Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jar Head 02-17-05, 05:53 PM	"You are really going through with this, Mereph?" The young girl spoke nervously in the door of the poorly built room. It was an early morning, and already there were fights, verbal and physical, on the streets of Malleon's Gate. Even through the walls of the wooden house could be heard the shouts of merchants trying to sell their rat meat, stolen weapons, and posessions taken from dead bodies. To the hobgoblins and bugbears, it was home. To the goblins, it was pure hell. "Why would I not go through with this?" The goblin responded, putting on boots. "I am sick of living in this slum, Ty'. I hate having to sneak out the front door, and slip over to the merchant to buy myself rat meat. I hate rat meat." The boy made a face of disgust when he mentioned eating rat. "But that is what you do best. Hide and stick to the shadows. Join a ga--" "A GANG? How dare you even pose such a thing." The goblin went to his hard, wooden bed and picked up his cloak, wrapping it around his back and snapping on the brooch. He stared at the bed for a moment, the back up to the girl he had just yelled at. "Look, I'm sorry. I just can not stand to be here any longer. I will not stoop to crime. I am going to leave and join the Breland military." "Just..." The girl started to show tears in her eyes, "don't forget about me." The goblin, Mereph, embraced her. He held her tight, rubbing the middle of her back. He took his thumb and rubbed a tear away from her light orange skin. "I will never forget you." He kissed her cheek, and went towards the door putting his hood up. He slipped out of the front door, which was non-existent. Immediately everyone on the street close to him glanced over at him. With that, he started running through the street. He ran as fast as he could, dodging through the crowds. "Watch your step," a deep voice muttered, and suddenly Mereph found himself tripping over a foot. Though he quickly regained his balance by rolling on the ground, back onto his feet. He stayed crouching, and felt the wind slicing behind him. He jumped and rolled to the left as a longsword fell to the ground where he was standing. "Damnit," he said quietly to himself as he stood to his feet, now looking at a hobgoblin standing ten feet away. "Leave me be," he said angerly at his aggressor. "What makes you believe I will be doing that?" The hobgoblin said maliciously. "I haven't seen your face around here. Who might you be?" The larger goblinoid appraoched Mereph. "The name is Mereph." The goblin boy smiled at his taller kin, "Goodbye." Mereph hastily turned around and ran faster than he ever had through the streets. Ahead, he caught sight of someone throwing a crate in his path. The teenage goblin hopped onto the crate and kicked off of it, rolling to his feet on the other side to continue running. He was out of breath by the time he made it to the lift. But his luck was getting worse. The lift was not on Malleon's level. ****, he thought to himself. He turned his head to the way he came to notice the hobgoblin coming his way with two companions. Okay Mereph, find a hiding place until they leave. The goblin looked around. On the wall next to him was a cold torch. "Damn, everburning. Can't snuff it..." The three hobgoblins finally made it to the lift area, looking around slowly. "I could have sworn I saw the little bastard make his way through here." The human sized goblin announced, his longsword still drawn. "But that is what you do best." The goblin thought about what the girl had said. She was right, this is what I'm best at. Hiding. Sneaking. Perhaps. No. I will not. My skills could be better used for the military. For a few seconds a slight hum could be heard, then the sound of something landing. Mereph looked up slightly, watching goblins get off of the Malleon lift. He was hiding in the corner, completely covering himself in his black ample cloak. This is my only chance. The teenage goblin slowly sneaked over to the entrance of the lift and rolled himself inside. All the passengers were out, and he was in alone. He activated the lift, and the three hobgoblins looked back over in his direction. "RODENT!" The leader shouted as he ran to the lift. It was too late, however. It was already acsending. Mereph let his hood down, and smiled at the hobgoblin, waving arrogantly. -- Mereph had been stationed in the western territory of Breland to keep the Droaam-Breland border under control when he enlisted. It was a boring day as any other. Mereph was to scout the hills with a companion. Mereph stretched himself, and yawned. He looked over to his fellow scout, who appeared equally bored. "I say we have been walking enough. There's nothing out here, time for some rest and relaxation?" "Mereph, I think you're right." The goblin's partner was a human. They both dressed in clothing that matched the color of the grass. On their backs they wore a quiver and a short bow. Strapped to their sides were shortswords. The human sat on the grass, and sighed in relief. "Here." The scout handed Mereph a ration package. The goblin nodded his head in thanks, and began to eat. He peered up at his comrade, noticing for the first time an odd necklace. "What is that," Mereph inquired. "This?" The human put down his bland meal and wrapped his hand around the necklace-- a small, but well crafted depiction of a red dragon perching atop a cloud. "This is the symbol of Dol Arrah." Mereph smiled. He never believed in any diety. He was always too busy trying to fend for himself and Tylean to worry about any god. It intrigued him, however. The scout continued. "Some call her a goddess. Preists would tell you she is with those that fight with honor. I don't see how anything we are doing is honorable." The scout frowned, and began to eat again. Mereph put his arm on Olar's, "We are saving lives, aren't we Olar? Isn't that honor?" Olar laughed, "We are not exactly saving lives. We are taking a break from scouting the hills. All we have really done is shoot arrows at the wild animals." "We enlisted to save lives. You and I." Mereph smiled widely. The human took off his necklace, holding it before his goblin peer, "Then you take it." "I couldn't." "You are more enthusiastic about being out here. You find honor in sitting on this hill. It better belongs to you." Olar put the necklace in Mereph's hand. "I don't deser--" As Mereph looked up at his friend, he looked upon a horrid sight. His fellow scout was pierced by a sword from the back. The young goblin's eyes became wide with fear. He watched as the sword slowly withdrew from the human's chest. Olar's body then fell to the ground, and a beast stood over the fallen scout. The creature appeared to be a mix of a human and a hyena, a gnoll as many called them. The gnoll made eye contact with Mereph. The goblin scout couldn't move, paralyzed in fear. The gnoll swung the blood off of his sword, splattering some on Mereph's face. The beast started approaching the soldier, lifting its longsword to strike. Dol Arrah, if you exist, be with me, the goblin prayed in his mind. Perhaps it was the devine grace of Dol Arrah herself, or the gnome voice he heard slightly off in the distance, but he felt the courage to move again. As the beast attacked Mereph, he was able to draw his sword and block the attack. The small humanoid rolled out of the way of the sword, and got to his feet. As he stood, he quickly dodged another blow from the gnoll. The goblin backflipped away from the humanoid hyena, and held the short blade to his side. You have gone too far, Mereph. These are but beasts, and you are soldiers of Breland! You must live, and make it back to Sharn. Your king and country believe in you! You must see Tylean again. These villagers need you! Wed her. Do not give up! The gnoll rushed its smaller advesary, attacking with great power and speed. Though, as fast as it was, Mereph was faster. The goblin ducked under the bow, and rolled on the ground, getting behind the ugly monster. He then thrusted his sword into the back of the evil beast. Mereph felt the sword burst through skin and muscle, and the gnoll gave out a loud shriek, falling limp. Mereph let loose the sword from inside the beast, and turned towards the town. His eyes caught his commander taking down a gnoll, and Blakeway giving his speech on top of a roof. The goblin made haste down the hill, preparing his bow. He stopped before his commander, "Mereph, get into the village and take out as many of these bastards as you can." Mereph nodded, the spirit of a warrior rushing through his body. He looked up to find the gnome healer being snuck up on by a gnoll. The goblin quickly lifted his bow and shot an arrow into the beast's skull. The gnoll gave a yelp, and fell off of the roof. The gnome continued speaking, but gave a slight nod of thanks to the goblin scout. The goblin continued running, following the nearest screams. When he came to his destination, he found one of the monsters approaching a young couple. "Hey, over here," the goblin shouted as he fired an arrow at the gnoll, hitting its shoulder. The gnoll sneared at his attacker and began to rush the young goblin. Mereph drew another arrow and shot into the creature's chest, but the beast kept on. Damnit, he thought as the creature closed in. The goblin fired one more shot before jumping out of the way of the Droaam's charge. Mereph backed even further away and fired off another arrow, this time hitting it in the head. The gnoll quickly fell to the ground with a painful scream. -- The battle was short lived, and there was a count of around twelve gnolls. Atleast thirteen troops and five civilians died that night. After an hour the captain called Mereph and another scout into his tent. "If it weren't for caravans being late, this town would have been gnoll food." The commander sat down at his desk. "Now, I thought I had scouts out there to warn us. Care to explain?" Mereph looked down in disgrace. He knew it had been his fault. Olar and he were eating, not paying any heed to the hills. "Mereph, they came from your post. Why didn't you or Olar see them? Or hell, smell them?" The commander spoke in a soft, calm voice. The goblin sighed, "Olar and I sat down to eat. He and I were paying no attention to the hills." He sighed, "And the next thing I knew I was fighting a gnoll." The commander continued, "Yes, and the town was already under attack. Blakeway had spotted the gnolls in enough time for us to prepare for battle. When I looked into the hills to find you, I had spotted you already doing battle with one." The captain smiled. "You faired well." "Faired well? He let gnolls slip through our defenses," the other scout spoke up. "If I were scouting that side I woul--" The commander quickly interjected, "William, shut up! Where were you during the battle?" The commander glared at the other scout. "I know exactly where you were. I watched you come from over the eastern hills after the battle. You knew the gnolls were there, but you did not act. Coward!" The commander slammed his fist on his desk, staring William down. The khoravar sunk deep into his seat, embarassed. The captain then looked back over to Mereph, and in a calm voice, began talking again, "Along with the other troops, I too am being transfered. Now, I need to promote someone to take my place." The commander stood up and started pacing behind the two scouts. "I will need someone who will take blame for his mistakes. Realize when they are needed most. Fight valiantly. Even risk their lives for civilians." The commander put his arm on Mereph. "I do hope my decision will be a great one, Captain Mereph." Mereph perked up immediately. It was hard for him to believe they would give such a position to a goblin. He was shocked, and happier than ever before. The scout looked over to see William cringe in disgust. It was clear the khoravar scout was expecting to become captain. The goblin saluted his fellow captain, and walked out of the tent. He borrowed a shovel from one of the civilians, and walked up the hill where Olar was murdered. Mereph began to dig a grave for his fallen comrade. The healer soon joined him, the gnome using his beautiful poetics giving Olar the burial of a hero. Once Mereph was finished with his goodbyes, he noticed the glimmer of a shinny silver object on the ground. The captain knelt down, picking it up. The necklace of Dol Arrah. I dropped it during the battle. The goblin put the necklace around his neck, and smiled at the grave of his fallen friend. -- I have that in 10 font, which takes up two and a half pages. That's what I have thus far. Probably one or two more sections of him in the village. Most likely one. One for a quick overview of his journey back home to Sharn. Then one of him finding things out about Tylean. One of him getting to be a part of the Sharn watch. Then what he is doing currently. It will be long, but I want to know what people think thus far. A lawful good goblin, and a love story between two goblins to boot!
zambuka 02-17-05, 06:24 PM	Action... Romance and Orange skin. What more could you ever want? :D
James Silverleaf 02-17-05, 07:43 PM	brilliant story... keep it coming... :D
Lurkalot 02-18-05, 03:40 PM	Nice. If you want suggestions, I'd fill it out with a little more physical description, expressions, sensations, etc. Your story is interesting enough that you don't have to race through it - the reader will still be there. The best line is where the captain says "Or Hell, smell them even." Suddenly you add a whole new sense to the reader's imagination, as well as realism to a character. None of this is criticism, btw. As I say - nice. When it's done, why not post it, or link to it if it's very long, from one of the NPC threads. That way the story wont get lost in the depths of time. Keep it coming, J.H.
Siduakal 02-24-05, 04:00 PM	Very nice Jarhead.. Why isn't Mereph in the campaign with my monk? Bah.. dirty other campaign. =P