Editing ASCII art reward/M-S

to the ground sputtering. Rognar had been born into a world of

summit of the corpse mound and surveyed the carnage. The siege had

been broken. Here and there, a wimpering slave of darkness put up

battlefield. Rognar smiled. It was a great day to be a dwarf.

He would never let the fiend escape again. That was what Neandar the

after the skulking kobold thief. For many seconds they fell, time

Fortress Guard. Wet matter slammed into the dwarf's face and gave

way. The dwarf smashed through a dozen giant spider webs and hit the

A huge standing ring of fire dominated the floor of the chasm. The

kobold made for the hell portal with all speed. Neandar stopped in

his tracks. It was one thing to plunge to certain death in order to

retrieve a granite puzzle box. It was quite another to cast oneself

into a dimension of ultimate evil. Yet these kobold cowards could not

be allowed to run about as they pleased. Lifting his axe over his

them. Shizenbubin was the tracker of the group, always hot on the

trail of danger. Shizentubin was her sister, skilled in the ways of

the blade so that no enemy neck was safe. Azoul Buck was the leader.

This would be a short quest indeed. A party of goblins had ambushed

the prince on his way to the castle. All the heroes need do is return

him unspoiled. It would be easy to intercept them then on their way

to the Black Fortress, given Shizenbubin's incredible skill. However,

time was not on their side. Goblins grew bored easily and might make

sport of the prince's bodily members. Azoul set the pace, a quick

trot through the woods. She smiled at the easily-won glory that

block which he had just slid into place. Ever since the Baron had insisted

rats. It couldn't be helped. Gold was gold after all, but it was just

The dwarf laid down on his bed and began to think about the next project. A

puzzlebox, perhaps, something challenging. Just as Doran was drifting off

"Ha! Keep trying you little demons," the dwarf chuckled. The scratching

continued. It was irritating, but the dwarf could block it out. Then there

was a grating scrape as the block moved an inch. The dwarf sat up and

stared at the wall in amazement. Impossible, he thought.

The block slid forward further. Small, clawed fingers worked their way

stabbing downward. The tool grazed the hand, leaving a spatter of blood on

the stone. There was a shriek, and the bleeding hand disappeared into the

hand. After a moment, the scratching began anew.

"Leave me be, you fiend!" Doran yelled, his chisel held toward the stone

block. The scratching became louder and more persistent.

crack. The beast had learned. The slab of granite was being pushed

directly from behind, and it glided slowly toward Doran. The dwarf backed

The block stopped sliding. There was now enough space to allow something to

not see behind it. For a long moment, nothing stirred. The craftsdwarf

At once, a creature leapt from behind the block and faced Doran. It was a

patchy-furred flesh stretched tight over its starved body. The thing

The dwarf stood, a vial in his hand. The ratman lunged forward and Doran

hurled the vial at the beast's face. The glass shattered, and the creature

clutched its black protruding eyes as they steamed. Doran rushed forward

"Pity about that. I was going to ask Mul to do some etchings for me."

pausing to take another swig of whiskey. "I can't believe how much trouble

replied. "Kogan's child was taken not long ago."

Meanwhile, Kogan stood with his axe by the chasm bridge. Ever since the boy

spiders. He would not be satisfied until the depths were devoid of life.

A foul wind blew up from the chasm. Kogan leaned to the side and peered

down over the edge of the bridge. The impact was sudden and the dwarf was

knocked on his back in the middle of the bridge. Kogan heard the sound of

Dwarves hurled boulders down on the invaders as they advanced by

ladder. Sharkra smiled, for this meant they had run out of ammunition

for their war machines. She dodged out of the way as a human invader

plunged down past her to a rocky doom. Sharkra grimaced. Machines or

not, these dwarves would fight the death to save their blasted

mountain. At last she reached the battlements.

Battle master Sharkra was an evil genius of combat. It was rumored

gambling the same night. Her very aura smelled of the underworld.

Now she soldiered for anyone who would pay her. Pay her and her elite

troop of mercenaries, the Unholy Band. This time is was rat-lord

Gomra that hired her.

Sharkra pulled herself onto the fortress wall. Members of the Unholy

Band leapt over the battlements, light on their feet. Together they

advanced on the dwarves. Sharkra wielded a giant mace, while the Band

pulled rapiers from polished sheaths.

“We have you,” said Sharkra. “Throw down your weapons and die quickly.”

Something sailed through the air and struck Sharkra in the face, a

pain coursing through the evil woman’s body. She put her hand to her

wasn’t the first time.

“What are you standing around for?” screeched Sharkra. “Kill them.”

carried at all times. Her face was never much to begin with, but now

it was utterly ruined. Gomra, thought Sharkra, it is all his fault.

retreated from the fortress.

“It is said,” intoned dwarf captain Duzelm, “that evil shall always

turn upon itself.”

“What is your plan master?” asked Bally, the dwarven squire.

catch all the rats in the same trap. Go to the humans in Gelthtown,

horses, along with master rider Jorna. She was blond and lean, draped

in the leathers of a Gelthtown tracker. The dwarves climbed onto the

horses and strapped themselves in.

They called him Fish-Dwarf. He was the only worker in the outpost willing to brave the depths of the cave river in order to service the floodgate mechanisms when they became clogged with the seasonal muds.

It was that time again. The farming gates weren't operational, and the planting had to begin immediately. Fish-Dwarf had his tools, and the special fins he had manufactured were secured to broad feet. Everything was ready. The frightened faces of the onlooking children would not dissuade him. Fish-Dwarf understood that this was his calling. He was the only one that could save the outpost. The dwarf inhaled, and his chest swelled to nearly double its original size. Clearing his mind, the dwarf dove into the water.

Fish-Dwarf swam down the narrow tunnel to the gate mechanism. The water was murky and even with his superior vision he could only just see his hands sweeping ahead of him.

The upper portion of the mechanism appeared suddenly before him. The dwarf inspected the machinery quickly, mindful of his air, yet confident that he had at least a few minutes left. The top assembly was clear, so the mud must have worked itself into the lower gears. Fish-Dwarf pushed his way down.

The swollen rotting face of a lizardman greeted him, twisted into the gears. Not again, Fish-Dwarf thought, dejected. It would take at least three trips to dislodge all of the chunks. The dwarf removed the chisel from his tool case and began working it into the sticking jam.

pulled his way up on to the bank. He had finished his last cleaning

amaze us. You are a hero," the Mayor Kogan said, offering Fish-Dwarf

motion. "If only the river waters were whiskey, my life would be

Fish-Dwarf pondered a moment. "Indeed. Yet the search for the

crowd dispersed. As the others left, the mayor pulled Fish-Dwarf

"-- and yet, I fear you cannot stay long. I've received word from

King Dorazar. He has heard tell of your talents, and our liaison from

"My presence? Surely the engineers of the Mountainhome can manage the

waters. This was the Lake of Columns, the source of life for

Fish-Dwarf fit the blades into place on his fins. The citizens of

Fish-Dwarf. King Dorazar had charged him to slay the lurking threat,

and that is what he would do. Still, the nature of the creature

eluded him. It had been years since his last combat with an aquatic

occasionally harassed his own community. Steelpoint would not have

sent for him over such a triviality. Hefting his mighty trident,

There! Nestled between three columns was a gigantic bloated form on

the lake bottom. Fish-Dwarf swam closer, almost drifting. What

manner of beast was this? Great tentacles it had, and a toothy maw

as he sank slowly toward the sleeping fiend. As he prepared to

his arms to his chest. A force stronger than any he had ever

mouth as the breath was squeezed from his body. Fish-Dwarf

purple ribbons of the foul beast's tainted blood. The monster's grip

loosened and Fish-Dwarf was able to free his arms. His sight had not

deep into the creature. The monster's body convulsed and it raced

suddenly in the back of his mind arose a strange sensation... it was

the need for air, such as he had not experienced for many years. A

bottom, unmoving. Fish-Dwarf jammed the trident into it a few times;

the thing was dead. Now, the surface! Fish-Dwarf pulled his weapon

from the monster and swam upward, but he stopped immediately. As far

greeted him. The monster had fled into a great crack in the lake

longer visible. Just the endless water and rock of the submerged

Suffering blighted the land with cruel hunger. Wagons brought foul

fungus from the dwarven mountains. It was barely enough to sustain

those base enough to eat such filth. The rest died. Paldadar rested

against the hilt of his great sword. He looked over his shoulder at

the dark stone castle. Turning his back on mud brick huts, the knight

wooden throne and the troubled king that sat upon it. The old man

brew unto the stone floor. A herald in a mud-smattered tunic rushed

"You were not summoned, Sir Paldadar," spit the herald. "Go ask the

The herald jumped away like a whipped dog. The king motioned the

"The gods have abandoned this place," said the king. "Only through

their glory will the days of bounty return. It is for this reason you

The knight ground his teeth. This was obviously High Priest Igland's

doing. But perhaps there was wisdom in punishing the arrogant

Farthlings for their many insults. Death by the sword was much

faces. He was still a knight, even if he represented the most

wretched of kingdoms. A frail sissy approached from behind, leading

two horses. Paldadar swung around, drawing his sword. There stood

Paldadar prayed to the gods for mercy. Would that a Farthling's bolt

find his heart soon that he be saved from further tortures. Together

majesty. All around the temple, peasants scrambled to snatch at the

scraps donated by the monks that poured rotten food down the hill. As

growing angry. "If their God of Suicide spreads his faith to our

kingdom, none of our desperate peasants will survive. You must strike

crossed in one place. This was the Bridge of Destiny. As the riders

said the bridge was guarded by an evil water troll. At the bridge,

Paldadar held up his gauntleted hand. The horses stopped, and the

knight dismounted. Paldadar drew his sword and walked out onto the

Green flames shot up from beneath the bridge. Horrid laughter pealed

across the blighted landscape. The knight turned to see Rodger making

tracks back to the temple with the speed of a spooked hare. Slowly

love," said the troll. "What will you tell them, knight? Is slow

"Where there is life, there is hope," said Paldadar. "Love will

Was the nation of love superior? He hailed from a place where young

hope to a strange country. He found Rodger hiding in a nearby bush

love. Cherry blossoms rained down on the two riders as they wound

their way through the hills. Even in these pleasant surroundings, the

demented nature of the Farthlings soon became evident. Bodies dotted

the road here and there, swords plunged into their own guts. Corpses

own lives. As the riders passed, skeletal bodies lifted themselves

At last they reached the capital of the Farthlings. The wind blew red

rose petals through the cold, dead streets. Even the cheerful sun

seemed dim in the vast tomb of a city. Rodger stared straight ahead

hopelessly thrown themselves over the side. A wide moat circled the

castle. As the two riders approached, a draw bridge was lowered over

the water. Paldadar thought he could see a crowned figure on the wall

beckoning them inside. As they crossed the bridge, Rodger made the

mistake of looking down into the water. The currents were filled with

the souls of those who drowned themselves in desperate sorrow. Eyes

==[[User:mr_seeker|mr_seeker]]==

===(29 January 2016)===

<pre>|++U+++|?</pre>

“They say that the dragon slayer roams the halls of the castle still,” said the old man.

“You are a liar,” said Prince Mucer. “There are no such things as ghosts, and dragons aren't real.”

“Maybe today there are none still alive,” said the old man, “but before the Age of Heroes, the skies were filled with them and no one was safe.”

“You bore me, ancient one,” said the prince. “Maybe my father should have you executed.”

 

===(28 February 2016)===

<pre>|++UN+++\U</pre>

The dwarf fortress was as quiet as a tomb that night. Prince Mucer couldn't help but fear, but his anger was greater. How dare that old man frighten me with ghost stories, thought the prince. He would give the old man something to be frightened about. Prince Mucer fingered the hilt of his blade. The old man didn't have too much longer to live anyway. Who would miss him?

“Say goodnight, old man!” shouted Mucer as he kicked in the laboratory door.

There was something standing next to the old man, facing away from the door. It was tall and translucent green. The apparition seemed to float in the air, trailing bloody stumps for legs. Mucer cried out with fright and dropped his sword. The creature turned to face him. Its face was almost entirely burned off.

“What's wrong, my prince?” asked the old man, having run to where Mucer had fainted.

“The dragon slayer is real!” exclaimed Prince Mucer.

“Of course,” said the old man. “I told you as much.”

The old man looked to the empty space where the prince was pointing. This was serious. The king had to be informed immediately. Only then could the decision be made on how to proceed. Every time the dragon slayer had showed himself before there had been a calamity. The old man called for the guards to take Mucer back to his chambers.

“The dragon slayer has revealed himself to young Mucer,” said old man Garva.

“That is unfortunate,” said the king. “He must be escorted out of the kingdom at once. Whether he is my son makes no difference. The soul of the kingdom is at stake.”

<pre>(.,MU.,M@.,)U++U</pre>

“Come hither my liege,” said old man Garva. “Gaze into the crystal ball.”

“Is the prince safe?” asked the king.

“Mucer will never truly be safe again,” said Garva, “so it is written.”

“There is more to life than the pages of a book,” objected the king.

Rather that respond to ignorance, Garva just gestured to the magic globe. It was connected to a mechanism at the top and bottom. Garva put his hand on the crystal and gave it a spin. Lightning arched over the surface of the globe revealing a woodland scene. There was Prince Mucer, riding his black mule. With him was Kogan the woods-dwarf, the only one willing to bear the prince's company in this time of exile.

“Keep your eyes open, my prince,” said Kogan, “and remember, in the world under Apexus's vault of sky, there are consequences for your actions.”

<pre>e,..~-@U~M.,.,</pre>

Kogan went off to find her, but Mucer held him back. “You are to protect me from all harm. Forget her,” snapped the prince.

 

Horrible screams echoed throughout the woods.  This didn't help calm Mucer's already well-developed paranoia.  Kogan walked next to the prince's mule, battleaxe in hand.  Ahead, on the trail, stood an elf ranger.  She held an arrow against her bowstring, pointed at the ground.  Mucer was sweating and squirming.

“How dare you block the path of the crown prince!” shouted Mucer.

An arrow shot out of the trees and pierced Kogan's neck.  The dwarf bodyguard pulled the prince off of his mule and covered him with his body.  Blood poured from Kogan's wound and onto Mucer's face.  The prince was disgusted and horrified now that it seemed that his only friend wouldn't live very much longer.

<pre>~~~~,.%,.@@@""""""</pre>

The flight across the sea had been a wild and dangerous one. The

giant nuthatch the dwarves were riding wasn't built for long distance

missions. Just about the time the far coast had been sighted, the

bird suffered a massive heart attack. Uren spoke encouraging words to

the poor thing and it did its best to crash land on the beach. The

foreign shore, for the bird had breathed its last.

wizard like Nadir or Darquan found it. The issue was the prophecy.

destined to be its undoing. Should one of the dark lords find it, it

three days time.

"So here we are," said Doraj. "The Wild Lands. Did the seer give us

"You should have more respect for your elders," snapped Aliza. "If we

don't find the egg fragment soon, it is bound to fall into the wrong

"Genius!" snorted Aliza sarcastically.

filled with danger, racing toward cosmic mystery aimed at ending the

of their spectacular entrance was bound to spread fast. Beyond the

beach was a vast jungle, thick and dark, and beyond were mighty snow

covered peaks on the horizon. Wherever the fragment had ended up, it

The dwarves returned from the mission with half their numbers.  The goblin resistance had proved stronger than anticipated and the dwarven leadership was lacking to say the least.  The entire operation had been concocted by the odious Prince Mucer, widely known to be a lascivious and incompetent ruler.  Upon their return Mucer was nowhere to be found.  He had been drinking the night before and no amount of prodding could roust him.

“My prince!” said lieutenant Orson.  “The scouts have returned.”

“Speak again and I'll have you executed,” murmured Mucer.

“Sire,” said Orson, “we now know the nature of the opposing force. You must give us direction!”

"I hereby claim this feast hall in the name of the Tombs of Wailing!"

shouted the stranger.

The Hearthpeople loyal to Lord Ambercan drew their weapons, but when

they saw the multitude of warriors the stranger had brought with her,

the loyal troops withdrew and fled from the hall. The invaders

one to challenge them, the elite strike force, the Tombs of Wailing,

lay claim to the fortress town of Otla.

Away, slaying dragons, King Urlen heard news of the uprising days

later. One of the defeated Hearthmen approached the king in his war

tent. Upon hearing of the warrior's failure, Urlen drew his sword and

struck off the coward's head. Urlen wasn't known to be reasonable

when confronted with upsetting news.

"Ready my chariot," commanded Urlen. "We will see how tough the Tombs

<pre>"",",.@,.T,"""</pre>

"Don't let the sun set on you in the Dark Wood," said the dwarf

and his mischief.

Not even the elves dared enter the Wood at night. Something older

than time haunted these cursed trees, but this valley was the quickest

way to Port City, saving at least a month of travel. As the night

grew darker and colder, Davik fumbled in his pack to retrieve the

charms and idols he had nearly refused as the journey began.

A great shape emerged from the darkness. It was a gnarled troll, as

"Not much meat here," it said.

"Please, Ole Brick-a-Branch, don't eat me," said Davik.

Having said his name, the troll was force to lay the dwarf down.

"I will not eat you," said the monster, "If you can answer me these

riddles three."

Doran stirred the bubbling pot of syrup. It was ready! "Pour, pour, pour!" the dwarf sang. Into the molds the syrup flowed. "Another batch," the dwarf said, satisfied.

Just then, he noticed somebody standing in the doorway. "Ah, Glornol. What brings you to the kitchens this early? Come to try a sticky treat? I have some Anvil Drops cooling now. Just a moment."

Doran turned to the tray on the table when he was startled by Glornol's shouting. "What is the meaning of this? Isn't there a war on?"

"Ooo, it's Glornol!" the first chocolate goblin said.

"Glornol's scared of the mean, mean goblins!" the second chocolate goblin observed.

"Let's eat the dwarf! Yummies for tummies!" the first chocolate goblin offered.

"The dwarf might eat me instead! Oh no!" the second chocolate goblin replied. Doran held the goblin out to Glornol.

Glornol was not amused, but he snatched the candy from Doran's hand. "Hrmph," he grunted, and biting the goblin's head off, he walked out of the kitchen.

<pre>...@T@..###S#</pre>

Taking a break from their duty, the two guards sat at a table with a scenic view of the chasm.

They did not notice as they drained their mugs that they were being watched from the shadows

by clusters of pale eyes. A table by the chasm?!

Dolan was chatting with Aliz about the health benefits of dwarven beer when Aliz disappeared.  

Dolan sprang to his feet and saw that Aliz was being dragged toward the chasm, a thick rope of

translucent silk wrapped around his left ankle. At the lip of the chasm, a bloated form slowly

reeled the line in with her spindly legs.  

Dolan knew immediately -- it was the Wolf-Mother of Darkness.  

He grabbed his axe and ran toward Aliz, who was now only a few more pulls from the beast.

:&mdash; [[User:Qwip|Qwip]] 08:40, 9 February 2007 (EST)

The axe had scored the stone floor where it had severed the silk line. The Wolf-Mother chittered

the enormous body of the foul creature pressing him into the stone. His axe clanged some distance

away. The blunt knobs at the end of the Wolf-Mother's forelegs dug into Dolan's ribs as her

dripping mandibles drew closer to his face. He grabbed her head with both hands, trying

desperately to keep her at bay. A foul-smelling spittle dripped on to his cheek.

Aliz, still dazed from his initial fall, slowly made his way to his feet. Seeing Dolan's desperate

struggle, he drew his sword and hacked at one of the Wolf-Mother's legs. The bumpy skin was

belched a grating rasp and rolled away from Aliz and faced the dwarves. Dolan crawled toward his

axe, but the nauseating venom drenching his face and beard had left him almost powerless. The

Wolf-Mother hesitated, her wound oozing white ichor as Aliz stood his ground.

There were several sharp cracking noises, and the Wolf-Mother crumpled, several iron bolts

protruding from her many eyes. In the distance stood Bomtek and the other marksdwarves,  

accompanied by Kogarak. Aliz rushed to Dolan. The dwarf was breathing heavily.

"My body feels like gravel. I need a drink," Dolan said.

"The Wolf-Mother is dead. Brace up. I'll bring you your mug." Aliz fetched Dolan's mug from

the table and brought it to the dwarf where he lay on the stone floor. The mug was almost empty.

==[[User:Rav|Rav]]==

===(12 April 2011)===

victorious. Two riders, a dwarf and a goblin, would joust to end the

planet was watching.

Aliz didn’t think much of his opponent. More of a threat than the

puny rider were the dirty tricks the evil doers had concocted. The

goblin’s beak-dog thrashed and gnawed at the sides of the track. Aliz

looked to his own pony. It had served him in many battles. With the

grace of the Lordaxe, this would be the last one. Aliz looked the

goblin dead in the eye and spit.

(The beginning of a new story)

 

  ++g+C+++

 

"What took you so long?" asked Catra.

 

"The gate guard was tougher than he looked," said the goblin snatcher.

"Not all of us can spring over walls like circus performers."

"Just follow the scent of plump helmet roasts," said the snatcher.

"The princess's room is directly above the kitchen."

Rushing between the shadows, the evil intruders made their way to the

royal suites. The princess was not there. Catra just about had a fit

whilst the snatcher went over the calculations in his mind. She was

"The queen consort grounded the princess for a week," protested the

snatcher. "She should be here!"

"Think," said Catra. "If you were the princess, where would you sneak off to?"

"The guard barracks," said the goblin finally. "She goes there to

practice with the sword and axe."

"Great," said Catra, "then we must steal her from under the noses of a

dozen castle guards."

"We will succeed or die," said the goblin. "Praise Tremoda!"

===(31 August 2014)===

?e?"""".,"",.,"""@.C,"""""""

"I can't carry both of you!" exclaimed Catra.

It was a new moon that night and the fields were bathed in dim

collapsed.

"Take the girl to Tremoda," said the goblin, coughing up blood. "I'm done for."

The bolt had slipped between the goblin's ribs, a hair from his heart.

It seemed to Catra that the mission had failed. She had never been to

the evil empire of the Worm. She preferred the savage lands as did the

rest of her people. The goblin had paid her in gold coins, promising

double when they reached the border. It was clear that the goblin

wouldn't make it.

"They will pay you the bounty of a true snatcher," wheezed the goblin.

The two villains looked over at the princess. By now the princess had

stopped struggling. She rested against a tree stump, bound and

gagged. The princess was renowned to be a great fighter. That was

had not been easy to subdue her.

"Tremoda will reward you," said the goblin, his voice trailing off.

"You must go."

The cougar woman stepped to the princess and threw her over her

shoulder once more. She took one look back at the snatcher, now dead,

having taken his last tortured breath. Seeking to throw off the scent

of the hounds, Catra bounded off toward the Forbidden Forest.

just reward. Catra removed the cloth from the princess's mouth.

"You will become an asset to the evil one," said Catra. "To the elves

you will only be a quick lunch."

  e.,-.,-."",.C,.".,@

“Tremoda knows of your talents,” said Catra. “He needs strong leaders

to lead the weak-willed goblins.”

“Have you ever been to the Garum?” asked princess Aliza. “Do you know

what kind of monster you are working for?”

The two women spoke softly as they passed under the trees of the

Forbidden Forest. It was true, Catra had never been to the realm of

the Great Worm. The dwarven princess told her all about it. It was

they weren't much worse off with the elves.

“Look,” said Catra. “This is the way it is. I have been charged to

get there in one piece is up to you.”

before the elves did.

“You are going the wrong way,” said Catra. “This way leads deeper

into the forest. The surest way out is through the Garum.”