The New Britannia Carolers - Submission Thread

And we have our winners, congrats to the following, and to all for submitting some very unique and fun reads! It was a tough call, especially since we had only a few more entries than there were prizes to give out.

Note that we had a couple of themes that had no entries, so we consolidated those into another entry in an existing category. We also entirely removed the TIPs category (we still need those TIPs!!):

Romantic theme:
(Gabriel Nightshadow) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-729624

Holiday theme:
(Woftam) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728412
(Tamsen) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728318

Adventure theme:
(Womby) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728253

Character/NPC theme:
(LoneStranger) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-734630

PvP/Combat theme:
(Andartianna) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728299

Some unexpected theme...
(fonsvitae) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-732331

Congrats again! Please allow us until next week to award your prizes.

Sing along with us! The contest is simple and fun - for the next two weeks, from December 20, 2016 to January 3, 2017, we want to see what songs, poems, and other holiday stories you can come up with that are related to Shroud of the Avatar.

When you have something you wish to submit to the contest, post it below! For the complete announcement with submission requirements, click here.

 

There once was a man from Blood Bay
Who logged on two or three times each day
And each time he'd die
He'd shout out with a sigh
"Damn, I hate this ^%$#ing decay!"

 

The Thief [Romantic theme]

Remember that event you saw?
The blood, the pain, the rage, the fear?
While you were focused on the gore,
I stole an item you hold dear.

Remember also Ravenswood?
You didn't see me lurking there.
It was unlikely that you could
for I had taken extra care.

I've followed you from place to place
taking items from your pack.
I feel I know you more and more
as every day your path I track.

I treasure all those things I stole.
I hold them and I think of you.
These feelings take a mounting toll
as past adventures I review.

Last night when you went to bed,
you locked the doors and tried to hide.
You didn't know I'd gone ahead
and was already there inside.

As I stand and watch you sleep,
I realise that I'm not so smart.
For while your treasures I now keep,
with great finesse you stole my heart.

 

Seems we can only have one entry, so the following is not an entry. @Berek feel free to delete it.

The Blessing [Adventure theme]

David was understandably nervous. Not so much because he was most likely going to die (he had accepted that), but because the desires of his entire region now rested on his shoulders. A series of gruelling clashes had determined that he was the greatest warrior in the entire Perennial Coast. Now the time had come to test his mettle against combatants from all the other regions in New Britannia.

The contestants slowly made their way into the cave that led to the Marshalling Room. Evenly spaced around the edge of the room were a number of cage doors. Although firmly shut, that did not prevent the bloodcurdling sound of deep throated snarls and growls escaping from the cages and echoing throughout the chamber. In the centre of the room were two platforms. If two combatants could each simultaneously hold one of the platforms for ten seconds then they would both be transported to the Supplicant Room. At that point the cage doors would all open, and those left behind would be torn to shreds by immensely powerful beasts.

Once inside the Marshalling Room each contestant sought a position that they hoped might give them some advantage. A loud thump signalled the closing of the entrance door, and simultaneously David felt the tickle of rushing air as he instinctively twisted to one side to avoid an arrow. Glancing towards the source of the projectile he saw an archer impaled on a halberd. Fierce hand-to-hand battles had broken out at each of the two platforms, and it was clear that no contestant was going to be able to hold either of the platforms until most were either dead or incapacitated.

Taking advantage of the confusion, David cast an invisibility spell and stood behind a large tank in plate armour who was too busy casting heals on himself to notice David.
Finally the number of uninjured fighters had dwindled to five, which quickly became four as the tank suddenly bodyslammed the occupant of the nearest platform and took his place. The other platform was held by a mage who was using chain lightning to hold back challengers. Still invisible, David quietly stepped behind the tank and slit his throat, at the same time propping him up so that he seemed alive. Now there were three able combatants, but the mage had run out of reagents. The one uninjured survivor who had not managed to secure a platform saw his chance and threw himself at the mage, decapitating him with a well-placed swing of his two-handed sword.

As the swordsman stepped on the platform he turned and glared at the tank for ten long seconds, after which the cage doors burst open and scores of hungry beasts rushed towards the dead and dying. David was spared seeing the result as both he and the swordsman were transported to opposite ends of the Supplicant Room.

"Brave warriors, you have been found worthy, but know that only one can receive my blessing, and that I require in return a human life. One of you must die."

The message from the deity was clear. Still invisible, David let the dead tank crumple to the floor.

"Aha!" cried the swordsman. "You see that? I claim your blessing, as is my right!"

"I fear you are mistaken." replied the deity, as the swordsman felt David's blade plunge into his back.

Finally, with the invisibility spell wearing off, David spoke up. "It appears I am the only survivor. I, therefore, on behalf of the Perennial Coast, claim what is rightfully ours."

The deity chuckled as she replied "Indeed you are. With a wave of this spoon I hereby grant you the right to select the Avatars Radio play list for the coming week."

"Woohoo!" replied David. "No more Disco or Country and Western."

"You're welcome!" replied the deity. "May the shadows of night keep and protect you always."

 

Here upon this wretched field.

Clang of weapons will not yield.

He the angel of death’s fury

does not care for fairness worries.

Poison blades and hidden archers

hold no bars against the marchers.

Fallen comrades pay no heed

only care for gold and greed.

Scattered bones all about

Oracle left I’ve no doubt.

Heed my words about PVP

Tenacious nature will succeed.

 

On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A tax free row lot deed

On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight chests respawning
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine wolves a-howling
Eight chests respawning
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten kobolds snarling
Nine wolves a-howling
Eight chests respawning
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven thugs "Aha!"-ing
Ten kobolds snarling
Nine wolves a-howling
Eight chests respawning
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve archers arching
Eleven thugs "Aha!"-ing
Ten kobolds snarling
Nine wolves a-howling
Eight chests respawning
Seven shoddy short bows
Six bagpipes flaming
Five recall scrolls
Four sticky webs
Three lych kings
Two healing rays
And a tax free row lot deed

 

The Holidays in Shroud



A Jingle bells parody.

 

Twelve Days of Christmas in Novia

On the twelfth day of xmas my true love fought and looted
- twelve elite skeletons
- eleven burning trolls
- ten beaten liches
- nine extinguished phoenixes
- eight banished daemons
- seven more trolls burning
- six blasted lich mages

- and i only died FIVE TIMES!!

- then I fought four dragons
- of which I died three times
- then spent two days crafting
- all for one complete set of bone armor gear
(which went "poof" when I tried to enchant it)


Happy Holidays to all my SotA friends and family

 

New year Shanty (Will probably add a voice over video if I ever have the time)

Come on ere at the Fire Lotus tavern, listen to me,
I’ll sing you a song of the drunks that they’ll be;

(Chorus)
And we’re all together, hey, let’s hang together, ho,
When New Year comes, we’ll feel light as a feather, hey,
Down your drinks splendidly, drink your drinks, slow,
Jolly avatars, hey, steady you go.

Up jumps the local Rickard with his pitcher of ale,
Climbs up on the table and risks going to jail,
(Chorus)

Then up jumps Thomas with his mighty muscles,
Saying “you’re making a mess boy, now taste my knuckles!”
(Chorus)

We try to help Rickard yet he’s taking nothing,
“Get outta my way and let me get to my mutton.”
(Chorus)

So come on ere to the Fire Lotus tavern, listen to songs,
unleash the avatar within and dance all year long!
(Chorus)

Best of health to you all!
DS

 

THE GIFT​

Two years after Gabriel Nightshadow proposed to Amber Raine atop the Moon Tower in Owls Head…

Gabriel has set up camp for the night in the Serpent’s Spine Foothills. As he sits by the campfire, he writes in his journal.​

GABRIEL
The search for the other Dragon Lords is taking much longer than I anticipated. It is almost Christmas and so far, I have been only able to locate two of the remaining eight – the White Dragon Lord (my fellow Bear, master crafter and decorator, Aimend) and the Blue Dragon Lord (her apprentice crafter, Connor Congreve). While I was in Beran’s Reach a week ago, I dropped off a parcel to be delivered to my beloved Amber at her new home in Rift's End.

*******************************************************************************

Meanwhile, in Rift's End…

High Priestess Amber Raine is fast asleep in her bed, hugging “Little” Gabe, the 4 foot tall, stuffed teddy bear she received earlier that day. The teddy bear is amber in color and holding a big red heart inscribed with the words “I love you”. Amber is mumbling in her sleep.




AMBER
Gabriel, my bear cub, how I miss you so…

The back door suddenly creaks open, and two thieves enter. They start rummaging through everything and placing any valuables they find in their leather backpacks. Amber is awoken by the noise and gets out of bed. She puts on a robe, grabs her Chaos Spoon, and then goes downstairs to investigate. The startled thieves immediately drop their backpacks and draw their poison coated daggers!

AMBER
Thieves?!

Amber’s Chaos Spoon begins to glow, then fizzles! The thieves grin.

THIEVES
So, what are you going to do now, High Priestess?

There is loud growling as Little Gabe (who has transformed into an Obsidian bear!) pounces on the unsuspecting thieves! They struggle to get up, but Little Gabe’s immense weight keeps them pinned down. Little Gabe slashes at their jugular veins with his sharp claws and they bleed out within seconds! Amber screams…and wakes up in bed, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily!

AMBER
It was just a nightmare…


*******************************************************************************

Elsewhere…

RAZMODIUS
How is this possible?! Both of them escaped my coma inducing nightmares! Lord Shadowreign will be most displeased...

STRANGER
He is the least of your worries…

RAZMODIUS
What?!

Razmodius quickly turns around and is kicked hard in the chest by the rear hooves of a white furred reindeer. The dream demon cries out in pain as he staggers back!

STRANGER
I won’t have you or your master ruining this holiday!

Razmodius turns around and gasps.

RAZMODIUS
You don't belong here...!

STRANGER
I exist on all worlds in various guises! Now, be gone, foul demon!

The tall, dark bearded, muscular figure strikes Razmodius with his massive, +9 Candy Cane of Smiting and the demon's body explodes into snow crystals!

The stranger pets the reindeer and feeds him a carrot.

STRANGER
Good work, Randy!

*******************************************************************************

Late evening on Christmas Eve, at Amber’s home in Rift's End…

It is snowing heavily outside. Amber is busy decorating the Yule tree near the roaring fireplace. Little Gabe is seated in a chair in the opposite corner. Amber sighs.

AMBER
Looks like it is just you and me this Christmas, Little Gabe…I hope Gabriel is safe…wherever he is...




Suddenly, the front door swings open, and a large snowman enters! He shakes the snow off himself.

GABRIEL
I’m home, my precious Chaos kitten!

AMBER
Bear Cub!

Amber runs over and hugs Gabriel.

AMBER
I thought you wouldn't be back for another six months!

GABRIEL
I had a most disturbing nightmare which made me rethink my priorities…

AMBER
Hmm...I had one too...

GABRIEL
We can discuss that later. We should begin making plans for our wedding!

AMBER
Do you really mean it? No more postponements?

GABRIEL
Yes, my darling! My quest can wait. Our life together as man and wife can not…
I just wish I had time to shop for a Christmas present for you…

AMBER
What are you talking about? I received Little Gabe yesterday via courier from Beran’s Reach.

GABRIEL
How is that possible? Aimend and Vas Flam’s hunting party reported that the courier was found torn to pieces by a pack of Obsidian wolves a mile east of Beran’s Reach. All the packages were destroyed…

AMBER
Well, there he is in the corner, safe and sound.

GABRIEL
Hmm…what did this courier look like?

AMBER
He wasn’t the usual courier. Middle aged, dark bearded fellow…looked like a really buff version of Doctor Shroud! Come…let me get you out of that wet leather armor and warmed up!

GABRIEL
An excellent idea, my dear…

Amber and Gabriel cuddle on the bearskin rug in front of the roaring fireplace. In the corner, Little Gabe smiles and winks…

​

 

Excellence in virtue is a gift worthy of acquisition, an earned thing given in mercies...

The stars don't know it, though they know well their paths and their faithfulness thereabout knows no comparison.

The lions don't know it, though they dominate the field they tread and no equal comes to bring challenge.

The melodies don't know it, though they capture and dwell near the edges of every feeling that resonates in our bones.

The little babies don't know it, though it is they who will one day bear the weight and knowledge of this world and, against this tide, make way for that thing called excellence...

 

Hot and Cold

I walk down the old path near home, crunching frosty grass.
Loneliness reflected in each frozen puddle I pass.
Deep into northern Winter and the coldness that it brings,
I tug my coat in closer and pull tighter on the strings.

The weather outside warms up and we’re introduced at dawn,
Buckets from the river for the crops that you have grown.
I help you carry them all back; we use some for our tea.
We talk, we laugh the morning away, a private Spring soiree.

We repeat with many rendezvous; they heat up with the breeze.
Many picnics in the meadow or stargazing from the trees.
I pour my heart out for you plainly; you deny with a shy grin,
I sigh, I smile. The Summer burns on. You know I’ll ask again.

Autumn winds pick up zeal; the leaves fall down to earth,
The fire blazes hot inside as we cuddle near the hearth.
We talk often of the future and a lifetime lived in splendor.
The two of us inseparable, sharing an adventure.

Falling leaves turn to snow, blanketing your garden.
It’s Winter; you’re now distant and the romance is a burden.
Perhaps you’ve just grown bored with me or the flame has sputtered out.
So I walk down that old path again, my coat pulled tight about.

-Aaxal Kuurle

 

Fun reads, thanks everyone for participating! We will be announcing the winners before the week is out.

 

And we have our winners, congrats to the following, and to all for submitting some very unique and fun reads! It was a tough call, especially since we had only a few more entries than there were prizes to give out.

Note that we had a couple of themes that had no entries, so we consolidated those into another entry in an existing category. We also entirely removed the TIPs category (we still need those TIPs!!):

• Romantic theme:
  (Gabriel Nightshadow) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-new-britannia-carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-729624
  
  
• Holiday theme:
  (Woftam) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728412
  (Tamsen) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728318
  
  
• Adventure theme:
  (Womby) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728253
  
  
• Character/NPC theme:
  (LoneStranger) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-734630
  
  
• PvP/Combat theme:
  (Andartianna) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-728299
  
  
• Some unexpected theme...
  (fonsvitae) https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...carolers-submission-thread.75005/#post-732331

Congrats again! Please allow us until next week to award your prizes.

 

Congrats to everyone!

 

Great picks for the winners. There is so much community talent here in Shroud of the Avatar! I am continually blown away by the writing and depth of submissions on these types of contests.

I can't believe that these submissions came in so quickly. It would have taken any other community months to get this type of quality of writing submitted. Keep up the great work everyone!

 

Bravo........I like to think everyone is a winner as everyone gets to enjoy these wonderful submissions. Brings joy to my heart.

 

Awesome Thanks!