stepped aside and casted Mystic Shield above them, but the shards broke through like there was no shield at all. One of the shards struck the shoulder of the Slann. With a cry of pain the blue-ish green hue dimmed, leaving the room completely darkened.
    “Lord Xruzi’o-Ila!” No imediate response: “Lord Xruzi’o-Ila! Are you okay?"
    A soft pain filled moaning was all that he heard. “My Lord, how badly are you hurt?”
    “Hhhrrrmm… my shoulder…. ugh… pierced, but no … hhhmm… internal organs are damaged.”
    “Please hold still while I cast a mending spell.” Yuq’al-takuil raised his arm and turned his wrist whilst soft green energy dispatched from his fingers in a swirl. The light showed the Slann Lord fallen from his palanquin with a torn shoulder, the black shard glimmering at his feet. Yuq’al-takuil directed the spell towards the wound, but all of a sudden the energy was swept away from its path and absorbed by the black shard.
    “Excuse me lord, I will try it again.” The priest repeated the motions, but with a similar result.
    “What kind of rock is this?”
    “Anti magic matter,” mumbled the Slann, “I have heard of its existence… hhhgg… before, but hadn't yet encountered it… ugh”.
    “Anti magic?” pondered the priest “do you mean that it negates all magic it comes across? But how is that possible? And how do we get rid of it? And…”
    “Calm down Yuq’al-takuil, one step at the time.”

    Frantic steps sounded down the hallway growing louder and louder. In a hurry Tak'ek Muntoc ran around the corner into the darkened chamber. "What happened here!?"
    "Lord Xruzi’o-Ila has been struck by a shard of anti magic matter." Answered Yuq'al-takuil. "Struck by what?"
    "I know, I can't get my head around it either, but let us help him and mend his wounds."
    "Yes, of course, healing…" “No, that will not help at all!” Yuq’al-takuil responded “I tried it, but the rock absorbed the healing spell. We need to get him out of the chamber or see to his wounds in the traditional style”
    Since the light in the chamber had died the palanquin had collapsed onto the floor as well. The Slann Lord lay in between the rumble on the floor. Both Skink Priests stumbled towards him only guided by their touch and hearing. After a while they flanked him, each on one side, and tried to lift him up with no success. After a couple of attempts they settled on dragging him instead.
    Once outside of the chamber the Priests saw the wound clearly. Now, further away from the Anti magic rocks, the healing spells did take hold and mended the wounds of the Slann Lord nicely.

    "Thank you both for your help" Lord Xruzi’o-Ila replied, still visibly in pain: "what is our status Tak’ek Muntoc?"
    "The hull damage and breach seems to be limited to the Eternity Chamber, all the stasis Chambers are still operational and no other citizens were wounded." Tak’ek hesitated a little before continuing: "... there is one thing though, that is why I came up to the Eternity Chamber to see you, your highness. The ship has lost its course. We are no longer floating."
    Yuq'al-takuil and Lord Xruzi’o-Ila looked at eachother and only now noticed the small shift in angle that the ship had made.
    "The impact must have redirected us and your ability, your highness, to stabilize the ship must have been taken by the shard that struck you"
    "So we are no longer floating hmmm?" Pondered the Slann staring straight ahead. He closed his eyes and tried to raise his hands to the sides of his face. He immediately regretted it as a shockwave of pain swelled from his left shoulder.
    "My powers have been drained. I can't take control of this ship again." He sighed in disbelief, but spoke again: "if we are no longer floating it means we are either sinking or falling."
    While he spoke a third Skink came running down the hallway. It was a Starseer, appointed to scan the horizon for visible changes. "Your highness, your highness. There is a speck of light at the horizon. It has a green hue and is approaching fast. What should we do?"
    Both the Priests looked at each other before looking at their Slann Lord. They head his words as if they were not right there beside him.

    "We will need to brace for impact. Tell all priests to move to the lowest chambers and prepare a levitating spell. With all the power that we can muster, we might be able to slow down enough to minimize damage. Leave the posts at the stasis chambers as well. Get all of them and stay at the ready!"
    The three skinks ran through the hallway where the Starseer came from to inform all priests and get ready for what was about to happen.

    Ghur, Thondia, Thunderscorn Peaks, Age of Myth
    Sounds of battle and roaring of Draconiths and Thunderscorns alike echoing through the mountain range. The shear volume of raw power sends shockwaves through the rock hard ground, loosening stones, causing avalanches left and right. Dark clouds gathered, drifting in from every side as the air got cooler. Suddenly in the middle of it a small circular breach appeared and a flash of blue light struck from the sky down in between the mountains. Leaving an earthquake in its wake.
    Since this incident a different roaring was heard between the mountains.




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  8. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    37th competition
    Jan-Feb 2024: Theme is "Divine Intervention".

    Winning story by @thedarkfourth
    Practically Guaranteed

    Once upon a time in Lustria, two ragged, sunburned, insect-bitten prisoners were being marched through the jungle towards a temple city of the Lizardmen. Hans and Wilhelm were Empire soldiers who had followed an over-ambitious gold-seeking adventurer on an ill-fated voyage. One by one their party had been picked off by disease, starvation, bloodthirsty natives, hungry predators, and finally, the lizardmen themselves.

    "I bet this situation has never happened before in the history of Lustria," muttered Hans.

    "You're right. No expedition has ever gone badly in these parts," nodded Wilhelm.

    They continued to stumble onwards, their hands tied with rope, their reptilian captors prodding them with sticks.

    "What are you so happy about?" Hans grumbled, seeing his companion's face. "They're sure to kill us when we arrive."

    "I wouldn't count on it," Wilhelm grinned.

    "What are you talking about?"

    Wilhelm nodded towards the sky. "Divine intervention, of course. Practically guaranteed."

    "Don't be daft."

    "I'm serious. You must have heard about that bloke from Kemperbad. He was exactly where we were. The scale-skins had him all tied up on their altar, knife raised up to cut his heart out, sacrifice him to their gods. Then all of a sudden - bam! Solar eclipse. Sun went out. Lizzies let him go. Came back safe, now he lives like a prince."

    "A heavenly alignment is hardly a common occurrence!" cried Hans. "What are the odds of that happening twice?"

    "Dime a dozen, your last-moment eclipse. Sigmar sends one whenever someone's in a tight spot. My cousin's boy's wife's sister was about to be burned to death by Chaos Dwarves one time. Just as they're striking the match - bam! Solar eclipse. Fellah down the pub I met last year, gonna be eaten by goblins at a feast of Gork. Or was it Mork? Either way - bam! Solar eclipse! Fellah sitting next to him, one second away from getting dissected by Skaven? Bam!"

    "Solar eclipse?" Hans asked, rolling his eyes.

    "Nope - lunar eclipse. Warpstone moon clean vanished! Then when it was a vampire ritual goblet-filling, it was the normal moon that went out. Those bloodsuckers ran for the hills. Ah, here we go. You ready for a show?"

    They had finally staggered free of the jungle, revealing a great city of crumbling stone pyramid-temples. Lizardmen covered every inch, waving their weapons and roaring with anticipation at the coming sacrifice. The prisoners were led down the wide central avenue towards the largest of the giant pyramids.

    "You see?" Wilhelm continued. "They'll take us up there, tie us up, sharpen their best knife, and just when it looks like curtains - bam! Some kind of eclipse for sure."

    They continued walking in silence, until they reached the base of the pyramid. But instead of starting up the long stairs, the lizardmen directed them towards a small door. Hans cleared his throat.

    "Quick question. If we're certain to be saved by a celestial event, why are they taking us inside?"


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