On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 5:55 AM, Kit <[email protected]> wrote: > Well what do you know? MK finally has its stealth carpenters! For at least a > year now there's been an 'in' joke around the guild that invisible lutins do > the construction around MK while no one's looking. Never thought someone > would actually make it actually happen! I have to ask where you got this > idea, did someone tip you off or is it just a really amazing coincidence? > Either way I found that I really liked this story as it's rare to find a > comic relief character that is actually competent (even if it's by virtue of > being incompetent). Excellent story that can stand on its own if need be, > but can also easily be expanded upon. > > Kit
Kit. I had to wait all day before replying so that I could stop laughing. The thought of this crew of Lutins actually building anything left me with a vision of Metamor Keep meets Dr. Seuss. For some reason, that has an odd appeal about it. I can't remember having seen anything about stealth carpenters before, but I've been mulling this idea over for at least a year. And, I'm VERY glad you can see promise in expanding it. This story was supposed to be a couple of paragraphs explaining some history that I could insert in the story I actually was writing. Somehow, the story just took on a life of it's own. Thanks for the note. Mythril Vulpes > > On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 11:26 PM, Mythril Vulpes <[email protected]> > wrote: >> >> Nunly's Lutins >> >> by Mythril Vulpes >> >> >> ------------ Part 11 - Recording the Story >> >> >> Mock tromped into the the Bookmaster's cave, carrying a large >> basket of feathers. He looked at the the load tally on the wall and >> smiled as he realized that this would be his last trip. He lost a bet >> with the Bookmaster and had to gather 20 loads of feathers as a result. >> >> "Here are the last of the feathers-ers-ers---AH-AH-ACHOO!" Mock sneezed >> with enough force to blow three small feathers out of his nose. >> >> "Why do you want these things, anyway?" >> >> The Bookmaster looked at the feathers that blew out of the basket and >> gave >> a low growl. >> >> "The good ones I can use to write with. The bad ones I stick >> up noses of dumb Lutins." >> >> Mock gave a low laugh. "I know a good use for feathers up the nose. >> Put them up Hognose's nose. You have any extra?" >> >> "Take some," the Bookmaster laughed, "but don't get caught. Hognose >> only likes jokes on other people. Ha." >> >> Mock laughed and said "I will. What are you writing?" >> >> The Bookmaster pointed to some animal skins hanging on a wall. >> Black marks on the skins were lined up across the skins, looking like >> rows of claw marks. Mock decided he liked the look of them, whatever they >> meant, >> and was looking for a way to take one without being noticed. Since he had >> been there before, the Bookmaster was keeping a sharp eye on him. >> >> "I like the ones that look like chippy-munk scratches." Mock said. >> >> "You know," the Bookmaster sighed, "if you would learn to read, you >> would know what was written down. Then, you would probably like it ever >> more. >> For instance, here I am writing down the history of our tribe since we >> came to this place. That's why I need a lot of quills, the long feathers, >> to do this. I believe that our learning how to read and write is so >> important, >> I call this the Time of the Quill." >> >> "Hey," Mock interrupted, "can you read me the story of Sir Heraldry >> again? >> Sir Heraldry want me and Goom to be his squirts!" >> >> The Bookmaster groaned "not again. Every since we opened that backpack >> and Wat-Chee found the book on knights, I have to read that book or >> another >> one like it every night. Why doesn't someone else learn to read around >> here? >> At least to give me a rest once in a while." >> >> "And besides," he continued, "Wat-Chee only listens to the parts he >> wants to hear, mostly about the knights jousting with each other on >> horses, or off performing some kind of glorious deed so that they name >> could be recorded in a book, or something. And now he wants to two >> to be his squirts! What's a squirt, anyway, and STOP TOUCHING THAT!" >> >> Mock yanked his hand away from the skin he wanted to take, and turned >> back to the Bookmaster. >> >> "Hey, your the one who grabbed all the books when we found the sack. >> And you seem to really like to help read those books on ale making for the >> Muddo every night, especially since she keeps filling your cup." >> >> "Hmm, yes, well, she listens when I read, and the ale is just for >> testing to see if the ingredients are right." A smile broke out on the >> Bookmaster's face as he thought about it. "And he should have the >> latest batch ready for testing tonight. Good old Sir Heraldry is going >> to just have to wait until tomorrow to hear about knights, and battles, >> and squirts, whatever they are." >> >> "Hey, ever since Sir Heraldry followed Nunly Cat through the fire rose, >> everyone thinks he is a real hero, just like the knights in the books. >> And to be a real knight, he need a couple of squirts to take care of his >> horses, and shine his armor, and carry his banner all around. He even said >> he would buy us a cup of ale for our work. That sounds like a good idea >> to us." >> >> The Bookmaster rolled his eyes. "He was lucky that he followed Nunly Cat. >> He probably wanted to throw him in the water again and Nunly Cat just got >> away. >> And he scared that poor human and his horse so bad the horse broke loose >> from the wagon he was pulling and drug the human away. Then he takes >> everything from the wagon, and gets lucky that the barrels contain >> ale making supplies. That is not enough to make him a knight, and if >> Chief Yammi finds him sneaking out of the valley again he won't >> live to be a night, or even live long enought to see the night. >> >> "Besides, he doesn't have a horse or armor, or even a banner." >> >> "Well, you could make one for him" Mock said, "so that I could be a real >> squirt and hold it for him." >> >> "It's not squirt, it's squire" the Bookmaster said through gritted >> teeth. " And I'm not taking time to make a banner for him if he can't >> even come and ask himself. I have readings to do for people." The thought >> of the ale maker's product made him lick his lips. "And I'm still working >> on writing down the history of our clan before we came here." >> >> "I bet if you read that, everyone would fall asleep" mock said. "What do >> you >> call that, the time of snore quill?" >> >> "Ha, ha" the Bookmaster replied. It may not be exciting to you, but >> this will be important someday. Especially if we can use it to figure out >> what happened to us. If we can figure that out, we just might have >> something." >> >> "Nobody will understand any of it, so why bother" Mock said. "Maybe you >> could call it quill-on-bird?" >> >> "Mock" the irritated Bookmaster replied, "put that DOWN." >> >> Mock dropped the skin he was looking at. >> >> "I am calling it the Pre Quill, and I don't need you to tell me if it is >> any good or not, because you are in it, so it must not be all that good." >> >> "Mock," came a horse voice from just outside, "Where are you?" >> >> "Goom, I'm in here!" screamed Mock. >> >> The Bookmaster pressed the palms of his hands against his forhead. >> >> Goom came rushing in breathing hard, plowing his way through the >> narrow passageways of skins. He skidded to a stop and socked Mock in the >> arm. >> >> "Mock, we have to get to the ale maker's right now. Sir Heraldry is >> there and wants us there right now. Big things are happening." >> >> Mock gave Goom a punch in the arm back. "What is going on?" >> >> "Someone gave Nunly Cat some of he new ale the Muddo made. >> He just lapped it up and then started meowing for more. So the put a big >> bowl in front of him. He drank it all, and started to walk around, but >> he was so drunk all he could do was stagger in a circle. Then he got >> the hiccups. Then, every time he hiccuped, a mouse would appear. So they >> gave him more ale to cure the hiccups, but he got drunker, and the mice >> got bigger. Sir Heraldry wants us to help get rid of the mice. Hurry." >> >> Mock smiled. "This is our chance to be heroes. Bookmaster, come with >> us so you can write down our story. We will be heroes." >> >> The Bookmaster just shrugged and said "Why not just let Nunly Cat eat >> the mice, anyway? He seems to like them well enough doing the day." >> >> Goom said excitedly "All Nunly Cat can do it lie on his back and hiccup. >> And sometimes he spins around and around in a circle. Makes me dizzy. >> When he looks at the ceiling and hiccups and a mouse just falls down near >> him. >> Hurry Mock, Sir Heraldry needs us." Goom exited the room at a run. >> >> "Come on Bookmaster, we are needed!" shouted Mock as he ran right behind >> Goom. >> >> The Bookmaster put down the quill he was waving and picked up one of >> the books >> on ales. This looked like a good night for reading and listening to new >> tales of the tribe. Well, with those two on a mission, this would >> probably >> not be a good night for quiet reading, but certainly a good night for >> tales. >> >> The Bookmaster looked at the last page of the Pre Quill he was working >> on. He sighed and put it away. Too much new was going on to worry about >> the past that few Lutins even remembered. It looked like the Pre Quill >> was done. >> >> Now, it was time for ale. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> MKGuild mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild > > !DSPAM:4b1c663285651804284693! _______________________________________________ MKGuild mailing list [email protected] http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild
