Poisoned Hope - by Hyw the Valorian

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SighelmofWyrmgard
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Poisoned Hope - by Hyw the Valorian

Post by SighelmofWyrmgard »

Poisoned Hope, a Tale of Ideals, Courage and Futility - by Hyw the Valorian




This is a tale from some years ago, but I was there, and canst bear witness.

'Twas our esteem'd Lord Blackthorn who hadst labored tirelessly to cultivate the fruit of peace, 'twixt Man and Gargoyle, amid eons of mutual fear, mistrust and hatred. In the bitter, inimical soil of spite and strife and conflict, our Noble Lord didst encourage the shoots of understanding, accord and good-will to thrive.

Certainly, the Gargoyles always hath been strange and alien to Man. 'Tis deemed they come to our surface world from the Britannian Underworld, whatever precisely that might be, but by paths unknown, and in pursuit of unfathomable purpose. Our encounters hath e'er been darkened by violence and fear: every Britannian mother hath scolded wayward children, "Behave, lest the Gargoyles come for thee!"

Of course, I knowest not all of the details, but Lord Blackthorn's undaunted efforts didst lead, eventually and miraculously, to truce and even wary rapport.

At the time of this story, I was a very-young knight, freshly inducted into the Guard at Serpent's Hold (only the Guard, mind thee, not the renown'd Order of the Silver Serpent). I hadst only just returned to the Hold from training with the Paladins in Trinsic, proud of mine own achievements, and glad to see so many of my old friends again. Particularly, I was pleased to see again a Fighter named Tomas, also freshly-knighted: he and I hadst e'er been rivals, but amicably so; Tomas oft described me as, "strong and fearless as a bear"; of him I wouldst say, "deft, precise, and as quick as a serpent".

Returning to the tale, itself: volunteers were needed for a very-special envoy, on behalf of the King's diplomacy; high-hearted, both Tomas and I pledged ourselves to the task, e'en though we hadst no idea what might be demanded of us.

So it was that an entire company of brave Fighters, Paladins, Rangers wended its way deep into the Windemere Woods, in great secrecy, providing escort to a party of Druids and Mages, and Emissaries of Lords British and Blackthorn.

At the Shrine of Sacrifice, all of our knighted company was amazed and aghast when we didst make our appointed tryst with a similar embassy from Grand Inquisitor Draxinusom, King of the Gargoyles. Emissaries, Druids, Mages, all, removed to speak with their Gargoyle counterparts in sequester.

Meanwhile, mistrustful warriors of both sides eyed each other warily askance ...

'Twas, verily, such a simple and stupid, tragic thing: so intent he was 'pon the scrutiny of our antagonists, Tomas failed to notice the approach of a poisonous snake, until it hadst slithered right up to the very toes of his boots; it hissed its malice and, startled, Tomas seized his sword ... of course, no other creature didst espy the presence of the serpent ...

The killing began. By sunset, when the fighting at last began to subside, the Shrine hadst become inundated with the blood of both Man and Gargoyle: 'twas the closest approach to reconciliation 'twixt our two races that that meeting didst e'er achieve.

The Gargoyles ceded the field and withdrew, but this couldst not be claimed as any style of victory: there hadst been too much death.

Lord Blackthorn's Emissary approached me, whilst I looked down upon the body of slain Tomas. That wretched snake, also slain, lay stretched-out near his feet.

"What; all of this wretched folly didst uncoil due to the eager fangs of a single serpent?"

"Nay," I didst answer, sadly, "of two."
SighelmofWyrmgard wrote:
uosa44 wrote:For sale, by original owner:
1 Human Brain, never been used, only slightly damaged, still in original packaging.
$1, obo
FTFY.

SS
uosa44 wrote:The inability for this person to respond in such a crazy manner proves my point.

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