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Post by SF on Mar 17, 2006 8:26:55 GMT -5
I've just found this.
I'm glad that I got the chance to read it before I left for the weekend.
This is very good PJ, nicely done. I like 667's new setting. Also, I'm in it w00t!
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Post by Dante on Mar 17, 2006 10:08:29 GMT -5
Ah, a political story!
I mean, cool first chapter, PJ (and not just because I'm important). I look forward to reading more, as you know I do, so I wonder why I bother to even say it. Anyway, yeah, great.
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Post by Akbar Le Grey on Mar 17, 2006 12:52:24 GMT -5
I've read it before, but I just want to say, once again, it's great.
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Post by s on Mar 17, 2006 16:44:48 GMT -5
Great lines:
Although it is a centre of creativity, it is not unschooled in the Art of War.
This place was almost right between what was called the Northlands and the Southlands, and is considered to be a no-man’s land. That means, it was neither of the Northland or the Southlands.
heh.
On another note: thesis’s? I think theses.
Brilliant as usual, nice exposition. I look forward to more.
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Post by Dismay on Mar 18, 2006 14:35:39 GMT -5
OOOOH, enjoyable. I wonder if I appear in it, though its not totally likely.
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Post by PJ on Mar 18, 2006 23:20:30 GMT -5
Chapter Two – Journey
PJ stalked through the Library. He was due to leave soon, and he wanted to collect a book before he did. He had only yesterday received an invitation from Duke Dante, and wanted to leave in all haste. He was getting bored here in the Library, and a few weeks at Dante’s Fort would be nice enough.
He reached up, and grabbed the book he wanted from a shelf, and then hurried back out of the maze-like library. He could attempt to use magic to get to the Fort, though PJ was no noble, he was a mere Detriment Deleter, a Lord, one of the official police appointed by Tragedy himself, so he had only his own magical powers, and those that he received from his station. Although PJ was an excellent swordsman, and was a sort of Leader of the Library, he still didn’t wish to try travelling with magic.
Oh, he would use magic to speed his journey, sure, but only the most powerful could use magic to physically transport themselves anywhere they wanted. All of the Dukes and Duchesses could, and some of the older and powerful members could, too, and although PJ could use the spell, it was always an unpleasant experience, and always left him drained and bed-ridden for days. Yes, going back to Dante’s Fort by horse would certainly be interesting enough.
PJ had started out his career at the Border Forts, and had worked his way up as one of the better lieutenants of the Army. Yes, he had been a dashing military officer back then, keen and young and fresh. But he had soon gotten bored of the constant fighting that characterized the Border, and he had left the Forts behind him, and had travelled the kingdom; he had written a few pieces of literature in the Reckless Residency, and had also published his now-famous-theses in the Library. For a time, he had lived in Menacing Miscellaneous, a wealthy merchant, and had played a bit at politics, and had made his ties to the wealthy and the noble. This was also where he had received the title of Detriment Deleter, and became Lord PJ.
There were only ever three Detriment Deleters in the entire kingdom, and they were the highest ranking form of law in the land, barring the nobles and King, of course. They travelled the kingdom, helping out, wronging rights, and so on, keeping 667 in good shape. PJ had received his new station when the old Detriment Deleter, Lord Snicket, had retired.
After a while, he too got bored of the Capital, and had returned to the Library, older, wiser, and, he liked to think, more handsome, where had settled down and had started organizing the place again. Strictly, as a Detriment Deleter, he should be wandering around the kingdom, but the Library had been almost criminally unorganised and chaotic, and had been simply guzzling government funds, so PJ decided to fix it up a bit, and had ended up staying. He occasionally returned to the Capital, for social events and the like, on the pretext of working for the law, just as he occasionally returned to the Border, when particularly vicious bands of n00bs came down from the Mountains. This was real business, though, and PJ did his best to help Dante to repel the invading threat. He had started to get bored with the Library, too, and hoped that this brief visit to the Border would help re-vitalize his interest in it. He was thinking that he should perhaps wander the land, doing his duties as Detriment Deleter.
The Library, being what it was, only had a tiny garrison, of perhaps 50 trained soldiers. PJ had arrived to find it consisted of mostly over-eager students who had heard tales of great heroes and warriors, and had promptly organized the lot using his prized military knowledge. He liked to think that they were one of the better military forces within the kingdom. They lacked the experience of the Border Soldiers, nor were they as fanatical as Antenora’s Intelecteers, but they were still excellent soldiers.
PJ, as a precaution, took ten of his finest soldiers with him, when he left. If he was attacked by some n00bs who had somehow managed to avoid all the Forts (the likelihood of this increased the closer one was to the Border) he could always use his formidable magical powers to save himself, but it was always better to be cautious. PJ, although more powerful at magic than most people, still lacked the extra boost that nobles had (although he did receive a nice boost from his job as Detriment Deleter) and, although he was rather arrogant, he wasn’t foolish.
So they set off. PJ, who had grown somewhat fat in his luxurious stay at the Library, was soon reminded of the harsh conditions of travelling like a soldier. The further they progressed North, the less villages and towns they would find. At the Border, there were no towns, only the ten Border Forts. PJ would, he decided, stop off at one of Dupin’s Forsaken Forts, and pay the Duke a visit. Although the two weren’t friends – friends didn’t exist amongst the nobles – they were on good terms with each other, and, as PJ wasn’t a proper noble, they were almost friends. Good acquaintances, at least.
After five days of traveling, they finally arrived at the Fearsome Fiction Fort, the home of Dupin, as well as all sorts of story tellers and writers. This close to the Border, the stories were mostly of war and of great heroes, as opposed to those at the city of Chaotic Creativity, far to the South in Pandora’s Reckless Residency, which were more centered around love and fidelity, and other such frivolous subjects.
To PJ’s consternation, Dupin wasn’t home. The Duke was off at the Sardonic Series Fort, visiting with Duke Dante. He had only left a day or two ago, Dupin’s chief advisor said. If Lord PJ hurried enough, they might catch up. PJ, who was already tired of the road, elected to stay the night in Fearsome Fiction, and then continue on in the morning, at the same pace.
PJ wondered who else was invited to Dante’s Home Fort. According to a merchant PJ questioned in the inn they stayed at, Duchess Gigi hadn’t been invited to any get-up at the Border, although, seeing as there was roughly a good days’ worth of traveling from The Maligant Merchants to the Forsaken Forts, the Duchess might have left sometime this morning.
PJ pressed on, eager to arrive at the Border Forts. He was getting sick of traveling, and had reinforced the speed spell he had cast at the start of the journey, even though this tired him somewhat. It was only about a week out of the Forsaken Forts that something of interest happened.
They were nearly there. Another day, perhaps, and they would arrive at the Sardonic Series Border Fort, greatest and most well-defended of them all. PJ’s party hadn’t encountered civilization in the last three days, and they were rather surprised when they came upon a tiny hamlet, hidden in a rocky valley.
They were even more surprised to see a band of a dozen n00bs were roving through the town, cackling evilly, and hefting crudely made swords. The members had fled to the safety of their homes, apparently, but several n00bs were trying to force their way into some of the homes. Others, PJ saw, were lighting torches. The homes of the civilians were about to become a good deal less safe. PJ instantly reverted into his role as a Detriment Deleter, combined with that as a lieutenant of the Border Army.
“You two. Bows.” PJ said, pointing at his two best archers. Then he yelled “Charge!” And the eleven warriors surged forwards, their horses galloping down the treacherous valley, racing towards the rampaging n00bs.
As the cavalry came closer, they could clearly see the n00bs, and all but the hardiest shivered. They had fought n00bs before, rare bands who had made it past all of the Forts, but the creatures were no less terrifying to behold. From a distance, they could be mistaken for people, but close up, no mistake could be made. They wore dirty rags for clothes, in some cases, bits of armour they had scavenged off dead Border Soldiers. They had a savage, animalistic look at them, and their red eyes shone with bloodthirsty cunning. Their teeth was unnaturally sharp, as were their fingernails; they were like talons. N00bs are little more than savages, and they do not know modern warfare; they defeat their enemies only through sheer force of numbers, and sheer brutality.
As the horsemen rode down into the little hamlet, the n00bs looked up at the approaching soldiers, fear in their eyes. They were a greedy, cowardly lot, and these men had almost the same numbers, and were on horseback. With a yell, PJ raised his sword, and used his magic to create a blinding blaze of light.
The n00bs, disorientated and blinded, tried to run, but were cut down by the two bowmen PJ had appointed. Although the men rode on horseback, they fired their arrows with deadly accuracy. By the time the cavalry attacked the n00bs, three of their number had already been felled by arrows.
Although PJ’s band hadn’t fought in many real battles – only the few times when Dante had called for assistance from Dupin and Gigi had they ridden to the Border with PJ – they trained a lot, and their skill with the blade easily outstripped that of the n00bs. And, as they were still partially blinded, the battle was almost over before it began, with no-one too seriously hurt (a soldier or two had been viciously scratched by the n00bs, but they were only minor wounds).
PJ dismounted, and approached a door. “You’re safe!” he yelled knocking loudly. “We’re soldiers of the kingdom. I am a Detriment Deleter. We have killed the n00bs.” The house remained silent for a minute or two, before a face peered out of one of the windows before quickly withdrawing itself. The soldiers heard voices, and finally, the door opened, and a man came out. He looked around, saw the soldiers and the dead n00bs clearly, and shouted back into the house: “All clear!”
Soon, the entire village had come out of their houses, and had praised the soldiers, and offered them food and shelter. Before PJ had time to respond, he heard someone approaching, and turned to find a Border Patrol riding down into the village, weapons drawn.
“Peace!” PJ yelled, putting his sword away. “We are soldiers of the kingdom!” The patrol stopped, and saw the dead n00bs and then eyed the soldiers warily. “Who are you?” The officer asked, dismounting, and putting his weapon away.
“RockSunner?” PJ asked, stepping towards him. “Is that you?” The man’s weary face broke into a grin, and he nodded. “Put your weapons away!” He yelled to the patrol, and shook PJ’s hand. “Lieutenant PJ! It’s good to see you again!”
“Lieutenant no longer, Sergeant. I’m a Lord, now.” PJ said, smiling broadly. He knew RockSunner from his time in the Border Army. They were…acquaintances, if not comrades. “We were just riding to Sardonic Series when we came across this band of n00bs attacking this village. We killed them all just before you came.” PJ said, slipping back into his military formality.
“Yes, we’ve been tracking these n00bs for quite some time now. They’ve been hiding in the forests, attacking lone travelers, that sort of thing. This is the first time they’ve tried attacking a village, though…I have no idea how they managed to get past the Forts.” PJ nodded, thoughtfully.
“Well, now that we’ve finally caught up with them, once we’ve cleaned this up, we could escort you back to the Fort, my Lord.” RockSunner suggested after a moment of silence. “I’d like that, Sergeant.” PJ said. Then he turned to his men. “Help the patrol build a funeral pyre for the dead.” He shouted, and they all suddenly began looking for firewood, working efficiently. PJ felt a brief blaze of pride for his men, and then he joined RockSunner in one of the larger houses for lunch, provided by the relieved townspeople.
They would arrive at Sardonic Series by nightfall.
Allegiances
Traitors: -Dante
Loyalists: -Snicketfires
Unknown: -PJ
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Post by twistedbrain on Mar 18, 2006 23:25:44 GMT -5
I'm sensing that PJ is to be the hero of this story. Call it a hunch.
Very well done, PJ. Very well done.
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Post by PJ on Mar 18, 2006 23:47:57 GMT -5
I'm sensing that PJ is to be the hero of this story. Call it a hunch. You'd be partially right. I do feature quite heavily in the story. But hero? The ending leaves that in doubt, somewhat.
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Post by twistedbrain on Mar 19, 2006 0:06:14 GMT -5
Ah. I see. I'm curious, though. Why do all the 667 stories feature Dante as the villain?
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Post by Libitina on Mar 19, 2006 0:14:58 GMT -5
You're really proud of becoming a DD, aren't you PJ? Anyway, nice job; this is one of the most interesting 667 stories I've read. After all, not every story has a hero as marvelous as you.
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Post by PJ on Mar 19, 2006 1:06:03 GMT -5
Ah. I see. I'm curious, though. Why do all the 667 stories feature Dante as the villain? Dante isn't the villain. He's just doing what he thinks is right. Same as PJ, or Snicketfires. Neither is more villanous. You'll see.
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Post by Akbar Le Grey on Mar 19, 2006 3:15:32 GMT -5
Very good, PJ. It's becoming Fiest-y, which makes it <3.
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