Themo Lock's words of questionable wisdom

We already have several of the in-game books available on the SotAwiki, and plan to keep up on those as they are released.

 

Have you seen the duck merchant?

"Have you seen the duck merchant, i think his name is Dupre?",
these were the first words i heard as i rose to start the day,
"He sports a fine moustache and i think he comes from Dawn",
"Why are you in my bedroom?" i asked the intruder with a yawn.

"I have a new recipe" he said "that requires roasting a duck",
"My home doesn't have a duck merchant, i am afraid you are out of luck",
"I last saw him in Bordermarch" he said whilst jumping on my bed,
"I haven't had my coffee yet" i said "your questions hurt my head".

He cast a spell of light and performed a handstand on my rug,
I groaned and shuffled to the bedside table searching for my mug,
"my friend said that he is partied with a man they call Greg Dykes"
"whenever i am tired" i thought "randomness and chaos strikes".

"I have not seen the duck merchant" i said, starting to become irate,
"If you want my help in finding him, for coffee you must wait!",
"can i have this thing?" he asked, pointing at my metronome,
"you know what" i said "just take it, now get out of my home".

The intruder left, my water boiled, i poured myself a brew,
to the identity of this duck merchant i did not have a clue,
i wandered towards my neighbours house, he met me at halfway,
we both spoke in unison "Have you seen a merchant named Dupre?"

 

The Lafette Prophecy

Lafette sat atop his heavy wagon, drawn by an ageing horse,
he chose the general direction but it was the beast that set the course,
explosive potions were his load, Kingsport his destination,
he was bound to make a tidy profit if he could avoid detonation.

His usual customers across the sea were blocked by trade embargo,
it had taken him a silver tongue to find new buyers for his cargo,
his suppliers were prolific and his growing trade was brisk,
he transported the stock himself despite substantial risk.

A distant thunderclap broke the silence, causing his horse to bolt,
it broke free from harness and the wagon stopped with a jarring, sudden jolt,
the cargo was secured with iron sheet to protect from damage, theft or impact,
but fire now erupted from the tailgate as volatile chemicals began to react.

Once more the wagon lurched into motion with sudden break-neck speed,
Lafette gripped his seat in terror as he overtook his galloping steed,
the wagon started gaining altitude, like a rickety wooden comet,
he opened his mouth and tried to scream, but what emerged was vomit.

With horror he stared at the distant ground, gravity was no friend,
his mind slowed time and grasped in vain for a strategy to descend,
the air drew thin, the temperature cold, he feared for his well-being,
far below astronomers struggled to identify what they were seeing.

Prophecies were rewritten, due to this unexpected heavenly event,
cults arose and argued over what this sign was and what it meant,
but only one old horse with guilty conscience viewed events with verity,
and nightly stood atop a hill, staring up at the stars in solemn solidarity.

 

Static Electricity

Time was ablaze and the world was a blur,
he stumbles through life staring at the sky.
She brings things into focus around her,
he knew who he was when she was nearby.
Potential lies dormant waiting for calm,
her touch unlocks long forgotten talents.
She holds his tattered soul in her palm,
and drags the universe back into balance.

 

Meteors

Its been such a still and lonely day,
lets end it with a smile and glass of wine.
The fire will keep the damp at bay,
lets lay and watch the stars align.
The heavens dance for you my love,
a thousand stars fall for you as did i.
A brilliant serenade from high above,
a love song written in the sky.

To see my reflection in your joyful eye,
to see such a smile so beautifully placed.
Raven coloured hair loosened from its tie,
delicate summer dress tied at the waist.
The forest blooms for you my love,
it senses the goddess in your being.
The beauty of the forest fits you like a glove,
a spirit of nature and light for the seeing.

Its been such a still and lonely day,
lets end it with the silence it deserves,
Eyes convey what lips would say,
and steal away the need for words.
I live and breathe for you my love,
Let our days apart be few.
No force on earth that i know of,
could tear my gaze from you

 

Sunken Treasure

Deep within the angry sea,
a ring of gold lay in the sand,
dropped years ago it now was free,
of a long forgotten hand.

High amongst the mountain tops,
a weathered crone stood in the snow,
she remembered wheat and barley crops,
and a man she used to know.

Far along the salty beach,
a fisherman sat in the grass,
redemption lay so far from reach,
how had this come to pass.

Idle hands and fickle hearts,
sacred vows unsealed,
what once was pure now torn apart,
such wounds will rarely heal.

Deep within the lonely sea,
lay a loveless ring of gold,
cruelly torn from destiny,
a tale of love untold.

 

Dragonfly

The universe expands from egg to lilly-pad.

The nymph emerges from its egg and stretches its limbs beneath the cover of the lilly-pad.
She scans the crystal waters with multifaceted, virgin eyes. So this is hunger.
The slightest of disturbances in the water draws her attention to a tadpole as it passes,
powerful, extendible jaws dart forth and seal the creatures fate. The nymph feeds.
Her kind had featured in myth, lore and the art of men since the prehistoric times,
she is Adderbolt, Horse-stinger, Ear-cutter, the devils darning needle... Dragonfly.

The country of Japan was once named Akitsushmi which means Dragonfly Island.
To the samurai she is the insect of victory and was the mon of many noble families,
The Japanese consider her to be the symbol of happiness, strength, courage and success.
Seven hundred years ago a gadfly was slain by her ancestor after it had dared bite an emperor.
They call her Tombo, spirit of the rice plant and harbinger of rich harvests.
The nymph expels jets of water from her body and clumsily ventures down into the river weed.

The universe expands from lilly-pad to pond.

She hunts amongst the stones and pebbles of the pond floor, hunting small fish and tadpoles.
Her kind adapts well to challenges and changes in their environment. she is a survivor.
Her enemies were few, were it not for the larger fish she would be the ponds apex predator.
She would hunt and feed in the pond for five years, growing and gathering strength.
Many cultures see her presence as a sign of clean water or an omen of approaching rain.
She is Eye-snatcher, Hells mare, Trolls spindle, Odonata... she is Dragonfly.

Many Europeans believed her to be malevolent and dangerous, the servant of snakes and the devil.
Her image graces the margins of the oldest of Christian tomes and manuscripts.
The Italians believe her kind to be witches animals sent by Satan to cause mischief,
American dragonflies were believed to stitch the mouths of children whose parents stray into sin.
Romanian tales claim she is a horse possessed by a devil and that her kind is used to weigh souls.
Crawling up a protruding reed, her skin hardens and splits. Wings unfold, she is nymph no more.

The universe expands from pond to rolling hills.

As she comes in contact with the air the dragonfly knows breath for the first time.
She beats her hardening, transparent wings, quickly adapting. This is her true form.
Sunlight strikes her body illuminating a myriad of breathtaking, glittering colours.
With a flick she launches herself into the sky, snatching a bee from the air as she goes.
Her kind has been worshipped, revered and feared the world over for longer than recorded history.
She is Water witch, Goddess horse, Goldsmith, Snake doctor... she is Dragonfly.

Dragonflies are connected with Freya, master of seidr and goddess of love, fertility and welfare,
Paired bodies of mating dragonflies form Freya's heart, source of the modern symbol of love.
Her kind is a portent of approaching good news should they choose to land on you,
Stumbling upon the dried husk of a dead dragonfly is a portent of bad news ahead.
In the air she is unequalled in grace and beauty, she is colour, she is light, she is love incarnate.
She is Dragonfly

 

Lunacy

He stares up at the sky, unable to suppress his joy as he bathes in her light. She is his love, his obsession, his goddess.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

She is his beacon, his guiding light, his reason for being. Without her he is lost in the darkness, afraid and alone.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

He gently clears the leaves from a pond and glides his hand across her reflection. His heart sinks as she ripples and recoils from his touch.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

He reaches out to her radiant form, offering himself unconditionally. Her pale light offers only the memory of warmth.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

He screams at the universe, throwing stones at the rising sun. Her fiery assailant invades the sky, undeterred.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

He curls up into a ball, pressing his fists against his eyes as he falls into a troubled sleep. He would wait for her return, there is nothing else.

The stars have died,
the skies gone black.
Horune loved the moon,
she didn't love back.

 

Wandered off topic... XD

 

Snake oil

Hear ye now and gather round!,
my medicines are world renowned,
as many will attest, i can be trusted,
my reputation remains unrusted.

From ravensmoor rot to lazy eye,
irritable skin that's cracked and dry,
gout, gimp limbs and novian flu,
this magical tincture cures what ails you.

For the low low price of fifty gold,
you can fortify the young and revitalise the old,
payments plans on offer where viable,
for side effects i am not liable!

 

Full Metal Chest-plate

This is my great-sword, there are many like it but this one is mine,
it can lop off a head, part from limbs, split defences and sever a spine,
it sleeps in my bed, baths in fine oils and never leaves my side,
its grants me great power and prevents my defeat from the many who tried.

This is my great-sword, there are many like it but this one is mine,
it hunts down my enemies in battles and holds the front line,
it butters my bread, harvests my timber and opens locked doors,
this is my great-sword, this one is mine, i suggest you find yours.

 

The Liar

Selbie leapt onto the bar with a drunk yet agile pounce,
he called the room to silence, he had something to announce,
"send our tab to Lord British!" he said "who employs me under cover!",
"which ladies wish to test my skills as the realms third greatest lover?"

"I was blessed with endowment wide and long! I am skilled at grind and bump!",
"though a low blow injury in the war has left me with a nine inch stump!",
"I once defeated an army!" he yelled "with both hands tied behind my back",
"I gripped a blunted dagger with my teeth and parried every attack!".

"I own a palace in the east" he claimed "bejewelled and solid gold!",
"I wrote my first best selling novel when i was four years old!",
"undead and dragons fear me! they know they stand no chance!",
"I once seduced the oracle!" he chimed "with nothing but a glance!"

"you have me to thank for peace!" he claimed "and the invention of the beer!",
"though you may think it was another man, i gave him the idea!",
a man stirred from drunken stupor, rising as quick as his legs would permit,
"a round then on Lord British!" he slurred "This gentleman seems legit!"

 

Crazy Dave

Dave had been arguing with a potato, he was not sound of mind,
it demanded release from dinner plans, Dave did not feel inclined,
"you are very argumentative" he said, it replied with "no i'm not..."
"...now extract me from this soup, the water is getting hot".

Dave prodded the spud with wooden spoon and said "Your fate is sealed!",
it shot back "your not even doing it right, i haven't been washed or peeled!",
"what would a potato know about soup?!" he said " your opinion is null and voided",
"clearly more than you!" it spat "they are situations to be avoided.".

"I am hungry" Dave reasoned " I am afraid i have no reasonable choice",
"your options are many, just look around" it replied in a sly voice,
"just dice up that basil, add to the pot and replace me with that tomato",
Dave jolted with fright as the basil spoke up "you are a backstabbing jerk Potato".

 

You're on a roll Sir Lock. Can't wait to see a full book in game with all this content. Would be a good evening read whilst having a snack. Very talented. Keep it up!

 

I am enjoying myself and very much look forward to publishing in game

 

You are really cracking me up Themo! I love the characters in your stories!

 

Vick the Genius

 

Perfect

 

Epic Chair

Nolan took a step back to inspect his freshly crafted chair,
the splintered legs looked askew and all the angles were not square,
it was somewhat stained with blood from where he'd nailed it to his hand,
he thought it would be a sturdy seat, it had not turned out as planned.

He inspected the bloody blueprint trying to see where things went wrong,
he noted wood glue had been forgotten and the nails used were too long,
he had used rotting logs as his timber instead of processing a tree,
and he did not own a lathe, whatever that was supposed to be.

He decided he would test the chair to see if it held his weight,
after all his efforts were not small, it had taken many days to create,
the chair exploded into splinters, his legs were pierced by wooden shards,
he slowly reached between his legs making sure he had not lost his nards.

His genitals found intact, he breathed a sigh of great relief,
his every attempt at crafting seemed to bring him nought but grief,
accepting his final defeat he decided as a crafter to retire,
scooping up the shattered mess and dumping it in the fire.

 

The Year Of Our Lord

Decades ago in a far off realm that was known as computer land,
an apple did first fall from the tree and on our lords head did land,
it was here that for the sum of two hundred gold, Akalabeth was born,
the pioneer of a genre long thought lost and widely mourned.

In the years to come the cult of Sierra dispensed cloth maps and furthered the cause,
filling coffers to fund the systems of Origin that expanded our universe without pause,
to arts electric the Origin did go for the worthy price of thirty million gold,
though some predicted strife and panicked, for MMO this set the mould.

Though troubling times would follow, our universe did remain intact,
our lord found vindication as order prevailed, separating fiction from fact,
to the star-lit heavens high above our brave lord did now ascend,
returning through the Portalarium with news of a new realm that would transcend.

Virtues have been forsaken, the very heavens have been rended,
a kick-start moot was formed rewarding all those who attended,
some outlanders expressed limitless joy while others seemed perplexed,
but all sit on the edge of their seats, keenly awaiting what happens next.