MrNepathy's Blog

As the night stretched on, Thatus’s strength waned. When the world was at its darkest, his head slumped forward and his breathing grew more shallow. All the while Celia held onto his hand, sometimes lifting it to kiss the back. The warmth of her lips was usually enough to make his head lift again as he woke. He tried to tell her, and Dalen, that it was the fatigue of the journey and not his injuries that made his eyelids so heavy. The weakness of his voice and the dreary slur of his words showed the truth. (more…)

Pitok stood over Thatus who had just suffered a terrible blow and was now slumped against the wall of the keep. Blood marked the corners of his mouth and the front of his quilt armor. Just as the god of wagers was about to swing, he heard Celia’s prayer end. He tilted his right ear towards the sky, listening for a moment. When he turned back to Thatus, he sneered. The expression on his face was one of smug victory. (more…)

When the attack happened, it was swift and overwhelming. Just seconds after the first feet could be seen in the edges of the globes of light, the zombies were upon the defenders. The whistling sound of arrows was muted as the arrows struck flesh. The clear resonance of ringing steel was halted by the meaty sound of skin and muscle tearing. Hands and bone impacted against armor, leather and flesh. The ripping timbre was usually followed by a cry of pain or the hush of a voice suddenly and horribly silenced. (more…)

          With a bit of time before the battle, which was sure to be long and hard fought, the party had decided to get some rest. They all had been invited to stay at the church, with Findred and Bend of the World staying outside in the courtyard. Celia stayed up, talking to her fellow mages. She explained the Orb and Findred. While they were impressed it did not bring them any closer to a solution. Forcing open the walls of Paradise seemed to be a difficult or impossible feat. The discussion often got out of hand as academic theories clashed. Dandelion spent the time training the few troops and volunteers that were available. Janson was a small village and there weren’t many people experienced in combat. A few soldiers had arrived with the mages or come of their own accord, but by the estimates, it would not be nearly enough. (more…)

               After a night in relative, the party members woke to start the next leg of their trek. Thatus rubbed his back, feeling his spine pop into place as he straightened out. His arms hung loosely at his side and he allowed himself a moment of internal lament about his exhaustion before standing up and grabbing his gear. Celia was still asleep a few bunks away. When the joy of celebration had left her the night before, she practically passed out. Thatus woke her up long enough for her to change out of her wet clothes and then as he hung her clothes by the fire, she went into a deep, peaceful sleep. (more…)

              Neither the rotation of the planet nor the canopy of clouds obscured the bright star from the party. It was as if it had been locked to the heavens and the world and stars rotated around it, an immutable beacon. Frequently Thatus would cast his gaze up to it and think of his mother. (more…)

               We pray? You realize there is something inherently weird about you praying?
                Thatus looked up at Bend of the World, “Watch the camp, I must go do this alone.” (more…)

     When Thatus woke he wondered if he had actually slept. The ground was as hard as slate even with two blankets as cushion. The bear-hide blankets on top of him were heavy enough to make him sweat, but when he kicked them off, the cold wind would cause his whole body to shiver. If that weren’t enough, Dalen was always awake, always thinking. Thatus was unsure what was a dream and what was just Dalen’s rambling. (more…)

               Bend of the World looked down at them, “There.” He pointed down towards a clearing, “That is where we found him last.”

                Thatus pointed towards one of the larger trees, and nodded to Dandelion. The elf dropped his pack at the base of the tree, “If I do not see you again in this life, it was good traveling with you. We will not see each other in the next plane, for we do not share the heavens.” As he climbed the tree rather swiftly, he sang to himself. (more…)