I have decided to go on an adventure and I want you to come along. Here I present the first chapter in a Grand Adventure that begins right here in Moss Wood. If you would like to participate, post below (or e-mail me at BoltBait@hotmail.com) and I will try to incorporate your story ideas and/or names for the various parts. PLEASE do not post story ideas here, e-mail them to me. Proper credit will be given.I have only written this first chapter (below), the first half of the second chapter (which I will finish and post in about a week), a map, and a general outline.
If you think this sounds interesting, please post/e-mail and I will continue the adventure. If you would like to write your own adventure using similar characters, there will be a possibility at the end of the second chapter (contact me).
The first chapter is somewhat short just to get things kicked off.
And without further ado...
BoltBait's Tail
Chapter 1
The Midnight Storm
The afternoon sun shown brightly over the growing wood pile behind the old barn. It was a warm clear day in Moss Wood. There was a slight breeze moving the leaves of a nearby oak as it blew past the barn on its way down Old Nail Road. The smell of cut wood mixed with the smell of a freshly baked apple pie filled the air.
There was a fly buzzing around Jon’s face as he swung his axe down splitting another round of oak in two. Jon’s son, Michael, quickly picked up the pieces. He placed the smaller of the two on the wood pile and the larger back on the large stump.
"Dad…" Michael began. "Yes?" replied Jon as he swung his axe down again. "I think we could make more money if we shorted each load of firewood by a small amount. I mean, look at this pile," he said gesturing toward the barn. "Old Mother Folus would never know and it would give us a good start on the next load. All of the men in Old Nail are doing it."
Jon swung the axe down again, this time missing the small log and landing firmly into the old stump. "Come" he said motioning for Michael to follow. The two walked in silence away from the house and barn, down past the pig’s pen and on to the path that leads to the old well.
When they reached the well, Michael lowered the bucket down, filled it with water and raised it up again. Jon drank first and then began, "Son, look around. Everything you see, everything that we have is a product of hard work." Michael looked toward the house then looked down at the ground. "This family has a reputation for fairness and that does not come easy. Every year we cut and split firewood and have more orders than we can handle. How many men in town can say that?"
Michael continued looking at the ground for he knew that his father was right. Not many men in town could support their families well.
"If there is one thing that I want to teach you before I die, it is to be honest. Hard work will get you far in this world, but to keep your word is a rare thing indeed. When I promise to deliver three cord of wood to Old Mother Folus, then three cord is what I deliver. After all, my wood is the same as every other wood cutter in Old Nail. She chooses to do business with me because I deliver on a promise," Jon said coiling up the rope that was attached to the bucket.
Far off in the distance in the direction of the house the dinner bell could be heard. Michael looked up for the first time. "I’m sorry father."
---===>>>X<<<===---
Late that night after everyone had gone to bed, Jon had a funny feeling. It was as if a storm was rolling in over the grassy foot hills heading toward the farm. He had seen no evidence of a storm that evening. In fact, he had left several windows of the barn open.
He pulled his boots on and buttoned up his coat. Picking up a match he struck it against the side of his tinder box and lit a hand lantern. He carefully put the box away, grabbed the lantern and headed out to the barn.
Once outside of the house Jon looked up and saw a sky that he had never seen before. Huge clouds of purple and black churned against a black sky. Flashes of lightning darted between the clouds and the sound of thunder shook his bones. The wind nearly knocked him to the ground as he made a run for the barn. Then, just before he reached the barn door, the storm ended. It ended so quickly he wasn’t even sure that there had been a storm at all. Looking up again, he saw thousands of stars surrounding a nearly full moon. There were no clouds in the sky and there was so much light from the moon that he didn’t need the lantern.
"This is an odd night," he thought as he entered the barn carefully. He hung the lantern on a peg just inside of the barn door and went about the task of closing all of the windows.
When he had latched the last window, he checked on the animals. They were asleep. The storm had not bothered them. "Hmmmm," he said out loud.
As he stood there pondering why the animals had not been awakened by the storm the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end. He quickly spun around just in time to see the door of the barn crash open. In the doorway was the shadow of a man who lowered his head to enter. He stepped inside, right between the lantern and Jon.
Jon was no small man being at least six feet four inches tall and strong as an ox. But, he guessed that he might only be as tall as the shadow’s chest.
The man lifted a massive finger and pointed at Jon. "Is your name ‘Jonathan’?" the man began. "Jonathan of Old Nail?" His booming voice filled the room.
"Yes," Jon said as he grabbed a pitch fork that had been leaning against the wall. He began circling around the man to get a better look at him.
"You won’t be needing that," the man continued. "My name is Eldoran, Knight of Winterhaven. May we sit down, I haven’t long to live."
---===>>>X<<<===---
Go read Chapter 2.
BoltBait's Tail is Copyright (C) 2001 by BoltBait@hotmail.com
__________________
You can e-mail me at BoltBait@hotmail.com but please include this entire post. Thanks.
I have the best looking H/W List at MOTL!
Help Cure Cancer!
[Edited 5 times, lastly by BoltBait on May 20, 2001]
Magic Online Trading League Bulletin Board
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
posted May 06, 2001 03:44 PM
! Maybe I'll start to write a story like that 
.
