Resolution time! This year I am finally going to finish this book I started. I am hoping that my artist friends will help me illustrate it. Let's have some fun. Read the story and if it inspires you come up with an image that fits. Oh, and BTW,write BFT (The Battle For Traddlebow) at the beginning of the title so I can find it in search. Now I am going to try and add a chapter each day, Mon through Fri. (yes I have most of it already written) But no Guarantees! And each week I will award $100.00 for the best image of the week (uploaded here and on Mernac by Sunday night)with BFT (well on the Rendy Version) in the title, Renderosity store credit or Paypal: your choice. Is $100.00 bucks much? Nah, but this is more of a challenge amongst friends and ya retain all rights anyway, but it will motivate me to finally finish writting this. Wanna play? Who know where both of us will end up? Great - here's today's story? This chapter
BFT # 1 (beginning)
Table of Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BFT #1: A Stranger in The Traddlebow Arms The name is Grumby, but I 'spect the barkeep already told you that. No, no, I don't have any form of the magic arts. I 'eard ye ask some questions when you came in, and naturally, since the Traddlebow Arms employs a Scribe, they would send you to me. I must say stranger, that ye do look familiar. Mayhap we have met in the past? No. I see, well I 'spect the cereal in me head is getting a might soggy. Comes with age, don't ye know and I be near 400 Seasons. But I must say this forgetting thing seems to be recent... can't 'member when 'sactly. Well, who know how the Mothers and the Fathers work their magic on us, but are ye sure we have not met, mayhap in Hob... or Permia? Nay? All right then, if ye say so. Yes, yes, ye can ask yer questions now. But before ye ask yer queries, I should let ye know that the seven Mothers must be looking out for ye, because I not be the typical scribe that ye would 'spect to find in any tavern across the land. Nay, I am Sage. The Sage of the Sap Wars, if truth be told. Or at least, I will be if I ever finish "The Book of Grumby." But never you mind 'bout that, ye had some questions. What be they? What! Did ye ask what a Sage is? Hmmm. I must say that I've been asked many a question over the seasons but 'ave never been asked that one - just what part of Cathall do ye say you hail from? Ah - ye didn't say, did ye. I see. But not from Cathall I 'spect. Mayhap that explains it. But I did think that Scribes and Sages were found in even the furthest reaches of all of Mernac. Never you mind that, I am a Sage, or will be, and it is my duty to answers yer questions - with a tale or legend if at all possible. You see, that is what the Class of Scribes do. They research, record and then tell the tales of all of what has 'appened in all of Mernac. Aye, that is what we do. Now, there is more to Scribes than that 'course. I'm sure you'd be interested in finding it all out - but first I must get a drink, me pipes are a bit parched, if you know what I mean. Ummm, yes, a drink would be good. I say a drink would be... yer just not understanding, are ye? Hmmm. Well, it seems the first thing I need to tell you about Scribes and Sages is that if they ever say anything about wanting a drink - it is our polite way of saying, buy me a drink. It is how we are paid, don't ye know. Ah, the sunrise travels to the mountaintop, as they say. I see ye are understanding now. And yes, thank ye, I would like a drink. Kind of ye to offer. A lavender honey mead would do nicely, a Permian Brandy would be even better if ye can spare the coin. Oh, one of each would be lovely! Thank ye. 'Course, Permian Brandy is best served at the end of a fine meal, don't ye know. And as luck would have it the Traddlebow Arms serves the best White Doe Loin in all of Greater Gilmore. Oh, what an unexpected offer, you are a kind patron aren't ye. I'll be sure an' give you a few of me finest tales tonight - and as the Sage of The Sap Wars, I have some wonderful ones. First things first though. Let me get the serving wench. Sallion! Well Sallion, my, my, don't ye look fetching tonight! By the Mothers, if I were but a few seasons younger I think I would... All right, all right, Sallion, I'll get to the point. This kind soul has offered to buy me your finest White Doe Supper. Aye, make it well cooked, I want the skin to be as black as cinders; ye know how I like it. And Sallion, top it off with a bottle o' Permian Brandy and let's start off with a couple o' Lavender Honey Meads, one for each of us - better make that three of the mead, me pipes are a bit parched tonight. Yes, yes, Sallion, "parched every night," go on with ye. By the Fathers wench, it's no wonder yer not married! You've got quite a sharp tongue on you, don't ye, now. Aye lass, matches yer fiery hair. Hair not unlike me own daughter Nola, but by the Fathers, yer temperament is five-fold more fiery than me Nola's, and she be a Dwarf like me - we are the ones that are 'sposed to be curt, not elves like ye! Now friend, where were we? Friend? FRIEND? Hmm, I see where yer eyes have found their mark, and a nice one it is. 'Course with Sallion I understand, the only thing more attractive than that ample Elfin bosom of hers is the sway of those wonderful hips as she walks away from ye, if ye see what I mean. Praise be to Canola I wish I was a hundred seasons younger, ten even, because ye know what they say about the single women of Gilmore. I remember one time, there was this raven haired wench who... Oh sorry! Me mind and words seem to wander sometimes, an occupational hazard of being a Scribe or Sage. So then, what can old Grumby help you with? Mootill? You want to know if I have ever heard of Mootill? Are you jesting with an old Dwarf? Nay. I see that you are not. Well, I not only know of Mootill, I met him. Him and the other Champions of Mernac. We have shared many an evening fire together. By the Mothers, I even had some adventures with them during the Sap Wars. I 'spect that's why they chose me to be the Sage of The Sap Wars, or I will if I ever get the "Book of Grumby" finished! But on Mootill, that part is already written. Let me look in my bag - I think I have the parchment with me. We scribes keep five different type of scrolls and parchments don't ye know. It is how we divide up the history of this grand land. There be the Characters, the Lore, the Places, the Items and me favorite of all - the Legends. Mootill's story be of the character variety 'course. Ye see, we Scribes found out very early that any good tale is only as good as the characters in it. So 'fore we write any tale we always write �??�?�¢??bout who the characters or players in the story are. Now Mootill he was... well wait now, let me see if I can find the parchment. Aye, here it is. Ooo, good timing, Sallion, me pipes are... well, just good timing. Me friend here was just about to read my scroll on Mootill. Read this, friend, but be careful not to spill the mead on it. I'm sure you won't mind if I whet me whistle with this mead while you're reading. Nay, I didn't think so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- P.S. Would love to see an image of Grumby. Aye that fine looking wench Sallion would be good too!