Storyboards: Erepitus
A late night with the Codfish | A
man, and Orb, and a really big Sword | Scents
of the past | Expedition to Mal Zeth
| A letter bound to the Isle of Riva
A late night with the Codfish
The stars were scattered across the sky brilliantly on that night.
Taking leave from my duty within the main keep of the Western Fortress,
I wandered the Harbor of Kotu with my friend Leon.
"This looks like the spot." He always knew the best spot
to catch a codfish or two, even when it wasn't really in season
to go fishing. We cast our lines off into the lightly rippled darkness
that lay before us.
The Algarians had been doing an excellent job of dispatching the
Murgos that would dare to try and steal their horses from their
vast plains, and the Cherek fleets have never run into any problems
with patrolling all of the Western coastline, but I was worried
about our situation here in Kotu. Back then, before the battle of
Vo Mimbre, Torak led his legions through the lands of Drasnia without
much resistance. Solely for this reason, our strongest of fortresses
lies within the heart of Kotu, but... is this truly a good idea?
"He's going to wake up some day Leon. He's not just some myth
to be taken lightly. When he does wake up, there's going to be more
blood shed on this earth than ever before. And why would he be coming
to this continent through Drasnia again?"
He looked up slightly, still gazing out into the ripples of the
water, and responded, "You never know what he's going to do.
Hell, he might not even wake up from that eternal slumber of his
during this lifetime, or a hundred more. You're thinking much too
far into the future friend."
Just then, a snag on my line caught me off guard! The water just
below this part of the dock turned out to be exceptionally deep,
and equally cold.
"Hehehe, you see? You're head is so far up into the clouds
that you can't just sit back and win a fight against a fish."
He laughed, and extended one of his arms out to me to help me out
of the water and back onto the wooden planks of the dock.
I didn't catch any fish that night, but the time was well spent
with the company of my smug Drasnian friend. I went to bed that
night, not dreaming of a war with the Hordes of the East, but instead,
dreamt of catching and devouring that horrid codfish that dragged
me into the sea. Upon waking up, I grabbed my fishing pole, and
head back to the docks.
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A man, and Orb, and a really big
Sword
-< A Journal Entry in a small Leatherbound Book >-
The time was right for War once again between the East and the
West. Heck, it was what we've been preparing for all of this time.
The final struggle, where winners prosper forever, and losers disappear.
The Horde has been ever growing, taking us over in numbers and in
force. The grolims of the lands of Torak started to appear in the
lands of Sendaria, Tol Honeth, and yes, even fair Aloria. Tension
was beginning to reach levels much too high for any of us to handle.
And then, like a pure radiant force which even Belar himself would
have been proud with, he came to the Rivan Citadel. Banded with
an assortment of strange men and women, ancients of so long ago
that their history seems more Myth than fact, they entered our humble
halls.
I must admit, tears stramed down my face when he took old Iron-Grip's
sword off of the wall, placed that wonderous gem upon it, and waved
it through the air as if it was a near weightless feather. Blue
flames danced delightfully along the sword's edges. I never felt
so proud to witness anything in my entire life as a General in the
Western Legions.
The wedding ceremony was a true sight to see. A growing young Rivan
man marrying the tiniest of creatures I have ever scene. Hearing
of the Dryads, I usually scoffed at the strangeness of their existence,
but I was told that their union was truly written in the stars.
And then, I finally had a chance to speak with young Master Garion.
Hah! He didn't seem all that enthralled to be doing war against
ol' One Eye, but if he's the heir to the thrown, than the blood
of Aloria flows through that young lad’s veins. He's really
going to give 'em hell.
How amazing this week has turned out. Ancient Belgarath even turned
to meet us with thanking us for being the Guardians of the Rivan
Fortress for so long. His appearance was old and wise, but his eyes
hid something so youthful that I was captivated by his presence
for the rest of that very long and eventful evening.
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Scents of the Past
The fires were beginning to die down, flicking their last rays of
dim light along the corridors of the Fortress of Riva. Daybreak
would be soon, but during these hours of twilight, I always seem
to rise to watch as the world comes back to life. It reminds me
of those times, long ago.
We were travelling, the eight of us, to Boktor. From the outside,
you would think us a ragtag group, put together only out of necessity
for survival.
*chuckles*
... that's what the naive thought anyways. We always had that as
our one big advantage. People never suspected us for victory.
We were in Boktor for one reason alone. Murgos, Grolims in fact,
had been spotted on the Eastern outskirts of town, and the flow
of the blood-red coins of Rak Goska had continued to grow over the
prevailing months. It has been out duty to always protect our lands,
and keep those who can't fend for them selves safe from the influence
of Torak's dogs. We were only given a name, and a very vague description.
The man we sought was called a few things, but the one name that
stuck in our minds was "Cinis", a man who had done so
many terrible things in his time that justice was in dire need.
Three days we spent searching the streets, asking the Merchants.
As we all now know, every Drasnian is truly a part of the information
agency, so who better to ask than the Merchants within the City,
the people whose hands were receiving the blood-tainted gold of
the Murgos.
It took well over a week for us to find the one lead we needed,
but that's really all it took.
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Expedition to Mal Zeth
The cloaks we were wearing were obscuring our vision, and in the
light mist of the morning, it was hard to see much of anything on
those cold streets of Mal Zeth. A few of the Drasnian Intelligence's
best agents sat their in the wagon with me, waiting for our contact
to arrive. She was running late.
"It's almost sunrise, sir... we're going to start drawing attention."
One of my most loyal men, Graldin, said in a whisper.
The light was beginning to grow, making the palace in the east become
a beautiful silhouette against the pale pink sky.
Emerging from the mist, there she trudged, our informant. She looked,
to say the least, very appealing in the garb that was assigned to
her by Drasnian Intelligence. We opened the back of the wagon and
ushered her inward.
"Welcome Kerowa. Does that cute smile mean that the mission
was a success?"
She smirked lightly, and from her bodice lifted up the Key ring
we were searching for. Giving the Eastern Horde access to all of
our most sacred buildings, vaults, and lockboxes would have been
an utter travesty. It was good to know that the wealth and well-being
of the West was still in good hands.
I handed her a pouch tightly drawn with a black cord at the top.
She gave it a bounce, looked at me with a smile, and I returned
with a just nod.
"Now, to head back to the West. Men! Be on your guard, we're
almost home but this trip is far from over!"
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A letter bound to the Isle of Riva
Dearest Kiranne,
It's been since a short time since my Visit to the Isle of Riva,
but I have to be returning very shortly. The fun we had made my
heart feel mirth that I never knew was possible. Walks into the
forest, visits to the marketplace, and watching the sun set over
the rolling seas truly showed me a side to life that I never knew
was there. And your smile, brilliant and welcoming, was always there
for me to make me feel true peace and joy.
The kiss you gave me on my cheek as the stars began to light the
heavens above changed my world, love. I haven't the faintest idea
of what I did to be so lucky to have you with me, here, in my life,
but I am more thankful than I could ever express in just words.
Such a whirlwind of emotion in such a short time... it's too wonderful
to believe it's real sometimes. You've given my life a new future,
a future that seems so clear and wonderful. I can't wait to see
what this future holds for you and I. I shall be back in Riva within
the week to see you my love. You'll be within my everwaking thoughts
until I am able to look into those glorious eyes once again.
Foreverly Yours,
Erepitus
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